>> GOOD EVENING. THIS REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER. [1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:06] MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> NANCY SIKES-KLINE. >> HERE. >> BARBARA BLONDER? >> HERE. >> CYNTHIA GARRIS. >> HERE. >> JIM SPRINGFIELD? >> HERE. >> JOHN DA PRATER. >> HERE. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL A MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER. BUT I WOULD LIKE A SPECIAL CONSIDERATION OF THOSE WITH US TONIGHT TO HOLD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THEIR THOUGHTS. THIS MORNING EARLY COMMISSIONER JAMES BENNETT FROM BAKER COUNTY COMMISSION, HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF MINE FOR YEARS. I'VE SERVED WITH HIM ON NORTH FLORIDA TPO FOR 17 YEARS. HE PASSED AWAY IN A CAR WRECK THIS MORNING ON I10. EARLIER, FRED WHITE, ONE OF OUR CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE PASSED AWAY, AND I WANTED TO GIVE HIM A SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR HIS ADVOCACY ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION. HE WAS A MEMBER OF HARB AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING THE GUIDELINES THAT WE USE BY HARB NOW TO ASSESS OUR PRESERVATION EFFORTS WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS. HE PARTICIPATED IN LIVING HISTORY PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEER AT THE CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS, AND HE RAN THE ARTS IN CRAFTS FESTIVAL ON PALM SUNDAY WEEKEND AND ON THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND WHEN THEY USED TO BE IN THE PLAZA BEFORE THEY GOT MOVED TO FRANCIS FIELD. I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD HOLD THEM IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL. WITH THAT SAID, PLEASE OBSERVE AS YOU WISH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA. [2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS ] I WILL ASK MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE MODIFICATION? >> YES, MA'AM. WE DO. WE'D LIKE TO REMOVE ITEM 10A, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR THE PETITION TO VACATE THE RIGHT OF WAY AT 81 MAGNOLIA DRIVE, REMOVE IT FROM THE AGENDA. IT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED AND RE ADVERTISED, AND WE'LL PLACE IT ON THE JANUARY 12TH CITY COMMISSION AGENDA. >> ANY OTHER MODIFICATIONS? COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY MODIFICATIONS? >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. I HAD A REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON ITEM 10C. IF YOU'RE AMENABLE, I WILL MAKE THAT ITEM 10C UNDER STAFF PRESENTATIONS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> SURE. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. >> WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE STRIKE ITEM 10A FOR A FUTURE MEETING, AND ADD PUBLIC COMMENT TO ITEM 10C. >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.[OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS A PROCLAMATION, WHICH I WILL READ, [3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS ] AND I DON'T KNOW, MADAM CLERK, IS THERE SOMEONE HERE FROM RIPLEY'S. >> WE HAVE TWO FROM RIPLEY'S. >> THIS IS WHAT I'LL DO. I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION. I'LL ASK YOU TO JOIN THE COMMISSION IN THE FRONT. YOU'LL BE WELCOME TO SPEAK A FEW WORDS, AND WE'LL GET A PICTURE. HOW'S THAT? WHEREAS ROBERT L. RIPLEY WAS AN AMERICAN CARTOONIST, ENTREPRENEUR, AND AMATEUR ANTHROPOLOGIST, KNOWN FOR CREATING RIPLEY'S, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WHICH FEATURED ODD FACTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. WHEREAS ROBERT L. RIPLEY USED HIS FAME AND NOTORIETY TO BRING ATTENTION TO TOURISM IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, WITH THE NATION'S FIRST LIVE UNDERWATER BROADCAST FROM MARINE LAND IN 1940. [00:05:06] WHEREAS, CASTLE WARDEN, A BUILDING THAT WAS ONCE A HOTEL, WAS A FAVORITE OF ROBERT RIPLEY, AND HE HAD WANTED TO BUY THE BUILDING TO HOUSE HIS COLLECTION FOR YEARS BEFORE HIS DEATH. WHEREAS, ON DECEMBER 9TH, 1950, A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER HIS PASSING, HIS DREAM WAS FULFILLED. THE ORIGINAL PERMANENT RIPLEY'S, BELIEVE IT OR NOT MUSEUM OPENED AND FEATURES SOME OF ROBERT RIPLEY'S ORIGINAL COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS, AND AUDITIES GATHERED FROM HIS TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD. WHEREAS RIPLEY ENTERTAINMENT AND ALL ITS ENTERPRISES HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA COMMUNITY, AND RIPLEY'S, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, CONTINUES TO INSPIRE WONDER, CURIOSITY, AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF UNIQUE TALENTS AND ABILITIES WITHIN US ALL. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION, HEREBY PROCLAIMS DECEMBER 9TH, 2025, RIPLEY'S CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS AND ENCOURAGES ALL TO ATTEND THE ACTIVITIES AND FEST ACTIVITIES PROMOTED BY RIPLEY'S, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. SIGNED BY MYSELF. IF WITH THAT SAID, WE WILL JOIN US UP FRONT, AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE, AND WE'LL LISTEN TO ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO US. [OVERLAPPING] >> WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE AND ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION. KIM KIFF, WHO HAS BEEN THE MANAGER AT ST. AUGUSTINE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT. I WILL BE TAKING HER PLACE THIS YEAR AS SHE'S MOVING ON. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AND WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR ANOTHER 75+ YEARS. [APPLAUSE]. >> [OVERLAPPING] WE'LL BE SHORT. I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING THE CITY COMMISSION AND GIVING A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO FLAGLER COLLEGE ATHLETICS. THE REASON I DO THIS, AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT JIM, BUT THE REASON I DO THIS IS I WAS AN ATHLETE IN HIGH SCHOOL, AN ATHLETE IN COLLEGE. I KNOW THE STRESS THAT'S PUT ON ATHLETES, I KNOW THE STRESS THAT'S PUT ON COACHES, AND I KNOW THE STRESS THAT HAS PUT ON COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO DO THE RIGHT THING. WE'VE ALL SEEN STUDENTS IN THE PAPER FOR THE WRONG REASON. FLAGLER HAS A TREMENDOUS HISTORY OF PROVIDING THE LEADERSHIP TO STUDENTS WHO ARE ALSO HAPPEN TO BE COLLEGE ATHLETES TO DO THE RIGHT THING ALL THE TIME. IN ONE PERIOD OF TIME RECENTLY, THEY WON 8/10 OF THE PEACH BELT CONFERENCE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS. THOSE ARE AWARDS THAT ARE GIVEN TO THE TEAMS COLLECTIVELY THAT HAVE THE BEST SPORTSMANSHIP. THAT TO ME, IT SHOWS CHARACTER BUILDING AND SHOWS RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT, OF THE PRESIDENT, THE PAST PRESIDENTS, AND OF THE CULTURE. GOOD CULTURE, GOOD CHARACTER CREATES WINNERS. WE CAN SEE THAT IN FLAGLER. MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE SUCH DRAMATIC EXCITING GAMES GOING ON RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET OUT ON THE FIELD ON AL DIXIE HIGHWAY. BUT OF THE FALL SPORTS THAT HAVE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE PEACH BELT CONFERENCE, THERE ARE SIX SPORTS THAT HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED. FLAGLER HAS WON FIVE OF THOSE SIX. THE TEAMS RANK FROM GEORGIA ALL THE WAY TO SOUTH CAROLINA. THIS IS NOT JUST A LOCAL LITTLE GROUP OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. I AM PERSONALLY VERY PROUD OF FLAGLER, VERY PROUD OF JUDD DAMON, OF PRESIDENT DELANEY. IF I COULD HAVE JUDD COME UP WITH HIS REPRESENTATIVES AND PRESIDENT DELANEY COME UP. WE'LL GIVE THEM A MINUTE TO SPEAK AND WE'LL AWARD THEM THE CERTIFICATE. [00:10:04] [OVERLAPPING] MR. DAVIS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT OUR ILLUSTRIOUS COMMISSIONER IS ALSO A MENTOR TO THE GIRLS WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM. [APPLAUSE] >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS JUDD DAMON. I'M THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT FLAGLER. APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION FOR OUR PROGRAM. WITH ME TODAY IS OUR SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR KAREN HUDGENS, OUR HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH, BLAKE SELLIN, OUR DEPUTY ATHLETICS DIRECTOR MATT GREEN, OUR HEAD WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH, ASHLEY MARTIN, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR PRESIDENT JOHN DELANEY, AND I'D LIKE TO TURN OVER THE MICROPHONE TO MR. DELANEY. >> THANK YOU, JUDD. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU. YOU'VE REALLY SUMMARIZED IT VERY WELL TO BORROW FROM A FIRM, PERSONAL INJURY FIRM THAT'S ADVERTISING A LOT. THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM HAS BEEN WINNING A LOT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IS THE WAY THEY'RE DOING IT. IT'S WITH SPORTSMANSHIP, WITH CLASS, WITH DIGNITY, AND IT MAKES OUR COLLEGE VERY PROUD, SO WE APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION FROM THE CITY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [OVERLAPPING]. >> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS. [4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING ] I WILL OPEN. WE HAVE MORE. THESE ARE ALL FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING. ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE 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. COMMENT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE, AND NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. 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, PLEASE SUBMIT THOSE ITEMS TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE IS ELLIE BURCHFIELD, AND SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BOBBY LEE HUTCHINS. GOOD EVENING. NAME AND ADDRESS IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED. >> ELLIE BURCHFIELD, I RESIDE AT 29 RHODE AVENUE. PURPOSE FOR MY COMMENTARY TONIGHT IS TO PROVIDE SOME ONGOING FEEDBACK ON THE TEMPORARY PERMIT PARKING AND THE CHANGES THAT STAFF HAS MADE TO HELP THE RESIDENTS BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS SITUATIONS. THE CHANGES THAT THEY'VE MADE HAVE BEEN QUITE A SUCCESS. I'M HEARING A LOT OF GRATITUDE FROM MY NEIGHBORS, HAVEN'T HEARD ANY REAL NEGATIVE COMMENTS, COMPLAINTS FROM THE BUSINESSES, WHICH I'LL ADDRESS IN A MINUTE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS HELPED QUITE A BIT IS THE BLOCKING OF RHODE AND GROW FROM ENTRY ONTO US ONE ON THE WEEKENDS. I NOTICE THAT THEY'RE OPENING UP DURING THE WEEK, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE. IT'S REALLY THE WEEKENDS THAT CAUSE ALL THAT PRESSURE. CHRISTMAS WEEK MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THAT MIGHT LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT. IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE A BIG LONG WEEKEND. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE FOR THAT. WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER USING [00:15:01] THE OUTCOME OF WHAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE HERE FOR FUTURE EVENTS, SUCH AS THE CELTIC FESTIVAL, SING OUT LOUD, THINGS LIKE THAT TO FURTHER HELP THE RESIDENTS WITH THIS SITUATION. THIS PAST WEEKEND, I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE THE PARKING ON RHODE. CAN I USE THE OVERHEAD HERE? >> THIS IS ROHDE AVENUE LOOKING TOWARDS THE EAST. THIS IS FRIDAY MID-MORNING. TYPICAL WEEKDAY ON ROHDE AVENUE. YOU CAN SEE NOBODY PARKED THERE. THERE'S NOBODY PARKED ALONG THIS SIDE HERE. MY CAR IS ACTUALLY RIGHT HERE, OUT OF SIGHT. THE STREET IS VERY OPEN AT THAT TIME. SATURDAY, RIGHT AFTER THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, WHICH, BY THE WAY, IT WAS NICE SEEING ALL OF YOU IN THAT, THAT WAS REALLY FUN. RIGHT AFTER THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, THIS IS WHAT THE STREET LOOKED LIKE. THE PARKING WAS VERY, VERY UTILIZED DURING THAT TIME. THE LOCALS ARE GOING THERE TO PARK. THEY'RE READING THE SIGNS. THEY'RE SEEING THAT THEY CAN USE THE PARKING UNTIL 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT THEM. HOPEFULLY, THIS HELPS THE BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA TO ALSO GET THAT STOP IN TRAFFIC, WHAT THEY NEED. I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF STARTING THE RESTRICTIONS AT A LATER TIME. THAT BEING SOMEWHERE AROUND 5:00 PM. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE THE MOST PROBLEMS. AGAIN, CHRISTMAS WEEK MIGHT BE DIFFERENT. IT SEEMS LIKE A REASONABLE COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS, AND BUSINESSES TO ME, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT LITTLE SECTION OF ROHDE AVENUE ALL THE WAY TO THE EAST ALREADY HAS THAT IN PLACE. I'VE TALKED TO TWO [NOISE] OF THE RESIDENTS, AND THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS BOBBI HUTCHINSON, FOLLOWED BY IRVIN CASS. >> HI. I'M BOBBI HITCHON. I LIVE AT 808 WEST THIRD STREET IN AUGUSTINE. I'M HERE AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR TWO ESTABLISHMENTS IN UPTOWN. IN FACT, MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM PROBABLY KNOW ME BECAUSE OF THAT. SPENCER ABBOTTS, AND SUNDAY, I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE WORKED THERE THE PAST THREE YEARS. I'VE WORKED IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS, SO I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, AND I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT A DOUBT, PLACES LIKE THE ONES IN UPTOWN, THEY DON'T EXIST. THEY'RE VERY VERY RARE. PLACES THAT FOSTER COMMUNITY, THEY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE. THEY REALLY NEED TO BE CHERISHED TO BE TRULY HONEST. THAT'S COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO'S WORKED IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR A VERY LONG TIME. THEY SUPPORT US THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS. THEY SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. THEY'RE HUGE HUBS. UNLIKE DOWNTOWN, WHICH WE'LL CONSTANTLY SEE TRAFFIC, WE RELY A LOT ON THE PEOPLE COMING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ABLE TO PARK, ABLE TO COME, AND ACCESS PRETTY EASILY. AS A TOURIST DESTINATION, WE RELY HEAVILY ON SEASONAL WORK, AND NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, AND SPRING BREAK, AS WELL AS SING OUT LOUD, A FEW FESTIVALS. THEY MAKE UP A LOT OF WHY THESE ESTABLISHMENTS CAN EXIST. THE PAST THREE WEEKS, IT'S BEEN PRETTY SHOCKING HOW MUCH LESS PEOPLE WE'VE SEEN. I'M THERE ON THE WEEKENDS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, AND IT'S VERY VERY NOTICEABLE. IT'S WORRYING FOR THE OWNERS, AND EVERYBODY WHO WORKS THERE AS WELL. IT'S NOT JUST THE OWNERS WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM THIS. THEY HIRE LOCALS, AND WE ALL RELY ON IT. I THINK WHAT WAS BEING SAID RECENTLY, AND JUST LISTENING TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE THE SITUATION BETTER. I THINK EXTENDING THE TIME TO 5:00 PM ON THE STREETS WOULD BE HUGELY HELPFUL. ALSO, JUST ALLOWING US TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE COMMERCIAL ZONES. I THINK IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF AN OVER CORRECTION. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR OWN PARKING FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL SPACE, BUT WHEN YOU SHOW UP FOR WORK, AND LIKE WE'VE ALL PIVOTED VERY EASILY TO USING SCOOTERS, I ARRIVED TONIGHT IN A SCOOTER. RESPECT THAT, BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF SPACES ON THE STREETS, AND THE BUSINESSES HEAVILY RELY ON THAT FOR ACTUAL BUSINESS. SOME OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE ACTUALLY OFFERED US PASSES TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR TEAMS, AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME, WHICH, IF THEY CAN OFFER US PASSES, I THINK THAT'S A CLEAR SIGNAL TO THE FACT THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T NEED AS MANY. OBVIOUSLY, WE LOVE OUR RESIDENTS, WE CARE ABOUT THEM, AND WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. YES, I THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY EASY TRANSITIONS TO [00:20:03] JUST MAKE EVERYTHING EASIER FOR EVERYONE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS IRVIN CASS FOLLOWED BY RITA COATES. >> GOOD EVENING. IRVIN CASS FOR ST. GEORGE STREET, HONORABLE MAYOR, AND CITY COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. I WANT TO BRIEFLY SHARE A CONCERN THAT MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE FEELING AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO JANUARY. WITH NIGHT TO LIGHT SCHEDULED TO END ON JANUARY 11, THE DATA SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN DEMAND LASTING UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY. INDICATORS SUGGEST THAT JANUARY MAY PERFORM EVEN WORSE THAN SEPTEMBER, ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING MONTHS OUR WORKFORCE EXPERIENCED IN RECENT YEARS. IF THIS HAPPENS, WE ALL KNOW THE EFFECTS. HOURS WILL BE REDUCED. SEASONAL STAFF WILL BE LET GO, AND MANY FAMILIES WHO RELY ON TOURISM, HOSPITALITY, AND RETAIL WILL FEEL THE IMPACT IMMEDIATELY. TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, IF THE CITY HAD TO OPERATE WITH ONLY HALF OF ITS STAFF BUDGET, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE? MOST SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE THE RESERVES TO ABSORB A SUDDEN DROP OF THAT SCALE. MANY ARE ALREADY STRETCHED BY HIGHER COST, AND INSURANCE PREMIUMS. A SHARP DOWNTURN IN JANUARY COULD FORCE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. WE SHARE THIS TODAY BECAUSE THERE IS A PRACTICAL, RESPONSIBLE WAY TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF THIS DECLINE. EXTEND NIGHTS OF LIGHTS BY TWO ADDITIONAL WEEKS TO MAKE A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE IN EMPLOYEES LIVES. THIS YEAR, YOUR TEAM HAS DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, TRAFFIC FLOW, LIGHTING SYSTEMS, VISITOR MANAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC SAFETY HAVE ALL PERFORMED BETTER THAN THEY HAVE IN YEARS. BECAUSE OF THAT, THE SYSTEM CAN SUPPORT A MODEST EXTENSION WITH MINIMAL ADDED STRAIN. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE BENEFIT TO OUR RESIDENTS WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL. A TWO-WEEK EXTENSION WOULD HELP SUPPORT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LOCAL WORKERS IN HOSPITALITY, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL TRANSPORTATION, ATTRACTION, AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DEPEND ON STEADY WINTER VISITATION. THEY ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS, THEY ARE FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS WHO KEEP THE CITY WELCOMING AND VIBRANT. COMMISSIONERS, A MOMENT LIKE THIS ALLOW LEADERS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL SUPPORT. YOUR DECISION HAS ALWAYS REFLECTED A DEEP COMMITMENT TO BALANCING QUALITY OF LIFE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY. EXTENDING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THIS YEAR WOULD BE A CONTINUATION OF THAT THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP. WITH ONE ACTION, YOU CAN STABILIZE JANUARY, PROTECT JOBS, REDUCE LAYOFFS, AND GIVE SMALL BUSINESSES THE [NOISE] CHANCE TO KEEP THEIR TEAMS EMPLOYED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RITA COATES, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER WILSON. >> COMMISSIONERS, I'M A RESIDENT OF ABBOTT TRACT IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I WANTED TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING. WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS REMOVED. IT HAS MADE ROHDE AND CINCINNATI NO LONGER PLAYING CHICKEN, TRYING TO GET DOWN THOSE STREETS WHEN YOU HAVE PARKING UP AND DOWN BOTH SIDES. THERE'S ONLY A STOP SIGN AS AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN PASS ANOTHER CAR. MOST TOURISTS DON'T REALIZE THAT THAT IS THE CASE, AND SO YOU GET PEOPLE ON THAT STREET THAT ARE BACKED UP TWO, AND THREE PEOPLE BACK, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TWO OR THREE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET DOWN THE STREET. LAST YEAR, IT TOOK ME OVER AN HOUR TO GET FROM THE LIBRARY TO ABBOTT TRACT. IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, YOU KNOW THAT IS NOT A VERY LONG DISTANCE. THIS YEAR, IT TOOK ME ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON A PEAK OF A FRIDAY EVENING, AND SO I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE CITY ON WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO HELP THE TRAFFIC FLOW. I COMMEND YOU ON PUTTING THE BARRICADES UP, SO PEOPLE DON'T CRISSCROSS IN FRONT OF THE STREETS. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS MUCH SAFER FOR BOTH OUR RESIDENTS, AND OUR TOURIST. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY ARE VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT HAS BEEN [00:25:01] INSTALLED AS THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH IS A TIMEFRAME WHEN THERE'S JUST MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN. I'D ALSO LIKE TO BRING TO THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM LAST YEAR WITH THE MISSION OPENING AN UNAPPROVED PARKING LOT THAT NEEDED TO BE SHUT DOWN. THAT PARKING LOT HAS REOPENED. I HAVE CALLED THE CODE ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE A FILE THAT IT'S OPEN, BUT THAT IT WILL NOT BE ON DECEMBER'S AGENDA BECAUSE IT'S FULL, SO THAT PUTS IT IN JANUARY'S AGENDA. IT'LL BE OVER WITH. IT'S A $250 A DAY FINE IS WHAT THEY SAY THEY CAN FINE THEM. THAT'S NOTHING WHEN YOU'RE PARKING HUNDREDS OF CARS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T HAVE ANY TEETH TO GO OUT THERE, AND SHUT THAT DOWN. IT IS DANGEROUS IN THAT AREA. IT'S DARK. YOU HAVE PEOPLE ON THE STREET CORNER THAT ARE TWIRLING SIGNS, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME OFF OF SAN MARCO, AND PARK AND GO ENTER THROUGH PINE STREET, WHICH IS NOT A LEGAL ENTRANCE. IT'S ONE OF THE BACK GATES. I WANT TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION THAT MAYBE WE CAN GET THIS ADDRESSED BEFORE IT'S OVER WITH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER WILSON, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE ZOTTA. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN. COUNTRY CARRIAGES CONTINUES TO VIOLATE THE TERMS OF THEIR LEASE AGREEMENT REGARDING THE SLUM STABLES ON RIBERIA STREET. ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2024, CITY MANAGER, DAVID BURCHAM SENT A LETTER TITLED, "LAST CHANCE LETTER FOR LEASE AND FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS FOR COUNTRY CARRIAGES," IN WHICH HE OUTLINES EGREGIOUS, AND GRAVE VIOLATIONS. THE LETTER CLOSES WITH, "CONSEQUENTLY, THIS LETTER SERVES AS YOUR LAST, AND ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT YOUR COMPANY'S OPERATIONS BEFORE ANY ADDITIONAL WRONGDOINGS OCCUR. ANY FURTHER VIOLATIONS WILL IMMEDIATELY LEAD TO THE TERMINATION OF THE LEASE, AND FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AND COUNTRY CARRIAGES." THESE ARE EMPTY THREATS. WE VISITED THE STABLES ON THANKSGIVING AND REPORTED VIOLATIONS TO JABARI. FIRST, THE CHAIN LINK FENCE AT THE BACK STABLE. COUNTRY CARRIAGES WAS ALREADY INSTRUCTED TO FIX THIS FENCE. PER SECTION 6 OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. OCTOBER 16, 2025, IN A LETTER FROM CORI SOCHER, FENCING AND HARDWARE, CORRAL FENCING AND ASSOCIATED GATES AND HARDWARE REQUIRE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR TO ENSURE SAFE AND SECURE ENCLOSURES. YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN CORRECTIVE MEASURES IMMEDIATELY, AND DEMONSTRATE VISIBLE PROGRESS PRIOR TO THE CITY'S FOLLOW UP VISIT IN NOVEMBER. ON DECEMBER 6TH, THE CHAIN LINK FENCE WAS STILL BROKEN OFF THE POSTS, AND SAGGING. IT TAKES ONE DAY TO FIX A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE CUSSONS HAVE HAD SEVEN WEEKS. ON NOVEMBER 19TH, JENNIFER CUSSON GOT ANOTHER LETTER REGARDING REMOVING A MINI HORSE FROM THE CITY LEASED STABLES. "CONSIDER THIS NOTICE TO REMOVE THE SPECIFIED HORSE WITHIN 15 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER. IF THESE CONDITIONS REMAIN UNRESOLVED AFTER THAT TIME, THE CITY WILL CONSIDER THE MATTER A BREACH OF YOUR AGREEMENT, AND YOUR FRANCHISE WILL BE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE TERMINATION." THE CUSSONS HAVE NOT ONLY STABLED MINI HORSES, BUT NOW THERE IS A GOAT, AND I JUST CHECKED. THE GOAT IS STILL THERE. THERE IS A GOAT RIGHT NOW AT THE CITY LEASED STABLES WITH A CHAIN AROUND HIS NECK. I HAVE SUBMITTED PHOTOS FOR YOU TO SEE. THE ENFORCEMENT IS HONESTLY LAUGHABLE. THERE IS CORRUPTION, THERE IS FAVORITISM IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. WE ARE THE ONES MONITORING THESE POOR HORSES, AND THE STABLES, AND IT IS NOT UP TO CODE. YOU LET THESE ANIMAL ABUSERS, THESE CRIMINAL CUSSONS DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, AND IT HAS TO STOP. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CATHERINE ZOTTA FOLLOWED BY SUSAN PHILLIPS. [00:30:01] >> I'M CATHERINE ZOTTA. LAST WEDNESDAY, I WITNESSED A CARRIAGE HORSE STUMBLE, AND NEARLY FALL ON THE BAYFRONT. IN FACT, IT ACTUALLY LOOKED LIKE HE DID FALL, BUT QUICKLY RECOVERED. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE HORSE SHOWED CLEAR SIGNS OF DISTRESS, REPEATEDLY LIFTING HIS BACK LEG OFF THE GROUND, AND TWISTING HIS TONGUE WITH AN ANGUISHED LOOK ON HIS FACE. DESPITE THE HORSE'S ONGOING DISTRESS, THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO WORK HIM, NEVER CHECKED ON HIM, PROVIDED NO WATER, AND DENIED HIM HIS REQUIRED REST PERIOD. THE DRIVER'S APPARENT DISREGARD FOR THE HORSE'S WELFARE WAS DEEPLY DISTURBING, PARTICULARLY IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF SUCH A SERIOUS INCIDENT. EQUINE BEHAVIOR EXPERTS HAVE SHOWN THAT REPEATED VOCALIZATIONS, TONGUE PROTRUSION, AND FACIAL CHANGES ARE RECOGNIZED SIGNS OF DISTRESS OR DISCOMFORT IN HORSES, ESPECIALLY AFTER A SIGNIFICANT STUMBLE. THE HORSES BEHAVIOR AFTER THE STUMBLING INCIDENT CLEARLY REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THIS PHOTO TAKEN RIGHT AFTER THE INCIDENT, SHOWS A BYSTANDER HOLDING THE HORSE'S REINS NEAR HIS FACE BECAUSE THE DRIVER FAILED TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION, PUTTING BOTH THE HORSE, AND PUBLIC AT RISK. HERE'S HER ARM HERE, HOLDING THE REINS. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE BAYFRONT THREE DAYS LATER, I SAW THE SAME DRIVER AND HORSE WAITING FOR PASSENGERS. DURING THIS TIME, THE HORSE NEIGHED REPEATEDLY, PROMPTING A FEW BYSTANDERS TO ASK WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER PROVIDE WATER, OR CHECK ON THE HORSE. THE HORSE APPEARED TO BE HIGHLY DISTRESSED, AND REPEATEDLY LOOKED BACK AT THE DRIVER, SEEMINGLY TO SEEK ATTENTION, OR ASSISTANCE. HE GOT NEITHER. THE COMPANY INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT, CB HINSON, WITH INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, JESSE SABO HAVE UNCLEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPERATIONS, INCLUDING HANDLING HORSE STUMBLES AND FALLS. THIS LACK OF CLARITY CONTRIBUTES TO UNSAFE SITUATIONS LIKE THE ONE I WITNESSED. AT PRESENT, THE CITY CODE DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY PROTOCOL FOR RESPONDING TO HORSE FALLS OR STUMBLES. DRIVERS MUST BE TRAINED ON PROPER PROCEDURES FOLLOWING THESE INCIDENTS, INCLUDING HOW TO RECOGNIZE STRESS LINES, AND PROPERLY ASSESS A HORSE BEFORE RETURNING THEM TO SERVICE. THE CITY MUST ESTABLISH CLEAR REQUIRED PROTOCOLS FOR HANDLING HORSE STUMBLES OR FALLS, AND ENSURE DRIVERS ARE TRAINED TO FOLLOW THEM [NOISE] TO PROTECT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> SUSAN PHILLIPS, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS JOLLY. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M SUSAN PHILLIPS WITH THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU. MADAM MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS. IT'S A DELIGHT TO BE HERE THIS EVENING. I WANT TO TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I'VE WRITTEN SOME COMMENTS. I HAVE TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO THE WHOLE COMMISSION FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE THIS YEAR TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD WITH NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. YOU'VE BEEN VERY THOUGHTFUL AND VERY DELIBERATE, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW THAT URBAN CASE HAS OUTLINED HIS ECONOMIC CONCERNS CLEARLY, AND I'D LIKE TO ADD A COMPLIMENTARY PERSPECTIVE. ONE THAT IS GROUNDED IN THE BALANCE WE STRIVE FOR EVERY DAY WHILE SUPPORTING OUR RESIDENTS AND ENSURING A STABLE, SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ECONOMY. THIS FALL AND WINTER HAS CREATED CHALLENGES FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HEAR IT FROM SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, FROM HOSPITALITY WORKERS WHOSE HOURS ARE ALREADY BEING REDUCED, AND FROM FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH RISING LIVING COSTS. WE ALSO HEAR FROM OUR RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO ENSURE THAT MAJOR EVENTS ARE WELL MANAGED AND DON'T OVERWHELM THEIR DAILY LIVES. BOTH SETS OF CONCERNS MATTER DEEPLY. I WANT TO UNDERSCORE IS THAT THESE PRIORITIES DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN CONFLICT. WHEN TOURISM IS THOUGHTFULLY MANAGED, IT STRENGTHENS OUR TAX BASE, SUPPORTS ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES, AND REDUCES FINANCIAL PRESSURES ON RESIDENTS. WHEN IT WEAKENS, THE IMPACT IS FELT BY THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. EXTENDING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THROUGH JANUARY IS A STRATEGIC ADJUSTMENT THAT REFLECTS THE CONDITIONS WE ARE FACING THIS SEASON. IT IS NOT ABOUT EXPANDING PEAK VISITATION. JANUARY IS A NATURALLY LIGHTER TIME, AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS MADE THIS YEAR HAS GREATLY REDUCED THE OPERATIONAL STRAIN AND THE RESIDENT FRUSTRATIONS, [00:35:03] AND WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT PROGRESS. A SHORT EXTENSION WOULD HELP STABILIZE EMPLOYMENT, SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, AND SOFTEN WHAT OTHERWISE COULD BE A SHARP ECONOMIC DIP FOR MANY LOCAL FAMILIES. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR LOCAL FAMILIES HERE. LOOKING AHEAD, WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY AND STAKEHOLDERS, ALL OF US HERE, CONTINUE TO HAVE A THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE TOGETHER ABOUT THE TIMING AND SCOPE OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS EACH YEAR. CONSISTENCY AND PREDICTABILITY ARE VALUABLE FOR RESIDENTS, FOR THE BUSINESSES AND FOR EFFECTIVE CITY PLANNING. TONIGHT'S REQUEST IS ABOUT ADDRESSING OUR IMMEDIATE NEED WHILE REFLECTING OUR COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY TO ENSURE THIS EVENT CONTINUES TO WORK WELL FOR EVERYONE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE. OUR GOAL IS NOT TO PRIORITIZE TOURISM OVER RESIDENTS. I THINK WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT THIS YEAR. OUR GOAL IS SIMPLY TO STRENGTHEN THE QUALITY OF LIFE, SUPPORTING A BALANCED, RESILIENT, LOCAL ECONOMY. IN CLOSING, WE APPRECIATE GREATLY YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. CHRIS JOLLY IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH SNYDER. >> HI, THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I'M CHRIS JOLLY. I WISH I COULD HAVE GONE FIRST. IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO KEEP IT TOGETHER AFTER HEARING SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE TALK. I THINK IT'S WRONG TO ABUSE ANIMALS. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS. I THINK THAT IT'S ALSO REALLY SHAMEFUL IF YOU KNOW THAT ANIMALS ARE BEING ABUSED AND YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY FOR ECONOMIC REASONS. FOR A TOWN THAT RELIES SO HEAVILY ON TOURISM, I THINK IF THE WORD GETS OUT, THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS HERE, AND WE DON'T CARE AND WE JUST TURN A BLIND EYE, THAT IT'S GOING TO AFFECT EVERYBODY IN THE TOWN. ASIDE FROM EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE SAID, I HAVE SEEN THE VIDEO. MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE OF THE OWNER OF COUNTRY CARRIAGES KICKING AND PUNCHING ONE OF HIS HORSES. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S THE CORRECT WAY TO DISCIPLINE AN ANIMAL. I DON'T TREAT ANIMALS THAT WAY. I KNOW MOST OTHER PEOPLE DON'T TREAT THEM THAT WAY. THE OTHER DAY, I WAS BEHIND A CARRIAGE THAT WAS DOING A TOUR DURING THE EVENING FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. RIGHT NEXT TO THE PARK THERE, THEY WERE DOING SOME SORT OF REENACTMENT WHERE THEY WERE SETTING OFF FAKE CANNON FIRE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET IN FRONT OF A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE AND THE HORSES LOSING ITS MIND BECAUSE OF ALL THE NOISE. HORSES DON'T BELONG IN TRAFFIC. THEY DON'T BELONG DOWNTOWN. THEY DON'T BELONG AROUND CANNON FIRE. THEY SHOULDN'T BE PUNCHED AND KICKED. THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY. THANKS VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. ELIZABETH SNYDER, FOLLOWED BY RON HOOLIGAN. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. MY NAME IS LIZ SNYDER. I LIVE AT 44 BAYVIEW DRIVE. I'M ALSO CO OWNER OF SPINSTER ABBOTTS IN UPTOWN. I EMPLOY ABOUT 20 EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING FLAGLER STUDENTS, FLAGLER GRADUATES, RETIREES, LONGTIME ST. AUGUSTINE RESIDENTS. I THINK MY EMPLOYEE BASE IS ALSO REFLECTED IN OUR CUSTOMER BASE. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS TODAY IN MY TIME, I THINK I'M THE FIRST TOWN BUSINESS OWNER TO SPEAK THIS EVENING. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME SIMILAR HIGHLIGHTS. WE DID COME TOGETHER PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, AND WE DECIDED WE WANT TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL. WE'RE COMING HERE. WE WANT TO BE SOLUTIONS ORIENTED. JUST LIKE WHAT YOU SEE IN THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WE WANT TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT BOTH OUR LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES AND OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND I COUNT MYSELF AS BOTH OF THOSE. WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME CONCRETE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE BEING NEGATIVELY IMPACTED SO FAR WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH PARKING THAT WE'RE EXPERIMENTING WITH HERE. WE ARE BEING NEGATIVELY IMPACTED. I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF. BUT FOR THE TIME SINCE THE PARKING CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED, I'M DOWN ABOUT 20% OF GROSS REVENUE, SIMILARLY FOR NET REVENUE WHEN COMPARED TO THE EXACT SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. I DO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A BUNCH OF VARIABLES THAT ARE INVOLVED. IT'S HARD ECONOMIC TIMES, BUT THIS IS ONLY MAKING IT HARDER FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ALREADY HAVE SLIM MARGINS. I'M NOT MAKING A BUNCH OF MONEY. I'VE BEEN OPEN TWO YEARS. I SKIP PAYING MYSELF SOMETIMES SO I CAN PAY MY EMPLOYEES AND MY VENDORS. I ALSO WANT TO BE SOLUTIONS ORIENTED. JUST A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WOULD HELP US IMMEDIATELY. I THINK IT WAS VERY HEARTENING TO HEAR AT LEAST ONE NEIGHBOR SAY THEY COULD BE IN SUPPORT OF A 5:00 PM, START TIME, AND THAT'S BASED ON THE EVIDENCE THAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR. AS SOMEONE WHO STAYS OPEN LATER, I'M EXCITED FOR THAT FROM MY BUSINESS NEIGHBORS WHO ARE OPEN UNTIL 5 OR 6. I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMMENSELY HELPFUL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, [00:40:01] AND I CAN SEND THE DETAILS TO THE COMMISSION, BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT PUBLIC PARKING AND RESIDENTIAL ZONES NEED TO BE RESERVED FOR RESIDENTS, THEN I THINK THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT SAME COIN THEN IS THAT COMMERCIAL PARKING SHOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESS. AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS IN TOWN WHERE THERE ARE RESIDENT ONLY PARKING SIGNS IN COMMERCIAL ZONES. IT'S EASILY VERIFIABLE WITH YOUR CL2 MAP. THAT IS TAKING OVER AT LEAST TEN COMMERCIAL PARKING SPACES THAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE HISTORICALLY RELIED UPON. AT THE VERY LEAST, THAT IS AN EASY, VERY FAIR FIX THAT DOES NOT ACTUALLY UNDO ANYTHING THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS REQUESTED. IT SIMPLY PUTS THE SIGNS WHERE THEY BELONG. I THINK THAT'S IT, OH, THE LAST THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT WE'RE ALSO, I'LL SEND IT TO YOU AN EMAIL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RON, I THINK I'M SAYING THIS RIGHT, HOOLIGANT, AND MAYBE WRONG. I'M SURE IT'S WRONG. I SEE YOU SMILING. FOLLOWED BY ANN TAYLOR. >> THANK YOU, NANCY, IT'S HOOLIGANT. 72 SAN MARCO, AND I'M JUST GOING TO REINFORCE WHAT A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID IS, THESE ARE THE HOLIDAYS. THIS IS WHEN BUSINESS IS REALLY MAKING THEIR MONEY. ANYTIME YOU IMPACT A BUSINESS WITH PARKING, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE LESS SALES. I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR AND YOUR STAFF. THEY'VE GIVEN US SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU TRIED TO DO ORIGINALLY WITH THE PARKING. I THINK IT'S VERY CONFUSING SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A RESIDENCE THAT'S A SHOULDER SECTION VERSUS A CURB AND GUTTER SECTION. SOME THINGS ARE YELLOWED OUT, SOME THINGS AREN'T. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE TRY TO THEY WONDER WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PARK. JUST LISTENING TO SOME BUSINESSES AS MY WIFE, WHO'S THE PAINTED LADY, WANTED ME TO TALK TO SEVERAL BUSINESS OWNERS AND LISTENING TO WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY, AND EVEN THE CUSTOMERS WERE VERY CONFUSED ABOUT WHERE THEY COULD PARK. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GUYS DID. YOU PUT YOUR SIGN IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF SAN MARCO SO THAT IT WOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GOING TO THE WEST. BUT THAT ACTUALLY CONFUSED EVERYBODY BECAUSE YOU HAVE SIGNS THAT ARE POSTED 2 HOURS, 1 HOUR. OPEN GAPS LIKE ON RODY THAT ONE OF THESE FOLKS SAID IN FRONT OF NPS, FOR EXAMPLE, HE'S GOT PARKING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THERE, AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHERE YOU CAN PARK. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT AS YOU GO FORWARD WITH YOUR PLAN, I THINK STAYING OPEN UNTIL 5:00 O'CLOCK OR NOT REQUIRING FOLKS TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE THEY HAVE TO PARK FROM 5 AND A FORWARD OR 5:30 FORWARD WILL CERTAINLY BE HELPFUL TO THE BUSINESSES. BUT MORE THAN THAT, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL SHOULD PROBABLY DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY PARK IN THE STREET, AND MAYBE YOU PAINT IT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, OR YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE PROPER POSTED SIGN SHOULD BE. BUT IT IS CONFUSING. AND FOLKS WHO WANT TO PARK AND I GET IT WHERE RESIDENTS WANT TO HAVE THEIR PROPER SPACE IN IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE, MOST PEOPLE WOULD. SO TRYING TO GET THAT UNDER CONTROL IS CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE FOR YOU GUYS. BUT AGAIN, THE BUSINESSES REALLY NEED THE TIME SO THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE PARKING. YOU DON'T NEED TWO SIGNS, FOR EXAMPLE, ON CINCINNATI, ONE AT THE CURB RETURN AS YOU GO WESTBOUND, AND ANOTHER ONE AT THE FOLLOWING BLOCK. THAT JUST CONFUSES PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN'T PARK IN THE TWO HOUR PARKING. NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BAG THEM, BUT THEN YOU'RE ALSO RESTRICTING COMMERCIAL PARKING. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW YOU DISTRIBUTE PARKING. CERTAINLY THE BUSINESSES WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WALK DOWN EVERY BUSINESS WITH THE RESIDENCES AND COORDINATE, WHAT THAT REALLY LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE CERTAINLY, THEY WANT TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE RESIDENTS, BUT THEY ALSO WANT THEIR CUSTOMERS NOT TO BE CONFUSED. BUT YOU COULD POST MOUNT THE SIGNS, AND YOU COULD ALSO PAINT SOME DELINEATION TO MAKE THAT WORK CORRECTLY. SO APPRECIATE THE TIME. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANN TAYLOR FOLLOWED BY JUDY GLAZEBROOK. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. MR. BURCHAM. NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY. I JUST WANT TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE REGARDING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND FOR WORKING WITH THE COUNTY IN THE WAY THAT YOU DID THIS YEAR, SO SO IMPORTANT, AS YOU ALL KNOW TOURISM IS OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY. IT IS SO CRITICAL FOR SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS IN THIS COUNTY. AS WE'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF BUSINESS OWNERS, THAT THIS YEAR UNFORTUNATELY HAS NOT GONE IS PLANNED. THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE STRUGGLING. ON BEHALF OF SO MANY EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT DEPEND ON THIS TIME OF YEAR TO REALLY HELP PAY THEIR BILLS, ESPECIALLY AT THE HOLIDAY TIME, AND THOSE BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE THEIR EMPLOYMENT. [00:45:03] I WOULD LOVE TO ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND AN EXTENSION. FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THIS YEAR FURTHER INTO JANUARY. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP OUT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. I ALSO HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF MESSAGES FROM RESIDENTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT WOULD MUCH RATHER GO IN JANUARY WHEN IT'S NOT QUITE SO BUSY, AND IT'S CONSIDERED A MORE OFF PEAK TIME THAT THEY ARE CHOOSING NOT TO COME AT ALL THIS YEAR. THAT'S A GREAT TIME FOR OTHER LOCALS TO COME, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE RIGHT HERE RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WORKING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. GREAT, GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. JUDY GLAZEBROOK, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT YORK. >> HI, JUDY GLAZEBROOK, 30 ROAD AVENUE. I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT'S MOSTLY BECAUSE IT'S SOLVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. IT'S SOLVING NOT JUST PARKING, BUT IT'S SOLVING TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO PUT AN EMPHASIS ON THE TRAFFIC. IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE PARKING, AND IT'S LESS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING A PARKING SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE. BUT IT HAS REALLY REDUCED THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS ON OUR STREET. I'M IN FAVOR OF ANY INITIATIVE THAT CAN REDUCE THE TRAFFIC AROUND THE CITY CENTER. THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE LOUDED AND EXPANDED. I THINK THAT THE CITY COULD DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO DO FUTURE AUGMENTATION TO THE PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGE THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. I WOULD SAY THE PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL. ALSO LOOKING AT TRAFFIC, I WOULD TRY TO DISCOURAGE THE USE OF VISITOR PARKING IN THE WEST CASTILE PARKING LOT. IRONICALLY, DISCOURAGING THE USE THE VISITOR USE OF THAT PARKING COULD ACTUALLY HELP WITH EMPLOYEE PARKING, AND I'LL GET BACK TO THAT LATER. BUT AS FAR AS TRAFFIC, I DON'T HAVE ANY OFFICIAL DATA, I JUST WOULD WALK UP TO US ONE AND ALSO SAN MARCO AND DURING PEAK HOURS, AND I SAW SIGNIFICANT BACKUP, AND THAT WOULD BE BACKUP THAT THE REMOTE SHUTTLE BUSES WOULD BE ENTRENCHED IN. AGAIN, IT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION. I DON'T KNOW I DON'T HAVE DATA, BUT IF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAS DATA THAT SUPPORTS THE FACT THAT TRAFFIC IS STILL SOMEWHAT A PROBLEM, THERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT I HAVE. BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE CHANGE AS FAR AS TRAFFIC. BUT IF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY THINKS THAT SOME MORE WORK CAN BE DONE ON THAT, WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS EXPAND THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT DEFINITELY HELPS WITH TRAFFIC, AND THEN INCREASE THE VALUE AND THE USE OF THE SAN MARCO SHUTTLE AND COORDINATE WITH THE BUSINESSES TO REMAIN OPEN DURING THAT SHUTTLE AND THEN ADD A SHUTTLE STOP FOR THE BUSINESSES ON SAN MARCO. THEN IN ORDER TO HELP WITH EMPLOYEE PARKING, I'M SUGGESTING THAT POSSIBLY THE CONSIDERATION OF A HIGHER FEE FOR THE SAN MARCO LOT WOULD THEN HELP AUGMENT RESERVED PARKING FOR EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. >> SCOTT YORK, FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA RAMOS. >> GOOD EVENING, SCOTT YORK 29 SPANISH STREET, THE MOST CHARMING STREET IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I FIRST WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK CHIEF JENNIFER MISCHA FOR HER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS CITY. I DIDN'T REALIZE SHE HAD BEEN HERE THAT LONG. I KNEW SHE'D BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, BUT I DO REALIZE HER IMPACT ON OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMPASSION AND KINDNESS THAT SHE HAS BROUGHT TO POLICING HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. WE CAN'T ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF EVERY SITUATION, AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT KNOWS THAT. THEY SHOW THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU FOR HER SERVICE. NOW LET'S GET TO THE MEAT OF IT AND TALK ABOUT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I THINK I'M THE BIGGEST FAN OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IN THIS ROOM. [00:50:02] I KNOW A LOT OF THE BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE FANS OF IT, BUT I GO OUT AND ENJOY NIGHTS OF LIGHTS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. I'VE ONLY GOT 58 NIGHTS OF IT THIS YEAR, BUT EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, GET TO GO OUT AND ENJOY IT, NOT ONLY BY MYSELF, BUT ALSO SHARING IT WITH VISITORS WHO COME INTO OUR TOWN NOT ONLY FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, BUT TO LEARN ABOUT THE ACTUAL HISTORY OF THE TOWN. DURING THAT TIME, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE HISTORY OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AS WELL. I'VE GOT A PHOTO HERE THAT SHOWS THE CHRISTMAS TREE FROM THE VERY FIRST NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. THE POOR OLD TREE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY LIGHTS ON IT, AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE NOW. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. HOWEVER, THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO SHORT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WERE DONE ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS. THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS FATIGUE IS A REAL THING. I PERSONALLY DON'T SUFFER FROM IT. I MUST BE IMMUNE TO IT SOMEHOW, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY A REAL THING. I STILL GET TO GO OUT AND ENJOY IT, BUT PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM IT. THE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE BY THE CITY WITH SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE COUNTY IS WORKING. TRAFFIC HAS BEEN REDUCED. I HAVE NOT TALKED TO A SINGLE BUSINESS OWNER YET, WHOSE NUMBERS ARE DOWN THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THIS WEEKEND MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE DID GET SOME OF THAT RAIN THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ON ANY SINGLE WEEKEND LAST YEAR. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. BUT OVERALL, NUMBERS ARE STILL THERE. WE HAD AN ESTIMATED 35,000 PEOPLE AT LIGHT UP NIGHT, WHICH WAS A WEEK EARLIER THAN TRADITIONAL. EXTENDING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THIS YEAR, WE PROMISED A BREAK FOR THE RESIDENTS TO ALLOW THEM TO GET BACK SOME OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY HAVE LOST OVER THE LAST 32 YEARS. WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THE BUSINESSES AND WHAT THEY BRING IN. BUT WALKING DOWN ST. GEORGE STREET TODAY, I SAW 20 SIGNS NOW HIRING IN BUSINESS WINDOWS. IF THEY'RE STILL HIRING, THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T LOSING JOBS IF WE CUT IT OFF ON JANUARY 11. LUTHER KING WEEKEND FOLLOWS THE END OF NIGHTS LIGHTS THIS YEAR. IF ANYBODY THINKS THERE'S GOING TO BE A DOWNTURN IN TOURISM ON A THREE DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND, YOU'RE MISTAKEN. IT WILL STILL BE BUSY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. PATRICIA RAMOS, FOLLOWED BY JAMIE HUTCHCO. EVENING. MY NAME IS PATRICIA. THREE MINUTES CANNOT BEGIN TO COVER THE EXTENT OF THE CRUELTY AND COUNTLESS INFRACTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOUND. I AM HERE TO ONCE AGAIN NOT ONLY SHOW THE ABUSE WITHIN THE HORSE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AS WITNESSED IN THAT VIDEO. PLEASE KEEP THAT UP UNTIL I SHOW MY NEXT VIDEO. BUT ALSO CONTINUED INFRACTIONS, SUCH AS NOT ALLOWING THE HORSES OR 15 MINUTE BREAKS BETWEEN TOURS, MUNICIPAL CODE, SECTION 27-144 ITEM FIVE, AS WELL AS SMOKING RIGHT NEXT TO A HORSE'S FACE. IS THIS WHAT YOU ALL THINK IS DONE FOR THE LOVE OF THE HORSES? THEY HAVE MINIMAL BREAKS. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE 15 MINUTE BREAKS. HERE'S THE HORSE COMING IN AT 6:22. 06:22. IT THEN LEAVES AT 6:30. DEPARTURE 8 MINUTES. ANOTHER HORSE COMES IN AT 6:47, AND ARRIVES ALONG WITH ANOTHER CARRIAGE. THE PINK HORSE CARRIAGE, ONLY HAS 7 MINUTES AND THE ONE WITH THE DOUBLE HORSES ONLY HAS 4 MINUTES, 4 MINUTES OF THE 15. THAT'S THE HORSES THAT ONLY HAD 4 MINUTES. NEXT, HERE'S A HORSE FRESH OFF OF A TOUR, 6:41. THE PICTURE I'M GOING TO SHOW SAYS 6:46, AND THE HORSE STILL HAS NOT HAD ANY WATER WHILE THE GENTLEMAN IS STILL SMOKING IN FRONT OF THE HORSE'S FACE. A HORSE FINISHING A LONG CARRIAGE RIDE IS ALREADY EXHAUSTED, DEHYDRATED, AND STRESSED. INSTEAD OF BEING GIVEN WATER OR A BREAK, CIGARETTE SMOKE IS BLOWN IN THEIR FACE. THAT'S NOT JUST NEGLIGENT, THAT'S HEARTLESS. [00:55:03] HORSES HAVE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AIRWAYS. SMOKE INHALATION CAN TRIGGER COUGHING, AIRWAY INFLAMMATION, AND LONG TERM RESPIRATORY ISSUES. DENYING WATER AFTER EXERTION DISPLAYS RISK OF DEHYDRATION, OVERHEATING, AND COLIC. IT'S NOT A ONE OFF. DRIVERS WHO ACT LIKE THIS RARELY DO IT ONLY ONCE. IT IT SHOWS A CULTURE OF DISRESPECT TOWARDS THE ANIMALS, WHICH IS COMMON IN THIS INDUSTRY. THE PUBLIC IS DISGUSTED, AND WE ARE OUTRAGED THAT ST. AUGUSTINE CONTINUES TO CHOOSE GREED AND ABUSE OVER SAFETY AND COMPASSION. INEXCUSABLE TO IGNORE REPORTS AND MISTREATMENT IN FRACTIONS, A CITY THAT TURNS A BLIND EYE TO SUFFERING IS COMPLICIT. ST. AUGUSTINE MUST FINALLY STEP UP AND SHOW THE WORLD THAT YOU CAN EVOLVE THROUGH KINDNESS AND BRING THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGES. KEEP THE CHARM WITHOUT THE CRUELTY. IN CASE ANYONE FORGOT. THAT IS BILL CUSHINS THE OWNER OF COUNTRY CARRIAGES. DO NOT LET THAT BE UNSEEN. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE LOVE OF THE HORSES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JAMIE HUTCHCO, IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY WYNDAM YANCY. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM JAMIE HUTCHCO. I AM THE OWNER OF LUIS CUPCAKES AND BAKERY ON 82 SAN MARCO. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN GROSS PROFITS IN NOVEMBER. WE'VE SEEN ABOUT 18% DECREASE IN NOVEMBER, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, SATURDAY, WE LOVE OUR PARADE. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARADE, AND THAT IS OUR BUSIEST DAY OF THE YEAR FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. THE MORNING WAS WONDERFUL. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. WE HAD ALL THE CUSTOMERS WE OPENED UP EARLY, WE HAD ALL THE CUSTOMERS WE COULD EVER WANT, AND THEN SOME. THEN I WILL TELL YOU THAT AT 1:00, IT WENT WAY DOWN. THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR TO BE QUITE HONEST. THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR OUR BUSINESS. WE PLANNED FOR THAT FOR TWO WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE STAFF AVAILABLE. OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF THE BAKED GOODS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO AS WELL AS WE CAN, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE DAY THAT WE TRY TO MAKE UP FOR PREVIOUS MONTHS THAT WE'VE HAD DIFFICULTY. WE, AS BUSINESS OWNERS DO WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. I THINK IF WE COULD BRING BACK AND STARTED AT 5:00, INSTEAD OF THE 1:00 WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT HELP TO US. WE HAVE TRIED TO STAY OPEN LATE AT NIGHT, BUT QUITE HONESTLY, BECAUSE OF THE PARKING SITUATION, IT DOESN'T PAY TO STAY OPEN. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ADDITIONAL SALES AS WELL AND HAVE CUSTOMERS COMING IN. IT JUST DOESN'T PAY FOR US TO BE OPEN. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU. >> THANK YOU. WYNDAM YANCY FOLLOWED BY BECCA KRELL. >> GOOD EVENING. WYNDAM YANCY I CURRENTLY RESIDE AT 2365 ROLLING HILLS DRIVE. I'M A LIFETIME ST. AUGUSTINE RESIDENT AND ALSO A LIFETIME EQUESTRIAN. I'D LIKE TO KIND OF BLEND A COUPLE POINTS. I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN READING THROUGH ALL OF THE PUBLIC MEETING SINCE OCTOBER, AND THE MAIN VOICE HAS BEEN PARKING AND ANIMAL ABUSE, ANIMAL ABUSE AND PARKING, PARKING, AND ANIMAL ABUSE. IT'S SURPRISING TO ME THAT YOU WOULD OPEN YOURSELF UP TO SO MUCH LIABILITY BY ALLOWING A FRANCHISE THAT YOU SIMPLY CANNOT ENFORCE BY LACK OF UNDERSTANDING. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ENFORCING. COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD MENTIONED HIS PAST WITH HORSES, AND HE SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY ONE WHO'S NOT WALKING HAND IN HAND WITH YOU, MISS MAYOR, IN KEEPING THIS FRANCHISE HERE. IN THE OCTOBER MEETING, YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SEA WALL. IT'S INTERESTING TO ME YOU HAVE PEOPLE BEGGING FOR PARKING AND ALLOWING THEIR EMPLOYEES TO PARK. THEN YOU ALLOW THE ENTIRE BAYFRONT TO GO TO A FRANCHISE THAT PAYS BY MY COUNT THE CITY $14,000 A YEAR IN TOKENS. THEN WE'RE MISSING $150,000 PARKING OPPORTUNITY. THEN YOU GUYS WANT TO LEND THE CLOCK TOWER DURING THIS TIME OF THE SEA WALL BEING BUILT. THEY WANT TO LEND THE CLOCK TOWER TO SEVEN HORSE AND CARRIAGES, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY FIT ABOUT 15 CARS IF YOU WANTED TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO PARK, TO GO TO WORK, TO RUN THEIR BUSINESSES. IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE REALLY PROTECTING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT REALLY ADDING ANY VALUE TO THE CITY. THE MAGIC OF HORSES IS NOT LOST ON ME AT ALL. I GREW UP ON CINCINNATI AVENUE. I USED TO WALK TO EARINS. [01:00:02] I'VE PET ALL THE HORSES ON THE BAYFRONT, AND I UNDERSTAND THE CLIP CLOPPING AND THE MAGIC OF ST. AUGUSTINE. BUT IT'S REALLY MISREPRESENTED PRIMARILY HERE IN THIS ROOM BY BEING A VIABLE BUSINESS. IT'S SHOCKING THAT THE WHOLE TOWN SUFFERS CONSTANTLY WITH WATER DAMAGE AND PARKING, AND YOU ALLOW AN ACRE OF LAND IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT TO BE TAKEN UP UNLAWFULLY. THEY UNLAWFULLY USE YOUR LEASE AS A RESIDENT OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AS A HOMEOWNER. I HAVE VIOLATED CODE ENFORCEMENT. I HAD AN OFFICER, EVERY 14 DAYS BANGING ON MY DOOR. EVERY SEVEN DAYS, I WAS HIT WITH A FEE VIOLATION OR FINE. IT'S SHOCKING TO ME THAT YOU GUYS, CAN'T FIND IT IN YOURSELF TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. >> BECCA KRELL, FOLLOWED BY JEN MYERS. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CARDS TO STILL GO THROUGH, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE BE READY TO COME TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU. >> HI. MY NAME IS BECCA KRELL. I LIVE IN DAVIS SHORES. ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING ABLE TO WALK ACROSS THE BRIDGE OF LIONS AND INTO DOWNTOWN. DURING MY WALKS, I'VE SEEN HOW THE HORSES REACT TO THEIR FORCED CARRIAGE RIDES AND HOW OTHER PEOPLE REACT TO THOSE HORSES. THE REACTIONS OF CHILDREN HAVE STUCKED WITH ME THE MOST. I RECENTLY JOINED THE ANTI CARRIAGE HORSE DEMONSTRATION DOWNTOWN, WHERE I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO MANY OF THESE CHILDREN MYSELF. THEY STOP AND PAUSE TO READ OUR SIGNS. LAST WEEKEND, MY SIGN SAID HORSES DO NOT BELONG IN TRAFFIC. VISITORS AND LOCAL CHILDREN ALIKE APPROACHED ME THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT TO SAY THAT THEY AGREE, AND IT MADE THEM SAD SEEING HORSES IN THE CROWDED SCENE OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. OTHER CHILDREN ASKED ME WHERE THEY CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ON GUIDED TOURS THAT DO NOT HAVE HORSES. THEY WANT TO SEE THE CHARM, HISTORY, AND BEAUTY OF THIS CITY WITHOUT THE CRUELTY OF USING ANIMALS FOR TRANSPORTATION ON THE BUSY CONCRETE STREETS. EVEN THE GRINCH, WHO WAS GIVING HIS OWN DRIVING TOURS HAD SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE HORSES. AS HE PASSED THE DEMONSTRATION, HE YELLED, GET RID OF THE HORSES. THEY'RE ALLOWED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM ALL OVER THE STREET, BUT WHEN I DO IT, I GET IN TROUBLE. THE GRINCH SAID SOMETHING ELSE IN HIS MOVIE THAT STUCK WITH ME. KIDS TODAY, SO DESENSITIZED BY MOVIES AND TELEVISION. KIDS WHO VISIT AND LIVE IN ST. AUGUSTINE ARE APPARENTLY NOT DESENSITIZED. THEY'RE NOT DESENSITIZED TO THIS CRUELTY OF THE CARRIAGE HORSE INDUSTRY. PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE WONDERFUL ALTERNATIVE TOUR METHODS AND GIVE THESE HORSES THE LIVES THAT THEY DESERVE. MY WE ALL GET THE JOY OF PERSONAL FREEDOM THIS HOLIDAY SEASON? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> JEN MYERS, FOLLOWED BY ERIC OSTRANDER. >> HI, I'M JENNIFER ASHTON, 17 DAVIS STREET, AND BUSINESS OWNER OF JUNIPER MARKET AT 48 SAN MARCO AVENUE. AS A CITY RESIDENT AND UPTOWN BUSINESS OWNER, I UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE OF BOTH PARTIES HERE. I KNOW THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE TO FIND COMPROMISE BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS. I GET THAT SOME JUICE ISN'T WORTH THE SQUEEZE. HOWEVER, BENDING TO ACCOMMODATE ONLY THE MOST VOCAL RESIDENTS TENDS TO BE PROBLEMATIC. SORRY, PROBLEMATIC. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE NITZLTS RESIDENTIAL PARKING RULES HAVE GONE TOO FAR AND IS NOT A HAPPY MEDIUM SOLUTION. DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, MY SALES WERE DOWN ALMOST 16%. Y YEAR ON YEAR VERSUS 2024. THIS SATURDAY FOR OUR CHRISTMAS PARADE, WHICH IS A HEAVILY LOCAL ATTENDED EVENT, EVEN WITH TERRIBLE WEATHER, OUR SALES WERE TRENDING 6% OVER YEAR ON YEAR UNTIL 12:30 PM WHEN THEY ABRUPTLY STOPPED, ENDING MY DAY DRASTICALLY OFF AT 21.5% DOWN VERSUS YEAR ON YEAR. THIS IS A TREND I'M CONTINUING TO SEE INTO DECEMBER SO FAR. IT SEEMS TO BE DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO THE 1:00 PM PARKING RULES. THESE SOLUTIONS ARE NOT CITY WIDE RELIEF, BUT ONLY SPECIAL AREAS. AS A WEST CITY RESIDENT, THE REMOTE SHUTTLE LOT AFFECTS MY NEIGHBORHOOD TREMENDOUSLY. THERE ARE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THIS FELT IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND BY OTHER CITY RESIDENTS. I ASKED THE CITY TO CONSIDER FINDING THE HAPPY MEDIUM. I THINK THAT THE PARKING SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM ALL CL TWO COMMERCIAL ZONES AND PUSHED TO WEEKDAY RESTRICTIONS AT 5:00 PM OR WEEKENDS ONLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CHRISTMAS TO NEW YEAR'S. [01:05:02] THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. ERIC ALTRENDER FOLLOWED BY VICKI PEPPER. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ERIC OSTRANDER. I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE ON THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STREET IN THE WORLD, MAGNOLIA AVENUE. I DO WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. IT'S THE BEST IT'S EVER BEEN. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I DO THINK TWO EXTRA WEEKS WOULD BE AWESOME, BUT IT'S NOT UP TO ME. BUT I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE VIDEO OF THE HORSE BEING BEATEN. THERE'S ALREADY A SHERIFF'S DOCUMENT DOCUMENTING THIS INCIDENT. WHAT SHOCKS ME EVEN MORE THAN THE VIDEO IS THAT THE MAYOR PUBLICLY STATED THAT THE TRAINER DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH BEATING THE PONY TO BREAK IT IN. THE STATEMENT IS HORRIFYING. IT IS NOT ONLY AN ADMISSION THAT THE ABUSE OCCURRED, IT IS AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE ABUSE. LET ME BE CLEAR THAT BEATING A PONY IS NOT TRAINING METHOD. IT'S AN ACT OF ANIMAL CRUELTY UNDER FLORIDA LAW. THE TRAINER REPEATEDLY HITTING AND KICKING THE HORSE VIOLATES FLORIDA STATUTES, AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY. THIS LAW MAKES IT A FELONY TO INFLICT EXCESSIVE OR REPEATED UNNECESSARY PAIN ON AN ANIMAL. REPEATEDLY STRIKING OR KICKING QUALIFIES, AND CAN BE CHARGED AS A THIRD DEGREE FELONY, PUNISHABLE UP TO FIVE YEARS AND A $10,000 FINE. WHEN THE HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE CITY PUBLICLY APPROVES THE COUNTRY CARRIAGES BEATING HORSES, IT RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CITY'S ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO PROTECT ANIMALS, UPHOLD THE LAW, AND ACT IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY. BECAUSE THE CITY HAS FAILED TO ACT ON CLEAR VIDEO EVIDENCE AND BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS PUBLICLY SUPPORTED THE USE OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST THE ANIMAL, I WILL ALSO BE TAKING FORMAL STEPS BEYOND THIS CHAMBER. MY WIFE WILL BE FILING COMPLAINTS WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THE FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON ETHICS REGARDING THE MAYOR'S PUBLIC ENDORSEMENT OF ANIMAL ABUSE AND MISTREATMENT. ALL THESE FILINGS WILL INCLUDE THE SHERIFF'S REPORT NUMBER, THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE VIDEO, AND THE MAYOR'S EXACT STATEMENT. NOT HERE TO ARGUE. I'M HERE TO PUT THE CITY ON NOTICE THAT THIS ISSUE WILL NOT BE DISMISSED, MINIMIZED, OR IGNORED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VICKI PEPPER, FOLLOWED BY JEFFREY SHARP. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS VICKI PEPPER. I LIVE IN HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AND CARE, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY. CARE'S PURPOSE IS TO SERVE BLACK AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY BY IDENTIFYING RESOURCES, INCLUDING FUNDING SOURCES, AND LINKING THEM WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS. I'M GOING TO GO OFF SCRIPT FOR MY FIRST POINT. BUT AS THE VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD ARE AWARE, I TAUGHT PART TIME AT FLAGLER COLLEGE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER MOVING HERE UPON MY RETIREMENT. I LOVE SPORTS AND HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO SUPPORT FLAGLER ATHLETICS, BUT THIS FALL WAS VERY BUSY. I HAD NO IDEA OF THE PROGRAM'S RECENT SUCCESS. THANK YOU FOR CALLING IT TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION. THAT IS AWESOME. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FLAGLER ATHLETES. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT ADMISSION IS FREE FOR ST. JOHN'S COUNTY RESIDENTS. I ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW CITIZENS TO GET OUT THERE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL STUDENT ATHLETES. NOW BACK ON SCRIPT. CARE WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE FIRST PART OF THE OPERATIONS OF PHASE 1 OF THE CITY'S DROP IN DAY CENTER COMMENCED WITH DINING WITH DIGNITY, MOVING TO THE NEW FACILITY ON NOVEMBER 14. THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE CITY, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A GOOD START. WE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TWO OTHER ASPECTS OF PHASE 1 OPERATIONS, THE SHOWERS AND WASHER AND DRYER SERVICE, WHICH ARE MUCH NEEDED BY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, HAVE BEEN DELAYED. WE URGE THE CITY TO COMPLETE PHASE 1 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO PURSUE PHASE 2 WITH ALL DUE DELIBERATE SPEED. AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT'S COME TO OUR ATTENTION RECENTLY IS THAT THE CHANGING TRAFFIC PATTERNS REQUIRING MOVEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF [01:10:01] PEOPLE ACROSS HEAVILY TRAFFIC SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY TO THE NEW CENTER PRESENTS SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. WE ASK YOU TO INVESTIGATE AND IMPLEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OPTIONS TO IMPROVE SAFETY, WHICH MIGHT INCLUDE A NEW CROSSWALK WITH FLASHING SAFETY LIGHTS NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH 207, OR PERHAPS AN OVER THE ROAD WALKWAY AT THE DAY CENTER. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO THE ANNUAL SERVICE AND MEMORY OF THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO PASSED AWAY THIS YEAR. THE CAN LIGHT SERVICE WILL BEGIN AT 5:00 PM NEXT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 AT GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AT EIGHT CARRERA STREET. THE SERVICE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND OUR PRESENCE MEANS A LOT TO THOSE WHO'VE LOST A GOOD FRIEND. FINALLY, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL AND THE CITY MANAGER REPRESENTING THE CITY IN ST. AUGUSTINE'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE ON SATURDAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JEFFREY SHARP, AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT WE'RE APPROACHING THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, YOU WILL NEED TO GO AHEAD AND TURN A CARD IN NOW. AT THE END OF THIS SPEAKER, I WILL ACCEPT NO MORE SPEAKER CARDS. THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JEFFREY SHARP. MY WIFE AND I OWN COOLING COLLECTED VINTAGE STORE IN THE HEART OF UPTOWN AT 67 SAN MARCO AVENUE. WE'VE OPERATED BUSINESSES IN THIS TOWN FOR 36 YEARS AND 13 YEARS AT OUR PRESENT LOCATION. WE'VE WATCHED A LOT OF COMMISSIONS, AND THIS ONE, AS WELL, STRUGGLE WITH THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE RESIDENT AND COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS. WE HAVE FOUR ENTRY CORRIDORS, ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, KING STREET, CASTILLO AND SAN MARCO. ALL OF FOUR OF THESE ARE SURROUNDED BY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'RE COMMERCIAL STRIPS WITH RESIDENTIALS ON ALL SIDE. THE STRUGGLE IS TO GET THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE PARKING AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE BETWEEN THE TWO. THREE OF THE FOUR CORRIDORS, THIS HAS REALLY BEEN ACHIEVED, BUT SAN MARCO HAS NOT REALLY BEEN ADDRESSED. THIS IS A FIRST ATTEMPT AT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS THAT SAN MARCO PRESENT. ABOUT I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY YEARS AGO, BUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE STATE RETHOUGHT SAN MARCO AVENUE, AND REMOVED A NUMBER OF THE ON STREET PARKING SITES. THEY SAID FOR SITE LINES AND OTHER SAFETY REASONS, WHICH IMPACTED NEGATIVELY THE COMMERCIAL PARKING IN THE AREA. NOW WE HAVE THE RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED TEMPORARILY, FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. THAT IS CAUSING MORE CONFLICT THAT IS NOT NECESSARY. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS. THE ONE THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED BY BOTH RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS IS A 05:00 CURFEW START INSTEAD OF THE 1:00 PM THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE. INTERESTINGLY, TWO RESIDENTS WHO WERE VERY FAVORABLE TO THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS, WERE POINTING OUT THAT THAT WASN'T CHIEFLY THE THING THAT WAS RESOLVING THEIR CONFLICT. MAKING RODY AND CINCINNATI STREETS NON THROUGH STREETS WAS WHAT THEY SAID WOULD CREATED THE BEST EFFECT FOR THEM AND THE BEST OUTCOME. IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE IN SOME WAY TO ENFORCE THAT MORE STRINGENTLY, THEN I THINK THE RESIDENTS WOULD RECEIVE WHAT THEY NEED, AND THE COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS COULD HAVE WHAT THEY NEED AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE GENI MASTER FOLLOWED BY BJ KALADY. >> HI. EXCUSE ME. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GENI MASTER. I LIVE AT 34 SANFORD STREET IN LINCOLNVILLE, AND I'M ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER IN UPTOWN. I OWN SNAKE BIRD VINTAGE THAT IS INSIDE SPINSTER ABBOTTS. FIRST, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR HEARING US TODAY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I GREW UP IN DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE. I LIVE IN THE HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN. I SAID, I AM A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, AND I'M ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE CITY. I DEAL WITH PARKING IN LINCOLNVILLE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE FLAGLER STUDENTS PARK ON MY STREET 365 DAYS A YEAR, BUT THAT IS PART OF LIVING IN A COMMUNITY AND PART OF LIVING IN DOWNTOWN, AND I LOVE FLAGLER COLLEGE. THAT'S PART OF WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU DECIDE TO LIVE IN A CITY. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE DONE SO MUCH GOOD THIS YEAR FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I THINK JUST HAVING POLICE OFFICERS AT STOP LIGHTS, ESPECIALLY ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS, AND IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE THING WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE BLOCKING THE BOX, [01:15:01] AND THEN TRAFFIC GETS STUCK. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT. AS OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE SAID, THE 1:00 PM TO 9:00 PM PARKING RESTRICTION AT TOWN IS REALLY KILLING US. MY SALES WERE DOWN 25% IN NOVEMBER VERSUS NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, AND I'M REALLY SEEING THAT DROP OFF AFTER 1:00 PM. I KNOW IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE PARKING. THE ECONOMY IS NOT GREAT, BUT THIS JUST ISN'T HELPING US. JUST SO YOU KNOW, UPTOWN BUSINESSES ARE DOING A LOT TO TRY AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RIDE BIKES. BASICALLY, IF YOU RIDE YOUR BIKE AND YOU SHOW US, THEN YOU CAN GET 10% OFF. A TON OF THE BUSINESSES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT. WE'RE TRYING TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. WE LOVE OUR UPTOWN RESIDENTS. WE'RE SO LUCKY THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR CLIENTELE IS ACTUALLY LOCALS. I HAVE TONS OF LOCALS THAT COME INTO MY BUSINESS. SAME WITH SPINSTER, JUNIPER, ALL THESE BUSINESS UP HERE. WE'RE SO LUCKY TO BE A LOCALS AREA. IF YOU COULD REALLY CONSIDER CHANGING IT TO 5:00 PM. I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A HAPPY MEDIUM. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. AGAIN, WE LOVE ST. AUGUSTINE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF HATE ON NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I KNOW THAT IT CAN BE A BIG PAIN IN THE BUTT, BUT I PERSONALLY ENJOY NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT MAKES ME MONEY, BUT I WALK MY KIDS DOWNTOWN WEEKLY. I LOVE THIS TOWN, AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF UPTOWN, AND I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THE UPTOWN COMMUNITY. WE WOULD JUST REALLY LIKE YOUR CONSIDERATION TO CHANGE THAT TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, AND FINAL SPEAKER IS BJ KALADY. >> BJ KALADY, WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THIS IS INFORMATION FOR EVERYBODY IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD. CIGARS, CIGARS, NOT CIGARETTES MAY BE SMOKED ON COUNTY BEACHES. THERE'S AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED. THIS CAN BE VERIFIED WITH THE SHERIFF. NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS, IF YOU CAN. 121 CEDAR AND OTHER OVERGROWN COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY LIMITS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO CUT THEIR GRASS ONLY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE IN A RESIDENTIAL HOME AND YOU BUY A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, THERE NEEDS TO BE THE SAME CONSIDERATION TO HAVE THEM MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTY AS YOU REQUIRE US RESIDENTS TO DO. I TRULY AM APPRECIATIVE TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY. MORE SO THAN SOME OTHER NIGHTS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT ON STAFF PRESENTATION 10 C. WHENEVER THERE ARE STAFF REPORTS, IF WE CAN GET TO YOU BEFORE THE MEETING OR MAYBE IT CAN BE CHANGED, THAT YOU WILL JUST AUTOMATICALLY ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WANTS TO PARTICIPATE AND MAKE A COMMENT ON ANY OF THOSE PRESENTATIONS. BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU MAY NOT KNOW AS MUCH, NOT THAT WE KNOW SO MUCH, BUT WHEN WE PAY ATTENTION, WE WOULD LIKE OUR INPUT TO BE AVAILABLE AND NOT JUST DURING THE REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT TIME, SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. >> WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, [5. CONSENT AGENDA ] WHICH IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA, MR. CITY MANAGER. >> MAYOR OR VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING ON JANUARY 12TH, 2026. ORDINANCE 2025-33, WHICH AMENDS THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF 0.16 ACRES AT THE NORTH END OF 725 FLAGLER CROSSING DRIVE FROM RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY TO COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY. ORDINANCE 2025-34, WHICH AMENDS THE ZONING OF THE SAME PROPERTY FROM RESIDENTIAL GENERAL ONE TO COMMERCIAL LOW ONE. WE'VE GOT A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS, THE JANUARY 12, 5:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THE JANUARY 26, 5:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, AND THE FEBRUARY 9TH, 05:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE'VE GOT APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 25, CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING, THE OCTOBER 13TH, 2025 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND OCTOBER 27, 2025 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE A RELEASE OF LIEN FOR UNIT CONNECTION FEES FOR 332 SOUTH NASSAU STREET. MS. BARBARA MITCHELL AND WILLIE MITCHELL. WE HAVE GOT AN INVOICE FOR [01:20:01] PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FOR THE EMINENT DOMAIN LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ MATTER. WE'VE GOT THE NOMINATION OF GORDON, GORDIE, WILSON FOR THE SELECTION OF THE 2026 DIABELES AWARD. WE'VE GOT THE RATIFICATION OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COASTAL FLORIDA POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. FINALLY, WE HAVE THE 2025 ANNUAL CITY ATTORNEY'S STATUS REPORT, THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. >> COMMISSIONERS. >> ANY COMMENTS? >> A MOVE OF APPROVAL. >> I'LL SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO APPEALS TONIGHT. WE'LL BE ON TO GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS. [7.A.1. Presentation by Jeff Potts, Executive Director of the St. Johns Cultural Council, on The Waterworks FY2025 activity report (C. Sakryd, General Services Director) ] TONIGHT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MR. JEFF POTTS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ST. JOHN AND CULTURAL COUNCIL ON THE WATER WORKS FOR FYI 2025 ACTIVITY REPORT. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, COREY SACHER, DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES. TONIGHT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING MR. JEFF POTTS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ST. JOHNS CULTURAL COUNCIL TO GIVE THE 2025 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE USES OF THE WATER WORKS. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. >> HI, EVERYBODY. HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. AS COREY SAID, I'M THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL. I JOINED THIS ORGANIZATION IN FEBRUARY, SO I AM ALSO NEW TO ST. AUGUSTINE AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AND I SHOULD JUST SAY THAT I'VE REALLY ENJOYED NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THIS YEAR AS MY FIRST TIMER. YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW THAT. AS PART OF OUR CONTRACT WITH YOU, FOLKS, I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND THE WONDERFUL FACILITY WE RUN ON YOUR BEHALF, ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE PLACES HERE, THE WATER WORKS. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS BUILDING, IT WAS BUILT IN 1898, AND IT IS WHERE THE COMMUNITY ORIGINALLY GOT ITS WATER, AND THEN WE OUTGREW THAT AND IT BECAME A GATHERING SPACE. AT SOME POINT, IT FELL INTO DISARRAY, AND IT WASN'T USED. THE CITY HAD GREAT FORESIGHT TO BRING IT BACK TO LIFE AND RESTORE IT. IT WAS ABOUT 3.5 YEARS AGO, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL RECEIVED THE CONTRACT TO MANAGE IT. I AM HERE AS PART OF THAT CONTRACT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AS TO JUST WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THAT WONDERFUL BUILDING. BEFORE I GET THERE, THOUGH, JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, WE'VE BEEN AROUND 25 YEARS, AND WE'RE A UNIQUE ORGANIZATION IN THAT WE EXIST TO SUPPORT ARTIST, ARTS, HERITAGE, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE DO SO THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT STREAMS OF REVENUE. ONE, WE'RE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE COUNTY TO GIVE OUT GRANT DOLLARS AND ADMINISTER THAT PROGRAM, BUT WE'RE ALSO THE DESIGNATED LOCAL ARTS AGENCY, AND THAT'S THE SIDE OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS MANAGE THE WATERWORKS. WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS A VERY NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT'S DOING SOME PRETTY GREAT THINGS. THE PERIOD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS FISCAL 2025, WHICH OCCURRED OCTOBER 1 OF 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2025. JUST TO REMINDER I GOT HERE IN FEBRUARY. IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH ANYTHING, CHANCES ARE IT OCCURRED BEFORE FEBRUARY. THE GOOD NEWS, THE WATERWORKS DURING THAT TIME, WE HOSTED 360 UNIQUE EVENTS, AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN EACH EVENT GOT THEIR OWN DAY. IT MEANS 360 DIFFERENT TIMES ON THE WATERWORKS CALENDAR. WE HOSTED AN ORGANIZATION THAT INCLUDED THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND 35 OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, COLLECTIVELY, MORE THAN 12,000 PEOPLE ENJOYED PROGRAMMING IN THAT GREAT BUILDING. WHO EXACTLY USES THE WATERWORKS? FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. WE HELD 146 DIFFERENT EVENTS, 7,000 PLUS PATRONS, AND THROUGH THOSE EVENTS, COLLECTED, JUST NORTH OF $15,000 IN REVENUES. WE ALSO, IN OUR LEASE, HAVE PRIORITY PARTNERS THAT GET USE OF THIS FACILITY, AND THAT INCLUDES THE ORGANIZATION, A CLASSIC THEATER. IT INCLUDES THE LIBRARY AND FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, AND SOME MUNICIPAL EVENTS SUCH AS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS HOST THEIR MEETINGS AT THE WATERWORKS. SO THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ANOTHER 214 EVENTS. AS YOU'LL SEE, THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, WE DO ABOUT 40% OF THE TIME, OUR OWN EVENTS, AND THEN ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME. IT'S OUR PRIMARY PARTNERS AS OUTLINED IN OUR LEASE WITH THE CITY. UP THOSE 74 EVENTS THAT WE DO, I'LL TAKE OWNERSHIP OF 22 OF THEM SPECIFICALLY. THAT IS BOARD MEETINGS, THAT IS OUR ROTA AND STATE OF THE ARTS AWARDS, AND THAT IS SOME OTHER EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS. WE ALSO HOST THE ANCIENT CITY POETS AND LIFE DRAWING CLASSES, THE FINAL SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH, WHICH IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ARTISTS TO GET IN THE BUILDING AND SHARE THEIR TALENTS. [01:25:02] LAST FISCAL, WE HELD 11 DIFFERENT EVENTS FOR ST. AUGUSTINE MUSIC FESTIVAL, AND THOSE WERE COMPLETELY UNDERWRITTEN BY OUR ORGANIZATIONS. ST. AUGUSTINE MUSIC FESTIVAL WAS A HUGE BENEFICIARY OF OURS. THEN THROUGH OTHER PARTNERSHIPS, WE HELD A VARIETY OF CHAMBER EVENTS, A NUMBER OF ONE OFFS. THEN DOWN THERE ON THE BOTTOM, ONE OF MY FAVORITE SECTIONS IS CO PROMOTION. THIS IS ACTUALLY WORKING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS TO PUT THEM ON OUR STAGE. WE SHARE THE RISK, AND WE ALSO SHARE THE REWARD, AS YOU WILL SEE THERE, AND IF YOU START CRUNCHING NUMBERS, THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST, I DON'T WANT TO SAY LUCRATIVE BECAUSE THIS IS STILL THE NONPROFIT ARTS, BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST REVENUE GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DO IN THAT BUILDING. WE DO HAVE REPEAT PARTNERS. GAMBLE ROGERS FESTIVAL. THEY HELD A DOZEN CONCERTS THERE AND A COUPLE OF REHEARSALS. OUR FRIENDS AT ROMANZA, I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THEY GET WHAT WE DO. RIGHT OUT OF THE GATES, THOSE FOLKS WERE PAYING WHAT WAS A GOING RATE FOR EVERYTHING THEY DID IN OUR BUILDING. I AM SO APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT ROMANZA DOES TO HELP KEEP THIS MOVING. LIKEWISE, THE FILM FESTIVAL, EMMA APEX, THE TALE TELLERS, AND A COUPLE ONES TOWARDS THE BOTTOM ARE BOTH GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW AND ONES IN EDUCATIONAL CAMP. REPEAT BUSINESS IS GOOD, EVEN WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING A AFFORDABLE NON PROFIT ARTS GATHERING SPACE. SINGLE USE PARTNERS, A DOZEN OF THEM. THE FOLKS AT THE TOP, THESE ARE THINGS I ADDED IN ONCE I GOT HERE BASED ON OPPORTUNITY. THESE ARE NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL ARTS, HERITAGE, CULTURE GROUPS. THESE ARE FOLKS THAT QUITE HONESTLY NEEDED A MEETING SPACE, AND I WANTED TO RENT IT TO THEM SO THAT WE COULD UNDERWRITE THE OTHER THINGS WE DO. I'LL BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. PRIORITY GROUPS. THESE ARE THE ONES OUTLINED IN OUR LEASE. AGAIN, A CLASSIC THEATER HAD 130 DIFFERENT DATES THERE LAST YEAR. THAT INCLUDES 24 PERFORMANCE NIGHTS BETWEEN FALL AND SPRING. OUR PEAK SEASON THERE. THEY DO FOUR DIFFERENT TITLES, SIX PERFORMANCES OF IT ON CONSECUTIVE WEEKS OF A FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY. THE OTHER DATES BESIDES THOSE 24 ARE REHEARSALS, AUDITIONS AND VARIOUS OTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE LIBRARY FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY. THEY MEET BY US PRIMARILY DURING THE DAYTIME WHEN WE HAVE STAFF MEMBERS IN THERE, AND THEY ARE VERY FLEXIBLE WITH THEIR TIME, AND THEY'RE FUNDED THROUGH AN ANNUAL DONATION THROUGH THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY SO WHERE A CLASSIC THEATER WAS CHARGED RENT, THE LIBRARY IS A DONATION. THEN LASTLY, IT'S THOSE MUNICIPAL PURPOSES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER SUCH EVENTS. THOSE ARE TECHNICALLY UNDERWRITTEN BY THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. BRIEFLY, HOW IS IT BOOKED? WE GIVE FIRST CHOICE OF DATES TO OUR PRIORITY PARTNERS. THE CULTURAL COUNCIL THEN SELECTS OUR DATES, THEN WE OPEN IT UP TO REOCCURRING PARTNERS. ANYTHING AFTER THAT, WE TRY TO BACKFILL WITH SOME OF THESE CO PROMOTIONAL THINGS, SO SOME OF THESE THAT REALLY DRIVE REVENUE. THEN FINALLY, THROUGH THE APPLICATION ON OUR WEBSITE FOR OTHER NEW EVENTS THAT DON'T FIT ANY OF THOSE OTHER CATEGORIES. WHO DIDN'T GET TO USE THE WATERWORKS, BECAUSE WE WERE SO BUSY? NINE TIMES WE HAD TO DENY PEOPLE, AND THAT WAS GENERALLY BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING TO USE IT FOR A PERSONAL PARTY, A BIRTHDAY PARTY, A ANNIVERSARY PARTY. WE HAD SOME OTHER REQUESTS FOR AN OVERNIGHT EVENT, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE JUST DON'T DO BECAUSE WE HAVE A 10:00 CURFEW THERE. THEN, FOR THE MOST PART, IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE SO BUSY, WE HAD TO TURN AWAY SOME REQUESTS. TWELVE DATES WE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THOSE 20 WITHDRAWN, TO BE HONEST, FOLKS THAT FILL OUT THE WEB FORM AND ARE REALLY JUST LOOKING TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR RATES AND AVAILABILITY ARE. SOME KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS. WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE, IT'S FREQUENCY OF USE. WHO'S IN THERE? IT'S REVENUE PER EVENT. WHICH OF THESE SINGLE EVENTS ARE HELPING US PAY THE BILLS? THEN THAT LAST CATEGORY IS REVENUE PER EVENT. THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THAT THOSE OF US NOT IN THE ART CULTURE HERITAGE, NONPROFIT REALM CAN OFTEN PAY A LITTLE BIT HIGHER TO GET IN THERE TO USE IT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS FOR ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS. BUT I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE FREQUENCY OF PEOPLE ARE USING THIS AND WHAT THEY'RE PAYING TO GET INSIDE THE BUILDING. OUR DIRECT COSTS TO OPERATE THAT FACILITY. WE DO PAY THE CITY RENT. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING IT VERY AFFORDABLE FOR US. IT ALLOWS US TO DO ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE UTILITIES, JANITORIAL COSTS, AND REALLY THE BIGGEST ONE IS THAT LIABILITY INSURANCE. WHEN I GOT HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD TO DO WAS RECLASSIFY WHAT WE EXIST AS SO THAT WE COULD COVER SOME OF THESE MEETING GROUPS. [01:30:01] FOR THE MOST PART, WE REQUIRE EVERYBODY TO HAVE THEIR OWN CERTIFICATE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE. SOME OF THESE GROUPS THOUGH AREN'T FORMALLY ORGANIZED, SO THEY NEED TO FALL UNDER OUR UMBRELLA. THAT NEXT YEAR, MY COST IS GOING TO GO UP ABOUT 20% BECAUSE OF THAT, JUST TO COVER THOSE ADDITIONAL EVENTS. STAFFING, WHAT THIS COVERS IS BASIC OFFICE HOURS. TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THAT MEANT LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT $64,000 TO RUN THE WATERWORKS. RENT IS OUR MAIN REVENUE DRIVER, AS I SHOWED YOU, AND THAT LEFT US WITH A BIT OF A HOLE. THE WAY WE PLUG THAT HOLE WAS, AGAIN, WE'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SO WE WRITE OUR OWN GRANTS. LAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A STATE OF FLORIDA GRANT THAT MANAGED ALL OF THAT. I JUST SPELL THIS OUT SO THAT YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THE ACTIVITY THERE, WHAT WE'RE DOING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THIS HAPPENS. ULTIMATELY, WE UNDERWROTE EVERYTHING ABOUT $122 PER EVENT. AGAIN, I'M TOTALLY HAPPY WITH THAT. WE HAD TONS OF ACTIVITY, AND THAT IS REALLY GREAT NEWS. JUST BRIEFLY, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING FOR THE NEW YEAR IS STANDARDIZING THIS STUFF. IT'S OPTIMIZING. IT'S BRANDING IT BETTER. IT'S MAKING SURE WE MAIN ACCESS, BUT IT'S ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS ARE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. WITH THAT, AGAIN, JUST WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS, I LOVE THAT SPACE, AND I AM SO THANKFUL TO BE A STEWARD OF IT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. >> WELL, THAT WAS GREAT. COMMISSIONER, COMMENTS? >> I THINK IT'S A GREAT USE. I KNOW MR. POTTS FROM THE PCB. IS THAT RIGHT ACRONYM, AND I KNOW HE'S RELATIVELY NEW. BRINGING A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM TO THE JOB, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THE SPACE IS BEING WORKED. I KNOW YOU GUYS LIVE OVER IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD MORE, SO MAYBE YOU HAVE MORE COMMENTS ON IT. >> ACTUALLY, I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION. ON EXHIBIT B. IT SAID PRIORITY GROUPS, AND IT HAD FLORIDA'S SCHOOL A DEAF AND BLIND. THEN IT SAID INSERT DETAILS. WHAT'S THAT? >> COMMISSIONER, I'M ONLY AS GOOD AS THE CONTRACT I INHERITED, AND THAT'S THE ONE I GOT. >> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORE KNOWLEDGE? >> NO. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE JUST WASN'T A NEED FOR THEM TO USE THE FACILITY. SO WHEN THE LEASE WAS ORIGINALLY DRAFTED, THEY WANTED TO KEEP OPEN THAT POSSIBILITY THAT THAT SCHOOL COULD USE IT, BUT THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR OWN SPACES AS FAR AS I'M KNOW. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S THE EXPLANATION I WANTED, THANK YOU. >> GREAT. >> OTHER COMMENTS? >> ARE YOU CHARGING THOSE NON INSURED GROUPS THE 20% TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT YOU ARE HAVING TO PAY? >> ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE TO DO AS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS STANDARDIZE WHAT WE CHARGE PEOPLE, AND I'LL BE REAL HONEST. THERE WAS NO RHYME OR REASON TO THAT. IF YOU JUST DO A STRAIGHT ASSESSMENT OF WHAT IT COSTS US TO EXIST ON A GIVEN DAY, MY RATE SHOULD BE ABOUT 350, 400 DOLLARS FOR ANYBODY TO WALK IN THAT DOOR. THE FACT THAT I HAVE MY OFFICES THERE FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, I BEAR A LITTLE MORE RESPONSIBILITY. BUT THE TRUTH IS, WHEN WE OPENED THAT FACILITY, THREE YEARS AGO, OUR DESIRE TO HAVE ACTIVITY AND GET LOCAL GROUPS IN THERE OUTWEIGHED ANY FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, IF YOU WILL. THAT WAS FINE IN AN ERA WHERE ARTS FUNDING, ESPECIALLY FROM THE STATE LEVEL, WAS A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENT. WHEN I GOT ON, MY JOB WAS TO REVIEW STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, MAKE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T OPENING OURSELVES TO ANY UNNECESSARY RISK. NOW IN MY FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR, IT'S GOING TO BE TO MAKE SURE THAT ENDS MEET FINANCIALLY. WE HAVE MET WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS. THOSE THAT WEREN'T PAYING ANYTHING ARE PAYING SOMETHING THIS YEAR, THOSE THAT WE'RE PAYING, VERY LITTLE ARE PAYING A LITTLE BIT MORE. >> BUT NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THINGS ARE GOING TO GET STANDARDIZED TO A POINT THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT UNDERWRITING THIS TO THE TONE OF $50,000 A YEAR. >> THE A CLASSIC THEATER IS GOING TO BE PAYING, I'M JUST PICKING THEM AS AN EXAMPLE, BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY USE IT THE MOST, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAYING A DAILY RATE THAT WOULD [OVERLAPPING] >> THERE WAS NO FORMAL AGREEMENT IN PLACE WHEN I ARRIVED. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO IS TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE. I CAN TELL YOU THEY HAVE SIX SHOWS THIS MONTH, AND ALL OF THEM WERE SOLD OUT. YOU CAN'T TOUCH A TICKET AT THE WATERWORKS THIS MONTH, EXCEPT FOR THE COMEDIAN DERECK, WHO PLEASE COME SEE HIM NEXT FRIDAY. BUT NO, THIS IS ALL JUST A WORK IN PROGRESS. IT'S NOBODY'S FAULT. THESE WERE GOOD FAITH AGREEMENTS TO GET PEOPLE IN THERE, BUT NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE CANDID CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IT REALLY COSTS TO EXIST IN THAT BUILDING. THE EXAMPLE YOU CITED OF ACT, THERE'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY COST THERE WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT [01:35:03] BECAUSE IF THEY'RE USING IT FOR 80 REHEARSAL NIGHTS, THAT'S 80 NIGHTS. I CAN'T PUT A TICKETED EVENT ON. COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MOVING FORWARD IS PROBABLY JUST A FEW MORE CULTURAL COUNCIL SUPPORTED EVENTS. I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN WE HAVE YET TO HOLD AN EVENT CHARGE AN ADMISSION AND KEEP THOSE PROCEEDS FOR THE CULTURAL COUNCIL OR THE WATERWORKS OPERATIONS. WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN 3.5 YEARS. MY BACKGROUND IN VENUE MANAGEMENT SAYS, IF I CAN KNOCK ONE OF THOSE OUT OF THE PARK A MONTH, I CAN KEEP UNDERWRITING THE 340 OTHER THINGS ON MY CALENDAR. OUR CONTRACT ALLOWS YOU TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES WITH THE CURRENT USERS. THE CONTRACT WAS WRITTEN WITH SOME GENERAL TERMS THAT DON'T EXPLICITLY OUTLINE ANY COST ASSOCIATED OTHER THAN DIRECT COSTS. YOU'RE OBSERVANT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I OUTLINED DIRECT COST. AGAIN, MY ORGANIZATION EXISTS TO SUPPORT ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE TOUGHEST CONVERSATIONS I HAVE TO HAVE IS, I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO FIND MORE TO DO WHAT YOU DO. THAT'S THE TRUTH FOR ALL 35 OF THOSE GROUPS, EXCEPT FOR MAMIE ROMANZA, WHO GETS IT AND HAS BEEN PAYING WHAT IS A FAIR RATE FOR THAT BUILDING. WELL, I APPRECIATE IT. I LOVE THE WATERWORKS, AND WE DO HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IN THERE, AND WE SURE APPRECIATE IT. IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL SPOT. I'VE BEEN TO MANY CONCERTS AND EVEN HELD AN EVENT THERE MYSELF, SO I APPRECIATE THE CITY BEING ABLE TO DO THAT BEFORE MY TIME AND HAVING THAT AS A RESOURCE. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO COMMENTS, EVERYBODY. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU. I SEE YOU OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO GO OVER TO DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HELD AT THE WATERWORKS BUILDING, AND IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD ENVIRONMENT. IT'S ALWAYS PLEASANT TO BE IN THERE. YOU GUYS DO TAKE GREAT CARE OF IT. I'VE SEEN SOME ARTISTS AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE YOU HAVE ON STAFF THAT ARE ALWAYS GOOD AND PROFESSIONAL. PRIOR TO IT BEING THE WATERWORKS BUILDING, IT USED TO BE THE GARDEN CLUB FOR YEARS, AND THEN IT MET ITS DEMISE SHORTLY AFTER THAT. THERE WAS A GROUP OF WOMEN THAT HAD CREATED A GARDEN CLUB THERE, AND IT WAS THERE FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEY DID HAVE EVENTS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO INSIDE AND PAY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DOABLE IF YOU WANT TO RECREATE THAT SCENARIO. I THINK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. I HAVE TALKED TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON YOUR COUNCIL, ON YOUR BOARD AND DIFFERENT THINGS FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY A GOOD PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE WITH US. I KNOW WHEN WE WERE CAMPAIGNING, WE HAD A DEBATE THERE AND JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I HAVE WITNESSED HAPPENED THERE. SOME PERFORMANCES, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. I LIKE THE VARIETY THAT IT BRINGS, AND I LIKE THAT IT HAS PARKING. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT PARKING AND ISSUES, THAT IT HAS A GOOD AMOUNT OF PARKING ATTACHED TO THE LIBRARY AS WELL WITH THEM CLOSING EARLIER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO NEW THINGS HAPPENING. APPRECIATE IT. VICE MAYOR. YOU OPERATE FIVE MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE, SO I LOVE HAVING THAT RESOURCE THAT CLOSE BY AND THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE THAT IT HAS REALLY BECOME IN THAT 3.5 YEARS SINCE WE'VE EMBARKED ON THIS PARTNERSHIP. IT WAS A MUCH NEEDED RESOURCE IN THAT PART OF THE CITY, AND IT'S REALLY EXCELLED IN PERFORMING THAT ROLE. I SEE YOU GETTING LOVE TO DEATH IN A WAY. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING ABLE TO OPERATE IN THE BLACK, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING A FULL SERVICE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU'LL APPROACH IT, BUT I'M SURE THAT'S IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND AND YOU'RE WORKING ON IT. I'M RIGHT, RIGHT? INDEED.. LIKE EVERYTHING, BALANCE AND CHOICES, BUT I CERTAINLY SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENERGY. THAT'S VERY OBVIOUS, AND THAT'S VERY PLEASANT TO SEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SPIRIT, A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY COOPERATION. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS MIND. I THINK THIS IS AN OPERATION THAT NEEDED THAT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO IT, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE CANNOT EXPECT THE STATE TO BE CONSISTENT IN THEIR FUNDING FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS MOVING FORWARD. WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LOVE TO END ON A POSITIVE NOTE, BUT I THINK YOUR BEST ASSET IS YOUR BUSINESS MIND AT THIS POINT, SO WE'LL BE RELYING ON YOU FOR THAT TO CONTINUE WITH THAT VENUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM, AND COMMISSIONERS. GREAT PRESENTATION. [01:40:01] THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. WELL, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. [8.A.1. Ordinance 2025-32: Amends Chapter 28, Zoning Code of the City of St. Augustine to create Section 28-358 in the Supplementary Regulations to establish procedures for the review and approval of Certified Recovery Residences (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)] WE DO HAVE A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. ONE ITEM ON THAT, THAT IS ORDINANCE 2025-32, AND MISS SKINNER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO PRESENT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THIS ORDINANCE IS REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTES RELATED TO RECOGNITION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF CERTIFIED RECOVERY RESIDENCES IN MULTI FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS, A PROCESS TO FILE, A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST, AN APPEALS PROCESS, GENERAL PROVISIONS, AND REVOCATION PROCEDURES. THIS ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES A NEW SECTION IN THE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS OF THE ZONING CODE REFLECTING THESE REQUIREMENTS. THIS IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 2025-32. THANK YOU, AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MISS SKINNER. MY COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. NO QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. I'M SORRY. CORRECT. MY APOLOGIES. LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THAT ENSUE FROM THAT, THEN WE'LL ADDRESS THOSE HERE AT THE DESK. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? IF YOU DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD. I SEE ONE PERSON MAYBE? NOPE, JUST RETURNING TO HER SEAT. SORRY, VICKY. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED, THEN. YOU HAVE A MOTION?. I'LL MAKE A MOTION, YES. TO PASS ORDINANCE 2025-32 AS READ BY TITLE. SECOND. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-32, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING AND UPDATING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 28 ZONING, ARTICLE 4, SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS, DIVISION 1, GENERALLY, CREATING A SECTION 28358, CERTIFIED RECOVERY RESIDENCES, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU. DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE OR JUST A VOICE? WOULD YOU PLEASE? JOHN DEPRETER. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. THANK YOU. WE CAN MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM 9A1, [9. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS – NO PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED ] WHICH IS ORDINANCES UNDER FIRST READING. AGAIN, THAT'S MISS SKINNER. TAKE IT AWAY, PLEASE. YES. THANK YOU. ORDINANCE 2025-33, AND ORDINANCE 2025-34, AMEND THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION AND ZONING DESIGNATION RESPECTIVELY FOR PROPERTY AT THE NORTH END OF 725 FLAGLER CROSSING DRIVE ALONG SAN SEBASTIAN VIEW. THE PROPERTY RELATED TO THIS PROJECT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS IS APPROXIMATELY 0.16 ACRES WEST OF SAN SEBASTIAN VIEW AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE NORTHERN MOST PART OF THE PROPERTY IS IN THE COUNTY. THE PROPOSED USE HAS ALREADY BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED AS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT BY THE COUNTY. THE USE PROPOSED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS IS A DOG PARK AND CAFE BUSINESS, INCLUDING THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. THE PCV REVIEWED THE FULL PROPOSAL FOR THE PROJECT TO INCLUDE OFFSITE PARKING BECAUSE THE PARKING FOR THE USE IS PROPOSED WITHIN THE COUNTY OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. A USE BY EXCEPTION TO SERVE THE ALCOHOL AS PER CL1 AND THE CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE DEVELOPMENT TO CONSTRUCT A BULKHEAD AND REMOVE TREES. THESE APPROVALS ARE ALL CONTINGENT UPON THE PASSAGE OF THE LAND USE AND REZONING. THE CURRENT RESIDENTIAL DESIGNATIONS DO NOT ALLOW THIS TYPE OF COMMERCIAL USE. ORDINANCE 2025-33 PROPOSES TO CHANGE THE LAND USE FROM RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY TO COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY. ORDINANCE 2025-34 PROPOSES TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY FROM RG1 TO CL1, TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE LAND USES. ON NOVEMBER 4, 2025, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE FUTURE LAND USE AND REZONE THIS PROPERTY, [01:45:01] INCLUDING THE OTHER REQUIRED ITEMS FOR THEIR FUNCTION AS A BUSINESS. HOWEVER, THESE APPROVALS, AS I STATED, ARE CONTINGENT UPON THE PASSAGE OF THE LAND USE AND ZONING CHANGES. BECAUSE ORDINANCE 2020 5-34 IS A REZONING ORDINANCE, PLEASE INDICATE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. THIS IS AN INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING FOR BOTH ORDINANCES. THANK YOU. I HAVE MAPS THAT I CAN WALK YOU THROUGH TO SHOW YOU WHERE THESE PROPERTIES ARE IN RELATION TO THE CITY LIMITS. SURE. CAN WE DO THE EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS FIRST, PLEASE? GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY, SO I DON'T FORGET. ANYBODY HERE ON THE BOARD? I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYBODY. NO, I HAVEN'T HEARD I DROVE BY IT LOOKED AT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMMUNICATIONS, EITHER. NO, I HAVEN'T HAD IT. NOBODY HERE AT THE DESK HAS HAD ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS? WOULD YOU PLEASE GO FORWARD, MISS SKINNER, WITH SHOWING THE PLAN MAPS AND SO FORTH? THIS IS FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S WEBSITE. THIS IS A ZOOMED OUT LOCATION MAP. THIS IS IN THE NORTH AREA OF THE CITY AND NORTH US 1. THE CORNER HERE IS SAN SEBASTIAN VIEW, AND US ONE, WHERE THE GATE GAS STATION IS. AS YOU TURN, THIS IS THE LANDING MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX, AND THIS IS THE FLAGLER CROSSING MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX. THIS PROPERTY IS OVER HERE. AS INDICATED, PART OF IT IS IN THE COUNTY PART OF IT IS IN THE CITY. IT'S ACROSS FROM THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I HAVE QUESTIONS. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER GARRIS. I HAVE QUESTIONS. IT SOUNDS WEIRD TO HAVE A DOG PARK AND THEN A DRINKING PLACE. ARE THEY BOTH GOING TO BE IN THE CITY OR ARE THEY? I'LL GO STRAIGHT TO THE SITE PLAN. CAN YOU MAGNIFY THAT, PLEASE? ACTUALLY, BLOWN UP VERSION. DOES THAT HELP OR DO WE? THIS IS THE BUILDING HERE. THE APPLICANT IS HERE AS WELL. THE APPLICANT CAN ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS. THIS IS THE BUILDING HERE, WHICH IS IN THE CITY LIMITS. IT IS GOING TO BE A CAFE, AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, AND THEY WERE REVIEWED FOR USE BY EXCEPTION TO SELL BEER AND WINE, AND THEN A DOG PARK. THE PARKING EXTENDS ALONG SAN SEBASTIAN VIEW. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK THE APPLICANT ANY QUESTION? HARD TO. THAT'S RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S BEHIND GATE. I'M JUST TRYING TO VISUALIZE HOW THAT'S GOING TO LOOK. USUALLY, YOU DON'T PUT A DOG PARK IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO DRINK AT THE SAME LOCATION. IT'S JUST A LITTLE ODD, SO I'D LIKE TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION. LET'S GO AHEAD AND INVITE THE APPLICANT UP TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAMES AND YOUR ROLE? YES. MY NAME IS ANDRE GREEN WITH CORNER LOT DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE THE LAND OWNER AND DEVELOPER OF THE PROPOSED DOG PARK AND CAFE. SIR, I THINK WHOEVER IS GOING TO BE TESTIFYING, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PUT YOU UNDER. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT. IF WE CAN GET THE NAMES OF THE OTHER LOVELY GENTLEMEN, IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPEAKING AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS RYAN MEYER, 232 BOULEVARD DES PINS AND MY WIFE AND I ARE THE PROPOSED OWNERS AND BUSINESS OPERATORS. ELIJAH GEORGE, WEST KING STUDIO 281 WEST KING STREET. I'M THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT ON THE PROJECT. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE US THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARRIS. I JUST WANT YOU TO WALK ME THROUGH WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY SEE BECAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT TO APPROVE SOMETHING AND THEN GO BY THERE AND SAY, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I NEED YOU TO FILL IN THE GAPS FOR ME. IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE A DOG PARK, IT'S GOING TO BE A CAFE THAT SELLS BEER AND ALCOHOL, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. WE'VE GOT SOME SLIDES HERE, I THINK. SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE PLEASE. YES, SIR. WE DO HAVE SOME SLIDES, I THINK COMING UP HERE, BUT THESE PLACES ARE INCREASINGLY POPULAR AROUND THE COUNTRY. [01:50:06] PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HANG OUT, YOUR DOG CAN RUN OFF LEASH IN A FENCED AREA WHERE NO KIDS ARE ALLOWED. I GET KNOCKED OVER BY DOGS, BUT THE DOGS CAN RUN, HAVE A GOOD TIME. MAYBE GET A BITE TO EAT, MAYBE GET A BEER OR WINE. REALLY WHAT WE ENVISION IS A VERY FAMILY CENTERED PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY CAN COME AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. WE'LL HAVE A SMALL PLAYGROUND AREA, ALSO FENCED, NO DOGS IN THE KIDS PLAYGROUND, NO KIDS IN THE DOGS PLAYGROUND. THERE IS NEPTUNE BEACH. THERE'S ONE OF THESE FACILITIES, BREWHOUND, VERY POPULAR, ALWAYS BUSY, EVEN ON A COLD WINTER WEEKDAY NIGHT. THERE'S ALSO ONE IN FLAGLER COUNTY ON THE BEACH. I FORGET THE NAME, THE NAME SLIPS ME RIGHT NOW, BUT VERY POPULAR AROUND THE COUNTRY. MY WIFE AND I OWN TWO VETERINARY PRACTICES IN TOWN, HENCE THE LINKAGE WITH THE DOGS, AND WE'VE HAD THIS VISION FOR A WHILE, BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY, FEEDING, AGAIN, INTO THE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE, THE DOG LOVERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO, DARE I SAY, GET OFF SCREENS AND COME TOGETHER AND TALK TO EACH OTHER. AGAIN, VERY FAMILY CENTERED PLACE. IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE DOGS WITH A CAFE, NOT NECESSARILY A DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT WITH DOGS. THE DOGS WOULD BE THE PRIMARY FUNCTION. THANK YOU. SURE. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER GARRIS? YES. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO RELINQUISH. I HAVE A QUESTION, TOO, IF I CAN GO AHEAD. YES. THIS IS JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF YOUR PROPERTY. I WASN'T ABLE TO MEET WITH THE MANAGER THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING ISSUES, BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST ASK US TO GIVE YOU THAT 0.16 TO THE COUNTY AND WE CAN GET OUT OF THIS BUSINESS. THROUGH THE COMMISSION, THROUGH THE MAYOR, I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE TO ANNEX ST AUGUSTINE. WE HAVE TO ANNEX THE PROPERTY, AND I THINK THAT IS-. I'M AT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. LET US GIVE IT TO THE COUNTY. THAT'S A STATE LAW THAT WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THAT. THE STATE IS THE ONLY ENTITY THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES. WE CAN ANNEX UNINCORPORATED. BUT THEY CAN'T. BUT THEY CAN'T. YES. I JUST LEARNED SOMETHING. WE LEARNED IT TOO. WELL, I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE DOG PARK. I DON'T HAVE A DOG AND I DON'T DRINK. BUT I LIKE THE IDEA. EVERYBODY'S WELCOME. I WAS ON MY STREET JUST YESTERDAY, SATURDAY, AND CHIEF, MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S DOG, GOT OUT, AND I SAID, TAKE HIM TO THE DOG PARK, AND THEY SAID, NO, THE DOG PARK AT TREATY PARK IS JUST TOO DIRTY RIGHT NOW. THEY DON'T HAVE A PARK THEY CAN GO TO. I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE. BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. >> WHERE ARE WE? >> QUESTION. >> I'M SORRY, MADAM MAYOR, WHILE YOU WERE AWAY, THE OTHER COMMISSIONER STATED IF THEY HAD EX PARTE, AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU DID OR DIDN'T. >> I DO NOT HAVE EX PARTE. THANK YOU. >> TWO QUESTIONS PROBABLY TO YOUR DOG PARK? I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. I MEAN, SOMETIMES YOU GET THE DOGS OUT, YOU GET THE KIDS OUT. I KNOW A LOT OF DADS, SO IT'LL TAKE DOG OUT AND THE KID OUT. THEN IF THERE'S A BEER THERE, IT'S GOOD FOR THE DADS SO I THINK IT'S GOOD. I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR A COUPLE FOR MISS SKINNER, THOUGH. JUST REALLY QUICK, NOT A BIG THING. GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING. >> THE ALCOHOL PERMIT IT SAYS ON AND OFF PREMISES. MY PLANNING BOARD MIND IS GETTING A LITTLE RUSTY, IS THAT ALWAYS THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN? >> YES, SO THAT YOU CAN GET PERMISSION TO SELL ALCOHOL IN THE ZONING DISTRICT OF CL1. THE USE BY EXCEPTION TO POTENTIALLY SELL ALCOHOL ON AND OFF THE PREMISE OF THE BUSINESS. THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS SPECIFIC APPLICATION, YOU SELL BEER AND WINE AS PART OF THEIR CAFE. SO THAT'S WHAT WAS APPROVED. >> OKAY. SO THAT'S OKAY. THEN SECOND OF ALL, AGAIN, ON THE PROCESS, SO THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE LAND. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PLANNING BOARD. THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE LAND USE, BUT THE CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION IN THE BULKHEAD HAS NOT BEEN DONE. THAT'S WAITING FOR US TO DO THIS. >> THEY REVIEWED THE APPLICATION IN ITS ENTIRETY. THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE LAND USE AND THE ZONING TO COME TO THE CITY COMMISSION. THEY ALSO APPROVED THE USE BY EXCEPTION FOR THE OFF-SITE PARKING. WE CONSIDERED IT OFF-SITE. THE ALCOHOL AND THE CONSERVATION ZONE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BULKHEAD AND THE TREE REMOVAL. BUT ALL THAT IS CONTINGENT UPON THE LAND USE AND ZONING CHANGING. IF THE LAND USE AND ZONING DOESN'T CHANGE, [01:55:02] THEN THOSE APPROVALS DISAPPEAR. >> THE CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION WAS ALREADY DONE? >> YES. >> THAT'S ALL. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW. >> MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. I GUESS THIS IS FOR THE APPLICANTS, A VERY QUICK QUESTION. I SEEM TO REMEMBER SEEING A SIMILAR PROPOSAL FOR SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTY. WAS THAT YOU ALL, AND IT DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION, OR IS THERE ANOTHER ENTERPRISE LIKE THIS ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY? >> THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE SOUGHT SOME PERMITS, I BELIEVE, THROUGH THE COUNTY. HOWEVER, WE WERE WORKING ON THE SAME CONCEPT NORTH OF THE CALHOUN CENTER. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, THAT DID NOT COME TO FRUITION. ACTUALLY, WE WERE ABLE TO SELL THAT LAND TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. SO IT'S GOING TO GO TO SOME GOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT AREA, WHICH IS WHAT THE WEST AUGUSTINE FOLKS AND REALLY THE COMMUNITY NEEDED IN THAT AREA, SO. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. MS. SKINNER, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND? LOOK, I HAVE A DOG, AND I LOVE DOG PARKS, AND I LIKE BEER SOMETIMES, TOO, BUT MAYBE NOT TOGETHER. [LAUGHTER] BUT WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THIS IS A HIGHER INTENSITY CHANGE FROM RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM TO COMMERCIAL LOW. WHAT WOULD BE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT? WHY WOULD SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS BE OPPOSED TO THAT? FOR EXAMPLE, RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN THIS FLAGLER CROSSING AREA? >> WELL, OUR ZONING DISTRICTS ARE HIERARCHICAL AND SO WE HAVE THE COMMERCIAL MEDIUM ALONG US1. WE HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM, WHICH ALLOWS THE MULTI-FAMILY FOR THE FLAGLER CROSSING. THE COMMERCIAL LOW IS VIEWED AS A COMPLIMENTARY TO THE RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY THAT COULD ALLOW COMMERCIAL USES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE COMMERCIAL LOW 1 IS THE FIRST LEVEL OF COMMERCIAL, AND WE LOOKED AT IT ON LEWIS SPEEDWAY, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, THERE ARE A COUPLE PIECES OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY. WE LOOKED AT IT SIMILARLY. IT'S ALONG THE RIVER, AND THEY'RE SMALL PIECES. THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY LIMITS THE POTENTIAL USES IN ITSELF, AND IT'S WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. >> OKAY. I CAN SEE THAT. WHAT PROTECTIONS DO WE HAVE FOR 20 YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN THIS PROPERTY IS SOLD FOR WHATEVER REASON? WHAT PROTECTIONS DO WE HAVE FROM IT BECOMING MORE INTENSE THAN A DOG PARK? FIRST OF ALL, THE CONCERN ABOUT THE PARKING AND THE AVAILABILITY, AND THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES IS BASED ON THIS USE. THEN THAT TYPE OF APPLICATION IS SPECIFIC TO THE APPLICANT. SO IF THE PROPERTY WERE SOLD AND SOMEONE, EVEN IF IT'S JUST SOLD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD FOR REVIEW BECAUSE THE APPLICANT SPECIFICALLY APPLIED FOR THE ALCOHOL USE AND THE PARKING. ADDITIONALLY, IT'S LIMITED IN SIZE. A LOT OF THE LIMITING FACTORS ARE PROVIDING PARKING. JUST REALLY BY THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY, IT'S FAIRLY LIMITED IN WHAT CAN BE DONE THERE. >> THAT'S HELPFUL. I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION, MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND. YOU EXPLAINED WHEN COMMISSIONER DEPRETER ASKED ABOUT THE BULKHEAD AND THE CONSERVATION ZONE, THESE SHOES WOULD HAVE TO FALL FIRST, AND THEN THEY WOULD COME BACK TO US FOR APPROVAL OF A BULKHEAD AND REMOVAL OF TREES, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ALREADY REVIEWED THAT PART OF THE APPLICATION AND APPROVED THAT CONSERVATION ZONE DEVELOPMENT. BUT IT'S BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE LAND USE AND ZONING IS APPROVED. IF THE LAND USE AND ZONING IS APPROVED, THEN YEAH. >> NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE TREE REMOVAL, AND I WANT TO LOOK AT THE BULKHEAD. THAT'S TRYING TO SAY. >> JUST TO EXPLAIN THAT, THOUGH, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT GOES TO THE CITY COMMISSION. THOSE TYPES OF APPROVALS ARE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD APPROVALS PER OUR CODE. THIS ISN'T A PUD THAT THEN COMES TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR FURTHER CITY COMMISSION REVIEW. SO THE CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE PERMIT, THE USE BY EXCEPTION, THE VARIANCE FOR THE PARKING, ALL OF THOSE GO EXCLUSIVELY TO PCB FOR ANY APPLICANT. >> RIGHT. OUR TREE ORDINANCE WOULD BE ENFORCED. [02:00:02] >> YES. IT WAS HEARD, YES. >> OKAY. >> CAN I SAY ONE THING? >> SURE, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE FINISHED. >> I'M FINISHED. >> I'M SORRY. THIS IS A FIRST READING, TOO. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> I CAN SEE THAT. IT'S RIGHT THERE ON THE AGENDA. >> YEAH. SO THERE WOULD BE TIME TO LOOK AT IT FOR. >> WELL, I WANTED TO GET THAT OUT IN THE OPEN DURING THE FIRST READING. >> YEAH. GOOD. >> GREAT. >> I KNOW THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE. WE'RE DIVING TOO DEEP IN, BUT AS THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, I GOT TO JUMP IN HERE. THERE ARE NO PRESERVED OR PROTECTED TREES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO REMOVE. THERE'S A COUPLE OF PINE TREES THAT ARE REMOVED THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY, BUT THEY'RE LA BOLI PINES, LET A LONG LEAF PINE. SO THEY WERE SHOWN ON THE SURVEY, SO IT WAS PART OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS WITH PZB, BUT THERE WASN'T ANY PROTECTED TREES THAT WERE PROPOSING TO REMOVE WITHIN THE CITY. >> HE MEAN SIGNIFICANT TREES. THANK YOU. >> SIGNIFICANT. CORRECT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR STATEMENTS? IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? >> OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE. IT'S OKAY OR DO WE HAVE MORE? >> WE HAVE TWO. PROBABLY, WE NEED TO APPROACH THE FLUME FIRST, AND THEN LET'S DO THE ZONING. >> YEAH. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 2025-33 TO SECOND READING. >> I'LL SECOND. >> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-33, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP PLUM DESIGNATION OF A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 0.16 ACRES LOCATED AT THE NORTH END OF FLACKLER CROSSING DRIVE, AND WEST OF SAN SEBASTIAN VIEW AS PORTIONS OF THE FRANCIS J FATIO OR DELISPINE GRANT IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE AND AFTER. CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 0.16 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY TO COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR DEBATE? NO. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, JOHN D BRADER? >> YES. >> NANCY SIKES-KLINE? >>YES. >> CYNTHIA GARRIS. >> YES. >> JIM SPRINGFIELD? >> YES. >> BARBARA BLONDER. >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT. SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON ORDINANCE 2025-34 ON THE ZONING. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT. I DID HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE PLANNING AND ZONING HEARING. EVEN THOUGH I MISSED SOME OF THE DISCUSSION, I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE PRESENTATION. WITH THAT, I MOVE THAT WE PASS 25-34, READ BY TITLE ONLY, AND MOVE TO PUBLIC HEARING. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> OKAY. GREAT. >> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-34, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 0.16 ACRES LOCATED AT THE NORTH END OF FLAGLER CROSSING DRIVE AND WEST OF SAN SEBASTIAN VIEW, AS PORTIONS OF THE FRANCIS J FATIO OR DELISPIE GRANT, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE AND AFTER, REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.16 ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 1, RG1, TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF COMMERCIAL LOW 1, CL1, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> WONDERFUL. ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR DEBATE? >> NO. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> NANCY SIKES-KLINE? >> YES. >> JOHN DEPRETER? >> YES. >> CYNTHIA GARRIS? >> YES. >> JIM SPRINGFIELD? >> YES. >> BARBARA BLONDER? >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL SEE YOU AT A SECOND READING. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 10B, [10. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS ] HISTORICAL RESOURCES GRANT UPDATE. MS. MOORE, GOOD EVENING. GOOD TO SEE YOUR SMILING FACE, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL THE GOOD NEWS, YOU'RE SHARING WITH US. >> LET ME PULL IT UP. >> JUST HOW WONDERFUL WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR HISTORIC STRUCTURES. >> WE'RE DOING GOOD. >> YES, WE ARE. I SEE YOU ARE. THERE WE GO. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, AND VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BARBARA MOORE, AND I AM DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES. I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON FIVE DIFFERENT GRANT PROJECTS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON NOW FOR ABOUT 2.5 YEARS. JUST AS A REMINDER, JULY 1 OF 2023. WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,620,000. THE PROJECTS WERE FOR THE FOLLOWING. WE WERE REPAINTING THE PENA PECK HOUSE. [02:05:01] WE WERE PUTTING A NEW ROOF ON THE PENA PECK HOUSE. WE WERE RESTORING OR REPLACING THE FLOORS AT THE VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER. WE WERE APPLYING WATERPROOF TO THE FRONT PART OF THIS STRUCTURE, CITY HALL, NOT THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM, AND WE WERE REPLACING THE REMAINDER OF THE NON-HISTORIC WINDOWS. THANK YOU. THE FIRST ONE, THE PENA PECK HOUSE. WE COMPLETED THE PAINTING OF THIS STRUCTURE IN FEBRUARY OF 2024. CERTA PRO PAINTING WAS OUR VENDOR. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THE TOTAL COST OF THAT PROJECT WAS $33,425. DUE TO THE COST, WE DID NOT HAVE TO DO A SOLICITATION. THE STATE'S LIMIT FOR SOLICITING WAS 35,000. WE CAME IN JUST UNDER THAT, SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROCEED, AND WE PAINTED IT MATCHED TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE. THE ROOF REPLACEMENT. THAT WAS A SOLICITED PROJECT. IT ALSO WENT BEFORE HARB FOR APPROVAL. IT WAS A STEEL ROOF WHEN WE STARTED. THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN 2025 JULY. CHILDERS ROOFING WAS THE CONTRACTOR. THE COST WAS 605,000. WE WENT FROM A STEEL ROOF TO A RED, PAINTED, BEAUTIFUL, HAND CRAMPED COPPER ROOF. IT'S STUNNING. HERE'S SOME BEFORE PICTURES. THE PICTURES ON THE LEFT ARE THE COPPER BEFORE IT WAS PAINTED. THE SECOND PICTURES ARE THE PAINTED ROOF. IT ACTUALLY HAS BRUSH STROKES BROOMED END OF THE ROOF AS REQUIRED BY HARB. THAT PROJECT IS COMPLETE AND MOVING ON TO THE VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER. THERE WAS A FUNDED PROJECT THAT WE COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. BLUE CS WAS THE CONTRACTOR. THAT WAS A SOLICITED PROJECT. THE COST WAS $98,475.79. A FEW OF THE BEFORE PICTURES. YOU CAN SEE, THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE FLOOR UNDER THE MAIN AREA. WE HAD HEART PINE FLOORS, VERY DIFFICULT TO EAT BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD WOOD. WE REPLACED THE MAIN FLOOR AREA, 05,124 SQUARE FEET, AGAIN WITH HEART PINE FLOORS. THE SIDE GALLERIES WERE OAK. WE REFINISHED THEM TO MATCH. A COUPLE OF AFTER PICTURES. SOME PICTURES IN PROGRESS, THAT IT TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL. SO BEAUTIFUL THAT WE NEEDED TO FIX THE TERMITE PROBLEM. IN SEPTEMBER, WE FUMIGATED THE BUILDING. WE DIDN'T TENT IT, BUT WE GASSED IT. WE GASSED THE PROPERTY UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING, SO WE WILL NOT HAVE TERMITES FOR A VERY LONG TIME. OUR FLOORS WILL LAST MY LIFETIME ANYWAY. WATERPROOFING. THIS WAS A BIG PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WE FINISHED IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. IT WAS WATERPROOFING SOUNDS EASY, BUT IT ENCOMPASSED REPAIRING THE CRACKS IN THE BUILDING. IT ENCOMPASSED REPAIRING TERRA COTTA, AS WELL AS APPLYING A WATERPROOF SEALANT TO THE BUILDING. OUR VENDOR WAS CHILDERS ROOFING. IT WAS SUBCONTRACTED, AND BLANCHARD COATING AND CAULKING DID THE ACTUAL JOB. THE COST WAS 1,350,000. THE JOB IS COMPLETE. WE'VE GOT SOME BEFORE-AND-AFTER PICTURES. THERE WAS A LOT, A LOT OF REPAIRS, A LOT OF CRACKS THAT NEEDED THE MATERIAL TAKEN OUT, AND THE CORRECT MATERIAL PUT IN. HERE'S A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF BEFORE AND AFTER. HERE'S SOME BEFORE AND AFTER ON TERRA COTTA CLEANING. REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW WHAT BAD SHAPE. AS FAR AS FILTHY. YOU CAN SEE, AGAIN, HERE'S SOME BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. WE DID A SOFT PRESSURE WASH AS TO NOT DO ANY DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. THERE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE TERRA COTTA TEAM. THESE GUYS WERE METICULOUS AND TOOK DAYS. YOU DIDN'T JUST SLAP IT ON. THEY BUILT IT OVER TIME. THEY'RE MASTERS AT THEIR CRAFT. THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK OVER AT FLAGLER AS WELL. SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY DID. THEY DID THIS IN NUMEROUS PLACES AROUND THE BUILDING. RILEM TESTING. IN ORDER TO BE STEWARDS OF FUNDS, WE HAVE TO PROVE THAT WE DID WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO. RILEM TESTING IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WE CAN [02:10:01] PROVE TO THE STATE AND SHOW THAT WE ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING TO THE BUILDING. THE WATERPROOFING MATERIAL IS INVISIBLE. IT SUCKS INTO THE STRUCTURE, SO YOU CAN'T SEE THAT IT'S ON THERE. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE IN THIS BEFORE VIDEO. YOU WILL SEE WATER BEING POURED INTO A TEST TUBE, AND IT IS MEASURING THE ABSORPTION RATE INTO THE SURFACE. >> YOU'LL SEE PRETTY CAREFULLY BECAUSE YOU SEE THE WATER GO DOWN AS QUICKLY AS IT GOES DOWN. THAT MEANS IT'S SUCKING RIGHT INTO THE BUILDING. EVERY TIME IT RAINED, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THE WATER WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE BUILDING. MOVING OVER TO THE AFTER. SAME SPOT. YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE. IT'S HARD TO TELL, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE WATER LINE IS. WHAT I WON'T DO IS SPEND THE NEXT 10 MINUTES LETTING YOU WATCH WATER THAT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE. THIS WENT ON FOR AN HOUR. THIS WATERPROOFING WILL LAST 10 YEARS, AND IT'S REALLY THE ONLY MEASURABLE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WATERPROOFING WAS APPLIED TO THE BUILDING. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THIS RIM TESTING WAS DONE. I PICKED PLACES ALL OVER. I DIDN'T TRUST EVERYBODY. OUT WINDOWS AT THE GROUND LEVEL. I ALSO WALKED AROUND THE STRUCTURE WITH A SPRITE BOTTLE FULL OF WATER AND WAS OBSERVED THROWING WATER ON THE BUILDING BECAUSE IF IT'S ABSORBING, THEN THERE'S NOT WATER PFFING MATERIAL. IF IT DOESN'T, AND IT ROLLS DOWN, WE'RE GOOD TO GO. WE TESTED EVERYWHERE AND WE ARE GOOD TO GO. THE WINDOW REPLACEMENT. WE ARE JUST ABOUT DONE. I WOULD SAY 99%. WE HAVE SOME PAINTING TO GO. WE HAVE ONE WINDOW ON THE CORDOVA SIDE WHERE THE WINDOW SILL WAS LIKE THIS. IT WAS A WINDOW LIKE THIS. SELL UP HERE, SELL DOWN HERE, ONE WINDOW. WE'RE FINISHING UP THAT WITH SOME TERRACOTTA REPAIR. BUT THIS PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETE NOW IN DECEMBER. I WOULD SAY BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK. OUR VENDOR WAS DEMARI CONSTRUCTION. THE COST OF THE WINDOWS WAS 777,000. THE VENDOR COST OF DAMARIS WAS 721349. THEY ARE MASTERS, BUT THEY DO. TRULY. WE STARTED THIS PROJECT WITH NOTHING. WE HAD 60 WINDOWS IN A WAREHOUSE THAT WERE YELLOW. WE HAD NO IDEA WHERE THEY WENT. THE DRAWINGS, THE PLANS FROM WHEN THIS WAS DONE IN 2014 GONE. WE ELICITED SARAH RYAN, AND THEY STARTED OVER. WE NOW KNOW THAT THERE ARE 690 WINDOWS IN THIS STRUCTURE. THAT'S CITY HALL AND LIGHTNER. A LOT OF THE WINDOWS AT CITY HALL HAD BEEN REPLACED, NONE OF THE LIGHTNER WINDOWS HAD BEEN REPLACED. THIS PROJECT, WE'VE REDONE 349 WINDOWS, REPLACED OR RE-GLAZED. MOST OF THEM AT THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM. OUT OF THE WHOLE, WHEN ALL SAID AND DONE, WE WERE MISSING FIVE, WHICH IS STUNNING, HONESTLY. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM WITHOUT CLOSING IT. WE DID EVERYTHING. THESE WINDOWS WERE MADE TO BE DONE FROM THE INSIDE. SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF FUN THINGS. IF YOU LOOK ON THE LEFT ON THE BEFORE PICTURE, THAT IS A STAIRWELL IN LOBBY D, 4TH FLOOR. LOOKS VERY MUCH SIMILAR TO THE LOBBY B ON THE 4TH FLOOR. THE AFTER ON THE INSIDE SHOWS WE NOW HAVE A WINDOW. THE AFTER ON THE OUTSIDE SHOWS THE SAME WINDOW. IT HAS CHANGED THE WHOLE LOOK OF OUR STAIRWELL. THESE WINDOWS WERE BEHIND WALLS. WE HAD WINDOWS IN STAIRWELLS, WE HAD WINDOWS IN ELEVATOR SHAFTS. YOU CAN SEE THEM FROM THE OUTSIDE. YOU HAVE NO IDEA THEY'RE THERE ON THE INSIDE. DEMARI DID AN AMAZING JOB. THIS IS A REALLY COOL FEATURE. IF YOU LOOK ON THE OUTSIDE, JUST COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LOOKING THAN THE WINDOW ON THE INSIDE. A COUPLE OF OTHER EXAMPLES. YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE NOT DONE YET, AND THESE ARE THE SAME ONES COMPLETE. IF IT'S YELLOW, IT'S DONE. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE REALLY KNEW WHEN WE STARTED WHAT HAD BEEN DONE. IF IT WAS BROWN, IT HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED. IF ANYONE'S EVER TOURED THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM, THIS IS THE CRYSTAL ROOM. THERE ARE TWO WINDOWS IN THE CRYSTAL ROOM THAT ARE AROUND. THERE'S TWO IN THE BATHHOUSES, AND THERE'S TWO IN THE HALLWAYS. TRYING TO REPLACE THESE WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE WAS A CHORE. THESE WINDOWS COST APPROXIMATELY $11,000 A PIECE. [02:15:01] THEY DID IT VERY CAREFULLY. ALL OF THE GLASS HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT, ALL OF THE CRYSTAL, ALL OF THE SHELVES. THEY HAD TO BE PAINTED, AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE NEXT SLIDE, AN EXAMPLE OF A BEFORE AND AFTER, RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. THIS WINDOW HAS BEEN COMPLETE, THIS WINDOWS IN PROCESS. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ACTUALLY, THIS ONE IS GLAZING. THIS WAS NOT A WINDOW REPLACEMENT. IT WAS ON THE LEFT, THE PRE GLAZING ON THE RIGHT, POST GLAZING AND NEW GLASS. FINALLY, OUR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES WITH SARAH RYAN. SHE PROVIDED US WITH ALL OF THE DRAWINGS AND PLANS FOR THE WINDOW REPLACEMENT. EVERY WINDOW IN THE BUILDING HAS A NUMBER. WE KNOW THE SIZE, WE KNOW WHERE IT IS. WE KNOW WHEN IT WAS REPLACED. WE DO HAVE SOME WINDOWS LEFTOVER FROM 2005-2008. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY GO. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SELL THEM AND GET OUR MONEY BACK. SHE ALSO SARAH RYAN AND MARK MCCONNELL AND THEIR GROUP, SAM DID ALL OF THE VIC FLOOR SCOPE OF WORK, SO WE COULD PUT IT OUT FOR SOLICITATION. FINALLY, I'VE LIFTED ALL OF OUR VENDORS. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR EMPLOYEES AT THE VISITOR CENTER. WE SHUT THEM DOWN FOR TWO WEEKS. THOSE FOLKS AND FACILITIES MOVED EVERYTHING OUT OF THE BUILDING. WE HAD TO REPLACE THEM FOR WORKING IN THE CITY WHILE WE WERE CLOSED AT THE VIC, BRING ALL THE STUFF BACK, PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN THE CASES, PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN THE GIFT SHOP. IT WAS A CHORE, AND DO THE SAME THING AGAIN, ALMOST FOR TERMITING. ONLY WE DIDN'T HAVE TO MOVE EVERYTHING OUT. WE GASSED AT ALL. FINALLY, MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE WINDOWS, DAVID BAGNLL. THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIGHTNER WAS AMAZING. HE WAS ACCOMMODATING. HE WAS GRACIOUS. HE AND HIS STAFF HAD TO MOVE EVERYTHING OUT OF THE GALLERIES. OUR TEAM CAME IN. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MOVING ANY OF HIS ITEMS. WE WORKED WITH HIM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE TWO WINDOWS THAT ARE THAT ARE HISTORIC TO THIS BUILDING. THEY'VE NEVER BEEN REPLACED. WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE THE OUTSIDE TRIM ON 35 WINDOWS IN HIS GALLERY. WE DID OUR BEST WORKING WITH HIM TO HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON HIS BUSINESS. I THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING HE'S DONE. THAT'S A CONCLUSION TO MY PRESENTATION. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, IF ANYONE HAS ANY. >> QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I JUST LIKE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WAS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL JOB. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW THAT IT'S OVER? [LAUGHTER]. >> IF I CAN FIND SOME MORE MONEY, ACTUALLY, WE STILL HAVE THE PART 2 OF THE WATERPROOFING FOR THE LIGHTENER AND CRACK REPAIR. I JUST NEED A COUPLE MILLION, THEN WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER? MR. PEARCE. >> THANK YOU FOR EXCELLENT WORK, DEPUTY. I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A PROJECT THAT TIM SHIELDS AND I THEY HAD BOUGHT THOSE WINDOWS A LONG TIME AGO AND THOSE WINDOWS SHUFFLED FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE BUILDINGS AND DIFFERENT LOCATION, CITY PROPERTIES. IT'S SUCH A BLESSING TO SEE THE WINDOWS RESTORED AND YOU GETTING THE GRANTS TO DO SO. EVEN THE VIC WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE HAD IN THERE OVER THE YEARS, THE DISPLAYS, TEAR UP THOSE WOODEN FLOORS, TO SEE ALL THESE THINGS COME AND BE REPAIRED. IT'S JUST SO GREAT TO SEE IT BACK IN ITS GLORY AND THE EXCELLENT WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND GENERAL SERVICES, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, AND SARAH RYAN AND EVERYBODY PUTTING IN THE WORK. WE'RE STRONGER TOGETHER, AND YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NO, I JUST APPRECIATE IT ALL. I WAS FOLLOWING THE WINDOW REPLACEMENT WHEN I WAS COMING ON FROM MY WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH THE CITY MANAGER, AND I JUST PROBABLY HAD TO GIVE MYSELF 10 MORE MINUTES TO COME IN AND JUST WATCH IT. IT'S FASCINATING TO ME HAVING HAD SOME CONSTRUCTION WORK. I KNOW THAT YOU FITTING THEM INTO MASONRY SETTINGS, WHICH ARE NOT ALWAYS SQUARE, THAT MIGHT HAVE SETTLED AND I WATCHED AND THEY WERE VERY PATIENT, BUT I'D GO IN AND I'D COME OUT AFTER AN HOUR, AND I WAS SURPRISED HOW MUCH WORK THESE GUYS GOT DONE. >> THEY'RE AMAZING. >> THE NEW WINDOWS DO LOOK A LOT BETTER. THEY LOOK WE'LL SAY LOOK A LOT BETTER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NICE MAYOR. >> GREAT STUFF AND GETTING GRANTS TO DO ALL THIS. YOU'LL GET THE NEXT ONE. >> THANK YOU. I'LL JUST SAY THAT I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH LIGHTER MUSEUM AND [02:20:02] OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WOMEN'S EXCHANGE, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. BUT NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE. I WANT TO THANK CINDY STEVENSON, REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON. PAUL RENER AND SENATOR HUDSON FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND GETTING THAT MONEY. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING, LIKE I SAID, A FEW MINUTES AGO, THESE PROGRAMS AREN'T CONSISTENTLY BEING FUNDED, AND WE DON'T EXPECT THAT THEY WILL BE. WE'RE NOT SURE OF WHETHER THEY WILL BE. THIS SPECIAL APPROPRIATION IS MORE IMPORTANT, AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE IT. WE'RE LUCKY. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE GOT THIS MUCH FOR THIS. BUT THIS IS A PRIORITY TO US, SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> ONTO ITEM 10C 204, PELICAN REEF DRIVE. MISS SKINNER, YOU'RE WELCOME TO PRESENT. DOES ANYONE NEED A BREAK? ARE WE GOOD? ARE WE PRETTY GOOD? 730 PUSH THROUGH? WE CAN JUST TAKE ONE AS WE NEED IT THEN. HOW'S THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'LL ALL WANT TO BE AT THE TABLE FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, MID SEASON UPDATES. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THIS ITEM FOR DISCUSSION IS RELATED TO A PROPOSED LIEN REDUCTION FOR A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 204 PELICAN REEF DRIVE. A VIOLATION WAS CONFIRMED AND A FINE WAS SET FOR THE PROPERTY AT A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025. A LIEN WAS THEN FILED FOR A TOTAL OF $24,500. ALL OF THE TREES WERE REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY WITHOUT AN APPROVED PERMIT. THE ITEM WAS HEARD BY THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE WITH A FINE SET AT $1,500 PER VIOLATION, WHICH WAS FOR THE REMOVAL OF 15 SOUTHERN RED CEDAR TREES, TOTALING $22,500, WITH AN ADDITIONAL FINE SET AT $1,000 PER VIOLATION, WHICH WAS FOR THE REMOVAL OF TWO OAK TREES, ADDING TOGETHER, TOTALING THE $24,500. THE RESPONDENT REQUESTED A LIEN REDUCTION HEARING AND WAS HEARD BY THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE ON OCTOBER 5TH, 2025. THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE AGREED WITH THE RESPONDENT AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE LIEN BE REDUCED TO $4,500. PART OF THE RATIONALE TO REDUCE THE LIEN WAS BASED ON TWO OTHER CASES IN PELICAN REEF THAT WERE ORIGINALLY HEARD BY THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE IN AUGUST AND NOVEMBER OF 2024, RESPECTIVELY, WITH FINES OF $1,950 AND $4,500 RESPECTIVELY. THE ORDER RELATED TO THIS PROPERTY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER NEEDED TO REPLACE OR REPLANT 30 CEDAR TREES AND TWO OAK TREES, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LANDSCAPE CODE. IF THEY CAN'T FIT ALL OF THOSE TREES BACK ON THE PROPERTY, THEN THEY WOULD PAY INTO THE TREE MITIGATION FUND. AS NOTED, THE PELICAN REEF SUBDIVISION REQUIRES THAT AT LEAST 10 CEDAR TREES BE PLANTED ON SITE OR MAINTAINED ON THE PROPERTY. WE WOULD EXPECT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE AT LEAST 10 CEDAR TREES AT THE FINISH OF THEIR PROJECT ON THE PROPERTY, AND THEN ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL TREES THAT THEY CAN FIT BASED ON THE MAGISTRATE'S FINAL ORDER. I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I BELIEVE A REPRESENTATIVE IS HERE FOR THE PROPERTY, BUT I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. PAYING INTO THE TREE MITIGATION FUND, HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> YES. BASICALLY, I BELIEVE IT'S $325 PER TREE. IN THIS CASE, WE WOULD ASK THAT THEY REPLACE AS MANY TREES AS THEY CAN ON THE PROPERTY. THEN IT WOULD BE $325 FOR THE ANYTHING LEFT OF THE 32 TREES THAT THEY COULDN'T FIT ON THE PROPERTY TO PAY INTO THE FUND. THAT HELPS THE CITY REPLACE TREES ALL OVER THE CITY. >> IS THAT PER TREE? >> $325 PER TREE. >> THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE 10 BY THE HOA? >> YES. THE PELICAN REEF SUBDIVISION REQUIRES AT LEAST TEN SOUTHERING CEDAR TREES REMAIN ON THE PROPERTY. >> YOU'RE OBLIGATED AS PER THE AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE 30 CEDARS AND TWO OAKS? [02:25:01] YES. POTENTIALLY 7,000 INCH OF TREE FUND. >> CAN I? >> YES, PLEASE. >> THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE $4,500, AM I CORRECT? >> YES. THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE $4,500. >> I THINK IT'S $325 PER TREE YOU SAID. WHO ESTABLISHED THE ORIGINAL $24,500? >> THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE AT A HEARING BACK IN FEBRUARY. >> HE THEN HE APPEALED THAT TO ANOTHER SPECIAL MAGISTRATE? >> NO. THERE IS A PROCESS TO FILE TO REQUEST THAT A FEE BE REDUCED. >> MATTER. >> THEY WENT BACK TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. NOW, I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE SAME PERSON THAT WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH A LAW FIRM THAT DOES WORK WITH US AS A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. THEY REVIEWED THE PROJECT, AND BASED ON THE TESTIMONY BY THE RESPONDENT, RECOMMENDED THAT THE FEE FINE AND LIEN BE REDUCED TO THE $4,500. >> MAY AS I ASK ONE? >> PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> LET'S JUST SAY THAT THEY SAY THEY HAVE TO HAVE 10. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE 10. UNLESS THERE'S 20 LEFTOVER, I THINK YOU DID THE MATH. I DID THE SAME THING. YOU GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY. WHEN THOSE 10 TREES GO BACK ON, DOES THAT GET PLANNING BOARD APPROVAL OR IS THAT JUST UP TO THE APPLICANT TO PUT THEM SOMEWHERE? >> THAT WOULD BE UP TO OUR DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW. THEY WOULDN'T GET THEIR FINAL. >> CO. >> CO WITHOUT [INAUDIBLE]. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS INFORMATION BECAUSE ON THE THING, IT SAYS, INFORMATION WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TREES WOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN THE OWNER'S DEVELOPMENT ORDER ISSUED BY THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THAT'S THE CO? >> YES. >> SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY. WE COVERED THE 24. WE COVERED 325 WOULD BE EXTRA. THE CO, THE REPLANTING. LOOKS GOOD. JUST ONE SMALL THING IN YOUR REPORT, AT 1:25 SPOON BILL, YOU HAD SIX TREES AT 325, THAT'S 1,950, AND THEN THE FINE WAS 500. SO THAT TOTAL ACTUALLY WAS 2,450 SO WE HAVE THE COMPARABLE? >> YES. THE TOTAL WOULD BE THE TWO NUMBERS TOGETHER. YOU'RE RIGHT. >> 24,500. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, PLEASE. >> QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS. IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM OVER THERE WITH PEOPLE CLEARING LOTS AND ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE WORDS NOT GETTING OUT OR THE FINES AREN'T STIFF ENOUGH, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD JUST TAKE A STAND. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT STAND LOOKS LIKE, BUT AT LEAST WE SHOULD BE GETTING TREES THAT ARE REPLACING THE TREES THAT WERE REMOVED IN VIOLATION WITH TREES OF A SIMILAR DBH, NOT JUST $325 TREES THAT ARE A DBH OF 4" OR WHATEVER IT IS. WE HAVE TO DRAW A LINE SOMEWHERE, AND WE HAVE A TREE ORDINANCE. THIS IS PRECEDENT SETTING EVERY TIME WE DON'T IMPOSE THE FINE THAT IS OUR POLICY. I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING THAT'S A LOT MORE SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF THE CONDITIONS FOR THE TREE REPLANTING, EVEN THE SOILS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IRRIGATION. ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ENFORCING WITH PUDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, I THINK WE IMPOSE IT EQUALLY AND HAVE PEOPLE THINK TWICE, BEFORE THEY START UNILATERALLY TAKING DOWN 32 TREES. THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE CONDONED. >> ANYONE ELSE WHO WISH TO ASK QUESTIONS OR MAKE STATEMENTS? >> WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO PUBLIC COMMENT? >> NOT ON THIS ONE. I'M SORRY. >> NO, I THINK WE DID. WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO. >> I'M SORRY. >> THERE IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE [OVERLAPPING]. >> PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS AND WE HAVE ONE PERSON WHO WISHES TO MAKE A PUBLIC. I WILL OPEN THIS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> WE DO HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, IF YOU'LL AFFORD THEM [OVERLAPPING]. >> I BELIEVE HE'S SOMEWHERE BEHIND ME. >> ARE WE OBLIGATED TO GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS FOR HIM? >> EVERYONE HAS PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD. AT A MINIMUM [OVERLAPPING]. >> IF HE WISHES TO SPEAK. GOT YOU. IF THE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT I DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD. [02:30:03] IF WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE, PLEASE FILL OUT YOUR SPEAKER CARD AND SUBMIT THAT. ANYONE ELSE? NO. NOBODY ELSE IS SUBMITTING A SPEAKER CARD? MISS KOLTE. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE THE LONE SPEAKER. >> P.J. KOLTE WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. I'M GOING TO GO QUICK. MISS DUNN. MR. HUTCHISON PURCHASED PROPERTY IN 2021. IN MAY 2024, WORK BEGAN WITHOUT PERMIT. IN NOVEMBER 2024, NOTICE OF VIOLATION WAS SENT, ALL TREES REMOVED. IN JANUARY 2025, NOTICE SENT TO APPEAR AT FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025 HEARING. IN FEBRUARY 2025, MR. HUTCHISON DID NOT ATTEND. IN MARCH 2025, NOTICE LIEN HEARING IN APRIL 2025. IN APRIL 2025 LIEN, 24,500 AGAINST PROPERTY OWNER. IN OCTOBER 2025, OWNER'S LAWYER, CONVINCED THE MAGISTRATE TO REDUCE THE FINE. IN NOVEMBER 2025, MOVED TO REGULAR AGENDA FROM CONSENT. RECOMMENDING THE REDUCTION OF $20,000 DOES NOT MEAN ENFORCEMENT. LISTING OTHER TREE VIOLATIONS SHOWS PATTERN OF DESTROYING TREES AND ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS IN PELICAN REEF. MR. HUTCHISON SHOULD PAY THE 24,500 FINE FOR HIS ACTIONS AND CLEAR TITLE, REDUCE THE SALES PRICE TO $1,970,000 INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL PRICE OF $1,000,995 AS HE'S ASKING FOR THAT PROPERTY. IT'S UP FOR SALE. FROM MAY 2024 TO DECEMBER 2025, IS 19 MONTHS TO ENFORCE AN ORDINANCE, WHERE AN IRREVERSIBLE VIOLATION HAPPENED WHEN 15 SOUTHERN RED CEDARS AND TWO OAK TREES WERE CHOPPED DOWN. THIS SHOWS WHERE THE PROPERTY IS. YOU CAN'T SEE IT AS CLEARLY AS MAYBE YOU SHOULD TO REALLY KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER ON PELICAN REEF. THIS IS 206 HOUSE. THAT BELONGS TO THE THOMPSON FAMILY. THEN WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IS WHERE 204 IS. RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE THEY LIVE, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 19 MONTHS. THEN THE NEXT ONE OVER IS 186, WHICH IS LEASES, IS ONE OF THE THREE. THEY DID THE SAME THING. THAT'S UP FOR SALE TOO. IT'S LIKE 1,000,700 AND SOMETHING, AND THEN IT'S DOWN NOW. OVER THE WEEKEND, I WENT TO THE LIBRARY, AND IT'S DOWN TO 1,000,500 SOMETHING. THIS CONTINUES TO GO ON. THIS NEEDS A SOLUTION, AND $24,500 IS NOT THAT MUCH FOR WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THIS AREA, NO MATTER WHAT THE REPRESENTATIVE, AND THEN HE GOES AND GETS A LAWYER. COME IN AND PAY WHAT THEY NEED. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO GET A LAWYER. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, AND I'LL LEAVE THIS UP HERE AND THEN I'LL RETURN IT TO THE CLERK. THIS IS VERY WRONG, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON, AND THERE'LL PROBABLY BE A COUPLE MORE BECAUSE THERE'S SOME VACANT SPOTS THERE. THEY BUY AND SELL, AND THEN THEY DESTROY. >> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. MR. WHITEHOUSE. >> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD EVENING. >> THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. FOR THE RECORD, JAMES WHITEHOUSE, ST. JOHN'S LAW GROUP 104 SGROVE MAIN STREET HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER. JUST TO CLEAR UP A FEW THINGS. IT'S NOT IN YOUR PACKET. THIS CAME TO A MAGISTRATE HEARING, AS YOU HEARD FROM MISS SKINNER. THESE WERE TWO PROPERTIES RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, 186 AND 204. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THEY WENT TO PUT IN THE APPROVED BULKHEAD, WHOEVER THE CONTRACTOR WAS CLEARED THE PROPERTIES. IT CAME TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, AS YOU SEE FROM YOUR PACKET ON 186 IN, I THINK IT WAS NOVEMBER OF 2024. BOTH OF THESE WERE DONE ON THE SAME DAY. THEY JUST HAPPENED TO COME TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE ON SEPARATE DAYS. THE186 CAME TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE IN NOVEMBER. THEY WENT THROUGH ALL THE FACTS, CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF PRESENTED THE FACTS, AND THEY INSTITUTED THE FINE OF THE $4,500 PLUS THE REPLACEMENTS DOUBLE AS YOU HEARD IS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED ON THIS PROPERTY. FAST FORWARD, IN FEBRUARY, THIS ONE, 204, CAME TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, AND THERE WAS NO PRESENTATION, [02:35:04] AND THERE WAS NO APPEARANCE THAT PEOPLE LIVE OUT OF OUT OF THE COUNTRY. A DIFFERENT RESULT WAS INSTITUTED ON THIS PROPERTY ON THE ORDER. THAT'S WHEN I WASN'T INVOLVED IN ANY OF THAT. THAT'S WHEN THEY CAME TO ME SUBSEQUENTLY AND SAID, THERE WAS TWO DIFFERENT OUTCOMES TO THE SAME OCCURRENCE OF THE CLEARANCE. CAN YOU GO AND TALK AND SEE IF THERE'S AN ABILITY TO SAY, "HEY, LISTEN, THIS IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE OF THE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS OF PELICAN REEF OF REPLANTING DOUBLE." CAN WE HAVE THE SAME PENALTY ON THIS ONE WITH THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE WHO IS APPOINTED BY THIS CITY COMMISSION TO ENFORCE THE CODES OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THAT'S WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND MEET WITH STAFF AND MEET WITH THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, AND STAFF RECOMMENDED THIS OUTCOME. THAT'S WHY THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE LISTENED TO WHAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WAS. THEN THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE RECOMMENDED THAT TO YOU. THE ONLY REASON WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO A LIEN. THIS IS NOT AN APPEAL OF THAT, THIS IS BECAUSE ONCE A LIEN IS INSTITUTED, UNDER OUR CODE, CITY CODE, ONLY THE COMMISSION CAN RELEASE THE LIEN, SO THAT THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE'S ORDER CAN BE PUT IN PLACE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT THIS SPECIAL ORDER OR THE ORDER OF THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE THAT WAS THE SAME ONE PUT ON THE OTHER PROPERTY WILL BE PUT ON THIS PROPERTY, AND YOU AGREE TO RELEASE THE LIEN. YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LET'S PUNISH THEM AND MAKE THEM DO MORE TREES. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LET'S MAKE THE FINE HIGHER AND MAKE THIS AN EXAMPLE. THIS IS YOUR CHARGE TODAY IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREE TO RELEASE THE LIEN, SO IT CAN BE THE ORDER OF THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PROPERTY THAT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO IT WILL BE ENFORCED. THAT'S REALLY ALL YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY. IT'S NO MAKING EXAMPLE OF ANYBODY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. IT'S A REDUCTION OF THE LIEN, WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED FOR, NOT TO REMOVE THE LIEN, IS THAT CORRECT? WE'RE NOT REMOVING THE LIEN. WE'RE JUST REDUCING THE LIEN TO MATCH THE OTHER PENALTY ON THE ADJACENT LOT AT THE REQUEST OF STAFF. I'M LOOKING AT. I'M SAYING, I THINK THEY MADE A MISTAKE ON THE FIRST LOT 186. I THINK THAT WAS FINE WAS TOO LOW. I THINK THAT 204 IS CORRECT IN THE 24,500. THIS IS WHERE I STAND ON THIS. I THINK THE MISTAKE WAS NOT THIS LEIN. THE MISTAKE WAS NOT HIGH ENOUGH ON 186, THE FIRST ONE, THE ONE THAT THEY WANT TO COMPARE IT TO. BUT THAT'S MY POSITION. IT'S NOT MAKING A STATEMENT. IT'S JUST I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS THE ERROR. I DO FEEL LIKE THIS IS CORRECT. I'M NOT NECESSARILY IN FAVOR OF REDUCING THE LIEN. >> COMMISSIONER GARRIS. >> BASICALLY, HEARING WHY THIS IS BEFORE US, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT WOULD BE FAIR TO CHARGE THEM THE 24,500. THEY TOOK THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO GO BACK TO THE SPECIAL MAJESTY AND EXPLAIN THEIR SITUATION. BECAUSE THEY WENT BACK TO TO REDUCE THE LIEN, AND THEY AGREED. A AGAIN, THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE IS SOMEBODY THAT WE APPOINT TO DO THESE THINGS, AND THEY AGREED TO DROP IT DOWN TO THE 04,500 PLUS THESE OTHER CONDITIONS THAT JIM HAD ALREADY CALCULATED THE 7,000 SOMETHING FOR REPLACING OR PENALIZING THOSE THINGS. I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULDN'T RELEASE THE LIEN. BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO PAY FOR THE SAME AMOUNT AS THE OTHER ONE, WHETHER IT WAS DONE INCORRECTLY OR NOT, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION. THAT'S JUST LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO A COURT CASE AND SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY OFF OF THE TRIAL, AND THERE'S ANOTHER COURT CASE THAT THEY REFERENCE. THEN THE JUDGE SAYS, YES, THAT DID HAPPEN THAT WAY. THIS IS LIKE THE SAME SCENARIO. I KNOW IT'S NOT THE SAME SCENARIO, BUT THEY GIVE YOU FINDINGS AS TO WHY THEY RELEASED OR FOUND SOMEBODY NOT GUILTY. [02:40:06] I'M THINKING IN THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO, BASED ON THE NEIGHBORING LAND THAT THEY WENT BACK, AND THEY REFERENCED IT, WHETHER THEY DID IT INCORRECTLY AT THE FIRST TIME OR NOT, THEY SHOWED JUST CAUSE WHY THEY SHOULD BE PENALIZED THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY. MY POSITION IS, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, COME UP WITH STRICTER RULES. BUT IF HE CAN PROVE THAT HIS NEIGHBOR GOT AWARDED THIS, HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS PERSON THE EXAMPLE WHEN HE HAS PROOF THAT IT WAS DONE ALREADY? THE SPECIAL MAJESTY ALREADY AGREED TO IT. THAT'S MY FINDINGS. THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION OF MISS SKINNER, MADAM MAYOR. >> YES. >> JUST A QUICK ONE. OF THESE THREE LIENS, THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT HAS COME TO THE CITY COMMISSION BECAUSE OF A REQUEST FOR A REDUCTION IN THE LIEN, AM I CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE WISH TO MAKE A STATEMENT OR A MOTION OR? >> I JUST GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. >> GOOD. WHO THEY FOR? >> FOR OUR OFF LAWYER IF SHE'S THERE. IS SHE AVAILABLE? >> SHE'S NOT IN HEALTH. SHE'S JUST DRESS LIKE [OVERLAPPING]. >> I KNOW. WE'RE JUST HAVING SOME FUN. >> THANK YOU. OFF LAWYER IS HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> OFF LAWYER. >> CAN YOU SPIN SOME MAGIC ON THIS FOR ME? NUMBER 186, THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S BEING REFERRED TO AS A COMPARABLE TO 204. IS THAT LIEN SETTLED AND CLEARED? THAT'S ALL RESOLVED. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT ONE? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? >> MAYBE MISS SKINNER CAN LET US KNOW, BUT I ASSUME IT WAS PAID. I DON'T KNOW IF MR. [OVERLAPPING]. >> HAS THAT BEEN PAID, AND SETTLED, SO TO SPEAK? >> I DON'T KNOW. I DO NOT KNOW SPECIFICALLY IT'S IF IT'S BEEN SETTLED, AS IN BEING PAID. >> IT SAYS, REMOVAL OF TREES WITHOUT A PERMIT, BUT THAT'S 186. REMOVAL OF TREES WITHOUT A PERMIT WAS SET AT 4,500 IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT ORDER, WHICH, I GUESS THIS MEANS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAYING EXTRA FOR THE TREES. HAS THAT CLEARED? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT IS RIGHT NO? LEGALLY, IS THAT? >> IF YOU'RE ASKING, IT'S FINAL. THE ORDER IS FINAL AND THE [OVERLAPPING]. >> I KNOW. IT'S NON-NEGOTIABLE NOW. >> CORRECT. I DON'T BELIEVE ANY, UNLESS AGAIN, MR. WHITEHOUSE WILL POP UP IF I'M MISREMEMBERING, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE ANY REQUEST FOR A REDUCTION WAS FILED ON THAT ONE OR THE SPOON BILL COURT PROPERTY. >> THAT PROPERTY RIGHT NOW, 186, CAN THEY MOVE AHEAD WITH CONSTRUCTION, WITH THE SETTLEMENT ON THE FEES? >> IF THE PROPERTY WERE TO BE SOLD, IF IT IS FOR SALE, WHICH I'M NOT FAMILIAR, MYSELF, IF IT'S FOR SALE. BUT IF SOMEONE WERE TO TRY TO BUY THE PROPERTY, THEN THEY WOULD INQUIRE WITH OUR OFFICE IF THERE ARE ANY PENDING LIENS OR FEES OR PENDING ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY OR OUT OF COMPLIANCE. THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THIS BEFORE THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT. IF IT GETS BEYOND THAT, AGAIN, THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDER OF THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE BEFORE THEY WOULD GET A CO. >> THE LIEN HASN'T BEEN PAID THAT WE KNOW OF? >> NO. >> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS OR HASN'T. MR. WHITEHOUSE, DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CLIENT PAID THE 186? >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CLOSED. >> IT'S NOT CLOSED. >> IT'S NOT CLOSED. THANK YOU. >> BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S CLOSED OR NOT. >> I KNOW. >> [OVERLAPPING] I JUST WAS WONDERING IF IT WAS ASKING OPENING UP. IF IT'S A COMPARABLE IF IT'S NOT SETTLED, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO, BUT SO THAT WAS MY FIRST QUESTION. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S SETTLED. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SETTLED, THOUGH? THIS IS A SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATION. >> [OVERLAPPING] THE LIEN'S BEEN CLEARED ON 186. >> HAS THE LIEN BEEN PAID, IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? >> YEAH. >> I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER I WAS ASKING IF MR. WHITEHOUSE KNEW IF HIS CLIENT HAD PAID FOR THAT PARTICULAR VIOLATION ORDER. >> YES, I THINK IT HAS BEEN PAID. EITHER WAY, IT'S ON THE PROPERTY, SO IT HAS TO BE PAID, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IT IS. >> THAT'S JUST ALL I WANT TO KNOW. THEN IF WE WERE TO SAY, GO AHEAD AND DO AS THE MAYOR AND THE VICE MAYOR ARE SUGGESTING, AND REFUSING TO SETTLE TO THIS LIEN AGREEMENT, WHAT HAPPENS PROCESS WISE? [02:45:02] >> THE ORIGINAL LIEN STANDS. >> THE ORIGINAL 22,000? THEN IF THEY APPEAL IT, IT GOES BACK TO A COURT, OR IS THAT IT? >> THE APPEAL PERIOD HAS LONG PASSED ON THE SUBSTANTIVE VIOLATION AND THE PENALTY PHASE OF THAT. NOW THEY'RE ASKING FOR A PERMISSIVE LIEN REDUCTION. THERE'S NO LONGER A DISPUTABLE FACT AS TO THE UNDERLYING VIOLATION, THE PUNISHMENT FOR THAT VIOLATION, AND THE AMOUNT OF THE FINE. THAT'S PASSED, AND I DON'T KNOW BY HOW MANY DAYS, PROBABLY 2, 3 MONTHS NOW. >> THANK YOU. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. >> THE 24,500 DID NOT INCLUDE REPLACING THE TREES AS WELL? >> NO, I BELIEVE THAT WAS JUST THE STRAIGHT UP MATH, CORRECT? [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT'S JUST THE ACTUAL MATH OF THE 1,500 PER TREE FOR EACH OF THE CEDAR TREES AND $1,000 FOR EACH OF THE TWO OAK TREES. THAT'S JUST STRICTLY THE MATH. THAT WAS THE FINE THAT WAS DETERMINED BY THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. THEN THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE 15 CEDAR TREES THAT WERE REMOVED WITH 30, MAINTAINING AT LEAST 10 CEDAR TREES ON THE PROPERTY AND REMAIN WITH TWO OAK TREES. IF THEY CAN'T, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY THEY CAN FIT ON THE PROPERTY, THEN THEY WOULD PAY THE REMAINDER INTO THE TREE MITIGATION FUND. >> WELL, THAT'S ALONG WITH THE 24,500? >> YES. >> WE WOULD GET THE TREES AND WE'D GET THAT? >> YES. >> I GOT PULLED OVER BY A COP OF THE NIGHT. I WAS AT 16 TRYING TO TURN LEFT INTO PACETTI ROAD AS THE EXTENSION OF 16, AND I WAITED THROUGH SIX TURN SIGNALS, AND THEY DIDN'T EVER TURN GREEN. I HAD MY BRISKET BARBECUE THERE. [LAUGHTER] I SAID, I'M NOT SITTING DO ANOTHER ONE. WHEN IT FINALLY GOT CLEAR, I TURNED. LO AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS A COUNTY DEPUTY RIGHT BEHIND ME. NOW, I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A TICKET. BUT IN HIS GOOD CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AND GOOD UNDERSTANDING THAT I WASN'T TRYING TO BREAK A LAW, I HAD MY BARBECUE. IT WAS GETTING COLD. HE LET ME GO. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE JUDGMENT UP TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO IT EVERY DAY. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE NOW INSTEAD OF A COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS WHO DECIDE THESE THINGS. I THINK ON ONE SIDE, I HAVE THE ARGUMENT THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS NO TEETH THAT WE HEARD TONIGHT. WE HAVE HEARD THAT FOR TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, NOW THAT I'VE BEEN A COMMISSIONER. THEY DON'T HAVE TEETH. WE'VE LOST SOME TEETH IN THE TREE REMOVAL PROCESS THROUGH STATE STATUTES. IT LOOKS LIKE THE ATTORNEY COMMENTING THAT THE PERSON DID IN THE BULKHEAD DID THE PROBLEM, NOT THE LANDOWNER. THEN I WOULD SAY, WELL, LET HIM PAY THE 24,500 AND REPLACE THE TREES. BUT I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MS. GARRIS. WE'VE DONE THIS ONCE WITHOUT PRE WARNING TO SOMEBODY ELSE. I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD, IN GOOD CONSCIOUS, CHARGE SOMEBODY 20,000 MORE DOLLARS BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO COME IN FRONT OF US BECAUSE WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. NONE OF US KNEW THAT $4,500 WAS CHARGED ON THAT PREVIOUS THING, AND IT'S CHARGED ALL THE TIME, CORRECT? THERE'S HEARINGS ALL THE TIME. >> CORRECT. EVERY MONTH. >> WE DON'T HEAR THOSE? >> NO. UNLESS A SITUATION LIKE NOW WHERE YOU'RE ASKING FOR A LIEN REDUCTION. >> WE DON'T HAVE INPUT ON THOSE, BUT WE DO HAVE INPUT HERE TONIGHT TO SAY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE NEED TO GIVE CODE ENFORCEMENT SOME TEETH. WE NEED TO TELL SPECIAL MAGISTRATES, WE'RE SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE DOING. I KNOW THAT THEY KNOW. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY GOES AROUND AND DOES CLEAR A LOT, BUT THEY KNOW. THEY KNOW THE FINE IS GOING TO BE LITTLE. BUT WE NEED TO PUT SOME TEETH INTO IT, BUT WE CAN'T. IN MY OPINION, I DON'T THINK WE COULD DO POST DECISIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE PREVIOUSLY. I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF REDUCING THE LIEN IN THIS CASE. >> MAY I SAY SOMETHING? I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK AND FORTH. I DO AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK WE NEED TO PUT SOME TEETH IN CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT. WE CAN'T KEEP LETTING THIS SLIPPERY SLOPE SLIDE. I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS, $24,500, [02:50:05] COMPARED TO ONE POINT WHATEVER FOR THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY IT'S A WARNING. DON'T DO THIS ANYMORE. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT FINE. STOP DOING THIS. STOP WAITING FOR THE NEXT TIME. THANK YOU. >> WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE SECOND MEETING IN A ROW. WE'VE HAD THE STAFF COME FORWARD WITH A CREATIVE SOLUTION TO HELP A PROPERTY OWNER DO SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE IS A GOOD IDEA TO DO. WE SAW IT ON A FENCE, A ILLEGAL FENCE, NOW WE'RE SEEING IT ON TREES. LIKE I SAID, THESE ARE VERY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. THE STAFF IS TRYING TO WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS. I THINK THERE'S SOME DISCONNECT THOUGH BETWEEN WHAT WE WANT HERE AND TO SEE, MAYBE I EVEN HEARD MR. SPRINGFIELD SAY THIS. THERE'S THIS DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT WE THINK SHOULD BE BEING DONE AND WHAT STAFF IS DOING OPERATIONALLY. THAT SAID, I WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO NOT GRANT THE REDUCTION OF LIEN AT 204 PELICAN REEF DRIVE. >> SECOND. >> ANY DEBATE DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> NANCY SIKES-KLINE. >> YES. >> BARBARA BLONDER. >> YES. >> JON DEPRETER? >> YES. >> CYNTHIA GARRIS. JIM SPRINGFIELD? >> NO. >> THEN MOTION CARRIES. POINT MADE. HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD, WE WILL NOT SEE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT THE DESIRES OF THE COMMISSION ARE AND WHAT STAFF IS DOING TO HELP PROPERTY OWNERS. NOW, I REALIZE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE, BUT TWO IN A ROW, I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT. MOVING FORWARD, LET'S GO TO ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY. >> I HAVE NOTHING. THANK YOU. >> ITEMS BY CITY CLERK. [12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK ] >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS. THIS EVENING, I HAVE A REQUEST FOR TWO APPOINTMENTS TO OUR ST. AUGUSTINE FIREFIGHTERS PENSION FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES. THESE TERMS WILL EXPIRE JANUARY 1ST. WE DID ADVERTISE, AND WE RECEIVED THREE APPLICATIONS FOR THE TWO TERMS. TWO OF THE APPLICANTS ARE CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS. BOTH ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT, AND WE DID RECEIVE A THIRD APPLICATE FROM MR. VAN KUGLE. WE DO HAVE BALLOTS, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WISH TO UTILIZED FOR THIS DECISION? OR VOICE VOTE. >> WHAT? DO YOU WISH A MOTION TO? >> I'M WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION. >> WONDERFUL. >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT MR. KUGLE AND MR. LEONARD FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS FUND BECAUSE OF THEIR PAST EXPERIENCES. IT TAKES A GOOD BIT OF LEARNING ON THESE COMMITTEES, AND THEY'VE BOTH DONE GOOD JOBS FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED AND ARE WILLING TO SERVE. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> ANY DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> JIM SPRINGFIELD? >> YES. >> JON DEPRETER. >> YES. >> CYNTHIA GARRIS? >> YES. >> NANCY SIKES-KLINE. >> YES. >> THEN THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE? >> YES. MY SECOND THING THIS EVENING IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE 2026 PROPOSED MEETING SCHEDULE AND HOLIDAYS. WANTED TO NOTE, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DATES. THE YEARS BEING WRONG ON MY MEMORY. >> I DID THAT. >> WE DID UPDATE IT. OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND CANCELING THE SECOND MEETING OF NOVEMBER AND THE SECOND MEETING OF DECEMBER OF 2026 THERE ALSO IS ONE ADDITIONAL CONFLICT FOR MEMORIAL DAY MAY 25, 2026. STAFF DOES RECOMMEND CANCELING THAT WITH THE OPTION TO SCHEDULE A SPECIAL MEETING IF NECESSARY FOR MAY OF 2026. >> WONDERFUL. [OVERLAPPING] WE NEED TO APPROVE THE MEETING AND APPROVAL RULES. >> YES. >> IS THIS AGREEABLE TO EVERYONE? >> YES. >> I'LL MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE PRESENTATION ON THE SCHEDULES. [02:55:02] >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? >> NO. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> THANK YOU. VERY WELL. YOU HAVE OUR CALENDAR. >> HAVE YOU LOCKED IN FOR THE 2026 YEAR? >> YES. WONDERFUL. THE THING THAT WE'RE ALL HERE FOR TONIGHT. THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS UPDATE. [13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER ] MR. CITY MANAGER. >> MADAM MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. WHAT I'VE GOT TONIGHT IS A SERIES OF DISCUSSION POINTS. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS BRIEFLY AND TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION AND GIVE YOU A MID SEASON UPDATE. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH PARKING, WHICH IS ALWAYS ON THE TOP OF EVERYONE'S MIND IN OUR COMMUNITY. CITY PARKING GARAGE AND VISITOR PARKING LOTS ARE BEING FILLED UP DURING PEAK PERIODS THIS SEASON. THE GARAGE SAW 2409 VEHICLES DURING LIGHT UP NIGHT, WHICH IS 22 MORE VEHICLES COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THE GARAGE HAS CLOSED A TOTAL OF 26 TIMES SINCE LIGHT UP NIGHT. USING DATA FOR ALL VEHICLES IN THE GARAGE ON SATURDAYS DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF 317 CARS FROM LAST YEAR TO COMPARE. RAISING THE PRICE OF THE PARKING GARAGE FROM $20-$40 DID NOT REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CARS USING THE GARAGE AS INTENDED. INDEED, THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP. ADDITIONALLY, THE USE OF THE TOKES PLACE AND GRENADA STREET PARKING LOTS FOR WORKFORCE PARKING HAVE NOT BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL AS ANTICIPATED. PARKING PASSES FOR THE TOKES PLACE LOT ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY PURCHASED, BUT THE USE OF THE LOT BY BUSINESSES IS NOT HEAVY. THE GRENADA STREET LOT IS ALSO MOSTLY UNUSED BY LOCAL BUSINESSES. IN TERMS OF THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM, REPORTS FROM RESIDENTS OF DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THAT OUR PROGRAM TO RESERVE STREET PARKING FOR RESIDENTS HAS BEEN VERY FAVORABLE AFTER THE INITIAL CHALLENGES OF RESIDENTS RECEIVING THEIR PASSES WAS RESOLVED. THE MERCHANTS ON SAN MARCO AVENUE HAVE ALSO REQUESTED PARKING PASSES WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS, AND CITY STAFF TESTED THIS CHANGE TWO WEEKS AGO BY MAKING THE FIRST BLOCK OF RODY AVENUE AND THE FIRST BLOCK OF CINCINNATI AVENUE, RESIDENTS ONLY STARTING AT 5:00 PM. ALLOWING THE BUSINESSES TO USE THE STREET PARKING IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON AND THE RESIDENCES IN THE EVENING. THIS COMPROMISE HAS BEEN GENERALLY WELL RECEIVED BY THE RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS A PERMANENT CHANGE TO THE PARKING PROGRAM, WE CAN DISCUSS THIS TONIGHT. I BELIEVE THERE WERE SEVERAL SPEAKERS THAT ALSO SPOKE ABOUT MAKING THIS POTENTIAL CHANGE. FOR SHUTTLING. THE NUMBER OF VISITORS USING OUR SHUTTLE SERVICE HAS GONE UP CONSIDERABLY SINCE THIS TIME LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR, WE SAW 11,356 VISITORS SHUTTLING OVER A FIVE-DAY PERIOD, AND THIS YEAR, WE ARE SEEING 19,635 OVER AN EIGHT-DAY PERIOD. ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WE ARE OPERATING 6-8 SHUTTLES. ON EVENT DAYS LIKE LIGHT UP NIGHT OR THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, WE ARE OPERATING 10 SHUTTLES. HEADWAY TIMES ARE BETWEEN 20 MINUTES AND 60 MINUTES. WE HAVE TRANSPORTED 5,070 VISITORS ON THE STAR CIRCULATOR ON ANASTASIA ISLAND SINCE THAT ROUTE STARTED THE DAY AFTER LIGHT UP NIGHT. FOR PUBLIC BATHROOMS. WE HAVE PLACED PORTABLE RESTROOMS ON CUNA STREET, TREASURY STREET, KING STREET, AND CATHEDRAL PLACE, ALONG WITH THE BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT, AND ON THE BAYFRONT DURING CERTAIN PEAK TIMES. THIS HAS GREATLY REDUCED THE PRESSURE ON THE CITY'S PERMANENT RESTROOM FACILITIES AT THE VIC, CASA DEL HIDALGO, AND CITY MARINA. ANECDOTALLY, WE ARE ALSO HEARING THAT IT HAS GREATLY REDUCED THE PRESSURE ON PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO USE THEIR RESTROOMS FOR VISITORS. WE ARE ALSO USING A STAFFING COMPANY TO HELP CLEAN THESE RESTROOMS AND OUR PERMANENT REST ROOMS, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN MUCH CLEANER FACILITIES THAN LAST YEAR. OUR CITY STAFF AND CONTRACTED CLEANING SERVICE CLEANS THE BATHROOMS DAILY. THE APP. [03:00:09] THE APP THAT WAS CREATED BY THE VCB IS WORKING VERY WELL. THERE ARE 47,000 DOWNLOADS ON THAT APP SINCE OCTOBER 15, AND 38% OF THOSE DOWNLOADS WERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY OR IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES. IN GENERAL, WE ARE SEEING POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. ANECDOTALLY, WHAT WE'RE SEEING ALSO IS A LOT OF PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS USING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS TO CREATE CONTENT ON THEIR OWN PRIVATE PAGES. EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO TALK ABOUT OUR SHUTTLING AND PARKING PROGRAMS. FOR SOLID WASTE. SOLID WASTE COLLECTION IS GOING MUCH BETTER THIS YEAR. CITY STAFF IS REMOVING TRASH AT A HIGHER RATE THAN LAST YEAR, AND WE ARE USING A CONTRACTOR TO HELP WITH THIS. I'D LIKE TO CALL OUT STEVEN WRIGHT, WHO IS MANAGING THE CITY STAFF AND WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN OUR EFFORTS LAST YEAR. WE HAVE SEEN REDUCED CITIZEN COMPLAINTS FROM LAST YEAR FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES. >> FOR HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND STREET LIGHTS. WE ARE MONITORING THE STREET LIGHTS AND HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON A DAILY BASIS, AND ANGELS IN THE ARCHITECTURE REPAIRS VANDALIZED STREET LIGHTS REGULARLY. AFTER THE SEASON, THE CITY WILL BE DOING MORE ON THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE STREET LIGHTS IN THE PLAZA AND DOWNTOWN. BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED, WE REPLACED ALL OF THE STREET LIGHT BULBS BEFORE THE SEASON, SO THERE IS CONSISTENCY WITH THE LIGHT BULBS IN THE PUBLIC STREET LIGHTS. LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE ST. AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MANAGE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY VERY SUCCESSFULLY THIS SEASON. AGAIN, ACCORDING TO SOCIAL MEDIA, THE MERIDIAN BARRICADES ARE VERY WELL RECEIVED BY VISITORS AND LOCALS AS IT PROVIDES THEM A SENSE OF SAFETY. TRAFFIC CONGESTION REMAINS A PROBLEM, BUT COMPLETE STOPPAGES OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ARE LESS FREQUENT THAN LAST YEAR. RESIDENTS OF DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE COMMENTED THAT TRAFFIC CONGESTION WITHIN THESE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS IS LOWER IN VOLUME THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE NO PARKING AND THE RESIDENTS ONLY PARKING SIGNAGE THAT WE INSTALLED. THE BLOCKING OF TURNING LANES INTO THE MODEL AND NEIGHBORHOOD, GROVE AVENUE, AND ABBOT TRACT HAVE ALSO MOST LIKELY CONTRIBUTED TO LESS TRAFFIC IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SPEAKERS COMMENTED ABOUT THAT EARLIER THIS EVENING. CHANGING THE TRAFFIC FLOW ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS HAS HELPED WITH TRAFFIC CONGESTION AROUND THE PLAZA, AND RECENTLY, WE MADE A CHANGE THAT DOES ALLOW LEFT TURNS FROM THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS TO HELP FACILITATE ACCESS TO BUSINESSES SOUTH OF THE PLAZA. SO FAR THIS SEASON, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED 79 LESS SERVICE CALLS IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR. I DON'T HAVE MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OTHER THAN TO SAY IT IS HANDLING ROUGHLY THE SAME NUMBER OF CALLS WITH THE SAME RESPONSE TIME AS LAST SEASON. VENDORS. DESPITE PASSING AN UPDATE TO THE VENDING ORDINANCE THAT MAKES IT ILLEGAL TO VEND ON THE BAY FRONT, WE CONTINUE TO SEE ILLEGAL VENDORS THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA DURING THE PEAK TIMES. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS HIGHER ENFORCEMENT IN FUTURE SEASONS. I HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE WITH PRIVATE PROVIDERS. IF YOU WANTED TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO A CONVERSATION ABOUT EXTENDING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS AND THE COMPLICATIONS THAT MAY ARISE WHEN WE DO THAT. IF NOT, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I'M AVAILABLE, AND THERE'S STAFF IN THE BACK IF WE HAVE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. I RECALL CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS. THERE'S ILLEGAL SHORT TERM RENTAL POP UPS. >> YES. >> THAT IS SOMETHING I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT. >> WE IDENTIFIED SOMEWHERE AROUND 100 SHORT TERM RENTALS THAT CAME ONLINE JUST FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON THAT WERE NOT REGISTERED WITH THE CITY. WE HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THAT DOES NOTHING BUT ENFORCES OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE. HER NAME IS MORGAN LONNIE, [03:05:01] AND SHE IS WORKING ON TRYING TO REACH COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE 100 SHORT TERM RENTALS. THEY JUST POP UP JUST FOR THE NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON. THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO FIND. BY THE TIME WE ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH THEM, THEY'VE ALREADY SHUT DOWN IN SOME CASES. >> WELL, THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE PAYING THE BED TAX. >> I AGREE, AND IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT COMPLIANT WITH OUR CODE, SO WE'LL STILL CONTINUE TO ENFORCE IT. >> WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING AGGRESSIVE WITH THAT. THAT'S JUST ONE MORE THING ON YOUR PLATE, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE ON IT. COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS. >> THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS. YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVE SOME REASONINGS WHY IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD FOR US TO EXTEND IT FOR TWO WEEKS. >> WELL, I DIDN'T SAY THAT. I JUST SAID IF YOU WERE TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR US TO EXTEND THE SEASON FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. I'M PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT THAT. >> BECAUSE SOME DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS CAME IN LIKE IRVIN CASS AND SUSAN PHILLIPS AND DIFFERENT OTHER PEOPLE, AND EVEN COMMISSIONER ANN TAYLOR, THEY CAME IN AND ASKED ABOUT THE EXTENSION. WE GOT SOME EMAILS ABOUT THAT, TOO FROM LYNN WEEKS AND DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS ABOUT THAT. SAYING THAT THE REVENUE IS DOWN, PROJECTED DOWN. MY OPINION IS THE LIGHTS ARE ALREADY UP. WE ALREADY GOT A GREAT SECURITY IN PLACE. WE ALREADY GOT THE STREETS CLOSED DOWN, BESIDES ADVERTISING THAT IS EXTENDED, WHAT OTHER COMPLICATIONS WILL WE RUN INTO? >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. MOST OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON ARE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES THAT WE HAVE WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES, PRIVATE BUSINESSES. THOSE CONTRACTS END ON JANUARY 11TH. TO EXTEND THOSE CONTRACTS, WE WOULD HAVE TO EXTEND CONTRACTS FOR SHUTTLING, AND WE'RE JUST NOT SURE IF THAT COMPANY HAS SHUTTLES AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS AFTER THEIR CONTRACT ENDS. THOSE BUSES MAY ALREADY BE RESERVED FOR ANOTHER USE OR ANOTHER EVENT. WE ALSO HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE PORTABLE BATHROOM COMPANY WITH THE CLEANING SERVICES THAT CLEAN OUR BATHROOMS AND ALSO HANDLE PART OF OUR SOLID WASTE REMOVAL. WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH A COMPANY THAT PUTS OUT OUR BARRICADES. WE HAVE A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN WHICH WE HAVE A PROGRAMMED AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE AGREED TO GIVE TO THE SHERIFF FOR SERVICES FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF OFFICERS FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS. WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH ANGELS IN THE ARCHITECTURE. WE HAVE A VERIZON TEMPORARY CELL TOWER ON FRANCIS FIELD. ONE OF THE COMPLICATIONS I THINK THAT YOUR ATTORNEY CAN GIVE YOU SOME MORE CLARITY ON IS THE FACT THAT YOU PASS THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS SCHEDULE BY RESOLUTION. THE NEXT AVAILABLE CITY COMMISSION MEETING TO PASS A RESOLUTION IS APRIL 12, THE DAY AFTER NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS SCHEDULED TO END. >> JANUARY. >> I'M SORRY, JANUARY 12. IT HAS BEEN A LONG NIGHT. >> YES. WE UNDERSTAND. >> YOU WOULD HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY APPROVE AN EXTENSION OF THE SEASON TONIGHT WITHOUT PASSAGE OF A RESOLUTION, AND THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION. WE WOULD HAVE TO UPDATE THE SECURITY PLAN WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THAT IS ALSO A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. DEPENDING ON THE COSTS FOR THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES, IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE, WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND ASK FOR MONEY TO BE PULLED OUT OF RESERVES TO PAY FOR IT. MY POINT IS, IF WE DID EXTEND THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS FOR TWO MORE WEEKS, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR VISITORS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING NOW WITH SHUTTLING, BATHROOMS, BARRICADES, ETC. I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT. >> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GO ON RECORD THAT WE HEARD THEM AND THAT WHAT IT WOULD COST AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE WENT THROUGH THAT BECAUSE TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO US JUST TO IGNORE THE POSSIBILITY IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. >> I AGREE. >> ALSO, WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE TIME ON THESE STREETS LIKE RODE. IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO DO, RODE AND CINCINNATI 5:00 TO 09:00 SO THAT SOME OF THE BUSINESSES CAN PARK AND SOME OF THEIR CUSTOMERS CAN COME? IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH? >> THAT IS A QUESTION FOR YOU TO ANSWER TONIGHT. [03:10:02] WE HAVE CHANGED THE PARKING RESERVATION ON THE FIRST BLOCK OF RODE AND THE FIRST BLOCK OF CINCINNATI. IT'S RESIDENTS ONLY AFTER 5:00 P.M. THAT WAS A TEST CASE TO SEE IF IT WORKED. WE WERE BRINGING THAT TO YOU TONIGHT TO SEE IF YOU WANTED US TO MAKE THAT A PERMANENT CHANGE FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON. I THINK WHAT YOU HEARD OTHER MERCHANTS SAY IS THEY WOULD LIKE THAT SAME AFTER 5:00 P.M. THROUGHOUT THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS A BIGGER QUESTION. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A SPEAKER, ALIE BIRCHFIELD, THAT IS A RESIDENT, AND SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD WENT AND PULLED THE PEOPLE ON HER STREET ON RODE, AND THEY WERE ALL IN AGREEMENT AT 5:00 BECAUSE THAT'S USUALLY WHEN THEY'RE COMING HOME AND WANT TO BE. THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE COMING DOWN HERE FOR THE LIGHTS. THEY'LL BE LOOKING FOR OTHER AREAS TO PARK SO THEY CAN BE CLOSER TO THE LIGHTS OR THEY'LL BE TOOK THE TROLLEY INTO TOWN. I THINK THE THAT WILL HELP THOSE BUSINESSES ON THE UPTOWN, BE ABLE TO GET INTO THOSE STORES, AND THEN MAYBE THEY WON'T BE SUFFERING AND LOSING REVENUE BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE A PLACE TO PARK SO THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE THOSE BUSINESSES, BECAUSE OUR SHUTTLE DOES NOT GO DOWN SAN MARCO, IT STAYS ON US ONE. IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR VEHICLES, THEY CANNOT GO DOWN THOSE STREETS. IT'S GOING TO HURT THOSE BUSINESSES. THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE SPOKE TONIGHT ABOUT THAT. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER MOVING THAT TIME BACK FROM 5:00-9:00, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S NOT MY INTENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INCREASING THE NIGHTS AND LIGHTS. >> I'M SORRY. DID YOU SAY MOVE IT BACK FROM 5:00 TO? >> 5:00-9:00. THAT WHEN IT'S RESIDENTIAL, YOU CANNOT PARK THERE. RIGHT NOW IT'S 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. >> 5:00. >> IT'S 1:00-9:00 RIGHT NOW. I'M ASKING FOR IT TO BE FROM 5:00-9:00. >> I'M SORRY. I GOT YOU. EXCELLENT. COMMISSIONER. >> LET BE BRIEF. WELL, I WANT TO BE THAT BRIEF, BUT THE SAN MARCO BUSINESSES, THAT ISSUE CONCERNS ME. THESE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THEY'RE LOCAL AND STUFF, SO THAT DOES CONCERN ME. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF, CHANGING IT TO FROM 5:00-9:00. EXCEPT FOR THE WEEKENDS BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I HEARD ON THE TWO STREETS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, WHICH IS CINCINNATI AND RODEO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE REST OF THE COMMISSION WANTS TO DO. I'M NOT LOOKING AT DAVID. I GUESS I SHOULD BE LOOKING AT YOU GUYS. THAT'S NUMBER 1. SECOND THING I HEARD WAS THE TRAFFIC CONTROL TO ALLOW SOUTHBOUND OF BRIDGE OF LIONS WEST SIDE. I THINK I HEARD THAT THAT WAS BEING DONE MANUALLY NOW? >> YES. THAT'S ALSO A TEST CASE THAT WE JUST EXPERIMENTED WITH I WANT TO SAY LAST WEEKEND. IT'S A BARRIER, SO FOLKS COMING OFF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS CAN'T GO STRAIGHT DOWN CATHEDRAL PLACE. THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT NORTHBOUND OR SOUTHBOUND. >> MANUAL? IS THERE A POLICE [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE]? >> WELL, THESE ARE ACTIVELY MANAGED INTERSECTIONS. >> THAT'S BEING DONE MANUALLY? >> YEAH. >> WELL, THEN I'LL GIVE THAT A TRY, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO MEET AGAIN FOR A WHILE, SO I'LL LEAVE IT TO STAFF TO DETERMINE IF IT'S WORKING OR IF IT'S NOT WORKING OR IF IT'S MAKING. I CAN'T ANALYZE HOW THAT'S GOING TO DISTURB THE LARGER TRAFFIC PATTERN AT THIS POINT. I WOULD BE OPEN TO TRYING IT IF STAFF FEELS LIKE IT'S GOOD. >> YOU'VE TOUCHED ON EXACTLY WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET, WHICH IS IF FOLKS ARE TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN GOING SOUTHBOUND AND THEY DON'T INTEND TO GO TO A RESTAURANT ON THE BAY FRONT, THEN THEY'RE DRIVING INTO LINCOLNVILLE. >> THAT WAS THE POINT WAS TO KEEP HIM OUT. >> EXACTLY. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE RIGHT NOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK. I'M VERY QUESTIONABLE ON THAT. I'M JUST SAYING THAT I JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE RESOLVE IT NOW. WE'RE NOT MEETING FOR ANOTHER MONTH. ANYWAY, I'M TALKING TO HIM, I SHOULD BE TALKING TO YOU GUYS. I HAVE HEARD ALSO THAT EXTENDING THE PSA, WHATEVER FOLKS ARE DOWN THERE AT THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS. I HAVE HEARD SOME PEOPLE TELL ME EXTENDING THAT TO 10:30 MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY GO TO 10:00, I THINK, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY ANALYSIS OF THAT MYSELF. THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I'VE HEARD. START RESTRICTIONS AT 5:00. MY YEARS WENT UP WITH INTEREST WHEN ONE OF THE RESIDENTS TALKED [03:15:04] ABOUT THE CL2 PARKING BEING USED FOR RESIDENTIAL PARKING. I THINK THAT'S A LEGITIMATE SITUATION. IF IT'S A COMMERCIAL PARKING ZONE, IT SHOULD BE COMMERCIAL. I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE WRITTEN DOWN ARE ALL REALLY RELATED TO SAN MARCO, BUT I FEEL LIKE SAN MARCOS IS ITS OWN THING. I KNOW FROM BEING ON THE PLANNING BOARD, 500 APPLICATIONS, IT'S A VERY DISTINCT NEIGHBORHOOD. HONESTLY, I THINK THEY COULD USE A LITTLE LOVE ON A BROADER LEVEL, EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I THINK THE SHUTTLE SYSTEM WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. I THINK IF WE CHANGE ANY PARKING, THERE SHOULD BE NO NET LOSS OF PARKING FOR THOSE BUSINESSES DOWN THERE. I THINK THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IS WORKING GOOD, AND THAT'S THE WAY THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS, BUT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ALSO PROTECT THE BUSINESSES, AND THAT MIGHT TAKE AN INVESTMENT. WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS A MECHANISM FOR THAT PART OF TOWN, LIKE, WE HAVE A CRA TO DO THAT. HOWEVER, THE PARKING GARAGE IS CLOSER TO MANY OF THOSE BUSINESSES IN UPTOWN THAN IT IS TO THE CORNER OF HYPO IN ST. GEORGE STREET, CAUSE I KNOW, BECAUSE I WENT ON AND MEASURED IT, BUT PERCEPTUALLY, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S FOR THE DOWNTOWN. FINANCIALLY, IT'S ALSO BEING HINGED TO THE DOWNTOWN, AND I THINK THAT'S CAUSING US A LARGER TERM PROBLEM BECAUSE IF WE NEEDED TO BUY PUBLIC PARKING OR SOMETHING ALONG SAN MARCO, WE DON'T HAVE THAT MECHANISM, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT A LONG TERM, EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE NEXT LIGHTS, CORPORATE DEBT WITH THIS SHUTTLE PARKING. I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS A REFLECTION OF SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO FIX. IT'S JUST SURFACING. NIGHTS A LIGHTS BECAUSE THERE'S MORE INTENSITY THERE. THE OTHER THING IS SECURING WORKFORCE PARKING FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. I DID A LITTLE INVESTIGATION. I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS, AND I'VE TRIED TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT THEY CAN GET PARKING MONTHLY PARKING PASSES AT THE GARAGE, AND BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I'M HEARING IS THE EMPLOYEES ARE COMING IN PARKING IN THE PUBLIC PARKING, AND THEN THE PATRONS DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PARK THERE. I HAVE JUST INDIVIDUALLY ONE ON ONE, BEEN TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN GET A MONTHLY PASS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES IN THE PARKING GARAGE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ALL HANDS ON DECK. IN SOME CASES, JUST ALL OF US SPREADING INFORMATION TO BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. TO THE THING ABOUT THE TIME FRAME FOR THE NIGHTS LIGHT, I THINK WE MADE A DEAL. WE MADE AN ARRANGEMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK ON THAT NOW FOR LOGISTIC REASONS, BUT ALSO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TRUST THAT WE DID THIS. WE TOLD OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES THIS WAS IT. EVERYBODY SCHEDULED FOR IT. ALL THIS DOES IS MAKE ME EVEN MORE SUPPORTIVE OF A REVIEW AT THE END OF THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND SAY, WHAT WORKED WELL, WHAT DIDN'T WORK WELL? WHAT DID IT COST US EVERY DAY? THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, IT'S NOT JUST THIS LIKE THE WILD WEST SOMETIMES THAT WE HAVE A THING. THIS IS OUR BUDGET. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE. THIS IS WHAT THE CITY FEELS IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEND ON THIS. IF WE GO TO THE COUNTY, WE'D SAY, HEY, LOOK AT, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT. IT'S A MUCH BIGGER PICTURE, AND IT NEEDS TO BE MADE. THIS DECISIONS ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THIS THING, JUST NEEDS TO BE, I THINK SOMEBODY HAD SAID MORE WELL MANAGED. WE NEED TO MANAGE THAT BETTER IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET AND THE TIME FRAME. THAT'S WHAT I GOT. IT WASN'T REALLY THAT BRIEF, WAS IT? >> WE COULD HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTE ON THIS NEXT WEEK, COULDN'T WE? IF WE WANTED TO EXTEND IT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL JANUARY. WE COULD MEET NEXT WEEK. I'M NOT A FAN OF EXTENDING IT FOR A LOT OF REASONS, AND THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED IT WAS THAT WE HAVE 10 CONTRACTS OR 12, AND PLUS WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. WE ARE PAYING. WE'RE ASKING TAXPAYERS TO SUPPLEMENT BUSINESSES. WE'RE ASKING THEM TO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO BAIL THEM OUT. THAT'S A POLITICAL STATEMENT RIGHT THERE, BUT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT. THE FIRST BLOCK OF SAN MARCO, I MEAN, RODY AND CINCINNATI, THOSE ARE MULTI USE. THEY'RE NOT COMMERCIAL. THEY'RE MULTI USE WHERE COMMERCIALS ARE ALLOWABLE. >> THEY'RE MIXED USE. THERE ARE RESIDENCES AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. >> EVERYBODY REFERS TO THEM AS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ZONING, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT. IT'S IT'S A GRAY ZONE IN THERE BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS. [03:20:03] >> OF THE USE OF THE PROPERTY, THERE IS COMMERCIAL ZONING, IN SOME CASES, ALONG THE FIRST BLOCK OFF OF SAN MARCO, FOR EXAMPLE, BEHIND SPENCER'S ABBOTT THAT CAME UP EARLIER. NOW, WITHIN THAT COMMERCIAL BLOCK, YOU MAY HAVE RESIDENCES THAT ARE COMMERCIAL. >>I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF EXTENDING IT TO 5:00. THE PARKING ON THOSE TWO ON THOSE ROADS. I THINK IT'S WORKED OUT WELL. I THINK AS THE SPEAKER MENTIONED TODAY, NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF US ONE IS A BIG HELP. ALTHOUGH WHEN THEY FIRST GOT THERE, I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING AROUND THE BARRIERS AND THEY WERE PROBABLY LOCALS WHO TRYING TO GET HOME, BUT THEY HADN'T GOTTEN USED TO THAT. RISKIES IN THE CAR. THEY HAD RISKIES IN THE CAR, AND THEY HAD TO GET HOME. I WISH I KNEW WHERE THEY LIVED. IF WE EXTENDED TWO WEEKS, WE WOULD BE ADDING A WEEK TO NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. WE HAVE ADDED A WEEK IN NOVEMBER. >> YES. >> WHEN THE BUSINESS IS TALKING ABOUT NOVEMBER IS BAD, IT MUST REALLY BE BAD. BUT IT'S NOT OUR FAULT. IT'S NOT THE PARKING. IT'S WE GAVE HIM AN EXTRA WEEK IN NOVEMBER OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A DOWN POPULATION ON THE LIGHT UP NIGHT. NO. IT WAS AS BIG AS EVER. PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THAT, SAID, OH, NOBODY'S GOING TO COME. I THINK WE NEED TO EVALUATE, AS COMMISSIONER PRET PRATER SAID AT THE END. WE'LL KNOW OUR DAILY COST. WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE COUNTY IF WE SO CHOOSE TO ASK FOR FUNDS. WE WILL HAVE FATS. WE SHOULD HAVE SUPPORT OF EVERY BUSINESS IN ST. AUGUSTINE TO ASK FOR THOSE FUNDS, BECAUSE NOW THEY KNOW OUR PLAN WORKS. IT'S EXPENSIVE, AND IT'S TO THEIR BENEFIT. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> THANK YOU. WE'VE ALL BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT, AND STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING SO HARD. I CONGRATULATE ALL OF US AND STAFF FOR MAKING IT AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT HAS BEEN IN ONE SHOT. WE DID THIS IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THAT'S REMARKABLE. WE SAVED MONEY BECAUSE WE DID NOT HIRE A CONSULTANT. WE WERE JUDGED FOR THAT NEGATIVELY, AND YET I THINK OUR STAFF PULLED IT OFF IN AN INCREDIBLE WAY. THAT'S ONE REASON I WOULDN'T WANT TO EXTEND NIGHTS OF LIGHTS BY TWO WEEKS, IN JANUARY, IT WOULD BE A WEEK FROM AND THE OTHER IS THAT IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE. WE DID NOT BUDGET FOR THAT EXTRA TWO WEEKS, AND I JUST CAN'T SEE GOING BACK ON OUR RESIDENTS ON THE PROMISES WE MADE EITHER. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT. IN THE SPIRIT OF ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE EVALUATING HOW THINGS ARE UP TO MID SEASON. WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AGAIN AT THE END OF THE SEASON. ONE THING THAT I HAVE BEEN, I'M JUST GOING TO THROW THIS OUT THERE. I MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT PROVOCATIVE, BUT I JUST WANT US TO KEEP IT AS A PLACEHOLDER. I'M NOT RECOMMENDING IT AT ALL FOR THIS YEAR. NO BEFORE EG APP IS CENTERED ON THIS IS A WALKING EVENT. AS A RESIDENT IN NORTH CITY, WHO WALKS TO WORK EVERY DAY IN DOWNTOWN, INCLUDING THE EVENINGS AND EVEN FRIDAY EVENING BECAUSE WHATEVER EVENTS WE'RE HAVING AT THE COLLEGE. I AM SEEING THAT THE TRAFFIC IS BETTER ON SAN MARCO. IT IS MOVING VERY SLOWLY, BUT IT IS MOVING. BUT IT'S STILL NOT A WALKING EVENT FOR MOST PEOPLE. MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT PARKING AT THE SATELLITES PARKING AREAS. THEY'RE NOT GETTING ON THE SHUTTLE. WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING IS THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO GET IN THAT TRAFFIC AND SAY, CAN'T FIND PARKING ANYWHERE. I'M JUST GOING TO DRIVE AROUND THE PLAZA. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE WANT TO TRY TO AVOID. I WANT US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE OPTIONS FOR REDUCING VEHICULAR ACCESS AROUND THE PLAZA, MAYBE THE BAYFRONT, IMPROVING EMERGENCY SERVICE, WHATEVER ACCESS TO VARIOUS PLACES THAT ARE VERY CROWDED. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, AND COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL FOR WHETHER THAT MAKES ANY SENSE OR NOT.WITH REGARD TO COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] AND PRETTY MUCH ALL MY OTHER COLLEAGUES AT THIS POINT, AND IN RESPONSE TO MISS SNYDER'S PUBLIC COMMENT, I WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CL2 PARKING IN THE ABATRA IN PARTICULAR AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME WIGGLE ROOM THERE TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE HELP. BECAUSE THAT FIRST BLOCK OF RODY AND CINCINNATI TO WEST TO FIRST STREET IS NOT A LOT OF PARKING. [03:25:01] I'D LIKE TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE HELP IF WE COULD WITHOUT IMPACTING THE RESIDENTS IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. JUST TO LOOK AT THAT, I KNOW BY THE NEXT MEETING, IT WILL BE TOO LATE, BUT PERHAPS THERE'S A TEST THAT WE COULD DO FOR A WEEK, NOT THE PEAK WEEK BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S, BUT DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT, MR. CITY MANAGER? IT LOOKS LIKE YOU DO. >> WELL, WE COULD CERTAINLY CHANGE THE PROGRAM FOR THE COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES OFF OF SAN MARCO, IN A SIMILAR WAY, WE'VE DONE IT ON THE FIRST BLOCK OF RODY IN CINCINNATI, AND SAY IT'S RESIDENTS ONLY AFTER 5:00 P.M. >> I LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS DEBATE WHAT EXACTLY MOTION WE'RE GOING TO MAKE HERE FOR MOVING FOR SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDED CHANGES. I'M IN FAVOR OF OPENING UP THAT ONE BLOCK ON CINCINNATI AND RODY UP UNTIL 5:00 FOR RESIDENTS, STARTING RESIDENTIAL PARKING STARTING AT FIVE. THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING I HAD THERE TOO. THE LEFT TURN WESTBOUND OFF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS. I LIKE THAT TO TO ALLOW ACCESS INTO OLD CITY SOUTH AND THE RESTAURANTS THERE, SO I'M DONE. >> GREAT. >> CAN I ADD SOME COMMENTS REAL QUICK? >> SURE. >> I DID DO A ONCE I STARTED GETTING SOME E MAILS, I DID DO A FOCUS GROUP BY E MAIL. I DID GET SOME GREAT RESPONSES, AND A COUPLE OF THEM, I THINK ARE WORTHY OF COMMENT. I ONLY HAD TWO POSITIVES TO EXTEND. IT WAS LIKE, IF IT HELPS THE BUSINESSES, LET IT GO. ONE WAS THAT WE HAVE PUT UP THE BARRICADES AROUND THE BAY FRONT, AND DOWN THE COMMENT WAS, IT'S MORE LIKE A THEME PARK. WE'VE SORT OF STEPPED INTO THAT CREATING THE DISNEY WORLD LOOK BY ADDING BARRICADES AND MAKING IT WE HAVE TO DO IT ON PURPOSE BECAUSE IT'S FOR SAFETY, AND IT WORKS. BUT THAT WAS A COMMENT. I DIDN'T WANT TO LET THAT GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL HOW FAR WE GO IN MAKING THIS A WALKING EVENT AND NOT A THEME PARK. BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO MAKE IT A THEME PARK, LET'S MAKE IT A THEME PARK. LET'S DO IT RIGHT. BUT WE'RE SORT OF PRETENDING RIGHT NOW. >> I'M SO SORRY. D COMMISSIONER GARRIS, SUPER QUICK. IT'S JUST A POINT OF INFORMATION? >> YEAH. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY ON THE COMMERCIAL PARKING, THAT'S OVER THERE. CAN'T WE LET THEM PARK THERE AFTER FIVE BECAUSE NOBODY'S GOING TO BE DELIVERING ANYTHING AT 5:00 AT NIGHT. IT'S DARK AT NIGHT NOW AT 5:00. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S $100 TICKET IF THEY PARK IN THAT COMMERCIAL, BUT CAN'T WE DO SOMETHING LIKE AFTER FIVE FOR THOSE PEOPLE ON SAN MARCO AND THE COMMERCIAL AREA? CERTAINLY, YOU CAN DO EVERY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE FROM RODY AND THEY GOT TO MOVE SOMEWHERE. I'M THINKING THAT THEY COULD MOVE FROM THERE TO THAT LOCATION AND THEN STILL BE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AS FAR AS WHEN THEY GET OFF. >> WELL, YOU CAN REMOVE THE RESERVATION OF THOSE PARKING SPACES ON THE STREET ENTIRELY IN THE COMMERCIALLY ZONED AREAS, AND JUST SAY, WE'RE JUST RESERVING RESIDENTS ONLY PARKING IN RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PORTIONS OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALLOW ANYBODY TO PARK IN THE COMMERCIALLY ZONED PORTIONS. >> GOOD. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DO BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE SOME PARKING ON CINCINNATI, SOME ON RODY, AND THEN THE COMMERCIAL AT DIFFERENT TIMES SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE THEIR CARS. BECAUSE I HAD A MEETING WITH SOMEBODY THAT HAD ONE COLLEGE STUDENT, AND THEY SAID THEY WILL QUIT BEFORE THEY HAVE TO WALK WAY DOWN SOMEWHERE, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CRAZY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY LATELY, AND IT'S NOT SAFE. >> REAL QUICK. YOU MENTIONED VENDORS AND THE WACKO MOLE THING THAT'S GOING ON. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I OBSERVED A BIG TRUCK UNLOADING ON SPANISH STREET AT THE COMMERCIAL LOADING UNLOADING AREA TOWARD THE NORTH END OF SPANISH STREET, AND THEY WERE UNLOADING THE STREET CARTS WITH ALL THE STUFF ON THEM. THAT MAY BE A POINT OF PRESSURE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> NO, SIR. YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. >> WE'RE IN DEBATE NOW. IS IT CL1? IT WAS A SUGGESTION CL2 AREAS. >> IN MARCO IS CL 2, I'D HAVE TO SEE WHAT THAT FIRST BLOCK IS. IT'S EITHER CL 1 OR CL2 >> I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THE 5:00, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE DEEPER DIVE INTO THE CL 1 OR 2, WHICHEVER IT IS, THOSE AREAS, AND I THINK THAT'S OUR LONG TERM SOLUTION. [03:30:01] THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD CAUSE I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE BIT LONGER TERM, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY MAKING SOME PROGRESS WITH SAN MARCO IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE RUBS BETWEEN THE TWO, AS FAR AS CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC, PARKING IN FRONT OF HOMES, AND THIS COMMUTER TRAFFIC COMING IN, COMMUTER PARKING COMING IN. I'D LIKE TO SEE US AT THE END REALLY LOOK AT BOTH OF THOSE, BUT I THINK MY OPINION IS COMING OUT ON THE OTHER END. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE SOLUTION MAYBE THOSE PARKING ZONES BEING COINCIDING WITH THOSE PARK WITH THE COMMERCIAL ZONING WITH THE COMMERCIAL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT LOOKS YET. >> LET ME REPEAT BACK TO YOU WHAT I THINK I JUST HEARD. THAT IN THE COMMERCIAL ZONING CATEGORIES, WHICH IS ONE BLOCK OFF OF SAN MARCO, YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THOSE BLOCKS AVAILABLE TO THE BUSINESSES UNTIL 5:00 P.M, AND THEN AFTER 5:00 P.M, IT WOULD BE RESIDENTS ONLY, WHICH IS THE SAME THING WE'RE DOING NOW ON RODY AND CINCINNATI. >> THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING WHAT I'M SAYING IS I'M SAYING MAKE THEM STRAIGHT COMMERCIAL AVAILABLE. >> THEY'RE ALREADY COMMERCIAL. YOU WANT TO SAY THERE'S NO PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON THE COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES. >> EVENTUALLY, I'M NOT SAYING NO, BUT I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR SOLUTION LONG TERM. I MAY BE WRONG. I HEAR THE COMMISSION SAYING 5:00 P.M. FOR THIS FIRST STEP OR ADJUSTMENT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE. I THINK THAT ADJUSTMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE, AM I CORRECT? >> WE DID A TEST CASE FOR THAT FIRST BLOCK OF RODY IN THE FIRST BLOCK OF CINCINNATI, AND WE WERE BRINGING IT TO YOU TO SHOW YOU THAT IT'S SO FAR SUCCESSFUL. >>> BUT YOU'RE NOT SUGGESTING ANYTHING EXCEPT RODY IN CINCINNATI, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. BUT THE SPEAKERS. BUT THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS HAVE THE PRODUCT. >> THEY'RE EXPANDING BUSINESS COMMUNITY GOT TOGETHER TODAY, APPARENTLY, OR VERY RECENTLY AND SAID, HERE'S WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE, WE THINK IS MORE FAIR, WHICH IS COMMERCIAL PARKING IN FRONT OF COMMERCIAL ZONING. THAT SEEMS FAIR TO ME THAT SUGGESTION. THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADED WITH THIS. WOULD YOU LOOK I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD LOOK A LITTLE DEEPER AND SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A ZONING MAP IN FRONT OF ME THAT COINCIDES WITH THE PARKING AREAS. BUT I LIKE TO GO AND MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE YOU YOU'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF LEADWAY FROM US ON DOING THINGS LIKE THE 5:00 P.M. CHANGE. ALSO, THE SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC AT THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE. YOU KNOW, WE PROMISED THE COMMUNITY, WE WOULD BE FLEXIBLE. YOU'VE BEEN FLEXIBLE AND YOU'VE SHOWN A LOT OF LEADERSHIP, AND BEING FLEXIBLE AND JUST TAKING THAT INITIATIVE. I WOULD JUST WOULD WANT TO EXTEND THAT TO YOU AS YOU LOOK AT THAT COMMERCIAL ZONING. UNDERSTAND AS WELL. COMMISSIONER, DO YOU AGREE WITH ME ON THAT. >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO. IT'S A COMMERCIALLY ZONED PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A MOTION. YOU'RE ALL NODDING OUR HEADS AND YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR DESIRE IS, IS THAT CORRECT? >> LET ME REPEAT BACK TO YOU. I THINK I HEARD. >> IT'S GOOD. >> THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO LOOK INTO THE USE OF COMMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES OFF OF SAN MARCO FOR COMMERCIAL PARKING. WE CAN TEST THAT THE SAME WAY WE TESTED ON CINCINNATI AND RODY. IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE, WE WILL DO THAT. >> I THINK YOU HAVE GOOD SUPPORT FROM THE NEIGHBORS. ANYWAY, I ALL AGREE, THEY'LL TRY AND LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, AND THAT MIGHT PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE RELIEF BECAUSE I HEARD THE NEIGHBORHOODS SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC HAS REALLY CHANGED OUR LIVES. THAT'S REALLY NICE, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH WITH THE COMMUTER PARKING. IN MY MIND, COMMUTER PARKING ARE THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN AND USING THOSE SPACES THAT DON'T LIVE THERE. IN MY MIND, THE DEFINITION OF CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST REALLY TRYING TO CUT THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'RE JUST DRIVING THROUGH TO GET SOMEWHERE ELSE. THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I THINK I'M HEARING. >> ONE POINT IS FLAGGER COLLEGE IS ALMOST OUT, AND THEY'LL BE OUT UNTIL JANUARY, PROBABLY. NICE. WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ALL THOSE STREET PARKERS PROBABLY NEXT WEEK. PARKING ALONG LOSE THEM THIS WEEK. >> [INAUDIBLE] FREE. >> THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE PARKING AVAILABLE AROUND. >> GOOD. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS THIS PROBLEM OF WORKFORCE PARKING. [03:35:03] WE REALLY DID EXTEND ALL OF BRANCH. WE REALLY WITH THIS ALL SINCERITY TO TRY AND WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY'VE SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO PUT THEIR EMPLOYEES SOMEWHERE, AND WE'VE COMPRESSED PARKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO WHERE DO THEY GO? WE PROVIDED GRENADA LOT, AND WE PROVIDED TOKES PLACE. WE'RE NOT SEEING THEM BEING USED, AM I CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER AREA IS THE PARKING GARAGE AT THE COLLEGE. WE KNOW I WANT TO HAVE THAT HAS NOT OPENED OF THAT. DO WE HAVE PEOPLE BUYING PLACES IN THERE? DO WE KNOW THE STATUS OF WHAT THE USAGE IS THERE BY THE EMPLOYEES? >> NO, WE DON'T. BE IT HASN'T OPENED UP YET. I DOESN'T OPEN UP UNTIL DECEMBER 13, I WANT TO SAY. >> I THINK THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT. I GOT A COMPLAINT TODAY FROM A YOUNG LADY WHO SAID THERE WAS A GREAT LOT OF EMPTY SPACES IN THE GRENADA LOT, AND SHE WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT SHE COULDN'T PARK THERE. I DON'T KNOW THE SOLUTIONS, BUT CAN WE WELL, HERE'S ONE THING WE RE USING THOSE SPACES, IF THEY'RE NOT >> ONE OF THE CHANGES WE WERE INTERESTED IN MAKING AT THE TOKES LOT WAS MAKING THOSE SPACES AVAILABLE TO SMALLER BUSINESSES, BECAUSE WE HAD ENVISIONED THE LARGE RESTAURANTS WITH HUGE STAFFS. >> HUNDREDS. >> HAVING COMING IN AND BUYING FIVE PASSES PER RESTAURANT AND USING THEM THAT FOR SOME REASON, IT'S MYSTERIOUS TO US THAT IT'S NOT BEING USED MORE. WE ARE CONTEMPLATING MAKING THOSE SPACES THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE IN THE TOKES A LOT, AND I THINK THERE'S TEN OR MORE OF THEM. OPEN TO SMALL BUSINESSES, MOM AND POPS OF ONE OR TWO PERSON BUSINESS THAT THEY COULD NOW USE THEM FOR EMPLOYEES. ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HEARD WAS I WANT FROM A BUSINESS WAS THAT THEY WANTED TO BUY A PARKING PASS IN THE TOKES LOT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. THAT IS NOT THE PROGRAM THAT WE WERE CREATING AT THE TOKES LOT. IT'S ALREADY BEFORE THIS PROGRAM, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS FOR IT WAS FOR CUSTOMERS. WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES IN THAT CENTRAL PARKING LOT. IT WAS A GREAT IDEA. IT JUST DIDN'T WORK. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DIDN'T WORK. >> AREA THAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. LET'S AGREE ON THAT. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE CAN GET MORE UPTAKE AND MORE ACCEPTANCE FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON USING THOSE, BUT THAT'S PRIME BARGING. >> CAN I SAY I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT YOU SAID THAT WE ORIGINALLY LIMITED IT TO BUSINESSES THAT HAD MORE EMPLOYEES. I'M HOPING THAT FILLING IT IN. >> THE SMALL BUSINESS. >> ALLOWING IT BECAUSE THOSE ARE REALLY THE ONES, AND THAT'S MY HARD TEST. >> WE'RE GETTING MORE ACCEPTANCE FROM THE SMALL BUSINESSES. YEAH. >> THAT'S WHO I'M HEARING FROM THAT THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH PARKING. I THINK THAT'S GOOD, AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT THE RESULTS ON THAT ARE. >> THEN I'LL JUST CONTINUE MY COMMENTS. IF YOU GUYS WANT TO JUMP IN, PLEASE JUST FEEL LIKE SO I HAVE HEARD THE APPEAL TO EXTEND ANOTHER TWO WEEKS INTO JANUARY, I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND CONSIDERED THAT. WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CITY MANAGER TODAY ABOUT HE JUST DID AN AMAZING JOB OF OUTLINING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE THE HERCULEAN EFFORT WOULD TAKE. Y'ALL REMINDED ME OF THE PROMISE THAT WE MADE TO THE COMMUNITY TO OUR COMMUNITY. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE STEPPING UP TO OFFER TO PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL COSTS OF CARRYING THOSE EXTRA TWO WEEKS. THEREFORE, I DO NOT SEE THAT AS GOING TO HAPPEN WHATSOEVER. I'M FOLLOWING ALONG WITH YOU GUYS. THEN MY FINAL COMMENTS ARE ON THIS MATTER, THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH SHOCKINGLY POSITIVE ABOUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND PEOPLE JUST JUMPING IN, MAKING POSITIVE COMMENTS. IF YOU READ THESE THINGS, IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY'S PITCHING IN AND TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK IN THIS REALLY WONDERFUL SPIRIT. WHATEVER HAPPENED, SOMETHING BROKE AND SNAPPED, AND WE GOT IT SEEMED LIKE MOST PEOPLE GOT ON BOARD. IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS TO WORK OUT. IT'S NOT THAT, BUT I SEE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF POSITIVITY, WHICH I'M VERY THRILLED. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE STAFF BECAUSE YOU ARE THE EXPERTS. YOU PROVED 31 YEARS, 32 YEARS. IT'S JUST LIKE VICE MAYOR SAID, [03:40:01] YOU DIDN'T NEED A STUDY. YOU PROVED THAT YOU ARE THE EXPERTS, SO YOU'VE PULLED THIS OFF AND WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT ONE MORE REALLY TOUGH WEEK TO GET THROUGH BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS. IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP, STEADY, THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP AND SHOWN FLEXIBILITY WHERE YOU NEEDED TO BE FLEXIBLE. I AM JUST SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS CITY AND WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THIS. NIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS A WONDERFUL EVENT, AND WE ENJOYED IT. I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE PEDESTRIAN BARRIERS. I LOVE THOSE BARRIERS. THE ONLY THING I THINK ABOUT THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN DISNEY LAND IS WHEN I SEE A GRINCH ON THE BAYFRONT. I DON'T LIKE THAT. IT'S JUST ME. IT JUST A PERSONAL PRESENT I'M JUST NOT INTO THE GRINCH THING. THAT'S ALL. WITH THAT SAID, ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? I THINK WE'VE GIVEN YOU GOOD DIRECTION. Y'ALL ARE AMAZING. Y'ALL I'M SO VERY PROUD TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS. YOU'RE JUST REALLY GREAT, STEADY LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, [14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ] WHO WOULD LIKE TO KICK IT OFF. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO KICK IT OFF? >> I WANT TO KICK IT OFF. I'M GETTING CONCERNED ABOUT THESE CONSTANT THINGS ABOUT THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE. IF THERE WAS LETTERS WRITTEN BY THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR GENERAL SERVICE DIRECTOR MAKING DEMANDS, AND THOSE PEOPLE DID NOT COMPLY, THEN WE NEED TO ACT ON THOSE DEMANDS THAT WERE MADE. WE DO NOT BECAUSE THEN IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST BLOWING SMOKE. THAT'S THE SAME THING WE JUST SAID ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT. IF YOU TELL SOMEBODY TO FIX A FENCE AND THE FENCE IS NOT FIXED, THEN THEY NEED TO BE GONE. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. WE CAN'T KEEP TURNING A BLIND EYE AND THEN THEY COME IN HERE AND SHOWING PROOF THAT WE ARE NOT STANDING UP TO WHAT WE'RE SENDING OUT. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? WE'RE GETTING THIS FROM OUR AUTHORITY, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN PLACE TO OVERSEE THESE THINGS. YOU GOT A LETTER DATED OCTOBER. THEN I THINK THERE WAS ANOTHER LETTER DATED DEMANDING THAT THEY DO THINGS AND THEY'RE NOT DONE, THEN SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO THESE COMPANIES. IT DOESN'T HELP WITH THEM SHOWING A HORSE GETTING BEATEN UP BY THE OWNER. CONSTANTLY AT EVERY MEETING BECAUSE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE FALLING INTO THIS, AND THIS IS GOING TO GET HUGE. TO SIT HERE EVERY COMMISSION MEETING AND HEAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR ABOUT THE HORSES BEING MISTREATED, AND WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING MAKES US LOOK BAD. IF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING LIVE, THEY DON'T LIVE HERE. NOW, THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE, NONE OF THEM HAVE COME IN HERE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THESE HORSES. BUT GRANTED, ANYBODY THAT'S WATCHING FROM HOME JUST TO CHECK OUT A CITY COMMISSION MEETING, ALL THEY'RE SEEING IS THESE PEOPLE PUTTING UP THESE VIDEOS, OF THESE HORSES, GIVING DOCUMENTED STATEMENTS AS TO WHAT WAS SAID BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSTANTLY GETTING RECORDS ON WHAT'S BEEN DONE BECAUSE EVERY 2 MINUTES, THEY'RE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ASKING FOR REPORTS AND FINDING THINGS. THEN THEY COME BEFORE US AND READ THEM. IT DOESN'T MAKE US LOOK GOOD. IF YOU COULD RESPOND TO THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> MOVING TARGET. IT'S A MOVING TARGET. IT'S TOUGH. IT'S TOUGH RIGHT NOW. I JUST HAD TO LISTEN TO THIS GENTLEMAN OUT OF THIS GROUP. JUST ABSOLUTELY FACTUALLY INCORRECT. NO ONE HEARD ME SAY THAT THEY DIDN'T BEAT THE HORSE ENOUGH. IN THE VIDEO, WHERE IS THIS STUFF COMING FROM? I'M SORRY, THE CREDIBILITY OF THIS GROUP IS NOT STRONG IN MY EYES. I DO THINK, HOWEVER, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, IF THEY'RE NOT UP TO CODE, THEY NEED TO BE UP TO CODE. >> WELL, I DON'T WANT TO EXTEND THE MEETING ANY MORE THAN YOU DO, BUT WE HAVE HAD REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, AND THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION OFFICER JUST RECENTLY DO AN INSPECTION OF THE HORSE STABLES AND THE TRANSFER STATION. THAT RESULTED IN A PUNCH LIST OF REPAIRS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO THE STABLES. WE ENGAGED A CONTRACTOR TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT WOULD COST TO FIX THE DRAINAGE ISSUES AT THE STABLES, THE FENCING AT THE STABLES, THE PADDOCKS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. IT CAME BACK AS A SHOCKINGLY HIGH NUMBER. I JUST SPOKE TO THE GENERAL SERVICES DIRECTOR EARLIER TODAY ABOUT GETTING A SECOND ESTIMATE. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE SHOWING THE LEASEHOLDER COUNTRY CARRIAGES, THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BRING THIS STABLE PROPERTY UP TO CODE TO SEE WHETHER THEY'RE CAPABLE OF DOING IT OR WILLING TO DO IT. THEN THE CHOICE WOULD BE, DOES THE CITY MAKE THOSE REPAIRS AND TACK THAT ONTO THEIR COSTS, [03:45:02] WHAT THEY'RE PAYING US BACK FOR THEIR LEASE RATE, OR DO WE EVICT THEM? THAT'S A HARD DECISION TO MAKE. >> BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET. >> WELL, THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IT. THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR HELPING FIX THE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD. THAT THING WAS GOING ON AND OFF FOR A WHILE. >> THAT WAS VERY SCARY. >> VERY GOOD ADVOCATE FOR HER NEIGHBORHOOD, BEING PERSISTENT ON THAT AND THEN I GOT ON DAVID AND YOU WERE EVEN GONE AND WHILE YOU WERE GONE, IT GOT DONE. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY BIG PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, ME ACROSS A FOUR LANE ROAD LIKE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE SECOND THING WAS I WAS IN A CONVERSATION THE OTHER DAY. THE MAYOR MAY KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS, BUT MR. PAPPAS, I GUESS, IT'S BEEN OUR TPO CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE, AND HE IS RESIGNING. I JUST WANT TO THROW IT OUT THERE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE IS A SPOT AVAILABLE FOR THAT IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT. YOU MAY KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT. BUT I JUST BROUGHT THAT UP. THAT'S IT. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING IN THE PARADE PUBLICLY. IT WAS A FANTASTIC TIME, AND I JUST WANT TO COMMENT THAT IT WAS SO NICE TO BE IN WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY SMILING AND HAPPY AND HAVING A GOOD DAY IN THE RAIN. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT AND A PURE AMERICANA. ALSO, ALONG WITH MISS GARRIS, ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE HORSE SITUATION. WE WE HOLD THE CARDS. MY SUGGESTION. I WENT OUT AND VISITED THE BARN WITH MR. SACRED AND MY SUGGESTION TO HIM, AND I WILL MAKE THAT TO THE MANAGER AND PUBLICLY HERE THAT WE GET OUT OF THE LEAST BUSINESS OF THE BARN AND TURN THAT INTO A DAY CENTER LIKE WE HAVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. THAT WOULD BE THE BEST USE OF THAT ACRE, IN MY OPINION. WE WOULD BE IN CONTROL OF IT. WE WOULD MAKE IT LOOK GOOD. IT WOULDN'T SMELL SO BAD FOR THE PEOPLE USING THE PARK. WE ALSO NEED TO SEE THE CHANGES. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK IN JANUARY WITH SOME IDEAS ON THE FEE CHANGES. I THINK ONCE WE GET THE FEES, IF THEY COME UP TO MY EXPECTATIONS, THE PERSON THAT HOLDS A LOT OF THOSE MEDALLIONS WILL GIVE THEM UP BECAUSE SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT MANY. SHE DOESN'T USE THEM NOW ANYWAY, ANYWAY. ANYWAY, I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE SOME CHANGES MADE TO THE HORSES, AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO REALLY CONSIDER GIVEN SOME TEETH TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT. HAVING SERIOUS TALK ABOUT IT, MAYBE A WORKSHOP ON, WHAT CAN WE DO TO GIVE TEETH TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT. >> THEN, VICE MAYOR. >> I WILL SEGUE TO HORSES AS WELL. EVERY TIME I SEE THAT VIDEO, IT'S AWFUL FRANKLY. I HAVE A SUGGESTION, IF THE REST OF THE COMMISSION WOULD BE OKAY WITH IT. YOU'RE ALL IN THE PROCESS OF MODIFYING THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, ANYWAY. I ASKED FOR THINGS AND OTHERS DID, TOO, LIKE, PEAK TEMPERATURES AT WHICH TIME THEY SHUT DOWN AND ALL THESE OTHER ANIMAL WELFARE ELEMENTS. I WANT TO ADD ANOTHER ANIMAL WELFARE ELEMENT THAT IF WE SEE ANY SIGNS OF ABUSE, WHETHER WE WITNESS THEM PERSONALLY OR NOT, IF THEY'RE ON VIDEO OR WHATEVER, THAT FRANCHISE AGREEMENT EVAPORATES. IT'S GONE. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY ABUSE. I MEAN OVER ABUSE. A LOT OF THESE OTHER ALLEGATIONS ARE, WELL, WE DIDN'T SEE THEM GIVING THEM WATER AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN GO DOWN THAT ROAD BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE. BUT OBVIOUS SIGNS OF ABUSE, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO WRITE THAT RIGHT INTO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. YOU'RE DONE. DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A OKAY THING FOR THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH? THIS WHOLE HORSE CARRIAGE THING STARTED OUT. IT'S MORPHED. IT STARTED OUT WITH BAN ALL THE CARRIAGES AND THEN IT'S MORPHED INTO THERE'S NOT CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR CERTAIN THINGS AND IT'S A MOVING TARGET, AND THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. THIS IS A PLAYBOOK THAT IS USED OFTENTIMES. IT DOES, IT'S SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING BETTER ANIMAL WELFARE MEASURES IMPLEMENTED. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF ANIMAL WELFARE BEING JUST LIKE HUMAN WELFARE. WE GOT TO TREAT WITH RESPECT, ANIMAL HUMANS WITH KINDNESS AND AND SO FORTH. I'VE GONE ON TOO LONG. I'M REALLY TIRED. THERE'S ONE LAST THING. THE SIDEWALK CROSSINGS ON ANASTASIA. I EXPECT THAT THE STAFF HAS SOME REGULAR INSPECTION OF ALL OF OUR SIDEWALK CROSSINGS. [03:50:05] IF WE DON'T, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE THEM ON SOME GPS ROTATING INSPECTION TYPE OF SCHEDULE. I SEE TOO MANY THAT ARE NON FUNCTIONING BECAUSE I'M USING THE I MENTIONED THINGS LIKE THE LETTERING ON SOME OF THE CROSSWALK SIGNING ON THE POLES IS FADING OFF AND SO FORTH. IF WE'RE GOING TO BECOME A MORE WALKABLE COMMUNITY, IF WE'RE GOING TO EMPHASIZE THIS, WE'VE GOT TO PRIORITIZE SAFETY OF OUR PEDESTRIANS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT STAFF IS DOING NOW, BUT I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE DO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S VERY STRUCTURED. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO SAY TO THE MAYOR, I'M PROUD OF THE WAY THIS BOARD FUNCTIONS, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE VERY KIND, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT. MUTUAL RESPECT. JUST TAKE THE THANK YOU. TAKE THE WIN. I JUST HAVE ONE THING. THAT IS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CANOE LAUNCH AT THE END OF FLAGLER BOULEVARD. WHEN WE HAVE THE SEA WALL, WE ARE GOING FORWARD, I BELIEVE WE WILL BE GOING FORWARD WITH THE SEAWALL, WHEN WE GO FORWARD WITH THE SEA WALL ON ENDLET DRIVE, I THINK THAT IT WILL AFFECT OUR ACCESS IN SOME WAY. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT AND COMPENSATE FOR THAT BY LOOKING INTO THE END OF FLAGLER BOULEVARD. >> CERTAINLY. >> I'LL ASK YOU TO COME BACK AND REPORT TO US WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I KNOW IT'S A LONG PROCESS WITH THE PERMITTING AND EVERYTHING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET A REPORT ON WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL. ANYTHING ELSE? >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION, FLAGLER IS THE ONE THAT FARTHER CLOSER TO THE BOULEVARD, RIGHT? >> YES. >> WOULD IT COME WHERE THE SEA WALLS AT THE NEW SEA WALL OR? >> NO. >> I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT WOULDN'T BE BY THE SEA WALL. >> NEW [OVERLAPPING] THE SEA WALL AT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION. >> I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT. >> MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT. THOSE BREAKS IN THE SEAWALL. IT'S 9:00, AND WE NEED TO STOP AT SOME POINT. WITH THAT SAID, HERE IS WISHING EVERYONE ON THE STAFF A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY. WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. WE'RE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.