[00:00:04]
ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. CALLING THIS MEETING.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.NANCY SIKES-KLINE HERE. BARBARA BLONDER. CYNTHIA GARRIS HERE.
JIM SPRINGFIELD HERE. JOHN DEPRETER HERE. OKAY.
VICE MAYOR WILL NOT BE WITH US THIS AFTERNOON OR THIS EVENING.
[2. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS]
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.AND I HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD. MISS BJ KALAIDI.
BJ KALAIDI WEST CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS 906.7 MILLION 7 MILLION, OR 21.62% OF PROPERTIES EXEMPT. ALSO KNOWN AS NOT PAYING PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH BURDENS OTHERS.
THE COLLEGE ACROSS THE STREET SHOULD MAKE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.
PILOTS TO PAY FOR SERVICES THEY HAVE RECEIVED FOR FREE OVER THE YEARS.
QUESTION IS THE COLLEGE ENDOWMENT OVER 100 MILLION TAX FREE DOLLARS NOW? AS A REMINDER, THE RECENT PAVING OF STREETS WAS PAID WITH PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS.
PART OF THE CIP, NOT CRA DOLLARS, INCLUDING MEDORA FROM SIDNEY WEST TO THE CITY LIMITS, WHICH IS IN THE WEST CITY CRA SLUM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HERE WISH TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS? IF NOT, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. AND THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PRESENTATION BY MISS BURNS CONCERNING THE THE REVENUE MANUAL
[3. FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS DISCUSSION]
REVIEW. GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME.GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MELISSA BURNS.
I'M A FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THIS MANUAL IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THIS YEAR.
THE REVENUE SOURCES ARE BROKEN DOWN BY GENERAL FUND AND PROPRIETARY FUNDS.
THE REVENUE IS RECEIVED BY THE GENERAL FUND TYPICALLY CANNOT BE TIED TO AN UNDERLYING UNDERLYING SERVICE, WHILE THE REVENUE IS COLLECTED BY THE PROPRIETARY FUNDS ARE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED TO SPECIFIC SOURCES SUCH AS WATER, SEWER, GARBAGE, AND STORMWATER.
TWO. THE GENERAL FUND IS THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND OF THE CITY.
ALL GENERAL TAX REVENUE RECEIPTS THAT ARE NOT ALLOCATED BY LAW OR CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT TO ANOTHER FUND, OR ACCOUNTED FOR IN THIS FUND. THERE ARE SOME REVENUES THAT MUST BE USED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.
THE FIRST REVENUE SOURCE THAT WE'LL DEAL WITH IS THE WORM TAXES.
EXCUSE ME ON JUNE 1ST. ON JULY 1ST, WE RECEIVED THE ACTUAL TAXABLE VALUE.
DECREASE EQUALS TO APPROXIMATELY 353,000. IN A CHANGE OF, THE ROLLBACK RATE CAME OUT AS 7.3513 MILLS. THE CHART ON THE LEFT SHOWS THE EFFECT OF CHANGES IN MILLAGE RATE, AND THE TABLE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE EFFECT ON THE HOMEOWNER CHANGING MILLAGE RATE EITHER WAY BY A 10TH OF A MILL. IN THE HIGHLIGHTED EXAMPLE, A HOMESTEADED PROPERTY WITH A TAXABLE VALUE OF 400,000 WOULD SEE A DIFFERENCE OF 34 OR $35 PER 10TH OF A MILL REDUCTION OR INCREASE.
THE CITY CLERK'S FRANCHISE FEES FROM CERTAIN VENDORS, SUCH AS FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT.
NATURAL GAS, WHICH IS TECO PEOPLES GAS. YEAH.
[00:05:07]
THE PERCENTAGE WE RECEIVE IS 90% OF WHAT THEY COLLECT.AS YOU CAN SEE, BOTH OF THESE ARE JUST CONSERVATIVELY FORECASTED.
WE ALSO RECEIVE UTILITY TAXES FROM FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT AND TECO.
THIS IS BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF REVENUES COLLECTED EACH MONTH.
NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE GOING TO DISCUSS THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL, EXCUSE ME, INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES NEWS THAT WE RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE, AS WELL AS THE STATE, ALSO PROVIDES US ESTIMATES OF THESE REVENUES THROUGH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE STATE REVENUE SHARING, WHICH IS THE VERY LARGE FORMULA THAT THEY DISTRIBUTE GENERAL REVENUES TO EACH MUNICIPALITY AND COUNTY.
HERE IS THE HALF CENT SALES TAX, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY THE SALES TAX THAT WE RECEIVED.
THERE WAS A SPIKE IN 2022 AND I WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING, AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY EXCEPT THEY STARTED WITH MORE SALES TAX HOLIDAYS AFTER THAT. LOCAL GAS TAX IS ANOTHER REVENUE, BUT THIS ONE IS WE HAVE TO USE IT FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS ROADWAY RIGHT AWAY, MAINTENANCE, STREET LIGHTING, TRAFFIC FINES, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, SIGNALS IZATION AND PAVEMENT MARKETING.
NEXT IS BUILDING PERMIT AND FEES. THIS FLUCTUATES BASED ON THE PERMITTING THROUGHOUT THE THE YEAR.
AS A CITY KIND OF GETS BUILT OUT, THE REVENUES WILL START TO GO DOWN.
AND SAME WITH THE PERMITTING FEES.
OKAY. THIS IS A FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE THAT THE CITY CHARGES FOR EACH DWELLING.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDS MAINTAINING A 50% COST RECOVERY.
WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE FEES IN THIS SINCE, WHAT, 2016? STAFF IS RECOMMENDING PUTTING SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET FOR 2026 TO ADDRESS THOSE FEES AGAIN.
OKAY. RENTS AND ROYALTIES. THIS IS THE REVENUES THE CITY RECEIVES FROM AGREEMENTS WITH RIPLEY'S CARPET GOLF, GALLIMORE CENTER, USAG SAINT AUGUSTINE YACHT CLUB, SAINT JOHNS COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL AND CITY HALL SPACES THAT ARE RENTED, SUCH AS A DEPARTMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, JUVENILE JUSTICE AND FLAGLER COLLEGE.
THESE ARE METERED PARKING FEES. INCREASES HERE ARE EXPECTED TO BE MODERATE AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY ALONG WITH THE GARAGE AT THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER. THEY'RE ALSO CONSERVATIVELY FORECASTED.
OKAY. NEXT ONE IS A METER PARKING FINES. STAFF WILL BE RECOMMENDING A CHANGE RELATED TO THE PARKING VIOLATIONS THAT CURRENTLY THE VIOLATOR PAYS $35 FINE FOR. I BELIEVE THAT'S ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
WE RECOMMEND A BASE RATE OF $303.03 $0.03, WITH A BEDROOM PER BEDROOM RATE OF $79.30.
THAT'S BASED ON THE CPI 2.3%. NEXT, WE'LL GO INTO OUR PROPRIETARY FUNDS OR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES. THIS INCLUDES UTILITIES, STORMWATER, SOLID WASTE, MUNICIPAL MARINA AND VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER.
[00:10:11]
THESE ARE THE WATER AND SEWER CHARGES OVER TIME AND THE FORECASTED.THE CITY CODE ALLOWS FOR THE RATES TO INCREASE EVERY YEAR BY THE CPI.
AS NOTED BEFORE, THE CPI THIS YEAR IS 2.3%. THESE ARE STORMWATER CHARGES.
AND SOLID WASTE. COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL. SAME THING HERE.
WE'D LIKE TO BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION OF INCREASING THE RATES 2.3% BASED ON A CPI.
AND HERE'S THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER PARKING GARAGE FEES.
AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T REALLY RECOMMEND ANY CHANGES FOR DAILY USAGE AT THIS TIME.
I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. YES, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
SO THE FUNDS THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING INCREASING IN FEES ARE STORMWATER AND SOLID WASTE.
RESIDENTIAL. SOLID WASTE. COMMERCIAL. CORRECT? CORRECT. AND WATER AND SEWER. EXCEPT THAT THE CODE ALLOWS US TO DO THAT ANYWAY.
BUT THE STORMWATER AND. EXCUSE ME. STORMWATER AND WATER CHARGES AND GARBAGE.
WE HAVE TO WASTE RESIDENTIAL. SOLID WASTE. COMMERCIAL.
RIGHT. AND THAT IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS YEAR.
COMING UP, THE 2026. YOU ALSO MENTIONED ANOTHER.
WAS IT FIRE ASSESSMENT FOR NEXT YEAR THAT YOU WANTED TO STUDY THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FOR NEXT YEAR TO DO THE STUDY? YES, MA'AM. SO IT WOULD BE FOR 2627 BUDGET. CORRECT.
YEAH. YEAH. FY 26 TO DO THIS TIME TO KIND OF LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE WHAT'S A FAIR.
CORRECT. RIGHT. BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST POP OFF AND DO IT.
ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S THREE THREE FUNDS REQUESTING 2.3%.
CORRECT. WE'RE BUDGET 2526. CORRECT. RIGHT. THAT WAS JUST MY.
I HAD TO CLARIFY. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT. SO I DIDN'T LOOK IT UP.
BUT I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE RESERVES THAT WERE GENERATED THIS YEAR.
THE PERCENTAGE OF THE THE BUDGET THAT WAS SAVED THAT WE DIDN'T SPEND IN THE WATER AND THE SEWER.
JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE NEED TO RAISE IT. 2.3 IF WE ENDED UP WITH A BIG RESERVE.
TO CLARIFY, WOULD THAT BE THE WATER AND SEWER RESERVE OR.
YEAH. HOW MUCH DID WE HOW MUCH DID WE INCREASE? ALL THE ONES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO THAT THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TO INCREASE.
I'M NOT ARGUING AGAINST THE RESERVE. I JUST WANT TO SAY I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IF IT WAS IF IT WAS 10%, THERE'S NO NEED TO RAISE IT. IF IT'S 2%, THERE'S A NEED TO RAISE IT.
THAT'S MY LOGIC. I DO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WITH WATER AND SEWER.
WE HAVE A SURCHARGE FOR RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS THAT WE ARE REDUCING EVERY YEAR, BECAUSE THE STATE IS GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY EVENTUALLY. RIGHT. SO RAISING IT WOULD HELP DO THAT.
LOSE THAT INCOME. THAT WOULD BE GOOD NUMBERS TO HAVE THE RESERVE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, YOU MENTIONED THE FRANCHISES.
IT'S AN INTERESTING TAX THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.
WE GET IT. I THINK IT'S BY A PER CAR OR SOMETHING.
THEY GET TAXED. HOW MANY CARS GO UP AND DOWN THE TRACK? SO ALONG WITH THE TOUR TRAINS AND THE OTHER FRANCHISES, WE ALSO GET A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK OF MONEY FROM THE TRAINS.
IT'S NOT REALLY A IT'S NOT REALLY A FRANCHISE FEE, BUT IT'S A TAX.
WHERE'S THAT REFLECTIVE? WHERE DID YOU. I CAN, I CAN.
MAY I ASK YOU CAN WEAR THAT WAS WAS THAT IN THE WHAT'S IN THE BOOK? IT'S IN THE. AUDIT. NO, IT WASN'T IN THE AUDIT.
IT'S IN THAT LIST OF INCOMES IN THE VERY BACK 79 TO 90.
AND I PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO FIND IT NOW, BUT.
OKAY, I DID READ THAT, DIDN'T I? I THINK YOU'RE YOU'RE IN THE AUDIT.
[00:15:05]
YOU'RE IN THE. WHAT IS THIS DOCUMENT. THE DOCUMENT.YES. THE REPORT. YEAH. OKAY. INTERESTING. I DIDN'T I DIDN'T KNOW. OKAY. YEAH. MY DIRECTION. OKAY. THANK YOU.
SO THIS IS MY I DID I DID FIND IT ON PAGE 88.
PAGE 88. DEBT REPAID BY PROPERTY TAX. TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT.
REVENUE. THAT'S NOT IT. NEVER MIND. I'LL KEEP LOOKING.
I DID FIND IT SOMEWHERE. ALL RIGHT. EXCELLENT.
SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION. NO. NO WORRIES. THIS IS MY FIRST ONE.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND THEN A COUPLE MORE. SO THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEES, AS WE GET 50% OF THAT CURIOSITY, WHERE'S THE OTHER 50% COME FROM? GENERAL FUND, GENERAL FUNDS.
WE PAY THE REST OF OUR GENERAL FUNDS. THE BUDGET. OKAY, THANKS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER ONES IN HERE, THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE.
AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDS BUDGETING FOR REVIEW IN 2026.
36. IS THAT. THAT'S ON THERE? YES, THAT'S A REVIEW.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE USED A CONSULTANT TO HELP US.
OKAY. EVALUATE THE FEES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE OKAY.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE ABOUT THAT. AND THEN IN METERED PARKING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLE REVIEW.
NECESSARY. IS THAT CORRECT? ALSO THAT'S PART OF POLICY.
OKAY. AND THEN THE SAME THING WITH THE METERED PARKING.
AND THEN I DON'T REMEMBER IF I HEARD MAYBE THE MAYOR DID SAY SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMITS INCREASED.
THAT WAS THE OTHER ONE. YES. WAS THAT THE I DID NOT MENTION.
WELL 22 ON HOURS 22. YEAH I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT LIST COMPLETE ON THE RECORD.
GOOD. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO. SO. THANK YOU.
YEAH. RENTALS. SOLID WASTE. SO MAYBE NEXT YEAR SEVEN. ONE. TWO. ONE.
SO THAT'S SO, SO STORMWATER, SHORT TERM RENTALS.
SOLID WASTE IN BOTH THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
THAT'S FOUR. CORRECT. AND THEN ALSO THE FIRE FEE.
NEXT. AND THEN THE TWO I MENTIONED THAT ARE GOING TO BE UNDER REVIEW.
SO THOSE ARE THE THOSE ARE ALL THE CPI INCREASES JUST SO WE GET ON THE RECORD.
OKAY. BUT THAT CAN BE DONE AUTOMATICALLY BY CODE.
SO. YEAH. PARKING TICKETS. PARKING TICKETS. OKAY.
OKAY. PARKING. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
OKAY. I THINK I HAVE THAT ALL. I'M COMBINING SOLID WASTE, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL INTO ONE CATEGORY, BUT. OKAY. THERE IS ANOTHER CATEGORY. RENTS AND ROYALTIES.
WHICH? RENTS AND ROYALTIES? YES. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE IT ALL IN OUR HEADS, BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR TO OUR PUBLIC.
WHICH ONE IS THAT? WHAT PAGE ARE WE ON FOR THAT? THAT WOULD BE PAGE 1919 WRITTEN ROYALTIES. AND THAT WOULD BE A 2.3%.
IT MAY BE MAYBE NEXT TIME A REPORT SHOULD JUST BE.
THAT SHOULD BE LISTED FOR. YES, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THAT.
I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE CALLED OUT. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT EASY FOR THE.
TAXPAYERS. SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME KIND OF A LIST.
AND I THINK MAYBE IT WAS A LITTLE MORE CONFUSING BECAUSE OUR PAGE NUMBERS WERE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN YOURS HERE. SO I THINK OUR PRESENTATION WAS WHAT'S IN OUR BOOK IS DIFFERENT FROM YOUR PRESENTATION. SLIGHTLY. SLIGHTLY. SO THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
I'M JUST SAYING IF YOU DID IT ON YOUR COMPUTER, YOU WERE KIND OF LIKE FOLLOWING HER.
OH, OKAY. YOU WERE GOING ON THE COMPUTER, AND THAT'S NOT HOW I WAS ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH HER.
GOT YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. OTHER THAN THAT NO.
OH, I SEE. GOTCHA. OKAY. MY TURN. OKAY. I HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS.
[00:20:02]
ONE IS THE PARKING TICKETS. I HAD I CAME TO SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT MOBILITY, AND I THOUGHT THE PARKING TICKETS WAS EXTREME.THE PRICE INCREASE. IT'S GOING FROM $35 TO, LIKE, TRIPLE.
YOU SAID TO A HUNDRED. YEAH, I THINK ILLEGAL PARKING.
NOT THAT WOULD NOT BE PARKING AT A METERED SPACE THAT EXPIRES.
HOWEVER, THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS JUST FOR A WINDOW OF TIME.
AND IF A RESIDENT HAS A VISITOR THAT COMES TO VISIT THEM AND THEY PARK, I JUST DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO BE CHARGED $100 TO COME SEE ME OR TO GO. TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THERE'S A CHURCH OVER HERE AT SAINT MARY'S, AND THEY PARK ON THAT YELLOW CURB AND THEY COME OUT FROM ENJOYING A SERVICE.
AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THAT IN YOUR PRESENTATION LATER TONIGHT IN THE REGULAR MEETING.
YES, MA'AM. IT IS. OKAY. WE CAN DISCUSS THAT.
IT REALLY WAS TO TRY TO. DISCOURAGE. PLACE A DISINCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO PARK ON THE FORT GREENE OR IN OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY KNOW THAT IT'S ILLEGAL, BUT THEY'LL PAY THE $35 TICKET BECAUSE IT'S NOT MEANINGFUL ENOUGH.
$35 ISN'T STIFF ENOUGH FOR THEM TO NOT PARK THERE.
WE WEREN'T TRYING TO PUNISH PEOPLE GOING TO CHURCH. HOW ABOUT YOUR VEHICLE'S GOING TO BE TOWED? THAT MEANS YOU, I MEAN, ON THE SIGN, BECAUSE THAT DETERS PEOPLE.
BUT I THINK $100 IS KIND OF HUGE. OKAY. IT'S DEFINITELY A DISINCENTIVE BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE HIGHER PENALTIES NO MATTER WHAT FOR. IN MY OPINION, FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO INVENT PARKING WHERE IT DOESN'T BELONG, CARS DO NOT BELONG. IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO BE ON YELLOW CURBS.
RIGHT. BUT SO I DO THINK AND PARKING ON THE FORT GREEN AND THINGS.
PARKING IN COMMERCIAL ZONES. PARKING IN. PARKING ON THE SIDEWALK, STUFF LIKE THAT.
PARKING UP ON THE GRASS AND SIDEWALKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT YEAH, IT'S NEVER FUN TO GET A TICKET. YEAH, BUT THE TRIPLE IS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE HUGE.
WELL, WE CAN DISCUSS. WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DISCUSS THAT. YEAH, THERE'S NO RUSH ON THAT.
OKAY. ANY OTHER CONCERNS, COMMISSIONER GARRIS? NO. I'LL GO OVER THEM WHEN WE GET FURTHER INTO THE BUDGET.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OTHER COMMENTS AND CONCERNS? IT'S JUST A PRESENTATION ON REVENUE. SO. AND THEN THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES HEARING ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASES, SO. I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. IT'S VERY HARD. IT´S JUST NOT JUST PLUGGING IN NUMBERS FROM LAST YEAR, IT´S MAKING SURE YOU PLUG IN THE RIGHT NUMBERS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I NEEDED, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. AND ALSO, THIS BOOK WE'LL BE DISCUSSING LATER IN THE REGULAR MEETING TOO.
SO BUT YEAH. I'M SORRY, DID I HEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THIS BOOK LATER? YES, THAT'S ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, ISN'T IT? YES, MA'AM.
OKAY. THAT'S GOING TO BE A PRESENTATION? YEAH.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR WILL MAKE THAT PRESENTATION DURING THE NEXT MEETING.
OKAY, THANKS. YEAH. OKAY. IF THERE'S NO MORE.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO REOPEN, IF THE COMMISSIONERS.
UNLESS I HEAR ANY OBJECTIONS, I CAN REOPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR MISS PEPPER.
[00:25:01]
SO, THANK YOU.GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.
MY NAME IS VICKI PEPPER. I LIVE ON HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AS A CITIZEN OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND CARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY. WE'RE AN INFORMAL, INDEPENDENT CIVIC ACTION GROUP THAT GREW OUT OF SAINT AUGUSTINE'S COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EFFORT. CARE'S PURPOSE IS TO SERVE BLACK AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN SAINT JOHN´S COUNTY BY IDENTIFYING RESOURCES, INCLUDING FUNDING SOURCES, AND LINKING THEM WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS, AS IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS.
I'M PRETTY SURE BEING LATE IS NOT A GOOD IDEA, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN.
HERE WE GO. FIRST, I'M PLANNING TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS AT YOUR REGULAR MEETING TO FOLLOW, BUT I DO THINK THE CITY DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR PLANNING, BUDGETING, AND EXECUTING ITS PLAN FOR A DROP IN DAY CENTER THAT WILL SERVE PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMES AND OTHERS IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
CARE PARTICULARLY APPRECIATES THAT THE CITY HAS FOUND THE FUNDING AND DECIDED TO PROCEED TO FINALIZE AN ALL CONSTRUCTION ASPECTS OF PHASE ONE OF THE PROJECT BEFORE MOVING DINING WITH DIGNITY TO THE NEW SITE. PEOPLE LOSE THEIR HOMES FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU AND THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL, TO KNOW THAT THE CONTINUUM OF CARES EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES UNSHELTERED HAVE JOBS, YET HAVING ACCESS TO SHOWERS AND FACILITIES TO CLEAN THEIR CLOTHES CAN BE VITAL TO THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
SECOND, ALTHOUGH PHASE ONE REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD AMELIORATING, IF NOT ELIMINATING, IMMEDIATE CIRCUMSTANCES FACED BY PEOPLE WHO'VE LOST THEIR HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE PLAN PHASE TWO IS IN SOME WAYS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO HELP ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF MANY OF THEIR SITUATIONS, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES, SEEKING AND OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT OR BETTER EMPLOYMENT, AND FOSTERING FINANCIAL LITERACY TO INCLUDE IMPROVING CREDIT SCORES.
THIRD, I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THE DIGNITY BUS FOR WHICH COMMISSIONER GARRIS IS ADVOCATING.
AND THE MORE I LEARN, THE MORE I BELIEVE THAT ACQUIRING AND OPERATING ONE, PERHAPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OF OUR LOCAL CHURCHES OR OTHER NGOS, WOULD PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN OUR TOOLKIT TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR UNSHELTERED NEIGHBORS.
THEREFORE, AS YOU CONTINUE TO BUILD THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, WE ASK THAT YOU ENSURE THAT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR COMPLETION AND OPERATION OF PHASE ONE OF THE CITY'S DROP-IN DAY CENTER, ENOUGH FUNDING TO ENSURE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD COMPLETION OF PHASE TWO, AND FUNDING FOR A DIGNITY BUS FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED AND WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD.
AND MISS BURNS, DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR COMPONENTS TO YOUR PRESENTATION? CAN YOU DIRECT US AS TO WHAT'S THE NEXT STEPS? WELL, THIS EVENING WE'LL BE DISCUSSING RESOLUTION 2025-25, WHICH IS SETTING THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TO REMAIN AT 7.5. AT THAT POINT, WE CAN ALWAYS GO LOWER, BUT WE CAN'T GO ANY HIGHER TO THAT, SO. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO MAKE? NO COMMENTS UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. SO. OH, I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT. JUST TO CLARIFY, FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE LISTENING TO THESE PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENTS, THE 2.3% IS OUR CPI. THAT IS THE INCREASE WE'RE ASKING FOR FOR THESE DIFFERENT UTILITY FUNDS.
THAT'S ALL. SO NOW WHAT WILL BE OUR NEXT MEETING CONCERNING THE BUDGET? THAT WILL BE AUGUST. WORKSHOP WILL BE AUGUST 28TH? I THINK. YES, AUGUST 28TH. I BELIEVE AT 8:30 IN THE MORNING AND THE 29TH IF NEEDED.
THAT IS TO SET THE MILLAGE RATE. ACTUALLY, THAT WOULD BE THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS.
08:30? I'M SORRY, 9:00 A.M.. 9 A.M.? ON. I'M SO GLAD THAT I ASKED.
BUDGET WORKSHOP. ALL RIGHT. ON THE 28TH. PLEASE MAKE A NOTE.
[00:30:01]
AND THEN IF WE. AND TYPICALLY IF WE DO NOT FINISH ON THE 28TH, THEN WE WILL GO TO THE 29TH? CORRECT.JUST ONE TIME. THE ONE. ONE TIME. YEAH. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. SO, NOT THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
WE DO RESERVE IT JUST IN CASE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. AND WE'LL SEE YOU LATER THIS EVENING.
COMMISSIONERS? FINAL COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. NO, THANK YOU.
THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME READING THIS, AND IT WAS PUT TOGETHER WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK I COULD PASS A QUIZ ON THE DETAILS, BUT I DEFINITELY GOT THE GENERAL IDEA. THANK YOU.
IT'S GOOD. IT'S GOOD INFORMATION TO HAVE. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.