OKAY. WELCOME, RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND GUESTS.
[00:00:05]
WE'LL START BEFORE WE OPEN THE MEETING.WE'LL START WITH AN INVOCATION AND PLEDGE FROM COMMISSIONER BOLE.
LORD, LET US PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF ATLANTIC BEACH THAT ARE DEFENSELESS AND UNPROTECTED.
HELP OUR LEADERS MAKE TOUGH CHOICES TO PREVENT WAR, DESTRUCTION, AND VIOLENCE.
HELP US AS WE HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT OUR GREAT TOWN.
AMEN. 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.
THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION DATED MONDAY, NOVEMBER DATED MONDAY, OCTOBER 23RD, 2023, WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.
UM, DONNA, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? COMMISSIONER. BOLE. PRESENT.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
OKAY. ITEM ONE A APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 22ND, 2023.COMMISSIONERS HAVE HAD. HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THEM? ANY CHANGES? CORRECTIONS? THEN THE MINUTES STAND AS PRESENTED.
ITEM 1.B APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 28TH, 2023.
THE MINUTE STAND IS SUBMITTED.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT SEGMENT IS ITEM TWO COURTESY OF THE FLOOR.
[2. COURTESY OF FLOOR TO VISITORS]
AND WE ACTUALLY WILL HAVE THREE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK TONIGHT COURTESY OF THE FLOOR REALLY IS OPEN FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.LATER IN OUR AGENDA, WE'LL HAVE TWO ORDINANCES THAT WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN SPEAKING.
DONNA, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE? WE HAVE SIX.
OKAY. SO, WE'RE GOING TO OBSERVE THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE.
SO, YOU GOT PLENTY OF TIME, I HOPE.
SO, WHEN IT GETS TO ZERO, YOU'RE FINISHED.
BUT IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION, I'LL JUST RAISE MY HAND.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TEN, 15 SECONDS LATER, I'LL USE THIS.
I WILL NOT HIT YOU WITH IT, BUT I WILL JUST TAP IT LIGHTLY AND WE'LL CONCLUDE.
SO, LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER, PAUL RAYMOND.
HELLO. MY NAME IS PAUL RAYMOND.
I LIVE DOWN IN PONTE VEDRA AND.
ON THE 20TH OF AUGUST, I GOT A PARKING VIOLATION OVER AT BOLE PARK.
I WAS THERE ON A SUNDAY TO GO TO THE ADELLE GRACE BUILDING AND ATTEND SOMETHING THERE.
AND WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT IT'S VERY HARD WHEN YOU GET PARKING TICKETS FROM ATLANTIC BEACH TO GET ANY KIND OF RESPONSE. YOU DIAL THE NUMBER THAT IS ON THE TICKET TO TRY AND SCHEDULE A COURT THING.
AND WILL THEY GIVE YOU A LOT OF DIFFERENT NUMBERS.
THEY. KIND OF RUNS YOU ALL AROUND.
I CALLED A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
RETURNING MY CALL. MAYOR, IN THE LONG RUN.
I MEAN, IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU'VE GOTTEN A TICKET.
THAT'S RIGHT. YOU END UP, YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE IN JACKSONVILLE.
DOWNTOWN. EVERYBODY'S BEEN TO THE DRIVER'S LICENSE PLACE.
THEN YOU GO SIT DOWN UNTIL YOUR NUMBER COMES UP AND TAKES FOREVER.
AND I MEAN, ON A $50 TICKET, IT'S LIKE, WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING? I'M BEATING MY HEAD AGAINST A WALL.
UM. BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE I TALKED TO.
I HAD MY RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION IN FULL ACTIVITY.
SO, I ENDED UP JUST PAYING THE $50 FINE BECAUSE I GOT TIRED OF BEATING MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL.
LETTER. FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
FROM THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH.
[00:05:04]
AND HAVE NO.OFFER, BUT I GOT A I GOT A CHECK WITH A REFUND.
I WAS SURPRISED, TO SAY THE LEAST.
AND IF I WAS WILLING TO COME HERE.
AND GIVE YOU A PIECE OF MY MIND.
WELL, WE, UNJUST TREATMENT THAT I RECEIVED.
I SHOULD COME HERE AND SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. SO, WE, MR. RAYMOND, WE DON'T USUALLY RESPOND AT COURTESY OF THE FLOOR.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK HERE AFTER THAT EVENT FROM PONTEVEDRA.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
THERE'S OUR POLICE CHIEF RIGHT THERE.
THAT WOULD BE THE MAN TO SAY THANK YOU TO.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I'M ELLEN GLASSER, AND IT'S PROBABLY NO SURPRISE TO Y'ALL THAT I'M HERE TONIGHT, BUT IT'S NICE TO SEE THE COMMISSIONERS AND MAYORS, OUR CHARTER OFFICERS.
AND IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE THE BAKER CENTER FUNDING THAT WAS APPROPRIATED, NOT IN A GRANT, BUT APPROPRIATED BY THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE LAST YEAR AND ASK YOU NOT TO DIVERT THAT FUNDING TO SOME OTHER NEW PROJECT THAT HASN'T BEEN FULLY CONSIDERED AND STAFFED AND, AND VERY SIGNIFICANTLY NOTICED TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PURCHASING SOMETHING THAT'S EXPENSIVE, YOU REALLY SHOULD BE TALKING TO THE PEOPLE ABOUT IT.
SO I SENT YOU ALL A RATHER LENGTHY EMAIL AND A PACKET THAT WE PREPARED FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE LAST YEAR, SO I WON'T GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS OF IT, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER KELLY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS ON THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE DISTRIBUTION OF MONIES BY DISTRICT AND REALIZED THAT HERE IN DISTRICT 13, WE REALLY WERE NOT GETTING OUR FAIR SHARE.
SO, FOR SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND SOME THINGS THAT HAD A COUNTY USE, ONE WAS THE LIFEGUARD STATION, SOME MONEY TO IMPROVE THAT, THAT WE SAW THAT AS A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE FIRST AND THEN SECOND, THE BAKER CENTER, WHERE WE REALLY FELT WE COULD BUMP UP THE PROGRAMING FOR SENIORS.
SO, IT DIDN'T ALL HAPPEN AT ONCE.
IT STARTED WITH COMMISSIONER, EXCUSE ME, COUNCILMAN GULLIFORD, WE WORKED WITH COUNCILMAN DIMOND, AND THEN THIS LAST YEAR, I PERSONALLY WORKED WITH PRESIDENT RON SALEM AND THE AT LARGE COUNCILMAN TO REALLY GET THAT THROUGH.
IT WENT THROUGH A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES.
SO QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AS A COMMISSION PRIORITY.
IT WAS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES IN THE 2022 PRIORITY SETTING.
AND IT WENT THROUGH THE MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON HEALTH AND WELL BEING.
IT'S CONTAINED IN THAT REPORT, THE EXPANSION.
IT WAS ALSO REVIEWED BY THE ARTS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE.
AND THEN THE SC ALSO HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT IT IN TERMS OF THEIR DESIRE TO FORM A RESILIENCY HUB.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD FAITH ISSUE FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
I THINK WE RUN THE RISK OF DAMAGING OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
I DID HEAR THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT PARKING.
I REALLY DON'T THINK PARKING ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IS AN ISSUE.
SO, I JUST ASK THAT YOU REALLY NOT ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL.
[00:10:05]
WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED PICKLEBALL, AND I GET THAT WE OPENED THE PARKS MASTER PLAN FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND IT'S GREAT, BUT I WOULD WARN YOU TO TRY TO DO THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT SIZED FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT WE SHOULD LEARN FROM NEPTUNE BEACH IN TERMS OF CREATING SO MANY COURTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BECOME A REGIONAL CENTER FOR PICKLEBALL. I WAS CONCERNED THAT LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE AT THE TOWN HALL WANTED EVEN MORE AND MORE AND MORE.I WOULD URGE YOU TO WORK WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AREA IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY WANT.
MAYBE CONSIDER THE GULLIFORD COMMUNITY CENTER IN MAYPORT, TALK TO OTHER BEACH CITIES, TALK TO THE FEDS, TALK TO THE STATE, BUT PLEASE DON'T TAKE THE MONEY. THAT WAS FOR OUR YOUTH AND OUR SENIORS AND MOVE IT SOMEPLACE ELSE.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MAYOR. DON WOLFSON ? GOOD EVENING. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS DON WOLFSON, FORMER MAYOR, CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE 42 YEARS.
I RECEIVED A COMMUNICATION FROM MAYOR GLASSER.
BUT THAT FOLLOWED SOME NERVOUS PEOPLE CALLING ME ABOUT THE BAKER CENTER FUNDING.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT MAYOR GLASSER SAID.
I DO WANT TO JUST SHARE A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS FOR THIS COMMISSION.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF YOU ARE ELECTED AND YOU ACT IN GOOD FAITH.
GLASSER SAID THAT PROJECT FOR BAKER WAS THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING.
PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WORK ON.
HOPEFULLY THIS PROJECT AT THE MEMORIAL PARK.
THE VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, THAT BECOMES A VERY VIABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COMMISSION TO STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING THAT IS RIGHT FOR THAT AREA.
THAT. THIS COMMUNITY HAS A WONDERFUL REPUTATION, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO DING IT.
AND IF IT'S PERCEIVED THAT COMMITMENTS ARE MADE AND ARE TAKEN BACK.
IT BECOMES, IT BECOMES QUESTIONABLE.
THE CITIZENS GET UPSET UNNECESSARILY.
AND I HAD A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR FORD ON SATURDAY ABOUT THIS MATTER, AND THE FUNDS WERE DEFINITELY APPROPRIATED. FOR THE BAKER CENTER.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOUBLING THE SIZE OF A OF A FACILITY THAT CAN STAND ON THE GROUND, AND IT'S $500,000 FOR EITHER BETWEEN 1400 OR 2300FT².
BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT TO GIVE THE.
THE PERCEPTION OF A BAIT AND SWITCH.
DUVAL COUNTY. THEY PROVIDED FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE TO TAKE IT AWAY AFTER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD PROMISED IT TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO THOSE CITIZENS, NOT JUST IN ATLANTIC BEACH, BUT ALSO IN JACKSONVILLE, WHICH IS JUST NORTH OF DONNER.
COMMISSION WANTS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL WHAT? YOU'RE DOING A WONDERFUL THING FOR ALL OF US, AND WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF IT.
BUT FOR SOMEONE, I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS THAT COMES BEFORE ONE OF YOU OR SEVERAL OF YOU AND LOBBIES FOR THOSE FUNDS TO BE, HEY, WE COULD JUST GO AHEAD AND MOVE THOSE FUNDS DOWN TO ANOTHER LOCATION, AND THAT COULD HELP US BY $1 MILLION PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THAT'S WRONG. I THINK AT BEST.
AND THIS COMMISSION IS WAY ABOVE THAT.
SO PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THIS AND LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER PROJECT THAT THIS COMMISSION COULD PUT THEIR NAME ON AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:15:01]
AND ALSO DUVAL COUNTY HAS ALSO MADE THAT COMMITMENT FOR US.DON'T WANT TO TAKE MY FULL FIVE MINUTES.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU WHAT YOU DO.
I'M A RESIDENT OF ATLANTIC BEACH, AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 16 YEARS.
FOR 15 OF THOSE YEARS, I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER TUTOR AT THE BAKER CENTER AT DONNER PARK.
THE TUTOR PROGRAM WAS AN EFFECTIVE ONE.
WE WORKED WITH K-5TH GRADERS FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS A WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VE DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, FOR SURE.
MOST DAYS THE CENTER WAS CROWDED WITH KIDS AND A FEW YEARS AGO WE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO HAVE SOMETHING LARGER? AND WOULDN'T THINGS WORK BETTER IF WE DID? WE NEEDED MORE ROOM.
SO, THE EXPANSION PLAN CAME ABOUT, I WON'T REITERATE WHAT HAD BEEN SAID, BUT IN RECENT REMARKS REPORTED IN THE BEACHES LEADER, OUR CURRENT MAYOR SEEMED TO BE MUSING ABOUT REALLOCATING THIS MONEY THAT WAS DEDICATED TO THE BAKER CENTER EXPANSION FOR PURCHASE OF ANOTHER BUILDING.
BUT TO ALL OF US WHO HAVE WORKED AT THE BAKER CENTER AND ALL OF US WHO ARE DEDICATED TO KIDS WHO COME THERE AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON THERE, THIS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT AFTER SCHOOL EDUCATION IS CRITICAL FOR A GOOD COMMUNITY LIKE OURS AND KIDS LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT AND BECOMING BETTER STUDENTS ARE CRUCIAL TO THIS COMMUNITY.
SO, I HAD THE DISTINCTION OF SERVING ON THE MAYOR'S COUNCIL OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, WHICH SUNSET LAST NOVEMBER, AND WE CREATED A REPORT.
AND PART OF THAT REPORT WAS ABOUT THE BAKER CENTER AND THE EXPANSION AND THE WAYS IN WHICH IT COULD HELP NOT ONLY CHILDREN, BUT SENIORS AGE IN PLACE AND THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO I WANT YOU ALL TO REALLY THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT THE FUNDS THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR THE BAKER CENTER, AND TO PLEASE KEEP THEM THERE. THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, I WATCHED A COMMITTEE MEETING THE STOP COMMITTEE THIS PAST WEEK, AND I WAS A LITTLE DISTRESSED WHEN I WATCHED IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO LIE, THERE WAS A COURTESY TO THE FLOOR.
SHE COULD NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE.
SHE'S SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE.
SO THE LETTER WAS READ AFTERWARDS, A COMMITTEE MEMBER SAID WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION THAT A COMMITTEE MEMBER WOULD HAVE TO APPEAR IN PERSON IF THEY WANTED TO BE HEARD, WHICH I FOUND SO IRONIC BECAUSE OUR VICE CHAIR WAS CHAIRING THE MEETING ESSENTIALLY VIA ZOOM. SO.
TO ME, VOICES OF CITIZENS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
LOTS OF THINGS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT.
THAT COMMITTEE IS A REPEAT COMMITTEE.
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD OTHER TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEES THAT HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE, AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT COMMITTEE IS GOING TO WORK, COLLECT DATA, GENERATE A REPORT, AND THEN SUBMIT THEM TO YOU ALL TO TAKE ACTION, WHICH IS GREAT.
BUT IT ALSO MAKES ME WONDER A LITTLE BIT.
LIKE I SAID, I WAS ON THE MAYOR'S COUNCIL OF HEALTH SAFETY, WELL-BEING, WHICH DID INCORPORATE SOME TRAFFIC RECOMMENDATIONS THAT TO DATE HAVE NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
SO I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO BEAR IN MIND THAT SOME OF THE WORK IS REPEAT WORK, AND THE BOARDS SHOULD SERVE THE CITIZENS.
OKAY, OUR VOICES AS CITIZENS ARE IMPORTANT, AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY MEAN.
[00:20:03]
IT WAS JUST DISTRESSING TO HEAR THAT FOR ME.THANKS. THANK YOU, MISS HERALD.
STEVEN FORAKER? HEY, FOLKS. EXCUSE ME.
I LOOK AT OUR TREE REMOVAL TREE PLANTED MITIGATION STATISTICS, AND AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TOTALLY DISCOURAGED. 589 TOTAL TREES REMOVED.
OF COURSE, I'LL TAKE A LONG TIME.
TOTAL INCHES. REMOVED 404,852IN PLANTED.
WHEN IT GETS TO LEGACY TREES, WE HAVE 45 LEGACY TREES REMOVED AND 199 LEGACY SPECIES PLANTED OF INCHES.
THE LEGACY INCHES IS 1124 REMOVED AND 793 LEGACY INCHES PLANTED. I REALLY RESPECT THE WORK THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS DONE OVER THE YEARS IN PROTECTING OUR CANOPY, BUT I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT MUCH HARDER BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING OUR TREE CANOPY AND ALL THE HABITAT THAT GOES WITH IT.
I COME UPSET ABOUT A PROPERTY ON EAST COAST DRIVE THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN SOLD AND AND WAS A LOVELY LITTLE BRICK HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, I KNEW SOMEONE WOULD EXPAND THAT.
TURNS OUT THE NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE STREET HAD THEIR EYES ON THAT, AND THEY DECIDED THEY WERE GOING TO CUT EVERY SINGLE TREE ON THAT PROPERTY.
THAT COULD BE MISTAKEN ABOUT ONE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, UNDER EIGHT INCH.
AND AND I LOOKED AT IT, IT GOES 16IN SABAL PALM, 12IN SABAL PALM, 12IN SABAL PALM, 16IN SABAL PALM, 14IN SABAL PALM GOES DOWN ANOTHER 9 OR 10 SABAL PALMS AND THEN THEIR COME BACK AFTER.
THE FIRST REQUEST WAS SIX INCHES LUNDA MAPLE, SIX INCHES RED MAPLE, 22IN CANNON.
RED MAPLE, SIX INCHES FLORIDA MAPLE SIX INCHES FLORIDA.
RED MAPLE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF INCHES FOR 12.
SO, SYLVESTER PALM ANOTHER SIX INCHES.
RED MAPLE, CANARY PALM, RED MAPLE, RED MAPLES, SABAL PALM, SABAL PALM, SABAL PALM, AND THEN 20IN MAGNOLIA, 12IN SYLVESTER, ANOTHER 12IN SYLVESTER PALMS, AND ANOTHER 12IN TWO MORE 12IN ANOTHER SIX-INCH MAPLE.
I KNOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT.
AND SOMEONE SAYS YOU SHOULDN'T SHAME PEOPLE IF THEY FOLLOW THE LAW.
WELL, FOLLOWING THE LAW HERE MEANS THAT WE'LL LOSE OUR CANOPY.
AND I KNOW THAT THE STATE HAS RESTRICTED IN MANY WAYS THAT THIS LOCAL COMMISSION CAN OPERATE AND DEAL WITH ISSUES LIKE THAT.
BUT I DON'T THINK PERSONALLY, WHATEVER THE THE CHEMISTRY IS, THAT WE AS A COMMISSION AND AS A CITIZENRY ARE ACTUALLY PROTECTING OUR CANOPY.
AND I'D LOVE TO SEE MORE WORK DONE IN THAT AREA.
DESMOND DEMPSEY BROOKS? GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DESMOND DEMPSEY BROOKS.
I'M A RESIDENT AT 1921 MILL STREET.
I'M ALSO A PRODUCT FROM THE GAYLE BAKER COMMUNITY CENTER, FORMERLY KNOWN AS DONALD PARK.
I WAS A CHILD FROM WHEN IT WAS A TRAILER ON CHURCH ROAD.
1996 WE MOVED TO THE GAYLE BAKER COMMUNITY CENTER.
[00:25:05]
I'M THE CANCER PATIENT.I BELIEVE THAT THE PARK NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED.
I WAS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE.
HOW CAN I SAY THE BENEFITS OF BEING A CHILD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? YOU KNOW, WE HAD CHIEF THOMAS, WE HAD GAIL BAKER, WE HAD THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT CAME IN THE CENTER TO IMPACT OUR LIFE.
LIKE, THE YOUNG LADY GOT UP AND SAID THAT SHE WAS A TUTOR.
SO BY YOU GUYS CHANGING THE PLANS, I DISAGREE WITH THAT.
WE ELECTED Y'ALL FOR A REASON.
HUGH GILBERTUS? GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE GALE BAKER CENTER.
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE THERE WAS ACTUALLY SITTING ON THE PORCH OF A GALE BAKER CENTER, WHERE WE SERVED CHILDREN RECEIVING DENTAL HYGIENE AND HELP FROM DOWNTOWN. AND THAT'S WHERE I FIRST MET GALE BAKER.
AND SUBSEQUENTLY I ALSO VOLUNTEERED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND THEN I CAME ON BOARD AS THE EDUCATION DIRECTOR AT BEACHES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT SITUATION.
COMMUNITIES HAVE MANY, MANY NEEDS.
I UNDERSTAND THE DIMENSIONS OF ALL THOSE NEEDS.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A COMMUNITY CENTER LIKE THE JORDAN OR THE BAKER CENTER, WE NEED TO KNOW.
AND HAVING BEEN THERE YEARS, IS THAT WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS THE DAY TO DAY HAPPENINGS THAT OCCUR THERE BETWEEN CHILDREN AND ADULTS, WITH OTHER EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE.
BUT BUT IT GIVES IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW IT IS THAT DECISIONS WOULD IMPACT IN A POSITIVE WAY PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE THERE AND HAVE THAT PLACE TO BE.
AND EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS, IT'S AN IMPORTANT PLACE.
AND I ALSO SAW, ON A DAILY BASIS, THE NEED OF HOW THAT THAT BUILDING WAS JUST NOT SUFFICIENT FOR HOW IT COULD SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH.
PLEASE RECONSIDER ANY DECISION THAT WOULD NEGATE.
BUILDING, IMPROVING THAT CENTER OR BUILDING ONTO IT FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. GILBERTUS. OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS BEFORE WE CLOSE? COURTESY OF THE FLOOR, PLEASE. COME ON UP.
SO I BOUGHT A TOTALLY REDONE HOME.
I PUT A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION INTO IT TO DATE AND I AM APPALLED, ABSOLUTELY APPALLED BY WHAT THE PROPERTIES LOOK LIKE AROUND ME. I PUT UP AN EIGHT-FOOT FENCE THREE YEARS AGO FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
I SAID THE MAN BEHIND ME, HIS YARD.
THE GUY ON THE SIDE OF ME HAS TREES GROWING OUT OF HIS CARPORT.
THE ROOF. THE GUY ON THIS SIDE'S HOUSE IS FULL OF MOLD AND MILDEW.
HOUSES HAVEN'T BEEN PAINTED SINCE I MOVED HERE.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, I'VE NEVER BEEN SO DISAPPOINTED.
[00:30:06]
AND IF I WERE YOU GUYS, I'D BE TOTALLY EMBARRASSED TO EVEN ADMIT IT WAS PART OF ATLANTIC BEACH.CARS PARKED ALL OVER THE LAWNS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU EVEN WHO RENTS PRETTY OBVIOUS TO ME.
MIND YOU, SEVEN CARS PARKED ON THE FRONT LAWN.
SO I WENT OVER AND I SAID TO THEM, COULD YOU KINDLY MOVE THE CARS? I SAID, THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE PARKED ON THE FRONT LAWN.
DON'T YOU HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR YOUR LANDLORD? AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT I WAS TOLD.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE CARS STAYED THERE ALL WEEKEND LONG.
TWO PEOPLE RENT THAT HOUSE, YET SEVEN CARS PARKED IN THE FRONT YARD.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THEY ARE VERY SELECTIVE IN WHAT THEY APPROVE AND FOR WHO THEY APPROVE IT FOR.
I KNOW THERE'S NINE AND TEN FOOT FENCES AROUND HERE.
I'VE SEEN THEM. AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THEM KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
I ALSO KNOW THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT JUST APPROVED A SHED SITTING RIGHT AT THE GATE OF A FENCE.
IT IS THE BIGGEST EYESORE I EVER SAW IN MY LIFE.
NOW. I WALK THIS NEIGHBORHOOD EVERY DAY.
I RIDE MY BIKE AND I DRIVE IT.
AND I HAVE BEEN SENDING MAYOR FORD ALL OF THE ISSUES.
CARPORTS LOADED WITH GARBAGE AND JUNK FURNITURE BOXES.
AND WHEN I SAY CARS PARKED ON THE FRONT LAWN, I'M TALKING RIGHT OUT THE FRONT DOOR.
AND WHEN I TALK TO SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, WE CAN'T GET ANY RESULTS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH, GUYS, IT'S EMBARRASSING.
I'M EMBARRASSED TO HAVE MY FRIENDS OVER BECAUSE IT IS SO DISGUSTING.
I SENT MAYOR FORD A LIST OF, I WANT TO SAY, PROBABLY 18 HOUSES INITIALLY.
EVERY ONE OF THOSE HOUSES HAVE CLEANED UP THEIR ACTS.
I HAD AN OFFER ON MINE FOR 700,000.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW. I EVEN SAID TO THE PEOPLE, THEY SAID, WE JUST LOVE THE HOUSE.
I'M NOT SELLING IT RIGHT NOW, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED I EVER BOUGHT IN HERE.
AND WHEN I TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT AND ABOUT THAT LIVE IN ATLANTIC BEACH, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TOLD? OH, WELL, WE DON'T LIVE IN THE $2 MILLION HOUSES.
THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR US.
SO I WANTED TO BRING THIS FORWARD.
LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN SENDING MAYOR FORD ON THE VIOLATIONS, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS FOR SURE.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOARDING BEHIND THE FENCES ARE WELL AWARE THAT THEY CAN STOCKPILE BACK THERE.
AND I'M TALKING WASHING MACHINES, BROKEN BIKES AND GUTTERS.
THEY DON'T EVEN GUTTERS ON THEIR HOUSES.
THEY'RE AWARE THAT THAT THE COUNTY WON'T MAKE THEM CLEAN IT UP BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE SEEN.
SO MAYBE THE RULES NEED TO CHANGE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO COME HERE AND VOICE MY OPINION BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN SO DISCERNED AND SO UNHAPPY WITH MOVING TO THIS AREA. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, MRS. GIRARDI. UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? HEARING NONE. WE'LL CLOSE.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY.
[3. CITY MANAGER REPORTS]
SO THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM THREE.BILL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GOOD EVENING. COMMISSION.
EXCUSE ME. I'M WAY AHEAD OF MYSELF.
AND THEN THAT FOLLOWING SATURDAY, WE HAVE A VETERANS DAY EVENT AT MEMORIAL PARK.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO BIG THINGS FOR NOVEMBER, BESIDES OUR REGULAR COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
SO WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD SEEK APPROVAL OF THE 90 DAY CALENDAR.
[00:35:04]
WE WILL TAKE A MOTION ON THAT.COMMENTS. SO, WE SHOULD SET OUR DATE IN JANUARY FOR OUR VISION OR GOAL SETTING OR VISIONING SESSION.
WE IF WE DO THAT NOW WE'LL IT'LL BEFORE THAT DATE GETS OVERWHELMED WITH OTHER STUFF.
YOU CAN ADD THAT TO THE NEXT MEETING.
YOU WANT TO SET A DATE NOW? YES WE SHOULD.
OKAY. WITHOUT TAKING UP TOO MUCH TIME, ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT OR DO YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE SCHEDULED? SO WE COORDINATE WITH A FACILITATOR.
SO WE PROVIDE THOSE DATES UM AND WORK THAT OUT.
DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF WE'D RATHER COME UP WITH SOME DATES HERE AND THEN GIVE THAT TO THE FACILITATOR AND SEE IF ANY OF THOSE DATES WORK FOR ASSUMING WE'RE GOING TO USE THE SAME PERSON.
I CAN'T I CAN'T SAY THAT FOR SURE.
COMMISSIONER KELLY, DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION? WHAT IF MY IF I COULD GO BACK TO MY CALENDAR.
AND WE HAVE WE HAVE AN OFF MONDAY BECAUSE WE'RE USUALLY ALL AVAILABLE ON MONDAYS.
YEAH. THE THE 29TH OF JANUARY IS, UM, GIVES US TWO MONDAYS BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
YEAH. THAT THAT WOULD MEAN THAT ONE'S OPEN.
AND WE'RE ALL USUALLY AVAILABLE ON MONDAYS.
WE CAN CHECK WITH LINDA AND SEE IF SHE'S AVAILABLE THREE MONTHS AHEAD.
COMMISSIONER, THE 20TH OF JANUARY.
IS THAT STILL A TENTATIVE TOWN HALL MEETING? YES. IT'S TENTATIVE.
DO WE HAVE A? DO WE HAVE? WELL, WE'RE NOT AMENDING THE CALENDAR FOR YOUR REQUEST.
WE'RE JUST TAKING IT UNDER ADVISEMENT TO BRING BACK IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE COMMISSION.
OKAY. SO, AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CALENDAR AS PRESENTED TODAY? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CALENDAR PRESENTED TODAY.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH I OPPOSED UNANIMOUS.
NEXT WOULD BE ITEM 3.B DORA DRIVE PROPERTY UPDATE, MR. KILLINGSWORTH. THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. MAYOR. WOULD THIS ALL HAVE STEVE SWANN COME UP AND PRESENT HIS REPORT ON THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS? EVENING. MAYOR. COMMISSIONER STEVE SWANN, CITY ENGINEER.
UM, WE HAD TALKED TWO WEEKS AGO, AND WE GOT THE EXTENSION ON THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE DUE DILIGENCE THAT WOULD TAKE UPON MYSELF TO DO A BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS TO LOOK AT IF WE WERE TO BUILD, UM, STORMWATER STORAGE AT DORA STREET, AS OPPOSED TO BUILDING IT DOWN MORE IN THE HOPKINS CREEK AREA, AND REMEMBERING THAT OUR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO CREATE MORE STORAGE IN THIS, IN THIS WHOLE BASIN.
SO, I KIND OF RAN THOSE NUMBERS USING HIGH LEVEL COST ESTIMATES AND BEING VERY CONSERVATIVE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT CHEAPER DOWNSTREAM AND UPSTREAM. AND I CAN'T REALLY, YOU KNOW.
OKAY. SO ANYHOW, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I SUSPECTED FROM THE GET GO.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO REPORT THAT TO YOU.
ALSO UPDATE ON THE OUR PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TOMORROW.
UM, BE OUT THERE DIGGING AROUND IN THOSE TRASH PILES.
UH, HOPEFULLY FIND NOTHING BUT CINDER BLOCKS, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT.
SO WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? WHEN DOES THE 45 DAYS RUN OUT? WHEN? WHAT'S THE DATE? IT WAS. IT WAS THAT THURSDAY, RIGHT? IT'S. YEAH.
THE NEW 45 DAYS EXPIRES ON NOVEMBER 27TH.
LOOKING AT COMMISSION MEETINGS IN BETWEEN THEN AND NOW.
SO, THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, I'LL BE ABLE TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THAT PHASE TWO.
[4. REPORTS AND/OR REQUESTS FROM CITY COMMISSIONERS]
SO MOVING TO ITEM FOUR AND SPECIFICALLY I'LL START WITH FOR A WITH YOUR PERMISSION COMMISSIONERS I'M GOING TO LEAD OFF ON ON THIS PART BECAUSE I WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS. AND, BUT UM, THE FIRST ITEM I WANT TO ADDRESS, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, MAYOR FORD IS THE[00:40:02]
ONE THAT BROUGHT UP AT THE LAST MEETING.WAS IT FUNGIBLE? THE 500,000 FOR THE BAKER CENTER.
COULD IT BE MOVED? IN RETROSPECT, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HAD A LITTLE MORE DIALOG WITH A FEW PEOPLE BEFORE I DID THAT.
BUT I DID SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE DIALOG WITH SEVERAL MAYORS AND SEVERAL CITIZENS.
AND MAYOR FORD IS GOING ON THE RECORD AT THIS TIME.
I DO THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT PARKING AT DONNER PARK, BECAUSE IT DOES GET A LOT OF USE AND IT'S GOING TO GET A LOT MORE USE. SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL REMEDIES.
I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT NOT TOO LONG AGO, BRIAN IN IN OUR CITY STAFF HAD DONE A DRAWING FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE PICKLEBALL. AND IN THAT HE ALSO SUGGESTED WAYS WE COULD EXPAND PARKING IN THAT WESTERLY PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING TENNIS COURT. SO THAT'S ONE THING.
BUT THAT'S NOT MAYOR FORD, SO WE'RE GOOD ON THAT.
THIS IS FROM THE FROM AB ATLANTIC BEACH ELEMENTARY, AND THEY JUST SENT A NICE THANK YOU NOTE.
YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE BEST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TO FAB'S RECENT PROJECT.
WE THOUGHT YOU WOULD ENJOY SEEING THE CHILDREN'S SMILING FACES.
WE TRULY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE TIMES YOU HAVE PARTNERED WITH US TO.
SOMETHING, OR RATHER THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR STUDENTS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE COLLABORATIONS.
MANY SENDING MANY THANKS ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD.
AND I'LL JUST PASS OUT PICTURES OF THE CHILDREN FOR YOUR REVIEW.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORTING.
SO, LET'S MOVE TO COMMISSIONER BOLE.
YEAH, I'LL BE REAL QUICK. YOU GUYS HEAR ME PITCH THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY.
AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION A COUPLE THINGS THAT THE CITY DOESN'T PAY FOR.
SOME OF YOU PROBABLY SEEN THE JAGUAR DOWN THERE.
THE NEW JAGUAR STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE.
THAT'S BEACHES, TOWN CENTER, AGENCY MONEY.
AND WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? PARADE OF HOMES, DANCING IN THE STREETS, GOLF TOURNAMENT.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY PAY FOR.
SO, I JUST WANT TO KEEP EVERYBODY ABREAST OF THAT.
AND AND I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN ATLANTIC BEACH AND I LOVE IT HERE.
COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER KELLY.
SO AS ALWAYS, I'M PITCHING FOR THE SC AND AND THEY TOO OF COURSE ARE DISTRESSED ABOUT THE TREES.
BUT ALSO, THERE ARE SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS EAGER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RENOVATION OF THE FOLIAGE OR LACK OF AT THE CORNER OF SEMINOLE AND ATLANTIC.
SO, IF WE PUT THOSE PEOPLE TO WORK, PLEASE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE'RE PROGRESSING ON CREATING THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR POSITION THAT THAT BOTH THE SEC AND THE CHILD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS HAVE ASKED FOR.
IT WAS IN OUR VISION PLAN FROM LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE REORGANIZATION OF OF THE REC COMMISSION MEETING.
REC DEPARTMENT WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING VOLUNTEER WORK, AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD COORDINATE THOSE FROM A CENTRAL PERSON IN WITHIN THE CITY. YES.
WE DID PROVIDE THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME WITH A COPY OF THAT REPORT.
MAYOR FORD, YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT.
SO, IF IT'S POSSIBLE, KEVIN, I'D LIKE THE MAYOR TO HAVE THAT.
AND THEN I THINK CANDICE MAY HAVE GIVEN HERS AWAY TO A FORMER CITY MANAGER.
I HAVE ONE, BUT ALSO, IF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE ANOTHER COPY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
[00:45:05]
A FEW THINGS THAT CAME UP IN THE MAYOR'S COUNCIL AS AS CHAIR.AND, YOU KNOW, WE TOOK AN ENTIRE YEAR EACH MONTH TO TACKLE DIFFERENT TOPICS SAFETY AND TRAFFIC.
ONE OF THEM, BUT SENIOR PROGRAMING IS ANOTHER.
AND GAIL BAKER CENTER WAS CERTAINLY AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST.
UM, I WANTED TO MENTION, FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS GREAT HAVING THE BLUE ANGELS BACK IN TOWN.
THAT WAS REALLY A POWERFUL AND MOVING.
IT'S ALWAYS VERY MOVING FOR ME TO WATCH.
ON NOVEMBER 1ST, BEACHES WATCH IS HOSTING A TOWN HALL WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, AND I REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY AN IMPORTANT ALL OF THE ONES, THEY DO THIS EVERY MONTH AND IT'S I BELIEVE IT'S THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT THE BEACHES LIBRARY.
SO THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, AN IMPORTANT MEETING AND EVENT FOR THE COMMISSION TO ATTEND.
ALSO, ALL THE PUBLIC RECREATION HAS A LOT ON OUR LIST OR A LOT OF EVENTS THIS SEASON.
IN OCTOBER WE HAVE FAMILY FUN DAY ON SATURDAY, WHICH IS ALSO GOING TO BE A CAMP OUT THAT NIGHT.
HANSEN TREATS HELD MOSTLY BY OUR BPD AND CITY STAFF RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL FOR FOR HALLOWEEN.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE JAZZ FEST FESTIVAL THAT OUR MR. KILLINGSWORTH MENTIONED.
WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT AT THE TOWN HALL.
UM, I THINK WE WE HAD MAJORITY OF IT WAS PICKLEBALL.
BUT I REALLY THINK IT'S WONDERFUL TO KIND OF HONE DOWN IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT THE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT OUR BEACHES, AT OUR PARKS, HERE IN ATLANTIC BEACH, YOU KNOW, SO FROM LANDSCAPING TO SIDEWALKS THERE OR DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, BIKE STATIONS, PUMPING STATIONS, WATER STATIONS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT THAT'S YOUR TIME TO REALLY PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC INPUT.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I THINK THAT'S IT. I KNOW I HAD A LOT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER WATERS.
YEAH, THANKS. I WENT TO THE CDB MEETING THIS PAST WEEK AND TALKED TO RICHARD ARTHUR ABOUT THE STOP COMMITTEE SAFETY TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMITTEE. IS HIS MAJOR PROBLEM WITH IT WAS IT'S JUST SO VOLUMINOUS AND SO WIDE AND IT'S SO.
WHEN YOU GET INTO A MEETING, YOU CAN GO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, TWO DAYS LATER HE WAS HE WAS PICKED AS CHAIRMAN AND RICHARD WENT WITHOUT NOTICE, TOOK THAT MEETING OVER AND DID A PHENOMENAL JOB NAVIGATING THAT MEETING TIMELY WITH PURPOSE.
AND ALSO WANT TO THANK MR. KILLINGSWORTH, OUR CITY MANAGER, AND CURTIS, OUR MAYOR FORD, FOR ALSO BEING THERE BECAUSE MR. KILLINGSWORTH GAVE IT.
POINT AND PURPOSE AND DIRECTION AND WENT TO THE MEETING PRIOR TO THAT.
AND FRANKLY, IT WAS A NIGHTMARE.
THEY WEREN'T GETTING ALONG AND I JUST FELT SO MUCH BETTER ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE.
AND YES, WE HAVE HAD THIS COMMITTEE YEARS AGO, THE PARKING COMMITTEE, I KNOW WE'VE HAD THIS COMMITTEE, BUT THIS ISN'T REPEAT, THIS IS A DIFFERENT TOWN THAN IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WE HAVE NOW.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT EXPOSURE TO ATLANTIC BEACH.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE AND THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING.
AND I HOPE IT IT JUST CONTINUES.
I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR RIGHT NOW.
I HAD FORGOTTEN THE ONE THING THAT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE AGENDA FOR ME COMMISSIONERS.
YEAH, I DID HAVE ONE THING, THOUGH, TO PIGGYBACK ON DOC WATERS.
SO I TALKED TO HIM, PROBABLY MR. ARTHUR. YEAH, YEAH. AND SAID, BOY, THAT WHAT A CONNECTION THERE.
BECAUSE NOW WE'VE GOT BOTH US AND BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY.
THEY HAVE YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A PARKING ISSUE AS YOU KNOW.
SO THAT'S A THAT'S A CONDUIT FOR US.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANYWAYS, IN YOUR PACKETS YOU HAVE A FORM.
IT'S CALLED THE CHARTER OFFICER PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
AND AS YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT IS IN THE CHARTER.
[00:50:03]
IT IS OUR DUTY ANNUALLY TO DO REVIEWS OF THE THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE CHARTER STAFF.AND THAT WOULD BE THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY CLERK.
THIS YEAR, WE WILL NOT BE DOING THE CITY MANAGER.
SO BUT WE WILL DO THESE REVIEWS ON CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK.
FILL IN THE BLANKS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
DON'T GO TO THE CITY CLERK SINCE YOU'RE EVALUATING HER.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD SUGGEST JUST CONTACT MR. KILLINGSWORTH. BUT THIS FORM WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS BACK IS MONDAY.
OKAY, BILL, TO GET THAT, THAT'D BE FINE, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, ANY QUESTIONS, ASK BILL, BUT LET'S GET THIS DONE BY MONDAY, PLEASE.
RIGHT. OKAY, I'LL GET YOU A COPY.
OKAY. YOU DON'T HAVE A PRINTED AGENDA? NO. OKAY.
[8.A. RESOLUTION NO. 23-46]
OKAY. MOVING RIGHT ALONG.WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM EIGHT, A RESOLUTION.
NUMBER 23-46, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH APPROVING A NEW MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS AND PURCHASE ORDERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND AS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS RESOLUTION AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, THIS IS A MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT PORTION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY ON ATLANTIC BOULEVARD AND MAYPORT ROAD.
WE WISH TO BE MAINTAINED ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS THAN FDOT DOES IT.
SO, FDOT WILL PAY US FOR THE TIMES IN WHICH THEY WOULD NORMALLY DO THE MAINTENANCE.
AND WHAT THAT AMOUNTS TO IS ABOUT $17,000 A QUARTER OR $68,000 ANNUALLY, WHICH IS AN $11,000 AND SOME CHANGE INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR. AND I HAVE KEVIN HERE, IF HE HAS ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS OF IT, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS HOW THIS PARTICULAR LANDSCAPING WILL BE AFFECTED IN THE BY DOT PROJECT ON MAYPORT ROAD IMPROVEMENT. AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHEN WE'RE BEGINNING THAT IMPROVEMENT I'VE HEARD.
THROUGH THE MAYOR TO COMMISSIONER RING.
AND THIS IS JUST MAINTENANCE ON THE ROAD.
IT'S NOT LIKE REPLANTING OF PALM TREES OR IT'S PRINCIPALLY MOWING AND EDGING.
YES, COMMISSIONER. SO WHY DO WE GO TO A ROAD? WHY DO WE GO THAT FAR? BECAUSE AFTER AN ISLAND IS THE LIMIT.
SO WHY ARE WE GOING ALL THE WAY TO A CC? I'LL LET KEVIN COME UP AND ANSWER THAT.
KEVIN HOGENCAMP, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
I NOTICED THAT, TOO AND ASKED THE SAME QUESTION.
AND MR. KILLINGSWORTH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE, BUT IT EXTENDS NORTH ON MAYPORT ROAD.
AND THAT'S THE LONG-STANDING AGREEMENT.
FRANKLY, I THINK WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT OF A FAVOR, FRANKLY.
GO AHEAD. SO IT'S 68,000 ENOUGH? A $68,000 DOESN'T PAY FOR THE ENTIRE $80,000 THAT WE PAY THE LANDSCAPER.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE A STRICTER STANDARD AS FAR AS NUMBER OF TIMES THAT IT'S MOWED.
AND SO, YES, WE THINK IT'S A PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT AND NOTICE THAT IT HAD TO BE SEND IN REPORTS.
SO, IS THAT SOMEBODY IN PUBLIC WORKS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING THOSE REPORTS BEFORE WE CAN GET PAID? IT IS, IT IS AND THEY DO.
AND AND WE IN TURN GET, GET PAID WHEN WE SEND THEM WHEN WE SEND INVOICES.
AND THEN IT'S KIND OF KIND OF LABOR INTENSIVE THAT REPORT, THE REPORTING.
[00:55:05]
IT'S A FORM.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 23-46.
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2346.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH I.
AYE. OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU.
[8.B. RESOLUTION NO. 23-48]
MOVING TO ITEM EIGHT B RESOLUTION NUMBER 23-48.2023. MR. KILLINGSWORTH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HAVE THE POLICE CHIEF COME UP.
BUT BASICALLY, THIS IS A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCIES.
SO WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THE RESOLUTION IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
CHIEF. POLICE. ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU, OR WOULD YOU LIKE JUST AN OVERVIEW? AND SO THE REPORTING FOR THIS, IS IT GOING TO BE SIMILAR TO THE KIND OF REPORTING YOU DO FOR FEMA REPORTING FOR THE ACCOUNTING FOR WHAT, THE HOUR THAT THE EXPENSE IS AND, AND WHAT YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH YOU SPENT OVER TIME AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
YES. IT'D BE EXACTLY IF WE DEPLOYED FOR SOME REASON, EITHER WITH THE COUNTY OR AT A REQUEST OF ANOTHER ENTITY, WE KEEP THE SAME FORMS, THE FEMA FORMS, AND SUBMIT THEM FOR REIMBURSEMENT. SO, IT'S ALREADY PART OF OUR SYSTEM? YES, MA'AM.
CHIEF. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 23-48.
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 23-48.
SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU.
[8.C. RESOLUTION NO. 23-47 ]
MOVING TO RESOLUTION.THIS IS ITEM 8.C RESOLUTION NUMBER 23-47 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS DELINEATED IN EXHIBIT A FOR THE PLAN YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2024, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS PROVIDED TO CITY EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH CIGNA LIFE INSURANCE THROUGH CIGNA LIFE INSURANCE AND EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PLAN.
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS AND PURCHASE ORDERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND AS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS RESOLUTION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? OH. I'M SORRY. WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR KATHY.
I SAW HER WALK IN. THERE YOU ARE.
KATHY VARIAN, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
THIS IS AN ITEM I COME TO YOU EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVE A BROKER WHO ACTUALLY DOES THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK ON THIS.
WE WERE EXPECTING ABOUT A 22% INCREASE IN INSURANCE RATES, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN BORNE BY THE CITY AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEES AND GOT IT DOWN TO 8.7% INCREASE.
OPERATING OPTIMISTICALLY AND WE DID GET CIGNA TO INCLUDE THIS DOES INCLUDE WEIGHT LOSS PROVISION.
WE HAVE MANY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ASKED FOR THIS.
IT'S THE LATEST TREND AMONG HR DIRECTORS.
WE, YOU KNOW, THE SCIENCE IS SHOWING THAT IF YOU GET PEOPLE'S WEIGHT OFF, YOU AVOID THE COMORBIDITIES AND EXPENSES DOWN THE ROAD.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
EVERYTHING IS GOING TO STAY THE SAME.
WE HAVE THE SAME PROGRAM, THE SAME INSURANCE, SAME POLICIES AS, SAY, AN 8.7% INCREASE.
THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE PLAN WITH AFLAC.
FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, I BELIEVE THEY ARE NO LONGER OFFERING GROUP PLANS.
SO, WE WENT OUT TO MARKET AND FOUND THAT STANDARD, ONE OF OUR PROVIDERS FOR LONG TERM AND SHORT TERM DISABILITY, PROVIDES BETTER PLANS AND CHEAPER, SO WE'RE REAL EXCITED TO OFFER THIS TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
[01:00:04]
IT IS A POPULAR SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN.I JUST WANT TO COMMENT. I TALKED TO KATHY ABOUT THIS EARLIER WHEN I READ THIS.
AND NOW IT'S THE SAME THING WITH OBESITY.
THESE DRUGS RIGHT NOW FOR THE STAFF AND PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS CIGNA INSURANCE, THESE DRUGS FOR OBESITY ARE THE ARE SOME OF THE BEST DRUGS THAT HAVE COME OUT IN THE PAST 10 OR 15 YEARS.
THE PROBLEM IS THE COST IS 0 TO $1400 A MONTH FOR THEM.
YEAH. STAFF DOES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT BECAUSE IT MAY NOT LAST LONG.
WELL THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE I'M JUST ABSOLUTELY THRILLED.
AND I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
AS I WAS TELLING YOU, WE HAVE ONE PERSON WHO OVERWEIGHT, AND HE IS.
SO YEAH, IT'S TRULY, I THINK, GOING TO BE A LIFE CHANGER FOR A LOT OF STAFF.
I MOVE, WE ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 23-47 AS READ.
AND SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE SIGNIFY YOUR APPROVAL WITH I OPPOSED.
THAT MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.
IS THERE A MEETING? THERE'S AN ANNUAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD WHICH STARTS IN NOVEMBER.
RIGHT. SO, I WAS KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED THAT YOU GUYS WOULD APPROVE THIS.
THANK YOU. SO, WE DO HAVE OPEN ENROLLMENT MEETINGS.
I USUALLY MEET WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS AT NIGHT.
FOR THE NIGHT STAFF, WE HAVE A BENEFITS BOOKLET THAT WE PUT OUT.
WE HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
THEY SIGN UP THERE IF THEY WANT.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT COMPUTER COMFORTABLE WITH ELECTRONICS, THEY CAN COME MEET WITH US.
WE STILL OFFER THAT ONE ON ONE, BUT YES.
SO THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD WILL BE FROM NEXT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD TO NOVEMBER 17TH.
AND THEN IT'S A IT'S A REALLY TIGHT SCHEDULE BECAUSE THEY NEED THREE WEEKS TO LOAD EVERYTHING IN TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S READY TO GO BY JANUARY 1ST.
[9.A ORDINANCE NO. 31-23-16, Public Hearing and First Reading]
MOVING TO ITEM NINE A.PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH.
ATLANTIC BEACH. COUNTY OF DUVAL.
STATE OF FLORIDA. AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF THOSE LANDS DESCRIBED IN ATTACHED EXHIBIT A FROM RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY TO COMMERCIAL CM, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MR. MAYOR, I HAVE AMANDA COME UP AND GIVE THE STAFF REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED LAND USE CHANGE.
HI. GOOD EVENING, AMANDA ASKEW, THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
GIVE ME JUST A MINUTE AND I'M GOING TO SHARE, HOPEFULLY SHARE OUR SCREEN SO THE FOLKS AT HOME.
WE. I'M GOING TO DISCUSS BOTH AGENDA ITEM 9.A AND 9.B TOGETHER THEY ARE RELATED. 9.A IS A PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHILE ITEM 9.B IS FOR THE SAME PROPERTY AND IT'S A PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MEAN.
[01:05:05]
UM, THEY ARE PROPOSING TO MOVE TO COMMERCIAL FOR THIS PROPERTY.THE ADDRESS IS ZERO WEST SECOND STREET AND IT IS JUST TO THE WEST OR LEFT OF 41 AND 61 WEST SECOND STREET.
AS I MENTIONED, THEY DO HAVE RESIDENTIAL DESIGNATIONS.
CURRENTLY THE BUSINESS AND OPERATION AT 4161 AND THIS PROPERTY IS OCEANSIDE COLLISION.
THEY'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR QUITE SOME TIME THERE.
YOU CAN SEE HERE THEY HAVE STORAGE OF VEHICLES.
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS SHOWN IN RED.
THIS IS KIND OF A HIGHER LEVEL MAP.
EVERYTHING IN YELLOW IS RESIDENTIAL IN NATURE.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTICE THAT THERE IS A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY JUST TO THE NORTH OF THIS PROPERTY THAT IS IN THE SAME DESIGNATION, BUT IT IS AN EXISTING NONCONFORMITY.
IT'S JUST BEEN IN THERE FOR A WHILE.
GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON THIS PROPERTY.
IN 1982, ALL OF THIS PROPERTY, ZERO, 61 AND 41 WERE ALL ZONED RESIDENTIAL IN NATURE.
IN 1985, THE PROPERTY TO THE EAST OF THIS, THE EXISTING BUILDINGS, 61, WERE ZONED RESIDENTIAL.
I'M SORRY, 61 WAS ZONED COMMERCIAL AND ZERO WAS ZONED RESIDENTIAL.
1986 THE THE BUILDING WAS BUILT ON 61, AND IT WAS BUILT AS AN OFFICE AND WAREHOUSE SPACE.
AND 1987 A USE BY EXCEPTION WAS GRANTED FOR THAT PROPERTY FOR AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE GARAGE, WITH A STIPULATION THAT THERE'S NO OUTSIDE STORAGE. ACCORDING TO SOME PHOTOS IN 1983, IT SHOWS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY BEING USED FOR STORAGE OF VEHICLES AND 2021 OCEANSIDE COLLISION ACQUIRED THIS PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN USED OBVIOUSLY SINCE 1993 AS OUTDOOR STORAGE FOR VEHICLES.
WHAT BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION IS WE HAD A FENCE THAT WAS ERECTED WITHOUT A BUILDING PERMIT, SO THEY CAME IN TO GET A FENCE PERMIT AND WE DISCOVERED THAT, HEY, YOU'RE ZONED RESIDENTIAL. ALL THIS TIME WE JUST ASSUMED, YOU KNOW, NO ONE CHECKED IT, THAT IT WAS NOT ZONED PROPERLY.
AS I MENTIONED, IT'S NOT RESIDENTIAL USES ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
ALL OF THE USES THERE WOULD NOT BE UNDER MINOR AUTOMOTIVE USES.
AND I'LL GET INTO IT IN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THE CITY WENT THROUGH SOME ZONING CHANGES AS PART OF THE MAYPORT ROAD OVERLAY AND REALLY TOOK THESE AUTOMOTIVE USES AND PUT THEM IN MORE OF THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND WAREHOUSE DISTRICTS, WHICH IS IN A JUST TO THE WEST OF THIS PROPERTY.
AS I MENTIONED, IT'S NONCONFORMING.
NOW. IT'S IN SOME INSTANCES, IF IT WAS ZONED PROPERLY, WE JUST ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T EXPAND.
AGAIN. ANOTHER MAP TO DEPICTING THIS PROPERTY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS AND IT'S SINCE BEEN DEMOLISHED RESIDENTIAL TO THE WEST.
AND THEN THIS IS SINGLETON'S MOBILE HOME PARK.
SO IT IS RESIDENTIAL TO THE SOUTH HERE.
I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, BUT THERE WAS A MAYPORT ROAD IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT WAS A RESULT OF SOME COMMUNITY INPUT THAT WE HAD BACK IN 2018. ULTIMATELY, THERE WAS LAND USE CHANGES, UPDATES TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, SOME TRANSPORTATION CHANGES IN THE AREA, AND ART AND FACADE GRANTS.
THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD DID TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, AND THEY HAD TO LOOK AT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROPOSED ZONING AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THEY HAD TO FIND THAT THE REQUEST WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
[01:10:01]
THE NEXT POLICY IS A.1.10.4 THAT THE CITY SHALL ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE APPROPRIATE REDEVELOPMENT AND INFILL DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAYPORT ROAD CORRIDOR AND NEW DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE MAYPORT ROAD SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.AND THEN THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER POLICIES.
POLICY A.1.10.5 ALONG THE MAYPORT ROAD CORRIDOR.
THE CONTINUATION AND PROLIFERATION OF LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USES, AUTOMOTIVE SALES AND REPAIR BUSINESSES, AND OTHER MORE INTENSE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ACTIVITIES SHALL BE DISCOURAGED IN FAVOR OF THOSE BUSINESSES AND USES THAT PROVIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING RETAIL.
AND THEN THERE'S THE NEXT POLICY.
A.1.1.1 IS THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
OR COASTAL HIGH HAZARD THAT WOULDN'T APPLY HERE.
AND THE PROPERTY DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.
IT WAS NOT A UNANIMOUS VOTE AT THE SEPTEMBER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEETING.
IF YOU REMEMBER, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD IS NOT THE FINAL DECISION.
THEY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THIS BOARD.
SOME COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEMBERS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND REZONING DID NOT MEET THE VISION OF THE MAYPORT ROAD GOALS AND POLICIES IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR STAFF.
YES, WE HEARD ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR RIGHT WHEN THEY CAME FORWARD.
IT SEEMS LIKE I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE.
PREVIOUSLY, AND REALLY WHAT THIS, YOU KNOW, IN MY AMATEUR LOOK AT THIS, IS THAT WE'RE GRANDFATHERING SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1993.
IT HAS BEEN THERE. YES, SINCE 87.
IF WE. IF WE DID NOT APPROVE THIS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? WELL, IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR OWNER PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN 2021 AND IT'S BEEN OPERATING.
I THINK HE WOULD HAVE A STRONG LEGAL CASE.
AND OF COURSE, I'LL LET JASON ANSWER THAT.
DO THE SELLER FOR NOT DISCLOSING THAT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROPERTY'S CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES.
MY CONCERN, JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE, IF YOU IF YOU LIVED OVER ON THAT STREET, WOULD BE THE CONTINUAL CREEP OF COMMERCIAL INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, INCREASED TRAFFIC OR ANYTHING AROUND THAT OR NOISE.
BUT BUT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT SAME WORK SINCE 1993.
THE THING ABOUT IT IS THAT THIS GENTLEMAN HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK FOR ATLANTIC BEACH POLICE AND THE BEACH RESIDENTS, AND THIS HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
I WAS AT THE MEETING. I'M TRYING TO PICK UP ALL THESE POINTS.
BUT THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE CORE OF THIS IS TWO STREETS OFF MAYPORT ROAD.
YES. RIGHT. SO, AS FAR AS AFFECTING MAYPORT ROAD AND THE CORRIDOR, IT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT IT, DOES IT? OR IS IT? IT WILL CHANGE IT TO COMMERCIAL.
IS IT GOING TO BE YOUR WORD ABOUT THE CREEP IN FROM AND OTHER? I MEAN, ULTIMATELY THE CORRIDOR WAS CREATED TO GET RID OF THOSE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL USES SO THAT YOU WERE CLEANING IT UP AND MOVING THOSE INDUSTRIAL AUTOMOTIVE USES TOWARDS AN AREA OF TOWN THAT'S NOT A MAJOR SPINE, IF YOU WILL, A TRANSPORTATION SPINE IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT YOU'RE CORRECT. THIS IS NOT ON THE ACTUAL MAYPORT ROAD ITSELF.
IT IS WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY, BUT IT IS THE THIRD PARCEL IN FROM OR AWAY FROM MAYPORT ROAD.
THIS PARTICULAR AREA THAT HE'S WORKING IN, THE STORAGE, THAT'S LOW MAINTENANCE, LOW NOISE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THE OTHER TWO AREAS THAT HE HAS THAT ARE.
YES. SO, WE IF THIS REZONING AND FUTURE LAND USE MAP IS APPROVED POTENTIALLY IN THE FUTURE IT COULD BE A BUILDING THERE. I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE HE'S USING IT AS STORAGE AT THIS POINT DOESN'T MEAN IT WOULD ALWAYS BE USED AS STORAGE. I'M LOOKING AT IT ON GOOGLE ON SATELLITE, AND IT BUTTS RIGHT INTO THE STORAGE, THE ATLANTIC STORAGE UNIT.
[01:15:05]
SO, I MEAN, AND IT CUTS RIGHT INTO IT, AND YOU CAN'T SEE IT IN THAT, THAT MAP.OKAY. SO, BUT THAT LINUX STORAGE IS ALREADY; IS THAT RESIDENTIAL? IS THAT? THAT'S ALSO ZONED RESIDENTIAL.
AND THAT'S ALSO IN THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AS RESIDENTIAL.
AND HOW DID THEY GET AWAY WITH THAT? IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN THERE SINCE THE 80S.
STAFF DIDN'T LOOK AT IT, HASN'T LOOKED AT IT.
AND THE ONLY REASON THIS CAME UP IS BECAUSE OF THE FENCE PERMIT.
OKAY. ARE THEY GOING TO ASK FOR A REZONING AS WELL? I WOULD GATHER THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING IN BECAUSE THIS JUST CAME BEFORE OUR COMMISSION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TO REDO ATLANTIC STORAGE, NOT THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION.
THE MAN OR WHOEVER OWNS THIS, THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS SERVICES ARE LOCAL RESIDENTS.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S THREE PARCELS BACK FROM MAYPORT CORRIDOR, MAYPORT ROAD.
AND THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING THIS SINCE 93.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. GO AHEAD.
DID YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN THE BLUE HOUSE? NO, I DID NOT HEAR FROM ANY OF THOSE RESIDENTS.
DO YOU KNOW IF THAT'S A RENTAL OR OWNER OWNED? I DO NOT KNOW THAT, NO.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN BRING IT UP, AMANDA.
BUT HE'S BEEN KEEPING THE CARS THERE THIS WHOLE TIME.
UM, YES. SO, THERE IS A PARCEL IN BETWEEN.
THIS IS CURRENTLY A VACANT PARCEL.
AND THAT'S NOT, THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS NOT FOR THIS PARCEL.
IT'S JUST FOR THIS PARCEL WHERE YOU SEE THE VEHICLES SINCE 1993 BEING STORED THERE.
WE WENT THERE AND SAID, HEY, SO WE STARTED INVESTIGATING.
THEY DO HAVE A TENTATIVE APPROVAL FOR A FENCE HEIGHT.
THEY DID SEEK A VARIANCE FOR THE PROPERTY TO HAVE A SIX FOOT FENCE IN THE FRONT YARD.
AND THAT WAS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD SUGGESTION.
IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID IT WAS? IT WAS A44 IN FAVOR AND THREE AGAINST.
AMANDA. I'D LIKE TO BRING THE APPLICANT UP, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
THIS IS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MY NAME IS HAROLD ROOKS AND I OWN OCEANSIDE COLLISION.
AND THEN THE PROPERTY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY BESIDE IT TOO.
SO I OWN THAT. I'M FIXING TO PUT A CONDO OR A CONDO.
I'M FIXING, YOU KNOW, PUT A BUILDING IN THERE.
BUT. AND THEN THE PROPERTY ON THE OTHER END OF THE ROAD ON THE CORNER OF MAYPORT.
HE'S TALKING ABOUT SELLING IT.
AND I TOLD HIM I WAS INTERESTED, SO IF I COULD GET THAT, THEN I'D OWN THAT HALF A CITY BLOCK, YOU KNOW? BUT, I MEAN, I'VE DONE THE SAME THING FOR NINE YEARS THERE.
BEFORE IT WAS ME. IT WAS MERS AUTO BODY, AND THE SAME THING WAS DONE THERE.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I HAVE TO HAVE THAT LOT TO KEEP ALL THE CARS BACK BEHIND THE FENCE.
SO, I MEAN, WITHOUT THAT LOT, YOU KNOW, I'M SCREWED.
REALLY. I MEAN, BECAUSE I NEED THAT LOT.
THERE'S TIMES WE'VE GOT 50 CARS ON THAT LOT.
SO, COMMISSIONER, I'LL ASK YOU A QUESTION.
WHEN YOU BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, YOU WEREN'T TOLD IT WAS RESIDENTIAL.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH. YOU'RE RIGHT.
[01:20:02]
I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL COMMERCIAL.AND THEN AFTER I PURCHASED IT, THE GUY NEXT DOOR TO ME WAS A RETIRED FIREMAN.
HE HAD THAT. THERE WAS AN OLD HOUSE THERE, A ROTTEN HOUSE.
AND HE CAME UP TO ME AND HE GOES, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN IT? AND I SAID, YEAH. SO, I JUMPED ON THAT.
AND THAT'S WHEN I REALLY FOUND OUT.
AND SO, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T SAY NOTHING.
I WAS LIKE, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR, YOU KNOW, OVER 20 YEARS.
I MEAN, NOW IT WAS A LOT MESSIER WHEN MERS WAS THERE.
AND I'VE KEPT IT CLEAN, YOU KNOW, I'VE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT FENCE, THE FENCE WAS THERE.
THE ONLY REASON THIS ALL GOT ABOUT THERE WAS A WOODEN FENCE THERE.
I CAME IN ON A WEEKEND AND SOMEBODY HAD MOVED THE FENCE DOWN, AND I PUT UP A NICE WHITE PVC FENCE.
AND THAT'S WHAT STARTED THIS WHOLE THING.
YEAH, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, STAND ANGELINA WAS TELLING ME AS LONG AS IT'S 22FT BACK FROM THE ROAD AND, AND IF IT'S ZONED COMMERCIAL, I CAN LEAVE EVERYTHING THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW.
LAST THING I'LL SAY IS IT SAYS HERE.
WELL, MOST OF THE TIME, YOU KNOW, ALL THE NICER CARS WILL ALWAYS GET STORED INSIDE.
AND I'VE GOT TWO BUILDINGS. WE PUT EVERYTHING INSIDE THAT WE CAN GET IN.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING I SAY IS, YOU KNOW THIS.
WE CALL THIS A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
IF WE MAKE THIS DECISION FOR YOU, IT'S GOING TO PERMEATE.
RIGHT? SO WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS PAINFUL.
COMMISSIONER, EXPLAIN THE FENCE TO ME.
THEY SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FOUR FOOT FENCE TO PUT YOUR CARS BEHIND.
THERE WAS A SIX FOOT HIGH FENCE OUT THERE, A WOODEN FENCE WHEN I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS.
I'VE GOT A PICTURE OF MY WALL IN THE OFFICE WHERE THAT ROAD WAS A DIRT ROAD.
OH YEAH, I'M JUST SEEING IT ON THE SATELLITE.
BUT CAN YOU AT RESIDENTIAL ZONING WOULD REQUIRE NO HIGHER THAN FOUR FEET IN THE FRONT YARD.
RIGHT. SO THAT'S THE ONE OF THE RESULTS OF REZONING IS HE COULD HAVE SIX FOOT FENCE.
AND IF YOU DID HAVE IF IF YOU DID RECEIVE THE COMMERCIAL ZONING THEN HE COULD GET THAT SIX FOOT.
YEAH. EVERYTHING COULD STAY THE SAME AS WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING I MEAN.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS FOR ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS.
SO, THERE'LL BE A SECOND VOTE AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
I BELIEVE, BUT THERE'S FIVE MINUTES FOR ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK.
DONNA, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED IN FOR THIS? NO. OKAY, I'LL STILL OPEN IT UP.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT DIDN'T SIGN IN THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? OKAY. HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? OKAY, THEN LET'S HAVE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU.
SO, WE VOTED JUST NOW ON 9.A, WHICH IS THE ORDINANCE FOR THE LAND USE AMENDMENT.
YOU'LL TAKE A SEPARATE VOTE EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE INTERRELATED.
A SECOND VOTE ON THE REZONING, WHICH IS THE NEXT ITEM, NINE B.
WELL, I WOULD OBVIOUSLY WE WILL ADOPT.
I THINK AMANDA'S STAFF REPORT ONCE AGAIN SINCE SHE COMBINED THE TWO.
AND THEN I WOULD OPEN IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE WILL BE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNSELOR.
[9.B. ORDINANCE NO. 90-23-251, Public Hearing and First Reading]
THIS IS 9.B, ORDINANCE NUMBER 9-23-251.PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH.
COUNTY OF DUVAL, STATE OF FLORIDA.
PROVIDING FINDINGS OF FACT REQUIRING RECREATION AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
AMANDA HAS GIVEN THE REPORT FOR THE REZONING ON THIS.
SO, I GUESS I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU INCORPORATE THE STAFF REPORT AS PART OF YOUR FINDINGS.
YES. OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
OH. I'M SORRY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND WE'LL JUST OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS FOR THIS PORTION? I DO NOT. HAVE ANY VISITORS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE.
[01:25:03]
MOVE AND WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION YET.THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MOVE, WE APPROVE. ORDINANCE NUMBER 3123-16 AS READ.
WELL, IT WASN'T READ, BUT AS WRITTEN.
THE WRONG ONE. YEAH, I THINK SO.
BEG YOUR PARDON? I READ, I RETRACT.
OKAY. ANYBODY WANT TO MOVE ON 51? 90-23-251. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE.
WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
THE OTHER PARCEL, THE STORAGE.
OTHER STORAGE UNITS ARE NOT THERE.
IF WE REZONE THESE AS COMMERCIAL, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY WE'RE GOING TO GET BUILDINGS AND.
A LOT MORE. SO, A LOT MORE MATH TO THAT AREA.
WE HAVE SOME MESSY THINGS ALL AROUND THE MAYPORT CORRIDOR.
SO WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN UP OUR CURRENT CODE AND SO ON, BUT IT'S BEEN USED THAT WAY FOR YEARS.
THE APPLICANT JUST TOLD US THAT HE BOUGHT THE RESIDENTIAL HOME THAT WILL STAY RESIDENTIAL ZONING THAT ABUTS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE COMMERCIAL OF THE APPLICATION FOR CONVERSION TO COMMERCIAL.
SO IF IT WAS ANOTHER NEIGHBOR, WE'D HAVE TO AT LEAST HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
ARE WE IMPINGING ON A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOR? HE IS NOT.
AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES MISERABLE.
AND I KNOW YOU BOUGHT IN GOOD FAITH AS A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
IT IS NOT. BUT I THINK THIS ONE IS PRETTY CLEAR CUT.
MAYOR FORD, BEFORE YOU MOVED ON TO THAT SECOND ORDINANCE, I WAS WONDERING, DID WE HAVE A MOTION, AND DID IT GET SECONDED BEFORE WE VOTED ON THE FIRST 31? DID WE? YEAH. WHO MADE THAT MOTION? ON THE FIRST ONE. I KNOW WE HAD A MOTION.
BUT IF NOBODY RAISES THEIR HAND THAT THEY MADE A MOTION.
YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 31 2316.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ORDINANCE? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH I.
AYE. OPPOSED? UNANIMOUS. I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH THE REPLAY ON THAT.
I THINK ONE OF YOU GUYS MOVED ON THAT I WISH I COULD DO IT WHILE I'M SITTING ANYWAYS.
OKAY, BUT THANK YOU FOR ASKING, DONNA.
OKAY, LET ME MAKE SURE I'M IN THE RIGHT PART OF THIS AGENDA.
THAT'S THE END OF OUR ORDINANCES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 11.
NOTHING, SIR. CITY CLERK THANK YOU MAYOR.
[12. CLOSING COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGER]
MOVING TO ITEM 12.CLOSING COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER KELLY, I'VE SAID MY PART.
RING. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, AND I FORGOT TO DO THAT WHEN COMMISSIONER KELLY MENTIONED THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATION, I'VE HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME IN PARTICULAR, WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT IF ARC WAS INVOLVED OR IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT.
KNOW THAT IS ONE OF OUR SET PRIORITIES AS A COMMISSION THAT WE SET IN JANUARY.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT ARC, THEY'RE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN RECREATION, THEY'RE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND ALL THE THINGS THAT FALL UNDER THAT PURVIEW.
I WOULD I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE THAT THERE THAT THAT COMMITTEE HAS A SAY IN THAT PARTNERSHIP AND WHATEVER, IN WHATEVER CAPACITY IT ENDS UP BEING, WHETHER IT'S A CONTRACT OUT OR WHETHER IT'S AN IN-HOUSE THING, IF IT IS A CONTRACTED OUT.
I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT I GUESS I'LL HOLD THOSE FOR NOW.
AND THAT'S IT. COMMISSIONER WATERS, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR GIVING US THE VIP PASSES TO THE AIR SHOW, BUT ALSO REALLY WOULD LIKE THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE TO IN TWO YEARS OR EVEN NEXT YEAR, TO REALLY THINK ABOUT
[01:30:09]
THIS THIS WAY.IT USED TO BE THIS THING WAS SIX HOURS.
THE BLUE ANGELS ARE PHENOMENAL.
I JUST WISH IT WASN'T SO HIGH OF AN INSURANCE COST FOR ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE PEOPLE DROVE, THEY PARKED, THEY DID ALL THIS STUFF FOR HOURS FOR A 45 MINUTE BLUE ANGELS SHOW. GREAT. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL BEACH WEATHER, BUT I JUST WISH IN THE FUTURE WE COULD HAVE IT THE WAY IT WAS.
MILITARY'S KIND OF PREOCCUPIED RIGHT NOW.
EXCUSE ME? THE MILITARY'S KIND OF PREOCCUPIED RIGHT NOW.
THIS WASN'T LIKE THESE PEOPLE WEREN'T MILITARY, THOUGH.
THESE WERE GUYS IN THE BIPLANES AND THE WATERS.
I TALKED TO THE GUY WHO RUNS AT ADMIRAL BENSEL, THE FOLKS OVER AT NAVY REGION SOUTHEAST.
A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HERE USED TO WORK FOR HIM.
WE'RE AT DANGER BECAUSE OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
ON THE INSURANCE ISSUE OF THE BLUE ANGELS NOT COMING BACK HERE FOR THAT VERY REASON.
BECAUSE WHAT THEY GOT WAS A SLIMMED DOWN VERSION, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY THEY COULD WALK AWAY.
THEY COULD NOT ABSORB THOSE COSTS.
CORRECT. THERE'S OTHER THERE'S OTHER AIR SHOWS.
THERE'S A WAY TO GET AROUND THAT.
I WAS INVOLVED IN AIR SHOWS FOR A WHILE, SO I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO THEM.
BUT THAT THAT WAS, THAT WAS IT WAS PROHIBITIVE FOR ANY OF THEM TO PARTICIPATE.
NO, IT WAS, AND I JUST WISH, YOU KNOW.
IT WAS STILL GREAT, BUT SHORT.
I'LL FINISH. WELL, ACTUALLY, NO, MR. KILLINGSWORTH. I'LL LET YOU HAVE THE NEXT WORD.
SOME PEOPLE CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE.
WE'LL HAVE TO DO IT ONE ON ONE COMMISSIONER AT A TIME, SO WE DON'T VIOLATE SUNSHINE.
BUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, JUST GET WITH ME AND I'LL SET UP A DATE FOR YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION.
THE EARLIER CITIZEN LISA HAROLD HAD MENTIONED THE ISSUE THAT OCCURRED AT OUR STOP COMMITTEE MEETING THIS WEEK, WHERE WE READ A LETTER FROM A CITIZEN INTO THE RECORD.
I APPLAUD THAT, BUT THEN THE DISCUSSION WAS NOT TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT A MANDATE.
SO I WILL NOT DICTATE THE RULES TO THIS COMMITTEE.
BUT I WILL SAY I HAVE I WILL ADVOCATE ALWAYS FOR READING WHEREVER POSSIBLE, ANY LETTERS PROVIDED BY CITIZENS AND CERTAINLY LISTENING OR HEARING FROM OUR CITIZENS. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A MEETING THAT YOU KNOW HAS A LOT OF INTEREST AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE SPEAKING, YOU CAN CUT THE TIME, OR YOU COULD ENTER THE LETTERS INTO THE RECORD WITHOUT READING THE ENTIRE LETTER.
BUT I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY FROM MY CHAIR, AND I HOPE FROM THIS ENTIRE COMMISSION THAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR CITIZENS, AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE WORDS OF OUR CITIZENS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
AND SO, READING A LETTER INTO THE MINUTES WAS CERTAINLY APPROPRIATE.
SO ANYWAYS, ANY FURTHER CITY BUSINESS? HEARING NONE. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.