[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:02]
>> GOOD EVENING. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> WE WILL NOW HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER.
>> WE ARE AT MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANY MODIFICATIONS TO REGULAR AGENDA?>> COMMISSIONERS. NONE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MOVE IT.
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS IT IS.
>> I'LL SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS]
WE HAVE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT.[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
I HAVE QUITE A FEW SPEAKER CARDS PERTAINING TO THE 9B1, RESOLUTION 2025-07.SINCE, THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.
COMMISSIONERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT NOW DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THAT OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR IT AT THE TIME THAT WE DISCUSSED THE RESOLUTION?
>> I WOULD PREFER TO HEAR IT NOW ONLY BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE ON A LIMITED SCHEDULE.
>> I THINK IF IT'S MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE PEOPLE HERE, I WOULD SAY DO IT.
>> YES. BASICALLY, EVERYBODY THAT'S PUT A CARD IN, I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS ON ANYTHING THAT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THERE WE GO. THE FIRST SPEAKER, I'LL CALL OUT TWO NAMES, AND THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL COME AND THE SECOND ONE WILL BE ON DECK TO QUEUE TO COME SO WE CAN KEEP THIS MOVING BECAUSE I HAVE QUITE A FEW CARDS TONIGHT.
I NEED TO JUST READ THIS LITTLE STATEMENT SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW PUBLIC COMMENT WORKS.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION SHOULD FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AND I WILL ASK YOU TO THE PODIUM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S RULES OF DECORUM.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS.
NO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE COMMISSION WITH PERSONAL IMPROPER OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR.
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING OR DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS.
FINALLY, I WOULD ASK THAT ANY SPEAKER WHO USES THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR TO PLEASE SUBMIT THOSE ITEMS TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH THAT SAID, THE FIRST SPEAKER IS TREVOR DUMAS, FOLLOWED BY KRISTIE HAMILTON.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TREVOR DUMAS, AND I HAVE LIVED AT 25 DESOTO PLACE, WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM HERE FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW.
IN THE THREE YEARS SO I'VE BEEN THERE.
I'VE NEVER ONCE MISSED A PAYMENT OF RENT, NEVER BEEN LATE.
I'VE NEVER HAD A COMPLAINT FROM MY NEIGHBORS OR ANYTHING OF THAT.
BUT DESPITE ALL THAT, I'M CURRENTLY BEING KICKED OUT OF MY APARTMENT.
THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A MAJOR MOLD ISSUE WITHIN THE BUILDING, AND I BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LANDLORD AND IN
[00:05:01]
RETALIATION FOR SPEAKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I'M BEING KICKED OUT.TO BE MORE SPECIFIC LAST SUMMER, THE LANDLORD HAS HIS OWN PERSONAL HANDYMAN COME AND DO A SIDING REPAIR IN THE BUILDING.
SINCE LAST SUMMER WATER HAS BEEN PENETRATING THE EXTERIOR WALL, CAUSING MOLD TO GROW WITHIN THE CAVITY.
WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION, THEY SAID IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX.
THERE'S NO MOLD THERE ANYWAY AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I HIRED MY OWN PRIVATE HYGIENIST TO COME IN AND TEST THE APARTMENT, AND THE TEST SHOWED THAT IT WAS FAR WORSE THAN I IMAGINED.
THE PROTOCOL REPORT CALLED FOR THE ENTIRE UNIT TO BE REMEDIATED.
SPOT COUNTS IN THE AIR INSIDE WERE DOUBLE THAT OF OUTSIDE, AND THE ENTIRE UNIT AND POSSIBLY EVEN THE ENTIRE BUILDING NEEDS TO BE REMEDIATED.
I SENT THIS OVER TO THE LANDLORD AND THEY RESPONDED THE FOLLOWING DAY BY BREAKING MY LEASE AND TELLING ME THAT I HAD TO GET OUT BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH.
I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THERE'S NO RECOURSE FOR ME.
I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH THE MAYOR, I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
I'VE CALLED HEALTH AND SAFETY.
I'VE CALLED CODE, I'VE CALLED DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
I'VE SPOKEN TO EVERYONE I CAN ABOUT THIS.
BUT THERE'S NO RECOURSE BECAUSE THE LAWS AT STATE, CITY, ALL THOSE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
ALL OF THEM DO NOT PROTECT ME OR PEOPLE LIKE ME.
WE ARE THE AVERAGE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
BUT IF THIS TREND CONTINUES, ST. AUGUSTINE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BECOME A CITY OF THE ULTRA-WEALTHY AND SLUM LORDS WHO ARE JUST GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WORKERS WHO ACTUALLY MAKE THE TOURIST SERVICE ECONOMY HERE POSSIBLE.
I'M COMING HERE TO SPEAK BECAUSE I WANT TO ASK THE COMMISSION TO TRY AND PASS RULES, REGULATIONS, LEGISLATION, WHATEVER CAN BE DONE, NOT TO PROTECT ME BECAUSE IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME, BUT TO PROTECT MY NEIGHBORS AND THE OTHER RESIDENTS OF ST.
AUGUSTINE WHO ARE LIVING IN THESE APARTMENTS WHERE THE LANDLORDS CARE MORE ABOUT MAKING A PROFIT THAN PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND WHO WOULD RATHER KICK PEOPLE OUT WHO DISCOVER ISSUES RATHER THAN REMEDIATE THESE ISSUES.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. I HOPE THAT PERHAPS SOMEONE CAN HELP MY NEIGHBORS OR ANYBODY ELSE IN THE CITY WITH THIS ISSUE AND PREVENT THIS FROM BEING YOUR FUTURE GOING FORWARD OR AN ISSUE GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DUMAS, I'M SORRY THAT HAPPENED.
I WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT THIS AT COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
>> IF MR. DUMAS IS GOING TO LEAVE, I WOULD JUST LET HIM KNOW THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY LEGAL AID, WHICH IS ON SAN MARCO AVENUE, MEGHAN WALLA IS THEIR DIRECTOR THERE DO HANDLE LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES.
THAT WOULD BE THE PLACE I WOULD SUGGEST HE TOUCHED BASE.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY LEGAL AID ON SAN MARCO.
>> I DID GET IN TOUCH WITH LEGAL AID, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> I DID RECOMMEND THAT TO HIM, AND I THINK HE'S RUN THAT COURSE, SO APPARENTLY, THAT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR.
KRISTIE HAMILTON FOLLOWED BY NANCY MURPHY.
I THINK I ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO ALL OF YOU GUYS ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERNS AROUND SOME SAPD BEHAVIOR.
SPECIFICALLY HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF DONNA HAYES, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN EXCHANGED BETWEEN OFFICERS ABOUT OFFICIAL BUSINESS THAT HAS BEEN DONE ON PRIVATE EMAILS SO THAT PUBLIC RECORDS CANNOT BE PULLED ON THEM.
IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES.
I HAVE SEVERAL RECEIPTS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTALLY PUT INTO EVIDENCE AND DISCOVERY IN A DIFFERENT CASE.
WHEN THE CHIEF WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS, IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, SHE SAID THAT NOT ONLY DID IT HAPPEN ON PRIVATE EMAILS, BUT THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN DELETED.
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE SAPD IN GENERAL DOESN'T THINK THAT SUNSHINE LAWS APPLY TO THEM AND THAT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE NOT IMPORTANT.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN SAPD THAT PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT.
SINCE IT'S THE CHIEF OF POLICE, AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION CAN'T BE DONE INTERNALLY AND HAS TO BE REFERRED TO THE FDLE.
I'M ASKING FOR YOU GUYS TO ASK FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME AND WANT TO DO PUBLIC RECORDS, THE INFORMATION THEY'RE LOOKING FOR CAN ACTUALLY BE FOUND.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS NANCY MURPHY, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT YORK.
>> HI. IT'S ME. NANCY MURPHY, 22 VERNE COURT, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR THE CITY'S SUPPORT OF COMPASSION AT ST. AUGUSTINE FOR ALMOST 11 YEARS NOW.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND THOSE PRESENT OF OUR CHARTER FOR COMPASSION.
THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPASSION LIES AT THE HEART OF ALL RELIGIOUS, ETHICAL, AND SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS, CALLING US ALWAYS TO TREAT ALL OTHERS AS WE WISH TO BE TREATED OURSELVES.
COMPASSION IMPELS US TO WORK TIRELESSLY TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING OF OUR FELLOW CREATURES, TO DETHRONE OURSELVES FROM THE CENTER OF OUR WORLD AND TO PUT
[00:10:04]
ANOTHER THERE AND TO HONOR THE INVIOLABLE SANCTITY OF EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING, TREATING EVERYBODY WITHOUT EXCEPTION WITH ABSOLUTE JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND RESPECT.WE URGENTLY NEED TO MAKE COMPASSION A CLEAR, LUMINOUS AND DYNAMIC FORCE IN OUR POLARIZED WORLD.
ROOTED IN A PRINCIPLED DETERMINATION TO TRANSCEND SELFISHNESS, COMPASSION CAN BREAK DOWN POLITICAL, DOGMATIC, IDEOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS BOUNDARIES.
BORN OF OUR DEEP INTERDEPENDENCE, COMPASSION IS ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND TO A FULFILLED HUMANITY.
IT IS THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT AND INDISPENSABLE TO THE CREATION OF A JUST ECONOMY AND A PEACEFUL GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION WAS FIRST PRESENTED IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND IN FEBRUARY 2009.
I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEWEST INITIATIVE FOR COMPASSION AT ST. AUGUSTINE, WHICH WE'LL BE HAVING A SOFT LAUNCH ON THE WEEKEND OF APRIL THE 5TH, APRIL THE 5TH BEING CHOSEN BECAUSE IT IS GOLDEN RULE DAY AND THAT'S THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION, THAT WE ALL SHARE THAT BELIEF THAT WE SHOULD TREAT OTHERS AS WE WISH TO BE TREATED OURSELVES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT THIS INITIATIVE WILL CONJOIN THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION WITH THE VILLAGE MOVEMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SCOTT YORK, FOLLOWED BY SHANNON SAP.
>> GOOD EVENING. SCOTT YORK, 29 SPANISH STREET, THE MOST CHARMING STREET IN ST. AUGUSTINE. YOU ALL KNOW IT'S TRUE.
TONIGHT, I WANT TO SHARE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD WITH A VISITING FAMILY LAST WEEK.
THIS FAMILY LIVES IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, MOM, DAD, A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY, AND AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
THE 10-YEAR-OLD BOY STUDIED ABOUT OUR FORT, THE CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS, IN HIS FOURTH-GRADE HISTORY CLASS.
EVERY FOUR YEARS, ONE MEMBER OF THIS FAMILY GETS TO CHOOSE A FAMILY VACATION DESTINATION FOR THE YEAR.
THEY CAN CHOOSE ANY DESTINATION IN THE WORLD.
MONEY IS NOT AN OBJECT FOR THIS FAMILY.
THIS YOUNG MAN COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, AND HE CHOSE OUR TINY LITTLE HISTORIC TOWN OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW PROUD THIS MAKES ME FEEL.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE PICKED MY PRIVATE GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF THE TOWN, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK THAT I SEE GOING INTO MAKING THIS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WHAT THIS YOUNG MAN'S DECISION TELLS ME IS THAT OUR CITY LEADERS, OUR WONDERFUL CITY STAFF, AND OUR CITY WORKERS ARE DOING SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB.
I WANT THIS COMMISSION TO BE PROUD OF THE JOB THAT YOU'RE DOING AND LEADING THIS COMMUNITY INTO THE FUTURE.
THIS FAMILY DID NOT COME HERE FOR OUR BARS, OUR LIGHTS, OR OUR LIVE MUSIC VENUES.
THEY CAME HERE FOR OUR RICH HISTORY AND FELL IN LOVE WITH OUR CHARMING RESIDENTS, ARCHITECTURE, AND LANDMARKS.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF AND CONTINUE TO PROMOTE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SHANNON SAP, FOLLOWED BY PATRICK CRISETA.
MY NAME IS SHANNON SAP. I THINK THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I'VE APPROACHED YOU ALL.
I'M COMING TO YOU ALL TO ASK HELP WITH SAPD AS WELL.
WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU ALL ASK FOR A INTERNAL INVESTIGATION BE DONE DUE TO THE CORRUPTION THAT STARTS WITHIN THE CHIEF AND GOES RIGHT ON DOWN.
AS I HAD BEEN DOING MY INVESTIGATION, ONE OFFICER HAS BEEN REMOVED.
DURING THAT INVESTIGATION, I'VE SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON EVIDENCE THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.
ONCE AN INVESTIGATION WAS DONE THROUGH AN OUTSIDE AGENCY, THE AGENCY RETURNED ALL MY EVIDENCE TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ME TO RETRIEVE, AND THEY DELETED ALL MY EVIDENCE AND GAVE ME BACK USB DRIVES THAT WAS EMPTY.
I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY MAYOR TO DONNA, THE HR LADY AND TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
THEY JUST TURNED OUT TO BE CRICKETS.
I NEED TO GET MY EVIDENCE BACK TO CONTINUE, BUT ALL THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS COVER UP ALL THE CORRUPTION THAT IS GOING ON WITHIN THE AGENCY.
IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE A COPY OF ALL THESE, I CAN SEND THEM TO YOU WHERE THE DETECTIVE SAID IT WAS MY EVIDENCE AND HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY THEY DELETED IT, AND THEY JUST SEEM TO NOT WANT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
I THINK AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE DONE.
IT WOULD SAVE THE CITY TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE IF NOT THERE IS GOING TO BE CIVIL SUITS FILED.
[00:15:02]
THANK YOU, YOU ALL.>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICK CRISETA.
I HOPE I DIDN'T SAY THAT WRONG.
THEN FOLLOWED BY PAUL N. DEALES.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS PATRICK CRISETA.
I RESIDE AT 346 CHARLOTTE STREET.
I'M UP HERE IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 2025-07, APPROVING THE PROCUREMENT AND EASEMENTS THROUGH NEGOTIATED CONVEYANCE OR EMINENT DOMAIN FOR THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ FLOOD MITIGATION.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITY TO DO FOR ITS HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTS.
MY PROPERTY ADJOINS CHARLOTTE STREET AND ST. GEORGE STREET.
AS SUCH, LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ IS MY BACKYARD.
MY HOME AND SMALL ANCILLARY BUILDING HAVE BOTH BEEN RAISED THE HOME IN 2019, AFTER SUSTAINING MAJOR DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE IRMA, AND 17 IN IRMA AND 2018 WITH MICHAEL.
THEN THE SMALL ANCILLARY BUILDING WE RAISED, WHICH IS ON ST. GEORGE IN 2022, DUE TO SIMPLE NUISANCE FLOODING, IN PARTICULAR KING TIDE EVENTS.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, RAISING STRUCTURES IS EXPENSIVE.
WE SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THIS EFFORT BECAUSE OF NEW FOUNDATION, NEW UTILITY CONNECTIONS, NEW LANDSCAPING, AND A LOT MORE.
I FEEL THAT WE'VE DONE OUR PART IN PROTECTING OUR PROPERTY AND OUR WELL-BEING IN THESE FLOOD SITUATIONS.
HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
MY LAND AND BOTH CHARLOTTE STREET AND ST. GEORGE STREET FREQUENTLY FLOOD AFTER A BIG STORM.
I OFTEN HAVE TO MOVE MY VEHICLES AND KEEP THEM AT THE CITY PARKING GARAGE JUST DURING SIMPLE KING TIDE EVENTS.
I CONTINUE TO REPLACE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN LANDSCAPING BECAUSE THE SALTWATER COMES IN, FLOODS MY YARD, AND THEN WASHES OUT, BUT I CAN'T GET IRRIGATION FAST ENOUGH.
I NEED THE CITY TO DO ITS PART IN APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT'LL NOT ONLY PROTECT HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS IN THEIR PROPERTY VALUES BUT ALSO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL THE RESIDENTS OF ST.
AUGUSTINE IN PARTICULAR OLD CITY SOUTH DURING FLOOD EVENTS AND CHALLENGING EVENTS LIKE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL N. DEALES FOLLOWED BY PAM GRAY.
>> HI. MY NAME IS PAUL GUDALES.
I LIVE AT 210 ST. GEORGE STREET.
I'M HERE EXPRESSING MY INTEREST IN THE COMMISSION, ALSO VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 9B ON THE AGENDA.
FOR THE RESOLUTION 2507 TO APPROVE THE PROCUREMENT OF EASEMENTS ON LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.
WE'VE LIVED HERE ABOUT 15 YEARS, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE A DOG WALKER, WALK THAT AREA OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS.
I'VE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF THE FLOODING AND HAVING TO WALK AROUND.
WE CAN'T CROSS THE SOUTH STREET BRIDGE BECAUSE OF FLOODING AND WHATNOT.
EVERY YEAR, I KNOW IT'S GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER AND HIGHER.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS A PLAN THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR NOW SEVERAL YEARS.
THERE'S FUNDING ALLOCATED TO THIS PROJECT.
IT'S BENEFICIAL TO AT LEAST 150 PEOPLE WHO'VE SIGNED THE PETITION, AND IT WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE CITY BY REDUCING THE STORM FLOODING, BUT DEFINITELY ELIMINATING THE NUISANCE FLOODING.
I JUST HOPE THE COMMISSION AGREES TO MOVE AHEAD WITH A RESOLUTION AND START PUTTING SHOVELS IN THE GROUND TO GET THIS THING RESOLVED BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE AND SOON WE'LL BE NOT EVEN ABLE TO DRIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. PAM GRAY, FOLLOWED BY FRED HATHORN.
>> PAM GRAY, 210 ST. GEORGE, NOT THE SAME APARTMENTS, BUT WE'RE ALL IN THE LON BUILDING.
GOOD EVENING. TODAY, I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 2025-07.
>> IF YOU COULD PUT YOUR MICROPHONE.
>> PERFECT. TODAY, I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 2025-07.
I'M ASKING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION TO PURSUE THE NECESSARY EASEMENTS FOR THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.
HUNDREDS OF HISTORIC HOMES AND PROPERTIES AND STREETS, EXPERIENCE FLOODING MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR. YOU GUYS KNOW THAT.
THIS TYPE OF FLOODING TAKES A COSTLY TOLL ON THE RESIDENTS, ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OBVIOUSLY, THE STREETS, AS WELL AS OUR PROPERTY VALUES.
[00:20:01]
OVER 100 PETITIONS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED WITH WRITTEN ACCOUNTS OF JUST THE EXPERIENCES THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD ALONG WITH THE PHOTOS OF THE FLOODING.WE'RE NOW JUST ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
JUST WHAT PAUL SAID. WE'D LOVE TO PUT SHOVELS IN THE GROUND.
IN KEEPING WITH ST. AUGUSTINE'S LONGTIME FOCUS ON FLOOD MITIGATION AND RESILIENCY.
I ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOU DO. APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FRED HATHORN, FOLLOWED BY TARA OWEN.
>> I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS I WANT TO SHOW.
>> GOOD. THANKS. MY NAME IS FRED HATHORN.
I LIVE AT 335 ST. GEORGE STREET.
BEN THERE FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AND DURING THAT TIME, WE'VE PROBABLY EXPERIENCED FLOODING ONCE OR TWICE EVERY YEAR.
IT IS A TOUGH THING TO LIVE THROUGH.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE CITY HAS HAD A PLAN TO MITIGATE THAT BY BUILDING A SEA WALL DOWN AT THE END OF OF SOUTH STREET.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE I BELIEVE IT'S RESOLUTION 2025-07, SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR MY FRONT YARD.
IT'S A LOVELY PLACE TO LIVE AND WE HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED BEING HERE.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE SAME PICTURE, SAME SHOT DURING ONE OF THE FLOODS.
IF THIS CAN BE PREVENTED, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF THE CITY COMMISSION COULD DO SOMETHING TO HELP IT OUT.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE GOT ABOUT 300 OF OUR NEIGHBORS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS, AND FROM WHAT I HEAR NOW, THREE OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE NOT EXACTLY ENCOURAGING US TO GO FORWARD WITH IT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK INTO THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS TARA OWEN FOLLOWED BY EILEEN REEVE.
I LIVE AT 252 ST. GEORGE STREET.
AND I TOO, I AM ASKING THE COMMISSION TO VOTE TO APPROVE ITEM 9B, WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION 2020 5-07 TO PROCURE EASEMENTS FOR THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE OLD CITY SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I'VE MET WITH THE CITY, JESSICA, DAVID, AND OTHERS NUMEROUS TIMES.
THEY ARE FANTASTIC PUBLIC SERVANTS.
I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE HOLDING THIS PROJECT BACK SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE PAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS TO SEE IF WE COULD ARRIVE AT SOME DISCUSSION, UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS, ETC.
ON JANUARY 21ST, I SENT COPIES OF 91 PETITIONS FROM MY NEIGHBORS.
OKAY. GREAT. NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE REGISTERED TO SPEAK.
SENT WHAT THE PETITIONS I HAD AT THAT POINT, IT WAS 91.
IT'S NOW 110 BECAUSE WE'VE INCLUDED LINCOLNVILLE.
REGISTERED MAIL SIGNATURE REQUIRED TO THE THREE PROPERTY OWNERS IN QUESTION.
THE OTHER TWO DID NOT REFUSE DELIVERY.
I THOUGHT I MIGHT, IF I HAVE TIME, READ THE PETITION.
MISS KLUGER, MISS NAZ LAM, MR. STALEY.
WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS IN OLD CITY SOUTH AND LINCOLNVILLE, AND LIVE IN THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ WATERSHED.
IN THE PAST DECADE, OUR PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES MATTHEW, IRMA, NICOLE, AND IAN, CAUSING SPIRIT BREAKING LOSSES BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY.
THESE SALTWATER STORM SURGES AND THE MORE USUAL BUT INCREASINGLY FORMIDABLE KING TIDES HAVE DEVASTATED LANDSCAPING, FLOORING, FURNISHINGS, POOLS, HVAC SYSTEMS, VEHICLES, AND OVERALL PROPERTY VALUES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.
WE ARE APPEALING TO YOU TO HELP STEM THAT TIDE, A, BY WORKING WITH THE CITY TO IMPLEMENT A GRANT FUNDED SOLUTION THAT WOULD PROTECT OUR PROPERTIES AND SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE VALUE OF YOURS.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ON THE TABLE FOR SIX YEARS, AND WE'VE BEEN CLOSELY MONITORING ITS PROGRESS OR LACK THEREOF, MEETING FREQUENTLY WITH THE CITY AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE AND GENEROUS IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU AS YOUR AGREEMENT IS THE LAST HURDLE TO THE BEST VERSION OF THIS VISION BEING REALIZED.
AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, THE CITY IS OFFERING TO PAY YOU A FAIR PRICE BASED ON AN EXHAUSTIVE PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL FOR EASEMENTS TO BUILD A HIP HIGH SEA WALL TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, EXPLICITLY ADDRESSING YOUR DESIGN CONCERNS, FOR EXAMPLE, PEAKED,
[00:25:01]
ECO SENSITIVE, FENCED OFF FOR PRIVACY, AND MAINTAIN THAT SEA WALL INTO PERPETUITY.IMPORTANTLY, THAT SEA WALL WILL PROVIDE YOU AN EXTRA 15 FEET OF BUILDABLE WATERFRONT LAND, AND THE PROPERTY REMAINS ENTIRELY YOURS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS EILEEN REEVE, FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH MYERS.
>> HI GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS EILEEN REEVE.
I'M ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE OLD CITY SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE APPROVE THIS PROCUREMENT FOR THE EASEMENTS OF THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ FLOOD MITIGATION AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY HERE, AND I DON'T WANT ANY MORE OF MY NEIGHBORS TO MOVE AWAY BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. DEBORAH MYERS, FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH FINNEGAN.
>> THIS IS RIGHT? OH, YEAH, IT IS.
I LIVE AT ONE TREMERTON PLACE, ONE TREMERTON STREET. I'M ON THE CORNER.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT HERE FOR 11 YEARS.
THERE HAD NOT BEEN A HURRICANE IN 54 YEARS.
WE MOVED HERE. WE'VE HAD FOUR.
I SPENT PRIVATE MONEY TO RAISE MY HOUSE, MY OWN MONEY AND MY NEIGHBOR AS WELL TO BUILD A SEA WALL, TO PROTECT US.
BUT THE FLOODING THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, IT'S NOW COMING UP THROUGH THE SEWER PIPE ALONG MARINE STREET SO THAT AT A KING TIDE, WE CAN'T EVEN GET OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR HOUSE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A COMMUNITY AS TIGHT KNIT IS THIS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING THIS IS TO US THAT THREE PEOPLE COULD HOLD UP US ALL GOING FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT THEY'VE SPENT YEARS APPEALING TO THE THREE HOLDOUT PROPERTY PEOPLE.
I THINK THEY'VE GIVEN THEM ALL THE ASSURANCES THAT THEY'VE WANTED AND FOR THEM TO JUST PRETEND THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU TAKE WHATEVER COURSE YOU CAN TO HELP THE MAJORITY.
THIS ISN'T EVEN A 51/49 OR 70/30.
WE'RE TALKING 99% OF OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOUR HELP IN THIS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOE FINNEGAN, AND I LIVE WITH MY FAMILY AT 34 ST. FRANCIS STREET.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE FOR ABOUT 60 YEARS AND HAVE LIVED IN THE PRESENT HOME FOR 30 PLUS YEARS.
I'M HERE ALSO AS A MEMBER OF OLD CITY SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TO URGE THE COMMISSIONERS TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ORDINANCE 2025-04.
I MIGHT ADD THAT MY FAMILY AND I OWN SEVERAL OTHER ADJACENT PIECES OF PROPERTY TO OUR RESIDENTS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE HISTORIC ST. AUGUSTINE ST. FRANCIS INN.
AND THAT BUILDING, TOO, AS WELL AS OUR HOME AND THE OTHER BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED SERIOUSLY BY HURRICANES IN THE PAST 20 OR 25 YEARS.
WE'VE EXPLORED THE POSSIBILITY OF TRYING TO RAISE THE ST. FRANCIS INN, BUT AFTER BEING BUILT IN 1791, WE DIDN'T GET VERY FAR IN THE EXPLORATION OF A WAY TO RAISE THAT STRUCTURE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. PAT SULLIVAN, FOLLOWED BY JEFF MILHORN.
>> HELLO. I'M PAT SULLIVAN, AND I LIVE AT 103 MARINE STREET.
MY WIFE AND I MELISSA, WE'RE FAIRLY NEW TO ST. AUGUSTINE, AND WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY. WE COULD HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I ACTUALLY THINK WE MAY HAVE ONE OF THE PRETTIEST STREETS HERE AS WELL.
IN OUR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEING HERE, OF COURSE, WE HAVEN'T BEEN AFFECTED AS AS MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN, BUT WE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY LARGE STORMS AND THE KING TIDE.
WHEN THE KING TIDES AND WE'RE ON THE 103 MARINE STREET UP BY THE BARRACKS, WE CAN'T GET OUT NORTH OR SOUTH.
WE CAN'T GET OUT SOUTH STREET.
[00:30:01]
OF COURSE, WE CAN'T GET BY THE BARRACKS AND THAT WAY EITHER.WE CAN'T EVEN CUT BACK THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH LAND LOCKED DURING KING TIDES AND EVEN LARGE STORMS AND HURRICANES, WELL, THAT'S JUST A WHOLE ANOTHER MATTER.
I THINK IT BOILS DOWN TO THAT IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF WE NEED TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO DO THIS AS A CITY, AS A COMMUNITY, AND CERTAINLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK HAS DONE EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD TO HELP, ESPECIALLY WITH THE THREE THEY'RE HOLDING OUT.
BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD IN A TIMELY MANNER TO GET THIS DONE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ANOTHER STORM IS GOING TO COME AND IT'S GOING TO HIT, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BE STANDING UP HERE IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE LOVE THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JEFF MILHORN, FOLLOWED BY JOHN VALDEZ.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR WHAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY FOR THIS STUNNING COMMUNITY.
MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO OR RETIRED AS A TWO STAR GENERAL, SERVING AS THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF ENGINEERS FOR THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
IN FACT, I WAS STATIONED UP IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE WE DEALT WITH THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE SAW BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF AID THAT WERE PUT INTO THOSE PROJECTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE SAME LEVEL INVESTMENT LOCALLY, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.
THE ONLY WAY YOU MAKE THOSE KNOWN IS THROUGH THE CONSISTENT OUTCRY THAT YOU'RE HEARING HERE TONIGHT FROM THE LOCAL RESIDENTS OF THE NEED.
SADLY, AS WE ARE STARTING TO SEE, CHANGES IN THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT WILL PROBABLY BE REDUCED FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FEDERAL AGENCIES TO INCLUDE THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.
WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE DEPENDING ON COST SHARING AGREEMENTS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD LIFTING OF THEIR HOMES AROUND LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.
IN FACT, THOSE 60 FAMILIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE QUEUE HAVE BEEN IN THE QUEUE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND COULD BE FURTHER POSTPONED OR DELAYED, SHOULD WE SEE A CUT IN FEDERAL FUNDING.
THE ONLY OBSTACLE WE SEEM TO HAVE IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW IN THIS PATCHWORK OF FLOOD RISK MITIGATION PLANS, AND WE SEE TO JESSICA BEACH AND THE CHIEF OF RESILIENCY OFFICE, THEY'RE DOING PHENOMENAL, BUT THEY CAN ONLY DO WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
SPEAKING, FOR A FORMER RESIDENT IN LINCOLNVILLE AT 25 LOVETT STREET.
CURRENTLY, A RESIDENT WITH MY WIFE, DEBBIE, AT 325 ST. GEORGE STREET.
WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND YOUR VOTE GOING FORWARD IN SUPPORT OF 2025-07.
YOUR EFFORTS WILL GO TREMENDOUSLY LONG WAY IN THAT PATCHWORK OF FLOOD RISK MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT WILL CONTINUE, BUT AREN'T MOVING AS FAST AS THEY COULD TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN VALDEZ, FOLLOWED BY ERIC SMITH.
>> GOOD EVENING. WHAT I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR VOTING FOR THIS, BECAUSE YOU WILL, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS A PROJECT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
I'VE BEEN OFF THAT COMMISSION FOR TWO YEARS.
I THINK MY LAST BIG STATEMENT WAS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
I WANT TO SEE IT BUILT WHILE I'M STILL ALIVE.
SO WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE YEARS, HOPEFULLY.
THIS IS A NO BRAINER. WE'VE GOT TO DO IT.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE IT AHEAD TONIGHT, AND I KNOW IT WILL, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WE CAN PROTECT BY MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT. IT ALWAYS WAS.
I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED FOR SINCE I FIRST HEARD OF IT, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT SEEING YOU GUYS AND GIRLS MOVE IT AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. ERIC SMITH, FOLLOWED BY TOM REYNOLDS.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. ERIC SMITH, MY WIFE CAROLYN SMITH IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE LIVE NOW AT 157 MARINE STREET.
I GOT TO REMEMBER. WE JUST ARE MOVING IN THIS FRIDAY.
WE'VE JUST BOUGHT THE CONDO UNIT NUMBER 207.
WE HAVE LIVED PREVIOUSLY AT 239 SOUTH MATANZAS BOULEVARD AND SOUTH DAVID SHORE.
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN THAT HOME, FLOODED TWICE.
WE FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE THREE FEET, FOUR FEET OF WATER IN YOUR LIVING ROOM, AND HAVE TO REBUILD FROM THE GROUND UP.
WE COULD AFFORD TO DO THAT, AND WE HAD A GOVERNMENT THAT HELPED US TO DO THAT.
MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS IN SOUTH AVIS SHORES COULDN'T.
THAT'S WHY IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP IN SOUTH AVIS SHORES, YOU'LL SEE A HUGE NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL VACATION OR RENTAL BY OWNERS BY OUT OF STATE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE JUST HAD
[00:35:02]
TO ABANDON THE CITY OF ST. AUGUST AND THE CITY THAT THEY LOVE.THE SAME COULD HAPPEN IN THE OLD TOWN AREA, ST. AUGUSTINE.
I KNOW YOUR COMMITMENT TO REMOVING REDUCING THE FLOOD ISSUE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION, WHATEVER IT IS, 2025 07, CERTAINLY IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP TO MOVE FORWARD.
OTHERWISE, NO OTHER STEP MAKES SENSE.
THE WEEK LINK IS THE DEFINITION OF THE DAY.
AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. TOM REYNOLDS, FOLLOWED BY PAT DEBOSE.
>> TOM REYNOLDS, 112 BARBIE COLA, ANASTASIA ISLAND, 32080.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FOLKS CAN RECOGNIZE THIS, BUT THIS IS ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.
THIS IS SOMEBODY WITH A VACATION RENTAL.
IT'S JUST ABOUT ACROSS FROM WHERE THE BANDS ENTER THE AMPHITHEATER 1221, AND THEY HAVE BUILT A GARBAGE BIN BY THE CURVE.
THEY HAVE BUILT THIS BIN. I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT 50, 60,000 PEOPLE A DAY GOT TO SEE THE GARBAGE CANS.
BUT THE PART THAT I'M BAFFLED BY IS NOBODY HAS SEEN THIS.
NO HIGH RANKING, ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DROVE BY AND SAID, THIS AIN'T RIGHT.
NO HIGH RANKING GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, SPOTTED THIS.
WHERE'S GOLDEN BOY, BARRY FOX, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT GUY? IT'S REALLY WEIRD THAT SOMEBODY WOULD DO THAT. BUT IT'S ODD.
BUT ANYWAYS, MY SON HEARD ME TELLING SOMEBODY ABOUT IT, AND HE SAID, "DAD, DO THEY HAVE A DOCE?" I SAID, 'WHAT'S A DOCE?" DEPARTMENT OF CITY EFFICIENCY.
HE WAS ON SAFI REVIEW, AND HE READ WITH THE LEGISLATOR.
THE LEGISLATORS IN TALLAHASSEE COMING UP WITH A DOZE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE AFTER HEARING A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, COMPLAINING, AND THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
5-7 MEMBERS, NOT PICKED, DRAWN FROM THE RAFFLE.
CITY RESIDENTS THAT COULD LOOK AT THINGS FROM THE OUTSIDE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE THEM TO LOOK AT IS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE WHEN OSTEEN'S IS STILL USING AN INTERCOM SYSTEM WITH APARTMENTS BEHIND IT, AND I'M TOLD THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.
BUT THE TRASH, THERE'S THIS WORD CALLED CLASS.
I THINK THAT YOU FIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO CLASS UP THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT.
>> MAYOR, JUST FOR THE AUDIENCES SAKE, THE PROPERTY THAT WAS JUST SHOWN ON THE OVERHEAD IS NOT IN CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
>> PAT DEBOSE? [OVERLAPPING] OUT OF ORDER, MR. REYNOLDS. PAT DEBOSE.
243 CHARLOTTE, 38 MARINE, 44 MARINE, 205 MARINE, 305 ST. GEORGE, 305 A ST. GEORGE, AND 85 WASHINGTON STREET.
ALL MY PROPERTIES HAVE FLOODED.
I'M ON THE VERGE OF LOSING MY INSURANCE BECAUSE I CANNOT PROCESS ANOTHER FMR CLAIM.
I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE PASS THIS ORDINANCE TO PRESERVE AND TO PROTECT OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKER CARDS.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK WHILE PUBLIC COMMENT IS OPEN? I HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD LEFT.
WILL YOU WRAP IT UP FOR US HERE?
[00:40:03]
>> BJ KALADY WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT.
WE CAN LEARN SOMETHING NEW. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON DOWN HERE. YOU SHOULD COME ALL THE TIME.
AS OF SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2025, THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S INMATE SEARCH WEBSITE, WHICH IS TO INFORM AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC IS STILL SHUT DOWN.
THIS CONTINUES TO BE A DISSERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
FROM JANUARY 2025 TO FEBRUARY 9, 2025, THERE HAVE BEEN 98 ARRESTS IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
WHENEVER A NEW ONLINE INMATE SEARCH FUNCTION IS DEVELOPED, WHENEVER THAT IS, IT NEEDS TO FIRST PROTECT THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY WITH THE INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
IT MAY NOT BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT, BUT IT'S ALL OVER THIS CITY.
THIS IS STILL BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
IT CONTINUES TO AMAZE ME THAT THE OWNER OF THE HOTEL AT 32 EVENIDA MENENDEZ, WHICH IS THE LOCATION OF THE MONSON HOTEL DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS EVENTS AT THE POOL, STILL HAS HIDDEN THE PLAQUE EXPLAINING THE EVENT BEHIND THE WALL INSTEAD OF PLACING IT ON THE OUTSIDE WALL SO EVERYONE CAN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
THERE ARE OTHER PLAQUES DISPLAYED ON THE OUTSIDE WALL.
THIS DEVELOPER CONTINUES TO GO BEFORE THE HARB TO TO USE A 2013 PUD TO BUILD A GARAGE ACROSS FROM THE TOWN PLAN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK AREA, ALSO KNOWN AS DOWNTOWN PLAZA.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THE CITY MANAGER, MR. REGAN HAS CHOSEN TO WORK FOR AND SUPPORT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THE PUBLIC BENEFIT PRESERVATION OF HISTORY IS NOT A PUD GARAGE ACROSS FROM OUR DOWNTOWN PLAN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK AREA, AND PLAZA.
WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION WHENEVER THESE PUDS ARE COMING IN HERE BECAUSE THEY START OUT WITH ONE THING AND THEY END UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
IF YOU JUST GO BY BEHIND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SEE WHAT THAT PUD HAS GIVEN US.
BUT WHEN YOU GET A PUD, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BY THE ZOONING.
BUT I REALLY AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO BRING UP THE ISSUE ABOUT THE INMATES? WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THAT AND ALSO ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE 32 EVENIDA MENENDEZ, FOR SOME REASON, DOESN'T WANT TO PUT THE PLAQUE ON THE OUTSIDE FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN THE '60S AT THE MONSON.
YOU ALL MAY KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THESE PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHO ARE THE THREE HOLD ENDED UP? DO YOU ALL KNOW, HAVE THEY EMAILED YOU AS TO WHY THEY WANT TO HOLD IT UP? I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM CA9 FOR EXPLANATION.JUST HUMOR ME BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE FASCINATING THINGS ABOUT OUR CITY.
IF WE COULD PULL ITEM 9 FOR EXPLANATION, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION IF WE DO PASS THE FULL CONSENT AGENDA, WELL, MAYBE I'LL JUST HOLD MY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT WHEN WE DO PASS IT BECAUSE I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
BUT COULD WE HAVE AN EXPLANATION OF PRESENTATION ON ITEM C9?
>> CERTAINLY. TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING ON MARCH 24TH, ORDINANCE 2020 5-03, WHICH AMENDS THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 0.08 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO CITY COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY AT FOUR LOCUS STREET.
ORDINANCE 2020 5-04 ESTABLISHES THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 4.39 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM UNDESIGNATED TO CITY OPEN LAND AT 179 STATE ROAD 16.
WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS, THE MARCH 10TH, 5:00 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THE MARCH 24TH, 5:00 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THE APRIL 14TH, 5:00 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
ON APRIL 28TH, WE HAVE A 3:30 P.M. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING.
AND ON APRIL 28TH, WE ALSO HAVE A 5:00 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE A PROPOSED PROCLAMATION, WHICH IS PROCLAMATION 2020 5-09, WHICH PROCLAIMS 2025 AS
[00:45:01]
THE NEW MOUNT MARIAH CHRISTIAN MINISTRY'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER CYNTHIA GARRIS.WE HAVE NOTIFICATION OF PROCLAMATION 2020 5-08, WHICH PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF MARCH AS IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, SPONSORED BY MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR EXPENDITURES FROM THE STATE CONFISCATION FUND FOR PURCHASE OF A RECRUITMENT WEBSITE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CA9 HAS BEEN PULLED, BUT IT IS THE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR INSTALLATION OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERPRETIVE PANEL IN THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY.. ONE OF OUR CITY ARCHAEOLOGIST IS HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT.
FINALLY, WE HAVE THE NOMINATION OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH FOR THE 2025 ADELAIDE SANCHEZ AWARD FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION, AND ALSO THE NOMINATION OF CINDY STEVENSON FOR THE 2025 ADELAIDE SANCHEZ AWARD FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION.
THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING.
>> I'LL ASK TO HOLD A MOTION UNTIL WE FINISH WITH THE PRESENTATION ON THEM.
>> I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE KATHERINE SIMMS. SHE'S ONE OF OUR CITY ARCHAEOLOGISTS.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS KATHERINE SIMMS. I AM THE RESEARCH AND COLLECTIONS ARCHAEOLOGIST FOR THE CITY ARCHAEOLOGY PROGRAM, BUT I'M ALSO HERE ON THE DUAL ROLE OF CURRENTLY SERVING AS PRESIDENT FOR THE ST. AUGUSTINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.
SAA IS PURSUING A LICENSE AGREEMENT TO PUT IN A HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MARKER IN THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY ACROSS FROM THE ALLIGATOR FARM.
FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT, THE MARKER IS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE YOUNG AVENUE SITE, WHICH IS A 4,000-YEAR-OLD CONTINUOUSLY OCCUPIED SITE THAT REPRESENTS EVERY MAJOR OCCUPATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AS WELL AS SPANISH ACTIVITIES FROM THE 1600S AND 1700S RELATED TO CORIN COCINA FROM ANASTASIA ISLAND AND FARING IT TO THE COLONY.
FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE ARCHAEOLOGY PROGRAM HAS DONE NUMEROUS INVESTIGATIONS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS SITE, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY, THE ALLIGATOR FARM, WE ALSO FOUND EVIDENCE OF THIS MASSIVE SITE.
FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXTS, THE ST. AUGUSTINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION IS AN ADVOCACY AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL HISTORY WITHIN THE CITY AND WITHIN THE REGION, AND THERE'S BEEN A LONG TRACK RECORD OF THEM RAISING FUNDS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HISTORICAL MARKERS THAT PROMOTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS THAT MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE KNOWN TO OUR VISITORS.
THE HISTORICAL MARKER COMMITTEE WHICH IS BEING LED BY MR. BOB MARES, WHO'S NOT HERE TONIGHT, HAS SPEARHEADED THIS PROJECT TO SELECT THE YOUNG AVENUE SITE FOR FURTHER INTERPRETATION FOR THE PUBLIC, RAISING THE FUNDING AND BEING IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY STAFF TO GET THIS PROJECT UNDERWAY.
THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED THAT SAA GET A LICENSE AGREEMENT TO INSTALL THE MARKER.
IT'S A POST MARKER TO INSTALL IT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY ACROSS FROM THE ALLIGATOR FARM, AND CITY STAFF WILL BE INSTALLING THE MARKER.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL JUST MAKE THIS CALL FOR THIS COMMENT.
THANK YOU TO THE SAA FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THESE MARKERS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR MANY YEARS.
IT IS GOOD TO SEE GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZING OUR AUTHENTIC HISTORY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WITH THAT, I MOVE THAT WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> VERY GOOD. I JUST WANT TO BRING UP ONE NOTE.
I THINK I'M GOING TO DO IT HERE.
WE JUST APPROVED THE SISTERS OF ST.
JOSEPH ADELAIDE SANCHEZ AWARD AS WELL AS THE CINDY STEVENSON ANALYZED SANCHEZ AWARD.
I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH WILL BE SCHEDULED ON THE APRIL 28TH MEETING AT 4:30, SO THAT WOULD BEFORE THE MEETING.
I DON'T SEE ANY CONFLICTS WITH THIS, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE I NEEDED TO LET YOU KNOW.
THERE ON MAY 12TH IS WHEN WE INTEND TO GIVE CINDY STEVENSON HER AWARD.
WE WOULD LIKE TO DO HER AT 4:30 BEFORE THE COMMISSION MEETING, BUT THERE'S ALSO A SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING ON THAT DAY.
IF EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT, WE'D LIKE TO TRY AND MOVE THAT TO A THREE O'CLOCK.
>> ADAM MAYOR. THE SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING IS MAY 12TH,
[00:50:03]
ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR 3:30.IT IS TO DISCUSS THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE CIP.
MOVING IT TO 3:00, I WOULD DEFER TO THE CITY MANAGER TO SEE IF THAT'S SUFFICIENT TIME TO GET THROUGH THOSE TWO ITEMS. MAYBE INSTEAD OF THREE O'CLOCK, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
>> THREE O'CLOCK SOUNDS SUFFICIENT.
>> COMMISSIONERS, IT WOULD BE IF WE COULD ALL DO THIS, IT WOULD BE THREE O'CLOCK.
IT IS MONDAY, MAY 12TH, THREE O'CLOCK WOULD BE THE SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING, AND THEN THE CINDY STEVENSON AWARD WOULD BE AT THE ADELAIDE SANCHEZ AWARD WOULD BE AT 4:30, AND THEN COMMISSION MEETING AT 5:00.
IS THAT AGREEABLE TO EVERYONE? IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A MOTION, AND JUST NODDING OF HEADS AND SOME NOTIFICATION.
>> WHEN HE WAS READING THE CONSENT AGENDA, IT OCCURRED TO ME, WE NOW HAVE THREE CRAS, AND WE'RE STILL MEETING AT 3:30, AND YOU INTEND TO HAVE THAT AT 4:30.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU ALL PLANNED ON JUST AN HOUR OF A CRA MEETING WHEN WE HAVE THREE CRAS NOW.
SHE WANTED TO HAVE IT AT 3:30 AND HAVE THE PRESENTATION AT 4:30, THAT ONLY GIVES THAT GROUP AN HOUR.
>> I CAN SPEAK WITH MS. PERKINS ABOUT THIS AND WE CAN BRING IT BACK TO YOU BECAUSE I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE PLANNED FOR THAT MEETING.
>> WE'LL BRING IT BACK THEN. THANK YOU.
THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP AT IT.
MOVING ALONG, THAT TAKES CARE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE NEXT ITEM, WE'RE GOING INTO ORDINANCES WITH PUBLIC HEARING.
[8.A.I. Ordinance 2025-01: Requires a super majority vote on the City Commission or PUD rezonings or amendments. (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]
WE HAVE ORDINANCE 2025-01. MS. LOPEZ.>> YES, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ON JANUARY 13TH, THE CITY COMMISSION VOTED TO MOVE ORDINANCE 2025-01 TO SECOND READING AND IN THE INTERIM, HAVE THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THIS ORDINANCE.
THEY DID SO ON FEBRUARY 4TH, AND THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND FAVORABLY THE PROPOSED SUPERMAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION FOR PUDS.
SOME OF THE REASONS FOR THEIR DISAPPROVAL WERE THAT THE SUPERMAJORITY WOULD SKEW A MINORITY VIEWPOINT AND PLACE UNDUE PRESSURE ON THE SWING VOTE.
THE CITY COMMISSION IS A SMALL BODY IN COMPARISON TO A MORE NUMEROUS BODY WHERE SUPERMAJORITY MAY MAKE MORE SENSE FOR CONSENSUS BUILDING.
THE PROCEDURES SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR PUD REZONING AS OTHER REZONING VOTES.
PUDS CAN BE USED AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE.
NOT VIEWED NEGATIVELY FOR THE RIGHT PROJECTS.
THE PCB IS THE BODY THAT CAN BEST SORT THROUGH THE DETAILS AND IMPACTS OF THE PUD DURING THE COMPREHENSIVE HEARING PROCESS TO PROVIDE THE CITY COMMISSION WITH THE BEST PUD.
THE PCB QUESTIONED WHETHER A SUPERMAJORITY WOULD HAVE MADE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF PUDS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU ORDINANCE 2025-01 PROVIDING FOR A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION FOR PUD REZONING AND REZONING AMENDMENTS TO PUD TO EXISTING PUDS FOR PUBLIC HEARING, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARING? PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.
ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THE MATTER.
>> JOHN VALDEZ, ONCE AGAIN, PUDS.
WELL, SPENDING 12 YEARS ON PLANNING AND ZONING AND FOUR YEARS SITTING UP THERE, I'VE HAD A BIT OF EXPERIENCE WITH PUDS, AND I'VE ALWAYS LIKED THEM TO HAVING A SHARP KNIFE IN A KITCHEN.
GREAT TO HAVE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL WITH ME AND CUT YOURSELF.
I THINK WE SET A PRETTY HIGH BAR FOR PUDS NOW.
WE HAVE A PCB THAT DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB THAT ARE APPOINTED TO THE POSITION BECAUSE THERE ARE QUALIFICATIONS THAT DO JUST WHAT THEY DO AND HAVING SERVED WITH THAT BOARD FOR 12 YEARS, PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
I WOULD HATE TO SEE PUSHING THE BAR HIGHER ON PUD SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'RE REACTING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT PUDS ARE.
BUT I HEAR PEOPLE PAINT THEM AS BEING THE BOOGIE MAN THAT CAUSES ALL OUR PROBLEMS. WELL, OUR PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY GROWTH MAINLY AND FLOODING AND THINGS THAT WE CAN AND CANNOT CONTROL.
PUDS ARE AN EXCELLENT TOOL FOR TAILORING OBSOLETE ZONING, WHICH WHOLE ZONING IS OBSOLETE,
[00:55:02]
BUT ZONING TYPICALLY DEALS WITH THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND YOU REACT TO IT.PUD GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE AND DEAL WITH WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, EVERY DAY, WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US IS DIFFERENT.
I WOULD HATE TO SEE MORE CONTROLS PUT ON OUR PUD PROCESS.
GOT TO APPOINT GOOD QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO PCB AND LISTEN TO THEIR ADVICE IS GOOD TYPICALLY.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK. HEARING NO ONE.
WE ARE BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR DEBATE.
I LEARNED SOMETHING VERY ALARMING THAT MAKES ME SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE EVEN MORE SO THAN I DO ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
I DO PARTAKE IN THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES LOBBYISTS CALL IN ON A REGULAR BASIS TO KEEP US UPDATED ON WHAT THE STATE IS DOING AND WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON AND WHAT BILLS THEY'RE BRINGING US.
AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST, WE HAVE SEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POWER BEING TAKEN UP INTO THE STATE.
WHAT I LEARNED IS THAT THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP FOR THIS SESSION COMING UP WILL BE ENTERTAINING AN EXPANSION OF THE ZONING CATEGORIES FOR THE LIVE LOCAL ACT INTO A PUD.
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LIVE LOCAL ACT CERTAINLY HAS AN IMPACT ON, COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON US.
IT HAS AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT ON ALL LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
I'VE ASKED MS. ISABELLE IF SHE COULD JUST GIVE A QUICK THUMBNAIL ON WHAT LOCAL ACT DOES.
THEN YOU CAN JUST CONNECT THE DOTS AS TO WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO US IF PUDS WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT LAND USE.
>> YES. IN A NUTSHELL, THE LIVE LOCAL ACT WAS ENACTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR STATE.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY A MEANS OF OBTAINING CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR PROJECTS AND THE CARROT, SO TO SPEAK, FOR THAT, IF A PROJECT HAS THE SUFFICIENT PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE UNITS, IS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY GOING THROUGH ANY PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS.
THEY'RE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED AND THEY DO GET BENEFIT OF THE HIGHEST DENSITIES AND HEIGHTS OF BUILDINGS, AND SO ON.
THE CONCEPT IS, IF SOMEONE RIGHT NOW, IT'S COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONED PROPERTIES WANTS TO DO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESIDENTIAL PROJECT, THEY CAN DO SO WITHOUT HAVING TO FACE ALL OF THE OTHER TYPICAL HURDLES, WE WOULD PUT THEM THROUGH REZONING, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS, AND SO ON AND STILL GET THE BENEFIT OF THE HIGHEST INTENSITY OF ALLOWABLE HEIGHTS AND IN DENSITIES THAT WE ALLOW IN OUR CODE.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THIS NEW CONCEPT IS THAT MAY BE ENACTED INTO LAW.
I GUESS THAT'S WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED IN TALLAHASSEE.
BUT PRESUMABLY RIGHT NOW, THE ZONING THAT SOMEONE COULD ESSENTIALLY, AND I'LL USE THE TERM PARACHUTE THEMSELVES IN IS COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES AND TO SOME DEGREE, MIXED USE IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTAL UNITS.
BUT IT DOESN'T EXPLICITLY SAY PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ZONED PROPERTY.
FOR OUR PURPOSES, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES AREN'T NECESSARILY, I THINK SOMETHING THAT WOULD RAISE A BIG ALARM FOR US TO HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT IN THAT ZONING, BUT IF IT WERE TO NOW INCLUDE ANYTHING THAT IS ZONED PUD, THAT WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE TO LIVE LOCAL.
I GUESS WE WILL BE FOLLOWING IF A BILL IS ACTUALLY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] FOLLOWING THAT VERY CLOSELY.
>> CORRECT. AS SOON AS A BILL IS FILED, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WITH THAT SAID, I FEEL LIKE, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE PUDS ARE CONTRACTUAL IN NATURE.
IT'S A NEGOTIATED PLANNING AND ZONING PARTICIPATES, THE NEGOTIATED CONTRACT.
PLANNING AND ZONING BEGINS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE CONTINUE THE NEGOTIATIONS.
I DO NOT THINK THAT WE SET A VERY HIGH BAR ON OUR PUDS, NOT CERTAINLY COMPARED TO WHAT THE COUNTY DOES ON MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.
THAT IS NOT WE AREN'T DOING A GOOD JOB,
[01:00:01]
IS JUST WE ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE COUNTY.MOST OF THE PUDS YOU SEE IN THE COUNTY ARE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS.
IN THE CITY, IT'S JUST SO UNIQUE.
WE FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DO MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.
I DON'T THINK WE DO HAVE A VERY HIGH BAR.
IN FACT, WE HAVE A VERY COMPLEX BAR WITH PUDS JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MINIMUM STANDARDS.
WITH THAT SAID, I LIKE TO ADD THAT, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO GROWTH, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO PUDS.
IN MY FORMER LIFE AS A LAND PLANNING CONSULTANT, I WORKED EXCLUSIVELY ON PUDS, MANY PUDS THAT I WORK ON, AND I THINK THEY'RE GREAT TOOLS, AND I AGREE WITH THE SPEAKER THAT THEY ARE LIKE A SHARP KNIFE.
YOU CAN'T HURT YOURSELF ON THEM.
MAYBE WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT HAPPEN HERE.
BUT WITH THE EVENT OF WHEN GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT DISMANTLED THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE.
IT WAS LEFT THAT WORK IS LEFT UP TO US AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO MANAGE OURSELVES.
THAT IS REALLY THE REASON IN THE SPIRIT IN WHICH I OFFERED THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE OUT.
WE'VE GOT THE BIGGEST DEVELOPER IN ST. AUGUSTINE HAS BEEN LOBBYING.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY PRO GROWTH, AND LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT ANTI-GROWTH, I'M FOR GOOD, MANAGED GROWTH, AND I'M FOR GIVING US ALL THE BEST TOOLS THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE TO WORK WITH THESE ZONING CHANGES THAT COME BEFORE US.
WITH THAT SAID, AND I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR WANT TO GO AROUND THE TABLE.
>> WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.
>> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID, EXCEPT THAT WE'RE ONLY FIVE MEMBERS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE MATH FOR ME HASN'T BEEN ADDED UP, AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH WITH OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DONE THE SAME TYPE OF THING.
BUT ALL OF THEIR COMMISSIONS ARE LARGER AND THE ONES THAT WERE SMALLER DIDN'T SEEM TO PASS.
I'VE TRIED TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.
I STILL THINK WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE, NOT CONSIDERING THIS COMMISSION AT ALL, OR SOMEWHERE IN THE FUTURE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOLD A DEVELOPER ON THE GUILLOTINE WITH THEIR OWN PERSONAL PREFERENCES.
THAT IS TRUE NOW BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TO GET THREE POSITIVE VOTES, BUT THE ODDS ARE A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
RIGHT AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF PASSING THIS ORDINANCE.
>> CAN YOU SKIP ME AND COME BACK TO ME?
>> WELL, IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE.
I'VE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THIS IN THE BEGINNING.
I JUST LOOK, I DON'T REALLY SEE I DON'T HAVE AN IDEOLOGICAL APPROACH TO PUDS.
THEY'RE JUST SOMETHING THAT'S THERE.
I'VE SUPPORTED THEM AND I'VE LOBBIED AGAINST THEM AS A RESIDENT, AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.
CERTAINLY AS ON THE PLANNING BOARD.
WHAT I DON'T SEE HERE FOR MYSELF IS WHAT I SAID AT THE FIRST HEARING.
I DON'T SEE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE BASED DETERMINATION FOR A NEED OR A JUSTIFICATION.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN MY PACKET.
IN FACT, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY SINGLE PHOTO IN THIS TOWN THAT'S CONNECTED WITH ME THROUGH THE PUBLIC RECORD TO SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK THAT THE OTHER THING THAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THIS IS THAT AS I TALKED ABOUT IN THE FIRST HEARING, I THINK YOU NEED TO THINK THROUGH WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU DO THIS.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO STEER DEVELOPMENTS MORE TOWARD, LIKE I SAID, THE FIRST HEARING, MORE TOWARD NON NEGOTIABLE AVENUES.
I DON'T THINK BY PASSING THIS, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE PHYSICAL REALITY IN TOWN.
SIX YEARS ON THE PLANNING BOARD WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ANOMALIES IN THIS TOWN, AS MR. VALDEZ SAID, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT DON'T QUITE FIT.
IT'S NOT REALLY AN EUCLIDEAN TOWN, IF I CAN USE THAT WORD.
IT'S A VERY VALUABLE TOOL. I DON'T HAVE THAT.
NOW, I WOULD SAY ALSO THAT THE SUPERMAJORITY WOULD PROBABLY BE IN CONFLICT WITH OUR OWN GOALS FOR THE PUD, WHICH ALLOWS FOR CREATIVE USES OF LAND AND STUFF.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS THOUGH.
BECAUSE THE PLANNING BOARD AND NOW SINCE THE FIRST HEARING, THE PLANNING BOARD'S COME OUT UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST IT.
[01:05:01]
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THEY PUT SOME TIME INTO THIS.I'D LIKE TO JUST GO THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SAID, SO SEE WHAT I AGREE DON'T AGREE WITH.
THE SUPER MINORITY WOULD SKEW A MINORITY VIEWPOINT AND PLACE UNDUE PRESSURE ON THE SWING VOTE. I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
I AGREE WITH MR. COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.
THE ONLY LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT I SAW THAT USED THE SUPERMAJORITY WAS THE ONE IN JACKSONVILLE.
THEY DID THE SAME THING. WE'RE DOING CIVIL MAJORITY PLUS ONE.
THEY HAVE 19 COUNCIL MEMBER. THEIRS IS 11.
THEY NEED 11 TO GET TO A SUPERMAJORITY.
IF YOU TAKE 11, YOU DIVIDE IT BY MULTIPLY IT BY 5.28 OR WHATEVER.
WHEN JACKSONVILLE CITY COMMISSION COUNCIL GETS A SUPERMAJORITY, THEY'RE GETTING ONLY 58%, AND WE'RE ALREADY GETTING 60% HERE.
I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH FOUR IS THAT 20% LEAP IS A VERY LARGE LEAP AND IT GIVES UNDUE POWER TO THE FOURTH PERSON OR UNDUE PRESSURE ON THE FOURTH PERSON.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT ON THAT OR ANYTHING IN THE CITY.
IT'S NOT JUST THE PUD. I DON'T LIKE THAT IDEA OF THAT.
CITY COMMISSION, A SMALL BODY COMPARISON THE SUPERMAJORITY.
WELL WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT CAN BE USED AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE, NOT FOOD NEGATIVELY FOR THE RIGHT PROJECTS.
I THINK SOMETIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE.
I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON A PLAN FOR SIX YEARS, I'VE GOT A LOT OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY NOT ONLY ABOUT PUDS, BUT ABOUT REZONING AND VARIANCES AND STUFF.
I THINK SOMETIMES IT IS VIEWED IDEOLOGICALLY MORE, AND SO THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST IT, AND THEN THERE'S CLEARLY DEVELOPERS THAT WANT TO USE IT.
THE PUD LANGUAGE, IF YOU READ THE SECTION, WHICH IS IN FRONT OF US, IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MODERATING TOOL BETWEEN THOSE TWO FORCES.
I CAN SAY FROM MYSELF FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WHEN I WAS A RESIDENT, I ADVOCATED FOR PUD, AND I ADVOCATED AGAINST ONE.
THE ONE I ADVOCATED FOR WAS AT THE LIGHTHOUSE, BUT IT WENT THROUGH A REZONING PROCESS, WHICH WAS DIFFICULT.
BUT WE GOT THERE, BUT THERE'S AN ASTERISK ON THE LAND USE MAP.
I ADVOCATED AGAINST THE RENAISSANCE HOTEL.
AS A PRESIDENT AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I DID IT, AND AS A PLANNING BOARD MEMBER, I'VE SEEN IT.
I THINK THAT THEY'RE RIGHT ON THAT.
PUDS CAN USE EFFECTIVE TOOL, THE PUD BODY THE BEST SORT THROUGH THE DETAILS AND THE IMPACT DURING THE COMPREHENSIVE HEARING PROCESS WITH THE BEST PUD.
I'LL TELL YOU I GET A DIRECT MESSAGE FOR THE PLANNING BOARD AND THAT IS GET ME A VERY CLEAN AND FOCUSED PUD.
WHEN IT COMES HERE, MOST OF THE STUFF IS WORKED OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT TO DO ON THIS BOARD AND THEY'RE THE SPECIALISTS AT IT.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THERE ARE A LOT OF TIME THAT GOES IN ON THE PLANNING BOARD TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
I THINK THE PLANNING BOARD TAKES A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY IN TRYING TO GET SOMETHING TO US. IT'S GOING TO DO THAT.
AND AND THEN THIS SIMPLE QUESTION, WOULD IT HAVE MADE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF PUDS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS? I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY TELL ME THAT THAT IT WOULD. I CAN'T SUPPORT IT.
I THINK IT'S WELL INTENTIONED. DON'T GET ME WRONG.
I JUST CAN'T, I DON'T HAVE WHAT I NEED TO SUPPORT IT.
>> MY TURN. AS FAR AS THE PLANNING AND ZONING GOES, THERE IS GUIDELINES.
EVERYBODY THAT GETS PUT ON THE PZB BOARD COMES THROUGH THE COMMISSION AND THEY'RE VOTED IN, SO YOU KNOW THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON THE PZB BOARD.
THEY APPARENTLY ARE COMPETENT PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE PARTS AND OTHER DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GO BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING.
SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I THINK WE ONLY HAD A COUPLE OF ISSUES WITH SOME PUDS, AND WE WAS ABLE TO GET THOSE FIXED.
WE ASKED FOR CERTAIN THINGS AND THOSE THINGS WERE ADDRESSED.
I THINK EVERYTHING AFTER THAT POINT WENT SMOOTHLY.
I DON'T SEE A NEED FOR THE MAJORITY VOTE.
I THINK THAT IF WE HAVE STRONG PEOPLE IN THE FIELD THAT ARE ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF MAKING A DECISION ON A PUD.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WORKING WITH OUR PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT, LOOKING OVER THE GUIDELINES AND THE RESTRICTIONS, AND WORKING TOGETHER BEFORE ANYTHING EVEN COMES TO THE COMMISSION, I DO NOT SEE WHY A MAJORITY VOTE WOULD BE NEEDED.
I THINK THREE VOTES SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT.
WE ARE ONLY A COMMISSION OF FIVE, AND WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY CHALLENGING DIFFERENT THINGS,
[01:10:03]
AND BILLY GOT THE THREE IN THE PAST, IN THE TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN ON HERE.GETTING FOUR PEOPLE TO AGREE ON SOMETHING SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES I'M THE ODD ONE OUT, BUT I JUST THINK THAT WE REALLY DON'T NEED TO FIX SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BROKEN IN MY CONCEPT. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY BEFORE I START WITH MY COMMENTS ON THIS.
GOING BACK TO THE SAN SEBASTIAN HARBOR PUD, I'M CHECKING MY MEMORY HERE.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY COMMISSION VOTED IT DOWN AND THEN WE WENT INTO A LAWSUIT AND LOST THAT LAWSUIT.
DID THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT?
>> MY RECOLLECTION, AND WE COULD CHECK TO SEE IF MY RECOLLECTION IS CORRECT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE AMENDMENT TO THE PUD WAS SUPPORTED BY THE PZB, VOTED DOWN BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND THEN APPEALED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT WAS MY MEMORY. IT'S MY TURN.
WHAT I WANTED TO SAY FIRST IS THAT I REALLY VALUE THE PZB AND THE HARD WORK THEY DO.
THEY SPEND HOURS AND HOURS IN THERE NEGOTIATING, GETTING THINGS RIGHT.
I THINK THIS PZB AND ITS CURRENT ITERATION, GOING ON FIVE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN SERVING, IT'S GOTTEN BETTER.
WE'VE ASKED TO RAISE THE BAR AND THEY'VE RESPONDED ACCORDINGLY, AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED WITH THAT.
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY NEXT IS NO REFLECTION ON THE PZB AND THE DECISIONS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION AND BEEN INVOLVED WITH.
I APPRECIATE THEIR WORK, AGAIN.
I SEE THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN 90% OF THE CITY'S BUILDABLE LAND BUILT OUT.
WE'VE CONSERVED SOME OF THAT, WHICH IS GREAT.
WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT FOR THIS LAST LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE TO GET THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT EVERY TIME WE LOOK AT A PUD, AND WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS DONE THAT.
THE TWO BOARDS, THE PZB BOARD MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
IN THE PAST, I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME AGENDAS ON THE COMMISSION THAT HAVE GUIDED SOME OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS.
ULTIMATELY, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE, AND IN THE PAST, THOSE THAT PRECEDED US, WERE ELECTED.
WE HAVE TO DEFEND THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.
THAT IS INCUMBENT ON US TO DO THAT.
IT IS THE ONLY RIGHT THING TO DO AND TO GET THE BEST THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.
THE PZB DOES THEIR BEST JOB, AND THEN WE GO INTO A NEGOTIATION WITH THE DEVELOPER AND SAY, THAT'S A GREAT JOB, OR WE WANT MORE.
THAT'S WHAT IS SO COMPELLING TO ME ABOUT THE SUPERMAJORITY.
WE HAVE TO HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MULTIPLE BOARDS.
MOST OF THOSE BOARDS ARE APPOINTED AND THEN THIS BOARD IS ELECTED.
I SEE THIS AS A VALUABLE TOOL, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE PREEMPTIONS THAT WE'VE ALREADY FACED COMING FROM THE STATE, AND MORE COMING DOWN, THAT'S ASSURED.
THIS IS MAYBE A LAST CHANCE TO REALLY GET THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT. THANK YOU.
>> I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2025-01.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-01, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 28-2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING DEFINITIONS FOR SIMPLE MAJORITY AND SUPERMAJORITY, AMENDING SECTION 28-289 OF THE CODE, PROVIDING FOR SIMPLE MAJORITY AND SUPER MAJORITY VOTING TO ESTABLISH OR AMEND A PUD, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> FINAL WORD IS I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR THAT WE NEED TO GIVE OURSELVES THE VERY BEST TOOLS THAT WE CAN BE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.
IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
I CAN READ THE ROOM, BUT I'M WILLING TO PROCEED FORWARD BECAUSE I DO STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED THE BEST TOOLS WE CAN BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE WAY THAT THE STATE'S POSTURE IS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, DEBATE? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> YES, MA'AM. NANCY SIKES-KLINE?
[01:15:02]
>> THERE YOU GO. THANKS VERY MUCH.
I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS ABOUT PLANNING AND ZONING.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
THEY DO A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING FOR US.
I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO THEM AND SAY, THANK YOU.
LET'S MOVE ON. WE'RE GOING TO FIRST READINGS.
[9.A.I. Ordinance 2025-03: Amends the Future Land Use Designation Of approximately 0.08 acres of property from City of St. Augustine Residential Low Density to City Commercial Low Intensity at 4 Locust Street. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
WE HAVE ORDINANCE 2025-03. MISS SKINNER.>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS AN INTRODUCTION IN THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-03.
THIS ORDINANCE IS A LAND USE PLAN MAP AMENDMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.08 ACRES FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY.
DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS OF THE CHANGE OF USE FOR THE PROPOSED RETAIL SPACE DOWNSTAIRS IN THE EXISTING BUILDING ON THIS SITE, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT, WHICH IS CL2, COMMERCIAL LOW 2, WAS INCONSISTENT WITH THE DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE OF RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY.
UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE COMMERCIAL ZONING, AGAIN, CL2 FOR THE PROPERTY HAS LIKELY BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1988, AND THAT THE RESIDENTIAL LAND USE WAS CHANGED AND ASSIGNED IN ERROR DURING THE 2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE PROCESS.
THE CORRECT CORRESPONDING LAND USE FOR THE PROPERTY SHOULD BE COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LAND USE FOR THE SAN MARCO COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS APPLICATION ON FEBRUARY 4TH AND MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE FUTURE LAND USE OF THIS PROPERTY FROM THE CITY DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY, BACK TO THE ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY LAND USE.
THANK YOU. I AM AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I HAVE SOME MAPS TO SHOW WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY LOCATED.
[NOISE] THIS PROPERTY IS OFF OF SAN MARCO AVENUE ON LOCUST STREET.
THE CORNER SHOP IS SPINSTER ABBOTT'S.
THE EXISTING BUILDING OVERLAPS THE LOT LINE.
THE CITY ZONING MAP CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THIS IS COMMERCIALLY ZONED.
FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL, IT WAS COMMERCIALLY ZONED IN 1988 AND HAS BEEN COMMERCIALLY ZONED CONSISTENTLY OVER THE YEARS.
AS I NOTED, UNFORTUNATELY, I BELIEVE DURING THE 2020 UPDATE TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, DATA WAS UPLOADED INTO THE SYSTEM THAT SHOWED THAT IT WAS A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, AND SO THE LAND USE WAS CHANGED TO RESIDENTIAL.
BUT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AGREED, AND I AGREE THAT IT IS COMMERCIAL.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? NO QUESTIONS?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A QUESTION TIME OR TALK TIME.
>> SHE ASKED IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO THE STAFF. NO ONE HAS QUESTIONS OF STAFF.
HOW DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED THEN? WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO. I WATCHED THIS ON THE VIDEO, BOTH THE FIRST AND THE SECOND HEARING FOR THIS.
I THINK THAT OUR HEAD OF OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS ACCURATELY DESCRIBING WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.
THEY CAME IN FOR A PARKING VARIANCE?
>> BECAUSE THE BUILDING WAS TOO, AND THEN IN THAT PROCESS, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT IT THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION DIDN'T CORRESPOND WITH THE ZONING.
>> THEY SAID THEY WOULD WORK WITH THEM, WHICH THEY DID.
I HAVE TO SAY FULL DISCLOSURE, I DID GET A PHONE CALL FROM THE OWNER.
HE'S A FRIEND OF A FRIEND OF MINE.
HE WAS A LITTLE UPSET BY THAT, AND I DID TELL HIM TO WORK WITH THE CITY.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO WORK WITH HIM, AND YOU HAVE, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ALSO, REGARDLESS OR NOT, I GUESS THE NEXT QUESTION IS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MAYBE A CLERICAL ERROR, IS THAT THE RIGHT FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION? I THINK IT IS, AND I THINK YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED THAT.
[01:20:04]
ARE THEY JUST GOING TO USE THIS LAND FOR PARKING? WHAT IS THIS LAND FOR?
>> THERE'S AN EXISTING RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY.
IT HAS BEEN USED FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS.
THE PROPOSED USE NOW IS TO HAVE A SHORT TERM RENTAL UPSTAIRS AND A RETAIL SPACE DOWNSTAIRS.
THE CHANGE OF USE FROM A RESIDENTIAL TYPE USE TO THE RETAIL DOWNSTAIRS IS WHAT TRIGGERED THIS REVIEW.
THEY WENT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD FOR A PARKING VARIANCE, AND FOR PARKING OFFSITE, WHICH THE PLANNING BOARD WORKED THROUGH AND APPROVED OFFSITE PARKING FOR TWO PARKING SPACES FOR THE RETAIL SPACE DOWNSTAIRS.
>> ANYONE WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION OF IT UNLESS ANYBODY WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING.
CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-03 THAT WOULD AMEND? BY TITLE ONLY? IS THAT HOW I DO THIS?
>> READ BY TITLE ONLY AND SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> READ BY TITLE ONLY. THANK YOU.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-03, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, FLUM DESIGNATION, [NOISE] OF APPROXIMATELY 0.08 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4-LOCUST STREET, NORTH OF LOCUST STREET AND EAST OF SAN MARCO AVENUE, AS PORTIONS OF THE ABBOTT TRACT IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE AND AFTER FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY, TO A CITY DESIGNATION OF COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY, PROVIDING FOR A REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ITEM 9A2, ORDINANCE 2025-4.
[9.A.2. Ordinance 2025-04: Establishes the Zoning Designation of approximately 4.39 acres of property from undesignated to City Open Land (OL) at 179 State Road 16. (A. Skinner, Director Planning and Building)]
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
THIS IS AN INTRODUCTION IN THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-04.
THIS ORDINANCE IS A REZONING FOR APPROXIMATELY 4.39 ACRES FROM UNDESIGNATED TO OPEN LAND, OL.
THIS IS JUST A REZONING BECAUSE THE PROPERTY WAS ASSIGNED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION OF OPEN LAND DURING THE 2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE, BUT WAS NOT SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED A COMPATIBLE ZONING DISTRICT.
THE OPEN LAND ZONING DISTRICT IS THE COMPATIBLE ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE OPEN LAND, LAND USE.
THE PZB REVIEWED THIS APPLICATION AND HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 4TH, AND POSITIVELY RECOMMENDED THIS REZONING.
>> I ALSO HAVE A MAP IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO SHOW WHERE IT IS.
>> THIS IS THE FPL SUBSTATION OUT ON STATE ROAD 16.
AT SOME POINT, IT WAS ANNEXED INTO THE CITY.
IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY DESIGNATION AT ALL.
DURING THE 2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND USE UPDATE, IT WAS DESIGNATED OPEN LAND, WHICH THE SURROUNDING MARSH AREA IS DESIGNATED.
IT DID NOT HAVE A ZONING DISTRICT ASSIGNED TO IT.
WE ARE JUST REQUESTING THAT THE COMPATIBLE OL ZONING DISTRICT BE ASSIGNED TO THAT PROPERTY.
>> WHAT ARE THE BLUE LINES FOR?
>> THOSE I THINK ARE OLD PLATTED LOTS THAT EXIST ON THE PROPERTY.
THE UPLAND AREA IS WHERE THE SUBSTATION IS, AND THEN THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT MARSH.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> THEY'RE NOT PLANNING ON BUILDING ANYTHING, THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE OPEN LAND?
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY DID COME IN.
THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPGRADING THAT SUBSTATION AND THEY ARE ALSO ARMORING THAT SUBSTATION.
THEY CAME INTO US WITH AN APPLICATION TO BUILD A BULKHEAD AROUND IT AND CONTINUE TO ARMOR SINCE IT'S AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE, AND WE REALIZED THAT IT DIDN'T HAVE A ZONING DISTRICT.
[01:25:02]
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPEN LAND?
>> YEAH, THAT'S THE LEAST INTENSIVE ZONING CATEGORY.
SO YOU DO SEE THAT INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, YOU SEE SUBDIVISION PLOTS IN THE WATER.
THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL EITHER HERE.
>> WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE MOTION ORDINANCE 2025-04.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-04, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING APPROXIMATELY 4.39 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 179 STATE ROAD 16 IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND IT'S MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE AND AFTER FROM ITS CURRENT UNDESIGNATED CLASSIFICATION TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN LAND OL, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> MADAM CLERK. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> GREAT. THOSE TWO ORDINATES GO TO PUBLIC HEARING NEXT.
WE'RE MOVING ON TO RESOLUTIONS,
[9.B.1. Resolution 2025-07: Approves the procurement of easements through negotiated conveyance or eminent domain for Lake Maria Sanchez flood mitigation and drainage improvement projects. (J. Beach, Chief Resilience Officer and Deputy Director of Utilities & Public Works)]
AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT EVERYBODY'S HERE FOR TONIGHT.I CERTAINLY WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS COMING OUT AND SPEAKING.
IT WAS NICE TO SEE YOU, AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE PUSH TO GET THIS GOING.
IT'S A VERY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT TO OUR DOWNTOWN DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. WITH THAT SAID, MISS BEACH.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
I AM HERE BEFORE YOU TO TALK ABOUT LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ FLOOD MITIGATION AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, WE HEARD QUITE A FEW PUBLIC COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.
I'M HERE WITH A NUMBER OF SLIDES.
IT'S MAINLY FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD.
DO BEAR WITH ME AS I DEMONSTRATE PUBLIC NEED, PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND ALSO SOME PROJECT BACKGROUND FOR CONTEXT.
TODAY, I ALSO WANTED TO QUICKLY RECOGNIZE WE HAVE MR. CHARLES HILL FROM MCKIE CREED.
HE'S OUR SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER AND THE DESIGNER FOR THIS PROJECT.
SO HE'S HERE IN SUPPORT OF IT AND POTENTIALLY ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE.
ALSO, I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR. MICHAEL CAVENDISH, OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
HE'LL BE TALKING TO YOU SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE EASEMENTS.
AS YOU HAD HEARD A NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER, THE CITY RECEIVED OVER 100 SIGNED PETITIONS.
IT IS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.
OUR CLERK HAS RECEIVED THAT, AND A LOT OF IT INCLUDES JUST TESTIMONIES AND DEMONSTRATION OF FLOODING AND JUST LOCAL EXPERIENCES WITH THAT.
FOR THIS PRESENTATION, I'M JUST GOING TO BE SETTING THE STAGE AGAIN FOR PUBLIC RECORD TO TALK ABOUT CURRENT CITY CHALLENGES.
A LOT OF IT REVOLVES AROUND OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS YOU HEARD EARLIER, WE HAVE A LOT OF VULNERABLE WEAK POINTS IN OUR SYSTEM THAT IS SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF TYPES OF FLOODING, AND IT INCLUDES COASTAL AND RAINFALL, WHICH ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRESSORS, AND THERE'S DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THOSE AND YOU WILL SEE THAT AS WE TALK MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE PROJECT ITSELF.
THE CITY IS VERY MUCH IN A CHALLENGING SITUATION WITH OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE A LOW LYING COASTAL COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THOSE CHALLENGES WITH THAT AS WELL.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLOODING THAT YOU HEARD EARLIER DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU HAVE MORE SUBSTANTIAL FLOODING THAT DAMAGES AS MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HAD THE HURRICANES.
IT STARTED WITH HURRICANES MATTHEW AND IRMA IN 2016 AND 2017, WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF THE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGES, AND ALSO WHAT WE DEAL WITH YEARLY ARE NUISANCE KING TIDES.
IF THAT HAPPENS DURING A NORTHEASTER, AND IF YOU ADD THAT WITH RAINFALL THAT ESSENTIALLY COMPOUNDS THE TYPES OF FLOODING.
AGAIN, WE'RE STRUGGLING TO TRY TO MANAGE THAT AS BEST AS WE CAN.
SO THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT, IT REALLY STARTED UNDER HURRICANE MATTHEW WHEN WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAP INTO FEMA'S HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM TO START THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING THE PROJECT.
WE AWARDED THE DESIGN CONTRACT BACK IN 2018 TO MCKIM & CREED TO START THAT PROCESS.
THE FULL PROJECT SCOPE FOR EVERYONE'S BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT, THE BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT IS OUTLINED IN THE YELLOW AREA.
A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING ON THE STORMWATER SIDE WILL INCLUDE A STORMWATER A PUMP STATION THAT'S LOCATED AT THE SOUTH OF LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ ALONG SOUTH STREET.
WE'RE LOOKING TO INSTALL A FLOODWALL OR BULKHEAD, THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE PROJECT, WHICH IS INTERFACING WITH THE LAND AND THE MARSH.
THAT IS WHERE THE EASEMENTS ARE NEEDED, AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.
ALSO SOME MAJOR STORMWATER UPGRADES THAT WE NEED TO DO AROUND CITY HALL IN PARTICULAR.
[01:30:05]
THAT INCLUDES GRENADA, CORDOVA, AND THOSE STREETS RIGHT ALONG BRIDGE THAT GO DOWN TO LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.AS PART OF THAT, WE'LL BE REPLACING UTILITIES, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A STREET SCAPING.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THE OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL AND UNDERGROUNDING IT SO IT'LL BE TIED UP IN THAT NORTHERN PART OF THE PROJECT.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE RETROFITTING A NUMBER OF OUR STORMWATER OUTFALLS WITH THE ONE WAY TIDE CHECK VALVES TO HELP WITH THE COASTAL FLOODING COMPONENTS.
AGAIN, JUST ARTICULATING PROJECT BACKGROUND AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT.
WE DO ESTIMATE THAT 186 STRUCTURES THAT ARE ALREADY FLOOD PRONE AND CURRENTLY AT RISK WILL BE PROTECTED.
YOU HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BENEFITING FROM THAT AND THEIR CHALLENGES WITH FLOODING AND HOW TO BEST PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY.
THIS IS DESIGNED TO MEET A 6.4 FEET STORM SURGE, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO THE 25 YEAR STORM EVENT, WITH ALSO CONSIDERING FOR SEA LEVEL RISE, THE FLOOD STRUCTURE ITSELF THAT WE'RE PROPOSING AT THE SOUTH END OF THE PROJECT, IT'S DESIGNED SEVEN FEET NAVD 88.
THAT'S NOT WHAT'S ACTUALLY ABOVE GROUND.
IT'S NOT A SEVEN FOOT HIGH WALL.
IT'S JUST A FEW FEET HIGH, ABOUT HIP HIGH, BUT IT'S ALSO DESIGNED TO GO UP TO 8.4.
SO WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD IN MORE FLOOD PROTECTION.
ALSO FROM A ROADWAY FLOODING, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RAINFALL EVENTS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY INCREASE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE.
WE WON'T BE WAITING THROUGH KNEE DEEP WATER ON GRENADA STREET AS FAR AS RAINFALL EVENTS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE BENEFIT FOR ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
AS IT HAD BEEN ARTICULATED EARLIER, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE DESIGN STAGE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I ACTUALLY STARTED ON THIS PROJECT WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE CITY IN 2017, SO IT'S GOING ON ALMOST EIGHT YEARS, AND IT IS A COMPLICATED PROJECT TO SAY THE LEAST.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE FUNDING TO HELP WITH THIS.
WE HAVE TWO SOURCES OF FUNDING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
THROUGH THE RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM, WE HAVE CLOSE TO $20 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS, WE HAVE 10 MILLION TO HELP US WITH DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
WE WILL BE TAPPING INTO THOSE MOVING FORWARD.
OVERALL, THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DELAYED.
IT'S MAINLY BEEN DUE TO EASEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE FLOODWALL AT THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE PROJECT.
IN ORDER TO TRY TO EXPEDITE THIS PROJECT, AS BEST AS WE CAN, WE HAVE PROPOSED TO OUR GRANTORS TO PHASE THE PROJECT.
NORTH AND SOUTH OF PHASE 1, WHICH IS GOING TO BE PRIMARILY AROUND CITY HALL, WHICH IS CITY RIGHT OF WAY THAT WE CAN OWN AND CONTROL, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON FULL ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WITH STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS, DOING THOSE MAJOR UPGRADES TO THE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE UTILITY REPLACEMENT.
ALSO, A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THE RAINFALL DRIVEN FLOODING.
THAT'S GOING TO BE TACKLED IN THE SHORTER DISTANCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AS FAR AS A ROUGH SCHEDULE, WE'VE WORKED WITH DEP TO FORMALLY AMEND OUR CONTRACTS TO ALLOW FOR PHASING OF THE PROJECT, AND THIS YEAR, WE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO FINISH DESIGN AND PERMANENT AND GET THAT PROJECT READY FOR BIDDING, SO WE CAN START TURNING DIRT AND GET THE SHOVELS READY IN 2026.
WE'LL HAVE A HEAVY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO CONSTRUCTION, PARTICULARLY WORKING WITH THE BUSINESSES WHEN WE GET INTO VERY CLOSER TO CONSTRUCTION ON THAT TOO, SO WE HAVE THAT IN OUR RADAR.
THIS IS A MAP SHOWING THE FLOOD PROTECTION BENEFIT FOR RAINFALL SPECIFICALLY.
AGAIN, THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NORTH IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IN THE SHORTER TERM.
THE MAP ON THE LEFT, THE WITHOUT PROJECT CONDITIONS ARE SHOWING HOW WE FLOOD TODAY DURING A TYPICAL RAINFALL EVENT.
WHEN WE CAN DO THESE MAJOR UPGRADES, WE WILL ABLE TO REDUCE THE DURATION AND DEPTH OF FLOODING ON THE ROADS TO HELP RELIEVE THAT.
THIS IS AGAIN, JUST THE RAINFALL BENEFITS FROM THE PROJECT.
NOW, TRANSITIONING TO THE SOUTH PHASE.
THIS IS WHERE THE EASEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT THE FLOODWALL, OVERALL, AS I HAD MENTIONED, IT HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO THE EASEMENTS, AND SO WE'RE BASICALLY PREPARING TO PROPOSE TO THE COMMISSION A RESOLUTION TO ENABLE THE CITY'S ABILITY TO SECURE ALL NECESSARY EASEMENTS FOR THE PROJECT.
MR. CAVENDISH WILL BE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO THAT HERE SHORTLY.
BUT JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT WE'LL BE DOING UNDER PHASE 2, THIS IS FOCUSED ON MORE SOUTH END OF THE PROJECT AREA.
THIS INCLUDES THE STORMWATER PUMP STATION, THAT WILL BE REPLACING THE EXISTING WEAR THAT'S LOCATED ON SOUTH STREET.
WE'LL BE CONSTRUCTING THE FLOOD WALL AROUND THE MARSH THAT WILL HELP WITH THE COASTAL NUISANCE FLOODING PIECE.
AGAIN, WITH THE TIDE CHECK VALVES INSTALLED IN THE STORMWATER OUTFALLS, ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS ARE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE COASTAL FLOODING PIECE OF THAT.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A RECAP OF THE STRUCTURES THAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE PROTECTED WITH THAT IN STORM SURGE.
THIS MAP IS ARTICULATING THE COASTAL FLOOD PROTECTION BENEFIT.
THE PHOTOGRAPH OR THE MAP ON THE LEFT, WITHOUT PROJECT CONDITIONS, THAT IS HOW WE CURRENTLY FLOOD TODAY.
AS WE'VE WITNESSED, FIRSTHAND,
[01:35:02]
WE'VE SEEN THE DAMAGES AND THE EFFECTS AND IT HAS ON OUR COMMUNITY.WITH THIS PROJECT, WE CAN HELP SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THOSE FLOODING DAMAGES AND THE STRESSES CAUSING OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH THE PROJECT IS THE MAP ON THE RIGHT TO SHOW ONCE YOU GET ALL THE PIECES IMPLEMENTED, THAT WILL BE THE BENEFIT FOR THAT.
THE NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE JUST REALLY VISUALS TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE PROJECT.
WE'VE PRESENTED THIS TO THE COMMISSION IN THE PAST AS PART OF GRANT APPLICATIONS.
THIS IS JUST A QUICK CONCEPTUAL PURPOSE FOR RENDERINGS FOR THE FLOOD WALL TO SHOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THIS IS FACING THE NORTH AND THIS IS ON THE MARSH SIDE, FACING TOWARDS LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.
THIS IS WHAT THE PUMP STATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NICE LANDSCAPING PACKAGE TO CONCEAL IT, HAVE IT INTEGRATE INTO THE LANDSCAPE, AND THIS WILL HELP WITH SOME OF THE DRAINAGE.
THEN FINALLY, THE FINAL RENDERING IS STREET VIEW.
IF YOU'RE STANDING ON SOUTH STREET, THIS IS WHAT THE WALL WOULD LOOK LIKE LOOKING TO THE SOUTH, WHICH IS ON THE MARSH SIDE, AND THEN TO THE NORTH, WHICH IS ON THE LEFT, THAT'S WHERE THE PUMP STATION IS GOING TO BE LOCATED.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A VERY HIGH WALL, BUT IT WILL REALLY SUBSTANTIALLY HELP WITH THAT COASTAL FLOOD COMPONENT.
FOR THE RESOLUTION THAT MR. CAVENDISH WILL BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT NEXT, WE WANTED TO DEMONSTRATE THE PUBLIC NEED AND BENEFIT FOR THIS PROJECT, AND WE DO NEED EASEMENTS IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT ALL PARTS OF THE PROJECT, AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES INVOLVED THAT ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS TRYING TO SECURE THESE VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS, BUT WE HAVE NOT TO DATE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING ACTUAL SIGNATURES.
THIS IS WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY TO HELP US IN THAT EFFORT.
WE DO EXPECT TO CONTINUE WITH VOLUNTARY BECAUSE THAT IS OUR PREFERRED METHOD.
WITH THAT THE RESOLUTION WILL BE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THE TAKING BY EMINENT DOMAIN OR NEGOTIATED VOLUNTARY CONVEYANCE OF EASEMENTS OVER THE PRIVATE PROPERTIES THAT ARE DEPICTED.
THIS IS JUST AN OVERALL MAP TO SHOW THE FOUR PROPERTIES THAT ARE INVOLVED, AND THIS IS SHOWING PERMANENT EASEMENT, WHICH IS THE RED ART LOWING, THAT'S WHERE THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD GO.
THE FLOODWALL AND MAINTENANCE PAD PIECES THAT ARE PART OF THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO INSTALL, AND THEN FINALLY ACCESS EASEMENT FOR US TO GO IN IN PERPETUITY TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE ONCE WE CONSTRUCTED.
SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MR. CAVENDISH TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE RESOLUTION.
>> DO YOU WANT TO HOLD THEM OR DO YOU WANT TO DO THEM NOW? [OVERLAPPING] WE NEED TO HEAR FROM MR. CAVENDISH WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING.
>> BUT I JUST THESE ARE ABOUT WHAT SHE JUST PRESENTED. IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> THE EASEMENT THAT'S UP THERE, THAT AN EASEMENT.
IS THAT OWNED BY ANYBODY RIGHT NOW? IS THAT OWNED BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS?
>> I HAVE ZOOMED IN THAT SHOWS BY EACH PARCEL WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER, AND IT IS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO SEE, BUT THOSE ARE OWNED BY PRIVATE ENTITIES.
>> SO THOSE ARE ALSO THE ONES THAT HAVE NOT YET SIGNED?
>> JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
IF YOU GO BACK UP TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH PROJECTS WITH AND WITHOUT THOSE TWO SETS OF PICTURES?
>> FOR THE COASTAL OR RAINFALL?
>> YOU START WITH THE RAINFALL.
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT THE PERCENT CHANGE IS.
>> IT'S A 10 YEAR LEVEL OF SERVICE IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR THE RAINFALL.
I'M TRYING TO BACKUP TO GET TO THAT SLIDE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT.
>> ESSENTIALLY, RIGHT NOW, IF WE HAVE A FOOT OF WATER WHEN THE RAIN HITS, AND JUST FLOODED, WE'RE GOING TO BE REDUCING THAT TO JUST INCHES.
>> GREAT. THAT'S HELPFUL. THEN IF YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE WITH THE COASTAL, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE, A MASSIVE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
>> THIS IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST BENEFIT FOR THE PROJECT LIKE THE SHORTFALL IS DEFINITELY, BUT WHEN YOU HEAR FROM RESIDENTS TALKING ABOUT FLOODING, AND AGAIN, IT DOES TIE INTO THE TYPES OF FLOODING, THERE'S DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FOR THAT.
THIS IS TRYING TO HELP KEEP THE SURGE FROM COMING IN AND FLOODING AND INUNDATING A LARGE PART OF THE CITY.
>> THEN SITTING THERE LIKE A BATHTUB.
>> BEFORE IT GETS IN. I MEAN, THAT'S MORE THAN 50% REDUCTION JUST BY VISUAL ESTIMATE OF THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS.
>> YES. I THINK THE BIG KEY POINT TO RECOGNIZE IS THIS IS HITTING THAT LOWER LEVEL COASTAL FLOOD EVENTS.
THE LARGER HURRICANES, THAT'S BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT, BUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING AND EXPERIENCING TODAY FROM THE RESIDENTS LIKE THIS WILL BE ABLE TO TARGET THAT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> EXCELLENT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
[01:40:01]
LET'S GO ON TO MR. CAVENDISH.>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU, JESSICA. MY NAME IS MICHAEL CAVENDISH.
I'M THE ATTORNEY ENGAGED FOR THE CITY SUPPORTING THIS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE TEXT AND THE CONTENT OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION, DECLARING THIS PROJECT NECESSARY.
FROM YOUR AGENDA MATERIALS, BUT FOR THE RECORD, I'M JUST GOING TO PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT IT DOES AND SAYS.
THE TITLE BLOCK OF THE RESOLUTION NOT ONLY DEFINES ITS PURPOSE, IT PROVIDES NOTICE THAT THE RESOLUTION HAS EXHIBITS.
NOTABLY, THERE IS A COMPOSITE OR MULTI PAGE EXHIBIT A, ON WHICH THE TYPE, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF EACH EASEMENT BY AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNER IS DEFINED.
THE WHEREAS CLAUSES AT THE FIRST AND SECOND PAGES OF THE RESOLUTION, RESTATE THE CITY AND THE COMMISSION'S GOALS OF MAINTAINING THE CITY AS A SAFE AND WELL DRAINED ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR THE DRAINAGE OF WOULD BE FLOODWATERS.
THE WHEREAS CLAUSES GO ON TO TAKE NOTICE OF THE PLANS FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH JESSICA BEACH HAS JUST PRESENTED INTO THE RECORD.
THE WHEREAS CLAUSES OBSERVE AS FINDINGS THAT THE CITY UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS RECOMMEND UNDERTAKING THIS PROJECT, AND THEY MAKE FINDINGS THAT THE PROJECT IS AUTHORIZED TO INCLUDE TAKINGS OF EASEMENTS BY EMINENT DOMAIN ACCORDING TO FLORIDA STATUTES.
AT SECTION 2, SPECIFICALLY, THE RESOLUTION STATES THAT THE EMINENT DOMAIN WILL PROCEED BY SO CALLED QUICK TAKE PROCEEDINGS.
AS A REMINDER, IN QUICK TAKE PROCEEDINGS, THE PROPERTY OWNERS STILL GET THEIR STANDARD PRELITIGATION OFFER LETTERS, WHICH THEY CAN CONSIDER FOR UP TO 30 DAYS BEFORE A PROCEEDING IS FILED.
THEY STILL GET SERVED WITH NORMAL PROCESS OF THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDING, AND THEY GET THE STANDARD 20 DAYS AFTER THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS TO PUT IN THEIR APPEARANCE AND THEIR RESPONSE INTO THE COURT'S DOCKET.
IN QUICK TAKES, THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO MAKE A GOOD FAITH DEPOSIT OF MINIMUM, THE APPRAISED FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE EASEMENT INTEREST THAT IS BEING TAKEN, THAT IS DONE SO THAT THE OWNERS HAVE PEACE OF MIND THAT CASH IS ON DEPOSIT IN THE COURT'S REGISTRY.
SECTIONS 3 AND 4 OF THE RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO INITIATE THIS QUICK TAKE PROCEEDING UNDER OUR STATUTORY LAW, WHICH MEANS THAT ALL OF THE NOTICE AND ALL OF THE DUE PROCESS TIME PERIODS I HAVE CITED WILL BE OBSERVED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THE RESOLUTION WILL PROVIDE FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE IF PASSED BY YOUR ACTION.
THANK YOU. AS YOU CONSIDER PASSAGE, LIKE JESSICA BEACH, I WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR QUESTION.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. CAVENDISH?
>> I JUST HAVE ONE. YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE?
>> YES. I DID MY FIRST ONE WITH BILL BURCHFIELD IN 1999.
>> YEAH. GREAT. WHAT IS THE TYPICAL TIME PERIOD WITH APPEALS AND COURT CASES AND DELAYS? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A YEAR? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS? I KNOW WE'RE NOT INTENDED TO START THIS UNTIL '26.
>> THE LEGISLATIVE GENIUS OF THE QUICK TAKE PROCEEDING IS THAT IT FUNNELS RIGHT INTO THE INITIAL HEARING WHERE THE ORDER OF TAKING IS REQUESTED, CONSIDERED, AND ALMOST ALWAYS GIVEN, AND TITLE PASSES RIGHT THEN, AND CONSTRUCTION CAN BEGIN RIGHT THEN.
THEN THE REST OF THE PROCEEDING IS WHETHER THERE'S GOING TO BE A SETTLEMENT OR A TRIAL ON VALUATION ON THOSE FUNDS IN THE REGISTRY AND OTHER FUNDS, IF THAT'S WHAT THE FINDING IS.
QUICK TAKES ARE QUICK IN THAT WAY.
>> I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MAYBE WHAT MR. SPRINGFIELD WAS HINTING AT.
THE DESIGN IS PRETTY FAR ALONG FOR THE NORTH PHASE, BUT THE DESIGN FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTION HAS BEEN HELD UP WITH THE EASEMENTS.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY FINISH THE DESIGN TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THIS.
THAT'S PART OF WHERE THE QUICK TAKE PROCESS COMES IN.
IT ALLOWS US TO SPEND THOSE RESOURCES MORE FOCUSED SO WE CAN START PUSHING FORWARD WITH DESIGN ON THE SOUTHERN PART.
BUT THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE FURTHER OUT FOR PHASE 2.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I TALKED ABOUT THE SCHEDULE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNKNOWN RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CLARIFIES IT FOR ME.
YEAH. I CAN REMEMBER THREE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTORS AGO WHEN THIS BEGAN.
YES. ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I DO DEFER TO THE COMMISSION TO MAKE THE COMMENTS AND DO THE HONORS.
>> I'LL START. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME TO MAKE THIS DISTINCTION.
[01:45:05]
THE HOUSE THAT WE BOUGHT AND HAVE BEEN LIVING IN FOR GOING ON 24, 25 YEARS, I'M LOSING TRACK NOW IN THE NELMAR TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD.THANK YOU FOR DEFENDING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FROM EMINENT DOMAIN BY THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND.
IT WAS SO STRESSFUL TO THINK ABOUT THE HOUSE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN RAISING OUR ONLY SON TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US WITHOUT WHAT WE COULD TELL WAS MUCH OF A PUBLIC BENEFIT AT ALL, IF ANY, AND I'VE LIVED THROUGH THAT.
THIS IS A POLAR OPPOSITE OF THAT.
THESE PEOPLE NOT ONLY WOULD GET TO STAY IN THEIR HOME, THEY WOULD GET AN ADDITIONAL 15 FEET OF YARD.
THEY WOULD GET PROTECTION FROM FLOODING.
THAT'S ALL FREE, BY THE WAY, TO THEM, NO COST.
THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE BETTER SETBACKS SO THEY COULD BUILD MORE STUFF IN THEIR BACKYARDS IF THEY WANTED TO, LIKE A POOL OR A DECK OR WHATEVER.
THERE IS A BENEFIT TO THESE FOLKS FOR THE CITY TO HAVE THESE EASEMENTS.
IT IS NOTHING LIKE WHAT I WENT THROUGH, AND THEREFORE, I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF IT.
WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON AS MUCH FLOODING AS WE CAN IN THIS CITY.
>> MAY I GO. I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY, THAT 95% OF THE TIME, I WOULD SAY EMINENT DOMAIN IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT DO, WE SHOULD TAKE AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF TIME.
STAFF HAS AND WE HAVE TALKING TO THE LANDOWNERS AND AS MUCH AS IT WOULD GO AGAINST MY PROPERTY RIGHTS OPINION AND GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF THIS.
>> WHAT I WOULD BE LOOKING AT HERE HAS REALLY BEEN MET VERY STRONGLY.
THAT'S THE DETERMINATION OF THE NEED AND THE BENEFIT.
I THINK GOING FORWARD, IT'S GOOD FOR US TO HAVE IT IN OUR POCKET.
I THINK THE FLOOD PROJECTION BENEFIT MAP THAT COMMISSIONER BLONDER WAS POINTING OUT SHOWS THAT REALLY WELL.
I THOUGHT THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WHEN I USUALLY REVIEW THINGS, LOOK AT PUBLIC TESTIMONY, IT'S PRETTY OVERWHELMING.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR BUILDING CONSENSUS AROUND THIS.
IN HERE, WE ALSO HEARD THERE'S A HISTORIC PRESERVATION ELEMENT TO THIS.
A LOT OF THESE FLOODING ISSUES ARE WIN WIN ISSUES IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
AGAIN, MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR CONSENSUS BUILDING.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK MS. CONNOR FOR SELLING HER PROPERTY TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BECAUSE IT WAS FOR PEOPLE THAT WAS HOLDING OUT.
I KNOW WE WORKED TIRELESSLY TRYING TO GET THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE IN AGREEMENT EVER SINCE.
I KNOW JOHN WAS HERE AND WE WERE TALKING, HE RODE BY AND SHOWED ME THE PROPERTIES.
WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO GETTING THESE PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING SO WE COULD TAKE CARE OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD YEARS AGO.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT, EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS BECAUSE THIS IS LONG OVERDUE, AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO GET THE BALL ROLLING SO THAT WE CAN SECURE THESE HOMES AND SECURE THE STREETS.
WASHINGTON AND BRIDGE STREET, ALL OF THEM TURN INTO A RIVER, CORDOVA ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.
WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THIS A REALITY OF BEING BETTER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.
>> GREAT. BELIEVE ALL THAT WAS SAID.
>> EVERYTHING WAS SAID. YES, PLEASE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR PERSISTENCE.
>> THAT IS A VERY GRATEFUL NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT THERE, MS. BEACH.
WITH THAT, I MOVE THAT WE PASS RESOLUTION 2025-07.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> VERY GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. ON WE GO.
[APPLAUSE] WE'LL HOLD A MINUTE WHILE Y'ALL LEAVE THE ROOM.
[LAUGHTER] FOR THOSE OUT IN TV LAND, THEY ARE SMILING FACES, AND THAT IS A LOVELY THING TO SEE IN THIS ROOM.
[01:50:05]
THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS ON STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS.[10.A. Town Plan Historic District Lighting Study. (R. Franklin, Assistant City Manager)]
IT IS THE TOWN PLAN HISTORIC DISTRICT LIGHTING STUDY, AND THAT WILL BE PRESENTED BY MR. FRANKLIN.NO. THEY HAVE TO GO CELEBRATE. MR. FRANKLIN.
>> YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS? THIS EVENING, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A PRESENTATION, GOING OVER THE RESULTS OF A LIGHTING STUDY THAT STAFF CONDUCTED FOR THE TOWN PLAN HISTORIC DISTRICT.
WE'LL GO OVER THE STUDY LIMITS.
THE DATA COLLECTION, TO YOUR RIGHT UP HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT USED. IT'S A LIGHT METER.
THE RESULTS, AND THEN PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM.
THE STUDY LIMITS FOR THIS STUDY WERE BOUND BY CORDOVA STREET, KING STREET, ORANGE STREET, AND AVENIDA MENENDEZ.
IN THIS AREA, WE HAVE OVER 300 STREET LIGHTS.
THE STREET LIGHTS ARE OWNED BY THE CITY, FLORIDA POWER LIGHT AND ALSO FDOT.
THE CITY MAINTAINS OUR CITY LIGHTS, AND WE ALSO MAINTAIN FDOT LIGHT FIXTURES THROUGH AN AGREEMENT THAT WE GET REIMBURSED FOR MAINTAINING THEM.
FPL MAINTAINS THEIR OWN LIGHTS FOR THE CITY.
DATA COLLECTION WAS DONE AT NIGHT OVER A FEW MONTHS TIME BY CITY STAFF USING THE LIGHT METER SHOWN ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDES.
WE TOOK MEASUREMENTS EVERY 50 FEET AND 50 FOOT INCREMENTS.
WE USE LUX AS THE MEASUREMENT.
THAT IS A UNIT OF MEASUREMENT THAT MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT FALLS ON A SURFACE.
THAT'S THE METRIC MEASUREMENT, BUT THE IMPERIAL WOULD BE FOOT CANDLES.
BUT FOR THIS STUDY, WE USED LUX.
PER THE ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING SOCIETY, RECOMMENDED AVERAGE ILLUMINATION LEVELS FOR RESIDENTIAL STREETS SHOULD BE ABOUT 10 LUX WHILE THE AVERAGE ILLUMINATION FOR COMMERCIAL AREAS SHOULD BE 15 LUX.
THIS FALLS IN WITH STANDARDS THAT YOU WOULD FIND IN LIKE THE FLORIDA GREEN BOOK, WHICH IS A TRANSPORTATION GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING ROADS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
OVER ON YOUR RIGHT HERE, THIS IS THE OVERALL MAP FOR THE STUDY.
WE BROKE IT INTO A RANGE BECAUSE WITH EVERYTHING LIGHTING, IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC, IT CHANGES AS YOU MOVE AROUND.
WE FELT THAT A RANGE WOULD GIVE YOU A BETTER IDEA OF THE ILLUMINATION IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WE USED THE LUX RANGE OF 0-5 AS VERY POOR AND THAT'S YOUR DARKER BLUE.
FROM 5-10 AS A POOR RANGE, WHICH IS YOUR LIGHTER BLUE.
THEN 10-20, WE CALL THAT AN OPTIMAL RANGE BECAUSE THAT WAS THE RESIDENTIAL TO JUST OVER THE COMMERCIAL AREA AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A MIXTURE OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL IN THIS AREA, WE FELT THAT THAT WAS A GOOD RANGE TO CALL OPTIMAL.
THEN THE ORANGE IS OUTSIDE OF THE OPTIMAL AND THAT WOULD BE VERY BRIGHT.
WE FOUND GENERALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME DARK AREAS, CORDOVA STREET, CATHEDRAL KING STREET, CHARLOTTE STREET JUMP OUT AT US.
WHERE WE'VE HAD RECENT STREET IMPROVEMENTS ON TREASURY STREET AND HYPOLITA STREET AND SPANISH STREET, THOSE LEVELS ARE CLOSER TO THE OPTIMAL RANGE THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED WITH FULL ROADWAY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
JUST TO GIVE A A CLOSER VIEW, I'LL START FROM THE NORTH END, WHICH IS ORANGE STREET AND BACK IT DOWN TO CATHEDRAL AND KING STREET.
BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE WE HAVE RANGES.
ST. GEORGE STREET ITSELF, WE'RE HOVERING.
THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT ARE BRIGHTER THAN OTHERS, MORE ILLUMINATED, BUT WE'RE IN THAT 8-20, 30 RANGE.
ONE THING THAT WE DID STRUGGLE WITH IS AN EIGHT, WE HAVE AS POOR, BUT AVERAGE WISE.
IT'S GETTING CLOSER TO OPTIMAL.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL POINT OUT IS, WE SHOULD REALLY FOCUS ON THE VERY POOR AREAS, WHICH IS FIVE AND UNDER AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
[01:55:01]
CUNA STREET AND HYPOLITA STREET.AGAIN, THE DARK BLUE IS REALLY DARKER AREAS.
COMING DOWN TO TREASURY STREET, CHARLOTTE STREET, AND YOU CAN SEE AGAIN, CHARLOTTE STREET HAS PRETTY MUCH DARK BLUE AND CORDOVA, WHICH WOULD BE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SCREEN AS WELL.
TREASURY STREET, WE HAD REDONE AND THAT HAS ALL NEW LIGHTING, AND YOU CAN SEE, EVEN THOUGH IT FELL INTO THE POOR RANGE, WE HAVE 9.998-12.8.
THAT STREET IS CLOSE TO OPTIMAL.
THEN WE HAVE CATHEDRAL PLACE IN KING STREET.
THIS IS THE SOUTHERN END OF THE STUDY, AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S FAIRLY DARK ON THE STREET.
WE HAVE ONE BRIGHT SPOT, THAT'S OUTSIDE OF A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AREA OR A COUPLE OF BRIGHT SPOTS.
BUT THE ONE THE 16.3 ON CATHEDRAL, AND I'LL SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THAT HERE IN A SECOND.
JUST WANTED TO BREAK DOWN, WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE.
WE TOOK SOME PHOTOS OF SOME SPECIFIC AREAS.
THE TOP PHOTO IS FURTHER IN ON CHARLOTTE STREET, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE 3.954, SO JUST UNDER FIVE, WHICH WE WOULD CONSIDER POORLY LIT.
YOU CAN SEE FURTHER DOWN, IT'S A LITTLE BRIGHTER AND THAT TURNS INTO THE LIGHTER SHADE OF BLUE.
IN THAT PHOTO, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S NOT MUCH STREET LIGHTING IN THIS SECTION, SO WE COULD DO WITH SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHTING.
THEN CHARLOTTE STREET WHERE WE HAVE A LIGHT.
I WANT TO POINT THIS OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LIGHT RIGHT THERE, WE WERE RIGHT UNDER THE OPTIMAL RANGE OF 10 LUX STARTING.
I TOOK THIS PICTURE LOOKING WESTBOUND AND CATHEDRAL AND I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT I'M STANDING IN A DARK SPOT, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE ILLUMINATED AREA OVER THERE, WHICH IS THAT 16.3, SO YOU HAVE SOME BUSINESS LIGHT THAT'S SHINING DOWN THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO THE ILLUMINATION THAT WAS PICKED UP IN THE STUDY.
LIGHTING PROJECTS TRADITIONALLY CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE.
SHORT TERM WISE, WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH FPL THAT WE CAN INSTALL OVERHEAD LIGHTING IN AREAS WITH POLES THAT DON'T HAVE LIGHTING, CATHEDRAL WE COULD TARGET.
IN THIS SPECIFIC SPOT, YOU CAN SEE, I HAVE CIRCLED ON HERE.
THAT'S ONE BRIGHT SPOT ON CATHEDRAL, WHICH WAS A 20 LUX LEVEL, AND THAT WAS THIS LIGHT HERE, WHICH WAS AN LED LIGHT THAT WAS INSTALLED BY FPL.
THEY ALSO INSTALLED A SMALLER LIGHT ON THE SIDEWALK SIDE.
THIS IS A PARTICULAR INSTANCE WHERE WE HAVE A LIGHT THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SIDEWALK.
I'M THINKING SHORT TERM, MAYBE WE COULD WORK WITH FPL TO DO SIMILAR THINGS DOWN THE CORDOVA CORRIDOR TO HELP BRIGHTEN THE SIDEWALK WALKWAYS.
THE OTHER THINGS WE'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON ARE THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS.
WE HAD BEEN ASKED TO LOOK AT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR KING STREET AND AVILES, THAT PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THERE.
WE WOULD RECOMMEND BRINGING THE LIGHTING UP TO A 15-20 LUX RANGE FOR THAT PEDESTRIAN CROSSING.
REMOVING SOME PARKING SO YOU CAN GET A CLEAR LINE OF SIGHT THERE.
WE'D LIKE TO DO THAT AND LOOK AT THE EXISTING STRIPE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AREAS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, SPECIFICALLY WHEN WE GET LARGE CROWDS OF PEDESTRIANS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE LIT UP IN THE SHORT TERM.
THEN ALSO WORK WITH FPL TO PUT LIGHTS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THEM.
DEPENDING ON WHAT THE COMMISSION, WE COULD ALWAYS TALK TO THEM ABOUT PUTTING A STRONGER LIGHT UP THERE.
WE DID DO AN LED CONVERSION YEARS AGO WITH FPL WHERE THEY CONVERTED ALL OF THEIR LIGHTS AND WE PICKED THE LOWEST KELVIN LIGHT OUTPUT, WHICH WAS A 3,000 KELVIN COLORATION.
LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS, AND I THINK THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS GOING TO BE TO CONTINUE FOCUSING ON REDEVELOPING THE STREETS IN THE TOWN PLAN AREA.
JUST LIKE WE DID WITH TREASURY STREET AND HYPOLITA STREET, AND SPANISH STREET.
WE DO HAVE PLANS FOR KING STREET AND CATHEDRAL.
WE'RE WRAPPING UP 30% DESIGN RIGHT NOW.
THAT INCLUDES PEDESTRIAN SCALE STREET LIGHTING, THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE WE FALL INTO THAT TEN TO 20 LUX RANGE.
CORDOVA STREET, WE ACTUALLY HAVE JUST STARTED THE CONCEPTUAL PLANNING FOR THAT.
CONSIDER REDEVELOPING THAT IN THE FUTURE.
WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE A PUBLIC INPUT AND ENGAGEMENT FEBRUARY 28TH AT THE VIC OR
[02:00:03]
JAMIE PERKINS WILL BE SET UP THERE TO GAIN INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC THAT'S WALKING BY ABOUT WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE FOR CORDOVA STREET.THEN ALSO CHARLOTTE STREET WOULD BE A FUTURE REDESIGN.
WITH THOSE REDESIGNS, WE BRING THE LIGHTING AND THAT WILL BRING UP CONSISTENTLY THE LIGHTING IN THE CORRIDORS.
WITH ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS, WE GO TO OUR HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE LIGHTING IN THE PAST, THEY'VE APPROVED LED LIGHTS, BUT WE'VE PUSHED THE KELVIN LEVEL, WHICH IS YOUR TEMPERATURE LEVEL AS LOW AS WE CAN GET IN LED LIGHT, WHICH HAS BEEN 27, 2800 KELVIN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE FOUND IN THE PAST THAT THE CITY REALLY LIKES IS THAT WARMER A LIGHT GLOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH LEDS, YOU HAVE TO GET INTO THAT COOLER LIGHT RANGE.
THE WHOLE INDUSTRY IS SHIFTING TO LEDS BECAUSE OF THE ENERGY SAVINGS.
WE'VE PUSHED AND HARB HAS RECOMMENDED IN THE PAST TO STAY THE LOWEST KELVIN RANGE WE CAN GET FOR THESE LED LIGHTS WHEN WE INSTALL THEM.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS.
>> TO THE KELVIN THING BECAUSE THAT REALLY IS THE LIGHTING.
TEMPERATURE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE ATMOSPHERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET DIFFERENT BULBS, DO YOU PUT FILTERS ON OR HOW DO YOU SOLVE THAT?
>> WHAT WE DO RIGHT NOW WITH THEM IS WE GET FROSTED PINS TO TRY TO, WARM IT UP.
WARM IT UP, BUT THERE'S REALLY NOT, YOU CAN'T GET WHAT WE HAD IN THE PAST AND WHAT YOU'LL STILL SEE IN THE PLAZA HIGH SODIUM PRESSURE.
AMPS. THAT GETS YOU INTO THAT WARMER RANGE.
I THINK IT'S AROUND JUST UNDER 2000 KELVIN.
HOW IT GETS YOU THAT CANDLE LIGHT LOOK.
THAT'S THOUGH. BUT MOVING INTO THE LEDS, WE JUST CAN'T GET TO THAT TEMPERATURE LEVEL.
WHAT HARB FOR TREASURY STREET AND HYPOLITA STREET? WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED IS LIKE THE 28, 2700 KELVIN, WHICH IS AS LOW AS WE COULD GET WITH FROSTED PAIN PANELS.
TO TRY TO TAKE SOME OF THE COLD WHITENESS, COLDNESS OUT OF IT [OVERLAPPING].
I WILL SAY THAT OUR NEWEST SECTION OF SPANISH STREET IS PRETTY BRIGHT.
THE BUILDINGS ARE CLOSER, SO I THINK THAT THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO HOW BRIGHT IT IS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT WHETHER WE CAN DIM THAT TO BRING THAT LEVEL DOWN INTO THAT MORE OPTIMAL RANGE OF 10-20 LUX BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S PLUS 20 LOCKS OUT THERE.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, WOULD YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> HELP IF I HAVE MY LITTLE SPEAKER ON.
COUPLE OF THINGS, CORDOVA SEEMS VERY DARK.
DO WE HAVE A RANGE AS TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO START IMPLEMENTING THE LIGHTS? WE'RE GOING TO DO GO STREET BY STREET OR WHAT IS THE PLAN TO GET THE LIGHTING? CORDOVA CUNA STREET, AND CATHEDRAL FROM THE DIFFERENT GRAPHS BECAUSE I WAS FOLLOWING YOU AND ON THE COMPUTER.
LOOKING AT THEM. THOSE SEEM LIKE THE DARKEST STREETS.
>> IN THE SHORT TERM, WE WOULD FOCUS ON THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING.
ON CORDOVA STREET, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VALENCIA, CORDOVA STREET PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IS WELL LIT.
THE OTHER THINGS WE'D LOOK AT ON CORDOVA IS THERE'S POWER POLES.
I THINK THERE'S 13 POWER POLES ALONG CORDOVA.
MOST OF THEM ALREADY HAVE LIGHTS ON THEM.
THE OPTIONS WE COULD LOOK AT IS ADDING A SECOND LIGHT THAT WAS SHOWN IN THE [OVERLAPPING], PURE FOR THE SIDEWALK TO MAYBE HELP ILLUMINATE THE SIDEWALK A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
>> BUT SHORTER TERM IMPROVEMENTS, WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP CORDOVA STREET IS COMPLETELY REDESIGNING IT AND REBUILDING IT WITH PEDESTRIAN SCALE LIGHTING ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE PROPOSE AS LONG TERM, WHICH IS LIKE A 5-10 YEAR WINDOW OUT.
>> BUT ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THOSE SIDEWALK LIGHTS IN THE MEANTIME? ARE WE JUST NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR FIVE YEARS?
>> NO, I THINK SHORT TERM IS GOING FOR CORDOVA SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE ACTUALLY POWER POLES THERE IS LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE LIGHTING WITH MAYBE THE SHORTER LIGHT ON THE SIDE FOR THE SIDEWALK?
>> YES. THANK YOU. I AM JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED OF THE TIMELINE BECAUSE I KNOW THE PLAZA IS VERY DARK EXCEPT DURING NIGHT OF LIGHTS, WHICH WE DON'T WANT YEAR AROUND TO HELP LIKE THAT.
I'M JUST REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMELINE BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE STREETS REDONE.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO TRY TO INVESTIGATE SOMETHING TEMPORARY TO TRY TO LIGHT UP SOME OF THOSE AREAS.
I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING BECAUSE OF THE CAR PROBLEM, BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT CAME UP WHEN WE REQUESTED THIS WAS THAT IT'S EMPLOYEES
[02:05:02]
LEAVING THEIR WORK AT 2:30 TO 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND HOW DARK IT IS.THAT'S WHEN THE LIGHTS ON THE HOUSES HAVE GONE OFF.
I'M SURE SPANISH STREET IS PARTLY LIT BECAUSE THOSE HOUSES ARE SO CLOSE WHEN THEY HAVE LIGHTS ON THEIR DOORS AND OUTSIDE, AND THEY MIGHT FLIP THOSE OFF AT NIGHT.
I'M JUST REAL CONCERNED FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE LEAVING LATE AT NIGHT, WHICH WAS REALLY ONE OF THE REASONS WE BROUGHT THIS NEED UP.
JUST WANT TO MARK IT IN YOUR CALENDAR THAT I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMELINE.
>> I HAVE JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION. I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT.
I JUST WANTED IT ON THE PUBLIC RECORD WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING EARLIER.
I DON'T KNOW. THAT WOULD BE THESE LIGHTS ARE GOING TO BE DOWNWARD FACING, RIGHT?
>> ALL THE LIGHTS ARE DOWNWARD FACING.
>> JUST TO TRY TO ELIMINATE GLARE GOING UPWARD AND RUINING THE NIGHT SKY MORE THAN IT ALREADY IS.
>> YES. FOR THE OVERHANGING ONES THAT ARE MUCH HIGHER UP, WE CAN GET SHIELDS INSTALLED.
WHEN THE CITY, WHEN WE'RE INSTALLING LIGHTS, WE'RE INSTALLING LIKE A 18 FOOT LIGHT, THAT'S THE COLONIAL FIXTURE STRUCTURE, SO IT HAS A TOP.
SHEDDING LIGHT TONE DOWNWARDS.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING. THANK YOU.
>> I GUESS I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT THIS CORDOVA STREET FPL STRUCTURES.
NOW YOU'RE CONCERNING ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU HAD SAID PEDESTRIAN SCALE LIGHTING.
>> THIS IS THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE FOR LIGHTING IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.
THE SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS ARE WORKING WITH FPL ON CORDOVA STREET SPECIFICALLY WITH OVERHEAD LIGHTING.
IF WE GET INTO INSTALLING WITHOUT IT BEING A FULL ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, THERE'S A LIMITED SIDEWALK RIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE ADDING MORE POLES TO THE SIDEWALK OR THE PROJECT CAN GET PRETTY EXPENSIVE.
I THINK SPANISH STREET WAS ALMOST A HALF MILLION DOLLAR WAS JUST FOR THE LIGHTING ITSELF.
THAT'S WHERE THE HESITATION COMES IN.
IF WE START INSTALLING PEDESTRIAN SCALE LIGHTING ALONG CORDOVA RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IT UP IN A FEW YEARS.
IN THE SHORT TERM IF WE WANT BETTER LIGHTING THERE, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WORKING WITH FPL WITH THEIR OVERHEAD LIGHTING STYLE.
THEN TO COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD POINT, THE PLAZA, TRADITIONALLY, WE'LL TAKE ALL OF THIS TO HARB AND GO THROUGH THE LIGHTING WITH THEM WITH PROJECTS.
IT'S THE HISTORIC NATURE SIDE OF WE WANT TO KEEP IT AS DIM AS POSSIBLE, THAT WARM CANDLELIT.
BUT THEN WE HAVE THIS OTHER ISSUE OF GETTING THE STREETS ILLUMINATED BRIGHTER, FOR PEOPLE TRAVERSING AND WORKERS AND THINGS. IT'S NOT EASY.
>> THIS IS OUR MOST INSIDE THE WALE CITY AND JASON INTO THE WALE CITY, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT WORSE.
I DIDN'T COME TO DO THIS JOB TO LEAVE IT WORSE THAN I CAME.
I CAME HERE TO LEAVE IT BETTER THAN I CAME.
I WOULD HOLD OUT ON CORDOVA FOR PEDESTRIAN SCALE LIGHTING THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
THIS CAME OUT JUST SO BECAUSE I'VE HAD THIS QUESTION ASKED.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS STUDY? THIS CAME OUT WHEN WE STARTED DISCUSSING DOWNTOWN WITH THE VENUE OPERATORS, THE OWNERS OF THE NIGHT EVERYBODY SAYS NIGHT LIFE, THE BARS.
THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, WE HAD A ASSESSMENT DONE BY THE RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY INSTITUTE, AND THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO IMPROVE LIGHTING IN THE DEAD ZONES.
THAT IS A RESULT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ROUNDTABLE THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER, AS WELL AS THE WOMEN'S FOCUS GROUP, AS WELL AS MULTIPLE INTERVIEWS WITH VENUES DOWNTOWN.
THIS ACTION IS A RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME OUT OF THE PUBLIC, BASICALLY, IN ADDITION TO OBVIOUSLY THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.
BUT I ALSO LIKE TO SAY, I WANT TO MAKE IT SAFER, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT UGLIER BY ANY MEANS.
WITH THE WAY THAT KELVIN WORKS WITH FPL ON THAT VERY HOT BRIGHT LIGHTS AND ALL THE TROUBLE WE WENT THROUGH WITH THEM, I'M VERY RETICENT TO SAY, DO MORE OF THAT THING ON CORDOVA.
BUT I LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'VE GOT, RECOMMENDED, I DO,
[02:10:01]
BUT THAT WORRIES ME A LOT.>> WELL, A SUGGESTION IS, WHAT ABOUT A FOCUSING ON A CORRIDOR? IF YOU LOOK, SPANISH STREET IS ALREADY PRETTY WELL LIT.
IF WE COULD JUST FOCUS ON MAYBE A SECTION OF CORRIDOR THAT WE CAN, FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IF YOU'RE TRAVERSING IF YOU'RE TRYING TO WALK TO THE PARKING GARAGE. PART OF THIS CORRIDOR.
>> AS I RECALL, THE MOST COMPLAINTS, WERE ABOUT CHARLOTTE STREET.
>> THAT WAS IDENTIFIED SPECIFICALLY AS A BIG PROBLEM, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS DOWN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW. IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE THINKING LIKE IDENTIFY A CORRIDOR AND WE'RE ONE PHASE AT A TIME?
>> WELL, MY THOUGHT WAS THINKING AN EXISTING CORRIDOR THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN UPGRADED TO AT LEAST NOTIFY THE BUSINESSES THAT, SPANISH STREET'S PRETTY WELL LIT ALL THE WAY DOWN.
YOU WOULD REALLY BE LOOKING AT TRYING TO CONNECT SPANISH STREET TO KING STREET IN THE SHORT TERM, WHICH MIGHT BE THAT SMALL SECTION OF ST. GEORGE STREET.
THEN THAT WAY YOU HAVE A CORRIDOR THAT WE KNOW IS IN THE OPTIMAL RANGE IN THE SHORT TERM, ALSO FOCUSING ON THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS IN THE SHORT TERM, AND THEN FALLING BACK TO OUR LONG TERM, WHICH WOULD BE THE REP STREET REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD BE CORDOVA STREET AND CHARLOTTE STREET.
>> TO YOUR ARGUMENT, THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON AVENUE MENENDEZ CAN COME DOWN TREASURY AND HYPOLITA TO GET THE SPANISH IF THEY'RE GOING TO THE GARAGE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO WALK DOWN CHARLOTTE STREET.
THEY CAN JUST CROSS IT AND GET.
>> NOW, I LIKE THAT. IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC CORRIDOR AND THEY JUST WORK ON THAT.
I DO SHARE THE MAYOR'S CONCERN ABOUT THE KELVIN AND HOW IT LIGHTS AND I MEAN, BECAUSE IT'S WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT WORSE. I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
>> NO. I DON'T WANT TO GO BACKWARDS.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED FROM US?
>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FROM US?
>> JUST THE CONSENSUS ON WHAT WE SPOKE, WHICH WAS, IF I COULD SUMMARIZE, THE SHORT TERM FOCUSING ON A CORRIDOR THAT IS IN THE OPTIMAL RANGE, WHICH WOULD BE 10-20 BUCKS.
SPANISH STREET IS ALREADY IN THAT RANGE, AND THEN ALSO FOCUSING ON PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS.
THEY SHOULD BE WELL LIT, AND THEN THE LONG TERM WILL BE REDEVELOPMENT OF CORDOVA STREET AND CHARLOTTE STREET AND OTHER STREETS WHERE THIS IS ALL GOING TO COME FROM THE HISTORIC AREA CRA, AND SO OVER TIME, ALL THE STREETS ARE GOING TO BE REDEVELOPED.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. WHAT WE'LL EXPECT NEXT MAYBE IS A DISCUSSION AT THE CIP FOR FUNDING.
>> YOU'LL START TO SEE THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS SHOW UP IN THE CIP, AND ALSO YOU'LL SEE MISS PERKINS STARTING TO GIVE YOU UPDATES AT THE CRA MEETINGS THEMSELVES.
THE CHARLOTTE STREET PROJECT WILL GET REDEVELOPED.
I WOULD SAY BOTH OF THEM, YOU COULD COUNT ON A 5-10 YEAR WINDOW OUT.
>> THE NEXT THING YOU'LL SEE IS THE RESULTS OF THE PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT MISS PERKINS IS DOING FOR THE CORDOVA STREET PROJECT.
THAT'S THE MOST DIRECT THING YOU'LL SEE NEXT.
THANK YOU, MR. FRANKLIN, AND YOU ARE NEXT FOR YEHA,
[10.B. Proposed 2025 Citizens' Academy. (R. Franklin, Assistant City Manager)]
THE PROPOSED 2025 CITIZENS ACADEMY, WHICH I ACTUALLY LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG A LITTLE BIT AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND BECAUSE I'M WAY EXCITED ABOUT IT.>> I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT ITEM.
STAFF WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE CITIZENS ACADEMY FOR THE COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION.
THIS IS DONE THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT CITIES AND COUNTIES, BUT THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE ESTABLISHED FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
STAFF LOOKED AT EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
ALSO THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES HAD A GREAT GUIDE THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER OF HOW TO DEVELOP ONE, SO WE REFERENCED THAT AS WELL.
I'D JUST LIKE THIS QUOTE FROM THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.
I THINK IT ENCAPSULATES THE PURPOSE OF THE ACADEMY, WHICH IS CITIZENS ACADEMIES ARE AN EXCELLENT WAY TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS, BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND INCREASE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS, AS WELL AS INSPIRE FUTURE MUNICIPAL LEADERS.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THE PROGRAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER AND HAPPY TO GET ANY FEEDBACK OR TWEAKS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
[02:15:01]
WE PROPOSE IT TO BE FIVE CLASSES ON WEDNESDAYS FROM 1:00 PM TO 5:00 PM, STARTING ON MARCH 26, ENDING ON APRIL 23, AND WE'D HAVE A GRADUATION CEREMONY WHERE THE COMMISSION WOULD GIVE OUT THE CERTIFICATES AT THE APRIL 28 CITY COMMISSION MEETING.CRITERIA TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE ACADEMY.
YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OR OWNS A BUSINESS OR PROPERTY IN THE CITY, BE OVER 18 YEARS OLD, AND WILLING TO COMMIT TO ATTENDING THE CLASSES, AND ABLE TO ATTEND THE GRADUATION CEREMONY ON APRIL 28TH.
WE'D LIKE TO CAP THE CLASS AT 20 STUDENTS AND ACCEPT APPLICATIONS ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.
IF APPROVED TONIGHT, WE WOULD OPEN THE APPLICATION PERIOD TOMORROW, SO IT WOULD RUN FROM FEBRUARY 25 TO MARCH 9.
THIS IS THE PROPOSED CLASS SCHEDULE.
THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE MARCH 26, AND THAT WOULD OPEN UP WITH GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CITY.
WE'D HAVE WELCOMING REMARKS BY MAYOR SIKES-KLINE.
THEN WE'D DO A HISTORY OF THE CITY AND CITY GOVERNMENT 101.
CITY GOVERNMENT 101 WILL ENCOMPASS CITY ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND THEIR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
THEN WE WOULD MOVE ON TO THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2ND, WHICH WOULD BE EXAMINING SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE CITY.
THIS WOULD BE WALKING TOURS WITH THE ST. AUGUSTINE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
MAYBE TAKE THE STUDENTS ON A RIDE IN A FIRE TRUCK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA SO THEY CAN SEE FIRSTHAND THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS DO.
THEN ALSO OVER TO OUR POLICE TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT, YOU SHOULD FEEL WELCOME TO GO TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE STATION.
THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT INTRODUCTION TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
I DID MOVE THE IT DISCUSSION TO APRIL 23RD BECAUSE OF A CONFLICT WE HAD, SO THAT'S DIFFERENT IN MY PRESENTATION THAN WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET.
THE NEXT WEDNESDAY WILL BE APRIL 9TH, AND THAT'S UNDERSTANDING THE INNER WORKINGS OF UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TOURS OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, GO OUT THE SOLID WASTE, AND REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR EMPLOYEES DO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR CITY RESIDENTS AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE ACADEMY GET A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DAY TO DAY WORK AND OPERATIONS THAT THE CITY DOES.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO APRIL 16TH.
THAT'S EXPLORING THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF PLANNING AND BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT BOARDS, PLANNING AND BUILDING, OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD, HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OF ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT, WHAT A CRA IS, AND THEN ALSO GO OVER OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM THAT DAY.
THEN APRIL 23RD WILL BE THE LAST DAY, AND THAT'S TITLED DISCOVERING OTHER CITY SERVICES.
WE PLAN TO DO A WALKING TOUR FROM THE VIC, GIVE A TOUR OF THE VISITOR CENTER, THE PARKING GARAGE, RIDE THE STAR CIRCULATOR, GO TO THE CITY MARINA AND BACK AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT MOBILITY AND PARKING, AND THEN ALSO INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY THAT DAY.
THEN WE'LL CULMINATE IT WITH A CERTIFICATE GIVEN OUT BY THE CITY COMMISSION ON APRIL 28TH FOR GRADUATION.
IF SUCCESSFUL AND THE COMMISSION IS WILLING, WE WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THIS PROGRAM ANNUALLY IN THE SPRING DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS, GET SOME FEEDBACK.
ONE THING I WANT TO CAUTION BECAUSE I'VE DONE THESE BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE YOU CREATE TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN ON STAFF BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE GO OVERBOARD AND YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL OF WHAT THEY DO.
I HAVE BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ONLINE COMPONENT TO THIS KIND OF A TOPIC OF CITY GOVERNMENT 101 PARTLY BECAUSE WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS NOT REPRESENTING A DISTRICT, THAT THE MAYOR DOESN'T RUN THE CITY, WHAT A MANAGER DOES, HOW THE MANAGER GETS HIRED.
IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE SINCE YOU'RE PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DOCUMENTS TO HAND OUT, IT SEEMED LIKE AN EASY CONVERSION TO AN ONLINE.
I KNOW THAT'S ADDING AN EXTRA BURDEN TO STAFF, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT WOULD HIT A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I THINK IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED TO DO THIS MORE THAN ONE TIME A YEAR,
[02:20:03]
ESPECIALLY WITH JUST 20 PEOPLE.YOU'RE GOING TO HIT A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH 20.
THEN ALSO, IT'S SUCH A GREAT THING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SERVE ON A BOARD OR WHO ARE GOING TO THINK ABOUT RUNNING FOR COMMISSION AT AN OFFICE FOR THEM TO HAVE COMPLETED THIS.
THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO LEARN THE INNER WORKINGS.
THIS IS REALLY GREAT, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
>> I THINK IT'S GREAT, TOO. LONG OVERDUE, PROBABLY, AND I DEFINITELY ECHO A LOT OF COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD'S WORDS.
I REALLY LIKE THE ONLINE IDEA WHERE IT IS ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE.
LIKE THE REST OF US, WE GET EMAILS WHERE PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START, AND BEING ABLE TO POINT THEM TO THAT RESOURCE WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
THEN THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, HOW DO PEOPLE APPLY?
>> WE'LL HAVE AN APPLICATION THAT WILL BE POSTED IF APPROVED TONIGHT, AND THEY CAN EITHER EMAIL IT BACK OR DROP IT OFF.
>> WHERE WILL THE APPLICATION BE SPECIFICALLY?
>> IT WILL BE ONLINE, BUT WE CAN MAKE IT BOTH.
>> WHAT ARE THE SEARCH TERMS THAT SOMEBODY WHO'S INTERESTED MAY WANT TO USE?
>> WE'RE GOING TO PUT A PRESS RELEASE OUT TOMORROW THAT WILL PUSH IT OUT AND NOTES.
WE'RE GOING TO NOTIFY EVERYBODY.
>> I JUST THINK ON THE BOTTOM PART WHERE YOU GOT ON WEDNESDAY THE 23RD, I THINK YOU SHOULD MOVE THE MOBILITY AND THE PARKING DISCUSSION UP AND THEN TAKE THEM TO THE PARKING GARAGE BECAUSE THEN THEY'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS AS YOU ALREADY DISCUSSED THE MOBILITY, AND THEN THEY'LL SEE IT BECAUSE IF YOU DISCUSS IT AFTERWARDS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND THINK ABOUT THAT.
JUST A MATTER OF CHANGING THAT, BUT IT LOOKS GOOD.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CITY INSTEAD OF JUST WHAT THEY KNOW TO COME HERE, PAY YOUR WATER BILL, DO THIS, DO THAT.
I THINK IT'LL GET A MIXED AGE OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS.
THANK YOU. GREAT PRESENTATION.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. THANK YOU FOR DOING THE WORK.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY TO ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD.
WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT LIKE THIS AND AND THIS IS THIS, AND I SAY YOU HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR GOVERNMENT.
DEMOCRACY YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE IN YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT BETTER AND TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY WORK BETTER.
AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO THAT, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CITY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT, RUBIN AND CITY MANAGER.
APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING LEADERSHIP EMERGE OUT OF THIS PROGRAM.
I HEARD THE COUNTY DID IT AND IT WAS AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.
I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO GET INVOLVED, BUT THEY DON'T MAYBE NECESSARILY KNOW HOW, AND THIS MIGHT BE A REALLY GOOD START.
I AM REALLY SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT GET KICKED OFF.
THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT A MOTION ON THAT OR SOUND LIKE EVERYBODY'S REALLY PRETTY THRILLED.
>> WE'LL START THE FIRST CITIZENS ACADEMY FIRST FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
>> YES. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
I THINK YOU'RE A PERFECT FIT FOR THAT JOB TOO.
LET'S MOVE ON. THE NEXT ITEM IS BY CITY ATTORNEY.
[11. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY]
>> I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC PRESENTATION.
THIS WAS JUST THAT SOMEWHAT ODD BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE THAT WENT THROUGH A NUMBER OF ITERATIONS REGARDING IMMIGRATION AND OUR REQUIREMENTS AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO COOPERATE WITH IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS.
WHAT YOU WILL BE SEEING IN FUTURE CITY COMMISSION AGENDAS WILL BE ALL THE BILLS THAT ARE STARTING TO ROLL OUT NOW, THINGS LIKE LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO PUT FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER AND BILLS THAT PROTECT FLORIDA PARKS.
OF COURSE, OUR LITTLE BILL THAT COULD DOES HAVE A SPONSOR IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
THAT IS THE CITY'S SUPPORTED BILL REGARDING ILLEGAL DEMOLITIONS OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES.
INSTEAD OF CAPPING THE POTENTIAL FINE TO $5,000, IT WOULD BE 20% OF THE PROPERTY VALUE.
SO THAT BILL DOES HAVE SPONSORS AND IT'S A GO.
>> WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE OUR SENATOR LEEK AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE GRECO FOR SPONSORING THOSE BILLS,
[02:25:01]
AND WE HOPE TO SEE THAT GO THROUGH.[12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK]
ITEMS BY THE CITY CLERK.>> I JUST HAVE ONE BRIEF NOTIFICATION THAT WE HAVE THREE UPCOMING TERM EXPIRATIONS FOR THE LINCOLNVILLE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA STEERING COMMITTEE.
THEY EXPIRE APRIL 30TH, SO WE WILL BE ADVERTISING AND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THAT.
THE THREE CURRENT MEMBERS THAT ARE EXPIRING ARE ELIGIBLE TO REAPPLY SO HOPEFULLY THEY WILL.
[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]
>> I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING THIS EVENING. THANK YOU.
>> YOU HAD ALL YOUR STUFF ALREADY.
ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
I'M GOING TO KICK THIS OFF.I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME AND HAD NOWHERE TO GO WITH THE MOLD IN HIS APARTMENT.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS, COULD WE EXPLORE? IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN DO LOCALLY IN THIS SITUATION TO PROTECT TENANTS FROM BEING EVICTED SO QUICKLY, I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME PROVISIONS FOR DISCRIMINATION, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY GO THIS FAR.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. OUR ORDINANCE IS SPECIFIC TO FEDERALLY PROTECTED CLASSES.
THOSE ARE THE ONES YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH; RELIGION, RACE, GENDER, SO ON.
WE ARE SOMEWHAT LIMITED THROUGH YOUR FAVORITE TOPIC PREEMPTION ON SOME LANDLORD TENANT RENT CONTROL ISSUES.
I CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO IT IF THE COMMISSION WANTS ME TO LOOK INTO IT.
OF COURSE, THE CHALLENGES, THESE ARE PRIVATE CONTRACTS, AND WE ARE NOT A PARTY TO THEM AND WE DON'T THEREFORE GET INVOLVED IN WHAT WOULD ULTIMATELY PROBABLY BE LITIGATION LANDLORD TENANT TYPE LITIGATION.
THAT'S JUST THE CAUTION THERE.
>> I WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT TOO. JUST HAVING WORKED AT THE COURTHOUSE FOR 10 YEARS, HE HAS SOME TENANT RIGHTS, AND HE NEEDS TO GO DOWN THERE AND FIND OUT ABOUT THOSE RIGHTS BECAUSE JUST LIKE LANDLORDS HAVE RIGHTS, THERE'S TENANT RIGHTS, AND HE NEEDS TO GO DOWN THERE AND TALK TO THE FAMILY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND SEE IF THEY CAN GUIDE HIM IN SOME STEPS.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY USED TO DO THAT.
THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER AVENUE HE HASN'T EXHAUSTED.
>> YES, THERE'S A SELF-HELP DESK AT THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE CLERKS.
YOU'RE CORRECT. I HEARD THE GENTLEMAN SAY THAT HE HAD TRIED THROUGH.
>> RIGHT, TO LEGAL AID, AND THAT WASN'T FRUITFUL.
MAYBE THE NEXT STEP IS EITHER TRYING TO RETAIN A PRIVATE ATTORNEY OR DO IT HIMSELF.
>> I'M STRUCK BY THIS BECAUSE MY SON'S, ONE OF HIS VERY BEST FRIENDS FACED A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND "BROKE HIS LEASE", EVEN THOUGH HE HAD GIVEN NOTICE THAT THE MOLD PROBLEMS AND THIS IS OVER WHERE HE GOES TO SCHOOL, BUT ANYWHERE TAMPA OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT HERE IS THAT WITH THE STORMS THAT WE'VE GOT AND THE MOLD IS A REAL SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUE.
IT'S INCREASING AND MAYBE WE CAN TRY TO LOBBY FOR SOME BILL TO BE SUPPORTED BY SOME LEGISLATOR TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS AT A STATE-WIDE LEVEL.
I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT'S JUST TWO PEOPLE THAT I'VE MET IN THE PAST MONTH WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
YOUNG PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR, WHO HAVE OFTENTIMES FEWER RESOURCES TO BOUNCE BACK ON.
I'M VERY EMPATHETIC TO YOUR SITUATION, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE ATTENTION PAID TO THIS PROBLEM.
>> DO YOU AGREE THAT WE USE THE RESOURCE OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO LOOK IN FURTHER AND MAYBE MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY?
I CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO YOU, BUT I ONLY REPRESENT ONE CLIENT.
>> WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO REPRESENT HIM.
>> I DON'T WANT THE GENTLEMAN TO THINK NOW I'M HIS ATTORNEY.
I JUST NEED TO BE REALLY CLEAR.
>> I DON'T THINK HE THINKS THAT.
I DON'T USUALLY GO FIRST, BUT [OVERLAPPING] I WANTED TO DO.
WE HAVE AN ACCUSATION OF RECORDS BEING DELETED.
[02:30:05]
THIS CONCERNS ME, OF COURSE, AND WE'RE BEING ASKED TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE FDLE.THESE ARE LOOSE ENDS FOR THE PUBLIC THAT THE PUBLIC HAVE NOW IMBIBED.
>> CAN I JUST STOP? I'D LIKE TO STOP.
>> I DON'T WANT TO BE STOPPED.
I AM CLEAR THAT THE LADY THAT CAME UP SAID SHE WAS GETTING AN ATTORNEY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SENSITIVE, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE THAT I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT IT.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED TONIGHT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STOP COMING AND ADDRESSING US.
[OVERLAPPING] WE NEED TO HAVE ANSWERS.
>> THIS MATTER IS BEING INVESTIGATED.
IT HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED LOCALLY THROUGH OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS.
IT'S BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT'S BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
NOW WE'RE OPENING ANOTHER INVESTIGATION ON OTHER MATTERS, SOME OF WHICH YOU HEARD TONIGHT.
SHE HAS THREATENED CIVIL LITIGATION.
IT'S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THIS PUBLICLY UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE IT ON.
>> WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS IS STILL OPEN.
>> GOOD ENOUGH. THE LAST THING IS WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM MRS. CALADIE ABOUT A WALL PLAQUE ON THE SWIMMING POOL AT WHAT USED TO BE THE MONSON HOTEL.
THE SWIMMING POOL PICTURE, MR. BROCK POURED MURIATIC ACID IN THE POOL.
THE PICTURE WENT AROUND THE WORLD, AND IT'S A FASCINATING STORY BECAUSE IT WAS APPARENTLY RIGHT AT THE END OF THE FILIBUSTER IN CONGRESS.
I GUESS, RIGHT AFTER THAT WAS WHEN THEY PASSED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, SO THE NEXT DAY OR SOMETHING, WHICH WAS REALLY GREAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THERE.
I WAS ON HARB WHEN THIS PROJECT CAME THROUGH AND MR. PATEL AGREED TO PUT PLAQUES ON THE STEPS WHERE MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS ARRESTED THERE WHERE THE MONSON USED TO BE.
ON THE SAME STEPS, HE'S PRESERVED THOSE STEPS, ACTUALLY.
EVEN THOUGH HE COULD NOT KEEP THE EXACT POOL THAT JIMMY BROUGHT THROUGH THE GASIDONE, HE CREATED THE POOL IN THE SAME LOCATION.
WHAT YOU HAVE IS A NEW POOL THAT HE CAN MAINTAIN AND IT'S UP TO HEALTH STANDARDS AND ALL THAT, AND IT'S ALL HUNKY-DORY.
BUT HE PUT, WHICH HE AGREED TO DO, THE PLAQUE THERE ON THE INSIDE OF THE POOL ENCLOSURE.
MRS. CALADIE AND I HOPE SHE DOES HEAR ME.
I DON'T THINK HE WAS EVER INTENDING TO HIDE THE PLAQUE FROM THE WORLD ABOUT THE POOL.
MAYBE IT IS TRUE THAT THE OTHER PLAQUES ARE MORE VISIBLE.
BUT THIS YOU MAYBE EVEN ALMOST HAVE TO BE A GUEST AT THE HOTEL TO EVEN SEE THIS PLAQUE WHERE THE POOL IS.
MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO IS ASK MR. PATEL TO DO ANOTHER PLAQUE ON THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE IT'S FASCINATING.
>> I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS TWO PLAQUES.
>> THERE WAS A PLAQUE OUTSIDE.
>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONE IN THE POOL AND ONE ON THE WALL.
>> THERE WAS ONE ON THE WALL THAT YOU COULD READ PART OF THE STORY, AND THEN THERE WAS TILE OR SOMETHING THAT LED INTO THE SWIMMING POOL, AND YOU HAD TO READ THE END OF THE STORY WHEN YOU WERE SWIMMING IN THE POOL.
I THOUGHT THAT'S HOW IT WAS DESIGNED.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WASN'T ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WALL THAT WOULD BE ADJACENT TO THE SIDEWALK.
>> I THINK MAYBE IT'S JUST MISUNDERSTOOD THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED ORIGINALLY.
IT WASN'T INTENDED TO BE A PLAQUE ON THE OUTSIDE.
>> IT WAS GREATLY DEBATED AT THE TIME AT HARB [LAUGHTER] MUST BE HANDLED.
>> YES. IT WAS LONG MEETINGS AT HARB. BUT IT TURNED OUT GOOD.
FORTUNATELY, MR. PATEL WAS VERY WILLING TO DO ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COMMEMORATE THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAPPENED.
[02:35:02]
HERE WE ARE AND I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE NEXT TIME MRS. CALADIE HAS AN IDEA.MAYBE SHE COMES AND SPEAKS TO US, MAYBE SHE HAS AN IDEA.
MAYBE WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR MR. PATEL TO DO SOMETHING MORE.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M OPEN TO IT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
ONE IS, THE GENTLEMAN TOM REYNOLDS CAME IN AND WAS TALKING ABOUT THE TRASH BINS, THE CLOSURE THAT THE PEOPLE PUT OUTSIDE, AND YOU SAID THAT WAS COUNTY PROPERTY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL NOT BE ADDRESSING.
THE OTHER THING WAS, I WANTED TO AGAIN THANK THE OLD CITY CHAIR FOR COMING OUT AND READING THE CORRESPONDENCE LETTER THAT THEY REACHED OUT TO THE NEIGHBOR AND ASKED HIM TO BE IN COMPLIANCE SO THAT THE PROPERTY COULD BE DOING.
NOT ONLY DID THE CITY TRY TO ADDRESS THIS PEACEFULLY, SO DID THE RESIDENTS LETTING THEM KNOW THE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, SOME OF THE RESIDENTS DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE PROPERTY, THE PEOPLE OWN IT AND THEY LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE, IS THAT CORRECT? ONE OF THE HOUSES.
>> I KNOW THE OWNERS WERE SUPPOSED TO LIVE OUT OF TOWN. THEY WEREN'T EVEN LOCAL.
HOPEFULLY, NOW THAT WE THEN PASS THAT, BALL GETS ROLLING ON THAT.
I WANTED TO THANK SCOTT YORK, WHO COMES TO OUR MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND TOLD US ABOUT THE FAMILY AND ABOUT THE LITTLE BOY PICKING ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TO COME TO ST. AUGUSTINE.
THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT OUR IMPACT IS BIGGER THAN PEOPLE JUST COMING IN HERE FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THAT OUR IMPACT IS BIGGER BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY AND WHAT CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE REPRESENTS.
THAT WAS A GOOD FEELING TO HEAR THAT STORY BECAUSE I KNOW HE SEES HUNDREDS OF KIDS BECAUSE OF HIS JOB, TOURING, TO TAKE THE TIME TO HEAR THAT FAMILY.
I'M SO DELIGHTED THAT SPANISH STREET IS SUCH A VIABLE AREA THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY ENJOYING WALKING DOWN THERE.
I REALLY DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE LIGHTING THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ON FOOT.
IT'S VISIBLE AND THEY CAN SEE.
THEN THE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE IF SOMETHING'S GOING ON IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NIGHTTIME ORDINANCE, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT BEING DARK AND PEOPLE USING THE BATHROOM IN THEIR YARDS.
I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THE LIGHTING THE WAY IT IS.
THAT'S JUST MY CONCEPT ON THAT. THANK YOU.
>> YES. I DID WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE RENTER COMPLAINT, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'VE ASKED HER TO DO.
THAT IS, YOU'RE SAYING IT'S POSSIBLY STATE LAW THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WRITE AN ORDINANCE TO OVERRIDE.
>> THERE IS STATE PREEMPTION ON RENT CONTROLS OR CONTROLS REGARDING RENT IS HOW IT'S PHRASED.
I HAVEN'T EXPLORED IF WE CAN DO OTHER LANDLORD-TENANT-TYPE RIGHTS.
NOW, UNDERSTAND EVERY TIME YOU CREATE A LAW, SOME LAWYER ACTUALLY HAS TO WORK THAT.
YOU STILL JUST HAVE TWO FULL-TIME ATTORNEYS.
I JUST WANT YOU TO BE CAREFUL ON HOW MUCH YOU WANT ME TO GET INVOLVED IN POTENTIALLY WRITING SOMETHING.
MAYBE I CAN COME BACK AT A FUTURE MEETING AND TELL YOU, WELL, THESE ARE AREAS OF THE LAW THAT WE COULD THEORETICALLY GET INTO.
NOW, THERE IS EXTENSIVE LANDLORD-TENANT STATUTES AND LAW AND PROTECTIONS ON THE BOOKS.
THE CHALLENGE ISN'T SO MUCH THAT THE LAWS AREN'T THERE, IS THAT FOLKS WHO AREN'T ATTORNEYS, IT'S HARD TO NAVIGATE THAT.
I THINK THAT MAY BE MORE THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE RULES THERE, BUT TO UNDERSTAND THEM AND HOLD A LANDLORD ACCOUNTABLE REQUIRES PROBABLY LITIGATION, AND THAT'S DIFFICULT TO DO ON YOUR OWN.
I THINK THAT'S WHY COMMISSIONER GARRIS WAS SUGGESTING, GO TO THE SELF-HELP KIOSK AT THE CLERK OF COURTS AND SEE IF THEY CAN'T HELP YOU GET GOING WITH SOME BASIC FORMS FOR A COMPLAINT FOR REDRESS FROM THE LANDLORD, BUT YES, I CAN LOOK INTO IF THE QUERY BACK AT ME IS, IS THERE SOMETHING THEORETICALLY? NOT THAT YOU'RE TELLING ME TO DRAFT IT, BUT ARE THERE OPTIONS FOR ME TO DRAFT THOSE TYPES OF ORDINANCES? I CAN COME BACK AND REPORT BACK, YES OR NO.
>> I THINK A SIMPLER QUESTION IS, YES, THERE'S LAW THAT PREVENTS US FROM EVEN TRYING TO DO THIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'D FIND AS WELL.
I DID ATTEND THE ST. AUGUSTINE BUSINESS COALITIONS MEETING AT THEIR REQUEST THE OTHER DAY.
THEY HAD TWO QUESTIONS, ONE ABOUT THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, AND OF COURSE, THE SOUND ORDINANCE, WELL ATTENDED.
THE CITY MANAGER AND MELISSA WHISTLE WERE THERE TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T SLIP UP.
I WAS NOT CORRECTED IN PERSON AT THAT MEETING, WHICH I WAS PROUD OF.
THEY WERE FORCEFUL WITH OPINIONS, BUT IT WAS A VERY POSITIVE MEETING AND I WAS HAPPY TO BE THERE TO REPRESENT THE COMMISSION FOR THAT LITTLE PIECE.
[02:40:04]
I THINK THEY ARE WILLING TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OPTIONS FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THAT MAY ACTUALLY HELP.IF WE GET IN THAT DISCUSSION, HAVE WE SET THE DATES FOR THIS COMING YEAR? BUT DO WE DO IT EVERY YEAR OR HAVE WE DONE THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
FIRST IS, YOUR CODE SETS AN OUTER BOUNDARY.
THEN YOU DID ADOPT A TRADITIONAL DATES VIA RESOLUTION.
THOSE ARE YOUR TWO BOLLOCKS, I GUESS, OF TIMES.
YOU CAN CHANGE THAT EVERY YEAR BY ANOTHER RESOLUTION IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT SHORTER OR LONGER.
YOU JUST CAN'T EXCEED WHAT'S IN THE CODE.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS OUT ON THE PUBLIC.
BUT OVERALL, WAS A POSITIVE MEETING.
>> WAS THE CONCERN THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING CHANGING THE SCHEDULE OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS?
>> NO. THEY HAD SUGGESTIONS TO CHANGE IT.
THAT WAS TO ELIMINATE MOST OF JANUARY AND MOVE IT BACK INTO NOVEMBER.
>> NO, THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT MOVE IT FROM JANUARY INTO NOVEMBER.
>> WELL, WE ACTUALLY DO START BEFORE.
>> BUT DEPENDING ON [INAUDIBLE].
ANYWAY, THAT WAS A SUGGESTION.
>> COMMISSIONER MR. DEPRETER, YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> I DO WANT TO COMMEND, I ALSO MET WITH THAT GROUP, PROBABLY ROGUE WHEN I WENT.
I DID TALK TO MS. WHISTLE AND SHE FINALLY GAVE ME THE OKAY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER TO TALK TO HIM, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FORCEFUL OPINIONS, BUT I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY AT ALL TALKING TO HIM.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE FILL ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE GOING ON WITH THE PLANNING BOARD, AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY.
I THINK THEY'RE REACHING OUT, GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I KNOW THAT, WHEN I WAS ON THE PLANNING BOARD, THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFICULTY APPLYING THE CODE THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE DOING.
I WANT TO APPLAUD CITY FOR TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT.
I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
YOU HAD THE WHOLE PLANNING BOARD THERE. I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY HELPFUL.
YOU HAD THE BUILDING INSPECTOR.
I LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT MOSTLY ABOUT TRYING TO DROP INSURANCE RATES IN THE TOWN, WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE CAN GET INVOLVED IN.
THEN YOU HAD THE NEW FLOOD TEAM MANAGER, AND I THOUGHT YOU REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY WELL AND THERE WILL BE A WORKSHOP IN MARCH.
I WOULD SUGGEST ANYONE WHO'S LEFT LISTENING TO THIS, IF FLOODING IS AN ISSUE FOR YOU OR FILL IS AN ISSUE FOR YOU BECAUSE THEY'RE DIRECTLY RELATED, THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULD WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND HAVE YOUR OPINIONS BROUGHT TO THAT MEETING.
>> SURE. THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE OPEN HOUSE FOR THE HOMELESS COALITION OVER ON CHAPIN STREET ON SATURDAY, AND I AM SO IMPRESSED BY THE WORK THEY DO.
THEY DO SO MUCH GOOD WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THOSE WHO REALLY NEED HELP, AND THEIR WHOLE STRATEGY, THEIR TRANSITIONAL STEP PROGRAM IS JUST SUPER IMPRESSIVE.
I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THEM.
THEN I SEGUE WITH JESSICA BEACH'S PRESENTATION ON LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.
ONE OF OUR CITIZENS EMAILED, MAYBE ALL OF US, I DON'T EVEN KNOW, BUT CERTAINLY AND I FOLLOWED UP ON THE ARTICLE.
I HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE, AND I THINK HE WENT TO LOUISIANA AND SAW SOME OF THE COASTAL RETREAT BUYOUT.
I KNOW THEY'RE DOING THIS IN ALASKA TOO.
THERE'S A FEMA PROGRAM ON COASTAL RETREAT BUYOUT, AND NOW TAMPA BAY IS LOOKING INTO IT, IS WHAT THE ARTICLE SAID.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO EXPLORE OR NOT FOR FOLKS WHO JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF THEIR HOUSES AFTER SEVERE REPETITIVE LOSS IN FEMAS.
I'M ONE OF THE 60 APPLICANTS FOR NOW IT'S GOING ON THREE YEARS.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE EVER GOING TO SEE FEMA COME THROUGH WITH THOSE 60 APPLICATIONS AT THIS POINT, ESPECIALLY UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT I ALSO JUMPED ON.
I DOUBT THAT WE'LL HAVE ANY LUCK WITH IT, BUT THERE'S AN ELEVATE FLORIDA PROGRAM.
BECAUSE OUR HOUSE FLOODS AND YOU'VE HAD THIS.
THIS IS AN EXPERIMENT TO SEE IF THERE'S
[02:45:01]
ANY HOPE FOR US IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND GETTING IN THESE BIGGER PROGRAMS. I KNOW THAT JESSICA BEACH IS ON THIS AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND HER FOR IT AND JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP EACH OTHER. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.WITH THAT SAID, ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? THEN WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.