[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:04] GOOD EVENING. THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? HERE. BARBARA BLONDER? HERE. CYNTHIA GARRIS. HERE. JIM SPRINGFIELD. HERE. JON DEPRETER? HERE. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS OR PROCLAMATIONS TONIGHT, SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I HAVE A COUPLE SPEAKERS CARDS. I'M SORRY. [2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS] MODIFICATION OF THE REGULAR AGENDA. AND I DID. I DID WANT TO ASK IF THE COMMISSION WISHES TO MOVE THE ITEM THAT'S UNDER ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY, WHICH IS JUST MY QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE NO PRESENTATION. OH, OKAY. WELL, I THINK THAT I WILL BE HAPPY TO MAKE THAT MOTION TO MODIFY THE REGULAR AGENDA TO REMOVE THE STAFF REPORT FROM THIS ATTORNEY TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW WE GO [4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING] ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. AND IF YOU DO WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE, YOU'LL FIND A CARD, A SPEAKER CARD IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM. PLEASE FILL IT OUT AND I WILL READ THE KIND OF THE RULES OF ORDER, SO TO SPEAK. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. AND ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION SHOULD FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AND I WILL CALL YOU TO THE PODIUM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHALL COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S RULES OF DECORUM. COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE, NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM SPEAKERS. NO PERSON MAY ADDRESS THE COMMISSION WITH PERSONAL AND PROPER OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WITH BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR. MAY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY CLAPPING OR DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS. AND FINALLY, I WOULD ASK ANY SPEAKER WHO USES THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR TO PLEASE SUBMIT THOSE ITEMS TO THE CITY CLERK TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. FIRST SPEAKER IS CATHERINE ZOTTA, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER WILSON. CATHERINE ZOTTA. CRUELTY HIDES UNDER THE GUISE OF QUAINT CITY CHARM ON THE STREETS OF ST. AUGUSTINE, THE INHERENTLY CRUEL HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY IS ABOUT TO BECOME EVEN CRUELER. UNDER CITY CODE REVISIONS THAT CLAIM TO STRENGTHEN ANIMAL WELFARE, THE REVISED CODE NO LONGER REQUIRES WATER AFTER EVERY TOUR. WATER IS A BASIC NEED. REDUCING ACCESS TO WATER FOR HORSES, WORKING IN FLORIDA'S HEAT IS CRUEL. UNDER THE NEW CITY CODE. VETERINARY REPORTS ARE PROVIDED TO THE CITY ONLY UPON REQUEST. RECENTLY, BARBIE, AN INJURED CARRIAGE HORSE, WAS FORCED TO CONTINUE WORKING DESPITE HER INJURIES WITHOUT PROMPT SUBMISSION OF VETERINARY REPORTS [00:05:01] TO THE CITY. THIS ABUSE CAN CONTINUE UNCHECKED. WHERE IS BARBIE NOW? THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW. THE CITY SHOULD. THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELFARE OF CARRIAGE HORSES WORKING UNDER ITS FRANCHISE ON CITY STREETS. THE TRANSFER STATION. THE NEW CODE ALLOWS OVERNIGHT STABLING AT THE TRANSFER STATION. OVERNIGHT STABLING HAS BEEN STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE PAST. THE TRANSFER STATION WAS INTENDED ONLY FOR TEMPORARY HOLDING. THE CITY HAS REPEATEDLY WARNED OPERATORS ABOUT LEAVING HORSES THERE OVERNIGHT. DURING HURRICANE IAN, HORSES WERE LEFT AT THE TRANSFER STATION FOR FOUR DAYS. ON THE FOURTH DAY, CITY STAFF FOUND THEM STANDING IN A MUDDY WATER. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE HORSES. CITY POLICE WERE SENT TO CHECK ON THEM AFTER CONCERNS WERE RAISED. THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. OLD CITY CARRIAGES RECEIVED MULTIPLE VIOLATION LETTERS, INCLUDING A FINAL WARNING THAT LEAVING HORSES OVERNIGHT WAS NOT PERMITTED. COASTAL CARRIAGES ALSO RECEIVED A VIOLATION LETTER WARNING THAT OVERNIGHT STAPLING COULD RESULT IN TERMINATION OF ITS LEASE. ENFORCEMENT IS ALREADY FAILING AT THE TRANSFER STATION, YET THE NEW CODE EXPANDS ITS USE. IF THE CITY CAN'T ENFORCE ANIMAL WELFARE STANDARDS NOW, HOW WILL IT OVERSEE AN OVERNIGHT STABLE? WHO AUTHORIZED OVERNIGHT STAPLING AT THIS FACILITY? IS THIS FACILITY EVEN APPROVED OR DESIGNED FOR OVERNIGHT STABLING? THE NEW CODE REQUIRES HORSES TO BE DESENSITIZED TO URBAN CONDITIONS. CONDITIONING PREY ANIMALS TO TOLERATE TRAFFIC NOISE AND CHAOS IS CRUEL ENOUGH. ADD THE BLINDERS, BITS, BRIDLES, DIAPERS AND THE WHIP AND IT BECOMES CLEAR JUST HOW INHERENTLY CRUEL THIS INDUSTRY IS. ALL FOR TOURISM AND PROFIT. IT'S TIME TO END THIS BARBARIC INDUSTRY. HEATHER WILSON, FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA RAMOS. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORD OF THE DAY, WHICH SUMS UP THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY PERFECTLY. BARBARIC. BARBARIC DEFINITIONS MARKED BY CRUDENESS OR LACK OF SOPHISTICATION. EXTREMELY CRUEL AND UNPLEASANT WITHOUT CIVILIZING INFLUENCES. FORCING HORSES TO WORK IN UNNATURAL AND HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS IS BARBARIC. KNOWING THAT BARBIE HAD A GIANT BLEEDING LACERATION ON HER RIGHT HIND LEG AND DOING NOTHING TO PROPERLY PROTECT THIS ANIMAL IS BARBARIC. ALLOWING HORSES TO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS, GETTING ADDED, REMOVED, SWAPPED ON THE REGULAR, TREATING THEM LIKE INANIMATE OBJECTS IS BARBARIC. LISTING HORSES AS RETIRED WHO ARE ACTUALLY DECEASED ON OFFICIAL CITY DOCUMENTS IS BARBARIC. HAVING PEOPLE WEARING CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE NAME TAGS THAT ARE CUSSING AND SMOKING IN FRONT OF TOURISTS IS BARBARIC. SEEING A CARRIAGE COMPANY OWNER BEATING A DEFENSELESS HORSE REPEATEDLY OVER THE HEAD AND LETTING HIM COMPLETELY GET AWAY WITH IT IS BARBARIC. HORSES STANDING ON PAVEMENT WITH BLINKERS, BITS AND DIAPERS, TIED UP TO A HEAVY CARRIAGE WITH NO SHADE, NO BODILY AUTONOMY, AND NO FREEDOM IN IS BARBARIC. UNDERSTANDING YOUR MUNICIPAL CODE HAS NO JURISDICTION WHERE THESE CARRIAGE SLAVES LIVE AND MAKING NO EFFORT TO CHANGE THAT IS BARBARIC. CHOOSING TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN CODE VIOLATIONS ARE REPEATEDLY OCCURRING IS BARBARIC. REFUSING TO EVOLVE AND ACCEPT THAT IT IS 2026, NOT 1826, REFUSING TO EMBRACE THE MANY HUMANE AND BEAUTIFULLY FUN ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL SLAVERY THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE IS BARBARIC. AND LASTLY, PRIOR TO YOUR UPDATES, ARTICLE 5, CHAPTER 27, SECTION 27144 UNDER CARE OF ANIMALS, ITEM NUMBER 11 MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT HORSES CAN BE DISPOSED OF HUMANELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AAEP WHO ADVOCATE FOR SLAUGHTER. THIS IS BARBARIC. YOU HAD A CHANCE TO IMPLEMENT A SLAUGHTER FREE POLICY IN THIS CITY FOR CARRIAGE HORSES AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED. WITH THESE UPDATES, [00:10:02] THAT LITTLE SENTENCE ABOUT THE DISPOSAL WAS JUST DELETED. THAT IS BARBARIC. WE SPEAK TO VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THEY ALL AGREE WITH US THAT HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES ARE BARBARIC. BINGO. THANK YOU, PATRICIA RAMOS, FOLLOWED BY BJ KALEDI. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS PATRICIA AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK UP FOR THE NEGLECTED HORSES OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THE TERM BARBARIC IS DEFINED AS EXTREMELY CRUEL, INHUMANE, UNCIVILIZED, AND CRUDE. WHEN THERE ARE REPEATED DOCUMENTED CODE VIOLATIONS, EVIDENCE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY, INADEQUATE ACCESS TO WATER, HORSES LEFT UNATTENDED, INSUFFICIENT RECOVERY PERIODS BETWEEN TOURS AND OTHER WELFARE CONCERNS, IT IS REASONABLE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO DESCRIBE THOSE PRACTICES AS BARBARIC. THE TERM IS DIRECTED AT TREATMENT AND CONDITIONS, NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS. THERE IS NOTHING NOT BARBARIC ABOUT USING A SENTIENT BEING FOR YOUR PLEASURE. AS HAS BEEN STATED BY A COMMISSIONER IN THE LAST MEETING. EXAMPLES OF BARBARIC. BESIDES THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SHOWN BLANK VET RECORDS ACCEPTED BY THE CITY, THIS VET BLINDLY OR CALLOUSLY CHECKED OFF THAT BARBIE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND HEALTH WITHOUT VISIBLE WOUNDS. ALL VERY TELLING OF EVERYONE'S VIEW ON ANIMAL CARE. ON TOP OF THE CRUELTY THESE HORSES ENDURE EVERY DAY, PULLING CARRIAGES ON PAVEMENT, IN TRAFFIC, EXTREME WEATHER, WE WERE EXPECTED TO OVERLOOK ANOTHER SERIOUS INJURY, BARBIE'S HORRIFIC LACERATION UNDER THE WATCH OF FRED PEZA, CHRISTINA LAMMERS AND HENRY LAMMERS OF COASTAL CARRIAGES. A HORSE SUFFERING FROM SUCH A SIGNIFICANT WOUND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WORKING. YET BARBIE WAS FORCED TO CONTINUE PULLING DESPITE HER CONDITION. ALL OF THESE ARE TIMESTAMPED, NOT ALTERED, OR MANIPULATED. THAT IS BARBARIC. I SUPPOSE THIS WAS TO BE EXPECTED SINCE YOU DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER LOOKING INTO A HORSE IN THE INDUSTRY NAMED LISA. SHE WAS ONE OF THREE WHO DIED WITHIN ONE MONTH BECAUSE SHE HAD A HERNIA AND A THIN LINING OF THE STOMACH FROM BEING A BROODMARE, SO HER INTESTINES FELL OUT. A HORSE THAT SHOULD. SHE'S THE KIND OF HORSE THAT SHOULD NEVER BEEN FORCED TO PULL CARRIAGES AGAIN. BARBARIC. REMEMBER, THERE IS ALSO MORE LIABILITY WHEN YOU HAVE AN INJURED HORSE AND ON THE CITY STREETS. WHY HAVE CARE OF ANIMALS SECTION 1475 IN THE CODE WHEN NONE OF IT IS GOING TO BE OVERSEEN OR ENFORCED. THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN. THE FOLLOWING WELL DOCUMENTED VIDEO IS NOT ONLY EVIDENCE OF THE BARBARIC TREATMENT, BUT SO IS THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S ALARMING LACK OF CONCERN IN FAILING TO FOLLOW UP OR ON THE RELATED POLICE REPORT. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PLAY THE VIDEO AND HOPEFULLY IT GETS SHARP. AS MAYOR AS YES, THE MAYOR STATED, AS YOU STATED IN THE LAST MEETING, YOU ARE HEARING A LOT FROM A LOT OF US PEOPLE BECAUSE ALL OF THESE BARBARIC ACTS ARE WORTH BEING BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION. YOU'VE ALSO STATED THAT YOU CAN VOUCH FOR THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU'VE KNOWN THEM FOR A LONG TIME. IS THIS CRUDE AND UNCIVILIZED BEHAVIOR TERMS DESCRIBING BARBARIC ALSO SOMETHING THAT YOU'D WANT TO VOUCH FOR AND REPRESENT THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE? PLEASE GET RID OF THE CRUEL ANIMAL. CRUEL ANIMAL CRUELTY AND THE HORSE CARRIAGES. OH, I HAVE MORE CARDS. I'M SORRY. DID NOT KNOW. DID NOT KNOW. ALL RIGHT, ROBERT WILLIAM COSTELLO, FOLLOWED BY CLAUDIA COSTELLO. GOOD EVENING, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD EVENING. NAME AND ADDRESS IF YOU SO DESIRE. ROBERT COSTELLO, 263 BERMUDEZ WAY, ST. AUGUSTINE. ALL RIGHT, MR. COSTELLO, WILL YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE? 263 BERMUDEZ WAY, ST AUGUSTINE. SO, I LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS. SO, I LIVE IN CORDOBA PALMS, WHICH IS ABOUT THREE MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. AND OUR WATER BILLS ARE INSANE. LIKE IF WE LOOK AT THIS AND WE SAY THAT IF WE USE 7,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER MONTH [00:15:02] OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS IT'S 150 80. INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS IT'S 134. IF WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE ST. JOHN'S UTILITY, THE BILL WOULD BE 103. SO, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. RIGHT. IF WE APPLY THAT INSIDE THE SEMI LIMITS VERSUS US AND APPLIED THE 16 DIRECT TO THE 30 YEAR MORTGAGE ON A $350,000 MORTGAGE AT 6.5% SAVED. SO, YOU WOULD CALL SO YOU WOULD SAVE $11,000 AND PAY OFF YOUR MORTGAGE IN 29 YEARS. AND FOUR MONTHS. SO, THESE NUMBERS SHOULD IMPACT YOU A LITTLE BIT TO SAY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS ARE ACTUALLY BEING PUNISHED FOR LIVING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. THAT'S HOW I VIEW IT. I'VE TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS, SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS, THEIR WATER BILLS ARE 3 AND $400 A MONTH. THAT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR WATER AS OPPOSED TO SAY ST. JOHN'S WHERE THAT WOULD BE HALF, IF NOT A THIRD OF THAT. SO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IS WHY THEY'RE SO HIGH. WHY ARE THE WATER BILLS SO HIGH WHEN WE LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. MY WIFE CALLED, SHE'S TALKED ABOUT, I DON'T GET IT. I MEAN, IT'S THE SAME INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S THE SAME INFRASTRUCTURE AS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES. THERE'S PALENCIA, THERE'S CORDOBA PALMS, MADEIRA, WHICH IS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. PAYS ABOUT, PAYS 134. SO, THERE'S A $25 A MONTH DIFFERENCE JUST THERE IN WATER BILLS. SO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND FROM THE COUNCIL IS WHY THIS IS SO HIGH. I REALLY AM MYSTIFIED BY IT. IS IT MAINTENANCE, IS IT INFRASTRUCTURE COST? WHAT IS THE COST AND WHY ARE WE PAYING THIS? THAT'S MY QUESTION TO YOU. I DON'T EXPECT AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ANSWER. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND COME BACK AND GIVE ME A LEGITIMATE ANSWER. AND I MEAN FOR ME AND FOR MY WIFE, IT'S NOT SO BAD. THERE'S TWO OF US. BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A FAMILY OF FOUR IN A NEW HOME WHO HAS CHILDREN TAKING BATHS, WHO HAS TO WATER THEIR LAWNS, NOW I'M PART OF THE HOA ENFORCEMENT. LAWNS ARE DYING LEFT AND RIGHT. PEOPLE HAVE TO LAY NEW SOD. THEY'RE GOING TO GO BACK UP TO THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH IN WATER BILLS TO KEEP THAT SOD ALIVE. SO EVEN FROM AN HOA ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, IT'S A STRUGGLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO PENALIZE SOMEBODY KNOWING HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST THEM TO FIX THEIR LAWN. ON THE OTHER HAND. RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CLAUDIA COSTELLO FOLLOWED BY BJ K. I'M CLAUDIA COSTELLO. I LIVE AT 263 BEMUDES WAY IN ST. AUGUSTINE IN CORDOVA PALMS. I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE HERE FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE CITY. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I KNOW IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT AND VERY TIME CONSUMING JOB. THAT BEING SAID, I DID SEND LETTERS TO, TO MAYOR SYKES KLEIN AND I ALSO SENT LETTERS TO THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSING THE WATER CONCERNS THAT I HAVE, I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ANSWERS. SO, I CALLED JOHN SLATER AND I CALLED DAVID BECKHAM, JOHN SLATER. BOTH OF THEM WERE INCREDIBLY NICE, INCREDIBLY HELPFUL, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS. JOHN SLATER SAID THAT IT IS THE GOAL TO MOVE THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF ST. AUGUSTINE CLOSER TOGETHER AND THAT THAT HAS BEEN MOVING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THEN I ASKED, WHY IS ST. JOHN'S UTILITIES CAPABLE OF SERVICING THEIR WATER CUSTOMERS AT SUCH A LOWER RATE THAN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE? AND MR. SLATER SAID HE FELT THAT IT WAS ECONOMIES OF SCALE. AND I ASKED, DO YOU NOT THINK THAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED THOSE ECONOMIES OF SCALE NOW BECAUSE YOU HAVE SO MANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE PULLING WATER? AND HE SAID, YOU YES, PROBABLY. BUT YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN SOMETHING GROWS, YOU HAVE MORE METER PEOPLE, YOU HAVE THIS. AND I SAID, THAT'S SORT OF DOUBLE SPEAK, RIGHT? EITHER ECONOMIES OF SCALE HELP OR ECONOMIES OF SCALE COST MORE. SO, I'M HORRIFIED BY MY WATER BELL. I COME FROM NEW JERSEY. WHEN I LIVED IN NEW JERSEY, WE HAD A POOL, WE HAD A JACUZZI, WE IRRIGATED OUR LAWN, WE HAD CHILDREN IN SPORTS. MY WATER BELL WAS NEVER MORE THAN $300 FOR THREE MONTHS. SO, TO BE GIVEN. AND MY HUSBAND IS MISSPEAKING REALLY, BECAUSE OUR WATER BILL IS 260 TO $300 EVERY MONTH, [00:20:02] JUST THE TWO OF US, FOUR LOADS OF LAUNDRY A WEEK. JUST UNBELIEVABLE. PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUR AND FIVE CHILDREN ARE HAVING FIVE AND SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR WATER BILLS. IT'S NOT RIGHT. AND YOU KNOW, I VERY MUCH WANT MY DAUGHTER TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A HOME UP IN NORTHERN ST. AUGUSTINE TO PUT HER CLOSER TO JACKSONVILLE WHERE SHE LIVES. AND THAT WATER BILL IS A HUGE BLOCK IN HER BEING ABLE TO AFFORD MOVING THERE. AND I WOULD REALLY, REALLY LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO LOOK INTO THIS TO FIGURE OUT WHY ST. JOHN'S CAN DELIVER WATER FOR SO MUCH LESS THAN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MS. COSTELLO, WILL YOU PLEASE TALK TO MR. BURCHAM HERE? I THINK THAT HE CAN. HE IS RIGHT HERE AT THE TABLE RIGHT HERE. AND HE CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU THE WATER SURCHARGE. I THINK MAYBE YOU CAN. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. KALEIDI. YOU'RE WELCOME TO THE PODIUM. MISS STONE, PLEASE. THESE PHOTOS SHOW THE ONGOING BLIGHT AT US 1 AND WEST KING STREET THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE 2024, WHICH THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CONTINUES TO IGNORE. EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS EXPLAINED EARLIER, PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE HEARD IT. THE DEVELOPER OF A GARAGE AT THIS INTERSECTION SHOULD USE HIS MONEY TO LOAD THESE TIRES AND TAKE THEM TO WHERE HE LIVES. WHY IS THIS BLIGHT ALLOWED IN THE WEST AUGUSTINE CRA BUT NOT IN DAVIS SHORES OR NORTH CITY? THAT'S ONE. HE'S MADE HIS MONEY. WE DON'T NEED THIS ANYMORE. MORE TIRES. TIRES EVERYWHERE TIRES. AND HE THINKS HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A GATEWAY HERE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO WATCH THIS UNTIL THE GATEWAY COMES AND UNTIL HE FINALLY GOES SOMEPLACE. SO LET ME DO THIS, AND THEN. I HAVEN'T LEARNED HOW TO USE THE AREA UP HERE, BUT I WILL LEARN SOON ENOUGH. OKAY, WE'LL JUST DO THIS TODAY BECAUSE I HAVEN'T LEARNED THE MAGIC BUTTON. PROPERTY TAX REFORM WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. OOPSIE. VOTE YES ON NUMBER THREE. OH, THIS IS NOT TOO BAD. THIS IS NOT TOO BAD. I'LL LEARN THAT BUTTON IS DONE EVENTUALLY, BUT I LIKE THIS. VOTE YES OR C S I ON. OR TRACE. EVERYONE'S GOT A RIGHT TO VOTE ANY WAY THEY WANT. AND THIS IS JUST TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE YES ON 3. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TONIGHT IS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THE TIRES. REALLY AND TRULY, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT TO HAVE MONEY. LOAD IT UP. I'LL HELP HIM LOAD IT UP. I'LL DO THAT MUCH. OKAY. BUT I WON'T DRIVE THE TRUCK. YOU DON'T WANT ME DRIVING A TRUCK IN THIS TOWN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, I HAVE NO MORE CARDS. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. MR. WE MOVE [5. CONSENT AGENDA] ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES A REMINDER OF FOLLOWING ORDINANCES WHICH ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING ON AUGUST 10, ORDINANCE 2026-19, WHICH AMENDS THE PARKING CODE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE RELATED TO SHARED PARKING OPTIONS. THERE'S A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS, AN AUG. 10, 5PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND AUG. 24, 5PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. AND AUG. 27, SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING TENANTED RELATED TO THE BUDGET. AND IN AUGUST 27, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, A SPECIAL CITY [00:25:02] COMMISSION MEETING WHICH IS A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 TENTATIVE BUDGET AND ACTION ITEMS. WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 8, 5PM REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE AN INVOICE FROM OUR EMINENT DOMAIN LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROFESSIONAL SERVICES A SATISFACTION AND RELEASE OF LEAN FOR 323 S. RODRIGUEZ ST. AND FINALLY, WE HAVE THE THIRD QUARTER CITY ATTORNEY'S QUARTERLY REPORT. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MOVE WE PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. I'LL SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO. SO, WE DO HAVE AN ITEM 7 A FUNDING REQUEST BY HISTORICAL LINCOLNVILLE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION SOCIETY FOR THE FLORIDA MAIN STREET PROGRAM FOR THE LINCOLNVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD. MR. BURCHAM. WELL, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MS. MADELINE WEISS, WHO HAS A REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR FLORIDA MAIN STREET PROGRAM. I'M NOT SURE IF SHE'S HERE NOW. MRS. WISE, ARE YOU HERE? WELL, WE COULD DELAY THIS UNTIL THE END OF THE AGENDA TO SEE IF SHE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT LATE IF YOU'D LIKE. OKAY. DO YOU NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? NO, NO. YOU CAN JUST DECIDE THAT YOU'LL TABLE IT UNTIL THE END OF THE MEETING. WE CAN JUST TABLE THAT FOR US. WELL, MOVE IT TO THE END [8.A.1. Ordinance 2026-15: Amending the Zoning Designation of Approximately 1.23 acres at 65 Lewis Boulevard from Abandoned PUD to Residential General Office (RGO) (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)] OF THE AGENDA. YEAH, MOVE IT TO THE END OF THE AGENDA. IF. IF YOU SEE HER ARRIVE, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE'LL GO FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS THAT DO REQUIRE PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE HAVE FOUR SECOND READINGS. WE WILL BEGIN WITH ORDINANCE 2026 15. THIS SKINNER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THIS IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF ORDINANCE 2026-15. THIS ORDINANCE IS A REZONING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.23 UPLAND ACRES FROM AN EXPIRED ABANDONED PUD TO RESIDENTIAL GENERAL OFFICE, OR RGO WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED USE LAND USE DESIGNATION. A SECOND ORDINANCE ALSO AMENDS THE ZONING FOR THE REMAINING PROPERTY AT 69 LEWIS BOULEVARD FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY NINE ACRES. THIS IS ALSO A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 2026-16. THIS ORDINANCE REZONES APPROXIMATELY 0.77 UPLAND ACRES FROM THE EXPIRED AND ABANDONED PUD TO RGO AND REZONES THE REMAINING PORTION OF APPROXIMATELY 8.3 ACRES TO OPEN LAND. THESE ARE WATERWARD ACRES. BOTH ARE CONSISTENT WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE LAND USE CATEGORIES OF RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY, MIXED USE, AND OPEN LAND. VERY, VERY LOW DENSITY. 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 SUBMERGED LANDS. THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS APPLICATION ON JUNE 2, AND THE CITY COMMISSION PASSED THE FIRST READING OF THESE ORDINANCES AT THE JUNE 22 CITY COMMISSION MEETING. THIS REZONES BOTH THE PROPERTIES, INCLUDING THE CITY SUBMERGED LAND STIPULATION. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE ORDINANCES ARE REZONINGS, THE CITY COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO STIPULATE ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATION. THESE ARE SEPARATE ORDINANCES WHICH REQUIRE SEPARATE MOTIONS. THANK YOU. AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL START WITH EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONER GARRIS. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYBODY PERTAINING TO ANY OF THESE. NONE. OKAY THEN. VERY WELL. OKAY, LET'S SEE. WE SHOULD OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DON'T HAVE. IS THERE. I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS. DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON ORDINANCE 2026-15 OR 2026-16? SEEING NO ONE [00:30:05] HEARING NO ONE. THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. WE'RE BACK TO THE DAIS FOR DISCUSSION. WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? I'LL START. I THINK WE DISCUSSED THIS LAST TIME. THIS IS JUST TO REITERATE, THIS IS AN EXISTING PUD. IT'S BEING ABANDONED. IT'S BEING PUT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL LAND USE DESIGNATION. RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN EXPIRED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SO, THIS DOES HELP. BASICALLY THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN KIND OF FROZEN IN ITS EXISTING STATE. SO, IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES THAT ANYONE WANTS TO MAKE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REZONE. SO, THIS IS PROPER, I GUESS PROTOCOL BEFORE ANYONE CAN DO ANYTHING WITH THE PROPERTY TO REZONE IT BACK TO OURÂ… GO BACK TO THE CATEGORY IT'S ALREADY HAD. RGO IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LAND. THE LAND USE. YEAH. OKAY. SO, I WOULD SUPPORT ANYTHING EVIDENCE TO THE OPPOSITE. I WOULD. ANY OTHER QUESTION? I DO HAVE A QUESTION, BUT ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? I DO TOO. OKAY. WELL I WASN'T HERE. I WAS ON VACATION. AND SO, FORGIVE ME IF YOU'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS IN THE FIRST READING. SO, THE, SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT NOW, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY IT FOR. BUT THE. BASICALLY THE PURPOSE IS TO TAKE IT OUT OF PUD AND PUT IT BACK INTO A FORMAL ZONING. CORRECT. OKAY. THEN MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION WOULD BE RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED USE HAS A. WHICH IS WHAT IT'S GOING FROM. HAS A MAXIMUM 50% NON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. IS THE RESIDENTIAL GENERAL OFFICE THE SAME MAXIMUM. THE LAND USE IS THE RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED USE WHICH KIND OF OVERLAYS ANY ZONING. RIGHT. I'M NOT SURE THAT THE RGO ZONING HAS THOSE HAS A SPECIFIC STIPULATION. I COULDN'T FIND ANY. I LOOKED AND I DIDN'T SEE. I SAW THE CATEGORIES OF WHAT COULD, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT COULD BE, WHAT TYPES OF USES COULD BE ON IT. BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WITH A MAXIMUM IN RGO. I'M NOT AWARE RIGHT NOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT IT HAS A MAXIMUM, BUT IT WOULD. DEVELOPMENT IS LIMITED BY THE LAND USE CATEGORIES AND FOR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN THE PAST THE CITY HAS LOOKED AT IT OVERALL AS FAR AS WHERE RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED USE LAND USE IS ACROSS THE CITY. SO POTENTIALLY THIS PROJECT WOULD. COULD BE COMPLETELY COMMERCIAL. BUT IF WHICH THERE ARE OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE ARE RESIDENTIAL USES. IN THE RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY, MIXED USE. IF OVERALL THAT. IN THE LAND USE, ANY PROPERTIES THAT ARE DESIGNATED WITH THAT LAND USE, THERE'S A MIXTURE. WE HAVE KIND OF LOOKED AT IT OVERALL BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PIECES OF PROPERTY IN THE CITY ARE SO ARE SMALL, RELATIVELY SMALL. SO IT'S HARD TO. ALTHOUGH WE ENCOURAGE MIXED USE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO POSSIBLY PUT MIXED USES ON ALL. ON ALL PROPERTIES. I LIKE THAT MIXED USE MODEL. I THINK THAT'S REALLY GOOD AND IT HELPS WITH MOBILITY. BUT MY CONCERN IS IF THE USE INTENSIFIES IN THAT AREA, THAT'S GOING TO. IT'S A. IT'S A TOUGH AREA IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC VOLUME AND ALSO THE ACCESS. IT'S A. IT'S A ROUGH. IT'S A ROUGH INTERSECTION. AND IF IT GETS TOO. TOO MUCH BUSIER, I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT THAT'S OVERLOADING A PROBLEM THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. SO IS THERE ANY WAY TO PROTECT AGAINST THAT? FIRST OF ALL, IT LOOKS LIKE MR. BERTRAM HAS MAYBE SOME CORRECTIONS. I DID TRACK DOWN THE MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE FOR RGO IS 50%. BUT THERE'S NO APPORTIONMENT BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL. RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I FOUND TOO. SO, LOT COVERAGE, BUT NOT A PROPORTION LIKE THERE IS A MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED. BUT THE LAND USE DOES SPEAK TO THE MAXIMUM PERCENTAGES. SO, THE LAND USE IS JUST AS. SO, THE LAND USE WOULD COVER IT. YES. AND THE ADJACENT USES CATEGORIES, LAND USE AND ZONING CATEGORIES ALONG U.S. 1, SOUTH OR SOUTH PONCE, ARE COMMERCIAL MEDIUM INTENSITY AND COMMERCIAL MEDIUM 2, WHICH HAVE A HIGHER LOT COVERAGE RATIO AND A MORE INTENSIVE MIX OF COMMERCIAL USES THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED. THEY ALLOW GAS STATIONS, CAR LOTS, FOR EXAMPLE. SO, THIS [00:35:01] DOES STEP BACK THE INTENSITY OF WHAT EXISTS ALONG THE HIGHWAY. RIGHT. BUT I'M LOOKING AT. I'M THINKING ABOUT CUMULATIVE IMPACTS AND I GUESS ADDITIONALLY TO WHAT MR. BERTRAM HAS SAID, I WOULD SAY, AS I'VE SAID, IN OTHER WORDS, FOR OTHER LAND USE AND REZONINGS, THE DENSITY OR INTENSITY IS ALSO LIMITED BY THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY. THE UPLAND ACRES IS RELATIVELY SMALL. AND SO WHEN A PROJECT HAS TO COME IN TO MEET THE LOT COVERAGE LIMITATIONS, THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS, THE STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE WERE TO COME IN AND REDEVELOP THIS SITE OF ABOUT 3 ACRES OF UPLAND, THEY ARE THEN ALSO LIMITED BY OTHER DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS THAT KIND OF ARE ARTIFICIALLY KEEP. KEEP IT TO SCALE BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE DEVELOPABLE PROPERTY. AND I GET THAT. I'M JUST. THESE ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY LARGE PROPERTIES COMPARED TO A LOT OF THE OTHER SIMILAR PROPERTIES, LIKE YOU SAID. SO, I PROBABLY WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS FOR THAT REASON, ALTHOUGH I CAN JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO REGISTER THAT WE HAVE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS. AND THE PRESSURES ARE REALLY BUILDING. SO THAT'S ALL I'M AFTER. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING MY QUESTIONS. YES, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY. I FEEL LIKE THE RGO IS REASONABLE. IT'S LESS INTENSE. WE HAVE TO REZONE IT TO SOMETHING. IT'S AN ABANDONED PUD. IT'S EXPIRED, SO WE ARE OBLIGATED. I GUESS SOMEBODY'S ASKING. WE HAVE TO DO. MAKES SENSE TO ME. SO, I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2026 15. 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, AS 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 FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES. JON DEPRETER? YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES. [8.A.2. Ordinance 2026-16: Amending the Zoning Designation of Approximately 9.07 total acres at 69 Lewis Boulevard from Abandoned PUD to Residential General Office (RGO) for the upland acres and Open Land (OL) for the Waterward Acres (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)] BARBARA BLUNDER? NO. ALL RIGHT, ONTO ORDINANCE 2026-16. WE'VE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER? NO. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE UPLAND ACRES IS ONLY APPROXIMATELY 0.77 ACRES, AND THE REMAINDER 8 ACRES WILL BE DESIGNATED OR ZONING DISTRICT OPEN LAND. OKAY. IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME. IT'S THE OPEN LAND. THE ONLY THING THAT I HAD. I GUESS THE ONLY THING I NOTICED SOMETHING DIFFERENT WAS THE NOTATION ON THE SUBMERGED LANDS. I DON'T RECALL HEARING THAT BEFORE. CAN YOU UPDATE ME ON THAT? YES. IT'S A PRODUCT OF LITIGATION. AS YOU'LL RECALL, MAYBE SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS AGO, I CAME TO THE COMMISSION AND ASKED FOR YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LITIGATION TO VARIOUS MARINAS WHO WERE NOT COMPLYING WITH OUR SUBMERGED LAND LEASED REQUESTS. SO WE'RE JUST WANTING TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE CITY STILL MAINTAINS ITS OWNERSHIP OF THE SUBMERGED LANDS. AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING BURIED IN ONE OF THESE LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS THAT WOULD CALL THAT INTO QUESTION, WE'RE NOT ADOPTING THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION. OKAY. MAKES SENSE TO ME. THANK YOU. COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? YEAH. IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE OF THE. WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST REMINDED US OF US AND EXPLAINED, I WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ONE. YEAH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2026-16 AS READ. I'LL SECOND. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-16, [00:40:01] AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, FLORIDA, REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 9.07 ACRES, LOCATED AT 69 LEWIS BOULEVARD AS PORTIONS OF MARSHLAND LYING EAST OF LEWIS BOULEVARD AND 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 RGO AND REZONING APPROXIMATELY 8.30 WATERWARD ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF ABANDONED PUD TO THE CITY CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN LAND OL PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO. I JUST DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE 9 ACRES, BUT THE ONLY DEVELOPABLE PART IS 0.777 ACRES, SO. ALL RIGHT. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JOHN DEPRATER? [Items 8.A.3 & 8.A.4] YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES. BARBARA BLUNDER? YES. ALL RIGHT, THEN. MOVING ON TO ORDINANCE 2026-17. THANK YOU. AND 18. BEFORE YOU START, WE'LL DO OUR EX PARTE. I HAVE NONE. ANYONE ELSE HAVE. OKAY. NO, NO, NO. NONE. NONE AT THE TABLE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF ORDINANCES 2026-17 AND 2026-18. ORDINANCE 2026-17 IS A LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.51 ACRES FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY TO RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY. THE SECOND ORDINANCE 2026-18, IS THE COMPATIBLE REZONING FROM RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY 2RS2 TO RESIDENTIAL GENERAL 1 RG1 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 POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE AGREEMENT PROFFERED BY THE APPLICANT THAT IF THE PROPERTY IS NO LONGER USED 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 ORDINANCE, AS YOU'VE JUST SAID, REQUIRES THE EX PARTE COMMUNICATION, THESE ARE SEPARATE ORDINANCES WHICH DO ALSO REQUIRE SEPARATE MOTIONS. THANK YOU. AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THEY REQUIRE SEPARATE MOTIONS, BUT CAN WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME? YOU CAN ASK. ANNOUNCE THEM SIDE BY SIDE. IF SOMEONE WANTS THREE MINUTES ON ONE AND THREE MINUTES ON THE OTHER, YOU WILL NEED TO GIVE THEM THAT. ALL RIGHT, GREAT. SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. I HAVE NO ARDS. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER. DO YOU NEED TO BE SWORN? NO, HE DOES NOT. YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE SWORN, RIGHT? NO. SID ONSBACHER, 780 NORTH PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD. FOR THE APPLICANT. WE HAD A RATHER ROBUST DISCUSSION AT FIRST READING, BUT IN CASE THE VICE MAYOR HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I AM HERE AND I HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL FROM HABITAT. EXCELLENT. ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. ANSBACHER? I HAD A MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND I THINK HE FILLED ME IN WITH THE SUMMARY OF WHAT TRANSPIRED AT FIRST READING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND ALSO JUST TO COMPLETE THE RECORD, MELINDA EVERSON, OUR CEO, REACHED OUT TO THE ONE NEIGHBOR WHO HAD EMAILED AND HAD COME, COMPLAINED, AND DETERMINED HIS CONCERNS WERE TWOFOLD. ONE, TRAFFIC. SHE EXPLAINED THAT WE ARE ACCEPTING THE SCALE THAT IT IS NOW THAT WE HAVE FIVE FULL TIME, TWO PART TIME STAYING WITHIN WHAT WE HAVE FOR THE ENVELOPE. WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE MATERIALLY INCREASING THAT. HE ALSO, AND UNDERSTANDABLY WAS CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE A SMALL BUILDING ON A MID SIZED LOT AND WAS CONCERNED WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ANY CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL STORAGE. AND SHE MADE A POINT OF TELLING HIM THAT WE NEVER STORE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AT OUR OFFICE AND WILL NOT BE DOING IT IN THE FUTURE. JUST TO BE CLEAR. AND HE SEEMED TO BE SATISFIED, ACCORDING TO MS. EVERSON. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK FROM THE PUBLIC? PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. BACK TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION. ANYONE WISH TO MAKE COMMENTS OR MAKE A MOTION? YEAH, I THINK A ROBUST DISCUSSION WE DID HAVE. AND JUST, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION THAT TO OUR [00:45:02] CITY ATTORNEY THERE IS A USE BY EXCEPTION THAT'S RELYING ON THIS VOTE FOR FIRST. RIGHT. COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT? CORRECT. THE USE BY EXCEPTION HAD A CONDITION THAT THIS WOULD BE APPROVED. RIGHT. OKAY. SO. AND THEN THERE'S AN ASTERISK ON THE FLUME MAP WHICH SAYS THAT. WHICH SETS PRETTY HARD CONDITIONS FOR THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY. SO GIVEN THAT, AND I'M GLAD THE APPLICANT WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE, WITH THE PLANNING BOARD AND I WOULD SUPPORT THE APPLICATION BECAUSE OF THAT. ALL RIGHT, SO I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2026 17. I'LL 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 GREENOUGH TRACT. A RE SUBDIVISION 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. PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS? JON DEPRETER ? YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES. BARBARA BLUNDER? YES. ALL RIGHT. WONDERFUL. I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2026-18. ORDINANCE. DID YOU GET THAT? YES. SECOND. SORRY, I HAD MY MIC OFF. 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 GREENO TRACT, A RESUB DIVISION OF RAVENS IN THE CITY OF SAN AUGUSTINE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HERE, AND AFTER REZONING APPROXIMATELY 0.51 ACRES FROM ITS CURRENT CLASSIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY TO RS2 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. ALL RIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLLS. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. BARBARA BLUNDER? YES. DONNA PRATER? YES. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. [9.A.1. Ordinance 2026-19: Amending the Parking Code to include language related to Shared Parking options in Section 28-372 of the Zoning Code (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)] YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. SKINNER. MOVING RIGHT ALONG, WE HAVE A FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2026-19. OH, MS. SKINNER, YOU. HELLO AGAIN. ME AGAIN. THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS AMY SKINNER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THIS IS AN INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 19. THIS ORDINANCE PROPOSES TO ADD ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE TO THE SHARED PARKING SECTION OF THE CITY'S PARKING CODE. THIS LANGUAGE WOULD ALLOW STAFF TO APPROVE SHARED PARKING PROVISIONS OR PROPOSALS FOR MIXED USES AND COMMERCIAL USES. IF A PROPOSAL FOR SHARED PARKING DOES NOT MEET THESE CRITERIA, AN APPLICANT CAN THEN APPLY TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AS CODE CURRENTLY ALLOWED BY THE CODE. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS CHANGE THAT CREATES AN OPTION FOR BUSINESSES, BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS IS LESS BURDENSOME THAN THE EXISTING CODE. THIS LANGUAGE WAS REVIEWED BY THE PCB AT THEIR JULY 7 MEETING. AFTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION, STAFF INITIALLY ADDED LANGUAGE THAT CLARIFIED THAT THE PARKING SHOULD BE WITHIN COMMERCIALLY ZONED AREAS. BUT STAFF HAS ALSO SUGGESTED LANGUAGE TO SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO ALLOW THIS SHARED PARKING OPTION FOR INSTITUTIONALLY USED PROPERTIES. I CAN. MS. DUNN. I CAN PUT THE LANGUAGE HERE. IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE THE COLORS, BUT THE INITIAL PROPOSAL IS IN. LOOKS KIND OF PURPLEY, MAYBE DARK RED. AND THEN THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA IS WHERE SINCE THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING, WE INITIALLY ADDED LANGUAGE TO CLARIFY THAT THE ADJACENT PARKING FACILITIES HAD TO BE IN COMMERCIALLY ZONED AREAS. BUT THEN ALSO AFTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION, WE ADDED LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THAT IT OR INSTITUTIONALLY USED [00:50:02] PROPERTIES, BECAUSE THERE ARE INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES THAT MAY NEED TO HAVE OFF SITE PARKING OR ADDITIONAL PARKING, NOT OFF SITE. SO WE ARE ENABLING SMALL BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONAL USES TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW STAFF TO APPROVE THE PARKING, THE SHARED PARKING WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD WITH THESE CONDITIONS. AND AS I SAID, IF THEY DON'T MEET THESE CONDITIONS, THEN THEY WOULD GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD FOR THE NORMAL REVIEW AS A USE BY EXCEPTION. THIS ENCOURAGES, WE HOPE, A MIX OF USES AND ADDING A MIXTURE OF USES WE HOPE WOULD ENCOURAGE WALKABILITY AND HELP SMALL BUSINESSES TO KIND OF DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY AND WORK WITH THEIR SMALLER PIECES OF PROPERTY. IT ALSO HOPEFULLY REDUCES PAVING REQUIREMENTS AND IS A LITTLE MORE SUSTAINABLE AND REDUCES DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT COSTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. I LIKE THIS. IT REDUCES PAVING THAT MEANS THERE IS LESS IMPERMEABLE SURFACES. IT IS MORE SUSTAINABLE, IT HELPS US WITH MOBILITY AND IT MIGHT BE A NICE LITTLE REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE TWO BUSINESSES INVOLVED OR INSTITUTIONS. SO GOOD JOB ON THIS. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT PUBLIC COMMENT. NOT ON THIS ONE. ON THE SECOND READING. OH, OKAY. FIRST READING. I'M SORRY. YEAH. OKAY. SO I WAS ON THE PLANNING BOARD AND I SAY THIS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND I THINK IT WAS TRIED A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES. THIS IS STREAMLINED. IT'S REALLY BASICALLY TAKING THAT PROCESS THE PLANNING BOARD DID, GIVING THE STAFF ABILITY TO DO IT. AND IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS, IT COMES BACK TO THE PLANNING BOARD. AND FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT YOU SAID, HOPEFULLY WE'LL SAVE. HAVE SOME MORE GREEN SPACE OR SOMETHING. SO IT'S ALL GOOD. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. PAPPAS. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN MISSION FOR HIM. AND IF YOU'VE GOT THIS STREAMLINED AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. EXCELLENT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH, COULD YOU. YOU KNOW, I TALKED WITH THE MANAGER ABOUT THIS AND I'VE DRIVEN AROUND AND LOOKED. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES? BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PARKING LOTS THAT CAN BE SHARED RIGHT NOW. AND CAN THE CITY PROPERTY BE USED AS A SHARED. WE HAVE SOME SPECIFIC. THE SCHOONERS SUNDAY MARKET WENT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AS A SHARED PARKING WITH. SINCE SCHOONERS IS CLOSED ON SUNDAY, THEN THE MARKET IS OPEN ON SUNDAY. THEY CAN USE PARKING. YOU KNOW, REALLY ALMOST ANY EXISTING PARKING LOT WITHIN 400FT CAN BE USED. OKAY, YEAH, THEY USE SHARED PARKING LOT. THEY USE THE BANK AS WELL NEXT DOOR. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE MY PERMISSION, BUT THAT'S WHERE I PARK. RIGHT. AND THE, IF YOU GO, IF AN APPLICANT GOES TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, THAT 400 FOOT RADIUS CAN ALSO BE INCREASED. YOU COULD GET A VARIANCE TO THAT 400 FOOT RADIUS IF PARKING IS AVAILABLE BEYOND THAT. ALSO CORTES'S BISTRO IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. ON THE CORNER OF MAIN STREET AND SAN CARLOS, WEST SAN CARLOS. THEY WENT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD TO USE OFF SITE PARKING. IT JUST ADDS FLEXIBILITY. THE REQUIREMENT THAT A SHOPPING PLAZA OR A SMALL SHOPPING PLAZA, YOU KNOW, WHERE THERE'S A SMALL, I GUESS, PAWN SHOP, WHERE THE, WHERE THE CAT CAFE USED TO BE. YOU KNOW, IF A USE WERE TO CHANGE USES, THEN IT WOULD GIVE FLEXIBILITY TO SOMEBODY COMING IN WHO MIGHT BE CHANGING USE THAT MIGHT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PARKING. WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME OTHER MIXED USE PROJECTS THAT HAVE COME TO THE CITY FRIDAY REVIEW WITH RESIDENTIAL UPSTAIRS AND COMMERCIAL DOWNSTAIRS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT. BUT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DISCUSS THE IDEA THAT IF THE RESIDENCE IS UPSTAIRS AND THEY WORK, THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY IN. THE COMMERCIAL IS OPEN DURING THE DAY, THEY CAN SHARE THE PARKING OVERLAP MAYBE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND SHARE THE PARKING IN THE EVENING AND IN THE MORNING WHEN THE COMMERCIAL USE MIGHT BE CLOSED, THAT TYPES OF THING. BUT THE CODE MAKES IT DIFFICULT [00:55:02] TO DO THAT. SO THE BISTRO, FOR INSTANCE, ON SAN MARCO, THAT WOULD JUST BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD APPROVE. IF THEY MEET THE, IF THEY MEET THIS CRITERIA, THEN STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THEY MEET THIS CRITERIA AND, YOU KNOW, PUT A MECHANISM IN PLACE THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS THAT ESTABLISHES THE AGREEMENT AND THEN APPROVE IT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, WHICH. WHICH ADDS TIME AND COSTS AND TIME COSTS MONEY AND ALL THAT TO SMALL BUSINESSES. YEAH. GREAT. YES. ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, AMY. WHEN WE DID, ON THE PLANNING BOARD, WE WOULD ALWAYS, AS I RECALL IT, TRY TO GET A DOCUMENT FROM THE TWO PEOPLE. SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE HANDLED THIS WAY? SAME WAY STAFF IS GOING TO SAY, I WANT A WRITTEN AGREEMENT. YES. WITH THE DATE ON IT AND. OKAY. SO THAT ALL PARTS STAND. YES. OKAY, THANK YOU. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE MAJOR REWRITE OF THE PARKING CODE WAS TABLED, BUT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ASKED STAFF TO CONSIDER THIS KIND OF IN A SMALLER BITE AND TO SIMPLIFY WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED. SO WE TRIED TO MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE COULD ADMINISTER IT AS EASILY AS POSSIBLE. YEAH, NO, IT'S GOOD. IT'S REALLY POSITIVE. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT WE'RE STILL GETTING A WRITTEN AGREEMENT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WE CAN GO BACK TO IN CASE THERE'S A DISPUTE. OKAY, THANK YOU. I HAD SOMETHING ELSE THAT WHILE YOU WERE TALKING AND BRINGING UP YOUR POINT, I JUST STARTED PLAYING AROUND ON MAPS AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT, LIKE THE AREA THAT I WALK THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DAY, GOING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND THINKING ABOUT LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S TURNER ACE HARDWARE. THEY'RE ONLY OPEN, YOU KNOW, DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS AND THEY'VE GOT QUITE A FEW, LIKE NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CARS PARKING. BUT THE POINT IS, IS THAT I THINK THIS COULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOO. NUMBER ONE, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A RESTAURANT AND YOU'RE JUST MISSING 10, 10 PARKING SPACES. THIS WOULD BE GREAT FOR THAT. AND THE OTHER THING IS THE PARKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, ON THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE REDUCED BY DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, REALLY PUTTING A FOCUS ON IT. SO I JUST DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF THAT WHEN I WENT THROUGH THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. WE CAN REALLY START PROMOTING THIS. AND YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE CITY PROPERTIES. WE HAVE HAD APPLICATIONS FOR THE SOUTHERN PART OF SAN MARCO WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN VARIANCES IN THE USE BY EXCEPTION TO PARK IN THE PARKING GARAGE AND GET HUNTING PASSES. AS FAR AS OTHER CITY PROPERTIES, I GUESS WE'D HAVE TO. I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK WITH, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATION AND SEE HOW THAT WOULD BE HANDLED. BUT WE HAVE HAD APPLICATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THAT SOUTHERN SAN MARCO AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN USE THE. GET A VARIANCE OR GET AN EXCEPTION TO USE THE PARKING GARAGE. YEAH, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL MECHANISM AND I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY IT'LL HELP RESOLVE SOME OF OUR ISSUES WITH PARKING AND HELP WITH THE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WE DON'T NECESSARILY LOVE, BUT HAVE THEM AND DIDN'T, WEREN'T ABLE TO CHANGE THAT PART OF THE ORDINANCE. I DO HOPE THAT SOMETIME JUST ON THAT SIDE COME BACK WITH A MODEST PROPOSAL FOR WEST KING STREET. NOT GIVE UP ON THAT. I THINK IT JUST GOT TOO BIG. BUT AS FAR AS THIS IS CONCERNED, MY QUESTION WOULD BE, AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING AFTER WE TALK ABOUT IT AT PUBLIC HEARING, HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE MORE USE OF IT? I MEAN, I'M JUST ASSUMING IT'S GOING TO PASS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO A LONG TIME AGO, BUT WE DOING IT NOW, SO. YAY. BUT MY QUESTION WOULD BE, HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE USES? ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF IT. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD. IT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT. AND I THINK THERE WILL BE PARTS OF TOWN, I THINK YOU'RE TALKING, I MEAN, BEING ON THE PLANNING BOARD, SAN MARCO IS GOING TO BE ONE AREA THAT THIS COULD WORK LIKE YOU, LIKE COMMISSIONER HAD MENTIONED. SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT MAYBE THE FREE MARKET WOULD BE THE INCENTIVE FOR THIS AND THAT PEOPLE WORKING COOPERATIVELY, HONESTLY, SOMETIMES IT'S GOING ON ANYWAY AND THERE'S NO PERMISSION, JUST PARKING SOMEWHERE. SO IN THAT WAY IT MAKES IT MORE ABOVE BOARD AND TRANSPARENT. BUT YES, I, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT AND ANY OTHER WAY WE CAN DO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. SO I'LL BE WILLING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IF THAT'S. WILL YOU GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION THEN? YEAH. MAKE A MOTION FOR. WHAT ARE WE [01:00:01] ON HERE? OKAY. MAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND ORDINANCE 202619 TO SECOND HEAR HEARING AS. YES. TO MAKE IT TO. TO GO TO SECOND READING. YEAH. SECOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-19, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 28, ARTICLE 04, SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS, DIVISION 2, OFF STREET PARKING AND LOADING, AMENDING SECTION 28, 372, JOINT USE OF PARKING FACILITIES, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. EXCELLENT. ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE AND SEND IT TO PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT THEN. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JOHN DEPRETER. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. YES. THANK YOU. WELL DONE. [9.B.1. Resolution 2026-15: Updating the Schedule of Fees for the Planning and Building Department including a Planning application fee schedule and Building permit fee schedule (A. Skinner, Planning and Building Director)] WE'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT PUBLIC READING, PUBLIC HEARINGS. YES. HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY. ALL RIGHT, MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO RESOLUTIONS, YOU HAVE A WHOPPER. THIS IS A BIG ONE. YEAH. GO, AMY, GO. RESOLUTION 2026-15. THIS IS A BIG ONE. YOU'RE ON. YES. THANK YOU. RESOLUTION 2026-15 IS A RESOLUTION TO UPDATE SOME OF THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT AND PERMIT APPLICATIONS IN THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THE BUILDING PERMIT FEES ATTACHED TO THIS RESOLUTION HAD TO BE UPDATED AS REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTES. IT IS ALSO ONLY THE THIRD TIME THAT THESE FEES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED THAT I'M AWARE OF. IN. IN THE LAST MANY YEARS, THE BUILDING OFFICIAL DEVELOPED A METHODOLOGY TO SCALE PERMIT FEES BASED ON A NUMBER ON THE NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS REQUIRED FOR A CERTAIN TYPE OF APPLICATION. BASICALLY, THE FEWER INSPECTIONS REQUIRED, THE SIMPLER THE PROJECT. A PERMIT FEE IS NOW BASED ON A SPECIFIC COST FOR EACH INSPECTION REQUIRED OF $136.78 CENTS PER INSPECTION. THE NEW SCHEDULE OF FEES ALSO INCLUDES THE PROPOSED SCALED ADMINISTRATIVE FEE AND PLAN REVIEW. FEE FEES CAN NO LONGER BE BASED ON PROJECT VALUATION. WE TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO UPDATE THE PLANNING FEE SCHEDULE, WHICH HAS ALSO NOT BEEN UPDATED VERY FREQUENTLY IN THE LAST YEARS THAT I'M AWARE OF. THE LAST UPDATE FOR THE PLANNING FEES WAS IN 2017. ONE OF THE CHANGES WAS ADDING SOME CHANGES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FEE. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN EXISTING LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FOR A FLAT FEE OF $75. THIS SCHEDULE PROPOSES A SCALED APPROACH SIMILAR TO THE BUILDING PERMIT FEES BASED ON THE TYPES OF REVIEWS REQUIRED. THE MORE TYPES OF REVIEW REQUIRED IN GENERAL, THE MORE COMPLICATED THE PROJECT. THE TYPES OF REVIEWS FOR A PROPOSED PROJECT COULD INCLUDE A TREE VERIFICATION, SITE VISIT, ZONING, LOT GRADING, FLOODPLAIN APPLICATIONS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ENTRY CORRIDOR ISSUES, ARCHAEOLOGY, LANDSCAPING AND TREE REQUIREMENT REVIEW, PARKING CONSERVATION ZONE REVIEW, AND THEN IT'S OUR STAFF THAT MIGHT DETERMINE WHETHER UTILITY AND PUBLIC WORKS REVIEWS ARE REQUIRED. THE PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES BRINGING ALL OF THE BOARD APPLICATIONS MORE IN LINE WITH EACH OTHER. THE BUILDING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE WAS TIME SENSITIVE, SO WE ARE BRINGING IT FORWARD NOW WITH THE PLANNING FEES BECAUSE THEY ARE USUALLY RELATED. WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON A METHODOLOGY TO UPDATE ACTUAL ARCHAEOLOGY APPLICATION FEES BECAUSE THEY ALSO CANNOT BE BASED ON PROJECT VALUATION. THIS CHANGE IS NOT DUE UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, BUT WE ARE PLANNING ON MOVING ANY PROPOSED CHANGES FORWARD WITH THE OTHER BUDGET FEE RESOLUTIONS IN AUGUST. SO YOU WILL BE SEEING SOMETHING RELATED TO ARCHAEOLOGY. THANK YOU. AND I AM AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. BUDDY CHARLAND, OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL, IS ALSO HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, AND I CAN GO THROUGH THINGS IN MORE DETAIL. ALL RIGHT, WHO WANTS TO START? I HAVE QUESTIONS. OKAY, LET BUDDY COME UP. ARE THESE FEES COMPATIBLE WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTIES? I MEAN, ARE THEY SIMILAR OR DID WE JUST TAKE THE LEAD? I'M NOT SURE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE IS DOING. THIS CAME OUT OF HOUSE BILL 803. IT'S ALL BRAND NEW. AND PRETTY MUCH MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE MAJORITY OF THE JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE STATE ARE FIGHTING WITH IT. ALSO TRYING [01:05:01] TO FIGURE IT OUT, BUT IT SAYS THAT THE. THE BILL SAID THAT WE HAD TO DO IT IN ACCORDANCE HOW MUCH IT COSTS THE CITY TO SEND SOMEBODY OUT TO DO THOSE INSPECTIONS. SO IT HAS TO BE OFF OF THE MAN HOURS AND ALL THAT OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S IT. OKAY. DID Y' ALL HAVE ANY CONVERSATIONS? I'M SORRY IF I MISSED IT. WITH CONTRACTORS, DO THEY LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS OR GIVE YOU ANY INPUT? NO, WE DIDN'T SEND IT OUT TO THE. ANY OF THE CONTRACTORS. WE SENT IT OUT FRIDAY AND TODAY. WE SENT IT TO HIM SAYING THAT IT WAS BEING LOOKED AT. WE WENT. I WENT STRAIGHT OFF OF THE. WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS NOW. AND I WENT THROUGH THREE YEARS WORTH OF VERIFIABLE DATA OUT OF OUR SOFTWARE TO FIGURE OUT AN AVERAGE OF, OF ALL OF THAT TO GET THAT INFORMATION. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT JOB. NUMBER ONE, IT ACCOUNTS FOR, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, THE ACTUAL TIME IT TAKES STAFF TO VERIFY OR TO REVIEW THESE PROPOSALS. I DON'T THINK I REMEMBERED, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, WE SEND PEOPLE OUT ON CODE ENFORCEMENT ALL THE TIME. AND IT'S $30 FOR A. IT WAS $30. IT IS $30 FOR A TREE REMOVAL PERMIT GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO 50. THIS IS A LOT OF ASSESSMENT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ARBORIST. YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE I LOOK AT. WELL, YOU KNOW, IF I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT ADDING AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FEE. SO. BUT IT REFLECTS DIRECTLY THE MEASURABLE AMOUNT OF HOURS, THE QUANTIFIABLE AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT IT TAKES EXPERT STAFF TO DO THEIR JOBS. AND AS WE'RE LOOKING AT AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT WE'LL GET THE PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD DEVASTATE OUR SO MANY THINGS, INCLUDING PREEMPTIONS. THIS IS A WAY TO PROTECT OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN STABILITY IN TERMS OF NEW AND EXISTING CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS RENOVATIONS AND SO FORTH. SO I, I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS. I LIKE THE. I, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH. I DON'T JUST LIKE, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE, THE WAY STAFF APPROACH THIS. SO WELL DONE. I WILL SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED ACCESSORY STRUCTURE. I DO SEE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE WITH THE SAME FEE AS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE. AND, AND I KNOW, I MEAN, I BUILT AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE. 125 SQUARE FEET. SO IS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THEY COULD BE THE SAME? THEY'RE NOT HABITABLE. RIGHT. SO HOW DID WE GET TO THE SAME PRICE FOR BOTH OF THEM? IF THE AMOUNT OF INSPECTIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO FOR AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE, IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT OF INSPECTIONS AS A BRAND NEW STRUCTURE. SO IT'S BASED OFF OF THAT. WE CAN'T DO IT OFF OF SQUARE FOOTAGE. WE CAN'T DO IT OFF OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION. THE STATUTE PROHIBITS THAT. SO IT'S HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO DO THOSE INSPECTIONS TIMES $136. ACCESSORY STRUCTURE IS NOT HABITABLE. RIGHT. IT CAN BE. AND LIKE A GUEST CAR. GUEST COTTAGE. CORRECT. SO IS THERE A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE THAT'S JUST HOLDING SOME TOOLS AND A GUEST COTTAGE. NOW THERE'S NOT. IT DEPENDS ON IF YOU DO. IF YOU PUT IT AS A SHED, IT'S. IT'S A DIFFERENT CATEGORY. IT HAS LESS INSPECTIONS. I BELIEVE IT HAS LIKE TWO AND AN AVERAGE INSPECTIONS. FOR A SHED? FOR A SHED. OKAY, SO IS THERE A SQUARE LIMIT CAPACITY TO A SHED? NO, IT CAN BE AS BIG AS YOU WANT IT TO BE FOR THE BUILDING CODE. I KNOW, I KNOW. I'M. I'M. THIS. IS THIS FIRST HEARING OR. NO, IT'S A RESOLUTION. IT'S A RESOLUTION. OKAY. IT'S NOT. THIS IS IT. WE CAN TAKE. I DON'T KNOW, I JUST. YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE. I JUST DETECTED, I DON'T KNOW, JUST FEELING LIKE THERE'S A. THERE'S SOMETHING. NOT SOMETHING OFF THERE. BUT I NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. I'LL TALK. I'LL TALK TO A LITTLE BIT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TOLD. SO, MS. SKINNER, IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK AND REVISIT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE'LL MAKE OFF THIS. AND I'M NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A SURPLUS OF MONEY. I CAN HAVE KEEP. WE CAN HAVE A RESERVE, BUT IT CAN'T BE GREATER THAN FOUR. THE LAST FOUR, THE AVERAGE OF THE LAST FOUR BUDGETS. SO IF I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, I CAN HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS IN EXCESS, BUT THE GOAL IS NOT TO HAVE. THAT GOAL IS TO BE LIKE A NON PROFIT. SO WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND WE WILL HAVE [01:10:01] TO ASSESS IT AFTER WE GET A FISCAL YEAR'S WORTH OF INSPECTIONS AND PERMITS TO GO THROUGH TO FIND OUT ARE WE CHARGING TOO MUCH OR ARE WE CHARGING TOO LITTLE. OKAY. IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO. OKAY. SO TO GET BACK TO THIS AGAIN, I WANT TO GET OVER IT, BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND. SO IF I APPLY FOR SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE 150FT AND I JUST WANT TO PUT MY TOOLS AND STUFF. STUFF IN IT, I COME IN, I GET A SHED APPLICATION. CORRECT. THAT'S SEPARATE. YES. THAN AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE. YES. OKAY. JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT. AND IS THERE A LISTING HERE FOR A SHED? DID I. YEAH, IT'S THERE. OKAY. THERE IS. 384.35. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR. MAGNITUDE DIFFERENCE. YEAH. THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE IS ALWAYS KIND OF AN IFFY THING, BUT. OKAY, I GET IT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO. AS STAFF, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE IT TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE. IF SOMEBODY TRIES TO DO AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE AND IT SHOULD BE A SHED, WE NEED TO CHANGE IT TO A SHED AND ONLY CHARGE THEM FOR THAT. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD. I'M GLAD TO HEAR, I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE THINKING LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS, INTERESTING THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF OUR RESEARCH ON THIS METHODOLOGY AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE, BUT SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL FEES HAVE COME DOWN AND THE FEES ON RESIDENTIAL TYPES OF MECHANICAL AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF APPLICATIONS HAVE ACTUALLY COME UP. SO WHEN YOU CHANGE IT, YOU GO AWAY FROM THE VALUATION AND ACTUALLY GO TOWARD WHAT IT TAKES TO REVIEW A PERMIT APPLICATION AND INSPECT A PERMIT APPLICATION, A SHED OR YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE. EVEN THESE SMALLER TYPE PROJECTS THAT ARE MORE RESIDENTIALLY ORIENTED, THEY STILL TAKE ALL THOSE TRIPS OUT THERE FOR ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE APPLICATION. SO THAT WAS A KIND OF AN INTERESTING REALIZATION THAT WE HAD. AND IF I MAY, IN SOMEWHAT RESPONSE TO MS. GARRIS QUESTION, I DID LOOK AT ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH FEES FOR PLANNING TYPE FEES. ST. JOHN'S COUNTY DOES IT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAY. SO I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS APPLICABLE FOR US. BUT JUST FOR EXAMPLE, ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH FOR A SMALL SCALE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT, THEY CHARGE 500. WE'RE PROPOSING 350 PLATS. THEY CHARGE. IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 900. WE ONLY CHARGE 175. A CONDITIONAL USE, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO A USE BY EXCEPTION, THEY CHARGE 400. WE CHARGE 350. 350 VARIANCES. AGAIN THE 400. WE CHARGE 350 APPEALS, THEY CHARGE 300 200. AND THEY DO HAVE KIND OF A, I GUESS SOMETHING THAT RECOGNIZES THE SCALE OF PROJECTS WHERE A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IS $350 IF IT'S UNDER 2 ACRES. MAJOR DEVELOPMENT OVER 2 ACRES IS $500. AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE KIND OF THE TIERED FEES FROM 100 TO 150 AND THEN RESUBMITTAL FEES. WE DID HAVE, I DID HAVE OUR PERMITS COORDINATOR LOOK AT THINGS AND JUST FOR. IN CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK. THESE ARE KIND OF THE TYPES OF APPLICATIONS THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THE DIFFERENT TIERS. BUT ALSO WHEN WE LOOKED AT HOW MANY TIMES WE'RE REVIEWING SOME OF THESE APPLICATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD ALMOST 1200 INITIAL APPLICATIONS FOR THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF REVIEWS, BUT WE REVIEWED THEM ALMOST LIKE 840 MORE TIMES BEFORE THEY GOT IT RIGHT. SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND HAVING THEM CORRECT THEIR PLANS. OR HAVING THEM RESUBMIT THINGS, WHICH TAKES TIME AND COST AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD PROPOSED A RESUBMITTAL FEES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP. AND ALSO SO ANYBODY THAT'S WATCHING THIS KNOWS THAT WE ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH NEIGHBORING, OUR NEIGHBORING CITY SO THAT THEY CAN'T SAY THAT WE WENT EXTREME. THAT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT. THAT'S A GOOD POINT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS AND TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS. AND THEN I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S SORT OF LIKE A NON PROFIT. WE'RE REALLY NOT TRYING TO MAKE A PROFIT HERE. IT'S IMPORTANT IN THESE DAYS AND TIMES THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT COMPLIANCE, STATE LAW, AND IT'S ALSO WITH FAIRNESS. SO IT'S WHAT IT. WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT IT'S COSTING THE TAXPAYERS, NOT US, THE CITY. THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING [01:15:01] FOR THIS AND IT'S TRYING, WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE THAT USER FEE AND MAKE THE USER PAY THAT FEE INSTEAD OF PUTTING AS A BURDEN ON EVERYBODY. SO, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HEAR ECHOED A LOT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR NEW GROWTH AND ALL THAT. THEY WANT THE USERS TO PAY. SO THIS IS VERY, I THINK THIS IS VERY FAIR AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EMPHASIZED THAT THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED. IF SOMETHING'S OUT OF WHACK, IT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED. SO WE'LL EXPECT TO SEE, OR THIS BOARD, THIS COMMISSION WILL EXPECT TO SEE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S CORRECT. MADAM MAYOR, WOULD YOU ENTERTAIN A MOTION? I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT RESOLUTION 202615 BE APPROVED. I'LL SECOND ANY DISCUSSION. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. JON DEPRETER? YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES. [9.B.2. Resolution 2026-16: Granting an Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for a Historic Property Located at 66 Saragossa Street (J. Courtney, Historic Preservation Officer)] JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES. ALL RIGHT THEN GO AND DO GOOD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. RESOLUTION 2026-16. THIS IS A MUSIC TO MY EARS. THIS IS THE AD VALOREM EXEMPTION ON A HISTORIC PROPERTY AND MS. COURTNEY IS HERE TO PRESENT THAT. WE LOVE TO SEE THESE APPLICATIONS. WE DO TOO. SO THANK YOU. MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT TO YOU RESOLUTION 2026-16 AND THE ASSOCIATED HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION COVENANT. 466 SARAH GASSA STREET THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION IS A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE THAT PROVIDES A 10 YEAR EXEMPTION TO THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES THAT WOULD RESULT FROM QUALIFIED IMPROVEMENTS TO A HISTORIC BUILDING. THIS DOES NOT EXEMPT THE OWNER FROM ALL PROPERTY TAXES, BUT ONLY THE INCREASE TO THE ADDITIONAL ASSESSED VALUE RESULTING FROM THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE WITH THE REHABILITATION PROJECT. THE REHABILITATION FOR 66 SARAGOSSA STREET WAS COMPLETED THIS YEAR ON THE FRAME VERNACULAR BUNGALOW RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 1904 AND 1910. IT IS A CONTRIBUTING BUILDING TO THE MODEL LAND COMPANY NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT AND RECORDED IN THE FLORIDA MASTER SITE FILE. THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD REVIEWED THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY AND THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE PROPOSED WORK UNDER PARTS 1, 1 AND 2 OF THE TAX EXEMPTION APPLICATION IN APRIL 2025, AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROJECT SCOPE IN MAY OF LAST YEAR, AND RECENTLY REVIEWED THE COMPLETED WORK UNDER PART 3 IN JUNE 2026 WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COMMISSION THAT THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVE THIS TAX EXEMPTION APPLICATION. THE HARV FOUND THAT BOTH THE EXTERIOR AND THE INTERIOR REHABILITATION MET THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR STANDARDS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS PROGRAM. THE HARB MEMBERS HIGHLY COMMENDED THE BUILDING OWNERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE IN SAVING THE STRUCTURE, THE BEAUTIFUL JOB OVERALL AND THE ATTENTION TO DETAILS THAT ENHANCE THE ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOUSE, NOTING HOW IT TRANSFORMED BOTH THE HOME AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. FURTHER, THE BOARD THANKED THE OWNERS FOR SETTING A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE AND THEIR DILIGENCE IN HAVING TAKEN ON A HOUSE THAT HAD SUFFERED FROM DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR MANY YEARS. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT WAS JUST TAKEN A FEW YEARS AGO IN 2024. IT WAS ACTUALLY HEARD BY THE HARB FOR A FULL DEMOLITION APPROVAL AND IT WAS DENIED. SO THE NEW OWNERS PROPOSED TO REHABILITATE THIS HOUSE AND THE HARB RECOGNIZED THE OWNER'S PERSEVERANCE AND LARGE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN GETTING OVER THE HURDLES OF WHAT AT TIMES SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE AND WORKING THROUGH THE REHABILITATION TO COMPLETION. IN ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION TO FORMALLY APPROVE THE EXEMPTION ALONG WITH THE REQUIRED COVENANT, THE DOCUMENTATION IN YOUR PACKETS PROVIDE PROVIDES THE SCOPE OF WORK. IT HAS A LOT OF BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS AND THE PROPOSED AND COMPLETED PLANS AS WELL AS THE COST BREAKDOWN FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT COST BREAKDOWN IS THE TOTALS ARE SUMMARIZED HERE ON THIS SLIDE. LINKS WERE ALSO PROVIDED TO THE STAFF REPORTS AND FULL SET OF APPLICATION MATERIALS THAT WERE REVIEWED [01:20:03] BY THE HARP. ST. JOHN'S COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL HEAR THE APPLICATION TO CONSIDER THE AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE COUNTY'S PROPERTY TAXES AT A FUTURE MEETING AND PROPERTY OWNERS JUSTIN AHMAD AND I THINK JUSTIN IS HERE. HIS WIFE IS GOING TO TRY TO COME. KRISTA, WHO ALSO DID SOME OF THE METICULOUS WORK ON THE HOUSE IS HERE AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS RESOLUTION AND OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION EFFORTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE. EXCELLENT. COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS. COMMENTS? I JUST HAVE ONE. AND IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CURRENT OWNER SELLS THE PROPERTY THAT KIND OF CARRIES ON WITH THE PROPERTY AND IT'S FOR A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OTHER QUESTIONS COMMENTS? VERY GOOD. I HAVE A COMMENT. WAS THERE A BANISTER ON THOSE STAIRS? BECAUSE THEY LOOK KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ELEVATED THAT HOUSE, THEY LOOK KIND OF SCARY HOW HIGH IT LOOKED ON THE PICTURE. WAS THERE ORIGINALLY A BANISTER TO GO UP THE STEPS? THERE WAS A SMALL ONE. AS YOU CAN SEE THE HOUSE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BEFORE AND AFTER, THAT'S KIND OF THE AFTER PHOTO. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEFORE PHOTOS. THEY DID PUT BANNERS JUST TO GO UP THE STAIRS. YES, YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE. I JUST WAS SAYING FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, OPEN. I DIDN'T SEE THEM ON THE OTHER SKETCH WHEN YOU SHOWED IT. PIE. YES, THAT WAS RIGHT AFTER THEY LIFTED IT. WHEN THE MODS PURCHASED THE STRUCTURE. WHEN THEY PURCHASED THE STRUCTURE. IT LOOKS KIND OF LIKE THIS. AND THEN THEY DID ELEVATE IT RIGHT AWAY. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT THEY DID. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TEMPORARY SET OF STEPS TO THE STRUCTURE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, BUT THEN THE PERMANENT STEPS WERE BUILT. AND THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION CERTIFICATES, WHICH RICHARD SHOLIN, THE BUDDY, THE BUILDING OFFICIAL, HE ISSUES THOSE AFTER ALL OF THE INSPECTIONS ARE DONE AND HE ENSURES THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE WORK ADHERES TO THE BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS. THANK YOU. REAL QUICK, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I LOVE THIS PROGRAM. THIS MAKES IT FEASIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP THESE HOUSES IN OUR INVENTORY. OUR NEIGHBORS KIND OF CATEGORY. CADDY CORNER ACROSS THE STREET DID THE SAME THING. AND IT'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE VALUE TO THE, TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. BUT I DON'T WANT TO STEAL THE MAYOR'S THUNDER. I'M SURE SHE HAS LOTS TO SAY. THIS IS YOUR, YOUR SPECIALTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT'S NICE TO HEAR THE ENCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ORIGINALLY FIVE YEARS AND WE WERE ABLE TO YEARS AGO MAKE 10, WHICH IS REALLY NICE. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE DID THAT. AND HOPEFULLY IT DOES PROVIDE SOMEWHAT OF AN INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, REHABILITATE. BUT THE COMMENTS THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE WERE ABOUT THE WAY THAT THEY ACTUALLY ELEVATED AND THEN TOOK AWAY THE PORCH AND ADDED THE BANISTERS. AND CITY MANAGER AND I WERE COMMENTING. WE HAD THIS KIND OF DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE TRAVELED TO MANDEVILLE, LOUISIANA. TO LOOK AT. THEIR WHOLE HISTORIC DISTRICT HAS BEEN ELEVATED BY NOW, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT TREATMENTS OF HOW THEY ADDED THOSE ON THOSE HOUSES, HOW THEY ADDED THOSE RAILS. AND SOME LOOK TERRIBLE, SOME LOOK LIKE THEY'D ALWAYS BEEN THERE. AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE. SO GOOD WORK. APPRECIATE IT. YOU AND THE PROPERTY OWNER, I'M SURE, WORK TOGETHER ON THAT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO IT'S REALLY A BEAUTIFUL. IT SHOULD GET, HOPEFULLY AN AWARD. YES. I PLAN TO DEFINITELY NOMINATE THIS PROPERTY AND PROJECT FOR A FLORIDA TRUST AWARD. I THINK IT'S VERY ELIGIBLE FOR THAT, AND WE LOVE TO SEE PROPERTY OWNERS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE AHMAD FOR DOING THAT. I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF PATIENCE, THE PAPERWORK, AND IF YOU NEED A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION TO THE BCC TO APPROVE THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE TO ALSO APPROVE IT, LET ME KNOW. I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. AND SPEAKING TO YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE TREATMENT WITH THE ELEVATION, WE DO HAVE A GREAT RESOURCE THAT WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE TO ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED THAT TALKS ABOUT SOME DESIGN, LIKE RECOMMENDATIONS, IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO ELEVATE YOUR STRUCTURE, HOW YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, TREAT THE FOUNDATION AND THE APPROACH [01:25:01] TO THAT FRONT PORCH SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S UP ON STILTS. YEAH, IT LOOKS VERY. LIKE IT'S BEEN THERE FOREVER. YES. PERFECT. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I MOVE THAT WE PASS RESOLUTION 20, 26 TO 16. SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES. [10. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS] YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS. THIS IS ABOUT RESTROOMS, MS. MOORE. YAY. YOU HAVE THE SKINNY ON THE RESTROOMS? YES, MA'. AM. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. I'M BARB MOORE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES, AND I AM HERE TO GIVE YOU A RESTROOM UPDATE. AS WE ALL KNOW, LAST COUPLE MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM A TENANT, AND I DID WANT TO GIVE YOU KIND OF WHERE WE GOT, HOW WE GOT HERE, WHAT HAPPENED THERE, AND WHAT ARE POSSIBILITIES GOING FORWARD. SO TO START US OUT, HOW WE GOT HERE, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT RESTROOMS BACK IN 24, WHEN THE COMMISSION TALKED ABOUT THE NIGHTLIFE ORDINANCE, IT WAS THE NOISE IN THE BATHROOMS. SO BACK THEN, ALONG WITH THE 20, 24 NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON, WHICH WE GOT A LOT OF EAR ABOUT, SHORTAGE OF BATHROOMS, LONG LINES. WHERE ARE THEY? CAN'T FIND THEM. OH, ARE WE RACING THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. WE DID A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE COULD AT THE TIME. WE EXTENDED THE HOURS OF THE BATHROOMS AT THE CASA. WE LET THEM STAY OPEN UNTIL 1 O' CLOCK IN THE MORNING. WE ALSO HAVE ADDED SIGNAGE, SPECIFICALLY AT THE CASSOCK IS PEOPLE SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE THERE, THEY'RE TUCKED BACK IN THE CORNER. SO THERE WAS A COUPLE THINGS WE COULD DO, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY DONE, THAT LEFT A BIG GAP. SO WHAT STAFF STARTED DOING IN 2024 IS WE STARTED A CIP PLAN. WHAT COULD WE BRING TO YOU AS FAR AS OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE? AND WHAT WE DID IS WE TOOK A LOOK AT EVERYTHING AND I'LL SHOW YOU IN A MINUTE. KIND OF A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. BUT WE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES AND IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO THE CASA DEL HIDALGO, WHICH IS AT 35 HYPOLIDA STREET OR THE FLORIDA CRACKER. THERE REALLY IS NOWHERE ELSE TO EXPAND IN ANY OF THE CITY FACILITIES. SO WHAT WE DID IS WE KIND OF LOOKED AT THE AREA, WE TALKED TO OUR TENANTS, AND THAT'S WHERE MR. HILL COMES IN. SO BACK IN VERY EARLY 2025, WE MET WITH MR. HILL. WE ALSO MET WITH A TENANT, I'LL CALL IT TO THE RIGHT SHOPAHOLIC. THERE ARE FIVE TENANTS IN THAT BUILDING. TWO WOULD BE AFFECTED BY AN EXPANSION. ONE TO THE LEFT, ONE TO THE RIGHT. THOSE TENANTS LEASES WERE EXPIRING IN SEPTEMBER OF 25. WHAT I'VE GOT HERE IS KIND OF A TIMELINE WE CAN GO THROUGH. I DID WANT TO ANSWER WHAT WE HEARD BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM QUITE A FEW PEOPLE. SO THE FACTS AS THEY WERE IS WE HAD TWO LEASES, THEY WERE BOTH THE SAME, BOTH EXPIRING 9-30-25. SO WE MET WITH BOTH TENANTS SEPARATELY. BUT WE WANTED TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT. WE SAT DOWN, WE SAID IT'S POSSIBLE THERE MIGHT BE A BATHROOM EXPANSION. THAT'S NOT UP TO US, IT'S UP TO THE COMMISSION. BUT WE DO NEED TO EXPLORE OPTIONS AND WE WERE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THEM. SO WHAT WE CAME TO IS SINCE THEIR LEASE WAS EXPIRING SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 25, WE REDID A NEW LEASE. AND RATHER THAN IT BE A THREE YEAR LEASE LIKE WE NORMALLY DO, WE DID IT FOR ONE YEAR, WHICH WOULD TAKE IT TO SEPTEMBER 30 OF 26. AND THEN WE DID FOUR QUARTERLY EXTENSIONS. THREE MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, THREE MONTHS. AND BOTH TENANTS SIGNED THOSE LEASES IN MAY OF 2025. SO IT WASN'T NEW, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE HIRED AN ARCHITECT. SO WE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY WE WERE GOING IT REALLY WASN'T OUR CHOICE. IT WAS WHAT'S THE BEST USE OF THIS SPACE. SO WE HAVE THE PLANS FOR EXPANSION AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS GOING LEFT WAS THE BEST USE OF FUNDS, RESOURCES. THIS BUILDING IS KIND OF, IT NEEDS, IT NEEDS REMODELING ANYWAY, SO WE'LL JUST START THERE. THOSE BATHROOMS ARE VERY OLD. SO IN ORDER TO GIVE CHOICES, IT REALLY ENDED UP BEING UNFORTUNATELY BEAR MOUNTAIN OR MR. HILL SUITE, WHICH IS [01:30:01] ABOUT 851 SQUARE FEET. AND I'LL KIND OF SHOW YOU IN A MINUTE WHAT THAT 841 SQUARE FEET, 51 SQUARE FEET WILL GET YOU. BUT WE DID LET MR. HILL KNOW THAT UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE DIRECTION WE WOULD GO SHOULD THE COMMISSION CHOOSE AND EXPANSION. SO WHEN HE WAS UP HERE BEFORE AND YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF HIS NEIGHBORS, THE COMMISSION DIRECTED US TO EXTEND THOSE LEASES PERMANENTLY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 27, WHICH WE HAVE DONE. SO WHAT THAT DID IS THAT TOOK OUT THOSE FOUR THREE MONTH EXTENSIONS AND WE ARE DONE ON SEPTEMBER 30 OF 27. THIS IS HARD TO SEE, IT'S IN YOUR PACKET. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF EVERY BATHROOM LOCATION, WHAT WE HAVE NOW IN THE MEN'S ROOM, URINALS, STALLS, WOMEN'S ROOM, AND WHAT OUR CIP PROPOSED PLAN LOOKS LIKE. WE WERE STARTING HERE AT CITY HALL BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED ADA BATHROOMS HERE. SO WE HAVE ALREADY ENCUMBERED THE FUNDS TO REDO THE BATHROOMS HERE IN THE COURTYARD. WE CAN'T EXPAND, THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO. WE'RE JUST GOING TO MAKE IT ADA COMPLIANT. SO LOOKING AT THIS SLIDE, THE NEXT ONE IS THE CASA AND THE PLAN AND I'LL SHOW YOU KIND OF A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT THIS BUILDING. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT WILL TAKE US FROM FOUR URINALS IN THE MEN'S ROOM TO 10 URINALS IN THE MEN'S ROOM AND IT WILL TAKE US FROM 10 STALLS IN THE ENTIRE COMPLEX TO 30. SO THOSE 500 AND SOME ODD SQUARE FEET GIVE US A LOT OF EXPANSION AND A COMPLETELY REMODELED FACILITY. ALSO WE HAVE SLATED THE MARINA FOR 2728 OR 2829. AND THEN THE NEXT WILL BE THE FLORIDA CRACKER AND THE FLORIDA CRACKER. WE WON'T SUGGEST AN EXPANSION AS MUCH AS A REMODEL BECAUSE IT DESPERATELY NEEDS IT. ALSO LOOKING AT THE CASA, AS I JUST SAID, WE'RE GOING FROM FOUR TO 10 URINALS, PROPOSED 10 STALLS TO 30. WE WILL ALSO MAKE IT FROM TWO TO FIVE ADA COMPLIANT STALLS. I'VE LISTED THE NEEDS, I WON'T GO THROUGH THEM, BUT BASICALLY AS A FACILITIES COORDINATOR AFTER COMMISSIONER GARRIS, I GOT A LOT OF PHONE CALLS AND IT WASN'T JUST ONE. IT WAS ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE FOR ALL SORTS OF REASONS. SOME COULDN'T FIND THEM. SOME THOUGHT THAT WE RAN UF BATHROOMS WHEN WE DON'T. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF BATHROOMS. NOT ALL ARE OURS. THE LIST I SHOWED YOU ALSO, JUST TO MENTION DOES NOT HAVE THE RESTROOMS IN OUR PARKS. THAT WAS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF OUR BUILDING LOCATIONS. SO THERE IS A NEED BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD. THERE'S A NEED BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMISSION AND COMMENTS, OF COURSE. EVENTS SING OUT LOUD. NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, FOURTH OF JULY RAMPS IT UP. BUT THERE IS COMPLAINTS WE GET DURING THE YEAR AS WELL. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF NOTE. I DID WANT TO SHARE. AGAIN, WE HAVE THE DESIGN COMPLETE. THERE IS A DESIGN SLIDE IN HERE. I KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD TO SEE, BUT I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING THIS EVENING. THIS IS JUST FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES TO KIND OF BRING YOU UP TO SPEED WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. IF WE WERE TO PROCEED NEXT FISCAL YEAR WITH EXPANSIONS OF THE BATHROOMS, HERE WAS THE PROPOSED TIMELINE. HAVE TO PUT IT OUT TO BID AGAIN. THEIR LEASE EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 27. SO YOU BACK IT UP, YOU START THE BIDDING PROCESS. BEFORE THAT YOU AWARD A CONTRACT. ENCUMBERED THE FUNDS BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THIS SAYS MOBILIZATION AND CONSTRUCTION BEGINS OCTOBER 27TH. I WOULD NOT GO THERE. I WROTE IT, BUT I WOULD NOT GO THERE BECAUSE WE DON'T. I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO DO THIS PROJECT. IF WE WERE TO GO THERE DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, I THINK WE WOULD DEFER IT TILL FEBRUARY. APPROXIMATE COST. OF COURSE WE, WE DON'T. WE HAVE OUR BEST GUESS. AND THOUGH THE BEST GUESS, FEES ARE NOT JUST CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT'S ALL THE HOOKUPS. IT'S KIND OF SOUP TO NUTS IF YOU WILL. IS IT 1.25 MILLION TO GET US THE EXPANSION? THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION ON KIND OF HOW WE GOT HERE, WHAT WE'VE TALKED TO OUR TENANTS ABOUT. WE DO PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. IT COULD COME, IT MIGHT NOT. HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW. PUT YOU ON NOTICE. THEY ARE BOTH WELL AWARE THAT IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN. [01:35:01] WHAT WE DID OFFER THEM THOUGH IS OUR LEASES GIVE A SIX MONTH OUT, YOU GOT TO GIVE A SIX MONTH NOTICE. WE GAVE BOTH OF THEM 30 DAYS. SO IF THEY FOUND A SPOT, ALL THEY HAD TO DO IS SAY I'M OUT IN 30 DAYS AND WE WOULD HAVE SAID FINE. WE REALLY DIDN'T TRY TO HURT ANYONE OR PUT ANYONE OUT OF BUSINESS. AND JUST AS A SIDE NOTE BEFORE I CONCLUDE, THE BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT THAT WE USED FOR PORTA POTTIES THIS PAST NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR. SO JUST. I KNOW, MR. SPRINGFIELD COMMISSIONER, WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK OR LAST COMMISSION MEETING ABOUT PORTA POTTIES. YOU KNOW, WHERE CAN WE PUT THEM? WE JUST LOST A PLACE TO PUT ABOUT 45, UNFORTUNATELY. SO THAT CONCLUDES MY RESTROOM UPDATE. CAN I ANSWER ANYBODY'S QUESTIONS? I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS. FIRST OF ALL, AND I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT PORTA POTTIES. I WAS TALKING ABOUT THEY CALL LOVELY LOOS IN TOWN. I WAS TALKING ABOUT A REALLY NICE AIR CONDITIONED, YOU KNOW, SO DON'T CALL ME THE PORTA POTTY GUY ANYMORE. ANYWAY, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD PLAN TO ADD SOME RESTROOMS, ESPECIALLY ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE TRAINS COME THROUGH. AND IF WE HAD SIGNAGE THEY'LL REMEMBER AT THAT CORNER. THAT'S A MAJOR CORNER HYPOLITAN IN ST. GEORGE. AND SO IT'LL BE EASY TO TELL PEOPLE IF YOU'RE IN A SHOP. WHERE CAN I USE THE RESTROOM? OH, AT THE CORNER OF HIGH POLYTON. SO IT'S A GOOD LOCATION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IN PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MANAGER WAS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE. CURRENTLY THAT'S JABARI. A PLACE FOR HIM TO HAVE A HOME AND FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT MAY BE WHERE HE STATION. IS THAT ALSO BEING CONSIDERED AT ALL IN ANY OF THESE REMODELS? IT ISN'T IN FOR THE BATHROOMS FOR THE RESTROOMS ALONE. THE DESIGN PLAN YOU CAN. WELL, YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT. THAT ENTIRE SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE IS RESTROOMS. THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS A SMALL SUITE. THERE'S A TENANT IN IT RIGHT NOW. IT'S ABOUT 250 SQUARE FEET. WOULD BE PERFECT. YEAH. SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WAITING UNTIL THE LEASE IS UP FOR THAT TENANT. IT'S A MAGIC SHOP RIGHT NOW, BUT RIGHT NOW, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHEN THAT LEASE EXPIRES. IT COULD BE THREE YEARS, BUT THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT SPOT SQUARE FOOTAGE WISE FOR JABARI. YEAH, I THINK IT'S A NEED THAT WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB ON THE REST OF. I DID STUDY THEM AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT MORE THAN WE NEED, BUT IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE A DENT IN WHAT WE NEED. OKAY, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. HAVE YOU HAVE BEEN A FACILITIES COORDINATOR SUCH AS I HAVE, WE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THOSE BATHROOMS. JUST WITH A SMALL VOLUME IN THERE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE CAN BE PUT THERE TO MAINTAIN THOSE BATHROOMS. THOSE BATHROOMS. AND THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED US, THAT MADE THOSE BATHROOMS FUNCTION WAS LORENZO BECAUSE HE WAS A PLUMBER THAT WAS ON STAFF AND HE WOULD GO DOWN THERE, HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THE HOMELESS TO GET HIM OUT OF THERE. AND JUST BECAUSE THEY WOULD LOCK HIM UP, THEY FLUSH PAPER TOWELS DOWN THERE. SO I'M LOOKING AT. MY CONCERN IS THAT KIND OF VOLUME IN THOSE BATHROOMS, ONCE THEY GO IN THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT MAINTAINED. I SPOKE TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT MAYBE GETTING SOMEBODY PART TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS TRAVELED OUT OF TOWN AND YOU SEEM LIKE A PERSON THAT KIND OF KEEPS THE BATHROOM IN ORDER BECAUSE THE ROVERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP THERE AND CLEAN 30 BATHROOMS AND GO TO THE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO TO. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE CHURCH WON'T LET US USE THE PARKING LOT OVER THERE. BUT I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID AT THE LAST MEETING WE HAD DISCUSSION WITH THE BATHROOMS WITH THE LOVELY LOU'S BEING STATIONED BECAUSE IF I WAS OVER ON AVELI STREET AND I HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, APOLLO D' ASSURE ISN'T AROUND THE CORNER. OKAY. I'LL BE DONE WET MYSELF BY THE TIME I GOT DOWN THERE. SO I THINK WE, I THINK IT'S A. I MEAN WE CAN'T REALLY TELL BY THAT DESIGN IF WE COULD GET A BETTER IMAGE OF THAT, HOW THAT WOULD OPERATE. IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY HOUSED IN A FACILITY THAT HAS 30 BATHROOMS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE PROBLEMS THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH LESS BATHROOMS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE I'VE EXPERIENCED IT TRYING TO OVERSEE THOSE THAT PLACE GETTING TAKEN CARE OF. OKAY, ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? YOU CAN GO, I'LL GO AFTER YOU. WELL, BATHROOMS ARE PASSIONATE TOPIC. THEY SHOULD [01:40:01] ELICIT LOTS AND LOTS OF TASKS. ALL RIGHT, I'LL CONTROL MYSELF HERE. I WARNED THE CITY MANAGER I WOULD DO THIS. I'M LIKE, WHAT? HOW? I ASKED HIM THE QUESTION WHEN I MET WITH HIM LAST WEEK, HOW MANY BATHROOMS DO WE NEED? AND HE SAID, WE HAVE 50,000 PEOPLE. THAT'S OUR KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS. MAXIMUM SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND SO I DID A DANGEROUS THING AND I QUERIED AI AND I SAID, HOW MANY BATHROOMS DO WE NEED FOR 50,000 PEOPLE FOR THREE HOURS ASSUMING THAT THEY USE THE BATHROOM ONE TIME? AND IT CAME BACK WITH 767. THAT INCLUDES PORTA POTTY. SO DANGEROUS. OKAY, BE CAREFUL HOW YOU USE AI. BUT IT DOES POINT TO THE FACT THAT WE NEED MORE. AND WHETHER WE DO THAT THROUGH LOVELY LOOS OR PORTA POTTIES OR 26 MORE URINALS AND STALLS, WE GOTTA GET THE NEEDLE MOVING SOMEWHERE. SO I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO DO THE INVENTORY AND TO BACK UP. YEAH. TO SUPPORT THAT NEED. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO 767. I HOPE. I REALLY HOPE WE WON'T, BUT. AND COMMISSIONER GARRIS DOES BRING UP A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT. THESE BATHROOM ATTENDANCE IN PLACES, EVEN ALONG, LIKE TURNPIKES AND STUFF LIKE THAT ARE THERE TO KIND OF KEEP THE PEACE. AND WE HAVE THAT ISSUE TOO. LIKE, WE DO HAVE THAT STRAIN ON OUR STAFF. SO LET'S NOT GO TO 767, BUT LET'S GET, AS YOU KNOW, FURTHER ALONG THAN WE ARE NOW. SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. I DID GOOGLE TOO, HOW MANY YOU COULD HAVE, BUT I DID REALIZE IT'S A HYBRID SYSTEM BECAUSE PRIVATE BUSINESSES HAVE SOME TOO, SO. BUT WE STILL NEED MORE. SO MY HISTORY ON THIS WAS I WAS ELECTED TO OFFICE RIGHT DURING THE 24 NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. 24, 25. AND THEN I MET WITH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COALITION, LIKE SIX, EIGHT WEEKS LATER. AND BOY, I HEARD BATHROOMS. BATHROOMS. THAT PEOPLE WERE USING CASA MONICA AS A PUBLIC BATHROOM. THE GUY WAS PRETTY GENEROUS ABOUT IT. BUT I THINK THERE WAS. I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT THERE WAS A CONSENSUS AT THAT TIME THAT WE NEEDED THOSE. THEN THIS LAST TIME, I DID HEAR FROM RESIDENTS, AND THE RESIDENTS WERE. SOME RESIDENTS DIDN'T LIKE THE VISUALS OF THE PORTA TOILES AND THE SMELL. I HEARD THAT FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO MY UNOFFICIAL SAMPLE IS THAT WE NEED THEM. JUST IN A POLITICAL SENSE. I DON'T. AND I THINK QUALITATIVELY WE HAVE. IF YOU DO THIS, MY ESTIMATES, WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE THE ONES DOWNTOWN BECAUSE I DID A LITTLE MAP HERE AND BROUGHT THEM ALL DOWN. I ALSO CHECKED, AND IT'S. IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN A HALF MILE TO THE VIC, TOO, SO. PARDON ME. YEAH, IT'S A DISTANCE. YEAH. WHICH HAS A LOT, BUT IS ALSO OPEN TILL 1AM BUT THAT'S GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE USING IT AS A TRANSPORTATION DEVICE. BUT IT'S A TRANSPORTATION CENTER, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT IT REALLY IS NOT FUNCTIONING FOR PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. SO I THINK THIS IS GOOD. HONESTLY, I WISH WE WOULD HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE. WE HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH MR. MANLEY, AND THAT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR ME. BUT HERE WE ARE AND WE'RE MAKING A HEADWAY ON IT. JUST TWO SUGGESTIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE ADDING 26 STALLS TOTAL. MY UNDERSTANDING, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THIS IS HERE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 14 AND WE'RE PROPOSING 10 URINALS AND 30 STALLS FOR A TOTAL OF 40. SO MY GUESS IS THAT'S 26 WE'RE GAINING WHICH IS DOUBLING IT. SO I MEAN IF ANY. I REMEMBER THAT COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF RENTING PORTA TOILETS, SO. OR LUCKY LOOS OR THE HIGH CLASS ONES. AND I JUST WONDER WHAT THAT WOULD BE LIKE BECAUSE WE NEED THEM FOR NIGHT TO LIGHTS. WE NEED THEM FOR JULY 4TH, WE NEED THEM FOR MEMORIAL DAY, PROBABLY OTHER COUPLE, I'M NOT. WE NEED THEM FOR A LOT OF LIGHTS. SO IF WE TAKE RENTING 26 MORE THAT MANY NIGHTS OVER 10 YEARS, ARE WE JUST PAYING FOR THE BATHROOM? I DON'T KNOW. BUT REALLY THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING THING AS WE TAKE THIS TO THE PUBLIC TO JUST MEMORIZE THIS AND SAY, LOOK IT, WE RENTED THIS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'LL PAY FOR THIS. I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE MATH IS, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH PURSUING. AND THE SECOND THING IS I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO REACH OUT TO OUR BUSINESS PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND GET SOME FEEDBACK. WHEN I WAS AT THE LAST VCB MEETING, I BROUGHT IT UP AND THESE GUYS WERE ALL LIKE, YEAH, YOU NEED IT. AND I SAID, WELL, [01:45:03] I'D LIKE TO HEAR MAYBE GUYS COME IF IT'S CONTROVERSIAL. THIS IS JUST. I DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE FOR THIS BUT SOMETIMES A BUSINESS DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER BUSINESS BAD. SO. BUT I THINK WE DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT IT. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK LARGER THAN THE, THE ONE TENANT WE HAVE. IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AT THIS IN A PUBLIC GOOD SENSE, YOU KNOW, SO REACHING OUT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SOMETIME I'LL BE WILLING TO TALK TO THEM OR ANYBODY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OTHER THAN THAT, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. I LIKE THE WAY YOU PRESENT THINGS TOO. YOU'RE JUST LIKE, YES, HE'S A GREAT PRESENTER. YOU'RE REALLY GOOD. TO THE POINT. TO THE POINT. AND I LIKE THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. JUST ONE QUICK THING I WANTED TO ADD. I DID TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT REACHING OUT TO, TO UNF TO USE THEIR BATHROOMS AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN AGREEMENT. SO I'VE BEEN CLOSING THEM LATER WHICH WILL HANDLE SOME OF THE TIME SPAN OF THE PEOPLE MOVING AROUND ON ST. GEORGE STREET. WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THAT IS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT GETS US TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO. BUT AND JUST ONE OTHER THING TOO IS BESIDES THE, THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE, I THINK IT REALLY DOES SAY THE IMAGE OF YOUR TOWN. WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND THE FACILITIES ARE CLEAN AND THEY'RE MODERN, I THINK IT JUST SHOWS THAT THE CITY TAKES PRIDE IN THEIR DOWNTOWN AND THEIR CIVICS. AND THESE ARE BASIC THINGS. FIRE STATIONS, BATHROOMS, THESE ARE ALL. SO I THINK IT SAYS MORE THAN JUST WE'RE MEETING A DEMAND. IT SAYS THAT WE CARE ABOUT OUR TOWN. WE CARE. CARE ABOUT OUR CUSTOMERS. THAT'S WHY BUCKY'S PARKING LOT IS FULL. THAT'S WHY WHAT? THAT'S WHY BUCKY'S PARKING LOT IS FULL. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. SO MY. RE. MY. HAS EVERYONE SPOKEN? EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. OKAY, SO MY READ ON THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER I GO OUT AND SPEAK TO PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT TOURISM AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, I ALWAYS SAY, AND I STOLE THIS FROM OTHER PEOPLE. IT'S NOT MY ORIGINAL THOUGHT, BUT IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN IN TOURISM. IT COMES DOWN TO TWO THINGS, BATHROOMS, AND PARKING. SADLY, IT DOES. BUT THAT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED TO OPERATE THIS BUSINESS. AND IT IS A BUSINESS, AND IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THIS COUNTY. I WON'T JUST SAY CITY. I WILL SAY THIS IS THE BUSINESS HUB. THIS IS WHERE THE BUSINESSES ARE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. AND I THINK THAT BATHROOMS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. I AGREE THAT THEY WILL NEED SUPERVISION. I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT. I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR THAT ONCE YOU EXPAND, WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOMEONE TO BE, YOU KNOW, SURE, WE CAN COME UP WITH A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR YOU. THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD. I LOVE TO HEAR THAT. I THINK THE LOCATION CANNOT BE ANY BETTER. IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED BETWEEN THE MARINA BATHROOMS AND THE BATHROOMS AT THE VIC. AND IT'S REALLY IN THE HEART OF THE TOWN. IT'S LIKE YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD, IT'S A GREAT LOCATION FOR MANY, MANY, MANY REASONS. I COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A BETTER LOCATION. OR CRACKER CAFE, WHICH DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY. YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXPANSION CAPACITY THERE. SO I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT WAS ON MY LIST TOO. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DOESN'T WANT. WHEN BUSINESS MAN IS OUT MAKING AN APPEAL, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT TO COME AND SPEAK AGAINST. THEY MAY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO SPEAK AGAINST THEIR NEIGHBOR OR THEIR COMPATRIOT. SO. BUT I DO. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, LIKE, PLEASE GET INVOLVED, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD FOR YEARS ABOUT BATHROOMS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. WE'VE HAD THE BATHROOM, HAD THE POTTY DISCUSSION. MANY TIMES, MANY, MANY YEARS. GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN I WAS ON THE PRESERVATION BOARD. AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THERE'S BATHROOMS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, BUT THEY CLOSE AT 5 O'CLOCK. THAT'S NOT OF GREAT USE TO US. SAME THING WITH THE STATE BATHROOMS, THE UF OPERATED BATHROOMS. THEY CLOSE. THAT'S NOT HELPFUL TO US. SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, WE JUST DID SHARED PARKING. MAYBE WE SHOULD DO SHARED BATHROOMS. I DON'T KNOW. I DO. I GUESS THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS ABOUT THE VISITORS EXPERIENCE. AND NOT JUST THE VISITORS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT OUR LOCALS TO TAKE PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE WANT THEM TO COME DOWN. WE WANT TO HAVE FIRST CLASS. WE'RE A FIRST CLASS CITY. WE'RE A WORLD CLASS. WE HAVE, WE'RE ON EVERYBODY'S MAP. AND I DON'T WANT PORTA POTTIES AND I LOVE LOVELY LOOS, DON'T GET ME WRONG. BUT THAT'S. YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THEM IN A PARKING LOT SOMEWHERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE UP SPACES. THAT'S THE YIN YANG OF IT. YOU'RE GOING [01:50:03] TO LOSE PARKING SPACES, WHICH ARE ALSO EXTREMELY, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO THAT'S MY ARGUMENT. I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. I AM. I THINK THAT WE HAVE GIVEN THE TENANT MORE, MORE THAN ADEQUATE TIME AND NOTICE THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT THIS IS VERY LIKELY THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IF IT WAS UP TO ME, IT WOULD HAPPEN. I WOULD VOTE FOR IT. BUT WITH THAT SAID, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR. I HEARD YOU SAYING YOU WERE TRANSPARENT. I BELIEVE THAT YOU WERE TRANSPARENT. I THINK YOU'VE BEEN EVER BACKWARDS WITH THE TENANT AND IT WAS ALMOST, ALMOST A LITTLE BIT UNFAIR THE WAY IT CAME OUT. YOU KNOW, WE WEREN'T PLANNING ON IT. YOU KNOW, WE WERE STILL WORKING ON DESIGN AND HE KNEW, BUT UNTIL WE WERE READY TO GIVE YOU THE WHOLE PICTURE. YEAH, HE TOOK THE AGGRESSIVE POSITION AND I GET THAT. AND IT'S SORT OF RUNNING LIKE A PR CAMPAIGN, YOU KNOW, AND AN APPEAL TO SAVE ME. BUT I DO THINK HE HAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. HE'S PROVEN HIMSELF AND HE CAN STAND ON HIS OWN TWO FEET ANYWHERE, WHETHER HE'S DOWNTOWN OR NOT. I THINK THAT HE COULD FIND A SPACE AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS COMMERCIAL SPACE OUT THERE. SO I'M NOT A HARD HEARTED PERSON, BUT I DO FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE BATHROOMS ARE VERY CRITICAL TO OUR TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE A GOOD, GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR OUR VISITORS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A NECESSITY. AND IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE, COME TO THE TDC MEETING AND YOU'LL HEAR ME TALK ABOUT IT ALL DAY. WATCH IT, YOU KNOW, SO. BUT THAT SAID. AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR REPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING? DO YOU WANT TO ADD ONE THING? SURE, YEAH. WELL, YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY MY. MY RECOLLECTION. RECOLLECTION IS THAT I'LL JUST TELL YOU, I WAS PRETTY FRUSTRATED WHEN GENTLEMAN CAME IN BECAUSE I FELT I WAS PRESSURED TO HAVE A VOTE. BUT I THINK THAT WAS BECAUSE THIS CAME UP DURING COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS. SO JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE BRING THE COMMISSIONER COMMENTS. AND IF COMMISSIONERS, OTHER COMMISSIONERS WANT TO SAY, HEY, I NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO JUST DIAL IT BACK A LITTLE BIT FOR DECISIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. I AGREE WITH YOU. THAT WAS A HEAT OF THE MOMENT THING. IT WAS A HEAT OF THE MOMENT, BUT MAYBE. I THINK IT BOUGHT US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WITH THE PRESSURE OFF BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING WITHOUT. NO, NO, NO. IT HAD ITS BENEFIT. BUT JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, COMMISSIONER, COMMENTS ARE A COMMENT PERIOD. YES. OKAY. COMMENT AND NOT DECISION, PERIOD. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT A DELIBERATIVE PROCESS. AND THIS. THIS RIGHT HERE, WHAT WE'RE HAVING IS A DELIBERATIVE PROCESS. I THINK THAT'S A VERY THOUGHTFUL COMMENT, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY INSIGHTFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON. WE HAVE ONE MORE. LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE ITEMS. THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM CRITERIA AMENDMENT. AND THAT'S. MS. PERKINS, YOU'RE BACK. WHAT A LONG DAY YOU'VE HAD, MADAM. I ENJOY IT SO MUCH. MADAM MAYOR, JAMIE DICKENS. JAMIE PERKINS, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. TONIGHT, I WILL BE PRESENTING IN MY STAFF REPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM CRITERIA AMENDMENT. IN YOUR PACKET, YOU'LL FIND THE FULL NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM CRITERIA. I'D LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGE FIVE OF THAT PACKET. TRY TO GET IT FULL SCREEN HERE. AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM WAS RE ESTABLISHED TO END THE YEAR 2024. THAT PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GRANT FUNDING TO INFORMALLY, FORMALLY, AND INFORMALLY ORGANIZED NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS. CITY STAFF. WE CONTINUE TO REVIEW AND ANALYZE GRANT PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. DURING MY REVIEW OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM CRITERIA, IT WAS FOUND THAT WE WERE PROVIDING GRANT FUNDING TO A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ACTUALLY ARE STATUTORILY AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THEIR MEMBERS OR PARCELS THAT ARE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SO, I'M ASKING THAT WE MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE CRITERIA BASED OFF OF STATE LEGISLATION, FLORIDA STATUTES CHAPTER 720 AND FLORIDA STATUTES CHAPTER 190. THIS CHANGE WILL ENSURE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS REMAIN FOCUSED ON PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE BROADEST PUBLIC BENEFIT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, ORGANIZATIONS WITH ESTABLISHED AUTHORITY TO COLLECT ASSESSMENTS OR FEES FROM ITS MEMBERS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING UNDER THIS CRITERIA CHANGE. THIS CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE LIMITED GRANT RESOURCES TO BE PRIORITIZED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO NOT HAVE A DEDICATED FUNDING MECHANISM. THE ONLY CHANGE THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED THERE IS WHAT WE WILL BE ADDING, WHICH WOULD [01:55:02] PREVENT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HOAS FROM RECEIVING NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT FUNDS. AND I AM AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS. YEAH, I AGREE. IT'S A GOOD IDEA. IS THIS AN ACTION ITEM? THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM. YOU ALL ADOPTED THE CRITERIA, SO YOU HAVE TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. WE HAVE TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENT. IT MAKES SENSE TO ME. MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE FUNDS, JUST LIKE THE CITY MANAGER, WHEN WE WERE HAVING OUR DISCUSSION BEFORE, SAID, YOU KNOW, THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ABILITY TO RAISE FUNDS. THEY. THEY COLLECT DUES OR FEES OR WHATEVER, AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN. THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEMSELVES KNOW. THEY DO NOT EXACTLY. SO, I MEAN, THEY DO, BUT NOT IN A STRUCTURE, FORMAL STRUCTURE. RIGHT. SO, THIS WOULD NOT PREVENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO MAYBE DO FUNDRAISING OR THINGS LIKE THAT. THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO STILL APPLY, BUT NOT A STATUTORILY AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION. EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I JUST WANT TO SAY, IN THE CASE OF THESE TYPES OF COMMUNITIES LIKE THE HOAS, MANY OF THEM ARE GATED, SO THE FULL PUBLIC VISITORS DON'T EVEN HAVE ACCESS. SO, USING CITY RESOURCES TO FUND THESE IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN ABILITY TO DO THAT AND MAY NOT LIKELY WON'T ALLOW ACCESS OF THE PUBLIC JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. SO, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. ANYONE WISH TO MAKE COMMENT OR A MOTION PERHAPS? OKAY. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, AS YOU'VE DESCRIBED, MS. PERKINS, TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM CRITERIA FOR 2026. I SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES. JON DEPRETER? [12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK] YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEMS BY CITY ATTORNEY. NO ITEMS. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK. YES, WE DO. YES. MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I HAVE ONE ITEM TONIGHT FOR YOU, AND THAT IS A REQUEST FOR ONE APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. WE HAVE TWO APPLICATIONS, ONE FROM MR. JAMES ST. GEORGE AND ONE FROM MR. WILLIAM TUNSTALL. BOTH MEET THE CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT. SO WE CAN EITHER ACCEPT A VERBAL NOMINATION AND A VOTE OR WE CAN VOTE BY BALLOT, WHICH IS PUBLIC RECORD. ONCE I READ THE RESULTS, LET'S DO A BALLOT. EVERYBODY GO TO THE BALLOT. IT'S JUST WHAT I'M USED TO. THANK YOU. BY VOTE OF 4 TO 1, MR. TUNSTALL IS APPOINTED [13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER] TO THE PCB. OKAY, THEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. OKAY. GREAT AUDIENCE. BY CITY MANAGER. MAYOR. THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS MS. WEISS, I GUESS, DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN US TONIGHT WITH HER FUNDING REQUEST. IF SHE STILL INTENDS TO PURSUE THAT REQUEST, I WILL PUT IT ON A ANOTHER CITY COMMISSION AGENDA. IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU. I MEAN, DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT WITHOUT HER PRESENT OR. I PREFER NOT TO. I'D LIKE TO GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION. IF SHE. IF SHE'S CHOSEN NOT [14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS] TO PURSUE THE FUNDING, THEN I'LL JUST DROP IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION. ALL RIGHT, ITEMS [02:00:01] BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. WHERE SHOULD WE START? COMMISSIONER GARRETT, COUPLE OF THINGS. IF YOU COULD FOLLOW UP WITH THE COSTELLOS CITY MANAGER. THEY WERE THE COUPLE THAT CAME HERE TALKING ABOUT THEIR WATER BILL TO SEE WHAT THE BREAKDOWN IS ON THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD A GOOD ARGUMENT. IF THEY HAD IT UTILIZED SOMEONE ELSE, IT WOULD BE CHEAPER. SO WE NEED TO KEEP AS MANY CUSTOMERS AS WE CAN. SECOND, GOING BACK TO WHAT BJ HAS SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE CORNER OF US 1 AND WEST KING STREET, IT IS HIDEOUS. I SEE PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE JUST STEALING TIRES. JUST SHOW UP IN A VEHICLE, THROW SOME TIRES ON THERE. I THINK WE NEED TO SPEAK OUT TO MR. BROWDY SINCE HE BOUGHT THAT PROPERTY. AND SPEAK. SEE ABOUT GETTING THAT STUFF HAULED OFF OF THERE. I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT. ALL RIGHT. JUST DISAPPOINTED WE DIDN'T GET OUR FUNDING FOR OUR FIRE STATION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO REALLY SAY OR DO ABOUT THAT. THAT'S BEEN A PROJECT. I DON'T KNOW. BOY, 10 YEARS AGO, AND HE WENT ON THE PLANNING BOARD, I DON'T THINK. AND I WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT. WE GOT TOGETHER WITH CHIEF ABOLIZ AND I WENT TO THE OLD FIRE STATION AND WE ALL TALKED ABOUT IT, AND IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A SLAM DUNK POLICY. YOU GET A BETTER INTERSECTION, YOU GET A FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN REALLY DO ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL TRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR IS WHAT WE'LL DO. OKAY. YEAH. I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET OFF THE RADAR. I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE. I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT THIS. SUCH AN. IT'S IT JUST EVERYWHERE YOU GO IT RUNS INTO A WALL. BUT I'M COMMITTED TO GETTING THIS DONE AND I'M SURE THE CITY IS JUST VENTING MY FRUSTRATION A BIT. MR. SPRINGFIELD. WELL, I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT TIRES AND WATER BILL BUT NOW THAT HE BROUGHT UP THE FIRE STATION I WILL. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE, THE PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENT PROPOSAL BECAUSE I ASKED A QUESTION AT A MEETING WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO REPLACE AND THEIR ANSWER WAS THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT BUT THAT WE CAN MAKE A PLEA TO THE STATE FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS WHICH WE DO EVERY YEAR. AND WE'RE NOT ALWAYS 100% FUNDED BUT THIS YEAR WE REALLY LOST OUT IN OUR, IN OUR FUNDING. AND I, I HAVEN'T DONE ANY FORMAL RESEARCH OR ASKED THE GOVERNOR BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT HE DOESN'T REALLY SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME IN HIS DELIBERATIONS ABOUT HOW TO CUT HIS. HE HAS A NUMBER, HE DECIDES HOW MUCH HE WANTS TO CUT AND HE JUST, HE CUTS RANDOMLY. THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE REAL CASE BUT I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT CRITERIA HE USED TO ELIMINATE A FIRE STATION BUT AWARD OTHER MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET IN THE SAME CITY TO A PRIVATE COLLEGE. I'D JUST BE CURIOUS. OKAY. SO MR. DEPRETER, YOU JUST MENTIONED THE COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND HOW WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE SAY. BUT I AM GOING, I AM BEING VERY CAREFUL ABOUT, ABOUT WHAT I SAY HERE AND IT'S NOT NEW. SO. LAST YEAR THE CITY ATTORNEY PRESENTED OPTIONS FOR INCREASING PROTECTIONS FOR THE TRACKS THAT WE'VE PURCHASED UNDER, UNDER THE CONSERVATION PROGRAM WHICH WE ALL UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT AND AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T TAKE ACTION. I HAVE SINCE THEN BEEN WORKING HARD TO, TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING IN PLACE. AND ONE OF THE COMPELLING REASONS IS THAT THE OBJECT LESSON THAT WE GOT TWICE IN OUR COUNTY LAST YEAR OR TWO WAS THAT THERE WERE ATTEMPTS TO ALTER LAND USE IN BOTH ANASTASIA STATE PARK AND GUANA WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA AND ALSO THE CLIMATE OF PREEMPTION. SO I WANT TO GET AHEAD OF THIS. I DON'T WANT OUR. I WANT TO PROTECT WHAT WE'VE PROTECTED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPERTIES WE BOUGHT IN THE PUBLIC TRUST ARE PROTECTED IN PERPETUITY. TO THAT END, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, NOT TAKE ACTION YET, BUT TO ASK THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTION OF STAFF TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD BE A CHANGE TO OUR CITY'S CHARTER AND WHICH WOULD REFLECT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY OUR CULTURE, PROTECTING AND PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE. TO THAT END, IT WOULD BE APPLIED ONLY TO PROPERTIES WITH CONSERVATION VALUES. I COULD ASK BRING UP AN [02:05:01] EXAMPLE OF WHAT J.B. MILLER HAS PUT TOGETHER FOR THOSE THAT ARE. THAT DO HAVE CONSERVATION, HIGH CONSERVATION VALUES AND THOSE THAT ARE OF LESS CONSERVATION VALUE, MORE FOR RESILIENCY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEREFORE DEVELOP A SET OF CRITERIA THAT WE COULD WORK ON TOGETHER. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THESE PROPERTIES, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC TRUST THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO US, THE MONIES THAT WE'VE SPENT ON THEM, WON'T BE SQUANDERED WITHOUT THE FULL AND UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF THE CITY COMMISSION. SO THE REQUEST I'M ASKING IS FOR YOU ALL TO SUPPORT DRAFTING OF AN ORDINANCE CHANGES THE CITY'S CHARTER TO REFLECT THOSE VALUES. AND THE UNANIMOUS ELEMENT OF IT IS ESSENTIAL. OTHERWISE, WE MIGHT GO TO A TOOL SUCH AS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT THAT DOES HAVE ISSUES THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS BROUGHT TO BEAR, INCLUDING A COST THAT IS FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT. IT WOULD RESTRICT ANY. SO IT WOULD BE TRIGGERED BY A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE INTENSITY OF USE THAT IS CONSERVATION LAND TO GOLF COURSE, OR WOULD REDUCE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PROJECT. AND I CAN SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, AT FISH ISLAND, THE. THE PROPERTY THAT WE BOUGHT FROM THE THOMPSONS IN THE MIDDLE, THE DONUT HOLE WITH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES, HAS NO REAL PROTECTIONS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS. IF THERE'S AGREEMENT WITH ME TO ASK CITI TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE THAT WE COULD THEN DELIBERATE ON. OKAY. I HAVE A QUESTION. YEAH. YOU SAID THIS REQUIRES A CHARTER CHANGE. ISN'T THAT A BALLOT INITIATIVE? NOT ALL CHARTER CHANGES REQUIRE BALLOT INITIATIVES. SOME DO, SOME DON'T. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AS SOON AS I GET DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION, THEN I CAN FINESSE THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T TRIGGER A BALLOT INITIATIVE. AND IF SO, THEN I WOULD REDRAFT IT TO SIMPLY BE AN ORDINANCE, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. BUT IT REALLY IS. WE'RE WAITING FOR YOUR DIRECTION. I SUPPORT THIS. I SUPPORTED IT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ON THE TO DO LIST LONG TERM. AND I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING BACK AROUND TO IT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. AND AS LONG AS IT'S ALL LEGAL, YOU KNOW THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. NO, I THINK WHAT. WHAT WAS SUGGESTED IS PROPERTIES THAT THE CITY OWNS AND HAS PLACED UNDER CONSERVATION WOULD REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY THAT'S UNANIMOUS IN ORDER TO TAKE IT OUT OF CONSERVATION. I HOPE I'M ENCAPSULATING THE CONCEPT. MAJORITY. THAT'S UNANIMOUS. UNANIMOUS VOTE. CORRECT. I THINK IS THE PROPOSAL TO TAKE IT OUT OF CONSERVATION. I THINK THAT THAT'S NOT A HIGH ENOUGH PAR, BUT IT'S A GOOD START. AND I WOULD AGREE IT MAY NOT BE A HARD ENOUGH BAR, BUT RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION. AND SO I THINK WE CAN MOVE VERY QUICKLY ON THIS IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO, AND WE CAN COME BACK TO IT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN DO MORE. MAY I ASK A QUESTION? WHY WOULD YOU NOT USE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT MECHANISM THAT'S AVAILABLE? WELL, FOR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT, A NUMBER OF OUR PROPERTIES, WE RECEIVED GRANT FUNDS, SO THEY ARE ALREADY ENCUMBERED. THE STATE REQUIRES THAT THOSE TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO BE RECORDED. FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT A PRODUCT OF A STATE GRANT, THEN YOU HAVE TO FIND AN ENTITY THAT IS WILLING TO TAKE ON THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, AND THEY CHARGE FOR THAT, AND THEN THEY CONTROL WHAT COULD OR COULD NOT OCCUR ON THE PROPERTY. AND THAT'S A BIT OF A SURRENDER OF YOUR SOVEREIGNTY. BUT AGAIN, I'M NOT PUSHING ANY PARTICULAR DECISION, BUT I THINK THE CONCEPT WAS, WELL, IF THE CONCERN IS WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE A SIMPLE MAJORITY, TOO EASY TO CHANGE, BUT WE STILL WANT TO MAINTAIN THE CITY COMMISSION'S CONTROL OVER ITS OWN LANDS, THEN THIS IS A GOOD COMPROMISE TO SAY, WELL, THEN IT HAS TO BE UNANIMOUS. OKAY. TO FULLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I'M GOOD WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, BUT THEY DO COME AT A COST, AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT. IS THE COST UP FRONT, OR IS IT. IT'S ONGOING. IT'S ONGOING. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST. [02:10:01] THAT WOULD BE. AND THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO BE LIKE A GIFT OR SOME KIND OF. YEAH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. THEY CHARGE. THEY CHARGE TO MONITOR IT. SO ONCE THEY HAVE THAT EASEMENT. RIGHT. THEN THEY CHARGE TO ANNUALLY MONITOR IT. AND THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS TYPE OF THING BEING DONE IN ALACHUA COUNTY, I BELIEVE, IN GAINESVILLE, BY REFERENDUM, BUT THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE A SUPER MAJORITY AND UNANIMOUS WOULD PUT IT OUT IN THE PUBLIC EYE IN A WAY THAT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT WOULDN'T, WHICH. WHICH I SEE AS AN ADVANTAGE. I GET IT. OKAY. YEAH. AND MY CONCERN. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, WAS THAT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY UNLESS WE CHANGE THE CHARTER TO LIMIT WHAT A FUTURE COMMISSION CHOOSES TO DO OR NEEDS TO DO FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY. SO HAVING IT BE A MAJORITY, I MEAN, UNANIMOUS, SOLVES THAT PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE THAT'S A PRETTY BIG BAR TO JUMP OVER TO TAKE A PIECE OF PROPERTY LIKE FISH ISLAND AND TURN IT INTO CONDOS. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S KIND OF THAT BAR UNTIL IT REALLY IS NEEDED. SO I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. LAST TIME WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, WE HAD A. IT WAS GIVEN TO. I SUPPORT MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION. I DON'T KNOW IF I SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY BACKGROUND INFORMATION. BUT LAST TIME, WE HAD A SERIES OF OPTIONS. AS I RECALL, I JUST GOT ON HERE, AND THEN YOU BROUGHT IT UP, AND THERE WAS THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT MECHANISMS. SO IF YOU WERE TO COME. I'LL ASK YOU IF SHE IS TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING, ARE WE LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR MECHANISMS OR. YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS. NO, I THINK WE HAVE PRETTY CLEAR PATHWAY HERE, AND WE MAY DECIDE LATER TO PUT ON FURTHER PROTECTIONS. BUT THIS IS A. I THINK THIS IS A. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING NOW BEFORE WE GET PREEMPTED FROM DOING SOMETHING LATER. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. WELL. WELL, I'M OPEN THAT HAVING SOMETHING COME BACK, GIVING ME TIME TO LOOK AT IT. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. TALK ABOUT IT. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. AND I'M GOING TO. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS. Y. YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING COME BACK TO US SO THAT WE CAN SEE IT IN WRITING AND CONFIGURE IT. THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION, BUT IT'S JUST KIND OF LATE IN THE DAY. THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S A GREAT MOVE. I APPRECIATE IT, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET OVER THAT HUMP OF SUPER MAJORITY. I'M STILL WINCING ABOUT THE LAST TIME. WELL, I'M HEARING SUPER MAJORITY AND UNANIMOUS. SO WHICH ONE IS IT? IT'S A SUPER, SUPER MAJORITY, I GUESS. ARE YOU. ARE YOU CLASSIFIED? EITHER ONE? ANYTHING MORE THAN A MAJORITY IS A SUPER MAJORITY. YEAH. SO IT WOULD BE A UNANIMOUS SUPER MAJORITY, AS OPPOSED TO A FOUR TO FIVE. FIVE. I MEAN, FOUR TO ONE. SO FIVE. ZERO. YES. IS A UNANIMOUS SUPER MAJORITY. OKAY. WORDS. GET USED TO THEM. OKAY, THAT'S AMAZING. SO, OKAY, SO IT'S LATE. ARE WE DONE? ARE YOU DONE? ARE YOU DONE? I ONLY HAVE ONE THING, AND IT IS A LONG TIME AGO. BACK IN THE DARK AGES, WHEN TRACY UPCHURCH WAS MAYOR, ONE OF THE LAST THINGS HE DID WAS FIDDLE AROUND WITH OUR ENTRY CORRIDORS. AND THOSE ARE THE. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WELCOME. WELCOME. THE LITTLE WELCOME THINGS. OKAY, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY. I'M CIRCLING BACK TO SOMETHING THAT HE. WE SORT OF LEFT HANGING. AND THAT IS THE FOUNTAIN AT THE NORTH PART IN U.S. 1 WHERE SAN MARCO AND U.S. 1 COME TOGETHER. THERE'S A BIG TRIANGULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY THERE. SO THERE'S FOUNTAIN, THERE'S FLAGS AND THERE'S STUFF. AND WE TOOK DOWN. WE VOTED TO TAKE DOWN THE. WHATEVER STRUCTURE THERE. AND NOW IT'S THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK, BUT IT'S KIND OF OLD AND OUTDATED, AND IT NEEDS. THE WATER FOUNTAIN DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE, AND I'M GETTING QUITE A BIT OF COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT. AND I THINK YOU NEED SOME. IT NEEDS NEW LANDSCAPING. I MEAN, LITERALLY NEW LANDSCAPING. TREE TRIMMING, PRESSURE WASHING. I'M NOT SURE WHAT. IT'S A HISTORIC. I FEEL LIKE GRASS HASN'T BEEN CUT. I FEEL IT. AND THAT'S SUMMER. RIGHT? THAT HAPPENS. BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S. IT'S A HISTORIC STRUCTURE. I MAY NOT. I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I THINK IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 400TH. MAYBE IT'S. IT'S A COQUINA. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FEATURE. YES. WATERFALL TYPE MOUNTAIN. REALLY. IT NO LONGER WORKS. THE LANDSCAPING THAT SURROUNDS IT HAS MATURED. SO IT'S LEGGY AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AND YOU'RE RIGHT. WE WERE JUST SORT OF IN A HOLDING PATTERN AFTER THE MONUMENT SIGN CAME DOWN TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THAT PARK. AND IT KIND OF JUST GOT AWAY FROM US. YEAH, IT KIND OF LINGERED. AND SO THERE'S THAT. AND THEN THE OUTER FEATURE, WHICH ARE THE TWO CONQUISTADORS DOORS, THE TWO CONQUISTADORS [02:15:02] AT A GATE IS A SORT OF A GATE FEATURE OUT THERE. THESE ARE REMNANTS OF THE PAST, AND I REMEMBER THEM AS A CHILD, SO, YOU KNOW, I STILL. THEY'RE SENTIMENTAL TO ME, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM NOT DESTROYED OR NOT EVEN REALLY MODIFIED AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM REFURBISHED AND HONORED AND KIND OF FLUFFED UP A LITTLE BIT. OKAY, SO HOW DO Y' ALL FEEL ABOUT THAT? FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT? WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS AND STUFF. YEAH. YEAH, I THINK WE'LL SUPPORT THAT. WE'RE ALL STILL WAITING FOR THE KING STREET US1 PARK TO GET DONE, TOO. SO YOU MIGHT WELL KICK ONE BIRD DOWN THE ROAD. YEAH. SO. BUT I. IT JUST KIND OF CAME TO MY ATTENTION BECAUSE I'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE JUST REALLY VERBAL ABOUT IT. I AGREE THAT THAT AREA DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP. IT IS LIKE A. A LOT OF PEOPLE GO PAST IT GOING TO SCHOONERS, AND THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COME US TRAVELING. SO IT DEFINITELY NEEDS A FACELIFT. BUT I, I. THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT AFTER WE CLOSE THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE WE ADJOURN. DO YOU WANT TO. OKAY. OKAY. YOU WANT TO HAVE THE LAST WORD? OKAY, THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU. AND DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? NO, JUST ON THE PARK. SO WHAT IS YOUR REQUEST? JUST MAINTAINING. IT'S TO RE LANDSCAPE IT AND FRESHEN IT, CLEAN IT, CLEAN THE FOUNTAIN, CLEAN THE. THE GATES AND THE CONQUISTADORS, TRIM THE TREES THAT OVERHANG THE CONQUISTADORS, RE LANDSCAPE ALL THOSE AREAS. IS THAT WHAT YOU HAD IN MIND? YES. I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME LIGHTING. YEAH, WE'LL REPAIR THE LIGHTING. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE LIGHTING FOR THE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE. THIS IS GETTING A LITTLE OUT OF HAND. BUT MAYBE NOT THE SOLAR LIGHTING ON TOP OF THE FLAG POLES. SO YOU CAN LEAVE THEM UP FOREVER AND THEY'LL BE LIT AT NIGHT. OKAY, ABSOLUTELY. SO ARE THEY GOING TO COME BACK WITH A PLAN OR IS YOUR REQUEST TO SAY JUST MOVE ON THE PLAN? WE ALREADY HAVE. YEAH, UNLESS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO COME BACK WITH A PRESENTATION. I CAN JUST USE WHAT'S OUT THERE AS A GUIDE AND REFRESH IT AND WE'RE DROWNING IN PRESENTATION. NO, NO, NO. IT'S A. IT'S A. JUST A. I'VE GOT GUYS THAT CAN DO THIS. YEAH, IT'S A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. OKAY. I'M OKAY. IT'S A LITTLE ENSO. COMMISSIONER GARRISON. WELL, DECEMBER 7TH IS ELECTION. I MEAN, IS WHEN WE DO THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD. AND I HAVE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS PEOPLE AND HEARD FROM NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PLANNING ON COMING TO SEE THE FIRST BLACK PERSON BECOME MAYOR. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I KNOW WHEN I CAME ON THE COMMISSION, WE HAD A HIGH VOLUME OF PEOPLE AND THERE WAS PEOPLE STANDING, REMEMBER, JIM? SO I WANT TO KNOW IF WE COULD CHANGE THE VENUE FOR THE SWORN IN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON. MY CHILDREN ALREADY GOT THEIR TICKETS. SOME PEOPLE FROM THEIR JOBS ARE COMING. I WAS HOPING MAYBE WE COULD USE FLAGLER AUDITORIUM BECAUSE NOT ONLY AM I GETTING SWORN IN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS GETTING SWORN IN. AND THEN YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO SEE YOU GUYS AND YOUR GLORY TOO. AND SO FLAGLER AUDITORIUM WOULD GIVE ENOUGH SEATING RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET TO SEE IT, I'M SURE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE CITY MANAGER TO REACH OUT TO FLAGLER AND WE COULD DO THAT PART AND WE COULD COME BACK HERE AND DO THE CHARTER PART AND JUST DISMISS. I MEAN, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AN ANSWER. I KNOW I'M THROWING THIS OUT THERE, BUT I JUST THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT. I WOULD HATE FOR SOMEBODY TO TRAVEL HERE TO SEE ME GET SWORN IN AND COULDN'T GET INSIDE THIS ROOM. AND LAST TIME I TOOK OVER HALF OF THIS ROOM. AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING SWORN IN THAT THEIR FAMILY CAN'T COME AND EMBRACE THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. BUT YOU CALLED, THE REST OF YOU GOT SMART AT THE END AND NANCY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE NICE, TOO. BUT YOU DID GET. YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION. DO YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT OR. I. I WOULD JUST CAUTION THAT FLAGLER MAY WELL HAVE THE AUDITORIUM ALREADY RESERVED, SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT SEVERAL ALTERNATE, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE SITES. THEY ESPECIALLY THAT TIME OF YEAR. I DON'T KNOW. IT'S BUSY. IT'S REAL BUSY. IT'S HOOKED UP WELL, WE CAN ONLY ASK. YEAH. AND THERE IS A COST TO IT AND THEY MAY DONATE THAT. BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY ABOUT THIS. YEP. HOW WE DO THIS. IT'S ACTUALLY IN OUR CHARTER. AND I MEAN, IT'S NOT THAT WE COULDN'T AMEND IT, BUT RIGHT NOW IT SAYS THAT IT HAS TO MEET AT THE USUAL PLACE FOR HOLDING THE MEETINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. SO THAT SPECIAL DECEMBER MEETING IS QUALIFIED, AND IT SAYS THAT SHALL MEET AT THE USUAL PLACE FOR HOLDING THE MEETINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THE CITY. SO THEREIN IS THE PROBLEM. CERTAINLY WE CAN AMEND THAT LANGUAGE AGAIN IF YOU TELL ME YOU WANT ME TO CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE. BUT [02:20:01] THAT IS HOW OUR CHARTER READS RIGHT NOW. IS THAT SPECIAL MEETING IS SUPPOSED TO BE HELD WHERE WE NORMALLY HOLD OUR MEETINGS, WHICH WOULD BE THIS ROOM. SO IF YOU DIRECT ME TO DO AN AMENDMENT, I CAN DO THAT. MAY I ASK HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU. ARE YOU EXPECTING TO COME? WELL, THIS PLACE IS 90 PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, AND WE WERE OVER CAPACITY, AND WE CAN'T BE BECAUSE OF THE FIRE MARSHAL CODE. WE CANNOT HAVE PEOPLE STANDING EVERYWHERE BECAUSE SOMETHING HAPPENED. WE CAN'T EVEN GET OUT THE ROOM. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT SOMEBODY MIGHT BE OUT THERE ACTING A FOOL IF I CAME FROM CALIFORNIA AND CAN'T GET IN HERE AND BOUGHT A TICKET. WELL, NO, I'M ASKING YOU, DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL ACCOUNT THAT YOU'RE. I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A CONTINGENCY. I KNOW I HAVE OVER ABOUT 40 MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY THAT'S ROLLING DOWN HERE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE LOCAL CHURCHES OR ANY OF THEM. I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS ENDEAVOR FOR ME, SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO COME DOWN AND SEE IT AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. COURTYARD. OKAY. ANYWAY, LET'S DO THIS. LET'S DO THIS. RATHER THAN TRY TO DISCUSS IT AT THE END OF THE MEETING, LET'S LET THE CITY MANAGER COME UP WITH A PLAN. ARE WE. IF WE'RE EVEN OPEN TO THE IDEA OF THIS ROOM IS TOO SMALL FOR THIS MAGNIFICENT EVENT. IT'S GOING TO BE AN EVENT WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, OF COURSE, BUT COME UP WITH A PLAN. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK, GIVE US SOME OPTIONS. AND THAT MAKES SENSE. YES. AND IF WE DO, AND IF IT DOES INVOLVE MOVING IT TO SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE. THAN THOSE NORMAL THING, THEN BRING US AN ORDINANCE. OKAY. WE WILL DO. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? Y' ALL DOES. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL JUST KEEP IT MOVING FORWARD. IS THAT OKAY, COMMISSIONER GARRIS? YEAH, THAT'S OKAY. OKAY, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.