[00:00:01] GOOD EVENING. THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS CALLED TO ORDER. [1. CALL TO ORDER] MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. HERE HERE. JIM SPRINGFIELD. HERE. JON DEPRETER. HERE. ALL RIGHT WONDERFUL THANK YOU. WE WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, FOLLOWED BY 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 OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA. [2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS] I DO. I KNOW STAFF HAS A MODIFICATION. COMMISSIONERS ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA? ALL RIGHT WITH THAT SAID, WE DO HAVE AN ITEM FROM STAFF. I THINK YOU HAVE SOME CORRESPONDENCE STAFF WISHES TO WALK ON AN ITEM. A MR. CITY MANAGER WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE THAT? MADAM MAYOR, WE'D LIKE TO PUT THAT UNDER ITEM 10 STAFF REPORTS. STAFF REPORT TO COVER A FUNDING GAP FOR A SEAWALL PROJECT AT THE CITY MARINA. THE PROJECT CAME IN A LITTLE BIT OVER BUDGET. WE HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABLE IN STORMWATER RESERVES, AND WE NEED YOUR AUTHORIZATION, AND WE'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION UNDER TEN. ITEM TEN, IN THE AGENDA STAFF REPORTS. 10.A AND I GENERALLY DON'T LOVE TO SEE LIKE BIG THINGS LIKE THIS COME AT THE LAST, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS NOT AWARE OF. THE SEAWALL PROJECT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT. THERE HAVE BEEN PUBLIC MEETINGS. AND SO IT MAYBE IS NOT TOTALLY UNEXPECTED THAT THEY COULD BE OVERBUDGET. THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT. WE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO BRING IT TO YOU LIKE THIS, I. BELIEVE ME, IT WAS A POINT OF CONTENTION AT AT THE SENIOR STAFF LEVEL, BUT WE BELIEVE WE. IT'S URGENT FOR US TO BRING IT TO YOU AND MOVE THIS ALONG. IT'S JUST THE COST OF THE PROJECT CAME IN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WE ANTICIPATED. ALL RIGHT DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW MOVING ON TO WE HAVE ONE PROCLAMATION TONIGHT. [3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS] AND I WILL READ IT. AND THEN IF YOU'LL JOIN ME IN THE FRONT MS. CAROL SULLIVAN IS HERE TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION. SO WE'LL INVITE HER UP AFTER WE READ THE PROCLAMATION. AFTER I READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A SERIOUS AND PERVASIVE CRIME AFFECTED, AFFECTING MILLIONS OF WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY YEAR. WHEREAS ALL PERSONS HAVE A BASIC RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE FROM HARM, ESPECIALLY IN THEIR HOMES. YET MORE THAN 1600 HELPLINE CALLS WERE MADE TO BETTY GRIFFIN CENTER IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY LAST YEAR. AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, RACIAL, SOCIOECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS AND OCCUPATIONAL SEGMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, AND WHEREAS CHILDREN FROM VIOLENT HOMES ARE PHYSICALLY ABUSED OR SERIOUSLY NEGLECTED AT A RATE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND HAVE GREATER RISK OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, COGNITIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS FEAR, ANXIETY AND GUILT. WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT A PRIVATE FAMILY MATTER, BUT A CRIME, [00:05:01] THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH REACH WITH DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES OF OUR NATION. WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REPRESENTS A PATTERN OF ASSAULT AND COERCIVE, COERCIVE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL ESCALATE IN FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY IF INTERVENTION DOES NOT OCCUR AND PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRIMES. AND WHEREAS PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE NEEDED, AS WELL AS UNIFORM EFFORTS ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THROUGH PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2025 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SUPPORT LOCAL EFFORTS TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES IN FINDING THE HELP AND HEALING THEY NEED. THANK YOU AND IF YOU WILL JOIN ME UP FRONT, WE'LL HAVE MS. SULLIVAN ACCEPT. HELLO WELCOME THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE, BUT DO YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS? THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND WITHOUT WHICH WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO AND HELP THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT PERFECT JUST FEEL LIKE I'M SMILING THANK YOU I WILL I KNOW [LAUGHTER]. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC [4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING] COMMENT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS. FOR OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING. AND I WILL READ THE RULES OF DECORUM HERE. 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. THEY ARE COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS DIRECTLY. 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 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, I HAVE MR. SCOTT YORK, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE ZOTA. I MIGHT HAVE SAID THAT RIGHT THIS TIME GOOD EVENING, SCOTT YORK, 29 SPANISH STREET. THE MOST CHARMING STREET IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. I WANT TO BESTOW KUDOS UPON OUR ENTIRE CITY COMMUNICATIONS TEAM. THAT MAKES THEM SOUND REALLY LARGE, BUT THEY LIKE THEY HAVE A HUGE STAFF, WHILE IN REALITY IT'S JUST THREE AMAZING PEOPLE WHO HANDLE COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. LAST WEEK, MS. RACHEL, MS. AMY, AND MS. MELISSA ORGANIZED AND PROMOTED COFFEY WITH THE COMMISSIONER AT FIVE DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT SMALL COFFEE SHOPS AROUND TOWN, AND I THINK THEY WERE ALL A GREAT SUCCESS WITH BOTH RESIDENTS AND A FEW BUSINESS OWNERS GETTING TO COME OUT AND CHAT OVER COFFEE OR A COKE ZERO WITH OUR ESTEEMED CITY COMMISSIONERS. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THOSE EVENTS AS WELL. [00:10:04] WE'RE JUST 19 DAYS AWAY FROM THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND WELL PLANNED NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THIS MAGICAL TOWN HAS EVER EXPERIENCED. PART OF THAT PLANNING INVOLVES CONVERTING THE TALK SLOT FROM METERED SPACES TO MUCH NEEDED WORKFORCE PARKING. I ATTENDED FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PRESENTATIONS, WHICH WERE HELD ALONG WITH NUMEROUS MEETINGS HERE, AS WELL AS AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING HERE IN THIS ROOM I HEARD MANY OF THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES BEGGING THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING WITH WORKFORCE PARKING, AND THIS WILL BE A BIG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WHAT I HEARD WAS INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES, TOUR GUIDES JUST LIKE MYSELF, SHOPKEEPERS, ETC. ASKING FOR SOME SOLUTION TO THE PARKING ISSUES. THE PLAN DISCUSSED AT THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS WAS THAT THE SPACES WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES, AND THAT THE BUSINESSES COULD PROVIDE THE PASSES TO EMPLOYEES OF THE BUSINESS TO BE ABLE TO PARK IN THIS VERY CONVENIENT PARKING LOT. WHAT I DIDN'T HEAR IN ANY OF THESE NUMEROUS MEETINGS WAS THAT THESE SPACES WOULD ONLY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES WITH 50 OR MORE EMPLOYEES. THAT MADE ME THINK WHO IN THIS PART OF TOWN HAS 50 OR MORE EMPLOYEES? I COULD ONLY COME UP WITH FIVE. RIVER & FORT, SAINT, PROHIBITION KITCHEN, JALARAM HOTELS AND COLUMBIA. THIS MORNING I WENT OUT AND COUNTED 25 SMALL BUSINESSES WHO BORDERED THIS PARKING LOT. THEIR BUSINESS LITERALLY BACKS UP TO THIS LOT IN A CITY WHICH PRIDES ITSELF ON EQUALITY AND FAIRNESS. WE CAN MAKE A BETTER EFFORT TO HEAR THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO SPOKE BEFORE YOU, AND TO LISTEN TO THOSE VOICES. THEY SPOKE RIGHT BEFORE YOU IN THIS ROOM AND AT THOSE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PRESENTATIONS. I'VE BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO GET A SECOND PASS IN THE THESE SPACES DO NOT HAVE A HIGH TURNOVER RATE. IF THESE FIVE BUSINESSES GET ALL 60 SPACES IN THAT LOT, NO OTHER BUSINESSES WILL SEE THEM AGAIN. I DON'T NEED TO PASS IN THE TALK SLOT, AND I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ON MY OWN BEHALF, OR EVEN FOR THOSE WHO DID SPEAK. ALL THAT I'M ASKING IS THAT YOU REMEMBER THOSE VOICES, AND THE STAFF GIVE THOSE VOICES A FAIR SHOT AS WELL WHEN THEY GO ON SALE. IF THE BIG FIVE GET IN LINE AND BUY UP ALL 60 SPACES, SO BE IT. BUT GIVE THE LITTLE GUYS A CHANCE TO STEP UP TO THE COUNTER AS WELL THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, CATHERINE ZOTA, FOLLOWED BY. YOU HAVE TWO MORE OKAY. HEATHER WILSON. CATHERINE ZOTA AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING. A POLICE REPORT AND VIDEO WERE PRESENTED SHOWING THE OWNER OF COUNTRY CARRIAGE REPEATEDLY STRIKING AND ATTEMPTING TO KICK A SMALL HORSE AT A CITY OWNED STABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW STILL IMAGES FROM THAT VIDEO. THEY SHOW THE OWNER DOMINATING THE HORSE, RAISING HIS FIST ABOVE THE HORSE'S HEAD, THEN STRIKING AND ATTEMPTING TO KICK THE ANIMAL. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT FILED 3-6 2023. THE VIDEO SHOWED THE SMALL HORSE WAS PUNCHED THREE TIMES IN THE HEAD. THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY INSTANCE OF HORSES BEING HIT MENTIONED IN THE REPORT. AS THE CITY INVESTIGATED THESE INCIDENTS OR CONFIRMED WHAT BECAME OF THE HORSE THE OWNER SAYS HE NO LONGER OWNS. IT'S DISTURBING THAT THIS COMPANY HAS DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS OF PHYSICAL AGGRESSION TOWARDS ANIMALS, YET THE CITY CONTINUES TO PERMIT IT TO OPERATE UNDER ITS FRANCHISE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY OWNED STABLE CONTINUES TO BE MISUSED BY COUNTRY CARRIAGE. FOUR FOALS WERE RECENTLY DOCUMENTED ON THE ALREADY OVER CROWDED ONE ACRE PARCEL, WORSENING THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS THERE. THE COMPANY HAS VIOLATED ITS LEASE MULTIPLE TIMES, INCLUDING FAILING TO EVACUATE HORSES DURING A HURRICANE, DESPITE A LEASE ADDENDUM REQUIRING THEM TO DO SO. [00:15:02] THE PROPERTY FREQUENTLY FLOODS AND APPEARS UNSANITARY AND UNSAFE, CONDITIONS UNFIT FOR HORSES TODAY AND CLEARLY UNSUSTAINABLE GOING FORWARD. THE COUNCIL CANNOT JUSTIFY KEEPING A FRANCHISE FOR A COMPANY THAT REPEATEDLY FAILS TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS, AND THAT HAS SHOWN PHYSICAL AGGRESSION TOWARD THE ANIMALS IN ITS CARE ON CITY PROPERTY THANK YOU. THANK YOU GOOD EVENING THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. SEEING A MAGNIFICENT HORSE PULLING A DECORATED, LIGHTED CARRIAGE IS A BREATHTAKING SIGHT. HEARING THEIR HOOVES CLIP CLOPPING ON THE PAVEMENT IS EERILY TRANQUIL AND MESMERIZING, BUT THERE IS A VERY HIGH PRICE TO PAY FOR THAT. IT IS NOT BEING PAID BY THE PASSENGER. IT IS NOT BEING PAID BY THE CARRIAGE DRIVER WHO CAN'T THINK TO BRING A BOTTLE OF WATER TO WORK. IT IS BEING PAID BY THE POOR HORSES. THE CITY OF PRAGUE, OVER 1200 YEARS OLD, HAS DECIDED TO STOP HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES. CITY OFFICIALS JUSTIFYING THE MOVE AS PART OF AN UPDATED AS PART OF UPDATED COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS, BUT ALSO ON THE GROUNDS OF ANIMAL WELFARE. MALAGA CITY IN SPAIN. WITH HISTORY TRACING BACK 2800 YEARS, THEY HAVE JUST DECIDED TO ABOLISH HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES. THE MAYOR OF MALAGA STATED THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE WITH THE WELL-BEING AND SAFETY OF ANIMALS IN MIND. SAINT AUGUSTINE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY, IS A BABY COMPARED TO THESE ANCIENT CITIES. THE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK UP FOR THESE INNOCENT HORSES AT THESE MEETINGS, WE ARE ALL VEGAN. NOT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ENJOY THE TASTE OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS. IT'S BECAUSE WE VALUE THE LIFE OF AN ANIMAL OVER OUR TASTE BUDS. AND THEREIN LIES THE DICHOTOMY. YOU CAN'T CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT THESE HORSES AND ALLOW THESE CARRIAGE RIDES TO CONTINUE, BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY BUILT INTO YOUR MUNICIPAL CODE TO NOT CARE. IT STATES THAT THESE HORSES CAN BE DISPOSED OF. THAT IS SO SAD. YOU DISPOSE OF AN OLD PAIR OF SHOES. NOT A MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL. IT IS BUILT INTO YOUR MUNICIPAL CODE THAT THESE ANIMALS CAN GO TO SLAUGHTER. THAT IS NOT LOVE. THAT IS NOT CARE. SO PLEASE ALLOW SAINT AUGUSTINE TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THESE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DECIDED TO REALLY CARE ABOUT HORSES AND ABOLISH THESE CARRIAGE RIDES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER, PATRICIA RAMOS. UNLESS ANYONE ELSE TURNS IN THE CARDS, THE LAST SPEAKER WILL BE BJ KALAIDI AFTER MS. RAMOS. GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS PATRICIA, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE VIOLENCE DONE TOWARDS THE HORSE VICTIMS IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. I'LL GO AHEAD AND SPEAK WHILE I PLAY THAT VIDEO. I FIND IT APPALLING THAT RIGHT AFTER I SHOW A VIDEO OF HORRIFIC ABUSE DONE TOWARDS A SMALL, DEFENSELESS, INNOCENT, SENTIENT BEING, THE COMMISSIONERS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC COMMENTATORS FROM OBVIOUSLY THE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY. BOTH SAY THAT THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ANY ABUSE DONE TO THE HORSES. EVEN IF I HADN'T SHOWN THE VIDEO THAT WAS PART OF A POLICE REPORT, ACTUALLY. DO YOU REALLY THINK AN ABUSER DOES THE ABUSE IN FRONT OF OTHERS AND IN PUBLIC? I UNDERSTAND THIS INDUSTRY HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1800S HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, BUT HOW WE'VE EVOLVED OUT OF HUMAN SLAVERY, IT'S TIME TO EVOLVE OUT OF ANIMAL SLAVERY. THERE IS SOME CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN THESE HORSE CARRIAGE COMPANIES AND THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO UNCOVER IT, AS WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY UNTIL THIS ARCHAIC, ABUSIVE, CRUEL, UNJUST, GREEDY INDUSTRY IS DONE AWAY WITH. I WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW THIS VIDEO OF ABUSE BECAUSE AS IT WAS PROVEN AT THE LAST MEETING, IT NEEDS TO BE SHOWN OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL IT CAN'T BE UNSEEN. [00:20:03] THERE'S NEVER AN EXCUSE FOR ANIMAL ABUSE, AND THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO SAW THIS VIDEO WITHIN MINUTES CONFIDENTLY, CONFIDENTLY STATED THAT THEY DON'T SEE ANY ABUSE DONE TO THE HORSES IS DIABOLICAL. HOW DARE ANYONE IN THIS ROOM ACCEPT THE LIE FROM THE ABUSER THAT THE HORSE WAS ATTACKING? WHILE IT IS SO EVIDENT IN THE VIDEO THAT THE VICTIM WAS NOT THE ATTACKER. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS ONCE IT IS PROVEN THAT THOSE WHO ABUSE ANIMALS EVENTUALLY MOVE ON TO HUMANS, WHICH HAPPENS MANY TIMES IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IS THIS SOMEONE YOU TRUST WITH THE TOURISTS COMING INTO SAINT AUGUSTINE OR WITH YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS? THE AMOUNT OF RAGE IN THAT VIDEO TAKEN OUT ON THAT POOR, INNOCENT CREATURE SHOULD NEVER BE BRUSHED UNDER THE RUG THE WAY IT WAS IN THE LAST MEETING, AND OBVIOUSLY HOW IT HAS BEEN SINCE THESE ABUSERS ARE STILL ALLOWED TO HAVE ANIMALS UNDER THEIR CARE. THAT TYPE OF RAGE DOESN'T ONLY HAPPEN ONCE. IT IS JUST THE ONE TIME THAT IT WAS CAUGHT. IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR? IS THIS THE STAIN THAT YOU WANT TO PLACE ON SAINT AUGUSTINE? THIS IS NOT A HE SAID SHE SAID DISCUSSION. THIS IS ABOUT PHYSICAL, VISUAL ABUSE THAT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED. HOW CAN ANYONE TURN A BLIND EYE TO THAT? AGAIN, WHEN AN INDUSTRY USES AND EXPLOITS ANIMALS AND SEES THEM AS PRODUCTS FOR GAIN AND ENTERTAINMENT, THERE IS ALWAYS ABUSE UNCOVERED. THEY ARE NOT SEEN AS SENTIENT BEINGS, BUT RATHER ENSLAVED PRODUCTS THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO DISCONNECT AND THEREFORE EASIER TO ABUSE. WHEN WILL YOU PUT THESE HORSES THE VICTIMS, ON THE AGENDA? I WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW THIS SO THAT IT CANNOT BE UNSEEN, NOR SHOULD IT BE PROTECTED OR JUSTIFIED THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. NO MORE SPEAKER CARDS, MS. KALAIDI. BJ KALAIDI WEST CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE WILL RECEIVE $2.5 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO PURCHASE LAND FOR A FIRE STATION ON ANASTASIA ISLAND. PLEASE IGNORE RUMORS THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS. MS. DUNN. THANK YOU. THE TIRES AT 194 WEST KING STREET. NORTHWEST INTERSECTION OF KING AND US ONE CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BLIGHT SLUM AREA IN THE WEST CITY CRA. THIS PHOTO SHOWS A SHORT TERM RENTAL ON LINCOLN STREET AND THE LINCOLNVILLE CRA IT HAS THEMED ROOMS TO INSPIRE ROLE PLAYING AND ADULT ADVENTURES. THIS IS THE BUILDING. THIS IS LINCOLN STREET. THIS IS A CHURCH. THIS SIGN HAS BEEN BLOCKED. THIS SITE HAS BEEN BLOCKED DUE TO CONTENT BY SAINT JOHNS COUNTY LIBRARY. IT'S INTERESTING THE PROPERTY OWNER, WHO LIVES IN FLAGLER BEACH, DID NOT PUT THESE STRS. SHORT TERM RENTALS ON DAVIS SHORES. 72 WEEDEN STREET IN LINCOLNVILLE LOOKS LIKE GENTRIFICATION TO ME. THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY HAS LIGHTS, CEMENT WITH OWNER'S NAME AND DRIVEWAY. MY QUESTION WILL CITY TAXPAYERS BE LIABLE FOR WHAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY? THIS IS WHERE THE NAMES WRITTEN IN CEMENT. THIS IS THE RIGHT OF WAY. THESE ARE LITTLE LIGHTS SHOWING. AND THEY ALSO HAVE A BIG OLD DRIVEWAY THAT COMES OUT INTO THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT AREA. AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWERS, BUT WE NEED TO GET ANSWERS. WILL CITY TAXPAYERS BE LIABLE FOR WHAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY? THIS CONCERNS ME. THIS HAPPENS ALL OVER THE CITY, AND SOMETIMES CODE ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. BUT THIS HAS BEEN NOT THIS ONE, BUT MR. VALDES WE ALL KNOW HIM. HAD TO PAY A FINE FOR RIGHT OF WAY WORK AT HIS PROPERTY ON LEWIS BOULEVARD, WHICH FRONTS OYSTER CREEK. THIS IS THE LAST YEAR WHEN WE SEE THESE THINGS. WE NEED TO LET THE CODE ENFORCEMENT KNOW ABOUT THEM. AND IT MAY BE JUST A WRITE OFF, BUT THIS IS PROTECTING US AS CITIZENS AND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO ENJOY IT. [00:25:06] AND ALSO FOR OUR TAXPAYERS, WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR. NOT IF LIGHTS WAS DISCUSSED AT OCTOBER 6TH IN THE BCC AT THE BCC. WHAT IS THE RESULT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT NO, I OH, WELL, WE HAVE A SPEAKER CARD IS THIS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS? IT IS? ALL RIGHT WE HAVE MR. BRANDON BARTELS. HEY, EVERYBODY 43 VALENCIA STREET BRANDON BARTELS HAVE A REAL ISSUE WITH THE AVERAGE SPEED ON VALENCIA STREET IS PROBABLY ABOUT 50 TO 55 MILES AN HOUR. THE CISCO TRUCKS, CHENEY BROTHERS, FISHERMAN'S DOCK, DELIVERY, THEY'RE PROBABLY AVERAGING 50. IT'S EARLY IN THE MORNING, LIKE THREE 3:30 3:45 ALSO. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE ONE WAY BACK ON MARKLAND STREET. AND ALSO, THERE'S A FPL POLE THAT'S IN MY YARD THAT'S CREATED A SINKHOLE, AND THE SIDEWALK IS NOW PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT INCHES UNDER THE SIDEWALK. SO A LOT OF FLAGLER STUDENTS WALK THROUGH THERE. SO IT'S KIND OF A HAZARD. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. SPEED REQUEST SPEED HUMPS ON VALENCIA STREET. ALL RIGHT OKAY WE HAVE TWO MORE. THESE ARE THE LAST TWO CARDS WILL TAKE. KIND OF HATE TO GET INTO THAT YES, FOR NATIONAL COMMENT ALL RIGHT YEAH I THINK THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK ARE HERE FOR SPECIFIC PUBLIC HEARINGS SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT. AND IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE ARE. THAT IS WHY THEY'RE THERE. SO LET'S MOVE ON PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS. LET'S GO ON TO CONSENT AGENDA. MR. CITY MANAGER. [5. CONSENT AGENDA] MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS FOR THE NOVEMBER 10TH, 05:00 P.M. REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THE DECEMBER 8TH, 05:00 P.M. REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND THE JANUARY 12TH, 2026 5:00 P.M. REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE'RE COMING TO THE END OF THE YEAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. WE'VE GOT APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE AUGUST 25TH, AUGUST 28TH, SEPTEMBER 8TH, SEPTEMBER 11TH SHADE MEETING SEPTEMBER 11TH SPECIAL BUDGET CITY COMMISSION MEETING, SEPTEMBER 22ND SHADE MEETING AND SEPTEMBER 22ND REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE GOT A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR 2025-09 FOR PASTOR BYRON E HODGES AND FIRST LADY FLO HODGES, AND CELEBRATION OF 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE GREATER SAINT MARY'S MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER CYNTHIA GARRIS. APPROVAL OF THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT AWARD OF $20,224 FOR BREACHING TRAINING DOOR AND FORENSIC EVIDENCE. DRYING CABINET FOR THE SAINT AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY IS REQUESTING THE USE OF THE CITY SEAL. AND THAT CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION MODIFICATIONS. I MOVE WE PASS CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE NO APPEALS TONIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON TO. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT FOR ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. [8.A. Ordinances - Second Reading] SO I BELIEVE THERE'S MS. SKINNER IN THE BACK. MS. SKINNER. GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. [00:30:01] THE NEXT SIX ORDINANCES ARE RELATED TO CITY PROPERTIES THAT WERE PURCHASED AS PART OF THE CITY'S CONSERVATION PROGRAM. TWO OF THE PROPERTIES HAVE ALSO RECEIVED GRANTS TOWARD THE PURCHASE FROM THE FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST PROGRAM. THE PCB MADE POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALL OF THESE ORDINANCES, PROPOSING CHANGES AT THEIR AUGUST 5TH, 2025 REGULAR MEETING. THE LAND USE AND ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS MADE THE PROPOSED LAND USE AND ZONING DISTRICTS CONSISTENT WITH EACH OTHER. THE CITY COMMISSION SUBSEQUENTLY PASSED THESE ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING AT THE AUGUST 25TH MEETING. THESE AGENDA ITEMS ARE SECOND READINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR EACH ORDINANCE. EACH PAIR OF ORDINANCES PROPOSES TO CHANGE THE EXISTING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND USE AND ZONING DISTRICT FOR EACH PROPERTY TO EITHER RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, OR AND OPEN LAND CONSERVATION. FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND GOVERNMENT USE AND OPEN LAND FOR THE ZONING DISTRICTS WHERE APPROPRIATE. GENERALLY, THE DIVIDING LINE IS BETWEEN THE UPLAND PROPERTY AND THOSE AREAS BELOW THE MOST RESTRICTIVE JURISDICTIONAL LINE FOR THE REZONING ORDINANCES. PLEASE INDICATE ANY EX-PARTE COMMUNICATION THANK YOU. AND I AM HAPPY TO GO THROUGH EACH ORDINANCE IN MORE DETAIL IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO BUT OTHERWISE EACH OF THESE ORDINANCES IS A SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE PASSAGE? ALL RIGHT, SO THESE ARE IN GROUPS WE HAVE IS CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. 2025-23 AND 2025-24 OR PERTAIN TO THE SAME PROPERTY. CORRECT. OKAY FIRST ONE IS FOR THE LAND USE DESIGNATION AND THE SECOND IS FOR THE REZONING. CORRECT. CORRECT OKAY. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS? CLARIFY WHICH ONES THEY'RE OKAY WITH SPEAKING ABOUT ALL OF THEM THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING OKAY ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC [8.A.1. Ordinance 2025-23: Amends the Future Land Use Designation of approximately 11.39 Acres at Florida Avenue and 3 Theodore Street East of Nesmith Avenue (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)] HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 2025-23. AND I HAVE TWO SPEAKER CARDS HERE. THE FIRST ONE IS MARTA HAHN. MS. MARTA HAHN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANN SOLOMON. YEAH HELLO. WELCOME. IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON COMMENTING ON THE REZONING YES. YES I PLAN TO COMMENT IN GENERAL ABOUT THE REZONING NOT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO BOTH SPEAKERS? I ASSUME THE OTHER SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE DO THE SAME THINGS. SO MS. SOLOMON, COULD YOU RAISE YOUR HAND TOO AND SWEAR? LET'S DO YOU BOTH. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? YES I DO THANK YOU. YEAH AGAIN. OKAY FLORIDA, 45 FLORIDA AVENUE. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THIS AMAZING, PROGRESSIVE, THOUGHTFUL, WONDERFUL STEP FORWARD TO PROTECT OUR GREEN, OUR WETLANDS, OUR NEIGHBORS FROM FLOODING. BECAUSE I LIVE ON FLORIDA AVENUE. I'VE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES FOR PLANNING AND ZONING AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU. AND THIS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL BECAUSE IF THOSE PROPERTIES ON FLORIDA AVENUE AND SMITH AND EVERGREEN WERE TO BE DEVELOPED, IT WOULD BE DISASTROUS FOR FOR THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. PLUS, WE WILL LOSE THAT GREEN. WHAT IT LOOKS ALL TREES WOODS FROM U.S.1 IT WOULD REALLY HAVE CHANGED THE NATURE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. NOT IMMEDIATELY, BUT DEFINITELY WITHIN A FIVE YEAR PERIOD. SO I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK FOR GETTING THE GRANTS AND THE MONEY TOGETHER, WHICH IS, I'M SURE IS NOT EASY. AND TO FIGHT REALLY UNSCRUPULOUS DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THESE AREAS DO FLOOD, AND WE ALL KNOW IT. AND THEY HAVE BEEN WOODS FOR A REASON. AND BECAUSE NOW, OF COURSE, IT'S VALUABLE PROPERTY THEY WANT TO BUILD, WHETHER IT MAKES SENSE OR NOT. [00:35:08] SO BY BUYING THIS PROPERTY AND CHANGING THE ZONING, WE ARE REALLY PRESERVING A WONDERFUL FUTURE FOR THE CITY. SO HONESTLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNE SOLOMON. MS. SOLOMON, WELCOME AND IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED. MY NAME IS ANNE SOLOMON, AND I LIVE AT 758 PALMER STREET, FORMERLY NUMBER 2, FLORIDA AVENUE. AND I SOLD THAT HOUSE BECAUSE YOU GUYS WERE GOING TO ALLOW BUILDING THERE [LAUGHTER], AND I MISSED THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO MUCH SIX MONTHS LATER, I CAME BACK AND BOUGHT PALMER STREET. AND SO I'M JUST A FEW STREETS AWAY. BUT I, LIKE MARTHA, WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR FORWARD THINKING AND GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF SAVING ALL THAT YOU DID. IT'S PROBABLY TOO MUCH TO EVEN SAY. SO I GUESS I BELIEVE NOW IN THE CITY MUCH MORE AND APPRECIATE MUCH MORE YOUR DEDICATION TO DOING THE RIGHT THING. I APPRECIATE ALL THE NEIGHBORS THAT CAME OUT AND YOU, THE BOARD HAD SPOKEN AND WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO. WE MET WITH BJ THE OTHER DAY, MILLER, AND TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES, AND WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND INTERESTED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD TO HELP MAINTAIN AND USE THAT PROPERTY IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT IMPACT IMPACT ALL WHO LIVE THERE, FROM HUMANS TO ANIMALS TO PLANTS. SO THANK YOU WELL DONE. OKAY I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKER CARDS. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. I WILL BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A MOTION. I MOVE, WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-23. I'LL SECOND, DO YOU WANT TO? I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DO 24 ALSO, BUT [LAUGHTER] I SECOND. OKAY AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION OF A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 11.39 ACRES LOCATED AT FLORIDA AVENUE AND 3 THEODORE STREET, EAST OF NESMITH AVENUE, BETWEEN THEODORE STREET TO THE NORTH AND JOSIAH STREET TO THE SOUTH AS PORTIONS OF WHITNEY SUBDIVISION, PART OF RAVENSWOOD IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE, AND AFTER CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 2.97 UPLAND ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY TO RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, AND CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 8.42 WATER WORD ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF OPEN LAND. VERY LOW DENSITY TO OPEN LAND. CONSERVATION. PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES. PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. JON DEPRETER. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. NANCY. SIKES-KLINE. YES. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM IS ORDINANCE 2025-24. [8.A.2. Ordinance 2025-24: Amends the Zoning of approximately 11.39 acres at Florida Avenue and 3 Theodore Street East of Nesmith Avenue (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director) ] SKINNER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? THIS IS THE COMPATIBLE REZONING THAT GOES WITH THIS SAME PROPERTY THAT YOU JUST CHANGED THE LAND USE FOR. EXCELLENT. DO I HEAR A MOTION? ANY COMMENTS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 2025-24 AS READ BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY. OKAY, SO WE DID. DO WE HAVE DO WE HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT? WE DID NOT HAVE A HEARING ON THIS YET. WE HAVEN'T YET. WELL, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BACKWARDS, BUT I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. NOW WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT LET'S OPEN IT FOR PUBLIC HEARING. IS ANYONE HERE WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING NO ONE. PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. MADAM ATTORNEY, WE HAD OKAY, PERFECT. SORRY, I LOST TRACK. I JUST GOT THINGS A LITTLE BIT BACKWARDS. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-24, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 11.39 ACRES LOCATED AT FLORIDA AVENUE AND 3 THEODORE STREET, EAST OF NESMITH AVENUE, BETWEEN THEODORE STREET TO THE NORTH AND JOSIAH STREET TO THE SOUTH AS PORTIONS OF WHITNEY'S SUBDIVISION, PART OF RAVENSWOOD IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER. REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.97 UPLAND ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 1 RG1 [00:40:02] TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT USE GU AND REZONING APPROXIMATELY 8.42 WATER WARD ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 1 RG1 TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN LAND OL, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL RIGHT WONDERFUL THANK YOU MADAM. ANY FINAL DEBATE OR DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE WERE JUST WONDERING YOU HAD QUEUED YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS OR CITY COMMISSIONERS FOR ANY EX PARTE. CORRECT? I HAVE NOT, AND LET'S GO AHEAD. AND I MISSED IT THEN. BEFORE WE FINISH THIS SECOND FOR THE ZONING ANYONE HAVE EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS TO DISCLOSE. NO. NO. NO. NONE I HAVE NONE FOR ANY OF THESE MYSELF. ANYONE ELSE? NONE FOR ANY OF THESE. FOR ANY OF THESE OKAY ALL RIGHT, SO WE ARE AT THE POINT OF READING ALOUD. SHE JUST DID? ALL RIGHT. SORRY, I'M [LAUGHTER] GETTING CONFUSED PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JON DEPRETER. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE ON THAT. WE'LL TRY AND GET IT IN ORDER THIS TIME. SO WE DID EX PARTE COMMUNICATION ON ALL OF THESE ORDINANCES. [8.A.3. Ordinance 2025-25: Amends the Future Land Use Designation of approximately 6.57 acres at Florida Avenue and Julia Street East of Florida Avenue (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)] SO WE'VE DONE THAT. WE ARE ON TO ORDINANCE 2025-25, WHICH IS THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION. THESE NEXT TWO ORDINANCES PERTAIN TO FLORIDA AVENUE AND JULIA STREET. ANYONE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THOSE? ALL THE SAME REALLY. ALL THE SAME REALLY YES. IT'S CHANGING THE LAND USE TO RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE AND THEN A COMPATIBLE REZONING. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. OKAY, THEN. THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2025-25, READ BY TITLE. PUBLIC HEARING DO YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO HOLD YOUR MOTION? SURE THING. ALL RIGHT, LET'S OPEN IT FOR PUBLIC HEARING, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO THESE INDIVIDUALLY. SO IS ANY. I SEE NO ONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ORDINANCE 2025-25. SO PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. BACK TO THE FLOOR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-25, READ BY TITLE ONLY. SECOND THAT. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-25, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION OF A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 6.57 ACRES LOCATED AT FLORIDA AVENUE AND JULIA STREET, EAST OF FLORIDA AVENUE, BETWEEN JULIA STREET TO THE NORTH AND EVERGREEN AVENUE TO THE SOUTH. AS PORTIONS OF RAVENSWOOD SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER, CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 4.26 UPLAND ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY TO RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, AND CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 2.31 WATER WARD ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF OPEN LAND, VERY LOW DENSITY TO OPEN LAND CONSERVATION, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. JON DEPRETER. YES. CYNTHIA. GARRIS. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. OKAY NEXT ITEM IS ORDINANCE 2025-26, WHICH IS THE REZONING PORTION OF THE SAME PIECE OF PROPERTY. [8.A.4. Ordinance 2025-26: Amends the Zoning of approximately 6.57 acres at Florida Avenue and Julia Street East of Florida Avenue (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)] I WILL OPEN IT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS. SEEING NO ONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A MOTION OR DISCUSSION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 2025-26 AS READ BY TITLE. SECOND. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-26, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 6.57 ACRES LOCATED AT FLORIDA AVENUE AND JULIA STREET EAST OF FLORIDA AVENUE, BETWEEN JULIA STREET TO THE NORTH AND EVERGREEN AVENUE TO THE SOUTH, AS PORTIONS OF THE RAVENSWOOD SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER. REZONING APPROXIMATELY 2.53 ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 2 RG2 TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT USE GU REZONING APPROXIMATELY 1.28 ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN LAND OL TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT USE GU REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.33 ACRES OF FORMER CITY RIGHT OF WAY FROM UNDESIGNATED TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF [00:45:03] GOVERNMENT USE GU AND REZONING, APPROXIMATELY 0.12 ACRES OF FORMER CITY CITY RIGHT OF WAY FROM UNDESIGNATED TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN LAND OL. PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. EXCELLENT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JON DEPRETER. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. ALL RIGHT WE'RE ON TO ORDINANCE 2025-27, WHICH IS THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION CHANGE FOR [8.A.5. Ordinance 2025-27: Amends the Future Land Use Designation of approximately 2.47 acres at 10,14, and 18 Smith Street and Evergreen Avenue East of Nesbit Avenue (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director) ] PROPERTY AT 18 SMITH STREET AND EVERGREEN AVENUE, EAST OF NESMITH AVENUE. PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. HEARING NONE SEEING NONE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A MOTION. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT ORDINANCE 2025-27 BE APPROVED, READ BY TITLE ONLY. SECOND. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-27, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION OF A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 2.47 ACRES LOCATED AT 10, 14, AND 18 SMITH STREET AND EVERGREEN AVENUE, EAST OF NESMITH AVENUE BETWEEN EVERGREEN AVENUE TO THE NORTH AND SMITH STREET TO THE SOUTH, AS PORTIONS OF THE BOWIE PLAT SHOWING SUBDIVISION OF PROPE? PROP? NOT SURE HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT P-R-O-P-E IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER, CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 1.4 UPLAND ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY TO RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, AND CHANGING APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY 1.07 WATER WARD ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF OPEN LAND, VERY LOW DENSITY TO OPEN LAND CONSERVATION, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. JON DEPRETER. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. ALL RIGHT LOVELY THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE HAVE ONE MORE. OKAY. WE HAVE ONE MORE ORDINANCE. [8.A.6. Ordinance 2025-28: Amends the Zoning of approximately 2.47 acres at 10,14, and 18 Smith Street and Evergreen Avenue East of Nesbit Avenue (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director) ] 2025-28. CORRECT PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A MOTION. I MOVE, WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-28, READ BY TITLE ONLY. I'LL SECOND THAT. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-28, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 2.47 ACRES LOCATED AT 10, 14, AND 18 SMITH STREET AND EVERGREEN AVENUE, EAST OF NESMITH AVENUE BETWEEN EVERGREEN AVENUE TO THE NORTH AND SMITH STREET TO THE SOUTHWEST. PORTIONS OF THE BOWIE PLAT SHOWING SUBDIVISION OF PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER. REZONING APPROXIMATELY 1.4 UPLAND ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 1 RG1 TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT USE GU AND REZONING APPROXIMATELY .07 WATER WARD ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL ONE RG ONE TO THE CITY. CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN LAND OL PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL RIGHT. ANY FINAL DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. JON DEPRETER. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. ALL RIGHT WONDERFUL THANK YOU VERY MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT. THAT WAS A LOT. CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL. I THINK IT WAS A GREAT MOVE. GREAT PROGRAM. KUDOS TO VICE MAYOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THOSE. AND OFF WE GO LOVELY. AND THIS BOARD HAS REALLY JUST BEEN FABULOUS IN GETTING BEHIND CONSERVATION FOR ALL OF OUR FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. AND THIS REZONING AND AND THE LAND USE AMENDMENTS REALLY HELP SOLIDIFY THAT THESE PROPERTIES WILL STAY IN CONSERVATION. THAT'S A BIG DEAL. SO I THANK THE STAFF FOR THAT. I HAD CONVERSATIONS WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, AND I HAD A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY MORNING WITH SOMEONE WHO SAID, WHY DON'T YOU JUST REZONE THE WHOLE CITY? AND WHEN THE RULE IS, IF YOU OWN THE PROPERTY, YOU CAN REQUEST TO BE ZONED. [00:50:04] THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO HELP CONSERVE LAND PROPERLY IS TO OWN IT. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOME WITH COBBLED TOGETHER MONIES AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THAT'S AN INTERESTING COMMENT. YES, IT'S KIND OF FULL CIRCLE FOR ME BECAUSE MS. HAHN AND MS. SOLOMON, THE FIRST TIME I RAN INTO THEM WAS WHEN I WAS ON THE PLANNING BOARD. AND THESE SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES CAME UP AND I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THEM TO ON THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WORK. THEY CAME OUT. THEY DID THE HARD WORK. I THINK IT'S GOING TO TONIGHT YOU HEARD HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO THEM. AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT THAT LAND COULD HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED. BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AND THERE WAS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE. AND THIS IS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE. WONDERFUL GREAT THANKS FOR EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE MOVE ON? ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ORDINANCE IS ORDINANCE 2025-30, MS. [8.A.7. Ordinance 2025-30: Provides minor editorial changes to the city's parking regulations (I. Lopez, City Attorney)] LOPEZ. YES THIS IS PRETTY MUCH A CLEANUP ORDINANCE. IT'S TO BRING FORWARD SOME TERMINOLOGY IN OUR PARKING ORDINANCE THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT RETRO, A LITTLE BIT DATED. THINGS LIKE DEFINING PARKING METERS AS THOSE OLD METAL ONES WITH THE LITTLE ARROWS. AND SO WE SORT OF BROADENED THE DEFINITIONS TO MEAN EVEN APP BASED MEANS OF PAYING FOR PARKING OR TERMINALS AND SO ON. SO REALLY, THERE AREN'T ANY TRUE, SUBSTANTIVE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES. IT'S JUST REALLY CLEANING UP THE LANGUAGE, MAKING IT GENDER NEUTRAL, USING AND DEFINING THE TERMS THAT WE'RE USING THROUGHOUT OUR PARKING ORDINANCE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS ARE. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. EXCELLENT THANK YOU. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD NOW. HEARING NO ONE, SEEING NO ONE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-30 IS READ BY TITLE. SECOND. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-30. AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 24, ARTICLE 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS. PROVIDING FOR GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE. PROVIDING FOR PARKING PROHIBITIONS CONSISTENT WITH STATE STATUTE. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL RIGHT. ANY FINAL DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JON DEPRETER. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT ON TO ORDINANCE. THIS IS OUR LAST ONE, 2025-31. [8.A.8. Ordinance 2025-31: Creating Section 8-117, Repair timeline for milestone inspections (R. Schauland, Building Official, Planning and Building)] AND THIS IS MR. SCHAULAND WELCOME GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I'M BUDDY SCHAULAND AND THE CITY BUILDING OFFICIAL. THIS IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 2025-31. CREATING SECTION 8-117 REPAIR TIMELINE FOR MILESTONE INSPECTIONS. THE CITY COMMISSION PASSED THE FIRST READING OF THIS ORDINANCE ON OCTOBER 13TH. THIS ORDINANCE. THIS ORDINANCE COMES FROM 553.899 FLORIDA STATUTES, WHICH REQUIRES MANDATORY INSPECTIONS ON ALL CONDOS AND COOPERATIVES THAT ARE THREE STORIES OR HIGHER WHEN THEY TURN 30 YEARS OLD, AND EVERY TEN YEARS THEREAFTER. THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES THE TIMELINE FOR THE CONDO OR COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS TO SCHEDULE OR COMMENCE THE REPAIRS WHEN A PHASE TWO REPORT IS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY. THEY WILL HAVE 180 DAYS AFTER THE CITY RECEIVES THE REPORT. IT ALLOWS ALSO FOR AN ADDITIONAL 185-DAY EXTENSION, BUT IT MUST COMMENCE WITHIN 365 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE REPORT. THE ALSO, THE ORDINANCE ALSO ESTABLISHES THAT IF THE ASSOCIATION FAILS TO SUBMIT PROOF THAT THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED OR COMMENCED, THE CITY WILL REVIEW TO DETERMINE IF THE BUILDING IS UNSAFE FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY. I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT HEARING NONE. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. I'M SEEING NO ONE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A MOTION. I MOVE, WE APPROVE. ORDINANCE 2025-31, READ BY TITLE ONLY. SECOND. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-31, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, CREATING SECTION 8-117 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE TO CONFORM WITH STATE STATUTE REGARDING A TIMELINE FOR REPAIRS OF SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DETERIORATION TO A CONDOMINIUM OR COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION. PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. [00:55:08] LOVELY I'LL MAKE A GENERAL ONE. THANKS TO THE STAFF FOR ALL THESE [LAUGHTER] THE WORDING, THE LEGAL, THE LEGAL ASPECT, THE TECHNICAL ASPECT. THIS IS A LOT OF WORK THAT ALL WE DO IS SAY AYE. AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAILS THANK YOU. I AGREE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU KEEP US UPDATED. AND THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEW ORDINANCES AND THE NEW LAWS, AND SO THAT WE CAN TWEAK WHAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT PROCESS NEVER ENDS, NEVER. SO WITH THAT SAID MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. JON DEPRETER. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. BACK ON WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING. LET'S GO TO STAFF REPORT AND PRESENTATIONS. THIS IS WHERE WE ADDED THE LETTER ON THE SEAWALL PERTAINING TO [10. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS] RESERVES. MS. BEACH, GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR, FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. JESSICA BEACH, CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND I'M HERE BEFORE YOU WITH A SPECIFIC REQUEST TONIGHT FOR THE AVENIDA MENENDEZ SEAWALL PROJECT. IT'S CURRENTLY IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. IT'S BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH FEMA BACK IN 2017 AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE IRMA. WE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT. SO THE AMOUNTS OF THE CURRENT FUNDING AVAILABLE IS ON THIS SLIDE HERE, WHERE WE ARTICULATE THE FEMA GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE TODAY. THE FIND GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE TODAY AND ALSO OUR CITY STORMWATER MATCH. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OVER $1.5 MILLION OF OUR CURRENT BUDGET. WE FINISHED DESIGN PERMITTING AND NOW WE'RE IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. WE ADVERTISE THIS FOR CONSTRUCTION. WE RECEIVE BACK THREE BIDS. THE LOWEST, MOST RESPONSIBLE BID WAS A LITTLE OVER $1.8 MILLION. WE ALSO HAVE CONSTRUCTION, ADMINISTRATION AND ARCHEOLOGICAL COSTS. THAT'S A LITTLE OVER $200,000. SO THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS RIGHT NOW FOR THE PROJECT IS A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION. AND THE BUDGET DEFICIT BETWEEN AVAILABLE FUNDS AND ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COST IS $476,937. SO FOR TODAY, WE DO HAVE CURRENT STORMWATER RESERVES AVAILABLE OF $668,000. AND WHAT WE'RE HERE BEFORE THE COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION IS TO UTILIZE THE STORMWATER RESERVES TO COVER THE BUDGET DEFICIT FOR CONSTRUCTION. AND PARALLEL TO THIS, WE'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO FIND AND FEMA, WE'VE STARTED THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND GET MORE FUNDING IF POSSIBLE. SO WE'VE STARTED THAT PROCESS. IT DOES TAKE TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE PROJECT COMPLETED TO MEET THE GRANT DEADLINE, WHICH IS THE END OF DECEMBER OF 2026 FOR FEMA. SO WE ARE KIND OF IN A PINCH. AND SO THE OPTION WAS TO THE VIABLE OPTION WAS TO GO TO STORM RESERVES, USE IT TO FLOAT THE CONSTRUCTION DEFICIT, GO BACK TO THE OTHER FUNDING AGENCIES AND THEN REPLENISH THE STORMWATER RESERVES WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE CAN GET. BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES. SO THAT IS THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS FOR CONSIDERATION OF STORMWATER RESERVES TO COVER THE CONSTRUCTION DIFFERENCE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. GREAT STARTED THIS PROJECT. GOSH YES THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS IN THE CIP FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. IT HAS SO THE FUNDING FROM FEMA BECAME AVAILABLE AFTER HURRICANE IRMA DISASTER WAS DECLARED. WE WERE IN THE QUEUE TO GET THAT. IT DOES TAKE TIME TO GET THE FUNDING AWARDED, CONTRACTS IN PLACE TO START DESIGN AND PERMITTING. WE LITERALLY GOT THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FROM FEMA IN JUNE OF THIS SUMMER, SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH THE SCHEDULE AS MUCH AS WE CAN. ON THAT TOO. SO THESE ARE LONG TERM PROJECTS THAT DOES TAKE TIME TO GET COMPLETED. MAYBE EIGHT YEARS? THIS WAS ONE OF THE PROJECTS I FIRST STARTED WORKING ON IN THE CITY, AND I'VE BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER EIGHT YEARS YES. IRMA WAS IN 20? 2017 YES. SO 7 OR 8 YEARS THIS IS THIS IS HARD TO EXPLAIN TO RESIDENTS IN THE CITY HOW LONG THIS TAKES THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS TAKE. BUT THANK YOU FOR MY FEELING ABOUT IT IS THAT IT'S SMART THE WAY YOU'RE HANDLING. GO AHEAD AND PAY IT AND SEE IF WE CAN GET REIMBURSED SO YEAH. COMMENTS? YEAH I AGREE I APPRECIATE YOU FINDING THE MONEY AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PAY IT BACK IF WE NEED TO. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO I AGREE YEAH. WE ALL JUST THINK YOU'RE THE SMARTEST. [LAUGHTER] THIS WAS A TEAM EFFORT. I SAID I NEED MONEY AND THEN EVERYONE COMES TOGETHER TO FIGURE THAT OUT. SO A TEAM CREDIT TO MELISSA, MISSY FINANCE AND ALL OF OUR TEAM STEVEN AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS UTILITIES DEPARTMENT. [01:00:04] SO TEAM EFFORT FOR SURE. ALWAYS, ALWAYS. SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO OFFER A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXPENDITURE AS DESCRIBED. SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. JON DEPRETER. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. WE WILL COMMENCE [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. WONDERFUL IT'LL BE NICE TO HAVE THAT. ALRIGHT LET'S SEE. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY. I HAVE NONE, THANK YOU. OKAY [12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK] MY FIRST ONE IS JUST A NOTIFICATION OF UPCOMING TERM EXPIRATIONS ON OUR FIREFIGHTERS PENSION TRUST FUND. BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF ADVERTISING FOR THESE. I WILL NOTE THAT THE EXPIRING MEMBERS, SHOULD THEY WISH TO REAPPLY, ARE BOTH ELIGIBLE. AND MY SECOND ITEM IS WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, AND I'LL BE BRINGING THOSE BACK TO YOU THE NOVEMBER MEETING. AND WE STILL HAVE WE HAVE ONE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD POSITION OPEN UP. OTHER THAN THAT, HOW MANY APPLICATIONS DO YOU HAVE? THUS FAR? THREE FOR PCB FOR TWO SEATS. THREE FOR TWO SEATS OKAY AND YOU SAID NONE OF THEM ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FOR APPLICATION ON THE PLANNING? THAT'S THE FIRE PENSION BOTH OF THOSE BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR, I'M FAIRLY CONFIDENT THEY WILL BE REAPPLYING, BUT WE ALSO WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANYONE THAT WISHES TO BE CONSIDERED TO SERVE. OKAY [13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER] MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, WE DO HAVE A VISIT TOMORROW FROM A MOBILE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE. MOBILE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE WILL BE JOINING US TOMORROW. AND IT'S A BUS AND IT IS A MOBILE MUSEUM. IT WILL BE PARKING ON GRANADA STREET. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IT'S FREE. AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED TO STOP BY AND AND TAKE A LOOK. ALSO ON WEDNESDAY AT 10:30 A.M. I THINK THIS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE AT THE CRA MEETING. WE WILL BE HAVING A RIBBON CUTTING AT OUR PROPERTY AT 92 SOUTH DIXIE FOR THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN DEVELOPING A DROP IN DAY CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS, AND THIS WILL BE THE MOVING OF THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PROGRAM FROM BEHIND CITY HALL, WHERE IT'S BEEN FOR MANY YEARS, TO OUR NEW PROPERTY AT 92 SOUTH DIXIE, WHICH IS BEHIND THIS WINN-DIXIE SHOPPING CENTER PLAZA. AND THEY WILL BEGIN SERVING MEALS ON NOVEMBER 14TH. SO THE RIBBON CUTTING IS ON WEDNESDAY AT 10:30 AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN US. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THE MUSEUM OF MOBILE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE. IT WAS HERE BEFORE FOR THE OUT OF THE OLD, OLD JAIL AT THE SHERIFF'S COMPLEX, AND IT WAS REQUESTED BY LUCIA SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID TO ACCOMMODATE THE BUS COMING. I'VE BEEN ON IT, AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING. SO IT TRAVELS ALL OVER. THERE'S THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THESE BUSSES. THIS ISN'T THE ONLY ONE, BUT THIS ONE'S OUT OF MIAMI, I BELIEVE. AND AND THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB, SO. YEAH. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. IT'S AMAZING. FREE AND A GREAT EXPERIENCE. IT'S A GREAT THING SO. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MR. CITY MANAGER? NO. ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S GO ON. WE'RE DOING REALLY, REALLY [LAUGHTER] GOOD TONIGHT. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. [14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS] WELL, LET'S START WITH COMMISSIONER GARRIS. A COUPLE OF THINGS. WHAT? WHAT ARE THE HOURS FOR THE BUS? YOU MENTIONED THE BUS, BUT YOU DIDN'T SAY THE HOURS. OH, GOSH, I DON'T KNOW. I KNOW I BELIEVE IT OPENS UP AT 10:00 A.M. BUT I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT CLOSES. OKAY THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN GETTING THE DINING WITH DIGNITY AREA UP AND RUNNING. [01:05:01] I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BARRY FOX. CHUCK CUSHMAN, THE FACILITIES TEAM, AND ALSO THE CONTRACTORS TBL THAT WAS ALL PART OF IT. AND FPL FOR FINALLY DOING THE ELECTRICAL UNDERGROUND. EVERYBODY THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN GET THE HOMELESS TO HAVE MEALS AGAIN WITH DIGNITY. THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING RAN OVER IN THE PARKING LOT. THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE. PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WATCH THEM EAT BECAUSE OF THE PRIVACY FENCE. AND I THINK WE'RE TURNING A PAGE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY TO MAKE THEM FEEL DIGNIFIED. BECAUSE THEY'LL BE SHOWERS. THEY'LL BE LAUNDRY. DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO PHASE TWO UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JAMIE PERKINS, TRYING TO GET THE BUILDING DONE. AND I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO SEE US TURN THE PAGE, AS JIM MENTIONED BEFORE. WHEN HAN, MYSELF AND THE MAYOR RAN, WE HEARD ABOUT THE HOMELESS ALL THE TIME, AND I MADE IT MY QUEST TO BE DILIGENTLY PUSHING THE NARRATIVE ON THAT BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, AND PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOMELESSNESS UNLESS THEY'VE WORKED WITH THEM BEFORE. AND I'VE HAD THAT PRIVILEGE OF TRYING TO ADDRESS THEM WHEN I LIVED UP NORTH. ALSO, I WANT TO THANK JIM FOR HIS GROUP DOING THE KIWANIS BREAKFAST. THAT WAS A NICE EVENT THAT HE HELD OVER THERE, AND THERE WAS JUST SO MANY THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND AROUND OUR CITY. WE HAD LIVED IN A BEAUTIFUL CITY. AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I LAUGH SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE SAY, THERE'S NOTHING TO DO. AND I'D BE RUNNING LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN. AND I'M THINKING, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT TO DO IF [LAUGHTER] YOU ASK ME. BUT I WANT TO THANK THE TWO RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT FROM FLORIDA AVENUE. I KNOW THAT THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT BACK IN THAT WINDOW OF TIME WAS GETTING ACQUIRING THAT LAND AND ALL THE OTHER PRESERVATION LAND AND FULL OF WOOD AND DIFFERENT THINGS. WE HAVE REALLY TURNED A PAGE ON HEARING THE PEOPLE AND FULFILLING THEIR NEEDS. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW COMMISSION THAT WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER AND WE ARE A STRONGER CITY WHEN WE HERE WITH THE WITH THE RESIDENTS WANT AND THE BUSINESSES WANT. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. COMMISSIONER COUPLE THINGS FROM PUBLIC COMMENT AND A COUPLE THINGS FROM MY COFFEE THING. MR. YORK BROUGHT UP THE 50 OR MORE EMPLOYEES. IS THAT ACCURATE? I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK MY STAFF ABOUT THAT. I BELIEVE IT IS. BUT LET ME SEE IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF FLEXIBILITY IN THAT. I JUST I'M NOT PREPARED TO COMMENT ON IT. OKAY NO, I JUST WANTED TO GET IT OUT SO THAT MAYBE. YEAH, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP AROUND THE. AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF RIGHT NOW [LAUGHTER]. THAT WAS A SURPRISE HAVE, I DID WANT TO THANK MELISSA AND THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, AS MR. YORK DID ON PUTTING THESE COFFEES TOGETHER. I HAD A GOOD VISIT. I WAS AT THE FLAMINGO, THE NEWLY RESTORED COFFEE SHOP ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD. AND I MET WITH 910 RESIDENTS OF THE ISLAND THERE, MOSTLY SOUTH AND SOUTH AND NORTH DAVIS SHORES. THERE WERE A COUPLE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO GET ON THE RECORD. A COUPLE OF I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO CITY MANAGER ABOUT, BUT JUST SO EVERYBODY ELSE KNOWS. NOT SURPRISINGLY, FLOODING WAS THE ISSUE FOR FOLKS OUT THERE. SO THE ONE THING WAS THE TIDE CHECK VALVE MAINTENANCE. I THINK PEOPLE SOMETIMES GET CONFUSED. AND I SOMETIMES HAVE TO SAY I AM. IF ONE OF THESE IF AREA GETS FLOODED, IS IT DUE TO THE CHECK VALVE OR IS IT JUST DUE TO BEING OVERLOADED? AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION LAST TIME ABOUT THE SEWER. SO UNLESS I'M WRONG, YEARS AGO WE USED TO HAVE A MAP ON THERE, THE ACTIVE MAP ON THE WEBSITE. AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVEN'T DUG THROUGH THERE TO FIND OUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE JUST [LAUGHTER] EASIER ASKING YOU. WE STILL DO HAVE THE MAP, I FOUND IT. OKAY. AND I THINK YOU ALSO ASKED US TO PUT A MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON THE MAP. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON THAT MAP. BUT I HAVE SPOKEN TO MY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ABOUT COMBINING THE TWO. SO WHEN SOMEONE LOOKED ON THE GIS MAP THAT SHOWS ALL THE TIDE CHECK VALVES. YEAH, THERE COULD BE A COLOR CODE OR A SYMBOL THAT WOULD SHOW WHEN THE MAINTENANCE IS SCHEDULED FOR THAT PARTICULAR TIDE CHECK VALVE. [01:10:01] I THINK THAT I THINK THAT'D BE REALLY HELPFUL. I MEAN, I KNOW THIS IS A SEASONAL THING AND I, YOU KNOW, JUST KNOW BY THE NATURE OF THINGS IT HAPPENS AND THEN IT KIND OF DISAPPEARS AND IT HAPPENS. RIGHT. BUT I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I'M SAYING IT SELFISHLY, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME AND I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD ANYTIME YOU CAN GET RESONANCE, OBVIOUSLY GOOD SEMI CURRENT INFORMATION. IT'S JUST GOOD AND I THINK IT'S A PART OF OUR JOB. I AGREE. SO I AND I THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING UP ON THAT. THE OTHER THING THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IS HOW TO MORE EFFECTIVELY CLOSE THE ROADS DURING FLOODING WITH SIGNS. NOW THAT I KNOW IS MORE COMPLICATED, BUT THEY SAY THE ROAD WILL FLOOD AND THEN PEOPLE COME THROUGH IT. WATER GETS UP ON THE IN THEIR HOUSES, IN THEIR GARAGES SO. AND IF YOU IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME, WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED A PROCESS OF TRYING TO ORGANIZE THAT MORE EFFICIENTLY. THE CHIEF OF POLICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT. IF SHE'S STILL IN THE BACK. YEAH, SHE'S ON HER PHONE [LAUGHTER]. I'LL SPEAK FOR HER ON HER. SHE'S GOING TO NOD. SHE'S JUST GONNA NOD. WE'RE WE'VE IDENTIFIED THIS. THE STREETS IN THE CITY THAT ARE PRONE TO FLOODING. YEAH, WE ARE CREATING A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR FLOODED STREETS WITH A FOCUS ON THOSE REPETITIVE FLOODING AREAS. YEAH, WE ARE INVENTORYING THE ROAD CLOSED SIGNS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH SIGNS TO DEPLOY DURING THOSE EVENTS. OKAY. AND WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE PLACES TO PRE-POSITION THOSE SIGNS SO THAT WE CAN PUT THEM OUT WHEN THE ROADS ARE CLOSED. THAT'S ALL BEING ORGANIZED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND HELP IS ON THE WAY. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. I WAS TRYING TO, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S IN THE PLANNING BOARD WE TALKED ABOUT THE FLOODING AND THE FLOOD CORRIDORS, AND THERE ARE IDENTIFIED FLOOD CORRIDORS, AND THERE'S ALL AROUND THE CITY SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO THAT. THAT'S THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD. YES, I HAVE A FEW THINGS. ONE YES THANK YOU FOR THE FLORIDA CITY WEEK. THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. WE HAD THE COMMENT THAT WE SHOULD DO THAT MORE OFTEN, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A FINE THING TO DO PARTICULARLY IF WE DO IT A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE EVENING. SO WE COULD HAVE PEOPLE WHO WHO WORK. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE MAYOR'S PRESENTATION TODAY TO THE STATE LEGISLATOR DELEGATION. SHE ONLY ASKED FOR $5 MILLION. I WOULD HAVE BEEN PROBABLY MORE GREEDY, BUT THOSE ARE FOR PROJECTS THAT WE REALLY NEED. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WITHIN REASON FOR THEM TO HELP US AT THE FLORIDA WEEK COFFEY THAT I HELD AT DOSE SINCE WE'RE GIVING ADVERTISEMENTS TO COFFEE SHOPS ON [LAUGHTER] SAN MARCO AVENUE. I HAD A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE, I UNDERSTAND FROM COMMISSIONER GARRIS THAT SHE HAD MORE THAN ANYBODY, AND SHE'S PROUD OF THAT FACT [LAUGHTER]. BUT I HAD I HAD GOOD GOOD COMMENTS. I HAVE A WHOLE LIST THAT I WILL SHARE WITH THE CITY MANAGER. WHEN WE COME, PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE TO LEARN HOW THE CITY WORKS. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CITY 101. AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO TO HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE BY THESE LITTLE TALKS. AND ALSO, I SPOKE TO THE EIGHTH GRADERS AT PIONEER SCHOOL FOR THEIR CIVICS CLASS ABOUT HOW CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS, AND I HAD A GREAT TIME SO THANK YOU. EXCELLENT OKAY VICE MAYOR. YES THANK YOU. I HAD A INTERESTED PARTY CONTACT ME ABOUT OUR RECENTLY RENOVATED, BEAUTIFUL GALLIMORE CENTER. NOW THAT THE POOL HAS CLOSED FOR THE WINTER, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT UPKEEPING MAINTENANCE. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT WE WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE TO MAKE IT WONDERFUL IS STAYS GOOD THROUGH THE WINTER. I ALSO WOULD ECHO THE THE COFFEE WITH THE COMMISSIONER. A COUPLE OF REALLY GREAT IDEAS CAME BUBBLING UP FROM OUR CITIZENS THAT I'VE BROUGHT TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND WE'RE WORKING ON PERHAPS A LEGISLATIVE IDEA. THAT'S RELATED TO THAT. AND SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT WILL GET SOME LEGS AND IT'LL RUN AND MORE ON THAT. AND THEN FINALLY I PERSONALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE THE WHAT IS IT CALLED, THE THE HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THROUGH FEMA TO JUST SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A CITIZEN, TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS RECENTLY BECAUSE IT'S NOW BEEN THREE YEARS, IF I'M CORRECT, THAT MY APPLICATION WENT IN AND THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTION. AND THAT'S NOT THE PART THAT'S NOT THE FAULT OF THE CITY STAFF. THE CONSULTANTS PERIODICALLY CONTACT US AND SAY WE'RE WAITING ON FEMA. BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE'S BEEN GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND DEFUNDING OF CERTAIN AGENCIES. AND SO OR REDUCED FUNDING OF CERTAIN AGENCIES. SO WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THAT THAT DELAY HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. WE HAVE, I THINK, ALMOST 50 PEOPLE THAT CAME IN AT THE SAME TIME AS I DID, OR I WENT IN AT THE SAME TIME AS THAT GROUP. [01:15:06] AND SO LAST YEAR I APPLIED FOR THE NEW ELEVATE FLORIDA PROGRAM AND GOT THE APPLICATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE FINAL LAP WHERE IT GOT DINGED BECAUSE IT'S OUR HOUSE IS ALSO IN THE HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. SO UNTIL FEMA MAKES IT, IT'S A CATCH UNTIL FEMA MAKES A DECISION, WE CAN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ELEVATE FLORIDA PROGRAM. I SAY THIS ONLY BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE DOING IT. THE WHOLE REASON I GOT INTO THE PROGRAM WAS TO TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH IN OUR CITY. AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TOOLS ARE OUT THERE, BUT WE, WE I'M FRUSTRATED [LAUGHTER]. I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO PUT IT. WE'RE TRYING TO ADAPT TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND WE'RE BEING BLOCKED. AND AND THAT'S A HARD THING FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY. AND OUR CONSTITUENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING AS A, YOU KNOW, 16,000 PEOPLE WITH A SMALL TAX BASE THAT MIGHT GET SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER IS WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN DO, AND WE HEAR YOU. WE KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE AND WE'RE WORKING THANK YOU. EXCELLENT THANK YOU. SO, YES, CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK WAS WONDERFUL FOR ME, TOO. I APPRECIATE THE COFFEE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE COFFEE WITH MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS. I TOO HEARD ABOUT FLOODING. WELL, JUST A RANGE OF THINGS, ACTUALLY. BUT I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE ARCHEOLOGY TOUR GIVEN BY OUR CITY ARCHEOLOGIST, WHICH WAS FASCINATING. IT WAS A TOUR OF THE VISITOR'S INFORMATION CENTER, AND IT REALLY WAS VERY, VERY INTERESTING. IT WAS GOSH, I COULD HAVE STAYED THERE ALL DAY. IT WAS JUST SO FASCINATING. I ATTENDED WITH THE CITY MANAGER LAST WEEK. THE HE DID A REPORT OUT TO THE HISTORIC AREA COUNCIL WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, AND THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND VERY HELPFUL, I THINK, FOR THEM. WE GOT SOME GOOD POSITIVE FEEDBACK. WE DID A RIBBON CUTTING OF CONNOR PARK. WELL, ACTUALLY, IT WASN'T A RIBBON CUTTING. IT WAS A DEDICATION OF CONNOR PARK. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR COMING AND ATTENDING THAT. THE CONNOR FAMILY WAS VERY, VERY GRATEFUL. AND THE CARTER FAMILY, THEY WERE VERY, VERY. IT WAS JUST A BEAUTIFUL DAY. ONE OF THOSE ONES THAT YOU LIKE TO LOOK BACK ON AND REMEMBER FOREVER, YOU KNOW, SUCH A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE. IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER THAT I DID SPEAK TO THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE REQUEST THIS MORNING, I LEARNED THAT WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A 50% MATCH ON ALL THE PROJECTS THAT REQUEST. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT. WE HAVE OUR MESSAGING RIGHT. AND THEN OUR REQUESTS ARE IN MATCH WITH THIS POLICY. MY APOLOGIES TO YOU, COMMISSIONERS. THAT DID COME THIS MORNING. THAT I DID NOT RECOGNIZE YOU. THERE WAS JUST NO TIME TO I GOT MORE MINUTES THAN, YOU KNOW, AT THE END, THEY WERE DOWN TO 1.5 MINUTES. SO I FELT VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WERE GIVEN. BUT I JUST REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING BECAUSE IT IS DAUNTING [LAUGHTER]. IT IS. IT'S A DAUNTING JOB TO DO THAT. AND I THINK MELISSA WISSEL FOR HELPING AND ALL THE CITY STAFF ACTUALLY HELPED GATHER THE INFORMATION THAT WAS NEEDED TO GIVE THAT THREE MINUTES [LAUGHTER]. THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, A TEAM EFFORT. SO WE KIND OF SCRAMBLED AROUND AND PULLED IT TOGETHER. SO IT WAS GREAT. BUT IT'S A IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE WORK. I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT TO ALSO ON THAT SUBJECT THANK YOU FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO SENT US A MESSAGE TODAY TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE LEGISLATORS ARE GETTING READY TO DO CONCERNING AD VALOREM TAX CUTS. AS WE ALL KNOW, THE CITY HAS VERY LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE VERY, VERY FEW WAYS OF RAISING REVENUES. THIS IS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR MOST METHOD FOR MOST OF US, WE'RE NOT AS DEPENDENT BECAUSE WE DO. I THINK IT'S I CAN'T RECALL THE NUMBER, BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY AS CLOSE. I THINK THE COUNTY, SOMEWHERE UP IN THE 70% OF THEIR REVENUE IS FROM AD VALOREM TAX. OURS IS MUCH LOWER. I FEEL VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN STRATEGIZING OVER THE YEARS, FOR MANY YEARS TO RELY ON OTHER FORMS OF TAXES. FEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, THE FIRE FEE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT I WAS IMPRESSED BECAUSE THERE WAS ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING THAT WE CAN DO, WHEREAS WE'RE NOT REALLY ALLOWED TO CREATE CAMPAIGNS, SO TO SPEAK, ON OUR SIDE OF THE STORY. [01:20:06] WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE OPINIONS. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE FORUMS THAT ARE FACT FACTUAL. PEOPLE CAN COME AND ASK QUESTIONS. SO I WANTED TO KIND OF CALL THAT OUT TO YOU. AND IF YOU'LL THINK ABOUT THAT THERE WON'T BE MUCH TIME BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, NOVEMBER, WE ONLY MEET ONE TIME, DECEMBER, WE ONLY MEET ONE TIME. AND THE SESSION STARTS IN JANUARY, AM I RIGHT? WHEN THE SESSION START? YEAH, IT'S EARLY THIS YEAR. IT STARTS EARLIER THIS YEAR. THEY DO THAT EVERY OTHER YEAR. SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT POTENTIALLY HAVING A DISCUSSION IN JANUARY ABOUT A FORUM US HOSTING OUR OWN FORUM TO BECAUSE IT IS A GUARANTEE. WE HEARD IT THIS MORNING. THERE IS IT IS A GUARANTEE. YOU HEARD HOW THE THE DELEGATE MEMBERS QUESTIONED EDDIE CREAMER, WHO IS THEY WERE VERY CURIOUS. WHAT DID HE WANT? WHAT DID HE SUPPORT? WHAT WERE HIS THOUGHTS? AND THAT WAS WHAT THE SENIOR EXEMPTION? SO THIS IS A GUARANTEE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. SO WE JUST REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT. SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS AND BE READY BECAUSE THEY SAID AT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT'LL HAPPEN FAST. SO THAT SAID OKAY. THE ONE LAST THING IS WE HAD AN AMAZING 100 CELEBRATION OF DAVIS SHORES. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN. THANK YOU TO THE ALLIGATOR FARM. IT WAS AMAZING. WE HAD OVER 200 PEOPLE. WE HAD AN EXTRA, I THINK 24 SHOW UP AND THEN 12 PARTY CRASHERS AT LEAST. SO WE HAD THE TOCATTA WE HAD DAVID NOLAN CAME AND SPOKE. RODNEY KITE-POWELL CAME AND SPOKE FROM TAMPA. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOOD. THE ENTERTAINMENT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU, HOUSE CAT SHOUT OUT TO YOU GUYS. AND JUST THANKS. IT WAS REALLY A VERY POSITIVE NIGHT, AND I GOT TO GIVE THE TOAST AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, AND IT WAS GREAT. SO WITH THAT SAID, THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME TONIGHT IN MY LONG DISSERTATION. BUT WITH THAT SAID, UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE WE HAVE ANY MORE? I JUST WANT TO GET A SHOUT OUT TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME FOR MY COFFEE TO THE BLUE HEN. YEAH! [LAUGHTER] WOO HOO! OH, LOVE THOSE BISCUITS. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. WITH THAT SAID WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.