[8.A.1. Ordinance 2024-31: Amends the terms of members of the Board of Trustees of the St. Augustine Police Officers' Retirement Trust Fund. (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]

WE HAVE THREE TONIGHT.

ITEM 8A1 IS ORDINANCE 2024-31 AND THAT IS CITY ATTORNEY LOPEZ.

YES, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ORDINANCE 2024-31 IS A BIT OF A HOUSEKEEPING ORDINANCE.

YOU'LL RECALL WHEN WE REPATRIATED THE SAINT AUGUSTINE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT FUND SECTIONS FROM THE CHARTER AND PUT THEM IN OUR CODE.

IT WAS TO FACILITATE THESE TYPES OF SMALL AMENDMENTS.

THE AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WOULD CHANGE THE TERMS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS, AND THAT JUST GIVES THEM A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET A HANDLE ON PUBLIC PENSIONS, GET THE TRAINING AND AND REALLY IMMERSE THEMSELVES INTO THAT PROCESS.

TWO YEARS SEEMED SOMEWHAT SHORT, AND THE PENSION BOARD DID SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS.

AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONERS BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENT IS OPEN.

I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS.

IS ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THE MATTER? PLEASE STEP FORWARD.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

SEEING NO ONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD, TO THE COMMISSION, AND FOR COMMENTS AND COMMENTS AND DEBATE.

I DON'T I'M SURE THERE'S NO DEBATE, NO, NO DEBATE OR A MOTION.

PERHAPS A MOTION. A MOTION WOULD BE NICE.

I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 2024-31, READ BY TITLE ONLY.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

GREAT. MOTION AND SECOND.

AND I WOULD JUST MAKE THE COMMENT THAT THIS IS A I THINK IT'S A VERY WISE MOVE AND A VERY GOOD RECOMMENDATION THAT WE, I THINK WE'LL HAVE MORE EXPERIENCED BOARD MEMBERS WITH MOVING FROM THE TWO TO THE FOUR YEARS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE PENSION BOARD IS IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS.

SO WITH ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-31, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 20 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AMENDING SECTION 20-223, EXTENDING THE TERM LIMITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SAINT AUGUSTINE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT TRUST FUND. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ALL RIGHT, WE'VE MET THE STATUTE TO THE PROCESS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE ON TO ORDINANCE 2024-32.

[8.A.2. Ordinance 2024-32: Clarifies the enforcement of public encampment regulations to conform with state law. (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]

CITY ATTORNEY LOPEZ.

YES, 2024-32 TO THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS IS A BIT OF AN UPDATE BASED ON CHANGES IN STATE LAW REGARDING PUBLIC ENCAMPMENTS.

YOU'LL RECALL WHEN WE WERE FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATIVE CYCLE, ONE OF THE LAST BILLS THAT WAS APPROVED WAS TO PROHIBIT OUR ABILITY FROM ALLOWING FOLKS TO CAMP OVERNIGHT ON EITHER RIGHTS OF WAY OR OTHER PUBLIC PROPERTY.

AND SO WE JUST NEEDED TO DO A BIT OF A CLEANUP TO OUR EXISTING NO CAMPING ORDINANCE.

[00:15:04]

AND THE LANGUAGE CHANGE IS FAIRLY MINIMAL, BUT IT CLARIFIES THAT SHOULD A HOMELESS PERSON BE DEEMED, IS DEEMED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SHELTER SO LONG AS THERE ARE BEDS AVAILABLE, AND EVEN IF THEY'VE VIOLATED THE RULES OF THE SHELTER OR OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN TRESPASSED FROM THE FACILITY, WE CAN STILL ENFORCE OUR NO CAMPING ORDINANCE AGAINST THAT INDIVIDUAL.

AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS.

I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2024.

WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

YES. I'M SORRY. WELL.

OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS.

COMING MISS KALAIDI YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THE MATTER? OH I'M SORRY YOU DID TURN A CARD IN FOR THAT.

MY. MY APOLOGIES.

NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU.

BJ KALAIDI, WEST CITY, ORDINANCE 2024-32 PUBLIC CAMPING.

WITH THE HELP OF FACILITIES, GENERAL SERVICES AND THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS, CAMPING AT THE EAST SIDE OF OYSTER CREEK PARK US ONE AND LEWIS BOULEVARD HAS IMPROVED.

THANK YOU CITY STAFF.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE CAMPING IS HAPPENING AT THE WEST SIDE OF OYSTER CREEK PARK, DAVIS STREET, AND SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY.

QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE CAMPING AND THE COMMUNITY HAS LED TO THE NEED OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT IT IS GOING TO BE ENFORCED AND THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERYONE LIVING HERE, NOT JUST THOSE THAT HAVE A HOME, ALSO THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER SPEAKERS WISH TO WEIGH IN ON THIS TOPIC? HEARING NONE.

PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

I WILL MOVE I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2024-32, READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASS ON SECOND READING.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-32, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 22 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND AMENDING SECTION 22-12 TO CLARIFY THE ENFORCEMENT OF PUBLIC ENCAMPMENT REGULATIONS AND TO CONFORM WITH STATE LAW.

PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS? I'LL JUST MAKE ONE.

I DO THINK I APPRECIATE AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE CITY ATTORNEY KEEPING US UP TO DATE ON THAT.

AND IN LIGHT OF THIS, THE NEW STATE LAW, THE NEW STATE LAW, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD LOOPHOLE TO CLOSE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENFORCE OUR PUBLIC ENCAMPMENT REGULATIONS.

THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

WE'RE MOVING ON TO ORDINANCE 2024-33.

[8.A.3. Ordinance 2024-33: Creates a new street, closes a section of Spanish Street to vehicular traffic, and reverses a section of Cuna Street traffic from East to West. (R. Franklin, Assistant City Manager)]

MR. FRANKLIN, YOU ARE FREE TO PRESENT.

WELCOME. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, A SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2024-33.

THIS IS TO MAKE THE SPANISH STREET PILOT PROJECT PERMANENT.

IT MAKES THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO THE CITY CODE BY AMENDING SECTIONS AND CREATING NEW SECTIONS, ESSENTIALLY STARTING FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH. WE CLOSE THE SECTION OF SPANISH STREET FROM ORANGE STREET TO TOLOMATO LANE TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

THERE WILL BE TWO BOLLARDS PLACED ON BOTH ENDS OF THOSE SECTIONS, SO THERE IS NO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

IT'S PEDESTRIANS ONLY.

THE MIDDLE SECTION IS OPEN TO TRAFFIC.

THE SOUTHERN SECTION.

THERE WILL BE A BOLLARD PLACED AT CUNA STREET AND SPANISH STREET INTERSECTION ON THE NORTH SIDE.

SO NO THROUGH TRAFFIC CAN GO THROUGH AND ENTER THAT SECTION OF SPANISH STREET.

ALL TRAFFIC WILL MAKE A LEFT ONTO CUNA STREET TO ACCESS CORDOVA.

TRAFFIC WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE SOUTHERN SECTION OF SPANISH STREET THROUGH THE NEWLY NAMED STREET THAT THE COMMISSION SELECTED LAST TIME, ROSARIO LANE.

YOU'LL ENTER OFF OF CORDOVA STREET AND BE ABLE TO COME DOWN AND TURN RIGHT OR LEFT ONTO SPANISH STREET.

FOR THOSE ACCESSING BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ON THE SECTION BETWEEN ROSARIO LANE AND CUNA STREET, YOU'LL MAKE A RIGHT OFF OF ROSARIO LANE AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DRIVE INTO YOUR PARKING LOT OR TO YOUR RESIDENCE.

[00:20:02]

TO EXIT, YOU'LL HEAD NORTHBOUND AND YOU CAN EITHER TURN LEFT BACK ONTO ROSARIO LANE OR HEAD NORTH TO TOLOMATO LANE.

I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AS AN UPDATE, WE DID GET THE DRIVE AISLE PAVED IN THE TOLOMATO LOT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS ANY QUESTIONS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARING? I HAVE A QUESTION.

IS SIGNAGE OUT THERE TO I KNOW YOU SAID YOU PAVED IT, BUT IS THERE SIGNS INDICATING WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD DO WHEN THEY COME INTO THAT LOT? THERE'S SIGNS THAT HAVE SPANISH STREET ACCESS.

OKAY. WHEN THIS ORDINANCE PASSES, WE WILL GO ERECT IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSES, WE WILL GO AND ERECT STREET SIGNAGE THAT SAYS ROSARIO LANE ON IT, AND WE'LL KEEP THE LOCAL ACCESS SIGNAGE THAT'S UP CURRENTLY.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEP. I HAVE A QUESTION, TOO.

I DROVE IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AFTER I SAW YOU THIS WEEK, AND IT'S VERY NICE, THE PAVED, BUT IT'S NARROW FOR A TWO LANE, ESPECIALLY THE EXIT.

DID WE EVER DISCUSS MAKING IT A ONE WAY AS WELL AND HAVE EVERYBODY GO OUT TO TOLOMATO LANE? HAVE ROSARIO BE ONE WAY EAST AND TOLOMATO WOULD BE ONE WAY WEST.

SO THE PARKING LOT WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT AND AROUND.

YES. WE WANTED TO KEEP ROSARIO LANE TWO WAY.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WHEN WE IMPROVE TOLOMATO LOT WITH ROSARIO LANE WE'RE GOING TO WIDEN THAT THAT ACCESS.

OKAY. ON CORDOVA STREET BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE IT WIDE ENOUGH FOR TRUCKS TO TURN IN AND OUT OF AS WELL.

OKAY. THANKS. GOOD POINT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE GO ON TO PUBLIC HEARING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE IS SCOTT KENLEY, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT YORK.

HI. MY NAME IS SCOTT KENLEY FROM ROGERS TOWERS LAW FIRM, 1301 RIVER PLACE BOULEVARD IN JACKSONVILLE.

I REPRESENT XK8 PROPERTIES, WHICH IS VIRGINIA WHETSTONE'S ENTITY THAT OWNS A BUILDING AT 26 SPANISH SPANISH STREET IN WHICH A REMAX REAL ESTATE OFFICE CURRENTLY OPERATES.

THIS ORDINANCE WOULD CLOSE THE SECTION OF SPANISH STREET TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.

THE MAJORITY OF THE CUSTOMERS AT THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS THAT OPERATES ON MY CLIENT'S PROPERTY ARE WALK INS.

THEY'RE TOURISTS WHO DRIVE DOWN THE STREET.

THEY DECIDE TO STOP BECAUSE THEY'RE INTERESTED IN BUYING OR RENTING IN SAINT AUGUSTINE.

THERE ARE 12 PROPERTY OWNERS ON THAT LITTLE SECTION OF ROAD.

ONLY FOUR OF THE OWNERS ARE RESIDENTIAL ARE A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, CLOSURE OF THIS ROAD ESSENTIALLY MAKES THAT SECTION OF SPANISH STREET A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY FOR THOSE FOUR OWNERS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, THERE ARE MORE PARCELS, BUT ONLY FOUR OWNERS.

THE CONSTRUCTION COST FOR THIS LITTLE SECTION OF THE ROAD WAS $950,000.

WHILE THE IMPROVEMENTS BENEFIT THOSE FOUR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS, IT ACTUALLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS FOR THE REASON I STATED.

AND THAT IMPACT, I'LL SUGGEST, HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY CONSIDERED BY STAFF.

THAT IS, STAFF HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT ON THE VALUES OF THOSE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.

SINCE THE TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN APRIL, THREE REALTORS HAVE ACTUALLY QUIT REMAX AS A RESULT OF THE CITY'S ANTICIPATED PERMANENT CLOSURE, WHICH HAS AFFECTED THE BUSINESS NEGATIVELY AND DEVALUED MY CLIENT'S PROPERTY.

I PROVIDED EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS WITH COPIES OF MY LETTER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, DATED OCTOBER 23RD.

THEREIN, I EXPLAINED THAT REDUCED VEHICULAR ACCESS TO A BUSINESS CAN CONSTITUTE A TAKING UNDER INVERSE CONDEMNATION LAW BECAUSE IT DIMINISHES THE VALUE OF PROPERTY.

THIS RATIONALE HAS BEEN THE LAW IN FLORIDA FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS, SINCE THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IN PALM BEACH COUNTY VERSUS TESLER.

I WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR.

EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL STILL BE ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY, IT'S ABOUT QUALITY OF ACCESS.

FLORIDA CASE LAW SUPPORTS THAT THE RESTRICTION OF SOME ACCESS, WHICH WILL BE THE CASE HERE, OR A MORE CIRCUITOUS OR LESS CONVENIENT ROUTE, CAN GIVE RISE TO THE DIMINISHMENT OF VALUES OF PROPERTY, WHICH THEN GIVES RISE TO A CLAIM FOR INVERSE CONDEMNATION.

THE RELEVANT CASE LAW IS CITED IN MY LETTER.

ALL THIS SAID, MY CLIENT RECOGNIZES THE CITY MAY STILL WANT TO MAKE THIS SECTION OF SPANISH STREET PEDESTRIAN ONLY.

SO WE PROPOSE A SOLUTION THAT I CAN STIPULATE NOW WOULD OBVIATE THE NEED FOR FOR MY CLIENT TO BRING ANY CLAIM AGAINST THE CITY AFTER CLOSURE.

THE COMMISSION SHOULD MAKE THAT SECTION PEDESTRIAN ONLY IN THE EVENINGS, LEAVING OPEN, LEAVING IT OPEN TO THROUGH TRAFFIC FROM 8 A.M.

TO 6 P.M.. THIS WAS ACTUALLY PROPOSED AT A PRIOR MEETING.

IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

IT'S A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS WHO WANT PEACE AND QUIET SO THEY'RE NOT LOUD CARS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WHO WANT FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR BUSINESS. IN THIS WAY, THE CITY'S CLOSURE WON'T AFFECT THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND THERE WON'T BE NUMEROUS CLAIMS.

[00:25:01]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS SCOTT YORK, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FOLMAR.

GOOD EVENING, SCOTT YORK, 29 SPANISH STREET.

ON AUGUST 7TH, 2023, THE SPANISH STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BEGAN.

WITH A LITTLE OVER EIGHT MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION.

THE CITY CONTRACTORS WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH A BEAUTIFUL BRICK LINED STREET, CURBLESS SIDEWALKS, IMPROVED DRAINAGE, AND A SAFE PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR WHICH IS TRAVELED BY NEARLY 2000 PEDESTRIANS PER DAY.

AS VISITORS LEAVE THE VISITOR CENTER AND BEGIN THEIR ADVENTURE HERE IN THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY, MANY NOW CHOOSE TO WALK, BIKE OR RIDE THEIR MANUALLY POWERED SCOOTERS, PUSHING BABY STROLLERS AND WALKING THEIR PETS THROUGH THIS BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.

PASSING THROUGH THIS NEWLY ESTABLISHED, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AREA ALLOWS THOSE FIRST TIME VISITORS TO REALIZE THAT SAINT AUGUSTINE IS AN ACTUAL CITY AND NOT A THEME PARK LIKE MANY COMPARE IT TO, LIKE DISNEY AND UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.

I GREW UP IN ORLANDO AMONGST THESE MAKE BELIEVE WORLDS, BUT FOR THE PAST 36 YEARS, I'VE SHARED THE STORIES OF THE RICH HISTORY OF THIS TOWN WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FOURTH GRADERS AND THEIR PARENTS AND TEACHERS.

I'M NOT ONLY A PROUD RESIDENT OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER ON SPANISH STREET.

HAVING THESE PEDESTRIANS BE ABLE TO SAFELY WALK BY OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND SHARE SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE MEMORIES OF OUR BELOVED CITY IS ONE OF MY GREATEST JOYS EVERY WEEK.

NEXT WEEK IN THIS VERY ROOM, YOU'LL BE PRESENTED WITH RESULTS FROM THE CURRENT STUDY TO UPDATE THE VISION PLAN OF THE CITY.

THAT VISION PLAN SERVES AS ONE OF YOUR GUIDING DOCUMENTS FOR GOVERNING SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND ONE OF THE COVENANTS OF THIS VISION PLAN IS TO HELP MAKE THIS A MORE LIVABLE CITY FOR THE RESIDENTS.

MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, SOME OF THEM TRACING THEIR ROOTS BACK TO THE MENORCANS WHO SETTLED THIS PART OF TOWN MORE THAN 250 YEARS AGO. WHAT I SEE HERE IS A CASE OF GREED VERSUS THE GREATER NEED.

MY HOPE IS THAT THIS COMMISSION, WHICH HAS SHOWN AND PROVEN THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS AT HEART. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS FOLMAR, FOLLOWED BY VIRGINIA WHETSTONE.

GOOD EVENING, CHRIS FOLMAR.

I'D LIKE TO SAY WE LOVE WALKING THAT SECTION OF SPANISH STREET.

IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO WALK ORANGE STREET WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THE CARS COMING OUT AND POPPING OUT FROM BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS ON SPANISH, SO THAT MAKES THAT A LOT SAFER. I'VE NOTICED THAT THE TRAFFIC CONES AND SIGNS IN THE NORTH END BLOCKING THE STREET SEEM TO BE CONFUSING.

A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN RESOLVED IF THEY'RE GOING TO PUT NEW ONES IN NEW BOLLARDS IN AT THE END, IT NEEDS BETTER BARRIERS AND MARKINGS SO TOURISTS DON'T ACCIDENTALLY GO UP THAT WAY. THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO TURN AROUND WHEN THEY GET THERE, AND PEOPLE AREN'T VERY GOOD AT BACKING UP SO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT.

NO ONE NEEDS TO GO PAST THE REMAX PARKING LOT.

EVERYTHING AFTER THAT IS PRIVATE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE REMAX IS A NEW BUSINESS THERE, IT WAS THE ART STORE BEFORE THAT.

I FORGOT NORMAN ROCKWELL UP UNTIL LIKE LAST YEAR, AND BEFORE THAT, IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

SO IT'S NOT A LONG STANDING BUSINESS WITH A LONG HISTORY THERE.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, HAVING THE STREET OPEN DURING THE DAY, I THINK WOULD BE MORE CONFUSING.

I LOVE IT THE WAY IT IS.

I'M THANKING YOU FOR DOING IT, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

VIRGINIA WHETSTONE, FOLLOWED BY BRUCE MCGUIRE.

VIRGINIA WHETSTONE 297 SAINT GEORGE STREET.

I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE PERMANENTLY CLOSING SPANISH STREET FROM CUNA TO ROSARIO LANE TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

AS YOU KNOW, I OWN THE THE COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 26 SPANISH, WHICH IS NOW OCCUPIED BY REMAX REALTY.

THE CLOSURE OF THIS STREET TO DATE HAS DEAD ENDED MY BUILDING AND ITS UPWARD RENTAL VIABILITY.

YOU HAVE ENDED ANY DRIVE BY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR CUSTOMERS WITH CARS TO EVEN GET TO MY BUILDING.

THIS IS ALL BASED ON RESIDENTS WANTING NO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES, EXCEPT THEIR OWN VEHICLES AND THOSE OF THEIR GUESTS.

IT IS SAID THAT THE STREET IS TOO NARROW AND UNSAFE.

WELL, IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN TREASURY STREET AT SPANISH STREET AND SAINT GEORGE STREET SHOULD BE CLOSED AS WELL AS CHARLOTTE STREET BETWEEN

[00:30:02]

BRIDGE STREET AND KING STREET.

BOTH OF THESE STREETS ARE MUCH NARROWER THAN THE NORTH END OF SPANISH STREET.

BECAUSE I PHYSICALLY HAVE GONE AND MEASURED ALL STREETS IN THIS TOWN.

IT IS SAID THAT IT'S NOT SAFE FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CARS IN THIS SECTION.

IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN NO CARS SHOULD BE ALLOWED ON EITHER TREASURY STREET SECTION, CHARLOTTE STREET SECTION OR HIPPOLYTUS STREET.

IT SAYS THAT CARS AT NIGHT LEAVING THE BARS ARE TOO LOUD AND NOISY.

WELL, OUR PROPOSAL TO CLOSE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM 6 P.M.

TO 8 P.M. SOLVES THIS PROBLEM.

IT'S SAID THAT LARGE TRUCKS ARE A PROBLEM IN THIS SECTION WELL, CUNA STREET NOW GOES WEST TO CORDOVA AND THAT HELPS SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

YOU COULD ALSO PUT UP NO TRUCK SIGNS AND ACTUALLY START ENFORCING NO TRUCKS IN THIS PART OF TOWN.

STAFF SAYS THEY'RE IN THEIR BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT OR ESTIMATE THAT NO BUSINESSES ARE IMPACTED BY THIS ORDINANCE.

THIS IS NOT TRUE.

MY RENTAL VALUE, MY RENTAL PROPERTY VALUES AND MARKET VALUE OF MY PROPERTY IS DEFINITELY IMPACTED.

MY TENANT HAS LOST THREE REAL ESTATE AGENTS BECAUSE THERE'S NO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

NOBODY'S COMING INTO THAT BUSINESS.

IT'S A SHAME THAT THE STAFF AND COMMISSION HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO REACH A COMPROMISE THAT WOULD SATISFY RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.

YOU SPENT $3 MILLION TO REDO THIS SECTION OF THE STREET, ONLY TO TURN 30% INTO A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY FOR THE RESIDENTS.

I URGE YOU TO REACH A COMPROMISE.

VOTE TO ALLOW THE STREET TO BE OPEN TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, FROM 8 A.M.

TO 6 P.M.

PLEASE MODIFY THIS ORDINANCE ACCORDINGLY SO THAT ALL OWNERS AND BUSINESSES ON THE STREET ARE SATISFIED.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BRUCE MCGUIRE IS THE NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY RONALD MIKLER.

I'M BRUCE MCGUIRE, 297 SAINT GEORGE STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE.

ON JANUARY 9TH, 2023, REUBEN FRANKLIN DRAFTED A LETTER WITH THE REPORT ATTACHED TO DAVID BIRCHIM, THE CITY MANAGER, STATING THE STAFF WILL PRESENT A PILOT PROJECT FOR SPANISH STREET TO THE CITY COMMISSIONERS.

THE STAFF HAD REVIEWED THREE OPTIONS, OF WHICH ALL FAVORED BENEFITS TO THE RESIDENTIAL OWNERS.

HOWEVER, NONE ADDRESSED ANY IMPACT TO THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TENANTS AND OWNERS ON SPANISH STREET.

THE COVER LETTER EXPLICITLY STATED THAT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PROJECT, INCLUDING THE END PRODUCT OF THE PILOT PROJECT, WHICH WAS QUOTE, WAS TO MAKE CHANGES PERMANENT.

NEITHER THE COVENANT LETTER NOR THE STAFF REPORT MADE ANY REFERENCE TO CONTACTING THE EIGHT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS ON SPANISH STREET.

ON JANUARY 17TH, 2024, XL PELLICER INFORMED ONE PROPERTY OWNER THAT THE CITY COMMISSIONER WAS CONSIDERING THREE OPTIONS REGARDING THE TRAFFIC FLOW.

HOWEVER, THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS HAD NOT BEEN ADVISED PRIOR TO THAT.

JANUARY 22ND, 2024.

REUBEN FRANKLIN PRESENTED THE PILOT PROJECT PROPOSAL TO THE CITY.

DURING HIS PRESENTATION, MR. FRANKLIN SAID, QUOTE, THEY HAVE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO EVERYONE THE PILOT PROGRAM WOULD IMPACT, WRONG.

HOWEVER, THE CONTRADICTION WAS WRONG.

IT APPEARS THE PILOT PROJECT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT.

HOWEVER, THE DECISIONS FOR THE PILOT PROJECT WERE ALREADY DETERMINED BEFORE IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

THE COMMISSIONERS, WITHOUT ADVANCE BENEFIT OF CONSIDERING OTHER OPTIONS, APPROVED THE OPTION, ONLY ONE COMMISSIONER BRAVELY VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION.

OPTION THREE, WHICH WAS TO CLOSE OFF THE SOUTHERN END OF SPANISH STREET, WAS A STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

IT WAS THE ONLY STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PROJECT.

YOU CAN READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH IN MR. FRANKLIN'S JANUARY LETTER PRIOR TO THE PILOT PROJECT, WHERE HE CLEARLY STATES HIS INTENTIONS, QUOTE, TO MAKE THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED AT THAT TIME PERMANENT.

HE MADE NO REFERENCE TO THE NECESSITY OR PLAUSIBILITY OF A PERMANENT CHANGE, BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MIND TO CLOSE SPANISH STREET.

WE HAD ASKED MR. FRANKLIN TO DO A SIMILAR TEST, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A TEST PROGRAM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPARE IT TO.

WE ASK THAT THEY DO A SIMILAR PROJECT LEAVING THE STREET OPEN, SO THEY COULD HAVE SOME VARIABLES TO LOOK AT OR TO CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS.

THE CITY STAFF REFUSED TO DO THAT.

THE BOTTOM LINE, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS ARE THE VICTIMS OF THIS.

[00:35:03]

THERE IS NO EQUALITY AT ALL GIVEN TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, NOR THE TENANTS WHO HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT SPEAKER, RONALD MIKLER, FOLLOWED BY MARTHA MIKLER.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

RON MIKLER I LIVE AT 30 SPANISH STREET AND HAVE BEEN THERE OVER 30 SOMETHING YEARS.

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING NOW, IF WE CLOSE THE STREET ALL DAY LONG, DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO ALSO PREVENT THE VISITORS FROM COMING DOWN THAT STREET SO THEY WON'T GET RUN OVER? I DON'T KNOW. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GETTING ONLY 4 RESIDENTS, I COUNT AT LEAST 12.

YOU KNOW, THE THE SIGN FOR REMAX USED TO BE ON THE NORTH SIDE, AND THEN WHEN THEY MOVED IN, THEY MOVED IT TO THE SOUTH SIDE.

IF THEY KEPT IT ON THE NORTH SIDE, WHICH THEY CAN STILL DO THAT, IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN TRAFFIC COMES ACROSS ON ROSARIO.

AND I'VE KNOWN BRUCE A LONG TIME, SO I'M NOT JUDGING HIM, BUT I THINK THAT STREET'S BEEN OPEN QUITE A FEW YEARS TO TRAFFIC, SO IT'S HAD A LOT OF TRAFFIC DOWN IT.

AND THE THING WE HAVE FOUND IN THE NUMBER ONE THING WE FOUND IS THAT IT IS NOT SAFE.

THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE COMING DOWN THERE.

TWO IT'S, YOU KNOW, WITH CARRIAGES AND IT'S JUST VERY DANGEROUS.

AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, IT'S EVEN MORE THAN WE'VE HAD BEFORE.

AND WE OWN RENTAL PROPERTIES, AND IT HAS NEVER HURT RENTAL PROPERTY TO ONCE WE CLOSED IT, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THERE LOVE IT.

AND IT'S IF ANYTHING, THE VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY IS GOING UP, IT'S NOT GOING DOWN.

ABSOLUTELY. AND SO IT'S GOING TO INCREASE MY TAXES, BUT IT WILL BE WORTH IT TO BE PAYING MORE TAXES BECAUSE IT WILL BE SAFER FOR OUR VISITORS. AND I THOUGHT VIRGINIA HAD A GOOD SUGGESTION, YOU KNOW, ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER STREETS WE COULD LOOK AT.

IT'D BE A LOT SAFER FOR OUR VISITORS HERE.

AND I THINK THE THE ROSARIO LANE ROAD COMING ACROSS THERE, THAT WILL IMPROVE ACCESS FOR BUSINESSES AND VISITORS AS WELL.

THE ONLY THERE I CAN'T SEE WHERE WHERE THE REMAX PLACE IS CUT OFF.

IT IT'S IN GOOD SPOT.

IT'S THE BEST SPOT ON THE STREET FOR ANY KIND OF BUSINESS YOU WANT TO DO.

THEY COULD ALSO TURN IT INTO A RENTAL HOME.

YOU KNOW, AND IT WOULD WORK VERY WELL.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU PEOPLE, FOR BEING VERY PROACTIVE AND FOR APPROVING THIS ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MARTHA MIKLER, FOLLOWED BY ZACH LEMKE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

I'M MARTHA MIKLER, I LIVE AT 30 SPANISH STREET.

GREW UP ON THAT STREET, AND I'VE SEEN TRAFFIC FOR MOST OF MY LIFETIME ON THAT STREET.

I BELIEVE SECTION 22-337 OF ORDINANCE 2024- 33 PROVIDES A VERY WORKABLE SOLUTION TO CLOSING PARTS OF SPANISH STREET TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, WHILE MAINTAINING LOCAL ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS AND FOR BUSINESSES.

THIS ORDINANCE PROVIDES A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WALKING DOWN SPANISH STREET AND ORANGE STREET, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS EMPLOYEES.

AS A LONG TIME RESIDENT AND OWNER OF SEVERAL RENTAL PROPERTIES TO LONG TERM TENANTS ON SPANISH STREETS, I CAN TESTIFY THAT OTHER RESIDENTS AND OUR TENANTS GIVE THEIR SUPPORT OF ORDINANCE 2024- 33.

THIS ORDINANCE PROVIDES A SAFE AND MORE LIVABLE, LIVABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF US.

SPANISH STREET IS A VERY UNIQUE, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN STREET.

[00:40:01]

YOU CAN FIND RESIDENTS LIVING AMONG SEVERAL BUSINESSES.

THERE ARE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE RESIDENTIAL SECTION OF SPANISH STREET.

LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR BUSINESSES BY COMING THROUGH THE TOLOMATO LOT ALONG ROSARIO LANE AND TURNING RIGHT ON SPANISH STREET.

THESE INCLUDE A VACATION RENTAL THAT HAS ACCESS, AND IT'S LOCATED AT 52 SAINT GEORGE STREET, AND THEY COME DOWN SPANISH STREET.

THEY TURN RIGHT AND THEN TURN DOWN A DRIVEWAY NEXT TO ONE OF MY RENTAL HOMES AND THEY HAVE PARKING OFF OF SPANISH STREET. JOHN PIERRE'S DRESS SHOP THAT'S ALSO LOCATED ON SAINT GEORGE STREET HAS PARKING OFF OF SPANISH STREET.

THE [INAUDIBLE] TREASURER ON THE CORNER OF CUNA AND SPANISH, HER EMPLOYEE COMES DOWN SPANISH AND PARKS ON SPANISH, AND THE REMAX REAL ESTATE COMPANY ON SPANISH STREET HAS AVAILABLE PARKING.

OTHER BUSINESSES HAVE ACCESS TO EITHER GO STRAIGHT INTO PARKING LOT SIX OR TURN LEFT TO PROCEED NORTH ON SPANISH STREET.

WE COMMEND YOUR SUPPORT OF PROVIDING AN ACCESS ROAD AND NAMING IT ROSARIO LANE.

YOU'RE HONORING THE HISTORY OF THIS SPECIAL SECTION OF HB3.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ORDINANCE 2024-33.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS ZACH LEMKE, FOLLOWED BY GLORIA [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. ZACH LEMKE, REMAX MARKET FORCE.

MY MOTHER, JULIE AND I, WE ARE THE BROKER OWNERS OF THE COMPANY AT 26 SPANISH STREET, WE'RE VIRGINIA'S TENANTS.

FIRST OF ALL, TO SAY I DON'T ENVY YOUR POSITION.

IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO BE THE MAN OR WOMAN IN THE HOT SEAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S MAKING POLICY.

BECAUSE YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK THAT BOTH THE RESIDENTS IN VIRGINIA MADE A LOT OF GOOD POINTS.

ESPECIALLY, I THINK, SCOTT, ABOUT SAINT AUGUSTINE TURNING INTO A THEME PARK.

I'M MOSTLY A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKER.

I DO A LITTLE BIT IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, BUT ALL OVER NORTHEAST FLORIDA.

AND I CAN JUST SAY THAT I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT, IS MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER AND SOUL OF THE CITY.

AND HAVING THIS LITTLE BIT OF SPANISH STREET STILL HAVING THE LAST RESIDENCE, I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, STILL VERY IMPORTANT AND SPECIAL FOR THE CHARACTER AND SOUL OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT, IT HAS IT HAS HURT OUR BOTTOM LINE.

YOU KNOW, VIRGINIA MENTIONED WE HAD THREE AGENTS LEAVE BECAUSE WE HAD A BIG DROP OFF IN WALK IN TRAFFIC FROM, YOU KNOW, FIRST TIME MOVING HOME BUYERS AND SUCH. AS FAR AS US, AS THE ACTUAL BUSINESS OWNERS, OUR BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FOCUSED AND LIKE I SAID, OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY, A LARGE PROPORTION.

SO, FRANKLY, I DON'T GET A LOT OF MY PERSONAL BOTTOM LINE OFF OF WALK INS, BUT THE AGENTS AND OUR DE FACTO EMPLOYEES, THEY CERTAINLY DID.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY WENT OUT TO TO OTHER BROKERAGES WHERE THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, GET WHAT THEY NEEDED.

I ALSO WISH I HAD A GREAT SOLUTION FOR YOU IN MY IN MY MIND, I DON'T.

I THINK MAYBE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE COMPROMISE IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A NEED TO PRESERVE THAT CHARACTER OF THAT LITTLE SECTION OF SPANISH STREET BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M 31.

I REMEMBER WHAT SAINT AUGUSTINE WAS LIKE 20 YEARS AGO, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE 40 OR 60 YEARS AGO.

I THINK WE HAVE A VERY BIG DANGER OF LOSING THAT OVER THE NEXT 10, 20 YEARS, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NEXT 10, 20 YEARS.

SO A PROJECT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF REALITY AND ECONOMIC REALITIES.

AND I DO THINK VIRGINIA'S POINT ABOUT THE FUTURE RENTAL VIABILITY OF THAT PROPERTY IF THE ROAD CLOSURES IN PLACE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, MUCH TIME TO OPINE AND GIVE YOU A FORMAL BROKER PRICE OPINION OF WHAT I THINK THAT PROPERTY IS WORTH FOR LEASE WITH AND WITHOUT THE ROAD CLOSURE.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WE PROBABLY WON'T BE THERE FOREVER, AND SHE'LL HAVE TO REPLACE US AS A TENANT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MUCH, MUCH HARDER FOR HER AND ALL THE OTHER COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS ON SPANISH STREET.

AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T DON'T HAVE A GOOD SOLUTION.

I JUST HAVE OPINIONS AND COMPLAINTS.

WISH I HAD MORE.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS GLORIA [INAUDIBLE] FOLLOWED BY BURRY GOWAN.

HI, YALL. THANK YOU.

I ACTUALLY MEANT THIS TO BE A GENERAL COMMENT, SO CAN I PREFACE IT WITH MY GENERAL COMMENTS BEFORE I TALK ABOUT KEEPING THE SPANISH STREET OPEN? BECAUSE I CLICKED ON THERE GENERAL.

[00:45:01]

IT'S VERY BRIEF.

I'LL JUST BE VERY, VERY BRIEF.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY, WELL, I THINK WHERE I GOT CONFUSED WAS YOU PUT GENERAL COMMENTS, BUT YOU ALSO NOTED ORDINANCE NUMBERS.

SO I IMMEDIATELY APOLOGIZE FOR THAT ON THAT.

JUST I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.

I WAS HERE FOR THE CRA MEETING AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR SUPPORTING ALL THE CRA.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO DOWN TO SEE THE OLLY, AND IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO DOWN TO SEE THE OLLY AND GEORGE POCKET PARK, IT'S ADORABLE.

THEY REALLY HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, AND I WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HER GREAT COMMENTS ABOUT ABOUT KEEPING NOT REDOING THE PATHWAY. REMEMBER, WAS KEEP RIBERIA POINT GREEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A PASSIVE PARK.

MY ONLY COMMENT ABOUT THAT ALSO WAS THERE'S NO MENTION OF THE TREES, AND I KNOW THAT IT USED TO BE A DUMP, AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE, BUT YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT.

AND FINALLY, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT KEEPING SPANISH STREET PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY.

IT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, YOU GET CRITICIZED BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR, WE THINK AS RESIDENTS THAT THE BUSINESSES GET THE PRIORITY.

AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF GIVING THE RESIDENTS A PRIORITY.

AND IF YOU REMEMBER MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, IT WAS ACTUALLY BEFORE MY TIME, BUT NOT MUCH, WHEN THEY WANTED TO CLOSE SAINT GEORGE STREET, THERE WAS A STRONG OPPOSITION, AND YET NOW NOBODY WOULD WANT TO CLOSE, WOULD WANT TO MAKE SAINT GEORGE STREET FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALL OF YOU.

THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BURRY GOWAN, FOLLOWED BY CHARLES PAPPAS.

MAYOR SIKES-KLINE AND CITY COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS BURRY GOWAN.

I'M AT 5 TREMONT STREET IN OLD CITY SOUTH, AND WE ARE A VERY SMALL CITY AND EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND IN FAIRNESS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M FRIENDS WITH BOTH THE WHETSTONE'S AND THE MIKLER'S, AND AND I CANNOT SPEAK TO REAL ESTATE VALUES OR RENT ABILITIES, BUT WHAT I CAN SPEAK TO IS FROM IS THE LIVABILITY STANDARD AND RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER OF OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND ON THAT BASIS, I THINK THAT THE CITY STAFF REALLY GOT THIS ONE RIGHT WHEN IT WHEN WHEN THEY DID THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SPANISH STREET AND CUNA STREET.

BECAUSE IT PROVIDES LOCAL ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS VEHICLES, IT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IT SAFELY ROUTES TRUCKS TO LOADING ZONES.

IT SUPPORTS THE MOBILITY GOAL OF OF MAKING SAINT AUGUSTINE A MORE WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE CITY.

IT SUPPORTS THE 2014 VISION PLAN GOAL OF MAINTAINING THE LIVABILITY OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND THE GOAL OF PRESERVING AND MAINTAINING THE SCALE AND HISTORIC NATURE OF THE LAST RESIDENTIAL AREA INSIDE THE AREA BOUNDED BY THE OLD CITY WALLS.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, AND I REALLY THINK THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, IS THAT IT INCREASES THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS BY ELIMINATING THE CHANCE THAT THEY'LL BE RUN OVER BY A DELIVERY TRUCK RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THEIR FRONT DOORS, AND ALSO OF OF TOURISTS AS THEY WALK DOWN THE STREETS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I SPEAK TO NEIGHBORS FROM ALL AROUND THE CITY OVER THE COURSE OF MY YEAR, AND ONE FEAR THAT I HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THAT THEY ARE AFRAID THAT AS OUR CITY IS BECOMING A MORE WONDERFUL PLACE TO VISIT, IT'S BECOMING LESS OF A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

AND I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THIS CHANGE FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD MAKES A STRONG STATEMENT THAT WE ARE NOT JUST A DISNEY WORLD WITH A FORT AND SPANISH BUILDINGS, BUT RATHER A LIVING AND BREATHING CITY.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INITIATING THIS CHANGE, AND I URGE YOU TO MAKE IT PERMANENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CHARLES PAPPAS IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY JENNY BULLARD.

THAT IS MY LAST CARD, JENNY BULLARD SO IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN A CARD IN.

THANK YOU. CHARLES PAPPAS, MCKERROW STREET, SAINT AUGUSTINE.

CLOSING THE STREET WILL EVENTUALLY INCREASE THE VALUE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ON SPANISH.

SAINT GEORGE STREET IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW MAKING IT PEDESTRIAN ONLY CAN GREATLY IMPROVE BUSINESS.

IT WILL BRING NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES LIKE CAFES OR RETAIL, WHO PAY MUCH MORE PER SQUARE FOOT THAN OFFICE SPACE DOES.

VERY RARELY DO WE HAVE A SITUATION WHICH GREATLY IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF RESIDENTS AND CREATE NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.

I PERSONALLY NOW WALK THIS STREET EVERY DAY.

I DIDN'T BEFORE BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A MESS BECAUSE OF THE TRUCKS PARKING, ONCE WE GET THAT LOADING ZONE WHERE IT BELONGS, THIS WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL STREET.

AND I'M SURE OTHERS WILL FOLLOW ME, WHICH IS A WHOLE PLETHORA OF NEW CONSUMERS THAT ARE WALKING DOWN, MUCH LIKE SAINT GEORGE STREET AND OTHER WALKABLE STREETS.

[00:50:09]

AS FAR AS THE COMPROMISE, IF YOU DO THIS PART TIME, IT ONLY BECOMES MORE CONFUSING FOR THE TOURISTS, ESPECIALLY THE TOURISTS, THE RESIDENTS, OURSELVES AND ESPECIALLY DRIVERS. WE GO THERE, IT WAS OPEN TODAY, YESTERDAY.

WHY IS IT NOT TODAY? AND YOU END UP WITH THE CIRCLING AROUND WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT.

THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE POSITIVES.

I MYSELF WAS A PAST BUSINESS OWNER, ALSO PAST COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNER AND ALSO A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND QUITE OFTEN WE GET THIS, THE FIRST REACTION FROM BUSINESSES IS ALWAYS NEGATIVE, AND STILL THEY START THINKING ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THERE IS PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY HERE.

THE ONLY THING I WOULD CONSIDER LOOKING AT IS ALLOWING THE HORSE AND CARRIAGES TO STILL USE THIS STREET.

SO HOW DO YOU WRITE THIS? I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THAT OPPORTUNITY COMES ALONG, IT WOULD STILL BE POSSIBLE.

I URGE YOU TO APPROVE THIS.

THANK YOU.

LAST SPEAKER CARD IS JENNY BULLARD.

LIKE I SAID, IF ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK, PLEASE FILL OUT A CARD AND PRESENT IT.

HELLO AND GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY ON THIS WHOLE PROJECT.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S A HUGE IMPROVEMENT.

I, AS A LONG TIME RESIDENT AND DOWNTOWN DOG WALKER, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THE CURRENT SITUATION AT SPANISH STREET.

AND JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS VISITING WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WAS WALKING MY DOG AND THERE WERE MULTITUDES.

I HAVE PICTURES OF FAMILIES WITH BABY CARRIAGES LITERALLY ENJOYING STROLLING DOWN THE STREET, AND I WOULD I RECOMMEND THAT YOU KEEP IT PERMANENT THE WAY IT IS.

AND AS FAR AS I'M SORRY ABOUT THE ONE BUSINESS OWNER THAT HAS AN ISSUE, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IS ONE BUSINESS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR RESIDENCES OR WHATEVER WAS MENTIONED.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WALK DOWN THAT STREET AND THEY WOULD APPRECIATE IT AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

WE'RE BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS AND FOLLOW UP.

VICE MAYOR. OH, I DIDN'T MEAN TO GO FIRST.

[LAUGHTER] WELL, YOU HATE GOING LAST.

IT'S OKAY. I DON'T LIKE BEING LAST, EITHER.

ON THE VOTE. YEAH.

THAT'S TRUE. WELL, I HAVE A.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL START.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD THINGS SAID TONIGHT FROM THE LOCAL PEOPLE.

THE RESIDENTS.

ONE THING THAT I THINK ABOUT IS THAT THE PEDESTRIAN VISIBILITY, THE INCREASE OF PEDESTRIANS BECAUSE OF THE CLOSURE, IS AN ADDED BENEFIT TO THAT PARTICULAR BUSINESS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY DRIVE TO THE BUSINESS TO ACTUALLY WALK IN OFF THE STREET.

AND YOU BE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO RENT OR WHATEVER.

SO IT'S NOT ONLY A LIVABILITY ISSUE FOR THE RESIDENTS THERE, WHICH I CERTAINLY SUPPORT, BECAUSE THAT IS A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR OUR VISION.

AND I RAN 12 YEARS AGO AND MAINTAINED IT EVERY TIME I RAN THAT.

IT IS A BALANCE BETWEEN BUSINESS, TOURISTS, RESIDENTS, AND IT'S A VERY HARD THING TO BALANCE THESE NEEDS.

BUT THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT EVEN BY ACCESS BY CAR TODAY, YOU PUT AN ADDRESS IN YOUR GPS AND YOU GO RIGHT TO IT.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A DRIVE BY SITUATION, BY CLOSING THIS, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO DRIVE BY THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

THE ISSUE WAS MADE THAT THERE WAS SIGNAGE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY WHICH WOULD HELP ITS VISIBILITY.

AND WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT SOME SIGNAGE AT CORDOVA FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE BACK ON THE SPANISH AREA.

I THINK IT'S SAFER TO HAVE IT CLOSED.

I THINK THE LIVABILITY IS IMPROVED FOR THE RESIDENTS AND PEDESTRIANS, TOURISTS AND EVEN SOME OF OUR PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO WALK THEIR DOGS AND AND ENJOY THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.

ANYWAY, THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS INITIALLY, SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF OF KEEPING IT THE WAY IT IS.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER GARRIS.

[00:55:02]

WELL A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE IS I WENT DOWN TO SPANISH STREET WHEN IT WAS UNDER RENOVATION A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND IT WAS LIKE CAGED IN.

AND THEY HAD WENT THROUGH THAT FOR MONTHS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

AND THEN IT FINALLY GOT DONE AND THEY WERE PATIENT.

THEY CAME IN HERE, THEY WEREN'T COMPLAINING.

THEY JUST EAGERLY WAITED FOR IT TO GET DONE.

AND THEN FOR THE GRAND OPENING AND SEEING THE ENTHUSIASM, NOT ONLY THAT, I GOT TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THERE WITH THOSE CAGES AND STUFF UP.

AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO, LIKE, SQUEEZE OVER, AND THEY WERE ROLLING THROUGH WITH THOSE BABY STROLLERS AND EVERYTHING, EVEN WHEN IT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT THOSE LITTLE HOUSES DOWN THERE, BECAUSE THEY'RE ANTIQUE, AND IT'S KIND OF ALMOST LIKE A NORMAN ROCKWELL KIND OF VIBE OR SOMETHING THAT IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT YOU DON'T SEE IN OUR CITY CORRIDOR.

IT'S SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY'RE SO AGED, THEY'RE HISTORIC, AND SO IT'S UNIQUE.

AND I CAN SEE WHY THERE'S SO MUCH TRAFFIC OF PEOPLE WALKING.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WALKING AT DIFFERENT TIMES JUST GOING DOWN THERE JUST TO SEE HOW IT WAS.

AND I DID GO DOWN THERE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE AT THE REMAX PLACE.

THEY WERE NOT OPEN.

AND I DID GO DOWN THERE AND TALK TO THE LADY THAT HAS THE STORE ON THE CORNER OF SPANISH STREET AND RIGHT THERE I GUESS THAT'S THAT OTHER STREET. AND I TALKED TO HER AND SHE WAS DELIGHTED THAT THE STREET WAS CLOSED.

AND SHE ALSO SAID THAT SHE HAS MORE BUSINESS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WALKING.

AND JUST THINK ABOUT IT, IF YOU'RE DRIVING IN A CAR AND YOU DON'T SEE AN IMMEDIATE PARKING SPOT, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP ON ROLLING.

BUT IF YOU'RE WALKING, YOU'LL BE LIKE, OH, LET ME CHECK OUT THIS PLACE.

AND ALSO AS FAR AS THEM BEING A REAL ESTATE, A LOT OF PEOPLE DO A LOT OF STUFF ONLINE, SO THE BUSINESS WOULD STILL BENEFIT FROM TRAVEL ONLINE AS WELL AS PEOPLE COMING THERE.

AND GOING BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL PLAN, WE DID INDICATE THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE SOME PARKING FOR MISS WHETSTONE'S BUSINESS IN THE LOT SO THAT THEY COULD PARK THERE, AND THEY WOULD THEY COULD JUST TURN AROUND AND GO OUT.

WHEN WE DID THIS INITIATIVE, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THAT STREET.

AND I LISTENED TO THE GENTLEMAN, CHARLES PAPPAS, WHERE HE WAS SAYING THAT HE GOES DOWN THAT STREET MORE I LISTENED TO SOMEONE SAYING ABOUT SAFETY, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE STREET BECAUSE IT IS CONFUSING.

IF I'M ROLLING DOWN A STREET AT THIS TIME OF DAY, AND THEN LATER I'M GOING TO GO BACK DOWN THAT STREET AND SAY, HOW IS IT CLOSED? SO THAT MIGHT CAUSE A NEW DANGER EVEN DURING THE PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE HAD, SOMEBODY CRASHED INTO SOMEBODY'S FENCE OVER THERE ON SPANISH STREET.

EVEN WHEN IT WAS CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION, SOON AS THEY OPEN IT UP, THEY CRASHED RIGHT INTO THEIR HOUSE.

THAT SAME HOUSE THAT SOMEBODY CRASHED INTO AND CRASHED INTO THE WOMAN'S BEDROOM.

I THINK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO A WALKABLE CITY, WHICH THE COMMISSION TALKS A LOT ABOUT.

AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE WINDOWS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO CREATE THAT ENVIRONMENT.

AND I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IT SHOULD STAY THE SAME.

AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE I'M PRO RESIDENTS VERSUS BUSINESSES BECAUSE BUSINESS IS IMPORTANT.

IT BRINGS REVENUE.

BUT I THINK IN THIS SITUATION THAT THOSE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WALK THAT STREET DAILY AND FEEL SAFE, THAT THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HOLD THEIR KIDS HAND, IS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT SPANISH STREET.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COMMISSIONER BLONDER.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING SO CLEARLY AND MOVINGLY ARTICULATING SO MANY OF THE POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES OF THIS REDIRECTION.

AND I DO WANT TO SAY I JUST WANT TO QUOTE RIGHT FROM THE BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT, REDIRECT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

WE'RE NOT PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM DRIVING IN THIS CITY.

WE'RE REDIRECTING THEM TO PLACES THAT ARE MORE APPROPRIATE.

AND WE HAVE NOT WE HAVEN'T CLOSED OFF ACCESS TO ANY BUSINESS WHATSOEVER.

IN FACT, WE'VE PROBABLY IMPROVED IT AND IN SO DOING ALSO IMPROVED SAFETY.

I WILL REITERATE THAT I FOR THE 23 SOMETHING YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN LIVING HERE, I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO COMMUTE TO MY PLACE OF WORK ON A DAILY BASIS, EITHER ON A BICYCLE OR WALKING.

[01:00:03]

AND TO ME I CHOOSE THAT.

EXERCISE IS GREAT, STEPS ARE GREAT, BUT I CHOOSE IT BECAUSE I ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH PEOPLE.

I INTERACT WITH BUSINESS OWNERS.

OH YEAH, I NEED A BIRTHDAY CARD OR WHATEVER.

I'LL STOP IN HERE.

I NEED A CUP OF COFFEE, I'LL STOP IN HERE.

I DON'T HAVE TO HUNT FOR PARKING.

I'M NOT IN THE BUBBLE OF AN AUTOMOBILE.

I'M OUT IN THE CITY.

AND THAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME, CHARLES, I KNOW IS WALKING ALL THE TIME IS INVALUABLE.

BUT WHAT YOU KNOW, OUR TOURISTS WHO COME HERE AND VISIT, THEY GET A TRULY AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY WALK DOWN SPANISH STREET.

AND I'VE SEEN THOSE RESIDENTS THERE WELCOME PEOPLE TO THEIR FRONT PORCH AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN VERY MANY PLACES AT ALL.

AND I THINK IT'S UNIQUE AND SOMETHING TO BE TREASURED.

AND I ABSOLUTELY 100% SUPPORT MAKING THIS A PERMANENT CHANGE.

I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE AND I DON'T MEAN THIS DISRESPECTFULLY, BUT MISS WHETSTONE, YOU DID OUTLINE THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER STREETS IN THIS CITY THAT ARE THAT ARE VERY MUCH IN KEEPING WITH BOTH OUR MOBILITY PLAN, OUR SAFETY CONCERNS AND SO FORTH.

AND I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS A MORE WALKABLE CITY BY LOOKING AT SOME MORE OF THESE STREETS AND WEIGHING THE IMPACTS TO BUSINESSES.

I THINK THAT I KNOW SAINT GEORGE STREET DOES A GREAT JOB OF ATTRACTING PEOPLE INTO THEIR SHOPS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WALKING BY.

SO I SUPPORT IT 100%.

LET'S MAKE IT PERMANENT.

OKAY. I TOO AM IN SUPPORT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DATA THAT WOULD SEND ME ANY DIRECTION JUST NOT PROVIDING ANYTHING, AND I KNOW IT'S HARD TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF DATA.

BUT THE BUSINESSES ON THAT STREET KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE CLOSED BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION STARTED.

AND IT WAS CLOSED.

AND THERE WAS DATA BEFORE THAT WAS PROVIDED BY RESIDENTS.

AND I TOO HAVE WALKED THAT STREET WAY MORE THAN I USED TO.

AND IT IS ALWAYS CROWDED WITH PEOPLE.

AND I'M ALSO SOMEBODY WHO LIKES TO GO TO TOWN AND LOOK AT REAL ESTATE OFFICES, AND I STAY THERE IN THE WINDOW.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT WALK UPS WILL IT WILL OCCUR.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO TOWN WILL GPS TO A REAL ESTATE OFFICE, OR WILL CALL AHEAD AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS.

I THINK THAT BUSINESS IS PROBABLY CHANGING LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IS CHANGING.

SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF IT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BECOME AN ATTRACTION FOR TOURISTS FOR FREE TO WALK ON THAT STREET.

SO I'M IN FAVOR OF IT.

THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY IN THE HEALTHY DEBATE THAT WE HEARD THE HEALTHY CIVIL DEBATE THAT WE HEARD FROM THE PODIUM THIS EVENING, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE WHEN PEOPLE BRING THEIR BEST EFFORTS FORWARD AND THEIR BEST POINTS ON WHY THEY WANT TO SEE THIS.

WE ALL WANT THIS TO BE A BETTER COMMUNITY AND WE JUST MAYBE SEE GETTING THERE A DIFFERENT WAY.

BUT I HAVE A COUPLE POINTS TO GO THROUGH.

I DISPUTE THE IDEA THAT THIS IS A NEGATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC VIBRANCY IT'S IMPORT IT IS IN OUR MISSION STATEMENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, AND CERTAINLY WE WOULD NOT INTENTIONALLY DO ANYTHING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT A BUSINESS.

AND ON THAT LIGHT, I BELIEVE THAT THIS $3 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE ON THE STREET IS PROOF THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING NOT JUST RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO BUSINESSES IN THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT AND THE ESTHETIC IMPROVEMENT, AND THIS HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM DOWNTOWN. THE DOWNTOWN STREET REVITALIZATION PROJECT.

SO THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVE ECONOMIC OUTCOME.

ALSO BASED ON MY PAST EXPERIENCE.

I MOVED HERE, RIGHT.

NOT ORIGINALLY FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK I AM JUST BECAUSE MY FAMILY GOES BACK HERE SO MANY YEARS, BUT I ACTUALLY DIDN'T MOVE HERE UNTIL 1984.

I HAD SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE CITY, BUT IN THAT TIME, THE SAINT GEORGE STREET HAD JUST CLOSED AND THERE HAD BEEN A HUGE DEBATE.

LIKE MISS [INAUDIBLE] SAID WHEN SHE BROUGHT IT UP, THERE WAS A HUGE DEBATE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY MRS. WHETSTONE'S BROTHER THAT WAS ON THE COMMISSION THAT APPROVED CLOSING SAINT GEORGE STREET.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING TIME AND THEY WERE VERY FORWARD THINKING IN THOSE DAYS.

SO THEY CLOSED IT.

AND NOW TODAY IT IS THE MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE IN THE CITY.

IT IS MOST VALUABLE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THE CITY.

[01:05:02]

SO IT IS GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS SO BUSY THAT WE'RE GETTING SPILLOVER INTO THE SIDE STREETS, HENCE SPANISH STREET BEING.

SO, I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE ECONOMIC LOSS ARGUMENT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE JUST LIKE MR. PAPPAS SAID, IN THE FUTURE, IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN INCREASINGLY VALUABLE.

AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T DISPLACE THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE LOVE IT THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE DOWN THERE AND VERY HAPPY.

SO AND THAT BEING SAID, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

ACCORDING TO OUR COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, IT IS SOMETHING LIKE COMMISSIONER BLONDER BROUGHT UP THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AN INITIATIVE FOR US FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND THAT IS WHERE YOU'RE LEVELING CARS AND PEOPLE ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD.

YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT SAFER.

INSTEAD OF CAR DOMINATING EVERYTHING, YOU'RE ALLOWING PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS TO ACTUALLY MOVE FREELY THROUGH THIS BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC CITY.

AND FINALLY, ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I DIDN'T HEAR, ALTHOUGH MAYBE THOSE WERE BROUGHT UP EARLIER, BUT THIS IDEA, WE'VE HAD THE TOLOMATO LOT PLAN FOR A LONG TIME, AND THIS ALLOWS US TO BETTER ORGANIZE AND IMPLEMENT THAT AND HELP THE FREIGHT MOVEMENT IN OUR CITY.

THIS IS GOING TO MAKE MOVE US WAY DOWN THE ROAD.

MS. WHETSTONE BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF THIS HERSELF.

SO WE BELIEVE.

I BELIEVE THAT WITH A BETTER FREIGHT MOVEMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THAT LOT, IT WILL BENEFIT THE BUSINESS.

SO I THINK THERE'S TREMENDOUS IT'S MAYBE A HALF FULL GLASS, HALF EMPTY GLASS KIND OF WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS. SO THAT'S MY TAKE ON THIS.

AND I THINK WE'RE READY TO HEAR A MOTION BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT HERE.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION? NO, SIR.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION.

OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT.

WE PASS ORDINANCE 2024-33, READ BY TITLE ONLY.

I SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-33, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, CREATING SECTION 22-169, A NEWLY NAMED STREET LOCATED ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE TOLOMATO LOT BETWEEN SPANISH STREET AND CORDOVA STREET, CREATING SECTION 22-337 STREET CLOSING TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

THE SECTION OF SPANISH STREET BETWEEN TOLOMATO LANE AND ORANGE STREET AND CLOSING TO THROUGH VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

THE SECTION OF SPANISH STREET BETWEEN CUNA STREET AND A NEWLY NAMED STREET, DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-169, AMENDING SECTION 24-13, REVERSING THE ONE WAY TRAFFIC DESIGNATION FROM EAST TO WEST ON CUNA STREET BETWEEN SPANISH STREET AND CORDOVA STREET, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.

PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

BARBARA BLONDER. YES.

CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES.

JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES.

ROXANNE HORVATH. YES.

NANCY. SIKES-KLINE. YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM IS WE HAVE UNDER STAFF REPORTS, ITEM 10A ANASTASIA ISLAND FIRE STATION

[10.A. Anastasia Island Fire Station Discussion. (R. Franklin, Assistant City Manager)]

DISCUSSION. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE JUST A SECOND, WE'LL LET THE ROOM CLEAR SO PEOPLE CAN LEAVE, AND WE'LL TAKE UP OUR DISCUSSION. THAT IS A VERY WELL BEHAVED AUDIENCE.

YES. THEY ARE LEAVING VERY QUIETLY.

PASSIONATE AND COMMITTED AND ON ALL SIDES.

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.

OKAY. I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OF LEAVING QUIETLY.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

REUBEN FRANKLIN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

AND THIS EVENING, I WANT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO OUR SEARCH TO BUILD A NEW FIRE STATION ON ANASTASIA ISLAND.

SO I'M GOING TO GIVE JUST A BRIEF HISTORY OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS EVENING.

AND THEN I'M ALSO GOING TO ASK CHIEF AVILES TO COME UP TO TALK ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES, FOLLOWED BY MS. BREIDENSTEIN TO COME UP TO TALK ABOUT FINANCING OPTIONS.

[01:10:05]

SO I'LL START WITH INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND.

I'LL GO OVER THE RED COX ROAD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.

SHOW YOU THE PROPOSED FIRE STATION CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN.

AT THAT TIME, CHIEF AVILES WILL COME UP TO TALK ABOUT THE RESPONSE TIMES FOLLOWED BY MS. BREIDENSTEIN. SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO SOLVE TWO PROBLEMS FOR THE CITY, SPECIFICALLY ON THE ISLAND.

THE FIRST HAS BEEN A LONG TIME ISSUE AT THE INTERSECTION OF RED COX ROAD AND ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.

THERE'S BEEN MANY ACCIDENTS ON THAT CURVE.

THE PROBLEM IS GEOMETRY.

SO WE HAVE GOTTEN WITH THE STATE AND THEY HAVE A PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT AS THE SOLUTION.

IN ORDER TO DO THE ROUNDABOUT, WE NEED TO FIND A NEW LOCATION FOR THE FIRE STATION.

THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE FIRE STATION IS OLD.

AND SO WE NEED TO BUILD A MODERN FIRE STATION FOR THE ISLAND TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS, CITY RESIDENTS AND COUNTY RESIDENTS AS WELL.

SO THIS SET US DOWN A PATH OF TRYING TO FIND A NEW LOCATION FOR A FIRE STATION.

AND OUR FIRST ATTEMPT WAS PART OF STATE PROPERTY, PART OF ANASTASIA STATE PARK, ACROSS FROM THE AMPHITHEATER.

WE HAD TO GO IN FRONT OF THE STATE THEIR ACQUISITION AND RESTORATION COUNCIL.

THEY ULTIMATELY TURNED DOWN OUR PROPOSAL AND VOTED NO.

SO SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOT GIVEN UP.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SITES THAT WE COULD DEVELOP INTO OUR NEW FIRE STATION.

THE SECOND PROPOSED SITE, WE WERE LOOKING AT WHERE THE CITY'S EXISTING SKATE PARK WAS.

THE REASON BEING WITH THESE TWO IS WE OWN THE STATE WAS EITHER GOING TO GIVE US A LEASE FOR VERY REASONABLE PRICE.

THE SKATE PARK IS A CITY CONTROLLED, SO WE GET OUT OF THE REAL ESTATE OF THE BURDEN OF HAVING TO BUY NEW PROPERTY.

THROUGH DUE DILIGENCE.

WE FOUND THAT THAT SKATE PARK WAS DEVELOPED WITH A FRDAP GRANT FROM THE STATE AND THEREFORE IS ENCUMBERED AND WE CANNOT TOUCH IT.

SO THAT SENT US LOOKING FOR OTHER SITES, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ALONG THE CORRIDOR.

WE LOOKED AT 1035 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD THAT USED TO BE THE OLD CHRISTE BLUE RETAIL SHOP.

IT'S JUST TOO SMALL.

IT WAS JUST OVER 0.6 ACRES.

WE WALKED THE SITE AND WE JUST COULDN'T MAKE IT WORK.

SO THAT BRINGS US TO OUR FOURTH PROPOSED SITE, WHICH IS 500 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.

THIS IS WHERE BLUEWATER JEWELERS EXIST TODAY.

IT'S A 1.27 ACRE SITE WITH MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS TO PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, AND WE FOUND THAT IT IS FEASIBLE TO BUILD THE FIRE STATION THAT WE NEED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. SO I WON'T HARP ON THIS TOO MUCH BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN OUT HERE, BUT THIS IS THE PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT.

AS SOON AS WE RELOCATE OR FIND A NEW SPOT FOR THE FIRE STATION, WE CAN GET WITH DOT TO START THE DESIGN IN EARNEST ON THIS.

NOW DOT MOVES IN FIVE YEAR INCREMENTS, SO WHEN WE START, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THE NEXT YEAR, BUT THE BALL WILL BE IN MOTION TO BRING THIS IMPROVEMENT TO THE ISLAND. THESE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES OF SOME CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS WE DID FOR THE SITE PLAN TO SHOW THE FIRE STATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IS IT CAN BE CONFIGURED IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO WE ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT WITH THE ROOM THAT THE 1.27 ACRES PROVIDES.

WE HAVE ACCESS OFF OF CAMARES AVENUE MOULTRIE PLACE AND ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.

IT IS IN A FLOOD ZONE.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE OTHER SITES DID NOT HAVE.

THEY WERE ACTUALLY OUT OF A FLOOD ZONE.

SO IF THIS SITE IS CHOSEN, WE BUILD IT.

WE WILL BUILD IT UP AND OUT OF THE FLOOD ZONE.

SO IT'S NOT IMPACTED BY FLOODING.

IT'S ZONED COMMERCIAL CL-2.

IT IS LOCATED WITHIN ANASTASIA BOULEVARD ENTRY CORRIDOR.

SO IT WILL BE SUBJECT TO ITS DESIGN STANDARDS.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CONCEPT ON THE RIGHT WITH THE STATION PULLED CLOSER TO THE ROAD, IS PROBABLY MORE FITTING WITH THE DESIGN STANDARDS.

WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF TO TALK ABOUT THE RESPONSE TIMES.

GOOD EVENING.

SO WE LOOKED AT THIS AND REALLY WANTED TO ANSWER THREE PRIMARY QUESTIONS AS IT RELATES TO RESPONSE TIMES FOR FOLKS ON THE ISLAND.

WE TOOK THREE SAMPLE BENCHMARKS.

THE FIRST ONE WAS THE YMCA ON POPE ROAD, THE SECOND FROM SUNSET POINT, AND THEN THE VERY BACK END OF THE ANTIGUA NEIGHBORHOOD. AND DID ALL OF THESE MEASURED FROM 500 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.

SO REALLY WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, NUMBER ONE, IS THAT TAKING THOSE FURTHEST POINTS, EVERYTHING REMAINED WITHIN FIVE ROAD MILES OF THE PROPOSED LOCATION. AND SO THAT WOULD HAVE NO ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY'S PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSIFICATION OR OUR ISO SCORE FROM ISO,

[01:15:08]

IN ORDER FOR WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, IS ALL BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WITHIN FIVE ROAD MILES OF THE STATION BY ISO STANDARDS ARE CONSIDERED CLASSIFIED.

WE WOULD NOT LOSE OUR ISO SCORE, BUT WE WOULD RESULT IN A SPLIT RATING OF A1/1X, MEANING THAT EVERYONE WITHIN FIVE ROAD MILES WOULD BE CONSIDERED PROTECTED. ANYBODY OUTSIDE OF THAT FIVE MILE DISTANCE WOULD NOT.

BUT THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE HERE WITH THE PROPOSED SITE AT 500 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.

SECOND, WE LOOKED AT THE AVERAGE TRAVEL TIME BETWEEN THE PROPOSED SITE AND THE EXISTING FIRE STATION.

SO WE DID THIS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, NO LIGHTS OR SIRENS, AND THE AVERAGE TRAVEL TIME FOR US ENDED UP BEING RIGHT AT 46 SECONDS.

SO LESS THAN A ONE MINUTE DIFFERENCE IN OVERALL RESPONSE TIMES.

AND THEN WE LOOKED AT RESPONSE TIMES IN GENERAL.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, WE YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY RESPONSE TIMES WILL CHANGE BECAUSE WE'RE CHANGING THE LOCATION OF THE STATION.

SO BUT A LOT OF THAT WOULD DEPEND ON WHERE THE INCIDENT IS TAKING PLACE.

AND BUT OUR BELIEF IS THAT THE NET AVERAGE FOR RESPONSE TIMES FOR THAT ZONE OR THAT TERRITORY WILL BE RELATIVELY UNCHANGED.

SO THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME RIGHT NOW IS THREE MINUTES AND 58 SECONDS.

THAT KEEPS US IN COMPLIANCE WITH NFPA 1710, WHICH REQUIRES THE FIRST UNIT TO BE ON SCENE WITHIN 240 SECONDS, WHICH IS FOUR MINUTES.

SO WHILE THOSE FOLKS ALONG THE 312 CORRIDOR MAY SEE A LESS THAN ONE MINUTE INCREASE IN THEIR RESPONSE TIMES, AS WE LOOK AT IT AS A NET AVERAGE, THE FOLKS IN NORTH AND SOUTH DAVIS SHORES WOULD BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF A DECREASED RESPONSE TIME, SO WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE AVERAGE WILL CHANGE MUCH.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE DO TRACK THAT DATA FAIRLY REGULARLY.

BUT THAT IS IT FOR RESPONSE TIME SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSIFICATIONS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF ME AS IT RELATES TO THAT? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS ONE, BUT ONCE DOT STARTS CONSTRUCTION, IF THIS GOES THROUGH ON THAT FIX FOR THAT INTERSECTION THAT THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR RESPONSE TIMES.

IT WILL. YEAH.

AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD AFFECT THESE RATINGS? SO IT'S ALL GOING TO DEPEND ON WHEN WE GET SURVEYED NEXT FROM ISO.

SO WE SHOULD BE ON A FIVE YEAR CYCLE TO BE SURVEYED FROM THEM.

SO A LOT OF THAT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON TIMING.

AND WHEN EVERYTHING GETS DONE I THINK ONE THING TO TO NOTE IS THAT THESE AVERAGES, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE RESPONSE TIMES, ARE ALL BASED ON IDEAL CONDITIONS.

THAT'S NOT OFTENTIMES THE CASE.

SO THE SINGLE GREATEST BENEFIT IS HAVING THE MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS OUT ONTO THE BOULEVARD.

NOW, WHERE IT WOULD NOT BE UNCOMMON WHEN SCHOOL'S LETTING OUT AND THE BUS LINES ARE QUEUED UP IN FRONT OF THE STATION, OR DURING THE SUMMER IN THE AFTERNOONS WHEN WE HAVE BOAT TRAILERS AND FOLKS ARE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT OFF OF RED COX FOR US TO HAVE A DELAYED IN RESPONSE TIME BECAUSE WE PHYSICALLY CAN'T GET OUT OF THE STATION. SO WHILE EVERYTHING THAT WE MEASURED IS BASED ON AVERAGES AND IDEAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THOSE ONE OFF.

YOU KNOW, ODDITIES WOULD BE DECREASED WITH HAVING THE MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS THERE.

MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

DO YOU PROJECT HAVING A LIGHT AT THE MOULTRIE PLACE SO THAT THAT GIVES YOU QUICK ACCESS GOING SOUTH ON ANASTASIA? WOULD IT JUST IT COULD BE A STOP LIGHT, BUT IT ALSO COULD BE THE FLASHING LIGHT LIKE THEY USED AT THE COUNTY FIRE STATION, US 1 SOUTH.

YES. THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.

WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THE DOT AND THEN DO A SEPARATE ANALYSIS OF WHICH ACCESS WOULD BE BEST TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT YEAH, THE LONG TERM GOAL WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD INCORPORATE SOME SORT OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE TO HELP GET US OUT OFF ONTO THE BOULEVARD QUICKLY.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, MS. BREIDENSTEIN.

DON'T PEOPLE USUALLY STOP WHEN YOU PUT ON YOUR SIRENS AND STUFF AND MS. GARRIS. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, COULD YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS? OKAY. I WAS SAYING, DON'T PEOPLE NORMALLY STOP? I KNOW I DO. I MEAN, I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT STOPPED WHEN I SEE THE FIRE TRUCK COMING THROUGH.

DON'T THEY NORMALLY STOP IF YOU TRY TO PULL OUT? I MEAN, IF YOU DIDN'T GAIN ACCESS FROM DOT, DON'T THEY? USUALLY, YES, BUT HAVING A SIGNALIZED TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE THERE THAT WE COULD CONTROL TO GET FOLKS OUT QUICKLY GIVES THEM A LOT MORE REACTION TIME THAN IT WOULD TO US TRYING TO GET OUT ONTO THE ROAD THERE.

I KNOW THAT'S WHY YOU CREATED THE ONE ON US 1, RIGHT? CORRECT. AND SO WITH THAT ONE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY UPDATED THE BRIDGE, LIKE TEN YEARS AGO, THEY CHANGED IT FROM A FLASHING LIGHT TO A SOLID GREEN LIGHT

[01:20:09]

TO REDUCE COMPLACENCY WITH DRIVERS MOVING ALONG THAT AREA.

SO THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE STUDIES AND WE'D HAVE TO GET THE DOT INVOLVED FOR ME TO GIVE YOU AN ACCURATE ANSWER ON WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT I KNOW THAT WILL BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HI, MEREDITH BREIDENSTEIN.

I'M JUST HERE TO REALLY GET SOME CONSENSUS FROM YOU ALL AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS DECISION.

WE'VE GOTTEN SOME VERY EARLY FIGURES FROM OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR ON WHAT A DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR A BORROWING FOR NOT ONLY PURCHASE, BUT CONSTRUCTION OF A FIRE STATION. AGAIN, THOSE HAVE BEEN VERY EARLY CONVERSATIONS.

SO WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR TONIGHT IS IF YOU ALL DO WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEGOTIATIONS ON THIS PROPERTY, THAT YOU ALSO ALLOW US TO REALLY START LOOKING AT WHAT BORROWING NUMBERS WOULD LOOK LIKE TO WORK WITH OUR FINANCE TEAM, OUR LEGAL TEAM, OUR OUTSIDE BOND COUNSEL AND OUR OUTSIDE FINANCIAL ADVISORS TO LOOK AT WHAT THAT DEBT WOULD BE AT THAT TIME.

WE WILL COME TO YOU WITH HOPEFULLY BETTER ESTIMATES ON WHAT THIS PROJECT WOULD COST AND ALSO POTENTIAL OPTIONS ON ADDING OTHER PROJECTS OR PURCHASES TO A BORROWING THAT MAKES BUDGETARY SENSE FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

SO WE WOULD LOOK FOR CONSENSUS ON THAT AS YOU MAKE THIS DECISION.

AND IF YOU DO WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH MORE DETAIL ON BORROWING AT A FUTURE MEETING AND ALSO A REFUND RESOLUTION, WHICH WHAT THAT MEANS IS BECAUSE A BOND CLOSING CAN TAKE TIME IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PURCHASE OR ANY OTHER FIRST STEPS ON THIS, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AND THEN PAY OURSELVES BACK ONCE THE BOND CLOSES.

SO IT'S A FORMALITY.

THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON.

I CAN BRING THAT TO YOU IN THE NOVEMBER MEETING, BUT AGAIN, ALSO WITH MORE DETAIL ON NUMBERS.

I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HAVING THAT FINANCIAL CONVERSATION ON A BORROWING FOR THIS PROJECT.

ALL RIGHT. SO IS THAT THE EXTENT OF THE PRESENTATION.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? JUST TO ADD, WE DID HAVE A PROPERTY APPRAISAL DONE.

IT WAS IN YOUR PACKET.

IT WAS APPRAISED AT $3.8 MILLION.

IF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT, WE WILL HAVE A SCHEDULED PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE FOR NOVEMBER 7TH IN THE ALCAZAR ROOM.

WE WILL ALSO MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO PRESENT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. SO JUST TO BE SPECIFIC, WHAT WOULD WE LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH TONIGHT? IF YOU AUTHORIZE THIS IN CONCEPT, I WILL BEGIN TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PLACE THE PROPERTY UNDER CONTRACT.

AND THEN I'LL BRING THAT BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL.

WE PURCHASED PROPERTY THROUGH RESOLUTION.

SO THIS IS AN YOU'RE NOT APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY TONIGHT.

YOU'RE APPROVING ME TO EXPLORE THE IDEA AND LOOK INTO A CONTRACT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'LL GO THROUGH A PUBLIC OUTREACH EXERCISE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, AND WE'LL BRING THE RESULTS OF THAT BACK TO YOU.

AND MEREDITH WILL BRING BACK A MORE FLESHED OUT OPTIONS FOR FINANCING.

SO THE TO DO LIST WOULD BE, IF WE AUTHORIZED YOU TONIGHT, YOU WOULD GO TO THE COMMUNITY, SEE COMMUNITY INPUT, GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS ET CETERA. ET CETERA.

REGARDING THE MOVE, AND THEN WE WOULD HEAR BACK ON THE FINANCING HOW WE WERE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS.

CORRECT. WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS.

OKAY. DO YOU NEED A FORMAL, A FORMAL? WE WOULD WE DO NEED TO VOTE TO AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED.

SO. BUT I DID HAVE ONE KIND OF COMMENT / QUESTION REGARDING THE SITE PLAN.

WE HAVE THE SITE PLAN UP, SO IT'S PERFECT.

I HAVE I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I USE CAMARES.

I HAVE STOPPED ACTUALLY STOPPED USING CAMARES AVENUE TO EXIT ONTO ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.

I DO ENTER OFF OF ANASTASIA BOULEVARD ONTO CAMARES, BUT TRYING TO COME OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO AT THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION.

IT'S NOT EVEN AN INTERSECTION.

IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY ROUGH.

SO I ACTUALLY GO AROUND TO THE LIGHT THERE AT NORTH MATANZAS, WHICH IS REALLY PRETTY INCONVENIENT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MY SAFETY THAT I DO IT.

[LAUGHTER] BUT I'M LOOKING AT THIS SITE AND I'M THINKING IS, IF POSSIBLE, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT OUR SITE PLANNING, COULD WE POTENTIALLY GIVE US A NEW LANE OR AN ALLEY OR SOME SORT OF INGRESS AND EGRESS SO THAT WE COULD GET OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD A LITTLE BIT SAFER THERE?

[01:25:03]

I NOTICED THAT THE ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, THE LITTLE DRIVEWAY THERE, JUST BARELY CLEARS THE MEDIAN CUT.

AND ON THE WEST SIDE YOU GOT A VERY WIDE MEDIAN CUT, WHICH I ASSUME YOU'RE GOING TO TRY AND STAY WITH THE EXISTING MEDIAN CUTS. BUT MAYBE THERE'S SOME ROOM ON THE WEST SIDE THERE TO CREATE AN ACTUAL WAY TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD JUST TAKE A LOT AWAY FROM MAYBE CHIEF DOESN'T LIKE THE IDEA MUCH, BUT I THINK IT WOULD REALLY HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD IF WE COULD COME OUT THAT WAY INSTEAD OF THE CAMARES AVENUE.

I'M NOT SAYING ELIMINATE CAMARES AVENUE, I'M JUST SAYING GIVING US AN ALTERNATIVE TO N ORTH MATANZAS, WHERE THE LIGHT IS.

SO JUST YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF LAND TO WORK WITH, WHICH IS REALLY NICE.

IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, GOOD.

AND I'M FAVORABLE TO THIS, VERY FAVORABLE TO THIS.

AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN PUT IN, IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING AND IT'S BEEN A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW, BUT Y'ALL DONE GREAT AT PUSHING THROUGH TO FIND US THE SOLUTIONS BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE TO GET THE FIRE STATION OFF THAT CURVE AND MAKE THAT CURVE SAFER FOR EVERYONE.

TOO MANY DEATHS, TOO MANY ACCIDENTS, TOO HIGH A SPEED.

SO WE JUST REALLY GOT TO FIX THAT.

I'D LIKE TO WEIGH IN AND SAY THAT I PREFER THIS, THIS PARTICULAR PLAN THAN THE ONE PRIOR TO IT.

I THINK IT WORKS BETTER TO KEEP THE TRAFFIC OF THE FIRE TRUCKS CLOSER TO ANASTASIA AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT. WE'LL LISTEN TO EVERYBODY.

I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S A BETTER SITE THAN THE ANASTASIA PARK.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DO, I THINK, IS TO MAKE THIS A REAL COMMAND CENTER AND ALSO AN EMERGENCY CENTER.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE LEARNING IN NORTH CAROLINA IS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW.

HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE TO GO? THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WATER WAS GOING TO BE AND WHERE.

AND SO IF WE CAN CREATE THESE CENTERS WHERE WE CAN TELL THE RESIDENTS IF THERE'S NO PHONE.

IF YOU'RE IN REAL TROUBLE, THIS IS WHERE YOU GO.

AND SO WE WOULD HAVE SPACE TO BE ABLE TO STORE WATER IN PREPARATION FOR IT.

SO THIS COULD REALLY TURN OUT TO BE A REALLY IMPORTANT CENTER FOR SAFETY, NOT JUST FIRE AND RESCUE IN THE LONG RUN.

AND I'M REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

I'LL BE BRIEF. I MEAN, YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN TOUGH ON STAFF TO FIND THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON.

AND THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

AND I JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK GETTING US HERE.

AND I AM DEFINITELY SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.

GREAT. COMMISSIONER GARRIS.

I AGREE.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

I'VE TALKED TO THE FIRE CHIEF ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE DISAPPOINTED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PARK AND THEN WE WERE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE AT THE SKATE PARK, AND EVERYTHING SEEMS LIKE ROADBLOCK AFTER ROADBLOCK.

BUT THIS LOCATION HERE, I DROVE BY IT YESTERDAY.

NO, EARLIER TODAY, BECAUSE I WENT TO GET A STRETCH AND I HAD TO GO PAST IT.

AND I LOOKED AT IT AND IT WAS JUST KIND OF SITS THERE BY ITSELF.

SO IT WOULD BE VISIBLE TO ANYBODY LOOKING FOR THE FIRE STATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO CREATE IN YOUR MIND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE WHEN IT'S DONE.

AND IF IT LOOKS ANYTHING LIKE THE MAIN FIRE STATION, IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING BECAUSE FIRE CHIEF CARLOS GOT THAT PLACE LOOKING LIKE A HOTEL.

FIRE STATION IS REALLY GREAT THAT GOING IN THERE.

AND IT JUST WOULD BE SAFE FOR THE RESIDENTS.

THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS THAT A FLOOD AREA.

IS THAT A PRETTY SECURE PLACE AS FAR AS FLOODING? ARE YOU GOING TO ELEVATE YOUR OFFICES UP SO THAT THAT WON'T BE DAMAGED? BECAUSE I KNOW I HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

I WAS HOLDING [INAUDIBLE] TOO LONG SO I DIDN'T GET TO HEAR THE FIRST PART.

SURE. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE ARE JUST CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS AS WE GET INTO ACTUAL DESIGN, THAT THAT WOULD INVOLVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ACCESS FOR EVERYTHING.

BUT THAT RESILIENCY WOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.

AND NOT JUST IN DESIGN BUT ALSO INTO CONSTRUCTION.

KIND OF TO COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD'S POINT, LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE.

THIS IS A, MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN, IN PUBLIC SAFETY HERE FOR THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.

WE WANT THIS TO BE A 50 TO 100 YEAR BUILDING TO REALLY SHORE UP AND ANCHOR PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ANASTASIA ISLAND.

AND SO WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN DO THAT ON THIS SITE.

THAT WILL REQUIRE SOME SITE ELEVATION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HARDEN THE BUILDING AGAINST WIND AND WATER SO THAT IT'S THERE AND VIABLE IN A SAFE PLACE TO RESUME

[01:30:09]

OPERATIONS POST STORM.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

EXCELLENT. OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

SO I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE ANASTASIA ISLAND FIRE STATION TO PROGRESS, TO NEGOTIATE AND TO FURTHER DEVELOP AND COME BACK TO THE BOARD.

ALTHOUGH I WON'T BE HERE, SO I'LL BE WATCHING.

I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

ROXANNE HORVATH. YES.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE.

YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS.

YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD.

YES. BARBARA BLONDER.

YES. YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU CAN BRING BACK.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 10 B.

[10.B. Update on the Status of the City’s Drop-in Day Center and establishing Dining with Dignity at 90/92 South Dixie Highway. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]

DOES ANYONE NEED A BREAK? HAS EVERYBODY BEEN TAKING.

ONE MORE ITEM.

WE HAVE TWO MORE ITEMS. OKAY. WE CAN DO.

WE CAN BLAST THROUGH THIS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT WE CAN BLAST THROUGH THIS ONE, BUT.

OKAY. WE'LL SEE.

THIS IS AN UPDATE.

IT'S ITEM 10 B ON THE CITY'S DROP-IN DAY CENTER AND ESTABLISHING DINING WITH DIGNITY AT 9092 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY.

MISS SKINNER? YES.

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER.