[00:00:05]
>> GOOD EVENING. THIS MEETING OF THE REGULAR MEETING
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER OF ST. AUGUSTINE IS CALLED TO ORDER.MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> WE WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE NOW FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE STAND.
>> PLEASE BE SEATED. THANK YOU.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA?>> NO. STAFF HAS NO MODIFICATIONS, MA'AM.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ANYONE HAVE MODIFICATIONS?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE HAVE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS OR RECOGNITIONS TONIGHT.
WE'LL MOVE STRAIGHT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
I DO SEE SOME CARDS HERE.WE HAVE TWO GENERAL COMMENT CARDS, MAYBE THREE.
THREE. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE FILL OUT A CARD AND HAND IT IN TO, I SEE CHIEF MICHAUX'S COLLECTING CARDS AND COME WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED.
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 CALL 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, AND COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT ANSWER 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 ANY 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.
WITH THAT SAID, THE FIRST SPEAKER CARD I HAVE IS CHRIS FULMER, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY VICKI PEPPER.
>> GOOD EVENING. CHRIS FULMER.
I LIVE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE FROM A CITY STAFF, A NICE LADY NAMED MEGHAN, WHO'S A METER TECHNICIAN WHO HELPED ME CHANGE OUT MY NEW LICENSE PLATE SO I COULD GET MY RESIDENT DISCOUNT FOR PARKING.
IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU WOULD THINK.
ONCE AGAIN, I BRING IT UP A PRIVATE HOME AT 22 AVENIDA MENENDEZ CONTINUES TO BE COVERED IN POLITICAL SIGNS, AND ONE OF THEM EXPLICITLY TELLS SOME PEOPLE THEY ARE NOT WELCOME IN FLORIDA, THEREFORE, IN OUR CITY.
IT'S A PRIVATE HOME AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT RULES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR THE CITY.
THE CARRIAGE AND BOAT TOUR PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO ARE TIRED OF TRYING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THEIR GUESTS THAT IT'S A PRIVATE HOME IN OUR LOVELY CITY.
MY QUESTION IS, AT WHAT POINT IN TIME DOES IT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A PUBLIC NUISANCE? THE CITY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I ALSO WANTED TO ADDRESS RESOLUTION 2522, INCREASING THE PARKING VIOLATION FINE.
I'M NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU INTEND.
IF THE GOAL IS TO STOP PEOPLE DRIVING DOWNTOWN, PROVIDE SATELLITE PARKING AND SHUTTLES AND BETTER DIRECTIONS AND ADVERTISE THEM WELL.
[00:05:06]
BUT INCREASING THE FINES FOR VIOLATION DOESN'T DETER THE PEOPLE FROM PARKING.ALL THEY DO IS FIND OUT ABOUT IT LATER.
I AM A LOT MORE CONCERNED THAT YOU'VE GOT RID OF THE FREE AFTER FIVE AND THE SUNDAYS FREE, WHICH AFFECTS LOCALS WHO WANT TO COME IN AND ENJOY THEIR CITY.
I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS TO DECREASE TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN, BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION. DRIVE SAFELY.
HURRICANE SEASON IS HEATING UP, SO WE SPEND OUR TIME SAYING TURN RIGHT, AND IT'S STILL HOT.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS, BE KIND TO YOUR WAIT STAFF, TIP YOUR SERVERS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.
I LIVE ON HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF IN INDIVISIBLE ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
INDIVISIBLE IS A NONPARTISAN PROGRESSIVE GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT THAT ORGANIZES ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT OF OUR DEMOCRACY WITH VALUES OF INCLUSION, EQUALITY, JUSTICE, AND HONESTY.
OUR CO-LEADER, SUSANNA PAVEL, IS OUT OF TOWN AND COULD NOT BE HERE.
SHE SPOKE PUBLICLY LAST WEEK TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH CITY COMMISSION AND THE BOCC.
I UNDERSTAND SUSANNA SENT YOU AN E MAIL LAST WEEK, BUT I'M HERE PUBLICLY TO INVITE THE CITY TO CO-SPONSOR AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND A NONPARTISAN RALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, OUR FLORIDA STATE PARKS, AND OTHER PUBLIC CONSERVATION LANDS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
THE RALLY WILL BE HELD ON THE GROUNDS OF THE CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS ALONG AND AVENIDA MENENDEZ, SEPTEMBER 13TH, A SATURDAY FROM 9:00-10:30 A.M. INDIVISIBLE BELIEVES WE RESIDENTS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAVE MUCH MORE IN COMMON THAN THE DIFFERENCES ON NATIONAL POLITICAL ISSUES THAT ONLY SERVE TO DIVIDE US IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE.
WE'VE ALL LEARNED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS NOTHING SEEMS TO UNITE US QUITE LIKE A THREAT TO OUR BELOVED PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO BEGIN LOOKING FOR WAYS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY ACROSS OUR DIFFERENCES ON ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY THAN A RALLY IN SUPPORT OF OUR PARKS AND OTHER PUBLIC LANDS.
GROUND RULES INDIVISIBLE HAS ESTABLISHED AND WILL PUBLICIZE FOR THE NONPARTISAN RALLY INCLUDE.
PARTICIPANTS SHOULD EMPHASIZE UNIVERSAL SUPPORT FOR OUR PARKS AND OTHER PUBLIC CONSERVATION LANDS.
NO AD HOMINEM ATTACKS ON ANY POLITICAL FIGURE OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER VERBAL BY SIGNS, OR OTHERWISE ARE ALLOWED.
ANY PROTEST ACTIVITY, WHETHER VERBAL BY SIGNS OR OTHERWISE, MUST BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OR PROPOSED POLICIES THAT POSE A DIRECT THREAT TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, OUR STATE PARKS, OR OTHER PUBLIC CONSERVATION LANDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE 24% DOGE CUTS TO NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PERSONNEL, THE PROPOSED GUANA LAND SWAP, THE PROPOSED USE OF OUR STATE PARKS FOR GOLF COURSES AND PICKLEBALL COURTS.
INDIVISIBLE ST. JOHNS COUNTY AS A TEAM OF TRAIN NEUTRAL EVENT PEACE KEEPERS, WHOSE ROLE IS TO KEEP THE PEACE AND ENFORCE THE RULES.
ANYONE VIOLATED OUR PUBLICIZED GROUND RULES WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THEIR SIGNS BEHIND OR LEAVE THE PREMISES.
AT OUR PREVIOUS EVENTS, THE PARK POLICE AND SAPD HAD OFFICERS PRESENT AND AVAILABLE TO ASSIST IN THIS FUNCTION.
WE'VE INVITED FRIENDS OF THE CASTILLO, FRIENDS OF ANASTASIA STATE PARK, FORT MOSE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, FRIENDS OF THE GTM RESERVE AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION, AND OTHER SIMILAR GROUPS TO SET UP TABLES WITH UNDER PORTABLE EARNINGS.
WE'LL ENCOURAGE RALLY ATTENDEES TO VOLUNTEER AND/OR PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THESE CITIZEN SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS FOR OUR LOCAL PARKS AND PUBLIC CONSERVATION LANDS.
I HOPE THAT OUR CITY WILL CO-SPONSOR THIS UPCOMING RALLY FOR OUR PARKS, AND I'LL ALSO HOPE TO SEE MANY OF MY FELLOW ST. AUGUSTINIANS AT THE EVENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER WILSON, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE CARDS AFTER HER.
YES, I DO. AFTER HER WILL BE SHANNON SAP. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I HAD SOME PHOTOS ON MY PHONE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE CAMERA ON MY PHONE, SO I COULD SHOW SOME PHOTOS.
OTHERWISE, I WOULD LIKE TO EMAIL YOU.
I HAVE A BUNCH OF PHOTOS AND VIDEOS THAT I THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
EXCELLENT. MY NAME IS HEATHER, AND I'M COMING FROM JACKSONVILLE.
I'M HERE AGAIN TO SPEAK UP FOR THE CARRIAGE HORSES.
THIS WEEKEND, I WENT TO THE HAILING PARK.
IS THAT A FOCUS? CAN WE FIX IT? I WENT TO THE HAILING PARK TO VISIT THE HORSES.
CAN SOMEBODY FIX THIS, IT'S REALLY BLURRY, I'M SORRY.
I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS.
I ENCOUNTERED TWO HORSES THAT WERE TIED UP AND THEIR LEADS WERE THIS BIG FOR WELL OVER AN HOUR.
THESE HORSES COULD BARELY MOVE THEIR HEADS.
[00:10:02]
THEY HAD LEADS ON MAYBE TWO FEET LONG, AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN MOVE.THIS HORSE WAS TIED UP AGAINST A WALL FOR WELL OVER AN HOUR, AT LEAST 60, 70 MINUTES AND I JUST SENT SCREENSHOTS, BUT I HAVE VIDEOS OF THESE ANIMALS MOVING THEIR HEADS.
THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY IN DISTRESS, THEY'RE PAWING AT THE GROUND AND THEY'RE SHAKING AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THESE ANIMALS HAVE TO BE TETHERED SO TIGHTLY WHEN THEY ARE NOT ON DUTY.
MORE ON THE CONDITIONS OF THESE ANIMALS AND WHERE THEY LIVE.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO GRAZE ON.
EVERY TIME I GO THERE, THERE'S MUD, THERE'S FECES, THERE'S PUDDLES FROM THE RAIN.
ALL OF THIS GRASS AND VEGETATION AND WEEDS IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR ENCLOSURE.
THEY'RE CONSTANTLY STICKING THEIR FACES THROUGH THE CHAIN LINK FENCE TO TRY TO GRAZE.
HERE YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE HORSES NIBBLING ON SOME VINES.
THEN THIS HORSE IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO EAT THE PALM TREES OVER THE FENCE. THAT'S SAD.
HERE YOU CAN JUST SEE THE MUD MORE MUD.
WE CAN DO BETTER FOR THESE ANIMALS.
MY SECOND THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
I SUBMITTED A PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST.
PER THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, THESE CARRIAGE COMPANIES NEED TO SUBMIT LISTS OF THEIR HORSES TO BE RENEWED EVERY SIX MONTHS.
I SUBMITTED A REQUEST IN EARLY JULY.
I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LIST OF THESE HORSES.
I WAS TOLD I HAD TO MAIL A CHECK.
MY CHECK HAS BEEN DELIVERED FOR $46.10.
I'M STILL WAITING FOR A LIST OF THESE HORSES.
THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY.
I REALLY HOPE THAT IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE DISORGANIZED AND NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING.
THESE ANIMALS NEED US TO SPEND FOR THEM.
>> NO SPEAKER. NO, I GUESS NOT.
SHANNON SAP IS THE NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY AARON JOCKERS.
>> HI. MY NAME IS SHANNON SAP, AND I HAVE ONE QUESTION BEFORE I START.
SOME OF THESE MESSAGES THAT I WILL BE READING IS WORDS DIRECTLY FROM SAP TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING CHIEF MICHAUX.
AM I ALLOWED TO SAY THE WORDS THAT THEY ARE SAYING OR SHOULD I JUST BLEEP THEM OUT? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BLEEP THEM OUT.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MY NAME IS SHANNON SAP AND I'M HERE BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP OF ST. AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN CHIEF JENNIFER MICHAUX HAS CROSSED THE LINE FROM UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR INTO CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT.
THEY HAVE ABUSED THEIR POSITIONS, VIOLATED FLORIDA LAW, AND ENGAGED IN DELIBERATE CAMPAIGN OF RETALIATION AGAINST ME AND MY FAMILY, AND THEIR ACTIONS HAVE LEFT ME AFRAID TO EVEN BE OUT IN PUBLIC ON MY OWN.
I HAVE INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS IN WHICH CHIEF MICHAUX CALLS ME A CRAZY LADY AND ADMITS THAT SHE IS TRYING TO BUILD A CASE AGAINST ME, NOT FOR A CRIME, BUT BECAUSE I HAVE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THE CORRUPTION WITHIN HER DEPARTMENT.
THESE MESSAGES SHOW OFFICERS TRACKING MY MOVEMENTS IN REAL TIME AND SENDING MY LOCATIONS TO OTHERS, AND THAT IS STALKING UNDER THE PUBLIC STATUTE 784.
SHE'S COORDINATING WITH A TRAFFIC UNIT TO TARGET ME FOR ENFORCEMENT IS ABUSE OF PUBLIC POSITION.
MICHAUX IS REACHING OUT TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEIR TRAFFIC UNIT WILL BE LOOKING FOR ME.
MAKING DEROGATORY STATEMENTS AND HATEFUL REMARKS ABOUT MY SON, CALLING HIM A PIECE OF WHAT, AND I WON'T SAY, AND SAYING THAT THEY HOPE THAT THE BEE DROWNS.
DISCUSSING WITHHOLDING PUBLIC RECORDS FROM ME UNTIL AFTER MY SON'S TRIAL IS A DIRECT VIOLATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS ALSO AND IS A FIRST DEGREE MISDEMEANOR.
RICH WARNER'S CALLING FELLOW OFFICER, ANTHONY CUTHBERT, I SAID HIS LAST NAME, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE, A PU, AND I WON'T SAY THE REST.
THIS IS THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU.
IF MY SON IS TRULY GUILTY OF THE CRIMES THAT THEY HAVE CHARGED HIM WITH, WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO WITHHOLD EVIDENCE AND AND HOLD EMAILS FROM ME UNTIL THE TRIAL.
WHY WOULD THEY BE CELEBRATING HIS PLEA DEAL IN PRIVATE CHATS LIKE IT IS SOME SORT OF PERSONAL VICTORY? THAT IS NOT JUSTICE, THAT IS MANIPULATION, AND IT UNDERMINES THE INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE CASE.
WHEN CHIEF MICHAUX, THE POLICE ENGAGES IN THIS, IT BECOMES OFFICIAL POLICY UNLESS YOU ACT.
[00:15:02]
THIS IS OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT UNDER 8303-022.IT'S A FELONY. IT IS ALSO A RETALIATION FOR PROTECTED SPEECH, A VIOLATION OF MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
BECAUSE OF THIS, I HAVE TO LIVE WITH FEAR THAT I WILL BE FOLLOWED, STOPPED, TARGETED, AND ARRESTED ANYTIME I LEAVE MY HOME.
I AM NO LONGER FEEL SAFE AND MOVING FREELY WITHIN MY OWN COMMUNITY.
THIS COMMISSION CANNOT CLAIM IGNORANCE AFTER TONIGHT.
THE MISCONDUCT MUST DESCRIBE THIS IS CRIMINAL AND UNETHICAL.
I DEMAND THAT YOU DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO PLACE CHIEF MICHAUX ON IMMEDIATE ADMINISTRATION LEAVE, PENDING INVESTIGATION, REFERRING THIS MATTER TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU CONTACT THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION.
>> I WILL BE SENDING ALL THIS TO YOU, AND HERE'S THE PICTURES OF THE CHIEF.
THE NEXT SPEAKER I HAVE IS AARON JOCKERS.
>> IT'S GOOD TO THE BIKER. THERE WE GO.
>> I HAVEN'T REALLY USED THE CAMERA THING BEFORE, SO BEAR WITH ME, SIR.
MY NAME IS AARON JOCKERS [INAUDIBLE] IN ST. AUGUSTINE IN FLORIDA.
I JUST WANTED TO COME AND GIVE A LITTLE UPDATE.
I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAD A QUESTION SOME INFORMATION RECENTLY ABOUT THE HORSE CARRIAGE POLICIES AND ORDINANCES IN ST. AUGUSTINE IN FLORIDA.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE CITY FOR GIVING US INSTRUCTION AND DIRECTION.
I KNOW THAT OUR HEAT POLICIES AS FAR AS THE HUMIDITY RIVALS THE COUNTRY.
WE ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL VETERINARIANS TO ESTABLISH THE RIGHT GUIDELINES.
THE BEST POSSIBLE GUIDELINES WE COULD PUT FOR OUR HORSES, AND WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING TO GET BETTER, BUT WE DO LOVE THEM AS WELL.
THE PICTURES THAT I BROUGHT OF COURSE, ARE JUST THE BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S, HORSE STORY HERE.
BASICALLY, OUR HORSES HAVE BEEN HERE AND IT'S THE CARRIAGE INIT SINCE 1877.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE STRICTEST RULES AND REGULATIONS BASED ON WHAT THEY CAN DO, WHAT THEY CAN'T DO.
THIS IS THE EASTER PARADE FROM BACK IN THE DAY.
OF COURSE, HERE'S OUR EASTER PARADES TODAY.
WE ARE A TIME ON INSTITUTION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, NO ONE CARES FOR THE HORSES BETTER THAN OUR TOWNSPEOPLE.
THEY LOVE US HERE. HERE YOU CAN SEE MISS GALE BACK WHEN IT WAS HER GALLERY.
NOW THE ABBY GALLERY IS STILL DOING IT AND THEY STILL COME OUT AND FEED THE HORSES.
THEY OF COURSE, LINE UP AND LOVE THEM.
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC, OF COURSE, AS WE ALWAYS HAD TO MAKE THINGS MEMORABLE.
OF COURSE, ONE OF THE HONORS OF MY CAREER IN ST.
AUGUSTINE WAS RECEIVING THIS FROM OUR SISTER CITY CELEBRATION LAST YEAR.
NORA AND I DROVE THE MAYOR OF AVILES, SPAIN AND MAYOR OF ST. AUGUSTINE AROUND.
YOU HAVE A TIME-LONG TRADITION OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
NEVERTHELESS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S ALWAYS CONCERNS AND WE'RE GLAD THAT PEOPLE BRING THOSE UP.
WE APPRECIATE ANYONE THAT WANTS TO PUT THEIR INPUT IN.
OF COURSE, THE HORSES DO GET ALFALFA ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE HIGHEST GRADE THEY CAN GET AND YES, OF COURSE IT'S BEEN RAINING EVERY DAY IN SUMMER, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE MUD.
THE HORSES DO GET TURNED OUT, IT'S REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT. ANYONE IS WELCOMED TO TALK TO US AT THE BAY FRONT OR AT THE STANDS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE COME TO US AT ANY TIME.
BUT YES, THE CITY HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT LETTING US KNOW AND CATCHING US UP WITH THE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT WE NEED TO GET BETTER AT.
ANYONE IS WELCOMED TO SEE TO THE BAYFRONT ITSELF AND SEE HOW GREAT OUR HORSES ARE WONDERFUL THEY REALLY ARE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HERE WISH TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT GO AHEAD AND TURN YOUR CARDS IN.
[BACKGROUND] WELL, THE NEXT SPEAKER I HAVE IS PATRICIA RAMOS.
AM I MISSING CARDS? YES. THERE ARE CARDS UNDER MY BOOK.
MY APOLOGIES. I DO HAVE YOUR CARDS.
THEY WERE HIDING UNDER MY BOOK, FORTUNATELY, BUT THEY ARE HERE AND WE WILL HEAR YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICIA RAMOS, FOLLOWED BY KATHERINE ZOD.
[00:20:04]
MS. RAMOS. GOOD AFTERNOON.>> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA, AND I LIVE AT 18 RAM SHORE.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HORSE AND CARRIAGES OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
THANKFULLY, WHEN WE SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC, A GOOD PERCENTAGE ARE STILL SHOCKED AT THE OLDEST TOWN, NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS, CONTINUES WITH THIS ANTIQUATED CRUEL TRADITION.
KEEP THE CHARM WITH ELECTRIC CARRIAGES LIKE MOUNT DORA HAS DONE AND EVOLVE.
WE'VE ALREADY SPOKEN OF SLUM PARK, WHERE THESE SENTIENT SLAVES ARE KEPT IN PRETTY HORRIFIC CONDITIONS.
IRONIC THAT IT'S EVEN CALLED FREEDOM PARK.
ANYONE WHO GOES ON THESE WALKING TRAILS CAN ATTEST TO WHAT WE SPEAK OF.
BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO MENTION AND BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION TODAY IS THAT WE HAVE FOUND AT LEAST ONE COMPANY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A LICENSE OR A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
HOWEVER, AS PER A PHONE CALL, THEY WERE EXCITED TO TELL US NOT ONLY THAT THEY WILL BE BACK HAVING TOURS IN AND AROUND ST. AUGUSTINE, BUT SUPER EXCITED ABOUT RESERVATIONS FOR THE DURATION OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, OPERATING DURING ONE OF THE MOST BUSIEST TIMES OF THE YEAR.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE WITHOUT A LICENSE IN THE CITY, WITH THE CITY OR A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT? TALK ABOUT A LIABILITY AND LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
ON WHOSE EXPENSE? IT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH THAT BESIDES TRYING TO MEANDER THROUGH THE TRAFFIC DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THAT THESE POOR HORSES WILL BE PLACED NOT ONLY IN SUCH UNNATURAL SITUATION, BUT AMONGST MORE NOISE, MORE EXHAUST FUMES, AND MORE DISTRACTIONS, AS WELL AS DISTRACTED TOURISTS.
LET'S NOT FORGET IF GOD FORBID EMERGENCY VEHICLES HAVE TO GET THROUGH THAT CHAOS.
THEIR MAIN PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE HUMAN AND NOT THE POOR HORSES.
THESE HORSES AND CARRIAGES WILL ALSO BE IN THE WAY OF THESE EMERGENCY VEHICLES, AND THEREFORE, ANOTHER POSSIBILITY TO PUT LIVES AT RISK.
I AM SURE MANY OF YOU HERE HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDST OF THE NORMAL CONGESTED TRAFFIC WITHIN ST. AUGUSTINE AND HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS TO TRY TO SAFELY GET AROUND THE HORSE AND CARRIAGES WHILE HOPEFULLY NOT SPOOKING THEM AT THE SAME TIME.
WE ALSO HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE UNMARKED CARRIAGES, A CODE VIOLATION.
WE ALSO NOTICED THAT SOME HORSES ARE NOT GIVEN THE 15 MINUTE BREAK IN BETWEEN TOURS.
ANOTHER CODE VIOLATION, SPRINKLED WITH GREEDY CRUELTY.
BASICALLY, THE MUNICIPAL CODE AND THESE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS ARE NOT EVEN WORTH THE PAPER THAT THEY ARE WRITTEN ON.
WITH THE CITY NOT ENFORCING ITS OWN RULES OR CONTRACTS OR MONITORING THESE COMPANIES, IT NOT ONLY PUTS THE INNOCENT HORSES LIVES AT RISK, BUT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I BELIEVE WHAT ALL OF US HERE ARE TRYING TO DRIVE HOME TODAY THAT WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE THE HORSE AND CARRIAGES PLACED ON THE AGENDA, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE INEVITABLE HAPPENS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHERINE ZOD.
I ALSO APOLOGIZE FOR LOSING THE CARD BRIEFLY.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
I LIVE AT 48 SORIA DRIVE, ST. AUGUSTINE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT OF THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY IN OUR CITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> PARDON ME FOR THE INTERRUPTION.
BUT COULD YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT PICKED UP?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW SOME PHOTOS THAT HIGHLIGHT SOME OF MY CONCERNS.
HORSES ARE TETHERED IN ISOLATION, SURROUNDED BY FILTH WITH NO ACCESS TO WATER OR SALT IN VIOLATION OF CITY CODE, CHAPTER 27145, SUBSECTIONS B AND C.
THE HORSES ARE HOUSED ON A PROPERTY WHERE STANDING WATER IS FREQUENTLY PRESENT, WHICH POSES UNSANITARY CONDITIONS, POTENTIALLY A VIOLATION OF MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 27146/8.
[00:25:08]
THIS HORSE IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WATER.IN THE STREETS, THERE ARE FREQUENT VIOLATIONS OF BOTH CITY CODE AND FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS CREATING SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY AND ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES.
CARRIAGES OFTEN OPERATE WITHOUT DISPLAYING THE REQUIRED COMPANY IDENTIFICATION ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND VIOLATION OF THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
THESE ARE TWO UNMARKED CARRIAGES.
THE LAST THREE PHOTOS SHOW A REST PERIOD VIOLATION OF CITY CODE SECTION 27145 SUBSECTION 5, ONLY AN EIGHT MINUTE REST OF THE MANDATORY 15.
HERE'S THE CARRIAGE COMING IN.
>> SPEAK IN TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE SO WE CAN RECORD WHAT'S BEING SAID.
RELOADING AT 7:53 AND THEN HE'S BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN AT 7:58.
ONLY EIGHT MINUTE OF HIS 15 REQUIRED BREAK.
VIOLATIONS ARE RAMPANT IN BOTH THE STREETS AND THE CITY PARK WHERE THESE HORSES ARE HOUSED.
AS IS EVIDENCE FROM THESE PHOTOS, THERE IS A GREATER NEED FOR OVERSIGHT AND ENFORCEMENT TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THESE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE OPERATIONS.
IT IS TIME TO PHASE OUT THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE OPERATIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CARLA WILSON, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN WILSON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
ON THE WAY HERE TODAY, I PASSED YET ANOTHER TOUR OPPORTUNITY IN THE CITY, ONE I HAD NEVER HEARD OF.
PAST TIME TOURS, A TOUR IN AN OLD MODEL T, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL.
THERE'S SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO SEE THE CITY THAT DO NOT INVOLVE THE CRUELTY OF HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES.
I TOO I'M CONCERNED THAT ST. AUGUSTINE WILL BECOME ANOTHER STATISTIC, ANOTHER NEWS STORY, REPORTING A DEATH OR AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
NO AMOUNT OF REGULATIONS CAN PREVENT AN ACCIDENT OR A HORSE COLLAPSING IN THE STREET, AND HER TRADITION DOES NOT JUSTIFY CRUELTY.
PLEASE ADD THIS ISSUE OF HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES AND THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE YOU TODAY ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU. BRIAN WILSON, FOLLOWED BY LEE MESSINA.
SURE I DIDN'T LOSE ANY MORE CARDS? GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. I'D LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AN ARTICLE THAT REALLY ANY INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN AREA WHERE OUR HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE IS OPERATING.
IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE VIDEO TURNED ON.
IN NEW YORK CITY, A HORSE BY THE NAME OF LADY COLLAPSED AND DIED IN THE STREETS.
ONE OF THE CAUSES OF HER DEATH WAS THE HEAT, HUMIDITY AND THE CONDITIONS THAT SHE WAS FORCED TO OPERATE UNDER.
WHAT I'M HERE TODAY IS TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE ADD THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES AND THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU BY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE CITY TO GET THEM OFF THE STREETS OF ST. AUGUSTINE, ALL IT IS A SIMPLE EDIT, TO CHANGE THIS TO WHAT COULD BE A REALITY HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, A HORSE COULD COLLAPSE ON KING STREET.
AGAIN, THIS COULD BE PREVENTED HERE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS LEE MESSINA.
I HAVE ONLY ONE SPEAKER CARD AFTER MESSINA SO IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE FILL OUT A CARD AND TURN IT IN. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
I LIVE IN TREASURE ISLAND, FLORIDA, AND I'M A SEMI-RETIRED YACHT BROKER.
I OWN A BUSINESS THERE, AND WE'VE BEEN CRUISING ON OUR BOAT.
BACK IN DECEMBER, WE WERE UP IN THE NORTHEAST AND I MANAGED TO GET A BOAT UNDER CONTRACT FOR A GOOD FRIEND AND A GOOD LONG TERM CLIENT.
I TALKED THEM INTO COMING DOWN HERE TO ST.
[00:30:02]
AUGUSTINE BECAUSE THE SURVEYOR WE WANTED TO USE AND THE YARDS WE WANTED TO USE WERE HERE AND SO THE OWNERS BROUGHT THE BOAT DOWN HERE.MY FRIEND AND CLIENT BOUGHT THE BOAT AND HAS SINCE BEEN SPENDING ABOUT $70,000 LOCALLY HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, WITH LOCAL VENDORS HAVING IT UPGRADED.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
WE HAVE BEEN STAYING ON OUR BOAT AT THE MUNICIPAL MARINA.
BASICALLY, THE REASON I'M HERE IS TO JUST ADVISE YOU OR RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSIDER EXPANDING EXCEPTIONS TO THE 90 DAY LIMIT AT THE MARINA.
I HAVE NO COMPLAINT WITH ANY OF THAT, BUT THEY KEEP INVOKING A 90-DAY POLICY THAT HAS FORCED US TO LEAVE THERE AND THEREFORE LEAVE ST. AUGUSTINE OR GO TO AN ANCHORAGE OR GO AND BRING OUR BUSINESS TO OTHER MARINAS.
THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW SINCE DECEMBER WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE, PERSONALLY, ON OUR BOAT, HAVE SPENT ALMOST $20,000 ON UPGRADES TO OUR OWN PERSONAL BOAT WHILE WE'VE BEEN HERE, FEEDING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LET ALONE THE RESTAURANTS AND OTHER THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING.
BUT WE HAD TO LEAVE AGAIN THE MOORING, WHERE WE WERE A FEW WEEKS AGO.
>> AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE 90 DAY POLICY, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IN THE WINTERTIME AND DURING THIS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS.
MY DAUGHTER LIVES NEARBY BY CAR ANYWAY IN THE PAST.
WE'VE HAD TO LEAVE WHEN THE OCCUPANCY RATES OUT THERE, THEY DIDN'T WANT OUR MONEY.
BASICALLY, THE CITY DID NOT WANT OUR MONEY TO PAY FOR A MOORING FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO OR THREE BEFORE WE DECIDED WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO NEXT, WHEN THE OCCUPANCY RATE WAS 20%.
AT BOTH THE MARINE AND I'M GUESSING AND I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE THE POINT, BUT 20%, 30%, 40%, WHATEVER.
HUGE AMOUNT OF VACANCY WHERE OUR INCOME COULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED, AND WE COULD HAVE PAID MORE MONEY AND FED LOCAL VENDORS.
>> GOT THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OH, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER CARD.
>> GOOD EVENING. HI. MY NAME IS AMANDA GERBER, AND I LIVE AND I WORK IN LINCOLNVILLE, AND I ACTUALLY OWN A GOLF CART TOUR COMPANY.
I DO ACTUALLY WORK IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND I WORK ALONGSIDE THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE INDUSTRY, AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE DRIVERS.
I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT THESE DRIVERS THEY LOVE THEIR ANIMALS MORE THAN ANYTHING, AND THEY REALLY DO TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF THEM.
THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS THAT THINGS PEOPLE CAN IMPROVE THEM.
BUT THEY WORK WITH THEIR ANIMALS AND THEY WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY, AND THEY REALLY DO THEIR BEST, AND THEY ADD SO MUCH TO ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT IS SUCH A RICH HISTORY THAT WE HAVE THAT MOST OF FLORIDA, MOST OF THE COUNTRY CANNOT SAY THAT THEY HAVE IS THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE INDUSTRY.
ME WORKING IN GOLF CARTS, I AM VERY HAPPY THAT THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE INDUSTRY IS HERE BECAUSE IT JUST ADDS ANOTHER DIMENSION TO THE TOUR INDUSTRY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT THEY REALLY DO LOVE THEIR HORSES.
WE ALL DO. I'M JUST HAPPY THAT THEY'RE HERE. THANK YOU.
I HAVE NO MORE SPEAKER CARDS, SO WE HAVE OUR LAST SPEAKER, B. J. CALADY.
>> B. J. CALADY WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
AT THE JULY 28, 2025 CRA MEETING, THE COMMISSION WAS THANKED FOR THE CROSSWALK AT 271 WEST KING.
ALL TAXPAYERS NEED TO BE AWARE THIS WAS DONE WITH OUR PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS TO THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, NOT WITH CRA DOLLARS.
THIS INCLUDES THE REPAVING OF CITY STREETS AND CRA DISTRICTS.
NINE A1, ORDINANCE 2025-22, INCREASE ILLEGAL PARKING FINES.
THIS IS A GOOD BEGINNING TO PRESERVE ALL UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE SOUTH BOUNDARY IS SOUTH STREET WHERE MR. BURCHAM LIVES.
ANDERSON STREET, AND WC CRA AND ALL RESIDENTIAL STREETS SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
[00:35:02]
THERE ARE RESIDENTS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE NO RESPECT FOR LAWS AND $35 FINES HAS NOT CHANGED THEIR BEHAVIOR.SHOWING PHOTOS AT THESE MEETINGS OF VIOLATIONS ON ANDERSON STREET IS IGNORED.
TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR A SECOND TRIP BY THE MAYOR AND TWO CITY EMPLOYEES TO VISIT POLAND.
I WAS JUST THINKING BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED IN THE CRA AND WHAT'S GOING ON AND LISTENING TO NATIONAL NEWS.
THERE'S TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING PROPERTY TAXES, AND IT JUST CAME TO ME TODAY.
THE PROPERTY TAXES, IF THEY'RE ELIMINATED, THERE WILL BE NO TAX DOLLARS FOR THE CRAS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY WILL BE PAID NOT ONLY IN THE CRAS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TOO.
THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT WILL BE MAYBE EVENTUALLY ON A TIME TO VOTE ON IT.
I DO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE HERE TODAY THAT HAVE SPOKEN.
IT'S ENCOURAGING WHENEVER THE CITIZENS, RESIDENTS, AND TOURISTS, WHOEVER COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND PARTICIPATE.
YOU'VE ASKED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT HAPPENING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE MOVE ON NOW TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA ]
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES WHICH ARE TENDED WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR A SECOND READING ON AUGUST 25, ORDINANCE 2025-22, WHICH AMENDS THE CITY CODE TO INCREASE ILLEGAL PARKING FINES, AND TO INCLUDE FRANCHISE STOPS, TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY STOPS, AND CONTROLLED PARKING RESIDENTIAL AREAS AS UNLAWFUL PLACES TO STAND PARK IN OR STOP.
WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS FOR THE AUGUST 25TH, 5:00 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THE AUGUST 28TH, 09:00 A.M. CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING AND THE AUGUST 29TH, 09:00 A.M. CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING, IF NECESSARY, FOLLOWED BY THE SEPTEMBER 8TH, 5:00 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 23RD, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND THE JULY 14TH SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE A RELEASE OF LIEN FOR 27 17 YUSINA STREET, MR. STEPHEN MCALLON.
THIS IS THE QUARTERLY CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER FISCAL YEAR 2024-25, AND APPROVAL FOR THE JACKSONVILLE ISEMAN TO USE THE CITY CREST FOR A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION EVENT.
THAT CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA.
I MOVE THAT WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE HAVE NO APPEALS, NO GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS.
WE'LL GO STRAIGHT TO ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT THREE ORDINANCES THAT WILL REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH ORDINANCE 2025-21.
[8.A.1. Ordinance 2025-21: Amends Chapter 28 of the Zoning Code to include a new section in Supplementary Regulations related to Lot Grading and amends definitions and Chapter 11 Conservation Overlay Zone Development to be consistent with the new section. (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)]
MRS. SKINNER, YOU'RE WELCOME TO PRESENT.I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
LAST JULY, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD RECOGNIZED THAT THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE DID NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE TYPES OF APPLICATIONS THAT WERE BEING SUBMITTED FOR NEW AND INFIELD DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY.
THIS INCLUDED ADDING TO THE HEIGHTS OF EXISTING BULKHEADS, HIGHER THAN MINIMUM FINISHED FLOOR ELEVATIONS, AND THE HEIGHT OF THE GROUND LEVEL TO THE EXTENT OF BUILDING RETAINING WALLS AND BRINGING IN LOADS OF DIRT ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES.
RECOGNIZING THE CONCERN AS WELL, THE CITY COMMISSION THEN DIRECTED STAFF TO WORK WITH THE CITY CITIZEN BOARDS TO EXAMINE CONCERNS RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT IN LOAD LYING AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS.
SINCE DECEMBER OF 2024, THE CITY HAS HELD SEVERAL PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH OUR CITIZEN BOARDS TO GIVE THE BOARDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES WITH THE PUBLIC.
THE PCB ALSO REQUESTED THAT STAFF HOLD A PUBLIC WORKSHOP SPECIFICALLY SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN COME AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND INPUT ON THIS ISSUE.
THIS WORKSHOP WAS HELD IN MARCH.
THE CITY STAFF HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY ON DRAFTING POTENTIAL LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REGULATIONS.
THE STAFF DRAFT LANGUAGE FOCUSES ON THE LOT GRADING ISSUE,
[00:40:02]
WHICH RELATES TO FILL AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES AND STORMWATER DRAINAGE MASTER PLANS.THE ORDINANCE PROPOSES LANGUAGE TO BE INSERTED INTO THE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS IN THE ZONING CODE AND RELEVANT UPDATES TO THE CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER.
SEVERAL ITEMS INCLUDES CLARIFYING THAT THIS LOCK GRADING RELATES TO SINGLE FAMILY ONE AND TWO DUPLEX DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE EXEMPT CURRENTLY FROM THE STORMWATER CODE, RECOGNIZING THAT BUILDABLE LOTS ARE DIFFERENT AND THAT MAY BE ADJACENT TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXISTING CONDITIONS AND STORMWATER CONDITIONS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY.
THIS CREATES A TABLE THAT REFERS AN APPLICANT TO CERTAIN STANDARDS AND GIVES THEM DIRECTION ON THEIR SPECIFIC SITUATION DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE IN THE CITY.
THE ORDINANCE RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF EROSION CONTROL AND LOW IMPACT DESIGN.
THESE PLANS ALSO DEMONSTRATE THAT LOW IMPACT DESIGN CAN BE PART OF PROPOSED APPLICANTS PLAN AND THAT IT CAN BE REVIEWED AS PART OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO ENCOURAGE LOW IMPACT DESIGN AND OFFSET OTHER REQUIREMENTS.
THIS ORDINANCE ALSO RELIEVES THE PLANNING REVIEW OF THE PLAN BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS AS PROPOSED AND CREATES INCENTIVES TO ALLOW SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE COMPATIBLE IN SCALE TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES.
IT ALSO INCLUDES INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL HELP ENCOURAGE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE SHORELINE.
BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP IN THESE SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE BOARDS, THE PCB MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THE PCB ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGES WERE NOT MORE BURDENSOME AND SPECIFICALLY DETERMINED THAT CLARIFYING REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDING DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS IS RELIEF TO PROPERTY OWNERS.
THE CITY COMMISSION REVIEWED AND PASSED THIS ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING ON JULY 28TH, AND SUGGESTED SOME REVISIONS.
THESE REVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE TEXT.
THERE IS A SPELLING ERROR, AND THEN ALSO WE CLARIFIED THE DEFINITION OF I GUESS, CERTAIN TYPES OF SWALES.
THIS IS SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 2025-21.
SHE'S A SENIOR PLANNER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER FOR THE CITY, SO WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARING, DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC HEARING.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? HEARING NO ONE, SEEING NO ONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
WE'RE BACK TO THE DIAS FOR DISCUSSION.
THIS IS A LOVELY THING TO SEE NOBODY IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S A VERY POSITIVE MOVE IF YOU ASK ME.
>> THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE IS THAT THE MAPS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
I'VE BEEN STUDYING ALL OVER TOWN TO SEE WHERE THE FIVE AND SIX FEET ARE.
I THINK IF MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THESE MAPS, THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
I'M JUST LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW THOSE MAPS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT AND YOU CAN GET THEM AND THEY TELL YOU THE ELEVATION AROUND THE CITY THAT IS IN FEAR OF FLOODING.
I APPRECIATE THOSE. THEY LOOK GOOD.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MUCH.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I THINK THIS IS A BIG STEP TOWARD HELPING BUILD A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A PRODUCT OF A LOT OF HARD WORK FROM A LOT OF CITIZEN BOARDS AND INPUT, AND ALSO FROM STAFF, AND I WELCOME THIS.
>> I MADE THEM LAST TIME AGAIN.
THANKS TO THE STAFF AND THE PLANNING BOARD.
I KNOW WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD, THIS IS STARTING TO BE DISCUSSED, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN DONE.
IT'S EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS IN A WAY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY LOOSE ENDS AND I FEEL LIKE THIS REALLY PULLS IT TOGETHER, ALLOWS OPTIONS.
IT'S NOT BURDENSOME, BUT WE GET WHAT WE WANT.
IT WAS REALLY WELL DONE. THANK YOU.
[00:45:01]
>> I'LL JUST WRAP IT UP AND JUST SAY THAT THANK YOU STAFF.
IT'S NICE TO SEE SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE LIKE THIS COME OUT OF YOUR DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK TO GET THIS THROUGH AND GET ALL THE CITIZEN BOARD HEARINGS, AND I THINK THE CITIZEN BOARDS HAVE A LOT OF THANKS WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY POURING OUT.
THIS I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ENCOURAGING LOW IMPACT DESIGNS IS A POSITIVE STEP FORWARD FOR US, AND I DO HOPE THE WORK CONTINUES.
WITH THAT, I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2025-21.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. SORRY. ON READ.
>> YES. YOU DO. I ALWAYS FORGET THAT PART, SIR.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-21, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING AND UPDATING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 28, ARTICLE 1 AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS, ARTICLE 4, SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS DIVISION 1 GENERALLY, CREATING SECTION 28-357, RESIDENTIAL READING AND AMENDING CHAPTER 11 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, FIGHTING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, FIGHTING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MY APOLOGIES FOR TRYING TO SKIP OVER THAT.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> WONDERFUL. OUR NEXT ITEM IS A RESOLUTION THAT REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING.
[8.C.1. Resolution 2025-27: Designates the 400 and 404 Riberia Street parcels as a Brownfield Area. (J.P. Steinmetz, Outside Counsel for the City of St. Augustine) ]
RESOLUTION 2025-27.>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE COVERING FOR MISS LOPEZ.
>> I SUPPOSE I SHOULD MENTION THAT YOU'RE STANDING IN FOR CITY ATTORNEY LOPEZ TODAY OF-COURSE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSION. IN FRONT FOR THE COMMISSION TONIGHT, ITEM 8.C.1 IS RESOLUTION 20205-27, WHICH IS A DESIGNATION OF BROWNFIELD SITE OF 404 FOR RIBERIA PARCELS.
BROWNFIELD DESIGNATION GENERALLY IS A STATUTORY PROCESS.
BROWNFIELD CAN EITHER BE PROPOSED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR BY INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, OR OTHER NON GOVERNMENTAL LEGAL ENTITIES.
IN THIS CASE, DEVELOPER WILL PURCHASE CONTAMINATED PROPERTY WITH THE INTENT TO REDEVELOP IT.
CONTINGENT ON THE BROWNFIELD DESIGNATION TO PAY FOR SOME OF THE CLEANUP COSTS.
THAT WON'T BE FUNDED BY THE CITY IN GRANTING THIS RESOLUTION.
IF THE COMMISSION WERE TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION, IT WOULD BE THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, WHICH WOULD WORK WITH THE APPLICANT, AND THE CITIZENS WOULD RECEIVE UPDATES THROUGH VARIOUS COMMISSIONS, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH.
WHEN REVIEWING THIS APPLICATION, THE STATUTE PROVIDES SOME CRITERIA THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED.
THE PERSON WHO OWNS OR CONTROLS THE SITE IS REQUESTING THE DESIGNATION, AND AGREES TO REHABILITATE, AND REDEVELOP THE AREA.
TO THE REHABILITATION, REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE WILL RESULT IN ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY OF THE AREA, ALONG WITH AT LEAST FIVE NEW PERMANENT JOBS CREATED.
THREE, THE REDEVELOPMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
FOUR, NOTICE WAS PROVIDED TO NEIGHBORS, AND NEARBY RESIDENTS, AND FIVE, THE DEVELOPER HAS PROVIDED REASONABLE ASSURANCES THAT HE OR SHE HAS SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO COMPLETE THE REHABILITATION OR REDEVELOPMENT.
FOLLOWING ADOPTION BY THIS COMMISSION, IF IT SO CHOOSES, APPLICANT WILL THEN WORK WITH THE DP TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.
STATUTE REQUIRES TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THIS IS THE FIRST, AND PUBLIC INPUT IS REQUIRED.
INCLUDING THE APPLICATION ARE THE RESOLUTION, LEGAL DESCRIPTION, STAFF REPORTS, ASSOCIATED MAPS, CERTIFICATION OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP PURSUANT TO FLORIDA BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT ACT, APPLICATION FOR BROWNFIELD AREA DESIGNATION.
PROOF OF NOTICE DOCUMENTS, FINANCIAL ASSURANCES LETTER, SITE SUMMARY, AND FUTURE PLANS MEMO FROM THE APPLICANT'S AGENT, AND RELEVANT FLORIDA STATUTES.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE IS AN INTRODUCTION.
MISS CHRISTINA NELSON, ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT IS PRESENT, AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
THIS IS THE SECOND, I APOLOGIZE, THIS IS OUTDATED MEMO.
CHRISTINA NELSON, 1650 MARGARET STREET, JACKSON, FLORIDA.
YOU GUYS HEARD THIS BACK ON THE 28TH, THE SAME ONE THAT YOU UNANIMOUSLY WERE IN AGREEMENT FOR.
WE HAD A COMMUNITY HEARING AS WELL.
ALL NOTICES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
[00:50:02]
AND WE ARE JUST AVAILABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, AND FROM THERE. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? SEEMS LIKE A POSITIVE THING TO ME.
>> IN A PUBLIC HEARING? I'VE GOT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'LL DO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
>> BJ CALETED WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, RESOLUTION 2025-27 404 FOR RIBERIA BROWNFIELD. IT'S INTERESTING.
NO ONE REPORTED THE CONTAMINATION OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER UNTIL NOW.
IS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE INVESTIGATING OTHER BUSINESSES ON THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER WITH RIBERIA STREET ADDRESSES FOR CONTAMINATION? THERE ARE OTHER BOAT YARDS ON RIBERIA STREET.
WHEN THIS PROPERTY WAS REZONED IN JANUARY 27, 2025 TO ALLOW 50 FEET CONSTRUCTION, CONTAMINATION WAS NOT MENTIONED.
WHERE IS THE LIST OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED A COMMUNITY MEETING, AND DID NOT WANT A RESTAURANT AT THAT TIME? THEN ON MAY 2ND, 2025, THE OWNER APPLIED FOR BROWNFIELD TAX CREDIT.
WHERE IS LIST OF NOTICES MAILED OR EMAILED TO NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE JULY 14TH, 2025 COMMUNITY MEETING? WHO WROTE THE STAFF REPORT DATED JULY 11, 2025, RECOMMENDING BROWNFIELD? WHO APPOINTS THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD OF LOCAL CITIZENS, AND STAKEHOLDERS? THIS IS A REPEAT OF WHAT I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP.
THIS DEVELOPER, AND THEIR LAWYER HAVE NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS, AND I WISH THE BOARD HAD ANSWERED SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
MANIPULATION OF THIS COMMISSION CAN LEAD TO MORE GENTRIFICATION OF LINCOLNVILLE.
DO NOT DESIGNATE 404 FOR RIBERIA STREET AS BROWNFIELD AREAS.
>> I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKER CARDS.
ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
>> I HAVE A COMMENT IN RESPONSE IN PART TO WHAT THE PUBLIC SPEAKER JUST MENTIONED.
I THOUGHT AT THE FIRST READING THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING.
WE'RE GOING TO GET POLLUTANTS OUT OF THE SOIL.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM FROM LEACHING INTO THE WATERWAYS.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HARMFUL ABOUT THIS AT ALL, SINCE THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT, I THINK IT'S A BENEFIT.
THIS IS A CLASSIC ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUE WHERE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN LARGE PART WERE TARGETED FOR PRACTICES THAT WOULD RESULT IN LONG TERM POLLUTANTS.
THIS IS A GOOD START TO CORRECTING THAT WRONG.
I AM IN FAVOR OF IT, AND IN FACT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS.
>> THEN I WOULD MOVE THAT ORDINANCE 2025-27.
THANK YOU, MISS SPEAKER, AND BE APPROVED, READ BY TITLE ONLY.
>> NO. JUST TO ADD TO COMMISSIONER BLONDER SAID, WE HAD A WORKING WATERFRONT HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
TOWNS IN TRANSITION, AND PART OF THAT TRANSITION IS CLEANING UP SOME OF THESE.
I THINK IT'S A VERY POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION, AND SO I SUPPORT.
>> ABSOLUTELY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE NEXT, ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A FIRST READING FOR
[9.A.1. Ordinance 2025-22: Amends Sections 24-31 of the City Code to increase illegal parking fines and Sections 24-46 to include franchise stops, transportation network company stops and controlled parking residential areas as unlawful places to stand, park in, or stop. (R. Franklin, Assistant City Manager) ]
AN ORDINANCE 2025-22 PERTAINS TO ILLEGAL PARKING FINES, AND MR. FRANKLIN IS HERE TO PRESENT.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR.
COMMISSIONERS, REUBEN FRANKLIN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-22, WHICH AMENDS SECTION.
24-31, AND 24-46 TO INCREASE ILLEGAL PARKING FINES, AND INCLUDE FRANCHISE STOPS,
[00:55:01]
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY STOPS, AND CONTROLLED PARKING RESIDENTIAL AREAS AS UNLAWFUL TO STOP STAND OR PARKING.THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PLAN FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS TO INCREASE ILLEGAL PARKING FINES.
THIS IS IF YOU'RE PARKED AT A YELLOW CURB OR A NO PARKING ZONE, COMMERCIAL LOADING ZONE, THE FINE WILL CHANGE FROM $35-$100 WITHIN A DEFINED BOUNDARY.
THAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE PREVIOUS CITY COMMISSION MEETING SO THAT BOUNDARY WILL BE OLD MISSION AVENUE TO THE NORTH, SOUTH STREET TO THE SOUTH, MATANZAS RIVER TO THE EAST, AND THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER TO THE WEST.
ANYTHING INSIDE THAT BOUNDARY, ILLEGAL PARKING FINES WILL BE RAISED TO $100 YEAR ROUND.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE IF YOU PARK IN A METERED PARKING SPACE, AND YOUR TIME EXPIRES, THAT REMAINS A $25 VIOLATION.
EVEN IF YOU PARK IN THAT SPOT, AND DON'T PAY THE METER, STILL THAT'S A $25 VIOLATION.
THIS IS ONLY TO ILLEGAL PARKING.
WE DID AMEND ONE SECTION AND WE TOOK OUT ONE ILLEGAL PARKING INSTANCE, WHICH IS PARKING WITHIN 6 " OF THE CURB.
WE FELT THAT THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO GO AND MAKE THAT $100 FINE, SO THAT WILL STILL REMAIN AT $35.
I PROVIDED A MAP IN YOUR PACKET DEFINING THE BOUNDARY, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> QUESTIONS. NO QUESTIONS OF STAFF, THEN WE'LL GO TO COMMENTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING]. REAL QUICK. I THINK I'VE LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> [LAUGHTER]. COMMISSIONER CASE.
I RODE AROUND THE CITY IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING INCREASING THE FINE FOR, AND I NOTICED THAT A LOT OF THE YELLOW CURVING HAS FADED AWAY.
IF SOMEBODY IN GOOD FAITH PULLS UP AS NIGHTTIME, THEY CAN'T SEE THAT IT IS YELLOW.
THEY COULD REALLY ARGUE THAT THEY GOT A TICKET FOR NOTHING.
IS ALL THAT GOING TO BE CORRECTED? ARE YOU ARE WE GOING TO SEND SOMEBODY OUT TO PAINT THOSE CURBED AREAS BECAUSE I STARTED TO TAKE PICTURES, AND GET OVER THERE, AND DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, TO SHOW MY POINT.
WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND THE PARKING TICKET IS NOT 25, IT'S 35, I BELIEVE, FOR PARKING CURRENTLY?
>> THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT VIOLATIONS.
THERE'S ILLEGAL PARKING, WHICH IS A $35 FINE, BUT THEN THERE'S A SEPARATE SECTION THAT SAYS EXPIRED METER TIME, AND THAT'S $200.
>> I NEVER HAD THAT TREAT SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A $25 ONE.
I PERSONALLY, I KNOW WHY WE'RE DOING IT.
I THINK THE FINE REALLY IS VERY HIGH.
I THINK IT DISCOURAGES PEOPLE FROM COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED ST. AUGUSTINE A LOVABLE FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE, AND I THINK THAT IF I WATCH THE NEWS BECAUSE IT'S ALL OUT THERE NOW.
I REALLY BELIEVE $100 FINE FOR BLOCKING SOMEBODY'S DRIVEWAY REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE REALLY ANGRY IF THEY'VE BEEN IN TRAFFIC, AND THEY WANT TO GO HOME, AND NOW THEY CAN'T EVEN GET IN THEIR DRIVEWAY.
THAT WOULD DETER PEOPLE FROM DOING THAT.
I DO AGREE WITH THEM NOT PARKING, AND AT THE BUS STOP OR THE LIKE FOR THE RIDER THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DROPPING PEOPLE OFF.
BUT THE YELLOW CURB, AND THE ILLEGAL PARKING ON GRASS CREATING PARKING SPOT, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT I JUST THINK UNLESS WE DO SOME MAGIC WITH THAT YELLOW PAINT, WE'RE ASKING FOR TROUBLE. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE JUST A COROLLARY COMMENT.
IF WE MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS, I REALLY WANT US TO MESSAGE THIS IN A VERY AGGRESSIVE WAY, IN EVERY WAY, WILL THERE BE SIGNAGE TO THIS EFFECT, FOR EXAMPLE, OR HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT THE WORD? BECAUSE IT'S A BIG JUMP, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO COMMUNICATE IT.
>> TO ANSWER BOTH QUESTIONS, WE RESTRICT PARKING ZONES BY HAVING SIGNS THAT SAY NO PARKING.
WE USE YELLOW CURBING AS A TRAFFIC DEVICE AS WELL TO INDICATE NO PARKING.
TYPICALLY, WE WILL SEND OUR SIGN CREW THROUGH TO REFRESH YELLOW CURBS.
IT IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE, AND SOMETIMES THEY DO GET FADED.
THE INTENTION HERE IS TO PUT NO PARKING SIGNS, AND PUT RIDERS THE SMALLER SIGN OUR NET THAT SAYS $100 FINE.
BECAUSE REALLY WHAT WE WANT IS WE'RE RAISING
[01:00:03]
THIS FEE TO GET COMPLIANCE SO PEOPLE ARE NOT PARKING.WE DON'T WANT TO USE THIS AS A REVENUE GENERATING MACHINE WHERE WE'RE JUST ISSUING PARKING TICKETS TO EVERYBODY WITH THE RAISING FINE.
WE'RE DOING IT AS A DETERRENT SO THAT THEY'RE NOT PARKING ILLEGALLY IN THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, AND PARKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE IT IS A $35 FINE.
THEREFORE WHEN YOU COME TO ST. AUGUSTINE, ESPECIALLY DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.
IT'S WORTH IT TO JUST PARK, AND WALK IN THE TOWN BECAUSE ALL THE PARKING IN THE HISTORIC AREA IS TAKEN UP AT THAT POINT.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM AS A DETERRENT.
IF YOU GET ISSUED A TICKET, AND YOU THINK THAT IT WAS DARK, AND THAT THE CURB WAS NOT MARKED WELL, YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE APPEALS PROCESS, AND THAT GETS HEARD IN THE COUNTY COURT.
THEY HAVE REVERSED CASES IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF A FADED CURB SO THERE IS THAT PROCESS IN PLACE AS WELL.
>> I'M PROBABLY THE STONE COLD GUY ON THE COMMISSION HERE BECAUSE I SEE MANY LOOPHOLES.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST WE PAY BY 15 MINUTES OR BY AN HOUR WHEN YOU PUT IT A METER?
>> IT'S 2-15 AN HOUR SO IT WOULD BE.
>> FOR $1.75, I CAN PARK FOR A HALF HOUR, AND THEN GET CHARGED $25 IF I STAY ALL DAY?
>> FOR 26-75, I CAN PARK IN ST. AUGUSTINE ALL DAY? CORRECT. PEOPLE ARE USING THAT LOOPHOLE, I'M SURE.
I JUST ADVERTISED IT [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE 100 MORE.
BUT MY POINT IS, I THINK ALL PARKING FINES SHOULD BE $100 INSIDE THAT ZONE.
>> IT'S BEEN $35 FOR PROBABLY 35 YEARS.
THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS 35 YEARS AGO WAS PROBABLY WORTH MORE THAN $100 TODAY.
I DON'T THINK $100 IS AN EXORBITANT FINE, LIKE OTHER CITIES HAVE LARGE FINES.
I THINK THAT IT IS A BUT IT IS A DETERRENT.
I THINK WE MARK ALL PARKING VIOLATIONS AS $100 FINE.
THAT'S JUST MY STONE COLD OPINION TODAY.
>> I WILL SAY THAT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TOM OR FINE I SAID THAT LAST TIME.
BUT I DO THINK COMMISSIONER GARRIS BRINGS A GOOD POINT UP WITH THE YELLOW.
I DID HEAR THAT ON SOME OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD WALKS, FLAGLER MODEL LANDS AND SOME OF THE OTHER ONES INSIDE THAT DESIGNATED AREA, THAT THE YELLOW WAS FADED AND PEOPLE COULDN'T SEE IT.
WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST I SUGGEST GOING FORWARD WITH THIS.
THEN IF YOU HAVE YOUR MAINTENANCE CREWS OUT THERE, JUST PUT A PRIORITY ON THAT AREA WE'RE DESIGNATING FIRST, MAYBE NOT DRIFT OUT OUTSIDE THAT AREA UNTIL YOU HAVE THAT COMPLETE.
THE SIGNAGE THERE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO ADD A SIGN, I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE RIDER ON THERE, BUT JUST PRIORITIZE THAT.
I THINK THE SEPARATE ISSUE OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THERE'S SOME VALIDITY TO THAT, BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING DOWNTOWN IN GENERAL FOR THAT PART.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN, BUT I'D LIKE TO HAVE IT MORE COMPREHENSIVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF I CAN TALK ABOUT WITH PARKING RIGHT NOW.
I DO THINK THE DETERRENT IS DON'T FORGET THAT A LOT OF THIS WAS BASED ON THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS MENTALITY AND PART OF THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, WHICH I THINK I SAID PUBLICLY IS, WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS WHAT'S ALREADY ON OUR MOBILITY PLAN ANYWAY, AND THIS IS A 12 MONTH A YEAR TYPE OF MESSAGING, AND I THINK THAT THAT GOES WITH THAT. THAT'S WHY I WOULD SUPPORT IT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD'S COMMENT ABOUT MAKING THE PEOPLE AT THE METER.
DO YOU KNOW A LOT OF EMPLOYEES PARK IN THE METER SPOT? I LOST $100, AND I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE $100 BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET OUT THERE AND FEED THE METER.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS DOESN'T AFFECT PARKING FEES.
IF I PARK AT THE METER, AND I VIOLATE THAT, THE FINE IS STILL $25.
>> THAT'S IT. I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY TOO.
IT'S CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS ABOUT ILLEGAL PARKING, AND WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO ILLEGALLY PARK.
IT'S NOT ABOUT PARKING FEES AT THE METER.
IT'S ABOUT VIOLATING PLACES WHERE YOUR CAR DOESN'T BELONG, WHERE IT'S NOT SAFE TO BE ON A YELLOW CURB BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES A YELLOW IT SHOULDN'T BE IN FRONT OF A FIRE HYDRANT,
[01:05:04]
AND ALL THE PLACES IT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE LOADING ZONES.IT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE GRASSY AREAS, ON THE SIDEWALKS, ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO CREATE A PARKING SPOT.
WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO GO DOWN AND TAKE YOUR SPOT AND PUT YOUR CARS SOMEWHERE, DON'T CREATE A PARKING SPOT.
YOU'LL GET $100 FINE, AND I THINK IT'S VERY FAIR.
TRAVELING TO OTHER CITIES AND SEEING WHAT OTHER CITIES DO, OUR PARKING PRICES ARE VERY FAIR, CONSIDERING HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE WHICH IS DOWNTOWN, ST. AUGUSTINE.
WHEN YOU GET OUT AND TRAVEL AND YOU SEE, I COULD ALSO SAY, WHEN IT'S ONLY 40, YOU'VE GOT THESE PRIVATE LOTS AROUND THAT YOU GO IN AND THEY SAY 40 BUCKS TO PARK HERE.
YOU'RE WITHIN MAYBE TWO BLOCKS OF DOWNTOWN, THERE ARE PRIVATE LOTS, THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT TAKES YOUR CASH.
YOU GO TO A JACK COURSE GAME, SAME THING, $40, $35.
HUNDRED DOLLAR SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT MODIFY BEHAVIOR.
THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS IS NOT GOING TO MODIFY BEHAVIOR.
I DON'T THINK $50 IS GOING TO MODIFY BEHAVIOR.
I THINK PEOPLE WILL STOP ILLEGALLY PARKING IF THEY THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET $100 FEE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS GO ON TO SECOND READING.
IN THE MEANWHILE, I'M OPEN TO HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY, BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO SAY, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IDEA THAT THE CITY'S TRYING TO INCREASE ANY KIND OF REVENUE.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE STRATEGY HERE.
>> YOU'RE CORRECT. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MONETIZE ILLEGAL PARKING.
WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT ILLEGAL PARKING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE JUST WANT TO DISCOURAGE IT VERY MUCH. YES. PLEASE.
YOU KNOW LIKE I SAID, I HAVE DONE THESE WALKS, AND I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WHEN I WAS ON A WALK, A LOT OF RESIDENTS WERE COMPLAINING THAT PEOPLE WERE PARKING IN THE YELLOW PARKING ZONES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST FROM MY END OF IT, I HAVE LISTENED TO THE RESIDENTS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO DO ALSO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S UNDERSTOOD.
>> THAT'S GOOD. WELL I HOPE THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE SECOND READING THAT WE HEAR THAT SUPPORT FROM THEM AS WELL.
WHAT I HEARD WAS THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE THE YELLOW CURBING CLEANED UP.
WE WANT TO SEE IT MORE HIGHLIGHTED, AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE THE PENALTIES POSTED.
SO THAT EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ON THAT, AS PART OF THAT
>> I HAVE ONE MORE CLARIFICATION.
DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, WE'RE GOING TO BLOCK RODE AND CINCINNATI FOR SOME OF THOSE FOR ONLY RESIDENTS?
>> YES. THERE WILL BE RESIDENTS ONLY PARKING ZONES CREATED FOR THAT EVENT.
>> WILL THAT BECOME ILLEGAL PARKING IF THEY PARK ON RODE AND THEY'RE NOT A RESIDENT?
>> GREAT. THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING YET.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADVANCE ORDINANCE.
FIRST ORDINANCE 2025-22 TO SECOND HEARING AS READ BY TITLE.
THIS IS A MOUTHFUL. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20205-22.
IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 24-31 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, INCREASING THE FINE FOR PARKING TICKET CITATIONS FROM $35 TO $100 FOR VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 24-39, 24-45, 24-46 AND 24-47 WITHIN THE BOUNDARY DEFINED BY OLD MISSION AVENUE, MATANZAS RIVER, SOUTH STREET, AND SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER, AMENDING SECTION 24-46 TO INCLUDE FRANCHISE STOPS, TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY STOPS, AND CONTROLLED PARKING RESIDENTIAL AREAS, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DEBATE OR DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> IT'LL GO TO PUBLIC HEARING.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2025-29: Modifies and updates Resolution 2025-06 by establishing policies and procedures for the creation of the Environmental Impact Award. (M. Wissel, Communications Director)]
NEXT ITEM IS RESOLUTION 2025-29, MS. WISSEL.GOOD EVENING. YOU'RE WELCOME TO PRESENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M MELISSA WISSEL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.
I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO PUT BEFORE YOU RESOLUTION 20205-06 AT THE REQUEST OF VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER,
[01:10:04]
TO ESTABLISH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE CREATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AWARD.THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS AWARD IS TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF CONSERVING, MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS, WELL BEING AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY.
QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE THAT THE NOMINEE MUST BE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE OR ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS, OR THEY MUST HAVE CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO A PROJECT OR MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE OR ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS.
THEIR WORK MUST DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THROUGH MEASURABLE OR TANGIBLE MEANS.
THE AWARD WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE NOMINATION PER YEAR AND MAY BE PRESENTED FOR SIGNIFICANT PAST WORK.
THE MATERIAL AWARD ITSELF WILL BE A DISTINCTIVE, TRADITIONAL FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH OR COMMISSIONED PAINTING OF AN ANIMAL, NATURAL HABITAT, OR NATURAL RESOURCE, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LOCAL NATIVE ENVIRONMENT.
I HAVE PROVIDED SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME SUGGESTED PHOTOGRAPHS BY OUR FORMER EMPLOYEE AND AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER, BOBBY VAN MIRA.
THEY'RE ATTACHED TO THE MEMO FOR YOUR REVIEW AND IF YOU ALL ARE SO INCLINED, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CAST A BALLOT.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW WE VOTE ON THAT, BUT I DID PROVIDE SOME PHOTOS.
I DID ASK VICE MAYOR BLONDER TO TAKE A LOOK.
SHE SAID IT WAS A TOUGH JOB BUT A FUN JOB.
WE NARROWED IT DOWN OR SHE NARROWED IT DOWN TO FIVE PHOTOS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER THEM.
>> EXCELLENT. I WAS JUST LOVING THE PHOTOGRAPHS.
THAT'S MADE IT A MORE INTERESTING WHAT IS NORMALLY A VERY DRY, BORING DOCUMENT [LAUGHTER] IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE LOVELY TO LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES.
>> I DO HAVE THEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT THEM ON THE SCREEN FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE AS WELL, IF YOU LIKE TO REVIEW THEM.
>> IT'S HARD TO WORK. SHOULD BE VISUAL.
>> CAN WE MAKE A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE WE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL YOU CAN ROLL THROUGH THEM AS WE SPEAK.
>> YES, PLEASE THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM SO THRILLED TO SEE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WE NEEDED THIS BECAUSE OF THE CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS, THE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH REGARD TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS, OUR RESILIENCY EFFORTS, OUR LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR.
ALL THE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT I HAVE MET AND THAT I'M SURE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE MET AND THE STAFF HAVE WORKED WITH, WHO ARE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY PUSHING THIS AGENDA.
IT WAS TIME TO RECOGNIZE THEM, AND I'LL SAY IF WE DO PASS THIS, I HAVE SOMEONE IN MIND ALREADY.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE OUT THERE DOING GREAT WORK, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY PART I HAVE IN RECOGNIZING THEM.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME.
IT IS THE SAME MONTH AS A RESOLUTION BY THE ROSEATE SPOONBILL.
I DID A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND LIKE, DOES THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE HAVE A CITY BIRD, AND AS IT TURNS OUT, THAT'S OUR CITY BIRD.
BACK IN 2017 IN AUGUST, IN FACT, THANK YOU, MS. GALAMBOS, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT IDENTIFIED THE ROSEATE SPOONBILL AS OUR CITY BIRD.
WHAT THEY SAY IS THAT NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AT THE END OF THAT ORDINANCE BY THE CITY COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, THAT THE ROSEATE SPOONBILL BE NAMED AS THE OFFICIAL CITY BIRD IN RECOGNITION OF ITS SHARED CHARACTERISTICS WITH THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY.
IT'S EXCEPTIONAL BEAUTY, ITS RICH HISTORY, AND ITS UNCOMMON ABILITY TO SURVIVE IN THE FACE OF SEEMINGLY OVERWHELMING ODDS.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY COOL SENTIMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ON THE PUBLIC RECORD AND GO FULL CIRCLE ON.
LASTLY, I WANT TO SAY MELISSA WISSEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD SMITHING AND FOR WORKING SO DILIGENTLY AND MAKING THAT CONNECTION TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS AND HAVE THAT BE OUR FIRST AWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WELL SAID. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'LL SAVE MINE FOR LAST.
I JUST CURIOUS WHY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WOULD BE INCLUDED INSTEAD OF JUST IN THE CITY.
I UNDERSTAND THINGS LIKE THE RIVER KEEPERS, THEY'VE DONE PHENOMENAL WORK OVER THE YEARS, AND THEY'RE NOT IN THE CITY TECHNICALLY, BUT THE RIVER IS.
BUT I JUST CURIOUS WHY THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT.
[01:15:05]
>> MELISSA IS PASSING IT BACK TO ME.
>> I CAN SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE CREATED THE AWARD FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND MIKE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT MEMBERSHIP OF HARB AND THOSE THINGS, LOTS OF TIMES THE EXPERTISE THAT YOU HAVE ISN'T JUST IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
HERSCHEL SHEPHERD IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
HE LIVES IN JACKSONVILLE BEACH, BUT HE SPENT HIS LIFETIME HELPING US WITH OUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES, ADVISING US.
HE'S DRIVEN DOWN ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS FOR AN EMERGENCY DEMOLITION AT ONE POINT.
YOU TAKE INDIVIDUALS LIKE THAT THAT DON'T NECESSARILY LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND YOU DON'T WANT TO EXCLUDE THEM.
I THINK THAT'S IT, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON.
>> I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT LIVING IN THE CITY.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT BENEFIT TO THE CITY BECAUSE HE OBVIOUSLY DID BENEFIT TO THE CITY BECAUSE HE WORKED IN THE CITY FOR US.
BUT I JUST MEANT I CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE CAMPAIGNING FOR NAKATI TO GET A ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD FOR A TRAIL.
>> DID I MISUNDERSTAND? I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
>> THE BENEFIT TO ST. AUGUSTINE SHOULD HAVE A TIE.
>> I THINK THE LANGUAGE IS INTENDED THAT IT BE SIGNIFICANT TO ST. AUGUSTINE, ULTIMATELY.
IF THAT'S NOT CLEAR, WE'LL GO BACK AND REVISIT.
BUT I THINK THE LANGUAGE TO INCLUDE THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE ORGANIZATION BEING FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY, BUT THAT THE WORK BE IMPACTFUL ONLY TO THE CITY.
SO IF I MISS IT, IF I INADVERTENTLY PUT THAT IN THERE, GOOD CATCH.
I THINK THE ORGANIZATION OR THE INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIED COULD BE WITHIN THE COUNTY, I THINK OUR INTENT WHEN WE COLLABORATED WAS THAT THE WORK BE DONE HERE, WOULD THAT BE?
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD CATCH.
IF WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT, MAYBE FOR THE SECOND, IS THERE A SECOND READING? THERE'S NOT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I SEE WHERE THE CONFUSION IS.
IT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE MEMO THAT IT COULD BE FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY, BUT IN THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION ITSELF, IT SAYS, TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH I THINK WHAT YOU'RE CLARIFYING IS OUR COMMUNITY IS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
>> I'M SORRY. WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT, UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SECTION D?
>> THIS IS ON RESOLUTION 2025-29, WHERE THE NEW LANGUAGE WOULD BE FOR THIS AWARD.
IT'S A WHEREAS CLAUSE [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOT IN THE CODE CHANGE. YEAH.
>> IT IS A RESOLUTION CHANGE [OVERLAPPING].
>> SO THE RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED?
>> WELL, I THINK THE WORD WOULD BE RESOURCES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>> DO YOU FEEL THAT THAT SAYS OUR COMMUNITY IS THE CITY OR IS THAT RIGHT.
[OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET THE ECOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE, IF YOU PURIFY THE WATER UPSTREAM, YOU'RE GETTING AN ADVANTAGE.
THIS IS THE WHOLE THING ABOUT THIS STUFF, DOESN'T HAVE BOUNDARIES.
>> WITH A FOCUS ON THIS, I DON'T KNOW.
>> [OVERLAPPING] MAYBE SOME OPTIONS ON THAT.
>> IF THE INTENT OF THE BOARD IS TO MAKE IT SPECIFIC TO CONTRIBUTION FOR ST. AUGUSTINE UNDER SECTION D ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, PARAGRAPH 2, IF THERE'S AN AMENDMENT ON LINE 3 OF PARAGRAPH 2 TO REMOVE OR ST. JOHNS, THAT SHOULD ACCOMPLISH THE BOARD'S GOAL IF IT SO CHOOSES.
>> I THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN A COPY PASTE BY THE PERSON WRITING.
>> DID YOU SAY NUMBER TWO QUALIFICATIONS? IS THAT WHERE YOU REMOVE ST. JOHNS COUNTY?
>> NO. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, IS THAT WHAT, D?
>> NUMBER 2. THERE'S TWO INSTANCES WHERE ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS MENTIONED.
THE SECOND INSTANCE ON LINE 3 CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO THE PROJECT OR MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS.
>> YOU WOULD DELETE THE WORD OR ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
>> STRIKES FOR ST. JOHNS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOR ST. JOHNS, RIGHT THERE, AND THE THIRD PARAGRAPH, THAT SHOULD ACCOUNT IF THE BOARD SO CHOOSES FOR THE COMMISSION.
>> YEAH. IT DOES FOR ME, PERFECTLY, YES.
>> GOT YOU. I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THAT, GREAT CATCH.
>> YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M GOING TO CALL THE KNOCK.
>> EXCELLENT CLARIFICATION. OTHER COMMENTS?
>> NO, I'M JUST GLAD YOU CAUGHT THAT BECAUSE I GET IRRITATED, I READ THE PAPER AND IT SAYS, SOMEBODY DIED IN A POOL IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT'S LIKE KNOCK AT. IT'S LIKE, NO.
EVERYBODY'S CLAIMING OUR NAME OUT THERE.
I'M VERY GLAD YOU CAUGHT THAT.
[01:20:01]
>> VERY GOOD. MY ONLY COMMENT WAS THAT BESIDES THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES, ALL OF THE AWARDS THAT WE GIVE HAVE NAMES.
LIKE THEY HAVE A DE AVILES OR ORDER OF LA FLORIDA OR ADELAIDE SANCHEZ OR SOMETHING, BUT THIS IS KIND OF GENERIC.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU WOULD WANT TO GIVE IT A NAME.
>> HOW ABOUT THE BLONDER? [LAUGHTER]
>> THE VICE MAYOR, BARBARA BLONDER AWARD?
>> YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPRINGFIELD ON IT, IF YOU WANT. [LAUGHTER].
>> WELL, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AFTER A PERSON, BUT IT COULD BE THE ROSA SPOON BILL.
>> NO. I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT VERY SAME THING.
>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE A NAME.
>> I THINK IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE A NAME.
>> MELISSA, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS?
>> YOU'RE CATCHY. MY FIRST THOUGHT IS THE SPOON BILL AWARD DOES NOT SCREAM.
YEAH. BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF IT HAVING A NAME OTHER THAN JUST ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
>> I WAS THINKING MAYBE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
>> IF WE WENT AROUND AND AROUND ON THAT, STEWARDSHIP MEANS TAKING CARE OF THE LAND REALLY AND THIS IS BIGGER THAN JUST TAKING CARE.
THIS IS PART OF WHY WE WANTED TO PUT THINGS OUT.
THE QUESTION OF THE COUNTY VERSUS INCLUDING IT ON A LARGER SCALE, BUT WE DID CATCH THAT INCORRECT REFERENCE, BUT WE DID WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, SO THIS IS GOOD.
>> COULD WE LEAVE IT AS IT IS AND THEN LEAVE IT TO THIS COMMISSION OR A FUTURE COMMISSION TO NAME IT?
>> WE COULD DO THAT OR WE COULD SAY, GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND COME UP WITH A NAME AND THEN MAKE THE CORRECTION, WE COULD DO IT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NO RUSH.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A RUSH, I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT RIGHT.
>> I HAVE A SUGGESTION, HOW ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES IMPACT AWARD?
>> I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR'S GETTING AT IS AND I THINK I AGREE WITH HER ON THIS THAT IT ALMOST HAS MORE STANDING IF IT REPRESENTS A NAME OF SOME TYPE OF A NAME, NOT A TERM, THESE ARE TERMS THAT WE'RE USING HERE.
I THINK THE AWARD WOULD INCLUDE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND DOES, BUT MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE MORE THAN JUST TERMS AS A NAME.
I DON'T HAVE ANY BRILLIANT IDEAS ON THE NAME, BUT I THINK TOGETHER WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD. THE ONLY OTHER THING IS I'D LIKE IT BACK IN NO MORE THAN A MONTH IF WE DO THAT.
>> BECAUSE THERE IS THE TARGET IS TO ROLL THIS OUT, HAVE IT APPROVED TO ROLL OUT THE NOMINATION WOULD BE JANUARY, AS IT WOULD BE FOR THE FIRST.
NOMINATION OF THIS WOULD BE JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND THEN AWARDING IT IN APRIL DURING EARTH MONTH.
>> I THINK THAT'S VERY DOABLE.
>> IN THE MEANTIME, WE CAN LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> DO YOU WANT TO PICK THE PHOTO THIS EVENING OR NO?
>> ARE WE GOING TO PICK ONE PHOTO?
>> WELL, I LIKE THE WING SPREAD.
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE?
>> THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE, I DON'T KNOW, A BALLOT.
>> I LOVE THE WING SPREAD THING.
THAT'S JUST SO DRAMATICALLY BEAUTIFUL.
>> WE GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN.
>> FIGURE 3, FIGURE 04, AND FIGURE 5.
>> I GUESS I LIKE THE FIRST ONE BECAUSE IT JUST TAKES UP THE WHOLE PHOTOGRAPH.
BUT THE OTHER ONE IS JUST EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL.
>> I SEE HIM FLYING OVERHEAD ALL THE TIME AT LIGHTHOUSE PARK.
ONE OF THE FLYING ONES AND SOMETHING THAT REALLY HAS A DEEP BLUE BACKGROUND WITH THE ROSE COLOR, I THINK.
THAT WOULD BE EITHER THREE OR FOUR, PROBABLY.
>> I JUST HAVE TO STAY THE OBVIOUS BECAUSE COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD PROBABLY WILL, IF I DON'T, WE HAVE FIVE COMMISSIONERS AND FIVE PICTURES.
[01:25:05]
>> I DON'T KNOW. I THINK YOU SHOULD PICK.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD DESIGNATE.
>> REMIND ME AGAIN THIS IS TO GIVE TO THE RECIPIENT?
>> COULD YOU JUST HAVE THE RECIPIENT PICK ONE OF THE FIVE?
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT COMMISSIONER BLONDER PICK THE PICTURE.
>> OR THE RECIPIENT SAYS YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF FIVE, AND THEY GET TO PICK IT.
>> HE'S THE ONE WHO WOULD HAVE TO BE WAITING FOR THE RECIPIENT IN THE BACK AND FORTH.
>> I LIKE THREE MYSELF. THREE IS MY VOTE.
>> I AGREE WITH VICE MAYOR BLONDER TAKING THE PICTURE ON BEHALF.
>> COULD YOU AND I TALK ABOUT THAT, ABOUT WHICH ONE WE LIKE.
>> COULD YOU TELL ME WHICH ONE YOU LIKED? I DON'T KNOW.
>> THERE'S A THUMB DRIVES HERE.
>> THERE'S A THUMB DRIVE HERE WITH A 100 OF THESE ON THERE.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT COMMISSIONER GARRISON AND I LIKE THREE, WE CAN JUST MOVE JUST ALONG RIGHT THERE.
ANYBODY ELSE? I'M LIKE AN AUCTIONEER.
>> I RECOMMEND THAT BARBARA BLONDER.
>> PROCESS OF ELIMINATION, DO YOU LIKE NUMBER ONE? I KNOW YOU LIKE IT BUT DISREGARD IT OR KEEP IT?
>> YOU CAN'T KEEP THEM ALL THOUGH.
>> I KNOW, BUT IT'D BE NICE IF WE COULD NARROW IT DOWN SO THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASK ME TO CHOOSE.
OKAY. NO NUMBER TWO. NUMBER THREE.
>> HERE. FIVE HE'S LIKE BUILDING HIS NEST. YOU NOTICE THAT?
>> BETWEEN ONE OR THREE. THAT HELPS.
>> I LIKE THE BLUE BACKGROUND.
>> I THINK IT'S YOU'VE GOT TO GO FOR THE RICHNESS OF IT.
LOOK AT THE COLOR, THE LIGHT ON, IT'S LIKE THE AFTERNOON. IT'S GOT THE ROSE.
IT'S TOUCHING THE WATER, BUT IT'S FLYING.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE MOST EVOCATIVE ONE.
FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE BIRD, THE FIRST ONE LITTLE BIT MUCH LIKE COMING UPON LIKE A CONDOR OR SOMETHING.
>> YEAH. THAT FIRST ONE IS A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE.
>> IT'S A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE. THIS IS THE MOST CRAZY.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A PASSIONATE CASE.
>> I WILL SAY TWO. ONE OF THE REASONS I NARROWED DOWN TO THESE IS BECAUSE MOST OF THEM SHOWED THE HABITAT THAT THEY'RE FOUND IN AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT ELEMENT.
>> WE'RE DOWN TO THREE OR FOUR, OR DID YOU PICK ONE?
>> WHAT'S THE ONE ON THE LEFT?
>> WE'RE GOING TO PICK ONE ON THE LEFT.
>> JUST A LITTLE TIDBIT OF HISTORY.
WE WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT SAME EXERCISE WHENEVER WE NAMED THE BIRD TO MAKE OUR PINS IN 2007.
THERE WERE PROBABLY N PHOTOGRAPHS TO CHOOSE FROM.
>> IT MIGHT BECOME VERY VALUABLE.
>> NUMBER THREE IS THE PHOTO, AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK WITH SOME IDEAS TO DISCUSS THE TITLE OF THE AWARD.
>> YES. SO DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO JUST TABLE THIS, OR CAN WE JUST IGNORE IT?
>> IT WOULD BE BETTER TO TABLE A MOTION.
>> MOTION TO TABLE FOR UNTIL NEXT MONTH.
THE FIRST MEETING OF NEXT MONTH.
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO GATHER NAMES FROM YOU ALL OR DO WE WANT TO?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> I'M GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB HERE, NO PUN INTENDED, ARE YOU ALL GOING TO SEND ME EMAILS? DO YOU WANT US TO DO A QUICK FUN LITTLE THE COMMISSION DECIDED TO ADOPT THIS PHOTOGRAPH FOR THE AWARD, BUT LACKING A NAME AND DO A COMMUNITY INPUT, GET PEOPLE TO?
>> THAT WILL SLOW THINGS DOWN, AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET IT IN PLACE FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
>> VICE MAYOR IS DOING A GREAT JOB, YOU ALL DOING QUITE WELL.
>> ABSOLUTELY, I'M JUST CHECKING OUT THE OPTIONS.
>> ANY IDEAS, I WELCOME, KNOWING THAT THIS WILL COME BACK UP TO US IN A MONTH.
>> EXCELLENT. NONE OF THOSE IDEAS WILL BE IN MY MEMO.
>> MOVING ON, STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATION.
[01:30:05]
WE DON'T HAVE ANY, DO WE? ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY.>> NOTHING FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
JUST WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET ALL OF YOU AND BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU. IT WAS A PLEASURE FOR US AS WELL.
[12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK ]
>> GOOD EVENING. MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I HAVE TWO ITEMS THIS EVENING.
MY FIRST ONE IS A REQUEST ON BEHALF OF THE ANCIENT OLIVE, A REQUEST FOR THE USE OF THE CITY SEAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE NOTIFIED OR IF SOMEBODY SAW IT OR WHATEVER, BUT THEY HAD PRODUCED THESE KITCHEN TOWELS THAT HAD OUR CITY CREST.
WELL, THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE BOUND UNDER THE USE OF THE CITY SEAL.
WE DID SEND THEM A LETTER TO LET THEM KNOW AND TO CEASE AND DESIST.
WELL, THEY RESPONDED WITH A SUGGESTION ON HOW TO REMEDY THIS BECAUSE THEY STILL HAD TOWELS IN STOCK AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SELL THESE TOWELS AND ONCE THEY SELL ALL OF THEM, THEY ARE COMMITTED TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL $300 DONATION ON TOP OF WHAT THEY PROVIDE MONTHLY TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE SALVATION ARMY FOOD BANK.
THEY WOULD NEED YOUR PERMISSION TO SELL THE REST OF THEIR TOWELS.
THEY WILL MAKE THAT DONATION, AND THEY WILL NOT USE OUR CITY CREST WITHOUT PERMISSION.
>> I KIND OF FALL ON THE SIDE OF SELLING AS SELLING AND THAT WE DON'T SELL THE LOGO.
AS ENTICING, AS GENEROUS AS THE OFFER IS, I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT GO TO THE SALVATION ARMY, I WILL MAKE THE DONATION MYSELF TO THE SALVATION ARMY, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT'S A GOOD THING TO SELL OUR LOGO UNLESS IT'S ATTACHED TO OUR ITEMS.
>> I THINK THEY WERE NOT ILL-INTENTIONED.
>> NOT AT ALL. NOW, THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S A GOOD RESPONSE
>> YEAH. IT'S A WONDERFUL RESPONSE, BUT IT'S A POINT.
IT'S A PRECEDENT, AND I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER USE FOR THE TOWELS THAT MIGHT INCLUDE DONATING THEM TO THE SALVATION ARMY FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE HOME OR WHATEVER, BUT NOT BUYING.
>> THE OFFER STANDS FOR ME TO MAKE THE $300 DONATION JUST SO THAT THE INTENT IS WELL INTENTIONED AND NOT.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW, SO JUST LET ME KNOW.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DENY THE USE OF THE CITY SEAL FOR THE PURPOSES OF SALES AND IN LIEU OF THEIR DONATION TO THE SALVATION ARMY.
I'LL VOLUNTEER TO MAKE THAT DONATION ON THEIR BEHALF.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> WE JUST HAVE A NOTIFICATION THAT WE HAVE THREE TERMS EXPIRING ON OUR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, SO WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THAT. THAT'S ALL.
[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER ]
>> WE HAVE A STORM IN THE ATLANTA.
IT'S CALLED INVEST 97, AND WE'RE MONITORING THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO LET THE COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THE LOCAL LEAD AGENCY THAT OVERSEES STORMS DURING THE SEASON, AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB MONITORING AND TRACKING STORMS. WE'VE GONE THROUGH OUR ANNUAL COUNTY-WIDE HURRICANE EXERCISE, AND THEN CHIEF CARLOS HAD US GO THROUGH A CITY HURRICANE EXERCISE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE REALIZES THAT WE ARE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE, AND WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE STORMS. THANK YOU.
>> [INAUDIBLE] ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ]
COMMISSIONER GARRIS, WE'LL START WITH YOU.>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK VICKI PEPPER FROM CARE FOR COMING OUT AND TELLING US ABOUT TO SUPPORT OUR PARK SERVICES.
[01:35:05]
I KNOW SHE'S PRETTY DEDICATED TO COMING HERE AND SPEAKING BEFORE THE COMMISSION.HER AND SCOTT, THEY BASICALLY COME AND LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT SHE CAME OUT TONIGHT AND THANK HER FOR THAT INFORMATION.
ALSO, I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LADY THAT SAID THAT SHE WROTE A CHECK FOR RECORDS, REQUESTS ABOUT THE HORSES, AND SHE NEVER GOT ANYTHING BACK.
IF WE COULD LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE IF THAT'S ACCURATE OR NOT.
I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE CHIEF OF FIRE, CARLOS.
THEY WERE ON 904 NEWS TODAY, AND THEY REPRESENTED THE CITY WELL.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THEIR BEGINNING OF THEIR CAREERS AND WENT INTO DETAILS ABOUT OTHER THINGS PERTAINING TO THE CITY THIS MORNING.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GIVE THEM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR ON A PLATFORM, JUST TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HUMAN, THE CITY, WE'RE NOT JUST ALL MAKING RULES THAT WE DO HAVE A SOFT SIDE. THANK YOU.
FIRST ONE IS I GOT SOME EMAILS FROM SOME RESIDENTS IN NORTH CITY.
I THINK MAYBE ONE OF THEM, COMMISSIONER BLONDER, I UNDERSTAND.
ANYWAY, WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAN MARCO SHARED USE PATH, SPECIFICALLY, PROJECT L5 ON THE COUNTY'S BUDGET REQUESTS, I THINK.
I HAVE ASKED RUBIN IF YOU COULD COME UP, JUST GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT TO EVERYBODY'S TIME TOO MUCH, I'M PRETTY SENSITIVE TO THAT.
>> IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER?
>> I'M SORRY. IS THAT THE WAY YOU DO IT, I ASK. MAY RUBIN COME UP?
>> WE GO THROUGH THIS CITY MANAGER.
>> SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE RESIDENTS WERE CONCERNED AFTER INVESTIGATING A LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S A NORTH AND SOUTH ELEMENT TO THIS, SO I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON THE COMMUNITY'S RADAR BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S GOOD STUFF BEING DONE, AND TO FIND OUT WHAT THE STATUS ON THAT WAS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF TRAIL PROJECTS IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW.
SUN TRAIL FUNDING IS BASICALLY WHAT'S FUNDING MOST OF IT, BUT THERE'S A TRAIL FROM VILANO.
THERE'S A TRAIL THAT THE CITY'S ACTIVELY WORKING ON KING STREET, AESTASIA BOULEVARD.
IT'S IDENTIFIED, BUT IT'S ON SAN MARCO.
EVENTUALLY, THAT'S GOING TO GET PROGRAMMED IN WITH FUNDS, AND THAT TIES IN NICELY WITH THE CITY'S PLAN WITH A INBOUND OF MULTI-USE LANE FOR POTENTIAL SHUTTLES IN THE FUTURE.
THE GOOD THING IS IT'S PLANNED, IT'S ADOPTED THAT PARTICULAR SECTION, WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR FUNDING FOR.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO AS A CITY COMMISSIONER TO HELP WITH THAT? WE HAVE THE REQUEST, AND I'M ASSUMING WE HAVE THE REQUEST IN BECAUSE WHEN I READ IT, IT SAID ST. AUGUSTINE IS REQUESTING THIS FUNDING.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU PROBABLY KNOW MORE FROM BEING ON THE TPO OR WHATEVER.
>> FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, YOU'VE ADOPTED THE LONG-RANGE MOBILITY PLAN THAT HAS ALL THESE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED ON THEM.
NOW IT'S THE STAFF'S JOB TO COORDINATE WITH AGENCIES TO GET IT DONE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS IT BECAUSE I THINK WE HEAR THIS A LOT.
MY THING, REALLY, FROM BEING IN THE WORKSHOPS AND STUFF, IS WE TALK ABOUT SATELLITE PARKING, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LIKE SATELLITE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THESE ARE THE NEIGHBORHOODS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, AND WE HAVE IT ON THE ISLAND.
NOW I KNOW WITH THE GOOD WORK EVERYBODY'S DOING WITH THE INTERSECTION AND THE FIRE STATION, AND THE PATH IN AND OUT OF THERE.
THE OTHER ONE IS KING STREET, OBVIOUSLY, TO THE WEST CITY.
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PATH, AND THE OTHER ONE THAT ALWAYS COMES UP IS SAN MARCO.
I THINK SAN MARCO IS A REALLY IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN OUR TOTAL MOBILITY STRATEGY.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE RESIDENTS FOR BRINGING IT UP, AND I THOUGHT THAT BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD IDEA, LONG TERM AND SHORT TERM, THAT IT WOULD BE WORTHY BRINGING IT UP, PUTTING IT ON A RADAR, TELL PEOPLE THAT WERE DOING THAT. THANK YOU.
>> SECOND THING IS, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO OR SO, I TOOK A WATER TOUR WITH OUR MARINA DIRECTOR, ERIC.
SOMETHING I DID WHEN I GOT ON THE PLANNING BOARD UNDERSTANDING THE CITY FROM THE WATER PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AT LEAST FROM THE PLANNING BOARD, THERE WE GET A LOT OF APPLICATIONS FOR DOCKS AND WETLANDS, AND ROUND FIELDS, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT STALK RUN IS NOT THE SAME AS THE MATANZAS RIVER,
[01:40:06]
WHICH WAS THE HEAVY USE AREA.I WOULD RECOMMEND NUMBER 1, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS DO THAT.
IT'S NICE TO STAY ON THE WATER, TOO, REALLY FRANKLY.
BUT ANYWAY, WHILE WE WERE THERE, WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS AND STUFF, AND BECAUSE I WAS FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THEM, AND THEN HE FILLED ME IN ON A LOT OF STUFF THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP IN THE CONVERSATION WAS THE IDEA OF PUMP OUTSET MARINAS.
JUST CAME INTO THE CONVERSATION THAT MY IMPRESSION IS THAT MAYBE NOT ALL THE MARINAS HAVE PUMP-OUT FACILITIES AT THEIR MARINA.
I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT IT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
BEING THAT WE HAVE A NEW STATE LAW, IT TALKS ABOUT BURDENING A BUSINESS AND BEING A FORMER SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I'M ALWAYS A LITTLE HESITANT TO PUT ANOTHER RESTRICTION ON SOMEBODY, BUT THAT CONVERSATION ALSO INCLUDED A FLORIDA DEP GRANT THAT WOULD PAY FOR 75% OF ANY EXPENSE THAT ANY MARINA BUSINESS OWNER WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT.
I TALKED TO SOME LOCAL MARINA OWNER AND HE HAD A PORTABLE ONE, WHICH YOU TAKE TO THE BOAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT IT WOULD COST HIM LESS THAN $10,000, AND IT FUNCTIONS WELL.
I THINK IT WOULDN'T BE A LARGE BURDEN FOR A BUSINESS TO HAVE THIS, AND I THINK IT WOULD GO WELL TOWARD SOME OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS FOR CLEAN WATER.
HOWEVER, I WAS GOING TO TRY TO INVESTIGATE IT, BUT I DON'T REALLY HAVE THE TOOLS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MARINAS THERE ARE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THEY ARE, HOW MANY HAVE IT.
I WOULD JUST REQUEST, IF POSSIBLE, TO HAVE THE STAFF INVESTIGATE VIABILITY OF DOING THIS AND MAYBE COME BACK.
>> WOULD YOU BE HAPPY TO DO THAT? WE CAN LOOK INTO HOW MANY MARINAS CURRENTLY HAVE PUMP OUTS, BRING THAT DATA BACK TO YOU.
WE CAN DRAFT AN ORDINANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO REQUIRE PUMP-OUTS AT NEW MARINAS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> WELL, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THROW OUT THERE.
I THINK EVERYBODY MATTERS, WHERE YOU'RE AT, CLEAN WATERS, IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>> BUT IT'S A SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE THROUGH OUR MARINA NOW.
>> BUT WE DON'T MAKE IT MANDATORY.
>> IF THEY'RE IN THE MORNING FIELD, IT IS MANDATORY, AM I CORRECT?
>> YES. TO COME TO OUR PURPOSE.
>> BU OUTSIDE AT OTHER MARINAS.
>> PRIVATE MARINAS DON'T REQUIRE IT.
WE DON'T REQUIRE PRIVATE MARINAS TO HAVE PUMP HOUSE STATIONS.
>> I THINK I UNDERSTAND BETTER.
IT SOUNDS GOOD, IT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO, I THINK.
>> I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TOO.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE MANAGER ABOUT THE HORSE REGULATIONS, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STEP THOSE UP AND GET ORGANIZED.
ALSO, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO HAVE A HORSE DISCUSSION CARRIAGE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, BIG RUSH PROBABLY BEFORE NIGHT OF FLIGHTS, JUST TO HAVE US SHARE OUR OPINIONS BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO THAT ANY OTHER WAY.
I THANK JESSICA BEACH AND REUBEN FRANKLIN.
THEY BOTH CAME TO THE NORTH CITY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING AND DID A VERY GOOD JOB.
PEOPLE FEEL A WHOLE LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN THEY COME AND COMMUNICATE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT PROJECT IN NORTH CITY COURT.
SOMEBODY SAY IT FOR ME IN COURT.
[OVERLAPPING] YEAH, THEOTHELIA, I COULDN'T REMEMBER IT, COURTS THEOTHELIA.
IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO GET DONE. THAT'S ALL.
>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO RIP OFF OF YOUR BRINGING UP THE HORSES AS WELL.
I ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
I ASKED FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I CAN NOW TELL ALL OF YOU, BUT I'D LIKE THE IDEA OF US HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
I'D LIKE THE FOLKS WHO DID SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE HORSES EARLIER, TOLD US THAT THEY KNEW THEY COULD IMPROVE, AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO DO THE VERY BEST THAT WE CAN.
TO THAT END AND HEARING THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ADVOCATING FOR ANIMAL WELFARE, I WAS CONCERNED WHEN I SAW HOW SHORT THOSE LEADS WERE IN THE NON-WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
IF THE HORSES CAN'T GET TO WATER AND THEY'RE OUT IN SUN, THAT'S MUCH TOO SHORT.
I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME ATTENTION TO THAT.
WHEN THEY'RE WORKING, I WANT US TO REALLY THINK HARD ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE LIMITS BECAUSE THINGS AREN'T GETTING ANY COOLER, AND THAT FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WARMER NIGHTS.
IT'S NOT JUST DAYTIME TEMPERATURES THAT ARE SETTING RECORDS,
[01:45:01]
BUT ALSO NIGHTTIME RECORDS.THE HORSES AND OTHER PEOPLE WORKING TOO ARE NOT ABLE TO RECOVER AS FULLY AT NIGHTTIME FOR THE NEXT DAY.
THAT CAN BUILD UP, AND I JUST WANT US TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT AND PUT LANGUAGE IN ANY UPDATED ORDINANCE IF WE DECIDE TO DO THAT.
ALSO, TO THAT END, A WORK TIME LIMIT, ESPECIALLY THAT'S CORRELATED WITH THE TEMPERATURES, SO THAT THE HORSES WOULD HAVE A SHORTER WORK DAY IF THE TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT.
THAT'S THE ONE TOPIC I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, I'LL MOVE ON THEN.
THE MAYOR BROUGHT UP IN OUR JULY 28TH DISCUSSION.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OUR LAND ACQUISITION AND OUR LAND HOLDINGS AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO PROTECT THEM, WHAT MECHANISMS WE WERE THINKING ABOUT USING IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM, WHETHER THEY BE DEED RESTRICTIONS OR WHATEVER.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A SUGGESTION THAT IF WE DO ASK STAFF TO CATALOG THE TYPE OF LAND ACQUISITION IT WAS, IF WE HAVE POCKET PARKS OR WHATEVER IT WAS, THAT WE FOCUS FIRST ON THE ONES THAT WE MOST RECENTLY SPENT TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON.
PRIORITIZE THOSE THAT WE'VE PURCHASED UNDER THE LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM AND THEN ADD IN THE OTHERS AS TIME PERMITS.
>> PERFECT. I THINK THAT THE HORSE DISCUSSION IS COMING.
AS THE CITY MANAGER POINTED OUT TO ME EARLIER TODAY, THE HORSES WILL BE REROUTED AND MOVED DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE BAYFRONT IN THE FUTURE.
>> YES. WHEN DOT DOES THE SEAWALL PROJECT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE THE HORSE CARRIAGES OFF THE BAYFRONT.
>> THERE WILL NEED TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THERE, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH THE INDUSTRY AND MONITORING THEM.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEM CLOSELY FOR THEIR BREAK PERIODS, LIKE WAS POINTED OUT, AND THOSE THINGS AND THE CONDITION OF THE STABLES AND THINGS.
I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THAT BECAUSE I'VE ALSO HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS.
THE OTHER THING I HAD WAS I WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES ON WEDNESDAY.
THIS IS OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND I WILL BE YOUR VOTING DELEGATE, BUT I NEED A MOTION APPROVAL FOR THAT FROM YOU TO REPRESENT YOU.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT HONOR, AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE.
I ALSO HAVE ONE MORE THING, I HAVE A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR OF HIROSHIMA, WHO IS REQUESTING THAT WE JOIN IN A RESOLUTION, OR AT LEAST SIGNING ON TO A RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED STATES LEAGUE OF MAYORS, STANDING UP FOR PEACE.
REALLY, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, IT HAS TO DO WITH PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS NOT ASK YOU TO APPROVE ANYTHING TONIGHT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT TO YOU AT A FUTURE AGENDA AND LET YOU REVIEW THE MATERIALS AND SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SUPPORT SIGNING ONTO BECAUSE SOME OF THE OTHER MAYORS, I THINK THERE'S EIGHT CITIES IN FLORIDA THAT HAVE SIGNED ON, MAYORS THAT HAVE SIGNED ON, BUT OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD NEVER DO THAT WITHOUT COMMISSION APPROVAL.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE CITY'S FLOOD MITIGATION CAME TODAY, AND THEY WERE THE SPEAKERS AT THE ROTARY TODAY, AND THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.
THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT YOU KNOW HOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE TALK TOO LONG BEFORE THEY GET THEIR TURN.
THEY WERE ONLY LIMITED TO ANSWER FIVE QUESTIONS, BUT THE QUESTIONS WERE GREAT AND THEY HANDLED IT VERY WELL.
THE THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAME AND SPOKE TODAY IN FRONT OF THE ROTARY.
I WANT TO THANK MELISSA FOR ORGANIZING THAT FOR THEM TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK BJ FOR BEING DILIGENT IN COMING TO ALL OUR MEETINGS AND KEEPING THE COMMISSIONS ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.