[00:00:02]
ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[1. Call to Order. ]
THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION, AND I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.AND, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[2. General Public Comments.]
I HAVE THREE PUBLIC SPEAKER CARDS.I'M GOING TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE ARTHUR COLBERT, FOLLOWED BY TIM ROBINSON.
THERE YOU GO. IS IT ON? YES. ARTHUR COLBERT, 2210 VISTA COVE ROAD, WEST AUGUSTINE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMPASSION SAINT AUGUSTINE.
AND HERE TODAY, AS WE REVIEW THE BUDGET AND WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR BEING SO TRANSPARENT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO LIKE THAT PARTICULARLY COMPASSIONATE SAINT AUGUSTINE RIGHT NOW IS VERY INTERESTED IN THE ACQUISITION OF PUBLIC LAND.
LIKE MY REQUEST TODAY, WE'VE MADE THESE REQUESTS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND WE'D REALLY ASK THAT YOU SET ASIDE SOME MONEY TO REALLY KIND OF PUT SOME REAL MONEY BEHIND THESE WORDS TO ACQUIRE SOME OF THIS LAND.
WE'RE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN FISH ISLAND RIGHT NOW.
AS WE KNOW, THIS LAND IS SO IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WE ALL MOSTLY LIVE IN A FLOODPLAIN AND YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO ACQUIRE THIS LAND HELPS IN TERMS OF FLOODING IS WHY PEOPLE COME TO FLORIDA AND WE CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON.
AND AT ANY RATE, I APPLAUD ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND TODAY I'M HERE JUST TO REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU.
OKAY. SO THANKS FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING.
AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS TIM ROBINSON, FOLLOWED BY GREG SMITH.
MR. ROBINSON, NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
TIM ROBINSON, 325 MARYLAND AVENUE.
WE'VE VISITED THIS TOPIC MANY TIMES.
IT'S A PROTECTED BIRD SANCTUARY.
IT'S A PROTECTED ANCIENT DUNE.
IT'S A PROTECTED MARITIME HAMMOCK.
SO THOSE THINGS BEING SAID, WE'RE JUST CONFUSED ON HOW SUCH PRECIOUS AND PROTECTED LAND COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR CONSTRUCTION OR POSSIBLY DEMOLITION AND THE IMPACTS MOVING FORWARD WITH FUTURE STORMS THAT WOULD IMPACT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE WEST IS VERY CONCERNING. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, WE GOT TOGETHER AND SOME OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS WERE HERE AND MET WITH US ON THE LAND, AND THAT WAS GREAT.
AND CARLOS HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE WANT TO KEEP THAT COMMUNICATION OPEN.
WE ARE NOW APPROACHING 2500 SIGNATURES FROM PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, NOT JUST LOCAL RESIDENTS, BUT PEOPLE FROM COMPANIES LIKE OR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE GREENPEACE AND SAVE THE TREES AND SAVE THE TURTLES AND ANYONE THAT YOU CAN THINK OF.
THEY'RE ALL SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS AND THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID, TIM, WHAT ARE WE MISSING HERE? THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE AN ANCIENT CITY THAT'S CONCERNED ABOUT PRESERVING WHAT LITTLE PRECIOUS LAND THERE IS LEFT.
SO WE JUST WANT TO KEEP THE COMMUNICATION LINES OPEN.
[00:05:01]
WE HOPE THAT YOU DO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE.WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE BEST FACILITIES, THE BEST EQUIPMENT, THE BEST PAY.
OKAY. WE HAVE MORE SPEAKER CARDS.
GREAT. NEXT SPEAKER IS GREG SMITH, FOLLOWED BY MATTY HARMS. I AM GREG SMITH, 955 FISH ISLAND PLACE, SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET ME ADDRESS THE CITY LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE CITY FOR ITS COMMITMENT FOR BOTH CONSERVATION AND RESILIENCE DEMONSTRATED BY THE ACQUISITION AND OR MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTIES OF FISH ISLAND PRESERVE, FISH ISLAND ROAD AND FULL AWARD.
CITY RESIDENTS MORE THAN 90% OF WHOM LIVE IN A FLOOD PLAIN BY PROVIDING NATURAL BUFFERS AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND HELP MITIGATE STORM DAMAGE AS WELL AS PROVIDE HABITAT FOR LOCAL WILDLIFE.
CITY RESIDENTS VOICED ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT FLOODING AND OVERDEVELOPMENT.
SUPPORT FOR LAND PRESERVATION IS STRONG AND THE TAXPAYING PUBLIC IS KEENLY AWARE OF THE KIND OF SWIFT ACTION THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR TWO TO PURCHASE PUBLIC LAND FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT.
WE SUPPORT FORMALIZING THIS ONGOING EFFORTS BY ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR LAND ACQUISITION, AN INITIAL AMOUNT OF ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS AS PART OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET, WITH AN EYE TOWARD INCREASING THAT AMOUNT IN THE FUTURE.
THEREFORE, FUNDS TO PURCHASE THIS TYPE OF LAND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CITY BUDGET.
I'M SORRY. MADDIE HARMS. APOLOGIZE MS.. HARMS FOLLOWED BY SUSAN CREEK.
MATTY HARMS, 307 SAINT GEORGE STREET.
THIS IS THE LETTER I WROTE TO THE COMMISSION.
IT APPEARS THAT STAFF TIME CAME UP WITH ZERO OR NO MORE TIME WAS SPENT IN THE SEARCH.
AND SEEKING FLORIDA DEVELOPERS WILL RESPOND BY BUILDING LAND ONCE SECURED FOR LOW TAX PURPOSES AND TIMBER AND AGRICULTURE, FRAGILE LAND AND IMPORTANT CANOPY TREES WILL BE LOST. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN TREE LOSS IN THE CITY.
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO FIND CLEAR CUTTING IN THE ENTIRE AREA ALMOST OVERNIGHT.
IF OTHER FUNDING SOURCE RESOURCES ARE NOT AVAILABLE, THE COUNTY DOESN'T GIVE A HOOT ABOUT THE CITY.
PLEASE VOTE FOR SETTING ASIDE THE CRITICALLY NEEDED 500,000 TO PRESERVE PRESERVE WHAT WE CAN WHILE LAND AND TREES, FRAGILE PROPERTIES AND SOUTHERN CHARM THAT TOURISTS LOVE STILL EXIST.
THEY DON'T COME ALL HERE TO SIT IN BARS AND DRINK UNTIL 2 A.M..
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. HARMS. SUSAN CREEK IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY LAUREN THOMAS.
SUSAN CREEK, 52 SMITH STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE.
OKAY. AS A RESIDENT OF WEST AUGUSTINE AND A MEMBER AND REPRESENTATIVE OF SIERRA CLUB OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA, I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM THAT COULD PURCHASE AS MUCH PROPERTY AT RISK OF BEING DEVELOPED AS POSSIBLE AND PLACE IT INTO CONSERVATION LAND.
ONE ONLY NEEDS TO WALK OUT THE DOOR AND BE HIT BY THAT BLAST OF STEAMING HOT AIR TO RECOGNIZE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE THAT WE'VE BEEN WARNED ABOUT FOR DECADES IS UPON US NOW. IT WAS THE HOTTEST JULY ON RECORD AROUND THE WORLD, AND THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW.
SAINT AUGUSTINE IS UNDOUBTEDLY A CITY AT RISK.
WITH OUR GREAT HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE TO THIS COUNTRY.
[00:10:01]
WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER TO PRESERVE OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.AT THE RATE WE'RE MOVING AHEAD, THIS SEEMS AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK.
PLEASE STAND UP TO THE FORCES OF DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVE AND PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
APPROVE ONLY SMART DEVELOPMENT.
AND PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO REDUCE DEPENDANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS.
THANK YOU. LAUREN THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY KRISTIN THOMAS.
MY ADDRESS IS 22 MARYLAND AVENUE.
I WAS ACTUALLY BORN AND RAISED ON MARYLAND AVENUE.
I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE PROPOSED FIRE STATION ON THE STATE PARK LAND.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND WOODROW WILSON ESTABLISHED THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SYSTEM TO SAVE SOME NATURAL LAND FOR OUR BENEFIT.
TO SAVE HUMANS FROM THEMSELVES, FROM OVERDEVELOPMENT.
SO IF WE TAKE THIS STATE PARK LAND, WHAT'S TO SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO JUST TAKE MORE STATE PARK LAND 10 OR 20 YEARS FROM NOW UNTIL WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE STATE PARK LAND? THIS LAND IS VERY IMPORTANT AS A BUFFER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS A FLOOD ZONE AND THERE IS ABOUT A 15 FOOT DUNE.
I HAVE SOME VIDEO THAT I CAN SUBMIT TO ANYONE, THE CITY THAT SHOWS THE DUNE SIZE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE LEVELED IF A FIRE STATION WAS THERE AND THAT WOULD NO LONGER HAVE A WIND BUFFER, FLOOD BUFFER FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M WONDERING WHAT OTHER STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION? BECAUSE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE REASON THE MAIN REASON THAT THE FIRE STATION NEEDS TO BE MOVED IS TO CREATE A ROUNDABOUT TO PREVENT CRASHES ON THE CURVE BY THE STATE PARK.
AND I'M WONDERING WHAT OTHER STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PREVENT CRASHES ON THAT CURVE, SUCH AS WHEN YOU'RE EXITING THE STATE PARK, THERE'S LIKE BUMPS IN THE ROAD THAT ALERTS YOU TO A STOP SIGN.
THERE COULD BE BUMPS ON THE ROAD THAT ALERTS YOU TO THAT CURVE.
THERE COULD BE FLASHING YELLOW LIGHTS.
ALL OF THESE THINGS WOULD SLOW DOWN PEOPLE FROM GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR UP TO THAT CURVE.
SO THAT REALLY IS WHAT PROBABLY BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LESS THAN CHANGING THAT ENTIRE CURVE INTO A ROUNDABOUT AND CHANGING THE LOCATION OF A FIRE STATION AND DESTROYING STATE PARK LAND.
OTHER THAN JUST MAKING A ROUNDABOUT AND SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND DESTROYING STATE LAND.
NAME AND ADDRESS. I'M KRISTIN THOMAS, 33 MATANZAS CIRCLE 32080.
I TOO AM BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH, FLORIDA.
MY FAMILY HAS LIVED AT MARYLAND AVENUE FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
CLEARLY WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE AND I AND EMBRACING THE CHANGE TO A DEGREE.
BUT LIKE MY SISTER SAID A FEW MINUTES AGO.
WHEN MY FAMILY PURCHASED THIS HOUSE ON, YOU KNOW, THERE'S 30 HOUSES THERE.
THERE WERE NO NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE SOUTH OF US.
NOW THERE'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, 15, 20 HOMES.
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IT'S THE FIVE AND A HALF ACRES THAT IS PROPOSED TO BECOME A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PUBLIC WORKS COUNTY SITUATION.
ALL OF OUR EMTS, ALL OF OUR PEOPLE ARE ON TIME AND ON THE SPOT.
I WORK FOR ALPHA OMEGA MIRACLE HOME FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS.
AND I'VE HEARD THINGS THAT, OH, THERE ARE VAGRANTS THAT LIVE IN THAT FIVE AND A HALF ACRES.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THEY WANT TO DEMOLISH IT.
I GREW UP PLAYING IN THOSE WOODS AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE SENTIMENTAL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THAT WE AS RESIDENTS HERE, I'M A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY, I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, WHICH IS WHY I KIND OF IN THE DARK ABOUT THIS.
I'VE HEARD THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
[00:15:01]
AND I DID SUBMIT THE SURVEY ABOUT THE ROUNDABOUT.I'VE HAD FRIENDS KILL PEOPLE AND ALSO BE KILLED ON THAT TURN.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
DESTROYING A MARITIME HAMMOCK.
PLANTS. AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIRDS IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THAT CORNER AND THAT AREA.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE ALTERNATIVES THAT CAN BE DISCOVERED.
WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS GOING UP.
ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE PRICED OUT OF THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEIR MORTGAGE BECAUSE THAT MARITIME HAMMOCK IS GONE AND WE GET FLOODED OUT IN TEN YEARS? I THINK ALL THESE THINGS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
AND I'M I'M THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE.
AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND OUR AMAZING COUNTY.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ALTERNATIVES.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS SCOTT ROBINSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON. SCOTT ROBINSON 13 MARYLAND AVENUE.
I'M NO RELATION TO TIM, BUT I AM ONE OF HIS NEIGHBORS.
AND I'M HERE TO ECHO WHAT THE THOMASES AND MR. ROBINSON HAVE SAID.
I'M A LITTLE MORE FRUSTRATED THAN THEY ARE, THOUGH, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE IN THIS PROCESS SINCE I WAS THE ONE WHO THE TELEVISION REPORTER KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AND TOLD ME THIS WAS ALL HAPPENING.
AND SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN ASSURED BY BOTH MR. BERTRAM AND YOUR FIRE CHIEF THAT WE WOULD BE KEPT IN THE LOOP AS TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
SINCE I WAS HERE LAST MONTH AT THIS MEETING, OR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
NOBODY'S REACHED OUT TO US SINCE WE MET WITH MR. BERTRAM AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN APRIL.
RIGHT BEFORE YOU GUYS WENT TO THE IRC TO SEEK APPROVAL OF LEASING THIS PROPERTY, WHICH WAS DENIED.
WE HAVE TO COME HERE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
AS TIM SAID, 2500 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A PETITION.
THAT PETITION IS GOING TO GO MUCH WIDER IF THIS COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO SOMETHING WITH A PARCEL OF LAND THAT ISN'T EVEN IN THE BORDER OF THE CITY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE HERE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
NOW, APPARENTLY YOU'RE GOING TO ACQUIRE THE LAND.
BUT THERE'S NOT ONE FIGURE ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND.
IT SAYS IT'S GOING TO SPEND THE ENTIRE FIVE YEARS OF THE PROJECT, BUT YOU DON'T TELL US, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HOW MUCH IS BEEN SPENT ALREADY IN 2023? WE WERE TOLD BY MR. BERTRAM THAT THIS PROJECT WAS BEING DRIVEN BY THE DOT.
I'VE SINCE LEARNED THAT'S NOT TRUE.
THIS PROJECT WAS DRIVEN BY TRYING TO GET A FREE FIRE STATION FROM THE STATE PARK.
WELL, NOW THAT YOU KNOW IT'S NOT FREE.
WHAT LAND ARE YOU GOING TO SWAP WITH THE STATE PARK TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE CONSERVATION LAND? OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO SHRINK THE SIZE OF OUR STATE PARK AND THE SIZE OF THE CONSERVATION LAND WITHIN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE? YOUR OWN CHARTER SAYS ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CITY IS FIERCE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THAT.
AND COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THE CITY'S PRINCIPLES.
YOU REFUSE TO EVEN TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.
I'M HOPING DURING THE COURSE OF TODAY'S SESSION WE'LL LEARN HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO BE SAVED BY OUR COMMUNITY'S EFFORT, WHICH ULTIMATELY WAS APPROVED BY THE DOT TO PUT A CROSSWALK AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE AMP.
YOU WON'T HAVE TO PUT POLICE OFFICERS.
YOU WON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYBODY TO GO THERE ON SATURDAY MORNING.
ALL RIGHT. UNLESS I HAVE ANYONE ELSE.
THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE REVIEW OF THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
[3. Review of the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). (T. Grant and S. Slaughter, Directors, Public Works and Utilities)]
MR. SLAUGHTER AND MR. GRANT. GOOD AFTERNOON,[00:20:06]
MAYOR. VICE. MAYOR.ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU'LL NOTICE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S PLAN.
WE'VE MADE A MODIFICATION ON THE PROJECT SCHEDULE SHEET.
WE'VE PUT THEM IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER ALONG WITH THE ASSOCIATED PAGE NUMBERS.
ONE MORE THING TO NOTE BEFORE I GET GOING.
SO I'LL BE LETTING YOU KNOW WHICH PAGE WE'RE ON.
ONE THING TO NOTE, WE'VE ADDED THE.
MY FIRST PROJECT SLIDE IS THE DUERO STREET STORMWATER AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN AND WE ANTICIPATE IT TO BE COMPLETE THIS FISCAL YEAR.
PAGE 13. AND PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO INTERRUPT ME AND ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT EACH SLIDE.
AND WE ANTICIPATE DESIGNED TO BE COMPLETE THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THE NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS ON PAGE 16.
THIS IS THE KING STREET COMPLETE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN.
DOT IS PROVIDING US AN $18 MILLION REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THIS PROJECT IS FOR COMPLETE UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND STREETSCAPE FROM BAYFRONT TO THE RIVER.
MY NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS ON PAGE 17.
THIS IS THE KING STREET SEBASTIAN HARBOR WATER MAIN HDD HDD STANDS FOR HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILL.
THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN.
IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE A $1.2 MILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE REPLACING THE EXISTING WATER MAIN THAT IS AN AERIAL CROSSING ON THE CURRENT BRIDGE AND WE WILL BE DOING A DIRECTIONAL DRILL UNDERNEATH THE RIVER. WE ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION TO TO BE BETWEEN THE END OF THIS YEAR AND 2024.
YES, MA'AM. IS THERE A REASON WHY WE'RE NOT WAITING TO FINISH THE BRIDGE? I MEAN, WE MAY HAVE TO DO STRUCTURE UNDER THE BRIDGE.
YES. SO IN ORDER TO DEMO THE BRIDGE, THAT INVOLVES DEMOING THE WATER MAIN.
AND SO WE NEED TO INSTALL THE NEW WATER MAIN TO CONTINUE TO SUPPLY WATER TO THE CITY, OR AT LEAST THIS PORTION OF THE CITY BEFORE WE DEMO THE EXISTING WATER MAIN EXISTING BRIDGE. GOOD PLANNING.
MY NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS YOUR PAGE 19.
THESE ARE OUR NEXT LIFT STATION REPLACEMENTS.
LIFT STATION EIGHT AND 14 ARE OLD CAN TYPE STATIONS.
LIFT STATION 41 IS SHOWN IN THE PICTURE HERE.
THAT'S A SUCTION LIFT STATION.
WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT $1 MILLION EACH.
MR. SLAUGHTER. I MADE A NOTE TO MYSELF HERE.
COULD YOU ACTUALLY NOTE WHERE THOSE ARE IN FUTURE DOCUMENTS WHERE THOSE LIFT STATIONS ARE? I HAD NO IDEA WHERE THEY WERE.
YES, MA'AM. LIFT STATION FOR NOW.
LIFT STATION 14 IS UP BY THE JAIL.
LIFT STATION EIGHT IS NEAR MARINA.
[00:25:01]
MUNCH OFF OF US ONE.VERY NEAR OYSTER CREEK, WHICH WE JUST COMPLETED A FORCE MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
AND YOU CAN NOTE THOSE IN THE INFORMATION SHEET.
YES, MA'AM. WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL AND I CAN DO THIS FOR THIS ONE.
I'LL ADD A SLIDE FOR EACH LIFT STATION.
THANK YOU. MY NEXT SLIDE IS YOUR PAGE 20.
THIS IS THE LIGHTHOUSE PART, GRAVITY SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SCOPE ANALYSIS.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE'RE LOOKING AT GRAVITY SEWER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT LOW PRESSURE SEWER, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT VACUUM SEWER.
MY NEXT SLIDE IS ON PAGE 24 OF YOUR PACKET.
THIS IS THE PEARL STREET GRAVITY, SEWER AND WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY OUT FOR SOLICITATION.
IT IS ESTIMATED TO BE A $4.5 MILLION PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY FUNDED WITH A $2.1 MILLION GRANT AND A TWO POINT MILLION DOLLARS GRANT FOR SEPTIC TO SEWER IN THE WEST AUGUSTINE. THAT TWO POINT MILLION DOLLAR SEPTIC TO SEWER GRANT WILL BE SHARED WITH PEARL STREET, WHICH WE'LL SPEAK ABOUT LATER.
AND THIS PROJECT IS ALSO FUNDED BY CITY BOND PROCEEDS.
I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, MA'AM.
DOES THAT INVOLVE I MEAN, ARE WE PUTTING IN NEW SEWER LINES OR ARE WE CLEANING OUT DRAINAGE? WHAT ARE WE DOING? WE ARE PUT WE ARE INSTALLING WE ARE INSTALLING NEW GRAVITY SEWER, AND WE ARE CONNECTING TO THE EXISTING LIFT STATION AND GRAVITY SEWER THAT'S THERE.
MY NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS PAGE 25 OF YOUR PACKET.
THIS IS THE DATA FOR LIFT STATIONS, WATER TREATMENT AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
SCADA STANDS FOR SUPERVISORY CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION.
IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THIS ALLOWS US TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE 90 SOME LIFT STATIONS THAT WE HAVE REMOTELY, AND WE CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE NORTH TANK AND THE SOUTH TANK.
THOSE ARE GROUND STORAGE TANKS.
MY NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS PAGE 28.
DOES THE SCADA MAKE US MORE BETTER PROTECT US AGAINST POWER OUTAGES AND EXTREME EVENTS? SO IN A WAY, IT'S A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.
AND SO WHAT IT CAN DO IN THE EVENT OF A POWER OUTAGE, WE COULD GET AN ALARM TO THAT AND THAT COULD SEND OUR GUYS OUT THERE TO RESPOND. AND SO SCADA IS JUST IT'S A COMMUNICATION IN THAT SENSE.
IT KIND OF DOES MAKE US A LITTLE BIT MORE RESILIENT BECAUSE WE CAN RESPOND QUICKER.
GREAT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SLIDE IS PAGE 28 OF YOUR PACKET.
THIS IS THE SAINT FRANCIS STREET UTILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN SCOPE.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND IT TO INCLUDE STORMWATER FROM SAINT GEORGE STREET.
THIS PROJECT WOULD REPLACE THE EXISTING GRAVITY SEWER ON SAINT FRANCIS STREET, IMPROVE THE SLOPES, IMPROVE THE SIZE OF THE PIPE HYDRAULICALLY, AS WELL AS EXISTING WATER MAINS AND ROADWAY.
THIS PROJECT WILL TIE INTO THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT ON CORDOVA STREET.
SO THEY'RE KIND OF TIED TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S CURRENTLY ESTIMATED TO BE A $1.1 MILLION PROJECT.
MY NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS PAGE 31IN YOUR PACKET.
[00:30:08]
THIS IS THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EFFLUENT OUTFALL REPAIR.THIS PROJECT HAS ACTUALLY GONE OUT TO BID.
IT'S A $500,000 FUNDED ARPA GRANT PROJECT.
WE RECEIVED BIDS AT 1.7 MILLION, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WE WERE ANTICIPATING.
SO WHAT WE'VE DECIDED TO DO FOR THE MOMENT IS TO POSTPONE CONSTRUCTION.
HOWEVER, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH DOING REPAIRS TO THE EXISTING OUTFALL.
DON'T YOU JUST HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SPEND? TIME TO SPEND THE MONEY AND ARPA.
AND HOW DOES THIS POSTPONEMENT AFFECT THAT? THAT WILL LEAD TO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH HOW IF WE CAN MOVE ARPA MONEY AROUND OR REPRIORITIZE OTHER CIP PROJECTS TO FUND THE $1.2 MILLION.
WE GOT 500 FOR ARPA AND THEN WE'RE IN THE HOLE.
OKAY. WILL THE REPAIRS THAT ARE UNDERWAY MEET THE SAME STANDARDS THAT THE THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR WITH THE CONSTRUCTION SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE CONSTRUCTION WAS GOING TO BE A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT, RIGHT? AND SO THE REPAIRS THAT WE'RE DOING OR WE WILL BE DOING SHORTLY, VERY SIMILAR TO REPAIRS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST.
OKAY. THE SHORT ANSWER IS THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH MORE ROBUST.
WELL, I GUESS WHAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH IS IF WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE THIS, IS THERE SOME STRATEGY FOR GOING TO ACTUALLY REPLACING IT, LIKE REALLY GETTING AT IT? BECAUSE THESE WASTEWATER OUTFALLS OR EVEN AS WELL AS WE TREAT OUR WASTEWATER, THEY'RE STILL IMPACTING THEY'RE STILL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN IN GETTING THERE TO GET IT.
YES, MA'AM ..GOOD AS IT CAN BE.
MY NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS PAGE 32 IN YOUR PACKET.
THIS IS THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT HEADWORKS REHABILITATION PROJECT.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN TREATMENT OF OUR WASTEWATER AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THIS IS A $4.3 MILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
IT'S CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S FUNDED BY CITY BOND PROCEEDS, AND THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS GOING VERY WELL.
WE ANTICIPATE TO PUT WATER ON THE HEADWORKS LATER THIS MONTH TO TEST IT OUT.
MY NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS PAGE 33IN YOUR PACKET.
IT'S A MOUTHFUL. THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
HIGH SERVICE PUMP MOTOR CONTROL CENTER AND EMERGENCY GENERATOR REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
AND THIS IS A $2.5 MILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
IT'S CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
AND WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING THE NEW GENERATOR LATER THIS MONTH.
AND THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY CITY BOND PROCEEDS.
SO MY COMMENT ABOUT THAT IS GREAT.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN COMING A LONG TIME.
HOWEVER, THE BUILDING THAT IT'S HOUSED IN IS A HISTORIC BUILDING.
I BELIEVE IT WAS PART OF THE WHEN THEY MOVED FROM THE WATERWORKS BUILDING WHEN THEY MOVED THE.
THE OPERATIONS FROM THE WHAT IS NOW THE WHAT WE CALL THE WATERWORKS UP IN NORTH CITY.
AND THIS WAS CREATED WITH A BOND, I BELIEVE, IN 1925 OR 20 6 OR 27.
[00:35:03]
UM, MY CONCERN AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE PRIOR CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT, THAT AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE BUILDING AND DETERMINE. WHAT WE COULD DO TO REHABILITATE IT SO WE COULD TAKE THOSE SHUTTERS OFF AND MAKE SURE THAT THE BRICKS ARE POINTED CORRECTLY. ET CETERA.ET CETERA. OR AT LEAST PUT THE SHUTTERS INBOARD AND LEAVE THE GLASS AND THE WINDOWS VISIBLE, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY NEED THE SHUTTERS.
IT SEEMS LIKE A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.
IS IT FOR SECURITY? I'M NOT INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE SHUTTER SITUATION, BUT I CAN LOOK INTO IT.
DO YOU KNOW RUBEN? OH, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, WE PROBABLY PUT THEM UP FOR A HURRICANE, SO WE'RE COMING IN THROUGH THE PEAK SEASON RIGHT NOW.
OTHERWISE, WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON THE SHUTTERS.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF HAVING WORKED IN FACILITIES WITH THEM.
THAT'S WHY THEY WERE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE BUILDING FROM GETTING ANY WORSE.
I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT.
OKAY. THE NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS ON PAGE 34 OF YOUR BOOKLET.
THIS IS THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
LOW PRESSURE, REVERSE OSMOSIS, CONCENTRATE OUTFALL.
THIS IS A FOUR POINT MILLION DOLLARS ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST PROJECT.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ANALYZING BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT DIFFUSERS.
AND BASICALLY WHAT THIS PROJECT DOES IS IT DISCHARGES THE THE BRINE SOLUTION FROM UTILIZING THE REVERSE OSMOSIS TREATMENT AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND THE CURRENT AND THE PROJECT IS FUNDED WITH CITY BOND PROCEEDS.
THE NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS PAGE 35.
THIS IS THE WEST THIRD STREET, GRAVITY, SEWER AND WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
IT IS A $1.7 MILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
IT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY A $300,000 FDEP GRANT.
IT IS ALSO FUNDED BY ANOTHER FDEP GRANT $2 MILLION SEPTIC TO SEWER FOR WEST AUGUSTINE THAT WILL BE SHARED WITH THE PEARL STREET PROJECT. WE ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT TO BE COMPLETE LATER THIS YEAR AT THE EARLIEST.
A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'RE AIMING FOR THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
AND THIS IS A GRAVITY SANITARY SEWER EXTENSION, AND IT DOES REPLACE THE EXISTING WATER MAIN OUT THERE, BRINGING IT UP TO CURRENT CODES AND STANDARDS. WE ANTICIPATE CONVERTING ABOUT 28 EXISTING HOMES TO CITY SEWER COLLECTION.
THE NEXT PROJECT SLIDE IS PAGE 36 OF YOUR PACKET.
THIS IS THE WEST AUGUSTINE MINI GRANT SEWER CONNECTIONS.
THE CITY PUTS ASIDE $250,000 TO IDENTIFY HOMES THAT EXISTING HOMES THAT ARE ON SEPTIC, THAT FRONT EXISTING GRAVITY SEWER.
THIS IS MY LAST PROJECT SLIDE.
THIS IS THE WEST AUGUSTINE WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN AND HYDRAULIC MODEL UPDATE.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
THIS THIS MASTER PLAN WILL HELP US IDENTIFY HOW BEST TO DO BIG GRAVITY SEWER PROJECTS LIKE PEARL STREET AND LIKE WEST THIRD STREET, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM PEARL STREET AND WEST THIRD STREET, WHERE WE ARE TYING ON TO EXISTING SYSTEMS AND BUILDING OUT THIS ONE IS IDENTIFYING NEW LOCATIONS FOR LIFT STATIONS TO HAVE THEIR OWN SYSTEMS. AND WE'VE CURRENTLY JUST COMPLETED SOME EXISTING LIFT STATION ANALYSIS IN THE SOUTHWEST AREA OF THIS STATION.
[00:40:04]
EXCUSE ME, MR. SLAUGHTER, DOES THE.IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO SEE ANYTHING ON THIS IMAGE, BUT DOES THIS MASTER PLAN INCLUDE THE POTENTIAL FOR OUR HOMES BOULEVARD PROPERTY BEING DEVELOPED INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING? SO THOSE ARE THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS, MY UNDERSTANDING.
OKAY. UM, BUT AND I DO APOLOGIZE.
I CAN I'LL BLOW THAT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BUT THE, THE WEST AUGUSTINE SERVICE AREA IS 207 TO THE SOUTH, THE RIVER TO THE EAST, AND THEN APPROXIMATELY STATE ROAD 16 TO THE NORTH.
AND IT GOES AS FAR WEST AS OUR SERVICE AREA DOES.
OKAY. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE UTILITIES PORTION OF THE CIP.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, NO, THANK YOU.
TODD GRANT IS GOING TO COVER THAT.
OH, OKAY. SO THIS IS PART ONE.
WE'RE GOING TO UTILITIES DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE EVERYTHING ON YOUR LIST AND.
AND IF NOT, I'LL COME BACK UP.
AND THANK YOU STEPHEN, TODD GRANT WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
TO ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HIGH SERVICE PUMP BUILDING.
THOSE HURRICANE SHUTTERS DO COME OFF.
THEY'VE BEEN OFF WHEN IT'S NOT HURRICANE SEASON.
WE IDENTIFIED SOME WINDOWS THAT WERE BROKEN, SO WE MANAGED TO GET THOSE FIXED.
AND TO COMMISSIONER GARRETT'S POINT, THE ROOF WAS ALL ALL OF THE TILES.
AND I WILL SAY THAT MR. SLAUGHTER AND I DEBATED ON THIS VERY FIRST PROJECT AS TO WHO IT FALLS UNDER, WHETHER IT'S UTILITIES OR PUBLIC WORKS.
AND RIGHT NOW I'M WISHING THAT IT FELL UNDER UTILITIES.
THAT BEING SAID, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
THE TWO ARE KIND OF INTERTWINED IN ORDER FOR THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO COMPLETE THEIR ROADWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, IT REQUIRES US TO HAVE A LOCATION FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO CURRENTLY THERE IS A CONSULTANT ON BOARD THAT IS GOING THROUGH THE EVALUATION PROCESS AND STEPS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FIRE STATION ACROSS FROM THE AMPHITHEATER.
SO IF YOU TURN TO PAGE SEVEN, THAT FIRST ONE WAS PAGE SIX.
WE ALMOST FOLLOW IN ORDER AT THIS POINT.
THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BACK BAY STUDY.
AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP WHICH ALLOWS THE OTHER PORTIONS OF THE ARMY CORPS TEAM TO ACTUALLY START DEVELOPING A INITIAL OR PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION OR PROJECTS THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE FLOODING.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE THAT LIST TO PRESENT TO YOU AND THE PUBLIC AS FAR AS WHAT THEY'VE COME UP COME UP WITH BASED ON THE MODELING AND ALSO BASED ON INCORPORATING THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE ALREADY UNDER THAT ARE IN OUR CIP OR THAT WE'VE ALREADY CONSTRUCTED OR PLAN ON CONSTRUCTING THOSE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE MODEL AS WELL.
SO THE AVENIDA MENENDEZ SEAWALL.
THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED, IT'S PERMITTED.
IT'S FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, READY TO GO.
IT HAS BEEN SENT TO FEMA HEADQUARTERS AND WE'RE WAITING ON THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THEM.
THEY PRESENT IT TO FEMA HEADQUARTERS.
BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY WILL GET BACK TO YOU AS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I KNOW MR. SLAUGHTER IS GIVING YOU THE THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS THERE HERE IN THE SLIDE.
I JUST FELT THAT WAY. IT WOULDN'T BE TOO REDUNDANT.
[00:45:01]
THAT'S ON PAGE NINE OF YOUR BOOK.PRETTY MUCH. WE'RE ALMOST GOING IN ORDER AT THIS POINT.
THIS PROJECT. WE HAVE A CONSULTANT ON BOARD.
WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A PRE PRE-APPLICATION MEETING WITH THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING AND CHANGING SOME OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS FOR STORMWATER, SO WE WANTED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM PRIOR TO A PRE-APPLICATION MEETING WITH THEM.
THAT'S, THAT'S A WHOLE UTILITY REDO WITH THE WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER.
HIGHLIGHTED ON THE MAP ARE UNDERWAY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE CIRCULATOR WILL EXPAND RIDERSHIP NUMBERS.
HAVE THEY HAVE BEEN FALLING? BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT TOURISM ACTUALLY HAS BEEN DECREASING AS WE GET INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THE WEEK OF JULY 16TH, WE HAD OVER 2000 RIDERS FOR THE WEEK.
THIS PAST WEEK WE HAD 825 RIDERS FOR THE WEEK.
SO IT'S GONE DOWN FROM 2101 WEEK, 2000, THE NEXT 1200 FOLLOWING 1002 WEEKS AGO TO 800.
AND YOU CAN ANTICIPATE THAT AS WE GET INTO NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THAT THAT WILL START GOING UP.
AND THAT IS FULLY FUNDED BY THE FDOT.
THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENTS DISTRICT, PHASE TWO.
WE HAVE SHUT DOWN THOSE STREETS.
THAT IS A COMPLETE REDO, COMPLETE STREET PROJECT THAT WILL INVOLVE WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER AS WELL AS A RE BRICKING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS THAT ARE SAFE.
THE DRAINAGE STUDY FOR THE FULWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
ASK BEFORE YOU GO ON PERTAINING TO THAT.
WHAT I DIDN'T FIND WAS THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAD IN THE CIP FOR THE TOLOMATO LOT FOR. TRUCK FREIGHT MOVEMENT.
IS THAT STILL IN? WHERE IS THAT? SORRY TO JUMP IN.
JUST REMINDED ME BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS WERE.
YEAH, IT'S. IT'S STILL ON THIS PROJECT.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S STILL REPRESENTED IN THIS PROJECT SHEET.
YOU'LL SEE PHASE TWO B, WHICH IS THE RECONFIGURE AND RECONSTRUCTION OF TOLOMATO.
I WAS CHECKING MY LIST. SORRY.
SO THE NEXT PROJECT IS THE FULWOOD DRAINAGE STUDY.
THIS WAS ASKED FOR BY THE COMMISSION AND FUNDING IS IN PLACE NOW $50,000.
JESSICA BEACH, THE CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER.
WE'RE UPDATING THE SCOPE OF WORK AND SHOULD HAVE THAT OUT EITHER TO ONE OF OUR CONSULTANTS IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE THAT'S GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT THE EXISTING CONDITIONS ARE, PRIMARILY IN THE RED CIRCLED AREA, WHAT EXISTING DRAINAGE IS THERE, WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED FROM THE STUDY ASPECT.
AND SO HOPEFULLY OUT OF THAT WE'LL HAVE PROJECTS THAT WE CAN BRING FORWARD.
THE GROUNDWATER MONITORING NETWORK.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT JESSICA BEACH PUT IN FOR AND WAS GRANTED.
THIS WAS A PROJECT TO PUT IN A MONITORING WELL NETWORK TO TRY TO ANALYZE IF WE COULD SEA LEVEL RISE IN THE GROUNDWATER TABLE. AND DISCUSSING THIS WITH JESSICA, WE'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO RESILIENT FLORIDA AND ASK IF THIS CAN BE MODIFIED TO ACTUALLY HAVE A NETWORK IN WEST AUGUSTINE TO MONITOR JUST THE EXISTING GROUNDWATER TABLE IN RELATION TO YOUR SEPTIC DRAIN FIELDS?
[00:50:01]
BECAUSE IF THE DRAIN FIELDS ALWAYS UNDER WATER, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY SERVING ITS PURPOSE.SO WE'RE HOPING WE CAN MODIFY THE LOCATION AND SOMEWHAT THE INTENT OF THE GRANT.
IF NOT, WE WILL IDENTIFY LOCATIONS.
THE INLET DRIVE SHORELINE STABILIZATION, WHICH IS ON PAGE 15.
WE HAD A PRELIMINARY DESIGN WHICH WAS BASICALLY GEO FABRIC WITH COQUINA RIPRAP. UNDER CURRENT PRICES, THE RIPRAP ALONE WOULD WOULD BLOW THE BUDGET.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT AN ALTERNATIVE.
INSTEAD OF HAVING THE RIPRAP DESIGN, HAVING MORE OF A WALL LIKE STRUCTURE THAT TIES IN BETWEEN AN EXISTING RESIDENCE TO THE NORTH. WORKING WITH ANOTHER RESIDENT TO THE SOUTH TO GET ACROSS THEIRS, TO TIE IN TO YET ANOTHER BULKHEAD.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A SOLUTION.
WHAT IS THE COST DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE RIPRAP AND BUILDING A BULKHEAD? WELL, CURRENTLY WE WENT DOWN AND SAW AN EXAMPLE AT TRADEWINDS CONDOS, AND THAT WALL WAS ROUGHLY, I THINK IT WAS TO CLOSE TO 2500, $2,500 PER FOOT.
AND SO WHEN YOU START THIS IS ABOUT 400FT LONG.
AND SO YOU START DOING THE NUMBERS, THAT WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WALL, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE DONE HERE, BECAUSE IT'S THAT ONE WAS BRACING FOR OCEAN WAVES SINCE IT'S RIGHT ON OCEAN FRONT.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT COMPANY TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THIS LOCATION.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS A BULKHEAD WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE RIP WRAP THAT WE KNOW.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT A ENGINEERED WALL IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE.
HOWEVER, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A BETTER ESTHETIC APPEAL.
AND ALSO I FEEL LONGEVITY THAN JUST A RIP RAP.
RIP WRAP AT LEAST ISN'T A WALL, CORRECT? THE OTHER PART OF THIS WAS TO CREATE THE RIPRAP ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE EXISTING MANGROVES AS A WAY OF ATTENUATION.
CORRECT. THE ISSUE WE HAVE HERE WITH EVEN PUTTING THE RIP RAP THERE IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE EXTREME HIGH TIDES, IT'S UP AND OVER AND SO IT ACTUALLY WASHES AWAY AND ERODES AWAY WHAT LITTLE PIECE OF REAL ESTATE WE HAVE LEFT THERE.
I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE DEBATE BECAUSE THIS IS MY LITTLE STORY IS IN.
NEIGHBORS SENT ME VIDEOS AND I'M SURE YOU GOT THEM, TOO.
I MEAN, IT JUST COMES RUSHING, POURING THROUGH THERE.
AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DELAYING SOLUTIONS.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK TOGETHER.
DAVIS WHEN HE DEVELOPED, HE DID NOT DO A SEAWALL THERE.
THERE'S A SEAWALL EVERYWHERE ELSE IN DAVIS SHORES ON THE NORTH SIDE, BUT THERE ISN'T ONE THERE.
BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LIGHT A FIRE.
SO IT WAS NOT JUST IAN, YOU KNOW, MATTHEW.
FULL MOON EVENTS WILL BREACH THAT AREA AS WELL.
YEAH, I MEAN, IT JUST COMES RIGHT OVER THE ROAD THERE.
BUT DURING THOSE SEVERE FLOODING EVENTS, IT'S.
[00:55:01]
THANK YOU. AND DAMAGING.SO YOUR NEXT PROJECT IS ON PAGE 18.
THIS IS THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT.
THIS ONE, WHAT WE HAVE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH IS TRYING TO WE'RE GOING TO PHASE IT.
SO PHASE ONE, WE'RE GOING TO BREAK OUT THE DESIGN TO HAVE AND TRY TO GET IT OUT TO BID FOR CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE GRANADA STREET, BRIDGE STREET AND CORDOVA STREET. AND THE PROJECT LIMITS WOULD BE KING STREET DOWN TO THE NORTHERN END OF THE LAKE.
TRY TO GET THAT UNDER CONSTRUCTION WHILE THAT IS MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE FOUR PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE SOUTH END THAT WE REQUIRE EASEMENTS FROM.
AND ONCE WE HAVE THOSE EASEMENTS, THAT'S THE KEY TO TURN DIRT ON THE SOUTH END.
SO THAT'S THE PLAN FOR RIGHT NOW FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.
SAINT GEORGE AND ALL OF THAT INTO THE LAKE.
MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.
CORRECT. SO CONSTRUCTING THE PHASE ONE PORTION OF IT, DOES IT INDICATE THAT WE'D ACTUALLY START TAKING THE STORMWATER FROM THAT? IT'S CONSTRUCTING IT.
AND IF I CAN JUST JUMP IN FOR A SECOND SO WE CAN BRING JESSICA UP HERE AS WELL.
IT'S JUST FLOWING THE STREETS, FLOODING AND ALL THAT WATER IS RUNNING DOWN TO THE LAKE ALREADY.
SO ALL WE'RE DOING WITH THAT NORTHERN HALF IS IMPROVING THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM OF HOW IT GETS THERE.
NOW WE DO HAVE TO DREDGE THE NORTHERN PART OF THE LAKE OUT FOR THE NEW OUTFALL THAT GETS PUT IN.
AND THE REASON WE WANT TO BREAK IT UP IS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT LESS PERMITTING WITH THE NORTH END.
SO WE STILL HAVE TO ONCE WE GET THE EASEMENTS IN PLACE, WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR OWN PCB.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ARMY CORPS PERMITTING.
SO THE SOUTHERN PART STILL HAS LONG LEAD TIMES WHEN CONSIDERING THE PERMITTING.
IF WE GET A STORM AND IT FLOWS IN THE NEW CONVEYANCE TO THE LAKE MORE OR EFFECTIVELY.
WE STILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUMP IT OUT AND.
HOW IS THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT THERE? IS IT ABLE TO DO ANY OF THAT WORK? WE DON'T HAVE A PUMPING SYSTEM CURRENTLY.
AND SO WE'VE RAISED AND LOWERED THE GATES.
WE'VE ACTUALLY LOWERED THE LAKE LEVEL WHEN WE WERE DOING WORK ON SOME OF THE EXISTING WALL.
UM. IS THERE ANY THOUGHT OF A BACKUP PUMP SYSTEM THAT MIGHT BE BROUGHT IN JUST IN CASE? YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE THE REVERSE, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN IT'S NOT GETTING THE HIGH TIDES TO ACTUALLY FLUSH IN AND OUT OF THE LAKE.
WE'VE ACTUALLY PUMPED WATER INTO THE LAKE RATHER THAN OUT OF THE LAKE.
YEAH. AS PART OF BREAKING IT UP, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK.
LOOKING AT IT, I DID NOT THINK THAT WOULD BE THE CASE, BUT WE'LL TAKE A FURTHER LOOK AT IT.
THANKS. OKAY. YOUR PARKING PAY STATION.
I THINK THERE'S A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING, BUT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH GETTING THE PADS POURED SO THAT THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE BASICALLY THE BAGS THAT GO OVER THE PAY STATIONS.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MOCK UP DONE AND WE'RE BEHIND ON THAT.
[01:00:07]
PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.PAGE 22. OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
SO WE DO HAVE $800,000 BUDGETED FOR PAVING.
BUT I WANTED TO ALSO BRING UP THAT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE HAVE $300,000 FOR SIDEWALK DESIGN, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PRIMARILY FOR WEST AUGUSTINE DESIGNING OF SIDEWALKS.
SO THIS $800,000 THAT YOU SEE IS PRIMARILY FOR PAVING ITSELF.
AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP, ALL EVERYTHING IN GREEN IS WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR.
WHAT'S IN YELLOW IS WHAT HAS BEEN DONE LAST YEAR.
AND WHAT'S IN RED IS WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO GET DONE THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR.
AND SO A LIST OF THOSE STREETS.
IS LOCATED IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH WOULD BE PAGE 23.
AND IF YOU NOTICE, THAT LIST TAKES CARE OF MANY, MANY ROADS THAT ARE IN THE 4 TO 5 CATEGORY AS FAR AS THEIR SEVERITY.
AND SO THE GOAL OF THE PAVING PROGRAM BASED ON THE ROBOTICS PAVEMENT ASSESSMENT IS TO TRY TO GET THE WORST DONE FIRST AND THEN WORK OUR WAY SO THAT AFTER THE SEVEN YEARS OF PROGRAMING, YOU HAVE A.
THREE, TWO, TWO OVERALL AVERAGE.
AND SO THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO STICK WITH THE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT AS FAR AS THE FISCAL YEARS SO THAT WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE WORST.
ROADS UP FRONT AND THEN START WORKING ON THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE 3 TO 3.54 LEVEL.
SO THAT'S THE LISTING OF WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED.
AND ALSO IT KIND OF GROUPS THEM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY THAT THEY TOUCH.
SO I WAS WHAT I'M SEEING HERE IS SEEMS LIKE SORT OF A GAP IN THE MODEL LAND TRACT.
I DON'T SEE A LOT OF LINES, ALTHOUGH THIS IS VERY SMALL.
I DID HAVE A REQUEST FROM RESIDENTS ON SARAGOSSA STREET.
AND I'M WONDERING, TOO, ZARAGOZA IS PRETTY BAD.
SARAGOSSA IS ACTUALLY REALLY CRAZILY BAD.
WHY AM I NOT SEEING MORE STREETS ADDRESSED IN THE MODEL LAND TRACK? BESIDES, I'LL DEFER TO RUBEN SINCE IT WAS HIS PROGRAM TO BEGIN WITH, AND SO I'M PLAYING CATCH UP ON THAT.
OUR ACTUAL OVERALL NETWORK IS LIKE A 1.89 AVERAGE.
AND OVER THAT SEVEN YEARS IT KNOCKS OFF THE FIVES FOURS AND THREES AND WE WILL BE LEFT WITH ONES AND TWOS AND WE'LL DO ANOTHER ROADWAY ASSESSMENT AND CATEGORIES THAT SARAGOSSA STREET, WHEN I LOOK AT IT, IS KIND OF IN THE 3 TO 4 RANGE.
BUT WE'D LIKE TO DO WITH THE FINAL PROPOSED CIP IS BRING BACK AND HAVE LISTS.
WE WON'T HAVE MAPS FOR THEM ALL, BUT WE'LL PROVIDE THE LIST FOR THE ENTIRE WE CAN SHOW THE FIVE YEARS OUT OR SEVEN YEARS OUT, AND THEN YOU CAN START TO SEE ALL OF THE ROADS AND HOW THEY'RE PROGRAMED IN.
SO I'LL APPRECIATE SEEING IT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
[01:05:06]
BECAUSE WHAT'S ONLINE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK IS IS DATED CORRECTLY.NO. WHAT'S ONLINE IS THE ASSESSMENT.
I TOOK THE ASSESSMENT AND WE DON'T HAVE IT IN MAP FORMAT.
SO IT WILL PROBABLY BE LABOR INTENSIVE FOR US TO CREATE MAPS FOR EACH YEAR.
BUT WE CAN PROVIDE THE LIST AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE ALL OF THE ROADS.
OKAY. YEAH, THAT WOULD HELP A LOT.
WELL, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR US TO GET REQUESTS FOR PAVING, YOU KNOW? THAT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THAT.
FOR THE NEXT, WE'LL PRODUCE A MAP.
WE PRODUCED A MAP FOR THIS ONE.
WE'LL PRODUCE A MAP FOR 24, 25, 26, 27 AND 28.
SO THAT WAY YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S EXISTING, WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE, WHAT'S PROPOSED FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, AND THEN WHAT IS PROPOSED FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX YEARS.
OKAY. AND THAT'LL BE ONLINE TOO, CORRECT? THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.
SO ON PAGE 26, YOU HAVE THE SOUTH DAVIS SHORES FLOOD MITIGATION AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO SIMILAR TO FULWOOD, BUT ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE.
YOU HAVE WHAT'S ON THAT PURPLE OUTLINE.
TRYING TO ASSESS THE CURRENT DRAINAGE.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES WITH THE EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEM WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM TRYING TO ENHANCE STORMWATER DRAINAGE JUST WITHIN THAT PURPLE OUTLINED AREA? I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER PROJECTS OR CONCEPTS FROM NEIGHBORS ADJOINING NEIGHBORS IN OTHER PARTS OF SOUTH DAVIS SHORES THAT AREN'T SHOWN IN THAT PURPLE AREA.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS PARTICULAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS ONLY FOCUSING ON THE PURPLE OUTLINED AREA, AND THAT'S THROUGH THE RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM THAT JESSICA WAS SO SUCCESSFUL IN GARNERING.
AND SO RIGHT NOW, AS IT SAYS, WE'RE IN SOLICITATION DESIGN.
AND SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD OUT OF THAT.
WE'LL FALL OUT SOME STORMWATER PROJECTS.
SOUTH WHITNEY AND WEST KING STREET HAVE ALL OF THE EASEMENT DOCUMENTS ON MY DESK AND REVIEWED.
AND SO WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING THE EASEMENTS IN PLACE, STILL WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ON THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
THIS IS, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, READY TO GO.
SO THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN, THIS IS KIND OF AN UPDATE TO THE ONE THAT WE HAD.
THIS ONE HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD WHILE WE HAVE THE BACK BAY STUDY UNDERWAY.
UM, WE'D LIKE TO FIND OUT FIRST WHAT'S GOING TO, TO COME OUT OF THAT STUDY AS FAR AS THE PROJECTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS PRIOR TO MOVING FORWARD WITH A PUTTING IN EFFORT INTO A NEW MASTER PLAN.
THIS PROJECT CURRENTLY PAGE 30.
I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. PAGE 30 OF YOUR WORKBOOK.
THIS PROJECT. CURRENTLY WE HAVE CITY STAFF THAT ARE GOING TO THE LOCATIONS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED FOR EITHER REPLACEMENT OF AN EXISTING CHECK VALVE OR A NEW LOCATION, MAKING SURE THAT THERE DOESN'T NEED TO BE ANY REPAIRS OR UPGRADES TO THE PIPE OR MATERIALS SO THAT THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO FIT A TIE CHECK VALVE IN THERE.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RED AND THE GREEN DOTS? LET ME SEE. UM.
LOOKS LIKE THE THE GREEN DOTS.
MAY BE COMPLETED VERSUS UNCOMPLETED? I DON'T THINK SO.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO SEE, BUT IT'S IDENTIFYING WHO OWNS WHAT.
SO THERE'S A CITY OWNED DOT AND OTHER.
SO THOSE ARE JUST KIND OF SHOWING WHERE THOSE ARE.
SO YOU'LL NOTICE THE RED DOTS ALONG US ONE.
[01:10:02]
THOSE ARE TIED TO DOT OUTFALLS.SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SEPARATE LIST FOR DOT.
AND AS A SIDE NOTE, THEY ACTUALLY RECENTLY GOT GRANT FUNDING.
AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH HIGH TIDE FLOODING.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE RED DOTS FOR.
AND THEN THE GREEN ARE THE OWNED OR WHAT? CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE OWNED OR THE GREEN.
OTHER. THERE'S NOT VERY MANY, BUT THERE ARE A FEW.
THANK YOU. AND FOR THE RECORD, THAT WAS JESSICA BEACH CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER.
THANK YOU. SO IF THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, MARK SIMPSON. I DO HAVE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
AND I REALIZE THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
SO I HAVE HAD REQUESTS FROM THE AREA OF HIBISCUS HIBISCUS STREET, WHICH IS NEAR FORT MOSE, EAST OF US ONE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE TAKE A LOOK.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AND INCLUDE THAT IN A FUTURE PLANS.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT GOES, BUT FOR DRAINAGE OR PAVING OR BREAD WATER REPLACEMENT REPLACE OF IRON PIPES, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY. I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE COMPLAINT IS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
I WOULD LOOK TO YOUR GUIDANCE ON THAT.
YEAH. AND I WAS FORWARDED AN EMAIL, SO I'LL GET WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES AND GO OVER WHAT THE ISSUES WERE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
AND YEAH, BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM TO BE THEY FEEL FORGOTTEN IS WHAT THE FEEDBACK IS.
I DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND DO YOU COULD YOU GIVE US A GUESS? WE HAVEN'T SPENT ANYTHING ON THE FIRE STATION SINCE WE LAST WENT TO THE STATE TO TRY TO HAVE THEM RE DESIGNATE THIS PROPERTY ACROSS FROM THE AMP.
WE HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH DEP ABOUT A LAND SWAP.
SO WE ASKED THEM ABOUT A DONATION OF LAND IN EXCHANGE FOR A LEASE ON THAT PROPERTY.
AND THEY SAID THAT THEY THEY HAD TO CONSIDER THAT AND THAT THAT IDEA NEEDED TO BE VETTED THROUGH THEIR HIGHER UPS IN DEP AND THEY WOULD GET BACK TO US AND THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO US YET.
I'M SORRY. THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME OUT EARLIER WERE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
UM, WHEN MR. GRANT MENTIONED A CONSULTANT THAT WE HAD HIRED, HE'S TALKING ABOUT ETM, ENGLAND, THAMES AND MILLER.
THAT'S AN ENGINEERING FIRM THAT WE HAVE UNDER CONTINUING SERVICES CONTRACT.
LEASE THEIR PROPERTY IN EXCHANGE FOR A LAND DONATION.
THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE GOING BACK TO THE ACQUISITION AND RESTORATION COUNCIL, THE ARC COUNCIL, AND ASKING THE STATE OF FLORIDA WOULD BE ASKING FOR A RE DESIGNATION OF THEIR PROPERTY. THE CITY DOES NOT ASK FOR THAT.
THE STATE PARK WOULD BE ASKING FOR IT.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE WILL ETM WOULD.
GIVE US A MORE DETAILED SITE PLAN.
THERE'S A LITTLE SITE PLAN IN HERE THAT'S SORT OF A CONCEPTUAL RENDERING.
WE WANT ETM TO GIVE US A BETTER SITE PLAN THAT SHOWS THE PRESERVATION OF THE DUNE ON THE.
WEST SIDE OF THE PROPOSED FIRE STATION TO BUFFER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ACREAGE TO THE NORTH THAT WE WOULD NOT BE TOUCHING, THAT WOULD REMAIN ESSENTIALLY STATE OWNED PROPERTY IN A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IF THEY WISHED TO DO THAT.
UM, THAT'S WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR.
BUT. UM, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF MOVEMENT HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE LAST RC MEETING.
[01:15:07]
THE STATE'S PROCESSES JUST TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET THROUGH AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT NOW.THANK YOU. COULD I MAKE A REQUEST OF YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER, THAT IF SOMETHING DOES, IF YOU DO HEAR SOMETHING FROM THE STATE, THAT YOU WILL COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE NEIGHBORS, SIR? OKAY, SO IF THERE'S SOME CHANGE.
[4. Status Update on FY2024 Budget (M. Simpson, Director, Finance)]
ALL RIGHT, MR. SIMPSON, WE ARE MOVING ON TO THE.STATUS UPDATE FOR THE 2024 BUDGET.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MARK SIMPSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS AFTERNOON.
I WILL GO OVER SEVERAL HIGHLIGHTS, BUT I'M GOING TO RESERVE SOME EXTRA TIME AT THE END TO GO OVER OUR RESERVES AND A POTENTIALLY HOT BUTTON ISSUE FROM PUBLIC COMMENT DEALING WITH LAND CONSERVATION.
OUR GENERAL FUND MILLAGE IS UNCHANGED AT 7.5 MILLS.
THAT SHOULD HAPPEN EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, IF NOT EVERY YEAR, AS COST INCREASE.
UH, WE STARTED OUT THIS BUDGET SEASON WITH 44 REQUESTED NEW POSITIONS.
YOU JUST HEARD THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
IT IS PRETTY AGGRESSIVE AND IT TAKES A LOT OF MANPOWER TO EXECUTE THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU A BUDGET REQUEST WITH 17 NEW FTES FULL TIME EQUIVALENTS. THEY WENT OVER THE STREET PAVING PROGRAM OF 800,000 THAT IS IN THE OPERATING BUDGET.
I BELIEVE THE WEST AUGUSTINE SIDEWALK DESIGN WAS ALSO MENTIONED FOR $300,000.
THAT'S THE DESIGN WITH CONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR 25.
IS THE SIDEWALK DESIGNED FOR 300,000 SEPARATE FROM THE 800,000 IN THE STREET PAVING? IT IS. IT'S AN ADDITION TO.
THANK YOU TO TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR.
UM, THIS YEAR ON OUR UTILITY RATES, WE ARE JUST SUGGESTING THE STANDARD 4.4 CPI FOR WATER, SEWER, STORMWATER AND TRASH AND GARBAGE.
AND I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE DONE THE ANALYSIS AND THE SURCHARGE FOR OUTSIDE CITY IS BEING REDUCED FROM 19% TO 18% AS DISCUSSED IN PRIOR BUDGET YEARS.
I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE PUBLIC ART STUDY WAS SPECIFICALLY ADDED TO THE BUDGET.
WE HAD 80,000 LAST YEAR AND WE ADDED ANOTHER 170,000 THIS YEAR.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ACCUMULATED $250,000 TO GET THE STUDY UNDERWAY.
FOR THE MAY STREET PUBLIC ART.
AS FOR SOME HISTORIC PRESERVATION THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, WE HAVE SOME WINDOWS BEING REPLACED AT THE PECK HOUSE AND A COPPER ROOF.
AND CONTINUED WINDOW REPLACEMENT AT CITY HALL AND THE LEITNER BUILDING.
ALSO, WITH THE RATE INCREASES OF 4.4%, I WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT THAT OUR RENTAL INCOME ON OUR VARIOUS CITY OWNED PROPERTY WILL ALSO INCREASE BY 4.4%.
SO THE PARKING CHANGES ARE WORTH DISCUSSING.
I BELIEVE IT'S ON AUGUST 24TH.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO INCREASE THE PAY ON ENTRY SYSTEM AT THE GARAGE TO $20 FROM $15 ON ALL TIMES WHEN WE'RE NOT SHUTTLING, BUT ONLY TILL 5 P.M.
AND THEN REDUCE OUR RATE FROM 5 TO 9 TO $5 ON ENTRY TO INCENTIVIZE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING DOWNTOWN TO EAT AND WHATNOT, TO USE THE GARAGE VERSUS HUNT AROUND AND TIE UP OUR STREETS TRYING TO LOOK FOR ON STREET PARKING.
[01:20:03]
AND WE FEEL LIKE DOING THAT IS IS GOING TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO JUST GO STRAIGHT TO THE GARAGE AND NOT TIE UP DOWNTOWN.WE WERE GOING TO EXPAND PARKING ENFORCEMENT FROM 5 P.M.
THAT WAS ALSO DISCUSSED PRIOR AND OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
BUT IT IS BUILT THE BUDGET IS BUILT BASED ON THESE THESE ASSUMPTIONS RIGHT NOW.
AT THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER.
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS BUDGETED.
THE WINDOWS AND THE FLOORS TO GET READY FOR SOME OF THESE EXHIBITS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER TO GET THIS DONE.
JUST THE BASICS ARE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT SOME MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO REDESIGN FRANCIS FIELD AND LOOK AT SOME OPTIONS THERE, AS WELL AS A MADEIRA PARK MASTER PLAN.
WE HAVE SOME PROPERTY THERE THAT WE ENTITLED TO BUILD A PARK ON.
WE EARMARKED SOME MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO DO A MASTER PLAN AT MADEIRA PARK.
AND LASTLY, THE FINDING OF NECESSITY FOR THE WEST CITY CRA IS CONTAINED IN THE BUDGET.
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I GO OVER WHAT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET? UM, IS THIS THE TIME WHEN WE CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IS FUNDS FOR CONSULTANTS.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S SO MUCH OF A LEGAL EXPENSE AS IT WOULD BE A PLANNING AND ZONING EXPENSE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO LOOK INTO THAT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD BE.
I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT WHEN WE CAN GET AN EXPERT OPINION ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE, THAT IT GIVES US A FIRMER FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO BASE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE NOT JUST HEARING FROM THE APPLICANT'S EXPERTS, BUT ALSO FROM OUR OWN.
I CAN WORK WITH MISS SKINNER ON THAT AND WE CAN ADD THAT TO HER BUDGET.
SO WHAT IS NOT IN THE BUDGET CURRENTLY, BUT I BELIEVE CAN BE IS MONEY FOR ACQUISITION FOR FOR CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION.
AND I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION AND.
IN MY INITIAL PRESENTATION ON REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS, I BELIEVE I MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT USING RESERVES FOR THAT AND NOT NECESSARILY TYING UP MONEY IN THE OPERATING BUDGET.
SO THAT IS CERTAINLY UP FOR DISCUSSION.
BUT I DID WANT TO POINT OUT WHAT OUR RESERVE STATUS IS AND THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S OUR TOTAL RESERVES ON OUR FISCAL YEAR 2022.
ACF. ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
WE CAN'T REALLY SPEND IT BECAUSE OF STATE RESTRICTIONS.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR OWN INTERNAL RESTRICTIONS.
AND THEN OVER AND BEYOND ALL THESE RESTRICTIONS, WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS.
SO TO OPEN THE DISCUSSION, I THOUGHT I SHOULD JUST START WITH THE GENERAL FUND.
[01:25:06]
SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022.I WOULD MENTION WE HAVE APPROPRIATED 1.6 MILLION THIS YEAR.
SPENT A LOT OF IT ON THE CONNOR PROPERTY TO ADVANCE THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT.
WE BOUGHT AN ARMORED PERSONNEL VEHICLE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH SOME OF THAT.
SO. MY ESTIMATE FOR YOU THIS EVENING IS THAT YOU HAVE $6 MILLION OF UNRESTRICTED RESERVES IN THE GENERAL FUND, OF WHICH. I CAN TRANSFER A PORTION OF THAT INTO THIS YEAR'S OPERATING BUDGET FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
BUT I WANTED TO THROW OUT THE FACT THAT.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND APPROPRIATE RESERVES NOW AND INCLUDE IT IN THE BUDGET THAT WE PASSED VERSUS WAIT ON ME TO CLOSE THE BOOKS FOR THIS YEAR AND SAY, WELL, WE HAD A SURPLUS OF $3 MILLION.
HOW MUCH OF THAT $3 MILLION WOULD YOU LIKE TO APPROPRIATE AFTER THE BUDGET IS PASSED? WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE WE'VE GOT 6 MILLION THAT WE CAN PUT A PORTION OF THAT TOWARDS LAND ACQUISITION.
OH, SORRY. I HAVE RATHER LENGTHY.
I HAVE A RATHER LENGTHY COMMENTS.
OKAY. THIS IS A PASSION OF YOURS.
IT IS MY HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR THE CITY.
I WANTED TO START BY AND THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME.
I WANT TO START BY READING PART OF A EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE MATANZAS RIVERKEEPER, WHO WE CAN PROBABLY ALL AGREE IS AN EXPERT ON THESE ISSUES. COMMISSIONER BLONDER, WE'RE REACHING OUT TODAY TO URGE YOU TO ADOPT A FORMAL LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
SO BOTH AND OKAY, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE FORMAL PART IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THE CITY HAS HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN LAND CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN RECENT YEARS, INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF THE LOT AND FULLER WOOD FOR RESILIENCY, THE PRESERVATION OF THE PROPERTY ON FISH ISLAND ROAD FOR PASSIVE RECREATION, AND MOST NOTABLY THE ACQUISITION OF FISH ISLAND PRESERVE.
I WANT TO THANK THE TWO COMMISSIONERS TO MY LEFT FOR ALL THAT THEY DID AND KICKING OFF THIS CULTURAL PIECE OF WHO WE ARE IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
BY YOUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT FISH ISLAND PRESERVE AND THEN TO SUPPORT THE 30 ACRES ON 312 FISH ISLAND ROAD AS A PASSIVE PARK AND THEN MISS KERN'S PROPERTY AS WELL.
UM, WHILE THESE PROJECTS HAVE PRODUCED INCREDIBLE ASSETS FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE, THE CREATION OF A FORMALIZED LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM WOULD BUILD UPON THESE EFFORTS BY ALLOCATING RECURRING FUNDING TO FACILITATE THE ASSESSMENT, PRIORITIZATION AND ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES WITH THE MOST VALUE FROM A CONSERVATION AND RESILIENCY PERSPECTIVE.
THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS NOT ESCAPED THE STRESSES CAUSED BY THIS RAPID POPULATION GROWTH, AND RECENT STORM EVENTS HAVE UNDERSCORED THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEVELOPING IN VULNERABLE AREAS.
THE CREATION OF A FORMALIZED LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO IDENTIFY UNDEVELOPED PARCELS THAT WOULD BE BETTER SUITED FOR GREEN SPACE AND FLOOD WATER RETENTION RATHER THAN DEVELOPMENT.
BY KEEPING THESE PARCELS IN AN UNDEVELOPED STATE, THE CITY WILL PREVENT FUTURE LOSSES THAT WOULD BE INCURRED BY PROPERTY OWNERS BUILDING IN AREAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING, AS WELL AS RETAIN NATURAL AREAS FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT, WATER QUALITY REMEDIATION AND RETENTION OF FLOOD WATERS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE IMPACT NEARBY PROPERTIES.
SO I THINK THE MATANZAS RIVER KEEPER FOR SHARING THAT CONCISE AND REALLY I THINK VERY WELL PUT RATIONALE FOR MOVING AHEAD WITH A FORMALIZED LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT PROPOSING A BUDGET OF APPROPRIATION FOR ANNUAL CONSIDERATION IS THAT WE ARE FULLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE WE HOLD IN CONSERVING OUR NATURAL HERITAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE CAN DIRECT A TOTAL OF $250,000 TO PUBLIC ART, WHICH I ABSOLUTELY AGREE AND SUPPORT WITH, AND I'VE SAID THAT MANY TIMES, THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY DEDICATE SOME AMOUNT OF FUNDING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
I WOULD ALSO CAUTION AND NOTE THAT WHILE STAFF IS WORKING ON DEVELOPING CRITERIA FOR LAND ACQUISITION PROJECTS, PRIORITIZING THEM, WE NEED AN OBJECTIVE WAY TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACQUISITION WOULD QUALIFY AND ESTABLISH.
[01:30:07]
AND WE NEED TO ESTABLISH RANKING CRITERIA.AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY INCLUDE ONLY PURCHASING PROPERTY THAT HAS A WILLING SELLER THAT WE WOULD NOT GO AFTER PROPERTIES THAT DON'T HAVE A WILLING SELLER. SO IN CLOSING, I APPRECIATE THE TIME, THE SUPPORT THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE THAT MADE PUBLIC COMMENT AND HAVE WRITTEN TO US.
SO I'D LIKE CONSIDERATION AND HOPEFULLY CONSENSUS FROM THIS COMMISSION THAT EVERY YEAR STAFF BRINGS FORWARD FOR COMMISSION CONSIDERATION, A BUDGET APPROPRIATION TO FUND LAND ACQUISITION WITHIN CITY LIMITS FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSERVATION, RESILIENCE AND OR RECREATION.
SO WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE AS AN ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION, I LOVE THE IDEA OF GOING AHEAD AND USING RESERVES THIS YEAR AS WELL, BUT I WANT TO FORMALIZE IT IN OUR BUDGET TO THE EXTENT THAT THE COMMISSION WILL SUPPORT IT EVERY YEAR.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARRETT.
AND HAVING BEEN ON THE COMMISSION, BEING THE NEWBIE ON THE COMMISSION, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
I KNOW WE JUST DID SOME FOR FULLER WOOD AND WE'VE DONE SOME OTHER AND I WAS BASICALLY WATCHING THE FISH ISLAND GROW AND THERE I JOINED THEIR WEBSITE AND WATCHED EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID TO PUSH TO MAKE THAT INITIATIVE.
I WAS THINKING THAT WE SHOULD GO WITH AN AMOUNT TO GIVE HIM FOR THE SURPLUS.
I WAS THINKING MAYBE $1 MILLION.
SO IF WE SECURE ENOUGH MONEY, THEN WE CAN HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER MOVE ON TAKING THAT INITIATIVE BECAUSE WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING, THIS AND THAT. AND SO THIS IS JUST BEING PROACTIVE, BEING PROACTIVE TO HAVE SECURING THOSE FUNDS.
WELL, I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THE NEED FOR HAVING THE MONEY SET ASIDE.
I THOUGHT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT 500,000, WHICH WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME.
AND THEN IF WE HAVE CARRYOVER AS WE IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT WE WOULD HAVE MONEY FOR NEXT YEAR.
UM, I'M JUST WONDERING, HAVE WE TAKEN A LOOK AT THE CITY? I'M AWARE OF THE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S TO THE SOUTH OF MAIN STREET.
DO WE HAVE AN OVERALL SCOPE OF WHAT'S OUT THERE THAT WOULD SUFFICE FOR THIS RESILIENCY NEED OR RECREATION OR BOTH? WE ARE WORKING ON AN INVENTORY THROUGH A PROGRAM WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE WITH THE CONSULTANT FIRM WSP, WHO'S DOING A RESILIENT SHORELINE PROJECT FOR US. SO ONE OF THE PHASES OF THAT WAS IS IDENTIFYING LANDS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR ACQUISITION IN A CONSERVATION LAND TRUST OR SIMILAR PROGRAM.
AND WE'VE LOOKED AT SEVERAL PROPERTIES, A PROPERTY ON FLORIDA AVENUE.
WE LOOKED AT A PROPERTY IN THE BILLINGS BEACON STREET AREA THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY ON SEMINOLE DRIVE FOR THIS FOR THESE PURPOSES.
SO THERE ARE PROPERTIES WHICH FRANKLY HAVE BEEN PASSED ON FOR DEVELOPMENT UNTIL NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PROPERTIES, BUT THEY'RE STILL IN CIRCULATION.
EXCELLENT. I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT'S UNDERWAY.
SO MY COMMENTS ARE I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE DRAWING DOWN OF THE RESERVES TO CREATE THE SEED MONEY.
MY QUESTION AND MY QUESTION ABOUT MOVING FORWARD IS I POSED THIS QUESTION OF THE RIVERKEEPER AND SHE RESPONDED WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS CREATED BY THE COUNTY.
AND IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE HOW DO WE BUILD THIS PROGRAM? AND THEN. OPERATE IT YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.
[01:35:05]
PARAMETERS AS WELL AS THE EVALUATION SHEETS.SO QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
IS THAT THE LAMP PROGRAM YOU'RE REFERRING TO, THE ORDINANCE THAT ENABLED..
IT'S THE COUNTY ORDINANCE CREATING THE LAND ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.
BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES ADDRESS SOME OF MY QUESTIONS BECAUSE AS YOU REMEMBER, EVERY TIME THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS UP, I ALWAYS SAID AS LONG AS IT'S GOT CULTURAL LANDS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION INVOLVED IN IT AS WELL, THEN I'M SUPPORTIVE AND I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE ANYWAY, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST.
BUT. UH, IF YOU WANT TO VOTE, I CAN CALL FOR A HEAD NODDING.
WHATEVER YOU. WHAT? A STAFF REQUEST.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO FOLLOW UP? COMMISSIONER BLONDER HAD ASKED FOR A WORKSHOP.
A POLICY WORKSHOP TO KICK OFF THIS CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM.
WE INTENDED TO DO THAT IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, BUT WE HAD THE NIGHTLIFE ORDINANCE WORKSHOP POP UP ON US THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. SO WE'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT POLICY WORKSHOP TO SEPTEMBER TO TALK ABOUT CREATING THIS, TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION OF CREATING THIS CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM, WHICH IS CALLED LAMP PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY.
WE'LL CERTAINLY USE THE LAMP ORDINANCE AS A GUIDE TO SEE HOW THE COUNTY IS DOING IT.
BUT JUST FROM A BUREAUCRATIC PERSPECTIVE, WE ALWAYS INTENDED TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND START THE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CREATING THIS PROGRAM. OKAY.
MADAM MAYOR, I HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION.
SO YOU HAD MENTIONED ANNUAL BASIS.
SO I ASSUME THAT THE WORKSHOP WOULD INCLUDE ANY IDEAS AND THOUGHTS THAT IT COMES TO.
HOW IS THIS FUNDED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, IF THAT'S THE REQUEST? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY.
AND MY SUGGESTION WAS TO TO LOOK AT THE RESERVES FROM PERHAPS THE PRIOR YEAR AND SAY, WELL, WE SOCKED AWAY $2.2 MILLION AND WE COME UP WITH A PERCENTAGE AND PERHAPS A NOT TO EXCEED THRESHOLD.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, FLESH THAT OUT IN A MEETING.
OKAY. WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY $1 MILLION IS REASONABLE AND JUST LAND VALUES ARE SO INSANE. 500 SEEMS LIKE SEED MONEY, BUT NOT ENOUGH SEED MONEY.
SECOND, THAT'S A MOTION I MADE.
ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE TO MAKE THE MOTION? I'M FINE. GIVE YOU THE HONOR.
NO, YOU'RE. YOU'RE THE. ALL RIGHT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN? WELL, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
YES. YES. MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME, THERE IS A SECOND PIECE OF THIS THAT I THINK IS CRITICAL FOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE WHO HAVE EMAILED FOR MYSELF, AND THAT'S THE FORMALIZATION OF THIS.
OKAY. WELL, LET'S DISCUSS THAT IN THE WORKSHOP THEN.
OH, YOU WANT AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST FOR FUNDS? I WOULD NEED TO ADD THAT PLACEHOLDER AND SOMETHING LIKE.
YEAH. UM, SO I CAN NICKEL AND DIME SOME $75,000.
50. CAN WE GO WITH 50? 50,000? OKAY.
SEEMS FAIR ENOUGH. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN GET FOR 25,000 IN CONSULTANT FEES, BUT I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BLONDER THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT SUCCEED ME WILL SEE SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR AND THAT'LL BE A REMINDER TO PUT ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THERE AND ALSO REEXAMINE WHAT THE PRIOR YEAR SURPLUS WAS AND APPROPRIATE SOME OF THAT SURPLUS.
OKAY. SO IT'S A BOOKKEEPING THING.
THANK YOU. IS THAT CAN I MAKE THAT AS A MOTION? WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THAT. YES, PLEASE.
[01:40:01]
RECREATION. AND IT'S USED FOR ADMINISTRATION.YEAH, THERE'S ADMINISTRATION FOR SURE COSTS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
OH, GO AHEAD. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I AM BESIDE MYSELF WITH EXCITEMENT AND I'M TRYING NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL, BUT THIS IS A BIG DEAL AND YOU ALL JUST WORKING WITH ME AND THE SUPPORT OF THE STAFF AND OF THE PUBLIC, THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR A TOWN THAT'S THIS SIZE.
SO I AM SUPER PROUD OF YOU ALL AND HUMBLED BY THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN.
JOB WELL DONE. CAMPAIGN PROMISES FULFILLED AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
AND IF ANYBODY'S DONE ANY TRAVELING IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND IN MY CASE, I GREW UP HERE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TRAVEL AROUND AND LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST 25 YEARS IN ANY COMMUNITY.
AND THIS WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT MOVING FORWARD.
NOW, WE DO HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD REQUEST FROM US.
COMMISSIONERS FINAL COMMENTS FOR THIS UPDATE.
DO YOU HAVE ONE LAST MINUTE? YES. SMALL THING.
WE DO ANTICIPATE HAVING A SISTER CITY CELEBRATION NEXT YEAR.
WE DO 100TH ANNIVERSARY INVITING THE MAYOR OF ALBELIZE AND AN ENTOURAGE FROM FROM SPAIN TO COME AND JOIN US TO CELEBRATE SISTER CITIES RELATIONSHIP WITH US. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THAT CELEBRATION.
AND I'M NOT SURE I'D HAVE TO CHECK, BUT I JUST GOT A LAST MINUTE.
OH, MY GOSH. I'M NOT SURE WE PUT SOME MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
I AGREE. AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES BUILDING OUT THE VIC DISPLAY OR WILL THAT FOLLOW THE NEXT YEAR? THE VIC DISPLAY, WE'VE ASKED FOR MONEY TO BE APPROPRIATED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
BUT THIS IS FOR THE 100TH AND 2024.
SO WE EXPECT TO HAVE A PROGRAM ASSOCIATED AND COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT 100.
RIGHT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD ISN'T HERE.
HE'S OUR LIAISON TO SISTER CITIES.
AND BUT SO DO CAN YOU PUT A PLACEHOLDER IN OR TO BE DISCUSSED? YES, MA'AM, WE WILL UNTIL MISTER COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD IS HERE.
AND BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S CLOSE TO HIS HEART, WE'RE MISSING HIM A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.
I BELIEVE IT'S IN MELISSA WHISTLES BUDGET, BUT I WILL DOUBLE CHECK.
OKAY. IF IT IS, WE WILL CHECK.
ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GIVE US MORE DETAIL.
I WILL DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE IT'S THERE BEFORE I BRING YOU A PROPOSED BUDGET ON AUGUST 24TH.
OKAY, SO OUR FINAL BUDGET HEARING ON THIS LEVEL WILL BE IN AUGUST.
IT'S A WORKSHOP. YES, A WORKSHOP HEARINGS.
THERE'S TWO HEARINGS WHERE WE FORMALLY ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE AND THE BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER.
BUT THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR MORE WORK TO BE DONE IN AUGUST.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL HOURS SET ASIDE FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET.
WELL, MOVING REALLY QUICKLY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO THANK YOU. ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS? I DO HAVE ONE.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONERS MOVING FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS IN THE RECORD.
OPPOSED TO BUDGET REQUESTS OUT OF BUDGET CYCLE, BUDGET, GENERAL FUND DRAWDOWNS OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET CYCLE. SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TRY AND REMEMBER TO GET EVERYTHING IN THIS BUDGET SO THAT WE DON'T GET OUT OF CYCLE BUDGET REQUESTS.
IT'S IT'S SOMETIMES IT'S UNAVOIDABLE, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE WHY WE DO BUDGET THREE BOARD BUDGET HEARINGS IN THE YEAR SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING WE CAN.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
[01:45:02]
UM, WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO THANK STAFF.MR. SIMPSON, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
WE APPRECIATE MR. SLAUGHTER AND MR. GRANT, BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND TIME TICKING ON THOSE GRANTS.
AND WE WILL TRY VERY HARD NOT TO ADD TO YOUR BURDEN OR YOUR CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO REMIND US OF.
SO THANK YOU. BUT WITH THAT SAID, UM, WE WILL ADJOURN UNTIL 5:00 FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.