[00:00:01]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
AND IF WE COULD HAVE THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.OKAY. THANK YOU. THE FIRST ITEM IS OUR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO IF YOU WOULD ALL JOIN ME FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD. WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? IF YOU'RE ABLE, PLEASE STAND.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
ARE THERE ANY MODIFICATIONS, MR. CITY MANAGER? NO, WE HAVE NO MODIFICATIONS. COMMISSIONERS. YEAH.I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS IT IS. SECOND.
OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THANK YOU.
[3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS]
THANK YOU. I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION, THEN I'LL CALL UP THE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.WHEREAS FOR OVER 100 MILLION AMERICANS, VOTING CONTINUES TO BE A POPULAR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY, FROM COAST TO COAST AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, PEOPLE ARE TAKING TO THE WATER AND ENJOYING TIME TOGETHER BOATING, SAILING, PADDLING AND FISHING. DURING NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK, THE US COAST GUARD AND THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL, ALONG WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL SAFE BOATING PARTNERS, ENCOURAGE ALL BOATERS TO EXPLORE AND ENJOY AMERICA'S BEAUTIFUL WATERS RESPONSIBLY AND WHEREAS, ON AVERAGE, 650 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR IN BOATING RELATED ACCIDENTS IN THE US, AND APPROXIMATELY THREE FOURTHS OF THOSE ARE FATALITIES CAUSED BY DROWNING. DROWNING REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR RECREATIONAL BOATERS EACH YEAR, AND WHEREAS THE VAST MAJORITY OF ACCIDENTS ON THE WATERWAY ARE CAUSED BY HUMAN ERROR OR POOR JUDGMENT, AND NOT BY THE BOAT, EQUIPMENT OR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BOATERS WHO LOSE THEIR LIVES BY DROWNING EACH YEAR WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY IF THEY HAD WORN THEIR LIFE JACKETS, WHEREAS PROPER PLANNING FOR A DAY OF BOATING BEGINS EVEN BEFORE LEAVING HOME THROUGH BASIC BOATING SAFETY PROCEDURES, CARRYING LIFE SAVING, EMERGENCY DISTRESS AND COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT, WEARING LIFE JACKETS, ATTENDING SAFE BOATING COURSES, PARTICIPATING IN FREE BOAT SAFETY CHECKS, AND STAYING SOBER. WHEN NAVIGATING, WE CAN HELP ENSURE BOATERS ON AMERICA'S COASTAL INLANDS AND OFFSHORE WATERS STAY SAFE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IS OBSERVED TO BRING ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT LIFE SAVING TIPS FOR RECREATIONAL BOATERS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A SAFER, MORE FUN EXPERIENCE OUT ON THE WATER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 17TH THROUGH MAY 23RD, 2025 AS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND URGES ALL CITIZENS WHO PARTICIPATE IN BOATING ACTIVITIES TO OBSERVE THIS OCCASION BY LEARNING MORE ABOUT SAFE BOATING PRACTICES AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BOATING EDUCATION.
IN WITNESS THEREOF. SIGNED BY MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE.
IF WE COULD HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR BOATING SAFETY COME UP AND THE COMMISSIONERS.
[00:05:04]
HENRY SIDON.YOU YOU ELOQUENTLY EXPRESSED WHAT WE WERE ALL ABOUT, WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.
WHERE SHOULD I STAND? HERE. RIGHT HERE. OKAY. PERFECT. PERFECT.
THANK YOU, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO WELCOME ANYBODY WHO IS WHO IS INTERESTED.
THIS WEEKEND, WE WILL BE AT VILANO LANDING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNING, 7 A.M.
SO AND WE'LL BE WORKING AT OTHER PLACES DURING THE WEEK, YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, AND WE HOPE EVERYBODY STAYS SAFE ON THE WATER.
THAT ARE NON-ENFORCEMENT MISSIONS. WE WORK FOR THE COAST GUARD, AND WE ARE BASICALLY ALL VOLUNTEERS, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN DISTRICT SEVEN, WHICH COMPRISES AN AREA FROM SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH PUERTO RICO ALMOST EQUALS THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL IN THE COAST GUARD IN THAT SAME AREA AND WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN SUPPORTING THE MISSIONS OF THE COAST GUARD. THANK YOU.
THAT'S GREAT, AND IF WE CAN GET A PICTURE. OH, SURE.
THERE WE GO, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION.
OUR SECOND PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING, AND I WILL BE READING IT, AND THEN I WILL INVITE THE HONORABLE JUDGE CHRISTINE, THE HONORABLE HONORABLE JUDGE MCGILLEN AND MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO COME UP ONCE I'VE FINISHED READING THE PROCLAMATION.
SO HERE GOES. WHEREAS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, THOUSANDS OF PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS HAVE BEEN RESTORING LIVES, REUNITING FAMILIES, AND MAKING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION SAFER, AND WHEREAS PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS PROVIDE FOCUS AND LEADERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY WIDE PARTNERSHIPS, BRINGING TOGETHER PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN COMBATING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, MENTAL ISSUES, AND OTHER ISSUES PRESENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REALM, AND WHEREAS RESEARCH SHOWS THAT PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE TREATMENT OUTCOMES AND DO SO AT A LOWER COST THAN OTHER JUSTICE SYSTEM STRATEGIES, AND WHEREAS SINCE 2017 I'M SORRY, I SKIPPED ONE, AND WHEREAS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY DRUG COURT IN 2002, 280 INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH DRUG AND RELATED OFFENSES HAVE COMPLETED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
WHEREAS SINCE 2017, WHEN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY VETERANS COURT BEGAN, 96 JUSTICE INVOLVED VETERANS HAVE COMPLETED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, AND WHEREAS, JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS, TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY SUPERVISION PERSONNEL, RESEARCHERS AND EDUCATORS JOINED TO FORM HEALING COMMUNITIES, AND WHEREAS, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE WISHES TO RECOGNIZE THE SUCCESSFUL WORK OF THESE PROBLEM SOLVING COURT PROGRAMS TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION, HEREBY PROCLAIMS MAY 2025 AS PROBLEM SOLVING COURT MONTH AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS, AND THIS IS SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR.
SO IF AT THIS TIME WE COULD HAVE THE HONORABLE JUDGE CHRISTINE AND THE HONORABLE JUDGE MCGILLEN JOIN US FOR BRIEF COMMENTS AND FOR A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ALONG WITH OUR CITY COMMISSION. THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
[00:10:20]
ALL RIGHT, I ALWAYS FEEL GREAT COMING. IT'S LIKE COMING BACK HOME BECAUSE I LIVE DOWNTOWN SO MANY YEARS, AND I SERVED ON THE CITY COMMISSION A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT THE MOST THING I WANT TO RECOGNIZE IS THE SUPPORT THAT THE CITY HAS ALWAYS GIVEN TREATMENT COURTS, ESPECIALLY DRUG COURT, YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.THE VETERANS COURT JUDGE MCGILLEN GOT IT GOING TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL THERE.
THE RECIDIVISM RATES IN VETERANS COURT ARE AMAZING.
THEY'RE DOWN LIKE AROUND, YOU KNOW, 10% WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN 70, 80% HAD THESE FOLKS GONE OFF TO PRISON WHERE MOST OF OUR FOLKS ARE HEADED WHEN WE GET THEM. SO THEY'RE SAVING LIVES, SAVING KIDS LIVES, SAVING TAXPAYERS ABOUT HALF OF WHAT IT WOULD COST NORMALLY.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COMMISSION FOR ITS SUPPORT.
I HEARD AN INTERESTING STATISTIC AT A CLASS LAST DECEMBER.
THESE TREATMENT COURTS DEAL WITH FOLKS THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEMS. SO THE ARGUMENT WOULD BE, SHOULDN'T WE BE CALLING THE 30% THE SPECIALTY COURT AND THE 70% THE REGULAR COURT? BUT THE REALITY IS, AS JUDGE CHRISTINE SAID, THE NUMBERS ARE THERE.
71% OF FOLKS--TEN YEARS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM JAIL, 71% OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE BACK IN JAIL.
IN TREATMENT COURT PROGRAMS, TEN YEARS AFTER THAT, 17%.
SO A REMARKABLE DIFFERENCE, AND AS HE SAID, CHANGING LIVES.
MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE COMMUNITY, CHANGING THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILY AS WELL BECAUSE THEY'RE BACK IN THE COMMUNITY, BACK PAYING TAXES, BACK TAKING CARE OF THEIR KIDS, GOING TO SCHOOL EVENTS, CHURCH, ETC..
SO THAT'S THE REAL IMPACT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING THIS AND FOR THE EFFORTS THAT THIS COUNCIL AND OF COURSE, THE COUNTY HAS DONE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT CARD OR WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU FILL THAT OUT OR LET SOMEBODY KNOW IN THE BACK. OH RIGHT HERE. SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE COMMENTS.AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S RULES OF DECORUM.
PLEASE ALSO TELL US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS.
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY CLAPPING OR DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS, AND 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 AFTER THEY HAVE DONE SO. OKAY. ANY FURTHER CARDS? ARE WE GOOD ON THOSE? OKAY, WE HAVE A FEW MORE. WHAT I WILL DO IS ANNOUNCE THE FIRST PERSON TO COME UP, AND THEN THE PERSON WHO FOLLOWS THEM.
HI, MY NAME IS SHANNON SAPP. TODAY I COME AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN.
COULD YOU COME CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE? I'M SO SORRY.
[00:15:10]
BREACH OF INTEGRITY WITHIN THE SAINT AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT, EVIDENCE KEY TO JUSTICE HAS BEEN DELETED, AND YET NO MEANINGFUL INTERNAL INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTED.WHEN I MADE A POLICE REPORT REQUESTING THAT PATRICE NOT BE INVOLVED DUE TO THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HER, MY REQUEST WAS IGNORED. INSTEAD, SHE PROCEEDED TO UPLOAD A REPORT FILED AGAINST HER AUTHORED BY ONE OF HER OWN COWORKERS.
HOW CAN THAT? HOW CAN THE ACCUSED PLAY A ROLE IN MANAGING THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION? WHAT DOES THIS SET FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE CHIEF? JENNIFER MUSHOK HAS PUBLICLY STATED THAT SHE CANNOT QUESTION AN OFFICER ABOUT ANY WRONGDOING TO DISCIPLINE PROCESS DUE TO THE DISCIPLINE PROCESS OUTLINED IN THE OFFICER'S BILL OF RIGHTS. HOWEVER, THIS CONTRADICTS THE REALITY OF PATRICE DRINKARD'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO HER OWN MISCONDUCT.
IF POLICY PREVENTS ACCOUNTABILITY, THEN THE POLICY MUST BE CHANGED.
THE CHIEF. THE CHIEF. WENT AND QUIETLY CHANGED POLICIES JUST DAYS BEFORE MY COMPLAINT, ALLOWING THE CHIEF TO DISMISS CASES WITHOUT FORMAL INVESTIGATIONS.
SHE AMENDED POLICIES AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE POLICE UNION ATTORNEY AND THE IN AN EMAIL ON HER PERSONAL EMAIL IN AN ACTION THAT VIOLATED MULTIPLE CITIZENS POLICIES REGARDING PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.
HER FAILURE TO INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION INTO OFFICER.
I AM REQUESTING THAT AN OUTSIDE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION BE DONE BY FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND PATRICE DRINKARD FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN DESTROYING, DELETING AND COVERING UP MY EVIDENCE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS SAPP. COULD WE HAVE CHRISTIE HAMILTON, PLEASE? FOLLOWED BY KELSEY MAY. HI, I'M CHRISTIE HAMILTON AND I LIVE ON MCKENZIE CIRCLE.
I'M GOING TO READ THIS SO I DON'T FORGET ANYTHING BECAUSE I ALWAYS FORGET. SINCE LAST TIME I WAS HERE TO ADDRESS YOU GUYS, I HAVE RECEIVED THE COMPLETED INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION INTO FORMER OFFICER KELLY BAKER.
THAT WAS DONE BY CLAY CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REGARDING OVER 200 IMAGES THAT SHE HAD KEPT ON HER PHONE OF PEOPLE'S PRIVATE INFORMATION THAT INCLUDED NCIC SCREENS THAT HAD SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES AND ALL OF THAT, AND A VIDEO OF HER JOKING ABOUT KILLING SOMEONE WHILE ON DUTY IN UNIFORM.
THOSE FINDINGS WERE SUSTAINED BY CLAY COUNTY AS SERIOUS VIOLATIONS.
MY QUESTION IS LAST JULY, I MADE THE CITY MANAGER, AND HE MADE THE CHIEF AWARE OF THESE IMAGES BEING KEPT ON OFFICER BAKER'S PHONE. IT APPEARS THAT THE CHIEF BROUGHT KELLY IN AND QUESTIONED HER ABOUT IT, BUT THEN NOTHING WAS DONE.
IT LOOKS LIKE NOTHING WAS DONE AND KELLY CONTINUED TO COLLECT PEOPLE'S PRIVATE INFORMATION.
SO I EMAILED THE CITY LEADERSHIP SAPD LEADERSHIP.
MY QUESTION NOW IS BECAUSE THE CHIEF DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
KELLY CONTINUED TO FILE MOTIONS AGAINST US IN FAMILY COURT THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FAMILY COURT, INCLUDING WANTING US TO STOP PULLING PUBLIC RECORDS THAT EXPOSED HER BEHAVIOR AND WANTED US TO NOT BE ABLE TO CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ANY WAY.
SO FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION, SUNSHINE LAW VIOLATIONS AND THE MOTIONS THAT SHE FILED.
BECAUSE THE POLICE ENABLED THIS BEHAVIOR, THE POLICE CHIEF COST US $67,891 IN LEGAL FEES TO FIGHT.
I ACTUALLY JUST CAME FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHERE I FILED A REPORT THAT LISTED 80 DIFFERENT INCIDENCES THAT I HAVE EVIDENCE OF, WHERE KELLY WAS FOLLOWING ME, USING POLICE RESOURCES TO INTIMIDATE ME AND MY HUSBAND.
[00:20:02]
I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE CHIEF OF POLICE DECIDED THAT CITIZENS WEREN'T WORTH PROTECTING, AND THAT SHE WOULD PROTECT HER OFFICER INSTEAD.IT APPEARS LIKE IT'S A SYSTEMATIC FAILURE OF ACTUALLY HOLDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE, AND I DO WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THE 200 PEOPLE WHOSE INFORMATION WAS EXPOSED BY KELLY KEEPING THIS ON THE PHONE, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, NOBODY'S BEEN TOLD ABOUT IT OR EVEN BEEN MADE AWARE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HAMILTON. KELSEY MAY, PLEASE, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FULMER.
GOOD EVENING. I LIVE AT NINE COURT THE OPHELIA IN THE FLOWOOD DISTRICT, AND MY PUBLIC COMMENT IS IN REGARDS TO 301 SAN MARCO AND THE RECENT PROGRAM THE CITY COMMISSION AND CITY STAFF HAVE CREATED TO CONSERVE SAINT AUGUSTINE'S GREEN SPACES.
I'M JUST HERE ADVOCATING FOR THE SPACE TO REMAIN AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE, IF POSSIBLE.
IT SOAKS UP A LOT OF RAINWATER. THERE'S BEAUTIFUL WILDFLOWERS, A VARIETY OF TREES AND BIRDS.
LOTS OF BATS AT NIGHT. MY DOG AND I SAW A BLACK RACER SNAKE JUST YESTERDAY.
IT'S MUCH COOLER IN THE SUMMER. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS JUST SO HOT OUT.
OVERALL, IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL NATURAL SPACE.
SO I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE CITY TO CONTINUE EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES OF ACQUIRING SOME OR ALL OF THIS THREE AND A HALF ACRE, ACRE PARCEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
CHRIS FULMER AND CHRIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MISS KALAIDI.
HI. GOOD EVENING, CHRIS FULMER. I LIVE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE GOT THE BAYFRONT AND CATHEDRAL STREET PROHIBITED VENDOR AREAS, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU ALSO INCLUDE ORANGE STREET FROM CORDOVA TO THE AVENIDA AND THE LENGTH OF CORDOVA, BECAUSE THOSE ARE ALSO HIGH CONGESTION AREAS.
PEOPLE GOING BACK TO THE PARKING GARAGE AND THE SIDEWALK IS NOT VERY WIDE IN A LOT OF THOSE PLACES.
IT PUTS PEOPLE IN THE STREET. SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
AS THIS IS THE ONLY MEETING THIS MONTH I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE MEETINGS IN JUNE.
I HOPE THAT THE CITY WILL CONTINUE THEIR PRACTICE OF RECOGNIZING PRIDE MONTH.
I HOPE THAT IS ON THE AGENDA. YES, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION COMING UP IN THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE.
THANK YOU. EVERY YEAR YOU INVITE THE LGBT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO THIS PUBLIC MEETING, AND EVERY YEAR YOU SIT THERE AS THEY ARE INSULTED AND REALLY DEFAMED BY THE PEOPLE WHO SIT IN BACK AND TALK [INAUDIBLE] YOU CANNOT HEAR THEM THE YEAR THAT I STOOD UP AND CALLED OUT THAT I WAS CALLED DEVIANT. I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS REPRIMANDED FOR DISRUPTING THE MEETING.
SO I HOPE THAT THIS YEAR YOU WILL TAKE WHATEVER STEPS ARE NECESSARY.
HAVE SOMEBODY SIT WITH THEM. HAVE SOMEBODY STAND BEHIND THEM.
WE ARE A COMPASSIONATE CITY AND EVERYBODY SHOULD FEEL WELCOME IN THIS ROOM, AND IT'S SPRINGTIME.
IT'S NOT TOO HOT YET. GO OUT. ENJOY THE WEATHER.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. BE KIND TO YOUR SERVERS.
TIP YOUR WAITSTAFF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MISS FULMER AND I HAVE ONE MORE CARD.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS WISHING TO SPEAK? MISS KALAIDI. BJ KALAIDI, WEST CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND I'M GOING TO KEEP ON SAYING THIS AND SAYING IT.
THE SHERIFF'S INMATE PHOTO SEARCH WEBSITE IS STILL SHUT DOWN SINCE DECEMBER 2024.
THIS CONTINUES TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR EVERYONE LIVING IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, THERE MAY BE SOME KIND OF LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SHERIFF ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH WHY THIS WAS SHUT DOWN, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS BACK UP.
[00:25:02]
HOWEVER, THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH HAS A LIMIT OF 100 SHORT TERM RENTALS ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES.IN 2011, SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH PREEMPTED THE NUMBER OF SHORT TERM RENTALS ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IT'S ALWAYS IN ANY KIND OF ORDINANCE OR WHATEVER WE DO ON A GOVERNMENT LEVEL.
SO PLEASE LISTEN TO 90.5 FM FOR SOME HOPE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MISS KALAIDI. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. MR. CITY MANAGER, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING ON JUNE 9TH.ORDINANCE 2025-02 AMENDMENT TO THE FIREFIGHTERS PENSION TRUST FUND SHARE PLAN.
WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS THE JUNE 9TH, 5 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 23RD. REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING 5 P.M..
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING JULY 14TH, 3 P.M.
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH IS THE BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS AND JULY 14TH, 5 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE A NOTIFICATION OF PROCLAMATIONS AND CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITIONS, A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO UNITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IN CELEBRATION OF 20 YEARS OF SUPPORT AND SERVICE TO THE GREATER SAINT AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY, FROM COMMISSIONER CYNTHIA HARRIS. WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE TIME EXTENSION OF THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH ELKS LODGE GRANT AGREEMENT TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2025, AND FINALLY, WE HAVE A MARLO VERSUS CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE INVOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AND THAT COMPLETES TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU.
MR. BIRCHIM. ANY MODIFICATIONS? COMMISSIONERS? NO. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY. WE HAVE NO APPEALS.
[8.A.1. Ordinance 2025-06: Imposes restrictions on mobile vendors during Nights of Lights and July 4th celebrations. (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]
THE ONLY ONE OF THOSE IS THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-06, IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON MOBILE VENDORS AND I WILL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS POINT.IS THAT CORRECT, MISS LOPEZ? IF YOU'LL LET ME DO A LITTLE PRESENTATION AND MISS GALAMBOS HAS A LITTLE MAP TO SHOW THE AUDIENCE, AND THEN WE CAN ROLL INTO PUBLIC HEARING. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT PRACTICED AT THIS, SO THAT'S ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THE IMPORTANT PART IS TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO YOU HAD IT, RIGHT? THANK YOU. SO TODAY OR THIS EVENING, I SHOULD SAY IS OUR SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOBILE VENDOR REGULATIONS, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A COUPLE OF MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE AREAS THAT HAD THE GREATEST CONGESTION AND THE MOST NEED T O REGULATE AND THE INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE WAS STRICTLY TO JUST ADDRESS THE H IGH CONGESTION AREAS THAT ARE A RESULT OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND INDEPENDENCE DAY, THE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION.
SO THEY'RE TRULY EXTRAORDINARY HIGH CONGESTION TIMES FOR OUR CITY.
WE DID REFERENCE THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT AND A LOT OF OTHER DATA, AND IT'S IN YOUR PACKET.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THROUGH IT AND THE PUBLIC DOES AS WELL, BUT WE HAD PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CONGESTED AREAS AND I THINK MISS GALAMBOS PUT ON THE OVERHEAD SOMEWHERE. YAY! THE MAGIC OF SCIENCE.
ALSO, SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM PEDDLERS OR STREET PEDDLERS AND THOSE AREAS.
SO IT'S ALL OF SAINT GEORGE STREET, AND THEN THE INTERSECTING STREETS ALONG SAINT GEORGE STREET AS WELL AS THE PLAZA ARE ALL PROHIBITED ALREADY 24 OVER SEVEN, PRETTY MUCH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WHAT WE'RE ADDING WITH TODAY'S ORDINANCE IS AN ADDITIONAL LAYER, AND THAT WOULD PROHIBIT MOBILE VENDING ON EITHER SIDEWALK. SO EITHER THE EAST SIDE SIDEWALK OR THE WESTERN SIDEWALK ALONG ABERDEEN AND MENENDEZ.
SO THE ENTIRE LENGTH UP FROM ORANGE TO KING STREET AND ALONG THE NORTHERN SIDE OF CATHEDRAL PLACE.
[00:30:06]
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT STAGING SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN THAT PARKING LOT THAT'S ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF CATHEDRAL.SO IT'S A LOGICAL PLACE TO PUT IT. YOU ARE CONSTRAINED BY LAW TO LOOK AT THE LEAST BURDENSOME ALTERNATIVE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE OBSERVED. SO IT HAS TO BE NARROWLY TAILORED AND IT HAS TO SERVE YOUR ORDINANCE HAS TO SERVE A SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC INTEREST IN HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY IN ORDER, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE VERY JUDICIOUSLY SCALPEL LIKE INCLUDING ONLY CERTAIN AREAS FOR THOSE PROHIBITION ON MOBILE VENDING OR PEDDLING, IF YOU PREFER, THAT PHRASE IN THE CITY AND IT IS A SECOND READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING I THINK WE HEARD FROM ONE PERSON IN ANTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHERS, AND OF COURSE, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MISS LOPEZ. I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY INTERESTED IN SPEAKING ON THIS ORDINANCE AT SECOND READING, SEEING NO ONE? THEN I WILL DEFER TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO MISS LOPEZ OR ANY OTHER STAFF.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO GO FIRST. I THINK MISS FULMER'S COMMENTS ARE PRETTY APPROPRIATE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF WE COULD DO A STUDY DURING THIS YEAR'S 4TH OF JULY AND THIS YEAR'S NIGHT OF LIGHTS ON THE OTHER STREETS, AND TAKE SOME DATA AND TAKE SOME PICTURES AND SEE IF IT WOULD FIT IN DOING THAT FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
SURE. I THINK THE CITY MANAGER COULD DO THAT.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GENERATE THAT DATA. THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD. COMMISSIONER DEPRETER.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT THIS, COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
I THINK WE DISCUSSED THIS A LOT THE LAST TIME, AND I THINK WE BASICALLY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE CONGESTION AND PEOPLE PULLING INTO THE STREET. YOU KNOW, WALKING, TRYING TO AVOID VENDORS BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE WAY, AND THEY COULD GO OUT AND THE CAR COULD BE TRYING TO PARK, AND WE'LL HAVE A BIGGER ISSUE.
SO I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE THIS ORDINANCE GETTING READY TO HAPPEN.
THANK YOU, AND I WOULD ADD THAT FOREMOST, I THINK I'VE HEARD FROM ALL OF YOU IS THE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEDESTRIANS TO MOVE SAFELY THROUGH THE CITY AND NOT BE PUSHED OUT INTO THE STREETS WHERE THEY COULD EASILY GET HURT.
EVEN JUST STEPPING OFF THE SIDEWALK THE WRONG WAY, AND SO REDUCING THAT CONGESTION AND HAVING EMERGENCY PERSONNEL BE ABLE TO REACH THEM WITHOUT TRIPPING OVER WHATEVER STRUCTURES MIGHT BE PUT ON THE SIDEWALK BY THE MOBILE VENDORS, AND TWO, FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OUR ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR THEIR RETAIL ENTERPRISES AND THEIR THEIR SERVICE FOR FOOD OR WHATEVER ENGAGED BY THE PUBLIC.
DO I HEAR A MOTION FROM ANY OF MY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ON THE GROUNDS OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
ALL RIGHT. DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS BY TITLE ONLY? I WOULD LIKE TO READ BY TITLE ONLY. YEAH. OKAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO AGAIN SUPPORT TO ADOPT.
YEAH. YEAH. WHAT'S THAT? YOU'RE ADOPTING IT. ADOPTING RESOLUTION ORDINANCE 2025-06 BY TITLE ONLY.
EXCELLENT. SECOND GREAT. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-06 , AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. CREATING SECTION 27-512 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR RESTRICTIONS FOR MOBILE VENDORS AND HIGH CONGESTION AREAS.
OKAY. COULD WE HAVE A VOTE, PLEASE? THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE. IT WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST YEAR, AND MOVING FORWARD INTO JULY 4TH CELEBRATION WILL GET OUT AHEAD OF THINGS.
SO THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
[9.A.1. Ordinance 2025-02: Amendment to the Firefighters' Pension Trust Fund share plan. (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]
THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-02. MISS LOPEZ, PLEASE.[00:35:06]
YES. ORDINANCE 2025 -02 IS AN AMENDMENT TO OUR EXISTING SHARE PLAN FOR OUR FIRE FIREFIGHTERS.IT WOULD CHANGE THE SHARE SPLIT THAT IS CURRENTLY 50/50 BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE FIREFIGHTERS TO A 60/40 SPLIT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS. SO THE FIREFIGHTERS WOULD GET THE BENEFIT OF THE 60% FOR INDIVIDUAL FIREFIGHTERS AND INCLUDES RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS, AND THE 40% WOULD BE USED FOR THE CITIES OR TO DEFER THE CITY'S ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIREFIGHTER PENSION BENEFITS, AND THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE FROM PREMIUM TAX REVENUES, AND THOSE ARE SORT OF SPECIALTY LINES OF INSURANCE THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO PAY TO THE STATE, AND THEN THE STATE TRANSFERS THOSE FUNDS TO THE CITY.
SO IT IS NOT IT'S NEW MONEY, IF I CAN PHRASE IT THAT WAY.
THAT'S NOT COMING FROM THE CITY DIRECTLY AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE.
OH, AND THE UNION DID VOTE IN SUPPORT OF IT. OKAY.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, AND NOTHING.
I THINK THE FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD GET THE PENSION INCREASE.
OKAY, AND REDISTRIBUTE IT IN THIS WAY. THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO SAVE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DEPRETER ANYTHING? OKAY.
COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD. YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.
I KNOW WE'VE DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT EVERY YEAR.
CORRECT? CORRECT. GREAT. DO I HEAR A MOTION? OH, YEAH.
SECOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-02 , AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 20, ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 20 219 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE TO MODIFY THE TERMS OF THE FIREFIGHTERS PENSION TRUST FUND SHARE PLAN, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WONDERFUL. ALL RIGHT. MISS WYMAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE.
SO THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE RESOLUTION NINE. I'M SORRY.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2025-15: Authorizes a traffic signal maintenance and compensation agreement for $116,123.00 between FDOT and the City of St. Augustine. (R. Franklin, City Manager)]
THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 9B1 RESOLUTION 2025-15, REGARDING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN FDOT AND THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.MISTER FRANKLIN. GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS.
THIS WILL BE FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, WHICH STARTS IN JULY.
FOR THE STATE, IT'S FOR $116, 123. THANK YOU.
QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU. THIS IS AN ANNUAL RENEWAL.
WE'VE BEEN DOING AN ANNUAL. YES. ANNUAL RENEWAL.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ANYBODY WANT TO INTRODUCE A MOTION? THEN I'LL DO IT. OKAY, I MOVE THAT WE PASS RESOLUTION 2025-15.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, AND MISS WYMAN. BARBARA BLONDER.
YES. JON. DEPRETER. YES. CYNTHIA. YES. JIM. SPRINGFIELD.
YES. OKAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. MOVING ON TO RESOLUTION 2025-16.
[9.B.2. Resolution 2025-16: Approves the adoption of the revised Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) plan for St. John's County. (J. Beach, Chief Resilience Officer/Utilities & Public Works Deputy Director)]
IF I COULD HAVE MISS BEACH APPROACH THE PODIUM, PLEASE, AND TELL US ALL ABOUT THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING WITH THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY. YES. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.SO I AM BRINGING BEFORE YOU RESOLUTION 2025-16.
IT'S FOR THE FORMAL ADOPTION OF THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY.
IT'S A PLAN THAT GETS ADOPTED AND UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS, AND IS SPEARHEADED BY SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, AND THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY IS TO LIMIT THE LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DUE TO A DISASTER.
THERE'S A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON PREPLANNING AND MITIGATION TO HELP ALLEVIATE THOSE IMPACTS.
DISASTER RECOVERY FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON MITIGATION, THERE'S A $6 RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
[00:40:06]
PLAN, AND SO WE ESSENTIALLY JUST DO UPDATES TO THE COMMUNITY PROFILE, IDENTIFY ANY NEW HAZARDS, ANYTHING THAT CHANGES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND THERE'S MAJOR COMPONENTS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE PLAN.I THINK FOR PURPOSES OF THE CITY, WHAT WOULD BE OF MOST INTEREST TO US ARE THE MITIGATION INITIATIVES OR PROJECTS, AND SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A LIST. IT'S IN APPENDIX D IN THE BACK OF YOUR PACKETS OR THE BINDERS.
IT'S JUST A WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECTS, NOT ONLY US, BUT THE BEACH, THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE COUNTY, AND IT'S ANYWHERE FROM UTILITY HARDENING AND ENHANCEMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS, FLOOD MITIGATION AND LOSS, REPETITIVE LOSS. WE ALSO HAVE CATEGORIES ON DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
I'M SORRY. GIVE ME A PAGE NUMBER FOR THAT. OH, THAT'S A BIG DOCUMENT OR YOU DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT.
I DON'T HAVE THE FULL I SAW IT, I JUST CAN'T PUT MY FINGER ON THE PAGE I COULD DO I'LL SHOW LIKE, HOW ABOUT THIS? OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. WE CAN KIND OF SEE AND I'LL WALK THROUGH THESE JUST REALLY QUICK. IT'S JUST THE CATEGORIES TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR FOR WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET. THERE'S A LOT OF A RANGE OF PROJECTS THAT ARE LISTED ON HERE, AND I HAD HIGHLIGHTED AND KIND OF SHOWN THE CITIES OF NOTE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WERE PRESENTED EARLIER TODAY, SUCH AS THE SOUTH WHITNEY WEST KING STREET DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, OUR SEAWALL, AVENIDA MENENDEZ CONNECTIVITY PROJECT.
THOSE ARE ALL PROJECTS FUNDED THROUGH FEMA'S HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM, AND IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY TO GET RANKED SO WE CAN BRING IT FORWARD FOR POTENTIAL FUNDING. SO THAT'S THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE LMS AND ALSO ALL OF THE FLOOD PROPERTIES THROUGH FEMA'S FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE'VE SUBMITTED OVER THE YEARS FOR LIFTING. THOSE ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN OUR LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY, BUT THERE'S QUITE A VARIETY OF PROJECTS THAT GOES FROM WILDFIRE MITIGATION AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE HARDENING, JUST TO NAME A FEW, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE PLANNING CATEGORY.
SO THAT'S JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE TYPES OF CATEGORIES OF PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THERE.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET FUNDING FOR IT, AND ACTUALLY JUST WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO XAVIER PELLISSIER AND OUR MOBILITY MANAGER, AND HE'S OPERATING THROUGH THE SMART CITIES OF SAINT SMART SAINT AUGUSTINE GRANT THAT WE HAVE. THEY'RE DEPLOYING FLOOD SENSORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND THEY HAD AN EXTRA ONE, AND SO HE HAD CONTACTED ME ASKING WHERE COULD WE PUT THIS EXTRA, AND I HAD THE PERFECT LOCATION AT OUR MARINA.
WE HAVE A WEATHER STATION THERE, SO NOW WE CAN COLLECT THE LIVE DATA FROM RAINFALL, WIND SPEED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WATER LEVEL SENSORS, WHICH HAS A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WITH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, PRIORITIZING WHERE WE PUT [INAUDIBLE] VALVES AND A THING THAT WOULD BE COMING POTENTIALLY IS NOTICING AND ALERTS TO THE COMMUNITY ON WHEN WE START GETTING INTO THOSE FLOOD THRESHOLDS BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE TO DO THAT.
WE'RE IN THE PILOTING STAGE SO WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA AVAILABLE JUST YET.
WE'RE ESSENTIALLY WORKING WITH [INAUDIBLE], WHO'S THE MANUFACTURER OF THESE FLOOD SENSORS, AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE DASHBOARD LOOKS LIKE, AND SO THIS IS RAW DATA COMING FROM THE FLOOD SENSOR AT THE MARINA RIGHT HERE AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON KIND OF REFINING THAT AND KIND OF TROUBLESHOOTING AND MAKING SURE THAT THE DATA MAKES SENSE, AND THIS LITTLE MAP TO THE RIGHT SHOWS VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN OUR AREA, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A NOTE.
THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY A PRETTY EXTENSIVE NETWORK IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND ALSO THE UNITED STATES.
SO ALL THE LITTLE DOTS ON THE MAP REPRESENT OTHER DATA AND WATER LEVEL SENSORS THAT WE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO WORKING WITH [INAUDIBLE], AND SO AGAIN, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS. THIS WILL REALLY HELP US WHEN WE GET INTO HURRICANE SEASON AND OUR PLANNING EXERCISES.
SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY PLAN UPDATES.
IT DOES REQUIRE A FORMAL ADOPTION BY THE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS BEACH. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO. SOUNDS GOOD. SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED TO GET THE BALL ROLLING.
SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU, BUT I'LL LET Y'ALL GO WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
COMMISSIONER DEPRETER. I THINK IT'S ALL EXCITING.
YEAH. SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK. GOOD STUFF, COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.
YEAH, AND THIS IS A REQUIREMENT TO GET FUNDS.
IT IS. THESE PROJECTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH YOUR LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY.
SO THE WORKING GROUP, THERE'S ACTUALLY A RANKING TABLE THAT'S IN THE BACK TOO.
[00:45:02]
I CAN GO THROUGH THAT IF YOU WANT, BUT IT DOES RANK THE PROJECTS AND THEN THAT GETS FORWARD FOR THAT SPECIFIC DISASTER.THERE'S A LETTER OF SUPPORT THAT COMES THROUGH THE CHAIR OF THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY. SO YES, AT THE BOTTOM LINE IT'S GETTING FUNDING FOR THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE LIST. YEAH, I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE, OUR SCIENTISTS, WERE JUST GEEKS AND LIKE TO GET TOGETHER AND DO DATA FOR FUN, WHICH THEY DO, BUT THIS IS A PRETTY EXTENSIVE THING WITH A LOT OF EXPENSE TO GO TO, AND BUT WE USE IT IN ORDER TO GET FEMA FUNDS AS LONG AS THEY LAST.
THAT'S CORRECT, AND FOR MYSELF, AND I'M SURE FOR ALL OF US IN THE ROOM AND BEYOND THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY IS ESSENTIAL. WE'RE WE'RE NOT SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH OUR WITH OUR RESILIENCE STRATEGIES AND HOW WE ADAPT TO THEM AND COPE WITH THEM, AND EVEN REGIONALLY, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA.
I LOVE THAT PART OF THIS HIGHLIGHTS HOW THIS CITY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE TYPES OF INITIATIVES AND THESE TYPES OF ACTIONS AND WE ARE A ROLE MODEL, NOT JUST FOR THE STATE, BUT ALSO FOR THE FOR THE COUNTRY, AND THAT'S PRETTY DARN GOOD FOR A CITY OUR SIZE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE, THE CHALLENGES FOR BEING A COASTAL CITY, BUT ALSO WITH THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
SO THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO OUR SURVIVAL AND OUR THRIVING.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DID GET GEEKED OUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME BECAUSE IT WAS FINALS WEEK, BUT I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT FLOOD SENSOR AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT AND BEING ABLE TO GET MESSAGES OUT TO OUR CITIZENS THAT IT'S COMING, THE TIDES COMING IN, IT'S PROJECTED TO BE A HIGH TIDE.
WE'VE GOT WIND COMING BEHIND IT, WHATEVER. TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES.
I KNOW THE ELEVATION OF MY HOUSE AT THE AT THE FINISHED FLOOR AND WE ALL SHOULD, AND THIS WILL ACTUALLY HELP US PLAN BETTER AND REACT BETTER TO OUR CHALLENGES, WHETHER THEY BE KING TIDES OR TROPICAL STORMS. SO AND I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GO INTO THE FIRE RESPONSE STUFF.
WE JUST GOT OUT OF A DROUGHT. SO THAT WAS THAT WAS A WELCOME THING TO HAVE THIS RAIN.
SO THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE CLEAR MY FORMAL SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND SO I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE REVISED LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY, WHICH IS RESOLUTION 2025-16.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS BEACH.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 9B3 RESOLUTION 2025-17. MISS WHITE, THIS IS YOUR BABY, SO THANK YOU FOR
[9.B.3. Resolution 2025-17: Supports the small matching grant of $50,000 for "Exploring History Beneath Your Feet: St. Augustine Archaeology Heritage Trails". (A. White, City Archaeologist)]
BRINGING IT TO US. PLEASE TELL US MORE. YES. GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.MY NAME IS ANDREA WHITE, AND I'M THE CITY ARCHEOLOGIST, AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION AND TO REQUEST COMMISSION SUPPORT FOR AN APPLICATION FOR THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES.
SMALL MATCHING GRANT FOR $50,000. I WILL TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING THINGS ABOUT MY JOB AS CITY ARCHEOLOGIST IS TO REALLY CONVEY THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING SOMETHING THAT'S ALMOST INVISIBLE, BECAUSE IT'S LITERALLY BURIED BENEATH OUR FEET.
SO WE ARE DECIDING TO ADD EXCUSE ME, APPLY FOR THIS SMALL MATCHING GRANT TO CREATE AN ARCHEOLOGICAL HERITAGE TRAIL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT DIFFERENT AREAS AND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN AND OTHER PLACES IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, SO THAT VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS LITERALLY BURIED BENEATH THEIR FEET.
WE ARE A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND SO THERE IS NO MATCH REQUIREMENT FOR THIS GRANT, AND SO I'M NOT REQUESTING ANY CITY FUNDS TONIGHT.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER.
SPRINGFIELD. NOTHING. COMMISSIONER DEPRETER. YES, I THINK YOU DESCRIBED IT VERY WELL.
YES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARRIS. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS AS WELL, AND I AM TOO.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I LOVE THE MULTI DIMENSIONAL PART OF IT, NOT JUST THE UNDERGROUND PART, BUT ALSO THE PART THAT WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE GOING OUT INTO DIFFERENT FORMATS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHICHEVER THEY'RE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.
YEAH. ANY MOTIONS FOR ME TO. YEAH MOVE THAT. WE ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025 - 17 READ BY TITLE ONLY.
[00:50:16]
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.[9.B.4. Resolution 2025-19: Adopts the updated 2024 Vision Plan for the City of St. Augustine. (A. Skinner, Director, Planning and Building)]
19 ADOPTING THE WOW UPDATED 2024 VISION PLAN.THAT WENT THROUGH QUITE A BIT OF A LOT OF WORK ESPECIALLY THIS PAST FALL, AND MISS SKINNER, WOULD YOU PLEASE BRING THAT FORWARD TO US? YES.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THIS ITEM IS A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT BY REFERENCE THE CITY'S 2024 UPDATE TO THE VISION PLAN.
RESOLUTION 2025- 19 RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF ESTABLISHING A LONG TERM VISION TO HELP ESTABLISH PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, MASTER PLAN, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLANNING, AS WELL AS OTHER PLANNING TOOLS AND STUDIES. THE VISION PLAN ADOPTED BY REFERENCE IS AN UPDATE TO THE CITY'S 2014 VISION STATEMENT.
THE CITY ENGAGED THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL TO HELP US WITH THIS UPDATE, WHICH BEGAN, AS YOU MENTIONED, LAST AUGUST. SEVERAL PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE HELD IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY, AND IN AN ONLINE SURVEY WAS ALSO CONDUCTED TO GARNER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.
IN TOTAL, APPROXIMATELY 87 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE SIX COMMUNITY MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND 495 PEOPLE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED RESPONSES TO THE ONLINE SURVEY.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PLANS IS THE SEPARATION AND ADDITION OF RESILIENCY AS ITS OWN THEME, AND THEN COMBINING THE 2014 THEMES OF AUTHENTICITY AND CHARACTER INTO ONE.
ONE THEME REFERRED TO AS AUTHENTIC CHARACTER.
YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE, WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MR. DOMINGUEZ. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MONICA DOMINGUEZ, AND AS MISS SKINNER SAID, I WORK FOR THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL IS.
WE ARE EXCUSE ME, A REGIONAL AGENCY, AND WE HAVE A HOST OF PROGRAMING INCLUDING RESILIENCY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHCARE COALITION ASSISTANCE, TO NAME A FEW.
SO AS I SAID, WE'LL JUST GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE 2024 SAINT AUGUSTINE VISION PLAN AND ALSO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, HOPEFULLY. MISS SKINNER WENT OVER SOME OF OUR ENGAGEMENT METHODOLOGY, BUT I WANTED JUST TO HIGHLIGHT HOW HOW WE HAD SIX PUBLIC MEETINGS ACROSS THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
DURING OUR MEETINGS OR PRIOR TO OUR MEETINGS, WE SENT MEETING INVITES TO APPROXIMATELY AT LEAST A LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS OF UPWARDS OF 700 PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM PEOPLE FROM THE CRA OR COMMISSIONS OR BOARDS THAT SERVE YOUR CITY.
YOU KNOW, JUST GIVE ME WHAT YOU THINK AND I'LL WRITE IT DOWN.
WE ALSO CREATED AN EMAIL SAINT AUGUSTINE VISION AT NAFRC.ORG MONITORED BY MYSELF, AND THAT WAS ANOTHER METHOD OF COMMENT THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS THAT WE OPENED UP.
SO THE RESULTS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS CAME FROM, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THE MEETINGS TO THE PZB, THE [INAUDIBLE]. EXCUSE ME, HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD, QUARTER REVIEW BOARD COMMITTEES, THOSE ARE ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS. SO ON TOP OF THE SIX MEETINGS, THERE WAS ADDITIONAL MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD WITH THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
[00:55:05]
SO THE RESULTS CAME FROM THIS EFFORT THAT WE MADE WITH IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND WE HAD REPRESENTATION FROM ALL YOUR 14 DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE CITY THE CITY ISSUED SURVEY HAD A REALLY GREAT RESPONSE RATE AS WELL.THE THEMES LIVABILITY, AUTHENTIC CHARACTER, VITALITY AND RESILIENCY, THE SUMMARY OF WHAT WE HEARD THAT THE THEMES FROM 2020, FROM TEN YEARS AGO REMAIN TO BE RELEVANT FOR YOUR RESIDENTS WITHIN THAT AUTHENTICITY AND CHARACTER.
IT WAS HARD TO MAKE A DIFFERENTIATION, AND SO OFTEN PEOPLE SAID, YOU KNOW, THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE CITY IS THE CHARACTER, OR THE CHARACTER IS WHAT MAKES IT AUTHENTIC. SO WE FELT THAT THOSE TWO THEMES COULD BE COMBINED.
RESILIENCY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. IT'S A WORD NOW IN OUR VOCABULARY, IN GOVERNMENT SPEAK THAT WE ARE NOW FAMILIAR WITH AND SO IT SEEMED THAT IT SHOULD BE ELEVATED INTO THE VISION PLAN, AND ALSO THE ISSUE OF BALANCE CONTINUES TO BE AN OVERARCHING ISSUE.
NOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE BALANCE BETWEEN VISITORS AND RESIDENTS.
IT WAS ALSO A BALANCE BETWEEN RESOURCES ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS, ACROSS YOUR CITY UNDER LIVABILITY.
SO AT EVERY MEETING WE HAD THE CITY CITY STAFF PRESENT ON WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE.
SO A BIT OF A REPORT CARD SO RESIDENTS COULD GET A FEEL FOR WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING FOR TEN YEARS, AND I MEAN, THE IT'S A MULTITUDE OF ACTIVITIES THAT YOUR CITY HAS.
HAVE BEEN DOING, AND EVEN WITHIN THAT, I THINK RESIDENTS STILL FELT THAT MOBILITY CONTINUES TO BE SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WALKABILITY, SIDEWALKS, STREET CROSSINGS PUBLIC TRANSIT OPTIONS.
SO THE SHUTTLE TO DOWNTOWN SUPER APPRECIATED THINKING ABOUT EXPANDING THAT AND THEN ALSO RESOLVING THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, IMPROVING SAFETY ACROSS THE CITY, CROSSWALKS, LIGHTING, BUT ALSO IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
PROVIDE ANNUAL VISION PROGRESS REPORTS TO RESIDENTS.
NOW, THIS WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SPECIFICALLY AT OUR KICKOFF MEETING, THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT HAS THE CITY BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WHICH ACTUALLY PROMPTED US TO GIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY MEETING, A BIT OF AN UPDATE ON WHAT THE CITY IS DOING, AND THEN FIND SOLUTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS WHICH YOU'RE ALREADY DOING WORK IN, CONSIDERING THE IMPACTS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS ON YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL.
CULTIVATING A DIVERSE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, AND I THINK FOR THIS DIVERSE BUSINESS IS MEANING TO BUSINESSES BEYOND THAT ARE TARGETED TOWARDS VISITORS, BUT MOST TOWARDS RESIDENTS AS WELL, AND THEN ALSO ADDRESSING FOOD DESERTS UNDER VITALITY, ELEVATING COMMUNITY PRIDE. SO COORDINATING WITH THE COUNTY BETTER ON SHARED NEIGHBORHOODS AND CORRIDORS, ENTRY CORRIDORS TO YOUR CITY, PROMOTING BEAUTIFICATION ACROSS THE CITY.
SO ADDRESSING BLIGHT TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
PROMOTING ARTS AND CULTURE, WHICH YOU ALREADY DO A LOT OF, BUT THIS IS OF INTEREST TO PEOPLE AND SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BOTH FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
NOW HERE IS THE NEW THEME RESILIENCY. SO FOCUSING ON HISTORIC AND CULTURAL ASSETS OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW, A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE TO YOUR CITY, BUT ALSO CONSERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
SO THIS CAN BE ANYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW RESTORING SHORELINES TO, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, JUST NATURE IN GENERAL OR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, IMPROVING EDUCATION ON RESILIENCE, SUSTAINABILITY AND CITY PROJECTS.
PEOPLE FELT A BIT DISCONNECTED FROM WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON IN RESILIENCY.
WE THINK IT'S BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF BASELINE RESEARCH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY NOT NOT THE EASIEST TO EXPLAIN AND THEN UPHOLD SAINT AUGUSTINE AS A REGIONAL LEADER IN RESILIENCY, AND I THINK WE JUST HEARD THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION THAT REALLY DEMONSTRATES THAT SUPPORTING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ALSO OF INTEREST TREE PLANTING, LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT, STORMWATER TECHNIQUES AND YOUR LAST THEME, THE AUTHENTIC CHARACTER.
PROMOTING HISTORIC CHARACTER IN BUILDING DESIGN AND PRESERVING HISTORIC STRUCTURES SO ALSO INCLUDING IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES, ALIGN CITY EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE SMALL TOWN FEEL THROUGH SMART GROWTH PRACTICES.
SO IMPROVING WALKABILITY AND ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT AND INFILL WITHIN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
[01:00:02]
UNIQUENESS OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT IN A VERY QUICK SNAPSHOT, IS WHAT THE VISION PLAN WAS.COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD? NO. COMMISSIONER DEPRETER.
YEAH. JUST VERY QUICKLY, I'D LIKE TO JUMPED OUT AT ME WAS CULTIVATED, DIVERSE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.
I DID RECENTLY SEE A STATISTIC, SURPRISINGLY, THAT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, AND SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME IN THE COUNTRY. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THE CITY WENT OUT AND DID, BUT I THINK IT MOSTLY HAPPENED BECAUSE OF COVID. I KNOW FIRSTHAND FROM CAMPAIGNING WHEN I WAS KNOCKING ON A LOT OF DOORS, PEOPLE COME IN THE DOOR WITH THEIR PHONE. I THINK THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE CITY.
HAVE OUR RESIDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THERE? THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IN THE VISION PLAN, BECAUSE I KNOW BEING ON THE PLANNING BOARD FOR SIX YEARS, KIND OF FAMILIAR WITH THE VISION PLAN, IT IS VERY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE HAD. THE BIG THING FOR ME IS ADDING RESILIENCY, AND I CAN SAY FROM MY SIX YEARS ON THE PLANNING BOARD, YEAR ONE WAS ONE THING, YEAR SIX WAS ANOTHER, AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF WORK WE HAVE TO DO ON THAT IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, AS WE'RE FINDING OUT, EVEN ON BUILDING TECHNIQUES, AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THAT IN THERE.
I HAVE A QUESTION, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE I PARTICIPATED IN TWO OF THE SESSIONS.
I THINK IT WAS THE OVERALL FIRST SESSION AT THE WATERWORKS AND THEN ONE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE, AND I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SHARING NEGATIVE COMMENTS.
SO HOW DID YOU SQUARE THE LIKE? HOW DID YOU INCORPORATE THE C RITICISMS INTO THE GOALS, THE HOW DID YOU DO THAT? WELL, I THINK IF YOU WILL, NEGATIVE COMMENTS WERE PART OF THE STORY AND I THINK REALLY IMPORTANT ONES, BUT I THINK WE JUST STARTED SEEING THEMES SPECIFICALLY AS WE LOOKED AT THE ONLINE SURVEY THAT HAD A REALLY MASSIVE SIZE OF THE SAMPLE. WE STARTED SEEING REPEATING THEMES, AND THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE GOALS THAT WENT INTO THE PLAN, BUT ALSO, I THINK SOME OF THE NEGATIVE ISSUES THAT CAME UP, I THINK IT'S PART OF A CONSTANT DIALOG, AND I THINK I HAVE TO REFER BACK TO THE POINT THAT WE MAKE OF INVOLVING RESIDENTS AND PROVIDING THEM AN UPDATE, BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT THERE WAS A DISCONNECT WITH THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE COMMITTING A LOT OF RESOURCES AND EFFORT IN MOVING THE 2014 VISION PLAN FORWARD AND PEOPLE NOT KNOWING ABOUT IT. SO I THINK THERE WAS A BIT OF A DISCONNECT THERE.
OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL, AND I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT FOR SURE.
THE YEAH, I'LL DEFER TO COMMISSIONER GARRIS AT THIS POINT.
THEN ON THE VISION PLAN ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE OR QUESTIONS ABOUT PROCESS OR THE ELEMENTS OF IT THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED, THE FOUR THEMES. I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.
THE VISION PLAN. I, YOU KNOW, LOOKING BACK AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE VISION PLAN ON THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE UPDATING THE VISION PLAN EARLIER DURING HIS TIME PRESENTATION. I THINK WE ARE CATCHING A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES WITH THE VISION PLAN, UPGRADING IT. I KNOW RESILIENCY IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD WAY TOO MUCH FLOODING IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, DUE TO HURRICANES, HIGH TIDES DELAYED PROJECTS.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT 'S PART OF THE UPDATED VISION PLAN.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOING ON WITHIN OUR CITY.
I THINK THERE'S A GROUP OF RESIDENTS THAT FORTUNATELY COME TO SOME OF THESE MEETINGS, AND IF THEY DON'T COME, THEY WATCH THEM, BUT THEN THERE'S A GROUP THAT DON'T KNOW ANYTHING UNTIL WE ENFORCE SOMETHING.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT RESOURCE AND EVERYBODY'S NOT ON FACEBOOK.
[01:05:01]
BUT IF THEY DON'T UTILIZE SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, THEN THEY'RE STILL NOT GOING TO KNOW.I'M SORRY I HAD TO STEP OUT FOR A MOMENT, BUT THE BATHROOM CALLED BUT I THINK FROM WHAT I DID SEE YOUR PRESENTATION, IT WAS VERY THOROUGH. I DON'T KNOW.
I'M STILL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PLAYING WITH THE WHOLE PROCESS.
IT'S NEW AND JUST TRYING TO ABSORB ALL THAT INFORMATION AFTER ALL THESE MEETINGS TODAY.
SO I'LL DEFER ON TO THE NEXT PERSON. OKAY. WELL I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT IN CLOSING I'M STRUCK BY THE SIMILARITIES THAT THESE THEMES HAVE CARRIED THROUGH THAT HAVE STOOD FIRM.
I MEAN, I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW, STOOD THE TEST OF TIME FOR THE PAST DECADE THAT THERE IS SOME THAT THERE'S SOME MOMENTUM AND WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO, BUT I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF THAT THERE'S A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT OUTLINES WHAT WE DO SPECIFICALLY WITH GOALS AND STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE IT A ND THEN THERE'S THE OVERARCHING VISION PLAN, AND SO THOSE ARE SEPARATE BUT RELATED DOCUMENTS, AND AS I LOOK AT THIS, I DO AGREE THAT THESE ARE THESE ARE THE IMPORTANT FOR THEMES, AND THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN HANG ON EACH OF THOSE THEMES AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH WORK IN PROGRESS AND FUTURE GOALS TO GET TO DO EVEN BETTER.
SO I LIKE IT. I'M GOING TO SAY HONESTLY THAT I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO ADOPT THIS WITHOUT THE MAYOR'S FEEDBACK, BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN SO INVOLVED IN IN THE FIRST VISION PLAN AND THEN IN THIS ONE.
SO I'M LOOKING FOR A LITTLE GUIDANCE FROM STAFF HERE FOR MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND HOW WE PROCEED AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE COULD CERTAINLY HOLD OFF ON THE ADOPTION UNTIL THE MAYOR COMES BACK.
SHE'LL BE BACK AT THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE. WE JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE THIS NOW ONE BECAUSE IT'S COMPLETED, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT TIES INTO OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
YEAH, I'M A LITTLE THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING.
SO WE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND OR THE BUDGET TO REFLECT ANY OF HER PRIORITIES IF THEY ARE UNMET IN THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S BROAD ENOUGH THAT WE'RE PROBABLY OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO AIR THAT OUT. SURE. WOULD YOU AGREE, COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD? OTHER COMMISSIONERS? YEAH, I MEAN, I DON'T I CAN'T PRESUME TO KNOW WHAT'S IN THE MAYOR'S MIND.
RIGHT? YEAH, I THINK THAT SHE'S BEEN TO ALL THE MEETINGS.
I WOULD JUST HAVE TO HAVE SOME COMFORT LEVEL FROM THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TALKED TO HER.
SO THAT WOULD BE STAFF. I DON'T WANT TO PUT THEM IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION.
SO, YEAH, IT IS BROAD. I MEAN, IT'S BROAD ENOUGH THAT I THINK YOU CAN HANG A LOT OF STUFF ON IT, AND THAT COMES WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN. SO I'M COMFORTABLE EITHER WAY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO PRESUME I KNOW WHAT SHE'S THINKING EITHER.
SO ANYONE ELSE? COMMISSIONER GARRIS? I THINK THAT EVEN IF WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AND ADOPTED THIS IT CAN ALWAYS BE MODIFIED.
SO. YEAH. SO I THINK JUST SO THAT WE ARE MOVING CLOSER TO THE BUDGET, THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY GO ON AND ADOPT IT, AND THEN SHE CAN REVIEW IT WHEN SHE COMES BACK WITH HER ONE ON ONE WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
YEAH, I AGREE 100%. AGREED. OKAY, THEN. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025- 19 AND I'LL SECOND.
OH, YOU GOT IT, COMMISSIONER GARRIS. SECOND. OKAY.
I WAS ONE WHO ADVOCATED FOR UPDATING THE VISION PLAN, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
WE'VE WE'VE GOT THAT CAUGHT UP TO DATE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YEP. CHECK IT OFF YOUR TO DO LIST, RIGHT? ONE THING .
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND SO FORTH.
OKAY. SO THAT MOVES US INTO STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS WITH OH WE DON'T HAVE ANY.
WE'VE HAD SOME SO WE'LL GO STRAIGHT TO THE ITEMS BY THE CITY ATTORNEY WITH THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
[11. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY]
I CAN GO THROUGH THEM BRIEFLY OR JUST BE READY FOR QUESTIONS.IT'S UP TO YOU. WE WILL BE DOING THESE IN LITTLE BATCHES SO THAT THEY'RE SOMEWHAT APPROACHABLE.
[01:10:09]
INCLUDING OUR LITTLE BILL THAT COULD, ON ILLEGAL DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES.IT INVOLVES ABANDONING RESTRAINED DOGS. WE ALL SAW THAT HEARTFELT STORY AT THE LAST HURRICANE MAKING THAT AN ANIMAL CRUELTY ISSUE. THE FLUORIDE BILL THAT WE ALL WERE CHATTING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
THERE'S OTHER PARTS OF THE FARM BILL REGARDING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AND THOSE REQUIREMENTS. THERE'S A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT AFFECT OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF THEIR SUPPORT PERSONNEL, AS WELL AS ALLOWING THE USE OF THOSE LITTLE BABY BOXES AT THE FIRE STATION.
SO I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF BIG, BIG ISSUES THIS PAST YEAR, AND I REALLY HOPE THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL SEE FIT TO SIGN THAT REGARDLESS OF HOW IT TURNS OUT, I KNOW HOW HARD EVERYBODY BEHIND THE SCENES WORK, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO THANK THEM.
ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS, THESE TOPICS? I THOUGHT IT HAD PASSED, BUT IT DID.
WE'RE JUST WAITING TO SEE IF THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN IT OR VETO IT.
SO ALL THE BILLS ON THIS LITTLE LIST PASSED. OKAY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ECHO YOUR SUPPORT FOR MISS LOPEZ'S WORK ON THIS.
YEAH, I'M SURE IT'S NOT EASY. TALLAHASSEE IS JUST THANK YOU TO SAY THAT I JUST LOVE HOW ALL THESE INTERESTING ITEMS ENDED UP ON THE FARM BILL, THAT THEY'RE REALLY SOMEHOW RELATED TO AGRICULTURE.
[12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK]
CITY CLERK, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I DO HAVE TWO BRIEF THINGS.MY FIRST ONE IS NOTIFICATION OF UPCOMING TERM EXPIRATIONS ON OUR CITY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT BOARD.
ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS IS EMPLOYEE ELECTED. SO WE'LL BE HANDLING THAT, AND THEN THE OTHER TWO, BOTH OF THE CURRENT MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT, AND I DO ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'LL BOTH REAPPLY, BUT THEY STILL WILL BE ADVERTISED ACCORDINGLY, AND MY OTHER ITEM IS JUST NOTIFICATION OF OUR OPEN POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE. RIGHT. WHICH ARE INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA.
YES. THANK YOU. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER. I HAVE NO ITEMS THIS EVENING.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]
LET'S GO WITH COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD. JUST JUST ONE.I WENT TO THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE FORT MOSE, AND I HAD NOT SEEN THE FORT UNTIL THAT DAY, AND IT WAS REALLY NICE, AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE CEREMONY, AND THE FIREWORKS SURPRISED OUR WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT EVERYBODY LIVED THROUGH IT. IT WAS WELL DONE, AND IT WAS WELL NEEDED FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THAT, AND I WAS WONDERING WHAT THE FIREWORKS WAS ALL ABOUT.
SO NOW I KNOW AT LEAST. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
YEAH, I WAS THERE, TOO, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE FIREWORKS WERE GOING UP AND SOMETHING HIT MY LEG, AND I'M THINKING, WHAT? AND IT WAS A DOG RUNNING.
HE HAD A LITTLE SOMETHING ON HIM, AND WHAT WAS ON HIS NECK HIT MY LEG WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE THROUGH THE CROWD, BUT IT WAS VERY WELL DONE. THEY'RE BOTH SECTIONS, AND THEY DID TELL US THAT YOU WEREN'T COMING THAT YOU HAD NOTIFIED SOMEBODY THAT MORNING THAT YOU WEREN'T BEING ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT IT WAS GOOD.
BOARD WAS THERE. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO WITNESS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AND I THOUGHT THAT THE FIRST TIME I WENT OUT TO THE FORT, WHERE'S THE FORT? YOU KNOW, AND I WAS LIKE, THE BUILDING THAT'S NOT A FORT, AND SO NOW WHEN THEY SAY WHEN THE THIRD GRADERS COME, THEY WON'T HAVE TO SAY, WHERE'S THE FORT? BECAUSE THEY'LL SEE THE FORT, AND LONG TIME COMING.
THE JAZZ FESTIVALS AND ALL THE MONEY PROCEEDS THAT THEY RAISE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THEIR REALITY, AND IT'S JUST SUCH A BLESSING TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING'S COMING DOWN THE LINE AND TO ACTUALLY SEE IT,
[01:15:05]
BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS IMAGINE, BUT WHEN WE ACTUALLY ACHIEVE IT, IT'S SO MUCH MORE REWARDING, AND SO I KUDOS TO CHARLES ELLIS AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED, EVERYBODY THAT THE AMPHITHEATER THAT PUT SOME TIME AND RESOURCES INTO THAT. IT'S A BLESSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S IN THE CITY.SO OTHER THAN THAT, I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
I JUST THINK IT WAS A GREAT MEETING. YOU DID VERY WELL.
VICE MAYOR AND WE GOT OUT OF HERE. WE'RE GETTING OUT OF HERE A LOT SOONER THAN I THOUGHT.
CAN I ADD ONE THING I FORGOT WE MAY NOT GET OUT HERE.
WE'RE IN A CULTURE RIGHT NOW OF TRYING TO COVER UP HISTORY.
SO YOU CAN'T BURY IT. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED AT FORT MOSE.
EXACTLY. YES. 300 YEARS. YEP, AND COMMISSIONER DEPRETER.
OKAY, AND THEN I HAVE A FEW THINGS. I HAVE A SHORT LAUNDRY LIST.
I WANT TO START WITH THANKING THOSE FOLKS WHO SHOW UP HERE TONIGHT.
OTHER NIGHTS OVER TIME. I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT TO GET HERE, AND SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE ALLUDED TO THAT, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER GARRIS. IT DOES TAKE EXTRA EFFORT, AND WE I THINK WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC, AND TO THAT END KELSEY MAY'S COMMENT ABOUT THE PROPERTY ON MAIN STREET THE STAFF IS WELL AWARE OF IT, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT IT AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT PRESENTS.
I HAD OH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET WITH MY LAUNDRY LIST FIRST.
THE I HAD A NEIGHBOR WHO DECIDED TO LEAF BLOW ALL OF THE ACORNS OFF OF THE PROPERTY OF THEIR NEIGHBOR WHO'S NOT HOME ALL THE TIME AND WAS DOING THEM A FAVOR.
SO ALL THE ACORNS WENT INTO THE STREET, AND THE ACORNS STOPPED FALLING TWO MONTHS AGO, AND SO HE BLEW ALL THE ACORNS INTO THE STREET, AND I WAS LIKE, WHERE DID ALL THE ACORNS COME FROM BECAUSE I HADN'T HEARD THE LEAF BLOWING, AND THEN HE PROCEEDED TO BLOW ALL OF THOSE ACORNS, WHICH WERE A LOT INTO THE STORM DRAINS.
YEP, AND SO I ACTUALLY AM ASKING STAFF TO COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF A MEASURE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, IF WE ARE NOT PREEMPTED FROM DOING SO FOR YARD SERVICE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS NOT TO DO THAT PRACTICE ANYMORE, THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME PENALTY FOR IT. OUR STORMWATER AND STORM CREW GOES OUT AND THEY LITERALLY VACUUM THOSE STORM DRAINS AND MAINTAIN THEM A DAY OR TWO BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, AND SO THAT JUST JUST MAKES ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, US TAXPAYERS HAVE HAVE SUPPORTED NEGLIGIBLE.
IT JUST IT JUST REVERSES THAT AND IT MAKES US LESS RESILIENT, AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR SUSTAINABILITY AND OUR RESILIENCY THAT WE NO LONGER ALLOW THOSE PRACTICES. IF THERE IS SOME WAY THAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY COULD FIND THAT WE COULD TRY TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
I'D APPRECIATE IT, AND THEN AND THAT FITS RIGHT INTO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN OF FIERCE PROTECTION OF THINGS LIKE OUR ENVIRONMENT AND RESILIENCY, SO WE CAN HANG IT RIGHT THERE ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ANDREA WHITE AND THE ARCHEOLOGICAL DIVISION.
I WAS AT A LITTLE MINI NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING OF SEVERAL OF US AND OVER THE WEEKEND, AND PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT POOLS, NOT US, BUT POOLS IN THEIR BACKYARD, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY HAD WANTED TO DO A POOL AND THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN THE ARCHEOLOGICAL TEAM OUT, AND HOW HOW EXCITING AND INTERESTING IT WAS AND HOW COOPERATIVE YOU ALL WERE WHEN THEY WENT TO DIG THEIR POOL AND YOU THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE SOME ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES THERE ANYWAY. YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND IT'S AND IT GOES BOTH WAYS.
LIKE IT'S A REALLY GREAT WAY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC TO HELP PROTECT OUR ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES.
SO KUDOS TO YOU, AND THEN I GOT A PAST DUE NOTICE ON MY WATER BILL, WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF.
I THOUGHT I HAD PAID THE BILL. I CALLED AND I SPOKE TO KIARA AND SHE FIGURED OUT THAT IT HAD BEEN MIS WHATEVER MIS-POSTED TO ANOTHER. ANYWAY, MY POINT BEING THAT THE IT TOOK SOME TIME, BUT THAT THE STAFF DID NOT KNOW WHO I WAS, AND THE BILLS UNDER MY HUSBAND'S NAME WITH A DIFFERENT LAST NAME, AND SHE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND AND GOT IT FIXED, AND OUR STAFF IS WHAT IS IT? CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER ONE, RIGHT ABOVE AND BEYOND.
[01:20:02]
I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER UNLESS ANYBODY ELSE DOES.THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.