[00:00:11]
[INAUDIBLE] THAT'S THE GOLD STANDARD.
OKAY. WELCOME, NEIGHBORS, RESIDENTS AND GUESTS FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING TONIGHT.
[CALL TO ORDER]
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE COMMISSIONER RING LEAD US WITH A AN INVOCATION AND A PLEDGE.HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THESE TWO QUALIFIED CANDIDATES THAT YOU BROUGHT BEFORE US.
WE JUST ASK THAT YOU WOULD BE HERE WITH US TONIGHT AND HELP US THROUGH DISCERNMENT AND THE DISCOURSE THAT WE WILL HAVE, THAT WE HAVE MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING, FATHER, THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO DO WHAT WE BELIEVE IS BEST FOR OUR CITY, OUR CITY STAFF AND OUR CITIZENS.
WE SAY THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN. A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO WELCOME THE PUBLIC FOR BEING HERE.
WE'LL OPEN WITH PUBLIC COMMENT IN A MINUTE, BUT I WANT TO START BY ASKING BOTH OUR SPEAKERS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AND OUR COMMISSIONERS TO REMEMBER DECORUM WITH REGARDS TO THE TWO CANDIDATES.
I THINK THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON STRENGTHS, NOT ON NEGATIVES.
AND I'M NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T BRING SOMETHING TO LIGHT IF IT'S PERTINENT, BUT LET'S TRY TO STAY ABOVE BOARD AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S POSITIVE AND THEN VOTE ON THAT.
UM, WITH THAT, UH, JOE, ANY COMMENTS TO GET STARTED? NO, SIR. LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
[1. PUBLIC COMMENT]
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE? ONE MAYOR. OKAY.AND WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT TIME.
FIVE MINUTES. WE'LL GO WITH FIVE MINUTES.
AND IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO CHIME IN, WE'LL TAKE ALL COMERS.
MY ADDRESS IS ON RECORD, AND I DON'T ENVY ANY OF YOU THIS DECISION TONIGHT.
THERE ARE TWO VERY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS AND ONE THAT STANDS OUT TO ME.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE, IS WILLIAM KILLINGSWORTH.
AND I THINK THAT HIS EXPERIENCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCY, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES, I MEAN, HE HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
HE ALSO I EMAILED EACH ONE OF YOU AND INCLUDED IN THAT A ATTACHMENT OF A DOCUMENT THAT HE WROTE, WHICH WAS ABOUT SEA LEVEL RISE.
AND HE HAD TO GO TO HIS CAO AND ASK IT WAS HIS INITIATIVE TO DO THIS.
SO HE CAME BACK WITH THE MOODY'S MEMO SAYING CITIES BONDS RATING IS GOING TO BE TIED TO WHAT CITIES ARE DOING REGARDING RESILIENCE.
AND SO HE GOT THE OKAY TO GO AHEAD AND DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
UM, HE'S LOCAL, WHICH MEANS THAT HE KNOWS THE PLAYERS THAT ARE AT OUR JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL.
HE'S CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE CURRENT MAYOR.
UM, AND HE'S APPLIED FOR THAT PLANNING JOB.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF HE SHOULD BE CHOSEN, UM, HE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION THERE.
BUT IT'S NICE TO KNOW HE'S BEING CONSIDERED BY ANOTHER CITY.
[00:05:07]
THIS ISN'T THE ONLY JOB APPLICATION THAT HE HAS.AND, I FEEL THAT HIS RESPONSE WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT TREE CANOPY AND THAT HE SAID THAT TREE CANOPY MANAGING TREE CANOPY AND ENFORCING IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE DID ALL DAY LONG.
AND HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE TREE CANOPY REGULATIONS WERE IN THE CHARTER AND ALSO WERE IN THE REGULATIONS AND THAT SOMETIMES IT WASN'T MATCHING UP, BUT THAT THERE WAS A STRONG, STRONG TREE CANOPY PROGRAM THAT THEY HAD.
AND SO I THINK THAT JUST MATCHES WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, OUR CONSTANTLY TRYING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, CALL BEFORE YOU TAKE DOWN A TREE.
UM, AND I THINK THAT HE HAS HE'S A VISIONARY.
HE CAN THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.
AND WHAT? AND HE WORKS WITH COMMUNITIES, WHAT HE HAS DONE.
HE HAS WORKED WITH COMMUNITIES AND I SEE THAT AS A VERY VALUABLE TRAIT.
AND ONE THING THAT HE SAID THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME, HE SAID THE FACT THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN A CITY MANAGER ACTUALLY COULD WORK AS A PLUS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT COMING IN THINKING, WOW, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE WAY I WOULD DO THAT OR I DID THAT.
PLUS THE FACT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL DEPUTY CITY MANAGER WHO HAS WORKED WITH A GENTLEMAN, SHANE CORBIN, WHEN HE WAS CITY MANAGER, AND WE WE HAD A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.
SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER THAT, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED ON SATURDAY.
AND AS HE SAID, IF YOU'RE ON THE FENCE, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH.
I THINK THIS IS A TYPE OF PERSON COMES, YOU KNOW, ONCE IN A LIFETIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BARKER.
SO WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS SEGMENT? UNFORTUNATELY, I GOT HERE A LITTLE LATE.
ALBERT KERBER 352 FIRST STREET.
I'VE LISTENED TO BOTH THESE CANDIDATES.
THEY'RE BOTH EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT CANDIDATES FOR THIS JOB.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE.
KIND OF LIKE THE HIGHLANDER MOVIE.
I DEFAULTED TO LISTEN TO COMMISSIONER KELLY.
SHE SAID SOMETHING TO ME THAT REALLY RANG HOME WITH ANOTHER CANDIDATE THAT I WAS PITCHING, AND THAT WAS WE'RE NOT A TRAINING ACADEMY, SO I HAVE TO DEFAULT TO LOOKING AT EVEN THOUGH I LIKE MR. HELMSWORTH. I'M LOOKING AT LIKE NEW BECAUSE HE'S A CITY MANAGER.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LEARNING CURVE.
I SPEAK MR. GERRITY, THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HE UNDERSTANDS.
AND SO LOOKING AT BOTH OF THEM, THEIR EXPERIENCE, MR. HELMSWORTH HAS MORE PEOPLE WORKING FOR HIM THAN THE CITY ATLANTIC BEACH HAS EMPLOYED.
AND THEN MR. NEW IS A CITY MANAGER AND HE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AS A CITY MANAGER.
SO THERE'S NO LEARNING CURVE THERE.
HE WILL HAVE TO LEARN OUR CITY, BUT AT LEAST THAT'S A PLUS FOR HIM.
HE'S ALSO WILLING TO BRING HIS FAMILY OUT OF ALACHUA COUNTY ALL THE WAY UP HERE.
I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THAT.
WELL, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE LOCAL GUY HERE, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH HAVING THE LOCAL GUY HERE, HE HAS NO SKIN IN THE GAME AND IT'S MORE APT TO AND SAY SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR IN, PARTICULARLY IF HE GETS REAPPOINTED TO HIS POSITION WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, IT'S REALLY EASY FOR HIM IN 90 DAYS TO SAY, SEE YOU.
[00:10:01]
BUT LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES, I STARTED FALLING OFF ON THE SIDE OF MIKE NEW, AND THAT HAD TO DO WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER KELLY SAID TO ME.WE'RE NOT BEING A TRAINING SCHOOL SINCE HE IS ALREADY A CITY MANAGER.
AND YOU KNOW, AND SHE WASN'T ADVOCATING FOR HIM THAT THIS HAD TO DO WITH ANOTHER CANDIDATE.
BUT THAT RANG HOME WITH ME AND IT'S LIKE, YEAH, WE NEED TO GET THE MOST EXPERIENCED.
AND COMMISSIONER BOLE POINTED OUT THAT HIS HIRING IN THE NAVY AND HIS EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, I STARTED THINKING, HOW WOULD I LOOK AT HIRING SOMEBODY LIKE THIS MYSELF AND HOW HE WOULD WEIGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT? AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH EXPERIENCE.
WE WANT TO GET THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK.
AND AS I SAID, EVEN THOUGH I LIKE MR. HELMSWORTH, I HAD START FALLING OFF ON THE SIDE OF MIKE NEW.
SO I HOPE YOU GIVE HIM I'M SURE YOU'RE WEIGHING THIS BACK AND FORTH IN YOUR MINDS.
I JUST COULDN'T MAKE UP MY MIND.
AND SO I HAD TO START ANALYZING HOW WOULD I DO THIS? AND AND WITH THE DIRECTION OF OF SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD THEM SAY, THAT'S KIND OF HOW I FELL OFF.
SO I'M HOPING YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING.
BYE THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. KERBER. ANYONE ELSE? YES. HELLO, AMY ROSE.
I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING AT ALL, AND IN FACT, I WAS STARKLY AGAINST IT.
HOWEVER, AND I ALREADY HAD EMAILED YOU MY COMMENTS AND FACTS PRIVATELY, BUT DON'T FALL OFF YOUR CHAIRS BUT I 100% AGREE WITH MRS. BARKER. MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN.
AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S ONLY A FEW OF US THAT HAVE MAYBE SPOKEN PUBLICLY BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE AFRAID TO SPEAK OR THEY HAVE FAMILIES THAT THEY ARE ATTENDING TO, WHICH I DID FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
I AM IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH EVERYTHING SHE SAID, AND I HOPE YOU ALL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ROSE.
[2. DISCUSSION OF CITY MANAGER CANDIDATES]
AND I'M NOT GOING TO CONSTRAIN ANYBODY ON TIME, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS START ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM TODAY.AND MIKE, IF YOU WOULD, MR. COMMISSIONER WATERS, IF YOU WOULD, LEAD US OFF AND LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON EITHER OR BOTH CANDIDATES.
UM. YOU WANT TO FINISH YOUR COOKIE? JESSICA SAID I NEEDED SOME GUM, SO, UM.
UH. OKAY TODAY ACTUALLY IN THE YESTERDAY FEELING VERY STRONG ABOUT ONE OF THE CANDIDATES.
UM, WASN'T SURE IF WHAT I WAS CONSIDERING AS IMPORTANT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM SO I TALKED TO A FEW PEOPLE.
AND ALL OF THEM WENT WITH THE OTHER.
[INAUDIBLE] LET ME JUST BREAK DOWN WHAT I THINK IS [INAUDIBLE] . MR. KILLINGSWORTH.
MR. KILLINGSWORTH, IS DOES HAVE A GREAT PRESENCE.
I THINK HE WILL APPEAL TO ALL OF ATLANTIC BEACH.
I THINK EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON HIS STAFF AND THIS CITY, THIS TOWN WILL.
[INAUDIBLE] WE'VE HAD SOME GRUMBLINGS ABOUT PRIOR PLANNERS WHO BECOME CITY MANAGERS.
[INAUDIBLE] CITY MANAGER EXPERIENCE.
ALSO WAS CONCERNED THAT EVEN THOUGH [INAUDIBLE] HIS POSITION WITH [INAUDIBLE].
[00:15:01]
BACK ON. SO THE OTHER THING THAT CONCERNED ME ABOUT.MR. KILLINGSWORTH WAS AT THE END WHEN HE SAYS YOU'RE ON THE FENCE.
UM. I DON'T WANT TO BANK ON A LEAP OF FAITH.
I WANT SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
UM. THEN WE GET TO MR. NEW. I TALKED TO HIM SEVERAL TIMES.
I THINK HIS CITY MANAGER EXPERIENCE.
COMMUNICATE WITH ALL THE STAFF.
HE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AND THE TREE ISSUE.
I THINK HE HAS HE'S AN EXPERIENCED MANAGER.
HE'S VERY PERSONABLE, VERY HUMOROUS.
UM. AND I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HONESTLY WHO IS GOING TO BE THE BEST FOR THIS FOR THIS TOWN.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT OUR TOWN IS OUR DEPARTMENTS.
YOU LOOK AT AMANDA, YOU LOOK AT SCOTT WILLIAMS, TROY, WE'VE GOT SOME VERY STABLE DEPARTMENTS HERE.
WE HAVE, I THINK, A GREAT COMMISSION THAT GETS ALONG FOR THE MOST PART.
AND I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT A GREAT DEPUTY TO HELP NAVIGATE EITHER EITHER ONE OF THEM.
SO. UM, AND I'VE GOTTEN ABOUT, I'VE GOTTEN 16 EMAILS TODAY THAT ARE ABOUT THREE QUARTERS FOR MR. KILLINGSWORTH AND ONE QUARTER FOR MR. NEW. SO I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD RIGHT NOW, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I'M GOING TO DECIDE.
IT'S HARD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO GREAT GATORS.
I DID NOT GRADUATE FROM [INAUDIBLE], BUT NO NECK AND NECK.
AND I HEAR IT ALL, AND I CAN AGREE WITH BOTH SIDES.
KILLINGSWORTH HAS SO MUCH THAT HE COULD BRING TO THE TABLE WITH HIS EXPERIENCE ON A STATE LEVEL, WITH HIS EXPERIENCE AT THE CITY LEVEL, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE LOOKING INTO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND THAT REVISITATION.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT MIKE, THERE'S SOMETHING SO UNIQUE ABOUT HIS HIS PERSONALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING BACHELOR'S, WHICH HE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME SPEAKING ABOUT ON SATURDAY.
UM, COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONS.
I SEE MIKE AS THE TYPE TO GO INTO THE TRENCHES.
LITERALLY, I COULD PICTURE HIM WITH WADERS ON AND, AND I CAN PICTURE HIM BEING THE TYPE OF CM THAT WOULD GO UP TO THE DOOR, DRIVE AND WALK IT AND TALK TO STEVE SWANN.
UM, AND OUR DIRECTORS, I SEE THAT HE CAN TAKE THOSE TRANSFERRED SKILLS FROM NEWBERRY AND PUT THEM RIGHT HERE IN ATLANTIC BEACH.
YES, WE'RE 13,000 VERSUS 7,500 IN NEWBERRY.
BUT THIS MAN HAS A GREAT EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE WORKING IN ALACHUA COUNTY FOR THE COUNTY OF ALACHUA AND THEN AS A DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES AND THEN AGAIN AS A CITY MANAGER IN NEWBERRY.
SO I DO THINK WE GOT TO GIVE CREDIT TO MR. NEW, EVEN THOUGH KILLINGSWORTH IS REALLY HAS A STELLAR, STELLAR RESUME.
I DO THINK I WANT TO SEE A CITY MANAGER WHO ISN'T LOOKING FOR THE NEXT THING TO COME OUT OF ONE ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE BECAUSE A CHANGE OF HANDS.
I WANT TO SEE A CITY MANAGER WHO WHO LOVES OUR COMMUNITY AND WHO WANTS TO SETTLE HERE AS WELL.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAD WERE WITH BUDGET.
WHEN WE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS JOURNEY OF FINDING A CITY MANAGER, WE LISTED A FEW REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS AND UNANIMOUSLY WE SAID INTEGRITY.
I'M SURE THEY BOTH HAVE THAT ADMIN ABILITY.
ABSOLUTELY. OPERATIONS MANAGERS, THEY'RE BOTH WELL INTO THAT BUDGET SKILLS.
[00:20:05]
THAT WAS THE THIRD.AND GUYS KILLINGSWORTH'S ANSWER STARTED WITH.
THAT WAS ANOTHER ONE I'M READING RIGHT OFF OF OUR RATES AND COA EXPERIENCE AND THAT WAS A TOP ONE.
SO WE'VE LET GO OF APPLICANTS BECAUSE NOT ME, BUT WE'VE LET GO OF APPLICANTS ON THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CAO EXPERIENCE.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO CANDIDATES WHO ARE VERY QUALIFIED, ONE HAS CITY MANAGER EXPERIENCE.
ONE MORE THING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE, YOU KNOW, SPOKE ABOUT THIS IN YOUR PHONE INTERVIEWS, BUT MR. NEW SAID TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES THAT HE LIKES THE PUBLIX CUSTOMER SERVICE MOTTO AMONG HIS STAFF.
AND AND HE SPEAKS ABOUT THAT AND HE SHARES IN THAT EXPECTATION ACROSS THE STAFF.
I THINK THAT REALLY THAT REALLY RANG TRUE TO ME.
SO AGAIN, TOUGH CHOICE TWO GATORS.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER BOLE.
UM, I THINK WE'RE LUCKY THAT THESE TWO GUYS ARE IN THE RUNNING.
I COULD WORK WITH EITHER ONE OF THEM.
I SEE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.
NOT THE WEAKNESSES, BUT DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.
MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.
LET ME TALK ABOUT MR. KILLINGSWORTH FOR A MINUTE.
THESE ARE JUST YOU KNOW, HE WORKS IN DUVAL COUNTY.
OKAY. HE'S WORKED AT THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
RIGHT. HE HAS CONNECTIONS TO THE LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS DUVAL COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, HE BUT I'LL JUST GO BACK AND AND I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS QUICK.
THERE'S SOME PHILOSOPHER THAT SAID WE'RE ALL SOME OF OUR EXPERIENCES.
SO I THOUGHT, OKAY, WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO ATLANTIC BEACH? PROBABLY A HURRICANE, GIVE OR TAKE, RIGHT? UM, IN THE NAVY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WAS INVOLVED WITH KATRINA WITH THREE NAVY BASES, TWO IN NEW ORLEANS, ONE ALONG THE COAST IN GULFPORT. AND I WORKED WITH BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND DYSFUNCTIONAL CITY GOVERNMENTS AND STATE AND PARISHES, COUNTIES. AND I CAN TELL YOU IT MATTERED IF THE PEOPLE THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH HAD THE ABILITY TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE STATE AGENCY WAS, WHAT THE FEDERAL AGENCY WAS, WHAT, WHERE THEY CAN GET RESOURCES, WHERE THEY COULDN'T GET RESOURCES, WHETHER HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT A CONTROL CENTER WAS AND WHICH BUTTONS TO PUSH. I BET YOU THAT MR. KILLINGSWORTH KNOWS THAT FROM HIS JOB.
WE'VE GOT KEVIN OVER THERE WHO KNOWS THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF HOW TO RUN THE CITY.
I'M CONVINCED THAT KEVIN COULD RUN THIS CITY, AND HE HAS BEFORE.
SO NOW WE'VE GOT A GUY WHO'S GOING TO BACK UP WHOEVER WE PUT IN THERE AND BOTH GOOD GUYS, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, BUT WE'VE GOT SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS THE NUTS AND BOLTS AND WHICH AND WHICH BUTTONS TO PUSH.
BY THE WAY, MR. KELLY, HE KNOWS STEVE AND HE VALUES HIS OPINION.
I'M NOT SAYING GOOD OR BAD, BUT I WOULD BET THAT THE COASTAL COMMUNITY GUY AND HE EXPLAINED IN HERE ON SATURDAY THE TIDAL CURRENTS AND THE SAINT SAINT JOHNS THAT WOULD AFFECT US ALSO THE SURGE.
HE'S BEEN THROUGH THAT WITH JACKSONVILLE.
REMEMBER, SHANE WAS A PLANNER.
THIS GUY'S A PLANNER ON TEN LEVELS ABOVE.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
GOSH, WHO BETTER TO HAVE THAN SOMEBODY IN THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION? WE ARE BLESSED THAT WE NOW HAVE A MAYOR FROM ATLANTIC BEACH.
WE HAVE BRITTANY FROM ATLANTIC BEACH.
THIS WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A TRIFECTA THAT WE WOULD WORK ON THAT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
[00:25:02]
UM, SO I'LL CUT IT SHORT.BUT WHAT I THOUGHT I LIKED BOTH CANDIDATES.
SORRY HE GOT HIS CAR TOWED, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT HAPPENS.
AND I TELL YOU, I KIND OF LIKE A GUY THAT HASN'T BEEN A CITY MANAGER IN SOME WAY.
SOME WAYS I DO, SOME WAYS I DON'T.
SO I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE SUM OF OUR EXPERIENCES.
SO, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT ONE GUY IS UNIQUE IN THAT CATEGORY.
WE NEED TO GET SOMEBODY WHO IS AWESOME.
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? ALL RIGHT.
SO ALTHOUGH I WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED, REGARDLESS OF WHO WE CHOOSE AND ALTHOUGH I THINK MR. NEW IS EMINENTLY QUALIFIED AS A REPLICA OF WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE OFFICE BEFORE, I DON'T THINK WE NEED BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WE'VE GOT DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE RUNNING QUITE SMOOTHLY ALL BY THEMSELVES AND THAT IF WE INTERFERE TOO MUCH IN THEM, YOU'RE GOING TO CAUSE A CAUSE, A RIFT, LIKE YOU WANT TO DO IT, DO IT YOURSELF.
SO I LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER TO INTERVIEW, BUT FRANKLY, STEVE IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER THAT WE NEED AND WE DON'T NEED SOMEBODY WHO IS MUCH BETTER AT DEVELOPING FARMLAND THAN HE IS DEVELOPING A SUBURBAN MARSH, YOU KNOW, WITH WATER ON TWO SIDES.
BUT I AM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT KILLINGSWORTH COULD BRING TO US BECAUSE WE'RE NOT BROKEN.
SO, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT HE'S CAN LOOK AROUND AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, I'VE WORKED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
I'VE WORKED IN THE CITY LEVEL.
HE'S BEEN HIGH LEVEL IN THE CITY, NOT JUST LIKE A DINKY OFFICE.
AND I THINK HE CAN BRING SOMETHING MORE TO US THAN THE STANDARD COOKIE CUTTER KIND OF GUY .
WELL, YOU KNOW, IF WE ASK THE MAYOR AND HE RIGHTLY SAID OUR NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IS RESILIENCY.
AND HERE IS THE GUY WHO'S BEEN RUNNING RESILIENCY FOR THE COUNTY.
AND ALL WE'RE ASKING, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PLUG IN TO WHAT THE COUNTY'S GOING AFTER.
BUT THE SECOND THING THAT'S THAT'S APPROACHING TO US IS THE INTERLOCAL.
I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S MR. KILLINGSWORTH. I DON'T THINK MR. NEW HAS THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND HERE TO BE AS EFFECTIVE IN THAT NEGOTIATION AS WE CAN GET WITH MR. KILLINGSWORTH. KILLINGSWORTH ALSO HAS SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
DURING HIS TIME IN TALLAHASSEE, HE'S WORKED IN SMALL COMMUNITIES LIKE ORTEGA AND RIVERSIDE.
AND I THINK HE COULD BRING US A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA TO MAYPORT ROAD, WHICH IS LANGUISHING IN SPITE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TRIED TO ACCOMPLISH OVER THERE.
AND I ADMIRED HIS ADMITTED DESIRE FOR PERSONAL GROWTH.
AND I DIDN'T REALLY HEAR A LOT OF THAT FROM MR. NEW. MR. NEW WAS COMING TO DO WHAT HE KNEW HOW TO DO.
BUT MR. KILLINGSWORTH IS COMING HERE TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY AND TO EXPAND HIS KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES AND WHAT COMMUNITIES NEED. SO I'M PLUMPING FOR MR. WILLIAMS, MR. KILLINGSWORTH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I LOVE THESE TIMES WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ME.
AND WE HAVE GREAT ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES HERE.
AND I SEE NOT UNLIKE COMMISSIONER BOLE, WE HAVE TWO GREAT CANDIDATES, AND THEY'RE JUST DIFFERENT.
AND SO I WANT TO DELINEATE THAT.
WE HAVE ONE CANDIDATE IN BILL KILLINGSWORTH, WHO I CALL HIM THE IVY LEAGUER.
AND BILL WAS SMOOTH AS HE COULD BE.
AND I SO APPRECIATE SOMEBODY WHO CAN ARTICULATE IN PUBLIC WITHOUT NOTES AND SPEAK AND CONNECT.
AND HE DID A FABULOUS JOB ON SATURDAY.
[00:30:08]
AND I WENT THERE, TOO.AND THIS REALLY DOES COME DOWN TO, IN MY OPINION, THIS COMES DOWN TO DO YOU WANT TO ROLL THE DICE? BECAUSE THERE COULD BE UPSIDE BY HIRING BILL KILLINGSWORTH.
ON THE OTHER HAND, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IT IS WE STARTED OUT TO DO.
WE STARTED OUT TO PUT INTO PLACE A COMPETENT CITY MANAGER WITH EXPERIENCE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED WAS WE REALLY WANTED TO DO IT BETTER THIS TIME.
SO WE HAD SOMEBODY IN THE SAME SEAT THREE YEARS, FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS FROM NOW.
IN FACT, I'LL SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HE TOLD ME.
AND HE'S EVER, EVER THE GRACIOUS MAN.
HE IS A STABLE ROCK IN NEWBERRY.
HE'S NEVER BEEN TERMINATED FROM A POSITION.
HE JUST FLOATED A $50 MILLION BOND ISSUE TO UPGRADE THE SEWER SYSTEM IN NEWBERRY.
SO DO NOT THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT HE'S ANY BIT OF A SLOUCH.
AND WHILE MR. KILLINGSWORTH HAS GREAT SKILL AND CAPABILITIES IN WHAT HE'S DONE, HE IS SINGULARLY FOCUSED ON PLANNING.
NOW, I REALIZE YOU COULD MORPH THAT INTO THE RESILIENCY ASPECT.
REMEMBER, MIKE NEW IS A ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER, AND HE SPOKE, I THOUGHT FROM HIS HEART ABOUT WHAT DROVE HIM TO DO THAT AND HIS CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO WITH REGARDS TO THE ISSUE OF TREES, I THINK HE WILL DISCHARGE OUR ORDINANCES APPROPRIATELY.
IN FACT, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT HIM IN TALKING TO HIM.
SO WHEN HE MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT ASSISTING SOMEBODY TO THE FINISH LINE, IF THEY'RE PERMITTING A TREE REMOVAL, WHAT HE WAS REALLY SAYING IS, I WANT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE LISTENED TO AND THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE PROCESS.
THAT'S WHAT I TOOK AWAY BECAUSE WE HAD LOTS OF DISCUSSION AROUND THIS.
IT'S ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROCESS, NOT HOW TO AVOID OR CHEAT THE PROCESS.
I THINK MR. NEW HAS A HUMILITY THAT I APPRECIATE.
I THINK HE'S MUCH WARMER AND I THINK HE'LL INTERFACE WITH THE CITIZENS MUCH BETTER THAN MR. KILLINGSWORTH. BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
AND SO FOR THE RECORD, SINCE MR. KILLINGSWORTH MAY BE WATCHING THIS, I DO AGREE THAT MR. KILLINGSWORTH CAN DO THIS JOB AND CAN GROW INTO THIS JOB.
BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING TO DO IF YOU HIRE HIM, YOU'RE SAYING, LET'S ROLL THE DICE.
I HOPE IN TWO YEARS OR LESS THAN TWO YEARS NOW, FOUR YEARS, SIX YEARS OR EIGHT YEARS, IF I'M HERE THAT LONG AS AS YOUR MAYOR, I HOPE THAT WHOEVER WE SELECT TONIGHT IS STILL OUR CITY MANAGER.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE STABILITY OF THIS CITY.
WHILE I HEARD THE POINT ABOUT WE DON'T WANT NEED SOMEBODY TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND GET IN THE TRENCHES, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT I AM GLAD THAT HE WOULD ACTUALLY GO OUT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND ENGAGE.
AND SO AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MATTERS SO MUCH TO ME IS CONTINUING THE MARCH TO A CUSTOMER CENTRIC CITY HALL, WHICH BEGINS WITH PROCESS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR PROCESS IS, WHAT YOUR PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF, AND THEN ENGAGING THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT PROCESS.
I BELIEVE MR. NEW WOULD DO THAT AGAIN.
I'M GOING TO ROLL THE DICE IF WE GO WITH MR. KILLINGSWORTH, BECAUSE HE HAS THE PEDIGREE, HE HAS THE CONNECTIONS IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
AND WHILE VALUABLE, THAT'S NOT THE END ALL, BE ALL.
WE KEEP TURNING OVER CITY MANAGERS.
HE HAD EXPERIENCE WORKING IN ALACHUA, WHICH IS A POPULATION WELL ABOVE OURS.
[00:35:06]
HE WAS NOT THE CITY MANAGER THERE.HE WAS THE I BELIEVE HE WAS DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
SO HE HAS BEEN IN BIGGER CITIES.
AND I'M SOMEBODY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THAT.
DOES ANY OH, I'VE GOT HIS RESUME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] SO BUT HE'S BEEN IN A LARGER CITY.
AND SO FINALLY, ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS TO THIS CITY.
HE'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER.
WHILE I THINK THAT MR. KILLINGSWORTH TOOK NOTICE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A PLAN IN PLACE, AS IT WAS MENTIONED, FOR THE PURPOSES OF OF DUN AND BRADSTREET RATINGS OR OTHER RATINGS.
BOND RATINGS. THAT MAKES SENSE.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT MR. NEW WOULD HANDLE WITHOUT FAIL.
SO I'M AGAIN, I PUT A LOT OF TIME AND THOUGHT INTO THIS.
I'VE LISTENED TO SOME OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, ALL OF THEM GOOD COMMENTS.
SO IN THE END, IT COMES DOWN TO WHICH WAY DO YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD? SO I HOPE TONIGHT WE DO SELECT ONE, BUT I WOULD PUT MY MONEY ON THE EXPERIENCED CITY MANAGER WHO CARES ABOUT THE COAST, CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, IS FROM A LITTLE TOWN VERY NEARBY CALLED FERNANDINA.
HE WANTS TO BE BACK ON THE COAST AND NEAR HIS FAMILY IN FERNANDINA IN THE WORST WAY.
HIS CHILDREN ARE OUT OF THE HOUSE, SO HE HAS AN EASE OF TRANSITION FROM NEWBURY TO HERE AND NO PROBLEM MAKING THE COMMITMENT TO FIND A HOME IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH. AND WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE IT BACK THROUGH ONE MORE ROUND, IF THAT'S OKAY.
COMMISSIONER WATERS. WELL [INAUDIBLE] I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS.
I WAS UP LAST NIGHT, AND I ALWAYS WANT TO LISTEN TO ALL THE PEOPLE.
I'M GOING TO GO WITH MY FIRST GUT IMPRESSION, MY FIRST REACTION.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INPUT.
BUT I THINK THAT MIKE IS THE GUY.
COMMISSIONER RING. I THINK THAT AS YOU AS WE'VE ALL SAID, THEY'RE THEY'RE BOTH GREAT CANDIDATES.
BUT I AM THINKING ABOUT WHO IS THE BEST FOR OUR UNIQUE COASTAL QUAINT TOWN.
HOW MANY YEARS JOE, DID THAT CITY? 25 YEARS IN ONE TOWN.
AND I WAS I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT.
AND I'M LOOKING AT KILLINGSWORTH AND I'M LOOKING AT NEW.
AND I DID PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE RESUME.
AND I HAVE COMBED THROUGH BOTH OF THESE THESE GUYS.
AND I JUST THINK KILLINGSWORTH IS A BIG FISH AND HE'S MEANT FOR MAYBE STATE NEXT OR MAYBE DEACONS ADMINISTRATION.
I SEE HIM GOING THERE AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF WE SAY YES TO KILLINGSWORTH, WE WOULD END UP BEING IN THE SAME POSITION A YEAR FROM NOW HIRING ANOTHER CITY MANAGER.
AND THIS WAS A THIS WAS A STRESSFUL ENOUGH IN THE TIME THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS.
SO I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THIS POSITION AGAIN.
THIS GUY HAS GRANTS WRITTEN ALL OVER HIM [INAUDIBLE].
YOU KNOW, AND OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU KNOW DUVAL, THEN YOU KNOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
[00:40:03]
WHICH IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF OUR MONEY COMES FROM GRANTS.
AND THIS GUY TO ME SCREAMS GRANTS AND THAT'S WHY I'LL BE VOTING FOR HIM.
THANKS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER KELLY. SO FIRST OF ALL, I BELIEVE THAT MR. KILLINGSWORTH IS A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND THAT HE [INAUDIBLE] US WITH US IN GOOD FAITH, AND THAT IF HE WERE OFFERED A JOB WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, HE WOULD HAVE TURNED IT DOWN, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE FOR THE SHORT TERM.
YOU HEARD HIM. HE'S ALREADY RETIRED ONCE, AND HE'S WILLING TO EXPAND HIS PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL GROWTH TO COME AND WORK IN A SMALL COMMUNITY WHERE HIS HEART IS NOT, THAT HE ISN'T CERTAINLY CAPABLE OF GREATER THINGS, BUT HE HIMSELF HAS SAID TO US, I WANT TO COME TO A SMALL CITY AND HE HAS GRAVITAS AND HE HAS CONNECTIONS, AND I THINK HE CAN USE THEM TO OUR BENEFIT THAT OUR OUR CITY.
WE CAN WE CAN FIX WHATEVER IS PERCEIVED THAT THAT IS WRONG.
BUT WE I DON'T WANT US TO, LIKE, AIM LOW AND GET THE GUY WE'VE ALWAYS HAD.
NOW, THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE A HIGH TURNOVER HERE IS REALLY NOT ACCURATE.
IN THE INDUSTRY WIDE, THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT, WHAT, FOUR YEARS? FOUR YEARS.
AND HE LEFT WHEN HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE.
AND SHANE CAME HERE FOR THREE YEARS AND HE LEFT FOR A [INAUDIBLE] BETTER POSITION.
BUT BEFORE THAT, WE HAD JIM HANSEN FOR WAS IT 14 YEARS? SO WE ARE NOT A CRAZY TURNOVER KIND OF PLACE.
WE ARE A GOOD PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT.
AND IF YOU'RE A YOUNG GUY LIKE SHANE, YOU YOU WANT TO MOVE UP.
AND IF YOU'RE A LITTLE MORE MATURE, LIKE JOE.
HE WANTS TO GO BACK AND LIVE IN HIS CONDO.
SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A GUY WHO SAID RETIREMENT IS NOT FOR ME.
I WANT TO COME AND DO WHAT I'M REALLY GOOD AT, WHICH IS WORK IN SMALL COMMUNITIES.
AND HAVING RETIRED FROM THREE JOBS MYSELF, I CAN LIKE REALLY AGREE WITH THAT.
SO, UM, I JUST THINK WE WOULD BE CRAZY TO LET THIS, THIS, THE MAN OF THIS CALIBER SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
AND I CAN'T DISAGREE WITH THAT LAST STATEMENT ABOUT THIS CALIBER.
BILL KILLINGSWORTH IS A HIGH CALIBER CANDIDATE, BUT I'M GOING TO KIND OF CONCLUDE MY REMARKS WITH.
DO I NEED A PLANNER NO MATTER HOW HIGH CALIBER, DO I NEED A PLANNER FOR THE CITY OR DO I NEED A CITY MANAGER THAT CAN BRING OTHERS ALONG, DEVELOP OTHERS? I SAW NONE OF THAT IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH BILL KILLINGSWORTH, BUT I SAW IT IN, UM, IN MIKE NEW, AND HE WAS SO RELATABLE TO ME. WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE PRESENTATION, THIS IS WHERE IT GETS TOUGH IS PRESENTATION SKILLS CAN OBSCURE THE REALITY OF WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.
AND I THINK IN MY OPINION, PRESENTATION WAS ONE BY MR. KILLINGSWORTH. BUT MIKE NEW WASN'T WAS NOT BAD AT PRESENTATION.
BUT WHEN HE PRESENTED TO ME IN THE ONE ON ONES AND WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS HAPPENED THAT WENT WRONG AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO CORRECT IT AND HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH PEOPLE? HE JUST WAS MUCH MORE RELATABLE TO ME IN WHAT HE'S DEALT WITH AND THEN HIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE BALLPARK.
AND IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT THE COUNTY OF ALACHUA, OR GAINESVILLE, ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT IT WAS FUNDED BY THEM IN THE CITY OF NEWBERRY, AND HE HAD THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION OF HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT FAILING TWO AND THREE YEARS AFTER THEY STARTED AND HE HAD TO GET THAT BACK IN GEAR. SO THAT WAS A BIG POSITIVE.
BUT EVERY STORY HE SHARED WITH ME ABOUT HOW HE ENGAGED PEOPLE AND HOW HE ENGAGED CITIZENS TOLD ME THAT HE'S GOT A LOT OF HANDS ON EXPERIENCE HELPING OTHERS THROUGH THE PROCESS.
[00:45:08]
CUSTOMER CENTRIC, MY DESIRE IS THAT WE CONTINUE THE MARCH TO IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, SPECIFICALLY ELECTRONIC PROCEEDS TO THE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND ULTIMATELY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT EACH OF YOU ARE, IS CUSTOMERS IN THIS CITY.AND SO I THINK I'M TOTALLY ALIGNED WITH MIKE NEW ON THAT.
I'M NOT AS ALIGNED WITH MR. KILLINGSWORTH. HE IS A PLANNER BY TRADE AND A PRETTY GOOD ONE, APPARENTLY.
BUT HOW MUCH MORE PLANNING OR HOW MUCH MORE NEW DEVELOPMENT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN ATLANTIC BEACH? WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME MORE ON MAYPORT ROAD.
YOU HAVE A PLANNER FROM COJ THAT CURRENTLY HAS HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN OURS, AND THEY'RE BUILDING HIGHER BUILDINGS JUST DOWN THE STREET ON MAYPORT ROAD.
AND HE'S GOING TO COME INTO OUR TOWN THAT SAYS 30, 35FT, PERIOD.
SO I DON'T SEE THE BENEFIT OF HIS EXPERIENCE AS A PLANNER HELPING US THERE.
AND I DO SEE THE EXPERIENCE OF MIKE NEW IN ENGAGING OTHERS AND HELPING OTHERS TO FIND SUCCESS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN A CITY MANAGER.
SO AT THE RISK OF OVERDOING IT, WOULD WE LIKE TO GO ONE MORE ROUND WITH COMMENTS?
[3. CITY MANAGER SELECTION]
OKAY, THEN. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO? I MAKE A MOTION TO ELECT BILL KILLINGSWORTH AS THE NEXT CITY MANAGER OF ATLANTIC BEACH.SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER BOLE, AYE. COMMISSIONER KELLY, AYE.
DO WE HAVE ANOTHER. A NEW MOTION? I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT MIKE NEW AS OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER.
SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. WE'LL GO THROUGH A ROLL CALL, VOTE AGAIN.
COMMISSIONER BOLE, NAY. MAYOR FORD, AYE.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED TO IT'S ACTUALLY AND WE NEED TO CLEAN THIS UP POSSIBLY.
IT'S ACTUALLY TO MAKE AN OFFER FOR HIRE TO MIKE NEW, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. SO WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS YOU'VE APPROVED BY A 3 TO 2 VOTE THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. NEW. NOW, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATING A SALARY.
I THINK THERE'LL BE AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.
THEY'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
I'D LIKE TO I'D LIKE TO BRING IT BACK.
AND I THINK THIS IS LEGAL THAT AT THIS STAGE THAT WE MAKE IT UNANIMOUS FOR MR. NEW. THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MENTIONING THAT AND I THINK WE CAN DO IT AT THIS.
YEAH, I THINK SO. YEAH I'M SORRY I'VE GOT THAT WE WOULD NEED A MOTION FROM THE PREVAILING PARTY TO RECONSIDER THE PREVIOUSLY PASSED MOTION AND TO BRING IT BACK FOR ANOTHER VOTE.
ARE EITHER OF YOU WILLING TO DO THAT.
UM, I MOVE THAT WE RECONSIDER THE MOTION TO APPOINT MIKE NEW AS OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER.
SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, LET'S.
WE'LL JUST. WELL, DONNA, LET'S GO DO A ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER BOLE, AYE. COMMISSIONER KELLY, NAY.
OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
I KNOW EVERYBODY DID THEIR BEST ON THIS, AND I RESPECT EVERY ONE OF YOUR DECISIONS.
UM, BUT WE HAVE PASSED WITH A 4 TO 5 VOTE THIS MOTION TO APPOINT MIKE NEW AS OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER. ACTUALLY, YOU'VE RECONSIDERED IT.
OH, WE JUST DID THE RECONSIDER 4 TO 1 ON A RECONSIDERATION.
AND IF YOU WANT TO MOVE IT FURTHER.
OKAY, NOW, WE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO ACTUALLY APPROVE MIKE NEW AS OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER.
[00:50:03]
OKAY. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE OR WE APPOINT MIKE NEW AS OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER.ANY DISCUSSION? I WANT TO MAKE ONE POINT AND I WANT TO ASK COMMISSIONER KELLY TO CONSIDER AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION.
BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'LL PASS THIS VOTE.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEND A SOLID MESSAGE THAT HE IS WELCOME IN THIS CITY BY ALL OF THE COMMISSION.
AND IT'S NOT THAT YOU'VE NOT SAID ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT MIKE NEW, SO THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
BUT I WOULD I WOULD SO APPRECIATE A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON THIS IF WE CAN HAVE THAT.
BUT WITH THAT DONNA WOULD YOU DO A ROLL CALL? COMMISSIONER WATERS, AYE.
COMMISSIONER BOLE, AYE. COMMISSIONER KELLY, NAY.
SO THE MOTION PASSES WITH A 4-5 VOTE.
THANK YOU. NOT A 4 TO 5, 4 OUT OF 5, 4 TO 1.
SO THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT.
[4. CLOSING COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS]
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THIS BODY, THE FOUR COMMISSIONERS SEATED NEXT TO ME TO ALLOW MYSELF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, JASON GABRIEL, TO REACH OUT TO MR. NEW AND BEGIN THAT NEGOTIATION AND THEN BRING BACK AN APPROVED AND ACCEPTED OFFER FOR FINAL RATIFICATION TO THIS COMMISSION. DO I HAVE A CONSENSUS TO DO THAT? YOU'LL BRING US BACK A NUMBER, RIGHT? A SALARY AND THE REST.YEAH. I'M GOING TO LET JOE WEIGH IN ON THIS, SO.
WELL, I WOULD LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOU BACK HOPEFULLY SOMETIME THIS WEEK TO HAVE THIS APPROVED.
SO THE IF I MAY FILL IN THE BLANKS.
ANY TIME YOU MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A HUGE DECISION.
LET'S NOT WASTE ANY TIME AND BLOW IT THROUGH LACK OF DILIGENCE ON THAT.
I WOULD BE ASKING JASON TO ASSIST ME IN REACHING OUT TO MR. NEW TOMORROW.
AND THEN BASED ON THAT, POTENTIALLY HAVING A MEETING AGAIN ON ON THURSDAY TO RATIFY A CONTRACT WITH MR. NEW.
WHEN WE DO THE CONTRACT, ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING OR HOUSING STIPEND AS WELL AS .
I'M ACTUALLY ASKING THIS COMMISSION TO ALLOW JASON GABRIEL AND I TO DO THAT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT FORTH IN THE RANGE AND THE DISCUSSION OF THE HOUSING ALLOWANCE.
WHEN DID WE AGREE TO DO A HOUSING ALLOWANCE? COMMISSIONER YOU TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE AGREED TO IT.
OKAY. THAT MAY BE TRUE, COMMISSIONER.
I WASN'T SURE. BUT THAT'S WHY I DO WANT IT WHEN WE DO DISCUSS THIS, FOR THAT TO BE CLEAR.
THE DOWNSIDE TO GIVING A HOUSING ALLOWANCE.
SO THAT MAKES ANY IT MAKES ABSOLUTE SENSE.
HOWEVER, THE SALARY COULD BE REDUCED IN THE FUTURE IF YOU MOVED OUT OF THE CITY, ASSUMING THAT THE COMMISSION THAT THIS BODY PUTS FORTH A REFERENDUM FOR CHANGING THE CHARTER TO NOT HAVING TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
OKAY. SO IF EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT WITH OUR PROCESS THERE.
I HAVE A CONFLICT, I HAVE A WORK CONFERENCE, AND I WILL BE NOT IN TOWN UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT.
BUT WHAT TIME? DEPENDS ON ORLANDO TRAFFIC, BUT I WOULD GUESS FIVE.
YEAH. NO, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE COULD GO BACK TO SATURDAY MORNING.
I ASSUME THIS WILL NOT BE A LONG MEETING, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE YOU KNOW, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO LET THIS HANG OUT UNTIL NEXT WEEK.
[00:55:02]
YEAH, WE PHONE IT IN.EITHER SATURDAY MORNING AT TEN IS FINE OR FRIDAY NIGHT.
SATURDAY MORNING. I'M GOOD WITH EITHER ALSO FRIDAY NIGHT.
OKAY. IF WE DO FRIDAY NIGHT, WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT TO, LIKE, 5:30 OR 6? JUST GIVE ME A BUFFER TIME.
THERE'S NO TELLING WITH ORLANDO TRAFFIC.
ALL RIGHT. SO BASED ON THAT, JOE, WOULD YOU WORK ON THE CALENDAR AND SEE IF YOU CAN SLOT THAT IN AT 5:30 OR 6 ON FRIDAY? YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE OKAY AT 5:30? I WILL TRY. ANY OTHER ITEMS OF DISCUSSION? AGAIN, WE'RE ALREADY MEETING MONDAY NIGHT FOR BUDGET.
[INAUDIBLE] YOU COULD SLOT IT IN THERE.
WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? IF IT'S OKAY SO THAT WE DON'T TIE PEOPLE UP ON THIS DETAIL.
THINK ABOUT IT, AND MAYBE REACH BACK.
SPEAKING WITH MIKE, MAKE SURE THAT HE'S OKAY WITH A WEEK INTERVAL HERE.
BUT THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KELLY, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
AND I TAKE IT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
BUT I KNOW I COULD WORK WITH EITHER CANDIDATE.
AND BY THE WAY, IF CANDIDATE A DOES NOT ACCEPT, THEN WE WILL WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.
BUT WE CAN COME BACK AND VOTE ON CANDIDATE B.
I HATE BEING IN THAT POSITION.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE SECOND FIDDLE ON THE SELECTION PROCESS.
BUT BOTH CANDIDATES WERE GOOD.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATION.
WHICH SHOULD GIVE YOU PLENTY OF TIME TO GET SOMEBODY IN HERE.
AND TUESDAY, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, WE'RE GOING TO PUT NEW BUDGET WORKSHEETS IN YOUR MAILBOX.
WHETHER HE ATTENDS OR NOT, THAT'S UP TO HIM.
BUT WE'LL HAVE A LOCAL FAREWELL FOR MR. GERRITY. THANKS.
ARE WE DOING FRIDAY OR MONDAY NIGHT? WE DON'T. WE DON'T KNOW YET.
WHY DON'T. IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS.
HERE'S THE DEAL. WE HAVE TO PUBLIC NOTICE.
OKAY. SO ALLOW MR. GABRIEL AND I TO START THE PROCESS TOMORROW AND REPORT BACK TO JOE AS TO THE FEASIBILITY OF FRIDAY.
AND IF IT IS FEASIBLE, HE CAN REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO EACH ONE OF YOU.
I'M OKAY WITH MONDAY THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE.
WHY DON'T WE JUST SET IT FOR MONDAY.
ALL RIGHT. AND WE'LL AMEND THE AGENDA FOR MONDAY.
OR DO YOU WANT TO DO TWO SEPARATE AGENDAS AND JUST CALL.
WHY DON'T WE CALL A SPECIAL MEETING.
YEAH. I THINK OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP IS 5:30.
530. UH, MAYBE WE'LL JUST MAKE IT 5:20.
OKAY. I DON'T THINK IT'LL TAKE LONGER THAN THAT I HOPE.
AND IF IT DOES, WE JUST PUSH THE WORKSHOP BACK A LITTLE BIT.
THANK YOU. ALL. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.