Oct 12, 2026 City Commission

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

OF THE CITY COMMISSION. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY. SYKES. KLEIN HERE.

BARBARA HERE. CYNTHIA GARRIS HERE. JIM. SPRINGFIELD HERE. JOHN PRATER. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, FOLLOWED BY A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY VICE MAYOR BARBARA BLONDER.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE STAND. PLEASE RISE IF YOU'RE ABLE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT. WE

[2. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS ]

[3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS ]

WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A SERIOUS AND PERVASIVE CRIME AFFECTING MILLIONS OF WOMEN, MEN, CHILDREN, AND COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY YEAR. AND WHEREAS ALL PERSONS HAVE A BASIC RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE FROM HARM, ESPECIALLY IN THEIR HOMES. YET NEARLY 2500 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED CALLS WERE MADE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND OUT OF THOSE CALLS, 128 WERE ASSAULTS AND BATTERY, AND ONE STAB STABBING HAPPENED IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY ALONE LAST YEAR.

AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, RACES, RACIAL, SOCIOECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS AND OCCUPATIONAL SEGMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.

AND WHEREAS CHILDREN FROM VIOLENT HOMES ARE PHYSICALLY ABUSED OR SERIOUSLY NEGLECTED AT A RATE SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND HAVE GREATER RISKS OF ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, COGNITIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS FEAR, ANXIETY AND GUILT. AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT A PRIVATE FAMILY MATTER BUT A CRIME, THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH REACH OF WHICH REACH WITH DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES OF OUR NATION. AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REPRESENTS A PATTERN OF ASSAULT AND COERCIVE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL ESCALATE IN FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY IF INTERVENTION DOES NOT OCCUR AND PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRIMES. AND WHEREAS, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE NEEDED, AS WELL AS UNIFORM EFFORTS ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THROUGH PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2026 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SUPPORT LOCAL EFFORTS TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES IN FINDING THE HELP AND HEALING THAT THEY NEED. AND THIS IS SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR, AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE GREAT PEOPLE FROM BETTY GRIFFIN HOUSE, IF YOU'LL WHEN YOU COME UP, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND AND MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND THE MAYOR UP FRONT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. SO.

[00:05:21]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT MINE.

OKAY. WHAT CAN I SAY? I'M A BRAT. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT PROCLAMATION WE HAVE IS OCTOBER IS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, FIRST FLORIDA COUNCIL, 611, 125TH ANNIVERSARY. AND I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION, AND THEN I WILL ASK THE GENTLEMAN TO COME FORWARD. AND WE SEE QUITE A FEW FRIENDLY FACES HERE THAT ARE HERE TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION, AND WE'LL ASK THEM IF THEY'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. SO HERE WE GO. WHEREAS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, FIRST FLORIDA COUNCIL 611 WAS FOUNDED IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA ON OCTOBER 13TH, 1901, AND HOLDS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST AND OLDEST KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WHEREAS, 120 FOR 125 YEARS. FIRST FLORIDA COUNCIL 611 HAS DEMONSTRATED AN ENDURING COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CHARITY, UNITY, FRATERNITY AND PATRIOTISM THROUGH FAITHFUL SERVICE TO THE SAINT AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY. AND. WHEREAS, GENERATIONS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FIRST FLORIDA COUNCIL 611 HAVE PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED, ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS, SUPPORT FOR SEMINARIANS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVES. AND WHEREAS, THE COUNCIL'S LONG STANDING DEDICATION HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED COUNTLESS RESIDENTS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND STRENGTHENED THE CIVIC AND SPIRITUAL FIBER OF THE NATION'S OLDEST CITY. AND WHEREAS THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FIRST FLORIDA COUNCIL 611 MARKS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE AND PROVIDES A FITTING OCCASION TO RECOGNIZE ITS DISTINGUISHED HISTORY, ENDURING LEGACY, AND GENERATIONS OF DEDICATED SERVICE. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE HEREBY PROCLAIMS OCTOBER 2026 AS THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FIRST FLORIDA COUNCIL. 611 125TH ANNIVERSARY AND EXPRESSES OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR THEIR FAITHFUL SERVICE, CHARITABLE OUTREACH, AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE SAINT AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY. SIGNED BY MYSELF, AND WE WANT TO JOIN

[00:10:07]

THAT'S A LOT. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE. THIS IS IMPRESSIVE. VERY IMPRESSIVE. VERY IMPRESSIVE. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HEAR. LOVE THE OUTFITS. HELLO. GOOD. I LIKE THAT FIRST FLORIDA REALLY LOUD. OKAY, THEN WHO WILL ACCEPT? WHO'S ACCEPTING? OKAY. THE GRAND. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN 125 YEARS. WE JUST HAPPEN TO BE THE GUYS THAT ARE HERE THIS YEAR. BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING ANOTHER 125 YEARS OF SUPPORTING THE SAINT AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY NICE.

GET IT RIGHT BACK OVER HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS. 100 AND. OF COURSE. OKAY. I KNOW THAT'S ALL LIKE OVER THERE BY HERSELF.

RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO OUR NEXT ITEM IS A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION. RECOGNIZE THIS RECOGNIZING THE LANGUAGE EXPLORATION ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. AND THAT IS COMMISSIONER GARRIS, THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSION CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED IN HONOR TO LANGUAGE EXPLORATION, ENRICHMENT PROGRAM AND CELEBRATION OF. IN CELEBRATION OF 23 YEARS OF SERVICE AND RECOGNITION OF THE PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE THE PROGRAM'S DEDICATION TO INSPIRING CHILDREN THROUGH LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY AND MAKING LANGUAGE LEARNING ON ENGAGING JOURNEYS OF DISCOVERY, TEACHING CULTURE ALONGSIDE LANGUAGES, ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH CURIOSITY, KINDNESS, AND TOLERANCE. WE RECOMMEND YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND LASTING DIFFERENCE IT MAKES IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS. SIGNED BY MYSELF, CYNTHIA GARRIS, COMMISSIONER. IF WE CAN GET PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ, ROSWELL, MANUEL GUZMAN, ANAYA, MIRANDA AND ELIZABETH STARK TO COME FORWARD FROM LEE INSTRUCTIONS AND CAN THE COMMISSION. LOOK LIKE IT MIGHT BE. HI, MY NAME IS PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ ROSWELL.

I'M THE SUPERVISOR OF LEE PROGRAM. WE ARE PROUDLY SERVING THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY FOR 23 YEARS, SHARING OUR. OF COURSE, TEACHING SPANISH AND SHARING CULTURE THROUGH ART, MUSIC, AND LITERACY. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE RECOGNITION AND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY NAME IS ANYA MIRANDA AND I'M A LEAD INSTRUCTOR. I'M A SPANISH TEACHER, AND WE SERVE KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY AS MY THE OTHER TEACHER PATRICIA MENTIONED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. WE TEACH IN SPANISH. WE ARE GOING TO. I'M

[00:15:05]

OKAY.

[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OR FOR AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING ]

[00:20:04]

EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR MUST GO DIRECTLY TOWARD SAVING OUR NATURAL SPACES AND PROTECTING OUR LOCAL WATERWAYS FOR TODAY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE COST TO ACHIEVE THIS IS INCREDIBLY MODEST. THE PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED BY A SMALL PROPERTY TAX ADJUSTMENT THAT IS STRICTLY CAPPED AT 0.15 MILLS. THAT AMOUNT THAT AMOUNTS TO JUST $15 A YEAR FOR EVERY $100,000 OF TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUE. FOR A TINY INVESTMENT EACH YEAR, WE CAN SECURE A LEGACY OF CLEAN, WATER PROTECTED FOREST AND OPEN SPACE ACROSS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT LOCAL ACTION WORKS. BACK IN 2019, WE CAME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND SUCCESSFULLY SAVED FISH ISLAND FROM DEVELOPMENT. NOW IT IS TIME TO PROTECT THE REST OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. SO LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE WHAT WE LOVE. VOTE YES FOR THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION BOND REFERENDUM. AND REMEMBER, THE REFERENDUM WILL BE LOCATED ON THE BACK OF YOUR VOTED ON ON THE BACK OF YOUR VOTER BALLOT. SO MAKE SURE TO FLIP YOUR BALLOT OVER TO CAST YOUR YES VOTE. THANK YOU. PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. WE'RE TRYING TO WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING THROUGH A LOT TONIGHT, MISS SHANNON VINICK. I THINK MISS SHANNON VINICK, NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK. IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ON THE APPEALS ON THE FRANCHISE APPEAL, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF A FRANCHISE APPEAL, ARE YOU ACTUALLY THE APPELLANT? NO, I AM NOT. I BELIEVE CORBYN SAID IF THERE WAS ANY CARE. MY APOLOGIES. REUBEN SAID IF THERE WAS ANY CHARACTER WITNESSES THIS EVENING FOR MR. FREDERICK, TWO CHARACTER WITNESSES DURING TO BE SWORN IN DURING THE MEETING. WE'RE NOT SWEARING ANYONE IN DURING THE APPEAL JUST SO FOLKS ARE ARE CLEAR. THIS IS NOT A QUASI JUDICIAL APPEAL OF A ZONING MATTER. SO IT'S A DISCRETIONARY DECISION OF THE CITY COMMISSION. IF THERE ARE FOLKS WHO WERE THE APPLICANTS, I THINK THERE ARE THREE APPLICANTS THAT ARE BEING HEARD ON APPEAL. THOSE THREE APPLICANTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING FORWARD, IF THEY HAVE AN ATTORNEY OR SOMEONE WHO'S SPEAKING AS TO THEIR CHARACTER, SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PRESENT THEIR CASE DURING THEIR PRESENTATION. OKAY, CORRECT. THAT WOULD BE YOUR PATH FORWARD, MA'AM. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SORRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WHILE WE WORK THROUGH THIS. ALSO, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHELSEA ORTON. AND I THINK THAT CHELSEA ORTON IS SOMEONE IS THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING. IF THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE. NOT THE APPEAL, BUT THE FRANCHISE APPLICATIONS DO HAVE A PUBLIC APPLICATIONS DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK NOW AND DURING THAT PUBLIC HEARING, MISS ORTON. I'LL JUST WAIT.

WAIT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. OKAY. CARLA WILSON, FOLLOWED BY ALI BIRCHFIELD.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, I'M ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE DENY ANY NEW FRANCHISES FOR HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES. INSTEAD, THE CITY SHOULD BE TRANSITIONING TO MORE HUMANE COMPANIES, SUCH AS THOSE THAT USE ELECTRIC CARRIAGES OR OTHER TOURS, WHICH CONTINUE TO GROW IN POPULARITY IN CITIES, REPLACING THE OUTDATED AND CRUEL HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES. I WAS ABSOLUTELY STUNNED TO LEARN THAT THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE ALLOWS HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES TO DRIVE WITH THE PUBLIC WITHOUT DOING BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THE DRIVERS. WHAT ON EARTH WOULD THESE INNOCENT PASSENGERS DO IF THEY KNEW THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN BY

[00:25:05]

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS STRONGLY REJECTED BY THE RESIDENTS, AS WE PREFERRED TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY, NOT ONLY WITH THE AMOUNT OF PARKING WE HAVE AVAILABLE, BUT ALSO MOST OF THE YEAR. WE DON'T MIND SHARING OUR UNUSED PARKING WITH THE BUSINESSES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND PATRONS. I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE CITY'S PLAN WAS WITH THE ORDINANCE FOR ACCOMMODATING THE EMPLOYEES AND PATRONS OF THOSE BUSINESSES. WHATEVER THAT PROVISION WAS, IS WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED HERE. BECAUSE IF WE END UP GOING BACKWARDS, THE RESIDENTS COULD BE FORCED TO ENACT THE 365 DAY A YEAR RESIDENTIAL PARKING, WHICH WILL SHUT OUT OUR BUSINESSES COMPLETELY YEAR ROUND, PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE RESIDENTS IN ARE MEASURED APPROACH TO ADJUST THE START TIME AND ENSURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS STAY LIVABLE AND SAFE DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS MCKENZIE PEARCE, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER WILSON. GOOD EVENING, CITY COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MCKENZIE PEARCE. I AM A LIFELONG SAINT AUGUSTINE LOCAL, BUT I AM ALSO A FORGED CARRIAGE EMPLOYEE FOR COASTAL CARRIAGES. DURING MY EMPLOYMENT FOR

[00:30:01]

I'VE WORKED IN DOWNTOWN, I'VE HAD HORSES MY WHOLE LIFE, BUT LITTLE DID I KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE A HORROR STORY. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO TELL THAN JUST THE TIME THAT I HAVE HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS THE MISERY THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY. TONIGHT, I WOULD TESTIFY MAJOR PROBLEMS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED FIRSTHAND, BUT WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THE INFORMATION AT ANY FURTHER TIME. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. HEATHER WILSON, FOLLOWED BY JUDY GLAZEBROOK. GOOD EVENING. AND YOU CAN PLAY THE VIDEO, PLEASE. THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IS FOOTAGE FROM THE CITY LEASED HORSE TRANSFER STATION ON RIBERIA STREET. THIS OCCURRED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2026. YOU CAN SEE THE TIMESTAMP HERE. WE SEE CARLY ZERVAS, A CURRENT DRIVER FOR CB HINSON SLASH JESSIE SZABO SLASH BUGGIES AND BUCKSKINS WITH A CINDERELLA CARRIAGE. SHE IS ALSO THE APPLICANT FOR EAST COAST CARRIAGES. SOME OF THIS IS PLAYED IN DOUBLE SPEED JUST SO THAT IT WOULD FIT IN A THREE MINUTE COMMENT. AND LOOK WHO'S PUSHING THAT CARRIAGE. NO OTHER THAN HORSE BIDDER BILL CUSHION.

VERY RECOGNIZABLE WITH THAT DISTINCT HAIRCUT, IT IS QUESTIONABLE THAT THE CITY WOULD ALLOW A PERSON WHO WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO BEATING A HORSE TO BE IN AN AREA WHERE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THEIR HORSES. IT IS ALSO SURPRISING THAT THE CITY WOULD MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DEFAULTED ON THEIR RENT, WHO HAD A VERY LONG LIST OF VIOLATIONS, WHO EVENTUALLY HAD THEIR HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE FRANCHISE TERMINATED, AND WHO WERE LITERALLY EVICTED FROM THE NEARBY CITY LEASED STABLES. IT IS EXTREMELY OBVIOUS IN THE VIDEO THAT CARLY WAS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH BILL CUSHION, COORDINATING THE LOADING OF THE CARRIAGE AND THEN SECURING IT ONTO BILL'S TRAILER. LASTLY, IN THE VIDEO, YOU CAN SEE CARLY GETTING IN HER TRUCK FOLLOWING BILL AS THEY LEAVE THE TRANSFER STATION. THE LAST TIME THAT THIS CARRIAGE WAS ON AN OFFICIAL CITY INVENTORY WAS WITH COUNTRY CARRIAGES. ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2025. CB HENSON'S MOST RECENT VEHICLE INVENTORY DOES NOT HAVE A CINDERELLA CARRIAGE, AND AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, CARLY WAS WORKING UNDER CB HENSON'S FRANCHISE, DOING BUSINESS WITH JESSE SZABO. CARLY MEANS YOU ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CUSHIONS, WHO ARE WELL KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR LONG LIST OF INFRACTIONS, VIOLATIONS, AND COMPLETE DISREGARD AND DISRESPECT OF THE CITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS, FRANCHISE AND LEASE AGREEMENTS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BEING CAUGHT ON VIDEO, BEATING AN INNOCENT HORSE. AND YOU CAN TURN OFF THE VIDEO. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. SO I WANTED TO SHOW A PICTURE.

THIS IS THE INVENTORY FROM COUNTRY CARRIAGES. YOU CAN SEE THE CINDERELLA CARRIAGE WHITE AND BURGUNDY. AND THEN OOPS, OUT OF ORDER. THAT IS CB HENSON'S VEHICLE INVENTORY.

THERE IS NO CINDERELLA CARRIAGE. AND CARLY WAS WORKING IN THE CAPACITY OF CB HENSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. ALL RIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDY GLAZEBROOK, FOLLOWED BY ANNE LAGA LARGENT. GOOD EVENING. JUDY GLAZEBROOK AT 30 RHODY AVENUE. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHT RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM AS PROPOSED BY UPTOWN RESIDENTS, AND REJECT THE CHANGES THAT WOULD PLACE ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON THE RESIDENTS. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVE. DURING SEPTEMBER OF 2026, OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES. OKAY. OUT OF CONSIDERATION FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE SAINT, THE SAINT AUGUSTINE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS SAUNA, CONDUCTED A SURVEY TO SEE IF RESIDENTS COULD ACCOMMODATE A KNIGHTS OF LIGHT RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM. START TIME A CHANGE FROM 1 P.M. TO 3 P.M. THE BOARD DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A

[00:35:03]

THE PRIMARY CONCERN WAS PUBLIC SAFETY, SPECIFICALLY THE POTENTIAL FOR TRAFFIC CONGESTION RESTRICTING EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS TO THE ABBOT TRACK NEIGHBORHOOD. THE BOARD NOTED THAT A 5:00 START TIME WOULD COINCIDE WITH A PERIOD OF INCREASED TRAFFIC, AS RESIDENTS RETURNED HOME FROM WORK, ERRANDS AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING. AT THE SAME TIME, VISITORS ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS CONVERGENCE OF TRAFFIC, COMBINED WITH THE ALREADY HEAVY CONGESTION ALONG SAN MARCO AND U.S. ONE, COULD CREATE SIGNIFICANT BACKUPS AND DELAY EMERGENCY RESPONSES. DESPITE SIGN UP BEING A RESIDENT ORGANIZATION, SIGNIFICANT THOUGHT AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WERE GIVEN TO BOTH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, BUT NATURALLY, OUR SURVEY WAS LIMITED TO RESIDENTS. IT IDENTIFIED WHICH SIDE OF SAN MARCO RESPONDENTS LIVED AND THEN OFFERED TWO OPTIONS 1 P.M. LIKE LAST YEAR AND 3 P.M.

RECOGNIZING BUSINESS NEEDS, WE GOT 52 RESPONSES LOOKING AT TOTAL RESPONSES, 54% FAVORED.

1:00 START TIME WHEN BROKEN DOWN BY NEIGHBORHOOD. 67% OF ABBOTT TRACKS SUPPORTED THE 1:00 START TIME, AND 57% OF NORTH CITY, WHICH IS WEST OF SAN MARCO, WERE MORE ABLE TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO THE LATER START TIME OF 3 P.M. PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE ACCESSIBILITY AND WIDER STREETS. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE OPEN THEIR HEARTS. THIS IS STILL A SACRIFICE. WE ALREADY HAVE ELDERLY AND DISABLED NEIGHBORS WITHIN UPTOWN WHO BECOME HOMEBOUND. AS PARKING AND TRAFFIC INCREASES. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENT PARKING SCHEDULE AS WE'VE PRESENTED IT, AND I ENCOURAGE OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES, RATHER THAN ASKING RESIDENTS TO MAKE FURTHER SACRIFICES. THANK YOU. AND LARGENT, FOLLOWED BY SUSAN GREGORY. HELLO, ANNE LARGENT, NINE RHODY AVENUE. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE WHY RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROTECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR THOSE OF US LIVING WEST OF SAN MARCO ON RODI, DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, MY REQUEST IS TO MAKE PARKING AVAILABLE IN THE COMMERCIALLY ZONED AREAS, WHICH WOULD BE FROM SEVEN ROAD EAST TO SAN MARCO. I LIVE AT NINE. I AM THE FIRST RESIDENTIAL HOME ON THAT PART OF THE BLOCK. AS I UNDERSTAND THE ZONING, FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN ROAD ARE COMMERCIALLY ZONED, WHILE EIGHT, NINE, TEN AND 11 ROAD ARE. RESIDENTIAL PARKING POLICIES SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT DISTINCTION. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH VEHICLES BLOCKING OUR DRIVEWAYS, LIMITING OUR ACCESS TO OUR HOMES, OR IGNORING YELLOW CURB RESTRICTIONS. I PAY NEARLY $12,000 A YEAR IN REAL ESTATE TAXES. I THINK I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO FIND PARKING NEAR MY OWN HOME WHEN MY FAMILY VISITS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PARK BLOCKS AWAY AND HOPE TO FIND A SPACE. THERE IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. OVERCROWDED STREETS CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO REACH OUR HOMES WHEN SECONDS MATTER. WE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER BUSINESS HOURS. MANY SHOPS ALONG SAN MARCO CLOSE RELATIVELY EARLY, AND MUCH OF THE BUSINESS ACTIVITY OCCURS DURING THE DAY. THIS CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE BETTER USE OF THE COMMERCIALLY ZONED PARKING WITHOUT PLACING AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN ON RESIDENTIAL OR EXCUSE ME, ON RESIDENTS. MY REQUEST IS SIMPLE LET'S FIND A FAIR COMPROMISE. PROVIDE PARKING IN THE COMMERCIALLY ZONED AREAS, ENFORCE EXISTING PARKING RESTRICTIONS, KEEP DRIVEWAYS CLEAR AND PRESERVE REASONABLE PARKING ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS, AND LEAVE RESIDENTIAL PARKING.

SEVEN ROADIE WEST WITH A 3 P.M. START. WE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND WANT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT THAT SUPPORT SHOULD GO BOTH WAYS. RESIDENTS DESERVE CONSIDERATION AND THE ABILITY TO ACCESS AND PARK NEAR THEIR OWN HOME. WE CAN WELCOME VISITORS, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CELEBRATE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE ALL YEAR ROUND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, SUSAN GREGORY, FOLLOWED BY VICKI PEPPER. HI, SUSAN GREGORY, 23 LOCUST STREET. I'M ALSO SPEAKING TO NIGHTS OF LIGHTS PARKING. THANK YOU FOR HEARING

[00:40:02]

WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR MEANINGFUL RELIEF DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND OTHER PERIODS OF EXTRAORDINARY DEMAND. OUR PROPOSED 2627 SCHEDULE MOVES ENFORCEMENT ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN MARCO FROM 1 P.M. TO 3 P.M. GIVING BUSINESSES AND VISITORS AN ADDITIONAL TWO HOURS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, BUT DELAYING ENFORCEMENT UNTIL 5 P.M. WOULD UNDERMINE MEANINGFUL PROTECTION BY THEN. CONGESTION IS ALREADY UNDERWAY, AND ABBOTT TRACT HAS VERY LIMITED INGRESS AND EGRESS, MAKING EARLY ACCESS AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO BEGIN CHANGING EXPECTATIONS ABOUT PARKING IN UPTOWN. WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR PARKING AND CONSIDER WALKING, BIKING, RIDE SHARING OR USING ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. CONTINUING TO OFFER UNRESTRICTED NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING UNTIL 5 P.M. DOES NEITHER. IT DOESN'T PROVIDE MEANINGFUL RELIEF TO RESIDENTS, AND IT DOESN'T ENCOURAGE THE CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR WE NEED IF WE HOPE TO MANAGE INCREASING TRAFFIC IN THE YEARS TO HEAD. I FULLY SUPPORT EXPLORING SHARED PARKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SAN MARCO BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES. WE ARE PART OF THE SAME COMMUNITY, BUT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS CANNOT REMAIN THE DEFAULT SOLUTION FOR FREE VISITOR PARKING. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSION TO GIVE PRIORITY CONSIDERATION TO THE RESIDENT'S PROPOSAL, DEVELOPED THROUGH MONTHS OF COLLABORATION, SURVEYS AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY. BUT I ALSO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE CONCERNS OF THE BUSINESSES. I CONSIDER THEM AS MUCH OF OUR COMMUNITY AS MY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS NEXT DOOR. THE PEOPLE I FEEL LIKE ARE HIS OWN. OUR PARKING ZONE SHOULD BE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AND WORK IN THE ZONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VICKI PEPPER. FOLLOWED BY LARRY DIAZ. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS VICKI PEPPER. I LIVE IN HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND ALTHOUGH YOU HEAR FROM ME MOST OFTEN AS A MEMBER OF THE INFORMAL CIVIC ACTION GROUP CARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY, THIS EVENING I'M PUTTING ON ANOTHER OF MY MANY HATS AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND BELONGING, INC. AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN NEW NONPROFIT NGO BELONGING, INC. FOR ITS INAUGURAL COMMUNITY APPRECIATION GALA, AN INSPIRING EVENING HONORING SEVERAL COMMUNITY BRIDGE BUILDERS, CHANGEMAKERS, AND LIGHT BEARERS WHO ARE FOSTERING CONNECTION ACROSS CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES. TOGETHER, WE WILL CELEBRATE STORIES OF COURAGE, COMPASSION, AND BELONGING. THE DINNER EVENT IS THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16TH AT THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER, 102 MARTIN LUTHER KING AVENUE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, FROM 630 TO 8:30 P.M. BELONGING INC'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND LEADER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR CLERGY, CONGREGATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO WANT TO BUILD COMMUNITIES OF BELONGING WHERE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES ARE RECOGNIZED, UNDERSTOOD, APPRECIATED, AND UTILIZED AS STRENGTHS. BELONGING, INC. OFFERS STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING AND HEALING THE FRACTURES THAT ARE IN US AND BETWEEN US, BUT ITS FUTURE IS IN DANGER. BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE'S PASSAGE OF SB 1134, WHICH AS OF JANUARY 1ST, WILL MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO EXPEND FUNDS ON BELONGING SERVICES, TICKETS FOR THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATION AND FUNDRAISING GALA ARE AVAILABLE BY CLICKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOME PAGE AT HTTP COLON SLASH SLASH BELONGING HYPHEN INC. DOT ORG. THE CITY'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE GOALS AND WORK OF BELONGING, INC. AND SO. ON BEHALF OF OUR OFFICERS AND BOARD, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT SUPPORT. AND ALSO NOTE THAT ONE OF THE COMMUNITY

[00:45:02]

THANK YOU. ALSO, I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE. I'LL BE UNABLE TO STAY FOR THE WHOLE MEETING DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED SCHEDULE CONFLICT. BUT FROM OUR MAYOR'S EARLIER REMARKS, THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD MEETING TO HAVE A CONFLICT. SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE AN INTERMISSION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. LARRY. LARRY DIAZ, FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH WOZNIAK, LARRY DIAZ, TEN ROADIE. IN BRIEF, I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE WHAT WAS ALREADY SAID UP HERE. THE POINTS MADE WERE VERY VALID BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, INCLUDING MYSELF. I SEE THAT YOU'RE GETTING SOME REALLY GOOD ADVICE WITHOUT HAVING TO. HOW SHOULD I PUT THIS? PAY FOR IT? LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. IT'S WELL DONE. IF YOU GUYS EVER WANT TO COME AND HANG OUT ON MY PORCH AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELVES, BRING THE BEER AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT GOES ON THERE. AND IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE SOLUTION BASED. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, ELIZABETH WOZNIAK, FOLLOWED BY TOM REYNOLDS. THOMAS REYNOLDS. HI. I'M HERE TO TALK TODAY ABOUT THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON SAN MARCO AND THE AREA SURROUNDING IT. I'M A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER. I OWN MOO-MOO VINTAGE, WHICH IS RIGHT ON LOCUST STREET. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF YOU AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE TOO. AND LAST YEAR, WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE THAT A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO BLOCKING THE PARKING FOR ALL OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THERE, IT WAS REALLY SCARY AND DIFFICULT FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE EMPLOYEES AND AND RENTED OUR BUSINESSES. YOU UTILIZING THE PARKING IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT THAT WE OPERATE IN? I IT, WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO PARK SAFELY AND MY SHOP ALONE. WE DO STAY OPEN DURING THE HOLIDAYS AS MUCH AS WE CAN. BUT LAST YEAR THE PARKING SIGNAGE WAS SO DRASTIC THAT WE HAD MANY CUSTOMERS TELL US THAT THEY FELT THEY WERE UNWANTED BY THE UPTOWN DISTRICT. THESE ARE ALL LOCALS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE UPTOWN DISTRICT TO SHOP AND EAT AND DRINK ARE LOCALS, AND WITH THEM, WITH THE BIG SIGNS ON US ONE AND AND ALSO ON SAN MARCOS SHOWING, YOU KNOW, DO NOT COME HERE. IT WAS DEVASTATING FOR OUR BUSINESS.

WE WERE DOWN AT LEAST 30% AND WE WON'T SURVIVE THAT AGAIN. SO IF IF PARKING IS CLOSED OFF AT 3:00, YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T SEE HOW THOSE YOU KNOW, HOW ALL OF US WILL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO WORK ON A COMPROMISE. YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF A SHUTTLE COULD STOP IN SAN MARCO, MAYBE IF LOCALS WERE GIVEN RESIDENTIAL PARKING PASSES WHERE THEY COULD PARK WHEN THEY CAME TO VISIT OUR ESTABLISHMENT. I'M A LOCAL. I PAY TAXES HERE TOO, AND I HAVE BEEN GOING TO UPTOWN SINCE 23. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED A GRIDLOCK. I NEVER SAW ONE WITH MY MY BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, LEAVING AT, YOU KNOW, 8:00, 6:00, 4:00. SO I, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY PAINFUL TO HAVE IT ALL SHUT DOWN FOR US LAST YEAR. AND I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO ALL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER ON A SOLUTION THAT MIGHT WORK FOR EVERYBODY, SO THAT BUSINESSES CAN STAY IN BUSINESS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THOMAS REYNOLDS, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE ZOTA. DID YOU PLAY MY VIDEO, PLEASE, WITH THE VOLUME? HE'S ASKING MAYOR AND HE'S ASKING TO PLAY THE VIDEO. THIS IS. DARLENE. DARLENE, EVEN THE THIRD ONE. OKAY. ALL RIGHTY. TOM REYNOLDS 112. I MEAN, 1244 MILE 32084. FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, NOT A NUMBER SIX. YOU'RE NOT BEING FAIR. YOU'RE NOT BEING HONEST. YOU'RE NOT BEING OPEN. YOU'RE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT. THOSE ARE THREE APPEALS. ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE EACH APPEAL? I WOULD THINK SO. SO NOW YOU'RE FORCING EVERYBODY TO SPEAK. AT NONAGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT ON NUMBER SIX. I GUESS THE GOOD PART IS YOU'LL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING AN AWARD FOR BEING HONEST, OPEN AND TRANSPARENT. FOLKS, I AGREE WITH THE FIRST MISS WILSON THAT SPOKE, AND I AGREE WITH THE SECOND ONE, THAT IT'S TIME TO END THE BARBARIC HORSE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY. YOU HAVE SEEN DOZENS

[00:50:10]

CHANGED WHERE IT TOOK ME AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET FROM THE NORTH CITY GATES TO MY HOUSE, AND THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. AND IT DOESN'T MAKE OUR CITY LIVABLE. AND WE WANT TO KEEP RESIDENTS. WE DON'T WANT ALL OF OUR HOUSES TURNING INTO AIRBNBS. ANYWAY. SO I ASK THAT THE CITY COMMISSION. GO ALONG WITH WHAT THE UPTOWN SOUND HAS RECOMMENDED. WE NEED TO MAKE CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CITY RESIDENT FRIENDLY. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH BUSINESSES, BUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE ONLY ASKING FOR A FEW DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR RATHER THAN HAVING TO GO 24 OVER SEVEN 365 DAYS. CINCINNATI AND RHODY STREET HAS PARKING ON BOTH SIDES. BEFORE THE ORDINANCE WAS IN PLACE. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE TO GET THROUGH THERE. YOU'VE GOT ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND TWO LANES OF PARKING, AND YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AND WAIT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO COME DOWN THE STREET, AND YOU'RE JUST PLAYING LEAPFROG. AND THAT IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION FOR GETTING EMERGENCY VEHICLES DOWN. AND IT'S JUST NOT A SAFE WAY FOR THE RESIDENTS. I ALSO THINK THAT THE CITY MIGHT CONSIDER THIS. I BROUGHT THIS UP LAST YEAR, IS TO PUTTING A SIGN AT THE NORTH CITY GATES AND TELL PEOPLE HOW MANY OPEN PARKING SPOTS YOU HAVE, RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THEM TO GET DOWNTOWN AND FIND OUT THERE ARE ZERO. AND THEN THEY START CIRCLING THE NEIGHBORHOODS LOOKING FOR THE PLACE TO PARK. AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING PRIOR TO THIS SITUATION. BUT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MAKE SENSE? LET PEOPLE KNOW THERE'S NO PARKING DOWNTOWN AND THEY'LL GO TO YOUR SATELLITE PARKING ANYWAY. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MELINDA, FOLLOWED BY ELAINE HARWOOD. MELINDA, 86 MAGNOLIA AVENUE, ASKING THAT YOU PASS ORDINANCE 2026-33 TONIGHT ON FIRST READING. I'VE LOOKED AT THE

[00:55:03]

INSTEAD OF USING THE TECHNIQUE OF COMING DOWN AT CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS AND DEMANDING, THEY SHOULDN'T LOOK AT RESIDENTS AS THE ENEMY, BUT AS POTENTIAL YEAR ROUND CUSTOMERS. WHILE TOURISM IS IMPORTANT, THE LIVABILITY OF RESIDENTS IS CRITICAL TO MAKING HISTORIC SAINT AUGUSTINE THE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL PLACE IT IS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

I NEED TO GO BACK. MY APOLOGIES. CATHERINE ZOTA. I SKIPPED OVER YOU, BUT YOU ARE CALLED NOW AND YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ELAINE HARWOOD. REGARDING THE APPEALS BEYOND CRIMINAL HISTORIES, THE COMMISSION MUST CONSIDER THE APPLICANT'S PAST CONDUCT AND JUDGMENT. FREDERICK PEZZA PROVIDED FALSE INFORMATION TO THE POLICE. ACCORDING TO A 2024 SAINT AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT, FREDERICK PEZZA CONCEALED THE CELL PHONE OF CARRIAGE COMPANY OWNER LACEY SANCHEZ DURING THE INVESTIGATION INTO HER DEATH, FALSELY CLAIMING IT WAS HIS WORK PHONE. WHEN CONFRONTED, PEZZA ADMITTED HE HAD LIED TO CONCEAL THEIR RELATIONSHIP. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER RULED BOTH THE CAUSE AND MANNER OF SANCHEZ'S DEATH. UNDETERMINED. SAINT WAYNE SERGEANT SERGEANT WAYNE FARRELL STATES IN HIS REPORT I THEN TOOK POSSESSION OF THE PHONE AND CONFRONTED PEZZA ABOUT PROVIDING US FALSE INFORMATION. THIS IS A PAGE OF THE POLICE REPORT. PEZZA ALSO RETAINED CARRIAGE DRIVER JASON JUDGE AFTER JUDGE ABANDONED HIS CARRIAGE TO CONFRONT PROTESTERS, VERBALLY ABUSED THEM WHILE HIS HORSE THRASHED HIS HEAD AND LATER SPAT AT PROTESTERS OUTSIDE CITY HALL. WE HAVE VIDEO OF PEZZA LAUGHING ABOUT THE SPITTING INCIDENT. PEZZA ONLY RECENTLY TERMINATED JUDGE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW A VIDEO OF CARRIAGE OPERATOR JESSE SZABO WITH HIS HORSE BOSCO, WHO I SAW GO DOWN ON THE BAYFRONT WATCH AS HE DRIVES OFF, STRIKES THE WATER BUCKET, PROCEEDS THROUGH A STOP SIGN WITHOUT STOPPING, AND CALLS PROTESTERS HOOKERS. PLEASE PLAY THE VIDEO. VOLUME UP. VOLUME. EIGHT YEARS OLD.

[01:00:06]

WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S THAT? JESSE. YEAH. THERE YOU GO. YEAH. THERE YOU GO. JESUS. HE JUST RAN OVER THAT WATER BUCKET, LIKE YOU SAY. ARE YOU CHEAPER BECAUSE YOU'RE AN OLD HOOKER? THERE YOU GO.

LIKE HE JUST RAN OVER THE BUCKET. DOESN'T CARE. AND THEN HE CALLED US OVER JUST NOW.

IT'S JUST SO DISGUSTING. HE JUST LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS NOT HISTORIC CITY CHARM. LANE HARWOOD, FOLLOWED BY ZINZI ROGERS, ELAIN HARWOOD 127 SUNDANCE. GOOD EVENING. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THIS AREA, AND I'VE SEEN THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES FIRSTHAND COUNTLESS TIMES OVER THE YEARS. I'VE ATTENDED COMMISSION MEETINGS, AND I'VE LISTENED TO NEARLY EVERY OTHER MEETING ONLINE CONCERNING THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY. WE'VE HEARD SO MANY REASONS WHY IT'S TIME TO END THIS OUTDATED PRACTICE. THERE ARE SERIOUS ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS, HORSES PULLING HEAVY LOADS OF TOURISTS THROUGHOUT STREETS, WORKING IN HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS, SURROUNDED BY TRAFFIC NOISE, SPEEDING VEHICLES. WE'VE SEEN DISTURBING FOOTAGE OF MISTREATMENT WITH A PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARRIAGE COMPANY PUNCHING A HORSE AT THE PROPERTY WHERE THE HORSES ARE KEPT, AND SEEING DRIVERS LEAVING CARRIAGES UNATTENDED AND VIOLATING CITY REGULATIONS. BEYOND ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS, THERE'S THE ISSUE OF SANITATION, INCLUDING THE SMELL OF HORSE URINE, PARTICULARLY DURING THE WARMER MONTHS. I REALLY THOUGHT THAT PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE. CARRIAGE OPERATORS WERE BEING CITED WITH VIOLATIONS. OTHER CITIES BANNING HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES, AND THIS COMMISSION DISCUSSING TRANSITIONING TO ELECTRIC CARRIAGES. ELECTRIC CARRIAGES COULD PRESERVE THE HISTORIC CHARM OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, WHILE ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR HORSES TO PULL TOURISTS THROUGH THE STREETS. I BELIEVE MANY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S BEYOND TIME TO BRING THIS INDUSTRY TO AN END. I URGE THE COMMISSION TO TAKE THIS STEP.

THANK YOU. ZINZI ROGERS, FOLLOWED BY JANAI MASTERS. MASTER. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMISSIONER. MY NAME IS LINDSEY ROGERS, 73 BEVINS LANE.

I'M CURRENTLY THE SECRETARY OF THE SAINT AUGUSTINE SAINT JOHN'S BRANCH OF THE NAACP. AND WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE BRANCH HAS REACTIVATED AFTER A FEW YEARS. THE EARLY ROOTS, THE LOCAL NAACP CHAPTER, WAS FIRST ORGANIZED IN SAINT AUGUSTINE IN 1915. THEY WERE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THE YOUTH COUNCIL, LED BY FIGURES SUCH AS DOCTOR ROBERT HAYLING, FANNIE FULLWOOD AND ELIZABETH HAWTHORNE, ORGANIZED FUNDED FOUNDATIONAL LUNCH COUNTER SIT INS, PROTEST AGAINST SEGREGATED ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AND SWIM INS THAT, ALONG WITH DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING'S ARREST, HELPED CATALYZE THE PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. IN 1964. THE BUILDING, LOCATED AT 76 WASHINGTON STREET IN LINCOLNVILLE, SERVED AS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE SAINT AUGUSTINE NAACP FROM THE 1970S THROUGH THE EARLY 1990S. WE MEET ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 7 P.M. VIA ZOOM.

AT THIS TIME, BUT WE ALSO ARE MEETING IN PERSON AT THE SOLOMON CALHOUN CENTER, LOCATED AT 1300 DUVAL STREET. THIS NEXT MONTH'S MEETING IS ON NOVEMBER 12TH, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU AND HOPE YOU ALL JOIN US IN OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS FOR EQUALITY FOR ALL. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. JANAI. MASTER, FOLLOWED BY JEN ASHTON. HI. THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

MY NAME IS JANAI MASTER, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE UPTOWN PARKING RESTRICTIONS.

DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HAVING US AND LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS.

I OWN SNAKEBIRD VINTAGE. IT'S LOCATED ON LOCUST STREET INSIDE SPINSTER ABBOTTS. I HAVE BEEN OPEN A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS. I'M SO LUCKY TO BE SURROUNDED BY TONS OF LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES AND NO CHAINS. FUN FACT FOR EVERY $100 SPENT AT A LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESS,

[01:05:07]

PEOPLE WERE SELLING THEM. I JUST, I, I LOVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. I JUST WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE THING ABOUT US BUSINESSES NOT BUYING THOSE $50 SPACES FROM THE PUBLIC OR FROM THE FLAGLER SHARED LOT. MOST OF MY EMPLOYEES ARE YOUNG WOMEN. AND IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWNTOWN DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE DRINKING, AND IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO WALK FROM UPTOWN TO THAT PARKING SPOT ALONE AT NIGHT. I DO TRY AND STAY OPEN LATE AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN TO ACCOMMODATE THAT FOOT TRAFFIC, BUT I CAN'T HAVE MY YOUNG FEMALE EMPLOYEES WALKING THAT FAR AT NIGHT ALONE. I LOVE OUR RESIDENTS. I LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR BUSINESSES. I AM PROUD TO BE A BUSINESS OWNER IN DOWNTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE. MY MOM OWNED A SHOP ON SAINT GEORGE STREET GROWING UP. I AM A SECOND GENERATION SAINT AUGUSTINE BUSINESS OWNER. THANK YOU, JEN ASHTON, FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLY INGRAM DIAZ. HI. JENNIFER ASHTON, 17 DAVIS STREET. I'M COMING TO YOU ALL TODAY TO ASK THAT WE FIND A SUITABLE COMPROMISE TO THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM IN UPTOWN LAST YEAR. THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM, AND THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS STARTED AT 1 P.M.

WE CAME TO YOU IN MID DECEMBER TO BEG YOU FOR SOME RELIEF FOR OUR FALLING SALES. AT THAT POINT, I WAS ALREADY DOWN 17% YEAR ON YEAR. AFTER A FULL NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON OF REPORTING, I CAN NOW SAY THAT I ENDED UP DOWN 23% YEAR ON YEAR THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE NIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON. SO MID NOVEMBER THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. THIS IS ALSO BEEN REFLECTED IN MY NEIGHBOR'S BUSINESSES. THE BUSINESS IMPACT STUDY PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION IN AUGUST 2025, SAID RESTRICTIONS WOULD COST THE LOCAL BUSINESSES $0. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THAT WAS JUST NOT TRUE. I'M CURRENTLY DOWN 14% YEAR ON YEAR AGAIN, 2026 VERSUS 2025 AND CANNOT SCRAPE BY FOR ANOTHER NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WITH THESE STRINGENT PARKING RESTRICTIONS. IF YOU DRIVE DOWN CORDOVA STREET TODAY, THE BUSINESS ADDRESSES ARE PREDOMINANTLY VACANT. HOW MANY SMALL, LOCALLY OWNED UPTOWN BUSINESSES HAVE TO FAIL BEFORE WE REALIZE THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH TO PAY? WE HAVE MET WITH MULTIPLE NEIGHBORS AND TRULY TRIED TO WORK ON A COMPROMISE, BUT WE DO NOT FEEL THAT TWO HOURS AND ONLY ONE PORTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND NO CHANGE IN THE ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT NEIGHBORHOOD IS AN ACTUAL COMPROMISE. THIS WILL BE TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR BUSINESSES. SORRY, TRAFFIC IS WHAT TRAPS US IN OUR HOME, NOT OVERFLOW PARKING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT WE REMAIN OPEN LATER, BUT YOU KNOW, ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS JUST NOT SOMETHING WE CAN SHOULDER THE COST OF. THERE IS NO CURRENT RESTRICTION KEEPING NATIONAL CHAINS FROM OPENING IN UPTOWN. DO WE WANT TO TURN INTO BROUGHTON STREET IN SAVANNAH, FULL OF H&M AND URBAN OUTFITTERS? THOSE ARE THE BUSINESSES THAT CAN AFFORD TO SHOULDER THESE ADDITIONAL OVERHEADS AND BARRIERS TO ENTRY.

THE COMPROMISE WE ASK YOU TO CONSIDER IS A 5 P.M. START TIME AND NO RESIDENTIAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN THE COMMERCIAL ZONE. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ACTUAL COMPROMISE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, KIMBERLY INGRAM DIAZ, FOLLOWED BY LIZ SNYDER. HI. I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS

[01:10:04]

THANK YOU. RIGHT. LIZ SNYDER FOLLOWED BY. SAM SNYDER. THANK YOU. YES. LIZ SNYDER, I OWN CO-OWN SMITH'S RABBITS AT 61 SAN MARCO AVENUE. I RESIDE IN FLOWOOD. ALSO SPEAKING ON THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS RESTRICTIONS. AS I WOULD ARGUE, THE IMPORTANT THIRD STAKEHOLDER GROUP OF A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER. I'D LIKE TO THANK THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH ME ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACTS WE EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR. YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF 23% DOWN IN 25 OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR SYMPATHETIC NEIGHBORS AND ECHO THE DESIRE TO COMPROMISE BASED ON OUR OWN SELF-ADMINISTERED UPTOWN SURVEY. I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE TWO EASY RELIEF VALVES. YOU'VE HEARD THEM FROM SOME OF MY MY BUSINESS COLLEAGUES. THE 5 P.M. START TIME FEELS LIKE A WIN WIN REPRIEVE FOR RESIDENT OWNERS. BUSINESSES CAN STILL HAVE CUSTOMER ACCESS WHEN THEY'RE OPEN, AND THE COMMERCIAL ZONED AREAS ONLY FOR COMMERCIAL USE. I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT STAYING OPEN LATER TO GRAB FOOT TRAFFIC, I DO STAY OPEN LATER.

WE'RE A MULTI-COMPONENT BUSINESS. I KEEP THE BODEGA OPEN AT NIGHT THROUGHOUT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, AND I STILL HAD A 20% DECREASE IN BODEGA REVENUE, SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE THE GRAND SOLUTION. I ALSO DO WANT TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THE PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS BEING A COMPROMISE. AGAIN, THIS IS ECHOING SOME OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES. I I'M NOT ASKING FOR RESTRICTIONS AT START WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY DARK OR PARKING PASSES FOR OUR POOR EMPLOYEES THIS TIME, OR FOR SHUTTLES TO STOP SKIPPING UPTOWN ENTIRELY OR FOR RESTRICTIONS ONLY TO RUN THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHTS WHEN THERE'S ACTUALLY TRAFFIC. THOUGH ANY OF THOSE WOULD BE AWESOME. I'M ALSO FOR THOSE, BUT TONIGHT I'M JUST ASKING FOR SOME OF THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT. I COULD EVEN GET BEHIND RESERVE PARKING SPOTS FOR THE VERY FEW UPTOWN RESIDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE DRIVEWAYS, OR HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO UTILIZE THEIR LOTS FOR DRIVEWAYS, AND UNDERSTAND THAT I DO MAKE COMPROMISES IN THE BEST INTEREST OF MY COMMUNITY OVER THE BOTTOM LINE. EVERY SINGLE DAY, NOT JUST NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. I STOP MUSIC AN HOUR EARLIER THAN I LEGALLY HAVE TO BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. I WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. I WAS A NEIGHBOR UNTIL VERY RECENTLY. NONE OF US IN UPTOWN BROADLY ADVERTISE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THERE'S PUBLIC PARKING BACK ON EITHER SIDE OF SAN MARCO AVENUE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND NOT PROMOTE THAT.

BUT IF WE GET BACKED INTO A CORNER AND WE'RE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SURVIVE, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REEVALUATE SOME OF THOSE COMPROMISES. I LOVE THAT WE HAVE THE BUSINESS IMPACT ESTIMATE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE RESIDENT PARKING PERMIT FOR, I THINK, TIMING, BUT THE GENERAL IDEA IS THAT WE LOOK AT ADVERSE IMPACTS TO BUSINESSES WHEN WE PASS NEW ORDINANCES. AND IN THAT SPIRIT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL IF WE COULD ALSO CONSIDER THAT HERE MOVING FORWARD. BUT PLEASE HEAR ME.

WE'RE NOT BEING HYPERBOLIC WHEN WE SAY WE WON'T SURVIVE IF OUR CUSTOMERS CAN'T GET TO US DURING THE DAY. I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO IMAGINE AN UPTOWN WITHOUT LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES WHO CAN. THE RICHER ONES CAN ADVOCATE AND RUN ROUGHSHOD OVER RESIDENT WISHES.

THANK YOU. SAM SNYDER, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA LAMMERS. THANK THIS PERSON. HI. GOOD EVENING.

SAM SNYDER, CO-OWNER OF SPENCER ROBERTS AND HUSBAND TO LIZ AND HERE TALKING ABOUT PARKING.

WHEN WE MOVED HERE FOUR YEARS AGO, WE WERE OVERWHELMED BY HOW WELCOMING OUR UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD WAS. THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE FELL IN LOVE WITH SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND IT'S THE REASON WHY WE INVEST SO MUCH INTO TRYING TO MAKE A PLACE THAT IS

[01:15:03]

CHRISTINA LAMMERS, CURRENTLY WORKING FOR COASTAL CARRIAGES. FIRST OF ALL, MADAM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME, EFFORT AND RESEARCH YOU GUYS HAVE PUT INTO IT THIS PROCESS TO GET US TO THIS POINT. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE PUT UP WITH A LOT OF HARASSMENT AND RIDICULE, BUT HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF ALL THIS IT WILL HAVE BEEN WORTH IT.

BUT I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY HISTORY WITH THE CARRIAGES. INITIALLY, I DIDN'T WANT THE JOB. I'VE BEEN AROUND HORSES ALL MY LIFE, BUT I'VE NEVER DRIVEN. SO BEING THAT FAR AWAY FROM THE HORSE WAS INTIMIDATING TO ME AND I WAS NEVER GOOD WITH HISTORY.

HOWEVER, I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT IT IS EASY ENOUGH FOR SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS THE HORSE'S BODY LANGUAGE TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM FROM THAT DISTANCE BACK. AND THE CITY IS SO FASCINATING. THE HISTORY WAS VERY EASY FOR ME TO LEARN, AND I CONTINUED TO DO MY OWN RESEARCH JUST TO MAKE SURE I GET MY FACTS STRAIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ON A SCRIPT, SO I'M ABLE TO TAILOR MY MY TOURS TO ENGAGE THE GUESTS THAT I HAVE ON MY CARRIAGE. IT'S TRULY THE BEST JOB I'VE EVER HAD, AND SEEING PEOPLE'S FACES LIGHT UP WHEN I SHOW THEM THE LOVE TREE AND I POINT OUT THE BARRACKS TO THE VETERANS AND LITTLE KIDS SQUEALING WITH DELIGHT, SEEING THE PIRATES WALK DOWN THE STREET. BUT I STARTED WITH COUNTRY CARRIAGES AND WAS PAIRED WITH A BLACK MARE NAMED ROSE. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A CLOSE. I'VE BEEN WITH HORSES ALL MY LIFE. THE BOND WITH HER IS JUST ASTOUNDING. I AM SO MUCH MORE BONDED TO HER THAN THE REST OF MY HORSES THAT I STILL HAVE AT HOME. WHEN COUNTRY CARRIAGES CLOSED THEIR DOOR, JENNIFER MADE IT OKAY FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO KEEP HER. SO SHE'S STILL. SHE IS MY HORSE NOW, THANK GOD FRED PEZZA EMPLOYED MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND, OR WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NOT ONLY AFFORD ROSE, BUT THE OTHER HORSES ON OUR PROPERTY. WE'VE GOT THREE TWO RETIRED AND THEN

[01:20:01]

IT'S FROM GREG WHITE FROM THE WEST, AUGUSTINE CRA. I AM HERE TO. I KNOW TODAY YOU'RE DECIDING, I GUESS, ON A SUCCESSOR TO APPOINT CITY MANAGER. FROM THE RETIRING CITY MANAGER, MR. RICHMOND. I WOULD LIKE TO ON BEHALF OF GREG WHITE, THE WEST WEST, WEST AUGUSTINE CRA. HE SENT ME THIS LETTER TO SHARE. I CAN READ IT IF I HAVE TIME. IF NOT, I SENT IT TO THE CITY CLERK AND THEY CAN SEND IT TO THE COMMISSIONERS. GREG WHITE FROM CRA, MARK BAILEY FROM BAILEY INSURANCE GROUP, CHRIS SHE FROM TRINGALI BARN, ALFRED'S RYAN FROM ALFRED'S AND SARBAZ AND A COUPLE OTHER BUSINESSES. WE WOULD LIKE TO GATHER OUR SUPPORT AMONG REUBEN FRANKLIN TO BE APPOINTED THE NEXT CITY MANAGER AND TO BE PERMANENT BECAUSE HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH US AND MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VERY, VERY STRONG. HE ALWAYS ANSWERS HIS PHONE, HE ALWAYS RETURNS TEXT AND MESSAGES. HE ALWAYS SHOWS UP.

SHOWING UP MATTERS BIG TO ME. AND SO WHEN SOMEONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PLACED IN A PROMOTION OF THEIR, OF THEIR, OF THEIR JOB, HE JUST DOES IT NATURALLY. HE DOES IT NATURALLY TO REACH OUT TO YOU. HE'S VERY PROFESSIONAL. HE'S VERY KIND. HE'S VERY NICE. HE DIDN'T PAY ME TO SAY THESE THINGS. AND THEN I GET A CHECK. I DID NOT GET ANY MONEY IN MY ACCOUNT. I STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AS EVERYBODY ELSE DOES. SOMETIMES I GET FRUSTRATED AT THAT, BUT HE ASSURES ME THAT HE'S WORKING THROUGH IT. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM TO BE PROMOTED ON IN THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT I MENTIONED, WHICH WORK A LOT IN THE WEST AUGUSTINE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL, AS WELL AS I'M SURE THAT IF APPOINTED CITY MANAGER, HE WILL ADDRESS THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS PARKING SITUATION IN UPTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE, WHICH HE HAS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS HAD A A KIND OF CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE AND WORKING THINGS OUT. AND SO I AM HERE TODAY TO ENDORSE, SUPPORT AND RECOMMEND THAT REUBEN FRANKLIN BE PROMOTED TO ACTING CITY CITY MANAGER. AND THEN, YOUR HONOR, WHEN YOU BECOME MAYOR IN DECEMBER, I WOULD LIKE MISS GARRIS TO BE IN SUPPORT OF APPOINTING HIM CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU. PATRICIA RAMOS, FOLLOWED BY LAUREN WISE. IT STARTED. OH, THERE YOU GO. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS

[01:25:06]

IT SHOULD BE, IT SHOULD BE. GO AHEAD SWEETHEART, LET EVERYBODY KNOW HOW YOU ARE.

THIS IS WHAT THE CITY ALLOWS TO HAVE REPRESENTED, SPOKEN IN FRONT OF YOU ARE CHAIN SMOKING IN FRONT OF THAT HORSE. I WAS NOT IN HIS FACE. SO SUCK MY ASS, YOU. SECTION 14-2 PROHIBITS DRIVERS FROM LEAVING THEIR ANIMALS AND VEHICLES BY MORE THAN TEN FEET. YET TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE SEE THE DRIVERS WALKING AWAY, SOCIALIZING, SMOKING, USE THEIR PHONES, OR TURNING THEIR BACKS ON THEIR HORSES. HOW CAN CODE ENFORCEMENT CONSIDER THIS SAFE? WE'VE SEEN DRIVERS STEP AWAY TO TAKE PICTURES WHILE A CHILD SITS ALONE ON THE FRONT AS PASSENGERS ARE CROWDED TOGETHER IN THE BACK. THIS PUTS THE HORSES, PASSENGERS AND THE PUBLIC AT RISK. SECTION 14-74 ADDRESSES ANIMAL DRAWN VEHICLE SAFETY DURING OPERATION.

PARAGRAPH A REQUIRES AN OPERATOR TO REMAIN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AT ALL TIMES AND ATTEND TO THE ANIMAL OR FROM THE GROUND. PARAGRAPH D ADDRESSES MAKESHIFT WIRE, ROPE OR RUSTY CHAIN A TETHER LONGER THAN TEN FEET, WITH A DRIVER LIKE HENRY LAMMERS TURNING THEIR BACK ON THE HORSE AS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. A SPOOKED HORSE CAN BE DANGEROUS WHILE YOU'RE ON A ON OR OFF A CARRIAGE. IN 2023, A HORSE TOOK OFF AND STRUCK A RED HONDA AND DAMAGED A LIGHT POLE. WHEN THE DRIVER, HENRY LAMMERS, COULD NOT CONTAIN THE HORSE, IS DOCUMENTED IN THE ACCIDENT REPORT. THEN, ON DECEMBER 4TH, 2025, A DRIVER GOT OFF THE CARRIAGE. WHILE CUSTOMERS REMAINED ABOARD. THE HORSE BECAME SPOOKED AND A CUSTOMER REPORTEDLY INJURED THEIR BACK TRYING TO GRAB THE HORSE. THIS NEW LOCATION ADDS TO THE DANGER.

IT'S A SHORT BLOCK WHERE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES CAN BARELY FIT SIDE BY SIDE WITH CARS. HOW DOES ANY OF THIS MEET THE ORDINANCES? GOALS OF OPERATING SAFETY, ANIMAL CARE AND PROTECTING THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS? STOP SUPPORTING CRUELTY ON DISPLAY. KEEP THE HORSES IN PUBLIC SAFE. REMEMBER, IT'S NOT IF, BUT WHEN AND THE ARCHAIC, BARBARIC HORSE CARRIAGES AND BRING IN THE ELECTRIC HORSES CARRIAGES. LAUREN WISE, FOLLOWED BY WALTER KOCHER. HI. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LAUREN WEISS. I LIVE OFF OF KING STREET. I JUST WANTED TO SAY IN REGARDS TO THE PHOTO THAT WAS JUST SHOWN OF THE HORSE, IT'S NICE THAT THE HORSE WAS ABLE TO LAY DOWN COMFORTABLY AND AT ITS OWN WILL, INSTEAD OF COLLAPSING LIKE SEVERAL OF THE HORSES OF COUNTY OF COUNTRY CARRIAGES. I KNOW ALL OF YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE HORSE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY THAN I DO AND MANY OF THE OTHER WOMEN IN HERE, BUT I HOPE THAT THERE CAN BE SOME TYPE OF BRIDGE BETWEEN US ON BEHALF OF THE HORSES WELL-BEING AND THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ENJOYING OUR CITY. AS OUR MAYOR QUOTED, I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE INDUSTRY. I TRULY BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT THEY DO IT FOR THE LOVE OF THE ANIMALS AND FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY. I KNOW YOU CAN'T ANSWER NOW, BUT I WONDER IF YOU REALLY THINK THAT A HORSE ENJOYS HAVING BLINDERS ON AND UNCOMFORTABLE BIT IN THEIR MOUTH, A CARRIAGE ATTACHED TO THEM WHILE CARRYING THE HEAVY LOADS OF PEOPLE THROUGH AN URBAN SETTING. THE OPERATORS AND CITY ARE BENEFITING, BUT HOW ARE THE HORSES TRUE BENEFITING FROM THIS? AS AN ANIMAL RESCUER, I TRULY QUESTION THE TYPE OF LOVE A PERSON HAS TOWARDS AN ANIMAL WHOSE FORCED LABOR THEY PROFIT FROM. YOU DON'T NEED TO OWN A HORSE TO KNOW THIS INDUSTRY IS INHUMANE. JUST LIKE YOU DON'T NEED TO OWN A DOLPHIN TO KNOW THAT IT'S INHUMANE, THAT THEY'RE FORCED TO ENTERTAIN PEOPLE IN A, IN A, IN A BOWL. IF YOU LET HORSES WORK WITH OPEN WOUNDS, YOU LET HORSES WORK WITH OPEN WOUNDS ON THEIR LEGS AND DON'T QUESTION WHEN THEY DISAPPEAR. BILL CUSHIONS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN ANIMAL ABUSER. THIS IS NOT SLANDER, IT'S FACT. AND HE OWNED AND OPERATED COUNTRY CARRIAGES FOR FAR TOO LONG. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT BILL IS STILL ADVERTISING COUNTRY CARRIAGES ON HIS HORSE BREEDING WEBSITE. WERE YOU ALL AWARE OF THIS?

[01:30:04]

WALTER KOCHER, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT YORK. HELLO, WALTER KOCHER. I OWN COASTAL TRADERS IN UPTOWN SAN MARCO. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE PARKING ISSUE. I OPEN COASTAL TRADERS IN MAY OF 2013, SO I'VE BEEN THERE QUITE A WHILE. I LOVE THE COMMUNITY THERE. IT'S VIBRANT, FUN. I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND WE HEAR THAT A LOT FROM OUR CLIENTELE. WE ALSO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR RESIDENTS. PARKING DURING NIGHTS OF LIGHTS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVERY YEAR. THAT'S NOT NEWS. LAST YEAR, HOWEVER, WAS PRETTY WELL. IT WAS. IT WAS A KILLER FOR US. IT WAS 25% DOWN FROM 1:00 TO CLOSING ON WHEN THE PARKING WAS RESTRICTED. I WOULD JUST ADVOCATE FOR A COMPROMISE TO 5:00. IF WE CAN FIND, YOU KNOW, THAT AS A COMPROMISE, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE BUSINESS SUSTAINABLE IN NORTH CITY FOR MOST OF US, AND I HOPE YOU ALL WOULD CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. SCOTT YORK. SCOTT YORK, FOLLOWED BY NANCY PELISSIER. OH, I'M GLAD I DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW MISS NANCY SCOTT YORK, 29 SPANISH STREET, THE MOST CHARMING STREET IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. THE STREET WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RESIDENTIAL PARKING. AND THANKFULLY, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FLOODING. WE'VE HAD A BEAUTIFUL WEEK OF WEATHER. I DON'T MIND THE RAIN. ONE OF MY BUSINESSES DOES VERY, VERY WELL IN THE RAIN. ALL OF MY BUSINESSES DO VERY, VERY WELL AT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, BUT THEY DO WELL ALL YEAR. BUT I DON'T EVER COME HERE TO ASK THE CITY FOR HELP WITH MY BUSINESS. THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO EARN MONEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE ENOUGH TO PAY MY EMPLOYEES, TO MAKE SURE THAT MY EMPLOYEES HAVE A PLACE TO PARK. IF THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE, THEY FIND A PLACE BECAUSE THEY LOVE COMING TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. TODAY I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SITTING IN MY GAME SHOP AT 65 SAINT GEORGE STREET. 50% OF THE BUSINESS THAT CAME INTO THAT SHOP TODAY WAS LOCALS. NOW WE EXTEND OUR LOCAL DISCOUNTS ALL THE WAY UP TO DUVAL, BUT THEY WERE 50% OF MY BUSINESS. TODAY.

LOCAL SUPPORT BUSINESSES HERE BECAUSE YOU OFFER LOCAL DISCOUNTS AND YOU OFFER INCENTIVES FOR THEM TO COME THERE, THEY DON'T SUPPORT YOU JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PLACE TO PARK. BECAUSE I DON'T. MOST OF THEM PAID $20 TO PARK IN THE GARAGE TO COME AND DO BUSINESS WITH ME TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. I APPRECIATE THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE SURROUNDING MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I WORK WITH THEM. WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS, TALK WITH THEM.

IF YOU NEED A PARKING PASS, HOW ABOUT ADOPTING ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS? YOU COULD TAKE SOME PIZZA TO THEM, AND I'M SURE THEY WOULD SLIDE YOU A PARKING PASS OR TWO. BUT THIS PARKING TEMPORARY PROGRAM IS ONLY FOR THESE VERY BUSIEST TIMES OF THE YEAR. THESE ARE WHEN THE RESIDENTS SUFFER THE MOST. SO I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THAT. AND I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO THE FLAGLER STUDENT WHO TOOK THOSE CHAIRS AND ESCORTED THAT YOUNG LADY ACROSS THE RIVER, 50 MILLION VIEWS ON THAT BECAUSE OF A CHIVALROUS YOUNG SAINT. OKAY, WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN THIS COMMUNITY, EVEN WHEN WE FLOOD. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO HARD FOR THIS CITY. NANCY PELLISSIER, FOLLOWED BY BJ

[01:35:04]

WELL, THAT'S A HUGE EXPERIENCE TRYING TO FIND PARKING. COULD WE NOT TRY AND HAVE SOME OF THAT MONEY DELEGATED TO HAVE MORE OF THE SHUTTLES ALL THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE WEEKENDS IN DECEMBER, IT'S EVERY EVERY NIGHT IN DECEMBER. AND THAT NEEDS TO GO ON DURING THE DAY TOO. I ALSO THINK THE RESIDENTS IN NORTH CITY DID VERY WELL GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE. WHEN THE 711 ISSUE CAME UP, AND I WOULD THINK THAT THE BUSINESSES WOULD HAVE A LOT OF CLOUT, COULD THEY NOT AT LEAST APPROACH THE LEGISLATURE OF CHANGING THE TAX BASE OR HOW THAT'S USED, AND MAYBE USE IT FOR TOURISM? YOU HAVE A HARD JOB, AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN YOUR PLACE, BUT THANK YOU FOR DOING IT. ALL RIGHT. LAST SPEAKER, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKER CARDS? NOPE. OKAY. LAST SPEAKER FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. BJ WEST, CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER ORDINANCE 2025-09 AT JUNE 9TH, 2025, CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE COMMISSION MEETING. NO. THE ANSWER IS NO. THE PROPERTY AT 36 GRANADA HAS NEVER REPLACED THE FEED STORE SIGN MURAL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. SO MUCH FOR HISTORY. THANK YOU, MISS DUNN. 501 C THREES ARE EXEMPT FROM PAYING PROPERTY TAXES TO THE CITY, WHICH IS OVER $967 MILLION IN LOST REVENUE, ALSO KNOWN AS INCOME TO THE CITY. IF YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT THREE, PLEASE CONTACT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER AND ASK HIM TO ELIMINATE YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY VOTE YES OR C BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE SPANISH PEOPLE TONIGHT ON THREE TRACE. THAT'S AS FAR AS MY SPANISH CAN GO, EXCEPT TO SAY GRACIAS. ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE ARE BACK TO THE AGENDA. MR. CITY MANAGER. YOU HAVE CONSENT AGENDA. MAYOR,

[5. CONSENT AGENDA ]

ORDINANCE 2026-23, WHICH EXPANDS THE ILLEGAL PARKING DESIGNATION ZONE AND CREATING CREATING ABILITY TO ENFORCE PARKING REGULATIONS IN CERTAIN DESIGNATED RESIDENTIAL RESTRICTED STANDS. A REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEETINGS. THE. WE HAVE A COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING ON OCTOBER 26TH AT 3 P.M. A REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 5 P.M. ON OCTOBER 26TH, AND A REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 5 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 9TH. WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE. SEPTEMBER 14TH AT 4 P.M. CITY COMMISSION'S SHADE MEETING AND THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 23RD, 505 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION BUDGET MEETING. WE

[01:40:02]

[6. APPEALS]

BASED ON THE CITY ORDINANCE, WE HAVE, MR. REDMOND IS APPEAL NUMBER ONE. HE HAD A CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CONVICTION FROM 2001 THAT WAS NOT DISCLOSED IN HIS APPLICATION. WE HAVE MR. PEZZA, WHO HAS TWO THIRD DEGREE FELONY CONVICTIONS IN 1998 AND 1999. THAT WAS NOT DISCLOSED, AND ALSO A CRIMINAL TRAFFIC FROM 2013, NO VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE. AND THEN THROUGH PUBLIC OUTREACH, WE MISSED AN INITIAL BACKGROUND CHECK FOR MISS RICHARDSON WITH A CRIMINAL TRAFFIC. FOR APPEAL NUMBER THREE. IN 1998 IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. NONE OF THOSE WERE DISCLOSED ON THE APPLICATION. AND THEN TO BE AN OWNER OF A FRANCHISE, WE PROHIBITED FELONY CONVICTIONS FOR DRIVERS. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CONVICTION AS WELL. SO WE DENIED ISSUED DENIAL LETTERS TO ALL THREE APPLICANTS. THE APPLICANTS RESPONDED WITHIN THE TIME FRAME TO APPEAL, AND THEY ARE ALL HERE TO APPEAL THEIR DENIAL THIS EVENING. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FROM THE CITY COMMISSION IS TO EVALUATE THE APPEALS. THE APPLICANTS WILL BE HERE TO ADDRESS YOU AND EITHER TO UPHOLD THE STAFF'S DENIAL OR GRANT AN APPEAL. IF THE APPEAL IS GRANTED. THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE TONIGHT IS THE APPROVAL OF FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, SO THEY'LL BE ADDED TO THAT LIST FOR CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND MAYOR, I BELIEVE IF WE JUST GO TO THE TOP, WE COULD JUST GO THROUGH EACH APPEAL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MISS CITY ATTORNEY, DO WE NEED TO DO EX PARTE? NO. THIS IS NOT A QUASI JUDICIAL MATTER LIKE A REZONING OR A VARIANCE. IT IS A DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO GRANT FRANCHISES. SO YOU CAN GO STRAIGHT TO THE FIRST PERSON I FORGET. I I'M SORRY I DIDN'T CATCH THE NAME MR. REDMOND.

OKAY. WE'LL GO TO MR. REDMOND. NOW, QUESTION. YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT MR. REDMOND IS FREE TO BRING WITNESSES OR OTHER FOLKS TO CORRECT. I THINK WE'VE GOT THE CLERK PUTTING AN INITIAL 20 MINUTES ON EACH APPLICANT'S PRESENTATION. IF THEY NEED MORE TIME, THEY CAN CERTAINLY REQUEST IT THROUGH THE CHAIR, BUT THEY'RE WELCOME TO PRESENT WHATEVER EVIDENCE OR ARGUMENT THEY WISH TO THE CITY COMMISSION. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO WE WILL CALL MR. REDMOND FIRST, MR. JOHN REDMOND. YES. GOOD EVENING. I'M NOT GOING TO DENY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A DRIVING LICENSE SUSPENDED LICENSE IN 2001 IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, BUT IT WAS A MISDEMEANOR AND I DID NOT REALIZE THAT HAD TO BE STATED ON MY APPLICATION. SO THAT IS THE REASON IT DIDN'T SHOW UP. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE KEPT MY LICENSE IN GOOD STANDING WITH NO POINTS. I'VE BEEN DRIVING A HORSE AND CARRIAGE IN DOWNTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE OFF AND ON SINCE 1985. I'VE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. I'VE OWNED AND OPERATED OLD CITY CARRIAGES SINCE 2011. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT REPORT. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY KIND

[01:45:04]

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I ORDERED A BRAND NEW CARRIAGE FROM UP IN CANADA. SHOULD BE HERE, HOPEFULLY FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS. SO I NEVER DREAMED THAT I WOULD BE HERE DEFENDING MYSELF OVER A TRAFFIC VIOLATION THAT HAPPENED 25 YEARS AGO THAT I HAVE SINCE CORRECTED. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT IF SOMEBODY CORRECTED THEIR SITUATION, IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND NOT HELD AGAINST THEM. IT SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT OF AS A GOOD THING. AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD.

SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I GOT TO SAY. YOU KNOW, ANYBODY WANTS TO COME OUT AND HANG OUT WITH ME ON THE CARRIAGE STAND AND SEE HOW I TREAT MY HORSE, HOW I TREAT THE CUSTOMERS, HOW I PRESENT MYSELF, TAKE A CARRIAGE RIDE WITH ME, SEE HOW I DO THINGS. I WELCOME YOU TO COME AND JOIN ME. YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING I DO IS ABOVE BOARD AND THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT YOU IN THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW AND TO MAKE YOU PROUD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. MR. REDMOND, DO YOU HAVE ANY PEOPLE HERE THAT YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF, OR ARE YOU IS THIS CONCLUDES YOUR PRESENTATION? I DO NOT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SOMEBODY, TIFFANY RICHARDSON, WHO HAS WORKED WITH ME FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND SHE TAKES CARE OF THE HORSES WHERE SHE STAYS AT OUT. 207 PAST THE FAIRGROUNDS, AND SHE PUTS HER HEART AND SOUL INTO SEEING THOSE HORSES ARE HEALTHY AND HAPPY EVERY DAY.

SHE WORKS A NUMEROUS HOURS. I CAN GO OUT THERE ANY TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT. AND SHE PRACTICALLY OUT THERE WITH THE HORSES. SHE'S BEEN A GREAT CARRIAGE DRIVER. SHE'S BEEN A BENEFIT TO THE CITY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S GOT GOING ON, BUT I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER THAT WHEN YOU TALK TO HER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE YOU, OKAY. COMMISSIONERS QUESTION. WELL, I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY APPROACH EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATIONS AND THEN GO? I THINK I THINK I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY GO THROUGH ALL THE PRESENTATIONS AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IT IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD DO THEM AS THEY COME BECAUSE IT'S FRESH IN OUR MIND WHAT THEY SAID. BECAUSE IF YOU HEAR ALL OF THEM, IT JUST KIND OF GETS JARRED UP. DON'T YOU THINK? I WOULD PREFER DOING THEM INDIVIDUALLY? YES. OKAY. YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THEM ONE AT A TIME, STARTING NOW? YES. EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY. OKAY. CASE BY CASE. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT THEN. COMMISSIONER GARRIS, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, MR. JOHN REDMOND THAT JUST SPOKE WITH US. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED 25 YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS A MISDEMEANOR. AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 25 YEARS AGO, THAT'S A MISDEMEANOR, THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT YOU NEEDED TO PUT THAT DOWN ON YOUR PAPERWORK. I MEAN, SOME OF US CAN'T REMEMBER FIVE YEARS AGO, BUT I THINK HE'S A VERY SINCERE PERSON. I THINK HE

[01:50:03]

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WHO WISHES TO GO NEXT? I WOULD LIKE TO JUST POINT OUT THAT I WHEN I READ THESE, I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT OUR WORDING ON THE APPLICATION CAN BE CONFUSING. THE WORDING SAYS, HAS THIS INDIVIDUAL HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME FRIEND OTHER THAN A MINOR TRAFFIC INFRACTION? I'VE NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER A FELONY IS A MAJOR OR MISDEMEANORS A MINOR. I THINK IT'S CONFUSING. SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO GRANT THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD BE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS SOMEBODY LYING ON THE APPLICATION, KNOWING THEY'VE BEEN CONVICTED OF A SERIOUS CRIME. BUT IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT WAS MINOR. AND I THINK OUR WORDING NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED FOR THE APPLICATION IN THE FUTURE. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. WHAT EXACTLY WAS THE INFRACTION? I I'M NOT REALLY CLEAR. COULD YOU COME? I'M SORRY I MISSED IT THE FIRST TIME. WHAT EXACTLY WAS IT? I WAS DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE. IT WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN THINGS WEREN'T GOING WELL. I WAS WORKING OUT OF A DAY LABOR, AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET BY TILL I COULD PAY THE FINE. AND SO IT WAS. IT WAS DRIVING A CAR. YES, SIR.

AND I DIDN'T GET PULLED OVER FOR ANY TRAFFIC VIOLATION. I WAS WORKING AT THE T AND A TRUCK STOP UP AT 210 AND THROUGH LABOR FINDERS AND THE SHERIFF THAT CAME THROUGH AND CHECKED ALL THE LICENSE PLATES. SO WHEN I GOT OFF WORK, THEY SAW WHERE MINE WAS SUSPENDED.

AND AS SOON AS I LEFT THE PARKING LOT, THAT'S WHEN THEY PULLED ME OVER. AND IMMEDIATELY WHEN POLICE OFFICER ASKED ME FOR MY LICENSE, I TOLD HIM, I SAID, I DON'T HAVE ONE. AND HE'S LIKE, WHAT? I SAID, WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU I GOT ONE, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A LICENSE. SO THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP HERE. OH, YOU WERE DRIVING WAS SIMPLY YOU WERE DRIVING ON A I WAS DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE TRYING TO GET BY, CORRECTED IT SINCE. YES, SIR. OKAY. OH I DO THINK THERE IS SOME CONFUSION IN THE LANGUAGE. THERE IS. WHAT DO WE HAVE OTHER THAN A MINOR, I THINK A MINOR TRAFFIC INFRACTION WOULD BE SPEEDING, PARKING IN THE WRONG PLACE OR SOMETHING. THAT WOULD BE MY THING. OKAY, WELL, BEFORE I MAKE A JUDGMENT, I'LL GO THROUGH ALL THREE PEOPLE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO QUESTION THE PEOPLE AS WE GO INDIVIDUALLY. I'M SORRY. WHAT? WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO DECIDED. I THINK WE DECIDED THAT YOU WANT TO ADJUDICATE EACH ONE OF THESE AS THEY COME UP. YES. AND MAKE A DECISION. OKAY. INDIVIDUALLY FOR EACH. OKAY. SO THERE'S THAT.

AND THEN SO WHEN YOU ANSWERED YOUR I'M SORRY IF YOU COME BACK UP. SORRY. SO WHEN YOU ANSWERED THIS, WHEN YOU. SO WHEN YOU FILLED IN THE APPLICATION, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE CONFUSION WAS. YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT WAS. I DID NOT CRIMINAL QUALIFIED AS A, A FELONY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NO, SIR. OKAY. SO I NEVER EVEN KNEW THAT DRIVING WAS A SUSPENDED LICENSE AS A MISDEMEANOR IS. WELL, I DIDN'T EITHER, BUT I FOUND OUT THAT.

WELL, YOU FOUND THAT. WELL, I GOT FIRST HAND EVIDENCE ON THAT IS DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, A MISDEMEANOR. I THINK YOU NEED TO GET REUBEN FRANKLIN TO COME BACK UP. HE'S THE ONE WHO COLLATED ALL OF THE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS SO HE CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THE CHARGE WAS. I PULLED UP MY RECORDS FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE, AND IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT BEING A FELONY. AND YEAH, I THINK HE TOLD ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A FELONY, BUT IT WAS CRIMINAL. OKAY. IF I IF I MIGHT INTERJECT REAL QUICK, JOHN. YEAH. A LOT OF PEOPLE CONFUSE GETTING A TICKET AS A CRIME, BUT LIKE A DUI IS ACTUALLY AN ARREST AND A CRIME. YEAH. A MISDEMEANOR TO ME IS NOT AN ARREST AND A CRIME. BUT I THINK BY LAW IT'S DEFINED AS A CRIME.

I THINK IT'S JUST VERY CONFUSING FOR A. YEAH, NO, I UNDERSTAND. WELL, I'M ON THE SPOT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT. I'M SORRY, BUT THIS WAS AN ARREST. IT SAYS, AM I CORRECT?

[01:55:01]

I WAS OUT OF TOWN, SO I HAD SOME CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A FULL CHANCE.

CAN SOMEONE TELL WHAT PAGE IT IS SO MISTER COMMISSIONER PRATER CAN FIND IT? OR MR. FRANKLIN, IF YOU CAN COME BACK TO THE PODIUM AND KIND OF GUIDE, COMMISSIONER TO THE PAGE.

BECAUSE YOU SUPERVISE THE REVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, CORRECT? YES.

THAT'S CORRECT. OH, NOT JUST THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE. IT'S IN YOUR. OH, IT'S IN THIS ONE. OH, OKAY. I'M SORRY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I KNOW WE'VE GOT A WHOLE NOTHER. KEEP GOING, I BELIEVE. NO, I THINK IT'S AT THE THIRD PAGE. GO BACK THE OTHER WAY. OTHER WAY. OKAY, BACK, BACK. OKAY, WHY DON'T YOU CONTINUE AND I'LL LOOK. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SORRY. YOU KNOW. ALL RIGHT, VICE MAYOR. YES, I. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT I REMEMBER, I THINK I WAS 20. I GOT PULLED FOR AT SIX IN THE MORNING WHEN THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND. I GOT PULLED FOR GOING THROUGH A STOP SIGN. AND I NEVER FORGOT IT. I HAVE ADJUSTED MY BEHAVIOR SINCE AND IT WAS NOT CRIMINAL. IT WAS A MOVING VIOLATION. WHEN I SEE SOMETHING ON AN APPLICATION OF THIS SERIOUSNESS, THIS IS SERIOUS. THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE APPLYING TO REPRESENT THE CITY, WHO ARE CHARGED WITH ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THEIR RIDERS AND ENSURING THAT THEIR HORSES ARE WELL CARED FOR AND EVERYBODY IS SAFE. I WOULD HAVE A QUESTION IF I DID NOT UNDERSTAND A QUESTION ON THE APPLICATION. I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I FULLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE QUESTION WAS ASKING. AND BEFORE I COMPLETED CHECKING THAT BOX, SO I I'M. THAT'S JUST A STATEMENT I'M MAKING AT THIS POINT IN TIME. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. I CAN SEE BOTH SIDES OF IT. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE HAD NOTHING SINCE. I DO FEEL LIKE AN ARREST IS AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT YOU HAD AN ARREST FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE AWARE OF HOW YOU WERE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE. BUT I DO FEEL I'M, I'M FALLING ON THE SIDE OF FORGIVENESS BECAUSE YOU HAVE HAD SUCH A LONG RECORD OF 25 YEARS OF NO OCCURRENCES. AND EVERYBODY DOES GO THROUGH BAD TIMES. WE ALL WE ALL HAVE OUR BAD TIMES OF POOR JUDGMENT. SOME OF US GET CAUGHT, SOME OF US DON'T. BUT SO I UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WAS A MISTAKE, THAT YOU THAT YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE FILLED YOUR APPLICATION OUT THAT WAY. IT'S BEEN MORE TRANSPARENT BECAUSE IN THIS BUSINESS, FOR US, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRUST YOU. AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU, THE CARRIAGE DRIVERS, TO BE TRUSTWORTHY IN THE COMMUNITY, TO OUR TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M, I'M IN FAVOR OF GRANTING THE APPLICATION OR GIVING THAT POSITIVE STATUS TO THE APPLICATION, GRANTING THE APPEAL. THAT'S HOW I FEEL. SO ARE WE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE? HOW DO WE RUN THIS? I, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK YOU CAN PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, GO WITH THAT. I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE THING THAT YOU BROUGHT UP. AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING MYSELF IS A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEMS, A LARGE PART OF THE CONTROVERSY AROUND THE HORSE CARRIAGES IS, ARE WE ENFORCING OUR OWN LAWS? AND A LARGE PART OF THE. THAT IS THE HONESTY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DRIVING IT. AND WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE ENFORCING OUR OWN LAWS. SO THAT'S WHY, HONESTLY, I WOULD ALMOST RATHER AT THIS POINT JUST MOVE ON AND HEAR THE OTHER TWO, BECAUSE IF WE DO THIS, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO SET A PRECEDENT FOR THE OTHER TWO PERSONALLY. SO IF WE DO THIS HERE THE NEXT TIME, ARE WE GOING TO DO IT THE NEXT APPLICANT? THERE MIGHT BE OTHER MITIGATING FACTORS. SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THE REASON THAT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THIS ARE SUPPORTING IT IS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT WAS COULD HAVE BEEN CONFUSING AND BECAUSE THERE'S

[02:00:06]

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO AT THIS POINT. SO I'M JUST ASKING MY COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE LEANING TOWARD IT. ARE THESE THE PRECEDENTS THAT YOU'RE SETTING? AND THEN I CAN FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE ON HOW I'M MOVING FORWARD. OKAY. IT WAS REALLY MORE THAN IT WAS REALLY. TWO QUESTIONS. DO YOU WANT TO HEAR THESE CASE BY CASE? THE COMMISSION HAS SAID WE'D LIKE TO HEAR EACH CASE AND ADJUDICATE INDIVIDUALLY, INDIVIDUALLY, AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT ONE, THEN GO TO THE NEXT ONE IN SEQUENCE. OKAY. BUT YOU'RE THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT YOU'RE SAYING. WHAT I'M ASKING IS I WANT TO DO IT THAT WAY. YOU WANT TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT, I CAN DO IT EITHER WAY. BUT IF WE DO GO THE WAY WHERE WE BASICALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE RIGHT WORD, GRANT THIS OR DON'T GRANT IT, THEN I NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE. SO WHEN WE GO TO THE SECOND ONE, I'M A LITTLE CLEARER ON IT. SO OKAY, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THEY'RE ALL SEPARATE APPEALS. THEY'RE NOT ALL THE SAME. SO THEY'RE ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. HAVING WORKED AT THE COURTHOUSE FOR TEN YEARS, DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE CAN BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS NOT TURNING IN A TAG ON YOUR VEHICLE. IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE LIKE A CRIMINAL CHARGE. THIS GENTLEMAN INDICATED THAT HE WAS NOT DRIVING HORSES WHEN HE WAS STOPPED. HE WAS WORKING WITH LABOR READY, WHICH IS A DAY LABORER JOB. SO IT WASN'T LIKE HE WAS OUT THERE DRIVING OUR HORSES ON OUR CITY STREETS. HE WAS TRYING TO SURVIVE FINANCIALLY. AND THEY RAN THE LICENSE, THE TAGS, AND THAT'S HOW THEY FOUND OUT THAT HE HIS LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED, AND THAT'S WHY HE GOT PULLED OVER AND ARRESTED BECAUSE OF THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT PEOPLE'S LICENSE CAN GET SUSPENDED. AND I KNOW BECAUSE I USED TO HAVE TO TRY TO BE PART OF THAT WHOLE SITUATION WHEN I WAS WORKING AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE. IT CAN BE SIMPLY NOT PAYING YOUR INSURANCE ON YOUR CAR. YOUR LICENSE CAN GET SUSPENDED, YOU CAN BE NOT GETTING YOUR TAGS DONE AND DRIVING AND YOUR TAG IS EXPIRED. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE YOU TO HAVE A NOT VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE. AND SO THAT'S WHY I AM BASICALLY SAYING, WHATEVER THE REASON THAT HIS LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO TICKETS OR ANYTHING SHOWING THAT HE WAS VIOLATING THE LAW IN HIS VEHICLE. IT WAS JUST THAT HIS LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED. AND THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS, BESIDES A TRAFFIC INFRACTION THAT CAUSED THAT. THANK YOU. MY MY COMMENTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE WAY WE'VE WORDED IT AND THE WAY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT. I DID HR FOR 20 YEARS. I RAN ACROSS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD COMPLICATIONS WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS, AND I SEE THEIR POINT OF VIEW BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT WE WORDED IT. THE PERSON WHO WROTE THIS FORM PROBABLY HAS TWO DEGREES. THE PEOPLE THAT READ THE FORM MAY NOT. AND I THINK IT'S CONFUSING AT FIRST. ALSO, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GIVEN A TICKET. IT'S CONSIDERED AN ARREST, BUT THEY'RE NOT TAKEN TO THE GYM.

THEY'RE NOT HANDCUFFED. THEY'RE NOT BOOKED INTO THE JAIL. IT'S CONSIDERED AN ARREST, BUT THEY DON'T GO THROUGH WHAT YOU SEE ON TV. SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION BETWEEN TERMINOLOGY HERE THAT THAT'S CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE. YEAH, THAT HELPS ME. OKAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER ONE? ANYONE WANT TO WEIGH IN? I WILL MAKE A MOTION. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS APPEAL, MR. REDMOND, WITH ONE CAVEAT, AND THAT IS THAT HE HAS TWO STRIKES THAT ANY OTHER STRIKE, HE LOSES HIS FRANCHISE IMMEDIATELY IF HE VIOLATES THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE CITY ORDINANCE, HE'S FINISHED. ALL RIGHT. CAN WE PLACE CONDITIONS? I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. WE HAVE A WHOLE SECTION ON PENALTIES AND HOW THAT PROCESS IS DONE IN OUR ORDINANCE. AND I ACTUALLY, JUST TO CLARIFY, MR. REDMOND IS HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO PRESUME THAT YOU WERE ARRESTED AT THE TIME BECAUSE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOUND THAT YOU WERE DRIVING WITH A LICENSE SUSPENDED. AND HE IS NODDING. YES. SO JUST SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION. OKAY. SO DO YOU. IS IT IS IT OUR DISCRETION TO MAKE CONDITIONS ON THE GRANTING OF THE APPEAL? NO. THIS THIS IS SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, A DISCRETIONARY DECISION.

YOU GRANT THE APPEAL THAT ALLOWS THE APPLICANT TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC HEARING,

[02:05:01]

WOULD YOU CARE TO RESTATE YOUR MOTION? NO. OKAY, I MOVE. OH I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU COULD LIMIT THE LICENSE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, A TRIAL PERIOD? YOU'RE NOT GRANTING HIM A LICENSE AT THIS HEARING? I JUST KIND OF WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. WE'RE SEPARATING THE TWO THINGS. ALLOWING HIM TO BE A CANDIDATE. CORRECT. BE CONSIDERED. OR THE NEXT BUNDLE, WHICH IS EVERYONE ASKING FOR A FRANCHISE. SO IT IS A TWO STEP AT THAT POINT.

YES. BE POSSIBLE TO DO THAT. CORRECT. YOU COULD. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. SO I AM HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GRANT THE APPEAL TO THIS APPLICANT. MR. REDMOND, I SECOND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY KLEIN YES. CYNTHIA.

YES. JOHN. YES. JIM. SPRINGFIELD. YES. BARBARA. BLONDER. NO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT HEARING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OF COURSE, THE NEXT ONE IS MR. PEZZA. AND DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO STATE ABOUT THIS, ANY PRELUDE? YES, MAYOR. SO, MR. PEZZA, IN YOUR PACKET, I ONLY HAD ONE FELONY VIOLATION. HE HAS TWO THIRD DEGREE CONVICTED FELON FELONIES, 1 IN 98 AND 1 IN 99, AND ALSO A CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CONVICTION IN 2013.

MADAM MAYOR, DID YOU GET THE REFERENCES THAT I SENT FORTH ON FRIDAY? I DO NOT HAVE DO I HAVE DID WE DID WE GOT AN EMAIL? OKAY. YES. YEAH, THERE WAS A BUNCH OF HARD COPIES AS WELL FROM THE BED AND BREAKFAST. WE DO NOT HAVE CARS. I DO NOT HAVE HARD COPIES. WHERE WOULD THEY BE? WHO DID YOU GIVE THEM TO? OH, ELISE HAS THEM. I'M SORRY. OH, OKAY. I'LL GIVE THOSE. I'LL PASS THEM. NO, THERE'S ONE COPY OF EACH. I THINK YOU SHOULD GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE WITH YOUR. OKAY. I'M HERE REGARDING THE DENIAL OF CARRIAGE LICENSE. I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE MATTER OPEN. AND HONESTLY, AT THAT POINT IN MY LIFE, I WAS SPENDING TIME AROUND PEOPLE AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH AND MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE. AND I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT MISTAKE. I'M NOT ASKING THE COMMISSION TO EXCUSE OR FORGET IT HAPPENED. I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER THE PERSON THAT I HAVE BECOME AND THE LIFE THAT I'VE LIVED DURING THE APPROXIMATE 25 YEARS SINCE THAT INCIDENT, A GREAT DEAL HAS HAPPENED IN MY LIFE. SINCE THEN, I'VE WORKED HARD, BUILT A BUSINESS, AND DEVOTED MYSELF TO THE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY AND THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. GIVING TOURS THROUGH OUR HISTORIC CITY HAS MEANT MUCH MORE THAN SIMPLY EARNING A LIVING. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING SAINT AUGUSTINE'S HISTORY WITH VISITORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. MY CARRIAGE BUSINESS ALSO BECAME MORE DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME BECAUSE I SHARED THIS BUSINESS WITH MY PARTNER, LACEY SANCHEZ. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT MOMENTS IN MY LIFE CAME AFTER SHE SPENT AN EVENING DOING CARRIAGE TOURS THROUGH OUR HISTORIC CITY AND SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK AFTER GETTING OFF THE CARRIAGE THAT NIGHT, LOSING THE PERSON THAT I CARED

[02:10:03]

AM I MISS REMEMBERING THAT, MR. PEZZA. WE HAD A SPEAKER, SHANNON BENNETT. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND SPEAK ABOUT FREDERICK PEZZA. I DO HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION BEFORE I BEGIN ON THE FRANCHISE APPLICATION.

IF YOU HAVE A FELONY AND OR MISDEMEANOR, DOES THAT DENY THE APPLICATION? YES. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. ON THE BUSINESS SIDE, I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA OF A REAL ESTATE FRANCHISE COMPANY. THE SECOND OLDEST FRANCHISE COMPANY IN THE U.S. I ALSO OVERSAW OVER 715 AGENTS IN ILLINOIS, INDIANA AND MICHIGAN, WHERE WE HAD TO APPLY FOR FRANCHISE LICENSING QUARTERLY AUDITED AS WELL. KNOWING THAT FREDERICK PEZZA HERE HAS SPENT THE PAST FEW WEEKS ONLY WITHOUT A LOT OF TIME LEARNING HOW TO FILE AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL OUT THE FRANCHISE LICENSE. HE DID UTILIZE THE RESOURCES HE HAD WITH THE CITY AND TRIED TO GET SOME HELP. AND THEN ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, FREDERICK PEZZA IS MY BROTHER. WE WERE RAISED ON A HORSE FARM WITH ABOUT 40 HORSES OURSELVES THAT OUR GRANDFATHER RAISED. WE WORKED THE RANCH TOGETHER, LEARNING HORSEBACK RIDING, CARING FOR ANIMALS, HEARING THE THINGS. THIS EVENING, I CAN ENSURE THAT THAT IS NOT MY BROTHER'S ACTIONS AND OR HIS PERSONALITY. HE IS AN ANIMAL LOVER AND A CARER OF ALL OF THE HORSES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IS THAT THE EXTENT OF YOUR PRESENTATION, MR. PEZZA? OKAY. QUESTIONS OF MR. PEZZA. QUESTIONS. I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHEN YOU READ THE WHEN YOU READ THE QUESTION, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? I IN THE MICROPHONE, SIR. SORRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT A BACKGROUND CHECK WOULD GO BACK 25 YEARS, I THOUGHT. I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I MEAN, THAT'S NOT THE SAME PERSON THAT I AM TODAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS. MR. PEZZA, I'M REAL HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE TURNED YOUR LIFE AROUND. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM A STICKLER FOR THE REASON THAT YOU JUST GAVE FOR SIGNING THE APPLICATION AS. NO, I'VE NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A SERIOUS CRIME OR FELONY IS NOT TRUE. AND SO I ACTUALLY HAD HELP FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION. I DIDN'T FILL THE APPLICATION TOTALLY OUT MYSELF. OKAY, WELL, IT'S STILL YOUR RESPONSIBILITY WITH YOUR SIGNATURE, SO I'M NOT INCLINED TO TO APPROVE HIS APPEAL TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU FOR COMING. I, I WOULD REITERATE THE EXACT SAME WORDS I SAID THE FIRST TIME WITH THE FIRST APPEAL, EXCEPT AS I STEPPED OUT FOR A MOMENT, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS BEING

[02:15:05]

AND THEY ARE NOT COLLEGE GRADUATES. WHEN THEY COME TO ME, THEY ARE NOT YET COLLEGE GRADUATES. THE THE STAKES ARE PRETTY DARN LOW ON A QUIZ, AND THEY WILL ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, THOUGH IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM TO KNOW THE STAKES ARE A LOT HIGHER ON AN APPLICATION FOR HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES CARRYING TOURISTS AROUND, CARRYING SMALL CHILDREN AROUND AND SO FORTH, NOT FINDING OUT WHAT THAT BOX MEANT MEANS TO ME THAT IT IS ALMOST LIKE BEING TAKEN. I MEAN, NOW WE'VE GOT THREE OF THESE, OKAY, THAT WE KNOW OF NOT FINDING OUT WHAT THAT BOX ACTUALLY MEANS IS, IS, IS NOT REALLY DOING YOUR HOMEWORK. AND IF, IF IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH, THEN I THINK PEOPLE WOULD HAVE FOUND OUT WHAT, WHAT WAS MEANT BY THAT QUESTION AND FILLING OUT THAT BOX WITH THE NO. I'VE BEEN OPERATING THIS COMPANY FOR FOUR YEARS NOW, TWO WITH LACEY AND TWO BY MYSELF, AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS, ANY ISSUES, NO ACCIDENTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT AND APPRECIATE IT. I THINK IT'S FABULOUS. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS AN APPLICATION. THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT TO GO ON. AND WHEN A BOX IS FILLED OUT INCORRECTLY, IT'S A MISREPRESENTATION. WHETHER IT'S ACCIDENTAL OR ON PURPOSE, IT'S A MISREPRESENTATION. ALL I'VE GOT IS A BOX THAT HAS A CHECK MARK IN IT. SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO GO ON. NOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT ALL OF THE SITUATION TO BE ABLE TO OVERLOOK THAT. WHOEVER HAS THAT PHONE RINGING, COULD YOU PLEASE CHECK YOUR PHONES? YES, MA'AM. COULD YOU PLEASE SILENCE YOUR PHONE? SIR? THANK YOU. I'VE GOT OVER 130 BOOKINGS FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS ALREADY THAT ARE PREPAID. THESE PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING A CARRIAGE FOR THEIR WEDDING AND FOR THEIR RIDES BOOKED AT THESE BED AND BREAKFASTS. I DO AT LEAST SIX BED AND BREAKFAST DOWNTOWN. I DO RIDES FOR. THEY SELL MY TICKETS. I BOUGHT A NEW HORSE THIS YEAR FOR NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WHICH HAS BEEN IN TRAINING. I BOUGHT A NEW TRAILER FOR THE COMPANY. I DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY TO PAY BACK. IT'S BEEN. IT'S BEEN ON INSURANCE. I JUST RENEWED MY INSURANCE AS WELL. IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR. OKAY. THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS. YEAH. GIVEN THE WAY WE CLARIFIED IT IN THE FIRST TIME AROUND, I THINK THE FIRST TIME WE DID IT, WE TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA THAT IT COULD BE CONFUSING. I THINK COMMISSIONER GARRIS TALKED ABOUT HOW THAT COULD BE CONFUSING. I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY ANY CONFUSION IN THIS. AND AGAIN, I THINK WITH THE ATTENTION ON THE HORSE CARRIAGE BUSINESS, I THINK IN MY OPINION, A LOT OF WE'RE CONFLATING DRIVERS BEHAVIOR WITH THE ACTUAL HORSE AND CARRIAGE. SO THE PERSON'S BEHAVIOR IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THEIR HONESTY AND THEIR CREDIBILITY. AND I'M AFRAID THAT THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT ALL THOSE REFERENCES. BUT THIS I UNDERSTAND. AND, AND THAT ITSELF IS, IS VERY CONVINCING, BUT I STILL DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT I CAN'T USE THE CRITERIA WE ESTABLISHED IN THE FIRST ONE IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, SO I CAN'T VOTE FOR IT. MR. GARRISON. MR. IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. YOUR SITUATION IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER GENTLEMAN'S. HE HAD A SUSPENDED LICENSE. THESE ARE FELONY CONVICTIONS, FELONY THIRD DEGREES, AND NEVER WENT TO JAIL. I WENT TO A DRUG REHAB CENTER AND. RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I KNOW THAT IN LIFE IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE SECOND CHANCES. SO I'M NOT JUDGING YOU FROM YOUR PAST. BUT ACCORDING TO OUR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, IF YOU HAVE ANY FELONIES AND IT'S INDICATED ON THE DOCUMENTATION WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, THAT YOU HAD THREE. AND SO I'M USUALLY A PERSON THAT REALLY FIGHTS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME BEFORE ME. WELL, IT SAYS THERE WAS A REST FOR POSSESSION TWICE, TWO DIFFERENT DATES. AND THEN IT ALSO SAYS THAT THERE WAS A DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED ALSO. AND YOU PLED GUILTY. THAT WAS A NOLO, RIGHT. OKAY. AND I HAD EXPLAINED THAT. SO IF YOU JUST HAD THAT, I WOULD BE FIGHTING FOR YOU. BUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO FELONY THIRD DEGREES AND AGAIN, IT APPEARS THAT YOU HAVE

[02:20:03]

YES, JOHN. YES. CYNTHIA. GARRIS. BARBARA. YES. NANCY. KLINE. YES. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ONE IS, ALTHOUGH I DON'T. I HAVE. MR. MR. FRANKLIN, I DON'T I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY PAPERWORK FOR THE CRIMINAL IN FRONT OF. I DON'T COMMISSIONER GARRIS, WE CAN'T CATCH YOU. I THINK YOU'RE THERE YOU GO. IT SAYS C7C1 AND ANOTHER BINDER. AND SO THIS ONE WAS CAUGHT LATE AND IT WAS EMAILED OUT ON A FRIDAY. OKAY. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION WHEN WE MADE THE APPLICATIONS PUBLIC. WE HAD AN EMAIL THAT WAS SENT IN THAT FLAGGED MISS RICHARDSON. WE LOOKED INTO IT AND SHE HAD A CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CONVICTION IN RHODE ISLAND IN 1998. AND THAT'S WHAT THE APPEAL IS FOR. OKAY. CAN YOU JUST IT'S IN THIS ONE. IT'S IT'S IN THE MAIL.

IT'S NOT IN THE BOOK. I DIDN'T PRINT COPIES FOR US. YEAH. NO, I EMAILED IT'S FOR NO VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE. THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. AND 1990. NO, 2013. HERS IS 1998. IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. COULD COULD YOU PLEASE STATE THAT AGAIN? OH, I'M SORRY, I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG ONE. THANK YOU MISS. SO WHEN WE PUBLISHED THE AGENDAS, THE APPLICANTS WERE THERE. THIS ONE WAS NOT INITIALLY FLAGGED IN OUR BACKGROUND CHECK. RIGHT. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. CORRECT. WE LOOKED THROUGH IT IN A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS THAT THEY BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. WE DID FIND THAT MISS RICHARDSON HAD A CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CONVICTION IN 1998 FOR DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE. SO THIS IS SIMILAR TO MR. REDMAN'S, AND THAT'S THE TOTALITY OF IT, BECAUSE I THINK IN THE ALLEGATIONS THERE WAS MORE INVOLVED. LIKE, YES. SO THERE WERE NO CONVICTIONS. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE OTHER THINGS, THERE WAS IT WAS UNASSIGNED. YEAH. THERE'S ALSO IN FLORIDA, I LEARNED ADJUDICATION WITHHELD, WHICH MEANS THERE'S NOT A CONVICTION. SO GOING THROUGH THESE BACKGROUND CHECKS IS VERY COMPLICATED. YEAH, AS WE CAN SEE. YEAH. AND BUT MISS RICHARDSON IS BEFORE YOU FOR A CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CONVICTION IN 1998 FOR DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE. DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE. OKAY. THANK YOU. HELLO. GOOD EVENING.

I SO I HAVE THE ORIGINAL PAPERS HERE IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THIS TO THEM, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE IT. OH, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO. OKAY. THANK YOU. PLEASE STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. SO IN 1998, I LIVED IN RHODE ISLAND AND I HAD PARKING TICKET THAT I DID NOT PAY. AND ON MY WAY TO WORK, I WAS PULLED OVER. I DID NOT GO TO JAIL. THE ORIGINAL PLEA WAS NOT GUILTY. AND THEN I WENT BACK AND PLED NO LO CONTENDER. BUT I NEVER DID ANY JAIL TIME.

AND SO I BASICALLY MOVED HERE. AFTER THAT. I, I BASICALLY, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WAS I PAID MY FINES, I GOT $250 IN FINES AND SOME COURT COSTS. AND THAT WAS A MISDEMEANOR. AND THAT WAS THE END OF IT. SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS ALL THAT I COULD FIND ON IT. SO BY THE WAY, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT WHEN I FILLED OUT MY APPLICATION, I CONSULTED MY ATTORNEY ON WHAT I

[02:25:03]

AND I HAVE THE CHAPTER IN MY PHONE THAT DECRIMINALIZED ALL OF THIS FIRST MISDEMEANOR DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE. SO HE TOLD ME I WAS FINE. AND SO WHEN THEY CALLED ME ON THURSDAY AND TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND THIS, I WAS IN SHOCK. I WAS LIKE, WHAT? I THOUGHT THEY DECRIMINALIZED THAT. SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT WITH IT. ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY. CAN YOU GIVE US THAT STATUTE? BECAUSE I LIVED IN RHODE ISLAND. YES, YES. TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE. I'M SORRY. OKAY, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I HAVE IT ON CHATGPT. OKAY. RHODE ISLAND LICENSE LAW. IT IS STATUE. 11. CHAPTER EIGHT. NO, NO, NO, THAT'S NOT IT. I'M SORRY. IT'S. I CAN'T SEE, IT'S 118 DASH 2 OR 11. IT'S I CAN'T SEE VERY GOOD. I'M SORRY. I'M TOTALLY TRASHING THIS. SO. FLORIDA STATUTE. NO, NO NO. SEE IF MR. FRANKLIN'S EYES ARE BETTER THAN YOURS. YEAH. RHODE ISLAND STATUTE FOR DRIVING. OH, MY. 2016. OKAY, HERE IT IS. I'M SORRY. OKAY, SO HERE IT IS RIGHT THERE. 31-11-8- THERE YOU GO. STATUTE 31-11-18 DRIVING AFTER DENIAL, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO. I'LL I'LL REPEAT WHAT I SAID BEFORE. THIS IS A EASY THING TO MISINTERPRET, ESPECIALLY IF, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF THAT SHE HAD A LAWYER ADVICE. BUT. I JUST THINK THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE CASES WHERE IT'S JUST CONFUSING. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET ARRESTED, YOU DON'T GET HANDCUFFED, YOU DON'T GO TO JAIL. YOU YOU DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S ACTUALLY A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. YEAH, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. AND $250 FINE. IT'S NOT IT'S LIKE WE I WOULD THINK I PAID THE FINE AND THAT WAS IT. SO I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. AND THIS AGAIN IS USING THE SAME CRITERIA THAT WE USED ON THE FIRST ONE. ALSO BECAUSE SHE DID THE WORK, WHETHER SHE TALKED TO AN ATTORNEY OR NOT, SHE DOES HAVE THE CHAPTER FOR RHODE ISLAND ABOUT RHODE ISLAND MOVES A LOT DIFFERENT THAN FLORIDA. I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I LIVED THERE HALF MY LIFE AND HALF MY LIFE HERE. SO I COULD SEE WHY SHE WOULD SAY IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ME BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T GO TO JAIL. SHE PAID A FINE. AND AGAIN, PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR LICENSE SUSPENDED FOR ANY LITTLE THING. SO I THINK WE SHOULD. WE HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THESE THESE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES THAT THEY HAVE TO ABIDE BY IF LATER ON THAT ANY OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WE ACCEPT THE APPEAL COME BACK AND THERE'S MORE PROBLEMS THAN WE CAN REVISIT HOW THEY NEED TO BE HANDLED AT THAT POINT. BUT I THINK THAT SHE, IN GOOD FAITH THAT SHE REALLY NEEDS TO BE GRANTED THIS APPEAL, IN MY OPINION. THANK YOU. IS THAT A MOTION? I MOTION THAT WE GRANT THIS APPEAL FOR THIS YOUNG LADY SO THAT SHE CAN KEEP HER MEDALLION OR SEEK GETTING A MEDALLION FOR THE HORSES. THANK YOU. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLL? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. CYNTHIA GARRIS. YES. JIM.

SPRINGFIELD. YES. JOHN PRATER. YES. BARBARA. BLONDER. NO. NANCY CLINE. YES. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. SO AT THIS POINT, THANK YOU. MR. FRANKLIN, DID YOU HAVE ANY MORE TO ADD? OKAY. GOOD JOB

[02:30:03]

[7. GENERAL PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, ITEMS OF GREAT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE, AND OTHER ITEMS REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS]

COMMISSIONERS. SO UPON THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 2026-11, CITY STAFF OPENED AN APPLICATION PERIOD FOR HORSE CARRIAGE FRANCHISES. THE APPLICATION PERIOD WAS OPEN FROM AUGUST 11TH, 2026 TO SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026. THE CITY RECEIVED A TOTAL OF EIGHT APPLICATIONS. A DENIAL WAS UPHELD, SO WE'RE DOWN TO SEVEN APPROVED APPLICATIONS. FOR CONSIDERATION FOR HORSE CARRIAGE FRANCHISES. THE APPLICANTS ARE ALL HERE. SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OF A PARTICULAR PARTICULAR APPLICATION, THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THE AGREEMENTS ARE FOR A FIVE YEAR PERIOD. BUT THAT IS THE MAXIMUM.

SO THE COMMISSION HAS THE ABILITY TO STRUCTURE THE AGREEMENT FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME, IF YOU WISH. CITY STAFF REVIEWED ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS AND DEEMED THEM COMPLETE. SO FOR THE SEVEN THAT ARE, WE ALSO HAVE A LIMITATION. WE ONLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOST TEN MEDALLIONS AT OUR TRANSFER STATION. WE HAVE TEN STALLS. THE AVAILABILITY. SO WE CAN ONLY AWARD UP TO TEN MEDALLIONS. WE HAVE SEVEN APPROVED APPLICATIONS. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO AWARD EACH ONE ONE MEDALLION. AND THEN FOR THE THREE REMAINING MEDALLIONS, HOLD A LOTTERY AND ANY OF THE APPROVED FRANCHISEES, IF THEY'RE APPROVED, COULD LET STAFF KNOW THAT THEY WANT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AN ADDITIONAL MEDALLION AND WILL HOLD A LOTTERY SO THAT WE COULD DISTRIBUTE THE OTHER THREE AND HAVE A FULL CAPACITY AT THE TRANSFER STATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THIS ITEM DOES REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS OF STAFF. BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC HEARING. QUESTION ABOUT THE LIMIT OF THE TEN. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE DON'T HAVE ANY RESTRICTION TO SOMEBODY NOT RENTING OUR STALLS, HAVING MEDALLIONS, BUT NOT EVEN USING OUR STALL, OUR TRANSFER STATION.

IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT TO USE THE TRANSFER STATION. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S A IT'S NOT REQUIRED IN THE ORDINANCE, A POLICY DECISION THAT WE'RE STANDING BY IS THAT WE WANT THE PEOPLE TO USE OUR TRANSFER STATION, SO WE HAVE BETTER OVERSIGHT, BUT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY DICTATED IN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. RIGHT. SO THAT'S A DECISION STAFF MADE.

YEAH. A POLICY THAT WE'D LIKE TO UPHOLD IS TO USE OUR TRANSFER TO LIMIT IT TO THE CAPACITY OF THE TRANSFER STATION. OKAY. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO DISCUSS.

IT'S LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A FRANCHISE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO RENT OUR STALL NOW. IT'S OKAY TO DO THAT. I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CHOOSE TO DO, BUT IT'S JUST WELL, IT'S IT'S NOT SAFE TO DO IT ANY OTHER WAY. WELL THAT'S NOT. WE DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY FOR SOMEBODY TO DO THAT. WE DID WE DID HAVE A VENDOR WHO WAS NOT ALLOWED TO USE THEIR BARN. AND THEY DID CONTINUE TO WORK BY GETTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. SO I JUST THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT OUT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH. LET'S GO TO PUBLIC HEARING THEN. I HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKER CARDS, SO I'LL CALL TWO NAMES AT A TIME. FIRST SPEAKER IS CHELSEA OTTEN, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN WILSON. OH, WE HAVE MORE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

[02:35:10]

AND ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN CHAPTER 15-44, SECTION TEN, ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN NON-RENEWED ON THEIR LICENSE CANNOT APPLY FOR ANOTHER LICENSE. SO I'M QUITE FRANKLY SURPRISED THAT AS SOON AS IT HITS SOMEONE'S DESK, IT DID NOT IMMEDIATELY GO INTO THE REJECT BUCKET, AND EVEN AN APPEAL WOULD BE DENIED TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT HONEST IN THEIR APPEAL. THIS FICTITIOUS NAME CAN'T HIDE THE PAST SINS OF THE CUSHINGS AND COUNTRY CARRIAGES. MY SECOND ISSUE OF FICTITIOUS WAS MR. REDMOND CAME UP HERE AND HE APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE FOR LEAVING IT OFF OF HIS APPLICATION. SINCE THEN HE SAID HE HAD BEEN ON HIS BEST BEHAVIOR, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS VICE COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY, VICE MAYOR WHO HAD SAID SHE HADN'T SEEN ANY OF THE VIDEOS. I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF REMINDERS OF THE VIDEOS THAT SHOW MR. REDMOND IN ACTION. THIS IS MR. REDMOND WALKING AWAY FROM HIS CARRIAGE. AS YOU CAN SEE, HIS BACK IS

[02:40:09]

MISS WILSON DECLINES TO SPEAK. OKAY. OH, I SPOKE EARLIER. OKAY. MACKENZIE PIERCE, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER WILSON. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AGAIN WHEN I. I DROVE CARRIAGES FOR MR. PEZZA EARLIER THIS YEAR. DURING THAT TIME, I LEARNED THE TRUTH ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF THE WHOLE CARRIAGE COMPANY. THESE HORSES BARELY HAD THE BARE MINIMUM. BARBIE AND CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WERE THE ONLY HORSES WORKING FOR HIS COMPANY AT THE TIME. I WAS HIRED TO MAINLY DRIVE BARBIE, I LOVED HER. I REALLY DO LOVE THESE HORSES. I JUST WANT THE BEST FOR THEM. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE SHOWED A LOT OF SIGNS OF PAIN WHENEVER I WOULD COMMUNICATE WITH MR. PEZZA ABOUT THIS, HE WOULD JUST KIND OF SAY, HEY, JUST PET HER. YOU KNOW, JUST TRY TO RELAX THE SITUATION. BUT BITING IS AN INDICATOR OF PAIN. AND SHE STARTED BITING ME AND CUSTOMERS, I MEAN, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO TELL THE CUSTOMERS, HEY, I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW, IT BECAME SCARY TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT TO LATER ON. JASON WAS ALSO BIT BY BARBIE DURING CARRIAGE RIDES, AND MR. PEZZA WAS NOT CONCERNED FOR IT AT ALL. ON TOP OF THAT, I ENDED UP LEAVING. DUE TO THE SITUATION. THERE WAS NO CONCERN. SORRY AND I. THERE WAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS AT THE BARN. SO THESE HORSES WORK ALL DAY AND THIS IS WHAT THEY COME HOME TO. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M DOING THIS RIGHT. THIS. THIS IS THE FENCE THAT BARBIE LIVED IN. SHE HAS A HUGE LACERATION ON HER LEG. AND I DO BELIEVE IT IS FROM THIS. THE WHOLE BARN IS COVERED IN THIS.

THIS IS THE STALLS THAT SHE CAME HOME TO AFTER WORKING ALL DAY. IT'S MANURE EVERYWHERE.

THERE'S ABOUT SEVEN STALLS, I BELIEVE, ON THE FACILITY THAT BARBIE IS CURRENTLY AT. THEY ALL LOOK LIKE THIS. THIS IS THEIR WATER. IT WAS NOT CLEANED DAILY. IT HAD ALGAE BUILT UP AND IT'S ALWAYS HALFWAY EMPTY. AND I MEAN, I HAVE HORSES MYSELF, BUT MY HORSES WOULD NEVER HAVE DREAMED IT LIKE THIS. AND THEY GET THE BARE MINIMUM. THESE HORSES ARE NOT. I WANTED SO MUCH TO LOVE THIS KIND OF INDUSTRY. I REALLY DID, BECAUSE I HAVE HORSES AND BEFORE MY GRANDFATHER PASSED AWAY, WE DID CARRIAGE RIDES TOGETHER YEARS AND YEARS AGO. BUT NOW IT'S NOT FAIR. THESE HORSES ARE NOT GETTING TREATED THE WAY THAT THEY NEED TO. AFTER WORKING A VERY LONG, HARD DAY AT WORK, AND HORSES SHOULD NOT BE ON CONCRETE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC KIND OF SHOES, THEY'RE NOT MEANT FOR THAT. THEY'RE MEANT ON GRASS, DIRT, SOMETHING SOFTER. AND WITH THE TRAFFIC, THOSE HORSES GET OVERWHELMED. AND BEING BACK IN THE THE DRIVER'S SEAT, YOU CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT THAT. THEY'RE STILL ANIMALS. THEY'RE UNPREDICTABLE. AND I LOVE HORSES. I HAVE MY OWN, BUT THAT'S RISKING A LOT OF LIVES.

BUT THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. MCKENZIE PEARCE FOLLOWED BY HEATHER WILSON. MCKENZIE PEARCE, HEATHER WILSON, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE ZOTA. SORRY. GOOD EVENING. WHEN LOOKING AT THE UPLOADED APPLICATIONS, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY JUMPS OUT.

SO MANY OF THE HORSES WERE AT ONE TIME LISTED WITH COUNTRY CARRIAGES. THERE ARE ALSO APPLICANTS THAT ARE KNOWN CLOSE ASSOCIATES OF THE CUSHIONS. SECOND ATTEMPT APPLICANT SEA STAR HAS BEAUTY AND SPRINKLES. BOTH OF THESE HORSES APPEARED EXACTLY ONCE ON A VET CHECKLIST AND ON AN INVENTORY WITH COUNTRY CARRIAGES IN DECEMBER OF 2025. CHELSEA OTTEN AND JENNIFER CUSHION ALSO WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER UNDER SEA STAR PERFORMANCE HORSES AND TOUGH

[02:45:01]

THEIR TENTACLES STILL RUN VERY DEEP IN THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. ACCEPTING ANY OF THESE APPLICATIONS IS THEREFORE AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE CUSHIONS CORRUPTION, THEIR TOTAL DISREGARD OF YOUR RULES AND YOUR REGULATIONS, THEIR TOTAL DISRESPECT OF YOUR AUTHORITY. ACCEPTING ANY OF THESE APPLICATIONS ALSO MEANS THAT YOU WILL ACCEPT BILL CUSHIONS ABUSE INSTEAD OF ADMONISHING IT. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT VIDEO WHERE HE WAS PUNCHING THE HORSE, AND SOME PEOPLE SAY, OH, IT'S NOT A COWARD HORSE. IT'S ACTUALLY EVEN MORE EGREGIOUS BECAUSE IT WAS A SMALLER HORSE. THE BEST WAY TO PURGE THE CITY OF CORRUPT ANIMAL ABUSERS IS TO ABOLISH THIS INDUSTRY, AND IT SHOULD START WITH THE CUSHIONS.

THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF FINANCIALS ON THE SAME WEBSITE THAT YOU PULLED UP THOSE BACKGROUND CHECKS. THERE IS A CURRENT LAWSUIT AGAINST BILL CUSHION FROM DISCOVER BANK. HE OWES THEM 16/16,000 DOLLARS. ANOTHER CASE WITH JENNIFER CUSHION. SHE OWES BANK OF AMERICA OVER $17,000. A SECOND BANK IS SUING JENNIFER CUSHION. SHE OWES THEM OVER $20,000.

THAT IS DISCOVER BANK. AND JUST ONE WEEK AGO, A WRIT OF GARNISHMENT WAS ISSUED AGAINST JENNIFER CUSHION. IS THIS REALLY THE KIND OF INDIVIDUAL THAT THE CITY WANTS TO DO BUSINESS WITH? IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. KATHERINE ZODA, FOLLOWED BY THOMAS REYNOLDS. CARLY CZARFACE APPLICATION FOR EAST COAST CARRIAGE SHOULD BE DENIED. LAST YEAR'S APPLICATION NAMED BOTH CARLY AND FRED PEZZA. THIS YEAR'S NAMES ONLY SURFACE. THIS IS LAST YEAR'S APPLICATION. SO WHAT HAPPENED TO FRED PEZZA? IS HE STILL INVOLVED? HIS OWN FRANCHISE APPLICATION WAS DENIED FOR DISQUALIFYING CRIMINAL HISTORY IF HE'S STILL INVOLVED IN MANAGEMENT. HIS BACKGROUND MUST BE CONSIDERED.

DESPITE HIS NAME BEING REMOVED. THIS YEAR'S APPLICATION INCLUDES THE SAME EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO RUN THE OPERATION. THE PLAN REPEATEDLY REFERS TO WE AND OUR SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES. WHO IS WE? WHOSE RESOURCES ARE BEING OFFERED? SERVICE REQUEST FIVE PERMITS AND PROPOSES STAGING ON AN UNIDENTIFIED PRIVATE PROPERTY. WHILE THE CITY'S PROPOSED AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR THE TRANSFER STATION, WHICH OPERATION IS THE CITY RECOMMENDING? BEFORE AWARDING EVEN ONE PERMIT, THE COMMISSION MUST ESTABLISH WHO WILL MANAGE THIS COMPANY, WHAT RESOURCES IT HAS, AND WHETHER IT EVEN QUALIFIES FOR A FRANCHISE.

COUNTRY CARRIAGES OWNER BILL CUSHION WAS FILMED REPEATEDLY PUNCHING A MINI HORSE. YET THE CITY IS RECOMMENDING HIS COMPANY FOR ANOTHER FRANCHISE. LISTEN TO CUSHIONS OWN ADMISSION ABOUT THE INCIDENT. I HAD ONE OF MY WIFE'S VIDEOS. IS HE OUT ON RIDE RIGHT NOW? I HIT HIM, I AIN'T GONNA LIE. I SCREWED UP, LOST MY TEMPER. YES. THEY GOT THE ONE VIDEO. ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT I HAD ONE OF MY WIFE'S VIDEOS. YEAH, I HIT IT. I AIN'T GONNA LIE. I SCREWED UP.

I LOST MY. IN HIS OWN WORDS, I HIT THE HORSE. I AIN'T GONNA LIE. I SCREWED UP, LOST MY TEMPER. AS THE VIDEO SHOWS, CUSHION HOLDS THE MINI HORSE BY A TETHER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KICK HIM AS HE TRIES TO ESCAPE. THE HORSE WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY, NOT ATTACK HIM. JENNIFER CUSHION IS APPLYING UNDER THE FICTITIOUS NAME NEW BEGINNINGS CARRIAGE SERVICE, BUT THIS IS COUNTRY CARRIAGE, THE SAME COMPANY WHOSE FRANCHISE THE RECENTLY CITY RECENTLY

[02:50:02]

GOOD EVENING. PLEASE PLAY THE VIDEO UNTIL I SAY TO STOP. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PATRICIA AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THIS APPLICATION. THERE'S A LOT TO COVER, SO I'LL MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THE EVIDENCE. IN THIS KIND OF. IS THIS THE KIND OF CONDUCT THE CITY WANTS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS CARRIAGE INDUSTRY? AND WHY? CONSIDER AN APPLICANT CONNECTED TO A COMPANY WHOSE FRANCHISE WAS TERMINATED AFTER NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS. STOP THE VIDEO, PLEASE. ONE APPLICANT, CARLY SERVICE, WHO HAPPENS TO BE ANOTHER APPLICANT, HAD A HORSE NAMED WINCHESTER STABLED AT THE CITY LEASED PROPERTY AT 650 RIBERIA IN DECEMBER. WINCHESTER ARRIVED WITH THREE OTHER HORSES, ONE OF WHICH HAD STRANGLES.

CARLY WAS NOT ON THE LEASE. COUNTRY CARRIAGES WAS. SHE DROVE FOR ANOTHER COMPANY, YET HER HORSE WAS KEPT ON A PROPERTY DESIGNATED FOR THE COUNTRY CARRIAGES COMPANY'S HORSES. SECTION 14 B PROHIBITS SUBLEASING WAS THIS WHAT WAS HAPPENING? WAS THE CITY AWARE

[02:55:03]

CONTRARY TO PERMITTED USE OF THE PREMISES AS PER SECTION EIGHT AGREEMENT, JENNIFER WAS CITED FOR NOT EVACUATING HORSES DURING HURRICANE IAN AND MILTON. DURING MILTON, SIX HORSES WERE LEFT AT THE TRANSFER STATION WHERE THE COMPANY HAD NO LEASE. TRAILERS WERE ALSO LEFT BEHIND.

DESPITE THE REMOVAL NOTICE, CARRIAGES DEVIATED FROM APPROVED ROUTES WITHIN HOUR WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION. DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, THE HORSES RECEIVED BREAKS FOR ONLY 4 TO 8 MINUTES REQUIRED OF THE OF THE REQUIRED 15 MINUTES, SO THEY DIDN'T GET QUITE ENOUGH BLANK SIGNED VETERINARY REPORTS WERE SUBMITTED AND ACCEPTED. THE COMPANY WAS ALSO LATE ON RENTS, WITH RECORDS INDICATING MORE THAN $13,000 IN ARREARS IN 2025. ON FEBRUARY 27TH, THE CITY ISSUED A LEASE TERMINATION NOTICE ON MAY 6TH. ANOTHER NOTICE FOLLOWED FOR FAILURE TO PAY THE RENT, REQUIRING THE COMPANY NOW TO VACATE WITHIN 30 DAYS. PLEASE PLAY THE VIDEO UNTIL I'M DONE. THAT IS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE RECORDS. SO I ASK YOU, GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THE DOCUMENTED VIOLATIONS, DISREGARD FOR DISREGARD FOR LEASE REQUIREMENTS AND FAILURE TO INVOLVE THE CARE AND SAFETY OF THE HORSES, WHY WOULD YOU CONSIDER THEM AGAIN? KEEP PLAYING THAT. THANK YOU. LAUREN WISE FOLLOWED BY BJ KOLODY. HI. I'M JUST REPEATING WHAT SOME OF THE LADIES HAVE ALREADY SAID. AND GENTLEMEN, UNDER SECTION 1455 TEN REGARDING FRANCHISE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, ANY FRANCHISE WHO WHOSE FRANCHISE HAS BEEN REVOKED, TERMINATED, CANCELED OR NOT RENEWED BY THE CITY DUE TO A VIOLATION OF OR A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCES, APPLICABLE RULES, PERMIT CONDITIONS OR OTHER LAWFUL REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED SHALL THEREFORE BE DEEMED INELIGIBLE. SO OBVIOUSLY, IT'S KIND OF CRAZY THAT THEY'RE EVEN BEING CONSIDERED, AS WE'VE ALL SAID, ALSO JUST WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN WHO YOU SAID HAS NOT EVER BEEN HAVING BAD BEHAVIOR. HE'S ONE OF THE MOST FOUL OUT OF ALL OF THEM. SO ALSO JUST RECKLESS. HERE HE IS TELLING ME THAT HE'S JUST GOING TO GET WATER FOR THE HORSE WHEN HE WANTS TO. AS YOU CAN SEE, HE SAID, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T HEAR IT. BUT HE'S SAYING. BECAUSE YOU WANT ME TO ASK HIM TO WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT HE SAID WHEN HE'S HE'S NOT GOING TO GIVE HIM WATER WHEN I WANT HIM TO. BECAUSE AFTER HE WAS DONE WITH A RIDE, HE LITERALLY JUST STOOD AROUND AND DIDN'T GIVE THE HORSE WATER. SO I JUST TOLD HIM I NEEDED TO GIVE HIM WATER. SO THAT'S ONE THING. ANOTHER THING. I MEAN, HERE HE IS WALKING AWAY. LOOK HOW FAR HE IS. I HAVE I HAVE NUMEROUS I COULD KEEP GOING AND GOING, BUT I THINK YOU GUYS GET THE POINT. SO I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS ONE QUICK. BUT I THINK YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, MAKING AN EXAMPLE OF, OF WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THE CITY AND HOW YOU WANT TO BE REPRESENTED, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T JUST MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH THIS BEHAVIOR. AND THEN SAYING, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THE APPLICATION. SHOULD THEY EVEN BE ON THE ROAD IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO AN APPLICATION? THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR. HER CARD IS FOR THE NEXT THE BOND ITEM. OH, FOR THE BOND. OKAY. SO SORRY. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. SO WE ARE BACK TO MR. FRANKLIN. MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE SEVEN APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION. AND AND JUST TO I DIDN'T WANT TO REITERATE A POINT THAT COMMISSIONER SPRINGFIELD MADE, WHICH IS WE HAVE TEN SPACES AVAILABLE IN

[03:00:01]

WE WOULD GET DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION ON. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT POLICY, WE COULD GO THROUGH. THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM EACH ONE OR IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. SO WE COULD GO DOWN THE LIST AND BRING THEM UP ONE BY ONE. WELL, THEY EITHER ALL OR NOBODY, ALL OF THEM OR NOBODY IN MY OPINION, THAT WOULD BE FAIR. JUST TO SAY 100%, I WOULD SAY I THINK THE I DON'T KNOW, I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. NO, I MEAN, I THINK WE WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED, IN MY OPINION. BUT YOU THINK WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED. DO YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM DO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT. NO. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. SO THE APPLICANT SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT IF THEY WISH TO PUBLIC HEARING. A PUBLIC HEARING WHAT THEY THINK. LET'S LIMIT THEM TO THREE MINUTES JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY.

THREE MINUTES. I DO WANT TO CAUTION YOU ON THAT. IF YOU'RE ALLOWING SOMEONE TO PRESENT AS AN APPLICANT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN SOMEBODY MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT. SO A REASONABLE TIME. YES, BUT THREE MINUTES MIGHT BE A LITTLE SHORT FOR SOMEONE NEEDING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION FOR THEIR OWN APPLICATION. THEY MAY BE DONE BY THREE MINUTES, BUT PERHAPS GIVE THEM A FEW MORE IF THEY NEED MORE TIME. THERE'S TWO THINGS HAPPENING. WE'RE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING. THEY'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED CARDS, SO WE NEED TO GIVE THEM PUBLIC HEARING. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY ACCEPTED THEIR CARDS AND TOLD THEM THAT THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I CAN REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GO AHEAD AND HEAR THEM AND TAKE MORE CARDS. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NO, I MY ASSUMPTION WAS THE CARDS YOU RECEIVED FROM THE APPLICANTS WAS FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR APPLICATION. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. OKAY. RIGHT. AND SO. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GIVE THEM, I THINK I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER HERE FIVE MINUTES EACH. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? FIVE MINUTES EACH IS FINE. IS THAT LET ME JUST FINISH WITH HER. FIVE MINUTES IS ADEQUATE TIME. IT MIGHT BE. AND IF THEY FOR SOME REASON HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THEY NEED TO SHARE, THEY CAN ALWAYS, THROUGH THE CHAIR, ASK FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES. SO BUT THAT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR EACH APPLICANT. WE'LL DO FIVE MINUTES. I'VE I'VE REVIEWED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE APPLICATIONS VERY CAREFULLY, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE TO BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THEM FOR ALMOST A WEEK NOW. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THEY WANT US TO KNOW OUTSIDE OF WHAT'S IN THE APPLICATIONS ALREADY. I THINK THAT THAT COULD BE PRESENTED IN THREE MINUTES. I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE REST OF THE AGENDA AND FAIRNESS, BECAUSE SOME MIGHT WANT TO PRESENT FOR TEN MINUTES AND OTHERS WOULD ONLY HAVE A COUPLE. ASSUMING THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED THE APPLICATIONS CAREFULLY AND THAT OKAY, PRESENTS TO ME AN ISSUE OF UNFAIRNESS. I HAVE FOUR CARDS FOR SPEAKER FOR FIVE MINUTES. I THINK THEY SHOULD GET THE FIVE MINUTE WINDOW. MAYBE YOU CAN PLAY IT BY EAR. START WITH THREE MINUTES, AND IF FOLKS HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAT THEY WANT TO PRESENT, THEY CAN REQUEST ADDITIONAL TIME. SO IT MAY BE A NON-ISSUE. MAYBE MOST OF THEM WILL HAVE A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION. WHY DON'T WE GO WITH THAT? BECAUSE IF WE SPEND FIVE MINUTES TALKING ABOUT IT, THEN WE'RE STILL IN A NET DEFICIT. SO LET'S TRY TO SAY TO OUR APPLICANTS, I WOULD I WOULD ASK THE APPLICANTS TO RESPECT COMMISSIONERS BLINDER'S IDEA THAT WHEN YOU COME HERE, YOU WILL BE ADDING STUFF TO YOUR OR AT LEAST HIGHLIGHT WHAT'S IN YOUR PRESENTATION. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANTS MYSELF AND GIVE THEM ADEQUATE TIME TO PRESENT. IT'S A BIG DEAL. IT'S THEIR LIFE. IT'S THEIR BUSINESS. IT'S EVERYTHING TO THEM. IT'S HOW THEY MAKE THEIR LIVING. AND I DON'T WANT TO. MISS MISS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO SAY. THAT'S MY FEELING ABOUT IT. SO UNLESS Y'ALL WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FIVE MINUTES EACH, I AGREE. ALL RIGHT. CHELSEA ORTON ALREADY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK AGAIN CHELSEA A LITTLE BIT. OKAY. THIS IS C STAR CARRIAGES. FIVE MINUTES. OKAY. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I

[03:05:12]

SO THESE HORSES ARE RAN ON VERY GOOD SUPPLEMENTS TO MAKE SURE THEIR BELLIES AREN'T HURTING, AND THINGS ARE IN THE CORRECT WAY, THAT THE HORSES ARE GETTING TAKEN CARE OF, HOW THEY SHOULD BE TO BE PERFORMING FOR THE STANDARD THAT I'M ASKING THEM TO DO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS ORTON? OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON. JENNIFER CUSHMAN.

JENNIFER CUSHMAN 4201 NEW HAMPSHIRE ROAD. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A VERY ROUGH YEAR, ESPECIALLY ON US. WE LOST EVERYTHING AFTER 22 YEARS. I DO APPRECIATE THE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM SEVERAL CITY STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE WORKED OUT AND TO COME BACK, GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS AND AND HOW THINGS WENT. I ALSO APPRECIATE STAFF. THEY PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS, AND I'M KNOWN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, AS I HELPED CARLOS WRITE THE ORIGINAL FRANCHISE ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF PETA, SO I. IT'S BEEN IN MY HEART AND IN MY LIFE TO MAKE SURE THESE HORSES AND EVERYTHING ARE DONE. YOU CAN TAKE A PICTURE AND MAKE IT LOOK A THOUSAND WAYS. WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT WORKS, BUT I DO. I DO HAVE ONE THING IF YOU GUYS WILL CONSIDER, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'VE READ MY APPLICATION, WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY. I KNOW THERE'S A TIME FRAME THAT WE CAN SHUT DOWN FOR ONLY SO LONG. WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SHUT DOWN DURING THE SUMMER FROM JUNE 10TH OR 15TH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AS THE WEATHER IS GETTING HOTTER UNTIL LABOR DAY WEEKEND. SO IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CARLY SERVICE. I HAVE A VISUAL AID. SHOULD I PUT THAT UNDER THE SCREEN? I THINK THIS IS HOW THIS WORKS. OKAY, THERE WE GO. SO THIS IS PURELY FOR IT'S GOING TO IS IT GOING TO FOCUS. WELL IT MAY OR MAY NOT FOCUS. I'LL SEND IT TO YOU. SO THANK YOU. I KNOW JEN JUST SAID IT, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT STAFF AND YOU GUYS HAVE PUT INTO THIS. IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG PROCESS. IT'S BEEN A REALLY ARDUOUS PROCESS AND IT'S STRESSFUL. IT'S STRESSFUL FOR US. IT'S STRESSFUL FOR EVERYBODY WHO WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THIS. AND IT IS NICE THAT WE ARE WE HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE WE WILL GET DECISIONS AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS. I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE MY RATHER LONG APPLICATION. MY APOLOGIES FOR THE LENGTH OF THAT, BUT I DID WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP THIS EVENING. JUST TO CLARIFY. AND OF COURSE, I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY. AFTERWARDS, MY APPLICATION SAYS WE AND OUR. AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN ASKING FOR HELP. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD DO EVERYTHING ALONE. I THINK THAT THAT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO LEARN, AND THAT IT'S A VALUABLE SKILL TO KNOW WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING AND WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED ASSISTANCE. AND I HAVE REALLY MADE A GOAL OF UNDERSTANDING WHEN IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S IN THE BEST

[03:10:02]

WHEN I WAS TEACHING SCHOOL, WHEN I WAS A JOURNALIST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE HUMBLE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CANNOT DO EVERYTHING ALONE AND BY YOURSELF. AND SO WE AND OUR IS MY COMPANY. IT'S MY FUTURE STAFF THAT I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO HIRE. IF SOMEDAY I'M AWARDED A FRANCHISE AND ABLE TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HIRE STAFF WHO ENJOY THIS AND RESPECT THE HORSES AND VALUE THE CITY AND WANT TO BE GOOD REPRESENTATIVES AND GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DOING HERE. FRED PEZZA WAS ON MY APPLICATION WHEN I APPLIED BEFORE I WAS DENIED. I'M FINE WITH THE FACT THAT THAT DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD IN THAT SHAPE. HE IS NO LONGER INVOLVED IN MY BUSINESS. HE IS NOT ON MY SON BIZ. HE IS NOT PART OF MY MANAGEMENT STAFF. HE IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION OF MY BUSINESS IN ANY WAY. I OWN MY HORSES AND CARRIAGES OUTRIGHT. I AM SO FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE HORSES THAT I WORKED WITH AND LOVE AND RESPECT FROM. WHEN I WORKED FOR COUNTRY CARRIAGES, I CARED ABOUT THEM.

THEY ABSOLUTELY DESERVE THE BEST POSSIBLE LIFE THAT I CAN GIVE THEM. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY.

THAT'S WHAT THAT IS ANYWAY. MY HORSES LIVE ON 70 ACRES OF GRASS. IT COSTS ME A FRIGHTENING AMOUNT OF MONEY PER MONTH TO KEEP THEM IN THE STYLE TO WHICH THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED.

AND MY HOPE AND GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN. YES, SOME OF MY HORSES HAVE APPEARED ON PREVIOUS INVENTORIES AND SOME OF MY EQUIPMENT HAS AS WELL. I OWN IT OUTRIGHT. I DON'T THERE'S NO ONE INVOLVED IN MY COMPANY AT THIS JUNCTURE EXCEPT MYSELF.

LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE HERE? I INCLUDED THE SUGGESTION OF ALLOWING OPERATIONS FROM SITES OTHER THAN THE TRANSFER STATION TO OFFER THE CITY FLEXIBILITY AND TO DEMONSTRATE COOPERATION WITH THE CITY'S BUDGET AND CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS AND TIMELINES. I KNOW AMENDMENT THREE IS SCARY. EVERYBODY IS LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL AT POSSIBLE HUGE REDUCTIONS IN TAX REVENUE, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO ASK THE CITY TO DO A LOT WITH A LITTLE. AND THAT IS PURELY FOR THE SAKE OF FLEXIBILITY, NOT AS AND NOT WITH ANY INTENT TO PRESSURE ANYBODY INTO DOING ANYTHING THAT THEY ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH DOING IN TERMS OF OVERSIGHT OR CAPABILITIES OR SAFETY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SIDE NOTE WINCHESTER WAS NOT IN A LOAD OF INFECTED HORSES. WINCHESTER WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH INFECTED HORSES. WINCHESTER IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN MY HORSE. I WORKED THERE, HE'S STILL MY HORSE. THERE WAS NO LIKE, NOTHING SKETCHY THERE. SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING AN EXAMPLE, AND I REALLY HOPE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR US TO BE MAKING AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF REALLY GOOD, TRANSPARENT, THOROUGH OVERSIGHT AND REGULATION FOR THE HEALTH OF AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, THAT DESERVES TO CONTINUE TO BE HERE, THAT DESERVES THE CHANCE TO MOVE FORWARD, OPERATING DEFENSIVELY AND TRANSPARENTLY. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSE SZABO. HIGH COMMISSIONERS. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT. SOMETHING SLID BY A LITTLE WHILE AGO THAT I HAD NOT HEARD PREVIOUSLY. AND IT WAS KIND OF A SURPRISE TO ME BECAUSE I AM THE ONLY OPERATOR THAT OPERATES TWO CARRIAGES IN SAINT AUGUSTINE AT THIS TIME. RUBEN MENTIONED THAT HE RECOMMENDED THAT YOU GIVE OUT ONE TO EACH APPLICANT WITH A LOTTERY FOR THE OTHER LICENSES. IF THAT WAS TO BE THE CASE, IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY HALF MY BUSINESS. I HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING FOR THREE YEARS OPERATING THIS FRANCHISE AND PAYING THE BILLS AND TAKING CARE OF MY HORSES AS BEST AS I POSSIBLY CAN. I HAVE A SMALL FARM OUTSIDE THE CITY WHERE MY HORSES LIVE, ON THE PROPERTY THAT I LIVE, SO THAT I CAN MONITOR THEM EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR TWO LICENSES, BECAUSE MY BUSINESS IS BUILT AROUND THE THE TWO UNIT. I BRING TWO HORSES IN. IN THE TRAILER. I HAVE TWO CARRIAGES GO OUT EACH DAY AND COME BACK EACH DAY. AND IT ALLOWS FOR A SUSTAINABLE WAGE WAGE, AND I CAN MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE COSTS OF OVERHEAD FOR THIS BUSINESS. I FEEL THAT ISSUING ONE LICENSE, WHILE I WOULD BE THANKFUL AND WILL ACCEPT IT AND DO THE BEST I CAN, I THINK THAT IT WILL HAMPER MY ABILITY TO CONTINUE IN BUSINESS AND MAKE MONEY, AND IT MIGHT EVENTUALLY MAKE ME HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER DECISION. I'VE BEEN IN CARRIAGE DRIVING HERE FOR 23 YEARS WITH A SHORT BREAK, WHEN MY WIFE HAD CANCER AND DIED. I HAVE NEVER LOST MY COMMITMENT TO THE ANIMALS. HERE I HAVE. I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO THINGS BETTER AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE, AND

[03:15:04]

YOU BUILD A BOND WITH THAT ANIMAL. THEY'LL WALK THROUGH FIRE. THEY'LL WALK THROUGH WATER EVEN IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT. I'VE SEEN HORSES THAT DON'T LIKE THE DRIVERS. IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS I'VE SEEN DRIVERS MISTREAT THEIR HORSES. I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THAT WE DIDN'T NEED THE PROTESTERS. I KNOW IT'S CONTROVERSIAL TO SAY THIS. WITHOUT THE PROTESTERS, HORSES WOULD STILL BE GETTING ABUSED LEVEL THEY WERE BEFORE THEY SHOWED UP. IT'S NOT A NOT MAKING IT UP. IT'S NOT A BLACK AND WHITE SITUATION. THEY DO THE JOB THAT PEOPLE CAN'T DO SOMETIMES. AND I'M TIRED OF EVERYONE JUST BASHING EACH OTHER, WHICH WE ALL DO, BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO DO. BUT OUR GOAL HERE IS TO CARE OF THE HORSES. WE ARE AT A PRECIPICE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT JUST SAINT AUGUSTINE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICE WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK THIS WHOLE SEASON, BUT ACCIDENTS THAT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN FIXED, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THOSE HORSES NEVER SHOULD HAVE RAN BECAUSE THE DRIVERS JUST 101 BASIC CARE. AND I STILL SEE SOME OF THAT GOING ON TODAY. DRIVERS THAT SAY THEY LOVE THEIR HORSES AND GIVE THEM 15 MINUTE BREAKS. SECOND, THE PROTESTERS GO HOME.

THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING FIVE MINUTE BREAKS AGAIN, OR EVEN LESS. BUT DON'T CHANGE THE DIAPERS. WHO RUN THEIR HORSES NONSTOP, WHO OVERLOOK MANY CARRIAGE DEATHS IN THIS INDUSTRY. I SAT THERE WATCHING COMPANIES LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN HORSES DIED, AND IT SICKENED ME TO MY STOMACH BECAUSE EVERYONE'S LIKE, OH, THAT'S AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF HORSES THAT DIED. YEAH, NO, YOU THINK, HOW AM I GOING TO STAND THERE AND LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO RUN THIS INDUSTRY AND SAY, YEAH, GOOD JOB. WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE.

I REALLY BELIEVE IN YOU GUYS. WHEN I DON'T, HOW AM I GOING TO LOOK AT EVERYONE IN THE WORLD AND ON FACEBOOK AND SAVANNAH AND CHARLESTON AND ALL THESE PLACES AND GO, YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN AND WE'RE NOT. WE'RE ON A PRECIPICE RIGHT NOW. WE CAN STAY DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING, OR WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND REALLY CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO MOVE FORWARD. AND IF PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MIND AND CHANGE THEIR WAYS, HEY, I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND WHOEVER GETS AN AWARD TONIGHT, WHOEVER GETS AWARDED A FRANCHISE, I'M GOING TO WORK WITH YOU WHETHER I LIKE YOU OR NOT. THAT'S BUSINESS. THAT'S SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND TRUST ME, I WILL BE THERE FOR YOU FOR ANYTHING YOU NEED, WHETHER YOU WANT ME THERE OR NOT. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S I DON'T CARE. THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE

[03:20:04]

BUT IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THESE ANIMALS, WHICH I DO, AND SOME OF MY FRIENDS REALLY DO, AND YOU CAN TELL THE ONES THAT DO, THEN WE HAVE TO RAISE OUR STANDARDS. WE HAVE TO RAISE OUR EXPECTATIONS. WE CAN'T GO BACKWARDS IF WE LOVE THESE ANIMALS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THIS ROOM. IF YOU'RE IN THIS ROOM FOR ANY OTHER REASON BESIDES THE LOVE OF THESE HORSES, YOU'RE IN THE WRONG INDUSTRY AND YOU NEED TO LEAVE. I HATE TO BE THIS WAY. I DID NOT PREPARE A TALK, BUT I'VE HEARD A LOT OF IT AND I CAN'T SIT STILL. THE HORSES HAVE GOT TO COME FIRST. THE HORSES HAVE GOT TO COME FIRST. I'LL SAY THAT TILL I'M BLUE IN THE FACE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE. CAN I BE A BETTER DRIVER? SURE. CAN I BE A BETTER TOUR GUIDE? PROBABLY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, CAN I BE A BETTER REPRESENTATIVE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE? I WANT TO SEE THE BEST OF WHAT THE CITY CAN BE. ANYONE WHO GETS A FRANCHISE NEEDS TO BECOME BETTER THAN THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING MYSELF. WE CAN DO THIS, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY. GETTING A FRANCHISE IS THE EASY PART. SOMETIMES KEEPING IT, MAKING US ALL LOOK GOOD, WORKING TOGETHER, LOOKING OUT FOR THESE ANIMALS. THAT'S WHEN THE HARD WORK BEGINS. IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, DON'T DO IT, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO BACK DOWN. I'LL BE HERE EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE, LOOKING DOWN YOUR SPINE, MAKING SURE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU'RE RUINING IT FOR ALL OF US. AND THIS CAN ALL GO AWAY. I LOVE THIS CITY. SO I BOUGHT THE RIGHTS TO TRANSFER A COMPANY FOUNDED IN 1877. THERE'S A LEGACY HERE. LET'S PROTECT IT THE WAY WE CAN DO IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE TIFFANY RICHARDSON. HELLO. GOOD EVENING TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SPEAK ON I, I HAVE FOUR HORSES AND THEY LIVE ON 100 ACRES OF PROPERTY. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS. I'VE DRIVEN 25 OUT OF THE 30 NIGHTS OF LIGHTS WITH NO ACCIDENTS, NO INFRACTIONS AT ALL. ALL OF MY HORSES LIVE ON A FREE ROAM.

ACRES OF PROPERTY IN ELKTON, AND I DRIVE THEM BACK AND FORTH ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT IN TERRIBLE WEATHER. AND I'VE NEVER HAD, YOU KNOW, LIKE AN INSTANCE WHERE I DIDN'T THINK THAT I COULD MAKE IT. I NEVER HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE I DIDN'T THINK I COULD MAKE A GUEST BACK HOME SAFELY. I THINK I'M ONE OF THE SAFEST DRIVERS IN THE CITY, AND I'M ONE OF THE ONLY ONES THAT NOBODY SAID ANYTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT ANGELINA. BUT SO WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS I'M GOING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. AND I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL, BUT I'M ONE OF THE ONLY ONES THAT HAS ACTUALLY LOOKED INTO PURCHASING IN AN ELECTRIC CARRIAGE. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL EXPLORE, I THINK. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY ELSE FEELS ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH EXPLORING. I DON'T WANT MY HORSES WORKING MORE THAN THEY HAVE TO, AND I WANT TO EVENTUALLY RETIRE THEM, AND I WANT TO KEEP THEM TILL THE DAY THEY DIE. AND I THINK I OWE THEM THAT BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE A LOT FOR US. THEY'VE CARRIED PEOPLE THROUGH THE TOWN, THEY'VE WORKED MULTIPLE HOURS, YOU KNOW, IN ALL SORTS OF WEATHER, AND THEY'RE STILL DOING IT AND THEY'RE GETTING UP THERE IN AGE, AND SO AM I. SO I'M THINKING ABOUT GOING IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGES. I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT FULLY AND COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, RETIRING THE HORSES. BUT I THINK IT'S MORE GOING TO BE LIKE A 5050. AND THEN WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES FROM THERE. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WE WANT TO DO THE ELECTRIC CARRIAGES. WE THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. OKAY, WELL, IF YOU SAY THAT, THEN YOU HAVE TO RIDE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T RIDE AND WE CAN'T MAKE A PROFIT OFF OF IT, THEN IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. AND THAT'S ALL THAT I'M ASKING. SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER ME BECAUSE OF THAT. AND, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

LAST SPEAKER AND APPLICANT IS JOHN REDMOND. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR PROTESTERS ARE PROFESSIONALS AT THEIR VIDEOS AND ONLY SHOWING WHAT THEY WANT TO SHOW THE INCIDENT IN

[03:25:04]

AND I AIN'T LIKED IT SINCE. AND I APOLOGIZED TO TWO OF THEM, WHICH THEY'LL PROBABLY NEVER ADMIT TO. OKAY. AND I TOLD THEM, I SAID, YOU GOADED ME. OKAY, FINE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. I'M NOT GOING TO LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN. SO THAT IS A BLIGHT ON ME, AND I'M EMBARRASSED BY IT. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER LET IT HAPPEN, BUT GUESS WHAT I DID? THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS AT PICKING AND PICKING AND GOING UNTIL YOU COME DOWN THERE AS A TOURIST AND JUST LAY LOW AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, AND YOU SEE THE ABUSE THAT WE TAKE FROM THEM. YOU CANNOT IMAGINE NOW THE INCIDENT WITH THE WATER I HAD JUST GOTTEN BACK FROM A TOUR, HADN'T BEEN THERE ABOUT A FEW MINUTES. AND THE ONE SAYS ABOUT GIVING THE HORSE WATER, WELL, IT SAYS IN THE ORDINANCE, I'M TO GIVE THE HORSE THE WATER AT LEAST ONCE AN HOUR. I KNOW WHEN TO GIVE THE HORSE WATER. AND SO I SAID TO HER, I'LL GIVE THE HORSE WATER WHEN IT'S WHEN I WANT TO GIVE THE HORSE WATER. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE THE HORSE WATER BECAUSE YOU SAY, I GOTTA GIVE THE HORSE WATER. OKAY, I LET HIM GO WITH ME ONCE. I PROMISED I WOULD NEVER LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN. I WAS TOTALLY EMBARRASSED BY IT. I'M TOTALLY EMBARRASSED TODAY, BUT THEY TAKE THOSE VIDEOS AND THEY DELETE WHAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE. HOW COME THEY NEVER SHOW WHEN I'M BRUSHING THE HORSE OUT THERE? YOU DON'T SEE THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING UP AND THEY'RE PETTING AND LOVING THE HORSE AND GETTING THAT ATTENTION, YOU DON'T SEE THAT.

YOU'RE ONLY SEEING WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO SEE. AND I GUARANTEE THEM. AND I GUARANTEE YOU, NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY, THEY'RE NOT GOING ME AGAIN. I AIN'T GOING TO LET IT HAPPEN.

BUT I DID, AND I APOLOGIZED. I MAKE APOLOGIZE, PUBLIC APOLOGY TO YOU AND TO THEM, AND I GUARANTEE YOU IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. IT'S A BLIGHT ON ME. I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT. I'M EMBARRASSED BY IT. MOVE ON. THAT'S ALL I CAN DO. AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I GOT TO SAY. Y'ALL KNOW THE REST OF MY STORY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO ALL OF US, ALL OF THE APPLICANTS HAVE SPOKEN. AND DO COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF ANY APPLICANT OR MR. FRANKLIN ON. IF NOT, WE'LL PROCEED. I DO HAVE A STATEMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ AT YOUR WHENEVER YOU'RE READY FOR IT, BUT IT'S RATHER LENGTHY AND IT PERTAINS TO THIS PROCESS OVERALL. LET'S GO. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE. I THINK WE HAVE. SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST ENSURE THE WELFARE OF THE HORSES AND THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS, THE RIDERS, AND THAT TIME COMES AT A COST. AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO EVALUATE THE COSTS OF THIS INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR. I MEAN, THIS THIS PARTICULAR FRANCHISE AND LICENSE INVOLVES LIVING ANIMALS. AND THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE COSTS AT THE CITY IN THIS CASE, HAVE HISTORICALLY HAS HISTORICALLY ABSORBED, AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS IN MY, WHAT NOW, SIX YEARS ALMOST, OF BEING ON THIS COMMISSION AND HEARING PEOPLE EXPRESS CONCERNS AND SO FORTH, I STARTED TO GO THROUGH THE FRANCHISE AND LICENSE AGREEMENT AND NOTE DOWN EVERYTHING THAT I COULD CATEGORIZE AS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE A COST TO THE CITY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A SENSE OF A CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT WE ARE, WHAT THIS IS COSTING US.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR ENTIRE BUDGET. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL FOR AMENDMENT THREE TO PASS AND WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE OUR COSTS. AND A MEDALLION WOULD, IN OUR LICENSE AGREEMENT, FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WOULD COST $1,000 ANNUALLY. DOES THAT MEDALLION, AT $1,000

[03:30:05]

OVERNIGHT STABLING REQUESTS, PROCESSING AND MONITORING, INSURANCE MONITORING, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF FRANCHISEE PERSONAL PROPERTY. VERIFICATION OF ACCURACY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE CITY. COSTS OF PREPARING AND DELIVERING NOTICES. HORSE TRAILER PARKING MONITORING THERE ARE OTHER FEES THAT ARE DIRECT FEES THAT ARE NOT STAFF TIME, BUT THAT SURE SOUNDS LIKE A FULL TIME JOB AND MORE TO ME, THOSE OTHER FEES MIGHT INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE VETERINARIAN FEES PAID BY THE CITY DURING THE STRANGLES OUTBREAK, SUPPLIES COST OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE COMMON AREAS OF THE HORSE TRANSFER STATION, WHICH INCLUDE, AND THIS IS PRETTY MUCH VERBATIM FROM THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, BUT NOT LIMITED TO MOWING, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, REMOVAL, AND DISPOSAL OF MANURE FROM THE DESIGNATED MANURE COLLECTION AREA AT THE TRANSFER STATION. UTILITY COSTS OF WATER, SEWER, STORM WATER, ELECTRICITY AND TRASH COLLECTION MONITORING, TRANSFER STATION STALL CONDITIONS AND OTHER SERVICES. TO ME, AT THIS POINT, THIS LOOKS LIKE THE TERM REGULATORY.

THIS IS A REGULATORY SUBSIDY. I WONDER IF THERE ARE OTHER FRANCHISES OUT THERE THAT MIGHT LOOK AT THIS AS PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT BY THE CITY OF THIS PARTICULAR INDUSTRY. AND WE ARE LOOKING AGAIN, AT POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CHANGES AND REDUCTIONS. I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE DID DECIDE TO. I WAS OPPOSED TO IT, BUT I THINK IT WAS A GOOD CHOICE TO HAVE EACH OF THE APPLICANTS MAKE A STATEMENT FOR UP TO FIVE MINUTES, BECAUSE I HEARD AT LEAST TWO APPLICANTS SAYING THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS INDUSTRY AND THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO EVOLVE, THAT WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE RISKING EVERYTHING THAT INCLUDES THE CITY. OKAY. IN TERMS OF OUR VISITORS EXPERIENCE AND SAFETY, AS WE SAW IN NEW YORK CITY. AND I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN REALLY WE REALLY HAVE TO WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK, PUT A PAUSE ON THE ACCELERATOR AND GET SOME MORE INFORMATION. AND SO I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT. WE ACTUALLY TABLE. WE CAN GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS HERE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE. WE NEED MORE INFORMATION. I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE TRUE COSTS ARE FOR, FOR, FOR CONTINUING THIS, THIS BUSINESS. AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYBODY OUT OF BUSINESS. I THINK THAT THERE CAN BE SOME SORT OF A PHASING TYPE OF THING THAT COULD HAPPEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I HAVE TO SPEAK MY TRUTH RIGHT NOW, AND THIS IS MY TRUTH, AND I'M SHAKING AS I'M SAYING IT. I DON'T WANT TO HURT PEOPLE. I DON'T WANT TO HURT HORSES. AND I DON'T WANT TO HURT THE SAFETY OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS. AND WHEN I SEE THOSE HORSES OUT ON ON THE STREETS AND I SEE CARS DRIVERS TAKING BIG RISKS TO PASS THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A HURRY, IT SCARES ME TO DEATH EVERY SINGLE TIME. I'M GOING TO STOP THERE. OKAY? MY TURN. I HEARD A MOTION. I DON'T HEAR A SECOND IN THE MOTION DIED.

ANYONE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. YEAH, HE'S READY TO GO. HE'S READY. I AGREE TOTALLY WITH MY COMMISSIONER BLONDER. IF YOU ALL REMEMBER, I STOOD AT THE AT THE MICROPHONE AND GAVE A SLIDESHOW ABOUT MY ESTIMATES ON HOW MUCH MONEY THIS POTENTIALLY COULD MAKE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AND HOW LITTLE THEY'RE PAYING. AND I AGREE WE SHOULD I STEAL YOUR IDEA AGAIN? NO, NO NO NO YOU DIDN'T. MY APOLOGIES IF I DID. OH, I JUST THEY'RE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT EVERY BUSINESS NECESSARILY IS PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE. IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS, IF YOU HAVE A RESTAURANT. THAT YOU LEASE THE BUILDING, WE STILL SUPPLEMENT THAT BUSINESS BY CLEANING THE STREETS AND DOING OTHER THINGS THAT THE CITY DOES FOR ALL BUSINESSES. BUT I THINK THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF A

[03:35:01]

I THINK THEY HANDLED IT POORLY, BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. AND I THINK THE DRIVERS AND THE CARRIAGES HANDLE IT POORLY WHEN THEY INTERACT WITH ACT WITH THEM ADMITTED TONIGHT. SO THAT'S ONE OF MY SUGGESTIONS FOR US TONIGHT, IS TO NOT ALLOW A FIVE YEAR FRANCHISE TO GO WITH A TWO AND A HALF YEAR FRANCHISE. AND THEN THAT SUNSETS ALL HORSE CARRIAGES. WE ALSO ELIMINATE THE ABILITY FOR A GOLF CART TIER TWO TO OPERATE A CARRIAGE, WHICH THEY ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE NOW. AND THERE IS ONE THAT DOES THAT. I THINK THAT'S IT. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A REALLY GOOD LOOK AND LET A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WEIGH IT IN AND DECIDE ON THIS. WE ARE FIVE PEOPLE. I'M GOING TO HEAVEN. NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY. I THINK WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE FIVE SMART PEOPLE THAT HAVE LISTENED TO ALL SIDES OF THIS ISSUE. AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE TAKE A STAND TO SAY, LET'S START THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATING HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES TONIGHT. WAS THAT A MOTION? NO, I WANTED TO JUST TALK ABOUT IT. WELL, THAT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COME TO MIND. I AM OFFENDED WHEN THESE PROTESTERS REFER TO THE HORSES AS SLAVES, AND I'M OFFENDED WHEN A PERSON COMES BEFORE US TO TALK ABOUT THE HORSES AND SAYS THAT WE SHOULD SELL SLAVES BACK AT THE MARKET, THAT IS REALLY A SLAP IN THE FACE. IT IS OKAY. AND THESE PROTESTERS ONLY VIDEO AFTER THEY GET A REACTION FROM SOMEONE. AND THAT'S APPARENT BECAUSE NOBODY'S JUST GOING TO WALK UP TO SOMEBODY AND SAY THAT UNLESS THEY'RE PROVOKED. THE GENTLEMAN WAS KIND ENOUGH TO COME BACK UP AND APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. AND.

THE HORSE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN GOING ON. WHEN THIS CITY WAS FOUNDED, IT WAS ON HORSE AND BUGGIES AND ANTIQUE CARS. LET'S BE CRYSTAL CLEAR. AND NOBODY THOUGHT OF EXPANDING THESE ROADS. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION DOWNTOWN NOW. I THINK PROBABLY THE ONLY ROADS THAT THEY INCREASED WAS US ONE AND MAYBE SAN MARCO. SO THOSE HORSE AND CARRIAGES AND ANTIQUE CARS ARE THE ONE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ROLLING DOWN THESE STREETS. AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE IN THE PREDICAMENT WE ARE IN TODAY. WHEN PEOPLE COME AND SAY THAT THE TRAFFIC IS BAD, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE DRIVING CARS AND EVERYBODY'S DRIVING CARS.

AND EVERY TIME SOMEBODY COMES AND VISITS OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY, THEN THEY COME BACK HERE AND LIVE. AND SO IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE. TRAFFIC IS BUSY NOW, AND THERE'S NO NIGHTS AND LIGHTS GOING ON CURRENTLY. MY THING IS THESE PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM HAVE SAID TEN YEARS, SOME OF THEM HAD SAYS 20 YEARS. SOME OF THEM HAVE MADE MISTAKES. AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES. WE ARE NOT A JUDGE OR JURY. ALL WE CAN DO IS REUBEN HAS PUT A LOT OF WORK IN

[03:40:02]

I'M SORRY THAT YOU WON'T BE. AND I'M SORRY THAT OUR MAYOR WON'T BE, BECAUSE I THINK WE WERE A STRONG COMMISSION. HOWEVER, I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST REDUCE IT AND GRANT EVERYBODY TONIGHT THEIR LICENSE SO THAT THEY. BECAUSE LIKE THAT ONE MAN THAT WE REJECTED, HE ALREADY HAD 130 SALES, HE SAID, AND BOUGHT A NEW HORSE BECAUSE HE JUST KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE OUT THERE. HE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 25 YEARS. YES. I SAID, WHY DON'T YOU SEE IF SOMEBODY IN YOUR FAMILY CAN GET THAT MEDALLION SO THAT YOU WON'T HAVE TO PAY ALL THAT MONEY BACK AND CAN DO THAT, NOT JUST SO THAT HE WOULD, BECAUSE WHERE IS HE GOING TO COME UP WITH THAT MONEY IF HE'S ALREADY GOTTEN THAT MONEY AND INVESTED IT IN HIS BUSINESS? HOW IS HE GOING TO COME UP WITH THAT MONEY? BUT IN ALL FAIRNESS, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT GRANT HIM THAT. WE ARE LOOKING AND TRYING TO MAKE THE CITY AS BEST WE CAN. EVERYBODY MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH WHAT THE COMMISSION DOES AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING OUR HEART SWEAT AND TEARS. WE'RE NOT THE COUNTY. WE DON'T MAKE $110,000. WE SITTING UP IN THESE SEATS. OKAY. WE DO IT BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR CITY. WE LOVE OUR CITY, AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER DAY BY DAY, DECISION BY DECISION. AND THAT'S MY MY PITCH THAT WE GRANT THESE PERMITS. I RESPECT THE YOUNG LADY, TIFFANY. WE GAVE HER ANOTHER CHANCE. SHE SAID SHE'S GOING TO GET AN ELECTRIC CARRIAGE. I WAS SITTING IN ROTARY. THERE'S A MAN THAT SAYS HE HAS A LICENSE. I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM TONIGHT, BUT HE SAID HE HAS ELECTRIC CARRIAGE AND HE. HE RIDES THE STREETS OF OUR CITY. YES. SO PEOPLE ARE ALREADY COMING TO THAT DECISION ON THEIR OWN. WE DON'T NEED TO PUSH THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS SO THEY CAN GET THERE. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING PAST 9:00, BECAUSE WE HAVE A POLICY TO MEET ABOUT NINE O EXTEND THE 915. I WISH I REALLY. OKAY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING. EXTEND IT UNTIL WE. UNTIL SUCH A TIME. UNTIL NECESSARY. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I, I, I THANK YOU. MEETING EXTENDED. YOUR. OKAY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. SO I'M LOOKING AT THIS HOW THIS STARTED. AND FOR ME, THE TWO GOALS THAT I WANTED TO HIT WITH THE HORSE CARRIAGES WERE. WAS A MOBILITY GAIN, AND THAT WAS TO GET THE HORSE CARRIAGES OFF THE BAYFRONT AND TO GET THEM FOR THE MOST PART OFF OF KING STREET. AND SO THAT'S BEEN ACHIEVED. SO I THINK THAT'S BEEN A GOOD THING. THE SECOND THING THAT WAS BOTHERING ME ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WAS THE CREDIBILITY OF THE CITY, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE COMING AND ASKING US IF WE'RE ENFORCING OUR OWN LAWS, AND THERE WAS SOME ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. AND I THINK OUR STAFF HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE BUSINESS AND RESPECTING WHAT PEOPLE HAVE PUT INTO IT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, JUST FRANKLY, JUST MANAGE IT BETTER. AND I THINK AT THIS POINT. WE HAVE PASSED THE LAW, WE'VE HAD THE WORKSHOPS, WE'VE PASSED THE THE ORDINANCES FOR THE OTHER FRANCHISES. WE HAVE OUR STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED BY US ALREADY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE AND I MAY BE WRONG BECAUSE I DO RESPECT COMMISSIONERS BLINDERS OPINION. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS I ASKED WAS, IS THIS GOING TO PAY FOR ITSELF? AND UNLESS I'M WRONG, REUBEN DID COME WITH US AND SAY THEY DID AN EVALUATION ON THAT. BUT BUT MAYBE I'M WRONG, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT THAT HAS BEEN DONE. SO I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A CREDIBILITY ISSUE WITH US WHETHER THESE NEW LAWS ARE GOING TO MANAGE THE BUSINESS IN THE WAY THAT MAKES US CREDIBLE. SO PEOPLE CAN'T COME IN AND SAY, THIS GUY IS BREAKING THIS LAW AND THIS GUY'S BREAKING THE LAW, THIS LAW WITH EVIDENCE. THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION AROUND THIS SUBJECT. I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN ATTACHED TO IT AS AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE. IT'S HORSES AND CARRIAGES HAVE BEEN TOGETHER

[03:45:03]

THANK YOU. NOW, WOULD YOU WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? NO. YES, I'LL SAY SOMETHING. GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION AND LET'S GET LET'S KEEP MOVING. I MEAN I'LL SECOND. I'LL SECOND IT. OKAY. I WILL OFFICIALLY MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AWARD EVERYONE WHO APPLIED TO THIS THAT MADE IT THROUGH OUR PROCESS, WHICH IS SEVEN APPLICANTS, ONE MEDALLION. AND THAT CITY HOLDS A LOTTERY FOR THE REMAINING THREE. AND THAT WE APPROVE THIS NOT AT A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, BUT AT A THREE YEAR PERIOD. CAN I OFFER DISCUSSION? IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT, YES, BUT CAN WE JUST MAKE SURE IF WE HAVE A SECOND WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND.

I'M GOING TO MAKE A SECOND, BUT I WANT TO ASK HIM A QUESTION BEFORE I MAKE A SECOND. OKAY.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE APPLICANT WHO ASKED FOR TWO MEDALLIONS. YOU'RE SAYING ONE.

OKAY, EVERYBODY GETS ONE. WELL, WE HAVE ONE THAT ASKS FOR TWO. WE HAD ONE THAT ASKED FOR FIVE.

WE HAD. SO OKAY. SO I MEAN, WE HAVE DIFFERING NUMBERS AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO JUST STICK WITH WHAT WE SAID. I MEAN, WE HAVE I'M SORRY, WE HAVE ONE THAT HAS TWO AND ASKED FOR TWO.

THE REST HAVE 1 OR 0 AND ARE ASKING FOR ONE OR I STILL SAY I STILL STICK BY WHAT I SAY.

THAT'S MY MOTION IS ONE FOR EVERYBODY AND THEN A LOTTERY FOR THE REMAINING. OKAY. AND THEN WE HAVE ONE APPLICANT THAT WANTS TO TAKE SUMMERS OFF. I'M FINE WITH THAT. I MEAN, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE CODE? WAS THERE SOME CODE THAT SAID THEY HAD TO STAY OUT? OH, THEY COULD VOLUNTARILY TAKE SUMMERS OFF IF THEY WANTED TO. YEAH. I'M SORRY. IT DOES SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDE SERVICES. SO. BUT IF THE CONDITION THEN I THINK MR. FRANKLIN HAS A. YEAH.

NO, IT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT ANIMALS, IT'S GOOD. IT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION. SO WE INCLUDED A USE OR LOSE IT CLAUSE. AND THAT WAS A 60 DAY PERIOD. SO YOU HAVE TO YOU CAN TAKE OFF FOR 60 DAYS. I THINK WHAT MISS CUSHIONS WAS SAYING IS WOULD YOU BE OKAY IF THEY TOOK THE ENTIRE SUMMER OFF? IT MIGHT GO PAST THAT 60 DAY PERIOD. BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSION I THINK I THINK THAT YOU HAVE SAID WE CAN DO CONDITIONS. WELL, YOU CAN, BUT WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF YOUR WRITTEN ORDINANCE AND RIGHT NOW, THE LANGUAGE THAT MR. FRANKLIN IS REFERENCING IS FAILURE TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS OR CESSATION OF SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OPERATIONS FOR 60 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITHOUT CITY APPROVAL SHALL CONSTITUTE ABANDONMENT OF THE FRANCHISE AND MAY RESULT IN REVOCATION OR FORFEITURE. SO

[03:50:04]

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ IT? IN PREVIOUS LIFE, IF YOU WERE REJECTED, YOU CAN COME BACK. NO.

THE CURRENT LANGUAGE OF YOUR CURRENT NEW ORDINANCE SAYS ANY FRANCHISEE WHOSE FRANCHISE IS REVOKED, TERMINATED, CANCELED OR NOT RENEWED BY THE CITY DUE TO A VIOLATION OF OR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE, APPLICABLE RULES, PERMIT CONDITIONS OR OTHER LAWFUL REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED PURSUANT THERETO SHALL THEREAFTER BE DEEMED INELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR, RECEIVE OR HOLD ANY FUTURE FRANCHISE ISSUED UNDER THE ORDINANCE. SO THAT'S THE CURRENT LANGUAGE IN YOUR CURRENT AKA NEW ORDINANCE. WHAT MR. FRANKLIN IS SAYING IS, WHEN YOU WERE LOOKING AT THIS NEW ORDINANCE, THE RECOLLECTION FROM STAFF WAS THAT THE COMMISSION SAID, WELL, WE WON'T APPLY THIS SECTION TO THIS FIRST INITIAL ROUND OF APPLICANTS. WE WILL APPLY IT THEREAFTER. WHAT WHAT DID THE OLD ORDINANCE SAY? WHICH THEY WERE REJECTED DURING THE OLD ORDINANCE, NOT THE NEW ONE OPERATING UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE. SO WHAT DID THE OLD ORDINANCE SAY? THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME TOO. I WANT TO CLARIFY THIS. I DO NOT KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, CAN I CAN I MAKE A STATEMENT? WE HAD A WE HAD AN APPEAL FROM TWO PEOPLE WHO HAD MISDEMEANORS OR WHATEVER FROM 1998. OKAY. AND WE HAD TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THEM. AND WE REJECTED ANOTHER ONE THAT HAD A VERY OLD APPEAL TOO, BUT THEY WERE FELONIES. OKAY. I THE I'M SORRY, BUT I WANT TO CONSIDER EACH OF THESE APPLICATIONS SEPARATELY, NOT IN ONE LUMP SUM, BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THEM DESERVES MORE SCRUTINY THAN THE OTHERS BASED ON PAST BEHAVIOR. MAY I, I WE HAVE A MOTION WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON. AND HE COULD AMEND IT THOUGH, COULDN'T HE? WELL, LOOK, WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO. BUT WE HAVE ALL THIS, EVERYBODY'S FEELING VERY URGENT ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO JUST PLEASE. NO, JUST LET ME FINISH. I WOULD LIKE I MEAN, MAY I THREE YEARS.

YES. THE REMAINING ALL OF THEM RECEIVE ONE REMAINING GO TO A LOTTERY. CORRECT. AND WITH THE PROVISION THAT WE REVIEW THE COSTS. IN AT A FUTURE DATE, CONTINUE TO REEVALUATE THE INDUSTRY. BECAUSE I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE TOO, AND I WANT TO KEEP THEM ON NOTICE THAT WE'RE EXPECTING BETTER OUT OF THE INDUSTRY. CORRECT. AND THAT'S MY MOST URGENT SENSE RIGHT NOW, IS I WANT TO CONVEY TO THEM, I HEAR SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS, BUT I ALSO SEE SOME THINGS THAT I DON'T. I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE BEYOND TO DO BETTER. SO THAT'S ALL I WOULD WANT TO SAY. I WILL SAY THIS, I HAVE BEEN THROUGH AN ANALYSIS WITH THIS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN WE DID THE CARRIAGE OR WE REDID THE CARRIAGES FRANCHISES. SOME OF Y'ALL REMEMBER THOSE DAYS. EVERYBODY'S HEALED AND MOVED ON, BUT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH TAKING A LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID. I THINK IT'S A GREAT LIST. THE ONLY THING I THINK YOU LEFT OFF THAT I MIGHT REMEMBER IS THE. I THINK WE HAD SOME KIND OF THING ABOUT THE

[03:55:02]

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO. SO I THINK I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWING. I THINK WE'LL BE REVIEWING EVERYTHING OF PROPERTY. SO I DON'T SEE THIS AS ONE THING SEPARATE. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS WHEN WE SETTLED WITH THE CUSHIONS, WE TOOK THEIR LICENSE AWAY. I PRETTY DISTINCTLY REMEMBER LANGUAGE THAT THEY COULD APPLY AGAIN, AND THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE CODE THAT WE HAVE NOW, WHICH ISABEL WAS QUOTING, WAS REFLECTING THAT IF IT SAID YOU FAILED PRIOR AND IN THE NEW ONE, YOU CAN'T DO IT. I THINK IT WAS AN EFFORT. AND I RECALL LANGUAGE SAYING THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY AGAIN. WE'RE JUST TAKING IT FROM THEM NOW. SO ALL ALL THOSE ISSUES I'M STILL COMFORTABLE IN. MY MOTION IS STILL ON THE TABLE. OKAY. AND SO SO LET ME ASK YOU, DID WE DID SETTLE THE THING ABOUT THE SUMMER HIATUS, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT 60 DAYS, IF IT'S BUT I THINK THE LANGUAGE WAS A CAVEAT IN THERE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO EXTEND THAT LANGUAGE. YES. CORRECT. YOU MIGHT WANT TO SPECIFY EXACTLY WHAT THE LENGTH IS. I DON'T RECALL WHAT MONTH I THINK SHE SAID TO LABOR DAY FROM. WAS IT MEMORIAL TO LABOR? I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT SHE WHAT YOU READ WAS THAT THE CITY CAN APPROVE. YES. WHICH IS THE MANAGER. OKAY.

SO YOU WANT TO DELEGATE THAT TO THE MANAGER? THAT'S FINE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DIRECTING. SHE'S SAYING JUNE 10TH TO LABOR DAY. WE CAN PUT WE CAN INSERT THAT INTO HER CONTRACT. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY APPROVE THAT AS PART OF THIS MOTION, BUT THAT ANY VENDOR CAN COME TO THE MANAGER AND SAY, I NEED TO TAKE 80 DAYS OFF. YOU KNOW, I HAD A HEART ATTACK. OKAY. IF THAT'S PART OF YOUR MOTION, IF YOU COULD MAKE THAT CLEAR, PUT THAT IN THERE, THAT IT'S NOT THE ORDINANCE, IT'S NOT ANYTHING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT IN THERE. WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT EVEN BETTER. WE CAN DO IT. YEAH.

SO MY MOTION MAY TRY AGAIN. YES. OKAY. THAT THAT MY MOTION IS TO APPROVE ONE MEDALLION FOR EVERY OF THE SEVEN APPLICANTS THAT MET THE CRITERIA AND THAT WE PUT THE LOTTERY FOR THE REMAINING THREE, THAT WE HAVE A THREE YEAR TIME PERIOD BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING THE OTHER THING AND CONTINUE THE COST. AND WE'LL REVIEW THE COST. AND THAT REVIEW MIGHT BE THAT THAT REVIEW MIGHT BE A PART OF THE LARGER ONE THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO DO ANYWAY. I'LL SECOND WHOLE AND THE 60 DAY THING. NOW YOU'RE DELEGATING THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, BECAUSE IT'S NOT WRITTEN THAT WAY NECESSARILY IN THE AUDIENCE. SO YOU'RE YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF SOMEONE WANTS A LONGER BREAK, YOU'RE DELEGATING THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER. YES, I AM, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE RATIONALE BEHIND IT. AND I HAVE FULL CAPABILITY IN OUR NEXT. THAT'S PART OF YOUR MOTION. AND I'LL SECOND THAT PART OF YOUR MOTION AS WELL. SO THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE MOTION. YES. THAT'S TRUE. OKAY. GOOD IDEA. ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER? YES. I HAD MENTIONED I MENTIONED IN THE APPEALS THAT I THINK SOME OF THESE OUGHT TO BE ON A ONE SHOT APPROVAL PROCESS, THAT IF THEY GET ANOTHER ONE, IF THEY GET ONE, THEY'RE GONE.

THAT WE WERE ALREADY GENEROUS WITH THE APPEALS IN ALLOWING SOMEBODY TO LIE ON THEIR APPLICATION. AND WE AND I TOOK CREDIT FOR THAT FOR OUR MISTAKE AS A WORDING OF THE APPLICATION MORE THAN THEIR ERROR. BUT I THINK THEY ARE. THEY NEED TO BE PUT ON NOTICE. AND THAT WOULD AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT ALSO WITH WITH NEW BEGINNINGS. SO JUST TO COMMENT, SEE WHERE IT GOES, I NEED TO ASK, DO I NEED TO AMEND MY MOTION JUST SO I MAKE IT CLEAR, YOU PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT HAS A PROCEDURE AND PENALTIES. YOU CAN'T JUST SUPER SPONTE CHANGE THAT, MEANING YOU CAN'T JUST OFF THE CUFF CHANGE THAT. I THINK THIS IS JUST FOR DISCUSSION, CORRECT? NO. IN OUR LAST DISCUSSION, YOU INDICATED THAT WE COULD DO IT DURING THE FRANCHISE APPROVALS.

NO. I SAID THAT THE TIME LIMIT COULD BE INCLUDED, NOT NEW WAYS TO PENALIZE PEOPLE. SO THE PENALTIES AND THE VIOLATIONS ARE CODIFIED. SO WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING AND I HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU, I WAS THINKING WE WERE GOING TO NOT HAVE FIVE YEARS. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS. SO REALLY, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR THOSE TWO BECAUSE WE ALREADY LOWERED IT TO THAT STANDARD. ANYWAY. THAT'S WHY I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT. DOES IT MAKE SENSE? IT DOES, BUT THE PROCESS THAT WE APPROVED IS

[04:00:02]

SPRINGFIELD. NO. BARBARA. BLONDER. NO. RIGHT, THEN. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. FRANKLIN. WE APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT ON THIS. AND WE WILL BE MOVING ON. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WE WILL PRESS FORWARD, AS COMMISSIONER GARRIS WOULD SAY. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE

[8. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS - PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED]

THE CITY NEEDS TO APPROVE THE FINANCING ONLY BECAUSE YOU'RE THE LOCATION WHERE THE FACILITY IS BEING REFINANCED. THERE'LL BE NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE DEBT. FLAGLER COLLEGE WILL PAY ALL THE DEBT. AND WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU APPROVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH KAPVAY, WHICH WOULD BASICALLY JUST GRANT THEM JURISDICTION TO ISSUE THESE BONDS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, SINCE IT'S LOCATED IN YOUR CITY. AND THE INTERLOCAL IS PART OF THAT RESOLUTION, IT'S AN EXHIBIT WITHIN IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC HEARING THEN. WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. MISS BJ KOLODY. WEST CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. RESOLUTION 2026-36. LOWER INTEREST RATES FOR FLAGLER COLLEGE BONDS. BY PASSING THIS RESOLUTION PAGE D5F FLAGLER COLLEGE WILL BE GIVEN LOWER INTEREST RATES ON THEIR BONDS BASED ON THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. INTEREST RATES ON OUR BONDS. NOT PASSING THIS RESOLUTION WILL RESULT IN THE COLLEGE PAYING HIGHER INTEREST RATES FOR THEIR BONDS.

FLAGLER COLLEGE DORMS ON MALAGA ARE SINKING. THE SAN SEBASTIAN BRIDGE FACELIFT INSTEAD OF REPLACEMENT WILL COST CITY TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY WHEN IT IS REPLACED. THERE IS A PENDING LAWSUIT THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED. QUESTION WHAT WILL BE THE ROI RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO CITY TAXPAYERS IF THIS RESOLUTION PASSES, WHICH WILL BENEFIT FLAGLER COLLEGE'S BOTTOM LINE, ALSO KNOWN AS THEIR MONEY? ANSWER TO THE QUESTION FLAGLER COLLEGE SHOULD MAKE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES. PILOTS ON ALL THEIR 501 C THREE EXEMPT PROPERTIES IN THE CITY LIMITS

[04:05:02]

THANK YOU. WE STILL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN. I'M GOING TO CLOSE IT. AND THEN YOU CAN SPEAK. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK HEARING NO ONE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. YOU'RE. FREE TO PRESENT. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE INTEREST RATE THAT THE COLLEGE IS RECEIVING IS NOT IN ANY WAY BASED UPON THE CITY'S CREDIT. FLAGLER COLLEGE IS RECEIVING AN INTEREST RATE BASED ON THEIR OWN CREDIT. THE CITY HAS NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE BONDS.

THIS IS A VERY LIMITED APPROVAL THAT JUST ALLOWS THEM TO REFINANCE. IT'S NOT GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND THEIR FACILITIES OR EVEN IMPACT THE CITY IN ANY WAY. THERE WILL BE NO NEW PROJECTS THAT COULD CHANGE ANYTHING WITHIN THE CITY. IT'S JUST THE STATUS QUO. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS. ISABEL, HAVE YOU REVIEWED THIS PAPERWORK? AND I DID, YEAH. SO ARE WE GOOD? YES IT IS. THE REPRESENTATIONS ARE ACCURATE AS TO THE LAW. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I MOVE WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-36 READ BY TITLE ONLY. I DON'T ACTUALLY NEED I DON'T ACTUALLY NEED TO READ THE RESOLUTION. COMMISSIONER PRATER SECONDED IT.

NOBODY NEEDS TO READ ANYTHING. OKAY, SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS. I THINK THAT FLAGLER COLLEGE DOES PROVIDE A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND THAT THERE ARE GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR MANY ENDEAVORS IN THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS IS OF GREAT VALUE, THAT THEY CAN BORROW MONEY TO LOWER INTEREST RATE. AND I'M 100% IN FAVOR. ANY OTHER ONE? HAVE ANYONE ELSE HAVE COMMENTS? I'LL CALL THE ROLL IF NOT, OKAY. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. JIM SPRINGFIELD. YES.

JOHN PRATER YES. CYNTHIA. GARRIS. YES. NANCY. YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT, WE GO ON. WE'RE GETTING THERE. WE ARE GETTING THERE. LET'S SEE.

[9. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS – NO PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED ]

[04:10:04]

AND WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS. THESE EFFORTS ARE SHARE COMMON GOALS OF PROTECTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND MAINTAINING SAFE ACCESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND INCREASED ILLEGAL PARKING FINES IS INTENDED TO DISCOURAGE MOTORISTS FROM PARKING IN THESE AREAS. SO IF THE SIGNS ARE THERE TO TO ENCOURAGE MOTORISTS NOT TO PARK THERE, WE DON'T WANT TO FIND YOU $100. SO THIS THE NEXT SLIDE ACTUALLY ILLUSTRATES THE EXISTING DESIGNATED AREA WHERE WE CHARGE $100. THAT CURRENT ENFORCEMENT AREA IS BOUNDED BY OMISSION AVENUE, MATANZAS RIVER, SOUTH STREET AND THE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER. THIS WAS ADOPTED LAST YEAR. THIS NEXT SLIDE ACTUALLY SHOWS THE PROPOSED GEOGRAPHIC AREA FOR THIS ORDINANCE. 2026-23 AND THE PROPOSED EXPANSION INCLUDES PORTIONS OF NORTH DAVIS SHORES, GENERALLY DEFINED AS ANASTASIA BOULEVARD.

BETWEEN THE BRIDGES OF THE BRIDGE OF LIONS, COMMERCE AVENUE, BOUNDED BY THE MATANZAS RIVER AND SALT RUN, AND IT INCLUDES ANASTASIA BOULEVARD ITSELF. IT ALSO INCLUDES ANY DESIGNATED RIGHT OF WAY SOUTH OF ANASTASIA BOULEVARD, BETWEEN THE BRIDGE OF LIONS AND SOUTH MATANZAS BOULEVARD, ALSO BOUND BY THE MATANZAS RIVER AND THE YACHT BASIN, EXCLUDING SOUTH MATANZAS BOULEVARD ITSELF. IN ADDITION TO THE ORDINANCE, I DID WANT TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE TEMPORARY PARKING LOCATIONS THAT ARE KIND OF A DIRECT REFLECTION OF THE ORDINANCE, SO THE FIRST PROPOSED TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREA IS FLAGLER MODEL LAND. THE TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL PARKING PLAN IS A COPY AND PASTE OF WHAT WE DID LAST KNIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON. THE PROPOSED ZONE INCLUDES AREAS ALONG RIBERIA STREET, VALENCIA, MULVEY, CARRERA AND SARAGOSSA STREETS. WE'RE PROPOSING RESIDENTIAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN FLAGLER MODEL LAND, THE ENTIRETY OF KNIGHTS OF LIGHTS FROM 7 A.M. TO 9 P.M. THIS IS THE EARLIEST PROPOSED ENFORCEMENT TIME, STARTING AT 7 A.M. THAT WILL PRESENT TODAY. ALL THE OTHER AREAS ARE REQUESTING TIMES LATER THAN 7 A.M. OUR NEXT TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL PARKING ZONE IS UPTOWN. THAT INCLUDES BERNARD STREET, CINCINNATI STREET AND RHODY AVENUE. THE PROPOSED ENFORCEMENT PERIOD EXTENDS THROUGH THE ENTIRETY OF THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON, GENERALLY FROM LAST YEAR. WE. WE DID 3 P.M. TO 10 P.M. AND THIS COMMISSION ALSO ASKED US TO MAKE CHANGES LAST YEAR TO IMPLEMENT A 5 P.M. START TIME ON THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF ROAD AND CINCINNATI AVENUE. AND THAT'S WHAT'S REPRESENTED ON THIS SLIDE. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT BASED ON THE BLUE LINE ON ROE AVENUE, THAT RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL AREA IS A LITTLE SHORTER. IT STARTS RIGHT BEFORE FIRST STREET. SO THAT LINE IS NOT ACCURATE. AND I DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MAP WHERE I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE THE COMMERCIAL ZONES DO BEGIN. BUT WHAT WE IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR WAS A 5 P.M. START TIME ON THE EASTERN ENDS OF ROAD AND CINCINNATI, AND THAT WAS IN AN EFFORT, PER THIS COMMISSION'S REQUEST, TO ACCOMMODATE THE COMMERCIAL AREAS IN THAT IN UPTOWN. AND WE'RE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AGAIN THIS SEASON.

BASED OFF OF YOUR DIRECTIVES. ABBOT TRACK IS THE NEXT AREA THAT INCLUDES PINE, LOCUST, MULBERRY, JOINER AND WATER STREETS. WE'RE PROPOSING ENFORCING FROM 1 P.M. TO 10 P.M. THROUGH THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON, WITH A PROPOSED 5 P.M. START TIME IN THE COMMERCIALLY COMMERCIALLY ZONED AREAS SIMILAR TO UPTOWN ABBOT, TRACK CONTAINS AREAS WHERE

[04:15:06]

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE KNIGHTS OF LIGHT SEASON. THIS IS THE MOST UNRESTRICTED TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL ZONE, SO WEEKENDS ONLY. IT'S WHAT THE RESIDENTS ASKED FOR. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL SEE AN EXAMPLE OF THE SIGNAGE THAT WE WILL THAT STAFF PLANS TO USE TO IDENTIFY THE TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL PARKING ZONES WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO USE THE A FRAME SIGNS THAT SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SAW LAST YEAR THAT WE PLACED OUT IN UPTOWN AND ABBOTT TRACK TO CLARIFY THESE SIGNS WOULD RELATE SPECIFICALLY TO THE TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM AND SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH THE ILLEGAL PARKING SIGNS WILL HAVE DIFFERENT SIGNAGE FOR THAT. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING AND SIGNS WILL VARY BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES. SO WE'LL MAKE CHANGES TO THE SIGN BASED OFF OF THE TIME FRAMES THAT YOU ALL REQUEST THAT WE IMPLEMENT TONIGHT. SO THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY TWO THINGS. TWO INITIATIVES THAT I'M ASKING FOR TONIGHT IS THE APPROVAL OF FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2026-23, WHICH IS THE ILLEGAL PARKING EXPANSION FOR DAVIS SHORES. AND THEN DIRECTION FROM THIS BOARD OF WHERE YOU'D LIKE US TO GO AS FAR AS THE TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL PARKING PLAN, I DO WANT TO PULL UP FOR THE COMMISSION. THE ADDITIONAL MAPS THAT CAN HELP YOU MAKE A MORE INFORMED DECISION, KIND OF SHOW YOU THE RESIDENTIAL ONLY PARKING, WHAT WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE REQUESTING AND WHERE THOSE COMMERCIAL ZONES ARE WITHIN ABBOTT TRACK AND UPTOWN. JUST SO YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE ACTUAL COMMERCIAL OVERLAY MAP. AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS. YES. MY UNDERSTANDING IS AN ORDINANCE IS A FIRST HEARING AND THAT THE OTHER ONE ON THE ACTUAL HOURS ON THE STREETS IS JUST GUIDANCE FROM US. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS. I'M OF COURSE, IN FAVOR OF THE 26-23. I BROUGHT THIS TO YOU FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO. I DON'T HEAR ANYONE SPEAKING OPPOSED TO IT, AM I CORRECT? NO ONE'S HERE OPPOSING IT. WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A HEARING TONIGHT. NO, THERE'S NO HEARING. BUT, I MEAN, I DID THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT DID CALL ME AND SAY, WOULD YOU LIKE US TO COME? AND I SAID, I THINK YOU SHOULD COME TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE FIRST READING IS PROBABLY GOING TO GO VERY SMOOTHLY. SO YEAH, I, I WOULD BE WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION TO PASS THIS, THE SECOND HEARING AND THE ORDINANCE, NOT THE PARKING PLAN, WHICH WE CAN DISCUSS THE. THEY'RE NOT COMBINED. RIGHT. IS THIS OKAY? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. SO BUT YOU WERE ASKING FOR A KIND OF A POLICY DISCUSSION ON. YES. UPTOWN, MOSTLY IN ABSTRACT. YES. AND THAT CAN BE DONE AFTER YOU ALL MAKE A DETERMINATION ON THE ORDINANCE. BUT I WANTED TO I WOULD I WILL MOVE THAT WE PASS ORDINANCE 2026-23 JUST TO KEEP IT MOVING AND ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-23, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 24-31 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. INCREASING THE FINE FOR PARKING

[04:20:02]

ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. NANCY KLEIN. YES, JOHN. YES. JIM. SPRINGFIELD. YES. BARBARA. BLONDER. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS THIS GUIDANCE ON THE WE HAVE TWO REQUESTS. ONE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE ONE FROM THE UPTOWN. WE HAVE THE BUSINESSES AT 5:00 AND WE HAVE I MEAN, I'M, I'M JUST JUST VIBING HERE THIS THE RESIDENTS WANT 3:00. THIS IS WEST OF SAN MARCO. THE BUSINESSES ARE ASKING FOR 5:00. COULD I ONLY ON FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. ARE WE STUCK? OKAY.

YOU'RE GOOD. THE DOOR IS. THE DOOR IS JAMMING. SO. YEAH. MADAM MAYOR, MAY I. THE RESIDENTS ARE IN IN ABBOTT TRACK AND UPTOWN ARE ASKING FOR 1 P.M. START TIMES THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR WE WE IMPLEMENTED 3 P.M. SO. BUT WHAT ONE OF THE REQUESTS WAS FOR A 1 P.M. TO 10 P.M. WHICH IF MARIN, IF YOU CAN. CAN YOU SHOW THE SCREEN, PLEASE? OH, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE 3:00 STAFF'S RECOMMENDED. AND THAT'S WHAT WE. WHAT I GOT WAS LETTERS FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SAYING THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMPROMISING AND SAYING 3:00. I THINK WE MIGHT BE ALSO MIXING UP ABBOTT TRACT AND WEST OF SAN MARCO. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THEM SEPARATELY. I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT.

TALKING ABOUT WEST OF SAN MARCO. NOT ABBOTT. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE OKAY. BECAUSE I WAS TALKING ABOUT WEST OF SAN MARCO IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IT WAS AT 1:00.

BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SAYING 3:00 AND THE RESIDENTS ARE SAYING 5:00. THE BUSINESSES ARE SAYING FIVE. I'M SORRY, BUSINESSES. BUSINESSES ARE SAYING, I'M GETTING CONFUSED.

IT'S LATE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WEST OF SAN MARCO, THIS VERY, VERY LARGE AREA, RIGHT. THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL ON BOTH EDGES, WEST AND EAST. THERE'S ALL THE YELLOW IN BETWEEN, WHICH IS RESIDENTIAL. YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST SAY LAST YEAR WE DID THIS AND THE STREETS WERE GHOST. THEY WERE JUST EMPTY. THEY WERE JUST EMPTY. AND EVERYBODY WAS SUPER HAPPY. AND THEN THE BUSINESSES CAME IN AND SAID, WHOA, YOU'RE KILLING US. SO WE KIND OF ACQUIESCED AND THEN GOT DOWN INTO THE NITTY GRITTY. AND NOW THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SAYING IT'S STILL REALLY BAD. AND I DO KNOW SITTING ON THE TDC TOURISM IS NOT GOOD. IT IS IT IS NOT GREAT. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRETTY HORRIBLE YEAR IF WE DO 3:00 THE BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A NIGHTTIME EVENT. I THINK 5:00 WORKS. I THINK IT'S. I WOULD JUST I WOULD FALL ON 5:00, I WOULD FALL ON 5:00 FOR THIS. CAN CAN I CLARIFY SOMETHING LAST YEAR ON THE AREA THAT THE MAYOR IS TALKING ABOUT? IT WAS 1:00. CORRECT. NOW WE'RE MOVING INTO 3:00. YES. WHICH WILL HELP THE BUSINESSES MORE. RIGHT. AM I RIGHT? THAT WAS ONE OF THE REQUESTS OF THE BUSINESSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. COMPROMISE WITH THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT IS ACCURATE. THAT IS OKAY. SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS WEIGHED IN. THE BUSINESSES SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NEGOTIATING FOR 5:00, 5:00. IT WAS ONE. AND THE NEGOTIATION FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THREE. AND I'M TELLING YOU, IF IT WAS EARLIER IN THE NIGHT, I GOT ALL KINDS OF FIGURES AND FACTS. I DID ALL THE PARKING HERE. I GOT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE PARKING GARAGE IS CLOSER TO THIS

[04:25:01]

SO FOR ME RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE ISSUE IS TO SOLVE TONIGHT IS NOT THIS. THIS IS A BIG TASK TO FIGURE THIS OUT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. WELL, THIS IS MY AN EVALUATION OF HOW MUCH PARKING THERE ACTUALLY IS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY YEARS ON THE PLANNING BOARD, THAT IS A VERY, VERY FASCINATING AREA. BUT THERE ARE REALLY SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. IF WE CAN GET THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE BUSINESS THERE, SHARED PARKING, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF A SHUTTLE AND STUFF. SO RIGHT NOW, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST WHAT I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT WE CONSIDER I WOULD BE WILLING TO APPROVE THE THE COMPROMISE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAME UP WITH FOR THE AREA OF SAN MARCO, WEST OF SAN MARCO, BETWEEN GROVE AND OLD MISSION, AS RECOMMENDED BY A NEIGHBOR. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS A FAIR COMPROMISE.

AND I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS WORKED ON THAT. THANK YOU. I DISAGREE. I THINK THE BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING. IT IS NOTHING LIKE DOWNTOWN, WHERE THEY'RE VERY WELL ESTABLISHED, OWNED, MULTI-GENERATIONAL, LARGE TRACTS OF LAND. THESE ARE SMALL, LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES.

THERE ARE 14 OF THEM THAT ARE. VERY THEY'RE YES, THEY'RE NOT RESTAURANTS AND BARS. THEY'RE DAYTIME BUSINESSES. AND, AND I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE EVEN BROUGHT THAT UP. I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE. IS IT? THEY'RE NOT OBJECTING TO 5:00 AND ON BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT EVEN OPEN. YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM ARE, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE NOT. IT'S REALLY A DAYTIME DISTRICT. AND I THINK THAT IN IN I KIND OF I'M KIND OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. KNIGHTS OF LIGHT IS AN EVENING EVENT. SO WHY ARE WE STOPPING TRAFFIC? I CAN I CAN ANSWER, I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I, I'M ON SAN MARCO. I LIVE ON, YOU KNOW, JUST A BLOCK OFF, NOT EVEN A WHOLE BLOCK OFF OF SAN MARCO. AND ON WEEKENDS THAT TRAFFIC IS BACKING UP AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. I'M TALKING ABOUT PARKING. I'M SAYING THE, THE THE TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC. I KNOW THAT I'M SAYING THAT THE TRAFFIC ON SAN MARCO IS BACKING UP. PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR PARKING SPACES AND THAT'S ADDING TO THE BACKUP. AND SO IT'S NOT EVERY DAY, BUT IT'S ON MOST DAYS AND ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS. AND THE BUSINESSES DID ALSO ASK FOR THE COMMERCIAL PARKING TO BE PROTECTED. AND I WE'VE DONE THAT IN THIS PROPOSAL. AND I'VE HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT GOING BACKWARDS AND THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE MADE A COMPROMISE THAT INITIALLY, THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE MADE A COMPROMISE. SO I, I WOULD SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL AS IS. I ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT IT AS IT IS WITH SOME CAVEATS. ONE IS I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN'T DO A COUPLE OF STAFF DUE INVESTIGATIONS ON A COUPLE OF PARKING LOTS. I WENT OUT FIRESTONE AND LE PAVILLON OR EMPTY AT NIGHT, AND I COULD SEE THAT. I COULD SEE THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY LEASE THOSE AND CHARGE PARKING FOR THOSE TWO PARKING LOTS DURING THE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS AND HELP OFFER SOME PARKING AND AND MAKE SOME MONEY ON IT. THE SECOND THING IS I DO WORRY ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES AND AS MENTIONED TONIGHT, THAT EVEN LATE AT NIGHT, THEY'RE HAVING TO GO UP TO THEIR CARS WITH TIPS AND CASH IN THEIR POCKETS. I'D LIKE TO OFFER THAT WE, WE GIVE TWO PASSES TO THE BUSINESSES TO PARK UNTIL 530 BECAUSE THEY CLOSE THE BUSINESS AT FIVE, BUT YOU DON'T WALK OUT THE DOOR. YOU HAVE TO CLOSE YOUR SHOP. SO A SPECIAL PARKING PERMIT PER BUSINESSES THAT IS DESIGNATED TILL 530 ON THE DASH LOOSE. NOT SOMETHING YOU STICK ON THE CAR SO THE BUSINESS CAN CONTROL THEM. AND THEY'RE ONLY GOOD UNTIL 530 AND THEN THEY'LL LEAVE THEIR CARS GOT TO GO OR THEY GET $100 TICKET. THE THE FLAGLER PARKING LOT WAS A GREAT IDEA. WE MADE OUR BEST EFFORT, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK FOR EMPLOYEES DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY THE EVEN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT TRYING TO WALK TO THAT PLACE AT NIGHT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY SHOULD DO IN, YOU KNOW, AT 2:00

[04:30:03]

AND THEY'RE NOT USING SAN MARCO ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE BACKUP OF TRAFFIC. SO THE SHUTTLE DOESN'T EVEN GO, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR TONIGHT. BUT THE SHUTTLE DOES. WHY THEY DON'T DO IT ANYMORE. CORRECT. YEAH. YOU CAN'T GET TO WHERE YOU TALK TO THE MANAGER OF THE FIRESTONE. AND THEY WERE AMENABLE TO THE IDEA OF US KNOW BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THAT THEY'RE VERY NOT WELL MONEY TALKS. ANYBODY BE IN THERE. SO OKAY.

[04:35:03]

THEIR CUSTOMER FIVE SIX WHATEVER MOST THEIR CUSTOMERS COME DURING THE DAY. YEAH. SO AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN BECAUSE WHEN I HAD MY BUSINESS, MOST OF MY CUSTOMERS WERE BUSINESSES LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND THEN THE HIGHER SCALE ONES. BUT ALL BUSINESSES IN RETAIL MAKE A LOT OF THEIR MONEY DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. SOME BUSINESSES CAN MAKE 50 OR 60% OF THEIR REVENUE. SO I THINK IT'S A BALANCE, AND I THINK WE CAN DO MORE WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOT MAYBE ROLL IT INTO THIS RIGHT HERE. SO I WOULD MAKE A I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE THAT I'LL MAKE A MOTION IF YOU WANT ME TO, THAT WE MOVE AHEAD OR AT LEAST AS A DIRECTION THAT WE MOVE AHEAD WITH THE COMPROMISED. THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO DO WEST OF SAN MARCO AT THE 3:00 TIME. IS THAT WHAT'S UP THERE NOW? I'VE BEEN MOVING THE SLIDES AROUND. BASED OFF OF YOUR DISCUSSION, I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON, BUT I HAVE OH, I HAVE IT HERE. YEAH. THE COMPROMISE, I'LL CALL IT THE COMPROMISE. OKAY. FROM THE ONE IT USED TO BE ONE. THE BUSINESSES WANT FIVE. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM THREE. AND YOU HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL ONLY PARKING AT 5 P.M. IN COMMERCIAL AREAS. SO THAT ALLOWS THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THAT THE ACCESS ON THOSE ALSO AND THAT WE LEAVE ABBOTT TRACK THE WAY IT IS. ABBOTT TRACKS ITS OWN SPECIAL AREA. I THINK IT'S VERY TIGHT DOWN THERE, AND I THINK IT'S A VERY REASONABLE REQUEST TO NOT HAVE ANY COMMERCIAL PARKING DOWN THERE DURING THE NIGHTS LIGHTS. AND LIKE THE RESIDENT SAID, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS A A TIME WHEN EVERYBODY'S GOT TO WORK TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT. SO THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION.

CAN I MAKE ONE CORRECTION? ABBOTT TRACK DOES HAVE COMMERCIAL PARKING ON THE WEST END OF EACH OF THOSE, RIGHT? YEAH. SO YOU SAID I'M SORRY, THE RESIDENTIAL, I SHOULD SAY RESIDENTIAL. YOU JUST SAID THAT THERE WASN'T ANY. BUT YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. I'M SORRY. I MEANT I WAS MEANING IN THERE BECAUSE WE'RE DISCUSSING THE RESIDENTS, THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND SOME OF THOSE ACTUALLY. WELL, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY. I'LL GET INTO THAT LATER. SO THAT'S MY MOTION. OKAY. FOR DOING THAT. I'LL MAKE I'LL SECOND IT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE CLARITY ON OUR PATH FORWARD. SO WE ARE MOVING FOR ABBOTT TRACK AND UPTOWN 3 P.M. TO 10 P.M. IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND 5 P.M. IN THE COMMERCIAL AREAS. NO, NO, NO, I'M JUST SAYING WHAT IS ON THIS SHEET RIGHT HERE? OKAY, SO THAT WOULD BE ABBOTT TRACK IS RESIDENTIAL AND THE RESIDENTIAL ZONED AREAS. IT'S ACCEPTING YOUR 1 P.M. TO 10 P.M. OKAY, I KNOW LOOK IT, I'M SYMPATHETIC.

WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON HERE. THE RESIDENTIAL ONLY WOULD BE IN THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN MARCO, AND THAT'S THE RESIDENTIALLY ZONED AREAS. AND THAT'S 3 P.M.

TO 10 P.M. GOT IT. FOR THE RECORD, IS A CONCESSION FROM THE RESIDENTS BY TWO HOURS TO HELP WITH THE BUSINESSES. AND THEN IN THE. THE RESIDENT OH, IN THE COMMERCIAL ZONES, IT GOES FROM 5 P.M. TO 10 P.M. JUST AS YOU HAVE GOT IT. I'M LOOKING AT. OKAY, THAT'S MY MOTION. THANK YOU. SECOND. OH, I'M READY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH. I STILL WOULD LIKE TO THROW OUT THE IDEA OF TWO PASSES PER BUSINESS TO GIVE SOMETHING FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES TO PARK NEARBY. WELL, THEY HAVE THE PARKING GARAGE. DO WE HAVE WE HAVE RESERVED WE HAVE WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE PARKING GARAGE. IT'S NOT RESERVE. IT'S IN RESERVE. IT WAS THE FLAGLER PARKING LOT ON. OKAY. I'M SORRY. I WOULD SUPPORT YOU RECONSIDERING THAT.

HOW MANY HOW MANY PLACES? TWO EACH. TWO? YEAH, TWO EACH PER BUSINESS FOR THAT'S 28, 14 BUSINESSES. YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED THE 14 BUSINESSES I THINK. I THINK YOU DID SOMEBODY DID TONIGHT. 14 THAT'S THAT'S THEM IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES. 14 LOCAL BUSINESSES. SO THAT WOULD MEAN EVERY. I'M JUST CLARIFYING WHAT YOUR. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW. SO YOU WANT TO GIVE EVERY BUSINESS A. DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO SAN MARCO IN THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA BETWEEN THE RESTRICTED STREETS. YES. TWO RESIDENTIAL PARKING PASSES THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PARK IN THE

[04:40:04]

THEY MAY NOT COME TO WORK TILL 1:00. YEAH, AND SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PAY FOR THAT. OKAY. YOU WOULDN'T RECONSIDER AMENDING YOUR MOTION? I WELL, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS GET THIS SETTLED.

LIKE I THINK WE CAN SETTLE I COULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT HIS HIS AMENDMENT. OKAY. WOULD YOU SUPPORT THAT? OKAY. THEN I'LL MAKE MY MOTION. SO IT'S BEEN AMENDED AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED.

SO I'M IN A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE POSITION. YES. OKAY. AND I COULD SUPPORT THAT MOTION THAT WAY. I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT, BUT I FEEL LIKE YES, I HEARD TWO END TIMES, FIVE, 30 AND SIX. SO MAKE IT BEEN CONFIRMED. 530. AT THIS POINT. CALL THE QUESTION. OKAY. OKAY.

QUESTION'S BEEN CALLED. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. YES. BARBARA POTTER. YES. YES.

JIM. SPRINGFIELD. YES. NANCY CLINE. YES. OKAY. OKAY. ON WE GO. THAT WAS THE TOUGHEST ONE

[10. STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS ]

MISS. WHISTLE. I'M GOING TO HAVE A RECORD FOR THE SHORTEST ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. YES. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE THE QUICKEST MOTION EVER. SECOND. 865 FISH ISLAND ROAD. GOING ONCE. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MELISSA WISSEL, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCESS OUTLINED IN RESOLUTION 2016-15 FOR OFFICIALLY NAMING PUBLIC PARKS AND CITY FACILITIES AND AT THE REQUEST OF VICE MAYOR BLONDER TO NAME THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 865 FISH ISLAND ROAD, THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT INITIATED A PUBLIC INPUT SURVEY AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SURVEY PERIOD, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. A COMMITTEE REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT MET TO REVIEW THE SURVEY RESULTS.

THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS INCLUDED JESSICA BEACH, PUBLIC WORKS DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER. AMY SKINNER, PLANNING AND BUILDING DIRECTOR. J.B. MILLER, LAND MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR AND ME. IN TOTAL, 68 PEOPLE RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY, 65 RESPONDED ONLINE.

THREE RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED VIA EMAIL, AND NO RESPONSES WERE SUBMITTED VIA US MAIL. YOU HAVE A COMPLETE LISTING OF ALL THE NAMES SUBMITTED. ONE NAME IN PARTICULAR WAS SUGGESTED THREE TIMES. FISH ISLAND PARK. HOWEVER, THE COMMITTEE FELT THE DIRECT REFERENCE TO FISH ISLAND MAY CONFUSE PEOPLE WITH FISH ISLAND PRESERVE. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION IS TO KEEP THE CURRENT WORKING NAME STONECUTTERS CREEK PARK. I HAVE A BRIEF HISTORICAL NARRATIVE WRITTEN BY MR. MILLER, WHO IS UNABLE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO PROVIDE CONTEXT AND GROUNDS FOR THE RECOMMENDATION. STONECUTTERS CREEK PARK IS NAMED AFTER A TIDAL CREEK WHOSE HEADQUARTERS WERE LOCATED SOUTH OF TODAY'S POPE ROAD AND FLOWED NORTH. EMPTYING INTO THE MATANZAS RIVER. IT IS IDENTIFIED ON MAPS FROM 1777 TO THE EARLY 1800S, WHICH WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL. THE CREEK WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE CURRENT PARK. THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CREEK'S NAME IS THE LANDING ON ITS EAST BANK, AT WHICH COQUINA QUARRIED FROM THE QUARRY, NOW LOCATED WITHIN ANASTASIA STATE PARK,

[04:45:05]

AGAIN, THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS KEEPING THE NAME STONE CREEK PARK UPON YOUR DECISION. WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT I DON'T EITHER, BUT I THINK IT'S INTERESTING. IT IS INTERESTING.

AND IT'S ALL IN THE PACKET. MADAM MAYOR, MAY I MAKE A MOTION? GO AHEAD PLEASE. I BEG YOUR PARDON? GO AHEAD. ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO NAME THE PARK. STONECUTTERS CREEK PARK. FABULOUS. I'LL SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. I.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS WISSEL. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HEAR IT, BUT WE ARE ALL A LITTLE BIT TIRED. YOU'RE FINE. YOU. NORMALLY THIS COMMISSION ISN'T USED TO STAYING UP LATE FOR LONG MEETINGS. WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO BE ABLE TO CATCH THE. ALL RIGHT. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK.

[12. ITEMS BY CITY CLERK ]

CYNTHIA HOLLISTER FOR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. I.

THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. ANYTHING ELSE? THAT IS ALL. LIST OF APPLICANTS

[13. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER]

OKAY. SO THE 23% SALARY INCREASE IS FOR INTERIM IS BASED ON IT'S BASED ON AN ANALYSIS. I SENT YOU A AN ANALYSIS OF SALARY INCREASES FOR SENIOR POSITIONS. THAT RANGE WAS BETWEEN ABOUT 13% OR 14% UP TO A MUCH HIGHER BASE RANGE. BUT THE TYPICAL RANGE WAS BETWEEN 20 AND 25%. SO I JUST SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE AND SAID 23% HIS. IF HE WHOEVER THE CITY MANAGER IS CHOSEN AS THE FULL TIME POSITION, THEIR SALARY WOULD BE NEGOTIATED WITH THEIR CONTRACT. SO THIS IS JUST REALLY FOR THE INTERIM POSITION. OKAY. AND THEN FOR HOW HOW LONG DID YOU SAY THE PERIOD, A SIX MONTH CONTRACT, SIX MONTH CONTRACT. THAT'S AMPLE TIME FOR THE NEW COMMISSION TO DECIDE. YES. ANYONE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS? I'M 100% IN FAVOR.

MYSELF, I THINK WE SHOULD APPOINT MR. FRANKLIN. WE DID THE IN HOUSE SEARCH. I AGREE WITH THE PAY. AND I THINK WE'RE VERY. I WANT TO SAY WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE MR. FRANKLIN BE ABLE TO STEP IN HERE. I THINK HIS CREDIBILITY AROUND THE COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY HIGH AND RUNNING THE CITY IS. I'M SURE MR. BERTRAM CAN PROBABLY TELL YOU. IN MY OPINION, IT'S NOT A SCIENCE. IT'S MORE OF A CRAFT OR AN ART. AND THAT HE'S LEARNED THAT. SO I'M VERY HAPPY WITH HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND THEN I WOULD SAY ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS WILL BE HOW WE'RE GOING TO HIRE. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A SEARCH, SHOULD BE WITH THE NEW COMMISSION THAT SEATS AFTER DECEMBER 7TH. YEP. OKAY. I HAVE A QUESTION. THAT SALARY IS NOT GOING TO START UNTIL DECEMBER 17TH. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.

DURING THE LAST VACANT PERIOD, I WAS PRETTY ADAMANT ABOUT ADVERTISING BECAUSE MY BACKGROUND, I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. I'D LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER APPOINTING MR. FRANKLIN AS THE CITY MANAGER. IT WOULD SAVE PROFESSIONAL TIME. IT WOULD SAVE COORDINATION TIME.

AND IT WOULD SAVE A NEW COMMISSION FROM HAVING TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING IN THE VERY FIRST TIME OF THEIR OF THEIR SERVING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE JUST APPOINT

[04:50:03]

HONESTLY, I THINK HE'S A GUY FOR THE JOB, BUT I'M WONDERING IF THAT SHOULD BE A DECISION WITH THE NEW COMMISSION. I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS. I STILL THINK WE NEED TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WITH ME GOING THAT WAY, THE LAST TIME, I GOT A LOT OF KICKBACK FROM THAT. SO WE DO NEED TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT'S BETTER, THEN HE WILL JUST GO FROM INTERIM TO CITY MANAGER. BUT WE WE OWE IT TO THE RESIDENTS TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE. THE REASON I CHANGED MY MIND IS THAT, AS I'VE LEARNED IN FOUR YEARS, THIS IS NOT A FLORIDA CITY LIKE ANY OTHER FLORIDA CITY. IT DOES TAKE A SPECIAL SKILL TO HANDLE HISTORIC BUILDINGS, TO HANDLE A POLICE FORCE AND A FIRE, A FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND A UTILITIES, AND MILLIONS OF TOURISTS. THERE IS NO OTHER CITY LIKE THIS. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON SALARIES AND FOR RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THERE ARE SO MANY CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE POLICE FORCE, OR THEY DON'T HAVE FIRE BECAUSE THEY HANDLE IT THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND THE SALARIES ARE STILL VERY HIGH. AND THE POPULATION IS RELATIVELY THE SAME, BUT THERE'S NOT AS MUCH TOURISM. KEY WEST MIGHT BE A COMPETITION AND THERE'S SOME IN MIAMI, BUT I JUST THINK THAT WE. I JUST THINK THAT WE. I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON ON THIS PARTICULAR POSITION IN THIS PARTICULAR TOWN. I'M. HAS THE VICE MAYOR HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK. I'VE BEEN LISTENING. AND I INITIALLY ALSO WANTED TO DO A BROADER SEARCH. WHAT. I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION. I AGREE. I THINK STABILITY RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE THE AMENDMENT THREE. IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND I THINK MR. FRANKLIN WOULD PROVIDE THAT AND MORE. I WOULD LIKE THE. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, THOUGH. I'D LIKE TO HOLD OFF ON THAT DECISION. AND WE CAN APPOINT HIM AS AN INTERIM RIGHT NOW, AND THEN COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS AND TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN AND. BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR AN AGENDA AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. I'D LIKE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK. AND WITHOUT WITHOUT RUSHING FORWARD. SO I WELL, I'D LIKE TO SAY IS I THINK THAT THE PROCESS OF VETTING IN THE PUBLIC IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND IN GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK THAT THE PROCESS OF HAVING ANY CANDIDATE GO THROUGH THE VETTING IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL TO BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND TRUST. IT'S NOT JUST AN EXERCISE. IT'S MEANINGFUL AND IT'S IMPORTANT. AND BUT I WILL SAY THIS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS A LOT THAT MR. FRANKLIN. FOUND HIS WAY THROUGH TO BE THE ONLY CANDIDATE. SO THAT REALLY GIVES HIM AN EDGE. I HAVE A I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THE NEW COMMISSION WILL BE FINE GETTING, YOU KNOW, GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH THIS, BUT I, I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

YEAH. I FALL ON THE. WHEN DID THE CITY DO A SEARCH? IN THE PAST. NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IT'S LIKE FROM JOE PALMER, WHO I WORKED UNDER JOE PALMER AS A VOLUNTEER ON HARB AND THEN UNDER BILL HARRIS, AND HE CAME UP UNDER JOE PALMER, AND THEN JOHN REGAN CAME UP UNDER. BILL HARRIS, AND THEN DAVID CAME UP UNDER JOHN REGAN. SO IT'S KIND OF ALWAYS BEEN IN-HOUSE. AND YOU MAKE A REALLY GOOD POINT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BEING INVOLVED IN FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND SEEING 411 CITIES AND HOW THEY OPERATE ALL THESE YEARS, THERE'S NOT ONE THAT HAS A OVER $100 MILLION BUDGET WITH THE POPULATION OF 17,000 PEOPLE. THERE'S JUST NOT MAYBE I DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT KEY WEST. MAYBE THAT WOULD BE AS CLOSE AS IT GETS. BUT THERE IT IS EXTREMELY UNIQUE. WE ARE VERY UNIQUE CITY AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY, REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE THE TALENT STAFF COME HERE AND WORK AND DO THEIR JOB AND COMING UP. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH COMING UP UNDER SOMEONE ELSE AND COMING FROM IN-HOUSE BECAUSE THEY. IT'S QUIRKY, IT'S A QUIRKY LITTLE CITY AND IT'S A VERY UNIQUE. CIRCUMSTANCE. SO I, I, I WISH THEM ALL THE BEST, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF PICKING. NOW, CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING? I'M NOT SAYING I WANT TO SEARCH. I'M JUST SAYING THAT DECISION NEEDS TO GO TO

[04:55:01]

YES. CYNTHIA. HARRIS. YES. JIM. SPRINGFIELD. YES. BARBARA. BLONDER. YES. PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. MR. WHAT'S HIS NAME AGAIN? WHAT'S HIS NAME? THAT GUY.

THERE YOU GO. HE'S GIVING ME THE THUMBS UP AND SMILING. THAT'S GREAT. GREAT JOB. ITEMS

[14. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ]

MINE'S VERY SHORT, SO I'LL JUST TELL YOU, WE HAVE A FAKE CHRISTMAS TREE IN STORAGE THAT I THINK WAS JUST. I HOPE THAT WE NEVER PUT IT UP IN THE PLAZA EVER, EVER AGAIN. AND I'M BEING TOLD THAT IT'S KIND OF A BACKUP IN CASE THE CHRISTMAS TREE, THE LIVE CHRISTMAS TREE, DIES, THEY'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO PUT UP. AND I HONESTLY DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE A FAKE CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE PLAZA AGAIN. IT WAS THERE ONE YEAR, AND I THINK IT'S A HORRIBLE THING TO DO TO OUR CITY. WE ARE NOT DISNEY WORLD, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WOULD LIKE HASTINGS MAIN STREET IS TRYING TO START A NIGHT OF LIGHTS. I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE OUR THAT TREE TO THEM TO GIVE THEM A GOOD START BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? FINE. YES, YES YES. I'M FINE. YES, YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. HO HO HO. MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU. THAT WAS IT FOR ME. ONE. I'LL GO QUICK. I WANT TO THANK OUR FRIENDLY FIND.

REPRESENTATIVE CARL BLOW IS MY READING. HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING US $425,000 TOWARDS A BOAT IN THE SALT RUN DREDGING. I KNOW HE PUTS A LOT OF TIME IN. I GET SPECIAL SATISFACTION OUT OF SAYING THIS BECAUSE WHEN HE FINDS OUT THAT I DO, HE WILL BE EMBARRASSED, WHICH MAKES IT EVEN BETTER FOR ME. THANK YOU. OH, YOU WON'T BE EMBARRASSED. ALL RIGHT. I'VE GOT TWO, TWO THINGS. ONE IS THAT I'M SORT OF SURPRISED THAT MISS LADY HAS NOT BROUGHT UP THE WEST KING STREET BLIGHT TIRES STORE THING, BECAUSE IT'S MADE NO PROGRESS, AND I WANT TO SEE SOME PROGRESS MADE. IT'S STILL PILES OF TIRES AND JUNK CARS, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

SECONDLY, UNDER THE CITY ATTORNEY'S ADVISEMENT, I AM SPEAKING AS ME. I'M EXERCISING MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS BY OFFERING MY PERSONAL SUPPORT FOR THE SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY LAND CONSERVATION BOND REFERENDUM. I WHOLLY, WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT AND WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE POSITIVE IMPACTS THAT PURCHASING CONSERVATION LANDS HAS AFFORDED THIS CITY THROUGH OUR OWN CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDE GREEN SPACE, PASSIVE RECREATION ECOSYSTEM SERVICES SUCH AS STORING AND FILTERING FLOOD WATERS, THEREBY IMPROVING RESILIENCE, WILDLIFE HABITAT, NATURE APPRECIATION AND SO MUCH MORE. THE BONDS PASSAGE WOULD ENABLE SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY IN SIMILAR FASHION, WHICH IS THE ONLY EASTERN COASTAL COUNTY IN THE STATE THAT NOT DOES NOT HAVE SUCH A TOOL. A MECHANISM TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY, CONSERVE WILDLIFE HABITAT, NATURAL AREAS, FARMS AND FORESTS, PROVIDE RECREATION AND REDUCE FLOODING. I WILL BE TURNING MY BALLOT OVER AND ON THE BACK ON THE VERY LAST VOTE I'LL MAKE. THIS ELECTION CYCLE WILL BE MY VOTE OF A YES FOR THESE BONDS. AND THANK YOU ALL, GIRL. I LOVE TO THANK THE STAFF FOR STAYING LATE AND DOING SUCH A TERRIFIC JOB. EVERY ONE OF YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. CONGRATULATIONS TO RUBEN. I'D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL. WE'VE HAD CONFLICT TONIGHT AND WE'VE HAD DISAGREEMENTS, BUT IT WORKS. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER. AND WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ON TO THE NEXT ISSUE. AND TWO MORE WEEKS, WE'LL BE AT IT. CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. THEN I WANT TO THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT AND POUR THEIR HEART OUT TO TRY TO KEEP THEIR LICENSE AND SO FORTH. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M PROUD THAT WE'RE GIVING SECOND CHANCES TO PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD SECOND CHANCES.

YOU NEVER KNOW HOW HARD SOMETHING AFFECTS A PERSON UNLESS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE SAME SITUATION. SO IF THEY DON'T COMPLY, WE GOT NEW RULES AND WE'LL ACT ACCORDINGLY. AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION THAT WE ALMOST WAS HERE TO MIDNIGHT. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, OKAY.

[05:00:04]