[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
WELCOME. WELCOME TO THIS HAPPY OCCASION.THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
ON THIS HAPPY OCCASION WHEN WE GET TO HONOR THIS GREAT MAN.
I'M GOING TO STAND AT THE PODIUM, AND I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO INFORM YOU ON.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO STAND WITH ME.
TEST. AM I HERE? YES. YES, I'M HERE.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE CITY COMMISSION, THE ST AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION HAS BESTOWED THE DE AVILES AWARD TO 36 RECIPIENTS SINCE THE INCEPTION IN 1988, OVER 30 YEARS AGO.
IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, IT HAS BEEN LIMITED TO JUST ONE RECIPIENT A YEAR.
THE RECIPIENT MUST BE NOMINATED BY A MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
RECIPIENTS ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN, AND I QUOTE, IDENTIFIED IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC SERVICE OR THOSE WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED BY THE CITIZENRY WHO HAVE DEDICATED AND HONORABLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY OF ST AUGUSTINE AND ST JOHN'S COUNTY.
NOW THE AWARD IS NAMED IN HONOR OF OUR SISTER CITY, AVILES.
ASTURIAS, SPAIN, WHICH IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF DON PEDRO MENENDEZ, OUR CITY'S FOUNDER.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THEIR NAMES.
SOME OF THEM ARE STILL WITH US AND SOME ARE NOT.
PERHAPS YOU HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF KNOWING THEM PERSONALLY, OR YOU HAVE A FOND MEMORY OF THEM.
JACK WILLIAMS. WALTER BUKOWSKI.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
THE JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.JOSEPH W AND FAITH K TIBERIUS.
GUDRIN AND ROBERT ROBERT HALL.
PAUL FAGUNDO. CHARLES TINGLEY.
BILLY PRUITT, MARIA AND BOB ALVAREZ.
TODAY WE ADD PAUL WEAVER TO THE LIST.
THE 2023 DE AVILES AWARD RECIPIENT.
PAUL BEGAN HIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION WORK IN ST AUGUSTINE IN 1978, WHEN HE SERVED AS THE HISTORIC SITE SPECIALIST FOR WHAT WAS THEN CALLED THE HISTORIC ST AUGUSTINE PRESERVATION BOARD.
HE COAUTHORED THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE AREA STUDY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH SEVERAL OTHER
[00:05:03]
NOTABLE HISTORIANS AND PRESERVATIONISTS DR.WILLIAM ADAMS, DAVID NOLAN, MICHAEL SCODDERVILLE AND ROBERT STEINBACH.
[3.A. Proclamation 2023-08: Declares February 2023 as Black History Month.]
HE ALSO PREPARED A HISTORIC SITE AND BUILDING SURVEY OF ST JOHN'S COUNTY.PAUL WAS ALSO A PIONEER IN THE AREA OF CULTURE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
HIS COMPANY, HISTORIC PROPERTIES ASSOCIATES INC, BEGAN ITS HISTORIC PRESERVATION STUDIES IN 1979 AND THEN INCORPORATED IN 1984 TO BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
CONTINUING HIS IMPACTFUL WORK OVER THE FOLLOWING FOUR DECADES, PAUL WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR UPDATING THE ST AUGUSTINE TOWN PLAN HISTORIC DISTRICT TO EXPAND THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE FROM 1821 TO 1935 TO INCLUDE THE POST COLONIAL PERIOD UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN 1935.
THIS EXPANSION ADDED APPROXIMATELY 400 CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS TO THE DISTRICT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
BILL ADAMS, WHO IN 1987 PREPARED THE FIRST HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN ELEMENT.
PAUL WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING MANY.
YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT, SO ALLOW ME TO NAME THEM.
THE ALLIGATOR FARM HISTORIC DISTRICT.
LINCOLNVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE SAINT AUGUSTINE RECORD BUILDING.
THIS WAS ALSO A CITY LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
FULLER WOOD HISTORIC DISTRICT.
NOW MARK TERRACE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE CONSTITUTION OBELISK, WHICH WAS A PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE 450 YEAR CELEBRATION.
THE CITY'S MINIATURE GOLF COURSE ON THE BAYFRONT.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE WATERWORKS BUILDING.
ALL OF THESE PLACES ARE IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER AND FOR THAT, PAUL, WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL.
PAUL, YOU HAVE AUTHORED AND COAUTHORED MANY PUBLICATIONS ABOUT HISTORIC SAINT AUGUSTINE.
AND IN THE NINETIES YOU WERE EVEN PRESIDENT OF THE CIRCULAR CULTURAL HISPANO PROMOTING OK.
I BUTCHERED THAT PROMOTING THAT PREDATED ME PROMOTING THE SPANISH HERITAGE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
AND SO WHAT HAVEN'T YOU DONE, PAUL? AND NEARLY 20 YEARS, YOU HAVE SERVED THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD.
YOU HAVE MADE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS THERE AS WELL, INCLUDING UPDATES TO OUR DEMOLITION ORDINANCE, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN AND THE ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES. YOU HAVE DEDICATED DECADES OF OUTSTANDING WORK AND PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY, THIS PRECIOUS PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME.
AND FOR THAT, WE PROUDLY PRESENT YOU WITH THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE 2023, DE AVILES AWARD.
AND PAUL, WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND JOIN US? [APPLAUSE] WE'LL STAND HERE.
AND SO BEFORE I TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER TO MR. WEAVER, OUR HONORABLE MR. WEAVER, I'D LIKE TO READ THAT INSCRIPTION FOR YOU.
THE CITY. HERE IS THE INSCRIPTION.
THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE PRESENTS THE DE AVILES AWARD TO PAUL L WEAVER, THE THIRD IN RECOGNITION OF TIRELESS DEDICATION AND HONORABLE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
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TODAY. THANK YOU, PAUL [APPLAUSE].WOW. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE TURNOUT.
SURE. IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME.
THE MAYOR IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND.
WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR FOR 30 YEARS.
COMMISSIONER BLONDER HAS BEEN A GREAT FRIEND AND A NEIGHBOR, AND ALL MY FRIENDS FROM MILTON STREET ARE ARE HERE THE [INAUDIBLE] . VICE MAYOR HORVATH IS A GREAT FRIEND AND SHE SENT ME KIND OF CONDOLENCES THAT SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
BUT SHE'S HAVING FUN ON A TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA.
COMMISSIONER GARRIS. WE MET A LONG TIME AGO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I THINK COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD KNOWS MY WIFE VERY WELL.
HUMBLED TO BE TALKED ABOUT IN THE SAME BREATH WITH PEOPLE LIKE OTIS MASON, HERSCHEL SHEPPARD, DR.
HAILING. TOTALLY UNEXPECTED, BUT VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
I WANTED TO DISCLOSE SOMETHING.
AND THAT IS AND IT'S TOO LATE TO TO NOT GIVE ME THIS.
BUT THE FIRST TIME I APPLIED TO HARVARD BACK IN THE 1990S, THE CITY COMMISSION DIDN'T APPROVE ME.
SO. BUT I THINK, YES, WE ALL BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES.
RIGHT. AND IN THIS PARTICULARLY, COMMISSIONER, MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE HAS GIVEN ME MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. NOW THEY CAN'T GET RID OF ME, SO.
BUT I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HER.
ONE OF MY GOOD, GOOD FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND SERVED WITH ME ON ON HARD.
WHAT WE DO IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS A IS A TEAM SPORT.
AND I'VE GOT A LOT OF TEAMMATES.
I'M TELLING YOU, I THINK I WAS A LONG SNAPPER ON THIS TEAM.
BUT ANYWAY, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE I WANT TO THANK.
LET ME BEGIN WITH MY FAMILY, MY MOM.
I KNOW I'M GOING TO GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS, BUT SHE WOULD BE 100 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR AND SHE WAS MY EDITOR DOING TERM PAPERS AND WORK FOR OUR COMPANY.
AND REALLY, SHE WAS A CHILD OF THE DEPRESSION.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
AND SHE ONCE TOLD ME, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE'S A FUTURE IN HISTORY, BUT IT ALL IT ALL WORKED OUT.AND I WANT TO THANK HER SO MUCH, MY WIFE, ROSA MARIA.
[SPANISH] SHE'S A HISTORIAN, AN ARCHEOLOGIST AND AS MR. STRINGFIELD WILL ATTEST, A VERY EXCELLENT NATIONALLY CERTIFIED SPANISH TEACHER.
SO I WANT TO THANK HER SO MUCH.
ONE THING, MY SON PAUL IS HERE.
MY YOUNGER SON ANDREW, IS IN MEXICO, AND HE'S LISTENING TOO [SPANISH] MY FAMILY HERE AND THE GARCIA GARCIA FAMILY IN MEXICO.
[SPANISH] I HAD GREAT TEACHERS.
I'M SURE MOST OF YOU PROBABLY HAD A TEACHER AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE THAT TOOK AN INTEREST IN YOU.
ENGLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL PASSED AWAY SOME YEARS AGO.
BUT HE IS ONE THAT REALLY AND SOME OF MY INGLEWOOD FRIENDS ARE HERE THEY KNOW MR. LINCOLN, GAVE ME A GREAT START IN HISTORY.
BLAIR REEVES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, I STUDIED WITH HIM, DR.
HE WAS ONE OF MY MENTORS AND TEACHERS.
MICHAEL SCODDERVILLE, ROBERT STEINBACH, OF COURSE, HERSCHEL SHEPPARD, WHO'S ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD, AND MOST ESPECIALLY AND MAYOR SIKES-KLINE, YOU MENTIONED HIM, DR. WILLIAM ADAMS, WHO GAVE ME MY FIRST JOB AND AND HE WAS A MENTOR AND FRIEND
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AND BUSINESS PARTNER FOR OVER 40 YEARS.I'VE HAD THE FORTUNE OF WORKING WITH THE SAINT AUGUSTINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY.
BUT MARGOT POPE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD, JOHN [INAIDIBLE].
WE'VE MENTIONED ANOTHER RECIPIENT OF THE DE AVILES AWARD, NICK MCAULIFFE, WHO WAS THEIR TREASURER.
SHE'S HERE. SHE HAD SOME REALLY NICE THINGS TO SAY.
SHE SENT ME A BEAUTIFUL EMAIL AND I REALLY APPRECIATE SHE GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE A CHAPTER ON THE OLDEST CITY, WHICH IS A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. THOMAS JACKSON I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THOMAS WAS ABLE TO COME.
THERE HE IS. BUT THOMAS IS I CAN'T SAY A LIFELONG FRIEND, BUT AT LEAST MY THE ADULT PERIOD OF MY LIFE FOR OVER 30, 30 YEARS.
AND I COACHED HIS SON IN SOCCER.
CONGRATULATIONS. HE'S THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAINT AUGUSTINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ALSO, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANOTHER RECIPIENT I THINK IS HERE, CHARLES TINGLEY.
THE HARP MEMBERS HARPS COME A LONG WAY, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER EVER HAVING SOMEBODY ON THE HARP THAT I DIDN'T REALLY APPRECIATE AND WASN'T REALLY DOING A VERY GOOD JOB.
I'M PREJUDICE, BUT IT SEEMS TO GET BETTER EVERY YEAR.
OUR CHAIRMAN, CATHERINE DUNCAN.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER CASSIE'S HERE.
VICE CHAIR GARY MCDONALD I KNOW GEARS HERE.
BOARD MEMBERS, JOHN BENOIT AND BRAD BEECH.
BRAD BEECH SENT ME A TEXT CONGRATULATING ME AND AND REMINDED ME HE WAS BORN THE YEAR I STARTED THE SURVEY HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. SO THANKS A LOT CITY STAFF.
AND THIS IS NOT ONLY COMING FROM ME, BUT I REMEMBER BOB BOAMAH, WHO WAS A HARD MEMBER.
AND THAT'S A REAL COMPLIMENT TO OUR STAFF HERE IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
DAVID'S RISEN SO HIGH IN CITY GOVERNMENT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HIS TITLE IS ANYMORE.
JENNY WOLF. SHE HAD A REALLY GREAT TEN YEAR RUN WITH THE CITY.
SHE MOVED TO PENSACOLA, THE SECOND OLDEST HISTORIC CITY IN THE COUNTRY AFTER SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THIS IS KIND OF A BRAD BEECH TYPE JOKE.
I ALWAYS KNOW JENNY'S AGE BECAUSE SHE WAS 11 WHEN I DID THE LINCOLNVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO I HAVE I HAVE CHILDREN AND ALMOST GRANDCHILDREN IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
SO JUST KIND OF WRAPPING IT UP.
DON'T DESPAIR ABOUT THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY GREAT TALENT COMING UP.
I MENTIONED OUR TWO CURRENT PRESERVATION PLANNERS, CANDACE SEYMOUR AND JULIE COURTNEY.
AND THAT'S DUE TO THE DEDICATION OF CANDACE AND AND JULIE.
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PERSON, A GENERATION AFTER ME.BUT IT'S DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB THERE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
HER MOTHER HAD A HEALTH ISSUE, SO SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
AND LAST I GOT TO DO THIS AND HAVE FUN AND MAKE SO MANY GREAT FRIENDS REALLY AND TRULY.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I DO.
BUT THEY CAME TODAY BECAUSE THEY'RE GREAT FRIENDS.
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
SO I'M SURE I LEFT SOME ONE OFF, BUT I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE TREASURY AFTER THIS.
THE ONES THAT CAN TRY AND GET OUT OF IT, HAVE A QUICK CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
YOU'RE INVITED. BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
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ALL RIGHT.[00:31:56]
I APOLOGIZE. WE'RE GOING TO START IT A LITTLE BIT LATE, BUT I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER.MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ROXANNE HORVATH BARBARA BLONDER HERE.
ALL RIGHT, SO TODAY WE HAVE PASTOR DAVE ACKERMAN FROM GOOD NEWS CHURCH, AND HE WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.
WILL YOU ALL PLEASE STAND? I'VE NEVER. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE THANKED FOR THINGS.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR I LOOKED ON THE WEBSITE TODAY AND I NOTICED SUCH A NICE THING ABOUT MR. BAKER AND JUST APPRECIATED SO MUCH THAT.
AND SO WE'RE NOT OFTEN THANKED FOR THINGS WE DO.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATED SEEING THAT.
AND THEN I'M JUST SO THANKFUL THAT I'M NOT BEING ASKED TO PRAY AND LEAD THE PLEDGE.
SO I WAS REALLY TRYING TO GO BACK IN MY MEMORY BANK.
SO I'M SO THANKFUL THAT I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ALSO.
HE HAS TOLD YOU, OH, MAN, WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU? BUT TO DO JUSTICE AND TO LOVE KINDNESS AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.
THE VOICE OF THE LORD WILL CALL TO THE CITY.
AND IT IS SOUND WISDOM TO FEAR YOUR NAME HERE.
OH, TRIBE, WHO IS APPOINTED, IT'S TIME.
LET'S PRAY. FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING THIS CITY AS A GIFT.
AND, LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT PLACE IN WHICH WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE.
AND, LORD, WE DO GIVE YOU THANKS.
AND LORD, WE PRAY, THANKING YOU THAT YOU HAVE REVEALED TO MAN WHAT IS GOOD, THAT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE LEADERS OVER A CITY AND IT'S GOOD FOR THOSE LEADERS TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND TO LOVE MERCY.
AND SO, LORD, AS THEY DELIBERATE TONIGHT, GIVE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT, GIVE WISDOM TO THEM AS THEY LEAD.
AND AND LORD, FOR ALL WHO WOULD COME TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO ISSUES, HELP THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD.
AND LORD ADD THEIR WISDOM TO THE WISDOM YOU WOULD GIVE TO THESE COMMISSIONERS.
AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND THEY CAN ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE YOU AND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER IN A SAFE PLACE AND A FREE PLACE AND A GOOD PLACE. AND WE THANK YOU FOR A GREAT HERITAGE THAT YOU PRESERVED IN THIS CITY OVER SO MANY YEARS.
PRAY THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO THE PRAISE OF YOUR GLORY AND FOR OUR ENJOYMENT.
AMEN. PLEASE FACE THE FLAG AND.
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INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.ALL RIGHT. SO THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE IS MODIFICATION.
AN APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.
COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY MODIFICATIONS? NO. MR. REGAN, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
GOOD EVENING. STAFF HAS WOULD REQUEST A MODIFICATION UNDER ITEMS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO TWO ITEMS. ONE IS A BRIEF CONCLUDING REMARKS REGARDING THE BACK BAY STUDY.
WE'D LIKE TO SURFACE IT WITH YOU TONIGHT.
NO DECISIONS NECESSARILY, BUT WE'D LIKE TO GAUGE YOUR REACTION TO IT.
AND IF IT'S POSITIVE, WE WILL THEN START MOVING FORWARD WITH COMMUNICATING TO THE COMMUNITY AND DOING PUBLIC OUTREACH AND TEEING UP A RESOLUTION FOR THE NEXT MEETING IN MARCH.
OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED, I'LL SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.
MOTION CARRIES. SO WE WILL ADD THAT TO ITEM 7, 7A.
ALL RIGHT. NOW WE THINK THAT'S 7B, 7B, 7B, YOU ARE CORRECT.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS.
WE HAVE ITEM 7B ITEMS OF GREAT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION.
VERY HAPPY PROCLAMATION TODAY TO DECLARE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AND COMMISSIONER GARRIS, I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO READ YOUR PROCLAMATION.
WE CAN ALL JOIN YOU AT THE FRONT.
WHEREAS IN 1926, BLACK HISTORIAN CARTER G.
WOODSON BEGAN A WEEK LONG CELEBRATION THAT HAS SINCE GROWN INTO A MONTH OF DEDICATED TO REMEMBERING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, RESILIENCE AND LEGACIES OF BLACK AMERICANS AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS NOT COMMONLY TAUGHT.
AND WHEREAS, DURING CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, MANY PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, YOUNG AND OLD, BLACK AND WHITE, FROM ST AUGUSTINE AFAR, PARTICIPATED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY IN ST AUGUSTINE.
AND WHEREAS, IN JULY 1963, JOANNE ANDERSON ULMER, SAMUEL WHITE, AUDREY NELL EDWARDS AND WILLIE CARL SINGLETON, KNOWN AS THE SAINT AUGUSTINE FOUR, STARTED A SIT IN PROTEST AT A WOOLWORTH'S LUNCH COUNTER IN SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THE GROUP, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER TEENAGERS, WERE ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO JAIL.
AND WHEREAS, THE SAINT AUGUSTINE FOUR WERE THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS TO REJECT THE PLEA DEAL.
AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IS PROUD TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE COURAGE, TENACITY OF SO MANY WHOSE LEGACIES ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR NATION AND IN OUR COMMUNITY, THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND NATION.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, DECLARES FEBRUARY 2023 BE DESIGNATED AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND CALLS UPON ALL THE CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE HERITAGE AND CULTURE AND CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE A WORLD THAT IS MORE JUST PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS FOR ALL AND WITNESS THEREOF.
I HERE TO SET MY HAND AND DO CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE TO BE AFFIXED THIS 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2023 AND 457 YEARS OF THE FOUNDING OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY.
MS. ALDRIN NEIL EDWARDS, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD WITH YOUR FAMILY [APPLAUSE]?
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
[00:40:13]
I WANT TO I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY, FOR YOUR TENACITY TO STAND TO FOR A CAUSE THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR WOMEN LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS BY STICKING TO YOUR GUNS AND MAKING A STAND THOSE YEARS AGO.BUT KNOWING YOUR MOTHER, HAZEL.
ALL RIGHT. AND. AND MY SISTER IN LAW, LOIS.
YOU KNOW, I, I, I USED TO STAND AND TALK TO PEOPLE, BUT AFTER LOSING JOANNE, THIS IS BITTERSWEET.
I WANT TO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HONORING AND ACKNOWLEDGE.
BECAUSE WE SPENT A LONG TIME AND I ENDED UP WITH A RECORD FOR 40 YEARS.
ST JOHN'S COUNTY HAD A RECORD ON ME WHERE WHEN I USED TO WONDER, SAID, WHY? WHY WHEN I GO GET A JOB WHY DO THEY TURN ME DOWN? SO WHEN I APPLY FOR THE HABITAT HOUSE, I FOUND OUT THAT I HAD A FELONY RECORD FOR GOING TO JAIL WITH DR.
[7.B. Items of Great Public Importance]
MARTIN LUTHER KING.AND THEY HOLD THAT RECORD OVER MY HEAD FOR 40 YEARS.
AND WHEN THAT THING WENT, [INAUDIBLE] I SAID, WHAT? YOU KNOW, CONSPIRACY.
I'M STILL HERE AND I'M STILL TALKING.
AND I'M STAYING BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE LIKE DR.
KING. AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME ROUND.
AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME ROUND.
I'M GOING TO KEEP ON A WALKING KEEP ON TALKING.
MY SWEET LITTLE BROTHER. HE WAS A LITTLE BOY WHEN I WAS SENT AWAY.
AND MY DAUGHTER WAS NOTHING BUT A LITTLE GIRL.
BUT I STOOD MY GROUND WITH MY MOTHER.
[INAUIDBLE] SHE JUST PASSED HERE DECEMBER THE 14TH.
THAT WAS A BLESSING. THAT'S A BLESSING.
SHE WAS THE LAST OF THE ST AUGUSTINE [INAUDIBLE] MOTHER.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, THAT WAS TRULY AN HONOR.
OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF YOU'LL GIVE ME JUST ONE MOMENT.
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MISS IRENE ARRIOLA.IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. DO I HAVE TO GIVE MY NAME OR ADDRESS OR YOU HAVE EVERYTHING.
WOULD YOU PLEASE, IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.
OF COURSE. IRENE ARRIOLA, 81, MAGNOLIA AVENUE IN NOMAR TERRACE.
THE FIRST THING I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT IS MY SUPPORT AS A TAXPAYER RESIDENT AND FEET ON THE STREET AFTER EVERY NATURAL DISASTER THAT WE HAVE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S CONTEMPLATING THE ACQUISITION OF [INAUDIBLE] KEARNS PROPERTY ON SEMINOLE.
WE HAVE VULNERABLE AREAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND CERTAINLY THAT PARTICULAR AREA IS SO ENVIRONMENTALLY FRAGILE AND IMPACTED BY SOME OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT HAS OCCURRED THERE IN THE LAST 5 TO 10 YEARS THAT I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD AS SAYING THANK YOU FOR THINKING CREATIVELY AND FOR BEING WILLING TO SPEND THE MONEY AND FOR GOING OUT INTO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS IMPACTED.
THE SECOND THING IS SALLIE GARDNER, THE FORMER FIRST LADY OF ST AUGUSTINE, TOOK A FALL ON SATURDAY AND OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE ON HER.
YOU KNOW, STOOP FROM STEP ON THE WAY UP AND HAVE TO, OF COURSE, DIDN'T HAVE HER PHONE ON HER.
SO TAKE A NOTE, EVERYBODY CARRY YOUR PHONE.
GOT UP, MANAGED TO HOLD ON TO HER FRONT DOOR.
GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE NEIGHBOR WHO CAME OVER TO HELP AND THEY CALLED AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE WHICH COULD NOT GET DOWN FULLERWOOD. BECAUSE OF THE PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
SO THEY GOT AS FAR AS THEY COULD.
THEY HAD TO BACK DOWN FULLERWOOD.
AND THEN I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WENT TO MACKERRAS.
I WOULD ASSUME THEY WENT TO MACKERRAS AND CAME AROUND TO GET HER AND SHE'D FALLEN.
IT WAS NOT A FATAL OR, YOU KNOW, DRAMATIC WHAT FROM THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD.
BUT I MEAN, SHE WAS GOING TO BE FINE.
BUT WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN A HEART ATTACK? YOU KNOW, SALLY CAN COUNT FIVE TIMES THAT AN AMBULANCE HAS COME TO OUR HOUSE.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
NO ONE IS I CERTAINLY AM NOT CASTING ASPERSIONS AS TO WHO'S PARKED ON THE STREET.
AND I KNOW THAT PUBLIC STREETS ARE FOR PARKING, BUT WE DO NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU TALKING ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU. AND WE WILL DISCUSS THAT.
I LIVE AT 14 ALTHEA STREET, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEM 10 A, WHICH IS 0 SEMINOLE.
I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM MS. KERN AND THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
THIS STORMWATER STORAGE WILL PROTECT MANY PROPERTIES, MINE INCLUDED.
SO IF DEVELOPED AND BUILT WE WOULD ALL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AND WOULD DEFINITELY BE DAMAGED.
SO I BELIEVE, AS IRENE SAID, THIS IS A CREATIVE SOLUTION.
I SUPPORT IT AND I ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE TO APPROVE.
MR. TED MOONEY IS NEXT, FOLLOWED BY MARTHA HON.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TED MOONEY.
I LIVE AT 14 ALTHEA STREET AND I AM A NEIGHBOR OF THE OWNER OF 0 SEMINOLE.
AMONG THE THINGS THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY AND THAT WE'VE CANVASED OUR NEIGHBORS ON IS RESILIENCE AND HOW DO WE DO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A NEIGHBORHOOD TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION OF THE INUNDATIONS THAT OCCUR NOW PRETTY REGULARLY EVERY YEAR.
AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER WHO SAID THAT THIS IS A CREATIVE SOLUTION THAT WE ALL THINK HAS MERIT AND WE WOULD AS A NEIGHBORHOOD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS KIND OF CONTINUED ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ACTING IN FAVOR OF THIS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. MOONEY. MARTHA HON IS THE NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY LAUREN GIBER.
[00:50:09]
YEAH. THANK YOU, MARTA HON 45 FLORIDA AVENUE.I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE BEING CREATIVE IN THE ACQUISITION OF LAND, TO PRESERVE OUR LIVES AND THE COASTAL IMPORTANCE OF THIS CITY.
THIS IS JUST AN AERIAL MAP OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS THE CORNER OF FLORIDA AND EVERGREEN BETWEEN JULIA AND EVERGREEN AND THIS LAND.
IT LOOKS THIS WAY WHEN NICOLE CAME BY.
AND IT'S PROBABLY TWO, THREE, FOUR FEET OF WATER.
WE DON'T KNOW. THIS IS KIND OF CLOSE TO THE THE STREET THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW FLOODED IT IS.
IT'S AN OLD NEIGHBORHOOD ARE DESIGNED TO GO STRAIGHT THE STORMWATER TO GO TO THE RIVER.
AND THIS IS WHAT THOSE WOODS ARE PREVENTING US FROM GETTING.
THEY ARE, OF COURSE ACTING LIKE A SPONGE, RIGHT.
AND THIS IS HOW IT LOOKS LIKE ON AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL DRY, SUNNY DAY.
THIS IS HOW IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE RIVER.
LOOK AT THE THE CITY IN THE BACK THERE WITH OYSTER BEDS.
AND THIS IS HOW THE TREES LOOK LIKE.
AND THE SERVICE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING US IS NOT MEASURABLE.
AND ALSO THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED JUST TWO BLOCKS FROM THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING THAT WE HAVE IN TOWN, AND WE KNOW HOW SERIOUS OF AN ISSUE HOMELESSNESS IS.
SO IF WE CHOP DOWN OVER 250 TREES TO PUT THIS APARTMENT'S SWIMMING POOL AND ALL THAT GOES WITH IT. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN IT OVERFLOWS? AND THIS PIECE OF WORK, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2040 ON PAGE 21, CLEARLY STATE THAT THE CITY SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ACQUIRE THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT LAND.
SO NOT JUST IN THIS AREA, BUT THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
OH. FOLLOWED BY CHARLES PAPPAS.
RECENTLY I'VE BEEN WATCHING AS TROLLEYS HEAD WEST ON KING STREET.
TURN LEFT INTO THE PARKING LOT BETWEEN THE CHASE BANK AND THE VILLA'S ZIADORA MUSEUM.
I WATCHED TROLLEYS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN ENTERING THE WINERY FROM SAN SEBASTIAN HARBOR ROAD INTO THE PARKING LOT AND A LEFT HAND TURN INTO THE DISTILLERY PARKING LOT FROM RIBERIA STREET.
THE USE OF TROLLEYS ON MLK AND RIBERIA STREET WILL SLOW DRIVERS DOWN FROM SPEEDING.
AS FOR MYSELF, I CAN LEAVE 5 MINUTES EARLIER FOR AN APPOINTMENT IF I NEED TO.
SECOND, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS CITY BARS TO STOP SERVING AND CLOSING EARLIER IN THE CITY.
ON AUGUST 10TH, 2021, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE COULD REQUIRE BUSINESS OWNERS TO GET A PERMIT TO SELL ALCOHOL AFTER MIDNIGHT.
BUT A PUBLIC FEEDBACK PERIOD WILL TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE.
NO DATE WAS SET FOR A FINAL HEARING.
THE COMMISSION WANTED THE HELP FROM THE RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE.
[00:55:01]
WE HAVE TIPPED WAY OVER THE EDGE.HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE VIOLENTLY FOR THIS TO BE REALIZED? AND THIRD.
WELL, SB 2102 IS STILL IN COMMITTEE AT THE IN TALLAHASSEE.
IT ALLOWS IT WILL ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES, IF PASSED, TO ADOPT ORDINANCES TO GRANT AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS TO PROPERTY OWNERS WHOSE PROPERTIES ARE USED FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING.
SO UNLESS THERE ARE GUIDELINES PLACED TO MOTIVATE LANDLORDS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO LOWER THEIR RENTAL PROPERTY IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A TAX EXEMPTION, NO GOOD WILL COME FROM THIS.
MRS. GIBER. MR. PAPPAS. CHARLES PAPPAS, 46 [INAUDIBLE] STREET.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE EXPLORATION TO PURCHASE OF 0 SEMINOLE.
IT'S TIME TO OPEN UP THE DISCUSSION OF PURCHASING CRITICAL PROPERTY FOR RESILIENCY.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PARKING ISSUE ON FULLERWOOD AT OUR LAST NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING.
WE TALKED WITH REUBEN ABOUT CREATING PARKING ON ONE SIDE.
WE NEED WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY ON THIS.
FOR SOME REASON WE NEED SOME HELP WITH.
AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU, BECAUSE THIS YEAR LOOKS LIKE A SCARY LEGISLATIVE YEAR FOR HOME RULE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ENCOURAGING ENCOURAGEMENT, MR. PAPPAS. MS.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2023-04: Easement State Road No. 5A (over San Sebastian River) granted to the State of Florida Department of Transportation for the San Sebastian Bridge Replacement Project.]
KALAIDI, YOUR NEXT AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE LAST.HAVE YOU TURNED IN ANY CARDS YOU HAVE SPEAKER? WELL. AM, I MIGHT BE MISSING SOME UP THERE UNDER MY FOOT.
SO SO SORRY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO DENY YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK HERE.
OKAY. LET'S START WITH MISS JESSICA ERKING AND FOLLOWED BY TAWNI LEE KERN.
HI, I'M JESSICA [INAUDIBLE] 22 SYLVAN DRIVE, AND THAT'S IN FULLER WOOD.
AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF 0 SEMINOLE DRIVE.
AND I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS A NEW TREND FOR ST AUGUSTINE BECAUSE WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE WATER SITUATION, THE THE TITLE SITUATION.
AND ALSO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE CREATURES OTHER THAN HUMANS THAT SHARE THE EARTH WITH US, AND THEY NEED A PLACE TO LIVE, SUCH AS BIRDS AND SNAKES.
EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE SNAKES, THEY'RE HERE FOR A GOOD PURPOSE.
THEY WERE PUT HERE FOR A GOOD PURPOSE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS TAWNI LEE KERN, AND I LIVE AT 23 ALTHEA STREET.
AND I WOKE UP SATURDAY MORNING AND I SAW IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FACEBOOK PAGE THAT SALLY HAD POSTED THAT SHE FELL AND THEY COULDN'T GET DOWN HER STREET AND SHE WAS LEFT BLEEDING UNTIL A NEIGHBOR COULD RESCUE HER AND THEY HAD TO BACK UP.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS QUITE A DELAY.
AND I WAS SO UPSET BY IT THAT I KNEW I HAD TO WAIT BEFORE I ACTED.
BUT BASED ON THAT, I'M HERE AND I DON'T REALLY LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING.
SO IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT MOTIVATES ME.
I LOOKED AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STREET I LIVE ON, AND ALL OF US, INCLUDING ME, ARE PRETTY OLD.
THERE'S MAYBE ONE OR TWO YOUNG FAMILIES.
SO IT'S IT'S A TIME THAT WE NEED TO TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON EVERYBODY TO COOPERATE WITH THAT.
SO WE'VE GOT TO TAKE SOME ACTION AND I'M WILLING TO HELP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK WITH ALL YOU DO HERE.
THANK YOU. MR. CHARLES SMITH IS NEXT, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FULMER.
MY PROPERTY BACKS UP TO MRS. KERNS AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY SUPPORT FOR THE PURCHASE, THE CITY PURCHASE OF 0 SEMINOLE.
[01:00:08]
IT WILL DEFINITELY HELP THE FLOODING SITUATION OF THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, THEY ALL ARE IN THE LAND PURCHASE BUSINESS FOR PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION, ETC. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THE CITY GETTING INVOLVED IN THAT TOO.
AND I SUPPORT OTHER AREAS THAT MAY COME UP LATER.
MS. CHRIS FULMER, FOLLOWED BY DWIGHT MILLER.
HI, GOOD EVENING. I'M CHRIS FULLMER.
[10.A. Discussion of the offer to purchase property at 0 Seminole Drive (Parcel Number 151330 0251) with the condition limiting the use of the property to open space and passive stormwater retention.]
IF THIS IS A CONCERN FOR THE CITY THAT A HOUSE BUILT IN 1886 IS FALLING TO RUIN, IT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE DON PEDRO FORNALS HOUSE AT 62 SPANISH, THE HISTORIC BUILDING THAT UNFORTUNATELY COLLAPSED ACCIDENTALLY WHILE UNDER RESTORATION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION FIVE YEARS LATER.
IT'S BEEN THE SUPERSTRUCTURE HAS BEEN DONE AND IT JUST SITS THERE.
HOW DOES THE CITY ALLOW THIS EYESORE TO BE RIGHT THERE ON HIPPOLYTA AND SPANISH AND THE PRIVATE HOME AT 22 AVENIDA MENENDEZ CONTINUES TO BE AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE CITY WITH THEIR DISPLAY OF POLITICAL SIGNAGE RIGHT THERE ON THE BAY FRONT.
BUT DOES NO ONE IN THE CITY KNOW THIS MAN WELL ENOUGH TO LET HIM KNOW THAT HE'S MAKING HIMSELF LOOK FOOLISH AND OUR CITY LOOKED LIKE TRASH? WE CAN DO BETTER. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND HARB AND PRESERVATION OF THE ENTRY CORRIDORS, CORRIDORS.
LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE VERY OBVIOUS, PLEASE.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
THERE'S SO MUCH HISTORY IN THIS CITY.
AND TO SEE MISS AUDREY NELL WAS WAS AMAZING.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO HAVE HER HERE.
THE QUIET PERIOD THAT WE HAD FOR TWO MONTHS IS GONE.
THANK YOU. DWIGHT MILLER IS NEXT, FOLLOWED BY GINA BURRELL.
SHE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT, BUT SHE'S SORRY SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT.
WE LIVE AT 1107 MAKARIOS DRIVE, SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH.
AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF CARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY.
MILLER CAN YOU PULL THAT MICROPHONE JUST A LITTLE BIT HIGHER? OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES. [INAUDIBLE] GO THROUGH THAT SPIEL ALL OVER AGAIN.
DO YOU? I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF CARE, MYSELF AND MY MAGGIE FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF MS. AUDREY AND THE SAINT AUGUSTINE FOR.
AS WELL AS YOUR CONSISTENT EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF CITY RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO REMAIN MARGINALIZED IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE STATE.
AND WE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE RICH HISTORY OF THE CITY.
HOWEVER, IT WAS 2010 AND THEREAFTER WHEN WE BEGAN TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE MAJOR ROLE THIS CITY PLAYED IN THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY.
AS LONGTIME YANKEES, WE FULLY NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD OR FULLY GRASPED HOW TERRIBLE THE SCARY DAILY LIFE WAS FOR BLACK AMERICA UNDER JIM CROW LAWS.
I WAS 16, BARELY, IN 1963, AND I WAS STILL AFRAID TO ASK GIRLS OUT ON DATES.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW AFRAID THE ST AUGUSTINE FOR TEENAGERS WERE THAT DAY WHEN THEY WALKED INTO THAT THAT LUNCH ROOM SAT DOWN AT THAT COUNTER.
IN JOHN 15, JESUS TELLS US THAT WE SHOULD LOVE EACH OTHER AS WE LOVE OURSELVES.
AND THAT NO ONE HAS GREATER LOVE THAN THIS, TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR ONE'S FRIENDS.
[01:05:08]
MISS AUDREY AND HER FRIENDS RISKED THAT ON BEHALF OF EVERY BLACK MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD WHO WAS LIVING UNDER JIM CROW LAWS.IN SO DOING, THEY SENT SHOCKWAVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ATTRACTED DR.
AND THEREBY PROVIDED THE PUSH NECESSARY TO PASS THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SHE DIDN'T WANT TO SIT AROUND, LISTEN TO ALL OF US TALK.
BUT GOD BLESS HER AND GOD BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. GINA BURRELL, FOLLOWED BY NANCY BERTOLI.
GINA BURRELL, 27 SEMINOLE DRIVE.
I LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PROPERTY, AND A FEW YEARS AGO, MATTHEWS DESIGN GROUP CAME THROUGH OUR AREA, AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY SHOULD BUY THIS PROPERTY FOR FLOOD CONTROL.
SO THIS IS PERFECT THAT IS COMING BACK.
I LOVE IT. SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL YOU WILL DECIDE TO PURCHASE IT.
THANKS. THANKS, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE CITY.
THANKS A LOT. THANK YOU, MISS GINA.
NANCY. I HOPE I SAID YOUR NAME RIGHT.
I'M SURE YOU'LL HELP ME WITH THAT.
44 ATLANTIC AVE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE CITY PURCHASING THE VACANT LAND ON SEMINOLE DRIVE.
NOW, YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD WHAT HAPPENED THE OTHER DAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE THE SAME THING HAPPENED A YEAR AGO, ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR AGO, IN JANUARY OF 2022, A BABY WAS IN MEDICAL DISTRESS AND A FIRE TRUCK AND AN AMBULANCE COULD NOT GET DOWN.
WHAT IF THE STREET THAT THE FIRE TRUCK HAD TRIED TO GET DOWN AFTER THEY TURNED AROUND? WHAT IF THE SAME SITUATION WAS ON THAT STREET? WHAT DO THEY TRY THE NEXT ONE AND THE NEXT ONE WHILE SOMEBODY IS NEEDING SERVICE? I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT FULLERWOOD IS ONE OF THE WIDER STREETS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I BELIEVE THAT HILDRETH, MACKERRAS AND SYLVAN ARE NARROWER.
I'M BEGGING YOU TO HAVE THE DPW PAINT THE CURB YELLOW ON ONE SIDE OF ALL STREETS.
I THINK IT'S A BRILLIANT IDEA.
PLEASE DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT NOBODY ELSE WHO NEEDS HELP HAS TO SUFFER.
NONE OF US KNOWS WHEN WE MAY HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR AN ILLNESS AND REQUIRE EMERGENCY SERVICE.
UNLESS THERE'S ANYONE ELSE THAT NEEDS TO SPEAK THAT I'VE MISSED.
THANK YOU. BJ KALAIDI WEST CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
10A IF MISS KERN HAD MADE THIS OFFER TO SELL TWO MONTHS AGO IN 2022, THE ASSESSED VALUE WOULD HAVE BEEN $125,180. NUMBER ONE, WILL TAXPAYERS PAY MORE THAN $12,518 IN CLOSING COSTS? THE CLOSING COST SHOULD BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE SELLER AND THE TAXPAYERS.
AND I'M GLAD THAT SHE HAS PROPERTY THAT YOU CAN BUY BECAUSE A LOT OF AREAS DON'T HAVE ANY PROPERTY.
WELL, THEY HAVE PROPERTY, BUT THE DEVELOPERS DON'T WANT TO SELL IT TO US.
HOW MUCH TAX DOLLARS ARE IN GENERAL FUND RESERVES TO DATE? HAS ANYONE ASKED THAT QUESTION? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN THERE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO USE TO BUY THIS ON SEMINOLE.
[11.A. Legislative update.]
MOVE THESE FUNDS $200,000 TO ARPA THREE ADDING FOUR MORE POLICE VEHICLES FOR A TOTAL OF SEVEN.[01:10:06]
NOW NO ARPA FUNDS FOR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN ARPA FIVE BACK BAY STUDY SPENT THROUGH FEBRUARY 3RD, 2023 $1,500,000 WITHOUT COMMISSION APPROVAL IN MARCH 28TH, 2022.QUESTION WHAT FUND PAID FOR THE $1,500,000? ON MARCH 28TH, 2022, THIS COMMISSION APPROVED ARPA BUDGET OF $7,720,659. THIS IS $79,341 LESS THAN THE $7,800,000 ARPA BUDGET PRESENTED DECEMBER 13TH, 2021.
WILL THIS $79,341 BE PUT BACK FOR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN? I APPRECIATE THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT THEY'VE GIVEN ME ALL THIS INFORMATION, BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS ARPA MONEY, WHAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT THE HOMES THAT FLOOD ON FLORIDA AVENUE IN THE CITY LIMITS WEST OF US ONE? A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE PROPERTY THAT CAN BE SOLD.
IT'S DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING AND HAVE BEEN COMING.
COME ON FRIDAY TO THE FRIDAY REVIEW, MARCH 3RD, 2023 AT 8:30 A.M.
AND LISTEN TO PLANS FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT AT 19 FLORIDA AVENUE.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY IT ALL UP.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO SELL.
AND THAT'S MAINLY ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS IN THE CONSERVATION AREAS.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE THAT WAS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT CONSENT AGENDA.
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS, INCLUDING MARCH 13TH, 2023 5:00 PM.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 27TH, 20 23:01 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 10TH, 20 23:05 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PRIOR COMMISSION MEETINGS, INCLUDING INCLUDING JANUARY 9TH, 2023.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, JANUARY 23RD, 2023 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE A RELEASE OF LEAN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEE MORTGAGE AT 170 DUVAL STREET.
WE HAVE A REVISED REQUEST FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT SPENDING PLAN.
WE HAVE AN INVOICE FROM CAVENDISH PARTNERS PA FOR SERVICES IN THE SMITH VERSUS CITY MATTER FOR $930.
SO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. [INAUDIBLE] A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE.
WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 7B ITEMS OF GREAT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I'D LIKE TO INVITE REUBEN FRANKLIN DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS UP TO GIVE SOME WRAP UP REMARKS REGARDING THE BACK BAY STUDY AND THEN ALSO TO PRESENT THE MOBILITY PLAN CONCEPT.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
REUBEN FRANKLIN. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.MR. REGAN INVITED ME HERE THIS EVENING TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR LAST THREE DAYS.
LAST WEEK WHERE WE KICKED OFF THE ARMY CORPS BACK BASE STUDY.
IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST CHARRETTES AND KICKOFFS THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER BLONDER FOR HER TIME AND OPENING REMARKS.
AND THEN ON DAY TWO, COMMISSIONER GARRIS FOR HER REMARKS AND PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
WE HAD OVER 50 DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES.
WE HAD DOT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE ARMY CORPS, THE CITY, THE COUNTY.
WE HAD INTERDISCIPLINARY AND TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS.
WE THREW OUT A BUNCH OF OBJECTIVES ON DAY ONE.
ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING WAS THE RESILIENCE.
CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER FROM CHARLESTON CAME AND PRESENTED LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE CHARLESTON STUDY, AND THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING, WE GOT TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM.
THEN THAT EVENING WE HAD A ADVERTISED PUBLIC MEETING WHERE WE HAD OVER 58 ATTENDEES.
[01:15:06]
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE ARMY CORPS WAS THRILLED TO HAVE THAT MUCH ENGAGEMENT ALREADY AT THE OUTSET.DAY TWO WAS WE DID WALKING TOURS AROUND THE CITY.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND DAY TWO, BUT MRS. BEECH DID A GREAT JOB AND AND THEN ON DAY THREE WE RECONVENED AND GOT INTO DIFFERENT TECHNICAL GROUPS THREW A WHOLE BUNCH OF IDEAS ON THE BOARD.
THE NEXT STEPS AND THE NEXT BIG MILESTONE WILL BE MAY 2023, WHERE THE CORPS WILL START TO LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES. WE DO HAVE A DECISION IN THERE OR WHETHER OR NOT TO STAY, BUT WITH A THREE BY THREE STUDY OR THE CORPS MAY COME BACK AND RECOMMEND A 4X4.
AND THEY'RE BASICALLY GOING TO SAY THAT FROM WHAT THEY HEARD AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, YOU KNOW, CAN THEY DO IT IN THE THREE YEARS OR THEY MAY BE REQUESTING US TO RECONSIDER AND LOOK AT A FOUR YEAR PROCESS.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS IS WE'RE DOING THE ENTIRE CITY, SO NOBODY'S GOING TO BE LEFT OUT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS KIND OF EVIDENT IN CHARLESTON.
THEY YOU KNOW, WE'RE ONLY FOCUSING ON THE PENINSULA AND AREAS GOT LEFT OUT.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE CITY IS DOING.
WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE ENTIRE CITY.
SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRIEF YOU THAT I THOUGHT THAT IT GOT OFF TO A FANTASTIC START.
SOUNDS GREAT. ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS? WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE IN MAY.
AND WE HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS, TECHNICAL STAFF MEETINGS WHERE WE'RE MEETING MONTHLY AT A STAFF LEVEL.
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF TIME FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
SO WE'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED AS WE LEAD UP TO MAY AS WELL.
COMMENTS? YES, I HAVE A COMMENT.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MR. FRANKLIN. THAT WAS SUPER EXCITING TO SEE EVERYBODY IN THAT ROOM LAST WEEK.
IT WAS JUST SO IMPRESSIVE THAT, I MEAN, I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR JUST OVER TWO YEARS AND I KNOW OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR THAT PRECEDED ME.
AND ONE OF WHAT ONE OF THE BEST THINGS, TWO THINGS THAT I HEARD WERE REALLY INTERESTING WHEN EVERYBODY STARTED INTRODUCING THEMSELVES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CHARRETTE IN THAT ROOM, THOSE 50 PLUS PEOPLE.
I HEARD PEOPLE SAY, WELL, THERE WERE PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK AT EVERY POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO OUR ISSUES, INCLUDING I SAID SOMETHING IN MY OPENING REMARKS ABOUT GRAY AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
GRAY MEANING THE SEA AND GREEN, MEANING THE MANGROVES AND THE OYSTERS AND SO FORTH.
AND I HEARD THAT REFLECTED BACK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
WHAT AND WHAT THE SECOND PART OF IT THAT I THOUGHT WAS SO JUST INSPIRING, INSPIRING WAS THAT THEY WERE LOTS OF THEM WERE SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, WE'RE GOING TO BE CREATIVE, WE'RE GOING TO BE INNOVATIVE.
AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN CHARLESTON, WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SOME REAL HICCUPS, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING FROM THE CORPS AND THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS.
THAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE THOSE THINGS CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE, OUT-OF-THE-BOX AND REAL SOLUTIONS.
I'M EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE NEXT CHAPTER.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, I ATTENDED THE NIGHT MEETING.
WE COME HERE ONCE A MONTH WITH OUR FAMILIES.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST A NICE TOUCH THAT FOR US.
THEY WORK THROUGH THE WHOLE STATE.
THEY DON'T JUST WORK IN NORTH FLORIDA.
AND SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME SPECIAL TREATMENT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY REWARDING MEETING THE PEOPLE AND GIVING THEM A BRIEF ANALYSIS ON THE FLOODED AREAS AND PART OF THE CITY WHERE I LIVE, WEST KING STREET AND DIFFERENT AREAS, SOUTH DIXIE AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS.
[INAUDIBLE] AND SO I GUESS I HAVE ROUND TWO, WHICH IS TO PRESENT KIND OF AN IDEA THAT WE HAD
[01:20:01]
FOR IMPROVED MOBILITY IN THE DOWNTOWN HISTORIC PLAN.WE HAD BEEN KICKING AROUND A NEW STUDY AREA.
AND LOOKING AT ST GEORGE ST AS POTENTIALLY OPENING UP ST GEORGE ST FOR MULTIMODAL PATH, WHERE BASICALLY YOU COULD USE MICROMOBILITY AND MIX PEDESTRIANS WITH BICYCLISTS AND POTENTIALLY SCOOTERS AS WELL.
SO THIS IS KIND OF THE THE OVERLAY OF, OF THE STUDY AREA WE'D BE LOOKING AT.
INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING PERMANENT, WE'D LIKE TO ROLL OUT A PILOT STUDY OF A 12 MONTH PERIOD WHERE WE REALLY COULD DIVE IN AND LOOK AT ALL OF THESE THINGS.
SO THIS IS KIND OF A CONCEPT CROSS SECTION OF OF ST GEORGE STREET.
AND BASICALLY WE WOULD JUST GO OUT THERE AND STRIPE IT WITH PAINT AND SOME ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE AND OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS EVALUATE DOES THIS WORK, YOU KNOW, CAN WE INCLUDE MOBILITY HUBS AT THE CROSS INTERSECTIONS OF ST GEORGE STREET AND THEN LESSONS LEARNED.
AND THEN IF IT DOES WORK AT THE END OF THE 12 MONTHS, WE'D BRING BACK FINDINGS OF EITHER SUPPORT OR NOT SUPPORT FOR IT, WHICH WOULD DICTATE MAKING IT A PERMANENT DESIGN SOLUTION THAT WE WOULD BE RE-ENVISIONING ST GEORGE STREET, BUT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE MAJOR CHANGES WHEN WE COULD DO IT WITH PAINT AND MAKE IT A TEMPORARY THING WHERE WE COULD STUDY AND EVALUATE IT.
SO OUR THOUGHT PROCESS WAS TO DEBUT THIS IDEA WITH YOU.
WE WOULD IF THE COMMISSION WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD, WE COULD DO IT VIA PRESENT A RESOLUTION THAT IDENTIFIES THE STUDY PERIOD AND THE OBJECTIVES AND THE FINDINGS FOR IT.
BUT I WANTED TO JUST GET THIS OUT IN THE PUBLIC REALM AND TO GET FEEDBACK BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
I THINK THIS IS A CREATIVE ATTEMPT TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE MORE MICRO MODAL.
RIGHT. DID YOU SAY IT THAT WAY? YES. TRANSPORTATION, AS YOU KNOW, I'M A BICYCLE COMMUTER AND I WALK A LOT TO WORK AND BACK.
I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE AS CLOSE TO MY WORK AS I DO.
AND WHAT'S WHAT I'VE OBSERVED IN THE PAST, PROBABLY YEAR TO TWO YEARS ON THE CAMPUS AT FLAGLER COLLEGE IS FOR WHATEVER REASON, OUR ATHLETES, BASKETBALL PLAYERS, SOCCER PLAYERS ARE VERY MUCH USING THOSE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS TO GET AROUND TOWN, TO GET FROM CLASS TO CLASS. AND I'M SEEING INCREASINGLY MORE PEOPLE DOING THAT, TOO.
SO I NEVER TRIED AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER, BUT SAFE PLACES FOR THOSE FOLKS TO GO FROM POINT A TO POINT B I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IT TRY IT OUT ON THIS EXPERIMENTAL BASIS AND SEE WHERE WE GO WITH IT.
OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT I AND MY UNDERSTANDING JUST REPEAT.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT TO MR. RUBIN'S POINT ABOUT BRINGING A RESOLUTION.
WE WE WOULD I THINK WE'RE PREPARED TO SCHEDULE THAT FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT WE WILL COME BACK WITH THE SCOPING OF THE OBJECTIVES OF WHAT THE STUDY WILL BE, THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE TACTICAL URBANISM PILOT PROGRAM, THE STUDY AREA DEFINED, YOU DEFINED AND THEN THE TIME FRAME.
SO THE MEAT OF IT WILL BE IN THE OBJECTIVES AND MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS BECAUSE IT REALLY IS JUST.
DEPENDING ON WHEN THE COMMISSION ONE WOULD WANT TO IMPLEMENT THIS, WE COULD AGREE ON ALL OF THAT AND THEN IMPLEMENT THE THIS MULTIMODAL PATH FAIRLY QUICKLY IF THE COMMISSION WANTED TO.
BUT BASICALLY WE WOULD LEARN FROM THIS MULTIMODAL PATH IF IT'S A GOOD IDEA OR A BAD IDEA.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE 12 MONTHS, WE WOULD PRESENT TO YOU THE FINDINGS OF OF THE PILOT.
[01:25:03]
YES. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.I'M LOOKING AT THE FIVE AND TEN MILE PER HOUR AS CROWDED IS ST GEORGE ST CAN BE.
I WOULD BE VERY RELUCTANT TO HAVE ANYTHING LABELED TEN MILES AN HOUR ON THERE.
BUT I THINK BASED ON FEEDBACK WE COULD START WITH FIVE MILES PER HOUR FOR THE WHOLE CORRIDOR.
I THINK IT COULD BE HEAVILY UTILIZED BY RESIDENTS TO GET FROM ONE POINT IN TOWN TO THE OTHER AND NOT HAVE TO MIX IN WITH MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC. THAT'S THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE WITH THE SCOOTERS.
SO I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT ALL AT FIVE MILES AN HOUR.
SO WE'LL DO THE FIVE MILES AN HOUR.
WELL, MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHERE ARE WE ADVOCATED FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT MOBILITY HUBS? CAN YOU FLESH THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ALONG THOSE LINES? WELL, THERE CAN BE A TAKE ON ALL DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES.
WE COULD HAVE MORE ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR PERSONAL BIKES AND SCOOTERS.
IT CAN BE A WAYFINDING SPOT TO WHERE YOU HAVE MAPS.
THE SMART SAINT AUGUSTINE GRANT ACTUALLY HAS FUNDING TO ESTABLISH THESE MOBILITY HUBS AS WELL.
OTHER MOBILITY HUBS ARE AROUND TRANSIT, BUT THIS ONE HERE, BECAUSE IT'S WALKING AND PEDESTRIAN I THINK WOULD BE MORE SUITED FOR MICROMOBILITY BICYCLES.
I ASSUME WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING A SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION THAT WILL GET US INTO THIS PILOT.
ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WHAT IS OUR COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR THIS? WELL, WE'LL USE ALL OF OUR NORMAL CHANNELS, BUT WE HAVE A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT ON MARCH 7TH WITH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING AND ROLLING OUT AND TAKING FEEDBACK AND RECEIVING COMMENTS AND PUTTING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON NOTICE OF THIS PROGRAM WHAT WE THINK THAT IT WILL DO AND WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? JUST THAT I AGREE ABOUT THE FIVE MILES PER HOUR BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS FOLLOW THE SPEED LIMIT, SO THEY'LL PROBABLY BE DOING SIX AND SEVEN.
SO I THINK LOWER IS BETTER AS WELL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS OR.
WE DO HAVE, HOWEVER, A RESOLUTION UNDER ITEM 9B1, AND THAT IS.
MEREDITH FREUDENSTEIN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
RESOLUTION 2023-04 IT'S A PERPETUAL EASEMENT 806.1.
THIS IS ANOTHER EASEMENT FOR THE SAN SEBASTIAN BRIDGE PROJECT.
THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM IT IS A PERPETUAL EASEMENT, AND I HAVE THE MAP HERE.
IT'S ACTUALLY PART OF OUR SUBMERGED LANDS.
I THOUGHT MAYBE I COULD ZOOM IT IN BECAUSE THE PARCEL IS SO SMALL.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE. BUT IT IS RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS KING STREET, THE SAN SEBASTIAN BRIDGE.
SO IT IS THE SMALL RED BOX THAT YOU SEE IN THAT CIRCLE.
[01:30:09]
THAT TO US AS SOON AS THEY REALIZED IT.COMMENTS? SEEMS LIKE A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM TO ME.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION SINCE WE HAVE TWO PERPETUAL AND ONE TEMPORARY EASEMENT ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, WHY DOES THIS ONE NEED? WHY DOES WHAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION FOR A PERPETUAL VERSUS A TEMPORARY? I'M RELUCTANT TO GIVE A PERPETUAL EASEMENT.
WE ASKED THEM THESE QUESTIONS AT THE TIME.
ONE THING THAT MR. FRANKLIN AND I HAVE DISCUSSED AS WE GET ANY OF THESE EASEMENTS, IS THAT THIS KING STREET PROJECT, KING STREET, WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME THE CITIES.
I KNOW THAT DOESN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION ON WHY PERPETUAL I CAN PROBABLY TRY.
SO TEMPORARY EQUALS WHEN THEY'RE CITING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.
AFTER THAT, EVERYTHING ELSE IS DEEMED A PERPETUAL EASEMENT.
SO WE'RE JUST FOLLOWING THEIR FORM.
THE LEGAL REALITY IS WHEN THE STRUCTURE IS TURNED BACK OVER TO THE CITY BY OPERATION OF LAW, ALL THE PERMANENT EASEMENTS BLEND INTO OUR OWNERSHIP, SO THEY AUTOMATICALLY REVERT BACK TO OUR OWNERSHIP.
ALL RIGHT, SO IT SEEMS LIKE A MOOD.
ALL RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION? YES. OKAY.
I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS RESOLUTION 2023-04, SECOND.
OKAY. ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? DEBATE? RALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE.
ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANKS. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS.
ITEM TEN A MR. BIRCHIM. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
DAVID BIRCHAM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
TONIGHT'S STAFF REPORT AND PRESENTATION CONCERNS A PROPERTY ON SEMINOLE DRIVE.
SEMINOLE DRIVE IS IN THE NORTH PART OF ST AUGUSTINE.
THIS PROPERTY IS IN A SMALL ENCLAVE OF HOMES BOUNDED BY FERN STREET.
ON THE EAST SIDE IS THE WETLANDS OF THE TOMATO RIVER.
IT'S IN THIS SMALL ENCLAVE OF HOMES, AS YOU RECALL.
RECENTLY, A HOME WAS BUILT ON THIS PROPERTY, WHICH WAS AT THAT TIME A VACANT LOT.
AND AT THAT TIME THAT WAS THE NATURAL DRAINAGE PATTERN FOR THIS SMALL ENCLAVE OF HOMES.
WHEN THAT HOME WAS BUILT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IT EFFECTIVELY DAMMED UP THAT NATURAL DRAINAGE PATTERN WHICH CAUSED SOME LOCALIZED FLOODING ISSUES WITH THE HOMES IN NEARBY.
SHE'S ASKING FOR THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
THE. WE'RE ASKING YOU TONIGHT, IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY, THAT WE'D ALSO BE PAYING ANY CLOSING COSTS, WHICH WOULD BE COVER THE TITLE SEARCH AND RECREATION FEES OF THE TRANSACTION.
[01:35:04]
A SPEAKER IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION HAD A QUESTION ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES.IT'S ABOUT $4 MILLION CURRENTLY.
MR. BIRCHIM, IS THAT INCLUDING THE MONEY THAT WE HOLD BACK? IS IT 90 DAYS WORTH OF RESERVES.
SO THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE IS UNRESTRICTED? YES. THANK YOU.
THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE LOT FROM THE STREET.
IT'S A IT'S AN UNDEVELOPED WOODED LOT.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MS. TONY KERN FOR HER GENEROUS OFFER, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I JUST WANT TO COMMENT.
I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE BUYING THIS LOT.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO REALIZE IS THAT MISS KERN COULD SELL THIS LOT ON THE ON THE MARKET AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE AND A HOUSE COULD BE BUILT THERE AND THE FLOODING WOULD BE MUCH GREATER FOR THOSE HOMES THAT ARE IN THE AREA.
AND I'VE SAID FOR A YEAR THAT THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO PREVENT DEVELOPMENT IS TO BUY THE LAND.
WE CAN'T BUY ALL THE LAND, BUT WE CAN DO A SMALL CHUNKS OF IT BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
SO I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS LAND.
I ALSO WENT OUT AND I SAW THE AREA AND I SEE THE NEED FOR IT TO PURCHASE THE LAND SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVING MORE FLOODING ISSUES.
I MEAN, WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF FLOODING ISSUES AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE NEED TO TRY TO KEEP THE MINIMUM OF THE FLOODING DONE, ESPECIALLY WITH HIGH TIDES AND HURRICANES.
YES. I HAVE A QUESTION AND THEN AND THEN A RATHER LENGTHY COMMENT.
FIRST OF ALL, WHO WOULD HOLD THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT? IS A CITY ABLE TO DO THAT IF IT'S THE OWNER? THE CITY WOULD HOLD THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. JUST WANTED TO VERIFY THAT.
AND IT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO FORGE INTO A NEW A NEW INITIATIVE AND A NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS.
I WANT IT TO BE THE FIRST OF MANY SUCH INITIATIVES.
I'VE BEEN HARPING ON CONSERVATION AND INCREASING CONSERVATION IN THE CITY.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST EFFORT AT THIS.
WE BEFORE MY TIME DID FISH ISLAND IS A MULTI PARTNER PROJECT.
IF WE DO THIS KIND OF THING, IF WE ACTUALLY SHORE UP OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, FORMALIZE THIS, IF WE ACTUALLY PUT SOME MONEY INTO OUR DRAFT BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, SAY $200,000 ON A RECURRING BASIS ANNUALLY TO DO THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, WE ACTUALLY OPEN OURSELVES UP TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST BE THE ONLY ONES PAYING THE BILL FOR CONSERVATION PROJECTS AND RESILIENCE PROJECTS THAT ARE RELATED TO CONSERVATION IN THIS CITY.
WE ARE WE CAN BE PARTNERS, WE CAN GET MATCHING FUNDS, AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
THAT WOULDN'T BE THE CASE NOW.
SO AND MS. KERN AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SHE COULD SELL IT FOR A LOT MORE MONEY.
SHE'S ESTABLISHING A A CIVIC MINDEDNESS, A COMMUNITY MINDEDNESS THAT I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT IS IS REALLY NOTABLE AND COMMENDABLE AND MIGHT INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME THING.
AND I ALSO I THINK THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THIS IS THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNISTIC EVENT MS. KERN REACHED OUT TO ME AND I THEN REACHED OUT TO MR. BIRCHIM AND MR. REGAN.
AND THE FIRST THING MR. BIRCHIM DID WAS HE EMAILED BOTH JESSICA BEACH AND REUBEN FRANKLIN AND SAID, HEY, DOES THIS THING MAKE ANY SENSE IN TERMS OF
[01:40:07]
RESILIENCE? IT WASN'T JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NICE TO KEEP IT UNDEVELOPED, BUT DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? AND THEY SAID, ABSOLUTELY.AND THAT'S WHEN IT MOVED FORWARD, NOT BEFORE THAT.
SO IT MAKES SENSE FOR ALL KINDS OF REASONS.
AND I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT IT, MOVE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO PURCHASE IT, BUT ALSO TO FORMALIZE THIS TYPE OF A STRATEGY FOR THE CITY MOVING FORWARD.
AND DOES YOUR MOTION INCLUDE AUTHORIZING AUTHORIZING STAFF EXPENDITURE? ABSOLUTELY IT WOULD, YES.
BOTH THE COST OF THE PROPERTY AND FOR THE REAL ESTATE AND CLOSING COSTS.
OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANYTHING TO ADD, MR. BIRCHIM? NO, MA'AM. THIS IS A BIG, BOLD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IN MY OPINION.
AND I APPRECIATE MS. KERN AND YOUR DILIGENCE ON THE MATTER.
AND I CERTAINLY CAN ENVISION IT BEING THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DIRECTION.
ALL RIGHT. NOW WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE NEXT ITEM, WE HAVE ITEM BY CITY ATTORNEY, MS. LOPEZ.
YOU'VE GOT IT BOTH IN MEMO FORM AND IN SPREADSHEET FORM.
DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR PREFERENCE IS, KEEP AN EYE ON THE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY LIMITS GOING FROM $3 MILLION TO $2.5 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE CLOSE TO CATASTROPHIC FOR SMALL TOWNS.
THE LAST TIME THIS KIND OF BILL CAME AROUND, THEY DID TIER IT BASED ON POPULATION.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE BILL DOES GET REVISED BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF ANY SLIP AND FALL CASE CAN ASK UP TO $2.5 MILLION IN DAMAGES, THAT WOULD BE A GIGANTIC HIT TO SMALL CITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE, LET'S SAY, NONSTANDARD WALKING SURFACES.
THAT'LL BE MY CREATIVE WAY OF DESCRIBING OUR SIDEWALKS AND AND ROADS.
AND OF COURSE, OUR LEAST FAVORITE BILL, THE BUSINESS DAMAGES AND AND FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT BILL, SENATE BILL 170. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT BILLS, AS MR. PAPPAS ENCOURAGINGLY TOLD US.
SO DO TAKE A MOMENT WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO RUN YOUR EYES OVER IT.
I BELIEVE THE SESSION FORMALLY BEGINS MARCH 7TH.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, THERE'S COMMITTEES AND THERE'S NEW BILLS BEING FILED LITERALLY EVERY DAY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I SKIMMED IT.
I DIDN'T STUDY THE YOUR UPDATE, BUT WOW, WHAT A GREAT JOB.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT OBVIOUSLY WENT INTO THIS.
I KIND OF THOUGHT EVERYTHING HAD HER STAMP ON IT.
I AGREE. THINGS COULD GET ANY WORSE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE. I'M SURE THEY CAN.
I WILL SAY I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT DRY RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY DO KEEP THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ON THE WEBSITE AND YOU'RE FREE TO REVIEW THAT AS WELL.
[01:45:04]
BE MAKING THEM LESS WORSE.SO AND THAT IS WHAT WE WHAT WE DID ON THE MODIFICATION THE LAST YEAR WAS WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR OWN SENATOR HUDSON, OUR CITY MANAGER, MADE THE CASE A GOOD, STRONG CASE, AND I THINK WE DID GET SOME GOOD RESULTS WITH WORKING WITH HIM TO REDUCE THAT IMPACT.
MY CITY CLERK, YOU HAVE NOT ON THE AGENDA ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER.
I HAVE NOTHING. I HAVE NOTHING.
OKAY. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS? NOT UNDER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS.
I JUST WANT TO THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT FOR THE BLACK HISTORY NOMINATIONS THAT WE DID THIS MONTH, AND I THINK THEY WERE RECEIVED WELL FROM THE PARTICIPANTS AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILY.
AND IT'S JUST SHOWS THAT WE ARE SHOWING COURAGE AND APPLAUDING THE DIVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT. MR. [INAUDIBLE] YEAH. I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
YEAH, I HAVE A LITTLE. I'D SAY WHAT AN HONOR IT WAS TO MEET MISS AUDREY TONIGHT AFTER LITERALLY, LIKE, I WAS LIKE OTHER PEOPLE WATCHING IT ON TV FROM GAINESVILLE AND FEELING SO SORRY FOR ST AUGUSTINE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THAT.
BUT WHAT IT WHAT AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO MEET HER AND HER FAMILY.
I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON THE FLORIDA AVENUE DEVELOPMENT.
BUT AN UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT AT SOME POINT.
I KNOW THAT PCB IS WORKING WITH THAT.
ALSO, I'M REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO DO SOMETHING REAL SERIOUS AND MAYBE EVEN PUT IT IN OUR LIST OF OF TASKS, THE STUDY OF THE PARKING IN THE FULLER WOOD AREA AND SO MANY COMMENTS.
OKAY, LET'S PUT THAT ON THE LIST.
AND CAN WE I DID HEAR AN URGENCY TO THAT REQUEST SO WE CAN GET A REPORT BACK.
GOES ON TO TASK LIST, TRACKING LIST.
ANYTHING ELSE? MR. SPRING FOR COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.
MR. REGAN, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WILL THE BUDGETARY RECOMMENDATION AND COMP PLAN UPDATE UPDATE FOR FORMALIZING CONSERVATION, WILL THOSE BOTH GO ON THE TASK LIST? GREAT. YES, IT WILL, GREAT.
AND THEN I'M SURE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR HAVE ALSO BEEN GETTING QUITE A NUMBER OF TROUBLING EMAILS ABOUT THIS THE GROWING HOMELESSNESS ISSUE, ESPECIALLY THE CONFLICTS ON ST GEORGE STREET AND IN THE PLAZA.
AND I WONDER IF AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH MAKING AS MANY TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO ADDRESS THAT SITUATION.
I WONDER IF IT WOULDN'T BE TOO SOON NOW THAT WE HAVE INFLUXES OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND WANTING TO HELP AND OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF THEIR HEARTS, YOU KNOW, GIVING PEOPLE MONEY, IF THERE ISN'T SOME KIND OF MESSAGING CAMPAIGN, WE CAN GET OUT THERE RIGHT AWAY FOR OUR VISITORS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO NOT DO THAT, TO INSTEAD DONATE TO NONPROFITS AND OTHER SERVICES THAT COULD HELP THESE FOLKS GET OFF THE STREETS AND SHELTERED.
YES, WE CAN DO THAT. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
AND WE'VE DONE CAMPAIGNS IN THE PAST AND THE EFFORT EBBS AND FLOWS.
SO NOW IT'S TIME FOR IT TO FLOW.
I KNOW. I JUST RECENTLY GOT AN EMAIL THAT HAS A CITY THAT HAS A BARCODE, A SIGN THAT SAYS, PLEASE DO NOT DONATE THAT MONEY BETTER USED HERE AND YOU CAN JUST POINT YOUR PHONE TO IT AND DONATE.
AND THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO MESSAGE IT.
AND I'M I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE.
WE HAD HELP FROM THE I BELIEVE IT WAS THE ECB OR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON THAT.
AND WE HAD RAP CARDS AND THE IT WAS NOT A BARCODE, BUT IT WAS THE QR CODE THAT WENT.
YOUR MONEY WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE UNITED WAY WAS WHO IT WENT TO.
SO BUT WE DID NOT DO SIGNAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND IT WASN'T VERY WELL RECEIVED
[01:50:03]
BY THE MERCHANTS.SO MY SUGGESTION WAS WHEN WE HEAR BACK FROM STAFF, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A PROGRAM IF IT IS CONSISTING OF CARDS OR HANDOUTS.
IT WOULD BE HANDED OUT AT THE PARKING GARAGE.
UPON ENTRY IF WE CAN GET THEM ON ENTRY AND AT THE VISITOR'S INFORMATION CENTER TO BE HANDED OUT THERE.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY THINKING ALONG THOSE LINES AND.
YES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALSO WANT TO ADD TOO IS WHEN ONE OF OUR AMBASSADORS IS WORKING WITH A VISITOR WHO JUST TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON THE TOWN THAT WE BUILD INTO THE SCRIPT, EVERY SCRIPT, EVERY CONVERSATION ENDS WITH, PLEASE DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOMELESS.
WE HAVE OTHER WAYS FOR YOU TO HELP.
SO IN ADDITION TO PRINTED LITERATURE AND ADVERTISING, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE AN ORAL ELEMENT WITH OUR AMBASSADORS WHO TALK TO, ON THE AVERAGE, 70,000 VISITORS A MONTH.
THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE FULLER WOOD SITUATION.
I THINK NOT ONLY DID PEOPLE COME HERE FROM FULLER WOOD AND TELL US ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THEY ALSO GAVE US A SOLUTION, AND THAT WAS TO PAINT THE CURVE AND ON ONE SIDE TO PREVENT PARKING.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T NEED TO DRAG ON.
IF THEY'VE HAD INCIDENTS WHERE A BABY ALMOST DIED AND SALLY GARDNER ALMOST GARDNER ALMOST COULDN'T GET TREATMENT, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY MOVE ON EFFECTIVE QUICKLY TO DO THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY CAME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY YELLOW CURBED EVERYTHING AND THEY WERE TRYING TO GET A LOOK AT MY HOUSE.
SO I WENT OUT THERE AND SAID, NO, NO, I NEED THAT LITTLE PARKING SPOT RIGHT THERE.
BUT I THINK THAT WHEN IT'S A NARROW STREET LIKE THAT AND THERE CANNOT BE TWO VEHICLES GOING DOWN THE STREET, WE NEED TO PRACTICE SOME LIFE SAFETY AND WE NEED TO GET THAT DONE SOONER VERSUS LATER.
AND SECOND, ABOUT TELLING THEM NOT TO DONATE TO THE HOMELESS.
IN A WAY, WE KIND OF HAVE TIED HANDS WITH THE HOMELESS SITUATION AND I ONLY HAVE A LOT OF EMPATHY FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE BECAUSE I GOT UP THERE AND TALKED TO THEM WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING. I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE THE PART WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE HOMELESS, OH, WE NEED THEM TO BE GONE.
WE HAVE TIED THE HOMELESS HANDS IN A WAY WHERE SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS GOING BACK TO CARRIE JOHNSON, WHERE THEY HAD A GIFT, WHERE THEY COULD SELL CD'S AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
WHEN WE STOPPED ALL OF THIS HERE, PUTTING ALL THESE ORDINANCES WHERE THE HOMELESS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE COULDN'T GO OUT AND PERFORM AND WE NEVER GAVE THEM A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD PERFORM LIKE THE ARTISTS AND DIFFERENT ONES.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAYBE IN THE NEAR FUTURE COME UP WITH A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GO AND THEN IT'S UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE SIGHTSEEING TRAINS TO TAKE THEM DOWN THOSE AREAS SO THAT THEY CAN EARN MONEY VERSUS JUST PANHANDLING PEOPLE.
BECAUSE I USED TO GO DOWN ST GEORGE STREET AND HEAR SOME BEAUTIFUL SINGERS AND GO DOWN THERE AND THERE WAS PEOPLE THAT HAVE GIFTS AND TALENTS AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE OR HOW, BUT I THINK WE AS A COMMISSION, A NEED TO FIND AN AREA WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY CAN SHINE.
YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, BUT FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE ARE LISTENING.
BUT THAT'S PROBABLY A FANCY WORD FOR THE OVERHANG AT THE PARKING GARAGE.
ON THE EAST SIDE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF SEGMENTED SPOTS FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO PERFORM THERE.
THEY MAY NOT BE THE BEST OPTIONS AND THERE MAY BE MORE.
SO WE HEAR YOU TO REEVALUATE, BUT AT LEAST THAT'S TWO AREAS.
AND WE WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
SO MAYBE GETTING THAT OUT, THAT INFORMATION OUT, MAYBE THAT'S WHERE WE FAILED.
WE DIDN'T LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE AVAILABLE.
ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S THE PERMITTED.
THEY COME GET A PERMIT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU. AND I THINK IT WORKS WELL.
[01:55:01]
AND WHEN WE DID IT, I THINK THAT IT WAS IT WAS A GOOD SOLUTION TO HAVING IT HELTER SKELTER ALL OVER THE CITY.BUT I TEND TO AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT EXPANDING THOSE AREAS, I THINK THERE ARE OTHER AREAS, BUT FOR NOW IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING WELL.
I ONLY SEE VENDORS THERE, PEOPLE THAT ARE SELLING SOMETHING.
YES, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE SOME.
IT'S REALLY JUST A MATTER OF WE JUST NEED TO PICK WHICH SIDE.
I THINK THE COMMENT ABOUT THE HYDRANTS ARE ON ONE SIDE WAS A GREAT ONE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND BRING BACK IN THE NEXT MEETING OR RECOMMENDED ACTION.
BUT I DID ALSO ASK MR. FRANKLIN IF HE WOULD JUST COME FORWARD, IF HE WANTED TO ADD ANY REMARK THAT MAYBE I DIDN'T COVER.
I WAS JUST AT THE FULLERWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING AND WE DID DISCUSS ABOUT THE OTHER CURBING.
TYPICALLY WHAT WE WOULD DO IS GO OUT AND SURVEY THE STREETS.
BUT USUALLY THAT'S WHERE THE RUB IS OF WHAT SIDE, WHICH SIDE OF THE STREET.
SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS WE CAN DO IT.
BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT IT TO BE QUICK, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE LOOK AT FIRE HYDRANTS AND WHERE WE'RE MAXIMIZING PARKING AND BRING THAT PLAN BACK TO YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.
BUT I DID SAY IN THE MEETING THAT TYPICALLY IN THESE SITUATIONS WE LET FIRE RESCUE WHO ARE IN AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO DICTATE IF FIRE RESCUE COMES TO US AND SAYS YOU NEED THE YELLOW CURB, SOMETHING, WE HAVE AN ACCESS ISSUE.
THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
THANK YOU. AND THANK FOR ALL THE CITIZENS FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING.
WE APPRECIATE THEM TAKING THEIR TIME TO DO THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS? I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE CONCERN ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, PANHANDLING AND THOSE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT. I HEAR ABOUT THEM DAILY.
I THINK SOME OF THE EMAILS ARE COPIED TO ALL COMMISSIONERS.
MANY OF THEM ARE NOT IN ADDITION TO THE PHONE CALLS THAT I RECEIVE.
IT IS AN AREA OF GREAT CONCERN.
WE HAVE LIKE, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN A MORE THAN DOUBLING OF THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS POPULATION ON OUR STREETS SINCE 2019 THROUGH THE FALL OF LAST YEAR.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GETTING ANY BETTER AND FEW SOLUTIONS.
SO BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND IT'S A THREAD THAT RUNS THROUGH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO READ THE THREADS THAT ARE RUNNING THROUGH ALL THESE LETTERS THAT I GET. AND I THINK THAT AND HAVING HAVE TRAVELED THIS PAST WEEK, I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A POLICE PRESENCE, JUST A VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE ON ST GEORGE STREET.
AND I BECAUSE WHEN I START HEARING PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN AND SAY WE'RE NOT COMING BACK AND WE NEVER SAW A POLICE OFFICER, AND THAT MAY BE VERY REASONABLE OF A THING TO NOT SEE A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND THEY CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD ASK THE CITY MANAGER, IF YOU WILL, BY ALL MEANS STRETCH AS HARD AS YOU CAN TO GET A VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE.
AND I HOPE TO GET THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS ON THAT.
LIKE I SAID, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT LATELY.
AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE THE BIKES RIDING THROUGH THERE.
[02:00:06]
ALSO YEAH, SOME OF THE PICTURES AND THINGS THAT WE SEE THAT WE GET ON THESE E MAILS ARE A LITTLE OFFENSIVE.AND IF I WAS A PERSON THAT WAS WALKING DOWN THERE, I'D BE LIKE, OH MY.
ALSO, I DID TAKE A MEETING WITH WILL UPCHURCH.
HE'S ON THE BOARD OF SAINT FRANCIS HOUSE AND THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.