[00:00:05]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION, THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, TO ORDER.AND I WOULD ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
EMMA IS A SENIOR AT SAINT AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WE'RE HONORED THAT SHE'S HERE.
SHE'S THE DAUGHTER OF DAN AND HEATHER MOWRY.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION.
REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE LED BY VICE MAYOR SIKES-KLINE.
DEAR LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND FOR THIS TIME WE GET TO SHARE TOGETHER.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN MEANINGFUL WORK WITHIN OUR CITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY, STATE, COUNTRY AND WORLD LEADERS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR IMPORTANT WORK.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR MILITARY AND VETERANS AND THE SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE.
WE ALL WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WE PRAY YOU HELP LEAD US THROUGHOUT THIS MEETING.
WE THANK YOU FOR MAYOR UPCHURCH LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE.
BLESS US DURING THIS TIME WE SHARE TOGETHER, WE GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE LORD.
AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
COMMISSIONERS YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU.THE AGENDA AS PUBLISHED IS MR. REGAN, AND HE MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA.
STAFF WOULD LIKE TO ADD AN ITEM OF GREAT IMPORTANCE REGARDING JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE STORM.
OK. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THAT? AS A ITEM OF GREAT IMPORTANCE SEVEN B.
ANY OTHER. MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA, SEEING NONE.
EXCUSE ME. IS THIS THE TIME TO PULL SOMETHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO. WE'LL DO THAT IN A MOMENT.
OK YOU'VE HEARD THE ONE MODIFICATION TO ADD AN UPDATE ABOUT THE STORM.
HAVING NONE, NO OTHERS IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SO MOVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.
THE AGENDA IS APPROVED WITH ONE MODIFICATION.
[3.A. Introduction of the City's Poet Laureate: Norma Sherry]
WE'RE HONORED THIS EVENING TO HAVE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION BY OUR OF OUR NEW POET LAW LAUREATE, MISS NORMA SHERRY.YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE.
I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU'D ALL HAVE MY BETTER VIEW.
I AM SO HONORED AND SO DELIGHTED TO BE HERE ON YOUR DESK.
I DRESSED, ACTUALLY, FOR THE VETERANS DAY, AND THEN I REALIZED VETERAN'S DAY HAD PASSED.
AND WHEN I LOOKED IT UP, IT'S NATIONAL PICKLE DAY.
SO I BROUGHT YOU ALL A PICKLE.
THANK YOU. AND I HAD NOTHING TO WEAR THAT REPRESENTED A PICKLE.
I'M GOING TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.
BEFORE US SITS THE ESTEEMED BODY THAT WE CHOSE BY OUR GREATER NUMBERS.
DEAR MAYOR AND DEAR COMMISSIONERS, IT IS OUR TIME TO BE THANKFUL AND FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF YOUR ALL OF YOU FOR STRIKING THE GAVEL AND MAKING THE DECISIONS NOT ALWAYS AGREEABLE TO SOME, BUT FOR, IN YOUR ESTIMATION, FOR THE BETTER.
[00:05:04]
FOR IT IS YOUR DUTY TO CALL TO ORDER.AS YOU HARKEN OUR ATTENTION FOR EACH NEW STRIKE OF THE GAVEL, IT IS WITH GREAT FORETHOUGHT THAT YOU COMMENCE THE PROFOUND MEANINGFULNESS BESTOWED UPON YOU IN DIGNITY. YOU ARE FACED WITH THE COMPELLING ISSUES OF OUR LITTLE METROPOLIS, LIKE THAT OF TREE PLANTING, AND NOT A MINUSCULE TASK, I MIGHT ADD, AND A CONCERN FOR ALL OF US PARKING IN A CITY OF NO SPACES.
OK. DEAR COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU MUST HAVE STRUGGLED MIGHTILY AND STROVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO STEP OUT FROM SELF AND FIGHT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL.
YOU ARE. YOU HAVE BEEN FACED WITH THE WORLDLY ISSUES LIKE MONUMENTS AND RACISM AND AIRBNBS.
OH, TO BE A COMMISSIONER TO DESCRIBE THE MADDENING CROWD CLAIMING WE ARE BUT A RINKY DINK 13 SQUARE MILE METROPOLIS WHO THEMSELVES ONLY FIVE OR TEN YEARS AGO HAD NOT STEPPED FOOT UPON OUR STREETS.
OH, TO BE A COMMISSIONER, TO BE DIGNIFIED IN THE FACE OF UNDIGNIFIED ACCUSERS, TO COMMIT BODY AND SOUL TO THE BETTERMENT OF A CITY WITH THE HISTORY OF SPANNING A NATION. TO BE AWARDED THE MANTLE TO STEER OUR PATHS, TO SEE THE PITFALLS BEFORE THEY BECOME AN OBSTRUCTIONIST GORGE, AND YET TO HOLD THEIR HEADS UP HIGH AND SMILE WHEN VILIFIED.
OH, TO BE A COMMISSIONER, TO FIGHT THE INSIPID BATTLES THAT DIMINISH AND DESTRUCT OUR BETTER SELVES.
TO STAND FEARLESS IN THE FACE OF ANGRY DISSENTERS, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT EVERY VOICE HAS MERIT TO STAND TALL, BRUSH OFF THE MUD AND GRIME, AVOIDING THE SLINGING ARROWS AND READYING THEMSELVES FOR THE ISSUES YET TO BE.
HOW GRATEFUL ARE WE THAT THESE BRAVE AND SELFLESS HUMANS STEPPED UP AND PUT THEMSELVES IN LINE TO ENLIGHTEN THE VISION AND CAST OUR COLLECTIVE DESIRE TO BE BETTER THAN OH TO BE A COMMISSIONER.
THIS OUR CITY OF REFUGE AND CULTURE, PRIDEFUL OF WHAT WE'VE OVERCOME AND WHAT WE'VE BECOME.
WITH THE BEACON OF LIGHTS ON THE BRIDGE OF LIONS AND OUR INDOMITABLE CANNON THAT SUMMONS PEACE, WE RAISE OUR FLAG AND OUR SPIRITS HIGH FOR THE GLORY THAT IS ST AUGUSTINE.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU'RE PREPARED FOR A MASS EXODUS.
CAN WE TAKE MADAM POET LAUREATE? CAN WE HAVE A PICTURE WITH THE COMMISSION? OH, MY GOD. I'D BE THRILLED.
[3.B. Proclamation 2022-17 Proclaims November 2022 as National American Heritage Month.]
[00:10:32]
MR. REGAN WERE ON ITEM THREE B, WHICH IS PROCLAMATION 2022-17 THAT PROCLAIMS NOVEMBER 2022 AS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.AND OH, I'M SO UNFAMILIAR WITH READING THE PROCLAMATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHEREAS NATIVE AMERICAN AWARENESS WEEK BEGAN IN 1976 AND RECOGNITION WAS EXPANDED BY CONGRESS AND APPROVED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH IN AUGUST 1990, DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH AND WHEREAS, THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF OUR GREAT NATION HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCED BY AMERICAN INDIANS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
AND. WHEREAS, NATIVE AMERICANS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF OUR NATION, AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICAN INDIANS HAVE ENHANCED THE FREEDOM, PROSPERITY AND GREATNESS OF AMERICA TODAY.
AND. WHEREAS, THEIR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS ARE RESPECTED AND CELEBRATED AS PART OF A RICH LEGACY THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND WHEREAS, IN HONOR OF NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS CULTURAL, ARTISTIC, EDUCATIONAL AND HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN PLANNED.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE CITY, THE SAINT AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION, HEREBY PROCLAIMS NOVEMBER 2022 AS NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH AND URGES ALL OF OUR CITIZENS TO OBSERVE THIS MONTH WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAM CEREMONIES AND ACTIVITIES.
SIGNED BY THE MAYOR, TRACY UPCHURCH, AND ACCEPTING THE PROCLAMATION IS LESLIE KEYES.
YEAH. I THINK SHE'S GOT A GROUP WITH HER.
AND IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD.
OH. MS. KEYES CAN INTRODUCE ALL OF THE OTHER RECIPIENTS.
MEMBERS OF THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO TRIBES OF OKLAHOMA HERE FOR THE WEEK.
[INAUDIBLE] WILSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS, THE TALLEST PERSON STANDING HERE AND HIDING SORT OF BEHIND HIM, IS STEVE ROBERTS IS THE CHIEF OF INTERPRETATION, AND LAURIE LEE, A FACULTY MEMBER AT FLAGLER COLLEGE, TOO.
ABSOLUTELY. WOULD YOU LIKE SOMEONE LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS? PIVOT, PIVOT AND SET TO VOICE LATEST DISNEY MADISON BIRD NARRATIVE.
IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH.
WE'RE ALSO SHINING IN ARAPAHO.
SO IT'S A HUGE HONOR TO BE HERE.
MISS LESLIE KEYES AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING REALLY GOOD FOR OUR PEOPLE THIS MONTH OR THIS WEEK, AND WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING OUR TRIBAL ANCESTORS WHO WERE HERE AT THE FORT MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
AND WE'RE JUST HONORED HERE TO BE HONORING THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR PRESENCE.
SO, AGAIN, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
HE IS ON HIS WAY FROM THE AIRPORT AND HE IS UNABLE TO BE HERE.
SO, AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR ACKNOWLEDGING AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH.
THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE SHINE ARAPAHO TRIBES AND THE GOVERNOR.
REGGIE WATSON AND GILBERT MILES, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
[00:15:01]
TAKE CARE OF OUR ANCESTORS.THESE THINGS ARE WE DON'T DO LIGHTLY.
AND THEY DO TAKE A LOT OF TIME.
MONEY AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAD STEVE AND GORDIE HERE TO WORK WITH US.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH STEVE'S BEEN WORKING WITH ME ABOUT FOUR YEARS FOR YEARS AND MISSED KEYS.
AND THEN WE GOT LAURIE LEE BACK HERE.
AND THEY JUST WORKED. THEY'RE WONDERFUL.
AND WE HAVE MET SO MANY GREAT AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE HERE.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALLOWED US TO COME [INAUDIBLE].
WE'RE HONORED THAT YOU'RE HERE.
AND WE AND THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF OF THIS EVENT.
AND WE'RE HONORED YOU'RE HERE.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE.
ONE LAST THING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
ON THURSDAY EVENING, WE WILL BE FIRE CLOUD, THE NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS LIAISON WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AND SHE WILL BE DOING A PUBLIC PRESENTATION.
COMING TOGETHER, REIMAGINING NATIONAL PARKS.
SO WE INVITE YOU ALL TO PLEASE COME TO THAT LEWIS AUDITORIUM.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
WE'RE NOW ON ITEM FOUR, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL CARDS.
WE DO ASK THAT YOU LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO 3 MINUTES.
AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. CHRIS FULMER.
AFTER MISS FULMER IS GOING TO BE MICHAEL GROSSMAN.
GOOD EVENING. I'M CHRIS FULLMER.
I LIVE ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.
THE CITY POLICE AND FIRE THE COUNTY POLICE AND FIRE THE 911 OPERATORS.
THE SANITATION AND SOLID WASTE WORKERS.
THE PEOPLE UPDATING THE WEBSITE, THE SOCIAL MEDIA, THE PEOPLE ANSWERING THE PHONES.
EVERYBODY. IT WAS I WAS SADLY, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PRACTICE, BUT WE'RE GETTING REALLY GOOD AT IT.
AND SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY ON THE SAME TOPIC.
WE NEED TO FIND SOME WAY TO HARDEN THE T MARTINI CAM.
IT'S RESIDENTS USE IT TO SEE HOW HIGH THE WATER IS.
IF THE TIDE IS COMING IN, WHAT WE CAN EXPECT AT OUR HOMES, IT IS USED BY CITY OFFICIALS.
IT'S USED BY THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S USED BY LOCAL AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICES AND THE NEWS WHEN IT GOES DOWN, WE ARE BEREFT BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSIDE OUR WINDOWS. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT CAN BE DONE, I REALIZE IT'S A PRIVATE ENTITY, BUT IT IS SUCH A USEFUL TOOL.
CONGRATULATIONS TO NORMA SHERRY, OF COURSE.
AND CHRISTMAS SEASON'S COMING UP.
FOR ALL THE FRUSTRATIONS, IT'S GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S AN AWESOME TIME HERE IN TOWN.
BE PATIENT, SHOP LOCAL AND TAKE YOUR SERVER SPACE.
THANKS SO MUCH. MR. GROSSMAN, MICHAEL GROSSMAN.
AND AFTER MR. GROSSMAN IS SANDRA MOTEL.
[00:20:06]
HELLO. GOOD EVENING.I LIVE AT 172 CORDOVA STREET, WHICH IS RIGHT ON THE SHORE OF LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.
I SPOKE ONCE BEFORE ABOUT THE LAKE SITUATION LAST YEAR, AND I HAVE A FEW CONCERNS WHICH MAY BE ADDRESSED BY THE CITY MANAGER LATER WHEN HE SPEAKS ABOUT THE FLOODING.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE FLOODING WAS PRETTY SEVERE AROUND THE LAKE, AS IT ALWAYS IS, EVEN AT HIGH TIDES WITHOUT A HURRICANE WORSENING IT.
AND MY MY CONCERN IS THE THE DEPTH OF THE LAKE.
I ADDRESSED THIS ONCE BEFORE IN CONNECTION WITH THE CITY'S FLOOD MITIGATION PLAN.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT DREDGING WILL BE SIGNIFICANT AGAIN, AS I SAID ONCE BEFORE, TO ENABLE WATER FLOWING THROUGH THE NEW CULVERTS TO FLOW INTO THE LAKE INSTEAD OF RUNNING INTO THAT PILE OF SLUDGE.
THE LAKE HAS BECOME SO FILTHY AND IT BECOMES OBVIOUS.
WHEN AFTER THE FLOODING, WHEN ALL THE FILTH THAT'S EMBEDDED IN THE LAKE FLOOR IS STIRRED UP AND YOU SEE IT SCATTERED AROUND THE LAKE SHORES, AS WELL AS POLES AND FULL GARBAGE CANS, SACKS OF GOD KNOWS WHAT FLOATING AROUND IN THE LAKE. NOT ONLY DO I RESIDE ON THE LAKE, BUT I'M THE PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ, WHICH IS A NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION WHOSE MAIN PURPOSE CONTINUES TO BE TO PROTECT THE LAKE BY KEEPING IT LITTER FREE TO THE EXTENT WE POSSIBLY CAN, AND HOPEFULLY MAKING THE WATER CLEAN ENOUGH TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WILDLIFE.
I USED TO FISH THERE ALL THE TIME LAST SEASON.
I'M AFRAID TO FISH THERE NOW BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT FISH IS SAFE TO EAT ANYMORE.
AND THERE'S STILL QUITE A BIT OF A QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF FISH IN THERE.
I'VE EVEN SEEN SEA TURTLES IN THERE ON OCCASION AS AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE.
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU EXPECT THAT THE FLOOD MITIGATION PLAN WILL PREVENT THE TYPE OF FLOODING WE SAW RECENTLY AND. OH.
VEHICLES STILL CONTINUE TO RACE THROUGH CORDOVA STREET.
EVEN WITH THREE FEET OF WATER THERE.
AND THAT CAUSES THE WATER TO FLOOD UP AGAINST THE HOMES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
IT DESTROYS ALL THE LANDSCAPING.
SINCE I'M HERE, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GROSSMAN.
THANK YOU, SIR. THE SANDRA MOTEL.
AND I'M SURE I'VE MISPRONOUNCING THAT.
AND THEN AFTER THIS SPEAKER WILL BE BRETT LEWIS.
HI, SANDRA. MOTEL 519 ERICA AVENUE.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE HUMONGOUS LIFT STATION AT COOK ACROSS FROM COQUINA PARK.
I KNOW WE NEED IT. IT'S A VITAL THING, BUT IT'S HIDEOUS.
AND IT'S ABOUT THREE TIMES AS TALL AS I AM.
AND JUST LAST WEEK, THEY PUT IN LIGHTS.
I TRIED TO PRINT THEM OUT, BUT IT'S SO BRIGHT THAT LITERALLY CAN YOU CAN READ.
IT TAKES UP MY WHOLE NEIGHBOR'S YARD.
IT BLINDS ME AT NIGHT, NO BLINDS.
AND THE BLACKOUT CURTAINS HELP.
AND I SPOKE WITH MR. SLAUGHTER. HE SAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT UP A FENCE AROUND IT.
AND I WAS WONDERING, HOW TALL IS THAT FENCE AND WILL THAT ALSO BE HIDEOUS? WHAT DOES ANYONE KNOW? AND MISS MOTEL.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO HAVE STAFF CONTACT YOU AND LISTEN AND MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE AND WHAT WE'LL DO TO MITIGATE THE AND THE LIGHTS ARE THERE TO PREVENT VANDALS BECAUSE THE LAST LIFT STATION WAS OBLITERATED BY A CAR ACCIDENT.
SO THEY WANT TO PUT THE FENCE UP.
BUT I WONDER IF THAT'LL BE TALL ENOUGH TO BLOCK THE VIEW OF IT.
SO LITERALLY, IT'S THE ENTIRE BACK YARD IS IT'S LIKE A BASEBALL STADIUM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONE LAST QUESTION.
[00:25:09]
BECAUSE I CAN'T SELL MY HOUSE NOW.IT'S THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING.
THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO THAT.
AND WE'LL ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO REACH OUT TO YOU.
YES, STAFF CAN GET YOUR PHONE NUMBER.
WE'LL GIVE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRETT LEWIS.
DEBORAH. I KNOW HOW TO SAY IT.
AND CITY COMMISSIONER BLONDER ALL THAT AND VALDES.
I HAVE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE FOR THE ABILITY TO PARTNER WITH YOU IN WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE MOBILE GIVING MACHINE THAT'S COMING HERE TO THE SAINT AUGUSTINE AREA.
I AM THE ASSISTANT COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.
AND I'M NOT NOT SURE IF YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT.
AND I WANT TO JUST TAKE JUST A MINUTE AND EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
IMAGINE SWIPING YOUR CREDIT CARD AT A VENDING MACHINE, BUT INSTEAD OF BUYING YOU A CANDY BAR FOR YOURSELF, YOU'RE BUYING CLOTHES FOR CHILDREN OR FOOD FOR LOCAL FOOD BANK, OR YOU'RE BUYING A GOAT FOR A FAMILY IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY.
ON NOVEMBER 25TH THROUGH THE 29TH.
THE LIGHT. THE WORLD MOBILE GIVING MACHINE WILL DO EXACTLY THAT ON THOSE DAYS FROM 10 A.M.
YOU CAN COME WITH AN INCREDIBLE FAMILY EVENT.
THIS MACHINE IS HERE FOR FIVE DAYS.
IT'S HERE FROM BLACK FRIDAY TO GIVING TUESDAY AND THEN GOES TO BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND THEN ON TO CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE REASON I MENTIONED THOSE IS BECAUSE IN THIS GIVING MACHINE, EACH OF THOSE LOCATIONS WILL HAVE TWO LOCAL CHARITIES AS WELL.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GUYS OUT THERE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE TO PARTNER TOGETHER TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEBORAH [INAUDIBLE].
AND AFTER THAT IS SHERIFF ROBERT HARDWICK.
THAT WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY THE SHOPS DOWN THERE.
SPECIFICALLY WITH THE BAR OPEN TILL 2 A.M.
AND A NUMBER OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ENDING UP DOWN ON ST GEORGE STREET, WORKING ON ST GEORGE ST I SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS THE DISRUPTION AND UNFORTUNATELY THE DESTRUCTION OF HAVING HOMELESS AND DRUNKS ON OUR VERY NARROW STREET.
I'VE SEEN PLANTERS DESTROYED, PEOPLE URINATING ON BUILDINGS ACTUALLY SEEN BY SOMEBODY WHO WAS THERE AT THE TIME, BROKEN FENCE POSTS BECAUSE THE HOMELESS WHO HAD LOCKED OR BIKE TO THE POST HAD USED TOO MUCH FORCE TO REMOVE IT.
PLANTERS THAT HAVE BEEN YANKED OUT OF POTS AND THROWN ONTO THE GROUND.
VIDEOS OF INDIVIDUALS BANGING UP AGAINST THE BUILDING WINDOWS AND DOORS.
PEOPLE CLIMBING OVER GATES AND TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE SHOP.
PEOPLE CLIMBING OVER COURTYARD GATES TRYING TO GET INTO FACILITIES THAT ARE INSIDE.
THIS IN ADDITION TO REGULAR AND UNSIGHTLY, RATHER DISTURBING INTERACTION WITH THE HOMELESS THAT CAMP OUT ALONG ST GEORGE STREET AND IN THE PARK ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE ARE A TOUR CITY AND WE SHOULD BE PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD.
ALWAYS. NOT JUST DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS OR OTHER KEY EVENTS.
[00:30:03]
THAT SHOULD INCLUDE HOW WE TAKE CARE OF OUR HOMELESS AND HELP OUR BUSINESSES AT THE SAME TIME.TOURISTS SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WALKING DOWN OUR STREETS.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CLIMB OVER ANYONE.
I HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING THE CITY CAN DO TO HELP BOTH THE HOMELESS AND OUR SHOPS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE CITY MANAGER DOES HAVE A REPORT ON THAT ISSUE.
THE CITY MANAGER DOES HAVE A REPORT ON THAT ISSUE LATER IN THE MEETING.
SHERIFF HARDWICK, WELCOME, SIR.
MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS, CITY STAFF.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU AS FAR AS NUMBERS.
AND IT COULDN'T COME AT A BETTER TIME AFTER THE FOLLOW UP OF THE LAST PUBLIC SPEAKER.
AND WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU, I JUST WANTED TO.
THESE ARE SOME SOME HARD FACTS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S WITH CLASSIFICATION.
IT'S VERY UNIQUE OF WHAT WE THAT BE MAX CAPACITY.
WE AVERAGE ABOUT 4200 ARRESTS A YEAR, CITYWIDE, COUNTYWIDE.
AND OF COURSE, AGAIN, THAT INCLUDES THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL.
RIGHT NOW, AS OF FEBRUARY OF 2021, TO THIS CURRENT MONTH, AS WE SPEAK TODAY, 794 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN HOMELESS OR LISTED THEIR ADDRESS AS HOMELESS. ANOTHER ALARMING NUMBER TO THAT EXACT FACT IS IT'S 136 OF THOSE ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS THEY'VE BECOME TO THE JAIL OUT OF THAT 794 MULTIPLE TIMES.
BUT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS.
I BELIEVE THAT COST THIS YEAR.
AS WE DO, THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS GOING TO BE AROUND $141.
AND THE REASON WHY I ACTUALLY MENTIONED THAT TO YOU IS WE HAVE A CRISIS IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY.
AND IT'S NOT JUST HERE, BY THE WAY JUST HAPPENS TO BE OUR BACKYARD.
THE CHIEF OF POLICE, AS YOU KNOW, JAN MICHAUD AND THE CHIEF OF THE SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, DAN CARSWELL AND I, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS AND I HAVE TO COMMEND TO OFFICER FISHER BEHIND ME HERE, WHO HAS REALLY TAKEN THE SPEAR, THE TIP OF THE SPEAR ON THIS HOMELESSNESS ISSUE HERE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY.
OFFICER FISHER ACTUALLY CAME DOWN THERE, WAS REASSIGNED WITH OUR RE OFFENDER RE-OFFEND REENTRY PROGRAM COORDINATOR, WHICH IS SERGEANT CLARK, AND DID IT AGAIN AT THE SOLOMON CALHOUN CENTER. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE GOAL IS TO FIND SERVICES.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAULA SULLIVAN.
AND AFTER MISS SULLIVAN IS MARTA HAHN.
I LIVE ON SPRING STREET IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE SAME THING THAT MS. [INAUDIBLE] AND THE SHERIFF ALSO TALKED ABOUT IS THE SAFETY, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
THAT, TO ME IS COMING IS GOING TO COME TO A HEAD.
RECENTLY, I CALLED THE POLICE BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE.
THERE WAS THE I CALL IT THE HOMELESS GANTLET THAT STARTS ON CATHEDRAL AND GOES UP TO TREASURY.
IT GOES BEYOND THAT AS WELL AS I'M SURE YOU ARE WELL AWARE.
I SENT AN EMAIL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU JUST RECENTLY REGARDING MY EXPERIENCE.
SO WHEN I CALLED THE POLICE, WHICH IS OF COURSE DOWN THE STREET, I WAS ROUTED TO A SHERIFF AND THAT WAS CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT, WHAT THE HECK, WHY IS THE DISPATCHER AT THE STATION? SO I HAD A CHAT AND I SAID THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON ON THE CORNER OF TREASURY AND THAT THERE WAS A LOT THERE WAS A FISTFIGHT GOING TO OCCUR BETWEEN THE PEOPLE ON THE GANTLET AS FAMILIES WERE GOING BY.
SO THE DISPATCHER DID WHAT DISPATCHERS DO.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, WHAT THE HECK, I'M RIGHT DOWNTOWN.
SO I WENT TO THE STATION AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, THERE WAS NO POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATION AT ALL.
[00:35:06]
THEIR JOB AND AGAIN AND WAS SO UPSET THAT SHE COULDN'T SPEAK ABOUT WHAT HER PROBLEM WAS AND HAD TO WAIT.ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER, A ST AUGUSTINE POLICE OFFICER CAME IN THE SHIFT SUPERVISOR.
HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IS NOT FUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
MY BELIEF I WORKED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME.
A UNIFORMED PRESENCE IN DOWNTOWN ST AUGUSTINE IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.
IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP CRIME, HOMELESSNESS.
AND YES, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSED AND IT NEEDS TO BE.
BUT YOU'VE GOT A COLLEGE IN THE CENTER OF TOWN.
AND I UNDERSTAND MY TIME IS UP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S A BIG CONCERN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MARTA HAHN IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
AND AFTER MISS HAHN IS PAUL DIXON.
YEAH. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I LIVE ON 45 FLORIDA AVENUE, AND THAT'S ON WEST KING.
I'M HERE TO BRING ATTENTION TO A DEVELOPMENT THAT IS PLANNED ON THREE ACRES, THREE PLUS ACRES, LAND ON THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER, ON OVERLAYS ON ONE AND TWO.
THAT MEANS IT'S RIGHT THERE ON THE WATER.
AND THEY PLAN TO PUT OVER 42 UNITS AND TO EXIT ON A STREET, FLORIDA AVENUE THAT IS 17 FEET WIDE WITH NO SIDEWALKS.
NOT ONLY THIS IS AN INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT.
AND EVERY SINCE AND I WILL LEAVE HERE SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN OF THE AREA, BUT THE LACK OF RESPECT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD BY THIS DEVELOPMENT, BY THIS DEVELOPER, SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER LLC, IN WHICH THEY GET A CONTINUANCE, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO CLARIFY WHAT TREES WILL BE REMOVED, WHY THE BULKHEAD IS NEEDED, WHY THE DOCK IS NEEDED, AND THEN THEY COME BACK WITH NOW A SWIMMING POOL THAT WAS NOT PLANNED BEFORE.
AND THE RETENTION POND, THE SWIMMING POOL, EVERYTHING FACES THE RIVER.
THE NEIGHBORS WERE VERY CONCERNED.
I CAN BEGIN TO TELL YOU WITH KING TIDE HOW THOSE STREETS FLOODED.
AND IT'S UNTHINKABLE TO PLACE OVER 42 UNITS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, RAVENSWOOD, THAT MY HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS 40, WAS BUILT IN 1948, AND THIS COMMUNITY WAS BUILT FOR THE STREETS TO FLOW THE STORM WATER INTO THE RIVER IN A NATURAL MANNER.
AND THIS DEVELOPER PLANS TO BLOCK THAT.
ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO DEMAND THAT THEY SHOW HONESTY AND CLARITY ABOUT THEIR PROJECT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WILL DEFINITELY BE FLOODED.
THANK YOU. AND WHERE CAN I LEAVE THE PAPER? YOU CAN LEAVE IT HERE WITH THE CITY CLERK.
BE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT FROM YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. PAUL DICKSON. AND AFTER MR. DICKSON IS MAUREEN LONG.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR UPCHURCH AND VICE MAYOR.
SIKES-KLINE AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M HERE TO COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEM TEN.
WE HOPE YOU RECEIVED OUR LETTER REGARDING THE ANNEXATION REQUESTED BY TOM SOUVENIR SHOP.
[00:40:04]
THE ASSOCIATION'S PURPOSE IS TO ADVANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, SAFETY AND COMMON PUBLIC INTERESTS OF THE RESIDENTS IN QUIET ENJOYMENT OF THEIR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOOD. MENENDEZ PARK ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT WE'RE CONCERNED WITH THE ANNEXATION REQUESTS BY THE OWNERS OF TOM SOUVENIR SHOP ON A1A AND OLD A-1 SOUTH.OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LIES ADJACENT AND DIRECTLY EAST OF THIS BUSINESS.
ALL OF TOM'S BUSINESS NEIGHBORS ALONG THE A1 CORRIDOR ARE IN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY AND ZONED IN A WAY THAT MAKES THEIR OPERATIONS COMPATIBLE WITH MENENDEZ PARK AND SAN JOSE FOREST. RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS CHARACTER.
ACTIVITIES ARE PREDICTABLY INCREASE EVENING SALES, NOISE LEVELS AND TRAFFIC AND THE RESULTANT OVERSPILL PARKING INTO OUR ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS ARE REASONABLY CONSTRAINED BY THE ST JOHNS COUNTY ZONING THAT ALL THE A1 CORRIDOR BUSINESSES, INCLUDING TOMS, ARE PRESENTLY SUBJECT TO.
IN FACT, THE NEIGHBORHOOD RECEIVED NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE ANNEXATION REQUEST.
WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS ACCIDENTALLY.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT IF ONE IS TRAVELING SOUTH FROM THE CITY, YOU CANNOT TURN LEFT INTO TOMS. THERE IS A MEDIAN WHICH SEPARATES SOUTH AND NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC.
AT THAT POINT, ONE WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE SOUTH PAST TOMS AND TURN LEFT ONTO OLD A1 SOUTH AND TURN AROUND TO GO NORTH BEFORE TURNING RIGHT INTO TOMS. CONVERSELY, ONE CANNOT LEAVE TOMS AND DIRECTLY HEAD SOUTH IN ANY WAY.
I URGE YOU TO DENY ANNEXATION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. DIXON. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAUREEN LONG.
MAUREEN LONG, 1821 CASTILE STREET, MENENDEZ PARK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
THIS LONG, FEEL FREE TO ADJUST TO.
I'M SURE MOST OF YOU MAY HAVE BEEN ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THERE.
TOM, SINCE 1970 IS BORDERED ON THE SOUTH SIDE BY SAFE PIT THRIFT STORE AT 1250 COUNTY ROAD AWANA.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT OVER HERE.
THAT'S WHERE SAFE IS TO THE EAST AND TO THE NORTH.
THE IT IS IT BORDERS THE RESIDENTIAL MENENDEZ PARK SUBDIVISION.
IT UTILIZES PONCE DE LEON STREET, WHICH INTERSECTS OLD BEACH ROAD, THE MAIN ARTERY FOR ALL TRAFFIC, TRAVELING THROUGH MENENDEZ PARK DISTRICT 550 OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS WITH THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF THE PROPERTY RIGHT OVER THERE, WHICH IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF IT.
YOU'LL SEE WITH THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF HIS PROPERTY, APPROXIMATELY 70 TO 75% OF TOM'S WEST FRONTAGE IS LOCATED ON COUNTY ROAD A1, A SOUTH NOT STATE ROAD, AND A AS IT'S DEPICTED ON THEIR SITE PLAN, THE APPROXIMATE 25 TO 30% OF REMAINING FRONTAGE FRONTAGE.
THAT BORDER STATE ROAD A1 A IS NOT A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE APPLICANT'S PROPERTY.
AND YOU CAN SEE HERE, THERE'S NO WAY TO TURN IN, AS MY NEIGHBOR TOLD YOU.
HOW DOES THAT TURN? UPSIDE DOWN IF I HAVE IT RIGHT.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THERE'S NO WAY TO CROSS OVER.
YOU HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN AND TURN ON TO ALL DAY ONE IN THE AREA THERE.
AND THERE'S THE WAY THAT YOU CANNOT.
THERE'S NO WAY TO CROSS OVER THERE AT ALL.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN TO COUNTY ROAD AWANA THERE AND TURN IN THERE.
AND THAT IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE NORTH, IT'S AN EASY WAY TO GET IN.
BUT IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE SOUTH, THERE'S NO WAY TO GO.
YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN ALL DAY WHEN A TURN AROUND, GO DOWN TO OLD BEACH ROAD, YOU CAN GO DOWN OLD BEACH ROAD AND THEN COME THROUGH TO PONCE DE LEON STREET.
THROUGH THAT LITTLE EXIT THERE.
[00:45:02]
DOWN HERE, PAST THESE TWO HOMES THAT LIVE THERE.AND THEN UP TO THEIR DRIVEWAY.
AND IF YOU GO ON GOOGLE AND YOU LOOK IT UP AND YOU FIND THE DIRECTIONS IT TAKES YOU DOWN, TURN ON TO OLD A1, A TURN AROUND THERE BY OLD BEACH ROAD AND MAKE ANOTHER TURN AND THEN COME BACK UP AND GO THROUGH SAFE.
THERE'S NO WAY CLOSE TO IT THAT EVEN TOUCHES ANYWHERE BY LIONS GATE.
EVEN LIONS GATE CAN'T EVEN GET IN THERE FROM THAT FROM THAT WAY.
SO WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD DO TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BRING THE TRAFFIC DOWN THERE WITH THIS IMPACTED NEW ZONING THAT THEY WANT TO DO AND WITH IT BEING AT THE CITY AND AND BEING THERE, WE WON'T HAVE MUCH SAYING IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. LONG THE LAST CARD THAT I HAVE IS SALLY MYRICK.
SALLY MYRICK I LIVE ON A STREET IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND JUST TO CONFUSE THINGS FURTHER, I'M GOING TO TRY AND EXPLAIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCLAMATION THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSION AWARDED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? WE ARE THE OLDEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE OLDEST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SEE A COPY OF THAT PROCLAMATION, BUT IT WAS DOCUMENTED BY RESEARCH.
BUT THE REASON THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS REQUEST IS JUST TO CONFUSE EVERYTHING FURTHER.
IT'S HARD TO GET TO TOM'S FROM THE SOUTH OR FROM THE NORTH, BUT IF YOU DO COME INTO THE THE ONLY ENTRANCE FROM THE SOUTH AND THERE'S ONLY AN EXIT FROM THE NORTH.
BUT IF YOU COME PAST TOM'S AND YOU GO DOWN PUNTS, IT PUNTS ENDS AT HYSTERIA STREET WHERE I LIVE AND IT'S DARK.
WE HAVE THE DARKEST NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS THE OLDEST NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND EVEN THE DELIVERY PEOPLE GET LOST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WAS WALKING MY DOG ONE AFTERNOON AND THIS TRUCK WAS STOPPED ON LEON STREET AND THE DRIVER ASKED ME WHERE LEON STREET WAS AND I TOLD HIM HE WAS ON LEON STREET AND THAT HE HAD TO BACK UP BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO GO FORWARD.
HE'S GOING TO BE IN MY NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY.
BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S AN OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE'RE ALSO BORDERED BY THE STATE PARK.
SO BETWEEN THE DEAD ENDS AND THE DARKNESS AND THE WILDLIFE.
AND I DON'T WANT ALL THOSE PEOPLE FROM TOMS DRIVING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LOST.
AND I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE CONFUSION WITH THE PEOPLE FROM TOM'S DRIVING AROUND.
MY LAST CARD I HAVE IS MISS BJ KALAIDI.
WHILE MS. KALAIDI IS COMING UP.
BJ KALAIDI WEST CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THE TOLL INCREASE ON MINIMAL USE OF WATER IN THE CITY IS PLUS $6.66.
REMEMBER PROPERTY TAX PAYERS? MOST CITY EMPLOYEES DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY, SO DO NOT PAY SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY AND CITY PROPERTY TAXES.
AND I WANT TO SAY TO THE VOTERS, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR VOTING AGAINST THE SALES TAX INCREASE.
THIS ITEM WAS NOT SHOWN ON THE JUNE 17, 2022 FRIDAY REVIEW AGENDA.
IT WAS HANDLED BY STAFF, NOT AT THE MEETING.
ONE WRITTEN COMMENT BY STAFF WAS QUOTE, THE PROPERTY IS NOT BEING SUBDIVIDED, END QUOTE.
THE STAFF MEMO DATED NOVEMBER 2ND, 2022, FOR THIS MEETING STATES, QUOTE, SUBDIVISION, END QUOTE.
WHICH IS IT WORDS HAVE MEETING THIS CONSENT AGENDA ITEM SHOULD NOT BE APPROVED TONIGHT.
THAT IS A VACANT LOT WITH TREES, AND IF THEY DIVIDE IT, THERE GOES OUR CANOPY.
SO WE WILL BE BACK. IF YOU GO AHEAD AND PASS THIS ON TONIGHT.
[00:50:01]
AND I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH CONSENT.THE CURRENT OWNERS OF TOM'S FRUIT STAND PURCHASED THE PROPERTY JANUARY SEVEN, 2022.
THEY WERE AT A FRIDAY REVIEW, OCTOBER 14, 2022, BY PHONE WITH THEIR LAWYER PRESENT SINCE ST JOHN'S COUNTY ALLEGEDLY WOULD NOT PERMIT THEM TO DO WHAT THEY WANTED, THEY CONTACTED THE CITY STAFF SO THE PROPERTY CAN BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY LIMITS WITH THE CM2 ZONING. THAT'S A VERY SERIOUS ZONING.
THIS REQUEST FOR ANNEXATION SHOULD BE STOPPED.
THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND YOU'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TONIGHT GET UP AND SPEAK ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOME CANNOT GET TO FRIDAY REVIEWS.
FRIDAY REVIEW IS WHEN MOST PEOPLE COME IN WITH THEIR DEVELOPERS AND THEIR LAWYERS AND TRY TO GET AROUND WHAT OUR COMP PLAN AND WHAT OUR ZONING EXPECTS TO BE ENFORCED BY THIS CITY BOARDS AND THIS COMMISSION.
AND I WILL SAY I HAVE TO DISAGREE.
MY TAXES DO PAY FOR THE POLICE.
GRANTED AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY.
BUT YOU KEEP ANNEXING THINGS IN.
THEY CAN'T TAKE CARE OF WHAT'S HERE NOW.
SO PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO IF ANYBODY ELSE WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, NOW'S YOUR TIME TO PROVIDE US A CARD AND.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE HOMELESS ON ST GEORGE ST.
WELL, PLEASE BEAR WITH ME ALSO.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ONE OF THE HEAVY, HEAVILY TAXED AREAS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH.
WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH STORMS AFTER THE LAST TWO.
THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER POSSIBILITIES THERE ARE AS FAR AS DEALING WITH THEM.
UH. WE HAVE TENANTS AND THE TENANTS HAVE REQUESTED THAT WE PUT UP STEEL PLATES, NOT PLATES, BUT STILL BARS IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESSES TO COMBAT THEM, SLEEPING OUT IN FRONT OF THEIR THEIR STORES.
AND THE PROBLEM GOES ON AND ON.
I KNOW I BELIEVE PERSONALLY YOU WOULD NOT WANT THESE PEOPLE IN YOUR FRONT YARD AND PARDON MY VOCABULARY URINATING AND THERE THERE STAINS ON THE STREET WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN.
AND I ASKED YOU TO DO SOMETHING IN FAVOR OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ACTRESS. ANY OTHER.
WELCOME, SIR. HEY, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME THIS EVENING.
I ALSO WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS THE THE HOMELESS ISSUE ON ST GEORGE STREET IN AND AROUND OUR CITY.
YOU KNOW, I JUST PARKED JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF APOLLO, JUST WALKING OVER HERE AND, YOU KNOW, ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STREET, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT A VERY BECOMING LOOK FOR OUR DOWNTOWN.
YOU KNOW, ST AUGUSTINE, IT'S NOT JUST A LOCAL TOURIST SPOT ANYMORE, IT'S NATIONAL.
[00:55:06]
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON, LIKE THE APPEAL THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT IN FRONT.WE DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK THAT TOLERATE THIS STUFF.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THOSE LAWS BE ENFORCED.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE COURTS THAT HAVE APPEALED THAT DECISION, THE RESOLUTION IN 2018.
AND I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING CONSIDERATION AND SEEING WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOLUTIONS WE CAN GO ABOUT AND AND FIXING THIS ISSUE.
IF I COULD JUST GET YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
YES, MY NAME IS RICHARD SAGE JR.
I'M IN JACKSONVILLE, BUT I HAVE A FAMILY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY RIGHT HERE ON ST GEORGE STREET.
ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? SEEING NOBODY I HAVE NO OTHER CARDS.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION IS NOW CLOSED.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
MR. REGAN, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE READ THE CONSENT AGENDA.MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL SOMETHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE CA 10 SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. IF, MR. REGAN, IF YOU COULD PLEASE READ THAT FOR US.
ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE THE REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS.
THE DECEMBER 5TH, 2022 7:30 P.M.
SPECIAL MEETING THE DECEMBER 12TH, 2022 5:00 PM CITY COMMISSION MEETING THE JANUARY 9TH 2023 5:00 PM CITY COMMISSION MEETING THE JANUARY 23RD 2020 3:05 P.M.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PRIOR COMMISSION MEETINGS.
THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2022.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26, 2022.
WE HAVE A RELEASE OF LEAN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEE MORTGAGE.
WE HAVE AUTHORIZED HIS ACCEPTANCE OF THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT JAG IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,996 FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO PORTABLE TRAFFIC SPEED MEASUREMENT DEVICES.
WE HAVE THE PROPORTIONATE SHARE MITIGATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ST JOHN'S COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND MADEIRA, PHASE TWO AND UNIT TWO FOR THE COLLECTION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT IMPACT FEES FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE REQUESTED THAT ONE ITEM BE REMOVED.
SO IS THERE APPROVAL? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVE. WITH THE REMOVAL OF ITEM CA TEN.
I HAVE A MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'D PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
SINCE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN ITEM CA TEN, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLACE IT ON THE AGENDA? CAN WE HEAR IT NOW? WE CERTAINLY CAN.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD, MR. REGAN. MS. SKINNER, WE'LL HEAR ITEM TEN NOW.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THIS ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS A PETITION TO ANNEX WITH A PRE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.39 ACRES FOR A PROPERTY KNOWN AS TOMS SINCE 1970, WHICH IS LOCATED ON A1 A AND NEAR OLD A1 A SOUTH.
IT IS CONTIGUOUS TO THE LINE LIONS GATE DEVELOPMENT ON ITS WESTERN BOUNDARY.
THE PROPERTY IS ALSO IN THE ST JOHN'S COUNTY MID ANASTASIA DESIGN REVIEW AREA.
[01:00:03]
THE PETITIONER IS REQUESTING A COMMERCIAL MEDIUM DESIGNATION AS DEFINED BY THE CITY'S NOMENCLATURE IF ANNEXED.THESE COMMERCIAL DESIGNATIONS ARE SIMILAR AND HAVE SIMILAR PERMITTED USES.
THE APPLICANT INDICATED PROPOSED USES FOR THE PROPERTY AS RETAIL GIFT SHOP, RESTAURANT, CAFE, SPECIAL EVENT VENUE, MOBILE FOOD VENDORS OR FOOD TRUCKS IN THE SALE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.
SEATING WOULD BE LIMITED TO APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 SEATS AND WOULD BE PRIMARILY OUTDOORS.
THAT'S WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE CITY'S FRIDAY REVIEW.
THAT'S AN OVERVIEW OF THIS OF THE ANNEXATION.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I AM CONCERNED.
HEARING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRAFFIC AND THE NOISE AND THE ALCOHOL USE AND THE DISRUPTION TO THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
I DO. I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMPARISON BETWEEN WHAT THE PROPOSED ZONING IN THE CITY IS AS IT COMPARES TO THIS TO THE COUNTIES.
AND I ALSO, I GUESS TWO OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERN ME WOULD BE IN THAT COMPARISON, HEARING MORE ABOUT WHAT IS THE MID ANESTHESIA DESIGN REVIEW DISTRICT, WE DO NOT HAVE ONE.
THEREFORE THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE HOW THAT PROPERTY DEVELOPS SIGNIFICANTLY.
WE DON'T HAVE THOSE SORTS OF I GUESS YOU MAYBE CALL IT REGULATIONS OR PROTECTIONS OR OVERLAY.
SO I'D BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT THAT MEANS.
AND ALSO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACCESS, THE PONCE DE LEON STREET EXITING DIRECTLY BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS A GREAT CONCERN TO ME.
I MEAN, WE ALL I TAKE NOTE OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE ONLY WAY IN IS IF YOU'RE SOUTHBOUND BUT ALL OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE LIKE THAT GIVES THEM A DISADVANTAGE.
THAT IS A DISADVANTAGE INHERENT TO THE PROPERTY.
MY FOURTH POINT IS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CONTIGUOUS-NESS.
THE SPEAKER BROUGHT UP THAT THE BULK OF THE FRONTAGE IS NOT ADJACENT TO LIONS GATE OR ACROSS THE STREET.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU. BUT LET'S BE VERY CLEAR, COMMISSIONERS.
THIS BUSINESS IS OPEN AND OPERATING.
IT HAS BEEN OPEN AND OPERATING FOR MONTHS, SO NO ONE'S PROPOSING A NEW BUSINESS.
SO I THINK THE INTENSIFICATION BETWEEN THE ZONING I THINK IS THE MOST COMPELLING ARGUMENT.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE, IS THAT.
FIRST, I'D HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
COULD WE ASSUME, THOUGH, THEN, THAT THE ANNEXATION WOULD RESULT IN A MORE INTENSIVE ZONING CATEGORY? I WOULD SAY THAT THE ZONING DISTRICTS ARE SIMILAR.
I WOULD NOT SAY THAT THERE'S MORE INTENSE NECESSARILY.
THEN WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING ANNEXED TO THE CITY AS OPPOSED TO HAVING COUNTY, THE CURRENT COUNTY ZONING? BECAUSE WE PROVIDE A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE OR A HIGH TOUCH.
AND I APPRECIATE THE APPLAUSE, BUT I DO NEED YOU TO KEEP THOSE TO YOURSELF.
IT IS INTIMIDATING FOR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WHO MAY DISAGREE.
SO PLEASE KNOW, NO PUBLIC OUTBREAK.
SO I THINK IT'S SIMPLY A MATTER THAT THE CITY IS SMALLER, THE CITY IS MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE.
THE CITY MANAGER IS ACCESSIBLE, AS WE ALL KNOW.
AND SO THIS IS A TINY PARCEL IN A VERY LARGE COUNTY OR IT'S A PARCEL IN A VERY SMALL CITY.
BUT TO WHAT ADVANTAGE IS IT TO OUR RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY TO HAVE THIS PROPERTY ANNEXED INTO OUR CITY WHEN WE ALREADY ARE TAXED WITH ISSUES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS AND ENFORCEMENT AND AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THAT COULD ENSUE FROM THIS ANNEXATION? AND. SPILLING OVER INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS IF THERE WERE A HIGHER INTENSITY OF USAGE.
[01:05:04]
OKAY, SO LET'S BACK UP PROCEDURALLY.WHERE ARE WE? THIS IS A PROPOSED VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION.
SO LET'S UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
SO THIS IS A PETITION ANNEX WITH A PRE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT.
IF THE CITY COMMISSION CHOOSES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PETITION, THEN WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH AN ANNEXATION ORDINANCE AND IT WOULD GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD FOR A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE LAND USE AND ZONING DISTRICT, THE CITY LAND USE AND ZONING DISTRICT. SO THE ORDINANCES GENERALLY MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.
YOU'D HAVE AN ANNEXATION ORDINANCE.
LET'S SAY THERE'S A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.
THEN ALL THREE ORDINANCES WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR INTRODUCTION.
THEN THEY WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.
SO WE DO HAVE OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE VICINITY.
WE DO HAVE THE ANASTASIA STATE PARK ON THIS ON THIS SIDE OF ANYWAY SO.
SO E CAN LOOK AT OUR CITY MAP TODAY AND SEE THAT ANNEXATION AND ACQUIRING PIECES OF PROPERTY AS A. BYZANTINE MAKES FOR UNUSUAL MAPS, AND WE ARE FAR FROM UNIQUE IN THIS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER.
IT WOULDN'T BE PLANNING AND ZONING WOULD JUST RANDOMLY PICK A CATEGORY.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE LAND USE CATEGORIES THAT ARE WITHIN THE VICINITY.
ONE OTHER POINT THAT I THINK THE ASSUMPTION HERE IS THAT THE INITIATION BY THE PROPERTY OWNER TO THE CITY WAS BECAUSE OF INTENSIFICATION, THE DESIRE TO INTENSIFY THE USE OF THE PROPERTY.
I'M ASSUMING THAT I'M TAKING THAT UNDER ASSUMPTION, AND THAT IS NOT MY ASSUMPTION.
THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR STAFF IS.
THE COUNTY ZONING DOES ALLOW WINE AND BEER ON THEIR ZONING.
I HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME AND I WILL LOOK AT THAT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE ANASTASIA BOULEVARD DESIGN STANDARDS.
YOU KNOW, THEY STOP OBVIOUSLY, AT THE CITY LIMITS AS YOU TURN SOUTH ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.
BUT WE DO HAVE DESIGN STANDARDS WITHIN THE AREA.
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FROM THE OWNER HERE.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM AT THIS JUNCTURE.
THIS IS THE PRELIMINARY STEP GIVING CITY STAFF AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED.
AND AS MS. SKINNER INDICATED, THERE ARE NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND REVIEW BY BOTH THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AND THIS BODY COMING FORWARD. I MAKE YES, PLEASE, REAL QUICK.
AFTER HAVING LISTENED TO THINGS IMPRESS ME ABOUT THIS, WHAT'S GOING TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE PEACEFUL USE OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS? AS PEACEFUL AS IT MAY BE NOW? I DON'T KNOW. IT'S GOING TO BE THE NOISE LEVEL THAT'S GOING TO ORIGINATE FROM THE USE OF THIS PROPERTY AND OF COURSE, ACCESS THE EGRESS OFF THIS PROPERTY INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING IT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S TOTAL ACCESS AND EGRESS IS OFF OF US OR ONE A OR ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.
OF COURSE, IN ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY, WE CAN'T DEED RESTRICT IT.
[01:10:03]
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I DON'T KNOW THERE'S SOME WAY THAT WE COULD SOMEHOW CONDITION THE ANNEXATION ON LIMITING ACCESS TO ON AND OFF THE PROPERTY ACCESS NEGRESS FROM ANASTASIA OR US ONE AND SOMEHOW LOOK AT HOW WE COULD RESTRICT THE AMMUNITION OR THE NOISE THAT MAY COME FROM THE PROPERTY BY RESTRICTING OUTSIDE USE OF.YOU KNOW, NOISE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
JUST TO CLARIFY THIS, THE CURRENT USE OF THE PROPERTY IS RETAIL WITH NORMAL RETAIL HOURS, RIGHT? LIKE NINE UNTIL FIVE OR SIX IN THE AFTERNOON, RIGHT.
BEING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
WE DID GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THIS.
SO TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A BACKGROUND.
THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING TO ANNEX, NOT TO INTENSIFY OR CHANGE USE.
I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT NOW BEFORE WE KIND OF GET INTO SOME OF THE OTHER DEEP WEEDS IN THAT.
A THE WAY THEY OPERATE NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT.
THE USE IS GOING FORWARD SHOULD THE COMMISSION APPROVE AND WE GO THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ANNEXATION WOULD NOT BE INTENSIFIED DRIVING FURTHER TRAFFIC.
CONSIDERATION, THE APPLICANT IS STILL GOING TO OPERATE THEIR NORMAL HOURS.
I BELIEVE IT'S NINE TO ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN, DEPENDING ON THE DAY.
THEY ALSO HAVE A TWO COPY LICENSE, WHICH IS A BEER AND WINE LICENSE.
ESTABLISHED AND LICENSED AT THE PREMISES NOW AS WELL, THE APPLICANT OWNS PROPERTY IN THE CITY LIMITS FURTHER NORTH ON A MONDAY AS WELL. SO IT'S KIND OF ALLOWING THEM TO GEAR THEMSELVES TOWARDS THE CITY.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, MR. MAYOR, IS THAT CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE DOES A GREAT JOB AT SERVICING THEIR CITIZENS.
SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE FOR THIS PROPERTY AND.
IT SERVES AND PROMOTES THE COMP PLAN AS WELL AS THE FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENTS AS WELL.
SHOULD THIS ANNEXATION ANNEXATION MOVE FORWARD WITH RESPECT TO THE USES? THE COUNTY HAS A VERY EXTENSIVE LIST OF WHAT USES ARE ALLOWABLE VERSUS SPECIAL USES, AND IT ALMOST EXCEEDS WHAT THE CITY ALLOWS.
SO AND LIKE I MENTIONED, THE CLIENT IS NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO REDEVELOPING THE PROPERTY.
THEY CAN ALREADY CURRENTLY OPERATE THE WAY THEY ARE.
THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS THAT ARE COMMERCIAL MEDIUM ZONING IN THE CITY WOULD ALLOW WITH AN EASE OF ACCESS TO DO WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH A PERMITTING PROCESS EVERY TIME THAT THEY WANT TO TO DO A FUNDRAISING EVENT.
THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE THAT WAS RECENTLY INJURED AND HOSPITALIZED, BUT THEY COULDN'T GET IT IN TIME BECAUSE THE COUNTY REQUIRES CERTAIN NOTIFICATIONS, CERTAIN PROCEDURAL PROCESSES JUST TO HAVE A MOBILE FOOD TRUCK FOR A FUNDRAISER.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND THERE.
NOT LOOKING TO MAKE IT SOME KIND OF LOUNGE OR RESTAURANT THAT'S OPEN UNTIL 11 P.M., CAUSING TRAFFIC TO GO IN AND OUT AND DISTURBING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SECONDLY, THE USES SURROUNDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN QUESTION ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR CLIENT OR THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO DO OR KIND OF UTILIZE THEIR PROPERTY IN A MANNER OF.
YOU'VE GOT THE VILLAGE FOOD TRUCK PARK AND WE KNOW THAT CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF OUTCRY IN THE COUNTY.
WELL, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED AND THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THAT.
[01:15:01]
WITH THAT BEING SAID, JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION, I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE IT AS A RETAIL AND GIFT SHOP, A CAFE STYLE. THEY SELL ICE CREAM, PACKAGED GOODS.THAT'S NOTHING OUT OF THE NORM THAT THEY ARE EXPECTING TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
AND REALLY, I MEAN, I THINK I'VE ADDRESSED THE INGRESS EGRESS THERE.
PATRONS DON'T USE PONDS OR DON'T EXPECT TO USE PONDS.
AND WE UNDERSTAND IT'S A DEAD END AND A DARK ROAD.
PERSON COMING IN IS ACCESSING IT, GOING NORTHBOUND, AS MENTIONED, AND THAT'S APPLICABLE TO THE OTHER PROPERTIES NORTH OF IT THAT ARE ADJACENT TO IT AS WELL. SO I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE INGRESS EGRESS IS AN ISSUE.
IT EXISTED BEFORE THE APPLICANTS HAD PURCHASED THE PROPERTY AND OPERATE IN THE SAME MANNER.
SO THAT'S KIND OF TO THE INGRESS EGRESS QUESTION SOMEONE HAD ASKED ABOUT THE CONTIGUOUS BY STATUTE.
IT IS CONTIGUOUS BECAUSE THERE'S A POD WITH LIONS GATE AND THEN THERE IS A MAP THAT I CAN SHOW VERY BRIEFLY THAT WILL SHOW YOU.
THAT TOMS IS LOCATED AT THE ARROW.
THIS IS A I GUESS, A BEACH SHOP, SOUVENIR SHOP.
IT WAS COMPOSED OF ABOUT THREE PARCELS TO THE WEST OF A1A AND 312.
YOU'VE GOT COMMERCIAL MEDIUM TO GO ON WEST BOUND AS WELL.
AND THEN GOING FORWARD NORTH ON THE BOULEVARD, THEN YOU'LL START TO SEE MORE OF THE CITY PROPERTY.
SO THERE IS CONTIGUITY HERE BETWEEN THE APPLICANT AND LIONSGATE.
SO THAT SHOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S CONTIGUOUS.
AND UNDER THE FLORIDA STATUTE, IT DOES QUALIFY AS CONTIGUOUS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO. COMMISSIONERS, AT THIS JUNCTURE, THE ONLY QUESTION I THINK, FOR THE COMMISSION IS DO YOU WISH TO GO FORWARD UNDERSTANDING THE PROCEDURE THAT WOULD BE BOTH BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AND THIS BODY IN THE FUTURE? I STILL HAVE A QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE APPLICANT COULD ANSWER THIS OR STAFF THE EXISTING FOOD TRUCK FACILITY THAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAFE THAT YOU POINTED OUT THAT YOU ARE THINKING YOUR APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR.
DO THEY HAVE WINE AND BEER AT THAT FACILITY? THEY WERE RECENTLY APPROVED TO DO THAT AS WELL, JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THEY THEY HAD A HARD TIME GETTING IT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THAT ADDING FOOD TRUCKS TO THIS, THIS USE THAT YOU HAVE NOW, WHICH IS A GIFT SHOP AND EVERYTHING IS NOT INTENSIFYING THE USE.
IT'S NOT INTENDED TO BE A FOOD TRUCK PARK LIKE THE VILLAGE FOOD TRUCK PARK.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK AVAILABLE IF THEY WORK WITH A SPECIAL VENDOR AND THEY WANT TO HAVE AN EVENT, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE ONE ON PREMISE AS A PERMITTED USE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT COMMERCIAL MEDIUM.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION FROM STAFF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
SO WE HAVE WE'RE BEING ASKED TO CONSENT TO PRELIMINARILY A PRE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO ASK THE APPLICANT TO INCLUDE OR IS IT POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE IN THE PRE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT A CLOSURE TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC TO PONCE DE LEON STREET AND ONE AND TO AGREE TO COMPLY WITH THE ANESTHESIA CORRIDOR REVIEW FOR THIS SEGMENT.
SO MY SUGGESTION IS, IF THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS REGARDING THE SITE PLAN OR ACCESS TO THE SITE PLAN, MY SUGGESTION IS WE NOT DO IT OFF THE CUFF TONIGHT SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WOULD WANT SOME FEEDBACK FROM OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
[01:20:06]
THERE MAY BE A REASON AND ACCESS, PUBLIC SAFETY REASON WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO KEEP THAT BACK ACCESS OPEN.SO MY SUGGESTION IS YES, THE ISSUE OF THE SITE PLAN AND HOW IT WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR UTILITIES, OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS, THAT ISSUE COULD BE ADDRESSED.
WE CANNOT, THROUGH THIS SORT OF AGREEMENT, CHANGE OUR CODIFIED RULES.
SO IF THIS PARCEL IS NOT WITHIN OUR ENTRY CORRIDOR, IT CANNOT BE MADE SO VIA PRE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE TONIGHT. THE REASON FOLKS DIDN'T GET NOTICE IS THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.
THIS IS SIMPLY ACKNOWLEDGING AND ACCEPTING THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS REQUESTED THE ANNEXATION.
SO THE FUTURE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE THE ONES THAT WILL BE NOTICED IN THE PAPER AND SO ON.
AND THAT IS THE TWO HEARING NOTICE THAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH, WITH ORDINANCES AND SO ON.
IF THAT ANSWERS PROCEDURALLY WHERE WE ARE, THAT HELPS COMMISSIONERS.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM.
SO I HAVE A MOTION AND I HAVE A SECOND.
DOES THAT INCLUDE THE FACT THAT THE APPLICANT HAS SAID THE HOURS WOULD BE BETWEEN NINE AND 7 P.M.? NO, THAT'S NOT A PART OF MY MOTION.
I THINK IT STRIKES ME AS INAPPROPRIATE TO IMPOSE OPERATING HOURS IN A ZONING ORDINANCE.
PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS HAVING IS THE NOISE.
THE VENUE THAT WILL BE OUTSIDE DRINKING AND MUSIC AND SUCH.
AND IF WE CAN LIMIT IT TO 7:00, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY MITIGATE SOME OF THAT PROBLEM.
AND I JUST AND THIS COMMISSION MAY WELL CHOOSE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
I'M IN FAVOR OF BEGINNING THE PROCESS.
SO THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES CAN BE ADDRESSED.
NOT THAT I'LL BE HERE TO DO THAT.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK IT'S NICE BOTH OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE SLIPPING OUT OF HERE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO PUT IT OUT THERE FOR CONSIDERATION.
BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
I AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT YOUR MOTION BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THE PUBLIC GOOD TO THE CITIZENS OF ST AUGUSTINE AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO GO BACK TO THE CITY STAFF AND DISCUSS A LESS INTENSIVE ZONING CATEGORY FOR ANNEXATION MOVING FORWARD. OK.
FURTHER DEBATE. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER VALDES SECONDED.
SO HE SHOULD BE THE NEXT VOTE? YES. LET'S START AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE NOW.
[6.A. 63 Hypolita Street - Appeal of a Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) denial of a variance application to approve the expansion of a parking lot. Item will not be heard on this agenda, but will be re-advertised for presentation at a future City Commission meeting.]
MS. SKINNER, I THINK WE ARE NOW ON ITEM SIX A.I THINK THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
YES. THIS ITEM IS AN APPEAL OF A PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD DENIAL OF A VARIANCE APPLICATION.
THIS ITEM WILL NOT BE HEARD THIS EVENING.
REQUIRED ADJACENT NOTICES WERE SENT TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.
HOWEVER, THE REQUIRED NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT WAS NOT PUBLISHED BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF THE REQUIRED PUBLICATION SUBMITTAL DUE DATE, THE APPLICATION WAS CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE.
SO THIS ITEM WILL BE ADVERTISED FOR A FUTURE CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. SKINNER.
[7.B. Items of Great Public Importance]
7B I'M SORRY, MR. MAYOR. 7B.THANK YOU. SEVEN BE MR. REGAN, YOUR REPORT ON THE STORM.
MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I'M GOING TO KEEP IT BRIEF.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA TONIGHT, BUT WE.
[01:25:07]
CITY HALL SURVIVED VERY WELL.WE HAD ONE TREE THAT DAMAGED TWO SOLID WASTE VEHICLES THAT WERE HAVING REPAIRED UTILITIES DID WELL.
WE DID HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH OUR CONTRACTORS WHO STILL CONTROL.
STATIONS ON THE ISLAND WITH SURGE, WE LOST 13,000 GALLONS OF SEWAGE.
BUT ONCE THESE LIFT STATIONS ARE COMPLETE AND WE'RE NOT RUNNING ON AUXILIARY PUMPS AND THE TYPES OF PROBLEMS THAT HAPPEN IN A STORM, I EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE TO GO DOWN AND. PUBLIC WORKS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE'RE IN DEBRIS REMOVAL RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE, WE HAVE TO ASK OUR RESIDENTS TO BE PATIENT.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MOVE SOLID WASTE OFF OF YARDS.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S HARD TO LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FUTURE WHEN YOU CAN SEE YOUR PAST IN YOUR FRONT YARD.
SO WE HAVE DONE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE VOLUMES AND TOMORROW.
INTERESTINGLY THAT OVER THE WEEKEND, OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT INSTALLED A NEW VERSION OF OUR ENTERPRISE WIDE SOFTWARE CALLED MUNIS. DOESN'T AFFECT MOST PEOPLE, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT WE DIDN'T MISS ON A MAJOR SOFTWARE UPGRADE THAT WAS ON SCHEDULE.
WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF GOOD, POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON OUR OVERALL COMMUNICATIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WAS WE RAN THREE VERY IMPORTANT POSTS TO DEAL WITH THE NO WAKE PROBLEM.
AND IT IN TOTAL, THE PUSH HAS BEEN 716 REACTIONS, 156 COMMENTS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT MESSAGING WAS SHARED 944 TIMES.
NOT TO SAY THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
BUT BETWEEN OUR POLICE PRESENCE AND OUR MESSAGING AND GENERAL AWARENESS, THIS STORM HAS HAD THE LEAST NUMBER OF POLICE CALLS.
AND OUR FRIDAY MORNING, WE BEGAN IN EARNEST TO REPAIR THE LIGHTS.
AND SO IT'S A DIFFERENT PROBLEM.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT TONIGHT AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, WE'RE EXPECTING TO HAVE COMPLETELY RESTORED THE PLAZA, WHICH IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE LIGHTING CEREMONY.
ALSO, THE PONCE AND ANDERSON CIRCLE, WE HAVE CHANGED OUT ALL THE RECEPTACLE CIRCUITS AND THAT IS UP.
THE POLICE STATION IS 100% READY TO GO.
WE WERE SPARED HERE AT CITY HALL.
THE THE STAGE OF THE WATER WAS ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF BELOW ALL THE RECEPTACLES OUT IN THE FRONT.
HAD THAT WATER GOT IN THOSE RECEPTACLES, WE WOULD NOT BE LIGHTING CITY HALL ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
CITY HALL AND CASTILLO DRIVE IS READY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE BRIDGE ALLIANCE, WHICH THE CIRCUITRY HAS BEEN DOWN THE STREET.
WE'VE NOTICED THE STREET LIGHTS HAVEN'T BEEN ON, SO THAT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.
AND WE'RE WORKING HAND IN GLOVE WITH FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT.
AND MAYOR ELECT SIKES-KLINE HAS BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT, AND THAT HAS RESULTED IN A $10,000 CONTRIBUTION FOR THE COST OVERRUNS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN ORDER TO KEEP ON SCHEDULE, WHICH WE ARE ANTICIPATING CAN BE AS HIGH AS $70,000 OF FORECASTED EXPENSES.
I BELIEVE $12,300 I THINK WAS THE NUMBER FROM THE TDC AS ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I TALKED WITH OUR ELECTRICIAN AND OUR CONTRACTOR EARLIER.
[01:30:01]
WE NEED SOME HELP FROM FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT TO EXPEDITE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF A CIRCUIT THAT FEEDS THE NORTH, THE NORTH BAYFRONT.SO WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT OUTREACH.
AND THE WE DID HAVE A AN ELECTROCUTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE LIFE SAVING EFFORTS OF THE PUBLIC AROUND HIM AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT SAVED HIS LIFE AND HE'S OUT OF THE ICU.
I'LL LEAVE THE CONVERSATION THERE.
AND THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT THAT WAS REPORTED OUT QUITE A BIT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A BIG AGENDA.
I HAVE A QUESTION, JOHN, REGARDING THIS STATION, OUR NEW STATION IN THE PLAZA.
A CORRECT. WHEN WE HAD APPLIED TO HARBOR FOR BACKUP GENERATION THAT LIFT STATION 23, WHICH WOULD BE BY THE MARKET AND 24 I MIGHT HAVE THAT REVERSED THE MARKET LIFT STATION ALSO BY THE NATIONAL GUARD.
AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THE POWER GOES DOWN, THE WATER'S TOO DEEP.
WE CAN'T HAUL IN AUXILIARY TRAILER TRAILER GENERATORS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO OVERFLOWS, PARTICULARLY IN THE MARIA SANCHEZ LAKE BASIN.
OUR PLAN IS TO GO BACK TO JUAB AND ASK THIS QUESTION AGAIN WITH NEW EVIDENCE AND A NEW ARGUMENT AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRACTICAL REALITY OF RUNNING A CITY AND ESTHETIC CONSIDERATIONS IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE AVERAGING ONE FLOOD A YEAR SINCE.
MATTHEW, I THINK THAT PROBABLY A GREAT IDEA.
WE HAVE ANY SEWAGE SPILL DOWNTOWN BASED ON THIS OUTAGE WE WERE AWARE OF A LITTLE BIT.
OUR TOTAL VOLUME LOST WAS 13,000 GALLONS TOTAL.
RATHER SAID OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS ZERO.
BUT THE CANDIDLY, THAT'S A VERY DE MINIMUS AMOUNT OF SEWAGE IN THE BIG PICTURE OF A STORM.
BUT AGAIN, THE GOAL IS ALWAYS ZERO.
AND THESE NUMBERS USED TO BE MEASURED IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.
WITHOUT POWER, THEY DON'T WORK.
YES, MR. REGAN. I THINK THE EQUIPMENT CAN BE SHIELDED, WRAPPED IN SOME ESTHETIC MANNER SO THAT IT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO HARM. I THINK WE SHOULD GO THAT DIRECTION.
I AGREE. AND WE'LL GET BACK WITH THE SPEAKER.
I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GO BACK AND REVIEW LIFT STATION 52 AS WELL AS THE DOWNTOWN.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE ESTHETICS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE DO A GOOD JOB WITH.
MR. REGAN, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS ELECTROCUTED.
DO WE KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED? THAT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
THERE ARE DOT POLES, YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION LIGHTING OF THE DOT.
I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED THAT THAT WHATEVER CAUSE IT DIDN'T FALL OUT WHEN IT WAS FLOODED.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A BETTER REPORT, BUT WE CAN'T SPECULATE.
WE NEED TO GET THE REAL FACTS.
I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE FLORIDA POWER IN LIGHT.
MANY OF US DID NOT LOSE POWER AGAIN, AND THAT'S IN SO MANY WAYS YOU DID.
BUT IN SO MANY WAYS, THAT'S HALF THE BATTLE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BE APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR EFFORTS.
AND I HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
I HAD HEARD ONE TIME AT ONE TIME THAT THERE WERE ONLY 20 PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT DOES HAPPEN TO OUR POPULATION OF HOMELESSNESS.
YOU KNOW, WHO TAKES THEM THERE? HOW DO THEY GET TREATED IN AND DO THEY COME BACK HERE AFTER? I KNOW WE'VE HEARD ANTIDOTES IN THE PAST, BUT I THINK I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.
YES. AND IN THE MEDIA HAD SAID 20.
[01:35:02]
THE COUNTY HAS REPORT YOU KNOW, THE REPORT OUT THAT THE COUNTY SENDS US I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GET IT OR NOT, BUT IT COMES OUT OF THE EOC.THEY GIVE A TOTAL OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE SHELTER.
SO I'M INTERESTED IN THROUGH THE MAYOR TO THE VICE MAYOR.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE DIALOG THAT THE SHERIFF GAVE US, AND HE IS PLANNING TO STAY AS A RESOURCE IN OUR QUESTION AND ANSWERS AND DISCUSSION ON HOMELESSNESS. PERHAPS WE COULD JUST AN OFFICER FISHER MAYBE WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY ADDRESS THAT WHEN WE GET IN.
THE Q&A IS COMPARED TO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT MIGHT JUST WORK BETTER.
OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. REGAN. WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 8A1 ORDINANCE 2022-28.
[8.A.1. Ordinance 2022-28: Amends the Future Land Use Designation of 3 Nesbit Avenue from Industrial to Residential Medium Density.]
MR. MAYOR? YES? COULD I START THIS OFF WITH X PARTY FOR MYSELF SAYING THAT I HAVE NOT HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS ON ANY OF THESE ORDINANCES WITH OUTSIDE.SO YOU'RE REFERRING TO ALL FIVE OF THESE? OKAY, SO THANK YOU.
VICE MAYOR, I HAVE HAD CONVERSATION WITH BETH SWEENEY ON ITEM A FIVE.
YES. WE'RE DOING ALL. I HAVE NONE.
THANK YOU, MS. SKINNER. WE'RE ON ITEM 8A1.
THE NEXT TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ARE RELATED.
THIS ITEM IS THE SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING FOR EACH ORDINANCE.
ORDINANCE 2022-28 TO AMEND THE LAND USE FROM INDUSTRIAL TO RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY IN THE COMPATIBLE REZONING ORDINANCE OF 2022-29 TO CHANGE THE ZONING FOR THREE NESBITT FROM INDUSTRIAL AND WAREHOUSING IOW TO RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL ONE RG ONE THE PROPERTY ON THREE NESBITT AVENUE IS SOUTH OF EWING STREET AND WEST OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER.
IT IS OWNED BY THE HOUSING COALITION.
THE PCB RECOMMENDED THESE CHANGES ON SEPTEMBER 6TH IN THE CITY COMMISSION.
FIRST MEETING WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 26.
ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE HEARD THE EXPLANATION.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE WE OPEN PUBLIC HEARING? NO. OKAY.
AT THIS POINT, THEN, I WOULD OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2022-28.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN AT THIS TIME.
AND I'M NOT SEEING ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE INDICATING A DESIRE TO SPEAK.
AND THEREFORE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2022-28.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2022-28.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-28, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR SOME DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1.64 ACRES LOCATED AT THREE NESBIT AVENUE IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF INDUSTRIAL TO A DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ORDINANCE PASSES ANY FURTHER.
[8.A.2. Ordinance 2022-29: Amends the Zoning of 3 Nesbit Avenue from Industrial and Warehousing (IW) to Residential General-one (RG-1).]
WE'RE NOW IN ITEM 8A2 [INAUIDIBLE] OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU NEED TO SAY ON THIS ONE? NO, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OH, NO. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 202-29.
I DO NOT SEE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE INDICATING A DESIRE TO SPEAK.
AND THEREFORE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2022-29.
I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT THE ORDINANCE BE READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASSED ON SECOND READING.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-29 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING APPROXIMATELY 1.64 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT THREE NESBIT AVENUE.
PARCEL ID NUMBER 1044100000 IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, HAS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE INDUSTRIAL AND WAREHOUSING I W TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
[01:40:03]
CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL ONE RG ONE PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.ANY FURTHER COMMENT OR DEBATE? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'D PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ORDINANCE PASSES.
[8.A.3. Ordinance 2022-31: Amends the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) designation of 110 Carver Street East from Residential Low Density to Recreation/Open Space with specific site conditions.]
MR. BIRCHIM. WE ARE ON ITEM 8A3, ORDINANCE 2022-31.AND I ASSUME WE'VE GOT THE COMPANION ORDINANCE, WHICH IS ITEM 8A4, WHICH IS ORDINANCE 2022-32.
[8.A.4. Ordinance 2022-32: Amends the zoning of 110 Carver Street East from Residential Single Family-one (RS-1) to Government Use (GU).]
YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.ORDINANCE 2231 AMENDS THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION FOR 110 CARVER STREET EAST.
IT AMENDS IT WITH THREE SITE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.
THE PROPOSED LAND USE WOULD BE RECREATIONAL.
I'M SORRY. IS BEING CHANGED FROM A RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO RECREATION OPEN SPACE.
THE THREE SITE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS WILL LIMIT THE HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS TO 20 FEET.
BOTH THE LAND USE AMENDMENT AND REZONING WERE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS? MR. BIRCHIM, SEEING NONE.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2022-31.
I DO NOT SEE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE AND THE AUDIENCE INDICATING A DESIRE TO SPEAK.
AND SO THEREFORE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2022-31 COMMISSIONERS.
IS THERE A MOTION? I MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 2022-31.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022, DASH 31, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR SOME DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 0.38 ACRES LOCATED AT 110 CARVER STREET EAST IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO A DESIGNATION OF RECREATION OPEN SPACE WITH SITE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ROXANNE HORVATH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ORDINANCE PASSES.
YOU'VE HEARD THE EXPLANATION ON ORDINANCE 2022-32.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT.
I DO NOT SEE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE DESIRING TO SPEAK.
AND THEREFORE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2022-32.
COMMISSIONERS, I MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2022.
PARCEL ID NUMBER 1587300080 IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE HEREINAFTER AFTER FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY ONE RS ONE TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ROXANNE HORVATH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ORDINANCE PASSES, MR. MAYOR. COULD I JUST SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE DAVID BIRCHAM HIS HARD WORK ON THIS? IT WAS WELL DONE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BIRCHAM. WE'RE NOW IN ORDINANCE 2022-33.
[8.A.5. Ordinance 2022-33: Amends the Sebastian Hotel PUD approved in 2008 to the Rivers View Hall Planned Unit Development (PUD) to include dormitories as a permitted use]
I HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND THEREFORE THE VICE MAYOR WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM FOR US.I ALSO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
[01:45:01]
AS THE APPLICANT IS MY EMPLOYER, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT A STAFF MEMBER LET ME KNOW.THANK YOU. WE'LL WAIT TO YOU CLEAR.
MISS SKINNER, WILL YOU GO AHEAD AND GIVE US THE OVERVIEW? YES, THANK YOU.
THIS ITEM IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF ORDINANCE 2022.
DASH 33 FOR 333 SOUTH PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD OR THE SEBASTIAN HOTEL.
WITH THIS AMENDMENT, THE ONLY TWO USES PERMITTED BY THE PUD ARE A 95 ROOM HOTEL WITH AMENITIES AND ONSITE PARKING AND THE STUDENT DORMITORY USE WITH AMENITIES AND PARKING.
THE PCB REVIEWED THIS ITEM AT THEIR OCTOBER 4TH MEETING AND RECOMMENDED THE CHANGE TO THE PUD, INCLUDING UPDATING THE LANGUAGE IN THE PARKING SECTION OF THE PUD TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF USED AS A DORM, SOME STUDENTS MAY PARK OFFSITE AT THE FLAGLER COLLEGE PARKING GARAGE ON MALAGA STREET.
DEPENDING ON THE PARKING REQUIRED, THE CITY COMMISSION HELD THE INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READING ON OCTOBER 24TH, AGREED WITH THE PARKING AT MALAGA STREET AND REQUESTED THE THAT FLAGLER COLLEGE WORK WITH THE CITY TO PROVIDE A MULTIPURPOSE PATH ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.
THE PWD LANGUAGE WAS AMENDED TO INCLUDE A COMMITMENT TO BUILD A PATH OR CONTRIBUTE TO THIS UP TO THE SUM OF $500,000 TOWARD THE CITY'S EFFORTS FOR THIS PATH.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND I AM AVAILABLE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HERE.
HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHAT WE CAN HEAR FROM.
DO WE NORMALLY HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC? YES, THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING.
MADAM VICE CHAIR, MAYOR ELECT ELLEN AVERY SMITH, ROGERS TOWERS, 100 WATT STONE PLACE, AND I WILL GO THROUGH THIS POWERPOINT PRESENTATION BRIEFLY.
CAN YOU SEE IT? OK BECAUSE IT'S NOT.
AND I ALSO WANT TO BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO INTRODUCE FLAGLER COLLEGE PRESIDENT JOHN DELANEY.
I'M GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW ON THIS TO MAKE IT.
THANK YOU. I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT AS IT IS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT TO GO ON TO THE.
BUT JUST AGAIN, TO ORIENT YOU, THIS IS THE LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN AGAIN, THE PROPERTY IS ALREADY ZONED PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE SEEKING TO MODIFY THAT PUD TO ADD A DORMITORY USE.
AND SO AS WE REVIEWED THE LAST MEETING, THIS WOULD BE TO ADD THE DORMITORY USED FOR FLAGLER COLLEGE, LEAVING IN PLACE THE 95 EXISTING HOTEL ROOMS IN THE EXISTING HOTEL THAT IS LOCATED AT 333 SOUTH PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD.
THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PRIOR PUD HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN TOTAL.
AND SO HERE ARE THE PLANS AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE DATE DECEMBER 27, 2007.
THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE EXISTING PUD AS THE SITE PLAN.
SO AGAIN, NOTING NOTHING IS CHANGING.
AND HERE THE EXISTING ARCHITECTURAL ELEVATIONS AGAIN APPROVED IN DECEMBER OF OH SEVEN.
THERE WILL ALSO BE PARKING ON THIS SITE, AS WELL AS IN THE MALAGA STREET GARAGE.
[01:50:01]
IN THE EVENT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PARKING SPACES FOR STUDENTS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.WE ALL ARE VERY WELL AWARE AND WE HAD A VERY INTELLIGENT AND HUMOROUS POEM TO THE CITY COMMISSION EARLIER TODAY ABOUT VACATION RENTALS AND THE EFFECT THEY'VE HAD ON THE CITY.
AND SO THIS PROVIDES NEAR CAMP MORE NEAR CAMPUS HOUSING.
I HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF INTERNALLY, AND SO THE PUD HAS BEEN REVISED TO PROVIDE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS FOR PROVIDING EITHER THE MULTIPURPOSE PATH OR THE CONTINUATION OF THE CITY'S RIVERWALK, BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TWO HOTELS, THE NEW ONE AND THEN THE ONE THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE WEST BANK OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN ACTUALLY PROVIDE A RIVERWALK.
SO THERE ARE FUNDS PROVIDED UP TO 500,000 IN THIS PUD THAT THE CITY COULD CONTINUE THAT RIVER WALK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, OR PROVIDE THE MULTIPURPOSE PATH.
AND SO THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS AGAIN IN THE REVISED PUD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT.
APPROVAL OF THIS MODIFICATION.
AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? NO. BUT PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS? NO. I'D LIKE TO GO A PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU HAVE ONE CARD? MS. KALAIDI, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU, MR. DUNNE. BJ KALAIDI WEST CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, 8A5.
THE 68 FOOT CRAYOLA HOTEL PUD AT 333 SOUTH PONCE DE LEON IN 2008 WAS THE BEGINNING OF OVERDEVELOPMENT OF THE BANKS OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER.
THE SCHOOL HAS APPROVAL FOR MORE DORMS NEXT TO THE DOWNTOWN POST OFFICE.
I REPEAT, ZERO AND PROPERTY TAXES.
AS LONG AS POLITICIANS AND CITY BUREAUCRATS REFUSE TO COLLECT PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES FROM THIS INSTITUTION, PROPERTY TAXPAYERS WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY THIS UNFAIR BURDEN.
THE WELCOME SIGN TO THE SOUTH OF THIS HOTEL HAS BEEN DESTROYED.
HOWEVER, THIS IS MY AREA WHERE I HAVE TO LIVE.
HOWEVER, THE MEDICAL POT BUSINESS IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET.
TAKING THIS PROPERTY OFF THE TAX ROLLS IS NOT, I REPEAT, IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC VOTE NO ON ORDINANCE 2022-33 AND THE ADVERTISEMENT ALL OVER TOWN ABOUT THIS SCHOOL.
THEY ARE NOT THIS IS NOT THEIR TOWN AND THEY ARE NOT OUR TEAM.
THE FACT IS THEY'RE NOT PAYING THEIR.
THEY'RE NOT PAYING FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO THE CITY.
DID YOU WISH TO CONFIRM THAT YOUR STATEMENTS ARE UNDER OATH AND ARE THE TRUTH? WE SKIPPED OVER PUTTING YOU UNDER OATH, BUT IF YOU'LL JUST AFFIRM THAT, I AFFIRM WHAT I'M SAYING IS TRUE.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? NO FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM OUR APPLICANT AND WRAP UP? TO WRAP UP, PRESIDENT DELANEY? NOTHING. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS.
QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
WELL, YEAH. I FEEL THE PAIN OF LOSING ANOTHER PROPERTY OFF THE TAX ROLLS.
BUT THIS IS NOT FLAGLER ECOLOGIST FAULT.
THIS IS THE FALL OF TALLAHASSEE AND OUR INABILITY TO CONTROL VACATION RENTALS.
AND THEY HAVE TO PUT THEIR STUDENTS SOMEPLACE.
AND I THINK FLAGLER COLLEGE PUTS A LOT INTO THIS CITY THAT THEY'RE NOT GIVEN CREDIT FOR.
[01:55:05]
AND SO THAT BEING THE CASE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS.OKAY. THEN WE HAVE A MOTION, AND SECOND.
I JUST WANTED TO COMPLIMENT STAFF AND THE APPLICANT FOR ALSO AGREEING IN THE TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE PUD TO AGREE TO TREE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT IN OUR CHAPTER AND CODE OF THE CITY, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, THE STATE HAS REMOVED AND PREEMPTED OUR ABILITY TO REGULATE TREE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
PLEASE PROCEED. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022, DASH 33.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE ZONING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.22 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 333 SOUTH PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD. PARCEL ID NUMBER 1193500000 AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE AND AFTER TO AMEND ITS CURRENT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PUD CLASSIFICATION, ADOPTING A NEW PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PAD, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
RIGHT. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL WAIT FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS TO COME BACK.
COMMISSIONERS WERE NOW ON ITEM 9B1, RESOLUTION 2022- 37.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2022-37: Supports the grant application for assistance under the Florida Inland Navigation District's Waterways Assistance Program.]
WELCOME, SIR.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. VICE MAYOR.
THE MARINA'S BREAKWATER DOCK DID US IT REALLY HELD UP STRONGER IN THE FIRST STORM, HURRICANE IAN.
AND IT EVEN REALLY HELD ON BY A THREAD, WHICH I HAVE OUR HARBOR MASTER HERE TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON THE DAMAGES THAT WERE SUSTAINED IN THIS MOST RECENT STORM.
BUT THE REVISED APPLICATION OR THE REVISED RESOLUTION, WHICH YOU DON'T, WHICH YOU HAVE, IS 25% OF THE COST, UP TO 2 MILLION ESTIMATED DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE FACILITY.
THIS THESE REPAIRS WERE ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED AT 1.5 MILLION PLUS WE HAVE ANOTHER 100 AND $415,000 TO REMOVE A SECTION OF DAMAGED DOCK THAT POSES A THREAT TO NAVIGATION AND BREAKING LOOSE AND CAUSING MORE DAMAGE TO THE FACILITY.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE BREAKWATER DOCK DID SUSTAIN MASSIVE DAMAGE, BUT IT HELD UP AND IT ALLOWED THE MARINA IN BOTH STORMS TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS THE VERY NEXT DAY. SO WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL BOATING WITH THEIR SERVICES THANKS TO THE SERVICES OF THAT BREAKWATER DOCK.
VERY GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I SAW AN AERIAL OF WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE ON ONE SIDE OF THAT BREAKWATER AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BREAKWATER.
IT'S AMAZING THAT WAVE ACTION.
IT WAS LIKE A MILLPOND ON THE SIDE THAT THE BOATS WERE ON IT.
ERIC MALDEN, HARBORMASTER, CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THE BREAKWATER DOCK REALLY IS KIND OF INVALUABLE TO MARINA.
IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE.
IT NOT ONLY KEEPS THE MARINA SAFE, BUT ALSO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS THAT WE HAVE IN THE MARINA KIND OF GIVES THEM THAT LITTLE PEACE OF MIND WHEN THEY GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SAFE FROM THE WEATHER.
IT ALSO PROVIDES ADDITIONAL DOCK EDGE.
THE ORIGINAL DAMAGES WERE CAUSED FROM HURRICANE IAN.
WE BELIEVE THEY WERE CRACKED NEAR THE MUD LINE OR BELOW WHERE IT COULDN'T BE SEEN.
LEANED THEM OVER A FEW DEGREES.
ONE OF THEM WAS BROKEN DURING THAT TIME.
AND THEN DURING THIS STORM EVENT, IT PUSHED OVER APPROXIMATELY EIGHT OF THE PILINGS.
[02:00:03]
THREE OF THEM I CAN'T EVEN SEE AT LOW TIDE.THEY'RE COMPLETELY UNDERWATER, CAUSING, YOU KNOW, NAVIGATION HAZARD THERE.
BUT 170 FEET OF SECTION OF DOCK IS, YOU KNOW, IMMINENT THREAT OF BECOMING DISLODGED.
HOPEFULLY ON MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE HAD IT AT MATTHEW AND IRMA.
MATTHEW WAS THE OTHER MAJOR REPAIRS THAT WE HAD.
THERE'S THREE RODS THROUGH THE ENTIRE DOCK.
IT'S AS STRONG AS IT COULD BE.
WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY STORM ACTUALLY BREAK A PILING CONCRETE PILING OF THAT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING IN FURTHER AND BED MITT TALLER PILINGS AS WELL, BECAUSE AT THAT FLOOD LEVELS, IT DOES GET UP TO THE ABSOLUTE TOP OF THOSE PILINGS, WHICH COULD THEN BREACH OVER THE TOP AND LET THE DOCK FREE.
AND THEN ADDING IN ANOTHER 50% OF PILINGS IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
YOU LEARN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM EVERY STORM JUST TO THOSE AS YOU CAN.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? SO MOVED.
IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ROXANNE HORVATH. YES, NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD EFFORTS.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS WE'RE ON RESOLUTION 2022-38, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE EXECUTION OF SIX GRANT
[9.B.2. Resolution 2022-38: Authorizes the execution of six grant projects and one planning grant by the City Manager or an Assistant City Manager if the City Manager is not available.]
PROJECTS AND ONE PLANNING GRANT.MR. FRANKLIN, HOW ARE YOU DOING WELL THIS EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
RESOLUTION 2022-38 IS A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER OR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SEVEN DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS THAT WILL BE COMING FORTH FOR THESE GRANT PROJECTS TO THE FDP RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANTS. SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE PROJECTS INDIVIDUALLY AT OUR CIP MEETINGS, AND THE ONE PLANNING GRANT IS FOR A VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE SO THAT WE BECOME COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE STATUTES FOR FLORIDA RESILIENCY.
IS THERE EMOTION? SO MOVE WITH SECOND.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION, LISA, WHERE ARE WE WITH THE MARIA SANCHEZ LAKE PROJECT? IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR YEARS, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO EVER GET OFF THE GROUND.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A BRIEF UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT? FOR MARIA SANCHEZ, THE PROJECT IS STILL UNDER DESIGN.
WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT A REDESIGN BECAUSE IT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN HINGED ON SOME PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WE NEEDED TO GET EASEMENTS TO BUILD THE BULKHEAD. AND SINCE WE ENTERED THE GRANT AFTER HURRICANE MATTHEW, WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ALL OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON BOARD.
SO WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND WE'RE LOOKING AT REDESIGNING SOUTH STREET SO THAT WE CAN UTILIZE IT AS A BARRIER TO PREVENT FLOODING FROM INTRUDING FURTHER INTO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A REDESIGN RIGHT NOW FOR A PORTION OF IT.
SO THE WEST SIDE OF MARIA SANCHEZ WILL STILL HAVE A BULKHEAD, BUT THE EAST SIDE, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS NOT BEING WILLING PARTICIPANTS.
[02:05:01]
WELL, THEY ALL GOT THEIR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL.AND SO WE WERE COMMUNICATING BACK AND FORTH, AND THEY JUST ONE OF THEM, WHICH IS THE CLOSEST TO MARIA SANCHEZ, THE FAMILY NOTIFIED US THROUGH THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED.
AND SO IT'S AN ALL OR NOTHING THING.
SO SINCE MATTHEW, WE'VE HAD, WHAT, SIX FLOODING EVENTS IN TOTAL, INCLUDING MATTHEW? I THINK THAT WAS MY COUNT.
YEAH. IF YOU TURNED NORTHEAST, WE HAD A NEW NAMED STORM AS WELL.
MITIGATE FLOODING UP TO SEVEN FEET.
SO ALL OF THESE FLOODING EVENTS MIGHT LESS THAN THAT.
SO EVERY YEAR THAT GOES BY, WE'RE AVERAGING ONE A YEAR.
SO EVERY YEAR IT GOES BY, WE DON'T BUILD THIS THING.
THAT'S ONE MORE FLOOD AND ALL THE IMPACTS.
THIS WAS A RANT I WAS SAVING FOR THE END OF THE MEETING, BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO DO IT NOW.
AND YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT RIGHT NOW IS THIS DESIGN WITH THE BULKHEADS WITH A SEVEN FEET NATURAL ELEVATIONS WHERE THERE ARE EASTERN SEAWALL, FEW LITTLE PLACES, WE'LL HAVE TO BUILD IT UP A BIT.
THIS WOULD RESULT IN SAVING THE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES BETWEEN THE BAYFRONT RIVERFRONT AND KING STREET AND FROM BASICALLY THE SEWER PLANT ALL THE WAY TO CATHEDRAL.
THE PROJECT BENEFITS 200 ACRES OF DOWNTOWN.
I'M SORRY I SAID THE PROJECT BENEFITS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE REASONING IS, BUT THEY'VE LAWYERED UP.
AND ALL WE CAN DO IS TALK TO THE LAWYERS.
AND THE LAWYERS SAY, WE'RE NOT TALKING.
IF THEY APPROVED IT TODAY, IF THEY GOT ON BOARD TODAY, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT TWO AND ONE HALF YEARS AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THIS MONEY BY 26 OR WE LOSE IT NOW, YOU KNOW. NUMBER FIVE SOUTH STREET, THE CONNOR FAMILY, 156 MARINE STREET, THE KILLINGER FAMILY RESIDENCE AND THE VACANT LOT, WHICH IS OWNED BY MARILYN AND I. THOSE ARE THE THREE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE CAUSING THIS PROJECT NOT TO GO FORWARD.
AND IF YOU'RE LISTENING OUT THERE, I APPEAL TO YOU.
YOU PROPERTY WILL BE ENHANCED IN VALUE.
YOU'RE GETTING A BULKHEAD THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT THREE FEET ABOVE YOUR EXISTING GRADE.
SO AND THE ALTERNATIVE AND I COMMEND STAFF FOR DESIGNING THE BACK UP.
IT WORKS, BUT IT WILL BE A MISERABLE ALTERNATIVE.
RAISING SOUTH STREET IS INSANE WHEN WE CAN SIMPLY BUILD BULKHEADS AND MAKE THIS WORK.
THE CITY ACQUIRED THE EASEMENT.
I ASSUME IT'S AN EASEMENT THAT WE'RE NEEDING BY EMINENT DOMAIN.
THAT IS POTENTIALLY AN OPTION THAT THE DOWNSIDE IS EXACTLY WHAT THE COMMISSIONER POINTED OUT.
EVEN IF WE CAN DO IT DELAYS THE WE DO A QUICK TAKE.
BUT EVEN SO, THAT IS NOT SO QUICK AS ONE MAY THINK.
IT WAS NOT A POSSIBILITY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
[02:10:04]
I THINK WHAT MR. FRANKLIN HAS MENTIONED IS THAT THERE'S ALREADY BEEN ESSENTIALLY A DISCUSSION WITH THE CONSULTING TEAM TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. BUT I'LL LET HIM ANSWER THAT.WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROJECT IS BETTER WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN IT, BUT WE ALSO CAN DO IT WITH SOUTH STREET. WE WOULD DESIGN THE ALTERNATIVE THAT WAY IF THE OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS DECIDE TO COME AROUND THAT THEY CAN JOIN, THEY CAN CONNECT TO IT. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE HAD IS JUST AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE ALL OVER THE PLACE, SOUTH DAVIS SHORES IS THE SAME THING.
MOST OF THE PROPERTY THAT INTERFACES THE MARSH AND THE RIVER IS PRIVATE PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS OUR FIRST BIG, DIFFICULT PROJECT TO PUSH FORWARD.
THE SAD THING ABOUT THIS IS THIS PROJECT WOULD WORK.
ALL THESE OTHERS WOULD NOT WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS.
AND GOING FORWARD, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS, AT LEAST FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW WE'VE GOT TO BRING THESE PEOPLE INTO THE FOLD AND HAVE THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE SUBJECTING THE REST OF THEIR CITIZENS TO.
IT SEEMS TO ME, MR. MAYOR, THAT. THE ALTERNATIVE IS A BAND-AID.
I MEAN, THIS IS LIKE MARIA SANCHEZ IS A BAND-AID.
LET'S FACE IT. THE PROJECT IS.
BUT IT'S A BAND-AID THAT'S WAY BETTER THAN WHAT WE'VE GOT NOW.
AND IT GETS US AHEAD OF THE SEA LEVEL RISE FOR AT LEAST SOME PERIOD OF TIME.
I WOULD HATE TO GO TO EMINENT DOMAIN SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY, BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE FOR THE GREATER GOOD PEOPLE HAVE GOVERNMENTS HAVE MADE A DECISION TO DO THAT FOR ROADS, FOR SCHOOLS, FOR NOT FOR SHOPPING MALLS, BUT FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I FOR ONE THING, WE SHOULD EXPLORE THAT OPTION, AND MAYBE THAT WOULD HELP GET THESE FOLKS TO THE TABLE AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE WIN WIN THAT THEY WOULD GET WITH THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT WOULD COME TO THEIR OWN PROPERTIES.
I APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
I'M AWARE OF WHAT THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT IT IS THAT IF WE GOT THE APPROVAL STATUS OF TWO AND A HALF YEAR TO START IT AS A YEARS PROJECT RIGHT THERE, WE GOT THREE AND A HALF YEARS. THIS IS 2022.
WE GOT 26 TO SPEND THIS MONEY.
WE'RE UP AGAINST A TIME CRUNCH. IT IS.
BUT IF WE DON'T GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY, I AGREE.
AND THE SOUTH STREET ALTERNATIVE JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WHERE WE NEED TO BE, BUT.
INFERIOR. OKAY. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT MAYBE IT CAN BE LOOKED AT IN TWO WAYS.
I MEAN, WE CAN BE BUILDING ALONG WASHINGTON ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BRIDGE.
WE GO INTO THAT DIRECTION INSTEAD OF THE REST OF THE WALL.
SEEMS TO ME WE'RE NOT REALLY LOSING TIME, YOU KNOW? A LOT OF THE CONSTRUCTION MONEY WILL BE DEPENDENT ON HAVING A COMPLETED PROJECT THERE.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S NOT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT DEALING WITH OUR OWN MONIES AS FAR AS THERE'S THERE'S WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE A COMPLETED PROJECT AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT WE NEED.
THAT A CRITICAL PATH IS GETTING THE PERMITS IN PLACE FROM THE CORPS, FROM OUR OWN PCB FOR CONSERVATION OVERLAY IS THAT WE NEED THESE PROPERTY OWNERS TO BE CO APPLICANTS OR TO SIGN AS AN AGENT AUTHORIZATION AND WE CAN'T START THAT PROCESS.
THE ARMY CORPS PROCESS ITSELF COULD BE 12 MONTHS TO GET THAT PERMITTING IN PLACE.
WELL, MY THOUGHT IS WHY DON'T WE BUY IT AND GIVE THEM A LIFE ESTATE TO LIVE THERE? JUST SO YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED WITH THEIR ATTORNEY.
BUT WE'VE OFFERED LIFE ESTATE.
WE'VE OFFERED A MILLION DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T JUST BEEN SITTING ON OUR HANDS TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
[02:15:02]
VERY MUCH. BUT THIS CONVERSATION, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HAS NEVER BEEN HAD AT THE COMMISSION LEVEL.AND, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST NOT BY ME.
ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE MADAM CLERK, HAVE WE VOTED ON RESOLUTION 2022-38? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
YES. THANK YOU. THE RESOLUTIONS MOVED.
[9.B.3. Resolution 2022-39: Approves and adopts the amended St. Johns County local mitigation strategy plan.]
WE'RE NOW ON ITEM 9B3, RESOLUTION 2022-39.THE LAST TIME IT WAS ADOPTED WAS IN 2020.
I REMEMBER WE PASSED RESOLUTION 2022-39.
I SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ROXANNE HORVATH YES, I'M VALDES YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE RESOLUTIONS APPROVED MR. BIRCHIM WERE ON ITEM 10A A DISCUSSION OF CITY PRIORITIES FOR THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
[10.A. Discussion of City priorities for the 2023 legislative session.]
MAYOR, MAYOR ELECT AND COMMISSIONERS.THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS UPON US.
THOSE INCLUDE FUNDING FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
THAT'S THE ROOF AND WINDOWS OF THIS BUILDING, THE PINK HOUSE AND THE VISITOR'S INFORMATION CENTER.
WE ALSO SUPPORT THE ALCAZAR MUSEUM'S EFFORTS TO FIND FUNDING TO REPAIR SOME OF THEIR HISTORIC TERRACOTTA TRIM WORK AND DO WORK IN THEIR SWIMMING POOL AREA. ANOTHER IS FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND FINALLY, AND KIND OF APROPOS IS TO THE LAST CONVERSATION, FUNDING FOR RESILIENCY.
WE'RE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO FUND OUR MATCHING PORTION OF THE FEDERAL GRANTS FOR THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT AND WE'VE ALSO HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SPEAKER ELECT PAUL RENNER TO THAT EFFECT.
AT THE LAST CITY COMMISSION MEETING, YOU ADDED TWO NEW ITEMS TO THE LEGISLATIVE REQUEST.
AND ALSO YOU HAVE ASKED FOR SUPPORT FOR INSURANCE REFORM.
COMMISSIONER BLONDER ASKED FOR US TO PUT THAT ON THE LIST.
THERE IS STILL TIME TO SOLIDIFY THE LIST.
I'M ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH STAFF AND THINKING ABOUT IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, BUT IT PROBABLY COULD GO UNDER THE HEADING OF THE RESILIENCY BE ADDED INTO TO IT OR A SEPARATE PRIORITY, WHICH WOULD BE TO LOOK AT.
STRATEGIES HELP AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION, FOR FLOOD RESILIENCY, FOR HOLDING AND STORING FLOODWATERS, AND FOR QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THAT, WITH FISH ISLAND AND SO FORTH.
BUT THERE ARE SMALLER PROPERTIES THAT ARE INTERSPERSED THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY STAFF THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY HELPFUL FOR RESILIENCY IN PARTICULAR. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST.
OKAY. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
I WOULD SEE IT UNDER RESILIENCY.
I WORRY ABOUT IF WE GET TOO MANY, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT GET ONE AND WE WON'T.
YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF DILUTES I DON'T KNOW.
BUT ANYWAY, I WOULD SEE IT UNDER RESILIENCY, CERTAINLY.
[02:20:02]
OKAY. OKAY.I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AND TALKING IN CONTACT WITH THE FLOOD MITIGATION INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THROUGH ROD SCOTT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I THINK SINCE HURRICANE MATTHEW.
AND HE'S INFORMED ME THAT THE FEDERAL STORM ACT THAT WAS PASSED, WHICH STANDS FOR SAFEGUARDING TOMORROW THROUGH ONGOING RISK MANAGEMENT ACT, AUTHORIZES FEMA TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH STATE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE CAPITALIZATION GRANTS FOR HAZARD MITIGATION, REVOLVING LOANS TO PROVIDE LOW INTEREST LOANS, TO FUND LOCAL MITIGATION PROJECTS, INCLUDING MITIGATION PROJECTS ON BUILDINGS THAT REDUCE DAMAGE RISK, REDUCE INSURANCE RATES, AND BE BRING BUILDINGS INTO FEMA MINIMUM NFIP REQUIREMENTS.
THE NEXT STEP FOR CONSUMERS TO ACCESS THIS FUNDING IS FOR STATE LEGISLATURES TO ADOPT A DRAFT MODEL LAW TO ENACT THE RESILIENCE LOAN PROGRAM SO THAT STATES CAN WORK WITH FEMA.
HUD PRE AND POST DISASTER GRANT PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS WITH THE NEW STORMS ACT FUNDING.
SO NOW'S A GOOD TIME TO BEGIN CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION IN ORDER FOR FLORIDA, THE STATE OF FLORIDA, TO CREATE THE RESILIENCE REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM SO THAT OUR STATE IS READY WHEN THE FEDERAL PROGRAM IS FULLY FUNDED.
I'M JUST ASKING TO ADD THIS INITIATIVE TO THE TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SO THAT I'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND LEADERSHIP AS PART OF THIS.
SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S AHEAD THAT WE THE STATE HAS TO HAVE A MITIGATION PLAN.
IT'S QUITE LONG, 300 AND SOMETHING PAGES.
BUT I REALLY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ABOUT THE KIND OF HAZARD MITIGATION THAT WE TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS ELEVATION AND ALL THE DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS THAT WE NEED TO HARDEN OUR HOMES.
SO. I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT WE ALSO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT SAINT AUGUSTINE MITIGATION PLAN.
MR. MAYOR, I THINK THAT'S FABULOUS.
AND I THINK WE HAVE ON OUR VERY OWN STAFF A LEADER WHO COULD HELP KNIT TOGETHER ALL THE OTHER CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICERS ACROSS THE STATE AND REALLY GET SOME MOMENTUM BEHIND THIS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M TALKING ABOUT JESSICA BEACH.
SO IF THAT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY TO INVOLVE HER IN, PLEASE.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A FABULOUS IDEA.
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO THE.
IT'S KIND OF A LONG TERM THING, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH WORKING.
IT IS. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
ALSO, I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST WITH YOUR CONNECTIONS WITH LEAGUE OF CITIES THAT YOU WOULD GET THEM ON BOARD AND LET ALL THOSE OTHER CITIES START PUTTING PRESSURE AT THE LEGISLATOR LEVEL.
AND I WONDER IF WE MOVE DOWN THIS PATH, IT MIGHT BE EASIER FOR US TO MAYBE I'M DREAMING HERE TO BE ABLE TO MODIFY OUR BUILDING CODES SO WE CAN LIFT BUILDINGS AND MOVE BUILDINGS IN THE FUTURE OR TOMORROW AND QUIT BUILDING BUILDINGS ON SLABS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE OR VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD DOVETAIL INTO IT NICELY.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LEGISLATIVE.
[02:25:09]
COMMISSIONER BLONDER SO MOVED.IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[11.A. Brief update on indemnification for City utilities]
MS. LOPEZ, BRIEF UPDATE.WE'RE ON ITEM 11, A BRIEF UPDATE ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR CITY UTILITIES.
YES, THIS IS JUST TO LET THE COMMISSION KNOW THAT I'M WORKING ON AN INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S UTILITIES AND THEIR POTENTIAL INCREASE IN COSTS DUE TO GOING THROUGH PROPERTIES THAT HAVE HAD REMEDIATION AFTER CONTAMINATION IN MADEIRA. AND SO THERE'S INSTITUTIONAL AND ENGINEERING CONTROLS THAT ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF THAT REMEDIATION THAT MAY INCREASE THE COSTS FOR OUR CITY UTILITIES. AND SO I JUST WANTED FIRST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M WORKING ON IT AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE COMFORTABLE WITH ME MOVING FORWARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN THOSE INDEMNIFICATION ISSUES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LOPEZ. MR.
[13.A. Discussion and strategy to reduce unsheltered homeless population.]
REGAN WERE ON ITEM 13A A DISCUSSION ON STRATEGY TO REDUCE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS OUR UNSHELTERED HOMELESS POPULATION.A FEW MONTHS BACK, I WAS TASKED WITH THE QUESTION WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE THE POPULATION OF UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IN SAINT AUGUSTINE? AND BACK IN AUGUST, WE STARTED IN EARNEST LOOKING HARD AT OTHER COMMUNITIES FOR LOOKING FOR BEST PRACTICES, WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK. AND WE ENGAGED A TASK FORCE INTERNALLY TO THE CITY.
I WILL SAY THAT THE THE THAT OFFICER STEVE FISHER, REALLY CONDUCTED QUITE A BIT OF OUR BENCHMARKING.
WE LOOKED AT KEY WEST, MIAMI, FORT LAUDERDALE, SARASOTA, CHARLESTON, PHILADELPHIA, SAVANNAH, AND WE ALSO ENGAGED THE UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS AND HAD A VISIT FROM THE REGIONAL COORDINATOR, DR.
JOE SAVAGE, THAT DEFINITELY AFFIRMED THAT.
I'LL START WITH WHY ARE THE HOMELESS DOWNTOWN? AND THERE'S A MYRIAD OF ISSUES, BUT REALLY IT KIND OF COMES DOWN TO A REAL SIMPLE CONCEPT.
IF YOU'RE HOMELESS, YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE PUBLIC SPACE.
WE ALL OWN THE PUBLIC SPACE EQUALLY.
AND SO SOMEONE WHO'S HOMELESS, IT'S HARD TO HANG OUT IN A BUSINESS ALL DAY AND ON AND ON.
THERE ARE THINGS LIKE HAVING BATHROOMS, HAVING PUBLIC BATHROOMS, FEEDING THE DINING WITH DIGNITY IS THE ONLY LARGE SCALE MEAL THAT'S OFFERED TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND THE WORKING POOR.
ALSO INTERNET ACCESS AND ALSO OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES THAT COME WITH WITHIN THE URBAN CORE.
THE SERVICES THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN OFFERED BY ST FRANCIS HOUSE ASSISTANCE WITH DRIVER'S LICENSES, SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF DETAILS AND BASICALLY ACCESS TO WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, YOUR PORTAL INTO SERVICES HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN LARGELY AT ST FRANCIS HOUSE.
THEN ALSO THERE'S WHERE A TOURISM MARKET AND PANHANDLING CAN BE VERY LUCRATIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO JUST SOCIALIZATION AND BEING A WALKABLE CITY AND BEING ABLE TO WALK TO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED.
AND THE AMOUNT OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE COUNTRY HAS GENERALLY GONE UP AND IT HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY COVID, WHICH IS FRACTURED MANY, MANY SOCIAL NETWORK SERVICES AND ALSO THE THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE ECONOMY AND TOTALITY, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE DRIVE OF RENT INFLATION GENERALLY.
IT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD THAT WHEN THE ECONOMY IS HOT, HOMELESSNESS GOES UP.
AND SO WE'RE SEEING THAT COMPRESSION FROM THE PHENOMENON OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
[02:30:03]
YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, IS I REALLY APPRECIATED SHERIFF HARDWICK TONIGHT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY OF IT IS, IS THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED AND FOR GOOD REASON, BUT ALSO THAT THE THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, WE CANNOT POLICE OURSELVES OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.AS WE KNOW, PANHANDLING HAS CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES.
WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE JAIL SYSTEM AND POLICING AND COST OF POLICING.
THE COURT SYSTEM IS A REVOLVING DOOR.
THE SHERIFF EARLIER TESTIFIED THE COST OF KEEPING SOMEONE IN A JAIL IS $165 A DAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR TRAVELS, WE SAW A LOT OF CITIES THAT TRY WORK AROUND SOLUTIONS.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE APPROACH OUR OFFICE AND SAY, OH, WHY DON'T YOU TURN THE SPRINKLERS ON AND WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS AND THAT? AND WHAT WE SAW IN OUR TRAVELS WERE CITIES THAT, IN TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT, HAVE BEEN TRYING WORK AROUND SOLUTIONS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE THING WE DO ALMOST BETTER THAN ANY OTHER CITY THAT WE SAW IS WE CONTROL TENT POPULATIONS BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF OUR CAMPING ORDINANCE AND ST FRANCIS HOUSE.
COVID GAVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE PEOPLE TO HOTELS AND THEY PUT THE PLAZA UNDER CONTINUOUS ONGOING CONSTRUCTION, MEANING THAT NOBODY CAN ENJOY THE PUBLIC SPACE.
YOU'RE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK WITH YOUR TENT.
AND THE TRUTH IS, WE'VE DONE THOSE THINGS, TOO.
YOU KNOW, ONE WHAT THE EPITOME WOULD BE OUR PARK BENCHES.
THE IDEA TO MAKE A BENCH THAT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE HOMELESS TO SLEEP ON.
AND SO WITH THAT, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO A FEW HEART AND SOUL MATTERS.
AND AT THE TOP OF LIST IS THAT WHAT WE ARE MISSING IS WHAT IS IN THE INDUSTRY, WHAT'S CALLED A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY FACILITY SHELTERING, BUT MORE THAN SHELTERING REALLY A FACILITY THAT HAS EXTENDED BED CAPACITY, THAT MOVES UP THE CONTINUUM OF CARE SPECTRUM OF WHAT IS CALLED TRANSIENT HOUSING AND PERMANENT AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THE WITH AND WITH EXTENSIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN CASE MANAGEMENT. SO IN THE ARENA IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A LOT OF ACTIVITY AND WORKFORCE HOUSING, INCLUDING OURSELVES.
BUT THERE IS REALLY A PAUCITY DOWN AT THE LOW END OF THE SPECTRUM, CERTAINLY NOT IN SHELTERING THE THREE NESBIT IS WHAT YOU WOULD CALL TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT REALLY REQUIRES IT'S HARD WORK, THESE FACILITIES ARE DIFFICULT TO SITE THERE.
AND SO THE KEY FOR US, THE NUMBER ONE STRATEGY IS FOR US TO ENGAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY FACILITY, WORKING IN CONCERT WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE HAVE A STAKE IN THE GAME THAT RANGE FROM LARGE INSTITUTIONAL GROUPS TO SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALL CURRENTLY WORKING TOGETHER IN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK GOING ON, TREMENDOUS THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE FOR THE HOMELESS, ESPECIALLY BY THE VA AND THE SUPPORTERS OF OUR VETERANS.
I NOTICED BILL DUDLEY IN THE BACK WHO DOES AMAZING DOES GOD'S WORK.
AND SO BUT THE BIG PLAYERS OF THE ST JOHN'S COUNTY, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, FLAGLER HOSPITAL, THE VA, ST FRANCIS HOUSE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WE'RE ALL INVESTING HEAVILY IN A METHODOLOGY OF DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS AT ONE DOESN'T WORK AND IS FAR MORE EXPENSIVE THAN JUST DEALING WITH IT BY CREATING THE ONE ELEMENT THAT A STREET COP WOULD TELL YOU THAT THEY NEED, WHICH IS A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY FACILITY.
[02:35:08]
ST FRANCIS HOUSE IS NOT A LOW BARRIER FACILITY.THINK OF A LOW BARRIER ENTRY FACILITY, WHICH IS WHERE YOU MAY BE DRUNK, YOU MAY BE AN ADDICT, AND THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT KEEP YOU FROM OTHER FACILITIES, BUT THAT YOU CAN COME IN, YOU CAN WASH, YOU CAN STORE YOUR STUFF, YOU HAVE A PLACE TO SLEEP, A PLACE TO EAT, AND YOU HAVE INTERVENTION OF CASE MANAGEMENT.
SO A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT.
I WOULD ASK THAT DURING THE Q&A.
SO THAT IS REALLY THE BULK OF IT.
AND TONIGHT, WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT THIS IS THE STRATEGY.
HE SAID, WHAT'S THE STRATEGY? THAT'S THE STRATEGY.
WHAT I NEED FROM THE COMMISSION TONIGHT WOULD BE ENDORSEMENT CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD, BUILDING A BRICK AND MORTAR PLAN WITH ALL OF OUR AGENCY PARTNERS. NOW, WE HAVE HAD SOME PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS IN THE BACKGROUND ALREADY, WHICH WAS PART OF WHY THE SHERIFF WAS HERE, INCLUDING ST JOHN'S HOME.
AGAIN, ST JOHN'S COUNTY AND ASSISTANT CHIEF CUTHBERT HAS BEEN TALKING WITHIN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND WE MAY HAVE SOME BOARD MEMBERS HERE.
BUT WHAT WE NEED, WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS IS THE CENTRAL LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY.
THIS IS OUR PROBLEM, IT'S THE COUNTY'S PROBLEM, BUT IT'S REALLY OUR PROBLEM.
AND LEADERSHIP CAN MEAN MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
ANOTHER THING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD IS THAT WE'VE DISCOVERED MANY DIFFERENT FUNDING MODELS, BUT THEY ALL HAVE ONE COMMONALITY WELL, MORE THAN ONE COMMONALITY.
ONE COMMONALITY IS PARTICIPATORY FUNDING BY THE LOCAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT IN OUR CASE, THESE FACILITIES NEED TO HAVE STABLE MONEY, STABLE RELIANCE FROM COUNTIES, FROM THE HOSPITAL, FROM CITIES, AND THEN FROM THERE, THE COORDINATION OF OTHER FUNDING STREAMS, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. SO WHEN I THINK OF HOW WE CAN DO THAT, A STRATEGY CAN BE THAT SINCE THERE'S A A NEXUS BETWEEN TOURISM AND HOMELESSNESS, PERHAPS WE COULD LOOK OR WE CAN ADJUST OUR PARKING FEE MODEL AT THE GARAGE WITH WHERE TOURISTS ARE EXTREMELY PRICE INELASTIC TO THE PARKING CHARGE AND REUBEN FRANKLIN TEAM HAVE RUN SOME MODELS THAT SHOW THAT WE COULD EASILY GENERATE WITH SOME FAIRLY MODEST CHANGES IN PARKING STRATEGIES OF 400 TO $425000 OF REVENUE THAT COULD BE DEDICATED TO THIS.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER IDEAS THAT NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE VETTING, BUT THE POINT IS THAT WE WE NEED TO REALLY HAVE RELIABLE FUNDING.
ASSISTANT CHIEF CUTHBERT CAN CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE CONVERSATIONS ARE LIKE.
I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK HIM WHAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE LIKE.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE SAW THAT WE REALLY LIKED WAS IN FORT LAUDERDALE, A DIVERSIONARY COURT PROGRAM.
SO FORT LAUDERDALE SHOWED IT DEMONSTRATED AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S CALLED COMMUNITY COURT.
IT'S REALLY JUST LIKE DRUG COURT THAT WE SEE AND HAVE PRESENTATIONS ON EVERY YEAR.
THAT IS A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM WHERE A SOCIAL WORKER IS TIED TO THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL AND WEEKLY REPORTS TO A JUDGE IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE ROOM AND CAN KEEP UP THE MONITORING OF THE PROGRESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL TOWARDS DEALING WITH THE UNDERLYING CAUSALITY OF THEIR PARTICULAR HOMELESS.
[02:40:04]
LET ME BE CLEAR THIS REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF UNSHELTERED HOMELESS DOESN'T COMPLETELY ELIMINATE IT BECAUSE THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT ARE NON PARTICIPATORY.THAT IS COMPLETELY A MYTH BASED ON THE RESEARCH, THE REALITY OF HOMELESSNESS AND OFFICER FISHER CAN GIVE YOU SOME LOCAL TESTIMONY IS THAT PEOPLE COME TO OR TO A REGION BECAUSE OF SOME TYPE OF CONNECTION.
IT CAN BE. THEY MAY HAVE GROWN UP HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, OFFICER FISHER CAN GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL TESTIMONY ON THAT.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS INCREASE OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH ON THE STREET.
SO WE HAVE STRUGGLED AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH FULL STAFFING.
WE'VE HAD A LARGE VACANCY RATE.
WE'VE DONE MANY THINGS TO CHANGE THAT.
ASSISTANT CHIEF CUTHBERT CAN TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, BUT WE'RE COMING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO FULL STAFFING AND WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET TO POSITIONS TO ADD THAT WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THOSE POSITIONS NEED TO DO.
THEY MAY BE MORE OFFICERS SO WE CAN RETURN BACK OUR STREET OUTREACH COMPONENT.
IT MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE SWORN OFFICERS DEPENDING ON HOW THESE CONVERSATIONS GO, BUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDAMENTAL POLICING MODELS THAT HAVE STRONGER PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT SERVICES.
THAT'S A PRESENTATION THAT ANY OF YOU IN ANY OF YOUR SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES CAN JUST TAKE RIGHT UP, LOAD IT UP AND BE ABLE TO HAVE ALL THE MESSAGES ON POINT.
AND SO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE ENGAGED IN HOW THESE SYSTEMS WORK, WORK ON OUR EDUCATION, GET PEOPLE TO THE TABLE, AND PARTICULARLY AS WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT FUNDING OPTIONS THAT MIGHT INCLUDE A RUN ON TALLAHASSEE TO CREATE A FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX, DADE COUNTY, THEIR HOMELESS TRUST FUND, 66% OF THEIR BUDGET IS FUNDED BY AN F AND B TAX.
THAT WAS, THEY HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC STATUTORY ABILITY TO DO THAT WAS CRAFTED IN TALLAHASSEE.
WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS, AND THAT REQUIRES REALLY STRONG COMMUNICATIONS.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS THAT THIS IS NOT A PROJECT, THIS IS A PROGRAM.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE MOVING THE CITY IN A DIRECTION WHERE SOMEWHERE EMBEDDED IN A DEPARTMENT OR AS A DEPARTMENT IS THOSE WORDS HUMAN SERVICES.
THERE'S NOBODY WITH THAT IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION RIGHT NOW OR THEIR JOB TITLE.
AND SO WE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO THOSE TYPES OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT ARE MORE REMINISCENT OF LARGER TOWNS, BUT NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
IN FACT, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS CLOSE BY ASKING ASSISTANT CHIEF CUTHBERT TO COME UP AND GIVE OUR FINAL REMARKS AS PART OF OUR STAFF PRESENTATION, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS ANTHONY CUTHBERT, ASSISTANT CHIEF, SEATTLE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I HAD JUST RECALLED A STORY WITH MR. REGAN THAT I HAD COUNTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
OF COURSE, CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY HOMELESS POPULATION.
AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NOT THAT BIG OF A POPULATION OF HOMELESSNESS IN MT.
DORA. HONESTLY, I ONLY SAW A COUPLE.
CHIEF, LET ME GET YOU TO PULL THAT MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YOU.
SORRY. ANYWAYS, SO I HAD SPOKEN TO ONE OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS DOWNTOWN IN MOUNT DORA, AND I HAPPENED TO ASK HER ABOUT THEIR HOMELESS POPULATION. AND SHE SAID THEY DO HAVE A HOMELESS POPULATION.
[02:45:08]
AND I WANTED TO HAVE A LONGER CONVERSATION WITH HER.THE ONLY PERSON WORKING IN THAT STORE THAT EVENING.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION.
AND SO THE THE ACTION STEPS THAT I'M ASKING FOR THE COMMISSION TONIGHT, BEFORE WE START Q&A, JUST TO BE CLEAR, IS ENDORSEMENT OF MOVING FORWARD WITH A TO BUILD A FORMAL DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPERATIONS AND FINANCING AND PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS, TO BUILD A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY FACILITY, AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALONG THE WAY WE MAY IDENTIFY PROPERTIES AND NEED TO BE ENGAGING IN NON BINDING LETTERS OF INTENT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PERIOD TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT FACILITY MIGHT PLAY A ROLE OR PROPERTY OR WHATEVER.
SO THERE THERE'LL BE DIFFERENT ACTIONS ALONG THE WAY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS INTO MORE CONCRETE TERMS. AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, MR. REGAN. AND LET ME JUST SAY A COUPLE OF REMARKS.
THIS CITY, THIS COMMISSION, OUR PREDECESSORS AND CERTAINLY OUR SUCCESSORS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS. AND WE HAVE A CERTAIN WE HAVE CERTAIN PIECES IN PLACE.
WE DO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS DEDICATED TO THIS PARTICULAR SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.
WE DO HAVE ORDINANCES THAT HELP US POLICE THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
THESE THIS COMMISSION IS NOT BLIND.
WE'RE WERE PAINFULLY AWARE AS AS WE MOVE THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WE SEE IT FOR OURSELVES AND CERTAINLY COMPLAINTS FROM BOTH CITIZENS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AS WELL AS VISITORS, WE'RE KEENLY AWARE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ASK WE'VE REALLY SPENT MOST OF THIS YEAR COMING UP TO SPEED WITH NOT ONLY WHAT THE CITY IS DOING, BUT WITH WHAT OTHER PROVIDERS ARE DOING.
AND SO I PERSONALLY AM VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF, MR. REGAN, THAT YOU ALL HAVE NOT ONLY TAKE IN OUR LOCAL INFORMATION, BUT HAVE BEEN HAVE GONE OUT AND GATHERED OTHER KIND OF STATE OF THE ART INFORMATION TO COME BACK TO THIS RECOMMENDATION.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CITY STAFF AND THIS COMMISSION HAVE HAVE REVIEWED AND ARE NOW ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM, THIS ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, REALLY KIND OF THROWING DOWN THE GANTLET WITH THE COMMUNITY ON JUST EVERYTHING FROM THE VOCABULARY THEY USE TO WHERE THEY POINT THE FINGERS AND. I JUST YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE I THINK POLICING MOVES THE PROBLEM AROUND.
I DON'T THINK IT REALLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM.
BUT THE COMMUNITY THINKS THAT THAT'S HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
THAT'S NOT HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M WILLING TO CARRY THE TORCH.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CARRYING THAT TORCH AND WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THAT ISSUE.
NOT TO SCARE ANYONE, BUT THAT'S IT'S A HEAVY COMMITMENT.
I'VE TALKED TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BROUGHT IT UP TO ME RECENTLY, AND I'VE SAID BE PREPARED, BE PREPARED FOR COMMITMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE. NON-BINDING LETTERS OF INTENT.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION, WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ALL THOSE THINGS, ALL THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH AND BUILDING THE COMMUNICATION PLAN, 100% SUPPORT.
I MEAN, A LOT OF GREAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO GET US TO THIS POINT, AND I'M DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT.
I WOULD REALLY ECHO MY COLLEAGUE'S REMARKS.
I. IT'S A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE, IT'S AN ECONOMIC ISSUE.
[02:50:04]
IT'S EVERYTHING.WE'VE TRIED A LOT OF THINGS, AND I'M NEW TO THIS HERE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY THE END OF MY SECOND YEAR.
IT'S WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A BIG LEAP FORWARD.
AND I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
WHAT DOES CONCERN ME IS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET THERE.
IT'S A SHAME WE COULDN'T HAVE STARTED EARLIER, BUT NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO BEGIN.
AND WHAT ALL DO YOU NEED, JOHN? WELL, THROUGH THE MAYOR.
I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO COMMISSIONER BLONDER.
WE ARE WORKING ON SOME STRATEGIES WITH ST JOHN'S COUNTY AND THE SHERIFFS.
THEY CAN BRING UP FACILITIES SOONER THAN LATER.
SO WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOW.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON TWO LEVELS WHAT CAN BE IMMEDIATE, WHAT CAN BE MORE LONG TERM? THE WELL, BASICALLY, I WOULD SAY A MOTION FOR CONSENSUS TO ADOPT THE STRATEGY.
NOW, WE WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION FIRST, BUT WE'LL REDUCE THIS STRATEGY DOWN INTO A FORMAL DOCUMENT FOR YOUAND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE HAVE.
I'M JUST GOING TO BRAG ON OUR TEAM HERE.
ASSISTANT CHIEF CUTHBERT HAS BEEN WORKING IN THIS FIELD LONGER THAN ANYONE REALIZES, AND OFFICER STEVE FISHER IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFICER DOING AMAZING WORK.
HE IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHAT WE DO WITH THE HOMELESS.
I KNOW THAT THE VICE MAYOR HAD A QUESTION HOW DO WE HANDLE THE HOMELESS IN A STORM AND WHAT DO WE DO TO HELP THEM REUNIFY WITH THEIR FAMILIES? IF YOU STILL WANT THAT ANSWER, THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE HERE.
I KNOW THE HOURS LATE UP TO YOU, BUT PERHAPS, MAYBE SOME TYPE OF MOTION OF ADOPTION OF THE PRINCIPLES DISCUSSED WITH THE COMMISSION IS COMPLETE WITH THEIR DISCUSSION. I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
GO AHEAD AND MAKE IT, IF YOU WOULD.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION AT THIS POINT? IF NOT, WE'LL DO THIS BY WE'LL DO THIS BY VOICE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. REGAN AND ASSISTANT CHIEF AND STEVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR YOUR REALLY HEART FOR THIS.
ONE QUESTION BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
HOW SOON CAN WE HEAR BACK ON THIS INITIATIVE? WHERE CAN WE SET A TIME CERTAIN WHERE WE'RE.
I CAN GIVE YOU MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS.
OKAY. I THINK THE NEXT THREE MONTHS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY ACTIVE.
YEAH, WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF.
KEVIN. MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN THE IMMEDIATE.
TIME FRAME OR DO WE HAVE AS PART OF THE STRATEGY, GOING TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL? THE STRATEGY IS GOING TO ADDRESS THAT.
THE COUNTY MAY HAVE SOME PARCELS OF LAND THAT MIGHT BE SUITABLE FOR A FACILITY.
AND SO WE DID SAY THAT I JUST WASN'T MAKING THAT CONNECTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE NOW ON ITEM 13.
[13.B. Sister Cities request to fund the student exchange program in 2023.]
BE MR. REGAN SISTER CITIES REQUEST TO FUND THE STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN 2023.IN YOUR PACKET IS A LETTER FROM CONSUELO LIPPI, THE STUDENT EXCHANGE COORDINATOR.
[02:55:06]
VISIT SAINT AUGUSTINE.IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROGRAMS OF SISTER CITIES.
BUT DURING COVID, WE HAD BUDGETED, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN IT KIND OF WENT DORMANT.
AND WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
SO THERE IS NO LINE ITEM FOR SISTER CITIES OR BUDGET, AND IT'S NOT A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
IT'S IT IS 15,000, BUT IT'S MORE ABOUT HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMISSION ON YOUR POLICY OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THIS AS A POLICY WITH SISTER CITIES.
ON THE YOUTH EXCHANGE, THEIR REQUEST IS FOR 15,000 THAT THEY USE IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, RANGING FROM TO OFFSET COSTS THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS AND SO FORTH.
AND IT ALSO IS A RALLYING OF THE SISTER CITIES AND HELPS THEM COALESCE AS AN ORGANIZATION.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL, BUT IT IS IN THE DOMAIN OF THE COMMISSION AS A POLICY QUESTION.
AND THIS, OF COURSE, JUST COVERS A PORTION OF THE COST.
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT OTHER COSTS THAT ARE COVERED BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMMISSION CONTINUE THIS ALLOCATION, AS WOULD , I AGREE.
I'M GOING TO MOVE THEN, THAT MR. REGAN, THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE 15,000 EXPENDITURES THAT THE APPROPRIATE MOTION.
MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[13.C. The Giving Machine vendor agreement.]
MR. REGAN THE GIVING MACHINE VENDOR AGREEMENT.WE HAD A QUICK LITTLE PRESENTATION BY THE GENTLEMAN DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THIS IS A VENDOR AGREEMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE AN ELECTRONIC MACHINE.
IT'S VERY DECORATIVE, VERY HOLIDAY FESTIVE.
THAT WOULD SIT TO THE IF YOU'RE ABOUT TO BOARD ON TO THE TRAIN SYSTEM ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ESPLANADE OF THE GARAGE. IT WOULD SIT TO THE RIGHT AND IT'S WOULD BE HERE FOR FOUR DAYS, AS THE SPEAKER MENTIONED.
IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER CITIES.
IT IS ORGANIZED BY THE CHURCH OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
BUT THERE'S NO REFERENCE TO THIS CHURCH EXCEPT ONE WEBSITE.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT IS THAT IT REALLY SETS AN AGENDA OF THE CITY, AT LEAST FOR THE FOUR DAYS OF CHARITY AND GIVING. IT ALSO GIVES US A CHANCE TO EVALUATE HOW ELECTRONIC GIVING CAN BE DONE, THE ACCEPTANCE OF IT, BECAUSE PART OF A DEEPER STRATEGY WITH HOMELESSNESS AND PERSONALLY I THINK, NEEDS TO INVOLVE THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE WHEN VISITORS VISIT, THAT THERE'S A WAY THAT THEY CAN DONATE TO HELP CAUSES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS WITHOUT GIVING TO PANHANDLING.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, WE'VE TRIED SOME THINGS.
CITIES HAVE TRIED THESE THINGS, OLD PARKING METERS AND THINGS.
TRUTH IS THEY'RE VERY SMALL NUMBERS THAT THEY GENERATE.
SO IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO SEE THAT.
AND IT'S JUST I THINK IT'S KIND OF WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS.
AND WE CAN DO IT FOR FOUR DAYS.
AND THERE BEING NO FURTHER CONVERSATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.
[03:00:04]
ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU, MISS GALAMBOS.[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
I'M JUST BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.COMMISSIONER BLONDER. YOU'RE GOING TO LET ME KICK IT OFF? I AM. OKAY.
DEEP BREATH. I'M THE NEWEST MEMBER TO THIS COMMISSION, AND I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE MAYOR AND TO COMMISSIONER VALDES.
BUT I LEARNED SO MUCH MORE FROM YOU IN THIS CAPACITY.
YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR AS WAS JUST EVIDENCED AND MOVING FORWARD, THAT NON MOTION.
AND YOUR YOUR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND YOUR ABILITY TO ARTICULATE THAT AND AND FRAME OUR DISCUSSIONS HAS BEEN MAGNIFICENT. SO THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER VALDES WE HAVE WE SHARE A PASSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
YOU ARE A MAN OF GREAT HEART AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.
YOU HAVE SO AMAZING EXPERTISE.
AND I JUST FINALLY WANT TO SAY THAT WE REPRESENT DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES ON THIS COMMISSION AND WE, I THINK, HAVE WORKED IN JUST IN A WAY THAT I WISH WE COULD DO AT OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE COMMON CHALLENGES LIKE FLOODING THAT WE ALL WANT TO ADDRESS.
WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACHES, WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES.
WE DO HAVE DIFFERENT AREAS OF EXPERTISE, AND I THINK THAT JUST MAKES US STRONGER.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR MAYOR ELECT BECOMING OUR MAYOR AND WORKING UNDER HER LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU. AND OUR TWO NEW MEMBERS THAT ARE COMING ON BOARD.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, TOO.
WELL, THERE'S NOT MUCH LEFT FOR ME TO SAY NOW.
SHE BASICALLY SAID IT ALL, BUT I, TOO, WILL MISS BOTH OF YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT A BOW TIE WITHOUT THINKING OF YOU.
AND I ALSO CAN'T LOOK AT YOUR PATTIES WITHOUT THINKING OF YOU, THE PEPPERMINT PATTIES.
WE HAVE WORKED REALLY WELL AS A TEAM AND I HOPE WE'LL BE SO LUCKY.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FOUR YEARS HAS GONE BY.
I MEAN, FOR YOU TO I MEAN, JUST HOW COULD THAT? IT'S LIKE A BLINK OF AN EYE.
BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE CONTRIBUTED.
VICE MAYOR. YES, OK SO, TRACY, MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING IN WHEN MAYOR SHAVER COULD NO LONGER SERVE.
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL RIDE HAVING YOU, MAYOR.
I'M REMINDED OF THE ATHENIAN OATH.
AND THAT YOU WOULD NEVER BRING DISGRACE ON THE CITY BY AN ACT OF DISHONESTY OR COWARD.
AND CERTAINLY YOU HAVE BEEN VERY BRAVE IN SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN UP AT, ASTONISHINGLY BRAVE AND COURAGEOUS.
AND YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT LEADER DURING PERIODS OF ADVERSITY.
SO, YEAH, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD SOME TOUGH STUFF.
WE'VE DONE SOME REALLY TOUGH THINGS.
I'VE SEEN IT SEVERAL WAYS, BUT THIS WAS NICE.
THIS MADE IT JUST MADE IT GOOD.
[03:05:05]
TABLE. AND THAT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.AND SO I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY I GUESS YOU'RE MAYBE MY THIRD MAYOR THAT I'VE WORKED UNDER, HONESTLY, AT THIS TABLE, BUT NOT, AS, YOU KNOW, SERVING THE CITY OVER THE 20 PLUS YEARS.
BUT I KNOW I MIGHT HAVE EVEN SERVED.
NOW, YOU WERE IN THE SEVENTIES.
YOU SAID THE FIRST TIME YOU SERVED AS MAYOR.
WAS THAT IN THE SEVENTIES? NO, 92, 92, 92, 90 WHAT? I WAS 12 IN THE SEVENTIES.
WHAT AM I THINKING? THAT'S RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD YOU WERE.
MY FINAL COMMENT IS I REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU CONTRIBUTED A LOT BY RESTORING CIVILITY TO THE MEETINGS.
HAVING BEEN THROUGH QUITE A BIT, ROCKING AND ROLLING AS MS. WITH THAT. HORVATH. COMMISSIONER HORVATH FEELS.
SO WHY ARE WE LOOKING? WHY ARE YOU POINTING AT HIM? I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN HIM.
SO, COMMISSIONER VALDES, MY COMMENTS ABOUT YOU ARE I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE VERY FORTHRIGHT.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY FORTHRIGHT, YOU'RE VERY DEDICATED, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CORDIAL TO ME.
AND I APPRECIATE AND AFFECTIONATE.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF YOUR STRENGTH, IS THAT YOU'RE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JUST A WARM PERSON.
AND THAT REALLY SHOWS THROUGH AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW YOU'VE GIVEN UP A LOT IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL LIFE TO DO THIS JOB, JUST LIKE WE ALL DO.
AND I'M SURE YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PRIVATE LIFE AGAIN.
BUT WE DID APPRECIATE WE APPRECIATED YOU WHILE WE HAD YOU SO AND I APPRECIATE ALSO THE COMMENTS THAT YOU HAVE A BIG HEART AND I THINK YOU DO. AND IT SHOWS.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION AND YOUR STATEMENTS.
ANYWAY, I WISH YOU BOTH THE BEST.
THANK YOU. AND WHATEVER ENDEAVORS YOU HAVE MOVING FORWARD AND WE WILL MISS YOU BOTH.
THANK YOU SO. PRESSURE, VALDES.
THANK YOU. I'LL TELL YOU WHERE HAS THE FOUR YEARS GONE? IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING RIDE FOR ME BECAUSE I NEVER HAD ANY ATTEMPT TO BE ON THE COMMISSION AFTER BEING ON BOARDS FOR YEARS.
AND THEN I GOT ON THE COMMISSION, DISCOVERED IT.
AND I FOUND IT VERY REWARDING, BUT ALSO VERY FRUSTRATING.
I FIND LEAVING THIS COMMISSION, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO MUCH UNFINISHED WORK, AND THAT'S A CONFLICT I HAVE IN MYSELF BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE LEAVING THINGS UNFINISHED.
BUT I KNOW THEY'LL BE LEFT IN GOOD HANDS AND THERE'LL ALWAYS BE UNFINISHED WORK.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IT USED TO BE AND HOW IT SHOULD BE.
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENCES, BUT WE ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, AND THAT'S A LOVE FOR THE CITY AND RECOGNITION OF WHAT THE CITY FACES AND THE CITY FACES SOME REAL CHALLENGES GOING FORWARD.
I MEAN, BEING LOVED TO DEATH, GROWTH, THE TRAFFIC THAT COMES FROM IT.
WE ARE NOW IN A WORLD, A WHOLE NEW WORLD WHERE WE HAVE TO THROW OUT THE OLD RULE BOOKS AND START WRITING NEW ONES BECAUSE WE'RE NOW DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT WHO HAD EVER DREAMED TEN YEARS AGO WE'D BE HAVING ONE STORM A YEAR LIKE WE'RE DOING.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND THINGS ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE WHAT I CALL PAPERCUT ISSUES, BUT THEY AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES DIRECTLY, JUST AS I SAW A FEW DAYS AGO. AND I KNOW GOING FORWARD THAT THIS COMMISSION WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND I OFFER WHAT TIME I HAVE LEFT TO HELP YOU WITH IT, BECAUSE I FEEL KIND OF GUILTY ABOUT LEAVING THE TABLE.
I THINK I ALSO HAVE THINGS TO CONTRIBUTE, BUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE ENRICHED MY LIFE.
I'VE GENUINELY ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW YOU BETTER, AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU COME FROM.
SOMEONE I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS, LIKE ROXANNE.
[03:10:07]
SUNSHINE. AND NANCY, THANK YOU.I APPRECIATE BEING RECOGNIZED AS PRESERVATIONISTS AND.
AND YOU, MR. UPCHURCH, YOU'RE A DELIGHT.
YOU REALLY ARE. I REALLY ENJOY WATCHING YOU OPERATE UP THERE.
YOU'RE VERY GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO.
AND I REALLY ADMIRE AND APPRECIATE LOVE FOR YOUR CITY AND THE PEOPLE IN IT.
THANK YOU. OH, I WANT TO ADD ONE MORE THING.
CITY STAFF, IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE WORKING WITH THE STAFF AND THE CITY, AND I HAVE TO COMMEND JOHN REGAN HAS IF HE HAS ONE TOWN, HE HAS MANY.
YOU DO A GOOD JOB AND YOUR STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB.
SO, I MEAN, I AM I HAD ADMIRATION COMING INTO THIS HERE.
THANK YOU. WELL, COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, IT'S I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
AND SO IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME FOR JUST A MINUTE THAT, YOU KNOW, NONE OF US DO THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR SPOUSE AND OUR FAMILY AND.
SHE ALWAYS KNEW I WANTED TO DO THIS.
BEEN NOTHING BUT INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE.
I THINK WE FIGURED OUT A PRETTY GOOD WAY TO KIND OF DIVIDE DUTIES AND TO KIND OF LET ME DO WHAT WHAT I WANTED TO DO AND AND SERVING IN PUBLIC OFFICE AND. BUT SHE'S ALWAYS MY FIRST COUNSELOR.
SHE'S SHE'S ALWAYS MY FIRST LOVING CRITIC.
SHE WAS ALSO INCREDIBLY BRAVE.
AND I DIDN'T THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE CHANCE THAT SHE HAS GIVEN ME TO SERVE IN PUBLIC OFFICE.
WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL CITY MANAGER.
THEY SERVE THE COMMUNITY SO WELL.
THEY'RE SO PROACTIVE, THEY'RE VISIONARY, THEY'RE CAPABLE AND.
AND I JUST HAVE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND OF COURSE, CITY STAFF IS REALLY THE CONTINUITY BETWEEN COMMISSIONERS COMING AND GOING.
YOU KNOW, NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED.
DURING OUR TIME ON THE COMMISSION.
EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
THOSE PLANS WERE IN PLACE CERTAINLY BEFORE I ARRIVED.
AND THEY WILL BE WORK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO LONG AFTER I'M GONE.
AND SO CITY STAFF'S ROLE IN AND CARRYING THOSE PROJECTS FORWARD.
OF LISTENING TO NEW COMMISSIONERS REFINING AS NEEDS TO GO FORWARD IS JUST SO IMPORTANT AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE.
COMPASSION. IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S SOMETHING I SEE IN CITY STAFF FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM AND CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS.
THAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SPECIAL.
AND WE SEE IT DURING THE STORMS AND WE SEE IT IN HOW OFFICER FISHER DEALS WITH THE HOMELESS ON A DAILY BASIS AND WE JUST SEE IT IN COUNTLESS OTHER WAYS.
WHEN. I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM FROM NANCY SIKES-KLINE, AND IT TOOK HER A REALLY LONG TIME.
[03:15:10]
FACT, RESIGNED.AND SHE ASKED ME, TOOK MY TEMPERATURE AS TO WHETHER I WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE AS MAYOR.
AND IT'S THE NICEST PHONE CALL I'VE EVER GOTTEN.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE JOY.
AND I HAVE TO INCLUDE COMMISSIONER FREEMAN AS WELL.
AND. I'LL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL.
WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.