[00:00:03]
[1. Call to Order.]
THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS CALLED TO ORDER.MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA SILENCE TONIGHT.
AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
SO WE DO HAVE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS TONIGHT.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK.
ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS EVER.
SEEING NO ONE, HEARING NO ONE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
AND THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS.
OH, I WANTED TO JUST MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE ORDER.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE SWEARING IN AND THE OATH OF OFFICE.
I WILL GO LAST INSTEAD OF FIRST.
SO FIRST WILL BE COMMISSIONER BLONDER SWEARING IN.
THEN WE WILL HAVE COMMISSIONER JOHN DE PRETER SWEARING IN.
I'M WAITING FOR MY YOUNGEST SON.
HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE HERE BEFORE HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE HERE IN TIME.
COMING HERE NOW. SO BUT FIRST BEFORE WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR EVENING TONIGHT, AND
[3. COMMENTS BY CURRENT SITTING COMMISSION]
THAT IS WISHING VICE MAYOR ROXANNE HORVATH A WARM GOODBYE.AND SO I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
AND IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME A FEW MOMENTS I'LL TRY NOT TO BLUBBER MY WAY THROUGH.
ROXANNE, VICE MAYOR HAS SERVED SINCE 2010, AND THAT'S 12 YEARS ON THE COMMISSION.
AND THAT ALONE IS A NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENT IN SO MANY WAYS.
ROXANNE, OUR FRIEND AND VICE MAYOR, IS, LIKE MANY OF US HERE SITTING AT THE TABLE.
SHE'S PASSIONATE AND SHE DEEPLY CARES ABOUT ST.
AUGUSTINE AND WANTS TO USE HER TALENTS AND SKILLS TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE.
HER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MANY, AND SHE'S HAD MANY SUCCESSES TO HIGHLIGHT, AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO RECOUNT THEM ALL, BUT THERE ARE A FEW THAT STAND OUT IN MY MIND.
BEGINNING WITH THE VISIONING 2014 AND BEYOND, WHICH WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROVIDED US WITH A MOMENT IN TIME TOGETHER TO REFLECT ON WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO AS A CITY.
AND NOW WE HAVE INITIATED THE UPDATE, WHICH IS UNDERGOING AND UNDERGOING.
WE'RE GOING UNDERGOING NOW TODAY.
ALSO, ST. AUGUSTINE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF PRODUCING ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.
THE LIONS AT THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS BEING A GREAT EXAMPLE.
VICE MAYOR ROXANNE HORVATH FORMED THE CITY'S FIRST PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE, WHICH, WITH COMMUNITY INPUT, SUCCESSFULLY SELECTED AN OBJECT OF CONTEMPORARY ART TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT MAIN STREET IN SAN MARCO AVENUE, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT EFFORT VERY MUCH.
[00:05:04]
WE KNOW IT WAS A BEGINNING EFFORT, AND WE HOPE THAT WE WILL SEE MORE OF SIMILAR EFFORTS IN THE FUTURE.WE WOULDN'T WANT TO LOSE OUR LONG HISTORY OF PUBLIC ART IN PLACE, PUBLIC PLACES, AND FINALLY, OF COURSE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST OFFICIAL CITY POET LAUREATE.
HAVING A POET LAUREATE WHO IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING A LITERARY COMMUNITY THROUGH POETRY AND ENCOURAGING A LOVE OF POETRY AMONG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO OUR FUNCTIONS AND EVENTS.
AND OF COURSE, WE'LL HAVE A POET LAUREATE TONIGHT.
WE WISH TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR YOUR MANY, MANY OTHER VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND YOU ACTUALLY EVEN SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THAT AS WELL, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT.
YOU'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD, ENTRY CORRIDOR COMMITTEE, AND THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD, AND YOU'VE HAD VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND INPUT FROM SOME VERY CHALLENGING REZONINGS OVER THE YEARS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO MENTION SOME OF THE POSITIVE MEMORIES THAT WE SHARE.
PLANTING OF TREES ON ARBOR DAY EVERY YEAR, LIGHTING UP THE TOWN ON LIGHT UP NIGHT, AND THE 450 CELEBRATIONS, WHICH WAS A THREE YEAR VENTURE AND WITH MANY UPS AND DOWNS.
BUT WE HAD SOME A LOT OF FUN AND A LOT OF EXTRA WORK AS A RESULT OF THAT.
MANY VISITS TO AND FROM OUR SISTER CITIES.
60 SISTER. SISTER CITY AVILA, SPAIN.
AND I WOULD HAVE TO I WOULD ALSO NEED TO MENTION HURRICANES.
I KNOW ONE PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT TO ME.
AND THAT IS YOU WALKING DOOR TO DOOR IN DAVIS SHORES AFTER HURRICANE MATTHEW.
BRINGING HELP AND HOPE AND CHEERFULNESS TO OUR RESIDENTS AT A TIME OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY.
ACTUALLY, JUST BRINGING YOURSELF WAS JUST ENOUGH.
BUT PIZZA WAS ALSO WELCOME TOO, BECAUSE AND THEN YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, IT WAS WONDERFUL TO ME.
I REMEMBER WE WERE GOING THROUGH SO MANY THINGS.
WE HAD BEEN FLOODED IN MY OWN HOME.
AND ROXANNE TOOK A SCARF AND SAID, LET ME LAUNDER THIS FOR YOU BECAUSE IT WAS VERY NASTY.
AND IT WAS A SCARF FROM OUR SISTER CITY, AVILA, SPAIN.
SO I STILL HAVE IT, AND I'LL ALWAYS HAVE IT.
AND I SAVED IT. SHE BROUGHT IT BACK TO ME, CLEAN AND LAUNDERED.
SO IT WAS SO YOU TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT FRIEND TO US.
I'LL SPEAK FOR ALL OF US, AND CERTAINLY EVERYBODY'S WELCOME TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
BUT YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT FRIEND TO THE CITY.
AND ROXANNE, YOU HAVE SHARED YOUR KINDNESS ALONG THE WAY.
KINDNESSES. MANY OF THEM ALWAYS GRACIOUS AND SOFT SPOKEN.
BUT WHICH, BY THE WAY, SHOULD NEVER BE MISTAKEN FOR THE LACK OF STRENGTH AND RESOLVE.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE HAD MUCH OF THAT.
YOU COULD NOT DO THIS JOB IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A LOT, LOT, LOT OF THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO MAKE THIS CITY BETTER.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE WILL MISS YOU, AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE.
AND IF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.
IF NOT, WE'LL GO TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.
I'LL ASK YOU TO JOIN US IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.
[00:10:02]
I SAID I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ROC.WE CAN'T TALK OTHER THAN AT THE MEETINGS, RIGHT? THAT'S TRUE. SO WHAT I FOUND MOST OF THE ARTICLES WERE ARTICLES ABOUT ALL OF THE HARD DECISIONS IN 12 YEARS YOU'VE HAD TO MAKE.
YOU KNOW THE MONUMENT? YES. WHETHER TO TEAR DOWN A HISTORIC BUILDING OR NOT.
SO, THERE WERE TOUGH DECISIONS.
AND NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION, ALTHOUGH WE'VE DONE NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE LAST 12 YEARS, YOU LOSE SLEEP OVER IT AND YOU LOSE FRIENDS OVER IT SOMETIMES.
AND YOU STILL HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING.
YOU'VE SERVED WITH WISDOM AND GRACE.
SHE SPOKE OF GRACE AND I'VE RETIRED TWICE, SO I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THE END.
SO YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING ELSE, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL FINISH THE ART PROJECT FOR US.
BECAUSE YOU VOLUNTEERED TO DO THAT.
ALSO, WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON ISSUES, BUT NOW YOU HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER.
YES. AND NOW WE CAN TALK, AND NOW YOU CAN ADVISE ME.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD.
I WOULD RESPECT YOUR OPINION VERY MUCH.
WELL, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH YOU AS FAR AS BEING A CITY EMPLOYEE, BECAUSE YOU NEEDED TO CONTACT TIM SHIELDS A LOT ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS AND RESEARCHING DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU HAD DONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND DONE FOR ACTUALLY FOR CITY HALL AND DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THE GRANTS AND THE AWARDS THAT YOU HAD.
IT'S REALLY BEEN A PLEASURE SITTING YOU BEING MY RIGHT WING.
DURING MY TWO YEARS ON THE COMMISSION, AND I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF YOU AS A COMMISSIONER WITH GRACE AND STYLE, AND I HOPE THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE BE AS AMAZING AS THESE 12 YEARS HAS BEEN.
THANK YOU. THAT'S SWEET. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE SAID A LOT, ACTUALLY, THE LAST MEETING, YOU WEREN'T HERE.
AND SO WE DID MANAGE TO SAY A FEW THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO SAY TO ROXANNE.
I'M NOT. YOU KNOW, I NEVER CAME AT THIS FROM A POLITICAL WORLD.
BUT GROWING TO THE FRIENDSHIP TO ME MEANS BEING HONEST WITH PEOPLE AND ADVOCATING FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND DOING IT WITH RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.
AND, YOU HAVE EMULATED THAT FROM THE BEGINNING.
YOU'VE BEEN MY ROLE MODEL FOR THAT, AND I CONSIDER ALL OF YOU ON THIS COMMISSION, FRIENDS, BECAUSE OF THAT, AND ESPECIALLY YOU, I'M LIKE, JIM, LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SIT AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE AND JUST GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER AND OCCASIONALLY ASK FOR YOUR ADVICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAY I COMMENT? WELL SAID.
I DID SAY MY BRIEF REMARKS AT THE LAST MEETING.
THIS MEETING IS NOT ABOUT THE PAST, BUT THE FUTURE.
CAME HERE TO FOR SOME MORE KIND REMARKS.
IT'S A STRANGE FEELING TO COME TO THE END OF THREE DECADES ON, WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, EITHER ON AN APPOINTED BOARD OR THE 12 YEARS OF ELECTED OFFICE.
SO STRANGE TO THINK ABOUT WAKING UP TOMORROW AND NOT BE THINKING ABOUT THE CITY.
BUT ANYWAY, THERE'LL BE TIME FOR ME TO.
I CONSIDER MYSELF GOING OUT ON RECESS.
AT THE MOMENT. I'M NOT RETIRING.
I'M JUST HAVING A BIT OF A RECESS SO YOU MAY SEE ME AGAIN.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITIZENS OF ST.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS THAT I HAVE SERVED WITH OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT ON THE BOARD AT THIS TIME THAT I HAVE SERVED WITH OVER THE TENURE.
AND YOU AND I HAVE GROWN OLDER.
WE'VE BEEN ON SO LONG, SO LONG.
[00:15:01]
SO BUT ANYWAY, IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE.I WILL MISS SERVING WITH YOU AND WISH YOU THE VERY BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE SERVING THE CITY.
MY BEST OF LUCK EXTENDS TO JOHN DE PRATER, OUR NEWEST MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION.
I KNOW YOU AS A TEAM WILL KEEP OUR SHIP SAILING ON COURSE TO A BALANCED, AUTHENTIC, LIVABLE CITY WITH CHARACTER WITH OUTSTANDING VIBRANCY.
I ALSO THANK STAFF FOR ALL THAT YOU DO DAY TO DAY TO CARRY OUT OUR POLICY.
IN CONCLUSION, I AM 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.
OH. WELL, IF YOU'LL ALL JOIN ME UP FRONT, I HAVE A LITTLE GIFT.
WELL, WE COULDN'T LET YOU GET OUT OF HERE WITHOUT SOMETHING TO REMEMBER US BY.
SO WE HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED.
MY GLASSES. OKAY, I'LL PUT YOUR GLASSES BACK ON.
YOU WANT TO READ IT? OKAY, LET ME READ IT.
SO? SO, WHERE'S MY GLASSES? THIS IS LIKE.
SHE DID SAY WE WERE GETTING OLDER.
AUGUSTINE, THANK YOU FOR 12 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.
DON'T FORGET. DON'T FORGET YOUR WINE.
I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY WITH THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SCRIPT BECAUSE I SEE THAT MY SON HAS ARRIVED.
WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE HIM HERE.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MELISSA WISSEL, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, TO COME FORWARD.
SHE'LL BE INTRODUCING OUR CEREMONY THIS EVENING.
JUDGE CRISTINI, PLEASE JOIN US.
WE'LL HAVE YOU STAND RIGHT IN FRONT.
[4. OATHS OF OFFICE]
MAYOR ELECT, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE COME FORWARD.[00:20:09]
TO HOLD IT.IS IT ON? IS THIS ON? IT'S ON. NOT THAT I.
WHAT'S IT BEEN NOW? MADAM MAYOR, LIKE 15 YEARS OR SO.
1620, 2008 WAS OUR FIRST TIME TOGETHER.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE WE DON'T NEED TO SEE THE EXACT YEAR THAT IT'S BEEN.
YOU GOT ENOUGH? THAT'S ENOUGH INFORMATION.
IT'S ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO COME DOWN AND SWEAR IN THE COMMISSIONERS TODAY.
IT'S MY OLD STOMPING GROUNDS DOWN HERE.
I REMEMBER EVEN FURTHER BACK THAN ROXANNE SERVING FOR THE.
THE EARLY, EARLY LIKE 2000 AND THEN MAYBE A COUPLE OTHER YEARS TOO.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
AND SHE'S BEEN TO MANY OF OUR GRADUATIONS AND THE CITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE NEED TO BOTH SPEAK INTO THIS, RIGHT.
YOU GOT TO PUT YOUR HAND THERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO RAISE ONE HAND.
WHY DON'T YOU PUT HE'LL HOLD THE BIBLE.
YOU PUT THE LEFT HAND. RAISE THAT RIGHT HAND.
ALL RIGHT. YOU WENT I GOT TO GET BACK.
I GOT OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO LAST OUT.
SORRY. I NANCY SIKES-KLINE I, NANCY SIKES-KLINE, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I CAN YELL THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND.
THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT, THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED, THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE.
AUGUSTINE AND UNDER THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER, OF WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER.
ANYTHING FURTHER? QUICK PICTURE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. OUR NEXT OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE FOR COMMISSIONER ELECT BARBARA BLONDER, WHO IS ACCOMPANIED TONIGHT BY HER HUSBAND, DAVID HAINES, THEIR SON SETH, AND COMMISSIONER BLENDER'S PARENTS, MARJORIE AND FRED BLONDER, AS WELL AS HER BROTHER KEN.
AGAIN, COMMISSIONER BLONDER, WHOEVER YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE FORWARD.
WELL, YOU GOT A LOT OF VOTES JUST STARTING OUT, DON'T YOU? I KNOW, THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO SAY.
MADAM COMMISSIONER, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE? I AM, ALL RIGHT.
I'LL GET HERE SO WE CAN BOTH BE HEARD, I THINK.
YOU'VE GOT YOUR HAND WHERE YOU WISH TO PUT IT AND YOUR RIGHT HAND UP.
I BARBARA BLONDER I BARBARA BLONDER DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND.
[00:25:03]
OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED.
THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE.
TO HOLD OFFICE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE.
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE.
AND UNDER THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE. AND UNDER THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE. AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER AGAIN, ON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER AGAIN.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPIN AROUND A LITTLE BIT THIS WAY, AND WE'LL SQUEEZE IN A LITTLE BIT. THANK YOU.
YOU MUST REALLY BE GOOD. SHE JUST TAKES ONE AND THAT'S IT.
CONGRATULATIONS. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST AND FAITH PEOPLE HAVE PUT IN ME TO LET ME HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ST.
WELL, YOU GOT A RINGING ENDORSEMENT.
OKAY. SORRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, FOR THE INVITATION AGAIN.
AND, CYNTHIA, THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT HUGS YOU ALWAYS GIVEN ME WHEN I COME BACK.
YES. WE HAVE ONE MORE, ONE MORE.
OUR NEXT OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE FOR COMMISSIONER ELECT JOHN DUPREE, WHO IS ACCOMPANIED TONIGHT BY HIS WIFE, ANDREA, AND THEIR FAMILY, AMY AND MASON, CARDIN AND RYDER. HAVEN AND LEVY.
COMMISSIONER ELECT AND FAMILY, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
DID YOU VOTE, TO? YOU VOTED, TOO. RIGHT? YES. OH, DON'T SAY THAT TOO LOUD.
WE'LL HAVE THE TRUMP PEOPLE DOWN ON US.
YES, SIR. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO REALLY ENJOY IT.
AND YOU'VE GOT GREAT COMMISSIONERS TO SERVE WITH A GREAT MAYOR.
ALL RIGHT. YOU READY TO TAKE THIS OATH? I'M READY. RAISE THAT RIGHT HAND.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND.
I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT.
THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT.
THE UNITED STATES. AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE.
AUGUSTINE, UNDER THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE. AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER, OF WHICH I'M ABOUT TO ENTER.
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AUGUSTINE. CITY COMMISSION AND CLOSING COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. Y'ALL READY TO GO TO WORK? YEP. ALL RIGHT.
GREAT. WE'VE GOT A NEW COMMISSION.
[5. ELECTION OF VICE MAYOR]
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WE HAVE WITH THIS NEW COMMISSION IS THE ELECTION OF VICE MAYOR.THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS.
[00:30:03]
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A NOMINATION.I'D BE VERY HONORED TO NOMINATE BARBARA BLONDER.
BARBARA HAS SERVED WELL IN HER FIRST FOUR YEARS.
THAT DAY BEING TODAY, SHE SETS A REALLY FINE EXAMPLE.
SHE'S AN IMMACULATE RESEARCHER AND SHE ACTUALLY READS THE AGENDAS AND TELLS.
BUT I THINK SHE IS MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT.
SO I'M HAPPY TO NOMINATE BARBARA BLONDER AS VICE MAYOR.
I'LL SECOND. DO YOU ACCEPT HUMBLY? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS, SHE ALWAYS GOES TO THE PRACTICAL AND THE REASONABLE AND THE LOGISTIC AND THE LAW SIDE ABOUT SOME OF THE DECISIONS. SO I THINK SHE'S MORE THAN READY CAPABLE TO BE OUR VICE MAYOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.
ALL RIGHT. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS.
I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE.
ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, SO OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS RESOLUTION 2024-41.
[6. COMMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES]
AND MISS OWEN, ARE YOU HERE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT THIS TO US? WELCOME.WELCOME, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
YES. SO THERE'S RESOLUTION THAT WE HAVE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU.
WE DID MAKE SOME CHANGES TO IT BASED OFF OF SOME NEW CASE LAW, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE CASE LAW SAID THAT WE SHOULD NARROW THE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO JUST RELEVANT CITY, PERTINENT CITY BUSINESS.
SO THAT WAS IN THERE FOR YOUR REVIEW TODAY, AS WELL AS JUST UPDATED AND CLEANED UP SOME LANGUAGE AS WELL AS ADOPTED SOME PROTOCOLS, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO TODAY IN EXHIBIT F, AND IT PROVIDES SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND SOME OTHER THINGS IN THE EVENT WE NEED TO DO REMOTE MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT PENDING YOUR QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? OKAY. I DO HAVE A COUPLE SMALL NOTES THAT I'D LIKE TO CONSIDER MODIFYING THIS UNDER SECTION FOUR. YOU HAVE AN EXHIBIT C LISTED IN AS RULES OF PROCEDURE, BUT ACTUALLY IT'S TITLED MEETING PROCEDURES, SO I'D LIKE TO CHANGE THAT THERE EXHIBIT IT WOULD READ EXHIBIT C MEETING PROCEDURES TO MATCH THE ACTUAL TITLE OF THE EXHIBIT.
AND THEN ALSO UNDER SECTION EIGHT, SECTION SEVEN.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THE SENTENCE HEREBY ADOPTED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT F, BECAUSE THAT IS EXHIBIT F, SO IT REFERS TO EXHIBIT F.
SO, NOTHING SUBSTANTIVE, JUST REALLY HOUSEKEEPING-ISH THINGS.
SO WITH THAT I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-41, UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. SO IS THE MOTION WITH THE MODIFICATIONS.
WITH MODIFICATIONS. MODIFICATIONS.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE TO THE ITEM OF CLOSING COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS.
[7. CLOSING COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS]
AND WE'VE HAD QUITE A COMMENT, A LOT OF COMMENTS TONIGHT.BUT IN CASE ANYBODY HAS ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, I DON'T.
[00:35:01]
THANK YOU. NO COMMENTS.COMMISSIONER HARRIS, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER.
NOTHING THAT CAN'T WAIT UNTIL OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING.
OKAY. NOW I JUST SAY WELCOME TO COMMISSIONER DE PRATER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.
YEAH, YOU'RE PROBABLY HAPPY TO HAVE ANOTHER MALE.
ANOTHER MAN. WELL, AND I LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAD THE FAITH IN ME TO LIKE, OKAY, SHOULD I JUST SAY IT? NOT RUN AGAINST ME? NO. THERE WAS A VERY WONDERFUL WAY TO GET ELECTED.
SO I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN.
BUT I'M VERY GRATEFUL. AND I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO A LOT OF HOW EXPERT THE STAFF IS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, US AS A TEAM.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER TWO YEARS AS MAYOR, AND WE'LL BE MEETING AGAIN, I SUPPOSE NEXT WEEK, MONDAY, WE'LL BE MEETING IN SHORT ORDER.
SO WE'LL HAVE, I'M SURE LOTS MORE TO SAY AT THAT TIME.
BUT IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THIS, WELCOME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU ALL.
FINALLY, FINALLY CLOSING COMMENTS BY MAYOR.
[8. CLOSING COMMENTS BY MAYOR]
I HAVE ONE LAST THING ON THE AGENDA, AND THAT IS A READING BY OUR POET LAUREATE, NORMA SHERRY.I'M ALWAYS HONORED TO BE HERE, ESPECIALLY TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. THEY STAND BEFORE YOU, MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE, COMMISSIONERS.
WELL, VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER CYNTHIA GARRIS, JIM SPRINGFIELD AND JONATHAN DE PRATER.
WE BID FAREWELL TO OUR VICE ROXANNE HORVATH.
SHE GAVE 12 LONG YEARS OF SERVICE, MANY UPS AND DOWNS, BUT SHE DID SO WITH PASSION AND FORTITUDE AND WITH THE WITH AND WITH THE CONSUMMATELY ENTHUSIASTIC VISION FOR THE CITY SHE HAS COME TO LOVE.
HER SHOES WILL NOT EASILY BE FILLED, FOR WE RECOGNIZED HER ASTUTE ABILITIES, HER COURAGEOUS FORTITUDE, HER DETERMINATION, HER UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES GREAT AND SMALL.
AND FOR THAT WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.
AND THERE IS NO TASK TOO GREAT OR TOO INCONSEQUENTIAL.
TOGETHER THEY STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, SHOULDER WITH EARS LISTENING AND THEIR FEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUND AND THE GROUND THAT OUR ANCESTORS HAVE STOOD UPON IN THE FAITH OF THEIR FATHERS, GUIDING THEIR HEARTS AND BOLSTERING THEIR CONVICTIONS.
TOGETHER WE STAND AND PRAISE THE JOBS WELL DONE.
AND WE PRAISE THEIR STAMINA AND GRACE AND WILL GUIDE THEIR DECISIONS IN THE COMING YEARS.
TOGETHER WE STAND AND APPLAUD IN GRACIOUSNESS AND THANKFULNESS, APPRECIATIVE FOR THEIR JOB WELL DONE, EVEN WHEN THE UNLIKELINESS THAT THEY MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AGREEABLE WITH THE OUTCOME.
TOGETHER WE STAND AS ONE PROUD.
VIVA LA COMMISSIONERS, MAY YOU BE GUIDED IN WISDOM.
MAY YOU MOVE ONWARD AND FORWARD WITH DISTINCTION AND GRACE.
MAY YOUR JUDGMENTS BE PRUDENT AND FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE GREATER GOOD.
MAY YOUR CONSTITUENTS BE PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING, AS UNLIKELY AS THAT MAY BE.
AND MAY THE YEAR 2025 BE A MOMENTOUS YEAR FOR OUR BELOVED CITY OF ST.
VIVA LA COMMISSIONERS! THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
[00:40:02]
WITH THAT SAID, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.