Aug 24, 2026 City Commission

[00:50:01]

MS. WEISS, ARE YOU GONNA NEED THE HANDHELD MIC? I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

YES, MA'AM.

YEAH, I GUESS I NEED THE MIC.

OKAY, THEN.

MADELEINE WEISS, LINCOLNVILLE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION RESTORATION SOCIETY, INC.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

WELL, I'M GONNA START WITH THIS.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO ASK YOU ALL FOR FUNDING TONIGHT.

KNOWING THAT THE TAX THING IS IN LIMBO RIGHT NOW, WE FEEL IT'D BE DISSERVICE TO PUT YOU ALL IN THAT POSITION FOR Y'ALL TO TRY TO SAY NO TO US.

BUT ANYHOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA ASK YOU ALL FOR FUNDING.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AND REACH OUT TO PRIVATE DONORS AND STUFF.

AND MAYBE WE WON'T HAVE TO GET ANYTHING FROM THE CITY.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT ON OUR OWN.

BUT WE STILL WOULD NEED THE CITY'S APPROVAL TO HAVE THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM IN LINCOLNVILLE.

BUT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO TONIGHT IS TO LET YOU ALL KNOW WHY WE WANT THIS MAIN STREET PROGRAM IN LINCOLNVILLE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE, WAIT, LET ME BACKPEDAL.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN OUR SIGN AT THE CORNER OF ML KING AND KING STREET, HISTORIC LINCOLNVILLE, EST, 1866, ARROW POINTING TO LINCOLNVILLE.

THANK YOU, JULIE, WITH THE CITY, AND THE MASONIC.

BECAUSE THE MASONIC ALLOWED US TO PUT THE SIGN UP ON THEIR PROPERTY AND THE CITY MADE THE SIGN FOR US.

SO WE GOT THE SIGN RIGHT THERE.

NICE, BIG, PRETTY SIGN.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING US GET THAT DONE.

THAT'S THE START TO OUR MAIN STREET PROGRAM.

BUT ANYHOW, TO GO ON, THE REASON WE WANT THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHY DID THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE ASK NATIONAL TO MAKE LINCOLNVILLE A HISTORIC DISTRICT? THAT'S MY QUESTION.

AND THE REASON I'M ASKING THIS IS BECAUSE THE CITY SUBMITTED 568 PROPERTIES TO NATIONAL SAYING THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR MAKING LINCOLNVILLE A HISTORIC DISTRICT.

HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY OF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE STILL STANDING, IT'S LESS THAN HALF.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION, WHY DID THE CITY ASK FOR THIS, BUT YET THERE'S NO PROTECTION IN PLACE TO HAVE SAVED ALL THOSE PROPERTIES THAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

YES, LINCOLNVILLE HAS A RICH HISTORY.

OF COURSE, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, IT WASN'T LINCOLNVILLE.

IT WAS OVERTOWN.

WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LINCOLNVILLE AT ALL.

WE KNEW OVERTOWN.

THAT WAS IT.

I LEARNED ABOUT LINCOLNVILLE PROBABLY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

BUT LIKE I SAID, MY QUESTION STILL STANDS, WHY DID THE CITY ASK FOR THIS? AND YET WE HAVE NO PROTECTION.

OUR HISTORY, EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO TELL OUR HISTORY.

NOBODY, THEY CALL IT GENTRIFICATION.

GENTRIFICATION IS PEOPLE.

AND THE THING IS NOBODY IS WORRIED ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

THE REASON I BROUGHT MS. GIGI, AND MS. GIGI MET HER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, HISTORY.

HISTORY, LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT LINCOLNVILLE.

THAT'S SO AMAZING.

AND AS YOU READ ON, READ ON, RUN ON, YOU'LL SEE HOW AMAZING IT IS.

AND WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT THE LITTLE HISTORY WE HAVE LEFT AND BRING SOME OF THE ECONOMICS BACK.

WE HAD, WE SAID AND DID A FRONT PORCH ROCK AND CHAIR SURVEY OF HOW MANY PROPERTIES WE USED TO HAVE IN LINCOLNVILLE, NOT PROPERTIES, HOW MANY BUSINESSES WE USED TO HAVE IN LINCOLNVILLE.

WE CAME UP WITH 65 BUSINESSES WE HAD IN LINCOLNVILLE.

AND WE'RE DOWN TO, WELL, WE CAME BACK UP FROM ONE.

I THINK WE'RE UP TO ABOUT THREE, FOUR NOW, BUT THAT'S STILL NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT IT USED TO BE.

NO, WE DON'T WANT 65 MORE BUSINESSES BACK.

WE JUST WANT SOME ECONOMICS BACK IN LINCOLNVILLE WHERE PEOPLE COULD GO TO THE LA CONA MARKET AND GET A QUARTER MILK AND BE ABLE TO HAVE ACTIVITIES IN LINCOLNVILLE WHERE EVERYTHING ISN'T FUNNELED OUTSIDE OF LINCOLNVILLE.

OUR HISTORY, I'M GONNA LET SOMEBODY ELSE TALK ABOUT THAT EDUCATION THING THEY'RE WORKING ON NOW.

WELL, NOBODY DON'T WANNA DO LINCOLNVILLE'S HISTORY IN LINCOLNVILLE.

THEY WANNA TAKE OUR HISTORY OUTSIDE OF LINCOLNVILLE AND TELL THE STORY.

WELL, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENED IN LINCOLNVILLE, THIS IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE TOLD.

THE BENCHES, I KNOW WHEN THE YOUNG MAN, COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, HE WANTED TO DO BENCHES.

[00:55:01]

AND WHEN HE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE CATHOLIC, BUT THEY DON'T WANNA DO THE BENCH IN LINCOLNVILLE, WELL, THAT'S WHERE THEY TAUGHT AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN IN LINCOLNVILLE.

BUILDINGS ARE STILL THERE, TELL THE STORY WHERE IT HAPPENED AT.

AND THAT'S WHAT OUR PROBLEM IS.

WE WANT OUR STORY TOLD IN LINCOLNVILLE.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE ALL OUR INFORMATION, GO OUTSIDE OF LINCOLNVILLE AND TELL PARTIAL STORIES BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT YOU HEAR ISN'T TRUE ABOUT LINCOLNVILLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR.

AND OUR RESIDENTS, OUR RESIDENTS MAKING SURE, I DON'T THINK WE REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM FOR US, THE TAXES WITHOUT LONG-TERM RESIDENTS.

IT'S NOT A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE I REACH OUT TO ALL THOSE.

I KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF MY AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE IN LINCOLNVILLE, CAUSE I REACH OUT TO THEM AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THEY NEED, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY GET WHAT THEY'RE IN NEED OF.

THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO COME TO THE CITY MEETINGS AND ANYTHING WE CAN GET FROM THE CITY, WE TAKE BACK TO THEM.

THAT'S WHY WE WANT THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM.

BUT LIKE I SAID, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS REACH OUT TO OTHER MAIN STREETS AND SEE WHAT'S COMPATIBLE THAT WOULD HELP US IN LINCOLNVILLE, MAKE US HAVE A SUCCESSFUL MAIN STREET PROGRAM.

CAUSE WE DON'T WANNA START SOMETHING THAT FILLS IT OUT BEFORE WE GET IT STARTED GOOD.

SO WE JUST NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN APPROVING US DURING THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM FOR IN LINCOLNVILLE.

BUT LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T NEED THAT RIGHT NOW.

BUT I'M GONNA LET MS. GIGI SHARE SOME OF THE HISTORY THAT SHE RESEARCH SINCE SHE'S BEEN IN LINCOLNVILLE.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WERE YOU RAISED IN LINCOLNVILLE? WERE YOU BORN IN LINCOLNVILLE? I WAS NEITHER, BUT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THAT MY FIFTH GRADE GRANDMOTHER, HER NAME WAS CHLOE DUPONT, WAS ENSLAVED ON THE DUPONT PLANTATION.

AND I HAVE A PICTURE OF HER GRANDSON.

HIS NAME WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON FERGUSON.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE MENORCAN, YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES, THE GULLAH.

AND I FIND OUT THAT I'M A DESCENDANT OF ALL OF THEM.

AND JUAN JOSEPH BASQUITO WAS ONE OF THE MEN ON THE TURNBULL PLANTATION.

I DESCEND FROM HIM.

AND MY MOTHER, WHEN I DID HER DNA, SHE HAS SPAIN.

SO THEY TALKED ABOUT SPAIN TODAY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT WERE THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT LINCOLNVILLE.

THOSE SIX LEASE HOLDERS WERE FREE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND SOME OF THEM HAD BEEN ENSLAVED.

AND THEY WERE PUT ON LIBERATION LOT, 362 PEOPLE.

AND THEY HAD TO MAKE THE BEST THEY COULD.

IN 1866, THERE WERE SIX PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT GIVEN BUT LEAST 50 BY 100 ACRE LOTS.

SOME OF THEM STAYED ON THEM FOR MANY YEARS.

SOME OF THEM MOVED TO SANKSVILLE.

I HAVE ALL OF THEIR NAMES AND HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THEM.

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A MUSEUM HERE, HISTORY AND CULTURAL MUSEUM.

AND WE'RE AT 83 WASHINGTON STREET.

WE RENT FROM OUR CHURCH.

BUT WE, IN ORDER TO BE A PART OF THIS MAIN STREET PROGRAM, WE BOUGHT A LOT NEXT DOOR TO FRANK BUTLER'S HOUSE.

AND WE'RE BUILDING A MUSEUM THAT WE OWN SO THAT WE ARE VERY INVESTED IN BRINGING LIKE MADELINE SAID, WE CAN'T BRING BACK TO 67 BUT BRINGING DIFFERENT BUILDINGS OR JUST DIFFERENT BUSINESSES.

THERE'S NO HAIRDRESSERS.

THERE'S NO PEOPLE WHO DO NAILS.

THERE'S NO GROCERY STORES, NONE OF THAT.

AND WE HAD ALL OF THAT FOR MANY YEARS.

SO WE ARE VERY APT TO IMPROVE IN THAT AREA BECAUSE WHEN WE IMPROVE THAT, WE IMPROVE ST.

AUGUSTINE AS A WHOLE.

[01:00:12]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS GAIL.

WE'RE GOING TO ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.

AND I COME TO TALK ABOUT AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING A GRANT TO BE HAD FOR THE PRESERVATION OR PRESENTATION OF EDUCATION IN LINCOLNVILLE THAT, FORGET THE NAME OF MS. WOLF, JENNY WOLF IS IN CHARGE OF AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE MEETINGS.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE PRESENTATION PRESENTED IN THE BEGINNING WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS SO GREAT.

AND PEDRO MENENDEZ DE AVILÉS WAS SO APROPOS BECAUSE HE WAS THE FOUNDER OF ORLANDO IN THE BAY OF ST. AUGUSTINE THAT HE NAMED ST. AUGUSTINE AFTER AN AFRICAN SAINT NAMED ST.

NOW, WHY WE DON'T KNOW THAT HISTORY AS PART OF OUR HISTORY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT MY FIRST QUESTION WAS WHY IS THE ST. AUGUSTINE CONTINUALLY HOT-PODGING OUR HISTORY, OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY? BECAUSE WE KNOW ABOUT PEDRO MENENDEZ, WE KNOW ABOUT HIM, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT ON HIS SHIP THERE WERE ENSLAVED PEOPLE ON THE SHIP THAT LANDED, THAT NAMED ST. AUGUSTINE AFTER AN AFRICAN SAINT.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT PART OF THE HISTORY, BUT THE GRANT THAT MS. WOLF IS TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT, WE HAD MEETINGS OR HAD MEETINGS, WENT TO MEETINGS, TRYING TO REDRAW AND REDEVELOP HISTORY THAT SOME PEOPLE PRESENTED, SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T COME TO PRESENT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OWN HISTORY.

CAN I SHOW THIS? IS THERE A WAY THAT, ALL RIGHT, I'LL JUST.

OF COURSE.

IF YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS, SHE'S TALKING ABOUT EXCELSIOR.

HERE IS A NEWSPAPER THAT CAME FROM 1940 THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE STUDENTS OF EXCELSIOR.

AND YOU MENTIONED, THESE NAMES AREN'T KNOWN, PEOPLE IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY REMEMBER THEM IF YOU'RE OF THAT AGE, BUT HERE'S A NEWSPAPER THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE STUDENTS OF EXCELSIOR.

WHEN I SAW THE PRESENTATION THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED, THIS KIND OF INFORMATION IS NOT IN IT.

THIS ISN'T IN IT, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THEM.

SO NOW WE HAVE TO ADD SOME MORE INFORMATION THAT WASN'T PRESENTED.

BEFORE DR. HALING, THERE WAS A REVEREND WRIGHT WHO'S PASTOR AT ST. MARY'S.

THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY HIS SON.

AND YOU SEE THE TITLE? HIS SON WROTE THAT, REVEREND WRIGHT DIDN'T, BECAUSE REVEREND WRIGHT HAD TO LEAVE, JUST LIKE DR. HALING HAD TO LEAVE AFTER HE DID HIS MIRACULOUS PERFORMANCE TO BE IN ST. AUGUSTINE, TO BE THE LEADER OF THE STRUGGLE.

THIS BOOK SAYS KNIGHT RIDERS, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY IN PERIL IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.

WE DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT OUR HISTORY.

IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE.

THIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT MS. WOOL PRESENTED AFTER ALL THE MEETINGS WE HAD.

HERE'S ANOTHER BOOK, THE DARK BEFORE DAWN, WRITTEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS, WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN IN ST. AUGUSTINE, WORKED IN AUGUSTINE, LIVED IN ST.

WE DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT, THE WHEEL IS HERE, IT'S HERE.

THIS IS OUR INFORMATION.

NONE OF THIS INFORMATION IS INCLUDED IN THAT PRESENTATION.

NOW, WHEN THE MEETINGS WERE HAD, THEY WERE ASKED, QUESTIONS WERE ASKED, HOW DID YOU LIKE LIVING AND GROWING UP IN EXCELSIOR OR HAVING AN EDUCATION IN LINCOLNVILLE? WELL, THIS IS THE STORY, BESIDES THE STORY THAT'S NOT WRITTEN, THIS IS HOW WE HAD TO LIVE, THAT'S NOT BEING TOLD.

WHY ARE WE JUMPING ALL OVER PRESENTING OUR HISTORY?

[01:05:02]

PEDRO MENENDEZ, IN THE BEGINNING, ENSLAVED PEOPLE ON HIS SHIP.

WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT.

YOU'LL HAVE TO GO THREE OR FOUR PLACES TO FIND THAT INFORMATION.

I JUST WANNA KNOW WHEN ARE WE GONNA INCLUDE ALL OF IT? AND WE CAN COME OUT, EVERYBODY CAN BE HAPPY WITH THE PRESENTATION AND EVERYBODY CAN BE PLEASED IN THE OUTCOME, THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHANGE THE NAME FROM THE SLAVE MARKET TO PLAZA DE CONSTITU...

I DON'T CARE HOW YOU CHANGE IT TO WORLD'S FAIR.

I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE SOME OF US ARE A LITTLE MORE PASSIONATE THAN OTHERS, BUT ALL OF US FROM LINCOLNVILLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND WE JUST WANNA PRESERVE AND WE JUST WANTED TO STAY IN LINCOLNVILLE.

AND LIKE I SAY, WE JUST ASK FOR Y'ALL SUPPORT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON IN LINCOLNVILLE NOW.

EVERY TIME YOU LOOK UP BETWEEN THE SHADES ON THE STREETLIGHTS AND THE YELLOW CURB MARKETS, EVERYTHING IS GOING ON IN LINCOLNVILLE AND RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE ALL THEIR LIVES, THEY HAVE NO CLUE AND WE DON'T WANNA EXCLUDE THEM.

WE WANT THEM TO FEEL A PART OF THE CITY OF ST.

AND LIKE I SAID, THE ONLY WAY WE COULD GET THAT DONE IS WITH THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM.

I THINK WE COULD HELP OUT, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THOSE AIRBNBS WE GOT IN LINCOLNVILLE AS WELL, THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM PROBABLY HELP GET THAT KIND OF UNDER CONTROL TOO.

BUT LIKE I SAY, WE WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING US DO A PRESENTATION, BUT WE'LL BE BACK BECAUSE LIKE I SAY, WE WANNA GO DOWN SOUTH AND LOOK AT SOME OTHER MAIN STREET PROGRAMS. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH JACKSONVILLE COMING UP.

SO WE WANNA JUST FEEL OTHER, LOOK AT OTHER MAIN STREETS, BUT WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL LETTING US DO A PRESENTATION.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PRESENTATION THAT WE WERE HAVING EARLIER.

YOU CAN'T JUST JUMP AT THE TOP.

MR. VERTUM, HAVE TO APPROVE ANYTHING YOU DO.

WHAT? MR. VERTUM.

THE LINCOLNVILLE RESIDENTS YOU GOT YOUR STUFF? WERE AWARDED THIS PROPOSAL.

AND IT'S A RECITAL FOR AN ANCIENT CITY.

AND THE WRITER OF THE BOOK WAS PLATTELL GEORGE BENJAMIN, CLASS OF 59, AT SELTZER AND MURRAY HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THE COMPOSER FOR THE MUSIC IS DOUG HALL.

BOTH OF THEM LINCOLNVILLE RESIDENTS, BOTH OF THEM, BOTH OF THEM, BOTH OF THEM FROM A PROJECT AT THE LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY.

BUT YOU HAVE THESE TWO GENTLEMEN BORN AND RAISED AND PARENTS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN LINCOLNVILLE.

MR. BENJAMIN IS FACULTY EMERITUS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST.

HE'S A LIFETIME LECTURER AT THE SOBORN OF BLACK HISTORY, SPECIALIZING IN THE SPANISH AND LINCOLNVILLE CONNECTION.

HE ALSO IS A COLUMNIST FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES IN LONDON.

THEN YOU HAVE DOUG KAHN, LINCOLNVILLE RESIDENT AND GRAMMY WINNING COMPOSER.

SO ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF HISTORIC MAINVILLE, THE MAIN STREET IN LINCOLNVILLE.

AND THIS IS JUST THE PICTURE THAT THE SPANISH BALLET COMPANY BROUGHT TO US TO USE.

AND I'LL MAKE SURE YOU ALL GET COPIES OF IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CAN WE MAKE COMMENTS OR? YES, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, WHATEVER YOU, WHATEVER IS.

I WANNA THANK EVERY, EACH OF YOU FOR COMING OUT AND PRESENTING YOUR LINCOLNVILLE MAIN STREET AND PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION.

AND WE WILL OBTAIN IT AND HAVE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEKING FROM THE COMMISSION.

WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT.

IT WAS VERY THOROUGH.

THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.

I'VE KNOWN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THE MOVEMENT AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH GERALD EUBANKS AND DIFFERENT ONES THAT WERE INVOLVED THAT WERE ACTUALLY FOOT SOLDIERS WHEN ALL

[01:10:01]

THAT WAS GOING ON.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.

AND WE'VE HEARD YOU.

YEAH, I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MS. WISE AND OTHERS ABOUT THIS IDEA.

VICE MAYOR.

AND I JUST WANNA THANK THEM.

ALSO FOR BRINGING THIS TO US.

IT'S AN IDEA THAT I THINK HAS SOME MERIT AND IT ACTUALLY DOVETAILS.

HISTORY IS ABSOLUTELY PARAMOUNT ON THIS AND THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME NICE DOVETAILING WITH OTHER ELEMENTS THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE MOVE FORWARD.

I'VE MENTIONED THE 15 MINUTE CITY WHERE THERE'S MORE WALKABILITY.

YOU CAN GET TO, AS YOU SAID, HAIRDRESSER, NAILS, LAUNDRY, GROCERY STORE, AT LEAST A CORNER MARKET.

JUST THINGS THAT I THINK WOULD HELP US WITH OUR OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AS WELL AS OUR MOBILITY, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZING OUR HISTORY AND PRESERVING AND RESTORING SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE LOST IN LINCOLNVILLE.

SO I LIKE THE IDEA.

I THINK THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME OF VERY TIGHT FUNDING POTENTIALLY.

BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT FORWARD.

YEAH, I AGREE WITH BOTH MY COMMISSIONERS AND I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR COMING.

I DO THINK THERE IS SOME DISCONNECT BETWEEN HISTORIANS IN A LOT OF THINGS, NOT JUST LINCOLNVILLE.

AND I WISH THAT WE COULD FIND A DATABASE OR A COLLECTIVE OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING HISTORY FOR LINCOLNVILLE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE OF MUSEUMS, THERE'S THREE MUSEUMS THAT I KNOW OF IN LINCOLNVILLE, AND THEY ALL DO A GOOD JOB.

AND THERE'S TOURS AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT STORIES.

AND HISTORY IS HARD TO PINPOINT SOMETIMES WITH SCATTERED DATA.

AND WE NEED ACCURATE, GOOD DATA FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ACT ON AS A COMMISSION.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

I THINK WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

WE'VE GOT THE CRA CONTINUING TO DO GREAT WORK WITH RESTORING AND KEEPING SOME OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS.

AND THAT'S A BIG PIECE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO.

AND REAL PROUD OF THE WORK THE CRA'S DONE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

I AGREE WITH FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT IT.

AND THANK YOU, MR. CITY

[7.A.2. Updates to the St. Augustine Certified Guide Handbook and Examination (M. Wissel, Communications Director)]

MANAGER, FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

ON THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS UPDATES TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE CERTIFIED GUIDE HANDBOOK AND EXAMINATION, MS. WHISTLE.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

IN 2023, THE CITY COMMISSION UPDATED THE TOUR GUIDE REQUIREMENTS CREATING A ST.

AUGUSTINE CERTIFIED GUIDE PROGRAM.

AND WITH THAT, DIRECTED STAFF TO UPDATE THE TRAINING HANDBOOK AND EXAMINATION.

THE PURPOSE OF THE GUIDEBOOK IS TO PROVIDE A STANDARD LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF OUR LOCAL HISTORY AND A BASELINE OF KNOWLEDGE FOR ANY INTERESTED ST.

AUGUSTINE CERTIFIED GUIDE OPERATOR.

ADDITIONALLY, AS PART OF ITS LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAM, FLAGLER COLLEGE OFFERS A COURSE THAT USES THE STUDY GUIDE FOR ITS TEXTBOOK.

UPON COMPLETION, OR EXCUSE ME, AS ONE OF THEIR REFERENCE BOOKS.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, STUDENTS MAY CHOOSE TO TAKE THE EXAM AND EARN THE CERTIFICATE.

EXCUSE ME.

A REVIEW OF THE STUDY GUIDE REVEALED THE NEED FOR A SIGNIFICANT OVERHAUL OF THE MATERIALS, SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST A SIMPLE REVIEW AND REVISION.

GIVEN THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH FLAGLER COLLEGE, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THEM TO UPDATE THE STUDY GUIDE AND CREATE A NEW QUESTION BANK FOR THE EXAMS. THE UPDATED OFFICIAL HANDBOOK FOR ST. AUGUSTINE CERTIFIED GUIDES WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE CITY TO ANYONE WHO WISHES TO TAKE THE EXAM OR IS REQUIRED TO BE CERTIFIED PURSUANT TO A FRANCHISE OR OTHER AGREEMENT.

I HAVE INVITED FROM FLAGLER COLLEGE, DR. MICHAEL BUTLER, KENAN DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT CHAIR, AND DR.

TREVOR BRYANT, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC HISTORY PROGRAM TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT CAME OF THIS SEEMINGLY BENIGN REQUEST TO UPDATE THE GUIDEBOOK AND HAS TURNED INTO SOMETHING QUITE SPECIAL AND REMARKABLE.

SO I'LL START WITH DR.

BUTLER.

THANK YOU, MELISSA.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

MADAM MAYOR, IT HAS BEEN QUITE A WHILE SINCE I'VE TALKED HISTORY FROM THIS PODIUM.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 2018, AND ALTHOUGH THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, LET'S SAY, A LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW THAN THEY WERE THEN, I AM EXCITED TO BRING THIS PROJECT

[01:15:01]

TO THE CITY AS PART OF FULFILLING SOME OF WHAT I'VE HEARD ALL DAY, AND THAT IS ELEVATING THE IMPORTANCE OF AN HONEST, ACCURATE HISTORY TO THE LITERAL THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT VISIT OUR BELOVED CITY.

THE PROJECT STARTED WHEN MISS WHISTLE CONTACTED ME ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, AND I WAS ACTUALLY OUT OF STATE.

SHE ASKED IF REVISING THE HANDBOOK WOULD BE SOMETHING, THE MANUAL, THE TOURIST MANUAL, WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I HAD INTEREST IN DOING.

YES, I WAS INTERESTED, BUT BECAUSE OF WHERE I WORK, BECAUSE OF THE STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH ME, BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I'VE WORKED WITH, I THOUGHT THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING MUCH MORE SPECIAL THAN JUST REWRITE AN OUTDATED HANDBOOK.

AND BY THE WAY, FACTS AND ANALYSIS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF HISTORICAL HONESTY.

THIS HANDBOOK IS ABOUT 25 YEARS OUT OF DATE.

THE WORD LINCOLNVILLE COMES UP THREE TIMES.

OK? I DON'T THINK DR. KING COMES UP AT ALL.

OUR INTERPRETATIONS OF THE PAST, ALL HISTORY IS REVISIONIST HISTORY, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO REWRITE THE PAST, IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW EVIDENCE, WE HAVE NEW INFORMATION, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT STORIES THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO OUR COMMUNITY TO TELL.

OK? SO IN CONSULTATION WITH MY DEAN, DR. RACHEL CREMONA, OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, DR. ART VANDEN HOUTEN, WHAT I DECIDED TO DO WAS TO BRING SOMEONE WHO'S AN EXPERT IN COLONIAL ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA HISTORY, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CIVIL WAR.

MY AREA OF EXPERTISE IS THE POST-CIVIL WAR, 20TH CENTURY CIVIL RIGHTS ERA, PUT TOGETHER A CLASS, A RESEARCH SEMINAR, THAT WENT THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS IN WHICH STUDENTS WHO WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY, STUDENTS WHO WANTED TO EXERCISE ALL OF FLAGLER'S OWN PRINCIPLES, ALL OF OUR VALUES IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE VALUES OF OUR CITY, PUT TOGETHER A RESEARCH SEMINAR IN WHICH THE STUDENTS ARE SUPERVISED BY EXPERTS AND A SUPPOSED EXPERT IN THEIR FIELD TO REWRITE, REVISE, ADD TO, AND KEEP VALUABLE PIECES OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR CITY.

WE GOT THE GO-AHEAD. I TALKED TO MS. WHISTLE.

WE'VE WORKED THIS OUT THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEETINGS, THROUGH A VARIETY OF WORKSHOP SESSIONS, BASICALLY.

DR. BRYAN AND I HAVE MET.

WE'VE HAMMERED OUT THE SYLLABUS.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE STUDENTS.

THE STUDENTS HAD TO SUBMIT AN ESSAY WHICH INDICATED WHY THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT, WHAT THEY WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS PROJECT, AND HOW IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR MAJOR AND THEIR EDUCATION AT FLAGLER COLLEGE.

THIS PROJECT LITERALLY CHECKS ALL OF THE BOXES FOR OUR COLLEGE'S CORE VALUES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING STEWARDSHIP, BECAUSE STEWARDSHIP IS NOT JUST MONEY.

IT'S INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU COME OF AGE.

THAT'S THE BACK STORY OF HOW THIS PROJECT HAS COME TOGETHER.

WE ARE GOING TO MEET TWICE A WEEK. DR.

BRYAN WILL GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLASS ITSELF.

WE HAVE CONSULTED WITH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF VISITING OUR CLASS, OF GIVING THOSE STORIES THAT MAY NOT BE AS WELL DOCUMENTED AS THE ONES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE HANDBOOK.

BUT WE REALLY LOOK AT THIS AS A COLLEGE-COMMUNITY-CITY COMMISSION PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL PLEASE THE CITY LEADERS, WILL PLEASE VISITORS, AND WILL PLEASE OUR COLLEGE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IMPACT OUR STUDENTS IN A POSITIVE WAY.

SO THAT'S THE BACK STORY.

THAT'S THE HISTORY OF HOW THIS COURSE CAME TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE THE COPY OF THE SYLLABUS, WHICH DETAILS THE COURSE ITSELF, AND WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR. BRYAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. AS DR. BUTLER JUST SAID, THIS CLASS IS GOING TO BE RESEARCH INTENSIVE.

WE WANT STUDENTS TO TAKE CHARGE, TO FEEL A SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP OVER THE MATERIALS.

SO THE CLASS IS BROKEN DOWN WITH THAT IN MIND IN THREE UNITS. THE FIRST UNIT, STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO READ.

READ WHAT'S OUT THERE. READ THE HANDBOOK. READ ANY OTHER TEXT ASSOCIATED WITH THE HANDBOOK AND IDENTIFY WHAT CAN WE KEEP, WHAT SHOULD WE KEEP, AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED.

WHAT ARE GAPS THAT NEED TO BE EXPLORED? THIS WILL CULMINATE IN AN ASSIGNMENT IN WHICH STUDENTS HAVE TO MAKE THEIR PROPOSED EDITS.

WHAT DO THEY THINK THEY NEED TO MAKE, AND SPECIFICALLY, WHERE ARE THEY GOING

[01:20:02]

TO FIND THE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THEIR FINDINGS? THIS WILL LEAD TO THE SECOND UNIT IN WHICH STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO RESEARCH.

THEY WILL GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE ARCHIVES, TO THE MUSEUMS, AND CONDUCT THEIR OWN RESEARCH.

THEY WILL NEED TO FIND PRIMARY SOURCES, ARCHIVE REPORTS, ORAL TESTIMONIES, AND THE LIKE, IN ORDER TO SUBSTANTIATE THEIR FINDINGS.

AND DURING THAT TIME, THEY'RE GOING TO COME MEET IN CLASS. SO WE ARE IMAGINING ON TUESDAYS, THE FIRST CLASS MEETING, THEY'LL COME IN, DR.

BUTLER AND I WILL GIVE A BRIEF ASSIGNMENT ON RESEARCHING TECHNIQUES, PROPER STANDARDS FOR RESEARCH, HOW TO WRITE, HOW TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE NEEDED DOCUMENTS IN THE ARCHIVES.

THE SECOND MEETING, STUDENTS COME IN AND THEY TALK TO US. WE WILL ASK THEM, WHAT DID YOU DO? AND STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH THEIR EVIDENCE.

THIS WILL THEN CULMINATE IN THE THIRD UNIT IN WHICH WILL BE DELIVERABLES.

THEY WILL WRITE THE ACTUAL EDITS THAT WILL GO INTO THE HANDBOOK, AND THEY WILL WRITE THE TEST QUESTIONS FOR THE TOR GUIDE CERTIFICATION TEST.

WE WILL REVIEW THEM, DR.

BUTLER AND I TOGETHER, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THEM COME HERE AND PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS TO YOU AND TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH WE BELIEVE IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, FOR Q&A, TO STAND BY THEIR FINDINGS AND TO HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY.

EACH STUDENT WILL HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCE RESEARCHING SOMETHING IN THE COLONIAL PERIOD AND AN ERA IN THE MODERN PERIOD, SO THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING CHERRY-PICKED. THEY WILL HAVE FULL EXPERIENCE IN BOTH SIDES, AND HAVE DR.

BUTLER AND I THERE TO GIVE THEM FULL GUIDANCE DURING THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY.

ANY QUESTIONS? DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD BEFORE WE ASK QUESTIONS? NO, OTHER THAN I THINK THAT IT'S SYMBOLIC, AND I THINK THAT IT'S REMARKABLE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS DURING THE 250TH CELEBRATION OF OUR NATION'S HISTORY, AND THAT IT IS AN EXERCISE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THE STUDENTS INVOLVED AND ALSO FOR THE TOR GUIDES WHO WILL LEARN THINGS, HOPEFULLY, THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, WITH THE GOAL BEING, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING, BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING, AND OUR SOMETHING IS EXPOSING OUR VISITORS TO PLACES LIKE LINCOLNVILLE AND HOPEFULLY PLANTING A SEED THAT THEY WILL WANT TO CULTIVATE WHEN THEY ACTUALLY VISIT THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR OWN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

COMMISSIONERS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? WHERE WOULD WE LIKE TO START? I HAVE A QUESTION. DON'T YOU THINK IT'S IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD PASS THIS TEST? YOU KNOW WHAT, I CANNOT AFFIRM NOR DENY THAT QUESTION, COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD, BUT YES, I THINK SO. WHAT DOES SHE HAVE TO LOSE? THAT'S RIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK MELISSA AND YOU BOTH FOR DOING THIS. THIS HAS TAKEN A DRIP IN THE OCEAN AND MAKING IT A TIDAL WAVE. IT'S FANTASTIC.

I CAN SEE THE RESULTS ALREADY BEING SO IMPROVED TO WHAT WE HAVE, AND I HONESTLY THINK THAT THE VALUE OF HAVING THE CERTIFICATE AS A GUIDE WILL BE MORE VALUABLE NOW, AND I REALLY DO THINK IT WILL HELP ALL SECTIONS OF TOWNS LIKE LINCOLNVILLE FOR THE HISTORY THAT I LIVE IN, FULLY WOODED.

IT WAS AN ORANGE GROVE, AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T KNOW THAT.

WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY TELL THEM IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOME DOCUMENTS TO SAY, YOU OUGHT TO READ THIS IF YOU MOVED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YEAH, THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THIS.

AND AGAIN, WE BOTH WANT IT TO BE CLEAR. WE'RE NOT REVISING THE ENTIRE HANDBOOK. THERE ARE SOME PARTS AND SOME SECTIONS THAT ARE MAGNIFICENTLY DONE.

THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE RESEARCH ADDED TO IT.

HOWEVER, WHEN THE LAST CHAPTER IS ON THE ENTIRE 20TH CENTURY, THERE IS SOME EDITING, AND THERE ARE SOME SECTIONS THAT NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED FOR OUR TOUR GUIDES.

SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.

VICE MAYOR? I HAVE LOTS OF COMMENTS.

FIRST OF ALL, FULL TRANSPARENCY, FULL DISCLOSURE.

I AM A FACULTY MEMBER AT FLAGLER COLLEGE AND WORK WITH BOTH OF THESE GENTLEMEN.

YOU GAVE AN EXCELLENT SEGUE TO THEM WHEN YOU SAID WE NEED MORE HISTORIANS, AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, WE GOT TWO IN THE ROOM WHO ARE VERY HIGHLY REGARDED, WELL REGARDED.

BUT THAT FULL DISCLOSURE, I DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT MELISSA WAS UP TO IN TERMS OF ARRANGING THIS.

I REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK THREE YEARS AGO AND SAYING WE REALLY NEED TO UPDATE THIS.

AND WHO'S GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THAT? WELL, SHE TOOK THE REINS ON THAT AND RAN WITH IT RIGHT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

AND I DID NOT FIND OUT ABOUT THIS UNTIL FRIDAY.

I CONFESS I WAS IN A FACULTY MEETING AND I WAS GOING OVER THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING DURING THAT FACULTY MEETING.

AND I LITERALLY TEXTED MIKE RIGHT AWAY AND I SAID, WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS, I AGREE, I'M NOT GOING TO GO

[01:25:01]

THROUGH ALL OF IT, BUT THIS DOES REPRESENT THE VALUES OF WHAT THE COLLEGE IS LOOKING FOR IN OUR GRADUATES, WHAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE.

BUT SO IMPORTANTLY, YOU'RE HEARING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING PRESENTATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED IN THIS CITY.

YOU'RE HERE HEARING THAT THEY'LL THOSE STUDENTS WILL BE PART OF OF EDUCATING EACH OTHER AND PEOPLE WHO ARE LAY PEOPLE WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT OUR HISTORY CORRECTLY.

AND I LOVE THAT IN YOUR SYLLABUS THAT YOU HAVE SUCH POWERFUL, STRONG LANGUAGE ABOUT THE USE OF A.I.

AND HOW THESE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO DEVELOP THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING THE RESEARCH AND EVALUATING THE INFORMATION AND YOU'RE GUIDING THEM IN TERMS OF CONTEXTUALIZING IT, ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.

IT'S NOT JUST PUTTING IN A SEARCH TERM AND GETTING JUNK OUT OR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT HELPING THEM LEARN.

SO I FULLY SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.

I'M THRILLED THAT IT'S HAPPENING.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF THE SAME FROM THE COLLEGE AND THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THIS IS BEING DONE.

ALSO, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THAT'S NOT MENTIONED.

EVEN WITH THE FORT MOSE, I HAVE A COUSIN, LORENZO LAWS, AND DOUG KHAN WAS THE ONES THAT STARTED THE LINCOLNVILLE FESTIVAL YEARS AGO.

AND HE ALSO MR. MASON INQUIRED FOR HIM TO START THE FORT MOSE.

AND THAT'S HOW IT BEGUN.

AND WHEN THEY HAVE THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THEY TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE BECAUSE HE HAD AN ANCESTOR.

HE WAS MARRIED TO MY HUSBAND'S FIRST COUSIN.

SO I LEARNED A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.

AND IT STARTED IN THE OLD PONCE LEON MALL AS AN IDEA WITH SILHOUETTES UNTIL IT ACTUALLY BECAME THAT BUILDING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE GO AND ENJOY NOW.

AND THEY HAVE CONSCIOUS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IF WE COULD, LIKE, DOCUMENT ALL THOSE THINGS, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE OVERWHELMED THAT IT'S BEING RECOGNIZED FROM ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO CURRENTLY.

AND THOSE THINGS, I'M SURE SOME OF THOSE LADIES THAT SPOKE TODAY MIGHT HAVE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION.

DOUG KHAN IS STILL ALIVE. HE LIVES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, ACTUALLY.

AND SO I THINK IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET SOME HISTORY, ANOTHER RESOURCE PLACE FOR YOUR STUDENTS IS TO GO IS TO LENNY FOSTER'S GALLERY.

I'M SURE HE HAS HAD PORT SERIES WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE PRIOR TO THEM PASSING WHILE THEY WERE IN THEIR RIGHT STATE OF MIND.

I KNOW HE'S DONE MISS TYSON, MRS. VICKERS AND VARIOUS OTHER ONES.

AND HE HAS ALSO REFLECTED ON THE SAN SEBASTIAN, ST.

AUGUSTINE PERSON WHERE HE HAS DRAWINGS WHERE HE GOT SOMEONE THAT LOOKS SIMILAR TO RECREATE THAT.

SO THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SOURCE FOR THEM TO GO AND TALK TO HIM BECAUSE HE SAT DOWN AND RECORDED THEM ACTUALLY SAYING THEIR HISTORY.

SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T LOSE HISTORY BECAUSE HISTORY CONTINUES TO GET REWRITTEN.

AND SOMEBODY IMPORTANT THAT DID A LOT IS ALWAYS TAKEN OUT.

I'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF HISTORY COMING UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT I NEVER KNEW EXISTED.

AND I THINK IF WE CAPTURE HISTORY, SO MANY INDIVIDUALS WILL BE BLESSED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS THEY WERE NOT NO LONGER AWARE.

I KNOW DAVID NOLAN DOES A GOOD JOB OF HISTORY, BUT HE CAN ONLY FIND THE HISTORY HE'S LOOKING FOR.

SO WE NEED TO CAPTURE SOME THAT IS NOT BEING DISCUSSED.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MUCH LEFT TO SAY AT THIS POINT, EXCEPT THAT I JUST THINK IT'S REMARKABLE.

I DON'T KNOW, CALL IT COINCIDENCE, CALL IT FATE, CALL IT SEVEN DEGREES OF SEPARATION, CALL IT WHIMSY.

I JUST THINK THAT IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU'RE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN AND HEARD THE APPEAL THAT HOW MUCH IT'S NEEDED.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT EFFORT ON MODERN, YOU KNOW, EXPAND THE MODERN HISTORY, IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO CALL IT.

AND JUST THAT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, I WAS PARTICULARLY STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT YOU'RE REALLY WANT TO TURN YOUR STUDENTS INTO STAKEHOLDERS AND AND STEWARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY'S HISTORY.

AND THAT REALLY IS SOMETHING I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO WITH THAT SAID, THANK YOU.

I, I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS AT THE VERY END I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY MUCH BETTER THAT COULD DO THIS WITH.

I KNOW YOUR PASSION AND YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND THAT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

[01:30:01]

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE. THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US.

ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, MISS WHISTLE. THAT'S IT.

NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS WE DO HAVE A SECOND READING WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED OR.

[8.A.1. Ordinance 2026-20: Requiring a Unanimous Vote for Changes to Conservation Lands (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]

EXCELLENT.

ORDINANCE 2026-20.

YES, MADAM MAYOR, I GUESS MADAM VICE MAYOR HAS STEPPED AWAY AND COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE YOU IS ORDINANCE 2026-20 THAT WOULD REQUIRE UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR ANY INTENSIFICATION OF USES IN ANY CITY OWNED CONSERVATION LANDS OR ANY REMOVING OF ANY LANDS FROM CONSERVATION DESIGNATION.

AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO EFFECTUATE THAT.

THE ORDINANCE DOES LIST VARIOUS BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT WOULD NOT BE DEEMED INTENSIFICATION, THINGS THAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH IN TERMS OF PASSIVE PARKS SUCH AS TRAILS AND BENCHES, INFORMATION KIOSKS, WAYFINDING SIGNS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

AND OF COURSE, ERADICATION OF SPECIES THAT AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE OR FLORA THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, WHETHER IT'S INVASIVE OR OTHERWISE REPLANTING AND THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED INTENSIFICATION.

SO REALLY ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO AS A BEST PRACTICE IN CONSERVATION LAND WOULD BE FINE TO CARRY ON THAT WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED.

SO THIS IS A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M OBVIOUSLY AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

I DO HAVE SPEAKER CARDS.

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY, I DO HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN AND I DO HAVE FOUR SPEAKER CARDS.

I HAVE ELIZABETH SMITH AND GREG SMITH, ELIZABETH SMITH FOLLOWED BY GREG SMITH.

THAT IS THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE EARLIER, MS. SMITH.

I'M NOT AT ALL MAD AT HIM BY MY OWN ERROR.

WELCOME.

MY NAME IS, THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS ELIZABETH SMITH AND I LIVE AT 955 FISH ISLAND PLACE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE FISH ISLAND COMMUNITY ALLIANCE.

MADAM MAYOR SIKES-KLINE, MAYOR-ELECT GARRIS, VICE MAYOR BLONDER AND COMMISSIONER, I AM ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ORDINANCE 2026-20, WHICH REQUIRES A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE COMMISSION FOR CHANGES TO CONSERVATION LANDS IN OUR CITY.

THE COMMISSION HAS DEMONSTRATED, THIS COMMISSION HAS DEMONSTRATED AN APPRECIATION FOR THE SCARCITY AND VALUE OF CONSERVED LAND.

UNDEVELOPED LAND IN THE CITY IS IN SHORT SUPPLY AND THE CITY'S CONSERVATION PROGRAM BEGUN IN 2024 HAS PROVIDED THE MEANS TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.

WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE MULTITUDE OF BENEFITS CONFERRED ON US BY THESE LANDS, RESILIENCE AND PROTECTION FROM STORMS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR PASSIVE PARK RECREATION, IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR, SOIL AND WATER QUALITY AND HABITAT FOR OUR NATIVE TREES, PLANTS, BIRDS AND ANIMALS.

TO ENSURE THAT THESE LANDS CONTINUE TO BENEFIT CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS, WE MUST PROTECT THEM IN PERPETUITY.

ANYTHING OTHER THAN LASTING PROTECTION FOR THESE LANDS IS A CLEAR VIOLATION OF PUBLIC TRUST AND A DESECRATION OF THE PUBLICLY MADE COMMITMENT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE AND PROTECT OUR INVALUABLE PUBLIC LANDS.

GREG SMITH FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN LONG.

HELLO, MY NAME IS GREG SMITH.

I LIVE AT 955 FISH ISLAND PLACE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, MAYOR-ELECT, VICE MAYOR FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.

ANY OF YOU GUYS THAT KNOW US KNOW THAT MY WIFE SPEAKS A LOT MORE THAN I DO SO MINE'S GONNA BE REALLY SHORT.

I SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE 2026-20 FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

THIS ORDINANCE HELPS PROTECT A LIMITED NUMBER OF CONSERVED AREAS IN ST.

THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES A WAY TO SAFEGUARD THESE LANDS, HONOR THE PUBLIC TRUST IN GOVERNMENT.

PROTECTING OUR CONSERVED LAND ENABLES THESE AREAS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE NUMEROUS BENEFITS TO CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WHILE PROTECTING CONSERVATION LANDS WITH THE ORDINANCE IS NOT PERFECT, IT IS NONETHELESS A PROTECTIVE MEASURE THAT IS VERY

[01:35:01]

MUCH NEEDED.

MAUREEN LONG FOLLOWED BY MARSHA DANIELS.

MS. LONG, IF YOU COULD STAND AT THE MICROPHONE, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO HOLD THAT DOWN THERE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A MICROPHONE.

MAUREEN LONG, 1821 CHEST HILL STREET, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

I AM HERE TO VOICE MY FULL SUPPORT FOR ORDINANCE 2026-20.

ST. AUGUSTINE'S HISTORIC BEAUTY ISN'T JUST ABOUT BUILDINGS, IT'S ALSO ABOUT OUR NATURAL LANDSCAPE.

WHEN CITY ACQUIRES AND DESIGNATES LAND FOR CONSERVATION, IT IS A PROMISE TO THE CITIZENS THAT THE LAND WILL BE PROTECTED.

THIS ORDINANCE HOLDS FUTURE CITY LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT PROMISE.

REQUIRING ALL FIVE COMMISSIONERS TO AGREE BEFORE REDUCING OR INTENSIFYING USE ON CONSERVATION LAND PREVENTS HASTY DECISIONS AND ENSURES SERIOUS RIGOROUS DEBATE.

A UNANIMOUS VOTE REQUIREMENT IS A RESPONSIBLE FORWARD-THINKING STEP TO SAFEGUARD ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVE LANDS FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

IT IS A VITAL TOOL FOR SMART GROWTH.

AND FOR THAT REASON, I ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES TONIGHT FOR ORDINANCE 2026-20.

BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PICTURES, BY THE WAY.

DANIELS IS THE LAST SPEAKER CARD I HAVE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

YOU'LL PULL THAT MICROPHONE UP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MARCIA DANIELS, 34 MADEIRA DRIVE.

AND I AM NOT A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

I'M A STONE'S THROW AWAY.

BUT WITH EVERY HEAVY RAIN, I RECEIVE CITY WATER ON MY PROPERTY.

AND SO I'M DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY WETLANDS, FOR SURE.

AND SO I ASK FOR YOUR FULL SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.

AND I'M SO PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE DEVELOPED THIS.

FOR TOO LONG, OUR FOREST AND WETLANDS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BACKGROUND.

THE TREES AND LONGS EXCHANGE LIFE WITH OUR VERY BREATH.

WETLANDS ARE LIKE OUR KIDNEYS, FILTERING THE WATER, MAKING OUR RIVERS AND GROUNDWATERS AND OCEANS CLEAN.

AND THEY'RE ALSO LIKE OUR BLADDER STORING FLOODWATERS.

LET US USE OUR ARMS TO EMBRACE THESE ESSENTIAL ECOSYSTEMS THAT GIVE US ALL AND ALL CREATURES A LIFE.

AND I WOULD JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PREPARING THIS ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE A UNANIMOUS VOTE TO PROTECT THESE LANDS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY PROTECTED.

THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY WORKED HARD TO GET THESE LANDS THAT YOU'VE LISTED.

AND THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF OUR LIFE AND OUR HEALTH AND THAT OF OUR FELLOW CREATURES.

SO JUST PLEASE VOTE TO PROTECT THESE ESSENTIAL LANDS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION.

VICE MAYOR, I'M SURE YOU HAVE SOME THINGS TO SHARE.

YOU WANT ME TO KICK IT OFF? I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD, UNLESS YOU WANNA HAVE LAST WORD.

YEAH, I'D RATHER HAVE THE LAST ONE.

OKAY THEN, THANK YOU.

I'M TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF THIS.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I THINK WE HAVE FOR PROTECTING IT FOR THE FUTURE WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THE LAW.

THE FUTURE COMMISSIONS CAN PRETTY MUCH DO WHAT THEY WANNA DO.

THIS IS GONNA AT LEAST HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO.

ONE OF THE COMMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE LISTED, AND I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER ABOUT THIS, IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE PROPERTY THAT WAS GIVEN, THAT WE PURCHASED IN FULLERWOOD, THAT WAS A LOT THAT WAS OWNED BY TAWNY, AND ALSO THE PROPERTY ON FLORIDA AVENUE.

AND THE REASON THE MANAGER GAVE WAS THAT, WELL, THEY'RE ALREADY DEED RESTRICTED.

THE DEED RESTRICTION, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I CAN BE CORRECTED FOR THE FLORIDA AVENUE IS THAT IF WE DO CHANGE THAT, WE HAVE TO PAY BACK THE STATE THE MONEY.

IF I'M A DEVELOPER 25 YEARS FROM NOW, AND I WANNA BUILD A THREE-STORY CONDOS UP AND DOWN THE WATER, PAYING BACK THE STATE AT THAT POINT OF TIME, 25 YEARS FROM NOW, WILL BE A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

THEREFORE, WE'RE NOT PROTECTING IT BY A VOTE OF THE COMMISSION.

WE'RE ONLY PROTECTING IT BY THE DESIRE OF A DEVELOPER.

AND MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE ADD BOTH PROPERTIES.

THE DEED RESTRICTION FOR TAWNY KERN'S PROPERTY IS THAT WE USE IT FOR FLOOD CONTROL, RIGHT?

[01:40:01]

SAME THING GOES.

THE CITY COULD DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THAT PROPERTY.

SO MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE THAT WE EXTEND THIS LIST OF PROPERTIES TO INCLUDE FLORIDA AVENUE AND THE SEMINOLE LOT.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE DEED RESTRICTION, MY UNDERSTANDING.

IT JUST REQUIRES THE UNANIMOUS VOTE IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AS WELL.

SO QUESTION OF STAFF, LEGAL QUESTION.

AT THIS SECOND HEARING, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, WOULD WE GO BACK TO FIRST READING AGAIN? IS THAT A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE? I'D HAVE TO REWRITE THE LANGUAGE THAT IS PROPOSED.

AND I JUST WANNA MAKE CLEAR, THE LIST WAS JUST A PARTIAL LIST TO GIVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT THIS COULD APPLY TO.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, THE FORMER VAN DYKE PROPERTY MAYBE WILL OR WON'T BE A CONSERVATION PIECE OF PROPERTY.

SO I DON'T WANT THE PERCEPTION THAT THE ONLY PROPERTIES THAT MAY BE INCLUDED IS THE MAGIC LIST.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS MR. MILLER IS GOING THROUGH THIS WHOLE REVIEW OF ALL CITY PROPERTIES, PUBLICLY OWNED PROPERTIES, AND WILL BE BRINGING TO THE CITY COMMISSION IN THE FUTURE, HIS RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT APPROPRIATE USES MIGHT BE FOR VARIOUS PROPERTIES.

WE JUST WEREN'T THERE YET.

AND SO THIS WAS WHAT I COULD DO.

THE EXISTING LANGUAGE THAT IS BEFORE YOU EXEMPTS OUT ANY PROPERTIES THAT ALREADY HAVE A RECORDED COVENANT AND RESTRICTION.

SO AGAIN, IF FOR INSTANCE, THE FISH ISLAND MAIN PROPERTY HAS A MANAGEMENT PLAN AND HAS COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL TIED TO THE MONEY THAT THE STATE AND NORTHEAST FLORIDA LAND TRUST WAS INVOLVED IN AS WELL.

SO THOSE WERE FAR MORE COMPLICATED TO DO OR UNDO.

AND I DID NOT WANT TO OVERLY COMPLICATE THIS VERSION.

SO ANYTHING THAT HAD A RECORDED COVENANT IS EXEMPT FROM THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION AS WRITTEN.

NOW, OF COURSE, I TAKE MY DIRECTION FROM YOU.

IF YOU WANT ME TO REWRITE THIS AND COME UP WITH DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE.

THIS WAS INTENDED TO BE TO SOME DEGREE QUITE BROAD, JUST SO FOLKS UNDERSTAND, THIS WOULD BE CHARTER LANGUAGE, RIGHT? SO OUR CHARTER IS LIKE SORT OF LIKE OUR CONSTITUTION.

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG POLICIES OR PRINCIPLES THAT YOU WANNA PUT IN YOUR CHARTER.

AND SO THAT WAS MY ATTEMPT BASED ON WHAT I WAS HEARING FROM THE COMMISSION OF, LISTEN, THERE'S PROPERTIES THE CITY OWNS AND WE'LL DESIGNATE THESE CERTAIN PROPERTIES TO BE TRULY CONSERVATION.

AND IF THEY ARE, AND THEY'RE NOT OTHERWISE DEED RESTRICTED OR PROTECTED IN SOME OTHER FASHION, THIS GIVES THAT PROTECTION, THAT BASIC PROTECTION OF, WE CAN'T SHRINK THE FOOTPRINT, WE CAN'T INTENSIFY IT UNLESS EVERY COMMISSIONER AGREES TO IT.

SO IT'S NOT THE WHOLE SOLUTION.

IT WAS TO ADDRESS THE DONUT HOLE, IF YOU WILL, THE PROPERTIES THAT DON'T HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS AREN'T OTHERWISE ENCUMBERED.

THE CONCERN OF MAYBE A FUTURE COMMISSION WOULD BE POTENTIALLY SWAYED THREE, TWO TO INTENSIFY THE USES THERE.

AND IT'S SORT OF AN ASPIRATIONAL GOAL OF NO, THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE THE ENTIRE COMMISSION.

SO THAT WAS CONCEPTUALLY HOW I WAS DRAFTING THIS BASED ON YOUR COMMENTS.

BUT IF YOU WANT ME TO REWRITE THIS, OF COURSE I CAN THAT THAT IS YOUR PREROGATIVE.

OKAY, SO I UNDERSTOOD MOST OF THAT.

WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE HAVE NOT DESIGNATED ANY PROPERTIES TO GO ALONG WITH THIS ORDINANCE THAT WE WILL DESIGNATE THOSE IN THE FUTURE WHEN JB GIVES US A REPORT.

THAT'LL BE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE.

WE HAVE BITS AND PIECES THAT WE'VE CHANGED THE LAND USE AND THE ZONING ON.

WE HAVE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT WERE PURCHASED THROUGH THE CONSERVATION ACQUISITION PROGRAM.

AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT DIDN'T FALL INTO ANY OF THOSE CATEGORIES NECESSARILY.

AND SO THOSE MIGHT BE A QUESTION MARK OF WHERE YOU WANNA PUT THEM.

AND I THINK THE MAY STREET PROPERTY IS PROBABLY THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT.

IT WASN'T PURCHASED THROUGH THE CONSERVATION ACQUISITION PROGRAM.

THE MONIES CAME FROM ELSEWHERE.

AND AT THE TIME YOU PURCHASED IT, THE COMMISSION SAID, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT WE WANNA DO WITH THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

DO WE WANNA DO A SLIGHTLY ACTIVE PARK, MAYBE SWING SETS OR THINGS FOR THE KIDS? DO WE WANNA PUT A PIECE OF ARTWORK THERE? YOU'LL RECALL THAT

[01:45:01]

CONVERSATION.

SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO MISINTERPRET THE LIST.

MR. MILLER JUST GAVE A LIST TO BE DEMONSTRATIVE, BUT SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES LIKE THE MAY STREET, THE CITY COMMISSION MAY ULTIMATELY DECIDE TO DESIGN IT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY.

AND MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD TRULY BE BIG ENOUGH TO PUT ACTIVE RECREATION, BUT POSSIBLY SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS OR PICNIC TABLES.

AND EVEN THAT REALLY WOULDN'T BE ACTIVE, ACTIVE RECREATION.

OKAY, I THINK THAT THE SOLUTION COULD BE INSTEAD OF A REWRITE OF A CODE, WE COULD JUST DELETE THE SENTENCE THAT SAYS, MUNICIPAL CONSERVATION PROPERTY THAT IS ALREADY ENCUMBERED BY RECORDED COVENANT AND RESTRICTION, RESERVATION REVERTOR, CONSERVATION EASEMENT OR OTHER SIMILAR TERMS AND CONDITIONS IS EXEMPT FROM THIS PROVISION.

IF YOU STRUCK THAT, THEN IT WOULD ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOAL.

AND WE CAN COME BACK AND STAB AT THIS LATER, BUT I WOULD RATHER KEEP THIS GOING.

NO, I AGREE.

AND I'M SORRY I WENT AT THE LAST MEETING TO MAKE THESE COMMENTS IN THE BEGINNING.

OKAY, SURE.

I JUST DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO CONSERVE.

AND PLUS THERE'LL BE PROPERTIES THAT WE PURCHASED IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO DESIGNATE AS CONSERVATION.

SO THE PROCESS OF HOW WE PUT THEM IN THIS LIST IS CRITICAL.

I AGREE, I AGREE.

IT'S JUST NOT A STAFF MEMBER SAYING THEY'RE ON THE LIST.

WE NEED THE COMMISSION TO APPROVE THOSE LISTS TO SAY THIS IS CONSERVATION LAND.

THIS IS WHAT OUR INTENT IS.

AND I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR.

I DON'T, I WOULD ADVISE THE COMMISSION TO NOT JUST STRIKE THAT LANGUAGE TONIGHT.

IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, LET ME REGROUP AND LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THE REVERTOR LANGUAGE AND SOME OF THE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS LANGUAGE THAT EXISTS BECAUSE THEY MAY CONTEMPLATE A DIFFERENT MECHANISM TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE CHANGES IN THE INTENSITY OR THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY.

AND WE'RE BOUND BY THAT.

BUT THAT WOULD NOT MENTION A VOTE.

IT WOULD JUST MEAN PASSAGE BY.

AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW UNTIL I READ IT, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THOSE COVENANTS HAVE BEEN ALREADY RECORDED.

I UNDERSTAND.

SO WE'RE BOUND BY WHATEVER THEY SAY.

RIGHT, BUT WHAT, OKAY, SO WHAT I NEED TO DO IS BRING THAT BACK TO DISCUSSION HERE AND SEE IF THERE'S CONSENSUS ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER AND.

CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION? YEAH.

JUST ON THAT PART THAT WE.

JUST ON THE AMENDMENT.

THAT I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT WE PASS THIS AS WRITTEN, READ BY TITLE ONLY.

CAN WE COME BACK AND REVISIT IT AND MODIFY IT? YES.

OKAY. YES, YOU CAN.

I THINK THAT'S OUR SOLUTION.

I DO, I GET IT THAT YOU WANNA KEEP THIS MOVING.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ADDED LIKE JIM SAID, BUT WE COULD PASS IT AND THEN DO AN AMENDMENT TO IT.

SO THEREFORE YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE REWRITING AND JUST WILL BE ADDED ATTACHED, CORRECT? AS AN ATTACHMENT? NO, I THINK WHAT MR. SPRINGFIELD IS SUGGESTING IS THAT WE REMOVE THE LANGUAGE IN THE PROPOSED CHARTER CHANGE REGARDING EXEMPTING ANYTHING THAT ALREADY HAS A RECORDED COVENANT OR A REVERTER.

AND MY CONCERN WITH THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE TERMS ARE.

SO THEY MAY SAY, HEY, IN PART OF THE RECORDED COVENANT SAYS IN 10 YEARS OR IN 2055, THE PROPERTY REVERTS BACK TO ACTIVE RECREATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW.

AND MY CONCERN IS IN ORDER TO CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE, I'D LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL EVERY RECORDED COVENANT OR REVERT OR LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE ON ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY, ANALYZE WHAT IT SAYS, AND THEN BE ABLE TO BETTER ADVISE YOU RATHER THAN JUST COLD REMOVE THAT.

OKAY, I THINK WE UNDERSTAND.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ADDED.

SO IT'S JUST ALL THE PROPERTIES.

SO YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF LEAVING IT IN AND THEN MODIFYING IT LATER TO ACCOMPLISH HIS GOAL.

SO YOU BASICALLY AGREE WITH HIM.

OKAY, SO I AGREE TOO.

IF YOU AGREE, OKAY, TO KEEP IT MOVING.

AND FOR ME, IT'S TO KEEP IT MOVING.

YEAH, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GETTING WITH THE ATTORNEY AHEAD OF TIME TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.

BUT I UNDERSTAND TOTALLY NOW THAT SHE HAS TO READ THE COVENANT FOR THAT.

THERE MAY BE RESTRICTIONS THERE.

IT MAY BE FREE FOR US TO DO WITH WHATEVER WE WANT IN 10 YEARS, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.

ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

OKAY, GREAT.

JUST A LITTLE BIT DEEPER DIVE.

SO OTHER COMMENTS.

I'M IN FAVOR

[01:50:01]

OF IT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE PROPERTIES ARE COVERED TOO BECAUSE WE DID THE WHOLE LAND PRESERVATION THING, SAVING ALL THESE PROPERTIES TO PROTECT LANDS AND HOMES.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL STAY SAFE.

BUT I'M IN FAVOR.

OKAY, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY? YEAH, A COUPLE MORE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY.

I WANNA SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE FOLKS WHO CAME OUT HERE FOR THE SECOND READING AND SPOKE AS WELL AS THE QUITE A FEW EMAILS THAT WE, I THINK WE ALL RECEIVED IN SUPPORT OF THIS TOO.

THE MESSAGE THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE IN UNITY SAID IS THAT THEY WANT THESE PROPERTIES PROTECTED IN PERPETUITY.

WE NEED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC TRUST.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE'RE HERE TO DO.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION THAT WE HAD JUST NOT QUITE A WEEK AGO, ESPECIALLY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL WHERE SEVERAL CANDIDATES RAN ON THE SLOW THE GROWTH MESSAGE, RIGHT? AND I WANNA JUST GO BACK TO FLORIDA'S CONSERVATION HISTORY AGAIN AND SAY THAT THE WAY THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WHICH IS AT THE VERY FOREFRONT OF CONSERVATION BY LAND ACQUISITION INTERNATIONALLY, I MEAN, WE ARE REALLY GOOD AT IT.

WE'VE DONE A LOT.

THE WAY WE GOT THERE IS BECAUSE IT WAS RECOGNIZED EARLY ON IN THE HISTORY OF THIS MOVEMENT THAT THE ONLY WAY TO SLOW THE GROWTH IS TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTIES FROM WILLING SELLERS.

THAT'S IT.

IT'S FAIR TO EVERYBODY.

AND WE ARE DOING THAT IN THE PUBLIC TRUST.

SO GIVEN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-20 READ BY TITLE ONLY.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-20 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ST.

AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA CREATING ARTICLE FIVE DIVISION TWO, SECTION 5.24 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE PROVIDING FOR UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION FOR ANY PROPOSITION TO INTENSIFY THE USES OF CITY OWNED CONSERVATION LANDS OR TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF CITY OWNED CONSERVATION LANDS PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS FINAL COMMENTS.

NO, OKAY, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

CAN I SAY SOMETHING? OH, YES.

A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, YEAH, I WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD, BUT I DON'T WANNA BREAK DOWN HERE, BUT YOU ALL HAVE STRONG SUPPORT FOR IT IS JUST SO MEANINGFUL TO ME PERSONALLY.

AND I THINK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

SECONDLY, I JUST WANNA HOLD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

JB MILLER, I'M LOOKING FOR A FOLLOW-UP ON THOSE CRITERIA THAT FOR LANDS THAT WOULD FALL UNDER CONSERVATION AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK YOU TO, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL, IT'S NOT ALL HASTE, BUT CERTAINLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO GO AHEAD AND REVIEW THOSE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND SO FORTH AND COME BACK TO US WITH THOSE.

IF WE NEED TO MAKE A MODIFICATION, WE CAN.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO FIRST READING.

[9.A.1. Ordinance 2026-21: Amendments to Reorganization Meeting (I. Lopez, City Attorney)]

ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE ORDINANCE 2026-21, AMENDMENTS TO THE REORGANIZATION MEETING, MS. LOPEZ.

YES, AS YOU'LL RECALL AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE DISCUSSED, THE COMMISSION GAVE ME SOME DIRECTION ON WHICH OPTION THE COMMISSION WAS INTERESTED IN ENTERTAINING FOR FIRST READING REGARDING THE SPECIAL MEETING.

WE CALL IT THE REORGANIZATION MEETING INFORMALLY, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE MEETING AFTER EVERY ELECTION.

IT'S IN DECEMBER AND IT'S WHEN OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS GETS SWORN IN.

WE ALSO ADOPT A PROCEDURAL RESOLUTION AT THE SAME TIME.

SO IT'S FAIRLY SHORT MEETING.

THE EXISTING LANGUAGE IN OUR CHARTER HAD IT SET AT 7.30 AT NIGHT.

THERE WAS A ROBUST DISCUSSION BY THE CITY COMMISSIONERS AND A DIRECTION TO PLACE IT AT FIVE O'CLOCK INSTEAD OF 7.30 AT NIGHT, FIVE O'CLOCK, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR OTHER CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS AND SEEM TO HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD BROADLY.

THE OTHER CLAUSE THAT IS A CHANGE IS TO CLARIFY THAT THAT REORGANIZATION MEETING OR SWEARING IN MEETING WOULD BE HELD AT CITY HALL OR AT ANY OTHER LOCATION WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CONSISTENT WITH GOVERNMENT AND THE SUNSHINE.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO CHANGES, THE TIME AND OPENING UP AND GIVEN FLEXIBILITY THAT WE COULD THEORETICALLY HAVE A SWEARING IN CEREMONY ANYWHERE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AS LONG AS IT COULD

[01:55:01]

COMPLY WITH FLORIDA AND THE SUNSHINE.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THIS IS FIRST READING.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS.

YES, AND I APOLOGIZE THAT AGAIN, THAT I DIDN'T SPEAK TO THE ATTORNEY ABOUT THIS, BUT IS THERE A REASON WHY WE HAVE TO PUT A TIME ON IT? WELL, THE REASON IS IF YOU DIDN'T PUT A TIME, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION AND I WAS INSTRUCTED TO PUT FIVE O'CLOCK, BUT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC TIME, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO PASS A RESOLUTION OR EVERY YEAR ADVERTISE AND NOTICE WHAT TIME THIS MEETING IS.

SO THAT'S THE DOWNSIDE OF IT.

IT'S DOABLE TO SAY NO PARTICULAR TIME, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO NOTICE EVERY OTHER YEAR, I SHOULD SAY, EVERY TIME WE'RE HAVING THIS SPECIAL MEETING.

BUT WE DO THAT WITH BUDGET MEETINGS EVERY YEAR, RIGHT? WE DO.

SO WE SET THE TIME.

WE SET THE DATE AS WELL.

THIS WOULD, THE DATE COULD NOT BE CHANGED.

CORRECT.

BUT THE TIME OF DAY CAN BE CHANGED.

CORRECT.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE 11 O'CLOCK TIME BECAUSE OF THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.

THAT TIME MADE MORE SENSE TO ME.

AND I KNOW THIS YEAR'S SPECIAL BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT I THINK IN THE FUTURE, A FUTURE COMMISSION MAY WANNA HAVE IT AT A DIFFERENT TIME.

SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE COULD JUST ELIMINATE THE TIME OF DAY ON THIS AMENDMENT, BUT THAT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION.

I HAVE NO PREFERENCE.

I MEAN, I THINK I WAS ON THE COMMISSION WHEN WE MADE IT 7.30 AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.

I THINK IT WAS LIKE FIVE O'CLOCK OR SOMETHING.

SO THERE WASN'T ANY SPECIFIC NEED TO HAVE IT AT 7.30.

AND NOW THAT WE HAVE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND IT REALLY CONFLICTS WITH THAT LATER IN THE EVENING, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY YOU CAN'T, I DO LIKE THE 11 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING IDEA TOO, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE TIME.

WELL, 11 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANY PARKING BECAUSE ALL THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE IN PLACE AS FAR AS ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME.

AND THAT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORKDAY FOR STAFF.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE DECIDED ON AT THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THREE TIMES AT THE LAST MEETING AND IT WAS SUGGESTED FIVE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE GOING HOME AND THEN THERE'LL BE PARKING.

AT 7.30, THERE WON'T BE NO PARKING BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA PARK IN EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY TO GET TO THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS.

SO THAT'S WHY I THINK WE ROUNDED UP TO FIVE O'CLOCK IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT.

CORRECT, AND THAT MAY NOT BE TRUE NEXT YEAR OR THE NEXT YEAR AFTER THAT.

SO I'M SAYING WHY RESTRICT THE COMMISSIONS IN THE FUTURE.

OH, OKAY.

CITY MANAGER COULD GIVE EVERYBODY A DAY OFF AND PARKING WOULD BE PLENTY, YOU KNOW? AND NOBODY WOULD COMPLAIN.

THEY WOULDN'T MIND THAT, SURE.

THE FUTURE, WE CAN'T RESTRICT BY THE TIME, BUT THAT'S UP IN THE AIR.

BUT I JUST SAY IF WE JUST ELIMINATE THE TIME, IT GIVES THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE COMMISSIONS OF THE FUTURE.

WELL, OKAY.

I HAD A QUESTION.

IT'S FIRST READING.

SO IF WE DON'T LIKE IT, WE CAN SEND IT BACK AND DO IT AGAIN.

I'M OKAY WITH OPENING THE TIMES UP AND UNSPECIFIED.

I'M FINE WITH THAT.

GIVE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO FUTURE COMMISSIONS MORE.

I'M OKAY WITH THAT, IF THAT'S WHAT IT ENDS UP BEING.

I'M OKAY WITH THAT TOO.

I DID WANNA FOLLOW UP ON MS. KALADY'S QUESTION.

IF WE MOVE THIS MEETING, OR SAY WE HAVE IT AT THE YACHT CLUB OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE'S ADDITIONAL COSTS IN TERMS OF MOVING EQUIPMENT AROUND OR WHATEVER.

IF IT'S THE LEITNER MUSEUM, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL COST.

AND I JUST WANNA ASK THE QUESTION THAT SHE ASKED IS, WHO PAYS FOR THAT? IS IT COME OUT OF OUR CITY BUDGET OR WHO PAYS FOR IT? IT WOULD COME OUT OF OUR CITY BUDGET, THE CITY WOULD PAY FOR IT.

IF WE MOVED IT TO A PRIVATE VENUE, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

YEAH, BECAUSE I KNOW FLAGLER COLLEGE CHARGES QUITE A BIT FOR THE AUDITORIUM, FOR EXAMPLE.

CERTAINLY. YEAH.

IF WE MOVE IT TO THE OUTSIDE PERIMETERS, IT WOULDN'T COST THE CITY ANY MONEY, RIGHT? NO, IF IT STAYED ON CITY PROPERTY, OBVIOUSLY THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY COST TO THE CITY.

BUT IF WE MOVED IT TO FLAGLER

[02:00:01]

COLLEGE OR THE TREASURY OR THE VIC THAT WAS SUGGESTED BY PAUL WILLIAMSON, THAT WOULDN'T COST US ANY MONEY EITHER, RIGHT? CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT.

I THOUGHT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE THE VIC BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THERE.

I WASN'T TRYING TO GET INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT PARTICULAR VENUES.

I THOUGHT THE QUESTION WAS, IF WE MOVED IT TO A PRIVATE VENUE, WOULD THERE BE A COST AND WOULD THE CITY HAVE TO PAY THAT COST? AND THE ANSWER IS YES.

SO IS THE LEITNER MUSEUM, IS THAT SOMETHING WE WOULD PAY FOR IF WE DID IT IN THERE? IF THEY CHARGED US.

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LOBBY OF THE LEITNER MUSEUM? WE HAVE USED IT IN THE PAST WHEN HURRICANE MATTHEW MADE THIS ROOM UNAVAILABLE.

I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND RESEARCH TO SEE WHETHER WE WERE CHARGED ANYTHING.

WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH LEITNER MUSEUM.

I GUESS I'M ADVOCATING FOR, IF WE DO THAT, CAN WE ASK THEM TO LET US HAVE IT AT NO COST? SURE.

BUT IF THEY SAID.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ASKED AND WE WERE UNABLE TO DO IS HAVE MEETINGS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS SOMETIME OF THE YEAR, RIGHT? AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE STAFF BEING ABLE TO MOVE EQUIPMENT.

SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE TO A PRIVATE VENUE, NOT A PRIVATE, BUT A VENUE SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE THE CITY, IT BEHOOVES OTHER PEOPLE TO ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS.

FOR INSTANCE, IF WE COULD GO TO FLAGLER COLLEGE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING, IT WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ATTEND BECAUSE OF ATTENDANCE, BECAUSE THEY'D FEEL LIKE THEY'D HAVE A SPACE TO SIT.

THESE MEETINGS ARE RESTRICTIVE IN THE SIZE, EVEN THOUGH BY THIS TIME OF NIGHT, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SEATS FOR PEOPLE TO COME.

BUT THERE ARE EVENTS AND TOPICS THAT CAUSE PEOPLE TO CROWD SOMETIMES.

AND WE KNOW THOSE AHEAD OF TIME.

IT'D BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE TO A LARGER VENUE, EVEN IF IT'S OVER AT THE LEITNER OR AT THE BIC.

SO I THINK TECHNOLOGY IS HOLDING US BACK.

I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY MONEY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FREE PLACES AROUND TOWN THAT WOULD HOST US IF WE WANTED TO HOLD A CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN DAVIS SHORES, FOR INSTANCE.

WE'LL HAVE A NEW MEETING ROOM THERE IF WE EVER GET THE FIRE STATION.

WE COULD HAVE A MEETING IN DAVIS SHORES AREA AND LET THE ISLAND PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER ACCESS TO OUR MEETINGS.

SO I'M ENCOURAGING THIS.

I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON THE TAJ MAHAL RENTING IT, BUT HAVING MEETINGS OUTSIDE THIS ROOM IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO ME.

WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS.

WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE, AND WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE.

YOU'VE GOT FIRST READING FOR AN ORDINANCE.

AS IT'S WRITTEN, IT WOULD MAKE THE MEETING HAVE A TIME CERTAIN OF 5 P.M.

AND I THINK WHERE YOU LANDED WAS YOU'D LIKE TO CHANGE THAT.

SO THERE WAS NO TIME CERTAIN.

THE ORDINANCE AS IT'S WRITTEN SAYS, HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT THAT? DO YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT CHANGING IT AND LEAVING IT OPEN, SPECIFYING A TIME? WE CAN LEAVE IT OPEN.

OKAY, THAT, OKAY, WE AGREE ON THAT.

THE ORDINANCE ALSO ALLOWS THIS CEREMONY, THIS MEETING TO TAKE PLACE ANYWHERE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

SO THE CITY COMMISSION WILL DECIDE, CUSTOMARILY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN THIS ROOM, BUT THE CITY COMMISSION COULD DECIDE AT A FUTURE DATE, 20, 30 YEARS FROM NOW, THAT THEY'D LIKE IT AT THE AUDITORIUM OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

OKAY, SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

CAN I ADD SOMETHING BEFORE YOU DO? I'M SORRY.

WHY DON'T WE BROADEN IT THEN TO THE COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD'S IDEA? BECAUSE THE REORGANIZATION MEETING IS JUST SHORT.

I DON'T THINK EXTRA PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT JUST FOR THAT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO THINK ABOUT BROADENING AT A TIME WHEN IT MAKES SENSE.

MAYBE THE TECHNOLOGY ISN'T THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK ABOUT BROADENING IT OUT SO THAT WE COULD HOLD OUR REGULAR COMMISSION MEETINGS OR SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETINGS IN OTHER PLACES, NOT JUST REORGAN.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN NOW.

WE CAN DO THAT.

THERE'S AN ADVERTISING PROCESS WE GO THROUGH.

WE HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST.

WE'VE HAD CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS REMOTELY.

AGAIN, WHEN THIS ROOM WAS UNAVAILABLE, THIS IS, OR THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE REORGANIZATION MEETING.

YES, SO I THINK THE WAY WE CAN DO IT IS WE CAN ASK, WE CAN MOVE IT ALONG TO PUBLIC HEARING, SECOND READING, BUT ASK THAT IT BE MODIFIED TO ALLOW FUTURE COMMISSIONS TO SET THE TIME.

I THINK THAT ALLOWS FOR THE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY FOR FUTURE CITY COMMISSIONS.

THERE YOU GO.

HOW'S THAT SOUND? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YES.

OKAY THEN, I MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 26-20.

[02:05:05]

MODIFY.

21.

MODIFYING IT TO ALLOW FLEXIBILITY IN THE TIME BY NOT SPECIFYING A TIME.

DOES THAT DO IT? OKAY THEN.

SECOND.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 20-26-21, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING ARTICLE FIVE, DIVISION ONE, SECTION 5.02 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF SAN AUGUSTINE, PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDED START TIME AND FLEXIBILITY AND LOCATION WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS FOR THE FIRST DECEMBER CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOLLOWING EACH REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF SAN AUGUSTINE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE.

YES.

CYNTHIA GARRIS.

[9.B.1. Resolution 2026-26: Adopting Events Manual, Establishing Fees, and Setting Dates (J. Perkins, Community Services Director)]

SO NOW WE MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS.

RESOLUTION 2026-26, ADOPTING EVENTS MANUAL, ESTABLISHING FEES, AND SETTING DATES.

MS. JAMIE D. PERKINS.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.

JAMIE D. PERKINS, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN AUGUSTINE.

TONIGHT BEFORE YOU IS RESOLUTION 2026-26, ADOPTING THE EVENTS MANUAL, SETTING DATES, AND REPEALING RESOLUTIONS 2018-13 AND 2019-29.

I'M PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

THE RESOLUTION WILL UPDATE THE CITY'S POLICIES GOVERNING SPECIAL EVENTS HELD ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND FORMALLY ADOPT THE TERMS OF USE FOR PUBLIC PROPERTY EVENTS MANUAL AND ASSOCIATED FEE SCHEDULE, WHICH IS KNOWN AS EXHIBIT A IN YOUR PACKET.

THE PURPOSE OF THE RESOLUTION IS TO BRING THE CITY'S SPECIAL EVENT POLICIES TOGETHER INTO ONE UPDATED AND COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK.

RESOLUTION 2026-26 WILL REPEAL RESOLUTIONS 2018-13 AND 2019-29 AND CONSOLIDATE THE CITY'S CURRENT POLICIES TO BETTER ADDRESS EVENT SCHEDULING, MOBILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, VENUE CAPACITY, RESIDENT IMPACT, CITY RESOURCE DEMANDS, AND THE IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE SCALE EVENTS AND STREET CLOSURES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AT LARGE.

GONNA PULL UP THE MANUAL HERE, IF I CAN.

SO THIS IS A VERY EXTENSIVE DOCUMENT, SO I DON'T WANNA BORE YOU BY GOING THROUGH PAGE BY PAGE.

I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT.

SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE MORE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES, AND THEN IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION, THE MANUAL, OR THE FEE SCHEDULE, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER IT, IF YOU ALL ARE OKAY WITH THAT.

SO BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I LET THE COMMISSION KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS EVENTS MANUAL FOR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS NOW.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CRITICAL TASKS THAT I WAS GIVEN BY OUR CITY MANAGER ASKING ME TO REVIEW IT.

SO I'VE BEEN REVIEWING THE EVENTS MANUAL WITH KRISTIN ODOM, WHO IS OUR EVENTS AND VENUE COORDINATOR.

SHE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF COORDINATING WITH STAFF TO GET FEEDBACK AND ADD THOSE POLICIES BASED OFF OF ALL OF OUR SENIOR STAFF'S INPUT.

SO IF WE CAN GO TO PAGE, OH, LET ME JUST DO IT.

SO IT WILL BE PDF PAGE SIX, BUT BEGINNING AT PAGE TWO, THREE, AND FOUR IN YOUR PACKET, OR TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES TWO, THREE, AND FOUR.

SO JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUAL IS THE OVERALL PERMITTING PROCESS.

IF APPROVED TONIGHT, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, THE PROCESS WILL BE PRIMARILY ONLINE.

WE'LL STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS OR APPLICANTS TO COME IN AND FILL OUT APPLICATIONS IF THEY NEED TO, BUT WE'LL BE SHIFTING THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO AN ONLINE FORMAT.

THIS MANUAL ALSO PROVIDES A MORE CLEARLY ESTABLISHED APPLICATION DEADLINE, DOCUMENT SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS, AND CITY PROCESSING TIME BASED ON THE TYPE OF EVENT THAT AN APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO HOST.

THE MANUAL ALSO FORMALIZES THE CITY'S INTERNAL DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS WITH OUR EVENTS REVIEW COMMITTEE, INCLUDING THE EVENT REVIEW REPORT THAT MATRICULATES THROUGHOUT THE CITY STAFF.

THE MANUAL ALSO PROVIDES GREATER CLARITY REGARDING WHEN AND HOW CITY-OWNED VENUES MAY BE USED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SHOULD

[02:10:01]

MENTION IS THAT THE PERMIT APPLICATION FEE WITH THIS MANUAL WILL INCREASE FROM $35 TO $50, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LEVEL OF STAFF SUPPORT THAT IS REQUIRED TO PRELIMINARILY REVIEW AN EVENT AND HAVE THAT APPLICANT GO THROUGH THE EVENT REVIEW COMMITTEE PROCESS.

SO ON THIS PAGE, IT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT PROCESS WAS REQUIRED, THE APPLICATION PROCESS, THE WEBSITE LINK THAT APPLICANTS WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.

THE MANUAL ALSO PROVIDES THE SPECIFIC CITY VENUES AND SHOWS THE ADDITIONAL VENUES THAT WE'RE OFFERING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

SO TWO OF THE VENUES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FEATURED IN OUR MANUAL IN THE PAST, SO IS THE EDDIE VICKERS PARK EVENT LINE, WHICH IS THAT SPACE AT EDDIE VICKERS PARK RIGHT OFF OF SARAH STREET.

MIGHT WANNA UPDATE THAT.

I THINK YOU MOVED ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

DID I MOVE TOO QUICKLY? OH.

NEXT PAGE, I THINK YOU'RE IN THE BOX.

WE'RE ON PAGE FOUR NOW, I THINK.

HERE WE GO.

ON PAGE FOUR, OKAY, THERE.

THANK YOU, SORRY.

I THINK I'M JUMPING AROUND A BIT BECAUSE I WAS ON, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE LIST OF EVENT SPACES, BUT ALSO THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND THE MINIMUM APPLICATION DEADLINE AS WELL.

SO IT'S PAGE TWO, THREE, AND FOUR FOR THIS OVERVIEW.

SO EDDIE VICKERS PARK EVENT LINE AND THEN THE EDDIE VICKERS PARK GAZEBO, WHICH HAS RECENTLY BEEN IMPROVED THROUGH THE LCRA COMMITMENTS.

SOME DOLLARS THAT WE HAD TO IMPROVE THAT SPACE ARE THE NEW VENUES THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS MANUAL.

AND THEN THE MINIMUM APPLICATION DEADLINES, NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR FRANCISVILLE, BUT FOR EACH OF OUR EVENT LOCATIONS, WE GIVE AN OUTLINE OF WHEN AN APPLICANT SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION.

SOMEONE COULD SUBMIT PRIOR TO THIS OR AFTER THE FACT, BUT THESE ARE WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR OUR MINIMUM APPLICATION IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL EVENT AND FOR THEIR APPLICATION TO GO THROUGH ITS PROCESS ACCURATELY.

ON PAGE 11 OR PAGE SEVEN, I'M SORRY, OF THE DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT PAGE SEVEN, WE GO INTO THE INDIVIDUAL VENUES.

AND I WON'T GO THROUGH EACH ONE, BUT I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS WITH FRANCISVILLE AND SOME OF THE VENUES THAT HAD SOME SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES BASED OFF OF THIS MANUAL.

SO WITH FRANCISVILLE, MANY OF THE PROVISIONS PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION WILL REMAIN THE SAME, BUT THERE ARE SOME CHANGES AND THOSE INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL BLOCKOUT PERIOD.

AND THAT CAN BE SEEN ON PAGE EIGHT.

THAT BLOCKOUT PERIOD IS GOING TO BE IN MAY WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE IMPACTS OF THE LIVE WILDLY SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL WITH US MOVING THAT CONCERT TO MAY AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT LIVE WILDLY REQUIRES TO TAKE OVER THE FIELD IN ORDER FOR THEIR EVENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO HOST ANY OTHER EVENTS AT FRANCISVILLE DURING THAT TIME WITH RESPECT TO THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, TRAFFIC, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE CONSIDER IN OUR PEAK SEASON AS WELL.

WE HAVE JUNE LISTED AS A BLOCKOUT DATE, BUT THAT IS NOT A PERMANENT BLOCKOUT.

IT'S JUST BASED OFF OF IF THERE'S ANY CONSTRUCTION THROUGH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THEY ASKED THAT WE ADD JUNE AS A TIMEFRAME THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HOST EVENTS ON THE FIELD IF THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION PENDING.

SO THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S ANNUAL CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.

WE'RE PROVIDING A CLEAR DEFINITION OF WHAT SHOULDER OR LOAD-IN DAYS LOOK LIKE, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY ASSESSING A FEE FOR THOSE.

IN THE PAST, WE HAVE NOT ASSESSED FEES FOR SHOULDER DAYS, WHICH MEANS THAT AN EVENT HOST WILL TAKE OVER THE FIELD FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DAYS FOR SETUP, BUT WE WERE NOT ASSESSING A FEE.

SO THIS MANUAL WOULD ALLOW FOR A $500 PER DAY FEE, WHICH ALSO COVERS THE COST OF OUR STAFF FOR GOING OUT AND HAVING TO MAINTAIN THAT FIELD AFTER THOSE HOSTS LEAVE THAT AREA.

AND ALSO THE WATER AND ELECTRICITY THAT THEY USE WHILE THEY'RE DOING THEIR SETUP.

THE MANUAL PROVIDES A MORE DETAILED OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT RELATING TO THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE, RESTROOMS, VEHICLE MOVEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, SOLID WASTE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE ACTIVATION OF OUR SHUTTLE SERVICES, WHICH IS, DEPENDING ON YOUR EVENT SIZE, WE MAY REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE SHUTTLE SERVICE PARK AND RIDE.

THERE IS ALSO AN ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIREMENT.

WE ARE ASKING, FOR EXAMPLE, EVENTS SERVING ALCOHOL AT FRANCIS FIELD MUST HAVE A

[02:15:02]

MINIMUM OF TWO OFF-DUTY ST.

AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS ARE MORE CLEARLY DEFINED NOW, AND THERE'S, IN THE MANUAL, IT ESTABLISHES A FORMAL MOBILE FOOD VENDOR FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAM AS DEVELOPED BY OUR FIRE MARSHAL, ABBY PEDIGO.

I WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT, AND OF COURSE, FIRE CHIEF CARLOS ABLEY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE EIGHT THAT WE WILL BE INCREASING THE FEES FOR FRANCIS FIELD IF THIS MANUAL IS ADOPTED FROM THE, BEFORE WE USED THE ATTENDANCE-BASED RENTAL STRUCTURE.

NOW WE'LL BE MOVING TO A THREE-TIER STRUCTURE BASED ON THE EVENT DURATION, MEANING HOW LONG DO THEY WANT TO USE THE FIELD VERSUS HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'RE EXPECTING, BECAUSE THERE WAS REALLY NO WAY TO TRACK THAT, BECAUSE THEY MIGHT SAY, OH, IT'S GONNA BE ONLY 500 PEOPLE, AND THEN THEIR EVENT WOULD DRAW 02,500 PEOPLE.

SO INSTEAD OF USING THAT AS OUR QUANTIFICATION, NOW HOW LONG ARE YOU WANTING TO UTILIZE THE SPACE? WITH DAILY RENTAL RATES CHANGING TO 300, 750, OR 01,500, DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF THE EVENT, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE INCORPORATING, ENFORCING, I SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE BEFORE DEPOSIT, IT JUST WAS NOT ENFORCED BEFORE, SO.

A 50% DEPOSIT FEE, WHICH IS 50% OF WHATEVER YOUR RENTAL.

SO IF YOU ARE A $300 RENTAL, THEN YOU WOULD PAY A $150 DEPOSIT, AND THAT WILL COME OFF OF YOUR FINAL BILLING.

I AM MOVING TO PAGE 19.

IS IT PAGE 15 OF YOUR BOOK, THE PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN, GAZEBO? PAGE 15, I'M SORRY, I SAID 19.

SO THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT, THE PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN, THE PROVISIONS UPDATES FOR THIS VENUE INCREASE THE RENTAL FROM $225 TO $285, WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF THE TWO RESERVED PARKING SPACES ON KING STREET WHEN AVAILABLE, OR ACCESS TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE PUBLIC PARKING.

WE HAVE ALWAYS CHARGED FOR PARKING WHEN SOMEONE RENTS THE PLAZA, WHEN SOMEONE RENTS THE GAZEBO IN THE PLAZA, BUT BEFORE WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A SEPARATE COST THROUGH OUR PARKING OR MOBILITY DIVISION.

AND NOW WE'RE JUST INCORPORATING THAT COST INTO THIS COST FOR THE TWO-HOUR RENTAL.

WE ALSO PROVIDED THE PROVISION THAT IT WOULD GIVE ACCESS TO ANY PUBLIC PARKING WITHIN THE CITY IF THEY COULD NOT USE THE SPACES ON KING STREET, AS WE KNOW DURING OUR PEAK SEASON, SPECIFICALLY NIGHTS OF LIGHT, SOMETIMES WE WILL PROMISE THOSE SPACES AND THEN THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL MOVE OUR CONES AND PARK THERE.

SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PARK ANYWHERE WHERE PUBLIC PARKING IS AVAILABLE UNDER THAT RATE.

THE MANUAL ALSO INTRODUCES A $100 SECURITY DEPOSIT FOR THE USE OF THE GAZEBO IN THE PLAZA, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'LL REDUCE THEIR COSTS.

SO THEY'LL PAY $100 UPFRONT, AND THEN THEY'LL ONLY OWE THE $185 AT THE END OF THEIR RENTAL FOR THEIR AFTER-THE-FACT INVOICE.

THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION AND MANUAL WOULD LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT AN APPLICANT COULD RENT OR LEASE THE GAZEBO WITHIN A 30-DAY PERIOD.

SO ONE APPLICANT COULD ONLY UTILIZE THE SPACE ONE TIME WITHIN A 30-DAY TIME FRAME BASED OFF OF THIS MANUAL.

ON PAGE 18, THE EDDIE VICKERS PARK EVENT LINE, WHICH IS NEAR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENTRANCE, IS AN ADDED VENUE.

THIS SPACE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY USED FOR SMALL-SCALE EVENTS LIKE THE PRISON PRIDE FESTIVAL AND THE LINCOLNVILLE FESTIVAL.

THE ADOPTION OF THIS MANUAL WILL OFFICIALLY BRING THIS VENUE ONLINE FOR SATURDAY YOUTH ONLY.

STAFF IS PROPOSING MAKING THIS A SATURDAY-ONLY VENUE WITH RESPECT TO THE IMMEDIATE ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY THAT SITS THERE RIGHT OFF OF SERRO STREET, ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY GARDEN THAT'S ALSO THERE, SO TRYING TO PREVENT A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND FOOT TRAFFIC THERE.

SO IT WILL BE A SATURDAY RENTAL OR VENUE SPACE ONLY.

FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RENTAL OR LEASE OF THIS SPACE ARE AS FOLLOWS.

SO FOR PRIVATE EVENTS, WE'RE LOOKING AT $150 PER DAY.

SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING CONSISTENT, LIKE A FAMILY REUNION OR A BIRTHDAY PARTY IF

[02:20:02]

SOMEONE WANTED TO RENT THAT SPACE.

IF IT WAS A PUBLIC OR TICKETED EVENT, THE FEE WOULD BE $300 PER DAY, AND IT WOULD BE A 50% RENTAL DEPOSIT, SECURITY DEPOSIT, 50% OF YOUR RENTAL FEE.

WE TALKED ALREADY BRIEFLY ABOUT THE EDDIE VICKERS PARK GAZEBO.

THAT GAZEBO HAS BEEN AT EDDIE VICKERS PARK FOR MANY YEARS.

WE USED TO RENT IT OUT BEFORE.

BECAUSE OF THE DILAPIDATION OF THE SPACE, WE WERE NOT RENTING IT.

NOW IT HAS BEEN IMPROVED.

WE USE THE LINCOLNVILLE CRA DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE TABLES, PAINT, ADD NEW LIGHTING, ADD NEW GRILLS, AND SO IT LOOKS REALLY NICE IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO GO BY THERE.

SO SINCE IT HAS UNDERGONE THESE IMPROVEMENTS, WE WANT TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR RENT, AND WE WANT IT TO KEEP THE RATE VERY AFFORDABLE.

SO $25 PER FOUR HOURS, AND THE EXPECTED RESERVE USE WOULD BE FOR SMALL FAMILY GATHERINGS OR BIRTHDAY PARTIES OR SMALL EVENTS WITH FAMILIES AT THAT SPACE.

PROVISIONS FOR OTHER CITY VENUES, THEY PRIMARILY REMAIN THE SAME, SO I WON'T GO THROUGH EACH VENUE.

THE MARINA, THE WEDDING AUTHORITY, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS WHAT WAS IN OUR PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED MANUAL.

BUT I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED FOR YOU THE OTHER VENUES THAT HAVE HAD SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES.

ON PAGE 21 OF THE MANUAL, WE DO TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY.

THIS SECTION JUST ADDRESSES EVENTS WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY.

WILL REQUIRE A SPECIAL EVENTS PERMIT, AND THEY MAY ALSO REQUIRE A RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMIT FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF EVENT.

THE MANUAL PROVIDES CLARIFICATION OF WHEN AND IF THAT PERMIT WILL BE TRIGGERED.

EVENT HOSTS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF TRAFFIC DISRUPTION UTILIZING OUR CITY-ISSUED SIGNAGE, WHICH SHOULD BE PLACED ALONG THE ROUTES WHERE TRAFFIC WILL BE INTERRUPTED, AND THAT WOULD BE FOR ATHLETIC EVENTS OR PARADES.

WE'VE ALREADY STARTED DOING THAT.

WE STARTED DOING THAT ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO NOW, I BELIEVE, AND SO THIS IS JUST FORMALIZING THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO OR THAT EVENT HOSTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO.

THE MANUAL ALSO EXPANDS AND CLARIFIES REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL FILMING, PHOTOGRAPHY, DRONE OPERATIONS, AND AMPLIFIED SOUND, ESTABLISHING A MORE DEFINED PERMIT PROCESS, APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES, AND THAT'S ON PAGE 24 OF YOUR DOCUMENT.

WE ALSO PROVIDED GREATER CLARITY REGARDING DEPOSITS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN OUR MANUAL BEFORE.

BILLING, CANCELLATION, WHICH WAS A REALLY BIG THING.

THE MANUAL ESTABLISHES A FORMAL POST-EVENT INVOICING PROCESS AND SPECIFIC CANCELLATION PROVISIONS THAT IDENTIFY WHEN DEPOSITS ARE REFUNDED OR IF THEY'RE FORFEITED, AND WHEN AN ORGANIZER REMAINS RESPONSIBLE FOR CITY COSTS ALREADY INCURRED.

WE OFTEN RUN INTO ISSUES WHERE IF AN EVENT HOST DECIDES TO CANCEL AN EVENT AT THE LAST MINUTE BUT CITY HAS ALREADY INCURRED COSTS, DO WE RETURN THOSE DOLLARS BACK OR DO THEY FORFEIT THAT? SO WE WANTED TO DEFINE THAT.

THE MANUAL MORE CLEARLY DEFINES THE CITY'S AUTHORITY TO CANCEL, POSTPONE, MODIFY, OR CLOSE AN EVENT WHEN NECESSARY TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE GENERAL POLICIES.

PAGE 36, OR I'M SORRY, FOLLOWING PAGE 31, WE KIND OF GET INTO THE APPENDIX, WHICH IS A VERY THOROUGH APPENDIX.

IT PROVIDES LOTS OF DOCUMENTS, APPLICATIONS, OUR EVENT OUTLINES FOR EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD, ROUTES THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED FOR PARADES OR RUNS OR WALKS, SO WE HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IN HERE FOR EVENT HOSTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN HOSTING EVENTS.

BUT THE ONE, I WON'T GO THROUGH EACH APPENDIX ITEM WITH YOU, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME TO HIGHLIGHT JUST THE FEE SCHEDULE BECAUSE IT'S BUDGET SEASON AND THIS IS BEING ADOPTED THROUGH OUR BUDGET SEASON PROCESS AS WELL ATTACHED TO THIS RESOLUTION.

SO ON FOLLOWING PAGE 31, THE FIRST PAGE OF THE APPENDIX IS THE FEE SCHEDULE.

AND WE'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON A FEW OF THESE UPDATED FEES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE EACH FISCAL YEAR WITH RESPECT TO FEE CHANGES FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT.

THE ADOPTION OF THIS SCHEDULE IS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 PENDING YOUR DECISION TONIGHT.

THIS PUTS THE EVENTS DIVISION ON THE ANNUAL FEE SCHEDULE CONSISTENT WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE CITY'S DEPARTMENTS.

ALL OF THESE FEES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED THROUGH

[02:25:02]

EACH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AS WELL AS OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

AS YOU'LL SEE, WE ARE SHOWING THE INCREASE PERMIT APPLICATION FEE.

WE HAVE MADE AN INCREASE TO THE PARADE OR ATHLETIC EVENT FEE.

IT WAS PREVIOUSLY $50 AND NOW WE ARE INCREASING THAT FEE TO $75.

AND THEN YOU SEE ALL OF THE CHANGES TO THE EVENT AND VENUES THAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, THE INCREASE IN FEES FOR SPECIFICALLY FRANCISVILLE.

JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE'RE FORTUNATE HERE IN THE CITY TO HOST A WIDE VARIETY OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THESE EVENTS DO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR VIBRANCY HERE AT THE CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE ALSO CREATE OPERATIONAL IMPACTS THAT THE CITY MUST APPROPRIATELY MANAGE.

SO LARGE SCALE EVENTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN SCHEDULED CLOSELY TOGETHER CAN AFFECT RESIDENTS, MOBILITY, EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMES, PARKING AVAILABILITY, CITY STAFFING, LANDSCAPE INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES HAS IMPACTS TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE ALL OF THAT INTO THIS MANUAL AND I THINK THAT WE DID.

AND I ALSO WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ASSISTING US IN PROVIDING THEIR INSIGHT ON THE MANUAL.

SO THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.

IF APPROVED TONIGHT, THE RESOLUTION 2026-26 WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

THIS WILL PROVIDE US WITH TIME TO COMMUNICATE THE CHANGES TO EVENT HOSTS THAT WE WORK WITH MORE REGULARLY AND THEN BEGIN THE UPDATES TO OUR WEBSITE SYSTEM AND FEES SO THAT WE CAN START IMPLEMENTING THOSE THINGS.

AND I AM AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

OKAY, MY QUESTION WOULD BE THE PROBLEM OF CPS FESTIVAL AND HOW IT CONFLICTS WITH US RENTING THE SPECIAL EVENTS FIELD, FRANCIS FIELD.

WHAT PROVISIONS DO WE HAVE IN THERE TO PREVENT THAT FROM THAT HAPPENING? THERE AREN'T ANY.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH THAT.

SO WE REACHED OUT TO CPS AND THEY'RE KIND OF A MOVING TARGET.

SO IN ORDER FOR US, I MEAN, WE COULD BROADLY SAY ANYTIME THE CPS FESTIVAL IS HOSTED, WE WOULDN'T ALLOW FRANCIS FIELD TO BE RENTED, BUT THAT PUTS US IN A SITUATION THAT THEY DON'T KNOW, THEY DON'T PROVIDE THEIR DATES UNTIL ABOUT A YEAR OUT AND YOU CAN RENT FRANCIS FIELD WITHIN THE YEAR.

SO WE ARE ALSO ESTABLISHING THAT YOU CAN'T RESERVE A SPACE, HAS TO BE ONE YEAR OUT.

SO THAT PUTS US IN THAT PREDICAMENT THAT IF CPS ANNOUNCES THEIR DATE AFTER SOMEONE RESERVES THE FIELD, DO WE GO BACK AND CANCEL THEIR EVENT AND SAY WE AREN'T ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THEM? SO IT WAS REALLY CHALLENGING.

I'M WELCOME TO SUGGESTIONS IF THERE IS A PROVISION THAT WE ALL WANT TO, THAT YOU ALL WANT ME TO GO BACK AND ADD TO THE MANUAL, BUT IT WAS JUST REALLY DIFFICULT TO TRY AND ESTABLISH THAT BASED OFF OF CPS BEING A MOVING TARGET WITH THEIR EVENT EACH YEAR.

SO WHEN YOU MAY SAY MOVING TARGET, IS IT ONE MONTH, ONE YEAR, AND THEN MAY ONE YEAR AND FEBRUARY ANOTHER, OR COULD IT BE WITHIN A MONTH? IT'S USUALLY ABOUT, IT HAS VARIED, BUT IN MY RESEARCH HISTORY, IT'S BEEN TWO TO THREE WEEKS.

THERE WAS ONE TIME WHERE IT WAS A DIFFERENT MONTH, BUT I THINK THE MOST RECENT HAS BEEN ABOUT A TWO OR THREE WEEK TIMEFRAME THAT IT WAS DIFFERENT EACH YEAR.

WELL, I THINK WE'RE ASKING FOR TROUBLE, BUT I UNDERSTAND UNLESS SOMEBODY COMES UP WITH A BRILLIANT SCHEME ON HOW TO DO THAT, I GUESS STAFF'S JUST GONNA HAVE TO CHECK YEARLY, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT THEIR BUSINESS TO KNOW.

SO DOES THAT MEAN YOU'D LIKE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT PROHIBITS AN EVENT ON FRANCIS FIELD ON THE SAME WEEKEND AS THE CPS CARNIVAL? I WOULD, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW, WILL YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, PLEASE? THAT'S, I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE ASKED FOR BEFORE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACCOMPLISH IT.

I DON'T EITHER, BUT WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU.

I MEAN, THE FESTIVAL'S JUST TOO MUCH AND THEY'RE TOO CLOSE IN PROXIMITY.

IT'S JUST A REAL STICKER.

ISN'T IT TIED TO BIKE WEEK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? THERE'S SOME CPS, NO.

NO.

OKAY, I'M COMPLAINING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

I THINK IT'S TIED TO WHEN THEY CAN GET THEIR ENTERTAINMENT.

THEY USE, YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THEY HAVE A CARNIVAL THAT COMES IN.

SO IT'S THE SCHEDULING OF THE CARNIVAL THAT COMES IN THAT CHANGES THE DATES.

RIGHT.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT'S MADE IT, BUT.

AND WITH THIS PROVISION, AND THIS WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED PREVIOUSLY, BUT WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE, IF YOU APPROVE IT TONIGHT, YOU WOULD GIVE DAVID, OUR CITY MANAGER, MR. BURCHAM, ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE MANUAL.

SO IF WE COME UP WITH, IN THEORY, SOME TYPE OF LANGUAGE THAT HELPS US TO ESTABLISH THAT PROVISION THAT MAYOR SIKES-KLINE IS ASKING FOR, WE CAN ADD THAT

[02:30:02]

AT THE STAFF LEVEL.

WE HAD THAT, THE CITY ADMINISTRATION HAD THAT AUTHORITY BEFORE, BUT BECAUSE THIS WAS SUCH A LARGE OVERHAUL AND CHANGES TO THE MANUAL, WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION.

BUT ADMINISTRATIVELY, WE CAN MAKE THOSE UPDATES, AND IT WOULDN'T REQUIRE US TO COME BACK BEFORE YOU EACH TIME.

WELL, THEN IT'S ON YOU.

WE'RE GIVING YOU AUTHORITY TO MANAGE THAT SITUATION AND JUST TO BE AWARE OF IT, AND I HOPE THAT THAT IS MONITORED BECAUSE IT'S A MESS.

THE OTHER THING IS EDDIE VICKER'S LAWN, SATURDAYS ONLY.

HOW HAS IT BEEN USED IN THE PAST? THE ONLY OTHER EVENT THAT'S EVER TRULY BEEN CONSISTENTLY HOSTED THERE WAS THE LINCOLNVILLE FESTIVAL.

THEY HAVE HELD EVENTS THERE, FROM MY RECOLLECTION, AT LEAST THREE OTHER TIMES THAT THEY'VE HAD THE LINCOLNVILLE FESTIVAL THERE.

AND THEN JUST RECENTLY, THIS YEAR IN JUNE, THE PRIDE PRISM HAD THEIR EVENT THERE, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SATURDAY YOUTH.

AND SO WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR STAFF REVIEW AND KIND OF GOING THROUGH THE IMPACTS OF EACH OF THESE EVENTS, WITH IT BEING LIMITED PARKING, BEING SO CLOSE TO A ADJACENT COMMUNITY, IF THERE'S GONNA BE AMPLIFIED SOUND, THE WAY THOSE HOUSES ARE SO CLOSE, AND KIND OF, FOR THE LACK OF A BETTER TERM, BUTT UP AGAINST THAT SPACE, WE THOUGHT SATURDAYS WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THAT COMMUNITY VERSUS ALLOWING SOMEONE TO RENT IT ON A TUESDAY OR EVEN A SUNDAY.

SO IT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE AT ALL AND ONLY ON SATURDAYS? YES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT CHARGING.

I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO KEEP THINGS ORGANIZED AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GOT THE PROPER SECURITY AND PARKING AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

BUT I GUESS I'M JUST PARTIAL TO LINCOLNVILLE.

I FEEL SENSITIVE TO LINCOLNVILLE AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE USED IT IN THE PAST, HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN THERE TO MAKE MONEY, MAYBE FOR A CAUSE, BUT NOT REALLY.

WELL, WE HAD A FARMERS MARKET.

WELL, IN MANY OF THOSE EVENTS THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING, THE CITY PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THEM AND WE COULD CONTINUE DOING THAT WITH THOSE SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS IF THEY WERE NOT REVENUE GENERATING.

BUT FOR THESE EVENTS, WE CALL OUT SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT ARE TICKETED.

IT COSTS US MONEY, STAFF TIME AND MONEY, TO MANAGE THAT FIELD AFTER THEY MOVE OUT.

AND ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A LARGE SCALE EVENT WITH BOOTHS, TENTS, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE SPACE.

JUST A LOT OF. I DO RECALL THE FARMERS MARKET.

I KNOW, OKAY, I SEE YOU ABOUT BEING AND CHOOSING.

I UNDERSTAND.

WELL, NO, BUT COME JANUARY, THE NEW NO DEI STATUTE DOES RESTRICT WHAT THE CITY CAN SUBSIDIZE OR NOT SUBSIDIZE.

REMEMBER, SO WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

SO THAT WAS GONNA BE MY NEXT QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU, NOT SPECIFICALLY THAT, BUT SIMILAR TO THAT, HOW DO YOU SET UP A PROGRAM WHERE YOU CAN SAY, THIS GROUP WE CAN GIVE A BREAK TO? I MEAN, HOW, WHAT ARE THE PRESCRIPTIONS IN THIS FOR THAT? THERE ARE NO, I THINK THE ONLY, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ONLY GROUP THAT WE HAVE WAIVED FEES FOR IS THE LINCOLNVILLE FESTIVAL.

AND THAT'S THE LINCOLNVILLE, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING IT, RIGHT? THE LINCOLNVILLE FESTIVAL.

IT'S MOVED AROUND.

IT'S THE GROUP THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM TONIGHT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT, OKAY.

WELL, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST.

YES, I RECALL, YEAH.

AND THEY'VE MOVED AROUND.

THEY HAD IT IN THE STREET ONE TIME ON MLK.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE FOR THIS YEAR, THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY, SOMETIMES THEY USE THE LINCOLNVILLE EVENT LAWN.

SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COMING NOW THAT ARE REVENUE GENERATING, LIKE THE PRIDE PRISON FESTIVAL THAT USED IT LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR, A VERY LARGE SCALE EVENT.

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A FEE IN PLACE, SO WE GAVE THEM THE FEEL FOR FREE.

WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WOULD A GROUP LIKE THAT HAVE? WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH MANY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY, HAS APPLIED FOR IN THE PAST.

I SEE OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS COMING OFF OF HIS MIC.

NO, I, OKAY, I JUST REALLY HAVE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT COME JANUARY 1ST, THERE IS A NEW STATE STATUTE.

AND PRIDE WOULD BE ONE OF THE GROUPS.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THE NEW STATE STATUTE OR NOT, WE'RE JUST STUCK WITH IT.

AND SO WHATEVER SUBSIDY OR

[02:35:01]

ABSORPTION OF COSTS OR FEE REDUCTION WE ALLOW POST-JANUARY WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THAT STATUTE.

AND PRIDE WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE.

JUST BEING VERY CLEAR, THEY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY KIND OF CITY ASSISTANCE, CITY EVEN PROCLAMATION.

OKAY, OKAY.

CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION OR A QUESTION? CAN WE REQUIRE A DEPOSIT FOR USE OF THAT FIELD AND RETURN THE DEPOSIT IF IT'S LEFT BACK IN THE ORIGINAL CONDITION, THEREFORE WE WOULD BE NO COST TO US AFTER THE EVENT? AND WE WOULD ALLOW THAT FOR ANY GROUP, ENCOURAGING THEM TO CLEAN THEMSELVES UP AFTER THEY LEAVE? I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR.

I THINK REASONABLE WOULD BE DISCRETIONARY, BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT LEAVING TRASH ON THE GROUND.

THIS IS LIKE TURF SOMETIMES.

LIKE IF YOU GO OUT TO FRANCIS FIELD AFTER ANY EVENT HAS OCCURRED, WE'RE REPLACING DIVOTS THAT WE SOMETIMES HAVE.

OUR UTILITIES ARE MESSED UP WHERE WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND REINSTALL THOSE.

THERE'S THE USE OF ELECTRICITY.

YEAH, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IT.

I'M ONLY TALKING ABOUT EDDIE VICKERS FIELD.

THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD, IS THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AWARE NOW THAT THIS IS A SPACE THAT CAN BE RENTED, IT'S LOW COST OR NO COST AT ONE POINT.

PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE CALLING SMALLER SCALE EVENTS AT THE EVENTS LINE AT EDDIE VICKERS PARK VERSUS HAVING TO PAY THE MORE LARGER FEE AT FRANCIS FIELD.

AND SO WE'RE SEEING THESE LARGER EVENTS COME THERE AND YES, THEY'RE LEAVING THE SPACE IN A PLACE WHERE CITY STAFF IS HAVING TO GO IN AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND SPEND MONEY TO IMPROVE THE SPACE.

CORRECT, SO IN THAT CASE, THEY WOULDN'T GET THEIR MONEY BACK.

BUT IF IT'S THE BIRTHDAY PARTY OR IT'S A CONCERT AND 40 PEOPLE SHOW UP AND THERE'S NO DAMAGE, IT'S LIKE A SECURITY DEPOSIT WHEN YOU RENT A HOUSE.

JUST AN IDEA.

OKAY, COMMISSIONERS.

A COUPLE OF THINGS.

IT SEEMS LIKE IF YOU LIVE IN LINCOLNVILLE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO THE EDDIE VICKERS AND HAVE A BARBECUE WITH YOUR FAMILY OR YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO ENJOY THE ONLY PARK IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THAT'S ALSO, I FEEL LIKE YOU CHARGE THEM FOR THE GAZEBO IF SOMEBODY'S WALKING UP TO THE DR. HAILING PARK AND THEY SIT IN THE GAZEBO AREA, THEY GOTTA PAY $25.

NO, NO, MA'AM.

SO I'M THINKING THIS IS RIDICULOUS IF THAT'S HOW THIS IS BEING READ.

I'M READING THIS.

IS THIS A QUESTION FOR ME? OKAY, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

SO THIS IS ONLY IF YOU WANT TO RESERVE THE SPACE SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOLE ACCESS TO IT.

SO THIS IS A PUBLIC PARK.

SO IF SOMEONE WANTS TO COME OUT TO THE PARK AND SAY, I'M GONNA GO SIT IN THE GAZEBO FOR THE DAY, THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY EVERY RIGHT TO DO THAT.

IT'S A CITY-OWNED, TAX-PAID PARK.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO AND YOU ONLY WANT TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR 10 COUSINS COME AND SING YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND YOU HAVE YOUR LITTLE BOOMBOX, YOU WANNA PLAY MUSIC AND PUT SOMETHING ON THE NEWLY INSTALLED GRILLS, AND YOU DON'T WANT SOMEONE FROM, I DON'T KNOW, UP THE STREET TO COME AND IMPEDE ON YOUR PARTY, THEN YOU CAN SAY, HEY, I WANNA RENT THE GAZEBO FOR FOUR HOURS JUST FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

BUT IF YOU JUST HAPPEN TO GO OUT THERE AND IT'S NOT RESERVED, IT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU TO DO THAT.

AND WE KIND OF TOOK THE MODEL FROM TREATY PARK OR MANY OF THE COUNTY PARK SPACES WHERE THE GAZEBOS ARE FREE WHENEVER IT'S NOT RESERVED.

BUT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO UTILIZE IT FOR THEIR PERSONAL FAMILY GATHERING, THEN THEY CAN RESERVE IT SO THEY HAVE SOLE ACCESS TO IT FOR THAT TIME PERIOD.

BUT NOT JUST SOMEONE WALKING BY, OR IF THEY'RE COMING FROM, AS YOU SAID, DR. HALING PARK, AND THEY WANNA SIT DOWN AND TAKE A BREATHER, WE'RE NOT CHARGING THEM $25 FOR THAT.

AND THE SAME GOES FOR THE EDDIE VICKERS PARK LINE.

WE DON'T ENCOURAGE GRILLING OVER THERE.

THERE'S NO GRILLS THERE, AND YOU CAN'T BRING IN A PERSONAL GRILL, BUT THERE ARE GRILLS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE PARK MORE TOWARD THE LIBERIA SIDE THAT PEOPLE CAN USE WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF RESERVATION AT ALL.

THIS IS MAINLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO HOST LARGE SCALE EVENTS.

AND I WANTED TO SHOW YOU.

WHAT ABOUT SOMEBODY WALKING THE WALKING TRACK AND SOMEBODY'S HAVING SOMETHING THEY CAN'T DO THAT? IS THAT LIKE, I JUST DON'T WANNA EMAIL ABOUT, I WAS TRYING TO TAKE A WALK AROUND THE PATHWAY OF THE EDDIE VICKERS.

NO, NO, THIS IS NOT.

SO I WANNA SHOW YOU WHERE, IF I CAN GET TO THE APPENDIX PAGE, THE SECTION OF THE PARK THAT WE'RE REFERENCING.

SO THIS IS NOT, HERE WE GO.

[02:40:02]

MARY, CAN I HAVE THE SCREEN, PLEASE? SO EDDIE VICKERS PARK IS ABOUT 14 ACRES.

IT'S A LARGE PARK.

THIS IS IN THE VERY BACK OF THE PARK.

SO YOU CAN SEE IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SCREEN, YOU SEE THE COMMUNITY GARDEN TO YOUR RIGHT.

THIS SECTION OF THE PARK IS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING FOR EVENTS.

WHAT HAS NOW BECOME. SO THEY PUT THE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS.

THAT WAS ON STAFF WHEN THEY DID THAT.

SO RIGHT BEHIND THE POOL.

SO JUST THAT SECTION.

SO IT'S JUST A GREEN SPACE.

THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO PARK BENCHES THERE.

THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

SOMEONE COULD STILL, IF THEY WANTED TO WALK AROUND THE PARK, THEY WOULD HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE WALKWAY.

WE WOULD NOT, THIS MANUAL WOULD NOT STOP AN AVERAGE PARK USER FROM DOING THAT.

THIS WOULD JUST ALLOW SOMEONE WHO'S HAVING AN EVENT TO HAVE THAT SPACE RESERVED SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR USE FOR THAT DAY.

RIGHT.

AND THEY COME IN THAT BACK WAY ON ZERO TO GAIN ACCESS FOR THEIR VEHICLES, TO UNLOAD ON THAT SPACE.

IS THAT CORRECT? THE WAY WE DID IT WITH THE PRISM FESTIVAL IS THE PRIDE PRISM IS THAT WE ASKED THEM TO USE THAT AS LIKE THEIR VENDORS AREA SO THAT WE COULD KIND OF CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC.

AND THEN WHEN I WENT OUT THERE DURING THEIR FESTIVAL, IT APPEARED THAT PEOPLE THAT WERE ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL PARKED IN THE FRONT OR SOME PEOPLE WERE PARKING THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT NEAR THE PICKLEBALL AND BASKETBALL COURTS AND JUST WALKED OVER.

AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS THE GAZEBO USED TO BE $25.

NOW IT'S 285 IN THE PLAZA TO THAT SPACE? THE PLAZA GAZEBO, IT WAS 225.

AT ONE TIME IT WAS $25 WHEN JUAN DEBRAY WAS HERE, IT WAS $25 BECAUSE I USED TO SEND SOMEBODY DOWN THERE TO TURN ON THE ELECTRICITY.

SO WE WENT UP THAT MUCH FOR THE GAZEBO? I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY SINCE 2020 AND SINCE MY TIME IT'S ALWAYS BEEN 225.

NOW I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T, I DON'T HAVE THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE PRIOR TO THAT ABOUT THE RATES.

I DON'T KNOW IF MR. BURCHAM CAN ANSWER THAT.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE HIGH.

IN OUR PREVIOUS MANUAL, THE ONE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MODIFY TODAY, I THINK IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2016 AND IT WAS 225 DURING THAT TIME.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP TO BE THAT HIGH.

IT'S KIND OF DIRTY AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY.

I KNOW PEOPLE WERE GETTING MARRIED THERE.

I JUST THINK IT'S HIGH UNLESS WE DO SOME RENOVATION OF IT.

ALL RIGHT, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ARE YOU GONNA PUT UP SIGNAGE ON THE EDDIE VICKERS GAZEBO TO SAY PRIVATE EVENTS MUST RENT OR IN CASE YOU DON'T NEED TO BECAUSE ANYBODY CAN.

WE DID INSTALL A SIGN SAYING THAT IT COULD BE RESERVED, YES.

AND WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST FOR A PARADE? $75 FOR THE PERMIT APPLICATION.

WELL, PENDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE THE PERMIT APPLICATION IS $50.

IT WILL BE 75 PENDING TONIGHT'S DECISION.

AND THEN THERE ARE ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PARADES AND ATHLETIC EVENTS LIKE ALL OF OUR OTHER EVENTS RELATED TO SAFETY.

SO OUR ST. AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES, I BELIEVE, A MINIMUM OF THREE OFFICERS DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF THE PARADE.

AND THEIR RATES ARE MINIMUM THREE HOURS AT $65 PER HOUR.

AND I'M DOING THAT FROM MEMORY.

YOU CAN'T HAVE A PARADE FOR $75.

THAT'S WHAT MY POINT IS.

NO.

THERE'S A LOT OF COSTS.

I MEAN, THERE'S CONES, THERE'S TRASH, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.

ABSOLUTELY.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR SO PEOPLE DON'T THINK, OH, I'M GONNA HAVE A PARADE AT $75.

NO.

YEAH, YOU GOTTA PAY FOR THE POLICE AND EVERYTHING.

BIKE RACKS, ALL THE THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK YOU STAFF, WHOEVER WAS INVOLVED IN THIS.

THIS IS A LOT OF WORK.

COMPREHENSIVE AND VERY DETAILED.

SO, AND OBVIOUSLY WE NEEDED TO UPDATE THIS MANUAL.

SO I THINK THIS WILL CLARIFY IT FOR EVERYBODY.

PEOPLE WILL GET USED TO THE FEE STRUCTURE.

IT'S LAID OUT, THE DATES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I AM CONFUSED.

AND I KEPT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT.

IF YOU GO TO PAGE EIGHT OF THE MANUAL ITSELF, MAYBE PROJECT THAT.

IS THIS CORRECT? YEAH, DOES IT SAY PAGE EIGHT AT THE BOTTOM? YES.

IF YOU SCROLL DOWN TO, THERE'S AVAILABILITY AT THE TOP AND THEN ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS.

I KEPT FINDING THIS PEPPERED THROUGHOUT THIS DOCUMENT, THE EVENTS MANUAL.

IT HAS TWO BULLET POINTS.

EVENTS MAY NOT BE HELD ON CONSECUTIVE WEEKENDS EXCEPT DURING MARCH AND APRIL FOR EVENTS THAT WERE HELD BETWEEN OCTOBER 2016 AND SEPTEMBER 2017.

[02:45:01]

AND THEN THE SECOND BULLET DOES THE SAME THING.

AM I MISSING SOMETHING? GRANDFATHER.

I'M HAPPY TO EXPLAIN.

OKAY, I'M JUST COMPLETELY CONFUSED BECAUSE THAT'S IN THE PAST, RIGHT? YES, AND I DO APOLOGIZE FOR ANY NEW COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE.

SO, AND IT WAS NEW FOR ME TOO.

SO IN 2016 AND THROUGH 2017, THERE WERE THREE EVENTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED GRANDFATHERED IN AT THIS POINT.

AND THAT IS THE CELTIC FESTIVAL, THE LION'S SEAFOOD FESTIVAL, AND OUR ARTS FESTIVAL.

AND THOSE, THERE WAS A RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE REPEALING TONIGHT, 2018-13, THAT INITIALLY SAID NO ADDITIONAL MULTI-DAY EVENTS AND NO BACK-TO-BACK WEEKEND EVENTS DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH.

RIGHT, I REMEMBER THAT HAPPENED.

OKAY, SO THAT'S WHAT THE REFERENCE IS.

THIS IS REFERENCING THAT.

SO THAT THOSE EVENTS ARE NOW GRANDFATHERED IN EVENTS.

NO OTHER NEW EVENTS CAN COME AND BE MULTI-DAY OR HAVE CONSISTENT BACK-TO-BACK WEEKEND.

OKAY, I REMEMBER WHEN THE COMMISSION PASSED IT, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T ON HERE, BUT I JUST KIND OF STOOD OUT THERE LIKE A SORE THUMB.

OKAY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE KEPT PUTTING THE LANGUAGE IN THERE FOR.

NO ONE CAN SAY THEY MISSED IT.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A REQUEST ON THE TABLE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-26.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT START.

I THINK IT'S ALWAYS HAS TO BE WORKED ON.

I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVEN THE ABILITY.

I THINK YOU HAVE THAT NOW, BUT IT'S YOUR PURVIEW ON HOW TO MODIFY AND CHANGE IT AND UPDATE IT.

I DO HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE CPS FESTIVAL SLASH FRANCIS FIELD PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE.

AND WITH THAT SAID, I WILL MOVE THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 26-2026, WHATEVER, 2026-26.

SECOND? GETTING LATE, I NEED A BREAK.

ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, FOLKS? PRETTY GOOD DISCUSSION, PRETTY GOOD WORK PRODUCT.