[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:05] MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES. JON DEPRETER? YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [2. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS] FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS. EACH RESOLUTION WILL HAVE ITS OWN PUBLIC HEARING. I'M CALLING THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT IT'S REALLY PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND I HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS JUST FOR THE HEARING. AND THAT IS MS. B.J. KALADY. EXCUSE ME, B.J. KALADY, WEST CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THIS IS A REPEAT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T COME TO THE 431. I'M STILL GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION. NO. IS THERE FREE PARKING AT THE POST OFFICE OR OTHER PLACES FOR TOWN HALL MEETING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH, WHICH IS TOMORROW AT FLAGLER COLLEGE? THESE BUDGET MEETINGS WERE ORIGINALLY, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, AND WE REDID IT TO ACCOMMODATE, I BELIEVE, THAT TOWN HALL MEETING. SO FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHERE WE CAN PARK FOR FREE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. CAN I JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S NOT A CITY MEETING AND THE POST OFFICE IS NOT CITY PROPERTY. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE TOWN HALL MEETING WAS CALLED BY FLAGLER COLLEGE, AND WE'RE PARTICIPATING IN THAT MEETING, BUT IT'S NOT A CITY MEETING. THAT'S THE BEST EXPLANATION I CAN GIVE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I DO. AND I BEG YOUR PARDON, MS. KALADY. I DO HAVE, JUST LOOKING THROUGH THE CARDS HERE, I DO HAVE TWO OTHER GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS SPEAKER CARDS. THE FIRST IS MS. DONNA DOVE, FOLLOWED BY ROGER WHITE. AM I GOOD? DONNA DOVE, 101 FERDINAND AVENUE, DAVIS SHORES. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER FOR HIS THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE TO THE RESIDENTS BUDGET. I SUBMITTED THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND I HOPE HAVE AT LEAST SEEN. I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE HIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE BUDGET CAN BECOME MORE DETAILED, TRANSPARENT, AND UNDERSTANDABLE TO RESIDENTS. HE ALSO EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THE BUDGET A BETTER LIVING DOCUMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY ACCEPT THAT INVITATION AND VOLUNTEER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE RESIDENT-FRIENDLY BUDGET. I BELIEVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ORDINARY RESIDENT, SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTANT OR AN ACCOUNTANT OF ANY KIND, COULD BE VALUABLE IN DETERMINING WHETHER THE FINISHED PRODUCT ACTUALLY ANSWERS QUESTIONS RESIDENTS WILL HAVE. I WOULD BE VERY PLEASED AND HONORED TO HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ROGER WHITE. ROGER WHITE, 3 MARAT STREET. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU. IN THE PAST, YOU'VE HEARD ME COMMENT ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL ST. AUGUSTINE IS WITH WORKING WITH ITS CITIZENS. AND JUST TO REFLECT A LITTLE BIT, THE 2014 VISION TALKED ABOUT NEIGHBOR-TO-NEIGHBOR MEETINGS. THE 2024 HAD NO WORDS ABOUT NEIGHBORS. AND I'M STRUCK BY THAT, THAT HAVE WE MOVED TO THE POINT WHERE THE CITY IS DISTANCING ITSELF FROM ITS NEIGHBORS? SO A FEW PEOPLE SHOWED UP BECAUSE THE TAXPAYER IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I HOPE YOU RESPECT THAT AND REALIZE THAT AS WE WHO LIVE HERE, AGAIN, IN THE 2024, WE'RE REFERRED TO AS CUSTOMERS, NOT NEIGHBORS. SO I REALLY HOPE YOU RETHINK THIS BECAUSE AFFORDABILITY IS A BIG PART OF LIVABILITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER CARD. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE LAST SPEAKER IS MS. BJ. OH, I'M SORRY. WE HAD BJ KALADY. I APOLOGIZE. SO NO ONE'S SPEAKING. NO ONE WISHES TO STEP FORWARD. [00:05:01] PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. WE WILL MOVE ON [3.A. Resolution 2026-22: Consideration of Resolution 2026-22, establishing the tentative millage rate for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. (M. Burns, Finance Director)] TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR RESOLUTION 2026-22, WHICH IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2026-22, ESTABLISHING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET. MS. BURNS, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. TONIGHT WE ARE PRESENTING CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2026-22. THIS RESOLUTION ESTABLISHES THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027. THIS MILLAGE RATE REMAINS AT 7.5 MILLS. THE 7.5 MILLAGE RATE REPRESENTS AN INCREASE IN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 7.2385 MILLS BY 3.61%. THE INCREASED AD VALOREM REVENUES THAT THE CITY WILL RECEIVE BY LEAVING THE MILLAGE RATE AT 7.5 MILLS WILL BE USED FOR THE ITEMS DISCUSSED AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP HELD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SUCH AS CONTINUATION OF ROAD RESURFACING, MOVING TO CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY SIDEWALK PROJECT, FUNDING FOR THE MIDDLETON HOUSE CONSTRUCTION, AND THE CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE MILLAGE RATE? NO? OKAY. WE CAN GO TO PUBLIC HEARING THEN. I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS. DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION PERTAINING TO THE MILLAGE RATE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MILLAGE RATE? HEARING NO ONE, SEEING NO ONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. WE ARE BACK FOR DISCUSSION. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? YES. I HAVE A COMMENT BECAUSE I'VE SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, AND WE'RE IN A STATE THAT DICTATES SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE REQUIRED TO DO. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENT ABOUT INEQUITIES AD VALOREM, AND AN EXAMPLE IS THOSE THAT HAVE LIVED IN A HOUSE FOR 30 YEARS VERSUS SOMEONE WHO BUYS A NEW HOUSE. AND THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT THEY PAY IS TREMENDOUS. AND WHETHER THAT'S FAIR OR NOT IS NOTHING THAT WE CAN CHOOSE TO CHANGE. ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY TO FUND THE NEEDS THAT WE GET FROM OUR BUSINESSES AND FROM OUR RESIDENTS. AND SO THEREFORE WE FEEL LIKE 7.5 IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. IF PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE TAX, THEY NEED TO CONTACT THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES. AND WE WOULD PROBABLY SUPPORT SOME MODIFICATIONS IN THOSE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE. BUT WE DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO FUND THE DEMANDS THAT WE HAVE ON US AS A COMMISSION. THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION, UNLESS PEOPLE WANT TO DEBATE IT MORE. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY DEBATE. I THINK THIS IS THE SAME MILLAGE RATE WE'VE HAD FOR HOW MANY YEARS? 2009. 2009. AND I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD SAID IT. WELL, WHEN I FIRST DID THIS LAST YEAR, THERE IS A LOT OF INEQUITY, BUT THAT'S KIND OF GOOD INTENTIONS FROM THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE LIVING WITH, REALLY. AND I KNOW FOR YEARS I WAS A SECOND HOMEOWNER, AND THE GUY NEXT DOOR TO ME WAS PAYING A LOT LESS MONEY THAN I WAS. AND THERE'S REALLY, I JUST DON'T KNOW A WAY THAT WE CAN RECTIFY ALL THIS STUFF, LIKE YOU SAID, THAT HAPPENED. SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT. AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO THE MAYOR'S COMMENT. YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A MOTION? ARE YOU READY? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS RESOLUTION 2026-22. I'LL SECOND. AND I HAVE TO READ THE TOTALITY OF THIS, SO HOLD ON, IT'S A LITTLE LENGTHY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-22, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027. WHEREAS THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, HAS CONDUCTED A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITS TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE OF 7.5000 MILLS, AND HAS DETERMINED ITS ROLLED BACK RATE IS 7.2385 MILLS, AS REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTES 200.065. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, THAT THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 TENTATIVE MILLAGE [00:10:03] RATE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, IS 7.5000 MILLS, WHICH REPRESENTS AN INCREASE IN THE ROLLED BACK RATE OF 7.2385 MILLS OF 3.61% ADOPTED IN THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, THIS NINTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026, SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR COMMISSIONER, NANCY SIKES-KLINE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONERS, COMMENTS BEFORE YOU CALL THE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JON DEPRETER? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. ALL RIGHT, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO RESOLUTION [3.B. Resolution 2026-25: Consideration of Resolution 2026-25, final resolution for an increase in the fire assessment fee. (M. Burns, Finance Director)] 2026-25, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2026-25, FINAL RESOLUTION FOR AN INCREASE IN THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE. MS. BURNS? HELLO AGAIN. RESOLUTION, AS SAID, RESOLUTION 2026-25 IS A FINAL RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE INCREASE FOR FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES. THIS INCREASES THE FEE FROM 7.76 CENTS TO 9 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND 13.91 CENTS TO 16 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. INCLUDED IN THE ACCESSIBLE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS ANY SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT HAS A ROOF AND OR WALLS, NOT ONLY THE CONDITION AREA SPACE, BUT ALSO ANY STRUCTURE WITH A ROOF AND OR WALLS, SUCH AS A GARAGE, UTILITY SHED, OR FINISHED PORCH. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR A VACANT LAND. THIS FEE HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 2023. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE A HANDOUT CONCERNING THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE RATE HISTORY. IS SOMEONE HERE TO ADDRESS THAT? ERIN, CAN I HAVE THE SCREEN? YES, THIS IS DEPICTING THAT WE'VE HAD THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE SINCE 1998 OR 1997, I'M SORRY, AND THESE ARE SHOWING THE INCREASES OVER THE YEARS. AND LIKE, LIKE I SAID, THE RATES HAVE BEEN THE SAME SINCE 2023 AND THIS IS JUST INCREASING IT. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? I LOOKED AT THIS AND TRIED TO EVALUATE THE COST THAT THIS WOULD BE TO A HOMEOWNER IN TOWN. I CONSULTED WITH OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANT MANAGER, MEREDITH BREIDENSTEIN. AND JUST TO CONFIRM, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IF SOMEONE HAS A 2,000 SQUARE FEET PROPERTY, I'M JUST USING THAT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF IN THE AVERAGE, THAT THE INCREASE, NOT THE TOTAL, BUT THE INCREASE THAT THIS WOULD BE WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT $2 A MONTH. DOES THAT, IS THAT ACCURATE? YES, I ACTUALLY DO HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF LIKE USING. COULD YOU TELL US THE EXAMPLES? YES, A SQUARE FOOT, A RESIDENTIAL HOUSE WITH 1,776 SQUARE FEET. THE CURRENT RATE IS $137.82 A YEAR. IT WILL GO UP TO $159.84 A YEAR, A DIFFERENCE OF $22. SO THAT'S $22 A YEAR, NOT A MONTH OR A DAY OR ANYTHING? NO, IT'S A YEAR. ROUGHLY $2 A MONTH. YEAH, ROUGHLY $2 A MONTH. OKAY, THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT OUT THERE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. I WANT TO NOTE A COUPLE OF THINGS, IF I COULD. ONE IS THAT THE NON-RESIDENTIAL RATE IS HIGHER, WHICH I THINK IS APPROPRIATE, AND WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY. THE OTHER THING, NOT ALWAYS, BUT FOR THE PAST DECADE OR SO WE'VE DONE IT THAT WAY. AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT THIS IS, THIS TAX, I MEAN THIS FEE IS HOW WE GET AT, NOT JUST HOW WE GET AT, BUT IT HAS A GOOD BENEFIT TO US OVERALL IN THAT THOSE ENTITIES THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM TAXES, EXCEPT FOR THE STATE AND FEDERAL ENTITIES, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE EXEMPT REGARDLESS. BUT EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S NOT PAYING AD VALOREM TAXES BECAUSE OF THEIR NONPROFIT STATUS DOES HAVE TO PAY THESE FEES. OKAY, THERE WAS SOME MISCONCEPTION OUT THERE THAT THEY WEREN'T PAYING FEES AT ALL, AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF STATE AND FEDERAL. OKAY, THANK YOU. [00:15:02] THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT. THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO SAY, BECAUSE I DID TALK TO SOMEBODY AND THEY WERE ASKING ME ABOUT THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEES, AND AT FIRST I, YOU KNOW, I WAS NOT FOR THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEES UNTIL IT WAS BROKEN DOWN TO ME THAT IT'S REALLY JUST A TWO CENT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT ALSO GIVES US MONEY FROM BUSINESSES AS WELL AS FLAGLER COLLEGE AND IN CHURCHES THAT WE DON'T GET TAXES FROM. SO WE NEED THOSE FEES TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS AND ADDRESS SOME OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. WHAT IT DOES IS IT PAYS PER PORTION OF THE FIRE BUDGET. OKAY, THEREFORE WE CAN HELP PAY FOR YES. OKAY. I KNOW THAT FOR FOUR YEARS NOW I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR SIDEWALKS ON OLD DIXIE HIGHWAY, AND WE ARE FINALLY AT A POINT THIS YEAR TO CREATE SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WHEN I CAMPAIGNED IN 22 THAT SAID THAT THEY FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO WALK TO WORK. AND THESE KIND OF THINGS ARE HELPING US WITH THE ABILITY TO DO THOSE THINGS. AND SO IT TAKES A WHILE FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS TO COME INTO OUR REALITY. BUT IN THE SAME TOKEN, IT BLESSES US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR CITY STRONGER. SO I KNOW IT'S AN INCONVENIENCE HERE AND ANY TIME ANYTHING GOES UP I MEAN I WAS BAD WHEN THE DOLLAR STORE WENT FROM $1 TO $1.25, BECAUSE WE'RE USED TO WHAT WE'RE USED TO AND WE BUDGET FOR WHAT WE'RE USED TO. BUT THIS FIRE ASSESSMENT ALSO, IT WILL HELP US DO A LOT MORE THINGS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO PUT A FINANCE DIRECTOR ON THE HOOK ABOUT EXPLAINING ALL THOSE THINGS. BUT I'M SURE ANY ONE OF US WILL BE WILLING TO DISCUSS THIS AND SO WILL OUR CITY MANAGER. IF YOU HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS FIRE ASSESSMENT, I'M SURE SOME OF YOU ARE IN HERE BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET, AND YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING AND HOW IT'S UTILIZED. AND WE'RE HERE TO GOVERN AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR TAXPAYERS, WHICH IS YOUR RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS THE BUSINESSES. SO THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. I HAVE THREE SPEAKER CARDS. FIRST SPEAKER WOULD BE WOLFGANG SCHAU FOLLOWED BY DANA TAYLOR. I'M WOLFGANG SCHAU, 146 INLET DRIVE, DAVIS SHORES AND AUGUSTINE. I STRICTLY OPPOSE ANY INCREASE OF REAL ESTATE TAX. NOW, DON'T GET ME WRONG. I LOVE OUR FIREMEN. I LOVE OUR POLICE. THEY DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB. IN THE LAST SIX YEARS, THEIR ASSESSMENT FEE HAS INCREASED BY 12%, WHICH IS 2% PER YEAR. AT THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME, ONE OF MY PROPERTY, THE REAL ESTATE TAX, WAS INCREASED BY 13,000, WHICH IS 100% INCREASE, 100%, NOT 2%. OTHER PROPERTIES WERE INCREASED, NONE OF THEM LESS THAN 50%. WHERE DID THIS EXTRA MONEY GO? WHERE DID IT GO? YES, GIVE IT TO THE FIRE PEOPLE, GIVE IT TO THE POLICE. THEY DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB. BUT WHERE DID THIS EXTRA MONEY, WHICH CAME INTO OUR GOVERNMENT, WHERE DID IT GO? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THAT? THIS IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN. AFFORDABILITY IS THE PROBLEM WHICH WE HAVE HERE. NOW, IF RESIDENTS AND ST. AUGUSTINE HAS ONLY 62% OF HOMEOWNER RESIDENCES, WHILE THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS 82%. WHY? BECAUSE IT GETS LITERALLY ALMOST UNAFFORDABLE ANYMORE FOR HOMEOWNERS TO BUY A HOME AND PAY THIS RIDICULOUS HIGH REAL ESTATE TAXES. DISTRIBUTE THIS TAX MONEY, WHICH FLOWS INTO THE GOVERNMENT, TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. MAKE SURE IT GOES WHERE IT IS THE BEST, AND I DO 100% AGREE WITH YOU. BUT WE HAVE TO CAREFULLY LOOK WHAT THE MONEY IS BEING DONE WITH, WHICH COMES INTO OUR GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS DANA TAYLOR, FOLLOWED BY BJ KALADY. MY NAME IS DANA TAYLOR. I AM SORRY. I LIVE IN DAVIS SHORES. MY ADDRESS IS PROTECTED. MY HUSBAND'S ACTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE LIVED IN DAVIS SHORES FOR 34 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT AN ASSESSMENT TO FUND FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES FOR IMPROVED PROPERTY IN THE CITY. AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THIS ASSESSMENT IS RELATED [00:20:02] TO THE PROPOSED FIRE STATION ON THE FORMER BLUE WATER JEWELERS PROPERTY. LET ME START, WOLFGANG, BY SAYING THAT I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF FIRST RESPONDERS. I COME FROM A FIRST RESPONDER FAMILY. I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE JOB THEY DO. MY CONCERN IS HOW THE CITY IS PLANNED AND SPENT TAXPAYER MONEY AND IS NOW ASKING US TO PAY MORE BECAUSE THE PROJECT'S COMING UP SHORT. AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES THE PROJECT COSTS MORE THAN ANTICIPATED. BUT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK, LOOK AT YOUR DECISIONS AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THINGS WENT WRONG. YOU DON'T SIMPLY GO BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY. THE PURCHASE OF BLUE WATER JEWELERS PROPERTY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. THE CITY PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN IT APPRAISED FOR AND THEN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ALLOWED THE BUSINESS OWNER TO REMAIN THERE RENT FREE FOR TWO YEARS. AND AS A TAXPAYER AND AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I FIND THAT EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING. I'M LITERALLY BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY EVERY DAY AND WATCHING ANOTHER BUSINESS OPERATE ON PROPERTY PURCHASE WITH MY TAX DOLLARS WHILE RECEIVING WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A VERY GENEROUS DEAL. AND NOW I'M BEING ASKED TO PAY MORE. I ALSO HAVE SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOCATION AND NECESSITY OF THIS PARTICULAR STATION. I UNDERSTAND THE EXISTING STATION AVERAGES ONLY 3.5 CALLS PER DAY. AND IF THAT'S ACCURATE, WHY ARE WE REPLACING IT AT THIS LOCATION RATHER THAN LOOKING AT A LOCATION THAT WOULD SERVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESIDENTS? WHY NOT KEEP THE REDCOX STATION OPERATING AND CONSIDER PUTTING A NEW STATION ALONG 312 WHERE THERE'S BEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH? THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES ALONG 312, INCLUDING THE ALLEGRO ASSISTED LIVING, AND I'M SURE IF WE LOOKED AT THE CALLS FOR SERVICE, THAT AREA PROBABLY GENERATES MANY MORE CALLS THAN DAVIS SHORES. SO I'M ASKING THE CITY TO STOP AND RECONSIDER. I SUPPORT OUR FIREFIGHTERS. I DO NOT SUPPORT IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING, POOR PLANNING OR ASKING TAXPAYERS TO CONTINUALLY PAY MORE TO FIX DECISIONS THAT THE CITY HAS MADE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS BJ KALADY. BJ KALADY WITH CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, RESOLUTION 2026-25. FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE, THERE SHOULD BE AN INCREASE IN THE FIRE ASSESSMENT. THIS BEGAN IN 1997 SINCE MANY PROPERTIES SUCH AS FLAGLER COLLEGE DID NOT AND STILL DO NOT PAY PROPERTY TAXES. AND THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS OFF THE ROLLS THAT WE CAN USE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT EXEMPT. THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE SHOULD NOT PAY FOR LEGACY MONUMENTS, COMMUNITY GARDENS, PURPLE BENCHES, PICNICS TO ENTERTAIN VISITORS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES OR PUT ANY MORE LIGHTS ON THE BRIDGE. WANTS, NOT NEEDS. NEEDS ARE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE FACT THAT FLAGLER COLLEGE WILL NOT MAKE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES TO SUPPORT FREE CITY SERVICES THEY HAVE RECEIVED FOR YEARS. WE'VE BEEN ASKING THIS AND ASKING THIS AND NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I GOT THE SOLUTION. I GOT THE SOLUTION. IF YOU BELIEVE THE SCARE TAXES CONCERNING AMENDMENT 3 IN NOVEMBER, PLEASE CONTACT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER AND ELIMINATE YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. WE CAN GET MORE MONEY IF YOU JUST ELIMINATE YOUR EXEMPTION. SO THAT'S A SOLUTION IF YOU'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. AND I APPRECIATE PEOPLE SHOWING UP, BUT WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN WHEN ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET TO THESE MEETINGS. BELIEVE ME, IT'S HARD TO GET TO THESE MEETINGS. BUT IMPORTANT IS TO TALK TO THOSE THAT WE HAVE ELECTED AND NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU GET SOMETHING IN THE LETTER AND DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO CALL THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. MAYBE THEY'VE BEEN BOMBARDED. I KIND OF DOUBT IT, BUT I APPRECIATE THE BREAKDOWN ON WHAT THE FIRE ASSESSMENT HAS [00:25:01] BEEN BECAUSE WE WEREN'T MAKING ENOUGH MONEY IN THE REGULAR GENERAL FUND, FOLKS. THAT'S ONE AND ONE IS TWO. IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE. AND I'M GLAD YOU GOT BIG HOUSES. I GOT A SMALL HOME. I'M GRATEFUL. BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO EXPECT SERVICES, ESPECIALLY THINGS TO KEEP YOU SAFE, THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, CALL THEM UP. SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY'LL BE THERE BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW IT. SO, YES, I DON'T COME IN HERE TOO OFTEN TO SAY INCREASE THE FIRE TAX OR ANY OTHER TAX. I'M SAYING IT TODAY. IT'S ON THE RECORD. AND 13 SECONDS. VOTE YES ON. THE WORD IS ON THREE BECAUSE I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT WORD. IT'S ON. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME FORWARD. HEARING NO ONE. SEEING NO ONE. PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. WE ARE BACK. OKAY. WE HAVE. OKAY. I'VE GOT A. OF COURSE. BRIAN BEATON, 15 SOUTH CAMARAS. I'M NOT A MATHEMATICIAN, BUT WHEN I SEE FEES INCREASING, IT CONCERNS ME. IT MAY SEEM LIKE TWO CENTS, BUT FROM 2023 TO YOUR PROPOSED RATE IS A 30% INCREASE. IF EVERYBODY'S GETTING HIT ACROSS THE BOARD WITH 30% INCREASES. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS GOING TO AFFORD IT OR THE CURRENT GENERATION. SO BE MINDFUL OF THESE INCREASES BECAUSE THEY'RE AFFECTING BIG TIME THE NEXT GENERATION. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT YOU HAVEN'T POURED THE FOUNDATION YET FOR THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT. OKAY. WHEN YOU PERFORM PROJECTS, YOU HAVE INCREASES IN THE SCHEDULE AND INCREASES IN THE COST ALL THE TIME. IT'S GUARANTEED. SO IF THERE'S COMPLEXITIES, IF THERE'S A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS IN THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT, BE READY FOR MORE MONEY TO BE NEEDED. AND THE CITIZENS ARE GETTING SQUEEZED. WE CAN'T KEEP GETTING MORE AND MORE INCREASES IN ALL OF OUR FEES. SO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN 2026. AS WE GO FORWARD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO REQUIRE MORE MONEY FROM US. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU DON'T MIND FILLING OUT A SPEAKER CARD, THEY'RE IN THE BACK, SIR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KICK OFF THE CONVERSATION BY ASKING THE CITY MANAGER TO PLEASE CLARIFY AS TO WHETHER THE FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION IS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE ASSESSMENT INCREASE. NO, IT IS NOT. NICE SHORT ANSWER. OKAY. NO, THERE ARE NO COST OVERRUNS, NONE OF THAT SORT OF THING. IT'S A NATURAL THING TO ASSUME, OF COURSE. I UNDERSTAND. BECAUSE THEY KIND OF COME AT THE SAME TIME. THAT IS CORRECT. THEY'RE COMING AT THE SAME TIME. BUT THE INCREASE IN THE NON-AD VALOREM FIRE ASSESSMENT IS NOT BEING DONE BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING A NEW FIRE STATION ON ANASTASIA BOULEVARD. THANK YOU. YEAH, I THINK IF WE CAN CLARIFY SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT, THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE IS A REPLACEMENT FOR OUR AD VALOREM TAXES. GENERALLY, IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS $10 MILLION, WE HAVE TO GET $10 MILLION SOMEWHERE. IF WE DON'T CHARGE THE BUSINESS, THE NONPROFITS, A LARGER RATE THAN WE'RE CHARGING THE RESIDENTS OR ANY RATE AT ALL, THAT BURDEN IS GOING TO COME BACK TO ALL OF US THAT OWN PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE RAISING A FEE, IT ALSO IS NOT RAISING THE PROPERTY TAXES IN GENERAL TO FUND THAT WHATEVER IT IS. THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER IS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE RATING ALLOWS FOR REDUCED HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE. MY HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE DID NOT INCREASE THIS YEAR. I'VE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE MENTION IT IS LOWERED. SO IT'S BECAUSE OF THE RATING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET FOR THE QUALITY OF THE FIRE SERVICE THAT WE HAVE LOWERS YOUR INTEREST RATE. IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FIRE [00:30:02] ASSESSMENT, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT SOMEWHERE AND IT WILL COME FROM AD VALOREM AND OTHER FEES, OTHER TAXES. SO IT'S A MATH PROBLEM, A LITTLE HARD TO GET. YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT EITHER WHEN I WAS A RESIDENT AND NOT A COMMISSIONER, BUT IT IS A POSITIVE THING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO. WE'RE LIMITED ON THE AMOUNT THAT WE CAN DO. WE'RE LIMITED ON THE AMOUNT OF AD VALOREM. WE COULD GO TO 10%, I BELIEVE, BY LAW. AND WE'RE NOT INCREASING THAT THIS YEAR. SO THE COST OF BUSINESS IS THE COST OF BUSINESS. YES, WE CAN REDUCE THE COST OF BUSINESS LIKE WE HAVE THIS YEAR BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STAFF AND BY NOT INCREASING IT LAST YEAR. SO WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP THE COST DOWN. BUT IT IS SURE NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE SPEAKING ON TOPICS. APPRECIATE YOU COMING. YES. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING THEIR TRUTH ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER THINGS. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO COME DOWNTOWN AFTER WORKING AND FIND PARKING AND COME UP IN HERE AND SPEAK BEFORE THE PUBLIC WHEN YOU'RE NOT USED TO DOING SO. BUT WE DO HEAR YOU WHEN YOU SHOW UP AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TIME. AND I WANT TO THANK MS. DOVE FOR WRITING US THE EMAIL LETTER AND ALSO FOLLOWING UP BY COMING IN. THANK YOU. MR. CITY MANAGER, YOU SAID THAT THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE INCREASE IS NOT A RESULT OF THE NEW FIRE STATION. WHAT IS IT? IS IT FIRE TRUCKS, FOR EXAMPLE? SO IT'S THINGS LIKE REPLACING EQUIPMENT, LIKE WHEN I REPLACE A CAR, I'M GOING TO PAY MORE NEXT TIME THAN I DID FOR THREE YEARS AGO. BECAUSE EQUIPMENT DOES INCREASE, ESPECIALLY VEHICLES. THAT'S PART OF THE INCREASE. ARE THERE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES YOU WOULD POINT TO? WELL, I THINK IF YOU TOOK THE INCREASED FIRE ASSESSMENT, JUST THE INCREASED FIRE ASSESSMENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE UNDER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO COLLECT. AND IF WE DID NOT COLLECT THAT, WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING TO CUT. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRE TRUCK THAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET AND I DON'T WANT TO SHOCK ANYBODY, BUT FIRE TRUCKS ARE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. THEY'RE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OUTRIGHT PURCHASE THAT. WE WOULD HAVE TO EITHER PUT MONEY DOWN TO FINANCE IT, WHICH THERE'S A CARRYING COST FOR THAT. OR WE WOULD HAVE TO DEFER THAT COST. THE OTHER THING THAT THIS DOES IS IT KEEPS UP WITH THE COST OF INFLATION. EVERYTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE. ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT USES AND USES THROUGH IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES JUST COSTS MORE. AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THAT, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE'S. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. FOR ME, I WOULD SAY THAT INCREASE OF $2 A MONTH IS MORE THAN OFFSET BY THE SAVINGS ON MY PROPERTY INSURANCE ANNUALLY, WHICH WOULD BE PROBABLY CLOSER TO AT LEAST $100 BY THAT RATING OF NUMBER ONE. WE'RE NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS? I WOULD SAY THAT THE STATE, AS FAR AS THESE FIRE ASSESSMENT, IT'S PART OF A STRATEGY, A LONG-TERM STRATEGY THAT CITIES HAD OVER TIME TO TRY TO BECOME LESS RELIANT ON PROPERTY TAXES. AND IT WAS REALLY FORCED ON THE CITY MANY YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE HAD, LIKE MS. KALADY ALWAYS REMINDS US, A LOT OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT ON THE TAX ROLLS IN THE CITY. A LOT OF INSTITUTIONS, A LOT OF STATE PROPERTIES, A LOT OF CHURCHES, AND SOME OF OUR MOST VALUABLE PROPERTY DOWNTOWN IS NOT ON THE TAX ROLL. THESE ARE HOUSE MUSEUMS, SO FORTH AND SO ON. AND SO THE CITY WAS PROPOSED WITH THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO, AND ONE OF THE STRATEGIES, AND THAT COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT THE STATE DOES NOT LET MUNICIPALITIES USE VERY MANY TOOLS TO RAISE TAXES, TO RAISE REVENUES, NOT TAXES, REVENUES. SO THIS WAS A STRATEGY THAT WAS PART OF A STRATEGY. THERE'S OTHER FEES THAT ARE CHARGED. THERE'S FRANCHISE FEES THAT THE CITY GETS, FP&L, I THINK THE TROLLEY COMPANIES, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED TO DIVERSIFY THE REVENUE STREAMS AND BALANCE THEM AND PUT THE CITY IN A BETTER POSITION AND NOT AS DEPENDENT ON THE PROPERTY TAXES. SO THAT KIND OF IS THE REASONING [00:35:01] BEHIND HAVING THE FIRE FEE, BUT I WILL NOTE THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHART, REALLY, THERE'S FOUR YEARS IT WASN'T RAISED. YOU KNOW, THERE'S LONG PERIODS SINCE IT WAS INTRODUCED WHERE IT WASN'T RAISED, BUT NOW IT IS BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT A POSITION OF NEEDING TO BUY A FIRE TRUCK, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I'M IN FAVOR OF THE FIRE FEE INCREASE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT IS AN IMPORTANT FEE FOR US. IT'S NOT THE BIGGEST THING IN THE WORLD, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE THE STRATEGY LONG TERM. AND IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED, ARE YOU ALL READY FOR ME TO MAKE A MOTION? I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION. ALL RIGHT, SO I MOVE THAT WE PASS RESOLUTION 2026-25. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A THING TO READ? NO LONG THING TO READ. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, DEBATE, QUESTIONS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. JON DEPRETER? YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD? [4.A. Ordinance 2026-22: Consideration of Ordinance 2026-22, establishing the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan. (M. Burns, Finance Director)] YEP. ALL RIGHT. SO THE NEXT MAJOR, THIS IS THE BIG ONE, THE ORDINANCE 2026-22, WHICH IS ESTABLISHING THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 AND THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. MS. BURNS? REPRESENTING FOR FIRST READING ORDINANCE 2026-22. THIS ORDINANCE CONTAINS THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 FOR ALL FUNDS. THE BUDGET BOOK ALONG WITH THE UPDATED CIP IS INCLUDED WITH THIS ORDINANCE. THE BUDGET BOOK IS THE SAME AS THE ONE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED DURING A BUDGET WORKSHOP WITH A FEW MINOR CORRECTIONS. THOSE CORRECTIONS ARE UNDER THE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS. WE HAD SAID ORIGINALLY THERE WAS NO NEW POSITIONS, BUT I WAS CORRECTED THAT THERE IS ONE NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER POSITION THAT'S FULLY FUNDED BY SHORT-TERM RENTAL FEES. ON PAGE 10 WHERE THE PERSONNEL FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT, THAT CHART WAS UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE NEW POSITION. AND THE REMAINING CORRECTIONS WERE JUST TYPOS CORRECTIONS. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE. QUESTIONS? ARE YOU TAKING COMMENTS? I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO GO OVER THE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS IF YOU COULD READ THOSE OUT TO US SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. OKAY. FY27 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS ARE THE MILLAGE RATE STAYS AT 7.5 MILLS, THE FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE INCREASE, GENERAL WAGE INCREASE OF 3% FOR PAY GRADES 19 AND BELOW, AND 2% FOR PAY GRADES 19 AND ABOVE. AND ALSO A MERIT OF UP TO 2% BASED ON PERFORMANCE. A FIRE TRUCK PURCHASE, NO PARKING RATE CHANGES, BATHROOM REMODEL AT CASA HIDALGO, BATHROOM REMODEL AT THE MARINA, FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE MIDDLETON HOUSE, CONTINUED CONSERVATION LAND FUNDING OF $100,000, PAVING OF $950,000, AN INCREASE OVER FY26. UTILITIES RATES TO INCREASE BY 3.5%, BUT THE SURCHARGE FOR OUTSIDE CITY CUSTOMERS IS TO DECREASE BY 5%. THE STORMWATER AND SOLID WASTE RATES TO INCREASE BY 4.2%, ONE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER POSITION FULLY FUNDED BY SHORT-TERM RENTAL FEES, A REDUCTION OF FOUR POSITIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND, MOVED TO CONSTRUCTION OF SOUTH DIXIE SIDEWALKS, AND MOVED TO PHASE ONE CONSTRUCTION OF LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. I THINK YOU HAD SAID YOU WANTED TO SPEAK? YES. AS YOU SAID EARLIER IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS BUDGET FOR MOST OF THE PAST YEAR IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, AND I LOVE THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING AND TO CORRECT MISPERCEPTIONS, [00:40:03] ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN SO THAT WE ARE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT IS CERTAINLY, I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY HERE, THAT WE WANT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. I WOULD INVITE PEOPLE TO REALLY BEGIN GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS EARLIER. THE WORKSHOPS IN PARTICULAR, WHAT WAS OUR WORKSHOP LENGTH LAST? THAT LAST MEETING WAS LIKE AT LEAST THREE HOURS, THREE OR FOUR HOURS, ROUGHLY THAT. AND IT'S REALLY JUST GOING OVER EVERY SINGLE DETAIL OF THE BUDGET AND THE CITY COMMISSIONERS LINE BY LINE LITERALLY QUESTIONING WHAT'S IN THERE AND WHY IT'S THERE AND WHETHER THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO MODIFY. AND THAT HAPPENS REALLY OVER THE COURSE FROM MAY ON. AND SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET HERE AS SOME OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID, BUT IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST AND YOU CLEARLY DO IN OUR BUDGET AND FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS, THEN PLEASE, THIS IS A FORMAL INVITATION, COME TO MORE OF OUR WORKSHOPS AND LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD AND YOUR QUESTIONS BE ANSWERED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO COMMENTS? OTHER COMMENTS? SO I AGREE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS. THIS IS, LIKE I SAY, I THINK, LIKE I SAID AT THE WORKSHOP, THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT REALLY EXPRESSES OUR VALUES AS A COMMUNITY, WHAT WE SPEND THE MONEY ON. I SEE, YOU KNOW, $950,000 IN PAVING. THAT IS PROBABLY THE ONE THING THAT I HEAR THE MOST ABOUT FROM RESIDENTS. THEY WANT THEIR STREETS PAVED. AND THAT GIVES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PAVING DONE IN A YEAR. THERE'S BEEN YEARS WHEN WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING IN THAT BUDGET. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THAT. SOLID WASTE IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY, AND STORMWATER IS SOMETHING WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT. CODE ENFORCEMENT, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I HEAR, JUST LIKE WE HEARD MS. KALADY TALK ABOUT, CODE ENFORCEMENT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL SO IMPACTED. I WAS JUST SAYING TODAY TO THE CITY MANAGER HOW MANY SHORT-TERM RENTALS I HAVE ON MY STREET NOW. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL, IT'S A GROWING PHENOMENON, AND WE'RE ALL IMPACTED BY IT, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP GOOD PRACTICES WHEN IT COMES TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS. AND WE NEED STAFF TO DO THAT. THE SIDEWALKS, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WITH THE SIDEWALKS, IMPORTANT. WE'RE A WALKABLE CITY. IT'S WHAT THE RESIDENTS VALUE THE MOST. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT BUSINESSES VERSUS RESIDENTS. THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR SO MANY YEARS NOW, AND I AM SO, WE ARE SO, SO CLOSE TO AFFECTING THAT. IT AFFECTS 100 ACRES, AS I RECALL, OF DOWNTOWN PROPERTY WILL HELP DRAINAGE FOR, IS THAT RIGHT, STEPHEN? IS IT ABOUT 100 ACRES? I BELIEVE SO, AND OVER 200 STRUCTURES. HE'S SHOUTING FROM THE BACK. COULD YOU COME UP AND SPEAK A LITTLE, IF YOU DON'T MIND? IS THAT OKAY, MR. CITY MANAGER, IF HE COMES AND TALKS? STEPHEN, CAN YOU COME UP AND SAY WHAT YOU SAID? BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. THE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR SO MANY YEARS. OKAY, HE'S GOING TO SEND JESSICA. YAY. SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T GET TO DICTATE WHO COMES UP TO THE PODIUM. THIS IS THEIR DECISION. HELLO. GOOD TO SEE YOU. SO LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ, THE PROJECT BENEFIT AREA IS AROUND 200 ACRES OF THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CORE. THERE'S 186 STRUCTURES THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT FLOOD RISK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BETTER PROTECT THROUGH THE FLOOD MITIGATION STRATEGIES. AND I DID HEAR THAT PHASE ONE, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT TOO. SO, YES, IT'S A BIG PROJECT. IT'S COMPLICATED, AS WE ALL KNOW, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT WILL RESULT FROM THAT. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO GET UNDERWAY WITH THAT SOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. I HAD IT WAY DOWN THERE. IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE WE DISCUSSED IT AND SO MANY YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IT. BUT IT IS SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OR MOST HISTORIC PROPERTIES DOWNTOWN AND WE'LL PROTECT THOSE. AND IT WILL BE A BIG PROJECT. AND I DO HOPE THAT IT MAKES AN IMPACT ON THESE FLOODING EVENTS AND THINGS. BUT THOSE ITEMS THAT I JUST WENT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ASKED THE QUESTION EARLIER. OH, AND THERE'S ONE MORE, THE FUNDING OF THE CONSERVATION LAND, WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT WE'VE HAD, INITIATIVES THAT WE'VE HAD IN YEARS. RATHER THAN HAVE LAND DEVELOPED [00:45:01] THAT'S SENSITIVE OR HISTORIC OR THAT SORT OF CATEGORY OF PROPERTY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE THOSE PROPERTIES AND PRESERVE THEM. AND WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY, VICE MAYORS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROPERTIES ARE PLACED INTO CONSERVATION INDEFINITELY, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT THING. AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S $100,000. IT'S NOT REALLY NEARLY ENOUGH TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT, BUT WE HAVE TO BUILD THAT FUND UP OVER TIME. AND THOSE ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS TO THIS COMMUNITY. WE'RE A DIFFERENT KIND OF COMMUNITY. WE'RE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COMMITTEES. WE HAVE AN ARCHEOLOGY PROGRAM. WE HAVE A CONSERVATION PROGRAM. WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORIC PROJECTS, PROPERTIES. WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FLOOD RISK AS WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE COASTAL AND WE'RE BOUNDED BY WATER. SO WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY. AND I THINK WE MANAGE THINGS VERY WELL CONSIDERING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS MY OPINION, AND HAVING DONE THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A WASTE IN THE BUDGET. I THINK THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT NEEDS VERSUS WANTS ALL DAY LONG WITH MS. KALADY, AND WE CAN DISAGREE OR AGREE, BUT I HAPPEN TO LIKE LIGHTING UNDER THE BRIDGE. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE NICE THINGS FOR THE CITY. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD GIVE OURSELVES SOME THINGS THAT ARE NICE EVERY NOW AND THEN. BUT MAYBE THAT'S NOT A NEED. MAYBE IT'S A WANT, BUT THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT MAKE OUR CITY SPECIAL. NEW FIRE STATIONS? ABSOLUTELY. IF WE MOVE THIS FIRE STATION FROM WHERE IT IS IN A TERRIBLE LOCATION, THAT THE DOT HAS SAID THAT THEY CANNOT CREATE AN INTERSECTION THERE. THE LINES DON'T LINE UP. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FUND A ROUNDABOUT THERE IF WE CAN MOVE THE FIRE STATION. IT NECESSITATES US MOVING THE FIRE STATION TO GET THAT TRAFFIC FIXED ON THAT HARD CURVE THAT PEOPLE KEEP DYING ON. SO THAT'S A PRETTY COMPLEX PROJECT, BUT IT'S GOING TO GIVE US A LOT OF WINS IF WE CAN GET THAT FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTED. AND WE THINK THAT IT WILL BE A HUGE ASSET TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ISLAND, THE ENTIRE ISLAND. AND THE FIRE STATION AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN CONTINUE TO GIVE US THOSE HIGH RATINGS, LIKE YOU SAID, WHICH REALLY IS MONEY IN OUR POCKET. IT GIVES US MORE CHOICES ON WHAT INSURANCE COMPANIES WE CAN WORK WITH, WHO WE CHOOSE TO GO WITH, BUT THOSE ARE PRIVATE DECISIONS. JUST LIKE WE POINTED OUT AT THE WORKSHOP, THOSE AREN'T DECISIONS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET. THOSE ARE SAVINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE LEVEL. MY INSURANCE WENT DOWN. MY HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE WENT DOWN, AND I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I LOVE TO HEAR THOSE STORIES. LOTS OF OURS WENT DOWN. BECAUSE I KNOW THE CHIEF IS BACK THERE, AND I KNOW HE'S WORKING THERE. HE WAS BACK THERE. HE'S BACK THERE, CHIEF. THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU'RE DOING TO KEEPING US ALL SAFE. THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME IN THIS LONG TIRADE. BUT IT'S MY LAST BUDGET, AND I FELT LIKE IT NEEDED TO BE SAID THAT WE WORK HARD ALL YEAR ON THIS BUDGET. IT'S AN IMPORTANT, IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE. THE LAST WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD, I SAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETING OF OUR YEAR. AND SADLY, WE DON'T GET A LOT OF PEOPLE. THESE ARE THE MEETINGS THAT WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE. BUT WE ARE LISTENING, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING, AND WE APPRECIATE IT. AND I AM VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT OUR VISION PLANS AND COMPARING THOSE. I HEARD SOME THINGS THAT DISTURBED ME A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT ABOUT THAT. I DON'T LIKE TO HEAR THAT, BUT I WILL LOOK INTO IT. WITH THAT SAID, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARING. I THOUGHT WE DID HAVE, I THINK I KNOW. OKAY. SO WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARD. ANYONE WISH TO COME SPEAK? WE'RE INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR OPINIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. I HAVE MADE MY COMMENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS I POINTED OUT WHEN WE HAD THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING AND WE HAD ALL OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES THERE, IN 2008, WE WENT THROUGH A TRAGEDY OF TAXES, HOUSE VALUES. WE ALL HAD TO ADJUST, SCHOOL SYSTEM, EVERYBODY. WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE JUST FOUR YEARS AGO, THERE WERE SOME MAJOR TOPICS. [00:50:01] THERE WAS HOMELESS. THERE WAS DEVELOPMENT. AND WE MADE IT A GOAL AS A TEAM TO FIGHT THOSE THINGS. AT THE BUDGET MEETINGS PRIOR TO THAT, PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THOSE ITEMS. YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE. YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT SIDEWALKS. YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOMELESS. YOU'VE GOT TO STOP ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT CUTTING DOWN ALL OF OUR TREES. WE'VE DONE THOSE THINGS. AND IT DID COST MORE, AS WOLFGANG POINTED OUT, THAN WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST. WHAT I POINTED OUT IS THAT THE STATE IS ARGUING ABOUT AMENDMENT 3 REDUCTION OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES USING THE 2019 BUDGET. THE 2019 BUDGET WAS BARELY GETTING US BACK TO NORMAL FROM THE 2008 BUDGET WHEN WE HAD THE REDUCTIONS, WHEN YOU COMPARE INFLATION AND YOU COMPARE THE PROPERTY VALUES. NOW YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, BUT IN 2019, WE WERE NOT SATISFYING OUR RESIDENTS AND WE WERE NOT SATISFYING OUR BUSINESSES. WE HAD A LOT OF UNPAVED STREETS. WE HAD A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON DOWNTOWN AND WE NEEDED THE FUNDS TO DO THAT. WITH THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES, AS WOLFGANG POINTED OUT, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE FUNDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING. NOW WE HAVE IT IN PLACE. THERE'S NO ONE COMING TO US TONIGHT SAYING WE NEED OUR STREETS PAVED. WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE HOMELESS. WE NEED TO STOP CUTTING DOWN SO MANY TREES BECAUSE WE LISTENED FOUR YEARS AGO. WE ENACTED THE BUDGET. WE KEPT THE PROPERTY VALUE. WE KEPT THE MILLAGE THE SAME IN ORDER TO CAPTURE SOME OF THAT INCREASED FUNDS IN ORDER TO DO WHAT THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES ASKED US TO DO. SO I FEEL PRETTY GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ASKED US TO DO FOUR YEARS AGO. AND WE DID NOT INCREASE THE MILLAGE FOR THE LAST SO MANY YEARS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NEED TO BECAUSE, AS POINTED OUT, VALUES HAVE GONE UP AND AIRBNBS HAVE ABSORBED A LOT OF THAT COST, GIVEN US THAT REVENUE. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO KEEP TABS ON THE BUDGET, OBVIOUSLY, BUT ALSO ON WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE CITY IS. AND I THINK WE'VE ADDRESSED THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE FUNDS TO DO IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OTHER COMMISSIONERS. I WAS LOOKING AT THIS FIRE ASSESSMENT AND FROM 2020 ALL THE WAY TO 2023, THE FIRE ASSESSMENT STAYED THE SAME. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO INCREASE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTING IS GOING TO BE. THAT'S COMING UP ABOUT AMENDMENT THREE. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL BUDGET AS MUCH AS WE CAN. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS, IF WE ARE HIT WITH THAT, HOW TO BE ABLE TO KEEP ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY'RE ACCUSTOMED TO SIMPLE THINGS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED EVERY DAY, LIKE MY TRASH BEING TAKEN ON TUESDAYS, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE IS THE CITY'S GOAL TO BE ABLE TO NOT CUT ANY OF THESE SERVICES. SO THESE ARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS A WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY FROM COMING OUT. AND AS THE SEASON PASSES AND WE GO TO THE NEXT BUDGET, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME IN IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS AND BE A PART OF THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. I'LL JUST SAY MOST OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID WHAT I WOULD SAY TO AMPLIFY A LITTLE BIT WHAT COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD SAID IS I THINK I'VE BEEN ON THAT SIDE OF THE, FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, WAS ON THAT SIDE OF THE DAIS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. AND IT'S A NATURAL THING, I THINK, FOR, WE'RE HELD TO THE LONG-TERM GOALS PLANNINGS LIKE YOU JUST LAID OUT. SO SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS FOUR YEARS AGO, AS WE KNOW, USUALLY TAKES A COUPLE YEARS, IT GETS THROUGH STUDIES, IT STARTS TO COME OUT, THEN YOU START TO SEE THE MONEY. UNLESS YOU'RE INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THAT PROCESS, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SEE A BUDGET, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAYBE SEE THE WORK THAT WENT BEHIND IT AND THE NEED THAT WAS ESTABLISHED. AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE HERE [00:55:01] ON THIS COMMISSION, THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND WORK THAT GOES INTO ALMOST ALL THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MR. FRANKLIN THIS MORNING ABOUT SOME PROJECTS THAT GO WAY BACK. THE FIRE STATION IS ONE OF THEM. PEOPLE DON'T USUALLY RELEASE MONEY UNLESS THERE ARE STUDIES. AND SO THESE STUDIES AND THESE DESIGNS TAKE A LOT OF TIME, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'LL SEE AN IMPLEMENTATION LIKE MONEY FOR THE FIRE STATION. BUT I KNOW PERSONALLY, THE FIRST TIME THAT WAS PITCHED TO ME WHEN I WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, LIGHTHOUSE PARK WAS 10 YEARS AGO. AND I CAN'T SAY THAT THE CITY HAS NOT WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO TRY TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE THAT LESS EXPENSIVE BY SWAPPING LAND AT FISH ISLAND AND THE STATE, BASICALLY TURN THAT DOWN BY ONE VOTE. THAT COST US THE PRICE OF THE LAND RIGHT THERE. SO UNLESS YOU KNOW THOSE BACKGROUND STORIES, SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE A BIT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE WORK THAT'S WENT BEHIND THIS. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK OUR CREDIBILITY HERE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ASKING US TO LOOK AT THIS AND BE CREDIBLE. AND I CAN SAY THAT THIS BUDGET, EVERYTHING WHEN YOU HAZARD DO THOSE PROJECTS, I THINK THESE ARE ALL NECESSARY THINGS, AS YOU HAVE SAID. SO ON THAT PART, I FEEL GOOD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS I THINK MS. DOVE'S IDEAS ABOUT MAKING IT MORE TRANSPARENT STUFF IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO. TO BE HONEST, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SCRIMMAGE GAME. AND NEXT YEAR, THIS MIGHT BECOME A VERY MUCH MORE SERIOUS AND VISIBLE PROJECT DOING THE BUDGET. AND I THINK THAT THE CITY IS, I GET THE FEELING THAT THE CITY IS UNDERSTANDING THAT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT ENGAGEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT. AND A LOT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS, UNFORTUNATELY, CAN BE SIDETRACKED BY BAD INFORMATION THAT'S FLOATING AROUND IN THE PUBLIC THAT THE CITY HAS TO CORRECT. AND I THINK THAT'S OUR JOB HERE. AND I THINK THAT WE TRY TO DO A GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE THE INFORMATION WE GET IS GOOD BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE CREDIBLE, I THINK. SO ON THAT NOTE, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION. I THINK THE VICE MAYOR HASN'T SPOKEN YET. OH, I'M SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO ALSO, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID AND I SPOKE EARLIER BEFORE WE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO STAFF. WE HAVE, THE STAFF HAS LEVERAGED SO MUCH OF THE FUNDING OF WHAT WE'VE DONE BY SECURING GRANTS, SIGNIFICANT GRANTS, UNBELIEVABLY SIGNIFICANT GRANTS. THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ PROJECT, MOST OF OUR RESILIENCE FUNDING, THE CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION FUND. I DON'T EVEN HAVE A PEN WITH ME, SO MY MATH MIGHT BE WRONG BECAUSE I DID IT ALL IN MY HEAD. BUT ABOUT $3 MILLION, WE PULLED OUT OF RESERVES FOR THIS PROGRAM, A LITTLE OVER $3 MILLION. AND WE'VE GOTTEN HALF OF THAT BACK FROM GRANTS. SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE HARD WORK THAT THE STAFF IN PARTICULAR DOES WITH OUR APPROVAL. AND WE'RE DOING A REALLY GREAT JOB, I THINK, OF WORKING SMART AND WORKING TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. AND WE'RE ALL TAXPAYERS, TOO. WE ALL FEEL THESE HITS, WHICHEVER WAY THEY COME AT US. BUT WE'RE DOING OUR BEST AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO REPRESENT YOU AND BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING. I THINK THAT EVERYONE'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. OKAY. COMMISSIONER DEPRETER. OKAY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2026-22, CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR PHYSICAL YEAR 2027. SECOND. AND THIS ONE, I DO HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING, AND IT'S EVEN LONGER THAN THE LAST ONE. SO HOLD ON. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-22, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OR BUDGET ESTIMATES OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1,2026, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH, PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE OF INVALID PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS, SECTION ONE, THE ANNUAL BUDGET ESTIMATES OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027, AS PREPARED, AMENDED, AND SUBMITTED TO THE CITY [01:00:01] COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, BY THE CITY MANAGER, AS CONSIDERED AND ACTED UPON BY SAID CITY COMMISSION, UNDER AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE CHARTER OF SAID CITY AND THE LAWS OF FLORIDA, ARE HEREBY RATIFIED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF SAID CITY, AND THE AMOUNTS OF MONEY SET FORTH THEREIN ARE HEREBY APPROPRIATED. SECTION TWO, THE SAID BUDGET OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ADOPTED FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 SHALL BE SPREAD IN FULL UPON THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COMMISSION. SECTION THREE, THE APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN AN ACTIVITY OR SUBACTIVITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 AND FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 MAY BE TRANSFERRED WITHIN BY THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE PURPOSE OF EQUALIZATION WHEN NECESSARY. SECTION FOUR, ALL FUNDS FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 AND BUDGETED FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 MAY OVEREXPEND ADOPTED BUDGETS TO THE EXTENT THAT ACTUAL REVENUES EXCEED THE ADOPTED BUDGET. SECTION FIVE, ALL UNENCUMBERED APPROPRIATIONS EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS OR COMMITMENTS, BNR CANCELED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, AND THE CITY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE IS DIRECTED TO TRANSFER ALL APPROPRIATION CREDIT BALANCES TO UNAPPROPRIATED SURPLUS AND PLACED TO THE CREDIT OF ALL APPROPRIATION ACCOUNTS WHICH SHOW A DEBIT BALANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026, AN AMOUNT FROM UNAPPROPRIATED SURPLUS TO BALANCE SAME AND TO CLOSE ALL SUCH ACCOUNTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026. SECTION SIX, IF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE OR THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO ANY PERSON OR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE HELD INVALID, SUCH INVALIDITY SHALL NOT AFFECT OTHER PROVISIONS OR APPLICATIONS OF THE ORDINANCES WHICH CAN BE GIVEN EFFECT WITHOUT THIS INVALID PROVISION OR APPLICATION. AND TO THIS END, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE ARE DECLARED TO BE SEPARABLE. SECTION SEVEN, ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH ARE HEREBY REPEALED. SECTION EIGHT, THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE, AND THIS WILL BE PASSED AT OUR NEXT MEETING. SO IT SAYS PASSED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, IN SPECIAL SESSION AT 505 THIS 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026. THIS IS THE FIRST READING ONLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CLERK, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? EVERYBODY? OKAY. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JON DEPRETER? YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES. BARBARA BLONDER? YES. NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING. THE NEXT AND FINAL BUDGET MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD AT 505 RIGHT HERE. WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.