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ALL RIGHT, LET'S CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[1. Call to Order ]
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.[2. General Public Comments ]
WE HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS? OH, WONDERFUL.
WELCOME. IF YOU'LL JUST STEP UP TO THE PODIUM AND.
I'LL INTRODUCE YOU WHEN I GET THE CARD.
GOOD MORNING, MS. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM ME BEFORE, BUT IN CASE YOU'VE FORGOTTEN, MY NAME IS VICKI PEPPER.
I LIVE ON HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AS A CITIZEN OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND ALSO CARE, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS RELATED TO YOUR REVIEW OF THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN TO OFFER.
BUT THIS OBJECTIVE IS RIGHT FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE.
NOT WITHSTANDING OUR CURRENT CHARGED POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN FLORIDA.
AS A PRIVILEGED WHITE PERSON WHO'S HAD SOME EXPERIENCE WITH DEI TRAINING, I CAN SAY THAT GOOD DEI TRAINING IS NOT ABOUT ATTACK, SHAME OR BLAME OR PARTISAN POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION.
SO I URGE YOU TO STAY THE COURSE ON THIS.
THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE HERE.
HOW DO WE MEASURE THE CITY'S PROGRESS AGAINST THIS OBJECTIVE? I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO IDENTIFY AND ADD SOME KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THIS OBJECTIVE, AND IF IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, CARE WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH CITY STAFF TO DEVELOP SOME PROPOSED DRAFT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.
SECOND, I SEE THAT COMMISSIONER GARRIS HAS IDENTIFIED REPAVING AND ADDING A SIDEWALK TO SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY AS ONE OF HER PRIORITY ITEMS, WHICH APPEARS TO FALL UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING OBJECTIVE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
CARE SUPPORTS COMMISSIONER GARRIS IN THIS PRIORITY, BUT I CAN ALSO ATTEST, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE DRIVING IN TOWN MONDAY, THAT THE REPAVING IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. HOWEVER, THE NEED FOR SIDEWALKS ON SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY AND MOST OTHER STREETS IN WEST AUGUSTINE IS GREAT.
I'VE MET SEVERAL ELDERLY WEST AUGUSTINE PEDESTRIANS WHO QUITE LITERALLY TAKE THEIR LIVES IN THEIR HANDS TO GET AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO GET TO THE BUS STOP SO THEY CAN GET TRAVEL TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY.
THIS IS A BASIC SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS ONE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. PEPPER. IS ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE'LL CLOSE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN REVIEW AND DISCUSSION.
[3. Strategic Plan Review and Discussion (David Birchim, City Manager) ]
MR. BIRCHIM.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS MORNING I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY JUST REVIEWING WHAT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS AND WHY WE VIEW IT, WHY WE REVIEW IT ANNUALLY DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS A BLUEPRINT FOR OUR CITY'S FUTURE.
AND IT BROKE THESE DOWN INTO FOUR BROAD CATEGORIES.
THESE CATEGORIES BECAME THE GOALS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
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IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IDENTIFIED NINE OBJECTIVES TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS.MOBILITY, PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS OUR MOBILITY PLAN.
ZONING UPDATES AND BUILDING CODE UPDATES.
RESILIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY AND SEA LEVEL RISE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.
ARTS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY.
ENHANCING OUR PARTNERSHIPS TO AFFECT CHANGE IN AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
PROACTIVE PLANNING TO PRESERVE OUR DOWNTOWN CHARACTER.
EVENT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT.
AND FINALLY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
THOSE ARE THE GOALS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
YOU PRESENTED SOME BUDGETARY REQUESTS? AS WE START OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
I'VE ALSO OFFERED SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR UPDATING THE VISION PLAN AND UPDATING THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND SINCE I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT SINCE 2014, WE HAVE ACHIEVED SEVERAL OF THE OBJECTIVES OF OUR VISION PLAN, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING A MOBILITY PLAN.
IMPLEMENTING A HISTORIC PRESERVATION MASTER PLAN.
CREATING THE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR OUR THREE ENTRY CORRIDORS.
AND WE HAVE BEGUN A STRATEGIC HOMELESSNESS PLAN WITH PARTNERS FROM THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND HUD.
IN MY NOTES I DID MAKE ONE MISTAKE.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WE, WHEN WE ADOPTED THE UPDATED DESIGN STANDARDS FOR ENTRY CORRIDORS, THOSE INCLUDED LOGOS, TRADEMARKED LOGOS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL CORRIDOR, KING STREET, ANASTASIA, BOULEVARD AND SAINT MARCO AVENUE DO HAVE TRADEMARKED LOGOS THAT GO ALONG WITH THEM. OUR STAFF IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE UPDATE AND SEE IF WE ALL AGREE WITH YOUR NOTES.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO KIND OF ADD A COUPLE THINGS THAT CAME TO MIND AFTER GOING THROUGH IT AGAIN.
OKAY. SO I WANTED TO KIND OF GO AROUND THE TABLE AND I ASSUME THAT EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEIR SECTION UNDER EACH COMMISSIONER, WHAT DAVID ADDED AND WHERE HE WANTED TO ADD.
IF YOU AGREE WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING OR CHANGE OR MODIFY OR CORRECT ANYTHING? SO WE'LL START WITH VICE MAYOR AND GO FROM THERE.
WELL, I AGREE CERTAINLY WITH THE COMMENTS IN RED ALREADY.
I. AT YOUR DESK, YOU'LL SEE A PHOTOGRAPH OF A INSTALLATION OF CANOPIES OVER PARKING AREAS.
I WAS AT THE CONFERENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
I MET UP WITH THE GENTLEMAN, AND THEY HAVE QUITE AN EXTENSIVE SOLAR OPERATION.
I DON'T DON'T MEAN TO SCARE YOU WITH THE PHOTOGRAPH BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.
BUT THE CONCEPT WOULD BE TO AT THE TOP OF THE PARKING GARAGE TO CREATE A CANOPY OF SOLAR THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE PARKING GARAGE VIC AND ALSO ACT AS AN EVENT SPACE FOR PARTIES OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE NEED TO USE IT FOR.
AND I COULD IMAGINE A FOOD TRUCK COMING UP AND SUPPORTING THAT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO SHADE UP THERE AND IT'S I THINK WE CAN HOLD IT BACK ENOUGH THAT AND THERE ARE NO HIGH BUILDINGS AROUND SO IT WOULDN'T BE VISIBLE FROM ANYWHERE. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO KIND OF LEAD IN THAT WAY IF WE COULD.
SO I WOULD ADD THAT UNDERNEATH MY COMMENTS TOO.
I'M SORRY, THIS IS PROCEDURAL.
SURE. THAT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA.
SHOW THEM IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO BE SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.
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YES, THAT'S A VERY GOOD SUGGESTION.THANK YOU, BARBARA. ALSO, IF WE COULD SHOW THAT PICTURE ON THE OVERHEAD, IS THAT POSSIBLE? I'M SORRY? IS IT POSSIBLE TO SHOW THAT PHOTOGRAPH ON THE OVERHEAD WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT IT? BUT AS YOU'RE DOING THAT, I'M GOING TO READ THE COMMENTS.
THE FIRST ONE IS INCREASING BUDGETED FUNDS FOR ARTS AND CULTURE PROJECTS.
PAGE 14 ARTS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY.
WELL, THIS SOLAR IDEA SUPPORTS THAT AS WELL, I THINK IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY GET TOGETHER.
ADDITIONAL ADDITION OF STAFF FOR RESILIENCY PROGRAM PAGE 13 RESILIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY AND SEA LEVEL RISE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION. SO THAT WOULD BE AND THEN YOU WOULD WANT TO ADD THE SOLAR SOLAR PANEL FEASIBILITY.
YES. AND THEY WILL DO AN ROI FOR US.
THEY'LL COME UP AND CHECK EVERYTHING AND WE CAN EVALUATE HOW POWERFUL THAT IS FOR US I WOULD SEE THAT GOING UNDER.
YES, RESILIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY, SEA LEVEL RISE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.
THE UNDERSTANDING SUSTAINABILITY AS A SO SOLAR PANELS AT VIC GARAGE.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER BLONDER.
UM, SO THE FIRST PRIORITY IDENTIFIED.
WELL, I'LL GO THROUGH THE ONES THAT ARE LISTED ON HERE AND THEN I WANT TO ADD ONE.
UM, THE FIRST PRIORITY IDENTIFIED WAS TO DEVELOP FUNDING AND CRITERIA FOR A LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM TO ADDRESS CONSERVATION AND RESILIENCY.
UM, I ALSO RECOMMENDED A PROPOSAL ON PENSION PLAN REFORM, WHICH DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO ANYTHING IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT I'M SURE WE COULD FIND A YEAH, A PLACEHOLDER FOR THAT ONE.
IN WEST AUGUSTINE IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S LITERALLY NO SHADE ALONG WEST KING STREET, AND THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO STAY COOL DURING THE HOTTEST DAYS.
AND THEN FINALLY, I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A REAL SIGNIFICANT PUSH FOR THE CITY TO MOVE INTO SUSTAINABILITY IN A BIG WAY.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON RESILIENCY.
BUT I'D LIKE IT TO BE STRATEGIC.
I'D LIKE US TO REALLY MOVE TOWARDS SOME CONCRETE OR DISCRETE GOALS.
AND TO THAT END, THERE IS A INITIATIVE.
IT'S WORLDWIDE AND IT'S TIED TO THE CLIMATE COMPACTS INTERNATIONAL.
BUT THIS ONE'S CALLED RACE TO ZERO, AND IT'S BEEN THERE ARE SIGNATORIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
SO THERE'S LIKE A FRIENDLY CHALLENGE BETWEEN MAYORS IN FLORIDA, VARIOUS CITIES.
AND I EXPECT THE MAYOR HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS, BUT IT BASICALLY PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK, AN ASSESSMENT OF WHERE WE ARE NOW, HOW WE CAN REDUCE OUR CARBON OUTPUT AND WHAT ARE SOME MEASURABLE GOALS TO GET THERE. AND SO THINGS LIKE SOLAR ARRAYS ARE ONE OF THOSE WAYS RENEWABLE ENERGY AND GETTING A WHAT DO I HAVE IT HERE? GOING TO A BASICALLY A 100% CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION BY 2050.
AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE MOBILITY COMPONENTS ALREADY ARE AT LEAST HALFWAY HERE.
[00:15:06]
THE INVESTORS, BOTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITIZENS, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE, NOT JUST REACTING TO IT.SO THERE'S A WHOLE RANGE OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE THERE, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND WORK ABOUT HOW WE CAN APPROACH THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, ANYWHERE FROM CLEAN FUELS TO URBAN SHADING AND TREE GROWTH.
[INAUDIBLE] IT'S ALMOST LIKE TO ME I SEE THAT'S SO BIG THAT IT ALMOST NEEDS ITS OWN PLAN OF ATTACK BECAUSE I SEE WHAT I SEE, WHAT THE OTHER MAYORS ARE DOING.
AND MOST OF THOSE ARE PRETTY BIG CITIES.
AND SO I SUSPECT MORE CITIES WILL JOIN IN, BUT IT'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE STRATEGIES ARE FROM THE OTHER CITIES. WHAT ARE THEY ACTUALLY DOING AND HOW DID THEY APPROACH THIS? HOW WERE THOSE MAYORS APPROACHING THIS? MADAM MAYOR, MAY I MAKE A COMMENT? SURE. REGARDING SUSTAINABILITY, WE HAVE A PROGRAM WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON.
WE JUST IMPLEMENTED THE GLASS LOCATION.
TODD GRANT WAS HEADING THAT UP.
AND BUT I STILL HAVE A QUESTION ON WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR COMMERCIAL RECYCLING FROM OUR BARS AND OUR RESTAURANTS AND THE BEER BOTTLES AND THE WINE BOTTLES AND THE I MEAN, I COULD DRINK FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE AND PROBABLY NOT EVEN DENT.
WHAT ONE RESTAURANT DOES IN ONE DAY OR A WEEK, YOU KNOW, I DRINK PROBABLY A WEEK.
BUT ANYWAY, SO COULD WE ASK A LITTLE RESPONSE ON THAT? I'M SORRY TO HOLD UP THE THING HERE, BUT I'VE BEEN REALLY WONDERING.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT'S A MATTER OF SPACE.
CURRENTLY WE LEASE ONE LOCATION FOR OUR COMPACTOR.
THE TOKES LOT OFF OF HYPOLITA OR TOKES LOT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A COMPACTOR THERE AND ALSO RECYCLING DUMPSTERS THAT TAKE UP A LOT OF SPACE.
SO IT'S REALLY FINDING ROOM FOR A DROP OFF LOCATION FOR BUSINESSES.
WE, THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, HAS THE PROPERTY THAT USED TO BE.
WHAT WAS IT? IT'S GOT THE WHOLE.
THE BIG TREE AND THEY DO OUTSIDE HELP ME WITH COLONIAL QUARTER.
AND ALL OF THAT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE COULD TALK WITH THEM ABOUT CAPTURING SOME OF THAT SPACE.
I MEAN, THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THEY COULD EASILY TAKE A LOT OF THEIR BOTTLES FROM THERE.
PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STREET COULD WHEEL IT OVER THERE.
BUT, I MEAN, WE REALLY NEED TO.
THAT REDESIGN ENVISIONED A SHIFTING OF THE COMPACTOR IN THAT PARKING LOT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING.
REUBEN, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO PUT ANOTHER FACILITY THERE FOR RECYCLING? SO WE HAD ENVISIONED THAT WE WERE GOING TO TURN THAT COMPACTOR INTERNAL AND THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER DUMPSTER THERE.
WE COULD LOOK AT ADDING MORE SPACE.
IT WOULD JUST BE, YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD BE PARKING SPACES.
SO WE WOULD BE TRADING PARKING SPACES FOR ROOM FOR THE DUMPSTER RETAINER FOR FOR THE RECYCLING.
BUT I'M ALSO SAYING THERE OFF OF KING STREET.
WHERE THE PULL OFF IS FOR THE TRAIN THAT BACKS UP TO THE COLONIAL QUARTER.
I DON'T I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THERE IN A WHILE, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THERE COULD BE A SECOND FENCE PUT THERE AND THE COMPACTOR AND THEY'VE GOT BARS ALL ALONG THERE THAT COULD WHEEL, YOU KNOW.
SO I'M THINKING NOT NECESSARILY 2 IN 1 LOCATION, BUT MAYBE A SECOND SOMEWHERE ELSE.
[00:20:07]
RIGHT. FOR PARTNERSHIPS.THAT WOULD BE HUGELY HELPFUL, I THINK.
WELL, I TALKED TO PROBABLY TWO DOZEN PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN HAVING A DUMPSTER ON A PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE, AGAIN, WHAT IT AFFECTS IS EITHER PARKING OR MANEUVERABILITY.
I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CASTILLO.
YEAH. SO, I MEAN, CAN WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE? BECAUSE PART OF THE DESIGN OF THAT PROJECT, AND I'M SORRY TO DO THIS, BUT IS A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE STRUCTURE THAT HE PLANS TO BUILD OFF OF CHARLOTTE STREET.
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BARS ARE NOT GOING TO RECYCLE.
THEY'RE GOING TO THROW IT ALL IN THE TRASH.
AND I'M SURE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, TOO.
SO, YES. MADAM MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT RECYCLING, BUT I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID, WHICH IS THAT ESSENTIALLY I THINK WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY IS THAT WE'RE WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THINGS TOWARD REACHING GOALS AND SUSTAINABLE CITY.
AND MAYBE WE NEED TO DO SOME SORT OF A REORGANIZATION OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME REORGANIZATION AND STAFFING, AND MAYBE MR. GRANT CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
BUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION MAY BE AND THEY'RE PROBABLY ALREADY AHEAD OF ME ON THIS, BUT WHERE WE HOUSE A SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OR NOT INITIATIVE, BUT A FORMAL SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO ADDRESS THAT MR. GRANT OR MR. FRANKLIN. YES, THERE'S REORGANIZATION TAKING PLACE.
UM, NOT SO MUCH TO GET INTO THAT TYPE OF DETAIL.
BUT YES, SUSTAINABILITY IS GOING TO BE A FOCUS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES GROUP.
I WILL TOUCH ON THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT A SHIFT OR A REORGANIZATION WITHIN THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION THAT MAY ALLOW US TO OFFER THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES THAT WE CAN'T PHYSICALLY DO NOW.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT A DEEP DIVE ANALYSIS IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AS FAR AS WHAT CAN WE DO TO, YOU KNOW, REIMAGINE SOLID WASTE AS FAR AS WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY AS FAR AS SERVICE GOES, AND THEN OFFERING POTENTIALLY OTHER TYPES OF SERVICES CURBSIDE OR A COMMERCIAL PROGRAM THAT'S FOR GLASS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE VOLUNTARY.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH TRYING TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE OUTREACH WITH BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF THE TURNOVER OR TRAINING OF WHAT THEY'RE DUMPING INTO THE TRASH CANS. WE'RE HAVING A WHOLE PROBLEM WITH JUST MIXED RECYCLING ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE AS FAR AS PUTTING TRASH AND RECYCLING IN ONE BIN, LEAVING THE BINS OPEN.
SO WE HAVE A RAINSTORM LIKE YESTERDAY.
IT BASICALLY CREATES A REAL MESS.
BEFORE I GET TO GO ANY FURTHER, I FORGOT TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS TO A COURT.
A DATE AT THE COURTHOUSE WITH THE JUDGE.
THAT FOR CITY BUSINESS THAT SHE CANNOT BE LATE FOR.
IT'S AT 11:00, SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO ADJOURN AT 10:45.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.
SO GOING BACK TO THE ACTUAL OBJECTIVE AND HOW WE HAVE IT LISTED ON PAGE 13.
AND WHAT WE HAVE LISTED NOW IS THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR.
BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO ADD ANOTHER PERFORMANCE INDICATOR AND OUGHT TO BE DETERMINED UNLESS ANYONE
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HAS A GREAT STAB AT IT RIGHT NOW.BUT IT SOUNDS TO ME, IF CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY KIND OF A WHOLE NEW COMPONENT THAT LOOKS INTO LIKE THIS.
LIKE THE INDICATOR SAYS, EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT, EVERY SINGLE PLAN.
AND WHAT CAN WE KIND OF LIST SEPARATELY AS COMPONENTS IN TOWARDS THAT GOAL, THAT OVERALL GOAL? SO I WOULD SUGGEST A KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR COULD BE BE CONSIDER BECOMING SIGNATORIES TO THE RACE TO ZERO OR AN ALTERNATIVE THAT ENABLES US TO SET MEASURABLE GOALS AND CLIMATE MITIGATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND SUSTAINABILITY THAT'S FINE TOO.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD START.
EXCITING. I WOULD BE SO PROUD OF US IF WE DID THAT.
WE HAVE I MEAN, I KNOW MR. GRANT DOES A LOT OF NUMBER CRUNCHING, AND MR. FRANKLIN HAS TOO, BUT WE COULD ACTUALLY PUT THESE IN THESE NUMBERS OF WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO BY 2030, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND, AND, AND BE ON THAT ROADMAP WHERE WE CAN SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME SINCE 2014, FOR EXAMPLE, AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED INTO 2030 AND 2050.
BUT I'M JUST SPITBALLING HERE.
WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF TAKING SUSTAINABILITY OUT OF NUMBER FOUR AND MAKING IT ITS OWN STAND ALONE? LOVE IT. I LOVE THAT IDEA.
OBJECTIVE. ONCE WE GET THIS THING BUILT, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE IT'S THROWN INTO A PRETTY BIG POT. THAT IS A HUGE COMPONENT NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE 13.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT IT LET'S BREAK IT OUT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TEN.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT TEN OBJECTIVES.
I THINK WE SHOULD. IT'S HUGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE AND RESILIENCY GO HAND IN HAND.
SUSTAINABILITY IS THOSE ARE ADAPTATION.
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IS MITIGATION.
SO IT IS A NATURAL BREAK, I THINK.
ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? NO.
ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
I LOVE THE DIALOG SO FAR THAT THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD AND DOING SO HATS OFF TO BOTH OF YOU ON YOUR YOUR ITEMS THAT ARE HERE ON OUR LISTING.
MINE IS FUNDING FOR SIDEWALKS AND REPAVING OF SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY AND AS PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE VEHICLES THAT HAVE TO GO TO WINN-DIXIE AND THOSE OTHER STORES THAT ARE ON THERE.
SIDEWALKS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE DON'T BE LOOKING.
THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATIONS AND THEY DO SEE SIDEWALKS WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE.
I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR TWO MONTHS JUST TO GET A CROSSWALK, BUT THAT'S GETTING READY TO COME TO AN END BECAUSE I MET WITH COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND MEETING WITH THEIR PUBLIC WORKS PERSON SOON.
AND I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A SQUEAKY WHEEL BECAUSE THE WEST SIDE NEEDS THIS.
WE NEED ACTION. AND SO I'LL BE MOVING FORWARD ON GETTING SOME OF THOSE THINGS DONE.
[00:30:05]
FLORIDA AVENUE, BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE FOR US TO ACQUIRE THAT LAND, THOSE PEOPLE'S HOMES ARE GOING TO BE IN JEOPARDY.THEY'RE GOING TO NEED REPAIRS.
THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE TO DO NEW FLOORING.
THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME HOUSE ELEVATING IF THEY MESS WITH THAT MARSH AND THEIR HOMES ARE LOW, FLAT ON THE GROUND, THERE'S GOING TO BE FLOODING SIMILAR TO WHAT'S GOING ON OVER IN DAVIS SHORES.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE ISSUES, MORE, YOU KNOW, TAKING PEOPLE'S STABILITY AWAY.
AND SO I KNOW THAT I HAVE MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND HE HAS ASSURED ME THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING TO CLEAN OUT TRENCHES AND, YOU KNOW, CLEAN OUT THE GUTTERS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
BUT I'M SURE I WENT I RODE OVER THAT WAY AND I GOT TO SEE A LOT OF WATER, A LOT OF WATER IN STREETS OVER THERE, ALL DOWN MASTER'S DRIVE, ALL DOWN EVERGREEN THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN POLLING BEFORE.
AND THE RAIN USED TO BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, 20 MINUTE RAINSTORM AND THEN IT KIND OF CALMED DOWN.
BUT NOW IT'S GOING LIKE ALL DAY AND I'D RATHER HAVE THE RAIN THAN THE HURRICANES.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO ASK FOR MORE FUNDING.
SO THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND ADDRESSED.
YES. ANY COMMENTS? NO. I'LL JUST ADD. CREATING THE WEST SIDE CRA AND A WEST SIDE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON COMMISSIONER GARRIS'S LIST.
ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD, THANK YOU.
THE ONE ON TOP OF MY LIST IS THE FUNDING FOR LAND ACQUISITION, WHICH COMMISSIONER BLONDER AND I SHARE, AND THAT TO ME SEEMS LIKE A CRITICAL THING AND IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING WE COULD PUT ON OUR BUDGET LIST.
THE SECOND THING WAS RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
AND ALTHOUGH IT DOES KIND OF FIT IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ON PAGE 18.
IT DIDN'T REALLY FALL INTO SOME OF THE GOALS, BUT IT DOES HIT THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
IT SAYS HIGH PERFORMANCE GOVERNANCE, GOVERNANCE AT ALL LETTERS AT ALL LEVELS.
AND I THINK THAT'S THAT'S ONE.
IT ALSO MEETS ON THE CORE OF VALUES, CUSTOMER SERVICE.
AND ALSO ALL EMPLOYEES ARE MORE CRITICAL ELEMENT TO DELIVER A MISSION AND VISION.
SO IT HITS A LOT OF THINGS AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN CAN REALLY LOOK INTO WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP ALL THE DEPARTMENTS KEEP AND TRAIN AND REWARD THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THE FUNDING FOR THE SISTER CITY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT'S A SMALL THING.
AND WE HAVE MEETINGS COMING UP TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE SISTER CITY EVALUATION OF ADJUSTING FRANCIS FIELD I THINK THAT WE COULD NOT ONLY ADD SOME SHADE, BUT WE COULD ADD A FEATURE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND ALSO FOR EVENTS AND THEN FUNDING FOR ELECTRIC TOOLS AND VEHICLES.
BUT I'VE SAT ON SEVERAL STRATEGIC PLANS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS COMMENTED AT THE DISTRICT WAS THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE ITEMS. AND SO WE NEED TO ALSO RESEARCH WHAT WE CAN TAKE OFF THE PLATE, WHERE WE CAN REDUCE.
AND THAT'S NEVER KIND OF A CONVERSATION WITH HERE IS WHERE CAN WE TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING? MAYBE IT'S FROM TRADITION, MAYBE IT'S JUST FROM SOMEBODY'S PERSONAL WISHES AND I DON'T HAVE A LIST OF ANYTHING, BUT I JUST THINK THERE SHOULD BE A REALLY A GOOD EFFORT TO STUDY WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE, AS WE ADD? AND I KNOW WE'RE PRETTY BASIC.
WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BARE BONES.
BUT THERE'S THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING I THINK, THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT TO TRY TO REDUCE.
MEREDITH WOULD BE THE PERSON WHO TALKED TO.
[00:35:01]
I LOVE IT. THE THING THAT DID NOT GET ON MY LIST THAT I FORGOT WAS THAT I'M VERY INTERESTED IN US PURSUING A MORE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOBBYIST IN TALLAHASSEE. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO.IT IS ALSO ANOTHER PRETTY EXPENSIVE ITEM.
SO MAYBE SOMETHING WE WANT TO LOOK AT GRADUALLY.
I KNOW WE HAVE LOBBYISTS THAT WE PAY FOR AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT PARTICULAR BLEND OF LOBBYISTS. BUT I THINK A LOBBYIST THAT IS A STAFF MEMBER CAN REDUCE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND FREE UP HER FOR MORE TIME FOR THOSE THINGS THAT SHE'S ALSO ASSIGNED TO DO, BUT ALSO GIVE US A PERSONAL LOOK AND RESPONSE IN TALLAHASSEE. THAT'S IT.
OKAY. AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, MY COMMENT WOULD BE ON THAT IS I'D LIKE THE LOBBYISTS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. SHE'S A SMALL FIRM.
SHE'S A MULTIGENERATIONAL FIRM.
AND WE ALSO DO A LOT OF THE WORK.
CORRECT. I MEAN, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD NOT FORGET.
IT DOESN'T YOU CAN'T LET IT FALL TO THE TO THE LOBBYISTS AND TO OUR STAFF.
BUT THE STAFF DOES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN TALLAHASSEE, TOO.
BUT HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK WE COULD DO WHAT WE'VE DONE HAD THE SUCCESSES THAT WE'VE HAD IN FINDING SOME OF THESE BAD BILLS AND GETTING OUR APPROPRIATIONS, WHICH I THINK DAVID WILL SHARE SOME VERY GOOD NEWS ABOUT THAT.
BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO BE THERE, EVERY ONE OF US.
ABSOLUTELY. AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH US? THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS WE DEVELOP MORE CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS DURING THE SUMMERTIME AND DURING THE FALL, NOT JUST DURING THE BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT BILLS THAT WERE BEING DISCUSSED.
AND I'M SURE THAT THE LOBBYISTS WE HAVE NOW COULD DO THE SAME THING FOR US.
GOOD POINT. WELL, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE DID MEET LAST WEEK.
WE HAD A STRATEGIC MEETING WITH OUR LOBBYIST TO BRAINSTORM.
SO WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE SUMMER.
WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING IF SOON, I THINK WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING THE HELP THAT WE GOT FROM OUR DOING, OUR THANK YOUS TO OUR LEGISLATORS WHO WERE TREMENDOUS AND LIFTED SOME VERY HEAVY WEIGHTS FOR US.
SO I JUST YES, VERY IMPORTANT.
WE THE SESSION STARTS IN JANUARY THIS TIME AROUND IN 2024.
SO COMMITTEE MEETINGS START IN SEPTEMBER.
SO WE'RE VERY AWARE THAT WE HAVE A VERY SHORT SUMMER TO DEVELOP OUR STRATEGIES.
AND BUT I THINK WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING.
I THINK YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT ALL OF IT'S COMING, BUT I THINK WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING.
SO. AND DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT MR. CITY MANAGER? JUST TO REITERATE THAT WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL LOBBYIST, LINA JUAREZ.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, SO I'LL GO LAST.
WE'LL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE GOT A VISIT NEXT WEEK FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER COMING OVER, AS WELL AS A TEAM FROM SPAIN, FROM THE MINISTER OF CULTURE'S OFFICE WILL BE COMING NEXT WEEK.
SO WE HAVE AS WELL AS THE CONSULTANT WHO ORIGINALLY REHABILITATED US, WHAT I SAY RENOVATED, REHABILITATED UPGRADED VISITOR'S INFORMATION CENTER.
SO THERE'S WORK GOING ON ABOUT THAT.
SUPPORT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE AND EXPANSION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT PUTTING IT INTO CODE UPDATES AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES IS PERFECT.
NEXT ITEM INCREASING THE MONETARY AWARD FOR THE CITIZENSHIP AWARD WINNERS ADDED INTO THE ARTS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY COMPONENT.
ADDITION OF NEXT ITEM ADDITION OF STAFF OF THE COMMUNICATIONS AND POLICE DEPARTMENT.
[00:40:06]
SO THAT'S ALREADY IN THE WORKS.SO I'M NOT EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AT THIS POINT.
WE CAN JUST SITTING THERE, UM, FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARKLAND, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO SAY PARK LAND IN THE MADEIRA ANNEXATION AND THAT IS GOING INTO PROACTIVE PLANNING TO PRESERVE OUR UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS.
SO THAT IS A SUGGESTED NAME CHANGE.
YES, MA'AM. TO WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PLANNING TO PRESERVE OUR DOWNTOWN CHARACTER.
SO I LOVE TO SEE HOW THAT LOOKS WHEN IT COMES OUT.
MADAM MAYOR, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT.
THAT LAST BULLET WITH THE FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND IN THE MADEIRA ANNEXATION.
YES. I THINK I MIGHT REPLACE IF YOU'RE INTENDING TO DO SOME CONSERVATION IN THAT PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE REALLY THINKING ABOUT, BUT I'M NOT SURE.
TO ME, DEVELOPMENT MEANS GOING AHEAD AND SUPPORTING THE ACTUAL BUILDOUT OF THE PROPERTY.
AND WHAT I MEAN IS WHAT I MEANT IS IT IS A LITTLE BIT WORDED.
I WOULD PREFER IT NOT TO USE THAT WORD DEVELOPMENT, BUT DEVELOPMENT OF PLANNING FOR THE PARK BECAUSE IT IS COMING IN WHAT PROBABLY 2025 OR EARLIER, WE DON'T KNOW YET, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK.
IT'S LIKE THE IDEA OF WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO THERE? SO MAYBE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPOSAL, SOMETHING ALONG THAT WELL.
BUT I'D GO FURTHER WITH THAT AND SAY THAT THERE ARE POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE STATE ON DOWN TO NONPROFITS ARE LOOKING AT.
SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME SORT OF PARTNERSHIP WITH REGARD TO THAT AREA.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN AMAZING JUST TO CLARIFY, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
YEAH. WE HAVE A TEN ACRE SITE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS CITY PARK LANDS.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? YES.
OKAY. THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS SWIRLING AROUND.
OKAY. SO LET'S JUST FOCUS ON WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
NO, THIS IS A SPECIFIC PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT I THINK WE NEED TO CLARIFY THAT IN THIS.
BECAUSE I WAS I WAS THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S BEEN SWIRLING AROUND.
YEAH. WHAT IT IS, IS IT'S IT'S A LAND THAT WILL BE.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN AGREED TO TO GIVE TO THE CITY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL ACCESS IS GOING TO BE, WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS SWIRLING AROUND AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE INVESTMENT.
SURE. AS FAR AS IDEAS, THAT CLARIFICATION, WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO.
SO START THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY ACRES IS IT, DAVID? TEN ACRES. SO I WOULD ASK COMMISSIONERS TO MAYBE TAKE A TRIP OUT THERE, SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.
ONE THAT BASICALLY WERE THE OLD CLUBHOUSE USED TO BE THE PONCE OR I FORGET.
DO THEY HAVE ANY PLANS? CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE? I HAVE SEEN AND SPOKEN TO A DEVELOPER WHO WAS PLANNING ON DEVELOPING THE COMMERCIAL OUTPARCELS, WHICH WOULD BE WHERE YOU DRIVE INTO MADEIRA TO ACCESS OUR PARK. BUT OUR PARK WOULD BE IS ADJACENT TO THE PONCE TENNIS VILLAGE, RIGHT.
THAT BIG FOCUS IS ON THE WATERWAY AND ONTO THE PARK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S EARLY ENOUGH THAT.
OKAY. I ALSO WANTED TO RESPOND TO A COUPLE OF YOUR OTHER POINTS AND JUST KIND OF REINFORCE THEM.
[00:45:03]
HAVE SUPPORT FOR IT THAT I MADE BACK IN EARLY SPRING, MAYBE ABOUT CALLING ATTENTION TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE ELEMENTS WITHIN OUR CITY.THAT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER AND FORT MOSE JUST WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF, I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING WITHIN THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER EXHIBITS HALL THAT CALLS ATTENTION TO THOSE ELEMENTS.
AND THEN I THINK THE YOU KNOW, I THINK.
OH, I KNOW. OVERALL, IN THE EVENT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, THE WITHIN OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING DOCUMENT, IT SAYS TO CONTINUALLY EVALUATE THE CITY'S SPECIAL EVENT POLICIES ALONG WITH MOBILITY SOLUTIONS AND SO FORTH.
I SORT OF THINK THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE THIS IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY.
THIS ELEMENT IN OBJECTIVE EVENT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS WRITTEN, THERE WERE A LOT OF SPECIAL EVENTS AT FRANCIS FIELD AND THEY WERE THEY WERE IMPACTING MOBILITY IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY.
SO WE'VE SORT OF ALREADY REACTED TO THIS, AND I THINK IT'S FUNCTIONING BETTER.
BUT ANOTHER ELEMENT WITH YOUR I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT, I APOLOGIZE, BUT THE NIGHTTIME, THE NIGHTLIFE OR WHATEVER, WE WERE LOOKING AT EVENTS AND SHORT TERM RENTALS AND HOW THEY'RE IMPACTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND MAYBE WE CAN MIGRATE AT LEAST SOME OF THIS IDEA INTO ADDRESSING THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES WITH REGARD TO EVENTS WITHIN THE CITY. OKAY.
SO ARE YOU REFERRING TO PAGE 17? THE ADDITION OF PROACTIVE PLANNING TO PRESERVE OUR UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS? NO EVENT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT? NO. BUT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MAYBE DIVIDING WHAT'S IN EVENT, PLANNING AND MOVING IT? I THINK I AM NEIGHBORHOOD.
YEAH. BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE BIGGER ISSUES NOW ARE HOW OUR CITIZENS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY EVENTS THAT ARE BEING HELD DOWNTOWN, LIKE WEDDINGS. BUT THE SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE HOUSING 20 PEOPLE AND SO FORTH.
IN COMPLIANCE AND MAYBE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR EXISTING REGULATIONS.
RENTALS. MAYBE IT DOES NEED TO BE BROKEN UP INTO THOSE TWO PARTS.
IT'S AN IDEA. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE SUPPORT ON THIS COMMISSION.
NO, IT'S GOOD. [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.
SO. SO WHAT ITEMS WOULD YOU SEE? WOULD YOU, UNDER PROACTIVE PLANNING TO PRESERVE, WHAT ITEMS WOULD YOU TAKE OUT OF EVENT PLANNING? OR DO WE HAVE ITEMS IN EVENT PLANNING? GUESS THE STATEMENT IN EVENT PLANNING IS TO CONTINUALLY EVALUATE THE CITY'S SPECIAL EVENT POLICIES, ALONG WITH MOBILITY SOLUTIONS THAT WILL FACILITATE THE SUCCESS OF EVENTS HELD ON PUBLIC PROPERTIES IN SUCH A WAY THAT THESE EVENTS WILL NOT PLACE UNDUE BURDEN ON CITY SERVICES, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, BUT RATHER ENHANCE THE LIVABLE NATURE OF THE CITY AND HELP MOVE THE CITY'S OTHER STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FORWARD.
OKAY. I'M SEGWAYING OFF OF COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD HERE TO TAKE SOMETHING OUT.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION OF MORE OF A CULTURAL FOCUS THAN JUST A BIG EVENT.
WELL, SINCE WE'RE HAVING SOME SISTER CITIES, THINGS HAPPENING AND HONORING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM FOR 150 YEARS. 100 YEARS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS ON THE HORIZON.
SO I KIND OF HATE TO LOSE THAT FOCUS.
I HADN'T THOUGHT OF THAT. YOU'RE RIGHT.
[00:50:01]
AND COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD DOES HAVE, YOU KNOW, FRANCIS FIELD ON HIS LIST.YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT FRANCIS FIELD.
AND SO WE DO HAVE NEW ITEMS TO ADD INTO IT.
SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO LOSE IT.
I HAVE TO AGREE. I WOULDN'T WANT TO LOSE IT.
I AGREE BECAUSE WE'RE YEAH, WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT MODE ISH.
SO MOVING ON TO INCREASING THE MONETARY AWARD FOR PROVIDING CITIZENSHIP AWARDS.
MOVING THAT INTO EDUCATION AND ARTS EDUCATION COMMUNITY.
SO I HAD TWO SO I WENT THROUGH MY LIST.
YAY. I HAD TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE ON.
WE DO HAVE WITH THE WITH THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY ON DOLPHIN DRIVE AND NOW WITH THE PROCEEDS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS A MOVE TO THE PROMISE.
THE UNDERSTANDING WAS TO BUILD A NEW USE THOSE DOLLARS TO BUILD A NEW ARCHEOLOGY CENTER.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ENVISIONED A LONG TIME.
SO THAT IS AND IT WON'T BE AN EXPENSIVE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL, BUT I WANT BROADLY TO SAY THAT AT THE VERY LEAST, IT NEEDS TO GO INTO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
YES. UM, AND, BUT I THINK IT'S AN ARCHEOLOGY IS JUST IMPORTANT, AT LEAST ENOUGH TO ME.
AND WHAT WE DO HERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM.
WE'RE ONE OF THE FIRST PROGRAMS, WE'RE ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS. AND I WOULD SAY I KNOW IN THE STATE, VERY FEW CITIES DO WHAT WE DO WHERE WE HAVE OUR OWN ON STAFF TEAM AND WE'RE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER FOR ADDING TO THAT TEAM AND THAT STAFF.
SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT IT'S IT'S IN THERE AND I WOULDN'T KNOW, BUT I WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE TO PUT, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO BUILD THE ARCHEOLOGY PROGRAM, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS STAFFING.
I'VE REALLY TRIED, I'VE SEARCHED AND SEARCHED.
SO MAYBE IT GOES INTO PLANNING.
SO IT DOES HAVE A REGULATORY COMPONENT.
BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, ABOUT HOW MAYBE IT IS, MAYBE IT'S ARTS AND EDUCATION, MAYBE IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT, I'D SAY SO BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HOW WE UNDERSTAND OURSELVES.
SO BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT FITS THERE.
THE OTHER THING IS ENOUGH SAID ABOUT THAT.
THE OTHER THING IS I NOTICE ON ITEM.
I GUESS IT IS ARTS AND EDUCATION.
TRYING TO FIND A PAGE NUMBER FOR YOU SO YOU CAN EASILY GET TO IT.
JUST BEAR WITH ME FOR ONE SECOND.
SO THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ON THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE SAINT AUGUSTINE PRESERVATION INSTITUTE, WHICH IS THE UF PROGRAM AT GOVERNOR'S HOUSE AND AROUND THE CITY, I THINK THEY'RE MOBILE, THEIR SORT OF MOBILE, BUT THEY HAVE A CONSERVATION LAB AT GOVERNOR'S HOUSE AND SUPPORT FOR LA FLORIDA PROJECT.
SO I'M DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING AT SOME LEVEL.
WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING THEM SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A LOT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE COMMITTED TO A LONG TERM SUPPORT TO THEM.
I'M IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING THAT $15,000 TO EACH ORGANIZATION.
$15,000 AND THEN LA, FLORIDA, LA FLORIDA PROJECT, I THINK IS ALSO IMPORTANT.
SO I WANTED TO REITERATE THAT TO JUST CALL THOSE OUT AND SAY THAT WE DO STILL DO THIS AND I STILL THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF WHAT WE DO AND IT IS AT THE ARCHEOLOGY PROGRAM.
THAT'S ALL I HAD TO ADD, MADAM MAYOR? YES. COULD WE GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER BLONDER'S QUESTION ABOUT.
OH, IT'S NOT THE TEN ACRES, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE YOU WERE REFERRING TO.
[00:55:03]
YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THE MADEIRA? ANOTHER PRODUCT BESIDES MADEIRA.IT'S THE BUILDOUT OF THE THIRD PHASE OF MADEIRA.
AND THERE IS APPARENTLY A GOOD BIRD NESTING COLONY OF HIGH QUALITY IN THAT AREA.
RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BEING DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT, IF ANY, ROLE THE CITY COULD PLAY IN THAT, BUT THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND AGAIN, FROM ALL THE WAY FROM STATE LEVEL DOWN TO NONPROFITS.
SO IT IS WITHIN CITY BOUNDARIES.
BUT IT'S OUT THERE MUCH AS THE FLORIDA AVE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT IS CONCERNING TO MANY OF THE RESIDENTS IN THIS CASE, IT IS A HIGH QUALITY BIRD COLONY. WADING BIRD COLONY.
OKAY, SO THAT WOULD BE THE FIT INTO THE NEW COMPONENT.
WHICH WOULD BE ACQUISITION, CONSERVATION, LAND AND GENERAL CONSERVATION.
POTENTIALLY. THAT'S A LITTLE TRICKIER.
IT WOULD BE TRICKIER BECAUSE IT'S A PRIVATE, GATED COMMUNITY.
YES. SO IF [INAUDIBLE] FOR CONSERVATION LANDS, I DON'T KNOW HOW I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT.
IF WE WERE TO PURCHASE IT TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS.
THE SOLUTIONS I CAN THINK OF POTENTIALLY WOULD AFFECT.
THAT THERE MAY BE COMPLICATIONS TO THAT HOA.
THE CDD AND THE PUD ITSELF, THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ZONING ITSELF.
I'M WORKING THROUGH THAT IN MY HEAD, BUT IT IS MORE.
NOT HAVING THAT IS TROUBLESOME.
SO. YEAH. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SOLID WASTE AND OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER, JOHN REGAN, BECAUSE THE JUNETEENTH EVENT WAS FANTASTIC.
AND THANK MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FOR SHOWING UP.
I GOT DOWN THERE AT 10:45 AND THEN LEAVE THERE TILL 4:30.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, TRAINS OF PEOPLE JUST KEPT COMING THROUGH THE THEY HAD THINGS FOR THE CHILDREN.
EVERYBODY'S BEEN BLOWING UP MY FACEBOOK, YOU KNOW, COMMENDING THE CITY FOR BEING INVOLVED.
AND I SAID, WELL, YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE GIRL THAT GAVE THIS.
WE JUST SPONSORED. WE DIDN'T PUT ALL THIS ON.
SO IT WAS IT WAS SOMETHING IT WAS DELIGHTFUL.
IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM.
AND WE NEED TO SEE MORE WONDERFUL THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT THE CITY IS GROWING AND WE'RE BECOMING MORE DIVERSE AND WE'RE BECOMING MORE AWARE OF DIVERSITY.
SO KUDOS TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED.
ALL RIGHT. SO I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THINGS, JUST OF THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT I KIND OF WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
UM, SO I'VE ASKED FOR I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOUR CIVIC ASSETS ARE.
SO I'VE ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO CONSIDER CREATING A SORT OF A CITY, A LIST OF CITY OWNED PROPERTIES AND A CONDITION REPORT FOR THOSE.
IMAGINE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE USED AS A MEASURE.
WHICH CATEGORY? WHICH CATEGORY WOULD THAT FIT INTO? INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE.
[01:00:07]
PEOPLE CALL IT THE PEANUT.SO IT WAS INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.
THE LANDSCAPE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE LANDSCAPING HAS GONE IN.
THAT IS THE FINAL PHASE OF THAT PROJECT.
SO WE ARE TAKING THE COMPLIMENTS FOR THE DOT, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S THEIR WORK.
SO WE WON'T TURN DOWN COMPLIMENTS.
SO THAT'S LOVELY, BUT WE DO HAVE ONE LAST COMPONENT THAT WE WANT TO DO, AND WE'VE HAD IT ON OUR LIST TO DO FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT IS SOME SORT OF ENTRY FEATURE STATUE OR ART, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I, I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S SOME BUDGET MONEY BUDGETED, I THINK.
I HAVE TALKED TO AT THE COST OF IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH THINGS COST BUT I HAVE I WOULD LOTS GOING ON IS NEXT NEXT YEAR WITH THE SISTER CITIES AND I'VE HAD IT IN MY MIND THAT THIS IS JUST ME SPITBALLING AND I DON'T WANT TO STEP ON ANY TOES BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, BUT, UM, I'D LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING.
WHAT WE, WHAT WE DON'T SEEM TO RECOGNIZE ENOUGH, I FEEL IS OUR NATIVE AMERICAN, UM, COMPONENT, OUR HISTORY, THAT PART OF OUR HISTORY WHO CAME BEFORE US.
AND WHAT I'D LOVE TO SEE IS SINCE THAT AREA WAS THE VERY HEAD WHERE THE CHIEF I BELIEVE WE BELIEVE I BELIEVE THE ARCHEOLOGISTS BELIEVE THAT.
CHIEF SELOY'S HOME AND VILLAGE AND HEADQUARTERS OF HIS PEOPLE WAS IN THAT AREA AND WAS.
SO IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT AREA ALL ALONG THE WATER THERE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME PROPOSALS IN THAT VEIN.
AND I DON'T HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND AN OPEN SLATE, BUT I WANTED TO SEE HOW Y'ALL FELT ABOUT THAT AS SORT OF A IT IS SORT OF A WELCOMING WHEN YOU COME IN FROM THE BEACHES OR YOU'RE COMING IN FROM THE NORTH, FROM JACKSONVILLE, YOU KNOW, IT IS SORT OF AN ENTRY WAY. SO I WANT IT TO BE BEAUTIFUL, OF COURSE, AND IMPRESSIVE AND WELCOMING AND CELEBRATING OUR DIVERSITY AND OUR AND OUR DEEP HISTORY.
I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF TALKING TO AN ARTIST IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS DONE THESE KINDS OF WORKS.
HE HAS DONE THERE'S BEAUTIFUL PIECE THAT HE DID.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED AT THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH AND VERY LARGE.
SO I WANTED TO KIND OF GET GOING WITH THAT AND SEE WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE SINCE WE'RE HERE.
AND IT'S SORT OF A CASUAL CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN AND WHAT IS OUR STRATEGY? SINCE I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE.
THE PROCEDURE GENERALLY IS THAT YOU DON'T PICK AN ARTIST AND JUST TALK TO THEM ABOUT DOING IT.
YOU DEVELOP A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE BACKGROUND AND CALL FOR ARTISTS.
I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT NARROWING IT TO NATIVE AMERICAN, ALTHOUGH IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE FACT THAT HIS VILLAGE WAS IN THAT AREA.
I WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN WITH IT THAN THAT.
BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH HISTORY HERE.
IS THAT THE REALLY ONE THAT WE WANT TO PICK OR DO WE WANT TO LEAVE IT UP TO THE ARTIST TO BE INSPIRED ENOUGH TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE US THEIR BEST IDEAS SO WELL.
DO YOU APPROACH IT WITH A CONCEPT OR DO YOU JUST LET THEM GIVE YOU THE CONCEPT?
[01:05:04]
ABSOLUTELY. YOU DON'T COME WITH THE CONCEPT.YOU DON'T HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU WANT.
I THINK IT'S TOO NARROW MYSELF.
MANY, MANY FRIENDS OF ARTISTS OF MINE, MANY SCULPTOR, FRIENDS OF MINE.
KNOWING PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE DOING IT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO LEAVE IT UP TO THEIR INTERPRETATION.
SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.
THE PROCESS IS YOU FORM A COMMITTEE.
THE CITY MANAGER APPOINTS A COMMITTEE.
HOW DO WE HOW DOES THE COMMITTEE OPERATE? AGAIN I HAVE TO LOOK AT ISABELLE.
YEAH. IT'S ALWAYS SUNSHINE IN THE ROOM.
BUT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, YES, WE GET SOME EXPERTS THAT HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS ROUTE.
I WOULD SAY CHRISTINA PARRISH WOULD BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD WE'D BRING BACK THE SOLUTIONS TO ALL OF YOU OR ME INCLUDED, BUT TO JUST TRYING TO DEVELOP THE CALL FOR ARTISTS IS IS PRETTY, PRETTY DAUNTING.
BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT.
AND THEN IT GETS PRESENTED TO US AND IT'S SELECTED.
GET SOME FOCUS GROUPS THAT THEN BRING SUGGESTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE? THAT'S POSSIBLE. I MEAN, AT THE CULTURAL CENTER, HERE COMES, HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO.
BUT JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT NO MATTER HOW FAR DOWN YOU DRIBBLE DOWN FROM THE SUNSHINE, THOSE SUB SUB SUB COMMITTEES, THOSE FOCUS GROUPS ALL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH SUNSHINE. SO MY SUGGESTION IS IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED TO CREATE A COMMITTEE THAT WILL PUT THE THE DOCUMENT TOGETHER FOR THE CALL TO ARTISTS, PERHAPS INVITE STAKEHOLDERS TO ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS INSTEAD OF CREATING YET ANOTHER LAYER OF SUNSHINE, YOU KNOW, FORMAL MEETINGS, HAVING TO TRAIN PEOPLE.
SO THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU START CREATING TOO MANY SUB COMMITTEES.
SO MAYBE JUST CREATING ONE COMMITTEE AND INVITING FOLKS TO ATTEND THAT COMMITTEE AND PRESENT EVIDENCE OR PRESENT IDEAS TO THE COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF CREATING SUB SUB, SUB FOCUS GROUPS, COMMITTEES AND SO ON.
OKAY, A QUESTION WHILE YOU'RE THERE, COULD WE COULD WE ASK THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, CHRISTINA, TO DEVELOP A RECOMMENDED TOP THREE PROPOSALS.
THAT'S [INAUDIBLE] CHALLENGE BECAUSE THE CULTURAL COUNCIL IS NOT A COMMITTEE OF THE CITY.
IT'S A COMMITTEE OF THE COUNTY.
CORRECT. NOW, YOU CERTAINLY COULD APPOINT WHOMEVER YOU WISH TO A GREATER COMMITTEE.
AND I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU WANT LOCAL SAINT AUGUSTINE FOLKS TO BE INVOLVED.
SO MISS PARRISH MAY BE ONE MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE AND PROVIDE HER EXPERTISE.
BUT AS WAS MENTIONED, THERE ARE SCULPTURES LOCALLY.
THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE THERE'S THE ART ASSOCIATION.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE ART WORLD SPECIFIC TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
I DON'T I DON'T THINK IT MIGHT CREATE A BALANCED COMMITTEE.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTOOD. WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS WE WOULD ASK THE CULTURAL COUNCIL TO DO ALL THAT WORK OF GETTING A COMMITTEE OF ARTISTS AND LOCALS, AND WE WOULD HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON THAT.
WE COULD SAY, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BRING US THREE PROPOSALS FOR A SCULPTURE FOR THIS PEANUT, AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE CONNECTED TO HISTORY AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE TO BE RESIDENTS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU DELEGATE TO ANOTHER GROUP, THEN THAT GROUP HAS TO MEET IN THE SUNSHINE.
[01:10:03]
SO THAT MEANS MISS PARRISH AND WHOMEVER OF HER STAFF WOULD HAVE TO NOW CREATE A CITY COMMITTEE.WEIGH IN FOR A MOMENT, PLEASE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, I DON'T THINK MEETING IN THE SUNSHINE IS A PROBLEM.
BUT THAT SAID, YES, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE AN EXPERT SITTING HERE WITH US, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE HER CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, GIVEN HER EXPERTISE AND HER DEEP TIES TO THE COMMUNITY AND EXPERIENCE ON THE COMMISSION.
I'M JUST GOING TO NOMINATE YOU TO CHAIR THAT COMMITTEE VERY MUCH.
PERFECT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'D BE GREAT. AS YOU KNOW, IT TAKES QUITE A WHILE TO DO THE SCULPTURE ITSELF.
YOU'RE THINKING THE SCULPTURE WILL BE DONE IN A YEAR FOR INSTALLATION AND INSTALLATION.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE.
WE COULD WORK TOWARDS IT, DO OUR BEST.
I DON'T KNOW. YEAH, AT LEAST MAYBE THE COMMITTEE COULD HAVE A RECOMMENDATION AND DESIGN SHOWS.
RIGHT, RIGHT. SO BUT IF I MAY JUST ASK A QUESTION TO THE COMMISSION.
IS YOUR INTENT TO HAVE THE VICE MAYOR CHAIR AND SELECT THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, OR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SEE AT A FUTURE CITY COMMISSION AGENDA HAVE SUGGESTED MEMBERS, JUST SO WE KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THAT PROCESS.
WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE SUNSHINE ANYWAY, RIGHT? SO WHY DON'T WE ALL THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST, WE'VE EITHER LET THE CITY MANAGER APPOINT OR WE'VE ALL MAKE MADE OUR EACH EACH COMMISSIONER HAS APPOINTMENTS.
SO EITHER WAY, IT'S IN THE SUNSHINE.
YOU COULD EACH SELECT ONE MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE TO BE A FIVE MEMBER COMMITTEE OR SEVEN MEMBER COMMITTEE, AND YOU COULD DO THAT PUBLICLY AT A CITY COMMISSION MEETING. SIMILAR TO HOW WE APPOINT A BOARD.
ARE YOU WILLING TO TRY THAT? IT KIND OF PUTS US ON THE SPOT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION.
AS AN ALTERNATIVE, I COULD DO IT, BUT I HESITATE.
I DON'T WANT TO DO IT AND APPOINT THE WRONG PERSON.
WELL, WELL, WELL, WE WILL SOMEBODY WILL APPOINT.
I THINK I THINK THE KEY IS TO, YOU KNOW CONTACT PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE GOOD MEMBERS ON THIS.
I WOULD GET A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW OF THAT ALREADY I THINK WOULD MAKE A GOOD.
IF ANYBODY HAS SUGGESTIONS WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE BACKGROUNDS IN THIS AREA, CERTAINLY YOU CAN SEND IT TO ISABELLE AND SHE CAN SEND IT TO ME AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE.
BUT I WOULD SAY FIVE MEMBERS WOULD BE GOOD.
FIVE AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S SIX.
THAT'S AN EVEN NUMBER. NO, NO.
SO FOUR MORE TO GO. YOU'RE A GIVEN.
SIX MORE PEOPLE. WELL, IT'S EXCITING.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THIS TO YOU SHORTLY SO YOU'LL SEE WHO THE COMMITTEE WILL BE.
WELL, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING.
THANK YOU. I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.
IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. IF I CAN BEG YOUR INDULGENCE FOR ONE LAST LITTLE ITEM UNRELATED TO THIS.
WE DO HAVE, I THINK IT WAS ON THE CITY MANAGER'S MEMO, BUT THE ISSUE OF TOUR GUIDES AND TOUR GUIDE TESTING, UNFORTUNATELY IN 2021, I BELIEVE, WAS THE ACTUAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
A BILL WAS PASSED PREEMPTING OUR ABILITY TO REGULATE OCCUPATIONS, INCLUDING TESTING, AND IT'S SUNSETS, OUR REGULATIONS ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
AND SO WE WANTED SOME SENSE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TODAY.
[01:15:01]
INTEREST IN US CONTINUING THE TESTING, THE TOUR GUIDE TESTING AS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM SINCE WE ARE PROHIBITED STARTING JULY 1ST FROM REQUIRING IT.I BELIEVE STAFF MAY HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY NUMBERS ON HOW MANY FOLKS TOOK THE EXAM, WHAT AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESOURCES IT TAKES, AND WHETHER YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA ON A POST JULY 1ST TO CONTINUE AS A AS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.
AND THEY CAN BE USED THAT ON THEIR ADVERTISEMENT APPROVED BY THE CITY.
AM I SEEING NODS ALL AROUND OR NOT? YES, I THINK WE ALL AGREE AND MY QUESTION WOULD BE HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE WE'VE REVIEWED THE TEST? UM. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE TEST.
SO WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING OVERALL IS CONTINUE POST JULY 1ST AS A VOLUNTARY.
YOU'RE A YES. AND THEN WE SHOULD BUILD A CERTIFICATE OF PROGRAM OR YES.
I WOULD LOVE TO. IT SEEMS TO ME I REMEMBER THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE REVIEWED THE TEST ITSELF AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S UPDATED WITH ANY INFORMATION THAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS ABOUT OURSELVES.
OKAY. WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT. OKAY, PERFECT.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I HAVE A COMMENT.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ANY RANDOM THOUGHTS? THIS IS A WE DON'T GET TO TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THINGS MUCH.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT I FEEL LIKE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, BASED ON OUR VISION PLAN OF NINE YEARS AGO AND COUNTING WITH A NEW CITY MANAGER AND A NEW ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
REALLY THREE NEW COMMISSIONERS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, JUST GOING INTO MY THIRD YEAR, I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNE TIME FOR US TO THINK ABOUT NOT THIS BUDGET CYCLE, BUT PLANNING FOR IT FOR NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, GOING INTO A MORE FORMAL STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS WITH NOT JUST REORGANIZING AND UPDATING, BUT REALLY, REALLY CASTING OUT INTO THE FUTURE AND WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK LIKE AND AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADDING SUSTAINABILITY, THAT'S JUST AN INDICATOR TO ME THAT WE WE SHOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK, A FORMAL PROCESS WITH MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES AND ALL THIS STUFF THAT BECAUSE WE'RE A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY THAN WE WERE NINE YEARS AGO.
AND SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR DISCUSSION.
I MEAN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY AND SEA LEVEL RISE TEN YEARS AGO, NOT SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, SO THAT IS A BIG, BIG CHANGE.
AND WE'RE ADAPTING TO IT CERTAINLY, AND WE HAVE IT IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
BUT YEAH, THERE WERE NO LET'S SEE WHERE WE WE ARE IN 2050.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT THAT AND.
ANYWAY, I AGREE WITH I AGREE TOO THE STRATEGIC PLANS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH HAD INDICATORS THAT WERE MEASURABLE THE FIRST YEAR, SECOND YEAR, THIRD YEAR.
AND SO THEY WERE ALWAYS ON LIKE A FIVE OR A TEN YEAR CYCLE.
SO I THINK WE REALLY OUGHT TO REFOCUS.
WE'VE JUST SORT OF POPPED THINGS IN OVER THE YEARS.
WE HAVE THE BONES ARE GREAT, YOU KNOW, IN FACT, CITY MANAGERS HAD SORT OF HAD THIS DISCUSSION, BUT WE'RE VERY BLESSED AND THAT WE HAVE A PLANNER FOR OUR CITY MANAGER.
AND THIS IS GOOD PLANNING AND WE HAVE STEWARDSHIP, REALLY GOOD VISION AND A REALLY GOOD MISSION.
SO WE REALLY THIS YEAR MAY NOT BE THE YEAR, I THINK 2024, 2024 WOULD BE A GOOD YEAR MAYBE TO START.
LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN IT COULD FIT AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE A SOME MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR SOME CONSULTING HELP ON THAT.
THE VISION PLAN AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NEXT BUDGETARY CYCLE.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR THE 2024-25.
[01:20:01]
OKAY. SO PRE OCTOBER 1ST, RIGHT? SO WE WOULD BE OKAY.IT WOULD BE A HUSTLE, BUT WE COULD TRY TO GET THAT DONE.
I WAS I WAS TRYING TO THINK ABOUT NOT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BANDWIDTH IS WITH YOU WANT TO GIVE US THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT OUR FUNDING? WELL, WE DO HAVE SOME VERY GOOD NEWS.
WE RECEIVED ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT WE ASKED FOR.
ALL THE APPROPRIATIONS CAME IN FROM THE STATE.
THE GOVERNOR DID NOT VETO ANYTHING.
SO WE GOT ABOUT $16 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS FOR THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT FOR REDOING AND REPAIRING AND RENOVATING THIS BUILDING, THE PINA HOUSE AND THE VIC, AND ALSO FOR A SEWER LINE, FORCE MAIN AND EXTENSION AND LIFT STATION FOR THE HOLMES BOULEVARD PROPERTY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER AND OUR MAYOR VERY HARD.
AND OUR LOBBYISTS AND OUR LOBBYISTS.
WELL DONE. CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYBODY.
SO MY POINT IS, AND THAT'S VERY GOOD NEWS TO SHARE.
MY POINT IS THAT THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK COMING OUR WAY.
AND I DO HAVE A DEEP CONCERN ABOUT ADDING TO THE WORKLOAD.
AND I KNOW WE NEED TO DO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO DO THESE PROJECTS.
I AGREE. SO I THINK THE PROJECTS, THOUGH, AND THE I THINK THE REVISING, THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND UPDATING IT CAN ACTUALLY HELP WITH THE WORKLOAD.
THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN NOW DOESN'T SHOW ME ANY PRIORITIES.
IT SHOWS ME SOME GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, BUT IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T PRIORITIZE THEM.
AND I THINK THIS COULD REALLY HELP STAFF IF WE REVISE THE PLAN SO THAT IT'S EASIER TO SEE WHERE THE STAFFING LEVELS NEED TO GO IN ORDER TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES, THE FIVE YEAR PRIORITIES AND SO FORTH.
OKAY. WELL, I THINK THE PRIORITIES ARE OFTEN DRIVEN BY HOW SOON YOU HAVE TO USE THE MONEY THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED AND HOW QUICKLY WE HAVE TO GET THE WORK DONE.
SO I HOPE TO SPEAK WITH OUR CITY MANAGER ON THAT.
AND I THINK IF WE BRING IN A CONSULTANT THOUGH, FOR THIS PROCESS, IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF THE BURDEN OFF OF THE STAFF IN TERMS OF THE TIME INVESTED IN AND IT'S DONE IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S DONE IN CORPORATIONS, NONPROFITS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT, BUT I MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
WELL, CERTAINLY I WOULD LIKE WILL YOU COME BACK TO US ON THAT, ON HOW THAT WOULD WORK? YES. AND ALL OF THAT WILL REFLECT WHEN WE SEE OUR BALANCED BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR, RIGHT? YES. SO IT WOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET IF WE WERE GOING TO PAY FOR A CONSULTANT FOR SERVICES FOR THIS.
AND WE'LL BE SEEING THAT ALSO.
WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
I HAVE ONE OTHER PROCEDURAL THING AND IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO PUT MR. BIRCHIM'S NOTES ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE ON THE OVERHEAD, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME I DON'T I'M ASKING YOU, MR. BIRCHIM ARE YOU ASKING US FOR OUR APPROVAL OF YOUR RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN YOUR NOTES TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN? DO YOU NEED THAT AS BEFORE WE FINISH THE MEETING TODAY? I DON'T KNOW. YES, I WOULD LIKE AT LEAST A CONSENSUS THAT WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY REPRESENT THIS UPDATE TO THE TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE VISION PLAN JUST TO REFLECT THOSE OBJECTIVES WE'VE ALREADY ACHIEVED.
AND THEN THE NEW PRIORITIES THAT WILL BE IDENTIFIED IN THIS NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
SO YOU HAVE OUR COMMENTS? YES, WE HAVE GENERAL CONSENSUS.
WE ALL AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID.
I THINK YOU YOU WILL EXPECT TO SEE A CLEAN COPY.
ITEMS BY CITY, BY MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS.
[4. Items by Mayor and Commissioners ]
DOES ANYONE HAVE ITEMS? WE'RE IN A WORKSHOP.NO. I WAS GOING TO SAVE IT FOR MONDAY NIGHT.
BUT MS. GUERRA SAID THAT I WAS THE LINCOLN.
DON'T SAVE IT FOR MONDAY NIGHT.
YEAH, THE LINCOLNVILLE FESTIVAL IS REALLY, REALLY WELL DONE.
AND I UNDERSTAND IT WAS JUST ONE WOMAN THAT REALLY DID ALL THE WORK.
I MEAN, THE FOOD TRUCKS, THE MUSIC, THE ORGANIZATION OF BOOTHS WAS A LOT OF WORK.
[01:25:02]
UM, BLOCKING THE STREET WAS SUCH A NICE THING.THEY HAD A LITTLE TRAIN FOR KIDS.
UM, IT WAS JUST VERY, VERY, VERY IMPRESSED.
THE CITY. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CITY PARTICIPATION BE AN ANNUAL COMMITMENT AND CONCH SALADS GREAT.
THERE'S ONE BOOTH THAT WAS SUPER COOL.
IT WAS TO THE MOM AND TWO SISTERS.
AFRICAN AMERICAN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THAT, BUT YOU SAW THE BOOK THAT MY HUSBAND BROUGHT.
THEY SELF PUBLISHED A BOOK ON BEING A BEING A FEMALE SCIENTIST.
AND I'M LIKE, OH, THIS IS SO GREAT.
WHAT INITIATIVE AND VISION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT WAS GREAT.
OKAY, SO I'M NOT I'M, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS ON MONDAY NIGHT.
I'M ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE TRAINING FULL WEEK TRAINING NEXT WEEK, STARTING TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ON BUILDING BELOVED COMMUNITY LEADERS. AND THAT'S A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE BRINGING TRAINERS IN.
SO THAT'LL BE NEXT WEEK AFTER OUR MEETING.
BUT THAT'S ALL. WHO IS SPONSORING THAT? THAT'S THE PASTOR MARCH, LAVERNE MARCH AND REVEREND DAVID WILLIAMSON AT GRACE UNITED.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD. AND SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND IT WASN'T IT WAS NOT A SPECIAL INVITATION, I THINK.
THINK IT'S EXTENDED OUT TO ANY OF US IF WE WANT TO DO IT AT ANY TIME.
AND SO I WILL REPORT BACK AS A CHANGED PERSON.
WONDERFUL. WELL, I WANT TO CHANGE.
NO, IT'S IT'S MAY ACTUALLY STILL HAVE AVAILABILITY.
I'M NOT SURE. WELL, I DON'T THINK WE CAN BOTH BE THERE CAN WE.
SIT TOGETHER. I THINK I DON'T.
BUT IT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL CITY MEETING.
IT'S NOT PART OF THE CITY PROCESS.
AND YES, YOU ARE ALLOWED COMMISSIONER DEAN WASN'T ABLE.
BUT THEY DID COME IN SOME TWO DAYS OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT.
YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, SO AND COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD, FOR THEM TO RECOGNIZE THE EDDIE LEE EDDIE VICKERS INTO THE HALL OF FAME.
I HAD REACHED OUT TO MRS. VICKERS AND SHE WAS GOING TO PARTICIPATE, BUT IT WAS THUNDERING AND LIGHTNING AND OLD SCHOOL WE DON'T GO OUT.
WE DON'T WE LAY DOWN WHEN IT'S THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.
SO ONCE I GOT THERE, I KNEW SHE WASN'T COMING IF SHE WASN'T ALREADY IN THE BUILDING.
BUT I DID REACH OUT TO HER SON AND I DID VIDEO THAT PART WHERE THEY SPOKE OF HER AND HER HUSBAND AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO HER HOME AND GIVE HER THE AWARD AND THAT KIND OF STUFF THEN.
IF YOU'LL LET MELISSA WISSEL KNOW AND THEN SHE CAN LET EVERYBODY KNOW.
I APOLOGIZE THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
WE HAD A VERY LONG TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THE COUNTY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OR PARTICIPATE IN THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY.
SO WE WERE WORKING ON THAT DAY.
YOU'RE WELCOME. AND MAYBE WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY.
AND THEY WERE ENCOURAGED AT THE MEETING BY MISS PHILLIPS.
GAIL PHILLIPS WAS ABLE TO COME AND ENCOURAGE THEM.
AND I'M SO SORRY TO HAVE MISSED IT.
IT SOUNDS WONDERFUL. I WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR AND I WON'T BE HOBBLING, I HOPE.
YEAH. ANYTHING ELSE? MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING FROM STAFF? ANY FINAL WORDS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC? NO, NOBODY WANTS TO SPEAK.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE'LL BE A LITTLE BIT EARLY, SO THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[01:30:02]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.