[00:00:02]
>> GOOD EVENING. THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS CALLED TO ORDER.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.>> WE WILL NOW HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR ROXANNE HORVATH.
>> THANK YOU. WE NOW AT A MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
DOES ANYONE HAVE MODIFICATIONS? CITY MANAGER, ANY MODIFICATIONS?>> STAFF HAS NO MODIFICATIONS, MAYOR.
>> COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA AS WRITTEN.
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THANK YOU. WE MOVE ON TO SPECIAL PRESENTATION RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS.
[3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS]
OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION UP IS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK, AND COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD WILL READ THAT PROCLAMATION.>> HENRY SEAN, IF YOU ARE PRESENT, WOULD YOU COME UP? NO. YOU CAN HAVE THAT.
THE PROCLAMATION FOR BOATING SAFETY.
WHEREAS FOR OVER 100 MILLION AMERICANS, BOATING CONTINUES TO BE A POPULAR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY FROM COAST TO COAST AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
PEOPLE ARE TAKEN TO THE WATER AND ENJOYING TIME TOGETHER BOATING, SAILING, PADDLING, AND FISHING.
DURING NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK, THE US COAST GUARD OF THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL, ALONG WITH FEDERAL AND STATE AND LOCAL SAFE BOATING PARTNERS, ENCOURAGE ALL BOATERS TO EXPLORE AND ENJOY AMERICA'S BEAUTIFUL WATERS RESPONSIBLY.
WHEREAS, ON AVERAGE, 650 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR IN BOATING-RELATED ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND APPROXIMATELY THREE-FOURTHS OF THOSE ARE FATALITIES CAUSED BY DROWNING.
DROWNING REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR RECREATIONAL BOATERS EACH YEAR.
WHEREAS THE VAST MAJORITY OF ACCIDENTS ON WATERWAYS ARE CAUSED BY HUMAN ERROR OR A POOR JUDGMENT AND NOT BY THE BOAT EQUIPMENT OR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BOATERS WHO LOSE THEIR LIVES BY DROWNING EACH YEAR WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY HAD THEY WORN THEIR LIFE JACKETS.
WHEREAS PROPER PLANNING FOR A DAY OF BOATING BEGINS EVEN BEFORE LEAVING HOME.
THROUGH BASIC BOATING SAFETY PROCEDURES, CARRYING LIFESAVING EMERGENCY DISTRESS AND COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT, WEARING LIFE JACKETS, ATTENDING SAFE BOATING COURSES, PARTICIPATING IN FREE BOAT SAFETY CHECKS, AND STAYING SOBER WHEN NAVIGATING.
WE CAN HELP ENSURE BOATERS ON AMERICA'S COASTAL AND INLAND AND OFFSHORE WATERS STAY SAFE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.
WHEREAS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IS OBSERVED TO BRING ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT LIFESAVING TIPS FOR RECREATIONAL BOATERS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A SAFER, MORE FUN EXPERIENCE OUT ON THE WATER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 18TH THROUGH THE 24TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND URGES ALL CITIZENS WHO PARTICIPATE IN BOATING ACTIVITY TO OBSERVE THIS OCCASION BY LEARNING MORE ABOUT SAFE BOATING PRACTICES AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BOATING EDUCATION.
[00:05:31]
>> OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS THE ST. AUGUSTINE JEWISH HERITAGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROCLAMATION FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH.
>> GREAT. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM THE ST. AUGUSTINE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION? WONDERFUL. COME ON FORWARD, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>> RON ELINOV. THANK YOU, RON, FOR BEING HERE.
WHEREAS HERITAGE AND HISTORY ARE EVER PRESENT IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA AND THE PAST IS PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY PROUDLY LABORS IN THE VINEYARD TO KEEP THAT HERITAGE AND HISTORY ALIVE.
WHEREAS ON APRIL 20, 2006, PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH SIGNED AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT DECLARING THE MONTH OF MAY TO BE JEWISH AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.
WHEREAS THE ST. AUGUSTINE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS ESTABLISHED THIS FACT THAT THE FIRST JEWS IN WHAT WOULD BECOME THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAME ASHORE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AND TOOK PART IN THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY'S FIRST EUROPEAN CITY AND THE VERY BEGINNINGS OF AMERICAN JEWISH HERITAGE.
WHEREAS THE OLDEST SYNAGOGUE IN CONTINUOUS USE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS FOUND IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
WHEREAS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF THE CITY PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN THE QUEST FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LED BY REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR IN ST. AUGUSTINE DURING THE SUMMER OF 1964, INCLUDING THE LARGEST MASS ARREST OF RABBIS IN US HISTORY, WHEREAS JEWISH AMERICAN VALUES ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF AMERICAN LIFE AND HAVE SHAPED THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE AS A COUNTRY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE ST. AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2024 AS ST. AUGUSTINE JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT THE PAST REMINDS US OF TIMELESS HUMAN TRUTHS AND ALLOWS FOR THE PERPETUATION OF NOURISHING CULTURAL TRADITIONS HERE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW BRIEF WORDS?
>> ON BEHALF OF RABBI SHAPIRO AND THE ST. AUGUSTINE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
PARTICULARLY IN THIS WORLD IN WHICH WE ARE LIVING IN TODAY, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE FACT OF YOU RECOGNIZING US AND OUR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO SOCIETY.
>> THANK YOU. WELL, NEXT PROCLAMATION, WE ARE GOING TO INVITE JUDGE ALEXANDER CHRISTINI AND JUDGE HOWARD MCGILL, IF HE IS THERE HERE.
[BACKGROUND] WE CAN HUG [INAUDIBLE] TO SEE YOU FOR THIS.
[LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, THOUSANDS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS HAVE BEEN RESTORING LIVES, REUNITING FAMILIES, AND MAKING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION SAFER.
WHEREAS, PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS PROVIDE FOCUS AND LEADERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY-WIDE PARTNERSHIPS BRINGING TOGETHER PUBLIC SAFETY
[00:10:05]
AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN COMBATING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND OTHER ISSUES PRESENT IN THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REALM.WHEREAS RESEARCH SHOWS THAT PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED TREATMENT OUTCOMES AND DO SO AT A LOWER COST THAN OTHER JUSTICE SYSTEM STRATEGIES AND WHEREAS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY DRUG COURT IN 2002, 280 INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH DRUG AND RELATED OFFENSES HAVE COMPLETED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
WHEREAS SINCE 2017, WHEN ST. JOHNS COUNTY VETERANS' COURT BEGAN, 96 JUSTICE INVOLVED VETERANS HAVE COMPLETED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, AND WHEREAS JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, TREATMENT, AND REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY SUPERVISION PERSONNEL, RESEARCHERS, AND EDUCATORS JOIN TO FORM HEALING COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WISHES TO RECOGNIZE THE SUCCESSFUL WORK OF THESE PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT PROGRAMS TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW THEREFORE WE, THE CITY, ST. AUGUSTINE COMMISSION HEREBY PROCLAIMS MAY 2024 AS PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT MONTH AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS.
[APPLAUSE] THESE ARE THE GENTLEMEN THAT HELP US SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS AND WHO WOULD LIKE.
>> FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS, SPECIFICALLY OUR DRUG COURT, OUR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT, AND HOPEFULLY SOON IN MENTAL HEALTH COURT, THEY WORK.
THEY ARE NOT JUST RAINBOWS AND BUTTERFLIES.
FEDERAL STATISTICS SAY THAT AFTER 10 YEARS AN AVERAGE OF 71% OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE CONVICTED AND GO TO JAIL, RE-OFFEND.
IN OUR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT OVER OUR FIRST SIX YEARS, THE NUMBERS EXACTLY REVERSED, 17%. TREATMENT COURTS WORK.
>> THANKS. THEY DO, AND OUR NUMBERS ARE VERY SIMILAR.
THESE TREATMENT COURT STARTED RIGHT HERE IN FLORIDA,1987 IT WAS MIAMI DAY COUNTY.
THE LEGISLATURE FUNDED IT, AND IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL.
IT BEGAN TO SPREAD AROUND FLORIDA.
WE'VE HAD A DRUG COURT IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY ABOUT 20 YEARS, AND NOW THEY'RE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THERE'S OVER 4,000 OF THEM IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THEY'RE RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE HISTORY.
VETERANS COURT MODELED AFTER IT.
THIS JUDGE SITTING NEXT TO ME STARTED OUR VETERANS COURT, SAW BILL DUDLEY BACK THERE, SHIRLEY OLSON BACK THERE.
THESE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO THANK, ESPECIALLY AS WELL, NANCY SIKES KLINE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
I KNOW AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN GRADUATIONS WILL GRADUATE FOLKS ABOUT FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND SHE'LL COME TO THAT GRADUATION.
IT IS REALLY A MOVING EXPERIENCE.
YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED.
NOT ONLY DO WE SAVE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HALF THE COSTS AND MAKE THEM MUCH SAFER, BUT WE'RE SAVING BABIES, WE'RE SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND WE HAVE THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO THANK FOR THEIR CONSTANT SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WELL, THANK YOU TOO, JUDGES.
I KNOW THAT IT COULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT YOUR SUPERVISION AND THE EXTRA TIME THAT YOU SPEND TO MAKE THOSE COURTS WORK.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE THEM WITHOUT YOU, AND WE ARE DEEPLY IN OUR DEBT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
[BACKGROUND] WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. BUT THANK YOU.
ALSO, I WOULD SAY I KNOW ONE THING THAT YOU ALWAYS MAKE A POINT OF IS THAT THESE COURTS REALLY HELP FAMILIES, ALL OF THE FAMILIES, THE CHILDREN, IT REUNITES FAMILIES BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE TERRIBLE COSTS OF THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE IS THAT FAMILIES ARE BROKEN APART.
THAT YOU ALL DO A TREMENDOUS JOB.
WHEN I GO TO THE COURTS GRADUATIONS, THE COMMENCEMENTS, AND I SEE HOW FAMILIES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER, IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL YOUR SUCCESSFUL GRADUATES, AND NOW WE'LL HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH.
[00:15:35]
OUR NEXT AND FINAL PROCLAMATION IS FOR NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH.JULIE COURTNEY, IF YOU WILL PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU CAN JUST SQUEEZE RIGHT IN HERE.
YES. WHEREAS, NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT OF 1966, IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING OUR NATION'S HERITAGE, ESTABLISHED A PROGRAM OF IDENTIFICATION, EVALUATION, AND PROTECTION OF HISTORIC AND PRE-HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND CONTAINS THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE FEDERAL STATE LOCAL PRESERVATION PARTNERSHIP, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WAS DESIGNATED AS A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN 1986, AND AS A COMMITMENT TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF OUR UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND WHEREAS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF OUR RESOURCES, IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND VITAL TO THE LEGACY OF CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AESTHETIC, INSPIRATIONAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND ENRICHED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WHEREAS, 250 YEARS AGO, NATURALIST WILLIAM BARTRAM JOURNEYED THROUGHOUT OUR REGION AND RECORDED PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND NATIVE PEOPLES.
150 YEARS AGO, THE ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE WAS COMPLETED AND FIRST LIT.
100 YEARS AGO, THE CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS, FORMERLY FORT MARION, AND THE FORT MATANZAS, WERE DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL LANDMARKS.
THE ICONIC LION STATUES WERE COMMISSIONED IN ST. AUGUSTINE AT THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE TO BEAUTIFY THE MATANZAS RIVER, BAYFRONT BEFORE THE BRIDGE OF LIONS WAS CONSTRUCTED.
THE ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION WAS ESTABLISHED AND THE INTERNATIONAL SISTERHOOD COLLABORATION BETWEEN AVILA, SPAIN AND ST. AUGUSTINE BEGAN.
60 YEARS AGO, THE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACT WAS SIGNED AFTER SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THAT OCCURRED THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WILL CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THE CITY'S DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE, LOCAL HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHAEOLOGY FOUND IN OUR IRREPLACEABLE PLACES THAT HOLD THE STORIES OF ALL AMERICANS BY RECOGNIZING AND HONORING IMPORTANT POINTS IN OUR CITY'S VAST HISTORY AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE WORKED TIRRELESSLY TO HELP PRESERVE THESE PLACES THAT SHAPE OUR CITY AND BUILD OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE DOES HERE BY PROCLAIM MAY 2024 AS NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH, AND CALLS UPON ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS IN RECOGNIZING AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS SPECIAL OBSERVANCE.
WITH THAT, JULIE COURTNEY, OUR PRESERVATION PLANNER, PRESERVATION OFFICER OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE AND ALSO REPRESENTS US WITH A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WILL ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.
>> JUST VERY QUICKLY. WE JUST WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR, THE COMMISSIONERS, OUR CITY MANAGEMENT STAFF, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, ALL OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE CITY, FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION.
WE ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS YEAR AGAIN, WAS A TOUGH YEAR.
[00:20:03]
WE REALLY HAD TO RALLY AND WORK TO MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS TO LEGISLATION THAT WAS STATEWIDE GOING TO BE PASSED AND WOULD HAVE HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES.WE ARE ALSO EXCITED TO SAY THAT THE CITY IS UNDERTAKING SOME VERY BIG PROJECTS THIS COMING YEAR.
WE WILL SEE A LOT OF WORK DONE TO CITY HALL, OR THE ALCAZAR HOTEL, THE PENA-PECK BUILDING, AND ALSO THE VIC.
WE JUST FINISHED UP OUR HISTORIC, WHAT IS IT? OUR ST. AUGUSTINE HISTORY FESTIVAL.
IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TIRELESSLY ON THAT AS WELL AS OUR HOMEOWNERS, PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WORK EACH DAY TO PRESERVE THEIR BUILDINGS.
WE HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOME VERY IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM REAL QUICKLY, IF YOU WANT TO SAY YOUR NAME AND YOUR ORGANIZATION.
>> LESLEE KEYS, ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
>> STEVE ROBERTS WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AT R FORTS.
>> MARCIA MA SALAM BILES FOR THE VILLA ZORAYDA MUSEUM.
>> JAMES BILES, THE VILLA ZORAYDA MUSEUM. AGAIN.
>> I'M ANDREW WHITE, THE CITY ARCHAEOLOGIST.
WE'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL PICTURE.
>> ARE YOU OKAY? YOU SURE? DO YOU NEED A CHAIR TO KEEP YOUR KNEE UP?
>> I'LL JUST MOVE IT A LITTLE BIT.
>> YOU LET US KNOW WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.
THAT CONCLUDES SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS.
NEXT IS WE HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
I HAVE TWO SPEAKER CARDS.IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK, THERE ARE CARDS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, YOU CAN HAND THEM TO THE OFFICER OR YOU CAN JUST COME TO THE PODIUM AND FILL THE CARD OUT AFTER YOU SPEAK.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS VICKY PEPPER, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS VOLMER.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS VICKI PEPPER.
I LIVE ON HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AS A CITIZEN OF THE CITY AND CARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY.
WE'RE AN INFORMAL INDEPENDENT CIVIC ACTION GROUP THAT GREW OUT OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S ONGOING COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EFFORT.
CARE'S PURPOSE IS TO SERVE BLACK AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY BY IDENTIFYING RESOURCES, INCLUDING FUNDING SOURCES AND LINKING THEM WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO APPLAUD YOU AND OUR CITY FOR RECOGNIZING GAIL PHILLIPS WITH THE 2024 ADELAIDE SANCHEZ AWARD FOR HER LONGSTANDING WORK AND LEADERSHIP IN HISTORIC EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FULL DISCLOSURE, I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE FRIENDS OF LINCOLNVILLE AND GAIL IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LMCC, BUT ANYONE WHO KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT GAIL'S TIRELESS WORK TO BRING IMPORTANT BUT OFTEN FORGOTTEN PARTS OF OUR SHARED HISTORY TO THE PUBLIC, KNOWS HOW WELL DESERVED HER AWARD IS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. SECOND, IN CASE YOU'RE NOT AWARE, LAST TUESDAY, OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTED FIVE TO ZERO AGAINST APPROVING A DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE COUNTY THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED 288, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR BEDROOM APARTMENTS AT RENTAL RATES AFFORDABLE FOR INCOMES AT 60% OF OUR AREA MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL FOR 30 YEARS.
RESIDENTS RAISED A LEGITIMATE CONCERN ABOUT EXISTING TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE AREA, BUT WE WERE SORELY DISAPPOINTED AT THE LACK OF COMPASSION EVIDENCED BY AN UGLIER NIMBYISM REFLECTED IN SEVERAL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
GIVEN THE NATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER DOMINIUM PRESENTED A WELL CONCEIVED PLAN TO PROVIDE $7 MILLION IN ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO ALLEVIATE CURRENT AND POSSIBLE INCREASED CONGESTION THAT MIGHT BE CREATED BY
[00:25:04]
ITS RELATIVELY MODEST SIZED DEVELOPMENT BEFORE ANY OF ITS NEW RESIDENTS WOULD MOVE IT, AND KARMA'S QUESTION WHETHER BEYOND OCCASIONAL LIP SERVICE, OUR COUNTY IS REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT TACKLING OUR GROWING HOUSING CRISIS.CLEARLY, ADDRESSING IT IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR THE BOCC IN THIS ELECTION YEAR.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY THIRD POINT.
IT'S GROWING INCREASINGLY APPARENT, THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GET FARTHER AND FARTHER BEHIND AND OUR NEED TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR OUR VITAL WORKFORCE AT A FULL RANGE OF INCOME LEVELS.
HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF MARKET RATE UNITS CONTINUE TO BE BUILT AS MORE AND MORE EMPLOYEES IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE FORCED TO MOVE OUT OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND COMMUTE TO THEIR JOBS, THEREBY INCREASING THE CONGESTION ON OUR ALREADY STRAINED ROADS.
IT'S EQUALLY APPARENT THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT WE ARE LIKELY TO MAKE MEANINGFUL HEADWAY ON THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IF WE ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT WILL BRING NEW TOOLS AND FUNDING TO BEAR ON OUR LOCAL HOUSING CRISIS.
CARE IS EXPLORING FUNDING FOR THE STARTUP COSTS, PRIVATE FUND RAISING FOR THE STARTUP COSTS AS A MEANS OF MAKING, ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT PHA MORE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE AND THEREFORE MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR THE CITY, SO PLEASE STAY TUNED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRIS VOLMER, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT YORK.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHRIS VOLMER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE COUNTY KNOCKING DOWN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IF TRAFFIC WERE A REASON TO STOP A PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY.
THERE'S PROBABLY SOME OTHER REASONS INVOLVED AND I ALSO WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT DECISION.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE CITY PUT IN AN ORDINANCE ABOUT SIGNAGE ON FAILED BUSINESSES THAT HAD TO BE TAKEN DOWN WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.
STAMPEDES ON THE ISLAND ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR MONTHS, BUT THEIR SIGN IS STILL UP.
I'M SORRY, I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE TO MENTION IT, BUT THE EXTENDED PARKING FEES THAT GO TILL 9:00 PM, AND ON SUNDAYS, EVEN FOR RESIDENTS WAS A BIT RUDE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY LOCALS DEPEND ON THAT TO BE ABLE TO COME DOWNTOWN AND ENJOY THEIR DOWNTOWN.
I'M SURE YOU HAD YOUR REASONS, BUT I'M STILL RUNNING ACROSS PEOPLE WHO WERE SURPRISED BY IT AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THERE'S SOME DISPLEASURE ABOUT IT.
I HAVE ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO CITY WATER.
WE HAD A PROBLEM IN OUR CONDO COMPLEX.
THEY CALLED THEM AND THEY WERE LITERALLY THERE IN 5 MINUTES BECAUSE THEY HAPPENED TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THIS IS WHY WE LOVE OUR SMALL TOWN BECAUSE IT IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL AND CITY SERVICES ARE GREAT.
WE'RE IN THE LULL BEFORE SUMMER STARTS BEFORE THE TOURISM GETS BAD, BEFORE THE TEMPERATURES GET BLAZING HOT.
NOW'S THE TIME TO VISIT DOWNTOWN.
IF YOU HAVE THE PARK NOW CARD, IT'S NOT THAT EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU HAVE TO PAY UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK.
VISIT ALL THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES.
BE KIND TO YOUR WAIT STAFF, TIP YOUR SERVERS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS SCOTT YORK, FOLLOWED BY B.J CALERY.
I'M PROUD TO LIVE AT 29 SPANISH STREET.
ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2023, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CLOSED SPANISH STREET BETWEEN CUNA STREET AND TOLOMATO LANE TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, DURING WHICH TIME A WONDERFUL CITY CONTRACTOR COMPLETED A MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE AND PAVE THIS HISTORIC STRETCH WITH BEAUTIFUL BRICKS.
DURING THIS TIME, THIS CITY COMMISSION AT THE ORIGIN OF CITY STAFF AND RESIDENTS OF THIS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD, HAD THE FORESIGHT AND COURAGE TO CLOSE THE STREET TO THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES, WHICH WOULD PASS THROUGH HERE ON A DAILY BASIS, CREATING NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES, NOT ONLY TO THE RESIDENTS BUT ALSO THE MANY, MANY VISITORS WHO WALK THROUGH THIS AREA DAILY.
WE ARE NOW A LITTLE MORE THAN 30 DAYS INTO THIS 90 DAY TRIAL PERIOD, AND I'M HERE TO CONVEY THE MESSAGES, WHICH WE NOW HEAR FROM NEARLY 2,000 PEDESTRIANS WHO ARE NOW ABLE TO WALK BIKE AND STROLL WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHEN VISITING THIS MAGICAL CITY EVERY DAY.
OUR NEIGHBORS NOW GET TO SHARE THE RICH HISTORY OF THIS AREA.
WITH THESE FOLKS VISITORS AND LOCALS ALIKE ON A DAILY BASIS.
AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE WERE ENJOYING A WONDERFUL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THIS PROJECT, A GROUP OF BUSINESS OWNERS WERE ALREADY PLOTTING A STRATEGY TO DESTROY OUR BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY HAVE PUBLICLY SPOKEN ON THEIR DESIRES TO AND I QUOTE "MAKE THEM MOVE AND FORCE US FROM OUR HOMES." MISS WHETSTONE ONLY KNOWS ONE EMOTION, AND THAT IS GREED.
[00:30:02]
WE'VE ALL SEEN THE EVIDENCE THAT LYNN WEEKS AND WHAT HE LIKES TO DO WITH OUR HISTORIC HOMES AND BUILDINGS.WE WON'T STAND FOR IT. THE MENORCANS WHO SETTLED IN THE MENORCAN QUARTER DURING THE BRITISH PERIOD, LOVINGLY CALLED THIS AREA LITTLE SAN FELIPE.
MY NEIGHBORS AND I NOW CALL THIS AREA HOME AND HAVE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO DISMISS THEIR CALLS FOR DESTROYING OUR SAFETY, WHICH WE ARE NOW COMFORTABLE WITH, AND PLEASE KEEP THIS AREA PEDESTRIAN ONLY. THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER AND LAST SPEAKER IS B.J CALERY.
>> B.J CALERY WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT REACHING YOU BY PHONE.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFICATION ABOUT BOUNDARY FOR THE WCCRA.
QUESTION. HOW MUCH HAS BEEN DONATED TO SEND PAINTING TO AVILA SPAIN? 10B QUESTION, IS THE EVENTUAL PLAN OF THE CITY TO REDUCE CATHEDRAL FROM TWO LANE TRAFFIC TO ONE LANE TRAFFIC WEST? QUESTION. HAS ANYONE WONDERED WHY THERE IS ROOM TO POST MENUS AND MATTHEW HIGH WATERMARK PLAQUES ON OUTSIDE WALLS AT 32 AVENIDA MENENDEZ, BUT THE PLAQUE ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHT INCIDENT IS HIDDEN INSIDE.
REMEMBER, ONE SHALL NOT SHOW PARTIALITY IN DECISIONS.
LISTEN TO 90.5 FM, ONCE HOPELESS LIFE CAN CHANGE? MISS DUNN, EVERYONE PLEASE READ THE DASH POEM.
IT MATTERS NOT HOW MUCH WE OWN THE CARS, THE HOUSE, THE CASH.
WHAT MATTERS IS HOW WE LIVE AND LOVE AND HOW WE SPEND OUR DASH.
THANK YOU, MISS DORIS, FOR SHARING.
THE REASON I WANTED TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 60 SECONDS.
IT'S NOT THAT LONG FOR US TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE AND THANK FOR A SECOND ABOUT WHAT WE DO HERE AND IN OUR LIVES TOO. THANK YOU.
THAT ENDS AND CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, MR. CITY MANAGER.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETING. I'M SORRY.
THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING ON JUNE 10TH, ORDINANCE 2024-17 AMENDS CHAPTER 11 TO ADD PROTECTION FOR LONG-LEAF PINE TREES AND AMENDS THE DOC MAXIMUM HEIGHT LIMIT.
THERE'S A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS.
MAY 15TH AT 9:00 AM, THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE MEETING.
JUNE 10TH AT 5:00 PM, THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
JUNE 24TH AT 5:00 PM, A REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
JULY 11TH AT 3:00 PM, A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS, AND JULY 8TH AT 5:00 PM, A REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT RELEASE OF LIEN FOR 52 SPRING STREET, A REVISED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT SPENDING PLAN.
THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT'S QUARTERLY REPORT.
WE HAVE PERMISSION FOR THE USE OF THE CITY SEAL AND THE ALCAZAR ROOM BY THE ST. AUGUSTINE FILM FESTIVAL IN JANUARY OF 2025.
WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COASTAL FLORIDA POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
FINALLY, WE HAVE AN INVOICE FROM CAVENDISH PARTNERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,509 IN THE MATTER OF MARLOWE VERSUS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
[00:35:03]
THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS READ.
>> MOTION IS MADE AND SECONDED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE?
WE HAVE NO GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT. OH, YES, WE DO.
[7.A.1. Davenport Park Carousel. (C. Sakryd, Director General Services)]
WE HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATION REGARDING THE DAVENPORT PARK CAROUSEL WIDELY ANTICIPATED.MR. SACRED, YOU'RE FREE TO PRESENT. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S NOT OFTEN WE GET TO HAVE BE ASSOCIATED WITH A GREAT PROJECT LIKE THIS.
BUT BEFORE I BRING UP MR. J W BRINKLEY AND HIS TEAM, I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU A BRIEF ON SOME OF THE CHANGES WE'VE DONE TO THE PROPOSED LEASE AGREEMENT FROM LAST JANUARY'S MEETING.
SINCE LAST MEETING, WE RECEIVED THE CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE APPROVAL.
WE'VE AMENDED THE OPERATING HOURS TO BE A LITTLE BETTER TO GO FROM 10:00 AM TO 8:00 PM SIX DAYS A WEEK WITH ONE DAY BEING A MAINTENANCE DAY FOR THE CAROUSEL ITSELF.
ON THE SAFETY ASPECT, WE REACHED OUT TO ACTUALLY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND CONSUMER SERVICES.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO INSPECT ALL AMUSEMENT RIDES IN FLORIDA, BOTH TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT.
WITH THAT, WE HAD ADDED SOME OTHER SAFETY MEASURES IN THERE.
THEY'LL DO THE ANNUAL PERMIT INSPECTION AS PAID FOR BY THE PROPOSED LEASE AGREEMENT, A DAILY OPERATIONAL CHECKLIST, OPERATOR TRAINING AND ACCIDENT REPORTS.
ADDITIONALLY, COMMISSIONERS HAD ASKED ABOUT PLANS FOR A RESTROOM AT THAT FACILITY, SHOULD YOU APPROVE.
WE ARE GENERAL SERVICES STAFF FACILITIES IS GOING TO PUT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET TO CONSTRUCT A RESTROOM AT THAT FACILITY.
JUST LAST THURSDAY, I RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE CITY MANAGER TO POTENTIALLY ADD AT YOUR DISCRETION IN A REQUEST FOR INCORPORATING A PROVISION ON CONVEYING CITY GOVERNMENT SPEECH.
SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO INCLUDE THAT, THAT'S NOT ON THE LEASE IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO INCLUDE IT, STAFF CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MR. J W BRINKLEY AND HIS TEAM TO COME UP AND GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M J W BRINKLEY.
I LIVE AT 9283 SALT WATER WAY, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AND I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A COMMERCIAL VENTURE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.
IT'S BEEN A LONG EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS IN THE PROCESS, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU'VE READ EVERYTHING THROUGH AND REALIZED THAT EVERYTHING WE DO IS GOING TO BE FIRST CLASS.
THIS IS A 25-30 YEAR PROJECT THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY US AND OBVIOUSLY AT MY AGE, I MAY NOT BE AROUND TO SEE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
BUT MY GIRLS AND MY GRANDSON ARE EXTREMELY INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT.
WE WANT IT TO BE A REAL JEWEL AND SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD BE PROUD OF, AND WE WANT TO BE PROUD OF IT THAT WE HELP MAKE THIS COME ABOUT.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JEREMY AND HE IS THEN A FORCE TO BE RECKON WITH ON A LOT OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND EVERYTHING. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS. GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL.
THIS IS A FUN PERSONAL PROJECT RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FOR OUR FAMILY.
THIS WAS ALSO WHERE MY SON CELEBRATED HIS SECOND BIRTHDAY SO I'M HOPING THAT BY THE TIME THAT WE COME AROUND TO HIS 12TH BIRTHDAY THAT WE'LL HAVE A CARE THERE AGAIN.
WE'VE BEEN CALLING THIS RETURNING THE FUN.
COULDN'T HELP PUT IN A LITTLE BIT OF A PUN BUT I'M JEREMY MARK HALBACK AND MR. BRINKLEY HAD PERTAIN TO US TO WORK WITH HIM AS WELL AS TO LOOK FORWARD AS TO WHAT THE PARK COULD BE.
THIS IS THE APPLICATION THAT WE HAD PRESENTED AND RECEIVED UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FROM THE CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE.
WE DID GO THROUGH AND TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT IS FULLY ADA-ACCESSIBLE.
BUT THERE'S A 42-INCH CONCRETE BAN THAT GOES AROUND THE CAROUSEL ITSELF, WHICH IS REMARKABLY SIMILAR IN SIZE TO THE PREVIOUS CAROUSEL THAT WAS THERE.
[00:40:02]
THOUGH I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU KNOW THIS WELL.IT'S ON THE CORNER OF SAN MARCO RIGHT THERE AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF DAVENPORT PARK.
THE AERIAL VIEW, OF COURSE, NOW SHOWS THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT EXCITING FAMILY ORIENTED ATTRACTION RIGHT THERE AT THE PARK.
CERTAINLY, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE SURROUNDING CONTEXT, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE LIBRARY RIGHT THERE, THE WATERWORKS BUILDING, RESTAURANTS, ETC.
IT'S A VIBRANT CORNER OF OUR CITY, AND THIS WILL CERTAINLY ADD TO IT.
THE PAINT COLORS ARE COMPLYING WITH THE ENTRY CORRIDOR STANDARDS.
THE LIGHT FIXTURES, WE WOULD HAVE NO ADDITIONAL SITE LIGHTING.
BUT THE CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE DID ASK US TO CLARIFY THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE CAROUSEL WOULD BE KEPT WHITE.
THEN WE WOULD ALSO BE USING THE SAME GREEN FENCING AS YOU CURRENTLY SEE AROUND THE CAROUSEL AND THE PARK TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A SAFE ZONE.
ONE OF THE PIECES THAT IS BEING UPGRADED FROM THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A CAROUSEL THERE IS A LARGER TICKET BOOTH.
IT IS SEVEN FOOT BY NINE FOOT.
IT IS AIR CONDITIONED, AND WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE SCREENING THAT WITH LANDSCAPE MATERIAL, ETC.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS THE 31 FOOT PROPOSED CAROUSEL THAT IS ON ITS WAY TO ST. AUGUSTINE WITH THIS APPROVAL.
THEN, AGAIN, THIS IS SHOWING THE ORIGINAL CAROUSEL AND JUST A BRIEF PHOTOSHOP THAT STARTS TO SHOW THE MASSING OF THE TICKET BOOTH AS WELL AS THE CAROUSEL ITSELF.
TICKET BOOTH WOULD BE COMPLYING WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES FOR THE SAN MARCO ENTRANCE CORRIDOR AND IT WOULD HAVE THE CAROUSEL RULES AND THE WINDOWS ON ALL FOUR SIDES FOR VISIBILITY SAFETY AS WELL AS JUST BEING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES.
AGAIN, THE SITE PLAN THAT YOU CAN SEE THERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE USING PERVIOUS PAVEMENT SPECIFICALLY WITH THE CLAY BRICKS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 42 INCHES OF CONCRETE AROUND THE BASE OF THE CAROUSEL ITSELF, FOR ADA ACCESSIBILITY, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE FENCING THAT I ALREADY MENTIONED WITH A SELF CLOSING LATCH ON THE GATE.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE GOOD QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU TO J DEBBIE AND HIS FAMILY FOR INCLUDING US.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS?
WHAT IS ACTUALLY HOUSED IN THE TICKET BOOTH? IS THAT JUST A TICKET BOOTH? IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY VENDING, DOESN'T HAVE ANY CASH MACHINES.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE A TICKET BOOTH, BUT OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY SELL WATER TO THE KIDS AND STUFF.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST STRICTLY A TICKET BOOTH.
THE REASON FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS THAT WHEN I TALKED TO THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE HE DIED THAT OWNED IT, AS YOU KNOW, THAT WAS JUST A OCTAGON SHAPE.
THE POOR GUY WAS OUT THERE IN THE HEAT AND EVERYTHING WITHOUT ANYTHING.
WE'VE ELECTED TO SPEND ABOUT $10,000 TO CREATE A TICKET BOOTH THAT WILL LAST FOR 25-30 YEARS AND A LOCAL ARCHITECT WILL DO THE DRAFTING AND EVERYTHING.
>> I THINK IT'S GREAT AIR CONDITIONING.
IT'D BE CRUEL NOT TO SO I AGREE WITH THAT AS I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS NOT A CONCESSION STAND AS WELL.
>> AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO COME TO US FOR APPROVAL OF THAT.
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION MYSELF.
JEREMY, WHEN YOU WENT TO THE CARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, YOU SAID YOU SAID THAT THE CARTER REVIEW ASKED FOR THE WHITE LIGHTS?
>> DID THEY SPECIFY AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LED.
SO WOULD THAT BE A WARM WHITE OR A COOL WHITE?
>> I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
IT IS AN RGB LEDS, SO IT CAN BE LITERALLY ANY COLOR UNDER THE SUN.
I DON'T THINK THAT J. W WOULD HAVE ANY CONCERN IF WE WENT WITH A WARMER YELLOW LIGHT VERSUS A BRIGHTER BLUE LIGHT.
>> FOR INSTANCE, IF THE COMMISSION WERE SO INCLINED TO SUGGEST A 2,700 KELVIN TEMPERATURE, THAT WOULD BE A YELLOWER INCANDESCENT STYLE LIGHT.
I THINK THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE WITHIN THE ABILITY OF WHAT THE RGB LIGHTS COULD DO.
>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT. THAT WOULD BE VERY NICE.
I THINK THAT WOULD FIT IN MUCH BETTER AND JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO PUT THE WHITE LIGHTS IN.
I APPRECIATE THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE MY SUPPORT FOR THIS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, MR. BRINKLEY, THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH IT AND
[00:45:03]
BRINGING THIS WONDERFUL FEATURE BACK TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.I THINK WE REALLY MISSED IT A LOT.
MY CHILDREN GREW UP PLAYING ON THE CAROUSEL AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT MANY FAMILIES INTO THE FUTURE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO VISIT THE PARK AND HAVE THIS EXTRA DELIGHT AND OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER AND MAKE MEMORIES.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR, VERY MUCH, AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY WIFE.
I BROUGHT HER ALONG ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE BEFORE SHE DIED, SHE WAS VERY MUCH AWARE OF IT.
I WAS HOPING SHE WOULD SURVIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE IT THROUGH.
BUT I WANTED TO BRING HER AND LET HER BE PART OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHE LOVED CHILDREN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL'S HELP AND EVERYTHING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO STARTING ON THIS AS SOON AS YOU ALL APPROVE IT. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, WE UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.
FIRST, JEREMY, YOU INDICATED THAT THERE WILL BE PERVIOUS PAVERS USED, BUT ON THE PAGES HERE, IT SAYS IT'S OPTIONAL.
>> WE INTENT TO USE PERVIOUS PAVERS I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANY CONCERN.
>> GO ON THE RECORD WITH THAT?
>> THANK YOU. THEN, I ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR TWO YEAR OLD WHO SPENT HIS BIRTHDAY THERE.
JEREMY IS TWO DOORS DOWN FROM ME, AND OUR SON WHO'S NOW 2.3, I THINK, SPENT EVERY SINGLE AFTERNOON OF HIS YOUNG LIFE IN THAT PARK AND ON THAT CAROUSEL.
I THINK SOME ROMANCES HAVE BUDDED ON A CAROUSEL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY THERE, LOTS OF THEM.
IT'S A GREAT BOON TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT BACK.
THERE'S ONE OTHER THING YOU ALLUDED TO IT, MR. SACRED ABOUT ADDING SOME LANGUAGE TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT, AND THAT'S IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW WITH REGARD TO TENANTS AND TYPES OF SPEECH THAT CAN HAPPEN ON THE PROPERTY.
I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THIS BE INCORPORATED INTO JUST A MINOR REVISION OF THE LEASE.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PUT THAT INTO A MOTION?
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CAROUSEL PROJECT AS PRESENTED TO US WITH THE FEW MINOR.
>> YES. WARM LED LIGHTS AND NO CONCESSION IN THE BUILDING AT THE MOMENT.
>> THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE FOR THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE HERE A SECOND SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY OTHER FINAL DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[9.A.1. Ordinance 2024-17: Amends Chapter 11 to add protection for Longleaf Pine trees and amends dock maximum height limit. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
ORDINANCES FIRST READING.MS. SKINNER, WE HAVE ORDINANCE 2024-17. YOU'RE FREE TO PRESENT.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS AN INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING FOR ORDINANCE 2024-17.
BASED ON PREVIOUS CITY COMMISSION FEEDBACK, THE DRAFTED ORDINANCE ONLY PROPOSES TWO CHANGES TO CHAPTER 11 IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH IS OUR CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER.
FIRST, THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDS THE LIST OF SIGNIFICANT TREES TO INCLUDE LONGLEAF PINES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE STREET TREE ADVISORY COMMISSION.
THE LONGLEAF PINE TREE BECOMES MOST ACTIVE IN CONE PRODUCTION WHEN IT IS 15 INCHES IN DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT AND WOULD BE CONSIDERED A MATURE TREE AT THIS SIZE.
STAFF RECOMMENDED ADDING THIS TREE TO THE LIST AS LONG AS THAT IT IS NOT CONSIDERED BONA FIDE AGRICULTURAL USE.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS LANGUAGE AT THE FEBRUARY 6 MEETING AND MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PCB HAS RECENTLY DISCUSSED UPDATING CHAPTER 11 RELATED TO THE HEIGHT OF DOCS.
THE RELEVANT SECTION IS IN NUMBER 17 OF THE CRITERIA RELATED
[00:50:01]
TO REVIEWING CONSERVATION ZONE DEVELOPMENTS WHERE THE EXISTING STANDARD IS A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF SIX FEET.BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE NOW, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE DOCK HEIGHT BE RAISED TO A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF EIGHT FEET.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS LANGUAGE AT THEIR APRIL 2 MEETING AND MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
THANK YOU. I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-17 AS PRESENTED UNLESS THERE IS ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS OR HAVE DISCUSSION.
I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME.
WE'VE HAD IT ON FIRST READING WITH SOME CORRECTIONS.
WITH THE MOTION AND A SECOND, WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS, SO WE'LL HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'VE GOT TO READ IT. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-17, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 11, ARTICLE 2, CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE DEVELOPMENT, SECTION 11-27 DEFINITIONS, ADDING LONGLEAF PINE TO THE LIST OF SIGNIFICANT TREES AND A DEFINITION OF SILVICULTURE USE AMENDING SECTION 11-29 STANDARDS FOR REVIEW REVISING DC MAXIMUM HEIGHT, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> NOW, WE'RE READY TO CALL THE ROLL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT ITEM IS RESOLUTION 24-15. MS. SKINNER.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2024-15: Ancient City Baptist Church Grant Support. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
A REQUEST WAS RECEIVED FROM DR. LESLEE KEYS FOR TWO RESOLUTIONS, ACTUALLY, OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY COMMISSION FOR SPECIAL CATEGORY GRANT APPLICATIONS ON BEHALF OF ANCIENT CITY BAPTIST CHURCH FOR REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH STRUCTURE AND TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOR REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH'S LOGA AND ASSEMBLY HALL.
THE RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ARE RESOLUTIONS 2024-15, AS WELL AS 2024-16 RESPECTIVELY.
COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS A NORMAL THING THAT WE GET.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR FURTHER COMMENTS? OTHERWISE, WE'LL MAKE A MOTION AND MOVE ON.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR BOTH OF THOSE AND [OVERLAPPING]
>> ABSOLUTELY. I WILL SECOND FOR BOTH OF THOSE.
WELL, I THINK WE CAN DO THEM BOTH TOGETHER.
>> YOU PROBABLY BETTER OFF SINCE THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN RESOLUTION NUMBER TO KEEP THE RECORD CLEAR TO DO THE FIRST ONE FOR 2024-15, AND THAT'S ANCIENT CITY BAPTIST CHURCH.
>> YES. ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> RESOLUTION 2024-16 TRINITY PARISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH, GRANT.
[9.B.2. Resolution 2024-16: Trinity Parish Episcopal Church Grant Support. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
>> SECOND. ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[APPLAUSE] THAT'S LOVELY. ON WE GO.
RESOLUTION 2024-17 AUTHORIZES CITY MANAGER TO
[9.B.3. Resolution 2024-17: Authorizes the City Manager to execute an agreement to continue the Transit Corridor Development Program. (X. Pellicer, Mobility Manager)]
EXECUTE AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE THE TRANSIT CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.MR. PALLISER FOR MR. FRANKLIN.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS TO AUTHORIZE THE NEXT REIMBURSEMENT UP TO $750,000 TO KEEP FUNDING OUR CIRCULATOR.
WE ENTERED ONE BEFORE, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME ROUGH NUMBERS, WE'VE SPENT ABOUT 34,000 PEOPLE HAVE USED THE CIRCULATOR TO DATE.
WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED A VERY NICE EMAIL FROM A LADY THAT USED IT TO ACCESS THE HISTORY FESTIVAL AT THE PENA PECK HOUSE.
I'LL SHARE THAT EMAIL WITH YOU.
SHE ASKED FOR A RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE A BENCH PLACED AT THE STOP ON CATHEDRAL, SO I THINK WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
BUT THIS RESOLUTION WILL AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER THE NEXT REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT.
[00:55:03]
>> I'VE USED THE BUS SEVERAL TIMES.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND A BENCH WOULD BE NICE BECAUSE YOU DO SOMETIMES HAVE TO WAIT 10 OR 15 MINUTES.
>> YEAH, ONE SUPPOSED TO COME EVERY 15 MINUTES.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT.
I SAW DAVID CHATTERMAN AT AN EVENT RECENTLY.
ACTUALLY, IT WAS AT THE EVENT THAT WE HAD AT THE WORLD GOLF.
I WAS ASKING HIM WHEN THE MUSEUM COMES HERE BECAUSE I HAVE FAITH THAT IT WILL SINCE WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRE TO GET IT HERE, WOULD THE STAR CIRCULATOR BE SOMETHING MAYBE TWICE A DAY, IT COULD GO OUT TO THE NEW MUSEUM ONCE IT'S CREATED.
HE SAID THAT IT BELONGS TO THE CITY.
[LAUGHTER] I JUST HOPE THAT THAT IS THE POSSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE.
>> GREAT. ARE WE READY FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND? DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT?
>> I MOVE WE ACCEPT RESOLUTION 2024-17.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ANOTHER LETTER OF SUPPORT ANOTHER GRANT SUPPORT REQUEST.
[9.B.4. Resolution 2024-18: Supports the Education and Publication Grant for Exploring St. Augustine's Post-Emancipation Black Schools. (A. White, City Archaeologist)]
THIS IS RESOLUTION 2024-18. HI.>> GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE CITY ARCHAEOLOGIST, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO REPRESENT THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION IN OUR REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR A FLORIDA DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES SMALL MATCHING GRANT FOR THE $42,000.
IT IS FOR A HERITAGE EDUCATION GRANT, SO IT WILL BE USED TO FUND A POP UP EXHIBIT FOCUSING ON POST EMANCIPATION BLACK SCHOOLS IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
BECAUSE WE ARE A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THERE IS NO MATCH REQUIREMENT.
I'M NOT UP HERE ASKING FOR CITY FUNDS.
I'M JUST HERE TO REQUEST SUPPORT FROM THE CITY COMMISSION.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> EXCELLENT. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR THE INITIATIVE.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THIS.
I THINK IT COULD BE VERY EXCITING AND IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE NOT HERE ASKING FOR MONEY.
>> [LAUGHTER] I FIGURED THAT MIGHT BE PLEASING. WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED.
WE'VE GOTTEN THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE ARCHAEOLOGY PROGRAM TO DO WORK ON TWO SEPARATE BLACK SCHOOLS IN LINCOLNVILLE, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THAT.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY COOL PROJECT.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, AND GOOD LUCK.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE.
[9.B.5. Resolution 2024-19: City Purchase of 241 W King Street for Middleton House Archaeology Center. (D. Birchim, City Manager)]
MR. CITY MANAGER.>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, RESOLUTION '24-19 AUTHORIZES THE PURCHASE OF 241 WEST KING STREET FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MIDDLETON HOUSE ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER.
AS YOU RECALL, THE CITY SOLD THE PROPERTY AT 13 DOLPHIN DRIVE LAST YEAR, AND THAT MONEY WAS EARMARKED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MIDDLETON HOUSE ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE MIDDLETON FAMILY ONCE AGAIN FOR THEIR GENEROUS ENDOWMENT.
THE PROPERTY AT 241 WEST KING STREET.
YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE OVERHEAD, IT'S OUTLINED IN BLUE.
IT'S A VACANT LOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE BUILDING, AND IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CITY'S WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
FOR THOSE LONGTIME RESIDENTS, THIS IS WHERE REGINALD'S ORIGINALS USED TO BE, WHICH WAS AN UPHOLSTERY SHOP, WHICH WAS A FAMOUS UPHOLSTERY SHOP IN WEST AUGUSTINE, WEST KING STREET, AND THE VACANT LOT, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE IS BACKS UP TO OUR FLEET BUILDING.
SO IT'S AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR ANOTHER PUBLIC BUILDING.
THIS WOULD NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF OUR CURRENT LAB.
ON THE OVERHEAD, YOU CAN SEE THE RED DOT WOULD BE THE NEW MIDDLETON HOUSE ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER AT THE TOP.
THE PURPLE DOT AT THE BOTTOM IS OUR CURRENT LAB.
THAT'S WHERE ALL THE SCREENING AND DIRTY WORK IS, AND CITY TRUCKS WOULD BE PARKED.
THE MIDDLETON HOUSE ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER IN WEST KING STREET WOULD REALLY BE THE FORWARD FACING SHOWCASE OF OUR ARCHAEOLOGY PROGRAM, AND IT WOULD HAVE COMMUNITY MEETING SPACE AND CURATION SPACE FOR OUR COLLECTIONS.
THIS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THE PURCHASE OF THAT PROPERTY FOR $140,000.
IN YOUR PACKET, YOU HAVE AN APPRAISAL THAT APPRAISES THE PROPERTY FOR $140,000,
[01:00:03]
AND THERE IS A LETTER OF INTENT TO SELL THE PROPERTY FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER ALSO IN YOUR PACKET.I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
EXCITING. I WAS INTERESTED IN ANY COMMENTS YOU HAD.
I KNOW YOU LOOKED AT THE DRAWINGS AND THEY'RE SPITBALLING.
>> WELL, IT'S A GOOD BEGINNING.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR BREAKING IN, BUT THIS PROPERTY IS WITHIN THE KING STREET CORRIDOR THAT HAS AN OVERLAY OF DESIGN GUIDELINES SO THE NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL COMPLY WITH THE KING STREET DESIGN STANDARD.
>> I THINK IT WAS MY FIRST WEEK AFTER I GOT ELECTED, AND THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS WERE, COME AND SEE US, WHICH WAS GREAT.
BUT IT WAS CLEAR TO ME TOO THAT EVERYTHING THEY'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE IS AT RISK IN THE CURRENT LOCATION FROM FLOODING.
THIS IS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF NOT JUST FORWARD FACING, BUT ALSO REALLY DOING THE PRESERVATION WORK AND MAKING SURE IT LASTS.
AGAIN, GREAT. WONDERFUL GENEROSITY OF THE MIDDLETON FAMILY. IT'S ALL APPRECIATED.
>> EXCELLENT. WELL, I'VE MOVED THAT WE PASS RESOLUTION 2024-19.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. BIRCHEN. STAFF REPORTS.
[10.A. Petition for voluntary annexation and pre-annexation agreement for 4.09 acres of land adjacent to Cat's Paw Marina. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
MS. SKINNER IS ON HER WAY UP.THIS IS FOR THE PETITION FOR VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AND PRE-ANNEXATION AGREEMENT FOR 4.9 ACRES OF THE LAND ADJACENT TO CAT'S PAW MARINA.
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. THIS IS A PRESENTATION TO DISCUSS A PETITION TO ANNEX AND AN ANNEXATION AGREEMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR ACRES OF PROPERTY ON NIX BOAT YARD ROAD.
THESE PROPERTIES ARE GENERALLY REFERRED TO AS 200 NIX BOAT YARD ROAD, ARE CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY LIMITS ON THE NORTHWEST, EAST, AND SOUTH SIDES AND ARE ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING MARINA PROPERTY AT THE END OF THE ROAD.
THE EXISTING CAT'S PAW MARINA IS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
IT IS A PUD WITH A BOAT BARN OFFICE AND DOCKING FACILITIES.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS REQUEST TO ANNEX A PORTION OF PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY THE CAT'S PAW MARINA.
THIS PROPERTY WAS ANNEXED AND REZONED TO PUD AND IS ALREADY INCORPORATED INTO THE CAT'S PAW MARINA DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THAT REVISED PUD INCLUDES A SECOND BOAT BARN AND A RESTAURANT ON THE PROPERTY.
YOU MAY ALSO RECALL THAT IN OCTOBER OF 2023, THERE WAS A REQUEST TO ANNEX AN ADDITIONAL SIX ACRES OF PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY THE CAT'S PAW MARINA.
THESE PROPERTIES WERE TO THE WEST AND SOUTH OF THE EXISTING MARINA.
THAT ANNEXATION, LAND USE, AND REZONING TO PUD DID PROCEED TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.
SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CAT'S PAW MARINA HAS MOVED FORWARD TO PURCHASE THE REMAINING PROPERTIES IN THE AREA.
THIS ACTION RELATIVE TO FIVE PARCELS WITH A TOTAL OF FOUR ACRES ARE SUBJECT TO THIS PETITION TO ANNEX AND THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
IF THE CITY COMMISSION MOVES FORWARD WITH THIS PETITION TO ANNEX, THE CURRENT PUD APPLICATION WOULD BE AMENDED TO INCORPORATE ALL OF THIS AREA IN TOTAL WITH AN INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF APPROXIMATELY THE TOTAL 10 ACRES RELATED TO THE MOST RECENT TWO ANNEXATION PROPOSALS.
THE APPROVAL PROCESS WOULD REQUIRE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE CITY PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO CHANGE THE LAND USE FROM COUNTY DESIGNATION OF MIXED USE DISTRICT TO CITY MARINE INDUSTRIAL USE AND THE COUNTY ZONING DISTRICTS OF OPEN RURAL COMMUNITY HIGHWAY TOURIST AND RESIDENTIAL MANUFACTURED MOBILE HOME TO THE CITY PUD.
IT'S STAFF'S UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY MOBILE HOMES ON THE SITE AND OTHER CLEANUP ISSUES.
AS PART OF THE PUD PROCESS, THE OWNER OR THE APPLICANT WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AS WELL AS ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS, INCLUDING TREE REMOVAL ON THE SITES, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER PERTINENT ISSUES.
I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF MAPS THAT WILL HELP ILLUSTRATE THE PROPERTIES INCLUDED.
THIS FIRST MAP IS BASICALLY THE EXISTING CONDITION OF THE MARINA.
THIS IS THE EXISTING MARINA PROPERTY.
THIS AREA HERE THAT IS DIRECTLY TO THE WEST OF THE EXISTING BUILDING WAS THE SUBJECT OF
[01:05:04]
THE FIRST ANNEXATION REQUEST THAT WE'VE RECENTLY HAD AND THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE PUD.THIS IS WHERE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A SECOND BOAT BARN AND ADDING A RESTAURANT USE.
THIS MAP ILLUSTRATES IN WHITE THE EXISTING PROPERTY, AND IN YELLOW, THESE TWO PIECES TO THE NORTH AND TO THE SOUTH THAT ARE APPROXIMATELY SIX ACRES THAT THEY REQUESTED DNX, THAT THE CITY ALREADY PROCEEDED WITH THESE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, AND THESE PROPERTIES HAVE ALREADY GONE TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ONCE TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE EXISTING PUD.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE OPPORTUNITY BECAME AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE THE REST OF THIS PROPERTY THAT IS EAST OF THE FISH BITES BUILDING AND NEAR THE HOME DEPOT IN THE ORANGE OR RED COLOR.
THAT'S WHAT IS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING FOR THE ORANGE OR RED COLOR, THEIR PETITION TO ANNEX AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
IF THE CITY COMMISSION PROCEEDS, THEN THE ORANGE AND YELLOW PROPERTIES WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE EXISTING PUD THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, AND THEN THEY WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR THE ANNEXATION, LAND USE, AND REZONING.
>> MS. SKINNER, COULD YOU PUT EXHIBIT E ON THERE? THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR MAPS, THE N EXT ONE, I THINK.
>> THE QUESTION I HAVE, THIS SHOWS BASICALLY THE BUILDOUT AND IT SHOWS THE SECTION AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER IS NOT BEING DEVELOPED.
IS THAT DESCRIBED? NO, TO THE LEFT, NORTHEAST, THAT.
>> I CAN'T READ THE WRITING ON IT, BUT IT SAYS [INAUDIBLE].
>> I CAN CALL THE APPLICANT AND THE REPRESENTATIVE ARE HERE.
I CAN CALL THEM UP TO CLARIFY WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED THERE.
THAT MAY BE A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
I KNOW THAT THIS PARKING LOT HERE IS A NEW ADDITION SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD THESE BUILDINGS.
THESE PROPERTIES, THERE IS AN EXISTING MOBILE HOME PARK ON SOME OF THIS.
I WOULD LIKE THE APPLICANT TO ACTUALLY CLARIFY.
DRIVER, MCAFEE, HAWTHORNE & DIEBENOW.
ONE INDEPENDENT DRIVE, SUITE 1200, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I CAN SHOW IT OR NOT SHOW IT OR JUST GET STRAIGHT TO THE QUESTIONS. I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU.
>> IS THERE MORE DEVELOPMENT OTHER THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THIS MAP?
>> I'M GOING TO PUT THE LATEST MAP UP.
IT'S REALLY A MORE REVISED ITERATION WITH SOME FURTHER PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING DONE TO IT.
THE AREA THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING IN THIS NORTHWEST CORNER IS AN AREA THAT HAS ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN STRUCTURES ON IT, PROBABLY 15 ABANDONED VEHICLES AND BOATS.
IT'S BEEN DEVELOPED SINCE THE '40S, AND IT WAS PART OF WHAT USED TO BE CALLED PELLICER POINT MARINA, AND THEY DID HAVE TRANSIENT OVERNIGHT STAY THERE FOR PEOPLE OUT ON THE LONG DOCK, WHICH IS THIS LONG DOCK OUT HERE.
YOU'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH A STRUCTURE, A HOUSE AND EVERYTHING.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REDEVELOPING THIS ENTIRE AREA.
A LOT OF IT'S BEEN CLEARED BECAUSE THE FREEDOM BOAT CLUB HAD A SHOVEL-READY PERMIT FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO BUILD AN 80-BOAT HIGH AND DRY FACILITY AND DOCKAGE SPACE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REVISING THAT TO ACCOMMODATE OUR NEW BOAT BARN ON THIS BOAT BARN NUMBER 3 RIGHT HERE, AND THEN EXTEND IT OUT.
THIS IS A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AREA.
WE DO HAVE PLANS TO DEVELOP THAT.
WHAT IT IS AT THIS TIME, I DO NOT KNOW.
BUT WE HAVE ALL OF OUR IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, ALL OF OUR PARKING BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
WE'VE GOT 250,000 SQUARE FEET OF USES PROGRAMMED IN HERE, BUT THAT DOES INCLUDE ALL OF OUR BOAT BARNS.
[01:10:01]
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT CHART OVER HERE, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 85,000 SQUARE FEET OF BUILDINGS PROGRAMMED, BUT THAT INCLUDES THESE BUILDINGS HERE.THAT'S ABOUT 60,000 SQUARE FEET.
OVER THERE WOULD BE ABOUT 25,000 SQUARE FEET THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMMED.
BUT WE'RE NOT SURE EXACTLY THE USE, BUT IT IS OF VALUE TO US BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROPERTY UP THERE.
>> I'M JUST LOOKING AT HOW MANY TREES ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE THERE WHEN YOU DEVELOP OUT THAT WHOLE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
>> YEAH, WE WOULD MOST LIKELY SELECTIVELY INTERTWINE WHERE THE BUILDINGS AND THE PARKING AND THE PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS WOULD BE IN AMONGST THE TREES.
I CAN'T SAY ALL THE TREES WOULD BE COMING OUT OR STAYING.
WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT YET.
THAT'S MORE OF A LONG-TERM PLAN.
WHAT WE WOULD DO IS COME BACK BEFORE YOU FOR ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED IN THAT SPECIFIC POD OF THE PUD.
BUT WITH THE MARINE INDUSTRIAL LAND USE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE PUD ZONING, WE WOULD RESERVE THE RIGHT SQUARE FOOTAGE-WISE TO PUT SOMETHING THERE.
WE JUST NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT LATER IN FULL TRANSPARENCY.
BUT IT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED SINCE THE '40S.
>> YEAH, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF TREES THERE.
>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TREES THAT HAVE GROWN SINCE THEN AS WELL.
THERE'S A LOT OF TREES THERE. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
>> DO YOU HAVE A CURRENT TREE SURVEY?
>> YES, MA'AM, WE DO. WE HAVE FULL SURVEY, FULL ARBORIST REPORT, EVERYTHING.
>> THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS, DO WE WISH TO ENTER INTO A VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AND A PRE-ANNEXATION AGREEMENT FOR THOSE FOUR ACRES WHICH ARE HEAVILY TREED? HOWEVER, THE DEVELOPER'S REPRESENTATIVE HAS INDICATED TO US THAT THEY DON'T HAVE PLANS FOR IT AT THIS TIME.
HOWEVER, THEY ARE GOING TO INCORPORATE IT INTO THE PUD, WHICH WOULD CONSTITUTE A MODIFICATION TO THE PUD.
WE ALL KNOW THAT PUDS HAVE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC BENEFITS.
THAT IS ALWAYS OUR FIRST TEST.
I THINK THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF LEVERAGE IN THE FUTURE, IF THERE ARE ANY UNSETTLED FEARS ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE TREES.
I THINK THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF CONTROL, AND FRANKLY, I THINK THAT I WOULD RATHER SEE IT DEVELOPED UNDER THE CITY'S PURVIEW AT THIS POINT THAN UNFORTUNATELY THE COUNTIES.
>> WE AGREE, THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THE ANNEXATION.
WE'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU, MAKING ST. AUGUSTINE LITERALLY NOT ONLY OUR MAILING ADDRESS BUT THE JURISDICTION WE GO IN FRONT OF FOR PERMITTING.
THIS PELLICER PIECE CAME INTO OUR OPTION WITHIN LITERALLY THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
WE HOPE EVERYBODY'S NOT GETTING CAT'S PAW FATIGUE, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH VARIOUS PIECES, BUT IT HAS BECOME SOMETHING WHERE THE LAND OWNERS HAVE ENGAGED WITH US AND OFFERED TO SELL AND THEN WE'VE GOT THEM UNDER CONTRACT.
WE EITHER OWN OR HAVE ALL THE PARCELS ON HERE UNDER CONTRACT TO BE DEVELOPED, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM BOAT CLUB PARCEL TO THE NORTH. WE'RE EXCITED.
THIS PLAN, GENERALLY, YOU'VE SEEN THIS PLAN BEFORE, BUT WHAT IT DOES WITH THE PELLICER PARCEL IS GIVE US MORE ELBOW ROOM.
I KNOW YOU GUYS, WE'VE GOT ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS AND FOLKS THAT HAVE REAL ESTATE SAVVY ON THE BOARD.
YOU CAN APPRECIATE HAVING A GOOD CANVAS TO WORK WITH FOR BUILDING EXPANSION, PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY, PARKING, BETTER STORMWATER, AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE HAVE.
IT WAS A REALLY TIGHT SITE BEFORE WITHOUT THE PELLICER PARCEL.
WE WERE TRYING TO SQUEEZE THINGS IN AND WING OFF BUILDINGS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
BUT THIS GIVES US A LOT BETTER CANVAS TO WORK WITH IN AND AROUND AMONGST THE TREES.
YOU'LL SEE THIS AGAIN, BY THE WAY.
WE HAVE TO GO TO PZB AND THEN WE'LL SEE IT BEFORE YOU.
WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOUR FINAL APPROVAL, SO WE'LL SEE THIS IN MUCH MORE DETAIL, AND I HAVE A VERY ELABORATE PRESENTATION TO GIVE, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M WILLING TO BYPASS THAT. YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE HAVE TIGHTER CONTROLS IN THE CITY IF WE ANNEX IT ON WHAT HAPPENS ON THE PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY WITH TREES.
I'M GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
>> YEAH. I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE EXACT SAME COMMENTS, I AGREE.
ALSO, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE SEPTIC TANKS TO TAKE OUT.
>> A LOT MORE IN SEPTIC TANKS. THERE'S A LOT BACK THERE.
>> YEAH, THE SEPTIC TANKS ARE MOST IMPORTANT, THAT CLOSE TO THE WATER. I'M GLAD TO HEAR-
>> YOU GOT THEM AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE THEM OUT.
>> THERE'S ABOUT 10 STRUCTURES.
HALF OF THEM ARE MOBILE HOMES, AND THEN THERE'S ABOUT 30 BOATS AND CARS BACK THERE JUST WITH WEEDS, TREES GROWING THROUGH THEM, AROUND THEM.
IT'S KIND OF A CODE ENFORCEMENT STREAM, BUT IT'S BEEN IN THE COUNTY AND HASN'T BEEN UNDER YOUR PURVIEW.
SO NOW IT IS, AND JUST LIKE THE GENOVAR PARCEL, WHICH IS THIS PARCEL DOWN HERE, IF YOU'VE DRIVEN OUT THERE, YOU CAN SEE IT'S VASTLY CLEANED UP AND IT'S CONTINUING TO BE CLEANED UP BY US NOW BECAUSE WE OWN THAT.
SAME WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE PELLICER PARCEL.
>> YEAH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND LET'S [INAUDIBLE].
>> I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE PETITION FOR VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AND PRE-ANNEXATION AGREEMENT WITH THE PARCEL OF LAND ADJACENT TO CAT'S PAW MARINA.
[01:15:03]
>> I'LL SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> YES, MA'AM, YOU'LL SEE ME AGAIN.
WE GO TO PZB ON JUNE 4TH, I BELIEVE IT IS, FOR THIS MATTER, AND THEN WE'LL SCHEDULE IT ACCORDINGLY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[10.B. Updated concept for the Bridge of Lions intersection improvement. (R. Franklin, Assistant City Manager)]
TO UPDATED CONCEPT OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.>> I'D TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THAT SIDE.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THE PRINTS.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECAUSE AS WE GET INTO IT, I KNOW THERE WERE SOME IMPORTANT ASPECTS TO THE INTERSECTION, SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS NOT IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I HAVE A PDF THAT I'LL PULL UP SO THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
BUT THAT SHOWS THE PROPOSED SIGNAGE PLAN AND THEN SOME RENDERINGS WITH AN EXISTING PERSPECTIVE WITH THE PROPOSED RENDERING.
I'LL RUN THROUGH ALL OF THAT DURING THE PRESENTATION.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, SO THE LAST TIME I WAS BEFORE YOU WITH THE CONCEPT, IT WAS JANUARY 8TH, AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE DONE SOME MORE PUBLIC OUTREACH.
WE HELD OUR OWN PUBLIC WORKSHOP WHERE WE DID GO OVER THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC.
WE GOT FEEDBACK OF THE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF KING STREET AND CATHEDRAL.
I'LL BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU WITH THOSE.
BUT SINCE THEN, I'VE ALSO BEEN TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE BUSINESS COALITION, THE OLD CITY SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE ROTARY CLUB HELD AT THE CASTA MONICA, THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU, THE VCB, AND WE WENT TO THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD, AND THE CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE.
IT WAS A JOINT MEETING WHERE WE RECEIVED AN OPINION OF APPROPRIATENESS, AND WE'LL BE GOING BACK FOR OUR CERTIFICATE ONCE WE MOVE INTO FINAL DESIGN PLANS.
SO THAT'S ALL AND I BELIEVE I GOT TO SEE INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS AT SOME OF THESE MEETINGS.
SO YOU GOT TO HEAR WHAT I WAS OUT THERE GOING OVER WITH THE PUBLIC.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE ABOUT 2019.
IT'S PART OF THE KING STREET AGREEMENT.
THIS PHASE WITH THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS IS THE DASHED YELLOW LINE.
THEY DID FINISH THE RED, WHICH WAS THE FIVE-FOOT DIAMETER DRAINAGE PIPE THEY INSTALLED BY THE CITY MARINA.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE GREEN RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE GOTTEN GOOD PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
OUR OPINION FOR HARB, ACTUALLY LIKE HARB NCRC JOINTLY, THEY LIKE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THE DESIGN.
THEY LIKED ONE LANE IN CATHEDRAL, AND AS PART OF THAT, WE MADE IT CLEAR THAT YOU CAN ONLY ONE LANE CATHEDRAL IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL.
THAT WAS SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE DID GET.
AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE'VE LOOKED AT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS OVER THE YEARS.
THIS WAS FORCING ALL TRAFFIC RIGHT AT THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE.
WE GOT CREATIVE WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DESIGNS.
WHAT WE DID HERE WAS IMPACTING THE ANDERSON AND PONT CIRCLES WAS [INAUDIBLE] FROM THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PERSPECTIVE.
WE PULLED BACK FROM THAT AND WE CAME UP WITH THIS CONCEPT THAT DOT ALSO SIGNED OFF ON.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE CONCEPT THAT WAS IN THE AGREEMENT THAT THE COMMISSION APPROVED.
SINCE THAT TIME, DOT HELD A PUBLIC MEETING.
THEY BROUGHT THIS VERSION OF THE CONCEPT TO THE PUBLIC MEETING.
WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD WAS IT'S NOT SYMMETRICAL.
THIS ONE HERE, THERE'S JUST TOO MANY MOVEMENTS GOING ON.
[01:20:02]
WE ASKED THEM TO MAKE IT MORE SYMMETRICAL AND SOFTEN THE CONCEPT AND WHICH LED US TO THIS CONCEPT HERE, WHICH THE HANDOUTS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU BUILD UPON THIS CONCEPT.THIS CONCEPT, WE ADDED A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IN BY THE LIONS.
IT HAS ABOUT 0.3 ACRES OF MORE OPEN SPACE, SO THERE'S ACTUALLY LESS IMPERVIOUS AREA WITH THIS.
IT DOES HAVE THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AT THE PERIMETER OF THE INTERSECTION, BUT IN THIS SCENARIO, THEY'RE ALL PROTECTED TIME CROSSINGS FOR PEDESTRIANS.
BECAUSE OF THE MEETING THAT THE DOT HAD, THEY DID REACH BACK OUT AND THEY WOULD LIKE A CONFIRMATION FROM THE CITY COMMISSION IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE HEADING IN THIS DIRECTION.
WITH THAT, I HAD TO ASK THEM TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THE SIGNAGE AND SOME RENDERINGS.
THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO GO INTO NOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO HEARD AND WE ACTUALLY DID GO TO DOT AND REQUEST THIS, BUT SIGNAGE WAS A BIG DEAL.
WE DON'T WANT [INAUDIBLE] KIND OF SIGNAGE, SIMILAR TO WHAT'S AT THE SAN MARCO INTERSECTION.
YOU HAVE SOME [INAUDIBLE] SIGNS WITH BIG GREEN SIGNS, LOOKS MORE LIKE A HIGHWAY.
WHAT THIS SCENARIO IS SHOWING YOU IS THAT THEY PLAN TO USE ALL JUST SINGLE POST SIGNAGE, THAT WILL BE DECORATIVE LIKE THE BLACK FLUTED POLES THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
THEN WE ALSO ASKED THEM TO ELIMINATE THE [INAUDIBLE] TO USE PAVEMENT MARKINGS.
YOU CAN SEE IN THIS, THE PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND THE SINGLE POST POLE SIGNAGE THAT WOULD BE USED, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE SIGNAGE THAT'S OUT THERE TODAY.
I WILL CAVEAT ONE THING WITH THE RENDERINGS IS THEY DID NOT REMOVE THE EXISTING SIGNAL, SO I'M GOING TO POINT THAT OUT AS WE GO INTO THEM, BUT THIS IS AN EXISTING PERSPECTIVE, YOU'RE STANDING ON CATHEDRAL AND YOU'RE LOOKING EAST TOWARDS THE BRIDGE OF LIONS.
NOW, WHAT I'M CAVEATING IS THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT HERE ANYMORE. REMOVE THAT.
THIS IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU NO LONGER HAVE THE THROUGH LANE COMING STRAIGHT DOWN CATHEDRAL.
I'VE ALREADY STARTED TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN REMOVE OR MOVE THAT DO NOT ENTER SIGN, SO IT'S OFF TO THE SIDE, SO IT'S NOT IMMEDIATELY IN THE WAY.
THIS IS WHAT YOUR PERSPECTIVE WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AGAIN, STANDING ON CATHEDRAL LOOKING BACK TOWARDS THE BRIDGE OF LIONS.
THIS IS AN EXISTING CONDITION IF YOU WERE STANDING AT THE CORNER BY A1A ALE HOUSE.
YOU'RE LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM KING STREET.
THIS IS YOUR PROPOSED, SO YOU'LL SEE THIS SIGN.
IT COMES OUT FURTHER, BUT THAT POSTED SIGN IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE POSTED SIGN.
NOW THIS IS WITH THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING.
THESE CANTILEVER HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE IN BECAUSE OF THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING.
ONE OPTION IF WE REMOVE THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING WOULD BE, YOU WOULD REMOVE THESE TRAFFIC SIGNALS RIGHT HERE AT THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE.
PEDESTRIANS COULD STILL CROSS THERE.
IT JUST WOULD NO LONGER BE A PROTECTED MARKED CROSSING.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD WORK OUT AS WE GET FURTHER INTO THE DESIGN, IF YOU CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD TO DEBATE THIS.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGER THINGS THAT CHANGES THE VIEW COMING OFF OF THE BRIDGE.
THEN THIS IS IF YOU'RE STANDING ON AVENIDA MENENDEZ BY HARRIS.
THAT'S HARRIS SEAFOOD, AND YOU'RE LOOKING SOUTH DOWN.
THE ONE THING I DO LIKE ABOUT THIS IS, IT CHOSE MORE GREEN.
YOU GET A BETTER FEEL FOR THE GREEN SPACE THAT'S GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THE PAVEMENT, AS YOU'RE COMING INTO THIS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THOSE BIG CANTILEVER SIGNS POINTING DIRECTION.
WE PLAN TO USE PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND SINGLE POLE POST SIGNS.
[01:25:02]
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO GET FEEDBACK, DIRECTION.>> QUESTION. WHAT'S THE HEIGHT OF THE EXISTING SIGN THE CANTILEVER SIGNS? ARE THEY THE 30 FEET?
>> I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD HOW HIGH THEY'RE EXISTING.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE 30. NO.
>> THEY'RE MORE THAN 14 FEET. I KNOW THAT.
>> THEY'RE SHOWING THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS, THE ONES FOR THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THE 30 FEET MAST ARMS.
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S LENGTH.
>> I'M SORRY. THAT'S PROBABLY THE LENGTH ACROSS.
THERE'S NO ELEVATION HEIGHTS ON HERE, I DO NOT BELIEVE.
>> THIRTY FEET WOULD BE THREE STORIES HIGH.
THAT'S PRETTY WAY HIGHER THAN YOU NEED FOR A SEMI.
>> THIRTY FEET, THAT'S ALMOST AS TALL AS WE ALLOW BUILDINGS TO BE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
>> AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE MAST ARMS WOULD BE THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE EXISTING MAST ARMS THAT ARE OUT THERE TODAY.
MAYBE YOU CAN GO TO OUR FIRST RENDERING THAT SHOWED THE CATHEDRAL PLACE, WHEN WE MAKE THAT ONE WAY GOING WEST, DOES THAT ALLOW US THEN TO WIDEN THE SIDEWALK THAT'S ON THE NORTHERN SIDE? WE STILL WILL HAVE PARKING THERE, BECAUSE I KNOW THE CATHEDRAL IS WANTING PARKING ALONG THERE FOR FUNERALS AND SUCH.
BUT PART OF THE PROBLEM, IS THAT, NORTHERN SIDEWALK IS FAIRLY NARROW IN THE SENSE THAT, WHEN THEY HAVE WEDDINGS AND PEOPLE ARE SPILLING OUT, AND ALL OF THAT, SINCE WE'RE REDUCING IT BY ONE LANE, THAT WOULD ALLOW US THEN TO ADD SOME PAVEMENT ON THAT SIDE, WHICH I THINK WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY.
>> WHAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS ALLOW US TO DO, IF WE CHOOSE TO, IS WE CAN ONE LANE CATHEDRAL WESTBOUND.
WHAT'S GOING TO COME BEFORE YOU IN THE FUTURE IS, WE'RE LOOKING AT A 16-FOOT WIDE LANE.
THE REASON BEING IS, IF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PARALLEL PARK OR AN EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLE NEEDS TO GET BY IT, IT PROVIDES THAT FLEXIBILITY.
BUT IT ALSO GIVES US THE ABILITY TO WIDEN THE SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES.
WE WOULD BE, IF WE CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ONE LANE CATHEDRAL, BOTH SIDES WOULD GET WIDER SIDEWALKS.
ONE THING THAT WE COULD BRING BACK AND GET FEEDBACK FROM YOU IS, IF YOU WANTED IT WIDER ON THAT NORTHERN SIDE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLAY WITH THE SIDEWALK WIDTHS, BECAUSE WE ARE GAINING THAT EXTRA ROOM, BUT THAT WILL BE FUTURE.
WE PLAN TO COME BACK WITH THE CONCEPTS, AND GET COMMISSION FEEDBACK ON THAT.
>> THAT'S GREAT. WELL, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I THINK IT IS OUR ONE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY IMPROVE THAT INTERSECTION.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE SAYING THE NUMBERS THAT IT SAYS IN TERMS OF BACKUP ARE REMARKABLE.
>> YES. IT'S A DRASTIC IMPROVEMENT FOR THE QUEUES THAT BUILD UP, AND IT CREATES A BUNCH OF, WHAT WE CALL NO RECOVERY EVENTS WHEN THE BRIDGE GOES UP, AND THE BRIDGE GOES BACK DOWN AND TRAFFIC STARTS FLOWING AGAIN.
ON A PEAK TIME, THERE'S SOMEBODY AT THE END OF THE QUEUE THAT DOESN'T GET OVER THE BRIDGE.
IT ELIMINATES ALL THOSE NO RECOVERIES AS WELL.
>> I THINK THAT IS A TREMENDOUS HELP TO OUR CITIZENS, BECAUSE I KNOW I GO ACROSS THAT BRIDGE NO LESS THAN ONCE A DAY, AND MANY TIMES TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY, AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THAT SIDE COME OVER ALL THE TIME TOO.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A HELP TO OUR CITIZENS, NOT JUST THE TOURISTS.
DO YOU EXPECT MORE TRIPS ON THE BRIDGE OF LIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS OR JUST A MORE EFFICIENT TRAFFIC FLOW?
>> WE'RE ANTICIPATING MORE EFFICIENT TRAFFIC FLOW, NOT INCREASED TRIPS THAT AVERAGE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'RE NOT INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE ROADS LEADING TO THE INTERSECTION, SO WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT THE AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC IS GOING TO START TO PEAK HERE OR SPIKE BECAUSE BECAUSE OF IT.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THE BRIDGE IS STILL GOING TO GO UP, AND THINGS ARE STILL GOING TO COME TO A GRINDING HALT.
WHAT THIS DOES IN THOSE SITUATION IS, IT HELPS US GET BACK TO NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS QUICKER.
>> THEN, AS FAR AS THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAD REALLY WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S REALLY ADDING A LOT.
I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION SEPARATELY.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST PUT THAT ASIDE,
[01:30:04]
AND THEN HAVE A DEBATE ABOUT THAT, AND THE PROS AND CONS, AND NOT STOP THIS FROM MOVING FORWARD.THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS JUST BOTHERING ME A LITTLE BIT.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE INTERSECTION DRAWING, SO ON THE AVENIDA MENENDEZ SECTION, ADJACENT TO THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF HARRIS, THERE'S PAVEMENT MARKINGS THERE.
BUT IN PRIOR VERSIONS, THAT WAS GREEN GRASS.
WHAT IS THE NECESSITY OF HAVING THAT AREA MARKED LIKE THAT IN ASPHALT VERSUS GRASS?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A PREFERENCE FOR THE CITY TO CHOOSE.
THIS IS ALSO A COMMERCIAL LOADING ZONE RIGHT HERE.
I THINK THEY PULLED IT BACK TO ALLOW THESE PARKING SPACES, AND THIS COULD ALSO BE UTILIZED AS A COMMERCIAL LOADING ZONE.
HOWEVER, THROUGH THE DESIGN AND FEEDBACK, WE COULD ASK THEM TO MAKE THIS ALL GREEN SPACE THROUGH HERE.
[OVERLAPPING] ONE OF THE THINGS TOO THAT MAY MAKE SENSE IS, NOW THIS RESTAURANT IS BEING REDEVELOPED, SO THIS CURB CUT IS COMPLETELY GONE.
THIS IS GOING TO ACTUALLY ADD ADDITIONAL PARKING HERE THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY UTILIZE AS THE COMMERCIAL LOADING ZONE, BECAUSE THAT USED TO BE THE DRIVE THROUGH BANK, SO THIS CONCEPT IS SHOWING.
>> THAT CURB IS ELIMINATED COMPLETELY?
>> ALL THOSE CURB CUTS RIGHT THERE ARE GONE WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.
>> ARE YOU SAYING BASICALLY THAT THERE'S SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THERE THAT POSSIBLY WE COULD REVISIT THAT SECTION AS WELL, BECAUSE I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE GREEN THAN LESS STRIPING.
>> YES. WE CAN TALK ABOUT TWEAKING THE DESIGN, ADDING MORE GREEN SPACE.
DOT JUST ADDED THAT BECAUSE OF PARKING.
BUT IF THE CITY WERE TO COME BACK, AND SAY, WE'D PREFER THAT TO BE GREEN SPACE, I BELIEVE THEY WOULD ACCOMMODATE.
>> YOU STILL WANT THE FREIGHT LOADING AND ALL, I MEAN [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT, IS THE ONE THING HERE THAT'S NOT SHOWN.
IF YOU MAKE THIS JUST MORE OF OPEN GREEN SPACE, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE.
THIS NOW IS GOING TO BE ACTUALLY ABOUT FIVE ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES THAT ARE GOING TO COME, BECAUSE OF THE NEW RESTAURANT THAT'S BEING BUILT, THEY ELIMINATED ALL THE CURB CUTS.
WE COULD PUT THE COMMERCIAL LOADING HERE, AND STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF PARKING SPACES.
THERE WAS NO PARKING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW ANYWAY BECAUSE OF THE CURB CUTS.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD DISCUSS THAT WHETHER WE WANT MORE CARS PARKED THERE OR NOT, IN FAVOR OF GREEN SPACE, BUT TALK ABOUT HEALING THE BAY FRONT.
I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO SAY.
I MEAN, GENERALLY, IT LOOKS GOOD.
[OVERLAPPING] IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION WE ASKED THEM TO MOVE IN. IT'S PART OF THE AGREEMENT.
I THINK, FDOT IS JUST LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS THAT, YES, WE'RE ON THE RIGHT DIRECTION. KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
>> JUST ONE LAST QUESTION, SORRY. PLEASE INDULGE ME.
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING DOWN THE SIGNAGE AND BEING VERY MINDFUL ABOUT BRINGING DOWN THE SIGNAGE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
EVEN TO THE POINT, I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE GREEN SIGNS, MAYBE BROWN SIGNS. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT YOU HAD MENTIONED, DID I HEAR YOU SAY BLACK FLUTED POOLS? MORE DECORATIVE THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
>> THAN WHAT SHOWN ON THE RENDERINGS.
>> WILL ALL BE REPLACED OR DID I SEE WHERE SOME WILL BE KEPT?
>> NO. THIS RENDERING HERE, HOW THIS IS JUST A GRAY POLE? WE WOULD ASK THEM TO INSTALL, LET ME GET TO IT, THIS BLACK FLUTED POLE HERE IS ONE.
[OVERLAPPING] SOMETHING THAT MATCHES THE PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING LIKE THIS, WE INSTALL THEM ALL THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WE'LL WORK WITH THEM ON THE DESIGN OF THE POLES.
>> I THINK I MENTIONED TO YOU THE LIGHTS ARE STILL IN THE WRONG PLACE.
SOME OF THE LIGHTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FOR THE CROSSWALK, YOU'RE STOPPING THE TRAFFIC GOING THE WRONG WAY.
I RECENTLY HAD NIECES AND NEPHEWS HERE AND WE HAD TO WALK THAT WAY, AND WE TRIED TO CROSS THERE BUT WE COULDN'T, IT WAS JUST TOO CROWDED AND THERE WERE FOUR KIDS SO WE GOT TO GO UP TO THE CLOSE INTERSECTION.
IF WE HADN'T HAD THAT IN THAT WALKING ON THIS MILE WE'D HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY
[01:35:05]
AROUND TO THE CIRCLE AND BY PONTS, AND ALL THE WAY TO COME BACK THROUGH IF WE WERE GOING TO THE MARINA.THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC NOW WALKING FROM THE FORT TO THE MARINA, AND THE WHITES ARE OPENING UP THAT NEW RESTAURANT, SO WE REALLY DO HAVE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT CROSSWALK BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE REAL IMPORTANT.
ARE THE BRIDGE LIGHTS TIED IN TO THE STREET LIGHTS? WHEN THE BRIDGE GOES UP, DOES IT AFFECT THE LIGHTS ON THE INTERSECTION?
>> YES. THE TIMING SIGNAL OF THE LIGHTS AT THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE, THERE'S A PROTOCOL IN PLACE THAT GIVES MORE GREEN TIME TO TRY TO CLEAR THE QUEUES EXISTINGLY, SO IT'S MAXIMIZED WHEN THE BRIDGE GOES UP, WHEN IT GOES DOWN TO THAT FIRST CYCLE TO PROVIDE MORE GREEN TIME.
THESE NEW ONES WILL BE TIMED WITH THE BRIDGE OPENING AS WELL.
>> THE ONLY NEGATIVE I'VE HEARD SO FAR IS ONE IS THIS IS GOING TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM STOPPING AROUND THE PLAZA BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO DISCOURAGE THEM FROM GOING DOWN THE PLAZA.
THOSE BUSINESSES ARE AFFECTED.
BUT ALSO, I LIVE IN NORTH CITY, AND I HAVE A BROTHER THAT LIVES ON 206.
WHEN I GO SEE MY BROTHER, I LOVE TO RIDE THROUGH TOWN, TAKES ME A LOT LONGER, BUT I JUST LOVE TO RIDE THROUGH TOWN.
THIS IS GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER FOR ME TO GO THROUGH DOWNTOWN.
I REALLY BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CARS.
I THINK IT'S ESPECIALLY NIGHTER LIGHTS WHEN PEOPLE LIVE IN DAVID DAVIS SHORES AND THEY WANT TO GO TARGET, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GO THROUGH DOWNTOWN NOW BECAUSE IT'LL GET THEM THERE QUICKER THAN IT USED TO, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT AS QUICK THE OTHER WAY.
I'M JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CARS BEING INCREASED.
>> WELL, IN FULL DISCLOSURE, WHEN NIGHTS OF LIGHTS OCCURS THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE CONGESTION THAT BUILDS UP, SO YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE THOSE PEAK TIMES PRETTY CONGESTED AREA.
THIS IS GOING TO HELP MOVE TRAFFIC THROUGH, BUT I THINK PEOPLE THAT DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THAT ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH ARE STILL.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE. THAT WAS IT.
I'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH, BUT I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT NOW THAT I'VE SAW YOUR PICTURES AND FROM THE PERSPECTIVES.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE DRAWINGS, BECAUSE REMEMBER I WAS TELLING YOU TO TAKE ME WALKING, AND THIS DOES THAT THROUGH THE PICTURE.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME JUST TO GET THE VISUAL.
FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE CATHEDRAL JUST ONE LANE, WHEN YOU GET TO THE CORNER, THAT'S WHEN YOU TURN EITHER WAY, IS THAT GOING TO STILL BE THE CASE? YOU CAN TURN RIGHT OR LEFT?
>> CATHEDRAL? YES. WHEN I SAY MAKE IT, I'M GOING TO BRING THAT TO THE COMMISSION TO DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO REDUCE THE.
>> THE TWO LANES NOW GO TO, YOU CAN GO EITHER WAY WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THE STREET.
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT IT'S NOT JUST GOING ONE WAY WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF CATHEDRAL.
>> NO. WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF CATHEDRAL, [OVERLAPPING] YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT.
WE ARE PROPOSING A DIFFERENT TRAFFIC PATTERN AROUND THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE.
BUT THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THIS, AND I'LL HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRESENTATION THAT I'LL BE BRINGING BACK FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.
>> ARE YOU STILL GOING TO HAVE IT WHERE THE TRAFFIC COMING DOWN IS GOING TO YIELD TO THE PERSON COMING OUT OF CATHEDRAL, LIKE IT IS NOW?
>> YES. YOU MEAN FOR THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS?
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR THE CARS, BECAUSE THE CARS THAT ARE COMING DOWN BY FLAGLER, THEY HAVE TO YIELD FOR YOU TO MAKE THE TURN WHEN YOU'RE TURNING.
>> YEAH, IT WILL STILL BE WHAT WE CALL THAT FREE FLOW CONDITION.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. ALSO, WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE PARKING.
BECAUSE I HEARD FROM PASTORS FROM CHURCHES DOWN THERE, AND THEY WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARKING REMAINING BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE HEAR ABOUT PARKING ISSUES.
EVEN MAKING IT ONE LANE THE PARKING IS GOING TO STAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> WELL WE'LL BE PROPOSING IS SOME OF THE PARKING WILL STAY, ABOUT 20 SPACES.
THE CURRENT PLAN WITHOUT FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMISSION IS WE'RE LOSING ABOUT 20 PARKING SPACES FROM THE OVERALL DOWNTOWN, AND THE REASON IS WE'RE TRYING TO WIDEN THE SIDEWALKS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO OPEN UP THE VIEWS AROUND THE PLAZA, SO WE WEREN'T HAVING PARKING THERE, BUT THAT'S WHY WE WORKSHOPPED IT AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT TO THE COMMISSION TO, DO YOU LIKE THIS? DO YOU WANT US TO PUT PARKING BACK? THAT WILL BE A DECISION FOR THE COMMISSION TO MAKE.
>> IF YOU WERE TAKING A LANE AWAY IT SEEMS LIKE THE PARKING SHOULD BE EASIER BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD DRIVE INTO A SPACE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TWO LANES WHERE PEOPLE ARE.
BECAUSE THOSE TWO LANES RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE REALLY TIGHT.
IF YOU JUST MOVE A LITTLE BIT YOU'RE IN MY LANE, SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO BE EFFECTIVELY TO BE ABLE TO PARK ON EITHER SIDE.
>> THERE'S ROOM FOR PARKING ON BOTH SIDES.
[01:40:03]
WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS WHAT WE PROPOSED REMOVING PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PLAZA TO OPEN UP THE VIEW SHED OF THE PLAZA AND HAVE A WIDER SIDEWALK.BUT I AM GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKING.
WE'RE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND WE'LL BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU TO GET FEEDBACK ON THAT.
>> I HAVEN'T SPOKEN. WELL, THANK YOU.
WHEN THE BRIDGE OF LIONS WAS REBUILT, A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT BIKE LANES ON IT WAS MISSED, AND I DON'T WANT TO MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY HERE.
I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE THAT BACK TO THAT COMMENT BACK, IS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS, AND IF THEY CAN'T SAFELY NAVIGATE THIS ON A BICYCLE, THEN WE'VE LOST A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY.
I'D LIKE TO GO BACK WITH THIS BASIC DESIGN AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO ENGINEER SOME BIKE LANES IN.
>> I CAN ASK THEM. MY TAKE WOULD BE WE'RE LIMITED ON SPACE, AND WE'LL PROBABLY BE EATING AWAY EITHER AT MORE PARK SPACE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO PROPOSE IS SHARE ROWS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE 15 MILES PER HOUR THROUGH THAT, AND THEN WHEN YOU GET TO.
>> BUT YOU'VE BEEN ON A BICYCLE WITH SHARE ROWS, AND NOBODY IN A CAR IS HAPPY THAT A BICYCLE IS GOING 15 MILES AN HOUR IN FRONT OF THEM.
IT'S DANGEROUS, I MEAN FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IT'S JUST NOT BIKE CONDUCIVE.
IF THAT'S PART OF OUR OVERALL MOBILITY PLAN, I REALLY WANT TO TRY TO MAYBE WE SHAVE SOME PARK SPACE OFF AND ADD THAT BIKE LANE.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR MORE PARKING, I'M SAYING LET'S BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE.
THIS BASIC DESIGN WORKS FOR ME, BUT I REALLY WANT TO SEE SOMETHING COME BACK WITH THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE LOOK AT AND SAY, YES, IT'S WORTH IT OR NOT TO HAVE THE BIKE LANES ON THERE.
>> THEN THE OTHER THING, THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO ME, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS DESIGN PER SE, BUT I'M STILL LOOKING AT US1 NOT BEING DONE AT OYSTER CREEK.
I'M STILL LOOKING AT US1 NOT BEING DONE BETWEEN KING STREET AND WEST CASTILLO, WAY BEYOND THAT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONSTRUCTION OF THE KING STREET BRIDGE, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MALAGA STREET, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SEAWALL, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I FEAR VOTING FOR ANY ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SEQUENCE IS FOR WHEN THEY'LL COME ONLINE.
I DON'T NEED AN EXACT DATE, I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A SEQUENCE WHERE ONE STARTS AND FINISHES BEFORE THE NEXT ONE STARTS AND THEN FINISHES, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE AND THE NEXT ONE.
IF WE PILE ALL THESE ON AND THEY'RE OVERLAPPING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE WORST TRAFFIC WE'VE EVER SEEN, AND WE CAN EFFECTIVELY SHUT DOWN DOWNTOWN TO VISITORS, RESIDENTS, AND BUSINESSES.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN WORK WITH DOT TO AVOID THAT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SEQUENCED, ALL OF THESE PROJECTS.
>> I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, AND WE'LL WORK ON A CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.
IF WE HAVE TO PUSH ONE OF THESE PROJECTS OUT, THIS COULD BE A PROJECT THAT WE PUSH OUT.
PUSHING IT OUT WOULD BE IN OUR AGREEMENT FOR THIS PROJECT, WE AGREED TO A SPECIFIC TIME.
SO IT WOULD JUST BE US ASKING THEM TO PUSH IT OUT AND AMENDING THE AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW DATE.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S INSURMOUNTABLE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DON'T EITHER.
>> WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED FROM US? TO GENERALLY YES WE'RE GOING ON THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> JUST THE CONSENSUS THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE WITH DESIGN OF THIS, AND I HEARD A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KEEP THE OPTION OPEN TO EVALUATE THE CROSSWALK BY THE LIONS, TO GO BACK TO DOT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET SOME BIKE FACILITIES AS PART OF THIS.
WERE THE TWO BIG THINGS THAT I HEARD, S I THINK WITH THAT, AND THEN THE CONSTRUCT WORKING ON THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS WE HAVE GOING ON.
>> ALSO THE AREA IN FRONT OF HARRY'S.
>> EVALUATING THE SPACE IN FRONT OF HARRY.
I'LL GET BACK TO DOT WITH THAT, AND THEY WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW THAT, YEP, CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH DESIGN.
>> CAN YOU GIVE US A CLEAR CONSENSUS, PLEASE?
>> I MOVE THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING THIS DESIGN AS PRESENTED WITH THE ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE FUTURE.
[01:45:02]
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LISTENING TO THEM AND ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE MAKE THESE CHANGES.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY.
>> THAT WE'RE LISTENING. WE APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT FOR US.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'VE SEEN HIM DO THE PRESENTATION AT SOME OF THE LOCATIONS AND HE REPRESENTS THE CITY WELL, SO THANK YOU.
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY.
[11. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY]
>> YES, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS, I HAVE TWO ITEMS THERE TECHNICALLY JUST FOR INFORMATION.
THE FIRST IS PART 1 OF OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN TAKING QUITE SOME TIME IN SIGNING OR NOT SIGNING BILLS, SO IT'S DRAGGED AND MY THOUGHT HAD BEEN, WELL, LET'S JUST START MOVING THESE UP ON YOUR AGENDAS PIECEMEAL, AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT.
THE ONE BILL THAT HAS NOW BECOME SIGNED INTO LAW THAT IS A PARTICULAR INTEREST, I THINK, MS. COURTNEY MENTIONED OBLIQUELY IN HER PRESENTATION EARLIER, BUT IT IS THE UNSAFE STRUCTURES BILL, WHERE IT'S BEEN WHAT? A TWO YEAR BATTLE NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WAS EXCLUDED FROM ITS PROVISIONS, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR PHASE 1 OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE.
THERE ARE TWO BILLS THAT ARE NOT ON THIS PHASE 1 THAT I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
ONE IS THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL BILL HAS YET TO BE SIGNED OR VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR, SO WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THAT.
I BELIEVE THE SAME DAY THAT APRIL FINISHED THIS PARTICULAR REPORT AND GAVE IT TO LUCY TO PLACE IN YOUR AGENDA, WE GOT, EITHER THAT DAY OR THE DAY AFTER, THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD SIGNED THE BILL THAT WOULD NOW REQUIRE A BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING WE DO.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT THE BILL A YEAR AND A HALF AGO NOW, I GUESS, HAD AN EXEMPTION FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATES AND FOR COMPLAN UPDATES.
THAT IS NOW GONE AS OF OCTOBER 1.
WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE MONTHS WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO A BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REGULATIONS OR COMP PLAN AMENDMENTS BUT AFTER OCTOBER 1, WE WILL HAVE TO DO A BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING OTHER THAN BUDGET TYPE ITEMS. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT UNLESS YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THIS LITTLE LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE.
AGAIN, IT'S PHASE 1, WE'LL GET YOU ANOTHER ONE THROUGHOUT AS WE GET MORE BILLS SIGNED, OR MAYBE VETOED, MAYBE HE'LL VETO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL BILL.
THERE'S THAT SLIGHT POSSIBILITY.
THE OTHER ITEM IS INTERESTING TIMING.
A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS FROM MADEIRA WHO WERE CONCERNED AND SURPRISED ABOUT THE DEADLINES ON THAT DEVELOPMENT ORDER AND WHY THEY SECRETLY GOT EXTENDED AND EXTENDED, AND ON TODAY'S AGENDA, YOU SEE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
IT'S A SMALL, I THINK, A DERMATOLOGIST OFFICE THAT NEEDED A USE BY EXCEPTION OFF OF 312.
THE WAY THE STATE LAW WORKS IS EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT THE GOVERNOR ISSUES AN EMERGENCY ORDER, IT GIVES EVERY DEVELOPMENT PERMIT IN THE STATE AN AUTOMATIC SIX-MONTH EXTENSION AND AN EXTENSION THROUGHOUT THE EMERGENCY ORDER TIME PERIOD.
IF YOU START THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES THERE'S A STORM THAT BLOWS THROUGH FLORIDA AND THEN THERE'S AN EMERGENCY ORDER, AND YOU ADD SIX MONTHS, EVERY SINGLE TIME ONE OF THESE COMES AROUND, YOU START SEEING HOW THE TERMINATION DATES ON DEVELOPMENT ORDERS BECOME.
THEY BASICALLY ARE FUNCTIONALLY NOT MEANINGFUL ANYMORE, AND SO THE FOLKS HAVE IT AS A MATTER OF STATE LAW.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'LL APPROVE.
I'M JUST PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE TRANSPARENCY, WE WANT FOLKS TO KNOW, HEY, IF YOU SEE A DEVELOPMENT PERMIT OR A DEVELOPMENT ORDER AND YOU SEE A TERMINATION DATE AND SOMEHOW IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET, IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE STATE CREATED AUTOMATIC EXTENSIONS. THAT'S IT.
[01:50:04]
>> INTERESTING. DIDN'T THE GOVERNOR DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY ON FRIDAY, SO WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE MAYBE COMING?
>> PERHAPS. IT'S NEVER-ENDING ESSENTIALLY.
>> NEVER ENDING ESSENTIALLY. THANK YOU.
THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD SUMMARY SITUATION.
I WANT TO SAY THAT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, MY UPDATE TODAY WAS THAT 70% OF THE BILLS THAT WERE PASSED DURING THE SESSION HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE GOVERNOR.
THERE ARE 105 BILLS LEFT THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR.
SENATE BILL 270, WHICH IS A SHORT TERM RENTAL BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE SUBMITTED LAST AT LEAST AMONG THE LAST BATCH.
THAT'S HEARSAY, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.
THE POINT BEING IS IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S SUPPOSED YOU'RE OPPOSED TO OR YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THERE IS STILL TIME TO REACH OUT TO THE GOVERNOR AND LET HIM KNOW YOUR OPINIONS, WHEREVER YOU MAY FALL ON THAT SPECTRUM OF OPINIONS.
>> LET'S GO ON TO ITEMS BY CITY CLERK.
[12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK]
>> HI. MADAM MAYOR VICE MAYOR COMMISSION, I HAVE A REQUEST TO APPOINT TWO APPLICANTS TO THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD.
WE DID ADVERTISE THESE EXTENSIVELY, AND WE RECEIVED TWO APPLICATIONS.
IF YOU ARE STILL ARE SO INCLINED TO APPOINT THESE TWO, WE'LL QUALIFY THE APPLICANTS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH APPLICANTS.
THEY BOTH HAVE EXCELLENT BACKGROUNDS.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> WE CAN DO A VOICE VOTE, BUT I THINK THAT'S OKAY.
>> THIS IS JUST A NOTIFICATION OF AN UPCOMING TERM EXPIRATION ON OUR AUDIT REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THIS IS JUST STARTING THE PROCESS.
WE WILL ADVERTISE ACCORDINGLY AND ALSO REACH OUT TO MR. RAMOS TO DETERMINE IF HE WISHES TO REAPPLY AND CONTINUE SERVING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER CONGRATULATIONS TO CITY RESIDENT ROGER BANTAMER.
ROGER BANTAMER WAS JUST INDUCTED INTO THE FLORIDA ARTIST HALL OF FAME.
THIS IS A VERY PRESTIGIOUS HONOR AND HE'S MADE OUR COMMUNITY PROUD.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MS. LUCY FOUNTAIN, WHO'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND SHE IS RETIRING.
AFTER SERVING 14 YEARS WITH THE CITY, TOMORROW WILL BE HER LAST DAY, AND WE WISH HER THE BEST AND WE'LL MISS HER.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COMMISSIONER JAMES FAIRFIELD.
THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH US TONIGHT.
>> I WOULDN'T BE ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> THANK YOU. AT LEAST WE GOT FINISHED AT A DECENT HOUR.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE FINISHED.
ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER GARRIS.>> I WAS GOING TO ASK, MAYBE YOU'D LIKE TO REPORT ON THE RECEPTION FOR THE ARTISTS.
>>THE ART, YES. WELL, WE HAVE MEETING TOMORROW AT 4:00-6:00 AT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, WHERE THE THREE SELECTED FINALISTS WILL BE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, HOPEFULLY, NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS ARTISTS AND THEN ON WEDNESDAY AT 9:00, EACH ONE OF THE APPLICANTS WILL COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND SPEAK WITH US ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED THE DAY BEFORE OR WHAT THEY'VE THOUGHT ABOUT OUR CITY AND THE TIME THAT THEY'VE BEEN HERE.
ANY IDEAS THEY MIGHT HAVE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE INDIVIDUALLY TALKING TO US SO THEY DON'T HEAR EACH OTHER AND THEN THEY GO AWAY AND THEY COME BACK WITH THEIR CONCEPTS, AND THEN WE JUDGE THEM AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION.
WE HAVE SOME AMAZING PEOPLE COMING AND WE HAD A HARD TIME SELECTING OUT OF 96 APPLICANTS, 96 ARTISTS PUT IN FOR THIS.
IT'S A THRILLING TIME FOR THE CITY AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY COME UP WITH.
>> WONDERFUL. I KNOW THAT THE TDC IS ALSO LOOKING AT DOING AN ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM.
[01:55:04]
IT'S MOVING THROUGH THE CHANNELS.
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THAT.
BUT TO SUMMARIZE IT, IT'S THE WATERWORKS TOMORROW.
>> PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO COME.
>> THEN NINE O'CLOCK IN THIS ROOM, I THINK OUR FIRST APPLICANTS 9:15-9:45 AND THEN EVERY HALF HOUR FOR THE THREE OF THEM. WEDNESDAY, YES.
MR. CITY MANAGER, WE HAD A SPEAKER EARLIER TONIGHT TALK ABOUT THE EXTENDED PARKING HOURS AND I THOUGHT MAYBE PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT THE EXTRA REVENUE GENERATED ON THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO SPENT WHAT IS GOING TO BE SPENT ON, WHICH I THINK IT DIRECTLY BENEFITS THE DOWNTOWN.
I WOULD LIKE MAYBE IN THE FUTURE TO HAVE MAYBE A SHORT PRESENTATION ON HOW THAT'S GOING AND WHO'S BENEFITING.
>> THE OTHER THING IS I HEARD A COMPLAINT ABOUT A DERELICT SIGNS AT STAMPEDES.
I DON'T THINK STAMPEDES HAS BEEN CLOSED THAT LONG.
>> I'LL HAVE TO CHECK ON THAT.
THAT SURPRISED ME, BUT IF THERE IS A TIME LIMIT WITH WHICH BUSINESSES THAT ARE OUT OF BUSINESS MUST REMOVE THEIR SIGNS, I WILL CHECK ON THAT AND I'M SURE THAT THAT'S BEING DONE CORRECTLY.
>> I DON'T KNOW, WE SHOULD ALL KEEP OUR EYES PEELED TO SEE ARE THERE DERELICT SIGNS THAT WE NEED TO LET STAFF KNOW ABOUT? ALSO, SAME THING WITH GRAFFITI.
GRAFFITI IS LIKE A THING WITH ME, AND I FEEL LIKE GRAFFITI HAS TO BE REMOVED WITHIN 24 HOURS.
IF YOU DO HAVE COMPLAINTS, I WILL NOTE, I HOPE FOLKS OUT THERE ARE LISTENING BECAUSE I HEAR THE COMPLAINTS A LOT THAT ON OUR HOME PAGE, YOU CAN SAY REPORT GRAFFITI.
YOU CAN JUST PUT IT IN THE SEARCH BAR ON THE HOME PAGE OF THE CITY WEBSITE, REPORT GRAFFITI AND IT'LL PULL UP A FORM FOR YOU TO REPORT AND EVEN UPLOAD PHOTOGRAPHS.
>> JUST TO ROUND OUT THAT STATEMENT, OFTENTIMES WHEN WE RECEIVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT GRAFFITI FROM THE PUBLIC, WE'VE ALREADY NOTIFIED THE OWNER THAT THEY MUST REMOVE IT.
WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST ANTI GRAFFITI.
>> THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING HERE TODAY ON MARTIN LUTHER KING AND NEAR THE MARKET THERE THERE'S A DERELICT BUILDING THAT'S BEEN UNOCCUPIED AND THERE WAS A HUGE GRAFFITI ON THE SIDE MAYBE LAST WEEK.
IT'S PAINTED OVER NOW. IT LOOKS GREAT.
YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL IT WAS EVER THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, HOW THEY DID IT, BUT IT WAS QUICK.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
WHEN I WAS THE FACILITIES COORDINATOR, FACILITIES HANDLES GRAFFITI.
IF THE OWNER WANTS TO PAINT IT THE SAME COLOR AS THEIR HOUSE, THEN THEY HAVE TO SUPPLY THE PAINT.
BUT THEY CAN CALL 825-1010 AND THAT WOULD BE THE PHONE NUMBER TO CHRISTINE, WHO NOW IS THE FACILITIES COORDINATOR, AND SHE WILL PUT IN A WORK ORDER TO HAVE THE GRAFFITI REMOVED.
>> GREAT. IT'S EITHER 825-1010, IS THE NUMBER TO CALL, 904-825-1010 OR THEY CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE IF THEY WANT TO UPLOAD PHOTOGRAPHS.
I FEEL LIKE THE CITY IS VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT THAT.
>> IT'S A VERY BIG PRIORITY, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE ACTED ON IMMEDIATELY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T DO IS SHARE PICTURES.
WE TRY NOT TO SHARE PHOTOGRAPHS ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE THAT ATTRACTS EVEN MORE OF THAT BEHAVIOR.
IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, WE DO HAVE ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR GRAFFITI IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
>> I ACTUALLY HAVE SEVERAL THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE SPANISH STREET IS REALLY WONDERFUL RIGHT NOW.
I'VE SPENT SOME TIME ON A PORCH WITH A COUPLE OF THE NEIGHBORS THERE AND PEOPLE WERE WALKING BY WITH THEIR DOGS AND THERE WAS CONVERSATION GOING BACK AND FORTH.
IT'S FABULOUS. I AGREE WITH MR. YORK ON THAT.
I WITNESSED SOMETHING. THIS IS SOMETHING MAYBE I'M HOPING RUBEN CAN HELP WITH.
I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON US1 APPROACHING THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER.
ON THE WEST SIDE WHERE THE STAGING AREA IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, BUT THERE'S NO MORE CARS THERE OR ANYTHING ELSE PARKED THERE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A GOUGE IN THE SIDEWALK THAT IS TRIANGULAR.
[02:00:04]
I WITNESSED A MAN ON A BICYCLE BE SQUEEZED OFF OF THE PAVEMENT AS THEY'RE APPROACHING THE BRIDGE AND THEN ONTO THAT SIDEWALK AND THEN HE WIPED OUT AND COULD HAVE GONE INTO THE TRAFFIC.I WAS PAST HIM WHEN I SAW HIM IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR.
SOMEBODY ELSE PULLED OVER IN A TRUCK, I CALLED AN AMBULANCE BECAUSE HE WAS DOWN ON THE GROUND AND NOT GETTING UP.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING RUBEN THAT YOU COULD DO TO LET DOT KNOW THAT THAT'S A HAZARD FOR PEDESTRIANS.
NOBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR ON ANY OTHER KIND OF WHEEL IS GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THAT WITHOUT GETTING INJURED.
I'M SURPRISED THAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING YET, BUT IT'S VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.
THE SEA WALL AT THE BAY FRONT THAT DOT IS PLANNING TO RECONSTRUCT, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VIEW SCAPE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN THIS SEA WALL IS REPLACED.
IF I'M WALKING ALONG THE BAY FRONT OR IF I AM DRIVING ALONG THE BAY FRONT OR IF I AM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF AVENIDA MENENDEZ, THE WEST SIDE OF IT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT VIEW SCAPE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, AND THAT CONCERNS ME GREATLY.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST SOMEHOW FOR OUR STAFF TO FOLLOW UP WITH DOT TO GET THIS OUT IN THE PUBLIC MORE.
I KNOW THEY DID SOME PUBLIC MEETINGS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AS A PEDESTRIAN.
I LIKE THE WAY RUBEN PRESENTED WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING A CAR OR A PEDESTRIAN AROUND THE INTERSECTION AROUND WHAT WILL BE THE REMODELED INTERSECTION AROUND THE BRIDGE OF LIONS, BUT I CAN'T SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WHERE THE NEW SEA WALL IS GOING TO GO IN TOWARD THE FORT.
NUMBER FOUR, IT SURE SEEMS LIKE WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN REVISING THE PARKING ORDINANCE AND HOW WE'VE HAD BACK AND FORTH ON SAN MARCO AND NORTH CITY, THAT THIS WOULD BE THE IDEAL TIME TO REVISIT WHETHER THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO THE DESIGN THAT THE STAFF HAD PROPOSED THAT WASN'T SUCCESSFUL ON SAN MARCO, AND NOW WE HAVE CONFLICTS OF USE CONSTANTLY WITH THOSE BUMP OUTS.
WE DON'T HAVE A SHUTTLE LANE, WE DON'T HAVE A TROLLEY LANE.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN GO BACK AND FIND OUT WHETHER WE CAN REVITALIZE THAT, RE-PROPOSE IT, WHATEVER MECHANISM THERE MIGHT BE.
>> YEAH, A DEDICATED TRANSIT LANE, WHICH IS WHAT WAS PROPOSED BEFORE AND KILLED BY VERY FEW ONE PERSON.
>> AT THE STATE LEVEL. FINALLY, THE CIP THAT WE WENT THROUGH IN THE EARLIER MEETING, THE SPECIAL MEETING, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY AND ENERGY, GRANT MONEY INTO CONVERSION FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER, WHICH IS FABULOUS.
WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER FACTORS THAT IMPACT WATER QUALITY OTHER THAN LEAKING SEPTIC SYSTEMS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES AND THEY'RE SEEING THAT A LOT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WITH RED TIDES, WE'RE NOT IMMUNE TO THIS, WITH HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND SO FORTH.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST FACTORS IS FERTILIZERS, OVER USE OF FERTILIZERS.
I WON'T NAME MY NEIGHBOR THAT USED TO GO OUT RIGHT BEFORE IT RAINED AND JUST PLASTER HIS LAWN WITH FERTILIZER.
THERE'S ALSO MECHANISMS WITHIN THE STATE.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, LOOK THIS UP FOR ME, BUT THERE'S A MODEL ORDINANCE FOR FLORIDA FRIENDLY FERTILIZER USE ON URBAN LANDSCAPES THAT WE COULD ADOPT, AND THAT'S A MINIMAL ONE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE GOOD SCIENCE AROUND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY.
I KNOW AT LEAST ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AT FLAGLER COLLEGE IS DOING A LOT OF WATER QUALITY WORK.
THE CITY CONTRACTED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, A FEW YEARS AGO AND THE REPORT CAME BACK THAT SALT RUN ALSO HAS WATER QUALITY ISSUES STEMMING FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS. SO WITH THAT SCIENCE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO FOR EVEN MORE STRINGENT CRITERIA.
THROUGH POLICY AND OR SOME TYPE OF INCENTIVE BASED AND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT I CAN SEE WOULD COME FROM A PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY STAFF AND THE SUSTAINABILITY DIVISION, SCIENTISTS THAT ARE WORKING IN OUR AREA, THE MATANZAS RIVERKEEPER AND THE GUANA RESEARCH RESERVES.
IF THERE'S INTEREST IN THAT ON THE CITY COMMISSION, I COULD PURSUE IT OR I COULD ASK STAFF TO PURSUE IT, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME POLICY AND OR INCENTIVE SYSTEM COME FORWARD TO TRY TO REDUCE FERTILIZER USE.
>> IF YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT A SPONSORSHIP, WE'LL START WORKING ON IT.
[02:05:02]
>> GREAT. THE COUNTY DOES HAVE THAT IN PLACE, BUT THE CITY DOES NOT, AND I'M NOT SURE TO WHAT EXTENT IT IS ENFORCED IN THE COUNTY, BUT I KNOW THAT WE COULD DO A GOOD JOB OF ENFORCING IT IF WE HAD IT. OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> I'VE JUST READ AN ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ABOUT HOW LAWNS ARE NO LONGER COOL.
>> SO, READ THE NEW YORK TIMES.
I WILL REPORT THAT WE HAVE ABOUT $8,500 COMMITTED ALREADY FOR OUR ATTEMPT TO SEND THE PAINTING TO AVILA.
I HAVE WORKED WITH SHIPPING CONSORTIUM, A COUPLE OF GUYS.
HOW TO GET IT OVER THERE CHEAP, AND I MAY BE ASKING THE CONTINGENTS THAT'S GOING IN AUGUST TO CARRY IT ON THE PLANE. WE'LL SEE.
THE PARKING COST, I'D LIKE TO ADD IN THE PARKING COST THAT THE GARAGE IS ONLY $5.
WITH THE PARKING CARD AND THE APP, YOU CAN GET IT MUCH CHEAPER AND THE BUS RUNS TILL 10:00.
SO IT'S REALLY A GOOD OPTION FOR LOCALS TO GO TO THE GARAGE AND I DO THAT AS WELL ALL THE TIME.
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO LOOK INTO OUR EVALUATIONS FOR THE MANAGER AND THE ATTORNEY.
WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION AND I'M NOT REALLY EVEN FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS THAT'S BEEN USED IN THE PAST, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO WORK ON AN EVALUATION PROCESS FOR OUR ESTEEM STAFF.
THEY WOULD APPRECIATE IT TOO, I'M SURE.
>> THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, THAT COMES IN CONJUNCTION WITH, WE HAVE NEVER DONE THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT WE HAVE DONE THE CITY MANAGER, AND THAT IS NORMALLY IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
SO I HAVE HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH MR. BIRCHEN, AND I THINK IT'S LEFT IT IN HIS PURVIEW.
>> WE WERE THINKING ABOUT AUGUST, I THINK IS WHEN WE WERE GOING TO DAY LIKE THAT PROCESS.
IF YOU CAN WAIT JUST A LITTLE BIT WHILE LONGER.
>> JUST TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE, MY CONTRACT IS DRAFTED SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY THAN THE CITY MANAGERS.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO AUTOMATIC REVIEW, ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE QUARTERLY REPORTS FROM ME AND ANNUAL REPORTS.
MY VIEW IS, ANY GIVEN MEETING, YOU REVIEW MY PERFORMANCE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IN ANY MEETINGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE WITH HER, YOU CAN REVIEW THE PERFORMANCE.
THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN HANDLED, YOU MAY SAY, WELL, I'VE NEVER HAD A REVIEW, BUT THE TRUTH IS IS DIFFERENT COMMISSIONERS CHOOSE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THEIR REVIEWS.
I LIKE TO SAY I DO IT EVERY TWO WEEKS, OR I MEET REGULARLY AND GIVE FEEDBACK TO THE CITY MANAGER.
>> THIS YEAR I THINK WE SHOULD TRY AND FLUSH THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER NOW THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT THAT UP AND IT'S LIKE, HOW DO YOU? DO WE HAVE A FORM THAT WE'VE USED IN THE PAST?
>> WELL, I'VE SEEN PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS LIKE THIS CREATED IN A GROWTH MODEL.
NOT A, YES YOU COME TO WORK ON TIME AND YES, THE REPORT IS RIGHT, JUST TO CHECK OFF LIST.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS TO HOW YOU ALL HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE ONE THAT'S MORE OF A GROWTH MODEL THAN A GOT YOU MODEL.
>> RIGHT. MR. BIRCHEN, COULD YOU POSSIBLY SEND THAT FORM OUT?
>> CERTAINLY. I'LL SEND THE FORM OUT TO EVERYONE SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND IF YOU WANT TO MODIFY IT, THEN WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS TOO.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE LOVE THE FEEDBACK BECAUSE THE FORM HAS BEEN USED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE DEVELOPED IT MANY YEARS AGO, AND IT PROBABLY MAY NOT REFLECT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.