[00:00:05]
>> GOOD EVENING. THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.>> [NOISE] WE WILL NOW HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR ROXANNE HORVATH.
>> PLEASE RISE AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED.
>> NEXT ITEM IS MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA?>> COMMISSIONERS, ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA?
>> I MOVE. WE ACCEPT THE AGENDA.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
WE HAVE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS OR RECOGNITIONS.
WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
I'D LIKE TO READ THE STATEMENT BEFORE WE BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENTS.AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION SHOULD FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AND I WILL CALL YOU TO THE PODIUM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S RULES OF DECORUM.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE, NOT TO INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS.
NO PERSONS MAY ADDRESS THE COMMISSION WITH PERSONAL IMPROPER OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR.
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY CLAPPING OR DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS.
FINALLY, I WOULD ASK THAT ANY SPEAKER WHO USES THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR TO PLEASE SUBMIT THOSE ITEMS TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
THANK YOU. THE FIRST CARD I HAVE IS ROBYN THOMAS, AND WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY GINA BURRELL.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ROBYN THOMAS, AND I'M HERE TO READ THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION.
THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPASSION LIES AT THE HEART OF ALL RELIGIOUS, ETHICAL, AND SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS, CALLING US ALWAYS TO TREAT ALL OTHERS AS WE WISH TO BE TREATED OURSELVES.
COMPASSION IMPELS US TO WORK TIRELESSLY, TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING OF OUR FELLOW CREATURES, TO DETHRONE OURSELVES FROM THE CENTER OF OUR WORLD, AND PUT ANOTHER THERE AND TO HONOR THE INVIABLE SANCTITY OF EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING, TREATING EVERYONE WITHOUT EXCEPTION WITH ABSOLUTE JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND RESPECT.
IT IS ALSO NECESSARY IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIFE TO RETAIN CONSISTENTLY AND EMPATHETICALLY FROM INVIATING PAIN, TO ACT OR SPEAK VIOLENTLY, OUT OF SPITE, CHAUVINISM, OR SELF INTEREST, TO IMPOVERISH, EXPORT OR DENY BASIC RIGHTS TO ANYBODY AND TO EXCITE HATRED BY DEINTEGRATING OTHERS, EVEN OUR ENEMIES IS A DENIAL OF OUR COMMON HUMANITY.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE FAILED TO LIVE COMPASSIONATELY AND THAT SOME HAVE EVEN INCREASED THE SUM OF HUMAN MISERY IN THE NAME OF RELIGION.
WE THEREFORE CALL UPON ALL MEN AND WOMEN TO RESTORE COMPASSION TO THE CENTER OF MORALITY AND RELIGION.
TO RETURN TO THE ANCIENT PRINCIPLES, THAT ANY INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURES THAT BREEDS VIOLENCE,
[00:05:01]
HATRED AND DISDAIN IS ILLEGITIMATE.TO ENSURE THAT YOUTHS ARE GIVEN ACCURATE AND RESPECTFUL INFORMATION ABOUT OTHERS TRADITIONS, RELIGIONS AND CULTURES, TO ENCOURAGE A POSSIBLE APPRECIATION OF CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY, AND TO CULTIVATE AND INFORM EMPATHY WITH THE SUFFERING OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS, EVEN THOSE REGARDED AS ENEMIES.
WE URGENTLY NEED TO MAKE COMPASSION A CLEAR, LUMINOUS AND DYNAMIC FORCE IN OUR POLARIZED WORLD, ROOTED IN A PRINCIPLE DETERMINATION TO TRANSCEND SELFISHNESS.
COMPASSION CAN BREAK DOWN POLITICAL, DOGMATIC, IDEOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS BOUNDARIES.
OF OUR DEEP INTERDEPENDENCE, COMPASSION IS EXCENTRAL TO HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND TO BE FULFILLED HUMANITY.
IT IS THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT AND INDISPENSABLE TO THE CREATION OF JUST ECONOMY AND A PEACEFUL GLOBAL COMMUNITY, GENEVA SWITZERLAND, FEBRUARY 2009, AND COMPASSIONATE ST. AUGUSTINE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS GINA BURRELL, FOLLOWED BY TONY KERN.
I THINK YOU NEED TO TURN IT ON.
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY COMMENTS ARE REGARDING THE PRIVATIZATION OF OUR STATE PARKS, PARTICULARLY OUR BEAUTIFUL ANASTASIA STATE PARK, AND I OPPOSE THIS.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE SINCE 2016.
WHEN I HEARD THAT THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WERE TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIALIZING OUR STATE PARKS, I ORGANIZED WITH THE HELP OF SOME FRIENDS, RALLIES IN ST. AUGUSTINE, ONE AT ANASTASIA STATE PARK, AND THE OTHER AT THE FORT MOSE STATE PARK.
THERE WERE MANY ARTICLES PRINTED IN THE RECORD AND HERE I CAN SHOW YOU HERE.
THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY HAD A LOCAL NEWSPAPER COVERING THE RALLIES.
IN MARCH 2016, THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED HB 1075 AND SB 1290.
THE BILL WAS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT AND THE BILL REQUIRES ONLY THAT THE PLANS BE COMPATIBLE WITH CONSERVATION, RECREATION, OR BOTH, USING THE BROAD CATEGORIES OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION GRANTS, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS SIGNIFICANT DISCRETIONARY AND MAY LEAD TO INCOMPATIBLE USES, SUCH AS GRAZING, TIMBERING, HUNTING, AND OFF ROAD VEHICLE TRAILS.
SO FAR, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS PLANNED FOR ANASTASIA STATE PARK, 350 ROOM LODGE, PICKLEBALL COURTS, AND DISK GOLF COURSE.
WE NEED TO CONTACT RON DE SANTAS, AND SEAN HAMILTON, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, THAT WE OPPOSE THESE ACTIVITIES ON OUR OCEAN PARK.
WE NEED TO CONTACT GOVERNOR RHONDA SANTAS AND I ALREADY SAID THAT.
IN 2025, THE FLORIDA PARK SERVICE WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY, THE FIRST TO WIN THE PRESTIGIOUS GOLD MEDAL AWARD, FOUR TIMES FOR EXCELLENCE, AND ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST PARK SYSTEM WITH 800,000 ACRES.
NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO RUIN OUR PARKS. THANKS A LOT.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TAWNY KERN, FOLLOWED BY EMILY BELL.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TAWNY KERN, AND I LIVE AT 23 ALTHEA STREET, AND THE REASON I'M HERE TONIGHT IS I WANT TO
[00:10:02]
MEMORIALIZE WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE LAST TUESDAY.IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND. IT'S THE GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE, WHICH IS ALSO A JOHN CANDY COMEDY AND HERE THE DEP WANTS TO DEVELOP OUR PARKS, THE REAL FLORIDA.
IN MY 62 YEARS ON THE PLANET, THIS IS PROBABLY THE WORST THING I'VE COME ABOUT AND COME ABOUT FAST.
BUT I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE TURNED AROUND BECAUSE I'VE SEEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND IT'S BEEN SO TOUCHING TO ME.
THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL PART OF IT BUT TONIGHT, I WANT TO MEMORIALIZE WHAT'S HAPPENED BECAUSE I WANT THIS TO BE ON TAPE.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY'VE DONE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY BAD AND I WANT TO OFFER SUGGESTION.
FIRST OFF, THE EVENT IS DEVELOPING OUR STATE PARKS.
IT WASN'T DONE IN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT THE CITY AND COUNTY WAS UNAWARE.
THE PARK MANAGERS WERE UNAWARE.
ALSO THE ACQUISITION RESTORATIONS COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE NOT INVITED TO THE MEETING AND THEY HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS.
THE MEETING WAS GOING TO BE HELD IN OUR CHARACTER COUNTS CONFERENCE ROOM, WHICH IS ANOTHER IRONY WITH THE WAY WE'RE BEING TREATED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS NOT A GOOD FAITH EFFORT.
ON THEIR PART, AND THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO CHECK THE BOX THAT THEY WERE HAVING PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND I RESENT IT.
THE ACTION I THINK NEEDS TO BE TAKEN IS THIS INITIATIVE NEEDS TO BE CANCELED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CITY DO IS WORK WITH CONGRESS, LIKE JONATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK IS RIGHT NOW, AND ALSO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO TURN THIS THING AROUND.
I ALSO SAW CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT TODAY WHERE THEY ARE FILING SUIT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, AND THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO LOOK INTO OUR PARKS HERE BECAUSE THEY DID FIND THE INDIAN BURIAL GROUNDS DOWN THERE IN THAT PARK, AND THEY HAVE WRITTEN A VERY STRONG LETTER.
I HOPE THAT THE CITY JUMPS IN ON THIS AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU MIGHT THINK I'M A LITTLE PREMATURE FOR BEING HERE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO MEMORIALIZE WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
THEN IF YOU TAKE THIS ACTION, THE BENEFIT IS GOING TO BE, YOU COME OUT AS HEROES AND YOU CAN HELP RESTORE THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW DP HAS TAKEN A HUGE SHIT FROM THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. THANKS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE; JIM, BARBARA, NANCY, CYNTHIA, AND ROXANNE. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I JUST I AM COMING BECAUSE I WANT TO BE HERE ON THE RECORD AS A CITIZEN, THAT I AM AGAINST THE GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE.
I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT OTHERS HAVE ELOQUENTLY STATED.
BUT IT'S JUST VERY CLEAR THAT THIS INITIATIVE, ONE, IT'S ABSURD ON ITS FACE.
THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING A STATE PARK IS TO PROTECT LAND FROM DEVELOPMENT, AND THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT IF YOU DEVELOP IT.
OTHERWISE, WHY EVEN HAVE STATE PARKS? I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ARGUMENTATIVE.
MY ASK OF EVERYONE HERE, AND YOU, AS OUR VOICES, AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AS THE BOARD THAT REPRESENTS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, TO SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF AND TO SHARE OUR CONCERNS WITH OUR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS BECAUSE EVERYONE IS ANGRY ABOUT THIS.
NOBODY WANTS THIS. IF THIS HAD GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS IT'S SUPPOSED TO, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE THE WHOLE THING IS ABSURD ON ITS FACE, BUT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VOTE AGAINST IT.
PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THIS SO MY ASK IS, AGAIN, PLEASE REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS.
I AS A CITIZEN, I AM DOING WHAT I CAN, BUT THAT'S WHY WE ELECTED YOU TO BE OUR VOICES TO THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THOSE IN THE STATE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR TIME, AND LET'S BEAT THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MARTHA HAN, FOLLOWED BY ANNE SOLOMON.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MARTHA HAN.
I LIVE ON 45 FLORIDA AVENUE, RAVENSWOOD.
I'M HERE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE THAT SPOKE BEFORE ME, AND I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT WE ALL KNOW, BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING UP THE MOUSE.
WHAT MOUSE AM I TALKING ABOUT? THE ANASTASIA ISLAND BEACH MOUSE, CLASSIFIED BY THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THIS TINY LITTLE MOUSE HAS A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING ALL THE LITTLE SEEDS IN THIS LITTLE BURROW, AND THAT IS HOW THE DUNES ARE KEPT IN PLACE BY THE VEGETATION.
[00:15:01]
THIS LITTLE MOUSE, WHICH IS ADORABLE AND I'LL HAVE A PICTURE OF IT, IT'S JUST MARVELOUS AND THIS POOR CREATURES OF COURSE IS IN DANGER, AND WHY? BECAUSE OF ALL DEVELOPMENT ALL AROUND OUR BEACHES.WE ALL KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW THE MONEY.
IF WE FOLLOW THE MONEY, WE KNOW WHERE IT WILL TAKE US.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS GREED INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECTS THAT DON'T RESPECT BASIC DEMOCRACY BECAUSE WE HAVE CITY BOARDS, WE HAVE COUNTY AND ALL THE ENTITIES THAT HAVE A SAY.
I WALK ON THE BEACH ALMOST EVERY DAY AT ANASTASIA, AND YOU SEE THIS VERY WELL MARKED NESTS OF TURTLES.
WHERE ELSE? I THINK SOMETIMES IS THIS REAL? HOW CAN I BE HERE? IT'S SO WONDERFUL. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE A NOTE ON HUBRIS.
I LOOKED IT UP BECAUSE IT SAYS THE NOTES OVER CONFIDENCE, PRIDE, COMBINED WITH ARROGANCE, A PRIDE THAT BLINDS.
SEEMS TO ME THAT IN TALLAHASSEE, THEY'RE SUFFERING FROM THIS KIND OF BLINDNESS.
THEN I ALSO THOUGHT OF SINCE THIS IS A HISTORICAL TOWN, KING LOUIS 14, KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE. LAEMIS.
>> I AM THE STATE. IT APPEARS THAT THAT IS THE THINKING THAT OUR GOVERNOR IS ENGAGING IN.
CERTAINLY THIS TYPE OF THINKING IS NOT RATIONAL, AND YET WE NEED TO BE STRONG, WE NEED TO BE CLEAR, AND WE NEED TO STICK TO WHAT WE KNOW IS REAL IN THE CITY AND THE VALUE THE CITY HAS.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, AND I'M DONE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNE SOLOMON, FOLLOWED BY BRUCE CATHCART.
WELCOME, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM ANNE SOLOMON, AND I LIVE AT 75 A PALMER STREET IN THE WEST KING NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOT A LONG TIME, BUT A 10 YEAR RESIDENT OF FLORIDA.
INTERESTINGLY TODAY, I SAW SOMETHING AND THOUGHT THAT THIS IS WORTH JUST A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME. EXCUSE ME.
IT SAID, WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE FLORIDA STATE PARKS? IT'S VERY QUICK, SIMPLE, AND EASY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO HONORABLY AND RESPECTFULLY LISTEN.
I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO FACT CHECK IT BECAUSE I JUST FOUND IT, BUT IF IT'S NOT A FACT, IT SHOULD BE.
IT WAS PUBLISHED ON A STATE WEBSITE.
IT SAID THE MISSION OF THE FLORIDA PARK SERVICE IS TO PROVIDE RESOURCE BASED RECREATION WHILE PRESERVING, INTERPRETING, AND RESTORING NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.
IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE, BUT VERY POWERFUL.
I ASK THAT WE STICK TO OUR MISSION, AND WE DO IT WITH HONOR AND RESPECT.
I ONCE LIVED IN A COUNTRY WHOSE PHILOSOPHY WAS, LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH HONOR AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BRUCE CATHCART, FOLLOWED BY VICKI PEPPER.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
SAME SUBJECT, THE ANASTASIA STATE PARK.
I'M A ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF ANASTASIA STATE PARK, AND DOESN'T MAKE ME AN AUTHORITY, BUT I'M VERY SENSITIZED IN MY RETIREMENT.
I'M STUDYING TO BECOME A FLORIDA MASTER NATURALIST.
I HAVE USED THE STATE PARK AREAS FOR MY STUDY, AND DURING THAT TIME, I'VE DISCOVERED SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT NOT ONLY THE BIODIVERSITY DUE TO THE LANDS THAT THEY STATED THAT WHERE THEY WANT TO PUT THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THE PRESENTATION OF THEM, BOTH FROM A HISTORIC STANDPOINT AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT.
SALT RUN, WHICH AND I ALSO DON'T MEAN TO INSULT ANYBODY'S INTELLIGENCE OR TELL THEM THINGS THEY ALREADY KNOW, BUT WHERE THE CITY MIGHT COME INTO PLAY AS IF THIS GOES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AND CODES AND THINGS THAT THE CITY HAVE CONTROL OVER WILL PROBABLY COME INTO PLAY.
SALT RUN ITSELF IS ONE OF THE MOST VERY INTERESTING AND VERY VIBRANT ESTUARIES IN THIS PART OF FLORIDA BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THE INLET.
THE AREA WHERE THEY WANT TO PUT THE FRISBEE GOLF IS ALONG WHERE THERE'S A TRAIL.
[00:20:06]
RIGHT NOW, THE TRAIL ITSELF, THIS IS MY OPINION, IS ACTUALLY A MAN INTRUSION AS IT IS, JUST THE TRAIL ITSELF.WHAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING DOING IS GOING OVER THE TRAIL AND REMOVING TREES FROM THE HAMMOCK AND FROM THE AREA CLOSER TO SALT RUN, WHICH IS NOW MOSTLY MANGROVE AND SALT MARSH.
THERE'S NO WAY IT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT COMPLETELY DISRUPTING THAT VERY IMPORTANT TRANSITION ZONE BETWEEN THE UPLANDS HAMMOCK AND SALT RUN.
THE OTHER AREA THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS MORE CLOSE TO WHERE THE SALT RUN AREA FOR THE WATER SPORTS IS IS WHERE THEY WANT TO TAKE OUT MORE OF THE HAMMOCK, WHICH IS IN ANCIENT DUNES, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE LEVELED IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM FOR PICKLE BALL COURTS.
THE BIG ONE, THE LODGE IS SLATED FOR AN AREA THAT WOULD REQUIRE SO MUCH FILL.
THE HURRICANES FLOOD THAT AREA.
THERE ARE TREES THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THE SALTWATER INTRUSION IN PREVIOUS STORMS. IT'S ALSO, AS MENTIONED, VERY CLOSE TO THE BEACH ITSELF.
I JUST WANTED TO SENSITIZE PEOPLE TO I'M NOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT.
I KNOW THAT THERE WOULD BE ACTUAL BONAFIDE ASSESSMENTS DONE AND ALL OF THESE THINGS WOULD COME OUT.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VICKI PEPPER, FOLLOWED BY BARBARA OLSON.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
I LIVE ON HARBOUR VISTA CIR IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF IN 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.
GIVEN YOUR POSITIONS, I DOUBT YOU'RE AT THE PROTEST AGAINST EEP'S GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE FOR SEVERAL FLORIDA STATE PARKS ALONG A1 YESTERDAY OUT IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE TO ANASTASIA STATE PARK.
BUT I WAS AMONG SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO GATHERED ON SHORT NOTICE, WIELDING NUMEROUS HOMEMADE SIGNS, OPPOSING VERY STRENUOUSLY THE PLANS FOR THE 350 ROOM LODGE, DISC GOLF COURSE, AND PICKLEBALL COURTS FOR OUR BELOVED PIECE OF NEAR WILDERNESS NESTLED IN THE MIDST OF OUR VERY HIGHLY DEVELOPED CITY AND ADJACENT TO OUR SISTER CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.
I'D URGE ALL MY FELLOW CONCERNED CITIZENS TO GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, TAKE THE DEP SURVEY ON THE GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE AND LET THEM KNOW JUST WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, CURRENT BOCC CHAIR SARAH ARNOLD, PUBLICLY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS NOT CONTACTED ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WITH ANY DETAILS OF THIS PROJECT.
PARKS ARE FOR PEOPLE, NOT ABOUT PROJECTS FOR PROFIT.
OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IN OUR VIEWS ON NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION.
THIS PROPOSED PROJECT IS ABSOLUTELY CONTRARY TO OUR COUNTY BOARD'S VISION AND PRIORITIES.
AS A BOARD, WILL SERIOUSLY ADDRESS THIS PROPOSED PROJECT WITH ALL AVAILABLE RECOURSE.
ANASTASIA STATE PARK IS A STATE OWNED RECREATION AREA, SIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT MAY INVOLVE A REVIEW BY ITS STAFF AND ITS CITY COMMISSION.
I TAKE COMMISSIONER ARNOLD TO BE SAYING THE BOCC IS OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT, AND THE COUNTY WILL DO WHAT IT CAN, BUT THAT THE CITY MAY BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO WEIGH IN GIVEN THE LOCATION OF THE PARK IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
BECAUSE THE PARK IS IN THE CITY, ST. AUGUSTINE MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE AND TAKE A POSITION ON THIS PROPOSAL UNDER ITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ZONING CODE.
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ALL JUST LEARNED ABOUT THIS PLAN, DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, AND IT COULD COME BEFORE YOU FORMALLY DOWN THE ROAD.
IT'S PROBABLY PREMATURE AND ILL ADVISED FOR ME TO ASK YOU TO TAKE ANY POSITION NOW.
THAT SAID AS A RESIDENT, WHEN THE TIME COMES, I'LL ASK YOU AND THE CITY TO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO OPPOSE PUTTING TOTALLY UNNEEDED AMENITIES IN A PARK KNOWN FOR ITS NEAR PRISTINE BEACH, PROTECTED WILDLIFE, MARITIME HAMMOCK AND RELATIVELY PRIMITIVE HIKING TRAILS.
THERE'S ALREADY A CAMPGROUND IN THE PARK, WHICH IS MUCH LESS INVASIVE FORM OF LODGING THAN THE ENORMOUS PROPOSED LODGE.
AS FOR LODGING WITH MORE AMENITIES IN THE MIDST OF A TOURIST TOWN AND COUNTY LIKE OURS, THERE'S NO LACK OF LOGIC OR OTHER TOURIST AMENITIES, AND EASY DRIVE FROM THE PARK.
PLEASE PRESERVE THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND PASSIVE TRAILS OF OUR BELOVED PARK FOR OUR RESIDENTS, OTHER FLORIDIANS, OUR VISITORS FROM AROUND THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BARBARA OLSON, FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN LONG.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING THE FORUM FOR ME TO SHARE SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS.
[00:25:02]
I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE CHANGES PROPOSED AT THE STATE PARK.I FURTHER WANT TO CALL OUT THE GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE AS BEING CONTRARY TO THE AND THE VISION AND THE VALUES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
IT WAS HELPFUL FOR ME TO LOOK AT WHAT THEIR MISSION IS.
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROTECTS, CONSERVES, AND MANAGES THE STATE'S NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENFORCES ITS ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.
THEIR VISION IS TO ADVANCE FLORIDA'S POSITION AS A WORLD LEADER IN PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES WHILE GROWING THE STATE'S ECONOMY.
ASIDE FROM GRAVE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE ABOUT THE PROCEDURAL PROCESSES MEANS USED TO COMMUNICATE, TO PLAN, TO DEVISE,.
I'M GOING TO PUSH THAT OVER HERE AND TALK ABOUT IF INDEED, THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE.
I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE ENJOY THEIR PARKS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE MISSION OF THE DEP.
THEY ARE NOT VACATION PLANNERS.
BUT I DO THINK, IF THEY LOOKED AT OUR PARK, THEY WOULD SEE THAT WE ARE INDEED AN EXEMPLAR IN DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEIR MISSION AND THEIR VISION IS.
THAT IS THE SECOND BUSIEST STATE PARK IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. MAKES A TON OF MONEY.
IT IS SEATED IN ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES IN THE NATION.
FOLKS, THIS IS A SETBACK, HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS MOMENT FOR DEP, AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SEE UTILIZATION OF THE STATE PARK BECAUSE WITHOUT CHANGE ONE, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE.
OUR JOB SHOULD BE TO REALLY BE SURE THAT WE'RE MITIGATING ANY UNDESIRED IMPACT FROM THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE POSITIONED TO ENJOY IT.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS CAUSING ME GREAT DISTRESS.
I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I LIVE ADJACENT TO ANASTASIA STATE PARK.
I CONSIDER IT A PRECIOUS RESOURCE.
I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT IS PROPOSED AND INTEND TO BE BY THE SIDE OF THOSE WHO REALLY STAND WITH US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING ME.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MAUREEN LONG FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FULMER.
>> SORRY. MY NEW GLASSES, I CAN ONLY USE THEM WHEN I READ, SO IT'S GETTING OLD.
MAUREEN LONG, 1821 CASTILE STREET, AND I LIVE IN MENENDEZ PARK, WHICH IS ADJOINING TO ANASTASIA STATE PARK.
THIS IS A VERY DEAR AND NEAR PLACE TO ME.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR MANY YEARS, WALK TO THE PARK ON A DAILY BASIS AND HAVE RAISED MY CHILDREN TO BECOME PART OF THE PARK.
HUNT AND WENT IN THERE AND BECAME A LITTLE RANGER, A JUNIOR RANGER AND WALKED EVERY DAY.
MY DAUGHTER, AS A GIRL SCOUT, WE WENT IN THERE AND PLANTED TREES.
AS BARBARA SAID AND SO MANY OTHER HAVE SAID, THIS INITIATIVE IS REALLY NOT RIGHT FOR A PARK.
OUR PARK IS FINE THE WAY IT IS.
IF THEY WANT TO DO ANYTHING AND WE DO NEED IMPROVEMENTS, WE HAVE THAT COMING UP IN 2026.
THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE COULD USE ARE ANOTHER CAMPGROUND.
IF THEY WANT TO PUT MORE RECREATION IN, THAT'S A GREAT THING.
HOW ABOUT A BOTCHI BALL CORD? BUT FOR THEM TO THINK THAT DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
MARTA DIDN'T HAVE A PICTURE OF THE MOUSE, SO HERE'S OUR LITTLE MOUSE.
WE KNOW THAT ANASTASIA STATE PARK PROVIDES THE HABITAT FOR THIS MOUSE, THIS MOUSE IS FEDERALLY PROTECTED.
THERE'S ONLY THE AREA THAT THERE IS, YOU WON'T SEE THEM AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO STAY ON THE BEACH BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE MARSH LAND OVER THERE TOO.
THEY JUST HIDE FOR THEIR DEAR LIFE BECAUSE THEY ARE PROBABLY THE BEST FOOD THAT IS AROUND.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS AREA HERE AND WHERE THEY WANT TO PUT THE COURTS OF THE, I'M SORRY ALL THESE COURTS, THIS WHOLE AREA HERE IS WHERE THEY WANT TO PUT IT.
WHEN I SHOW YOU THE TREES THAT ARE THERE.
THESE ARE THE TREES THAT WILL BE TAKEN OUT.
THEY WILL BE GONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PICKLEBALL COURTS OR THE DISC GOLF AREA IS GOING TO BE.
WE DON'T NEED THAT. WE NEED OUR TREES.
THIS IS A LIVING CLASSROOM FOR MANY,
[00:30:02]
FOR THE CHILDREN, FOR THE ADULTS.WE HAVE OUR FLAGLER COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT COME THERE, OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT COME THERE.
LET'S NOT FORGET THE HIGHLY RECLUSIVE BUTTERFLY THAT LIVES IN ALL THE CEDAR TREES THAT ARE OVER THERE.
OF COURSE, THE CITY KNOWS THAT BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF OUR BUTTERFLIES THAT ARE THERE.
WE NEED THIS, EACH PART OF THIS TREE OR ANY PART OF ANY OF THESE TREES.
OF COURSE, THERE'S MORE THAN TREES THAT ARE VERY VALUABLE THERE.
BUT THAT'S TO MY HEART THERE AS WE PLANTED TREES, THREE YEARS IN A ROW WITH THE GIRL SCOUTS.
WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE, AND IT'S THE INDIGO SNAKE.
OF COURSE, THE INDIGO SNAKE, WE DON'T SEE HIM MUCH, BUT HE LIVES PRETTY MUCH WITH THE TORTOISE BECAUSE HE LIVES IN HIS LITTLE AREA THERE.
THIS, AS I SAID BEFORE, IS A LIVING CLASSROOM.
MY FRIENDS AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BUILDING A BY THE SEA TURTLE PLAYGROUND, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL AREA THAT WE'VE DONE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE APRIL.
THIS IS THE SEA TURTLE PAVILION, AND WHICH IS GOING TO BE ON THE BACKSIDE.
THAT'S WHERE OUR PLAYGROUND WILL BE.
IT'S AN ADA PLAYGROUND, ALL INCLUSIVE, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET IT SOON.
THIS IS ONE MORE PICTURE I'D LIKE TO SHARE, AND I'M SORRY.
I'M SO NERVOUS, BUT THIS REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME.
WE NEED TO SAVE OUR PARK, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO US, AND I DO APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> HI, CHRIS FULMER, I LIVE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
AS I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD, THE GOVERNOR TRIED TO PULL A FAST ONE.
AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE DEP RANK AND FILE WAS JUST AS SURPRISED AS ALL OF YOU.
PLEASE DON'T BLAME THEM FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT EITHER.
THEY TRIED TO SLIP IN A PLAN FOR THE 350 ROOM LODGE IN ANASTASIA STATE PARK, THE PLAN FOR THE GOLF COURSE AT JONATHAN DICKINSON, SEVEN OTHER PARKS.
AS MANY OF YOU MAY RECALL, RICK SCOTT TRIED TO DO THIS IN 2011, AND HE HAD TO BACK OFF. WITH PREJUDICE.
THIS PLAN WAS ANNOUNCED AFTER PARTS OF IT LEAKED OUT AND WE HAVE TO WONDER, IF THAT HADN'T HAPPENED, WE HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY WOULD HAVE EVEN MENTIONED IT BEFORE THE ACQUISITIONS AND RESTORATION COUNCIL VOTED IN A FEW WEEKS.
WE HAVE NO IDEA. WHEN THEY DID FIND OUT, AS SOMEBODY SAID THE WHIRLWIND, THEY REALLY HURRIEDLY WITHIN A FEW HOURS, PLANNED SIMULTANEOUS COMMENT MEETINGS AND SMALL 100-200 PERSON VENUES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ALL AT THE SAME TIME, ALL KEPT AT 1 HOUR, AND THEY INCLUDED A VIDEO PRESENTATION, WHICH MEANS THEY WOULD HAVE HAD MAYBE 45 MINUTES, WHICH IS MAYBE 15 SPEAKERS.
THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
AFTER MUCH PUSHBACK, THOSE MEETINGS WERE ALL CANCELED, AND THEY SAY THEY WILL RESCHEDULE THEM NEXT WEEK SOMETIME FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2ND.
THIS IS SUBVERSION OF THE LEGAL PROCESS.
THIS IS EVERY HALLMARK OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION ON A GRAND SCALE, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN BEGINNING TO TALK ABOUT THE TUSKEGEE DUNES FOUNDATION AND THE FLAGS OF THE FOLDS OF HONOR AND WHAT OTHER MURKY GROUPS ARE LYING BACK THERE THAT THEY HAVEN'T TOLD US ABOUT.
THE ONLY PERSON I HAVE SEEN SPEAK IN FAVOR OF IT IS GOVERNOR DESANTIS. THAT'S IT.
HE CONTINUES TO PRESS FOR IT EVEN AFTER ALL THIS REALLY IMPRESSIVE OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU TO THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT TO ANASTASIA STATE PARK YESTERDAY, TO THE PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE WHO ARE WRITING, EMAILING, FILLING OUT THE SURVEY, CALLING AND ASKING QUESTIONS.
ON NOVEMBER 5TH, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WILL PROTECT OUR STATE PARKS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU MARK THE BALLOT FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE.
I WILL TOSS IN THAT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRESERVING NATURAL HAMMOCK, THIS SHOULD BE THE END OF THE FIRE STATION ON A1A, I WOULD THINK IT IS THE SAME HABITAT DESTRUCTION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE, THE SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL BEGINS NEXT WEEK.
I HOPE EVERYBODY FINDS TIME TO ENJOY THE MUSIC.
IT'S THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
AS FOR THE PUBLIC PUBLIC ART PROJECT ON MAY STREET, THE CONCENTRIC MEDIANS IS MY LEAST FAVORITE.
I LIKE THE SPIRAL WAVE BECAUSE IT BRINGS DOWNTOWN AND THE OCEAN TOGETHER, BUT THE SHORE BREAK IS MOST PLEASING TO MY EYE.
AND GOOD LUCK FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
I WISH YOU WELL. IT'S LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
SHOP LOCAL, BE KIND TO WAIT STAFF, TIP YOUR SERVERS.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT WRAPS UP? I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE CARD.
I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO STEP FORWARD IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.
SEEING NONE, MS. B. J COO LADY.
[00:35:03]
>> THANK YOU MAYOR. B. J. COO LADY, WEST CITY ST. AUGUSTINE.
THE PROPERTY AT 1:15 BRIDGE WAS DESIGNED TO DELIVER THE BEST POSSIBLE SHORT TERM VACATION RENTAL.
IS THIS GENTRIFICATION OF LINCOLNVILLE? WHEN SOLID WASTE PICKS UP OUR TRASH, EVERYONE SHOULD THANK THEM.
AT THE AUGUST 2024 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, POLITICIANS FIRED THEIR WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, WHICH FOUR COMMISSIONERS HAD JUST VOTED TO HIRE? THANK STREETS AND GROUNDS AND CHIEF MICHELLE FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO CLEAN UP OYSTER CREEK PARK.
QUESTION. HAS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE RECEIVED A COPY OF THE DEED FROM FLAGLER COLLEGE SELLING MR. THOMPSON'S PARCEL ID 1622100010, RESOLUTION 2024-10 APRIL 22ND, '24 TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, SINCE MR. THOMPSON DEEDED THIS PARCEL ON FISH ISLAND TO FLAGLER AND CITY TAXPAYERS HAVE PAID FLAGLER A HALF MILLION DOLLAR? QUESTION. WILL CITY TAXPAYERS PAY FOR 24/7 SECURITY AT THE DROP-IN CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS AT 90 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY? CHIEF MICHELLE POSTED A NO TRESPASSING SIGN ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST THE 14TH.
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 24TH, THE SIGN WAS THROWN ON THE GROUND.
ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 25TH, YESTERDAY, THE SIGN IS STILL ON THE GROUND.
EVEN BEFORE OUR PROPERTY IS OPEN, INDIVIDUALS ARE SLEEPING AND DESTROYING OUR PROPERTY.
THE PROBLEM FROM DOWNTOWN SHOULD NOT, I REPEAT, SHOULD NOT BE MOVED TO WEST CITY UNLESS PROPER SECURITY MEASURES ARE IN PLACE 24/7, AND NOT WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ENOUGH TO DO.
THIS NEEDS TO BE PART OF WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE USING THE DROP-IN CENTER. THANK YOU.
FORGOT IT. THE PARKS STAYED THE WAY IT IS. WE ALL KNOW THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER OR CITY ATTORNEY, WHICHEVER IS APPROPRIATE, THE CITIZENS THAT CAME AND ASKED FOR SPECIFICS CONCERNING WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, WORKING WITH THE STATE, WORKING WITH LEGISLATION, ETC.
COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT, PLEASE?
>> POSITION WE FIND OURSELVES IN.
>> THE POSITION WE FIND OURSELVES IN, THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK TONIGHT. NO SURPRISES.
THERE'S A LOT OF VERY CONCERNED AND PASSIONATE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT ANASTASIA STATE PARK IS A JEWEL IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND NO ONE WANTS TO SEE ANYTHING DETRIMENTAL HAPPEN TO THE STATE PARK.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT IS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
AND WHEN THE STATE PRESENTS ITS DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS TO THE CITY, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT ACTIONS HAVE TO BE TAKEN BY OUR LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY, WHICH IS OUR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, AND ACTIONS MAY HAVE TO BE TAKEN BY OUR CITY COMMISSION TO ENTITLE AND APPROVE OR DENY THE LODGE, THE [INAUDIBLE] COURTS AND THE DISK GOLF COURSE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE OF THE CITY TO TAKE A POSITION IN ADVANCE OF THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
AT THAT TIME, THE STATE OF STATE OF FLORIDA WILL OUTLINE ITS PROPOSAL.
EVERYONE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE PROPOSAL AND OUR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS WILL MAKE A DECISION, AND THAT WILL BE THE CITY'S POSITION.
IF WE GET AHEAD OF THAT AND PRESENT AN OFFICIAL CITY POSITION IN ADVANCE OF THAT PROCESS, WE WILL HAVE BEEN CORRUPTING THAT PROCESS, AND IF THIS ENDS UP IN LITIGATION, THEN A JUDGE MAY SAY THE CITY DIDN'T FOLLOW ITS OWN PROCESS.
WE ARE TRYING VERY HARD TO BALANCE THE PASSIONS OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE INTEGRITY OF OUR PROCESS.
I'M JUST ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
[00:40:01]
AND I MAYBE SPEAK FOR EVERYONE.I THINK I'M SPEAKING FOR EVERYONE.
WE'RE ALL VERY GRATEFUL FOR FOLKS, PASSION, AND WILLINGNESS TO GET OUT OF THEIR COMFORTABLE HOMES AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
IF ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WISH TO THANK THEM FURTHER, PLEASE, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME.
WITHOUT BIASING YOURSELF OR CORRUPTING THE PROCESS AS THE CITY MANAGER SAYS.
>> PUBLIC INPUT IS THE BEST WAY TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR GOVERNMENT.
WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT, WE ARE IN A VACUUM.
IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOU ALL CAME HERE TO EXPRESS WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE WITH THIS DEAL OF A STATE PARK.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD, AND IF WE SHOULD NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FROM THE STATE, THEN I REALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD DURING OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO MAKE A STATEMENT?
>> YES, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING AS WELL.
AS COMMISSIONER BLONDER SAID, THIS IS THE WAY THINGS HAPPEN.
THIS IS THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS.
IF WE DON'T KNOW, WE CAN'T MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO ALL POLITICIANS WHO MAY HAVE AN OPTION TO VOTE ON THIS, WHETHER YOU'RE PRO OR AGAINST IT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS EVERYBODY FROM COMING OUT AND THANKS EVERYBODY THAT HAS SENT EMAILS TO US, AND WE WERE ADVISED NOT TO RESPOND TO THOSE EMAILS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO CORRUPT THE DECISIONS THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE MADE DOWN THE LINE.
BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PASSION, AND I WOULD APPLAUD EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, WHETHER IT'S OUT THERE LIKE THEY WERE YESTERDAY OR WRITING GOVERNMENT, GETTING THEIR CONCERNS OUT THERE, GETTING AHEAD OF THIS BEFORE IT GOES ANY FURTHER. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING AND EDUCATING US ON THE INDIGO SNAKE AND THE MOUSE AND ALL THE OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS OUT THERE.
AGAIN, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. OBVIOUSLY, PASSION AND ENERGY IS VERY HIGH.
WE ALL URGE YOU TO STAY INVOLVED, STAY INFORMED AND GO TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WEBSITE, FIND THAT LINK, AND TAKE THAT SURVEY. THANK YOU.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WE'RE ALL BOUND BY THE SUNSHINE LAW.
WE CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO US IS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.
IS THERE A WAY FOR OUR CITIZENS TO FIND OUT UNDER THE SUNSHINE LAW MORE INFORMATION THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING DISCLOSED?
>> CERTAINLY, I THINK SOME GROUPS MAY ALREADY HAVE STARTED THAT PROCESS OF US MAKING PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS TO THE DEP AND VARIOUS OTHER AGENCIES.
FROM POP CULTURE, WHAT I'M SEEING SHOW UP ON NEWS FEEDS IS THAT THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY GOING DOWN THAT ROUTE, SO THAT IS CORRECT.
THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW SUNSHINE WEIRDLY ENOUGH.
THEY FORCE US TO FOLLOW SUNSHINE, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO FOLLOW PUBLIC RECORDS LAW.
>> [INAUDIBLE] BOUND BY THE SUNSHINE LAW LIKE WE ARE.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.>> MAYOR VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS, THE SEPTEMBER 5TH, 505 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION BUDGET MEETING.
THE SEPTEMBER 9TH ORDER OF LA FLORIDA AWARD PRESENTATION TO WILLIAM BILL DUDLEY, THE SEPTEMBER 9TH, 5:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THE SEPTEMBER 19TH, 505 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION BUDGET MEETING.
THE SEPTEMBER 23RD, 4:30 ORDER OF LA FLORIDA AWARD PRESENTATION TO PASTOR LAVERNE MARCH, AND THE SEPTEMBER 23RD, 5:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 8TH, SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE RELEASES OF LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEES FOR 4461 SARTILLO ROAD, MR. RICHARD STEINMEIER, AND 56 CARRERA STREET BSC ACQUISITION GROUP, LLC.
WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO RECOGNIZE THE HONORABLE MARVI MONTESSORI,
[00:45:07]
WHO IS THE MAYOR OF AVILES SPAIN AND HER DELEGATION FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF OUR SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH AVILES SPAIN.WE HAVE PROCLAMATION 2024-28, WHICH PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2024 AS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH FOR THE DISCOVERY AND RECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, AND WE HAVE THE SAME PROCLAMATION, 2024-28, WHICH PROCLAIMS, AGAIN, THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH FOR THE OXFORD HOUSE.
FINALLY, WE HAVE PERMISSION TO USE THE CITY FLAG IN CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SISTER CITIES RELATIONSHIP WITH AVILES, SPAIN, AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? IN THAT CASE, I MOVE WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT THEN.
WE'RE RIGHT ON TO GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS,
[7.A.1. City of St. Augustine 2014 Vision Plan Update. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
AND WE HAVE THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE 20 VISION PLAN UPDATE.MS. SKINNER WILL DO THE PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO QUICKLY INTRODUCE YOU TO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL.
THE CITY HAS ENGAGED THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TO HELP US UPDATE THE 2014 VISION PLAN.
AS WE KNOW, IT'S 10-YEARS-OLD, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT AN UPDATE.
IT WAS A PRETTY EXTENSIVE PROCESS BACK IN 2014.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GAINING THE COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVES ON HOW WE'VE DONE AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO BE MADE OR REVISIONS NEED TO BE MADE.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, WE WILL BE HOSTING SEVERAL WORKSHOPS SCATTERED AROUND THE CITY, AND SO WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE COME TO PARTICIPATE AND GIVE US THEIR FEEDBACK.
WE HAVE A INFORMATION FLYER THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT THE CITY'S DEVELOPED PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE.
THE REGIONAL COUNCIL ALSO HAS RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO PROVIDE INPUT.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MONICA DOMINGUEZ AND JOE CARLEY TO COME OUT TONIGHT AND GIVE US THEIR PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MONICA DOMINGUEZ, AND AS MS. SKINNER SAID, I WORK FOR THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL.
TODAY, I'LL BRIEFLY GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF OUR WORK THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED, ACTUALLY.
LAST WEEK, WE HAD A KICKOFF MEETING WITH MS. SKINNER, MR. FREDERICKSON, AND WE HAD FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ST. AUGUSTINE WITH OUR STAFF.
WE TEND TO DO THAT TO ORIENTATE OUR TEAM AND TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF THE PUBLIC INPUT WE MIGHT.
IF YOU KNOW THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE AS A RESOURCE, AND WE ARE NOT REALLY HERE TO TELL ANYBODY WHAT TO DO.
RATHER, WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN HELPING SMALLER CITIES WITH THEIR PLANNING NEEDS, VISIONING NEEDS, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'LL BE DOING WITH YOU.
OUR TEAM FOR THIS PROJECT, IT'S MADE UP.
I'M HERE WITH ACTUALLY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, JOE CARLEY, AND WE HAVE ERIC ANDERSON, OUR DEPUTY CEO, CASSIDY TAYLOR, ANOTHER REGIONAL PLANNER AND JACK SHAD AND MYSELF.
IF WE HAVE NEEDS FOR MAPPING, WE ALSO HAVE OUR GIS PLANNER, BUT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH ROOM IN THIS SLIDE.
AS MS. SKINNER SAID, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE HAS CHANGED.
WE WILL BE COMING UP WITH A COMMUNITY VISION STATEMENT AFTER ALL OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
WE ALSO WANT TO CONFIRM AND DEVELOP NEW THEMES THAT MAY HAVE COME OUT.
PERHAPS SOME OF THE PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AROUND SOME OF THE THEMES THAT WERE MAYBE HOT PRESSING IN 2014 HAVE CHANGED.
[00:50:05]
THEN WE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.WE HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.
THE FIRST KICKOFF MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC WILL BE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 AT THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY MAIN LIBRARY.
THIS WILL BE THE ONLY MEETING THAT'S 5:00 -7:00 TO RESPECT THE LIBRARY HOURS, BUT EVERY OTHER MEETING WILL BE 6:00 -8:00.
THEN ONCE THAT FIRST MEETING WILL SERVE FOR US TO CONFIRM THEMES AND PERHAPS START GETTING A SENSE OF WHAT THE NEW WHAT NEW IDEAS MAY BE COMING FROM THAT COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE TOPICS WE WANT TO EXPLORE IS RESILIENCY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I'LL GET MY COLLEAGUE JOE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND COUNCIL.
YEAH, ONE TOPIC WE REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP OFTEN IN THE 2014 VISION PLANNING WAS RESILIENCY, AND OBVIOUSLY ST. AUGUSTINE HAS SOME ISSUES WITH FLOODING.
SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE EXCITED TO TOUCH BASE ON, AND THAT'LL BE MEETING NUMBER TWO MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16.
STAFF HAS BEEN AMAZING SO FAR, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID LAST WEEK, WE DID A TOUR IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND WE BOTH LIVE HERE, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
BUT WE'LL BE TOUCHING BASE ON RESIDENCY QUITE A BIT AND SUSTAINABILITY AND THEY'LL BE MEETING NUMBER TWO, BUT IF THERE'S ANYBODY, ANY GROUPS, ANY NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS YOU CAN SEND OUR WAY, PLEASE DO.
WE ARE LOOKING TO REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE AND GET FEEDBACK.
THE VISION PLANS ON IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE AS GOOD AS WE MAKE IT.
I THINK THAT IF LIKE I SAID, IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU GUYS CAN PROVIDE US AS FAR AS CONTACTS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. I'VE DONE IT BEFORE.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE AND SHE HAS AS WELL, SO REALLY EXCITED.
NICE TO MEET YOU ALL, THE ONES THAT I HAVEN'T MET.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. PARDON ME INTERRUPTING.
WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THOSE MEETINGS? IS AN OPEN HOUSE IS THERE A PRESENTATION OR COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
>> THERE'S A SHORT PRESENTATION.
WE TRY AND KEEP THEM PRETTY LIGHT ABOUT ANYTHING UNDER 15 MINUTES.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO USE DIFFERENT METHODS DEPENDING ON THE THEME.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SPEAK PUBLICLY AND PROVIDE THEIR INPUT, WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS UN-INTIMIDATING AS POSSIBLE.
THE FIRST ONE IS MINTIMTER, AND IT'S A SOFTWARE WHERE YOU CAN PROVIDE LIVE FEEDBACK.
WE ALSO WILL HAVE BREAKOUT SESSIONS WHERE FLIP CHART, MARKER, AND GIVE US VERBATIM.
WE WRITE EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT.
THERE'S ALSO A PUBLIC E-MAIL THAT WE'VE CREATED AND I'LL SHARE IT AT THE END.
I WILL MONITOR THAT AFTER EVERY MEETING, IF SOMEBODY HAS, YOU JUST DIDN'T GET YOUR POINT ACROSS OR YOU WERE TOO SHY, YOU CAN ALWAYS E-MAIL US AS WELL.
WE'RE LOOKING ALSO AT MORE INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES TOO LIKE DOING A LIVE WORD CLOUD AND TRYING TO SEE LIVE IN THE MEETING WHERE THE THEMES MIGHT OCCUR.
THIS SLIDE HAS SIX COMMUNITY MEETINGS, STARTING OFF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ENDING ACTUALLY RIGHT IN THIS ROOM.
BUT THE PLANNING STAFF HAVE BEEN VERY CONSCIOUS ABOUT SPREADING AROUND SOME OF THE MEETINGS ACROSS THE CITY.
SO YOU'LL SEE LINCOLNVILLE, WEST KING, WATER WORKS BUILDING, AND IT DOESN'T REPEAT ITSELF, THE LOCATIONS.
THEN AFTER WE'VE DONE OUR SIX MEETINGS, WE'LL GO AWAY FOR A LITTLE BIT, COME UP WITH OUR DELIVERABLES, AND THEN WE'LL BE MAKING THREE PRESENTATIONS JOINT MEETING WITH CITIZEN BOARDS, WHICH INCLUDES THE PLANNING BOARD, THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD, CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND WE'LL BE BACK, I BELIEVE IN JANUARY TO COME AND GIVE YOU A DRAFT REPORT OR A FINAL REPORT, WHICHEVER ONE, HOW WE SCHEDULE.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER FLOW CHART ON HOW THE PROJECT IS GOING TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY FROM NOW AS SOON AS WE GET INTO SEPTEMBER, WELL, STARTING TODAY TO DECEMBER, IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY QUICK TURNAROUND.
[00:55:01]
OUR SIX MEETINGS WILL BE CONCLUDED BY NOVEMBER 13.THEN WE'LL HAVE A MONTH TO THINK ABOUT WHAT FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED AND SUCH.
THE E-MAIL BELOW, IF YOU CAN SEE THAT.
IT SAYS ST. AUGUSTINE VISION AT NEFRC.ORG WILL BE THE E-MAIL THAT WE WILL MONITOR.
WE'VE ASKED FOR MR. CEARLEY REFERRED TO THE LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT WERE COMING UP AND THEY'LL BE E-MAILED EVERY MEETING. MEETING COMING UP.
LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT TO JOIN, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR INPUT.
IF NOT, PLEASE SEND US YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS THAT BECOMES PART OF THE PUBLIC INPUT AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THIS IS A GREAT OUTLINE, BUT I'M KIND OF LIKE THE MAYOR.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE DECEMBER AND JANUARY, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A DRAFT, OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A SYNTHESIS OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT THERE?
>> RIGHT. YOU WILL HAVE A VISION NARRATIVE, WHICH IS BASED ON ALL THE PUBLIC INPUT THAT WE RECEIVED.
THEN YOU WILL HAVE YOUR UPDATED VISION PER SE.
AND THEN A SUMMARY OF ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND ALSO VERBATIM.
YOU WILL RECEIVE EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE GATHERED THROUGH OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
>> I GUESS I'M STILL NOT CLEAR ON THE DETAILS.
IN DECEMBER, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING BACK ALL THE COMMENTS AND HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH THE THREE BOARDS?
>> YEAH, AND THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE DRAFT.
>> OKAY. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO.
>> THANK YOU. WE WOULD REACT TO THAT.
>> I GATHER WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR E-MAIL ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL SO WE CAN GET THIS IS FOR AMY, I GUESS.
>> YES, WE'LL HAVE THEIR E-MAIL AND OUR E-MAIL AS WELL AND ANY MATERIALS ON OUR WEBSITE. YES.
>> DID YOU ALSO PASS TO THEM THAT I WANTED THEM TO CONTACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEES?
>> ALSO OUR PAST VISIONING COMMITTEE SO THAT ALL THOSE NAMES COULD BE ON THERE.
I KNOW THIS TEAM VERY WELL SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR ALMOST 12 YEARS NOW, AND THEY'RE VERY FAMILIAR TO ME.
SO I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE ON BOARD AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU COME UP WITH. THANKS.
>> YES. I KNOW YOU'VE ASKED FOR OUR INPUT ON CONTACTS, BUT HOW ARE WE ACTUALLY SPREADING THE WORD? WITHOUT THE LOCAL PAPER, IT'S VERY HARD TO SPREAD THE WORD.
BUT ARE YOU ALL DOING A CONCERTED EFFORT ALONG WITH THE CITY OR IS IT JUST THE CITY PROMOTING THE EVENTS?
>> WELL, AT THE COUNCIL, WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE WERE WAITING FOR TODAY'S MEETING TO NOTIFY YOU, BUT WE'LL BE DOING SOCIAL MEDIA, SO IT INCLUDES LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEWSLETTER THAT HAS FEATURED THIS IN OUR CALENDAR ON OUR WEBSITE.
THAT WILL BE ALONG WITH THE CITY'S EFFORTS AS WELL.
>> OKAY. THE OTHER THING IS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T FOCUS ALL OF OUR ATTENTION ON THE DOWNTOWN, WE GO FROM TARGET TO MADEIRA AND ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE STATE PARK.
A LOT OF THE VISION THAT I'VE READ THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS FOCUSED PRIMARILY IF YOU THINK ABOUT ON TO DOWNTOWN.
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE INCLUDE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE SOUTH AND NORTH AND WEST AND EAST AS WELL IN THE INPUT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU ALL WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT CONVERSATION WHEN YOU PROMPT PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT TO GIVE INPUT ABOUT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ST. GEORGE STREET.
>> I AGREE WHEN WE DID OUR TOUR WITH STAFF, WE HAD EIGHT PEOPLE FROM THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND WE HAD TWO CARS, AND WE WENT TO THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE CITY.
WE WENT OUT THE LANO BOAT RAMP, JOE POMER PARK, FLORIDA AVENUE, DOWN SOUTH TO FISH ISLAND, ALL AROUND BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE DOWNTOWN.
MOST THINGS ARE ORIENTED TO THE DOWNTOWN, BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL INCLUSIVE IN ALL AREAS.
I WILL SAY JUST TO REITERATE THAT THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IS GOING TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION THROUGH ALL THEIR CHANNELS.
I'VE ALREADY TALKED WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
WE ALREADY GOT NEWS AND NOTES GOING.
[01:00:04]
I ALREADY DID A TAPING OF THE RADIO SHOW THAT WE WILL BE PUTTING OUT THIS WEEK.WE WERE JUST WAITING TO THIS MEETING TO FILL YOU IN AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE AND THAT WE'RE KICKING OFF THIS, AND THEN WE'LL START THE DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION.
>> ONE MORE THING, I WOULD HOPE THAT ONCE WE HAVE A VISION UPDATE, THAT WE SET VERY SPECIFIC GOALS, I HAVE A VISION OF BEING A VERY THIN MAN.
IF WE DON'T SET GOALS FOR THE VISION, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A VISION.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THOSE GOALS TO BE DELIVERABLE, MARKED AND DATED SO THAT WE CAN SET OURSELVES UP AND WE CAN GRADE OURSELVES ON HOW WELL WE DID IN DELIVERING THOSE GOALS.
>> OKAY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE A THIN MAN.
STEVE, THIN? JUST THAT SAID I WANTED TO MENTION THAT I LOVE OUR VISION STATEMENT.
I STILL THINK IT COULD BE IMPROVED UPON.
I HOPE THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS AS WELL IS THAT WE TAKE A STAB AT THAT.
I'M VERY PROUD AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, I'M A MEMBER OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION PLAN 2055 FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
WE DID OUR MISSION STATEMENT LAST WEEK IN OUR MEETING, AND THEY USED OUR VISION STATEMENT AS ONE OF THE ONES TO WORK FROM.
BUT I DO THINK AFTER GOING THROUGH THAT EXERCISE, I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE LESS WORDY.
I THINK WE PROBABLY WORK REALLY HARD AND GET IT A LOT LESS WORTHY, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
APPRECIATE THAT. BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU.
[8.A.1. Ordinance 2024-28: Amends littering regulations related to balloon releases. (A. Owen, Assistant City Attorney)]
WE HAVE ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.THIS IS A SECOND READING, SO A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED OF ORDINANCE 2020 4-28, WHICH AMENDS LITTERING REGULATIONS RELATED TO BALLOON RELEASES.
>> YES, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
AS YOU'LL RECALL, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, YOU PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT LOCALLY PROHIBITED THE INTENTIONAL RELEASE OF BALLOONS FOR THE OBVIOUS LITTERING AND WILDLIFE INGESTING THOSE PLASTICS.
MAYBE WE WERE VANGUARD. MAYBE WE WEREN'T.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS NOW ADOPTED A STATEWIDE BAN ON THE INTENTIONAL RELEASE OF THOSE BALLOONS.
WE'RE PREEMPTED, BUT IN A GOOD WAY, AND THEREFORE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-28 WOULD ESSENTIALLY REMOVE OUR LOCAL RULE BECAUSE IT IS NOW PREEMPTED BY A STATE STATUTE, AND IT IS SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING.
>> ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.
IS ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE? HEARING NO ONE, SEEING NO ONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD DISCUSSION.
>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT ORDINANCE, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME WE CHANGE THAT THEY ADOPTED IT, SO I'M HAPPY.
IS THAT A MOTION, I WILL MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2024-28 AND READ BY TITLE ONLY.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-28, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 22 OF THE CITY CODE TO CONFORM TO STATE LAW, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. ROXANNE HORVATH?
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG, WE ARE GOING TO SKIP DOWN TO STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS, WHICH WE HAVE NONE UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING I WASN'T AWARE OF.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A ITEM UNDER YOUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
>> ITEMS BY CITY CLERK? I SEE NOTHING. THIS IS VERY STRANGE.
[LAUGHTER] AND I'M NOT AND I'M NOT COMPLAINING.
[01:05:07]
SO WE HAVE ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK.[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]
SO WE HAVE THE ART COMMITTEE PROPOSAL, AND THIS IS MR. BURCHAM'S ITEM.
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE, WHICH HE CREATED LAST SEPTEMBER IS CLOSE TO COMPLETING ITS ASSIGNMENT.
THIS COMMITTEE WAS CHARGED WITH SELECTING AN ARTIST TO DESIGN AND INSTALL A SCULPTURE AT THE TRAFFIC ROUNDABOUT AT THE MAY STREET IN A1A INTERSECTION.
THE COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE FINE ARTS AND PUBLIC ART PROJECTS, INCLUDING COMMISSIONER ROXANNE HORVATH, MISS CHRISTINA PARE STONE, MISS DIANE MATARAZA, AND MR. RANDALL WORK.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED AT THE OUTSET OF THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDED MISS JULIE DICKOVER AND MR. DAVID BAGNE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
WITHOUT THE HARD WORK OF THE CITIZEN COMMITTEE, THIS PUBLIC INITIATIVE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU AGAIN. MISS CHRISTINA PERISH STONE IS HERE THIS EVENING.
SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL AND WAS ASKED BY THE COMMITTEE TO PRESENT THEIR SELECTION OF ARTISTS AND ART CONCEPTS TO YOU TONIGHT.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, THEN YOU'LL BE DOING THREE THINGS TONIGHT.
FIRST, SELECTING THE ARTIST AND THE CONCEPT OF THE ARTWORK.
SECOND, YOU'LL BE AUTHORIZING ME TO ENTER INTO A COMMISSIONED ARTWORK AGREEMENT WITH THE ARTIST, WHICH IS THE CONTRACT IN YOUR PACKET FOR THE DELIVERY, INSTALLATION, AND RIGHTS TO THE ARTWORK.
THE ARTIST WILL COORDINATE WITH THE FDOT FOR THE INSTALLATION, AND THIS WILL INCLUDE HELP BY OUR CITY STAFF.
FINALLY, THE THIRD ISSUE IS TO SELECT COMMISSIONER ROXANNE HORVATH AS THE CITY COMMISSIONER LIAISON FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PROJECT.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS THIS OVER TO MISS PERISH STONE.
>> BEFORE YOU GET STARTED WITH THAT, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTRACT.
I COULD EITHER WAIT OR ASK THEM NOW.
IT'S UP TO YOU OR UP TO THE MAYOR.
>> LET'S GET THE PRESENTATION AND THEN WE CAN GET INTO THE DETAILS. I THINK THAT'LL BE GOOD.
>> GOOD EVENING. AND THANK YOU, MR. BURCHAM.
AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, I'M CHRISTINA PERISH STONE.
MY ADDRESS IS 184 SAN MARCO AVENUE.
AND THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE DID ASK ME TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY TO YOU AND TO THE PUBLIC OF THE PROCESS WE FOLLOWED TO SELECT AN ARTIST AND A DESIGN CONCEPT FOR THE MAY STREET ROUNDABOUT SCULPTURE PROJECT, WHICH WE ARE SUBMITTING TONIGHT FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY VICE MER HORVATH AND INCLUDED SEVERAL EXPERIENCED ARTS PROFESSIONALS.
OUR MEETINGS BEGAN 12 MONTHS AGO, AND DURING THE PAST YEAR, CITY STAFF HAS WORKED HARD TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND RECEIVE THEIR INPUT.
INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC MEETINGS HELD HERE, AS WELL AS OFFSITE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE SHARED FREQUENTLY AND WIDELY THROUGH THE CITY WEBSITE, E-NEWSLETTERS, AND ON SEVERAL RADIO BROADCASTS, AS WELL AS THROUGH CULTURAL COUNCIL AND OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS.
OUR EARLY MEETINGS INCLUDED DISCUSSIONS THAT LED TO DEVELOPMENT OF A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS OR RF Q THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO EXPERIENCED PUBLIC ARTISTS THROUGH A NATIONAL CALL, USING AN ONLINE PLATFORM AND A VARIETY OF RESOURCES TO CAST AS WIDE A NET AS POSSIBLE.
THE RFQ DID NOT REQUIRE THE ARTIST TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR THE SPECIFIC PROJECT, BUT INSTEAD, THEY WERE TO PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF THEIR PAST WORK, DISCUSS THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH PUBLIC ART PROJECTS, AND SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF INTEREST IN OUR ST. AUGUSTINE PROJECT.
THE RFQ WAS DISTRIBUTED ALONG WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PACKET OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITE, REQUIREMENTS OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE HISTORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND CURRENT DEMOGRAPHICS FOR THE CITY.
ALMOST 100 ARTISTS RESPONDED TO THE CALL.
THE COMMITTEE INDIVIDUALLY REVIEWED ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS, THEN SELECTED THREE FINALISTS AND TWO ALTERNATES DURING A PUBLIC MEETING EARLIER THIS YEAR.
ALL OF THE FINALISTS TRAVEL TO ST. AUGUSTINE TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP AT THE WATERWORKS, WHICH IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE ROUNDABOUT WHERE THE ARTWORK WILL BE INSTALLED.
MORE THAN 75 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED THAT WORKSHOP, WHERE THEY SAW PRESENTATIONS FROM THE ARTISTS, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO PROVIDE
[01:10:03]
INPUT REGARDING WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE SCULPTURE.THE ARTISTS THEN MET WITH THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE AGAIN IN A NOTICE PUBLIC MEETING TO PRESENT THEIR INITIAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SCULPTURE AND TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE COMMITTEE.
NEXT, THE ARTISTS SUBMITTED THEIR PROPOSALS AND AGAIN MET WITH THE COMMITTEE DURING A PUBLIC MEETING, WHERE THEY RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.
SOME OF THE ARTISTS PROVIDED SLIGHTLY REVISED PROPOSALS FOLLOWING THAT MEETING.
AT OUR MOST RECENT PUBLIC MEETING, THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED EACH OF THE PROPOSALS AND PROVIDED COMMENTS.
WHILE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AGREED THAT ALL THREE PROPOSALS HAD MERIT, THE DECISION TO CHOOSE THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY IVAN DEPENA, MIAMI BORN AND NOW NORTH CAROLINA BASED ARTIST AND ARCHITECT WAS UNANIMOUS.
WE THEREFORE REQUEST THAT YOU APPROVE THE SELECTION OF IVAN DEPENA AS THE ARTIST FOR THE MAY STREET ROUNDABOUT PUBLIC ART PROJECT.
THE STAFF HAS UPLOADED SOME MATERIALS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET, BUT ALSO A VIDEO THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL IN SEEING HOW THE PROPOSED DESIGN WILL FIT INTO THAT RATHER CHALLENGING SITE AT MAY STREET.
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR PACKET, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MATERIAL YOU HAVE THERE.
AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED PIECE.
IT IS DESIGNED TO BE MADE OF CAST CONCRETE TO INCORPORATE.
IT HAS A CULICS THROUGHOUT IT THAT ALLOW DRIVERS TO BE ABLE TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALSO TO VIEW WHAT'S AHEAD OF THEM, AND IT WAS DESIGNED WITH A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO WHAT IS SURROUNDING THE ROUNDABOUT.
WE FELT THAT IT REFLECTED ASPECTS OF THE HISTORY OF THE CITY, INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL HOMES OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE, INCORPORATING COCINA AS WELL.
THE ARTIST WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL, EVEN INCLUDED, AS YOU PROBABLY NOTICED IN THE VIDEO, THE CAROUSEL THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING NEARBY.
IT'S A CHALLENGING SITE BECAUSE IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, YOU DON'T SEE ALL OF THE OBJECTS THAT ARE ON THE SITE IN THIS VIDEO, YOU SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF LIGHTING, BUT YOU MAY RECALL, THERE ARE MANY OTHER DIFFERENT TYPES OF METAL AND ITEMS ALL OVER THAT SITE.
WE FELT THAT THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN WAS THE MOST HARMONIOUS WITH THE SITE, WOULD REQUIRE THE LEASE MAINTENANCE, AND IT REALLY IT'S HARD TO TELL JUST LOOKING AT THIS PICTURE, BUT IT IS A MONUMENTAL PIECE.
THE ARTIST IS A TRAINED ARCHITECT AS WELL AS AN ARTIST.
HE HAS COMPLETED MANY MULTI MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND STATES AND AIRPORT AUTHORITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND WE FEEL CONFIDENT HE WILL BE ABLE TO EXECUTE THIS PROJECT IN A WAY THAT WILL SATISFY ALL OF YOU AND THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
IT'S A RATHER LARGE PACKET WITH LOTS OF OPTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
AND SO WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS THERE'S THIS SAME SHAPE AND FORM WITH LOOKS LIKE GRASS ON TOP.
THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOT.
>> SEGMENTED WITH COLOR ON IT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> WELL, THERE'S THE COLOR RIGHT.
>> YES. ONE THING I COULD SAY ABOUT THIS ARTIST IS HE GAVE US LOTS OF ALTERNATIVES.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE PACKET IS MANY DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO IT.
BUT THE ONE THAT WE SELECTED WAS THE ONE THAT CHRISTINA SHARED WITH YOU.
THIS ONE THAT'S ON THE OVERHEAD RIGHT NOW.
HE TOOK A LOT OF IDEAS FROM THE WAVES AND THE UNDERCURRENTS AT THE BEACH.
SO IT'S A KIND OF LINK INTO THAT.
THE OCULI ALLOW THE LIGHT TO COME DOWN
[01:15:02]
AND GIVE LIGHT TO THE PLANTS THAT WILL BE UNDER THERE.YEAH. BUT YES, YOU'RE CORRECT.
THERE'S A LOT IN THIS PACKET OF ALTERNATIVES.
HE ACTUALLY GAVE TWO MAJOR ALTERNATIVES.
ONE IS THE ONE THAT IS A SERIES OF STACKED MUSHROOM THINGS, BUT THAT ONE WE WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S THE FIRST ONE THAT YOU SEE IN THE PACKET.
>> SO WHAT WE'RE BEING, JUST SO I UNDERSTAND BEFORE WE START MAKING COMMENTS, SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND, THIS IS WE'RE BEING PRESENTED WITH AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BE SIGNED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
SO I ASSUME WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO IS TO AGREE TO SELECT TO THE SELECTION, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE OR TO SIGN.
>> SO JUST SO IT'S CLEAR, ALL OF THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ON THIS PROJECT.
SO ALL THE ARTISTS KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE TERMS WOULD BE, WHAT THE RELEASE OF ARTIST RIGHTS WOULD BE AND SO ON.
SO IT'S THE FEES, IT'S A SET FEE OF $250,000 FOR THE PROJECT.
[OVERLAPPING] SO THERE'S REALLY NO NEGOTIATION AT THIS POINT WHEN YOU SUBMITTED YOUR BID, YOU SIGNED OFF THAT YOU AGREED TO ALL THE TERMS IF THAT MAKES IT MORE CLEAR.
>> MAKES IT VERY CLEAR. THANK YOU.
AND IF WHAT ARE THE PROVISIONS IN THE CONTRACT THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR MODIFICATIONS?
>> WELL, LIKE I SAID, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH BIDDING THIS OUT WAS THE CONTRACT IS ESSENTIALLY OUR STANDARD TEMPLATE.
THERE WAS BASICALLY THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING, OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE'S THINGS OUTSIDE THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, FOR INSTANCE, ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING FOR THE SITE OR ADDITIONAL LIGHTING FOR THE SITE THAT WAS NOT CONTEMPLATED.
SO WHAT CONTRACTED FOR IS THE PIECE OF ART TO BE INSTALLED ON SITE.
IF THE COMMISSION WANTS TO ADD ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS NOT TO THE PIECE OF ART, BUT TO THE SITE, THEN THAT WOULDN'T BE INCLUDED.
THERE WAS ALSO A TERM IN THE CONTRACT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ARTIST AND A COMPANY THAT COULD MAKE AN INTERPRETIVE PANEL OFFSITE.
THAT'S CONTEMPLATED, BUT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE BID PER SE OR THE AMOUNT OF RENUMERATION.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S ON US.
>> IT'S ESPONSIBILITY AND IT'S MANAGED SEPARATELY.
>> ALL RIGHT. AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS PERTAINING TO THE LIAISON.
>> I HAD SPOKEN WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN CONTACT WITH THE ARTIST AS HE'S PROGRESSING AS HE'S WORKING THROUGH THE PIECE WILL BE LIT FROM WITHIN HOW IS IT GOING TO DO THAT? EXACTLY.
HE'S GOING TO PRESENT THOSE DETAILS.
ANYTHING THAT COMES UP THAT HE MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH WITH THE DOT, WE HAVE PEOPLE ON STAFF THAT HAVE CONTACTS WITH THE DOT.
SO I MEAN, IT'S AN UNPAID POSITION.
[LAUGHTER] SO I WOULD BE JUST HELPING OUT AS BEST I COULD TO SMOOTH THE PROCESS THROUGH.
>> AND WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON THIS?
>> THERE REALLY ISN'T A TIMELINE.
AS SOON AS WE ENTER THE CONTRACT, WE WILL GET AN IDEA OF HIS COUNT THAT MR. DEPENA'S SCHEDULE.
I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
I THINK IT WOULD BE DEPENDENT ON HIS MATERIALS AND HIS COMMITMENTS THAT HE ALREADY HAS RIGHT NOW.
>> AND THE PROCESS WILL INCLUDE GOING TO THE CORD OR REVIEW COMMITTEE, SO THERE'LL BE YET ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE A MORE FINALIZED PLAN.
>> COULD I ASK A FOLLOW UP RELATED TO THAT? IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF HAVING SOME SORT OF ADDENDUM WITH A TIMELINE THAT'S AGREED UPON BY BOTH PARTIES ONCE THAT'S AGREED, AND ALSO SOME SORT OF A FEE SCHEDULE, A PAYMENT SCHEDULE? YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THE ARTIST WOULD NEED FUNDS FOR MATERIALS AND SO FORTH.
BUT THEN WHEN IT'S FINALLY DELIVERED, THEN THE FINAL PAYMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THE CONTRACT.
>> ALL THE THREE ARTISTS THAT DID SUBMIT GAVE
[01:20:04]
A FEE SCHEDULE AS PART OF THEIR SUBMITTAL. I WAS TENTATIVE.>> SO HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TIGHTEN THAT UP AND GIVE US A BETTER IDEA OF ITEMIZING ALL OF THE MATERIALS AND COSTS AND TIME AND LABOR, ALL THAT STUFF.
WE CAN CERTAINLY SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND DRAFT A TIMETABLE FOR THE COMPLETION.
>> THAT WOULD BE CONTRACTUAL AT THAT POINT.
>> YES. I WANT TO CAUTION EVERYONE, THIS IS IN THE DOT'S RIGHT OF WAY.
SO WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH HOW LONG THE DOT WILL TAKE FOR REVIEW.
THEY MAY WANT SOME MORE CHANGES.
>> I JUST WANT TO AVOID HAVING A SITUATION WHERE HE GETS A REALLY, REALLY BIG PROJECT THAT IS SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND THEN WE'RE TEN YEARS FROM NOW STILL NOT HAVING THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO AVOID.
>> YES, MA'AM. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF.
SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF A COMPLETION DATE.
SO YOU'LL BRING THAT BACK TO US.
AND THEN AT A FUTURE MEETING. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS PERTAINING TODAY?
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK OUR COMMITTEE FOR THE MANY HOURS SPENT AT THIS AND CHRISTINA, PARTICULARLY FOR PRESENTING TONIGHT.
IT WAS QUITE AN EXCITING TASK GOING THROUGH ALMOST 100 VERY TALENTED PEOPLE, AND WE MANAGED TO GET IT DOWN TO THREE PLUS TWO ALTERNATES, AND THEN NOW WE'RE AT THE ONE, AND I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS, AND I THINK EVERYBODY WILL BE VERY PROUD WHEN IT GETS DONE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE AGING OF THE, WHAT IS IT, THE MATERIAL? YEAH, THE CONCRETE COCINA.
WHETHER LIKE IS IT GOING TO AGE NATURALLY, OR ARE WE GOING TO CLEAN IT, OR WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE? IF IT AGES NATURALLY, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
>> WELL, IT'LL BE CLEANED PERIODICALLY, IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S A CONCRETE SURFACE, LIKE ANY CONCRETE SURFACE NEEDS SOME ATTENTION, BUT IT'S PROBABLY THE LEAST OF ALL THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT, THE LEAST NEEDY FOR MAINTENANCE.
>> YES. I KNOW I KNOW ALMOST EVERYBODY ON THE COMMITTEE AND I RESPECT EVERYONE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS TO HAVE TAKEN A YEAR.
AMAZING. TO HEAR THAT WE HAD 75 PEOPLE AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS.
I'M NOT AN ABSTRACT ARTIST FAN.
I WAS ACTUALLY HOPING FOR SOME PRESENTATIONS OF SOME MORE REAL, MAYBE GALLOPING HORSES.
BUT I HAVE TO RESPECT THE COMMITTEE I APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
>> WELL, THAT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION DONE BY CHRISTINA.
I WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE, BUT A GREAT PRESENTATION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE COMMITTEE FOR YOUR WORK.
WHEN I FIRST SAW THE DRAWINGS, I LOOKED AT MY BOOK QUITE A BIT TODAY EARLIER THIS MORNING, LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT DRAWINGS, AND I JUST VISUALIZE SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SEEN.
I WAS HOPING THAT NONE OF THE OBJECTS IN THAT WE SELECTED WOULD BE TRAFFIC PROVIDING BLIND SPOTS BECAUSE IT TOOK ME MYSELF PERSONALLY FOREVER TO UNDERSTAND THAT LITTLE MAZE, THAT LITTLE CIRCLE, ROUNDABOUT, WHATEVER.
I WAS CONCERNED THAT ANYTHING THAT WENT ON THERE MIGHT BE CONFUSING TO SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THAT THAN FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN OUT TO STATE ROAD 16 LATELY, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A ROUNDABOUT OUT THERE, AND IT IS VERY, VERY CRAZY.
BUT OUT OF ALL THE DRAWINGS, I DID PREFER THIS ONE OVER THE OTHER ONES THAT I SAW.
I JUST KNOW HAVING WORKED IN FACILITIES THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO NEED MAINTENANCE.
MANY TIME YOU HAVE COCINA INVOLVED IN CONCRETE.
THERE CAN BE CRACKS AND DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE AS IT AGES.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CEILING CITY HALL RIGHT NOW, THE CRACKS BECAUSE IT AGES AND THE COCINA IS NOT SEPARATING AND GETTING FINE LINES.
I DO HAVE THAT CONCERN ABOUT IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WINDOW OF TIME THAT WE CAN HAVE THE ARTISTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT OR NOT.
BECAUSE WE'RE SPENDING QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AND I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT THE TAXPAYERS WILL FIND THIS BEING AN EXTRAVAGANT PROJECT.
[01:25:06]
I KNOW WE ALL SAID THAT WE WANTED TO GET SOMETHING DONE OVER THERE.BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET A SLAP BACK ABOUT HOW WE'RE SPENDING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE GO FURTHER WITH THIS, THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF MAINTENANCE OR SOME KIND OF LOCKED IN CONCERN ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE HANDLED. THANK YOU.
>> HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE TRAINING THAT IVAN HAS ARCHITECTURALLY WORKING WITH CONCRETE.
I WOULD IMAGINE HE'S GOING TO HAVE SOME EXPANSION JOINTS THAT WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT CRACKING.
THAT'S THE KIND OF DETAIL I HOPE TO SEE FROM HIM.
HE'S WORKED WITH THIS FABRICATOR NUMEROUS TIMES AND REALLY GOTTEN GREAT RESULTS.
>> MADAM MAYOR. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO THANK EVERYBODY. CAN I DO THAT?
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS EVERYBODY ON THE COMMITTEE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MY CHOICE, NOT THAT I'M A TRAINED ARTIST BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION, BUT THE COMMITTEE DID GREAT WORK, AND I THANK COMMISSIONER VICE MAYOR HORVATH IN PARTICULAR AND KRISTINE.
MY HUSBAND AND I ATTENDED THE FIRST PRESENTATION AT THE WATER WORKS AND WE WERE REALLY IMPRESSED BY ALL THREE OF THE ARTISTS THAT YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO NARROW IT DOWN TO YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DAVID, THANK YOU, CHRISTINA.
AFTER ESPECIALLY BEING IN SPAIN AND SEEING HOW THEY'VE DONE SO MUCH PUBLIC ART AND COMBINED IT WITH THEIR HISTORIC DOWNTOWNS, IT'S VERY COMPATIBLE, AND THAT REALLY OPENED MY EYES.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE FORSEL AND TO HEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE LIGHTING AND THEN THE OPEN SPACES THAT CAN ALLOW THAT ARE, YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THAT COMPONENT.
I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S REALLY CLEVER AND REALLY BRILLIANT.
JUST THIS REFERENCE TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS THAT WE'RE HERE, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AROUND, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE PAY ANY HOMAGE TO THEM THAT CAME BEFORE US.
I THINK THAT THIS FORM GIVES US THAT MAKES US REMEMBER, AT LEAST MAKE ME REMEMBER THAT THEY WERE HERE WITH THEIR MOUNDS AND SHELL MOUNDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I APPRECIATE THIS VERY MUCH, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT COMING BACK WITH THE TIMELINE AS PART OF THE CONTRACT AND MOVING THIS FORWARD.
>> WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT WOULD JUST FOR CLARITY IF SOMEONE COULD MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH FINALIZING THE CONTRACT.
>> I GUESS IF VICE MAYOR HORVATH WILL BE THE LIAISON AND MAYBE FORMALIZED THAT THE ART COMMITTEE IS NOW SUNSETTED, SO THEY CAN FEEL FREE TO CHAT WITH EACH OTHER FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT'S A BIT TEDIOUS FOR FOLKS WHO VOLUNTEER.
>> YOU'LL HAVE THE HONOR OF MAKING THE THREE COMPONENTS. THE MOTION.
>> THE FIRST IS APPROVED THE CONTRACT WITH.
>> CONCEPT. THE ARTIST AND THE CONCEPT FIRST. MR. DEPENA.
WE WOULD BE APPROVING IVAN DEPENA'S CONCEPT FOR THE ART PIECE AT MAY STREET.
>> THEN THE SECOND ONE IS TO AUTHORIZE OUR CITY MANAGER DAVID BURCHAM TO SIGN THE CONTRACT.
AND THIRD WOULD BE TO APPOINT ME AS LEASON TO SEE THE PROJECT THROUGH WITH THE ARTIST.
>> THE COMMISSION WANTS TO SEE THE DETAILS OF THE UPDATED CONTRACT OR NO?
>> YEAH. TIMELINE. TIMELINE. REASONABLE TIMELINE. YES.
>> GOT YOU. TIMELINE AND FEE SCHEDULE, ISSUES OF WARRANTY, I HEARD.
THE FINAL POINT IS FORMALLY SUNSETTING THE ART COMMITTEE?
>> YES. OH, YES. AND TO SUNSET THE ART COMMITTEE SO I CAN SPEAK WITH EVERYBODY FREELY.
>> YOU HAVE A MOTION. SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?
I ASSUME ROXANNE UNDERSTANDS THIS COULD TAKE TWO YEARS.
>> I HOPE TO BE AROUND FOR TWO YEARS.
[01:30:01]
>> AND YOU WILL NO LONGER BE A CITY COMMISSIONER AS YOUR CHOICE.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AS A VOLUNTEER.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMMITTEE.
MADAM MAYOR. IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE GIVEN THEIR ANNUAL EVALUATIONS.
LATER THIS WEEK, I WILL BE SENDING YOU THE EVALUATION FORM FOR MY ANNUAL EVALUATION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS WILL GIVE ME A WRITTEN EVALUATION BASED ON THE FORM THAT I SEND YOU.
SOME COMMISSIONERS WOULD PREFER TO SPEAK TO ME ONE ON ONE AND GIVE ME AN ORAL EVALUATION.
EITHER WAY, IT'S UP TO YOU, EITHER WAY IS FINE.
IF YOU DO WANT TO USE THE FORM, YOU'LL RETURN IT TO ISABEL FOR HER TO COMPILE THE RESULTS, AND I WILL INCLUDE ALL THE DETAILS OF THIS WHEN I SEND YOU THE FORM.
IN PAST YEARS, ISABELLE HAS SUMMARIZED THE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION IN A MEMO AND PLACED THIS ON A COMMISSION AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THIS YEAR, THE LAST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER OR ONE OF THE OCTOBER MEETINGS, I THINK WOULD BE TIMELY.
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO GO THROUGH THIS.
THERE'S NO RUSH, AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR THIS EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> VERY GOOD. I THINK I'VE DONE IT BOTH WAYS IN THE PAST.
BOTH OF COURSE, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE EVALUATION OCCURS EVERY TIME WE MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING FORMAL AND SOME FEEDBACK FOR HIM.
I THINK I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HELPFUL FOR HIM NOW THAT HE'S HAD OVER A YEAR WITH US IN THE CAPACITY THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THAT FORM.
I THINK THE FORM IS REAL HELPFUL IN THAT FOLLOWING THAT FORM.
>> IT DEFINITELY HELPED ME PINPOINT SOME AREAS THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF. YEAH.
>> THAT SAID, WE'LL GO AROUND THE TABLE. COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. THANK NICE MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK OF THE STAFF.
I APPRECIATE IT. I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT I HAVE REACHED A TEMPORARY GOAL OF FUND RAISING FOR THE PAINTING.
I HAVE HAD GREAT CONTACTS WITH FEDEX, WHO'S GOING TO GREATLY DISCOUNT THE SHIPPING, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHIP IT AS A WHOLE CREATED, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IT APART, WHICH WE THOUGHT FOR IN ORIGINALLY.
I'M JUST VERY EXCITED. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHOWING OF IT ON SEPTEMBER 6 IN THE LEIGHTNER MUSEUM AFTER THE PRESENTATION OUTDOORS.
I HOPE EVERYBODY WILL COME BY AND VISIT THE PAINTING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR ATTENTION, YOUR SKILLS IN MANAGING THIS DIFFICULT PROCESS THAT MAY WELL BE AHEAD OF US WITH REGARD TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE, AND ALSO THANK THE MAYOR FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE REGARDING THAT AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, I THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT YOU DID.
THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU SAID IT.
>> THANK YOU. WONDERFUL, COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
>> I'M GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAD CAME OUT AND SPOKE ABOUT ANASTASIA.
AGAIN, GETTING E MAILS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO THEM WITHOUT CAUSING, HAVING SOMETHING IN WRITING, SAYING YOU SAID ONE THING AND TURN AROUND TO BITE YOU.
THANKS, ISABEL, FOR KEEPING US STRAIGHT.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT ROXANNE GOT HERD EXHIBIT APPROVED.
I KNOW THAT WAS HER BABY, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO LIGHT UP THAT AREA.
I'M BETWEEN THAT AND LIGHTING UP AND NIGHTS AND LIGHTS IN FUTURE YEARS, IT'LL PROBABLY BE AMAZING ON THAT CORNER.
I KNOW YOU ORIGINALLY BROUGHT THAT TO LIGHT.
YOU MENTIONED IT AND ROXANNE TOOK THE BALL AND KEPT ON BOUNCING.
THAT WAS GREAT TEAMWORK ON YOU GUYS BEHALF.
THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT PUT IN THE S 200 PEOPLE APPLY FOR THAT.
THANK EACH OF THEM FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO WANT TO BE PART OF MAKING THAT CORNER BRIGHTER.
ONCE WE GET THE CAROUSEL AND THE BATHROOMS, LITTLE MAY STREET'S GOING TO BE A HOT SPOT.
FUTURE GROWTH WILL BE COMING TO THAT AREA VERY SOON.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF BECAUSE I KNOW MELISSA AND
[01:35:02]
DIFFERENT ONES HAVE BEEN TAKING THE HIT ABOUT THE ANASTASIA PARK.I KNOW SHE'S BEEN SENDING OUT COMMUNICATION, SO I WANT TO SALUTE THEM FOR GETTING THOSE MESSAGES OUT ON FACEBOOK BECAUSE I WAS DEFINITELY SHARING THEM ON BOTH OF MY PAGES.
THAT PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THAT I HEARD THEM AND BE ABLE TO KNOW WHERE I STOOD IN THAT POSITION AND WHY I HADN'T BEEN RESPONDING.
I THINK WE'RE A GREAT COMMISSION.
I THINK WE HEAR THE PEOPLE AND I THINK WE WORK TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER, AND I'M JUST GLAD TO HAVE YOU GUYS AS MY COLLEAGUES RIDING WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT COMPLIMENT ON THE ART PIECE.
IT'S BEEN A BIG NIGHT FOR ME AS VENTURING INTO THE VISION, THE NEW VISIONING, WORKING WITH THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL COUNCIL, WHICH I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REVISE IT AND REALLY BRING SOME NEW LIFE TO IT.
I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING REALLY GOOD.
I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE ART PIECE AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR BACKING THIS UP, BOTH THE VISION AND THE ART.
IT'S REALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME. THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL MEETING AND WE HAVE I THINK WHAT YOU SAID WAS REALLY NICE.
I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY SAID WAS GREAT.
I THINK WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN UNDER THE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE WAY YOU PUT IT ABOUT WHAT LAYS AHEAD COULD BE A DIFFICULT ROAD.
BUT IN A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE COMMUNITY, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUT THAT MESSAGE OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT FITS IN A SIX WORDS SOUND BITE.
IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF LISTENING AND UNDERSTANDING ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC.
BUT WE'LL KEEP HAMMERING AT IT. YES.
>> AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE.
>> AND HOW WE HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE SYSTEM.
>> MADAM MAYOR, WOULD IT BE HELPFUL IF WE HAD A STATEMENT IN THAT REGARD FROM THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE COULD USE IN OUR EMAIL RESPONSE, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO STILL GET LOTS OF EMAILS.
>> AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S A GOOD IDEA OR NOT, BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME.
>> WE COULD RIFF ON THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED IF THE CITY MANAGER JUST WANTS TO FLUSH THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND SHARE IT WITH YOU.
>> I COULD JUST COPY AND PASTE IT AND SAY, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHERE WE STAND IN THE CITY.
>> YEAH, THAT'D BE GOOD TO PUT ON EMAIL.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE NICE. IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD CUT AND PASTE.
I THINK THAT'S A SUPER IDEA, AS A MATTER OF FACT, COULD REALLY LIGHTEN THE LOAD FOR US IF WE COULD SHAPE SOMETHING AND THEN OF COURSE, WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> MAYBE IN THAT, WE COULD SUGGEST THAT THEY GO TO THE FD EP SITE FOR THE SURVEY.
>> I WISH I COULD SHARE THE LINK, BUT IT'S TOO LONG TO SHARE THE LINK, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO INDIVIDUALLY IS SHARE THE LINK.
USE THE LINK. USE THE LINK. AS LONG AS IT WORKS.
I HEARD IT WASN'T WORKING TODAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN IT POPPED BACK UP, BUT IT WAS IN A BETTER FORM.
SO I THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
>> WELL, YES. I THINK THEY WERE.
IT WAS A GREAT MEETING IF NOTHING ELSE. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> GREAT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.