3.A. Proclamation 2023-06: Proclaiming March 20-24, 2023, as GOVERNMENT FINANCE PROFESSIONALS WEEK. (N. Sikes-Kline, Mayor)

[7.B.1. Presentation by Michael L. Mohler, PE, Senior Project Manager Florida Department of Transportation regarding State Road 5A (King Street) Bridge Replacement Detour Plan (R. Franklin, Director, Public Works)]

YOU'RE HERE TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUE AND REQUESTS.

>> YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

REUBEN FRANKLIN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

AS REQUESTED, WE DID REACH OUT TO FDOT TO BRING YOU A FORMAL PRESENTATION ABOUT THE SAN SEBASTIAN BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.

THIS EVENING I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. MULLER WITH CONSORT ENGINEERING FIRM.

HIS FIRM WAS SELECTED BY DOT TO OVERSEE THE DESIGN, SO HE'LL GO THROUGH THE BRIEF PRESENTATION.

HE, MYSELF, AND NOW MR. CORDERO, WHO'S WITH FDOT, IS ALSO IN AUDIENCE AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

SO WITH THAT, MR. MULLER.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING US TODAY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE KING STREET PROJECT.

AS RUBEN MENTIONED I'M MICHAEL MULLER.

I AM THE CONSULTANT PROJECT MANAGER FOR FDOT FOR THE KING STREET PROJECT.

FIRST THING AND AN UPDATE, WE JUST RECENTLY SUBMITTED 90 PERCENT PLANS, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS 100 PERCENT PLANS.

WE HAVE COMMENTS, IF YOU WILL RECALL, THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING BACK IN APRIL OF 2022.

THESE SLIDES HAVE COME FROM THAT PRESENTATION SO YOU WILL SEE THEM, AND YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY ABBREVIATED VERSION.

WE'RE MAINLY HERE TO DISCUSS THE DETOUR, BUT I WILL GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS. AS I KNOW, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE TYPICAL SECTION, THE SIDEWALKS ON THE BRIDGE AND SOME OTHER ITEMS. LET'S MOVE ON AND WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS THE PROPOSED TYPICAL SECTION FOR THE BRIDGE.

IT'LL BE SEPARATED BY A TURN LANE IN THE CENTER.

WE'LL HAVE A SIX-FOOT SIX SIDEWALK ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND A 10-FOOT SIX INCH SIDEWALK ON THE NORTH SIDE.

ON ANOTHER SLIDE, I'LL GET INTO THE REASONS FOR THE DIFFERENCES IN THE SIZES OF THE SIDEWALK.

HERE'S JUST A RENDERING OF WHAT THE BRIDGE WILL LOOK LIKE.

IT IS GOING TO HAVE SOME ARCHITECTURAL RAILING ON IT SO THAT BECAUSE IT IS THE CITY GATEWAY, ONE OF THE GATEWAYS INTO THE CITY, AS WELL AS IT WILL HAVE SOME ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S ON US1 AND ALSO IN OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF BOTH THE HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT ON THE TOP AND THE VERTICAL ALIGNMENT ON THE BOTTOM AND ON THE HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THE SIDEWALKS ARE DIFFERENT SIZES.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, ON THE SET THERE'S THE NEW HOTEL CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW ON THE SOUTH, ON THIS CORNER, DOWN HERE.

ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER, THAT CONSTRUCTION THE GRAVITY WALL THAT THEY HAVE THERE TO SUPPORT THEIR PARKING LOT IS RIGHT UP AGAINST THE RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE.

IT'S THE BACK OF THE SIDEWALK SO WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO WIDEN TO THE SOUTH.

IF WE HAVE TO WIDEN TO THE NORTH,

[00:20:02]

THE DEFLECTION OF THE ROAD WHEN WE WIDEN TO THE NORTH IS ALREADY AT TWO DEGREES THE WAY THE BRIDGE IS NOW.

FOR THE DESIGN SPEED OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS 30 MILES PER HOUR FOR ROADS UNDER 40 MILES PER HOUR, WE CANNOT GO ABOVE THAT TWO DEGREES WITHOUT USING A HORIZONTAL CURVE AND THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THAT.

IF WE WERE TO PUT THOSE CURVES AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO THE HOTEL AND THE OTHER ADJACENT PROPERTIES.

IN AN EFFORT TO COMPROMISE, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SIX-FOOT SIDEWALK ON THE SOUTH AND ON THE NORTH WE PROVIDED THOSE SLIGHTLY OVERSIZED SIDEWALK AT 10-FOOT SIX INCHES IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE SOME ADDITIONAL PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

THE ROADWAY ITSELF, THE LANES ARE CALLED SHARROWS, THEY WILL HAVE A BICYCLE MARKING THAT HELPS IDENTIFY, DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE IT SAFER, BUT IT DOES IDENTIFY THE ROADWAY THAT IT CAN BE SHARED AND USED FOR CYCLISTS AS WELL AS VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROPOSED PROFILE OF THE ROADWAY, WE ARE ABLE TO RAISE A BRIDGE ABOUT TWO FEET IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL FLOOD MITIGATION IN THIS AREA.

I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH JESSICA BEACH, THE RESILIENCE OFFICER.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ASKED TOO, IF THE NORTHWEST CORNER UP HERE, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE BREACH POINT WHENEVER THE STORM SURGE COMES IN.

THAT'S THE FIRST LOCATION WHERE THE WATER BEGINS TO RUSH INTO THE ROAD.

WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUM UP A LITTLE BIT TO ABOUT ELEVATION FIVE AND A HALF.

WE CANNOT GET TO ELEVATION 7, WHICH I KNOW IS A CITY-WIDE NUMBER THAT WE WANT BUT THE ROAD ITSELF IS BELOW ELEVATION 5.

WE'D BASICALLY BE FILLING ALL THE PROPERTIES AROUND.

BUT WE WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THERE TO HELP PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL TIME WHEN THE STORM SURGE COMES IN. LET'S SEE.

NOW ON TO THE PROPOSED DETOUR.

AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT, THERE'S GOING TO BE THREE PHASES FOR THE TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL OR MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC.

AND THE FIRST PHASE IS GOING TO BE A PROPOSED DETOUR.

THIS WOULD BE AN IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT DETOUR.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE UP AT CARRERA.

THEY'RE GOING TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE THAT AND MAKE IT A RIGHT IN, RIGHT OUT.

A TEMPORARY SIGNAL WILL BE INSTALLED AT KING STREET MALAGA.

MALAGA WILL BE RESTRIPED FOR TEMPORARILY TO REMOVE THE OLD STREET PARKING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT LET NORTHBOUND LEFT TURN ONTO US1 SO THAT WE CAN DETOUR THIS AND GET THE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.

SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS IS IT WILL HELP SPEED CONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO PHASE, THERE'S NO RIGHT-OF-WAY THERE FOR US TO PHASE IT BACK AND FORTH WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES.

ONE THING IN THE SECOND PHASE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEMOING THE BRIDGE AND THEN CONSTRUCTING THE PROPOSED BRIDGE WHILE IT'S UNDER THE DETOUR.

THE VERY LAST PHASE, ONCE THE BRIDGE IS CONSTRUCTED, THE APPROACHES, THE LIGHTING AND ALL THAT NATURE OF MALAGA WILL BE RESTRIPED, THEY'LL BE MILLED AND RESURFACED AND PUT BACK TO ITS PRE-CONSTRUCTION STRIPING.

WE WILL GO BACK, ALL THE TEMPORARY PARKING, EVERYTHING THAT WAS THERE PREVIOUSLY WILL BE PUT BACK.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW IT WAS LITTLE CONFUSING ON THIS DRAWING IS IT DOESN'T REALLY SHOW WHAT HAPPENS FOR SOUTHBOUND US-1 TRAFFIC.

IT JUST SHOWS PEOPLE DOING A LEFT OFF AT MALAGA.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO COME DOWN SOUTHBOUND US-1 AND MAKE THAT LEFT ONTO MALAGA AT THE TEMPORARY SIGNAL.

WE ARE ANTICIPATING FOR OUR CONSTRUCTION DURATION, 12-14 MONTHS WITH SUPPLY CHAIN STUFF.

WE MIGHT BE LOOKING CLOSER TO THE 14 MONTHS AND THE DETOUR WILL MOST LIKELY BE IN PLACE BETWEEN 8-11 MONTHS THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING.

I BELIEVE OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> I DO HAVE QUESTION.

>> YEAH. THE PROJECT GOES TO LET OR TO BID FOR CONSTRUCTION AT THE END OF MARCH NEXT YEAR IN 2024, USUALLY THERE'S ANYWHERE FROM 30-60 DAYS OF CONTRACT TIME MOBILIZATION AND ALL THAT TYPE OF WORK BEFORE THE ACTUAL CLOCK STARTS.

>> THE SUMMER OF '24?

>> I WOULD SAY, YEAH.

>> THE PROJECT BEGINS CONSTRUCTION SUMMER OF '24?

>> THAT'S SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT, YES.

>> ASSUMING EVERYTHING GOES.

>> YEAH, IT'LL BE ABOUT PROBABLY MAY, JUNE, SO YEAH, IT'S SUMMER.

>> YOU SAID THE DETOUR WILL LAST 8-11 MONTHS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

I HAVE OTHER ONES, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START WITH?

>> YES, THANK YOU MAYOR.

THERE'S A MAJOR STUDENT CROSSING FROM THE DORMS THERE THAT GOES ACROSS TO THE COLLEGE, AND I GO THAT STREET OFTEN AND THOSE LIGHTS FLASH ALL THE TIME TO LET THE STUDENTS GO.

HAVE YOU ALL RECOGNIZED THAT OR COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO TRY TO RESOLVE THAT SO THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP TRAFFIC ALL THE TIME LIKE IT DOES NOW? BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A CONSTANT FLOW OF STUDENTS WALKING BACK AND FORTH STOPPING TRAFFIC ON MALAGA.

>> I DO NOT HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WAS AWARE, THAT'S A CONSTANT BREACH TRAFFIC.

ONE THING THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WAS THE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC ON THE SIDE STREETS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THE CITY PUTTING UP SOME BARRICADES AND BLOCKING THOSE OFF AND MAKING THEM WRITE IT RIGHT OUT.

WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC NUMBERS AND UNLESS YOU REROUTE,

[00:25:05]

MAYBE WE MOVE THE FLASHING BEACONS.

>> YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FOR THE DORMITORIES? SO THERE'S AN EXISTING PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, WITH THE RAPID FLASHING, I'M NOT SURE THE PEDESTRIANS WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY COMING UP TO THAT, SO IF WE PUT ANYTHING IN PLACE TO STOP, THEY'LL HOLD THEM THERE, I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY WOULD.

>> WELL, I JUST KNOW IT'S ALREADY DANGEROUS, THE SPEED ON MALAGA IS PRETTY HIGH.

IT MIGHT SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF CARS WILL QUADRUPLE OR TIMES 10.

>> I'M SORRY, BUT WE CAN LOOK INTO WHAT WE CAN DO TO THAT CROSSING BECAUSE MR. MULLER HERE PROBABLY WASN'T AWARE OF ALL THAT ACTIVITY THAT'S GOING ON ACROSS.

>> I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT IT MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO PUT A LIGHT THERE LIKE WE HAVE AROUND THE FORT SO THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST SOME TIME BEFORE THEY ALL CROSS IN MASS, IT'S JUST AN IDEA.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING I DID FAIL TO MENTION WITH THE DETOUR AND THE LIGHT THERE, WE HAVE BEEN COORDINATING WITH CHIEF AVELAS REGARDING POSSIBLE PREEMPTION FOR THE LIGHTS AT KING AND MALAGA AT THE NEW TEMPORARY INTERSECTION ALSO US 1 IN KING STREET SO THAT THEY CAN MORE EASILY GET IN AND OUT OF THE FIRE STATION, AND IF WE DO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE A LIGHT YOU'RE SUGGESTING IT FOR THE CROSSING, WE WOULD HAVE TO DEFINITELY COORDINATE THAT WITH THE LIGHT, THE SIGNAL STUFF, OTHERWISE, IT WOULD CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THE PEDESTRIANS JUST STOPPING TRAFFIC.

>> MY SECOND QUESTION IS THE BIG TURN OFF KING STREET ONTO MALAGA, IS THERE GOING TO BE A STOP SIGN OR A RED LIGHT THERE OR ARE WE GOING TO BLOCK THE TRAFFIC THAT GOES SOUTH ON MALAGA SO THAT THAT CAN BE A CONSTANT FLOW? I CAN SEE THAT BEING ANOTHER TRAFFIC JAM THERE OF THE CURVE.

IF YOU'RE COMING WEST ON KING STREET AND YOU'RE GOING TO CURVE ON MALAGA.

>> OKAY.

>> IS THERE A STOP SIGN OR THEY'RE GOING TO BE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE LIGHT THERE?

>> THE LIGHT WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN AT KING STREET AND MALAGA.

>> OKAY. BECAUSE NOBODY IS COMING EAST ON KING STREET ANYMORE BECAUSE THE BRIDGE IS GONE AND VERY FEW PEOPLE COME OUT EXCEPT FOR THE OFFICERS.

>> CORRECT. I KNOW THAT WE ARE KEEPING, THERE'S THE ONE DRIVEWAY THAT DOES ACCESS ONTO KING STREET AND DOES TO HEAD EAST THAT'S GOING TO REMAIN OPEN.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BARRICADES THAT ARE GOING TO BE BLOCKING PEOPLE HEADING NORTH ON MALAGA TO TURN WEST ONTO KING STREET.

BUT THERE WILL BE IN RETROSPECT THAT YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, SOME BARRICADES THERE TO BLOCK OFF TO KEEP THEM FROM GOING THAT DIRECTION.

IT WASN'T A PERMANENT ENGINEERING STUDY, BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE IT IN THE PLANS RIGHT NOW.

I WILL TELL YOU JUST SO YOU KNOW, I'VE RECENTLY ASSUMED MANAGEMENT OF THIS PROJECT, SO I'M GETTING UP TO SPEED WITH SOME OF THEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DID NOTICE IN THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT THAT THEY DID SHOW ON MALAGA THAT LEFT TURN LANE BLOCKED OFF TO GO WEST, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY EVALUATE.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD'S TO START WITH BECAUSE I KNOW MY STUDENTS [LAUGHTER] AND SO THE PEAK TIMES ARE GOING TO BE WHEN THEY'RE TRANSITIONING FROM ONE CLASS TO ANOTHER, SO ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, 8:00 IN THE MORNING, 9:00 AND ON THE HOUR, AND THEN WALKING BACK, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PEAK TIMES.

I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THEM JUMPING THE GUN, I'M NOT WAITING FOR A LIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE LATE TO CLASS, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT DOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE COLLEGE AND COME UP WITH A PLAN TOGETHER TO MESSAGE THIS TO OUR STUDENTS AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO DO IS TO HAVE YOU ALL GET TOGETHER WITH THE COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION.

>> CERTAINLY.

>> THAT'S ONE THING, I RIDE MY BIKE ON THAT BRIDGE FAIRLY REGULARLY, BOTH ON THE SIDEWALK AS WELL AS IN THE SHARROW LANE AND THE CONFLICTS IN THE SHARROW PUSH ME TO THE SIDEWALK BECAUSE IT IS NOT A VERY SAFE PLACE TO RIDE.

WHAT I'M WONDERING IS IF THERE IS ANY TYPE OF THOUGHT ABOUT A SIDEWALK SAFETY RAIL SYSTEM BECAUSE ALL IT TAKES IS HITTING A ROCK OR SOMEBODY STUMBLING AND THEY JUST FALL OUT INTO TRAFFIC.

ON THE VOLANO BRIDGE THERE'S A SAFETY RAIL THAT SEPARATES THE PEDESTRIAN AND THE SLOWER BIKE TRAFFIC FROM THE AUTOMOBILES AND I GET NERVOUS ON THAT BRIDGE EVERY TIME I SEE SOMEBODY CROSSING IT BECAUSE I WORRY ABOUT SOMEBODY TRIPPING AND FALLING AND GOING HEADFIRST INTO THE TRAFFIC.

SO IF YOU COULD THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.

ANOTHER POINT, THE WEST CASTILLO INTERSECTION.

WHEN DRIVERS ARE SOUTHBOUND ON US 1,

[00:30:04]

TURNING ONTO WEST CASTILLO, THE PEAK TIME THAT I'VE SEEN PEOPLE DOING THAT IS MORNING COMMUTING TRAFFIC.

BUT WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT THE TIMING OF THAT LEFT TURN LANE GOING EASTBOUND ON WEST CASTILLO IS EXCESSIVE CURRENTLY AND I THINK THAT'S LOST TIME THAT COULD BE ADDED BACK INTO THE TRAFFIC FLOW TO TRY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE IMPACTS OF THIS TEMPORARY REROUTING.

SO THE LEFT TURNING TRAFFIC, YESTERDAY MY HUSBAND AND I WERE COMING BACK FROM SOMEWHERE AND WE WERE HEADED NORTHBOUND, SO WE'RE BLOCKED WHILE THE LEFT TURNING TRAFFIC, ALL FOUR CARS WENT AND WE COUNTED 15 SECONDS BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGED.

THAT BACKUP OF 15 SECONDS DIDN'T NEED TO HAPPEN.

THAT WAS ON A VERY BUSY SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE CELTIC FESTIVAL AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON AROUND TOWN.

I THINK THAT TIMING REALLY COULD BE LOOKED AT BOTH FOR NORMAL TRAFFIC FLOW IN ADVANCE OF THIS CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS ESPECIALLY DURING THIS CONSTRUCTION AND REROUTING, SO I WOULD SUGGEST DOING THAT.

THEN THE FINAL THING IS, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IN OUR AUDIENCES HERE BECAUSE OF THIS DISCUSSION TONIGHT, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR DISRUPTION OF PEOPLE'S COMMUTING COMING INTO THE CITY BEING CONFUSED ABOUT WHERE TO GO, BECAUSE GOOGLE MAPS WILL TELL THEM TO GO THERE AND THE BRIDGE IS GONE, AND IT'LL TAKE GOOGLE MAPS A WHILE TO FIGURE ALL THAT OUT.

I THINK WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A MESSAGING PLAN TO GET THIS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY PROACTIVELY AND TO HAVE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT ALTERNATIVE ROUTES THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO ADVERTISE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES THAT ARE QUICKER OR SAFER OR MORE EFFICIENT AT PARTICULAR TIMES OF THE DAY.

SO TRAFFIC STUDY THAT DOES PARTICULAR TIMES OF THE DAY FOR COMMUTING AND FOR VISITORS, AND THEN USING THAT TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS DISRUPTION WOULD BE I THINK VERY BENEFICIAL.

I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

>> WELL, I AGREE THAT WE DO NEED TO HAVE SOME MESSAGING FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT ALL THIS IS GETTING READY TO HAPPEN IN ADVANCE AND GIVING THEM A WINDOW OF TIME SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE ROUTES BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WORKING DOWNTOWN, WHEN PEOPLE ARE READY TO GO HOME, THEY JUST WANT TO GET THERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS COMING IN THAT WILL PROBABLY BE TOUCHING THOSE EMAILS.

IF WE'RE PROACTIVE, THEN IT WON'T DISTURB SO MANY INDIVIDUALS.

THEY ALREADY BROUGHT UP SOME OTHER POINTS ABOUT THE CROSSING AND SO FAR, SO L DON'T NEED ECHO THAT.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> THANK YOU. I DO AGREE THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED A COMMUNICATION PLAN BETWEEN YOU.

YOU CAN WORK WITH US.

WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT THAT KNOWS HOW TO DO THAT, SO I AGREE WITH THAT.

THEN I ALSO AGREE WITH THE COLLEGE COLLABORATION.

I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT REASON WHY.

TWO, IF YOU'LL PULL UP THE MAP, IF YOU DON'T MIND PULLING UP [NOISE] THE PROPOSED DETOUR, THE MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC PLAN.

I WANT TO POINT TO SOMETHING AND SHOW YOU TO THE SOUTH OF KING STREET, IS A LARGE HOTEL THAT THE COLLEGE HAS PURCHASED.

THERE YOU GO. TO THE SOUTH ALONG THE WATER, THERE WILL BE A WALKWAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ETA OR OUR CONSTRUCTION PERIOD IS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A WALKING PATH SOUTH OF THE BRIDGE, SOUTHBOUND ALONG THE WATER TO THE HOTEL THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN PURCHASED BY FLAGLER COLLEGE AS A DORMITORY.

MY CONCERN IS PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. I DON'T KNOW.

THERE ARE TOO MANY QUESTIONS IN MY MIND ABOUT WHERE ALL THIS FALLS AND WHEN IT FALLS.

BUT IF YOU'RE GIVING US NEXT SUMMER, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE COLLEGE IS GOING TO BE WITH THEIR PLANS ON THIS DORMITORY THAT THEY JUST PURCHASED.

BUT I STRONGLY ADVISE THAT YOU REACH OUT TO THEM AND THE DOT REACHES OUT TO THEM AND FINDS OUT WHAT THEIR PLAN IS BECAUSE AT THIS MOMENT, I THINK THEY'RE DOING SHUTTLES, BUT I KNOW WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE TO DO A WALKWAY.

WITH A WALKWAY WOULD COME UP NORTH ALONG THE WATER AND THEN GO EASTBOUND TO ALONG KING STREET DOWN TO CAMPUS, WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT COMMENT, AND THAT IS THE SIDEWALK.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TALK TO THE DOT SINCE THIS WAS BROUGHT UP.

[00:35:02]

WE'VE TALKED TO THEM ACTUALLY FOR YEARS, I HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN IN OUR PLAN FOR YEARS, ABOUT THIS BRIDGE AND HOW THEY WERE GOING TO PROCEED.

EVERY TIME I TALK TO THEM, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT AWAY TO DO ANY MORE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE.

BUT IT MAKES ME QUESTION, HOW MUCH RIGHT AWAY DO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THERE WHERE YOU SAY THAT THE HOTEL ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS ENCROACHED? THERE'S NONE?

>> NO.

>> ZERO?

>> WE HAVE A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS JUST SO WE CAN GET IN THERE.

NOW THAT THEY BUILT THE WALL, THE WALL IS ABOUT TWO FEET HIGHER THAN THE SIDEWALK THAN WHERE WE ARE, WHICH WE'RE AFRAID IS GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE DESIGN WE ALREADY HAVE DONE.

A MATTER OF FACT, THERE ARE WALL APPEARS TO US, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE SURVEY, WE'RE GETTING READY TO SEND THE SURVEYORS BACK OUT SOON TO PICK IT UP.

THERE'S AT&T VAULTS AND ALL THEIR FIBER THAT RUNS THROUGH THE BRIDGE SIDEWALK THERE.

THAT WALL APPEARS TO BE ON TOP OF THE EDGE OF ONE OF THE VAULTS.

THE VAULTS SQUEAKS OUT JUST OUTSIDE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE.

THE EXISTING SIDEWALK IS LITERALLY ON THE BACK OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE, THE ONE THAT'S THERE NOW.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY ROOM VERTICALLY TO CHANGE NOR THE ROOM HORIZONTALLY TO MOVE TO THE SOUTH AT ALL.

THAT WAS THE WHOLE [OVERLAPPING] PROBLEM.

>> THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE THE CONTRACTOR, BUT IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR THIS HAPPENED, TO MAKING THE SITUATION WORSE BECAUSE IT WASN'T GOOD, BUT NOW IT'S WORSE.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT THE SOUTH SIDEWALK WILL BE USED SO HEAVILY BY PEDESTRIANS IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PLANNED FOR, FOR MANY YEARS.

I CAN'T SAY THAT I'M THRILLED ABOUT THIS, BUT EVEN AT THE MEETING, WE DID BRING UP THE QUESTION.

I THINK I ATTENDED THE ONLINE MEETING.

WAS IT LAST YEAR? YEAR BEFORE?

>> IT WAS APRIL 2022.

>> ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I KNOW COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD ATTENDED IN PERSON.

BUT I WOULD AGREE WE DEFINITELY NEED A COMMUNICATION PLAN.

IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR A WHILE.

I DON'T LOVE THE PLAN.

>> WE'LL DEFINITELY COORDINATE.

THERE'S THINGS I THINK THAT WE CAN DO WITH MAYBE NOTES TO THE CONTRACTOR AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT HE KEEPS IN CONTACT WITH THE COLLEGE BESIDES THE DEPARTMENT ON PRIOR TO.

WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ACCOMMODATE.

>> I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY ALL MY COMMENTS.

I THINK MRS. GAIBER WAS ASKING ABOUT A REALISTIC TIME-FRAME AND YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE 12-14 MONTHS?

>> LET'S SAY CLOSE TO THE 14.

SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES HAVE REALLY CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH CONSTRUCTION.

>> WHERE THINGS ARE GOING, YES, WE HEAR IT.

>> I'M TELLING YOU, WE KEEP THINKING WE'RE CONSERVATIVE COMING UP WITH TIMES AND COST ESTIMATES.

EACH TIME WE GO BACK, WE GET SOMETHING COMES UP AND IT TAKES EXTRA TIME.

I THINK 14 MONTHS, THE LONGER SIDE.

IT'D BE BETTER TO ASSUME FROM THE LONGER SIDE OF THINGS THAN FOR ME TO PROMISE YOU THE SHORT THING.

>> WHEN WILL WE HEAR NEXT FROM YOU? WHEN WILL YOU BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO US? OR HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.

JUST IF YOU GUYS WANT US TO COME, JUST LET US KNOW.

WE'LL SET UP A TIME AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.

I KNOW WE ARE KEEPING IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH RUBEN, WITH XAVIER ABOUT THE PREEMPTION AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS, THAT WILL ALSO BE WHO WE'LL TALK TO WHEN IT COMES TO THE COORDINATION OF THE SIGNALS.

NOW WE ALSO HAVE SOME GOOD DIRECTION THAT WILL KEEP GETTING CONTACT WITH THE FLAGLER COLLEGE AS WELL.

>> BECAUSE THAT FRANKLY, OUR TRAFFIC HAS GOTTEN TO THE LEVEL NOW, AND IF YOU'RE EXPLORING IT'S PARTICULARLY IT'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE YEAR, ESPECIALLY STARTING IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY VISITORS THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE ROADS.

I DO FEEL LIKE IT MAY BE WISE TO TRY TO GO BACK TO THE MODEL THAT DOT USED FOR THE BRIDGE OF LIONS WHERE THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN AWARENESS TEAM CREATED OF STAKEHOLDERS.

WE WERE ABLE TO MEET MONTHLY OR AT LEAST QUARTERLY TO GET INFORMATION SO THAT WE COULD SPREAD THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

I THOUGHT THAT MODEL WORKED VERY WELL FOR US.

BUT AT THE TIME MAYBE WE NEEDED IT FOR THE BRIDGE OF LIONS, BUT LIKE I SAID, THE IMPACTS ARE SO GREAT TO THIS COMMUNITY, WE'RE SO SMALL THAT IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IF THE DOT WOULD CONSIDER DOING THAT.

THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT, THEY'VE DONE IT BEFORE.

WE KNOW IT WORKED PRETTY WELL. YES, SIR.

>> MAYOR, WOULD YOU MIND IF I ASK THE PRESENTER A QUESTION?

>> NO, OF COURSE NOT. YES, PLEASE.

>> I WAS WONDERING THIS POINT ABOUT TAKING AWAY THE COLLEGE WITH THE WALKWAY AND THE PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENTS THAT ARE USING THE BRIDGE AND BICYCLES,

[00:40:02]

WOULD THERE BE ANY POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING A TEMPORARY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE TO THE SOUTH OF THE CONSTRUCTION [NOISE] THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO USE THAT ROUTING FOR THE BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS, PARTICULARLY THE COLLEGE STUDENTS? [NOISE] OR WILL THAT INTERFERE WITH BARGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> THIS BY THE COAST GUARD, IS NOT CONSIDERED NAVIGABLE, SO WE'RE NOT HAVING TO GET A COAST GUARD PERMIT.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

THE RAILROAD BRIDGE IS WHAT REALLY DICTATES THAT IN TERMS OF BOAT TRAFFIC.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THE CITY HAS THIS PROBLEM, SUBMERGED LANDS EASEMENTS THERE SO THAT WE HAVE TO GET THE EASEMENT TO PUT THE BRIDGE IN.

THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, FEDERAL PROJECTS ARE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT THEY ALLOW TO BE FUNDED.

THIS IS A LITTLE BIT FAR OUTSIDE OF MY WHEEL HOUSE.

WE'D HAVE TO GO IN AND LOOK TO SEE IF THAT THING COULD BE FUNDED AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT OR IF THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A SHARED COST OF SOME SORT.

THEN YOU'VE ALSO GOT ALL THE ADDITIONAL IMPACTS TO THE CHANNEL, TO THE POTENTIAL FOR HUMANITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ACCOMMODATED.

IT'S NOT THAT IT'S NOT DOABLE, BUT TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL STUDY AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT FALLS INTO THE PD&E STUDY.

USUALLY WHEN YOU MAKE A CHANGE THAT LARGE TO A STUDY THAT'S BEEN DONE AND IT'S FEDERALLY FUNDED NEPA AND ALL THOSE THINGS, YOU'VE GOT TO GO BACK AND REEVALUATE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S A LOGICAL MAKE SENSE.

IT'S A SAFETY THING. BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO DEFINITELY DO SOME ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND RESEARCH.

>> THIS IS A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION THE PERSPECTIVES THAT WERE SHARED.

I THINK L'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR STAFF AND OURSELVES FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU ON SOME OF [OVERLAPPING] THE INTRICACIES AND NUANCES THAT WERE ILLUSTRATED TONIGHT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE COLLEGE, WE'RE REALLY TAKING AWAY FROM THE STUDENTS A MAJOR DORMITORY.

IT'S A HOTEL, IT'S TO THE SOUTH.

IT'S NOT ON YOUR DRAWING.

BUT WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH ALL THOSE DETAILS AND HELP YOU CONNECT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE COLLEGE [OVERLAPPING] TO WORK THROUGH THAT.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> I'LL JUST SAY JUST, I SEE YOU'RE RETICENT BUT JUST CAME UP IN A BIG ROAD PROJECT IN JACKSONVILLE ON A BRIDGE.

THE DOT ENDED UP BUILDING A PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE CROSSING, WHICH STAYED PERMANENTLY, WHICH WAS A GREAT ASSET.

>> MY ONLY RETICENCE IS I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT TO ANYTHING UNTIL I HAVE THE CONVERSATION, BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

>> BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY CONVEY THE INFORMATION TO US.

WE WANT IT DONE, BUT WE WANT IT DONE RIGHT.

>> MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AS A STAFF, WE WILL MEET AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE CREATIVE WAYS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT OUT TONIGHT ABOUT THE SOUTHERN PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENTS.

>> GREAT.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU.

>> SURE. ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE DO HAVE ORDINANCE AS A RESOLUTION.

[8.A.1. Ordinance 2023-08: Amendment to regulation and posting of idle speed-no wake zones (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]

WE HAVE A SECOND READING FOR ORDINANCE 2023-08.

THE CITY ATTORNEY.

>> YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

ORDINANCE 2023-08 IS AN AMENDMENT TO AN ORDINANCE WE PASSED RECENTLY.

THE INTENT OF THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE, AS YOU'LL RECALL, WAS TO CREATE A LOWER SPEED ZONE AND IDLE NO WAKES ZONE ADJACENT TO JULIA'S ISLAND OR BIRD ISLAND, DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK AS WELL AS THE LITTLE TRIBUTARIES AND THE BLIND CURVES THAT TURN IN AND OUT OF HOSPITAL CREEK.

THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT.

WE WENT AHEAD AND ADOPTED THAT ORDINANCE.

WE HAD PRETTY WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT FROM USERS, FROM SCIENTISTS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, FROM SOME OF OUR COUNTERPARTS AT DIFFERENT LOCAL AGENCIES AS WELL.

ULTIMATELY, THE STATUTORY PROCESSES, WE PASS THE ORDINANCE, WE DO THESE HEARINGS, WE PASS THE ORDINANCE, AND THEN WE SEND IT ON TO FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION AND THEIR STAFF DOES A PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE.

IN THIS CASE THAT IS WHAT OCCURRED, AND THEIR STAFF HIGHLIGHTED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THEY DEEMED WAS INADEQUATE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE NO-WAKE IDLE LOW-SPEED ZONES AROUND THE BIRD ISLAND.

THEY FELT THAT WE SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT IN THEIR OPINION AS STAFF.

TODAY'S ORDINANCE REMOVES THAT REGULATION ALONG BIRD ISLAND OR JULIA'S ISLAND, LEAVES IT AS IS FOR THE TIME BEING, AND GOES AHEAD AND CODIFIES THE IN AND OUT HOSPITAL CREEK IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

[00:45:08]

THAT IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CURVATURE AND THE BLIND CURVES.

YOU CAN'T SEE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING IN AND OUT OF HOSPITAL CREEK.

FROM THE FWC STAFF PERSPECTIVE, WE HAD SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF THAT BECAUSE IT WAS QUITE LITERALLY A CURVATURE ISSUE AND AN A SITE TRIANGLE ISSUE.

THIS ORDINANCE WOULD WOULD CODIFY THAT PORTION OF OUR REGULATION.

WE WOULD SEND IT OVER TO FWC AND THEY WOULD PUT IT THROUGH THEIR REVIEW AGAIN.

ONCE THAT IS APPROVED BY THE FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION, IT WOULD BECOME FINAL AND WE'D BE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND PUT SOME SIGNS.

THE BIRD ISLAND JULIA'S ISLAND ISSUE IS A LITTLE MORE INVOLVED.

WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH TRYING TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT OR A MEETING OF THE MINDS AS TO WHAT METHODOLOGY FWC STAFF WOULD DEEM SUFFICIENT.

BEFORE WE SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY AND TIME RETAINING SAY, CONSULTANT TEAM AND SO ON, WE WANTED A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN BOTH OURSELVES AND FWC STAFF AS TO WHAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER APPROPRIATE METHODOLOGY, WHAT ARE WE TRACKING? WHAT EVIDENCE ARE WE TRYING TO UNCOVER IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY THE BIRD ISLAND, JULIA'S ISLAND TO ZONE FOR LOWERED SPEED.

THAT'LL BE A FUTURE PROJECT.

TONIGHT ALL WE HAVE IS TO FORMALIZE THE AMENDMENT TO OUR CODE ALONG HOSPITAL CREEK.

THOSE TURNS IN AN OUT-OF-HOSPITAL CREEK, THOSE BLIND CURVES, THAT WOULD BE WHAT IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

WE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT WHERE THE SIGNS WOULD BE BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM FWC STAFF, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND WE DID HAVE AN UPDATED AFFIDAVIT.

THAT'S ABOUT IT UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS AND IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

>> COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LOPEZ BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS.

IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK? NO ONE HERE TO SPEAK.

PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

ANY QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION, BUT AFTER WE EITHER APPROVE IT OR DON'T APPROVE IT, IT'S A CURIOSITY QUESTION.

>> I JUST LIKE TO COMMENT THAT I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT AT LEAST WE JUMPED OVER THE FIRST HOOP AND LOOK FORWARD TO JUMPING OVER THE SECOND AT LEAST EQUALLY IMPORTANT HOOP IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND EVERYBODY'S ENJOYMENT OF THE SAME WATER BODY THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS.

WOULD YOU ACCEPT A MOTION AT THIS TIME?

>> ABSOLUTELY

>> I WOULD MOVE THAT RESOLUTION 2023-08 BE PASSED TO ITS SECOND READING.

READ BY TITLE ONLY.

>> DO I HEAR A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT THEN, MADAM.

>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-08, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA AMENDING SECTION 7-4 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, REGULATING AND POSTING IDLE SPEED, NO-WAKE ZONES.

PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MOTION CARRIES, GOOD WORK.

GREAT PHASE 1 PRESSING FORWARD.

LET'S MOVE ON. WE HAVE NO OTHER ORDINANCE.

YES. YOU DIDN'T COMMENT.

>> I JUST WANTED TO ASK ARE THE FINES TYPICAL THE $100-$500?

>> YES. THEY ARE STANDARDIZED.

>> THAT'D BE NICE TO HAVE THAT ON THE SIGN BECAUSE THAT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL SPEEDING SIGN AMOUNT.

>> GOT YOU. WE WILL DOUBLE-CHECK AND MAKE SURE FWC IS OKAY WITH WHATEVER WE PUT ON THE SIGN.

>> THANKS.

>> GOOD ADDITION. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATION ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY?

[11.A. Legislative update. (For Information Purposes-no presentation) (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]

>> NO, I DID NOT ACTUALLY HAVE A PRESENTATION.

AS YOU KNOW, AS WE GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE SENT YOU THE INITIAL BULKY SPREADSHEET FORMAT AND MEMO FORMAT OF THE BILLS AT THAT POINT.

THIS PARTICULAR ITEM INCLUDES EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN FILED SINCE THEN,

[00:50:03]

UP UNTIL A WEEK-AND-A-HALF AGO.

WE HAVE HAD NEW BILLS FILED SINCE THAT WEEK-AND-A HALF-AGO.

SOME OF WHOM ARE VERY TROUBLING.

JUST TO LET THE COMMISSION KNOW THAT THERE IS YET ANOTHER PREEMPTION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION BILL THAT WOULD STRIP AWAY OUR ABILITY TO DENY DEMOLITION PERMITS, BUT PERHAPS EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, REMOVE ALL WHICH THAT'S IN AND OF ITSELF IS BAD.

I'LL JUST PAUSE THERE. BUT THEN THERE'S ANOTHER PORTION TO THE BILL THAT WOULD ALSO REMOVE OUR ABILITY TO REGULATE THE HEIGHT SIZE, AND DESIGN CRITERIA FOR THE REPLACEMENT STRUCTURE, EVEN IN OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION DISTRICTS, WHICH JUST SEEMS. I'M AT A LOSS FOR WORDS BUT SEEMS A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE.

>> DEFINITELY OVERREACH.

>> YES. WE DO HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE BATTLING THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

OUR FORMER HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLANNER ADJENNY WOLF NOW HAS A DIFFERENT POSITION AND SHE IS TIED IN ALSO WITH THE NATIONAL HISTORIC FOLKS, THE TRUST FOLKS AND OTHERS.

SHE'S BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH MYSELF, WITH MAYOR HIKES KLEIN, AND PERHAPS OTHERS AND WE'RE TRYING TO CRAFT SOME A COHESIVE, I HATE TO SAY BATTLE PLAN, BUT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE HAVE ASKED LINDA JUAREZ, OUR LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT, TO HELP GUIDE OUR OUR OPPOSITION BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S TALLAHASSEE OR WASHINGTON DC, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHO THE PLAYERS ARE AND WHICH BILLS MAY HAVE A STRONG SUPPORT OR MAYBE PART OF A SAUSAGE MAKING CROSS SUPPORT FOR OTHER BILLS BY LEGISLATORS.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON WHO THE PLAYERS ARE ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO EITHER OPPOSE THE BILL OR CLIP THE WORST PARTS OF IT OUT.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ON THAT.

THAT IS NOT IN YOUR MATERIALS, THAT JUST HAPPENED LAST WEEK, WAS IT LAST WEEK? YEAH. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

>> BUT GOOD PEOPLE PUT THEIR BRAINS TOGETHER.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND ANOTHER STAB AT THE APPLE ON THIS ONE.

IT'S A CRAZY TOWN.

>> THERE WAS A NEW OR BUILD FILE, I GUESS TODAY.

MS. JUAREZ, LET US KNOW ABOUT THE FREEBOARD RULE.

IT'S GOOD AND IT'S BAD.

IT WOULD NOW STRIP AWAY OUR ABILITY TO SET WITH THE FREEBOARD RULE IS AND ALLOW ANYONE WHO WANTS TO JACK UP THEIR HOUSE FOUR FEET ABOVE FREEBOARD IF THEY'RE ANYWHERE IN THE CITY AND NINE FEET IN A COASTAL HIGH HAZARD.

THAT WOULD CHANGE OUR STREETSCAPE AND VIEWSHED RATHER DRAMATICALLY.

THAT'S ANOTHER NEW BILL THAT WAS JUST PRESENTED, I BELIEVE TODAY.

>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE OTHER ADDITION.

BUT YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THAT EMAIL, SORRY.

>> POSSIBLY.

>> SO MANY MOVING PARTS.

>> SO MANY RIGHT NOW.

>> I WILL SAY THAT THERE'S A MONDAY MORNING CALLING ON THE FLOOR, LEAGUE OF CITIES, WHICH YOU'RE ALL WELCOME TO SIGN UP FOR.

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT DURING THAT MONDAY MORNING CALL AND THEY DO SEND YOU A WRAP-UP VERY QUICKLY ACTUALLY BY A MATTER OF HOURS, YOU WILL GET A WRAP-UP IN MINUTES, SO TO SPEAK OF WHAT THE DISCUSSION WAS JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY IS IN THE LOOP.

THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL BILL IS GOT DELAYED AND COMMITTEE AND THE LAST COMMITTEE HEARING, IT WASN'T HEARD AND IT WILL BE HEARD.

I BELIEVE THEY SAID NEXT WEEK THE NEXT WELL, I KNOW FOR SURE AT THE NEXT COMING IN HEARING.

IT HAS JUST BEGUN.

IT'S ONLY JUST BEGUN.

WHEN WE'RE MONITORING THAT LIKE THEY ARE.

ANYWAY, IT'S JUST A LOT GOING ON.

IT'S CERTAINLY HAS A LOT TO KEEP UP WITH.

CERTAINLY, A LOT TO KEEP UP WITH.

ONTO ITEMS BY CITY CLERK.

I'M SORRY. DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?

>> NOT SURE. I HAVE LOTS OF COMMENTS [LAUGHTER] SO I'M SO SORRY.

I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THIS NEEDS TO GO ON THE PUBLIC RECORD BEYOND WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED, JUST TO REGISTER HOW MUCH OVERREACH SOME OF THESE ARE.

IS THAT OKAY IF I TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO DO THAT?

>> YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD [OVERLAPPING]

>> ALSO CLARIFICATION WITH A COUPLE OF THEM WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, SO I UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER.

SB 920, I GUESS IT DOES NOT HAVE A COMPANION BILL.

THAT'S THE ONE ON FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT.

[00:55:03]

THE WAY I READ IT WOULD BE THAT IT ACTUALLY RESTRICTS US FROM DOING THINGS LIKE INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE TO INCREASE FLOOD RESISTANCE FOR THEIR HOMES.

IT WOULD PROHIBIT US FROM DOING THAT EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT US, WHICH I AGAIN, WHAT WHY WE FLOOD? THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY IN THIS STATE THAT DOES OR WILL SB 1240, AND HB 1197, THE LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT WOULD PROHIBIT A MUNICIPALITY FROM ACTUALLY DOING MORE TO IMPROVE ITS WATER QUALITY, WATER QUALITY, AND WATER USE THAN IT CURRENTLY DOES OR THAT WOULD EXCEED STATE STANDARDS.

IF WE DECIDE WHO I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THE KANSAS RIVER IN OUR WATERWAYS ARE, COULD BE IMPROVED AND WE COULD PREVENT HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND RED TIDE BY DOING A FEW THINGS IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION OR INCENTIVIZING ADDITIONAL FILTRATION OF WATER, WE COULDN'T DO IT.

IF I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY.

THAT IS HORRIFYING TO ME.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY WE WOULD DO THAT WHEN WE HAVE A RED TIDE BLOOM IN MANATEE COUNTY RIGHT NOW AND TONS OF DEAD FISH ARE WASHING UP AND OH, IT'S SPRING BREAK.

I'M SORRY, I'M BEING REALLY FACETIOUS ABOUT THIS, BUT IT MAKES ME MAD.

THAT IMPACTS OUR ECONOMY AS WELL AS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE OR FISSURES ARE IMPACTED BY WATER QUALITY, OUR TOURISTS ARE IMPACTED, OUR RECREATION IS IMPACTED.

JUST BEING ABLE TO BREATHE WHEN YOU GO OUTSIDE OR SWIM IN OUR WATERWAYS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY.

THE LOCAL HP 359 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMP PLANS, IT WOULD DELETE LANGUAGE THAT WILL ALLOW US FOR THE PREVAILING PARTY CHALLENGING THE LOGO COMP PLAN TO RECOVER ATTORNEY FEES.

AM I READING THAT RIGHT? PEOPLE COULD CHALLENGE OUR COMP PLAN, ALL THE BEST PARTS OF IT AND WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE ATTORNEY FEES. OR HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> I THINK THE INTENT OF THE BILL IS AND I'M DOING THIS FROM MEMORY, SO FORGIVE ME.

>> THAT'S FINE.

>> IS THIRD PARTIES SAY THE SIERRA CLUB OR SOME OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP CHALLENGES OUR APPROVAL OF A DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.

THE INTENT IS TO TAKE AWAY THAT ENTITY'S ABILITY TO SEEK AND OBTAIN ATTORNEY'S FEES IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL.

I BELIEVE IT ALSO ALLOWS THE DEVELOPER TO SEEK THE ATTORNEY'S FEES FROM THE THIRD PARTY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, I'LL SAY.

>> THAT HELPS ME BETTER UNDERSTAND IT, BUT IT'S STILL CONCERNING.

IT IS OUR COMP PLAN.

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I SEE SB 106, THE FLORIDA SHARED USE NON MOTORIZED TRAIL NETWORK, SB 102, THE HOUSING LIVE LOCAL ACT, WHICH I'D LIKE TO GET BACK TO AND HB 229, THE TAXATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS POTENTIALLY POSITIVE FOR US.

BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THE HOUSING LIVE LOCAL ACT AND THE TAXATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, MS. LOPEZ.

>> YES. ONE OF THEM IS MAYBE MORE PROBLEMATIC THAN THE OTHER.

THE LIVE LOCAL ACT.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE DISAGREES WITH THE IDEA OF INCENTIVIZING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT.

IT'S HOW YOU GO ABOUT IT.

I THINK SOME OF THE PROVISIONS THAT HAD OUR PLANERS A LITTLE CONCERNED WERE THESE PROVISIONS THAT SAID YOU CAN AUTOMATICALLY GET THE ADDITIONAL DENSITY IF YOU'RE WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS OF CERTAIN FACILITIES.

YOU'LL RECALL WHEN WE JUST APPROVED THE ROWDY PROJECT, ONE OF THE MEATY DISCUSSIONS WE HAD WAS THIS LINKAGE OF WHAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON THEIR SITE IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS.

TO ESSENTIALLY JUSTIFY THE INTENSITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT WE HAD ALL OF THESE MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS, COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THE CORRECT INCENTIVE? HOW DENSE AND INTENSE CAN YOU MAKE THIS KIND OF A PROJECT BECAUSE IT HAS ON-SITE MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION? I THINK WHAT CONCERNS FOLKS IS THAT THIS BILL WOULD EXPAND THAT AND SAY, WELL, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE IT ON YOUR SITE JUST WITHIN SO MANY MILES OF YOUR SITE AND STILL GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT ADDITIONAL DENSITY, WHICH MAYBE IS A GOOD IDEA.

BUT IT'S THIS IDEA AGAIN OF STRIPPING ALL OF OUR DECISION-MAKING AND OUR,

[01:00:06]

I WOULD SAY COLLABORATIVE PROCESS AND SIMPLY SAYING, AS A MATTER OF LAW, YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU'RE WITHIN THIS RADIUS AND GO UP TO THE HIGHEST AVAILABLE HEIGHT, IF YOU HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AGAIN, WE'RE ALL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT'S JUST HOW YOU GET THERE, I THINK IS A LITTLE BIT PROBLEMATIC.

THE SECOND BILL HAS TO DO, I THINK THAT YOU WERE MENTIONING WAS THIS TAX INCENTIVE.

IT SETS UP A SCENARIO WHERE IF WE PASS AN ORDINANCE SAYING THAT WE DEEM CERTAIN PROJECTS TO HAVE THE MATHEMATICAL FORMULA FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER THEN IS ABLE TO ESSENTIALLY BE TREATED LIKE A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION OF 501C3.

I THINK WE'VE HEARD, OFTENTIMES, HEY, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE NON-PROFITS IN THE CITY THAT DON'T PAY FULL TAXES.

THIS BILL WOULD, ALLOW US TO PASS AN ORDINANCE TO TREAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS IN THAT SAME WAY AND THEY GET THE BENEFIT OF NOT BEING TAXED.

NOW IF ALL THE UNITS IN THEIR PROJECT ARE AFFORDABLE UNDER THE MAGICAL FORMULA, THEY WOULD NOT BE TAXED ON ANY AD VALOREM.

THEY WOULD BE TREATED COMPLETELY LIKE A NON-PROFIT.

BUT THERE IS A SLIDING SCALE IF THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE WITHIN A LARGER PROJECT, AND THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ATTESTED TO EVERY YEAR BY THE PROPERTY OWNER TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISER IN TAX COLLECTORS OFFICE.

IT'S A CLUNKY SYSTEM EVERY YEAR THEY'D HAVE TO ATTEST.

BUT THAT IS THE INTENT.

I DON'T SEE THAT BILL AS AS PROBLEMATIC IN MANY WAYS.

WELL, THE FINANCE FOLKS WHO WERE HERE EARLIER WOULD PROBABLY SMACK ME FOR SAYING THAT THEY WOULD SEE IT AS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THAT WOULD AFFECT AD VALOREM REVENUE.

BUT FROM A LAND PLANNING, COMMUNITY PLANNING, IT'S REALLY JUST ABOUT MONEY.

WHICH I UNDERSTAND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU.

I'M NOT NEGATING THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE THAT PARTICULAR BILL.

>> THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A FEW MORE IF THAT'S OKAY.

SB 170, THE ONE THAT WITH THE LOCAL ORDINANCES AND THE BUSINESS IMPACT ESTIMATE IS ALSO ROLLING RIGHT THROUGH THE LEGISLATION IS THE COMMITTEES THAT SEEMS SO.

THAT'S A CONCERN. HB 111 AND I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE ALL OF IT.

YOU PROBABLY ACTUALLY SEEM TO HAVE ALL OF THESE [LAUGHTER] MEMORIZED A PRETTY AMAZING WAY.

BUT THIS ONE IS PUBLIC FINANCING OF POTENTIALLY AT-RISK STRUCTURES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TODAY TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT BILL ITSELF.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US? IT SAYS PROVIDES CERTAIN AREAS OR AT RISK DUE TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND STRUCTURES AND INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THOSE AREAS ARE POTENTIALLY AT RISK.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO US?

>> IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THAT BILL WOULD REQUIRE THAT WHEN WE ARE SIGHTING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WE WOULD HAVE TO, AS PART OF THAT ANALYSIS, ANALYZE ITS RISK FACTOR IF I CAN PHRASE IT THAT WAY.

WHEN WE'RE EXPANDING PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE NOW WE WOULD HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL DELTA.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS, HB 41, LAND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PROCESSES.

IT SIMPLY SAYS REVISES RESTRICTIONS ON INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PROCESSES.

DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR?

>> YES, I THINK THAT ONE IS SIMPLY HOW WE GO ABOUT WE NEVER DID THIS, BUT MAYBE JACKSONVILLE DID.

I'M TRYING TO RECALL WHO'S DONE THIS.

THEY HAVE PLACED THE FOLKS IN FLORIDA HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PUT AS A REFERENDUM QUESTION ISSUES THAT WERE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS AT THE BEACH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS BILL ESSENTIALLY WOULD STRIP THAT ABILITY OF PUTTING TO A PUBLIC VOTE SOMETHING LIKE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS OR OTHER LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TYPE OF RESTRICTION.

>> THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL.

THAT'S ALL I REALLY WANT TO BRING UP TONIGHT.

THERE'S MORE OBVIOUSLY, BUT I FIND THESE UPDATES EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

I HOPE THAT MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

I KNOW I'M GETTING EMAILS THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHATEVER ISSUES ARE OF CONCERN TO THEM.

BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR ALL OF US TO ENGAGE IN.

>> YES.

[01:05:02]

>> MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, MAYBE AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE WEEK, I CAN WALK EVERYONE THROUGH THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAYS AND DO A LITTLE BIT MORE BRIEFING ABOUT HOW THE LEAGUE GOES ABOUT ITS EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THIS, AND WHAT ARE SOME GOOD SCHEDULES AND WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE WOULD WANT TO ATTEND LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAYS.

I THINK IT'S GENERALLY THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL.

I CAN TALK SOME MORE IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN GOING TO TALLAHASSEE.

THE MAYOR AND I TYPICALLY SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME IN TALLAHASSEE AND DURING LEGISLATIVE SEASON, BUT I THINK THE MORE WE ENGAGE EVERYBODY IN THE FIGHT, IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME AND ARE WILLING TO TRAVEL, PICK AN ISSUE AND WE WILL SUPPORT YOU.

THERE ARE MANY AND THERE ARE MANY UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR WHO I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE GONE THIS WAY.

ANYWAY, ITEMS BY CITY CLERK.

[12.A. Request for Two (2) appointments for the Corridor Review Committee (CRC) (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]

>> I HAVE TWO ITEMS THIS EVENING.

THE FIRST ONE IS A REQUEST FOR TWO APPOINTMENTS FOR OUR CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE.

THESE POSITIONS WERE ADVERTISED AS REQUIRED.

WE RECEIVED THREE APPLICATIONS, TWO FROM OUR CURRENT CRC MEMBERS WHO BOTH ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT, AND A THIRD APPLICATION FROM CARL GIL.

I DID NOT BRING BALLOTS WITH ME THIS EVENING, SO WE COULD EITHER ACCEPT VERBAL NOMINATIONS OR WE CAN DELAY THIS UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.

>> I THINK WE CAN GO AHEAD.

DOES ANYONE HAVE A NOMINATION? FOUR NOMINATIONS FOR THE FIRST ITEM CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE?

>> YES. I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MR. DIXON AND MR. COCHRAN.

>> I'LL SECOND THAT.

ANY COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM,

[12.B. Request for One (1) appointment for the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]

WHICH IS THE REQUEST FOR ONE APPOINTMENT.

>> I DO. I HAVE ONE APPOINTMENT FOR THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD.

WE ADVERTISED IN ACCORDANCE TO OUR POLICIES AND WE RECEIVED ONE APPLICATION FOR CURRENT BOARD MEMBER, MR. PAUL WEAVER, AND HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT.

>> THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

>> THAT IS WONDERFUL NEWS. [LAUGHTER]

>> ANYONE CARE TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO.

I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE MR. WEAVERS REAPPOINTMENT, ESPECIALLY IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT WE JUST AWARDED HIM THE ALVEOLUS AWARD, THERE IS NOBODY MORE QUALIFIED IN MY OPINION.

>> I'LL SECOND.

>> ANY OTHER FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> VERY GOOD. ONWARD. WELL, WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM ON OUR COMMISSION ON OUR AGENDA, AND THAT IS ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER.

[13.A. Discussion regarding a multi-day Event on Francis Field in September 2023 for the Sing Out Loud Festival. (J. Regan, City Manager)]

>> YEAH. THIS ITEM STEMS FROM A REQUEST FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THE AMPHITHEATER STAFF AND GOOD POLICIES IN THE AUDIENCE IF WE HAVE ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS LATER.

THE AMPHITHEATER STAFF PRODUCES WITH THE COMMUNITY WHAT'S CALLED THE SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL.

EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE DIFFERENT FORMS OF HEADLINERS THAT ARE TICKETED EVENTS, AND THEY MADE A REQUEST TO USE FRANCIS FIELD ON A FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 22ND, AND 23RD, TO HAVE A CONCERT EACH NIGHT, FOUR TO FIVE ACTS, CULMINATING IN A LARGE NATIONAL ACT.

THE CONCERT WILL PAY FOR ALL SERVICES, AND IT'S REALLY A BOOKING, A RESERVATION IN THE FIELD.

BUT A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN WE PASSED OUR EVENT POLICY, WE PASSED A STANDARD NOT TO ADD NEW MULTI-DAY EVENTS.

THAT STEMMED FROM THE CRUSH OF THE SPRING SEASON WHERE WE HAD THREE BIG BACK-TO-BACK MULTI-DAY EVENTS.

ONE THING THAT HASN'T REALLY BEEN PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED, BUT I FEEL COMFORTABLE ANNOUNCING IT NOW.

RHYTHM AND RIBS IS A MULTI-DAY EVENT, THE ROTARY CLUB WILL NO LONGER PRODUCE RHYTHM AND RIBS.

BUT GETTING BACK TO THE TOPIC, IN ORDER TO DO THIS, IT WOULD REQUIRE THE ACTION OF THE COMMISSION TO OVERRIDE ITS POLICY.

[01:10:03]

YOU SET THE POLICY SO YOU CAN OVERRIDE IT.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS MY REQUEST TONIGHT IS AUTHORIZATION TO BOOK THE FIELD FOR FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT, WORK THROUGH THE NORMAL EVENT REVIEW PROCESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCERT SERIES AS WE WOULD WITH ANYBODY.

THAT'S THE REQUEST.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANY OF THE LANGUAGE.

I THINK IT'S A ONETIME REQUEST.

NOT ANY CHANGING OF LANGUAGE, NOT PRECEDENT SETTING.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SINGING OUT LOUD ITSELF, THE EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW IS THAT IT'S A FESTIVAL THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL MUSICIANS DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, MORE TO BUILD SENSE OF COMMUNITY AROUND MUSIC.

IT STARTED IN 2016, SO IT'LL BE IN ITS SEVENTH YEAR.

SEPTEMBER IS PICKED BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LOW MONTH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, OF TOURISM.

THE CONCERT SERIES ARE HELD THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT VENUES, BARS, PUBLIC FACILITIES SUCH AS THE AMPHITHEATER.

DESPITE EVEN HAVING, WHAT'S CURIOUS IS THAT IN ADDITION, IT'S TO BOOST THE ECONOMY AND IT DOES THAT.

BUT EVEN WITH THE FESTIVAL THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE OCCUPANCY RATE OF HOTELS, THERE'S ONLY BEEN AT 53 AND 58%.

IT'S REALLY VERY MUCH OF A LOCAL EVENT.

SO FAR, TYPICALLY, THERE'S ABOUT 150 LOCAL PERFORMANCES A YEAR.

IT'S ALSO DESIGNED WITH CHARITIES IN MIND.

I THINK IT'S RAISED ABOUT $300,000 THROUGHOUT THE COURSE.

THIS YEAR'S CHARITIES IF WE APPROVE THE FESTIVAL EVENT, WILL GENERATE BASED ON THE WAY THAT THEIR TICKETING PRICES WORK ABOUT $100,000 TO GO INTO LOCAL CHARITIES, SPECIFICALLY, MONIES TO GO TO FIRST RESPONDERS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH IS A BIG TOPIC THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACROSS BOARD.

WE DO SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT IN FIRE.

THE COUNTY'S LOOKING AT MODELING THAT, BUT ALSO IN POLICING AND THROUGHOUT THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE ALL JOBS IN THE CITY CARRY A HIGH STRESS FACTOR, THE FIELD JOBS.

THE OTHER IS ALSO TO HELP PUT INSTRUMENTS IN SCHOOLS, WHICH HAS BEEN A DEFICIENCY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

BUT COMING BACK, IT DOES EXACTLY WHAT I DESCRIBED.

IT HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL ARTISTS, HELPS THE ECONOMY, BUILDS SOCIAL CAPITAL.

THE KEY THING IS THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, I'M RECOMMENDING APPROVAL TO GIVE IT A TRY, AND THEN IF WE LIKE IT, WE CAN CONTINUE IT.

IF WE DON'T LIKE IT, WE DON'T CONTINUE IT.

BUT THAT'S THE REQUEST.

ABSENT APPROVAL TONIGHT, THE AMPHITHEATER STAFF WOULD BOOK A ONE NIGHT FESTIVAL, BUT THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT ON COST RECOVERY AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE IT, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION.

>> COMMENTS, OBSERVATIONS, DESIRES?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC ATTENDEES AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR IS SINGING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL.

IT IS MOSTLY LOCAL.

SURELY THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM OUT OF TOWN, BUT MY HUSBAND IS A MIDDLE-SCHOOL TEACHER.

HIS STUDENTS WILL COME UP TO US AT THESE EVENTS THAT HE HASN'T SEEN SINCE I GRADUATED YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

IT'S A NEAT WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GET TOGETHER AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL MUSICIANS.

I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING, AT ONE TIME, TRY IT OUT, SEE HOW IT WORKS IN SEPTEMBER, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ALL BENEFIT FROM.

I LIKE THE CHARITABLE ASPECT OF IT AND THE FOCUS ON MUSIC AT THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUR STREETS A BIT AND ENJOY THE TIME OUTSIDE AT COLONIAL OAKS AND SOME OF THE OTHER GREAT VENUES THAT SUPPORT THIS FESTIVAL.

I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> I AM TOO. I ACTUALLY PERFORMED IN 2016 THROUGH 2019 AS ONE OF THE LOCAL ARTIST.

THIS STARTED, I BELIEVE, AND THE GABE CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,

[01:15:01]

BUT I THINK IT STARTED BECAUSE OF THE 450 CELEBRATION, WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME.

HAVING MUSIC DOWNTOWN IN MULTIPLE VENUES, AND A LOT OF LOCAL PEOPLE PARTICIPATED AT THAT AS WELL. DID HOLD PAM GREEK.

I'M VERY MUCH A SUPPORTING THIS.

I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY RECOGNIZE IS THAT THESE ARTISTS THAT ARE LOCAL WHO WERE TRYING TO BREAK OUT OF BEING LOCAL CAN THEN SAY, I WAS IN A FESTIVAL WITH WHOEVER THEY HAPPEN TO BRING.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE IF THIS IS APPROVED, I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE GABE TO AT LEAST SOME OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE ON THE BIG STAGE, THOSE PEOPLE THAT MAY BE TRYING TO BREAK OUT NATIONALLY SO THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM THAT EXPOSURE.

I KNOW THE AMPHITHEATER HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO TOWN, BUT THE SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL IS SOMETHING THAT ARTISTS LOOKED FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR TO BE ABLE TO JUST SIT AND HAS GOTTEN COMPETITIVE.

I'M HOPING YOU CAN EXPAND THE STAGES SO THAT OTHER BANDS CAN PLAY AS WELL.

>> WONDERFUL. COMMISSIONER GARRIS.

>> I AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THIS THING OUT LOUD BECAUSE IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOME LOCAL ARTISTS PERFORMANCE, SO FORTH.

I THINK WE SHOULD JUST MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR THIS AND NOT REALLY CANCEL THAT.

HAVING BEEN ON THE SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE, THERE WAS REASONS WHY AS FAR AS THE POLICING AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS FROM TRYING TO CREATE THE OFFICERS, FROM HAVING TO WORK ALL THESE EVENTS BACK TO BACK.

THAT'S WHY THAT POLICY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WENT INTO EFFECT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS EVENT AND BASICALLY TRY IT AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AGAIN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE LOCAL PEOPLE IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

[LAUGHTER] I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION AND GO FORWARD WITH THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GET RID OF THE ORDINANCE IN ITSELF BASICALLY.

>> GREAT. YES. YOU HAD A COUNTRY YOU HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT?

>> AT THE RISK OF OVERSELLING, MEANING I'M GOING TO OVERSELL BECAUSE I CAN SEE WHERE THE VOTE IS GOING. I SHOULD SHUT UP.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I DIDN'T COVER EVERYTHING ABOUT THE FESTIVAL FOR THE SAKE OF BREVITY.

BUT TO COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD IS POINT ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE FESTIVAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL.

IS TO HELP LOCAL ARTISTS DEVELOPMENT LOCAL ARTISTS MEET WITH AND LEARN FROM MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, DIRECT MENTORSHIPS WITH SONGWRITERS BEING MANAGERS AND MUSIC PRODUCERS THAT PROVIDED INVALUABLE GUIDANCE TO ARTISTS SEEKING TO GROW THEIR MUSICAL CAREER.

IT IS A VERY DELIBERATE STRATEGY OF THE FESTIVAL TO YOUR POINT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. COMMISSIONER GARRIS'S CONCERN WAS ABOUT REWRITING THE ORDINANCE AND HOW ARE WE ARE THE POLICY HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING THAT IN THIS REQUEST?

>> EXCELLENT QUESTION. THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT MODIFYING ANY OF THE LANGUAGE AND THE EXISTING POLICY, THE POLICY STAYS WHOLE.

YOU'RE BASICALLY GIVING ME AUTHORIZATION TO BOOK SEPTEMBER 22ND SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2023, AND ONLY THOSE TWO DATES FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON, LEAVING THE POLICY INTACT.

>> FOR THIS ONE TIME.

WONDERFUL. I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT EVERYBODY'S ALL SMILES AROUND THE TABLE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

WE HAD SOUND DIPLOMACY COME AND DO AN ASSESSMENT.

THE AMPHITHEATER AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

I THINK THAT THEY WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS THE MISSION, SO TO SPEAK, AS PROMOTING LOCAL TALENT, PLATFORMING THEM AND LAUNCHING THEM HOPEFULLY.

WE'VE HAD THE NIGHTLIFE ASSESSMENT ALSO IDENTIFIED THAT WE HAVE A DEFICIENCY IN THAT.

A LOT OF OUR MUSIC AT NIGHT IS COVER BANDS AND NOT A LOT OF ORIGINAL MUSIC.

THAT WILL REMAIN A DEFICIENCY UNTIL WE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I THINK SEEING OUT LOUD AS WHAT'S BEEN BEEN THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I THINK SINCE WE HAVE THIS GAP NOW SO TO SPEAK WITH THE FALLING AWAY OF RHYTHM AND RIBS.

WE DO HAVE AN OPENING, SO I FEEL OKAY ABOUT THAT.

ESPECIALLY THAT IT'S IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS OUR SHOULDER SEASON.

WE WILL HEAR FROM RESIDENTS.

WE WILL JUST BECAUSE IT'S A TWO DAY EVENT AND THAT'S WHAT IT DOES.

NOT IN THE SPRING BECAUSE WE ALL PACK USUALLY PACK EVERYTHING IN THE SPRING, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS VIEWED AS OUR OWN EVENT IS THE SEASON LET'S DOWN AND THEN WE ALL COME TO TOWN AND THEN WE ENJOY

[01:20:03]

OUR COMMUNITY WITH OUR PEOPLE AND OUR SOUND.

GABE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, THAT I FEEL LIKE ALL GREAT CITIES HAVE THEIR OWN MUSICAL SIGNATURE, AND WE NEED TO WORK TOWARDS THAT.

WE NEED TO FIND OUR MUSICAL VOICE OR IN MUSICAL SIGNATURE.

I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO WITH THE AMPHITHEATER TO GET US THERE AND ESPECIALLY SING OUT LOUD AS BEING THAT VIC SING OUT LOUD IS THAT VEHICLE. THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT WE APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION.

ANYONE? IS THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE NEED TO PROVE CORRECT?

>> IT'S JUST A DIRECTION, I THINK THE EXCEPTION.

>> DIRECTION, OR I THOUGHT I SAW RESOLUTION IN THERE. ALL RIGHT THEN.

>> WELL, I MOVE WE GIVE DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TO APPROVE THE 22ND, 23RD, SEPTEMBER, FORCING THAT ALARM.

>> THANK YOU. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>>AYE.

>> AYE.

>>AYE. YOU HAVE UNANIMOUSLY.

CONGRATULATIONS. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL.

ITEMS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS. LET'S START.

[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]

WHO DID I START WITH LAST MEETING? YOU STARTED WITH YOU. LET'S START WITH COMMISSIONER GARRIS.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, A SPECIAL MEETING.

I HAVE SOME CONCERNS AND I WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE A MEETING.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A MEETING PRIOR TO A MEETING OR A MEETING AFTER MEETING.

BUT I HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT WE CAN'T TALK.

WE HAVE TO DO IT. WE CAN'T BREAK THE SUNSHINE LAW, SO WE NEED TO HAVE A MEETING IN ORDER TO FORESTALL THE CONVERSATION.

>> WHAT WOULD THAT BE ABOUT? WHAT KIND OF ITEMS? THAT WOULD BE LIKE A WORKSHOP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> IT'S ABOUT SOME CITY CONCERNS AND I CAN HAVE AN AGENDA AND SO FORTH PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

THEN I COULD PROVIDE THE CLERK WITH, BUT SHE COULD SEND OUT TO YOU GUYS.

>> LET'S DO THIS. WHY DON'T YOU SEND THAT OUT THROUGH THE CLERK TO US SINCE WE CAN'T STAND EACH OTHER EMAILS, ESPECIALLY ITEMS THAT WE EXPECT TO BE UNDER DISCUSSION OR HAVE DECISIONS MAKING, SEND IT TO THAT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT, OUR NEXT MEETING.

>> THAT'S SOUNDS GOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT. OUT THAT FAHRENHEIT.

THANK YOU.

>> YES, MA'AM. SIR. [LAUGHTER] YES MA'AM.

>> WE COULD SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP PRIOR TO THE NEXT MEETING ON THE 27TH.

>> I JUST WOULD LIKE AN AGENDA BEFORE I SET A MEETING.

>> I WOULD DO, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE NATURE OF THE MEETING IS ABOUT.

>> YES.

>> WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT WITH OUR WORKSHOPS SINCE. YEAH.

>> YEAH. GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE?

>> NO.

>> GOOD. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER BONDER.

>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE IS MY IGNORANCE AND CONFUSION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATING PERSON FOR AN AWARD.

I HAVE BEEN [LAUGHTER] TEXTING AND CALLING THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, MISS WHISTLE BACK-AND-FORTH AND WE GO BACK AND FORTH AND SHE STRAIGHTENS ME OUT AND THIS IS A PROCESS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

BUT SHE AND I THOUGHT THAT IT DURING OUR LAST CONVERSATION THAT IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO GO OVER WHAT OUR PROCEDURES ARE OR THEY COULD THEY BE MADE MORE EFFICIENT, MORE STREAMLINED, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE MORE CONSISTENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT GO ON OUR TASK LIST PERHAPS THAT SHE COULD, WOULD THAT WORK FOR YOU, MISS WHISTLE? SHE'S NODDING, YES. THANKS. THAT'S THE FIRST THING I HAD.

>> THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, OF COURSE.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS [NOISE].

I'M HAPPY TO BRING FORTH THE RESOLUTION THAT WE HAVE THAT OUTLINES THE PROCESS, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE AN OPEN CONVERSATION BETWEEN ALL THE COMMISSIONERS NOT TO VIOLATE ANY SUNSHINE, BUT THEN EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE WITH WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND IF THERE'S A MORE EFFICIENT WAY FOR US TO DO THAT, THE NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OR SELECTION, THAT'S FINE WITH GUIDANCE FROM SENIOR MANAGER AND LEGAL.

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD REVIEW, ESPECIALLY WITH [NOISE] TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS.

I CERTAINLY COULD REUSE A REVIEW BECAUSE I AM LIKE YOU.

I AM DESPITE THE FACT THAT [NOISE] BEEN HERE SO MANY YEARS, I STILL DO NOT KNOW THE DETAILS OF THE PROCESS AND I HAVE TO ASK STAFF AND OTHER THINGS TOO.

I HAVE TO RELY ON CITY CLERK MANY TIMES FOR THE PROCESS.

BUT THANK YOU. WE'LL JUST PUT THIS ON THE TASK LIST AND YOU SCHEDULE.

>> DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR TIMELINE OR CAN IT BE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?

>> THIS IS ALSO PART OF RIFFING OFF OF WHAT COMMISSIONER OF SPRINGFIELD WAS SAYING ABOUT CAN WE GET RESUMES AND SO FORTH? I THINK THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

I'M IN NO PARTICULAR HURRY.

[01:25:02]

I THINK WHENEVER IT'S IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, WOULD BE GREAT.

>> NO PROBLEM.

>> GREAT. THEN ONE OTHER THING, AS PART OF MY COMMISSION ROLE, I WAS TASKED WITH BEING OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE, [INAUDIBLE] NATIONAL AS TO RESEARCH RESERVE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY GROUP.

THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING.

WE'VE REALLY BEEN IN-PERSON SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION.

IT WAS LAST WEDNESDAY.

DURING THAT MEETING, JASON HARA FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS GAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE BACK BAY FEASIBILITY STUDY.

TWO THINGS CAME OUT OF THAT.

THE FIRST IS THAT I MADE A RECOMMENDATION ACTUALLY THAT THE GUAN AND RESEARCH RESERVE STAFF BECOME A COOPERATING AGENCY BECAUSE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESEARCH THAT THEY FACILITATE AND THEY CONDUCT ON SITE THEMSELVES AND BRING IN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD LITERALLY.

I WANTED TO MAKE THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS THIS WEALTH OF INFORMATION THAT THEY COULD BE EXCHANGING THAT INFORMATION AS THE BACK BAY FEASIBILITY STUDY MOVES FORWARD.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT CAME OUT BECAUSE LEAH NEWSOME, THE THE MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, I BELIEVE IT'S YOUR TITLE FOR THE RESEARCH RESERVE NEEDED TO REACH OUT TO DEP.

BUT IN ANY EVENT, I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

ALSO, IMPORTANTLY, I'M GOING TO IMPLORE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO BE A LISTENING POST FOR OUR CITIZENS AS THE BACK BAY STUDY GOES FORWARD.

WHERE IT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, THERE'S BEEN SOME REAL CONFLICT REALLY WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD AND ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THOSE.

I THINK IF WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT COMMUNICATING OUR CITIZENS CONCERNS, WE CAN BE PROACTIVE ABOUT GETTING THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE'VE GOT 14 DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

EACH OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAS A DIFFERENT CULTURE, A DIFFERENT WAY OF BEING A NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE A GOOD REPRESENTATION ON THIS COMMISSION.

I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE EACH OF US TO GET OUT THERE, COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE BACK BAY STUDY, GET CONCERNS AND POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, CREATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND BE THE CONDUIT TO OUR STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN REPRESENT THAT TO THE CORE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK THAT'S AN ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT WE CAN ALL PLAY.

I WANTED TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> GREAT. PERFECT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

I HAVE FOUR THINGS.

ONE IS I'D LIKE TO JUST TELL THE PUBLIC THAT ALL OF US ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOMELESS AND WE ALL GET REGULAR COMMUNICATIONS FROM PEOPLE WITH CONCERNS.

I BELIEVE, BECAUSE I'VE SPOKEN TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THIS, THAT WE ALL SPEAK TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT PRESSING FORWARD AND BEING PROACTIVE.

I KNOW HE'S LOOKING AT SOME STAFFING MODELS THAT MIGHT CHANGE SOME THINGS AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AND WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WORKING WITH WHOEVER WE CAN.

I RECENTLY WENT TO THE ALPHA OMEGA DEDICATION OF THEIR BUILDING WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN DORMS FOR WOMEN WITH CHILDREN.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS MOVING FORWARD.

WE WISH WE COULD DO IT TODAY, BUT WE CAN'T.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE, WE WERE HAVING A VISION PROCESS.

[NOISE] ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FRUSTRATED US WAS THE LACK OF CONCERN IN TALLAHASSEE WITH THE WAY SCHOOL SYSTEMS RAN THEIR SCHOOLS.

IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN.

WHAT WE SAID WAS, LET'S JUST HIRE OUR OWN LOBBYIST.

I KNOW THE CITY CONTRACTS WITH LOBBYISTS AT THE CURRENT TIME.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD LOBBYIST.

WE DID THAT AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL.

WE HAD ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALL LOBBIED.

BUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM END UP HIRING A LOBBYIST, SOMEBODY WHO ONLY CONCERN THEMSELVES WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOLS IN OUR PARTICULAR.

WHEN I LISTENED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY GIVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE EXEMPTED FOR US, PARTICULARLY THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS, IT SEEMS LIKE WE COULD BE BETTER SERVED HAVING SOMEBODY WE'D SAY, LOOK, GO IN AND GET A PARAGRAPH THAT SAYS EXCEPT IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

THOSE THINGS CAN BE DONE.

YOU GET A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP, I BELIEVE, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY.

I WON'T GO ON, BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN ANOTHER YEAR.

[01:30:02]

THE THIRD THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS I REPRESENT THE COMMISSION ON THE SISTER CITY.

THEY ARE WELL ORGANIZED AND MEETINGS ARE WELL ATTENDED, THEY HAVE FUNDS IN THE BANK, AND THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD AND THEY ARE SEEKING SOPHOMORES, AND JUNIORS RIGHT NOW TO DO THE EXCHANGE FOR THIS COMING SUMMER.

THE CITY OF AVALANCHES HAS AGREED TO DO THAT.

BUT WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING APPLICATIONS AND THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS A SOPHOMORE JUNIOR IN PRIVATE REPUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY NEED TO GET ON THE STICK SO THEY CAN GET A TRIP TO SPAIN AND THEN ALSO HAVE A SPANISH STUDENTS STAY IN THEIR HOME.

I TOO HAD ON MY LIST A WORKSHOP.

I'VE BEEN A STAFF MEMBER THAT WAS A PRODUCT THAT RECEIVED A LOT OF GOOD INPUT FROM BOARD MEMBERS AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE OF WORKSHOPS PARTICULARLY.

RECENTLY, WE VOTED DOWN A PARKING LOT ISSUE IN DOWNTOWN.

THE REASON WAS THAT PRIMARILY THE ORDINANCES RESTRICTED THAT PARTICULAR LANDOWNER FROM DOING THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY SERVED THE CITY BETTER.

RIGHT NOW, WE VOTED ON SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE THAN IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

AT THAT CONVERSATION, WE TALKED ABOUT COMPACT CARS AND REDOING.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TOPIC IN THE FUTURE NOT ANYTIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE NECESSARILY, BUT WHERE WE GET AN EXPERT OR SOMEONE ON STAFF WHO WOULD EVALUATE WHEN THAT ORDINANCE WAS MADE HAVE THINGS MOVED FORWARD FOR THE INTENT OF THAT ORDINANCE OR NOT? IS IT TIME TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE OR LOOK AT IT AND MODIFY IT?

>> I 100% AGREE WITH YOU.

IS IT ACCOMPLISHING THE THINGS THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO ACCOMPLISH?

>> THE PROCEDURE I ASSUME IS FOR ME TO SEND THAT REQUEST TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK THAT A WORKSHOP TOPIC.

I CAN GIVE YOU SOME DETAIL.

>> WITH OUR PREVIOUS COMMISSION, WE DID ACTUALLY HAVE A TIME CARVED OUT, IF YOU WILL, FOR SPECIAL WORKSHOPS FOR THESE PARTICULAR DEEP DIVE DISCUSSIONS.

THEY WERE ALWAYS HELD AT THE SECOND MEETING OF THE MONTH WHEN THE TOPICS CAME UP.

IF YOU ARE AGREEABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THAT, THAT SCHEDULE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THINGS DO COME UP THAT WE WILL END THE NEXT POSSIBLE MEETING SCHEDULED WORKSHOP FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM. THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

>> THAT WOULD BE ON THE 27TH.

>> WE COULD HOLD IT ON THE 27TH OF MARCH OR APRIL 24TH.

I WOULD NEED TO KNOW ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN PARKING ORDINANCE? I WASN'T REAL CLEAR ON WHAT THE TOPIC WOULD BE.

>> YES. IT'S ON THE CODE.

>> A PARKING CODE.

>> WE DO HAVE A CONSULTANT UNDER CONTRACT REVIEWING THAT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

>> GREAT. MAYBE THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM THEM.

BUT I THINK NOT RIGHT AWAY.

I PERSONALLY IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, IF IT'S NOT THAT URGENT, I FEEL LIKE MAYBE EVEN INTO MAY, MAYBE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE AND NOT NECESSARILY.

JUST WHENEVER WE CAN.

>> I'LL KEEP IT ON THE TASK LISTS TO SCHEDULE WHEN WE'RE READY.

>> YES. I THINK IT WAS PUT ON THE TASK LIST TO SCHEDULE AND THEN THAT'LL GIVE US TIME TO FLESH OUT MORE THOUGHTS ON WHAT WE'RE MISSION AND GOALS AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO THERE.

>> I ALSO THINK THAT THE STAFF NEEDS TO GIVE INPUT ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE READY TO PRESENT.

WE MAY SAY WE WANT IT TOMORROW, BUT WE'LL DO A FULL PRESENTATION.

IT WILL ALSO BE A LITTLE INPUT FROM STAFF OR WHEN THEY'RE READING.

>> EXACTLY. IT'S A GREAT THING.

I TOTALLY AGREE.

ANY OTHER ITEMS? ANY OTHER ITEMS BY STAFF? MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [NOISE]

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Mar 13, 2023 City Commission

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