[00:00:02]
>> I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[NOISE]>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL A ROLL.
>> REVEREND TIM FLEMING, WELCOME BACK FROM EPISCOPAL MISSIONARY CHURCH, WILL GIVE US OUR INVOCATION.
IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR ROXANNE HORVATH, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING.
>> LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY, EVER LIVING GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THIS EVENING TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.
HELP US TO ACT WITH CHARACTER AND CONVICTION, TO LISTEN TO ALL VIEWPOINTS WITH UNDERSTANDING AND WITH GOODWILL, AND TO SPEAK WITH CHARITY AND RESTRAINT.
GIVE US A SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND REMINDS US THAT WE ARE STEWARDS OF THY AUTHORITY.
GUIDE US IN OUR DISCUSSIONS, ENLIGHTEN OUR MINDS TO MAKE WISE AND GODLY DECISIONS WHICH ARE ALWAYS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THIS CITY AND ITS CITIZENS.
HELP US TO SEE THE HUMANITY AND DIGNITY OF ALL THY PEOPLE, AND TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT AND THE REVERENCE YOUR CREATION DESERVES.
FINALLY, FATHER, RENEW US WITH THE STRENGTH OF THY PRESENCE AND THE JOY OF HELPING TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WORTHY OF THY LOVE.
ALL THIS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF THY SON, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
>> PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE.
>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
>> MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANY MODIFICATION TO THE AGENDA?
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD EVENING.
STAFF HAS NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA.
>> WONDERFUL. I DO HAVE ONE MODIFICATION AND THAT IS TO ADD THE POET LAUREATE TO ITEM 3C.
IT IS A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR MANY OF US.
THIS IS OUR CITY MANAGER, JOHN REGAN'S LAST MEETING, AND WE HAVE INVITED MS. NORMA SHERRY TO GIVE US A READING ON TO CELEBRATE THAT OCCASIONAL, OR MORE IN EITHER WAY, WHICHEVER YOU PICK.
>> WITH THAT NOMINATION FOR MODIFICATION, I MAKE THE NOMINATION. DO I HEAR A SECOND?
>> THE MODIFICATION HAS BEEN MADE.
NOW WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS MODIFIED.
>> ALL THOSE WHO WERE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
TONIGHT IS ALSO IN ANOTHER WAY A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT.
WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS.
WE HAVE TWO WONDERFUL LADIES WHO ARE HERE WITH US.
WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE THEIR 100TH BIRTHDAYS.
GRACIOUSLY, COMMISSIONER CYNTHIA GARRIS HAS AGREED TO MAKE THE AWARDS AND WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE HER DO THAT, SO IF YOU WILL PROCEED, MS. GARRIS, COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
>> MY COLLEAGUES WANTS TO JOIN ME?
>> CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, CITY COMMISSION CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AND PRESENTED AN HONOR
[3.A. Certificate of Recognition to Ms. Cora Tyson in celebration of her 100th birthday. (C. Garris, Commissioner)]
TO MS. CORA TYSON IN CELEBRATION OF YOUR 100TH BIRTHDAY.CONGRATULATIONS ON ATTAINING THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU HAVE 10 DECADES OF GREAT MEMORIES CONSTITUTING A LIFE WELL LIVED.
ON THIS SPECIAL DAY, MAY 22ND, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S WISHES YOU AN ABUNDANCE OF HAPPINESS AND HEALTH.
[00:05:04]
SIGNED OUR MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE.CAN MS. TYSON AND HER FAMILY COME FORWARD? [APPLAUSE]
>> I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU DID IT.
>> COOKING AND DRIVING AND DOING ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS.
>> HERE IS ALSO A PIN FROM THE CITY.
YOU CAN WEAR THAT PROUDLY BECAUSE WE APPRECIATE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND EVERYTHING, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ST. PAUL, FOR THE ELKS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
YOU'RE SUCH A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL. YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE CONGREGATION, THE CENTER OF THE SCENE AS A WHOLE, THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE DOUBLE BLESSED TONIGHT.
[3.B. Certificate of Recognition to Ms. Barbara Vickers in celebration of her 100th birthday. (C. Garris, Commissioner)]
THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE PRESENTED TO IN HONOR OF MRS. BARBARA VICKERS AND CELEBRATION OF YOUR 100TH BIRTHDAY.CONGRATULATIONS ON ATTAINING THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU HAVE 10 DECADES OF GREAT MEMORIES CONSTITUTING A LIFE WELL LIVED.
ON THIS SPECIAL DAY, MAY 22, 2023, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WISHES YOU AN ABUNDANCE OF HAPPINESS AND HEALTH, SIGNED BY THE MAYOR, NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
WILL YOU COME FORWARD MRS. VICKERS? [APPLAUSE].
>> WITH YOUR FAMILY? [APPLAUSE]
>> REGINA, I THOUGHT YOU WERE COMING UP.
>> THIS IS A PEN FOR THE CITY, SO YOU CAN WEAR THIS PROUDLY. DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> NO, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE A 100 YEARS OLD.
MRS. VICKERS LIVES DOWN THE STREET FROM ME AND SHE WAS REALLY INVOLVED WITH DR. HAYLING, BRINGING HIM HERE TO HELP WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING AND ALL THAT.
SHE'S BEEN A PIONEER FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'RE SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> HERE'S YOUR CITY PIN. YOU WANT TO GET A PICTURE.
>> WHAT A BLESSING. LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND.
[00:10:20]
>> SO NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC REPORT.
[Additional Item]
WILL YOU STEP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE? MS. CAROL PRIYA.CAROL PRIYA IS HERE TO READ A POEM IN HONOR OF MR. REGAN'S RETIREMENT FOR OUR POET LAUREATE NOMA SHERRY, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
>> WELCOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION AND EVERYONE THAT IS HERE.
I AM HONORED TO READ FOR THE INIMITABLE, NOMA SHERRY, POET LAUREATE FOR ST. AUGUSTINE.
HER WRITINGS, HER POETRY, HER VERBIAGE WAYS FOR [OVERLAPPING]
>> MS. PRIYA, SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
CAN YOU PULL YOUR MICROPHONE DOWN CLOSER TO YOUR MOUTH? THERE YOU GO.
>> SPEAK RIGHT INTO IT. YES MA'AM.
>> THANK YOU, I'LL START OVER.
>> I AM HONORED TO READ FOR THE INIMITABLE, NOMA SHERRY, POET LAUREATE FOR ST. AUGUSTINE.
HER WRITINGS, HER POETRY, HER VERBIAGE WAYS, REMARKABLY IN THE AIR.
SHE'S DEDICATED THIS PIECE IN HONOR OF THE RETIREMENT OF JOHN B.
REGAN AS HE STEPS ASIDE FROM THE AMAZING LEADERSHIP ROLE HE HAS HAD.
AND WHILE NOMA COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT, WE KNOW SHE SHOULDN'T BE THOUGHT OF AS DANCING THROUGH THIS ILLNESS.
SHE WILL DANCE, SHE WILL WRITE, AND SHE WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE, AND CONSTRUCT THOSE WISE WONDERFUL WORDS TO DANGLE POETRY AS AN EMOTIONAL IMPACT THAT WE ALL NEED IN OUR LIVES.
THE MAN OF THE HOUR, JOHN P. REGAN.
SHE ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT THE PIECE STOOD FOR, BUT AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, THOUGHT BETTER NOT TO ASK.
INSTEAD, WE'LL JUST CIRCLE AROUND AND SEE WHAT WE COME UP WITH.
JOHN P. REGAN, A MAN OF UNIQUE QUALITIES, AND A QUIET SENSE OF HUMOR.
SO QUIET, IN FACT, IT WAS OFTEN NOT HEARD, PERHAPS BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MUCH PRESSING ON THIS MAN AT THE HELM OF THE CITY.
FOR 13 YEARS, HE WAS THE CITY MANAGER FOR HIS BELOVED CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, A MOST HONORED AND DEMANDING POSITION.
SO DEMANDING THAT EVERYONE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO HIM DAILY.
THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WENT ON IN THIS CITY THAT HE DID NOT HAVE HIS HANDS-ON.
SPEAKING OF CHIEFS, HE WAS THE NUMBER ONE CHIEF OF CHIEFDOM, JOHN P. REGAN.
ONE MIGHT NEED TO CIRCLE AROUND, BUT INDUBITABLY, HE LEAVES HIS BIG SHOES TO BE FILLED.
A PRISTINE DESK, EVERYTHING IN PLACE, AND NOTHING OUT OF ORDER.
HE IS A MAN OF GREAT DISTINCTION.
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THAT BIG SPENDER, NAY.
HE IS CONSIDERED, HE DID CONSIDER EVERY PENNY OF THE CITY'S MONEY AS IF IT WERE HIS OWN.
HE WAS ALWAYS DEPENDABLY FAIR-MINDED, EVEN IF IT WAS SOMETIMES MISCONSTRUED.
I JUST REALIZED WHAT THE P STANDS FOR, PASSION.
BECAUSE JOHN P. REGAN IS A MAN AT THE HELM WHO CONDUCTED HIMSELF, AND THE BUSINESS OF HIS CITY WITH GREAT PASSION.
ONE JUST MIGHT NEED TO CIRCLE AROUND MANY TIMES OVER TO FIND THEIR STRENGTH AND NARROW, STRAIGHT AND NARROW.
JOHN, PASSIONATE REGAN, NO MATTER HOW MANY CIRCLE AROUND THE NEXT CITY MANAGER WILL MAKE, HE MAY GET DIZZY TRYING TO REACH THE PASSION OF JOHN P. REGAN.
>> TO NOMA, WHO'S PROBABLY WATCHING, THANK YOU.
AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR MODIFYING THE AGENDA.
>> HE DOESN'T GET MANY SURPRISES, SO THAT'S WONDERFUL.
>> THAT'S A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE.
[00:15:03]
THANK YOU, MS. PRIYA AGAIN.WE HAVE A NIGHT OF SPECIAL INDULGENCES HERE, SINCE IT IS OUR LAST EVENING WITH CITY MANAGER REGAN.
SO THE NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENTS,
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
AND I WILL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER AND FOLLOWED BY THE SECOND SPEAKERS, SO THAT THE SECOND SPEAKER CAN BE READY TO GET ON DECK.OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT IS ANN BRESLAUER.
IF YOU WILL PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, AND I'LL ASK ALL SPEAKERS TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS.
AND IF THE FOLKS HERE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT, I KNOW WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE BEFORE US TONIGHT, THERE MAY BE SOME AGREEMENTS AND DISAGREEMENTS ON, BUT HOWEVER, SO I'D ASK YOU IF YOU WERE INCLINED TO APPLAUSE, PLEASE DO NOT APPLAUSE, PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE OUT OF RESPECT FOR YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS.
WITH THAT SAID, MS. BRESLAUER, WELCOME.
>> ANN BRESLAUER, 215 7TH STREET, ST. AUGUSTINE, 328.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND THANK YOU TO THE TWO THAT DID RESPOND.
AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE ALL VERY BUSY.
I'M SPEAKING IN REGARDS TO THE TROLLEY.
I CAN TRACE MY FAMILY BACK TO SPANISH ST. AUGUSTINE, SPANISH, FLORIDA.
AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO THAT I EVER HEARD OF A LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM, WHICH I WAS EMBARRASSED, AND FLABBERGASTED, AND BEWILDERED.
A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS ON A COMMISSION HERE IN THE COUNTY TOOK ME ON TO VISIT AND I JUST LOVED IT.
IT'S NOT JUST WHEN IT BECAME LINCOLNVILLE.
AND I WAS STUNNED, AND THE MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN ON THE TROLLEY WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT COME.
I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO I'VE BEEN A DOCENT THERE NOW AND I CONTINUE TO LEARN, AND PEOPLE COME IN, AND WHEN I AM THERE AND THEY COME IN FROM WORD OF MOUTH.
AND THE QUESTION IS, WHY DOESN'T THE TROLLEY COME HERE? IS A COMMON QUESTION THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO.
SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET SOME RESOLUTION ON THAT TONIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE, AND A WONDERFUL HISTORY FOR THIS TOWN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. JOHN MILLER, FOLLOWED BY REGINA GAYLE PHILLIPS.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JOHN MILLER, ONE KNOXVILLE LANE.
FIRST OF ALL, JOHN, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THE INTERESTS.
I APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
>> IN THE WORDS OF WOODY ALLEN, 80 PERCENT OF SUCCESS IS MADE UP OF JUST SHOWING UP, SO HERE I AM.
BUT THIS IS AN AUDIO VISUAL AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING, WHICH MIGHT BE A GOOD THING.
BUT I HAVE TWO THINGS I'D LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT, THAT UNDERSCORES WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A YOUTH MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.
THE FIRST ONE YOU CAN SEE THE FUTURE HERE.
ON THE LEFT THE KIDS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, THEY ARE IN NEW YORK.
THE KIDS ON THE RIGHT FROM MIRAMAR FROM THEIR YOUTH COUNCIL ARE AT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE CITIES.
IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT KIDS CAN DO THINGS.
I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN FORM MUNICIPAL COUNCIL FOR THIS CITY.
THE SECOND ONE IS WHEN I TELL MY KIDS WHEN I'M WORKING WITH THEM A LOT AND ADULTS TOO, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW, SOMEBODY SAID SOMEBODY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
THEN I REALIZED I WAS SOMEBODY.
THAT'S WHERE I LIKE MY KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WAS BY LILY TOMLIN.
BUT THE OTHER THING YOU CAN SEE VERY EASILY HERE, GRETA THUNBERG WAS 16.
I AM HOPING THAT DOWN THE ROAD HERE, WE CAN PUT THIS TOGETHER.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND ALSO CONGRATULATE THE MAYOR AND JOHN AGAIN FOR YOUR AWARD AT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MR. MILLER. MISS. REGINA GAYLE PHILLIPS, FOLLOWED BY BRENDA SWANN.
WELCOME. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
[00:20:01]
>> REGINA GAYLE PHILLIPS, 295 PINTORESCO DRIVE, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
LINCOLNVILLE IS THE OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT HAS A VAST AND VARIED HISTORY FROM RECONSTRUCTION, JIM CROW SEGREGATION, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND BEYOND.
A MAJORITY OF THE NOTABLE BLACK CITIZENS STARTED, LIVED OR WORKED IN THIS AREA.
DR. GORDON, DR. HAYLING, OTIS MASON, FRANK BUTLER, SOLOMON CALHOUN, WILLY GALAMORE, WILLY URBAN ALONG WITH A HOST OF OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN BUILDING THE BUSINESSES AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION OF THE CITY AND SO MUCH MORE.
BARBARA VICKERS AND CORA TYSON'S, YOU HAVE JUST HONORED AS TO MATRIARCHS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THE HISTORIC CHURCHES OF THE AREA ALONE REPRESENT THE INSPIRATION AND TENACITY OF THE PEOPLE TO SEEK AND ACHIEVE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EQUITY OR EQUALITY IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND OPPRESSION.
FROM TRINITY METHODIST EPISCOPAL, ST. MARY, ST. PAUL'S ST. BENEDICT'S, FIRST BAPTIST, ST. CYPRIAN, AND OTHERS ALL OFFERED NOT ONLY A PLACE FOR PRAYER, BUT AN OASIS OF HOPE FOR PEOPLE WORKING TO BECOME ORDINARY CITIZENS.
THE LEGACY OF THE STORES, FORMER DANCE HALLS, PARKS, RESTAURANTS, DOCTORS OFFICES, AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HELPED TO SHAPE THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO THE LINCOLNVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT ARE A PART OF THE HERITAGE WE HOPE WILL BE PRESERVED, PROMOTED, AND PERPETUATED AS PART OF THE MISSION OF THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER.
WE HOPE THAT THE ENDURING WORK AND SUPPORT THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS SHARED WITH VISITORS TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, JUST AS HISTORY OF OTHER GROUPS LIKE THE SPANISH MINORCANS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ARE SHARED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
HISTORY IS A MAJOR REASON PEOPLE CHOOSE TO COME TO OUR CITY.
WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THE WHOLE STORY BY NOT LEAVING OUT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ASPECT OF IT.
THE ACCORD PUT TOGETHER A CIVIL RIGHTS MARKERS SITE MAP OF THE AREA WHICH WE SHARE.
THE LMCC HAS WORKED WITH THE FLORIDA HUMANITIES COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A WALKING TOUR OF THE AREA.
IT WORKS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA DIGITAL HUMANITIES PROGRAM TO MAP HISTORIC BUSINESSES AND SITES IN THE AREA.
THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TO COLLECT ORAL HISTORIES OF RESIDENTS AND WITH FLAGLER COLLEGE WHO'S IN TERMS AID IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH, COMMUNICATION, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR OPERATIONS.
THESE COMMUNITY RELATIONS HELPED TO ESTABLISH A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE MUSEUM AS A RESOURCE THE CITY CAN BE PROUD OF.
FURTHERMORE, THE HISTORIC EXCELSIOR HIGH SCHOOL IS ITSELF AN ANCHOR FOR THE DISTRICT AND WILL SOON HAVE ITS OWN HISTORIC DESIGNATION ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THE 1925 STRUCTURE WILL SOON TURN 100 YEARS OLD.
THE MUSEUM IS WORKING ON NATIONAL AND STATE GRANTS TO PRESERVE THE FIRST BLACK HIGH-SCHOOL IN THIS COUNTY AS A MUSEUM THAT PROUDLY SHARED THE HERITAGE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
A TROLLEY STOP WILL HELP US TO CONTINUE THAT JOURNEY AND TO SHARE THE OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE NATION.
>> PHILLIPS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT UP IS BRENDA SWANN, FOLLOWED BY CAROL MICHELLE JENNINGS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M BRENDA SWANN, I LIVE AT 100 PINE ARBOR CIRCLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I'M ALSO HERE AS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL.
BECAUSE OF OUR ROLE WITH THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, WE SEE FIRSTHAND THE INTERESTS, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE HAVE IN LINCOLNVILLE'S AND THE COUNTIES AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.
WE WORK WITH AND SUPPORT MANY OF THE PROGRAMS AT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER.
MOST RECENTLY, WE HOSTED THE MARJORIE KINNAN RAWLINGS CONFERENCE AT THE WATERWORKS.
ALMOST ALL OF THE 75-80 ATTENDEES WENT TO THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM TO ATTEND A LOVELY PLAY ABOUT ANOTHER FAMOUS FLORIDA AUTHORS, ORNEALE HURSTON.
BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF THEIR JUNETEENTH EVENTS LAST YEAR, LINCOLNVILLES AGAIN PRODUCING JUNETEENTH EVENTS, WHICH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS SUPPORTING AND HELPING TO ADVERTISE THE STORIES OF LINCOLNVILLE FROM ITS FOUNDING BY RECENTLY FREED SLAVES IN POST-CIVIL WAR ST. AUGUSTINE TO THE 1960S CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT ARE IMPORTANT TO SHARE AND INCORPORATE INTO THE OVERALL STORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
ADDING A TROLLEY STOP AT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM WILL INTRODUCE SOME VISITORS WHO ARE NOT ALREADY AWARE OF IT TO THE SIGNIFICANT ROLES ST. AUGUSTINE HAD IN THE NATION'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.
INQUIRIES AND ONLINE METRICS INDICATE THAT WITH OR WITHOUT A TROLLEY STOP, THERE'S INCREASING INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC TO VISIT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM.
THEREFORE, WITH OR WITHOUT A TROLLEY STOP, PEOPLE ARE AND WILL BE DRIVING TO THE MUSEUM.
RIGHT NOW THAT MEANS INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS OR GROUPS WILL GO IN SEPARATE CARS.
[00:25:01]
HAVING A TROLLEY STOP THERE NOT ONLY PROVIDES EASIER ACCESS FOR MUSEUM GOERS, BUT WOULD MEAN FEWER CARS DRIVE THROUGH THE PART AND PARK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.AS SUCH, ADDING A TROLLEY STOP AT LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CITY, VISITORS, AND THE MUSEUM. THANK YOU.
CAROL MICHELLE JENNINGS, FOLLOWED BY FLOYD PHILLIPS.
>> HI THERE. I MOVED TO ST. AUGUSTINE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
I FOUND OUT ABOUT HOW THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD WENT SOUTH TO THIS FREE BLACK SETTLEMENT STARTING IN 1687.
AFTER I WAS VACCINATED, I VENTURED OUT TO ATTENDED AN EVENT WHERE DAVID NOLAN OF THE ACCORD CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER.
I HAD NO IDEA UNTIL THAT EVENING OF THE INSTRUMENTAL ROLE THAT ST. AUGUSTINE PLAYED DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA.
THEN I WENT TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE VISITORS CENTER TO SEE WHAT BLACK HISTORY TOURISTS EXISTED IN TOWN.
I WAS DUMBFOUNDED TO FIND THAT THEY ONLY TOURIST THAT EXISTED WERE LARGELY BY SOLE PROPRIETORS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP HISTORY ALIVE.
HOWEVER, I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND THE ACCORD CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, BUT THERE WAS NO BLACK HISTORY TOUR.
AS A MEMBER OF MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, I HAVE ORGANIZED SEVERAL BLACK HISTORY TOURS FOR THIS CONGREGATION.
THE FORT MOSE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ACCORD CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, AND THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM PROVIDED US WITH WONDERFUL GUIDED TOURS.
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION WHO WENT ON THESE TOURS HAVE LIVED IN ST. AUGUSTINE FOR DECADES.
THEY CAME UP TO ME AFTERWARDS TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL THEY WERE THAT I PUT TOGETHER THIS TOUR.
THEY SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS RICH BLACK HISTORY EXISTED IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
ST. AUGUSTINE WHO'S AT AN INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL TOURIST DESTINATION.
A KEY COMPONENT OF THE REASON FOR THEIR VISIT IS TO LEARN AND APPRECIATE OUR HISTORY.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IS A VITAL ASPECT OF OUR CITIES AND NATIONS HISTORY AND SHOULD RECEIVE THE SAME PLACE OF PROMINENCE AS THE OTHER LOCAL HISTORIES BEING HIGHLIGHTED ON THE TROLLEY TOURS.
I URGED THE CITY COMMISSION TO HAVE THE TROLLEY TOURS INCLUDE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE STOPS, AS WELL AS TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE KEY LOCATIONS ON THE ACCORD FREEDOM TRAIL IN LINCOLNVILLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MR. FLOYD PHILLIPS, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA PARRISH STONE.
>> MY NAME IS FLOYD PHILLIPS, I RESIDE AT 259 PINTORESCO DRIVE.
JOHN, I'LL JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS REGION, THIS CITY.
I LIKE TO SAY THAT THE TROLLEY STOP IS CRITICAL TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER.
GOVERNMENT, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE THAT I'VE FACED IN MY LIFETIME.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES OVER AN EIGHT-YEAR PERIOD.
I RETIRED 20 YEARS AGO NOW AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S BEEN 50 YEARS, BUT BECAUSE OF DR. D. ISRAEL, WHOM MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH, I BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND I COMMITTED THREE YEARS TO THIS ENDEAVOR UNTIL THE EIGHTH YEAR.
I CAN TELL YOU WITH PASSION THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS THAT I ENJOY AS MUCH AS I ENJOY WHAT I DO WITH THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM.
I THINK MY INSURANCE BACKGROUND PREPARED ME FOR THIS PARTICULAR ENDEAVOR.
THE GROWTH, SUSTAINABILITY, AND CERTIFICATION OF THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM ARE ALL DEPENDENT ON THE LMCC TROLLEY STOP, WHICH IS THE LINCHPIN TO THE MUSEUM ATTENDANCE.
WHEN GROWTH OCCURS AND ATTENDANCE IS AT A PROPER LEVEL, RESOURCES WILL BE GENERATED, WHICH WILL ENABLE US TO EMPLOY BEST PRACTICES FOR MUSEUMS, WHICH IN TURN WILL ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CERTIFICATION.
THAT IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT THE ENTIRE AREA, ST. AUGUSTINE, CAN BE PROUD OF. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MS. CHRISTINA PARRISH STONE, DID YOU WISH TO SPEAK DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS?
[00:30:02]
I NOTICED YOU HAVE A AGENDA ITEMS YOU WANT TO STRESS.>> YES, I HAD CHECKED WITH MR. BIRCHIM EARLIER TO SEE IF IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO SPEAK LATER ON ABOUT THE CAROUSEL BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BOTH ABOUT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND THE CAROUSEL, AND I WAS INSTRUCTED THAT I NEEDED TO SPEAK NOW ABOUT THE CAROUSEL.
IF THAT'S NOT CORRECT, I'LL USE MY TIME NOW TO ADDRESS THE TROLLEY STOP AND I WILL COME BACK UP AND PROVIDE A FEW REMARKS ABOUT THE CAROUSEL LATER.
>> COMMISSIONERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS DURING THE COMMISSION CAROUSEL LETTER OF INTENT DISCUSSION? WOULD YOU LIKE?
>> I'M IN RECEIPT OF HER EMAIL, SO [OVERLAPPING]
>> I CAN CERTAINLY REPRESENT HER CONCERNS.
>> I DID SEE YOU SEND AN EMAIL LATER IN THE DAY, BUT I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO READ IT.
I WOULD PREFER TO HEAR AT THE TIME OF THE LETTER OF INTENT, IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL AND WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'M NOT PREPARED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE TROLLEY STOP, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU A FEW WORDS ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND HOW IMPORTANT I THINK IT IS FOR US TO HAVE THAT TROLLEY STOP AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY. IS THAT AT ALL THEN YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE ITEM COMES UP?
>> FOR THE CAROUSEL, AND THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO SPEAK ON NOW. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> I'M CHRISTINA PARRISH STONE.
I'M ALSO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL.
I'VE BEEN IN THE COUNTY FOR ABOUT THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS NOW.
I CAME HERE AND WAS SHOCKED THAT AFTER 30 YEARS IN JACKSONVILLE, I HAD HEARD ALMOST NOTHING ABOUT THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE 450 YEARS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.
I STARTED REACHING OUT TO SOME MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO COULD EDUCATE ME ON THAT AND GAYLE AND FLOYD PHILLIPS WERE TWO OF THOSE PEOPLE.
THE WORK THEY'RE DOING AT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER CULTURAL ASSETS IN THE LINCOLNVILLE COMMUNITY TOO, THAT ARE DIFFICULT FOR OUR VISITORS TO ACCESS.
THE CULTURAL COUNCIL STARTED WORKING TO HELP TO TELL SOME OF THOSE STORIES THAT THE FOLKS AT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM ARE THE BEST PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
WE RECEIVE INQUIRIES ALMOST EVERY DAY FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS AND FROM VISITORS WHO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, WE HEAR ALL THE TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY TAKE THE TROLLEY THAT THEY CANNOT RIDE THE TROLLEY TO THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM, AND SO I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS IN TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE A TROLLEY STOP IN LINCOLNVILLE, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I AGREE WITH BRENDA SWANN, HE SPOKE EARLIER THAT BASED ON WHAT I KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE VISITING THE MUSEUM NOW, ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS INCREASING TRAFFIC OR CAUSING ISSUES OF THAT NATURE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE MISPLACED BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL ACTUALLY REDUCE TRAFFIC AND HELP WITH SOME OF THE PARKING SITUATION IF PEOPLE CAN RIDE THE TROLLEY TO VISIT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE DO APPRECIATE THAT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAVERNE MARCH, FOLLOWED BY LAUREN GUYVER.
>> GREETINGS COMMISSION, HOW ARE YOU? JOHN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE YEARS THAT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER.
I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO MISS IT.
BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SPEAK REALLY AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, SPEAK FROM MY HEART.
I AM A LINCOLNVILLE RESIDENT AND I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
AT A TIME, I WAS RAISED IN WEST AUGUSTINE, WE CALL THAT OUT WEST AND WE'RE SAYING LINCOLNVILLE OVER TOWN, NOT OVER TOWN, BUT OVER TOWN.
I'VE WATCHED LINCOLNVILLE CHANGE HAVING SEEN SO MANY BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IN OUR TOWN OVER TOWN, LINCOLNVILLE, I'VE SEEN IT CHANGE TREMENDOUSLY.
THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM IS ONE OF THREE, I BELIEVE, BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES, PROBABLY IN THAT AREA OR OUT WEST, OVER TOWN.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME FOOD TRUCKS AND ALL OF THAT, BUT WHAT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM ALLOWS US TO HAVE IS A NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE BLACK FOOTPRINT STILL IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO NOT ONLY SEE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES, BUT BLACK-OWNED EXCELLENCE.
IF YOU WALKED IN THAT MUSEUM, YOU'VE SEEN A SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE IN THAT MUSEUM THAT MAKES ME PROUD TO BE FROM ST. AUGUSTINE, MAKES ME PROUD TO SEE WHAT GAYLE AND FLOYD AND THEM ARE DOING TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY.
AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE TOGETHER TO MAKE A STRATEGIC PLAN ABOUT HAVING DIVERSITY, SO I THINK THAT HAVING A TROLLEY TO STOP THERE WOULD DO MUCH TO GENERATE
[00:35:02]
BUSINESS AND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO LEAN SO HEAVILY ON GRANTS IN ORDER TO HIRE STAFF, AND I THINK NOT ONLY IS AN EXCELLENT NOW, BUT IT CAN GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL AS WE GET MORE BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF THE TROLLEY BRINGING IN MORE PEOPLE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ALL OVER THE NATION PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SEE HOW EXCELLENCE ST. AUGUSTINE IS.WE WANT TO TELL ALL OF OUR HISTORY, NOT JUST SOME OF OUR HISTORY.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAUREN GUYVER, FOLLOWED BY MS. VICKY PEPPER.
I'M RELATIVELY NEW TO ST. AUGUSTINE AND TO LINCOLNVILLE.
I'VE SPENT MONTHS LOOKING AT HOMES ALL OVER THE AREA.
I DECIDED ON LINCOLNVILLE BECAUSE I COULD WALK MY DOG.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS A MISHMASH OF ARCHITECTURE.
IT DID NOT REMIND ME OF A SUBURBAN SPRAWL.
THE CITY HAD IT'S HISTORIC CENTER.
LITTLE DID I KNOW I HAD CHOSEN TO LIVE IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT UNTIL I HAPPENS ON THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND VOLUNTEERED TO DESIGN A WALKING TOUR BROCHURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE IN ST. AUGUSTINE SHARE THE HISTORY OF NOT ONLY BEING THE OLDEST SETTLEMENT IN LA FLORIDA, BUT ALSO CAPTAIN MENENDEZ BRINGING THE FIRST BLACK CONQUISTADORS AND SKILLED WORKERS AS PART OF HIS CREW TO HELP HIM BUILD A SETTLEMENT IN THE NEW WORLD.
FAST-FORWARD NEARLY 100 YEARS LATER, WHEN KING CHARLES OF SPAIN OFFERED FREEDOM TO RUNAWAY ENSLAVED AFRICANS IN THE BRITISH CAROLINAS TO HELP HIM FIGHT THE BRITISH.
THUS FORT MOSAIC WAS BUILT, THE FIRST BLACK SETTLEMENT IN THE NEW WORLD.
FAST-FORWARD, THE SPANISH LEFT LA FLORIDA TAKING ALL THOSE WHO WANTED TO JOIN THEM TO CUBA, INCLUDING FREE BLACKS AND NATIVE AMERICANS.
NEXT, WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE HARDSHIPS THAT WERE IMPOSED ON ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE BROUGHT TO AMERICA.
WE MUST RECOGNIZE THEIR ABILITY TO OVERCOME AND THE RICH CULTURE THAT THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM.
IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CREATED AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, WE HAVE LINCOLNVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT BECAME AN ENCLAVE TO NEWLY FREED BLACK PEOPLE.
IT WAS SELF-SUFFICIENT WITH CHURCHES, STORES, RESTAURANTS, BARBER SHOPS, BARS, NIGHTCLUBS, AND EVEN A LIBRARY.
IN THE 1920S, A HIGH SCHOOL WAS BUILT TO FINALLY SERVE THE FURTHER EDUCATION OF YOUNG BLACKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
FOR THIS WAS A PERIOD OF JIM CROW WHEN MEN TERRORIZED THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RIDING THROUGH THE STREETS AND SHOOTING AT HOMES.
BUT STILL THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN LINCOLNVILLE PERSEVERED.
THEY BECAME SCHOOL TEACHERS, DOCTORS, DENTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, NURSES, AND ENTREPRENEURS.
NOW IN THE 21ST CENTURY, WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE LINCOLNVILLE COMMUNITY THAT CONTRIBUTED AND STILL CONTRIBUTES TO THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY TO FINALLY HAVE A TROLLEY STOP IN LINCOLNVILLE, AND TO FINALLY RECOGNIZE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME WITH ALL ITS HISTORY, BOTH GOOD AND BAD AND YET IT STILL PERSEVERES.
THAT HISTORY, THAT STRENGTH, THAT STORY MUST BE TOLD FROM THE NUNS WHO LANDED IN JAIL TO THE ARRIVAL OF DR. KING, TO THE HISTORIC CHURCHES, TO THE HISTORICAL MARKERS DONATED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN.
IF WE IN ST. AUGUSTINE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR HISTORIC TOWN, THIS NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED.
THE HISTORY OF LINCOLNVILLE HAS BEEN IGNORED LONG ENOUGH.
IT'S TIME TO ADD A TROLLEY STOP AND INVITE ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. GUYVER. EXCUSE ME, MS. VICKY PEPPER, FOLLOWED BY MS. [INAUDIBLE].
>> GOOD EVENING, MS. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS VICKY PEPPER AND I LIVE ON HARVARD VISTA CIRCLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AS A CITIZEN OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND CARE, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY.
CARE IS AN INFORMAL INDEPENDENT CIVIC ACTION GROUP THAT GREW OUT OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S ONGOING COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EFFORT.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING MS. TYSON AND MS. VICKY'S 100TH BIRTHDAYS.
THEY ARE TRULY TWO OF OUR LOCAL HEROES AND LOCAL TREASURES.
FULL DISCLOSURE EARLIER THIS YEAR, I WAS VOTED ONTO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FRIENDS OF LINCOLNVILLE, WHICH OPERATES THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER.
BUT CARE HAS BEEN A SUPPORTER OF AND ADVOCATE FOR LMCC AND ITS MISSION SINCE CARE'S INCEPTION.
[00:40:02]
BUT THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE REASONS I WAS ASKED TO JOIN LMCC'S GOVERNING BOARD.I WANT TO SPEAK TODAY PRIMARILY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE AGREEMENT WITH A LOCAL TROLLEY OPERATOR PROVIDING FOR A TROLLEY STOP AT LMCC.
IF THE CITY WANTS TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO TRAFFIC AND PARKING PATTERNS IN THAT PART OF TOWN TO REDUCE THE IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CARE WOULD SUPPORT THAT ACTION TOO.
LMCC FOCUSES ON VITAL ASPECTS OF OUR CITY AND OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
THAT HISTORY SHOULD FEATURE AS PROMINENTLY AS OTHER LOCAL HISTORIES BEING HIGHLIGHTED ON OUR TROLLEY ROUTES.
LINCOLNVILLE'S HISTORY IS ITSELF AN IMPORTANT PART OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S HISTORY THAT NEEDS TO BE SHARED WITH VISITORS TO COME TO ST. AUGUSTINE.
THE LINCOLNVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT WAS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1991.
ANY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BOUGHT OR RENTED PROPERTY AND LINCOLNVILLE IN THE LAST 30-PLUS YEARS KNEW THAT THEY WERE MOVING INTO AN HISTORIC AREA.
THE FACT THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY MAY HAVE BEEN SLOW TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RICH AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY OF OUR AREA IS NO REASON WHATSOEVER THAT WE SHOULD NOT EMBRACE AND CELEBRATE THAT PART OF OUR HISTORY NOW.
THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER IS EXTREMELY WELL-POSITIONED TO HELP VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE DO JUST THAT.
PLEASE PASS RESOLUTION 2023,12, PROVIDING FOR THE NEW TROLLEY STOP AT LMCC.
ON ANOTHER MATTER THAT I UNDERSTAND WILL COME UP LATER IN THE MEETING, RESOLUTION 2023, 13.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL THE PROPERTY AT 13 DOLPHIN DRIVE, CARE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THE PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER, THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TOWARDS IS GOING TO BE LOCATED AND WHAT IS THE PROJECTED TIME FRAME FOR ITS OPENING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MS. [INAUDIBLE].
>> [INAUDIBLE]. WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND I TOO WILL RESERVE MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE DAVENPORT PARK CAROUSEL UNTIL LATER SINCE YOU ARE ALLOWING US TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARRIS FOR GOING BY 12 NEWCOMB.
WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE HOMEOWNER WHERE ILLEGAL DRUGS WERE FOUND.
QUESTION. WILL AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FIND OUT WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE? SECTION 2445 IS NOT ENFORCED.
TAXPAYERS, PLEASE READ THIS $198,000 FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT FOR MR. BIRCHIM.
SECTION 5A, DUE TO THE STRESS, HE WILL BE GIVEN AN EXTRA WEEK OF VACATION.
SECTION 6, TAXPAYERS WOULD PAY FOR A VEHICLE FOR HIS USE.
THIS SHOULD BE A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT.
QUESTION. WHO WROTE THIS CONTRACT? 8A1.
QUESTION. WHAT IS THE TOTAL COLA AMOUNT FOR HOW MANY RETIREES? THE SPECIFICS OF THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD SO THE TAXPAYERS WILL KNOW.
WILL THIS ORDINANCE APPLY IN FUTURE YEARS? RECENT INFLATION HAS ALSO CAUSED AN UNDUE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS, WHICH IS IGNORED.
9B2, RESOLUTION 2023-13, PARAGRAPH 3.
QUESTION, IS IT A FACT THE CENTER ON PALASIA WILL NOT BE THE LOCATION ONCE THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF 13 [INAUDIBLE] DRIVE IS COMPLETED? THE TREE CANOPY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM IS DEFEATED BY DEVELOPERS WHO GO TO PCB TO DESTROY OUR TREE CANOPIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
FLORIDA AVENUE IN SYDNEY AMADORA ARE GOOD EXAMPLES OF THIS.
SINCE MS. LOPEZ IS OUT OF COUNTRY, RON BROWN WILL RECEIVE $225 TAX AN HOUR, TO DO HER JOB MAY 18TH, WHICH HE SHOWED UP FOR THE HARB AND JUNE 6TH, 2023, THE PCB.
THIS IS IN AN ADDITION TO MS. TRAINOR, THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW OF JOE BOLES WHO WAS HIRED IN APRIL AS ASSISTANT CITY LAWYER.
THESE POINTS ARE PUT OUT FOR EVERYBODY'S EDUCATION TO KNOW WHERE OUR MONEY IS GOING AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY.
I WILL BE BACK TO TALK ABOUT THE DAVENPORT PARK SINCE YOU'VE OPENED THAT UP TO EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS, SO PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
[00:45:01]
>> I'LL READ THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS THE JUNE 12TH, 2023, 5:00 PM, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
JUNE 26TH, 2023, 5:00 PM, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
JULY 10TH, 2023, 3:00 PM SPECIAL MEETING DISCUSSION OF 2023 BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS.
JULY 10TH, 2023, 5:00 PM, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
JULY 24TH, 2023, 5:00 PM, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PRIOR COMMISSION MEETINGS.
APRIL 10TH, 2023, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, APRIL 24TH, 2023 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE'VE RELEASED A LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FOR YOUR MORTGAGE AT 901 WEST FOURTH STREET, ROSA AUTOUR.
WE HAVE AN INVOICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $810 FROM CAVENDISH PARTNERS FOR SERVICES IN THE SMITH VERSUS CITY MATTER.
>> ONE MOMENT, PLEASE. THE CITY CLERK.
>> I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THIS EVENING AND WE WILL CORRECT IT ON PAGE 5, APRIL 24TH, 2023, REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.
THERE ARE TWO NAMES THAT ARE INCORRECTLY SPELLED.
IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE APPROVAL, BUT WE WILL GET THEM CORRECTED FOR THE RECORD.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO NOTED. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR HORVATH.
>> ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
WE HAVE NO GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
[7.B.1. Review and approval of City Manager contract. (J. Regan, City Manager]
THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER'S CONTRACT. MR. REGAN.>> MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TEE THIS MATTER UP ON BEHALF OF MR. BIRCHIM.
MR. BIRCHIM HAS PROPOSED, BY VIRTUE OF WHAT YOU SEE IN PLAIN LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT, IS A ANNUAL SALARY OF $198,000.
HE IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND DIALOGUE WITH THE CITY COMMISSION.
>> ALL RIGHT. MR. BURTON? WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, TO ANSWER A QUESTION FROM A PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
THE CONTRACT WAS CREATED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
IT'S A STANDARD CONTRACT THAT WAS UPDATED TO REFLECT THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE THAT IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
MOST OF THE OTHER SECTIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT MIRROR THE SAME EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT THAT THE CURRENT CITY MANAGER, JOHN REGAN HAS.
I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT OR ADDITIONS? [NOISE]
>> NO. ANY COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS, WHERE DO WE GO?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUST STATE THAT THIS IS A PROMOTION AND THE REGULAR COLA INCREASE FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES, I THINK WAS WHAT THEY PRESENT LAST YEAR IF I'M CORRECT.
THIS PROMOTION WOULD INCREASE THE MR. BIRCHIM SALARY BY JUST OVER 19 PERCENT, WHICH I THINK IS WITHIN THE BALLPARK OF REASONABLENESS.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THIS CONTRACT IS ACCEPTED.
I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THIS EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. ANY.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DEBATE? COMMENTS?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT [NOISE]
>> THAT THE ATTORNEY WROTE IT, BUT WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED IT AND IMPROVED IT AT A MEETING.
THIS IS REALLY A COMMISSIONER CONTRACT THAT WE APPROVED AND THERE'S REASONS WHY WE HAVE THE FIVE-YEAR, IT'S THE COMMITMENT TO YOU, BUT IT'S ALSO A REMINDER THAT AT ANY ONE MEETING YOU COULD BE TERMINATED.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE GUARANTEED A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT.
PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES WHEN THEY READ THAT FIVE-YEAR COMMITMENT.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT ONE CLEAR.
>> OKAY. I WILL MAKE ONE OTHER COMMENT.
THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC UNDER STANDS.
IT IS NOT IN ANY WAY TO BE CONSTRUED AS A RAISE IN ANY FORM OR FASHION.
IT IS NOT A RAISE, IT IS A PROMOTION AND I QUITE ASSURE YOU, MR. BIRCHIM, YOU'LL EARN EVERY SINGLE [LAUGHTER]
>> PENNY OF IT AND IT'S LIKE I SAY TO MY NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE JUST RECENTLY MOVED IN.
[00:50:01]
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FLOODS, AND I KNOW YOU THINK IT'S OKAY AND YOU'LL GET THROUGH IT BUT YOU NEVER REALLY EXPERIENCED IT.MAYBE A SAD EXAMPLE, BUT YOU GET THE POINT.
UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN THERE AND FELT IT, THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.
I DO URGE YOU TO VIEW IT IN THAT LIGHT AND ACCEPT THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT AND WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR RAISES ACROSS THE BOARD IN OCTOBER, WE WILL ALL BE TAKING THE RAISE AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE YOUR RAISE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK JOHN REGAN FOR HIS MENTORING AND LEADERSHIP.
>> VERY GOOD THEN. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THAT IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS TO ADD?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE ENDORSEMENT.
>> GOOD. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE ITEM 7 B2,
[7.B.2. Discussion of Letter of Intent to install a Carousel at Davenport Park. (J. Regan, City Manager]
DISCUSSION OF THE LETTER OF INTENT TO INSTALL THE CAROUSEL.>> MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU KNOW, SINCE THE OWNERS OF THE PRIOR CAROUSEL RELOCATED THE CAROUSEL, THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT PARTIES THAT HAVE APPROACHED THE CITY, APPROACHED ME IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN A CAROUSEL.
I'VE PROBABLY BEEN THROUGH FOUR DIFFERENT PROPOSALS, I WOULD SAY.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A GENTLEMAN WHO IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, J.W BRINKLEY, APPROACHED ME AND DESCRIBED HIS EXPERIENCE WITH HIS CHILDREN, THE CAROUSEL AND THE DESIRE TO RETURN A CAROUSEL.
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND NOW IT'S STARTING TO COME TO FRUITION.
I HAVE EVERY BELIEF IN MR. BRINKLEY TO AFFECT PUTTING A CAROUSEL BACK.
NOW, THE THING IS IS THAT AT THIS POINT, IT'S TIME TO SURFACE THAT WE HAVE THIS PROPOSAL THAT MR. BRINKLEY, TO MOVE IT FORWARD, NEEDS TO START SPENDING REAL MONEY TO DEVELOP HIS PLAN.
HE HAS ALREADY CONTRACTED WITH MERCURY'S LATIMER HALLBACK, A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FIRM TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK.
THE PRIOR CAROUSEL SAT ON A BETTER MULCH.
SHE'D LIKE TO DO SOME ADA COMPLIANCE SIDEWALKS AROUND THE CAROUSEL AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ADMISSIONS TICKET OFFICE AND SO FORTH.
HE HAS HIRED A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND I DID PUT IN THE PACKAGE TWO EXAMPLE DRAWINGS THAT ARE IN THE BACKGROUND.
TONIGHT'S NOT ABOUT THE DETAIL AS MUCH AS RECOGNIZING THAT MOVING FORWARD, HE HAS SOME WORK AHEAD.
HE NEEDS TO BE TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT CAROUSELS.
ALSO, NEGOTIATING WITH FIRMS THAT CAN DO OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CAROUSEL BUILDING, CREATING A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, WHICH IS HIS INTENTION.
IN ALL FAIRNESS TO MR. BRINKLEY, I THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR FOR THE CITY TO AUTHORIZE ME TO ENTER INTO A LETTER OF INTENT FOR A FOUR-MONTH PERIOD.
I PUT IT IN THE MEMO THAT'S IN THE PACKAGE SIX MONTHS, BUT MR. BRINKLEY IS FINE WITH FOUR MONTHS TO DEVELOP HIS PLAN AND MOVE IT FORWARD.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE TYPICALLY, WHEN WE SURFACE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, OTHER PEOPLE WILL COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK.
I'D HATE FOR MR. BRINKLEY TO PUT A LOT OF TIME, EFFORT AND MONEY INTO THE PLAN AND THEN HAVE SOMETHING GO ASKEW.
IT'S NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN WE ASK A PROPERTY OWNER AS A LETTER OF INTENT FOR US TO LOOK AT EVALUATING A PROPERTY PURCHASE.
I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING TIME BECAUSE I THINK THAT IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT PEOPLE REALLY BELIEVE IN IS THE BEAUTY OF THE CAROUSEL.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. BRINKLEY UP TO JUST SHARE A FEW WORDS OF WHO HE IS, HIS BACKGROUND, AND WHAT MOTIVATES HIM AND JUST GET TO MEET THE COMMISSION, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU.
>> MR. BRINKLEY, IF YOU'D COME FORWARD TO THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANKS, JOHN. I'M JAY W. FRANKLIN FROM JACKSONVILLE,
[00:55:04]
FLORIDA AND THIS IS MY GRANDSON, CHRIS.>> FOR OVER A YEAR, I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN DOING THIS BECAUSE MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN HAVE ENJOYED THE CAROUSEL.
IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE DON'T SEE ENOUGH OF IS SOME OF THEM NOSTALGIA.
BUT BEING SAID, THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED IN THIS AND INSURANCE.
FOR US TO GO FORWARD, WE'D LIKE SOME COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY.
I BELIEVE YOU'VE SHARED THAT WITH THEM.
WE HAVE TWO OR THREE PROJECTS WITH IT, AND ALL OF IT CONCERNS YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE ENRICHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THIS AS A PROFIT CENTER OR A BUSINESS VENTURE, I'M LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT LONG TERM THAT A TRUST WOULD BE SET UP AND IT WOULD NEVER LEAVE ST. AUGUSTINE.
WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE CITY, AND I THINK JOHN WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M OPEN TO ANY TYPE OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT AREA AND WE WOULD PAY FOR IT.
WE JUST LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING SOMETHING DONE THAT THE KIDS CAN COME BACK AND START MAKING MEMORIES AND WE CAN ALL LOOK BACK AND SAY, 10-20 YEARS AGO, WE HAD OUR GRANDKIDS ON IT.
THAT TYPE OF THING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JW. MAYOR, WHAT WE WOULD PROPOSE IS JUST THE SAME LEASE TERMS THAT WERE WITH THE PRIOR CAROUSEL AND THAT'LL COME BACK TO YOU AT A FUTURE DATE.
IT'S 15 PERCENT REVENUE SHARING.
IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE CAROUSEL, AND MY REQUEST IS AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A FORMAL LETTER OF INTENT.
>> I JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
YOU HAD MENTIONED FOUR MONTHS, BUT YOUR MEMO HERE SAYS NINE MONTHS.
>> ORIGINALLY WE TALKED ABOUT NINE MONTHS.
I WAS PLANNING TO CUT IT DOWN TO SIX, AND MR. BRINKLEY SENT IN A DRAFT LETTER OF INTENT WHERE HE CUT IT DOWN TO FOUR MONTHS.
HE HAS TO BE COGNIZANT OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, THINGS LIKE THAT BUT HE FEELS CONFIDENT THAT FOUR MONTHS IS ADEQUATE NOT TO BELABOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT.
>>THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS NOW OR LISTEN TO PUBLIC?
>> NO. I WAS JUST GOING TO REMIND YOU OF THE PUBLIC.
>> YES. WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS FROM THE PUBLIC.
ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE WE GO ON? MS. CHRISTINA PARRISH STONE FOLLOWED BY MS. BJ CLAYDE.
>> CHRISTINA PARRISH STONE,184 SAN MARCO AVENUE.
THE ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL IS SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THE CITY HAS PROVIDED US TO MANAGE THE WATERWORKS BUILDING IN DAVENPORT PARK.
IN JUST THE FIRST YEAR AS TENANTS, WE'VE WORKED WITH DOZENS OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT HUNDREDS OF CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR THOUSANDS OF GUESTS.
IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, WE'VE HOSTED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, LIVE MUSIC, AND CHILDREN'S ART CLASSES.
A CLASSIC THEATER PRESENTED SIX PERFORMANCES OF THE PLAY, MOTHERS AND SONS, AND THE CITY PRESENTED A WINDOW WORKSHOP FOR THE ST. AUGUSTINE HISTORY FESTIVAL.
THE LIBRARY HOST UP TO 15 EVENTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND THE WATERWORKS EVERY MONTH.
WE'RE THRILLED THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS EMBRACED THE WATERWORKS SO ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A CAROUSEL RETURNING TO THE PARK.
I TOO TOOK MY KIDS TO THE CAROUSEL AND HAVE VERY FOND MEMORIES.
IT'S EXCITING TO THINK THAT THE WORK WE'VE DONE TO ACTIVATE THE PARK WITH THE LIBRARY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, THE CLASSIC THEATER AND SO MANY OTHER PARTNERS WILL BE COMPLEMENTED BY ANOTHER FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITY.
I HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED LETTER OF INTENT AND LEASE EARLIER TODAY, AND I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS I'D LIKE TO SHARE.
THE LEASE PROVIDES FOR AN OPERATING SCHEDULE OF 10:00 AM TO 10:00 PM, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO CAREFULLY READ THE ENTIRE LEASE, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY PROVISIONS RELATED TO PARKING OR NOISE, WHICH I HOPE I JUST MISS SEEING THAT.
DURING THE DAY, SOUNDS OF CHILDREN PLAYING, SWINGS CREAKING, AND TRAFFIC NOISE ARE ALREADY A FACTOR INSIDE OF THE WATERWORKS.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE SURE THAT THE VOLUME OF MUSIC PLAYED BY THE CAROUSEL IS BELOW A LEVEL THAT MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMMING HAPPENING INSIDE THE BUILDING EACH DAY AND EVENING.
THE MAXIMUM DECIBEL LEVEL IN LOCAL ORDINANCES MAY BE TOO HIGH FOR THE CAROUSEL AND WATERWORKS PROGRAMMING TO SUCCESSFULLY CO-EXIST.
SOME WEEKS WE HAVE PROGRAMMING EVERY DAY BEGINNING AS
[01:00:03]
EARLY AS 10:00 AM AND LASTING AS LATE AS 10:00 PM.OPERA, PIANO RECITALS, THEATER, ALL WOULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY ONGOING LOUD MUSIC.
THE LOVELY OUTDOOR STAGE RECONSTRUCTED BY THE CITY COULD NOT BE USED IF THE CAROUSEL OPERATED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK UNTIL 10:00 PM.
PARKING IS ALREADY AN ISSUE, AS YOU KNOW, ADDING THE CAROUSEL COULD EXACERBATE THAT PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS OPERATING IN THE EVENINGS WHEN BOTH THE ARMORY AND THE WATERWORKS ARE HOSTING EVENTS.
OPERATING THE CAROUSEL AFTER 07:00 PM WILL INCREASE THE ISSUES WITH TRAFFIC AND PARKING, WILL INTERFERE WITH PERFORMANCES INSIDE THE WATERWORKS, AND WILL PREVENT ANY ACTIVITIES ON THE OUTDOOR MUSIC PLATFORM.
IT SEEMS MORE REASONABLE TO REQUIRE CAROUSEL OPERATIONS TO CEASE AT SUNDOWN OR 07:00 PM, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THESE CONCERNS.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT A FEW MINOR CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED LEASE WILL ALLOW THE LIBRARY, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, AND THE CAROUSEL OPERATORS TO WORK TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT MAKES DAVENPORT PARK AN EVEN GREATER ASSET TO THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MS. CLAYDE, YOU'RE THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> MS. CLAYDE, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THOSE ARE GOOD POINTS.
WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE WATERWORKS, THAT'S A NON-PROFIT.
WE GAVE THEM EVERYTHING AND THEY DON'T PAY A BIG AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR LEASING THEM.
HAD A QUESTION WHENEVER THAT STARTED.
WE ALL FORGET THE LIBRARIES THERE? IT CLOSES BY 6:00 TO 7:00 ON CERTAIN NIGHTS.
LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT AND THE PARKING SITUATION.
BUT WHAT MY COMMENT WAS BEFORE I KNEW WE COULD SPEAK OFF OF GENERAL COMMENT WAS, NOW I UNDERSTAND WHO DECIDED TO ALLOW MR. J.W BRINKLEY TO DO A CAROUSEL, IT WAS MR. REGAN.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT HE TALKED WITH HE SAID FOUR DIFFERENT PARTIES THAT WERE INTERESTED IN THIS AND THEN OVER A YEAR AGO, HE DECIDED TO WORK WITH MR. BRINKLEY.
I THINK THAT BEFORE THIS IS DECIDED TONIGHT, THE CITY SHOULD NOT ENTER INTO A LETTER OF INTENT WITH MR. BRINKLEY.
ALL OF THE PUBLIC, NOT JUST THE FOUR OR FIVE THAT HAVE CONTACTED HIM, SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS DECISION BEFORE YOU ALL VOTE ON THIS THING.
THEY SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE DEALS TO BENEFIT THE CITY.
ONCE AGAIN, WE'VE GOT A NON-PROFIT.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY.
I THINK OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RIGHT OR CHANCE TO BECOME A NON-PROFIT OR FOR PROFIT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DECIDE ON 15 PERCENT.
IF THAT WAS WHAT THE OTHER CAROUSEL HAS DONE, I HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHECK ON MY NOTES ON THAT.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH 20 PERCENT? WHO DECIDED THESE THINGS IN A CLOSED MEETING WITH MR. REGAN AND MR. BRINKLEY? BUT THIS IS MY MAIN CONCERN.
THIS THING IS BEING PUSHED THROUGH THE NIGHT WITHOUT ANYBODY ELSE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY.
HAVE YOU ALL HEARD ABOUT THE OTHER FOUR ORGANIZATIONS OR BUSINESSES THAT CAME OVER TO MR. REGAN AND DECIDED TO ASK FOR THIS TO BE DONE FOR THEM? I DON'T SEE WHY WE HAVE TO RUSH IT THROUGH TONIGHT.
>> MR. REGAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
>> I DO. FIRST OFF, I APPRECIATE BOTH SPEAKERS.
LET ME TAKE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED BY THE FIRST SPEAKER WITH SOUND AND WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION WOULD BE.
THE COEXISTENCE I THINK THE SPEAKER RAISED A GOOD POINT ABOUT SOUND, AND IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN AS THE ENGINEER, I DESIGNED WITH ASSISTANT CHIEF ANTHONY CUTHBERT, THE SOUND RETAINING WALL AT THE SKATE PARK.
WE CAME UP WITH A VERY WELL-CRAFTED DESIGN.
I THINK WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD EXERCISE WOULD BE TO DO A SOUND STUDY WHERE WE COULD SET UP A SIMPLE EXPERIMENT TO ESTABLISH WHAT IS THE AMBIENT BACKGROUND NOISE OF THE INTERSECTION, WHAT MIGHT BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO CLOSE DOWN THE CAROUSEL? MAYBE AN EARLIER CLOSING TIME IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE THE AMBIENT DROPS DOWN, AND ALSO ESTABLISH WHAT WOULD BE A DECIBEL VOLUME FOR THE CAROUSEL MUSIC THAT IT WOULDN'T INTERFERE INSIDE THE BUILDINGS.
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
YOU'RE NOT SIGNING THE LEASE TONIGHT.
YOU'RE SIGNING A LETTER OF INTENT WHICH IS TO WORK THROUGH THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.
[01:05:07]
HISTORICALLY, THE CAROUSEL NEVER PARTICULARLY HAD A HUGE CRUSH OF PEOPLE BUT YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT AT NIGHT THERE'LL BE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN.IT IS WHAT IT IS. BUT THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT CAROUSELS ARE NOT PROFITABLE AND YOU CAN PICK ANY NUMBER.
WE PICKED WHAT WAS THE HISTORIC NUMBER IT WORKED.
THE NUMBERS ARE SO SMALL THAT WHETHER IT'S 15 PERCENT OR 20 PERCENT, OR 25 PERCENT OR 50 PERCENT TO THE CITY IT'S NOT A MATERIAL NUMBER IN THE BUDGET.
IT'S ABOUT HAVING A PARTNER AND BELIEVING IN EACH OTHER'S MUTUAL SUCCESS SO THAT THE CAROUSEL CAN BE SOLVENT.
ANYWAYS, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.
I WANT TO THANK MR. BRINKLEY AND MR. REGAN.
OUR SON FROM THE AGE OF A YEAR AND A HALF, WOULD GO WITH ONE OF US OR ALL OF US OR VISITORS, FAMILY MEMBERS THE WHOLE TWO BLOCKS OVER TO DAVENPORT PARK.
I HATED TO SEE THAT CAROUSEL GO.
I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO OUR FAMILY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS TO HIS FAMILY AND IT'S BEEN YEARS THAT IT'S BEEN SITTING WITHOUT A CAROUSEL THERE.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US.
I SUPPORT IT AND AT LEAST THE LETTER OF INTENT, THERE'S A COUPLE OF DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGER'S MEMO THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND THE LETTER OF INTENT ITSELF, AND THEN ALSO THE DRAFT LEASE AGREEMENT.
THEY ALL HAVE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE THREE DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT THOSE WILL ALL BE WORKED OUT BEFORE WE SEE A LEASE AGREEMENT.
BUT OTHERWISE, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS LETTER OF INTENT AND THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. I AGREE ABOUT THE NOISE.
I THINK THERE ARE NOW DIRECTIONAL SPEAKERS THAT YOU CAN GET INSTEAD OF BROADCASTING, SO THAT SOUND COULD BE MITIGATED.
BUT I AGREE THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO DISTURB THE WATERWORKS.
THERE'S JUST REALLY GOOD THINGS GOING ON THEN I THINK WE COULD DO THAT WITH EITHER NO SOUND OR WORKING AT A SYSTEM, AND I HAD WRITTEN DOWN THE TEST TO SOUND OUT BEFORE HE GOES AND PURCHASES SO HE CAN EVALUATE THE SOUND.
PARKING IS A CONCERN, BUT I AGREE WITH THE MANAGER THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING BY THERE ON PURPOSE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THE PARKING LOT IS LIKE.
ALTHOUGH THE ACCESS IS ONLY FROM US 1 NOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE THERE'S NO SNAKE CARLOS HAS NO ENTRY.
THERE SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE A FEW SPOTS AND THE HISTORY SAYS THAT THERE'S ONLY GOING TO BE A FEW CARS THERE ONLY FOR THE CAROUSEL.
THERE WAS NO PROVISION THOUGH, GIVEN FOR ANY APPROVAL OF THE CAROUSEL FOR THE DESIGN OR THE APPEARANCE.
ALTHOUGH WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN VISIONS OF WHAT THE CAROUSEL COULD LOOK LIKE, THAT MAY NOT BE WHAT HAPPENS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE US THINK ABOUT AT LEAST WE COULD GET SOME UPDATES ON THE PURCHASE AND AT LEAST GETTING TO SEE WHAT THE CITY'S GETTING INTO AS FAR AS THE WAY IT LOOKS. THAT'S IT.
>> I'M AWARE OF ONLY ONE OTHER SET OF PEOPLE AND THAT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE.
IT WAS MARK BAILEY AND A GROUP OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A CAROUSEL HERE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
SOMEBODY, ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS JUST MENTIONED FOUR PEOPLE OTHER THAN MR. BRINKLEY, MR. REGAN, COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT?
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NAMES ARE BUT THEY WERE FOUR ACTUAL PEOPLE.
>> ONE WAS A CONSORTIUM OF 12 BUSINESSMEN.
ONE WAS A LONGSTANDING FAMILY IN ST. AUGUSTINE THAT APPROACHED ME THAT HAVE BEEN GENERATIONALLY IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND MR. BRINKLEY.
>> WELL, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE MR. BRINKLEY HERE TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT IT TODAY.
I THINK HE WAS READY TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE SOUND AND DIRECTIONAL SPEAKERS.
[01:10:04]
>> I THINK WE'RE IN DEBATE RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY. MAYBE COME BACK TO IT.
ANYWAY, WE HAVE A VIABLE OPTION HERE THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING?
>> MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT I DON T THINK THE CAROUSEL NEEDS TO BE OPENED AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE LATE FOR CHILDREN TO BE RIDING ON A CAROUSEL, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE STILL HAVE A HOMELESS SITUATION, WE WOULDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY THERE AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE DRIFTING THROUGH PARKS, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS, AND THE ONLY OTHER THING IS I THINK THE SOUND DOES THE TO BE CONSIDERED, AND I THINK IT WAS VERY NICE TO THIS JUDGMENT TO COME FORWARD TO WANT TO DO THE CAROUSEL.
I KNOW WHEN IT WAS TAKEN BECAUSE I WAS STILL AN EMPLOYEE.
PEOPLE WERE REALLY UPSET THAT THE CAROUSEL WAS LEAVING, BUT IT WAS WILLED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO I THINK IT'D BE A NICE RETURN IF A SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAD.
IF IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT RECEPTION.
>> TO COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD'S POINT, I THINK WHAT I COULD ADD IN THE LETTER IS THAT THE APPROVAL OF THE CAROUSEL ITSELF, THE DESIGN TO THE CAROUSEL, OBVIOUSLY, THE CONTRACT SHOULD BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
I THINK THAT'S PARTIALLY WHY MR. BRINKLEY HIRED A PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT TO HELP WITH THOSE COMMUNICATIONS.
WE COULD CERTAINLY ADD THAT AND ALSO EMBED IT IN THE LETTER OF INTENT AS MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS, WHICH COULD BE TO THE COMMISSION AS WELL.
>> THOSE ARE GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
YOU HAD RECOMMENDED TWO ITEMS, ONE TO ESTABLISH ADJUSTABLE VOLUME, BUT PRECEDING THAT WOULD BE A SOUND STUDY TO DETERMINE THE PEAK TIMES OF SOUNDS, WHICH MAY HELP US FIGURE OUT THE TIMES OF WHEN THE OPERATIONAL HOURS.
>> CORRECT. TO CONSIDER THE OPERATIONAL HOURS, I KNOW THE ANSWER.
IT WILL GO DOWN FROM 10 O'CLOCK.
>> I'LL GO DOWN FROM 10 O'CLOCK.
>> BUT TO ESTABLISH A LEVEL THAT WORKS WITH THE WATERWORKS, I THINK ALSO MAYBE SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CULTURAL COUNCIL WITH REGARD TO MAYBE OPERATIONAL COORDINATION FOR EXAMPLE THERE'S AN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY ON THE BACK PATIO, MAYBE THE CAROUSEL DOESN'T RUN THAT EVENING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> THOSE THINGS DEFINITELY WOULD NEED TO BE DISCUSSED AND WORKED OUT, BUT THIS IS A LETTER OF INTENT.
YOU HEAR OUR CONCERNS, AND MOVING FORWARD, WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE FINAL APPROVAL ON THE APPEARANCE OF THE CAROUSEL BASED ON THE TIME AND I WANT TO MAKE THIS PART OF A MOTION.
I DON'T WANT TO GET OUT AHEAD OF ANYBODY IF ANYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN MIND.
BUT THE COMMISSIONER WOULD HAVE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE PARENTS IN THE FINAL CONTRACT TIMEFRAME TO BE DETERMINED BASED ON WHAT SOUND STUDY BARES OUT AND ANY OTHER PROVISIONS THAT ARE OFFERED AND NEGOTIATIONS.
THE DECIBEL VOLUME TO BE DETERMINED IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A VOLUME MAXIMUM, AND DID I MENTIONED HOURS? HOURS CAN BE DETERMINED.
I HAVE FOUR THINGS. DID I GET THEM ALL IN?
>> I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION BASED ON THOSE CONCERNS BEING ADDRESSED PRIOR TO ANY CONTRACTS.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> I KNOW I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH THESE THINGS BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT A CAROUSEL.
WE ARE MOVING ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[8.A.1. Ordinance 2023-09: Retiree Cost of Living Allowance. (M. Simpson, Director Finance]
SECOND READING OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.THE FIRST EP IS ORDINANCE 2023-09, RETIREE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE.
[01:15:01]
MADAM VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSION. I AM MARK SIMPSON.I'M THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND TONIGHT WE HAVE A SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2023-09 WHICH PROVIDES A ONE-TIME COST OF LIVING OR COLA FOR GENERAL RETIREES WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN INCREASE SINCE 2014.
I THINK WE'VE ALL FELT THE PAIN OF INFLATION.
THIS IS NOT A LARGE COST OF LIVING INCREASE.
THIS IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN $100 AND $300 PER MONTH BASED ON THE NUMBER OF YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN RETIRED WHICH THE NUMBER OF YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN RETIRED AFFECTS YOUR LOSS OF BORROWING OR BUYING POWER DUE TO INFLATION.
WE HAD THE ACTUARY RUN THE NUMBERS FOR US THIS YEAR AS A MATTER OF ROUTINE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE 193 RETIREES CURRENTLY RECEIVING PENSION CHECKS AND AT THE ACTUARIAL COST OF THIS IS $2.2 MILLION.
IT IS BEING FUNDED WITH A SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT IS CONTAINED INSIDE OF THE PENSION WITH PRIOR EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS SO IT WILL NOT AFFECT OUR CONTRIBUTION LEVEL, MOVING FORWARD.
WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE AS IT RELATES TO OUR RETIREES.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. SIMPSON? WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
I AM OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
HOWEVER, IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
MS. CLAY, YOU CAN FILL OUT YOUR CARD AFTERWARDS IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK. BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK.
>> DID I MISS THAT OUT ON YOUR CARD?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN OPEN SO I ASKED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
>> I GOT YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> THAT'S ALRIGHT. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK.
>> BJ COLLIDER WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
ALL I WANTED TO SAY WAS THANK YOU, MR. SIMPSON FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS.
I HAD TWO QUESTIONS TO ANSWER IN ORDER, 93 RETIREES AND $2.2 MILLION FOR FINE AND DANDY.
IF I HAVE TO QUESTION AND PEOPLE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, IT MAKES ME HAPPY.
>> THAT'S GREAT. HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
DO I HEAR A MOTION OR ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 2023-09, READ BY TITLE ONLY AND APPROVED AND PASSED.
>> SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND.
THE ORDINANCE NEEDS TO BE READ BY TITLE ONLY.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-09, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 20 ARTICLE 4 CITY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, CREATING SECTION 20-148, COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR RETIREES, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[8.A.2. Ordinance 2023-16: Updates to Chapter 28 of the zoning code regarding food truck definitions, locations and supplementary regulations. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
MS. SKINNER, YOU ARE ON DECK TO EXPLAIN YOUR ORDINANCE.>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THIS ITEM IS A SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING OF ORDINANCE 2023-16, WHICH UPDATES THE ZONING CODE RELATED TO FOOD TRUCKS.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA PASSED LEGISLATION PREEMPTING THE CITY'S ABILITY TO REGULATE MOBILE FOOD DISPENSING VEHICLES, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS FOOD TRUCKS.
HOWEVER, THE CITY DOES RETAIN SOME AUTHORITY.
THIS ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES RELEVANT DEFINITIONS, ZONING DISTRICTS, LOCATIONS WHERE FOOD TRUCKS AND FOOD COURTS WOULD BE ALLOWED AS A PERMITTED USE OR PERMITTED USE BY EXCEPTION, AND RELATED SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS. IN PRACTICE.
>> EXCUSE ME. YOU CAN CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU. IN PRACTICE, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE PRESENTS THE REGULATORY POLICIES THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY ENFORCES THROUGH THE BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC WORKS REVIEW PROCESS.
[01:20:01]
THE PCB REVIEWED THIS ORDINANCE ON APRIL 25TH AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH A COUPLE OF CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED IN YOUR DRAFT.THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST READING WAS HELD BY THE CITY COMMISSION, AND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU.
>> THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS THAT WISH TO APPROACH THE PODIUM TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE ORDINANCE? SEEING NONE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR DEBATE? DO YOU HAVE FOR A MOTION?
>> I MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2023-16, AS READ BY TITLE.
>> ALRIGHT THEN. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE MADAM ASSISTANCE CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE READ THE TITLE.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-16, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 28, SECTION 28-2 TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR MOBILE FOOD DISPENSING VEHICLE, MOBILE FOOD VENDOR, MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT, MOBILE FOOD TRUCK COURT, AND COMMISSARY.
AMENDING SECTIONS 20-165, 28-167, 28-206, 28-207, 28-208, 28-209, AND 28-312 TO ALLOW FOR MOBILE FOOD DISPENSING VEHICLES AS A PERMITTED USE.
AMENDING CODE SECTIONS 28-207, 28-208, 28-209, AND 28-312 TO ALLOW FOR MOBILE FOOD COURTS AS A PERMITTED USE.
AMENDING CODE SECTIONS 28-163, 28-164, 28-226, 28-246, AND 28-311 TO ALLOW FOR MOBILE FOOD DISPENSING VEHICLE AS A PERMITTED USE BY EXCEPTION.
AMENDING CODE SECTION 28-226, AND 28-246 TO ALLOW FOR MOBILE FOOD TRUCK COURTS AS A PERMITTED USE BY EXCEPTION AMENDING CODE SECTION 28-3047, TO PROVIDE FOR SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS, A MOBILE FOOD DISPENSING VEHICLES AND MOBILE FOOD TRUCK COURTS, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR DEBATE? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE NEXT ITEM IS ORDINANCE 2023-17 ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.
[8.A.3. Ordinance 2023-17: Adding statutory language concerning requirements regarding disability in the line of duty for firefighters diagnosed with cancer. (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]
>> ORDINANCE 2023-17, MENDING SECTION 20-198 OF THE CITY CODE TO REFERENCE STATE STATUTE, SECTION 112.1816, CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS REGARDING DISABILITY IN THE LINE OF DUTY FOR FIREFIGHTERS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
THE STATUTORY LANGUAGE IS IN ADDITION TO OTHER ILLNESSES DEEMED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, SUCH AS COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
THE CITY CODE ALREADY CONTAINS A CATCH-ALL SECTION THAT PROVIDES THAT AS A DISABILITY DIRECTLY CAUSED BY THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FIREFIGHTER'S DUTIES WILL BE DEEMED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND STATE LAW HAS DEEMED CANCER TO BE IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
HOWEVER, THE FIREFIGHTER PENSION BOARD ACTUARY REQUESTED THAT THE CITY ADOPT THE EXPLICIT PROVISIONS OF STATUTE REGARDING CANCER.
>> THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN FOR COMMENTS.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
I SEE NO ONE OR HEAR NO ONE TO SPEAK.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED.
COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE?
>> MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2023-17 ON READING TITLE ONLY.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> ATTORNEY. SORRY. MY MOUTH IS FULL OF MARBLES TODAY. PLEASE READ THE TITLE.
[01:25:03]
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 20, ARTICLE 5, SECTION 20-198 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE TO REFERENCE STATE STATUTES, SECTION 112.1816, CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS REGARDING DISABILITY IN THE LINE OF DUTY FOR FIREFIGHTERS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, PROVIDING FOR SEPARABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
WE HAVE NO ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS AND WE ARE ON ITEM 9B1,
[9.B.1. Resolution 2023-12: Provides a stop by the Old Town Trolley at the Lincolnville Museum. (J. Regan, City Manager]
RESOLUTION 2023-12, PROVIDES A STOP BY THE OLD TOWN TROLLEY AT LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM.I'M GOING TO SPEAK FROM THE PODIUM BECAUSE I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF PICTURES TO GO THROUGH THAT ILLUSTRATES SOME OF THE KEY THINGS THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT THIS CONCEPT HAS BEEN ITERATED A FEW TIMES.
DIFFERENT DESIGN IDEAS, THINGS THAT WERE REJECTED, THINGS THAT WERE TOO EXPENSIVE.
I THINK DEEP DOWN THOUGH, THAT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A COMMITMENT TO HELP THE LINCOLNVILLE CULTURAL MUSEUM FIND SOME TYPE OF LEVEL PLAYING FIELD IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY BY HAVING A TROLLEY STOP CALL THAT EQUITY WITH REGARD TO ACCESS BY TOURISTS.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, THE FINAL DESIGN WAS VERY MUCH GUIDED AND INFLUENCED BY RUBEN FRANKLIN.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO RUBEN WHO HELPED ME WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT UNLOCKED SOME OF THE SECRETS THAT WERE PROBLEMATIC FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT WE LOOKED AT MULTIPLE ROUTES.
LAST WEEK, I WAS ENGAGED WITH THE LINK OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND TOOK A HARD LOOK AT PARTICULARLY SOME OF THEIR ROUTES, SOME OF THE ROUTING CONCEPTS THAT VICE MAYOR HORVATH SUGGESTED AS WELL.
BUT AT THE END, I STILL STICK WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT TONIGHT.
THE RESOLUTION SPEAKS TO OUR VALUES, OUR VISION.
YOU CAN READ IT AND IT REALLY SPEAKS TO WHERE I THINK WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY WHICH I THINK WAS ILLUSTRATED BY THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
I ALSO WANT TO BRING SOMETHING UP OF WHY I THINK THAT THIS IS MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
THIS PAST WEEKEND ON SATURDAY, THE NAACP ISSUED A TRAVEL ADVISORY AGAINST FLORIDA.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP, PRESIDENT CEO DERRICK JOHNSON, I'M GOING TO READ HIS OPENING QUOTES IN THE ISSUED TRAVEL ADVISORY.
THE AFFORDABLE TRAVEL NOTICE STATES, THIS IS HIS QUOTES.
FLORIDA IS OPENLY HOSTILE TOWARDS AFRICAN-AMERICANS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND LGBTQ PLUS INDIVIDUALS.
BEFORE TRAVELING TO FLORIDA, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEVALUES AND MARGINALIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AND THE CHALLENGES FACED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
FAILING TO TEACH AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE HORRORS AND INEQUALITIES THAT BLACK AMERICANS HAVE FACED AND CONTINUE TO FACE IS A DISSERVICE TO STUDENTS AND A DERELICTION OF DUTY TO ALL.
I THINK THE MORAL IMPERATIVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR VISION IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
THERE ARE ALWAYS CONSEQUENCES.
IF ANYTHING, I HOPE IN 13 YEARS, I'VE REPRESENTED THE OTHER SIDE, THE MINORITY VOICE.
WHAT WE DID NOT HERE TONIGHT WAS THE HOW RESIDENTS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A COMMERCIAL COMPRESSION INTO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, HOW THEY FEEL.
OUR HISTORY ALSO EMBEDDED IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR VISION SPEAKS TO QUALITY OF LIFE AND RESIDENTIAL TRANQUILITY, IF YOU WILL.
WE HAVE MANY EXAMPLES WHERE WE HAVE PUSHED BACK ON COMMERCIAL COMPRESSION INTO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
[01:30:04]
WITH THAT IN MIND, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THAT WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT CERTAIN THINGS THAT HELP THE QUALITY OF LIFE, WHETHER THE TROLLEYS STATE GOING DOWN INTO LINCOLNVILLE OR NOT, THESE ARE GOOD IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE.I SPELL THEM OUT IN THE WAREHOUSES AS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY.
I JUST WANT THE RECORD TO HAVE SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT ILLUSTRATE THOSE CONCEPTS.
THE FIRST IS ON MARTIN LUTHER KING.
THE PICTURE THAT'S ON THE LEFT SHOWS AN EXAMPLE OF A CAR WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SIDE OF THE ROAD TO DRIVE ON BECAUSE THE ROAD DOESN'T HAVE A CENTER LINE STRIPE.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU ALLOCATE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY CROSS-SECTION, THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE TO HAVE TWO TRAVEL LANES AND ON STREET PARKING.
IT'S TIGHT, BUT THERE'S A FEW THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.
ONE, IS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENFORCE NO PARKING ON YELLOW CURBING.
THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT DEMONSTRATES A LANDSCAPE COMPANY THAT IS ILLEGALLY PARKED.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE STRONG ENFORCEMENT.
ANOTHER CONCEPT THAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE SAT AND WATCHED THE AMAZON AND UPS AND OTHER LOADING AND UNLOADING.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE BUILD A LOADING ZONE ON MARTIN LUTHER KING ON THE WEST SIDE.
ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE STRIPE THE PARKING LANES.
YOU NOTICE THE CAR THE RIGHT-HAND PICTURE, THE CAR THAT IS FACING NORTH ON ML KING.
THE SPACES NEEDS TO BE DESIGNATED AND DEFINED.
BUT ALSO WE CAN DO SOME SIMPLE INDENTATION OF THE ON STREET PARKING.
FOR US, IT'S RELATIVELY SIMPLE CURB WORK WHERE WE CAN INDENT THE CARS MAYBE A FOOT, FOOT AND A HALF TO WIDEN UP THE TWO TRAVEL LINES JUST A BIT.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE TROLLEYS THEMSELVES ARE A LITTLE BIT ON THE WIDE SIDE.
THEY ARE WIDER THAN LIKE A UPS TRUCK.
THE NEXT THING, TO KEEP THINGS FLOWING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE PROPOSE THE TROLLEY STOP OFF TO BE BETWEEN THOSE TWO SETS OF TELEPHONE POLES.
IT IS LONG ENOUGH FOR THE TRAINS THAT MEETS THEIR MINIMUM STANDARDS AND ACTUALLY EXCEEDS THE MINIMUM STANDARD.
BUT WE WOULD AGAIN DO SOME CURBING WORK AND MAKE A FLUSH SURFACE SO THAT THE TRAINS CAN PULL OVER, PEOPLE CAN SAFELY GET OFF ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE AND TRAFFIC AND CONTINUE TO FLOW AT THIS LOCATION.
THE NICE THING HERE IT'S ALSO NEAR AN INTERSECTION, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM TO WORK WITH CARS THAT ARE TRAVELING.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF LOVETT STREET.
BY THE WAY, THE ROUTING IS PROPOSED TO GO SOUTH, MAKE A LEFT OFF BRIDGE, SOUTH ON MARTIN LUTHER KING.
STOP AT THE MUSEUM, CONTINUED TO LOVETT AND MAKE A RIGHT-HAND TURN.
IT HAS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES, THE CHURCH, THE CHURCH PARKING LOT, THERE ARE SIX HOMES ON LOVETT STREET.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ON STREET PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE.
IN ORDER TO KEEP THE TROLLEY MOVING, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE YELLOW CURVE THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD.
WE COULD KEEP A LITTLE BIT OF ON STREET PARKING PERHAPS, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
THEN A RIGHT-HAND TURN ON RIBERIA STREET, RETURNING BACK TO THE INTERSECTION OF BRIDGE IN RIBERIA, WHICH IS CURRENTLY WHERE THE TROLLEYS TRAVEL.
OVER THE WEEKEND, THE HISTORIC TOWARDS AMERICA, THE GREEN TRAINS, IF WE'RE IN OUR NOMENCLATURE, THEY'VE BEEN GETTING INTO HOW TO BUILD THE NARRATIVE TO TELL THE CIVIL RIGHTS STORY.
I'M GOING TO SAY THAT I THINK THEY HAVE A PRETTY HIGH EXCITEMENT ON THIS.
I THINK THEY'VE SEEN THE VISION HERE.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH LINCOLNVILLE CULTURAL MUSEUM TO BUILD A NARRATIVE.
WHAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM IS THAT AS THEY MAKE THE LEFT ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THAT CIVIL RIGHTS NARRATIVE COMING TO THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM, HAVING PEOPLE GET ON AND OFF, GOING DOWN TO LOVETT AND MAKING A RIGHT, HAVING LOVETT AS A QUIET ZONE.
AS THEY MAKE A RIGHT ON RIBERIA STREET, THEY WANT TO EMBRACE THE HISTORIC WALKING WATERFRONT AND THE STORY OF OUR SHRIMPING INDUSTRY AND OUR RICH MARITIME HERITAGE,
[01:35:03]
AS WELL AS CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION OF CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY BECAUSE THERE'S JUST SO MUCH OF IT.THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT. WITH THAT REGARD, I WOULD SUGGEST SOME STRIKE THROUGH DELETION ON THE RESOLUTION THAT I HAD WRITTEN EARLIER.
BULLET 8 IN THE FIRST WHEREAS WHERE I SAY, REQUIRE A QUIET ZONE POLICY TO AVOID DRIVER NARRATION, I WOULD STRIKE THE S OFF THE WORD STREETS, I WOULD STRIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING AVENUE AND I WOULD STRIKE AND RIBERIA STREET SO THAT THAT BULLET WOULD READ "REQUIRE QUIET ZONE POLICY TO AVOID DRIVER NARRATION WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH THE RESIDENTIAL STREET OF LOVETT STREET." I WOULD DUPLICATE THAT LANGUAGE CHANGE ON THE SECOND PAGE OF THE RESOLUTION.
ALSO SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT, BUT I DIDN'T SPELL IT OUT MAYBE AS SUCCINCTLY, BUT DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPERATIONS STRATEGY TO MINIMIZE NOISE AND ALLOW A MAXIMUM OF 16 TRAINS ON THE ROUTE TO MAINTAIN HEADWAY TIME.
WHAT THAT IS, IS IN MY MIND, YOU WANT TO LET ALL THE PARTIES WORK OUT THEIR OPERATIONAL DETAILS, BUT THIS WOULD NOT BE A ROUTE FOR HOLLY JOLLY.
THE HOLLY JOLLY TOURS SHOULD NOT GO DOWN TO THE LINCOLNVILLE CULTURAL MUSEUM.
NO ONE INVOLVED IN THIS THINKS THAT IT SHOULD.
IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TYPE OF EXPERIENCE THAT CAN BE VERY NEGATIVE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE OTHER THING THAT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IF YOU DO WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ROUTE CHANGE TO ALLOW THIS DROP-OFF.
IN CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, RUBEN FRANKLIN, HE WOULD SAY AN OUTSIDE WINDOW OF IMPLEMENTATION WOULD BE ABOUT FEBRUARY 2024.
THAT GIVES US TIME TO ADEQUATELY DESIGNED THESE CHANGES.
IT GIVES HTA TIME TO BUILD THEIR NARRATIVE, TO CHANGE THEIR MARKETING BROCHURES.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES GET ALL THE PIECES AND PARTS ASSEMBLED.
THE OTHER THING, THAT WAS A SUGGESTION FROM A MEMBER OF THE LINCOLNVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHICH I THOUGHT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD TAKE TO HEART, IS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A PERIOD OF REVIEW.
LET'S CALL IT A PILOT, MAYBE NOT A PILOT NECESSARILY, BUT GO THROUGH A YEAR AND LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
DID IT ACTUALLY AFFECT THIS TURNSTILE COUNT? THINGS LIKE THAT. IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD OKAY? I MEAN, HAVE THAT A CHECK-IN.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY WORTHWHILE COMMENT.
BUT I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY TIME FOR US TO RECONCILE THESE DIFFERENCES.
I KNOW THIS CAN BE TOUGH BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE SPELLED OUT IN THE VISION.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK, AND I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER.
BUT I DID TAKE NOTE THAT SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE TALKED TO ME THAT OR NOT FOR THIS DID NOT REPRESENT TONIGHT AND I DON'T WANT THEIR VOICES NOT TO BE HEARD.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE CHANGES THAT I HAVE SUGGESTED.
IF FOR ANY REASON THIS DOES NOT SUCCEED, THESE CHANGES OF STRIPING AND MINOR CURB WORK ARE GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ANYWAYS. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? I KNOW I HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU MENTIONED THE HOLLY JOLLY TOURS, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT REFLECTED.
WE COULD SAY THIS ROUTE DOES NOT APPLY TO THE HOLLY JOLLY TOURS.
>> IS THIS MAXIMUM? THE PROVISION THAT AS THE LAWS FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF TROLLEYS ON THE ROUTE TO BE 16.
>> IT IS THE CURRENT FRANCHISE AGREEMENT ALLOWS 15, BUT THIS CHANGES THE HEADWAY CALCULATIONS FOR THE GREEN TRAINS.
IN ORDER TO KEEP A STABLE HEADWAY THAT WORKS WITHIN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, THIS WOULD ALLOW ADDING ONE MORE TROLLEY TRAIN TO THE ROUTE SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP ON A STABLE HEADWAY AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR PRODUCT DEGRADED.
>> BUT THAT DOESN'T ADD AN EXTRA HOLLY JOLLY TOURS?
>> NO. WE NEED TO MAKE CLEAR OF THAT. THAT'S A GOOD POINT MA'AM.
>> MAKE CLEAR THAT. THAT'S REALLY FOR THEIR DAYTIME TOURS OR NORMAL OPERATING.
I HAD THAT AND I HAD FEBRUARY 2024 IS WHEN THIS BEGINS AND I HAD,
[01:40:06]
THIS WOULD BASICALLY BE YOU'RE OFFERING A PILOT OF ONE YEAR.IT'S FOR ASSESSMENT BASICALLY, MAYBE YOU WOULD STATE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
>> LET'S PUT FEBRUARY 2024 AS A CONSERVATIVE OUTSIDE DATE, JUST RUBEN FRANKLIN BEING MINDFUL OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING.
THE COMMITMENTS OF HTA OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND SO FORTH. IT COULD BE SOONER.
IF WE BUILD IT SOONER, WE CAN START SOONER WHEN ALL THE PARTIES ARE READY, BUT I JUST WANT TO MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
THE SECOND THING IS I DON'T KNOW THE PILOT WOULD BE A GOOD WORD, BUT MAYBE A PERIOD OF REVIEW.
WE HAVE A REVIEW PERIOD IN THE CONTRACT FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, FOR EXAMPLE, TO REVIEW.
I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD REVIEW ALL THE DATA AFTER A YEAR AND SEE WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE.
THAT'S JUST GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES ANYWAYS.
>> GOT YOU. COMMISSIONER DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR CHANGES, ADDITIONS?
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT AND SOME COMMENTS.
THE RED TRAIN WILL NOT TAKE THIS ROUTE?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THE RED TRAINS HAVE A DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODEL.
THEY DO NOT OPERATE AS A HOP ON, HOP OFF TROLLEY TOUR ANYMORE.
THEY DO AT ONCE AROUND THE CITY LOOP.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TOO MUCH FOR THE CULTURAL MUSEUM, BUT I THINK THE POINT IS TO HAVE TRANSIT STOP.
>> I DROVE IT TODAY SEVEN OR EIGHT TIMES AND I DROVE IT DURING THE WEEKEND TOO SO REALLY FAMILIAR WITH THE ROUTE.
I DID FOLLOW SOME TRAINS TODAY, I DID FOLLOW THE RED TRAIN.
IT JUST CONTINUES ALL THE WAY DOWN BRIDGE AND IT'S NOT A QUIET STREET THEY TALK THE WHOLE TIME NOW.
THIS WILL ELIMINATE HALF OF THE TROLLEYS ON HALF A BRIDGE STREET BECAUSE THE GREEN TROLLEY WILL TURN.
I DID ALSO NOTICED THAT ONCE YOU GOT ON LIBERIA, A TROLLEY IS GOING TO SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN AND BOY, HAS THAT BEEN A REQUEST AROUND HERE TO SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN ON LIBERIA SO THERE'S A PLUS.
THERE ARE 37 HOUSES THAT WILL NOW HAVE A GREEN TRAIN BUT 14 OF THEM WILL LOSE.
LET'S SEE. IT'S A SHAME THAT IS 2023 AND WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
WE WOULD NEVER HAVE AGREED TO NOT HAVE SPANISH HISTORY OR FLAGLER ERA INCLUDED IN THE TROLLEY TOURS AND SO I REALLY COMMEND EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND GET THIS GOING.
I'M ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF THIS.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST THINK THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING.
IT'S MY FIRST COMMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SOME BLACK PLACES HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE THAT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT.
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I'VE SEEN TOURISTS WALKING IN AND OUT OF WORK AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THESE LOCATIONS AND THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY EXISTED.
I COMMEND JOHN FOR PUTTING AND CREATING THIS YEAR OPPORTUNITY AND I HAVE SPOKE WITH DAVID CHATHAM AND THE OLD TROLLEY PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THEY ALSO ARE EXCITED THAT MR. PHILLIPS AND REGINA ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM THE VERBIAGE THAT THEY NEED TO USE AS THEY TAKE THE TROLLEY THROUGH DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO MENTION ST. PAUL IN DIFFERENT PLACES THAT KING WAS.
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE, BLACK HISTORY IS BEING ERASED.
IT'S JUST LIKE IT NEVER EXISTED.
IT'S REALLY INSULT TO MY PEOPLE THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT NOBODY RECOGNIZES.
IF FORMER COMMISSIONER EARL JONES AND PUSH FOR FORT MOSAIC TO BE ESTABLISHED THE WAY IT WAS, WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE THAT.
I THINK THAT IS VERY ESSENTIAL WITH THE GOVERNOR TAKEN SO MANY THINGS OUT OF SCHOOLS THAT WHEN CHILDREN COME TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME HISTORY HERE THAT WE MATTERED, THAT WE DID, WE WERE PART OF GROWING THIS COMMUNITY AND TO SEE HOW LINCOLNVILLE WAS BACK WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, TO SEEING HOW IT IS NOW.
I GOT SO MANY LETTERS AND SUPPORTED THIS FOR GOOD PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME INTO THIS COMMUNITY THAT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS HISTORY.
[01:45:02]
LIKE THE YOUNG LADY SAID, SHE LIVED HERE FOR SIX YEARS, SPOKEN PUBLIC COMMENTS AND HAD NO IDEA THAT THE MUSEUM EVEN EXISTED.I'LL TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN TO THE MUSEUM OVER A DOZEN TIMES MYSELF AND EVERY TIME I GO THERE I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORRY ABOUT HISTORY.
DISNEY IS THE NUMBER 1 PLACE TO GO IN FLORIDA BECAUSE OF BASICALLY, BECAUSE IT'S DISNEY.
PEOPLE ARE STARVING FOR KNOWLEDGE.
PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS TROLLEY STOP WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME HISTORY THAT'S BEEN HIDDEN FOR TOO LONG. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 16 TRAINS, MR. REGAN, HOW MANY TRAINS IS THAT PER HOUR?
IT CAN DEPEND ON TRAFFIC, BUT THEY TRIED TO HIT A 50.
STAY WITHIN A 15-MINUTE HEADWAY.
IT COULD BE 12 ON ONE ROUTE, 10, 15, 17.
BUT THEY TRIED TO REALLY DESIGN THAT TO BE ABOVE 15 ON HOW FREQUENTLY A TRAIN STOPS.
>> BASICALLY THE TRAIN WILL GO BY FROM BRIDGE DOWN TO THE TRAILER, STOP WITH THE SPEAKERS GOING TELLING THE STORY.
NOW IT WILL BE IN FRONT OF 31 HOUSES, YOU SAID 37.
BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SPEAKERS GO ON, LOVE IT SO THAT TAKES SIX AWAY.
WE HAVE 31 HOUSE THOSE THAT PERHAPS WOULD BE SITTING OUT ON THEIR PORCH AND THIS IS A CHANGE FROM WHAT YOU HAD IN THE PACKAGE.
NOW YOU HAVE IT WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BE VOICING NARRATION GOING MANY BLOCKS INTO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. OVER THE WEEKEND, THE GREEN TRAIN COMPANY CALLED ME AND REALLY BROUGHT FORWARD THESE MATTERS.
AND SO I NEED TO REPRESENT THAT TO YOU.
>> WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR ME, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT THE MUSEUM.
I ABSOLUTELY I'M IN AGREEMENT THAT THEY NEED TO INCREASE THEIR TICKET SALES.
THEY NEED TO INCREASE PEOPLE COMING TO THE MUSEUM.
PARTICULARLY, IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE STATE IS CUTTING OUT THE STORY FROM TEACHING OUR CHILDREN.
THERE'S ALL THE REASONS FOR THIS STOP.
MY DIFFICULTY IS COMING FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE.
I SPENT OVER A YEAR WORKING ON THE VISION FOR THE CITY AND THE VISION VERY CLEARLY SAYS, RESIDENTIAL ZONES SHOULD NOT HAVE A COMMERCIAL INTRUSION.
WITH, AS WE ARE NOW DISCUSSING, I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD BEFORE I CAME IN HERE.
NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING THE VOICE OVER, COMING DOWN THESE STREETS AND ENCROACHING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER, THERE'S NO TRAFFIC PROBLEMS THERE.
I THINK THE SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING TUCKING AND THE PARKING IN A LITTLE BIT WILL HELP.
BUT WE HAVE SCHOOL BUSES, WE HAVE AMAZON AND FEDEX.
I TRAVELED DOWN MARTIN LUTHER KING AND LIBERIA AND LOVED IT A LOT, TWICE, THREE TIMES A DAY, AT LEAST.
IF IT'S GOING TO SLOW IT DOWN ON LIBERIA, IT'S GOING TO SLOW IT DOWN IN MARTIN LUTHER KING.
I'VE WORKED WITH JOHN, MR. REGAN TO FIND ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS TO THIS AND THERE REALLY ISN'T AN ALTERNATE SOLUTION BASED ON INPUT FROM THE TRAILER TRAIN.
I WANTED IT TO GO ON POPE AND THE OTHER ONE, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK.
I CAN ACKNOWLEDGE BECAUSE IT WOULD INCONVENIENCE THOSE HOUSES AS WELL,
[01:50:02]
PARTICULARLY IF THERE HAVE AN AUDIO GOING.WE LOOKED AT PULLING OFF THE STREET NEXT TO THE PRESERVE, THINKING PEOPLE COULD WALK TWO BLOCKS.
I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION AND I WANT TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM.
I JUST AM NOT CONVINCED THAT HAVING THE TRAILER TRAIN DROP PEOPLE OFF AND HAVING PEOPLE GO IN THERE AND PAY $10.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET OFF AND DO THAT? I HOPE A LOT WILL, BECAUSE IT WILL HELP THE MUSEUM.
I WAS THE ONE THAT SUGGESTED THE PILOT AND I CALL IT A PILOT.
>> IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN IT STARTS I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GO THROUGH THE PEAK SEASON, WHICH IS THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A FULL SEASON FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY SEE IF THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND MAYBE IT IS A WHOLE YEAR THAT WE NEED TO SEE.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY, IF WE VOTE FOR THIS TONIGHT, I THINK THE PILOT IS IMPORTANT AND I THINK THE FACT THAT DURING THE HOURS THAT THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK, THE TROLLEY CONTINUES DOWN BRIDGE TO RIBERIA.
THEY DO NOT GO INTO NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S NO REASON FOR THEM TO GO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE MUSEUM IS NOT OPEN.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF THIS PASSES TONIGHT, THAT MAY BE A STIPULATION.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON IT.
>> MAYOR, I THINK BOTH OF THE VICE MAYOR'S COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADOPTED.
WE SHOULD CALL IT A PILOT AND NO AFTER HOURS TROLLEYS.
>> I'M OPPOSED TO HAVING THE NARRATION FROM BRIDGE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LOVE IT.
>> WHAT I HEAR SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING CAN BE WORKED OUT EXCEPT WHAT I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH HER ON IS ML KING, THE NARRATION ON ML KING.
I'M SORRY, I HAVEN'T LET YOU SPEAK, BUT MAYBE YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD THAT COULD BRING WITH THEM.
>> I HOPE SO BUT I THINK THAT ALL OF THESE SUGGESTIONS, ANY MOTION THAT WE WOULD MAKE WOULD INCLUDE THE ONE-YEAR PILOT REVIEW, I CALL IT ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT.
YOU HAVE A FORMAL PROCESS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, SO FORTH.
IT GETS TOGETHER WITH THE TROLLEY, WITH CITY STAFF AND NEGOTIATES WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE, IF ANYTHING.
NO HOLLY JOLLY TOURISTS, OBVIOUSLY, I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR ON NOT GOING DOWN MLK DURING TIMES WHEN THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT I HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS I WANT TO SAY TOO.
I AM VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT TRAFFIC ALONE IT'S JUST A STRESSOR, IT'S QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AS MR. REGAN DID, THAT HE RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS.
I RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS FROM NEIGHBORS WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT RETAINING WHAT QUALITY OF LIFE THEY MIGHT HAVE IN LINCOLNVILLE.
HOWEVER, I HAVE TO WEIGH THIS ON THE BIGGER PICTURE.
AS PASTOR MARCH SAID SO ELOQUENTLY, MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS PRIDE BECAUSE OF OUR HISTORY.
THE LINCOLNVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS PRIDE BECAUSE OF THEIR HISTORY.
THAT HELPS KEEP NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER.
IT IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THAT.
WITH THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER BEING A CORNERSTONE OF THAT HISTORY AND THAT PRIDE, I THINK IT REALLY WILL HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WILL HELP PEOPLE WANT TO STAY AND NOT SELL TO SOMEBODY WHO JUST WANTS TO TURN ANOTHER HOUSE INTO A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
>> MY FAMILY CAME FOR A FAMILY REUNION.
MY MOTHER HAD A BIG BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR, AND THEY CAME FROM THE NORTHEAST.
THEY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT ANY OF OUR HISTORY, JEWISH HISTORY, AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CULTURAL HISTORY THAT WE HAVE HERE.
I BROUGHT THEM ON A WALKING TOUR FROM MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, CALLED FLAGLER COLLEGE AROUND TO TEMPLE BITYAM, AND THEN OVER TO THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER AND WE MET FLOYD.
WE MET I THINK GAYLE WAS THERE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER, MY MEMORY IS NOT THAT GREAT.
THEY'VE COME TO FLORIDA ALL OVER THE PLACE.
[01:55:01]
THAT EXPERIENCE TO THEM REALLY RESONATED WITH HOW I FEEL ABOUT SHARING MY CITY WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT OUR HISTORY.THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER IS ESSENTIAL TO THAT IN OUR VISITORS DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, AS WAS SAID BY SO MANY PEOPLE WHO SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.
I WOULD GO EVEN FURTHER IN SAYING THAT WE NEED MESSAGING WITHIN THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER THAT CALLS ATTENTION TO THE ISAAC BARRETT LYNCHING MARKER THAT SCHOOL GROUPS GO RIGHT BY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I WALK THROUGH THAT PLAZA TWICE A DAY, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I NEVER SEE A SCHOOL GROUP THERE.
WE NEED TO CALL ATTENTION WITHIN THE VISITOR CENTER TO OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL RESOURCES HERE, INCLUDING THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM CULTURAL CENTER IN FORT MOSE.
I THINK PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THIS RICH RESOURCES HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
WHEN MY FAMILY CAME, WE WERE IN THE MUSEUM FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, I BELIEVE, AND THEN WE CAME OUT IN THE CORNER STORE WAS OPEN.
WELL, THAT WAS FUN BECAUSE THEN WE GOT A BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS.
SHE GOT TO TELL US ABOUT WHY SHE OPENED THE STORE, THE HANDMADE ITEMS THAT SHE HAD IN THERE, AND THEY GOT COLD DRINKS AND WONDERFUL CHOCOLATES WHILE WE WERE THERE TOO.
I SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES AS A RESULT OF PEOPLE STOPPING AND WAITING FOR THE TROLLEY TO COME AND PICK THEM UP OR EXPLORING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES ARE JUST STARTING TO GET A TOEHOLD IN.
THAT'S PART OF A WALKABLE CITY, IS HAVING BUSINESSES WHERE WE ARE.
HARDWARE STORES THAT HAVE DISAPPEARED OUT OF DOWNTOWN, DRUGSTORES THAT HAVE DISAPPEARED OUT OF DOWNTOWN.
WE NEED THOSE SERVICES BACK IN.
THIS VISITATION CAN HELP US GET THOSE SERVICES BACK.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE IN PART IT'S JOHN'S LEGACY.
I WILL HOLD ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.
>> LOVELY. IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE YOU, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK AGAIN?
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY I SUPPORT EVERYTHING SHE SAID THAT, THE FIVE O'CLOCK STOP WOULD BE BE VERY REASONABLE AND THEY KNOW SPEAKING ON HIM.
I THINK ALSO THAT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US GREAT DATA.
IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME IN THE MONTH IN THE YEAR.
>> HOW DOES THE COMMISSION FEEL ABOUT NOT REMOVING MARTIN LUTHER KING AVENUE? IN LEAVING THE LANGUAGE IN THAT THAT WILL BE A QUIET ZONE AS WELL AS LOVETT STREET, BUT NOT RIBERIA, REMOVE RIBERIA, LET THEM SPEAK ON RIBERIA.
>> BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT AN INTERIM STEP THERE? BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THAT'S WHERE THE BULK OF THE HOUSES ARE THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IN THEIR PEACEFUL HOMES.
PERHAPS JUST SAY THAT'S AS FAR AS WE'LL GO TO THE TROLLEY COMPANY.
WE'RE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT HERE.
I DO THINK IT IS A COMPELLING CASE.
I WENT TO ST. FRANCIS HOUSE, HAS A BREAKFAST AND YOU GET ON THE BUS AND YOU GO DOWN TO THE ST. FRANCIS AND I DO A TOUR.
IT'S A WONDERFUL THING. I'D RECOMMEND ANYBODY TO DO IT.
BUD WAS OUR DRIVER AND IT WAS A GREEN TROLLEY VAN.
HE DIDN'T STOP TALKING THE WHOLE TIME ABOUT THE PIANO THAT WAS IN THIS BAR AND NOW IT'S AT THE MUSEUM AND THIS HOUSE.
THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION THAT WE DON'T WANT TO FORGET BY SILENCING THEM COMPLETELY.
I THINK MLK ALSO HAS A LOT OF BUSINESSES ON THERE.
I THINK THE BLUE IS GOING BE VERY HAPPY.
>> A TROLLEY CAR IS COMING BY THERE.
I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ADVANTAGES AS WELL TO SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES, AS A COMMISSIONER BLONDER MENTIONED, I THINK IS WORTH A LOOK OR TO STUDY.
IT IS A CONCERN. I DID APPRECIATE THE RESIDENTS AND THEIR COMMENTS.
I WOULD FEEL THE SAME WAY IF IT WAS COMING DOWN OUT THROUGH YOUR STREET, WHICH THEY CAN'T TURN AROUND AND OUR STREET ANYWAY.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME NOT OVERHEADS, HOW THEY'RE TALKING AND IT'S DRIVING YOU CRAZY WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET AROUND THEM OR WHATEVER.
I THINK THAT WHEN I TALKED TO DAVID GENTLEMAN, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THAT WERE INSIDE THE CARS INSTEAD OF THE OVERHEAD.
THEY WOULDN'T REALLY SAY ANYTHING UNTIL THEY HIT MARTIN LUTHER KING.
I MEAN, THERE WOULDN'T BE A NEED TO MENTION ANYTHING PRIOR TO.
WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF DOWN BRIDGE, BUT I THINK THAT THEY WERE MENTIONED ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
[02:00:02]
THEN THE NEXT PLACE THEY WERE PROBABLY MENTION IS THE CORNER STORE AND THEN THERE'LL BE AT MUSEUM AND THEN THAT WOULD BE IT.>> THEY DO HAVE DIRECTIONAL SPEAKERS, BUT I THINK IF YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK OR SITTING ON YOUR PORCH, YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR THIS ON THIS TALK THE WHOLE TIME.
I COULD IMAGINE THEY COULD PREP THE MUSEUM BY TALKING FROM GRANADA TO MARTIN LUTHER KING ON BRIDGE.
THEY PREP IT, YOU'RE COMING UP.
IT'S A QUIET ZONE. WE CAN'T TALK.
THAT YOUR NEXT STOP IS THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM.
WHEN THEY GET IN THERE, THEY WILL SEE EVERYTHING.
THEY WILL SEE WHAT THEY NEED TO SEE.
I AM ADAMANT ABOUT NOT HAVING THE TALKING FROM BRIDGE DOWN MARTIN LUTHER KING.
>> IT LOOKS TO ME I'M LOOKING AT A MAP AND I'M SAYING BETWEEN BRIDGE AND ST. FRANCIS, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE THAT'S THE BULK OF THE RESIDENTIAL.
I'M WONDERING IF MAYBE THAT WE CAN MAYBE THAT BLOCK, NOT A QUIET ZONE.
IF WE COULD JUST TEASE OUT THAT MANY HOMES.
>> MAYOR, OBVIOUSLY, I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM OVER THE WEEKEND OVER THIS KNOWING THIS WAS A STICKING POINT.
THEY ARE COMMON AS RIBERIA IS A MIXED-USE DISTRICT.
>> TO YOUR POINT, I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE REQUEST TO SAY YOU CANNOT BEGIN YOUR ORATION UNTIL THAT ADDRESS OR STREET CROSSING, WHERE THAT'S THE POINT WHERE YOU START TO GET INTO THE BUSINESSES, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ROAD, ST. PAUL'S.
THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT THAT THE NORTHERN END OF ML KING HAS AND SO I THINK THAT COULD BE A GOOD COMPROMISE.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR ML KING.
>> WELL, I WANT TO RIDE THE TRAIN AND HEAR WHEN THEY WORK THIS OUT.
[LAUGHTER] I WANT TO RIDE THAT TRAIN AND I WANT TO SEE WHERE THEY START AND WHERE THEY STOP.
>> BUT LET ME REMIND YOU, WE MAKE THE DECISION ON THE ROUTES.
WE DECIDE THAT, WE GIVE THEM PERMISSION.
THAT IS AN EXTENSION, ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A NEGOTIATION AND I UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE THAT, MR. REGAN.
I WOULD PROPOSE THAT ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED SO FAR, THE PILOT PERIOD, NO HOLLY JOLLY TOURS, MUSEUM HOURS ONLY, QUIET ZONE.
THE ONLY MODIFICATION WE WOULD HAVE WOULD BE HOW CAN [OVERLAPPING].
>> LOVE IT, AND MARTIN LUTHER KING.
>> I'M SORRY. HELP ME OUT HERE.
>> I'M LOOKING AT ITEM 8, BUT I'M WONDERING.
>> JUST MARK OFF RIBERIA STREET, LEAVE THE OTHER TWO ON.
>> BUT DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC?
>> BETWEEN ST. FRANCIS AND THE BRIDGE.
REMOVE RIBERIA LIKE YOU SUGGEST.
THE STICKY PART IS WHERE THE QUIET ZONES.
THE QUIET ZONES ARE THE BLOCK BETWEEN ML KING FROM KING STREET TO ST. FRANCIS.
THE OTHER QUIET ZONE WOULD BE LOVETT STREET, AND THAT'S IT.
>> CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING? IF YOU SAY THERE'S FOUR TRAINS, THERE WOULDN'T BE FOUR TRAINS BECAUSE IF IT STOPS AT 5:00,
[02:05:03]
THERE WOULDN'T BE A FOURTH TRAIN, CORRECT?>> IF THE COMMISSION SAYS NO TRAINS ON THIS TO THE MUSEUM AFTER 5:00, THE LAST HOUR WOULD HAVE LESS TRAINS.
>> NO, IT'S FOUR TRAINS AN HOUR THAT WOULD STOP AT THE MUSEUM.
>> THAT'S THEIR HEADWAY. THAT DOESN'T CHANGE.
>> IT'S EVERY 15 MINUTES, THE TRAIN COMES AND STOPS THERE, AND THEN AFTER 05:00 O'CLOCK, THEY JUST CONTINUE DOWN BRIDGE TO RIBERIA.
THEY DON'T GO DOWN MARTIN LUTHER KING.
>> NOW THAT THAT'S OUT, I JUST LIKE TO ADD MY OWN COMMENTS SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HATE TO SEE, IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO SEE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DIVIDED OVER THINGS AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND RESIDENTS PITTED AGAINST BUSINESSES OR MUSEUMS, ESPECIALLY CULTURAL MUSEUMS. I THINK IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT ISSUES, AND JUST BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS DOWN THERE DON'T WANT THE TROLLEYS TO COME DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T APPRECIATE THE MUSEUM AND DON'T LOVE THE MUSEUM AND DON'T WANT TO SEE THE MUSEUM FLOURISH.
MY HOPE MOVING FORWARD IS THAT THESE NEIGHBORS IN THIS MUSEUM CAN FIND A WAY TO FIND VALUE TO EVEN UP, SO TO SPEAK, AND THAT THE MUSEUM REACH OUT TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.
WE'RE ALL NEIGHBORS AND EVERYBODY JUST FIND PROGRAMS. THE NEIGHBORS NEEDS TO GO VISIT.
IT'S JUST LIKE I SAID, IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE EACH OF THE NEIGHBORS AS WELL AS THE MUSEUM FIND A WAY TO CREATE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR LIVES FOR EACH ONE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER AND FIND MUTUAL SUCCESS, AND THAT WOULD BE MY WISH.
THAT'S THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY.
SORRY, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET IT OUT, BUT IT CAN BE SAD AND I THINK THAT THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION MOVING FORWARD.
I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I THINK IT'S THE BEST WE'RE GOING TO GET.
BUT NONE OF YOU LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TRAILER TRAINS GOING THROUGH IT.
WE COULD PUT TRAILER TRAINS TO SHOW ALL THE FLOODED HOUSES IN DAVIS SHORES.
WE COULD DO A LITTLE SPECIAL TRAIN THAT COMES AROUND.
>> ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONER HORVATH, WE DON'T HAVE A REGULAR TROLLEY TRAIN TOUR THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE DO HAVE THEM PERIODICALLY.
>> WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN THERE?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA. SPECIAL HISTORIC TOURS. I DON'T KNOW.
>> THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE.
>> THEY COME THROUGH EVERY NOW AND THEN.
>> THEY NEED TO COME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD TOO AND SHOW DR. HAILING'S HOUSE.
>> ANYWAY, IT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION, BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL WANTING TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM.
>> BUT TO THESE POINTS, WE'VE ALSO SAID WE'RE GOING TO REEVALUATE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT COMMISSIONER BLONDER SAID IS TO MAKE IT A COMMUNITY EFFORT WITH THE ASSOCIATION, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WITH THE STAFF, WITH THE MUSEUM TO COME UP WITH SOME CRITERIA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO EVALUATE SO THAT WE DON'T JUST GO BLIND TO SAY, I DON'T LIKE IT.
>> PART OF THE CRITERIA SHOULD BE HOW MUCH HAS IT BOOSTED THEIR TICKETS.
>> IF IT'S NOT DOING WHAT THEY'RE HOPING IT'S GOING TO DO AND IT'S INCONVENIENCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THIS WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT.
I HOPE I'M STILL ON THE BOARD WHEN THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IF IT'S FEBRUARY TO FEBRUARY, I MAY NOT BE BECAUSE I'D HAVE TO BE TAKING ANOTHER TERM. DON'T COUNT ON IT.
>> WELL, ALSO MY HOPE WOULD BE FOURTH GRADERS WOULD BE ON SOME OF THOSE TRAINS.
>> THAT WILL MAKE UP A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO THOSE FOURTH-GRADE EXPERIENCES.
>> WELL, WE'VE ALL HAD OUR SAY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT.
THE NEXT ITEM, I DO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS ON DOLPHIN DRIVE,
[9.B.2. Resolution 2023-13: Approves the sale of 13 Dolphin Drive, authorizes David Birchim, Assistant City Manager, to act as City representative in the transaction. (D. Birchim, Assistant City Manag]
13 DOLPHIN DRIVE WAS MY MOTHER'S HOME WHO LEFT IT TO THE CITY TO BENEFIT IN ARCHAEOLOGY PROGRAM,[02:10:04]
AND SO I WILL TURN THE GAVEL OVER TO VICE MAYOR HORVATH AND STEP OUT FOR A MOMENT.>> DO YOU WANT US TO COME GET YOU WHEN WE'RE FINISHED?
>> SURE, JUST KNOCK ON THE DOOR, I'LL BE WITHIN.
>> I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DAVID BIRCHIM.
>> VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, RESOLUTION 2313 AS A HOUSEKEEPING ISSUE, IT SIMPLY AUTHORIZES THE SALE OF 13 DOLPHIN DRIVE AND NAMES ME AS THE CITY'S AGENT TO REPRESENT THE TRANSACTION.
THE CITY AUTHORIZED THE SALE THIS LAST DECEMBER.
BUT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE A TITLE INSURANCE POLICY, THE UNDERWRITER IS REQUESTING A FORMAL RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED.
THIS PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE SOLD TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR MIDDLETON HOUSE ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER.
A PREVIOUS SPEAKER AT IT HAD ASKED WHERE THE SITE IS GOING TO BE FOR THE MIDDLETON HOUSE AND WE DON'T HAVE A SITE SELECTED.
WE'VE GOT A SITE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, BUT IT WILL BRING IT BACK TO YOU WHEN THAT PROPERTY OWNER AGREES TO THE TRANSACTION.
THIS FIRST STEP IS SELLING THE PROPERTY AT 13 DOLPHIN DRIVE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE A HEARING.
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK MR. BIRCHIM FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> YES. I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2023-13, READ BY TITLELONELY.
>> STAFF, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> I'M SORRY. NO. WE DON'T NEED TO READ IT.
>> OKAY. WE'LL GO GET THE MAYOR.
[INAUDIBLE] WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE NEXT ITEM UP WHILE THE MAYOR IS SHORTLY HERE.
[9.B.3. Resolution 2023-14: Supports the City's Planning and Building Department efforts to submit a $50,000.00 Small Matching grant application for a St. Augustine survey update Part 6 in the Certified Local Government category with the State of Florida Division of Historical Resources. (J. Courtney, Historic Preservation Officer]
IT'S ITEM 9B3 AND IT'S A RESOLUTION 2023-14.>> ITEM 2023-14. IS THAT WHERE WE'RE ON? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE GO THROUGH THIS AND JUST TAKE A LITTLE TINY SHORT BREAK AFTER THIS.
THESE TWO RESOLUTIONS, AFTER THESE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS AND HAPPY HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH.
MY NAME IS JULIE COURTNEY AND I'M THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER FOR THE CITY.
THIS MATTER IS RELATED TO TWO RESOLUTIONS AND IF I MAY, I'LL JUST GIVE A QUICK INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF BOTH OF THEM AND THEN GO INTO EACH SPECIFIC ONE.
IN SUPPORT OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISIONS EFFORTS TO SUBMIT TWO DIFFERENT SMALL MATCHING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR $50,000 EACH, WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES.
BECAUSE OUR CITY IS A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR CLG, WE CAN BE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIRED GRANT MATCH.
THEREFORE, WE ARE NOT REQUESTING A MATCH FROM THE CITY.
GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE DUE JUNE 1ST AND THE FUNDS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, AFTER APPLICATIONS ARE AWARDED.
ONE OF THE GOALS THAT CAME OUT OF OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION MASTER PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2018 WAS THE PRIORITIZATION OF DOCUMENTING AND PRESERVING BUILDINGS FROM THE RECENT PAST.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE ACTIONS WAS STRESSED BECAUSE THESE STRUCTURES ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO BEING DEMOLISHED.
FOR RESOLUTION 2023-14 IS IN SUPPORT OF A SURVEY PROJECT GRANT WHICH COMES FROM FEDERAL FUNDS TO CONDUCT A ST.
AUGUSTINE SURVEY OF ARCHITECTURE FROM THE RECENT PAST.
ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY IS DIFFERENT THAN A LAND SURVEY OR A SURVEY THAT ASKS A GROUP OF PEOPLE QUESTIONS.
[02:15:02]
ARCHITECTURAL SURVEYS RECORD THE BUILDING'S CONSTRUCTION DATE, ARCHITECTURAL STYLE, AND SIGNIFICANT ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES, BUILDING MATERIALS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION.FOR THE SURVEY PROJECT, WE ARE HOPING TO CAPTURE RECENT PAST STRUCTURES ALONG PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AND THE A1A AND OTHER AREAS WITHIN THE CITY THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED WITH MORE RECENT SURVEYS OF AREAS THAT HAD GREATER CONCENTRATIONS OF RECENT PAST BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE ARCHITECTURAL SURVEYS OF ANASTASIA ISLAND FROM 2015 AND THE WEST AUGUSTINE FROM 2020.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO JUST GO OVER 2023-15 OR WOULD YOU ME TO PAUSE AND LET YOU DISCUSS THAT?
>> OKAY. THIS NEXT RESOLUTION IS IN SUPPORT OF A HERITAGE EDUCATION PROJECT GRANT, WHICH COMES FROM STATE FUNDS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BUILD UPON THOSE PAST SURVEYS OF ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES AND FOR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO BE CREATED TO HIGHLIGHT THE MORE SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES THAT LED UP TO AND WERE CONSTRUCTED DURING THE RECENT PAST, RESULTING IN PRINTED, DIGITAL AND THE WEBSITE RESOURCES.
WE HOPE TO TARGET THE 11 ORIGINAL STRUCTURES AND [INAUDIBLE], ALONG WITH THE MORE SIGNIFICANT MID-CENTURY EXAMPLES THERE, AND IN WEST AUGUSTINE AND POSSIBLY ALONG THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS OF PENNSYLVANIA, BOULEVARD AND THE A1A.
THANK YOU. I AM AVAILABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> WONDERFUL. DO I HEAR A MOTION ON RESOLUTION 2023-14?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND TWO SECONDS.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT GREAT JOB, THESE ARE NOT EVEN MATCHING GRANTS AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE A GAP IN THAT.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT POST WORLD WAR II AND GOING UP TO POSSIBLY 1980, WHICH IS CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT.
>> WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT BUILDINGS THAT WERE CONSTRUCTED 50 YEARS AGO.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE, WE CAN DO A RESOLUTION.
WE CAN DO BY BOTH THE VOICE VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF RESOLUTION 2023-14 SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> OPPOSED? RESOLUTION 2023-15,
[9.B.4. Resolution 2023-15: Supports the City's Planning and Building Department efforts to submit a $50,000.00 Small Matching grant application for a Heritage Education Project in the Certified Local Government category with the State of Florida Division of Historical Resources. (J. Courtney, Historic Preservation Officer]
I MOVE WE PASS.>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THANK YOU. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT PERIOD OF HISTORY.
COMMISSIONERS, WE'LL TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK.
LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND SAY 7:30, WE WILL BE BACK AT 7:30. TAKE A SHORT.
[10.A. Presentation and discussion of the 2022 Floodplain Management Plan Annual Progress Report. (J. Beach, Chief Resiliency Officer]
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE 2022 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT.>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M HERE TO PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR 2022.
IF YOU REMEMBER AT OUR APRIL 24TH CITY COMMISSION MEETING, WE HAD THE REPORT, THEY ARE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEM WITH THE APPENDIX A, WHICH IS THE LIST OF PROJECTS FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMISSION, I WAS DOING A FORMAL PRESENTATION TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN ITSELF AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE PROJECTS IN THAT TOO.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE LMS OR WHAT WE CALL THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY? IT'S DEVELOPED BY ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND IT SERVES AS THE CITY'S FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN UNDER THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM, THAT'S PART OF THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM AND SO THE CITY HAS ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION IN CONCERT WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY, AND IT'S ON A FIVE-YEAR CYCLE, SO IT GETS UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
SO WE RECENTLY UPDATED IT BACK IN 2020 AND SO OUR NEXT CYCLE WILL END IN JUNE SO WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE COMMISSION AT THAT POINT WITH MORE UPDATES TO THE PLAN, BUT IT'S AN EVOLVING DOCUMENT.
PART OF THE GOAL FOR THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY IS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO THE COUNTY AND ALL THE DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTS THERE WITHIN THE COUNTY TO BASICALLY BUILD A SAFER AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY BY IDENTIFYING AND DEALING WITH HAZARDS AND HAZARD MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY FLOODING, WHICH IS OF IMPORTANCE FOR US.
[02:20:02]
SOME OF THE GOALS THAT ARE THROUGH THE LMS IS TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND ITS MUNICIPALITIES.TO PROTECT PROPERTY, PROTECT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROTECT BUSINESS ACTIVITIES, AND ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO THOSE ARE ALL GOALS THAT ARE PART OF THE LMS. PART OF THAT HAS A TASK FORCE THAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER WE MEET QUARTERLY, AND IT HAS REPRESENTATIVES FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE IS ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS IN ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
PART OF THE TASK FORCE MEETS TO LOOK AT NEW OPTIONS FOR NEW MITIGATION INITIATIVES, BUT ALSO ADDING PROJECTS TO THAT PROJECT'S LIST THAT POSITION IS FOR HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT FUNDING, IN PARTICULAR WITH FMA.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY ALSO HAS AN INVENTORY OF RANKED PROJECTS.
IT'S PART OF THE APPENDIX A, THAT'S PART OF THE REPORT AND IT PULLS TOGETHER ALL THE VARIOUS PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT WE GO THROUGH AND VET FOR GOALS ON THE LMS. WE'LL COVER THAT IN A FEW SLIDES IN A MINUTE, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO TOUCH ABOUT THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM.
THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM THAT THE CITY PARTICIPATES IN AND I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY OUR PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WHAT THEY CALL CRS ACTIVITIES AND YOU ESSENTIALLY EARN POINTS BY PARTICIPATING IN THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND TRACK THAT AND REPORT TO THE CRS AND SO THAT ENABLES US TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN CLASS RATINGS.
BACK IN 2019, WE WERE A CLASS 7, BUT FROM THE HARD WORK OF OUR PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY A BUDDY OR RICHARD SHAOLIN FROM OUR PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT, HE IS OUR FLOODPLAIN MANAGER AND HE ESSENTIALLY RAISED US FROM A CLASS 7 TO A CLASS 5 SO WE HAVE A BENEFIT OF A 25 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON OUR FLOOD INSURANCE AND SO WE'VE BEEN MAINTAINING THAT CLASS RATING FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS TABLE, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT PROGRAM, THERE'S A LOT OF DOCUMENT AND TRACKING AND DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND SO FROM MY LENS, FROM PUBLIC WORKS, THERE'S A FEW OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HELP WITH THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT AS THEY GO THROUGH THAT RATING SYSTEM.
IN PARTICULAR, THIS FLOODPLAIN REPORT IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT OUR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND ALSO THE MAINTENANCE THAT WE DO AS FAR AS DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
ONE OF THE TASKS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM IS LOOKING AT HIGHER REGULATORY STANDARDS AND I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WENT BEFORE A BUILDING CODE TASK FORCE BACK IN 2021 AND SO WE WERE LOOKING AT TRYING TO BETTER ADDRESS DRAINAGE ISSUES FOR EXISTING PROPERTIES AND SO THROUGH THE TASK FORCE THAT MET OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THEY ENDED UP ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO PUT A CAP AT IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIOS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS NOW IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY BIG STEP.
THEN PART OF THAT, A FOLLOW-UP ITEM TO THAT WAS PUTTING TOGETHER A RESIDENTIAL LOT GRADING CRITERIA PACKET, THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, IF THEY'RE DOING NEW CONSTRUCTION OR IF THEY ADD IMPERVIOUS AS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, IT'S GIVING THEM SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO BETTER MANAGE STORMWATER FOR THEIR PROPERTIES AND WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT TO HELP WITH THAT.
BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ARE NOW IN PLACE, AND THOSE ARE PART OF OUR CRS RATING SYSTEM THAT WE CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR BUT I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
THE NEXT FEW SLIDES I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH RELATIVELY QUICKLY YOU'VE SEEN MANY OF THESE PROJECTS ALREADY THROUGH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT RUBEN FRANKLIN HAD GIVEN EARLIER IN A SPECIAL MEETING.
THIS JUST LOOKS PARTICULARLY AT THE STUDIES THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED, BUT ALSO THE TWO STUDIES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY WITH THE ARMY CORPS BACK BAY FEASIBILITY STUDY, BUT ALSO THE UPDATED VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT THAT WE'RE DOING TO MEET THE STATE REQUIREMENTS.
SO THESE ARE ON OUR LMS LIST AND ALSO A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE DO ALREADY AS PART OF OUR CAP BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS ON HERE THAT FOCUS ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM AND THESE ARE ALL AGAIN, PROJECTS THAT ARE ON OUR LMS LISTS THAT ENABLE US TO CHASE MORE FUNDING IF WE NEEDED TO.
CONTINUING ON THAT SAME LENS, THERE'S MORE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AND A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS YOU WILL RECOGNIZE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALSO PART OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
ALSO FINALIZING TWO MORE SLIDES RELATED TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THAT LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY LIST THESE ARE VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND AGAIN, THEY'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT FLOOD OR REPETITIVE LOSS MITIGATION.
FINALLY, I WAS GOING TO WRAP UP WITH COMPLETED PROJECTS WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED TO DATE THAT GETS DOCUMENTED IN THAT FLOODPLAIN REPORT TOO.
THIS WILL BE MY LAST SLIDE, I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON DRAINAGE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND JUST TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND OUR COMMUNITY THAT LEAVES CLOG STORM DRAINS AS WE KNOW VERY WELL ANYTIME A RAIN EVENT WE HAVE
[02:25:03]
A VERY HEALTHY TREE CANOPY THAT LEAF LITTER CAN EASILY CLOG STORM DRAINS AND SO WE JUST ENCOURAGE BEST PRACTICES FOR LAWN MAINTENANCE AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU RAKE BAG MULCH INTO A COMPOST ANY TYPE OF YARD DEBRIS TO AND THAT REALLY HELPS US FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT AND IT HELPS OUR DREAMS FUNCTIONING LIKE THEY SHOULD.SO AGAIN, THAT'S PART OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE DO TRACK.
THIS IS THE MORE COMPREHENSIVE LIST, THIS PRESENTATION THAT I GAVE TONIGHT, WE'RE JUST PULLING OUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS FROM THERE MANY OF THESE ARE PART OF THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY RANKING LISTS THAT MEETS THOSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND AGAIN, A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW ARE BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY LIST AND WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT TO GET GRANT FUNDING, PARTICULARLY WITH FMA'S HMGP PROGRAM.
WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES THE OVERVIEW OF THE REPORT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
TWO OF US, THE MAYOR AND MYSELF, ASKED TO PULL THIS OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA BACK COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO BECAUSE I THINK WE BOTH ALL WOULD AGREE THAT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING PAYS OFF IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS BUT 25 PERCENT DECREASE IN FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUMS AT A TIME WHEN OUR PROPERTY INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE GOING SKY HIGH AND EVERYTHING AND INFLATION, IT MATTERS.
THANK YOU. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO PULL IT OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA SO WE COULD THANK YOU AND EVERYBODY AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT WERE DOING SUCH HARD WORK IN HELPING US TO ADDRESS OUR CHALLENGES.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT TOO.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN PROBABLY DO TO HELP MOST, AND I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT HERE BECAUSE WE'RE ALL THINKING ABOUT THE BUDGET MOVING FORWARD.
WE DO HAVE THE FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WORKING ON, WE'LL SEE HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKS OUT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, OUR LOBBYISTS WORKED ON A BILL AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN SOME WAYS TO ENABLE THE STATE TO START A REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM.
WHILE THEY DIDN'T FULLY DO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY INTENDED, WHICH WE REALLY TO ENABLE THE PROGRAM, BUT ALSO BEGAN FUNDING OF IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING OUT BUT THE IDEA WOULD BE THE END RESULT IF WE CAN KEEP WORKING ON THIS BILL IS HAVE A REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE, ALMOST THE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF MONEY DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE THAT WANT TO ELEVATE, DEMOLISH AND REBUILT, AND WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO TO ADAPT.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THAT AND I WOULD LIKE COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER SINCE WE HAVE A PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IN THIS BILL WHICH DID PASS THAT, WE CONSIDER SETTING UP OUR OWN PROGRAM.
ALLOCATING FUNDS MAY BE A SMALL AMOUNT IN THE BEGINNING, BUT PARTICULAR WE'VE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE.
THIS IS NOTHING NEW [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT THE IDEA OF ESTABLISHING OUR OWN FUN TO LEARN A LOAN, ROBBING LOAN BACKED UP BY THE STATE, MATCHING IN THE STATE ON THIS BILL WILL KEEP WORKING ON IT BUT THE IDEA IS THERE, AND I KNOW WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IT BEFORE.
>> MAYOR, A SUGGESTION I HAVE IS AFTER THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE BUDGET AND ALL THE LEGISLATION VETOES ARE SIGNED, MAYBE IT'D BE WORTH FOR THE COMMISSION TO ASK MR. BIRCHIM.
MAYBE HAVE KEVIN SWEENEY COME AND GIVE OVERVIEW TO THE COMMISSION ABOUT WHAT WAS THE SUCCESS OF THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHAT COULD HAPPEN, AND MAYBE REALLY VET THAT OUT.
>> THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE IN JULY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT IT TAKES A FEW YEARS USUALLY TO BUILD SOMETHING AND WE GOT THE FIRST BUILDING BLOCK IN PLACE.
I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT WAS THE IDEA.
WELL, IDEALLY IT WOULD BE THE STATE DOING THE PROGRAM THROUGH US TO OUR RESONANCE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE.
[02:30:03]
BUT IT MAY NOT WORK OUT THAT WAY.LIKE I SAID, DEPENDS ON THE HOW THE DUST SETTLES BUT IT WOULD.
THAT'S A GREAT IDEA AND I REALLY WANTED TO THROW IT OUT THERE BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO THINK ABOUT ARE WE IN A POSITION TO OTHER CITIES DO AND I THINK CAPE CORAL DOES IT.
ACTUALLY, THEY'RE DOING BUYOUTS MAYBE, WHICH ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING BUYOUTS.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER BUYOUTS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH ISSUE.
BUT TO CONSIDER THINKING ABOUT US SETTING UP OUR OWN FAN TO HELP DIRECT ASSISTANCE OR DONORS ON REPETITIVE FLOODING.
>> I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT WHO ELSE WAS DOING IT ON HOW THEY'RE DOING IT.
BUT USUALLY IT'S A STATE OF LOUISIANA IS DOING IT, AND NEW JERSEY IS DOING IT.
I THINK THERE'S FIVE STATES THAT ARE DOING IT NOW.
>> I THINK OUR STATE SHOULD DO IT TOO.
>> I AGREE. THAT'S WHY WE WORKED ON THE BILL.
>> WE JUST DIDN'T GET QUITE WELL.
WE DIDN'T GET QUITE TO THE FINISH LINE, BUT WE MADE PROGRESS.
BUT THAT IS WORTH EXPLAINING GETTING IN AND GETTING A BETTER EXPLANATION. THANK YOU.
>> IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE HEAR A LOT FROM OUR RESIDENTS SO BUDDY AND MYSELF DO A LOT OF THE ONE-ON-ONE SITE VISITS AND THAT WE GET THAT QUESTION CONTINUALLY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO EITHER FLOODPROOF THEIR HOMES, TO MITIGATE, ELEVATE, AND IT'S EXPENSIVE TO DO THAT.
ANY PROGRAM THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED, I THINK, WOULD DEFINITELY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
>> IT'D BE GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> BACK. GETTING CLOSER TO THE END.
[10.B. Review of public input received regarding the formal naming of green space in front of the St. Augustine Municipal Marina recognizing Sam R. Adukiewicz, former City harbormaster. (M. Wissel, Director Communications)]
WE HAVE THE PUBLIC INPUT RECEIVED REGARDING THE RENAMING OF THE GREEN SPACE IN FRONT OF THEM, MUNICIPAL MARINA.>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
MELISSA, WHISTLE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
OUR COMMISSIONER GARES PUT FORTH A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THE NAMING OF THE SPACE AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS AFTER SAM ADUKOWITZ, OUR FIRST CITY'S HARBOR MASTER AND PUT THAT RESOLUTION 2016-15.
WE WENT AHEAD AND SOLICITED PUBLIC INPUT AND RECEIVED QUITE A BIT OF RESPONSE AS A MATTER OF FACT.
IN TOTAL, WE HAD 616 PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED TO THE REQUEST.
610 RESPONDED BY COMPLETING THE ONLINE SURVEY.
ONE SUBMISSION WAS RECEIVED BY US MAIL, AND FIVE RESPONSES WERE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL, 66 PERCENT OF THOSE RESPONSES WERE IN FAVOR OF NAMING THE PARK IN MEMORY OF SAM, 34 RESPONSES ALL IN OPPOSITION.
THE RECOMMENDATION THIS EVENING IS TO SUPPORT OUR ORIGINAL NAME OF SAM'S PARK.
HOWEVER, IN THE SPIRIT OF DISCUSSION AND RECOGNIZING THAT WE DID HAVE SO MANY RESPONSES, WE ALSO WANTED TO RECOMMEND OR SUGGEST TWO ALTERNATIVES.
THESE SUGGESTIONS CAME OUT OF THE MEETING THAT WAS CONVENED ON MAY 2ND.
AGAIN, PART OF THE RESOLUTION.
IT WAS MYSELF, RUBEN FRANKLIN, AND TRACY MULLINS FROM PLANNING AND BUILDING.
WE ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION SAM ADUKOWITZ MEMORIAL PARK AND SAM'S HARBOR MEMORIAL PARK.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, THAT WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO GO AHEAD WITH SAM PARK.
THEN UPON YOUR DECISION AND APPROVAL, WE WILL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A PARK SIGN THAT'S SIMILAR TO THE OTHER PARKS SIGNS THAT YOU SEE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY PARKS.
IN ADDITION, WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT TOGETHER A SMALLER SIGN WITH A BRIEF WRITE-UP ABOUT SAM'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN HIS TIME AS OUR HARBOR MASTER.
>> THE PROPOSAL IS SAM'S PARK OR?
>> THE SAM'S PARK OR SAM ADUKOWITZ MEMORIAL PARK OR SAM'S HARBOR MEMORIAL PARK.
>> THERE ARE THREE SUGGESTIONS?
>> THE RECOMMENDATION ORIGINALLY FROM COMMISSIONER GARRIS WAS SAM'S PARK, AND THEN WITH THE RESPONSE OF OVER 600 PEOPLE, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF SUGGESTION OF SAM R. ADUKOWITZ PEOPLE WANTED TO INCORPORATE HIS WHOLE NAME.
PEOPLE ALSO LIKED THE IDEA OF INCLUDING THE WORD HARBOR IN THERE.
[02:35:05]
AS A COMMITTEE, WE WANTED YOU TO HAVE OTHER OPTIONS AND THOSE WERE THE TWO THAT STUCK OUT AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL OF RECOMMENDATIONS WITHOUT YOU HAVING TO THINK UP SOMETHING.>> I REALLY LIKED THE SAM'S HARBOR MEMORIAL PARK BECAUSE WHEN I THINK OF HARBOR, I THINK OF SAFETY.
BUT THEN I THINK HAVING HIS LAST NAME IS MORE FORMAL BUT ALMOST WONDERFUL TOO, SO I DON'T KNOW.
>> WHEN I READ THROUGH THE LIST MIKE PARK, I THOUGHT WAS CUTE.
BUT ACTUALLY WHEN I READ THROUGH THE LIST AND I SAW HARBOR MASTER PARK, THAT RANG A BELL WITH ME THAT WE COULD HAVE IT AS HARBOR MASTER PARK AND THEN HAVE EVERY HARBOR MASTER AS A RETIRE WITH SOME CRITERIA.
YOU HAD TO BE THERE 10 YEARS OR WHATEVER., AND SO THE SAME WOULD BE THE NUMBER 1 ON THE LIST, OBVIOUSLY.
WE COULD HAVE HIS BIO THERE AND THE REST COULD BE NAMES, BUT THAT JUST RAN ACCORD TO THIS.
WE LANDED ON THE SAME THING WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE I REALLY WAS THINKING THE GREENPEACE WAS THE BETTER NAME, P-E-A-C.
I ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THIS ENTIRE LIST OF RESPONSES AND LAUGHED OUT LOUD FOR A FEW OF THEM AND WAS REALLY DISMAYED FOR QUITE A FEW OF THEM AS WELL.
THE ONE I'M LOOKING AT IS NUMBER 30, HARBOR MASTER PARK WITH PARENTHESES AND INCLUDE ON MEMORIAL SIGN THAT IT IS DEDICATED TO SAM WITH HIS FULL NAME.
THAT'S A NEAT IDEA ABOUT ADDING THE HARBOR MASTERS WHO FOLLOW HIM AS HE RETIRES.
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS COMMISSIONER GARRIS?
>> I THINK HAVING HIS WHOLE NAME IS GOOD.
I JUST KNOW THAT IT TOOK ME A YEAR TO SAY HIS LAST NAME, SO.
>> YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY IT, YOU HAVE TO SPELL IT.
>> THAT'S WHY WE JUST ADMITTED SAM'S PARK BECAUSE HALF THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, "WHAT'S THEIR LAST NAME?" I HAD HIS WIFE LAUGHING ABOUT THAT THE OTHER NIGHT.
I SAID IT ONLY TOOK A YEAR FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SAY HIS LAST NAME BECAUSE WE USED TO BE LOOKING AT IT IN OUR MEETINGS.
BUT WHATEVER THE COMMISSION DECIDES, I JUST THINK THAT HE WAS SO ESSENTIAL TO THE CITY AND ALL THAT HE DID.
ALL THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY HAS REACHED OUT AND THANKED ME FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE.
EVEN THOUGH I GOT A COUPLE OF CRAZY MESSAGES.
BUT I'M NOT A STRANGER TO STANDING TALL, [LAUGHTER]
BUT I THINK EITHER THE SAM'S HARBOR OR SAM MAROULIS WHATEVER THE MAJORITY OF YOU GUYS WANT, AS LONG AS HE'S IDENTIFIED AND AS LONG AS HIS WORK DOESN'T GO WITH HIM, THAT HE'S REMEMBERED FOR HIS EFFORTS.
THAT HE RESTORED THE MARINA, ESPECIALLY AFTER MATTHEW CAME AND DESTROYED IT.
YOU WERE PART OF THAT REBUILD.
HE TOOK THAT MARINA LIKE IT WAS HIS OWN CHILD.
>> YEAH. HE COULDN'T REST WHEN SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT WITH THAT MARINA.
ANYTIME I GOT A WORK ORDER FOR HIM, I PUSHED THOSE GUYS TO GET OVER THERE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO CALL BACK.
BUT HE REALLY LOVED THE PLACE, AND I THINK HIS WIFE AND HIS FAMILY, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN A LOT OF RESPONSES FROM THEM, WOULD BE DELIGHTED THAT WE RECOGNIZED HIM BECAUSE HE'S DEFINITELY WAS GONE TOO SOON.
HE ONLY WAS RETIRED FOR TWO YEARS.
>> WE ALL GOT TO GO THAT WAY, BUT IT'S HARD WHEN YOU JUST STARTED RETIRING AND ENJOYING BEING RETIRED AND THEN YOU DEAL WITH ALL THAT SICKNESS.
>> I FAVOR SAM R. ADUKOWITZ PARK, WHICH LEAVES US AT ODDS HERE.
I THINK THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE WANTS THE HARBOR MASTER NAME AND THEN A LIST OF EVERY HARBOR MASTER UNDERNEATH, SO HIS NAME WOULD BE LISTED, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE NAMED AFTER HIM.
>> WELL, CAN I MODIFY MY RECOMMENDATION THEN?
>> I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST AS A MIDDLE POINT, A HARBOR MASTER PARK DEDICATED TO SAM'S WITH HIS FULL NAME BECAUSE I CAN'T PRONOUNCE HIS LAST NAME EITHER. [LAUGHTER]
>> HARBOR MASTER PARK DEDICATED TO SAMUEL.
>> THE MEMORY OF, OKAY. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
[02:40:03]
>> I THINK THAT'S GREAT AND WE LEAVE SPACE ON IT FOR FUTURE ADDITIONS.
>> OH, WAIT. HOW ABOUT WE LET COMMISSIONER GARRIS HAVE THE HONOR.
>> I SO MOVE THAT WE NAME THE PARK IN MEMORY SAM R. ADUKOWITZ MEMORIAL PARK AND LEAVE SPACES FOR FUTURE HARBOR MASTERS NAMES TO BE APPLIED AND THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE.
>> I'M SORRY, COULD YOU RESTATE THAT? I WANT TO WRITE IT DOWN. I'M SORRY.
>> COMMISSIONER GARRIS, I THINK MAYBE YOU NEED SOME HELP?
>> YOUR MOTION, IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, IS TO CALL IT HARBOR MASTER PARK.
>> YEAH, AND DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF OUR FIRST HARBOR MASTER?
>> WITH HIS FULL NAME, SAM ADUKOWITZ. DID I SAY IT RIGHT THAT TIME?
>> [INAUDIBLE]. LET'S JUST GIVE IT A BRACKET, SO QUOTES.
SAY THAT AGAIN FOR [OVERLAPPING]
>> IS IT HARBOR MASTER PARK IS THE NAME, AND THEN UNDERNEATH IN A SMALLER.
>> DEDICATED TO AND NOT IN MEMORY OF. DEDICATED TO.
>> IN MEMORY OF SAM R. ADUKOWITZ.
>> THAT'S THE PART NAME AND THE SIGN, AND THEN WE CAN WRITE SOMETHING.
>> YOU CAN LEAVE SPACE FOR FUTURE HARBOR MASTERS.
>> IN MEMORY OF HARBOR MASTERS OR, OKAY.
>> YES. THAT'S THE GUTS OF IT.
>> DO WE WANT TO PUT DATES THAT HE WAS THERE? LIKE SUCH A DATE? DO SUCH A DATE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE DATES ARE JOHN.
>> AS A MATTER OF OUR STANDARDS OR RESOLUTIONS OR LAWS, WE SHOULD MAKE A MOCK-UP OF THE PLAQUE AND BRING IT BACK FOR APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION.
>> THAT'S FINE. I CAN DO THAT.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
ON TO DISCUSSION OF THE CLOSING DATE OF [INAUDIBLE].
[10.C. Review and discussion to set a closing date for the 2023 Nights of Lights season. (M. Wissel, Director Communications]
YES.>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
THIS PRESENTATION IS REALLY JUST TO OPEN THE DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY COMMISSION TO DETERMINE THE CLOSING DATE OF THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS SEASON FOR THE 2023 SEASON, WHICH WILL END IN JANUARY OF 2024.
THE MUNICIPAL CODE SETS FORTH THAT THE EXTERIOR DISPLAY OF SEASONAL OR HOLIDAY LIGHTS IS ALLOWED ONLY DURING THE PERIOD FROM THE FIRST SATURDAY OF NOVEMBER OF EACH YEAR THROUGH THE FIRST SUNDAY OF FEBRUARY OF THE ENSUING YEAR.
A LIGHT SHALL NOT BE ILLUMINATED AT ANY OTHER TIME.
THE CITY COMMISSION BY RESOLUTION MAY SET THE DATES FOR DISPLAY OF THE LIGHTS EVERY YEAR.
PRIOR TO MY TAKING THE POSITION OF COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, WE ALSO HAD COVID AND MY PREDECESSOR, PAUL WILLIAMSON WOULD COME TO THE COMMISSION EACH YEAR RECOMMENDING WITH A MEMO WHAT THE CLOSING DATE WOULD BE WHICH USUALLY WAS THAT SUNDAY FOLLOWING THE 31ST OF JANUARY.
IN 2024, JANUARY 31ST IS ON A WEDNESDAY.
IF YOU WERE TO STICK WITH THE MUNICIPAL CODE AND GO TO THE NEXT WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY, THAT WOULD BE FEBRUARY 4TH.
THE REASON FOR MY ASKING YOU FOR THIS DISCUSSION FOR YOU ALL TO DECIDE IS THAT AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF COMMENTARY AND FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS TOO LONG.
DURING COVID, WE EXTENDED IT A WEEK EARLIER BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO GIVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOUNCE BACK.
MY RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS YEAR, IF YOU SO CHOOSE, WOULD BE POSSIBLY TO SIMPLY END IT ON THE LAST SUNDAY OF JANUARY SO THAT IT RUNS THROUGH JANUARY, THAT WOULD BE JANUARY 28TH.
WHETHER YOU WANTED TO MAKE THIS DECISION NOW OR WE CAN REVISIT NEXT YEAR, I THINK MAKING ANYTHING EARLIER THAN THAT TOO DRAMATICALLY MIGHT NEED MORE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLY INPUT FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY,
[02:45:06]
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE READY FOR THAT LEVEL OF DISCUSSION.MY RECOMMENDATION THIS YEAR SO THAT IT'S CLEAR, BUT IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WOULD BE SUNDAY, JANUARY 28TH, 2024, THEN WE CAN REVISIT NEXT YEAR ACCORDINGLY.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. WE'VE GOT EVERYONE [INAUDIBLE].
>> EVERYBODY IS SAYING YES, I THINK SO.
>>WOULD YOU LIKE THIS TO COME BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR TO SHORTEN IT OR FOR US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS DURING THE YEAR WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY LETTING THEM KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> IN FACT, I'D LIKE TO HAVE IT COME BACK TO US IN FEBRUARY OF 2024 THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BEGIN.
>> RIGHT AFTER THE END. NO PROBLEM.
>> SO WE CAN ASSESS. VERY GOOD IDEA.
>> IF WE COULD DO SOME SURVEYS.
IF WE COULD GET SOME INFORMATION SOMEHOW.
>> WE CAN PROBABLY COME UP WITH A SURVEY.
>> SURVEY, YEAH. IT'LL BE NICE TO HAVE SOME DATA.
>> I THINK THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME INPUT.
>> I KNOW FROM ATTENDING THE MEETINGS WITH MELISSA THAT THEY WERE SAYING THEIR FINANCES THAT THEY HAD ALL THIS MONEY IN FEBRUARY, AND I POINTED OUT BECAUSE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS DIDN'T END UNTIL FEBRUARY.
BUT THERE IS A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE THAT CHRISTMAS IS OVER.
THEY DIDN'T GET RID OF THE TREE BY THE 28TH, AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THE RESIDENTS' FEELINGS IN CONSIDERATION.
BY THE 28TH OF JANUARY, CHRISTMAS SHOULD REALLY BE GONE AS FAR AS THE DISPLAY OF LIGHTS.
>> WELL, JUST A SPLIT HAIRS FOR A MOMENT WITH YOU.
AFTER CHRISTMAS, THE TREE DOES COME DOWN AND THE READS COME DOWN.
THE LIGHTS STAY UP BUT THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS GO.
IT'S REALLY JUST LIGHTS AFTER, AND I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF TIMES WEDDINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT HAPPENS.
I THINK PEOPLE PLAN THEIR WEDDINGS AROUND JANUARY.
LIKE HAS BEEN SUGGESTED, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS SO THAT WE CAN TRACK WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NOT AHEAD OF THEM.
>> THE OTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT, AS YOU THINK ABOUT OR YOU HEAR PEOPLE'S COMMENTARY IS THERE IS A RESOLUTION THAT NOT ALL OF THE BUSINESSES TAKE THEM DOWN.
THE OTHER QUESTION, IF WE'RE GOING TO REVAMP THIS WOULD BE WHAT LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT DO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REALLY HOLD PEOPLE TO FOLLOWING WHAT THE END DATE IS. JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE.
>> YES, WE DO YOU STILL HAVE A FEW.
>> THEY DO GET SOME, [OVERLAPPING]
>> PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO HAVE THEIR LIGHTS.
>> THEY TAKE A LITTLE BIT TO GET THEM ALL DOWN, BUT YES, A SIMPLE LETTER.
>> MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY IS NOT GOOD.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE CITY'S PARK?
>> NO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUSINESSES TURNING THEIR LIGHTS OFF.
>> SOME OF THEM DON'T TURN THEIR LIGHTS OFF YEAR-ROUND.
SOME OF THEM HAVE THEIR LIGHTS ON.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. IT'S AN ISSUE, BUT I THINK THE GENTLE LETTER AND A NUDGE FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JUST REMINDING PEOPLE IT'S TIME TO, SORRY.
>> THAT'S PROBABLY ENOUGH SAID.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
ITEMS BY MELODY, WE'RE FINISHED WITH THAT.
ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY. ANY ITEMS?
[12.A. Notification of one term expiration for the City of St. Augustine Audit Review Committee. (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
>> I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK NOTIFICATION THAT WE HAVE ONE TERM EXPIRATION ON OUR AUDIT REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THOMAS GILBOY FILLED TODD NEVILLE'S POSITION, SO IT'S JUST EXPIRING.
HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT, BUT WE WILL BE ADVERTISING THIS THROUGH OUR NORMAL CHANNELS, SO THIS IS JUST A NOTIFICATION.
>> HE IS WILLING TO SERVE AGAIN.
>> HE'S QUALIFIED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]
[NOISE]>> WELL, I GUESS I FEEL QUITE A BIT OF JOY.
I FEEL LIKE THIS WAS A GOOD MEETING, WRAPPED UP A COUPLE OF THINGS SAID.
I HOPE I HONORED THAT I WOULD STAY FOCUSED AND FULL THROTTLE TO THE END OF MY CAREER.
I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE CAROUSEL.
I KNOW THAT THE LINCOLNVILLE WAS TOUGH, BUT I THINK THE COMMISSION WAS JUST A REAL PLEASURE TO WATCH THE FIVE OF YOU WORK AND RESPECT EACH OTHER, RESPECT ALL FACETS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WORK THROUGH THAT.
I LEAVE HERE KNOWING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS IN REALLY GOOD HANDS WITH THE FIVE OF YOU.
I THINK THE STAFF IS TREMENDOUS.
I THINK DAVID IS GOING TO REALLY COME IN TO HIS OWN AS A CITY MANAGER.
[02:50:05]
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO MOVED HERE RECENTLY THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW.HIS FAMILY STARTED WEBER GRILL, WAS THE CEO.
THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH THREE CEOS SINCE HE LEFT AND I SAID, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A CEO? HE SAYS WHAT YOU LOOK FOR IS SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO DO IT BETTER THAN YOU.
I THINK YOU'VE FOUND THAT PERSON IN DAVID, AND THE TEAM THAT HE HAS AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE BUILT HERE AT THE CITY.
I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CITY FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT IT IS, AND ENJOY IT AS A RESIDENT AND NOT HAVE TO BE IN THE WEEDS WITH LOOKING AT EACH PIECE OF TRASH ON THE STREET AND EVERY POTHOLE THAT WOULD DRIVE ME CRAZY, AND JUST EMBRACE THE WHOLENESS OF THE CITY, SO TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE YOUR CITY MANAGER.
EACH OF YOU HAS BECOME VERY SPECIAL TO ME AND HAVE OPENED MY EYES.
THERE'S SOME THINGS I'VE DONE WELL, SOME THINGS I HAVE NOT DONE WELL, I THINK WE'RE ALL HUMAN.
THE THINGS I HAVEN'T DONE WELL, I'VE BEEN COUNSELING DAVID ON WHAT TO DO TO DO IT BETTER THAN ME.
I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT THE CITY IS IN REALLY GREAT HANDS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, AND THAT I'M GOING TO GO AND ENJOY THE NEXT CHAPTER IN MY LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF COMMISSIONERS HERE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY AS PARTING WORDS.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
DO WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, BECAUSE I DO TOO, AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER HORVATH DOES AS WELL.LET'S START HERE AND THEN WE'LL GO.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE JOHN AND THE MAYOR FOR GOING TO TALLAHASSEE SO FREQUENTLY FOR THE LEGISLATURE RULES AND CHANGES AND PUSHING TO MAKE SURE OUR CITIES STAY STRONG.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK IN THAT.
I ALSO APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD.
THEN I GOT TO VOICE MY CONCERNS AND THAT YOU HEARD ME.
I'M A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, BECAUSE MY RELATIONSHIP STARTED WITH YOU PRIOR TO BEING A COMMISSIONER.
BEING AN EMPLOYEE SEEING DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR CITY, AND YOU HELPED ME WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE THINGS, AND I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL WIFE AND I KNOW WHEN YOU LEAVE US, YOU'RE GOING TO TO LEAVE US IN CAPABLE HANDS WITH DAVID.
I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO ENJOY THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE, BECAUSE FOR THAT BRIEF MOMENT THAT I WAS RETIRED, [LAUGHTER]
>> AND I COULD SLEEP IN AND DO WHATEVER I WANTED TO, I ENJOYED THE HECK OUT OF THAT, SO I KNOW YOU WILL EMBRACE THAT.
I THINK THAT YOU ARE STILL ENERGIZED OTHERWISE YOU WOULDN'T BE TAKING THIS TRIP THAT YOU'RE PLANNING WHEN YOU RETIRE.
I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE A LOT OF PICTURES, LAUGH A LOT, WORRY LESS, AND JUST EMBRACE IT.
I THINK YOU DESERVE EVERY MOMENT OF HAPPINESS BECAUSE YOU HAD A LOT OF STRESS FACTORS BEING CITY MANAGER AND NOW YOU CAN RELEASE ALL OF THAT AND JUST EMBRACE LIFE AS JOHN REGAN AND NOT HAVE TO GET ALL THOSE PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS AND ALL THOSE COMPLAINTS AND TRYING TO KEEP ALL YOUR STAFF AND ALL YOUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATES HAPPY.
THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON IS YOU AND FELICIA AND YOUR FAMILY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING FOR YOU, AND I'M SO HAPPY AND DELIGHTED FOR YOU.
>> WONDERFUL. COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.
>> I'LL TELL YOU THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.
I DIDN'T HAVE A SECRETARY THAT WENT WITH ME.
>> I HAD TO KEEP MY OWN CALENDAR.
MAKE SURE YOU LEARN HOW TO KEEP YOUR OWN CALENDAR [LAUGHTER]
>> AND THAT YOU CHECK IT EVERY MORNING AT 10 O'CLOCK WHEN YOU GET UP AND HAVE BREAKFAST.
I'M SPEAKING MOSTLY AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY SINCE 1989, SINCE BEFORE YOU GOT HERE, AND AS A VOLUNTEER WITH DARLENE WHEN SHE ORIGINALLY WAS HELPING US WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS' FUND.
YOU'VE HIRED REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.
ALL THE FIREMEN, THE POLICE, THE BUILDING PLANNING, EVERYTHING THAT I'VE EVER COME IN CONTACT WITH,
[02:55:01]
I'VE BEEN VERY APPRECIATIVE.I MENTIONED AT THE VERY FIRST MEETING THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE REALLY MATTERS TO ME.
THAT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES HAVE TO TAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO DO WELL AT COMMUNITY SERVICE BECAUSE PEOPLE LOOK FOR SOMETHING WRONG WITH GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AND SO THEY HAVE TO WORK EXTRA HARD, AND YOU'VE HIRED THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE THAT.
I KNOW THAT IN LEADERSHIP, THAT IS REALLY YOUR LEGACY, IS WHAT YOU'RE LEAVING BEHIND.
IT'S NOT JUST DAVID, IT'S EVERYBODY, HE'S GOING TO STAY IN A LOT OF GOOD SHOULDERS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL MUSIC.
THAT'S A PERSONAL THING OF MINE, AND YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
LOCAL MUSIC HAS REALLY BEEFED, EVEN THOUGH WE TOOK IT OFF THE STREET.
YOU CAN WALK DOWN ST. GEORGE STREET NOW AND STILL HAVE LOCAL MUSIC.
JUST COMES OUT OF THE WINDOWS OF EVERY SINGLE RESTAURANT AND BAR.
BUT A LOT OF LOCAL MUSICIANS ARE HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED IT TO CONTINUE TO DO.
I'M SURE YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER GOAL.
YOU'RE A GOAL-ORIENTED PERSON, AND I ADMIRE THAT ABOUT YOU, AND I'VE REALLY APPRECIATED THE IN-SERVICE YOU'VE GIVEN ME AS A COMMISSIONER.
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR TRIP. CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR SOME TALES.
>> MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT WHEN COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD AND I MEET, WE'LL TALK FOR HOURS.
YOU SET THE TONE FOR HOW WE OPERATE AS A BOARD.
YOU SET THAT TONE, YOU SET THAT CULTURE.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SURPRISES TO ME, WAS HOW WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE AND HEAR EACH OTHER AND LEAVE THE ROOM RESPECTING EACH OTHER'S STILL AND READY TO WORK TOGETHER TO MEET THE NEXT BIG CHALLENGE.
I HAVE BENEFITED SO MUCH, AND I THINK YOU'VE HELPED ME BENEFIT THE CITY TO ANY EXTENT THAT I HAVE TO A GREAT DEGREE.
YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS THAT TELLS THE STUDENT WHAT TO DO BUT INTRODUCES THE STUDENT MYSELF, IN THIS CASE, TO THE OPTIONS AND FILLS OUT THE PICTURE IN THE STORY AND HELPS ME COME TO MY OWN DECISION THAT WOULD BE MOST WELL-INFORMED AND BEST AND KNOW WHERE I NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH.
I WAS SO GREEN WHEN I RAN THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THE PROTOCOL AS A CANDIDATE WAS TO MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER WHEN YOU FIRST RUN AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.
OUR FIRST MEETING WAS AFTER I HAD BEEN ELECTED, SO I REALLY HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT IN WORKING WITH YOU.
BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE HELPED ME LEARN HOW TO DO TO BE A BETTER COMMISSIONER.
I AM EAGER TO WORK WITH YOU ON YOUR SPECIAL PROJECTS AS YOU MOVE INTO RETIREMENT AFTER YOUR TRIP AND GETTING USED TO YOUR ROUTINE OF WAKING UP AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING AND CARVING OUT THE TIME YOU NEED FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY AS A PRIORITY FIRST AND THEN THE STUFF THAT YOU NEED TO DO BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE TO KEEP HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY.
ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.
I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO, AS I'M SURE YOU ARE, JOHN, DAVID BIRCHIM TAKING ON HIS FIRST MEETING AT OUR VERY NEXT MEETING.
ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT, EVERY BIT OF IT.
>> WELL. THE COMMISSIONER HORVATH ASKED TO GO LAST, SO I WILL GO.
I WROTE THIS DOWN BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE EMOTIONAL.
I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW. HOLD ON. DEEP BREATH.
I FIRST HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU ON THE CITY'S PARKING AND TRAFFIC COMMITTEE.
OVER THE YEARS, I CAME TO KNOW YOU AND YOUR WONDERFUL FAMILY, FELICIA, YOUR WIFE, MICHELLE, AND JOHN, YOUR CHILDREN.
WE OWE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THEM FOR THEIR GIFT OF SUPPORT AND DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE CITY TOO.
THIS IS BETTER. I GOT STARTED.
WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU HAS BEEN AN HONOR.
AMONG YOUR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE THE SEAWALL PROJECT, A NEW MUNICIPAL PARKING GARAGE, THE AVIDLY STREET PROJECT, THE NEW DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPES,
[03:00:01]
WHICH WILL GO ON AND ON AND ON, REHABILITATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE HISTORIC WATERWORKS, A COMPREHENSIVE MOBILITY PLAN, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND MANY MORE, BUT THOSE ARE JUST A FEW.UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE OVERCOME ROCKY ECONOMIC TIMES, YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, HURRICANES, FLOODS, A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC, AND A SUMMER OF SOCIAL UNREST THAT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
BUT YOU ALSO MAKE MEMORIES WITH THE 450 CELEBRATION AND A GENTLEMAN OF THE ROAD EVENTS, AND MANY OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS.
THROUGHOUT, I HAVE FOUND YOU TO BE A STEADY-HANDED, PATIENT AND KINDHEARTED MAN.
YOU HAVE BEEN A GOOD LISTENER, THE KIND OF MAN THAT LISTENS WITH HIS HEART.
I ATTRIBUTE THIS TO YOUR CURIOSITY ABOUT ALL THINGS.
BUT YOU ALSO KNOW HOW TO DO THINGS, INCLUDING VERY HARD THINGS THAT TAKE A LOT OF PLANNING AND TIME TO IMPLEMENT.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO SHARE WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED THAT WILL HELP OTHERS LIVES BE BETTER, AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
HERE I'M REMINDED OF THE ATHENIAN OATH.
THAT YOUR SERVICE HAS HELD UP TO THAT OATH AND HAS TRANSMITTED THIS CITY GREATER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN IT WAS TRANSMITTED TO YOU.
FOR THAT, ON BEHALF OF OUR CITIZENS, WITH A FULL HEART, JOHN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> WELL, I ASKED TO BE LAST BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE MANY WORDS WITHOUT BURSTING INTO TEARS.
I JOHN P. REGAN, PASSIONATE REGAN.
>> IT HAS BEEN QUITE A JOURNEY.
NOT AS LONG AS YOU, BUT A LONG TIME AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT I'VE LEARNED AND ALL THAT WE'VE SHARED AND KEEP IT SHORT, I HAVE A LITTLE GIFT FOR YOU, SO I HOPE ALL OF US COULD GO UP FRONT WE GET TO GET A PICTURE OF GIVING IT TO YOU SO I WON'T SPEND TOO MANY MORE WORDS BUT COME UP HERE.
[03:05:01]
>> WELL, ANY FURTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS?
>> WHERE'S THAT GREYHOUND BUS? [LAUGHTER]
ASKED YOU ASKED ABOUT THAT GREYHOUND BUS IS WHERE DOES IT GO? IS IT STILL COMING TO ST. AUGUSTINE? PEOPLE ARE REALLY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT LITTLE BUFFY.
>> I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT AT A STAFF LEVEL.
WELL, HOW ABOUT IF WE PUT ON THE NEXT AGENDA OR PRESENTATION? [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE ARE GOING TO RE-ENGAGE WITH THE GREYHOUND BUS AND SEE IF THEY'VE FOUND AN ALTERNATE SPOT IN THE CITY.
IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEY'RE WILLING TO COME BACK WITH A NON-EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT FOR OUR VIC PARKING GARAGE AND SEE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE HARD TIME RE-ENGAGING WITH THEM, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT AND WE'RE BRINGING YOU BACK THE RESULTS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> PERFECT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? [LAUGHTER]
>> JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS BECAUSE I KNOW I'LL FORGET TO SAY THEM AT OUR NEXT MEETING AND I'LL BE BRIEF THOUGH, THAT FULLERWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I'M SORRY, I'M STILL TRYING TO COLLECT MYSELF.
>> FULLERWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION INVITED ME TO VISIT WITH THEM DURING THEIR QUARTERLY MEETING YESTERDAY AND IT WAS REALLY BENEFICIAL TO ME TO HEAR THEIR QUESTIONS.
I STAYED FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING, SO I GOT TO HEAR A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT.
IT WAS JUST I THINK A REALLY NICE WAY TO HAVE AN EXCHANGE ON A MORE INFORMAL BASIS THAN WHAT WE DO HERE.
THEY'RE QUESTIONING THE FULLERWOOD PARK LEASE.
CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME IF THAT'S A LEASE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD OR WITH THE CITY, IT'S WHAT? IS THE SCHOOL BOARD? I TOLD THEM I'D GET THAT INFORMATION.
BUT THEY MAY BE LOOKING FOR THE CITY TO HELP COME IN AND HELP THEM BECOME MORE OF A CITY NEIGHBORHOOD THAN DOING IT ALL ON THEIR OWN.
BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN IT ON THEIR OWN, AND SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT NOTE THERE.
THEY ALSO HAD AN IDEA ABOUT PARKING WHEN WE HAVE ONE OF OUR TROPICAL EVENTS COMING AT US, THE CITY PARKING GARAGE FILLS UP PRETTY QUICKLY AND SO RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW WHERE TO MOVE THEIR VEHICLES TO GET OUT OF HARM'S WAY AND SO WHAT THEY WERE SUGGESTING WAS MAYBE SOME TYPE OF A RESIDENT AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WHERE FOR EXAMPLE, THE PHARMACIES, WALGREENS AND CVS OUT ON [INAUDIBLE] FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR PARKING LOTS ARE GOING TO BE EMPTY.
THEY'RE A LITTLE HIGHER AND MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO BE A PARTNERSHIP OR THE BUSINESSES COULD HELP OUT.
RESIDENTS KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET TOWED FOR PARKING ILLEGALLY IN SOME MAYBE SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT ANYWAY, I THOUGHT IT WAS A NEAT IDEA AND I WANTED TO BRING IT FORWARD FOR SOME TYPE OF STAFF TO LOOK AT THAT AND REALLY THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY AS FAR AS THE SCHOOL BOARD LOT, THE FACILITIES, PEOPLE GO OVER THERE EVERY TIME THAT FENCE GOES DOWN AND THEY DO REPAIR IT.
THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO KEEP IN THAT LOT.
>> BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT ONE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT I UNDERSTOOD.
>> I DID APPROACH THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO TRANSFER THAT PARK TO THE CITY AND THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT [LAUGHTER]
>> JUST CHECK THAT BOX AND I GUESS.
>> I CAN JUST TAKE NOTE THREE TIMES BEFORE YOU GIVE UP NOW.
>> THAT'S IT. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.