Apr 27, 2026 City Commission

COMMISSIONERS, ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA? NO.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS THE AGENDA.

YOU HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

SO WE HAVE THREE THINGS TONIGHT

[3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS]

TO GET US STARTED.

WONDERFUL NIGHT AHEAD OF US.

WE'VE GOT THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2026 CITY COMMISSION CITIZENSHIP AWARDS AND I AM GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

WE DO HAVE DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THEM TONIGHT.

IT'S BEEN A 25-YEAR TRADITION THAT THE CITY COMMISSION GIVES OUT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

BUT AS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS GROWN, WE GREW TO NINE HIGH SCHOOLS, PUBLIC, SEVERAL PRIVATE.

ALONG WITH THE STAFF'S HELP, WE REDUCED IT DOWN TO ONLY THOSE STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND DO REMARKABLE WORK IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

AND SO TONIGHT WE HAVE TWO CITIZENS THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE.

THEY'RE BOTH SENIORS AT ST. AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL, GRETA MILLARD.

AND AMELIA DRYSDALE.

THESE STUDENTS EXEMPLIFY THE SPIRIT OF CITIZENSHIP THROUGH LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND DEDICATION.

THESE STUDENTS ARE ALL, LIKE I SAID, ST. AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL YELLOW JACKETS.

THEY HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES THROUGH MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PROGRAMS, EVENTS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS HONOR, THE STUDENTS MUST BE GRADUATING SENIORS, RECOGNIZED FOR STRONG CHARACTER, OR INDIVIDUALS OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AGE WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED A DEEP COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

ADDITIONALLY, THEY MUST EITHER RESIDE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE OR HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND PEOPLE OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

THIS EVENING, THE CITY COMMISSION IS HONORED TO PRESENT EACH STUDENT WITH A CITY LAPEL PIN, RECOGNITION PLAQUE, A CERTIFICATE FOR THEIR PARENT, AND A $500 AWARD IN APPRECIATION FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK THAT ONE BY ONE THEY COME UP, THE COMMISSIONERS WILL BE UP, THE MAYOR WILL BE NEXT TO ME HELPING TO GIVE OUT AWARDS.

SO IF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS COME UP WITH THE MAYOR NEXT TO ME, I'VE GONE OVER THE...

PROCEDURES WITH AMELIA AND GRETA BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE STUDENT COME UP AT A TIME TAKE PHOTOS AND THEN WE ASK THAT THE FAMILIES AND THE STUDENTS GO OUTSIDE INTO THE COURTYARD AND HAVE A PICTURE TAKEN FOR OUR HISTORIC RECORDS AND FOR US TO SHARE SO NOW THE CITIZENSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS GRETA BALLARD.

GRETA, WOULD YOU COME UP?

[00:05:09]

AND GRETA, IF YOU'LL STAND UP HERE IN FRONT JUST A SECOND SO I CAN TELL EVERYBODY ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU'VE DONE.

GRETA IS ENTHUSIASTICALLY INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, THE INTERACT CLUB, THE LINK CREW, AND THE PSYCHOLOGY CLUB.

GRETA DEMONSTRATES EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AS THE CAPTAIN OF THE GIRLS LACROSSE TEAM, LEADING BY EXAMPLE, PROMOTING TEAMWORK, AND ENCOURAGING A POSITIVE AND INCLUSIVE TEAM CULTURE.

OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, HER COMMUNITY, GRETA SERVES AS A YOUTH ELDER AT THE MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND HAS COMPLETED 277 VOLUNTEER HOURS THROUGHOUT THE ST. AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY WITH A VARIETY OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

GRETA HAS SHOWN DEDICATION, RESPONSIBILITY, INCREDIBLE TIME MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP, CREATING AN IMPACT THROUGHOUT HER SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.

AFTER GRADUATION, SHE WILL ATTEND EMBRY-RIDDLE NAUTICAL UNIVERSITY TO STUDY AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AND SPANISH.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR GRETA.

AND IF HER FAMILY WOULD COME UP.

AND CAN WE HEAR IT FOR MOM, TOO? I MEAN, ALL RIGHT.

YEAH.

AMELIA, CAN I HAVE YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE? AMELIA DRYSDALE.

AMELIA IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

SHE FOUNDED THE SCHOOLS GARDENING CLUB AND PLAYS ON THE VARSITY SOFTBALL TEAM.

DEMONSTRATING AN EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO SERVICE, AMELIA HAS ACCUMULATED OVER 219 VOLUNTEER HOURS PARTICIPATING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, LOCAL FOOD DRIVES, AND OTHER SERVICE-BASED PROGRAMS, SHOWING HER COMMITMENT TO HER COMMUNITY.

IN ADDITION TO HER MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS, AMELIA ALSO PARTICIPATES IN MARINE CORPS TRAINING, WHICH SPEAKS OF HER DISCIPLINE, RESILIENCE, AND WILLINGNESS TO CHALLENGE HERSELF.

AMELIA IS DESCRIBED AS A LEADER, RELIABLE, DETERMINED, CARRIES HERSELF WITH INTEGRITY, AND MAKES A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE WHEREVER SHE GOES.

AMELIA HOPES TO PURSUE A CAREER IN TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY SYSTEMS WITH EITHER THE U.S.

COAST GUARD ACADEMY OR FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

IF WE COULD HAVE HER FAMILY COME UP, PLEASE.

MOM, WE GOT A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU.

CAN WE HEAR IT FOR THE FAMILY, FOR AMELIA? THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON,

[00:10:01]

EVERYONE.

I'M GOING TO READ OUR PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS CONSISTENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE VITAL ROLE OF MILITARY CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AND WHEREAS THESE RESILIENT YOUNG INDIVIDUALS DEMONSTRATE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, ADAPTABILITY, AND COURAGE IN THE FACE OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES, AND WHEREAS MILITARY CHILDREN CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF OUR MILITARY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THEIR SACRIFICES OFTEN GO UNNOTICED, YET THEY PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE ARMY'S MISSION.

AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF MILITARY CHILD PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, HONOR THEIR PAST, CHERISH THE PRESENT, AND SHAPE A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

NOW, WHEREAS THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL 2026 AS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND ENCOURAGES CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MILITARY CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND WE COMMIT TO PROVIDING THEM WITH QUALITY CARE AND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND TO OBSERVE THE MONTH WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS CEREMONIES AND ACTIVITIES SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE.

IF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE FROM THE MILITARY CHILD COULD COME FORWARD.

AND THE COMMISSION.

JUST LORNA AND INEZ MCDONALD, IS SHE HERE? YES. MISS INEZ WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD I'D LIKE TO READ A RECOGNITION FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS WHOEVER YOU BROUGHT YOU'RE WELCOME TO ALL COME FORWARD BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYONE INVOLVED COME ON UP.

THERE WE GO.

YOU READY FOR THIS? GOOD.

GOOD.

WE WANT TO SHOW THEM OFF, THIS WHOLE FAMILY AFFAIR.

WHEREAS, MS. INEZ J. MCDONALD.

NOW 101 YEARS OLD, HAS DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY GENEROSITY, COMPASSION, AND CIVIC SPIRIT IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

WHEREAS SINCE MAKING ST.

AUGUSTINE HER HOME 37 YEARS AGO, MS. MCDONALD HAS EMBRACED THIS COMMUNITY WITH DEEP AFFECTION AND A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

WHEREAS, MS. MCDONALD

[00:15:01]

BEGAN HER SIGNIFICANT CHARITABLE GIVING IN 2008 WITH THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AND IN 2009, ESTABLISHING MATCHING GIFTS OF $10,000 TO ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND THE ST. FRANCIS HOUSE.

WHEREAS, SINCE 2020, MS. MCDONALD HAS ANNUALLY DONATED $100,000 TO IMPORTANT LOCAL PROJECTS.

REFLECTING HER BELIEF IN ADDRESSING A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY NEEDS.

WHEREAS HER GENEROSITY HAS SUPPORTED THE RESTORATION OF THE TIFFANY STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AT THE LEITNER MUSEUM, THE RENOVATION OF THE KITCHEN WHERE MEALS AND WHEELS ARE PREPARED AT THE COUNCIL ON AGING, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, THE WEST AUGUSTINE HISTORICAL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER, LIMELIGHT THEATER, AND YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS.

AND THE INSTRUCTION ROOM AT THE ST. AUGUSTINE YACHT CLUB SAILING CENTER.

WHEREAS, IN ADDITION TO HER FINANCIAL GENEROSITY, MS. MCDONALD HAS GIVEN OF HER TIME AND TALENT BY KNITTING SHAWLS WITH THE CREATIVE CRAFTERS FOR DONATION THROUGH THE ANASTASIA CATHOLIC CHURCH TO COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING.

WHEREAS, MS. MCDONALD'S PHILANTHROPY HAS ENRICHED THE ARTS, STRENGTHENED SOCIAL SERVICES, EXPANDED HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, SUPPORTED HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ENCOURAGED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND UPLIFTED THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGHOUT ST. AUGUSTINE.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE CITIZENS OF ST. AUGUSTINE, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MS. INEZ J. MCDONALD FOR HER REMARKABLE GENEROSITY, ENDURING SPIRIT, AND PROFOUND LOVE.

FOR THIS COMMUNITY, WE EXTEND TO HER OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION, SIGNED BY MYSELF.

AND I'M ALMOST IN TEARS.

THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, M'LADY.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

LIKE I ALWAYS SAID, IT'S THE DEEDS, NOT THE WORDS.

SO THANK YOU.

CAN WE GET A PICTURE WITH YOU THEN? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT RARELY DO WE EVER GET TO MEET AN INDIVIDUAL WITH SO MUCH HEART AND PASSION FOR A COMMUNITY AND SO MUCH GENEROSITY.

IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO MEET YOU AND STAND WITH YOU TONIGHT.

MISS ANNE, THERE YOU ARE.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

OUR POET LORIA IS WITH US THIS AFTERNOON AND SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US A SPECIAL TREAT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HER SPEAK FROM THE PODIUM WITH THIS MICROPHONE RATHER THAN THAT PODIUM, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WONDERFUL.

[00:20:02]

WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS REAL HONOR OF BEING WITH YOU AGAIN THIS MONTH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

WE'RE A WEE BIT BEHIND WITH WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, BUT LET'S GO WITH IT, OKAY? AND WE'LL DO THAT POEM.

ALL RIGHTY? AS ALWAYS, THERE ARE A FEW WORDS THAT I HAVE TO EXPLAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE HISTORICAL OR MAYBE ANOTHER LANGUAGE, SO YOU REALLY GET THE GIST OF THIS.

ONE IS POR EJEMPLO, FOR EXAMPLE.

WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, YOU'LL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

YOU'LL ALSO HEAR FLORIDANAS, AND THAT REFERS TO THE DESCENDANTS OF THE FIRST SPANISH SETTLERS HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

THE WOMEN, AND YOU WILL HEAR MENORQUINES, WHICH IS THE MENORCAN SETTLERS, WOMEN.

YOU WILL ALSO HEAR A LOCAL NAME THAT WE HAVE LOST THE ORIGINAL PRONUNCIATION FOR.

IT'S ANDREU, WHICH WE CALL OUR DEAR DARIAN ANDREW.

SO THAT'S WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN I COME THERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S IT.

AND THIS IS CALLED YOU AMONG FLORIDANAS AND MENORQUINES.

WHO DO I TURN MY BACK TO? THIS IS TERRIBLE.

SORRY.

NETTIE RUTH BROWN WOULD HAVE A CHAT WITH ME AFTER THIS, RIGHT? THOSE WHO REMEMBER HER.

ONLY PEOPLE LIKE MOVIE STARS DO THAT.

MY ATTORNEY SAID IN 1978, WHEN I SAW THE RETURN OF MY FAMILY NAME, AFTER MY DIVORCE SURE IT WAS MY FATHER'S NAME AND IT MADE ME SOUND WHITE BREAD AND GENERATIONS OF MY MOTHER'S NAME HAD BEEN LOST FOR CENTURIES BUT IT WAS MY HIGH SCHOOL NAME AND THE NAME ON MY FIRST DEGREES MY ASSIMILATED SISTER WOMEN SHOOK THEIR HEADS AT ME AND AGREED WITH MY ATTORNEY.

IT WAS LIKE THEY'D FORGOTTEN THEIR SPANISH HERITAGE.

WHEN A HUSBAND'S NAME WAS TACKED ON WITH A Y AND THEIRS NOT ERASED.

FOR EJEMPLO, ANA SANCHEZ E.

BROWNING, MY NINTH GREAT-GRANDMOTHER.

SOMETIMES USED HER MOTHER'S NAME, ALVAREZ, INSTEAD OF HER RECENT TO ST. AUGUSTINE HUSBAND BECAUSE IT WAS BETTER KNOWN AND HAD MORE CACHET IN OUR GARRISON TOWN.

SHE KNEW SHE COULD DO THIS BECAUSE HER MOTHER HAD SOMETIMES BYPASSED ALVAREZ TO USE HER MOTHER'S OLDER NAME, GONZALEZ.

SO, LIVE ANOTHER 40 YEARS PAST 1978 AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH SOME WHO PREVIOUSLY ABANDONED A SPANISH NAME FOR MRS. MY MOTHER'S CHECKBOOK QUIETLY ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WAS SURELY SANCHEZ BROWNING.

THE ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD TOLD US THAT SALLY REYES WALTON AND ALMARIE PONCE COOLEY HAD KEPT AND PASSED WITH THEIR NAMES.

SOME NOW KEEP THE OLD NAMES FROM THE GET-GO.

ANGELA PASSETTI ORTEGAS SAXON.

LEE, POMER, CRAIG, DARIAN, ANDREU, AND SOME WOMEN OUR MENORCAN FAMILY LOVED OVER TIME INTO MENORCANHOOD WITHOUT BLOOD OR MARRIAGE, LIKE SANDY, PASETTI, KLAN, STRATTON.

THEY WEREN'T MOVIE STARS.

[00:25:03]

IT WAS HOW FLORIDANAS AND MENORQUINAS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT WOMEN, CALLING THEM AFTER THEIR FATHERS AND MOTHERS, KEEPING THEIR NAMES, KEEPING THEM WHOLE.

THAT WAS OUR VERY OWN DR.

ANNE BROWNING MASTERS, WHO IS THE OFFICIAL CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE POET LAUREATE, AND IT'S ALWAYS A JOY TO HEAR FROM HER AND HER STORIES.

WE ALWAYS LEARN SO MUCH.

WITH THAT SAID, WE'LL MOVE ON

[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]

TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

I HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKER CARDS AND A STATEMENT TO READ.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS.

NO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE COMMISSION WITH PERSONAL, IMPROPER, OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR.

MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY CLAPPING OR DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS.

FINALLY, I WOULD ASK THAT ANY SPEAKER WHO USES THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR TO PLEASE SUBMIT THOSE ITEMS TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.

THE FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE IS HEATHER WILSON, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM CUSHION.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I AM HERE ONCE AGAIN TO SPEAK UP FOR THE VOICELESS, THE CARRIAGE HORSES OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

IT IS ONLY APRIL, STILL SPRINGTIME, AND ALREADY THE CARRIAGE PEOPLE ARE IMPLEMENTING ACTIVE MEASURES TO KEEP THE PASSENGERS AND THEMSELVES COMFORTABLE.

I HAVE SUBMITTED PHOTOS TO THE CITY CLERK.

EACH PHOTO HAS ITS DATE AND TIME STAMP ADDED FOR AUTHENTICITY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THAT.

FIRST, WE SEE ROSE.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY RECORDS, SHE IS 19 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN WORKING FOR COUNTRY CARRIAGES SINCE MAY OF 2021.

THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A HORSE IS 30, SO THAT MAKES ROSE A PRETTY OLD HORSE.

THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN ON APRIL 12TH, JUST AFTER 5 P.M.

IT IS STILL SUNNY AND WARM OUTSIDE, AND YOU CAN SEE ROSE STANDING IN A PUDDLE OF HER OWN URINE, AND SHE HAS NO SHADE.

IN THE NEXT PHOTO, ROSE'S CARRIAGE IS NOW OUTFITTED WITH A CANOPY TO KEEP THE PASSENGERS...

SHADED FROM THE HOT SUN.

HOW THOUGHTFUL.

THE THIRD PICTURE IS CREAM.

PER CITY VET RECORDS, SHE IS EIGHT YEARS OLD, LISTED AS A BLACK AND WHITE DRAFT.

AND AS A SIDE NOTE, THERE WAS ANOTHER HORSE NAMED CREAM, A BLACK MARE, IN 2020.

SO WHERE IS THIS BLACK HORSE NAMED CREAM NOW? BACK TO THE CURRENT CREAM, BLACK AND WHITE.

APRIL 12TH, ALMOST 5.30 P.M., STILL WARM AND SUNNY OUT.

IN THE NEXT PHOTO, YOU CAN SEE CREAM'S CARRIAGE NOW HAS A CANOPY TO SHADE ALL THREE ROWS OF PASSENGERS.

IT IS RUSTY AND DILAPIDATED, BUT IT KEEPS THE PEOPLE FUELING THIS CRUELTY NICE AND COMFORTABLE.

LASTLY, THIS IS CINNAMON AND HER DRIVER, AMY.

APRIL 18TH, JUST BEFORE 5 P.M., STILL WARM AND SUNNY.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY VET RECORDS, CINNAMON IS 7. IN 2004, THERE WAS A...

QUARTER HORSE ROAN MARE ALSO NAMED CINNAMON.

NOW CINNAMON IS LISTED AS A CROSSBRED GRAY MARE SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE SAME ANIMAL BUT REGARDLESS THE CURRENT HORSE NAMED CINNAMON GETS NO SHADE WHILE HER DRIVER IS PERCHED UNDER AN UMBRELLA.

IN PLAIN VIEW OF THE PUBLIC THE HORSES ARE THE ONES DOING ALL THE WORK AND THEY GET NOTHING BUT THE DRIVERS AND THE PASSENGERS WHO LITERALLY JUST SIT THERE WHILE GETTING PULLED AROUND ARE THE ONES GIVING GIVEN THE EXTRA COMFORT MEASURES.

ONCE THE SEAWALL CONSTRUCTION BEGINS THE HORSES WILL BE EXPECTED TO WALK EVEN LONGER ROUTES WITH TEMPERATURES RISING.

THIS IS VERY CONCERNING.

IT IS LONG OVERDUE.

TO PHASE OUT THIS CRUEL, OUTDATED, OBSOLETE INDUSTRY,

[00:30:01]

AND TO ENSURE A PROPER, DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT FOR THESE MAGNIFICENT, DESERVING, SENTIENT BEINGS WHO HAVE LONG SERVED THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM CUSHON, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE ZODA.

HELLO, MY NAME'S WILLIAM CUSHON.

I LIVE AT 2945 B STRATTON BOULEVARD.

WILL YOU PLEASE PULL UP? PARDON ME.

YES.

I HAD TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME OFF BEFORE MISSING THE LAST MEETING FOR THE SIMPLE FACT OF THE HATCHET JOB THAT WAS DONE ON OUR BUSINESS.

YOU WERE TOLD EVERYTHING THAT WAS WRONG.

SOME OF IT WAS COMPLETE BOGUS.

SECONDLY, THE THREE MAJOR THINGS WE WERE ADJUSTED TO DO WAS TO FIX A HANDLING FENCE.

$2,100 TO FIX 60 FEET OF CHAIN LINK FENCE.

MY HORSE HAS MESSED IT UP.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING IT.

WE REPLACED ALL THE PADDOCK FENCING ON THE PROPERTY.

IF Y'ALL WANTED US OFF THE PROPERTY, WHICH I'M HOPING THAT'S WHAT THE CASE WAS BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAD NO QUORUMS ABOUT THIS TRANSFER STATION.

ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS ASK.

SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE WANT TO DO THIS TO COVER OURSELVES.

YOU DO THAT.

WE'VE ALREADY TURNED IN FIVE OF OUR LICENSES AFTER THE ONE COMMISSIONER SUGGESTED THAT WAS TOO MANY.

THE ONLY REASON WE GOT 10 WAS WE WERE TOLD TO TAKE 10, SO THE OTHER FOUR COMPANIES DIDN'T GET ANY MORE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IT WAS BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW THAN THE DEVIL YOU DON'T.

AS FAR AS THAT LADY GOES, THEY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT HORSES.

YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE THAT THERE ARE HORSES, AND IF THEY'RE NOT IN A STALL...

90% OF THEM ARE STANDING OUT IN THE SUN, IN THE RAIN.

EVERY HORSE ON OUR PROPERTY HAS SHELTER, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM BOTHER TO GO INTO IT.

AND THE HORSES THAT ARE OUT IN THE PADDOCKS THAT WE HAVE, THEY DO BETTER IN THE HEAT THAN THE ONES THAT ARE IN A STALL WITH A FAN ON THEM IF IT GETS OVER 90 DEGREES.

ALL OF OUR STUFF WE HAVE DONE AND EVERYTHING THE CITY HAS ASKED US TO DO.

WE'VE DONE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT SOMEBODY MADE A COMMENT THAT US BEING DOWN THERE WAS COSTING THE CITY MONEY BECAUSE OF THE STAFF COMING WHEN THE HORSES HAD THE SICKNESS.

STAFF DIDN'T NEED TO BE THERE.

THE STATE GUY ONLY TALKED TO THE STAFF BECAUSE WE TOLD HIM TO.

WE HAVEN'T HID ANYTHING FROM Y'ALL.

AND AS FAR AS THE SICKNESS GOES, WE HAVE ONE HORSE ON THE PROPERTY THAT HAD IT.

HE HAD IT HE WAS QUARANTINED IN THE BACK.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, OUR TWO WHITE HORSES, GHOST AND PHANTOM, GOT IT.

AND I'M PRETTY SURE YOU HAVE THE VIDEO OF THEM TOUCHING AND FEEDING THE HORSES.

THAT HORSE WAS THE SICK ONE.

SO HOW DID A HORSE ON THE ENTIRE OTHER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY GET SICK? DID THEY WALK OVER THERE AND TOUCH IT? BECAUSE THAT'S ALL IT TAKES WITH STRANGLES.

ONE TOUCH AND YOU CAN SPREAD IT TO YOUR OWN HORSES AT HOME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE ZOTA, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA LAMMERS.

I'M CATHERINE ZOTA.

THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY IS IN SYSTEMIC COLLAPSE.

AS THIS COMMISSION CONSIDERS CODE UPDATES AS A SOLUTION, IT MUST...

FIRST LOOK AT THE REAL PROBLEM.

THIS INDUSTRY IS INHERENTLY CRUEL, INHERENTLY DANGEROUS, AND PLAGUED BY NON-COMPLIANCE.

SOME THINGS CANNOT BE REGULATED AWAY.

CRUELTY IS ONE OF THEM.

THESE ARE PHOTOS OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S CARRIAGE HORSES.

FIRST, YOU SEE A HORSE STRUGGLING AT THE BIT, PAINFUL RESTRAINT, RELENTLESS PRESSURE, CONSTANT DISCOMFORT.

NEXT PHOTO, A HORSE DOWN IN THE STREET.

UNDER LOAD UNDER PRESSURE AND DISTRESS A LIVING BEING PUSHED BEYOND THEIR LIMIT THIS IS NOT HUMANE THIS IS NOT SAFE AND AS THE NEXT PHOTO SHOWS EVEN ACCESS TO WATER IS RESTRICTED DURING BREAKS HORSES REMAIN FULLY TACKED AND UNDER RESTRAINT WAITING FOR THE NEXT STORE THIS IS NOT REST THAT IS PROLONGED DISCOMFORT AND CONFINEMENT THESE ARE THE REALITIES OF AN INHERENT CRUEL OPERATION.

NO CODE REVISION WILL CHANGE THAT.

AND THE DANGER CANNOT BE REGULATED AWAY EITHER.

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR IS

[00:35:01]

UNPREDICTABLE.

A HORSE CAN SPOOK, BOLT, OR STUMBLE WITHOUT WARNING.

A HORSE STUMBLING UNDER CARRIAGE LOAD EXPERIENCES PAIN, FEAR, AND PANIC WHILE STRUGGLING TO REGAIN FOOTING IN TRAFFIC.

IN SECONDS, DISTRESS CAN BECOME DISASTER.

THEY HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE YEARS AND CONTINUE TODAY.

IN 2023, A HORSE BOLTED INTO A VEHICLE.

ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE HORSE BECAME STARTLED, GALLOPED OUT OF CONTROL, STRUCK A VEHICLE, THEN RAN INTO A LIGHT POLE.

HERE'S A COPY OF THE REPORT.

IN 2025, A PASSENGER WAS INJURED TRYING TO STOP A SPOOKED HORSE AND CARRIAGE.

HERE'S A COPY OF THAT REPORT.

THESE ARE NOT WARNINGS.

THESE ARE FAILURES ALREADY HAPPENING.

NONCOMPLIANCE IS RAMPANT IN THIS INDUSTRY.

WHEN RULES ARE IGNORED, THE DANGER GROWS.

CARRIAGES HAVE BEEN CITED FOR OPERATING OUTSIDE DESIGNATED ROUTES, MAGNIFYING THE RISK TO ALL.

DRIVERS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED INATTENTIVE TO THEIR HORSES AND POORLY POSITIONED TO RESPOND IN AN EMERGENCY.

RECKLESS CARRIAGE DRIVING HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ON THE BAYFRONT, WHERE ONE MISTAKE CAN HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.

RULES MEAN NOTHING WITHOUT COMPLIANCE.

THIS COMMISSION SHOULD NOT SPEND MORE PUBLIC RESOURCES TRYING TO FIX WHAT CANNOT BE FIXED.

THE CRUELTY IS REAL.

THE DANGER IS REAL.

THIS COMMISSION MUST END THIS PRACTICE BEFORE IT ENDS IN TRAGEDY.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE LAMMERS, FOLLOWED BY MOLLY MALONE.

I APOLOGIZE, I'M NOT A PUBLIC SPEAKER, SO I MIGHT STUMBLE A BIT, BUT I'M A HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE DRIVER THAT WORKS FOR COUNTRY CARRIAGES, BILL AND JENNIFER, SORRY, AND ALSO A TOUR GUIDE HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

I WISH TO EXPRESS MY PROFOUND CONCERN REGARDING THE FUTURE OF OUR COMPANY AND THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.

HAVING BEEN AROUND HORSES MY ENTIRE LIFE, I WAS INITIALLY I INITIALLY APPROACHED THIS PROFESSION WITH HESITATION.

HOWEVER, FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THIS WORK HAS BECOME MY PASSION AND MY LIVELIHOOD.

MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN PART OF THE INDUSTRY FOR A DECADE WITH 20 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

WE ARE NOT JUST OPERATORS, WE ARE CARETAKERS OF THE ANIMALS.

THE NARRATIVE THAT OUR HORSES ARE MERELY TOOLS IS FUNDAMENTALLY INCORRECT.

COUNTRY CARRIAGE'S BUSINESS MODEL ASSIGNS DRIVERS TO A SPECIFIC HORSE TO ENSURE A DEEP COMMUNICATIVE BOND.

MY PARTNER, ROSE, IS MORE THAN AN ANIMAL.

SHE IS MY FRIEND AND MY PARTNER.

THIS BOND IS SO STRONG THAT WE OFTEN PRIORITIZE THE HORSE'S WELL-BEING OVER THE CITY MANDATES, FOR INSTANCE.

WHILE THE CITY ALLOWS US TO WORK EIGHT-HOUR SHIFTS, WE NORMALLY ONLY WORK SIX HOURS.

WE FREQUENTLY CHOOSE NOT TO GO OUT OR TO WAIT UNTIL TEMPERATURES DROP, EVEN WHEN THE CITY HEAT REQUIREMENTS TECHNICALLY ALLOW US TO WORK.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT MUCH LIKE DOGS, THESE HORSES HAVE BEEN BRED SPECIFICALLY FOR PURPOSES OVER GENERATIONS.

THEY THRIVE WHEN THEY HAVE A JOB TO PERFORM AND A ROUTINE TO FOLLOW.

RELEASING A DOMESTICATED ANIMAL INTO THE WILD IS NOT AN ACT OF KINDNESS.

IT IS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THEIR BIOLOGY AND THEIR NEEDS.

ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL IMPACT, THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF INDUSTRY WOULD EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY DEVASTATE ME, BUT BEYOND OUR PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS LIKE ROSE.

THE INCOME FROM THIS JOB ALSO SUPPORTS OUR RETIREE SENIOR HORSES, INCLUDING DOC, KNOWN TO MANY OF YOU HERE IN TOWN AS FABIO.

HE LIVES AT HOME WITH US.

SENIOR HORSES REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL RESOURCE FOR PROPER CARE, AND LOSING OUR LIVELIHOOD DUE TO MISGUIDED BELIEFS THAT HORSES SHOULDN'T WORK PUTS NOT ONLY MY HORSES AT RISK, BUT THEY FACE HOMELESSNESS BY THE OWNERS OF MY FELLOW DRIVERS AS WELL, WHO I CONSIDER MY FAMILY.

I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE ACTUAL DATA AND TESTIMONY OF THOSE WHO WORK WITH THESE ANIMALS EVERY DAY.

WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN NECESSARY STEPS TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR NOT ONLY THE HORSES BUT THE DRIVERS AS WELL AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF CARE.

PLEASE PROTECT THIS HISTORIC INDUSTRY, THE FAMILIES, BOTH HUMAN AND EQUINE THAT DEPEND ON IT.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MOLLY MALONE FOLLOWED BY VICKI PEPPER.

[00:40:06]

HELLO.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M HERE TODAY AS A PSA TO YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, AS WELL AS THE ST. AUGUSTINE CARRIAGE EMPLOYEES.

CARRIAGE EMPLOYEES ARE FACING VIOLENT THREATS AMPLIFIED BY ACTIVISTS WHO FREQUENTLY HARASS THEM AND VISITORS DOWNTOWN.

THIS IS VERY CONCERNING.

A POST STATING, SERIAL, QUOTE, SERIAL KILLER WANTING TO EXTERMINATE ANIMAL ABUSERS WANTED, END QUOTE, WAS RECENTLY MADE ON THE ACTIVIST INSTAGRAM PAGE.

THIS PAGE APPEARS TO BE MANAGED BY HEATHER WILSON, WHO SPOKE HERE PREVIOUSLY.

THE THREAT WAS ENCOURAGED BY PATRICIA RAMOS, WHO RESPONDED, QUOTE, THIS, BECAUSE WE CAN'T RELY ON THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND THE AUTHORITIES, END QUOTE.

PATRICIA RAMOS ALSO CLAIMS THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS ARE.

COMPLICIT IN THIS ALLEGED ABUSE ARE CORRUPT, COLLUDING WITH CRIMINALS, AND QUOTE, HOW CAN SHE AND THE COMMISSIONERS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SUCH VIOLENCE? SHE ALSO STATED THAT, QUOTE, THE HEARTLESS MAYOR MUST BE GETTING KICKBACKS OR SUPPORT FOR HER ELECTION COMING UP.

THESE INFLAMMATORY CLAIMS OF ABUSE AND VIOLENCE REFLECT ACTIVISTS' OPINIONS.

THIS IS NOT LEGAL REALITY.

AND THESE ARE BEING USED TO PROVOKE EXTREME ACTION.

IF THEIR ISSUE IS WITH THE LAW, THEN CHANGE THE LAW.

THAT'S COMMON SENSE.

THEIR ORGANIZATIONS DONATE THOUSANDS ANNUALLY TO FLORIDA DEMOCRAT LAWMAKERS.

THE VIDEO BEING USED TO FUEL THIS NARRATIVE, THAT'S NOT A CARRIAGE HORSE.

THAT WAS A PRIVATELY OWNED HORSE.

APPLYING OTHERWISE IS FALSE.

AND CONTINUING TO DO SO DOES CARRY CONSEQUENCES.

ANOTHER COMMENT RAMOS POSTED THAT IS QUITE ALARMING, AND I DO HAVE IT HERE.

THERE'S THE MONETARY KICKBACKS, ACCUSATIONS OF CORRUPTION, COLLUSION, KICKBACKS FOR THE ELECTION.

HURRYING THROUGH THESE.

THEY SAY KEEP THE PRESSURE ON.

DON'T ALLOW FOR CHANGES IN WELFARE IDEALS.

HOW MUCH DO THEY CARE FOR THE HORSES? THE CONCERN THAT'S QUITE ALARMING, QUOTE, WE WILL NOT GO AWAY UNTIL SOMEONE BREAKS.

DOES SHE MEAN A CITY OFFICIAL OR AN ACTIVIST WHO DECIDES TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS? TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, I DID REACH OUT TO THEM FOR CLARIFICATION.

I WAS BLOCKED FROM THEIR INSTAGRAM PAGE.

TO THE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS, AND ALL CARRIAGE EMPLOYEES, PLEASE BE SAFE.

I ENCOURAGE RESTRAINING ORDERS.

THEY ARE.

FREE AND WILL PROVIDE YOU PROTECTION FOR YOU AND YOUR HORSES.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS VICKI PEPPER, FOLLOWED BY TOM REYNOLDS.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS VICKI PEPPER.

I LIVE IN HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AND CARE.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY.

OUR INFORMAL INDEPENDENT CIVIC ACTION GROUP GREW OUT OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EFFORT AND CARES PURPOSES TO SERVE BLACK AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY BY IDENTIFYING RESOURCES INCLUDING FUNDING SOURCES AND LINKING THEM WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS.

THANK YOU FOR SCHEDULING AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S DROP-IN DAY CENTERS SERVING THE UNSHELTERED AND THOSE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

RATHER WAIT UNTIL HEARING THAT UPDATE BUT HERE GOES.

FIRST, ONE QUESTION WE HAVE IS ABOUT NOMENCLATURE.

PREVIOUSLY, PHASE 1 OF THE DROP-IN CENTER HAD THREE PARTS.

THEY INCLUDED THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION, THE WASHERS AND DRYERS, AND THE SHOWERS.

PHASE 2 WAS A LONGER-TERM PART OF THE PROJECT THAT WOULD INVOLVE REPLACING THE EXISTING ABANDONED BUILDING CURRENTLY ON THE PROPERTY ON 207 AND PROVIDING PERMANENT SPACES FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS, COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVED BY THE CENTER, AND POSSIBLY COMMUNITY SPACE.

THE CITY HAS PROVIDED SOME FUNDING.

TOWARD FURTHER EXPANSION OF THAT PHASE TWO.

BUT IT SEEMS FOR THE BACKGROUND MATERIALS, LIKE NOW YOU'RE CALLING THE WASHERS AND DRYERS AND SHOWERS PHASE TWO.

IF THAT'S NOT AN OVERSIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU CALLING WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS PHASE TWO? THOSE ASPECTS OF THE CITY CENTER REMAIN IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM.

SO WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY IS.

SECOND, YOUR REPORT INDICATES THAT COMMUNITY SERVICES IS PREPARING AN MOU TO OUTLINE OPERATIONAL EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS APPARENTLY FOR USE WITH THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE COUNTY'S CONTINUUM OF CARE.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, WE'RE NOT AWARE THAT UF HEALTH

[00:45:01]

USES MOUS.

BUT WE DO THINK RENEWING DIALOGUE WITH THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND ITS CONSTITUENT SERVICE PROVIDERS, THAT THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THESE SORELY NEEDED SHOWERS AND WASHERS AND DRYERS UP AND RUNNING FOR THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED THEM, IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE'D RECOMMEND SCHEDULING A MEETING WITH CONSTITUENT CONTINUUM OF CARE MEMBERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ONE QUESTION WE HAVE IN THIS REGARD IS WHETHER THE CITY HAS FUNDING OR WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO FACILITATE THE OPERATION OF THE SHOWERS AND WASHERS AND DRYERS.

TO THE EXTENT BARRY FOX BROACHED THE SUBJECT WITH THE CONTINUUM OF CARE CONSTITUENCY MUCH EARLIER IN THE PROJECT, WE UNDERSTAND MANY STAFFS OF OUR LOCAL NGOS AND THEIR VOLUNTEERS EXPRESS INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THE NEW SERVICES, BUT FUNDING IS SCARCE IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, AND OUR ALREADY STRAPPED NGOS, WHO ARE DOING A LOT OF OUTSTANDING WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY, HAVE LIMITED CAPACITY TO EXPAND SERVICES ABSENT ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

WE CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED THERE'S A VITAL NEED FOR THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT THE CITY'S DROP-IN DAY CENTER.

WE URGE YOU TO FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE THEM FOR THE COMMUNITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

TOM REYNOLDS, FOLLOWED BY BJ KALADY.

TOM REYNOLDS, LANDING 32084.

FIRST OF ALL, FOLKS, I HOPE YOU GOT THOSE EMAILS I SENT YOU ON THE HORSE CARRIAGES AND THAT BEAUTIFUL HORSE CARRIAGE THAT I SENT YOU TODAY.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE ONE.

THAT'S THE ELECTRIC.

HORSELESS CARRIAGES.

THAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR ALL THE CRUELTY THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND BY THE WAY, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE LADY WHO FEELS THREATENED.

WELL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE LIKE TO SAY THEY'RE THREATENED WHEN THEY'RE THE CRIMINAL.

IN FACT, WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK ANY FURTHER THAN 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NIGHTLY TO SEE THAT.

NOW, FOLKS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I ONLY MET THOSE LADIES THAT SPEAK UP FOR THE HORSES IN THIS ROOM.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS MUCH, WHAT THEIR MOTTO IS, LAWFULLY, LEGALLY, AND ALWAYS PEACEFULLY, IS HOW THEY PROCEED.

SO FOLKS, THE NOISE, YES, THE CARRIAGE CAN BE SPOOKED AND CAUSE A LOT OF DANGER.

THE SMELL, THE SMELL IS DANGEROUS.

I SENT YOU FOLKS THAT STUDY.

IT'S NOT GOOD.

AND THE TEMPERATURE, IF THAT TEMPERATURE IS NOT A FELONY TO BRING A HORSE OUT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE.

BECAUSE WHEN I READ THAT, I WAS LIKE, NO, THIS GOT TO BE AN ERROR.

ALSO, FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THE HORSES CAUSE A LOT OF SADNESS TO THE VISITORS.

I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN SURVEYING LOTS OF THEM DOWNTOWN.

AND I GOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, I DON'T FIND ANYBODY RESPONSIVE.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS WITH HIM, BUT I REALLY FIND IT CRAZY.

AND FINALLY, YOU KNOW, FOLKS, THE ONE THAT BREAKS MY HEART THE MOST IS EIGHT PEOPLE AND A DRIVER AND ONE HORSE.

HOW IS THE GUY NOT BEING ARRESTED? IF THAT'S NOT ANIMAL ABUSE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

AND FOLKS, THE, MALAGNA.

SPAIN, THEY DID AWAY WITH THEIR HORSE CARRIAGES.

THEY'RE SWITCHING TO ELECTRIC.

AND I'M SO HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THE SISTER CITY OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, THEY DON'T HAVE HORSE CARRIAGES AND THEY NEVER HAVE.

SO I KNOW YOU FOLKS KNOW ALL THESE THINGS AND IT'S TIME TO ACT BECAUSE THERE IS A SOLUTION.

THE ELECTRIC HORSELESS CARRIAGES, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, SAFER.

NO ODOR, AND I KNOW WHERE WE CAN GET HELP TO GET THOSE PEOPLE A CARRIAGE.

BJ KALADY, WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

BJ KALADY.

AT THE VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON APRIL 23RD, THURSDAY, I CHOSE NOT TO EAT SINCE IN FEBRUARY 2026 IT WAS STATED THERE MAY BE 73 POSITIONS CUT IN THIS BUILDING.

QUESTION, HOW IS IT LEADERSHIP SALARIES $234,000, $220,000, $198,000, $169,000, $146,000 EXCEED THAT OF GOVERNOR DESANTIS $141,400,000? SUGGESTIONS.

PAY ADJUSTMENT FOR SENIOR LEADERSHIP.

FREEZE NON-ESSENTIAL HIRING.

EVALUATE DISCRETION SPENDING,

[00:50:02]

UNNECESSARY TRAVEL, TRIPS TO SPAIN, CITY-FUNDED FESTIVALS AND EVENTS.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND EXPLORE ALL ALTERNATIVES BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS THAT CAN PLACE A BURDEN ON THOSE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT.

QUESTION.

WILL THE KING STREET BRIDGE COSMETIC FACELIFT COST TAXPAYERS $20 MILLION? QUESTION.

ARE THE COLLEGE DORMS ON MALAGA SINKING? QUESTION.

WHEN WILL THE BRIDGE BE REPLACED AND AT WHAT COST TO TAXPAYERS? 10B, 92 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY.

PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE STAFF HAVE DECIDED TO KEEP THE DUMPSTER UNLOCKED.

INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SEEN GOING THROUGH THE UNLOCKED DUMPSTER.

EVEN WITH TRESPASSING SIGNS POSTED, INDIVIDUALS ARE ARRIVING AS EARLY AS 1 20 P.M.

AND PARKING.

QUESTION.

WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST TO TAXPAYERS SINCE THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE ACQUIRED THIS PROPERTY? QUESTION.

WILL HOME AGAIN AND CARE VOLUNTEER TO PICK UP THE PARKING AREA AND SECURE THE DUMPSTER ON A DAILY BASIS? QUESTION.

WE'LL HOME AGAIN AND CARE VOLUNTEER TO PICK UP THE PARKING AREA AND SECURE THE DUMPSTER ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND THIS IS MY CONCERN IN HELPING PEOPLE.

THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT AND TO ENFORCE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THIS IS NOW BLIGHT.

THIS IS HOW BLIGHT CONTINUES TO BE CREATED IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

AND SINCE I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SECONDS.

THE ANSWER THAT YOU WERE GIVING, MAYOR, ABOUT THE TIRES AT BROWDY'S, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEANED UP.

IT'S 24, 25, AND 26 THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO STAY THERE.

AND THERE HAS BEEN A SALE OF THAT AUTO SHOP FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S STILL THERE.

THE MAN HAS A DEAL GOING ON, BUT MR. BROWDY SHOULD TAKE IT ON HIMSELF TO CLEAN THAT PLACE UP.

OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO CLEAN THEIR THINGS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES.

[5. CONSENT AGENDA]

PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE ARE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MR. CITY MANAGER.

MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS, TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS.

THE MAY 8TH, 9 A.M.

SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING WORKSHOP ON VEHICLES FOR HIRE.

THE MAY 11TH, 3.30 P.M.

SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH IS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND CIP MEETING.

AND MAY 11TH.

5 P.M.

REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 9TH REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

WE HAVE A LICENSE FOR THE USE OF CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY ON EAST ST. CARLOS.

WE HAVE THE OPERATING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND OLD TOWN TROLLEY TOURS FOR OUR ANNUAL NIGHTS OF LIGHTS OPERATIONS.

AND WE'VE GOT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE SECOND QUARTER FISCAL YEAR 25-26.

AND THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMENTS? I MOVE THAT WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES.

JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES.

JOHN DEPRETER? YES.

CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES.

BARBARA BLONDER? YES.

WE HAVE NO GENERAL PUBLIC

[10. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS]

PRESENTATIONS, NO ORDINANCE RESOLUTIONS TONIGHT.

WE DO HAVE STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM 10A.

WE HAVE THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, AND THAT IS MS. BURNS.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS MELISSA BURNS, FINANCE DIRECTOR.

TONIGHT, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, OR ACFER.

THIS INCLUDES THE FY25 AUDIT REPORT.

THE REPORT IS ORGANIZED INTO THREE SECTIONS, INTRODUCTORY, FINANCIAL, AND STATISTICS.

THE AUDIT WAS CONDUCTED BY MALDEN & JENKINS, A FIRM WITH 19 OFFICES ACROSS EIGHT STATES.

THEY ISSUED AN UNMONIFIED OR CLEAN OPINION.

MEANING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FAIRLY PRESENT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION.

ADDITIONALLY, THE AUDITORS

[00:55:01]

REPORTED NO FINDINGS, NO ISSUES OR WEAKNESSES THAT COULD POSE RISK OR REQUIRE CORRECTION.

I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD TO SHARE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE CITY'S AUDIT CONTAINED ZERO FINDINGS.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN ACHIEVING THIS MILESTONE.

NOW I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH SOME KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT.

IN THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION ON PAGE XVI OR PAGE 35 FOR THOSE THAT HAVE THE ONLINE AGENDA PACKET, THE CITY RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR THE FY24 ACFER FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

THE CITY HAS EARNED THIS AWARD FOR THE PAST 20 CONSECUTIVE YEARS, AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED THE FY25 ACFER FOR CONSIDERATION.

NOW MOVING TO THE FINANCIAL SECTION, THIS INCLUDES THE AUDITOR'S REPORT, FOLLOWED BY THE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, OR MD&A.

THIS BEGINS ON PAGE 4, OR 42 ONLINE, AND IT PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

FOR FY25, THE CITY'S TOTAL ASSETS EXCEEDED ITS LIABILITIES BY $269 MILLION.

OF THAT AMOUNT, APPROXIMATELY $61 MILLION IS AVAILABLE TO MEET ONGOING OBLIGATIONS.

OVERALL, THE CITY'S NET POSITION INCREASED BY $38 MILLION, OR 17%.

THE GOVERNMENTAL FUND NET POSITION INCREASED BY $19 MILLION.

THESE FUNDS INCLUDE THE GENERAL FUND, CRA FUNDS, DEBT SERVICE FUND, AND PERMANENT FUND, WITH THE GENERAL FUND BEING THE LARGEST OF THESE.

REVENUES EXCEEDED BUDGET AMOUNTS DUE TO HIGHER PERMIT FEES, FRANCHISE FEES, AND INVESTMENT INCOME.

AT THE SAME TIME, EXPENDITURES WERE LOWER THAN EXPECTED DUE TO DELAYS IN CAPITAL PROJECTS, GRANT-FUNDED PROJECTS, AND JUST GETTING UNDERWAY, AND SOME VACANT POSITIONS DURING THE YEAR.

BUSINESS TYPE EXPENDITURES ACTIVITIES SAW A SIMILAR INCREASE WITH NET POSITION RISING BY $19 MILLION.

THESE FUNDS INCLUDE UTILITIES, STORMWATER, SOLID WASTE, MUNICIPAL MARINA, AND VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER FUNDS.

THE UTILITY FUND IS THE LARGEST OF THESE.

PROGRAM REVENUES FOR THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES INCREASED BY $4 MILLION COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO EFFORTS TO ALIGN SERVICE COSTS MORE DIRECTLY WITH USER FEES.

IN CONTRAST, BUSINESS TYPE PROGRAM REVENUES DECREASED BY 3 MILLION.

THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO REDUCED GRANT REVENUE, REDUCTION OF UTILITY SURCHARGE FEES CHARGED TO UTILITY CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, AND FEWER UTILITY CONNECTION CHARGES.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE CONNECTION CHARGES ARE RESERVED FOR SYSTEM EXPANSION AND DO NOT AFFECT IMPACT OR IMPACT OPERATIONS.

THE CITY ALSO REDUCES TOTAL BOND AND NOTE DEBT BY $3 MILLION.

THROUGH PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS, BRINGING THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT TO $52 MILLION.

TURNING TO PAGE 18 OR 58 ONLINE, THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS BALANCE SHEET, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE CATEGORIES.

THESE INCLUDE NON-SPENDABLE, RESTRICTED, COMMITTED, ASSIGNED, AND UNASSIGNED FUNDS.

THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT EXTERNAL RESTRICTIONS.

IT IS...

IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT $3.67 MILLION.

AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT CURRENT INTERNAL COMMITMENTS, TOTALING $1.33 MILLION, THE REMAINING AVAILABLE RESERVE IS APPROXIMATELY $2.34 MILLION.

THE FINANCIAL SECTION ALSO INCLUDES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

NOTE 8, BEGINNING ON PAGE 42, DETAILS THE CITY'S OUTSTANDING DEBT-RELATED ACTIVITY, AND A SUMMARY IS ALSO PROVIDED.

IN THE MD&A ON PAGE 14 OR PAGE 52 ONLINE.

NOTE 9 OUTLINES THE CITY'S THREE PENSION PLANS, GENERAL POLICE AND FIRE.

EACH PLAN HAS ITS OWN AUDIT EACH YEAR, BUT THEY ARE SUMMARIZED HERE.

THIS NOTE ALSO INCLUDES OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES, SUCH AS OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, SUCH AS RETIREE HEALTH CARE AND COMPENSATED ABSENCES, WHICH ACCOUNT FOR UNUSED LEAVE.

THE FINAL SECTION OF THE ACFER IS ASSISTED IT.

STATISTICAL SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE 73 OR ONLINE AT PAGE 122.

THIS PROVIDES A 10-YEAR OVERVIEW OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL TRENDS, INCLUDING MAJOR EMPLOYERS, TAXPAYERS, AND FUND BALANCES.

IT'S AVAILABLE.

IT'S A VALUABLE RESOURCE, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REVIEW IT.

LASTLY, ON PAGE 100, YOU'LL FIND THE SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS AND STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SIFA.

BECAUSE OF IT, THE CITY EXCEEDED THE THRESHOLDS FOR BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING.

TWO SINGLE AUDITS WERE REQUIRED.

I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT BOTH AUDITS RESULTED IN, WITH NO FINDINGS, PRIOR FINDINGS WERE CORRECTED, AND THE CITY WAS FOUND TO BE

[01:00:02]

IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ALL GRANT REQUIREMENTS.

AT THIS TIME, I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

OKAY, COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.

I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON THE BREAK ROOM, BY THE WAY.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE LEARNED A LOT, BUT I DID.

I LEARNED A LOT.

HAVING A ZERO FINDING IS HUGE.

I MEAN, THAT GOES DOWN TO EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT AND EVERY PERSON WRITING.

A PURCHASE ORDER OR SPENDING ANY MONEY, IT'S AMAZING THAT THIS KIND OF OPERATION COULD DO THAT.

AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, BUT ALSO TO EVERY DEPARTMENT WHO, I MEAN, FOR US TO DO THAT WITH UTILITIES AND ALL THE, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT JOB.

SO YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S A $3 MILLION, $3.6 MILLION THAT'S IN RESERVE RIGHT NOW THAT'S UNACCOUNTED FOR.

IT'S ON THE SIDE, YES.

YEAH.

THAT'S FREE MONEY FOR US, RIGHT? BE CAREFUL.

THANK YOU FOR A GOOD REPORT.

THANKS FOR PROVIDING THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED TONIGHT.

I'LL ECHO COMMISSIONER GARRIS, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING IT.

AGAIN, THANK YOU.

I DO LIKE THE HIGHLIGHTS.

I PROBABLY WILL TAKE SOME OF THIS AND JUST HAVE IT AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR.

LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VICE MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT A COUPLE THINGS THAT I FOUND OF INTEREST.

NOT ANYTHING BAD.

JUST INTERESTING.

ON PAGE 88 OF THE REPORT, AND I THINK IT'S PAGE 129 ONLINE, THE TABLES, LET ME JUST DOUBLE CHECK THAT THAT'S TRUE.

THE TABLES 14 AND 15 ARE DEMOGRAPHIC TABLES.

AND I DID BACK OF THE ENVELOPE CALCULATIONS AND OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A POPULATION INCREASE IN THE CITY OF 17%.

HOWEVER IN THE COUNTY IT'S BEEN 33%.

SO THAT'S TWICE THE GROWTH RATE IN THE COUNTY AS THE CITY.

THAT'S A LOT.

AND ALTHOUGH THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS VARIED BY A COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR 2025 WAS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT WAS IN 2016.

SO WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE WORKING EVEN IN TOUGH TIMES IS HOW I READ THAT.

AND I WOULD ECHO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS GRATITUDE TO EVERYBODY ON CITY STAFF EVERYWHERE AND TO YOU IN PARTICULAR FOR YOUR SKILLS IN DETAIL AND CLEARLY WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT I CAN.

PROBABLY UNDERSTAND IN TERMS OF HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB YOU DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF IT SO THANK YOU WELL THANK YOU I ECHO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS YOU'VE DONE A MAGNIFICENT JOB AND I WILL UM CROSSING MY FINGERS FINGERS FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE I'M SURE YOU'LL RECEIVE IT WE WILL RECEIVE IT UM THAT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT UM ONCE AGAIN YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB ON A DOCUMENT THAT'S DIFFICULT TO READ EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST PART, WHICH IS USUALLY REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT DOES TELL US KIND OF REALLY WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE YEAR.

IT'S REALLY FOR ANYONE THAT'S INTO THIS STUFF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST FEW PAGES REALLY GIVES US, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE OUR WORK PRODUCT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND WITH THAT SAID, WE'LL JUST, WE DO NEED YOU TO, WE WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT THIS.

YES.

I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THIS AUDIT.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, DEBATES? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THE NEXT ITEM IS THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION OPERATIONS IN PHASE 2 UPDATE.

MS. JAMIE D. PERKINS.

MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, JAMIE PERKINS, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

TONIGHT, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PROVIDE YOU A VERBAL UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION, THE PHASE 1 OPERATIONS, AND THE CONTINUATION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE SERVICES, AND PHASE 2 PROGRESS OR NEXT STEPS.

SINCE THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION, THE CITY HAS DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION.

[01:05:02]

WE TRANSITIONED THE MEAL SERVICES.

WHICH ARE COORDINATED BY HOME AGAINST ST.

JOHN'S, TO THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED FACILITY.

SINCE TRANSITIONING THOSE SERVICES TO THE SITE, WE CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASED USABILITY.

OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST, MS. JESSICA ROJAS, COLLECTS DATA WEEKLY AND COORDINATION OF THAT DATA MONTHLY.

AND HER DATA REFLECTS THAT THERE IS AN APPROXIMATE 62% INCREASE IN USABILITY, MEANING WE SEE MORE PEOPLE DINING AT THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION THAN WE DID WHEN WE WERE HOSTING THOSE.

MEALS AT THE GRANADA LOT.

62% IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.

WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH UF HEALTH AND THE MOBILE HEALTH BUS.

WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THE INTENDED SITE LOCATION FOR WHERE THAT BUS WAS INTENDED TO BE STAGED AT THE SITE, WE'VE BEEN MET WITH SOME CHALLENGES JUST BASED OFF OF THE GATE AND THE FENCING WHERE THAT BUS WOULD DRIVE INTO.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH FACILITY STAFF.

INTERNALLY TO TRY TO MITIGATE THAT CHALLENGE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OBVIOUSLY THAT IT IS SAFE FOR THE USERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCESSING THAT MOBILE HEALTH BUS.

THEY'RE THERE ONCE A MONTH SO IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT CHALLENGE BUT IT IS HAPPENING EACH TIME THAT THEY'RE THERE.

THEY ARE STILL ABLE TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICE THEY JUST DO IT ON THE EXTERIOR PART OF THE GATE AT THIS TIME.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PHASE ONE IS WE'VE INSTALLED TWO BIKE RACKS.

AND THERE IS A CURRENT SERVICE REQUEST THAT IS IN NOW TO INSTALL THE ADDITIONAL FOUR BIKE RACKS, WHICH WE DO HAVE IN OUR POSSESSION.

THEY'RE BEING STORED AT THE WAREHOUSE UNTIL WE CAN GET OUR SMALL CITY STAFF TO GET OVER TO THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION AND INSTALL THOSE RACKS.

WE HOPE TO HAVE THOSE LAST FOUR BIKE RACKS INSTALLED THIS WEEK.

WE COORDINATED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY WITH FIRE MARSHAL ABBEY, TO DO A SAFE INSTALLATION OF THE BARBECUE GRILL, WHICH WAS AN ASK FROM THE VOLUNTEERS.

SO WE DID INSTALL THE BARBECUE GRILL WITH THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM OUR FIRE MARSHAL.

THE GRILL IS THERE AND IS INTENDED FOR SMALL-QUANTITY ITEM MEAL SERVICE PREPARATION.

WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AND GROW OUR PARTNERSHIPS AT THE SITE.

IN ADDITION TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH UF HEALTH AND THE MOBILE BUS AND HOME AGAIN ST.

JOHN'S, OF COURSE, COORDINATING THE MEAL SERVICES, WE CONTINUE TO SEE WILDLIFE CLINIC.

THEY SHOW UP AND OFFER WELLNESS SERVICES EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING.

WE HAVE A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH DISCOVER AND RECOVER, WHICH IS A DRUG REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY CLINIC.

THEY'RE THERE ON TUESDAYS PROVIDING FREE SERVICES.

THE SHOWER AND LAUNDRY PROGRAMMING IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED.

THE GOAL FOR THE LAUNDRY AND SHOWER SERVICES, IS THERE THE KIND OF FILL A VOID OF SERVICES THAT ARE ALREADY BEING OFFERED IN THE ST.

JOHNS COUNTY, ST. AUGUSTINE AREA? SO THAT'S TO SAY IF THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY OFFERING SHOWERS ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, THEN I THINK WHAT THE CITY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SEE IS IF WE COULD DO IT ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS SO THAT WE'RE NOT RECREATING THE WHEEL OR REINVENTING A SERVICE THAT'S ALREADY BEING OFFERED.

BUT IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF STRATEGIC PLANNING.

TO ROLL THAT PARTICULAR SERVICE OUT.

AND THAT IS A PART OF PHASE ONE.

IT'S NOT A PHASE TWO PROGRAM.

THE SHOWER AND LAUNDRY SERVICES IS PHASE ONE.

IT'S JUST A CONTINUATION OF THAT ROLLOUT.

THERE ARE STILL SOME OPERATIONAL ELEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED TO ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ADA ACCESSIBILITY.

THERE NEEDS TO BE LOCKS ON THE DOORS AT THE FACILITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE TAKING A SHOWER.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT IF SOMEONE GOES IN TO TAKE A SHOWER, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT ROOM IF THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO COME OUT.

WE ARE LOOKING INTO OPERATIONS AS IT RELATES TO TIMING.

WILL WE SHUT THE WATER OFF AT A CERTAIN TIME? ARE WE GOING TO DEPEND ON THE USER TO FOLLOW OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES? WE'RE DETERMINING HOW MANY SHOWERS WE WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER BASED OFF OF OUR HOT WATER HEATER LOAD.

WE DON'T HAVE A COMMERCIAL HOT WATER HEATER AT THAT SITE.

YOU WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER 100 SHOWERS A DAY.

SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS THE OPERATIONS.

WITH THE LAUNDRY SERVICE, THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS OR SOME STAFFING TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

THE INTENT WAS NOT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ACCESSING THE WASHERS AND DRYERS.

IT WOULD BE A SERVICE THAT WE WOULD GRAB A MESH BAG FROM THEM OF SOME SORT.

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO WORK THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING OF THAT LAUNDRY SERVICE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW MANY LOADS COULD WE DO AND WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK OR DAYS OF THE WEEK THAT PARTICULAR SERVICE WOULD BE OFFERED.

I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THE TRANSITION OF THE PROGRAM IS JUST SIX

[01:10:01]

MONTHS OLD.

WE JUST MOVED THE SERVICES OVER TO THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION IN NOVEMBER.

I THINK THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN A SIX-MONTH PERIOD.

AND EVEN PRIOR TO THAT WITH...

THE PROGRAMMING, YOU KNOW, HAS HAD A CHANGE OF STAFF LEADERSHIP.

UNDERSTANDING THIS JUST CAME UNDER THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY HAS ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME FROM OUR CITY MANAGER NEGOTIATING THE LAND SWAP TO THE DESIGN AND THE BUILDING OF THE FACILITY TO GET THE MEAL SERVICES ESTABLISHED OVER AT THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION.

TO IMPLEMENT THE ENTIRETY OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PROGRAM, WE WILL NEED FULL VOLUNTEER SUPPORT OR SOME PAID STAFFING.

OUR NEXT STEPS ARE TO CONTINUE PROGRESSING TO PHASE TWO OR PROGRESSING THE PHASE TWO EFFORT.

STAFF ARE WORKING WITH CONTINUUM OF CARE TO FINALIZE THE DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

WE MEET WITH THEM THIS WEEK AND LEADERSHIP STAFF AND MYSELF, AS WELL AS THE LEADERSHIP STAFF FROM THE COC, WILL SIT DOWN, TALK THROUGH THE MOU.

ONCE WE HAVE THAT DRAFT MOU, THE PLAN IS TO BRING THAT BACK TO THIS BODY, TO THE COMMISSION, FOR YOUR THOROUGH REVIEW AND, OF COURSE, APPROVAL.

THAT IS MY VERBAL UPDATE.

I DID HAVE ON THE SLIDE JUST SOME PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OVER AT THE DINING WITH DIGNITY PAVILION.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID WANT TO MENTION IS THAT BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO IS USERS OR ATTENDEES OF THE MEAL SERVICE ACTUALLY HELPING TO CLEAN UP AFTER.

MEALS HAVE BEEN SERVED, SO WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF BUY-IN FROM THE INDIVIDUALS THAT UTILIZE THE FACILITY.

THEY'RE THERE EACH DAY AFTER THEIR MEAL.

THERE ARE MANY OF THEM THAT DO HELP TO MAINTAIN THE FACILITY AS JANITORIAL PIECE.

SO THEY'RE HELPING OUT, TAKING PRIDE IN THE SPACE THAT WE'VE PROVIDED.

SO I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

LET'S START WITH MS. HARRIS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS BECAUSE I AM ON THE BOARD FOR HOME AGAIN.

ONE IS THAT THE PRESSURE ON THE WATER WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO HOSE DOWN THE AREA IS VERY WEAK.

AND I BELIEVE I MENTIONED THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

SO CAN WE FOLLOW UP WITH A WORK ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT'S ADDRESSED? THE SECOND THING IS MS. PEPPER IS HERE FROM CARE, AND SHE SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT NOT HAVING IT WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE OPENED THE SITE THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE LAUNDRY.

AND SHOWERS.

AND IF WE CAN'T PROVIDE THE SHOWERS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ONE OR THE OTHER.

I HAVE BEEN TO THE SITE A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND I DON'T SEE JESSICA THERE.

I SEE A SECURITY GUARD THERE, AND I HAVE TALKED TO HIM AT LENGTH ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO GET A FEEL OF THE AREA BECAUSE I WAS REAL COMPASSIONATE ABOUT THE HOMELESS GETTING THAT SITE UP AND RUNNING.

AND SO I'M NOT GOING THERE TO SNOOP.

I'M GOING THERE OUT OF CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE THAT UTILIZE THAT SPACE.

AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK I'VE HAD CHURCHES, A LOT OF PEOPLE OFFERED TO VOLUNTEER TO GO THERE TO ASSIST IN THE SHOWERS, YOU KNOW, BEING THERE.

AND PLUS, AGAIN, WE HAVE SECURITY.

AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SAID THEY WILL GO THERE AND HELP OUT.

AND I'VE HAD TWO CHURCHES THAT HAVE WENT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, JOINED THE FOOD PENETRATION.

SO IS THERE, I HEARD YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT TUESDAY OR THURSDAY.

CAN WE CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING WITH THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE? BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INTO HURRICANE SEASON.

AND IF THESE PEOPLE ARE WALKING AROUND WITH DIRTY CLOTHES AND UNCLEAN, NOBODY'S GOING TO WANT THEM TO COME TO THEIR CHURCH FOR SHELTER WHEN YOU THE WEATHER GETS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, WHEN THE WEATHER GETS WORSE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

SO IF WE COULD TRY TO IMPLEMENT THAT IN THAT WINDOW OF TIME, JUST SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK CLEAN AND PRESENTABLE, AND MAYBE SOME OF THEM MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO GET A JOB IF THEY WASN'T LOOKING SCRAGGLY.

WHAT I DO KNOW ABOUT THE HOMELESS IS THAT THEY CARRY EVERYTHING THEY OWN EVERYWHERE THEY GO.

THEY DON'T HAVE A HOUSE TO PUT THEIR STUFF IN.

SO THEIR STUFF IS OUT THERE IN WEATHER, AND IT'S DIRTY AND IT'S FILTHY.

I JUST THINK THE WHOLE BLESSING OF THIS WAS TO ADDRESS THAT, AND THAT NEED IS NOT BEING MET.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A QUESTION.

I DIDN'T KNOW.

DID YOU ASK ME? WELL, DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION? I JUST WANT A PROJECTED TIME WHEN THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR.

I MEAN, A YEAR? I MEAN, SIX MONTHS? BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GETTING ASKED THAT BECAUSE VICKI IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT HER THING.

SO I DON'T WANT IT TO BE

[01:15:01]

ANOTHER THING THAT EVERY WEEK WE'RE ASKED ABOUT.

CAN WE SAY THREE MONTHS, 90 DAYS, JUST A KIND OF PROJECTION? I MEAN, IS THAT SOMETHING? SO I HEARD THREE QUESTIONS.

I'LL JOT IT DOWN.

SO THE WATER PRESSURE WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED.

WE'VE ACTUALLY INSTALLED A SECONDARY WATER HOSE.

AND THE WATER PRESSURE IS.

PRESSURE THAT OUR CITY METER ALLOWS.

AND SO WE DO ALSO DO OUR OWN PRESSURE WASHING.

OUR FACILITIES STAFF ACTUALLY GOES OUT AND MAINTAINS IT.

SO THE WATER HOSE THAT THEY HAVE THERE IS DESIGNED TO JUST SPRAY THE TABLES DOWN.

IT SHOULDN'T PROVIDE A WATER, LIKE A PRESSURE WASHING PRESSURE.

AND SO WE HAVE ADDRESSED THAT.

JESSICA, MS. ROJAS HAS CERTAIN DAYS OF THE WEEK THAT SHE ATTENDS DINING WITH DIGNITY.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF WHEN YOU ATTENDED, IT WAS A DAY THAT SHE'S NOT SCHEDULED TO BE THERE.

BUT SHE DOES.

PROVIDE OTHER OUTREACH SERVICES OUTSIDE OF DINING WITH DIGNITY SERVICES.

SO THAT MAY BE DAYS, THERE MAY BE TIMES WHERE SHE'S NOT THERE THAT SHE WOULD BE ATTENDING STREET OUTREACH, OR SHE'S DOING THINGS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE SHE'S GETTING ALL THESE COUNTS AND NUMBERS FOR US.

IN REGARD TO THE TIMELINE, I THINK WE WANTED TO ROLL IT OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BUT ONCE I WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE PLAN AND THE FACILITY, I HAD TO TAKE A STEP BACK, MADAM COMMISSIONER, AND MAKE SURE THAT...

THE CITY, THERE WAS A LOT OF RISK INVOLVED WITH ROLLING THAT PROGRAM OUT WITHOUT THE PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO I THINK THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A TIMELINE THAT'S NOT REALISTIC, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD HAVE IT ROLLED OUT BEFORE THE END OF THIS FIFTH CALENDAR YEAR.

YOU GUYS KIND OF CONCEPTUALIZE THIS.

BEFORE I GOT IN THE OFFICE, SO I WILL ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED ABOUT THE GARDEN, AND THIS ISN'T A VALUE STATEMENT, IT'S JUST A QUESTION.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CITY IS SPENDING FUNDS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE PLACE, THE BUILDING AND STUFF, BUT IN TERMS OF THE STAFFING, DO WE HAVE STAFF WORKING THERE THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR? IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE REACHING OUT TO NGOS AND OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFITS AND TRYING TO PULL THEM IN TO HELP.

THE MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

AM I CORRECT? SO WE PROVIDE SECURITY SERVICES.

THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE PAYS GIDDENS SECURITY TO PROVIDE A FULL-TIME, WELL HE'S THERE DURING THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF DINING WITH DIGNITY.

RIGHT.

BECAUSE ROJAS IS THE CITY'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST AND SHE WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THIS PROGRAMMING, BUT DINING WITH DIGNITY IS A SMALL PIECE OF WHAT SHE DOES FOR THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PIECE.

OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S VERY MUCH THE WAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT, THAT WE'RE PROVIDING IT PHYSICALLY.

DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? NO, NO.

I WAS JUST GOING TO REITERATE WHAT JAMIE WAS SAYING IS THAT WE DO HAVE ONE STAFF MEMBER, ONE FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THE SECURITY GUARDS.

ALL THE OTHER ASPECTS OF DINING WITH DIGNITY ARE DONE BY VOLUNTEERS.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD WAY TO DO IT.

AND PLUS YOU GET BUY-IN.

YOU GET OWNERSHIP FROM PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S MY FIRST COMMENT.

SECOND ONE IS.

I'M VERY GLAD THAT YOU ARE BEING VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT THE SHOWERS AND THE LAUNDRY FROM THE START.

AND IF IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO DO IT, I'D RATHER HAVE IT STARTED PROPERLY.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT A SHOWER.

WHO'S GOING TO STAY IN THE SHOWER? HOW LONG? AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY THERE TO DO IT.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A WATER HEATER.

SO I AM VERY GLAD YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THIS.

AND I'M VERY GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE TRYING TO NOT REPLICATE IT WITH OTHER SERVICES ON THOSE GIVEN DAYS, JUST BECAUSE IT'S LESS, IT'S MORE EFFICIENT.

AND THE SECOND PART AND THE THIRD PART IS, AND THIS IS TO JUST TO BE HONEST, I MEAN, THE PURPOSE OF THIS FOR ME IS TO GIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DESPERATE SITUATIONS SERVICES WHEN THEY NEED THEM.

BUT THE REPATRIATION PART OF THIS IS THE PART THAT I LIKE BECAUSE I THINK THE FULL GOAL IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT.

I HAD CONVERSATIONS WHEN I WAS.

RUNNING FOR ELECTIONS, IT WAS SOMEBODY WHO USED TO BE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE UNITED WAY.

HE'S A FRIEND OF THE NEIGHBOR OF MINE, ST.

JOHNS COUNTY, AND HE WAS TELLING ME HOW ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, BEING ABLE TO WASH YOUR CLOTHES, BEING ABLE TO TAKE A SHOWER, THESE BUILD SELF-WORTH WITH THE IDEA THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY NOW GO BACK INTO SOCIETY.

SO I'M VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE'RE DOING THIS, AND I'M VERY GLAD TO HEAR IT.

MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE, IS MS. ROJAS THERE? BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IS PART OF HER JOB TO GET TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE AND TO MAYBE REACH OUT TO THEIR FAMILY AND STUFF.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE SUCCESS RATE THAT I WOULD LOOK AT ULTIMATELY ON THIS.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT WORK BECAUSE PEOPLE DESERVE TO GET BACK IN, IN A WAY.

THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

I REALLY DO UNDERSTAND THE

[01:20:03]

LIABILITY THAT CITY'S UNDER WITH OPERATING SHOWERS.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE VOLUNTEERS MONITORING THE PROCEDURES FOR SHOWERS.

I MEAN, THAT PUTS US IN A HUGE LIABILITY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK OUT HOW WE GET THAT DONE.

THE WASHER-DRYER IS A DIFFERENT THING, BUT THE SHOWERS IN PARTICULAR.

HAVE WE SURVEYED THE PARTICIPANTS TO SEE WHO MIGHT USE THOSE SERVICES AND HOW MANY SHOWERS OR ANY OF THE WASHER-DRYER? HAVE WE SURVEYED THEM? WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED A FORMAL SURVEY, BUT JUST FROM THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM USERS, WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE WELL USED.

AND THAT IT IS A SERVICE THAT IS NECESSARY.

BUT WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED, I HAVE NOT COMPLETED A FORMAL SURVEY SINCE THE TRANSITION.

RIGHT, BECAUSE IT MAY BE 10 PEOPLE.

IT MAY BE 50.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.

AND SO IN MAKING YOUR PLANS, IF IT'S ONLY 10, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR US TO MAKE THE PLAN.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO A FORMAL SURVEY AND KIND OF FIGURE IT OUT.

AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT I REMEMBER THAT MS. ROJAS JOB IS PRETTY NEW, AND IT PRIMARILY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DINING WITH DIGNITY NEW SITE, IT WAS PRIMARILY TO HELP GET THOSE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET THAT WERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

AND IT HAS MADE A REMARKABLE DIFFERENCE.

AND THAT POSITION, IT WAS NECESSARY.

AND THEN WE MADE IT FULL TIME JUST TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT SERVICE TO THE CITY AND TO INDIVIDUALS TO GET THEM HOME.

AND I AGREE THAT THAT'S THE PURPOSE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE HELPING PRIMARILY WITH FUNDS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN THAT ARE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.

WE JUST NEED TO PULL THEM TOGETHER, AND CONTINUING WITH CARE IS THAT HUB.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH CONTINUING WITH CARE TO WORK OUT SOMETHING, AND I THINK IT'LL HAPPEN.

AND I'D RATHER DO IT SLOW THAN WRONG.

AND FOR THOSE, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW THIS, BUT FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR SHOWER FACILITIES, WE ONLY HAVE TWO SHOWER STALLS THERE, A MEN'S AND A WOMAN'S.

SO THIS IS NOT A LARGE OPERATION TO BEGIN WITH.

IT'S PROBABLY, AS MY STUDENTS WOULD SAY, TMI, BUT TOO MUCH INFORMATION.

BUT I JUST REMEMBER GETTING OFF A RECENT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT, AND THE SHOWER AFTER THAT, WHATEVER, 24 HOURS OR SO, WAS GREAT.

IT WAS JUST GREAT.

AND SO I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HARD IT IS FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE.

WHO, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I DEFINITELY EMPATHIZE.

AND I THINK THAT THIS CITY AND THIS CITY STAFF AND THIS CITY COMMISSION HAS DEMONSTRATED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMPASSION BY TAKING AN ASSET THAT WE HAD OVER ON 312, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE 312 BRIDGE, AND TRADING IT FOR THIS PARCEL OF LAND THAT THIS...

FACILITY NOW SITS ON, INVESTING IN GETTING IT UP AND RUNNING AND DOING ALL THIS IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AS GOVERNMENT TIME CLOCKS TICK.

WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING IT AND DOING IT RIGHT.

WE HAVE 16,000, 16 AND A HALF THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.

THAT'S NOT A LOT OF...

RESOURCES IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE GETTING THREATENED WITH PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY A LOT OF THIS DISCRETIONARY TYPE OF FUNDING.

SO I THINK WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

I THINK WE'VE INVESTED, I KNOW WE'VE INVESTED A LOT INTO THIS, AND WE'VE MADE A DEEP COMMITMENT.

AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE WILL DO THIS, AND WE WILL DO IT RIGHT, AND WE'LL DO IT AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

BUT WE DO HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT.

I THANK YOU FOR...

FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR CAPACITY, MS. PERKINS, AND FOR EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY, VOLUNTEERS, AND EVERYBODY WHO'S HELPING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER.

ALL RIGHT, SO THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.

I'VE HEARD QUITE A BIT OF INPUT.

YES, JESSICA DOES, JESSICA IS THERE.

SHE'S NOT THERE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE SHE HAS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO DO.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW COMPLICATED CASE MANAGEMENT IS, BUT EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS INTENSE NEEDS, AND SHE'S THERE TO REALLY BASICALLY HOLD HANDS, AND IT'S VERY CHALLENGING FOR HER.

BUT I HAVE HAD SOME FEEDBACK FROM HER, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME WORK ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE.

I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT LAST WEEK.

I DO REMAIN, I WILL REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT...

SOME OF THE PROMISES THAT WE MADE TO OURSELVES AND TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I

[01:25:01]

APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE, AND I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE.

I UNDERSTAND THE SHOWERS ARE COMPLICATED, BUT THE WASHER AND DRYERS I THINK WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO TRY AND GET THAT ONLINE AS SOON AS WE CAN IN THAT FIRST PHASE, AS WELL AS THE BATHROOM ACCESS, THE GRAB BARS AND THE RAMPS.

ALL THE THINGS LIKE AN EXTRA GRILL BECAUSE THE ONE ISN'T ENOUGH TO FEED 100 PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, HOT DOGS FOR 100 PEOPLE OR HAMBURGERS FOR 100 PEOPLE, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST GOING TO BE THESE REQUESTS.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN AS WE GO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST TO DO THAT.

SO, NO, IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT'S COMPLICATED.

EVERY ASPECT OF THIS ENDEAVOR HAS BEEN INFINITELY MORE COMPLICATED THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED.

SO, PLEASE JUST KEEP GOING.

DON'T GET DOWN.

LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER.

AND I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF HOPE IN THE MOU WITH THE CONTINUUM CARE THAT MAY SOLVE A LOT OF OUR PROBLEMS OR AT LEAST DEVELOP A PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE CAN GET MORE SERVICES DELIVERED.

I MEAN, THAT IS THE GREAT HOPE, RIGHT? SO WE DO HAVE A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE.

AND I DO THINK THAT YOU HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE ABOUT KEEPING THE SITE CLEAN.

I KNOW I DID HEAR MS. GLADY TALKING ABOUT THE SITE AND KEEPING IT CLEAN AND POLICED AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

WELL, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN I SEE MS. GLADY SHAKING HER HEAD.

AND SHE'S THERE A LOT MORE THAN I AM.

BUT I DO DRIVE BY AND I DO CHECK IN.

BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY STAY ON TOP OF.

I WENT BY LAST WEEK AND IT WAS FINE.

THERE WAS NO TRASH, SO IT LOOKED GOOD.

BUT THINGS ARE BOUND TO HAPPEN.

WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE ALL HERE WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.

ALL THE INTENTIONS ARE THE BEST, AND THE WORK PRODUCT HAS GOT TO CONTINUE.

SO WE'RE ALL, I THINK, DEDICATED, AND THE CONTINUUM OF CARE IS DEDICATED TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS.

AND I REALIZE THAT THAT'S A VERY LOFTY GOAL, BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP TRYING.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.

THANK YOU FOR...

STICKING IN THERE AND PLEASE PASS OUR THANKS TO JESSICA FOR HER WORK BECAUSE SHE PUTS HER HEART AND SOUL INTO IT TOO.

SO WITH THAT SAID, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST HAVE A COMMENT.

I KNOW YOU JUST INHERITED THIS PROPERTY.

SO I KNOW THAT SOME OF THIS THAT I SAID, YOU PROBABLY FEEL LIKE I JUST GOT THE BALL.

SO I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SPINNING WHEELS ABOUT THIS PROPERTY FOR 18 MONTHS AND I BELIEVE THERE'S FOUR SHOWERS FOUR BATHROOMS, NOT TWO, BUT JUST TWO SHOWERS.

BUT I KNEW THERE'S FOUR BATHROOMS, RIGHT? THERE'S ONE STAFF BATHROOM IN THE BACK AND THEN THERE'S BATHROOMS ON EITHER SIDE WHEN YOU FIRST WALK INTO.

SO IT'S TWO SHOWERS WITH A TOILET IN EACH ONE.

AND THEN THERE'S A BATHROOM IN THE BACK THAT IT ONLY HAS TOILET FACILITIES FOR, WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED FOR STAFF OR VOLUNTEERS TO USE.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND ALL THE OTHER AREAS THAT YOU HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE.

[12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK]

ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY? NONE? OKAY.

ITEMS BY CITY CLERK? I JUST HAVE ONE BRIEF REMINDER THAT WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS OPEN UP, ONE ON OUR CORRIDOR REVIEW COMMITTEE BOARD AND ONE ON OUR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.

WE'RE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR.

EITHER OF THOSE BOARDS.

[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]

GREAT, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY AWARE THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT UNDER CHIEF AVILES HAVE BEEN RESPONDING TO FOREST FIRES IN NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AND PROVIDING THAT MUTUAL AID AND THEY STAND READY TO DO THAT WHENEVER THEY'RE ASKED FOR THAT HELP AND IT'S A CREDIT TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AND PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

I WANT TO THANK CHIEF AVELESE AND THE ST. AUGUSTINE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS]

ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

WHO WISHES TO GO FIRST? ANYONE WISH TO GO FIRST? COMMISSIONER GARRIS.

YOU LOOK READY.

I'M GLAD THIS IS GOING TO BE A SHORT MEETING TONIGHT, FOR ONE THING.

IT WAS KIND OF CONCERNING SEEING THOSE WEB PAGES DISCUSSING YOU KNOW, SAYING ALL THOSE THINGS, THAT'S KIND OF, IT FEELS UNSAFE.

IF THEY'RE OUT THERE POSTING THINGS OF THIS NATURE ON INSTAGRAM, DEFAMING THE MAYOR OR ANY

[01:30:01]

OF US BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AGREEING WITH THEIR HORSE CONCEPT, I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY BRING THAT TO MAYBE THE STATE ATTORNEY OR SOMEBODY.

I THINK WE NEED TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS REALLY GOING ON.

I MEAN, THERE'S PICTURES AND EVIDENCE.

BECAUSE IF THEY'RE FEELING THAT WAY AND THEY'RE COMING IN HERE, WE'RE KIND OF VULNERABLE, AND IT'S A SAFETY THING.

I MEAN, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY FOR THE HORSES, BUT WHAT ABOUT SAFETY FOR US? IF THEY'RE FEELING THAT STRONGLY ABOUT THIS, THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE PUTTING ALL KIND OF CRAZY MEDIA STUFF ON THERE, THERE'S NO TELLING WHO THEY'RE GOING TO DRIVE TO COME IN HERE.

I JUST THINK WE NEED TO PROBABLY GET SOMEBODY TO LOOK INTO THESE THINGS BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL, I DIDN'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WASN'T DIRECTLY TARGETING ME.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO DIRECTLY TARGET ANY OF US.

WE COME IN HERE TO DO A THING TO RUN THE CITY AND NOT, I MEAN, WE GOT RID OF ONE, YOU KNOW, DEALT WITH ONE HORSE SITUATION THAT THEY GOT EVIDENCE ON AND THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

THEY'RE STILL COMING.

THAT'S MY THOUGHTS.

WELL, WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE MATERIALS THAT WERE PRESENTED TONIGHT AND WE'LL SPEAK TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT WHAT THAT MATERIAL SAYS AND THEN WE CAN GET BACK TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS INDIVIDUALLY AND TALK ABOUT OPTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M NOT INTIMIDATED.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN CALLED EVERY NAME IN THE BOOK IN THIS JOB, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, OVER THESE YEARS.

AND NO, IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD.

IT'S CREEPY.

BUT IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO.

AND SO IT'S DISTURBING.

YEAH.

AND BUT IT'S NOT ANYTHING NEW.

IT COMES WITH THE JOB.

WE ARE PUBLIC FIGURES AND WE WILL BE ACCUSED OF EVERYTHING IN THE BOOK.

BUT WE KNOW WHAT OUR INTENTIONS ARE.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT.

WHAT WE ALL BELIEVE TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE SITUATION FOR THE COMMUNITY.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR SENTIMENT, AND I THINK THAT IT'S WISE TO TAKE A LOOK.

AND DEFINITELY A GOOD SOLUTION, SO THANK YOU.

BUT, OKAY, COMMISSIONER? YEAH, QUICK.

I'M COMING IN HERE TODAY, AND I WENT BY SOME NEW BIKE RACKS AT THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE ALLIANCE.

I'M VERY HAPPY.

HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

I SHOULD SAY ON THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE LINE IS ON THE ISLAND SIDE, AND I WILL SPREAD THE WORD THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY'RE THERE.

IT'S VERY CONVENIENT.

PARK YOUR BIKE, WALK OVER THE BRIDGE.

YOU DON'T GET BIKES.

NOT EVERYBODY'S AS CRAZY AS ME WHEN I DRIVE A BIKE DOWNTOWN, SO I THINK THEY'LL PROBABLY BE WELL USED.

SECOND, SINCE THE LAST MEETING, I DID GO TO BOTH THE STAFF RECOGNITION DAY AND THE VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION LUNCH, AND IT WAS VERY...

REFRESHING TO SEE THAT BECAUSE I DO REMIND MYSELF OFTEN THAT THERE'S 400 OR SO PEOPLE THAT ARE OPERATING THE CITY WHILE WE SIT UP HERE.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS THAT GO ON THE VOLUNTEER BOARDS.

I MET THE FOLKS.

I MET A GUY FROM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.

I WENT AROUND EACH TABLE AND I TRIED TO MEET.

WE HAD THE ARCHAEOLOGY CREW.

THEY WERE DEFINITELY THE ONES GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE LUNCH, YOU KNOW.

PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS.

THE PEOPLE FROM BOTH THE LINCOLNVILLE AND THE WEST CITY CRA, AND IT DID REMIND ME, I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THAT IF YOU'RE ON THE PLANNING BOARD, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING QUITE A BIT OF TIME IF YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB RIGHT.

THE LEARNING CURVE IS HARD.

IT'S A COMMITMENT.

AND THEN HAVING WATCHED SOME OF THE HARD MEETINGS FOR SOME OF THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING, I KNOW THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE EXTRA TIME TO THANK EVERYBODY.

AND THEN I DID HAVE AN INVITATION.

I THINK I SAW, WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK I DID SEE THE MAYOR THERE ALSO.

I GOT AN INVITATION TO THE NEW OPENING OF THE NEW UF MARINE SCIENCE CENTER, I THINK IS WHAT IT IS, A RESEARCH CENTER.

AND AT THE END OF THE, RIGHT OVER THE MATANZAS INLET.

I GOT TO SAY FOR, IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VE BEEN INVITED TO FOR MY OWN PERSONAL INTEREST SET BECAUSE THE BUILDING IS A REALLY COOL BUILDING AS FAR AS DESIGN WHEN YOU GET INSIDE.

BUT IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO BE IN THE LABS BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO, FIRST OF ALL, TO SEE THE BACKING THAT THEY HAD FROM THE STATE, TO TALK ABOUT SCIENCE AND TO TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SCIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING NATURE IN SOME VERY FUNDAMENTAL WAYS, AND THEN HAVING THAT PERSONAL THING OF WALKING THROUGH THE LABORATORIES AND TALKING TO THESE STUDENTS.

AND PROFESSORS ABOUT THEIR WORK AND THE EXCITEMENT THAT THEY HAD AND THE PASSION THEY HAVE

[01:35:03]

AND THE INTELLIGENCE THEY HAVE.

AND I WAS JUST REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.

NICE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MANAGER AND THE ATTORNEY AND THE CLERK AND THE CHIEF FOR KEEPING US INFORMED ABOUT IMMEDIATE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

IT REALLY HELPS FOR ME TO KNOW WHAT'S ON MY RADAR THAT I NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO, AND I CAN DO THE RESEARCH.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I DID MISS THE VOLUNTEER BANQUET BECAUSE I MESSED UP ON MY CALENDAR AND I WAS THE ONE SOME YEARS AGO THAT SAID WE OUGHT TO REINSTITUTE THIS BECAUSE I WAS ON THE ON A VOLUNTEER BOARD AND I JUST THOUGHT WE OUGHT TO BE RECOGNIZED.

SO I'M SORRY.

I REALLY AM SORRY.

I MISSED THAT.

IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

AND THE HORACE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT IMPLIED THAT I WAS RETIRING.

BECAUSE I'M AFRAID OF THE HORSE ISSUE.

I'M JUST AN OLD GRAY MARE THAT'S PAST HIS LIFE EXPECTANCY THAT NEEDS TO RETIRE.