4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING

[10.A. Update on the status of the City's Drop-in Day Center and establishing Dining with Dignity at 90-92 South Dixie Highway. (B. Fox, Code Enforcement and Vacation Rental Manager) ]

WE'LL HAVE TWO TONIGHT.

THE FIRST ONE WILL BE CONCERNING THE CITY'S DROP IN DAY CENTER AND ESTABLISHING DINING WITH DIGNITY AT 90 AND 92 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY.

THAT PRESENTATION WILL BE BY BARRY FOX, CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND VACATION RENTAL MANAGER.

WELCOME, MR. FOX.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> SEE IF I CAN POP THIS OPEN REAL QUICK.

I WAS ASKED TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF UPDATE IN REFERENCE TO THE DROP-IN CENTER.

I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN BROUGHT UP PIECE BY PIECE, WE HAVEN'T, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE VISUAL ON WHAT'S ACTUALLY OCCURRING AND WHERE WE'RE AT.

I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT WHAT IS ON THE OVERHEAD HERE IS THE ELEVATIONS OF THE FRONT EAST, NORTH, SOUTH SIDES.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE BLOCKED-IN AREAS WHERE THE SHOWERS AND THE STAFF REST ROOM AND THE TWO SHOWERS IN THE STORAGE ROOM WILL GO.

[00:50:03]

THERE'LL BE A WATER FOUNTAIN YOU CAN BARELY SEE IT.

IN THE OPEN BAY AREAS, THEY'RE APPROXIMATELY 10 BY 30 AREAS, IS WHERE THE DINING WITH DIGNITY IN THE FEEDING WILL OCCUR.

THEN THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE FLOOR PLAN HERE AS YOU SAW IT EARLIER ON THE BOTTOM ELEVATION.

YOU HAVE TWO ADA-COMPLIANT BATHROOMS. THEY WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THEY WILL BE EASILY CLEANABLE SO THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF EFFORT PUT INTO THAT.

THE ACCESSORIES AND THE RESTROOMS ARE ALSO VERY TRIED AND TRUE IN REFERENCE TO BEING CLEANED RAPIDLY PROCESS.

YOU'LL SEE TWO WASHERS AND DRYERS THERE.

THAT'LL BE FOR THE LAUNDRY SERVICE AS WE OPEN THIS BUILDING AND MOVE INTO THAT PHASE OF IT.

WHEN I TALK TO YOU, I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT PHASE 1 AND THEN I MAY SAY LIKE PHASE 1A AND PHASE 1B BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE INTO THIS AS WE CAN.

PHASE 1A WILL BE THE BUILDINGS UP AND CONSTRUCTED.

THIS IS THE PROPERTY, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A GREAT CANOPY OF TREES WE WERE WORKING WITH THERE AND LOOKING TO PRESERVE.

BUT RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE PROPERTY IS WHERE THE YELLOW BUILDING USED TO BE.

IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPERTY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HAIR SALON.

WE DEMOED THAT BUILDING.

WE HAD SOME CREDITS WITH THAT BUILDING, SO THE BIGGEST BUILDING WE PUT THERE WAS ABOUT 1,500 SQUARE FEET.

WE ADJUSTED IT IN BETWEEN OUR CANOPY AND OUR TREES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T TOO INVASIVE WITH THE FOOTERS FOR THAT BUILDING ON THE ROOF SYSTEM AND TO PRESERVE THAT CANOPY.

THIS IS AS THE FENCE WAS GOING UP.

TO ANSWER THE EARLIER QUESTION, THE FRONT HALF OF THIS FACE IN SOUTH DIXIE IS PARKING LOT, SO IT'S NOT FENCED IN.

THAT IS AS THE FENCE WAS GOING UP.

THIS IS AS THE RAILS WERE GOING UP.

I'VE ACTUALLY, PRIOR TO THIS, HAD BEEN TAKEN A PICTORIAL PICTURES OF IT.

THIS IS OUR FOOTERS AS THEY WERE GOING IN.

YOU'LL SEE THE MAIN WALKING GATE RIGHT THERE TO THE TOP LEFT CORNER.

YOU'LL SEE TO THE TOP RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE A DRIVING GATE.

THERE'S ANOTHER DRIVING GATE FURTHER TO THE LEFT OF THIS PICTURE.

AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, THIS IS THE BACK.

THIS WOULD BE THE NORTHWEST CORNER LOOKING EAST ON IT.

THOSE ARE THE FOOTERS FOR THE STRUCTURE.

THIS WAS THE FOOTERS BEING PUT IN WITH THE REBAR.

THE BLOCK WORK GOING IN, THE FIELD GOING IN, SOLIDIFY IT.

I DON'T KNOW. I CAN ONLY ASSUME YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BEHIND THE FENCE LATELY.

GOOD. THIS WAS THE PLUMBING GOING IN FOR THE SHOWERS, THE RESTROOMS, THE LAUNDRY, AND THE HOT WATER HEATER AND ALL.

THIS WAS THE SLAB WITH ALL THE PLUMBING PIPE, THE REBAR PIPE IN PLACE.

JUST SO YOU KNOW HOW FAST IT'S GOING, THIS WAS LAST WEEK.

THIS IS SINCE.

THESE ARE THE WALLS GOING UP.

YOU BRING THEM UP, YOU FILL CELLS, THEN YOU GO UP EVEN HIGHER.

THIS IS LOOKING THE OPPOSITE WAY.

THIS IS AS OF THIS MORNING.

YOU CAN SEE THE BACK CORNERS OF THE STRUCTURE GOING UP ON THE REAR.

THE SLAB IS UP.

THE PILLARS ARE GOING IN AND THOSE WHERE THE OPEN BAYS ARE.

THAT DOOR THERE WILL BE WHERE YOU GO IN OR THAT OPENING THERE WILL BE THE ROLL-UP DOOR WHERE YOU GO IN AND YOU ACCESS THE 288 COMPLIANT SHOWERS ON EITHER SIDE.

OOPS, I'M SO SORRY.

CONCEPTUALLY, THE BUILDING IN YOUR BOTTOM LEFT IS THE BUILDING WE JUST SPOKE OF.

THE BUILDING TO THE TOP IS GOING TO BE THE CONCEPTUAL DROP-IN CENTER THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED NOW WITH THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND THE SERVICE PROVIDERS.

IT WILL BE STAFFED BY SERVICE PROVIDERS IN REFERENCE TO ASSISTING THE HOMELESS AND ALSO ADDRESSING THOSE FACING AN UNSHELTERED FUTURE SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY STAY SHELTERED AND WE CAN STABILIZE THEM AND ASSIST THEM SO THAT THEY DON'T BECOME AN UNSHELTERED FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL.

IN REFERENCE TO PHASES, THE STRUCTURE WILL BE BUILT AND AS SOON AS POWER HITS THE PROPERTY, WE'RE GOING TO GO UNDERGROUND BECAUSE OF OUR CANOPY.

WE DON'T WANT TO PUT TOO MANY LINES RUNNING THROUGH THE TREES FOR STORMS AND ALL, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO UNDERGROUND AT THAT POINT AND RUN IT TO THE BUILDING.

PHASE 1A WILL BE THE STRUCTURE AND ELECTRICITY.

WE'RE HOPING TO MOVE DINING WITH DIGNITY OVER THERE DURING PHASE 1A AND START WORKING OUT SOME BUGS WITH THEM, IDENTIFYING ANY ISSUES, AND WORKING THROUGH THAT.

AT THAT POINT, THE CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE WATER AND DISCHARGE WILL BE BEING BUILT,

[00:55:02]

AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE BUILDING OFFICIAL AND THE CITY AND THE BUILDER IN REFERENCE TO HOW THAT'S GOING TO LOOK AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO SECURE THAT AREA IF WE CAN DO THAT.

IN THAT WAY, WE CAN HAVE ONE PROGRAM RUNNING, WE CAN WORK OUT ANY BUGS WITH THAT.

THEN WE GET THE NEXT PROGRAM UP RUNNING, AND WE CAN WORK OUT ANY BUGS WITH THAT, WHICH WOULD BE THE SHOWERS AND THE LAUNDRY.

THEN WE WILL MOVE INTO RAPIDLY, HOPEFULLY, THE MAILBOXES, IDENTIFY AN APPROPRIATE PLACE, IDENTIFY HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT, AND THERE'S SOME PREREQUISITES FOR THAT THAT WE CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW.

THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS AND MR. BURCHAM, REST OF THE CITY, AND YOU, OBVIOUSLY FOR THE FINALIZATION ON THE CONCEPTUAL OF THE REMAINDER OF THE BUILDING.

ANY QUESTIONS?

>> COMMISSIONERS?

>> YEAH. I'LL I'LL GO FIRST.

LAST TIME [NOISE] WE TALKED ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING, DID WE MAKE ANY ARCHITECTURAL IMPROVEMENTS TO IT TO MAKE IT LOOK A LITTLE BIT NICE?

>> YES, SIR. THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THINGS SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE SARAH RYAN DID FOLLOW YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND THERE WERE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BRICK AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE OPEN BEING CONCEPT.

AND THOSE UPGRADES ARE BEING DONE, YES.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN ACTIVE WITH DINING WITH DIGNITY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT I USED TO GO DOWN PRETTY REGULARLY, AND IT WAS A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE [OVERLAPPING] AT THE TIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS PAVILION WAS GOING TO COVER IT.

[OVERLAPPING]

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SEATING EXTERIOR, BUT MOST OF OUR SEATING WILL BE UNDERNEATH AND WE DO HAVE PLAN ON SOME LARGER PICNIC TABLES ONTO THE EXTERIOR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YES, SIR.

>> I MIGHT BE STEALING COMMISSIONER GARRIS' THUNDER A LITTLE BIT HERE, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE.

WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS THAT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN SOUTH DIXIE, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THERE AND BACK.

IS THERE A TRANSPORTATION TYPE OF PLAN, SIDEWALK PLAN?

>> TRANSPORTATION WISE, NO, MA'AM.

BUT THE SIDEWALKS FOR THE SITE, WE HAVE DISCUSSED DOING OUR BEST TO WORK A SIDEWALK ALONG OUR SIDE OF SOUTH DIXIE THAT IS ON THE PROPERTY SIDE TO EXTEND THAT SIDEWALK AROUND THE CORNER AND FURTHER DOWN THE REST OF THE PROPERTY.

BUT AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION [OVERLAPPING]

>> I'M SORRY, JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE.

I'M SAYING IT'S NOT SAFE TO WALK DOWN SOUTH DIXIE OR RIDE YOUR BIKE.

I THINK HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THERE SAFELY AND BACK I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

>> WE CAN ASK. I THINK OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IS IN THE BACK.

WE COULD ASK STEPHEN SLAUGHTER TO COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE SIDEWALK ON SOUTH DIXIE.

[NOISE]

>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. THE UPDATE ON THAT, IT'S CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN.

I CAN GET YOU A MORE SPECIFIC DATE.

I DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT WILL BE THIS FISCAL YEAR.

>> THAT MEANS A SIDEWALK ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SOUTH DIXIE FROM KING TO 207?

>> I WANT TO SAY YES, BUT I DON'T WANT MISLEAD YOU.

>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER GARRIS HAD BEEN.

[OVERLAPPING] I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HER, BUT I SURE WOULD LIKE THAT.

>> WE DO HAVE A SIDEWALK PROJECT DOWN ANDERSON, SOUTH DIXIE, AND I CAN GET YOU SOME MORE DETAILS.

I DON'T HAVE THEM RIGHT NOW. I DO APOLOGIZE.

>> ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN BRING THAT BACK TO US.

>> I SURE WILL. THANK YOU.

>> OURS WE'LL TIE INTO THAT ON THE PROPERTY.

[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE PLANS FOR THE SIDEWALK ON THE PROPERTY.

>> I THINK THE OTHER QUESTION WAS TRANSPORTATION.

>> THERE IS NO FORMAL TRANSPORTATION [OVERLAPPING]

>> THERE IS NO FORMAL TRANSPORTATION DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. GREAT.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENT?

>> YEAH. I WAS JUST WAITING.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE GOING TO GO.

>> I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I GUESS THE FORMER PLANNING GUY ME LIKES TO HEAR THAT YOU WENT UP ON PIERS TO SAVE THE TREE CANOPY AND THAT YOU'RE PUTTING THE POWER LINES IN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO GO UNDERGROUND WITH THE POWER LINES AS SOON AS WE GET IT TO THE PROPERTY, WHICH IT COMES FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF SOUTH DIXIE.

>> NO. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS BEING DONE BY MS. RYAN.

I KNOW SHE'LL PROBABLY DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB MY GUESS.

>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS, I'M GLAD FOR THE UPDATE BECAUSE I DO MEET WITH HOME AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING SO I CAN LET THEM KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT.

[01:00:01]

IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME COMING, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

IT'S BEEN WELL OVER A YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THESE SIDEWALKS FOR SOUTH DIXIE.

SO I REALLY HOPE THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION IN MAYBE THE NEXT MEETING.

JUST GIVE US AN UPDATE AS TO WHEN THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.

BECAUSE I SAY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID THEY CAN'T EVEN WALK TO WORK.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR HOMELESS TRYING TO GET SOME PLACE NOW THAT THEY CAN GO AND EAT, WE NEED THEM TO GET THERE SAFELY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU, BARRY, FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION TONIGHT.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU.

I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THEY WERE ALREADY ASKED.

WHAT WE'LL LOOK FOR AT A FUTURE MEETING EXPLANATION ABOUT THE SIDEWALK PLAN.

>> WE'D BE HAPPY TO BRING THAT BACK TO YOU.

>> AND ANY OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO THE SITE.

>> AS WE IDENTIFY A DATE TO START MOVING THINGS, I'LL UPDATE YOU IN PLENTY OF TIME THAT WE CAN PREPARE SOMETHING, OBVIOUSLY, YES.

>> MAYBE I SHOULD ASK ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THAT WAS YOUR QUESTION.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> THE DATE, RIGHT?

>> YES. I WILL UPDATE YOU WHEN THOSE THINGS START TO GET A LITTLE MORE SOLID BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES WE'RE WAITING ON SOME MATERIALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT BUMPED IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT YES, SIR, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRESS. NEXT ITEM IS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS,

[10.B. 2024-2025 Nights of Lights in Review Presentation. (D. Birchim, City Manager) ]

AND THIS IS MR. BURCHAM.

THE ITEM WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR EAGERLY.

CERTAINLY HAS BEEN THE TOPIC OF EVERYTHING.

WHEN I SEE PEOPLE OUT AND STILL GETTING QUITE A BIT OF EMAILS AND COMMENTS, BUT IT'S STILL VERY MUCH A VERY HOT TOPIC.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS, GOOD EVENING.

JUST TO START OFF THE CONVERSATION, THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS A HOLIDAY LIGHTING DISPLAY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE AT HOME AND THE AUDIENCE, IT STARTS ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND RUNS UNTIL THE LAST SUNDAY IN JANUARY.

THIS YEAR, IT WAS 65 DAYS LONG, AND WE BEGAN THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS EVENT IN 1995.

DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, WE CUSTOMARILY OR TYPICALLY SEE LARGE VOLUMES OF VISITORS ON LIGHT-UP NIGHT.

WE SEE BIG CROWDS DURING THE CHRISTMAS REGATTA, DURING THAT THANKSGIVING TIME.

THEN WE SEE A SURGE OF VISITATION BETWEEN CHRISTMAS DAY AND NEW YEARS.

THAT'S WHEN WE SEE THE HEAVIEST VISITATION.

THIS YEAR, WE SAW LARGER NUMBERS OF PEDESTRIANS AND MORE INTENSE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THAN WE'VE SEEN IN PAST YEARS.

TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION IS AN OVERVIEW OF THIS YEAR'S EVENT AND THE RESOURCES THE CITY HAD IN PLACE TO MANAGE IT.

IT WILL FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES IN THE CITY'S CAPACITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE VISITORS AND TO OUR RESIDENTS.

IT WILL NOT ADDRESS MARKETING OR ADVERTISING, WHICH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VCB, THE VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU.

THE MOST VISIBLE ASPECT OF THIS EVENT IS TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND PEDESTRIAN CONGESTION.

I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH A VIDEO.

THIS IS A SHERIFF'S HELICOPTER FLYOVER OF THE CITY USING A HEAT-SENSING CAMERA, AND THIS WAS DONE ON DECEMBER 28TH, WHICH IS THE SATURDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A HELICOPTER SHOWING THE HEAT SIGNATURES OF VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS.

RIGHT NOW, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN IS KING STREET ON THE BOTTOM, AND THAT ROW OF LIGHTS GOING IN.

HE'S SHOWING NOW PALMER STREET, THAT ROW OF LIGHTS IS TRAFFIC.

[01:05:01]

THOSE ARE CARS AT A DEAD STOP.

THIS IS ABOUT 7:20 IN THE EVENING ON SATURDAY THE 28TH.

IT'S PANNING DOWN TO WEST KING STREET, AND YOU'RE SEEING TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALL ALONG WEST KING STREET.

THIS IS THE BROUDY LOT HERE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT'S USED AS A PARKING LOT.

IT IS FILLED. HERE'S THE INTERSECTION OF KING AND PONCE.

CARS ARE AT A DEAD STOP MOVING NORTHBOUND ON POST LEON BOULEVARD AND THE CAMERA IS PANNING DOWN KING STREET.

THAT'S THE KING STREET BRIDGE AND IT'S SHOWING YOU DOWNTOWN.

YOU CAN SEE RIBERIA STREET IS A SOLID STREAM OF VEHICLES.

THOSE WHITE DOTS ARE VEHICLES ON RIBERIA STREET.

IT'S GOING TO FOCUS IN ON THAT A LITTLE BIT, AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE DOWN KING STREET.

IT'S MONITORING TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

THIS IS A COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HELICOPTER.

IT'S GOING OVER FLAGLER COLLEGE NOW ON THE TOP PART.

HERE WE ARE COMING UP ON THE PLAZA.

ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, THAT WHITE AREA, THAT'S ST. GEORGE STREET.

IT CANNOT PICK UP THE HEAT SIGNATURES OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE, IT'S JUST A WHITE BLOB OF HEAT.

ON THE TOP, YOU CAN SEE CORDOVA STREET.

IT'S GOING TO PAN OVER AND SHOW YOU CONGESTION AROUND THE PARKING GARAGE.

IT'S GOING UP SAN MARCO AVENUE. THERE'S THE GARAGE.

WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT IN A MINUTE.

IT'S CIRCLING AROUND A LITTLE BIT TO THE GARAGE.

WE'RE GOING UP SAN MARCO, AND IT'S GOING TO SHOW YOU CONGESTION.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, THAT'S SAN MARCO AVENUE.

SOUTHBOUND IS THAT SOLID LINE OF CARS.

THOSE ARE FOLKS COMING INTO TOWN ABOUT 7:20 IN THE EVENING ON SATURDAY.

AT THE TOP, YOU'LL SEE SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC COMING INTO TOWN ON NORTH PONCE ALSO CONGESTED.

THAT'S THE PINA ON MAY STREET.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS TRAFFIC ATTEMPTING TO COME INTO TOWN, AND IT'S A SOLID STREAM OF CARS.

IT'S LOOKING FOR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. IT'S A TRAFFIC SAFETY HELICOPTER FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

IT'S GOING TO COME BACK DOWNTOWN AND THEN IT'S GOING TO GO OVER TO ANASTASIA ISLAND.

YOU'RE SEEING THE SIDE STREETS WHICH DON'T LOOK TOO CONGESTED.

CINCINNATI HOPE AND BERNARD, THAT'S OLD MISSION AVENUE TO THE FAR LEFT.

BUT NOW LOOK AT THE LINE OF CARS TRYING TO GET INTO THE PARKING GARAGE.

IT LOOKS LIKE A STRING OF PEARLS.

THOSE WHITE LIGHTS ARE INDIVIDUAL CARS.

ORANGE STREET CASTILLO DRIVE AND AROUND THE PARKING GARAGE IS A DEAD STOP RIGHT THERE.

CARRERA STREET LOOKS LIKE AS A CUT THROUGH IS ALSO CONGESTED.

THAT KING STREET AND MALAGA STREET INTERSECTION IS CONGESTED COMING IN.

IT'S SCREENING PAST THE SEBASTIAN INLAND HARBOR AREA RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN SEE TRAFFIC CONGESTION TRYING TO GET INTO TOWN EASTBOUND ON WEST KING STREET, AND NORTHBOUND ON PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD IS JUST CRAWLING INTO TOWN.

I APOLOGIZE. WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS, I PROMISE.

IT'S JUST SCANNING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEE IF IT CAN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT IT NEEDS TO HANDLE.

WE'VE GOT SOLID ROWS OF CARS IN THE SIDE STREETS.

THERE'S THE ROOF OF THE PARKING GARAGE.

YOU CAN START TO SEE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE WALKING ON IT.

YOU CAN SEE CARS TRYING TO GET INTO THE PARKING GARAGE AND THEY'RE JUST AT A DEAD STOP.

THERE'S THE PLAZA IN FRONT OF THE PARKING GARAGE.

THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, BUT YOU CAN'T PICK THEM UP BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY, THE HEAT SIGNATURE JUST SHOWS IT AS ONE LARGE HEATED AREA.

YOU CAN PICK UP INDIVIDUALS ON THE SIDEWALKS, BUT IT'S GOING TO SHOW YOU THE NORTHERN PART OF ST. GEORGE STREET RIGHT NOW.

[01:10:01]

IT JUST BECOMES ONE LARGE BLOCK OF HEAT WITH ALL THE INDIVIDUALS, HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON ST. GEORGE STREET AT THIS TIME.

THE FORT PARKING LOTS TO YOUR RIGHT, IT'S FULL.

CARS TRYING TO GET INTO THE FORT PARKING LOT AND THEY'RE JUST STOPPED.

TRAFFIC IS FLOWING ON THE BAY FRONT.

YOU CAN SEE LARGE PEDESTRIAN CROWDS ON THE SIDEWALKS, ALL THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

WHEN WE GO OVER THE BRIDGE, THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING WHEN WE SHOW YOU THE CONGESTION ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD AND PARTICULARLY OGLETHORPE AND NORTH DAVIS SHORES.

YOU'RE SEEING A LINE OF CARS TRYING TO GET OVER THE BRIDGE OF LIONS.

ON THE BOTTOM, YOU'RE SEEING OGLETHORPE.

EVIDENTLY, PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO CUT THROUGH NORTH DAVIS SHORES AROUND THE TRAFFIC ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.

YOU CAN SEE ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, THAT TURNING LANE THAT APPROACHES THE BRIDGE IS ALSO BACKED ALL THE WAY UP.

ANASTASIA BOULEVARD IS BACKED ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO COMERAS AVENUE.

THERE'S COMERAS RIGHT THERE, AND YOU CAN SEE IT STOPS RIGHT THERE, AND IT'S GOING TO PAN OVER.

FLAGLER LOOKS OKAY, BUT ON YOUR LEFT-HAND SIDE, THAT'S OGLETHORPE.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

THAT'S A SOLID ROW OF CARS ALL THE WAY DOWN OGLETHORPE.

THIS IS JUST GIVING YOU AN IDEA.

THE REST OF NORTH DAVIS SHORES IS CLEAR.

THIS IS ABOUT IT. I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU THIS AERIAL FLYOVER SO YOU COULD GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WE SAW JUST ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY.

WE'LL START OFF TO THE CONVERSATION TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE VIDEO, THE ROADWAYS WERE AT A STANDSTILL FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME BY TRAFFIC BACKING UP AND PEOPLE TRYING TO GET INTO TOWN DURING THE HEAVIER PERIODS.

WE SAW ALL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ROADWAYS INTO TOWN COMPLETELY BLOCKED.

THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ISOLATED OUR SATELLITE PARKING LOTS AND OUR SYSTEM AND MAKING IT INEFFICIENT.

WE SAW THE ROUTES ON KING STREET, STATE ROAD 16, NORTH PONCE DE LEON, AND SOUTH PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, AND SAN MARCO AVENUE AFFECTED, AND ALL OF OUR SECONDARY ARTERIES INTO TOWN, MASTERS, PALMER, OGLETHORPE BOULEVARD, WHICH WAS A SURPRISE TO US.

MAY STREET WAS CONGESTED.

THEN IN TOWN, TRAFFIC SIGNAL OPERATIONS BROKE DOWN BECAUSE THE HEAVY VOLUME OF PEDESTRIANS CROSSING THOSE INTERSECTIONS STOPPED VEHICLES FROM DRIVING THROUGH THEM, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

MOST OF THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS WERE IMPACTED BY SPILLOVER FROM THESE MAJOR ROADS.

THERE WAS AN IMPACT ON EMERGENCY SERVICES, ESPECIALLY THE RESPONSE TIME, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER ON.

PEDESTRIANS CROWDS.

IN THE SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE A PHOTOGRAPH THAT SAME DAY, DECEMBER 28TH OF THE PEDESTRIANS ON ST. GEORGE STREET THAT YOU SAW ON THAT VIDEO JUST NOW, AND YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE ST. GEORGE STREET BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE ON IT.

WE HAVE NEVER SEEN CROWDS THAT FOR DECEMBER 28TH DURING THIS EVENT PERIOD OF TIME.

THEY WERE THROUGHOUT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

AGAIN, THEY LED TO TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS BECAUSE THEY CROSSED DURING GREEN LIGHTS AT PARTICULARLY AT THE BRIDGE OF LIONS INTERSECTION.

AT THE INTERSECTION OF CATHEDRAL PLACE AND ST. GEORGE STREET, THAT'S NEXT TO THE PLAZA.

[01:15:01]

AT SAN MARCO AND WEST CASTILLO, THAT INTERSECTION FRONT OF RIPLEY'S BELIEVE OR NOT, JUST THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEDESTRIANS STOPPED A VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

WE DO OFFER A FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE TO OUR VISITORS AND IT WAS OPERATING.

IN THE SLIDE HERE, YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS ARE SHUTTLING NUMBERS STARTING IN 2016.

OUR SHUTTLE SERVICE OPERATES IN THIS WAY. IT'S A FREE SHUTTLE.

IF YOU PARK AT ONE OF OUR SATELLITE PARKING LOTS, WE WILL SHUTTLE YOU INTO TOWN, WE'LL BUS YOU INTO TOWN AND DROP YOU OFF AT THE VIC.

OUR PARKING LOTS PRIMARILY ARE AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING.

WE HAVE A SMALLER PARKING LOT ON NORTH 301 SAN MARCO, THAT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE DOSE COFFEE HOUSE.

WE SHUTTLE FOR LIGHT UP NIGHT, WE SHUTTLE FOR EVERY SATURDAY BETWEEN LIGHT UP NIGHT AND CHRISTMAS, AND WE SHUTTLE EVERY DAY BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS.

BUT BECAUSE THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICES ARE OPEN DURING THE DAY, WE CAN'T USE THOSE PARKING LOTS DURING THE DAY FOR SHUTTLING.

WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION LATER ON TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT EXTENDING SHUTTLING FOR THIS EVENT, NOT JUST FOR SATURDAYS, BUT TO INCLUDE FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS, AND TO USE THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT LOTS AFTER 5:00 PM DURING THE HEAVY WEEK BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE FOR THESE NUMBERS FOR SHUTTLING, YOU SAW RELATIVELY LOW NUMBERS, STARTING IN 201., WE HAD ABOUT 8,000 PEOPLE SHUTTLED.

IT BUILT UP TO 2019, WHERE WE HAD OVER 19,000 PEOPLE SHUTTLING.

THIS IS JUST FOR 12 DAYS OF SHUTTLING, BY THE WAY.

THIS IS THE NUMBERS FOR 12 DAYS.

THEN IT DROPPED OFF FOR COVID.

WE DIDN'T SHUTTLE FOR COVID FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

NOW WE'RE BACK UP TO NUMBERS THAT ARE LARGER THAN PRE COVID NUMBERS.

WE SHUTTLED 19,450 VISITORS IN OUR SHUTTLE SERVICE.

BUT THE IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY HERE WASN'T THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE SHUTTLED, IT WAS THE LONG HEADWAY TIMES.

IT TOOK US IN SOME TIMES MORE THAN 45 MINUTES TO DRIVE PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT PARKING LOTS NORTH OF TOWN INTO TOWN.

THAT'S BECAUSE WE GOT STUCK IN THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION YOU JUST SAW ON THAT VIDEO.

WE DIDN'T SHUTTLE BETWEEN THE COUNTY SITES BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS.

EVEN WITH THOSE CONSTRAINTS, WE SAW RECORD NUMBERS IN OUR SHUTTLING.

JUST AROUND OUT THAT SHUTTLING CONVERSATION, NEXT YEAR, WE'D LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SHUTTLING SERVICE TO EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BETWEEN LIGHT UP NIGHT AND CHRISTMAS, AND EXTEND SHUTTLING TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT LOTS AFTER 5:00 PM BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS.

WE THINK THIS WILL HELP.

I'LL INCLUDE THAT IN MY RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT PARKING.

THE CITY HAS ABOUT 19 PUBLIC PARKING SPACES DOWNTOWN IN OUR INVENTORY.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 1,100 PARKING SPACES IN THE GARAGE, A LITTLE BIT LESS 1,060, AND ABOUT 800 SURFACE PARKING SPACES ON THE STREET AND IN SURFACE PARKING LOTS THAT WE CONTROL.

ALL IN THE CITY HAS ABOUT 1,900 PARKING SPACES THAT IT CONTROLS.

THE SLIDE YOU'RE SEEING IS JUST THE PARKING GARAGE NUMBERS FOR THE YEAR 2024.

IF YOU GO TO THE VERY LAST COLUMN, THAT'S THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

IF YOU WORK DOWN THAT COLUMN, IT STARTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER AND GOES TO THE 31ST DAY OF DECEMBER.

THE IMPORTANT THING IT'S SHOWING YOU IS THOSE YELLOW BOXES.

>> THOSE YELLOW BOXES SHOW HOW MANY PEOPLE PARKED IN OUR GARAGE ON THAT DAY.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON DECEMBER 1ST OF LAST YEAR, 02,333 PEOPLE PARKED IN OUR GARAGE.

[01:20:03]

BUT THE YELLOW BOX SHOWS THAT WE CLOSED THE GARAGE.

THAT THE GARAGE CLOSED AT LEAST ONCE DURING THAT DAY. IT FILLED UP.

WHAT WE SEE HERE IS 19 DAYS DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, OUR GARAGE WAS CLOSED AT LEAST ONCE DURING THE DAY, AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE DAY.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

BETWEEN LIGHT UP NIGHT AND DECEMBER 31ST, THE GARAGE WAS CLOSED 29 DAYS, AND WE HAD OVER 61,000 VEHICLES PARKED IN OUR GARAGE.

WE SAW WIDESPREAD PARKING PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE END, BUT TO GIVE YOU A PREVIEW, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT SIGNS OUT IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SAY NO EVENT PARKING TO TRY TO PREVENT VISITORS FROM PARKING PRIMARILY IN THE DENSE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

WE INTEND TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM AND PUT NO EVENT PARKING SIGNS IN THE ABBOTT TRACT NEIGHBORHOODS, IN THE NORTH CITY NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE OTHER PHENOMENA WE SAW AGAIN THIS YEAR WAS PEOPLE PARKING IN THE LINCOLNVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND PARKING AROUND LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.

WE HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE CONCERN.

ONE WAS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TWO IS WE DON'T WANT TO UNDERMINE THE BULKHEAD THAT SECURES LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.

WE INTEND TO PUT UP A BARRIER AROUND LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ FOR 4TH OF JULY AND FOR OTHER LARGE EVENTS TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM PARKING THERE.

PUBLIC RESTROOMS. CITY HAS A TOTAL OF 66 UNITS.

A UNIT WOULD BE A URINAL OR A STALL OR A HANDICAP STALL.

THIS IS THE TOTAL NUMBER WE HAVE.

IT INCLUDES PUBLIC RESTROOMS AT THE VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER AT THE CASA DEL HIDALGO, WHICH IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF HYPOLITA STREET IN ST. GEORGE.

THAT'S HALFWAY DOWN ST. GEORGE STREET, AND AT THE CITY MARINA.

IF YOU ADD UP ALL OF OUR PUBLIC RESTROOMS, WE HAVE 66.

WHAT WE EXPERIENCED DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WAS THE OBVIOUS OVERCROWDING AND LONG LINES TO GET INTO THOSE REST ROOMS. BUT ABOVE THAT, BEYOND THAT, WE SAW COMPLAINTS ABOUT PUBLIC URINATION, PARTICULARLY ON SPANISH STREET IN SOME OF OUR DARKER AREAS, AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK WITH THAT LIGHTING STUDY REAL SOON.

I PROMISE. NEXT MEETING.

WE ALSO SAW VANDALISM AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR FROM VISITORS.

CLEANING CREWS AT OUR PUBLIC REST ROOMS WERE FACED WITH VERY ANGRY PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE, AND THE CASA MONICA HOTEL BECAME THE UNOFFICIAL PUBLIC REST ROOMS FOR THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CASA MONICA FOR THEIR GRACIOUSNESS IN OPENING THEIR REST ROOMS TO THE VISITORS.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SOLUTION THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO ASK THEM TO DO THAT AGAIN.

I'M SORRY, LET ME FLIP TO THIS.

OUR STAFF FOR CLEANING THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS ON MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, WE HAVE ONE CITY EMPLOYEE WHO DOES THAT ON THE WEEKENDS, FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, WE HAVE TWO CITY EMPLOYEES.

THEY DO NOTHING, BUT CLEAN PUBLIC RESTROOMS. NORMALLY, ON A NORMAL MONTH, WE SPEND $2,250 ON SUPPLIES FOR OUR PUBLIC RESTROOMS. THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, WE SPENT $4,620 JUST IN SUPPLIES.

THAT'S MORE THAN TWICE AS MUCH AS WE NORMALLY SPEND.

THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA THAT THOSE BATHROOMS

[01:25:03]

WERE USED TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY NORMALLY ARE JUST IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOLID WASTE AND TRASH AND GARBAGE.

ON THE SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF CITY TRASH CANS THAT HAVE LITTER AND TRASH COMING OUT OF THEM, THEY'RE FILLED, THERE'S TRASH AROUND THE TRASH CANS.

THIS WAS A TEACHING MOMENT FOR US.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED WAS, DON'T PUT TRASH CANS NEXT TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE BECAUSE THEY GET IN EVERYONE'S PICTURES.

BEYOND THAT, WHAT WE SAW WAS AN INUNDATION OF TRASH FROM THE VISITORS, LARGE VOLUMES OF TRASH AND OVERFLOWING RECEPTACLES.

DURING PEAK HOURS, OUR CREWS WERE UNABLE TO RESPOND.

BY RESPOND, THAT'S REMOVING THE TRASH FROM THE TRASH BAGS FROM THE CANS AND TAKING THEM TO A COMPACTOR, AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT.

NORMALLY, THERE ARE 88 REGULAR TRASH CANS DOWNTOWN, AND 32 BIG BELLY COMPACTORS.

THOSE ARE THE TRASH CANS THAT HAVE A HANDLE ON THEM.

WHEN YOU PUT THE TRASH IN AND YOU CLOSE THE HANDLE, IT COMPACTS THE TRASH.

WE'VE GOT 88 REGULAR TRASH CANS AND TWO BIG BELLIES.

MOST OF THOSE ARE ON ST. GEORGE STREET, BUT THEY'RE WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

WE HAVE 36 RECYCLING CANS AND WE HAVE FOUR DUMPSTER SIZED COMPACTORS.

THOSE FOUR DUMPSTER SIZED COMPACTORS ARE ON THE SOUTH END OF SPANISH STREET, AND ON THE NORTH END OF SPANISH STREET, WE HAVE COMPACTORS.

WE'VE GOT ONE AT THE TOQUE'S PLACE PARKING LOT, AND WE'VE GOT ONE AT THE CITY MARINA.

WHEN ONE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES TAKES THE TRASH BAG OUT OF A FULL TRASH CAN, HE HAS TO TAKE TRASH BAG TO ONE OF THE DUMPSTER SIZED COMPACTORS.

IF YOU'RE ON SPANISH STREET, THERE'S A SERIES OF PARKING LOTS ON SPANISH STREET, OR IF YOU'RE COMING DOWN TREASURY STREET AND TURNING NORTH ON SPANISH, LIKE ACROSS FROM THE FLORIDIAN RESTAURANT, THERE'S A COMPACTOR THERE.

IF YOU CONTINUE TO TRAVEL NORTH ON SPANISH STREET TO WHERE THE TOLOMATO PARKING LOT IS, THERE'S A COMPACTOR THERE.

THEN IN THE TOQUE'S PLACE PARKING LOT, WHICH IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ST. GEORGE STREET, THERE'S A COMPACTOR THERE.

OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TRYING TO TAKE THOSE BAGS OF GARBAGE TO THOSE COMPACTORS AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THROUGH THE CROWDS OF PEOPLE.

THE RESULT OF THAT WAS INDICATIVE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS YOU SEE HERE IS WE SIMPLY COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH SOLID WASTE.

WE EMPLOY TWO EMPLOYEES PER SHIFT, AND A LITTER CRUISE.

WE'VE GOT ONE EMPLOYEE WHO DOES NOTHING BUT PICKS UP TRASH AND LITTER ON ST. GEORGE STREET.

WE'VE GOT ONE EMPLOYEE WHO DOES THE REST OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND HE'S IN A LITTLE GOLF CART TYPE OF VEHICLE.

THAT'S THE STAFFING WE'VE GOT FOR SOLID WASTE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE PRESSURE WASH ST. GEORGE STREET EVERY MORNING, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, STARTING AT 5:30 AM, AND WE HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES ON A PRESSURE WASHING CREW.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE STREET SWEEP THE HISTORIC DISTRICT MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND WE'VE GOT ONE EMPLOYEE THAT IS DEDICATED TO JUST GOING DOWN EACH STREET AND STREET SWEEPING.

LET'S GET INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ST. AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SECURITY FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT INCLUDES EVERY PERSON WHO IS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE, EVERY VISITOR, RESIDENT, WHO IS INSIDE OUR CORPORATE LIMITS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, NORMALLY, ON A NORMAL WEEKEND, WE HAVE 10 POLICE OFFICERS WORKING.

[01:30:02]

ONE OF THOSE POLICE OFFICERS IS KEEPING AN EYE JUST ON FLAGLER COLLEGE.

WE'VE GOT NINE OFFICERS WORKING NORMALLY.

FOR LIGHT UP NIGHT, WE HAD 27 OFFICERS WORKING LIGHT UP NIGHT, THREE TIMES THE NORMAL NUMBER.

THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON THINGS I HEARD FROM OUR RESIDENTS SAYING WE DIDN'T FEEL SAFE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEE ANY POLICE OFFICERS DOWNTOWN.

THEY WERE THERE.

WE HAD 27 OFFICERS.

THEY WERE WATCHING OUT FOR EVERYONE.

THEY WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

BUT THEY JUST WEREN'T SEEN BECAUSE THEY WERE LOST IN THE CROWDS OF PEOPLE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAY THAT CORRECTLY.

WE WERE PROVIDING SECURITY DURING LIGHT UP NIGHT AND DURING THIS EVENT.

FOR A NORMAL NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WEEKEND, WE ARE OPERATING WITH 14 OFFICERS, AND FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE, THAT JUMPS UP TO 17 OFFICERS.

DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, THERE IS A LOT OF OFF DUTY REQUESTS THAT IS WORK THAT SWORN OFFICERS DO SECURING WEDDINGS, WORKING FOR THE TROLLEY COMPANY, AND WE ALSO HAVE CIVILIANS AND PSAS ALSO HELPING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THOSE CIVILIANS AND PSAS DID ROUGHLY 260 HOURS WORTH OF WORK DURING THIS NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON.

WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAW AMONGST OTHER THINGS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL CRIMES.

BUT IN GENERAL, WHAT THEY SAW WITH THESE LARGE CROWDS WAS PROBLEMS WITH UBER, LYFTS, AND TAXICABS.

HERE'S WHY. THESE CAR SERVICES WERE BEING CALLED BY CUSTOMERS TO BE PICKED UP, OR THEY WERE TRYING TO DROP CUSTOMERS OFF TO BARS AND RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN, AND THEY COULD NOT GET TO THOSE LOCATIONS, OR WHEN THEY PICKED UP THEIR CUSTOMER DOWNTOWN, THEY COULDN'T GET OUT.

WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS THEY WERE STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO DROP OFF AND PICK UP CUSTOMERS, AND THEY WERE BACKING UP TRAFFIC.

FOR ALL OF US WHO LIVED THROUGH THIS NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON, WE WERE ASTONISHED BY THE NUMBER OF GOLF CARTS IN TOWN.

WE SAW SOMETHING WE'D NEVER SEEN BEFORE, WHICH WAS PEOPLE PARKING ILLEGALLY ON THE FORT GREEN. I'VE GOT A PICTURE IN HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO STOP THIS PRESENTATION, BUT PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO PARK IN THE FORT PARKING LOT AND IT WAS FILLED.

THEY WERE FRUSTRATED AND THEY JUST STARTED PULLING UP AND PARKING RIGHT ON THE FORT GREEN.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

WE SAW REQUESTS FOR PATROLLING IN OUR CITY PARKING GARAGE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE ANGRY BECAUSE THEY WERE STUCK TRYING TO GET IN TO THE GARAGE WHEN IT WAS FILLED, OR THEY WERE FRUSTRATED AT HOW SLOW IT WAS FOR THEM TO GET OUT AND THEY WERE BEING HOSTILE TOWARDS OUR EMPLOYEES, AND OUR EMPLOYEES CALLED THE POLICE.

IN GENERAL, PUBLIC SAFETY CENTERED AROUND THE LARGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE.

AGAIN, ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE ST. GEORGE STREET DURING OUR NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON.

I'M NOT SURE HOW WELL THAT SHOWS UP IN THE BACK, BUT IT'S JUST ONE SOLID WALL OF PEOPLE.

WE SAW A PICKPOCKET GROUP COME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN AND THEN THEY LEFT.

LARGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE CREATED SAFETY CONCERNS, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST PREVALENT THINGS WE SAW ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THAT IMPACTED OUR REPUTATION.

THEN AT THE VERY TAIL END OF THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS EVENT, THE TRAGEDY IN NEW ORLEANS OCCURRED AND IN WHICH SOMEONE DROVE AROUND A VEHICLE BARRIER AND DROVE DOWN BOURBON STREET AND KILLED AND HURT MANY PEOPLE, KILLED 14 PEOPLE.

>> THAT WAS A WAKE UP CALL FOR US.

THE RESIDENTS PRIMARILY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT NOISE, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, OVERCROWDING, AND INCREASED CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC.

[01:35:04]

I THINK THAT'S ALL SELF EVIDENT.

JUST TO ROUND OUT THE SAME COMMENT I HAD EARLIER, THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE KING AND PONCE INTERSECTION WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE.

SOUTHBOUND SAN MARCO AT RIPLEY'S, I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING INTO TOWN, SOUTHBOUND SAN MARCO THOUGHT THEY COULD PULL INTO RIPLEY'S AND PARK, BUT THEY WERE AND THEY COULD NOT DO THAT AND THAT BOTTLENECK, THAT INTERSECTION IN FRONT OF RIPLEY'S.

THE PROCEDURE WE HAVE FOR OPENING UP OUR PARKING GARAGE AFTER IT'S BEEN CLOSED, WE'RE LOOKING AT AMENDING THAT.

ONCE OUR PARKING GARAGE IS FILLED, WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CARS LEAVES BEFORE WE REOPEN IT.

DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, PEOPLE ARE STACKING UP TO GET INTO THE GARAGE AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT'S A BETTER NUMBER OF CARS THAT LEAVES BEFORE WE CAN REOPEN THE GARAGE.

I KNOW I'M GOING THROUGH A LOT HERE, SO JUST BEAR WITH ME.

THE ST. AUGUSTINE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT THEY OBSERVED WAS ABOVE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIMES.

THEY DIDN'T REALLY SEE A LARGE INCREASE.

THEY DID SEE AN INCREASE IN CALLS.

THEY GOT 465 CALLS.

A NORMAL AVERAGE IS 385, SO 15 AND 65, WHAT IS THAT 80? THEY GOT AN ADDITIONAL 80 CALLS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

MAYBE THE MOST IMPACTFUL THING WAS THEIR RETURN TO STATION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEDICAL CALLS HERE.

ONCE THEY ARE CALLED TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND THEY RESPOND TO IT, THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO RESET AND PREPARE FOR THEIR NEXT CALL.

NORMALLY, THAT WOULD TAKE FIVE MINUTES.

IN SOME CASES, IT TOOK MORE THAN 30 MINUTES TO GET BACK TO THE FIRE STATION TO RESET.

THEY ALSO SAW TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF STREETS, WHICH MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO RESPOND TO CALLS.

IN ORDER TO HANDLE THIS LARGER LOAD, THEY DID HAVE TO INCREASE THEIR STAFFING AND OVERTIME, AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDING SOME ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT DURING THE BUDGET AND SOME SEASONAL STAFFING AND ENHANCED TRAINING.

THEY JUST HAD MORE CALLS.

IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO RESPOND AND TO GET PREPARED FOR MORE CALLS AFTERWARDS.

COMMUNICATIONS. WE WORK HARD TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, BUT OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE COMING INTO TOWN WAS INADEQUATE.

WE DO NOT ADVERTISE THE EVENT ITSELF.

THAT IS DONE BY THE VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU.

BUT WE DO ADVERTISE OUR SHUTTLE.

PEOPLE COMING TO THE EVENT KNOW WHERE TO PARK.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO PARK IN OUR SATELLITE LOTS SO WE CAN BUST THEM INTO TOWN SO THEY DON'T TRY TO DRIVE INTO TOWN.

WE DO THAT THROUGH PRINT MEDIA, THE RADIO, DIGITAL, AND SOCIAL MEDIA, THE BREAK ROOM, ALL OF OUR MEDIA AVENUES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US.

WHAT WE FOUND THIS YEAR WAS THAT WAS NOT ADEQUATE, AND OUR SHUTTLING SYSTEM ITSELF WAS PARALYZED BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC ANYWAY.

BUT WE DO HAVE HOPE ON THE HORIZON.

WE HAVE A SMART ST. AUGUSTINE INITIATIVE, WHICH IS UNDERWAY, WHICH IS A GRANT FUNDED PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES AN APP THAT SOMEONE CAN GET ONTO TO SHOW THEM WHERE TO PARK, SHOW THEM WHEN THE GARAGE IS FILLED, WHERE TO TURN TO GO TO SATELLITE PARKING, HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET INTO TOWN, ETC, AND DYNAMIC MESSAGING SO THAT THESE ARE THOSE SIGNS THAT HAVE VIDEO MESSAGES ON THEM SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO TOWN, THEY'LL SEE SIGNAGE THAT SAYS GARAGE FILLED, NEXT LEFT FOR SHUTTLE PARKING TO TRY TO DIRECT PEOPLE MORE BLUNTLY, DIRECT PEOPLE TO PARK IN OUR SATELLITE PARKING LOTS AND SHUTTLE INTO TOWN.

[01:40:04]

THAT IS BEING WORKED ON RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK.

WE ARE WORKING ON OUR MESSAGING BUT AGAIN, THIS IS JUST TALKING ABOUT MOVING VISITORS AROUND.

WE DON'T ADVERTISE THE EVENT ITSELF.

IN SUPPORT OF THAT, WE DO A SURVEY ON OUR SHUTTLE.

WE HAD 19,450 PEOPLE TAKE THE SHUTTLE.

ONLY 63 TOOK THE SURVEY.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY, BUT IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT OF THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK THE SURVEY, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO TOOK THE SHUTTLE, HALF OF THEM LIVED IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND HALF OF THEM LIVED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WE HAD THREE FROM OUT OF STATE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.

WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

PEOPLE WERE FRUSTRATED.

THESE ARE RESIDENTS.

THEY WERE UNDERSTANDABLY FRUSTRATED.

YOU HEARD SOME OF THAT TONIGHT AT PUBLIC COMMENT.

A LOT OF THAT WAS CENTERED AROUND TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ISSUES RELATED TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

WE HAD 14 POSTS THAT TALKED ABOUT OUR SHUTTLE.

IT REACHED OVER 127,000 PEOPLE.

WE GOT ABOUT 1,200 ENGAGEMENTS.

WE HAD FIVE SURVEY POSTS THAT WASN'T A MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT, AND WE HAD SIX POSTS THAT WERE RESPONSES TO THE PUBLIC, THAT WERE CONCERNED ABOUT TRASH AND LITTER.

THAT WAS OUR COMMUNICATIONS.

LET'S GET INTO THE NUMBERS, OUR ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

WHAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE TDC NOW.

THE TDC FOR THOSE OF YOU, THAT'S THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS MECHANISM TO TRY TO FUND THINGS THROUGH BED TAX REVENUES.

THEY GAVE US GRANTS THIS YEAR THAT TOTALED $200 FOR NIGHTS OF LIES.

ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THAT WENT TO SHUTTLING, AND 100,000 OF THAT WENT TO PHYSICALLY INSTALLING THE LIGHTS AND REPAIRING THE LIGHTS, AND THEN TAKING THEM DOWN.

THE COMPANY THAT WE USE, ANGELS IN THE ARCHITECTURE THAT PUTS THE LIGHTS UP AND TAKES THEM DOWN.

BY THE WAY, EVERY SINGLE DAY, THEY HAVE TO GO OUT AND FIX THE LIGHTS BECAUSE OF VANDALISM.

WE GOT $200,000 FROM TDC THIS YEAR.

WE SAW A MARGINAL INCREASE IN SALES AND GAS TAX REVENUES, ABOUT 25 GRAND.

THE VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER, THAT'S OUR PARKING GARAGE, SAW REVENUES.

WE MADE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER IN GARAGE REVENUES.

THAT'S UP ABOUT $400,000 WHICH IS A BIG NUMBER, BUT THE REVENUES WE MAKE AT THE CITY PARKING GARAGE ARE RESERVED FOR ONLY SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE CAN SPEND THOSE REVENUES ON.

THAT INCLUDES THE GARAGE OPERATIONS THEMSELVES, THE DEBT SERVICE THAT WE PAY WHEN WE BUILT THE GARAGE AND TRANSFERS TO MOBILITY AND TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

OUR EXPENDITURES WERE THE LIGHTS, THE SHUTTLES, THOSE WE'LL CALL THOSE COVERED UNDER THE TDC GRANT.

OVER TIME BY POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, GENERAL SERVICES, AND PUBLIC WORKS WAS AN EXPENDITURE.

FOR THE FUTURE, AND I'LL GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF MY SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATION, WE'D LIKE TO LEASE FOR 4TH OF JULY, THE PARKING LOT FOR THE BANK OF AMERICA, WHICH IS AT THE CORNER OF CATHEDRAL PLACE AND ST. GEORGE STREET, AND WE'D LIKE TO LEASE THAT FROM THE BANK OF AMERICA BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO BLOCK CATHEDRAL PLACE OFF FROM TRAFFIC DURING 4TH OF JULY, MAKE THAT A PEDESTRIAN THOROUGHFARE.

WE'D LIKE TO USE THE BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT FOR PORTABLE BATHROOMS AND A COOLING STATION.

WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE DROPPING OFF WITH HEAT EXHAUSTION DURING 4TH OF JULY, SO A REST STATION FOR VISITORS.

PRIMARILY, WE'RE TRYING TO GET ABOUT 100 PORTABLE BATHROOMS IN THAT PARKING LOT,

[01:45:05]

AND ALSO WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A STAGING AREA FOR SOLID WASTE IN THERE AS WELL.

THAT WOULD BE AN EXPENSE THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHEN WE COME TO RECOMMENDATIONS.

IF WE LOOK AT OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES, THAT'S WHAT WE GOT FROM TDC AND THE GAS TAX, 225,000.

OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, MEREDITH ESTIMATED THAT AT $550,000.

FOR THIS NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON, WE RAN A DEFICIT OF $325,000.

VENDORS. WHAT WE SAW DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WAS A LOT OF VENDORS COMING INTO TOWN AND ON THE SLIDE ON THE TOP RIGHT SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE A VENDOR WITH OVERFLOWING MERCHANDISE OVERFLOWING THE SIDEWALK AND THE NEXT TO THAT, A SMALL TABLE WHERE THE VENDOR IS SET BACK.

ON THE BOTTOM PHOTOGRAPHS, YOU'LL SEE THE INVISIBLE VEHICLE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT BEFORE, IT DRIVEN TO TOWN.

AT FIRST, IT WAS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE VEHICLE TO BUY MERCHANDISE.

THAT IS ILLEGAL.

THEN THEY TOOK RACKS OF MERCHANDISE AND PUT THEM ON THE SIDEWALK.

I WILL SUMMARIZE OUR CURRENT VENDOR ORDINANCE, AND WE MAY HAVE TO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO FILL IN SOME BLANKS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THIS IS WHAT OUR CURRENT VENDOR ORDINANCE SAYS.

WE CANNOT PROHIBIT VENDORS DOWNTOWN.

WE CANNOT PROHIBIT THEM OUTRIGHT.

WE HAVE TO ALLOW THEM IN CERTAIN AREAS.

OUR VENDORS ORDINANCE ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISHES AREAS WHERE THEY CANNOT BE BECAUSE OF HEAVY PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

BY SETTING UP AS VENDORS, THEY INTERFERE WITH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD.

OUR CURRENT VENDING ORDINANCE SAYS YOU CANNOT VEND ON ST. GEORGE STREET, IN THE PLAZA, HYPOTA STREET, TREASURY STREET, OR AT THE VIC.

BUT IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO VEND OUTSIDE OF THOSE EXCLUSIONARY ZONES IF THE VENDOR OBTAINS A CITY PERMIT AND THEY CAN'T BLOCK SIDEWALKS.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THAT TOP RIGHT PHOTOGRAPH IS ONE VENDOR BLOCKING A SIDEWALK WITH THAT BIG MOUND OF MERCHANDISE AND ANOTHER VENDOR THAT ISN'T.

THEY CAN SET UP A TABLE AS LONG AS THEY DON'T BLOCK ADA ACCESS ON THE SIDEWALK, AND THERE IS A SPECIFIC WIDTH FOR ADA ACCESS.

IT'S EITHER 30 OR 36 INCHES.

I'D HAVE TO ASK A BUILDING OFFICIAL, BUT 36.

THOSE ARE THE CONSTRAINTS WE HAVE.

OUR OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE WOULD BE IF WE IDENTIFY OTHER AREAS DOWNTOWN THAT ARE SO CONGESTED WITH PEDESTRIANS THAT IT'S DANGEROUS FOR VENDORS TO OPERATE, WE COULD POTENTIALLY ADD THOSE EXCLUSIONARY ZONES TO OUR ORDINANCE BUT WE STILL HAVE TO ALLOW THEM TO VEND SOMEWHERE.

IF WE WERE TO AMEND OUR ORDINANCE, IT WOULD REQUIRE US TO COMPILE DATA SUCH AS THAT FLY OVER VIDEO THAT WE JUST SHOWED YOU THAT SHOWED ST. GEORGE STREET AS JUST A SOLID BLAB OF HEAT.

THAT'S THE EASY PART.

I KNOW IT DOESN'T SOUND EASY, BUT THAT'S THE EASY PART.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE VENDING ORDINANCE IS THE HARD PART.

THE VENDORS ORDINANCE IS ONLY AS EFFECTIVE AS WE CAN ENFORCE IT, AND FRANKLY, OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES WHEN THEY HAVE THESE LARGE EVENTS.

IT COMES DOWN TO OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

WE HAVE ONE FULL TIME EVENING CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER NAMED JABARI WHITE.

[01:50:02]

HE DID A GREAT JOB THIS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.

HE APPROACHED ALL THE VENDORS, HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF, AND HE ENGAGED WITH THEM.

EVEN WITH THAT, WE SAW PROBLEMS. I'M GOING TO GIVE JABARI SOME MORE TIME.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE IN MANAGING VENDORS DURING THESE EVENTS.

THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE NOT THE VENDORS WHO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING A CITY LICENSE TO OPERATE.

IT'S THE VENDORS WHO ARE JUST DRIVING INTO TOWN, TAKING MERCHANDISE OUT OF THE TRUNK OF THEIR CAR AND WALKING DOWN ST.

GEORGE STREET WITH HATS AND T SHIRTS AND GLOW STICKS, AND THAT REQUIRES US TO CONFRONT THOSE PEOPLE.

IT'S A CIVIL CITATION WHEN WE FIND THAT THEY'RE NOT LICENSED AND THEY'RE NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY.

THE CITATION IS $100 TICKET, FOLLOWED BY A $250 TICKET, FOLLOWED BY A $500 TICKET.

THAT'S THE REALITY.

>> I'M GETTING TO THE END, I PROMISE.

WE HELD A STAKEHOLDER MEETING ON JANUARY 23RD.

I ASKED LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE BUSINESSES IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY TO JOIN ME IN THIS ROOM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, WHAT THEIR IMPRESSIONS WERE.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING THAT THEY SAW.

THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL, AND THEY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR A LOT OF THE CROWDS THAT CAME IN.

THEY WERE NOT CONFRONTATIONAL IN ANY WAY.

THE GOAL HERE IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO MAINTAIN A GOOD QUALITY OF COMMERCE FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

SOME OF THE INPUT THAT WE GOT FROM THOSE FOLKS, ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, OFFERED THEIR FACILITIES IF WE NEEDED THEM FOR SATELLITE PARKING IN THE FUTURE.

THERE WAS TALK ABOUT USING FRANCIS FIELD FOR PARKING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT REALLY QUICKLY.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING IRRIGATION.

Y'ALL JUST THROUGH THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUDGETED A LARGE CHUNK OF MONEY TO REBUILD FRANCIS FIELD.

IRRIGATION IS GOING IN NOW AS SOON AS IT'S DONE, WE'RE GOING TO RESCIND IT.

IT SHOULD BE PRIME FOR OUR SPRING EVENT SEASONS.

ALL OF OUR EVENTS THAT OCCUR ON FRANCIS FIELD, USING IT AS A PARKING LOT WOULD BE A CHANGE TO THAT.

THERE WAS TALK ABOUT FLAGLER COLLEGE'S GARAGE ON MALAGA STREET, WHICH IS NEXT TO THE FIRE STATION, USING THAT AS AN EMPLOYEE PARKING FACILITY.

NOW THEY DID NOT COMMIT TO THAT, BY THE WAY.

I'M NOT MAKING PROMISES FROM THEM, BUT THAT WAS JUST PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

OTHER AREAS FOR SATELLITE PARKING WERE DISCUSSED.

WE DISCUSSED PEDESTRIANIZING SOME AREAS DOWNTOWN.

THEY WERE OPEN TO THE IDEA OF PEDESTRIANIZING CATHEDRAL PLACE.

THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR MORE PSAS, PEOPLE DOING CROWD CONTROL AND INTERSECTION CONTROL.

THEY PUSHED BACK ON THE IDEA THAT I HAD TO HIRE A CONSULTANT.

I HAVE AN IDEA THAT IF WE HIRE A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THESE LARGE EVENTS, TO TAKE A GLOBAL VIEW OF WHAT THE RESOURCES THE CITY HAS, HOW WE'RE USING THEM, HOW WE'RE MANAGING THEM.

THERE MAY BE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE WE DON'T KNOW WE SHOULD BE DOING.

I WASN'T TRYING TO IMPLY THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DIDN'T HAVE A VERY STRONG HANDLE ON WHAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN, THEY DO.

WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET ACROSS WAS THE CITY GOVERNMENT HASN'T SEEN CROWDS THIS BIG, EVENTS THIS LARGE WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, AND WE NEED HELP.

I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO USE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IF WE DO GET A CONSULTANT SO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN GIVE INPUT TO THE CONSULTANT.

THIS IS WHAT THEY SEE, AND WE'VE GOT SOME SUPERB INPUT FROM HTA, WHICH IS HISTORIC TOURS OF AMERICA.

THOSE ARE THE GREEN TROLLEYS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MAKING SITE SPECIFIC CHANGES AROUND OUR PARKING GARAGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON.

[01:55:03]

SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE'VE GOT SOME EVENTS COMING UP.

SPRING BREAK IS THE FIRST.

WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT SPRING BREAK BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SINGULAR EVENT.

THE NEXT BIG EVENT THAT'S GOING TO HIT US IS 4TH OF JULY.

IT'S ON A FRIDAY.

IT NORMALLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST SINGULAR EVENTS WE HAVE IN TOWN.

WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS BLOCK VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON CATHEDRAL PLACE AND MAKE IT PEDESTRIAN ONLY.

THIS WILL BE PART OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY PLAN THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO COME UP WITH TO TRY TO PREVENT THAT NEW ORLEANS INCIDENT FROM HAPPENING HERE.

WE'D LIKE TO BLOCK THROUGH TRAFFIC ON TREASURY STREET.

AS ASTONISHING AS IT IS, TREASURY STREET IS OPEN TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC EVEN DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.

ANYONE WHO'S DRIVING ACROSS ST. GEORGE STREET ON TREASURY DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS LOST BECAUSE NO LOCAL WOULD DO THAT.

WE RECOMMEND BLOCKING THROUGH TRAFFIC 4TH OF JULY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BLOCK ACCESS TO ANY DRIVEWAYS THAT FOLKS HAVE ON TREASURY STREET.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO BLOCK THE THROUGH TRAFFIC.

I TOUCHED ON THIS BEFORE.

WE'D LIKE TO LEASE THE BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT ABOUT 100 PORTABLE BATHROOMS THERE, HAND WASHING STATIONS, A COOLING TENT, SOME FIRST AID.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT ANOTHER 20 OR 25 PORTABLE RESTROOMS IN THE TOKES PLACE PARKING LOT.

WE'VE GOT REST ROOMS AT CASA DEL HIDALGO RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT IS THE TOKES PLACE PARKING LOT.

WE WANT TO PUT ABOUT 20 OR 25 PORTABLE BATHROOMS THERE.

THAT'S HALFWAY DOWN ST. GEORGE STREET, AND WE'LL HAVE SIGNAGE.

STARTING FROM THE VIC, WE'LL HAVE SIGNAGE SAYS PUBLIC RESTROOMS. AS PEOPLE ARE WALKING DOWN ST. GEORGE STREET, THEY'LL SEE SIGNAGE FOR PUBLIC RESTROOMS THAT'LL HALFWAY DOWN.

THEY'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE VISITORS.

THEN ALL THE WAY DOWN AT CATHEDRAL PLACE, WE'LL HAVE SIGNAGE THAT DIRECTS PEOPLE TO THE BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT FOR RESTROOMS. THE BARRICADES AND SECURITY IS PARAMOUNT ON OUR MINDS.

WE'VE GOT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKING ON HOW MANY BARRICADES, WHAT TYPES THEY SHOULD BE, WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

WE'VE GOT SOME IDEAS.

AGAIN, THANK YOU, HTA FOR GIVING US SOME GOOD IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE PEOPLE WHEN THE GARAGE CLOSES.

WHAT WE SAW WAS WHEN THE GARAGE CLOSED, PEOPLE JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED UNTIL IT OPENED UP AGAIN.

WE'VE GOT SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO MANAGE THAT MORE EFFECTIVELY.

WE'D LIKE TO GEOFENCE DOWNTOWN.

THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU CALL FOR A UBER OR A LYFT, YOU WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE BAR OR RESTAURANT WHERE YOU'RE BEING PICKED UP.

THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THAT UBER OR LYFT WILL PICK YOU UP WILL BE EITHER THE CLOCK TOWER OR ANOTHER LOCATION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THESE DRIVE SERVICES DRIVING THROUGH TOWN LIKE WE SAW DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.

WE NEED MORE STAFF FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT PSAS CAN DO, AND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ONLY POLICE OFFICERS OR SHERIFFS CAN DO.

WE WERE LOOKING FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF ORANGE STREET.

WE SAW ORANGE STREET AS A PROBLEM.

WE'RE WORKING ON WAYS TO MANAGE ORANGE STREET, MORE EFFECTIVELY FOR 4TH OF JULY.

I'M ALMOST THERE, I PROMISE.

LONG TERM RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ABOUT HAVING THEM DEDICATE A TRAFFIC LANE FOR SHUTTLES FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT SATELLITE PARKING LOTS TO THE VIC.

A TRANSIT LANE COMING INTO TOWN WOULD BE EITHER ON SAN MARCO OR ON US 1.

THEY ARE CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST, AND THEY'RE OPEN TO THE IDEA.

SMART ST. AUGUSTINE, I TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATION TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO PARK IN OUR SATELLITE LOTS AND TAKE SHUTTLING RATHER THAN COMING INTO DOWNTOWN.

[02:00:08]

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A PARKING LOT WITH MR. BROUDY AT THE INTERSECTION OF KING STREET AND US 1, THAT'LL ADD 700 PUBLIC PARKING SPACES.

WE ALREADY SHUTTLE FROM THAT AS A SURFACE PARKING LOT, AND WE THINK THAT WE'LL ADD A LOT OF INVENTORY IN THE FUTURE WHEN THAT GARAGE IS DEVELOPED.

AGAIN, WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING ADDITIONAL SATELLITE PARKING LOTS.

AGAIN, JUST ONE MORE TIME, WE'RE LOOKING AT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY PLAN FOR OUR DOWNTOWN VISITORS.

LAST THING, HERE'S SOME BAD NEWS, A REMINDER.

THE KING STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IS SCHEDULED TO START THIS SUMMER.

DOT HAS COMMITTED TO NOT STARTING THE KING STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT UNTIL AFTER THE 4TH OF JULY.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE SMOOTH SAILING THROUGH THE 4TH OF JULY ON KING STREET.

BUT AFTER THE KING STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT STARTS, DOT IS GOING TO DETOUR TRAFFIC TO A SIGNAL ON MALAGA AND NORTH PONDS, THAT'S WHERE THE FIRE STATION IS.

PEOPLE WHO NOW DRIVE INTO TOWN ON KING STREET, WILL HAVE TO GO OVER THE SAN SEBASTIAN BRIDGE, TURN AROUND THE FIRE STATION, DRIVE DOWN MALAGA STREET IN FRONT OF GEORGIE'S DINER, AND THEN STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT ON KING STREET, AND THEN TRAVEL KING STREET INTO TOWN, THAT'S GOING TO BOTTLE NECK THAT ACCESS POINT.

THE DOT SEAWALL REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN 2026.

WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION PROBLEMS BECAUSE THAT PROJECT WILL BE STAGED FROM A BARGE ON THE WATERWARD SIDE OF THE SEAWALL.

BUT THEY MAY BE BLOCKING OFF, I'M SURE THEY WILL BE BLOCKING OFF THE PROMENADE AT CERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME WHEN IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH THIS LONG PRESENTATION.

I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AND I HAVE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM IF I CAN'T ANSWER ANYTHING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WOULD IMAGINE WE HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

I DO, STARTING OFF.

BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO START UNTIL I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE RESIDENTS WHO PROVIDED SO MUCH PATIENCE AND INPUT.

FOR ALL OF US, I FEEL SURE THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN HEARING THAT.

WE DO APPRECIATE THEM STICKING WITH US BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN SUFFERING THE MOST THROUGH THIS.

I REALIZE THE BUSINESSES, THE EMPLOYEES HAVE ALSO SUFFERED THROUGH THIS.

BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I JUST REALLY WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE EVERYBODY STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.

I HAVE A NUMBER OF THOUGHTS, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMISSION HAS TO SAY.

I SAW A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE MISSING, I THOUGHT. BUT I'LL BRING THOSE UP.

MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE WILL BRING THEM UP, TOO.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.

>> OKAY. I'LL GO FIRST.

I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION AND THAT IS HOW MANY ARE PARKING AT BROUDY'S CURRENTLY? DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT NUMBER?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW.

>> I LOOKED AT THE PICTURE AND IT WAS PROBABLY 100 CARS THERE, I'M THINKING.

>> LET'S SEE IF RUBEN HAS THAT NUMBER FOR US.

>> I DO KNOW. I GOT SEVERAL COMMENTS FROM LOCAL, SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO PARK.

THAT THE SHUTTLE WASN'T AS LONG BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY CLOSER TO TOWN THAN THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE THERE.

>> RIGHT NOW AS A FLAT GRASS VACANT LOT, IT'S ABOUT 300 CARS CAN GET ON THERE.

>> WE'RE ONLY GOING TO REALLY PICK UP 400 CARS WHEN WE BUILD A GARAGE.

>> WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO SHUTTLE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST WALKING TO THAT SITE, WHO WANT TO GET TO DOWNTOWN.

PEOPLE WHO IN WEST AUGUSTINE WHO CAN GET THERE AS PEDESTRIANS OR BICYCLE TO THE SITE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO PICK UP A SHUTTLE THERE.

>> THAT'S TRUE. OKAY. THANK YOU.

I THINK ONE OF OUR TOUGHEST JOBS AS A COMMISSIONER IS TRY TO KEEP A BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT THE BUSINESSES WANT AND NEED TO DRIVE OUR ECONOMY AND ALSO FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

[02:05:02]

IT'S A VERY TOUGH THING TO DO IN THIS SITUATION, AND WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS DONE.

ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS DURING ALL OF THIS IS NOT JUST THE FACT THAT OUR EXPOSURE FOR A NEW ORLEANS EVENT IS ALL OVER TOWN.

IT'S NOT ST. GEORGE STREET, IT'S ALL OVER TOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEDESTRIANS WALKING AT ALL THESE INTERSECTIONS.

THAT'S A BIG CONCERN OF MINE.

NOT THAT WE CAN EVER PREVENT ANY EVENT LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN, BUT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR IT.

I'D LIKE FOR US TO REALLY RESEARCH HAVING STATIONS DURING THESE BIG EVENTS OF EMTS AND FIRE DOWNTOWN AND NOT HAVING TO GO BACK TO THE STATION TO REGROUP, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE SUBSTATIONS AROUND TOWN.

I THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

I THINK WE REALLY OUGHT TO CONSIDER MAJOR CUTS IN THE DAYS IF WE DON'T GET THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED.

WE'RE AT A DEFICIT.

ALL OF US THAT ARE RESIDENTS, ALL FIVE OF US, AND ALL 14,000 PEOPLE, AND ALL THE BUSINESSES ARE HAVING TO COVER THAT COST.

IT'S NECESSARY THAT WE TAKE SOME REAL SERIOUS LOOKS AT SHORTENING THE DAYS OR GETTING SOME FUNDS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> AGAIN, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I REALLY AM CONCERNED THAT WE'RE OPEN FOR ALL KIND OF TRAGEDIES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PLAN.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONTROVERSY OVER THE CONSULTANT IDEA.

I'M PERSONALLY AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE, WILLING TO SAY THAT WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE KNOW.

AND I DO RESPECT THE FACT THAT THE TOUR COMPANY HAS BUSINESSES ALL OVER.

BUT WHEN YOU WATCH WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW ORLEANS FOR THE SUPER BOWL, THERE ARE EXPERTS THAT HANDLE THOSE EVENTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE EXPERIENCE 365 DAYS A YEAR HERE.

I DO KNOW THAT WE HAD A GREAT CONCERT DOWNTOWN THIS YEAR.

IT WASN'T MUNFORD, WHAT WE CALL IT?

>> SING OUT.

>> YEAH, THE SING OUT LOUD. I'M SORRY. I SHOULD KNOW THAT.

A GREAT TO SING OUT LOUD.

THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THEY CAME UP WITH A TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT WORKED.

THEIR ADVANTAGE WAS THEY KNEW EVERYBODY THAT WAS COMING BECAUSE THEY HAD BOUGHT A TICKET, AND WE DON'T KNOW EVERYBODY THAT'S TALKING.

AND SO THE COMMUNICATION PLAN THAT THE MANAGER OUTLINED IS A GREAT START IN TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T COME DOWN HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK IS CRITICAL TO MAKING THAT SUCCESS.

SO I'LL JUST STOP THERE AND LET OTHER PEOPLE MOVE ON.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE REALLY EXTENSIVE COMMENTS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE GO BEFORE ME, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.

>> NO, GO AHEAD.

>> I WOULD ECHO WHAT I'VE SAID EARLIER ABOUT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND THE IMPACT ON US AND OUR RESIDENTS IN PARTICULAR AND HOW UNSUSTAINABLE IT IS AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS TO OUR BUSINESSES.

SING OUT LOUD BRINGS PEOPLE IN DURING A SLOW PERIOD.

AND THAT'S ALSO WHY THERE WAS A LOT LESS TRAFFIC, AND IT REALLY BENEFITS OUR BUSINESSES.

BUT THAT'S JUST AN OVERVIEW.

I HAVE A BUNCH OF SUGGESTIONS, AND THEN I WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE HERITAGE TOURISM ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT OF 2003 THAT CAME ACROSS MY DESK TODAY, WHICH I FOUND VERY ILLUMINATING.

AND I THINK WHOEVER BROUGHT THAT TO US.

IT WAS YOU? I THOUGHT SO. PERFECT. THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'LL MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO ANYONE.

>> IT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR IT.

YOU HAVE TO DO A REALLY EXTENSIVE SEARCH.

I'M STARTING WITH PARKING GARAGE.

THE PAYMENT SYSTEM IS TOO SLOW, AND I THINK THERE MUST BE A WAY TO EITHER DO ADVANCE SALES OF TICKETS OR AUTOMATE IT IN A WAY THAT ENABLES BETTER FLOW.

I DON'T KNOW. THESE ARE ALL SUGGESTIONS.

THE WORKING GROUP COMMITTEE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS HAS TO INCLUDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR SOME OTHER RESIDENT REPRESENTATION IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY.

I NOTED THAT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACTUALLY EVERYTHING NORTH OF MAY STREET, THERE WAS NO STREET SWEEPING AT ALL.

OUR SERVICES WERE REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY, I UNDERSTAND, THAT'S BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH EQUIPMENT AND SO MANY STAFF.

BUT EVERYTHING'S DIRECTED TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT,

[02:10:01]

AND THAT'S A COST TO OUR RESIDENTS.

WE HAD DEEP PILES OF ACORNS THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY HAVE.

IT'S BIG MASS YEAR, BUT WE NORMALLY GET STREET SWEEPING.

THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE REALLOCATING TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND THAT ISN'T FAIR TO US AS A CITY GOVERNMENT WITH THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED ON EVERYTHING FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES TO TRASH PICKUP.

I NOTE THAT THE DAILY PRESSURE WASHING ON ST. GEORGE STREET AT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK REQUIRES MORE STAFF TIME AND IT ALSO USES WAY TOO MUCH WATER.

SO I DON'T LIKE IT. I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE AS SHINY AS IT WAS THIS YEAR FOR OUR VISITORS.

GOLF CARTS, ESPECIALLY THE GOLF CART TOURS NEED TO BE LICENSED.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

BY THE WAY, I'LL SEND THIS LIST TO STAFF SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A RECORD OF IT SO THAT THERE ISN'T TRYING TO WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. I'M SORRY.

I'M GOING TO SAY THIS CONTROVERSIAL THING.

I THINK WE SHOULD SUSPEND ALL ADVERTISING FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS TOURISM.

I CAN'T PRONOUNCE THIS CITY, BUT THIS IS A MEASURE THAT BRUGES IN BELGIUM AND NORWAY HAVE TAKEN TO ADDRESS OVER TOURISM.

AS ONE OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTATORS MADE US AWARE OF AND REMINDED US, I SHOULD SAY, WE GET A LOT OF FREE ADVERTISING FROM THE BEST OF RANKINGS, ALL THOSE MAGAZINES.

THAT WORD HAS GOTTEN OUT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE ADVERTISING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. THAT'S ME.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ENOUGH REPRESENTATION OF OUR RESIDENTS ON WHEN THOSE ADVERTISING STRATEGIES MARKETING STRATEGIES ARE BEING DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED.

NEXT, I'D LOVE THE PEDESTRIANIZATION, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD, I DON'T REMEMBER.

BUT MAKING MORE STREETS PEDESTRIAN-ONLY, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF HIGH VISITATION LIKE THIS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IT EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY.

I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE.

I THINK WE SHOULD CLOSE THE DOWNTOWN STREETS TO NON-RESIDENT MOTOR VEHICLES ON PEAK DAYS.

FRIDAY NIGHTS AND SATURDAYS WOULD BE IDEAL, MAYBE SUNDAYS TO TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF EVERYBODY BECAUSE THOSE VISITORS AREN'T HAPPY WHEN THEY ARE SITTING IN GRIDLOCK ANY MORE THAN WE ARE.

AND I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT WE COULD HAVE ALMOST GOT A TRANSIT LANE, AS SHARED BIKE LANE AND TRANSIT LANE ON SAN MARCO.

WE REALLY NEED TO GO AFTER THAT AND MAKE THAT PERMANENT FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLES AS WELL AS OUR TRANSIT AND MOVE PEOPLE AROUND.

AND THEN WE HAVE A DIRECT DEFICIT, AS YOU NOTE, OF 325,000.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF INDIRECT EXPENSES ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE OF ALL THIS ACTIVITY THAT WE'RE DOING JUST TO TRY TO PUT ON A GOOD FACE FOR OUR VISITORS.

AND THOSE INDIRECT COSTS, WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY ARE EXACTLY, BUT I'M GOING TO BET THEY PUT US AT LEAST OVER HALF 1 MILLION IN THE RED.

THAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED.

I'LL MOVE ON NOW TO THE HERITAGE TOURISM ASSESSMENT RECOMMENDATION REPORT OF 2003.

IT CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AND I'M JUST GOING TO QUOTE SOME THINGS IN HERE THAT I THINK ARE ABSOLUTE GEMS. UNDER THE MANAGEMENT CATEGORY, POLICIES THAT GUIDE WHERE TOURISTS GO AND WHEN AND ENFORCING THEM WILL MAKE RESIDENTS FEEL LESS OVERWHELMED.

"APPROPRIATE VISITOR SERVICES".

WE CANNOT HOST VISITORS AT THE LEVEL THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AS ELUCIDATED IN YOUR REPORT.

WE CAN'T DO THIS ON OUR OWN.

WE'VE GOT TO GET HELP FROM THE COUNTY AND THE BUSINESSES. FINANCIAL HELP.

DOES ST. AUGUSTINE WANT MORE VISITORS? WE CAN'T HANDLE ANYMORE.

WE COULDN'T HANDLE THE AMOUNT WE HAD OVER THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, AND THIS IS RECORD-SETTING.

ANOTHER QUOTE, "HOW CAN THE BENEFITS OF TOURISM BE SHARED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY?" WELL-MANAGED TOURISM IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND BUILDS COMMUNITY PRIDE.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS NOT WELL-MANAGED TOURISM BECAUSE IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS. I LOVE THIS.

FIND THE FIT BETWEEN A COMMUNITY AND TOURISM.

COLLABORATION IS ESSENTIAL.

A RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT THE CITY, THIS IS OVER 20 YEARS AGO, NEEDS A TOURISM MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN CRAFT.

I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY ATTORNEY AS I SAY THAT.

>> I GUESS I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

[02:15:02]

>> I DON'T EITHER.

>> NICE BUZZWORD, [OVERLAPPING] BUT I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> THEY WERE REFERRING TO CHARLESTON.

>> [OVERLAPPING] WE CAN LOOK AT CHARLESTON.

>> I REMEMBER SEEING THAT. THANK YOU.

I HAVE TO JUST SAY, I DON'T THINK THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS HERITAGE TOURISM.

AND NOT WHAT THE BLOW-UP SANTA CLAUSES AND THE GAUDY LIGHTS AND IT'S NOT HIGHLIGHTING OUR ARCHITECTURE.

AS COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD BROUGHT UP LAST MEETING, IT DOES NOT SERVE THE PURPOSE THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO DO.

SO I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW IT'S GOTTEN TO THIS POINT.

AND THEN THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FROM THAT REPORT WAS TO ESTABLISH A ST. AUGUSTINE HERITAGE TOURISM TASK FORCE, IMPORTANTLY, THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WERE LISTED IN THE REPORT, AND THEY WERE QUITE EXHAUSTIVE.

THAT INCLUDES THE RESIDENTS, THAT INCLUDES EVERYBODY WHO SHOULD BE AT THAT TABLE WITH EQUAL REPRESENTATION, NOT JUST ONE RESIDENT. THANK YOU.

>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DEPREOR.

>> A LOT OF MY COMMENTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

I WILL FIRST OF ALL, THANK OUR CITY MANAGER.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN EXTREMELY COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

HE DELIVERED IT WELL.

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS WERE ALWAYS IN TERMS OF CAPACITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AS YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT.

SO I THINK YOU ADDRESSED IT IN A WAY THAT WAS ABOUT CAPACITY, WHICH IS WHAT I WANT TO, LIKE, PHYSICAL LIMITS TO THINGS.

THAT'S THE WAY I THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND FROM WHAT I'VE TALKED TO FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE THE KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE, THEY WERE IMPRESSED WITH THEIR CITY MANAGER'S JOB AND SO AM I? THIS IS NEW TO ME, I DON'T COME FROM A PLANNING BOARD BACKGROUND, SO I'LL PROBABLY REFERENCE SOME OF THAT STUFF.

BUT I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR THE FEEDBACK, ALL THE EMAILS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM RESIDENTS.

I'M REALLY SURPRISED HOW MANY OR NOT REALLY THAT SURPRISED, HOW MANY RESIDENTS DID NOT JUST COMPLAIN, BUT CAME UP WITH CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS THAT WE CAN USE.

I THINK THIS IS A VERY RESPONSIVE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE LIVING HERE, ONE OF THE REASONS I LIKE BEING ON THE BOARD.

I ALSO TALK TO SOME BUSINESSES.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, THE BUSINESS ASPECT OF THIS.

I WATCHED THE DISCUSSION, THE VIDEO AT THE TDC THAT THE MAYOR WAS AT, AND I WANT TO COMMEND HER.

I THOUGHT SHE DID A VERY GOOD JOB AT THE TABLE, REPRESENTING THE CITY AND BRINGING UP THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WERE ON EVERYBODY'S MINDS.

I MET WITH MY TWO VCB MEMBERS UNOFFICIALLY WITH MISS MELISSA WILSON.

NOW I AM REPRESENTATIVE, AUSPICIOUS TIME TO BE ON THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT SO I MET WITH THEM.

AND ONE THING I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT THROUGHOUT ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE, WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT CONCERN ME.

THESE ARE THE MOM-AND-POP PEOPLE IN TOWN WHO'S LIVING DEPENDS ON THIS.

I'M A FORMER SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

WHEN YOU HAVE ALL YOUR CAPITAL, SOMETIMES IN A BUSINESS, IT FEELS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAT WAY.

BUT WHAT I FOUND WHEN I LISTENED TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS SO FAR WAS THERE WAS A CONSENSUS THAT THIS FAILED THIS LAST EVENT, LAST SEASON, I GUESS, AS YOU PUT IT.

A LOT OF THAT OBVIOUSLY WAS AROUND CAR CONGESTION.

I THINK THE CITY MANAGER SAID THAT.

SO I WILL SAY THAT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE.

WE HAVE A TOWN THAT WAS NEVER DESIGNED FOR CARS.

WE HAVE A TOWN THAT WAS NEVER DESIGNED FOR THAT MANY PEOPLE.

WE HAVE I CALL IT A CONVENIENCE PROBLEM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO PARK FOR CONVENIENCE SAKE.

EVEN IF IT'S CLOSER IN OR THEY'LL START PARKING ON SOMEBODY'S LAWN AND STUFF.

I THINK IT'S JUST, HEY, I'M DOWN HERE, I'LL PARK WHEREVER I WANT TO.

AND I THINK IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE PEDESTRIAN PROBLEMS AND STUFF.

I THINK THERE WAS THE TONE THAT I SAW WHEN I WAS DOWN THERE WAS THERE WAS NO FAULT TO THE CITY, BUT THERE WAS A CONFUSION.

IS THIS A PEDESTRIAN EVENT OR IS THIS SOMETHING I CAN JUST DRIVE THROUGH? AND I THINK THAT'S THE NUMBER 1 MESSAGE FOR ME IS THAT WE DEFINE THIS IN A WAY THAT ON OUR TERMS. AND THAT LEADS ME INTO THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THIS STUFF THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING ABOUT CAR CONGESTION.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT A LOT OF THE ANSWERS WE HAVE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT.

I SAT ON THE PLANNING BOARD AND A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

WE DID THE MOBILITY PLAN.

[02:20:01]

I SAT IN THIS VERY ROOM WITH JONATHAN PAUL FOR A NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS.

THAT IS SATELLITE PARKING.

THAT IS A PARK ONCE ENVIRONMENT.

SO REALLY, IN SOME WAYS, THE HOTEL PEOPLE ARE THE GUESTS FOR THAT.

THEY'RE THE PARK ONCE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE THE EVENT MORE FRIENDLY PEDESTRIAN-WISE, BUT WE HAVE THE TRAFFIC ISSUES.

I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, PARTICULARLY ALONG THE BAYFRONT.

THE MOBILITY PLAN ALSO TALKED ABOUT INCREASING NON-AUTO MOBILITY OPTIONS, LIKE RIDE SHARES, SHUTTLES.

PARTICULAR TO ME, AND THE TWO PEOPLE THAT CAME EARLIER TODAY, I CAN'T LEAVE THIS WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT BIKES.

THERE SHOULD BE A GOOD PLACE.

SHOULD BE SAFE ROUTES DOWNTOWN.

THERE SHOULD BE LIGHTED AND SECURE PLACES FOR BIKES DURING THIS EVENT.

ALL YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO IS GET OVER THE BRIDGE OR CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, LOCK UP YOUR BIKE, WALK AROUND.

LIKE I SAID, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T COME AT THE EXPENSE OF SOME OF OUR SMALLER BUSINESSES, MOM-AND-POP BUSINESSES, PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE THAT ARE RAISING KIDS.

A COUPLE OF MORE THINGS HERE.

SO I THINK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MESSAGING TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT RIDING COMING HERE OTHER THAN A CAR, TAKING THE SHUTTLES.

SO I'M ALWAYS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL THAT JUST MESSAGING IS GOING TO DO THE JOB BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY JUST CAN BE JUST LIKE, HEY, I WANT TO PARK WHEN I WANT TO PARK.

BUT IF WE ARE DOING THAT, WE ARE GOING TO NEED HELP FROM THE COUNTY.

AND I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO THINK ABOUT THIS DIFFERENTLY, NOT JUST FOR THESE EIGHT WEEKS, BUT TO START MESSAGING ST. AUGUSTINE AS A PEDESTRIAN, MULTIMODAL TOWN, 52 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR.

BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE MAYBE MISSING THAT.

SO MY IDEA WHEN IT COMES TO MOBILITY IS MY GENERAL VIEW WOULD BE TO TAKE THE GOALS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN OUR TOWN AND TRY TO GET THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS STAKEHOLDERS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S IT.

SO THIS IS A 52-WEEK-OF-THE-YEAR THING.

THIS IS A SPECIAL OCCASION THAT NEEDS SPECIAL THINGS, AND I'M 100%.

PERSONALLY, I'M INTO THE CONSULTANT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO TELL WHAT THE GOALS ARE, AND THESE GOALS ARE GOING TO BE FOR ME, PHYSICAL CAPACITY GOALS AND PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS THAT HAVE TO BE MEASURABLE.

SO THAT IN A YEAR OR TWO, WE CAN LOOK BACK AND WE CAN SEE HOW IT'S PROGRESSING.

>> ANOTHER THING I'D LIKE TO DO, WE SEE ALL THESE NUMBERS COMING INTO THE PARKING GARAGE, AND THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT I THINK AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, WE GET A FEE FROM THAT, THAT MONEY GOES BACK INTO OUR HACA FOR MOBILITY PLANS AND OPTIONS AND STUFF.

THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING IN THAT SENSE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE SOMEHOW JUST A GENERAL IDEA HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE THIS EVENT, AS YOU HAD SAID IN THE HERITAGE TOURISM THING, TO GET PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS TOWN FOR THE OTHER 48 WEEKS FOR THE YEAR.

THE CONVERSATION I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH MYSELF IS, DO WE LIMIT IT OR DO WE LEVERAGE IT? AT THIS POINT, I THINK I WOULD I'M LEANING TOWARD LEVERAGING IT MORE, SEEING WHAT WE CAN GET OUT OF IT, MOVING AHEAD WITH ALL THE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE CITY MANAGERS HAD.

I TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, PARTICULARLY, AS IT IS WITH PEDESTRIAN CROWDING.

ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT GOT ME THE MOST WHEN I WAS THE GYM, A GUY GREW UP HERE HIS WHOLE LIFE WAS DOWNTOWN.

HE SAID, IT WAS SO CROWDED IN ST. GEORGE STREET, THAT IF TWO GUYS WOULD HAVE BUMPED EACH INTO EACH OTHER AND ONE GUY WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT A GUN, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAMPLED, BECAUSE EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE RUN OVER EVERYBODY.

THAT DEFINITELY CONCERNS ME.

I DO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM DOWNTOWN THAT'S BEING UPDATED FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, SO THAT GIVES ME SOME RELIEF.

FINALLY, THE BIGGEST THING IS THE FINANCIAL EXPOSURE FOR THE CITY, WHICH YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.

WE ARE GOING TO NEED HELP ON THIS.

AGAIN, THE HELP IS FINANCIAL, BUT SOME OF THE HELP IS POLITICAL.

SOMEBODY MENTIONED THE SAN MARCO CORRIDOR LIKE WITH THAT, WE HAD THAT.

WE WENT TO THE STATE.

MAYBE THE MAYOR UNDERSTANDS IT BETTER BECAUSE SHE WAS HERE.

WE WENT TO THE STATE AND WE FAILED.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO MAYBE HAVE THE COUNTY OR SOMEBODY STANDING BEHIND US AT THAT SAME TIME.

SINKING THE COUNTY WITH US, WITH OUR GOALS, BUT IT'S OUR SET OF GOALS.

THAT'S THE WAY I CAN LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARRIS.

>> THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I HAVE.

ONE IS, THANK YOU CITY MANAGER FOR YOUR BRIEF ON THE CONGESTION AND SO FORTH.

[02:25:06]

BUT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT THE PLUMBING HAD INCREASED TO DOUBLE, BUT ALSO PROBABLY NOT ONLY THE TOILETRIES, BUT THE PLUMBING PROBABLY WAS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.

I'M SURE THERE WAS A LOT OF STOMPED UP TOILETS.

I'M SURE WE HAD A LOT MORE REPAIRS GETTING PLUMBERS IN THERE.

IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT, AND I DID SPEAK TO HIM AT LUNCH, THAT WE USED WWGE.

WE PROBABLY HAVE OTHER EXPENSES AS WELL FROM THAT FLUCTUATION OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN DOCUMENTED AS FAR AS BEING AN EXPENSE FOR THE CITY.

SECOND, I DON'T LIVE OVER ON THE ISLAND.

THE MAYOR HAS THAT LUXURY.

BUT I NOTICED THAT I TOOK AN HOUR AND 10 MINUTES TO GET OVER THE BRIDGE ALLIANCE.

I WANT SOMETHING DONE WHY PEOPLE THINK THAT THAT IS TWO LANES, AND YOU'RE SITTING THERE WAITING PATIENTLY FOR 30 MINUTES, AND THEN ALL THESE CARS ZOOM UP AND TRY TO CUT IN FRONT OF YOU.

I THINK WE NEED TO CONSTRUCT THAT SOME WAY THAT THEY HAVE TO GET OVER SOONER, BECAUSE I'M SURE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED, THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ACCIDENT AT SOME POINT, THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET ROAD RAGE.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE SITTING THERE WAITING 30 MINUTES PATIENTLY FOR THE BRIDGE TO COME UP AND SOMEBODY JUST FLIES UP LIKE RIGHT NOW AND CUTS ME OFF, THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE A PERSON HAY.

THAT DIDN'T MAKE ME HAPPY.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH MAYBE THOSE LITTLE WHITE STICKS TO MOVE THE TRAFFIC OVER SOONER, I THINK IT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF RESIDENTS OVER THERE A LOT HAPPIER THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING BYPASSED, AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO GET HOME OR GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING AS WELL.

ALSO, LISTENING TO THOSE TWO LADIES TALK ABOUT THE BIKE SHARE.

I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN I'M DRIVING, THEY DON'T RESPECT THE BICYCLE PEOPLE.

I GET ALL THE WAY OVER, AS MUCH AS I CAN, TO AVOID BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HITTING A BIKE.

BUT THERE'S PEOPLE THAT RIDE RIGHT ON TOP OF THEM, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DRIVE WHERE THEY CAN SEE CARS INSTEAD OF STAYING ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE ROAD AS CARS, BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID THAT SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HIT YOU, AND YOU WON'T EVEN KNOW WHO IT IS.

I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THAT.

I KNOW THEY GOT THE LITTLE ARROWS IN THE ROAD SAYING BIKE SHARE, BUT PEOPLE, WHEN THEY'RE IN A HURRY, THEY DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THAT.

I THINK THAT WE WOULD GET MORE PEOPLE ON BIKES IF THEY FELT SAFE, AND THAT WOULD END SOME OF THE DECONGESTION.

ALSO I KNOW AT ONE POINT WE HAD LIGHTING ON US 1 SAYING WHAT THE PARKING GARAGE WAS AT CAPACITY.

IF WE COULD INTENSIFY THAT, SO PEOPLE DON'T KEEP DRIVING DOWN THERE LOOKING FOR SPACES IF IT SAYS PARKING GARAGE IS ALREADY FULL, AND THAT WOULD END SOME OF THAT CONGESTION.

I AGREE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE GET WITH THE CONSULTANT TO SOME POINT AND SHOW THEM THE NUMBERS.

I THINK LOOKING AT WHAT YOU PRESENTED BEFORE AS IN 2019, WE HAD 19,000 PEOPLE HERE.

THE ONLY REASON WHY THIS NUMBER DIDN'T INCREASE BEFORE THIS YEAR IS BECAUSE OF COVID. LET'S BE REAL.

WE WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO COVID IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

IT WAS POSTPONED BECAUSE OF COVID AND PEOPLE STARTED SLOWLY, AND GRANTED THERE'S SOME GOOD ADVERTISEMENT THAT WAS DONE IN BETWEEN TO GET IT BACK TO THIS HIGH NUMBER.

THE THING ABOUT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, WE CANNOT PREDICT WHO'S COMING HERE UNTIL THEY ARRIVE.

THERE'S NO WAY TO GET AHEAD OF IT BECAUSE NEXT YEAR, 05,000 PEOPLE COULD COME HERE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW TO WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT ONCE IT'S HERE.

IT COULD BE A DECREASE NEXT YEAR, OT IT COULD BE AN INCREASE.

WE HAVE NO IDEA, BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE NOT SELLING TICKETS TO NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, WE'RE JUST WAITING ON THE EVENT TO COME.

I'VE TALKED TO BUSINESS PEOPLE AND I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY MADE A LOT OF MONEY.

THEY FINALLY GOT OUT OF THE RED AND GOT INTO THE BLACK, SO I FEEL FOR THEM AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED.

BUT I FEEL FOR THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LIVE HERE 365 DAYS A YEAR.

BESIDES COMING DOWN HERE FOR OUR MEETINGS, THE MEETINGS THAT I HAVE WITH THE CITY MANAGER, MEETINGS THAT I NEED TO COME DOWNTOWN OR THESE MEETINGS, I JUST STAY CLEAR, AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS, THEY DON'T GET THE BEAUTY OF THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY THEY'RE JUST GOING TO STAY CLEAR, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T COME DOWN HERE.

[02:30:01]

I TALKED TO A COUPLE THAT SAID THEY COME DOWN HERE AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

THEY LUCKED OUT AND THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON, AND THEY GOT TO SEE THE BEAUTY BECAUSE IT WAS QUIET, AND THEY COULD JUST RIDE DOWN OUR STREETS AND ENJOY THAT FOR THAT WINDOW OF TIME.

IT'S SAD THAT WE, THE RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AS MUCH AS OUR TOURISTS.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO BALANCE THIS OUT WHERE THE RESIDENTS CAN LIVE HERE.

I HAVE A SUGGESTION.

YOU-ALL MIGHT NOT LIKE IT.

BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE CHARGING PEOPLE TO COME DOWNTOWN ON SUNDAYS.

THAT 1:00-9:00.

PEOPLE COME DOWN FOR CHURCH, THEY WANT TO GO TO DINNER.

THAT'S SOMETHING NEW THAT WE JUST STARTED DOING WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SUNDAY BE RESIDENT DAY.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN OUR COUNTY, YOU CAN COME DOWN ON A SUNDAY AND ENJOY THE SHOPS THAT WE HAVE.

BECAUSE WHEN THE TOURISTS GO, THOSE BUSINESSES STILL NEED THE RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT THEM, AND THEY GET TO SEE THESE RESTAURANTS THAT THE TOURISTS ENJOY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I REALLY LOVE WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT.

I HAD A COUPLE EXTRA THOUGHTS.

WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT OUR NEW OPERATIONAL COST, BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS GOING TO BE NEW COST, A LOT OF WHAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT TONS OF NEW COSTS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE YET, BUT WE DO NEED TO KNOW.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WASN'T REALLY ACCOUNTED FOR WAS, YES, WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET THE MONEY, I GUESS, WE HAVE TO TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFE FOR EVERYONE.

WE HAVE TO TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A HUGE STAFF, AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY SENSITIVE TO THE BANDWIDTH OF OUR STAFF.

WHAT CAN THEY DO? WE WOULD BE GIVING THEM A TASK THAT'S HERCULEAN TO PULL THIS OFF.

I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 65 CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS IN A ROW. THIS IS A LOT.

I WANTED TO MENTION THAT PIECE BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE FOR US.

WE'RE STILL A SMALL CITY.

WE KEEP FORGETTING WE ARE SUCH ON A WORLD STAGE, WE FORGET WE HAVE AROUND 16,000 RESIDENTS, AND ABOUT 10 SQUARE MILES, AND IT'S A LOT FOR US.

I WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE VENDORS NEEDING TO EXPAND.

I'M IN FAVOR OF EXPANDING THE VENDORS ORDINANCE.

I THINK THAT WE CAN DO IT.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO.

I THINK WE CAN PROVE THAT WE NEED THOSE AREAS CLEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEDESTRIANS.

I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET SOME CONSENSUS ON THAT AND GO AHEAD AND GET MOVING WITH THAT TONIGHT.

BUT WHAT I DIDN'T HEAR WAS THESE VIOLATIONS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE COLORED LIGHTS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF COLOR LIGHTS GOING ON.

WE HAD ONE OF OUR MORE PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN LIGHTING A WHOLE BUILDING RED.

IT'S JUST THAT WHAT I REALLY TOOK TO HEART, WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HOW FAR WE'VE GOTTEN AWAY FROM WHAT PUT US ON THE LIST FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC? IT WASN'T A BUNCH OF LIGHTS, AND IT WASN'T BECAUSE WE HAVE THREE MILLION LIGHTS.

IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE LIGHTING THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF OUR VERY UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE OF OUR TOWN.

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT, AND MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON MY THINKING OF THIS WHOLE SITUATION.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO APPROACH THIS WITH A GLOBAL VIEW.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PIECES GIVEN TO US, BUT I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER DE PRATER ALLUDED TO THAT ABOUT HOW DO WE LOOK AT THIS IN THE LARGER PICTURE, AND THERE MAY BE SOME WINS FOR US THAT WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOWN IN THE WORK OF THIS, AND SOMETIMES, MAYBE THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GROW IN NEW WAYS AND CHANGE IN NEW WAYS.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF A CONSULTANT BECAUSE IT IS SOMEONE WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE TO US AND TO THE TAXPAYERS.

I THINK THAT A CONSULTANT COULD HELP US WITH THESE THINGS;

[02:35:05]

A SCENARIO WITH MANAGED LANES, WHICH IS A DEDICATED LANE FOR OUR SHUTTLES AND BICYCLES OR WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO, HOWEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO IT, CROWD CONTROL, A PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN, PROVIDING FOR EMPLOYEE PARKING.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN INTO WITH, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE ALWAYS TOUCHED ON.

BUT TO RUN THIS DOWNTOWN TAKES SO MANY PEOPLE AND THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY IN THEIR OWN CATEGORY.

HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE EMPLOYEE PARKING SITUATION? THEY KNOW THE BUSINESSES KNOW IT BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT IT UP AT THE MEETING.

BETTER MANAGE THE VISITORS EXPERIENCE.

WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS THEIR EXPERIENCE? I CARE ABOUT THE TOURISM COMMUNITY, AND I CARE THAT PEOPLE COME HERE.

THIS IS MY TOWN. I'M PROUD OF IT.

I WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY IT.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO COME AND HAVE A MISERABLE EXPERIENCE.

THEN ALSO DAVID, CITY MANAGER, TALKED ABOUT PROTECTING THE REPUTATION OF OUR HISTORIC CITY.

THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

PEOPLE COME AND HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE, AND THEY COMPLAIN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S JUST AMPLIFIED SO MUCH.

IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO WATCH, BUT WE SAW A LOT OF THAT.

I THINK WE NEED TO GET STRAIGHT WITH THAT.

I DO THINK THAT WE NEED A TASK FORCE.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE HERITAGE TOURISM STUDY RECOMMENDED.

THE HERITAGE TOURISM STUDY, EVERYBODY'S GOT A COPY OF IT NOW, WAS DONE BY THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

IT'S VERY OLD NOW, BUT IT'S STILL SOMEWHAT FAIRLY RELEVANT ENOUGH BECAUSE IT ASKED THE HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE WANT TO BE? BUT IT MADE A RECOMMENDATIONS TO GATHER ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TO DO A TASKFORCE, AND IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE CREATED AS A COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, AND HOPEFULLY, WITH THE GUIDANCE OF A CONSULTANT AS WELL TOO.

WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I HAVE COMMITTED TO ASKING WITH THE TDC FOR FUNDING, AND I THINK THEY'RE ALL EARS.

I THINK, THE CITY MANAGER SAID, THEY'RE VERY WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE AND TALK TO US, BUT WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THEM A NUMBER.

I'M SURE THAT'LL BE SOMETHING A NEXT STEP THAT I HOPE THAT WE'LL ASK THE CITY MANAGERS A POLICY.

THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE GET SOME BETTER NUMBERS FOR US, AND THEN START GETTING TO WORK ON THE VENDORS, EXPANDING THE VENDORS ORDINANCE, GOING FORWARD WITH THE CONSULTANT, AND THEN SET UP A MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE TASKFORCE THING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW DO YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS [OVERLAPPING] THEY'RE REALLY COMING FROM YOU.

>> LET'S NOT LOSE THAT GLOBAL VIEW AND GET SOME REAL SERIOUS MICROMODEL TRANSPORTATION BICYCLES AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT ROLLED IN.

REALLY, HAVE THE TASKFORCE MAYBE DEVELOPED SOME STRATEGIES FOR LEVERAGING. I LIKE THAT IDEA.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT NEXT STEPS ARE.

WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THIS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LEAVE THIS ROOM WITHOUT HAVING A CONCRETE PLAN MOVING FORWARD.

>> I HOPE THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

THE CONCRETE PLAN MOVING FORWARD IS TO TAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER AND ALL THESE COMPONENTS, AND FIND A WAY TO LET US KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST, NOT JUST IN DOLLARS, BUT ALSO IN STAFFING.

THEN TO ME, THAT WOULD BE GOOD SO THAT WE COULD BEGIN TALKING TO THE TDC ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS.

WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MANAGE CROWDS.

WE KNOW WE NEED A SAFETY PLAN.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR EMPLOYEE PARKING.

THAT'S JUST MY OPINION, BUT I THINK WE DO.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS REQUIRES A MOTION OR NOT.

>> MAY I?

>> YEAH, PLEASE.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WILL READ THE HERITAGE.

IT JUST CAME IN.

I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO READ IT. [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T LIKE RUSH READING.

I JUST WANT TO READ IT WITH IT SINKING IN.

[02:40:01]

>> IT'S A GOOD DOCUMENT, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR IT GETTING TO YOU SO LATE, BUT I COULDN'T GET MY HAND ON IT.

>> IT'S WORTH READING.

>> NO, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS, AND I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME, BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR SENDING IT.

IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE QUESTION NUMBER 1 WOULD BE, DO WE WANT TO ENGAGE A CONSULTANT? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO WALK AWAY WITH HERE TONIGHT?

>> I DO. I WOULD LIKE YOUR CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MY SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RENTING THE BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT?

>> CORRECT.

>> ENGAGING A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT LONG TERM RECOMMENDATIONS.

ALONG WITH THE BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT, WE'RE GOING TO RENT PORTABLE TOILETS.

THEY HAVE A STAFFING SERVICE THAT WILL CLEAN THOSE TOILETS AND BEEF UP OUR STAFF FOR LITTER REMOVAL.

WE WANTED TO GET YOUR CONSENSUS TONIGHT FOR THAT.

WE'VE SPOKEN TO THE BANK OF AMERICA OWNERS, THE LOT OWNERS.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE ANY FURTHER UNTIL WE GOT YOUR CONSENSUS TONIGHT.

IF YOU GIVE CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 4TH OF JULY, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH THE NUMBERS.

>> CAN I INTERJECT FOR A SECOND? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONSULTANT'S FEE IS INCLUDED IN WHAT OUR ASK IS FOR TDC.

I ALSO WANT TO MAKE THOSE SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS.

MY VOTE POSITIVE FOR IT WILL BE CONTINGENT ON US GETTING PAID BACK FOR THESE COSTS.

WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED TOO MUCH THIS YEAR IN DEFICIT, AND IF I DON'T SEE THAT PAYBACK COMING, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE A BIG CHANGE IN SUPPORTING NIGHT OF LIGHTS MOVING FORWARD.

>> WELL, STEP 1 IS GETTING THAT NUMBER.

WE'VE ALSO DRAFTED A SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR A CONSULTANT, BUT WE WANTED TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK TONIGHT BEFORE WE COMPLETED THAT SCOPE OF SERVICES.

COREY SAKRYD IS HOPEFULLY STILL IN THE BACK LISTING.

THIS WAS THE CRUCIAL STEP BEFORE WE MOVED FORWARD, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BRING YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FINANCIALLY, AND THEN WE CAN MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF ASKING THE TDC FOR HELP FINANCIALLY.

>> TWO THINGS. ONE IS THE BRIDGE CLOSURE ON SEBASTIAN RIVER.

IS THAT GOING TO GO INTO DECEMBER OF 2026?

>> YEAH, DOT IS TELLING US THAT THE KING STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT WILL TAKE TWO YEARS.

>> WE NEED SOME MAJOR WORK FOR THAT HAPPENING, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A REAL JAM UP ON NIGHT OF LIGHTS.

BUT I THINK COMMISSIONER DEPRETER HAD A GREAT, NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT HONESTLY, ABOUT LOOKING AT THIS AS A 12-MONTH PROBLEM, NOT A TWO-WEEK PROBLEM, AND CAPITALIZING ON THAT BECAUSE HAVING THE SATELLITE PARKING DOES WORK IF WE HAD THE LANES.

EVERYTHING IS A JIGSAW PUZZLE.

YOU HAVE ONE THING AND THEN THE OTHER.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE GREAT AWARDS WE'VE GOTTEN.

LET'S REMEMBER THAT THOSE AWARDS COME FROM PEOPLE PUSHING FOR THOSE AWARDS.

THOSE JUST DON'T HAPPEN.

YOU DON'T GET INTO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BECAUSE YOU JUST HAPPENED TO BE GOOD.

YOU GET IN BECAUSE THE TDC AND THE VISIT INFORMATION AND OTHER PR PEOPLE PUSH IT.

IT'S NOT JUST THE ADVERTISING DOLLARS.

IT'S THEIR DESIRE TO CAPITALIZE ON A SYSTEM WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ADVERTISING DOLLARS.

>> OF COURSE, YES. IT'S A GOOD BUSINESS MOVE.

>> I ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, INCLUDING ME, EXACTLY WHAT THE MANAGER SAID.

WE DON'T ADVERTISE FOR TOURISM AND WE LOSE MONEY ON TOURISM.

I HAVE BROUGHT IT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT WE CONSIDER PUSHING FOR, EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN WARNED WE'LL NEVER GET IT, A BEVERAGE AND FOOD TAX.

THAT IS A INCOME THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE A GOOD POINT NOW WITH ALL THE DATA THAT WE HAVE.

IT SAYS, LOOK, WE'RE DYING HERE, AND WE NEED SOME HELP.

WE'RE TAKING HOTEL TAX TO PAY FOR IT.

WE CAN ALSO GET SOME TAX THAT WE GET CONTROL OVER.

TDC GETS THE HOTEL TAX, BUT THE BEVERAGE AND FOOD TAX WE WOULD HAVE CONTROL OVER.

THAT'S JUST A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE THAT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE TWO MORE GOVERNORS TO GET IT, BUT WE MIGHT GET IT, I THINK. MAYOR?

>> WELL, I'D LIKE TO JUST ADD ONE COMMENT BEFORE.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

I JUST WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE ADVERTISING ON THE TDC.

WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY NO MORE ADVERTISING.

WE DON'T.

IT'S A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT THAT THE TDC SPEND THE DOLLARS ON ADVERTISING,

[02:45:04]

AND THEY SPECIFY HOW THEY'RE SPENT AS WELL.

HOW MUCH IN CAN BE SPENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW MUCH HAS TO BE SPENT OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY.

I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO FOR PEOPLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LISTENING TO THIS DISCUSSION TONIGHT, ACCORDING TO WHAT I'VE HEARD.

I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE GET THAT OUT.

IT WAS MADE VERY CLEAR THAT WE DON'T DO THE PLANNING ON THE ADVERTISING.

THAT THE TDC AND THE VCB DO THAT.

THEY EXECUTE THAT.

BUT WE'RE NOT TOTAL VICTIMS. WE HAVE WELCOMED THE ADVERTISEMENTS.

>> I AGREE. I'M NOT MAKING A STATEMENT HERE AT ALL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO COLLECT THAT TAX.

THAT'S AN OPTION. WE CHOOSE TO TAKE THE TAX, SO THEREFORE, WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE.

WE CHOOSE THE AMOUNT THAT WE TAX.

>> WELL, THAT IS RIGHT. I THINK THE VOTERS WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.

>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR MANAGER THAT CAME UP, AND REUBEN IN THE BACK BECAUSE I KNOW I CAME FOR THE PRESENTATION.

TALKING ABOUT THE SMART SYSTEM THAT'S COMING UP, TRYING TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A BIGGER PICTURE, AND I NOTICED THAT WE HAD, I CAN'T REMEMBER, 01,600 PUBLIC PARKING SPOTS.

IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH PEOPLE, THAT'S ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE PARKING IN THE CITY.

THE OTHER TWO-THIRDS ARE PRIVATE FROM WHAT I'VE UNDERSTOOD, BUT MAYBE REUBEN CAN FILL ME IN, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S THE CASE OR NOT.

I THINK, REUBEN, I ASKED YOU THIS WHEN WE WERE AT THE WORKSHOP.

SORRY, MR. FRANKLIN.

IS THAT SMART SYSTEM GOING TO COVER THE PUBLIC SPOTS OR GOING TO COVER THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SPOTS?

>> THE SMART ST. AUGUSTINE PROJECT, WHICH IS A RAISE GRANT THAT WE HAVE FOR $15 MILLION.

IT'S UNDER DESIGN RIGHT NOW.

IT ONLY COVERS PUBLIC PARKING LOTS OR LOTS THAT WE HAVE AGREEMENT.

WE DO HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH PRIVATE LOTS THAT WE DO COST SHARE SPLITS WITH.

IT WOULD ONLY COVER LOTS MANAGED BY THE CITY.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW. THANKS. SORRY, THAT WAS JUST A DIVERGENT THING.

>> THAT'S GOOD. MR. CITY MANAGER, YOU HAVE THE THINGS THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED FOR THE MOST.

>> I JUST NEED A LITTLE GUIDANCE THOUGH, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

>> SURE. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE VENDORS.

>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE FOCUSING MY EFFORTS.

RIGHT NOW, MOBILE VENDOR ISN'T ALLOWED IN THE VIC AREA GENERALLY IN THE PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE.

IT'S NOT ALLOWED DOWN ST. GEORGE STREET.

IT'S NOT ALLOWED FROM CHARLOTTE TO CORDOVA ON THE INTERSECTING STREETS, SO THAT WOULD BE HYPOLITA, TREASURY, AND CUNA.

IT'S NOT ALLOWED ON FORD ALLEY AND 50 FEET ON TALMADO.

IT'S NOT ALLOWED IN THE PLAZA.

IT'S NOT ALLOWED ON CATHEDRAL PLACE UP TO BASICALLY FROM ANDERSON CIRCLE TO ST. GEORGE.

IT'S NOT ALLOWED IN ANDERSON CIRCLE.

YOU WANT ME TO FOCUS ON GATHERING DATA OR SEEING WHAT DATA WE HAVE ON WHICH STREETS?

>> I'LL TAKE A STAB AT IT.

AVENUE MENENDEZ AND THE BLOCK BETWEEN ST.

GEORGE AND CORDOVA ON CATHEDRAL FOR STARTERS.

THOSE AREAS I HAVE SEEN PROBLEMS. I AM NOT AWARE.

I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO ASK THE CHIEF POLICE CHIEF WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING INTO THE PROBLEMS, WHICH I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU.

>> I WILL DO THAT.

>> DO COMMISSIONERS AGREE THAT THOSE ARE THE TWO AVENUE MENENDEZ?

>> THE COMPLAINTS I HEARD WERE PEOPLE FROM AVENUE MENENDEZ OF A SIDEWALK.

>> IT'S THE SAME THING LAST YEAR.

>> JUST SO YOU KNOW, I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL UP THE CHARLESTON TOURISM ORDINANCE, AND IT'S ALL THE THINGS WE ALREADY DO OR WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING.

IT'S THINGS LIKE LICENSE AND CARRIAGE OPERATORS, TOUR BUSES, OTHER TOUR VEHICLES, TOUR GUIDES, ALTHOUGH WE'RE RESTRICTED ON THAT BASED ON A FLORIDA LAW THAT PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.

THEY JUST BUNDLE IT UP AND CALL IT TOURISM.

>> THEN THEY HAVE ONE THING THAT WE DON'T HAVE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY CALL THE LIVABILITY COURT, WHICH IS AN INTERESTING THING.

ACTUALLY, I CAN PROVIDE THE LINK OR THE DOCUMENT TO YOU AND YOU CAN SHARE IT.

[02:50:01]

>> I'VE SENT HIM THE LINK.

IT'S ALL ONLINE.

IT'S CODE ENFORCEMENT ESSENTIALLY.

>> WE REALLY SPENT A LOT OF ENERGY FOCUSING ON ORGANIZING THE FRANCHISES ON THE STREET.

I'M NOT SURE HOW HELPFUL THAT IS TO US.

WE'RE ALL PRETTY FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT OUR WORK HERE TONIGHT?

>> YEAH, HE'S WAITING FOR US TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS.

>> HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS? ARE WE A YES ON THAT?

>> I'M A YES.

>> NODDING HEADS.

>> I'M A YES ON THAT.

>> REMEMBER THE CONTINGENCY I MENTIONED FOR ME.

>> THE NEXT THING?

>> THE LONG TERM RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO HIRE THE CONSULTANT.

>> THE CONSULTANT. EVERYBODY YES?

>> THAT'S A YES.

>> WE WILL RETURN WHEN WE HAVE MORE SOLID NUMBERS FOR THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS FOR 4TH OF JULY FOR YOU TO REVIEW BEFORE WE MAKE THIS REQUEST TO TDC.

>> THEN WHAT ABOUT A TASK FORCE? HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> DO WE WANT TO GO FORWARD NOW? SAY YES TO SET IT UP.

>> CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IT IS EXACTLY?

>> WELL, IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO READ.

>> I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO READ, THAT'S WHY.

>> IT'S REALLY BASICALLY STAKEHOLDERS.

WE ALWAYS SAY STAKEHOLDERS, BUT IT'S BROADER THAN THE BUSINESSES.

IT WOULD BE RESIDENTS.

>> THERE'S PROBABLY AT LEAST A DOZEN DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS THAT THEY LIST, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT.

>> WELL, I HAVEN'T READ IT YET.

>> BUT IT WOULD BE A BALANCED REPRESENTATION ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

>> MY SUGGESTION IS PERHAPS JUST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER TO HAVE THE CONSULTANT LEAD AND HOST THOSE TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS RATHER THAN CREATE YET ANOTHER SUNSHINE COMMITTEE.

THAT THE SUGGESTION.

>> YES, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

>> IF IT'S THAT, THEN I'M GOOD BECAUSE I KNOW FROM THE SUNSHINE LAW, YOU CAN HAVE DIFFICULTY AND PEOPLE CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER CASUALLY.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW THE TASK FORCE WORKS AND WHO RUNS IT AND WHO CHAIRS IT AND ALL THOSE THINGS I THINK IT WOULD MAKES MORE SENSE THE WAY YOU SUGGEST IT TO BE.

>> IF THAT'S THE SUGGESTION, THEN I'M A YES.

>> I AGREE, 100%. THANK YOU.

>> THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE CONTRACTUAL ITEMS FOR THE CONSULTANT.

>> YEAH, THE RUN THAT.

>> I THINK ALSO IN THE CONSULTANT'S CONTRACT OR SCOPE OF WORK, THAT HE PARTICULARLY LOOKS FOR THE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD THAT ARE LOCAL AND USES THEM AS A KEY SOURCE OF INFORMATION.

>> YES, THEY'RE A KEY RESOURCE.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I HAVE ONE LITTLE BIT OF BAD NEWS.

A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM PEOPLE IS ADD MORE OFFICERS.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED MORE EMPLOYEES IF WE DO MANAGE LANES, FOR EXAMPLE, OR CROWD CONTROL.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE BODIES ON THE STREET.

STATUTORILY, ACCORDING TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, THE TDC CANNOT PAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE SECURITY PEOPLE THAT THEY USE AT THE PARKING GARAGE? CAN THEY PAY FOR THAT?

>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN USE PSAS AND PRIVATE SECURITY FOR, BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN'T.

THE ANSWER IS YES AND NO.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR STAFFING AND HOW THAT FALLS ON.

>> FROM A STATUTORY MONEY, WHAT COULD BE USED FOR IT, THE AUTHORIZED USES ARE THINGS LIKE CONVENTION CENTERS, AND AUDITORIUMS, AND AQUARIUMS, AND MUSEUMS, AND ZOOS, AND ADVERTISING TOURISM, AND FUNDING VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS, AND BEACH RENOURISHMENT, AND BEACH AMENITIES.

IN TERMS OF TOURIST PUBLIC FACILITIES, THE STATUTE IS REALLY FOCUSED ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TYPE THINGS SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, SEWER, WATER, DRAINAGE, AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS.

THEREIN IS YOUR CHALLENGE.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT STATUTES THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO TAP INTO DIFFERENT MONIES, BUT EITHER WE DON'T QUALIFY YET OR WE DON'T QUALIFY ANYMORE.

ONE OF THEM WAS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CERTAIN COUNTIES THAT HAD, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT, SPRING BREAKERS THAT WOULD INVADE.

LOVE YOU, SPRING BREAKERS.

THAT'S A POOR CHOICE OF WORDS.

BUT THAT STATUTE REQUIRED THREE MUNICIPALITIES AT A MINIMUM IN THE COUNTY AND WE LOST OUR THIRD MUNICIPALITY.

[02:55:04]

IT WAS ALSO FOUR PLACES THAT HAD A POPULATION OF LESS THAN 250,000 RESIDENTS IN THE COUNTY.

WE DROPPED OFF OUR ABILITY TO TAP INTO FIRST RESPONDER MONEY.

ON THAT COUNT, THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING WHAT'S CALLED A HIGH TOURISM AREA, AND I THINK I CHECKED WITH MEREDITH ABOUT IT, AND THE CHALLENGES WE DON'T QUITE I DON'T THINK WE'VE REACHED THE NUMBERS.

IT IS A REFERENDUM THAT'S NEEDED.

IT WOULD ADD A 1% SALES TAX, BUT IT'S SUBJECT TO THE COUNTY ALREADY EXCEEDING $600 MILLION IN SALES TAX RECEIPTS.

APPARENTLY, THE COUNTY DOESN'T QUITE QUALIFY.

WE'RE TOO SMALL FOR SOME THINGS AND TOO BIG FOR OTHERS.

WE'RE LIKE GOLDILOCKS, I GUESS.

>> I HAVE HEARD FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE READY.

YOU'VE HEARD FROM THEM, MR. BURCHAM, THAT THEY'RE READY TO HELP TOO.

MAYBE THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN COBBLE TOGETHER WHAT WE QUALIFY FOR AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, AND THEN ALSO EXPENSES THAT WE DON'T QUALIFY FOR, SUCH AS PORTA JOHNS.

MAYBE THERE'S A WAY WE CAN BRIDGE THAT GAP.

>> THERE WAS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY THAT THINGS LIKE THE VIC CAN BE FUNDED FROM TDC FUNDS.

IT MIGHT JUST BE CREATIVE BUDGETING.

THEY FUND US MORE FOR THAT SO THAT WE HAVE MONEY FOR THE THINGS STATUTORILY WE CAN'T USE THEIR MONEY FOR.

>> THEY USE THE PSA FOR THE AMPHITHEATER.

THEY USE IT AT ONE OF THE CHURCHES.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S PAYING FOR THAT. ANYWAY.

>> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT EITHER, BUT I JUST KNOW WHAT THE LAW SAYS.

ARE WE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THIS?

>> FEELING GOOD.

>> WE'RE GOOD.

>> GREAT DISCUSSION.

>> AGAIN, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY BEING SO POSITIVE AND COMING OUT.

>> PITCHING IN AND OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A GREAT LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A VERY DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN THE BUSINESSES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THE VISITORS AND THE RESIDENTS.

OUR JOB IS TO KEEP IT ONE THING FROM SPINNING OFF INTO THE WEEDS DANGEROUSLY.

HERE WE GO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT GREAT DISCUSSION.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS GS,

[11. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY]

ITEM BY CITY ATTORNEY.

>> ONLY IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS THAT VERY ODD LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WAS CALLED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR IMMIGRATION ISSUES.

THAT SESSION WAS CLOSED AND REOPENED BY THE STATE LEGISLATORS AND THEY PASSED A BILL THAT NOW I'M HEARING THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO VETO.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THAT.

>> INTERESTING. THE LEGISLATURE HAS SET UP WORKING COMMITTEES TO STUDY THE VETOES OF THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR.

THEY'RE GOING BACK AND TAKING A VISIT.

WELL, I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED BY THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT, WELL, ALL OF THOSE ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS THAT GOT COMPLETELY STUFFED WITH NO FUNDS WHATSOEVER IN THE NINTH HOUR MAY GET ANOTHER SHOT AT IT.

>> WELL, OUR CONSULTANT, OUR LOBBYIST IS LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF REVISITING THE SUBJECT TO SEWER CONVERSION MONEY THAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE, SO WE MIGHT [OVERLAPPING]

>> THAT MAY BE SOMETHING.

THAT WAS A VETO. IT WAS A $5 MILLION.

>> IT WAS $5 MILLION, AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THAT.

>> A GLIMMER OF HOPE.

ITEMS BY CITY CLERK.

>> I HAVE NONE.

>> WELL, ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER.

[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]

>> JUST A REMINDER THAT THIS FRIDAY IS MENENDEZ DAY AT 11 O'CLOCK.

WE'LL HAVE A WREATH LAYING IN FRONT OF CITY HALL.

>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.

ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS. ANYBODY?

[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]

>> YES, I HAVE A SHORT LIST.

LAST MEETING, I MENTIONED THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE APPROPRIATE YARDS RECOGNIZED.

REMEMBER? WELL, IT TURNS OUT WE DO ALREADY DO THAT. [LAUGHTER]

>> GREAT.

>> BUT IT'S BEEN ON HIATUS SINCE COVID.

IT'S PART OF THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ASK PERMISSION TO START UP AGAIN AND ECOFRIENDLY YARD.

[03:00:02]

THE MOST EMBARRASSING PART IS, I'VE WON IT BEFORE.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I LOVE A MAN WHO CAN ADMIT.

>> DON'T YOU JUST LOVE IT? [LAUGHTER] I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE PAPER.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THE FORCE AND FAMILY, IT MEANT A LOT TO ME TO SEE THEM RECOGNIZE.

EMPLOYEE PARKING IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH UNITED LIGHTS, IT'S YEAR ROUND.

I REALLY THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER THAT AS AN OPTION.

WE HAVE WAITRESSES AND WAITERS AND PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET OFF WORK TILL 2:30, THREE O'CLOCK, AND THEY'RE HAVING TO WALK LONG DISTANCE IN THE DARK TO GET TO THEIR CARS.

THE SHARE RIDE OF BIKES IS REALLY A PROBLEM TOO, I'M REALLY GLAD WE HAVE SPEAKERS ABOUT THAT.

I USED TO TRAVEL ON BIKE TO VALANU BEACH TO 3:12 AND BACK EVERY MORNING UNTIL I GOT SCARED OF TEXTERS AND I QUIT.

>> OH, GOSH.

>> I DO RIDE A BIKE OCCASIONALLY NOW, BUT I DON'T RIDE FOR DISTANCE ANYMORE, BECAUSE IT'S TOO DANGEROUS.

ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS SAID IT SO WELL, THAT WE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT NON-WELCOMING FOR RESIDENTS, BUT WELCOMING FOR TOURISTS.

I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS A NICE QUOTE.

I'D LIKE TO REMIND MR. REYNOLDS THAT WE DO NOT FORGET THAT WE ARE RESIDENTS HERE AND WE SUFFER THE SAME ISSUES THAT EVERY OTHER RESIDENT DOES.

WE'RE NOT AS SMART AS SOME PEOPLE, AND THEY ARE HAPPY TO REMIND US OF THAT.

I DON'T MIND BEING REMINDED.

IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO GET THE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

BUT WE HAVE NOT FORGOT, AND WE THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

ANOTHER THING IS, IT'D BE NICE TO KNOW FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHICH BUSINESSES DO PROFIT FROM THE HIGH TOURISM TIMES.

I KNOW 4 JULY, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A BIG BUSINESS BOOM BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES ARE CLOSED.

BUT DURING NIGHT OF LIGHTS, I HAD A COMMENT FROM ONE BUSINESS OWNER THAT SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INCREASE IN BUSINESS, AND IT HAPPENED TO BE AN ART GALLERY, WHICH I COULD UNDERSTAND.

YOU DON'T BRING YOUR WHOLE FAMILY DOWN HERE AND KIDS AND UNCLES AND AUNTS TO BUY ART.

BUT I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHICH ONES ACTUALLY DO PROFIT WELL.

THEY MAY NOT WANT TO TELL US, BUT IT'D BE INTERESTING.

I AM ALSO HAPPY FOR THE SPEAKERS.

I VISITED THE HOMELESS COALITION IN THE CITY.

IT'S A COUNTY PROGRAM, BUT OH, MY GOODNESS, DO THEY DO GREAT WORK? IF YOU EVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THEM, THE HOMELESS COALITION IS WONDERFUL.

BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU TO THE CHIEFS BACK THERE FOR THEIR WORK DURING NIGHT OF LIGHTS.

IT WAS STRESSFUL FOR BOTH CHIEFS AND FOR THE MANAGER.

IT WAS AS BEST AS WE COULD DO, WE WERE SURPRISED.

LET'S DON'T BE SURPRISED AGAIN.

>> I'LL BE BRIEF. I WANTED TO JUST FOLLOW UP ON WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT ALL THE BUSINESSES, WHICH ONES ARE DOING WELL AND WHICH AREN'T.

I SPOKE TO SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS IN UPTOWN, AND THEY SAID THERE ARE LOCALS WHO ARE THEIR MAIN CUSTOMERS.

THEY DON'T SHOW UP DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, SO THEY ACTUALLY GO DOWNHILL.

SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR EVERYBODY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

I WANTED TO ALSO SAY THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED SOME REAL DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ON MY BICYCLE.

IN FACT, I WAS RIDING MY BIKE TO WORK, LIKE I OFTEN DO ONE MORNING AND THERE WAS AN IMPATIENT DRIVER BEHIND ME WHO HONKED AT ME.

AS I WAS GOING OVER A SHARROW, [LAUGHTER] THE ARROW WITH THE BICYCLE ON IT, SO I POINTED AT THE ARROW AND HE BACKED OFF.

IT IS DANGEROUS, I DO IT ANYWAY BECAUSE I LIKE THE FRESH AIR AND I LIKE THE EXERCISE AND I LIKE TO SEE THE CITY THAT WAY.

BUT WE HAVE TO FIX IT.

THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO THANK NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT AND ARE WATCHING AND LISTENING ONLINE SIMULTANEOUSLY OR RECORDED LATER, I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT TO FISH ISLAND TO CELEBRATE THAT WONDERFUL RIBBON CUTTING EVENT.

THERE WAS LIKE 100 PEOPLE OUT THERE.

THAT WAS SUPER COOL, AND I'M JUST SO EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS. THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

>> I CAN'T OBVIOUSLY NOT GET INVOLVED IN THE BIKE CONVERSATION. THIS IS A BIG THING.

I KNOW I RIDE MY BIKE, EVERYBODY KNOWS I DO THAT ALL OVER TOWN.

I HAVE ELECTRIC BIKE, SO I'M EXPERIMENTING.

I GOT A LOT ON-THE-GROUND EXPERIENCE.

IF YOU HAVE AN ELECTRIC BIKE, YOU CAN.

YOU GET JUST ENOUGH SPEED THAT YOU CAN GO IN THE LANE.

[03:05:01]

WHEN I COME DOWN AT ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, I'LL JUST BE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

WHEN I GET ON THE BRIDGE, I GO OVER THE BRIDGE.

I HAVE FOUND PEOPLE TO BE MORE RESPECTFUL THAN I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT.

MAYBE BECAUSE I'M NOT PEDALING, MAYBE BECAUSE I'M WEARING A NICE SUIT, I DON'T KNOW.

[LAUGHTER] BUT ANYWAY, I FOUND THAT, AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO DO THAT, SOME OF MY YOUNGER FRIENDS WERE LIKE, JUST GET IN THE LANE, AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S A BIKE LANE.

YOU HAVE TO BE A LITTLE INSANE TO DO IT, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND I'M GETTING AROUND DOING IT.

HOWEVER, BIKE SAFETY IN THIS TOWN IS NOT GOOD, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO COME OUT, BRING IT UP AS A PUBLIC COMMENT, MAKE THIS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN OUR TOWN, WHICH FOLDS INTO OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND MULTIMODAL STUFF.

ONE OTHER OBSERVATION, I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, BUT AS FAR AS THE BUSINESSES, I THINK THE LONGER-TERM QUESTION FOR THE DOWNTOWN IS GOING TO BE, IF IT BECOMES MORE PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY, WHAT BUSINESSES WILL SUFFER AND WHAT BUSINESSES LONG-TERM GOALS? I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT ON THE PLANNING BOARD THAT IT WOULD BE, A CAR IS NECESSARY WHEN YOU'RE PICKING SOMETHING UP AND PUTTING IT IN YOUR CAR, BUT AS THE DOWNTOWN GROWS MORE EXPERIENTIAL, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR MUSIC, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A DINNER, OR YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THEN OBVIOUSLY THAT MIGHT NOT MATTER AS MUCH.

I SEE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM THERE.

VERY NICE THING AT FISH ISLAND, AND I'M VERY HAPPY WITH OUR POET LAUREATE SELECTION, SHE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I DID MEET WITH THE VCB, I TOLD YOU, IN MY NEW ROLE, GOOD TIME TO BE IN THERE, MAYBE.

I WILL RELATE LIAISON WITH EVERYBODY ON THAT.

>> GREAT. THANKS. MISS GARRIS.

>> I WANTED TO JUST RECOGNIZE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT TODAY, I THANKFUL THAT THEY CAME OUT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GUESS WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE THINKING, WE KNOW WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE THINKING.

I THINK I COMMEND THEM BECAUSE THIS TAKES A WHOLE LOT TO GET OFF WORK TO COME HERE, FIND PARKING, AND COME IN HERE AND EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS. I SALUTE THEM.

THEY MAKE US A BETTER COMMISSION BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, WHAT THEY'RE SEEKING.

ALSO, I WENT TO GET GAS TODAY AND IT WAS AROUND TWO SOMETHING AND I NOTICED THAT TRAFFIC WAS, I WAS AT THE SONOCO ON ANDERSON AND US 1, AND TRAFFIC WAS JAMMED.

REALIZING THAT, NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS OVER.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED TO ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

IT'S NOT JUST NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS BEEN BUILT, THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.

EVEN LOOKING AT THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, AND IF THOSE RESIDENTS JUST MOVED HERE IN THIS LAST YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO COME DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THEY HEARD ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THEY MOVED HERE, AND THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE PERKS WHY THEY MOVED HERE.

I THINK THAT THE CONSULTANT AND ALL THAT STUFF IS GOING TO HELP US DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM OUT OF STATE.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.

HAVE YOU TRAVELED DOWN STATE ROAD 16 AND SEEN ALL THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT USED TO BE TREES AND EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY, EVERY GRASS LOT HAS A HOUSE ON IT? WE GOT MORE AND MORE FLAG OF COLLEGE STUDENTS COMING IN HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH TRAFFIC FOR A LONG TIME, REGARDLESS OF THE CONSULTANT.

PEOPLE LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE.

IF THEY VISIT HERE, THEY WANT TO MOVE HERE, AND WE GOT TO REALLY PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THAT AS WELL.

WE JUST GOT TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

I LIKE WHAT MR. AARON JOCKERS, I THINK HE'S STILL HERE, HE SPOKE ABOUT THIS BEING THE NUMBER 1 CITY.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY, AND IT HAS CHANGED A LOT IN 15 YEARS.

IT'S CHANGING EVERY DAY.

WE'RE GETTING A BJ'S, WE'RE GETTING THIS, WE'RE GETTING THAT. WE'RE GROWING.

ECONOMICALLY, WE'RE GROWING.

IT'S A GOOD THING BUT CHANGES.

I REMEMBER WHEN I MOVED BACK HERE IN 1990, HOW US 1 DIDN'T HAVE HOLLY ANI STORES ON IT, AND NOW LOOK AT IT.

WE JUST HAVE TO PREPARE OUR MINDS FOR THE CHANGE AND JUST GOVERN ACCORDINGLY.

I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD, STRONG COMMISSION, I THINK WE'RE MAKING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS LIKE FISH ISLAND, LIKE BUYING THOSE PROPERTIES.

WE'RE DOING A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO PERFECTLY, BUT IT'S A LEARNING CURVE.

WHAT WE DON'T DO RIGHT THAT WAY, WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MY COMMENTS WERE, I APPRECIATE MISS DIXON COMING OUT.

MISS ISABEL, I DON'T SEE HER VERY OFTEN ANYMORE, SHE'S BEEN LIVING IN THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME, AND SHE WAS AROUND WHEN THE HERITAGE TOURISM STUDY WAS DONE [LAUGHTER] AND THE RESIDENTS DELIVERABILITY MOVEMENT REALLY STARTED IN THE CITY.

IT JUST WAS GOOD TO SEE HER OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT

[03:10:04]

HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR HER AND NOT THAT IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR HER, BUT IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HER, THAT SHE'S STILL ENGAGED, DESPITE SEEING SO MUCH CHANGE.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY DISCOURAGED AS RESIDENTS BECAUSE THE TOWN HAS CHANGED SO MUCH.

IT'S CERTAINLY CHANGED A LOT SINCE MY CHILDHOOD.

THEN I WANTED TO ALSO ADDRESS, I TOOK THE CYCLING SAVVY COURSE A LONG TIME AGO AND THEY SAID CLAIM THE LANE, THAT IT WAS ALWAYS BETTER JUST TO GET IN THE LANE.

>> I DO THAT.

>> OTHERWISE, YOU CAN GET HIT BY DOORS AND THINGS LIKE IF YOU TRY TO STAY ON THE SIDE, THAT PEOPLE WILL PUSH YOU OFF.

BUT IT MADE ME REMEMBER THAT WE DID HAVE A BICYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN THAT WE RAN AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE NORTH FLORIDA TPO PAID FOR, AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING MR. FRANKLIN CAN TALK ABOUT WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THE GRANTS THAT WE ASKED FOR THEM AT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

IT TAKES A COOPERATION BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HOPEFULLY, WOULD HAVE SOME AGENCY.

AT THE TIME WE HAD A BICYCLE ADVOCACY GROUP.

>> I KNOW.

>> BUT WE DON'T HAVE ONE ANYMORE.

BUT MAYBE WE CAN DO SOMETHING.

THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS I BROUGHT THIS SHOW AND TELL.

>> LOVE IT.

>> BUT WE HAVE A BOSS IN THE MIDST, AND THIS IS OUR JESSICA BEACH, AND SHE IS ON THE COVER OF FLORIDA TREND MAGAZINE.

SHE HAS THE CENTERFOLD AND HER QUOTE IS VERY ENCOURAGING.

WE'LL FIGURE THIS OUT.

I'D LIKE TO GIVE HER KUDOS AND BRAG A LITTLE BIT ON HER.

[APPLAUSE] GOOD JOB, JESSICA.

IT IS WONDERFUL THAT WE'RE GETTING RECOGNITION OF OUR LEADERSHIP HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

ON THAT SUBJECT, I'VE BEEN MULLING THIS AROUND IN MY MIND FOR QUITE A WHILE.

BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK THE VICE MAYOR, WOULD YOU SPONSOR THE POSSIBILITY OR ENTERTAIN THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD FOR THE CITY?

>> I'D LOVE THAT.

>> I DON'T HAVE A NAME FOR IT, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOU TO CHAMPION BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT YOU'VE CHAMPIONED ALL ALONG, BUT I REALLY BELIEVE IN RECOGNIZING THE PEOPLE THAT DO THAT EXTRAORDINARY WORK.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CREATION OF THAT.

>> I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THE LEAD, AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME.

THAT'S A TRUE HONOR. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD.

>> I'LL WORK WITH STAFF ON HOW THAT MIGHT LOOK AND BRING SOMETHING BACK TO THE COMMISSION.

>> I'M JUST ASSUMING EVERYBODY GOES ALONG WITH ANYTHING.

[LAUGHTER] SEEING THAT WE'RE LEADERS IN THE STATE.

>> I KNOW. THAT'S AWESOME.

>> THERE'S NOTHING MORE.

>> I'M SORRY, WE DO HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, I FORGOT ABOUT IT.

BUT WE HAVE A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> EXCELLENT. LOVELY. WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS BARK THING AGAIN.

>> I WILL MAKE THIS BRIEF. CARLOS AVELIS, FIRE CHIEF.

I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE TO THE COMMISSION THE RETURN OF THE SPARK TO FLAME YOUTH EMPOWERMENT CAMP.

WE ARE COMING BACK FOR OUR SECOND YEAR.

WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING PUBLICLY TOMORROW MORNING TWO CAMP DATES, APRIL 18 AND 19.

18TH FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, AND THEN WE ARE OPENING THE CAMP UP TO HIGH SCHOOLERS THIS YEAR ON THE 19TH.

I'LL BE LOOKING FOR THAT ON SOCIAL TOMORROW. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> THANK YOU, THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

>> IT IS, TRULY. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Feb 10, 2025 City Commission

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