[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
>> GOOD EVENING. WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER HERE, THE REGULAR MEETING FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH AT 5:00 AND COULD YOU CALL ROLL, PLEASE?
>> NANCY SIKES KLINE? ROXANNE HORVATH?
>> NANCY SIKES KLINE, OUR MAYOR HAD ANOTHER COMMITMENT, SO I'LL BE CHAIRING TONIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE ROLL CALL WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THAT HOPEFULLY MY COLLEAGUE, BARBARA BLONDER WILL BE LEADING US IN, SO I NEED MY WATCH TO KNOW WHAT A MOMENT IS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH, [NOISE] IF EVERYBODY BOW YOUR HEADS, AND WE WILL HAVE OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE WILL HAVE THE PLEDGE. [NOISE]
>> PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE.
OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE MODIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE?>> NO CHANGES, AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> I MOVE WE APPROVE THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN.
>> GREAT. ALL OF US IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
>> WE'RE APPROVED. [NOISE] NOW, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT.
[3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS]
RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS. THE FIRST ONE, I'M SO HONORED [LAUGHTER] TO BE INTRODUCING, WE HAVE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL WITH ELIZABETH PAYNE HERE TO ACTUALLY HONOR ME WITH THE PROCLAMATION, WHICH IS [LAUGHTER] A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD [LAUGHTER] BUT ANYWAY, I'M SO THANKFUL TO HAVE IT.I WOULD LIKE THAT ALL OF US COULD COME UP AND THEN BETH, YOU'LL COME UP FRONT WITH US, AND THEN YOU CAN READ IT WITH THE MICROPHONE.
>> HELLO. THIS IS A WONDERFUL HONOR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL OR THE REGIONAL COUNCILS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WE HAVE 10 OF THEM.
OUR NORTHEAST REGIONAL COUNCIL IS MADE UP OF SEVEN COUNTIES, AND I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS DO THAT THE COUNCIL DOES.
THEY FILL IN ALL THESE GAPS, THEY GET THESE GRANTS THAT COORDINATE RECOVERY FROM HURRICANES.
THEY PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE DISABLED, WE HAVE RESILIENCY THAT WE WORK ON.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT IT'S JUST MORE THAN I CAN EVEN EXPRESS, BUT IT IS AN ORGANIZATION.
IF YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO IT, PLEASE DO.
>> THIS TURNED INTO A SALES PITCH FROM ROXANNE, WHICH IS NOT THE INTENT OF THIS.
MY NAME IS BETH PAYNE AND I'M THE CEO OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND TO HAVE HAD THE FORTUNE OF HAVING COMMISSIONER HORVATH BE ON OUR BOARD SINCE 2013.
[00:05:03]
SHE'S ONE OF OUR LONGEST SERVING MEMBERS, AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO TELL YOU-ALL THAT WHEN SHE'S INVOLVED IN SOMETHING, SHE GIVES IT 110% AND SHE'S DONE THAT FOR US OVER THE YEARS.WHILE I'M EXCITED FOR HER TO MOVE ON TO HER NEXT CHAPTER, I'M VERY SAD FOR US THAT WE'RE LOSING SOMEONE LIKE HER, BUT SHE'S CERTAINLY LEFT HER MARK ON THE REGION.
OUR BOARD APPROVED THIS RESOLUTION LAST WEEK, BUT I DID WANT TO COME AND DO THIS HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE IN FRONT OF HER PEERS, SO YOU-ALL KNOW HOW MUCH SHE'S BEEN VALUED TO US OVER THE YEARS.
I'M HAPPY TO READ THE RESOLUTION FOR THE RECORD.
>> SURE. HONORING THE HONORABLE ROXANNE HORVATH, WHEREAS THE HONORABLE ROXANNE HORVATH, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE COMMISSIONER WAS APPOINTED IN FEBRUARY 2013 BY THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO SERVE AS A MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATIVE ON THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WHEREAS COMMISSIONER HORVATH SERVED AS FIRST VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL.
WHEREAS COMMISSIONER HORVATH SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCILS ASSOCIATIONS POLICY BOARD, A STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL COUNCILS, AND WHEREAS COMMISSIONER HORVATH CHAIRED THE NFRC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE AND SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL STRATEGIC REGIONAL POLICY PLANNING COMMITTEE, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE, AND THE AD HOC REGIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD SELECTION COMMITTEE.
WHEREAS, MOST RECENTLY, COMMISSIONER HORVATH VOLUNTEERED HER TALENTS TO ASSUME THE CO-CHAIR POSITION FOR THE RESILIENT FIRST COAST COLLABORATIVE, WHICH PRODUCED THE REGIONAL RESILIENCY ACTION PLAN FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA.
WHEREAS COMMISSIONER HORVATH HAS PROVIDED LEADERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP TO FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS, AND HAS EXHIBITED A SINCERE LOVE OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA THAT HAS ALLOWED HER TO SERVE THE CITIZENS WITH GREAT DISTINCTION, DEVOTION, AND DEDICATION.
WHEREAS HER EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA ARE TO BE CELEBRATED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED AND WILL BE MISSED.
NOW FOR, THERE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE POLICY BOARD OF THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL HEREBY COMMENDS COMMISSIONER HORVATH FOR HER EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS DURING HER TENURE AND EXPRESSES ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HER SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE] YOU WILL BE MISSED.
>> THANK YOU. DON'T MAKE ME CRY.
WE TAKE ONE PICTURE HERE, SO EVERYBODY COME AND CLOSE.
AS IS WE'RE ALL STANDING, WE'LL HAVE COMMISSIONER BLONDER READ IT.
>> ACTUALLY, I'D LIKE TO ASK LABOR SKIP, ONE OF OUR FINE STAFF MEMBERS TO COME UP AND ACCEPT THIS AWARD BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB HEADING UP THE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU. PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY IS AN ICONIC NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES, WHOSE MULTI-GENERATIONAL MIGRATION AND METAMORPHOSIS FROM CATERPILLAR TO BUTTERFLY HAS CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.
WHEREAS BOTH THE WESTERN AND EASTERN MONARCH POPULATIONS HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT DECLINES WITH LESS THAN 1% OF THE WESTERN MONARCH POPULATION REMAINING, WHILE THE EASTERN POPULATION HAS FALLEN BY AS MUCH AS 90%.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE RECOGNIZES THAT HUMAN HEALTH ULTIMATELY DEPENDS ON WELL FUNCTIONING ECOSYSTEMS, AND THAT BIODIVERSE REGIONS CAN BETTER SUPPORT FOOD PRODUCTION, HEALTHY SOIL, AND AIR QUALITY, AND CAN FOSTER HEALTHY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HUMANS AND WILDLIFE.
WHEREAS CITIES TOWNS AND COUNTIES HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE TO PLAY TO HELP SAVE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY, AND THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE IS STRIVING TO BECOME A LEADER.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE HAS SIGNED THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION'S MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE, COMMITTING TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION TO PROTECT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY, AND WHEREAS EVERY RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE MONARCH BY PLANTING NATIVE, MILKWEED AND NECTAR PLANTS TO PROVIDE HABITAT FOR THE MONARCH AND POLLINATORS AND LOCATIONS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, LEARN, PLAY, AND WORSHIP.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2024 AS MONARCH BUTTERFLY MONTH, AND ENCOURAGES ALL CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, AND INSTITUTIONS TO SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE MONARCH CONSERVATION. THANK YOU, [INAUDIBLE]. [APPLAUSE]
>> THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR DOING THIS PLEDGE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE YEARS.
[00:10:02]
WE'RE GOING TO BE PLANTING NATIVE MILKWEED.OUR STREETS AND GROUNDS CREWS ARE GOING TO BE OUT THERE, SO IF YOU SEE THEM, SAY SOMETHING, AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY GARDENS.
ALSO, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE CITYS.COM/MONARCHBUTTERFLIES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROGRAM.
>> WELL DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER]
NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR THREE-MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
I HAVE TO READ THIS LITTLE PIECE OF INFORMATION.AT THIS TIME, WE WILL 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 WILL 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 AND NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS.
THE COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS, BUT WE WILL DIRECT STAFF TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THE ISSUE.
NO PERSON 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 PLEASE SUBMIT THOSE ITEMS TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
[NOISE] I'M GOING TO CALL THE FIRST PERSON WHO'S GOING TO BE JOHN PETRO, AND ROGER WHITE WILL FOLLOW HIM.
IF YOU'LL BE READY, MR. WHITE TO COME UP AND SPEAK NEXT AT THE PODIUM.
IF YOU'LL SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I'M GOING FIRST. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I WAS HERE JUST A FEW DAYS AGO AND LISTENED TO WHAT THEY HAD TO BE SAID ABOUT THE NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I WAS HERE WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER ONE THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO PUT UP ACROSS FROM THE AMP AND HOW MUCH THAT WAS ALL SUPPOSED TO.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD LOCATION AND IT'S TOO BAD THAT IT FELL APART.
NOW THAT THIS OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRANGEMENT IT'S COME ABOUT WHERE THE BLUE WATER IS, I LISTENED TO WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY, AND I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE LOCALS CALLED ME UP AND STARTED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW THIS WAS ALL SUDDENLY CAME TOGETHER SO ABRUPTLY, AND I TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS PARTS OF IT THAT HAVE BEEN IN MOTION BECAUSE OF THE PRIOR THE PRIOR FIRE STATIONS WHERE THEY WERE TRYING TO PUT THE SKATE PARK, THE DIFFERENT THINGS, AND EVEN TO THE POINT OF THE DRAWING, SHE WAS VERY, VERY PUSHED BACK BY IT ALL, BUT I DID TALK TO HER AND SETTLE HER DOWN AND THAT THIS COMING UP, IT IS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE, THE OLD FIRE STATION 50-YEARS-OLD, ONLY HOLDS JUST THE SMALLER FIRE ENGINES, A NEWER STATION.
THE LOCATION, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TALKING ABOUT THE CODE, THE ONE, THE 1X, THE ELEVATIONS, AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT'S RIGHT ON THAT CUSP OF IT, BUT, I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.
THE FIRE STATION THAT EXISTS NOW, THE NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE AROUND IT OVER THERE DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NOISE LEVELS.
I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.
EVENTUALLY, WHEN THEY DO TALK ABOUT IT, I HAVE SOME INPUT AS TO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE FOR THEM TO PUT IN AS A FIRE STATION, SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE.
I DON'T WANT SOME NEW MODERN THING.
IT SHOULD BE LIKE A SPANISH STYLE LOOK, AND IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE CITY.
IT'S GOOD FOR THE HOUSES IN THE AREA, INSURANCE WISE.
[00:15:06]
IF YOU'RE WITHIN A CERTAIN RANGE, I THINK IT'S FIVE MILES, IT DEFINITELY GIVES YOU A BETTER RATING FOR YOUR INSURANCE.AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD MOVE.
I DID COME OUT OF KEY LARGO, AND SO STILL THIS IS A SMALL TOWN LOOK, BUT I HATE SOME TIMES WHERE THIS TENDS TO BE GROWING SO EXCESSIVELY.
>> THE NEWER FIRE STATION WOULD BE GOOD IF IT FITS IN.
IT REALLY NEEDS TO VISUALLY LOOK THE PART AS A FIRE STATION BESIDES BEING FUNCTIONAL.
AND FOR HURRICANES THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE LIKE WASH STATIONS AND FOOD STATIONS A SCENARIO AFTER HURRICANE ANDREW 32 YEARS AGO, THAT REALLY OPENED MY EYES.
>> MR. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ROGER WHITE, AND AFTER ROGER WHITE, IT'LL BE NANCY MURPHY.
>> ROGER WHITE, THREE MARAT STREET, DAVIS SHORES.
AS A RESIDENT OF DAVIS SHORES, I WANT TO THANK THE PERSISTENCE OF THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE WORKED OVER 10 YEARS TO FIND A SUITABLE LOCATION FOR THIS FIRE STATION.
IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO TODAY THAT THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH DAVIS SHORES ROSE UP IN OPPOSITION TO THE 312 FIRE STATION.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY OR I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
I WENT TO TALLAHASSEE TO TESTIFY FOR THE FIRE STATION THAT WAS GOING TO BE ACROSS FROM THE AMPHITHEATER.
I KNOW HOW HARD PEOPLE HAVE WORKED TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A RESOURCE THAT'S GOING TO SAVE LIVES, IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THE SURFACE FOR THE SERVICE FOR ALL PEOPLE ON ANASTASIA ISLAND.
I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF IT, AND I AGAIN, THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
NOTHING IS PERFECT BUT IT'S A RESOURCE THAT WILL ENHANCE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN MANY WAYS THAT WE'VE NOT YET EVEN ENVISIONED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FOLLOWED BY COLLETTE OLDHAM, OLDHAM.
I LIVE AT 22 VARONIS, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TO BE A PRESENT REMINDER THAT ST. AUGUSTINE IS A COMPASSIONATE CITY.
SO I'LL READ EXCERPTS FROM 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 WITH ABSOLUTE 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 INVIOLABLE SANCTITY OF EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING, TREATING EVERYONE WITHOUT EXCEPTION WITH ABSOLUTE JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND RESPECT.
WE URGENTLY NEED TO MAKE COMPASSION A CLEAR, LUMINOUS AND DYNAMIC FORCE IN OUR POLARIZED WORLD.
VIVID IN A PRINCIPLE DETERMINATION TO TRANSCEND SELFISHNESS.
COMPASSION CAN BREAK DOWN POLITICAL, DOGMATIC, IDEOLOGICAL, AND RELIGIOUS BOUNDARIES.
BORN OF OUR DEEP INTERDEPENDENCE, COMPASSION IS ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND TO A FULFILLED HUMANITY.
IT IS THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT AND INDISPENSABLE TO THE CREATION OF A JUST ECONOMY AND A PEACEFUL, GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
ROBIN HAS A CARD ALSO, AND ROBIN WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
ROBIN IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMPASSIONATE ST. AUGUSTINE.
>> GOOD EVENING. I WANTED TO BRING OUR WELL, COMPASSIONATE ST. AUGUSTINE WON THE POSITIVELY JACKS AWARD FOR DOING POSITIVE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR BEING OUR FIRST PURPLE BENCH AMBASSADOR.
SHE STARTED THE WAY FOR MAKING ST. AUGUSTINE A COMPASSIONATE CITY.
AND THIS IS OUR AWARD THAT WE WON FROM THOSE FOR JACK POSITIVELY JACKS AWARD.
I WANTED TO JUST TO BRING IT TO PRESENT IT TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE CITY TO SAY, THANK YOU.
[00:20:09]
>> AFTER COLLETTE OLDHAM, WE HAVE BROOKE CANTU.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS COLLETTE OLDHAM 223 PHOENETIA DRIVE.
I AM HERE TO REPRESENT AND SAY THANK YOU FROM THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN PRESENT A GIVING MACHINE IN DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT WILL BE OPEN IN ST. AUGUSTINE FROM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH UNTIL SUNDAY DECEMBER 15TH AT THE ST. AUGUSTINE VISITORS CENTER PLAZA.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THE GIVING MACHINE WILL BE AVAILABLE ALL HOURS.
HOWEVER, VOLUNTEERS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST FROM 10:00 UNTIL 9:00 EACH DAY.
PHOTOS CAN BE TAKEN THERE, AND IT WILL ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH SPECIAL EVENTS AND INVITATIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST CLARIFY WHAT THE GIVING MACHINE IS.
IT'S A BRIGHT RED VENDING MACHINE, IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.
IT IS SPONSORED BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST THE LATTER DAY SAINTS, BUT THEY COMPLETELY TAKE CARE OF THE EXPENSE FOR THIS AND SO ALL DONATIONS GO TO THE ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE FIVE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, CHARITIES THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED THAT WILL BE RECEIVING FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY, DUVAL COUNTY, ALACHUA COUNTY, PUTNAM COUNTY.
AND THEY'RE SERVING ALL DIFFERENT NEEDS.
PUTNAM'S BOUNTY, SERVING THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO NEED FOOD.
WE HAVE B-A-S-C-A, BASCA, WHICH SERVES DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, OTHER ABILITIES.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THAT.
I HAVE MY TALKING POINTS HERE.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE THAT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TO OUR CITY AND THIS IS ONE OF 100 MACHINES THAT ARE PLACED AT THIS TIME OF YEAR TO BRING JOY AND LIGHT AND FUN TO OTHERS AND TO SERVE THE NEEDS NOT ONLY OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE GLOBAL CHARITIES.
I REALLY INVITE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU. BROOKE CANTU, FOLLOWED BY RUBIO THOMAS.
>> HI. MY NAME IS BROOKE CANTU.
I LIVE AT 1021 ARBOR TRAILS COURT HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO LET THE COMMISSION KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT THOSE OF US THAT WORK DOWNTOWN DURING NIGHTS OF LIFE INCUR AS FAR AS PARKING GOES.
I'M A TOUR GUIDE. I WORK AT NIGHT.
TRYING TO FIND PARKING IS JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE HORRIBLE PROBLEM.
CALL THE GARAGE NUMBER OF TIMES, THEY ARE EITHER CLOSED OR THEY HAVE MINIMUM TIMES.
I TYPICALLY LEAVE ABOUT SIX O'CLOCK.
I LIVE 15 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN IN NORMAL TRAFFIC, AND IT WILL TAKE ME AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET THERE.
I'VE USED THE SHUTTLE LAST YEAR.
THAT WAS A DISASTER FOR AN EMPLOYEE.
I FIRST WENT TO THE SAN MARCO LOT. THAT WAS FULL.
THEN I WENT OVER TO THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK I GOT THE LAST PARKING SPOT THERE.
THERE'S ABOUT 150-175 PEOPLE IN LINE.
I JUST GOT THERE AT 5:30, I BARELY MADE IT TO WORK BY 7:45.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS IF THE CITY WOULD THINK ABOUT OPENING UP FRANCIS FIELD FOR EMPLOYEE PARKING.
YOU'D HAVE MORE SPOTS IN THE PARKING GARAGE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW MY PLAN LAST YEAR AFTER I HAD AN ISSUE WAS I WOULD TAKE MY CAR DOWN TO THE PARKING GARAGE, PAY MY THREE DOLLARS PARK IT AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
WE USUALLY GOT AS FAR AS VILLAGE IN, THEN I WOULD WALK INTO THE CITY WHEN I HAD TO LEAVE AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, WENT TO MY CAR AND LEFT.
SO I TOOK UP A SPOT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE TURNED OVER TWO OR THREE TIMES.
WHICH WOULD BE A COST MONEY IN THE CITY'S POCKET,
[00:25:02]
WHERE MY CAR AT THREE DOLLARS TOOK UP AT LEAST 10-11 HOURS.BUT LIKE I SAID, FRANCIS FIELD, IF WE COULD OPEN THAT FOR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK DOWNTOWN DURING NIGHTS OF LIFE, COULD STILL CHARGE THEM THE THREE DOLLARS OR WHATEVER THEY WOULD PAY AT THE PARKING GARAGE.
IT WOULD MAKE MY LIFE AND OTHER GUIDES AND THE BARTENDERS, THE WHITE STAFF, THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO BE DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE THE TOURISTS COUNT ON US.
AND WITHOUT US, YOU GET BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE.
YOU TELL TWO PEOPLE, THEY TELL TWO PEOPLE AND PRETTY SOON IT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC.
SO I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
I KNOW WHERE CITY MANAGER IS LISTENING.
>> RUBIO THOMAS, DID I GET THAT RIGHT? I DON'T SEE ANYBODY RISING TO SPEAK.
>> THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ROBIN.
>> I'M SORRY. THAT'S IT. I'M SORRY.
DEBORAH CAMPBELL, FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH ALEXANDER.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS DEBORAH CAMPBELL.
I LIVE AT 133 JACKSON BOULEVARD IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
I'M ALSO A TOUR GUIDE AT SAME COMPANY, MS. BROOKE IS.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR ABOUT 2.5 YEARS NOW AND I TRULY LOVE MY JOB.
IT IS MY FAVORITE JOB THAT I'VE EVER HAD.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, DURING THE NIGHT OF LIGHTS.
I LIVE 10 MINUTES NORTH OF TOWN.
IT TAKES ME AN HOUR TO DRIVE JUST SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT TO NORTH OF THE FORT TO FIND MY PARKING SPOT TO GET THERE IN TIME, TO GO AND DO MY TOURS ON TIME.
NOW, THIS CREATES A LOT OF ISSUES, OBVIOUSLY.
I'M NOT IN THE BEST MOOD FOR THE TOURISTS WHO HAVE COME TO OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY TO SHARE IN THE NIGHT OF BLIGHTS.
I TRY TO ADJUST MY ATTITUDE BEFORE THEY SHOW UP.
THANK GOODNESS, I'M WORKING WITH THE DRUNK PEOPLE.
[LAUGHTER] THIS ALSO CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE.
TYPICALLY, I AM PARKED NORTH OF THE FORT, AND I'M ALWAYS NERVOUS ABOUT WELL, I GET OFF WORK LATE.
I'M TYPICALLY DONE AT 10:30, 11 O'CLOCK.
AND THEN I HAVE TO WALK BY MYSELF IN THE DARK INTO A DARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I HANDLE THIS PRETTY WELL MOST OF THE TIME.
DURING THE NIGHT OF LIGHTS, THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE AROUND, WHICH CREATES A LOT MORE DANGER FOR MYSELF AND MANY OTHER WOMEN WHO WORK DOWNTOWN AT THE NIGHT OF LIGHTS.
SO A SHUTTLE FOR EMPLOYEES OF DOWNTOWN ONLY OR PARKING AREA THAT'S DESIGNATED FOR DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEES ONLY WOULD BE SO BENEFICIAL THAT IT WOULD MAKE A LOT MORE OF US WAY HAPPIER, FEEL SAFER, AND BE BETTER AT OUR JOB.
HOPEFULLY, YOU'LL TAKE THAT INTO A NOTE AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
DEBRA ALEXANDER FOLLOWED BY JOHN REGAN.
>>> THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING.
I'M HERE TO TALK IN OPPOSITION TO THE RELOCATION OF THE FIRE STATION ON ANASTASIA ISLAND.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE URGENCY.
I BASICALLY JUST WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR A LONG WEEKEND AND MISSED AN ORIENTATION ON A NEW PROPERTY THAT WAS LOCATED, AND THAT'S THE BLUE WATER JEWELER PROPERTY.
I HAPPENED TO ATTEND MY LAST NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, THE SANDS MEETING, WHICH ALSO COINCIDENTALLY IS TONIGHT.
SO MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS MAY BE ATTENDING THAT MEETING AND MAY NOT EVEN KNOW OF THIS BECAUSE IT WAS JUST ADDED TO THE AGENDA THIS WEEKEND.
SO THE TIMING OF IT IS VERY CURIOUS.
AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN THE CITY IS LOOKING AT SPENDING FOUR MILLION DOLLARS POTENTIALLY ABOVE APPRAISAL AND A TWO YEAR LEASE BACK TO THE CURRENT OWNER WHY THIS IS NOT BEING VETTED MORE AT LEAST TO THE NEIGHBORS.
THERE'S BEEN NO PRESENTATION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.
IN FACT, WHEN I DID ATTEND THAT MEETING WITH MY HUSBAND ON AUGUST 20TH, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE PROPERTY ACROSS FROM THE AMP HAD BEEN DENIED BY THE STATE AND THEY WERE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
AND I THINK THE FIRE CHIEF EVEN MADE THE COMMENT, IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANY PROPERTY.
SO SOMEHOW PROPERTY WAS IDENTIFIED, IT WASN'T EVEN FOR SALE, AND APPRAISAL WAS FINISHED ON OCTOBER 2ND.
IT'S UNDER A RESOLUTION AND BEING BASICALLY SLAMMED DOWN OUR THROAT.
I THINK THAT THIS ISN'T A GOOD LOCATION FOR IT.
[00:30:04]
I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS.THE TRAFFIC BACKS UP ROUTINELY DURING HALF OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS NOW OUR BUSY SEASON.
NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND ALL THE HOLIDAYS AND SUMMER COMBINED.
IT BACKS UP TO BLUE WATER JEWELERS.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THEN? YOU HAVE MOTELS NEIGHBORING IT.
LOOK ON PAGE 22 AND 23 OF THE APPRAISAL DONE BY RONNIE PASETI.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC, IT SAYS, IT'S A MAJOR CORRIDOR.
THERE'S AN OLDER CONDOMINIUM NEXT TO IT.
THERE'S ONE MILLION DOLLAR TOWN HOUSE DEVELOPMENT BASICALLY RIGHT BEHIND IT.
IF YOU CAN FIND ONE AT 450, THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT IN A TEAR DOWN, AND THERE'S TWO MILLION PLUS HOMES ON THE WATER.
YOU KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIGGER FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH MORE FIRST RESPONDERS.
IT IS GOING TO ENCROACH ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND EVERY TIME THERE'S AN ELECTION, YOU ALL TALK ABOUT LIVABILITY, AND THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS US, LIVABILITY.
TO ME, HAVING THIS RIGHT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS A PROBLEM.
I THINK THAT THIS JUST HASN'T BEEN DONE RIGHT AND I THINK THAT YOU ALL NEED TO PUMP THE BRAKES A MINUTE AND GO TO THE COMMUNITY AND TRY AND GET SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'LL BE JOHN REGAN AND FOLLOWED BY SCOTT YORK.
>> VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, JOHN REGAN 24 PARK TERRACE DRIVE.
I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR HORVATH, FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
ON ALL THE LOWER BOARDS, THE COMMISSION, YOUR ENDLESS CONTRIBUTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU EVER DID AS AN EMPLOYEE OF 25 YEAR EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS DOING YOUR SERVICE WITH SUCH GRACE AND DIGNITY AND WE WISH YOU WELL.
THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC ART DECISION TONIGHT.
I COME FROM GAINESVILLE TO THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PUBLIC ART DECISIONS WERE A SCULPTURE CALLED ALTRA FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, THEN CALLED FRENCH RISE FROM HELL, AND SANCTUARY SPHERE, WHICH WAS A GAINESVILLE REGIONAL UTILITIES PUBLIC ART BOTH WERE VERY CONTROVERSIAL.
TODAY, THEY ARE BOTH ICONIC SYMBOLS OF THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE, AND THAT IS THE NATURE OF PUBLIC ART.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIKE IT AND PEOPLE THAT DON'T.
BUT YOU FOLLOWED A FAIR PROCESS.
NEXT THING, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS WHEN I SAW PEOPLE CRITICAL OF THE FINANCIAL TERMS OF THE BLUE WATER DEAL.
ON THE SURFACE, THE CRITICISM IS THAT THE SELLER HAS MADE VERY FAVORABLE TERMS A LITTLE BIT ABOVE APPRAISED VALUE.
LET'S CALL THAT THE VALUE ABOUT $300,000.
I WANT TO JUST REALLY STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DECISION.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A FIRE STATION FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS.
OVERWHELMINGLY PEOPLE THROUGH ALL THE PUBLIC PROCESSES HAVE BEEN ABOUT MOVING IT CLOSER IN THE DAVIS SHORES.
THIS WILL BE A $13-15 MILLION FIRE STATION.
A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR ON THAT IS ABOUT 2%.
IT'S NOT A HUGELY MATERIAL NUMBER IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THE WORLD.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT UNLOCKS THE FUTURE FOR THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS, ANOTHER 15 MILLION, $30 MILLION IN PROJECTS THAT ARE ALL ABOUT HEALTH, SAFETY, SAVING LIVES, AND AVOIDING TRAGEDY.
I THINK THAT IT'S TIME FOR THE DECISION TO MAKE A CLEAR VOTE TONIGHT AND PURCHASE THE BLUE WATER PROPERTY.
THE LAST PROJECT WAS SO MUCH CONTROVERSY OVER FINANCING WAS THE GARAGE, IMAGINE THE WORLD WITHOUT THAT.
KEEP THE BIG PICTURE AND DON'T BE SO CONCERNED WITH A SMALL FRACTION OF MONEY IN THE BIGGER TOTALITY.
THE OPERATIONAL CONCERNS, I THINK ARE PROBABLY WELL ADDRESSED BY CHIEF AVES, IF I KNOW THE CHIEF.
AGAIN, I JUST REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER HORVATH, PUBLIC ART, AND THE FIRE STATION PURCHASE.
>> THANK YOU. SCOTT YORK IS FOLLOWED BY BJ CADY, WHICH WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER.
>> SCOTT YORK 29 SPANISH STREET, THE MOST CHARMING STREET IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
AS WE GET READY TO MOVE INTO WHAT I BELIEVE IS OUR 32ND ANNUAL NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, AND THE CITY WILL BE INUNDATED WITH HUGE NUMBERS OF VISITORS, HOPEFULLY CARRYING A LOT OF CASH INTO OUR CITY.
I WANT TO URGE THE CITY COMMISSION AND OUR POLICE STAFF
[00:35:01]
TO START LOOKING OUT FOR THESE PROFESSIONAL PAN HANDLERS THAT HAVE BEEN INUNDATING OUR CITY FOR MONTHS NOW.I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT OUR UNSHELTERED.
I AM TALKING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL PANHANDLERS WHO ARE PAID BY ORGANIZATIONS TO COME IN AND SOLICIT DONATIONS ON THE STREETS IN FRONT OF OUR BUSINESSES JUST TONIGHT ON MY WAY DOWN HERE.
THEY KNOW BETTER THAN TO COME IN FRONT OF MY BUSINESS.
BUT TODAY MY BUSINESS WAS CLOSED AND THEY'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE DOOR OF MY BUSINESS.
THEY CANNOT BE WITHIN 20 FEET OF A BUSINESS, PUBLIC RESTROOM, OR TRANSPORTATION SPOT TO BE PANHANDLING IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, WHERE THERE'S FOR CHARITY OR NOT.
SECONDLY, AS WE GET THESE LARGE NUMBERS OF VISITORS, AS I'VE BEEN OUT NIGHTLY ON MY GHOST TOURS, AS A TOUR GUIDE HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, WE HAVE THE CROSSWALK NOW COMING FROM THE PLAZA OVER ONTO AVAL STREET, BUT I WOULD URGE THE CITY TO CONSIDER PUTTING IN FLASHING LIGHTS THERE IN FRONT OF THAT CROSSWALK.
THE CARS THAT ARE PARKED IN FRONT OF BOURBON AND BOARDS NIGHTLY BLOCK THE VIEW OF CARS COMING EASTBOUND ON KING STREET.
FROM ANY VISITORS WHO ARE TRYING TO CROSS OVER THAT STREET, WHICH IS VERY DIMLY LIT.
IF WE COULD GET ONE OF THOSE LIGHTS THERE WITH THE FLASHING SIGNALS, I THINK IT WOULD BE MUCH SAFER FOR THE VISITORS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, I WOULD CALL ELENA PESAREK NEXT AND THEN FOLLOWED BY BJ CADY.
I ACTUALLY LIVE IN 244 RENDEZVOUS LANE IN PONCA VERO BEACH, FLORIDA.
I WORK AS A TOUR GUIDE HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO BE IN THE WORLD.
I LOVE THE CITY SO MUCH, AND I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SHOW ALL THE TOURISTS THE BEAUTIFUL HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CITY EVERY NIGHT AND I GOES TOURS.
I WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES WERE SAYING, BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT IS DURING NIGHT OF LIGHTS, IT CAN BE VERY HECTIC, VERY STRESSFUL.
I HAVE A HANDICAP BLACK, I HAVE SOME WALKING ISSUES.
WHEN I PARK SOMEWHERE TO GO, I MAY HAVE TO PARK MILES AWAY AND IT'S ALREADY HARD ON MY WALK TO DO WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
ALSO, I'M TAKING UP A SPOT THAT SOMEBODY WHO IS FROM OUT OF TOWN THAT ALSO HAS A DISABILITY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE BECAUSE I HAVE TO PARK AND DRIVE HERE 45 MINUTES DOWN, SO I'M GETTING HERE PROBABLY THREE HOURS EARLY TO SECURE THAT PARKING SPOT.
I'M THERE FOR 6-7 HOURS BETWEEN PARKING MY WORK GOING HOME.
ALSO AS A WOMAN AND A WOMAN WITH A DISABILITY THAT'S LIMPING, I FEEL VERY NERVOUS GOING HOME AT MIDNIGHT.
THAT HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF MINE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE SECURITY.
TO THE PERSON WHO JUST SPOKE THIS POINT, YEAH, IT'S VERY HARD WHEN YOU'RE DOING A TOUR AND YOU HAVE THE PANHANDLERS OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE GIVING A BAD EXPERIENCE TO THE TOURISTS AND THEY CAN BE A LITTLE BIT AGGRESSIVE WITH THEIR TONES AND THINGS AND THAT CAN GIVE A BAD EXPERIENCE AS WELL.
ALL I EVER WANT FOR ST. AUGUSTINE IS FOR THEM TO HAVE GOOD EXPERIENCES, GOOD MEMORIES SO THAT THEY COME BACK AND ENJOY THIS TOWN AGAIN AND AGAIN.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK AS WELL ON BEHALF OF MY FRIENDS AND MY COLLEAGUES OUT HERE THAT WE ARE OUT THERE ON THE STREETS EVERY NIGHT TRYING TO DO OUR BEST FOR ST. AUGUSTINE, AND WE'D REALLY APPRECIATE IF WE GOT THE SUPPORT TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THIS NIGHT OF LIGHTS AND ALL THE ONES AFTER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR LAST SPEAKER IS BJ CADY.
>> BJ CADY WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
THANK YOU TO ALL CANDIDATES WHO HAVE REMOVED THEIR SIGNS FROM CITY RIGHT OF WAYS.
THANK YOU, MISS BREITENSTEIN, FOR PROVIDING THE CURRENT AMOUNT OF TAX DOLLARS, $52,661, WHICH HAS BEEN SPENT IN 2024 ON THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PROJECT AT 9092 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY, WHICH THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE OBTAINED IN 2023 BY SWAPPING PROPERTY.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE INDIVIDUALS CONTINUE TO TRESPASS AND SLEEP ON THE PROPERTY, BUT WE'RE WATCHING THAT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING TOO.
RESOLUTION 2024-43 SHOULD BE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY FOR A CITY FIRE STATION AT 500 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.
THIS HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR YEARS, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME AND SAFETY ISSUE IS WHAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
THEN REMEMBER, TO LISTEN TO 90.5 FM FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AND HOPE.
MISS HORVATH, I DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY.
DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, BUT I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU PUT IN AND YOUR ATTITUDE AND WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU.
[00:40:02]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE NEXT HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS FOR THE DECEMBER 2ND, SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 7:30 PM.
THE DECEMBER 9TH, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 5:00 PM.
THE JANUARY 13TH, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 5:00 PM AND THE JANUARY 27TH, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 5:00 PM.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 14TH, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
A RELEASE OF LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION CHARGES AT 637 CENTER STREET, MISS TINA RENEE CRUZ.
WE HAVE THE 2023, '24 ANNUAL STATUS REPORT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE THE FISCAL YEAR '23, '24 CARRY FORWARD REQUESTS FROM OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, MELISSA BURNS, AND WE HAVE THE NOMINATION OF THE FORESON FAMILY FOR THE 2025 DIABOLISM AWARD SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER JIM SPRINGFIELD.
THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> HOW MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> GREAT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> WELL, THAT WAS A VERY STRANGE ONE FOR ME SINCE I'M ONLY GOING TO BE AT THE DECEMBER 2TH MEETING.
[LAUGHTER] BUT ANYWAY, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO LOVE THOSE MEETINGS, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO.
NEXT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, 7A1.
[7.A.1. 2024 Sing Out Loud Festival Recap by SJC Cultural Events, Inc. (M. Breidenstein, Assistant City Manager)]
WE HAVE MEREDITH BRIDENSTINE IS GOING TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT THE SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL RECAP.>> GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, MEREDITH BRIDENSTINE, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE DIANYA MARKOVITS.
THEY ARE THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CULTURAL EVENTS, AND THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PUT ON THE SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL.
SHE'S GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT ENTIRE MONTH OF SING OUT LOUD, BUT ESPECIALLY THE SEPTEMBER 22ND AND 23RD EVENT ON FRANCIS FIELD. THANKS.
>> THIS IS GOING TO GO BY WELL. THERE WE GO.
[LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR HORVATH, COMMISSIONER, GARRIS BLONDER, AND SPRINGFIELD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.
AS MEREDITH MENTIONED, MY NAME IS DIANYA MARKOVITS.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR SJC CULTURAL EVENTS INC, AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF RECAP ON SING OUT LOUD 2024.
AS WE KNOW, SING OUT LOUD IS THE ANNUAL MONTH LONG CELEBRATION OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COMMUNITY EVENTS HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
IT STARTED IN 2016, AND IT IS FOUR WEEKENDS IN SEPTEMBER TO HELP BOOST THE LOCAL ECONOMY DURING THE SLOWEST TIME OF YEAR.
IT FEATURES FREE AND TICKETED PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL ACTS PLUS COMMUNITY EVENTS.
TO DATE, WE'VE HAD OVER 1,600 PERFORMERS.
IT ALSO FEATURES UNIQUE PROGRAMMING AND EXTENSIVE MARKETING TO HELP BOOST VISITATION BY OUT OF AREA MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS.
NOW IN ITS EIGHTH YEAR, WE'VE HAD OVER 330,000 ATTENDEES.
FINALLY, IT'S TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY BY RAISING AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
TO DATE, WE HAVE RAISED OVER $637,000.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SEPTEMBER AND WHY SING OUT LOUD IS HELD SPECIFICALLY IN SEPTEMBER.
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S HISTORICALLY THE SLOWEST MONTH OF THE YEAR FOR TOURISM WITH AN OCCUPANCY RATE OF JUST 54.7%.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN TOURISM IS LOW, OUR ECONOMY STRUGGLES.
RESTAURANTS, ATTRACTIONS, AND ACCOMMODATIONS, REVENUES DROPS, STAFFING IS TRIMMED AND HOURS ARE REDUCED.
HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS VISITATION ISSUE? WELL, WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
IN FACT, WE HAD 15 DAYS OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, BOTH FREE AND TICKETED, INCLUDING THE MARQUEE EVENT AT FRANCIS FIELD ON SEPTEMBER 21ST AND 22ND, THE LIVE WILDE SHOWCASE.
WE HOST ALL THESE EVENTS, BUT WE HAVE TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THEM.
WE LAUNCHED AN EXTENSIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN BETWEEN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER, 1.56 MILLION WAS SPENT IN MARKETING TO THESE MAJOR SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES CITIES.
OVER 200 MILLION IMPRESSIONS WERE DELIVERED, AND WE HAD NEARLY 6 MILLION VISITS TO THE SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL WEBSITE.
WE TELL EVERYBODY, HEY, COME TO ST. AUGUSTINE, WE'VE GOT ALL THESE WONDERFUL EVENTS, AND THEN WE HOST THE EVENTS.
[00:45:01]
WE ARE SO PROUD TO REPORT THAT OVER 160 FREE PERFORMANCES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS WERE HELD THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER.WE FEATURED 168 LOCAL AND REGIONAL PERFORMERS, PARTNERED WITH 13 VENUES AROUND ST. AUGUSTINE, HELD A RECORD FAIR, A NIGHT MARKET, SHOWED THE PATH OF THE PANTHER DOCUMENTARY AT FLAGLER COLLEGE, AND HOSTED A MUSIC BUSINESS PANEL WITH FOUR KEY INDUSTRY LEADERS SPEAKING ON MUSIC LICENSING, ROYALTIES, AND MANAGEMENT.
WE ALSO HOSTED THE ST. AUGUSTINE SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL, WHICH FEATURED 41 SINGER SONGWRITERS IN A WEEKEND OF STORIES AND SONGS THROUGHOUT ST. AUGUSTINE.
THEN THE MARQUEE EVENT, THE LIVE WILDE SHOWCASE ON FRANCIS FIELD.
THIS IS A PHOTO OF SEPTEMBER 22ND WITH NOAH KAHAN AND THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 19,000 PEOPLE AT FRANCIS FIELD.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO SHOW YOU A BRIEF RECAP VIDEO.
>> [MUSIC] TILL THE SEAS ROSE AND THE BUILDINGS CAME CRASHING.
EVERYWHERE, EVERY DAY, I WANT TO LOVE.
TILL WERE FOOD FOR THE WORMS TO EAT, TILL OUR FINGERS DECOMPOSED, KEEP MY HANDS IN YOURS.
>> BUT WE HAD ALL THESE EVENTS.
DID IT MAKE THE IMPACT THAT WE SET OUT TO HAVE ON OCCUPANCY? THIS IS DATA RECEIVED FROM THE VCB FROM SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH.
IT SHOWS THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY REPORTS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
THAT BEAUTIFUL FLAT GREEN LINE IS FROM 2022.
THAT WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR VISITATION.
WE DIDN'T SEE THAT MANY PEAKS, WE DIDN'T SEE THAT MANY VALLEYS.
HOWEVER, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE NOT REPRESENTED THOSE NUMBERS.
THE PEAKS AND VALUES HAVE BEEN MUCH HIGHER AND MUCH LOWER.
BUT WHAT THIS GRAPH SHOWS US IS THAT IN 2023 AND IN 2024, DURING THE WEEKENDS OF SEPTEMBER 21ST, WHEN WE HAD THE FRANCIS FIELD WEEKEND, THAT ABSOLUTELY IMPACTED OCCUPANCY RATES, AND WE ACTUALLY HIT A TOP NUMBER OF 78% IN 2023 AND 75% IN 2024.
THIS ALSO SHOWS YOU ALL THE OTHER WEEKENDS THAT WE HAVE SING OUT LOUD EVENTS.
IT'S ALSO IMPACTING OUR OCCUPANCY RATES AND BRINGING MORE VISITORS TO A TOWN WHEN WE NEED IT.
>> WHERE DID PEOPLE COME FROM? FROM TICKET SALES TO THE LIVE WILDLY SHOWCASE AT FRANCIS FIELD, WE KNOW 90% OF THEM CAME FROM OUTSIDE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
WE KNOW THAT A TICKET WAS SOLD IN EVERY SINGLE STATE EXCEPT MONTANA.
WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT HAPPENED IN MONTANA, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM NEXT YEAR.
THIS IS A SALES HEAT MAP OF WHERE ALL THOSE TICKETS WERE SOLD.
IN ADDITION TO BOOSTING VISITATION, WE ARE HERE TO BUILD WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR, WE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, 35 OF THEM.
WE ALSO FEATURED 29 LOCAL FOOD AND ARTIST VENDORS ON SITE AT FRANCIS FIELD DURING SING OUT LOUD, AND WE HAD 14 PARTICIPATING HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES.
WE DID THREE MAJOR GIVEAWAYS THAT INCLUDED OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS AND GIFT CERTIFICATES TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND TICKETS TO ATTRACTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD DURING A TIME AGAIN THAT IS EXTREMELY SLOW.
AFTER SEEING OUT LOUD, WE ASKED SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, PLEASE TELL US HOW WE CAN IMPROVE, WHAT CAN WE DO? DID YOU SEE AN IMPACT? THESE ARE SEVERAL QUOTES FROM BUSINESSES, TWO OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ANONYMOUS THROUGH A SURVEY THAT WE RELEASED.
BUT THEY'RE VERY TELLING AS FAR AS HOW MUCH THE CITY IS BEGINNING TO EMBRACE THE SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT QUOTES COMES FROM BLUE HEN, AND SHE SAID, DURING THE WEEKEND OF SING OUT LOUD, BLUE HEN HAD A RECORD BREAKING INCREASE IN SALES.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 WAS THE HIGHEST GROSSING DAY OF BLUE HEN'S 13 YEARS OF BUSINESS IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO TOWN AREA, SPENCER ABBOTT SAID THAT IT'S TRADITIONALLY A SLOW MONTH, AND SO MANY BUSINESSES ALONG SAN MARCO RELY ON THE INFLUX OF VISITORS AND THE EXTRA DRAW FOR LOCALS THAT SING OUT LOUD BRINGS.
FOR US AT SPENCER ABBOTTS, IT SAVED US FROM FALLING INTO THE RED.
THIS IS A PHOTO THAT I DROVE PAST AND CAPTURED.
IT'S ABC LIQUOR ON THEIR MARQUEE SAYING WHO WANTS TO SING OUT LOUD. PRETTY NEAT.
WE NOTE THAT THE FESTIVAL HAD AN ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 9.6 MILLION DOLLAR, AND IT'S FROM FOUR PILLARS, FESTIVAL ATTENDEE IMPACT FROM OVERNIGHT LODGING AND ANCILLARY SPENDING AT RESTAURANTS AND ATTRACTIONS TO FESTIVAL EXPENSES,
[00:50:03]
INCLUDING HIRING FULL SCALE PRODUCTION, AUDIO AND VISUAL AND CONCESSION TEAMS, TO RENTING STORAGE UNITS, TRUCKS, AND MORE.THAT THOSE FESTIVAL EXPENSES TOTALED 5.3 MILLION.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAD $76,000 IN LOCAL ARTISTS PAYMENTS.
EVERY SINGLE LOCAL AND REGIONAL ACT THAT PLAYED SING OUT LOUD THIS YEAR IN THOSE FREE SHOWCASES WAS PAID AN AVERAGE OF $400 FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE.
WE ALSO ARE COMMITTED TO LOCAL FUND RAISING.
THIS YEAR, WE RAISED $177,000 FOR TWO NON PROFIT INITIATIVES THIS YEAR.
FINALLY, THIS YEAR, SING OUT LOUD WAS MUSIC WITH A MISSION, AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE LIVE WILDLY FOUNDATION TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR PROTECTING WILD FLORIDA.
WILD FLORIDA ENCOMPASSES THE WILD AND NATURAL LANDS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE THAT MAKES ST. JOHNS COUNTY SO EXCITING TO EXPLORE.
KNEW WE HAD A LOUD PLATFORM WITH OVER FIVE MILLION VISITS TO SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL WEBSITE.
IN ADDITION TO TALKING ABOUT THE JOY OF MUSIC.
WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF CONSERVATION, WHICH IS SO NEAR AND DEAR TO EVERYONE'S HEARTS.
WITH PRIDE, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THROUGH TICKET SALES, $160,000 WAS RAISED FOR LAND CONSERVATION IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AND 80,120 OF WHICH WILL BE DONATED TONIGHT TO THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING CONSERVATION LANDS WITHIN THE CITY.
IT'S NOW A GOOD TIME TO PRESENT THE DONATION.
>> YES, IT IS. WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AND WE'LL STAND WITH YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO STAY UP HERE IN CASE ANYONE HAD ANY QUESTIONS.
I HATED TO END IT WITHOUT GIVING YOU ALL A CHANCE TO ASK ME OR MISS [INAUDIBLE] ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> I KNOW WE HAD A GREAT YEAR AND I'M SORRY, I MISSED IT.
I WAS UP NORTH, NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, WHICH I REGRETTED.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR BOTH OF YOU.
LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE HAD THE MAJOR SING OUT LOUD WEEKEND.
AS I RECALL, THE CITY SUFFERED FROM THAT WITH EMPLOYEE BURNOUT AND NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENED.
I'D LIKE TO ASK MEREDITH HOW WE DID THIS YEAR.
>> YES, THIS YEAR, WE STILL HAD EMPLOYEES.
WE HAD SOME CITY STAFF WHO WORKED ON THIS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO OUTSOURCE THE AMPHITHEATER, SJC CULTURAL.
THEY WERE ABLE TO OUTSOURCE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY DID LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS A TREMENDOUS HELP FOR OUR CITY STAFF.
THEY DID NOT HAVE TO ADJUST THEIR NORMAL WORK SCHEDULES MOST SPECIFICALLY WITH THEIR SOLID WASTE CREWS.
THEY WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE NORMAL PICKUP AND WE HAD VERY LIMITED CITY STAFF FROM THE SOLID WASTE AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT STILL, OF COURSE, CARRY A HEAVY LOAD DURING THIS EVENT.
THAT DID NOT CHANGE, BUT MAKING THE SMALL CHANGES WITH SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC WORKS, I THINK WE'RE HELPFUL FOR EVERYONE.
>> I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. GOING TO THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY.
I DID A LITTLE MATH BECAUSE I LOVE MATH, AND THE PERCENTAGES HASN'T GONE UP THAT MUCH IN THE YEARS.
YOU ALL HAVE A PROJECTION OF WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BRING SEPTEMBER OUT OF THE BASEMENT?
>> AS WE CAN SEE FROM THAT GRAPH, IT IS STARTING TO PULL UP THE OTHER WEEKENDS AS WELL.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WHEN WILL WE SEE THIS CUMULATIVE EFFECT? IT TAKES A WHILE TO BUILD THE LIVE WILDLY SHOWCASE NAME.
WE ANTICIPATE WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE CITY FOR GIVING US THOSE YEARS TO GROW THIS.
BUT WE ANTICIPATE IT IN THE NEXT YEAR THREE WILL BE NEXT YEAR, AND THAT'S WHEN YOU START TO REALLY SEE THAT BRAND AWARENESS, AND THAT GROWTH, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT WAS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, BUT IT'S GROWING.
I CAN'T I COULDN'T PUT A STAKE IN THE GROUND.
>> NO MAGIC BALL, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THE OTHER WEEKENDS ARE ALSO BEING BUTTRESSED BY THIS LARGE SCALE EVENT, AND OUR PLAN IS TO HAVE MORE OF THOSE THAT CUMULATIVE EFFECT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MONTH TO RAISE UP SO WE GET OUT OF THAT 54.7% DULL.
[00:55:06]
>> I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT THE PERCENTAGES ARE COMING UP FOR THOSE BUSINESSES.
I'M GLAD FOR THE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY CAN HAVE A CONSTANT JOB AND NOT GET LAID OFF FOR THE MONTH.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE CITY DOESN'T GET A WHOLE LOT OUT OF THIS.
THE TAX DOLLARS DO NOT STAY IN ST. AUGUSTINE, THEY GO TO TALLAHASSEE.
WE GET BACK A PERCENTAGE BASED ON OUR POPULATION.
THE STATE REALLY ENJOYS THE BENEFIT OF THE SALES TAX THAT WE GAIN FROM YOUR EVENTS.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT BUSINESSES MAKE GOOD MONEY.
IT'S A GREAT THING. IT'S GOOD FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN.
BUT FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, IT'S NOT A CASH COW.
THANK YOU FOR THE 87,000 BECAUSE THAT'S PROBABLY MORE THAN WE'LL GET IN THE TAXES.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE THING.
LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A HURRICANE THREAT IN SEPTEMBER AND SO A LOT OF HOTELS WENT IN THE RED BECAUSE OF THAT, AND THE SING OUT LOUD BROUGHT THEM BACK INTO THE BLACK BECAUSE OF THAT EVENT AND PEOPLE WERE BOOKING HOTELS COMING HERE FOR THOSE CONCERTS.
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE SEEN A BIG INCREASE, BUT I REMEMBER THAT BEING PART OF THE STATEMENT FROM LAST YEAR.
AND EVEN SOME OF THE PEOPLE LIKE VIRGINIA AND DIFFERENT OTHER INDIVIDUALS SAID THAT AT THE VCB MEETING THAT I WENT TO SAID, THANK GOODNESS THAT THEY HAD THAT BECAUSE EVERY HOTEL WAS SOLD OUT AFTER THEY HAD THE SING OUT LOUD LAST YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> NOW, I CAN'T WAIT TO SPEND THAT $80,120 ON MORE CONSERVATION, SO GOOD JOB ON THAT.
>> NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS RESOLUTION 2024-42,
[9.B.1. Resolution 2024-42: Authorizes the execution of a grant agreement between the Florida Communities Trust and the City of St. Augustine for reimbursement of purchased land in the Ravenswood Park neighborhood. (R. Franklin, Assistant City Manager) ]
AND IT'S GOING TO BE MR. FRANKLIN PRESENTING.>> GOOD EVENING VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS RESOLUTION 2024-42.
THIS WOULD AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST FOR 50% REIMBURSEMENT OF THE FLORIDA AVENUE CONSERVATION AND PURCHASE.
WHEN THE COMMISSION AUTHORIZED STAFF TO PURCHASE THE OVER SIX ACRE PROPERTY OFF OF FLORIDA AVENUE, WE SUBMITTED A GRANT.
WE WERE AWARDED 50% REIMBURSEMENT.
OF THAT, SO THAT WILL TOTAL $967,500, WHICH WILL COME BACK TO THE CITY.
BY ENTERING THIS A GRANT, THERE ARE OBLIGATIONS.
IN THE MEMO, I DID VERY HIGH LEVEL OUTLINE THOSE OBLIGATIONS.
STAFF FEELS VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN MEET THE OBLIGATIONS.
ONE OF THEM IS RECORDING A NEW DEED TO PUT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ON IT FOR KEEP IT IN CONSERVATION, OPEN LAND, RECREATIONAL LAND.
WE HAVE TO CREATE A MANAGEMENT PLAN, PROJECT PLAN AND AN ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP REPORT.
WE ALSO HAVE TO CHANGE THE LAND USE WITHIN A YEAR IN ZONING DESIGNATION TO OPEN SPACE, CONSERVATION OR OUTDOOR RECREATION AS APPROPRIATE.
WE WILL PUT A SIGN UP THAT SAYS THIS IS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE FCT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE TWO RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THAT WILL BE A SMALL TRAIL WITH BENCHES.
THOSE ARE THE TWO ITEMS THAT WILL BE INCLUDED.
ALSO PROVIDE INTERPRETIVE KIOSKS TO EDUCATE VISITORS ABOUT THE SITE'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND HISTORY, AND THEN MANAGE THE SITE IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS HABITAT AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES.
THOSE ARE THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE GRANT.
ONCE WE GET THE MANAGEMENT PLAN DONE AND SUBMITTED, WE WILL GET THE REIMBURSEMENT BACK IF THE COMMISSION APPROVES THE GRANT AGREEMENT.
>> HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE FROM FISH ISLAND.
THAT'S GIVEN US A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO DRAW FROM.
>> MR. MILLER ON STAFF WAS QUITE HELPFUL IN MANAGING THESE LANDS AND A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AS WELL.
>> I'M SO HAPPY. ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS?
I JUST THINK THESE ARE PROBABLY PRETTY STANDARD THINGS THAT WE WOULD DO ANYWAY.
IF WE WANT TO MAKE IT USEFUL, WE WANT TO PROTECT IT AND WE NEED A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ANY PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE.
>> IT'S RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
THIS FORMALIZES IT AND IT ADDS A PROTECTIVE LAYER BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE ALMOST LIKE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT OVER IT THAT FUTURE COMMISSIONS CAN'T GO OR WE'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW FIRE STATION SOMEWHERE, WE CAN'T GO BUILD ON CONSERVATION LANE WITHOUT GETTING APPROVAL FROM THE STATE.
>> YES. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT STAFF WORKED REALLY HARD TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT AND SECURE IT AND THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
[01:00:02]
IT MAKES OUR DOLLARS GO SO MUCH FARTHER, AND THAT EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION IS ESSENTIAL.SO IT'S A WIN WIN ON EVERY LEVEL. THANK YOU.
DO WE NEED ANYTHING? WE DON'T.
>> JUST A MOTION, A SECOND AND A VOTE.
>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-42, READ BY TITLE.
I THINK I'VE GOT A, DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL?
>> YOU DON'T NEED TO READ IT BY TITLE, BUT YOU CAN DO ROLL OR VOICE.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE THE NEXT IS RESOLUTION 2024-43,
[9.B.2. Resolution 2024-43: Authorizes the purchase of 500 Anastasia Blvd and City Manager David Birchim to act as the City Representative for the transaction. (D. Birchim, City Manager) ]
AND DAVID BURCHAM, OUR CITY MANAGER WILL PRESENT THIS.>> VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, RESOLUTION 2024-43 AUTHORIZES THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO PURCHASE 500 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD FOR A NEW FIRE STATION AND IDENTIFIES ME AS THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THAT TRANSACTION.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A SITE FOR A NEW FIRE STATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OUR CURRENT FIRE STATION SITE FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE DANGEROUS INTERSECTION AT A1A AND RED COX ROAD.
OUR CURRENT FIRE STATION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, IT'S OLDER.
IT ISN'T LARGE ENOUGH FOR MODERN EQUIPMENT OR FOR OUR STAFFING NEEDS.
500 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD IS THE SITE FOR BLUE WATERS JEWELRY.
IT IS A GOOD LOCATION FOR A FIRE STATION AND IT'S A GOOD SIZE.
IT WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT FOR RED COX ROAD, BUT IT AND IT WILL HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO ANASTASIA BOULEVARD AND CAMERAS AVENUE.
IT IS APPROXIMATELY 1.27 ACRES IN SIZE, WHICH IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR OUR NEEDS.
IT'S ALSO LARGE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE NICE BUFFER AREAS FROM ADJACENT PROPERTIES.
THE ASKING PRICE IS FOUR MILLION DOLLARS, AND THE APPRAISED VALUE IS $3.8 MILLION.
I THINK THIS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT I'D LIKE TO REPEAT IT.
WE HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED $750,000 FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FOR THE SITE FROM THE STATE.
WE WILL ALSO BE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING STATE FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRE STATION FACILITY, INCLUDING DURING THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> SELLER DOES WISH TO LEASE BACK THE PROPERTY FROM US FOR UP TO 24 MONTHS WHILE THEY BUILD THEIR NEW JEWELRY STORE.
THIS IS NOT A TERRIBLE INCONVENIENCE FOR US BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE A YEAR OR MORE TO SOLICIT AND AWARD THE CONTRACTS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE FIRE STATION AND THE CIVIL ENGINEERING FOR THE SITE.
THEN IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR THE ARCHITECT AND THE CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRM TO DO THE DESIGN WORK AND COMPLETE THE PLANS.
THAT ENTIRE PROCESS WILL MOST LIKELY TAKE A YEAR OR MORE.
WHAT WE ENVISION FOR THIS FACILITY, APART FROM THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE FIRE STATION, THIS WILL ACT AS OUR CENTER FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE FOR STORMS FOR ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN ANASTASIA ISLAND.
IT WILL BE A STATE-OF-THE-ART MODERN FIRE STATION THAT WILL SERVE OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO INCORPORATE A PUBLIC MEETING ROOM IN THE FACILITY FOR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IN A SIMILAR WAY THAT THE WATERWORKS BUILDING IS USED ON THE NORTH PART OF TOWN, AND HOW WE ENVISION THE MIDDLETON HOUSE ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER, TO WORK ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE ANASTASIA BOULEVARD DESIGN STANDARDS, AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY A SPEAKER EARLIER TONIGHT.
THAT IS A PROCESS THAT WOULD BE APPROVED BY OUR COURT OR REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES FIT WITH THE AMBIENCE OF ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, AND IT WILL BE A STABLE PRESENCE ON THE BOULEVARD.
ABOVE ALL, THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE.
BOTH THE RED COX ROAD ROUNDABOUT AND THE NEW FIRE STATION, ARE CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.
[01:05:03]
THERE HAS BEEN SOME DEBATE ABOUT THE COSTS AND THE LOCATION OF A NEW FIRE STATION, AND WE WELCOME A HEALTHY PUBLIC DEBATE ON PUBLIC EXPENDITURES AND PUBLIC FACILITIES.IT SHOWS THAT WE HAVE AN ACTIVE AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY THAT'S INVESTED IN OUR FUTURE.
WHILE WE'RE PAYING $200,000 ABOVE THE APPRAISED VALUE FOR THE PROPERTY, AGAIN, WE ARE RECEIVING $750,000 FROM THE STATE TO COVER OUR DESIGN COSTS.
TO THAT END, MEREDITH IS HERE.
I'D LIKE FOR MEREDITH TO COME UP AND TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT FINANCING FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND.
WE HAD TALKED TO YOU AT THE PREVIOUS COMMISSION MEETING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FLOATING A BOND OR A BOND ISSUANCE FOR FINANCING THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY.
BUT ONCE A BOND IS ISSUED, WE ONLY HAVE THREE YEARS TO SPEND THAT MONEY, AND IN LIGHT OF THE 24-MONTH LEASE BACK, THAT'S NOT AS REALISTIC AN OPTION AS WE ONCE THOUGHT.
I'D LIKE TO MEREDITH TO SPEAK TO THAT, PLEASE.
>> YES. HELLO, AGAIN. YES. JUST AS DAVID SAID, TYPICALLY A BOND ISSUANCE HAS A THREE-YEAR SPEND-DOWN REQUIREMENT.
SINCE THERE IS A TWO-YEAR SPECIFICATION, AND WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED TONIGHT, WE FELT THAT IT MADE MORE SENSE TO DO AN INTER-FUND LOAN FROM OUR UTILITY FUND RESERVES FOR FUTURE PLANT EXPANSION, TO BORROW FROM THAT FOR THIS.
THAT FUND WOULD BE PAID BACK IN INTEREST, AND WE WILL LOOK AT EITHER A 15 OR A 30-YEAR LOAN.
THERE'S ALSO NO PREPAYMENT PENALTY, SO IF THERE ARE LEGISLATIVE FUNDS OR ANY OTHER FUNDS THAT ARE RECEIVED, WE COULD PAY OURSELVES BACK WITHOUT ANY PENALTY, UNLIKE A BOND.
AS WE GET FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, AS DAVID MENTIONED, WITH DESIGN AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE COST OF THIS CONSTRUCTION, THEN WE WILL COME TO YOU AT THAT TIME AS WE GET CLOSER TO ACTUALLY GROUNDBREAKING INSTEAD OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH LOOKING AT A BOND FOR CONSTRUCTION ONLY.
IT'LL JUST BE A TWO-PART LOAN INSTEAD OF ENCOMPASSING IT ALL IN ONE BOND ISSUANCE OVER 30 YEARS.
THAT'S OUR REQUEST TONIGHT, IF YOU WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, IS TO DO SO WITH AN INTER-FUND LOAN.
>> THANK YOU. THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
>> I'VE GOT TWO MORE REQUESTS.
ONE IS I'D LIKE CHIEF AVALIS, TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO YOU DIRECTLY ABOUT OUR ISO RATING, THAT IS THE STATUS OF QUALITY OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HOW THIS FACILITY WILL FIT IN WITH THAT ISO RATING.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
CARLOS AVALIS, YOUR FIRE CHIEF.
THIS IS A RECAP OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT ISO AND SITE LOCATION AS IT RELATES TO THAT, SO JUST AN OVERVIEW AND REMINDER.
CURRENTLY THE CITY ENJOYS AN ISO CLASS 1 PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSIFICATION.
THAT'S BEEN A MORE THAN 20 YEAR ENDEAVOR TO GET THERE.
THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM TRAINING APPARATUS, STATION PERSONNEL, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND WATER SUPPLY.
WHEN ALL OF THAT IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, THE INSURANCE SERVICES OFFICE, ISSUES A PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSIFICATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE EVALUATED EVERY APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS.
WE JUST COMPLETED OUR LAST ISO INSPECTION WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
FOR THIS SITE LOCATION, LOOKING AT 500 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, AS FAR AS ISO IS CONCERNED, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS EVERY PART OF THE JURISDICTION COVERED WITHIN FIVE ROAD MILES OF A STATION.
ALL OF OUR EVIDENCE AND DUE DILIGENCE TELLS US THAT IT IS.
WE USE THREE DIFFERENT BENCHMARKS, THOSE BENCHMARKS WERE THE BACK END OF THE ANTIGUA NEIGHBORHOOD, THE VERY BACK OF SUNSET POINT, OFF OF PLANTATION ISLAND DRIVE, AND THE YMCA ON POPE ROAD.
ALL THREE OF THOSE LOCATIONS CAME BACK WITHIN THE FIVE ROAD MILES, SO THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGES TO OUR ISO CLASSIFICATION.
OUR RESPONSE TIME AVERAGES FOR THAT AREA CAME OUT TO THREE MINUTES AND 58 SECONDS.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY ADVERSE IMPACTS FROM THAT.
WHILE RESPONSE TIMES WILL CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE STATION LOCATION, WE'LL SEE ON AVERAGE 45 SECONDS TO A MINUTE OF AN INCREASED RESPONSE TIME FOR THOSE OFF THE 312 CORRIDOR, THOSE WOULD BE OFFSET AS WE RESPOND INTO NORTH AND SOUTH DAVIS SHORES, BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE GAINING THAT RESPONSE TIME.
THEN LASTLY, IS THAT THAT THREE MINUTE AND 58-SECOND RESPONSE TIME KEEPS US IN COMPLIANCE WITH NFPA 1710.
[01:10:01]
THAT STANDARD WE USE TO DETERMINE HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET RESOURCES ON SCENE, AND CAN THE FIRST ARRIVING UNIT ARRIVE WITHIN 240 SECONDS OF THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSE CALL GREATER THAN 90% OF THE TIME.WE'VE HAD NO ISSUES MAINTAINING THAT UP UNTIL THIS DATE IN THIS PORTION OF THE CITY, SO WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY ADVERSE CHANGES BASED ON THIS SITE LOCATION.
>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OF THE CHIEF? JUST A MOMENT.
THERE WAS SOMEONE THAT SENT THIS E-MAIL. I DON'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS.
ANYWAY, THEY SAID ABOUT GETTING OUT, AND IF THAT STREET IS BACKED UP WHEN THE BRIDGE IS UP, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED WHERE YOU CAN GET OUT? BECAUSE YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW THEY.
>> THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ADDRESS THROUGH DESIGN.
WE JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WOULD REQUIRE COORDINATION WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.
WE WOULD APPROACH THEM FOR THAT, BUT BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES THAT PASS ON THE BOULEVARD, IT WOULD WARRANT PUTTING A TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE THAT WE WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT BEING A MAJOR ISSUE.
TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND DELAYS, IF WE WERE COMING FROM THE EXISTING LOCATION, THOSE WOULD BE THINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO OVERCOME TODAY, IF WE HAD THOSE.
WHAT WE HOPE NOT TO HAVE TO OVERCOME WITH THIS IS THE DELAYS OF GETTING OUT OF THE STATION.
CURRENTLY IF THAT QUEUE IN FRONT OF THE STATION, EITHER WITH SCHOOL BUSES, VEHICLES LOOKING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN TO HEAD SOUTH ONTO A1A OR ANASTASIA, WE HAVE A TENDENCY AT TIMES TO GET STUCK IN THERE, SPECIFICALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND IN THE EVENINGS AS EITHER SCHOOLS LETTING OUT OR WE HAVE BOAT TRAFFIC COMING OUT FROM THE BOAT RAMP THERE BY THE LIGHTHOUSE.
IDEALLY THIS WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE A LOT OF THAT, AND WE DON'T HAVE A SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION THERE NOW.
>> I'M INTERESTED IN THAT, THAT'S THE TOP TIER OF ISO RATINGS, RIGHT?
>> YOU'VE ACHIEVED. THANK YOU.
YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THAT.
HOW DOES THAT IMPACT MY HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE?
>> IT'S A SEGMENT OF HOW YOUR INSURANCE IS CALCULATED.
LOOKING AT THE EVIDENCE AS WE LOOK AT THE STATE OF FLORIDA AS A WHOLE, ANECDOTALLY.
ANYONE THAT WOULD LIVE OUTSIDE OF FIVE ROAD MILES OF AN EXISTING FIRE STATION, BY INSURANCE STANDARDS YOU WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS UNPROTECTED.
THE DIFFERENCE FOR HOMEOWNERS IS THERE'S ABOUT 10, ON AVERAGE, INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT WOULD WRITE YOU A POLICY IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OR CLASSIFIED AS UNPROTECTED, VERSUS NORTH OF 25, IF YOU ARE WITHIN THAT.
IT PROVIDES FOLKS WITH SOME MORE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST THE MARKETPLACE TO LOOK FOR BETTER RATES, BUT THERE'S A MORE DIRECT COMPARISON AS WE LOOK AT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, AND THEY SEE MUCH LOWER INSURANCE PREMIUMS IF THEY'RE INSIDE THAT PROTECTED CLASSIFICATION RANGE.
>> WITH THE INSURANCE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, HAVING MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY OPTIONS FOR A HOMEOWNER TO BE COVERED IS A BIG DEAL.
>> THE BIG THING IS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THESE RESIDENTS WOULD ARE BENEFITING FROM NOW, BUT THIS MOVE WOULD NOT JEOPARDIZE THAT FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE.
>> THAT'S I THINK AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT TO MAKE, IS THAT WE'RE STAYING THE COURSE ON THAT, WHICH IS WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.
>> YOU HAD A MEETING ON NOVEMBER 7TH, WITH THE COMMUNITY.
>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY ATTENDED?
>> [OVERLAPPING] I WOULD SAY ABOUT 10.
>> WE DID NOT HAVE MUCH ATTENDANCE?
>> FINALLY, MADAM VICE MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO BRING REUBEN FRANKLIN, TO THE PODIUM.
>> I HAVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, REUBEN FRANKLIN, TALK TO US ABOUT SITE SELECTION AND THE ALTERNATIVE SITES WE ALSO CONSIDERED DURING THIS PROCESS.
>> YES. GOOD EVENING. I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH THE STRATEGY THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE TO LOOK FOR A NEW FIRE STATION.
THE FIRST THING THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAS PUBLICLY OWNED LAND TO KEEP OUR COST DOWN SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GET INTO ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.
THAT WAS THE SITE ACROSS FROM THE AMPHITHEATER.
WAS LISTED ON THE SURPLUS LIST BY THE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE STATE PARK.
WE SPENT ALMOST TWO FULL YEARS PURSUING THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
[01:15:04]
AT THE END OF THE DAY, LAST DECEMBER, THE ARC BOARD COUNSEL FOR THE STATE VOTED NO, FOR THAT SITE.THAT LEFT US LOOKING AT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE.
A CONSTANT THEME THAT WE DO GET ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT, IS WHY NOT SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BETWEEN THAT AMP SITE AND STATE ROAD 312? WE LOOKED AT THOSE SITES, BUT THOSE SITES ARE ACTUALLY NOT IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND THEY WOULD REQUIRE ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY.
TO GET TO THEM, YOU WOULD HAVE TO ANNEX IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS THAT ARE IN THE COUNTY.
FOR INSTANCE, SOME OF THEM JUST TO THE SOUTH OF WHERE OUR SITE WOULD, WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT ANNEXING IN THAT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT CAME OUT NOT IN FAVOR OF THE FIRE STATION THERE.
THE NEXT SITE WE LOOKED AT WAS WHERE THE EXISTING SKATE PARK IS TODAY.
THAT'S A CITY-OWNED PIECE OF PROPERTY, IF WE COULD DEVELOP A FIRE STATION THERE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY THE PROPERTY.
THROUGH OUR DUE DILIGENCE, WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH THE NEIGHBORS RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY, SO THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED BY THIS.
BUT THROUGH DUE DILIGENCE AND LOOKING AT OUR HISTORY, WE REALIZED THAT THAT SKATE PARK WAS DEVELOPED WITH A FIRDAP GRANT FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THERE WAS RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT COULD BE DONE THERE.
WE WERE WAITING AND WE HAD REACHED OUT TO DEP TO GET SOME GUIDANCE ON, COULD THIS BE UNWOUND, AND ULTIMATELY CAME BACK AND SAID, NO, I THINK THERE WAS A FIVE-YEAR LIMIT STILL ON THE ENCUMBRANCES FOR THAT PROPERTY.
THOSE WERE THE TWO PIECES OF PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT WE WERE GOING AFTER THAT WOULD KEEP OUR ACQUISITION COSTS DOWN.
WE WERE WAITING FOR THAT SPECIFICALLY.
ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT WAS THE ST. AUGUSTINE NORTH DAVIS SHORES NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING.
WE WERE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM DEP WHILE WE WERE AT THAT MEETING THE LAST TIME.
SINCE THEN, WE HEARD NO FROM THEM.
THEN THAT SENT US ON LOOKING AT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THROUGH THE CORRIDOR THAT WOULD MEET THE CRITERIA.
WE LOOKED AT THE BLUE CHRISTE, OR THE OLD BLUE CHRISTE.
OUR CHRISTE BLUE SITE IS NEXT TO ANASTASIA FITNESS.
THAT PROPERTY WAS JUST TOO SMALL, BUT WE DID SIT DOWN WITH THAT OWNER AND THEY HAD A PRETTY HIGH PRICE FOR THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY AS WELL.
I DID EVALUATE ANASTASIA FITNESS, BUT IT WAS TOO NARROW AT THE BOULEVARD.
THAT'S ONE REASON WE ALSO DIDN'T LIKE THE CHRISTE BLUE SITE.
WE LOOKED AT THE VACANT UNDEVELOPED COMMERCIAL PROPERTY RIGHT NEXT TO THE LIGHTHOUSE PLAZA.
AGAIN, IT WAS TOO SMALL OF A SITE.
IT ALSO HAD A LARGE OAK TREE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE DOWN AS PART OF THAT.
THAT SENT US LOOKING FURTHER AND FURTHER DOWN THE BOULEVARD.
WE WOUND UP ON 500 ANASTASIA, BECAUSE IT IS 1.27 ACRES.
IT'S ONE OF THE LARGER SITES ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE DIDN'T INITIALLY LOOK AT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS IN A FLOODPLAIN.
BUT BECAUSE OF ALL THESE DECISIONS AND CLOSED DOORS ALONG THE WAY, IT OPENED US UP TO LOOKING AT SOME PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN A FLOODPLAIN.
IT IS IN A ZONE AE, IT'S A SEVEN-FOOT FLOODPLAIN ELEVATION.
WE WILL DESIGN THE PROPERTY IF THE COMMISSION APPROVES AND MOVE FORWARD TO BE UP AND OUT OF THE 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
TO ADDRESS THE ACCESS ISSUES, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH DOT, FOR AN EMERGENCY LIGHT THERE TO STOP TRAFFIC TO ALLOW OUR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, FIRE TRUCKS, TO ENTER ANASTASIA BOULEVARD AND GO NORTH OR SOUTH.
THAT'S HOW WE WOUND UP AT 500 ANASTASIA.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS THAT THIS GRANT THAT WE HAVE FOR THE $750,000, TIME HAS BEEN TICKING DOWN THE TWO YEARS THAT WE SPENT WORKING WITH THE STATE FOR THE AMP PROPERTY.
WE HAVE UNTIL JANUARY 30TH, 2025, SO THIS JANUARY TO HAVE A DESIGN UNDERWAY AND THE PROPERTY ACQUIRED IN ORDER TO SECURE THIS $750,000 AND NOT LOSE THAT GRANT.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS COMES BACK TO US, NOW, CORRECT?
>> LET'S OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION AMONGST OURSELVES.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE SEEN DAY BY DAY EVERY THING THAT MR. REUBEN FRANKLIN JUST TOLD US ABOUT.
WE DO NEED A NEW FIRE STATION.
[01:20:03]
WE DID GET CONTACTED BY A LOCAL NEIGHBOR, AND APPARENTLY, SHE'S NOT ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO WAS CONTACTED LIKE WE DID WHEN WE LOOKED AT OTHER SITES.
I NEED SOME COMFORT THAT WE'VE TAKEN THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO TALK TO ALL THE NEIGHBORS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I AM FOR THIS.
WE NEED THIS. I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE MOST LATELY ABOUT HAVING SOME PLACE ON THE ISLAND THAT'S A DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER.
AFTER WATCHING MY FRIENDS AND PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA, NOT HAVING POWER AND CELL PHONES AND WATER, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO, [NOISE] AND THAT COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN TOO ON THE ISLAND.
I WANT A PLACE THAT WE CAN SAY, THIS IS WHERE YOU GO TO GET HELP.
THIS IS WHERE YOU GO TO GET FOOD, YOU GET WATER WITH INFORMATION.
NOBODY IN NORTH CAROLINA ACTUALLY KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM WHEN THAT STORM CAME.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO INCLUDE EVERYBODY IN THE CONVERSATION.
I WENT THROUGH THE APPRAISAL AND I HAVE TO AGREE, 3.8 MILLION IS AN ACCURATE APPRAISAL.
I KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH, THEY DON'T PAY THE APPRAISED VALUE, THEY PAY MORE FOR IT.
BUT I AGREE WITH OUR ASTUTE MR. REGAN, WHO HAS BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS WAY LONGER THAN I HAVE AND HAS BEEN THROUGH TOUGH ISSUES IN MULTIPLE CITIES.
IF WE WAIT A YEAR, IT WILL BE FIVE MILLION POTENTIALLY.
THERE'S NO OTHER SITE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA OF OVER AN ACRE.
IT'S LIKE THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY.
THE OTHER CONCERN WAS THE TRAFFIC WHICH THE CHIEF AVILES ADDRESSED.
I ALSO SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
HE MENTIONED AT LAST MEETING, THERE'S TWO EXITS TO THAT FIRE STATION, SO IF THIS ONE BLOCK, HE CAN TURN AND GO THE OTHER WAY.
GO DOWN FARTHER EAST ON THE BOULEVARD.
MY REAL CONCERN IS TO SUPPORT THE PERSONS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED.
I'VE GOTTEN VERY LITTLE COMMENTS FROM THIS.
I'VE GOTTEN, IT'S NOT LIKE THE STATE PARK.
WE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE STATE PARK BECAUSE EVERYBODY CAME OUT OPPOSED, STATEWIDE. I HAVEN'T HAD THAT.
I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN.
I'VE HAD A FEW PEOPLE GIVE ME A POSITIVE.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.
THIS IS ANOTHER TIME WE ARE REGRETFUL WE DON'T HAVE A NEWSPAPER.
THERE ARE MANY TIMES WE'RE GLAD WE DON'T HAVE A NEWSPAPER.
[LAUGHTER] BUT TODAY, THIS IS ONE THAT I REALLY WISH WE HAD A LOCAL NEWSPAPER WHO COULD COVER THE STORY SO THAT PEOPLE THAT WERE READING THE PAPER COULD GET INTERESTED IN EITHER BEFORE US OR NOT.
I WOULD LIKE THE MANAGER TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT IF YOU ALL ARE OKAY WITH THAT ABOUT MAKING ME FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE'VE TAKEN THE TIME AND THAT DO WE HAVE TO DO IT TONIGHT?
>> WELL, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, OFTENTIMES THAT SCHEDULE IS NOT UP TO THE BUYER.
THE DEADLINE FOR ME TO SIGN THAT CONTRACT IS TOMORROW.
I WILL REMIND YOU THAT WE DID BRING THIS UP AS AN ISSUE AT OUR PREVIOUS CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
IT WAS PUBLICLY DISCUSSED IN A PUBLIC FORUM AND THEN WE FOLLOWED IT UP WITH THE OPEN HOUSE, WHICH WAS ANNOUNCED AT THAT CITY COMMISSION MEETING, AND WE DID HAVE SOME FOLKS COME OUT FOR THAT, PRIMARILY FROM THAT DAVIS SHORES NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DID THE BEST THAT WE COULD FOR PUBLIC OUTREACH WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THAT WE HAD TO DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE SELLER WOULD ENTERTAIN A CHANGE TO THE CONTRACT TO GIVE US MORE TIME AND IF SO, WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO THE CONTRACT.
I JUST DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT TRYING TO APPLY PRESSURE ONTO THE COMMISSION, BUT I'M JUST BEING HONEST, THAT'S WHERE WE STAND.
HE'S MADE AN OFFER AND THE OFFER IS BEFORE YOU NOW.
>> [NOISE] I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN DANCING AROUND GETTING A FIRE STATION FOR A LONG TIME,
[01:25:01]
AND I'VE TALKED TO THE CHIEF.I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION ABOUT GOING ACROSS FROM THE AMPHITHEATER AND THEN SKATE PARK.
I FEEL YOU ON ALL OF THAT AND I ALSO FEEL THAT THE BLUE WATER DOES SIT ISOLATED.
FROM GOING OVER ON THE ISLAND ON A REGULAR BASIS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE BEST LOCATION THAT WE COULD UTILIZE.
I DO HAVE A CONCERN BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO SUBLEASE THE PLACE BACK TO THE SAME GUY THAT WE'RE PURCHASING IT FROM UNTIL I READ AN EMAIL.
I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE IT WAS SAID AT THE LAST TIME.
BUT I HOPE WHEN WE SUBLEASE THAT WE GET OUR $200,000 BACK [LAUGHTER].
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LEASING FOR.
AND WILL IT ACTUALLY TAKE TWO YEARS TO ACTUALLY START BUILDING THE FIRE STATION?
THAT'S THE TERM OF THE LEASE BACK.
>> BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY GET THE DESIGN AND EVERYTHING SO WE DON'T LOSE THE $750,000?
>> WE START THE MOTION ON THAT, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. BEFORE I GET OFF THE TOPIC OF COMMUNICATION, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR WAS FRANTICALLY TEXTING ME WHILE I WAS ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.
SHE WANTED TO REMIND ME SO I COULD REMIND YOU THAT WE DID SEND OUT PRESS RELEASES.
THERE WAS EXTENSIVE NEWS COVERAGE.
SOME OF IT WAS INACCURATE, BY THE WAY.
WE HAD PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, WE HAD RADIO INTERVIEWS.
IT WAS IN OUR NEWS AND NOTES, AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED IN OUR CITY CALENDAR.
THAT'S ALSO THE STANDARD OUTREACH THAT WE DO FOR CITY INITIATIVES.
WE DID THAT WITH THIS PLAN TO PURCHASE.
>> I'M SORRY, BECAUSE I THINK MAYBE THE CITY MANAGER DIDN'T HEAR BECAUSE HE WAS LOOKING AT HIS PHONE, BUT THE COMMISSIONER GARRIS WAS ASKING ABOUT THE LEASE BACK.
>> THERE IS A 24-MONTH LEASE BACK.
HE WILL NOT BE PAYING US A RENT FOR THAT.
HE WILL BE INSURING THE PROPERTY AND MAINTAINING THE PROPERTY FOR THAT 24-MONTH PERIOD OF TIME.
>> WE DON'T GET ANY MONEY WHEN HE HAS IT FOR 24 MONTHS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S CORRECT. HE'LL BE PAYING THE BILLS ON THE PROPERTY, MAINTAINING IT, AND INSURING IT.
DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, HE IS GOING TO PURCHASE ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY INSIDE THE CITY AND BUILD HIS NEW JEWELRY STORE.
THAT'S THE OFFER AND THOSE ARE THE TERMS OF THE OFFER.
>> ALSO, I THINK WHEN YOU AND I DISCUSSED IT, THERE WAS AN ISSUE, IF HE DOES COMPLETE THE BUILDING EARLIER AND CAN VACATE THAT PROPERTY EARLIER, WE COULD TAKE IT OVER.
ALSO IN THE LEASE, WE WOULD SAY HE COULD NOT SUBLET IT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. HE CAN'T ASSIGN THAT LEASE TERM TO ANOTHER PARTY DURING THAT 24-MONTH PERIOD.
WHEN HE HAS COMPLETED THE NEW BUILDING, IF IT'S BEFORE THE 24-MONTH PERIOD, THEN HE'LL LEAVE EARLY, THAT'S CORRECT.
I WANTED TO START BY SAYING THAT REALLY WHERE I CAME INTO THIS AND WHERE THIS BECAME SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME WAS WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE CAME TO US AND BEGGED US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE RED COX INTERSECTION.
THE FATALITIES THERE, THAT IT'S A CONTINUING THREAT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE FATALITIES THERE AS MORE PEOPLE ARE WALKING AND RIDING THEIR BIKES AND DRIVING THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, THE AGE OF THE FIRE STATION THAT'S OVER ON ANASTASIA ISLAND NOW.
FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO MOVE OUT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE BLACK MOLD ISSUE THAT WAS IN THERE.
IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE THE WAY IT IS.
I'M MOVING ON TO ANOTHER POINT.
THE POINT ABOUT THE APPRAISAL BEING SO HIGH AND THE COST OF US GOING $200,000 ABOVE THAT APPRAISAL.
THAT'S 5% DIFFERENCE, WHICH IS RELATIVELY MINOR IN A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WOULD BE IN GREAT DEMAND IF THE SELLER HAD PUT IT ON THE MARKET FIRST.
WE MIGHT BE IN A BIDDING WAR WITH OTHER BUYERS.
I THINK WE'RE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE HAVING GONE THIS WAY AND HAVING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A HIT, WHETHER IT'S THE LEASE BACK OR I THINK WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND I'M GLAD YOU'VE ASKED THAT BECAUSE I WAS INITIALLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT LEASE BACK.
[01:30:01]
BUT THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY OTHER WAYS WE'VE TRIED TO SKIN THIS CAT AND NOT FINDING ANY OTHER WAY TO DO IT.THIS IS IT. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY IS OWNED COMMERCIAL, AM I CORRECT?
>> COMMERCIAL LAW II. YES, MA'AM.
>> LAW II. WHAT OTHER OPTIONS MIGHT THERE BE IF THAT PROPERTY WERE SOLD TO ANOTHER BUYER?
>> A WHOLE VARIETY OF COMMERCIAL OPTIONS FOR ANY TYPE OF RETAIL, RESTAURANT, HOTELS, CONVENIENCE STORES.
WE'VE GOT A BRAND NEW LIQUOR STORE GOING UP RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
MY ARGUMENT IS THAT AT LEAST WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING, AND THERE'S A CERTAINTY IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAFETY IN BOTH THE FIRE EMERGENCY RESPONSES, DISASTER RESPONSES AND INTERSECTION FIXES.
WE GOT TO GO AHEAD WITH IT, AND I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
>> ONE MORE. I'M GLAD SHE MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE I HAD ALREADY MENTIONED TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE EMAIL CHAINS THAT WE KNOW THAT WAWA WANTS TO BE IN TOWN BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY TRIED, AND I'VE BEEN TO THAT WAWA ON SOUTH US-1, AND NOBODY WANTS THAT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS.
WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PUBLIC APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE SITE AND THE BUILDING THROUGH OUR CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE.
HOW THE BUILDING IS GOING TO LOOK, HOW IT'S GOING TO BE ORIENTED, THE BUFFER YARDS BETWEEN NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, THAT WILL ALL BE A PUBLIC PROCESS.
>> WELL, I AGREE, THE NEED IS GREAT AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS NOW, AND THE IMPROVEMENT AT RED COX ROAD IS NECESSARY, AND THIS WILL ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
I REMEMBER WHEN MATTHEW HIT BEFORE IRMA HIT AND IT WAS [INAUDIBLE] OFFICE WE USED AS A LITTLE AREA WHERE PEOPLE COULD GO TO GET WATER.
WE WALKED THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND GAVE OUT PHONE NUMBERS FOR PEOPLE, AND IT WAS JUST HORRIBLE.
THE FACT THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME PLACE THAT WOULD COORDINATE THAT WOULD BE SUCH A HUGE HELP TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR.
I DON'T SEE HOW IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER MEETING ON THE 9TH DECEMBER.
WELL, EVEN IF HE WOULD WAIT UNTIL THE 9TH OF DECEMBER WITH HIS OFFER TO GET MORE OUTREACH, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT 700 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS.
A $200,000 DIFFERENCE IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS ON A BUILDING, INCLUDING PROPERTY, $13 MILLION, IT'S MUCH LESS THAN 5% THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A MOTION TONIGHT.
>> WELL, I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION.
>> I WILL MOVE THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-43.
>> THANK YOU, AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT? WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL?
>> NOW, THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE STATUS REPORT OF OUR VISIONING,
[10.A. Status Report regarding the 2014 Vision Plan Update. (A. Skinner, Planning and Building) ]
AND IT'LL BE MISS SKINNER.>> YES. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
AND AS YOU NOTED, I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE VISION PROCESS SO FAR.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR 2014 VISION STATEMENT.
AND AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE CITY ENGAGED THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL TO HELP US UPDATE THIS VISION.
SINCE THE AUGUST CITY COMMISSION MEETING, SEVERAL WORKSHOPS AROUND THE CITY HAVE BEEN HELD TO GARNER AS MUCH INPUT AS POSSIBLE RELATED TO THE VISION TO DETERMINE THE AREAS THAT NEED UPDATING.
THE FIRST THREE MEETINGS HAD THE HIGHEST TURNOUT.
THEY WERE HELD AT THE MAIN LIBRARY, THE YACHT CLUB, AND AT THE GALAMAR CENTER IN SEPTEMBER AND EARLY OCTOBER.
THE LAST TWO MEETINGS WERE HELD AT THE WATERWORKS BUILDING AND ON WEST KING STREET RESPECTIVELY.
[01:35:02]
THESE MEETINGS WERE NOT AS WELL ATTENDED.HOWEVER, THE PARTICIPANTS THAT DID COME WERE VERY ENGAGED AND WE DID STILL RECEIVE A LOT OF FEEDBACK.
EACH MEETING, THE ATTENDEES HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WITH BUILT IN PARTICIPATION QUESTIONS RELATED TO DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND THE SUBJECT UNDER DISCUSSION.
IF ATTENDEES PREFER TO TAKE A PAPER SURVEY, THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL AT THESE MEETINGS.
THE FIRST MEETING WAS A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE UPDATE PROCESS AND SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS DISCUSSED A SPECIFIC THEME SUCH AS SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY, VITALITY AND LIVABILITY, AND CHARACTER AND AUTHENTICITY.
THE MEETINGS HAVE ALSO ENCOURAGED ATTENDEES TO PARTICIPATE IN BREAKOUT DISCUSSION SESSIONS TO DOCUMENT ANY SPECIFIC CONCERNS OR PREFERENCES.
IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO BREAK OUT INTO THESE AREAS WITH FACILITATORS AND BOARDS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN TELL US DIRECTLY WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE AND IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS THAT THEY WANT TO ADDRESS.
THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE TENDED TO BE OLDER RETIRED AND HOMEOWNERS.
THEY HAVE ATTENDED REALLY FROM ALL AREAS OF THE CITY.
WE KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD EACH OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS REPRESENTED BY DIFFERENT ATTENDEES AT THE DIFFERENT MEETINGS, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
THEY'RE MOSTLY FULL TIME AND LONG TERM RESIDENTS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A LIMITED SAMPLING OF OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS.
SO THEREFORE, THE CITY HAS LAUNCHED AN ONLINE SURVEY TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE AND PROVIDE INPUT INTO THIS PROCESS.
THE SURVEY WAS LAUNCHED IN LATE OCTOBER AND IS OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER 22, SO IF ANYONE'S LISTENING, PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY AND WE APPRECIATE ANY TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU USED TO TAKE THE SURVEY.
AS OF TODAY, ABOUT ALMOST 400 PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE SURVEY, 397 PEOPLE EXACTLY AS OF THIS MORNING HAVE TAKEN THE SURVEY.
SO AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME AND EFFORT, ESPECIALLY TO COME OUT TO MEETINGS AND TO PARTICIPATE AND GIVE US THEIR THOUGHTS.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS ACTUALLY TOMORROW NIGHT HERE IN THE ALCAZAR ROOM AT 6:00.
THAT IS BASICALLY TOMORROW'S MEETING AS OUR LAST MEETING AS A GENERAL PUBLIC WORKSHOP.
SO HOPEFULLY, WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE COME OUT TO THAT.
AFTER THIS MEETING TOMORROW, THEN WE WILL HAVE A FOLLOW UP MEETING IN DECEMBER AS A JOINT MEETING WITH OUR CITIZEN BOARDS, WE WILL HAVE THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD, AND THE CORD OR REVIEW COMMITTEE WHERE PEOPLE CAN PROVIDE DIRECT INPUT AND HAVE DISCUSSION WITH THE CITIZEN BOARDS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PCB REQUESTED IN SEPTEMBER THAT WE PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW THE CITY HAS MAYBE CHANGED OVER TIME WHICH I PROVIDED IN YOUR PACKET AS WELL.
THIS INFORMATION IS INTERESTING TO LOOK AT.
THIS MONTH, I HAVE ALSO UPDATED THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD LAST WEEK AND I ALSO UPDATED THE CORD REVIEW COMMITTEE LAST WEEK AND ON NOVEMBER 21, I'LL UPDATE THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD SO THAT WE'LL USE THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS I'M HERE TONIGHT TO UPDATE EVERYONE AND KEEP YOU INFORMED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
OTHERWISE, WE ARE ROLLING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING THE COMMISSION AN UPDATED VISION STATEMENT.
>> WHEN IS THAT MEETING WITH THE BOARDS.
>> RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE IT SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 11.
IT'S A WEDNESDAY AT 9:00 A.M. WE ARE CONSIDERING MOVING THAT MEETING.
I HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING, THE CHAIR INDICATED THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT AND WE HAD ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER SAY THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT, THEY'VE HAD SOME SCHEDULING CONFLICTS COME UP.
SO WE'RE POLLING THE BOARDS STARTING TODAY.
WE STARTED CALLING THEM TO SEE IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER MOVING
[01:40:01]
THE MEETING TO THE DECEMBER 18 WHICH WOULD BE THE NEXT WEEK.BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 11.
IF WE MOVE THE MEETING, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL OUR RESOURCES BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WANT AS MUCH PARTICIPATION AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WE ALSO WANT AS MANY BOARD MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO BE INFORMED OF THE DATE.
>> WE SHOULD FINALIZE THAT IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I DID REVIEW THE DATA REAL CAREFULLY.
I LOVED IT. ONE OF THE THINGS WAS OWNER OCCUPIED WENT FROM 55% TO 65%.
WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT WERE OWNED BY PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR HOMES WHILE WE WERE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SHORT TERM RENTALS.
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
IT'S THE RISE OF PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITIES IN ATIGUA AND MADEIRA.
>> YES. I THINK WE'VE PROPORTIONALLY HAD A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION AS MR. BURCHAM SAID IT IN OUR NEWER NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> BUT IT'S STILL 65% OF THE 15,000.
IT'S NOT 65% OF THE 12,000 THAT WAS HERE IN 2020.
>> IT'S STILL HIGHER PERCENTAGE AND THAT WAS INTERESTING.
THEN OF COURSE, THE RACE AND HISPANIC AND THE AGE CHILDREN, WE WENT FROM 3% UNDER FIVE TO 1%.
I FIT IN THAT CATEGORY OF BEING ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOT A LOT OLDER IN 13 YEARS.
I LOVE THE DATA. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING IT.
WELL, HERE'S A HOPEFUL ONE BACK IN 2010, 20.4% OF PEOPLE WITHIN CITY LIMITS WERE IN POVERTY AND 2023, 12.6%, SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF AND WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT THERE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE PANDEMIC AND THE IMPACT THAT THAT HAD ON PEOPLE.
>> GOOD POINT. GREAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS 11 A,
[11. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY]
AND MISS LOPEZ WILL SPEAK ON THE CITY MANAGER'S ANNUAL EVALUATION RESPONSES.>> THANK YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET WERE THE TWO WRITTEN EVALUATIONS THAT OUR OFFICE RECEIVED, ONE WAS FROM COMMISSIONER BLONDER, THE OTHER FROM MAYOR SYKES KLEIN.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS WHO DID NOT PROVIDE A WRITTEN EVALUATION MET PRIVATELY ONE ON ONE WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND WENT OVER AND I'LL SAY AN ORAL EVALUATION WITH HIM.
SO BEFORE YOU ARE THE TWO WRITTEN EVALUATIONS, AND THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IF YOU SO WISH.
>> I THOUGHT THEY LOOKED FANTASTIC AND MY REVIEW WAS VERY GOOD, OF COURSE.
ANY COMMENTS, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OUR CITY MANAGER'S EVALUATIONS.
HE PROVED IT WITH THE HURRICANES AND JUST DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HE'S DONE.
HE REALLY TAKES A LEADERS CHARGE AND I TEASE HIM SOMETIME AND SAID, DID YOU KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL THIS? WHEN YOU SEEK THIS POSITION, AND HE'S LIKE, NO.
BUT HE'S HANDING IT LIKE A CHAMPION.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. I THINK THAT COVERS THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'RE GOING TO NEXT GO TO 11 B, AND THAT'S ALSO OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
>> YES. 11 B IS THE DRAFT CONTRACT FOR THE PUBLIC ART PROJECT.
IT IS WITH ARTIST IVAN DE PENA.
HIS CORPORATION IS CALLED AIRBOAT INC AND DOING BUSINESS AS DE PENA STUDIO.
THE COMMISSION HAD REQUESTED AT ITS AUGUST 26TH MEETING THAT CERTAIN ITEMS BE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT AND TO HAVE THAT BROUGHT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR ITS APPROVAL.
SPECIFICALLY, YOU'D ASKED FOR A MORE DETAILED TIMELINE AND DELIVERABLES, A PAYMENT SCHEDULE, AND YOU WANTED SOME WARRANTY FOR THE ARTWORK.
SO THOSE ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS DRAFT.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A WHOLE BUNCH OF STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
AND SO YOU HAVE THE CONTRACT FOR YOUR DISCUSSION AND DECISION.
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE GETTING ALL THOSE ITEMS
[01:45:04]
IN THE CONTRACT FROM THE RESPONSE WE GAVE YOU.AND DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS? NO.
>> I'M TRYING TO FIND THE SPOT THAT I HAD QUESTION.
>> WELL, AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE'VE COME TO THIS POINT AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL MAKE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION ON THIS TONIGHT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. ANYTHING?
>> YEAH, I EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS LAST TIME THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE OF THE ARTWORK, THE DESIGN, AND I'VE HAD A FEW PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PASS THAT EVERY DAY AND THERE'S STILL SOME CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THIS AGAIN IS ANOTHER CHANCE WHERE I WISH WE HAD A LOCAL NEWSPAPER WHO COULD HELP ADVERTISE WHAT IS GOING TO AFFECT EVERYBODY.
AND I RE-WATCHED THE AUGUST 26 MEETING AND WE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE ARTIST AT THAT MEETING.
SO THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY FAR DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT I WANT TO RESPECT THE ARTIST WHO CHOSE THIS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO RESPECT THESE RESIDENTS AND HOPE THAT WHEN WE DO THINGS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO PUBLICIZE IT EVEN GREAT.
I KNOW WE JUST WENT THROUGH THIS WITH THE CIRCLE AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE DID A GOOD JOB WITH EVERYBODY KNEW WERE LOOKING FOR A FIRE STATION AND WE DID A GOOD JOB WITH MISS WHISTLE.
WE DID THIS WITH THE SCULPTURE AS WELL.
>> BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL SURPRISED.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET 100%.
WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE SURPRISED.
I'M ALSO CONFIDENT IN THE ARTIST WHO CHOSE THIS THAT I'M GOING TO BE SURPRISED AND I JUST HOPE SO.
>> WELL, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
IT WAS NOT AN EASY PROCESS OVER A YEAR PROCESS.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE DID ON REALLY BEING OPEN MANY PUBLIC MEETINGS.
I WAS DISAPPOINTING IN THE COVERAGE WE DID GET IN THE RECORD, BEING MISQUOTED.
I'VE HAD TO TALK TO LOCAL ARTISTS AND TELL THEM THAT IT WAS A MISREPRESENTATION OF WHAT I SAID, AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE FOR THE MAYOR AND ALSO FOR KRISTINA PARISH ZONE.
IT JUST GOT REALLY MISQUOTED, SO WE HAVE VERY QUALIFIED ARTISTS IN OUR CITY.
WE HAD ALMOST 100 PEOPLE SUBMIT.
THAT'S QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH AND REALLY AND I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY WILL LOVE THIS PIECE, BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE UNIQUE AND THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONTROVERSY NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.
SO I THINK WE DID AS ABSOLUTE BEST WE COULD AND TO OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENTS ALONG THE WAY.
ANYWAY, I'M FEELING EXCITED FOR IT. ANY COMMENTS?
>> YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
I GO TO MY CHURCH AND DIFFERENT PLACES AND I SPEAK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CITY, GIVING THEM A CITY UPDATE ON DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING DOWN HERE.
AND I ALSO TOLD THEM HOW I PROBABLY THREW A MONKEY WRENCH IN THE ZORA NEL THING BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE SPENDING $200,000 FOR THAT PROJECT FOR THAT WALL AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND I DID TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT AND I KNOW THAT THAT DAY I WAS VERY EXCITED BECAUSE BY THE TIME IT GOT TO ME, THE VOTE WAS ALREADY IN, I MEAN, I WAS THE LAST PERSON TO SPEAK ON IT.
AND I'VE REALLY DONE SOME SUPER SOUL SEARCHING.
AND I KNOW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, YOU PUT A LOT OF WORK IN THAT AND KRISTINA AND EVERYBODY.
A COUPLE OF PEOPLE RAISED NOISE AS TO WHY COULDN'T WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOCAL ARTIST? WHY DO WE NEED TO SPEND A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS ON AN ART EXHIBIT? AND THEN I THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAME HERE FOR 100 ACRES BEGGING US TO BUY THAT PROPERTY.
AND I PERSONALLY CAN'T JUSTIFY IN MY MIND HOW WE'RE WORRIED
[01:50:03]
ABOUT SOMETHING ON AN INTERSECTION WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF WATER DAMAGE.I FEEL DIFFERENT ABOUT IT, I FEEL DIFFERENT ABOUT HOW WE SPEND THE CITY'S REVENUE, I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE FIRE STATION BECAUSE IT'S A LIFE SAFETY THING.
BUT THAT INTERSECTION IS WORKING FINE WITHOUT A DISPLAY AND THERE'S AN INTERSECTION ON FOUR MILE ROAD THAT WHEN YOU GO THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR YEARS AND EVERYBODY JUST ROLLS AROUND THE CIRCLE AND GOES ON ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.
>> BUT I THINK WHAT REALLY HIT ME IS WHAT SOMEBODY SAID BECAUSE IT'S HOW I FELT WHEN I SAW THAT DESIGN THAT WE SELECTED, THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE IGLOO AND IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER PLACE FOR THE HOMELESS TO CRAWL INTO AND HAVE COVERAGE, AND SOMEBODY SAID THAT TO ME IN AN EMAIL AND IT JUST SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE BECAUSE THEY READ MY MIND WHEN I SAW IT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT IT, BUT YOU GUYS REALLY DON'T NEED ME BECAUSE THERE'S THREE OF YOU.
BUT I JUST NEED TO GO ON RECORD SAYING HOW I FEEL BECAUSE PEOPLE ENTRUSTED ME TO BE THEIR COMMISSIONER AND STAND UP FOR THINGS THAT THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN, AND I HAVE TO BE TRUE TO MYSELF AND LET GOD LEAD ME AS TO HOW I MAKE MY DECISIONS.
WITH THAT, I'D RATHER SPEND THAT 250,000 TRYING TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE AT 1,000 ACRES, 100 ACRES, GET THEIR PROPERTY THEN TO WORRY ABOUT A DISPLAY, BEING ON AN INTERSECTION THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE IT ANY EASIER FOR ME TO GET THROUGH IT.
>> THANK YOU. WELL, I RESPECT WHAT YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER GARRIS I UNDERSTAND IT.
I DO HAVE A DIFFERENT TAKE ON IT.
I'VE TRAVELED WIDELY AND I AM NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING AN ARTIST, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WHERE I'VE TRAVELED IN PUBLIC ART HAS BEEN A PART OF A COMMUNITY.
MY FAMILY COMES FROM WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS.
THE PEOPLE THERE ARE SO PROUD OF THEIR PUBLIC ART AND HOW IT'S BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY IN LOWER INCOME AREAS.
I'VE SEEN IT IN JOHANNESBURG, THE SAME THING BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT HAPPENS, BUT I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES.
I'VE ALSO LIVED TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF THIS INTERSECTION FOR 25 YEARS.
I'VE SEEN IT AS A BLIGHTED INTERSECTION FOR THAT ENTIRE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE.
IT HAS BEEN SUBPAR IN TERMS OF ITS FUNCTION.
IT'S NOW MUCH MORE FUNCTIONAL, BUT STILL IT'S GOT NOTHING GOING FOR IT.
YOU THINK ABOUT DAVENPORT PARK, THE CAROUSEL, THE MAIN LIBRARY, WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE WATERWORKS.
THIS PUBLIC ART IS GOING TO BE TO ME, THE ICING ON THE CAKE THAT JUST SAYS, THIS IS A DESTINATION.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT HEART OF OUR CITY.
WE HAVE VITAL AREAS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, BUT WE HAVEN'T IN NORTH CITY UP UNTIL RECENT YEARS.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
I'M HOPING IT CAN HELP CHANGE THE ENTIRE ENTRYWAY FROM THE NORTH AND MAKE IT WAY BETTER THAN IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S BUSINESSES UP THERE THAT ARE DOING GREAT JOBS OF THAT, BUT THEY'RE IN THE MINORITY BY FAR IN TERMS OF HOW MANY.
THERE IS GRANT FUNDING FOR IT, AS I UNDERSTAND FROM THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, SO IT'S NOT A QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR JUST COMING OUT OF OUR COFFERS OF THE CITY.
>> I'M SORRY. I BUDGETED, THOUGH.
MEREDITH WILL YELL AT ME IF I'M INCORRECT.
I MAY HAVE VERY WELL MISSPOKEN THEN.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR IN CORRECT MYSELF, I MISSPOKE ON THAT.
BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT IN A PART OF THE CITY THAT NEEDS INVESTMENT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE'S OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY NEED INVESTMENT IN THE COUNTY IN PARTICULAR, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON FOUR MILE ROAD, THAT INTERSECTION.
BUT I'M SAYING THAT I THINK THIS INVESTMENT OUTWEIGHS THE COST OVER THE LONG TERM, AND I THINK WE'LL BE VERY PROUD OF IT.
>> LEGAL QUESTION. WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THE ARTIST AND WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THE 250,000?
>> YES. BUT THE CALL TO ARTISTS DID SAY THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL THAT NO PIECE OF ART WOULD BE SELECTED, SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LEGALLY OBLIGATED, BUT YES, THE PROCESS OCCURRED, [OVERLAPPING] THE COMMITTEE OCCURRED,
[01:55:02]
YOU APPROVED THE SELECTION THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE, AND YOU ASKED ME TO BRING THE CONTRACT?>> IN THE CONTRACT THAT WE COULD GET OUT OF IT ANY TIME.
IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE CONTRACT.
>> NOT AT ANY TIME. WE DO HAVE TO PAY HIM.
>> WHATEVER HE'S DONE AT THAT POINT, BUT THERE IS A WAY TO GET OUT.
I'M SITTING BETWEEN THE FENCE.
I LOVE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS, BUT I VOTED FOR IT.
I VOTED FOR IT BECAUSE I WAS SUPPORTING THE FIVE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE INCLUDING THE MAYOR AND SOME OF HER COMMENTS.
IN MY HEART, FOR THIS PIECE OF ART, I WANT TO VOTE NO.
BUT BECAUSE OF MY INTEGRITY FOR THE PREVIOUS VOTE, AND BECAUSE I LOVE PUBLIC ART AS YOU DO, WHEN I TRAVEL AND SEE IT, AND I APPRECIATE MR. REGAN'S COMMENTS, AND I RESPECT HIS OPINION AND I RESPECT OUR MANAGER SO I WILL BE IN FAVOR OF THIS.
>> GREAT. WELL, CAN WE CALL FOR A VOTE THEN?
>> WE NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND, AND IT WOULD BE TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT AND FORWARD IT TO THE ARTIST.
>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MADAM VICE MAYOR.
I THINK THAT WAS THAT THIS IS YOUR MOTION [LAUGHTER] AND I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOW, THE NEXT ITEM IS THE NOTIFICATION OF BOARD TERMS FROM OUR CLERK.
[12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK]
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
THIS IS JUST A NOTIFICATION THAT WE HAVE UPCOMING BOARD EXPIRATIONS ON OUR CIVIL SERVICE BOARD AND OUR ST. AUGUSTINE FIREFIGHTERS PENSION TRUST FUND.
THIS IS JUST TO NOTIFY YOU THAT THE TERMS ARE EXPIRING AND WE WILL BE ADVERTISING AND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS, SO SEND THEM OUR WAY.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S SEVEN O'CLOCK.
WE'RE REALLY GOING RIGHT THROUGH THIS MEETING.
[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO VICE MAYOR ROXANNE HORVATH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 12 YEARS AND ON THE LOWER BOARDS.
IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO WORK FOR YOU DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
IT'S ALSO BEEN MY PLEASURE TO BE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND YOUR FRIEND.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR KINDNESS TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WISH YOU THE BEST.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO GO FIRST ON THIS?>> YEAH, I WILL. I'M HAPPY THAT WE HAVE APPROVED THE AVES AWARD FOR THE FORSTON FAMILY.
I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THEM HERE IN FEBRUARY AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE ACCOLADES.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IS RETIRING THIS YEAR, AND HE'S THE LAST ONE OF THAT GENERATION TO STILL BE WORKING.
IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE HONOR HIM AND HONOR HIS FAMILY.
THE EMPLOYEE PARKING PROBLEM THAT WE HAD IN OPEN COMMENTS IS, I GET THAT A LOT. I'M SURE ALL OF YOU DO.
WE HAD SOME EMAILS ABOUT THAT A FEW MONTHS AGO.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO IN THAT REGARD.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF USING FRANCIS FIELD AS PARKING.
WE TRIED THAT BEFORE AND IT WAS I WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO REPEAT, BUT I JUST WISH THAT WE COULD FIND SOME CREATIVE WAY OF PROVIDING SOME HELP, ESPECIALLY DURING THE NIGHT OF LIGHTS BECAUSE I AGREE WITH THEM.
I DON'T DRIVE DOWN HERE, I WALK OR RIDE MY BIKE.
I WOULD BE CONCERNED WALKING AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT FOR SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE AFRAID TO DO THAT.
WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
WE NEED TO KEEP THAT CONVERSATION GOING AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE $30 A MONTH RENTAL FOR THE GARAGE.
IF I GOT A PERMIT TO PARK A CAR IN THE GARAGE, IT COST ME ABOUT $30 A MONTH?
>> AN EMPLOYEE CAN BUY ONE OF THOSE. THAT'S RIGHT.
DO THEY SAVE A SPOT FOR ALL THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN?
>> I WILL COMMIT TO LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS FOR EMPLOYEE PARKING DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.
WE HAVE A SENIOR STAFF MEETING TOMORROW MORNING, IN FACT.
THE LONG TERM SOLUTION IS THE BROWDY GARAGE, AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THAT WILL BE IN PLACE AND THAT WILL END THE CONVERSATION.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH.
[02:00:01]
NO GUARANTEES, BUT WE WILL TRY.>> SOMEONE DESCRIBED YOU TONIGHT WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY AT ALL TIMES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT THAT.
I'VE BEEN HAPPY TO SERVE WITH YOU THESE TWO YEARS.
IT WAS FUN TO RUN AROUND AND TO SEE YOU HONORED AS VICE MAYOR IN ANOTHER COUNTRY LIKE THEY TREATED YOU AS A REAL HONOR.
WE WILL TRY TO MAKE SURE THE ART ENDS UP IN THE RIGHT SPOT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> I WAS GOING TO ALSO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE PARKING SO THANK YOU FOR GETTING READY TO LOOK INTO IT.
I KNOW IT WAS A MESS BECAUSE I WAS AN EMPLOYEE WHEN WE USED FRANCIS FIELD FOR PARKING, THE GRASS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS THERE, AND YOU CAN'T RECOVER IF YOU START USING THAT TO DRIVE ON THE GRASS AND SO FORTH.
BUT IT IS A CONCERN, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A CONCERN, AND IT IS CRAZY WITH NIGHTS AND LIGHTS, I TRY NOT TO COME DOWN HERE UNLESS I HAVE COMPANY BECAUSE JUST CROSSING OVER US1 TO GET DOWNTOWN IS CRAZY.
I BELIEVE THE TIME THAT THEY SAID AN HOUR AND SOMETHING, I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S REALLY TRUE WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.
ALSO, I'M GLAD YOU STILL GOT YOUR ART.
I JUST NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE AMONG PEOPLE THAT WANT ME TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY.
IT HAS BEEN A TRUE DELIGHT YOU BEING MY RIGHT HAND PERSON ON MY SIDE, AND I HAVE SEEN YOU AS AN EMPLOYEE MANY YEARS, AND I HAVE ALWAYS SEEN YOU A GRACE AND STYLE.
YOU BROUGHT A NICE FLARE TO THE COMMISSION.
I USED TO COME DOWNSTAIRS JUST TO SEE WHAT YOU HAD ON.
[LAUGHTER] I WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT ANYMORE WITH OUR NEW COMMISSIONER.
BUT ANYHOW, I HOPE YOU AND PETER HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE AND YOU DO EVERYTHING AND TRAVEL EVERYWHERE YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.
I HOPE THAT YOUR FAMILY EMBRACES YOU WITH ALL THE JOY THAT YOU HAVE POURED INTO THE COMMISSION, AND I THANKED THEM FOR SHARING YOU WITH THE COMMISSION ALL THESE YEARS.
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF COMMISSIONS.
YOU MET A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS COMMISSION AND HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING KIND, ALWAYS HAVING GRACE, AND ALWAYS BEING HELPFUL TO THE CITY.
I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT HAPPY THOUGHTS AND HAPPY MOMENTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I'M GOING TO START THOUGH BY SAYING THAT LAST WEEKEND OR THE WEEKEND BEFORE, A BIG TREE LIMB CAME DOWN IN ONE OF MY NEIGHBOR'S YARDS AND IT WAS STRADDLING A DISTRIBUTION LINE TO HIS HOUSE.
THIS IS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY MORNING, HE WOKE UP TO IT.
REALLY CONCERNED THAT THE LINE WOULD GO AND THAT FIRE WOULD START.
HE CALLED FPL AND THEY RESPONDED, BUT THEY ALSO CALLED OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AS A BACKUP.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT, TOOK CARE OF THE TREE LIMB.
THE POWER LINE REMAINED INTACT.
THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER BIG TREE THAT WAS LEANING OVER ONE OF THE ALLEYS BACK THERE TOO.
THE FIREFIGHTERS CAME WITH THEIR CHAINSAWS AND TOOK THAT ONE DOWN TOO.
THEY JUST WENT THE EXTRA MILE ON A SATURDAY MORNING AND THAT'S THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE GET AT THE CITY, AND I AM REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO REACH OUT AND THANK THEM FOR THAT, AND IT'S TOO BAD.
THE CHIEF HAS LEFT, BUT I HOPE HE DOES HEAR THIS.
THEN, OF COURSE, I WANT TO HONOR MY ROLE MODEL, MY MENTOR.
I HAD VERY LITTLE IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING WHEN I GOT IN HERE, BUT I HAD WONDERFUL EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW, AND YOU WERE CERTAINLY A HUGE PART OF THAT.
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ESTABLISHING THE CLIMATE THAT I WALKED INTO OF CIVILITY, MUTUAL RESPECT, BEING ABLE TO DISAGREE WITHOUT RAIN CORE.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I HOPE WE CAN CARRY FORWARD IN HONOR OF YOUR WORK HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY GOODNESS.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS WITHOUT TEARS.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF WORDS THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY,
[02:05:05]
EVEN THOUGH I'M GOING TO BE SWORN OUT ON THE SECOND BUT I'M READY.FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITIZENS OF ST. AUGUSTINE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THEM FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE THAT I HAVE NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY, AND I HOPE THAT THEY FEEL THAT I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO LIVE UP TO MY DESIRE TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF ALL THE CITY, THE RESIDENTS, THE BUSINESSES, THE INSTITUTIONS, AND THE TOURISTS.
I'M PROUD OF MY EFFORTS TOWARDS THE VISION PLAN BACK IN 2014 AND NOW AS I LEAVE OFFICE, THE NEW TWEAKING OF THE VERSION.
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF MY COMMISSIONERS THAT I'VE SERVED WITH OVER MY TENURE.
WE'VE ALL COME TO THIS POSITION BECAUSE WE LOVE THE CITY AND STRIVE TO MAKE IT AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, DO BUSINESS, AND VISIT.
A SMALL CITY HOSTING SO MANY VISITORS, INTERESTED IN OUR UNIQUE HISTORY AS WELL AS OUR NATURAL AND MAN-MADE BEAUTY IS NO SMALL FEAT.
WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS AGREED ON EVERYTHING, BUT HAVE ALWAYS ACTED WITH RESPECT AND AN OPENNESS TO ONE ANOTHER'S VIEW OF THE ISSUE.
IF IT IS ALMOST AS IF WE ACTUALLY LIKE EACH OTHER, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS NOT ALWAYS THE TRUE CASE FOR COMMISSION BOARDS.
I WILL MISS SERVING WITH YOU AND WISH YOU THE VERY BEST TO BLOCK AND YOUR FUTURE SERVING THE CITY.
MY BIGGEST THANK YOU IS TO STAFF.
I FEEL A HUGE SENSE OF PRIDE AND ALL THAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED IN FOLLOWING OUR POLICY DIRECTION.
YOU ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN AND MAKE US AS COMMISSIONERS LOOK GOOD.
YOUR STANDARD OF PROFESSIONALISM NEVER DIMS. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU AND PLEASE KNOW I WILL BE CHEERING YOU ON FROM THE SIDELINES.
FOR ANYONE WANTING TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENCOURAGE YOUR DESIRE TO DO SO.
I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH NOT ONLY THROUGH THE RESEARCH INTO THE CITY WORK, BUT ALSO THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES THIS POSITION HAS GIVEN ME SUCH AS THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL AND RESILIENCY, FLORIDA.
BOTH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GIVEN ME A BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE, NOT ONLY HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, BUT IN OUR NORTHEAST REGION AND AT THE STATE LEVEL.
IN CONCLUSION, I'M PROUD OF THE DIRECTION THE CITY IS MOVING IN AND WITH YOUR INSIGHTS AND EFFORTS, I BELIEVE WE WILL BE AN EVEN STRONGER, RESILIENT, AND COMPASSIONATE CITY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU. I WILL MISS ALL OF YOU AND REMEMBER, I AM ONLY A CALL AWAY IF I CAN BE OF ANY FUTURE HELP. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] SO AT THAT, I THINK THAT IS THE LAST THING, ISN'T IT? WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.