[00:00:08] THE [1. CALL TO ORDER] REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SHAVER KLINE. HERE. BARBARA DOOLEY BLONDER. HERE. CYNTHIA GARRIS. HERE. JIM SPRINGFIELD. JON DEPRETER. HERE ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. WELL, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PRESENTATION TONIGHT. [3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS ] WELL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO VERY SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT. THE FIRST IS OUR SPECIAL APPRECIATION OF REPRESENTATIVE SAM GRECO, WHO IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE FLORIDA HOUSE. I'M JUST GOING TO READ A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN I'M GOING TO INVITE REPRESENTATIVE GRECO UP, AND WE WILL SHARE AN ITEM OF APPRECIATION, A SMALL GIFT FOR HIM. WITH THAT, WE'LL JUST REMAIN SEATED WHILE I READ THIS. REPRESENTATIVE SAM GRECO CURRENTLY REPRESENTS DISTRICT 19, INCLUDING THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, IN THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPRESENTATIVE GRECO GRADUATED FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY IN 2015 AND JOINED THE US NAVY JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL'S CORPS IN 2018. IN 2019, HE WAS AWARDED HIS JURIST DOCTOR FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, AFTER WHICH HE SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY UNTIL 2004. EXCUSE ME. HE IS CURRENTLY A LIEUTENANT IN THE US NAVY RESERVE AND IS MARRIED TO ALANDA GRECO AND LIVING IN ST. AUGUSTINE WITH HER. REPRESENTATIVE GRECO IS HERE WITH US TODAY TO BE RECOGNIZED AND THANKED FOR CO-SPONSORING HOUSE BILL 717, WHICH HAS A COMPANION BILL OF SENATE BILL 582. THIS BILL SUPPORTS THE CITY'S GOAL TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT HISTORIC STRUCTURES BY RAISING THE PENALTY ON ILLEGAL DEMOLITIONS TO NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE APPRAISED MARKET VALUE. BEFORE, IT WAS ONLY A MAXIMUM OF $5,000. THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT BILL. REPRESENTATIVE GRECO ALSO ASSISTED THE CITY'S LONGSTANDING PRIORITY TO PROVIDE CENTRALIZED SEWER SERVICE TO WEST AUGUSTINE BY SECURING $550,000 IN STATE FUNDING AND ALLOCATION, WHICH WILL PROVIDE SEWER CONNECTIONS TO ANOTHER 29 HOMES IN WEST AUGUSTINE. HE ALSO ASSISTED IN SECURING $2.5 MILLION IN FUNDS FOR A PUBLIC SAFETY TRANSPORTATION RESILIENCY PROJECT THAT WILL RELOCATE AND CONSTRUCT A MUCH-NEEDED NEW FIRE STATION IN DAVIS SHORES. I NOTICED WE HAVE THE DAVIS SHORES NEIGHBORHOOD WITH US, SO I'M SO APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU COULD HEAR THAT. WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR HIS REPRESENTATION AND SUPPORT OF OUR GOALS TO PROVIDE FOR THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. [00:05:03] REPRESENTATIVE GRECO, YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT FRIEND TO US, AND WE WOULD ASK YOU TO JOIN US IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION. VERY GOOD. SO WE HAVE THIS ITEM FOR YOU. IT'S AN AERIAL VIEW BY MARK KRATZER, A FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER, BLESS YOU, OF THE CITY WATERFRONT DOWNTOWN, AND I'LL READ THE INSCRIPTION FOR YOU. SORRY, I APOLOGIZE FOR MY BACK. ACTUALLY, COULD YOU READ THAT FOR ME? SURE THING. IT SAYS, IN APPRECIATION FROM THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SB 582 HB 717, KNOWN AS PROTECTING HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN FLORIDA FROM THE 2025 STATE OF FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THIS IS HUGE. IT'S HUGE, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, TOO. WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, I APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR BEING GREAT PARTNERS IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL FROM DAVID SHORES AND FROM THE COMMUNITY. IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. I KNOW EVERYBODY THINKS THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST DISTRICT AND THE BEST CITIES, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S TRUE WITH ST. AUGUSTINE AND AMERICA'S OLDEST CITY HERE. BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME REALLY BIG THINGS THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS NOT NECESSARILY THAT EASY. OF COURSE, WE'RE EXCITED TO PROTECT HISTORIC STRUCTURES HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BUT ALSO TO GET OVER $3 MILLION IN THE BUDGET BACK TO THE CITY IN A YEAR WHERE WE WERE REALLY TIGHTENING THE BELT IN TALLAHASSEE. THAT WAS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. I KNOW IT'LL BE GREAT FOR DAVID SHORE, GREAT FOR THE CITY, GREAT FOR WEST AUGUSTINE. SO VERY HAPPY TO DO THAT. LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. BUT THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE. I APPRECIATE IT [APPLAUSE]. WELL, THANK YOU. THAT JUST REMINDED ME THAT IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT BECAUSE THIS LAST SESSION WAS VERY CHALLENGING IN SO MANY WAYS, AND I KNOW WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER CHALLENGING YEAR THIS YEAR AS WELL, BUT I'M SURE THAT YOU'LL DO VERY WELL. WITH THAT SAID, LET'S GET A PHOTOGRAPH. WE CAN GIVE HIM, MAYBE IF HE WOULD LIKE TO HOLD IT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HOLD IT? STAND AROUND, IT'S NICE. YES. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PROCLAMATION 2025-25, WHICH IS PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER 2025 AS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF DAVIS SHORES. WHEREAS DAVID PAUL DP DAVIS WAS BORN IN 1885 IN GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FLORIDA, AND WAS A TAMPA LAND DEVELOPER ALREADY WELL KNOWN FOR DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. WHEREAS IN 1924, DAVIS MOVED TAM FROM TAMPA AND BEGAN WORKING ON THE LARGEST DEVELOPMENT ON FLORIDA'S WEST COAST. THAT DEVELOPMENT, DAVIS ISLANDS, MADE HIM WILDLY RICH AND NATIONALLY FAMOUS. DAVIS THEN SET HIS SITES ON ST. AUGUSTINE TO DEVELOP DAVIS SHORES AS A SUBDIVISION DAVIS ENVISIONED AS BEING TWICE THE SIZE OF DAVIS ISLANDS. WHEREAS HE TOOK AN INTEREST IN THE SWAMPY LANDS OF ANASTASIA ISLAND AND PURCHASED ITS NORTHWEST CORNER. HOWEVER, THE LAND, WHEN PURCHASED, WAS NOT CONSIDERED LIVABLE. DAVIS WENT DOWN ABOUT THE MASSIVE UNDERTAKING OF DREDGING AND FILLING [00:10:02] HIS LOTS AFTER RECEIVING APPROVAL FROM THE CITY ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1925. WHEREAS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF HIS DEVELOPMENT CONTAINED 50 MILES OF STREETS, 100 MILES OF SIDEWALKS, SEVERAL PARKS, 218-HOLE GOLF COURSES, A CASINO, A YACHT CLUB, AND HOTELS AND RESIDENCES, CONSTRUCTED IN A MEDITERRANEAN REVIVAL STYLE, AND WAS PLANNED TO EXTEND ALL THE WAY TO TODAY'S 312 BRIDGE. WHEREAS THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADVERTISEMENT OF DAVIS SHORES LED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE OF LONS. THE NEW BRIDGE WOULD PROVIDE THE GLITZY AND OPULENT ENTRANCE DAVIS FELT HIS NEW NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVED. WHEREAS THE FLORIDA LAND BOOM COLLAPSED BEFORE DAVIS COULD COMPLETE DAVIS SHORES, MANY LOTS WERE SOLD AT THE OUTSET, AND IN THE END, ONLY 11 OF DAVIS' PLAN STRUCTURES WERE ACTUALLY BUILT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE ST. AUGUSTINE PROJECT AFLOAT, DAVIS SOLD HIS TAMPA DEVELOPMENT IN AUGUST 1926. THAT'S RIGHT. I'M SORRY. HE SOLD IT. THE EFFORT WAS IN VAIN, AND DAVIS SLIPPED FURTHER INTO DEBT. HE DIED UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES ON OCTOBER 12, 1926. WHEREAS TODAY, DAVIS SHORES IS KNOWN FOR ITS ECLECTIC MIX OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES FROM MID-CENTURY MODERN HOMES TO NEWER, MORE CONTEMPORARY DESIGNS WITH BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF SALT RUN AND THE ATLANTIC OCEAN BEYOND. ITS STREETS NAMED AFTER THE ORIGINAL SPANISH EXPLORERS AND SETTLERS AND INSPIRED BY ST. AUGUSTINE'S SISTER CITY, AVAL, SPAIN, AND REMIND RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE OF ITS HISTORICAL ROOTS. DAVIS SHORES OFFERS A UNIQUE BLEND OF HISTORY, BEAUTY, AND COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF ST. AUGUSTINE. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 2025 AS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF DAVID SHORES AND CALLS UPON ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS IN RECOGNIZING AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS OBSERVANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY NEIGHBORS UP TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION, AND PERHAPS WE'LL HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS SPEAK A FEW WORDS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM. YOU'RE ALL WELCOME TO COME. HI. GOOD TO SEE YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO COME? I RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE FROM THE 100TH PLANNING COMMITTEE, BUT ROGER WHITE IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT, AND HE'S ALSO CHAIR OF OUR 100TH PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND HE'S GOT A FEW THINGS TO SHARE WITH US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE FOLKS IN OUR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION COMMITTEE. WE WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOUNDING OF DAVIS SHORES. ITS IMPORTANCE, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE OF US WHO LIVED THERE. ST. AUGUSTINE IS AN AMAZING PLACE. WORKING THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE, I'VE REDISCOVERED THAT IT'S PEOPLE, ITS LEADING ORGANIZATIONS AND ITS CITY PERSONNEL HAVE ENTHUSIASTICALLY WORKED WITH US TO MAKE THIS COMMEMORATION A REALITY. HERE ARE THE WAYS THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO CELEBRATE WITH SOME PHYSICAL, SOME HISTORICAL, SOME WHIMSICAL. ON OCTOBER 4TH AND 5TH, WE'RE HAVING A NEIGHBORHOOD HIBISCUS PLANTING WEEKEND TO MAKE DAVID SHORES EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL. YOU CAN JOIN IN ON THAT. SOUTHERN HORTICULTURE IS OFFERING A DISCOUNT. THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S SUPPORTING US. OCTOBER 12, WE HAVE A WALKING PUB CRAWL ALONG A1A, AND A TRIVIA CONTEST TO BUILD NEIGHBORHOOD SPIRIT OR SPIRITS WHILE WE LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ILL-FATED DP DAVIS. IT BEGINS AT ONE AT ALMOST ANY ANASTASIA BOULEVARD RESTAURANT, [00:15:01] AND WILL END AT ODD BIRDS AT FIVE, WHERE WE WILL AWARD DONATED RESTAURANT MERCHANDISE TO THE TRIVIA WINNERS. THE ST. AUGUSTINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL HAVE A MULTIMEDIA EXHIBIT ABOUT DP DAVIS AND THE FOUNDING OF DAVIS SHORES IN ITS MAP ROOM AT THE OLDEST HOUSE ON THEIR PROPERTY. THE LIGHTHOUSE, ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE, WILL HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAY ABOUT DAVIS SHORE'S DEVELOPMENT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE AREA AT THE TIME. THESE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR OUR VIEWING FOR ABOUT A MONTH. ON OCTOBER 18, WE HAVE TWO EVENTS. YOU CAN START YOUR DAY AT OGLETHORPE PARK WITH A 5K RUN OR 1K WALK AT 8:00 A.M, JOINING IN WITH THE ST. AUGUSTINE RUNNERS. THEN, AT 9:30, MAYOR NANCY WILL UNVEIL THE NEW DAVIS SHORE STREET SIGNS. WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THOSE IN PLACE. THAT EVENING, THE ALLIGATOR FARM HAS CHARITABLY OFFERED THEIR VENUE FOR OUR FINAL EVENT FROM 06:00-9:00 P.M. SEVERAL RESTAURANTS AND FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS ARE GENEROUSLY PROVIDING LIGHT FARE OFFERINGS. AUTHOR RODNEY KITE POWELL IS DRIVING ALL THE WAY UP FROM TAMPA BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO JOIN OUR OWN HISTORIAN, DAVID NOLAN, WITH TALES OF DP DAVIS. THEN THEY'LL BE STORYTELLING BY PACHACACHA AND MUSIC BY THE HOUSE CATS. OUR EVENING ENDS WITH A CELEBRATORY TOAST OF CHAMPAGNE AND GINGER ALE DONATED BY PJ LIQUORS. OVER 28 BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE INVOLVED. AGAIN, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, AND ALL THE CITY PERSONNEL WHO WE'VE WORKED WITH. IT TRULY IS AN AMAZING CITY WHEN YOU SEE THE COOPERATION AND ENTHUSIASM PEOPLE JOIN US WITH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH [APPLAUSE]. >> [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR, JUST A REMINDER THAT WE DID SKIP OVER THE MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA. >> THAT'S BECAUSE I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT SEEING [OVERLAPPING] >> YES. BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT REPRESENTATIVE GRECO TO HAVE TO WIDEN OUR BUREAUCRATIC ITEMS, BUT YES, WE DO NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT ITEM. THANK YOU. >> THE CONSENT AGENDA IS DOWN FURTHER. WE'LL GO TO ITEM 2, [2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS ] MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY MODIFICATIONS OR CHANGES, UPDATES? >> NO, MA'AM. THERE'S NO CHANGES. >> ANYONE HAVE MODIFICATIONS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA? I MOVE WE PASS AND ADOPT THE REGULAR AGENDA. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> ANY DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> NANCY SIKES-KLINE? >> YES. >> JOHN D PRATER? >> YES. >> CYNTHIA GARRIS? >> YES. >> BARBARA BLONDER? >> YES. >> NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENT, [4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING ] AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ THIS BRIEF STATEMENT FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I DO HAVE A FEW SPEAKER CARDS. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING, PLEASE FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD, TURN IT INTO THE STAFF AT THE BACK TABLE, AND THEN WE'LL GET YOU ON YOUR WAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL 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. [00:20:03] COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS DO NOT ANSWER OR RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. 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. THANK YOU. WITH THAT SAID, THE FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE IS KATHERINE ZADER, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER WILSON. >> KATHERINE ZADER, 48 SORIA DRIVE, ST. AUGUSTINE. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE CITY'S HANDLING OF THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY HAS SHOWN A DISTURBING LACK OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. IN 2022, DURING HURRICANE IAN, HORSES WERE LEFT CONFINED TO THEIR STALLS AND MUDDY FLOODWATERS FOR TWO DAYS. YET THE CITY ALLOWED THE FRANCHISEE TO WALK AWAY WITH NO PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. DOCUMENTS OBTAINED THROUGH A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST SHOW THE CITY OFFICIALS WERE MADE AWARE THE HORSES HAD NOT BEEN EVACUATED. THEY PHOTOGRAPHED THE CONDITIONS, THE RAIN, THE MUD, THE FLOODING, AND STILL NOTHING WAS DONE. THIS CITY KNOWINGLY ALLOWED THE HORSES TO REMAIN TRAPPED, PROLONGING THEIR SUFFERING, AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN TO PREVENT IT. THIS WAS NOT JUST A FAILURE OF OVERSIGHT. IT WAS CRUELTY THROUGH IN ACTION. IF THE CITY HAS NOT ALREADY DONE SO, IT MUST TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE FRANCHISEES ARE NOT USING THE TRANSFER STATION FOR OVERNIGHT STABLEING, AND THAT EVACUATION AND STORM PREPAREDNESS PLANS ARE IN PLACE FOR ALL FRANCHISEES. THIS IS A LETTER FROM THE CITY TO THE TERMINATED FRANCHISEE, SHOWING THE FRANCHISEE WAS ALLOWED TO VOLUNTARILY TERMINATE HIS AGREEMENT, AVOIDING PROSECUTION FOR VIOLATION OF CITY CODE, RATHER THAN HOLDING THE FRANCHISEE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ABANDONING ANIMALS DURING A MAJOR HURRICANE AND MULTIPLE OTHER LEASE VIOLATIONS, THE CITY LET HIM SIMPLY WALK AWAY WITHOUT PENALTY OR PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE VIOLATIONS. THIS ENABLED THE FRANCHISEE TO CONTINUE OPERATING ELSEWHERE, POTENTIALLY PUTTING ANIMALS AND THE PUBLIC AT RISK. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE FRANCHISEE CONTINUES TO ADVERTISE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES IN ST. AUGUSTINE THROUGH THE ACTIVE WEBSITE. IT'S ESSENTIAL TO REQUIRE TERMINATED FRANCHISEES TO TAKE DOWN ALL ADVERTISING, INCLUDING WEBSITES, TO PREVENT MISLEADING THE PUBLIC AND PROTECT ANIMAL WELFARE. THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE OPERATIONS HAVE RUN WILD IN THE CITY FOR TOO LONG. IT IS CLEAR THE CITY CANNOT OR WILL NOT CONTROL THEM. AT THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR HAS RECENTLY CALLED FOR A BAN ON HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES DUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER WILSON, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT YORK. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP REGARDING THE LACK OF VETERINARIAN RECORDS FOR WORKING HORSES. IN EARLY JULY, I SUBMITTED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR THE INVENTORY OF HORSES AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SIMPLE REQUEST. INSTEAD, I HAD TO ASK MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THESE RECORDS, I HAD TO PAY MONEY, [00:25:01] AND THEN I HAD TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE PHONE CALL. THE CITY THEN EXPLAINED THAT THE VET RECORDS ARE THE INVENTORY AND THAT MOVING FORWARD, THEY WOULD BE SUBMITTED AS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THESE RECORDS, I NOTICED THAT MOST OF THE HORSES FOR COUNTRY CARRIAGES WERE MISSING FROM THE SO-CALLED INVENTORY. IT WAS ONLY WHEN I POINTED THIS OUT THAT THE MAY 2025 RECORDS MAGICALLY APPEARED. THESE MISSING RECORDS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ORGANIZATION. IN ADDITION TO THE MISSING RECORDS, THE VET LISTS, MORE LIKE A CHECKLIST, THAT WERE PROVIDED, HAVE A LOT OF DISCREPANCIES. I HAVE TIME TO ONLY SHOW ONE SUCH EXAMPLE. THIS IS FROM COUNTRY CARRIAGES. THERE ARE THREE RECORDS HERE. 2023, THERE'S A HORSE NAMED JET, AND HE IS LISTED AS A GRAY GELDING. 2024, HE'S LISTED AS A BAY GELDING. THEN IN 2025, THE NAME IS SPELLED DIFFERENTLY. ARE THESE DIFFERENT HORSES? I MEAN, IF THESE ARE DIFFERENT HORSES, THEN WHERE IS THE GRAY GELDING FROM 2023? IF THIS IS THE SAME HORSE, THEN WHERE IN TROUBLE IF THE VET CANNOT DECIPHER BETWEEN A GRAY GELDING AND A BAY GELDING BECAUSE THEY LOOK NOTHING ALIKE? THAT'S A CURRENT PICTURE, ALLEGEDLY OF JET, AND THAT IS MOST DEFINITELY A BAY GELDING. THESE CHECKLISTS ARE ACTUALLY A JOKE. THESE ARE OLD HORSES. THESE HORSES ARE AGED IN DOUBLE DIGITS. THESE ARE GERIATRIC HORSES THAT ARE WORKING ON THE STREETS. THESE VET CHECKLISTS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN AN IDIOT CHECKLIST. THERE'S NO X-RAYS, THERE'S NO BLOOD WORK, THERE'S NO COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS. THESE ARE GERIATRIC HORSES. THERE'S NOT EVEN AN ORAL EXAM. THESE HORSES ARE WEARING METAL BITS IN THEIR MOUTHS FOR HOURS AND HOURS, DAY AFTER DAY, AND THERE'S NOT EVEN AN ORAL EXAM. LOT OF SENSITIVE SOFT TISSUE IN THE ORAL MOUTH. I MEAN, THE ORAL CAVITY. WE'VE GOT THE SOFT PALETTE, THE GUMS, THE LIPS, THE TONGUE, AND THERE'S NO MENTION OF ANY OF THESE SOFT STRUCTURES, DELICATE STRUCTURES THAT ARE PRONE TO INJURY IN THESE VETERINARIAN CHECKLISTS. THEN THE VET CAN'T EVEN GET THEIR NAME RIGHT OR GET THE COLOR RIGHT. I MEAN, THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING. WE ARE LONG OVERDUE TO GET THESE POOR ANIMALS ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> SCOTT YORK, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FULMER. >> GOOD EVENING. SCOTT YORK, 29 SPANISH STREET, THE MOST CHARMING STREET IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER APPRECIATED THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE MORE THAN THE WEEKEND RIGHT AFTER SING OUT LOUD, BUT SOME WONDERFUL MUSIC, I GOT INTRODUCED TO SOME NEW MUSIC THAT I HAD NOT HEARD BEFORE, AND IT WAS A GREAT, WELL-ATTENDED FESTIVAL. BUT TONIGHT I'M HERE FOR A MUCH MORE SERIOUS MATTER. THIS PAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, I TOOK THE TIME TO GO AND SIT ON A BENCH OUTSIDE OF SCARLET HOUSE, FORMER LOCATION OF SCARLETT OHARA'S AND THEIR SISTER CLUB, BERMONDSEY STREET. THIS PLACE WAS NEVER ON MY RADAR UNTIL MADAM MAYOR BROUGHT IT UP AND MENTIONED SEEING SOME ALARMING VIDEOS FROM THESE CLUBS A FEW WEEKS AGO. HERE IN THIS VERY ROOM. THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AND ILLICIT AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF THESE CLUBS WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING. FROM THE EXTREME PUBLIC INTOXICATION, WHICH LED TO TRESPASSING ONTO PRIVATE PROPERTY, TO URINATE AND VOMIT, TO NUMEROUS BLATANT DRUG DEALS IN THE PARKING LOT LOCATED BEHIND LEN WEEK'S OFFICE SPACE. HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DRUG DEALS, BUT HIS SPACE WAS BEING USED FOR IT. PERHAPS EVEN MORE TROUBLING WAS OBSERVING GROWN MEN ON E-BIKES, WAITING OUTSIDE OF THE BAR, WAITING FOR GROUPS OF INDIVIDUAL DRUNK GIRLS OR GROUPS OF DRUNK GIRLS, WALKING OUT OF THE CLUBS AND FOLLOWING DOWN OUR PUBLIC STREETS. THIS IS THE THING THAT MADE ME FEEL. NOT THE MAN WALKING UP AND OFFERING TO SELL ME COCAINE, BUT THESE MEN FOLLOWING THESE WOMEN DOWN OUR STREETS. NOT THE MULTIPLE FIGHTS THAT I WITNESSED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREETS, BUT THE PREDATORY PRACTICES WHICH COULD LEAD TO ABDUCTIONS, SEXUAL ASSAULTS, OR WORSE. WITH THE PROXIMITY OF THESE CLUBS, SO CLOSE TO FLAGLER COLLEGE, THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS OF THE COLLEGE DESERVE BETTER. THIS ACTIVITY IS NOW SPILLING OVER INTO OUR FLAGLER MODEL LAND AND SPANISH QUARTER NEIGHBORHOODS. AT 2:30 IN THE MORNING ON SATURDAY, I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE TO A FIGHT OVER IN THE COLUMBIA RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. IT'S NOT JUST THESE BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED; IT'S THE ADJACENT BUSINESSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL, AND OUR PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ALL DESERVE BETTER AS A CITY. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CALLS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMS TO THESE BUSINESSES, THEY DEFINITELY FIT THE CITY'S DEFINITION OF A NUISANCE BUSINESS, [00:30:04] WHICH COULD ALLOW US TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COSTS FOR RESPONDING TO THE PROLIFERATION OF CALLS FOR EMS AND POLICE. REQUIRING EXTRA SECURITY. WITHIN THOSE CLUBS, THESE ARE NOT BARS; THESE ARE CLUBS. I WOULD HOPE ALSO REQUIRING THE USE OF DRIVER'S LICENSE SCANNERS, RATHER THAN JUST A CURSORY GLANCE BY THE DOORMAN. I WATCHED A YOUNG MAN AND A LADY GET INTO THE LINE. THEY REALIZED THAT THEY WERE CHECKING FOR IDS. GENTLEMAN GOES INTO THE BAR. YOUNG LADY WALKS ACROSS TO THE INFAMOUS ORANGE FENCE PARKING LOT, WAITS FOR HIM TO COME BACK WITH AN ID FROM SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE BAR. THE ENTIRE TIME, SHE'S WALKING BACK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, STUDYING AND MEMORIZING THAT ID. >> THANK YOU. JUDGE. CHRIS FULMER, FOLLOWED BY LAUREN GEIBER. >> GOOD EVENING, CHRIS FULMER. I LIVE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I WANT TO SAY I THINK THAT MOVING THE STAR CIRCULATOR OVER TO ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH DURING NIGHTS LIGHTS IS A GREAT IDEA, AND I HOPE IT GETS A LOT OF RIDERSHIP. I ASKED THE CITY AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, TO TALK TO THE OWNER OF THE PRIVATE HOME AT 22 AVENUE TO MENENDEZ ABOUT THE PARTISAN AND MILDLY THREATENING SIGNS DISPLAYED ON HIS BUILDING. I UNDERSTAND FREE SPEECH. I UNDERSTAND THE FIRST AMENDMENT. WE'VE HAD SOME LESSONS IN THAT THIS WEEK. HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO THINK THAT DEMOCRATS ARE NOT WELCOME IN FLORIDA, BUT THIS IS THE BAYFRONT, AND THIS IS WHAT OUR VISITORS SEE. SURELY SOMEBODY KNOWS THIS PERSON AND CAN TELL THEM THAT THE JOKE IS NO LONGER AMUSING. I WONDER IF HE WOULD BE AS ACCEPTING IF HE WAS THE TARGET OF SIMILAR COMMENTS, AND SOMEHOW, I THINK THAT WOULD NOT BE TRUE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HOUSE BILL TO HELP PRESERVE HISTORIC STRUCTURES, AND NOW WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD TIME TO REMIND YOU AGAIN ABOUT THE BUILDING AT 46 SPANISH STREET. IT'S BETWEEN BARLEY REPUBLIC AND 44 SPANISH STREET IN. IT APPEARS THE INTENT IS TO LET IT FALL DOWN FROM ITS OWN ROT. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, AND IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO SEE IT LOST. PLEASE LOOK INTO THAT. TODAY IS THE VERNAL EQUINOX. AUTUMN BEGINS, THE WEATHER IS COOLER, THE DAYS ARE SHORTER. PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONSIDER LOCAL BUSINESS FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, OR AT LEAST SOME OF THEM. BECAUSE OF EVERY HUNDRED DOLLARS SPENT AT LOCAL STORES, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT $68 REMAINS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US. BE KIND TO YOU WAIT, STUFF, TIP YOUR SERVERS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. LAUREN GEIBER, FOLLOWED BY, AND I APOLOGIZE. THE FIRST NAME, I CANNOT READ, BUT FOR CHALK IS THE. >> NO SWEARING IN. >> NO, MA'AM. >>GOOD EVENING, ALL. I HAVE WRITTEN SEVERAL LETTERS TO YOU RECENTLY VIA E MAIL, AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE KING STREET ROAD AND HOW IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THE TRAFFIC. PEOPLE JUST SEEM TO CUT OVER, EVEN WHEN THE LIGHTS RED AT THE VERY LAST SECOND. THEY ARE BLOCKING RIBERIA STREET, GOING NORTH AND THEY ARE BLOCKING MULLIGAN AND SAN SEBASTIAN. WHILE I KNOW, IT'S A US ONE. IT'S UP TO THE FLORIDA DOT, BECAUSE KING STREET IS THEIR ROAD AT THE MOMENT. SO PERHAPS BLOCK NO SIGNS THAT SAY, DON'T BLOCK THE BOX, CAN'T BE THERE. BUT PERHAPS A POLICE OFFICER COULD BE THERE TO HELP MITIGATE THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. IT TOOK OVER 40 MINUTES FOR ME TO GET THROUGH THE OTHER DAY, AND THAT'S JUST ON A REGULAR FRIDAY, NOT ON A WEEKEND, NOT AT 5:00 O'CLOCK, AND WE HAVE LOTS OF ISSUES FROM 3:00 O'CLOCK ON. THE NEXT THING I'VE ASKED TALKING TO YOU ABOUT IS MY REQUESTING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LINCOLNVILLE SIDEWALKS, WHICH I LEARNED FIVE YEARS AFTER THE EVENT OF ASKING THAT THEY COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I HAD MY DOG WAS ALIVE, WE ENDED UP HAVING TO WALK ON THE STREET BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS WERE NOT SAFE. NOT FOR ME, BECAUSE I USUALLY WALK WITH A CANE. [00:35:05] THAT WAS VERY DISRUPTIVE AND NOT WANTING TO RISK A BROKEN LEG OR A BROKEN FOOT, I WOULD WALK HIM IN THE STREET AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THE NEXT THING I WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH YOU IS THE CARRIAGE PROJECT OR THE OLD HORSE SABLES. THAT'S A PROJECT THAT'S STILL IN THE WORKS. BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND I HOPE THAT THE CURRENT COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD THE LINE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PROJECT AND NOT AS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CORSON THEATER, WHICH MORPHED INTO A BUILDING WITHOUT ANY HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. THE 28 PARKING SPACES DO NOT APPEAR TO BE ENOUGH. THE PROJECT WILL INFRINGE ON NEIGHBORS RIGHT TO QUIET ENJOYMENT OF THEIR HOMES. I AGREE THAT SAVING THE BARN IS A IS A GIVEN AND THAT I WONDER IF IT'S GOING TO BE MANDATORY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. N CARROLL, FALK, FOLLOWED BY JASON, PARDON ME RECEIVED. >> RALPH. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> I'M NICOLE F CHOCK. I'M REPRESENTING LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AS BORN AND RAISED LOCAL FOR OVER 40 YEARS. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE SHORTENING OF NIGHTS OF LLGHTS DOES NOTHING FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES OR LOCALS WHO HAVE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE. I REMEMBER WHEN FINALLY, WE GOT THE SUPER BOWL IN JACKSONVILLE, AND WE EXTENDED NISA LIGHTS. OUR TOWN GREW WAS SO EXCITING. IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL. WE GOT COVID. DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AFTER COVID, FLORIDA WAS OPEN. WE HAD MORE BUSINESS THAN WE EVEN KNEW WHAT TO DO WITH. NOW IT'S SLOW AGAIN. THIS SEPTEMBER WAS SO SLOW, BELOW RECORD NUMBERS. SHORTENING LIGHTS TO LIGHTS DOES NOTHING BUT HURT LOCAL BUSINESSES. THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER SOLUTION. TAKING IT AWAY NOW WHEN WE'RE SLOWER THAN WE'VE BEEN IN YEARS IS NOT THE SOLUTION. WHAT I RECOMMEND IS SOMETHING MORE. I SECOND THE LAST LADY THAT SPOKE, SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PARKING. IT'S HARD TO EVEN GET INTO TOWN RIGHT NOW. THAT'S AFFECTING THE SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL. BUT DEFINITELY, I CAN'T EVEN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION OF SHORTENING OUR NIGHT AND LIGHT HOURS IN JANUARY, WHEN AGAIN, IT'S SLOW. WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE IN TOWN. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S A SOLUTION TO HELP ANYONE THAT LIVES AND HAS TO WORK HERE. I HAVE A WHOLE STAFF OF GIRLS. IF WE REMAIN THIS SLOW, I HAVE TO CUT THEIR HOURS. I HAVE TO CUT MY HOURS. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF. WHAT DO I DO THEN? WE ARE ONE OF THE MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS TOWN THAT WE LOVE, IS THE SMALL BUSINESSES. IF WE CAN'T STAY AFLOAT, THAT'S REALLY GOING TO START AFFECTING OUR TOWN. THAT'S THE POINT I WAS JUST WANTING TO MAKE WITH YOU IS THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER SOLUTION OTHER THAN SHORTENING THE TIMES FOR NIGHTS LIGHTS. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WAY BETTER THAN THAT BECAUSE ALL THAT'S DOING IS HURTING THE SMALL FRIES. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU. JASON, RESSA, AND I KNOW I SAID THAT WRONG, BUT MY APOLOGIES. FOLLOWED BY LENA RUSSELL. >> THANK YOU. IT'S JASON RALPH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TONIGHT. SIMILAR TO NICOLE, I'M ECHOING THE SAME THOUGHTS AROUND SHORTENING THE LIGHTS OF LIGHTS, AND I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THAT. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, WE'RE A TOURIST TOWN. TOURISM IS OUR LARGEST EMPLOYER. IT'S ALSO OUR LARGEST TAX REVENUE WITHIN THIS TOWN. CURRENTLY, WE'RE FACING AN ECONOMY WITH RISING UNEMPLOYMENT AND LOWER NUMBERS, VISIT ACCOUNT NUMBERS TO OUR TOWN, AND YET YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT CUTTING ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL PROMOTIONAL EVENTS FOR THE CITY. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION IS A PROBLEM, BUT I WOULD THINK AS A TOURIST DESTINATION, THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM THAT YOU WOULD LOOK TO SOLVE FROM A CITY PLANNING AND AN URBAN DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, NOT BY HURTING THE LOCALS AND THE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. LENA RUSSELL, FOLLOWED BY RICHARD HARDY. >> HEY, THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN TODAY. [00:40:01] I'D LIKE TO TALK AGAIN ABOUT THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND THEIR LIFE OF DISCOMFORT AND QUIET SUFFERING, WHICH I WITNESS ON A DAILY BASIS. LET'S START WITH THE METAL BIT, WHICH IS FORCED INTO THE HORSE'S MOUTH, PRESSING ON ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE AREAS OF THEIR BODY. EVERY TUG OF THE RAIN SENDS SHARP PRESSURE AGAINST THEIR DELICATE TONGUE, GUMS, AND NERVES. IMAGINE WORKING ALL EVENING WITH A PIECE OF METAL GRINDING AGAINST YOUR TEETH, TONGUE, AND JAW. MOVING ON TO THE LACK OF WATER. HORSES PULLING CARRIAGES WORK LONG SHIFTS IN THE FLORIDA SUN WITH EXTREMELY LIMITED ACCESS TO HYDRATION. I SAY THIS FROM EXPERIENCE, DRIVING PAST THE HORSES USUALLY AT LEAST TWICE A DAY, AND SEEING THEM STANDING THERE IN THE HEAT WITH BUCKETS ALMOST ALWAYS PLACED OUT OF REACH OF THEM WITH VERY SELECT TIMES THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE A DRINK. UNLIKE HUMANS, THEY CAN'T ASK FOR A BREAK OR TELL US WHEN THEY'RE THIRSTY. DEHYDRATION WEAKENS THEM, MAKES THEM PRONE TO COLLAPSE, AND WORSENS THE SUFFERING THAT THEY ALREADY ENDURE ON A DAILY BASIS. NOW, THINKING ABOUT THE HEAT. HORSES ARE GENTLE, TIMID ANIMALS, BUILT FOR OPEN FIELDS AND SHADE, NOT BUILT FOR STANDING ON SWELTERING CITY STREETS SURROUNDED BY CONCRETE, CARS, AND NOISE. ON HOT DAYS, THE PAVEMENT BENEATH THEM CAN REACH OVER 100 DEGREES, HEATING THEM FROM BELOW WHILE THE SUN BEATS DOWN FROM ABOVE. IT IS A RELENTLESS EXISTENCE. HEAT STRESS CAN LEAD TO EXHAUSTION, COLLAPSE, AND EVEN DEATH, AS WE'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY WITH HORSES FORCED TO PULL CARRIAGES. HORSES HOOVES ARE NOT MEANT TO ENDURE HARD PAVEMENT FOR HOURS ON END. THE ASPHALT WEARS DOWN THEIR FEET, CAUSES PAIN IN THEIR LEGS AND CONTRIBUTES TO LONG TERM JOINT PROBLEMS. EVERY STEP THEY TAKE ON OUR CITY STREETS CHIPS AWAY AT THEIR HEALTH, THEIR WELL BEING, AND THEIR SPIRIT. I KNOW HOW MUCH PEOPLE IN FLORIDA LOVE ANIMALS. I WOULD LOVE THE CITY COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD TOWARD MORE HUMANE ALTERNATIVES THAT CELEBRATE THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WITHOUT HARMING THOSE THAT CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I'D ALSO LOVE TO SHOW A VERY BRIEF VIDEO, IF THAT'S OKAY, WHICH I SUBMITTED BY EMAIL YESTERDAY. THIS IS A HORSE THAT I PASSED THE OTHER DAY FOAMING AT THE MOUTH, WHICH IS A PHYSICAL SYMPTOM OF STRESS, DEHYDRATION AND OVER EXERTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANKS. >> RICHARD HARDY, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM CUSHION. I'LL JUST SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME, IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK, PLEASE FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AND TURN IT IN BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING TO THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. >> THANK YOU. I'M RICHARD HARDY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A RIGHT AWAY ON MY PROPERTY. SOMETIME AGO, I PERMITTED A FENCE, SOME LANDSCAPING, SOME LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING, AND ALSO A FLOODPLAIN PERMIT. RECENTLY, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT SOME OF THESE ITEMS MIGHT BE IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT AWAY. SO I CAME TO THE CITY AND ASKED FOR A RIGHT AWAY VARIANCE, AND THAT WILL BE COMING BEFORE YOU SOON. THE ORIGINAL FENCE I REPLACED WAS ABOUT SIX FEET FROM THE BACK OF THE CURB, AND THE FENCE I INSTALLED IS ABOUT 14 TO 15 FEET FROM THE BACK OF THE CURB. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF ALONG WITH THE SEAWALL PROJECT THAT'S ON INLET DRIVE TO TIE INTO MY BULKHEAD AND HAVE WORKED WITH THEM FOR THE LAST YEAR YEAR AND A HALF TO MAKE SURE ALL THAT WORKS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING TO A GOOD DESIGN. IF THE VARIANCE OR LICENSE IS GRANTED, THE ST. AUGUSTINE WILL HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR MOVING THE FENCE OR LANDSCAPE LIGHTING OR IRRIGATION. THAT'S ALL MY RESPONSIBILITY, AND THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WILL HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER. THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM CUSHION. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS WILLIAM CUSHION. LIVE ON STRATTON BOULEVARD HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. >> MR. CUSHION, COULD YOU PULL THAT MICROPHONE UP A LITTLE BIT? WE WANT TO BE SURE AND GET HERE. >> WILLIAM CUSHION, I LIVE ON STRATTON BOULEVARD HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I'M ONE OF THE OWNERS OF COUNTRY CARRIAGES. IT'S GETTING HARD FOR ME TO STAY IN THE BACK AND NOT HOLLER THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO HOLLER BECAUSE OF THE RULES. HORSES SLOBBER. THAT ACTUALLY MEANS THEY ARE WELL HYDRATED BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO GO OUT, JUST LIKE A PERSON, IF YOU'RE NOT SWEATING, YOU'RE IN AN ISSUE. [00:45:07] LISTENING TO THE LIES AND THE UNTRUTH AND HEARING THEM TALK. I MEAN, YES, THE PAVEMENT GETS HOT. WE HAVE SHOES ON THEM. I ASK YOU TO GOOGLE A THING CALLED HOT SHOEING. THEY TAKE A HORSE SHOE, HEAT IT UP, NOT QUITE RED HOT AND PRESS IT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOT, AND THE HORSE DOES NOT KILL THE FARRIER. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WHEN YOU HAVE A HORSE LEG BETWEEN YOUR LEGS, THEY CAN TAKE YOU OUT. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF GOING INTO A STALL WHEN I SHOULDN'T HAVE, AND IT WAS $3,300 AT THE HOSPITAL WITH ONE KICK. WE TAKE CARE OF OUR ANIMALS. WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THE BUCKETS. WE'VE GOT SOME TO PLAY IN THEM. YES, WE SET THEM OFF TO THE SIDE. IF A HORSE WANTS SOMETHING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STOP THEM FROM COMING OVER THE SIDEWALK AND GET THERE. OUR HORSES ARE WELL TRAINED. OUR DRIVERS ARE WELL TRAINED. I BELIEVE THE ONE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SNATCHING OF THE BIT, WHERE THE BIT SITS IN THE HORSE'S MOUTH, THERE ARE NO TEETH. IT SITS IN BETWEEN THE WOLF TEETH. I JUST WISH THEY WOULD GET SOME FACTS, BUT THEY'VE STATED TO US OUT THERE, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE HORSE'S HEALTH, REALLY, BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY'D RATHER SEE HIM DEAD THAN PULL IN A CARRIAGE, AND I THINK THAT'S A SHAME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. JENNIFER CUSHION, FOLLOWED BY TAMMY AZCONA. >> JENNIFER CUSHION, 4201, NEW HAMPSHIRE ROAD, ELKTON, FLORIDA. ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE BACK HERE. SORRY TO WASTE YOUR TIME. IT'S BECOMING A JOKE AND HARASSMENT. BUT THE HORSES WITH THE HEAT, THEIR TEMPERATURE IS HIGHER THAN OURS. THEY DON'T LIVE IN AC. THEY'RE ACCLIMATED TO THAT TEMPERATURE AND THE WARMTH AND THE HEAT. WE GO IN AND OUT OF THE AC. OF COURSE, IT'S HARDER FOR US TO ACCLIMATE. THEY LIVE IN IT. IF YOU GO LOOK AT A HORSE IN A FIELD ON A RAINSTORM, NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, THEIR TAIL IS TURNED TO THE RAIN AND THEY'RE STANDING IN IT WITH A SHELTER IN FRONT OF THEM 10 FOOT AWAY. THE HORSES, IT'S NATURAL FOR THEM TO BE IN THE WEATHER, TO BE OUTSIDE. THEY LIKE THAT. WELL, SOME DO, SOME DON'T. THE OTHER THING IS, I CAN TELL YOU, WHETHER MY HORSES ARE 900 POUNDS OR THEIR 2,000 POUNDS. IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THEM DO IT. AS FAR AS SAYING THAT WE'RE FORCING THEM TO BE THERE, THERE'S NO FORCING TO IT. THESE HORSES LOVE THEIR JOBS. THEY LOVE ATTENTION. THEY LOVE PEOPLE TO STOP AND VISIT AND SCRATCH AND LOVE ON THEM. WE WELCOME IT. WE WOULD LOVE ANYBODY TO COME BY AND SEE THEM AND SAY, HI, MEET THE HORSES, SEE WHAT THEY'RE REALLY LIKE AND WHAT THEY DEAL WITH. THE OTHER THING THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FEET BEING BRITTLE AND TAKEN OFF BY THE STREETS. OUR HORSES HAVE SHOES ON. I IMPORT AN AMISH MAN FROM OHIO. HE'S BEEN COMING FOR 15 YEARS NOW, EVERY WEEK, EIGHT WEEKS HE SHOES OUR HORSES. HE MAKES SURE THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF. WE FEED SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS OF BIOTIN AND OTHER THINGS TO HELP THEIR FEET GROW. THERE'S IF SOME HORSES HAVE BRITTLE FEET AND THAT'S JUST PART OF THEIR BLOOD LINES. BUT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TAKE CARE OF THESE HORSES. THEY ARE OUR FAMILY. THEY ARE OUR CHILDREN. I HAVE NO CHILDREN, OTHER THAN MY EMPLOYEES AND MY HORSES. BUT EVERYONE IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED ANYTHING AT ALL, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU. I'VE BEEN PART OF THIS INDUSTRY SINCE THE COLES WERE AROUND WHEN I WAS 7-YEARS-OLD, I GOT OVER 40 YEARS IN THIS BUSINESS. SO I'VE LEARNED WHAT TO DO WRONG AND WHAT TO DO RIGHT, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN, SORRY TO WASTE YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. TAMMY AZCONA. LIKE I SAID, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AND TURN IT IN PRETTY QUICKLY HERE. >> HI. TAMMY AZCONA, 2885 STRATTON BOULEVARD. I'M NOT REAL GOOD AT PUBLIC SPEAKING, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I'VE BEEN A CARRIAGE DRIVER HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE FOR 10 YEARS. I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY GRAY STANDARDBRED TEAM, PHANTOM AND GHOST FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. [00:50:03] NO ONE CAN TELL ME THAT I FORCED MY HORSES TO DO ANYTHING. THEY MEET ME AT THE GATE. IF THEY DON'T MEET ME AT THE GATE, THEY'RE TELLING ME THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK. GUESS WHAT? I TAKE THE HORSE THAT DOES WANT TO WORK. IT'S NO BIG DEAL. GHOST AND PHANTOM ARE 17. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD TELL THEM THEY WERE GERIATRIC AND DIDN'T BE DOING THIS. THEY HAVE THE ENERGY OF A 2-YEAR-OLD. THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT. I LOVE THEM. I'M ONE OF THOSE ANIMAL LOVERS THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. I WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HURT MY BOYS. >> ON JUST A SECOND NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FIRST RESPONDERS. THEY'RE ALWAYS OUT THERE LOOKING OUT FOR US. JABARI IS OUT THERE NOW EVERY WEEKEND LOOKING OUT FOR US. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING YOUR TIME AND LOOKING OUT FOR ALL OF US ALSO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO MORE SPEAKER CARDS EXCEPT FOR, I APOLOGIZE. SORRY. ANY OTHER SPEAKER? AM I MISSING ONE? I HAVE MS. COLLADY. BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS WAVING THEIR HANDS AND SAYING THAT THEY TURNED A CARD IN. PATRICIA RAMOS. >> IS THERE A TIMER? >> WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING, THE TIMER WILL START. >> I JUST CAN'T SEE IT. >> IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE. >> DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. HOPEFULLY, IT WORKS. THANK YOU. AWESOME. HI, MY NAME IS PATRICIA RAMOS, 18 RAMSHORN. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS IN RESPONSE TO THE PREVIOUS MEETING, AS WELL AS NOW A FACEBOOK POST WHERE WE WERE AND ARE ACCUSED OF BEING MISINFORMED AND LYING. HERE WE GO. OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION AS WE SHOWED PROOF AND EMAILS THAT THE CITY SUPPLIED US WITH SAID INFORMATION. WHO IS REALLY LYING? HOWEVER, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THE INTERACTIONS WITH THE DRIVERS. THEY HAVE MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE PEOPLE COME UP AND COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AND TO HAVE A DISCUSSION. I HAVE HAD A FEW TOURISTS SAY THAT THEY APPROACHED AND ASKED DRIVERS A QUESTION ABOUT THE HORSES AND POINT OUT A CONCERN. THE DRIVERS EITHER LOOKED TOWARDS THEM AND DIDN'T ANSWER OR WORSE, GAVE A NASTY RESPONSE. ACTUALLY, IT HAPPENED TO THIS TOURIST AS I WAS TALKING THAT DAY. SHE HAD JUST HAD THAT HAPPEN. THIS WAS SOLIDIFIED WITH A TYPE OF BELLIGERENT AGGRESSIVE REMARKS COMING FROM THE DRIVERS WHEN WE WERE JUST TRYING TO VIDEOTAPE AND TAKE PICTURES OF CARRIAGES. WE ASKED FOR A COMPANY NAME SINCE THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS TAG ON ONE OF THE SPECIFIC CARRIAGES, AND WE WERE TOLD IT'S NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. HOPEFULLY THAT'LL PLAY. IT'S 100% OUR BUSINESS. IT'S IN THE CODE, 100%. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ABLE TO HEAR THAT. WE ALSO HAVE VIDEOS WHERE A DRIVER FROM COUNTRY CARRIAGES SAY THAT WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE KITCHEN. >> YOU GUYS NEED TO GO BACK TO THE KITCHEN. >> NICE. I DO HAVE THIS. >> YOU NEED TO GET BACK TO THE KITCHEN. >> THAT'S NICE THING THAT WE TRIED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THEM, BUT DID YOU GUYS JUST HEAR WHAT HE SAID? YOU GUYS NEED TO GO BACK TO THE KITCHEN. NO, THERE WERE NOT [INAUDIBLE] DISCUSSION. I WOKE UP. >> HOPEFULLY, YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO HEAR THAT. THE MOST DISTURBING IS WHERE A DRIVER SAID YOU SHOULD SELL YOUR BODY ON THE INTERNET, ANYONE WILL DO IT. THEY'LL DO ANYTHING. ALL OF THIS IN FRONT OF CHILDREN AS SEEN IN THESE VIDEOS. WE DON'T EXPLAIN TO ANIMALS, BUT OKAY. >> WELL, YOU CAN GO SELL YOUR BODY ON THE [INAUDIBLE] >> MY BODY? A POINT ABOUT MY BODY. >> SELL IT ON THE INTERNET [INAUDIBLE] >> NICE. SELL IT ON THE INTERNET. IN FRONT OF CHILDREN. >> WE DON'T EXPLAIN TO ANIMALS. >> WHAT A HORRIFIC, MISOGYNISTIC COMMENT, JUST LIKE THE KITCHEN ONE. THESE DRIVERS ARE NOT ONLY AGGRESSIVE, BUT PROVE WHEN YOU SUPPORT VIOLENCE, YOU ARE VIOLENT. DOES A TOWN WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR HAVING SUCH AGGRESSIVE, MISOGYNISTIC PEOPLE WORKING FOR THEM AND TAINTING ITS REPUTATION? [00:55:03] DO THEY WANT TO POSSIBLY PLACE TOURISTS IN DANGER NOT ONLY WITH UNMARKED CARRIAGES, UNVETTED HORSES, BUT ALSO UNVETTED UNHINGED DRIVERS? NOW YOU KNOW, WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT? YOU MUST PLACE THESE HORSES ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO MORE SPEAKER CARDS. MS. COLLADY. >> BJ COLLADY, WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. IT'S TIME PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES, ALSO KNOWN AS PILOTS BE PAID BY FLAGLER COLLEGE. LET ME ENCOURAGE ALL TAXPAYERS TO LISTEN, WATCH HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD, HARB, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025, ITEM 6B, FLAGLER COLLEGE INSTALL T-MOBILE CELLULAR EQUIPMENT IN BELL TOWERS. THE SHERIFF CONTACTED THE LLC STATING IT WAS NEEDED FOR SAFETY. MS. JULIE, OUR STAFF, PROVIDED CORRECT INFORMATION. THE SHERIFF CAN INSTALL SUCH EQUIPMENT IN THE COUNTY BUILDINGS. THE CITY WILL BE INSTALLING CELLULAR EQUIPMENT ON OUR RIGHT OF WAYS, NOT ON HISTORIC BUILDINGS. IN 2021, SB 60 CHANGED THE LAW AT THE STATE LEVEL, RESULTING IN VIOLATION OF CODE REQUIRES ONE'S NAME AND ADDRESS. UP UNTIL 2021, CITY STAFF WOULD BE THE ONES TO RECEIVE HARASSMENT, NOT RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN THE THREE SLUMS IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ST. AUGUSTINE. WAVING FLAGS, BALLOONS, JUNK SIGNS, TIRES AT US 1 AND KING STREET, TRASH CANS IN FRONT OF OUR YARDS, ETC., CONTINUE TO BE VIOLATED BY REPEAT OFFENDERS. IT'S TIME THE CITY FINE, NOT TALK TO REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO IGNORE CODES SECTION 1, SUBSECTION 125.69(4)(E). AS OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2025, THAT WAS A TUESDAY, THERE IS NO PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT 4015 LEWIS SPEEDWAY. THE DOORS ARE LOCKED. >> I HAVE NO MORE SPEAKER CARDS. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. WE ARE MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. [5. CONSENT AGENDA ] BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM CA10 FOR REPORT AND DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CHANGES? >> WHICH ONE IS THAT? >> THAT IS PERTAINING TO THE LICENSING AGREEMENT ON INLET DRIVE. >> I WAS INTERESTED IN PULLING THAT ANYWAY, SO THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER MODIFICATIONS? I MOVE THAT WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA. WELL, ACTUALLY I WILL LET MR. CITY MANAGER READ IT BEFORE I MOVE TO APPROVE. >> LET'S. CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS, INCLUDING THE SEPTEMBER 25, 05:05 CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING, THE OCTOBER 13, 5:00 P.M. REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THE OCTOBER 27, 03:00 P.M. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING, AND THE OCTOBER 27, 5:00 P.M. REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 14, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THE JULY 28, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND THE AUGUST 11, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE A PROPOSED PROCLAMATION 2025-31 INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY SPONSORED BY MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE. WE HAVE AN ORDER RELEASING THE CODE ENFORCEMENT LIEN LEVIED AGAINST 215 ANASTASIA BOULEVARD AS PAID IN FULL. WE HAVE AN EMINENT DOMAIN, LATE MARIA SANCHEZ INVOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> I MOVE THAT WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PROMISED AS PRESENTED. >> I SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. MR. CITY MANAGER, ITEM CA10, [CA.10. Revocable Licenses Agreement for 117 Inlet Drive (S. Slaughter, Utilities & Public Works, Director) ] REVOCABLE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR 117 INLET DRIVE. >> IF MR. SLAUGHTER IS IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU CAN COME FORWARD. >> I HAVE RECEIVED QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION FROM THE NEIGHBORS ON THIS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION AND [01:00:03] UNDERSTAND THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF APPROVING THIS. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER. STEPHEN SLAUGHTER, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THE REVOCABLE LICENSE PROPOSED THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. I DO HAVE A LIST OF SOME HIGH LEVEL BULLET POINTS, IF I MAY, FIRST. A PERMIT TO BUILD A FENCE WAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY PLANNING AND BUILDING. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY DEPARTMENT'S ATTENTION THAT PART OF THE FENCE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS TOOK A LOOK AT THIS AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW BEST TO RESOLVE THIS USE OF RIGHT OF WAY ISSUE. WE COULD DO A PERMIT OR WE COULD DO A REVOCABLE LICENSE. STAFF DETERMINED THAT A REVOCABLE LICENSE WAS MOST APPROPRIATE DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS. IT WAS A LANDSCAPING AND A SEE-THROUGH FENCE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT CONSTRUCTED NEAR OR ON TOP OF ANY CURRENT UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO BUILD ANY UTILITIES IN THE AREA. THE REVOCABLE LICENSE RECOGNIZES THAT THE FENCE AND LANDSCAPING ARE FOR THE BENEFIT AND PLEASURE OF THE PROPERTY OWNER AT 117 INLET DRIVE, AND THAT THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MAINTENANCE, AND THAT THE CITY AT ANY TIME CAN REVOKE THE LICENSE AND REMOVE OR HAVE THE OWNER REMOVE THE IMPROVEMENTS. AS MR. HARDY SAID, HE AND HIS NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER FOR THE INLET SHORELINE PROJECT AND HAS PROVIDED AN EASEMENT FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL GO AROUND THE TABLE. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, YOUR COMMENTS? >> YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO THIS ABOUT THE FENCE AND ALL THE RIGHT OF WAY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE? >> I HAVE LASTLY BEEN WORKING WITH MR. HARTLEY WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. PRIOR TO ME, JESSICA BEACH HAD BEEN WORKING WITH MR. HARTLEY. >> HAS HE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE IT IN COMPLIANCE? >> WITH REGARD TO THE FENCE AND LANDSCAPING THAT HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED, STAFF TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND IS MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A REVOCABLE LICENSE. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE FENCE AND LANDSCAPING TO STAY THERE. THERE ARE PALM TREES. THERE IS SOME OTHER GROUND COVER, SOME IRRIGATION, AND THE SEE-THROUGH METAL FENCING THAT I MENTIONED. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE SOME MATERIAL QUESTIONS ABOUT A COUPLE OF THE EXHIBITS. I DID GO OUT AND LOOK AT THE SITE A COUPLE OF TIMES, WALKED IT OFF. I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT EXHIBIT A, SHOULD WE SAY. EXHIBIT A, IS THIS THE PROPERTY OWNER'S SURVEY? >> YES. ACTUALLY, I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THAT WAS PROVIDED. THANK YOU. >> I'M SORRY, I SHOULD ASK. DO YOU HAVE ONE IN FRONT OF YOU? >> I DO NOW. CAN WE GET THIS ON THE SCREEN? >> YEAH, THAT'S FINE. >> WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE, THE GREEN LINE IS THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND THE PINK LINE IS THE FENCE AS IT STANDS NOW. BETWEEN THE GREEN LINE AND THE PINK LINE ARE LANDSCAPING INCLUDING PALM TREES, GROUND COVER, ETC. IF I MAY, THERE'S THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. >> I LOOKED AT THIS AND I LOOKED AT THE PROPERTY APPRAISERS MAP, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS NOT ACCURATE BUT IT'S GET ME STARTED. JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. LOOKING AT THIS MAP ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF INLET DRIVE, AM I CORRECT IN THINKING THAT THE RIGHT OF WAY IS EIGHT FEET? >> YES. IF I MAY. EIGHT FEET'S AN APPROXIMATION. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT DOES VARY AS YOU GO NORTH. >> I KNOW. THAT'S THE POINT I'M GETTING TO, IS IT VARIES CONSIDERABLY. THAT'S CORRECT. I SEE THE EDGE OF THE CURB ON THE SURVEY, AND THEN I SEE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT FEET, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT GOES BACK IN AND OUT. THIS IS NOT CONSISTENT MEASUREMENT OFF THE PAVEMENT. [01:05:01] >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AM I RIGHT IN SAYING IT'S APPROXIMATELY EIGHT FEET ON THE WEST SIDE? >> YES. >> ON THE EAST SIDE, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU HAVE 13.5 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE CURB TO THE RIGHT OF WAY? >> IT IS A LARGER AMOUNT. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SHORTER DOWN HERE ON THE SOUTHERN END AND IT DOES GET [OVERLAPPING] > I NOTICE THAT TOO, THE PROPERTY HAS. IF I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM WHAT I CAN SEE HERE, YOU HAVE 6.4 FEET, AND THEN YOU HAVE, I THINK IT'S 7.2, SO THAT'S 13.5 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE CURB TO THE EDGE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY. AT THAT POINT WHERE IT BEGINS ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE. >> WITHOUT HOLDING YOU TO THOSE EXACT NUMBERS, YOUR GENERAL ASSESSMENT IS CORRECT. >> I KNOW WE'RE NOT TALKING INCHES. HOWEVER, WHO IDENTIFIED THIS FENCE ON HERE? WHO PUT THE PINK LINE ON THERE? >> AT THIS TIME, MY BEST GUESS IS THIS WAS PART OF OUR ENGINEERING PLANS FOR THE INLET DRIVE SHORELINE PROJECT, AND THAT IS HOW WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THIS FENCE WAS IN FACT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. >> I WENT OUT THERE AND I MEASURED IT AND I HAD CLOSE TO 14 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE CURB TO HIS FENCE. >> THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED EARLIER NOT TO HOLD YOU TO THOSE EXACT NUMBERS BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THERE IS ELEVATIONS. >> ELEVATION. >> YES, SIR. THAT'S A 6.4 FOOT IN AVD 88 ELEVATION. >> GOOD. DO WE HAVE AN IDEA HOW FAR HIS FENCE IS? BECAUSE WHEN I WENT OUT THERE AND I LOOKED AT THE EDGE OF THE CURB OF THE ROAD, WE GOT THE PAVEMENT AND THEN HE GOT THE CURB. THERE'S MAYBE 6" DIFFERENCE. YOU WALK IT BACK AND IT'S APPROXIMATELY 14 FEET, 13 FEET. >> IF WE CAN WORK WITH ROUND NUMBERS, WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT 10 FEET OFF THE BACK OF THE CURB AND PROBABLY ABOUT 10 FEET INTO THE RIGHT OF WAY. BUT THAT RIGHT OF WAY DOES VARY NORTH TO SOUTH. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DIMENSIONS IN FRONT OF ME FOR THE SOUTHERN END OF THE PROPERTY AND THE NORTHERN END OF THE PROPERTY. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S NO SCALE ON THIS ONE. >> I GUESS THE POINT I'M GETTING IN A MATERIAL SENSE IS THAT WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THERE ON MY BIKE, LOOKS LIKE HIS FENCE LINES UP WITH EVERYBODY ELSE'S ON INLET DRIVE ON THE EAST SIDE TO THE IMMEDIATE, APPROXIMATELY WITHIN A FOOT FROM JUST VISUALIZING IT. IF I TAKE MY BIKE AND I GO TO DOWN INLET DRIVE, THERE'S SOME MASONRY WALLS, I WALKED THAT OFF. THAT'S ABOUT 14 FEET. THE NEIGHBOR RIGHT NEXT DOOR HAS A BLOCK MASONRY WALL AND THAT SEEMS TO BE ABOUT 14 FEET. I WENT OUT, WALKED ALONG THE RIGHT AWAY, WALKING OUT MY FEET IN MR. HARDY'S DRIVEWAY, AND I GOT ABOUT 14 FEET. MR. HARDY CAME OUT AND HE ASKED, WHO'S AT MY DRIVEWAY WALKING OUT THERE. I TALKED TO HIM. BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE PHYSICAL INSPECTIONS. IT APPEARS ON THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER MAP, IS A BIG BEND OFF, I KNOW, IS NOT EXACT, BUT MAYBE, IN THIS CASE, IT'S WORTH REFERENCING, IS IT GOES OUT FARTHER. ACCORDING TO THAT MAP, IF HE HAD HIS FENCE, IT WILL GO NOT 14 FEET. IT WOULDN'T BE PARALLEL WITH THE ROAD. I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS ALL TRANSPIRED AND STUFF, BUT IN A VERY MATERIAL SENSE, I DON'T THINK THIS FENCE IS REALLY A PROBLEM. LOOKING AT THE LICENSING AGREEMENT, MR. SLAUGHTER MENTIONED SOME OF IT. LICENSE, IT CAN ONLY HAVE A FENCE LANDSCAPING AND LANDSCAPING, PLANTS, TREES, IRRIGATION, PAPERS, AND LIGHTING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO USE THE SUBJECT SO THE CITY CAN ALWAYS PROVOKE THIS IF IT ACTUALLY HAS A PROJECT TO PUT IN THERE. HE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAIN CITY IS NOT GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THE MAINTENANCE. THIS IS INTERESTING. LICENSE DOES NOT RUN WITH THE LAND. IF HE SELLS THE PIECE OF PROPERTY, MY RIGHT AND ASSUMING THIS LICENSE DOES NOT, SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK IN? >> I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT. I WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT STAYS WITH THE PROPERTY. >> IT DOES NOT. >> THE LICENSE DOES NOT RUN WITH THE LAND. [01:10:01] ANOTHER GRANTEE A PROPERTY OWNER, HE HAS TO CARRY A PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE WITH SPECIFIC TERMS, IS THAT CORRECT? >> OUR CITY ATTORNEY? >> CORRECT. >> CORRECT. THE GRANTEE SHOULD REMOVE ALL IMPROVEMENT IF THE CITY CLAUSE NUMBER 10, IF THE CITY DOES NEED TO USE THIS FOR A RIGHT AWAY PROJECT, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS CAN BE REVOKED IN 10 DAYS. LISA, HOWEVER, GRANTEE CANNOT ASSIGN ANY RIGHTS TO THE LICENSE WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF GRANTEE. THE ONLY ISSUE I WOULD HAVE THE ONLY ISSUE I WOULD HAVE WITH IT, AND I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THIS IS, SO IF THIS APPLICATION DOES GET IMPROVED, THAT THIS FENCE LINE IS GRANTING WILL NOT THIS LICENSE LINE, IF I CAN CALL IT THAT, CAN'T BE USED AS A FUTURE REFERENCE FOR A SETBACK IF HE BUILDS ANYTHING ELSE THERE. THE SETBACKS THE SAME. >> IT'S PERFECTLY MEASURED FROM THE PROPERTY LINE, SO IT WOULD NOT BE MEASURED FROM THE FENCE. THE GRANT OF THIS EASEMENT. >> THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU UNDERSTAND, SO IF THIS GENTLEMAN, IF WE GIVE HIM THE FENCE AGREEMENT, IT'S NOT AS IF HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH BUILD ON THERE ANYWAY LEFT. BUT IF HE DID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE THAT AS A SETBACK LINE, WHERE HE HAS TO GO WAS IT 10 FOOT SETBACK OR FROM THE ROAD? >> I'D HAVE TO CHECK THE ZONING. IT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKE 15 OR 20. >> FROM 15 OR WHATEVER THE SETBACK IS. HIS HOUSE, ANYTHING ELSE HE BUILT THERE, HE HAVE A PERMIT FOR ANYWAY, WOULD HAVE TO BE USED FOR THAT, SO I'M JUST VISUALLY SPEAKING, GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S OUT A LOT FARTHER. FROM A MATERIAL STANDPOINT, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. I DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT I JUST GOT BACK IN TOWN SO I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VICE MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, MR. SLAUGHTER. YOU SAID THE PCB APPROVED THE FENCE AND THE LANDSCAPING FURTHER EAST OF WHERE IT IS NOW. AM I RIGHT? >> NO, MA'AM. PLANNING AND BUILDING ISSUED A FENCE PERMIT, AND AFTER THE FENCE WAS CONSTRUCTED, IT WAS DETERMINED, DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. >> IT WASN'T PCB. IT WAS A PLANNING AND BUILDING? >> YES, MA'AM. >> THAT'S I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD THAT FACT RIGHT. >> YES. >> THE FENCE WAS NOT APPROVED FOR ITS CURRENT LOCATION. >> CORRECT. IT DOES APPEAR THAT THIS THE GENTLEMAN DID GO THROUGH THE CORRECT PERMITTING, DID GET APPROVAL FOR THE PERMIT, DID GET IT CONSTRUCTED AND AFTER THE FACT IT WAS CONSTRUCTED ON. >> I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT, SO THE FENCE IS NOT CURRENTLY WHERE IT WAS APPROVED FOR, AND I KNOW THERE'S NO MALICE. I'M SURE IT MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN THE FENCE BUILDER, GOT THE NUMBERS WRONG. BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THOUGH, IS THAT THIS IS TAXPAYER OWNED PROPERTY THAT THE FENCE IS SITTING OUTSIDE ONTO. I'VE BEEN REALLY CONSISTENT ABOUT NOT SETTING PRECEDENTS AND I WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT CONSISTENCY, SO I WOULD LIKE TO REJECT THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT ON THAT BASIS. >> THANK YOU. THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD. MY NEIGHBORS ARE HERE. I SEE SEVERAL NEIGHBORS, MR. HARDY. THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY HAS BEEN EXTREMELY CONTENTIOUS OVER THE YEARS. EVERYBODY'S A LITTLE SENSITIVE ABOUT IT. THIS IS AN AFTER THE FACT LICENSE AGREEMENT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE WORKED OUT TO TRY TO KEEP PEACE, AND I UNDERSTAND THE PROPERTY OWNER DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE THE FENCE. IT'S A VERY EASY THING TO MOVE THE FENCE. IT IS NOT A MASONRY FENCE. IT DOES SET A PRECEDENT. THERE ARE FIVE, IT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS A VACANT PIECE OF PROPERTY. THERE IS NO STRUCTURE ON THIS PROPERTY, AND AS WELL AS THE I BELIEVE THERE'S FIVE OTHER PIECES TO THE NORTH OF IT THAT ARE ALSO OWNED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER ACROSS THE ROAD. THIS IS ONE OF THE PIECES THAT OWNED BY THE SAME PROPERTY OWNER ON EACH SIDE OF INLET. THERE'S ONLY, I THINK FIVE TOTAL, AM I RIGHT? IS IT FOUR OR FIVE? >> I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT A PLAT MAP. I DON'T KNOW. >> LET'S JUST SAY IT'S FOUR, [01:15:02] AND MAYBE IT'S FIVE. I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT DOES SET A PRECEDENT WHEN WE LET THEM PUT A FENCE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, AND WITH THE POTENTIAL OF IT OCCURRING, ON OTHER PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH ON SIMILAR VACANT PROPERTIES. FOR THAT REASON, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE LICENSED AGREEMENT. I DO UNDERSTAND MR. HARDY IS EXERCISING HIS RIGHT TO REQUEST A LICENSING AGREEMENT, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. BUT I GENERALLY DON'T VIEW AFTER THE FACT APPROVALS OR WORK AROUNDS OR LET'S TRY TO THAT THING ON PROPERTY ON INSTANCES LIKE THIS. I'LL JUST SAY IT LIKE THIS. WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE DENY THE LICENSE AT 1:17 AND LET DRIVE. SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? >> NOW, MY CONCERN IS IF THE PEOPLE TO IMMEDIATELY TO THE SOUTH TO HIM OR 14 FEET THAT MAKES A PRECEDENT THAT THEY'RE NOW. MAY I ADD ONE MORE? >> NO. >> I'D LIKE TO SAY IT'S NOT THE SAME PRECEDENT AT ALL. THAT'S THE PEOPLE TO THE SOUTH. IT WOULDN'T BE SETTING A PRECEDENT IF THEY'RE DOING BUILDING SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE DRAWINGS AND BY THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THIS IS A PRECEDENT FOR AFTER THE FACT ON PUBLIC PROPERTY. THAT'S THE PRECEDENT I'M TALKING ABOUT. >> LIKE I SAID, THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH IS A HOME. IT'S A STRUCTURE. IT'S BEEN APPROVED. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS VACANT PROPERTY. >> THAT'S FINE. WE JUST HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE. THAT'S ALL. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. YOU'VE GOT THE EYEBROWS GOING OVER THERE, BETWEEN THE TWO. LET'S SEE WHAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE. >> NANCY SIKES-KLINE. >> YES. >> BARBARA BLONDER. >> YES. >> JOHN PRATER [INAUDIBLE]? >> NO. >> THE GARRIS? >> YES. >> JUST FOR MR. HARDY'S IS SICK, THAT MEANS THAT THE LICENSE AGREEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED. >> CORRECT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MADAM MAYOR, MAY I MAKE A REQUEST JUST ON THIS TOPIC. WHEN WE HAVE SOME ISSUE LIKE THIS COME BEFORE US, I DON'T WANT TO WASTE THE COMMISSION'S TIME EVERY TIME. BUT THIS DOES SEEM LIKE IT WAS CONTENTIOUS FROM THE BEGINNING AND I'D RATHER NOT SEE IT ON THE [OVERLAPPING] JUST ADDS A LAYER OF COMPLEXITY. >> THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION AMONG THE NEIGHBORS, SO IT WAS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST. >> THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE. >> WE CAN DO BETTER. >> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I APPRECIATE IT. WITH THAT SAID, WE'LL MOVE ON. WE HAVE NO APPEALS. WE HAVE NO GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS. MOVING ON TO ITEM 8A, [8.A.1. Ordinance 2025-10: Amending and Adopting the City's Required Water Supply Plan (A. Skinner, Director, Planning and Building) ] WE DO HAVE A SECOND READING OF PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2025-10, AND THAT IS CONCERNING THE REQUIRED WATER SUPPLY PLAN, AND THAT IS MS. SKINNER. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THIS ITEM, AS YOU NOTED, IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF ORDINANCE 2025-10 TO AMEND AND ADOPT AN UPDATED WATER SUPPLY PLAN. ATTACHED TO THE ORDINANCE ARE THE INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES AND THE CITY'S PROPOSED DATED WATER SUPPLY PLAN APPENDIX, WHICH ARE BASED ON THE 2023 NORTH FLORIDA REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY PLAN. THIS APPENDIX IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ACTING AS THE CITY'S LAND PLANNING AGENCY, REVIEWED THE PROPOSED UPDATE, HELD A PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOMMENDED THE WATER SUPPLY PLAN UPDATES TO THE CITY COMMISSION AT THEIR JUNE 3 REGULAR MEETING. ON JULY 14, THE CITY COMMISSION HELD A FIRST READING AND A REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT THE PROPOSED UPDATE COULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE REVIEWING AGENCIES. THERE ARE EIGHT AGENCIES THAT WE SUBMIT THESE TYPES OF AMENDMENTS TO. [01:20:04] STAFF SUBMITTED THE UPDATE TO THE STATE AND THE REQUIRED AGENCIES. NO REVIEWER HAD ANY COMMENTS. THIS IS A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSES, THEN WE WILL RESUBMIT IT TO THE STATE AND IT WILL BE ADOPTED INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THANK YOU. I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, WE'LL START WITH YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OF STOP BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARING? >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER JOHN PRATER. >> NO. >> VICE MAYOR. >> NO QUESTIONS, JUST COMMENTS FOR AFTER PUBLIC. >> THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARS. DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK? HEARING NO ONE, SEEING NO ONE. PUBLIC HEARING IT'S CLOSED. BACK TO THE BOARD, AND COMMISSIONER GARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS CONCERNING AMENDING AND ADOPTING? >> NO. >> NO. COMMISSIONER JOHN PRATER? >> NO. >> VICE MAYOR? >> I HAVE SEVERAL. >> THE FIRST IS THAT SEGUE FROM OUR WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVE, MR. GRECO. IN THIS PLAN, THERE IS SPECIFIC REST REFERENCE TO PHASING OUT EXISTING SEPTIC TANKS TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. THAT'S YOUR INFRA OBJECTIVE 1.4. WE ARE MOVING ON THAT WITH HIS HELP AND OTHERS. WITH REGARD TO INTRA POLICY 3.4, 0.2, AND 0.4 THIS IS GOOD. THERE'S WATER CONSERVING FIXTURES REQUIRED FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS. WHAT I'M WONDERING IS THE SECOND HALF OF THAT, WHICH IS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR RETROFITTING EXISTING BUILDINGS, WHERE I CAME FROM NOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN ALMOST 25 YEARS AGO MOVING FROM THE OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA. WE ACTUALLY HAD THE COMPOSTING PROGRAM WHERE WE GAVE AWAY FREE COMPOSTING BINS LIKE WE'RE DOING HERE. NOW, AND THEY ALSO HAD A LOW FLOW LIKE KIT OF SHOWER AND OTHER SUPPLIES THAT PEOPLE COULD. I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD DO A PROGRAM LIKE THAT FOR HOMEOWNERS. I THINK THE BIGGEST BENEFIT OF IT IS RAISING AWARENESS THAT THESE THINGS EXIST AND THEY CAN SEE IT ON THEIR WATER BILL. I'D LIKE TO SEE IF STAFF IS WORKING ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MS. SKINNER. >> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, BUT CERTAINLY WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH OUR UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS STAFF. >> GREAT. >> WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING THIS UP TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY STAFF, AND REPORT BACK TO YOU. >> THAT'D BE GREAT. THAT'S I THINK A PRIORITY FOR ME. I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE SALTWATER INTRUSION MONITORING WELLS? FORGIVE ME. I DON'T REMEMBER IF WE'RE ACTIVELY ALREADY DOING IT OR IF IT'S IN CONSTRUCTION. >> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE STATUS IS. I BELIEVE THAT THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT HAS THE MONITORING WELLS. >> THINK IT'S OUR RESILIENCE. I WAS IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS AT ONE POINT. BUT I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON THAT. BECAUSE I THINK THEY WERE IN PROCESS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ALREADY COMPLETED. THAT'S IMPORTANT. >> I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR AN UPDATE. >> THEN THERE'S A REFERENCE TO MAPPING AND CAPPING ARTESIAN WELLS. THIS MAY BE A QUESTION AGAIN FOR STAFF THAT'S NOT HERE, BUT ACTUALLY, MR. FRANKLIN BROUGHT THIS UP TO ME WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A PINE STREET PUBLIC ACCESS ISSUE, PINE AND WATER STREET, THAT THERE'S AN ARTESIAN WELL AT A PROPERTY ON THAT CORNER. THAT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THIS IN REFERENCE TO THIS UPDATE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A MAP, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE DO. I KNOW THE PERSON TO TALK TO ABOUT IT, HE ALREADY HAS A FULL PLATE, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR WATER SUPPLY. THEN FINALLY, SO I THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT. SOMETHING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME EVERY TIME I SEE IT IS THE POPULATION GROWTH PROJECTIONS, AND ON PAGE 30 OF THE ATTACHMENTS, THERE'S A COUPLE OF CHARTS SHOWING THAT. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THIS OUT THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SEEING IT AND FEELING IT, BUT THE NUMBERS ARE THAT THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY POPULATION GREW 18% IN FOUR YEARS BETWEEN 2020 AND 2024. THE CITY DURING THE SAME YEARS, 9%, AND THEN OVERALL AVERAGE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE PROJECTION WOULD BE ABOUT 10% THROUGH 2035. WE'RE ON A STEADY GROWTH RATE AND OUR PRESSURES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO THAT. [01:25:02] THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> INTERESTING. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. WAS THAT A MOTION? >> ABSOLUTELY. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-10. >>I'LL SECOND. >> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-10. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INCORPORATE CHANGES REQUIRED BY THE 2023 NORTH FLORIDA REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY PLAN, AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BY AMENDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENT, INCLUDING AMENDING GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES, AND UPDATING APPENDIX A OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENT, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES WORK PLAN, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 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 OTHER COMMENTS, DEBATE? COMMISSIONERS, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> BARBARA BLONDER. >> YES. >> NANCY SIKES-KLINE. >> YES. >> JON DEPRETER. >> YES. >> CYNTHIA GARRIS. >> YES. >> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, [9.B.1. Resolution 2025-40: Adjusting Permit Fees for Development Projects (M. Burns, Finance Director) ] WE HAVE RESOLUTION 2025-40, ADJUSTING PERMIT FEES FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, MS. BURNS. >> I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS TO YOU FOR A SECOND. EXCUSE ME. >> GOOD EVENING. TONIGHT, MELISSA BURNS FINANCE DIRECTOR. TONIGHT, I'M PRESENTING RESOLUTION 2025-40, WHICH IS ADJUSTING THE PERMIT FEES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY'S UTILITY SERVICE AREA, FOR THE USE AND CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE CITY'S RIGHT AWAY AND EASEMENT. THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON JULY 14, THAT THE CURRENT RATES IN PLACE TODAY HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2015. THESE FEES WERE PUT IN PLACE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE TIME AND EXPENSE TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS FOR COMPLIANCE, COORDINATE, AND INSPECT THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. WITH THAT, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. BURNS? >> I DO NOT. >> WHAT ARE THE NEW FEES? HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING UP? >> IT VARIES BY THE FEE. LET'S SEE. >> YOU HAVE A RANGE? I THINK YOU HAVE A CHART RATE. >> IT'S IN HER PACKET. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT. IT GOES FROM ANYWHERE TO 5%. >> THERE'S QUITE FEW. CAN SOMEBODY PROJECT THAT FOR US, PLEASE? >> THIS IS MY SPREADSHEET THAT I DID. >> WE HAVE A DIFFERENT ONE. >> YOU PROBABLY HAVE THE BLUE AND WHITE DELINEATIONS. >> MS. BURNS, CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE METHODOLOGY THAT YOU USED TO INCREASE THE FEES? >> ACTUALLY, MR. SLAUGHTER, THE PUBLIC WORKS UTILITIES DIRECTOR WORKED ON THIS FOR ME. >> MR. SLAUGHTER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLEASE COME ON? THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. THE WAY THAT WE CAME TO THESE NUMBERS WAS THE LAST TIME THESE PERMIT FEES WERE INCREASED WAS 2015. WE TOOK A CPI 2015-2025 OR 2026, AND THAT IS HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE PERCENT INCREASE. >> MY ONLY QUESTION WOULD BE, THESE ARE FAIRLY PROPORTIONALLY SMALL INCREASES? >> YES, MA'AM. DOLLAR AMOUNT, THEY'RE FAIRLY SMALL. >> THIS WOULD COVER THE COSTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE. >> THIS COVERS THE COST OF STAFF REVIEW AND PROCESSING OF THE APPLICATIONS. YES. >> DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR RESOLUTION 2025-40? >> SURE. I'LL DO IT. I THINK THESE ARE FAIR. LET ME GET IT RIGHT HERE. I MOVE THAT WE PASS RESOLUTION 2025-40 AS READ BY TITLE. >> I DON'T READ THE RESOLUTION, TYPICALLY. JUST PASSING IT. >> JUST A MOTION THAT WE PASS RESOLUTION 2025-40. [01:30:04] >> SECOND. >> COULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? >> JON DEPRETER. >> YES. >> CYNTHIA GARRIS. >> YES. >> BARBARA BLONDER? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES. >> WHERE ARE WE? >> ONTO RESOLUTION 2025-41, MS. BURNS. [9.B.2. Resolution 2025-41: Short Term (Vacation) Rental Program Fees Adjustment (M. Burns, Finance Director) ] >> SHORT TERM RENTAL VACATION PROGRAM FEE ADJUSTED. TAXES 2025-41, WHICH ADJUST THE FEES FOR THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM. AS DISCUSSED AT THE JULY 14 SPECIAL MEETING, AN ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED WITH A NUMBER OF SHORT TERM RENTALS AND THE COST OF THE PROGRAM. WE RECOMMENDED INCREASE TO THE BASE RATE AS WELL AS THE PER BEDROOM RATE. >> COMMISSIONERS, COMMENTS QUESTIONS. >> GARRIS. >> BUT LOOKING AT IT, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A LARGE INCREASE. I JUST DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE OVERWHELMED BY AN INCREASE IN THEIR BUDGET SO MUCH AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S SLAM LIKE WITH $100 OR $200. BUT LOOKING AT THIS, IT'S MINIMUM THIS INCREASE. SO I'M IN FAVOR WITH THE INCREASE. THANK YOU. >> LOOKS TO ME LIKE A NINE-DOLLAR INCREASE A YEAR. I THINK THAT'S AFFORDABLE. IT'S NOT EXTRAVAGANT, SO I CAN SUPPORT IT. >> THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. >> AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR OUR STAFF. >> THANK YOU. >> I MOVE WE PASSED RESOLUTION 2025-41. >> I'LL SECOND. >> THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE READ. ANY OTHER FINAL DEBATE BEFORE I CALL THE ROLL. >> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> NANCY SIKES-KLINE. >> YES. >> BARBARA BLONDER? >> YES. >> JON DEPRETER. >> YES. >> CYNTHIA GARRIS. >> YES. >> ON TO STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS, ITEM 10A, [10. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS ] PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE RIDER FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS FOLLOW UP, AND THAT IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE STAR CIRCULATOR. >> MR. FRANKLIN. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. REUBEN FRANKLIN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. I'M BACK BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO GO OVER AT THE LAST CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND WE TALKED ABOUT CHANGES TO THE STAR CIRCULATOR. THESE CHANGES WERE THAT WE'D LIKE TO UTILIZE THE STAR CIRCULATOR FOR THE ISLAND TO CONNECT ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH TO THE CITY. IT WOULD RUN FROM THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS TO ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH. THERE'D BE 16 STOPS ALONG THE WAY. BUT AT THAT PRESENTATION, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE NEED TO UTILIZE ARRICOLA AVENUE. THE REASON WE'RE DOING THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THAT BUILDS UP. WE LOOKED AT A COUPLE OF OPTIONS TO MINIMIZE OUR TIME ON ARRICOLA AVENUE. WE GOT WITH OUR OPERATOR AND ASKED THEM ABOUT MAKING A U-TURN ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD. THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE A U-TURN ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD SAFELY. SO THAT WAS CROSSED OFF. WE ALSO LOOKED AT UTILIZING THE ALLEYWAY IN BETWEEN TO TRY TO KEEP IT OFF OF ARRICOLA, BUT THE OPERATOR HAD SOME CONCERNS OVER LIGHTING AND THE NARROWNESS OF THE ALLEYWAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PUTS US BACK ONTO USING ARRICOLA AVENUE. WE DID MEET OUR MOBILITY MANAGER, HAD A DISCUSSION WITH MR. WESTFIELD, WHO RAISED THE CONCERNS. WE FEEL THAT WE CAN DO NO PARKING IN THE AREA OF ARRICOLA AND ZORAYDA TO ALLEVIATE CONGESTION. CONGESTION WAS A CONCERN OF HIS WITH PEOPLE PARKING, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT ADDING THE STAR CIRCULATOR TO THE MIX. WE THINK WE CAN GET ABOUT HALFWAY THERE TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF HIS CONCERNS, BUT WE DO NEED TO UTILIZE PORTIONS OF ARRICOLA AVENUE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE HEADWAY TIMES CONSISTENT FOR THIS NEW THING WE'RE GOING TO TRY OUT, WHICH HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD RIDERSHIP ON. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ONE THING THAT WE CAN ALSO DO TO MINIMIZE RIGHT HERE IS THE LIGHT. THAT'S MATANZAS. DURING TIMES THAT ARE NOT CROWDED WITH TRAFFIC CONGESTION, WE WILL TRY TO UTILIZE ANASTASIA BOULEVARD AS LONG AS WE CAN. WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET DOWN TO ZORAYDA TO MAKE THE LEFT AND WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP SOMEWHERE IN HERE, AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE A RIGHT AND GO RIGHT BACK OUT TOWARDS THE BEACH. [01:35:02] WHEN WE CAN, WE'LL REALLY MINIMIZE THE TIME THAT WE USE ARRICOLA AVENUE. WE HAVE NO STOPS THERE. WHAT WE SHOWED WAS WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE LOGICAL AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT BECAUSE WE'D HAVE A PROTECTED TURN TO GET OFF OF ANASTASIA BOULEVARD. BUT IF TRAFFIC'S LIGHT AND IT'S NOT TOO BAD, WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE ANASTASIA BOULEVARD AND TRY TO SHORTEN THAT DISTANCE THAT WE'RE ON ARRICOLA AVENUE. >> YOU DON'T REALLY NEED ANY VOTE ON THIS, JUST NODDING OF HEADS? >> YES. WE HAVE CONSENSUS. THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH. WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEIR STAFF TO PRESENT THIS TO THEM, SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. ONE OTHER THING I WAS JUST REMINDED OF, WE DID RECONFIRM WITH DOT THAT THERE WAS NO PUBLIC ADVERTISING THAT NEEDED TO OCCUR FOR THE CHANGE OF THIS ROUTE. THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT WE'LL ADVERTISE IT, SO PEOPLE WILL KNOW THAT THE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE. BUT THERE WAS NO FORMAL NEED TO DO A PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE CHANGE OF THE ROUTE? >> GOOD. THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US AND LISTENING TO OUR SUGGESTIONS AND RUNNING THOSE VARIABLES DOWN. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE DONE THE BEST YOU CAN. IT'S A GOOD TRIAL. IT'S A GOOD IDEA. THANK YOU. IT'S GREAT BECAUSE THE EQUIPMENT ISN'T JUST SITTING THERE. YOU'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO USE IT AND TO BRING PEOPLE IN FROM AN AREA, WE KNOW WE GET A LOT OF VISITATION FROM. BENEFICIAL TO THE BEACH AND TO US. THANK YOU FOR THAT. EVERYBODY IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS IS THE DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD? >> YEAH, I THINK THAT WE MADE A GOOD FAITH ATTEMPT TO ALLEVIATE THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. >> I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DIDN'T SEE HOW THEY COULD MAKE THAT U-TURN WITH THE WAY PEOPLE BE COMING OVER THE BRIDGE. I'M GLAD THAT YOU DID REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE GENTLEMEN THAT EXPRESSED THE CONCERN. IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS VERSUS IGNORING THEM WHEN THEY COME IN AND SPEAK TO US. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. >> YES. THAT'S RIGHT. WE DID OUR BEST TO WORK THROUGH THAT. LIKE I SAID, IT IS A TRIAL RUN. WE'LL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO FEEDBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU. ANY FINAL COMMENTS, VICE MAYOR. WE'RE GOOD? GREAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS NIGHTS OF LIGHTS FINANCIAL DETAIL, AND THAT IS MS. BREIDENSTEIN. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. EXCUSE ME, MEREDITH BREIDENSTEIN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. I'M HERE TO GIVE A STAFF REPORT ON OUR FINANCIAL ESTIMATES FOR THE 2025 NIGHTS OF LIGHTS SEASON. IN JUNE OF 2025, CITY MANAGER BIRCHIM AND I PRESENTED THE CITY'S PROPOSED PLAN AND EXPENSES TO THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. PROPOSED EXPENSES TOTALING 1.65 MILLION $500,000, INCLUDE LIGHTING AND DECOR. EXPANDED SHUTTLE SERVICES FROM 12 DAYS TO 35 DAYS. THE ADDITION OF PORTABLE RESTROOMS AND CONTRACTUAL CUSTODIAL STAFF FOR THE BUSIEST TWO WEEKS OF THE SEASON. INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDING SHERIFF'S OFFICE SUPPORT AND BARRICADES. OUR REQUEST TO THE TDC WAS FOR $1.2 MILLION, LEAVING A $450,000 BUDGETARY COMMITMENT WITH THE CITY. THE TDC RECOMMENDED 1,050,000 OF THIS REQUEST. HOWEVER, AFTER DISCUSSING FUNDING ELIGIBILITY, THEY RECOMMENDED APPROXIMATELY 851,000 TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND THIS AMOUNT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD. TO MAINTAIN THE PROPOSED PLAN FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, WE HAVE MADE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS. NUMBER 1, WE DID INCLUDE $300,000 TO PURCHASE THE BARRICADES FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, BUT ALSO TO USE FOR ALL OF OUR EVENTS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BORROW OR TO PAY TO RENT THOSE. WE DID HAVE RENTAL OF THOSE BARRICADES IN OUR INITIAL REQUEST TO THE TDC. WE ALSO RECOMMEND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL RESTROOMS. WE DID NOT HAVE PORTABLE RESTROOMS FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS SEASON IN ANY YEARS PAST ONLY FOR LIGHT AT NIGHT. THE RESTROOMS THAT WERE PROPOSED APPROXIMATELY 116 OF THOSE. REDUCING THOSE TO ABOUT 50 WILL ALLOW US TO REDUCE THE EXPENSE, OF COURSE. WITH THESE CHANGES, THERE'S STILL A DEFICIT OF $58,000 APPROXIMATELY THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PICKED UP BY THE CITY IN ORDER TO PRESENT [01:40:01] THE ENTIRE PLAN AS PROPOSED TO THE COMMUNITY. STAFF CAN WORK WITHIN THIS PLAN, I BELIEVE, TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE COSTS WITHOUT REDUCING THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO. WE'LL WORK WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MEET ALL OF THE GOALS OF THAT PLAN. JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO SEE THE INITIAL REQUEST, THE INITIAL EXPENSES THAT ARE ESTIMATED, OF COURSE, THE COMMITTED EXPENSES FROM THE TDC, AND WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE PLAN TO ADDRESS IT. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> GREAT. COMMISSIONER GARRIS. >> WELL, I THINK YOU DID REALLY WELL TO GET US DOWN TO $58,000 CONSIDERING ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT WE WERE UP AGAINST. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR GIVING US THE 850,000. I'M GLAD THAT MR. BIRCHIM, MY CITY MANAGER, WAS ABLE TO SEE WHERE WE COULD DO THE DECREASE AND WITH THE RESTROOM FACILITIES. I MEAN, THERE MIGHT BE SOME LINES AND WAITING. BUT IT'S BETTER TO HAVE THE NEED BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC RESTROOMS, AND THE CORE OF THE PEOPLE STAY DOWNTOWN IN THE PLAZA. THE PLAZA AND THE LIGHTNER IS PROBABLY THE MOST VISITED AREAS THAT I WOULD IMAGINE, AND THE BRIDGE OF LIONS, WHERE WE DO HAVE THE MARINA RESTROOMS OVER IN THAT AREA. IT LOOKS LIKE THE PLAN IS COMING TOGETHER. I THINK THAT WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL REGARDLESS OF THE CROWD OF PEOPLE THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENCOMPASS BECAUSE WE'RE INVOLVING MORE POLICE. WE HAVE A MOBILITY PLAN, JUST LIKE ASSISTANT REUBEN FRANKLIN JUST CAME UP AND TOLD US ABOUT PREVENTING, WELL, NOT PREVENTING, BUT HAVING LESS PEOPLE COMING FROM THE ISLAND. I THINK WE'RE PUTTING IN THE STEPS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE MOBILITY BETTER. WE'RE PUTTING IN THE STEPS TO ADDRESS THE BATHROOM ISSUE BECAUSE IT WAS BATHROOM AND TRASH, AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION FROM THE LAST NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I THINK THAT WE ARE MAKING A 100% EFFORT TO MAKE SURE ANYTHING THAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE ISSUE AND THE PAST THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT IT, SO WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. I'M SURE THAT WE CAN FIND THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED IN OUR BUDGET OF FUNDING OF SOME TO PICK UP THE DIFFERENCE THAT WERE SHORTFALL. BECAUSE YOU'RE BRILLIANT LIKE THAT. [LAUGHTER]. I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US AN OVERVIEW SO THAT, AS CLOSE AS NIGHTS AND LIGHTS GETS THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER DEPRETER. >> AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL, THE CITY MANAGER, AND YOU FOR WORKING THROUGH THIS BUDGET THING. LOOKS TO ME THAT ADJUSTMENTS YOU'VE MADE ARE REASONABLE. I THINK WE'LL SEE WHAT GOES ON WITH THE RESTROOMS. I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONSENSUS, MAYBE THAT JULY 4TH, THAT MAYBE WE HAD A LITTLE BIT TOO MANY. I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE IN ONE YEAR. THAT'S GOING TO BE A MAGIC BULLET, I DON'T EXPECT. HOPEFULLY, IT COULD, BUT IT'S NOT MY EXPECTATION. AS FAR AS HOW YOU'VE BUDGETED THIS, I'M GOOD WITH IT. LOOKS TO ME AS YOU SAY HERE, IT'S $58,392. IF WE FIND THAT, WE CAN BUDGET THIS. I'LL TELL YOU MY ULTIMATE GOAL, I'VE SET IT BEFORE, IS TO RUN THIS YEAR, SEE WHAT THIS COST US. EVALUATE WHAT WORKED, SEE WHAT THAT COST US ON A DAILY BASIS, AND THEN WE TRY TO GET THE BUDGET AND THE TIME FRAME TOGETHER IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER. THAT'S MY ULTIMATE GOAL. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MOVING IT TOWARD THAT, AND I'M VERY HAPPY. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE HOW IT GOES, AND I'M LOOKING REALLY HONESTLY ON THE OTHER SIDE, EVALUATING WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T. >> VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, SO MUCH STAFF TIME THAT WENT INTO PREPARING THE BUDGET, ASSESSING THE NEEDS, AND ALSO REACTING TO WHAT WAS, IN FACT, GRANTED VERSUS WHAT WE ASKED FOR. I WANT TO MAKE A FEW POINTS, AND PLEASE CHECK MY MATH, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE YOU'RE VERY GOOD AT THAT. THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THIS YEAR'S NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, [01:45:03] OUR TAXPAYERS' CONTRIBUTION IS $508,392. AM I RIGHT? >> AS THE ESTIMATED. YES. >> LAST YEAR'S WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 400,000. >> JUST UNDER 300,000. >> JUST UNDER 300, SO THAT'S A BIG JUMP UP FROM LAST YEAR. THAT'S US JUMPING UP THE CITY, OUR 16,000 TAXPAYERS. THAT'S OVER HALF MILLION DOLLARS. WE'RE TALKING REAL MONEY HERE THAT'S COMING FROM THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE TO SPONSOR AND ROLL OUT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IN A WAY THAT IS PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD. IN ADDITION TO THAT, 508,000, OR IS THIS PART OF IT? THE 508,000 OF THAT, THERE'S 58,392 FOR WHICH WE DID NOT PREVIOUSLY BUDGET, AND WE HAVE TO COVER FROM THE GENERAL FUND. THAT WHOLE THING IS OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. WE HAVE TO FIND 58,392. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS GOES ON THE PUBLIC RECORD. WHERE DO GENERAL FUND DOLLARS COME FROM? >> OVER HALF IS AD VALOREM TAX REVENUE. >> THAT'S AD VALOREM TAXES, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC COME TO US TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY DON'T LIKE THEIR AD VALOREM TAXES GOING UP. I AM HEARING THAT WE HAVE TO BE AS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AS WE CAN. IF THE CITY IS BEING ASKED TO GO UP OVER $200,000 FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT TO SPONSOR AND MAKE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK ALL OF US HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF ANSWERING TO OUR TAXPAYERS. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. THE CITY, TAXPAYERS, IN ADDITION, ARE PAYING ANOTHER NUMBER IS 37.4% OF THE TOTAL COST OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. THAT'S OVER A THIRD OF THE TOTAL COST. AGAIN, A SMALL TAX BASE IN A VERY LARGE AND VERY LONG EVENT. I CONCUR WITH COMMISSIONER DEPRETER CALCULATING THE AVERAGE DAILY COST OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS FOR OUR CITY FOR THIS YEAR WOULD BE MOST INFORMATIVE AS TO HOW WE PREPARE THE BUDGET WITHOUT A SHORTFALL NEXT YEAR, AND YEARS MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. I DO BELIEVE YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT OR PREPARING FOR THAT? >> THAT IS WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS UPCOMING SEASON WILL INCLUDE, WITH OUR TOTAL EXPENSES DIVIDED BY 58 AND GIVING YOU AN AVERAGE DAILY EXPENSE NUMBER. >> RIGHT. FIFTY-EIGHT BEING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DAYS WE'RE DOING IT THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. YES. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NUMBERS THROWN AROUND. I CAN'T VERIFY ANY OF THEM. [LAUGHTER]. I'VE HEARD SO MANY NUMBERS, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED. MANY PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY DOES NOT MAKE MONEY ON NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. WHEN RESIDENTS OR INDIVIDUALS HEAR THIS DEBATE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE VALUE OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO COLLECT; THE CITY GOVERNMENT DOESN'T MAKE MONEY OFF OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. WHO MAKES MONEY WHEN THESE NUMBERS ARE THROWN OUT? THAT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS GENERATES THIS MUCH MONEY. IT GENERATES THAT MUCH MONEY IN THE ECONOMY, NOT THROUGH TO THE GOVERNMENT. IT DOESN'T TRANSLATE TO GOVERNMENT INCOME. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS, AND I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS. THE COST OF TOURISM IS HIGH AND WE LOVE LIVING IN OUR CITY AND THE RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO, UNFORTUNATELY, THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND, BEAR A LARGER THE BURDEN OF THE COST OF TOURISM, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO COLLECT. WE DO APPROACH THE COUNTY FOR THE BED TAXES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BED TAXES ARE FOR IN THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF SPENDING. IN ADDITION TO MARKETING. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, WITH THAT SAID, I HEAR ALL THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY. [01:50:03] I THINK THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE AT ADVOCATING FOR THEIR SIDE OF IT. THE RESIDENTS ON THEIR END WANT TO LIVE PEACEFUL LIVES AND ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT IS FULL OF VISITORS, AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT WELCOMING PEOPLE HERE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT RESIDENTS WANT. I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO PAY FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THAT DOES NOT PUT OR SHOULDER THE BURDEN ON THE RESIDENTS. THAT WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY GOOD GOAL FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IN THE FUTURE, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE UP TO THE TASK. WITH THAT SAID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, AND WE'LL JUST STAY FLEXIBLE AND MOVE FORWARD IN THE MOST TRANSPARENT WAY POSSIBLE. ALSO COMMENDING YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER, FOR ORGANIZING THE EFFORT AND STAYING FLEXIBLE AND JUST REALLY MANAGING THE PROCESS WELL. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, 10, C, KING STREET, AND SAN SEBASTIAN WATER MANAGEMENT REPLACEMENT UPDATE, AND THAT IS MR. SLAUGHTER. WELCOME BACK. >> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. [NOISE]. STEPHEN SLAUGHTER, UTILITY AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. I'M GOING TO READ MY MEMO JUST TO MAKE SURE I COVER EVERYTHING AND THEN GIVE YOU SOME VERY SPECIFIC UPDATES AT THE END, IF YOU DON'T MIND. THIS WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT AT KING STREET AND SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER HAS REACHED SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION. THE OLD AERIAL CROSSING HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONALLY DRILLED WATER MAIN BENEATH THE RIVER. REPLACEMENT OF THE ASPHALT AND CONCRETE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. MEANWHILE, THE NEW WATER MAIN IS ACTIVE IN SUPPLYING CITY CUSTOMERS WITH POTABLE DRINKING WATER AND FIRE PROTECTION. CONSTRUCTION BROKE GROWN IN MAY OF THIS YEAR AND WILL BE COMPLETED THIS MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. THE FIVE-MONTH CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE WAS PURPOSEFULLY AGGRESSIVE DUE TO THE SCOPE AND VISIBLE LOCATION AT OUR CITY ENTRANCE. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND TO OUR TEAM OF CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS, AND STAFF ENGINEERS FOR WORKING HARD TO KEEP ON SCHEDULE AND BUDGET WHILE TROUBLESHOOTING THE UNIQUE ISSUES FOUND IN OUR HISTORIC CITY. THIS PROJECT ELIMINATES THE LAST AERIAL CROSSING OF A WATER MAIN IN THE CITY AND IN DOING SO, IMPROVES THE RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY OF OUR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY AND FIRE SUPPRESSION CAPABILITIES. TOMORROW NIGHT, THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, THEY WILL BE RESURFACING THE ASPHALT ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THEY WILL BE LAYING NEW ASPHALT DOWN ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. WEATHER HOLDS OUT, ON THURSDAY MORNING, THE MOT WILL BE UP, AND THIS PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETE. >> THEN WE MOVE TO THE NEXT PHASE. >> ONTO THE NEXT ONE. ANY QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE. ANY QUESTIONS? >> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE ASPHALT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING WEST THAT AREA THAT THEY WERE UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE, I GUESS, WORKING ON THAT AREA. IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO FALL IN BECAUSE IT DIPS DOWN SO MUCH. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME RESURFACING BECAUSE THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT I HAD. IT FEELS REALLY EERIE. IT FEELS LIKE THAT PARTICULAR AREA IS NOT SECURE JUST FROM RIDING, COMING DOWN HERE SO FREQUENTLY, AND GOING ACROSS THAT, AND I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT FEELS THAT WAY. I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE SOME RESURFACING. THOSE WALLS AND STUFF THAT THEY HAVE, ALL THAT'S GOING TO BE GONE, THE LITTLE CONCRETE BARRIER THAT THEY GOT GOING ON, THAT WILL BE REMOVED AS WELL? >> YES. THAT'S PART OF THE MOT. ONCE THE ASPHALT IS LAID, THIS PROJECT WILL BE DONE FOR THE WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT. NO MORE MOT, NO MORE TRAFFIC DISRUPTION. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> PLEASURE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON, ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY? [11. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY ] >> YES. I VERY BRIEFLY HAVE AN ITEM ON BEHALF OF JAMIE PERKINS, YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR. SHE DID ASK IF YOU COULD AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PILOT PROGRAM AGREEMENT FOR BIKE VALET FOR OCTOBER 9TH, REDEVELOPMENT 25 EVENT. THE PILOT PROGRAM WOULD BE WITH [01:55:02] OLD BEACH BIKE RIDERS ASSOCIATION AT NO CHARGE TO THE CITY. THE ASSOCIATION TAKES DONATIONS AND GIVES THEM TO LOCAL CHARITIES SUCH AS PORT IN THE STORM. IF YOU WERE HERE AND RECALL THE GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD FESTIVAL, WE HAD BIKE VALETS FOR THAT FESTIVAL. MS. PERKINS WANTS TO TRY AGAIN AND USE THE REDEVELOPMENT 25 OCTOBER 9TH EVENT AS A LITTLE BIT OF A PILOT PROGRAM OR PILOT PROJECT TO SEE HOW MAYBE ROLLING OUT THE BIKE VALET FOR OTHER EVENTS OF THE CITY MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE AND HOW THAT WOULD WORK, AND MAYBE TROUBLESHOOT IT BASED ON THAT PARTICULAR ONE-DAY PILOT PROGRAM. IF YOU ARE WILLING, IF YOU COULD AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THAT AGREEMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED YET, WHICH IS WHY IT'S NOT ON YOUR AGENDA? WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE COMPACT TIME PERIOD TO CONSIDER THIS. BUT SINCE THE EVENT IS ON OCTOBER 9TH, WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. >> I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PAY CABS? >> NO. IT'S A BIKE VALET, SO YOU'LL BRING YOUR BIKE TO THESE FOLKS AND THEY'LL CORRAL THEM IN A SECURE AREA. WHEN YOU'RE DONE, YOU GET YOUR BIKE BACK. >>NO, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. THEY'RE BACK, YOU BOTH GOOD, BUT THAT IS GOOD. THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. >> WELL, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF BIKE RIDERS HERE. [LAUGHTER]. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA ALSO. >> I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING TO TRY TO SEE HOW IT WORKS. YES. >> WE HAVE CONSENSUS. >> WE HAVE CONSENSUS. YES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK. [12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK ] [NOISE]. [LAUGHTER]. >> SQUEAKY. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. THE ONLY ITEM I HAVE THIS EVENING IS JUST A NOTIFICATION THAT WE STILL HAVE TWO POSITIONS OPEN ON OUR PCB BOARD, AND WE'RE STILL CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING YOU SOMETHING IN THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER. [13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER ] >> ACCORDING TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL WENT OFF VERY SMOOTHLY WITHOUT ANY MAJOR DISTURBANCES OR HICCUPS, AND EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME. THEY ESTIMATED THAT 10,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND MAYBE AS MUCH AS 12,000 ON SUNDAY NIGHT. I THINK SAFE TO SAY EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME AND IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER. [14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ] WE'LL START WITH MRS. GARRIS, COMMISSIONER GARRIS. >> COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTEND TO SING OUT LOUD ALSO. THERE WAS A GOOD POLICE PRESENCE. I WILL SAY THAT THERE WERE SOME ON THE UPPER LEVEL AS WELL AS MOVING AROUND THAT WAY THEY COULD PROJECT AND SEE THE CROWD. THERE WAS ALSO FIREFIGHTERS IN CASE SOMEBODY WAS FELL ILL OR THEY WERE OUT THERE. THEY HAD TOLD ME WHEN I ARRIVED THAT THERE WAS A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS EARLIER, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE I GUESS IF YOU WALK PARKED, AND YOU WALK FAR, YOU'RE HOT ALREADY AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY WATER, AND I WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WEATHER BASICALLY. THEY WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE FAIRLY EASILY FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM THE FIREFIGHTERS. I THINK IT IS REALLY GOOD THAT WE HAVE THE SING OUT LOUD IN SEPTEMBER BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT IT'S REALLY A DEAD TIME WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT THRIVING THEIR BUSINESSES, AND IT'S A CHANCE FOR THEM TO GET HOTELS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I THINK IT'S A BENEFIT THE BUSINESSES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESSES AND INCOME, AND IT'S ABLE TO NOT JUST FROM GOING TO THE CONCERTS AS PART OF IT, BUT IT'S GOING TO THE RESTAURANTS AND GOING TO CHECK IT INTO HOTELS. BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE IF THEY TRAVEL HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO ATTEND MORE THAN ONE NIGHT. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT A WEEKEND ISSUE. I'M GLAD TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE GLAD TO SEE IT BEING SUCCESSFUL. THERE'S ONE THING. I KNOW WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE HORSE AND GARRIS ISSUE. IT'S BECOMING EVERY COMMISSION MEETING THAT THEY'RE COMING BEFORE US. I KNOW WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO GET THAT ON THE CALENDAR SOON. >> YES. >> I WOULD HOPE THAT IT IS SOON BECAUSE EVERY WEEK, EVERY TIME WE HAVE A MEETING TO HEAR THE SAME STORIES, IT'S TURNING INTO IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT OF WAR BETWEEN THE OWNERS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY'RE BEING MISREPRESENTED. THEN THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME AND THEY BRING THEIR FACTS. [02:00:01] I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON, JUST SO THAT IT'S NOT EVERY TIME WE HAVE A MEETING OCCURRENCE. I WAS WRITING NOTES AS I WENT ON HERE. THE FORMER SCOTT YORK BROUGHT THAT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON DOWN IN THAT AREA. I THINK WE NEED A STRONGER POLICE PRESENCE DOWN THERE FOR THAT ESTABLISHMENT, BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THE SOUND OF WHAT ALL HE WITNESSED THIS WEEKEND AND WE CAN DO BETTER. WE HAVE FLAGLER COLLEGE STUDENTS. PEOPLE ARE TRUSTING THEIR KIDS TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION FOR BEING A BEAUTIFUL CITY. WE DO NOT NEED ANY FLAGLER COLLEGE STUDENTS FALLING TRAPPED TO THIS SITUATION, BEING ASKED ABOUT DRUGS, MAYBE BEING ABDUCTED. WE DEFINITELY GOING TO NEED TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE ON THE GROUND TO OVERSEE THAT PARTICULAR AREA SO THAT WE DON'T BECOME MIAMI OR SOME OTHER GARRIS PLACE. THANK YOU. >> I'M TORN HERE BECAUSE I GUESS THE MEETING WOULD BE 2 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES. I CAN GIVE MY COMMENTS AND GO OVER MY ESTIMATE OR NOT, BUT I THINK I'LL GIVE MY COMMENTS. I STILL WOULD BE PRETTY CLOSE, SO I ECHO COMMISSIONER GARRIS CONCERN ABOUT SCARLET. I THINK THAT TESTIMONY WAS FRIGHTENING AND WE SHOULD DO THAT. SKIER TALKED ABOUT THE CITY AND KING STREET. THE CITY HAS CONTROL. THAT'S THE STATE IT'S NOT A STATE ROAD KING STREET ANYMORE. >> THE PORTION OF KING STREET THAT'S EAST OF US ONE IS A CITY STREET NOW YES. >> YES. WE DID TALK ABOUT SOME TYPE OF DISPLAY IN THE STREET ABOUT DON'T BLOCK THE BOX. IS THERE A STATUS REPORT ON THAT? I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN BUSY. >> THERE'S NO UPDATE. WE HAVE SPOKEN AT A STAFF LEVEL ABOUT PAINTING THE INTERSECTION AT MALAGA AND KING STREET AND THE INTERSECTION AT RIBERA IN KING STREET WITH DON'T BLOCK THE BOX OR A SIMILAR MESSAGE. TO TRY TO KEEP DRIVERS FROM TRYING TO SNEAK THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND BLOCKING IT. AND WITH YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. >> I THINK THAT SOUNDS A VERY REASONABLE REQUEST. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT EXPENSE FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH IT PROPORTIONAL TO THE BUDGET. THAT'S ALL I GOT. YOU ALL GOT FIVE MINUTES, JUST KIDDING. >> VICE MAYOR. >> I JUST WANTED TO ECHO COMMISSIONER GARRIS TAKE ON SING OUT LOUD TO THAT. THREE OF US WERE AT SING OUT LOUD YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS REALLY ENJOYABLE. EVEN WITH THE HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS, THE CROWD WAS TAKING IT ALL IN STRIDE AND REALLY DANCING IN THE RAIN. IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVING THAT MUCH FUN. BUT ASIDE FROM THE SHOWCASE EVENT, I WENT TO THREE LOCAL EVENTS, ONE AT COLONIAL OAKS, WHICH WAS AMAZING THIS PAST WEEK. STAYED OUT LONGER THAN I USUALLY DO. BUT ANYWAY, BY GOING OUT AFTER DARK AT ALL [LAUGHTER]. BUT ALSO ONE OF THE UPTOWN BUSINESSES, THEY WERE JUST JAMMING. THE LOCALS ARE THE ONES WHO WERE COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING THE LOCAL SING OUT LOUD EVENTS, TO ME, THAT IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE SHOWCASE EVENTS AND BRINGING PEOPLE TO SHOW OFF OUR CITY. IT WAS JUST REALLY COOL TO SEE MY FRIENDS THAT COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK THAT WOULDN'T NORMALLY COME OUT ON A WEEKEND OR IN AN EVENING. THAT WAS JUST GREAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. ALL THE COUNTY SUPPORT FOR THAT HAS BEEN GREAT. I WANTED TO MENTION THAT COMPASSIONATE ST. AUGUSTINE CONTACTED ME ABOUT THEY ARE WORKING ON A COMMUNITY GUEST GARDEN FOR THE HOMELESS COALITION IN WEST AUGUSTINE. THEY ASKED IF I WOULD PUT IT IN FRONT OF THE REST OF YOU. THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF NEEDS FROM THE CITY. ONE IS TO TAP INTO WATER. THE RESIDENTS CAN WATER THE GARDEN, AND I'M TOLD BY THE CITY MANAGER THAT THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY TO DO. THERE'S A STREET STREET LAMP ON NESBIT AVENUE THAT ALSO NEEDS FOR SAFETY TO BE FIXED, AND THEN THEY WANTED TO DO A SOIL TEST, WHICH WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO. BUT I THINK THESE ARE PRETTY MINOR ASKS FOR A REALLY NICE. I LOVE THE LOCATION AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING OVER THERE. CAN I GET CONSENSUS FOR SUPPORT ON THOSE? >> MY QUESTION ON THE WATER IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE DONE THESE COMMUNITY GARDENS, WE DO HAVE AGREEMENTS. I WOULD EXPECT THAT. >> WE CAN INSTALL THE IRRIGATION METER, [02:05:02] THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR THE WATER. >> HOWEVER, THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE. I THINK I'D LIKE DISAPPOINT. >> SURE. WHO IS IT COMPASSION ST. AUGUSTINE? >> NO COMPASSION ST. AUGUSTINE IS WORKING ON HELPING THEM BUILD THE COMMUNITY GARDEN AT THE HOMELESS COALITION. >> HOMELESS COALITION. [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. >> YES. YOU TOOK CARE OF THE DON'T BLOCK THE BOX THING, COMMISSIONER DEPRETER. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, ALSO WITH THE SCARLET HOUSE AND THOSE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, THAT'S NO. ABSOLUTELY HARD NO. THAT CAN'T GO ON. WE NEED BETTER ATTENTION TO THAT. THIS ACTUALLY HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AREA FOR QUITE SOME TIME WITH A TRAGIC KILLING, TOO. WE NEED MORE ATTENTION ON THAT. THE PUBLIC SPEAKER CHRIS MENTIONED 46 SPANISH STREET. I WON'T EVEN WALK UNDERNEATH THAT BALCONY. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO JUST COLLAPSE, AND I WALK DOWN SPANISH STREET A LOT. I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE STAFF ATTENTION TO THAT. THERE'S TWO OR THREE ON CORDOVA STREET THAT THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE ABOUT TO JUST COLLAPSE AS WELL. NOT SURE WHERE WE ARE WITH IT, BUT I THOUGHT BECAUSE SHE BROUGHT IT UP THAT I'D MENTION. YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, MR. CITY MANAGER? >> I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE PROPERTY OWNER. IT WAS MAYBE 2, 3 MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE CONDITION IN THE OF THE PROPERTY ON 46 SPANISH STREET. HE ASKED IF THE CITY WANTED TO BUY THE PROPERTY. THAT I DON'T THINK IS A REALISTIC SOLUTION. THE OTHER SOLUTION WOULD BE GOING THROUGH A CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING FOR DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT, WHICH IS I JUST WANT TO PREPARE YOU FOR THAT. THAT IS A LONG AND SOMETIMES ARDUOUS AND EMOTIONAL AND DRAWN OUT PROCESS. WE WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS. >> THAT'S REASONABLE. IN THE PAST, WHAT OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE ARE IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IS DANGEROUS, FOR EXAMPLE, A BALCONY THAT WE ARE AFRAID THAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T WALK UNDER, WE WILL ACTUALLY GO IN AND MAKE THE REPAIRS AND PLACE A LIEN. WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE LONG OR WHATEVER PROCESS, WE CAN GO FIX IT AND PUT A LIEN. >> THAT'S ALSO PART OF. >> THAT'S THE PROBLEM. THE IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC IS A CONCERN. >> JUST TO ADD TO THAT, FOLKS ON SPANISH STREET HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE'S A LOT OF LATE NIGHT TRESPASSING IN THERE AND KIDS PARTING IN THERE. SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET HURT IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING. >> MAYBE WE JUST NEED AN UPDATE ON THE DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT BECAUSE YOU SAID, THERE'S OTHER BUILDINGS THAT ARE OF GREAT CONCERN THAT ARE CONTINUING, AND THEN IT'S BEEN WHAT A COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE WHEN DID WE HAVE THIS LAST? >> I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE DID UPDATE OUR CODE A FEW YEARS AGO TO CREATE A PROPERTY MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AND WE ADOPTED THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY, MAINTENANCE CODE. WE HAVE A NEW TOOL SHORT OF DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT THAT WE COULD USE. IT'S ALSO CODE. >> WE WANT TO GO THAT WAY, IF WE DON'T HAVE TO. >> LET'S USE THAT. >> YES. TIME. LET'S GO. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, AND I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE I HAD IT ON MY LIST, TOO. ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR LIST? THANK YOU. >> I JUST HAVE ONE MORE THING I WANTED TO SAY, WHEN YOU SAY DON'T BLOCK THE BOX. A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WENT OVER MY HEAD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT BOX I WAS TALKING ABOUT. IT MEANS TO SAY DON'T BLOCK THE INTERSECTION. IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THEY'RE BLOCKING SOMEBODY FROM GOING, TURNING SO THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T SAY, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. I WAS LIKE, WHAT BOX? WHAT ARE THE BOX ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT OLDER PEOPLE GO TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING SAY DON'T BLOCK THE BOX. THEY'RE I DON'T SEE A BOX, AND THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP ON ROLLING. EVER SINCE WE CAME IN HERE AND SHE BROUGHT THAT TO HIS ATTENTION, I REALIZED THAT I NEED TO STOP AND LET THE CARS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT. IF YOU WAITED THROUGH A COUPLE OF LIGHTS, SHE JUST WANT TO GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING. BUT SO DON'T THE PEOPLE THAT IT'S THEIR TURN AT THE LIGHT. THEY WANT TO GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING AS WELL. IF YOU PUT DON'T BLOCK THE INTERSECTION, IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING THE INTERSECTION. >> I THINK THEY DON'T BOTH THE BOX. IT'S A CATCHY LITTLE THING IT'S AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN. IT'S LIKE A THING. IT'S LIKE A SLOGAN, AND THEY DO AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SO THAT PEOPLE DO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BOX MEANS. BUT I TOTALLY GET YOUR POINT. >> I'M SURE THEY'LL FIGURE SOMETHING IN THE BOX. >> I'M SURE THEY'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, YOU SAID, PAVEMENT MARKERS. >> WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. THAT CAN BE CLEAR TO EVERYONE. [02:10:01] ALL OF US. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS. THANK YOU. ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE ON MY LIST WERE BROUGHT UP [LAUGHTER]. I REALLY HAVE MADE A VERY STRONG STAND ABOUT HOW I FEEL ABOUT CLOSING TIME IN BARS DOWNTOWN. I WON'T BELABOR THAT POINT. BUT I DO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS. I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND MYSELF AND THE COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR DID GO TO WASHINGTON, DC, AND WE HAD A WE ATTENDED A SYMPOSIUM. PUT ON BY THE DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION, AS WELL AS THE QUEEN SOPHIA SPANISH INSTITUTE. IT WAS VERY EDUCATIONAL. IT WAS CONCERNING THAT ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WERE CONCERNING SPAIN'S ROLE IN THE REVOLUTION, LEADING UP TO NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REVOLUTION, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR. WHICH WAS NICE. I ACTUALLY GOT TO MEET QUEEN SOPHIA AGAIN, WHO WAS THERE, WAS LOVELY. SHE'S A LOVELY PERSON, AND WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE HER INSTITUTE. BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THE AMBASSADOR ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION TO VISIT ST. AUGUSTINE, AND WE ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD COME NEXT MAY DURING THE HISTORY FESTIVAL MONTH. MAY IS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH IN ST. AUGUSTINE, WE'RE IN THE NATION. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR CONSENSUS WITH THE HOSTING HER AND MAYBE BUILDING SOME PROGRAMS AROUND SOME EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC IN MIND, BUT GET YOUR CONSENSUS THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA TO MOVE FORWARD TO BUILD SOME THINGS A SEE MEANS. [LAUGHTER] GOOD ENOUGH. I THINK THAT'S A MAJORITY HERE. THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAD. IF THERE ISN'T ANYTHING ELSE, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU [BACKGROUND]. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.