[00:00:02]
>> WE'RE CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.>> ALRIGHT, WE HAVE PASTOR DUSTY PHILLIPS FROM FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH TO LEAD OUR INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR ROXANNE HORVATH.
>> ALRIGHT. LORD, JESUS, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS TO US.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE LOVE FOR US.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THIS CITY AND GOD, I DO KNOW THAT YOU TELL US TO ASK FOR WISDOM WHEN WE SEEK IT AND THAT YOU WILL GIVE IT.
AND SO GOD, WE PRAY TONIGHT THAT YOU WOULD GIVE WISDOM AND CLARITY AND GUIDANCE.
LORD THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMISSION.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT LOVE OUR CITY AND LORD, I PRAY THAT YOUR KINGDOM WOULD COME AND YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, THAT YOUR KINGDOM WOULD COME AND YOUR WILL WOULD BE DONE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
SO GOD, WE LOVE YOU, WE TRUST YOU AND WE THANK YOU IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.
>> PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE.
>> TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>>ALRIGHT, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE IS THE INVOCATION
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
AND MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.MR. CITY MANAGER, DO HOW MANY MODIFICATIONS?
>> WE HAVE NO MODIFICATIONS, MAYOR.
>> OKAY. I WOULD LIKE A MODIFICATION.
IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE COULD MAYBE DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ITEM 7 A1, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION FOR MR. WAYNE SIMS UP TO FOLLOWING ITEM 3, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
I'D LIKE TO BRING HIM AND TO THAT, I WOULD SAY I WOULD SUGGESTS ITEM 3C.
AND I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MAKE THAT MODIFICATION. DO I HEAR A SECOND?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, I'M SORRY.
>> SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS A WONDERFUL,
[3.A. Certificates of Recognition presented to Aviles, Spain participants of the Sister Cities Student Exchange Program. (J. Springfield, Commissioner)]
HAPPY EVENING FOR MANY OF US.THIS IS OUR CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION FROM US FOR THE STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY OF AVILES SPAIN.
THIS IS GOING TO BE LED BY COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD BECAUSE HE IS OUR DESIGNATED LIAISON WITH THE SISTER CITIES ORGANIZATION.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO STAND UP FRONT AND GIVE HIM THE MICROPHONE AND HE CAN EMCEE THE EVENING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A REALLY HAPPY OCCASIONS.
SO LET'S ALL JOIN EACH OTHER UP FRONT.
WE DO HAVE SOME VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT.
AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE LYNN WEEKS COME UP PLEASE AND CONSUELO IF YOU WOULD COME UP.
LYNN WEEKS IS NOT ONLY A VICE MAYOR, BUT HE IS VERY ACTIVE IN THE SISTER CITIES ORGANIZATION.
AND HE HAS LED THIS CHARGE FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND LOVES TO WORK WITH HIS STUDENTS.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE LYNN SAY A FEW WORDS.
TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS THE MAYOR, I MET WITH THE MAYOR OF AVILES, SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ VEGA IN THE CASA MONICA.
AND WE HAD REKINDLE OUR SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ATOCHA ANCHOR, WHICH WAS A GIFT FROM ST. AUGUSTINE TO THE CITY OF AVILES.
AND IT WAS DISCOVERED BY MEL FISHER.
AFTER THREE OR FOUR YEARS OF NO TO THE GALLOWS AND BIG FESTIVITIES, AND A LOT OF BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN AVILES AND SPAIN FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY STAFF.
WE SAID IN THE CASA MONICA ONE MORNING AND SAID,
[00:05:01]
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO CONTINUE THIS RELATIONSHIP? WE LAID OUT ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT ITEMS. EXCHANGES BETWEEN COLLEGE STUDENTS, WHICH WE HAVE HAD SOME OF THAT WITH THE STUDENTS FROM [INAUDIBLE] COMING TO FLAGLER COLLEGE YEARS AGO TO DO SOME OF THE PAINTINGS ON THE MURALS.WE DID EXCHANGES BETWEEN COMMISSIONERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO DO IT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE THE MOST LASTING IS THE STUDENT EXCHANGE, WHICH WE STARTED IN 2002.
THE PLAN IS THAT WE GET 5-10 STUDENTS FROM EACH CITY TO GO TO THE CITY AND STAY FOR 10-12 DAYS AND USUALLY FROM ST. AUGUSTINE FIRST AVILES AND STAY IN HOMES THERE WITH THE FAMILIES THERE.
THEN THOSE SAME 10 STUDENTS COME BACK AND THEN THE 10 STUDENTS FROM AVILES COME TO ST. AUGUSTINE AND STAY WITH THAT SAME STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR 10-12 DAYS AND GET A REAL IMMERSION IN THE CULTURE OF EACH CITY AND LEARN ABOUT FAMILY LIFE IN EACH CITY.
SPEAKING SPANISH IS NOT A PREREQUISITE, BUT IT HELPS.
A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS GO OVER THERE TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR SPANISH SKILLS.
IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS GONE ON FOR LIKE I SAID SINCE 2002 AND WE STOPPED IT FOR A FEW YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID, HURRICANES, TERRORISM THREATS.
AND SO THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR SINCE 2015 THAT WE'VE DONE THIS.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION, TO SISTER CITIES AND TO OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAS HELPED US HOST MANY OF THE EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE FOR OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY'RE HERE.
OUR FOCUS OR MY FOCUS ON PUTTING THE PROGRAM TOGETHER IS HELP TO BRIDGE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN AVILES, SPAIN, AND THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT'S AMAZING WHEN YOU FOLLOW ME AROUND OR SOMEBODY ELSE THAT KNOWS ALL THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUR CITIES FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT WE GAVE TO AVILES IN 2000 WAS IT 14 OR 15 TO THE ANCHOR THAT WE GAVE TO THE CITY OF AVILES, FOR THE FOUNTAIN.
SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THE FOUNTAIN, THE HEADS DOWN AT THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT WERE FROM AVILES THAT THEY GAVE TO US AND WE BUILT A WALL TO COMMEMORATE THAT RELATIONSHIP.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, THE SHIPS.
NEXT YEAR IS OUR 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TWO SISTER CITIES WILL BE OUR 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OFFICIAL RELATIONSHIP.
SO THE STUDENT EXCHANGE IS JUST ONE PART OF THIS ONGOING RELATIONSHIP THAT WE TRY TO USE TO INDOCTRINATE, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD.
[LAUGHTER] EDUCATE AND TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND OUR STUDENTS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR TWO CITIES.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO CONSUELO LIPPI, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE SISTER CITIES ASSOCIATION, AND SHE IS ALSO HER AND HER HUSBAND CHUCK, WHERE THE CHAPERONES THIS YEAR WHO WENT TO AVILES WITH THE STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU LYNN. MADAM MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS, COMMUNITY, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
THE STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM WITH AVILES SPAIN, ONE OF OUR THREE SISTER CITIES, IS SPONSORED BY THE SISTER CITIES ASSOCIATION WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
THESE PROGRAMS FINALLY HAS BEEN RENEWED AFTER TWO YEARS OF HURRICANES AND AFTER THREE YEARS OF THE COVID-19.
AND THIS PROGRAM NOT ONLY UNITES OUR CITIES, IT ONLY UNITES OUR YOUTH WHICH EXCHANGE EXPERIENCES OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND MOST OF ALL, LOTS AND LOTS OF ADVENTURES THAT THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE AMONG THEMSELVES.
THIS PROGRAM ALSO PREPARES OUR YOUTH TO LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER WORLD.
THAT EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE OR MIGHT EAT FOOD COOKED IN A DIFFERENT WAY, HAS ONE SINGLE IDEA.
THE IDEA OF PEACE, THE IDEA OF LAW THROUGH RESPECT AND MUTUAL COOPERATION FROM CITY TO CITY, COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY AND PERSON TO PERSON.
SO THIS YEAR, IF I WAS IN CHARGE OF ORGANIZING AS OF THE PRESIDENT AND AS OUR ORGANIZER OF THE 2023 STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM WITH AVILES.
THE YEAR 2023 HAS BEEN ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
WE HELP GATHER YOUTHS AND OUR CITIES AND OUR FRIENDS GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS A FAMILY.
I WANT TO SAY THAT HOPEFULLY WE WILL CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP IN THE FUTURE.
BECAUSE THE ONES THAT BENEFIT THE MOST,
[00:10:01]
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR YOUNG MINDS THAT HOPEFULLY WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE IDEA FOR THE YEARS TO COME.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] I DO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO INTRODUCE OUR STUDENTS FROM OUR AREA.
WILL YOU PLEASE STAND UP? PLEASE COME OVER HERE.
THE STUDENTS FROM ST. AUGUSTINE FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THE STUDENTS FROM SPAIN.
WILL YOU PLEASE COME OVER HERE.
>>WE ARE GOING TO DO JUST THE STUDENTS FROM SPAIN FIRST.
>> FOR THE STUDENTS FROM SPAIN FIRST.
WILL YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
>> AND NOW AM GOING TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE CHAPERONE, AND THE PERSON IN CHARGE FROM AVILES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. HELLO, EVERYONE.
I JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT MAKE THAT POSSIBLE THE TO SISTERS' CITY ASSOCIATION, MAJOR CITY HALL.
I JUST BRING A LITTLE PRESENT FOR YOU FROM OUR LAST MAJOR AND IMPORTANT THINGS THAT ALEJANDRO WILL SAY LATER SPEECH ON BEHALF OF MAYOR [INAUDIBLE] SO ALEJANDRO.
>> HOW LUCKY WE ARE, OUR CITIES ASSOCIATION IN AUGUSTINE TO KEEP SO ALIVE AND ACTIVE, THAT'S YOUR HISTORY THAT ALREADY VOTED 458 YEARS AGO.
OUR HISTORY THAT BEGAN 1565 WITH THE FOUNDATION OF PEDRO MENENDEZ DE AVILES FROM ST. AUGUSTINE.
AND THAT COME FIRST TO YOU THE WEIGHT HONOR OF BEING THE FIRST SETTLEMENT, AND THEREFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE CURRENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
PEDRO MENENDEZ HIMSELF WHO NEVER HAVING IMAGINED THAT ALMOST 500 YEARS LATER, HIS HOMETOWN AND THAT NEWLY FOUNDED SETTLEMENT GOOD WAY TWO IMPORTANT CITIES THAT WERE DOING THEIR STEPS, AND MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER INTO THE FUTURE.
DURING THAT GOES BEYOND OUR BORDERS, AND BECOME A STRONG BOND OF UNION BETWEEN THE SPAIN AND THE US.
WHATEVER HIS SUCCESS IS THAT IN 1924, THE FIRST EMBASSY OF DIPLOMATS FROM ST. AUGUSTINE [INAUDIBLE] INSTITUTIONAL VISIT TO A HOMETOWN OF PEDRO MENENDEZ, AS FIRST CONTENT WHICH WILL BE PROLONGED IT IN TIME, AND WILL COME TO FRUITION IN THE ACT OF DECLARATION OF TWINNING IN 1977.
BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, AND WHERE IT HAS SET THE STATE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE RESOLUTION IS GOOD WILL UNDERSTANDING ON FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF OUR TWO GREAT NATIONS.
THEREFORE, NEXT YEAR 2024 WILL BECOME A VERY IMPORTANT DATE FOR OUR CITIES OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND AVILES, AS WE CELEBRATE THE FIRST CENTENARY.
THE SAME YEAR IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, I WILL GO TO ST. AUGUSTINE TO SET UP TOGETHER WITH THE MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES, THAT WILL FURTHER HISTORY NEAR OUR TIES OF UNITY AND TWINNING.
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS EITHER STRING, IF WE MAKE SEALS SOCIETY RELATIONS AND ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR TWINNING, BECAUSE ALL TWINNING MUST INVOLVE ON THE SOCIAL COULD DRAW A HUMAN RELATIONS THAT UNITE US.
AND THUS OFFERED TO THE NEW GENERATIONS HISTORICAL ROOTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CULTIVATE OVER THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.
AND THAT TODAY IDENTIFY US A SERIES.
FOR THIS REASON WHEN MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE, WAS KIND ENOUGH TO VISIT AVILES WITH WHO TO RESUME THEN STUDENT EXCHANGE THAT WE HAD SUSPEND THIS OUT OF COVID.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS EXCHANGE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN OUR RELATIONS, OUR COEXISTENCE, AND OUR HISTORICAL ENDED.
MUTUAL KNOWLEDGE IS WHAT UNITES PEOPLE AND PEOPLE'S.
IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE, A WHOLE SERIES IN THE LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE OF LANGUAGE, BECAUSE SPANISH IS A LANGUAGE OF GROWING IMPORTANCE IN THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND ENGLISH IS THE MAIN COMMERCIAL LANGUAGE, AND IT'S A GREAT VALUE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
BOTH CITIES ARE PLACED ON ENORMOUS ATTRACTIONS IN THE LEARNING OF ALL LANGUAGES, AND THERE ARE MANY EXPERIENCES THAT WE PURSUED PROMOTE UNSURE.
IT HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR FOR US, TO RECEIVE IN THIS FAHRENHEIT OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ST. AUGUSTINE, WHO HAVE VISITED AVILES.
AND IN THE SAME WAY, WE THANK YOU FOR RECEIVING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE WITH INTENSITY.
THEY COULD TRY RIDGES, THAT TODAY DISTINGUISHES IN AUGUSTINE OF FLORIDA.
IT CONFIRMED THAT NEXT SEPTEMBER I WILL WIN ST. AUGUSTINE, TO REMIND TO PROMOTE NEW CHALLENGES IN THE TWIN OF TWO CITIES, THAT ARE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE FACING TOGETHER THE GREAT CHALLENGES, THAT WE ASSUME AS IT IS FROM THE CONVICTION THAT TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER.
I HAVE FOND MEMORIES IN ST. AUGUSTINE, WHICH FOR ME IS A GREAT REFERENCE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR KEEPING FIRM THESE COMMITMENTS AND OUR TIES WILL ALWAYS UNITES OF PEOPLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, AND THE CITY ASSOCIATION FOR MAKING POSSIBLE ALL THESE EXCHANGE.
>> OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME FORMAL THINGS NOW.
ATTENTION STUDENTS WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU WOULD SHAKE HANDS WITH ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND COME DOWN, AND RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE, AND A PIN FROM THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, WHICH ARE PRECIOUS.
[00:15:02]
WE DON'T GIVE THEM OUT TO EVERYBODY, OKAY? ALEJANDRO SORES ONGERA.[APPLAUSE] ANNA PATRICIA MORON FERNANDEZ.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
[APPLAUSE] AND THE CHAPERONE, FERNANDO MARTINEZ MIRANDA.
[APPLAUSE] Y'ALL STAY UP HERE. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
Y'ALL STAY HERE. WE'RE NOW GOING TO INTRODUCE ALL THE STUDENTS FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AS THEY WENT TO SPAIN SPENT A WEEK, CORRECT?
>> TEN DAYS. ARIA DELVI, CAROLINE JOHNSON, GENEVIEVE WAGNON.
GRANT PRICE, GRETA SHIMANKI, JOSEPH LANE, VALERIE [INAUDIBLE], ADIAN BURN.
THANKS FOR GOING. THANKS FOR BEING BRAVE, THAT'S BIG DEAL.
[APPLAUSE] AND AS THE ASSIGNED COMMISSIONER, I FOLLOWED THE PROCESS WENT TO SOME MEETINGS ON THIS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO COMPLIMENT CONSUELO, SOME ROADBLOCKS WERE PUT IN FRONT OF HER, AND SHE PUSHED THEM ALL DOWN GRACIOUSLY AND MADE THIS HAPPEN.
AND WE REALLY OWE THIS PROGRAM THIS YEAR TO CONSUELO'S EFFORTS.
AND ALSO THANKS TO HER HUSBAND CHUCK FOR US YAP RUNNING.
I THINK NOW WE WANT TO GET A PHOTO.
>> WE'RE ALL TOGETHER, SPANISH FIRST [INAUDIBLE] PERFECT.
[3.B. Certificate of Recognition 2023-10CR: Recognizes and joins in celebrating the opening of the Camino del Mestizaje.]
NEXT WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, IS IT ON? EVERYBODY HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?>> OKAY, GOOD. ALL RIGHT, SO NEXT WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR THE CATHEDRAL DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE, EXCUSE ME VERY MUCH I DROPPED MY PAPER.
FROM THE CATHEDRAL, WE WOULD LIKE THE VERY REVEREND JOHN TETLOW, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE TO STEP FORWARD WITH DEACON MICHAEL ELISON, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DIOCESE OF ST. AUGUSTINE WITH JON CARRES, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY LA LECHE MISSION NOMBRE DE DIOS, AS WELL AS FRANCISCO GETARD, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATA INSTITUTE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WELCOME.
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR YOU.
WHEREAS THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, AS THE FOUNDING OF THE CATHEDRAL ALLIANCE ENDORSES, AND SUPPORTS THE CAMINO DEL MESTIZA.
A PROJECT AND WHEREAS THE CAMINO DEL MESTIZA.
THE FUSION OF DIFFERENT HISTORICAL AND PILGRIMAGE ROUTES, THAT TRAVERSE THE AMERICAS CONDUCTING SANTIAGO DE CHILE AND SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA.
[00:20:05]
WHEREAS THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA ACKNOWLEDGES AND DESIGNATES THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN FLORIDA, AS THE CONNECTOR OF THE CAMINO TRAIL NETWORK IN THE AMERICAS, AND CAMINO DE SANTIAGO.WHEREAS THE KILOMETERS WALKED IN THE AMERICAS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CAMINO DEL MESTIZA.
I'M JUST GOING TO STAND RIGHT HERE AND LET YOU TELLING.
>> MESTIZAJE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HOLD THE SAME VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE AS KILOMETERS WALKED IN EUROPE ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO.
WHEREAS THE NATA INSTITUTE, CATHEDRAL SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, AND THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN FLORIDA, HAVE WORKED SINCE 2010 TO DESIGNATE ST. AUGUSTINE IN FLORIDA, AS THE OFFICIAL CONNECTOR OF THE CAMINO TRAIL NETWORK IN THE AMERICAS WITH THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO.
AND WHEREAS THE CATHEDRAL ALLIANCE IS WILLING TO COOPERATE WITHIN ITS SCOPE TO CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORICAL LEGACY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND MUTUAL APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION AMONG AMERICAN AND SPANISH CIVIL SOCIETIES.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE, AND JOINS IN CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE CAMINO DEL MESTIZA.
>> MESTIZA, SORRY. I WILL GET THAT THIS YEAR ON THE FEAST OF ST. JAMES, WITH CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA AND CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AND THE CATHEDRAL ALLIANCE AND THE NATA INSTITUTE.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, TO THE END.
WHO IS RECEIVING, ALL OF US ARE RECEIVING AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE.
>> WELL, YOU CAN STEP FORWARD TOGETHER.
>> THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE ON PRESENTATIONS IS FROM
[7.A.1. Presentation from Wayne Sims, former Public Affairs director, of a plaque given to him for the City as a thank you for the gift of the Atocha treasure ship anchor. (D. Birchim, City Manager)]
WAYNE SIMS OUR FORMER PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, AND IT IS A PLAQUE GIVEN TO HIM FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AS A THANK YOU GIFT OF THE ATOCHA TREASURE SHIP ANCHOR.THIS IS GOING A WAYS BACK, AND MR. SIMS, YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ FROM THERE.
HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER DAVID, GLAD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
TALK ABOUT COINCIDENCES, WE HAD NO IDEA THE YOUTH FROM SPAIN WERE GOING TO BE HERE TONIGHT, THAT LYNN WEEKS IS GOING TO BE HERE, BECAUSE HE ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION OR HIS INTENTION NOT TO RERUN FOR ELECTION THE SAME DAY THAT I ANNOUNCED I WAS RETIRING AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AS THE FIRST PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY.
SO WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE COINCIDENTAL.
ONE OTHER IS THE FACT THAT ALL OF THIS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALLELES AND ST. AUGUSTINE WAS SUBMITTED PRIMARILY, BECAUSE MEL FISHER FOUND AN ANCHOR OFF THE KEYS OF FLORIDA.
IT WAS THE RICHEST DISCOVERY EVER OF A TREASURE SHIP, 400 PLUS MILLION, AND WE WERE SO INVOLVED IN IT WITH THE LATE JEAN LYONS BEING FOR THE FORERUNNER ON THAT.
THAT DISCOVERY OCCURRED THIS WEEK, 48 YEARS AGO,
[00:25:02]
SO WE'VE GOT ANOTHER COINCIDENCE POPPING UP ON US IMMEDIATELY.I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAD A GREAT TRIP, WE WENT TO AVILES, SENT US THE ANCHOR OVER WHICH WAS A MASSIVE PROJECT.
I WANT TO PUT THIS UP, A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE ANCHOR LOOKS LIKE AND THERE IT IS.
IT'S 20 FEET LONG AND IT WEIGHS 2000 POUNDS, AND WHEN CITY MANAGER JOE PALOMAR SAID, "WAYNE SEND THIS TO SPAIN" I FOUND OUT THAT IT DIDN'T FIT IN A FEDEX PACKAGE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT WE FINALLY GOT IT THERE, AND IT WAS A GREAT PROJECT AND IT IS NOW RESTING IN THE PLACE OF HONOR IN THE PHILIPPE COUSTEAU MUSEUM OF ANCHORS AT SALINAS, THEY'RE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF AVILES.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT TRIP, JANE AND I WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VACATION AFTER IT WAS OVER.
WE HAD ALL OF OUR GOODS PACKED AND PUT IN A HUGE SUITCASE, AND MATT BAKER AND JEAN LYONS BROUGHT THEM BACK ON THE PLANE WITH THEM.
JANE AND I PACKED OUR TWO SMALL BAGS AND TOURED EUROPE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS ON VACATION.
THE HONORABLE MAYOR LYNN WEEKS GAVE ME A BAG, HOLD IT UP, JANE, [LAUGHTER] AND SAID, HOW ABOUT TO GETTING THIS BACK FOR ME? I PUT IT IN A BIG SUITCASE THAT CAME BACK WITH MATT AND WITH JEAN.
WE GOT BACK, I SAW THE BAG, I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT, KEPT IT IN THE SUITCASE.
JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, I RAN ACROSS IT AND CALLED JOHN AND JOHN REAGAN AND I WERE GOING TO TRY TO GET TOGETHER AND WE NEVER COULD MAKE OUR SCHEDULES MEET.
SO I WANTED TO BRING TO YOU WHAT WAS IN THAT BAG, AND WHAT IT IS IS A BEAUTIFUL RECOGNITION PLAQUE.
LET ME READ THE INSCRIPTIONS ON IT, IT'S VERY SHORT.
THEN I WANT TO PRESENT IT TO YOU, MADAM MAYOR, SO YOU CAN PUT IT WHERE YOU WANT TO IN THE CITY.
ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE 434TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE FIRST CITY OF THE UNITED STATES BY THE DISTINGUISHED DON PEDRO MENENDEZ DE AVILES, AND THE VISIT OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE DELEGATION OF FLORIDA, WHICH ORIGINS WERE THE PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS THE ART GROUP SABUKO CONFIRMS YOUR PRESENCE.
SO THIS IS RECOGNITION OF A LARGE PARTY WE TOOK OVER.
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN LYNN, I'M GUESSING 25, MAYBE 30.
WE HAD THREE CITY COMMISSIONERS, BILL LENNON, LYNN WEEKS, AND SUSAN BURKE.
WE HAD ARCHITECTS WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE WORK OF DOING THE THINGS, WE HAD MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SISTER CITIES, WE HAD A LOT OF CITIZENS WHO JUST WENT FOR THE FUN OF IT.
SO WE HAD A LARGE ENTOURAGE IN AVILES FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THIS ANCHOR BACK TO THE MUSEUM.
THE ANCHOR, OF COURSE, WAS THE RESULT OF A REQUEST FROM AVILES WHO HAD IN 1972 TO SEND US THAT MAGNIFICENT REPLICA STATUE STANDING OUT IN FRONT OF THIS BUILDING OF DON PEDRO MENENDEZ DE AVILES.
SO IT WAS A REPAY, A MARVELOUS TIME AND IT CEMENTED A GREAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES.
AND I'M DELIGHTED TO TELL YOU THAT AFTER ALL OF THIS TIME, I FOUND IT AND IT'S COMING HOME.
>> I HAVE ONE OTHER THING I'M GOING TO HAND OFF TO A CONSUELA BECAUSE SHE IS THE SISTER CITIES PERSON.
CONSUELA COME UP, LET ME GIVE IT TO YOU AND TELL YOU WHAT IT IS.
WHEN WE'RE THERE, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF, MAYOR WEEKS, COMMISSIONER BURKE, AND COMMISSIONER LENNON, DESIRED TO MAKE A TRIP TO MENORCA BECAUSE OF THE MENORCAN ANCESTRY HERE IN THIS CITY, AND SO THEY DID.
I HAD CALL THE PRESIDENT, I GUESS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF MENORCA AND ASKED IF SHE WOULD RECEIVE THEM, AND THEY GRACIOUSLY SAID THEY WOULD.
AND I RECEIVED A REPLY, VERY INTERESTING.
THE OFFICIAL REPLY IS IN HANDWRITING FROM ONE OF THE SUBORDINATES AT THE OFFICE.
BUT I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO PUT IT INTO SISTER CITIES ARCHIVES TO MAINTAIN.
[00:30:02]
WE APPRECIATE THIS LETTER AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE AN INSPIRATION FOR US TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROJECTS WITH MENORCA. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOUR HONOR.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU, WAYNE.
>> AND IF YOU EVER NEED ANOTHER MYSTERY STORY, THE PLAQUE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE MENENDEZ STATUE, I'LL TELL YOU HOW WE FOUND IT IN HOUSTON, ONE DAY.
>> THEN THANK YOU. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW MR. SIMS, HE WAS THE COMMUNICATION OFFICER FOR THE CITY, HE DID SPECIAL EVENTS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS IN YEARS PAST.
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING THAT WITH US, THAT'S VERY SPECIAL AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY.
AT THIS TIME, YOU ARE WELCOME TO EXCUSE YOURSELF AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS.
SO WE'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE IF YOU'D LIKE TO EXIT THE ROOM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, EXIT QUIETLY.
WE DO HAVE PEOPLE STANDING IN THE BACK WISHING TO COME AND SPEAK AND JOIN IN THE MEETING. THANK YOU.
WE'LL TAKE JUST A MINUTE FOR THE ROOM TO CHANGE.
THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS A SECOND READING.
I'D LIKE TO MENTION THIS BEFORE WE GO TOO DEEP INTO EVENING.
>> I WANT TO MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE WE GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT THAT ARE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE EXTENDED HOURS PERMIT TO SELL ALCOHOL AFTER MIDNIGHT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, AND I WANT TO CLEAR UP MAYBE A MISUNDERSTANDING.
THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE AT THE CITY IS WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A FIRST READING, THE FIRST READING THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON.
NORMALLY, WE'LL DO A FIRST READING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, DECIDE WHETHER WE WANT TO SEND IT ON TO A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING, THAT'S WHEN TYPICALLY WE TAKE THE PUBLIC INPUT.
HOWEVER, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WELCOME TO FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AND SPEAK DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS WE'LL BE HEARING THAT JUST SHORTLY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER THAT WITH YOU, LIKE I SAID, WE TYPICALLY DON'T TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM ON A FIRST READING, WE WILL ON THE SECOND READING.
AND I INVITE YOU TO STAY FOR THE PRESENTATION AND LISTEN TO WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED. THANK YOU.
SO, LET'S BEGIN WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
THE FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE IN THE CARD IS CHRIS FULMER AND AFTER CHRIS FULMER, I HAVE TRAVIS SHELTRA.>> GOOD EVENING, CHRIS FULMER.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER AN ICON OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO'S MISSING DOWNTOWN [OVERLAPPING].
>> CAN YOU PULL THE MICROPHONE UP, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>> CHARLIE BROWN WAS A FIXTURE, BROUGHT A SMILE TO PEOPLE'S FACE WHENEVER THEY WALKED BY.
ALWAYS KNEW HOW TO PUT HIS TIP JAR ON THE FENCE WHERE PEOPLE WALKING BY COULD DROP IT $1 OR TWO.
BESIDES BEING VERY MUSICAL AND VERY FUN, HE WAS A VERY SMART MAN AND HE WILL BE MISSED.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THERE'S CONSTRUCTION ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD IN FRONT OF PLANET SARBEZ AND WE CAN'T BE SURE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT BE PUTTING IN A CROSSWALK.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE IN THE BACK ABOUT THE ALCOHOL ORDINANCE THAT I COMMENTED ON AT FIRST READING LAST TIME YOU HAD IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE, ONCE AGAIN, THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IF YOU WERE GOING TO BRING THIS BACK TO REVISIT AFTER THE INDEPENDENT STUDY, YOU WOULD HAVE TALKED TO THE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN.
THERE ARE SOME UNHAPPY PEOPLE HERE.
ANYWAY, IT'S SUMMERTIME, IT'S HOT, STAY HYDRATED, STAY SAFE FROM THE AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS. BE KIND TO YOUR WAITSTAFF AND TIP YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] I WILL ASK YOU TO HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE.
WE DO NOT HAVE APPLAUSE IN OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS.
TRAVIS SHELTRA FOLLOWED BY SHANE SHELTRA.
[00:35:07]
[NOISE]>> HELLO. THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> MY NAME IS TRAVIS SHELTRA, 292 NORTH HIDDEN TREE, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
>> I'M CO-OWNER ALONG WITH THE REST OF MY FAMILY OF PIZZALLEY'S LLC AND PROHIBITION KITCHEN AND THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO 2021-18.
THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS THE MAJOR DRIVER IN TAX REVENUE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S ALSO BY FAR THE NUMBER ONE EMPLOYER AFFECTING OUR INDUSTRY HAS HUGE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE FEEL WE DESERVE A VOICE AND TO SAY IN A WAY WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER FOR THE VIBRANCY AND SAFETY OF OUR TOWN.
ON TOP OF THAT, WE AREN'T JUST HERE REPRESENTING OWNERS, MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF, BUT ALSO THE PUBLIC.
NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE IF THERE WASN'T A HUGE DEMAND.
IN SUMMARY, YOUR DECISION HERE IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF ST.
AUGUSTINE AND I'M HERE TO SHARE THAT THAT SAME VOICE IS WHAT WE'RE HERE REPRESENTING.
I BELIEVE SINCE WE ALL WANT THE SAME GOAL, WE CAN ACHIEVE IT OUTSIDE OF FURTHER GOVERNMENTAL INTERFERENCE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANE SHELTRA, FOLLOWED BY PHILLIP SMITH.
MR. SHELTRA, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> MY NAME IS SHANE SHELTRA, 157 COASTAL BLANCA ROAD, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA 32095.
MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, AND CITY MANAGER.
I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING OUR VOICE.
I'M JUST GOING TO RESTATE AN EMAIL REALLY QUICK THAT I AM EMAILING EVERYBODY INDIVIDUALLY.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE 21-18 NIGHTLIFE ORDINANCE.
AS OWNER OF PIZZALLEY'S LLC, WE WANT TO PARTNER TOGETHER ON THIS LEGISLATION TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND OUR BUSINESS.
WE EMPLOY 220 EMPLOYEES WITH 40 LIVING DOWNTOWN.
WE CONTRIBUTE OVER A MILLION IN TAXES ANNUALLY.
THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE PARTNER WITH RHI TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON ST. AUGUSTINE'S VIBRANCY AND SAFETY.
I WAS ABLE TO REPRESENT OUR BUSINESS ON THE TASK FORCE.
THERE ARE 71 PAGE ASSESSMENT MADE STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS ON FORMULATING A NIGHTTIME SOCIAL ALLIANCE.
RHI'S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON PAGE 1 LAYS OUT A PLAN ON HOW TO FACILITATE SAFE AND VIBRANT GROWTH IN THE SOCIAL ECONOMY.
WE STAND READY TO PARTNER TOGETHER ON THIS LEGISLATION TO DEVELOP LESS RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVES, SUCH AS CREATING A NIGHTLIFE BUSINESS POSITION AT THE CITY TO MEET REGULARLY WITH A NIGHTLIFE BUSINESS COALITION ON A REGULAR BASIS TO PROMOTE MORE OF A SELF POLICING MODEL.
A POSITION LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE MUCH LESS OF AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE BUSINESSES AND WOULD ALLOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES TO REGULATE THEMSELVES PRIOR TO GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.
AS A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNER OUR PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND GUESTS.
OUR BUSINESS HAS INSTITUTED BEST PRACTICES TO RUN A VIBRANT, SAFE ESTABLISHMENT.
WE HAVE HIRED AN OUTSIDE SECURITY COMPANY.
WE PROVIDE OUR TEAM MEMBERS WITH CONTINUAL TRAINING AND FIRST AID, ID CHECKING, AND EDUCATIONAL ALCOHOL TRAINING COURSES.
THE TRAINING WE ARE PROVIDING IS IMPORTANT AND WE TAKE PRIDE IN BEING HONORED BY THE COUNTY, BY PASSING MULTIPLE THINGS ON UNDER AGE DRINKING.
WE RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH FRLA.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING TO LEARN AND ASSIST IN NEW DEVELOPING RESOURCES TO KEEP OUR ESTABLISHMENTS SAFE.
WE HAVE STARTED TO DEVELOP A REAL-TIME SHARING APP FOR BUSINESS LEADERS TO SHARE ISSUES AND COMMUNICATE ON A REGULAR BASIS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF GUESTS AND STAFF.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO FINALIZING THIS AND SHARING THE DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT OWNERS.
WHILE THE CITY IS NOT PRESENTLY OBLIGATED TO CONDUCT A BUSINESS IMPACT STUDY UNTIL SB1718 GOES INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST, 2023.
WE WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE CITY TO CONSIDER CONDUCTING SUCH A STUDY IN REGARD TO THIS ORDINANCE, MANY BUSINESSES STAND TO EXPERIENCE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL IMPACT FROM THE PROPOSED REGULATION.
WE APPRECIATE THE CITY'S OBLIGATION AND DESIRE TO ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT OF ITS RESIDENTS.
EVERY BUSINESS OWNER THAT I'VE SPOKE WITH AND DISCUSSED AND TALKED TO, WE ALL WANT THE SAME COMMON GOAL.
WE WANT A VIBRANT, BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT WE CAN ALL CALL HOME AND KEEP IT SAFE.
ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE HOPING BY PARTNERING TOGETHER, WE CAN DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STAFF, OUR BUSINESSES, AND OUR CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[00:40:03]
NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE?>> IT'S PHILLIP SMITH, 9715 KIRCHHERR AVENUE, HASTINGS, FLORIDA 32145.
>> I KNOW THAT A LOT OF ISSUES HAVE COME UP IN REFERENCE TO A WHOLE BAR SITUATION DUE TO THE THINGS AROUND TOWN, I WAS HERE FROM THE LAST MEETING.
THEY HAD STATED THAT A LOT OF THE ISSUE WAS ABOUT TO TRASH AND THE BOTTLES AND THE CANS AND THE LIQUOR BOTTLES BEYOND FOUND AROUND TOWN.
I JUST WANTED TO STATE A FEW THINGS.
ONE OF OUR MAIN ROLES IN THE BARS IS WE DO NOT ALLOW THAT TO EVEN LEAVE OUR FACILITIES.
THE ONLY PLACE THAT ANYBODY WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO GET A BOTTLE OF LIQUOR OR BEER AND THEY WOULD WALK AROUND THE ROADS WOULD BE A GAS STATION OR A LIQUOR STORE.
A LOT OF THE BARS ARE BEING ACCUSED OF EVERYTHING GOING ON.
BUT IN REALITY, WE DON'T EVEN ALLOW THAT.
IF WE GET CAUGHT DOING IT WE COULD EVEN BE SHUT DOWN.
THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP IS A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT OR SAYING ABOUT, I WANT TO BRING MY DAUGHTER, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE YEARS AGO, MY LITTLE BROTHER, AS HE MET PEOPLE AROUND HERE, THE BIG THING WAS ALL THE KIDS WOULD GET TOGETHER.
THEY WOULD HANG OUT, THEY GO DOWN TO PIZZALLEY'S, THEY GET A LITTLE SLICE OF PIZZA, AND THEY WENT TO ST. GEORGE AND HAVE THE BEST TIME IN THEIR LIVES.
THERE'S MANY TIMES I GOT TO GO WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER AND WATCHED THE SMILES ON THESE KIDS FACE.
MY DAUGHTER IS NOW 14 AND SHE IS SCARED OF ST. GEORGE.
IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE ADULT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THAT IS BECAUSE ACTUALLY SHE DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND THE KIDS THAT ARE NOW THERE WITH ALL THE POLAR POP CUPS.
THEY'RE GETTING PEOPLE TO GO OVER TO THE LIQUOR STORES AND THE GAS STATIONS.
MY DAUGHTER DON'T LIKE THE YOUTH AND THE HOMELESS THAT'S HANGING AROUND THERE FIGHTING PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BARS THAT I KNOW EVERYBODY JUST AUTOMATICALLY THINKS IT IS.
BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY GO OUT AFTER 9:00 PM AROUND TOWN, 90% OF YOUR RIFFRAFF PULL-UP IT TO SNOW CO, PULL UP AT THE LIQUOR STORE.
YOU'LL SEE HUNDREDS OF IT AND IT'S NOT THE BAR PEOPLE.
THEY'RE GOING IN, THEY'RE GRABBING BEERS OR WALK IN THE ROADS WITH THEM, THEY'RE THROWING THEM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADS. YOUR TOURISM.
I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO SEE ALL THE BARS BE PUNISHED FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.
WE CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE WALKING DOWN THE ROAD HOPING THAT SOMEBODY DON'T THROW A BEER BOTTLE NEAR OUR FACILITY AND WE GET BLAMED FOR IT.
YOU COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, YOU THROW OUT YOUR TWIST THE T, YOU'RE TRYING TO HIDE IT.
YOU WERE DRINKING AND DRIVING DOWN A ROAD IN FRONT OF ONE OF OUR FACILITIES AND WE'RE TO BLAME, IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
WHAT IF THAT HAPPENED AT FOUR O'CLOCK, WE'RE ALREADY CLOSED.
YOU SHOWED UP AT SEVEN, EIGHT O'CLOCK AND SEE IT ALL OVER THE GROUND BEFORE WE EVEN OPEN.
WE CAN'T HAVE SOMEBODY SITTING THERE 24 HOURS A DAY POLICING GROUNDS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAD TO SAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS WARREN MERRILL, FOLLOWED BY JASON, NO NAME BAR.
>> HI, MY NAME IS WARREN MARROW, 321 PABLO POINT DR. JACKSONVILLE ON A NO-NAME BAR AND OWNER 60 CASTILLO DRIVE THE ACTUAL PROPERTY.
IT'S FUNNY, IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS SINCE I WAS HERE LAST, WHEN I WAS COMING INTO THE CITY COMMISSION TO ASK FOR USE BY EXCEPTION TO OPERATE AS A BONAFIDE BAR AT 60 CASTILLO.
I BELIEVE IT WAS 40 EXPAND STREET ABOUT THIS MONTH.
I THINK DAVE WASN'T ABOUT THIS TIME.
THEN IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER I GOT DENIED BECAUSE THE PUBLIC SHOWED UP FOR THAT, THEY DIDN'T WANT IT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
ANYWAYS, WE GOT THE ZONING EXCEPTION, THE USE BY EXCEPTION, TORE THE BUILDING DOWN, SPENT ALL MY SAVINGS, ALL MY CORPORATE MONEY TO BUILD THAT BUILDING DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
TIMES ARE BAD BACK THEN FOR ST. AUGUSTINE.
ST. GEORGE STREET, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY HALF THE BUSINESSES ARE CLOSED, BED AND BREAKFAST, A LOT OF THEM HAVE CLOSED. OTHERS WERE STRUGGLING.
IT WAS BAD TIMES FOR ST. AUGUSTINE BACK IN 2008 - 2009.
BILL LEARY, DON CRICHLOW, AND A COUPLE OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO STIMULATE THE BUSINESS ECONOMY IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY REALIZED, AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE TURNING ME DOWN FOR THE 48 SPANISH STREET, WAS THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE BUSINESS SUCH AS WHAT I WAS SEEKING TO ACCOMPLISH IN ORDER TO CREATE A NIGHTLIFE.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPLAINTS THEY HAD BACK THEN FROM THE ADULT TOURIST WHO CAME HERE AND STAYED AND WOULD GO TO THE RESTAURANTS, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING DUE AT MIDNIGHT.
YOU WOULD GO DOWN ST. GEORGE STREET AT SUNSET, IT'D BE A GHOST TOWN.
YOU COULD LOOK AT SOMEBODY ALL THE WAY DOWN AT, WHAT'S IT CALLED? KING STREET.
YOU CAN SEE HIM WALKING WITH NO HINDRANCE.
ALL I COULD SEE HIM WALKING. THERE WAS JUST LIKE A GHOST TOWN.
ALSO REALIZED THEY NEEDED WAS THE MORE PARKING.
[00:45:02]
THERE WAS NO PARKING.THE FORECLOSE THE PARKING LOT AT 5:30, THERE WAS NO PARKING GARAGE.
THERE WAS NO PARKING FOR THE NORTH PART OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE ENTRYWAY INTO CASTILLO DRIVE WAS ESSENTIALLY BLIGHTED.
YOU HAD THE CHRISTMAS TREE STORE RUN DOWN.
THAT BUILDING I BOUGHT WAS JUST DILAPIDATED, FALLING DOWN WITH A ROOF FALLING.
IT WAS A BLIGHTED AREAS AND EMBARRASSMENT TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A STAKEHOLDER.
I SPENT ALL MY MONEY, I WAS ONE OF THE LABOR CREWS THAT BUILT THE BUILDING AND I AM A STAKEHOLDER YET I DON'T BELIEVE THE CITY COMMISSION HERE RECOGNIZES ME AS A STAKEHOLDER BECAUSE I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING.
BACK WITH THE RHI IN THAT MEETING BACK THERE, WE WERE NEVER IDENTIFIED.
THERE'S ONLY FOUR NIGHTCLUBS AND BARS, LAWFUL NIGHTCLUB OF BARS IN HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND NONE OF US WERE NOTIFIED THAT ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS WERE OCCURRING BACK WITH WHEN THEY'RE SETTING UP THE RHI AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
WE WERE EXCLUDED FROM ALL THE CONVERSATIONS AND WE'RE THE ONES MOST AFFECTED.
SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT OF OUR BUSINESS OCCURS FROM 10 O'CLOCK TO 2 O'CLOCK WITH 50% AFTER MIDNIGHT.
ANY CHANGES YOU MAKE WILL DRASTICALLY IMPAIR AND AFFECT THE ECONOMY BECAUSE WE ALL DEPEND ON EACH OTHER.
YOU HAVE THE EARLY, LATE AND LATE NIGHT.
MY TIME'S UP, THERE WAS MORE I'D LIKE TO SAY, BUT I CAN'T.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON, NO-NAME BAR AND FOLLOWED BY LAUREN GIBER.
>> OUR THINKING IS THAT I CAN USE IT.
OKAY. ANYWAYS. WELL, WE'RE HERE AGAIN, CIRCLES.
>> JASON, NO-NAME BAR 16 SOUTH CASTILLO DRIVE, DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE.
FIRST OF ALL, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
>> EXCUSE ME, SIR. PLEASE ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, NOT THE AUDIENCE.
>> I'M THANKING THE AUDIENCE FOR BEING HERE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW A LOT OF YOU GUYS ARE HERE BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING]. I CHOOSE.
>> SIR, AGAIN AGAIN, I ASK YOU, DO NOT ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE PLEASE, YOU'RE HERE TO ADDRESS US. THANK YOU.
A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF I DIDN'T NOTIFY THEM.
I WAS NOTIFIED BY A COCKTAIL WAITRESS AT TRADE WINDS.
YOU HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER, YOU'VE CALLED ME.
THE CITY ORDINANCE MANAGER BARRY SCOTT HAS MY PHONE NUMBER.
HE'S CALLED ME. WHEN THIS WHOLE THING STARTED.
WHEN YOU GUYS HEARD THAT COMPANY FOR $80,000 BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS GO TO COME DO AN ASSESSMENT OF OUR NIGHTLIFE, YOU PUT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ON THE BOARD TO REPRESENT THE DOWNTOWN.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT REPRESENTED ANYONE THAT WAS OPEN UNTIL 02:00 AM.
BUNCH OF PEOPLE HAD TO PUT UP A STINK JUST TO PUT ME ON IT OR ANYONE ELSE ON IT JUST TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT REPRESENTS ANYONE THAT IS OPEN FROM 10:00 TO 2:00 AM.
NOW ALL THIS 12:00 TO 02:00 AM EXTENDED PERMIT, ALL THAT IS, IS A DOG COLLAR ON THE BARS THAT YOU GUYS DON'T LIKE TO WHERE YOU CAN TAKE ANY MOMENT AND PULL THE STRINGS ON THEM AND SHUT THEM DOWN.
JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE A BUSY BAR OUT ON A STREET PAST 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S UNDER AGE DRINKING, DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE DOING ANYTHING WRONG? IT MEANS WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
WE'RE PROVIDING GOOD DRINKS, GOOD MUSIC, GOOD SERVICE, AND A TOWERED PEOPLE ARE COMING.
NOT TO JUST SEE THE FORTE, BUT TO ENJOY WEDDING WITH THEIR FRIENDS.
THE AVERAGE WEDDING IS LATE 20S, EARLY 30S, AND IF YOU PASS THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO KILL THE WEDDING BUSINESS.
YOU CAN KILL A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER JOBS AND JUST BAR AND MUSICIANS AND SERVERS.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR LETTING US ALL COME HERE AND TALK, BUT BEING A COMMISSIONER, IS NOT JUST DAYTIME, IT'S NIGHT-TIME.
IT'S 24 HOURS UNTIL YOU'RE RE-ELECTED OR NOT ELECTED AGAIN. THANK YOU.
>> LAUREN GIBER. LAUREN, I HAD TWO CARDS FOR YOU AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM ARE ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING.
SO YOU HAVE WEST CITY CRA AND THE ALCOHOL ORDINANCE, WHICHEVER YOU CHOOSE.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL HAVE ENOUGH TIME.
>> LAUREN GIBER, LINCOLN BILL.
I READ THE ORDINANCE FOR THE BARS AND THE RESTAURANTS CAN SERVE ALCOHOL UNTIL 2:00 PM.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR EXCEPTIONS.
I WORRY IT WILL BE A FREE FOR ALL.
THERE ARE SO MANY EXCEPTIONS DEPENDING ON THE DISTRICT.
WHY DO THEY HAVE TO STAY OPEN SO LATE? WHY DO THEY HAVE TO STAY OPEN SO LATE EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK? WHO IS THIS FOR OR IS IT FOR THE MONEY? FAMILIES WITH KIDS DON'T GO OUT DRINKING.
DO WE WANT WHOLESOME, OR DO WE WANT TO ENHANCE THE REPUTATION THAT ST. AUGUSTINE IS PARTY TOWN USA? THE OTHER ISSUE IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE POWER TO KEEP THE CITY SAFE FROM VANDALISM, VEHICLE COLLISIONS, SHOOTINGS, AND THE REST OF THE NONSENSE, LIKE A DRUNK PUKING OR PEEING IN A ROSEBUSH THAT GOES ON LATE AT NIGHT OR THAT GOES ON DURING THE DAY.
FOUR MORE OFFICERS IS NOT ENOUGH CONSIDERING THEIR BARS ON THE ISLAND DOWNTOWN WEST ST. AUGUSTINE, AND ON US 1.
PLACES THAT ALLOW DRINKING THAT LATE SHOULD HAVE BOUNCERS AS WELL AS CCTV.
[00:50:03]
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO STOP THEIR CUSTOMERS FROM DRIVING AND CALL FOR HELP FROM THE SAPD, OR MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH BREATHALYZER'S ESTABLISHED IN I'S NEED TO BE IN CONTROL OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.THEY SHOULD ALSO HAVE WORKING CCTV AT FRONT DOORS AND ALL EXITS WITH CAMERAS FACING THE DOOR AS WELL AS THE STREETS.
I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THE SUBJECT WHEN THE SAILING SCHOOL WANTED TO HAVE THE DONATED HOUSE FOR HAVING DRINKS.
IF THEY WERE CAUGHT ONCE THEY GET A FINE, IF THEY WERE CAUGHT A SECOND TIME WITH ALCOHOL ON-PREMISES, THEY GET CLOSED DOWN.
I WONDER IF ANY OFFICIAL HAS EVER CHECKED UP ON THEM.
I THINK IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT BARS AND RESTAURANTS TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
PATRONS SHOULD BE CARDED AND STAMPED AT THE DOOR.
THIS WAY, SAY THE PATRON GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THEIR HANDS OR THE STAMPS OF ALL THE PLACES WHERE THEY WERE DRINKING, THEN THE POLICE CAN TRACE WHERE THEY WERE AND PULL THE CCTV AT EACH ESTABLISHMENT, THEN THEY WILL KNOW WHERE THE PATRON HAD THEIR LAST DRINK AND THAT PUT THEM OVER THE LIMIT AND LET THE PATRON WALK OUT THE DOOR WITH KEYS IN HAND TO DRIVE DRUNK.
THERE IS A REASON WHY WE ARE CALLED FLORIDA.
MY FRIEND JASON MULLINS WAS SHOT 10 TIMES AT THE BRITISH PUB ON THE ISLAND.
I SERIOUSLY WONDER WHAT GOES ON HERE AFTER DARK.
IN NEW YORK CITY, I NEVER FELT THREATENED TO WALK DOWN THE STREET LATE AT NIGHT OR EARLY MORNING.
STREETS OF NEW YORK ARE WELL-LIT, THEY HAVE CCTV AND THERE'S PLENTY OF TAXIS.
FOR SUCH A SMALL TOWN, WE HAVE SO MANY BIG CITY ISSUES.
BUT NOT THE WILLPOWER TO SAY NO TO THE DEMANDS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CITY RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AS FAR AS THE WEST CCR, WEST ST. AUGUSTINE'S CRA IS CONCERNED.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY NEED IT UNLESS IT'S FOR THE MONEY TO BUILD THE GARAGE OVER AT BROWNIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON GUSTAVSON, FOLLOWED BY DWIGHT MILLER.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JASON GUSTAVSON, KINGS ROAD, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE STRESS OF WORKING DOWNTOWN FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS.
I'VE WITNESSED RAPID GROWTH, INCREASED TOURISM, AND IMPOSSIBLE PARKING SITUATIONS.
I'VE ALSO WITNESSED A SHIFT IN OUR DOWNTOWN CULTURE, MOSTLY GOOD.
IN RECENT YEARS WHEN I STARTED MY DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE CAREER WORKING FOR PIZZALLEY'S LLC, IT WAS MUCH SLEEPIER AND SLOWER FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE.
NOW, BUSINESS CAN'T STOP BOOMING.
ST. AUGUSTINE WENT FROM A LITTLE COASTAL VILLAGE TOWN TO A DESTINATION HOTSPOT.
WE CAN'T STOP WINNING ACCOLADES.
I BELIEVE THE CITY HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A DESTINATION CITY TOWN.
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO THERE WAS NO ICE PLANT, COLLAGE, FLORIDIAN, MOJO'S, CATCH 27, RIVER & FORT, MEEHAN'S, ST. AUGUSTINE FISH CAMP, BARLEY REPUBLIC, PROHIBITION KITCHEN, ROOSEVELT ROOM, BOAT DRINKS, CASA REINA, ST. GEORGE RESTAURANT, ETC.
THESE ARE THE TYPES OF RESTAURANTS INCREASE THE QUALITY OF YOUR TOURIST.
HIGHER-QUALITY IN TURN LEADS TO HIGHER PRICES, WHICH LEADS TO A MORE EDUCATED AND SAVVY CONSUMER, TOURISTS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE GOAL SHOULD BE.
THE POINT OF THE TOWN IS TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE OF HOW WE MARKETED AND ADVERTISED OURSELVES IN THE RECENT PAST.
IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A GREAT TREND FOR THE VIBRANCY AND CULTURE OF OUR CITY.
TO MAKE A QUICK JUMP TO LATE-NIGHT ACTIVITIES DOWNTOWN.
THE REASON FOR ALL THE LATE NIGHT RESTAURANTS, BARS, AND VENUES IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE GUEST WANTS AND DEMANDS.
ALSO A COLLEGE TOWN FLAGLER IS MUCH BUSIER NOW THAN IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
THIS IS NOT THE ST. AUGUSTINE I GREW UP IN.
WELL, IT MAKES ME SAD TO SEE THE TOWN GROW SO MUCH SO AS THE WAY OF THE WORLD.
IF YOU ARE NOT GROWING AS A PERSON OR A COMMUNITY, THEN YOU BECOME STAGNANT AND STUCK IN THE PAST AND POTENTIAL TO FALL BEHIND INCREASES EXPONENTIALLY.
IN SHORT, DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE BUSINESS DISTRICT HAS PROVIDED A LIVELIHOOD FOR MANY LIFELONG RESIDENTS, SUCH AS MYSELF.
TO THINK THAT CHANGING THE PERMANENT PROCESS AND HOW BUSINESSES SERVE ALCOHOL AFTER MIDNIGHT WILL CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR TALENT IS SHORTSIGHTED.
WHAT ABOUT HOMELESS POPULATION, LATE-NIGHT POLICE PRESENCE, MORE BENCHES, BETTER LIGHTING, MORE PARKING, MORE RIDESHARE OPTIONS, ETC.
WHY NOT HIRE A BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE OR TWO TO DIRECTLY REPRESENT THE RESTAURANTS AND DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE BETWEEN THE CITY AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND MANAGERS? I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WE PROUDLY EMPLOY OVER 220 PEOPLE.
WE SUPPORT LOCAL LIVE MUSIC, WE USE LOCAL FARMS, WE HOST CHARITY EVENTS, WE HAVE WON NUMEROUS AWARDS FROM THE BEST IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND FOLIO JACKS.
WE HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS OF OUR OWN DOLLARS TO CREATE A VIBRANT AND FOOD FORWARD RESTAURANT.
WE EMPLOY AN OUTSIDE SECURITY COMPANY EVERY SINGLE NIGHT TO KEEP OUR GUESTS SAFE.
WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO BE GREAT STEWARDS OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN ST. AUGUSTINE IN GENERAL.
REMEMBER, IT TAKES A WHOLE VILLAGE SO DON'T LEAVE US OUT OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION SIR, BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
I DIDN'T CATCH WHAT BUSINESS YOU SAID.
>> PIZZALLEY'S, OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> DWIGHT MILLER FOLLOWED BY NANCY EISELE.
[00:55:06]
I CAN'T READ THAT. I'M SORRY.MR. MILLER, YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
>> HELLO EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS DWIGHT MILLER.
I LIVE AT 1107 MAKARIOS DRIVE, ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.
I'M A MEMBER OF CARE AND A BOARD MEMBER OF THE NEHEMIAH PROJECT OF WEST AUGUSTINE.
I WANT TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRAISE AND THANK YOU CITY COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER, STAFF FOR TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ESTABLISH A WEST CITY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
WAS JUST THE LATEST MANIFESTATION, IN MY OPINION, OF YOUR INTEREST AND CONCERN FOR THIS WONDERFUL CITY IN THE NEEDS OF ALL ITS RESIDENTS.
YOU'RE CONSISTENT TRACK RECORD, ACTING TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE HISTORICAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERY RESIDENT WHO REMAINS UNDER SERVED AS A TESTIMONY TO YOUR HEART ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE, YOU MAKE THEM FEEL IMPORTANT.
I REMEMBER THIS EXCITEMENT WE FELT WHEN YOU FIRST EXTENDED THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ALONG WEST KING.
WHEN I SHARED THIS NEWS WITH A BAYVIEW PAVILION AND FORMER WEST AUGUSTINE RESIDENT, I WILL NEVER FORGET A RESPONSE.
"YOU MEAN THEY ARE BRINGING THEM TO US?" WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING A JOYOUS LIGHT IN THE PEOPLE IN WEST AUGUSTINE.
MAYBE SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT IF THEY'D BEEN ENGAGED OVER THERE, THEY'LL KNOW WHEN THEY HEAR THE REPORT LATER ON WHICH THEY'VE LOOKED AT.
THEY'LL SEE THE EVIDENCE, ALL THE NEEDS THAT THESE FOLKS HAVE AND THEY WON'T FEEL FORGOTTEN ANYMORE.
QUITE FRANKLY, ALL OF YOUR WORK ENCOURAGED US ADVOCATES LIKE ME AND SO MANY OTHERS TO PERSEVERE.
THIS REALLY HELPS US BECAUSE YOU ARE SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE TEND TO RUN INTO IN OUR EXPERIENCE AMONG THOSE WHO GOVERN OUTSIDE THE CITY AND OUTSIDE OUR STATE.
IN CLOSING, I APPLAUD YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR AWARENESS, YOUR COURAGE, AND YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS, WHO YOU LOVE AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE YOUR VERY OWN SELF.
I PRAY THAT YOUR ACTIONS MAY PROVIDE A CATALYST FOR CHANGE ELSEWHERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NANCY EISELE AND I'M SURE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THE PRONUNCIATION OF THAT WHEN YOU GET FORWARD.
>> MY ADDRESS IS 253 CRICKET COURT, ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOSTING US.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE LAND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT FOR A HOMELESS DAY CENTER.
I AM CURRENTLY THE CHAIRPERSON FOR THE ST. JOHN'S HUD CONTINUUM OF CARE CALLED THE COC.
THE COC IS A VOLUNTARY COMMITTEE THAT WORKS TO END HOMELESSNESS AND DEVELOPS THE COUNTY'S HOMELESS EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM.
WE TAKE THE HUD DOLLARS AND FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT THEM IN, HOW TO PRIORITIZE PROGRAMMING.
SINCE 2015, MOST CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE BEEN WORKING TO DEVELOP HOMELESS DAY CENTERS AS A LOW BARRIER MECHANISM TO CONNECT WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES HOMELESS POPULATION.
OUR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, WHO ARE DEFINED AS THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS OR REPEATEDLY WHILE STRUGGLING WITH A DISABLING CONDITION, SUCH AS SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, ARE PRONE TO NOT SEEK SERVICES.
THESE ARE THE HARDEST TO SERVE FOLKS.
OUTREACHES, ONE STRATEGY THAT THIS COUNTY AND THIS CITY IMPLEMENTS TO REACH THEM.
DAY CENTERS HAVE PROVEN TO BE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY TO GAIN TRUST AND ALLOW FOR RELATIONSHIPS TO DEVELOP WITH THIS CLIENTELE.
IN 2022, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS NATIONALLY.
NEARLY 30% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ARE DISPLAYING CHRONIC PATTERNS OF BEING HOMELESS.
ENGAGING THEM IS IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY AND
[01:00:03]
HEALTH REASONS AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.A DAY SUPPORT PROGRAM WOULD BE A BENEFICIAL TOOL TO OUR PRESENT HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK AT ANY POINT IN TIME YOU CAN SQUEEZE ME IN TO DO A PROPER PRESENTATION ON HOMELESSNESS, HOW COC'S WORK IN COMMUNITIES.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A 33.5% INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS IN THIS COUNTY AND THAT'S FROM 2022-2023.
WE WENT FROM 349-466 COUNTED AT THE POINT IN TIME, WHICH IS THE ANNUAL ACCOUNT THAT WE DO FOR HUD'S FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHRISTOPHER HOLLAND, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL BRENNAN.
>> WELCOME. NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE?
>> CHRISTOPHER HOLLAND, 104 DRAKE ROAD, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
I'M THE OWNER-OPERATOR OF SOUTH-A-PHILLY STEAKS AND HOAGIES.
OUR PURPOSE, ALTHOUGH WE DO SELL ALCOHOL AFTER MIDNIGHT, IS FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF ST. AUGUSTINE AT THOSE HOURS.
WE REALLY TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE, MAKE SURE THEY'RE OKAY AND WE'RE FEEDING THEM SO THEY'RE ABLE TO PERFORM BETTER, SHALL WE SAY, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, EXCUSE ME.
[LAUGHTER] WE DO SERVE A GREAT PART IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TO LOOK UP OUR RECORDS FOR POLICE ACTIVITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S VERY RARE THAT WE HAVE ANY ISSUES AT ALL.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR FOR SOME OF THE FULL SERVICE LIQUOR BARS TO POTENTIALLY TAKE MORE OF A LOOK INTO THAT.
BUT I DON'T SEE IT AS AN ISSUE, BUT ME PERSONALLY, NOT BEING A FULL-SERVICE LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENT, DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD BE GROUPED INTO THIS SITUATION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DANIEL BRENNAN, FOLLOWED BY DAVID WERNICKE.
>> DANIEL BRENNAN, 88 GUERRA STREET, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
I ALSO WORK AT SOUTH-A-PHILLY STEAKS AND HOAGIES.
I HAVE WORKED ALL OVER THIS CITY IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY FOR ALMOST 16 YEARS.
I WORKED AT THE PRESERVED RESTAURANT, I WORKED AT THE FLORIDIAN AND I HAVE ASPIRATIONS TO ONE DAY OWN MY OWN PLACE.
I FEEL LIKE THIS BILL THOUGH, IS A HUGE DETRIMENT TO MY ASPIRATIONS TO START A NEW BUSINESS IN ANY WAY.
NOT BEING ABLE TO SERVE AFTER MIDNIGHT AND BEING ON THE HOOK FOR WHAT IS JUST A GIANT CUT TO A BUSINESS PLAN THAT I ALREADY HAVE IN MIND.
BUT IT WOULD BE A DETRIMENT TO NOT ONLY ME, BUT ALSO OTHER FUTURE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD WANT TO COME INTO TOWN.
AS THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE SAID, THE LATE NIGHT CROWD IS A GOOD CROWD.
AS MY BOSS RIGHT BEFORE US SAID, WE SERVE FOOD UNTIL 2:30.
BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED THAT LATE AND TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO IN OPENING A FUTURE BUSINESS AND I FEEL LIKE OTHER PEOPLE WOULD BE OPEN TO OPEN A FUTURE BUSINESS.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT, BUT I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE FAIR TO BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY IN AND OF ITSELF TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. BRENNAN, I INVITE YOU TO STAY AND HEAR THE DISCUSSION CONCERNING WHAT THE ACTUAL NATURE OF THE ORDINANCE IS.
IT IS NOT PROHIBIT YOU TO STAY OPEN AND TO STAY, YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO BE CLOSING AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK OR TWELVE O'CLOCK.
THAT IS NOT WHAT THE ORDINANCE IS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK UP TO THE MICROPHONE IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND.
>> I DO. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S THE NATURE OF WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS IT WOULD BE PROHIBITIVE FOR A BUSINESS.
[01:05:06]
[OVERLAPPING] LIKE I SAID, I INVITE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE DISCUSSION TO SEE THE ORDINANCE OF THAT.
>> I'LL BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ABSOLUTELY. DAVID WERNICKE, FOLLOWED BY CHIP RICHARD.
MR. WERNICKE, YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE?
>> MY NAME IS DAVID WERNICKE, 10 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, ST. AUGUSTINE.
I OWNER OPERATOR OF SHANGHAI NOBBY'S ON THE AVENUE IN THE BOULEVARD, ANASTASIA.
WE'VE BEEN THERE SINCE 1985, SO A GOOD 37 PLUS YEARS.
WE REBUILT THE BUILDING IN 1949, OPENED IN 1950.
IT'S BEEN A RESTAURANT, BAR, AND NIGHTCLUB, ZONED AND OPERATED SINCE 1950.
I'VE JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS CITY ORDINANCE.
SOMEONE GOT ON FACEBOOK AND I WAS MADE AWARE OF IT YESTERDAY.
I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, BUT ARE WE BEING PUNISHED FOR SOMETHING? DO WE HAVE TO PAY EXTRA MONEY TO OPERATE? I'M NOT SURE. MADAM MAYOR, NOT SURE.
>> I WOULD INVITE YOU TO STAY FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HEARING THIS AT THE SAME TIME MIGHT HELP EVERYONE IN THE ROOM LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE ORDINANCE WE PROPOSED.
THIS IS A FIRST READING I THINK I EXPLAINED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
>> BUT YES, PLEASE STAY AND HEAR THE PRESENTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THE COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR, THANK YOU.
>> WELCOME. THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
>> CHIP RICHARD, FOLLOWED BY TARA KENDLER.
>> HOW YOU FOLKS DOING? CHIP RICHARD, 86 JARAMA CIRCLE, EXECUTIVE CHEF AT CAP'S ON THE WATER.
WE ALL KNOW THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN ST. AUGUSTINE, WE'VE SEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED INFLUX OF TOURISM, NEW RESIDENTS, AND NEW SMALL BUSINESSES.
WHY SHOULD PEOPLE COME HERE? IT'S A GREAT TOWN FULL OF CREATIVE, DIVERSE, AND INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE.
IT'S HISTORY, CHARM, AND BEAUTY ARE JUST SOME OF THE MANY THINGS THIS TOWN GIVES TO ALL OF US.
THE CULTURE, THE FOOD, AND THE ENTERTAINMENT, IS WHAT US IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY GIVE AND RETURN.
A VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS TOWN; THUS, NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, WHICH IF YOU PASS THIS ORDINANCE, IT WILL BE NIGHTS OF NO NIGHTLIFE.
I UNDERSTAND BETTER THAN MOST WHAT THE ISSUES ARE IN THIS ORDINANCE.
I READ IT IN DEPTH THIS MORNING, BUT CAN WE AT LEAST TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME OTHER OPTIONS BEFORE CHANGING THE ENTIRE FORMULA? AS IF BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THIS TOWN ISN'T ENOUGH OF AN UPHILL BATTLE WHERE YOU ESSENTIALLY NEED THE APPROVAL OF THE VATICAN TO REPLACE A DOOR OR PAINT YOUR SHUTTERS.
WHILST OTHER SEEMINGLY IMPORTANT ISSUES SUCH AS THE HOMELESS POPULATION, FLOODING, AND DECLINING LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST KING STREET WHOM CITY OFFICIALS AVOID LIKE PLAGUE VICTIMS FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.
I STAND HERE AND PLEAD WITH YOU.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON THIS AND FIND A BETTER OPTION.
A BETTER OPTION THAN CHOPPING THE LITTLE BIT OF NIGHTLIFE THAT WE DO HAVE OFF AT THE ANKLES.
WE ALL WANT OUR FAMILIES TO ENJOY THIS TIME FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. TARA KENDLER, FOLLOWED BY COLTON MCCUTCHEON.
I LIVE ON TWINE STREET SINCE 2019 AND I ACTUALLY OWN A DUPLEX ON LIBERIA AS WELL, AND MY TENANTS ARE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO COME OUT TODAY AND JUST IN PART MY THOUGHTS IN TERMS OF ANY CLAMPING DOWN ON THE NIGHTLIFE.
I QUITE ENJOY GOING OUT WITH MY NEIGHBORS, THEY WERE MY NEIGHBORS SINCE WITH ME TODAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO OUT AND HAVE SOME DRINKS AND LISTEN TO SOME LIVE MUSIC, AND I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SUCH A VIBRANT COMMUNITY HERE FULL OF ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS.
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GROWING AND I DON'T KNOW, THIS FEELS LIKE A STEP BACK, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? TO THE GROWTH THAT DOES BECAUSE, I WAS IN ATLANTA FOR 13 YEARS AND IT'S AWESOME BIG CITY.
I WAS VERY RELUCTANT TO MOVE DOWN HERE IN 2012 BECAUSE THE NIGHTLIFE, HONESTLY.
IT'S A GOOD TIME, I FEEL LIKE A REALLY GOOD VIBE HERE.
WE'VE ALL PROBABLY BEEN SOMEPLACE WHERE IT'S TOO MUCH, I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE CASE.
I GO TO A LOT OF THESE RESTAURANTS AND BARS WITH MY FRIENDS.
[01:10:03]
I'M 43 YEARS OLD AND THEY CARD ME EVERY TIME I SHOW UP.THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE AND DILIGENT.
I'VE BEEN TO NO NAME BAR PLENTY OF TIMES WHERE JUST LAST WEEKEND SOMEONE WAS ASKED TO PUT HIS SHIRT ON.
IT'S LIKE 105 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIBLE ABOUT KEEPING A NICE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S NOT JUST A FREE FOR ALL.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AT ALL.
I'M ALSO A REALTOR, SO I HAVE HOMES EVEN UNDER CONTRACT NOW IN LINCOLNVILLE WHERE I LIVE.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A RESPONSIBLE PERSON AND JUST AS A CITIZEN, I WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER AND EVEN ON A BROADER SCALE, JUST THE WAY THAT FLORIDA HAS SHOWN UP AS A STATE IN TERMS OF HOW WE APPROACH OUR PHILOSOPHY, AND HOW WE APPROACH BUSINESS.
IT BEING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
WE'RE ALL ADULTS, IF YOU'RE 21 YEARS OLD, YOU'RE DRINKING AND YOU GO OUT AND DO SOME THINGS, THAT'S ON YOU.
I FEEL LIKE IN FLORIDA WE REALLY ARE THAT VOICE OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, WE ALL HAVE TO RISE THAT OCCASION.
THE LAST THING WE WANT DO IS TO CLAMP DOWN ON BUSINESSES AND MAKE IT LESS ATTRACTIVE OR LESS ADVANTAGEOUS TO OPEN BUSINESSES HERE, BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED ABOUT MORE BUSINESSES AND MORE NIGHTLIFE COMING HERE.
I KNEW THEY DO A LOT OF ACTIVISM IN LINCOLNVILLE TRYING TO TAMP DOWN AND SUPPRESS, AND TO ME I'M LIKE, I NEVER COME OUT AND SAY ANYTHING BUT I DON'T KNOW.
I FEEL LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THINGS GROW AS LONG AS THEY'RE GROWING IN A POSITIVE WAY.
I FEEL LIKE THAT THIS CITY HAS A VERY POSITIVE VIBE.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE RESPONSIBLY HANDLING WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE ANY STEPS BACK IN TERMS OF ARTS, MUSIC.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE MUSICIANS, IF YOU'RE CHANGING HOW WITH THE NOISE ORDINANCES, FOR EXAMPLE, ON NIGHTS OTHER THAN FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS OR THINGS TO THAT EFFECT AND EVEN THE TIMEFRAMES THAT'S CUTTING DOWN THE MUSICIANS PAY.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND OTHER PLACES TO GO TO PLAY MUSIC.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO JACKS BEACH.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND IT'LL JUST HAVE NOTHING.
COLTON MCCUTCHEON IS NEXT, FOLLOWED BY CAITLIN HOLLAND.
>> HI, MY NAME IS COLTON MCCUTCHEON.
I GREW UP IN DAVIS SHORES [OVERLAPPING]
>> 10 MENENDEZ ROAD, DAVIS SHORES.
I'VE KNOWN YOU MADAM MAYOR ALMOST MY WHOLE LIFE I WAS THE RING BEARER FOR MAYOR WIGS WHENEVER I WAS A KID.
MY MOM WAS WORKING AS A BARTENDER RAISING ME.
I THINK THAT I LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS A LOT OF AT THE TIME NOW AS WELL.
I SEE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE [INAUDIBLE].
WE BOUGHT UP BRIDGE THE GAP ON WELLNESS FEST THIS WEEKEND CALLED THE BRIDGE ALLIANCE FEST, WHERE WE'RE TAKING 15 BANDS FROM NEW ORLEANS HERE.
ALL THESE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE OBVIOUSLY AREN'T A PART OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE MOST OF THEM DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL YESTERDAY.
I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY RESTRICTING THE CORE BACKBONE OF THIS CITY.
I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE HERE ARE CREDIBLE AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE KIDS NOW DRIVING ALL THE WAY TO JACKSONVILLE OR WHEREVER.
NOW YOUR GOING TO HAVE TO GET HOME DRUNK.
I THINK WE COULD BE UP UNTIL 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
THAT'S SHOULD BE WHAT IT REALLY IS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND WITH A DRINK IN YOUR HAND.
WE DO WASTE MANAGEMENT, BEAUTIFIED THE CITY WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND YOU'RE ALSO CREATING MORE JOBS.
BUT MY DAD HELPED START THE NICE LIGHTS.
WE HAVE THE WHOLE WORLD LOOKING AT US.
WELL, WHAT DO WE WANT TO BE? WHAT IMAGE DO WE WANT TO BE? I BELIEVE I SEE ALL THESE BUILDINGS BEING BUILT, ALL THESE NEW HOTELS, BUT WHERE YOU GOING TO PUT ALL THE PEOPLE AT NIGHT TIME? IT'S ALL JUST GENERIC LOOKING, WHAT CULTURE DO WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY NOW? I THINK THAT, THAT IS THE BACKBONE OF THIS CITY.
I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS MORE ON HELPING THE BARS AND BUSINESSES THAT ARE BRINGING MUSIC BECAUSE IT IS A MENTAL WELLNESS.
AFTER THIS PANDEMIC, WE'RE ALL SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER.
THE TRUTH IS THAT WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT THE BACKBONE OF OUR WHOLE ESSENCE AS HUMAN BEINGS ARE, IS TO BE TOGETHER.
I THINK IT'S VERY EASY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY THEMSELVES OTHER THAN NEW ORLEANS, 24 HOURS A DAY.
I LIVE IN MIAMI FOR FOUR YEARS, WE CAN BRING THE ART DISTRICT JUST LIKE THAT WHEN WINWOOD AND IT HAD A NIGHTS OPEN UNTIL 4:00. PEOPLE WALKING AROUND.
IT IS LITERALLY THE CURE, IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY.
DOING THIS RIGHT HERE IS ALMOST THE BIGGEST SLAP IN THE FACE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE SO MANY JOBS, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE NO WAY TO PAY FOR THEIR KIDS.
INSTEAD WE COULD BE THRIVING AND SHOW THE REST OF THE WORLD.
WE COULD BE SISTER CITIES WITH NEW ORLEANS, SAVANNAH, CHARLESTON, I BELIEVE THE QS, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WE CAN BRING HERE AND ALL THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THE CREATIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPE WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. THANK YOU.
[01:15:03]
>> THANK YOU. CAITLIN HOLLAND, FOLLOWED BY JAMES CALL.
>> CAITLIN HOLLAND OR CALI, 1000 [INAUDIBLE] STREET, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
I AM A BARTENDER CURRENTLY AT MUGSY'S.
YOU GUYS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH US.
I'M JUST NOBODY'S REALLY SPOKE ON THIS YET.
SPEAKING OF THE BACKBONE OF THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S BARTENDERS, ITS SERVERS, TAKING AWAY JUST TWO HOURS OF MONEY MAKING IS JUST ANOTHER PUNCH IN THE GUT LIKE THE RISING RENT THAT WE'RE HAVING TO FACE ALL ACROSS THIS CITY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT PIECE.
JUST REALLY GOT TO THINK ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY MAKE THE CITY WHAT IT IS.
>> THANK YOU. JAMES CALL, FOLLOWED BY MELINDA RAKONCAY.
>> JAMES CALL, 264 GREEN PALM COURT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I WORK AT NO NAME BAR DOWNTOWN ACROSS FROM THE FORT.
WHEN I WALK INTO THE BAR AND THERE'S SOMEONE LAYING THERE, OR THERE'S SOMEONE THAT'S HOBBLING AROUND CAUSING PROBLEMS IN THIS TOWN, IT'S NOT SOMEBODY THAT I SERVED.
THEY'RE WALKING AROUND WITH A 40 OUNCE NATURAL LIGHT IN THEIR HAND, AND A PAPER BAG THAT PROHIBITION KITCHEN DOESN'T SELL, THAT NO NAME DOESN'T SELL, THAT WHITE LION, EVERY BAR IN TOWN DOES NOT SELL THESE DRINKS THAT YOU'RE FINDING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
WHAT ABOUT THE CAPRI SUNS THAT I SEE ON THE GROUND WHEN I WALK UP TO WORK EVERY DAY THAT I PICK UP, BECAUSE NO ONE IN THIS TOWN IS HIRED TO DO IT FOR US.
THAT LEDGE OUTSIDE OF OUR BAR, 99% OF THAT TRASH THAT I PICK UP WHEN I COME INTO WORK IS NOT OUR STUFF.
THE TRASH AND THE BEER BOTTLES, AND ALL THAT STUFF THAT'S BEING PUT ON US AS OUR FAULT AND OUR PROBLEM, NOT FAIR.
LIKE WARREN SAID, MY BOSS BEFORE AND THE SHELTERS FROM PK, THERE'S NUMBERS THERE THAT SHOW THAT WE MAKE A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS CITY SO THAT WE CAN PAY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND ALL THAT STUFF THAT MAKES OUR CITY THE THING THAT IT IS.
IF YOU TAKE THAT AWAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? START CHARGING $60 TO GO UP THE LIGHTHOUSE? IS IT GOING TO COST $100 TO GO TO THE ALLIGATOR FARM? I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THIS MONEY, THAT'S GOING TO FILL THE GAP THAT IS BEING LOST FROM THE BUSINESS THAT'S BEING GAINED AFTER 10 O’CLOCK.
I GREW UP IN LAS VEGAS AND I'VE LIVED HERE, AND I'VE WORKED AT EMBASSY SUITES ON IRELAND.
I'VE WORKED ALL AROUND THIS TOWN.
MY PARENTS OWNED THE BAR ON KING STREET.
EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE A PROBLEM HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF THE BAR, OR AROUND THE CITY, IT'S NOT SOMEONE I SERVED.
I WAS AGGRESSIVELY TRAINED TO NEVER OVERSERVED SOMEBODY, TO NEVER SERVE ANYONE THAT I FEEL LIKE IF I SERVE THEM, IT'D BE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR LIFE.
SO THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS AROUND OUR TOWN, WHY ARE WE BEING PUNISHED FOR IT? WE'RE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE THE SUSPECTS IN THESE SITUATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. MELINDA RAKONCAY.
MELINDA I HAD TWO CARDS FOR YOU.
>> TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS, ONES ON THE AGENDA AND ONE IS TO SPEAK IT LATER WHEN SOMETHING'S ON THE AGENDA, SINCE THIS IS ON THE AGENDA.
>> THERE'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE TOUR GUIDES, SO YOU CAN SPEAK NOW.
>> CAN I SPEAK ABOUT THE TOUR?
>> OH, I APOLOGIZE [OVERLAPPING]
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT, MY MISTAKE.
THANK YOU, PLEASE NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> MELINDA RAKONCAY, 86 MAGNOLIA AVENUE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY IF THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM, WE WOULDN'T BE ADDRESSING THIS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THIS WILL BE THE SECOND FIRST READING OF THIS ALCOHOL ORDINATES.
I'VE NOTICED QUITE A FEW CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE IN FAVOR OF THE BARS, HOPEFULLY YOU READ MY EMAIL AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED MY SUGGESTIONS, ON HOW A RESTAURANT IS DEFINED SO THAT BARS DON'T CALL THEMSELVES A RESTAURANT TO AVOID THE REQUIREMENT FOR AN EXCEPTION IN HB2, HB3, AND HB5.
SINCE PCB WILL BE REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS, THEY NEED TO HAVE THE SAME ABILITY FOR THEM TO TURN DOWN, JUST LIKE EXCEPTIONS.
THE PCA SHOULD BE ABLE TO REGULATE THE NUMBERS OF RESTAURANTS AND BARS SERVING ALCOHOL AND OPEN UNTIL 2:00 PM, THEIR PROXIMITY TO RESONANCES, AND HOW MANY ARE ALREADY OPENED IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA SHOULD BE PART OF THEIR FACTOR INTO THEIR DECISION.
SINCE DOWNTOWN IS A RESIDENTIAL AREA WHICH SUFFERS FROM THE NOISE, AND DISRUPTION THAT LATE NIGHT DRINKING CAN CAUSE, PLEASE ROLL BACK THE REGULAR SERVING HOURS ON WEEKDAYS TO 10 OR 11:00 PM.
IN FACT, IS THERE REALLY A NEED FOR PEOPLE TO BE DRINKING UNTIL 2:00 AM, ON WEEKDAYS?
[01:20:01]
SHOULDN'T BE EXTENDED HOURS ON WEEKDAYS BE MIDNIGHT INSTEAD? AS FOR NOISE, BECAUSE OF HOW SOUND CARRIES THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN, DOESN'T THE RESIDENT DESERVE PEACE AND QUIET ON THE WEEKENDS AS WELL? WHILE YOU MAY DECIDE TO ALLOW SERVING ALCOHOL TO THESE EXTENDED HOURS TILL 2:00 AM.YOU SHOULD AT LEAST REQUIRE, THAT AMPLIFIED MUSIC BE ENDED AT 11:00 PM ON WEEKENDS.
ALTHOUGH THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT ONE STAFF MEMBER BE TRAINED, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT HE'D BE ON DUTY DURING THE EVENING.
THIS NEEDS TO BE AMENDED, TO SAY THERE MUST BE A TRAINED STAFF MEMBER ON DUTY AT ALL TIMES.
AS FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY TIP.
YOU SHOULD REQUIRE THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT HAVE ZERO CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS TO RETAIN THEIR EXTENDED HOURS OF LICENSE.
WHO SHOULD KEEP SCORE EVERY TIME THE POLICE, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE CALLED ABOUT A COMPLAINT? I'M NOT AGAINST ST. AUGUSTINE HAVING ENJOYABLE NIGHTLIFE, BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE RISEN IN THE PAST, AND WHY THIS ORDINANCE IS BEING CONSIDERED.
ST. AUGUSTINE NEEDS TO GUARD IT'S VALUABLE HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL NATURE, SPECIFICALLY IN THE HP DISTRICTS.
WE NEED TO BE SURE, THAT THE NUMBER OF PLACES SERVING ALCOHOL IS NOT OVERWHELMING.
[NOISE] YOU NEED TO FIX ALL THE ABOVE LOOPHOLES BEFORE IT MOVES TO SECOND READING, AND KEEP THE RESIDENT IN MIND AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS MODE, OR MOST OF THEM WHO DO NOT LIVE IN TOWN. THANK YOU.
RONALD MICKLER, FOLLOWED BY NANCY PELOSIER.
>> RONALD MICKLER, 30 SPANISH STREET, 32084.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MELINDA HIT A LOT OF GOOD POINTS, SO I'LL TRY NOT TO GO OVER MOST OF THOSE.
I KNOW WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS OR MORE.
THE PEOPLE WHO COME DOWN THE STREET AND HAVE THROWN COCKTAIL GLASSES THROUGH A NEIGHBOR'S WINDOW.
SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS RUN THEIR CAR INTO MY HOUSE, AND CAUSED ME A LOT TO HAVE TO GET THAT FIXED, AND ALL THIS IS AT 2 O'CLOCK.
SOME OF IT IS PEOPLE GOING TO THEIR CARS, SOME OF IT IS AFTER THEY'VE GOT TO THEIR CAR, THEY COULDN'T DRIVE IT.
YEARS AGO IT WAS 12 O'CLOCK AND THAT WAS IT.
NOW IF WE KEEP ON GOING AT 2 O'CLOCK, YOU ONLY HAVE GOT TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER REGULATED, EITHER THAT OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT MORE PEOPLE ON DUTY.
ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR POLICE CHIEF.
SHE HAS ADDED MORE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, MORE POLICE PERSONS UP TO EIGHT.
I BELIEVE IT IS NOW, AND MORE ON BICYCLES OR FOOT SO THAT THEY'RE MUCH MORE AROUND.
I SEE VERY FEW HOMELESS PEOPLE DOWNTOWN ON ST. GEORGE STREET AS BASELY, THEY ARE AROUND AND OUTER FRINGES.
BUT EVEN THIS MORNING BEFORE 7:30 I WALKED UP ST. GEORGE STREET, AND THERE USED TO BE EIGHT OR 10 ON THAT END UP THERE BEFORE YOU GET TO THE CATHEDRAL.
CONGRATULATIONS. I THINK YOU'RE GETTING A HANDLE ON THAT.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW, I'D LIKE FOR THE CITY TO KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF YOU KNOW.
HOW MUCH DOES THE CITY TAKE IN FROM EACH BAR AND EACH RESTAURANT? IT DON'T HAVE TO BE PUT OUT WITH NAMES TO IT OR ANYTHING, BUT THE CITY SHOULD HAVE, AND THEY COULD JUST NUMBER IT SOME WAY.
HOW MUCH WE ACTUALLY TAKE IN? ALSO, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE DO THE OWNERS LIVE, AND WHERE DO THE WORKERS LIVE? HOW MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY ARE RESIDENTS OF ST. AUGUSTINE? ARE WE JUST PUTTING THIS HERE, AND JUST FOR THEM TO MAKE ALL THEIR MONEY.
EVERYONE'S LISTENED TO MANY OF YOU WHEN YOU SPOKEN, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR NEIGHBOR. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S ENOUGH.
I'LL BE WRITING TO EACH OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR YOU, HANG IN THERE.
>> THANK YOU. NANCY PELOSIER, FOLLOWED BY MARTHA MICKLER.
[01:25:05]
>> GOOD EVENING. NANCY PELOSIER, 31 SPANISH STREET.
I ACTUALLY WAS THINKING ABOUT COMING, BECAUSE LEAVING A WEDDING ON SATURDAY, THE TRAFFIC WAS BLOCKED UP FROM 95 ALMOST TO THE CHURCH ON 16, AND THEN THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET ON 95.
WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH HAVING PEOPLE COME, GRIDLOCK IS MORE A PROBLEM NOW THAN NOT AROUND THE PARKING GARAGE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I DON'T THINK THE NIGHTLIFE IS GOING TO SUFFER, WE'RE NOT GETTING RID OF BARS.
I DO THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SERVE FOOD.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO STAY UP UNTIL 2:00, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE SELLING DRINKS THEN OBVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING THE DRINKS NEED TO HAVE FOOD, THEY WILL STAY SOBER LONGER.
THAT WOULD BE ONE REQUIREMENT NOT TO LESSEN AND SAY, WHEN THE RESTAURANT CLOSES, WE DON'T NEED TO SERVE FOOD, WE'LL JUST SERVE DRINKS, THAT IS NOT A GOOD SOLUTION.
I THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT MUCH OF THE PROBLEMS THAT COME FROM BARS, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LITTER, I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS ON THE STREETS AFTER THEY LEAVE THE BAR.
WE'VE HAD FIGHTS, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE FALL FLAT ON THEIR FACE IN THE STREET.
PERHAPS THAT'S CHANGING, I'M NOT REALLY SURE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT'S HARD FOR THE POLICE AFTER BECAUSE AT LEAST THAT WAS THE THEORY ON THE BAYFRONT.
I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE REGULATIONS, I THINK THAT'S HOW YOU CONTROL THINGS.
WE KNEW FROM WHEN WE MOVED HERE THAT OUR HOUSE WOULD BE REGULATED, THAT WE CHOSE THAT AND UNDERSTAND IT.
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS HAVE COME ALONG WITH LIVING IN TOWN, NOT AS EASY TO UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT DOES NOT BOTHER US, IT'S FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY ARE HERE FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY ST. AUGUSTINE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN, WE ARE A DRINKING TOWN.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE COME HERE, THEY COME FOR WEDDINGS AND THEY DRINK.
THEY COME FOR OTHER THINGS, AND THEY DRINK.
THERE'S GOOD FOOD HERE, GOOD RESTAURANTS, AND THAT'S MAINLY WHAT WE ARE, WE'RE NOT A HISTORICAL TOWN ANYMORE EXCEPT FOR THE SITES.
WE JUST NEED TO CONTROL THINGS, AND I KNOW THAT'S A HARD JOB FOR YOU-ALL TO TRY AND SATISFY EVERYONE.
BUT PLEASE DO CONSIDER NOT TAKING THE FOOD OUT AND THEN JUST HAVING DRINKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. MARTHA MICKLER IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> MARTHA MICKLER, 30 SPANISH STREET.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'VE COME BEFORE YOU SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS REGARDING THE SAFETY OF OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT DOWNTOWN IN THE LATE EVENING HOURS.
BEING A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF HP-3, I'VE WITNESSED THE CHANGES IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR VISITORS AROUND THAT MIDNIGHT HOUR.
I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE A PARTICIPANT IN THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS SPONSORED BY THE RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE DURING FEBRUARY AND MARCH OF 2022.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS INSTITUTE WAS HIRED BY THE COMMISSION TO GATHER INPUT FROM RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THESE DISCUSSIONS, WE WERE ASKED TO EXPRESS OUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ON WHAT'S WORKING VERSUS WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED IN THE NIGHTTIME SOCIAL ECONOMY, AND THE PARTICIPANTS DID JUST THAT.
DISCUSSIONS WERE LIVELY, HONEST, AND VERY INTERESTING.
AS A PARTICIPANT, I HEARD MANY OF THE CONCERNS RAISED BY OUR RESIDENCE, BECAUSE I WAS REPRESENTING RESIDENTS.
AND THESE WERE RESIDENTS LIVING DOWNTOWN AND RESIDENTS LIVING OUTSIDE THE HISTORIC AREA.
MANY OF THESE RESIDENTS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AND HOW THE QUALITY OF LIFE HAS CHANGED IN A NEGATIVE MANNER.
THERE WAS A TIME THEY SHARED WITH US THAT THEY ENJOYED OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
[01:30:03]
MANY RESIDENTS SHARED THAT THEY NO LONGER COME DOWNTOWN AND WOULD NOT BRING THEIR FAMILIES NOW AND THEIR CHILDREN DOWNTOWN IN THE EVENING HOURS.THAT WAS VERY DISTURBING TO ME.
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS YOU BEGIN DISCUSSING THE NIGHTLIFE ORDINANCE TONIGHT.
AND I COMMEND YOU FOR LISTENING TO EVERYONE, YOU'VE BEEN VERY GOOD LISTENERS.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO NOT ALLOW OUR RESTAURANTS TO BECOME BARS AND SERVE ALCOHOL UNTIL 2:00 AM.
AS YOU KNOW, MIDNIGHT WAS THE HOUR BEFORE THE COMMISSION EXTENDED THE HOURS TO 2:00 PM FOR THE SUPER BOWL IN JACKSONVILLE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE JACKSONVILLE HOSTED A SUPER BOWL, SO WHY NOT CONSIDER MOVING THE TIME BACK AT LEAST MAYBE DURING THE WEEKDAY? THIS COULD BE A COMPROMISE FOR BOTH BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR DISCUSSIONS TONIGHT REGARDING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE RESIDENTS VIEWPOINTS AND THE BUSINESSES VIEWPOINTS, AND MAKE SOME NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS BEFORE [NOISE] YOU MOVE THIS ORDINANCE TO SECOND READING.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKER CARDS? THANK YOU. DUSTIN HUNTER, FOLLOWED BY JILL NETOLO.
>> DUSTIN HUNTER, 92 SMITH STREET.
I'M A RESIDENT OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I DO WORK AT A BAR, I'M A BOUNCER, SECURITY AT THE NO NAME BAR.
MY BIG THING I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THIS TOWN HAS BEEN A TOURISM TOWN FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
THIS GOES BACK TO FLAGLER, WHEN FLAGLER BUILT IT, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT TOURISM.
AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO GROW WITH THAT.
I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT THIS IS DOING IS WE NEED TO CAPITALIZE ON THE FACT THAT WE DID GROW IT.
BECAUSE AS SOON AS WE GO AND TAKE AWAY FROM IT, WE'RE LOSING MONEY, AND WHEN WE LOSE MONEY WE BECOME, LIKE SOMEONE SAID EARLIER, STILL.
YOU GO TO THESE OTHER TOWNS LIKE FARTHER INLAND THAT USED TO HAVE A BIG GROWING POPULATION, NOW THEY'RE STILL, THEY LOOK RUN DOWN.
AND ULTIMATELY WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYBODY TO FIX THESE THINGS FOR PARKING, FOR ZONING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS I FEEL LIKE THERE'S INHERIT PROBLEMS IN THE ACTUAL PROPOSAL THAT COULD BE USED TO ABUSE IT AND TARGET CERTAIN FACILITIES.
NO NAME, THE WHITE LION, DUBB'S, BARLEY REPUBLIC, ANY OF THOSE LATE-NIGHT PLACES COULD ALL JUST BE REALLY ABUSED.
I THINK IT JUST NEED TO MAYBE BE AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS JILL NETOLO.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JILL, I SAY NETOLO, BUT I'M CALLED MANY THINGS, I'LL ANSWER TO IT ALL.
I'M CURRENTLY RENTING IT 137 WASHINGTON STREET.
HOWEVER, I HAVE A PURCHASE OFFER AND WE CLOSE ON A HOUSE AT 125 MOORE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
I HATE SPEAKING OF THESE THINGS, I NEVER SAY THINGS, BUT I'VE LISTENED TO EVERYONE TONIGHT, AND YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE OLD LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND THE EMPLOYEES AND THE OWNERS, BUT I'M PROBABLY THE NEWEST RESIDENT YOU'D EVER WANT TO FIND IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
I'M MOVING FROM NEW YORK, AND I MOVED TO FLORIDA BECAUSE OF ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS FLORIDA HAS TO OFFER.
I TRAVELED FOR MONTHS ALL AROUND FLORIDA TRYING TO FIND THAT ONE TOWN THAT I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH.
IT WAS ST. AUGUSTINE, I FELL IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT OVER THE BRIDGE OF LIONS.
AFTER LIVING HERE FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO CHANGE ANYTHING AND IF ONLY, JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE IT'S WONDERFUL.
I'VE HAD MANY FAMILY AND FRIENDS VISIT ME IN THE FEW MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, THEY'VE ALL FALLEN IN LOVE IN IT.
MY SON WANTS TO MOVE HERE BECAUSE OF IT.
MY PARENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF INDEPENDENT AND ASSISTED LIVING SOON, THEY'RE GOING TO RELOCATE HERE AS WELL.
I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE AND THE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING. THAT'S ALL.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKER CARDS?
[01:35:01]
I HAVE ONE LAST SPEAKER, MS. BJ CLADY.>> BJ CLADY WITH CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
QUESTION 9A,1, IS SECTION 4-5 AND CITY CODE ALREADY SINCE REMOVED FROM THIS REVISED ORDINANCE 2021-18? PAGE 6, SECURITY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REVISED TO BENEFIT BARS, NOT QUALITY OF LIFE.
9B,1, WHAT WAS THE FIRE TAX PAID LAST YEAR? THE MEMO STATES 0.0773.
PAGE 3, A RESOLUTION STATES 0.0776.
REMEMBER, YEARS AGO THIS FEE TAX WAS CREATED SO FLAGLER COLLEGE AND OTHERS WHO DO NOT PAY PROPERTY TAXES WOULD PAY FOR FIRE PROTECTION.
10A, CITY TAXPAYERS DO NOT NEED TO PAY ANOTHER CONSULTANT.
THE CITY MANAGER CREATED ANOTHER DIVISION AND APPOINTED THE CURRENT CRA MANAGER.
QUESTION, IS THIS PROPOSED CRA AT US ONE IN KING STREET PLANS SINCE THE PROPOSED GARAGE COULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE DOWNTOWN GARAGE CRA? QUESTION, HAS THE DOWNTOWN GARAGE BEEN PAID OFF? THE AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS HAS BEEN SOLD FOR OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE PHOTOS OF IT AND OTHER STRUCTURES TO SHOW BLIGHT IS A RESULT OF REPEAT VIOLATIONS OF CITY ORDINANCES CODES WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
PAGE 7, QUESTION, REMEMBER, MY PHOTOS HAVE ALWAYS TO CREATE PARK WITH THE PINS AND BEER CANS.
BLIGHT CONTINUES TO BE CREATED IN THE CITY BY LACK OF ENFORCEMENT.
10B, THIS LAND EXCHANGE BENEFITS DEVELOPERS, IN MAY 2021, A JACKSONVILLE DEVELOPER PURCHASED 9092 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY FOR MR. ABIZANY AND HIS PARTNER FOR $1,130,000.
ACROSS THE STREET AT STATE ROADS 207 IN SOUTH DIXIE ARE PANHANDLERS.
WITH THIS EXCHANGE, THIS DEVELOPER RECEIVES TWICE AS MUCH LAND FOR NOTHING.
THE PROPERTY APPRAISER DOES NOT LIST THE PARCEL FOR 800 PLANTATION ISLAND DRIVE.
PLEASE WALK WITH THE HOMELESS TO OYSTER CREEK AND PICK UP TRASH SOME HOMELESS LEAVE.
MR. BURTON, PLEASE GIVE THIS TRACK ABOUT JESUS TO CURTIS BOWLES FROM AN ANGRY BUSINESS ON LA QUINTA, WHO WAS CONTACTED BY MR. BOWLES ABOUT HIS VIOLATIONS.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE TONIGHT, AND I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE SHOWING UP, AND I WISH THEY COME MORE OFTEN, NOT JUST WHENEVER THEY HAVE SOMETHING, BUT WE'RE A WHOLE COMMUNITY AND BEING CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYBODY, NOT JUST YOUR BUSINESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKER CARDS.
[NOISE] WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, MR. CITY MANAGER.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS, THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR JULY 24TH IS A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS, AUGUST 14TH AT 3:00 PM, A SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS AND FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN DISCUSSION.
AUGUST 14TH AT 5:00 PM IS A REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
AUGUST 24TH AT 9:00 AM IS A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE 2024 TENTATIVE BUDGET AND ACTION ITEMS. AUGUST 25TH AT 9:00 AM IS A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING IF NEEDED, TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE TENTATIVE BUDGET AND ACTION ITEMS. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PRIOR COMMISSION MEETINGS IS THE JUNE 23RD REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE A RELEASE OF LEAN FOR UNIT CONNECTIONS AT 678 JULIA STREET, JOCELYN MARTIN.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE NOMINATION OF DR.
SUSAN RICHARD PARKER AS A RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 ORDER OF LA FLORIDA AWARD.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE NOMINATION OF KAY BORTON AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 ORDER OF LA FLORIDA AWARD.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF ST. AUGUSTINE PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THESE WILL BE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH ITEM A1 AND THE ANNEXATION OF CAT'S PAW MARINA. MS. SKINNER.
[8.A.1. Ordinance 2023-18: Annexation of 0.90 acres west of the existing Cat’s Paw Marina, which is a portion of 200 Nix Boat Yard Road (PID 1248320000) and contiguous to the city limits. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
[8.A.2. Ordinance 2023-19: Amends the future land use designation of the annexed 0.90 acres west of the existing Cat’s Paw Marina, which is a portion of 200 Nix Boat Yard Road (PID 1248320000) from St. Johns County Mixed-Use District to City Marine Industrial. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
[8.A.3. Ordinance 2023-20: Amends the zoning designation of the annexed 0.90 acres west of the existing Cat’s Paw Marina, which is a portion of 200 Nix Boat Yard Road (PID 1248320000) from St. Johns County Residential, Manufactured/Mobile Home (RMH) to City Planned Unit Development (PUD) and including amending the existing Cat’s Paw Marina PUD at 220 Nix Boat Yard Road (PID 1348300000). (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
[01:40:01]
THE NEXT THREE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ARE RELATED TO THE SAME PROPERTY.THE FIRST ORDINANCE IS 2023-18, WHICH IS THE ANNEXATION ORDINANCE.
THE CITY COMMISSION REVIEWED THE PETITION TO ANNEX WITH A PRE-ANNEXATION AGREEMENT IN MARCH AND HELD THE FIRST READING ON JUNE 26TH OF THIS YEAR.
THE PROPERTY TO BE ANNEXED IS WEST OF THE EXISTING AREA KNOWN AS THE CAT'S PAW MARINA, DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
IT IS CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY ON THE EAST AND SOUTH SIDES.
THIS ITEM IS A SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING.
THE NEXT TWO ITEMS RELATE TO INCORPORATING THE PROPERTY INTO THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND CHANGING THE ZONING TO A CITY DESIGNATION.
ORDINANCES 2023-19 AND ORDINANCE 2023-20 APPLY TO THE PIECE OF LAND WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 0.9 ACRES.
THE ORDINANCES WOULD CHANGE THE LAND USE FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY MIXED-USE CATEGORY TO CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE MARINE INDUSTRIAL, AND CHANGE THE ZONING FROM COUNTY RESIDENTIAL MANUFACTURED HOME, RMH, TO CITY PUD.
THE PCB RECOMMENDED THESE CHANGES AT THEIR JUNE 6TH MEETING.
THE PUD REZONING INCLUDES INCORPORATING THE ANNEXED PROPERTY INTO THE EXISTING CAT'S PAW MARINA PUD AND AMENDING THE EXISTING PUD.
AS PART OF THE PUD APPLICATION, THE PCB CONSIDERED TREE REMOVAL RELATED TO CONSERVATION ZONE DEVELOPMENT AND REQUESTED A MORE DETAILED PLAN BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
THESE PLAN AND TEXT AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.
THE FIRST READINGS OF THE ORDINANCES WERE HELD ON JUNE 26TH BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
THE CITY COMMISSION EXPRESSED CONCERNS AT THAT MEETING RELATED TO NOISE AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.
SINCE THE JUNE CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THE APPLICANT HAS REVISED THE PUD DOCUMENT, FURTHER DESCRIBING THE STORMWATER ISSUES AND LIMITING MUSIC TO 9:00 PM ON WEEKDAYS, AND THAT NO MUSIC WILL BE PLAYED UNLESS THE RESTAURANT IS OPEN.
THE APPLICANT HAS ALSO SUBMITTED A CORRECTED PUD EXHIBIT WITH THE CORRECT ADDRESS.
ADDITIONALLY, UPON FURTHER STAFF DISCUSSION, A SENTENCE HAS BEEN ADDED TO SECTION 3 OF THE PUD ORDINANCE, CLARIFYING THAT THE PUD IS NOT EXEMPT FROM ANY FUTURE CHANGES TO THE CITY CODE OR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THESE DOCUMENTS ARE IN FRONT OF YOU AT THE TABLE.
IF THE CITY COMMISSION CHOOSES TO TAKE ACTION, WE WOULD NEED A MOTION FOR EACH ORDINANCE.
I AM AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HERE. THANK YOU.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT BRIEFLY? [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST A REMINDER I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO BACK FROM THE ANNEXATION TO THE LAND USE AND THEN THE ZONING, BUT THIS WOULD REQUIRE A DISCLOSURE OF EXPERT TYPE [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT'S OKAY. YES, MA'AM. MR. WESTER, WILL YOU EMBELLISH US?
>> DID YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR TEAM SWORN IN ALL AT ONCE AS YOU'RE PRESENTING ALL IN A BUNDLE, OR?
>> THEY CAN DO IT INDIVIDUALLY. I'M NOT SURE IF WE'LL NEED THEM.
WE'VE VETTED THIS QUITE A BIT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ARE YOU GOING TO BE SPEAKING TO THE REZONING?
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU WILL NEED TO BE SWORN IN THEN.
>> HOLD ON A SECOND. I DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS TO SWEAR.
>> HE'LL BE PROVIDING TESTIMONY, SO HE'LL NEED TO BE SWORN IN.
>> I DO. I BRAD WESTER DRIVER, MCAFEE, 1 INDEPENDENT DRIVE SUITE 1200, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, 32202. I'LL BE BRIEF.
THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME YOU'VE SEEN THIS.
I'M TRYING TO GET THROUGH IT VERY QUICKLY.
IT IS A CONDENSED VERSION OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN ALREADY.
JUST KIND OF GET TO THE CLIFF'S NOTES VERSION OF IT ALL AND WE CAN GET THE PRESENTATION UP.
THANK YOU. LET ME GO TO SLIDESHOW.
CAT'S PAW MARINA, AS WE DESCRIBE, ANNEXATION, COMP FLUM AMENDMENT, WHICH IS THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND THE PUD MODIFICATION.
WE'RE CHANGING LAND THAT USED TO BE IN THE CITY, I'M SORRY, THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY INTO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
YOU SEE THE CORRESPONDING LAND USE AND ZONINGS ACCORDINGLY.
THE PREVIOUS CAT'S PAW APPROVALS BASICALLY WERE 2005 WHEN CAT'S PAW CAME INTO EXISTENCE WITH THE ORDINANCE.
THEN AGAIN IN 2017, REASON HEARING DATES MARCH 27TH, JUNE 6TH AND JUNE 26TH.
THIS REQUEST FOR A TOTAL OF 73,300 SQUARE FEET, WHICH INCLUDES THE CURRENT 43,000 PLUS SQUARE
[01:45:01]
FEET AND THE ADDITIONAL 30,000 PLUS SQUARE FEET.THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF THE MARINA FACILITIES.
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMP PLAN, THE ZONING AND SURROUNDING USES.
WE HAVE UPDATED THE PUD TO INCLUDE THE STORMWATER PLAN DETAILS AND THE NOISE LEVEL STANDARDS PER THE REQUEST THAT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING.
SEE IT THERE AT THE END OF NEXT BOAT YARD ROAD.
THIS HIGHLIGHTED SECTION IS THE ANNEXATION PARCEL AND THEN THE TOTAL ANNEXATION PARCEL AND THE EXISTING MARINA TOGETHER.
THESE MAPS SHOW THE FUTURE LAND USE, WHICH IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE ZONING DISTRICTS TOGETHER.
YOU SEE THE ANNEX PARCEL LISTED ON THERE, ALONG WITH THE EXISTING PUD.
THE COLORED AREAS AROUND THERE ARE ALL THE COLORS ARE INDICATIVE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, ENTITLEMENTS.
THEN THE ONES THAT AREN'T COLORED AROUND THERE ARE EXISTING IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY STILL.
THIS IS OUR PUD SO THIS IS OUR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND THIS WE HAD INCORRECT ADDRESS LISTED ON THERE, SO WE ADDED THIS LATE LAST WEEK, SO THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, BUT IT WAS JUST THE ADDRESS ISSUE.
THIS DOES INCLUDE THE DRY BOAT STORAGE BUILDING NUMBER 2, THE RESTAURANT AND DECK, AND THE NEW PARKING ASSOCIATED WITH THE FACILITY.
THIS WENT THROUGH FURTHER DISCUSSION AT THE ZONING BOARD AS WELL AS THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING.
THIS IS THE TREES WHICH INCLUDES THE EXISTING TREES TO REMAIN AND THE LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT FOR THE REPLANTING AS MITIGATION.
EARLY ON. I THINK OUR VERY FIRST HEARING AND MEETING, COMMISSIONER BLONDER TALKED ABOUT THE MANATEE EDUCATION AND THE NEED FOR THAT, SO WE DO THAT FOR ALL BOATERS.
WE DO HAVE CAMERAS THAT MONITOR ACTIVITY AND OF COURSE WE ARE ON A WATERWAY THAT IS A NO WAKE AND MANATEES ZONE.
THESE HIGHLIGHTED AREAS ARE THE ONES THAT WE'VE ADDED TO THE PUD, WHICH INCLUDES STORMWATER.
COMMISSIONER BLONDER TALKED ABOUT DOING PERVIOUS PAVERS, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING BETTER.
PERVIOUS PAVERS DO CLOG UP OVER TIME, BUT WE'RE DOING WHAT IS CALLED DRIVER TENSION UNDERNEATH THE GROUND.
IT'S BEEN VETTED WITH THE CITY AND WILL BE CONTINUED VETTED DURING OUR FINAL ENGINEERING AND PERMANENT PROCESS, IF THIS WERE TO BE APPROVED.
WE DID HAVE A PHONE CALL, A CONFERENCE CALL WITH COMMISSIONER BLONDER ON THIS.
I KNOW SHE'S NOT HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT, BUT WE DID SPEAK TO HER BY PHONE WITH OUR CIVIL ENGINEER TO GO OVER THE DETAILS AND SHE WAS SATISFIED WITH EVERYTHING.
WE'VE INCLUDED THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE AS AN UPDATE TO THAT.
BASICALLY, PUTTING IN THERE THE CODE, ALL THE RECEIVING LAND USES AROUND THE PROPERTY AND THE HOURS OF LIMITATION, 09:00 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND THEN 11:00 PM ON FRIDAY, SATURDAYS, OR HOLIDAYS.
AGAIN, RECEIVING LAND USES ARE THE KEY ON THIS.
RESIDENTIAL LAND USES IN THE AREA, COMMERCIAL LAND USES AND THEN OF COURSE, INDUSTRIAL LAND USES.
HERE IS A AERIAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE FACILITY WITH THE NEW BOAT BARN ATTACHED TO IT IN THE BACK.
THERE YOU SEE THE PERSPECTIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH HOME DEPOT AND THE OTHER FACILITIES AROUND THERE, MULTI-STORY, LARGER BUILDINGS.
THIS WAS A ELEVATION RENDERING WE DIDN'T INCLUDE LAST TIME, BUT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION TO IT.
THIS IS THE RESTAURANT THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW, BUT THIS WILL BE A NEW ADDITION AS PART OF THIS PUD AND IT SHOWS THE ELEVATION REALLY ORIENTED OUT TOWARDS THE WATERWAY, FRAMING THE EXISTING BOAT BARN DRY STACK STORAGE FACILITY IN THE BACK THERE.
OF COURSE, THIS REQUEST IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE CHARACTER AND CUSTOMER USE OF THE WORKING WATERFRONT.
REPRESENTS AN EXPANSION OF EXISTING USE, CREATES MORE DESIRABLE ENVIRONMENT AND HIGH-QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS.
ECONOMICALLY PRODUCTIVE AND APPROPRIATE USE, WHICH BENEFITS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
THERE HAS BEEN NO OPPOSITION, WE'VE ADDRESSED A LOT OF COMMENTS, CONCERNS, AND INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS EVEN BEFORE WE SUBMITTED OUR FIRST APPLICATION.
THANK GOODNESS UNANIMOUS APPROVALS TO DATE.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ALONG WITH MY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND CIVIL ENGINEER IF NEEDED.
>> I HAVE JUST ONE. ON THE NICE GRAPHIC OF THE RESTAURANT.
THERE'S NO SIGNAGE ON THAT, SO I ASSUME THERE'S GOING TO BE SIGNAGE?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THERE WILL MOST LIKELY BE SIGNAGE, BUT WE'VE PUT IT IN THERE IN OUR PUD THAT WE'LL ADHERE TO THE CODE FOR SIGNAGE.
>> UNLESS SOMETHING IS SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT IN THE PUD, THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE EXISTING CODES.
>> JUST A QUESTION ABOUT THE RESTAURANT.
IT APPEARS THAT IT'S A TWO-STORY RESTAURANT?
>> IT IS NOT. IT'S A SINGLE-STORY RESTAURANT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY CARDS BEFORE ME.
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS THAT WISH TO STEP FORWARD TO COMMENT?
[01:50:04]
ANYONE? PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.WE'LL GO TO EX-PARTE COMMUNICATIONS.
COMMISSIONERS WILL START WITH COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
>> NO, I HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMMUNICATION.
>> AS I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, I DID SPEAK WITH MR. WESTER, I'VE SPOKEN WITH STAFF.
[INAUDIBLE] HAD [OVERLAPPING] NO COMMUNICATIONS WITH OTHER FOLKS, SO ALL RIGHT THEN VERY GOOD.
WITH THAT BEING DONE ON ORDINANCE 2023 -18, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THEY REALLY LISTENED TO US BECAUSE YOU COVER EVERY ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE BROUGHT UP.
>> I'D LIKE TO SECOND THEN COMMENT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE UNDERWATER PARKING THING IN ACTION WHEN YOU GET IT DONE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SOLUTION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> HOLD ON. I'VE GOT TO READ IT.
>> SORRY. YOU HAVE TO GO TO READING.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-18, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA ANNEXING APPROXIMATELY 0.90 ACRES OF PROPERTY NOW LOCATED IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA, LYING WEST OF THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT REFERRED TO AS THE CAT'S PAW MARINA, NORTH OF NIX BOAT YARD ROAD SOUTH AND WEST OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVERINE ENVIRONMENT AS DESCRIBED HEREIN.
REDEFINING THE BOUNDARY LINES OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE TO INCLUDE SAID PROPERTY, AMENDING SECTION 1.04 OF THE CHARTER LAWS OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR FILING OF A COPY HERE, BUT WITH THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA, WITH THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA AND WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CITY CODE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE 2023.
ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2023-19, AND READ BY TITLE.
>> SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND, PLEASE READ.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE DO HAVE TO OPEN EVERY ITEM
>> I KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY [OVERLAPPING].
ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK? NOW'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY. HEARING NO ONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 -19, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FLUM DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 0.90 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED NORTH OF NIX BOAT YARD ROAD AS A PORTION OF THE GW PER POLE GRANT ADJACENT TO THE CAT'S PAW MARINA DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY MIXED-USE DISTRICT, TO A CITY DESIGNATION OF MARINE INDUSTRIAL, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO ORDINANCE 2023-20.
>> WAIT. WE ALSO DO HAVE TO OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> WELL, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION FIRST. DON'T WE?
>> NOT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. NO.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOT TO AMEND ENTERTAINING A MOTION.
>> YES, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 2023-20 READ BY TITLE ON.
>> THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANYONE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
MADAM CLERK, I'M SORRY, READ THE TITLE, PLEASE.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-20 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.90 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED NORTH OF NIX BOAT YARD ROAD AS A PORTION OF THE PW PER POLL GRANT ADJACENT TO THE CAT'S PAW MARINA DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN AFTER FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENTIAL MANUFACTURED MOBILE HOME RMH TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF PLANNED URBAN DEVELOPMENT OR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, PUD THIS INCLUDES THE AMENDING AND RECONSTITUTING OF THE EXISTING CAT'S PAW MARINA PUD INCORPORATING THE PROPERTY, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[01:55:03]
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE 2023-22. MS. LOPEZ?
[8.A.4. Ordinance 2023-22: Amends Chapter 17 of the City Code regarding voluntary certified guides and examination. (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]
>> MY APOLOGIES. I WAS MAKING SURE HE WAS AWARE OF OUR SUBMERGED LAND LEASE REQUIREMENTS.
BEFORE YOU IS ORDINANCE 2023-22, WHICH AMENDS THE EXISTING CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR TOUR GUIDE TESTING AND PERMITTING.
AS WE MENTIONED A FEW MINUTES AGO, UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE AMENDED THEIR STATUTES, PREEMPTED OUR ABILITY TO SO-CALLED REGULATE OCCUPATIONS WHICH ESSENTIALLY PUT OUR CODE IN A SITUATION WHERE IT WAS NO LONGER LEGAL.
THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THE STATE ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE TO ENFORCE OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE, AND THAT ENDED JULY 1ST, SO WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO THEREAFTER.
SO BEFORE YOU IS AN ORDINANCE THAT CREATES A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM FOR CERTIFICATION OF TOUR GUIDES.
THE CERTIFICATION WILL LAST FIVE YEARS, IT'S RENEWABLE.
THE CITY MANAGER HAS THE DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO FINALIZE THE DETAILS OF THAT, WHAT'S IN THE TEST, THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS, AND OF COURSE IN APPROPRIATE FEE FOR THAT.
WE WILL PUBLISH THE NAMES OF THE CERTIFIED TOUR GUIDES ON OUR WEBSITE, AND ALSO PUBLISH THEM PHYSICALLY AT THE CITY BUILDINGS.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL DO IT AT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT OR FINANCE, AND HERE AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
JUST TO LET FOLKS KNOW WHO'S ACTUALLY CERTIFIED, AND WHO'S NOT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
I THINK YOU HAD ONE SPEAKER THAT WAS INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? PUBLIC COMMENT IS OPEN.
I HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD, MELINDA RAKONCAY.
>> MELINDA RAKONCAY, 86 MAGNOLIA AVENUE.
I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE HAVING TO DO THIS.
I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR AT LEAST HAVING THE VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN HERE VERY INTERESTED READ ABOUT EVERY BOOK ON HISTORY AND ATTENDED ALL THE LECTURES ON HISTORY IN THIS TOWN.
I USED TO BE A TOUR GUIDE MYSELF BACK WHEN YOU WERE TESTED.
I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ALL THE GUIDE COMPANIES THEY DO NOT PROVIDE WHAT YOU MIGHT SAY BACKGROUND OR THINGS TO SAY IT'S UP TO THE GUIDES TO DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH, TO DO THEIR OWN THINGS.
IT'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY HAVE THESE TEST SO THAT AT LEAST THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT.
I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GETTING RID OF IT, I UNDERSTAND IT IS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE LISTING IT ON THE WEBSITE.
I THINK MAYBE WHEN SOMEONE GETS IT, MAYBE TO HAVE SOME CERTIFICATION STAMP THAT GOES ON YOUR BADGE, AND TO ALSO TRY TO PUBLICIZE THAT ST. AUGUSTINE HAS CERTIFIED GUIDE SO THAT ALL GUIDE COMPANIES FEEL MORE INCLINED.
THEY WANT TO ADVERTISE THAT THEY HAVE CERTIFIED GUIDES BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF URBAN MYTHS ABOUT ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT MAKES SOME GREAT TROLLEY TALK, BUT IT'S NOT TRUE.
I THINK ESPECIALLY BEING THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY WHERE 450 YEARS OF HISTORY IS SO IMPORTANT TO US, THAT IT'D BE ACCURATE HISTORY ON EVERY LEVEL.
I'M SPEAKING AS SOMEONE WHO USED TO BE A GUIDE, AND IT DOESN'T PAY MUCH, A LOT WHOLE LONG HOT DAYS HURTING FOURTH GRADERS.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXCITE VISITORS ABOUT OUR HISTORY, AND THAT IT'D BE ACCURATE.
I REALLY DO WANT TO COMMEND YOU THAT YOU ARE CARRYING FORTH WITH THIS VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE ACCURACY OF THE GUIDES, AND I JUST URGE YOU TO DO MORE TO MAKE THIS CERTIFICATION MORE NOTICEABLE, AND WHERE PEOPLE ASK FOR IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? IT'S REGRETTABLE THAT WE HAVE TO PASS THIS.
AS I SAID, I THINK WHEN WE GET TO THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY ITEMS, WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN REALLY DO TO CARVE OUT ST. AUGUSTINE.
>> SO THAT WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IN PROGRAM.
[02:00:02]
BUT FOR NOW, THIS IS REALLY WHAT OUR HAND IS FORCED BY THE STATE.WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I MOVE. WE APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-22, AN ORDINANCE FOR THE TOUR GUIDES.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-22, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 17, ARTICLE 5, SECTION 17-121 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING THE DEFINITION OF VOLUNTARY CERTIFIED GUIDE AMENDING SECTION 17-122, EXAMINATION RULES GOVERNING CREATING SECTION 17-123 ESTABLISHING THE VOLUNTARY CERTIFIED GUIDE AND EXAMINATION, REMOVING SECTION 17-124 REQUIRING EXAMINATION FOR GUIDES, PROVIDING FOR SEPARABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE,
[9.A.1. Ordinance 2021-18: Establishes regulations and procedures requiring business establishments that are serving alcohol to participate in certain programs, meet certain requirements and to obtain a "permit" to sell alcohol after midnight. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
AND RESOLUTIONS ON FIRST READING UP IS ORDINANCE 2021-18.MS. SKINNER, YOUR HERE TO EXPLAIN THE ORDINANCE.
>> YES, GOOD EVENING. AMY SKINNER, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THIS ITEM IS THE INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READING OF AN UPDATED ORDINANCE 2021-18.
THIS ORDINANCE IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE NIGHTLIFE ORDINANCE, OR THE RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE SERVICE ORDINANCE.
I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE PACKET MATERIAL INCLUDED DOES HAVE BOTH THE CURRENT PROPOSED ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE 2021.
I APOLOGIZE IF THERE'S ANY CONFUSION RELATED TO INCLUDING BOTH OF THOSE ORDINANCES.
BUT I DO WANT TO STRESS THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE BASED ON THE FEEDBACK SINCE THE DRAFT ORDINANCE WAS ORIGINALLY DISCUSSED.
THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION REGARDING NIGHTLIFE ISSUES STARTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND WAS INITIATED BECAUSE OF CONCERNS RELATED TO CERTAIN BEHAVIOR, AND ACTIVITY RELATED TO THE OVERCONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, MAINLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
THESE CONCERNS RANGED FROM SAFETY ISSUES TO DIFFICULTIES MAINTAINING SANITARY CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY AFTER 12:00 AM OR MIDNIGHT.
THE CITY ENGAGED A FIRM CALLED THE RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE, OR RHI, TO LOOK AT THE SITUATION AND WORK WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE CITY ALSO HELD A FIRST READING FOR A PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON AUGUST 9TH, 2021, THAT'S THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT WAS CONSIDERED.
THE DRAFT OF THE ORDINANCE AT THAT TIME CONTAINED VERY EXHAUSTIVE, AND DETAILED LIST OF REGULATIONS.
THE ORDINANCE PASSED, BUT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD TO ADOPTION.
IN JUNE OF 2022, THE RHI REPORT WAS COMPLETED.
THE SUMMARY AND FULL REPORTS ARE INCLUDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKET.
SINCE 2021, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE HAS BEEN SCALED BACK CONSIDERABLY, AND MAINLY ESTABLISHES A PERMITTING PROCESS FOR ALCOHOL BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENT, AS DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE TO SERVE ALCOHOL BETWEEN 12:00 AM AND 2:00 AM.
THIS PERMIT IS ONLY TO CONTINUE SERVING ALCOHOL, BETWEEN THESE HOURS OR AFTER MIDNIGHT.
ALL ALCOHOL SALES MUST STOP AT 2:00 AM REGARDLESS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.
IF AN ESTABLISHMENT CHOOSES NOT TO SERVE ALCOHOL AFTER MIDNIGHT, THEY WILL NOT NEED A PERMIT.
THIS PERMIT PROCESS DOES DEFINE CERTAIN PARAMETERS FOR A BUSINESS TO SERVE ALCOHOL BETWEEN THESE LATER HOURS.
IF THEY ARE DETERMINED TO BE VIOLATED, THE PERMIT COULD EVENTUALLY BE REVOKED.
BECAUSE THE CONTENT OF THE ORDINANCE HAS CHANGED SINCE 2021, WE ARE BRINGING THE REVISED ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COMMISSION, FOR AN INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READING.
CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO REACH OUT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND TO HOLD A PUBLIC WORKSHOP IF THE CITY COMMISSION PASSES THIS ON FIRST READING, AND BEFORE ANY SCHEDULED SECOND READING.
WE ARE HOPING TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND HOLD A PUBLIC WORKSHOP.
THIS IS AN INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READING.
I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I BELIEVE BARRY FOX IS ALSO HERE.
HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS SINCE THE BEGINNING.
I DIDN'T NOTE THAT THERE WAS A COMMENT RELATED TO SECTION 4-5 BEING REMOVED, THAT'S ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT HAS BEEN MADE, AFTER THE CITY ATTORNEY REVIEWED THE ORDINANCE.
THAT SECTION IS MORE RELATED TO STATE REGULATIONS.
SINCE THE CITY CANNOT ENFORCE OR CHANGE STATE REGULATIONS,
[02:05:01]
WE DID REMOVE ANY CHANGES THAT WERE PROPOSED IN THAT SECTION.THAT IS WHY IT HAS BEEN REMOVED.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT SECTION IS SPECIFIC ABOUT OUR ORDINANCE REGARDING DRINKING IN PUBLIC, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO CO-MINGLE THE CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT THAT I DO IN THE COURTS, WHICH IS 4-5 WITH THIS PERMITTING SCHEME, THAT'S WHY IT WAS REMOVED.
>> OKAY. QUESTIONS OF STAFF FIRST?
>> IS THAT THE DRUNK DRIVING LAW AND LIQUOR LIABILITY STATUS?
4-5 IS PART OF OUR EXISTING CODE.
WHEN I GO TO COURT AND PROSECUTE DRINKING IN PUBLIC, THAT IS UNDER THAT AUTHORITY, IT IS NOT A STATE STATUTE, IT'S ACTUALLY A LOCAL ORDINANCE, BUT IT'S A CRIMINAL LOCAL ORDINANCE, AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO COMMINGLE THAT ISSUE, WHICH IS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS DRINKING IN PUBLIC AND A BAR OR RESTAURANTS PERMITTING SCHEME, SO I JUST REMOVED THAT, LEFT IT ALONE AS IS.
>> TO SUM IT UP, THIS IS A FIRST READING.
AGAIN, I THINK I EXPLAINED THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, OUR PROCESSES, WE HAVE A FIRST READING.
AFTER THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON FIRST READING, HENCE, LOTS OF COMMENTS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WHAT WE INTEND AS IF THIS PASSES ON FIRST READING, THEN THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP FOR STAKEHOLDERS.
SINCE THIS ORDINANCE HASN'T COME FORWARD AND SO LONG, IT ALSO HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES SINCE THE ORIGINAL VERSION.
WE'RE REALLY DOING A REDO ON THE FIRST READING.
AFTER THE WORKSHOP, HOPEFULLY, THERE'LL BE SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, AND THEN IT WOULD GO TO SECOND READING AND PUBLIC COMMENT THERE.
SO IT'S A LONG PROCESS AHEAD, WELL, NOT A LONG PROCESS, BUT MANY STEPS IN THE PROCESS.
IT SHOULDN'T BE LONG, BUT IT WILL BE STEPS IN THE PROCESS.
>> GOOD DEAL. SO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WHO WISHES TO BEGIN? QUESTIONS?
>> NOT QUESTIONS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I DO APPRECIATE SO MANY PEOPLE COMING OUT.
I MADE QUITE A FEW NOTES FROM PEOPLE THAT SPOKE IN THE COMMENT PERIOD, AND I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS AN ONEROUS KIND OF PERMITTING.
I MEAN, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE CAN'T STAY UP UNTIL 2:00, IT JUST MEANS THAT THEY NEED TO BE PERMITTED.
>> YES, BUT IT DOES HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERMITTING AND CERTAIN PENALTIES IF YOU VIOLATE SOME OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
I THINK YOU HEARD SOME OF THE CONCERNS TONIGHT ABOUT THAT.
>> YES. I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WORKSHOP BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE AS I'M SURE ALL OF US HAVE, THAT THEY WOULD LIKE SOME INPUT INTO THIS.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE HAVE A WORKSHOP IF THIS PASSES TONIGHT.
BUT WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE AND WHAT BROUGHT US TO THIS.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY THIS EVENING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COME FORWARD TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON THEIR CONCERNS AND HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEIR BUSINESSES.
I KNOW THAT WE SAY WE'RE PASSING ON THE FIRST READING, WE HAVE A WORKSHOP, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE WORKSHOP BEFORE IT GETS PASSED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF INPUT.
PEOPLE TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY LIVES TO COME DOWN HERE AND EXPRESSES A GREAT CONCERN.
I'VE GOT EMAILS FROM THE BUSINESS DISTRICT AND PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T COME TONIGHT SAYING THAT THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT THIS CHANGE IN THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND SO MUCH MONEY THAT THEY INVEST IN THE CITY FROM THEIR BUSINESSES THAT WE NEED TO GET THAT SIDE OF THE COIN, I FEEL THIS, BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO LIKE DO THE SCALE TO SEE WHAT IS BEST AND COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS THAT MAKES THEM HAPPY AND MAKES US HAPPY AS A CITY.
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER THAN BEING DIVIDED BY CHANGING
[02:10:01]
PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS AND HURTING THEIR BUSINESSES. THAT'S MY PERCEPTION.>> PERSONALLY, I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR THIS IF THIS WAS THE SECOND READING THE WAY IT IS.
SO IT DOESN'T NEED, IN MY OPINION, SOME MODIFICATIONS.
I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE SPEAKERS ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS TURNING INTO BARS.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDED HERE, THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER ISSUE.
BUT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO DELVE DEEP INTO SOME STATISTICS, SOME FACTS ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND TWO O'CLOCK, WELL, ACTUALLY TILL THREE O'CLOCK TILL THE TOWN ACTUALLY EMPTIES OUT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S RESTRICTIVE FOR US TO NOT PASS IT AND THEN HAVE THE CONVERSATION OR TO NOT PASS IT AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION FIRST.
I KNOW WE'RE IN A TIME CRUNCH THAT I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT AN ISSUE.
I'D RATHER TAKE A LOT OF TIME, GET A LOT OF INPUT FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BUSINESSES.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME COMMENTS THAT THIS CAN BE RETROACTIVE, CAN BE A PYRAMID, A DOMINO EFFECT OVER OTHER BUSINESSES.
I DON T KNOW THAT'S TRUE, I DON'T SEE IT.
I SEE THAT'S THEIR WORRY AND THAT'S THEIR OPINION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LOT MORE DISCUSSION WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE MIDDLE AND I LIKE TO SEE DATA.
>> SO EVERYBODY HAD OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE REPORT THAT CAME ON THE SOCIAL CITY, THE LATE-NIGHT ECONOMY.
PROBABLY NO ONE HAS BEEN INVOLVED LONGER DIRECTLY IN THIS THAN MYSELF AND CHIEF FOX, OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER, FORMER CHIEF FOX.
I DO FEEL LIKE THERE WERE TASK FORCE PUT TOGETHER DURING THE HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE AS NIGHTLIFE ASSESSMENT.
IF YOU WANT TO SPECIFICALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS, CERTAINLY IT CAN BE PROVIDED TO YOU.
I BROUGHT UP A MAP TONIGHT OF THE LOCATED ALCOHOL LICENSES IN DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT'S AVAILABLE SOMEWHERE ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
IT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE HOW MANY PLACES THAT SERVE ALCOHOL AT THIS POINT.
THAT'S SIMPLY AS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID, NOT THE CASE, A MATTER OF YEARS AGO, AND NOBODY WAS OPEN PAST 5:00.
SO THIS HAS HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY AND WE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY WHO IS INJURED FOR LIFE.
SHE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE NORMALLY, AFTER A GENTLEMAN LEFT THE BAR WAS OVERSERVED AND EXITED WHEN SHE WAS A VISITOR WITH HER HUSBAND TO THIS TOWN.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WAS HIT BY SOMEONE WHO IS INTOXICATED IN ONE OF OUR TOWNS.
OF COURSE, WE FEEL VERY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE.
AS THE TITLE SAYS, RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE IS REALLY, SUMS IT UP.
WE'RE HOSPITABLE TOWN, WE HAVE A LOT OF VISITORS.
WE WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR VISITORS AND TO OUR RESONANCE.
AND SO WHAT WE TRIED TO SHAPE HERE IS A BALANCE TO BRING A PERMIT FROM MIDNIGHT TO 2:00 AM FOR ALCOHOL BECAUSE IF SERVING ALCOHOL IS NOT RIGHT, IT REALLY IS A PRIVILEGE.
THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I THINK MS. LOPEZ WOULD AGREE THAT IF IT WAS PROPOSED TO SERVE ALCOHOL TO DO A PERMITTING SCENARIO BETWEEN 10:00 PM AND 2:00 AM THAT IS CERTAINLY ALLOWABLE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO.
NOW, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, CORRECT?
>> IT'S NOT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK FURTHER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BUT IT'S AN EXAMPLE
>> TYPICALLY, THE STATE LICENSING GOES TO MIDNIGHT, SO I CAN CERTAINLY RESEARCH THAT IF THAT'S THE DESIRE?
>> [OVERLAPPING] OH YEAH, OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE IT FROM 10:00-2:00 AND WHATEVER.
IN FACT, MIAMI, THEY WENT SO FAR AS TO ROLL BACK THEIR HOURS OF SERVING BECAUSE THEY HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS AND WE DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE.
BUT THIS IS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO THAT EXTREME MOVE, I THINK, AND WHAT THIS DOES IS BASICALLY IT SETS UP A SITUATION WHERE TO OBTAIN A PERMIT,
[02:15:05]
BUSINESSES WILL HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.ONE OF THEM IS A LAST CALL PROCEDURE, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LAST CALL PROCEDURE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE RIGHT NOW.
THAT WAS ADDED REALLY AT THE REQUEST OF ONE OF THE PARTICULAR GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE HERE TONIGHT, WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR BUSINESS MEETINGS.
WE DID MEET WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BEFORE THE RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE.
THEN ANOTHER ONE IS, WITHOUT GOING INTO DETAIL, IS CONTROLLING SOUND, YOU HEARD IT MENTIONED THAT TO OBTAIN THE PERMIT, YOU WOULD BE BOUND TO NOT HAVE OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED MUSIC THAT COULD GAPE OUT OF YOUR PATIO OR ROOFTOP OR WHATEVER AFTER 10:00 PM ON WEEKNIGHTS, I THINK THAT'S SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AND AFTER 12:00 PM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU STILL COULDN'T HAVE LIVE MUSIC INDOORS, BUT THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN OPEN AIR SCENARIO.
THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PROVIDED FOR ARE SECURITY AND VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS.
THE SECURITY COULD BE PROVIDED, THIS HAS BEEN ROLLED BACK CONSIDERABLY SINCE THE FIRST ORDINANCE, BUT SHOULD PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE SECURITY COVERAGE BASED UPON THE NATURE OF EACH NIGHT'S EVENTS.
THIS COULD BE EITHER BY HUMAN ELEMENT PROVIDED OR BY SURVEILLANCE OR SOME SECURITY CAMERAS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S ONEROUS AT ALL, THAT DOESN'T PUT A BURDEN ON THE BUSINESSES.
A LOT OF THEM HAVE SECURITY ANYWAY, WE JUST HEARD FROM A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT DO SECURITY HERE.
THAT WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING UNEXPECTED, AND IT CERTAINLY WOULD IF WE'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT A SAFE NIGHTLIFE, THESE VENUES NEED TO HAVE SECURITY.
THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE AT THEIR DOOR OR THEY NEED TO HAVE CAMERAS IF THEY'RE A SMALLER VENUE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT ABOUT THE BUSINESSES AND THAT.
BUT SOME PEOPLE GO OUT DRUNK, NOT TO BE FUNNY.
SOME PEOPLE DRINK BEFORE THEY GO TO A CLUB AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA CONTROLLING WHAT THEY HAD PRIOR TO THEM ENTERING YOUR ESTABLISHMENT.
YOU CAN ONLY JUDGE THEM BY ONCE THEY ENTER YOUR ESTABLISHMENT, HOW MUCH YOU SERVE THEM.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME DEATHS, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DEATH WHERE A COUPLE GOT RAN DOWN RIGHT OVER HERE BY THE GREAT CEMETERY NOT THAT LONG AGO.
IT WAS NOT BETWEEN 10:00 AND 12:00, IT HAPPENED AT A DIFFERENT TIME PERIOD.
I ALSO WAS FRIENDS WITH JASON MULLINS THAT GOT SHOT OVER THERE AT THE BRITISH PUB.
HE WAS REALLY A GOOD PERSON, BUT THEIR ARGUMENT LED TO THIS GUY GOING OUT THERE AND SHOOTING HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WINDOW OF TIME THAT WAS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THINGS LIKE THIS THAT ARE UNCONTROLLABLE WHETHER A CLUB HAS ALCOHOL FROM 12:00-2:00 OR 10:00-2:00 OR WHATEVER THE HOUR RANGE IS, WE SEE CRIME EVERY DAY, UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE NEWS.
I THINK AS FAR AS THE MUSIC IS CONCERNED, I THINK THAT MUSIC SHOULD BE CONTROLLED, BECAUSE THERE ARE SURROUNDING HOUSES THAT MIGHT BE UP, OLDER PEOPLE ARE IN THE CITY AS WELL AS PEOPLE.
BUT TO COME TO SOME AGREEMENT ABOUT THE ALCOHOL, AND LIKE YOU SAID, YOU GUYS DID A SURVEY YEARS AGO AND YOU PUT THIS ONE IN ORDER AND APPARENTLY THE BUSINESSES ACCEPTED THAT ONE.
NOW WE'RE CREATING A NEW ONE AND THESE PEOPLE ARE DISTURBED BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY?
>> YEAH, AND TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, YES, THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE WHICH IS INCLUDED HERE, WHICH IS A LONGER VERSION OF THIS ONE.
THIS ONE HAS BEEN REDUCED, IT'S BEEN LIKE MS. SKINNER SAID, THIS ORDINANCE HAS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE REDUNDANT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT AND SCALED BACK SO TO REFLECT THE REQUEST OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I WANTED TO MENTION ONE OTHER THING, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED IS THAT ALL THESE VENUES ARE GOING TO NEED TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THEY HAVE HAD SERVICE TRAINING.
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE, LIKE YOU SAID ABOUT BEING OVERSERVED, THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE PREMISES UNDER THIS PERMITTING SCHEME.
[02:20:04]
THEY WILL NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN TRAINED TO RECOGNIZE, SOMEONE WHO'S ALREADY WALKING IN OVERSERVED.WHEN YOU SAID SOMEBODY COMES IN ALREADY DRUNK, THAT'S PART OF THE TRAINING, THAT'S WHAT I'M READING HERE.
SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS DRUNK DRIVING LAWS, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS INTERVENTION WITH PROBLEM CUSTOMERS, AND HOW TO CUT OFF SERVICE WITHOUT CREATING CONFRONTATIONS.
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED, THEY'LL HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS COMPLETED THAT TRAINING ON THE PREMISES UNDER THIS SCENARIO.
THAT'S ABOUT SAFETY, THAT'S WHAT THAT'S ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT SAFETY.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO READ THE ORDINANCE AND CALL US, ASK QUESTIONS, AND THEN ATTEND THE WORKSHOP BECAUSE IF THIS WORKSHOP WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY UNDER A DIFFERENT SETTING THAT WE'RE NOT UNDER THE PRESSURE OF MEETING WITHIN SO MANY HOURS ON A MONDAY NIGHT AND HAVING A LOT OF OTHER AGENDA, WE CAN SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THIS.
FRANKLY, WHAT I HOPED TO SEE HAPPEN, I HOPE WILL HAPPEN, WHICH IS WHAT SHANE SPOKE ABOUT AND THAT IS AN ALLIANCE.
BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BEST RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE SAID.
THEY SAID THAT COMMUNITIES WORK BEST TOGETHER WHEN A COMMUNITY ALLIANCE IS CREATED NOT BY GOVERNMENT, NOT BY US, BUT BY THEM WHERE THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER, AND WE CAN HERE ONE COHERENT VOICE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE, TO MAKE THIS A BETTER NIGHTLIFE.
NOBODY WANTS THE NIGHTLIFE TO GO AWAY, I DON'T THINK AT THIS TABLE.
I THINK WE ALL WANT A SAFE, BETTER NIGHTLIFE.
NOBODY WANTS TO PUT BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS DOWNTOWN.
I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY OF YOU IN THE PAST AND YOU KNOW THAT.
MR. JASON FROM LAST CALL WE'VE TALKED, MR. MARROW, WE'VE TALKED MR. SHANE, WE'VE TALKED.
WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS, HAVE BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME.
JUST WITHOUT GOING ON, I DO FEEL LIKE THE BEST SCENARIO WOULD BE TO PASS IT ON FIRST READING SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE WORKSHOP AND SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND DISCUSS THE ITEMS. SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU SAID, IF WE NEED MORE DATA, WE'LL FIND OUT THEN, BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT IT'S BEEN ON OUR TABLE FOR LONG ENOUGH.
>> IT'S ALMOST DEJA VU BECAUSE I WATCHED THE MEETING FROM BEFORE WITH THE 50 MINUTES Y'ALL DISCUSSED IT LAST TIME, [BACKGROUND], AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT Y'ALL DID AT THAT POINT OR PERIOD OF TIME WAS MAKE SURE THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING IS PLENTY OF TIME TO GET LOTS OF INPUT, AND THAT WE GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE TABLE.
I DID RESEARCH IF THE INTERNATIONAL BARTENDERS ASSOCIATION, AND THEY LIST ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS ORDINANCE, WELL, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEM, AS GOOD PRACTICES FOR BUSINESSES AND THEY ACTUALLY OFFER A CERTIFICATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS LACKING IN THAT SECTION 4A IS WE DON'T SAY WHAT KIND OF TRAINING OR WHAT ASSOCIATION? ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE THE TRAINING? THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THIS WORKS, AND WE NEED TO HAVE THINGS THAT ARE ENFORCEABLE.
WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE ORDINANCES THAT WE CANNOT ENFORCE, IT WOULD JUST WASTE EVERYBODY'S TIME.
>> WITH THAT SAID, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 2021-18 ON FIRST READING.
[LAUGHTER] WHO WANTS TO BE THE TARGET? I HEAR NO SECOND.
>> ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS, NOT UNTIL THE SECOND READING [INAUDIBLE].
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE FOR CITY MANAGER.
HOW QUICKLY DO YOU THINK THAT WE CAN GET A WORKSHOP GOING? WE NEED TO REALLY DO AN OUTREACH, SO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT AND MANY MORE CAN TAP ON OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN.
>> I THINK WE COULD PUT IT SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST AND DO SOME MEANINGFUL OUTREACH WITH ALL THE FOLKS THAT CAME HERE TONIGHT AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WERE PART OF THE RHI PROCESS.
WE COULD ADVERTISE THAT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
WE STILL HAVE LISTS OF INTERESTED PARTIES THAT BARRY FOX HAS FROM FIRST READING.
[02:25:04]
>> LET'S SAY WE'RE SHOOTING FOR AN ALLIANCE.
>> WELL, THAT HAS TO BE FROM THE INDUSTRY, I THINK.
[OVERLAPPING] FORMING AN ALLIANCE.
>> WE'LL SHOOT FOR MIDDLE OF AUGUST AND THAT GIVES US TIME TO EVEN HAVE A SECOND OUTREACH MEETING, IF NECESSARY, EFFORTS OR GOALS TO HAVE THIS ORDINANCE EFFECTIVE BY OCTOBER 1ST.
>> YES. THAT SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT, THEN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL A ROLL.
>> I WILL. YOU'RE RIGHT. SORRY. [LAUGHTER]
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-18, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA AMENDING CHAPTER 4 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AMENDING SECTION 4-1, PROVIDING DEFINITIONS, AMENDING SECTION 4-3, PROVIDING FOR RESTRICTED HOURS OF SALE AND OPERATION, PROVIDING FOR EXTENDED HOURS OF OPERATION PERMITS, ESTABLISHING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS, ESTABLISHING VIOLATIONS, PROVIDING FOR HEARINGS, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
>> NOW IT'S TIME. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> WELL, YOU'VE GOT A TIE, WHICH MEANS IT'S A TECHNICAL NON-PASSAGE.
WHAT IS YOUR DESIRE? DO YOU WISH TO STILL HAVE A WORKSHOP TO TALK ABOUT IT OR SIMPLY LET THIS ONE GO?
>> THAT'S UP TO THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED NO.
>> WORKSHOP DEFINITELY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT FORWARD.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT OCTOBER 1ST.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK ON STAFF.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT I THINK WE DO THIS RIGHT AND NOT RUSH IT.
>> YOUR INTENT WAS TO HAVE A CITY COMMISSION TYPE WORKSHOP, A FULL PUBLIC MEETING WHERE FOLKS WOULD COME HERE AND BE NOTICED ON A SPECIAL DAY MAYBE, OR [INAUDIBLE]?
>> YES. WE HAVE THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION NOTIFY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, THE HOTELS, AND THINGS THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT AS WELL.
>> IT'S JUST YOUR CLERK WANTED TO KNOW LIKE IF SHE'S SUPPOSED TO TRY AND FIND A SPECIAL DAY TO DO THIS.
>> OUTSIDE OF A CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
>> PROCEDURALLY, HOW WILL WE BRING THIS FIRST READING BACK? WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCEDURE TO BRING IT BACK?
>> IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ROBERT'S RULES OF STRICT, SOMEONE WHO WAS ON THE WINNING SIDE OF THE MOTION WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT BACK UP.
BUT IN TRUTH, IT'S A LEGISLATIVE DECISION AND YOU DON'T HAVE A PLENARY BOARD RIGHT NOW.
WE COULD ALWAYS BRING IT BACK AT ANY TIME AND IT REALLY IS A LEGISLATIVE DECISION OF THE COMMISSION TO BRING IT BACK.
BUT PREFERABLY, PER ROBERT'S RULES, IT'S THE PERSON OR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE OF THE MOTION THAT CAN BRING IT BACK.
YOU DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THAT TODAY.
[OVERLAPPING] WE DON'T HAVE A FULL COMMISSION.
MY SUGGESTION IS FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE SPECIAL MEETING YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD AND THEN GET A SENSE OF WHETHER YOU'VE GOT THE CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD ON A NEW FIRST READING. HOW'S THAT?
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE STAFF'S TIME AND WORKING SO HARD ON GETTING THIS GOING.
>> AGAIN. THE NEXT THING WOULD
[9.B.1. Resolution 2023-16: Establishes the estimated rates for fire protection assessments for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2023. (M. Simpson, Director Finance)]
BE RESOLUTION 9B,1, AND THAT IS MR. SIMPSON.>> HI. I'M HERE FOR MR. SIMPSON FOR THIS ITEM.
MEREDITH BREIDENSTEIN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
RESOLUTION 2023-16 SETS THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE AT 7.76 CENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL, 13.91 CENTS FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL ASSESSABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
ASSESSABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS ANY SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT HAS A ROOF AND/OR WALLS.
THESE RATES WILL GENERATE REVENUE TO OFFSET APPROXIMATELY 50% OF FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPENSES.
THIS RESOLUTION ALSO SETS THE PUBLIC HEARING FROM MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH, AT THE REGULAR 5:00 PM MEETING, AND IF PASSED TONIGHT, LETTERS WILL BE MAILED TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS, NOTIFYING THEM OF THE PROPOSED RATES AND THE DATE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE CURRENT IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WHICH I THINK THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS THAT WAS LISTED DIFFERENTLY.
[02:30:01]
THE MEMO ITSELF SAID 773.IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WAS A [INAUDIBLE] ERROR.
IT'S ACTUALLY $0.0776 OR 7.76 CENTS.
WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT CORRECTED ON THE FUTURE MEMO, BUT THE RESOLUTION IS 76.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I MOVE THAT WE PASS RESOLUTION 2023-16.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A READ THE TITLE ON THIS ONE. DO YOU NEED A ROLL CALL ON THIS?
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ROLL CALL IF YOU WANT TO DO VOICE.
>> IT'S A RESOLUTION, SO I THOUGHT WE COULD DO VOICE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[10.A. Request for the establishment of a third Community Redevelopment Area to be referred to as West City Community Redevelopment Area. (J. Perkins, Neighborhood Services and CRA Manager)]
WE HAVE MS. PERKINS IS HERE TO EXPLAIN THE REQUEST FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A THIRD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA IN THE WEST CITY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA.>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONER.
BEEN SO LONG SINCE I'VE SEEN YOU.
[LAUGHTER] PULLING UP MY PRESENTATION HERE, I AM JAMIE D. PERKINS, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND CRA MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
TONIGHT I AM PROPOSING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WHAT WOULD BECOME THE CITY'S THIRD CRA TO BE FORMALLY NAMED OR CALLED WEST CITY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
TONIGHT I'LL BE PRESENTING THE PROPOSED AREA TO CONSIDER FOR ESTABLISHING THIS THIRD CRA INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE DRAFT FINDINGS OF NECESSITY STUDY THAT WAS PREPARED IN APRIL-MAY OF 2022.
I'LL PRESENT THE REASONING FOR THE RECOMMENDATION, STATUTES THAT GUIDE THE CRA ESTABLISHMENT, AND THE NEXT STEPS SHOULD THE PROPOSAL RECOMMENDATION BE AUTHORIZED.
DURING THE APRIL 24TH, 2023 CITY COMMISSION MEETING, COMMISSIONER GARRIS SEEDED WITH STAFF THE IDEA OF MOVING FORWARD WITH IDENTIFYING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH THE CITY'S THIRD CRA IN THE WESTERN AREA OF THE CITY.
THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING THE CRA IS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS OF BLIGHTED CONDITIONS, LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, ALL WITHIN A DEFINED, GEOGRAPHIC DESIGNATED AREA OR DISTRICT.
THE AREA OF THAT STAFF IS PROPOSING IS INCLUSIVE OF THE WEST KING STREET CORRIDOR, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE BUSINESS DISTRICT AND THE BROUDY PROPERTY.
STAFF IS PROPOSING THAT THE BOUNDARY AREA WOULD GO AS FAR WEST AS OUR CITIES MUNICIPALITY BOUNDARY, NORTH WITH RAVENSWOOD DRIVE AS THE BOUNDARY STREET AND SOUTH USING ANDERSON STREET AS THE BOUNDARY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BODY UNDERSTANDS THAT ONCE WE COMPLETE THE FINDINGS OF NECESSITY STUDY, STAFF AND THE CONSULTANT MAY FIND THAT WE EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES PAST THOSE POINTS, OBVIOUSLY WITHIN THE CITY'S BOUNDARIES, MUNICIPALITY BOUNDARY.
BUT I KNOW THERE WAS SOME INQUIRIES ABOUT ANDERSON STREET BEING THE BORDERING LINE ON THE SOUTH SIDE. WE COULD GO FURTHER.
THERE ARE SOME AREAS OUTSIDE OF OR PAST THE ANDERSON AREA GOING SOUTH THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM A COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREAS.
SO WE WOULD CONSIDER THOSE AREAS AS WELL.
THIS MAP IS JUST GIVEN US A BASIS, IF YOU WILL, OF THE AREA THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME OTHER VULNERABLE AREAS IN THE CITY THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED.
THIS SLIDE IS INCLUSIVE OF SOME PHOTOS OF THE WEST KING CORRIDOR.
I DIDN'T INCLUDE OUR BUSINESS DISTRICT.
THOSE ARE ON OUR HOMEPAGE AND I'M SURE WE'RE ALL PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THAT INITIAL AREA WHEN WE CROSS INTO WEST CITY.
BUT THIS AREA IS ALSO CONSIDERED WEST CITY AND IT'S NEAR THE [INAUDIBLE] SUBDIVISION.
WHILE THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME IMPROVEMENTS
[02:35:01]
BY SOME PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE PURCHASING SOME OF THE DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES IN THIS AREA, THERE'S STILL SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE BLIGHT RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS IMPROVING THE AREA AS IS RELATED TO OUR PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY, WHICH IS OUTLINED AND ADDRESSED IN OUR MOBILITY PLAN.THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY COULD BENEFIT FROM A HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE OFFER IN LINCOLNVILLE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL HOMES AND I BELIEVE SOME QUALIFIED RESIDENTS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THAT.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE HISTORIC ELEMENTS IN THIS AREA OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE COULD ADDRESS AND CONSIDERED PRESERVING.
THE FREEDOM TRAIL ALSO EXTENDS INTO THIS AREA.
WE HAVE DR. ROBERT B. HAYLING PLACE IN RAWLINS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE ACTUAL MARKERS FROM THE ACCORD AND GRUMMAN PROJECT WHERE THEY ADDRESSED AND SHOW SOME OF THOSE HISTORIC MARKERS IN THE RAWLINS AREA.
THEN ALSO PICTURE ONE OF OUR POCKET PARKS THAT WE HAVE IN RAWLINS THAT WE COULD SPEND SOME FUNDS THEY ARE IN CONTINUING TO BEAUTIFY THAT.
OF COURSE, THE DILAPIDATED SIDEWALKS AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE COULD BE IMPROVED.
THIS IS NEAR OUR RAVENSWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE SAME AS WHAT'S GOING ON IN RAWLINS.
HAS SIMILAR CHALLENGES WITH THE NEED FOR PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY, BLIGHTED AND VACANT STRUCTURES.
THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THIS AREA AS WELL.
CONSIDERING THERE SOME AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORIC CHURCHES.
I REFERENCED LINCOLNVILLE BECAUSE I WORKED WITH THEM SO THOROUGHLY AND WE HAVE SOME REALLY THRIVING PROGRAMS THERE.
I REALLY THINK THAT WE CAN INTRODUCE SOME OF THOSE THINGS IN THIS AREA, SOME OF THOSE SIMILAR PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE AREAS ARE VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE.
THE OYSTER CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE PREVIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I MENTIONED.
I'M JUST HIGHLIGHTING THREE OF THE MAIN AREAS.
THIS AREA HAS ITS FAIR SHARE OF BLIGHT AND CHALLENGES AS WELL RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, WE ALSO HAVE THE RECREATION ELEMENT THAT WE CAN CONSIDER ADDRESSING NEAR THE CREEK.
POSTED A PICTURE HERE WHERE THERE'S SOME BLIGHT TRASH.
I THINK ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS MENTIONED DISPOSITION OF TRASH OR DISPOSAL OF TRASH DOWN AT OYSTER CREEK.
BUT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THOSE AREAS.
IN AN EFFORT NOT TO IMPEDE ON THE INTEGRITY OF OUR RESIDENTS, THERE ARE SOME EXTREMELY DILAPIDATED HOMES IN THIS AREA AS WELL.
SO I DIDN'T POST PICTURES OF OUR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
BUT I KEEP GOING BACK TO THE HOME IMPROVEMENT ELEMENT BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA WOULD GET THE MOST BENEFIT FROM CREATING A CRA AND BEING ABLE TO INVEST FUNDS OR INJECT CAPITAL INTO THOSE AREAS.
WE DID A FINDINGS OF NECESSITY STUDY LAST YEAR.
WE HIRED A CONSULTING FIRM TO COMPLETE A FINDINGS OF NECESSITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL RECALL WHEN WE WERE GOING TO EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR HACRA AND WE WERE GOING TO INCLUDE THE WEST KING CORRIDOR.
THIS STUDY, ALTHOUGH WE MOVED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH THE PLAN UPDATE FOR THE HACRA, THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS STUDY IS STILL VALUABLE AND WE CAN USE A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S IN THIS STUDY AS OUR FOUNDATION OR TOOL TO INCORPORATE THE NEW PROPOSED AREA.
IT CAPTURES A LOT OF OUR INDUSTRIAL AREAS, COMMERCIAL, SOME OF THE MIXED USE PROPERTIES, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, VACANT PARCELS AND PROPERTIES IN THE WESTERN AREAS OF THE CITY.
THE FINDINGS OF NECESSITY STUDIED THAT WE CONDUCT FOR ESTABLISHING THIS NEW AREA WOULD ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE EXPANDED BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAPTURING A MUCH BROADER AREA.
BUT THE INFORMATION, OF COURSE, IN THE RECENT FINDINGS OF NECESSITY THAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR IS STILL VITAL AND IT SHOWS THAT THERE'S A NEED TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES.
SO IT ENDED UP WORKING AS A PRELIMINARY DOCUMENT TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A NEED.
ESTABLISHED TO RECTIFY THESE VERY VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE WEST CITY.
BASICALLY, WHAT IS MY RECOMMENDATION? [LAUGHTER] WHAT AM I PROPOSING? IF THE COMMISSION IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RECOMMENDATION AND THE REASONING BEHIND IT, THE COMMISSION WOULD NEED TO AUTHORIZE MYSELF STAFF TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO REVIEW AND ANALYZE THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY AREA, AND ALSO AUTHORIZED STAFF TO ALLOCATE THE ESTIMATED COSTS OF ABOUT $100,000 THROUGH OUR GENERAL FUND IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR,
[02:40:02]
WHICH WILL BE 2024.THE FUNDS WOULD COVER THE COST OF HIRING A CONSULTANT TO COMPLETE THE FINDINGS OF NECESSITY.
THEY WOULD DOCUMENT EXISTING CONDITIONS OF BLIGHT AND SLUM, WORK WITH STAFF ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ELEMENT.
WE WOULD HOST SOME CHARRETTE AND SOME OTHER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE RESONANCE THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY A CRA.
ULTIMATELY THE CONSULTANT WOULD PRODUCE THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THEY WOULD PROVIDE THE TAX INCREMENT FUNDING PROJECTIONS AND NOTIFY ALL OF THE TAXING AUTHORITIES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED.
THIS IS JUST THE LEGISLATION THAT CLARIFIES THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A CRA.
THEN THE NEXT STEPS, SHOULD YOU ALL APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, WE WOULD GO INTO A FORMAL BIDDING PROCESS WHERE WE WOULD HIRE A CONSULTANT, GO THROUGH OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT.
OR WE COULD USE ONE OF OUR CONTINUING CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS WITH SOMEONE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS FAIR TO MENTION THAT IF THIS IS APPROVED IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE'RE ALLOCATING THE $100,000 IF THE CRA IS ESTABLISHED, THE COMMISSION CAN REQUEST TO HAVE THAT $100,000 REIMBURSED TO THE GENERAL FUND ONCE THE ESTABLISHED CRA STARTS GENERATING REVENUE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE SET UP THE CRA IN LINCOLNVILLE AND THE CRA DID PAY BACK THE ORIGINAL COST OF THE $100,000.
EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP. BUT BEFORE WE SAY ANYTHING, WHAT I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY IS WE'RE TOSSING AROUND THE WORD SLUM AND BLIGHT.
IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, IS THAT A DESCRIPTIVE TERM THAT WE WOULD NECESSARILY USE, IT IS A LEGAL TERM ACCORDING TO THE STATUTES, AND THE WORDS HAVE TO BE USED.
THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT AND WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING ANYTHING NEGATIVE.
IT'S JUST WE WANT TO USE THAT TERMINOLOGY TO ESTABLISH THAT NEED, THAT FINDING OF NECESSITY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT PRESENTATION.
WHEN I WAS OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING AND TALKING TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY, BECAUSE I AM BLESSED TO LIVE OVER IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, THERE IS A NEED IN RAWLINS SUBDIVISION WHERE I RESIDE, THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT BUILT THEIR HOUSES IN 1955, INCLUDING MY LATE GRANDPARENTS.
AND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE FELT TRAPPED TO REVERSE MORTGAGES, BECAUSE THEY WERE OLDER AND THEY WERE ON LIMITED INCOMES AND THEY COULDN'T REPAIR THEIR HOMES.
SO THEIR HEIRS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OWN THOSE HOUSES.
FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE STILL SOME THAT THIS CRA COULD HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR HOMES, LIKE THEY'VE DONE IN LINCOLNVILLE, AND THESE PEOPLE CAN RESIDE IN THERE.
THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING UP ON THE WEST SIDE, THAT WE CANNOT ACQUIRE THOSE PROPERTIES TO PREVENT THAT DEVELOPMENT.
SO THOSE HOMES ARE GOING TO BE IN JEOPARDY, ONCE THEY STARTED BUILDING THOSE HOUSES ON THE MARSH, AND MAYBE BE PUT IN FLOOD AREAS.
SO THERE'S A NEED FOR THE CRA TO COME TO THE WEST SIDE, IS A PREVENTATIVE MANAGER TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS THAT PAID TAX DOLLARS, AS WELL AS PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OTHER AREAS TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.
AND LINCOLNVILLE, YOU HAVE DEFINITELY DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH CHURCHES.
AND THERE'S CHURCHES OVER THAT WAY, AS WELL THAT ARE IN A NEED OF HELP THAT HAVE BEEN THERE, THAT HAVE MARKERS, THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS AS WELL.
AND SO THE CRA COMING TO THE WEST SIDE WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS, THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY, AND SOMEONE MADE A COMMENT THAT THIS IS FOR BROWNIES, THAT IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF THE CRA COMING TO THE WEST SIDE.
THE CRA COMING TO THE WEST SIDE IS TO HELP RESIDENTS JUST LIKE IT DID IN LINCOLNVILLE. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR ATTORNEY.
SINCE YOU MENTIONED REVERSE MORTGAGES, HOW DOES THAT WORK? I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND ONCE IT'S LIVED ITS LIFE, IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE THE MORTGAGE, CORRECT? BUT HOW DO WE, WHEN WE'RE PUTTING DOLLARS INTO IT,
[02:45:04]
PUTTING DOLLARS INTO A HOUSE.>> WE WOULDN'T PUT MONEY INTO A HOUSE THAT HAD A REVERSE MORTGAGE.
BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO GET THE CONSENT OF THE MORTGAGE HOLDERS ON THAT, BECAUSE THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY HOLD THE EQUITY.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT REALLY REALISTIC.
>> BUT CRITICALLY WHEN WE DO LIKE FIXED IT UP, WE NEED TO HAVE THE PERSON WHO HOLDS THE DEED.
AND IF THERE'S SUBSTANTIAL ALREADY DEED ON IT, WE'D PROBABLY RECONSIDER THAT.
BUT I CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO IT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
I MEAN, IT DOESN'T SEEMS TO ME THAT WE WANT TO BE FIXING UP SOMETHING, THAT IS GOING TO GO TO THE PERSON THAT IS NOT LIVING THERE FOREVER.
>> RIGHT, AND IT MAY BE A MATTER OF HOW MANY YEARS THEY ARE LEFT ON IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS, I'D HAVE TO LOOK IN MORE DETAIL IN TERMS OF, BECAUSE OUR SAY FOR INSTANCE, FIX IT UP.
IT'S SORT OF A DISAPPEARING LOAN IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
SO IF YOU'RE ABLE TO STAY IN AN AGE IN PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IT SHEDS SOME OF OUR FIX IT UP LOAN IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
SO WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE DETAIL.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANYBODY PUT ANY MONEY INTO A REVERSE MORTGAGE.
THESE WORK PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOME.
I SAID ALREADY FROM REVERSE MORTGAGES, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE ONE TO FALL TRAP TO A REVERSE MORTGAGE.
>> I AGREE. YEAH, OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE IN THAT AREA, AND I'M 100% SUPPORTIVE.
PART OF THE REASON THAT MS. GARRIS SAID, THAT SOME OF THEM ARE AFRAID OF LOSING THE HOUSE BECAUSE OF TEMPTATION, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE OFFERED A LOT OF MONEY FOR THAT HOUSE, AND THEY STILL CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE ROOF.
SO I WOULD RATHER FOCUS, I'M TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT I KNOW OF A RESIDENT PERSONALLY.
I'M SURE YOU ALL AWARE OF HIM AS WELL, BUT HE IS CURRENTLY IN A REHAB FACILITY, AND UNABLE TO COME HOME BECAUSE OF HIS STATUS OF HIS STRUCTURE RIGHT NOW IN RAWLINS SUBDIVISION.
I'VE BEEN ASKED BY RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY ONE OF OUR LCRH COMMITTEE PERSONS, OR STEERING COMMITTEE PERSON'S ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE, AND OF COURSE I'M UNABLE TO HELP THROUGH THE CRA CAPACITY, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A CRA THERE.
BUT I'VE PROVIDED SOME OTHER RESOURCES, AND THE REHAB CENTER WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TO TRANSITION HOME, BECAUSE OF THE STATUS OF HIS PROPERTY.
SO JUST THINKING OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE LIKE THAT LIVE IN THE AREA, JUST THE CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHING THE CRA THERE COULD BE BENEFICIAL.
>> THANK YOU. AND SO TONIGHT WE'RE NOT REALLY HERE TO WORK OUT THE MASTER PLAN DETAILS, THAT WILL COME ALONG AND THE COMMUNITY THERE'LL BE WORKSHOPS, AND PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AND JUST LIKE WE HAVE WITH THE NIGHTLIFE, IT'S A LONG PROCESS.
SO THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD WAS, YOU ALLUDED TO IT.
WHY ARE WE NOT EXTENDING THE DOWNTOWN CRA, IS IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST ONLY ABOUT TRANSPORTATION LIGHT AND PARKING LIGHT, OR WHY? WE JUST EXTEND IT.
>> SO INITIALLY WHEN WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, THERE WAS CONCERN AT THE STAFF LEVEL, THAT THE FUNDING FROM THE WEST CITY CRA BEING CONTRIBUTING BACK TO AN AREA, THAT IS ALREADY DOING PRETTY WELL WITH THEIR CRA.
IT COULD POSSIBLY TAKE AWAY FROM THAT AREA, AND CREATE A NEGATIVE COMPONENT, SO TO SPEAK.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY.
WEST AUGUSTINE HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE ISSUES SEPARATE FROM THE DOWNTOWN CRA, SEPARATE FROM THE LINCOLNVILLE CRA.
ALTHOUGH IT IS SIMILAR TO THE LINCOLNVILLE CRA, AND PROBABLY WILL END UP BEING SIMILAR. [INAUDIBLE]
>> RIGHT, WE DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO A SITUATION, WHERE WE HAD TO USE MONEY FROM WEST AUGUSTINE FOR THE REFINANCING OF A BOND.
FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE PARKING GARAGE DOWNTOWN.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A THIRD CRA, WEST CITY CRA TO HEAR STUCK IT.
>> WITH THE $100,000 THAT THEY NEED.
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED.
>> AND THEN I THINK I WAS OFFERED TO HAVE THE CRA PAYBACK,
[02:50:03]
I WANT TO ESTABLISH TO THE GENERAL FUND, AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN MY MOTION AS WELL.>> ALL RIGHT. ANY FINAL COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
>> NEXT ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU.
GREAT JOB, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE LAND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT AT
[10.B. Approval of the Land Exchange Agreement exchanging 800 Plantation Island Drive (City land) for 90 and 92 South Dixie Highway (Spadaro Holdings, LLC) for a homeless day center. and Resolution 2023- 22: Authorizes the entering into of the Land Exchange Agreement between 800 Plantation Island Drive and 90 and 92 South Dixie Highway and authorizes David Birchim, City Manager as agent for the transaction. (D. Birchim, City Manager)]
800 PLANTATION IRELAND DRIVE AND 1992 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY FOR A HOMELESS DROP-IN/DAY CENTER.SO WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THAT PRESENTATION, BECAUSE WE HAVE A RESOLUTION BEFORE US ON THAT.
MR. BERTRAM, HIMSELF IS DOING THE PRESENTATION.
>> BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU WORKED ON THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
YES, THIS EVENING ON THE AGENDA, YOU'VE GOT A CONSIDERATION FOR LAND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN OURSELVES AND SPADARO HOLDINGS LLC.
THE CITY OWNS THE PROPERTY AT 800 PLANTATION IRELAND DRIVE, WHICH IS HERE.
IT IS ROUGHLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ALLEGRO.
IT IS EQUIDISTANCE HALFWAY DOWN THE BLOCK ON PLANTATION IRELAND DRIVE, IT'S COMMERCIAL PARCEL.
THERE'S A CUTOUT HERE, OOPS, HERE.
FOR UTILITY LIFTS TO A SEWER LIFT STATION, AND AT&T SWITCHING STATIONS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SWAP WITH ANYONE.
THE PROPOSAL IS TO SWAP THIS PROPERTY. LET ME BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.
YOU AUTHORIZE TO SALE OF THIS PROPERTY LAST YEAR, AND YOU WERE INTERESTED IN THE PROCEEDS OF THAT SALE TO GO TOWARDS HOMELESS INITIATIVES.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SELL THIS PROPERTY.
NO ONE'S MADE AN OFFER ON THIS PROPERTY YET.
IT WAS ASSESSED AT $1.86 MILLION.
WE HAVE HAD AN OFFER TO SWAP OUR PROPERTY FOR 90 AND 92 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS ROUGHLY THIS PROPERTY.
IT'S BEHIND THE WINN-DIXIE SHOPPING CENTER PLAZA.
IT SAID THAT AWKWARD INTERSECTION, WHERE 207 IN SOUTH DIXIE MERGE, IT HAD A TRAILER PARK, IT HAD A FURNITURE STORE, A BEAUTY SALON.
IT'S CURRENTLY VACANT. THE PROPERTY IS A COMMERCIAL ZONING.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PROPERTY IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A HOMELESS DROP-IN DAY CENTER.
SO IT WOULD BE AN EVEN SWAP BETWEEN OUR PROPERTY AND THIS PROPERTY.
THIS PROPERTY WAS ASSESSED AT 1.15 MILLION.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR PROPERTY, I'M SORRY, APPRAISED AT 1.86 MILLION.
THAT DID NOT TAKE IN THE CONSIDERATION, THE FACT THAT OUR PROPERTY IS PART OF A LANDFILL.
AND WHOEVER PURCHASED IT, WOULD HAVE TO EXPEND MONEY TO CLEAN UP THE LANDFILL, BEFORE THEY DEVELOPED IT.
THIS PROPERTY IS A CLEAN PROPERTY, IT DOES HAVE SEPTIC TANKS, BUT WE'RE PREPARED TO HOOK THIS PROPERTY UP TO CITY SEWER.
IT IS WITHIN EASY BIKING, AND WALKING DISTANCE OF DOWNTOWN.
WE COULD RELOCATE DINING WITH DIGNITY TO THE SITE, WE COULD ENTER INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH CONTINUUM OF CARE, HOME AGAIN ST. JOHN'S, AND OTHER PROVIDERS FOR WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, AND PROVIDE SERVICES SUCH AS LAUNDRY, SHOWERS, MAIL, AND ABILITY FOR HOMELESS FOLKS TO TRY TO GET JOB APPLICATIONS FILLED OUT, CONTACT THEIR RELATIVES FOR A REUNIFICATION.
WE COULD TRY TO HAVE A CLINIC THERE, MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK FOR HEALTH CHECKUPS.
THOSE TYPES OF BASIC HUMAN SERVICES THAT ARE LACKING RIGHT NOW IN OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S THE BASIS OF THIS REQUEST.
IT'S FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THIS LAND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT.
IF YOU DO APPROVE THE LAND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT, THE SECOND PART OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS A RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION SIMPLY IS YOUR FORMAL APPROVAL OF THE LAND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGING MYSELF AS THE AGENT FOR YOUR TRANSACTION.
[02:55:02]
THIS IS BEING ASKED BY OUR TITLE COMPANY, BECAUSE THE TITLE INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS WOULD LIKE A FORMAL RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING THE LAND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT.I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY.
I MEAN, I'M VERY ENTHUSIASTIC AND HOPEFUL THAT THIS WOULD WORK OUT JUST THE WAY YOU HAVE PRESENTED IT.
>> A LOT OF HARD WORK WENT INTO THIS.
>> I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT. I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME COMPLAINT ABOUT HAVING A PIECE OF PROPERTY 1.8 AND 1.2.
TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE BUYING THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY AT A DISCOUNT OF $400,000.
ANYBODY IN ST. AUGUSTINE THAT COULD EVEN BUY A PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH A DISCOUNT OF ALMOST ONE-THIRD, WOULD SMILE ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
EVEN IF YOU DO A DOLLAR TO DOLLAR, WE'RE STILL WAY AHEAD ON THIS DEAL, SO I FULLY SUPPORT THIS.
>> I AGREE, AND I THINK THAT THE LOCATION OF THE DROP-IN DAY CENTER SITE ADDS VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS THE PLANTATION ISLAND DRIVE SITE IS SIMPLY TOO FAR AWAY TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL HOMELESS SERVICES.
THERE'S DOLLAR VALUES AND THEN THERE IS SOCIAL VALUE, AND I THINK THAT THIS PROVIDES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR US TO LEVERAGE TO WORK ON A VERY IMPORTANT, PROMINENT PROBLEM IN OUR DOWNTOWN, OR ONE OF THEM.
PROBABLY THE MOST VISIBLE PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT, CERTAINLY.
I, HEARING NO OTHER, OFFER RESOLUTION 2023-22 TO APPROVE IT AS PRESENTED.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
BIG STEP FORWARD, THANK YOU, MR. BURTON, VERY MUCH, AND EVERYONE AT THE CITY STAFF LEVEL THAT'S WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS.
I SEE MR. FISHER IN THE BACK, AND VERY HAPPY HE'S HERE TONIGHT TOO. THANK YOU, SIR.
ITEM 11A WE HAVE UPDATE BY MS. LOPEZ.
[11.A. Third quarter legal department update. (Information Only - No Presentation) (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, IT'S MY USUAL QUARTERLY UPDATE.
I DID HAVE TWO VERY QUICK THINGS I'D LIKE YOU TO CONFIRM FOR ME FOR THE ART COMMITTEE THAT VICE MAYOR HORVATH IS HEADING.
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THE COMMITTEE IS TASKED WITH TWO MAIN JOBS, ONE IS THE PUTTING TOGETHER THE CALL TO ARTISTS, AND THEN ALSO BRINGING THAT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR ITS APPROVAL.
THEY'LL PUT IT TOGETHER, RECOMMENDED TO YOU, AND YOU'LL BLESS IT, IF THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, DO I SEE HEADS NODDING? YES?
>> WELL, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT.
IS IT THE ARTISTS THAT YOU'RE CHOOSING OR THE ART?
>> NOT SURE WITH THE WAY IT'S LABELED.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'LL PROBABLY HAVE A PRESENTATION TO YOU INTERIM AFTER ONE OR TWO MEETINGS WITH THIS COMMITTEE, BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN GO.
CERTAINLY, THE FIRST CALL OUT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC ART.
WE DON'T WANT SOMEBODY WHO'S NEVER DONE A PUBLIC ART PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S QUITE A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.
WE WILL GET THOSE IN, AND THEN THE QUESTION, I THINK IF WE HAVE SAY, EIGHT PEOPLE THAT ARE QUALIFIED OR MAYBE FOUR PEOPLE WE MIGHT GIVE THEM A STIPEND OF SOME AMOUNT TO DEVELOP A CONCEPT.
OUT OF THOSE CONCEPTS, WE WOULD LIMIT IT DOWN TO THREE AND BRING IT TO YOU FOR YOUR SELECTION.
>> DOES THE MATERIAL THAT THEY WORK IN MATTER?
>> ABSOLUTELY. IT'LL BE SPELLED OUT VERY CLEARLY.
THAT HAS TO HOLD UP OVER TIME, IT HAS TO BE ABLE TO BE CLEANED.
I MEAN, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ENTER INTO THIS THING.THESE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE, THANK GOODNESS, WE HAVE SUCH A GOOD TEAM, THEY'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] OH GOOD, THAT'S GREAT
>> THEY'RE GOING TO BE A GREAT RESOURCE.
>> WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE HOW MANY TIMES YOU WANTED TO SEE IT BACK, OR IF YOU ONLY WANT TO SEE THE STIPEND DISCUSSION AND THEN THE, I'LL CALL IT SHORT LISTING OF THE RECOMMENDATION? JUST SO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IT IS YOU'RE EXPECTING.
ARE YOU EXPECTING TO SEE THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATION OF THE CALL TO
[03:00:03]
ARTISTS PLUS THE STIPEND AMOUNT AND BLESS THAT? THEN THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS THE APPLICANTS AND BRINGS YOU A RECOMMENDATION AND YOU BLESSED THAT.>> I WOULD THINK ALL THIS COULD GO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>> I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ART LINGO.
>> WE JUST WANTED A SENSE OF HOW MUCH YOU WANTED THIS COMMITTEE TO COME BACK TO YOU ON AND I THINK I'VE GOT A SENSE.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I THINK SHE PICKED A INCREDIBLE COMMITTEE.
I KNOW MOST OF THEM, ALL BUT ONE PERSON.
BUT ANYWAY, THE OTHER THING I'D HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WAS THE TERM LIMITS OF THEIR APPOINTMENT.
IS THIS A ONETIME THING FOR THE SCULPTURE OR IS THIS A PERMANENT COMMITTEE?
>> I HAVE NOT HAD THEM COMMIT TO MORE THAN THIS LOCATION, BUT IF IT TURNED OUT AND WE WORKED WELL TOGETHER AND THEY'RE WILLING TO, IF WE HAD OTHER LOCATIONS, PERHAPS OVER ON THE ISLAND, IF WE DID THE ROUNDABOUT BY LIGHTHOUSE, WE MIGHT WANT AN ART PIECE THERE, THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO.
>> MY SUGGESTION IS WE DO IT AD HOC?
>> JUST BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE TO BE TRAINED IN SUNSHINE, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO CHAT WITH EACH OTHER OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON THIS ISSUE, SO IT'S JUST A LOT CLEANER TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO BE THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR THIS LOCATION.
WE MAY DO ANOTHER COMMITTEE AT SOME FUTURE TIME FOR A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
IT'S JUST EASIER ON THEM, OTHERWISE, THEY'RE LIKE, OH GOSH, I CAN'T TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW.
>>WE'RE HAVING THE MEETINGS HERE, AND THEY WILL BE ADVERTISED, IT'LL BE A PUBLIC MEETING, SO WE'LL BE GETTING PUBLIC INPUT AT THOSE MEETINGS.
WE'RE DOING IT HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RECORDING SECRETARY, IT'S JUST EASIER.
>> ALL RIGHT THEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[12.A. Notification of two term expirations on the Planning and Zoning Board. (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
>> I HAVE TWO BRIEF ITEMS THIS EVENING.
MY FIRST ONE IS A NOTIFICATION FOR TWO UPCOMING TERM EXPIRATIONS ON OUR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, THIS IS JUST THE STARTING PROCESS.
BOTH MEMBERS THAT CURRENTLY HOLD THOSE POSITIONS, JOHN DEPRETER AND CHRISTINA TUCKER, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO REAPPLY, BUT WE WILL ADVERTISE THIS ACCORDANCE TO OUR POLICIES.
THE SECOND ITEM I HAVE THIS EVENING IS A REQUEST
[12.B. Request for one appointment to the St. Augustine Audit Review Committee. (D. Galambos, City Clerk)]
FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE AUDIT REVIEW COMMITTEE.WE GOT ONE APPLICATION FROM OUR CURRENT BOARD MEMBER WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT, THOMAS GILBOYS, SO WITH YOUR APPROVAL, I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU APPOINT MR. GILBOY.
>> ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE THE NEXT ITEM IS OUR LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN.
[13.A. Discussion of legislative priority items for the upcoming legislative session. (D. Birchim, City Manager)]
MR. CITY MANAGER.>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, EVERY JULY, THE CITY SENDS OUR LIST OF LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOR INCLUSION IN THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN.
I'VE PUT TOGETHER A SMALL LIST OF ITEMS THAT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, YOU CAN ADD OR SUBTRACT FROM THESE ITEMS AS YOU WISH.
THE FIRST IS A SUPPORTIVE HOME RULE, SECOND IS A LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION OR CONSTRUCTING MUSEUM EXHIBITS AND VIC.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING AND WE SHALL BE BUILDING SOME MUSEUM EXHIBITS TO SUPPORT A ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISPLAY THAT'S IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
WE BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO COST US SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $800,000 FOR THIS DISPLAY AND VIC.
WE'RE ASKING FOR THE STATE TO APPROPRIATE THAT MONEY.
THEY WILL BE PARTICIPATING BY DONATING ARTIFACTS TO THIS PROGRAM, SO WE THINK THAT'S A GOOD FIT.
WE'RE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE FOR AN APPROPRIATION FOR CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION TO SEED THE LOCAL CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION FUND.
ANOTHER PRIORITY WOULD BE SUPPORTING THE CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION OF STATE ROAD 313, WHICH IS THE BYPASS AROUND THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
SUPPORTING COMMUTER RAIL BETWEEN JACKSONVILLE AND ST. AUGUSTINE, THE COMMUTER RAIL STATION IS DESIGNED AT ADJACENT TO THE BROWDY SITE.
FINALLY, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S A LONG SHOT, REPEALING THE STATUTE THAT WAS PASSED IN 2019 THAT PREEMPTS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM PERMITTING TREE REMOVAL OR TRIMMING ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY OF THESE ITEMS, YOU PLEASE DO.
[03:05:04]
IF YOU WANT TO ADD TO ANY OF THESE ITEMS, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO SO.YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT ME LATER ON THIS WEEK IF SOMETHING POPS IN YOUR HEAD.
I'M GOING TO NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS MS. CITY ATTORNEY.
CURRENTLY, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE FINES FOR WILLFUL DEMOLITIONS AFTER THE FACT ARE THE MAX CAPPED AT $5,000 PER STRUCTURE? THAT IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLY LOW NUMBER THAT I COULD SEE MANY PEOPLE JUST WRITING IT INTO THE COST OF THEIR REHAB OR NEW BUILDING AND JUST WILLFULLY DEMOLISHING A STRUCTURE.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD ASK FOR POTENTIALLY WOULD BE A CARVE-OUT OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN MAYBE LIKE GREAT GET THAT RAISED.
>> SURE. JUST TO FLESH THAT OUT, IT'S FLORIDA STATUTE 162.09, AND IT CAPS OUR ABILITY TO PUNISH WRONGDOERS FOR DEMOLISHING, FOR INSTANCE, TO OUR PROPERTIES.
AS PROPERTY VALUES HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF IN OUR LOCALITY, A $5,000 FINE COULD BE POTENTIALLY PERCEIVED AS JUST THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
CURRENTLY THE STATUTE ALLOWS JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE AT LEAST 50,000 PEOPLE IN POPULATION TO ADOPT MORE SEVERE IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
POTENTIAL FINES, FOR INSTANCE, UP TO $15,000.
I DON'T KNOW IF $15,000 IS STILL THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
WE CAN HATE THIS PHRASE, BUT SKIN THE CAT IN A COUPLE OF WAYS WHICH WOULD BE PERHAPS AS SEEING IF OUR LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT HAS A CONCEPT OF WOULD IT BE EASIER TO DROP THE POPULATION THRESHOLD AND MAKE IT A SMALLER CITY WOULD BE ABLE TO ENACT THESE KINDS OF ORDINANCES, OR WOULD IT BE EASIER TO REMOVE IT ENTIRELY? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE POLITICS OF TALLAHASSEE, SO I'M GUESSING THAT THERE PROBABLY WON'T BE HUGE SUPPORT TO REMOVE IT ENTIRELY.
SO MY SUGGESTION IS MAYBE WE SEE IF THERE'S ANY DESIRE OR ANY POTENTIAL SPONSOR TO CHANGE THAT POPULATION THRESHOLD FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ENACT.
IT WOULDN'T BE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POPULATION OF 50,000 PEOPLE, WHICH WE CLEARLY DON'T.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S THE EASIER ROUTE AND PERHAPS LYNN WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN US WHAT THE BETTER ROUTE IS.
>> WELL, AND WE CAN'T DO UNLESS WE PUT IT ON OUR LIST.
IF YOU DON'T MIND IF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS CONCEPT, THEN I'LL ASK YOU TO PROVIDE US WITH A DESCRIPTION TO INCLUDE IN OUR PACKAGE, AND THEN PUT IT ON OUR AGENDA TO DISCUSS WITH OUR LOBBYISTS.
I WORRY ABOUT THIS LAST ONE ON THE TREE PRUNING AND TRIMMING PUTS A LONG SHOT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE THAT IN THERE.
BECAUSE THE MORE WE HAVE DOESN'T IT WATER IT DOWN.
>> THE TREE, TRIMMING AND REMOVAL IT'S STILL NOT SATISFACTORY.
WE ASKED FOR A STRIKE ALL THE FIRST-YEAR AND THEY SAID, "ABSOLUTELY NOT." WE CAME BACK IN AND I'M SAYING WE'VE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES WERE ABLE TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON IT.
IT'S STILL NOT WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE.
PEOPLE ARE STILL CUTTING TREES DOWN.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S EVER AS LONG AS IT'S ON THE BOOKS, WE'RE GOING LOSE A LOT OF TREES.
>> I'M IN FAVOR OF KEEPING IT IN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US WORK HARDER THEN.
>> YEAH, ME TOO. IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN KEEP PUSHING AT AND I THINK, IF HISTORY HAS SHOWN US ANYTHING, PUSHING BACK WORKS IN A LOT OF CASES.
>> IN A LOT OF CASES, SO WE'LL SEE.
>> ADDITIONS TO OUR CONSTANT BATTLE WITH THE STATE TO RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO PASSING THIS LAWS.
[03:10:01]
WHERE DOES THE STATE STAND ON THIS SADOWSKI ACT NOW, ARE THEY STILL FUNDING IT.>> I DON'T RECALL. DO YOU RECALL MAYOR? I THINK IT WAS FUNDED.
>> IT WAS IN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT ENDED UP IN THE SESSION AT THE END, BUT IT'S ALWAYS SUBJECT TO WRITE UNTIL THEY FIX THAT.
>> I KNOW BUT THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE ON THERE, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT GO AND READ THAT DARN THING AGAIN.
BECAUSE IF THEY HADN'T READ IT FOR SO MANY YEARS.
>> WE WOULD HAVE MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOW.
>> I WOULD JUST SUPPORT ON PRINCIPLE THAT IT'D BE FULLY FUNDED AND IT'S USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
>> ON THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE THAT I SIT IN, THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.
THAT'S ALWAYS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
IT'S ALWAYS A LONG REPORT AND AFTER THE CONFERENCE IN AUGUST, I CAN COME BACK AND REPORT TO YOU WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY'LL GIVE US SOME INSIGHT.
THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
>> I GO FIRST. REAL SHORT, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT AND LIKE TO SPEAK.
THAT'S GOVERNMENT ACTION AND I THINK THEY WERE PROFESSIONAL AND WELL-BEHAVED AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK IF IT'S POSSIBLE, AND I THINK MR. SIMPSON MIGHT HAVE TO DO SOME HOMEWORK AND YOU MIGHT ENJOY IT.
IF WE COULD PRODUCE THE ACTUAL INCOME THAT'S A CITY GETS FROM BARS FROM MIDNIGHT TO 2:00.
WE GET VERY LITTLE BECAUSE WE GET SALES TAX AND WE GET A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THAT.
IT DOESN'T INCREASE THEIR PROPERTY VALUE IS IT DOESN'T ADD TO AD VALOREM.
BUT I THINK HAVING THAT NUMBER TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT NIGHTLIFE DOES NOT PRODUCE A LOT OF INCOME FOR THE CITY.
>> YEAH, AND THE SALES TAX, AGAIN, MOST OF THE TAXES GO EITHER TO THE STATE OR THE COUNTY, EVEN TDC FUNDS, EVEN BED TAX, WE THEORETICALLY GET A PORTION OF IT BACK.
BUT THERE REALLY IS NO ABILITY FOR OUR CITY TO HAVE, SAY, A FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX DIFFERENT THAN MIAMI.
MIAMI HAS A CARVE-OUT IN THE STATUTE.
REALLY, OUR FUNDS FROM OUR BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN IS AD VALOREM TAXES LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> YES, SIR. A REASON WHY WE CAN'T GET A CARVE-OUT? MIAMI, DID IT?
>> TINY, TINY, TINY POPULATION.
[LAUGHTER] MIAMI, VERY LARGE POPULATION, BUT YES, BUT WERE IMPORTANT TO [OVERLAPPING] WE CAN ADD IT TO THE LIST, DAVID CAN ADD IT.
>> I WOULD THINK WE WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE THAN MIAMI WITH POPULATION TO TWO MILLION WITH A CARVE-OUT OF A SMALL SECTION OF THEIR CITY.
WE HAVE A POPULATION OF 14,000 AND WE PRODUCE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SALES TAX THAT WE DON'T GET.
THE PERCENTAGE OF US GETTING ROBBED IS MUCH HIGHER THAN MIAMI.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR VOTING FOR THE WESTSIDE CRA I KNOW FROM LIVING ON THE WESTSIDE, WE ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE FORGOTTEN PART OF THE CITY.
BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE ONCE YOU CROSS OVER US, ONE, WE WERE NOT OUT WEST AND THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE CITY AND SO WE'RE JUST LIKE THERE.
THIS SHOWS THAT THE WESTSIDE OF THE CITY IS BEING RECOGNIZED AND THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET FUNDING TO HELP THEM STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND TO REPAIR THEIR HOMES.
IT WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OVER THERE.
THIS IS A WINDOW THAT HAS BEEN OPENED THAT'S BEEN LONG OVER THERE. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE? I HAVE ONE THING BUT JUST GO.
>> I WAS JUST WONDERING, DO YOU KNOW WHETHER, I DON'T KNOW WHICH CEMETERY IT IS? BUT THERE'S CEMETERY.
>> MAYBE, IS IT IN THIS AREA BECAUSE I'VE WORKED IN THAT CEMETERY ONCE THERE WAS A FIXED IT UP AND CLEAN IT UP AND EVERYTHING AND IT REALLY WAS WE DID A LOT.
IT LOOKED REALLY GOOD. I HAVEN'T BEEN BY THERE IN A LONG TIME, BUT MAYBE IT COULD BE PART OF THAT TOO.
>> I THINK THAT'S IN THE COUNTY.
>> WE THINK [OVERLAPPING] MAYBE IN THE COUNTY RIGHT UP THE BORDER.
>> ACTUALLY, I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
PART OF IT IS IN THE CITY AND PART OF IT'S IN THE COUNTY.
>> OH NO. COOL. WELL, THEN THERE YOU GO.
PERFECT. LET'S MAKE SURE, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW. I THOUGHT I'D NEVER REMEMBER THAT.
AS I RECALL WHEN I WAS ON THE HISTORIC RESOURCE REVIEW WORK FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY, IT WAS ALWAYS EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING FOR THE COUNTY TO DO SOMETHING.
>> SO I GUESS, [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE I REMEMBER MAYOR [INAUDIBLE] GOING OVER THERE SPEAKING WHEN SHE WAS MAYOR BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE CITY MARCHING WITH THAT ANYWAY.
>> THE WOODLAWN CEMETERY, WHICH IS CALLED THE WOODLAWN CEMETERIES IN THE COUNTY,
[03:15:01]
BUT THE EVERGREEN CEMETERY, WHICH IS THAT SMALL EVERGREEN, [OVERLAPPING] IS IT HALF AND HALF IN THE CITY AND COUNTY.>> THE EVERGREEN IS HALF AND HALF.
>> IT'S JUST A JEWISH CEMETERY.
IT'S HALF AND HALF. HALF OF IT IS IN THE CITY AND HALF OF IT IS IN THE COUNTY.
>> EVERGREEN CEMETERY, I GUESS YOU SAID WOODLAWN.
>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WOODLAWN IN THE COUNTY, EVERGREEN IN THE CITY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> HALF IN THE CITY, HALF IN THE COUNTY.
>> THE EVERGREEN. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
GOOD FOR THE CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU.
MINE IS WHAT I WOULD HOPE IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A PRESENTATION ON THE SISTER CITIES AS WE'RE REACHING 100 YEARS FOR NEXT YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAMS AND THE STRUCTURE AND JUST A ONE-TO-ONE PROGRAM FROM STAFF ON THAT IN THIS SEPTEMBER.
PERHAPS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THESE REQUESTS THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM OTHER CITIES TO BECOME SISTER CITIES.
I HAD A LETTER, MET WITH THE CONSULATE GENERAL FROM MIAMI FOR ISRAEL, WHO SENT A LETTER FOLLOWING UP ASKING FOR US TO BE A SISTER CITY WITH THE CITY AND ISRAEL.
WE'VE HAD THE REQUEST FROM TAXCO MEXICO, WE'VE HAD ROTHENBURG GERMANY.
IT'S A NICE FEELING TO BE ASKED TO THE DANCE AND ALL THESE THINGS.
BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT AND I CERTAINLY MEANT TO GET THERE TO THAT DISCUSSION IN FEBRUARY.
JUST IT REALLY HASN'T WE JUST BEEN SO BUSY, SO I'D LIKE TO PUT IT ON SEPTEMBER IF YOU DON'T MIND, IS THAT EVERYBODY CAN WE ADD THAT TO THE TASK LIST? EVERYBODY'S NODDING. PERFECT.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE TASK LIST, BUT I WILL UPDATE IT WITH THE DATE.
>> WITH THE DATE SCHEDULE IT FOR SEPTEMBER.
THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.