Sep 23, 2026 City Commission Special Budget

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE YEAR 2027 BUDGET AND FINAL MILLAGE RATE ADOPTION.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES.

YES. BARBARA BLONDER. YES.

CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES.

JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES.

JON DEPRETER. HERE. OKAY.

[2. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS ]

FEEL OKAY? SURE. HI, NANCY MURPHY. I LIVE OVER ON CARRERA, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT, AND I AM REPRESENTING CARE. I'M A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY ORGANIZATION, AND I'M HERE JUST TO SAY THAT I'M GRATEFUL TO BE WEARING THIS T-SHIRT THAT I WORE ON THE BUS THAT THE DAY WE WENT OVER TO TALLAHASSEE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FLORIDA BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM TO BE LOCATED IN ST.

AUGUSTINE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT, MY SUPPORT PERSONALLY, AND THE ORGANIZATION'S SUPPORT FOR THE FUNDING OF THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM IN FLORIDA.

THAT'S ALL. OKAY. THANK YOU.

GREG WHITE, FOLLOWED BY COE ROBBINS. YEAH, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD AFTERNOON. YEAH, MY NAME IS GREG WHITE. I'M HERE SUPPORTING THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM FOUNDATION. OUR CHAIRMAN, MR. HOWARD HARLEY, IS IN TALLAHASSEE AS WE SPEAK.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR MAYOR, NANCY SIKES-KLINE, FOR GIVING THE FOUNDATION A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO BRING THE MUSEUM TO ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. ALSO TO COMMISSIONER GARRIS, WHO GAVE THE SUPPORT LETTER AS WELL. WE REACHED OUT AND RECEIVED 30 PLUS LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM COMING TO HISTORIC WEST AUGUSTINE AND WEST AUGUSTINE. IT'S ONLY 4 HBCUS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN MIAMI, DAYTONA, JACKSONVILLE, AND OF COURSE TALLAHASSEE. WE WERE ABLE TO GET SUPPORT LETTERS FROM ALL FOUR UNIVERSITIES.

TO US, THAT WAS MONUMENTAL. IT WAS 13 CITIES THAT APPLIED FOR THE MUSEUM TO COME TO THEIR CITIES, LARGE CITIES SUCH AS ORLANDO AND ST. PETERSBURG, BUT LITTLE OLD ST. JOHNS COUNTY BEAT THEM ALL OUT.

TO SHOW SUPPORT, COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE MUSEUM, 54 LOCAL RESIDENTS BOARDED A CHARTERED BUS AND APPROXIMATELY 15 CAR CARAVANS. WE HEADED TO TALLAHASSEE AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING. AS THE BUS WAS EN ROUTE TO TALLAHASSEE, THE BUS CAUGHT FIRE, LITERALLY WAS BURNING. IT WAS ON FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL 54 RESIDENTS OFF THAT BUS UNHURT. WHAT WAS A CALMING AND A RELAXING MOMENT IN ALL OF THAT TERROR WAS TRINITY PARISH CHURCH PASTORS BOUGHT A SENSE OF CALM AND RELAXATION AS THEY WALKED AND THEY CONSOLED EACH RESIDENT.

SO NOW WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE JOURNEY. THEY ALSO TOOK SOME FOLKS IN THEIR SUVS AND CARS AND TRANSPORTED THEM. ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE TRANSPORTED THE REMAINING RESIDENTS. SO WE ARRIVED IN TALLAHASSEE. NOT ONE RESIDENT DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND COME BACK TO ST.

AUGUSTINE. THEY HAD THAT OPTION. THE OLDEST PERSON ON THAT BUS WAS 94 YEARS OLD.

COMMISSIONER CYNTHIA GARRIS AND YOURS TRULY HAD THE PLEASURE OF ACTUALLY BEING ON THAT BUS BRINGING THE SMOKE.

THIS ONE-TIME INVESTMENT, COMMISSIONERS, ALLOWS THE FOUNDATION TO TAP INTO RESOURCES NEEDED FOR THE FUNDRAISING AND CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS. THE FUNDS, THE FUNDS WILL ALSO HELP RALLY COMMUNITY SUPPORT, CORPORATE SUPPORT, DONATIONS, AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THE LOCAL SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT WHEN SEEKING FUTURE DOLLARS FROM STATE FUNDING.

THE FOUNDATION IS ASKING YOU TONIGHT FOR MONETARY INVESTMENT FOR THIS ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS COE ROBBINS. THIS IS ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE MILLAGE RATE. OKAY. GOOD

[00:05:03]

AUGUSTINE UNDERSTANDS. A BUDGET IS A REFLECTION OF PRIORITIES.

BETWEEN 21 TO 2026, OUR CITY HAS EXPERIENCED UNPRECEDENTED REVENUE GROWTH. THANKS TO SURGING PROPERTY APPRAISALS, CITY AD VALOREM TAX COLLECTIONS HAVE EXPANDED FROM 14 MILLION FROM 2021 TO 25 MILLION IN 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT'S A 75% INCREASE IN TAX PROPERTY REVENUE DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO CITY HALL WITHOUT RAISING THE MILLAGE RATE. SO THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER THE CITY HAS REVENUE, THE QUESTION IS WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING? WHEN LOOKING WHERE THE BUDGET IS EXPANDED BETWEEN 23 AND 26, THE LAST 3 YEARS, ITS PRIMARY FLOW INTO FRONTLINE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS, BEING SWALLOWED UP BY RAPID ADMINISTRATIVE EXPANSION, EXPANSION AND INTERNAL OVERHEAD. REGULAR SALARIES HAVE JUMPED OVER 25 MILLION. SO THE INCREASED MANDATORY OVERHEAD INCREASES MANDATORY OVERHEAD LIKE FICA PAYROLL SURGE OVER 30% AND HEALTH INSURANCE ALMOST 30%. MOST STRIKING OF ALL, SPENDING ON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTORS EXPLODED BY AN ASTONISHING 731%. THAT'S RIGHT, 731%. IT WENT FROM UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS TO OVER 7.6 MILLION. EVEN ADMINISTRATIVE TRAVEL AND TRAINING OUTLAYS EXPANDED OVER 150%. REVENUE COLLECTIONS HAVE EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE 2021, BUT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT COSTS EXPAND INWARD BETWEEN 23 AND 26, FUNDING MORE BUREAUCRACY, HIGHER BENEFIT COMMITMENTS, AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS, IT LEAVES LOCAL TAXPAYERS ASKING, WHERE'S THE RETURN FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES? WE DON'T HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM, WE HAVE A SPENDING PRIORITY PROBLEM.

IT'S TIME TO REFOCUS MUNICIPAL SPENDING AWAY FROM ADMINISTRATIVE GROWTH AND BACK TO THE CORE ESSENTIAL NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. I HAVE NO MORE SPEAKER CARDS.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK UNDER GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE COME FORWARD. OKAY.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. WE ARE

[3.A. Resolution 2026-23: Consideration of Resolution 2026-23, establishing the final millage rate for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. (M. Burns, Finance Director)]

THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE WILL HAVE WILL BE THE CONSIDERATION OF THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR, AND THAT'S RESOLUTION 26-23.

MISS BURNS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS A REQUIRED PUBLIC MEETING TO ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE AND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. RESOLUTION 2026-23 IS A FIRST ITEM, WHICH ADOPTS THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE FOR AD VALOREM TAXES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE REMAINS AT 7.500 MILLS. THIS RATE IS 3.61% ABOVE THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 7.2385 MILLS. THE ADDITIONAL AD VALOREM REVENUE GENERATED BY THIS RATE WILL HELP FUND SEVERAL ITEMS DISCUSSED AT A PREVIOUS BUDGET MEETING.

THESE INCLUDE CONTINUED ROAD RESURFACING, MOVING THE SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY SIDEWALK PROJECT INTO CONSTRUCTION, FUNDING FOR THE MIDDLE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION, AND CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. THE 7.500 MILS WAS TENTATIVELY ADOPTED 2 WEEKS AGO THROUGH RESOLUTION 2026-22. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

FOLLOWING ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARING? NO, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE APRIL, THIS WHOLE BUDGET PROCESS.

YEAH, I THINK WE'RE, WE'VE HAD OUR, MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED FOR SURE. OKAY, GREAT. ANYONE ELSE BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT, SO I'M OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MILLAGE RATE. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK? I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS. ALL RIGHT, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. BACK TO THE BOARD. WOULD YOU? ANY

[00:10:01]

WHEREAS THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA HAS CONDUCTED A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITS FINAL 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 FINAL MILLAGE RATE OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA IS 7.5000 MILLS, WHICH REPRESENTS AN INCREASE IN THE ROLLED BACK RATE OF 7.2385 MILS OF 3.61%. ADOPTED AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, COMMENCED AT 5:05 P.M. THIS 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026, TO BE SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR NANCY SIKES-KLINE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? NO DEBATE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. THE WORDING IN THIS RESOLUTION IS REQUIRED, RIGHT? YES. IT MAKES IT APPEAR THAT WE'VE RAISED THE MILLAGE, AND WE HAVEN'T. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS STAYED UP WITH INFLATION, BECAUSE INFLATION IS 3.61%, AND THAT'S HOW YOU CALCULATE THE ROLLBACK. SO THIS IS A DECEPTIVE WAY FROM THE STATE REQUIREMENT TO MAKE US LOOK LIKE WE'RE RAISING THE MILLAGE RATE. WE ARE IN GONNA GATHER MORE TAXES, BUT DUE TO INFLATION. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. BARBARA BLONDER? YES.

JIM SPRINGFIELD? YES.

JON DEPRETER? YES.

CYNTHIA GARRIS? YES.

NANCY SIKES-KLINE? YES. RIGHT.

SO WE WILL BE MOVING ON

[4.A. Ordinance 2026-22: Consideration of Ordinance 2026-22, establishing the final budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan. (M. Burns, Finance Director)]

WE ARE HERE AT THE SECOND READING FOR ORDINANCE 2026-22, WHICH RATIFIES AND APPROVES THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINS OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, AND ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027. THE BUDGET REMAINS THE SAME AS THE BUDGET PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED DURING BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND THE SEPTEMBER 9TH MEETING. THE ONLY CHANGES TO THE DOCUMENT ARE THE ADDITION OF AN OUTLINE EXPLAINING THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES AND THE ACCOUNTING FOR THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS OF THE BUDGET? I HAVE A QUESTION.

ANY, OKAY, QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS, WHATEVER YOU LIKE. I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HANDOUT THAT I PASSED OUT TO YOU. MARIN, CAN YOU PUT IT ON THE SCREEN SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE IT? I'M CONFUSED. IS THIS ON, THIS WASN'T ON THE AGENDA, RIGHT? NO, THIS IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. NO, IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE I MET WITH DR. HOLLY ON MONDAY, AND BECAUSE OF SUNSHINE, I COULDN'T CONTACT YOU, NONE OF YOU, BUT I DID SPEAK TO THE CITY MANAGER AND TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. OH, OKAY.

I, I QUESTION. ON MONDAY? SHE'S, SHE'S, SHE HAS THE OVERHEAD. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE DIDN'T HEAR. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, I'M, I, I, I, I NEED, I NEED CLARIFICATION ON A POINT OF ORDER, WALKING SOMETHING ONTO AN AGENDA THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE THIS MEETING, AND I'M NOT EVEN CLEAR WHAT IT, WHY IT'S HERE WHEN WE HAVE A FINAL BUDGET. THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING. BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE BUDGET. IT'S SOMETHING THAT, BEFORE THE BUDGET IS VOTED ON, I WANTED THIS TO BE HEARD, AND THEN I CAN GET YOUR FEEDBACK AFTER I JUST THERE IT

[00:15:01]

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY. YES, BASICALLY THIS GROUP, THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MUSEUM, WENT BEFORE THE COUNTY COMMISSION THIS WEEK AND GOT APPROVED FOR 125,000 DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE STATE MUSEUM.

IT'S THE STATE BLACK MUSEUM, IT'S NOT ST. JOHN'S, IT BELONGS TO THE STATE. THE STATE HAS ALREADY GIVEN A MILLION DOLLARS TO THIS PROJECT. IT IS IN STRUCTURE. I WAS ON THE BURNING BUS TO GO DOWN THERE. I WENT TO TALLAHASSEE THREE TIMES AND SPOKE TO GET THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THE TIME RESTRAINT ON THIS. SO BECAUSE WE'RE APPROVING THE BUDGET, I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD HEAR IT WHILE WE'RE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, BECAUSE I COULD COME BACK LATER AND HAVE IT PUT ON THE AGENDA AND ASK TO AMEND THE BUDGET. BUT SINCE THE BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN PRE-APPROVED, I THOUGHT IT'D BE GOOD TO HEAR ABOUT IT UP FRONT AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WANT TO BE A PART OF. OKAY? IT'S NOT TO DISRUPT THE MEETING, BUT IF WE SAID, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING, I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP.

SO WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND I JUST PREFER TO DO IT NOW SO WE CAN MOVE ON WITH THE BUDGET AND ADJOURN AT NORMAL TIME. AND I'M SORRY IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THIS BEFORE, BECAUSE A SITUATION LIKE THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE. I CAN'T CALL YOU, I CAN'T CALL THE MAYOR, IT'S SUNSHINE LAW, SO I CAN BRING IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW AND TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

SO WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS THIS, THIS HERE FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM IS GOING TO PUT A 3 BUILD MAIN BUILDINGS ON THE FLORIDA MEMORIAL PROPERTY, AND THEY ARE IN THE STAGES OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THEY'RE ASKING FOR A ONE-TIME DONATION TO SUPPORT THIS MUSEUM, SHOWING THAT THE CITY HAS AN INTEREST IN THIS, BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT JUST BEING OUT WEST, BUT CITY RESIDENTS CAN APPLY FOR THESE JOBS. IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE 1500 JOBS TO OUR COMMUNITY, SO PEOPLE THAT WORK IN JACKSONVILLE OR PALATKA OR HASTINGS CAN APPLY FOR A JOB RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS ABOUT PRESERVING THE PAST, UPLIFTING THE PRESENT, AND INSPIRING THE FUTURE. IT'S GONNA HAVE LIKE A AMPHITHEATER. IT'S NOT JUST A MUSEUM, IT'S 3 MAIN BUILDINGS THAT IS GONNA BE PUT ON THIS CAMPUS. I WAS GONNA ASK THE COMMISSION IF THEY WOULD SUPPORT ME AND DONATE 25,000 DOLLARS TO THE MUSEUM, OKAY? JUST SO THAT WE SHOW IN GOOD FAITH THAT WE'RE INTERESTED AND WE'RE EAGER FOR THIS TO COME. WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO ADD VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY, OKAY? AND THE HANDOUTS BASICALLY GIVE YOU A KIND OF UPLIFTING ABOUT IT. I'M SORRY THAT DOCTOR JOLLY IS NOT HERE, HOWARD JOLLY'S NOT HERE TO PRESENT IT LIKE HE WAS ABLE TO DO AT THE AT THEIR MEETING, AND IT WAS RIGHT AT THEIR MEETING AS WELL, SO IT WASN'T LIKE THEY HAD AMPLE MORE TIME THAN WE'RE HAVING AT THIS MOMENT. IT WAS ON THEIR AGENDA. OKAY, WELL, I, I DON'T, WELL, THEY GOT 125,000 DOLLARS, SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT RELEVANT, AND IT DID GET PASSED. SO I DID SPEAK TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND ASKED IF WE COULD HAVE THE FUNDING, IF WE COULD HAVE THE FIND THE FUNDING FOR THAT, AND I ALSO SPOKE TO OUR ATTORNEY TO MAKE SURE IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN INVEST IN, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE CAN'T SUPPORT. OKAY, SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. OKAY, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE A CLARIFICATION.

OKAY. THE, THE STATE HAS GIVEN THEM 2 MILLION DOLLARS, NOT 1 MILLION. THEY HAVE 2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE STATE, AND I THINK THAT IT'S A BOARD.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH THIS BECAUSE I SIT ON THE TDC REPRESENTING THE CITY, SO WE HAVE HEARD THIS PROPOSAL, AND THERE'S BEEN I MEAN THERE'S I THINK THAT TDC INTENDED TO GIVE THEM SOME MONEY, BUT THEY DECIDED THAT THEIR PROCESS WAS WHEN A GROUP LIKE THIS IS PROVIDING A SERVICE, A RFP IS REQUIRED. AND SO WHEN

[00:20:03]

I'M JUST GIVING YOU THE BACKSTORY. AND THEN IT WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA LAST TUESDAY FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE 125,000.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME, LIKE YOU MENTIONED THAT SINCE THIS IS A SURPRISE, AT LEAST TO ME AND TO, AND TO THE VICE MAYOR. OKAY. THESE ARE SURPRISING. OKAY. OH, SO YOU KNEW? WELL, I TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER. CITY MANAGER TOLD YOU? 6 HOURS AGO.

OKAY. YOUR MIC ISN'T ON, BY THE WAY. YOUR MIC ISN'T ON.

COULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN, PLEASE? SORRY, I, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AT 10 O'CLOCK. IT'S THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO MY QUESTION IS THE SO OBVIOUSLY YOU DIDN'T BRING IT UP JUST BECAUSE YOU FELT LIKE IT. YOU HAD A REASON WHY YOU WANTED TO COME TONIGHT. OH, I MET WITH HIM ON MONDAY. BECAUSE HE ASKED ME FOR A BUT I MEAN, IS THERE AN EMERGENCY, OR IS THERE? NO, NO, THERE'S NOT AN EMERGENCY. I JUST THEN WANTED TO COME LATER, AND YOU SAID IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE THE BUDGET GOT CLOSED.

SO THAT'S WHY I SPRUNG IT ON YOU TONIGHT. OH. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NEXT WEEK I BRING IT UP AND AND PUT IT OH, OH, GOTCHA.

ON THE AGENDA, AND YOU SAY, WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING LAST WEEK. RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. SO WHICH WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY? RIGHT, EXACTLY. I UNDERSTAND. THE PROCESS IS AWKWARD, I KNOW. I'M NOT, YEAH. I'M NOT, I'M NOT TRYING TO. NO, BUT I'M JUST SAYING IF I DID- IF I DIDN'T SAY NOTHING TONIGHT, RIGHT. AND I SAY SOMETHING LAST WEEK, KIND OF. YOU SAT RIGHT UP THERE AND YOU KNEW THIS? RIGHT. IT'S SORT OF A CATCH 22 YEAH. FOR YOU. SO THAT'S IF YOU DON'T BRING IT UP. ABOUT IT.

AND YOU'RE JUST ANTICIPATING THAT WE WOULD SAY NO. YEAH, SO I- I'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE OKAY.

THAT WAS ON THE BUS TO COME IN AND SPEAK BECAUSE, AGAIN, MR. HOLLY COULDN'T COME, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE SAID. I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES AT THESE MEETINGS, WE THROW A LOT OF STUFF OUT THERE ABOUT THE BUDGET. I MEAN, I REMEMBER THROWING OUT ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS FOR PRESERVATION, AND AND WE THROWING OUT ABOUT THE ARTWORK AND DIFFERENT THINGS. RIGHT. SO TO ME, THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER THING BEING PRESENTED ABOUT THE BUDGET BEFORE IT CLOSED DOWN. RIGHT. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THE ACT OF NORMALLY WEIRDNESS.

NORMALLY WHAT WE DO IS AT THE AUGUST MEETING IS WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND WE KIND OF GO AROUND THE TABLE AND WE THROW OUT THE NUMBERS, LIKE WE LIKE TO SEE THIS, WE LIKE TO SEE THAT.

BUT THAT WAS MY QUESTION WAS, I WAS SIMPLY ASKING, WELL, WHY IS IT, YOU KNOW, COMING SO LATE? AND YOU SAID, WELL, I'M GOING TO ASK NO MATTER WHETHER IT'S BEFORE THE BUDGET'S PASSED OR AFTER THE BUDGET'S PASSED, SO I MIGHT AS WELL ASK BEFORE THE PERFECTLY REASONABLE, RIGHT. PERFECTLY UNDERSTANDABLE. IT IS UNUSUAL.

I MEAN, IT IS A LOT TO PUT ON US AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN WE'VE WORKED ALL YEAR FOR THIS AND AND DILIGENTLY SINCE AUGUST, BUT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HEAR REQUESTS LIKE THIS. SO I PERSONALLY DO LOVE THIS PROJECT VERY MUCH. I SUPPORTED IT AT THE TDC LEVEL. I WROTE A LETTER OF SUPPORT. I DON'T LOVE THE WAY THIS CAME FORWARD TO US AT THIS LATE DATE, BUT I WOULD SUPPORT AND HOW MUCH IS THE REPORT REQUEST FOR? I'M ASKING FOR 25,000. THEY GOT TO GO UP ALL THESE CATEGORIES.

WELL. AND THAT'S THE LOWEST AMOUNT, THE 25,000. I WOULD, I WOULD SUPPORT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENOUGH, FRANKLY, FOR THIS MUSEUM. I DON'T EITHER, BUT SINCE I'M SPRINGING IT ON YOU, I DIDN'T I'M NOT. WANT TO HEAR DRAMA. YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD S- I WOULD SAY IT THEY, THE COUNTY GAVE THEM 125. THE REAL HISTORY HAPPENED HERE IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

YES, IT IS.

BUT I FIND ONE THING TROUBLING.

OKAY. AND THAT IS THAT THIS, YOU SAID THAT THIS IS A STATE MUSEUM. YEAH. AND SO ARE WE GIVING MONEY TO. WE'RE GIVING MONEY TO THE FOUNDATION THAT IS CREATING ALL THE REVENUE TO, BECAUSE THE STATE WANTS MONEY MATCHED. SO THE FOUNDATION IS THE DOING ALL THE LEGWORK, GOING TO PEOPLE LIKE US, TO THE COUNTY AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND THEY'LL PROBABLY GO TO THE TDC, AND WHOEVER HAS MONEY, THEY PROBABLY GO TO THE BEACH TO GAIN ENOUGH REVENUE FOR THEM TO MATCH. AND THEN THE MUSEUM WILL BE, IT'S ALREADY IN DESIGN MODE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE FIRST.

WELL, THAT'S THE FIRST MILLION WAS. YES, BECAUSE I WAS DOWN THERE AT THE PARK WHEN THEY GAVE THAT. YOU WERE DOWN THERE TOO, WHEN THEY DID THAT, AND THE PEOPLE CAME FROM FLORIDA MEMORIAL. SO, THE 25,000 YOU'RE REQUESTING IS A MATCH FOR.

IT'S JUST THEY HAVE LIKE CERTAIN STAGES. THEY HAVE LIKE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES,

[00:25:03]

WHERE IS IT? WE'RE IN. WE CAN HAVE MR. HOLLY COME WHEN HE'S AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER, BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT THIS BUDGET TO CLOSE OUT AND NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND YOU'RE LIKE, YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING BEFORE THE BUDGET CLOSED. SO, THIS IS, FOR ME, IS A NO-WIN SITUATION. IT'S KIND OF LIKE. RIGHT. NO, I UNDERSTAND. I, YOU'RE IN THAT POSITION, AND YOU'RE BEING ASKED, AND YOU, YES. CAN I SAY SOMETHING? YES, PLEASE. I, I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. I DON'T SEE ANY SPECIFIC WHERE THESE FUNDS WOULD GO. I DON'T SEE A NUMBER THAT WAS A REQUEST FROM, FOR US. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS BUDGET HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, AND THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN WEIGHING IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THERE'S NO WAY THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US THAT THEY WANT US TO DO THIS, OR THEY DON'T WANT US TO DO THIS. THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A WAY TO WEIGH IN AT THIS LATE HOUR, AND THEY MAY, THERE MAY BE A WHOLE BUNCH MORE PEOPLE OUT HERE IF THEY HAD KNOWN ABOUT IT IN ADVANCE WHEN THIS WAS PUBLISHED, THIS SPECIAL MEETING IN THE, AND THE PACKET WAS PUBLISHED WITH THE BUDGET IN IT. THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE OUT HERE. I'M SURE.

TONIGHT, TONIGHT. THAT WAS ON THE BUS. AND THEN, AND THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN 2 WEEKS AGO, WHEN WE DID THIS LAST TIME, THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE, BUT THE PUBLIC HAS NO WAY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS. SO REGARDLESS OF HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE PROJECT, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR ME TO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC AND WITHOUT THEM HAVING A CHANCE TO CONTACT ME AND TELL ME WHAT THEY WANT. FAIR ENOUGH. I AGREE WITH ALL THOSE COMMENTS, AND I UNDERSTAND THE DILEMMA THAT, THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S IN. DO WE SUPPORT ANY MUSEUM IN ST. AUGUSTINE? YES. YES.

WHAT, WHAT MUSEUMS? UF WE SUPPORT, WE SUPPORT USF. THESE ARE RELATED TO OUR SPANISH COLONIAL HISTORY AND THE LEARNING LAB OVER IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE, I'M TRYING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO. I, OKAY. WELL, ACTUALLY, NO, USF, I DON'T THINK IT'S, IT'S MORE OF AN INITIATIVE. I DON'T THINK IT'S A MUSEUM. RIGHT. BUT, AND I GUESS MAYBE UF IS THE SAME THING, IT'S NOT A MUSEUM.

YEAH, CAUSE MY POINT IS I GET, FLOYD PHILLIPS LOVES TO ASK ME FOR MONEY, AND I HAVE NEVER REALLY. HE'S DILIGENT ABOUT. HE'S DILIGENT, AND HE NEEDS MONEY, AND HE HAS A MUSEUM IN THE CITY. AND OF COURSE, THE ACCORD MUSEUM IS IN THE SAME POSITION. AND WHERE'S THE COUNTY GETTING THEIR MONEY FROM? IS IT TDC MONEY THEY'RE GONNA, IS THIS 125 FROM TDC? NO, I DON'T, THIS IS OUT OF THEIR RESERVES. OUT OF RESERVES? THEY ASKED, THEY TOOK THEIR MONEY OUT OF THEIR RESERVES, THE 125.

OKAY. THEY HAVE A 1.46-BILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET, AND OURS IS 1.3 MILLION.

YEAH, SO THAT'S, THAT EQUATES DOWN TO 11,000 IF WE DID IT EQUALLY. NOT THAT I WANT TO BE THE SAME AS A COUNTY, FOR SURE. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT THAT THIS COME BACK AS A AMENDMENT OR COME BACK AS A REQUEST FOR OUR RESERVES THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET, BECAUSE WE, WE WILL HAVE SOME RESERVES AT THE END OF THIS YEAR THAT WE COULD REQUEST TO BE SPENT OUT OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND LET THE NEXT COMMISSION DETERMINE WHETHER THIS WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT INTO THE INTO THE FUTURE. MM-HMM. YES.

IT'S SURPRISING THAT IT'S JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT THEY NEED MONEY WHEN THEY KNEW WE WERE IN A BUDGET PROCESS. SO, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY.

IN ALL HONESTY, I HAVE BEEN ASKED WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETINGS THIS, THIS, THIS GENTLEMAN THAT'S OVER THIS IS VERY, IS INVOLVED IN TALLAHASSEE EVEN. THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO GO DOWN THERE TO BE IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS. HE'S VERY INVOLVED IN, IN MAKING THINGS HAPPEN FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

RIGHT. AND HE'S TRYING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR OURS.

RIGHT. HE HAS ASKED ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE TIMES THAT I HAVE TOLD HIM THAT WE WERE HAVING BUDGET MEETINGS, HE WAS ALREADY OBLIGATED, INCLUDING TODAY. IF HE WOULD HAVE CAME TODAY THE LOOKS YOU GUYS ARE GIVING ME NOW, HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GOT THOSE ANYWAY. YEAH. IF HE HAD CAME TODAY. RIGHT. HE JUST FOUND OUT ON MONDAY WHEN WE HAD A CONVERSATION THAT THE BUDGET MEETING WAS TODAY. SO, WE ASKED MR. WHITE TO COME IN AND SPEAK ABOUT THE NEED FOR US TO HAVE THESE FUNDINGS. YEAH.

OKAY. AND THE OTHER CONTINGENT IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS STILL AN IFFY THING.

WE ARE HOPING THAT IT HAPPENS, AND WE WANT IT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S STILL NOT A GUARANTEE.

[00:30:01]

WELL, THE ONLY THING ABOUT, THAT'S WHY THIS IS A ONE TIME, BECAUSE OF NOVEMBER BEING WHERE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP THEM IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT. THIS YEAR, OUR BUDGET IS STABLE, OKAY, GOING INTO 2027. SO THAT COULD BE OUR REASON FOR NOT GIVING THEM ANY MONEY IN THE FUTURE. I'M TRYING TO WHILE WE ARE IN STILL A GOOD POSITION TO MAKE A DONATION, TO ASK FOR THESE FUNDS AND MAYBE IT CAN COME BACK ON THE NEXT AGENDA BEFORE WE AND DO AN AMENDMENT, AND THEY COME IN AND DO A PRESENTATION AND EXPLAIN TO YOU GUYS, TO YOUR SATISFACTION, WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT. YEAH. I THINK THIS COMMISSION HERE IS THE ONE THAT KNEW ABOUT THIS WHOLE BUS THING.

THE NEW COMMISSIONERS DON'T KNOW ALL THE, THE BACKDROP OF ALL WE ENDURED. LIKE THE, THE MAYOR WROTE A LETTER, I WROTE A LETTER, I WENT ON THAT BUS AND GOT IN THE CAR WITH THE PASTORS TO SAFETY TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE. YEAH. AND SPEAK, SMELLING LIKE CIGARETTE, WELL, FIRE, NOT CIGARETTE SMOKE. DIESEL.

SO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR THINGS. IT IS SOMETHING BECAUSE HISTORY IS BEING TAKEN OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND IF THE STATE WANTS TO PROVIDE HISTORY AND A MUSEUM SO PEOPLE STILL KNOW THE LEGACY OF THIS COMMUNITY, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GO AND FIND. CORRECT. NO, NO DOUBT. OKAY. SEEMS LIKE WHAT I JUST HEARD WAS YOU SAYING THAT YOU WERE BE AMENABLE TO US HEARING A PRESENTATION AT A FUTURE MEETING. NOBODY WANTS TO GO FURTHER WITH THIS. I, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CONSIDER THIS FOR A FOR RESERVES FUNDING, ABSOLUTELY. BUT I, THE, IT NEEDS, FOR ME, IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE AGENDA SO THE SO THE PUBLIC CAN, CAN PARTICIPATE.

OKAY. SO, I WROTE THESE NOTES DOWN TODAY, AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT MOST OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID THAT THERE'S NO TIME FOR INFORMED PUBLIC COMMENT AND DISCUSSION, AND I THINK IF WE'RE SPENDING PEOPLE'S MONEY, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM THEM. I THINK THE INTENTION IS VERY GOOD, AND LIKE THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS, I SUPPORT THE PROJECT, BUT MY PROBLEM IS I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT. I THINK COMMISSIONER BLONDER TOUCHED ON, I HAVE NO FINANCIAL REPORT, I HAVE NO CURRENT STATUS, NO PROJECTED COST OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST, AND I'M, I FEEL LIKE WHEN I TAKE TAXPAYER MONEY, THAT I'M AN INVESTOR, AND I UNDERSTAND THE INVESTMENT, PARTICULARLY IN WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE A HARSHER SPENDING ENVIRONMENT. I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR, WE SPEND SOMETHING ON IT, I WANT TO GET SOME KIND OF ECONOMIC RETURN BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE RELYING ON OUR BUSINESSES MORE. SO, I UNDERSTAND, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT IN THE CITY THERE COULD BE VERY RECIPROCAL ECONOMIC GAIN FROM INVESTING IN IT, PLUS ALL THE REST OF THE HISTORICAL AND FRANKLY MORAL REASON THAT IT NEEDS TO BE THERE. BUT WE'RE IN A HARSH ENVIRONMENT, SO I WOULD NEED TO HAVE YOUR, YOU SUGGESTED SOMEBODY COME IN.

I WOULD NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN AND EXPLAIN TO ME WHERE THEY'RE AT, HOW THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE RAISED, HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST SO I HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF IT. I DON'T HAVE IT'S VERY WORRYING TO ME. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH THIS SINCE IN THE LAST 5 HOURS, AND IT WAS PASSED IN THE COUNTY, BUT IT WAS PASSED IN THE COUNTY BY A 3-2 VOTE, AND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IS GOING TO BE GONE NEXT YEAR. SO THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT AT ALL, AND I THINK IN SPIRIT I'M FOR IT, BUT FINANCIALLY I'M VERY CONCERNED WHEN I READ THINGS LIKE FROM YOUR HANDOUT, FUNDRAISING WILL LAUNCH WHEN LEGISLATION HAS CLEARED BOTH CHAMBERS AND IS SIGNED INTO STATURE BY THE GOVERNOR. SO, IF THIS WAS SOMETHING IN OUR CITY THAT WE WERE CONTROLLING THE FINANCES FOR, I'D FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE, BUT NOW WE'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO SOMETHING AND WE'RE WAITING FOR TALLAHASSEE TO DO SOMETHING. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF WE PUT THE MONEY IN IT'S SECURED, AND I UNDERSTAND THE MATCHING GRANT, BUT I ALSO HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH TAXPAYERS' MONEY. AND JUST TO MENTION SOME OTHER THINGS, IT'S ALREADY IN THE COUNTY'S, THIS IS IN THE COUNTY CRA, RIGHT? THEIR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA. THEY'RE, THEY'RE INVOLVED WITH THIS IS A, THIS IS FLORIDA MEMORIAL THAT'S IN AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA FOUNDATION. YEAH. THIS IS FLORIDA, THIS IS A COLLEGE.

THEY'VE ALREADY SIGNED A PROCLAMATION THAT THEY'RE TOGETHER, THEY'RE COMMITTED.

THE CRA IS GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN IT, BUT THIS IS THE ST. JOHNS

[00:35:02]

BUT IN THIS CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, I WOULD NEED TO KNOW A LOT MORE INFORMATION.

SO IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME IN AND GIVE A PRESENTATION I WOULD BE VERY OPEN TO THAT, AND THEN I WOULD WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTIONS, AND WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE MY STATEMENT.

SORRY. I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD WAY TO WORK THROUGH THIS, SINCE YOU'VE GOT COMMISSIONERS THAT AREN'T COMFORTABLE. I'M, I'VE HEARD THEIR PRESENTATION, AND I'M MORE FAMILIAR BECAUSE OF THE TDC REQUEST. RIGHT. BUT I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THEIR POSITION, WHERE THEY, THEY STAND ON IT, AND I WOULD I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO SPONSOR A PRESENTATION, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE CAN AMEND OUR BUDGET. BUT THEN YOU COULD SATISFY ALL THE COMMISSIONERS' CONCERNS, WHICH IS PROCESS, PUBLIC INPUT, PRESENTATION TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED. SO, BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS TOO WHEN IT CAME UP BEFORE US, LIKE WHO ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE DOING, AND WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO, AND THEN WHAT IS THIS A FUNDRAISING EFFORT? IS THIS SEED MONEY? IS THIS DESIGN MONEY? IS THIS CONSULTANT MONEY? IS IT AN RFP QUALIFYING THING? THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SO I TOTALLY GET IT. SO, WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE TO PLACING IT ON A FUTURE AGENDA AND THEN GETTING A PRESENTATION, AND THEN WE CAN REVISIT THIS? OKAY, THAT'S FINE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT I THINK WE'RE IN AGREEMENT THERE. I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE'LL JUST LEAVE IT UP TO YOU, BUT I DO HEAR A LOT OF, I WILL SAY THIS, I HEAR A LOT OF SUPPORT HERE, JUST QUESTIONS AND PROCESS, QUESTIONS AND PROCESS. OKAY COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE COMMISSIONER GARRIS, ABOUT BUDGET? NO. ANY OTHER THINGS? I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO, FITS INTO THIS CONVERSATION, BUT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY MANAGER AND I HAD A CONVERSATION TODAY I MET WITH MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

WE HAD A MEETING MONDAY, AND WHILE I'M AT IT, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CHIEF CAME OVER, CHIEF OF POLICE CAME OVER, AND HE PRESENTED TO OUR PUBLIC.

WE HAD A COUPLE THINGS GOING ON THERE, AND WE INFORMED HIM, AND HIM AND HIS SERGEANTS CAME OVER AND SIZED IT UP AND CLEARED IT OUT IN A VERY QUICK WAY, AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THAT. HE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB COMMUNICATING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND BASICALLY SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

ANYWAY, WHILE I WAS AT THAT MEETING AFTER HE LEFT I WAS NOT HERE FOR ONE OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS OR THE MEETINGS WHERE A GENTLEMAN CAME IN AND ASKED FOR A PÉTANQUE COURT IN LIGHTHOUSE PARK. MM-HMM. YEP.

AND I, WHEN I HEARD THE VIDEO, KIND OF MY EAR WENT UP, AND I WAS LIKE, OH, THAT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE WE KNOW THOSE, THEY'RE DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW IN AN INFORMAL WAY. SO, WHILE I WAS AT OUR, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING THE OTHER DAY, WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD TURNOUT, LIKE 20, 25 PEOPLE.

AND AFTER THE CHIEF LEFT, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS GOING AROUND, AND I MENTIONED THIS BECAUSE NOBODY HAD HEARD ABOUT IT, AND IT REALLY DID NOT GET REALLY GOOD FEELINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE RESIDENTS THERE. AND I THINK IT IT REVOLVED AROUND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE PLAYING THERE CASUALLY NOW, BUT IF YOU INSTITUTIONALIZE SOMETHING AND YOU PUT COURTS IN, AND THE GENTLEMAN'S, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND AND REMEMBER FROM THE CONVERSATION, WAS HE WANTED THIS TO GROW INTO A LEAGUE AND A TOURNAMENT AND STUFF. AND I THINK THE FEELING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THERE'S ALREADY A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON THERE. AND I'M NOT ASKING ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING NOW. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET, OTHER THAN I DON'T KNOW MONEY IF THERE'S ALLOCATED OR NOT. NOT ASKING ANYBODY TO VOTE ON IT. I'M JUST SAYING I HAD WHAT I USED TO DO AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT IS ASK PEOPLE

[00:40:01]

THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS MADE, THOUGH, TO SATISFY THIS GENTLEMAN, AND THERE WAS ONE SUGGESTION TO MAYBE MOVE IT OVER EVENTUALLY, OR OR BUILD A NEW ONE SOMEWHERE IN AND AROUND THE NEW REDCARX INTERSECTION, IF AND WHEN IT GETS DONE, OR YOU COULD DO IT NOW, MAYBE BY THE WHERE THE SKATE PARK'S AT. OR EVEN BETTER, ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF LOCATING IT IN THE NEW WELL, I CALL IT THE GENOVAR PARK, BUT I THINK IT'S THE WALDRON PARK, RIGHT OVER ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE 312 BRIDGE, JUST TO THE NORTH THERE WHERE THE CAT'S PAW MARINA, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN IS RIGHT THERE.

THEY HAVE 33 ACRES OF LAND, SO JUST AS A DISCUSSION POINT BEFORE EVERYBODY MOVES FORWARD WITH THIS, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO SOME RESIDENT OPPOSITION AND MAYBE THINK ABOUT SOME OPTIONS. SO, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BUDGETED OR NOT, BUT I FIGURED I'D THROW IT OUT THERE NOW. WE CAN CERTAINLY PAUSE THAT PHASE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND COME BACK TO YOU AND HAVE A BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PETANQUE COURTS AND MAYBE A BETTER LOCATION FOR THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE, IF POSSIBLE. WHILE, WHILE I HAVE YOU, WHAT ARE THE PHASE 2? IT'S, IT'S THE PETANQUE COURTS.

YEAH. AND THERE WAS ONE OTHER ASPECT. WE CAN TALK ABOUT.

YEAH, I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP. WELL, IF YOU CAN, YEAH, IF YOU CAN GET ME THE PLANS, I CAN RUN IT BY THE RESIDENTS BEFORE.

OKAY. YEAH, ANYTHING ELSE.

OKAY, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. OH, I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS THAT FROM OUR SPEAKER. WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES, AND OUR, OUR REVENUE HAS INCREASED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND WHEN, WHEN COMMISSIONER GARRIS AND I RAN, ONE OF THE THINGS I RAN ON WAS THE FACT THAT EVERY HOTEL THAT GOES IN REQUIRES POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE, AND IT IS THE SAME SIZE AS MY NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERY HOTEL. AND WE'VE BUILT SEVERAL HOTELS RECENTLY THAT WERE APPROVED YEARS AGO, AND SOME ARE GOING UP NOW THAT WERE APPROVED YEARS AGO, AND THERE'S NO WAY TO STOP PROGRESS WHEN PEOPLE OWN THE PROPERTY. THERE'S SOME WAYS TO DESIGN IT, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY STOP IT IF YOU DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY. SO, OUR POLICE FORCE HAS INCREASED, AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS INCREASED, BUT ALSO OUR PAY HAS INCREASED BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING SO MANY POLICE AND FIRE AT THE TIME TO THE COUNTY AND TO OTHER AGENCIES BECAUSE WE WERE TRAINING THEM AND GIVING THEM EXPERIENCE, AND THEY WERE LEAVING. SO NOW WE HAVE RAISED SALARIES FROM THE MAJORITY, NOT ADMINISTRATIVE, THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO FIRE AND POLICE, AND WE HAVE BROUGHT THOSE SALARIES TO A COMPETITIVE SALARY SO THAT NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO TRAIN FOR THE COUNTY A FEW OF OUR, OUR FINEST. AND I'M PROUD OF THAT, VERY PROUD OF THAT, AND I THINK WE HAVE SPENT THAT INCREASE IN MONEY WISELY. WE NEEDED IT 20 YEARS AGO. WE NEEDED IT 10 YEARS AGO, AND WE ARE THE BENEFICIARY OF INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES. NOT ANYTHING WE HAD CONTROL OVER, BUT WE SPENT IT WELL, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS COMMISSION IN THE LAST 3 YEARS AND THE MONEY THEY'VE DETERMINED TO INCREASE THOSE SALARIES AND TO MAKE IT RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

VICE MAYOR? NOTHING? OKAY, I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS TOO.

YES, ASSESSMENTS HAVE INCREASED BECAUSE ASSESSMENTS, THESE, THE REVENUE IS BASED ON ASSESSMENT VALUE, ON THE VALUE THAT'S ASSESSED, AND IT'S RISEN BECAUSE WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB MANAGING A COMMUNITY THAT'S VERY DESIRABLE, AND PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE HERE, AND THEY WILL PAY THE DOLLARS.

SO, AND THAT'S CREATED ITS OWN PROBLEMS, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I DID RUN ACROSS SOMETHING INTERESTING. I WAS HAVING A CHALLENGING CONVERSATION AND ABOUT WHY ARE THE TAXES IN ST. AUGUSTINE SO HIGH, AND I USED AI AND ASKED THE QUESTION,

[00:45:01]

AUGUSTINE? AND IT CAME BACK AND IT SAID, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, ASSESSMENTS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ASSESSMENTS ARE HIGH BUT IT SAID THE MAIN REASON WAS BECAUSE OF TOURISM, BECAUSE OF THE ADDED COST OF TOURISM. INTERESTING. SO, YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT TAXES IN ST. AUGUSTINE, JUST USE AI, RIGHT? YEAH.

CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY. SO, I WAS CONCERNED, I GUESS THERE WERE A COUPLE THINGS I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT. I, LIKE YOU, YOU KNOW, HAD THE SAME REACTION. I DID, HOWEVER, HEAR SOMETHING FROM THE SPEAKER ABOUT A 731% INCREASE IN THE COST OF CONTRACTORS, AND THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION, AND OF COURSE I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL, AND WE'RE ALWAYS I THINK IT WAS CONSULTANTS. CONSULTANTS.

OKAY, SORRY, I WROTE DOWN CONTRACTOR CONSULTANTS, AND THAT THE NUMBER WAS 7.6 MILLION DOLLARS IN CONSULTANTS, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, YOU WILL SEE THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE'RE DOING, AND SOME OF THAT'S ARPA MONEY THAT'S FINALLY COMING THROUGH, LIKE THE LAKE MARIA SANCHEZ.

THAT ALONE HAS 3 MILLION DOLLARS IN WHAT I WOULD, I CALL CONSULTANT FEES. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE SAME THING, BUT WE'VE GOT 1.1 IN THE FIRE STATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH CONSULTANT FEES ARE IN THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DO, AS WE DO THESE MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WE DON'T DO THEM IN-HOUSE. WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO CONSULT WITH ENGINEERS AND DESIGNERS TO DO THESE. WE DON'T HAVE.

YOU WOULD SEE A VERY LARGE BUDGET IF WE HAD THESE CONTRACTORS CONSULTANTS IN-HOUSE. YOU WOULD SEE A MUCH LARGER BUDGET, BUT WE'RE LIKE OTHER CITIES, AND THIS IS WHAT WE DO. SO, I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING EXERCISE, BUT WHEN I STARTED LOOKING THROUGH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, I STARTED SEEING THESE VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF THESE REALLY GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WE DO IN IT, AND I FELT A LITTLE BIT BETTER ABOUT IT. CAN I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? YES, PLEASE. A LOT OF THOSE CONSULTANT FEES ARE PAID FOR THROUGH THE GRANTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACQUIRE AS WELL. YES, WE HAVE ONE, IT'S A 7.3 MILLION DOLLAR, 7 MILLION, 7.3-MILLION-DOLLAR ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BACK BAY FEASIBILITY STUDY, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAD IN THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE COUNTED INTO THAT CONSULTANT NUMBER.

SO, IT DEFINITELY WAS A GOOD EXERCISE TO LOOK AT, AND THEN YOU REALIZE, YOU KNOW, SO. BUT THAT SAID, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT THE BUDGET MOVING FORWARD. JUST LIKE TONIGHT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS DEBATE ABOUT SPENDING AND HIGH TAXES, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM. WE KEEP HEARING, WE HAVE A LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM, AND THE TRUTH IS I, I DON'T EVER, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY EVER COMES IN HERE AND REQUESTS TO CUT THEIR, THEIR STREET PAVING. I DON'T THINK THEY EVER COME IN AND SAY, CUT OUT CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. I DON'T EVER HEAR THEM. THEY COME IN, JUST LIKE TONIGHT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, THEY WANT MORE FOR THEIR PROJECTS OR FOR THIS OR THAT. SO, BOTTOM LINE, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, PEOPLE COME IN HERE ASKING FOR MORE THINGS FROM US. IT'S IT, SO I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY THINKING THIS THROUGH WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OUR OVERSPENDING. WE'RE SPENDING BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. WE'RE SPENDING BECAUSE WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT DEMAND HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND WE SPEND BECAUSE, JUST LIKE YOU SAID, TO STAY COMPETITIVE. I'VE BEEN AROUND BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, TO SEE ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS WHEN GOVERNMENT WAS THE BEST JOB. YOU KNOW, WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH, THESE GOVERNMENT JOBS ARE GOOD JOBS, GOOD STABLE JOBS, BUT IN, YOU KNOW, WHEN TIMES ARE LIKE NOW, WHEN EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, THE MARKETPLACE IS PAYING REALLY WELL PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT, SO WE HAVE TO SPEND MORE TO BE COMPETITIVE. THAT'S JUST, I DON'T, NOT SAYING IT'S RIGHT, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS, SO.

BUT ANYWAY, SO RANT OFF. DID ANYONE HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE? I'M NOT SURE WE DID THE PUBLIC COMMENT, DID WE? HAVE WE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY, GREAT.

PUBLIC COMMENT'S OPEN. ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK? NO? OH, WELL,

[00:50:04]

AUGUSTINE. AND WHENEVER YOU ARE TALKING, CAN YOU GET CLOSER TO YOUR MIC AND TALK TO US? IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU'RE TALKING TO YOURSELVES, WHICH IS FINE.

WE KEEP STRAINING FORWARD. MISS BLONDER IS PRETTY GOOD ABOUT GETTING RIGHT ON IT, THOUGH. NOTHING AGAINST THE REST OF YOU, OKAY? MR. SPRINGFIELD, YOU'RE KIND OF LOUD WITH THAT ONE, SO THERE'S MY 36 MINUTES.

OKAY. I'M GLAD THIS WAS OPENED UP AFTER MISS GARRIS BROUGHT UP SOMETHING, AND OBVIOUSLY MR. WHITE KNEW TO COME TO THE MEETING TONIGHT, AND THIS IS ONE REASON I CAME TONIGHT. I THOUGHT WE'D BE OUT HERE. IT'S ALMOST 6 O'CLOCK. I THOUGHT WE'D BE OUT HERE BY 5:30.

BUT ANYWAY I'M GLAD TO HEAR EVERYONE'S COMMENTS, BUT I THINK THESE THINGS NEED TO BE BROUGHT UP WHEN THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE HERE. AND I, IF I MAY TO BE WRONG ON THIS, BUT AT THE COUNTY, FOR THEM TO GIVE THAT 25,000 DOLLARS AT THE MEETING, IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE CHAIR AT THE END. IT WAS NOT ONE OF THE ITEMS. SO THAT'S HOW THEY GOT THE MONEY, WHICH IS FINE.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS, AND I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT TONIGHT. THERE ARE WAYS FOR THESE NONPROFITS TO GET MONEY, AND EVERYONE THINKS NOT JUST THE MUSEUM, BUT OTHER THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TOO TO THEM. AND TAKING IT OUT OF THE RESERVES, WE NEED OTHER THINGS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE RESERVES, AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS AS IMPORTANT AS SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THIS CITY IS TRYING TO DO FOR THE RESIDENTS, NOT JUST FOR THE BUSINESS OR NOT JUST FOR NONPROFITS. WHENEVER YOU COME IN HERE AS A NONPROFIT, YOU'RE ASKING FROM OUR TAX DOLLARS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL, LIKE YOU DID TONIGHT, THINK ABOUT IT AND NOT MAKE A DECISION, BUT GIVE OTHER PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY WHO COULD NOT COME HERE TONIGHT, MAYBE, TO HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON, TO BE FOR OR AGAINST.

BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY, AND THIS IS CONCERNS ME. AND YOU ALL MAKE 22 AND 29 THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND YOU CAN USE SOME OF YOUR MONEY TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE. AND ALSO, THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO GET MONEY TOO, AND THAT IT CONCERNS ME WHEN SOMETHING IS BROUGHT UP RIGHT AT THE END AND NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO THAT I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK, BUT ALSO TO LET PEOPLE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO THIS TONIGHT, I'LL BE ENCOURAGING THEM TO, TO YOU KNOW, SPEAK UP WHENEVER THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK WHILE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN? THIS IS THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING OF THE EVENING. HEARING NO ONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED, AND WE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

READY FOR A MOTION. OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 2026-22 AS READ BY TITLE. ACTUALLY, I HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING.

ACTUALLY, YOU NEED A SECOND.

DO YOU WANT A SECOND? I'VE GOT THE SECOND WAITING FOR YOU.

SORRY. THERE YOU GO.

COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD.

YOU'RE, IT'S ALL GOOD. ALL RIGHT, 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 30, 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 1, 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 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 2. 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.

[00:55:02]

SECTION 4, ALL FUNDS FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 AND BUDGETED FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 MAY OVER EXPEND ADOPTED BUDGETS TO THE EXTENT THAT ACTUAL REVENUES EXCEED THE ADOPTED BUDGET.

SECTION 5, ALL UNENCUMBERED APPROPRIATIONS EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS OR COMMITMENTS, BE AND ARE CANCELLED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, AND THE CITY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE IS DIRECTED TO TRANSFER ALL APPROPRIATION CREDIT BALANCES TO UNAPPROPRIATED SURPLUS AND PLACE 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 6. IF ANY PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE OR THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO ANY PERSON OR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE HEREBY 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 SEVERABLE. SECTION 7, ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH ARE HEREBY REPEALED.

SECTION 8, THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE.

PASSED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, IN SPECIAL SESSION AT 5:05 P.M. THIS 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026, SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR COMMISSIONER NANCY SIKES-KLINE. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS, ANYTHING COME TO MIND WHILE WE WERE LISTENING TO THAT VERY LONG TITLE? OKAY, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JON DEPRETER. YES.

BARBARA BLONDER. YES. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. JIM SPRINGFIELD.

YES. YES. ALL RIGHT. NANCY SIKES-KLINE. YES. SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK MISS BURNS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I KNOW YOU WORK VERY HARD ON THIS BUDGET.

MEREDITH BRIDENSTINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I KNOW YOU ALSO WORK VERY HARD ON THIS BUDGET. I MEAN, EVERYONE DOES, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. THE REST OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, EVERYONE ELSE IN THE BACK THERE, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.

IT'S A INCREDIBLE WORK IN PROGRESS, SO LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT EXPRESSING OUR VALUES, AS I SAID BEFORE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES, ANYTHING ELSE? I HAD FORGOTTEN TO BRING THIS UP EARLIER, SO I APOLOGIZE DOING IT AT THE VERY, VERY END, BUT WE ALL, I BELIEVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM A CONSTITUENT ASKING FOR A MORE TRANSPARENT PRODUCT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO BE ABLE TO MORE CLEARLY SEE HOW THE SPEND IS HOW THE CITY IS SPENDING MONEY AND, AND WHERE, WHERE IT'S SPENDING MONEY. AND SO, I SPOKE WITH THE CITY MANAGER YESTERDAY, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND ON THE STAFF IS WORKING ON COMING UP WITH SOME IDEAS ABOUT THAT THEY WILL PRESENT TO US, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CONSIDER IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

SO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT UPDATE AND ADDRESS THAT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'RE UP. ALONG, ALONG WITH THAT, WHICH I HAVEN'T MENTIONED BEFORE IS THE REVENUE EXPLAINED WELL? BECAUSE THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION THAT WE RUN ONLY ON AD VALOREM TAX, AND IF, IF THAT PROCESS COULD ALSO SHOW HOW THE REVENUE COMES IN, INCLUDING GRANTS AND EVERYTHING, BECAUSE IT'S A, IT'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE OPERATE ON, BUT A SMALL PART OF IT IS NOT SMALL, BUT 50% OF IT IS AD VALOREM. GOOD POINT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.