[00:00:01]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS CALLED TO ORDER.MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> WE WILL BEGIN WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO A BEFORE WE START OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO COMMISSIONER KRISTIN JOSEPH AT THE LOSS OF HER BELOVED HUSBAND, DR. RON JOSEPH, LAST WEEK.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL HOLD HIM IN YOUR THOUGHTS IN YOUR HEART.
>> PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS]
I DO HAVE ONE ITEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE.THE ITEM 10B, WHICH IS THE DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE VIC SOUTH GALLERY AND ROTATING EXHIBITS, WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO ITEM 7A.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ITEM 7A(1), WHICH IS ST. JOHN'S COUNTY CULTURAL VENTS PRESENTATION OF SING OUT WILD FESTIVAL REVIEW AND FUTURE STRATEGY.
THAT ITEM HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING.
>> WE HOPE SO, BUT WE WILL PLACE IT ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE AGENDA.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT TO YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS? MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE REGULAR AGENDA WITH THOSE MODIFICATIONS, PLEASE SAY AYE.
WONDERFUL. WE'LL JUST KEEP MOVING.
THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS A PROCLAMATION 2026-02,
[3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS]
AND I WILL ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION.WHEREAS JANUARY 27 MARKS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY, DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF ASTICH BIRKENAL, THE LARGEST NAZI CONCENTRATION AND EXTERMINATION CAMP, AND MARKS 81 YEARS SINCE THE LIBERATION.
WHEREAS TODAY AND EVERY DAY, WE REMEMBER THE HONOR AND HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE 6 MILLION JEWS WHO WERE SYSTEMATICALLY MURDERED BY ADOLF HITLER AND THE NAZIS, ALONG WITH MILLIONS OF OTHER INNOCENT VICTIMS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, POLITICAL, DISSIDENS, AND OTHER TARGETED FOR PERSECUTION.
AND WHEREAS ANTI SEMITISM HAS BEEN DEFINED BY THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE ALLIANCE AS A CERTAIN PERCEPTION OF JEWS, WHICH MAY BE EXPRESSED AS HATRED TOWARDS JEWS.
RHETORICAL AND PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF ANTI SEMITISM ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS JEWISH OR NON JEWISH INDIVIDUALS AND/OR THEIR PROPERTY TOWARDS JEWISH COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS AND RELIGIOUS FACILITIES, AND WHEREAS, INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVES AS A SOLEMN REMINDER OF THE DANGERS OF HATRED, BIGOTRY, AND ANTI SEMITISM, AND UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, VIGILANCE, AND ACTION TO PREVENT SUCH ATROCITIES FROM OCCURRING AGAIN.
[00:05:03]
WHEREAS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING TOLERANCE, UNDERSTANDING, AND HUMAN DIGNITY WHILE STANDING AGAINST ALL FORMS OF HATRED AND DISCRIMINATION.WHEREAS IT IS OUR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST REMAIN A CORNERSTONE OF OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY.
AND TO HONOR THE RESILIENCE AND COURAGE OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED AND REBUILT THEIR LIVES.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 27, 2026 AS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY, AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE OF THE VICTIMS, EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND COMMIT TO BUILDING A MORE TOLERANT AND COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY.
WITNESS HERE TOO, I SET MY HAND AND DO CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE TO BE A FIXED THIS DAY.
THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2026 AND 460TH YEAR ARE THE FOUNDING OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY SIGNED BY MYSELF.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO JOIN ME.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF WORDS THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY FIRST.
MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW THIS, BUT MY BELOVED STEPFATHER WHO PASSED A FEW YEARS AGO, WAS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, WHO WAS THE CHILD HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AND WAS ONE OF THE ABOUT 10,000 KIDS THAT WERE ON THE KINDER TRANSPORT.
HE LEFT WAS PUT ON HIS TRAIN BY HIS PARENTS AND HE AND HIS LITTLE BROTHER AND WERE SENT TO LONDON, WHERE THEY WERE LATER REMARKABLY JOINED WITH THEIR PARENTS AND THEN RODE A STEAMERSHIP TO NEW YORK AND BEGAN THEIR NEW LIVES.
THEY WERE APPROXIMATELY 10% OF THE KINDER TRANSPORT CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO REUNITE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
HE WAS VERY FORTUNATE, BUT HE DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO BE WELL KNOWN FOR IT.
HE WANTED TO BE KNOWN FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
WE REALLY DID NOT TALK A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT I DO HAVE SOME ORAL HISTORIES, BUT I JUST I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER HIM AND MANY OTHERS THAT SACRIFICED.
I FEEL LIKE THAT EVEN NOW THAT SO MANY OF THE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS ARE PASSING, WE'RE LOSING THEM BY THE DAY THAT IT'S THE CHILDREN AND THE GRANDCHILDREN, AND THE STEPCHILDREN THAT WE HAVE TO CARRY THOSE MEMORIES ON.
WE HAVE TO CARRY THAT TORCH FOR THEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INDULGING ME AND TAKE A PICTURE.
>> I'M SO GLAD YOU DID SAY THOSE WORDS.
>> FINALLY SAT IT AFTER FIVE YEARS. THANK YOU.
THE NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENT,
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
AND I'M GOING TO READ A LITTLE BIT.I HAVE A LITTLE THING TO SAY BEFORE WE BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION SHOULD FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD, AND I WILL CALL YOU TO THE PODIUM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
YOU'LL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S RULES OF DECORUM.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE, NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONERS DO NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
NO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE COMMISSION WITH PERSONAL, IMPROPER OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR.
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY CLAPPING OR DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS.
FINALLY, I WOULD ASK THAT ANY SPEAKER WHO USES THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR TO PLEASE SUBMIT THOSE ITEMS TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. THANK YOU.
I DO HAVE A FEW SPEAKER CARDS.
KATHERINE ZORA. SHE WILL BE KATHERINE ZORA, WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ROBIN THOMAS. IS SHE HERE?
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME, PLEASE TAKE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IF YOU SO INCLINED, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> I'M KATHERINE ZORA, ST. AUGUSTINE.
I WITNESSED A CARRIAGE HORSE NAMED BOSCO,
[00:10:01]
GO DOWN ON THE BAY FRONT AND THEN BE FORCED TO TAKE ANOTHER TOUR.NO REST, NO WATER, AND NO CHECK ON WHETHER HE COULD SAFELY CONTINUE.
IN A VIDEO I OBTAINED 10 DAYS LATER.
THE DRIVER STATES THE HORSE IS 28-YEARS-OLD.
OLDER HORSES OFTEN HAVE REDUCED MOBILITY, WEAKER MUSCLES, AND SLOWER RECOVERY, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF SERIOUS INJURY AND TOTAL COLLAPSE.
THE CITY REQUIRES CARRIAGE COMPANIES TO SUBMIT AN INVENTORY OF THEIR HORSES, INCLUDING AGE.
YET THOSE AGES ARE NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED BY A VETERINARIAN.
THIS INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF INACCURATE REPORTING.
FURTHERMORE, CITY CODE DOES NOT SET ANY AGE LIMITS FOR CARRIAGE HORSES.
WHILE THE DRIVER STATED THE HORSE WAS 28-YEARS-OLD, CITY RECORDS LIST THE HORSE AS SEVEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY THE VIDEO CLIP TAKEN DECEMBER 13 ON THE BAY FRONT.
>> TWENTY EIGHT-YEARS-OLD. HE'S BEEN DRIVING CARRIAGES FOR 25 STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> IN CASE YOU COULDN'T HEAR HIM HE SAYS, HE'S 28-YEARS-OLD.
HE'S BEEN DRIVING CARRIAGES FOR 25 YEARS.
NOW I'D LIKE TO SHOW THE PHOTO OF THE CITY'S HORSE INVENTORY SHOWING THE HORSE NAMED BOSCO, AGE 7.
AFTER WITNESSING THIS INCIDENT, I CONTACTED THE CITY'S ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO REPORT A CARRIAGE HORSE GOING DOWN ON THE BAY FRONT.
I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE HORSE GOT BACK UP AND NO CRIME OCCURRED, NO REPORT WOULD BE FILED.
I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT ANIMAL CONTROL WITH MY CONCERNS.
THIS DEFLECTION DEMONSTRATES A LACK OF OVERSIGHT IN AN INCREASINGLY OUT OF CONTROL INDUSTRY, ONE WHERE INCIDENTS ARE NOT RECORDED, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS ABSENT WITHOUT CENTRALIZED DOCUMENTATION, THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY CANNOT BE PROPERLY MANAGED.
DOCUMENTED ANIMAL CRUELTY, RUNAWAY CARRIAGES AND HORSES FALLING ON CITY STREETS ARE ABSENT FROM CITY RECORDS, CREATING AN OVERSIGHT SYSTEM WHERE SERIOUS INCIDENTS EFFECTIVELY DO NOT EXIST.
IN ADDITION, THESE OPERATIONS APPEAR TO COST THE CITY FINANCIALLY RATHER THAN GENERATING REVENUE.
ISSUES CREATING THIS FINANCIAL BURDEN INCLUDE LOW FRANCHISE FEES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBIN THOMAS AND SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KAMINI LYNCH. MS. LYNCH.
>> MY NAME IS ROBIN THOMAS, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LINCOLNVILLE, AND I'M HERE TO READ THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION 2.0 CHARTER FOR COMPASSION TRANSFORMATION FROM INNER HEALING TO PLANETORY FLOURISHING.
GREAT TURNING. WE, THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF EARTH, STAND AT A THRESHOLD MOMENT IN HUMAN AND PLANETARY HISTORY.
THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPASSION, WHICH HAS ALWAYS RESIDED AT THE HEART OF ALL RELIGIOUS, ETHICAL, AND SPIRITUAL AND INDIGENOUS TRADITIONS NOW CALLS US TO A PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION FROM SEPARATION TO KINSHIP, FROM CHARITY TO JUSTICE, FROM COMPETITION TO CORPORATION, AND FROM HUMAN CENTERED THINKING TO UNIVERSAL AWARENESS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT AUTHENTIC COMPASSION BEGINS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT INNER HEALING EXTENDS OUTWARD THROUGH JUST RELATIONSHIPS, REGENERATIVE SYSTEMS, AND REVERENT CALL FOR ALL LIFE.
COMPASSION IS BOTH A DEEP AWARENESS OF SUFFERING AND A COURAGEOUS COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMATION, ADDRESSING SYMPTOMS AND ROOT CAUSES THROUGH INTENTIONAL ACTION AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE.
CALL FOR TRANSFORMATION, WE ARE CALLED TO MAKE COMPASSION A CLEAR, LUMINOUS AND DYNAMIC FORCE IN OUR WORLD AS IT AWAKENS TO GREATER INTERCONNECTION AND WHOLENESS.
ROOTED IN INNER HEALING AND MANIFESTED THIS JUSTICE, THIS EXPANDED COMPASSION CAN DISSOLVE
[00:15:01]
THE FALSE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN SELF AND OTHER HUMAN IN NATURE, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.LIVING PROMISE. THIS CHARTER IS OUR SACRED PROMISE TO LIFE ITSELF, A COMMITMENT TO EMBODY THE CHANGE WE SEEK, TO HEAL THE WOUNDS WE HAVE INHERITED, AND TO PLANT SEEDS OF FLOURISHING FOR GENERATIONS YET TO COME.
IT IS AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD THE STORY OF LIFE AWAKENING TO ITS OWN SACRED NATURE AND CHOOSING LOVE, OVER FEAR, CORPORATION, OVER DOMINATION, AND HEALING, OVER HARM.
MAY OUR WORDS BECOME ACTIONS? OUR ACTIONS BECOME CULTURE, AND OUR CULTURE BECOME THE FOUNDATION FOR A WORLD WHERE ALL BEINGS CAN THRIVE IN DIGNITY, BEAUTY, AND BELOVED COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO HOLD THAT MICROPHONE.
I THINK SHE PROBABLY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT UNLESS WOULD YOU LIKE THE MICROPHONE OR?
>> I'LL USE THIS. READY? MANY OF YOU GUYS KNOW THE ISSUES DOWNTOWN REGARDING HOW LIKE, THE.
>> PARDON ME. COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE?
>> YES. MY NAME IS KAMANI SILAS LYNCH.
I LIVE AT 196 FALCON RIDGE ROAD.
>> MANY OF YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES SURROUNDING DOWNTOWN WITH THE PARKING.
A GOOD WAY TO COUNTER THIS IS BY CREATING A BIG PARKING LOT IN AN OLD EMPTY LOT, SPECIFICALLY MULTI LAYERED, WHERE YOU COULD FIT MULTIPLE CARS, MAKING THE TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN, LIKE, EVEN LIKE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE JOBS THAT THEY HAVE TO GET TO.
IT'S SO DIFFICULT DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.
EVEN THOUGH YOU GUYS TRIED TO SHORTAGE THIS, IT'S STILL LIKE, IMPACTED SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO GET TO THEIR JOBS TO MAKE A LIVING.
ANOTHER PROBLEM IS WITH SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.
SPECIFICALLY, LIKE THE SMALL ONES THAT WERE RECENTLY BUILT.
THERE ARE, LIKE, A LOT OF PEOPLE PARKING IN THE ROADS.
LIKE, YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH WITHOUT HAVING, LIKE, IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO EVEN TRY GETTING TO YOUR HOUSE.
YOU WANT A THREE MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAUSE THE, LIKE, ENTIRE ROADS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE SPACE IN THE DRIVEWAY, JUST FULLY COMPACTED WITH PEOPLE FROM THE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YEAH, THAT'S IT.
>> HI. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL DONE.
>> NANCY MURPHY, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER WILSON.
>> HI. THANK YOU. NANCY MURPHY, 22 VERONESE COURT, AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
I MOVED TO ST. AUGUSTINE A LITTLE OVER SIX YEARS AGO, AND ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER, I DISCOVERED COMPASSIONATE ST. AUGUSTINE, AND THAT CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER.
I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE A MEMBER OF A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY IN WHAT WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE FIRST INTENTIONAL COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA AND THE 20TH IN THE WORLD.
THERE ARE NOW ALMOST 500 COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITIES, AND AS I MENTIONED AT THE MOST RECENT COMMISSION MEETING, WORK IS UNDERWAY FOR NOT JUST A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA, BUT THE BUILDING AND VISIONING OF COMPASSIONATE FLORIDA, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO BE THE SECOND COMPASSIONATE STATE.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO BE A PART OF THAT JOURNEY.
I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL BECAUSE OF THE WORK I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN, WITNESS, AND BE A PART OF IN MY TIME IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
I CAN'T OVERSTATE HOW WONDERFUL IT FEELS, WHAT A BLESSING IT IS FOR ME TO GO TO MEETINGS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ST. AUGUSTINE IN THE COMPASSIONATE WORLD HERE, BECAUSE WE ARE BEING HELD UP AS A MODEL.
I, AT THE LAST MOST RECENT MEETING, SHARED A LINK TO YOU ABOUT OUR RESIDENT AUTHOR WHO WILL BE PROVIDING A GLOBAL READ ON FEBRUARY 11TH.
THIS MORNING IN A MEETING, I WAS INVITED TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BECOME AWARE OF A CONFERENCE THAT THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION IS HOSTING ON MARCH 4TH AND 5TH, THAT WILL BE THE THRIVE CONFERENCE.
IT'S ON DEMOCRACY. THIS AFTERNOON,
[00:20:03]
THEN I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY PHONE.
IT WANTS ME TO CHANGE MY WALLPAPER.
I MUST HAVE PUSHED A BAD BUTTON, BUT ANYWAY, I THOUGHT, AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, WHEN I GET TO LIVE IN THIS COMPASSIONATE CITY, AND IN THE ONLY COUNTY OF OVER 300,000 PEOPLE WHERE NO MURDERS OCCURRED IN THE YEAR 2025.
QUITE A REMARKABLE STATEMENT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE.
THIS REALLY MOVED ME AS I READ WHAT OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE INTERNATIONAL CHARTER WROTE ABOUT COMPASSION AS A CIVIC PRACTICE.
COMPASSIONATE CITIZENSHIP IS NOT PASSIVE.
IT OFTEN REQUIRES COURAGE, RESTRAINT, AND MORAL CLARITY.
YOU MIGHT PAUSE AND ASK, IN THIS MOMENT, HOW CAN MY ACTIONS REDUCE HARM, PROTECT DIGNITY OR STRENGTHEN TRUST, RATHER THAN DEEPEN FEAR OR DIVISION. THANKS SO MUCH.
HEATHER WILSON, FOLLOWED BY WYNDHAM YANCY.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
IN SEPTEMBER, I SPOKE ABOUT A HORSE NAMED JET AND THE PROBLEMATIC VET RECORDS.
SINCE THEN, THERE IS YET ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT DISCREPANCY THAT WAS REVEALED WITH THE NOVEMBER EXAM.
I HAVE SUBMITTED PHOTOS TO THE CLERK.
NOVEMBER 3RD, 2023, JET IS LISTED AS A STANDARD GRAY GELDING.
11/1/'24, JET IS A STANDARD BRED BAY GELDING.
A BAY GELDING LOOKS NOTHING LIKE A GRAY.
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT COLORS. BAY IS BROWN.
5/10/'25, JET IS A STANDARD BRED BAY GELDING, BUT NOW THE NAME IS SPELLED WITH TWO TS.
11/4/'25, JET IS NOW A STANDARD BRED BAY MARE.
THIS HORSE JET HAS CHANGED COLORS, CHANGED THE SPELLING OF THE NAME, AND NOW CHANGED GENDERS.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO EXPLANATIONS FOR THIS.
ONE, THE VET IS NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THIS ANIMAL, AND TWO, THE CUSHIONS ARE SWAPPING OUT HORSES.
EITHER SCENARIO IS ATROCIOUS AND UNFORGIVING. MOVING ON, MS. CUSHION TRAFFICKED IN A HORSE NAMED ARCHIE FROM MISSOURI ON DECEMBER 17TH, AND THE HORSE INVENTORY WAS CONVENIENTLY DUE TWO DAYS PRIOR ON DECEMBER 15TH.
I QUESTIONED THIS LOOPHOLE AT THE LAST MEETING.
HOW CAN A NEW HORSE BE BROUGHT IN AND NOT INCLUDED UNTIL THE NEXT INVENTORY IS DUE, WHICH ISN'T FOR A FULL SIX MONTHS LATER? I WAS LATER REASSURED THAT IT IS NOT A LOOPHOLE BECAUSE HORSES CANNOT WORK UNTIL THEY'VE HAD A VET EXAM, BUT THERE IS A LOOPHOLE BECAUSE HORSES CANNOT BE STABLED AT THE CITY LEAST SLUMS UNLESS THEY ARE WORKING HORSES.
THOUGH STABLES ON RIBERIA STREET ARE NOT TO BE USED AS A HOLDING AREA FOR HORSES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN CLEARED YET.
THAT IS A VIOLATION OF SECTION 8 OF THE CITY LEASE AGREEMENT.
LASTLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEVER ENDING REVOLVING DOOR OF HORSES.
ON 5/10/'25, THERE WERE FIVE HORSES THAT WERE QUESTIONED THAT HAD BED EXAMS AND WERE WORKING FOR COUNTRY CARRIAGES, BUT THEY HAD NOT SUBMITTED PHOTOS FOR THEIR INVENTORY.
WHEN MS. CUSHION WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS, THE RESPONSE WAS SIMPLY, WE NO LONGER HAVE THEM.
THEIR NAMES, BUDDY, BUCK, SEBASTIAN, LENNOX, AND PRINCE.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO ADDITIONAL COUNTRY CARRIAGES HORSES THAT HAD BED EXAMS THE FOLLOWING MONTH ON 6/26/'25, THEIR NAMES ARE SAM AND PETE.
WHY WAS THERE NO INQUIRY ABOUT THESE TWO ADDITIONAL HORSES? WE HAVE THESE SEVEN HORSES PLUS THREE MORE, DUTCH, LAURIE, AND LISA, THAT'S 10 HORSES, AND WE KNOW THAT LISA IS DECEASED.
WHAT ABOUT THESE OTHER NINE? IT IS TIME THAT ST. AUGUSTINE STOPPED TREATING HORSES LIKE DISPOSABLE OBJECTS.
HORSES ARE MAGNIFICENT, SENTIENT, ICONIC BEINGS THAT DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN A DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT, BODILY AUTONOMY AND FREEDOM. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS WYNDHAM YANCY FOLLOWED BY VICKI PEPPER.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S WYNDHAM YANCY, I LIVE AT 2365 ROLLING HILLS DRIVE.
I'M FEELING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CITY-OWNED FRANCHISE OF THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES.
PRIMARILY THE LACK OF REGULATION.
BESIDES THE SUBSTANTIATED ANIMAL CRUELTY CLAIMS, I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH HOW THE FRANCHISE ITSELF IS BEING RUN.
I COULD NAME SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE FRANCHISE, BUT I'LL SPEAK ON ONE FOR TIME SAKE.
[00:25:01]
THIS ONE SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE GLARINGLY OBVIOUS TO ANYONE IN THE ROOM, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE ONE OF THE TOKENS IS BEING OPERATED UNDER A DECEASED PERSON'S NAME.THE REASON THAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS IS BECAUSE THE DECEASED PERSON IS LACY SANCHEZ, WHO THE CUSHIONS HAVE MENTIONED HERE BEFORE, WHOSE NAME IS ON THE POLICE REPORT DOCUMENTING BILL CUSHION AND HIS ABUSE.
IT SEEMS THAT SOMEONE HERE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT SHE'S BEEN DEAD FOR OVER A YEAR, AND HER LLC IS CONTINUING TO BE FILED UNDER HER NAME, AND THE TOKEN IS ALSO OWNED UNDER HER NAME.
BUT WHEN YOU, THE CITY, CONTACTS THE FRANCHISE, YOU ALWAYS REACH OUT TO FRED, SO YOU MUST REALIZE THERE'S A DISCREPANCY THERE.
I KNOW THAT MS. MAYER BELIEVES SOME OF THE ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS LACK CREDIBILITY.
I KNOW SHE BELIEVES THIS BECAUSE SHE STATED THAT AT THE END OF THE MEETING ON DECEMBER 8TH.
THIS INFORMATION ABOUT COASTAL CARRIAGES OPERATOR IS EASILY PROVED WITH A QUICK SEARCH ON SUNBIZ, AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO EMAIL MY COPY OVER AS WELL.
THERE'S A SAYING THAT I REALLY LOVE AND I THINK OFFERS PERSPECTIVE.
NO MATTER HOW THIN THE PANCAKE, THERE'S ALWAYS TWO SIDES.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANCAKE I'M LOOKING FOR HERE IS WHAT DOES THIS FRANCHISE BRING TO OUR CITY? HOW DOES IT COMPENSATE ITS RESIDENTS FOR ALL THAT YOU ASK OF US TO GIVE TO IT? THE PARKING, NOT ONLY PHYSICAL, BUT THE FINANCIAL LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY, THE SMELLS, THE CONCERNS, THE POOR PUBLICITY.
CAN YOU TELL US THE SIDE WE MAY NOT BE SEEING? I ASK THAT AT SOME POINT, YOU WILL FIND TIME TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.
I AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT WE ARE STILL BEING IGNORED? IN A WORLD WHERE THINGS LIKE ICE EXIST, YOU CONTINUOUSLY IGNORING THE VOICES OF CONCERNED CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY ONE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SILENCE IS TERRIFYING.
THE ISSUES HERE WITHIN YOUR FRANCHISE ARE BLATANT, BUT I'M EAGERLY WAITING TO HEAR HOW IT STRENGTHENS OR PROVIDES FOR OUR CITY AT ALL.
I HOPE AT THE END OF THIS MEETING YOU TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE PRESENTING PROBLEMS THAT YOU CREATE IN OUR CITY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS VICKI PEPPER, FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA RAMOS.
>> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I LIVE IN HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY, REPRESENTING MYSELF AND CARE, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY.
I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW, I WEAR A LOT OF DIFFERENT HATS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF INDIVISIBLE ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
ON SATURDAY, I PARTICIPATED IN A POP-UP PROTEST CALLING ON ST. AUGUSTINE TO STAND WITH OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS AND THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IN PROTESTING US IMMIGRATION POLICY AND PARTICULARLY ICE AND BORDER PATROL CRUELTY AND BRUTALITY.
A HANDFUL OF COUNTER-PROTESTERS SHOWED UP, AND IN MY VIEW WERE A LITTLE OBNOXIOUS, GETTING A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO OUR PROTEST, AND AT ONE POINT, GOT OUT OF BULLHORN AND STARTED SHOUTING.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE SAPD FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM.
I KNOW WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS MAKING SURE WE KNEW WHAT THE RULES WERE, TO STAY OFF THE SIDEWALKS AND NOT IMPEDE TRAFFIC IN ANY WAY.
AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT SAPD WAS THERE AND BASICALLY SUPPORTING OUR RIGHT TO EXERCISE OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
THE COUNTER-PROTESTERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO, AND WE DON'T OBJECT TO THAT, BUT SOMETIMES TEMPERS CAN FLARE, AND SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT SAPD WAS THERE, JUST TO KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS SAFE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE A FEELING THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT MORE PROTESTS.
I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN DEFENSE OF OUR DEMOCRACY ANY TIME SOON.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT AND LAST SPEAKER, I HAVE PATRICIA RAMOS FOLLOWED BY BJ [INAUDIBLE]
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS PATRICIA, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK UP FOR THE HORSE OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
LAST MEETING, I WAS ACCUSED OF TAKING TOO LONG TO SIT UP.
MAYBE THERE SHOULDN'T BE SUCH AN INEXCUSABLE AMOUNT OF VIOLATIONS AND CORRUPTION. THAT'S THE ISSUE.
DESPITE THE LARGEST CARRIAGE COMPANY BEING UNDER QUARANTINE,
[00:30:03]
THERE REMAINS FAR MORE TO ADDRESS THAN THREE MINUTES ALLOWS. LET'S BE CLEAR.ABUSE HAS BEEN IGNORED WHILE THIS COMMISSION CLAIMS THERE IS NO ABUSE AND CONTINUES TO DEFEND AN INDUSTRY IT INSISTS OPERATES OUT OF LOVE FOR THE HORSES.
THE EVIDENCE PROVIDES OTHERWISE.
PLEASE KEEP THAT PLAYING. MARION COUNTY ACTED, ST. JOHN'S COUNTY DID NOT.
IN A NEARLY IDENTICAL CASE, AN ABUSER WAS ARRESTED HERE.
SADLY, ACCOUNTABILITY WAS AVOIDED.
THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM THIS COUNTY AND THE TOWN LEASING PUBLIC PROPERTY TO COUNTRY CARRIAGE MUST DO IS REMOVE EVERY ANIMAL STILL IN THIS OWNER'S CARE AND PERMANENTLY PROHIBIT ANY FURTHER BREEDING.
ANYTHING LESS IS NOT OVERSIGHT, IT'S COMPLICITY.
ONCE AGAIN, DROPPING THE BALL.
DOES THIS LOOK FAMILIAR? ONLY THING MISSING IS HOW BILL IS REPEATEDLY POUNDING THE HORSE'S HEAD.
NEXT AT HAND IS A STRANGLES OUTBREAK.
AS PER STATE MANDATED NOTICE, QUARANTINE BEING PLACED ON THE ANIMALS AT THE PHYSICAL LOCATION OF 650 LIBERIA, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SLUM PARK.
NO ANIMALS MAY BE ADDED OR REMOVED FROM THE PREMISES.
THEY ALSO DIDN'T HAVE THEIR COGGINS REPORT.
NO SURPRISE THERE. THIS WAS DATED JANUARY 8TH.
LAUGHABLY ENOUGH, JENNIFER EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO MAKE A POST CLAIMING THAT SHE WILL NOT BE DOING ANY TOURS UNTIL FEBRUARY 10TH.
HOWEVER, THE AUDACIOUS CUSHIONS CONTINUED WITH TOURS.
TO FOLLOW ARE JUST A FEW OF THE TOURS WITH TIMESTAMPS, ONE BEING JANUARY 10TH, AND HERE IS A PICTURE OF A DILAPIDATED HORSE CARRIAGE ON JANUARY 24TH.
LET'S NOT FORGET THAT JENNIFER ALSO HOARDS SMALL HORSES UNDER THE GUISE OF TOUGH RAIN FARM AND COMPETES.
NOW, REMEMBER, THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MANURE THAT WE HAVE SEEN KEPT AT SLUM PARK.
THIS WAS EVEN BEFORE THE OUTBREAK WAS ANNOUNCED.
THEY SHIFTED FROM SLUM PARK TO THEIR PROPERTY.
HOW DO WE KNOW? HOW DOES THE PUBLIC SUPPOSED TO TRUST THAT THE WELL BEING OF THEIR HORSES ARE BEING CONSIDERED? I HAVE ALSO SHOWN THAT THERE WAS A RECENT ACCIDENT, DECEMBER 4TH, WITH A HORSE ACCIDENT.
SHOW THAT YOU DO CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE AND BRING IN THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGES, KEEPING THE CHARM WITHOUT THE CRUELTY, PLEASE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING ABUSE BETTER OR DANGER BETTER, IT'S ABOUT ABOLISHING IT.
GREAT. WE WILL BE NOT ACCEPTING ANY MORE SPEAKER CARDS AFTER THIS SPEAKER.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS SCOTT YORK.
>> GOOD EVENING, SCOTT YORK, 29 SPANISH STREET, THE MOST CHARMING STREET IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
I WASN'T PLANNING TO SPEAK TONIGHT, BUT I KNOW BOSCO, WHO WAS SHOWN ON A VIDEO EARLIER.
I SEE BOSCO EVERY SINGLE NIGHT ON MY GUIDED WALKING TOURS, WE END ON AVILES STREET, THE OLDEST STREET, AND THE OLDEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
HE GREETS ME EVERY SINGLE NIGHT WITH JESSIE, HIS CARRIAGE DRIVER, WHO ABSOLUTELY LOVES HIM.
AS I'M FINISHING UP MY TOUR, AND KISSES ME ON MY CHEEK.
IT'S AN UGLY CHEEK, BUT HE LIKES TO KISS ME EVERY SINGLE NIGHT WHEN HE'S COMING BY. I KNOW BOSCO.
HE'S EIGHT. WHATEVER WAS MISLEADING IN THAT VIDEO? OR WAS SPOKEN HERE WAS NOT TRUE.
THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE THAT I CAN SPEAK ABOUT TONIGHT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THAT YOU PUT IN TO MAKE THIS A GREATER COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR THE BUSINESSES, NOT JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS, NOT JUST FOR THE HORSES, NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO DON'T LIKE THE HORSES.
BUT THOSE HORSES HAVE BEEN WORKING HERE SINCE HENRY FLAGLER CAME HERE, AND EVEN BEFORE THEN, THEY DON'T MIND WORKING HERE.
WE CAN ALL COME WITH A COMPROMISE.
I KNOW THAT THE FRANCHISE OWNER CAN DO BETTER, AND WE SHOULD ENFORCE THAT, BUT I'M HERE TO STAND UP FOR MY FRIEND, JESSIE AND BOSCO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ONE LAST SPEAKER CARD BEFORE MISS KALAIDI SPEAKS.
YOU ARE THE LAST SPEAKER? EXCUSE ME.
[00:35:02]
WE CAN ALL BE CIVIL TO ONE ANOTHER. MISS KALAIDI.>> BJ KALAIDI, WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE A DEVELOPER PAYS $10 MILLION FOR 24 CATHEDRAL PLACE, AND HIS PLANS, INCLUDING THE GARAGE, WILL RADICALLY CHANGE THE ST. AUGUSTINE TOWN PLAN LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
MISS DUNN. THE TIRES AT 194 WEST KING STREET. IT'S RIGHT HERE.
YOU CAN'T SEE IT TOO WELL, BUT THERE THEY ARE.
FOR WHICH A DEVELOPER AT 198 WEST KING PAID OVER $1 MILLION HAD BEEN REPORTED TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, THIS IS NOT A BEAUTIFUL CORNER.
9B1 BIC FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR GARAGE AT US-1 AND WEST KING STREET, WHERE TIRES HAVE BEEN STORED SINCE 2024.
THIS IS THE DATE UP HERE. MY QUESTION.
HAS A VISITOR INFORMATION GARAGE BEEN PAID FOR? IF WE'RE GOING TO USE SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE'LL BE GOING ON WITH THE GARAGE ON US-1 AND KING STREET? THE CITY DUMPSTER AT 92 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY, DINING WITH DIGNITY NEEDS TO BE LOCKED.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE SOME INDIVIDUALS ARE TRESPASSING AND GOING THROUGH THE DUMPSTER.
INDIVIDUALS ARE SITTING ON THE ALBERT LEWIS HORSE TROUGH AND THROWING TRASH IN IT.
I HAVE SOME PICTURES THAT I HAVE IN INSTAMATIC.
IT'LL BE A WHILE BEFORE I CAN GET IT TO YOU, BUT I DID TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT.
WE NEED TO REALLY BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE.
NOT EVERYONE IS RESPECTING WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.
THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
QUESTION. WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR FDOTS WORK TO BEGIN ON THE SAN SEBASTIAN BRIDGE, WHICH WILL CLOSE ACCESS TO EAST KING STREET AND US-1.
THERE'S A LOT OF SMALL TOWN GOSSIP AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON GETTING THAT STARTED, AND CAN IT BE SCHEDULED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT IT CAN BE DONE AND WE CAN FIX THAT INTERSECTION.
>> THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER CARD.
THIS IS GENERAL PUBLIC. IT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.
SHANE PETERSON, SHANE, THAT'S FINE.
SHANE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME AND SPEAK.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SHANE CHRISTIAN PETERSON.
I AM THE WE'LL SAY ACTING CONTROLLING OWNER OF 30 SOUTH LEONARDI STREET.
I MAY NEED MORE THAN THREE MINUTES, MAYBE LIKE FIVE.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
MY FATHER, WHO WAS RL PETERSON, HE DIED BACK IN JULY.
HE WAS THE PRIMARY OWNER OF THE HOME.
HE WAS A MARINE. HE WORKED FOR THE CITY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR CITY.
HE WORKED FOR SHERIFF'S OFFICE. HE'S WELL KNOWN HERE.
I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD A MEETING ON THE SEVENTH ABOUT TRYING TO FORECLOSE ON THE PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE TWO LINES.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HAD ISSUES WITH EQUIPMENT IN THE YARD AND STUFF, I WAS TRYING TO RUN MY SMALL BUSINESS OUT OF MY YARD, WHICH NOW THE HOME, IT'S JUST AN OFFICE.
I DON'T USE IT FOR BUSINESS AND DON'T HAVE ANY EQUIPMENT THERE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I DO, HOWEVER, WHILE I WAS IN JAIL, I HAD A TRAILER BREAK DURING WEEKEND, AND MY GUYS WITHOUT LACK OF KNOWING WHAT TO DO, THEY DUMP DEBRIS IN THE YARD, AND IT JUST STILL SITS.
THEY'RE TRYING TO FORECLOSE ON THE PROPERTY, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK TO SEE IF MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN GIVE ME SOME EXTENSION ON TRYING TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE.
LIKE I SAID, I WAS INCARCERATED ALL YEAR LONG LAST YEAR UNTIL NOVEMBER THE 24TH.
NOW I'M ABLE TO CLEAN UP THE HOUSE AND FIX THE HOUSE UP.
BUT I OWN ALL AMERICAN JUST A TREE SERVICE.
WE ARE SLOW DURING THE WINTER.
I WANT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.
I'M DOING PRETTY BAD FINANCIALLY.
I HAVE TO GO TO FOOD BANKS TO EAT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DO FULLY INTEND TO CLEAN UP THE DEBRIS IN THE PROPERTY.
[00:40:01]
IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS EQUIPMENT AND THINGS HERE AND THAT WE'RE RUNNING A LOGGING BUSINESS OF SOME SORT, IS WHAT THE ACTUAL WORDING WAS.I'M A COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL TREE SURGEON.
I'M ALSO AN ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST, SO RIGHT NOW, I'M FOCUSING MORE ON NOT THE ACTUAL CUTTING OF THE TREES AND TRYING TO ACTUALLY SAVE THEM.
BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT STORED ON THAT PROPERTY SINCE OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER OF 2024.
THE ONLY THING THERE IS IN MY TRUCK.
I DO HAVE A 16 FOOT TRAILER THAT'S SMALL, BUT IT SITS IN A YARD.
IT'S NOT MARKED. I THINK IT'S COMMERCIAL.
WE DON'T ADVERTISE, WE DON'T DO ANY OF THAT.
I WAS NOTED THAT I DO FIREWOOD OUT OF MY YARD.
I DO NOT COMMERCIALLY SELL FIREWOOD OUT OF MY YARD.
MY HOME IS OLD. IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY CENTRAL HEAT HERE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DEPEND ON MY OWN FIREWOOD FOR HEAT WARMTH.
NO, COOKING, I DO TYPICALLY COOK OUTSIDE A LOT, BUT THERE'S NO HEAT AT ALL, SO I HAVE TO HAVE THAT. WHAT'S THAT?
>> JUST REAL QUICK. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT THEY WOULD RECONSIDER, MAYBE GIVE ME THREE MONTHS TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE.
I COULD PROBABLY DO IT QUICKER THAN THAT.
>> MR. PETERSON, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO THAT WHEN WE HEAR THE ITEM LATER THIS EVENING.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WITH THAT, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE CLOSED, I NEED TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, MR. CITY MANAGER.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS, TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES, WHICH ARE TENT WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING ON FEBRUARY 9TH, ORDINANCE 2026-03, AMENDING THE FLUME DESIGNATION AT 4.55 ACRES AT BEACON STREET AND EAST PARK AVENUE, ORDINANCE 2026-04, AMENDING THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF THE SAME PROPERTY, ORDINANCE 2026-05, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF 2.12 ACRES OF FISHERS ISLAND, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FISH ISLAND IN HOLDING, ORDINANCE 2026-06, AMENDING THE ZONING OF THE SAME PROPERTY, ORDINANCE 2026-07 AMENDING THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF 54.67 ACRES OF FISHERS ISLAND, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE FISH ISLAND PRESERVE.
WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS THE FEBRUARY 9TH, 05:00 PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
THE FEBRUARY 23RD, 3:30 PM, SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM DISCUSSION.
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND THE FEBRUARY 9TH, 05:00 PM, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE DECEMBER 8TH REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, AND WE HAVE AN INVOICE FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE EMINENT DOMAIN LAWSUIT AT MARIA SANCHEZ LAKE, AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. THANK YOU.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
MOTION CARRIES. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.
WE CHANGED THAT. THIS IS MR. SAKRYD FOR THE VIC SOUTH GALLERY AND ROTATING EXHIBIT.
[10. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS (Part 1 of 2)]
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE SOME VERY STELLAR GUESTS WITH US TONIGHT.>> OF COURSE, WE DO, MADAM MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR.
MADAM VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, COREY SAKRYD, DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW ON THE VIC'S ROLE AND HOW EXISTING POLICIES ALLOW FOR LIMITED ROTATING EXHIBITS AT THE VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THAT THE VIC'S ONE OF THE PRIMARY PURPOSES IS IT'S THE PRIMARY ORIENTATION POINT FOR VISITORS TO THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
CORE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE VISITOR ASSISTANCE AND WAY FINDING, HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION, EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS.
THEY DISTRIBUTE MAPS AND VISITOR RESOURCES.
WE PROMOTE LOCAL ATTRACTIONS, AMENITIES, AND EVENTS.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE ONSITE AMENITIES, WHICH INCLUDES THE RESTROOMS, AND OF COURSE, THE GIFT SHOP.
THE VIC OPERATES UNDER ESTABLISHED CITED POLICY AND AGREEMENTS.
[00:45:01]
IT INCLUDES MAINTAINING EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS THAT INTERPRET THE HISTORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND SUPPORT VISITOR EXPERIENCE.WE ALSO INTERPRET THE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE ALSO.
NOW, OUR RESOLUTION ALLOWS THE CITY MANAGER THE ABILITY TO MANAGE AND IMPROVE THESE USES WITHIN THAT FACILITY, AND THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH THAT MISSION.
THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY ALSO SUPPORTS THE OPERATION OF THE VIC IS VISITOR FOCUSED AND AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY.
NOW WE CAN GET TO THE FUN STUFF.
HERE IS OUR SOUTH GALLERY THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
IT IS APPROXIMATELY 17 BY 17 FEET.
IT'S A DISTINCT AND ENCLOSED FACILITY IN ITSELF, WHICH ALLOWS US FOR A SPECIAL USE.
ROTATING EXHIBITS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THIS BY OPERATING AS A SELF GUIDED AND SELF CONTAINED INSTALLATION.
IF IT REMAINS OPEN DURING REGULAR VIC OPERATING HOURS, REQUIRES NO SUPPORT FOR STAFFING OR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT.
OF COURSE, IT AVOIDS PHYSICAL ATTACHMENT TO THE OLD ST. AUGUSTINE CIVIC CENTER, WHICH IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
THEN, OF COURSE, WE CAN UTILIZE OUR EXISTING VENDOR CONTRACT TEMPLATE, WHICH I'VE PROVIDED A QUICK EXAMPLE RIGHT HERE.
WITH THAT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME FOLKS WITH US TODAY.
BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS FROM STAFF, I FIGURE WE WILL INTRODUCE DR. MICHAEL FRANCIS.
HE'S THE PROFESSOR AND HOUGH FAMILY CHAIR OF FLORIDA STUDIES AT USF.
THEN FOLLOW THAT, THE CONSUL GENERAL MISS OF IRELAND, MISS SARAH KAVANAGH. DOCTOR?
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US THIS EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.
I THINK I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY ENTIRE TEAM THAT WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO CURATE A MUSEUM EXHIBIT THAT WE CAN'T PRONOUNCE.
THIS MEANS ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN IRISH.
I'M GOING TO LET OUR ESTEEMED CONSUL GENERAL GIVE US THE PROPER PRONUNCIATION, BECAUSE IF I SAID IT, I THINK SHE WOULD END OUR PARTNERSHIP.
THE PROJECT REALLY BEGAN WITH THIS WHOLE NOTION OF ST. PATRICK'S.
WE WANTED TO CREATE AN EXHIBIT.
SARAH KAVANAGH, AND I HAVE BEEN IN LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS OVER THE PAST FIVE OR SIX MONTHS, TALKING ABOUT A CHARACTER WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE.
WE'VE IMAGINED HIM TO LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
HE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO ARRIVED IN ST. AUGUSTINE IN 1597.
BETTER KNOWN TO HIS FRIENDS IN IRELAND AS RICHARD ARTHUR.
RICHARD ARTHUR WAS THE FIRST IRISH PARISH PRIEST ANYWHERE IN WHAT BECOMES THE UNITED STATES.
HE ALWAYS SIGNED HIS NAME IS RICARDO ARTUR IN SPANISH.
THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT REALLY BEGAN THIS INITIATIVE TO CREATE THIS SMALL EXHIBIT IN THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER.
IT'S REALLY JUST AN INVENTORY OF MUNITIONS EXPENDITURES IN ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT HAS A PASSAGE THAT, AS I WAS READING THIS IN THE ARCHIVE OF THE INDIES, ALWAYS STRUCK ME.
THAT THERE WERE CANNONS FIRED FOR CELEBRATIONS AND PROCESSIONS DURING THE HOLIEST DAYS IN THE CITY.
IT MAKES REFERENCE TO CORPUS CHRISTI AND TO SAY HOLY WEEK AND THE DECEMBER 4TH FEAST OF ST. BARBARA.
AT THE VERY END OF THIS IS THE MENTION OF ST. PATRICK, 1600.
>> WHAT WE'VE LEARNED RECENTLY IN CONVERSATIONS WITH IRISH SCHOLARS IS IT APPEARS THAT ST. AUGUSTINE HAD THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED RECORD OF ANY ST. PATRICK PROCESSION ANYWHERE.
I'VE BEEN BANNED IN PERPETUITY.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE VIC AND WITH THE CITY, TRYING TO THINK ABOUT A WAY TO IMPLEMENT A SMALL EXHIBIT WITHOUT CAUSING ANY INTERFERENCE IN THE SPACE, SENSITIVE TO THAT SPACE.
OUR TEAM HAS DESIGNED BASICALLY A ROOM WITHIN A ROOM TO BUILD THIS EXHIBIT.
[00:50:03]
THIS IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE, A GENERAL OUTLINE OF WHAT THE EXHIBIT WILL LOOK LIKE AS VISITORS ENTER INTO THAT SPACE.IT'S DIVIDED INTO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THEMES, BUT YOU'LL SEE A BUNCH OF WHAT LOOK LIKE, WHAT OUR ARCHIVE BOXES.
ON THE SIDE, THERE'S A ROUND TABLE WITH TWO PROJECTORS ON THE CEILING THAT WILL PROJECT.
ON THAT WALL, WE'LL HAVE A SCREEN THAT'S GOING TO TELL DIFFERENT STORIES OF WHAT WE NOW KNOW ARE MORE THAN 200 IRISH-BORN PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN ST. AUGUSTINE BETWEEN 1595 AND ABOUT 1840.
WE'RE PROFILING SOME OF THESE STORIES.
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PARTICULARLY WELL KNOWN, GENTLEMEN LIKE THOMAS BURGESS, WHO IS CELEBRATED AS THE FINEST BOOTMAKER IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, WHO IS IRISH.
A WHOLE SERIES OF MEN AND WOMEN THAT WILL HAVE THESE ROTATING VIDEO STORIES ABOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS ON THIS WALL.
VISITORS CAN WATCH THROUGH THIS LOOPING VIDEO OF A WIDE RANGE OF MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE STORIES ARE NOT PARTICULARLY WELL-KNOWN.
WE DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT THEM IN WRITTEN PUBLICATIONS, AND YET THEY FORMED A PRETTY CENTRAL PART OF ST.
AUGUSTINE'S FABRIC DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD.
ONE OF THE FEATURE ELEMENTS IS THE PROJECTOR THAT WILL PROJECT DOWN ONTO THIS ROUND TABLE.
THE FEATURE PIECE OF THAT ROUND TABLE IS REALLY INFLUENCED BY THIS 1788 MAP OF ST. AUGUSTINE, A WONDERFUL MAP DRAWN BY A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF MARIANO DE LA ROCQUE.
IT IDENTIFIES ALL OF THE PROPERTIES, WHO THE PROPERTY HOLDERS WERE, WHAT THE BUILDING MATERIAL WAS USED ON THOSE PROPERTIES, THE STATE OF THAT PROPERTY.
NOT ONLY HAVE WE LOCATED IRISH-OWNED PROPERTIES, BUT ONE THING THAT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR IT SEEMS THAT THE IRISH LOVE TO LIVE ON CHARLOTTE STREET.
CHARLOTTE STREET, IT SEEMS IN THE LATE 18TH CENTURY IS WHERE YOU WOULD HEAR LOTS OF IRISH FOLKS, AND THERE WERE INNS AND PLACES TO SELL RUM.
MAYBE I SHOULDN'T BRING THAT PART UP.
BUT AT ANY CASE, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THIS MAP, INSTEAD OF THINKING OF IT AS A TWO-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT, WAS TO CREATE A THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPACE.
THIS EXHIBIT IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST EXHIBIT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE A LONGER-TERM PROJECT THAT I'M WORKING ON WITH MY COLLEAGUES, AMY ANDERSON AND RACHEL SANDERSON, BEHIND ME, TO CREATE A THREE-DIMENSIONAL PHYSICAL SPACE OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN 1788.
WE'RE RECONSTRUCTING SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS, ONE OF WHICH IS GOVERNOR'S HOUSE.
HERE'S A VERY FAMOUS WATERCOLOR THAT IS ALMOST CERTAINLY FAMILIAR TO EVERYONE FROM ST. AUGUSTINE.
WE'VE DONE A THREE-DIMENSIONAL RENDERING OF THIS SPACE.
THE IDEA, OVER TIME, IS THAT WE WILL EMBED CONTENT INTO THAT SPACE TO BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM, TO BE USED IN PUBLIC HISTORY, TO BE USED IN INTERPRETATION.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS THE SAME MARIANO DE LA ROCQUE WHO DREW A RENDERING OF THE CHURCH, LONG BEFORE THE CATHEDRAL BECAME THE CATHEDRAL, AND WE HAVE CREATED A RENDERING OF THE 18TH CENTURY CHURCH.
WE'RE ALSO DOING THE BARRACKS AND THE KING'S BAKERY, AND THE CASTILLO.
OVER TIME, THE DREAM, WOULD BE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, HISTORIC ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE PRESERVATION INSTITUTE AT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, WOULD BE TO CREATE THIS ENTIRE SPACE.
THAT WOULD JUST BE ONE MAP, AND THE GOAL LONGER TERM WOULD BE TO CREATE SEVERAL OF THESE FROM 16TH CENTURY MAPS THROUGH TO 18TH CENTURY MAPS.
I'M GOING TO LET SARAH KAVANAGH TALK ABOUT WHAT IS PLANNED FOR THE INAUGURATION EVENT.
IF I JUST GO BACK JUST VERY QUICKLY TO THE DRAWING OF THE EXHIBIT, IT IS A SMALL SPACE, BUT IT WILL HAVE REALLY FOUR DISTINCT ELEMENTS IN IT.
ONE WILL TELL BROAD STORIES ABOUT IRISH PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN FLORIDA, LITTLE FACTOIDS AND LONGER NARRATIVES.
ONE WILL TELL THE WHOLE STORY OF THIS IRISH PRIEST, RICHARD ARTHUR, AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ST. PATRICK'S VENERATION.
THEN WE HAVE A SMALL SECTION, WHICH, IN A WAY, IS A LITTLE TRIBUTE TO THE 450TH, BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, ST. AUGUSTINE STAYED LOYAL.
[00:55:02]
AFTER THE REVOLUTION, PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT SPANISH HAD A DECISION TO MAKE.DO I STAY? DO I LEAVE? WHAT DO I DO WITH MY PROPERTY? WE HAVE A WONDERFUL SURVEY THAT GROUNDS THAT SECTION OF THE EXHIBIT, WHICH WE'RE CALLING, SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? A LITTLE BIT OF A TRIBUTE TO THE CLASH.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT 1786 CENSUS IN GREAT DETAIL WITH ALL OF THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO STAY UNDER SPANISH RULE, THOSE WHO WANTED TO LEAVE, WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO, AND THOSE WHO REMAINED UNDECIDED.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING AN EXHIBIT MAYBE ON A TOPIC THAT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN SO CENTRAL TO THE PUBLIC INTERPRETATION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, NAMELY THE IRISH DIASPORA IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND WE HOPE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST OF MANY OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE LA FLORIDA INTERACTIVE DIGITAL ARCHIVE OF THE AMERICAS PROJECT.
WITH THAT, I YIELD MY TIME AND THANK YOU.
> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
YES, WE HAVE CONSUL GENERAL, SARAH KAVANAGH, WITH US, AND WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TO YOU AND THE VICE MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND THE CITY MANAGER AND OFFICIALS FOR THE VERY WARM WELCOME TONIGHT AND FOR THE ENGAGEMENT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
A PLEASURE FOR ME TO WORK WITH YOU, AND AS YOU'VE ALL JUST ANTICIPATED, A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH MICHAEL AND [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL.
I GUESS, JUST TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, I'M THE FIRST IRISH CONSUL GENERAL TO BE APPOINTED TO FLORIDA.
I CAME HERE IN LATE 2022 TO ESTABLISH A NEW CONSULATE, AND THAT MARKED A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BY IRELAND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
THERE ARE MANY GOOD REASONS WHY WE CHOSE TO DO THAT, NOT LEAST.
WE HAVE A DIASPORA FOOTPRINT HERE OF ABOUT 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE.
BUT IN MY PREPARATION FOR MY POSTING, I WAS DOING MY RESEARCH ON FLORIDA, AND I CAME ACROSS PROFESSOR FRANCIS'S RESEARCH SHOWING THAT ST. AUGUSTINE HAD COMMEMORATED ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN THE VERY EARLY 1600S.
I DECIDED THAT BEFORE MY POSTING ENDED, I WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING WITH PROFESSOR FRANCIS TO MARK THAT FASCINATING FACET OF HISTORY.
I THINK IRELAND IS RECOGNIZED AS HAVING A VERY CLOSE AND RELATIVELY WELL-INTEGRATED GLOBAL DIASPORA, CONSIDERING ITS SIZE, AND THERE ARE MANY GOOD REASONS FOR THAT IN OUR HISTORY.
ABOUT 32 MILLION AMERICANS CLAIM IRISH ANCESTRY.
AS MICHAEL ALLUDED TO EARLIER, GENERALLY, PEOPLE THINK OF BOSTON, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO.
LESS HAS THOUGHT ABOUT THE IRISH IN THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD.
ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO SAY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN RESEARCH INTO THE IRISH IN THE CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICA IN RECENT DECADES, BUT DEFINITELY THE ST. AUGUSTINE PIECE WAS MISSING.
I WAS DELIGHTED WHEN MICHAEL APPROACHED ME, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD, AS HE SAID, ON THIS EXHIBITION, AND IT'S BEEN GREAT TO BE ABLE TO PLUG MICHAEL INTO THE IRISH HISTORIAN SCENE AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOME OF THAT TO ST. AUGUSTINE.
HE MENTIONED THAT WE ARE PLANNING A LAUNCH EVENT FOR THIS EXHIBITION, AND I HOPE YOU'LL ALL BE THERE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SUNDAY EVENING, THE 8TH OF MARCH.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE PLANNING, MY HOPE AND ANTICIPATION IS TO HAVE AN IRISH GOVERNMENT MINISTER IN TOWN.
THERE'S A MEMORANDUM GOING TO CABINET TOMORROW IN DUBLIN, SO HOPEFULLY, IT WILL CONTAIN GOOD NEWS FOR ME.
THEN I HAVE INVITED ONE OF MY OLD ACQUAINTANCES FROM MY COLLEGE DAYS, DR. DECLAN DOWNEY, FROM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, TO COME AND SPEAK AT THE LAUNCH.
HE IS AN EXPERT IN THE IRISH WHO LEFT IRELAND IN THE 1500S IN THE 1600S BECAUSE OF OPPRESSION OF PEOPLE OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH, AND THEY WENT TO COUNTRIES LIKE SPAIN, BELGIUM.
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, WELL, I SHOULD SAY, BELGIUM DIDN'T EXIST.
IT WAS THE SPANISH, NETHERLANDS AND FRANCE AND ANY COUNTRY THAT WOULD GIVE THEM REFUGE.
MANY JOINED THE IRISH BRIGADE OF THE SPANISH ARMY AND FOUND
[01:00:04]
THEMSELVES IN THE SPANISH COLONIES IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.DECLAN DOWNEY IS THE FIRST IRISH CITIZEN TO BE ELECTED A MEMBER OF THE SPANISH ROYAL ACADEMY OF HISTORY.
HE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE SPANISH ROYAL ORDER OF ISABEL LA CATOLICA.
HE'S A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR HISPANIC IRISH HISTORICAL STUDIES, AND HE'S A VERY DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR, AND I'M REALLY THRILLED THAT HE WILL COME AND TELL PART OF THAT STORY AND BE THE SCENE SETTER FOR MICHAEL'S RESEARCH, WHICH PICKS UP THE THREAD OF THE STORY WHEN IT GETS TO THIS SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC.
MICHAEL IS ALSO KEEN ON SOME PERIOD-APPROPRIATE MUSIC.
I HAVE TWO PROFESSORS FROM THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY OF MUSIC COMING TO PERFORM PIECES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR TO THE PEOPLE LIVING IN ST. AUGUSTINE WHO HAD COME FROM EUROPE AT THAT TIME.
I HAVE DR. DAVID ADAMS, WHO'S HEAD OF EARLY MUSIC AT THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY, AND I HAVE PROFESSOR WILLIAM DOWDLE, WHO IS ONE OF IRELAND'S LEADING MUSICIANS.
WE HAVE A LOVELY GROUP TOGETHER, AND WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A LOVELY OCCASION.
AS MICHAEL HAS SAID, THERE'S A STRONG EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT TO IT.
OBVIOUSLY, FOR ME, AS IRISH CONSUL GENERAL, I'M FOCUSING ON IRELAND, BUT THERE'S A UNIVERSAL STORY CONTAINED THEREIN, AS WELL.
JUST TO SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN TO THE MAYOR AND HER COLLEAGUES AND THE CITY OFFICIALS FOR WORKING CLOSELY WITH US.
I'M REALLY ON A PERSONAL PLEASED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADD SOME DEPTH AND SUBSTANCE TO WHAT ST. PATRICK'S DAY IS ABOUT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT GREEN BEER, ALTHOUGH THAT'S OKAY, BUT IT'S ABOUT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THEMES THAN THAT.
FINALLY, JUST TO SAY, MY MOTHER IS A MEMBER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SINCE 1974, SO SHE'S SUPER EXCITED THAT I'M HERE AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
I'LL GIVE HER A SHOUT-OUT TOO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.
IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU THERE.
>> WAIT, BUT WE DIDN'T HEAR THE PRONUNCIATION, THOUGH.
I THOUGHT WE WERE BEING SET UP FOR A PRONUNCIATION.
I DID GIVE IT TO HIM PHONETICALLY, BUT HE DOESN'T TRUST ME, BUT LAW [INAUDIBLE] THANKS.
>> I'VE BEEN PRACTICING IT JUST DOESN'T FLOW.
>> YES, MA'AM. THIS OPPORTUNITY GOES IN LINE WITH WHAT THE VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER CAN DO.
WE HAVE ADDRESSED OTHER AVENUES TO BRING OTHER EXHIBITS IN, AND WE HAVE HAD OTHER EXHIBITS INSIDE THE VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER.
BUT MORE RECENTLY IS WHEN WE'VE LOOKED AT BRINGING SOME MUSEUM-QUALITY PIECES IN, WE'VE ALWAYS COME TO ISSUES WITH THAT THE WINDOWS LET TOO MUCH UV LIGHT IN, AND ALL THE WORKS OF ART WOULD SUFFER IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.
EVEN THOUGH THE AC SYSTEM WORKS, IT'S NOT UP TO THAT SPECIFICATION TO HOUSE ARTIFACTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, SECURITY AND SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS. BUT THE IDEA BEING IS TO PRESENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION TONIGHT, THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE SMALLER-SCALE EXHIBITS, SUCH AS THE ONE THAT WAS PRESENTED THIS EVENING BY DR. HUFF AND THE COUNCIL GENERAL AND PRESENTING IT FOR YOUR REVIEW.
>> YOU WOULD LIKE US TO GIVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE THE VENDOR CONTRACT FOR THE EXHIBIT.
>> WE'D LIKE YOU TO APPROVE THE CONCEPT OF A ROTATING EXHIBIT SPACE IN THE VIC, WITH THE IRISH EXHIBIT BEING THE FIRST OF THOSE ROTATING EXHIBITS.
>> THAT'S EXCITING, BUT I'LL SECOND THAT.
>> IT IS VERY EXCITING. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I TOLD THEM THAT I REALLY DON'T WANT YOU ALL TO HAVE TO BE OUR GUINEA PIGS, BUT IN A WAY YOU ARE, REALLY, YOU'VE DONE COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE, A MAGNIFICENT PRESENTATION AND EFFORT, AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING.
WHAT IS OUR DATE AGAIN? MARCH 8TH.
NATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY. THAT'S RIGHT.
>> INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, SO THAT WILL BE LOVELY.
WE HAVE A MOTION, AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE CONCEPT OF REVOLVING EXHIBITS AT THE VIC AGAIN AND GET BACK INTO THAT, AND THEN ALSO GRANT THE AUTHORITY OF A CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE VENDOR CONTRACT THAT HAS TO GO INTO PLACE.
>> THAT IRELAND WILL BE OUR FIRST.
>> IRELAND WILL BE OUR FIRST, SO IT WILL BE WONDERFUL.
[01:05:02]
HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN FOR THIS TO STAY? IS THIS UNTIL SOMEBODY ELSE APPLIES, OR IS THERE A GUARANTEED TIME?
>> GENERALLY, WITH THE WAY THIS GROUP HAS COME WITH A WELL-DEFINED AND YOU'VE SEEN THE ELEVATION, IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
I WOULD SAY THIS WOULD BE ON THE VERY ELABORATE SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM, AND THEN OTHER SPECTRUMS WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE OF POSSIBLY INFORMATION BOARDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THE IDEA BEING IS THAT THEY'RE SELF-GUIDED.
REALLY, WE CAN HAVE IT, THE CITY MANAGER HAS THE ABILITY, WE CAN DETERMINE HOW OFTEN THEY COME AND HOW LONG THEY WANT TO STAY.
WE HAVE RATHER FLEXIBILITY ON THAT SINCE THAT SPACE IS UNUSED.
>> YOU'LL JUST NEGOTIATE THAT WITH EVERY DIFFERENT GROUP.
>> YOU'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE IRISH EXHIBIT AND THEN.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. EVERYBODY READY? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> HECK, YES. [LAUGHTER]. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD.
WE'RE GOING TO REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
I HOPE THAT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS CAN ATTEND, AS WELL.
I'M SURE YOU WILL. SO LOVELY. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT ITEM WILL BE THE ITEM 7C1,
[7.C.1. (Second Hearing) First Amendment to Broudy Development Agreement (I. Lopez, City Attorney) ]
AND THIS WILL BE OUR SECOND HEARING FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE BROUDY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. MS. LOPEZ.>> YES, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU KNOW, WE HELD THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING CONSISTENT WITH STATUTE TO ADOPT THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING BROUDY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
NO SUBSTANTIVE TERMS OF THE ORIGINAL BROUDY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WERE MODIFIED OTHER THAN THERE WAS A SCRIVENER'S CORRECTION TO THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION, AND THIS IS PART OF THIS FIRST AMENDMENT.
THE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE IN THIS FIRST AMENDMENT IS THE SHIFT FROM RESPONSIBILITY BY THE DEVELOPER WILL NOW CHANGE TO THE CITY ONCE THE PARKING GARAGE, WHICH IS THE "MOBILITY STATION" UNDER OUR ZONING AND LAND USE IS COMPLETE.
AT THAT TIME, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPERATING AND CONTINUING THE MOBILITY STATION, AKA, THE PARKING GARAGE, WILL SHIFT TO THE CITY.
THAT'S THE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE BEFORE YOU.
I SEE MS. AVERY-SMITH IS PRESENT, REPRESENTING THE DEVELOPER.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
ELLEN AVERY-SMITH, ROGERS TOWERS, 100 WHETSTONE PLACE, AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING ISABELLE JUST SAID.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, OR BARRY AND JASON ARE HERE ALSO FROM OUR TEAM, AND WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT HAVE WHEN THEY COME UP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF APPLICANTS REPRESENTATIVE OR A PARTNER, ACTUALLY.
>> IT'S TOO BAD THAT OUR YOUNG ARTICULATE SPEAKER EARLIER, WHO WAS SPEAKING ABOUT INCREASING PARKING DOWNTOWN, HAS LEFT, BUT I HOPE THAT THEY CATCH THIS LATER ON.
>> IT WAS A GOOD IDEA ON HIS PART.
TOO BAD THE CITY THOUGHT OF IT FIRST. [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT NOW HE BELIEVES THAT WE ACT VERY FAST TO GOOD IDEAS. [LAUGHTER]
>> HIS EXPECTATIONS WILL COME AROUND.
>> IS IT YOUR DESIRE TO OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> WE ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY FILLED A CARD OR WANTS THIS ONE. WE DO HAVE ONE.
>> DO I HAVE A CARD? YES, 7C1.
WE DO HAVE A CARD. I BEG YOUR PARDON.
>> DJ KALEDI, WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
BEFORE THIS IS PASSED, TITLE OF DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE WEST CITY GATEWAY, NOT WEST AUGUSTINE.
WEST AUGUSTINE INCLUDES THE COUNTY, AND THEY WILL NOT, I REPEAT, THE COUNTY WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY LIMITS IN WEST CITY, C-I-T-Y, WILL PAY FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I JUST WANTED THAT TO GET ON THE RECORD BECAUSE ADVERTISING IS GOING TO BE INCLUDING THAT INTERSECTION, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY SOME OF THE REALTORS IN WEST COUNTY.
[01:10:04]
WEST ST. JOHN'S WAS TRYING TO PUT IN AT FAMILY DOLLAR, I CALL IT ALL POT.BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, A RECOVERY CENTER OVER THERE IN THEIR CRA.
PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THAT REALTOR WILL PROBABLY TRY TO DO IT AGAIN, AND I HOPE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN WEST CITY CRA AND THE CITY LIMITS OR IN LINCOLNVILLE.
I WILL BE WATCHING THIS VERY CAREFULLY, AND I THINK EVERYONE THAT LIVES IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ST. AUGUSTINE, ESPECIALLY IN WEST AUGUSTINE, NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION.
THERE'S GOING TO BE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS DOWN ON US1 AND KING STREET, LIKE I'VE SHOWN ON SOME OF THE PHOTOS I'VE BROUGHT IN.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A MAGIC BULLET TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF PARKING IN THE CITY.
IT'S A BEGINNING, BUT WE HAVE TO WATCH WHAT'S GOING OVER THERE, JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE VIC GARAGE DOWNTOWN AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION, HAS THAT BEEN PAID FOR. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE HERE WISH TO SPEAK? COMMENT IS CLOSED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WOULD YOU LIKE TO FOLLOW UP?
>> JUST TO ANSWER MISS KALAIDI'S QUESTION, ONE OF THE PROPERTIES IS OWNED BY AN ENTITY CALLED WEST AUGUSTINE GATEWAY, LLC.
THAT'S WHERE SHE GOT THAT ENTITY NAME.
IT'S NOT THE NAME OF THE PROJECT.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S A PROPERTY OWNER.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE PRETTY MUCH COVERED THIS LAST TIME MYSELF, SO UNLESS THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.
I KNOW WHAT MISS KALAIDI WAS REFERRING TO.
FAMILY DOLLAR BUSINESS THAT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL ON WEST KING IN THE COUNTY AREA, THEY WERE GOING TO PUT A METHADONE CLINIC THERE.
THE CRA AND A LOT OF RESIDENTS, THEY WERE ON THE MEDIA AND SO FORTH TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.
SO I UNDERSTAND HER CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE NOT HAVING THAT IN THE CITY, EITHER.
I CAN ASSURE HER THAT WE WILL VETO IT TRYING TO COME INTO OUR AREA.
AS FAR AS THE PARKING, I KNOW THE WEST AUGUSTINE, WEST CITY, WEST GOING FURTHER THAN THE CITY LIMITS, THAT PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE SHIFT OF HAVING PARKING, IT'S GOING TO MAKE NIGHTS AND LIGHTS IN THE FUTURE DATES MORE AVAILABLE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL UTILIZE THAT PARKING SPACE.
YOU SEE THAT THEY'RE PARKING EVERYWHERE AS IT IS.
ALSO, IT WILL GIVE A CHANCE FOR REVENUE TO COME TO THE WEST CITY.
USUALLY WHEN YOU PARK, YOU WALK AROUND TO THE SURROUNDING AREAS TO SEE WHERE YOU PARKED AT.
I WANT TO THANK THEIR ATTORNEY AND MR. BRODY AND OUR CITY STAFF.
IF THERE WAS A OUTRAGE OF IT, THIS PLACE WOULD BE FILLED WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE PEOPLE WHEN THEY DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, THEY COME BY THE BOAT LOADS.
SO PEOPLE HAVE ACCEPTED THAT THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR.
ON THAT NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ORDINANCE. WHERE IS IT HERE?
>> IT'S JUST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT.
>> THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AMENDMENT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN A DELAY FOR, WHAT, ABOUT A YEAR NOW.
IT WILL BE A BLESSING IF WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
NEXT ITEM WILL BE SECOND READINGS.
[8.A.1. Ordinance 2026-02: Amends the Future Land Use Designation of approximately 0.19 acres at 7 Old Mission Avenue (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director) ]
WE HAVE ITEM 8A, AND THAT IS MS. SKINNER.ORDINANCE 2026-02, SECOND READING.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF ORDINANCE 2026-02.
THIS ORDINANCE IS A LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.19 ACRES FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY.
DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR A CHANGE OF USE IN THE EXISTING BUILDING ON THIS PROPERTY, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE COMMERCIAL ZONING, WHICH IS ZONED CL1,
[01:15:01]
WAS INCONSISTENT WITH THE DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND USE OF RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY.THE CORRECT CORRESPONDING LAND USE FOR THE PROPERTY SHOULD BE COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS APPLICATION AS A CLEAN UP ITEM ON DECEMBER 2, 2025, AND MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY.
THE CITY COMMISSION THEN PASSED THIS ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AT THE JANUARY 12 CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
AGAIN, THIS IS A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING, AND I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT? I DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS.
DOES ANYONE HERE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? NO? NOBODY HERE? OH, GOODNESS.
LET'S DISCUSS. [LAUGHTER] IT'S A SECOND HEARING, SO WE'VE DISCUSSED IT.
>> BEING AS THERE'S BEEN NO PUBLIC COMMENT, I THINK LAST TIME, AT LEAST THE WAY I PERCEIVED THIS AS REALLY MORE OF A CLERICAL MAPPING ERROR THAN IT IS A LAND USE ISSUE.
>> SEEMS LIKE A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM TO ME.
>> EXACTLY. IT'S NOT THE WAY TO PUT IT.
>> WE ALMOST NEVER GET A FATE YOUR LAND USE DESIGNATION AMENDMENT WITHOUT A RE-ZONING AMENDMENT. IT'S CLEARLY-.
>> WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE LAND USE CONSISTENT WITH THE ZONING.
>> MATCH UP. EVERYTHING JUST NEEDS TO MATCH UP.
>> BECAUSE USUALLY THEY GO HAND IN HAND.
IS THERE ANY COMMENT? I'LL BE WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION.
NO? OKAY. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 2026-02 AS READ BY TITLE.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-02, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, FLUM, DESIGNATION OF A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 0.19 ACRES LOCATED AT SEVEN OLD MISSION AVENUE, AS A PORTION OF THE GARNETT ADDITION IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE AND AFTER CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 0.19 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES PROVIDED FOR SEVERANCE OF PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JON DEPRETER?
>> THANK YOU, MISS SKINNER. ALL.
[Items 9.A.1 - 9.A.5]
>> AGAIN, MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER.
THE NEXT SEVERAL ORDINANCES ARE THE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READINGS TO CHANGE THE LAND USES AND ZONING DISTRICTS ON PROPERTIES PURCHASED BY THE CITY FOR CONSERVATION.
THE FIRST SET OF ORDINANCES ARE ORDINANCE 2026-03 AND 2026-04.
TO CHANGE THE LAND USE ON THE UPLAND ACRES FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, AND THE WATER WORD ACRES FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO OPEN LAND CONSERVATION.
TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM RS2 TO GU FOR THE UPLAND ACRES AND OPEN LAND ON THE WATERWOOD ACRES.
BECAUSE ORDINANCE 2026-04 IS A REZONING, WE NEED THE CITY COMMISSION TO STATE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATION.
THIS AREA IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE HUNDRED ACRE PARCEL BEHIND EAST PARK AVENUE, BEACON AND BILLING STREETS.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS APPLICATION ON SEPTEMBER 2ND AND MADE POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE SECOND SET OF ORDINANCES ARE ORDINANCE 2026-05 AND 2026-06 TO CHANGE THE LAND USE ON UPLAND ACRES FROM RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED USE TO RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, AND TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM RGOA TO GOVERNMENT USE FOR THE UPLAND ACRES.
BECAUSE 20 ORDINANCE 2026-06 IS A REZONING.
WE ALSO NEED THE CITY COMMISSION TO STATE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATION.
THIS AREA IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE FISH ISLAND IN HOLDING AREA, WHICH IS THE LAST PIECE TO COMPLETE THE FISH ISLAND PRESERVE.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS APPLICATION ON SEPTEMBER 2ND AS WELL AND MADE POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE LAST ORDINANCE OF THIS GROUP IS ORDINANCE 2026-07, WHICH IS THE REZONING FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE FISH ISLAND UPLAND PRESERVE AREA TO MATCH THE ALREADY EXISTING RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE LAND USE.
ON OCTOBER 7TH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS APPLICATION AND RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY
[01:20:05]
15.52 UPLAND ACRES FROM CM2 ALONG STATE ROAD 312 TO GU, AND APPROXIMATELY 39 ACRES OF UPLAND ACRES FROM RGOA TO GU AS WELL.LAND USE IS ALREADY RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE.
BECAUSE ORDINANCE 2026-07 IS A REZONING, WE NEED THE CITY COMMISSION TO AGAIN STATE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATION.
THESE ARE ALL INTRODUCTIONS AND FIRST READINGS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND I AM AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS. WE'LL START WITH QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO EX PARTE OR HOWEVER, WHATEVER YOU.
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO PUBLICLY CLARIFY.
I HAD SOME NEIGHBORS BECAUSE I LIVE NEAR THE BEACON STREET PROPERTY.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OPEN LAND, WHICH IN OUR POLICY HAS TWO DIFFERENT USES.
THERE'S ONE THAT'S OPEN LAND THAT COULD HAVE MOBILE HOMES OR HOMES WITH EVERY ONE PER ACRE OR TWO PER ACRE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT AND HAVE YOU VERIFY THAT THIS IS OPEN LAND CONSERVATION.
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW IT'S WORDED IN THE ORDINANCE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON RECORD THAT IT IS FOR CONSERVATION.
>> THERE'S TWO LAYERS OF REGULATION ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THERE'S YOUR UNDERLYING LAND USE CATEGORY AND YOUR ZONING DISTRICT.
THE LAND USE CATEGORY IS REALLY WHAT CAPS WHAT CAN BE DONE ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IN THIS CASE, WE CREATED AN OPEN LAND CONSERVATION LAND USE AT OUR UPDATE IN 2020.
WE HADN'T ASSIGNED ANY PROPERTY TO IT UNTIL RECENTLY IN THE THROUGH THE CITY'S CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
THE LAND USE ON THE WATER WORD ACRES OF THIS PROPERTY WILL BE OPEN LAND CONSERVATION.
I CAN SHOW YOU, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS IT'S BASICALLY UNDEVELOPABLE.
THE MOST COMPATIBLE ZONING DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE A IT DOES CROSS OVER, BUT IT'S TYPICALLY WHAT ALL OF OUR MARSHLAND IS ZONED, IS A OPEN LAND ZONING DISTRICT.
EVEN THOUGH THE OPEN LAND ZONING DISTRICT MIGHT LIST USES, THAT'S ONLY FOR LAND PROPERTIES, AND-.
>> THEREFORE, THE USES WOULD BE LIMITED BY THE LAND USE AND THE FACT THAT IT'S WATERWARD AND BASICALLY UNDEVELOPABLE.
>> I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE STAFF ON THE PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY AGAIN.
THIS WAS AN ISSUE IN MY CAMPAIGN.
I THINK IN THREE YEARS, THAT'S A PRETTY QUICK TURNAROUND FOR BUYING A MASSIVE PIECE OF PROPERTY AT A VERY GOOD PRICE BECAUSE IT WAS WAY OUT OF OUR BUDGET IN THE BEGINNING, AND WE HAD THE PATIENCE AND THE PERSISTENCE TO WAIT AND TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOME GOOD THINGS TOO.
I APPRECIATE DAVID'S EFFORTS AND THE STAFF'S EFFORT ON THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY, JUST AMAZING SUCCESS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OF STAFF? DID YOU HAVE AN EX PARTE TO GIVE? YOU PROBABLY DID.
>> JUST EMAILS FROM NEIGHBORS.
THAT'S ALL. I'VE BEEN ON THE PROPERTY.
>> I'LL JUST GO AHEAD WITH EX PARTE BEFORE I FORGET.
>> YES. HOW ARE YOU [OVERLAPPING]
>> I ALSO RECEIVED TWO EMAILS THIS AFTERNOON AND THOSE ARE ON THE SERVER REGARDING.
I'M SO GLAD COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD ASKED TO CLARIFY THOSE ISSUES.
I KNOW ZONING AND LAND USE CAN BE COMPLICATED, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO CLARIFY THAT.
MY QUESTION IS, AGAIN, TO CONFIRM WHAT HE'S SAYING, ARE THESE THE MOST RESTRICTIVE LAND USES AND ZONING THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY APPLY TO THESE PROPERTIES GIVEN OUR CODE?
>> THE UPLAND ACRES IS RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, WHICH IS RESTRICTED TO RECREATION TYPE USES.
GOVERNMENT USE HAS BEEN THE ZONING DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE APPLIED TO THOSE THAT TYPE OF PROPERTY.
IT'S RESTRICTIVE BECAUSE GOVERNMENT CAN DO WHAT IT WANTS TO DO, BUT WE ARE PLANNING AS PART OF OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TO HAVE LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR EACH OF THESE PROPERTIES.
THE USE ON THE LAND PORTION, AS I UNDERSTAND, IT WOULD BE LIMITED BY ANY LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN OR BY ANY POLICIES OR ANY DIRECTIVES THAT WOULD BE SET BY THE CITY COMMISSION OR THE CITY STAFF AND HOW THE GOVERNMENT USE PORTION WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE DEVELOPED OR BE USED.
[01:25:04]
THEN, YES, I CAN DEFINITIVELY SAY THAT OUR OPEN LAND CONSERVATION LAND USE CATEGORY IS OUR MOST RESTRICTIVE LAND USE CATEGORY.IN FACT, IT REFERS TO THAT IT'S VIRTUALLY UNDEVELOPABLE, AND OUR OPEN LAND USE HAS BEEN USED AS A ZONING DISTRICT FOR ANY OF OUR WATERWARD OR MARSH AREAS WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR ZONING MAP.
THOSE I BELIEVE ARE COMPATIBLE AND WOULD LIMIT THE USES.
>> THAT IS PERFECT BECAUSE WHAT THE INTENT OF THIS CONSERVATION LAND, ACQUISITION PROGRAM WAS AND IS IS TO KEEP THESE LANDS NOT UNDEVELOPED.
I HATE THAT TERM, BUT THESE NATURAL AREAS IN PERPETUITY.
I'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE MOST STRINGENT METHODS OR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT AND PROTECT THESE LANDS IN PERPETUITY.
OUR TAXPAYERS LOVE THIS PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE PAID FOR IT THROUGH THEIR OWN HARD-EARNED MONEY, AND WE NEED TO PROTECT IT.
>> WELL SAID. COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
>> THEY BASICALLY ASKED THE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD'VE ASKED.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS CONSERVATION AND BUYING LAND SO WE COULD HAVE MORE GREEN SPACE. THANK YOU.
>> DON'T YOU HAVE ANY EX PARTE?
>> WELL, I MIGHT HAVE GOT SOME EMAILS BUT I DIDN'T SEE THEM.
>> I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY E MAILS BEFORE I CAME IN TODAY, SO THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING ON THERE.
THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT IT DOES GET COMPLICATED LAND USE AND CONSERVATION DEVELOPING, SO I THINK THAT HELPS A LOT FOR EVERYBODY.
>> I WAS GOING TO LET THE VICE MAYOR GIVE A MOTION.
[LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU.
I'LL SAY THIS WHILE YOU'RE GOING.
I FEEL LIKE THIS, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY POPULAR PROGRAM.
IT'S A RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO BY BUYING AND TAKING CARE OF THESE PROPERTIES, PUTTING THEM IN THE CORRECT ZONING AND FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES, AND WHICH IS OUR BEST WEAPON.
IT IS THE BEST WEAPON WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE PROPERTIES AND TO REALLY DETERMINE THE LAND USE PATTERNS, AND OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SMART GROWTH.
>> MADAM MAYOR, DID YOU HAVE ANY EX PARTE? I THINK WE'RE TRYING.
>> THERE'S WHATEVER'S ON THE SERVER.
I HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU. GIVEN THAT, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2026-03, READ BY TITLE ONLY.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-03, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, FLUM, DESIGNATION OF A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 4.55 ACRES LOCATED AT BEACON STREET AND EAST PARK AVENUE, EAST OF BILLING STREET, AS PORTIONS OF HILDRETH BACK BAY ADDITION SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER, CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 0.75 UPLAND ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, AND CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 3.80 WATERWARD ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO OPEN LAND CONSERVATION, PROVIDING FOR A REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> I MOVE WE APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-04, READ BY TITLE ONLY.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-04, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 4.55 ACRES LOCATED AT BEACON STREET AND EAST PARK AVENUE EAST OF BILLING STREET AS PORTIONS OF HILDRETH BACK BAY ADDITION SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER, REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.75 UPLAND ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY 2RS2 TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT USE, GU, AND REZONING APPROXIMATELY 3.80 WATERWARD ACRES FROM
[01:30:03]
ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY 2RS2 TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN LAND, OL, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.I BELIEVE THE MOTION WAS TO SET IT TO SECOND HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ALL RIGHT. WHO WANTS TO MAKE THE MOTION?
>> THAT WE MOVE ORDINANCE 2026-05 TO SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING, READ BY TITLE ONLY.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-05, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, FLUM, DESIGNATION OF A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 2.12 ACRES LOCATED AT FISHERS ISLAND BETWEEN THE MATANZAS RIVER AND STATE ROAD 312 IN THE CITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE IN CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 2.12 UPLAND ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED USE TO RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> FOR THE ZONING, WE WILL NEED EX PARTE DISCLOSURE AGAIN ON THIS NEXT ONE.
>> OKAY. ANY EX PARTE ON 2026-06.
THAT IS THE 2.2 ACRES AT FISHERS ISLAND BETWEEN MATANZAS RIVER AND STATE ROAD 313, COMMON.
WE KNOWN AS THE FISH ISLAND IN HOLDING.
I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2026-06 TO SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.
>> I THOUGHT YOU ALREADY DID THAT.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-06 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 2.12 ACRES LOCATED AT FISHERS ISLAND BETWEEN THE MATANZAS RIVER AND STATE ROAD 312, IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER, REZONING APPROXIMATELY 2.12 UPLAND ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL OFFICE A, RGO A, TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT USE, GU, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ALL RIGHT. ORDINANCE 2026-07.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS?
I MOVE WE PASS ORDINANCE 2026-07, READ BY TITLE ONLY, PUT ONTO THE AGENDA FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING.
>> ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-07, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 54.67 ACRES LOCATED AT FISHERS ISLAND BETWEEN THE MATANZAS RIVER AND STATE ROAD 312 IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREAFTER, REZONING APPROXIMATELY 15.52 UPLAND ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF COMMERCIAL MEDIUM 2, CM 2, AND APPROXIMATELY 39.15 UPLAND ACRES OF RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL OFFICE A, RGO A, TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENT USE, GU, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> EXCELLENT. COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> MADAM MAYOR. MAY I MAKE A COMMENT?
THIS IS HUGE. THANK YOU, STAFF. THIS IS HUGE.
IN PARTICULAR, THANK YOU, MS. SIKES-KLINE.
THIS IS A REMARKABLE MOMENT FOR THE CITY.
>> LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO THAT, BUT AN AMAZING EFFORT, CONGRATS TO EVERYONE.
MS. SIKES-KLINE, THIS IS OUR RESOLUTIONS.
[9.B.1. Resolution 2026-01: Resolution specifying the uses of the parking garage revenues of the Visitor Information Center Fund (M. Breidenstein, Assistant City Manager) ]
[01:35:04]
WE HAVE RESOLUTION 2026-01.THAT'S THE FIRST RESOLUTION OF THE YEAR.
>> EXCITING. BEFORE YOU IS RESOLUTION 2026-01, A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE AUTHORIZED USES OF REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER FUND.
THESE AUTHORIZED USES ARE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING EXPENDITURES: OPERATIONS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND DEBT SERVICE FOR THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER PARKING GARAGE, OPERATIONS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND DEBT SERVICE FOR THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER, OPERATIONS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND DEBT SERVICE FOR THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER GIFT SHOP, TRANSFERS TO THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S MOBILITY DIVISION, TRANSFERS TO THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHAEOLOGY DIVISION, AND NEWLY, WHICH YOU HEARD AT THE LAST MEETING, OPERATIONS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND DEBT SERVICE FOR THE PARKING GARAGE LOCATED AT 198 AND 212, WEST KING STREET, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BROUDY GARAGE.
THIS RESOLUTION IS BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'VE A COMMENT.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ORDINANCE TO CLARIFY THE INTENT OF THE REVENUE STREAM THERE AND WHAT WE INTENDED TO BE USED FOR IN THE FUTURE, JUST TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE SOMETIMES COMMISSIONS, PEOPLE RETIRE AND FORGET AND RETIRE, THE INSTITUTION FORGETS, AND I FIND THAT RESOLUTION IS A GREAT TOOL TO HELP US REMEMBER WHAT WE INTENDED TO DO WITH THIS MONEY.
ALSO TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DID MAKE A COMMITMENT TO USE THESE DOLLARS FOR OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHAEOLOGY PROGRAM, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.
THERE WAS A SPECIFIC REASON WHY I REQUESTED THIS BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, WHY AREN'T WE USING CAGE REVENUE FOR THIS OR THAT? BUT SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> WELL, I'LL PIGGYBACK ON THAT BECAUSE I WAS TOTALLY CONFUSED THINKING WE ALREADY HAD THIS IN STONE.
THE MANAGER SET ME STRAIGHT THAT, NO, IT'S JUST BEEN AN AGREEMENT, AND SO I'M SO GLAD THAT WE PUT IT IN STONE BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE, AND MOBILITY AND HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND THE ARCHAEOLOGY ARE VERY APPROPRIATE FOR VISITORS TO PAY FOR, AND NOT TAXPAYERS.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> I JUST ECHO BOTH OF THOSE REMARKS.
THIS IS REALLY CRITICAL AND THE TIMING IS ESSENTIAL.
>> I MOVE WE PASS RESOLUTION 2020 6-01.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS STAFF PRESENTATIONS.
[10. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS (Part 2 of 2)]
10A, WE ARE ON 10A, AND THAT IS CONSIDERATION OF A PETITION TO VACATE RIGHT OF WAY AT 81 MAGNOLIA DRIVE, AND THAT'S MR. SLAUGHTER. GOOD EVENING.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
STEPHEN SLAUGHTER, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
>> YES. I BEG YOUR PARDON TO INTERRUPT YOU.
WE DO BEFORE WE PROCEED, COMMISSIONER DEPRETER HAS A STATEMENT.
>> I HAVE AN ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNER, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, TO THIS APPLICATION.
NO APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY OR FINANCIAL GAIN.
I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS ONE.
>> HERE'S A LOVELY LITTLE FORM YOU CAN FILL OUT.
>> OH, THANK YOU. I BELIEVE ELISS IS ABOUT TO HAND YOU.
>> WE ARE EXCUSING YOU OUT OF THE ROOM, AND WE'LL CALL YOU WHEN IT'S TIME TO COME BACK. THANK YOU.
>> BRINGING BEFORE THE COMMISSION TONIGHT A PETITION TO VACATE A RIGHT-OF-WAY AT 81 MAGNOLIA DRIVE.
THE APPLICANT DID SUBMIT TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REVIEW, AND THOSE STAFF COMMENTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE PETITION HERE.
AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS TO BRING TO THE COMMISSION'S ATTENTION, AND IF THE COMMISSION WISHES TO MOVE FORWARD APPROVING THIS PETITION TO VACATE, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH CREATING AN ORDINANCE.
>> THIS IS A PETITION TO VACATE THE ALLEY IN LIGHTHOUSE PARK?
[01:40:05]
>> BEHIND ROMAN AND KRISTEN PATEL'S HOUSE.
I ASSUME THAT THE ALLEY HAS NEVER BEEN OPEN.
>> THE ALLEY HAS NEVER BEEN OPENED, AND THE ALLEY TO THE SOUTH OF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN VACATED.
>> WHAT ABOUT TO THE NORTH? NO.
>> TO THE NORTH WOULD BE COMMISSIONER DEPRETERS' PROPERTY.
>> OH, I SEE. GREAT. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IN THAT CASE, I'LL MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE PETITION TO VACATE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
>>ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR US TO DO SUCH A THING WHEN IT'S CLOSED.
SOMETIMES WE DO DEBATE THESE THINGS.
>> THIS ONE'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
>> THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS.
FOLKS ARE IN THE AUDIENCE AND WONDERING, WE HAVEN'T VACATED IT, WE'VE JUST ACCEPTED THE PETITION.
THE CLERK WILL GO THROUGH ALL THE ADDITIONAL STEPS.
THERE'LL BE A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE.
>> IT'LL COME BACK AS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ACTUAL/ GREAT.
THANKS. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
GREAT. WE'RE GOING TO SEE LOTS MORE OF THIS.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THE NEXT ITEM, 10B, WE HAD MOVED THAT TO THE FRONT.
[11. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY]
BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST TO CONCUR WITH THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE'S AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A FORECLOSURE ON CODE ENFORCEMENT LIENS FOR THE PROPERTY AT 30 SOUTH LEONARDI STREET.
AS YOU KNOW, INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE ARE THE RECORDED LIENS.
THERE'S TWO CURRENT RECORDED LIENS, $50,000 EACH, THAT WERE HEARD AND DETERMINED SOME TIME AGO, OVER A YEAR AGO.
THE PROPERTY AT ISSUE HAS APPROXIMATELY TEN SEPARATE PROPERTY OWNERS, SO WHAT OCCURRED WAS WHEN PEOPLE PASSED AWAY, THEY, IN THEIR PROBATE MATTERS, TRANSFERRED THE PROPERTY RIGHTS TO THE PROPERTY TO A WHOLE BUNCH OF HEIRS, ESSENTIALLY.
I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR WHO'S WHO, BUT THAT IS WHAT IS FOUND ON THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S WEBSITE, TAX COLLECTORS' WEBSITE, AND IT BREAKS OUT THE TEN OR SO INDIVIDUALS WHO, ACTUALLY, ARE REGISTERED THROUGH THE PROPERTY APPRAISER AS ACTUAL PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THAT OCCURRED THROUGH THE PROBATE PROCEEDINGS.
I BELIEVE WE HEARD EARLIER FROM A RELATIVE OF ONE OF THOSE NAMED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LISTED AS A PROPERTY OWNER, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THE INDIVIDUAL IS ACTUALLY THEMSELVES LISTED AS A PROPERTY OWNER FOR OUR PURPOSES.
THE REASON IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US IS WE ARE REQUIRED TO SEND CERTIFIED NOTICES TO ANYONE WHO IS LISTED AS A PROPERTY OWNER ON THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S WEBSITE.
WE GO BY THAT TO GIVE NOTICES.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT GROUP, I THINK, MR. FOX, MAY BE BACK THERE, I'M NOT SURE.
I'M SORRY, I CAN'T SEE BEHIND ME, AND HE MAY BE ABLE TO, TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHO GOT NOTICES, WHO GOT THE FORMAL OFFICIAL NOTICES, WHAT OTHER ATTEMPTS OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF DID TO TRY AND GET IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE LISTED AS PROPERTY OWNERS.
AGAIN, THE TWO EXISTING LIENS ARE LIENS OF RECORD, RIGHT? SO TONIGHT, WE CAN'T REALLY CHANGE THAT.
THERE IS A THIRD MATTER THAT HAS ALREADY GONE TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE.
I HAVE ASKED IF MR. FOX COULD GET WITH THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS HERE EARLIER TO TRY AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE WORKED OUT ON THAT BRAND NEW CASE THAT'S BEEN GOING THROUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT.
[01:45:01]
I DON'T KNOW IF MR. FOX WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON THAT, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE PURPOSE OF TODAY IS, PROCEDURALLY, ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE HELD.ALL THE NOTICES WERE DONE PER STATUTE.
THEY ARE RECORDED LIENS AGAINST THE TITLE TO THIS PROPERTY.
THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS IS I HAD TO TAKE THIS TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE AND OFFICIALLY GET THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE TO SAY, I AUTHORIZE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FORECLOSURE, BUT I ALWAYS WANT TO BRING IT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
ULTIMATELY, I WORK FOR YOU, AND THE LIENS ARE IN YOUR FAVOR, SO IN THE CITY'S FAVOR, AND SO IT ULTIMATELY IS YOUR DECISION IF YOU WISH ME TO GO FORWARD.
THOSE LIENS WON'T DISAPPEAR, AND LIKE I SAID, THERE IS ANOTHER PENDING CASE RIGHT NOW THAT IS ACCRUING FINES.
I'M NOT SURE IF MR. FOX IS BACK THERE, AND IF YOU WANT TO ASK HIM ANY QUESTIONS PROCEDURALLY ON WHAT OCCURRED AND WITH WHOM.
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, GLAD TO BE BACK, I GUESS.
I GUESS IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER FOR ME TO JUST ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON THIS.
THERE'S BEEN EIGHT CASES SINCE 2018.
OUT OF THE TEN ON THE PROPERTY CARD, WE'VE REACHED OUT, SENT THEM MAILERS, BUT THE ONLY ADDRESS THAT'S LISTED WITH THOSE IS 30 SOUTH LEONARDI.
SO IF YOU GO TO A PROPERTY CARD AND YOU LOOK AT IT, AND A NAME IS HIGHLIGHTED, IT MEANS THAT THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY OR A SIMILAR NAME.
WE TRIED TO NARROW THAT DOWN TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAD ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH ANOTHER ADDRESS.
WE SENT OUT A COUPLE OF MAILERS.
WE GOT PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE SAYING, "I'M THIS PERSON, BUT THAT'S NOT MY PROPERTY".
SO WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO TRY TO CONTACT MORE PEOPLE.
MR. PETERSON WAS CONTACTED FIVE OUT OF THE EIGHT TIMES THAT I CAN VERIFY.
NOW, SOME OF THESE CASES OCCURRED PRIOR TO MY MANAGING THIS DIVISION.
HE WAS CONTACTED WHILE RL PETERSON, WHO IS ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, WAS ALIVE AND AT THE HOUSE.
WE NEVER HAD CONTACT WITH MR. RL PETERSON.
FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO HAVE CONTACT WITH HIM.
THE HOUSE WAS POSTED, THE MAILINGS WERE CERTIFIED MAIL.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, TEN NOTICES OF VIOLATIONS HAVE TO GO OUT, TEN NOTICES OF HEARINGS HAVE TO GO OUT, TEN NOTICES OF FINES HAVE TO GO OUT, SO THERE'S PROBABLY WITHIN FIVE CASES, THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 220 CERTIFIED MAILINGS INVOLVING THESE CASES.
WE STOP OUR LIENS AT $50,000, SO THAT WE TRY TO GET COMPLIANCE FROM THE HOMEOWNERS BECAUSE OUR INTENT IS NOT TO BE PUNITIVE.
WE WANT TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE GETTING THINGS CLEANED UP, BUT CURRENTLY, THE PROPERTY IS BACKED IN NON-COMPLIANCE.
WHILE MR. PETERSON, I THINK MR. PETERSON DID SELF-ADMIT THAT HE HAD HAD SOME UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS THAT CAUSED HIM TO BE CONFINED FOR A WHILE, WE DID MAKE CONTACT WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE CONTINUING TO RUN HIS BUSINESS AND CONTINUING TO DO THE LOG SPLITTING OPERATION ON THE PROPERTY AND STACKING OF THE WOOD, AND IT JUST, BECAME OVERWHELMING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU BECAUSE THIS BECAME A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE FOR THEM.
I'M NOT HERE TO TRY TO TAKE ANYBODY'S PROPERTY; I'M HERE BECAUSE I AM A VESSEL TO GET COMPLIANCE, AND WHEN FINES AND LIENS DO NOT GET COMPLIANCE, AND NEIGHBORS WANT THEIR PEACE AND QUALITY BACK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING WITHOUT, THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS AN OPTION.
WE WENT TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, AND SHE CONCURRED THAT I BRING IT TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> I'M A LITTLE UNCLEAR AS TO THIS GENTLEMAN'S RELATIONSHIP TO THE PROPERTY.
HE'S NOT ON THE TITLE ANYWHERE.
>> HE'S NOT. HE IS RL PETERSON'S SON.
>> RL PETERSON WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE, BUT HE'S NOT ON THE CURRENT LIST.
>> HE IS NOT. HE IS NOT ON THE CURRENT PROPERTY CARD.
[01:50:04]
>> I MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. MY QUESTION IS.
>> IF I CAN JUST GO BACK TO ONE THING, HIS CONCERN IS THAT RL, HIS FATHER, WAS ON THE PROPERTY CARD, SO HE BELIEVES THAT HE'S A BENEFICIARY OF THAT, BUT HE IS NOT ON THE PROPERTY CARD.
>> IT HADN'T BEEN PROBATED, PROBABLY. I'M ASSUMING.
IF WE APPROVE THIS STEP, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE UNTIL THE HOUSE PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY AUCTIONED? I KNOW IT'S AN ESTIMATE.
>> IT'D BE A COUPLE OF MONTHS, PROBABLY.
WE HAVE TO FILE PLEADINGS, MEANING A COMPLAINT, WE HAVE TO GET A COURT ORDER, AND THEN WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF FORECLOSING AND SELLING THE PROPERTY AT THE COURTHOUSE STEPS.
IT'S NOT DONE THAT WAY ANYMORE; IT'S DONE THROUGH A DIGITAL BIDDING MANIFEST, BUT IT'S FUNCTIONALLY WHAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.
>> EXCUSE ME, BUT THE PROCESS, THE SELLING ON THE COURTHOUSE STEPS, SO TO SPEAK, DOES THE PERSON THAT BUY HAVE TO PAY THE LIENS?
>> WELL, IT'S A MATTER OF THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
WE CAN ALSO PUT IN A BID TO RESERVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LEFT WITH LESS THAN, JUST ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT NOBODY ELSE WOULD BID.
WE'VE DONE THIS VERY RARELY; THE LAST CASE WE DID, I THINK, WAS ON CINCINNATI, AND AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, PROPERTY IN ST. AUGUSTINE DOES SELL AT FAIRLY HIGH AMOUNTS.
THERE'S ONLY $100,000 OF LIEN RIGHT NOW ON THIS.
I THINK THE PROPERTY APPRAISER APPRAISES IT AT 237-240.
THERE'S STILL EQUITY THERE THAT WOULD BE ONCE OUR LIENS ARE PAID OFF, AND ANY OTHER PERSON WHO MAY HAVE A RECORDED LIEN.
RIGHT NOW, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY OTHERS, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS, TO DOUBLE-CHECK IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER LIENS.
BUT ONCE THAT'S DONE, THE REMAINDER GOES BACK TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE LISTED.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE TAKE ALL THE PROFIT, WE JUST TAKE ENOUGH TO PAY OFF WHAT OUR LIEN IS.
>> IF I MAY, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER RUNNING FINE AGAIN.
WE'RE REALLY KIND OF CUTTING INTO THAT FAMILY'S PART OF THIS ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, AND I GUESS I WOULD, BASED ON WHAT YOU DECIDE, I'D LIKE TO GO BACK AND GET WITH THE MAGISTRATE AND TRY TO STOP THAT ONE, TO TRY TO RECOUP AS MUCH FOR THE FAMILY AS POSSIBLE.
I MEAN, THERE ARE TEN MEMBERS.
>> MAYOR, CAN I JUST GO BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION? CUSTOMARILY, WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, THE CITY DOES BID TO COVER ITS LIEN.
WE WOULD SUBMIT A $100,000 BID TO COVER OUR LIEN.
>> I GOT YOU. BASICALLY, BIDS WOULD START AT $100,000.
>> IF ANY OTHER LIEN HOLDERS, LIKE A MORTGAGE OR BACK TAXES, THOSE WOULD ALSO BE LIEN HOLDERS THAT WOULD BID TO COVER THOSE, BUT WE WOULD COVER OURS.
>> WE DON'T KNOW IF TAXES ARE PAID.
>> THE TAXES APPEAR TO BE PAID.
>> AT LEAST LAST YEAR'S AND PRIOR YEARS, AND JUST SURFICIALLY, WE HAVEN'T FOUND A MORTGAGE.
THEORETICALLY, MAYBE WE ARE THE ONLY DEBTOR, SO TO SPEAK, AND THE REST OF THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY COULD GO TO THE HEIRS.
>> COULD I ASK A QUESTION WITH MR. FOX?
>> I'M NOT SURE I HAVE A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS ARE.
IF I CAN TRY TO SUMMARIZE WHAT I THINK I UNDERSTAND.
ONE IS THE TREE CUTTING ON THE PROPERTY, AND THE OTHER IS EQUIPMENT ON THE PROPERTY.
>> HE'S NOT CUTTING TREES FROM THE PROPERTY.
>> CUTTING WOOD THAT'S ALREADY TREE SURFACE.
>> SINGS THE BACK, SPLITS THEM UP. SET.
>> WOOD THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FILLED THESE HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILLED.
THEN CUT UP INTO SMALLER BITS.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS.
>> CODE VIOLATIONS. THE OTHER IS EQUIPMENT ON THE PROPERTY?
>> THE LOG SPLITTING MACHINERY.
THEN THERE'S A TRAVEL TRAILER THAT WE BELIEVE SOMEONE IS LIVING IN.
>> THE TRAVEL TRAILER CAN'T GET OUT UNTIL WE CLEAR OUT THE LOG.
WE'VE TRIED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT ONE TO TRY TO KIND OF WORK THIS THING OUT.
[01:55:05]
BUT THE LOG PILES AND THE DEBRIS PILES GET 8-12, 15 FEET HIGH.>> THAT HELPS A LOT. THANK YOU.
>> BUT THE NEIGHBORS ARE HERE, IF YOU HAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPERIENCED? THEY'RE LIVING.
>> THAT'S I CAN IMAGINE WHAT THAT SOUNDS LIKE.
>> JUST BEFORE WE GET ANY FURTHER, DO YOU MIND IF I ASK THE QUESTION? WE CAN CONTINUE TO DISCUSS.
BUT DOES THE COMMISSION HAVE A DESIRE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE ELSE? OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT WANT TO SPEAK.
DO WE WISH TO DO THAT, OR DO WE WISH TO MAKE THIS DECISION? THERE'S NO OBLIGATION FOR US TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> NO, THIS ISN'T THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OBVIOUSLY, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE HELD WITH THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE.
THIS IS SIMPLY YOU TELLING ME, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS.
BUT OF COURSE, IT'S UP TO THE COMMISSION IF YOU WISH TO HEAR FROM MR. PETERSON AGAIN AND/OR THE NEIGHBORS.
>> JUST TRYING TO DETERMINE WE ARE NOT OBLIGATED, NO, BUT DO WE WISH TO?
>> YOU NEED A MOTION FOR THAT OR JUST AN AGREEMENT?
>> NO, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A FORMAL MOTION, YOU CAN.
ALL I NEED IS DIRECTION FROM MY CLIENT, WHICH IS YOU.
IF THERE'S A CONSENSUS, A UNANIMOUS CONSENSUS, YOU CAN GO WITH THAT.
IF YOU'D RATHER DO A VOICE VOTE, YOU CAN DO WITH THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO DO A'S AND A'S, THAT'S FINE AS WELL.
HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?
>> WE HAVE THROUGH OTHER CASES, WE HAVE WORKED WITH HIM, AND HE HAS GOTTEN IT CLEANED UP.
TO WHERE WE THOUGHT WE COULD GO AHEAD AND JUST CLOSE THE OTHER CASES BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT OF RECENT, IT HAS GOTTEN SOMEWHAT OUT OF UNBEARABLE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE POINT THAT I'VE HAD AT TWO FULL MEETINGS WITH AT LEAST 3-5 NEIGHBORS IN MY CONFERENCE ROOM OVER ASKING, WHAT'S NEXT BECAUSE THEY THEY'RE JUST OVERWHELMED WITH IT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, IF THE TAXES HAVE BEEN UP TO DATE, THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT CARES ABOUT THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE A TAX LIEN WOULD HAVE BEEN CREATED ALREADY, KNOWING THE LAW OF DOWNTOWN.
IF A PERSON BUYS THREE TAX CERTIFICATES, THEY CAN GO TO THE COURTHOUSE AND GET A TAX DATE.
THAT HAS NOT TRANSPIRED, AND YOU INDICATED THAT TAXES WERE UP TO DATE.
SO THERE'S A RECORD WHO PAID THOSE TAXES.
THEY HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT IS LISTED ON HERE BECAUSE NOBODY'S JUST GOING TO BE KIND ENOUGH TO BE PAYING SOMEBODY'S TAXES EVERY YEAR.
SECOND, THE GENTLEMAN INDICATED THAT HE WAS INCARCERATED, AND PERHAPS BECAUSE HE WAS INCARCERATED, HE WAS ENLISTED ON HERE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WAS GOING TO BE IN JAIL OR OUT BECAUSE HE INDICATED WHEN THE PERSON PASSED AWAY.
MY CONCERN IS THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE WENT OUT AND THERE'S $100,000 THAT IS ON THIS, AND THE PURPOSE OF THE LIEN BECAUSE WE KEEP GOING OUT THERE AND WE HAVE TRIED TO STOP THIS BEHAVIOR.
HOWEVER, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD STOP THE MAJESTY FROM KEEP ADDING MORE AND MORE REVENUE BECAUSE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY VALUE AT ALL TO THE HOME.
THESE PEOPLE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WERE ELDERLY TO LOSE THEIR HOUSE BASED ON SOMEBODY CUTTING WOOD.
I MEAN, HE PROBABLY DOES HAVE A BUSINESS, AND SOMEBODY COULD HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WHILE HE WAS INCARCERATED THAT HAS ACCESS TO THAT STUFF.
SHOULD WE ACTUALLY FORECLOSE ON THAT PROPERTY WHEN HE CAME BEFORE US EARLIER AND ASK, COULD HE HAVE A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THIS DEBT? THAT'S MY CONCERN.
>> MAY I ADDRESS THAT CONCERN? WE STOP OUR LIENS AT 50,000 SO THAT WE DON'T DO EXACTLY THAT.
THAT PROPERTY HAS NEVER COME INTO COMPLIANCE.
THEN WE GO BACK WHEN WE GET ANOTHER COMPLAINT.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOES NOT LIKE THAT PROCESS, BUT WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT CONCERN EXACTLY.
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO RUN A MILLION FINES OR LIENS OR RUN FAMILIES OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO BECOME COMPLIANT, AND THEN WE VOLUNTARILY STOP IT.
AS A CITY POLICY, WE STOP IT SO THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING SO FAR INTO A HOUSE THAT WE END UP HAVING TOO MUCH LIEN ON SOMETHING.
THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY SINCE WE STARTED LEANING IT HAS NEVER COME INTO COMPLIANCE,
[02:00:01]
WHETHER HE WAS CONFINED OR NOT, HAS HE HAS ON MANY OCCASIONS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT HE NEEDED TO CLEAN THIS UP, AND HE HAS NOT RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY.I'M UP HERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU, BUT I DON'T LIVE NEXT TO IT.
I'VE GOT PEOPLE HERE WHO DO, AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FEEL THE NATURE OF IT THAT YOU MAYBE ASKED THEM WHAT THEY'VE BEEN LIVING THROUGH IN REFERENCE TO THIS PROPERTY.
DO WE THINK WE CAN MAKE THIS DECISION HERE AT THIS TABLE WITHOUT HEARING INPUT?
>> I DO NOT NEED TO HEAR FROM THE NEIGHBORS.
>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE I NEED TO HEAR INPUT.
>> YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE YOU NEED INPUT.
THAT IS THAT ONE THING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THREE YEARS ON THIS COMMISSION THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, WE NEED TO GIVE TEETH TO COURT ENFORCEMENT.
IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH WHAT WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO, HE HAS BEEN OVERGENEROUS, IN MY OPINION TO STOP IT AT 50,000 TWICE.
IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS. IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS.
I WOULD HAVE MOVED BEFORE EIGHT YEARS. IF I WAS A NEIGHBOR.
>> IT'S A TIGHT KNIT NEIGHBORHOOD, TOO.
>> IT'S A SMALL STREET, AND A SMALL BLOCK, AND THEY ALL KNOW EACH OTHER.
BUSINESS AND IT'S GOT TO BE TOUGH.
>> I ALSO UNDERSTAND MR. PETERSON'S CONCERN, AND HE HAS THE ABILITY TO BUY THE HOUSE AT AUCTION FOR $100,000 OR SO.
WHEN WE PUT IT UP FOR AUCTION AND HIT THAT PAYS THE FINE.
I'M ASSUMING THAT IF HE PAYS THE FINES BETWEEN NOW AND THE AUCTION, OTHER OPTIONS COULD BE TAKEN.
>> YES. I BELIEVE THAT HE CAN COME AT ANY TIME AND PAY OFF THE LIENS, AND THAT WOULD STOP [OVERLAPPING] THE PROCESS I BELIEVE
>> I THINK YOU KNOW, ANYWAY, IF IT OR NOT.
>> THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, YOU HAVE FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR, BUT THESE CODE ENFORCEMENTS ARE ZONING ISSUES, AM I RIGHT? ARE THEY NOISE BECAUSE IT'S A RESIDENTIAL LOT.
>> IT'S OUT OF BOUNDS. THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT IT IS, WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE IN FRONT OF US WHO DOESN'T HAVE CLEAR TITLE TO THE PROPERTY, WHO WANTS THE FORECLOSURE TIME, AND HE'S USING THE PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S BENEFICIAL TO HIM RIGHT NOW.
THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAVE THE LEGAL TITLE HOLDERS AS EXPLAINED BY MR. FOX, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT IF WE PUT THIS ON AUCTION AND WE GET OUR LIEN BACK, AND WE DO NOT GO AHEAD WITH ANOTHER INFRACTION, THERE WOULD BE MORE MONEY LEFT.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY ON THE PROPERTY.
BEING A BELIEVER IN PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, I WOULD PROBABLY SIDE FOR THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER.
THEN THERE'S THE ADDED BENEFIT OF THE CITY ITSELF RECOVERING ITS LIENS, WHICH IS, I THINK, SOMETHING THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS HERE.
I THINK IT'S BEEN MADE CLEAR TO US BY ATTORNEY THAT THERE'S A BENEFIT TO THE CITY TO GET THE MONEY THAT WE'RE OWED.
IN THOSE CASES, I WOULD BE WILLING TO AGREE WITH THE MAGISTRATES.
>> YOU CAN ADD SOMETHING TO THAT.
>> IF I MAY JUST ADD ONE THING, SO FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE, IF THE PROPERTY BECAME NON HOMESTEADED RECENTLY DUE TO THE DEATH OF ARL PETERSON, IF IT WAS HOMESTEADED, THESE LIENS WOULD CARRY FOR 20 YEARS, AND THEN THEY WOULD GO AWAY.
THEY'RE NOT FOREVER. AFTER 20 YEARS, IF THE PROPERTY DOESN'T CHANGE HANDS, IT GOES AWAY.
THERE ARE MANY LIENS THAT WE I WORK WITH WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, WHERE I HAVE TO ENCOURAGE THEM, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, JUST TAKE YOUR TIME.
YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DON'T ARBITRARILY JUST GO OUT AND DO THIS.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.
>> I THINK I HEAR A SENTIMENT FOR CONTINUING WITH THE FORECLOSURE ON THE PROPERTY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT OR AT LEAST A SUGGESTION THAT THE THIRD CASE WOULD BE HALTED.
WE CAN STOP IT IF THAT IS THE COMMISSION'S WISH.
ON FEBRUARY 4, I'LL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, AND I CAN REQUEST THAT THE FINE BE STOPPED DUE TO THE PENDING PROCESS.
BECAUSE EITHER WAY, I EITHER RUN IT TO 50,000 OR I HAVE TO ABATE IT,
[02:05:03]
AND IT BECOMES ANOTHER 50 IT'S JUST BETTER TO JUST STOP IT IF THAT'S-UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY, I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A STAB AT THIS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE THE CITY ATTORNEY THE NOD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FORECLOSURE OF THE PROPERTY AND AT THE SAME TIME, CURTAIL BEGIN THE PROCESS TO CURTAIL THE THIRD FINE VIOLATION.
>> I WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT ON FEBRUARY 4.
>> DOES THAT SOUND OKAY? ANY ONE?
>> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH THE FORECLOSURE.
I HAVE A NEIGHBOR MYSELF WHO HAS MULTIPLE LIENS ON HIS PROPERTY AND SHOWS NO REMORSE.
YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT.
>> MR. FOX. CONTINUES TO ACCRUE MORE LIENS ON HIS PROPERTY BECAUSE HE CONTINUES TO DIG DEEPER INTO DOING THE HARMFUL ACTIVITIES ON HIS PROPERTY THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I AM SYMPATHETIC TO THE GENTLEMAN HERE, MR. PETERSON.
I FEEL LIKE I JUST WISH THERE WERE SOME COMPROMISE WHERE WE COULD GIVE HIM A FEW MORE MONTHS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FORECLOSURE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO KNOW THE PAIN OF BEING A NEIGHBOR OF SOMEBODY WHO IS VIOLATING OUR CODE FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARRIS.
>> NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO FORWARD.
>> NO MORE. I'LL JUST SAY THAT IT'S DEEPLY REGRETTABLE TO ME AS WELL.
I NEVER LIKE TO SEE THIS CIRCUMSTANCE.
BUT IT'S BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME.
AT SOME POINT, ENOUGH HAS TO BE ENOUGH.
THE LOGS, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS IF THIS IS GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, ANYTHING RIGHT AWAY, BUT I DO HOPE THAT WE GET TO THE SOLUTION OF CLEANING UP THE LOT.
THAT'S WHAT THE NEIGHBORS WANT.
THEY JUST WANT THE PEACE AND QUIET AND THE CLEAN THING.
WITH THAT SAID, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
SOMETIMES THESE DECISIONS ARE REALLY HARD.
LET'S GET BACK TO THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
>> MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
YOU HAVE THE RATHER LENGTHY MULTI PAGE SPREADSHEET OF THE BILLS WE ARE TRACKING IN MY OFFICE.
AS YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE FOREFRONT BILLS ARE THOSE REGARDING PROPERTY SO CALLED PROPERTY TAX REFORM.
OBVIOUSLY, EVERYTHING WOULD FLOW FROM THAT.
I'VE BEEN I'M JUST SENDING YOU UPDATES INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A GROUP WITH NO REPLY ALL, JUST TO KEEP YOU APPRISED OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
THERE ARE ALSO AS ALMOST EVERY YEAR, MORE GROWTH MANAGEMENT OR PLANNING TYPE BILLS THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC FOR US, ESPECIALLY HAVING TO DO WITH HOW WE DEAL WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND THERE ARE OTHER FINANCIAL BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE LESS IMPACT THAN THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM, BUT STILL HAVE SOME IMPACT SUCH AS REMOVING OUR ABILITY TO HAVE BUSINESS TAXES, WHICH IS I THINK MS. BRIDENSTINE TOLD ME IT WAS ABOUT 100 OR 100 AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLAR.
[02:10:03]
OBVIOUSLY NOT THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR IMPACT OF AD VALOREM TAXES BEING REMOVED FROM OUR AUTHORITY, BUT STILL THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER SUCH BILLS, RESTRICTING OUR ABILITY TO TAP INTO UTILITY FUNDS AND DO TRANSFERS FROM UTILITY FUNDS.THERE'S OTHER THINGS GOING ON THAN PROPERTY TAX REFORM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.
WHETHER TONIGHT OR IN FUTURE DAYS, IF YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR BILL THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN OR WANT MORE INFORMATION, JUST LET ME KNOW.
JUST GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK.
>> WE'RE PREPARING TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE IN TWO WEEKS.
>> THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK. FOURTH AND FIFTH.
I'VE BEEN STUDYING, GETTING READY FOR THIS, AND I'VE READ ALL OF THESE.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THE BILLS THAT WOULD INCLUDE ANY OTHER TAX INCREASE THAT WE WOULD BE THE BENEFICIAL OF TO REPLACE THOSE TAXES.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC AND SAY THAT OUT LOUD BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING I'M GOING TO BE TALKING WITH PEOPLE ABOUT IN TALLAHASSEE SAID, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO REPLACE IT WITH? ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO REDUCE OUR BUDGET WITH PERSONNEL IN PARTICULAR AREAS.
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. WELL, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ITEMS SPECIFICITY CLERK.
[12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK]
MADAM VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I HAVE TWO QUICK ITEMS TONIGHT.
MY FIRST ONE IS JUST A NOTIFICATION OF ONE UPCOMING TERM EXPIRATION ON OUR CORD OR REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THIS TERM IS HELD CURRENTLY BY MR. MICHAEL BLAKE.
HE JUST FILLED A VACANCY, SO HE IS ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR TWO FULL TERMS, SO WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO HIM AND ADVERTISING FOR THIS POSITION.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THAT.
MY SECOND IS A NOTIFICATION OF TWO UPCOMING TERM EXPIRATIONS ON OUR HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD.
THESE TERMS ARE CURRENTLY HELD BY MR. PAUL WEAVER AND MR. RANDALL ROCK.
MR. ROCK'S POSITION IS AN ALTERNATE, AND HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT, BUT MR. WEAVER HAS SERVED TWO FULL CURRENT TERMS. HE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
>> WE WILL BE ADVERTISING FOR THAT.
ANYBODY THAT'S QUALIFIED SEND HIM MY WAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS BY CITY MANAGER.
[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER ]
>> THE CITY WILL BE MOVING FIRM AND FAITHFUL, OUR SENTINEL LIONS AT THE BRIDGE OF LIONS TOMORROW NIGHT, LATE STARTING AROUND 11:00 PM.
THE BRIDGE OF LIONS WILL BE CLOSED SHORTLY JUST FOR THE MOVEMENT OF OUR LIONS.
AND IT WILL BE VERY COLD, STARTING RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WILL, ITS SIDE, TEMPERATURE IS DROPPING, AND A TEMPORARY SHELTER IS OPENING AT THE PUMPKIN CHURCH, THE METHODIST CHURCH AT THE CORNER OF KING AND RIBERIA STREET. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING THAT SHOUT OUT BECAUSE I DID HEAR A REPORT AT THE COUNCIL CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD AS MANY PEOPLE IN THE COLD NIGHT SHELTERS, AND THEY WERE WORRIED THAT WE WEREN'T GETTING THE WORD OUT ENOUGH.
WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE AND ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
I'VE BEEN SHARING IT ONLINE, TOO, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SHOUT OUT.
ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ]
COMMISSIONER GARRIS, WHAT YOU GOT FOR US? WE JUST CAN'T WAIT.>> FIRST OF ALL, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT BROWNIE'S PROJECT WENT THROUGH SECOND READING SO THAT WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO ADDRESSING OUR PARKING PROBLEMS. I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE STAFF, TO EVERYBODY, OUR ATTORNEY, EVERYBODY THAT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE NUMBERS AND EVERYTHING TOGETHER ON THAT FROM MEREDITH, DAVID, RUBIN, EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED.
ALSO, I WANT TO THANK NANCY MURPHY AND ROBIN THOMAS FOR COMING IN AND SPEAKING ABOUT COMPASSION AT ST. AUGUSTINE.
IT ALWAYS SETS THE TONE OF THE MEETING SINCE WE ELIMINATED PRAYER.
IT ALWAYS SETS THE TONE TO BE PEACEFUL.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO MOVE FORWARD.
THESE HORSE PEOPLE KEEP COMING IN HERE WITH A STORY EVERY MEETING.
[02:15:03]
IT'S GETTING A LITTLE TIRESOME, BUT I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT.I JUST HOPE THAT WE'RE STAYING UP TO PAR ON THE RECORDS AND EVERYTHING SO THAT WE DON'T GET A BLACK EYE DOWN THE LINE FOR WHAT THEY CLAIM IS HAPPENING.
I WANT TO THANK SCOTT YORK FOR COMING UP AND VERIFYING THAT THE HORSE IS EIGHT YEARS VERSUS 25-YEARS-OLD.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
WHAT ELSE? I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE MOVE GREAT FORWARD ON THE PRESERVATION, CHANGING THE FINDINGS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE LAND USE ONLY.
THANK YOU. WE MIGHT ACTUALLY GET OUT OF HERE BY 8:00. [LAUGHTER]
>> OH, GOODNESS. [LAUGHTER] YEAH.
I'M GOING TO TAKE UP COMMISSIONER DEPRETER'S SPACE A LITTLE BIT.
I'LL BE QUICK ABOUT IT, THOUGH.
I HELD MY COMMENTS FROM OUR LAST MEETING BECAUSE WE WENT SO LATE.
I'VE GOT A FEW TO CATCH UP ON.
THE FIRST IS THAT I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT HORSE TREATMENT AND HORSE STABLES, IN PARTICULAR.
WHAT THAT BROUGHT TO MIND IS THAT THEY'RE HORSE STABLES, AND THEY'RE OWNED BY THE CITY, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE BEST USE FOR THAT PROPERTY.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE IDEA OF CONSIDERING SOME ALTERNATIVE USES FOR THAT PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY IF THE HORSE STABLES ARE NOT IMPROVED ON THE TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE COMMUNICATED.
SECONDLY, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ABOUT THIS, MS. LOPEZ, BUT THE COMMERCIAL HOLIDAY FIGURINE BLOW UP THINGS THAT I GOT MY BACKUP ON LAST YEAR AND BROUGHT TO BEAR TO THIS COMMISSION THAT I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE AND OTHERS, THAT THESE ARE REALLY WHAT THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WAS INITIALLY INTENDED TO BE.
IT'D BE NICE IF WE COULD ENCODE SOME STANDARDS ON THAT.
MAYBE THAT IS PART OF A HOLIDAY LIGHTING ORDINANCE INSIDE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
>> IT'S ALREADY IN THERE. WE'RE NOT ENFORCING IT. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> LET'S ENFORCE IT. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S QUICK AND EASY. I HOPE.
>> IT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
TECHNICALLY, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OUR CODE, IT SPEAKS TO INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN THE HP DISTRICT ARE LIMITED TO THOSE LITTLE WHITE LIGHTS.
THE BLOW UPS ARE ALLOWED ON RESIDENTIAL USE PROPERTIES.
I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE'VE BEEN NOT HARD, GENTLE ON THE ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND AMERICAN CULTURE IS REALLY BIG ON SNOWMAN AND FROSTY AND ALL OF THAT.
>> THE GRINCH AND ALL OF THESE.
IT'S PART OF OUR, I GUESS, AMERICAN CULTURAL LEXICON OF CHRISTMAS.
BUT TECHNICALLY, YES, IN OUR CODE IN TERMS OF COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES, THEY ARE LIMITED TO THE LITTLE WHITE LIGHTS.
>> THEN THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY.
IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM IN CHARACTER WITH OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND IT'S GOTTEN OUT OF HAND ON THE BAYFRONT, IN FACT, BOY, IT GOT PRETTY CRAZY.
WITH A BLOW UP ARCH AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
I HOPE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A VENDORS ORDINANCE.
THE PHOTO BOOTH IN THE PLAZA AND CITY HALL, JUST TRANSPARENT PANEL TRUCKS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US EXPLORE OUR OPTIONS ON SOME VENDORS ORDINANCE THAT WE DID SOME THINGS THIS YEAR.
WE IMPLEMENTED THEM THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF MOVING THEM OFF OF SIDEWALKS AND SO THAT WE COULD GET PEDESTRIANS INTO SAFETY.
I THINK THERE'S MORE WE CAN DO.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THAT WE ARE GETTING AN AFTER ACTION REPORT IN FEBRUARY.
IS THAT THE FIRST OR SECOND MEETING?
>> THAT'S FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THAT,
[02:20:01]
OPTIONS FOR FORMALIZING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS DATES MOVING FORWARD AND GET THAT INTO CITY CODE SO THAT WE CAN AVOID GOING BACK AND FORTH ON DATES EVERY SINGLE YEAR.WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME GOING BACK AND FORTH ON DATES, WHETHER I WIN OR LOSE ON THIS ISSUE, WE SHOULD ENCODE IT AND CLARIFY IT, AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
>> WE HAVE BOOK ENDS WITH WHICH CUSTOMARILY YOU PASS A RESOLUTION SAYING, WITHIN THESE TWO DATES, THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WILL OCCUR.
BUT THIS YEAR, YOU SAID IT WILL START ON THIS DAY AND START ON THAT DAY AND IT DIDN'T END THE DEBATE BECAUSE THE CODE SAYS IT CAN END THE SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. I DIDN'T SAY IT VERY WELL, SO I APPRECIATE YOU HELPING TO EXPLAIN THAT.
>> YOU WANT IT CODIFIED AS OPPOSED TO A RESOLUTION BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE BOOKEND IN ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE A STANDING RESOLUTION THAT SETS THE DATES.
>> I WANTED CODIFIED, NOT A RESOLUTION.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY. THANK YOU.
>> I AGREE. I DO HAVE A LONG LIST, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME PLENTY OF TIME.
I WANT TO THANK RICKY FERNANDEZ AND THE STUDENT COUNCIL OF ST.
JOE FOR INVITING ME AND THE POLICE CHIEF TO COME SPEAK TODAY.
HE DID A VERY GOOD JOB, BY THE WAY.
WE SPOKE TO THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY.
I THINK IT'S NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL WEEK AND THEY'RE CELEBRATING THEIR COMMUNITY.
TOMORROW'S JEANS DAY, SO THEY GET TO WEAR JEANS. THAT'S GREAT.
THE LIONS BEING MOVED HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING BECAUSE THERE'S SIGNS ON US 1 THAT SAY BRIDGE OF LIONS CLOSING 26TH, 27TH, WHATEVER, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE WERE TIMES.
I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN SOME EMAILS SAY, OH, YOU'RE CLOSING BOTH BRIDGES AT THE SAME TIME.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE BRIDGES ARE GOING TO BE CLOSED ONLY LATE AT NIGHT.
WE DO NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HORSES, AND I THINK WE WERE ON THE SCHEDULE TO HAVE THAT DONE IN MARCH, MAYBE.
>> YES. WE WERE GOING TO BRING THAT UP WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT UPDATING OUR FRANCHISE AND VEHICLE FOR HIRE ORDINANCES.
I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING TO HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS DEBATE ONGOING.
IF YOU WANT US TO ACCELERATE THAT VEHICLE FOR HIRE AND FRANCHISE UPDATE, WE CAN, WE JUST NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE CAME TO YOU, ALL OF THE FRANCHISE HOLDERS WE HAD COMMUNICATED WITH WITH OUR PROPOSED CHANGES, SO EVERYONE WAS CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO BRING TO YOU, AND THAT DOES TAKE SOME TIME.
>> NO. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN HAVING IT BEING A SOONER IN YOUR PLANNING.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WE ARE ON SCHEDULE.
WE WERE BEING ACCUSED TODAY OF IGNORING IT, AND WE'RE NOT IGNORING IT AT ALL. IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
THERE'S A LOT OF BACKSTORY, THERE'S CONTRACTS, THERE'S MEDALLIONS, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE'S BUSINESSES, AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY SENSITIVE TO WHAT WE DO.
[NOISE] I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT IGNORING THIS AT ALL, AND I ACTUALLY APPRECIATE THEM COMING EVERY MEETING.
IT TAKES A LOT OF THEIR TIME AND THEIR FACT GATHERING, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF OUR CLERKS' TIME FOR WHAT THEY DO, BUT THAT'S THE WAY GOVERNMENT WORKS, AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING.
I AGAIN WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE STABLES, THAT IT WAS MY SUGGESTION WHEN I DID MY SLIDE SHOW THAT WE TURNED THAT INTO A TRANSFER STATION.
I'M STILL SAYING THAT I THINK THAT'S THE BEST USE FOR THAT.
THAT WE TAKE IT BACK OVER, WE RUN IT.
IT MAY BE AN EXPENSE, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE HORSES, WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT.
IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT RIGHT, WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE HORSES. THANK YOU.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONGOING CONVERSATION ABOUT HORSES AND THEIR SAFETY, AND, FRANKLY, I'M HEARING SOME THINGS THAT CONCERN ME.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
PARTICULARLY OF HEARING A HORSE FALLING, I DID NOT HEAR ABOUT THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON THE DERALK SIGNS.
I KNOW THAT A WHILE BACK, I ASKED FOR A SURVEY ON DERALK SIGNS AND SOME CODE ENFORCEMENT ON DERALK SIGNS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
I THINK SINCE THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT IT, THERE'S MORE TO HAVE COME. THEY PROPAGATED.
>> IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE. YES.
>> YES. WE HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESSES.
[02:25:03]
THIS WAS IN THE MINUTES THAT WE APPROVED TONIGHT FROM OUR OTHER MEETING.I WOULD LIKE TO DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP ON A REPORT ON SOME PLATFORM OR PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATER AT THE END OF FLAGLER BOULEVARD, WHETHER IT'S A CANOE LAUNCH OR SOMETHING.
I'D LIKE YOU TO COME BACK AND PLEASE SCHEDULE THAT FOR US, SOME PRESENTATION OR SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LOSING ACCESS TO THE WATER THERE WHEN WE DO THE SEAWALL ON INLET DRIVE, BUT IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE A BARRIER AND PROBABLY NOT THE SAFEST PLACE TO TRY TO ACCESS SALT RUN.
I REALLY JUST HATE LOSING THAT ACCESS.
I JUST REALLY HATE SEEING THAT HAPPEN.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE MOVED, WE LOVE THE IDEA OF LIVING WHERE WE LIVE RIGHT AT THE END OF OUR STREET, IS THAT PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATER.
ALL OF OUR KIDS GREW UP GOING DOWN TO THE WATER.
YES, THEY ALL HAVE CUTS FROM THE OYSTERS AND SLIPPING IN FOLD.
LET'S NOT GET INTO THAT, BUT IT IS QUITE A MESS DOWN THERE.
BUT I REALLY HATE LOSING THAT ACCESS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MITIGATE THAT.
I DON'T MEAN IT TO BE PART OF THE SEA WALL PROJECT.
>> NO. I THINK WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO A FIRM THAT WE HAVE UNDER CONTINUING SERVICES CONTRACT TO SEE WHETHER THEY WOULD SHOW US SOME DESIGNS FOR A KAYAK LAUNCH AT THE END OF FLAGLER BOULEVARD.
I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THEM TO SEE WHETHER THEY'RE READY FOR A PRESENTATION.
>> FOR PRIME TIME. GREAT. BECAUSE, YES.
I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER AND THE UPDATES ON THE ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE WAITING TO GET A PRICE ON THE CONSTRUCTION.
I'D LIKE TO BRING THAT OUT WHEN IT COMES.
THEN THE OTHER THINGS ARE JUST FYIS.
THE DE AVILES AWARD IS ON FEBRUARY 9TH AT 4:30.
PLEASE MAKE A NOTE. IT WAS NOT IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT WAS JUST A SMALL OVERSIGHT.
THAT WILL BE FOR GORDY WILSON ON FEBRUARY 9TH AT 4:30.
I WANT TO BE SURE EVERYBODY HAS THAT ON THERE. IT'S ON THE CALENDAR.
[OVERLAPPING] EXCUSE ME. SHE DID.
ST. JOHN'S COUNTY DAY IS FEBRUARY 5TH AND 6TH.
WE'RE ALL EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THAT. I CERTAINLY AM.
I DON'T ALWAYS LOVE GOING TO TALLAHASSEE, BUT IT CERTAINLY IS ALWAYS INTERESTING.
>> [INAUDIBLE] FOURTH AND FIFTH.
>> I HAVE 4TH AND 5TH AND RETURN ON THE 6TH.
>> FOURTH AND FIFTH. LET'S SEE.
WE WILL BE TRAVELING TO PARTICIPATE WITH ST. JOHN'S COUNTY DAY, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING.
ALSO, I'LL JUST SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF FUN LAST NIGHT.
WE WERE ALL INVITED TO GO TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT NIGHT, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE NIGHT AT THE ICEMEN HOCKEY GAME IN JACKSONVILLE.
BOY, WAS IT FUN? I GOT TO DROP THE PUCK, AND WE BOUGHT OUR FAMILIES.
WE SAW THE POLICE CHIEF, MARSTON WAS THERE.
IT WAS REALLY NICE. IT WAS REALLY A LOVELY EVENT.
IT WAS VERY FUN, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
WE CAN GET MORE PARTICIPATION.
I'M JUST GIVING YOU A HEADS UP.
YOU WILL BE ASKED TO ATTEND. IT WAS REALLY FUN.
I'M PLANNING ON DOING THE STAR WARS NIGHT, WHICH IS COMING UP.
TO ME, THAT SOUNDS REALLY INTERESTING.
THEY HAVE THEMES, BUT THE GAME WAS REALLY, VERY EXCITING.
THEY WENT INTO OVERTIME AND THERE WAS A SHOOTOUT AT THE END.
>> MAYBE YOU CAN GET OUR ATTORNEY TO GO SINCE SHE LOVES. THAT'S RIGHT.
SHE'S STAR WARS. ARE YOU STAR TREK?
>> [LAUGHTER] WITH THAT, ON A VERY UP NOTE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD EVENING. WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.