[1. CALL TO ORDER]
          [00:00:04]
          GOOD EVENING. THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. 
          NANCY SIKES-KLINE HERE. 
          BARBARA BLONDER. 
          CYNTHIA GARRIS. 
          HERE. 
          JIM SPRINGFIELD. 
          HERE. 
          JON DEPRETER HERE. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY MAYOR ELECT CYNTHIA GARRIS. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU CAN STAND, STAND. 
          I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
          THANK YOU. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER WILL NOT BE WITH US THIS EVENING. SHE WILL BE RETURNING IN OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. 
          [2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS     ]
THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS MODIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR AGENDA. 
          COMMISSIONERS, ANY MODIFICATIONS? NO, MR. CITY MANAGER. 
          NO, WE HAVE NO MODIFICATIONS. 
          I MOVE THAT WE PASS THE REGULAR AGENDA AS PRESENTED. 
          SECOND. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. 
          AYE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          [3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS     ]
ALL RIGHT. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE PROCLAMATION 2026-19 PROCLAIMING JULY 4, 2026, IS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. AND I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN AFTER THAT I WILL CALL MS. DIANA KAISER FORWARD AND MAYBE IF SHE'S GOT A POSSE, SHE CAN BRING THEM TOO. AND I WILL ALL STAND AND SHE CAN ACCEPT THE AWARD AND WE'LL GET A NICE PICTURE. WHEREAS THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS ADOPTED ON JULY 4, 1776 BY THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, DECLARING THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS POSSESS NATURAL RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. 
          WHEREAS, THE CONGRESS DELIBERATED THOMAS JEFFERSON'S DRAFT FOR NEARLY THREE DAYS, REMOVING AND REVISING PASSAGES, YET PRESERVING THE ENDURING PRINCIPLE THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THEREBY ELEVATING EQUALITY TO A DEFINING POLITICAL IDEAL THAT HAS INSPIRED GENERATIONS TO DEMAND JUSTICE. AND WHEREAS, FOR 250 YEARS, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAS INSPIRED PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD TO REFLECT UPON THE MEANING OF A NATION FOUNDED ON FAIRNESS, EQUALITY, AND SELF GOVERNMENT. AND WHEREAS, ON JULY 8, 1776, COLONEL JAMES NIXON PUBLICLY READ THE DECLARATION OUTSIDE INDEPENDENCE HALL, AFTER WHICH IT WAS PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE COLONIES, IN PUBLIC SQUARES, CHURCHES, AND BEFORE BOTH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN AUDIENCES. AND WHEREAS, COMMEMORATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE DAY HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME FROM SPEECHES HONORING THE FOUNDING FATHERS TO MODERN OBSERVANCES WITH PICNICS, ATHLETICS, AND FIREWORKS. WHILE THE LEGACY OF THE DECLARATION ENDURES IN CIVIC TRADITIONS SUCH AS PUBLIC READINGS AND CONSTITUTIONAL OBSERVANCES. AND WHEREAS, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAS SERVED AS A MODEL FOR MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD SEEKING FREEDOM AND SELF DETERMINATION. AND ITS PRINCIPLES CONTINUE TO INSPIRE THOSE WHO STRIVE FOR LIBERTY. WHEREAS, IN AN APPOINTED HOUR ON JULY 04, CITIZENS ACROSS THE NATION ARE ENCOURAGED TO GATHER IN PUBLIC SQUARES, CIVIC SPACES, INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES TO READ ALOUD THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, REAFFIRMING OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO THESE IDEALS. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA HEREBY PROCLAIMS JULY 04, 2026, AS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. AND THIS OBSERVANCE SHALL SERVE AS A UNIFYING ACT OF REMEMBRANCE AND REFLECTION, HONORING THE COURAGE OF THOSE WHO FIRST DECLARED INDEPENDENCE 
          [00:05:01]
AND RENEWING THE PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY AND EQUALITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SIGNED BY MYSELF. ALL RIGHT, SO MS. KAISER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN ME AND THE COMMISSION. 
          [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT. 
          WELCOME TO. HELLO. HELLO. 
          WELCOME, EVERYONE. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU LADIES AGAIN. 
          HELLO. 
          GOOD. 
          ALL RIGHT. SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION. AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS AND CITIZENS FOR THIS HONOR. RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF AMERICA 250, WE WANT TO MENTION A FEW THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING IN THE CITY LEADING UP TO IT. 
          ON JULY 2ND AT 10AM WE'LL BE PLACING FLAGS ON EVERY GRAVE AT THE ST. 
          AUGUSTINE NATIONAL CEMETERY. 
          SO PLEASE JOIN US. WE'LL RETURN THERE ON THE 6TH OF JULY TO REMOVE THEM. AND ON JULY 8TH, WE'LL BE HAVING A READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, CELEBRATING THE 250 YEAR YEARS AGO ON THAT DATE WHEN IT WAS FIRST READ IN PHILADELPHIA, WHICH WE HAVE SIX DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS READING THE SECTIONS. 
          AND WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US. 
          THAT IS AT THE JIMENEZ SPATIO HOUSE. 
          AT THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AND AT CLOCK THE ACTUAL READING WILL COMMENCE. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A SIMULTANEOUS WORLDWIDE READING AT 6PM EASTERN TIME. SO WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US. AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON, PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS WWW.AMERICA250STAUGFL.ORG. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. 
          [APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          [4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING]
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 SPEAKER CARD AND I WILL CALL YOU TO THE PODIUM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S RULES OF DECORUM. COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS DO 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 OF THE SPEAKER'S COMMENTS. 
          FINALLY, I WOULD ASK THAT ANY HO USES THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR TO PLEASE SUBMIT THOSE ITEMS TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. 
          WITH THAT SAID, THE FIRST S. 
          THOMAS REYNOLDS, WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TED HILL. 
          THOMAS REYNOLDS, 1244, MILE 32084. TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STRESS THAT A HORSE IS UNDER. THAT'S A HORSE CARRIAGE HORSE. AS EVERYONE KNOWS, A YOUNG MAN RECENTLY DIED IN NEW YORK CITY. 18. HE FELL FROM A HORSE CARRIAGE. WELL, FOLKS, THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN I CAME DOWNTOWN, I LISTENED TO ALL THE DIFFERENT NOISES THAT THERE WERE. THIS IS A NOISY CITY. IT CAN'T BE HELPED. GOLF CARTS, PEDICABS, PEOPLE GIVING TOURS 
          [00:10:03]
ON LOUDSPEAKERS, HORNS, LOUD CARS WITH LOUD TAILPIPES, DIESEL PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THOSE LOUD PIPES. 
          ANYWAYS, THAT'S A LOT OF STRESS FOR A HORSE. AND THEN WE GOT THE HEAT. AND AS YOU KNOW, I'VE SPOKE ABOUT THE HEAT BEFORE. EXTREME THERMOREGULATION STRESS. SO THE HORSE IS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS. UNLIKE HUMANS, THEIR INTERNAL COOLING MECHANISMS FAIL QUICKLY UNDER EXTREME HEAT AND HIGH HUMIDITY. WELL, THAT'S US. EXTREME HEAT, HIGH HUMIDITY, FOLKS, AT , PAVEMENT TEMPERATURE 136 ON THE BAYFRONT. 136, FOLKS. 
          AND ALSO TOO, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HIGH VOLUME OF WATER, CLEAN WATER, NOT THAT FILTHY WATER I'VE SEEN OUT THERE. AND FOLKS, ALSO COLIC RISK. SOMEBODY TRIED TO DEFLECT COLIC. COLIC RISK IS VERY COMMON WHEN A HORSE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER. IF A HORSE BECOMES EVEN MILDLY, MILDLY DEHYDRATED FROM SWEATING WITHOUT PROMPT WATER REPLACEMENT, ITS RISK OF DEVELOPING IMPACTION COLIC. A MAJOR AND FREQUENTLY FATAL GASTRONOMAL INTESTINAL EMERGENCY. FOLKS, EVERY SINGLE SITUATION IS SET UP FOR THAT HORSE TO BE A UNDER STRESS. WE HAVE TO FACE IT. IT REALLY IS TIME TO END IT. IT'S TIME TO PUT THE BRAKES ON IT. YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT THE OTHER DAY. THREE PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT THE DOOR HERE. AND I GOTTA TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU'RE GONNA GO OUT THE DOOR KNOWING THAT THERE'S HORSE ABUSE STILL GOING ON. PLEASE END IT TONIGHT. MAKE A MOTION DURING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS. 
          SLAM THE BRAKES ON IT. WE GOT THE ELECTRIC HORSELESS CARRIAGES. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER IS TED HILL, FOLLOWED BY MADELINE WISE. 
          HELLO, MY NAME IS TED HILL AND I'M FROM MANLY TOYS AND HOBBIES. 
          DANG, IT. 
          HAPPENED AGAIN. 
          I PRACTICED THIS, BY THE WAY. 
          SO THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN. I'M JUST HERE TO SUPPORT LETTING MY SIS, MY BUSINESS LIVE. THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT IS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE CITY IN THE EVENT THAT MY SHOP GOES AWAY. YOU'VE GOT SOME DIFFICULT VOTING COMING UP AND SOME CHALLENGES TO YOUR BUDGET. 
          THEY'RE NOT LITTLE, THEY'RE BIG. 
          AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OR POSSIBILITY TO LOSE A LOT OF TAX MONEY COMING UP AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS BURDEN ON THE CITY. 
          I GIVE YOU MONEY. 
          IF YOU TAKE MY STORE AWAY, YOU WON'T GET ANY OF THAT. 
          AND IF YOU BUILD A BATHROOM, YOU'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE EXPENSE AND THEN YOU'VE GOT ADDED COST OF MAINTAINING THAT BATHROOM. 
          THE LOSS OF A VIBRANT SMALL BUSINESS. 
          SO IT'S FINANCIALLY IN YOUR BEST INTEREST AS A CITY TO KEEP ME ALIVE. 
          SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT S MADELINE WISE, FOLLOWED BY ROBIN THOMAS. GOOD EVENING. 
          MADELINE WISE, 140 WASHINGTON STREET. I'M FIRST OF ALL, I JUST SERVED SIX YEARS ON THE LCRA. SO I'M GOING TO START WITH THE LCRA. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE YOU THE COMMISSION TO PLEASE GIVE THAT BOARD A LITTLE BIT OF POWER AND THAT'S TO LEAD ME TO THE FISHING PIER THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN LAKEVILLE FOR FIVE YEARS. AND WE JUST DISCOVERED IN OUR LAST LCRA MEETING THAT THE FISH APPEAR WASN'T APPROVED OR DENIED. IT WAS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS SAID. 
          BUT WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF IT AT ALL IN THAT MEETING AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT, LIKE I SAID FOR FIVE YEARS AND IT WAS A PART OF THAT KAYAK LAUNCH AND WE'RE NOT VERY HAPPY THAT Y' ALL TOOK THAT AWAY AND DIDN'T WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO THEY SUGGESTED THAT WE TALK TO THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THIS GETTING THAT FISHING PAIR BACK ON THE BOOKS. WE HEARD THERE'S A FEW COMPLICATIONS WITH THE STATE TODAY SORT BUT OKAY. 
          [00:15:01]
AND MY NEXT WE ARE TRYING TO WE HAD SPOKE WITH COMMISSIONER BLONDER ABOUT DOING THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM IN LINCOLNVILLE BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT BECAUSE LINCOLNVILLE IS NOT A HP DISTRICT, WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PROTECTION. AND BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU GO IN LANCORVILLE, WE'VE LOST A LOT OF OUR HISTORY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A HP DISTRICT AND WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT MAIN STREET PROGRAM WILL BE THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO PROTECT THE LITTLE THAT WE HAVE LEFT OF OUR HISTORY. NOW TO THE EDUCATION PROJECT THAT'S WITH JENNY WOLF WASN'T VERY HAPPY WITH THAT BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY PUT TOGETHER WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO US, THEY HAD ALREADY HAD ALL THE INFORMATION PUT IN PLACE AND THEN THEY JUST WANTED US TO SUPPORT IT. 
          WELL, WE DID. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM NOW. BUT WE WEREN'T VERY HAPPY BECAUSE SHE WAS TELLING BITS AND PIECES OF THE STORY. AND WE REALLY LIKE FOR OUR STORY TO BE TOLD BY US. NOT PEOPLE COME FROM OUT OF TOWN. NOT HIGHLIGHTING ALL THESE OTHER GREAT PEOPLE AROUND THE UNITED STATES. 
          BECAUSE WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE IN ST. 
          AUGUSTINE THAT HAS DONE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE RECOGNIZING. SO THAT WAS ONE OF OUR BIG THINGS. AND I KNOW THERE'S A PROPOSAL WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PUTTING PICNIC BENCHES AROUND. NOT PICNIC BENCHES, BUT BENCHES AROUND WITH STATUES ON IT. 
          WELL, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO USE PEOPLE FROM ST. AUGUSTINE, NOT RAY CHARLES, NOT ZORA. NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST THEM, BUT USE. WE GOT ENOUGH PEOPLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE THAT HAS REALLY DONE SOME GREAT THINGS. 
          AND JUST LIKE I THINK THE CITY IS DOING PARTY FOR DR. 
          HALING, WE ARE DOING A PARTY FOR FRANK BUTLER, AUGUST 15TH ON THE BEACH, ON BUTLER'S BEACH, BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE THINGS THAT HE HAS DONE IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBIN THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY HOWARD DUGAT. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ROBIN THOMAS AND I'M HERE TO READ THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION. CHARTER FOR COMPASSION TRANSFORMATION FROM INNER HEALING TO PLANETARY FLOURISHING THE 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, 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 THAT HUMAN. 
          THAT INNER HEALING EXTENDS OUTWARD THROUGH JUST RELATIONSHIPS, REGENERATIVE SYSTEMS, AND RELEVANT CARE FOR ALL LIFE. COMPASSION IS BOTH THE DEEP AWARENESS OF SUFFERING AND COURAGEOUS COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMATION. 
          ADDRESSING SYMPTOMS AND ROOT CAUSES THROUGH INTERNAL ACTION AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE. THE CHARTER OF OUR SACRED PROMISE TO LIFE ITSELF. A COMMITMENT TO EMBODY THE CHANGE WE SEEK, TO HEAL THE WOUNDS WE HAVE INHERITED AND TO PLANT THE SEEDS OF FLOURISHING FOR GENERATIONS YET TO COME. 
          IT IS AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREATEST STORY ERA. 
          TOLD THE STORY OF LIFE AWAKENS 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 THE WORLD WHERE ALL BEINGS CAN THRIVE IN DIGNITY, BEAUTY, AND BELOVED COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. 
          CAN YOU PLEASE HOLD APPLAUSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          HOWARD DUGAT, FOLLOWED BY ALBERT MARTINEZ. 
          SLIGHT CORRECTION. MY NAME IS HOWARD DUCAT. SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT. 
          IF YOU WISH TO, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. OKAY, HOWARD. IF YOU SO DESIRE. 
          HOWARD DUCAT. I LIVE AT 435 NORTH OCEAN GRAND DRIVE, PONTE VEDRA. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT MANLY TOYS AND HOBBIES, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR STORES IN ST. AUGUSTINE. MY FRIEND WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR 15 YEARS, TED HILL, IS SO DEVOTED. WHEN HE TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE HIM WITH A BATHROOM, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I MEAN, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A NEED 
          [00:20:01]
FOR BATHROOM, BUT WHY WOULD YOU TAKE AWAY A STORE THAT'S SO CREATIVE AND SO UNIQUE AND SO SPECIAL TO SO MANY VISITORS THAT COME HERE? SO I'M HERE IN HOPES THAT YOU WILL EITHER FIND ANOTHER BUILDING FOR HIM TO BE IN BECAUSE HE'S SO DEVOTED AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO MY WIFE, LINDA DUCAT, WHO'S VICE PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL OF AGING, ANOTHER GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND HARD WORKERS. 
          PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE. 
          NEXT SPEAKER IS ALBERT MARTINEZ, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE ZOTA. 
          MR. MARTINEZ, IF YOU WISH TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. 
          ALBERT MARTINEZ, 40 TESLA COURT, ST. AUGUSTINE. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MANLY TOYS AND HOBBIES. TED HILL. I USED TO WORK FOR HIM SEVERAL YEARS AGO BEFORE COVID AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, COVID CAME AROUND AND I HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE HIS PLACE CLOSED DOWN AS WELL. AND THAT WASN'T GOOD FOR ANYONE, ANY BUSINESS OWNER. I USED TO BE A BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF, AND I KNOW HOW IT IS. IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD. 
          BUT IT WAS VERY GOOD TO SEE HIM COME OUT, RISE OUT OF THE ASHES. NOW, AT THIS POINT, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TALK ABOUT TED HIMSELF, BECAUSE HE'S NOT ONLY A BUSINESS OWNER, BUT HE'S VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD FOR THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE TREATS HIS CUSTOMERS. I'VE SEEN IT IN ACTION WITH OVER AND OVER AGAIN. HE TREATS HIS CUSTOMERS LIKE GOLD. I'VE BEEN TO OUR SISTER CITY IN SAVANNAH. I CAN'T SAY THAT FOR THEM. PEOPLE COME BACK AND THEY WANT TO SEE HIM OR THAT PARTICULAR STORE BECAUSE THAT STORE HAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT WHERE OTHER STORES DON'T. 
          IN ST. AUGUSTINE, WHY PUT A BATHROOM IN A STORE THAT HAS ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS? YOU HAVE TO DO A LOT OF RENOVATION FOR THAT. 
          BATHROOMS ARE. THERE ARE THREE BATHROOMS WITHIN ONE BLOCK VICINITY OF MANLY TOYS AND HOBBIES. 
          THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE, RIGHT NEXT DOOR. OKAY, SO YOU WANT TO. YOU WANT MORE BATHROOMS. YOU HAVE PORTA POTTIES. THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. 
          BUT ALSO THERE'S A BATHROOM IN THE ADJACENT PARKING LOT. 
          BY FLORIDA CRACKER, I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED. RIGHT BEHIND THAT. THAT COULD BE EXPANDED. YOU'LL LOSE MAYBE SIX, MAYBE EIGHT PARKING SPOTS, BUT THAT'S NOT PUTTING A MAN OUT OF BUSINESS AND TAKING AWAY WHAT I CALL THE JEWEL OF ST. 
          AUGUSTINE, MANLY TOYS, AND HOBBIES. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. I JUST HOPE YOU'RE HIT YOUR HEART BECAUSE IT REALLY DID MINE. I DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE. I. I DON'T WORK FOR HIM. I JUST KNOW THE MAN AND HE'S UPSTANDING, WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL. YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE A PERSON LIKE THAT. IT REALLY ADDS TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT. THE FACT THAT WE'RE VERY FRIENDLY HERE. WELL, THANK YOU. 
          KATHERINE ZOTA, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER. SORRY, GOTTA PUT MY GLASSES ON. HEATHER WILSON. IF I CALL YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE COMING SECOND, WOULD YOU MIND PLEASE COMING FORWARD IN THEIR SEATS OPEN AT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM FOR YOU SO THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS MEETING. WE HAVE ABOUT 45 MINUTES WORTH OF SPEAKERS. CATHERINE ZOTA. 
          NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. IF YOU WISH. KATHERINE ZOTA. 
          JUST DAYS AGO, A RUNAWAY CARRIAGE HORSE IN NEW YORK CITY ENDED IN TRAGEDY, REMINDING US OF THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF WHEN A HORSE SPOOKS IN A BUSY URBAN ENVIRONMENT. 
          JUST WEEKS AGO, A ST. 
          AUGUSTINE CARRIAGE HORSE SPOOKED BECAUSE A BANNER WAS BLOWING IN THE WIND. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE VIDEO OF THAT INCIDENT. 
          [00:25:21]
THE DRIVER STATED. AS THE DRIVER STATED IN THE VIDEO, THE HORSE SPOOKED BECAUSE THE BANNER HAD CHANGED AND WAS BLOWING IN THE WIND. 
          YET AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, HE ACCUSED ACTIVISTS OF INTENTIONALLY FRIGHTENING THE HORSE. THE VIDEO SHOWS THE HORSE REACTED TO A BANNER BLOWING IN THE WIND, NOT TO ACTIVISTS TRYING TO SCARE HIM. IF A BANNER BLOWING IN THE WIND CAN TRIGGER A SPOOK RESPONSE, THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE BANNER. 
          THE PROBLEM IS PLACING PREY ANIMALS ON BUSY PUBLIC STREETS WHERE ORDINARY EVERYDAY SIGHTS AND SOUNDS CAN TRIGGER A DANGEROUS REACTION. RESIDENTS AND VISITORS SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO ALTER LAWFUL EVERYDAY BEHAVIOR TO ACCOMMODATE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE OPERATIONS. SECTION 27127 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE STATES THE CARRIAGE OPERATIONS ARE SUBORDINATE TO THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO USE THE CITY'S STREETS AND PUBLIC SPACES. IN THE WORDS OF LONGTIME CARRIAGE DRIVER JESSE ZABO, CHANGING A BANNER SCARES HORSES. THINGS WAVING IN THE WIND SCARE HORSES. 
          THESE ARE ORDINARY EVERYDAY OCCURRENCES THAT CANNOT BE CONTROLLED OR ELIMINATED. THIS INCIDENT DEMONSTRATES HOW EASILY A HORSE CAN SPOOK UNDER ORDINARY CONDITIONS. THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER ANOTHER HORSE WILL SPOOK. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE NEXT SPOOK WILL END IN TRAGEDY. DON'T WAIT FOR TRAGEDY AND THIS CRUEL INDUSTRY. 
          NOW IS HEATHER WILSON, FOLLOWED BY CARLINA HILL. NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE. IF YOU SO DESIRE, MS. WILSON. 
          GOOD EVENING. THE CURRENT ST. 
          AUGUSTINE MUNICIPAL CODE DOES NOTHING TO HELP CARRIAGE HORSES. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THREE EXAMPLES. 
          EXAMPLE NUMBER ONE, COASTAL CARRIAGES HORSE BARBIE WHO SUSTAINED A SIGNIFICANT LACERATION TO HER RIGHT HIND LEG IN LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY MARCH OF THIS YEAR. THIS APPEARED TO BE A NON UNION SKIN LACERATION, REMAINING OPEN AND BLEEDING FOR MONTHS. FRED AND JASON WERE WELL AWARE OF THIS HORSE'S LEG 4, 28, 26, OPEN AND ACTIVELY BLEEDING. 
          APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER SHE HAS HER VET EXAM, THE VERY FIRST ITEM, MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAM, FREE FROM WOUNDS, OPEN SORES, AND SWELLING. IT IS CHECKED OFF AS SATISFACTORY. TEN DAYS LATER THE WOUND IS STILL OPEN AND ACTIVELY BLEEDING. THIS LEAVES ONE OF TWO EXPLANATIONS OR A COMBINATION THEREOF. 
          JASON AND OR FRED DELIBERATELY CONCEALED THIS WOUND SO THE VET WOULD NOT SEE IT. THE VET DID NOT PROPERLY EXAMINE THIS WORKING HORSE'S LEGS SO IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF EITHER ONE OF THOSE FACTORS. EXAMPLE NUMBER TWO, NONE OF THE CARRIAGE HORSES LIVE IN ST. AUGUSTINE WHERE THE MUNICIPAL CODE IS ENFORCEABLE FOR THEIR STABLING COASTAL CARRIAGES. KEEPS MOOSE AND BARBIE IN SLUM LIKE CONDITIONS. FILTHY, FULL OF HORSE MANURE, BROKEN FENCING, AND NO DRY BEDDING. 
          AS A SIDE NOTE, WHERE ARE CREAM AND DAVE? WE HAVE NOT SEEN THEM IN A LONG TIME. SO BECAUSE THE ADDRESS IS IN THE UNINCORPORATED SECTION OF ST. AUGUSTINE, THE MUNICIPAL CODE IS NOT ENFORCEABLE. HOW CONVENIENT. EXAMPLE NUMBER THREE, MUNICIPAL CODE REQUIRES AT LEAST 15 MINUTES REST FOR THE HORS IN BETWEEN TOURS. 
          ON SIX HOURS, 14 MINUTES AND 26 SECOND WE WITNESSED BARBIE GET BARELY A FIVE MINUTE BREAK. 
          A LITTLE WHILE LATER A POLICE OFFICER HAPPENED TO BE WALKING PAST US AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE VIOLATION WHICH WAS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING GIVEN BARBIE'S RECENT INJURY AND HE SAID WELL, UNLESS I SEE YOUR TIMESTAMP VIDEOS, THERE'S NOTHING THAT I CAN DO BECAUSE I DID NOT PERSONALLY WITNESS IT. SO WE ARE USING THE HONOR SYSTEM TO ENFORCE MUNICIPAL CODE AND THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT HONORABLE. 
          WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME. HORSES DON'T GET WATER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR TOURS, THEY DON'T GET A FULL 15 MINUTE BREAK AND THE LIST GOES ON. 
          BY NOW WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE UNFORTUNATE 18 YEAR OLD TOURIST WHO WAS THROWN FROM A RUNAWAY CARRIAGE IN NEW YORK FROM A SPOOKED CARRIAGE INCIDENT AND ANOTHER CARRIAGE HORSE LOSING HIS LIFE IN CENTRAL PARK. PLEASE, LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING AND FINALLY ABOLISH THIS CRUEL AND OUTDATED TOURIST ATTRACTION BEFORE ST. 
          AUGUSTINE HAS ITS OWN TRAGEDY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER IS CARINA HILL. 
          [00:30:02]
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE. 
          PLEASE. 
          CARLINA HILL. GOOD EVENING. 
          MY NAME IS CAR. I AM TED'S WIFE. I LIVE ON 205 SOUTH OCEAN GRAND DRIVE, NUMBER 302, PONTE VEDRA BEACH. I HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY FOR 26 YEARS, AND DURING THAT TIME I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT MAKES ST. AUGUSTINE A SPECIAL PLACE. OUR CITY OFFERS A UNIQUE BLEND OF HISTORY, CULTURE, MUSIC, LOCAL SHOPS, OUTSTANDING RESTAURANTS, AND OF COURSE, OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES. THESE QUALITIES ATTRACT VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND CREATE A COMMUNITY THAT RESIDENTS ARE PROUD TO CALL HOME. WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE FAMILIES NO LONGER SPEND THEIR WEEKENDS AT SHOPPING MALLS AND FAMILIAR STORES ACROSS AMERICA ARE CLOSING THEIR DOORS. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEKING TODAY IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES AND MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS. FAMILIES COME TO ST. AUGUSTINE TO SPEND QUALITY TIME TOGETHER, EXPLORE OUR HISTORIC DOWNTOWN, AND ENJOY EVERYTHING OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER. TED'S SHOP IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT MAKES DOWNTOWN ST. 
          AUGUSTINE SUCCESSFUL. PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING YEAR AFTER YEARS. BECAUSE OUR SHOP IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN SELLING PRODUCTS, TED HAS BUILT A LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CUSTOMERS, MANY OF WHOM RETURN ANNUALLY AND HAVE BECOME FRIENDS. THE SHOP PROVIDES AN EXPERIENCE, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER, CONNECT, AND ENJOY THEMSELVES. IT IS A REFLECTION OF THE WELCOMING SPIRIT THAT MAKES ST. 
          AUGUSTINE SO SPECIAL. SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE OURS ARE VITAL TO THE CHARACTER AND ECONOMY OF OUR CITY. EVERY LOCAL BUSINESS CONTRIBUTES SOMETHING UNIQUE, AND TOGETHER WE CREATE THE VIBRANT DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE THAT DRAWS VISITORS HERE. NO SINGLE BUSINESS CAN DO IT ALONE. WE RELY ON ONE ANOTHER, AND OUR COLLECTIVE SUCCESS BENEFITS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE IMPACT YOUR DECISIONS HAVE ON LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BUILD SOMETHING MEANINGFUL, SUPPORT LOCAL FAMILIES, AND HELPED ATTRACT VISITORS TO OUR WONDERFUL CITY. 
          PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES IS NOT JUST ABOUT PRESERVING INDIVIDUAL STORES. 
          IT IS ABOUT PRESERVING THE CHARACTER, CHARM, AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE ITSELF. THANK YOU FOR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO SUPPORT US. THANK YOU. 
          KAREN MARSH. FOLLOWED BY BRIAN BLISS. KAREN MARSH. 
          OKAY, I SEE YOU, MISS MARSH. 
          NAME AND ADDRESS IF YOU SO DESIRE. 
          YES, MY NAME IS KAREN MARSH. I LIVE AT 471 SALZITO AVENUE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND I JUST LOVE THIS CITY. I'VE COME HERE AS A TOURIST SINCE I WAS A CHILD. 
          I'M LIVING HERE NOW FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER, I'M SEEING A LOT AND I WAS PULLED TO LINCOLNVILLE AND I ENDED UP WORKING WITH THEM WITH THEIR HISTORICAL FESTIVAL. 
          IT'S AMAZING, THESE PEOPLE, THE LOVE THEY HAVE FOR THEIR PART OF TOWN AND THERE'S THEIR LITTLE SPACE OF HISTORY THAT THEY WANT TO PRESERVE. IT'S BEEN HARD THROUGH THE YEARS, BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE SO STRAIGHT UP AND GOOD FRIENDS. THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE. I'D LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT I WAS WONDERING. I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE STATUES AROUND WITH THE BENCHES, BUT THEY'RE ALL OUTSIDE AREA LOCAL AND NOT THE LOCAL PEOPLE. AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME GREAT LOCAL LEADERS LIKE FRANK BUTLER WAS, AND HE'S JUST FROM LINCOLNVILLE. AND SO THERE'S SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE COULD MAYBE INCLUDE IN THAT. AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM THAT LINCOLNVILLE'S GONNA START WITH AND WORK VERY HARD ON. 
          IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PROJECT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL AND I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. NICE TO MEET. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. BRIAN BLISS, FOLLOWED BY LAUREN GUYBER. MR. BLISS, YOUR NAME, AND ADDRESS IF YOU SO DESIRE. 
          [00:35:01]
MY NAME IS BRIAN BLISS AND I LIVE IN DAVIS SHORES. AND I'M AN OWNER OF A COMPANY HERE IN TOWN CALLED ANCHOR EATS. 
          AND WE'RE A NAUTICAL DELIVERY SERVICE. WE'RE THE DOOR DASH ON THE WATER. WE DELIVER FOOD AND GROCERIES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO THE BOATERS AT THE SANDBARS AND THE MOORING FIELDS AND IN THE MARINAS. WE LIKE TO SHARE OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH OUR VISITING BOATING COMMUNITY. 
          ST. AUGUSTINE IS A VERY BUSY, VERY POPULAR BOATING DESTINATION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW THIS, BUT WE GET LOTS OF PEOPLE COME HERE BY BOAT. 
          WE GET A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE THAT COME BY WATER. 
          SO WE ACTUALLY ARE VERY BUSY WITH THE ST. AUGUSTINE CRUISERS NETWORK, WHICH IS A NETWORK THAT WELCOMES OUR CRUISING BOATERS WHEN THEY COME TO TOWN. AND WE SHARE INFORMATION WITH THEM ABOUT SERVICES AND DIFFERENT THINGS YOU COULD DO AROUND THE CITY. I ACTUALLY DO A RADIO SHOW ONCE A WEEK ON THE VHF RADIO. IT'S LIKE A PIRATE RADIO THING AND WE SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL CITY. I LOVE THIS AMAZING CITY. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE CITY. AND IF YOU'RE EVER AT THE SANDBAR, COME SEE. HOLLER OUT FOR US. 
          WE, WE SELL ICE CREAM AT THE SANDBAR. IT'S COOL TO SHARE THE JOY AND THE KINDNESS WITH THE KIDS IN OUR BOATED COMMUNITY OUT THERE AT THE SANDBAR. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY LOVE THIS CITY. I WAS INTO THIS GENTLEMAN'S STORE THE OTHER DAY. HE WAS VERY POLITE. 
          HE WAS VERY NICE. IT'S A GREAT THING. YOU KNOW, THE. THERE'S SO MUCH THAT'S MADE THIS WONDERFUL CITY WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, BEING PART OF THE PAST. 
          AND THERE'S SO MUCH THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE FUTURE. 
          I DON'T ENVY YOUR DECISIONS OR YOUR JOBS BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE UPSET. I JUST WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK. MAKE YOUR DECISIONS WITH YOUR HEART. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID, MAYOR, WITH YOUR TIME HERE, AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU TO YOUR NEW POSITION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. YOU GUYS HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR WONDERFUL CITY. 
          LAUREN GEIBER, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT. SCOTT YORK. MISS GUYBER, WELCOME. IF YOU WISH TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. 
          LAUREN GEIBER, LINCOLNVILLE, ST. AUGUSTINE. 
          I'M HERE TONIGHT FOR SEVERAL REASONS. ONE OF THEM, I'M INQUIRING ABOUT RIBERIA STREET, WHERE I LIVE AND WHEN THE PILOT PROGRAM TO TEST THE SPEED CUSHIONS WITH THE ST. AUGUSTINE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON RIBERIA STREET SOUTH IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE. 
          ON CARRERA STREET IN FLAGLER MODEL, THERE IS A SPEED CUSHION, THREE OF THEM, AS THE PICTURE DENOTES, TO HELP SLOW TRAFFIC. WHY THE RESIDENTS OF RIBERIA STREET NORTH ARE NOT GRANTED THE SAME LEVEL OF CONCERN STILL BAFFLES ME. 
          ANOTHER WAY TO TRY TO CURB THE SPEEDING ON RIBERIA STREET IS TO LOWER THE EXISTING SPEED LIMIT FROM 25 MILES PER HOUR TO 20 MILES PER HOUR AS IT EXISTS. AT FLAGLER MODEL RIBERIA STREET, THERE IS ONLY 20 MILES PER HOUR PLUS THEY HAVE THREE STOP SIGNS. WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF STOP SIGNS, BUT WE CERTAINLY COULD LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT. 
          AND IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEED 25 AT 20 AND THEY GO 25, THEY STILL WILL NOT GET A TICKET. IF AT 25 THEY GO 30, THAT'S SUPER FAST DOWN A STREET THAT'S VERY BUSY. 
          AND I'VE SENT YOU LETTERS BEFORE ABOUT ALL OF THAT, AND I HAVE THAT LETTER ATTACHED WITH ME. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO DISCUSS IS I DON'T KNOW THIS GENTLEMAN AND HIS STORE. I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE. I STOPPED WALKING AROUND DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT'S FULL OF PEOPLE THAT I DON'T WANT TO KNOW FROM. HOWEVER, AFTER 10 YEARS OF OCCUPANCY, I BELIEVE THAT THIS GENTLEMAN DESERVES MORE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE REGARD OF HIS LIVELIHOOD. SO I WENT AROUND AND COLLECTED INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE BATHROOMS IN DOWNTOWN. THERE'S A BATHROOM RIGHT HERE IN THE LEITNER BUILDING. THERE'S BATHROOM AT THE MUNICIPAL MARINA. 
          THERE'S THE VISITOR CENTER. 
          THERE'S ONE AT 35 HIPPOLITA STREET BETWEEN CHARLOTTE AND ST. GEORGE. THERE'S ONE AT FOR ST. GEORGE. THERE'S ONE@ 29 TORQUES PLACE. THERE'S ONE AT 42 AND A HALF ST. GEORGE. 
          THERE'S ONE AT 81ST. GEORGE STREET. THERE IS THE ST. 
          JOHN'S PUBLIC LIBRARY ON U.S. 
          1 THAT HAS BATHROOMS. THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE HAS RESTROOMS AND YOU CAN ENTER THERE FOR FREE. EDDIE VICKERS PARK HAS RESTROOMS. THEY ALSO ARE FREE. ALL THE MUSEUMS AND RESTAURANTS AND THE CASTILLO DE MARCOS ALSO HAVE RESTROOMS. SO I DON'T SEE WHY THEY THIS MAN'S BUSINESS HAS TO SUFFER AND ERGO 
          [00:40:01]
HIS LIVELIHOOD IF HE'S MAKING NEXT SPEAKER IS SCOTT YORK, FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA RAMOS. 
          GOOD EVENING, MADAM. 
          PLEASE, IF YOU WISH GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. MADAM MAYOR ELECT AND YOU TWO FELLOWS AS WELL. SCOTT YORK, 29 SPANISH ST. THE MOST CHARMING STREET IN ST. AUGUSTINE. 
          FOR THE LAST 38 YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THE CITY AS A PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER, TOUR GUIDE, MUSEUM OPERATOR, GAME SHOP OWNER, AND CULTURAL AMBASSADOR. EVERY DAY I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND HELP THEM DISCOVER THE STORIES THAT MAKE ST. AUGUSTINE UNLIKE ANY OTHER PLACE IN AMERICA. TONIGHT, I WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING PERSONAL. 
          AT THE END OF MAY 2027, I PLAN TO RETIRE FROM MY DAILY WORK AND GO AND CHASE GOOD WEATHER AROUND THE WORLD AND NEVER SWEAT AGAIN. WHILE MY JOURNEY MAY TAKE ME FAR AWAY FROM THE CITY, WHICH I'VE CALLED HOME FOR MANY YEARS, MY WORK HERE IS NOT QUITE COMPLETE. 
          IN MY RETIREMENT LAP, I'VE CHOSEN TO DEDICATE PART OF MY TIME AND ENERGY TO HELPING SUPPORT A VISION THAT I BELIEVE CAN ENRICH OUR CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. A PROJECT TO ADD 10 STATUES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. HISTORY LIVES THROUGH STORIES, BUT STORIES BECOME MORE POWERFUL WHEN PEOPLE CAN SEE THEM, TOUCH THEM, SIT BESIDE THEM, AND CONNECT WITH THEM. THESE STATUES WILL CREATE THOSE MOMENTS. THEY INVITE CONVERSATIONS. THEY INSPIRE PHOTOGRAPHS. THEY ENCOURAGE CURIOSITY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY HELP US HONOR THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES AND CONTRIBUTIONS SHAPED OUR COMMUNITY. 
          OF ALL THE STORIES THAT DESERVE TO BE TOLD, I ESPECIALLY WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE MENORCAN EXPERIENCE ON SPANISH STREET, WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE MOST CHARMING STREET IN ST. 
          AUGUSTINE. THE MENORCANS HELPED BUILD THIS CITY. THEIR PERSEVERANCE, CULTURE, TRADITIONS, AND SPIRIT ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF ST. 
          AUGUSTINE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY DESERVE A PERMANENT AND VISIBLE PLACE IN OUR LANDSCAPE. MR. TROY WILL BE GIVEN UP HERE AND GIVING A PRESENTATION. AND I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM GOING TO FUND THAT STATUE FOR THE MENORCAN QUARTER IN FULL. LONG AFTER ALL OF US ARE GONE, THESE MOMENTS WILL STILL BE HERE. 
          THEY WILL CONTINUE TELLING STORIES TO CHILDREN, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WHO MAY OTHERWISE NEVER KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE US. 
          FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES, I'VE TOLD THE STORIES OF ST. 
          AUGUSTINE. 
          DURING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF MY LIFE, I WANT TO CAST THEM IN BRONZE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. 
          BRAVO. NEXT SPEAKER SPEAKER IS PATRICIA RAMOS, FOLLOWED BY COLLEEN CONRAD. MS. RAMOS, IF YOU WISH TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. 
          THE TIMER STARTED AND I DIDN'T START YET. 
          CAN YOU. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PATRICIA AND I'M HERE TO ONCE AGAIN SPEAK UP FOR THE ABUSED HORSES OF ST. 
          AUGUSTINE. MY ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUED PATTERN OF ABUSE THAT HAS BEEN IGNORED AND SWEPT ASIDE. 
          PLEASE KEEP ALL THE VIDEOS PLAYING UNTIL THE NEXT PICTURES. 
          HOWEVER, DUE TO THE TRAGIC AND COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE DEATH NOT ONLY OF A HORSE, BUT NOW A HUMAN IN NEW YORK CITY, THE FOLLOWING MUST TAKE PRECEDENCE. THE RUNAWAY CARRIAGE IN NEW YORK CITY. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? THE DRIVER STEPPED OFF AWAY FROM THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE. 
          THIS IS WITNESSED TIME AND TIME AGAIN HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. 
          WHETHER IT'S TO TAKE PICTURES OR TO GET WATER FOR THEIR OWN HORSE DUE TO THE INTENTIONAL UNDERSTAFFING, OR AS WE HAVE ALSO DOCUMENTED, SOCIALIZING AMONGST THEMSELVES, BACKS TURNED OR DISTRACTED AS THEY TALKED TO FUTURE CUSTOMERS. AND DESPICABLE, DIABOLICAL, AND CARELESS THAT SOME OF THESE TIMESTAMP PHOTOS ARE FROM THIS WEEKEND AFTER THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN NEW YORK CITY. 
          IN THE ONE PICTURE, SPECIFICALLY, HOW WOULD THAT DRIVER HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH ALL THOSE OBSTACLES HAD THE HORSE BEEN SPOOKED? OR WORSE, THEY RECKLESSLY SIT ON THE SHAFTS OF THE CARRIAGE AS THEY HECKLE AND FILM US. 
          CAN THAT BE FOCUSED, PLEASE? WHAT WOULD CHRISTINA HAVE DONE HAD THE HORSE SPOOKED AND TAKEN OFF? SHE WOULD HAVE ENDED UP ON THE GROUND AND PROBABLY RUN OVER. SHE IS NOT ONLY PLACING THE PUBLIC IN DANGER, BUT HERSELF AS WELL. HERE'S JOHN REDMOND, DISTRACTED ON THE PHONE, COMING BACK TOWARDS THE HORSE WHEN A LOUD NOISE OBVIOUSLY SPOOKS THE HORSE TO MIRACULOUSLY, WHO MIRACULOUSLY DID NOT TAKE OFF. 
          AGAIN, A TICKING TIME BOMB. 
          THIS IS RIDICULOUS. 
          [INAUDIBLE] 
          [00:45:08]
HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD RUNAWAY HORSES HERE. ONE COLLIDED WITH A RED HONDA AND DAMAGED LIGHT POST BACK IN 2023. DEC. 
          24, 2025. A DRIVER LEFT HER OCCUPIED CARRIAGE IN TRAFFIC. 
          THE HORSE GOT SPOOKED AND FORCED ONE OF THE CUSTOMERS TO EVENTUALLY GRAB THE REINS, SADLY INJURING THEIR BACK IN DOING SO. THERE WAS NO DEATH. SO DO YOU THINK THAT ALL THE ABOVE IS ACCEPTABLE? THE HORSES ARE OFTEN LEFT UNATTENDED. NOISY TRAFFIC IS ALWAYS PRESENT. THE BREEZE IS ALWAYS BLOWING. ROWDY CHILDREN, FLOWY DRESSES, AND NEW STIMULUS IS EVER PRESENT. ALL THIS MAKING FOR A PERFECT STORM AND A FATAL TRAGEDY. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE WAITING FOR? AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE SHOULDN'T BE DONE. 
          WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IS ABOLISHING THIS CRUEL, ARCHAIC INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN DANGEROUS MORE THAN ONCE. 
          YES, EVEN HERE IN ST. 
          AUGUSTINE, NO AMOUNT OF TRAINING CHANGES THE FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF A HORSE. AND A SPOOKED HORSE ATTACHED TO A CARRIAGE FORCED AMONGST TRAFFIC IN THE CITY IS BASICALLY A WEAPON. YES, YOU CAN KEEP KICKING THE CAN THE ROAD DOWN THE ROAD, BUT BECAUSE DELAY IS DANGEROUS, IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROVEN IN THE RECENT DEATHS OF THE HORSE. AND NOW A HUMAN IN NEW YORK CITY. AGAIN, I QUESTION, IS THIS WHAT YOU'RE WAITING FOR? ST. AUGUSTINE. 
          AND BY THIS I MEAN A TRAGEDY, A DEATH THAT IS NOT EMOTION, THAT IS TRUTH. SHOW THE WORLD THAT YOU NOT ONLY CARE ABOUT THE HORSES AND THE HUMAN SAFETY, BUT SUPPORT ECO TOURISM, NOT ABUSE. IS ST. AUGUSTINE TRULY A CITY OF COMPASSION, AS YOU TOUT TO BE? NOT BY THE LOOKS, VERY MUCH COLLEEN CONRAD, FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH BARTER BADER. I HOPE I SAID THAT RIGHT AFTER THIS SPEAKER. 
          WE. 
          WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY NEW CARDS. SO IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE DO FILL OUT A CARD AND TURN IT IN AS SOON AS YOU CAN. THANK YOU, MS. CONRAD. IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. 
          IF YOU'RE STILL SO DECLINED. 
          MY NAME IS COLLEEN CONRAD. MY ADDRESS IS 183 SEASIDE VISTA COURT, ST. AUGUSTINE. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT TED HILL AND HIS STORE. I DID HAVE A SPEECH ON MY PHONE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY PHONE DIED. BUT I'VE KNOWN THE HILLS FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I'VE BEEN VISITING ST. AUGUSTINE. MY SISTER LIVES HERE. AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE. THE COBBLESTONE STREETS, THE LITTLE STORES THAT EVERYBODY LOVES. 
          AND TED'S STORE. WHEN MY SON COMES, MY STEPSON, THEY ALL LOVE TO GO VISIT. IT IS WHAT MAKES THE CORE OF THIS COMMUNITY. AREN'T WE TRYING TO SAVE THE SMALL BUSINESSES? SINCE COVID THEY'VE BEEN SHUTTING DOWN AND WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE THEM. AND INSTEAD YOU WANT TO TAKE HIS LIVELIHOOD AWAY AND PUT IN A BATHROOM? IT'S ME THAT JUST. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I JUST THINK THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS. HE'S EVEN COME UP WITH OTHER OPTIONS THAT COULD BE IN PLACE OF THAT. AND I JUST TRULY BELIEVE THAT TAKING AWAY HIS STORE, HIS LIVELIHOOD THAT PROMOTES MONEY FOR HIS FAMILY IS JUST THE WORST THING THAT YOU COULD DO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER IS DEBORAH BADER, FOLLOWED BY NORRIS MAPLE. MS. BADER, NAME, AND ADDRESS IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED. 
          SURE. MY NAME IS DEBORAH BADER AND I'M AT 201SOUTH OCEAN GRAND DRIVE IN PONTEVEDRA, FLORIDA. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY VERY DEAR FRIEND TED HILL AND HIS WIFE, CARLINA HILL. I'M A LONGTIME ST. 
          AUGUSTINE. HE'S A LONGTIME ST. AUGUSTINE RESIDENT AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND OPERATES MANLY TOYS AND HOBBIES IN YOUR DOWNTOWN AREA. 
          IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA. 
          FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, THIS BUSINESS HAS SERVED RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. AND FOR OVER 30 YEARS, ITS OWNER HAS CALLED THIS COMMUNITY HOME. HE HAS INVESTED NOT ONLY IN THIS STORE, BUT IN THIS CITY, PAYING TAXES ON THE BUILDING, MAINTAINING HIS SPACE, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE CHARACTER OF DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE. TONIGHT, HE'S FACING THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THAT BUSINESS ENTIRELY DUE TO THE CITY'S PLAN TO RECLAIM THE PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC RESTROOMS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT CITIES MUST EVOLVE AND MAKE DECISIONS FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. HOWEVER, THIS SITUATION HAS A VERY DEEP HUMAN COST. THIS IS NOT A CORPORATE TENANT OR A SPECULATIVE INVESTMENT. THIS IS A SINGLE SMALL BUSINESS THAT REPRESENTS SOMEONE'S LIVELIHOOD, IDENTITY, AND DECADES OF COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. HE HAS NOT REFUSED TO WORK TOWARD A SOLUTION. IN FACT, HE HAS ACTIVELY TRIED TO RELOCATE AND HAS EVEN OFFERED A 
          [00:50:01]
FINDER'S FEE TO OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HELP FIND A PLACE SO HE CAN CONTINUE OPERATING IN ST. 
          AUGUSTINE. DESPITE THESE EFFORTS, NO WORKABLE OPTION HAS BEEN FOUND. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THIS COUNCIL CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE PATH FORWARD. WHETHER THAT IS ADDITIONAL TIME, ASSISTANCE IN RELOCATION OR RECONSIDERATION OF THE CURRENT PLAN SO THAT A LONG STANDING LOCAL BUSINESS IS NOT LOST IN THE PROCESS. WE ARE NOT ASKING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PROGRESS AND PEOPLE. 
          WE ARE ASKING FOR A SOLUTION THAT ALLOWS BOTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          NORRIS MAPLE, FOLLOWED BY ROBERT CAMERON. NAME AND ADDRESS. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          MORRIS MAPLE, 215 SOUTH OCEAN GRAND DRIVE, PONTE VEDRA BEACH. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME LISTENING TO US. YOU'VE HEARD WHY TED HILL AND MANLY TOYS SHOULD REMAIN OPEN. HE'S A STRONG ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR ST. AUGUSTINE. HE GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD RECONSIDER MOVING THAT STORE AND DISPLACING HIM. IT WOULD BE A REAL ECONOMIC LOSS TO THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. 
          ROBERT CAMERON, FOLLOWED BY GAIL EUBANKS. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. ROBERT CAMERON, 1901 WINDJAMMER LANE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS AREA IN THE 90S WHEN I WAS STATIONED ON USS SPRUCE. AND THEN I JOINED CORPORATE. AND, YOU KNOW, CORPORATE'S GREAT, RIGHT? YOU HAVE BIG COMPANY, YOU'RE PROTECTED. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT THERE. BEEN IN CORPORATE A LONG TIME. TED WAS IN CORPORATE FOR A BIT, BUT THEN HE SHOOK OUT AND CREATED THIS SMALL BUSINESS FOR 10 YEARS. MOST SMALL BUSINESSES FAIL WITHIN THREE YEARS. SO HE'S A VIBRANT, SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. 
          AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT ST. AUGUSTINE IS THAT DOWNTOWN WITH ALL THE SHOPS, TOURISTS LOVE THE SHOPS. IT REALLY GENERATES A LOT OF REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY AND FOR THE CITY. AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF ANOTHER SOLUTION COULD BE FOUND. OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED, YOU KNOW, OTHER LOCATIONS FOR BATHROOMS AND RESTROOMS OR WHATNOT, OR GIVING MORE TIME OR PROVIDING MORE ASSISTANCE TO HELP THIS BUSINESS THRIVE. 
          WE DON'T WANT ST. AUGUSTINE TO BECOME JUST ANOTHER BEACH AREA WHERE THERE'S CONDOS, VRBOS. 
          AND I MEAN, THE BEACH IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT PEOPLE DO COME FOR THAT EXPERIENCE. AND I WANT TO SPEAK THIS TED'S CHARACTER. 
          I DO KNOW TED. I MET TED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. MY WIFE AND I MOVED FROM PONTE VEDRA BECAUSE IT GOT SO BUSY UP THERE DOWN TO ST. AUGUSTINE. AND WE LOVE LIVING IN THIS AREA. AND TED RAN INTO TED AND THE GYM AND HE. HE JUST REACHED OUT AND WAS FRIENDLY AND HE INVITED US INTO HIS FRIENDS GROUP AND WELCOMED HIM. AND I KNOW HIS STORE. HE BRINGS THAT SAME LOVE. TED TALKS ABOUT LOVE ALL THE TIME. HE BRINGS THAT LOVE TO HIS STORE, TO HIS CUSTOMERS AND EVERYTHING HE DOES. AND THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE'RE OUT HAVING FUN AT THE BEACH AND TED'S COVERING THE STORE, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING'S RIGHT FOR HIS CUSTOMERS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO KEEP THOSE KIND OF BUSINESSES IN PLACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT. I THINK DEB SAID IT BEST TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN PROGRESS. 
          OF COURSE WE WANT ST. 
          AUGUSTINE TO GROW AND PROSPER. 
          BUT I HOPE THAT YOU CAN FIND SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT DEB HAS SUGGESTED. MORE TIME, MORE SUPPORT, OTHER OPTIONS. THANK YOU. 
          GAIL EUBANKS, FOLLOWED BY LAUREN WISE. 
          HELLO, MY NAME IS GAIL EUBANKS, 57 TOMOKA TRAIL, ST. 
          AUGUSTINE. AND I'VE COME TO SPEAK TO YOU BEFORE. AND I WAS SO. AND I SUPPORT ALL OF THE CITIZENS WHO CAME TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESS THAT NEED SUPPORT BECAUSE OF THE TRYING TO REMOVE THAT. 
          BUT WHAT I WAS TOTALLY SURPRISED ABOUT WAS THAT WE CELEBRATE 1776 AND THE BEGINNING OF THE COUNTRY, BUT WE FAILED TO ADMINISTER THE SAME KIND OF HIGHLIGHT FOR LINCOLNVILLE, WHO WAS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN SITE. AND WE HAVE JUNETEENTH AS OUR CELEBRATION. DATE ON LIBERATION LOT IN ST. 
          AUGUSTINE AND NOTHING IS DISPLAYED TALKED ABOUT LINCOLNVILLE AT ALL. IT EXISTS. 
          WE DON'T EXIST. AND I WOULD WISH EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE THAT SUPPORTS THE OTHER BUSINESSES IN ST. AUGUSTINE WOULD FIND 
          [00:55:01]
OUT ABOUT LINCOLNVILLE. IT'S NOT A HORRID PLACE. IT'S IS A QUAINT, BEAUTIFUL PLACE THAT WE GREW UP IN AND IT HAS RICH HISTORY THAT IS BEING TOTALLY DENIED BY THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE FOREVER. IT IS TOTALLY DENIED. 
          WE GET ONE OR TWO CELEBRATIONS OF ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WHEN THERE WAS A COMMUNITY BEFORE CIVIL RIGHTS. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TALK ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LINCOLNVILLE BECAUSE THERE WAS A COMMUNITY THAT EXISTED BEFORE THAT AND IT IS TOTALLY BEING IGNORED BY THE CITY. AND HOW LONG WOULD THAT TAKE? I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR IT TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A COMMUNITY AND SO THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS CAN CELEBRATE THIS CITY AS WELL. 
          WE HAVE LOTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT GREW UP HERE. THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED. 
          WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT FREDERICK DOUGLASS IS SITTING UP THERE EXCEPT PEOPLE THAT KNOW. NO, HE SPOKE TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO GET ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO CONVINCE HIM TO FREE THE ENSLAVED. IS THAT EVEN KNOWN WHY IT'S IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT HERE? THERE WAS A PLACE THAT FREDERICK DOUGLASS SPOKE IN ST. GEORGE STREET. IS THAT KNOWN? IS THAT REPRESENTED BY ANYONE? AND HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO CONTINUE? NOT VERY LONG. 
          BECAUSE THE WORLD HAS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE WORLD ALONG WITH THE SPLASH AROUND AMERICA. AND I HOPE THE AUDIENCE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT IT IS JUST NOT ONE ETHNICITY IN THIS TOWN. I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE GROWING UP, BORN HERE. AND I KNOW HOW IT EXISTS. I KNOW WHAT MY PARENTS GAVE ME AND INSTILLED IN ME. 
          AND IT'S NOT BEING RECOGNIZED BY ANYONE. 
          AND I'M NOT ANGRY. I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED THAT ST. 
          AUGUSTINE STILL DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OUR CONTRIBUTIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          LAUREN WISE, FOLLOWED BY BJ KALEADI. 
          HI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I DID NOT EXPECT TO SPEAK SO I JUST WROTE A LITTLE THING RIGHT NOW. I JUST MOVED FROM NEW YORK CITY. I WAS THERE LITERALLY WHILE A TOURIST WAS KILLED. SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. I HAVE LIVED HERE ONLY FOR A WEEK, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING CITIES I'VE EVER VISITED. MY MOM IS HERE AND I DECIDED TO MOVE HERE AND MAKE IT MY LIFE HERE. I'VE LIVED IN EUROPE, I LIVED IN DUBAI. 
          THIS IS SUCH A MAGICAL PLACE. I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN IT. BUT THERE IS NOTHING MAGICAL OR ROMANTIC ABOUT SEEING HORSES. 
          THE OTHER DAY WHILE I'M OUT WITH MY MOM, WHO'S ON HOSPICE, I LOOKED OUT AND I SEE LITERALLY A WHEEL THAT IS ABOUT TO COME OFF OF A CARRIAGE. WHERE THERE'S TOURISTS, THERE'S NOTHING ROMANTIC ABOUT IT. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE YOU GUYS STANDING FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES IN THE SUN. 
          AT LEAST. 
          MAYBE IN CENTRAL PARK THEY HAVE SHADE HERE. WHAT IS THIS? THERE'S HEAT WAVES. WHEN I JUST LEFT MY HOUSE, THERE WAS LITERALLY AN AD FROM, FROM THE ASPCA ABOUT GETTING FUNDING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABUSING ANIMALS THAT ARE KEEPING THEM OUT IN THE HEAT. SO ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS REALLY, IT IS TORTUROUS. IT IS TORTUROUS FOR THESE HORSES AND IT'S UNIMAGINABLE WHAT THEY ENDURE. THERE IS NOTHING, AGAIN, THAT IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE HORSES FROM GOING OUT. THIS IS JUST A MONEY GRAB FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO. THEY ARE LOW LIFE AND THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO BUT LITERALLY PROFIT OFF OF ANIMAL SUFFERING. THERE IS NOTHING. THIS CITY IS NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR YOU GUYS TO THINK THAT IT'S GOOD FOR HORSES TO GO AROUND. I MEAN, IT'S BETTER TO BE WALKING AROUND AND EXPERIENCING IN A DIFFERENT WAY. I HAVE SEEN THE MOST GROTESQUE THINGS THAT THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE OWNERS OF THE HORSES HAVE SAID TO THESE ACTIVISTS WHO ARE OUT HERE EVERY DAY VERY PEACEFULLY. 
          I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO SHOW YOU THE ONE THAT I JUST SAW RECENTLY. THEY TOLD THEM TO LICK THEIR ASS. SO EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S JUST GROTESQUE PEOPLE. 
          AND THIS IS. THIS IS. I WOULD ASK YOU GUYS TO STAND OUTSIDE FOR EVEN 15 MINUTES AND WATCH IT. THEY HAVE STEEL THINGS RIGHT IN THEIR MOUTH. I MEAN, IT'S. IT'S TRAILER TRASH. YOU GUYS ARE MAKING THE CITY LOOK GROSS WHEN YOU GUYS ARE ALLOWING THIS AND THIS IN ANIMAL ABUSE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          LAST SPEAKER IS BJ. KALEDI. 
          A BJ KALEDI, WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. PLEASE GOOGLE SAVE OUR HOMES. VOTE YES IN NOVEMBER. SOME GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ARE ATTEMPTING TO SCARE VOTERS ABOUT PROPERTY TAX REFORM. 
          THEY WANT TO EDUCATE THE IMPLIED UNEDUCATED PUBLIC. 
          WATER BILLS CHANGE OFTEN. 
          2014-6119-2026-7061 EQUALS $9.42 TIMES NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS. A LOT OF MONEY. 
          FLAGLER COLLEGE SHOULD PAY PILOTS IN LIEU 
          [01:00:02]
OF PROPERTY TAXES. STOP GIVING NONPROFITS TAX DOLLARS FOR GARDENS AND BENCHES. U.S. 
          1 AND WEST KING STREET LIQUOR GARAGE VERSUS THE IGNORING OF TIRE BLIGHT SINCE 2024. 
          NOTHING'S BEING DONE. DESTROY HISTORY AT 35 HYPOLITA VERSUS DOWNTOWN BATHROOMS. IT'S A DISGRACE. SOME WHO REPEAT WHO REPEATEDLY VIOLATE SIGN ORDINANCES HARASS ME AND OTHERS WHO TAKE PHOTOS OF VIOLATIONS. BEWARE OF THE OWNER OF 101 LA QUINTA PLACE. QUESTION WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF HE TRIED TO HARASS CODE STAFF AS HE HAS ME? THIS IS NOT A SAFE CITY. THE POLICE WALK POLITICIANS TO THEIR CARS AFTER THESE MEETINGS. IF IT'S SO SAFE, HOW COME? REMEMBER ERROL JONES, A BLACK MAN WHO SERVED 10 YEARS ON THE CITY COMMISSION? REMEMBER, FIREWORKS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ST. AUGUSTINE. IF POLITICIANS REPORTED THESE REPEAT VIOLATIONS, SUCH AS THOSE ON MEDORA, PHILLIPS, EASTMAN, SOUTH DIXIE, DAVIS STREET AND OYSTER CREEK, THEN THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE MEANINGFUL QUESTION TO MR. BURCHAM AND YOU AS THE CITY COMMISSION. WILL THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE JULY 4 HOLIDAY FOR EMPLOYEES BE JULY 2, JULY 3, JULY 6, WHICH IS THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, AS THE STATE AND THE COUNTY HAVE ALREADY GIVEN THOSE HOLIDAYS AND THOSE DAYS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. AND JUST IN CLOSING, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT'S SHOWING UP. 
          I REALLY DO. 
          A AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER, TOO, THAT WHAT YOU ALL SAY IS IMPORTANT. 
          BUT WHAT WE SAY IS IMPORTANT TOO. 
          A WE SUPPORT THIS CITY. AND IN CLOSING, THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. AND THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ARE IN THIS CITY AND OTHER PLACES, TOO. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M MR. 
          [5. CONSENT AGENDA ]
CITY MANAGER. THE NEXT ITEM IS CONSENT AGENDA. WILL YOU PLEASE PRESENT THAT? TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES WHICH ARE TENANT WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING ON JULY 13. 
          ORDINANCE 2026-10, WHICH AMENDS VEHICLE FOR HIRE AND ORDINANCE 2026-11, WHICH AMENDS THE FRANCHISE'S ORDINANCE. WE HAVE A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS FOR THE JULY 13, 3PM SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING. JULY 13, 5PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. JULY 27, 3PM COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING AND JULY 27, 5PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE MAY 8 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING WORKSHOP AND MAY 11, 5PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE A PROPOSED PROCLAMATION 2026-21, WHICH PROCLAIMS JUNE 26, 2026 AS GREEK LANDING DAY. 
          SPONSORED BY MAYOR NANCY SEIS KLEIN. WE HAVE A NOTICE OF PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION, A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, 2026 DASH 04 SPLASH HEARD AROUND THE WORLD, SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER CYNTHIA GARRIS. WE HAVE A BILL FOR OUR EMINENT DOMAIN, LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AND A REQUEST FOR THE USE OF THE CITY SEAL BY THE ST. AUGUSTINE SOCIETY INCORPORATED. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          ANY DISCUSSION? NO. IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA SECOND. 
          ALL RIGHT. THOSE IN FAVOR, 
          [7.A.1.  Amendment to License Agreement for Use of a Portion of Cuna Street ]
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. 
          THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE UNDER GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS. 
          WE HAVE. MR. CITY MANAGER WILL PRESENT AN AMENDMENT TO THE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR USE OF A PORTION OF KUNA STREET. 
          MADAM MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS, THE PORTION OF KUNA STREET BETWEEN CHARLOTTE AND THE BAYFRONT HAS A LICENSE AGREEMENT APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION, AND IT IS USED BY THE ADJACENT RESTAURANT CALLED RIVER AND FORT AS SEATING FOR THE RESTAURANT. THE HOLDER OF THAT LICENSE AGREEMENT HAS SUBMITTED AN AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR COOKING FOOD ON THAT PORTION OF KUNA STREET DURING CERTAIN HOLIDAY EVENTS, WHICH ARE OUTLINED IN YOUR AMENDED LICENSE AGREEMENT. AND I'D LIKE TO ALLOW THE APPLICANT, WHO'S THE HOLDER OF THAT LICENSE AGREEMENT, TO PROVIDE THE DETAILS AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. 
          [01:05:05]
MY NAME IS JOHN ARBIZZANI. I RESIDE AT 41 CARRERA STREET IN ST. AUGUSTINE. WE'RE HERE, AS MR. BURCHAM SAID, TO ASK FOR A MODIFICATION TO THAT LICENSE AGREEMENT. 
          THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, EXCEPT FOR LAST YEAR, THE FIRST THREE YEARS THAT WE WERE OPEN WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT. AND WE THINK IT'S A SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WANDERING AROUND DURING AN EVENT DOWNTOWN THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING. IT'S NOT A BIG OPERATION. IT'S A BARBECUE PIT AND SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO ENJOY. I'D LIKE YOUR APPROVAL TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. 
          COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? I PERSONALLY THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. KIND OF GIVES YOU THAT VIBE OF NEW YORK CITY, STOPPING AND GETTING A HOT DOG AND STILL BEING ABLE TO KEEP ON MOVING WITH YOUR FAMILY. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO PUSH A STROLLER INTO A RESTAURANT, TRY TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS. I THINK IT'S. 
          IT WOULD JUST ADD TO THE CHARM OF DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, COMING. IF YOU GOT TWO LITTLE KIDS NOBODY WANTS TO SEE SIT IN A RESTAURANT, THEY JUST KIND OF WANT TO EAT AND GO. I THINK IT WOULD BE NICER TO KIND OF WAKE KUNA STREET UP A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE KUNA STREET IS KIND OF LIKE A DEAD END, AND THERE'S NO ACTIVITY DOWN THERE, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. AND I THINK IT WOULD ADD A NICE LITTLE SPRING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          QUESTIONS? IF SOME QUESTIONS. 
          OKAY, GOOD. 
          YEAH, I GOT. I GOT QUESTIONS. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          I LOOKED AT YOUR PROPOSAL AND THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING $500 FOR THE WEEKENDS THAT YOU HAVE LISTED HERE. IT'S LIKE JULY 4TH AND STUFF. SO WHEN YOU. WHEN YOU SAY WEEKEND, HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU THINK A WEEKEND. 
          WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DAYS. 
          TWO DAYS. OKAY. TWO DAYS. 
          OKAY. AND ON THOSE DAYS YOU, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY $500 FOR THE TWO DAYS OR THE WEEKEND. 
          RIGHT, RIGHT. 
          HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THAT PRICE? WELL, YOU KNOW, WE, FIRST OF ALL, WE PAID FOR HALF OF THAT STREET. 
          I KNOW THAT YOU READ IT ALL. 
          YEAH. 
          AND WE PAY. ALREADY PAY A LICENSE FEE TO SERVE FOOD OUT THERE. SO THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BENEFIT ON TOP OF THE LICENSE FEE THAT WE ALREADY PAY. 
          OKAY. SO. SO IS THERE A MARKET BASED VALUE FOR THAT OR DO YOU JUST DO IT OR. 
          ME. 
          WAS THERE A MARKET BASED VALUE THAT YOU CAME UP WITH SOMEHOW? BECAUSE I DID IT AND IT SEEMED PRETTY CLOSE TO MARKET VALUE BASE. 
          BUT DO YOU DO NOT REALLY. 
          WE JUST FROM EXPERIENCE. 
          WELL, I MEAN, YOU, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A. A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AS YOU MIGHT HAVE EVEN JUST DONE IT INSTINCTUALLY. OKAY. AND DEFINE WEEKEND. DEFINE OR ELIMINATE. 
          THIS HAS. DEFINE YOU HAVE IN HERE. OKAY. 
          UNDER OPERATIONAL RESTRICTIONS, UNDER D, YOU SAY NOT CREATE UNREASONABLE OBSTRUCTION. SO I KNOW THAT'S KIND OF AN ODD WORD AND I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO TECHNICAL, BUT I DO WANT TO PROTECT THAT. 
          I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU DOING THIS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PEDESTRIAN AREA STAYS OPEN AT ALL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND I WANT TO CONTROL IT. AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE IS GOING ON THE BAYFRONT. AND THAT BAYFRONT SENDS YOU ALONG A BIG CURB CUT FROM A PARKING LOT THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH. 
          BUT THE FORT HAS. SO WHEN YOU SAY UNREASONABLE RESTRICTION, WHAT ARE YOU PICTURING WHEN YOU SAY THAT? WELL, THERE WON'T REALLY BE ANY RESTRICTION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIAGRAM THAT WE PUT TOGETHER, IT'LL ALL BE ON THE SAME PROPERTY THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE LICENSE ON. NOTHING WILL BE OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY. AND THE WAY WE HAVE IT SET UP IS THAT IT DOESN'T OBSTRUCT ANYTHING ON THE BAYFRONT OR ANYTHING EVEN ON THE SIDEWALK OF KUNA STREET. 
          THE SIDEWALK IS WHAT. THE SIDEWALK ON KUNA IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED WITH. 
          SO NO, IT DOES NOT OBSTRUCT THAT. IT'S ALL IN THE FENCED AREA. 
          YEAH, I KNOW IT. OH, A FENCED AREA. 
          IT'S ALL IN OUR FENCED AREA. 
          IS THERE A FENCE BETWEEN THE. 
          PARDON ME, YOUR AREA, AND THE SIDEWALK? WE HAVE A FENCED AREA ON KUNA STREET. IT'S ALL FENCED IN OUR LICENSED PROPERTY. 
          OKAY, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING BETWEEN THE. YOUR AREA AND KUNA STREET. THAT'S FENCE. 
          WELL, TEMPORARILY WE REMOVED THAT FOR THE RESTAURANT. 
          SO YOU. 
          BECAUSE SIMPLY BECAUSE WHAT WE. 
          WE HAD PEOPLE COMING INTO THE RESTAURANT AND WE NEEDED A PLACE FOR THEM TO CONGREGATE AS OPPOSED TO STANDING OUTSIDE THE FENCE, WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE FLOW OF PEOPLE. 
          B RIGHT. 
          SO IT'S. SO YOU'RE. AM I RIGHT IN SAYING IT'S YOUR INTENTION WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS TO HAVE SOME KIND 
          [01:10:01]
OF TEMPORARY FENCING UP BETWEEN YOUR AREA AND THE SIDEWALK? YES. 
          OH, OKAY. THAT'S. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW. OKAY. 
          THE, THE. AND I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS FOR LATER. 
          HELLO. YOU MENTIONED YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT. WHEN YOU'VE DONE IT BEFORE? AND THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF OUR OPERATION IS? RIVER AND FORT. WE DID IT. AND IT WASN'T UNTIL LAST YEAR THAT SOMEBODY TOLD US WE NEEDED A PERMIT AFTER WE'D ALREADY SET UP. 
          OKAY, YOU'VE DONE, YOU DID ALL THESE DATES. 
          WE, WE DIDN'T DO. WE DIDN'T DO ALL THE DATES. 
          OKAY. AND YOU DID ALL OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. 
          NO, WE DIDN'T DO ALL OF NIGHTS FOR LIGHTS. 
          OKAY. 
          JUST A FEW DAYS. I MEAN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ALL OF NIGHTS FLIGHTS. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, SAY FROM THANKSGIVING MAYBE. YEAH, THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. 
          YEAH. AND I HAD THE SAME KIND OF QUESTION ABOUT THE WEEKEND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE FOURTH OF JULY SOMETIMES IS ON A WEDNESDAY. 
          WELL, THAT, YOU KNOW. 
          SO I DON'T KNOW. 
          THAT'S A MISTAKE THAT WE MADE, I GUESS. 
          WELL, YEAH, I JUST THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE PRETTY DEFINED WHEN WE, IF WE AGREE TO DO THIS, THAT WE KIND OF MAYBE SET A CALENDAR UP IN THE FUTURE SO WE KNOW, SO WE CAN, WE CAN DO THOSE THINGS. AND I THINK THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS IS A LITTLE CONFUSING ON THE $2,500 AND. YEAH. SO I THINK THAT JUST NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS. AND I'M, I'M FINE WITH THIS. I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T. 
          HASN'T CONFLICTED WITH ANOTHER BUSINESS WE HAVE RIGHT. ON ST. GEORGE STREET THAT ALSO DOES SMALL FOOD SOURCES LIKE THIS. BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND IT BEING A GOOD THING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE FOURTH OF JULY, THE FIREWORKS. THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A BIG, A BIG NIGHT FOR Y'. 
          ALL. 
          SO I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS. IF WE CAN CLEAN UP SOME OF THE, THE LANGUAGE SO WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND WE CAN KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. 
          WELL, SO I HAVE A QUESTION. 
          YOU'RE OFFERING TO PAY THE CITY $2500 FOR THE ENTIRETY OF KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS. IS THAT THE WAY I'M READING THIS? THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. 
          BUT WE DON'T INTEND TO. WE ONLY REALLY INTEND TO DO IT DURING THE HIGH TRAFFIC PERIODS. NOT LIKE TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, OR FRIDAY. JUST SAY ON THE WEEKENDS. 
          WELL, THERE'S 58 DAYS IN NIGHTS OF LIGHT. 
          WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE 58 DAYS WITH IT. 
          SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW. WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY OF KNOWING. WELL, WE ARE OR AREN'T. WE COULD HAVE CARTE BLANCHE. 
          IN OTHER WORDS, THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN. 
          YES, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AS THE PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN THANKSGIVING AND NEW YEAR'S ON THOSE APPLICABLE HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS, WE COULD TIGHTEN UP THAT LANGUAGE IN THIS AMENDED LICENSE AGREEMENT. 
          ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS NOT REALLY READY TONIGHT. 
          WELL, WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION PUBLICLY. I THINK WE'RE GETTING THERE. 
          I THINK IT'S PROBABLY NOT READY. AND WHAT ABOUT THE PHOTO BOOTHS? YOU WANT TO HAVE SANTA CLAUS AND EASTER BUNNY AND ALL THAT? PHOTO BOOTH, IS THAT PART OF THIS? WELL, THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING AS AN ADD ON TO MAYBE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CITY THAT WOULD MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING THAN JUST WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. 
          OKAY, SO THAT'S DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND PROBABLY EASTER. IT'S KIND OF UNDEFINED, BUT I'M ASSUMING WE'VE GOT SANTA CLAUS DOWN THERE ON NIGHTS OF LIGHT. 
          EASTER IS NOT ONE OF THE HOLIDAYS ONLY. 
          WELL, IT SAYS SUCH AS PHOTOS WITH SANTA, SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE. TEMPORARY HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITIES. YEAH, NOT VERY WELL DEFINED. SO IT COULD BE EASTER BUNNY, IT COULD BE THE TURKEY AT THANKSGIVING. I DON'T KNOW. THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ON MOTHER'S DAY. MAYBE THEY WANT TO DO MOTHER'S DAY. MAYBE THEY WANT TO DO FATHER'S DAY WITH THE FAN. I DON'T KNOW. IT DOESN'T HELP ME MUCH. 
          WELL, THE. THE VERSION I'M LOOKING AT HAS SPECIFIC EVENTS. FOURTH OF JULY, NEW YEAR'S, MEMORIAL DAY, LABOR DAY, AND NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. 
          AND THAT'S FOR THE PHOTOS. 
          THAT'S FOR ALL OF THIS PHOTOS AND HOT DOG CART, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. 
          SO THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, I SEE AN ITEM C, COMPLY WITH ALL APPLIED APPLICABLE PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS, HEALTH AND SAFETY, NOISE ORDINANCES, AND OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT INCLUDE HARB. 
          HAS HARP SEEN THIS? NO. 
          HARB IS NOT SEEING THIS HAMBURGER GRILL THING. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF HARB APPROVAL WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW. I'D HAVE TO CHECK. THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO APPROVE AC UNITS OR INFRASTRUCTURE. A TEMPORARY GRILL. I DON'T IMAGINE THEY WOULD, BUT I'D HAVE TO CHECK. 
          OKAY, I THINK THOSE WERE MY 
          [01:15:01]
MAIN QUESTIONS. IT WAS KIND OF BLURRY. AND THIS IS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS ON THE COMMISSION, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY APPROVED THE ORIGINAL LEASE AGREEMENT WITH YOU, AND THE WHOLE IDEA OF THIS WAS TO PROVIDE AN UPSCALE, CLASSY EXPERIENCE FOR OUR VISITORS BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY INCHES FROM THE STATE, THE NATIONAL PARK PROPERTY. 
          THE PROPERTY RIGHT THERE AT THE PARKING LOT IS NATIONAL PARK. 
          SO YOU'RE LITERALLY ON THE EDGE OF THE NATIONAL PARK, WHICH IS REALLY PROBABLY OUR MOST IMPORTANT HISTORIC MONUMENT IN THE CITY BESIDES THE TOWN PLAN AND THE STREETS THEMSELVES. SO I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT YOU WERE OPERATING A HOT DOG CART, GLASS GRILL, HAMBURGER COOKING THING ON THE STREET. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT CAN'T BE ON YOUR PROPERTY. 
          YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF. YOU'VE GOT A BIG COURTYARD THERE. WHY DO YOU NEED THE STREET? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO ADD THE STREET? WELL, THE COURTYARD IS PRETTY CONGESTED WITH GROWTH AND PLANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          AND TO HAVE A FLOW OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THERE JUST WOULDN'T REALLY MAKE ANY SENSE. YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TO OUR PROPERTIES AND YOU KNOW THAT EVERYTHING WE DO IS UPSCALE. WE DO NOTHING POORLY. 
          AND WE WOULD DO THIS VERY UPSCALE AS WELL. AND WE WOULD CONTROL IT JUST LIKE WE'VE CONTROLLED EVERYTHING IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS OR FIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT. 
          WE'VE NEVER RECEIVED A VIOLATION. AND THE REASON IS, IS BECAUSE WE. WE TAKE THE CITY TO HEART AND WE DO WHAT'S RIGHT. AND AS I SAID, WE'VE DONE THAT. WE DID THIS FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS WITH NO INCIDENTS. PEOPLE LOVED IT. THEY WALKED AROUND. IT WAS KIND OF ADDED A LITTLE SOMETHING TO THE CITY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IT. THE ONLY REASON WE DIDN'T CONTINUE IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD LAST YEAR, AFTER WE HAD THE CARD UP, THAT WE NEEDED A PERMIT AND THEN WE HAD TO TAKE IT DOWN. 
          WELL, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU MY FEEDBACK HERE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS READY. FIRST OF ALL, THE WAY IT'S PRESENTED, IT'S VERY BLURRY. AND I THINK WE NEED TO NAIL IT DOWN. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S QUITE THE RIGHT AMOUNT IF YOU ASK ME. 
          FOUR NIGHTS OF LIGHT, $2,500 FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT DELIGHT SEEMS NOT APPROPRIATE. 
          BUT I'M NOT NEGOTIATING. THIS IS NOT MY NEGOTIATION AT THIS POINT. I'M ACTUALLY A HARD NO ON THIS BECAUSE EVERYONE THAT I'VE TALKED TO HAS SAID THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, RACE TO MEDIOCRITY. WE ARE. THIS IS OUR MOST PRECIOUS HISTORIC PROPERTY IN DOWNTOWN ADJACENT TO THE CASTILLO. IT IS WITHIN THE WALLED CITY. AND WE'RE GOING TO LICE HOT DOG, HAMBURGER CART ON THE STREET. 
          THERE'S ALREADY ENOUGH PEOPLE IRRITATED BY THIS LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY PRIVATIZED A STREET THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF ST. 
          AUGUSTINE OWN. AND IT WAS QUITE CONTROVERSIAL AT THE TIME. AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A MAGNIFICENT JOB IN MANAGING THAT AND YOU JUST STATED THAT. 
          BUT I THINK THIS IS A BIT MUCH AND I THINK IT PROBABLY WOULD BE BETTER ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY. 
          I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM, PERSONALLY. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO, YOU KNOW, AS HARD AS WE'RE WORKING TO ACCOMMODATE SO MANY PEOPLE IN NIGHTS OF LIGHT AND PEAK TIMES LIKE 4TH OF JULY, THIS ONLY ADDS TO THAT CONGESTION, THAT PEDESTRIAN CONGESTION. 
          IT'S JUST, WE'RE. IT JUST GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO. AND IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T THINK YOU DO A MAGNIFICENT JOB BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DO. YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW, WHAT A GOOD JOB YOU'VE DONE WITH YOUR RESTAURANTS, BUT THIS ONE IS. IT'S JUST A MUCH. IT'S TOO MUCH FOR ME TO SWALLOW. LIKE I SAID, NOT ONE PERSON THAT I'VE TALKED TO AND ASKED THEIR OPINION ON THIS HAS SAID IT'S A GOOD IDEA. 
          THEY DON'T LIKE IT, THEY JUST AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH IT. BUT THAT SAID, I SEE I'M IN THE MINORITY HERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT COME BACK TO US WITH MORE REFINEMENT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY GIVE US SOME OF THOSE. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE SO HELPFUL. 
          SO I KNOW JIM MIGHT TOO. 
          SO. SO I DID A LITTLE MARKET ANALYSIS. THERE WAS IN THE ORIGINAL LEASE, THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE THAT IF THERE'S A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE CITY THAT YOU GO TO MARKET VALUE AND STUFF. SO I DID KIND OF A BACKGROUND SKETCH ON THIS USING MARKET VALUES IN THE TOWN, AND I FOUND THAT THE $500 THAT YOU WERE PROPOSING FOR THE WEEKENDS WAS A PRETTY APPLICABLE RATE MARKET WISE. 
          SOMEBODY CAN DOUBLE CHECK ME, 
          [01:20:02]
BUT THAT'S WHAT I CAME UP WITH. 
          HOWEVER, IT DOESN'T APPLY FOR THE ALL NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. 
          SO I HAVE THREE POSSIBLE OPTIONS THAT WE COULD GIVE BACK TO THE PROPERTY OWNER. I WOULD SUGGEST ONE IS. IF HE PAYS 200 AND I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE THE PRICE OF $500 OVER THREE DAYS. THAT'S WHAT THE APP, THAT'S WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS SAID. IT'S $166 A DAY, PLUS WE'RE ALREADY PLAYING 50, SO IT'S $200 A DAY. SO FOR 200 FOR $2,500. IF THE AMOUNT STAYS THE SAME, YOU CAN. YOU COULD PICK 15 DAYS IN THE NIGHTS OF LIGHT SPECIFICALLY. AND WE HAVE IT ON. WE HAVE IT IN THE LICENSING AGREEMENT THAT THOSE ARE THE DAYS THAT HE WOULD PICK. AND IT WOULD BE MAYBE LIKE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND OR. 
          IS THANKSGIVING ALREADY IN HERE? IS IT. 
          IS IT LISTED SEPARATELY? NO. OKAY. SO THE PROPERTY OWNER WOULD GET TO PICK 15 DAYS IN THERE AND STILL GET $2,500. 
          AND WE'RE JUST USING THE PRICE THAT HE GAVE US, WHICH IS ROUGHLY THREE DAYS FOR 500, $166 A NIGHT. OR HE CAN PAY ANY NIGHTS THAT HE WANTS FOR 166, BUT WE WRITE IT DOWN. OR BECAUSE IT'S FLEX PRICING, HE PICKS THE ENTIRE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND PAYS 100 OR $110. THOSE ARE THE THREE OPTIONS. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A PRICE PER DAY AND THE DAYS DEFINED. AND THAT WAY WE ALL KNOW WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. THAT'S. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SOUNDS OKAY. 
          WE DON'T HAVE TO HASH THIS OUT NOW. I'M JUST TALKING TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. 
          I'M. THAT'S OKAY WITH ME. I'M. I'M GOOD WITH THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          I WOULD LIKE IT TO GO TO HARV AS WELL. I THINK IT'D BE IMPORTANT FOR THE APPEARANCE, I THINK, ESPECIALLY THE LOCATION. 
          YEAH, GO AHEAD. 
          BUT IS. CAN I MAKE SOME COMMENTS? A AND I. 
          COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? YOU THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT IT BE LOOKED AT BY HARB FOR DESIGN, STRUCTURAL OR ARCHITECTURAL OR DESIGN REVIEW? I DON'T SEE IT AS AN ACTIVITY. 
          WELL, THEY ALSO DO PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND THINGS LIKE GARBAGE BINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          SO I. 
          RIGHT. 
          I NATURALLY THOUGHT ABOUT. 
          COURSE A HOT DOG HEART GRILL WOULD ALSO BE. FALL WITHIN THOSE BOUNDS. 
          I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO GO TO HARP. 
          NO. 
          BUT I WOULD LIKE TO STATE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE. 
          I MEAN, I'D BE WILLING TO HEAR. 
          A I HAVE. 
          I HAVE THIS KIND OF. I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES OR. I MEAN, HE SAYS THAT HE'S DONE IT. I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES. SO I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, THERE MUST BE PICTURES OF WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE. 
          I DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT, SO I DON'T. VERY CHALLENGING FOR ME TO APPROVE SOMETHING WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHAT IT IS THAT I'M APPROVING. 
          OKAY. 
          AESTHETICALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. 
          WELL, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE APPROVED IN THE FORM IT'S IN. AND I SUGGESTED BEFORE, SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING IS THAT WE. WE APPROVE A CALENDAR OF EVENTS A YEAR AHEAD OF TIME AT A CERTAIN RATE PER DAY, AND THAT. THAT CAN WORK FINE. 
          AND I'M SURE HE CAN COME UP WITH A CALENDAR. I THINK NOW, HEARING THAT HE'S DONE THIS THREE YEARS, IT SEEMS LIKE WE WOULD HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE. I'VE GOTTEN NO COMPLAINTS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT IT BEFORE, SO I DON'T SEE IT AS A BIG UPROAR OF THE PUBLIC THINKING THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE UPSETTING. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT CROWD CONTROL. THAT'S PART OF HIS PROBLEM, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR PROBLEM, TOO. ONCE WE SEE THE ACTIVITY AND WE. WE CAN PUT PEOPLE ON IT IF IT IS A PROBLEM. I MEAN, YOU SHOULD DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS WHEN YOU CAN SEE THEM, NOT WHEN THEY DON'T EXIST. SO I SUGGEST WE BRING IT BACK. THAT THE CITY MANAGER WORK ON A CONTRACT THAT HAS SPECIFIC DATES, SPECIFIC RATES, SPECIFIC TIMES, AND PICTURES WOULD BE GREAT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT BELONGS TO HARB BECAUSE I'M NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THEY'RE. WHAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, OTHER THAN THE STRUCTURES, BUT I AM, YOU KNOW, APPEALING TO THE MAYOR'S DESIRE FOR US TO AT LEAST LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF THAT'S WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN. 
          AND COULD YOU ALSO MAKE THAT APPLY TO THE PHOTO BOOTH? I KIND OF WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PHOTO BOOTH LOOKS LIKE, TOO. I THINK HARB SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT. IF NOT, AT LEAST THE COMMISSION. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO CONSIST OF. I MEAN, WE DO HAVE A PHOTO BOOTH OPERATION DOWN THE STREET ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND WE DO GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT. 
          WELL, WE HAD ONE ON OUR FRONT LAWN THIS YEAR DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, TOO. 
          YEAH, WE GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT, BUT IT WASN'T THROUGH HARV, EITHER. I DON'T 
          [01:25:01]
BELIEVE. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S. 
          WHY? BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THAT SPECIAL CLASSES, IT'S C DEEMED ART, PER CASE LAW. 
          PHOTOGRAPHY IS SO IN PUBLIC SPACES, IT'S TREATED IN THE SAME WAY AS OUR STREET ARTIST ORDINANCE. 
          WOULD THEY CONSIDER. 
          WOULD. 
          WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS PHOTO BOOTH TO BE ART? C NO, THIS. THIS WOULD BE AN UNLICENSED PROPERTY FOR PRIVATE USE. SO IT'S A DISTINCTION. 
          OKAY. 
          I DON'T KNOW. WHAT I HEAR IS COME BACK WITH THE DOCUMENTED CALENDAR WITH AN AGREEMENT OF THE RATES. I SUGGESTED 166. 
          HE. HE SAID IT. I MEAN, JUST, WE'RE. I THINK WE GOT SOME CLARITY HERE. 
          CAN I SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS? ONE IS, OKAY, WE'VE GOTTEN THE MONEY PART DONE. AND THE QUESTION IS, I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING ALREADY DONE BY THE FIRE MARSHAL APPROVING THE GRILL AND ALL THE THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IS THAT NOT CORRECT? NO, BUT THERE'S LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT THE LOCATION OF THE GRILL WILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE FIRE MARSHAL. 
          OKAY. SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT A FIRE HAZARD. 
          WE WILL ALSO GET THE INFORMATION MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT THE PHOTO BOOTH, THE DIMENSIONS AND SO FORTH, WHAT KIND WILL BE UTILIZED. 
          AND HE WILL GIVE PACIFIC DATES FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND USUALLY THAT RUNS FROM THANKSGIVING TO RIGHT AFTER. AND THEN IT PROBABLY RUN THAT WEEK OF CHRISTMAS SOMEWHERE AROUND THAT WINDOW OF TIME. SO IF WE GET ALL THAT PROJECTED, YOU GO BACK AND DO A RECOUNT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED TONIGHT, THEN IT CAN GO TO. THAT'LL BE FIRST READING AGAIN AND THEN WE CAN KIND OF GO ON FROM THERE. 
          IS THAT RIGHT? WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING IT BACK TO THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. 
          HE'LL MISS FOURTH OF JULY, BUT WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AT THE NEXT MEETING. 
          SEE YOU BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING. 
          CAN I ASK A QUESTION? WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO JUST DO THE BARBECUE ON 4TH OF JULY SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AS OPPOSED TO JUST PASSING ON IT? I MEAN, WE CALL IT A TEST CASE. 
          I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A SENSIBLE SUGGESTION BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. 
          YOU DO IT. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. SOMEBODY TAKE A PICTURE. BECAUSE IT'S RARE I GO DOWN JULY 4TH DOWN ANYMORE. BUT WE'LL GET SOME DOCUMENTATION. I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY. 
          NO, I DON'T. 
          I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. 
          WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE PICTURES FROM THE PREVIOUS TIME. IF WE GET SOME FOOTAGE OF IT, I MEAN, WE CAN GET JABARI OR SOMEBODY TO TAKE PICTURES AND THEN IT WON'T HINDER HIM FROM CATCHING THE FOURTH OF JULY. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE HOW THE TRAFFIC IS CONTROLLED. WE'LL HAVE PICTURES OF THE GRILL SET UP AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. IT'LL BE A WINDOW FOR US TO SEE WHAT ACTUALLY THE MAGIC THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE DOWN THERE. 
          YEAH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT EITHER. 
          AND JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT ACROSS THE STREET WE ARE HOSTING TWO 18 WHEELER TRUCKS FROM THE DOT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR THE DAY. SO IT WILL BE VERY CONGESTED. SO WE'LL GET AN OPPORTUNITY. IF Y' ALL AGREE, IF Y' ALL WANT THIS, WE'LL GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT AT ITS BEST OR WORST. 
          AT THE WORST, YEAH. 
          BUT I ASSUME THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SOME SORT OF TEMPORARY. 
          I'M GUESSING. 
          YES. 
          COMMISSION JUST WANTS TO VERBALLY AMEND THE AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THIS ONE TIME, FOURTH OF JULY. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, IF THAT MEANS THURSDAY NIGHT, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY, OR WHAT. BUT I'M SURE MR. ARBIZZANI CAN SPECIFY WHICH DAYS HE WANTS FRIDAYS, BECAUSE HIS FRIDAY IS THE HOLIDAY. 
          FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY. SO THAT'S THREE DAYS. 
          OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. 
          IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING Y' 
          [7.A.2. Presentation by Legacy Community Team]
ALL WANT? OKAY, THERE YOU GO. 
          YEAH, THAT'S GOOD. 
          YOU GOT THREE VOTES. 
          OKAY, GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          YEP. 
          ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS PRESENTATION BY THE LEGACY COMMUNITY TEAM, AND THAT IS MS. WHISTLE. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. TROY BLEVINS. 
          HE IS HERE THIS EVENING FOR THE LEGACY COMMUNITY TEAM. 
          HE HAS A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE PARK BENCH HISTORY PROJECT THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. 
          [01:30:01]
THANK YOU, MELISSA. AND I JUST WANT TO STATE, BECAUSE I REPRESENT SO MANY DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND DIFFERENT COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, THIS IS A TEAM, COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT. WE'RE WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL AND ALONG WITH THE HISTORIC SOCIETY. BUT THIS TEAM THAT WE PUT TOGETHER FOR THIS EVENT ARE. 
          FOR THIS PROJECT IS INDEPENDENT OF ALL MY OTHER BUSINESSES BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATE ME WITH DIFFERENT. DIFFERENT THINGS. I DON'T KNOW. DO WE HAVE IT LOADED OR DO I NEED TO GIVE. GIVE MY PRESENTATION ON THE OVERHEAD. 
          IS IT. 
          I CAN DO IT EITHER WAY. 
          DO WE HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION? CAMERA. 
          IT'S ON THE LAPTOP. 
          OH, OKAY. I GOT TO PUT MY GLASSES ON. 
          OKAY, I SEE IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SORRY ABOUT THAT. 
          NO WORRIES. 
          ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. AND A LOT OF YOU AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOME HEARTACHE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE WHEN FREDERICK DOUGLASS CAME INTO PLAY. AND THIS IS WHY I WANT TO KIND OF PRESENT IT TO YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING. PUTTING ME ON THE AGENDA TO SHOW THIS. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS, WHEN I FIRST STARTED MY CAREER AT PARKS AND REC, YOU GUYS ALL KNOW WHERE FRANCIS FIELD IS? MY OFFICE SAT RIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO BALL FIELDS. 
          IT WAS RIGHT THERE JUST BY OBSERVATION OF CHILDREN. 
          THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP WITH OUR FREE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. I HAD KIDS WALKING BY MY OFFICE WITH THE LATCHKEY. BECAME ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS. IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE PROUDEST THINGS IN MY CAREER. WELL, I'VE OBSERVED SINCE THIS HAS WENT IN, THE KIDS ARE PARTICIPATING, AND I COULDN'T SAY IT BETTER THAN WHAT SCOTT DID. AND SCOTT CAUGHT ME COMPLETELY OFF GUARD, BY THE WAY. HE DIDN'T TELL ME HE WAS DOING THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          BUT SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO, AND I'M GOING TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT THIS LAPTOP HERE. THERE YOU GO. AND IT'S IN HONOR OF THE 250TH. AND I WANT TO LEAVE SOMETHING FOR OUR KIDS, WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR CITY, SAYING WE CELEBRATED THIS MOMENT IN TIME AND IT'S GOING TO BE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. 
          WE'RE ADDING TWO PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. WE ALREADY HAVE FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO HENRY FLAGLERS. WE HAVE ONE AT THE OLD DRUGSTORE, AND THEN WE HAVE ONE IN THE COURTYARD AT FLAGLER COLLEGE. SO WE ALREADY HAVE ACTUALLY TWO HENRY FLAGLERS. 
          SO I PUT TOGETHER A TEAM COMING UP WITH THIS CONCEPT, AND I THREW OUT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT IDEAS. I MEAN, THERE'S 20 TO 30 PEOPLE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ON THIS LIST. 
          AND WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER THE TEAM AND THE TEAM IS MADE UP OF MYSELF, SUSAN PHILLIPS, WHO'S HERE WITH US, SCOTT YORK, WHO'S ALSO HERE WITH US, THOMAS JACKSON, ISABEL RENAULT, MEGAN WILSON FROM THIS HISTORIC SOCIETY, JEFF POTTS FROM THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, LENNY REMO, OLIVIA MCKAY FROM ZORAIDA CASTLE, AND STACY JACKSON FROM HISTORIC TOURS. 
          SO I MEAN, I HAVE AN A TEAM. I MEAN, IT'S A WONDERFUL TEAM. 
          AND I KIND OF JUST PUT THE LIST OUT THERE. AND THE MAYOR GOT TO SEE IT AT THE TDC MEETING AS WE WERE PUTTING IT TOGETHER, AND WE WERE TRYING TO COME UP WITH THIS LIST. AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS PARK BENCH IS WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO GET KIDS ENGAGED. WE HAVE FOURTH GRADERS THAT COME TO OUR CITY. YOU KNOW, IT'S PART OF THEIR STATE CURRICULUM. AND WE WANT THEM TO LEAVE HERE UNDERSTANDING SOMETHING ABOUT ST. AUGUSTINE THEY DIDN'T LEARN IN A BOOK. THEY DIDN'T LEARN. 
          THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE ST. 
          AUGUSTINE FOUR WERE. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO CHIEF SOLOA IS. 
          THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO, YOU KNOW, FRANKLIN SMITH IS. SO THAT'S THE GOAL. AND WE WANT THEM TO INTERACT WITH THESE PARK BENCHES. SO. 
          AND THESE ARE THE SIX OR THE EIGHT THAT WE CAME UP WITH. I'M GOING TO SKIP PAST THE SUPPORTING TIERS BECAUSE THAT'S FOR OUR PRIVATE DONORS, LIKE THE WONDERFUL MR. YORK BACK THERE. SKIP DOWN. SO THE FIRST ONE THAT WAS ON THE LIST WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO 1964 AND WHAT HE DID. THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE EASIEST DECISIONS. IT WAS ALMOST A UNANIMOUS VOTE, YOU KNOW, AND THIS ONE'S GOING TO BE ONE. WE HAVE 
          [01:35:01]
TO REALLY BE CAREFUL ABOUT COPYRIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT IMAGE IS PROTECTED. SO AT. AT THE HILTON, THE. WHERE HE ACTUALLY WAS ARRESTED, THE STEPS WERE SAVED FROM THE OLD MONTHS, AND IT SITS RIGHT THERE. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE LOCATIONS WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THAT. SO I. AND I KIND OF JUST WANT TO GO BRIEFLY THROUGH HOW WE SELECTED MENORCAN HERITAGE. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, SCOTT TALKED ABOUT MENORCAN HERITAGE AND HOW VITAL THEY ARE. NEXT YEAR, WE CELEBRATE THEIR 250TH OF BEING IN ST. AUGUSTINE. 
          SO. AND LOCATION HE SELECTED ON SPANISH STREET FITS IN EXACTLY WHERE. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS IMAGE. 
          WHEN A CHILD FROM ORLANDO COMES HERE AND HE'S GOING TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THE HECK A MINORCAN HERITAGE IS. WE KNOW, BUT WE WANT EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE STATE TO KNOW. 
          SORRY. 
          OKAY, HERE'S A STORY A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. IT'S ABOUT THE SISTERS OF ST. 
          JOSEPH. I'VE TALKED TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT US BEING A WALKABLE CITY. 
          AND THIS IS SOME OF THESE DECISIONS. A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS AREN'T MADE YET. THIS IS STILL IN ITS VERY INFANCY. IT'S A COMMUNITY. WE'RE CALLED A COMMUNITY TEAM. AND THAT MEANS EVERYONE WHO'S IN THIS ROOM IS A PART OF IT. 
          WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. BUT WE TALK ABOUT A WALKABLE CITY. AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE THE SISTERS OF ST. JOE TOUCHED ST. AUGUSTINE. YOU KNOW, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE POSSIBLE ABOUT PUTTING IT THERE, BUT THE SISTERS OF SAINT JOE, WHERE IT HAPPENED, ACTUALLY HAPPENED CLOSER TO SAINT BENEDICT'S. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS LOCATION OF THIS PARTICULAR, PARTICULAR ONE. THEN WE HAVE FRANKLIN SMITH. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE STORY OF FRANKLIN SMITH, BUT IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF HARB OR BEEN IN ST. 
          AUGUSTINE, HE'S THE ONE WHO CREATED WHAT THIS BUILDING'S MADE OF. THE COQUINA, COQUITA CONCRETE, THE POURED COQUINA, AND THE PONCE HOTEL AND FLAGLER COLLEGE, WE FEEL LIKE HIS STORY NEEDS TO BE TOLD. IT'S NOT TOLD A LOT. 
          OKAY. 
          THIS ONE IS HEARD IT COME UP EARLIER. AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MARJORIE KEENAN ROLLINS AND ZORA NEALE HURSTON WAS VERY SHORT. IT WAS VERY BRIEF. MARJORIE KEENAN ROLLINS, HUSBAND, OWNED WHAT IS NOW RIPLEY'S. 
          THE TWO OF THEM WOULD COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT LITERATURE. THIS IS A REPRESENTATION OF FLORIDA LITERATURE. MAYBE NOT SO MUCH ST. AUGUSTINE LITERATURE, BUT THE TWO OF THEM SHARED SOME MOMENTS. 
          ZORA NEAL HAD TO SNEAK IN THE BACK TO GET TO THE THIRD FLOOR OF WHERE RIPLEY'S IS RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'D HAVE THEIR GREAT CONVERSATIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO, LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF THESE ARE STILL OPEN FOR DEBATE. RAY CHARLES, I HEARD HE WAS ACTUALLY HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE FOR SEVEN YEARS, YOU KNOW, BUT I LIKE. I HAD FRANK BUTLER ON MY LIST. I LIKE THE SUGGESTION THAT WE GOT EARLIER ABOUT FRANK BUTLER. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED WHY DR. 
          HALING ISN'T ON HERE. 
          BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE CITY WAS DOING, THERE WAS NO REASON TO DUPLICATE THAT. I THINK MAYOR BROUGHT THAT TO MY ATTENTION. 
          SO. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          AND THIS ONE'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING ONE. WE STILL HAVE AUDREY NEAL EDWARDS WITH US ON THE ST. AUGUSTINE 4. THIS ONE'S GOING TO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE ONE TO MAKE. SO THIS ONE MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH SOMETHING ELSE. WHEN, WHEN THIS FIRST CAME OUT, THE STORY CAME OUT, IT CAME OUT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A NATIVE AMERICAN REPRESENTATION. 
          AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THIS, I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT POSSIBLY ADDING THE NATIVE AMERICAN, THAT TRADITION OF ST. AUGUSTINE INTO THIS MIX, INTO THESE INITIAL 10, SO NOT THROWING AWAY THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THE ST. AUGUSTINE FOUR HAS DONE, BUT I THINK IN THIS SITUATION FINANCIALLY AND MAKING SURE WE'RE TOUCHING ALL COMPONENTS OF OUR HISTORY, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE CHIEF SOLOI IN THIS REPRESENTATION, IN THIS ONE AND THE LAST ONE, BUT NOT THE LEAST, BECAUSE I HOPE THIS GOES ON. 
          BEYOND THIS PORTION OF IT IS FRANCISCO MENENDEZ. HE WAS THE LEADER AT FORT MOSE. HE ACTUALLY HAD TO MOVE INTO THE FORT AND INTO TOWN WHEN FORT MOSE WAS WIPED OUT. 
          [01:40:02]
SO HIS. 
          HIS SIGNIFICANCE MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. I ONLY GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO WITH THIS, I'VE ALREADY WENT TO THE COUNTY AND REQUESTED $30,000 FROM. 
          FROM THE COUNTY EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THE REQUEST I'D LIKE TO MAKE WITH THE CITY AS WE'RE GOING INTO THE BUDGET, BUDGET CYCLE. I WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO LOOK IN YOUR BUDGET AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND A LOCATION. I HAVE. I HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT I CAN GIVE YOU FROM THE COUNTY. THEY PUT IT FROM AID TO PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH THE CITY DOES DO THAT. 
          AND THE MONEY IS BEING HELD IN. 
          IT'S NOT COMING INTO TROY'S BANK ACCOUNT. IT'S. IT'S GOING TO ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, AND A MAJORITY OF THESE ARE IN THE HISTORIC AREA. AND WE TALK ABOUT US MAKING OUR CITY A MORE WALKABLE CITY. THIS IS GOING TO BE A WALKABLE TOUR THAT THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO. AND I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AND SEE IF THAT FOLLOWS FALLS IN THE MOBILITY PORTION OF THE HISTORIC AREA CRA AND IF THAT CAN, IF THAT CAN BE A COMPONENT THAT CAN BE USED FOR THIS. THE MONEY WILL BE HELD. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT UNTIL ALL THE MONEY IS THERE. 
          THE STATUE IS NOT GOING TO BE MADE. BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THIS TO BE A COMMUNITY EFFORT WITH, WITH THE CITY. 
          WITH THE CITY. 
          AND I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE OVER, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. 
          BUT I WANT TO GIVE, GIVE YOU THIS THOUGHT IS IF WE TALK ABOUT BEING A WALKABLE CITY, THIS IS TRULY AN ENHANCEMENT TO THE ENTIRE CITY. SOME ARE GOING TO BE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, SOME ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, BUT NONE OF IT'S ETCHED IN STONE. SO IT'S JUST THE CONCEPT. 
          SO LET ME ASK YOU, THIS IS AN ASK FROM US FOR A COMMITMENT OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OR WHAT. WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT PER YEAR? IT'S, IT'S 20,000 PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS WHAT I'M ASKING FOR THE CITY. I'M ASKING THE COUNTY. 30,000, WHERE WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING IS 30, 33% BE FROM GOVERNMENT FUNDS. I CAN USE THOSE FUNDS TO GO AFTER THE GRANTS THROUGH THE HISTORIC SOCIETY AND THE CULTURAL COUNCIL, WHICH WE'RE ALREADY STARTING ON THOSE GRANTS. PRIVATE FUNDS LIKE WHAT MR. SCOTT OR M. 
          MR. YORK, DID TODAY IS WHAT I CAN USE FOR THOSE MATCHES. SO I WOULD SAY IT'S MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO BE ABOUT 200,000 FROM THE GOVERNMENT SIDE, IF MY WISH. PROBABLY 200,000 FROM THE GRANT SIDE AND HOPEFULLY CLOSER TO 400,000 IS WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE ON THE STREET. 
          OKAY, THAT'S A GREAT. THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT. I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY, Y', ALL, I ALREADY HEARD THIS, BUT PRESENTATION SOME PARTS OF IT AND AT THE TDC MEETING AND I WOULD SAY MR. BLEVINS GOT 100% SUPPORT FROM THEM IN THIS CONCEPT BECAUSE IT. 
          IT'S ABOUT OUR LOCAL HEROES. 
          IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HISTORICALLY WALKED THESE STREETS THAT WERE ACTUALLY HERE. MARJORIE KENNY, ANN RAWLINGS, ZORA NEALE HURSTON, RAY CHARLES, FRANCISCO MENENDEZ. THESE ARE HISTORIC FIGURES, LOCAL, AND THEY TEACH HISTORY AND THEY'RE VERY INTERACTIVE. AND I THINK THAT WAS THE THING THAT YOU PROBABLY CONVEYED BEST TO US WAS HOW INTERACTIVE IT. 
          AND IF YOU SEE THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS BENCH AND THE INTERACTION THAT THE PUBLIC HAS, IT'S SPECTACULAR. IT'S REALLY. THERE'S ALWAYS PEOPLE AROUND IT. SO I REALLY AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND, YOU KNOW, I WILL SUPPORT THIS IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD KICK IN MONEY SINCE WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF MOST OF THESE BENCHES ANYWAY. AND I'M MORE IN FAVOR OF, YOU KNOW, HISTORIC FIGURES AND STATUES AND BENCHES AND LESS IN FAVOR OF HOT DOG AND HAMBURGER CARTS. 
          HAMBURGER CARTS AND PHOTO BOOTHS. I'LL JUST SAY THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? AND FOR THE EDUCATION COMPONENT, WHICH I FAILED TO MENTION, WORKING WITH THE HISTORIC SOCIETY, EACH OF THESE STATUES WILL HAVE A QR CODE WHERE THE KIDS DON'T HAVE TO PUT DOWN THEIR PHONES. THEY GO ON THAT QR CODE AND IT GIVES THEM. 
          THEY WILL. 
          IT GIVES THEM THAT INTERACTION WHERE THEY GO, OH, WOW, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PORTION. 
          WE WANT THEM TO CONTINUE THE INTERACTION FOR THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. 
          YEAH. 
          AND WE CAN DO TIKTOK STUFF, TOO. 
          YEP, EXACTLY. 
          THAT'S THEIR LANGUAGE. 
          [01:45:03]
YEAH. 
          I THINK. CAN I PLEASE. OH, OKAY. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT PEOPLE SITTING ON IT. THIS IS INSTAGRAM, SOCIAL MEDIA. IT'S A GOOD VISUAL THING AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT PEOPLE SEE THINGS. SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU CAN GET IN THE PICTURE OF IT AMPLIFIES IT. SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY GOOD. AND THE FACT THAT YOU CAN INTERACT WITH IT PHYSICALLY LIKE THAT IS A GOOD THING. I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR. ONE THING I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU. DOES THE TDC FUNDING MONEY TOWARD THIS? DID YOU SAY THAT? YES. NO. 
          IT'S IN THE TDC BUDGET. 
          YEAH, I GOT A GOOD IDEA IT IS. 
          I REQUESTED TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAD. I THOUGHT THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO USE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, WHICH THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT BUDGET, BUT THEY SELECTED TO PUT IT IN THE TDC BUDGET INSIDE THE CULTURAL COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT'S OUR HOME BASE. 
          SO THEY PUT IT INSIDE THE CULTURAL COUNCIL AND AID TO PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS FOR 30,000. 
          OKAY. SO THAT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER. IF THEY'RE EVERYBODY'S. 
          THEY GOT SKIN IN THE GAME, THEN. THEN I'M MORE OPEN TO IT. 
          YEAH, YEAH, TROY IS A GOOD IDEA. I DID LIKE SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND I KIND OF. 
          HOW MUCH. HOW MUCH WOULD THE ST. AUGUSTINE FOUR ACTUALLY COST? COST. 
          I'M EACH. EACH INDIVIDUAL ONE ARE GOING TO BE BETWEEN 60 AND 100,000 EACH TIME YOU ADD. 
          YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE ZORA NEIL AND MARJORIE MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE I HAVE THEM SITTING ON THE PARK BENCH TOGETHER TALKING, BUT I'M NOT 100% SURE. 
          BUT I THINK THAT ONE MIGHT RUN BETWEEN 150 AND 200,000. 
          YEAH. 
          YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW THE MOVIE THAT I CREATED CALLED FREEDOM ON OUR MIND, WHICH WAS ABOUT 1964ST. 
          AUGUSTINE. SO I STILL AM NOT ABANDONING THAT, BUT I SEE IT AS A CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT THE COUNTIES AND CITIES MIGHT BE FACING. SO I'M TRYING TO EASE THE PAIN AND POSSIBLY COME BACK TO THAT AS ITS OWN INDEPENDENT PROJECT. 
          YEAH, I WOULD BE PRETTY COMMITTED TO THAT. THAT ONE. 
          THAT IS OUR LOCAL HISTORY WITH OUR LOCAL CITIZENS THAT MADE A WORLD SPLASH, YOU KNOW. 
          YEAH. 
          NOT JUST THE POOL. SO I WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED IN US CONTINUING THAT. WE DO HAVE SOME SET ASIDE ART MONEY FROM THE ART PROJECT THAT WE. 
          THAT WE DID NOT COMPLETE. SO WE DO HAVE SOME MONEY. 
          A GOOD POINT. 
          WE DO HAVE SOME MONEY SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC ART. AND THE IDEA OF THE BENCH IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE MARTIN LUTHER KING TALKING TO SOMEBODY LOCAL ON THAT BENCH THAT WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS WORKER BESIDES DR. 
          HAYLING. I THINK THAT WOULD ADD THE LOCAL TOUCH TO IT BECAUSE HE DID COLLABORATE WITH A LOT OF THE MINISTERS IN TOWN AND WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. 
          THAT WOULD BE A REALLY INTERESTING. SO I'M 100% BEHIND THIS AND PUTTING IT IN A BUDGET. 
          YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE PEOPLE AS YOU TALKED ABOUT IS MR. CLYDE JENKINS. I MEAN, GOLDIE. I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY. 
          RIGHT. 
          WONDERFUL LOCAL PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE 1964 SITUATION AND WHAT HAPPENED TO CLYDE JENKINS AND DR. 
          HALING IN 1963, WHICH SPRUNG PRETTY MUCH WHERE WE GAINED OUR POWER, LEANING ON THOSE STRONG MEN. 
          SO, YEAH. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D RATHER SEE. 
          FRANK BUTLER VERSUS RAY CHARLES. BECAUSE HE DID SO MUCH. HE WAS WEALTHY. THEY GOT THE BUTLER BEACH AND ALL THAT. 
          AND HE OWNED THAT WHOLE. ALL THAT PROPERTY. AND THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE MENTION OF HIM IN A BOOK THAT'S LOCATED THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE FROM OUR GIFT SHOP. AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW MORE THAT HE DID MORE THAN JUST OWN THAT BEACH. HE WAS PROBABLY LIKE ONE OF THE ONLY WEALTHY BLACK MEN IN THAT ERA OF TIME. SO RAY CHARLES IS ALREADY KNOWN FROM HIS MUSIC AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND YIPPEE, HE WENT TO DMV. BUT I THINK SOMEBODY THAT LIVED THESE STREETS AND OWNED PROPERTY HERE IS MORE IMPORTANT. AND ON THE ST. AUGUSTINE 4, AUDREY NELL EDWARDS IS STILL ALIVE. 
          SHE'S STILL WITH US. 
          SO WE COULD JUST PUT HER ON THE BENCH BECAUSE SHE'S THE LAST REMAIN, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TRY TO RECREATE THE OTHER THREE. 
          OR WE CAN DO SOMEBODY THAT'S STILL ALIVE THAT'S REAL IMPACTFUL. CORA TYSON, WHILE WE STILL HAVE HER. AND SOMEBODY CAN SCULPTURE HER TO BE ON ONE OF THESE THINGS. SHE HAS A HISTORY. SHE WAS THERE WITH KING. OR YOU COULD PUT CORA WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING. THAT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE IT'S SHOWING THE LEGACY THAT SHE FED HIM. HE LIVED AT HER HOUSE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THEN THE LOCAL PEOPLE WOULD FEEL 
          [01:50:01]
LIKE LINCOLNVILLE IS BEING RECOGNIZED. IT NEEDS TO BE. 
          AND THEN WE'VE BEEN ASKED ABOUT DR. JANIE PRICE ALSO, AND THERE'S GREAT PICTURES OF HER THAT ARE DOWN THERE. 
          LENNY FOSTER, HE DID A PORCH SERIES. I INTRODUCED HIM TO A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE. HE HAS THEIR LEGACY, HE HAS THEIR STORY. SO WHEN YOU DO THE QR CODE, IT CAN GO RIGHT TO THAT BECAUSE IT'S IN THEIR OWN WORDS. EVEN MRS. TYSON. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO EVEN INTERVIEW HER. I TOLD HEATHER REELAND AND THEY DID A WHOLE ARTICLE ON HER DURING BLACK HISTORY. 
          FROM THE KNOWLEDGE OF THAT, AND THEY JUST ASKED HER A FEW QUESTIONS TO CONFIRM THOSE ARE HER WORDS. 
          SO THOSE ARE SOME PEOPLE. I LIKE THE MENORCANS. I LIKE THIS FRANCISCO GUY. 
          BUT I THINK WE NEED TO PUT A LITTLE OF THE LOCAL HEROES SO THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THE COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE THEY MATTERED. 
          AND THAT WAS A LONG DISCUSSION WITH OUR GROUP. AND LIKE I SAID, OUR TEAM REALLY PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO WHERE THEY'RE AT. 
          BUT WE ALSO LEFT THE FLEXIBILITY OF FRANK BUTLER. 
          AND PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE STORE HE HAD AND HOW HE WOULD LET PEOPLE BUY ON CREDIT AND HIS FORESIGHT OF PURCHASING THE LAND DOWN AT BUTLER BEACH AND THE STORY OF BUTLER BEACH, YOU KNOW, THE WEIGHT INS AND YOU KNOW, HOW ALL THAT COMES TO BE. SO FRANK BUTLER WAS DEFINITELY IN THE DISCUSSION. I THINK WE LANDED ON SOME OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEIR KNOWN NAMES. 
          ANOTHER ONE WAS JACKIE ROBINSON. SPOKE HERE A LOT DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT FINANCIALLY, SAMMY DAVIS JR. WAS SUPPORTING THE CAUSE HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. NEVER MADE IT HERE, BUT HE WAS SUPPORTING THE CAUSE. SO THERE'S SO MANY GREAT STORIES THAT I HOPE THIS CONTINUES BEYOND THESE EIGHT, BEYOND THESE 10 THAT WE'LL HAVE. AND THAT'S MY END GOAL. I KIND OF, YOU KNOW, STOLE THE VISION BECAUSE I SAW THE KIDS AND HOW THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH FREDERICK DOUGLASS. AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WE GOT SOMETHING RIGHT THERE. 
          LET'S JUST GRAB IT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT AND MAKE OUR CITY A LITTLE BETTER AND TELL OUR STORY A LITTLE BIT BETTER THROUGH THESE PARK BENCH HISTORY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          MADAM MAYOR. MAY I JUST POINT OUT ONE THING IF, JUST SO MR. BLEVINS KNOWS, GOING FORWARD, IF THE BENCHES ARE ON CITY PROPERTY, THERE IS A PRETTY EXTENSIVE TRANSFER OF RIGHTS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN, INCLUDING ARTISTS RIGHTS. THAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO GIVE EVERYTHING OVER TO THE CITY AND THEN THE CITY CONTROLS IT BECAUSE FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, IT BECOMES THE CITY'S SYMBOLIC SPEECH. RIGHT. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT MR. BLEVINS GROUP, WHAT THEIR CONCEPT OF THEIR CONTINUED OR NOT CONTINUED OWNERSHIP OF THE ITEMS. BUT FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM TO GET WITH ME SO HE HAS A SENSE OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE IN ORDER FOR THESE ITEMS TO BE LOCATED ON CITY PROPERTY. 
          AND WE HAVE TAKEN THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. THERE ARE CERTAIN ONES THAT HAVE PROTECTION ON IMAGE AND LIKENESS, AND THOSE WE ARE KIND OF LEANING INTO, THOSE BEING MORE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE GENERIC MENORCAN IS A GENERIC MENORCAN REPRESENTING THE HERITAGE. THE SISTERS OF ST. 
          JOE IS STILL VERY KIND OF GENERIC OF WHAT THEY'RE REPRESENTING. 
          BUT THE OTHER ONES, YOU KNOW, WHERE LIKENESS COMES INTO PLAY, WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH WHO OWNS THE RIGHTS TO THE LIKENESS. SO IT HAS COME UP IN OUR CONVERSATION. SO. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US? YOU NEED A VOTE OR A CONSENSUS THAT YOU'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS? YOU WILL NOT BE APPROVING THE BUDGET UNTIL AUGUST 27TH, BUT WE CAN INCLUDE THIS REQUEST IN THE BUDGET 
          [9.A. Ordinances - First Reading ]
FOR YOUR APPROVAL AT THAT DATE. 
          ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE FIRST READING SOME ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING WITH NO PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED AND MS. AMY SKINNER. 
          GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THIS IS THE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2026-15. THIS ORDINANCE IS A REZONING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.23 UPLAND ACRES FROM AN EXPIRED ABANDONED PUD TO RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 
          [01:55:02]
OFFICE, OR RGO, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED USE LAND USE DESIGNATION. A SECOND ORDINANCE ON THE AGENDA ALSO AMENDS THE ZONING FOR THE REMAINING PROPERTY AT 69 LEWIS BOULEVARD FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY NINE ACRES. 
          THIS IS THE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 16. THIS ORDINANCE REZONES APPROXIMATELY 0.77 UPLAND ACRES FROM THE EXPIRED AND ABANDONED PUDDING TO RGO AND REZONES THE REMAINING 8.3 WATERWARD ACRES TO OPEN LAND. BOTH OF THESE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING LAND USE CATEGORIES OF RESIDENTIAL, MEDIUM DENSITY, MIXED USE, AND OPEN LAND. THE SITES CONTAIN AN EXISTING MARINA USE WITH DOCKS AND ANOTHER MAIN BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN USED AS A RESTAURANT. PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT PROCESSING THIS APPLICATION SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE CITY AGREEMENT WITH ANY LEGAL DESCRIPTION BOUNDARY THAT MAY INCLUDE THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S SUBMERGED LANDS. THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS APPLICATION ON JUNE 2 AND MADE POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REZONE BOTH PROPERTIES AT 65 AND 69 LEWIS BOULEVARD, INCLUDING THE CITY SUBMERGED LAND STIPULATION. 
          ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE ORDINANCES ARE REZONINGS, THE CITY COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO STIPULATE ANY EX-PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. THESE ARE SEPARATE ORDINANCES WHICH REQUIRE SEPARATE MOTIONS. AND THIS IS THE FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING FROM BOTH OF THESE ORDINANCES. 
          THANK YOU. I THINK I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE ABANDONED PUD. 
          I DO HAVE SOME LOCATION MAPS IF YOU'D LIKE TO LOOK SO THAT. IF ANYONE IS IN THE AUDIENCE HAS A QUESTION. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          YES. 
          COULD YOU PUT THOSE UP JUST SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? WE'RE PROBABLY ALL FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT THERE IT IS. 
          SO THIS IS OFF OF US ONE AND BACK BEHIND THIS IS THE. 
          FOR CONTEXT, THIS IS THE FLAGLER COLLEGE PROPERTY THAT THEY BOUGHT THAT WAS THE FORMER HOTEL. THIS IS 65 LEWIS BLVD. 
          IT HAS THE MARINA. THIS IS 69 LEWIS BLVD. YOU CAN SEE SOME UPLAND PROPERTY AND THEN MARSH PROPERTY THAT ALSO GOES ALONG WITH IT. IF THESE ORDINANCES ARE PASSED, THE UPLAND AREA KIND OF OUTLINED IN AN ORANGE COLOR WOULD BE THE RGO. AND THEN THE PORTION OUT HERE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED WATERWARD OF THE MOST RESTRICTIVE JURISDICTIONAL LINE WOULD BE OPEN LAND. THESE ARE THEN CONSISTENT. IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE MAYBE, BUT THESE ARE THE LAND USE CATEGORIES. YOU CAN SEE THE UPLAND PORTIONS ARE ALREADY THE RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY, MIXED USE, AND THE MARSH AREA IS ALREADY OPEN LAND AS FAR AS OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS. 
          GREAT. COMMISSIONERS, I HAVE NO EX-PARTE. 
          NO. 
          ANY EX-PARTE. 
          I HAVE NO EX PARTE ON THIS ONE, BUT WE. I GOT AN EMAIL ON THE SECOND ONE ABOUT SPRING STREET. 
          OKAY. YOU CAN DISCLOSE THAT. 
          I HAVE NONE EXCEPT WITH CITY STAFF. 
          CITY STAFF. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. 
          OKAY. WELL, I. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING TO SEE THIS ABANDONED PUD TURNING INTO SOMETHING. SO IF THE LAND USE IS. IS CONSISTENT, THEN GOOD. AND IT'S BEEN THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING. 
          YES, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION ON JUNE 2ND. 
          EXCELLENT. 
          YEAH. 
          SO I SAW. I WATCHED THE VIDEO, AND I THINK IT RETURNING. I'M WRONG. WE'RE JUST RETURNING IT TO THE DESIGNATION IT HAD BEFORE THE PUD SO IT'S. IT'S REALLY MORE CLARITY. I KNOW I WAS PART OF A. 
          OF THAT PUD THING. THIS THING KEEPS POPPING UP. JUST A POSITIVE THING. 
          OKAY. 
          MOVE. WE APPROVE ORDINANCE. 
          JUST ONE QUESTION. I'M NOT SURE. I CAN'T SEE BEHIND ME, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF MR. CAMPBELL, THE OWNER, IS PRESENT. 
          IF I. I WOULD HAVE. NO WAY. 
          I DON'T KNOW HIM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE WANTS TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION OR NOT. 
          MAYBE NOT MAKE A. I'M SO SORRY. 
          WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR 
          [02:00:02]
MR. MR. MR. CAMPBELL, IF YOU ARE HERE OR YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS HERE, WOULD YOU WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? A REPRESENTATIVE IS HERE? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. ALL RIGHT. 
          WITH THAT. 
          SO THEREFORE I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-15, READ BY TITLE ONLY. 
          ARE WE JUST MOVING THIS? IS THIS A FIRST YEAR? IT'S A FIRST READING. 
          YES. OKAY. WE'RE MOVING. 
          OKAY. 
          YES, WE'RE MOVING IT TO PUBLIC HEARING. 
          YEAH. 
          SECOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-15. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 1.23 ACRES. 
          LOCATED AT 65 LEWIS BOULEVARD AS PORTIONS OF WILDWOOD PARK IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER REZONING APPROXIMATELY 1.23 ACRES. 
          FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF ABANDONED PUD TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL OFFICE RGO PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 
          ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JIM SPRINGFIELD. 
          YES. 
          DONNA PRATER? YES. 
          YES. 
          NANCY SYKES KLEIN. YES. 
          THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ON TO THE NEXT. 
          THERE'S THE SECOND PORTION OF THIS PROPERTY. 
          OH, THAT'S RIGHT. WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION FOR THE NETHER FOR THE NEXT ORDINANCE. 
          MY TURN. 
          OKAY. 
          SORRY. 
          I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE ORDINANCE 2026-16 TO SECOND HEARING AS READ BY TITLE. 
          SECOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-16. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 9.07 ACRES. 
          LOCATED AT STATE 69 LEWIS BOULEVARD AS PORTIONS OF MARSH LAND LYING EAST OF LEWIS BOULEVARD IN WILDWOOD PARK AND SOUTH OF WORLEY SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINAFTER REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.77 UPLAND ACRES. 
          FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF ABANDONED PUD TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL OFFICE RGOT AND REZONING APPROXIMATELY 8.30 WATER WORD ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF ABANDONED PUD TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN LAND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          EXCELLENT. 
          MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. 
          JOHN DEPRETER? YES. 
          JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES. 
          CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES. 
          NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          ON TO THE NEXT. 
          THANK YOU. YES. THIS NEXT SET OF ORDINANCES IS AN INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES 2026-17 AND 2026-18. ORDINANCE 2026-17 IS A LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY A HALF AN ACRE FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY. 
          THE SECOND ORDINANCE, 2026-18 IS THE COMPATIBLE REZONING FROM RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY 2RS 2 TO RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 1 FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 18 AND 20 SPRING STREET. THIS PROPERTY WAS A CHURCH WITH PARKING FROM 1988 TO 2024. THE POTENTIAL BUYERS OF THE PROPERTY ARE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, INC. THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS APPLICATION ON JUNE 2ND AND MADE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE FUTURE LAND USE OF THIS PROPERTY FROM THE LOW DENSITY TO MEDIUM DENSITY AND REZONE THE PROPERTY FROM RS2 TO RG1 WITH THE AGREEMENT PROFFERED BY THE APPLICANT THAT IF THE PROPERTY IS NO LONGER USED BY HABITAT BY THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND IS THEREFORE NO LONGER IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, THAT THE PROPERTY WOULD REVERT BACK TO THE PREVIOUS DESIGNATIONS. 
          ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE OF ORDINANCE 2026-18 IS A REZONING, THE CITY COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO STIPULATE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. THESE ARE SEPARATE ORDINANCES WHICH DO REQUIRE SEPARATE MOTIONS. 
          THANK YOU. AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. AND I DO BELIEVE REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE FOR THE APPLICATION. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          OKAY. 
          COMMISSIONERS. 
          YEAH. 
          I GOT A QUESTION. SO I WATCHED A VIDEO, BUT I WASN'T SURE. SO I UNDERSTAND THE. THE ASTERISK. 
          I KNOW WE DID THAT AT THE LIGHTHOUSE. SO I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT. MY QUESTION WAS THERE IS ALSO A USE BY EXCEPTION THAT IS GOING ON HERE. SO THE USE BY EXCEPTION IS GOING TO BE CONDITIONAL ON WHETHER WE PASS THIS. I UNDERSTAND. AND DOES THE USE BY EXCEPTION HAVE A LIMITATION ON THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING? I THINK I HEARD LANGUAGE FROM THE APPLICANT THAT THEY WERE GOING 
          [02:05:01]
TO USE THAT EXISTING BUILDING. 
          I BELIEVE THEY ARE USING THE REUSING THE EXISTING BUILDING, WHICH IS A FORMER CHURCH, AS THEIR OFFICES. THEY ARE FURTHER SOUTH BY THE SCHOOL ON SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY. AND SO THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE IS MY UNDERSTANDING. AND THEY'RE GOING TO REUSE THIS BUILDING. 
          SO IS THERE. NOT THAT I'M CONCERNED. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT I'M VOTING ON? SO IS THERE LANGUAGE IN THE USE BY CONDITIONING, LIMITING THE PHYSICAL SIZE THAT THEY'RE USING THAT BUILDING AND THAT BUILDING ONLY OR THE, IF ANY, I GUESS POTENTIAL EXPANSION WERE TO OCCUR, THEY WOULD NEED TO MEET ALL THE BUILDING CODES AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS WHICH WOULD GET INTO PARKING AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          SO IT WOULD ALL GO INTO REVIEW. I'M JUST TRYING TO LISTEN TO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS. SO IT WILL GO UNDER REVIEW? YES, IT WOULD ALL GO UNDER REVIEW. RIGHT NOW, AS YOU'VE NOTED, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THE REQUEST TO CHANGE THE LAND USE AND THE ZONING TO ALLOW THE OFFICE USE BY EXCEPTION. AND THEN THEY FURTHER LIMITED THE OFFICE USE BY EXCEPTION TO THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ORGANIZATION. 
          IT'S TIGHT, RIGHT? IT'S TIGHT. 
          AND I DO WANT TO THANK OUR CITY ATTORNEY FOR. 
          ON THE LETTER FROM UPCHURCH BAILEY, UPCHURCH BAILEY AND UPCHURCH, I GUESS YOU INITIALLY, THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT YOU INITIALLY CONSIDERED THE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO THE APPLICANT, THE RELIGIOUS LAND USE AND INDUSTRIAL PERSONS ACT. AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT YOU WERE THERE. 
          I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING ILL INTENTIONED ON THEIR PART, BUT I'M VERY GLAD THAT YOU WERE THERE AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT IN THERE. SO THAT'S ALL I. OTHERWISE I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. 
          OKAY. 
          COMMISSIONER GARRIS, HOW MUCH BUSIER IS IT GOING TO BE? BECAUSE SOMEBODY SAID THEY LIVE NEXT TO AND THEY WANTED IT TO STAY LOW DENSITY. I MEAN, HOW MUCH MORE BUSIER IS THAT AREA GOING TO BE? WELL, YOU KNOW, AS A COMPARISON IF YOU COMPARE CHURCH USES VERSUS AN OFFICE USE, OFFICE USES COULD BE EVERY DAY, BUT IT MAY BE MORE LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING AND THE, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING THERE. THE PLANNING BOARD DID DISCUSS WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE CLIENTS COME TO THE HABITAT OFFICE. AND THEY DISCUSSED THAT MOST APPLICATIONS ARE ONLINE AND THEY, AND THEY HAD VERY FEW CLIENTS THAT ACTUALLY CAME TO THEIR OFFICES. I'M SURE THE REPRESENTATIVE COULD DESCRIBE THAT MORE. I WOULD SAY THAT DEPENDING ON THE CHURCH SCHEDULE, CHURCHES CAN BE VERY BUSY, YOU KNOW, FOR SERVICES ON SUNDAY, SERVICES ON OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK SERVICES OR OTHER TYPES OF OFFICE USES FOR CHURCHES AND THE COMING AND GOING OR SUNDAY SCHOOLS OR THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          BUT IT IS THERE PARKING ON THE PROPERTY? THERE IS AN EXISTING GRASS PARKING LOT. IT IS NOT IMPROVED AT THIS TIME. WE WOULD NOT REQUIRE THAT IT BE IMPROVED UNLESS WE SAW, AS COMMISSIONER DEPRETER NOTED, THAT IF THE OFFICE USE GENERATED MORE PARKING THAN THE CHURCH WOULD REQUIRE, THEN WE WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE PARKING BE UPGRADED. 
          CAN THE APPLICANT EXPLAIN BASICALLY THE USAGE TO US JUST A LITTLE BIT? THE APPLICANT, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND BE. 
          OH, DO WE NEED SWEARING IN OR ANYTHING? C IT'S MR. ANSBACHER. HE'S AN ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT. 
          SO, NO, HE DOESN'T NEED TO BE SWORN IN. 
          ALL RIGHT, MR. ANSBACHER, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK. 
          B I THINK MS. EVERSON, PROBABLY YOU'LL STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE, SO WE CAN HEAR YOU. 
          B OKAY, SIT. ONSBACHER. 780 NORTH PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD. COUNSEL FOR THE APPLICANT, MELINDA EVERSON IS HERE. SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR HABITAT. 
          MR. ANSBACHER, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE MS. EVERSON TESTIFY? BECAUSE WE'LL PUT HER UNDER OATH IF YOU ARE. 
          MS. LOPEZ. THAT'S WHAT I SAID, BUT I WAS JUST OFF THE MIC THAT BECAUSE I THINK SHE IS BETTER IN A POSITION TO SPEAK TO IT THAN I AM FIRSTHAND. SHE SHOULD TESTIFY AND BE SWORN IN. 
          PLEASE BE SWORN IN NOW. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE? THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING 
          [02:10:01]
BUT THE TRUTH? YES. 
          B AND SO WE ELICITED TESTIMONY FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES DIRECTOR IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING BOARD CONCERNING THE TRAFFIC FLOW. 
          AND MS. EVERSON IS JUST AS FAMILIAR. AND MS. EVERSON, IF YOU CAN JUST SPEAK TO FULL TIME, PART TIME, AND HOW MANY CLIENTS YOU GET, THAT WOULD PROBABLY GO RIGHT TO THE CORE. 
          OUR OFFICE IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 9 TO 5. WE TYPICALLY HAVE ONE AND POTENTIALLY TWO PEOPLE THAT JUST WALK IN OFF THE STREET FOR AN APPLICATION OR QUESTION. 
          WHAT WAS THE OTHER QUESTION WAS? FULL TIME AND PART TIME EMPLOYEE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX FULL TIME AND TWO PART TIME. ONE IS OUT AT THE SITE. AND SO WE HAVE SIX FULL TIME IN THE OFFICE, ONE PART TIME THAT COME IN DURING THE WEEK. AND MOST OF OUR APPLICATIONS ARE DONE ONLINE. WE GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS, A LOT OF ONLINE APPLICATIONS. EVEN THE APPLICATIONS FOR MORTGAGE ARE DONE OFF SITE WITH THE BANK. 
          OKAY, SO YOU HAVE PARKING TO ACCOMMODATE THE EMPLOYEES, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. 
          THEY DON'T HAVE TO PARK IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT KIND OF THING? NO, THERE'S A LARGE ENOUGH AREA FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO PARK. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          AND JUST TO CLARIFY THE QUESTION, AND I ADMIT THAT IT WAS A VERY LIVELY DISCUSSION AT THE PLANNING BOARD, BUT THE GIST OF WHAT I UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTIONS TO BE, BOTH FROM STAFF BEFOREHAND AT THE FRIDAY MEETING AS WELL AS AT THE PLANNING BOARD, WAS, SO WHAT IMPACT DO YOU PLAN TO HAVE? AND MS. EVERSON CAN SPEAK TO IT, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT MATTERS HUGELY. 
          BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR, THE BISHOP WHO ESSENTIALLY WAS THE PASTOR HERE, PASSED AWAY AND THE ASSISTANT PASTOR, ASSOCIATE PASTOR CAME TO MS. EVERSON AND SAID, YOUR MISSION, YOUR FAITH BASED MISSION IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. 
          WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY, IF POSSIBLE, BASED UPON THE FAITH THAT SHE PUT IN AND THAT THE BALTIMORE BASED ALPHA AND OMEGA PENTECOSTAL CHURCH PUT IN. WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY. 
          YOU ASKED ABOUT THE RLUFA QUESTION. WE WERE SIMPLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE LEAST INTENSIVE AND LEAST DENSE CHANGE WE COULD MAKE. THAT'S WHY WHEN A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AT THE PLANNING BOARD SAID, DO YOU WANT TO DO A PUD? I SAID, BY DOING IT THIS WAY AND WITH THE REVERSIONARY CLAUSE, AS WE DID AT THE WHITE HOUSE, AS YOU NOTED, AND I WAS COUNSEL FOR THAT. I WAS YOUNGER AND OKAY, I WAS BALD TOO, BUT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY BEST, ULTIMATELY AFTER THE DISCUSSION, TO TRY TO KEEP IT CLOSE TO THE DENSITY AS POSSIBLE. 
          AND WE ALSO WERE ASKED AT THE FRIDAY MEETINGS, CAN YOU KEEP THE ENVELOPE THE SAME? AND WE ABSOLUTELY. I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD, THE WHOLE POINT WAS TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A CORE ELEMENT OF, AS I WAS SAYING, WHETHER IT'S VOLUSIA STREET, WHETHER IT'S OUT IN ELKTON, YOU KNOW, CORE COMMUNITY THAT'S HABITATS COMMUNITY, THAT THEY WANT TO BE INTEGRAL TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THE EXAMPLE I USED IN, FRANKLY, TO GIVE CREDIT TO SOMEONE ELSE, I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK FOR JUST THE OTHER SIDE. 
          DEBBIE REDDING AND THE HOMELESS COALITION IS LITERALLY THE SAME DISTANCE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE WOULD TRY TO INTEGRATE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BE AS IMMERSIVE AS THEY WERE. AND SORRY FOR GOING. IT'S YOUR SALE AND IT'S YOUR ENTITY. 
          WE'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR 34 YEARS. 
          WE'VE BUILT 200 HOMES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. WE HAVE UPPED OUR PRODUCTION BY 200%. 
          WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO RESPOND TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND WE WANT TO STAY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY, WHO GREW UP IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND WE WANT TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THEM. AND THIS WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. I KNOW THERE'S A QUESTION 
          [02:15:02]
ABOUT WHAT WE PLAN ON DOING WITH THAT BUILDING. WE ABSOLUTELY PLAN ON RENOVATING THE EXISTING BUILDING. WE DON'T PLAN ON ADDING ONTO THE BUILDING. 
          WE'RE WORKING WITH A LOCAL ARCHITECT WHO ACTUALLY DOES OUR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOMES TO MAKE IT THE MOST EFFICIENT WE CAN. AND AT THE LAST MEETING, I BELIEVE AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING, THEY WERE DISCUSSING WHY WE WOULD WANT TO MOVE FROM OUR CURRENT PLACE. AND WE ARE NEIGHBORING THE FOOD PANTRY. AND SINCE COVID I BELIEVE THEIR OUTPUT IS WENT UP 400%. SO JUST ACCEPT ACCESS FOR OUR STAFF TO GET IN AND OUT OF THERE IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE DURING SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THEY'RE DISTRIBUTING FOOD. 
          SO THIS WOULD BE A GOOD SOLUTION FOR US AND I THINK A GOOD FIT IN WEST AUGUSTINE. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OTHER QUESTIONS? IN THAT CASE, I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2026-17. 
          SECOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-17, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FLUM DESIGNATION OF A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 0.51 ACRES LOCATED AT 18 AND 20 SPRING STREET AS PORTIONS OF RENO TRACK A RESUBDIVISION OF RAVENS IN THE CITY OF ST. 
          AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE. AND AFTER CHANGING APPROXIMATELY 0.51 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM ITS CURRENT LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY, INCLUDING A FUTURE LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT FLUM ASTERISK LIMITING THE DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          BEFORE WE VOTE, I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER GARRIS MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD EX POWER TAY ON THIS. DID YOU WANT TO TELL US WHO IT WAS? AND IT WAS AN EMAIL. 
          SOMEBODY THAT WAS COMPLAINING THAT THEY LIVED NEXT DOOR AND THEY HAD A CONCERN. I CAN LOOK UP THEIR NAME. 
          OH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO ON. 
          JUST SO THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH DETAIL. 
          I THINK YOU SENT IT TO ALL OF US. 
          YEAH, WE ALL GOT THE SAME. 
          WE ALL GOT. 
          ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S ON THE SERVER. ANY OTHER CONVERSATIONS YOU WANTED TO. 
          OKAY, GREAT. IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL NAMES. 
          DETECTIVE KLEIN? YES. 
          JOHN DEPRETER? YES. 
          JIM SPRINGFIELD. 
          YES. 
          ALL RIGHT. AND I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2618 TO SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. 
          SECOND. 
          SECOND. 
          OH, YOU GOT ME. 
          WE HAVE. COMMISSIONER GARRIS. 
          GOT THE SECOND. 
          ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-18, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 0.51 ACRES LOCATED AT 18 AND 20 SPRING STREET AS PORTIONS OF GREEN TRACT. A RESUBDIVISION OF RAVENS IN THE CITY OF ST. 
          AUGUSTINE IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE. AND AFTER REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.51 ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY 2RS2 TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 1 RG1 IMPLEMENTING THE USE BY EXCEPTION DEVELOPMENT ORDER PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 
          THANK YOU. AND BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, WE HAVE THE SAME EX PARTE. WE ALL RECEIVED A LETTER. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. 
          NANCY SIKES-KLINE. 
          YES. 
          CYNTHIA GARRIS. 
          YES. 
          JON DEPRETER YES. 
          AND I'D LIKE TO ADD, I THINK IT'S A GOOD ADAPTIVE REUSE OF HER PROPERTY. 
          WHILE WE'RE HERE. 
          JIM SPRINGFIELD. 
          YES. 
          ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL SEE YOU AT PUBLIC HEARING WHENEVER THAT COMES. ALL RIGHT, NEXT ITEM. 
          WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS. WE MOVE ON TO STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS. DO WE HAVE ANY 
          [12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK ]
STAFF REPORTS? WE DON'T HAVE ANY. ALL RIGHT. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY. 
          NOTHING. 
          NOTHING. OKAY. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK. I JUST HAVE A REMINDER OF OUR OPEN CURRENT OPEN POSITIONS ON AUDIT COMMITTEE AND OUR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. 
          [13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER ]
THE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM IS IN HOUSE AND BOARD APPOINTED. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. 
          ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER, MADAM MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. 
          THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS EXTENDED THE 4TH OF JULY. 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. AND ST. 
          JOHNS COUNTY HAS DONE THE SAME THING. THE HOLIDAY, THE EXTENDED HOLIDAY WILL START ON JULY 2 AND GO THROUGH JULY 06, ESSENTIALLY ADDING TWO DAYS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. AND WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE 
          [02:20:01]
TO EXTEND THE SAME HOLIDAY SCHEDULE TO CITY EMPLOYEES. 
          SO THAT WOULD BE THURSDAY THE 2ND, FRIDAY THE 3RD, THE WEEKEND AND MONDAY THE 6TH. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. YES, MA' AM. 
          SO, OKAY, THEN I'M. YES. I SAY ALWAYS GIVE THE EMPLOYEES THAT BREAK AND THEY CAN GO GET A HAMBURGER DOWN THERE ON THE COAST. 
          YEAH, WE'RE TAKING PICTURES OF THAT. 
          YES. 
          COME ON DOWN. 
          I SEE. I SEE SMILING FACES. 
          SO, YES, I WOULD APPRECIATE. 
          IT'S ALL GOOD. 
          WELL, HAVING BEEN A CITY EMPLOYEE, I WOULD APPRECIATE THEM STILL BEING ABLE TO GET SOME PERKS FROM WORKING FOR THE CITY. 
          YEAH. 
          OH, GOODNESS. 
          YES. 
          WELL, THIS IS A GOOD ONE. 
          AND IT'S PROBABLY A ONE TIME DEAL. SO, I SEE EVERYONE AGREES. 
          YEAH. 
          [14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THAT'S IT? THAT'S ALL YOU GOT? THAT'S ALL. UNLESS YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS. 
          YEAH. 
          WELL, WE'LL GET TO COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND. 
          ALL RIGHT. WHO IS ON FIRE TO SPEAK? I'M ON FIRE. 
          WHO'S GOT A BURNING ISSUE? I GOT A BURNING ISSUE. 
          OKAY, THEN LET'S GO. 
          MANLY TOYS AND HOBBIES. 
          HAVING WORKED FOR FACILITIES, I HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO GO DOWN THERE AND SPEAK TO TED HILL. WHAT? I ALWAYS FOUND SOMEBODY COOPERATIVE, SOMEBODY THAT WAS KIND. AND WHEN THEY SAY PEOPLE COME BACK TO HIS SHOP. MY OLDEST SON GOES TO HIS SHOP BECAUSE THEY HAVE RARE ITEMS THERE THAT CAN BE PURCHASED. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THERE WAS SCAFFOLDING ALL AROUND THE 35 APOLLO TO STREET BECAUSE WE WERE PUTTING A NEW ROOF ON. AND A LOT OF THOSE BUSINESSES WERE SUFFERING BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE OPEN. AND EVEN DURING THAT WINDOW OF TIME, HE WAS STILL POSITIVE. AND I WENT DOWN THERE AS AN EMPLOYEE, AS THE COORDINATOR AND VIDEOED THOSE STORES AND PUT THEM ONLINE SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THAT THEY WERE OPEN, EVEN BECAUSE OF THE SPEED SCAFFOLDING. HE HAS NEVER COMPLAINED. HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A DECADE. AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE LOCATION, AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN, I DON'T KNOW, 15, 20. YOU HAVE THE CARDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT TO SUPPORT HIM. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A MAN THING. SO I'M SURE YOU GUYS CAN IDENTIFY WITH THAT. YOU KNOW, HE HAS HIS SHOP, HE HAS ALL THESE LITTLE GADGETS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR BATHROOMS. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT. WE'VE HAD TO RENT PORTA POTTIES. 
          BUT WHEN LAUREN GUYVER CAME UP HERE AND NAMED ALL THOSE LOCATIONS, THAT THERE'S PUBLIC RESTROOMS, IT EVEN KIND OF CONFIRMED THAT CLOSING A BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE TAXES COMING UP, WE NEED THE MONEY FROM THAT BUSINESS. THE RENT THAT THEY PAY, THEY PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES, THEY ALSO CONDUCT. THEY PAY THEIR OWN AC BILLS AND THINGS. 
          BECAUSE I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT, BECAUSE I USED TO HAVE TO SEND MY GUYS DOWN THERE TO OPEN IT UP, AND HE WOULD GET THE BILL AND PAY THAT. WE HAVE A GREAT TENANT. 
          AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN THERE AS LONG AS HIM, LIKE THAT LITTLE GELATO SHOP, BECAUSE THAT CHANGED HANDS AS LONG AS HE HAS. SO WHY HIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS WAS TARGETED FOR THE PLACE. 
          IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S GOING TO COST US A LOT OF MONEY TO RECONSTRUCT THOSE BATHROOMS. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE POSITION WE NEED TO GO IN. 
          I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH STUFF MOVING FORWARD ON CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE DO NEED TO STAND DOWN ON TAMPERING WITH THIS BUSINESS. THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S IT? THAT'S IT. 
          OKAY. 
          YEP. 
          YEP. 
          WELL, I WASN'T GOING TO BRING IT UP, SO WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS TONIGHT, BUT THE COUPLE NOTES I WROTE DOWN, I ASKED MYSELF, IS THERE A GREATER PUBLIC GOOD WITH THE RESTROOMS VERSUS THE REVENUE? AND EVERYTHING I'VE SEEN, I MEAN, AS FAR AS BUSINESSES, PRACTICALLY EVERY BUSINESS I KNOW DOWNTOWN HAS ALWAYS SAID TO ME, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE BATHROOMS, ROOMS. I THINK THAT. THAT MAYBE THESE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING IN HERE SPEAKING FOR HIM, ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HIM. HE SEEMS LIKE A REALLY WONDERFUL GUY. 
          BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THESE BATHROOMS ARE NOT NEEDED IN EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD FROM BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS. 
          AND IT'S A BALANCING ACT WE HAVE. WE'RE A LANDLORD, BUT WE GOT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC GOOD ALSO. 
          AND SO I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING TONIGHT THAT WOULD MAKE ME CHANGE MY MIND THAT THE PUBLIC GOOD PART OF THIS IS OUTWEIGHING THE REVENUE LOSS. 
          WHICH WAY I LOOK AT THE OTHER THING IS JUST PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY THAT GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE LIKE A BUSINESS. WELL, WE ARE A BUSINESS AND THIS IS. WE'RE MAKING THIS DECISION ON OUR OWN PROPERTY AS A LANDLORD. AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS SAID TONIGHT EMPIRICALLY THAT WOULD MAKE ME CHANGE MY MIND 
          [02:25:02]
EXCEPT SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHERE RESTROOMS ARE AT AND SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THE RESTROOMS. I MEAN, THE CITY AS WE KNOW IT DOESN'T HAVE ONE STEADY PACE OF PEOPLE. 
          I'M ASSUMING THAT A LOT OF TIMES THE RESTROOMS GET FILLED AND WE HAVE WAVES OF PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE. SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FLOODING AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS NEED IT, BUT WHEN YOU NEED IT, IT'S THERE. SO I THOUGHT ON THAT. AND I ALSO JUST HAD THE FEELING THAT I KNOW IT'S. 
          IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THE TENANT, BUT HE HAS A VERY STRONG CUSTOMER BASE AND I THINK HE WOULD BE SURVIVABLE SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND UNLESS I SEE SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME, IT'S EASIER TO MOVE THE TENANT THAN FOR US TO START MOVING THE BATHROOMS AROUND TOWN. SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT NOW. UNLESS CITY MANAGER CAN TELL ME WE DON'T NEED THE BATHROOMS, I WOULD JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING. 
          I'M SORRY, ONE LAST THING. 
          SEPARATE NOTE. I WOULD LIKE TO. 
          I DON'T WANT ANYBODY DECIDED RIGHT NOW, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING, THROWING OUT THE IDEA, IF WE COULD START OUR MEETINGS AT 4:30. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE HAVE STAFF BACK THERE THAT SITS BACK THERE AND THEY. IT GIVES THEM A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO SIT HERE TONIGHT AND THEY'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY. AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN WE'RE HERE, BY THE TIME WE DO OUR PROCLAMATIONS AND A LOT OF STUFF, IT GETS TO ABOUT 5 O'CLOCK. SO, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO ANSWER IT RIGHT NOW. 
          BUT I WOULD THINK WE'D BE BETTER OFF STARTING A MEETING AT ANYWAY. 
          THINK ABOUT THAT. 
          I'LL TALK ABOUT BATHROOMS IN JUST A MINUTE. I WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT. LAST MEETING WE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC TALK ABOUT HORSES. 
          AND WE HAD IT TONIGHT. AND WHILE I LOOK AT THE AUDIENCE, EVERYBODY'S ATTENTIVE, ATTENTIVE. THEN WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON THE HOMELESS ABOUT PEOPLE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE AUDIENCE WAS ON THEIR PHONE. AND I WAS JUST DISAPPOINTED IN THE CONCERN THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE FOR THE HORSES AND NOT PEOPLE JUST TO COMMENT FROM THIS VIEW. 
          LOOKING OUT OF THE AUDIENCE. I DIDN'T TAKE A PICTURE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AWKWARD. 
          BUT I STILL HAVE THAT PICTURE IN MY HEAD. I'M SAD TO SEE SCOTT YORK GO. WE'RE MISSING. 
          WE'RE GONNA MISS A GOOD PERSON FOR THE CITY. I WOULD LIKE SOME BACKGROUND ON THE FISHING PIER COMMENT AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE. 
          YOU KNOW WHY WE ELIMINATED IT AND IF WE DID, I DON'T REMEMBER US HAVING THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FISHING PIER. WE DID. 
          OKAY. 
          BATHROOMS. I KNOW NOT TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S NICE OR GOOD. IT NEEDS TO BE A BUSINESS DECISION. BUT I HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE AND IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE I'VE SUGGESTED BEFORE POLITELY. THERE ARE REALLY NICE PORTABLE BATHROOMS AND THE BATHROOMS THAT WERE MENTIONED AT THE. 
          AT THE OPENING ARE NOT OPEN AT NIGHT. MOST OF THOSE ARE CLOSED. WE DON'T HAVE BATHROOMS OPEN AT NIGHT AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE NOT AVAILABLE DURING THE PEAKS OF NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY NEED THEM IS 4TH OF JULY AND NIGHTS OF LIGHTS DOWNTOWN. BUT WE ALSO NEED ADDITIONAL BATHROOMS FOR EVENTS AND WE NEED ADDITIONAL BATHROOMS SOMETIMES FOR THE HOMELESS DROP IN CENTER WHEN THAT BECOMES FULL SPEED. 
          SO MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE INVEST A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IN REALLY NICE PORTABLE BATHROOMS THAT WE CONNECT TO SEWER IN THOSE LOCATIONS, THOSE THREE LOCATIONS. AND THEY CAN BE MOVED WHERE? AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE MOVED. 
          BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR. 
          IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE MOVING EVERY WEEKEND. WE MOVE THEM WHEN WE NEED THEM. IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE. AND WE KEEP THE INCOME FROM THE BUILDING TO HELP PAY FOR THAT SITUATION. BECAUSE WE CONTROL THE SEWER. WE CAN ADD SEWER. I WAS A MOTORHOMER. YOU COULD DRIVE THE MOTORHOME ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW AND PLUG IT INTO SEWER AND WATER AND EVERYTHING'S FINE. 
          AND YOU CAN LOCK IT SO IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE. SO I THINK WE HAVE ALTERNATIVES. I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO BE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON THE BUSINESS OR THE POPULARITY OF IT NEEDS TO BE THE INCOME VERSUS WHAT WE REALLY NEED. 
          AND WHETHER THAT'S THE RIGHT LOCATION, I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE DIDN'T BRING THIS UP. THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT UNTIL BUDGET TIME. AND WE WERE ALL KIND OF SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS CONCERN. IT WASN'T SOMETHING WE HAD ALREADY TALKED ABOUT AND AGREED TO DO. AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO. AND MONEY IS GOING TO BE CONCERNED THIS YEAR. SO IT COULD BE DELAYED A YEAR AND GIVE HIM MORE TIME TO FIND AN 
          [02:30:01]
ALTERNATIVE IF WE STILL WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BATHROOMS. BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE US INVESTIGATE, YOU KNOW, REALLY NICE PUBLIC RESTROOMS THAT WE CAN MOVE AROUND TO THE EVENTS TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR AND THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO HEARING THE DISCUSSION. I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT IT DIDN'T, IT WASN'T PRECIPITATED OUT OF SOMETHING ACTION THAT WE TOOK. 
          I THINK IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF THE. MR. TENANT, MR. HILL WAS NOTIFIED THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE. HIS LEASE WOULD BE NOT. 
          WOULD NOT BE RENEWED. THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING AND MY UNDERSTANDING. IS THAT CORRECT? NO, NOT ENTIRELY. OKAY. 
          HE SIGNED A LEASE. THE LEASE EXPIRES IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. AND IT HAD FOUR THREE YEAR EXTENSIONS. AND WE GRANTED THE FIRST OF THOSE FOUR EXTENSIONS. SO, HIS CURRENT LEASE RUNS THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR, BUT EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2027 THE NEXT YEAR. AND HE SIGNED THAT LEASE. 
          AND THEN WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE HIM COMING UP AND, AND LOBBYING YOU FOR AN EXTENSION OF THAT LEASE, WHICH I. THAT'S MY. THAT'S WHY I PRESUME THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING. BUT WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID AND DONE, HIS LEASE DOES EXPIRE NEXT SEPTEMBER. 
          SEPTEMBER 2027. 
          YES, SEPTEMBER 27. 
          WELL OVER A YEAR THAT HIS LEASE EXPIRES. 
          YES. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          AND THE SUITE THAT HE OCCUPIES NOW IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO OUR PUBLIC RESTROOMS AT THE CASA. SO IT MAKES SENSE FOR, FROM A LOGISTICS POINT OF VIEW TO JUST EXPAND OUR CURRENT PUBLIC RESTROOMS. IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO MAINTAIN THEM AND TO MANAGE THEM RATHER THAN BUILDING NEW RESTROOMS SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
          THAT'S WHY, THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE WERE HEADED IN. 
          IT'S ALL DEPENDENT ON YOUR APPROVAL OF THAT DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE. AND WE WERE KIND OF SURPRISED ALSO. 
          SO REALLY WHAT IT IS, IS THE DECISION THAT WE, WHEN WE COME TO A POSITION TO MAKE DECISION CONCERNING THIS WILL BE DURING THE BUDGET TIME, WHETHER WE WANT TO FUND THE EXPANSION OF BATHROOMS. AND AS I UNDERSTOOD, IT WAS MORE THAN JUST BATHROOMS, AM I CORRECT? IT WAS ALSO A STATION FOR OUR SANITATION WORKERS DOWNTOWN. 
          NO, THIS WOULD JUST BE EXPANDED BATHROOMS. WE HAD A LARGER PROJECT AT A DIFFERENT CITY PROPERTY THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT. 
          SO, THIS WAS THE EXPANSION OF BATHROOMS. AND WE THOUGHT WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AFTER THE LAST NIGHTS OF LIGHTS THAT THEY DID NOT LIKE THOSE PORTABLE BATHROOMS. BUT IT IS DEPENDENT UPON BUDGET. YOU APPROVING THE BUDGET. AND IF YOU DECIDE YOU DO NOT WANT TO FUND IT AT THIS TIME, WE WILL EXTEND THE PROP. THE BUSINESS TO THE FULL EXTENT OF HIS TERM, WHICH WOULD BE SEPTEMBER OF 2027. 
          I'M SORRY, I'M CONFUSED. 
          I THOUGHT HIS LEASE EXPIRES THIS DECEMBER. 
          THIS DECEMBER. 
          BUT WE'VE GOT. WE, THE CITY, CAN GRANT HIM THREE ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS TO SEPTEMBER OF 2027. 
          I SUGGEST WE DO THAT NOW TO PUT THIS TO REST, TO GIVE US A CLEAN SLATE AND LESS OF THIS PUBLIC INPUT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER WE NEED TO ADD RESTROOMS IN THAT LOCATION. I MEAN, MAYBE THIS IS A BIGGER CONVERSATION THAN THAT LOCATION. I DON'T KNOW. 
          BUT I THINK MAYBE WE NEED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT ALL THE BATHROOMS. YOU'VE SAID YOU HAVE 69 TOILETS. HAVING SOMEONE COME UP AND LIST ADDRESSES, THAT'S. 
          I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND. 
          AND IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN LISTING ADDRESSES AND, YOU KNOW, THE STATE BATHROOMS, WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE UF OPERATES AREN'T. 
          THEY'RE NOT OPEN THE BEST TIMES AND GOVERNMENT HOUSE, YOU CAN WALK IN THERE FREE, BUT THEY'RE CLOSED AT 5 O' CLOCK. AND THAT DOESN'T SERVE ANYBODY. SO, THERE'S. IT'S A COMPLICATED PICTURE REALLY, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE CLEAR THE DECK AND JUST SAY TO THE GENTLEMAN, YOU HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2027 TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE. IF WE 
          [02:35:02]
DECIDE TO PUT THIS IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, HOW WOULD THAT WORK? IF IT'S IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, WHEN WOULD YOU NEED TO GET INTO THE BUILDING? SO THEORETICALLY, IF WE VOTE ON THIS IN THE BUDGET TO FUND THIS EFFORT, WHEN WOULD YOU NEED TO GET IN THE BUILDING TO START WORKING? BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE A PLAN, RIGHT? THERE'S ALREADY. 
          WE HAVE DONE A STUDY AND WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE WE HAVE GOTTEN AN ESTIMATE FOR CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING THE UTILITY CONNECTION CHARGES. 
          YEAH. 
          IF YOU WANTED TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO EXTEND YOUR LEASE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2027, WE CAN CONTINUE TO REFINE OUR PLAN IN ANTICIPATION OF FUNDING. 
          WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD AND JUST TO HAVE HIM COME BACK IN, YOU KNOW, IN 12 MONTHS AND SAY, OH, YEAH, BUSINESS. 
          AND IT SOUNDS TO ME THE DOOR IS GOING TO BE CLOSED. I MEAN, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF AT WHAT TIME. SO MY HESITATION WOULD BE THAT WE BUDGET THIS, WE HAVE A STUDY FOR IT, AND WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A NEED. I'M ASSUMING WE WOULDN'T BE SPENDING MONEY ON IT. SO HOPEFULLY THEN. SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO DELAY US STARTING THIS PROJECT TO APPEASE HIM FOR ANY NUMBER OF MONTHS. 
          SO YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE HEART, KEEPING A HARD LINE ON DECEMBER AND HAVE HIM VACATE IN DECEMBER? I THINK THAT TO HIS FAVOR, WE. WE NEED TO SAY YES OR NO UNLESS WE WANT TO CONSIDER JIM'S OPTION OF LOOKING AT IT DIFFERENTLY. 
          WHAT I HEARD FROM PEOPLE DURING NIGHT'S LIGHTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THESE PORTER TOILETS, NOBODY WANTS THEM AROUND TOWN. THEY'RE UNSIGHTLY. 
          SO, I'M STILL STRONGLY ON IT. I MEAN, I DIDN'T REALLY EVEN KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE COMING. CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S TELLING ME THEY WANT BATHROOMS DOWNTOWN. 
          THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE PORTA TOILET SUPPORTED TOILETS. 
          YEAH, I DON'T. I DON'T SEE THIS AS A DONE DEAL AT ALL. 
          SO, I DON'T. I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO ASSUME THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE BATHROOMS. THAT WAS HIS PLAN. HE WAS GOING TO BRING TO THE COMMISSION THAT WE WERE GOING TO CONSIDER. 
          SO THAT'S THE TIME FRAME OF THAT PLAN. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO, THE TIME FRAME OF THE PLAN. IF THE TIME FRAME OF THE PLAN WOULD BE COMPLETED AND THEN WE WOULD KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, CONSTRUCTION WOULD START RIGHT AFTER DECEMBER, THEN I WOULD NOT WANT TO EXTEND IT. MY POINT IS, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE OUR PLAN, IF WE GO FORWARD, BE HELD BACK BECAUSE OF EXTENDING HIS LEASE. 
          I UNDERSTAND. SO WHY DON'T WE DO THIS OR CONSIDER THIS. 
          YEAH, I CAN COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION WITH A TIMETABLE. 
          RIGHT. 
          THAT SHOWS YOU CONSTRUCTION OF THE BATHROOM STARTING SOON AFTER SALES, SEPTEMBER OF 2027, AND HOW THAT WOULD LOOK IN A FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WILL KEEP HIM IN THE SPACE FOR THE NEXT, WHAT, 19 MONTHS OR SOMETHING? YEAH. 
          AND GIVE YOU A CLEAR VISION OF HOW MANY RESTROOMS WE'RE GOING TO PUT THERE, HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND IT AND HOW THAT FITS IN. 
          THAT WOULD SATISFY ME. 
          THAT WOULD BE. 
          AND I THINK IT WOULD SATISFY ME TALKING ABOUT. 
          YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, I THINK THAT SOUNDS GOOD BECAUSE YOU HAVE AMPLE TIME AND YOU DON'T NEED TO, BUT WE DON'T. PEOPLE WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FORCING THEM OUT. SO, I'M NOT THINKING IT'S GOING TO END THE CONVERSATION, BUT IT GIVES US A FACTUAL REASON TO SAY OKAY. WE CAN EXTEND IT THIS LONG BECAUSE WE HAVE A PLAN. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE. 
          YEAH. AND I'D PUSH BACK ON FORCING HIM OUT. HE SIGNED THAT LEASE, SO. 
          OKAY. 
          SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR AT THE NEXT MEETING, BRING BACK THE LEASE EXPENSE EXTENSION FOR US TO APPROVE. OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY MANAGER APPROVES? THAT'S SOMETHING I APPROVE. 
          OKAY. SO, CAN WE GIVE YOU CONSENSUS NOW? YES. 
          TO APPROVE THE LEASE EXTENSION TO SEPTEMBER OF 2027, FULL TERM WITH THE EXTENSIONS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THIS. 
          IN THE LEASE. RIGHT. 
          OKAY. 
          BUT NOT COMMITTING TO THE BUDGET. 
          NO. 
          YOU CAN'T COMMIT TO THE BUDGET HERE. 
          WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION. 
          WE'RE PUTTING THAT. AFFORD A CART. WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE BUDGET CONVERSATION FIRST. AND SO I WOULD JUST. 
          NO, WE'RE JUST GETTING PUSHED INTO THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE OF THE URGENCY OF THIS GENTLEMAN WHO'S GOT HIS, YOU KNOW. 
          RIGHT. BUT I DON'T. I DON'T FEEL FORCED. I THINK THE PROPER WAY TO DO IT IS TO SEE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BUDGET FOR THIS AND HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE AND THEN TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE LEASE. 
          I FEEL THE PRESSURE. 
          I JUST. 
          I DEFINITELY. 
          YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE THAT I'M BEING. 
          WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING. 
          WE'RE ACTUALLY SAYING THE RESULT OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FOR THE REASONS ARE DIFFERENT, BUT THE RESULT IS I WISH TO. I STARTED OFF WITH. I WISH TO EXTEND THE LEASE OR GIVE HIM TILL SEPTEMBER OF 2027. LET HIM KNOW THAT. THAT'S WHAT HE'S SAYING. THAT'S WHAT HE'S SAYING. 
          YES. 
          I THINK WE SHOULD. 
          OKAY. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO 
          [02:40:02]
PASS THE BUDGET FIRST AND DO THAT. BUT MAYBE I'M OUT OF. I'M OUT OF SYNC. 
          THAT'S OKAY. 
          I THINK THE QUANDARY IS THAT IF WE DON'T PASS THE BUDGET, HE'S GOING TO BE EXTENDED BEYOND SEPTEMBER OF 27, BUT RIGHT NOW HE'S GUARANTEED TO 27. WE'LL HAVE THE DISCUSSION FOR THE BUDGET. IF WE DECIDE TO FUND THE BATHROOMS, THEN HE KNOWS HE'S GOT TO BE OUT IN 27TH OF SEPTEMBER. 
          YEAH. 
          SO IT GIVES HIM PLENTY OF TIME TO GET OUT FOR A YEAR. 
          PROJECT. 
          NO, NO. 
          IF IT DOESN'T HOLD OUR PROJECT UP. UP, I'M FINE. 
          IT WON'T SUBSTANTIALLY HOLD UP OUR PROJECT. 
          OKAY. THAT'S ALL. 
          YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF MONTHS WOULD NOT. 
          IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE. IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE EVERYONE AGREE. 
          SO CAN YOU. 
          CAN YOU GO WITH US ON THIS? YEAH. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE THAT THE FUNDING AND HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK, LIKE YOU MENTIONED THE TIME, I WILL BRING THAT BACK TO YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. AND SO WE ARE IN AGREEMENT TO PLEASE AUTHORIZE. 
          OKAY. 
          I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION. 
          PLEASE. 
          AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXTEND THE LEASE TO SEPTEMBER 2027. 
          SECOND. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? AGREE. 
          THOSE IN FAVOR, LET'S CALL THE ROLL. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL? NANCY SIKES-KLINE. 
          YES. 
          JIM SPRINGFIELD. 
          YES. 
          JON DEPRETER YES. 
          CYNTHIA GARRIS. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION. IT WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. 
          AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. 
          DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.