>> CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER NOW.
[00:00:03]
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.>> TODAY FOR THE INVOCATION, PASTOR LAVERNE MARCH WILL LEAD IT FROM LIVING WATERS MINISTRY AND IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR, ROXANNE HORVATH.
FATHER, WE DO THANK YOU AND WE PRAISE YOU FOR THIS DAY AND WE THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE GATHERED US TOGETHER.
WE THANK YOU TODAY FOR THIS MEETING, WE THANK YOU FOR SAFETY, WE THANK YOU FOR PROTECTION.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM ON TONIGHT.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACIOUSNESS, LORD.
WE THANK YOU THAT OUR COMMISSION LORD, GOD WOULD BE LED BY YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING THEM TO LEAD OUR CITY, LORD.
EVEN AS THEY HAVE HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU WILL BE IN THE MIDST OF THEM SO THAT THEY MIGHT MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND WE GIVE YOU THE HONOR, THE GLORY AND ALL OF THE PRAISE FOR WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR OUR CITY.
AS WE SEEK TO GO FORTH LORD, A VERY DIVERSE OUR CITY, A VERY LOVING CITY AND A PROGRESSIVE CITY IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
>> PLEASE RISE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
MANY THANKS TO PASTOR LAVERNE MARCH WHO IS A FRIEND, A FRIEND TO ALL OF US HERE.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
WE HAVE MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE A MODIFICATION?
>> MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS, GOOD EVENING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM 8A1 ORDINANCE 2023- 09 FROM TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
>> THAT'S THE ONE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HAVE.
THANK YOU. WE WILL STRIKE THAT FROM THE AGENDA AFTER WE MAKE OUR MOTION.
ANY OTHER ADDITIONS OR CHANGES?
>> YES. I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND GIVEN THE PRESENTATIONS BY THE APPLICANTS FOR THE CITY MANAGER JOB, THAT THE ITEMS 9A6 AND 11A WHICH ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THAT APPLICATION PROCESS AND SELECTION PROCESS BE MOVED UP SO THAT THEY FOLLOW ONE ANOTHER.
MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME HELP FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY IN HOW THAT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
>> SURE. I THINK THAT WHAT'S BEING SUGGESTED IS JUST REORGANIZING YOUR AGENDA TO HEAR THE FIRST READING WHICH IS 9A. IS IT SIX? [OVERLAPPING].
>> 9A6 AND 11A SEQUENTIALLY I BELIEVE RIGHT AFTER THE THREE PRESENTATIONS.
WOULD THEY BECOME SEVEN? DO THEY HAVE TO BE RENUMBERED?
>> IT REALLY IS A HOUSEKEEPING MATTER, BUT YES.
>> I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO THOSE CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS.
>> THAT INCLUDES CITY MANAGERS ITEM 7, [OVERLAPPING] 8A BEING STRUCK.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THE SPECIAL PART OF OUR PRESENTATION AND COMMISSION MEETING TODAY IS THE 2023 CITIZENSHIP AWARDS AND WE ARE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
[3.A. Presentation of the 2023 City Commission Citizenship Awards to:]
IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT WE HAVE THIS MANY HAPPY, SMILING, CHEERFUL FACES IN THE ROOM AND PROUD FACES.I WILL TAKE MY PLACE AT THE PODIUM AND WE WILL BEGIN.
ARE WE GOOD? YES. GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME.
WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL CELEBRATION HERE TODAY.
THE GRADUATING SENIORS SITTING BEFORE US ARE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS AS THEY
[00:05:04]
CLOSE ONE CHAPTER OF THEIR LIFE AND EMBARK UPON A NEW ADVENTURE.THEIRS IS A STORY THAT IS YET TO BE WRITTEN, BUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD ARE THEIRS FOR THE TAKING.
EACH YEAR, WE ASK ST. JOHNS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND COUNSELORS TO IDENTIFY ONE GRADUATING SENIOR WHO HAS EXEMPLIFIED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CITIZENSHIP BY THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO BOTH THEIR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.
THE CITY PROUDLY PRESENTS EACH STUDENT WITH A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE, A CITY LAPEL PIN, AND $200 TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST OF THEIR CONTINUED EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS.
GOING FORWARD. AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND I'M SPEAKING TO THE STUDENTS.
AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND MEET EACH OF OUR COMMISSIONERS STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER JIM SPRINGFIELD AND WE WOULD EACH LIKE TO EACH PERSONALLY CONGRATULATE YOU AND SHAKE YOUR HAND ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.
ONCE YOU'RE HERE AND YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET EACH COMMISSIONER, SHAKE THEIR HAND AND GET THEIR WELL-WISHES, WE'LL PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR PLAQUE AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE WHOLE COMMISSION OF YOU.
MOMS AND DADS, FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD HERE AND TAKE PICTURES IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM IF YOU LIKE.
AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR AWARD, WE WILL ASK FOR YOU TO MOVE OUT TO THE COURTYARD FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THIS RECOGNITION ON OUR WEBSITE AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
PERFECT. ABSOLUTELY. OUR FIRST CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE IS ROSIE CARMICHAEL OF PEDRO MENENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL.
ROSIE IS THE 2023 SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT AND MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND A THREE YEAR MEMBER OF THE SWIM TEAM.
SHE SERVED ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S ADVISORY COUNCIL, FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES AND ATHLETIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND IS A PEER MINISTER.
AFTER GRADUATION, SHE WANTS TO ATTEND A MILITARY COLLEGE AND ENLIST IN THE MILITARY AS AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.
[BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE'RE RELAXED HERE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME TO SIT AND STAY THROUGH THE PRESENTATION IF YOU'D LIKE.
BUT THERE WILL BE A GROUP PICTURE AFTERWARDS.
OUR NEXT CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE IS [INAUDIBLE], BARTRAMTRAIL HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].
MOLLY IS A LINK CREW LEADER, MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, DREAMS COME TRUE, SPANISH CLUB, ASL CLUB PRESIDENT, HIGH-Q TRIVIA TEAM MEMBER, AND THE HEAD DRUM MAJOR FOR THE MARCHING BAND.
MOLLY VOLUNTEERS AT WESTMINISTER WOODS, SERVING FOOD IN THE ACTIVITY CENTER.
AFTER GRADUATION, SHE HOPES TO BECOME A DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND GIVE A VOICE TO THOSE WHO NEED ONE.
[00:10:03]
OUR NEXT CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE IS HOPE FRIEDMAN, FROM PONTE VEDRA HIGH SCHOOL.[APPLAUSE] HOPE IS THE CO-PRESIDENT OF JACK'S THRIVE, A STUDENT-LED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT TUTORS AND MENTORS REFUGEE YOUTH.
SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERATION WOW CLUB, AN ORGANIZATION THAT EMPOWERS GIRLS THROUGH MENTORSHIP, SERVICE-BASED PROJECTS, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM, MODEL UN, AND HONORS SOCIETIES.
HOPE FOUNDED THE WOW PERIOD PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES MENSTRUAL SUPPLIES TO ALL ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL RESTROOMS WITH 6 THROUGH 12TH GRADE STUDENTS.
SHE IS UNDECIDED ON WHAT SCHOOL TO ATTEND, BUT PLANS TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND EARN A LIBERAL ARTS DEGREE, AND THEN CONTINUE ON TO LAW SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE IS TABITHA GOTTIPATI FROM NEASE HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] TABITHA IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, THE SCIENCE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, AND THE NATIONAL HISPANIC HONOR SOCIETY.
SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE NEASE ATHLETIC COUNCIL, MU ALPHA THETA, BATTLE OF THE BOOKS, PANTHER READS, NEASE SOCCER TEAM, AND NEASE TENNIS TEAM.
SHE IS ALSO AT LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY TEAM MEMBER.
TABITHA WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE TO BE A MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE IS LILYROSE HENG YUN SARCHIE, I'M GOING TO TRY THAT AGAIN, [LAUGHTER] CASAMASSIMA, AND I HOPE THAT I DID THAT CORRECTLY, FROM TOCOI CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] LILYROSE IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, NATIONAL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY, MU ALPHA THETA, CANCER KIDS FIRST ORGANIZATION, ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN IRELAND CLUB, BOOK CLUB, LINK CREW, AND SOURCES OF STRENGTH.
SHE IS ALSO THE 2023 SALUTATORIAN FOR TOCOI CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.
LILYROSE RAISED OVER $5,000 FOR CANCER KIDS FIRST AND HAS COMPLETED NUMEROUS PROJECTS, INCLUDING FREE TUTORING TO STUDENTS IN NEED.
AFTER GRADUATION, LILYROSE PLANS TO ATTEND FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY AND ENROLL IN THE PRE-NURSING PROGRAM.
HER GOAL IS TO EARN A MASTERS IN THE NURSING PRIOR TO PRACTICING.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE IS NICHOLAS OLESSKI OF ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY.
[APPLAUSE] NICHOLAS IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE VETERANS HERITAGE PROJECT, CO-PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE HONORS SOCIETY, A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, THE SCIENCE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY,
[00:15:01]
THE VARSITY SWIM TEAM, AND B-CLUB.NICHOLAS HAS SIGNED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR STUDENT ATHLETES OF THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND.
AFTER GRADUATION, NICHOLAS PLANS TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA TO MAJOR IN BUSINESS.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE IS BAILEY THOMAS, FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND, BLIND HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] BAILEY IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND AS A MEMBER OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL, SHE IS CLASS PRESIDENT, THE YEAR BOOK CLUB CHIEF EDITOR, A MEMBER OF THE BOOK CLUB, YOUNG LIFE, ART EXPRESSION CLUB, CREATIVE WRITING CLUB, AND THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
BAILEY ALSO TEACHES KEYBOARD, PIANO LESSONS, AND GUITAR LESSONS.
BAILEY IS A STUDENT GUIDE AND WORKS WITH ONE INDIVIDUAL TO ASSIST HER GETTING TO CLASS.
BAILEY HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND PLANS TO ATTEND FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY.
SHE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK, ATTEND AN ONLINE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY UPON COMPLETION OF HER SOCIAL WORK DEGREE AND OPEN HER OWN PRACTICE, AS WELL AS CONTRACT HER SERVICES TO SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, AND MORE.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE IS AVA WILLETS, ST. AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] AVA, DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? IT'S AVA OR EVA? EVA WILLETS.
EVA LEADS THE FLORIDA FUTURE EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION, IS A MEMBER OF LINK CREW, AND HAS PARTICIPATED FOR THREE YEARS IN THEATER AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY CENTER FOR THE ARTS.
EVA WORKS FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, ASSISTING WITH SUMMER CAMP AND WORKING WITH CHILDREN.
SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERS FOR GIRLS ON THE RUN AT CRUIKSHANK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AFTER GRADUATION, EVA WILL ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA AND WORK TO OBTAIN A MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION.
EVA ALSO WANTS TO OBTAIN HER LICENSE TO TEACH DIGITAL ART.
[APPLAUSE] PAIGE WILSON IS OUR NEXT CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE.
[APPLAUSE] PAIGE IS FROM CREEKSIDE HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE IS AN INTERN FOR THE CREEKSIDE HIGH SCHOOL IT SPECIALIST, AND SHE HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE CREEKSIDE HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE, BEST BUDDIES FRIENDSHIP WALK, BEST BUDDIES TALENT SHOW, ASL CAROLING, AND ACTS OF JOY CLUB.
PAIGE VOLUNTEERS WITH HAVEN HOSPICE AND IS A VOLUNTEER SOFTBALL COACH FOR CREEKSIDE'S 9-10 YEAR-OLD TEAMS. AFTER GRADUATION, SHE IS UNDECIDED BETWEEN UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA OR ST. JOHNS RIVER BUT IS INTERESTED IN MAJORING IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND OR ADVERTISING.
[00:20:01]
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT CITIZENSHIP AWARDEE IS PAISLEY CROOK, FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND, DEAF HIGH SCHOOL.[APPLAUSE] PAISLEY IS THE 2023 CLASS PRESIDENT, CAPTAIN OF THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM, A MENTOR FOR HER FELLOW STUDENTS, AND IS A MEMBER OF THE ACADEMIC BOWL TEAM.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, PAISLEY IS JUST RETURNING FROM ATTENDING THE NATIONAL ACADEMIC BOWL IN WASHINGTON DC.
[APPLAUSE] AFTER GRADUATION, SHE WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND STUDY POLITICAL SCIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU-ALL FOR COMING.
WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF ALL OF OUR GRADUATING SENIORS AND OF COURSE, ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR 2023 CITIZENSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS.
>> OUR AWARD RECIPIENTS COULD GO AHEAD OUT AND THE COMMISSIONER AND IF YOU'LL MEET IN THE COURTYARD, WE'LL GET A GROUP PHOTO AND ALLOW FOR OUR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING TO BEGIN. THANK YOU.
>> WE'LL JUST WAIT ONE MINUTE FOR THE ROOM TO CLEAR.
[NOISE] [LAUGHTER] MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
ITEM 4 IS PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING.UP FIRST IS VICKI PEPPER, FOLLOWED BY LESLEE KEYS.
OH, WAIT. VICKY, I'M SORRY. WHERE IS SHE? YOU DO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM FOR ITEM FC1.
>> LESLEE KEYS FOLLOWED BY TARA OWEN.
LESLEE KEYS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THE PODIUM.
>> IT'S JUST FOR THE REFERENCE.
>> BUT IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS IN THERE.
PARDON ME. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A SPEAKER CARD.
MS. TARA OWEN FOLLOWED BY KARLA WAGNER.
[00:25:01]
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE TRYING.MS. TARA OWEN. MS. OWEN, IF YOU WOULD SPEAK TO THE MICROPHONE, AND IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
>> TARA OWEN, I LIVE AT 252 ST. GEORGE STREET.
I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE RATHER OF 5 SOUTH STREET, WHICH IS A CRITICAL PROPERTY IN THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.
AS SOMEONE, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE OLD CITY SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
SO A NUMBER OF MY NEIGHBORS ARE HERE, MAYBE YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HANDS.
[LAUGHTER] THIS WOULD MEAN A GREAT DEAL TO US.
WE ALL FLOOD 1-2 FEET IN OUR BACKYARDS.
I HAVE PICTURES, EVERYONE ELSE HAS PICTURES.
A NEW NEIGHBOR I THINK HAS A PRESENTATION.
I'D BE GLAD TO CEDE MY TIME TO HIM, BUT THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE. THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE THAT RAISE OF HAND.
SO THAT GIVES US A CHANCE TO IDENTIFY EVERYONE HERE THAT'S HERE ON THAT SUBJECT, TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THEIR EVENINGS TO COME DOWN AND SIT THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KARLA WAGNER FOLLOWED BY JOHN MILLER.
>> IF YOU COULD GIVE THEM TO THE CLERK, PLEASE.
>> DO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE GETTING YOUR PICTURES ON THE SCREEN?
>> JUST GIVE IT FIVE SECONDS. THERE YOU GO.
>> YES. IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> I CAN. MY NAME IS KARLA WAGNER.
I'M AT 323 ST. GEORGE STREET, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS A GREAT COMMUNITY AND I LOVE IT.
BUT WE DO HAVE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS. LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ HAS BEEN AN OBSTACLE SINCE WE HAVE MOVED HERE.
OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT I USED TO OWN THE CORAZON CINEMA AND CAFE.
PUTTING UP A WATER RETAINING WALL CAN BE A VERY CRUCIAL PART OF OUR FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM.
BACK IN 2016 WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THE COMMISSIONERS SAW ME HERE.
IF YOU WANT TO GOOGLE BACK ON FIRST COAST NEWS JACKS, YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT REPORTS THAT WE GAVE BACK THEN.
MANY OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CHARM OF THE CITY ARE AT RISK AS FLOODING BECOMES MORE OFTEN DOWNTOWN.
I INCURRED OVER FOUR HURRICANES IN THE PANDEMIC AND AS A RESULT CLOSE THE CORAZON.
I AM NOW HOPING THAT YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS, WILL LOOK AT THE SEAWALL FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
WE NEED SUPPORT FROM THE COMMISSIONERS TO BE PROACTIVE IN GETTING SOME OF THESE THINGS DONE.
I AM NOT AN ENGINEER, AND FORTUNATELY, I HAVE ENGINEERS MOVED RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING BRIEFLY ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF ALL OF THIS.
BUT AS A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES, EVERYONE KNOWS, THE MOM-AND-POP BUSINESSES ARE GOING DOWN.
A BIG PART OF THAT IS NOT JUST THE PANDEMIC, BUT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANES AND BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING.
WE HAVE, AS YOU SEE IN HERE, THE POLICE EFFORTS, WE'VE PAID SO MANY TAX DOLLARS IN HAVING THE POLICE MONITOR OUR STREETS AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN PEOPLE FROM NOT COMING THROUGH.
THIS IS TWO HOURS LATER IN MY FRONT YARD AFTER THE POLICE HAD JUST BEEN THERE FOR ST. GEORGE AND CORDOVA, TRYING TO MONITOR PEOPLE NOT COMING THROUGH.
THE COMPLETE YARD WAS FLOODED.
I HAVE LOST 20 CHAMELEON TREES.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE ALONE SHOULD BE A CONCERN WITH OUR DIFFERENT FLOWERS AND TREES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT ARE CONSTANTLY BEING DESTROYED, LET ALONE OUR STREETS AND OUR PROPERTY.
THEN THIS LAST PICTURE, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS ON CHARLOTTE SIDE, AND IT HAD COME UP ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE FIRST STEP.
I KNOW THIS IS A LONG PROCESS.
IT'S BEEN HARD, AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONERS, I REALLY DO.
BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF YOU AND I KNOW YOU WORK HARD,
[00:30:01]
BUT WE NEED TO BE A COMMUNITY STILL AND FIGHT FOR THIS. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN MILLER.
>> GOOD EVENING. JOHN MILLER, 1 HAWKSBILL LANE, ST. AUGUSTINE.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER I WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO.
IF THERE WAS EVER A SIGN FOR CONSIDERING A MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, THAT WAS IT.
I WANT TO SAY ONE OTHER THING.
I WAS HERE LAST WEEK OR LAST MEETING, I WILL BE HERE THE NEXT ONE, AND THAT CAME FROM AN EXPERIENCE I HAD YEARS AGO WHEN I NEEDED A JOB AS A TEACHING THEM, HIGH-SCHOOL ALONE, SUMMER SCHOOL.
I WENT TO THE PRINCIPAL 15 DAYS IN A ROW, AND HE SAID, JOHN, IF I GIVE YOU THE JOB, WILL YOU STOP COMING? I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING.
I'M GOING TO JUST TAKE A LOOK AT EVERY MEETING, SOME THINGS THAT WOULD WORK WELL HERE.
ONE, IF WE HAVE A MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, NUMBER 1, IT WILL HELP PRODUCE LEADERS AND FACILITATE FUTURE CIVIC INVOLVEMENT.
THOSE ARE THE KIDS THAT ARE THE FUTURE.
NUMBER 2, AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT.
YOU GUYS DID SHOW THAT YOU VALUE YOUNG PEOPLE.
BUT I THINK BY HAVING A COUNCIL, AND WOULDN'T IT BE LOVELY TO HAVE THEM ON IT, IT SHOWS THAT ST. AUGUSTINE DOES INDEED VALUE YOUNG PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN'T VOTE.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW.
FINALLY, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME, IT PROVIDES A LEARNING EXPERIENCE EXPERIENTIAL FAR BEYOND ACADEMICS TO SCHOOL.
I REMEMBER LEARNING HOW MANY CONGRESSMEN THERE WAS, HOW MANY SENATORS WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT BEYOND PASSING THE TEST, IT MEANT NOTHING UNTIL I MET PEOPLE WHO WERE IN CONGRESS, TILL I MET SENATORS, TILL I TALKED TO YOU PEOPLE AND FIND OUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL PEOPLE, NOT NUMBERS.
I'LL BE BACK AT RISK OF BEING THROWN OUT BODILY, AND HIT SOME OF THE OTHER POINTS.
BUT PLEASE CONSIDER A YOUNG GROUP THAT CAN BE AN ADVISORY TO YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFF MILHORN FOLLOWED BY LAUREN GUYBER.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MAJOR GENERAL RETIRED JEFF MILHORN.
MY WIFE DEBBIE AND I JUST MOVED HERE AFTER SERVING 32 YEARS ON ACTIVE SERVICE FROM WASHINGTON DC WHERE I SERVED AS THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF ENGINEERS FOR THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
LITERALLY JUST SIX MONTHS AGO, TRANSITION FROM THAT POSITION TO YOUR BACKYARD HERE.
WE ARE EXCITED TO JOIN ALL OF YOU.
I THINK THE MAYOR AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OFFICERS THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE THIS EVENING.
I ALSO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR NOT JUST THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT LITERALLY DECADES.
THE COMING FROM MY POSITION AS THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, WE DEALT WITH NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS WORLDWIDE AND CERTAINLY NATIONALLY.
I SERVED IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, PROVIDING A $5 BILLION RESPONSE TO HURRICANE SANDY WITH COASTAL STORM RISK MITIGATION AND FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT, WORKING WITH THREE FEMA REGIONS FROM THE NEW ENGLAND STATES DOWN TO WASHINGTON DC.
I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF DEALING WITH NATURAL DISASTERS, I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE WITH DEALING WITH FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL FUNDS FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES, NOT JUST THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, NOT JUST FEMA, BUT A MYRIAD OF OTHER AGENCIES THAT WOULD BENEFIT THIS REGION.
I WILL BRING MY CONNECTIONS FROM WASHINGTON DC, REACHING BACK TO THEM TO ASSIST YOU WITH YOUR ENDEAVORS.
AS IT RELATES TO THIS ONE PROJECT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION OF, I BELIEVE IT'S 5 SOUTH STREET, IS THAT RIGHT? THIS IS JUST ONE OF A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE TO GO ON, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT JUST DEALING WITH STORM SURGE AS YOU SEE THERE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE NATIONAL GUARD HEADQUARTERS, BUT YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE RAINWATER NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN WITHIN THE UTILITY SYSTEMS THAT YOU HAVE HERE.
AGAIN, MY THANKS AGAIN TO THE CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND YOUR CHIEF OF RESILIENCY OFFICERS WHO HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED YOUR PROJECT DELIVERY TEAM MEETING FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY KICKED OFF WITH US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
[00:35:04]
I ASK THEM SOME HARD QUESTIONS.I ASKED FOR DETAILS ABOUT COST FUNDING, WHETHER IT BE SHARED AGAIN FROM, NOT ONLY FEDERAL, BUT CITY, COUNTY AS WELL AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING YOUR FAIR SHARE OF SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FROM CONGRESS THAT WAS DEDICATED, NOT JUST FOR TO DEALING WITH REPARATIONS AND FORT MYERS, BUT COULD ALSO BE MORE READILY APPLIED IN THESE REGIONS, ESPECIALLY WITHIN A HISTORICAL COMMUNITY SUCH AS THIS.
AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE, I SAW THE AMBER LIGHT POP ON, BUT I JUST, AGAIN, ANNOUNCE THAT WE'RE HERE TO HELP AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO IMPLORE YOU TO TAKE THESE REMAINING OBSTACLES OUT OF THE WAY AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECTS AS THEY RELATE TO MARIA SANCHEZ LAKE.
>> THANK YOU. THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU.
[APPLAUSE] I GENERALLY ASK TO HOLD APPLAUSE.
IT IS INSPIRING TO HEAR MR. MILHORN.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I SHOULD ADDRESS YOU GENERAL, DEPUTY GENERAL.
>> BUT WE ARE ALL ENTHUSIASTIC TO HEAR HIS WORDS, HOWEVER, I'M GOING TO ASK TO PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE IN THIS MEETING.
LAUREN GUYBER IS THE NEXT SPEAKER AND SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JEFFREY LEIBOVITZ.
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
I AM HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM TO HAVE THE TROLLEY STOP AT THE MUSEUM AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE VISITING PUBLIC AND THE ENTIRE ST. AUGUSTINE TO BE WELCOMED TO AN OUTSTANDING HISTORY OF ONE OF THE OLDEST MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAKES UP THE GREATER ST. AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY.
I'M VERY HAPPY AND I HOPE THAT THAT DECISION WILL BE REACHED SOON.
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE AND WELCOME THE TROLLEYS BECAUSE I HOPE THAT THEY WILL SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC FLOW ON MARTIN LUTHER KING AVENUE AS WELL AS ON RIBERIA STREET, WHICH WOULD BE A WELCOME CHANGE.
MY NEXT SUBJECT IS LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT A FEW NEIGHBORS WHOSE PROPERTY SURROUND LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ WOULD NOT SIGN THE AGREEMENT ALLOWING THE CITY TO BUILD THE RETAINING WALL BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THE FLOODING AFFECT THEIR LONG-TIME NEIGHBORS, BUT IT HAS ALSO AFFECTED LINCOLNVILLE AND THE IMMEDIATE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE CLIMATE CHANGE IS A REOCCURRING EVENT AND WE'LL ONLY HAVE MORE OF IT THAN WE'LL HAVE LESS OF IT, WE CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT STORMS AND FLOODS DON'T COME OUR WAY, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT THEY DO, ITS BEST TO BE PREPARED.
I KNOW THIS IS A HARDSHIP ON THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO SET SOME PROCESS FOR FUTURE HOMEOWNERS TO HOLD OUT AND HAVE PROPERTIES BE BOUGHT BY THE CITY.
IF I WON THE LOTTERY TOMORROW, I WOULD GIVE YOU THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT I HAVEN'T.
I KEEP TRYING, BUT IN THIS CASE, I SUPPORT THE DECISION BECAUSE IT DOES AFFECT THREE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE VERY VALUABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT JUST IN MONETARY, BUT IN PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. GUYBER. JEFFREY LEIBOVITZ.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
JEFFREY LEIBOVITZ, 157 MARINE STREET.
I'M ALSO THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE HOA OF THE VIEWS OF BAYPOINTE, BUT I'M SPEAKING AS A HOMEOWNER.
I'VE FINALLY GOTTEN INVOLVED IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF THE MARIA LAKE SANCHEZ PROJECT.
IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.
YOU'RE BUILDING A FUNNEL ONTO MARSH, YOU'RE GOING TO PUT A PUMP STATION IN THE SOUTH STREET, YOU'RE GOING TO PUMP THE WATER OUT OF LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ WHEN
[00:40:01]
WE HAVE FLOOD AND HURRICANE EVENTS BACK INTO THE MARSH.YOU'RE CREATING A RETAINING WALL.
FIRST TIME I HEARD SOMEBODY ACTUALLY SAY RETAINING WALL.
I READ IT TO BE A BALL KID, BUT IT IS A RETAINING WALL.
WE HAD NEARLY FOUR FEET OF WATER ON MARINE STREET AFTER THE LAST HURRICANE OUT IN FRONT OF OUR GATE AT 157 MARINE STREET.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHERE'S THE WATER GOING TO GO? I KEEP ASKING THE QUESTION.
THEY KEEP TELLING ME, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THESE FLAT VALVES IN, WE'RE GOING TO ALLEVIATE THAT THROUGH DRAINAGE.
THE VALVES DON'T WORK NOW, YOU KNOW IT, DPW KNOWS THAT, WE ALL KNOW IT, CITY FLOODS.
AS A HOMEOWNER, RIGHT NOW THE VIEWS OF BAYPOINTE AND THE BETTY WILSON ASSISTED CARE FACILITY ARE HIGH AND DRY.
THERE'S A PUBLIC LOT THAT'S OWNED BY THE COUNTY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ASSISTED CARE THAT WAS UNDERWATER BY THREE OR FOUR FEET AS WELL.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO RETAIN THE WATER, WE HAVE DETENTION PONDS, THEY HOLD WATER.
WHERE'S THAT WATER GOING TO GO AFTER THE STORM EVENT AND IS THERE A POTENTIAL THAT THAT WATER, THAT RISING FLOOD WATER FROM BOTH RAIN AND FROM THE TIDES, WILL ACTUALLY COME UP INTO THE VIEWS OF BAYPOINTE AND FLOOD OUR PROPERTY? RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T, BUT THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT IT WILL.
I'VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE ANSWERS.
I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PROJECT, I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT IT, BUT I WANT ANSWERS.
I WANT ANSWERS FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS THAT PAY TAXES HERE, THEY COULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THIS PROJECT AND I'M NOT GETTING THEM AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DIRECT THE CITY PERSONNEL AND THE STAFF TO FINALLY ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE WRITTEN TO JESSICA BEACH SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO WORK BECAUSE DON'T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER.
IT MAY BE A GREAT PROJECT FOR PART OF THE CITY BUT IT MAY NOT BE A GREAT PROJECT FOR THE OTHER PART OF THE CITY, SO I ASK YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, DIRECT STAFF TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS SO THAT WE ALL GET ON THE SAME PAGE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. LEIBOVITZ? I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKER CARDS.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK?
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE MORE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.
THERE'S A LOT THOUGH. B. JAKE LADY WEST, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
SEVEN B1 THE APPLICANTS FOR CITY MANAGER, SHOULD BE HEARD IN ABC ORDER.
GEORGE FRANKLIN GRANT 9 A6 ON HIS 2023-15, THERE IS NO NEED TO ALLOW FOR A FUTURE COMMISSION TO DETERMINE TO MAKE RESIDENCY IN THE CITY A REQUIREMENT FOR OUR RESOLUTION.
VOTERS DO NOT VOTE ON RESOLUTIONS ONLY ON ORDINANCES.
REMEMBER, A CITY MANAGER IN 2005 WHO LIVED IN THE COUNTY, DECIDE THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD PAY THE WATER BILLS OF CITY EMPLOYEES LIVE IN IN THE CITY.
FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS, TAXPAYERS HAVE PAID $324,000 TAX DOLLARS TO APPROXIMATELY 25 INDIVIDUALS.
IN 2019. TAXPAYERS PAID $469,000 FOR 91, 93 COQUINA AVENUE THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS BY THE CITY MANAGER AND A COMMISSIONER.
THE GRAND TOTAL FOR THESE TWO ACTIONS IS $793,000.
THERE'S MONEY FOR THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE MANAGER AND THE STAFF TO DO WHAT THEY FEEL NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.
I THINK THAT'S ONE REASON THAT PEOPLE ARE HERE TONIGHT.
I AM TOO THE RESILIENT PROBLEM, WHAT'S NOT LET ME REPEAT, WAS NOT CREATED BY PROPERTY OWNERS.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE SOME POLITICIANS AND STAFF HAVE THIS DISPARAGE PROPERTY OWNERS.
WILL THE $1,150,000 COME FROM THE 19 POINT MILLION F-D-E-P-R-F PROGRAM OR CITY TAXPAYERS THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED TODAY.
WHO'S PAYING FOR THIS? BECAUSE WE GOT ALL KINDS OF GRANTS COMING INTO MS. BEACH AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHOSE MONEY IS BEING SPENT WHERE.
WHAT DOES THE CITY PLAN TO DO WITH THE CONNER HOME? ARE YOU GOING TO DEMOLISH THAT? SOMEONE JUST LET ME READ AN EMAIL THAT YOU ALL PROBABLY GOT SAYING THAT'S YOUR PLAN FOR THAT PROPERTY.
BUT IF YOU DON'T AND YOU PUT UP THIS BULKHEAD, WHAT ABOUT MAKING THE HOME FOR THE HOMELESS? EVERYBODY THINK ABOUT THAT.
BUT I THINK IT'D BE THE SHERIFF TONIGHT.
[00:45:02]
WE'RE CONCERNED NOT ONLY IN THIS PART OF TOWN AND MARIA SANCHEZ, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS AND YEARS.WE GOT SOME OF THIS GRANT MONEY COMING IN, LIKE THEY SAY, LET'S GET ON IT AND QUIT TALKING ABOUT IT.
ALSO OTHER PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN HERE SPEAKING ABOUT FLORIDA AVENUE.
THE SAME THING IS GOING ON OVER THERE TOO.
IT'S ALL OVER THIS CITY HAS BEEN GOING ON AND I HOPE MR. MILHORN WILL MAKE HIS TIME AVAILABLE TO YOU IF HE'S GOT ALL THIS EXPERTISE AND LET'S GET ON THIS THING AND TAKE CARE OF AND QUIT BLAMING A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE PROPERTY AND WANT A FAIR SHARE OF SELLING THEIR PROPERTY THEY LIVED ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UNLESS THERE ARE OTHERS, SPEAKER THAT NEED TO COME FORWARD AND RIGHT NOW IF THEY WANT WISH TO SPEAK OTHERWISE, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE CLOSED.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
MR. CITY MANAGER?>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING ON MAY 8TH 2023.
WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS INCLUDING MAY 8TH, 2023, 3PM SPECIAL MEETING, MAY 2023, 4:30 PM AWARD PRESENTATION MAY 8, 2023, 5:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING MAY 24, 2023, 5:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING AND JUNE 12TH, 2023, 5:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING.
WE EVER RELEASED A LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FOR YOUR MORTGAGE AT 495 SOUTH VOLUSIA STREET.
WE HAVE THE 2022 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT, SECOND QUARTER REPORT BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT FEDERAL FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT.
>> I HAVE ONE COMMENT ABOUT THAT.
I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAVE THE 2022 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT IN A PRESENTATION, IF IT'S POSSIBLE AT A FUTURE MEETING.
I JUST THINK IT'S VERY WORTHWHILE.
MANY THINGS ARE GOING ON AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THE PUBLIC'S TOTALLY AWARE OF THAT, OF ALL THE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES.
>> MADAM MAYOR, I WAS GOING TO ASK TO PULL THAT ITEM OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA [OVERLAPPING] BUT I WOULD ACTUALLY RATHER DO IT THE WAY YOU SUGGESTING GREAT.
THEN. IF MR. CITY MANAGER AGREES, WILL HAVE THAT PRESENTATION AT A FUTURE MEETING WHEN WE CAN SCHEDULE IT IN.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE. I'M IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES ON. WE GO.
WHAT WE DO WE DON'T HAVE ANY GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS.
HOWEVER, MOVING TO ITEMS,7B WITH ITEMS OF GREAT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.
[7.B.1. City Manager Applications (15 Minutes Each) (N. Sikes-Kline, Mayor)]
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS UNDER THIS TAB, UNDER THIS SUBJECT MATTER.IT WAS DECIDED AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING THAT THERE WOULD BE 15 MIN ALLOTTED FOR EACH CANDIDATE VYING FOR THE CITY MANAGER POSITION.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS SORTED OUT THROUGH ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS, OR BOILING A STRAW OR SOME MANAGED METHOD YES, SIR.
I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE A COMMENT [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, YOU AND I WERE IN TALLAHASSEE.
THE ROCK PAPER SCISSORS WERE ABANDONED FOR NAMES PULLED FROM A HAT.
>> NAMES PULLED FROM A HAT. FAIR ENOUGH.
THAT WAS AGREED UPON BY ALL THREE APPLICANTS, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TODD GRANT WOULD COME FIRST FOR 15 MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY RUBEN FRANKLIN FOR 15 MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY DAVID VIRGIN FOR 15 MINUTES.
WE WILL HAVE THAT AFTER WHICH WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION ON THESE OTHER ITEMS RELATING TO THE CITY MANAGER POSITION.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, TO HOLD THEIR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING IN MAY WHERE WE'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO THOROUGHLY DISCUSS AND IT'LL GIVE YOU TIME ALSO TO DO FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH OF THE CANDIDATES.
I'M ASKING FOR YOUR COOPERATION WITH THAT AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WELCOME, MR. GRANT.
MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I AM THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE TITLE OF MY PRESENTATION,
[00:50:03]
IT IS SEARCHING FROM WITHIN.THAT IS PAYING A LITTLE HOMAGE TO YOU, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAD THE FORESIGHT TO REALIZE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME VERY TALENTED AND CAPABLE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE CITY THAT CAN DO THIS JOB.
DO YOU HAVE AN EASY CHOICE? NO. IT'S GREAT THAT YOU HAVE A TOUGH CHOICE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WHOEVER IS SELECTED WILL BE THE CORRECT CHOICE.
THAT AS INDIVIDUALS, WHICH WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IS WE'VE CONTINUED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THE CITY GREAT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL.
LET'S FACE IT, MR. REAGAN HAS ACCOMPLISHED QUITE A BIT IN HIS CAREER HERE.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING HIM IN 2000 WHEN HE WAS THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR AND I HAPPEN TO BE WORKING FOR A PRIVATE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT.
WE WERE SELECTED FOR THE VERY FIRST LEADERSHIP ST. JOHN'S CLASS HOSTED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THE PURPOSE OF THAT PROGRAM IS TO EDUCATE UPCOMING LEADERS IN THEIR CAREER ON ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING THE COUNTY AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, WHAT FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES THAT THERE ARE.
THEN IT ALSO CREATED A NETWORKING GROUP.
AS WE PROGRESSED IN OUR CAREERS, WE COULD RELY UPON EACH OTHER, CALL ON EACH OTHER TO BOUNCE OFF IDEAS AND FIGURE OUT RESOURCES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IRONICALLY HERE I AM 23 YEARS LATER ASKING TO BE THE NEXT CITY MANAGER.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS BEING ASKED.
WHAT WERE THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT WE FELT WERE FACING THE CITY, WHAT WE DO IN OUR FIRST 90 DAYS, OUR FIRST-YEAR, AND KEEP IT UNDER 15 MINUTES.
THAT BIG QUESTION, WHAT IS THE CITY MANAGER? IT'S VERY BROAD QUESTION.
BUT IN MY OPINION, YOU CAN USE THE EXAMPLE OF THE CITY MANAGER IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHIEF OR CEO, THERE ARE TWO, ONE TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND THEN ALSO TO THE ORGANIZATION.
NOW IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, OUR SHAREHOLDERS, ARE YOU THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE RESIDENTS, THE BUSINESSES, AND EVEN THE TOURISTS THAT COME VISIT OUR CITY.
AS SHAREHOLDERS, THEY ARE EXPECTING DIVIDENDS.
THE SHAREHOLDERS INVEST IN OUR ORGANIZATION IN THE FORM OF TAXES, FEES, AND THE DIVIDENDS THAT THEY RECEIVE OUR SERVICES IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE BECAUSE WE'RE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS FULLY CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PROVIDING EXISTING SERVICES TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
LET'S FACE IT, A GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO SUPPLY BASIC SERVICES, WATER, SEWER, TRASH, FIRE, POLICE.
BUT WE'RE SOMEWHAT UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE VISIT US AND WE HAVE A UTILITY SERVICE AREA THAT'S MUCH LARGER THAN OUR CITY BOUNDARIES.
THE DEMANDS ON US FOR DIFFERENT SERVICES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
WHAT DO I FEEL THAT THE ISSUES ARE THAT THE CITY IS FACING? I THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT ALL THE CANDIDATES WILL PROBABLY AGREE.
HOMELESSNESS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHETHER IT BE FOR SALE OR FOR RENT, SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE'VE HAD QUITE A PROLIFERATION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT BREAKDOWN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY FABRIC.
AS WE JUST DISCUSSED, NOT TOO LONG AGO, WE HAVE SEA LEVEL RISE, FLOODING, NATURAL DISASTERS, CONGESTION.
WE HAVE PEDESTRIANS, VEHICULAR, SEMI, MOTORIZED.
WE ALSO HAVE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THE ONE BOND TO ME IS INFRASTRUCTURE.
NOW I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHEN I SAY HOMELESS BECAUSE FOR ME THERE'S TWO TYPES OF HOMELESSNESS THAT I THINK WE'RE FACING AND THAT THEY BOTH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
ONE IS THE PERSON THAT MAY BE LIVING OUT OF THEIR CAR MIGHT BE TRULY HOMELESS, BUT SAY THEY HAVE A JOB, BUT THEY JUST CAN'T MAKE ENOUGH OR GET OVER THAT HUMP TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE, JUST START MAKING A BETTER LIFE.
THE OTHER HOMELESSNESS IS WHAT I THINK IS A LITTLE BIT MORE VISIBLE FOR US, WHICH IS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE THERE'S
[00:55:02]
PAN HANDLING AND OUR VISITORS AND OUR TOURIST AREAS.BOTH OF THOSE ARE HOMELESS SITUATIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.
FOR ME, WHAT IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN? I'VE JUST OUTLINED SOME, BUT FOR ME, COWORKERS, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MY COWORKERS.
I FEEL THAT WITHOUT A GOOD BACKBONE, WITHOUT GOOD ORGANIZATION, THE PROBLEMS THAT I'VE JUST ILLUSTRATED ARE NOT GOING TO GET SOLVED.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FACE IS ON BRINGING UP.
THAT'S JUST A SMALL SLICE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EXTREMELY DEDICATED TO THE CITY TO PROVIDE THE UTMOST CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR SHAREHOLDERS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
FOR ME IF WE HAVE A SERVICE LEVEL THAT GOES DOWN, I TAKE IT PERSONALLY.
WHAT I'M REALIZING IS THAT THE DEMANDS ON OUR WORKFORCE ARE GETTING TO BE A PRESSURE POINT, WE'RE AT A PIVOTAL POINT, I FEEL WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE NEED TO LOOK WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.
THE JOB MARKET IS VERY COMPETITIVE.
FOR INSTANCE, I HAD TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME AT OCTOBER 1ST.
I STILL HAVE YET TO FILL THEM.
I KNOW THAT WHEN WE MADE AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND MR. BERTRAND BECAME ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, THERE'S A POSITION IN THAT DEPARTMENT THAT HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE THEN.
ALTHOUGH OUR VACANCY RATE HAS GONE DOWN, IT IS A CONCERN.
WE'RE NOT THE NUMBER ONE GAME IN TOWN ANYMORE.
THERE WAS A TIME AND I AGREE WITH MR. REAGAN THAT WE WERE SOUGHT AFTER FOR EMPLOYMENT.
SOMEBODY WITHIN THE CITY WAS, MAN, I'VE GOT A FRIEND, THEY'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE. CAN WE GET THEM IN HERE? NOW WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING IS, HEY, A FRIEND CALLED ME, THEY'RE PAYING MORE AND I'LL BE LEAVING THE CITY.
WE'RE CREATING A GAP BETWEEN EXPERIENCE AND INEXPERIENCE, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT TRULY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
I ALWAYS SAY YOU CAN'T MANAGE WHAT YOU DON'T MEASURE, AND SO SOME OF THE BRIEF DATASETS I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU.
I COULD FILL SLIDE AFTER SLIDE WITH VARIOUS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THAT I TRACK, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO SHOW YOU A FEW.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS GRAPH, YOU CAN SAY TO YOURSELF, THE CITY IS ADDING NEW WATER AND SEWER MAINS EVERY YEAR, AND KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT.
AS THEY CONSTRUCT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY DEDICATE IT BACK TO THE CITY.
ON THE OTHER SIDE IS ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKED TO MAINTAIN WITH WATER AND SEWER MAINS.
THERE'S MANHOLES, METERS, BOREHOLES, LIFT STATIONS.
WE'VE ADDED 60 LIFT STATIONS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.
BUT IF I TAKE THIS GRAPH AND I PRESENT IT A DIFFERENT WAY WHERE I ADDED UP EVERY YEAR YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS INCREASING; 23 MILES OF WATER MAINS, 19 MILES OF SEWER MAINS.
LET'S GO BACK WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IS JUST RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS FOR SOLID WASTE, AND WE'VE ADDED OVER 2,000 CUSTOMERS AND SO I WON'T GET INTO THE MINUTIAE OF HOW MANY STOPS A TRUCK CAN DO.
IT'S ROUGHLY 7-800 IN A DAY AND THAT'S PUSHING OVER TIME AND SO WHEN YOU ADD 2,000 TO THE LIST, IT'S GROWING.
NOW KEEP IN MIND WHEN I SAY KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.
THE GRAPHIC YOU'RE LOOKING AT NOW AND THE MAP SHOWS WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO VERBALIZE IS THAT THE ORANGES LINE IS OUR CITY LIMIT.
THE LIGHT PURPLE LINE IS OUR UTILITY SERVICE AREA.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE EXTEND FAR OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS IN PROVIDING WATER OR WATER AND SEWER TO CUSTOMERS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 38,000 APPROACHING 40,000 WATER AND SEWER CUSTOMERS WITHIN OUR AREA.
TWO YEARS AGO, MYSELF AND THE GIS DEPARTMENT MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO REALLY MAKE OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE VERY ROBUST.
TRACKING LABOR, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, WE'RE TRACKING EVERY INSPECTION AND SO NOW WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
[01:00:04]
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS JUST ONE OF MANY DASHBOARDS THAT I HAVE.I NOW KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE COST IS FOR A WATER MAIN BREAK, AVERAGE COST FOR A SEWER MAIN BREAK.
HERE WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS WORK ORDERS.
SOMEBODY PUTS IN A SERVICE REQUEST, IT TURNS INTO A WORK ORDER OF WORK AS NEEDED, AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE GREEN NUMBER, SINCE OCTOBER OF 2021, WE HAVE COMPLETED OVER ALMOST 9,000 WORK ORDERS.
I KNOW IF YOU ASK PLANNING AND BUILDING, THEY'VE PROBABLY ISSUED MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF PERMITS.
EVERY GRANT THAT WE GET GOES THROUGH PURCHASING AND YOU HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT, YOU HAVE TO TRACK IT BECAUSE THERE ARE FEDERAL GUIDELINES TO REPORTING, MAKING SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING THE PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES AND MAKING SURE WE'RE MEETING THE DEADLINES.
EVERY DEPARTMENT, FIRE, POLICE, THE TIMES ARE INCREASING ON RESPONSE TIMES.
WHAT YOU SEE NOW BEFORE IT COMES RIGHT OUT OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
IT'S A GREAT READ. IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE DOING VERY WELL.
I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND YOU SEE THE STAFFING LEVELS. LET ME STOP HERE.
I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE AGAIN.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT STAFF HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSING THIS.
WE HAVE. BUT WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WHAT YOU CAN SEE, I HAVE AN ASTERISK BY THE SOLID WASTE AND THAT'S BECAUSE IN THE PAST, WE'VE USED TEMPORARY LABOR SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.
THAT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY INCONSISTENT AND SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY SHOW UP, IT'S MAKES IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO COLLECT SOLID WASTE.
WE HAVE SIX INDIVIDUALS NOW THAT ARE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY, AND IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO SHOW UP FOR ONE.
BUT THEN THERE'S THAT PRIDE ELEMENT OF HAVING AN EMPLOYEE ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.
THIS HIGHLIGHTS OUR STAGNANT GROWTH EMPLOYEE WISE VERSUS WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND US.
THIS IS A TRICKY ONE, 90 DAYS IN A YEAR. I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE SOMEWHAT UNIQUE, BUT I CAN MAKE THE BEST OF PLANS AND THEY WILL GO RIGHT OUT THE DOOR, ESPECIALLY WORKING FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE WORKING HERE.
IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY DAY.
BUT THE FIRST 90 DAYS, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MEET WITH SENIOR STAFF ONE-ON-ONE BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, WHAT'S THEIR CONCERNS, WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS? HOW ARE WE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER? HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OVER DIFFERENCES? GOING BACK TO THE LEADERSHIP, SAINT JOHN'S, THE VERY FIRST MEETING WE HAD, THEY SHIPPED US OUT TO THESE CABINS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE FOR A WEEKEND RETREAT TO START BREAKING DOWN THESE TYPES OF BARRIERS.
I DON T THINK THAT'S LOGISTICALLY POSSIBLE HERE.
I THINK THAT IT CAN BE DONE IN-HOUSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE ALL SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND LEAVE TOWN.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BUILD A TEAM SO THAT WAY OUR STAFF KNOWS THAT WE'RE LEADING BY EXAMPLE.
I ALSO PUT ON THERE THE RFQ/RFP BACK IN 2018, THE CITY HAD AN ANALYSIS DONE AS FAR AS OUR COMPENSATION OR BENEFITS.
BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST THAN WHAT WAS DONE BACK IN 2018.
IT NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND IT ALSO NEEDS TO HELP US PLAN FOR THE FUTURE WITH THE RESOURCE LOADS AND OUR STAFFING ISSUES.
WE HAVE RETIREES, SUCCESSION PLANNING.
ALSO IN HERE, YOU SEE THAT I USED TECHNOLOGY AND DATA.
I WANT TO SPREAD THAT PLATFORM CITYWIDE SO THAT WE'RE TRACKING THINGS AND BEING ABLE TO MONITOR THINGS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
IN THE FIRST YEAR, I HOPE THAT WE HAVE THAT DOCUMENT PRODUCED AND THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY START MAKING PROGRESS.
I'LL COME BACK TO THIS IN CONCLUSION, AND HOPEFULLY IN 36 SECONDS I CAN DO IT.
I TAKE THIS TO A NEW MEANING NOW WHERE I MYSELF, US AS AN ORGANIZATION AND EVEN OUR SHAREHOLDERS NEED TO SEARCH FROM WITHIN.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PEOPLE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN HELP US.
YOU HAVE ONE OF INDIVIDUAL THIS EVENING, THERE ARE MANY LIKE THAT GENTLEMAN.
I THINK EVERY DAY WE NEED TO LOOK FROM WITHIN AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, MAKE OURSELVES BETTER, AND MAKE THE CITY BETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MR. GRANT. [NOISE] EXCUSE ME.
[01:05:16]
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING AND BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANT TO THANK JOHN REAGAN, OUR CITY MANAGER.
HE'S BEEN A GREAT MENTOR OF MINE AND I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION AND A LOT HAS TO DO WITH JOHN, IN HIS LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE ALONG THE WAY.
HE'S GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE TO GROW AND LEAD SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THIS EVENING I WANT TO GET INTO A LITTLE INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF WHO I AM.
I REALIZED THAT NOT EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY MAY KNOW ME, SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THAT.
THEN I'LL DIVE RIGHT INTO THE CHALLENGES FACING THE CITY, MY FIRST 90 DAYS AND THEN MY FIRST SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
I'M REUBEN FRANKLIN. I'M THE EXISTING PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
I HAVE BEEN THIS JULY WILL BE 13 YEARS WITH THE CITY.
I'VE BEEN IN THE ENGINEERING DIVISION, THE MOBILITY MANAGER, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR FOR THE LAST THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
I COME TO WORK EVERY DAY ACROSS THE BRIDGE OF LIONS AND THANK MY LUCKY STARS SO I APPROACH THINGS VERY HUMBLING.
WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM ENVIRONMENT HERE, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THE LAST 10 -13 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE A PART OF THAT.
AVERY STREET WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS I WORKED ON.
BROUGHT ON STREET DINING TO THE CITY AND IT WAS A CHANGING MOMENT FOR ME BECAUSE I GOT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY.
I ALWAYS JOKE BECAUSE AS A CIVIL ENGINEER, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE STUFF UNDER THE GROUND THAT NOBODY COULD SEE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND I'VE REALLY COME TO VALUE PUBLIC SPACES AND ARCHITECTURE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE LEARNED IN MY 13 YEARS HERE.
I'M COMMITTED TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
I'VE GOT OVER 17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING.
I BELIEVE IN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COMMITMENT TO FOLLOWING THROUGH TRUST IS A VERY BIG DEAL FOR ME.
I WANT TO ALWAYS HAVE YOUR TRUST AND THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST.
GETTING INTO WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING THE CITY, I WAS REALLY THINKING ABOUT THIS, AND I CAME UP WITH THESE FIVE TOPICS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, BUT RESILIENCY IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS A BIG ONE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO DEVELOP OUR RESILIENT PROGRAM, BUT IT'S NO SECRET THAT WE'RE A LOW LINE VULNERABLE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
I THINK EVEN WHAT YOU HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT, DEVELOPING THESE PROJECTS.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THE CITY AS WELL, BUT ALSO WITH RESILIENCY AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
HOW THESE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND OUR CHARACTER OF OUR CITIES THREATENED BY THAT, SO THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THESE ISSUES, I GO BACK TO THE VISION PLAN OF 2014 THAT WAS ADOPTED AND REALLY THE FOUR PRINCIPLES THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WHICH LIVABILITY, VITALITY, AUTHENTICITY AND CHARACTER AND ALL THOSE THINGS CREATE THIS DISTINCTIVE COMMUNITY THAT WE CALL THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
LOOKING AT THESE TOPICS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS, MOBILITY AND DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.
I'LL TOUCH FIRST ON DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
BUT WE HAVE THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE ITSELF, BUT OUR UTILITY EXTENDS AROUND FIVE MILES OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
THERE IS A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT GOING ON IN GROWTH OUT THERE THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR AS A UTILITY.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL WITH THAT GROWTH THAT WE'RE GIVING OUR OPERATIONS FOLKS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED SO WE CAN FUNCTION AS A UTILITY INTO THE FUTURE.
THAT'LL BE DONE THROUGH DATA AND ANALYSIS AND WE'LL LOOK AT STAFFING ISSUES AND HOW WE'RE GROWING AND TACKLE THAT.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE CITY OF OUR UTILITY.
[01:10:01]
MOBILITY, WE HAVE ADOPTED MOBILITY PLAN THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF.BUT NOW THE HARD PART IS THE IMPLEMENTATION.
WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THE ASPECTS OF THE MOBILITY POINT.
I THINK WE'RE ON A VERY GOOD TRACK, BUT TO KEEP PRESSURE ON THAT.
HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I HAVE NOT BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN.
MY COMMITMENT WOULD BE TO GETTING CAUGHT UP TO SPEED ON THOSE TOPICS.
BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE OUR STAFF THAT ARE ON THOSE TEAMS WORKING ON THOSE ISSUES.
IT WON'T TAKE ME VERY LONG TO GET CAUGHT UP.
WITH THAT BEING IN MIND, HOW DOES THIS TAKE SHAPE? I TOOK A PUBLIC POLICY CLASS OR THE SPEAKER TALKED ABOUT HOW COMMUNITIES VALUES ARE REFLECTED IN THEIR BUDGET AND SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING.
I WAS TOLD IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHERE COMMUNITIES PRINCIPLES ARE OR WHAT THEY VALUE MOST LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT ROLE FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
MOVING INTO MY FIRST 90 DAYS, I REALLY WANT TO KEEP THAT MINDSET IN PLACE.
I LAID OUT A CALENDAR BECAUSE WHEN WE PASS THE BATON TO WHOEVER THE NEXT CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP CITY BUSINESS MOVING ALONG IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER.
TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE SO THE NEXT MEETING WOULD BE ON JUNE 12TH.
THEN WE HAVE INTERNAL STAFF MEETINGS WHERE WE'RE PUTTING THE NEXT AGENDA TOGETHER THAT THURSDAY BY NOON FOLLOWING A COMMISSION MEETING, WE HAVE AGENDA DEADLINES, SO WE HAVE TO GET ALL OF OUR STUFF IN.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS THEY'RE REALLY GET THE BATON AND KEEP MOVING EFFICIENTLY.
WHAT I WOULD BE DOING IS MEETING INDIVIDUALLY.
WHEN I THINK OF THE FIRST 90 DAYS, AND EVEN AS THE CITY MANAGER, I THINK INTERNAL GOALS AND EXTERNAL GOALS.
INTERNAL GOALS ARE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF CITY STAFF IN THE CITY.
I WOULD MEET INDIVIDUALLY IN MY FIRST 90 DAYS WITH DIRECTORS OF DEPARTMENTS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I'LL MAKE TIME TO MEET WITH DEPARTMENT STAFF.
IT IS A LEADERSHIP TRANSITION THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
IT HAS HAPPENED IN 13 YEARS WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
BUT I FEEL IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO CONVEY THAT TO ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND I WOULD DO THAT PERSONALLY.
THEN BEGIN TO DEVELOP THAT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
I ALSO LAID OUT IMPORTANT DATES IN GREEN THAT'S THE START OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THOSE ARE THE SPECIAL MEETINGS SO JUST START TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
WE CAN CLEARLY DELIVER A BUDGET THAT COVERS ALL OF THE IMPORTANT ITEMS OF THE CITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER.
BY DOING THAT, THAT'S HOW WE CREATE EFFECTIVE CHANGE AS THE YEARS MOVE ON.
EXTERNALLY, SOMETHING THAT I LOVED DOING, BUT I WOULD CONTINUE MY COMMITMENT TO WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.
I WOULD HAVE AN OPEN INVITATION TO GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS FOR A MEET AND GREET.
I WOULD EVEN ENTERTAIN IF I THOUGHT THAT PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED IN IT MAY BE AN OPEN HOUSE SO THE COMMUNITY CAN COME IN AND MEET THE NEW CITY MANAGER AND BEGIN TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS OUR ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVE DIRECT LINES OF COMMUNICATION TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FLAGLER COLLEGE, THE HOSPITAL, THE COUNTY.
THEN FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL GOALS, LISTEN AND LEARN.
THE DAY THAT I STOPPED LEARNING IS THE DAY YOU CAN PUT ME SIX FEET UNDER.
BUT LISTENING IS VERY IMPORTANT TOO.
IN TRANSITIONING, AND I FORGOT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS ALSO WRITE IN JUNE.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT METRIC TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS PREPARED FOR HURRICANE SEASON AS WELL.
MOVING INTO MY FIRST SUCCESSFUL YEAR AGAIN, IT'S FOCUSING ON THE BUDGET.
WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT ITEMS? AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES, HOMELESSNESS ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO MANIFEST ITSELF IN THE BUDGET FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER AND SO TO COMMIT TO CONTINUING TO DO THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS, THE CIP PLANNING, AND AFTER MY FIRST 90 DAYS TO FOLLOW UP WITH MY FIRST SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
AGAIN, I WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DIRECTORS, BUT I'D GO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
I REALLY WANT TO SIT DOWN AND DEVELOP VISION PLANS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT.
START TO GET A FEEL FOR WHERE DO YOU WANT YOUR DEPARTMENT TO BE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND TRY TO WORK WITH THEM TO DEVELOP THAT.
[01:15:06]
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUCCESSION PLANNING.I WANT TO, WHEN I LEAVE THIS ORGANIZATION FOR IT TO BE BETTER THAN I FOUND IT SO I CAN PASS THE BATON TO SOMEBODY AND THEY ARE STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE THEM.
I WOULD EXPECT WITHIN A YEAR TO HAVE A PLAN FOR HOMELESSNESS FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER.
IT MIGHT COME SOONER THAN THAT, BUT I WOULD EXPECT THAT NO LONGER THAN A YEAR BEFORE WE HAVE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, AND MOST LIKELY THAT WILL BE BUBBLING UP THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
CONTINUE TO MOVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FORWARD.
WE HAVE SUCH GREAT PROJECTS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
I'M COMMITTING TO MOVING THOSE FORWARD AND THEN AS WE GET FURTHER DOWN THE LINE TO FOCUS ON OTHER GRANT FUNDING SO WE CAN GET MORE PROJECTS ONLINE AND JUST KEEP THAT TRAIN MOVING.
I ALSO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR WEST AUGUSTINE SEPARATE THE SEWER PROGRAMS. WE'VE GOT A GREAT PROJECT THAT'S ABOUT TO COME ONLINE AND THEN ROUNDING OUT THE YEAR WITH FINISHING UP THE MASTER PLAN, THE SEWER MASTER PLAN FOR WEST AUGUSTINE.
EXTERNAL GOALS, MAINTAIN AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR CITY ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES.
SOMETIMES WE CAN GET A LITTLE TOO FAR AHEAD OF OURSELVES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING A PROCESS.
WE'RE HOLDING WORKSHOPS, OPEN HOUSES FOR NEW PROJECTS SO THE PUBLIC CAN BE INFORMED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY.
THEN CONTINUE TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND THEN CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND LEARN.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I LISTEN TO THE COMMISSION HERE THE POLICIES AND ONCE YOU ADOPT THE POLICY, I PROMISE YOU WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES AND AN OPEN-END FAIRWAY.
WITH THAT, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I WILL SAY THAT WHATEVER DECISIONS MADE IF I'M NOT PICKED AS THIS NEXT CITY MANAGER, I'M GOING TO COME TO WORK AND PUT MY BEST FOOT FORWARD AND KEEP WORKING ON THESE ISSUES FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. FRANKLIN.
WE HAVE OUR NEXT CANDIDATE IS DAVID BURTON.
>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS EVENING.
PRESENT MY VISION FOR THE FIRST 90 DAYS AND FOR THE FIRST YEAR I'VE GOTTEN FRONT OF YOU A PAPER COPY OF MY POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
I REALIZE IT'S PROBABLY DIFFICULT TO READ ON THE OVERHEAD, BUT IT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
MY FIRST 90 DAYS STARTS WITH MEETING PEOPLE IN LISTENING TO THEIR IDEAS AND CONCERNS REALLY.
I'LL SCHEDULE A SERIES OF MEETINGS.
ANYONE CAN CONTACT ME FOR A MEETING.
IT'LL START WITH MEETING WITH YOU WITH COMMISSIONERS TO UNDERSTAND YOUR PRIORITIES AND HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
I'LL MEET WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND PROPERTY OWNERS.
I'LL MEET WITH CITY DIRECTORS TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS TRANSITIONAL PERIOD. GET THEIR IDEAS.
I'LL MEET WITH INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES AT THE CITY AND I'LL SCHEDULE CONFIDENTIAL MEETINGS WITH THEM IF THEY WISH TO TALK ABOUT THEIR IDEAS AND CONCERNS.
I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, WITH THE SHERIFF AND THE BEACH CITY MANAGER.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY INSIGHTFUL.
FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO REACH OUT TO ANY BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS OR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS,
[01:20:01]
THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL COORDINATOR, ANY OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO ME AND I'LL LISTEN.THAT'D BE PART OF MY FIRST 90 DAYS.
ALSO FOR THE FIRST 90 DAYS, I'LL GO THROUGH SOME ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATES.
NOW IN GENERAL, I THINK THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS VERY GOOD.
BUT AS PART OF THE FIRST 90 DAYS, I WILL BEGIN SOME UPDATES.
I'M GOING TO PULL THE IT, WHICH IS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OUT OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AND CREATE AN IT DEPARTMENT.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS EMBEDDED IN EVERYTHING THAT THE ORGANIZATION DOES.
IT NEEDS TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, IT BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT EVERY DAY.
MY VACATED ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER POSITION WILL BE FILLED AND WE'LL CONTINUE WITH SPECIAL PROJECTS AND TO ACT AS A LIAISON WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, UTILITIES DEPARTMENT IN PLANNING AND BUILDING OVERALL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THIS WILL CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES TO ADVANCE.
MEREDITH BRIGHTON STEIN WILL REMAIN IN HER CURRENT POSITION, WHICH IS A CHIEF OF STAFF ROLE AND OVERSEEING FINANCE.
I'LL CREATE A DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITION IN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT FOR SUCCESSION PLANNING PURPOSES.
I'LL CREATE A NEW MORE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORT, WHAT I'M CALLING THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DIVISION.
THIS WILL BE A CLEARING HOUSE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD IDEAS FOR OUR ANNUAL GRANT PROGRAM FOR NEIGHBORHOODS, FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS.
I'D LIKE TO INCORPORATE OUR CRA INITIATIVE INTO THIS DIVISION AND POSSIBLY EXPAND.
I THINK YOU HEARD THAT EARLIER FROM ANOTHER COMMISSIONER ABOUT EXPANDING THE CRA PROGRAM.
I'D LIKE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES GROUP WITHIN THE CITY.
THIS WILL INCLUDE OUR CURRENT EFFORTS IN RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TREE MANAGEMENT, FLOOD MITIGATION, AND CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION.
THIS GROUP WILL MEET MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY, DISCUSS WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR CURRENT EFFORTS.
THEY'LL GIVE THE PUBLIC A CLEAR PATH OF COMMUNICATION IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH A PRESENCE ON THE WEBSITE AND CONTACT INFORMATION.
ULTIMATELY, I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO CREATE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY WOULD PRESENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
SOME OF THESE ENDEAVORS ARE TIED TO THE BUDGET, SO YOU WOULD BE APPROVING THESE ULTIMATELY [LAUGHTER].
THAT'S THE FIRST 90 DAYS AND NOW COMES THE FIRST YEAR, WHICH INCLUDES OUR MAJOR INITIATIVES AND OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES.
FOR THE FIRST YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY.
IN MY OPINION, THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE BASIC SERVICES, THAT'S UTILITIES, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT'S THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
PART OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH OUR CORE SERVICES IS EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A LABOR SHORTAGE, NOT JUST THE CITY, NATIONWIDE WE ARE AND I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
SECOND BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS PROTECTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND I'M ALSO GOING TO TOUCH ON THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
IN FIRST YEAR I'LL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE OUR MAJOR INITIATIVES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED AS OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES, THAT'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
WE HEAR IT EVERY DAY, FLOODING, RESILIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITIONS.
SECOND IS OUR HOMELESS CHALLENGES.
TRYING TO FIND SERVICES AT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
OUR MOBILITY CHALLENGES, WHICH IS TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND THE LACK OF ADEQUATE PARKING IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES AND WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT ON HOLMES BOULEVARD ONGOING INITIATIVE.
REPLACING OUR OUTDATED ANASTASIA ISLAND FIRE STATION, THAT'S A CHALLENGE.
FINALLY, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHAEOLOGY ARE CHALLENGES CONSIDERING OF CLIMATE CHANGE,
[01:25:02]
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF OUR NEW UNSAFE STRUCTURES LAW, WHICH IS BEING MOVED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AS WE SPEAK.HOW DO WE ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES? FOR MOBILITY, WE START WITH FINALIZING THE BROUDY PARKING GARAGE LEASE AGREEMENT.
THAT'S THE LAST ENTITLEMENT THAT'S LEFT TO FINALIZE A NEW PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE ON THE BROUDY PROPERTY, WHICH IS ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF KING STREET IN US 1.
COMPLETE THE PARKING CODE UPDATE, THAT WILL BE DONE IN THE FIRST YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO CREATE A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR THE KING STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT THAT DOT IS GOING TO DROP ON US A YEAR FROM THIS SUMMER.
I'D LIKE TO DESIGN SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO SEBASTIAN HARBOR DRIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTY.
THAT PROPERTY IS GOING TO BRING MOBILITY FUNDING TO THE CITY.
I'D LIKE TO USE THAT AS SEED MONEY TO FURTHER IMPROVE SEBASTIAN HARBOR DRIVE, WHICH IS THE BACK WAY INTO LINCOLNVILLE.
I'D LIKE TO UPDATE THE CITY PARKING LOTS BEHIND CITY HALL.
THIS REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MOBILITY, IT'S JUST A PET PEEVE OF MINE.
[LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE TO GET RID OF THE RAILROAD TIES ONCE AND FOR ALL AND HAVE A [LAUGHTER] NEW PARKING LOT BEHIND CITY HALL.
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE OUR BACK-BASED STUDY.
THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT, WHICH IS ON YOUR AGENDA THIS EVENING FOR THE FIVE SOUTH STREET PROPERTY.
TO CONTINUE WORKING ON OUR CODE UPDATE, THAT'S THE RESILIENT SHORELINE ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT WILL BE PART OF NEXT YEAR'S ENDEAVORS.
ONGOING CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITIONS, WHICH WE BRING BEFORE YOU WHEN YOU BRING TO US FOR VETTING.
THE CREATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES GROUP, THAT'LL BE THE FIRST YEAR.
FOR HOMELESS CHALLENGES, WE'D LIKE TO EXPLORE A DROP-IN DAY CENTER PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS FOLKS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION DOWNTOWN.
MOVING DINING WITH DIGNITY TO A BETTER LOCATION IS PART OF THAT.
IMPROVING PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
COMPLETING A STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH MANY PROBABLY DO NOT KNOW WE HAVE BEGUN A HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM HUD.
WE'VE HAD OUR THIRD MEETING AND THAT WILL BE ROLLED OUT SHORTLY, THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR FIRST YEAR.
HELPING OUR PARTNERS WITH THESE AND CONTINUING WITH HOMELESS OUTREACH SERVICES.
QUALITY OF LIFE GOT TOUCHED ON EARLIER THIS EVENING, UPDATING DR. ROBERT B. HAYLING FREEDOM PARK AND EDDIE VICKERS PARK.
THESE ARE CRA PROJECTS WILL BE CONTINUED TO THE NEXT YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO UPDATE THE CITY WEBSITE TO MAKE IT MORE INTUITIVE AND EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO FIND INFORMATION AND DOING THAT PROVIDING THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WITH THE TOOLS IT NEEDS.
THOSE REALLY ADDRESS QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES AS WELL.
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE GOING TO FIND A NEW LOCATION FOR THE ANASTASIA ISLAND FIRE STATION.
THIS IS A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROTECTS OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S A CHALLENGE TO FIND A LOCATION FOR THAT FIRE STATION, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE'D LIKE TO COMPLETE THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WITH YOUR GUIDANCE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT 450 NORTH HOLMES BOULEVARD.
SECURE A NEW SITE FOR THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT STAGING AREA, WHICH IS NOW WHAT'S THAT PROPERTY IS BEING USED FOR.
EXTEND SEWER SERVICE TO THAT SITE, WHICH IS A FORCE MAIN AND LIFT STATION, WHICH WE HAVE BUDGETED IN THE HOUSE.
HOPEFULLY, THAT MONEY IS NOT VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR AND WE GET FUNDING FOR THAT.
THAT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE SEWER SERVICE FOR NEARBY RESIDENTS BEHIND MARIE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
FOR ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIDDLETON HOUSE ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT INVOLVES THE SALE OF A PIECE OF REAL ESTATE THAT WE HAVE ON THE MARKET.
WE'RE MARKING THAT MONEY TO DEVELOP A NEW ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER.
WE'D LIKE TO PURSUE GRANTS NEXT YEAR FOR CODE UPDATES IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
AGAIN, PENDING STATE FUNDING APPROVAL WHICH HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE HOUSE BUDGET,
[01:30:05]
BEGIN THE STATE-FUNDED WORK ON THE ALCAZAR HOTEL, THIS BUILDING.THE PENA PECK HOUSE, WHICH THE CITY OWNS DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS A COLONIAL-ERA BUILDING AND THE VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER.
THIS IS A PRETTY AMBITIOUS FIRST YEAR.
THE CITY DOES HAVE STRONG LEADERSHIP AND A VERY STRONG WORKFORCE AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS ACHIEVABLE.
FINALLY, DURING THE FIRST YEAR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME INSTITUTIONAL UPDATES.
REALLY, I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE OPTIONS TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE IN THE CITY EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION PACKAGE IN ORDER TO HIRE AND RETAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF CITY EMPLOYEES.
SOME EMPLOYEES MAY WANT A DIFFERENT BALANCE OF SALARY AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS IN PARTICULAR, THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF EMPLOYEES.
WE'VE SEEN THIS WITH OUR NEW HIRES.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION AND BRING YOU SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO OFFER ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES A STRUCTURED WORK-AT-HOME OPTION.
THIS IS NOW STANDARD PRACTICE IN OUR SOCIETY IN THIS COUNTRY.
AFTER COVID, THIS IS JUST THE NEW NORMAL.
WE DO HAVE AN EMBRYONIC PROGRAM FOR WORK AT HOME FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE JUST NEED TO REFINE THAT A LITTLE BIT.
FINALLY, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE A DIVERSE WORKFORCE THROUGH HIRING, RETENTION AND PROMOTION OF MINORITIES AND PROTECTED CLASSES OF INDIVIDUALS TO ACCURATELY REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND IT'S A VALUE THAT WE ALL SHARE.
THAT'S THE FIRST 90 DAYS AND THE FIRST YEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU ABOUT IT MORE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING RIGHT ALONG, I KNOW THAT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WE HEARD THIS EVENING AND WILL BE PERSONALLY REACHING OUT TO EACH APPLICANT, AND WITH FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.
I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO YOU DISCUSS AT THE LAST MEETING THAT I WAS ABSENT FROM, WHAT YOUR WISHES ARE GOING FORWARD ON HOW YOU DESIRE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN LET ME KNOW IF I'M MISSPEAKING, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOUR DESIRE IS TO HAVE A DECISION MAKE A DECISION AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING.
IS THAT EVERYBODY? EVERYBODY'S NODDING HEAD?
>> YEAH. THAT'S THE GREAT GOOD AGREEMENT. ALL RIGHT THEN.
I'M SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATED HEARING THE PRESENTATIONS AS WELL.
I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD DECISION.
I THINK Y'ALL PUT TOGETHER A REALLY GREAT, KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 7B2 WHICH WAS MOVED FROM 9A6,
[9.A.6. Ordinance 2023-15: Clarifying the residency requirements of the City Manager (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]
AND THIS IS THE ORDINANCE 2023-15, CLARIFYING THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY MANAGER.CITY ATTORNEY, MISS LOPEZ, YOU ARE ON TO PRESENT.
>> YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I TOOK A LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE OF OUR CHARTER REGARDING OUR CITY MANAGER, AND IT WAS WEIRDLY AMBIGUOUS.
THE EXISTING LANGUAGE SAYS THAT YOU NEED NOT BE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OR STATE, IT DOESN'T MENTION THE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT, BUT LEAVES IT HANGING THAT PRESUMABLY THIS IS NOT A REMOTE JOB.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MOVE IN THIS VICINITY AT SOME POINT.
I DID MY BEST TO CHANNEL YOUR MINDS AND THINK WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE TO CLARIFY THAT, AND HOPEFULLY I HIT IT AT LEAST CLOSE.
THE SUGGESTED LANGUAGE WOULD NOW ADD TO THAT PHRASE, NEED NOT BE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OR STATE AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT, BUT MUST RESIDE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ASSUMING OFFICE, AND MAY BE REQUIRED TO RESIDE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE UNDER REASONABLE TERMS SET BY RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
[01:35:05]
I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHERE THE MIND OF THE CITY COMMISSION WOULD BE ON RESIDENCY IN THE CITY LIMITS, IT SEEMED IRRATIONAL THAT YOU WOULD WANT YOUR CITY MANAGER TO LIVE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE A DIFFICULT CONCEPT, AND SO I JUST ADDED, IF YOU ALL DECIDE IN THE FUTURE THAT YOU WANT RESIDENCY IN THE CITY, WE COULD DO THAT BY RESOLUTION.
THAT'S WHAT I PRESENT TO YOU ON FIRST READING.
>> ALL RIGHT, THEN. WE HAVE A FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2023-15.
ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> IS THAT A MOTION [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S FINE IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH THE MOTION, BUT I DEFINITELY HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
>> I FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAVE THE INSIGHTS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE, AT LEAST NEAR THE CITY AND LIVE NEAR THE CITY, NOT NECESSARILY RESTRICTING IT TO THE CITY AT THIS MOMENT.
BUT I MEAN NO DISRESPECT TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN FAR-FLUNG PLACES OF THE COUNTY, BUT THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN JULINGTON CREEK OR NORTHWEST PART OF THE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE OR EVEN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE EXPERIENCE, AND THEN THE DAY TO DAY INTERACTIONS THAT A PERSON GETS WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE UP TO AN HOUR TO WORK EACH DAY, THEY CAN BE ON POINT.
THE JOB I WAS HIRED FOR IT BEFORE I CAME TO FLAGLER COLLEGE, WHICH WAS 20 YEARS AGO, [NOISE] I WAS REQUIRED TO LIVE WITHIN A 30 MILE RADIUS OF MY WORK SITE AND THERE ARE GOOD REASONS TO DO THAT, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAGIC NUMBER IS, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE RESTRICT THE CITY MANAGER'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE TO NO MORE THAN A FIVE MILE DISTANCE FROM THE NEAREST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BOUNDARY, AND WE DO HAVE A WEIRD BOUNDARY AND WE'VE ANNEXED, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A HARD METRIC FOR ANY OF OUR EXISTING APPLICANTS TO MEET, AND IT'S A STARTING POINT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DISCUSSION FOR THE FIRST READING OF THIS ORDINANCE.
>> I DO AGREE THAT IT'S UNIQUE.
LIVING IN A CITY LIMITS IS BETTER, BUT PROXIMITY IS A GOOD IDEA.
>> NO. I JUST THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL SAY, THE CITY MANAGER OUGHT TO LIVE IN THE CITY, BUT IT'S NOT IMPRACTICAL.
I STILL BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN A FIVE-MILE RADIUS CONSIDERS ST.
AUGUSTINE THEIR HOME TOWN AND THEY WORK HERE AND THEY COME HERE AND SO I WOULD BE MORE INCLINED TO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER THAT WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE.
I'VE LIVED IN THE NORTHWEST WHEN I WAS IN BARTRAM TRAIL.
MY NEIGHBOR'S CONSIDERED DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE AND THE STUDENTS WOULD SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWNTOWN, AND THEY MEANT DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE.
I THINK THEY DON'T VIEW THEMSELVES AS ST. AUGUSTINE RESIDENTS LIKE THEY WOULD IF THEY WERE WITHIN A FIVE-MILE RADIUS.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE FIVE MILES ON A MAP.
>> WHAT THAT ACTUALLY ENCOMPASSES.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S SOUNDS RANDOM TO ME, BUT I'M SURE IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE FIVE MILES, WHERE THAT WOULD GET US.
>> I THREW FIVE MILES OUT AS A STARTING POINT, AND I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PLAY ON A MAP WITH GIS WITH THAT, BUT I RAN OUT OF TIME. I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT WITH ME.
>> YOU KNOW THIS IS A FIRST READING AND WE CAN CERTAINLY MODIFY IT AT THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE.
IF YOU'RE THINKING AND JUST THROWING OUT AN IDEA, IF IT'S GOING TO BE A RADII FROM A POINT, I WOULD SUGGEST THIS BE THE POINT, CITY HALL.
IT'S JUST EASIER BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, OUR BOUNDARY IS INTERESTING IN CERTAIN PLACES.
I WOULDN'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK WE'RE RIGGING IT OR WHATEVER, SO MAYBE A FIXED POINT, IF YOU LIKE, AND IN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT INSTEAD OF THE RESOLUTION CONCEPT THAT YOU WANT DEFINITELY RESIDENCY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THEN ADDING
[01:40:04]
LANGUAGE WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS OF CITY HALL, AND I CAN GIVE YOU TWO ALTERNATIVES.THAT'S FIVE MILES OR 10 MILES AND THEN YOU CAN SEE AND MAKE A DECISION AT THE NEXT MEETING. DOES THAT SOUND FAIR?
>> SOUNDS FAIR. IT'S FIVE MILES AND 10 MILES.
>> THAT'S THE ARCHITECT IN YOU, 5, 7, 10.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT HARD, I PROMISE YOU.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOVE THIS TO SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING.
I ASSUME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO READ THIS OUT.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-15, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA AMENDING ARTICLE FOR DIVISION 4 SECTION 4.10 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, CLARIFYING RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR CITY MANAGER, PROVIDING FOR SEPARABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> WE ARE ONTO ITEM 11A AND THAT IS
[11.A. City Manager Employment Contract Template (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]
THE CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT TEMPLATE AGAIN. MISS LOPEZ?>> YES. AS A STARTING POINT, I JUST USE YOUR CURRENT CITY MANAGERS CONTRACT.
I FIGURED IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WORKED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD BASIS AND IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
MY IDEA WAS TO PRESENT YOU AND THE CANDIDATES WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW A TEMPLATE AGREEMENT.
FOLKS WANTED TO TALK TO THEIR PRIVATE ATTORNEYS OR HAVE QUESTIONS ON IT.
THEY HAD A GOOD TWO-AND-A-HALF WEEKS TO DO SO.
AGAIN, THE FORMAT AND SUBSTANCE OF IT ARE ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED.
BUT FOR THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE AND THE MISCONDUCT TERMINATION ARE NOW STATUTORY.
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN CHANGE IN THAT THAT'S SET BY STATUTE, AND OUR HR DIRECTOR HELPED ME ON THE SECTION HAVING TO DO WITH INSURANCE, BOTH THE INSURANCE THAT WE PROVIDE AND THEN IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GO THROUGH THE MEDICAL TESTS TO DO ADDITIONAL INSURANCE.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY REALLY TWO SECTIONS THAT WERE TWEAKED, ONE TO JUST COMPLY WITH STATE STATUTE AND THE OTHER TO MATCH WHAT OUR ACTUAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES ARE AT THIS TIME.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OTHERWISE, IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED TO APPROVE THE TEMPLATE AND THEN IT'LL JUST BE A MATTER OF PLUGGING IN DATE, NAME, AND SALARY.
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION THAT I'LL HOLD IT AS MR. SPRINGFIELD DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
>> I WOULD HAVE A COMMENT MOSTLY.
I KNOW I'VE ASKED DURING THE INTERVIEWS I'VE ALREADY DONE, I ASKED IF THEY'D READ IT AND HAVE AGREEMENT.
IT'S AWKWARD FOR AN APPLICANT TO SAY, NO, I WANT MORE BUMP.
THERE'S NO NEGOTIATION IS TAKING PLACE WITH OUR FUTURE CITY MANAGER.
I THINK THAT BY OFFERING THIS TEMPLATE, WE LOCK THE ABILITY FOR SOMEBODY TO OFFER MAYBE A LESS SALARY FOR A BETTER BENEFIT, AS WAS MENTIONED ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS, THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO BRING SOMEONE INTO A COMFORTABLE CONTRACT WHEN YOU COMBINE BENEFITS WITH THE SALARIES.
IF WE APPROVE THIS, WE'RE GOING TO RESTRICT THAT PERSON FOR BEING I'LL SAY, WELL, I JUST GIVE ONE EXAMPLE THAT I'VE USED IN THE PAST AND THAT IS FOR EVERY YEAR YOU WORK, YOU GET HEALTH INSURANCE FOR SO MANY YEARS AFTER YOU RESIGN.
THAT BENEFIT IS WORTH A LOT FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT 65 YET, AND THAT BENEFIT CAN ALSO GO WITH A REDUCTION IN SALARY.
THAT WOULD CAUSE LESS BECAUSE IT'S VERY INEXPENSIVE TO CONTINUE SOMEBODY ON HEALTH INSURANCE INSTEAD OF HIS NAME.
I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO SET A TEMPLATE THAT CANNOT BE NEGOTIATED WITH A NEW EMPLOYEE.
>> I WOULD SAY, OH YES TO MAKE A COMMENT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY IF CAN'T RESPOND.
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THAT FLEXIBILITY IS TAKEN AWAY BY STATE STATUTE NOW.
THERE USED TO BE, AND IF YOU EVER TOOK A LOOK AT MR. REAGAN'S CONTRACT, FOR INSTANCE, THERE WAS A LOT MORE OF THAT FLEXIBILITY AND A LOT OF THAT IS JUST BEEN TAKEN AWAY.
I CERTAINLY DON'T MIND THE BACK-AND-FORTH.
I WOULD JUST CAUTION YOU THAT IF YOU EXPECT SOMEONE TO BE UNDER CONTRACT FOR JUNE 2ND,
[01:45:01]
YOU DON'T HAVE MANY MEETINGS LEFT TO APPROVE A CONTRACT.IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES, THAT'S THE ONLY LITTLE CHALLENGE THAT YOU'RE FACED WITH.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECISION ON MAY 8.
THAT'S THE AGREEMENT HERE AMONGST US, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE ONE MEETING ON THE 22ND IN MAY.
WITHOUT HAVING TO APPOINT AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THIS ALL IN HAND BY THE 22ND. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. MR. CITY MANAGER DO YOU HAVE COMMENT?
>> WELL, MAYOR LISTENING TO COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD'S COMMENT, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
I HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY DOING? ARE YOU TRYING TO LOCK DOWN THIS IS THE CONTRACT, THE ONLY CONTRACT MINUS A NAME AND A SALARY.
OR ARE YOU TRYING TO AT LEAST SHOW THE CURRENT CONTRACT WHICH IS TYPICALLY NOT SHOWN? I MEAN, I CAN'T RECALL EVER REALLY TALKING TOO MUCH ABOUT MY CONTRACT AND FRAMING IT UP SO THAT THERE'S MINIMAL NEGOTIATION.
I'M SITTING HERE THINKING, I THINK YOU SHOULD DEFINE WHAT YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TONIGHT, AND TO COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD'S POINT OF HAVING BEEN THROUGH THIS NEGOTIATION MANY, MANY TIMES WITH EMPLOYEES AND MYSELF.
YOU KNOW. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
>> IT IS A GOOD POINT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> I DO HAVE ONE AND I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I HAVE A COMMENT. WITH US DECIDING ON MAY 8TH, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING TO DETERMINE THE CONTRACT.
BY THE 22ND, THE PERSON CAN JUST GO FULL FORCE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, I LIKE THAT IDEA, BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT WE CAN TABLE THIS.
IS THIS POSSIBLE TO TABLE THE TEMPLATE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING WHEN WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION MORE ROBUSTLY AND FULL FEEL LIKE WE HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY.
IT MAY TAKE US UNTIL 22ND OF MAY TO GET INTO ASSIGNED CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT.
BUT IF YOU AGREE, I THINK AT LEAST WE REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.
BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST NECESSARY TO PASS TONIGHT.
>> NO NOT TONIGHT, BUT SHORTLY, AND JUST TO BE SUPER CANDID WITH THE COMMISSION, I WILL NOT BE HERE AT THE MAY 22ND MEETING.
MY ATTEMPTS HAD BEEN TO SHEPHERD THIS PROCESS AND HAVE IT READY FOR YOU AND THE CANDIDATES.
BECAUSE IT'S A MUTUAL FAIRNESS ISSUE FOR THEM TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO FOR YOU TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND FOR IT TO BE FINAL.
IT'S NOT A SCRAMBLE ON THE 22ND.
>> ONE COMMENT IT MAY NOT BE A PROBLEM AFTER THE EIGHTH, WE MAY APPOINT SOMEBODY TO SAY I'M HAPPY WITH THE CONTRACTS.
>> WE DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS, SO WE COULD JUST WAIT UNTIL AFTER THAT TIME.
I ALSO THINK THAT WE COULD ASSIGN THE MAYOR TO NEGOTIATE THAT CONTRACT?
>> NO. I WOULDN'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY.
>> OH, OKAY AND I GUESS THERE'S BEEN SOME INFORMAL BACK-AND-FORTH ON WHETHER THAT WAS AN OPTION, AND IT CAN BE DONE.
THE UNFORTUNATE PART AGAIN, IS THAT UNDER SUNSHINE LAWS THEN THAT WOULD MAKE THAT IF YOU DELEGATE YOUR AUTHORITY AS THE CITY COMMISSION TO NEGOTIATE TO A MEMBER OF YOUR COLLEGIAL BODY THEN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE TO BE IN THE SUNSHINE.
IT'S NOT THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE, BUT WE'D HAVE TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC MEETING.
THE MARE WOULD BE THERE WITH THE CANDIDATE.
WE'D HAVE A COURT REPORTER, WE'D HAVE ME.
IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, IT COULD BE DONE, BUT JUST IT HAS TO BE DONE THAT WAY.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS ALTERNATIVELY, COULD IT BE THE CITY MANAGER OR YOURSELF?
>> IN THEORY, MAY I BE CANDID ABOUT HOW I WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH YOU, IF IT'S OF ANY HELP.
I JUST TALKED DIRECTLY AND INDIVIDUALLY TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
IN MY CASE. I DISCUSSED THE SALARY I WANTED AND WHATEVER CHANGES I NEEDED FROM RON'S TEMPLATE.
SO I JUST THAT THAT ONE-ON-ONE AND HEARD ONE-ON-ONE, THE COMMENTS, AND THEN MY MY CONTRACT WAS ON A PUBLIC CITY COMMISSION AGENDA.
>> IT NEED NOT BE THAT COMPLICATED, I SUPPOSE IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S GREAT INFORMATION.
>> MADAM MAYOR, IF I MIGHT, I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO
[01:50:04]
HAVE THIS DOCUMENT BE MODIFIED FOR OUR NEXT CONSIDERATION WHENEVER THAT MIGHT BE.MAYBE I'M MISINTERPRETING THIS, BUT IN THE SECTION 1 OF THE TERM, THE WAY I READ IT IS THIS SENTENCE IN THE EVENT THE AGREEMENT IS NOT RENEWED, ALL COMPENSATION BENEFITS, ETC, OF THE AGREEMENT SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE CURRENT TERM OF THE AGREEMENT UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE VOLUNTARILY RESIGNED.
IF FOR EXAMPLE A CITY MANAGER THAT WE SELECTED WAS NOT FOR SOME REASON, I DON'T THINK THIS WILL HAPPEN, BUT THIS IS A CONTRACT.
IF FOR SOME REASON THEIR CONTRACT IS NOT RENEWED AFTER FIVE YEARS.
NUMBER ONE, MOST NEW HIRES FOR A NEW POSITION ARE VERY MUCH IN A PROBATIONARY PERIOD.
I WAS FOR A LONG TIME ON A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT, THEN IT WENT TO A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT, AND NOW IT'S STILL A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
BUT FIVE-YEARS I LOOK AT AS A LONG TIME, AND THE WAY I'M READING IT, THE CONTRACT'S NOT RENEWED.
BUT THERE COULD BE 12 MONTHS WHERE THE EMPLOYEE IS FULLY COMPENSATED IF THEIR CONTRACT IS RENEWED.
IF THEY ARE ALERTED ON DAY 1, THERE'S A 365 DAY CALENDAR YEAR THAT COULD THEY NOT SERVE? I MEAN, THEY WOULD NOT BE SERVING BUT THEY WOULD STILL BE GETTING FULL COMPENSATION.
>> OH, NO. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE IS SET BY STATUTE NOW IT'S 28 WEEKS, THAT'S IT.
WHAT HAPPENS IS IF YOU CHOOSE TO NOT RENEW.
IF YOU WERE TO TELL PERSON X, WE DON'T WANT TO RENEW AND YOU GIVE THEM THAT ONE-YEAR NOTICE, WE'RE NOT RENEWING YOU AT THE END OF YOUR TERM.
THEN UNLESS THEY RESIGN, THEY GET THEIR ACCRUED VACATION.
THEY GET ALL OF THOSE TERMS WHEN THE NATURAL TERMINATION, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO WORK.
THEY DON'T JUST GET TO WALK AWAY AND GET EVERYTHING.
IF THEY WALK AWAY, THEN THEY GET THE 20 WEEKS.
>> OKAY. THEN LET'S GO BACK TO THE FIVE-YEAR.
I'M THINKING THAT'S A REALLY LONG TIME TO START OUT WITH.
I COULD SEE A TWO-YEAR OR THREE-YEAR WITH A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL AFTER THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT FIVE YEARS IS A LONG TIME.
I MAY BE ALONE ON THAT AND THEN I HAD A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMENTS AFTER WE ADDRESSED THAT. IF WE WANT TO.
>> THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE IS THAT SOMEONE IN THIS POSITION IS AT OUR WHEEL.
WE COULD TERMINATE OUR MANAGER TONIGHT.
THE FIVE-YEAR IS A COMFORT FOR THE EMPLOYEE.
>> I'D MAKE A LOT OF THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> FIVE YEARS IS REALLY A STATEMENT OF CONFIDENCE.
>> YEAH, I THINK FIVE YEARS IS GOOD.
I HAVEN'T KNOWN ANY CITY MANAGER TO WORK UNDER A FIVE-YEAR WINDOW.
ALL THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN HERE OVER DECADES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO REALLY SHINE IN THAT FIVE-YEAR WINDOW.
>> AS THE COMMISSION? IF WE FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE, I THINK IT'S THREE VOTES COULD HAVE THEM REMOVE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. IS THAT RIGHT ANTONY?
>> YES. IS THERE A WAY TO SPECIFICALLY TO REFERENCE THE JOB DESCRIPTION IN SECTION 2?
>> SURE IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO, I CAN ADD THAT IN.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ALL. THEN LASTLY, THE AUTOMOBILE.
THAT'S A GENEROUS BENEFIT, OKAY.
IF IT'S A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, DOES THE CITY MANAGER GET A NEW AUTOMOBILE EVERY FIVE YEARS.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE AUTOMOBILE AFTER OUR CURRENT CITY MANAGER, WHERE DOES THE AUTOMOBILE GO?
>> CITY MANAGER HAS A COMMENT ON THE AUTOMOBILE?
>> YEAH. FIRST-OFF, THE CITY MANAGER'S VEHICLES JUST FOLLOWS THE NORMAL VEHICLE ROTATIONS.
LIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN THE CITY.
TECHNICALLY, ACTUALLY, I'VE EXTENDED THE LIFE OF MY VEHICLES.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT POSITIONS IS VEHICLE MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT BENEFIT.
ONE OF THE REASONS AT THE TIME, THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY MANAGER FELT THAT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO ASSIGN A VEHICLE TO THE CITY MANAGER IS BECAUSE DURING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
[01:55:01]
YOU'VE GOT TO DO THINGS AND GO PLACES THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO TAKE YOUR PERSONAL VEHICLE.I WAS JUST WANTING TO BRING THIS UP AS A VAGUE AREA THAT I THOUGHT NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION.
>> ANYWAY, THAT WAS ALWAYS THE LOGIC OF IT.
>> YEAH. NO, I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC PERFECTLY.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE PROVISION OF THE VEHICLE TO THE CITY MANAGER.
WHAT I AM QUESTIONING IS ROUNDED OUT SOME MORE.
I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S IN THE REGULAR TURNOVER, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT BY READING THIS.
>> SURE I CAN ADD THAT TO SECTION 6 THEN IT WILL BE THE SAME ROTATION AS ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE VEHICLE.
>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP MOVING HERE.
THAT'S BEEN A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION.
WE WILL PLEASE BRING IT BACK TO US AT THE NEXT MEETING ON THE 8TH. THANK YOU.
[7.C.1. Community Development Block Grant for Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County (E. Walters, Grant Administration Coordinator)]
WHICH DOES REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING.GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, COORDINATOR, WALTER, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M WALTERS, CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
AS YOU KNOW, ON MARCH 27TH, COMMISSION MEETING, I NOTIFY THE CITY OF POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
BUT BEFORE I GO INTO THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, I WANTED TO ADDRESS TWO QUESTIONS THAT WERE NOT ANSWERED IN THAT COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH WAS THE DOLLAR FIGURE.
WHAT DOES THE DOLLAR FIGURE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE USES AREAS MEDIUM INCOME.
BY [INAUDIBLE] APPLICATION REQUIREMENT, WE HAVE TO USE A CENSUS.GOV WEB PORTAL, WHICH IS DERIVED BY THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY INSTEAD OF JUST THE CITY.
ALSO, IT WAS BROUGHT UP, IF YOU PURCHASE PROPERTY THAT DID FLOOD MITIGATION, WOULD THAT QUALIFY? YES, I WAS ACTUALLY NOTIFIED THAT FUNDING CAN BE USED FOR ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.
BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR HIS CDBG GRANT, WHICH IS DISASTER RECOVERY, WHICH WOULD BE COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE MORE POINTS ON THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
IT'D BE MORE FEASIBLE TO WAIT FOR THAT ONE.
THOSE ARE THE TWO QUESTIONS I HAVE FROM THE FIRST COMMISSION MEETING.
NOW I'LL START WITH THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M PRESENTING THE REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS GRANT, AND I BELIEVE JUST TO GIVE ME A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
WE PLAN ON APPLYING FOR THE SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT AND HOUSING REHAB.
THIS WILL BENEFIT THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND HOMELESS COALITIONS OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.
THIS PROJECT WILL BE APPLIED FOR $247,365, WHICH INCLUDES ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION AND THE ADMINISTRATION COSTS, WHICH ARE IN THAT GRANT PROCESS.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
BUT TO GO MORE IN DEPTH IN THIS ACTUAL PROJECT, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE MS. DEBBIE READING.
SHE'S ACTUALLY THE MANAGER OF THE HOMELESS COALITION AND SHE'LL DESCRIBE MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND ORGANIZATIONS.
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SMALL CITY, CDBG, FOR THE HOMELESS COALITION.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOMELESS COALITION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
THE HOMELESS COALITION IS A NON-PROFIT OPERATING HERE IN THE CITY AND WE PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALONG WITH MUCH NEEDED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THE COUNTIES, MOST VULNERABLE HOMELESS FAMILIES.
THE COALITION OWNS 23 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, OF WHICH 21 OF THOSE HOMES RESIDE DIRECTLY IN THE CITY.
ON OUR FIVE ACRE CAMPUS, WHICH IS LOCATED OFF OF WEST KING AND PALMER STREET.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 78 RESIDENTS, WHICH INCLUDE 46 CHILDREN THAT LIVE ON OUR CAMPUS.
THE CAMPUS WAS ORIGINALLY A RAILROAD WORKER COMMUNITY IN THE EARLY 1900S.
SEVENTEEN OF OUR HOMES ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD.
WHEN THE COALITION PURCHASED THE HOMES BACK IN ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, THEY WERE CONDEMNED HOMES, THEY WERE HOMES FREQUENTED BY PROSTITUTES AND DRUG DEALERS, THEY WERE CRACK HOUSES.
OUR AGENCY, ALONG WITH THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY,
[02:00:03]
CLEANED UP THE BLIGHT AND WE RECREATED A STABLE COTTAGE COMMUNITY.IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN TO OUR CAMPUS, I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE YOU FOR A TOUR, IT REALLY IS SOMETHING TO SEE.
THE HOMELESS COALITION PROVIDES BOTH TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING, ALONG WITH THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO STABILIZE OUR FAMILIES AND BUILD SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
THE HOMELESS COALITION WOULD LIKE TO USE THE SMALL CITIES CDBG FUNDS TO PRESERVE NINE OF OUR HOMES THAT ARE IN SERIOUS NEED OF RENOVATIONS, UPDATES, AND REPAIRS, AS WELL AS TO CREATE NINE CONCRETE PARKING PADS BEHIND THE HOME SO THAT WE HAVE SAFE AND SECURE PARKING FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AS WE'RE ALL AWARE, THE NEED FOR LOW-INCOME, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS INCREASING DAILY, SOME WOULD SAY WE'RE AT A CRISIS POINT.
IT'S DRIVEN BY INFLATION, EVER-INCREASING RENTS AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE PRESERVE WHAT LITTLE LOW-INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE HAVE, AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF LOW-INCOME, AFFORDABLE UNITS IN OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY.
WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU HELP US TO KEEP HOMELESS FAMILIES OFF THE STREET AND IN SAFE AND DECENT HOUSING WHILE THEY WORK TO STABILIZE THEIR LIVES.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION, WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS?
>> BEFORE WE END THIS DISCUSSION, IF I COULD PLEASE, I HAVE TO ASK THE COMMISSION IF THEY WOULD APPROVE THE PROJECT, RESOLUTION 2023-07, AND ALSO OPEN THIS UP PROJECT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF.
I JUST QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT THERE AND I KNOW THEY WILL MAKE GOOD USE OF THIS MONEY AND I CERTAINLY AM A SUPPORT OF IT.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD, MS. VICKI PEPPER.
MS. PEPPER, IF YOU'LL COME TO THE FRONT AND IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED, GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS VICKI PEPPER, I LIVE ON HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AS A CITIZEN OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND CARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY.
WE'RE AN INFORMAL, INDEPENDENT CIVIC ACTION GROUP THAT GREW OUT OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S ONGOING COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EFFORT.
I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OBTAINING THE FLOOR DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND HOMELESS COALITION.
CARE [INAUDIBLE] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEBBIE REDDING AND HAS LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANT WORK OF THE HOMELESS COALITION IN OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH DIRECTLY AND THROUGH CARE SUPPORT OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE AND ITS CONSTITUENT MEMBERS.
I DOUBT THAT I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT THE CHALLENGES CONFRONTING THOSE FACING HOMELESSNESS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND ST. AUGUSTINE, IN PARTICULAR ARE MANY AND ONLY LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS OUR LOCAL HOUSING COSTS AND OTHER COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE.
IN THIS COUNTY IT SEEMS LIKE OFTEN THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN STRUGGLING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND A FULL-BLOWN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IS THE GREAT WORK OF OUR NGOS LIKE THE HOMELESS COALITION.
I URGE THE CITY TO PASS RESOLUTION 2023-07 AND PURSUE THIS BLOCK GRANT EXPEDITIOUSLY, THEN GET THE MONEY TO EMERGENCY SERVICES AND HOMELESS COALITION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT IT CAN CONTINUE IT'S GREAT WORK TO PROVIDE HOMELESS FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY A HAND UP TO GET THEM OFF THE STREET AND ON THE ROAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. PEPPER, ANY OTHER SPEAKERS COME FORWARD NOW, PLEASE? I DO NOT SEE ANY.
COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
>> EXCELLENT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, DEBATE, COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> VERY GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS.
I THINK WHAT I WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE A BREAK HERE FOR A MINUTE.
COMMISSIONERS, HOW IS 10 MINUTES SOUND OR DO WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME?
[02:05:04]
THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FIRST READING ORDINANCES THAT ARE ALL RELATED.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR CITY ATTORNEY.
>> WE DON'T NEED SWEARING IN BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT DO WE NEED EX PARTE COMMUNICATION?
>> IT'S UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT THEM WAIT TO DO ALL OF THAT AT THE SECOND READING BECAUSE YOU'LL BE SWEARING IN EVERYBODY AT THE SECOND READING YOU'LL BE HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT AND FOLKS BEING SWORN IN SO YOU HAVE TO DO EX PARTE AT SOME TIME BEFORE YOUR DECISION-MAKING BUT THIS IS FIRST READING.
>> WE'LL DO THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING AND I'M SURE YOU'LL REMIND ME AND ALSO DO THE SWEARING IN.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED?
>> I CAN GO THROUGH EACH ORDINANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE RELATED, SO WE CAN GO THROUGH THEM TOGETHER AND THEN MOVE FORWARD INDIVIDUALLY.
I'LL JUST GIVE ONE PRESENTATION.
MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THESE ITEMS AS NOTED, ARE ALL RELATED.
THE FIRST ORDINANCE IS 2023-10,
[9.A.1. Ordinance 2023-10: Annexation of Approximately 14.79 acres of land South of the existing Shipyards Project, East of Arapaho Avenue and North and West of the San Sebastian River (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)]
WHICH IS THE ANNEXATION ORDINANCE.THE CITY COMMISSION REVIEWED THE PETITION TO ANNEX WHERE THE PRE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 ACRES AT THE JANUARY 27TH MEETING.
THE PROPERTY IS SOUTH OF THE EXISTING AREA KNOWN AS THE SHIP YARDS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
IT IS CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY ON THE NORTH, EAST, AND WEST SIDES, I HAVE A MAP HERE.
INSIDE THE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS INSIDE THIS HATCHED AREA.
IT'S BASICALLY THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE REMAINING UPLAND OF THE SHIPYARDS PROJECT.
IT'S ACROSS THE CREEK FROM THE OLD CREEK SIDE RESTAURANT AND IT'S APPROXIMATELY 15 ACRES.
THE LAND USE IN THE COUNTY IS MIXED-USE AND THE ZONING IS OPEN RURAL IN THE EXISTING COUNTY.
THE NEXT FOUR ITEMS ARE TO INCORPORATE THE PROPERTY INTO THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND CHANGING THE ZONING TO A CITY DESIGNATION.
ORDINANCES 2023-11 AND 2023-12,
[Items 9.A.2. & 9.A.3.]
APPLIED TO A PIECE OF LAND THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 5,000 SQUARE FEET, THE ORDINANCES WOULD CHANGE THE LAND FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY MIXED USE LAND USE CATEGORY TO THE CITY RESIDENTIAL, MEDIUM DENSITY, MIXED-USE AND CHANGE THE ZONING FROM COUNTY OPEN RURAL TO CITY RGO.THIS IS A MAP SHOWING THE LAND USE CATEGORIES THAT ARE PROPOSED.
THE AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THIS LITTLE RECTANGULAR SPACE HERE AT THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE PROPOSED ANNEX ANNEXATION PROPERTY.
THAT PROPERTY IS ABOUT 5,000 SQ FT AND WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE SHIPYARDS.
THE LAST TWO ORDINANCES, 2023,
[Items 9.A.4. & 9.A.5.]
13 AND 2023, 14, APPLIED TO A LARGER PIECE OF PROPERTY.IN THIS MAP IS ALL THE YELLOW AREA.
THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 13.7 ACRES TO CHANGE THE LAND USE FROM COUNTY MIXED USE AND ONE ACRE OF CITY RESIDENTIAL, MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED-USE TO RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY, AND TO REZONE THIS PROPERTY FROM COUNTY OPEN RURAL, AND THE EXISTING OR ARPEGGIOS GIVES ME TWO CITY PUD THE PROPERTY THAT IS ALREADY IN THE CITY IS APPROXIMATELY 1.1 ACRES, THAT IS 1.2 ACRES THAT IS NORTH OF THIS LINE HERE.
BUT THAT WOULD ALL BE INCORPORATED INTO A RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY LAND USE CATEGORY.
THE PCB RECOMMEND IN THE LAND USE CHANGES THAT THEY'RE MARCH 7TH MEETING AND HELD THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PUD REZONING AT THE PCB AND MEETING IN APRIL.
[02:10:07]
ON APRIL 4TH, THE PCB HELD THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED PUD AND SUBSEQUENTLY RECOMMENDED THE REZONING AND APPROVED THE CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS EMBEDDED IN THE PUD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT SIDEWALKS BE INSTALLED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREETS OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.THIS REQUEST HAS INCLUDED IN THE PUD TEXT AND THE PUD AMENDED TEXT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
THESE ITEMS ARE ALL INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READINGS OF THESE ORDINANCES.
IF THE CITY COMMISSION CHOOSES TO TAKE ACTION, WE WOULD NEED A MOTION ON EACH ON EACH ORDINANCE SEPARATELY.
I AM AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND I HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PUD IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS ANY ITEMS.
>> ARE WE HAVING A PRESENTATION FROM THE APPLICANT? BEFORE WE DO, I WOULD LIKE THE CHANCE TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE AT THIS TIME?
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR AND HAVE IT ON THE RECORD.
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT ALL FOUR AT ONCE, NOT SEPARATING THEM OUT, BUT JUST IN A GENERAL SENSE, WOULD THIS BE HIGHER OR LOWER DENSITY THAN THE CURRENT COUNTIES ZONING WOULD ALLOW?
>> THIS IS ACTUALLY A LOWER DENSITY THAT'S PROPOSED.
THE COUNTY WOULD ALLOW UP TO 13 UNITS PER ACRE.
OUR RESIDENTIAL, LOW-DENSITY LAND USE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE.
BUT ACTUALLY, WITH THE 50 HOMES ON 13.7 ACRES, IT'S REALLY ONLY ABOUT 44 UNITS PER ACRE, SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN DENSITY IN THIS AREA.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION TOO. YOU SAID SIDEWALKS WILL BE PUT IN THAT ACCORDING TO THE PLAN. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD RECOMMENDED.
THE SIDEWALKS ARE INDICATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
THE ORIGINAL NARRATIVE DISGUST, IT WOULD JUST BE ON ONE SIDE.
BUT THE PLANNING ZONING BOARD WANT A CLARIFICATION THAT SIDEWALKS WOULD BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREETS.
>> HOPE IS A GOOD QUESTION. THAT WAS MY QUESTION TOO.
IF YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THE HEARINGS, IT WAS LEFT.
SO WHAT DO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT NOW?
>> IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOLKS OTHER THAN THE ATTORNEY TESTIFY THAN WE DO NEED TO SWEAR THEM IN.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION YOU WOULD JUST HAVE A GENERAL ATTORNEY PRESENTATION FOR FIRST READING.
BUT IF YOU WANT YOUR WHOLE TEAM TO TESTIFY, THEN WE HAVE TO PUT THEM UNDER OATH.
>> THEN LET'S DO THAT AND GIVE YOU THE CHOICE.
HOW'S THAT? MADAM CLERK WILL SWEAR YOU IN.
>> DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> I DO. [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU FOR THE RECORD STUFF AND JOHANSON AND 38 USA, DRY AND CEO, WINDWARD MARINA GROUP.
THIS IS FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING, AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT FIRST.
I'M LOOKING AT DEMAND THAT I'M SHOUTING OUT TO JOHN REAGAN.
WE PURCHASED HIS PROPERTY ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
THE FIRST THING I PERSONALLY DID IS I WENT TO JOHN.
I SAID JOHN, WHAT IS THE CITY ONE? WHAT DO WE DO? JOHN SAID, WOW, I'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED THAT BEFORE.
USUALLY, THE DEVELOPER COMES AND ROLL SOMETHING OUT.
WHAT WE BOUGHT THAT WAS ROLLED UP BEFORE WAS HORRIBLE.
IT'S LIKE 100 ACRES OF ASPHALT AND 90 HOTELS AND A FERRIS WHEEL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ST. AUGUSTINE. THANK YOU, JOHN.
JOHN MADE INTRODUCTIONS TO OUR MAYOR NOW, NANCY ROXANNE. I'M AT BARBARA.
ISABEL RUBEN. I THINK THEY LEFT.
DAVID BERTRAM WHO HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. TODD GRANT.
SORRY [INAUDIBLE] IN THE GROUP.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS 50 ACRE DEVELOPMENT, IT STARTED FOUR YEARS AGO WITH AN IDEA FROM THE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENTED THE CITY.
WE TOOK THAT IDEA AND WE RAN WITH IT.
WE HIRED DPZ, I WOULD SAY THAT PROBABLY THE BEST PLANNING FIRM IN THE WORLD.
YOU GUYS ALL KNEW THAT DID SEASIDE WATERCOLOR AND 200 OTHER PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS.
TONIGHT, WE SAT AND WE LISTENED A LOT ABOUT
[02:15:02]
SANCHEZ MARIA FLOODING AND RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.I HAVE A QUESTION TO THE CITY COMMISSION IN MY PRESENTATION.
WHY ISN'T THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE A MEMBER OF AMERICAN FLOOD CORRELATION? YOU ARE GOOD.
I DIDN'T SEE YOU ON THE LATEST WEBSITE.
THEY TOOK OUR PROJECT ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO AND MADE IT AN EXAMPLE OF HOW DO YOU BUILD A LITTLE TOWN INSIDE A TOWN THAT'S RESILIENT? THEY CAN STAND UP TO FLOODS.
THEY CAN STAND UP TO SUSTAINABILITY.
HOW DO WE SAVE TREES, ETC? I'M NOT GOING TO BE TOO LONG UP HERE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE SPECTACULAR TREES ON THIS SIDE.
WE'RE SPENDING OVER $450,000 MOVING HUNDRED-YEAR OLD OAK TREES WHERE THE FIRM OUT OF DAYTONA, VERY PROUD OF THAT.
WE'RE CREATING AMBIENCE WITH THE TREES.
MOST OF THE SITE THAT YOU GUYS SEE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON NOW IT'S BEEN FILLED.
ONE OF OUR OTHER GOALS WAS WE HAVE TO BE NOT OUT OF THE HUNDRED-YEAR FLOODPLAIN, THE 500-YEAR FLOODPLAIN. HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE FORTIFY, WE FILL, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A MUCH BETTER DRAINAGE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGES OF OUR SITE IS THAT YOU DON'T NEED FLOOD INSURANCE ANYWHERE.
ANOTHER UNUSUAL THING ABOUT THIS SITE IS THAT MOST DEVELOPERS THAT DIDN'T GO TO THE DPZ SCHOOL, THEY PUT EVERYTHING, ALL THE HIGH DENSITY RIGHT UP AGAINST THE WATER.
SO ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK, I CAN'T SEE THE WATER.
WE DID COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE.
SO IF YOU SEE AT THE SHIPYARD, WHAT'S GOING ON NOW IS OUR HIGHEST INTENSITY BUILDING IS THE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THE WATER, RIGHT NEXT DOOR, RETENTION POND.
AND THAT'S OUR MULTIFAMILY EVERYTHING FROM THAT FIVE STORY BUILDING, WHICH IS THE CODE, SLOPES DOWN TO THE WATER.
IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER THIS SITE, THIS 15 ACRES, HAD WE FOLLOW THE COUNTY CODE, WE COULD BUILD 185 DWELLINGS HERE.
WE'RE PUTTING IN 50, WE'RE MAKING A WALKABLE OR MAKING A SUSTAINABLE, WE'RE SAVING THE TRUTH.
I STAND IN FRONT OF YOU ALL AND I SAY THIS ANNEXATION WAS IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF A MASTER PLAN.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO LOOK AT ANNEXING SOMETHING WHERE IT ANNEXING SOMETHING THAT WAS PART OF IT FROM THE BEGINNING.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE SHIPYARD MASTER PLAN.
SO WITH THAT, ALAN, IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING OR CARL OR IF YOU ALL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. JUST I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOPEFULLY THIS IS OUR POWERPOINT.
BY THE WAY, LNA EVERY SMITH ROGERS TOWERS, 100 WHETSTONE PLACE HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A LONG EVENING AND YOU'VE GOT MORE TO GO.
I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF QUICK SLIDES TO GO.
I WILL NOT REITERATE WHAT STEPH AND AMY I'VE ALREADY SAID OR MS. SKINNER, I APOLOGIZE.
BUT WHEN STEPH TALKS ABOUT LITERALLY A MIXED USE PROJECT, YOU CAN SEE UP ON THE NORTH PART OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S ALREADY IN THE CITY, THE MIXED USE MARINA AND RETAIL.
THE MIXED USE TOWN CENTER IS COMING.
THAT'S ON THE ARPEGGIO PROPERTY ALREADY IN THE CITY.
THE MULTIFAMILY APARTMENTS, AS STAFF JUST TALKED ABOUT, ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW, THAT'S THE HEIGHT AND DENSITY AWAY FROM THE WATER.
THEN THE MULTI-FAMILY TOWN HOMES WILL BE IN THE ARPEGGIO PORTION OF THE SITE THAT'S ALREADY IN THE CITY.
MOST OF THE LAND THAT'S BEING ANNEXED IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE SINGLE-FAMILY PORTION, WHICH WILL BE ABOUT FOUR DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.
I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT AND THEN ONE OTHER SLIDE TO SHOW YOU.
THIS IS THE PUD SITE PLAN JUST FOR YOU.
YOU HAVE ORIENTATION FOR OUR SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT THE LAYOUT OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY LOTS AND THEN THE COMMUNITY DOC, WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE BY THE PCB MEMBERS.
YOU SEE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE SOUTHERN END.
JUST ONE MORE THING ABOUT PEDESTRIAN OR CONNECTIVITY.
YOU SEE THROUGHOUT THE SITE THE WALKWAYS THAT ARE ALONG THE RIVER FRONT TO TIE IN TO THE CITY'S EXISTING BOARDWALK SYSTEM THAT YOU'VE GOT, A RIVERWALK SYSTEM THAT YOU'VE GOT ENVISIONED.
THEN YOU SEE THE INNER CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY INCLUDING THESE RESIDENTIAL LOTS, AND THEN OF COURSE BEHIND TARGET AND THEN BACK OUT TO US IF PEOPLE WANT TO GO THAT WAY.
THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO INTERCONNECT THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO THE VISION THAT STEPH JUST GAVE YOU.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL BE QUIET AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, AND THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE THAT. COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER BLONDER, I KNOW YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
[02:20:03]
>> YES, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION AND THEN A COUPLE OF OTHER, ACTUALLY REQUESTS.
THE 0.15 ACRES OF ON-SITE WETLANDS, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPACTED.
I'M ASSUMING THOSE WILL FALL UNDER DEP AND OTHER CRITERIA FOR MITIGATION.
>> YES. COMMISSIONER BLONDER, THROUGH THE MAYOR, THOSE MINIMAL WETLAND IMPACTS HAVE BEEN PERMITTED THROUGH THE APPLICABLE AGENCIES.
RYAN CARTER, WHO IS OUR PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT WILL BE HERE ON SECOND READING TO TESTIFY TO YOU ABOUT THOSE.
BUT YES, THEY HAVE BEEN PERMITTED AND WILL BE MITIGATED IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN.
>> OH, HE'S SAYING THEY PAID THE MITIGATION ALREADY, SO THEY HAVE BEEN MITIGATED THROUGH A MITIGATION BANK.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
THE FIRST IS THAT THIS IS A PUD, SO IT'S A NEGOTIATION.
I'D LIKE TO SEE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS PROPOSAL, PLANTING OF NATIVE PLANTS, NATIVE TO OUR REGION.
I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS FOR EVERY PUD THAT COMES BEFORE ME, SO I'M ADVOCATING FOR IT AGAIN HERE.
MRS. [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING WITH THAT? THEN I ALSO WANTED TO REFER BACK TO, I FORGET THE NAME, WAS IT THE BUILDING SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WAS HEADED BY FORMER COMMISSIONER VALDEZ LOOKING AT DESIGN STANDARDS THAT COULD IMPROVE OUR RESILIENCY, AND SO WE ADOPTED ORDINANCE 2021-26.
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ALL TO VOLUNTARILY IMPOSE.
WHAT THE ORDINANCE BASICALLY DOES IS IT ADOPTS AN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO FOR SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS TO IMPROVE FLOOD RESILIENCY.
NOT ON YOUR SITE PERHAPS, BUT IF WE HAVE IMPERVIOUS SURFACES ANYWHERE IN THE CITY, THEY CONTRIBUTE OVERALL TO RUN OFF.
WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT YOU VOLUNTARILY IMPOSED THE SAME STANDARDS THAT THAT ORDINANCE CALLS FOR WITHIN YOUR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
WHILE THE ORDINANCE DOES EXEMPT MASTERPLAN COMMUNITIES SUCH AS YOURS, AS THIS IS A NEGOTIATION, I'M ASKING YOU TO VOLUNTARILY IMPOSE THAT WITHIN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.
I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT ORDINANCE, SO WE'LL HAVE TO DO THE RESEARCH BEFORE SECOND READING.
BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST WITHIN THE PUD ITSELF?
>> YEAH. ALTHOUGH IT'D BE GREAT TO DO IT THROUGHOUT.
[LAUGHTER] I'LL TAKE WHAT I CAN GET. THANK YOU.
>> NO OTHER COMMENTS. THAT IS FIRST READINGS.
WHAT WE WILL BE DOING HERE IS INDIVIDUALLY APPROVING THESE, SINCE I SEE A LOT OF POSITIVE NODDING HEADS ON THIS, WE WILL ADDRESS THESE, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN MOTIONS ON EACH ORDINANCE.
WHAT WE'LL BE DOING IS, WE WILL BE APPROVING THESE TO GO TO PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL APPROVAL.
THIS IS NOT FINAL APPROVAL, THIS IS THE FIRST HEARING.
>> I'M SORRY. I JUST NOTICED I HAD ANOTHER NOTE.
THIS IS ON, I'M LOOKING FOR THE PAGE NUMBER, PAGE 76 OF OUR DOCUMENT.
IT STARTS WITH FOR YOUR HELP AND TO HELP YOU WITH IT.
IT'S WHERE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT EXHIBIT E IN THE CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE PLAN.
THEN YOU GO ON TO TALK ABOUT THE REAR SIDE LOT DRAINAGE FROM GRASPED OR ALTERED AREAS OF THE WINDWARD SHIPYARD PUD ALONG AN ALTERED SHORELINE NOT DIRECTED TO A WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, MAY BE DISCHARGED TO AN ADJACENT WATER BODY WETLAND.
HOWEVER, THE AREA NOT TREATED MUST BE COMPENSATED ELSEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM.
THIS MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL WATER QUALITY TREATMENT IN THE SYSTEM EQUIVALENT TO THAT WHICH WILL BE DISCHARGED UNTREATED.
I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS SOME CLARITY IN THAT SECTION, SOME ADDITIONAL CLARITY.
>> OF OUR PACKET, IT'S PAGE 76.
THIS IS IN SECTION, I'M SO SORRY.
I HAVE TO SCROLL BACK UP, IT'S T14.
>> IT MIGHT BE IN OUR NUMBER 3. YEAH. I'M SORRY.
[02:25:10]
>> CAN WE CALL UP CARL? HE'S OUR CIVIL ENGINEER.
HE CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WE'LL HAVE CARL COME AND GET SWORN IN.
>> I'M NOT EVEN SURE I NEED AN ANSWER, I JUST WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO IT FOR CLARIFICATION.
>> WE'RE ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION?
>> WE'LL HAVE IT IN OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.
>> THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> VERY GOOD IDEA. [NOISE]. LET'S GET THIS APPROVAL MOVING SO WE CAN PUT IT ONTO PUBLIC HEARING, SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.
SPECIFIC TO ORDINANCE 2023-10.
>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ON READING THE TITLE ONLY.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND. MADAM, CITY ATTORNEY.
>> AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA ANNEXING APPROXIMATELY 14.79 ACRES OF PROPERTY NOW LOCATED IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA, LYING SOUTH OF THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT REFERRED TO AS THE SHIPYARDS.
EAST OF ARAPAHOE AVENUE, NORTH AND WEST OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER AS DESCRIBED HEREIN REDEFINING THE BOUNDARY LINES OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE TO INCLUDE SAID PROPERTY, AMENDING SECTION 1.04 OF THE CHARTER LAWS OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR FILING OF A COPY HERE UP WITH THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA, WITH THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CITY CODE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND THAT IS ORDINANCE 2023-10.
>> ANY FURTHER DEBATE, DISCUSSION, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> MOVING TO ORDINANCE 2023-11.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE ON READ BY TITLE ONLY.
>> JUST GIVE ME A SECOND FOR WHATEVER REASON MY TAB IS JUMPING TO 12 AND NOT 11.
UNLESS SOMEONE HAS THE SHORT TITLE HANDY FOR 11?
>> STRANGELY ENOUGH, WHEN I'M MASHING THE BUTTON FOR 11, IT JUMPS ME TO 12.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-11, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
FORM DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 5,076 SQUARE FEET OF PROPERTY LOCATED EAST OF ARAPAHO AVENUE AS A PORTION OF THE [INAUDIBLE] GRANT WITHIN THE SHIPYARDS DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER, FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY MIXED-USE DISTRICT, TO A CITY DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED-USE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> GOT TO START SOMEWHERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU GOT THE VERSE. DO I HEAR A SECOND?
>> ALL RIGHT. [LAUGHTER] GOOD ENOUGH.
MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE [OVERLAPPING].
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-12, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA REZONING APPROXIMATELY 5,076 SQUARE FEET OF PROPERTY LOCATED EAST OF ARAPAHO AVENUE AS A PORTION OF THE M. SOLANA GRANT WITHIN THE SHIPYARDS DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY OPEN RURAL, OR, TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL OFFICE, RGO, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? NONE BEING HEARD, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> WE ARE ONTO ITEM ORDINANCE 2023-13.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE ON FIRST READING.
>> ALL RIGHT. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE READ THE TITLE.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-13, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA,
[02:30:02]
AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FROM DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 13.70 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED EAST OF ARAPAHO AVENUE AS A PORTION OF THE M. SOLANA GRANT WITHIN THE SHIPYARDS DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF ST.JOHNS COUNTY MIXED-USE DISTRICT AND CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED-USE TO A CITY DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL LOW-DENSITY, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> WE ARE ONTO ORDINANCE 2023-14.
>> SO MOVED AND READ BY TITLE ONLY.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THE CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE READ THE TITLE.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-14, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
REZONING APPROXIMATELY 13.70 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED EAST OF ARAPAHO AVENUE AS A PORTION OF THE M. SOLANA GRANT WITHIN THE SHIPYARDS DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY OPEN RURAL, OR, AND CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE RESIDENTIAL GENERAL OFFICE, RGO, TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, PUD.
PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING.
>> CHARLES PAPPAS AND THE WHOLE PZB, I THINK WE OUGHT TO, AS VOLUNTEERS, THEY DID A LOT OF WORK GETTING THIS.
>> TO A CERTAIN POINT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THEY DO.
>> YEAH, THEY DID. THEY GAVE IT A THOROUGH THRASHING AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
SORRY. [LAUGHTER] WELL, I MEAN IT IN A GOOD WAY. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE'LL MOVE ONTO RESOLUTIONS.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2023-08: 515 Arricola Avenue regarding the City Flood Mitigation Grant Program (J. Beach, Chief Resiliency Officer, and R. Schauland, Jr., Planning and Building Department)]
MISS JESSICA BEACH, YOU'RE ON DECK WITH MR. SCHAULAND.IT'S A TEAM. WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE THIS TEAM, I WILL SAY THAT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS BUDDY SCHAULAND ON THE CITY BUILDING OFFICIAL.
ADDITIONALLY, I'M ALSO THE CITY FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR.
THIS MATTER IS RELATED TO RESOLUTION 2020-08, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ACTIONS NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FEMA FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR OUR FIRST APPLICATION AT 515 ARRICOLA AVENUE.
IT INCLUDES THE CONTRACT FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE HOMEOWNER.
FEMA'S HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE GRANT IS AN ANNUAL NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE GRANT THAT INCLUDES THE FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE GRANT OR THE FMA.
THE FMA HELPS PROPERTY OWNERS MITIGATE FLOODING.
THE FMA ALLOWS FOR THREE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS: MITIGATION RECONSTRUCTION, ELEVATION, OR ACQUISITION.
MITIGATION RECONSTRUCTION IS THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW STRUCTURE WITH THE FINISHED FLOOR ELEVATION AT OR ABOVE TWO FEET ABOVE THE BASE FLOOD ELEVATION.
THE NEW STRUCTURE CAN ONLY BE 10% LARGER THAN THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE.
THE GRANT WILL PAY ONLY UP TO $150,000 TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION.
ELEVATION IS ELEVATING OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE SO THAT THE FINISHED FLOOR ELEVATION IS AT OR ABOVE TWO FEET ABOVE THE BASE FLOOD ELEVATION.
THE GRANT WILL PAY UP TO 100% OF THE ELEVATION COSTS.
ACQUISITION IS WHERE THE CITY WOULD ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY THROUGH THE GRANT.
ONCE THE CITY OWN THE PROPERTY, NOTHING CAN BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE PROPERTY FOR THE LIFE OF THE PROPERTY.
THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS TO THAT, THOUGH.
WE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO PURSUE THIS ACTIVITY IN OUR APPLICATIONS.
THE GRANT HAS A COST SHARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
IF THE PROPERTY IS A SEVERE REPETITIVE LOSS PROPERTY, THE GRANT WILL PAY UP TO 100%.
IF THE PROPERTY IS A REPETITIVE LOSS PROPERTY, THE GRANT WILL PAY UP TO 90%, THE OWNER WOULD HAVE TO COVER 10%.
IF THE PROPERTY IS NEITHER, THE GRANT WILL PAY UP TO 75% AND THE OWNER WILL PAY THE REMAINING 25%.
[02:35:05]
WITH THIS GRANT, THE STATE IS THE APPLICANT AND THE CITY IS THE SUB-APPLICANT.THE CITY APPLIES FOR THE GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, TWO PROPERTY OWNERS CONTACTED ME TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT.
ONE WAS FOR A MITIGATION RECONSTRUCTION AND THE OTHER WAS FOR AN ELEVATION.
WITH THE HELP OF OTHER STAFF MEMBERS, WE SUBMITTED BOTH PROPERTIES TO THE STATE FOR THE GRANT.
THE STATE HAD ONLY RECOMMENDED THE MITIGATION RECONSTRUCTION FOR 515 ARRICOLA AVENUE TO FEMA.
THE ELEVATION PROJECT DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS.
AFTER REALIZING THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND WORK THAT WENT IN TO THE APPLY FOR THE GRANT, STAFF DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO CONTRACT WITH A COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN THESE APPLICATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AWARDED GRANTS.
IN 2021, THE CITY AWARDED THE CONTRACT FOR THESE SERVICES TO QUALITY ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING.
THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE LAST TWO GRANT SUBMISSIONS.
THE FUNDS TO PAY QUALITY ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING COMES FROM THE GRANT ITSELF.
FEMA ALLOWS A SUB-APPLICANT TO BUILD INTO THE GRANT APPLICATION ADMINISTRATIVE COST.
THIS COST CAN BE UP TO 5% OF THE COST OF THE PROJECT.
LAST JULY, FEMA AWARDED THE GRANT FOR OUR APPLICATION FROM 2020 TO THE STATE.
THE STATE AWARDED THE GRANT TO THE CITY IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
THE FEDERAL SHARE OF THIS GRANT IS $183,886.94, THIS ACCOUNTS FOR THE $150,000 FOR ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND AN ADDITIONAL $33,886.94 FOR SOFT COSTS.
SOFT COSTS ARE ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION BUT THEY'RE NOT ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS AS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARCHITECTURAL FEES, PERMITTING FEES, ELEVATION CERTIFICATES, THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.
DURING THE CONSTRUCTION, THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL SUBMIT TO THE CITY RECEIPTS FOR ITEMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE REIMBURSABLE.
AT THE END OF THE PROJECT, THE CITY WILL HAVE TO REIMBURSE THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT MONEY UP TO THE FEDERAL SHARE.
AFTER REIMBURSING THE OWNER, THE CITY WILL SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE.
IF ALL PAPERWORK IS CORRECT, THE STATE WILL REIMBURSE THE CITY WITHIN 21 DAYS AND THIS IS AFTER THE PROJECT IS FINISHED AND THE CITY PORTION IS PAID TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
RESOLUTION 2023-08 WILL AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS PURSUANT TO THE FMA GRANT PROGRAM.
APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO SUBMIT ALL DOCUMENTS TO THE STATE WITHIN THE TIMELINES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THE GRANT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE ASKING TO SET ASIDE THE FEDERAL SHARE OF THE 2020 GRANT TO ALLOW FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT TO THE OWNER.
SINCE THE CITY DID NOT CONTRACT QUALITY ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING UNTIL AFTER THIS APPLICATION, THEY ARE NOT UNDER CONTRACT TO MANAGE THIS GRANT.
STAFF DID NOT BUILD INTO THE GRANT THAT 5% ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.
WE ARE ASKING THAT THE CITY PAY QUALITY ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING THE $14,000 FROM THEIR QUOTE TO MANAGE THIS GRANT FOR US.
THE $14,000 WOULD COME FROM THE CITY RESERVES ACCOUNT.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND JESSICA BEACH, THE CITY RESILIENCY OFFICER IS ALSO HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKS.
WE HAVE A RESOLUTION AND WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR 14,000K OUT OF RESERVES FOR THE 5% FEE.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I'M GLAD WE ONLY HAVE THE ONE THAT WE DIDN'T PUT THE [LAUGHTER] ADMINISTRATION FEE ON AND NOT 10, SO WE'LL LIVE AND LEARN AND SO WE'LL DO MUCH BETTER.
>> NOW THAT QUALITY ENGINEERING WAS RETAINED, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT.
WE WERE PILOTING THIS IN-HOUSE AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THEM ON BOARD, THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE BUILT INTO THE GRANT, SO ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS WE'VE SUBMITTED THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED.
MOVING FORWARD THIS IS JUST ONE.
>> WE EXPECT THIS TO BE THE ONLY ONE THAT WE WILL HAVE.
THIS IS REALLY JUST GLITCHY UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH THE $14,000 TO PRESS ON IN ESTABLISHING AND JUST AT LEAST TO GET THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROGRAM.
MOVING FORWARD, COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS.
>> THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, IF I HEARD YOU RIGHT, THERE'S A 21 DAY DELAY BETWEEN THE TIME THAT WE, THE CITY, PROVIDES THE FUNDS TO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE TIME THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REIMBURSES US. DID I GET THAT RIGHT?
[02:40:05]
>> WELL, WE HAVE TO PAY THE PROPERTY OWNER AS SOON AS WE'VE DETERMINE THAT EVERYTHING IS REIMBURSABLE, WE REIMBURSE THEM THAT.
THEN WE HAVE TO PUT OUR PAPERWORK AND WE HAVE TO SEND IT TO THE STATE.
ONCE THE STATE RECEIVES THAT, THEY HAVE 21 DAYS TO PAY US.
>> OKAY. SO IT COULD BE ABOUT A MONTH OR SO.
THAT GETS TO COMMISSIONER HOVARTH'S POINT WHICH I WAS THINKING AS WELL AS, IF WE'VE GOT 50 OR 60 APPLICANTS AND IF BY SOME WONDERFUL CHANCE WE ACTUALLY GET FUNDED FOR ALL 50 OR 60 OF THOSE, HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT WILL THAT HAVE ON OUR BUDGET FOR THAT 30-ISH DAY PERIOD?
>> I'VE GOT THE NUMBERS HERE FROM OUR LAST ROUND OF APPLICATIONS.
I'M GOING TO PUT THIS HERE SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
FOR THIS LAST APPLICATION CYCLE WE HAD 62 PROPERTIES THAT WERE ACTUALLY IN THE APPLICATION TO THE STATE ACROSS THE STATE HURDLE AND THRESHOLDS FOR REVIEW, WHICH IS NOW SITTING IN FMA.
SO WE'LL KNOW SOMEWHERE IN LATE AUGUST IF THOSE PROPERTIES GET AWARDED.
THIS IS A BREAKDOWN FOR THE COSTS AND IT'S NOT DETAILED, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THERE'S TWO APPLICATIONS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GET AWARDED.
YOU'VE GOT THE 11 PROPERTIES AND BUDDY HAD DESCRIBED THE WAY FMA PRIORITIZES THESE FOR THE SEVERE AND THE REPETITIVE LOSS PROPERTIES, THAT'S THE 2.25 MILLION.
AND THEN IF THE 50 THAT ARE NON, THAT'S ANOTHER 10 MILLION.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WERE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROGRAM.
>> CAN I ASK A RELATED QUESTION?
>> ARE YOU REIMBURSING FOR EVERY RECEIPT OR ARE YOU WAITING UNTIL IT'S ALL THE WAY DONE?
>> WE WILL REIMBURSE AT THE END.
>> THE HOMEOWNER HAS TO AFFORD OUT THE MONEY UPFRONT TO PAY THE CONTRACTOR THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND THEN THE CITY WILL REIMBURSE AT THE END.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS? I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS RESOLUTION 2023_08.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE A MOTION TO PASS RESOLUTION 2023_08.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> YES. AND BEST WISHES FOR THE OTHER APPLICANTS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MUCH MORE OF YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE ONTO RESOLUTION 2023_09, COMMISSIONER BLONDER.
[9.B.2. Resolution 2023-09: Support of Ingraham House's Rehabilitation and Restoration Grant (B. Blonder, Commissioner)]
>> THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT INGRAHAM HOUSES REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION GRANT.
WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US, DR. LESLIE KEYS, FOR ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS ENCOMPASSES.
>> COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS APPLICATION, IT'S A SPECIAL CATEGORY GRANT.
IT'S BASICALLY A RESOLUTION LETTER OF SUPPORT.
INSTEAD OF AN INDIVIDUAL LETTER OF SUPPORT, IT'S A COMMISSION LETTER OF SUPPORT.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT I NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO THIS BUILDING UNTIL THIS RESOLUTION.
I DROVE BY YOUR OFFICE [LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S A MAGNIFICENT BUILDING.
I'VE BEEN BY IT 100 TIMES [INAUDIBLE]
>> GREAT. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS RESOLUTION 2023_09.
>> SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
IN THE FUTURE I THINK THIS COULD BE A CONSENTED AGENDA ITEM.
> YOU WON'T ACTUALLY NEED THEM BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT DELEGATES TO WHOEVER WILL BE JOHN NUMBER 2 TO HANDLE ALL OF THESE.
>> COULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? I'M SORRY.
FOR RESOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT SPECIAL CATEGORY.
BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ACTUALLY DENYING A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
WHENEVER I GET A LETTER OF SUPPORT REQUEST, I ALWAYS SUPPORT.
BUT THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION, INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUAL LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE SPECIAL CATEGORY GRANTS.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WOULDN'T IT JUST BE EASIER TO GO AHEAD.
THIS IS NOT A CONTROVERSIAL ITEM.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR REORG RESOLUTION PLACES RESOLUTIONS ON THE AGENDA AT A PARTICULAR POINT IN YOUR AGENDA.
SO YOU CAN ALWAYS REORGANIZE IF YOU WANTED TO AT THE BEGINNING OF A MEETING AND SAY, LISTEN, LET'S JUST PUT THIS ON THE CONSENT.
[02:45:02]
WE STAFF COULDN'T DO IT.I THOUGHT YOU MEANT FOR THE FMA GRANTS.
>> NO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PATENT ONE WE JUST PASSED. THANK YOU.
THAT IS REALLY GOOD ADVICE AND I THINK WE'LL DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S PATIENCE.
WE'RE GOING TO A VERY IMPORTANT STAFF REPORT AND PRESENTATION,
[10.A. Discussion of Potential Acquisition of 5 South Street (R. Franklin, Public Works Director)]
AND THAT IS A DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS FOR 5 SOUTH STREET. MR. FRANKLIN.>> YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
REUBEN FRANKLIN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
THIS EVENING BEFORE YOU WE HAVE A REQUEST TO CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF 5 SOUTH STREET.
THIS IS A CRITICAL PARCEL FOR THE LAKE MARIA FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.
BELOW HERE IS JUST A LOCATION MAP WITH THE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES OUTLINED IN RED.
THIS IS THE PROJECT AS IT'S DESIGNED TODAY.
SO WE WOULD NEED TO UTILIZE THIS PROPERTY FOR PART OF THE BULK HEAD CONSTRUCTION, THE PUMPING STATION AS WELL.
WE REACHED OUT TO THE CONNOR FAMILY.
MR. JOHN CONNOR IS IN THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
ULTIMATELY, WE DECIDED ON PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY, SO WE WENT OUT AND GOT A PROPERTY APPRAISAL DONE ON THE PROPERTY.
THE COST IS $1,150,000 BASED ON THE PROPERTY APPRAISAL. IT'S IN THE PACKET.
THE INTENTION HERE WOULD BE, FOR THE PROJECT, TO DESIGN IT AS A PACKET PARK.
WE WOULD DEMO THE HOUSE AND THEN WHEN WE DESIGN THE PROJECT, WE DESIGN IT AS A SMALL GREEN SPACE THAT HAS A MARSH OVERLOOK AND THEN BRING BACK AT A FUTURE DATE NAMING OF THE PARK, WHICH WOULD BE NAMED FOR THE CONNOR FAMILY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAD LAID OUT IN THE MEMO.
BUT FORMALLY, WE ARE REQUESTING THE COMMISSION'S AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY WITH THE USE OF THE GENERAL FUND UNRESTRICTED RESERVES.
AS PART OF THAT REQUEST, WE WOULD INCLUDE THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY, FOR IT NOT TO EXCEED APPRAISAL PRICE OF $1,150,000, AND ANY INCIDENTAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION SUCH AS RECORDING OF THE WARRANTY DEED, TITLE WORK, AND SURVEY.
THE AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE PURCHASE WOULD BE CONTINGENT UPON OBTAINING A WARRANTY DEED, CLEAR TITLE, AND A SURVEY.
THIS EVENING IF YOU AUTHORIZE US TO MOVE FORWARD, THAT WORK STILL HAS TO GET DONE.
BUT BECAUSE WE'RE ON A TIMELINE WITH A GRANT, WE WANT TO KEEP THIS MOVING ALONG AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
MRS. BEACH IS HERE AS WELL, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, WE CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE IT AND WE VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE CONNOR FAMILY STEPPING FORWARD, MR. CONNOR, JOHNNY WE CALL HIM.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I GIVE YOU MY WORD, THIS WILL BE NAMED AFTER YOUR FAMILY IN WHATEVER YOU DESIRE AND HOWEVER YOU WANT IT NAMED IF THIS RESOLUTION PASSES.
IF THIS AUTHORIZATION PASSES, BECAUSE THIS IS A REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE YOU TO NEGOTIATE, IS IT?
>> IT'S TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASE, THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE COMPLETE.
>> THE NEGOTIATIONS OR COMPLETE.
>> USING UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FROM THE RESERVES.
>> UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FROM. GOT YOU.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION TO DO SO.
>> SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> DO YOU NEED ANY MORE FROM US?
>> MAYOR, WE DON'T NEED ANYTHING MORE ON THE CONNOR FAMILY, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK JOHN CONNOR AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY AND HIS MOTHER FOR HELPING US WITH SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.
I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE OTHER THREE PROPERTIES BECAUSE IN TOTAL THERE ARE FOUR PROPERTIES THAT ARE PART OF THE DESIGN.
WE HAVE APPRAISAL WORK BEING DONE ON THE OTHER THREE PROPERTIES BECAUSE WITH THE OTHER THREE PROPERTIES, WE HAVE TO TALK IN SPECIFIC NUMBERS TO NEGOTIATE HOW WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE PROPERTIES INTO THE PROJECT.
BUT THE CONNOR PROPERTY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
[02:50:03]
BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT WE REALLY HAD TO HAVE.I EXPECT THAT STAFF IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, WE'LL HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION WITH THE APPRAISAL TO BE NEGOTIATING WITH THE OTHER THREE PROPERTY OWNERS AND I THINK THINGS ARE JUST GOING TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO EVERYBODY QUICKLY.
I'M HOPING THAT THIS PURCHASE OF THE CONNOR'S WE'LL BE THE CASCADING EFFECT TO BRING ALL THE PROPERTIES INTO WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE THIS THE BEST PROJECT IT COULD BE.
>> VERY GOOD, I SINCERELY HOPE SO.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND CONGRATULATIONS TO DATE ON THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE HEADING FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS BY ETHNICITY ATTORNEY? HAVE WE USED YOU UP FOR THE EVENING THEN? I SUPPOSE SO.
NO, MA'AM, NO ITEMS BY THE CITY CLERK.
[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]
ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER.>> MAYOR, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO GIVE AN UPDATE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE KEY LEGISLATION ISSUES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
THE UNSTRUCTURED BILLS AND THE STATUS, AND STATUS AS I'VE JUST EVEN A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO.
WERE YOU PLANNING TO BRING UP ANY OF THAT OR?
>> I WAS NOT BECAUSE IT'S STILL GOING AND I'M RELUCTANT TO SAY TOO MUCH AT THIS POINT AND JINX IT.
>> BUT IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE GIVING, AT LEAST A THUMBNAIL.
>> IN BROAD TERMS, MAYOR SIKES-KLINE MYSELF WITH THE SUPPORT OF MANY PEOPLE.
HERE, BACK HOME AND ALSO [INAUDIBLE] OUR LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT, HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN WORKING ON THE UNSAFE STRUCTURES BILL AND THE VACATION RENTAL BILL.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SOME POTENTIALLY GOOD FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS.
AS OF JUST EVEN AN HOUR AGO, THERE'S NOTHING SCHEDULED TO BRING THE UNSTRUCTURED BILL TO THE HOUSE FLOOR YET.
BUT THERE IS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT CAN REALLY WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.
THAT WOULD BE INTRODUCED AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
WE'RE WATCHING THIS VERY CLOSELY.
THE BEST NEWS AS OF RECENTLY IS IT'S NOT CURRENTLY SCHEDULED.
IT'S BEEN A FIGHT AND IT'S REALLY BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH MAYOR SIKES-KLINE THIS LAST ROUND OF LEGISLATION.
I WISH YOU COULD ALL BE THERE TO SEE HOW THIS WORKS AND IN THE FUTURE I THINK YOU CAN, BUT THIS BILL IS MIGHT BE ONE OF THE WORST THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT INVIGORATES OUR PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
PLEASE WATCH WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD ROUND UP OF THAT.
YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM US ON THAT IN THE FUTURE AND I THINK MAYBE THE LESS I SAY THE BETTER.
[NOISE] SINCE IT'S STILL FLUID AS WE SAY AND IN PROGRESS.
AS YOU KNOW, ANYTHING WILDNESS CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT AT THE END OF THAT AND LITERALLY THAT STROKE OF MIDNIGHT AT THE END OF SESSION, SO WE'LL JUST HOLD TIGHT.
ANYTHING ELSE FROM MR. CITY MANAGER? IT TOO IT IS ALSO A PLEASURE FOR ME TO WORK WITH YOU AND WE WILL BE HAVING, IF THIS FRIENDLY AMENDMENT DOES HOLD AND WELL HOPEFULLY THE BILL IS DEFEATED.
BUT IF IT HOLDS FOR US AND THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME VERY BIG THANK YOU.
BE PREPARED FOR SOME VERY MANY THINGS.
WITH THAT SAID, I WILL JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT YES,
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
I DID RETURN FROM SPAIN, I AM IN ONE PIECE.IT WAS A GREAT TRIP AND I WILL BE UPDATING YOU WHEN WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SHORTER MEETING AND SOME TIME TO LET YOU IN ON SOME OF THE DETAILS BUT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE.
I WAS EXHAUSTED, BUT I THINK I GOT A LITTLE REST OVER THE WEEKEND, WE'LL TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THAT.
I'LL BE THRILLED TO GIVE YOU AND ENROLL SOME DETAILS FOR YOU.
VICE MAYOR, NO, COMMISSIONER GARRIS?
>> I HAVE TWO THINGS I'M SORRY, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE VERY EAGER TO GET HOME.
>> ONE IS I WANT TO MENTION CRA AND THE ST. AUGUSTINE ASSESSMENT BE DONE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS OVER IN THAT AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE
[02:55:01]
UPDATED AND THEY COULD USE SOME HELP WITH CHURCHES THAT ARE ANTIQUED, NOT ANTIQUED BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 100 YEARS OLD.I SCRAPE THAT. WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THIS THINGS HAPPEN OVER IN LINCOLN BELL AND I JUST NEED THAT TO COME OVER US ONE OVER TO THE WEST SIDE.
SECOND, I WAS ABLE TO GO OUT TO FLORIDA AVENUE AND SOME OTHER AREAS BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT FLOODING AND A DEVELOPMENT TAKING PLACE OVER THERE ON FLORIDA AVENUE AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE IN THE PAST BASICALLY CONSIDER PURCHASING PROPERTY TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM HAVING THESE ISSUES WITH REDEVELOPMENT AND THINGS AND I WANT THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CONSIDER LOOKING INTO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SELLING THEIR HOMES.
IT'S A LOT OF LAND OVER THERE.
FLORIDA AVENUE RUNS PARALLEL WITH [NOISE] MASTERS DRIVE AND IT'S ON A SWAMP AREA AND THERE'S A LOT OF WOODS AND NATURE OVER THERE.
IF THEY DEVELOP ON THAT, AS YOU SEE MOST OF THESE HOMES THAT THEY'RE BUILDING THEIR TWO STORIES SO THAT WATER IS GOING TO COME RIGHT UNDER AND GO TO THOSE HOMES THAT ARE ONE STORY.
JOHN IS LOOKING INTO IT AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE LOSING THEIR HOMES AND BASICALLY THE SAME THING THAT'S HAPPENING ON THE ISLAND.
COMING OVER TO THE WEST SIDE BECAUSE THAT'S MY AREA.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I'M JUST A AREA, BUT I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE THE WEST SIDE HAS BEEN UNDER ADDRESS FOR YEARS, AND I JUST WANT SOME HELP ON THAT PARTICULAR AREA. THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY. MR. CITY MANAGER, I'M SURE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO WEIGH IN ON THAT.
>> WELL, TO MEREDITH SUPPORT COMMISSIONER GARRIS, I THINK MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO IS SCHEDULE A PRESENTATION AT A FUTURE CITY COMMISSION MEETING TO DISCUSS HOW TO MOVE FORWARD OF A FINDING OF NECESSITY OF A CRA ON THE WEST SIDE.
I HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WITH COMMISSIONER GARRIS AND THERE IS PLENTY OF NECESSITY.
>> I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IN FINDING OF NECESSITY OVER THERE.
>> I HOPE SO TOO. THAT WOULD BE THE STEP AND IF I FEEL LIKE I SEE CONSENSUS TO BRING THAT INFORMATION FORWARD.
>> EVERYONE'S HEAD IS NODDING EVERY SINGLE HEAD.
>> IN CONSENSUS WITH THIS PRINCIPLE?
>> YES. PLEASE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
MR. GARRIS I KNOW THAT IT IS AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED, BUT THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE POINT AND MOVING IT FORWARD.
>> JUST ONE THING I'D LIKE TO THANK THE APPLICANTS FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.
I KNOW IT WAS A BIT OF A STRETCH FOR THEM OUT OF THEIR NORMAL ROUTINE, BUT THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND I THINK THE PUBLIC WILL VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
>> COMMISSIONER BOULEVARD, YOU'RE GOOD.
IT WAS A GREAT MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.