THIS WEEK, THEY WELCOME RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORS AND GUESTS WILL OPEN THE MEETING IN JUST A MOMENT,
[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:10]
BUT WE'LL START WITH A INVOCATION AND A PLEDGE.I PLEDGE 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.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KELLY.
WELL, LET ME GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE MEETING.
DONNA, CAN YOU START US OFF WITH A ROLL CALL? YEAH. COMMISSIONER BOLE PRESENT.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A ANOTHER OFFICIAL IN THE ROOM TONIGHT WHO'S BACK WITH US? AFTER MANY MONTHS OF DEPLOYMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
RORY DIAMOND, OUR CITY COUNCILMAN REPRESENTING THE BEACHES.
TONIGHT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SEE A SHOW OF HANDS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY ON WEST FIRST STREET? RAISE YOUR HAND. SO THERE'S A FAIR NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS CHANGE THE ORDER AND GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS ITEM NINE A ON THE AGENDA DIRECTLY AFTER APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT.
AND IF ANY WISH ANYONE WISHES TO BE EXCUSED, WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS RIGHT AFTER THAT ACTION ITEM SO THAT YOU CAN RECESS OR THAT YOU CAN LEAVE IF YOU WISH. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO BASED I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME ON SOME OTHER ITEMS TODAY.
LET'S SEE ITEM THREE D UNDER UNDER CITY MANAGER REPORTS THE AHERN PROJECT.
I'M GOING TO ASK CITY MANAGER TO DEFER THAT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
AND THAT'LL GIVE OUR CITIZENS MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE THAT WAS FAIRLY SHORT NOTICE.
OKAY. ITEM ONE, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024? HEARING, HEARING NONE.THE MINUTES STAND AS PRESENTED.
AND DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER MINUTES? THAT'S IT.
SO NOW WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NINE A ANANÉ BEING A AN ORDINANCE, THIS IS THE SECOND READING.
[9.A. ORDINANCE NO. 20-24-171, Public Hearing and Final Reading]
SO WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.NINE A IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 20TH 30TH, 2024, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE MR. KILLINGSWORTH. BUT GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER, AND MR. MAYOR. JUST A SECOND.
SO THE $700,000 FOR THE ACTUAL PURCHASE ITSELF AND THEN A GUESSTIMATE OF $50,000 PER CLOSING COSTS AND AND OTHER EXPENSES.
SO IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE WITH THE PURCHASE, IT WOULD BE THERE.
WE WOULD REQUIRE AN APPROPRIATION OF $50,000.
SO LET'S HOLD THOSE COMMENTS TILL LATER.
BUT, DONNA, DO WE HAVE A LIST OF SPEAKERS JUST FOR NINE A? YES. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO START CALLING? YES, PLEASE. LINDA LANIER.
GOOD EVENING. I'M LINDA LANIER.
[00:05:02]
1618 ATLANTIC BEACH DRIVE AND ATLANTIC BEACH.SO THE PURCHASE OF THE ALMOST HOME PROPERTY.
I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
AND SO I DO HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.
I WHILE I DON'T TONIGHT SPEAK FOR THE SULZBACHER CENTER, I DID RUN THE SULZBACHER CENTER, OUR PROBABLY OUR PREMIER HOMELESS SHELTER HERE IN TOWN FROM 1996 TO 2003.
SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IS A RELATIVELY QUIET THING.
IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY SHELTER.
AND ALSO WHAT I HAVE KIND OF MONITORED SINCE I LEFT THE SULZBACHER CENTER 20 YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY, IS THAT IN JACKSONVILLE, THE HOMELESS ASSISTANCE SYSTEM, THE CONTINUUM OF CARE HAS REALLY GOTTEN VERY, VERY SOPHISTICATED, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
AND I THINK IF THIS WERE TO BE THE CHOICE OF THIS COMMISSION TO SORT OF LET THAT PROPERTY GO FOR THAT POTENTIAL USE, I THINK YOU COULD TRUST THAT IT WOULD BE WELL RUN, HOWEVER.
I THINK THERE'S A BIGGER POINT HERE, AND THAT IS WHAT IS THE LOST OPPORTUNITY COST OF LETTING THAT PROPERTY GO FOR A DIFFERENT USE. AND SO I WILL KIND OF TAKE YOU BACK TO, I THINK, EVERY YEAR WHERE I'VE HELPED YOU DO THE PRIORITIZE THE PRIORITY SETTING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IN JANUARY.
AND REMEMBER, WE TALK ABOUT THE EISENHOWER DECISION MAKING MODEL.
AND WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A HURRICANE BEARING DOWN ON ATLANTIC BEACH.
THAT'S THAT QUADRANT, URGENT AND IMPORTANT.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS BOTH URGENT AND IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU HAVE ONE CHANCE TO BUY THIS.
SO IF YOU BUY THE PROPERTY, YOU'RE REALLY KEEPING THE DOOR OPEN FOR THE MOST APPROPRIATE USE.
I'M SURE THE COMMUNITY WOULD ADVISE YOU THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SURFACED USES FOR THAT CENTER, INCLUDING POSSIBLY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
AND SPEAKING AS THE MOTHER OF A VETERAN, MY SON MY OLDEST SON WAS A PILOT FLYING PLANES FOR OUR NAVY AND FOR ALL OF US FOR 21 YEARS. SO BELIEVE ME, I SUPPORT WHAT HAPPENS FOR VETERANS.
BUT I ALSO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO IF YOU PASS, I THINK YOU LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY FOREVER.
THE EAST SIDE OF MAYPORT ROAD AND THE WEST SIDE OF MAYPORT ROAD.
SO TRADITIONALLY, NOT REALLY BECAUSE OF ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM, BUT THE DYNAMICS HAVE BEEN THAT THE WEST SIDE HAS A HISTORY OF LOW EXPECTATIONS, IN MANY CASES NEGLECT.
LOOK AT THE SIDEWALKS, THE ROADS.
THERE'S STILL A DUMP OVER THERE.
I MEAN, THAT'S OLD CODE AND THAT COMES FROM A HISTORY.
I'M JUST SAYING IT IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT IT DOES DIMINISH THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
BUT MAYBE IT'S TIME TO WRITE A NEW HISTORY FOR THE WEST SIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU, IF YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE POSSIBLE USES FOR THAT PROPERTY ON SILVER MARINA DRIVE, IT WOULD NOT FLY.
IT SHOULD BE GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU ARE SMART AND DEDICATED COMMISSIONERS.
YOU'RE HERE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A REALLY GOOD DECISION TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS LANIER.
IT'S ALSO NICE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE THAT CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M ELLEN GLASSER, BY THE WAY.
I'M SPEAKING SOLELY FOR MYSELF TONIGHT.
[00:10:08]
MANY PEOPLE DON'T FOLLOW THE COMMISSION MEETINGS EVERY TWO WEEKS TO HEAR EXACTLY WHAT'S BEEN SAID, BUT I'VE BEEN LISTENING CLOSELY TO YOUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.TONIGHT YOU WILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO USE EMERGENCY RESERVES TO BUY IT.
YET STILL NO USE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED OR PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS HELD.
I KNOW THAT WILL COME IN THE FUTURE.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT AS A CITIZEN, I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT OPPOSED TO USING THE BUILDING AS A COMMUNITY CENTER FOR RESIDENTS, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU CHOOSE, AND OR TO PURCHASE IT FOR CITY CONTROL.
FROM DAY ONE, I'VE SAID THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
THEY ARE CONTAINED IN THE HANDOUT THAT I JUST GAVE YOU.
SO MY SUGGESTION SPRANG DIRECTLY FROM COMMENTS IN THIS CHAMBER TO AND FROM THE COMMISSION, AND NOT BY ME SUGGESTING THAT WE USE THE BUILDING FOR VETERANS. A VETERANS CENTER OR SPACE IN THE BUILDING IS ALSO LAUDABLE.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT IT DOES RAISE SPENDING ISSUES TO ME.
THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE FOR VETERANS PROGRAMS FROM THE STATE FEDERAL FUNDS AND FROM GRANTS, AND I QUESTION AB TAXPAYERS FOOTING THE WHOLE BILL FOR THIS. IT SHOULD BE IN PARTNERSHIP, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE.
ALMOST HOME IS LOCATED IN AN AREA I CALL VETERANS CORNER WITH A BEAUTIFUL PARK, ANNUAL EVENTS, THE BIGGEST FLAG AT THE BEACHES, AND TWO FRATERNAL MEETING PLACES FOR VETERANS AND MAYPORT STATION DOWN THE ROAD.
I AM VERY PROUD THAT WE LIVE IN A MILITARY FRIENDLY TOWN.
JUST LIKE HER SPACE, THE LIGHTHOUSE THAT IS LOCATED ON BEACH BOULEVARD IN JAX BEACH.
THERE ARE MANY VA HOUSES LIKE THIS IN THE US.
THIS IS FUNDED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A CHURCH, THE VA, AND A NONPROFIT.
NOT BY THE CITIES OF JACKSONVILLE OR THE CITY OF JAX BEACH.
AND IT WAS ESTABLISHED WHEN MAYOR CURRY WAS IN OFFICE.
AND I THINK COUNCILMAN DIMOND WAS THERE FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING.
WITH THIS MODEL, THERE WAS NO PUBLIC OUTCRY.
THERE ARE NO TENTS, NO CROWDING, NO HALFWAY HOUSE, NO SOUP KITCHEN, NO PANHANDLING, NO WALK INS, NO TRASH, NO BLIGHT, NO NEED FOR ADDITIONAL POLICE, NO SIGN. IT'S A NONDESCRIPT HOUSE WHERE WOMEN AND KIDS LIVE AND TRY TO GET ON THEIR FEET AND BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
YOU WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS UNLESS SOMEONE TOLD YOU.
I HAVE A HEART FOR THESE WOMEN.
THEY COULD BE EMPLOYED BUT NOT HAVE HOUSING.
THEIR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR KIDS AND THEY HAVE HIGH SUICIDE RATES.
I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO MOVE THIS ALONG AND DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO.
AND I AM SORRY TO DISTRACT YOU WITH ANY EMOTIONAL DISCOURSE ABOUT THIS TONIGHT.
THIS IS ODD, BECAUSE ONE OF MY LAST VOTES AS MAYOR WAS TO PASS AN ORDINANCE MAKING CAMPING AND OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SPACES ILLEGAL AND REQUIRING POLICE ASSISTANCE.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, THE VOTE IS UP TO YOU.
AND AGAIN, THANKS TO COUNCILMAN DIAMOND CEO APPROPRIATED $562,000 FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU. CINDY ANDERSON, ARE YOU SPEAKING TO THIS? I'LL WAIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
[00:15:05]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.NANCY STOTTS. MY DRESS IS ON RECORD.
SO JUST TO BE REALLY CRYSTAL CLEAR, I THINK THE ISSUE FOR ME AND FOR MANY PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO IS SOMETHING THAT LINDA MENTIONED ABOUT BEING URGENT AND IMPORTANT AND IN TERMS OF THE IMPORTANCE, I THINK THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT REALLY COMMAND GREATER IMPORT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LIFEGUARD STATION.
BUT I KNOW WE'RE COMMENTING JUST ON THIS, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS, HAS THE COMMUNITY RAISED CONCERN ABOUT HAVING MORE SENIOR, YOU KNOW, SENIOR SPACE FOR PROGRAMS? IS THERE A SHORTAGE OF SPACE BETWEEN THE GAIL BAKER CENTER AND ADELE GRAGE WHERE WE HAVE PROGRAMING THAT WANTS TO HAPPEN, BUT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE PHYSICAL SPACE? IF THE INTENT TRULY IS FOR VETERAN SERVICES.
ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDING OUT THERE.
QUITE RESPECTFULLY AND WE HAVE AGREED AS A GROUP, ALL OF US, THAT RESILIENCY IS SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, RIGHT? AFTER MUCH BACK AND FORTH, WE ALL SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR OWN EYES.
WE CAN'T OPERATE UNDER A PROGRAM OF WE'RE GOING TO BUY EVERY AVAILABLE LOT SO NO ONE CAN DEVELOP IT THAT IS NEITHER SUSTAINABLE NOR NOR ETHICAL, FRANKLY. SO I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM THAT BUYING THIS PROPERTY NECESSARILY SOLVES.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE PURCHASE PER SE, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST VERY, VERY UNUSUAL TO BE THIS RUSHED ABOUT A PURCHASE WHEN WE CAN'T SEEM TO COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT WHAT ITS INTENDED USE IS, AND THOSE WHO ARE PLANNING TO SPEND THE MONEY ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE ADVOCATING AND DEFENDING ITS USES.
AND I THINK IT'S NOBLE THAT CITIZENS ARE COMING FORWARD WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS.
HELLO, I'M JEANNIE GABRYNOWICZ AND I LIVE ON NORTH SHERRY DRIVE, ATLANTIC BEACH, AND I, I'M HOPING THAT OUR COMMISSIONERS WILL CONSIDER TO POSTPONE THE ACTION ON THE WEST FIRST STREET PROPERTY UNTIL WE ACTUALLY HAVE IT BUDGETED FOR THE PURCHASE AND FOR ANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE.
I THINK MAYBE IT NEEDS FURTHER DISCUSSION.
EXACTLY WHAT DO WE WANT THIS PROPERTY TO BE USED FOR BEFORE WE JUST PURCHASE IT? BECAUSE IT'S VACANT? I WOULD ENCOURAGE HASTE IF THERE'S UNDEVELOPED NATURAL LAND THAT WE NEED TO PRESERVE SO THAT WE CAN COMPETE, KEEP IT FROM BEING DEVELOPED. BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE HERE.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO FIND A PURPOSE, BUDGET THE MONEY AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.
I ALWAYS HAVE TROUBLE WITH THAT NAME.
SORRY. TOO MANY, TOO MANY CONSONANTS.
I USED TO REFER TO YOUR HUSBAND AS MR. DAWN SCOTT.
I THINK MOST OF US HERE ARE AWARE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH SHOULD DO ABOUT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, IF ANYTHING AT ALL.
I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO PASS UP THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY THAT'S DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO A PARK AND WITHIN A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER, CULTURAL CENTER, OR ANY SIMILAR FACILITY.
IN CONTRAST, COMMISSIONER BOWLES DISTRICT HAS TWO COMMUNITY CENTERS, BAKER AND JORDAN, BOTH HAVE ADJACENT TO PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS, AND COMMISSIONER KELLY'S DISTRICT HAS ADELE GRAGE NEXT TO BALL PARK AND PLAYGROUND.
[00:20:08]
HISTORICALLY IGNORED, THE FLYOVER BEING A STARK REMINDER OF JUST THAT.I HAVE SPOKEN TO BOTH SENIORS AND VETERANS AND OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO LOVE THE IDEA OF A COMMUNITY CENTER CLOSE BY, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES DESIGNED FOR THEM.
THIS POTENTIAL COMMUNITY CENTER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE SHINING STAR ALL OF ATLANTIC BEACH CAN BE PROUD OF, BUT MOST ESPECIALLY IMPACTFUL TO THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH AS MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY, WHO COULD REALLY USE THE FACILITY SUCH AS THIS FOR SO MANY GREAT THINGS.
UNLIKE THOSE WHO FEEL WE MUST DECIDE WHAT WE WILL DO WITH THE BUILDING BEFORE WE PURCHASE, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE TO PICK A SPECIFIC USE AT ALL FOR THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY ITS PURCHASE.
COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE MULTI USE AND ADAPT AS NEEDS ARISE AND CHANGE OVER TIME.
ETC. THERE'S NO SINGLE USE, NOR SHOULD THERE BE AT THE POTENTIAL MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER.
MY THOUGHT IS THAT THE PROPERTY SHOULD BE PURCHASED AS A MULTI PURPOSE COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT NOT RELINQUISHED TO BE USED AS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OR SHELTER OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH WOULD BETTER SERVE ITS CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS BY HAVING CONTROL OVER HOW THAT PROPERTY IS USED, ESPECIALLY IN THAT LOCATION. EMBEDDED WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL AREA NEXT TO A PARK AND A PLAYGROUND.
WHEREAS IF WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS PURCHASE, A MULTI-USE COMMUNITY CENTER CAN SERVE MANY.
RIGHT THERE. SUZANNE [INAUDIBLE] SUZANNE BARKER AT 1938.
AND WE HAD ABOUT 28 PEOPLE COME FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO VOICED THEIR OPINION ON THE THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING AT SOME POINT.
ONE IS THE ALMOST HOME, THE DOOR STREET PROPERTY AND THE LIFEGUARD STATION.
I JUST WANTED TO GET IT ON RECORD THAT THE ALMOST HOME.
ALTHOUGH IT WAS MOST OF THE PEOPLE SUPPORT THE PURCHASE, IT WASN'T THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
THERE WERE SOME HERE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND IDEAS.
WHY DO WE NEED THIS? WHAT IS IT FOR? IT'S IMPORTANT TO BUY THIS, THEN MAINTAIN CONTROL OF WHAT'S BUILT.
HOWEVER, OUR CODES AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR WHAT IS BUILT.
WHAT ARE THE TRUE COST? RENOVATION, PROGRAMING AND STAFFING COSTS? DOES THE PARKING LOT NEED TO BE REPLACED? AND OUR CEOJ FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THIS? WHAT ARE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, AND IS IT AFFORDABLE? WHAT WILL THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ON MAIN STREET BE? THE BAKER CENTER CURRENTLY HAS A GRANT OF HALF A MILLION AND FOR EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS AND SENIOR CITIZENS, THIS COULD PROVIDE FOR SENIOR AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
HOW MUCH ARE WE CURRENTLY USING OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS? IS THERE A REAL NEED FOR ANOTHER CENTER? SENIOR CITIZENS AND SERVICES WERE PART OF THE COMMISSION'S 2023 PRIORITIES, SO USING THIS PROPERTY FOR SENIORS WOULD FULFILL THAT PRIORITY. MAKE IT A ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY.
THERE ARE NONE IN THE ATLANTIC BEACH AREA THAT ARE REALLY AFFORDABLE AND MAKE A SENIOR CENTER SIMILAR TO NEPTUNE BEACH AND WITH ALL THEIR SERVICES TEAR DOWN THE BUILDING AND EXPAND VETERANS PARK TO ADD BANDSHELL FOR CONCERTS ON MARSH OAKS SIDE.
SO THAT WAS THE THE IDEAS THAT WERE EXPRESSED AT THE MEETING.
[00:25:04]
AND THEN WITH DORA DRIVE, THIS WAS VIEWED AS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR RESILIENCY PLANS, AND IT WAS A CLEAR PRIORITY BY THE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED.HOWEVER, THEIR PROPERTY ISSUES CURRENT OWNER HAS TO CLEAN UP THE SITE.
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH WOULD NEED TO HOLD HARMLESS CAUSE IF CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND AFTER PURCHASE.
AND HAS THERE BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY? WHAT IS THE COST AND RISK OF A RETENTION POND? WHAT ARE OTHER OPTIONS FOR CONTROLLING STORMWATER THAT CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH ENGINEER HAS SUGGESTED AND THE LIFEGUARD STATION. ALMOST ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS FELT THAT THIS PROJECT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
OF THE 28 PEOPLE, 20 BELIEVED THAT THIS PROJECT SHOULD COME FIRST.
COJ HAS PROVIDED 562,000, THAT MAY NOT BE CORRECT.
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR LIFEGUARDS IS IMPORTANT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A STORAGE AREA FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
THIS PROJECT SERVES ALL OF ATLANTIC BEACH CITIZENS BY PROVIDING SAFETY AT THE BEACHES.
MANAGER OR COMMISSIONER SHOULD APPOINT A SPECIFIC PERSON TO BE RESPONSIBLE DURING SEASONAL USE.
THE CITY ENGINEER STATED AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING THAT HE BELIEVES THE PROJECT IS IMPORTANT, AND SUGGESTED USING THE FUNDS FOR DOOR DRIVE PROPERTY TO BE USED FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE LIFEGUARD STATION.
SO AND SO THE THE PROJECTS WERE RANKED AND THE LIFEGUARD STATION DID COME FIRST, AND THAT WAS THE FEELING OF THE PEOPLE THERE.
WHAT CAME IN SECOND WAS DORA AND THEN ALMOST HOME AND SO WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION AND FOR THE REST OF THE PEOPLE HERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BARKER.
THAT'S ALL THE NAMES I HAVE FOR THIS TOPIC.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO HIM? THANKS. SHE.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WHEN AMY ROSE LET ME KNOW THE 100 WEST FIRST STREET PROPERTY WAS FOR SALE.
I'VE ADVOCATED FOR THE CITY TO PURCHASE IT AND TO USE IT AS A MULTI-USE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY, TO INCLUDE PROGRAMS FOR THE CHILDREN, SENIORS AND TO HAVE A VETERANS RESOURCE OFFICE.
THE GAYLE BAKER'S COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE JORDAN COMMUNITY CENTER DO FABULOUS THINGS.
WE HAVE WATCHED THEIR CHILDREN GROW OVER THERE.
WE NEED TO DO THE SAME THING FOR OUR MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY.
HAVING A COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH OFFERS AFTER SCHOOL HELP AND TUTORING WILL AID THE AREA, CHILDREN BECOME BETTER STUDENTS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, ALL WITH A CLOSER, ACCESSIBLE LOCATION.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE USED AS A SENIOR CENTER FOR OUR ELDERLY CITIZENS HAVE CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES.
NOT ALL OF OUR SENIORS ARE ABLE TO SAFELY MAKE THE TRIP TO NEPTUNE BEACH.
I'VE RESPONDED TO REOCCURRING CALLS WHEN I WAS A POLICE OFFICER HERE IN ATLANTIC BEACH FROM THE SAME SWEET OLDER PERSON, SOMETIMES FOUR AND FIVE CALLS IN A WEEK, NOT BECAUSE SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT BECAUSE THEY NEEDED SOMEONE TO TALK TO.
COULD ADDING A SENIOR PROGRAM HERE IN ATLANTIC BEACH MAKE A DIFFERENCE? I'D BET ON IT.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN OFFICE FOR A VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER, A PLACE WHERE A LOCAL VETERANS CAN FIND A NECESSARY RESOURCES BENEFITS AVAILABLE, AND OBTAIN HELP ACCESSING THEM WITHOUT HAVING TO GO DOWNTOWN.
I'VE TALKED TO A FEW OF OUR VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE AREA, AND THEY'RE WILLING TO SEND VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS OVER TO HELP FILL VA DISABILITY CLAIMS, PROVIDE RESOURCES SUCH AS VA LOANS AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS.
ALL IT TAKES IS A VISION FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL.
[00:30:05]
I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TALKING AGAINST THIS AND ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE TALKING AGAINST THIS IN MY PERCEPTION AND MY PERCEPTION ONLY DON'T EVEN LIVE NEAR MARSH OAKS. HAVE WE TALKED AND REALLY LISTENED TO THE MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY OVER THERE AND SEE WHAT THEY NEEDED? MAYBE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO START DOING, I THINK JUST GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. JEFF MAYOR.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS FALLON SEXTON.
I'M AT 990 CAMELLIA STREET AND THE MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY WOULD THIS BE CAUSING OUR CITY TO NEGATE A BUILDING BLOCK USED TO SOLIDIFY OUR FORWARD MOMENTUM AS A COMMUNITY, BUT WOULD ALSO HINDER PUBLIC SAFETY AND CAUSE PROPERTY VALUES TO DECREASE? DURING THE LAST CITY COMMISSION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 12TH, AN AB RESIDENT RAISED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT A HOMELESS PERSON WHO WAS CONSTANTLY FOUND SLEEPING OVERNIGHT WITH ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS IN THE HEART OF THE TOWN CENTER.
IF THIS IS ALREADY A KNOWN OPPORTUNITY, HOW WILL OUR CITY PREPARE FOR A LARGER INFLUX OF HOMELESSNESS UPON OPENING A SHELTER? THE PROPOSED SHELTER WILL HOUSE APPROXIMATELY 14 PEOPLE, AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, THOSE AWAITING ADMITTANCE WILL BE FORCED TO CAMP IN THE BEACH AREAS OF DUTTON ISLAND, TIDE VIEWS AND THE AB TOWN CENTER.
RELINQUISHING CONTROL TO THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE IS NOT THE ANSWER.
GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? OKAY. HEARING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I'LL REFER BACK TO KILLINGSWORTH FOR ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE FUNDS IN THE RESERVES.
WELL, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, LAST COMMISSION MEETING, THE COMMISSION ASKED THAT WE GATHER SOME INFORMATION ON THE RESERVES, AND I HANDED OUT A COPY OF AN EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED. BUT HAVING DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TIME I RECEIVED THIS, AND NOW I MORE FULLY UNDERSTAND IT, SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE $5.4 MILLION IN UNASSIGNED FUNDS.
OUR RESERVES ARE ASSIGNED, SO THIS IS $5.4 MILLION ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR RESERVES.
SO LOOKING AT ALL THE PERMUTATIONS, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU WON'T HIT THE RESERVES BECAUSE WE GOT $5 MILLION AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A $1.4 MILLION HIT.
SO IF YOU LOOKED AT THE EMAIL THAT I HAD, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS SOME PERCENTAGES.
THOSE WOULD BE THE PERCENTAGES OF OPERATING EXPENSES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE RESERVES WE ALREADY HAVE.
BUT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT DEALING WITH THE REQUIRED 25% RESERVES.
DO YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER MR. [INAUDIBLE]? I DO HAVE IT SOMEWHERE . IT'S 4 MILLION SOMETHING.
[00:35:01]
ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S 25% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.SO ONE THING THAT I THINK IS, IS NOT ONLY PRUDENT TO MAINTAIN THAT RESERVE, BUT IT IS CODIFIED.
AND I DIDN'T FIND IT TODAY, BUT WE'LL FIND THE THE DATE OF THAT, I BELIEVE IT WAS DURING THE GULLIFORD ADMINISTRATION BACK IN THE 80S OR EARLY 90S THAT THAT WAS CODIFIED FOR A REQUIRED RESERVE OF 25%.
SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT, PARDON..
NO NO, NO. BILL GULLIFORD, WHEN HE WAS MAYOR PASSED AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING A MINIMUM OF 25% IN RESERVES FOR THE GENERAL FUND. SO THAT BEING UNDERSTOOD, WE'LL MAINTAIN IT.
SO MR. MAYOR, I HAVE THE NUMBER.
SO CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ASSIGNED TO OPERATING RESERVES $4,561,859.
OKAY. AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND INTUITIVELY THAT IS FOR RAINY DAY, FOR UNEXPECTED ISSUES.
IT COULD EVEN BE FOR DISASTER EXPENSES.
ALTHOUGH THE NICE THING TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU HAVE RESERVES LIKE THAT AND YOU SPEND THEM ON DISASTER, OFTEN YOU GET THAT MONEY BACK FROM FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LATER ON REIMBURSEMENT. BUT BUT STILL IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S PRUDENT TO MAINTAIN THAT.
SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR TO THE CITIZENS.
AS YOUR LEADER, AS MAYOR, I AM NOT INTERESTED IN SPENDING DOWN THE REQUIRED 25% RESERVES.
BUT IF WE HAVE EXCESS RESERVES.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, AND I SAID IT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT DOING A ROLLBACK ON THE MILLAGE RATE.
WE ARE STEWARDS OF THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.
BUT FOR TODAY, WE HAVE AMPLE RESERVES THAT ARE UNRESTRICTED THAT CAN FUND NOT ONLY THIS THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM, BUT COULD FUND THE BALANCE ON THE THE LIFEGUARD STATION.
I'M NOT SURE WHETHER MR. KILLINGSWORTH IS GOING TO TALK MORE ON DORA, BUT DORA IS ALREADY BUDGETED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, SO THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ON THE RESERVE.
SO AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO COMMENT.
I'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER RING.
SO I WANT TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE PUBLIC WHO CAME AND SPOKE IN THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.
THIS IS MY DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT, AND CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, THIS IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY OR WOULD BE THE ONLY COMMUNITY CENTER IN MY DISTRICT. GAIL BAKER IS LOCATED IN BRUCE BOWLES DISTRICT.
AND I CALCULATED IN GOOGLE MAPS, AND IT'S 1.7 MILES BETWEEN BAKER AND 100 WEST FIRST STREET.
SO TO THOSE WHO ARE WONDERING WHAT WILL THIS BE? AND I HEARD IT MULTIPLE TIMES, SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT'LL BE THE SAME THING.
WHAT BAKER IS, WHAT JORDAN IS, WHAT ADELE GRAGES.
AND THAT IS A MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER.
YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF ADELE GRAGE.
WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED, IT WAS SWIPED UP BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY.
THIS OPPORTUNITY IS NOT GOING TO COME AGAIN.
NOT IN THIS MARKET, NOT TODAY.
AND AS LINDA LANIER SAID, URGENT AND IMPORTANT.
AND I WOULD NOT BE A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE OF MY DISTRICT IF I DIDN'T SAY OTHERWISE.
COMMISSIONER RING. COMMISSIONER WATERS.
I WANT TO THANK, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO MR. JEVIC EVER SINCE ALMOST HOME BECAME AVAILABLE AND I APPRECIATE ALL HIS EFFORTS.
I ALSO APPRECIATE WHAT DAWN SCOTT SAID, AND MISS SEXTON SAID.
I HAVE RECEIVED SO MANY EMAILS AND TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE ABOUT THIS.
WHEN I RAN, I RAN FOR THE ATLANTIC BEACH RESIDENTS.
AND IT IS FOR ATLANTIC BEACH RESIDENTS.
THIS MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY AND ALL THAT'S BEEN SAID SO FAR OVERPOWERS ANYTHING ELSE IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED THUS FAR. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
AND I, WE HAVE A LOT OF INPUT FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND RIGHT NOW I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO PURCHASE THIS, AND MOVE FORWARD.
[00:40:03]
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY RIGHT NOW.COMMISSIONER WATERS. COMMISSIONER BOLE.
AND I UNDERSTAND IN THE BUDGET AND MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED IT.
I'LL ALWAYS SAY THAT WE ARE ALSO THE COUNCIL THAT ROLLED BACK THE MILLAGE RATE.
I THINK WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE VOTE.
ALSO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CURRENT COSTS.
I MEAN, THE LIFEGUARD STAND, AND MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN CORRECT ME HAS GONE UP, I THINK ABOUT 30 OR 40% FROM THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FROM WHERE WE STARTED OUT, BUT AT LEAST I THOUGHT IT HAD MORE THAN DOUBLED.
HOW ABOUT THAT. SO CURRENT SPENDING THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THE BUDGET.
BUT THERE'S ALSO COSTS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO SEE WHAT ARE THE RECURRING COSTS.
WHAT'S THE DEAL ON THE TAXES? YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT DO WE WANT TO HAVE OUT OF IT? IT WORRIES ME THAT I DON'T HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER IN FRONT OF ME THAT SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS WITH THIS PROPERTY.
BUT I ALSO LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY COSTS OF LOSING THIS.
RIGHT? THAT AND I AGREE, FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH COMMISSIONER RING THAT WE SHOULD..
THAT'S IN THE MINUTES THOUGH, RIGHT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE MINUTES, DONNA.
THANKS. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER KELLY. SO I, I GOT THE FEELING THAT PERHAPS YOU WERE THINKING WE COULD ONLY DO ONE, BUT WE'VE ALREADY WE'VE BEEN PLANNING TO DO THE DORA DRIVE.
IT'S PART OF IT, DORA DRIVE IS EITHER BUY NOW OR BUY LATER.
AS PART OF OUR RESILIENCY PLAN.
I GOT IN THE ELEVATOR WITH THE WITH THE WITH THE MAYOR DEEGAN THE OTHER DAY AND SHE SAID, HOW ARE YOU DOING ATLANTIC BEACH? AND I SAID, WE'RE RESILIENT.
HE SAID, SHE SAID, YOU GUYS ARE THE POSTER CHILD.
AND SO DORA DRIVE IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO DO IT, THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT EVERYBODY AND TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, AND FOR IT TO DO ITS JOB AS PART OF OUR GREATER RESILIENCY PLAN.
AND THE THE LIFEGUARD STATION, WE'VE HAD ALREADY TALKED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, SORT OF OFFLINE ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AND WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG, AND WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? AND SOME OF THE PROBLEM IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, THAT WE COULDN'T GET THE DEP TO PROCESS THE PAPER AT WORK ANY FASTER.
AND SO WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO LIFEGUARD IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING IT DONE.
AND SO AND THEN I, I JUST THINK THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY IS TO BUY THE ALMOST HOME.
I'M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHO WOULD, WOULD DISPARAGE ANY NEED FOR WOMEN VETERANS.
BUT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES.
NOW, THE PROPERTY IS NOT ANYWHERE READY TO BE BOUGHT BECAUSE THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE TITLE.
SO WE HAVE TIME TO TALK AMONG OURSELVES AND SAY, WHAT DO WE WANT? I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO REPRODUCE NEPTUNE BEACHES COMMUNITY CENTER.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE JUST OVER THERE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, REPRODUCE WHAT WE HAVE AT AT BAKER.
IT'S IT'S UP TO US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD WE ADD, WHAT WOULD MAKE OUR CULTURE THAT MUCH BETTER? BECAUSE WE'RE FULL, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE.
AND WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE PROVIDE FOR OUR CITIZENS AS FAR AS CULTURAL AND RECREATION, WITH A NEW BUILDING LIKE THAT? AND IT'S GOT IT'S BIG.
SO IT COSTS THAT 14 ROOM BUILDING, PLUS A KITCHEN AND A GREAT ROOM.
AND WHAT SIX BATHROOMS OR SOMETHING IS CHEAPER THAN A HOUSE OVER IN SAILFISH.
SO IT'S IT'S A GOOD DEAL AND IT'S NOT IN BAD SHAPE.
AND WE'LL BE OPEN TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY CAN, CAN BRING TO US TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
YOU'VE HEARD MOST EVERYTHING THAT I WOULD SAY, BUT I WANT TO PUNCTUATE IT.
[00:45:03]
ENTIRE CITY IS THERE IS AND AND WAS A AN UNDERSERVED SEGMENT OF ATLANTIC BEACH KNOWN AS MARSH OAKS.IT IS FORTUITOUS THAT THIS PROPERTY CAME ON THE MARKET.
BUT UNDERSTAND, IF WE CHOOSE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SURVEYING THE CITIZENS IN A MINUTE.
BUT IF WE CHOOSE TO MAKE A A FOCUS ON A SENIOR CENTER AS WELL AS A VETERANS CENTER AND CHILDREN.
BUT THE SENIOR CENTER, IF WE CHOOSE TO MAKE A FOCUS ON THAT, THAT WOULD SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SO THERE THERE ARE QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED.
THE THE COST OF MAINTAINING IT, THE COST OF STAFFING IT, THE COST OF RENOVATING IT.
BUT I THINK, COMMISSIONER KELLY, YOU AND I ACTUALLY AGREE HERE.
SO WE PUT THAT IN THE MINUTES THAT THAT SHE MADE THE STATEMENT YOU LITERALLY WOULD PAY ALMOST AS MUCH MONEY FOR A HOME IN IN SAILFISH AS YOU WOULD PAY FOR THIS 4500 SQUARE FOOT CONCRETE BLOCK BUILDING ON WAS THAT 4.44 OF AN ACRE, HALF AN ACRE, HALF AN ACRE DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK AND A PLAYGROUND.
SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I WOULD ASK THOSE CITIZENS THAT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE RACE OR THE RUSH TO PURCHASE TO UNDERSTAND, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT ON A NORMAL BASIS, YOU WOULD TAKE YOUR TIME, YOU WOULD PUT IT IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU WOULD BUDGET IT.
THAT'S NOT OUR OPPORTUNITY HERE.
WE EITHER FISH OR CUT BAIT ON THIS.
SO DO WE HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS? DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? WELL, LET'S GO BACK TO THAT.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 4-1 71, PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL READING.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER RING AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BOLE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
SO THANK YOU RESIDENTS, FOR COMING TO SHARE YOUR, YOUR OPINIONS AND YOUR DESIRES AND YOUR HOPES FOR OUR CITY TO IMPROVE.
DONNA, DO YOU HAVE A LIST? AND ACTUALLY, I TOLD I SAID, TAKE A RECESS.
AND WE'LL MOVE TO COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
[2. COURTESY OF FLOOR TO VISITORS]
TO VISITORS.ITEM TWO ON THE AGENDA IS OH, I'M TALKING BEFORE THE RECORDING.
IS DONNA HERE? DOES SHE HAVE SPEAKER CARDS READY? THANK YOU. WE DIDN'T DO COURTESY OF THE FLOOR.
THAT WAS JUST THE CAROLYN ZISSER.
HOLD THAT ONE. AND IF SHE COMES BACK IN, WE'LL BRING HER UP.
YEAH, IF YOU'LL HOLD MR. HAROLD. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE..
THAT'S RIGHT. I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
HAVE A SEAT. THANK YOU FOR THIS.
NOW WE CAN OFFICIALLY START THE MEETING, AND WE'LL GET TO CAROLYN'S ZIZZER IN JUST A MINUTE.
OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, STAFF.
TONIGHT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
[00:50:06]
BUT THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING WERE THE COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER KILLINGSWORTH ABOUT RESERVES.SO USING, YOU KNOW, THOSE RESERVES ABOVE THE 25% MINIMUM FOR SMART PURCHASES, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT PURCHASE IS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED ON THREE DIFFERENT ITEMS IS A SMART WAY TO GO.
SO WHEN A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS WAS BORROWED DURING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND COMMISSION, AT A MILLION AND A HALF AT FIVE I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS 5 OR 6% FOR 10 OR 15 YEARS, BUT I LOOKED IT UP ONCE UPON A TIME.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO USE SOME OF THE RESERVES TO RETIRE THAT DEBT.
WHICH BRINGS ME INTO THE NEXT THING, EIGHT ITEM EIGHT A ON YOUR AGENDA FROM PUBLIC UTILITIES.
HALF A MILLION TO BUILD 340FT WORTH OF ROAD AND BULKHEAD.
THAT IS MORE MONEY THAN WHAT WAS SPENT ON THE RECENT REPAVING OF EAST COAST DRIVE FROM ATLANTIC BOULEVARD TO 10TH STREET, MOST OF C OATS DRIVE, AND FOUR LITTLE BITTY STREETS THAT EVERYBODY HOLDS NEAR AND DEAR TO THEIR HEART, CALLED DEWEES, CORAL, SHELL AND COQUINA.
THAT'S. THAT FIVE 500, HALF $1 MILLION COULD GO A LOT FURTHER THAN TO BUILD A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GOOD ROAD ON A UTILITY ROAD THAT'S USED AT BEST, ONCE A MONTH, 12 TIMES A YEAR.
OKAY, WELL, MAYBE IT'S USED ONCE A WEEK.
OKAY. 52 TIMES A YEAR FOR ONE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN.
WASTEFUL SPENDING TO PUT IN A BULKHEAD AND WIDEN THAT ROAD.
AND BY THE WAY, I RODE MY BIKE DOWN THERE ON THURSDAY.
I TOOK A LOOK AT IT. I'D SEEN THE PROPERTY BEFORE.
UNTIL RECENTLY, THAT ROAD HAD BEEN COMPLETELY OVERGROWN BECAUSE THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF DEAD DEBRIS AND WHATNOT LAYING ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVER USE THE ROAD, OR THEY RARELY USE THE ROAD.
I'LL SAY THERE ARE THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THAT ROAD, THAT ROAD COULD BE EXPANDED ANOTHER TWO FEET TO THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY LINE FOR A LOT LESS THAN HALF $1 MILLION, YOU KNOW, TWO FEET WIDE TIMES 340FT OF WIDENING.
THAT WOULD BE EASY AND A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE THAN PUTTING IN 340FT OF BULKHEAD.
BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE, THE ADDITIONAL ISSUE THAT ONE SHOULD ASK IS, WHY IS THAT DRAINAGE DITCH ALWAYS FULL OF 3 OR 4FT OF WATER NOW? YEAH, I KNOW IT'S A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT.
BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS WHY ISN'T THAT DRAINAGE DITCH DRAINING RATHER THAN JUST BEING THERE AND BREEDING MOSQUITOES UP ON, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PEOPLE BETWEEN 19TH AND 20TH STREET, WHERE THAT DRAINAGE DITCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN FULL, I'VE NEVER SEEN IT EMPTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD VERY MUCH SUGGEST THAT YOU NOT VOTE TO SPEND A HALF $1 MILLION FROM THE WATER AND SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND TO BUILD A ROAD AND A BULKHEAD.
USE THAT MONEY FOR A BETTER WELL OR AN ADDITIONAL WELL, BETTER PUMPS.
THE WATER TOWER OVER ON MAYPORT ROAD.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF DIRECT WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS THAT HALF $1 MILLION WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON THAN BUILDING A BULKHEAD ALONG A DITCH.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE.
THAT'S ONLY FOR ROAD WIDENING AND TAKING OUT A CURB AND PUTTING IN 340FT OF BULKHEAD.
SO ANYWAY, SO THAT REALLY IS ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. HARRELL. CAROLYN ZISSER.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS COUNCIL AND MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT THREE ISSUES RELEVANT TO ITEM B, THREE B, WHICH IS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, AND THREE C THE RESERVE IMPACT FUND.
[00:55:02]
AND IN THE COURSE OF MY FIVE MINUTES OR LESS I'M REALLY PULLING TOGETHER A LOT OF WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT, A LOT OF WHAT I AGREE WITH, NUMBER ONE IS THE IMPORTANT DOING, WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND URGENT.ISSUE NUMBER ONE, I THINK, IS A LIFEGUARD STATION.
AND SINCE ALTHOUGH THE COST OF THAT HAS GREATLY INCREASED, WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET SOME HELP FROM THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
SO I'M VERY GLAD THAT THAT OUR COUNCILMAN DIAMOND IS HERE TO HEAR THAT IT IS A MUST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR HEALTH MOLD WE HAVE TO GET RID OF.
I MEAN, IMMEDIATELY, IT'S IT'S NOW ALMOST MARCH.
IT'S GOING TO BE SOON GETTING A LOT WARMER.
SO THAT IS THE NEEDS TO BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
AND I'D LOVE TO SEE AN ORDINANCE TO GET THIS STARTED IMMEDIATELY.
ISSUE NUMBER TWO, ON THE ISSUE OF GOAL ORIENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DEDICATED SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER.
AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AS A SENIOR, I CAN FINALLY ADMIT THAT I'M A SENIOR AND I'M PROUD OF IT.
AND SENIORS REALLY NEED HEALTH, EDUCATION EXERCISE.
AND THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO ARE AGING IN PLACE.
I'VE BEEN IN MY HOME NOW FOR 47 YEARS, AND WE ARE AGING IN PLACE.
AND I HAVE NOT YET LEARNED OF ANY COMMUNITY WIDE PROGRAMS, SUCH AS A MEALS ON WHEELS, SUCH AS HELPING PEOPLE GET TO HOSPITALS AT THE BEACH.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT I THINK CAN BE DONE IN A DEDICATED SENIOR CENTER.
SO I'M HOPING THAT AS YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE THE USE OF THE PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN VOTED TONIGHT TO PURCHASE IN MARSH OAKS, THAT PERHAPS THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE MAIN FOCUSES AS A SENIOR CENTER.
THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO ARE NOT PLANNING TO SELL OUR HOMES FOR THE SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN APPRECIATION FOR YOUNGER FAMILIES WHO WANT TO MOVE IN WHO INTEND TO LIVE HERE.
AND I THINK ONCE WE DO SOME RESEARCH, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO DO SOME RESEARCH AS TO HOW MANY RESIDENTS THERE ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE OVER THE AGE OF 65 OR 70 OR 75.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY OF THAT DATA, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT DATA TO BE GATHERING.
AND I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM CITY MANAGER KILLINGSWORTH AS TO THE AMOUNT OF THE RESERVES THAT WE HAVE AND THAT WE DO NOT NEED TO GO INTO THE RESERVES TO TO IMPROVE THE LIFEGUARD STATION AND TO HOPEFULLY BE MAKING A DEDICATED SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER.
I THINK NOT INVADING RESERVES IS NECESSARY, AGAIN, IMPORTANT AND URGENT TO THE ISSUE OF RESILIENCY, BECAUSE OUR CITY HAS TO BE RESILIENT IF WE NEED EMERGENCY FUNDING.
WE'VE READ IN THE NEWSPAPER HOW IT'S EXPECTED THAT THERE WILL BE AN INCREASED ACTIVITY WITH STORMS. SO WE NEED TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT AND BE SURE WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO HELP OUR CITIZENS IN THAT, IN IF THERE IS A WEATHER HAZARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I KNOW YOU'LL BE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
SHE ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK DURING COURTESY OF THE FLOOR, ACCORDING TO HER CARD.
SHE MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD BECAUSE SHE'S SHE'S GONE.
OKAY. AND CINDY ANDERSON ALSO SAID SHE WOULD NOT.
SHE DOESN'T WANT TO SPEAK AFTER ALL AS WELL.
OKAY, SO THAT'S THE END OF YOUR LIST? THAT'S ALL I HAVE. SO I'D LIKE TO BRING UP OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL, RORY DIAMOND.
THANK YOU, MISTER MAYOR. RORY DIAMOND, 1515 OCEANFRONT, NEPTUNE BEACH, THAT CITY JUST TO THE SOUTH, IF YOU'RE NOT SURE. FOUR THINGS, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WANT TO GO HOME.
TRUST ME, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING ON THAT SIDE AND GETTING HOME, SOUNDS REALLY EXCITING.
FOUR QUICK THINGS, FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE BEING BACK.
[01:00:04]
DEMOCRACY. ONE GUY IN THE DESERT DECIDES FOR EVERYBODY, AND IT'S AWFUL.AND SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT PAINFUL.
IT TAKES MORE TIME, TAKES A LOT OF PATIENCE.
SOMETIMES IT'S PERSONAL, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT THIS IS WAY BETTER THAN THE THE OTHER OPTION.
SO IT'S NOT JUST BACK ANYWHERE, BUT BACK HERE.
GOOD JOB. ATLANTIC BEACH CITY COUNCIL.
THE COMMISSION HAS HIRED BILL KILLINGSWORTH TO BE THEIR CITY MANAGER.
SO YOU GUYS LANDED A SOLID I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING.
BUT ALSO REALLY TO THE PEOPLE OF ATLANTIC BEACH.
AND THEN YOU HIRE JASON GABRIEL, WHICH IS ANOTHER SOLID HIRE.
I'VE JUST COME FROM DEPLOYMENT, BUT I'VE BEEN TO WAR WITH THESE GUYS.
AND YOU HAVE TWO OF THE BEST CITY EMPLOYEES THAT YOU WILL FIND ANYWHERE SERVING THE CITY.
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT STEFOPOULOS AND NOW CHIEF QUAY AND MR. KILLINGSWORTH, OUR BEACH CITIES ARE SO WELL SERVED, BY WHICH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE WAS HALF AS WELL SERVED AS YOU ALL ARE.
SO THANK YOU FOR FOR THAT LEADERSHIP.
MS. ZISSER, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU.
AND SO THE MONEY WAS AVAILABLE.
I WORKED WITH MAYOR CURRY AND HIS TEAM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT MONEY JUST KIND OF LOOSELY DEDICATED TO THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE YOURS ANYWAYS, KIND OF SPLIT THE BABY AND USE HALF FOR THE GIL BAKER CENTER AND THE OTHER HALF FOR THE NEW LIFEGUARD STATION.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH. AND SO I WAS ABLE TO GET ANOTHER $200,000 TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO THAT'S OUR ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TODAY.
WE GOT 200 GRAND, MS. ZISSER, I THINK THAT MEANS THAT WILL HAPPEN.
BUT THAT'LL GET VOTED ON TOMORROW, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BUDGET.
WE'LL VOTE ON IT AS A CITY COUNCIL.
AND WHEN THAT MONEY'S ON TODAY.
THE LIFEGUARDS PROTECT US ALL.
THEY DON'T CHECK TO SEE IF YOU'RE FROM COJ OR FROM OUT OF TOWN.
THEY JUST SEE THAT YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.
YOUR FAMILY NEEDS HELP AND THEY COME AND HELP YOU.
OR IF THEY'RE SMART, THEY TELL YOU NOT TO DO STUPID THINGS BEFORE YOU GO DO STUPID THINGS.
AND THIS IS ONE WHERE THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE IS ABLE TO JUMP IN.
IF PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE, I REPRESENT ALL THE BEACHES IN DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE AS YOUR COUNCILMAN.
AND BUT THERE'S ALL SORTS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS OUT HERE AT THE BEACHES.
WE'VE GOT FIVE HERE, FIVE IN NEPTUNE BEACH, SEVEN IN IN JAX BEACH.
AND COLLECTIVELY, YOU ALL ARE MUCH CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE.
SO IT IS NOT MY JOB TO TELL YOU HOW TO SPEND YOUR MONEY OR WHAT TO DO.
PURCHASE THAT LAND, WHAT YOU DO WITH IT, I DON'T CARE, BUT I DID NOTICE THERE WAS AN END AROUND EFFORT TO TRY AND FORCE A HOMELESS SHELTER HERE INTO ATLANTIC BEACH AGAINST, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT YOU ALL WEIGHING IN ON IT AND CERTAINLY WITHOUT THIS JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL WEIGHING ON IT.
AND IF WE CAN DO IT, I WILL CERTAINLY ADVOCATE FOR YOU EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY.
BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES IF ANYBODY'S LISTENING.
I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE LAST THING.
THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH IS MY MOST IMPORTANT CITY.
AND EVEN THOUGH I LIVE IN NEPTUNE BEACH, AND EVEN THOUGH I JUST CAME FROM JAX BEACH CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THE REST, IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT CITY TO ME BECAUSE MY MOM LIVES HERE, AND IF I DON'T DO MY JOB WELL FOR ATLANTIC BEACH, I WILL GET IN TROUBLE NONSTOP.
SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, MR. MAYOR, IF YOU HAVE THEM. OTHERWISE, I'LL WELL, NO..
WE'LL GET OUT OF HERE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MR. DIAMOND, FOR THE APPROPRIATION.
SO APPRECIATED. BUT ALSO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
SO YOU DIDN'T TAKE ANY BULLETS OR ANY SHRAPNEL? I'M GOOD. OKAY.
YEAH. I TAKE WAY, WAY WORSE INCOMING FIRE HERE.
YEAH. WHY DO YOU LIVE IN NEPTUNE BEACH? I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH, SIR.
THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW JACKSONVILLE WAS HERE FOR A JOB INTERVIEW.
I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT RIGHT ON THE SPOT.
THEY SAID NO, I BOUGHT THE ONE NEXT DOOR.
I JUST HADN'T MADE IT THAT FAR NORTH.
AND I WAS, YOU KNOW, I CHOSE TOO SOON.
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. YEAH. NO. HAPPY TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU ALL. AND I APPRECIATE IT.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. DIAMOND. OKAY.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? COURTESY OF THE FLOOR.
[3. CITY MANAGER REPORTS]
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COMMISSION.SO THE FIRST THING UP IS THREE A, WHICH IS THE 90 DAY CALENDAR, WHICH IS BEFORE YOU.
[01:05:05]
I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE MONTH OF MARCH IS A VERY ACTIVE MONTH IN OUR PARKS.AND THEN ON THE 30TH WE HAVE THE EASTER EGG HUNT.
WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, IF WE COULD GET CONSENSUS ON THE CALENDAR.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY RECOMMENDED CHANGES? HEARING NONE. DO WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO APPROVE THE 90 DAY CALENDAR? YES. YES. OKAY.
APPROVED. AND THEN THREE B IS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS UPDATE.
LAST TIME I WENT THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS TONIGHT I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH PUBLIC UTILITIES.
SO THE FIRST ITEM IS MODERNIZATION OF OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THE CONSTRUCTION IS THE CONTRACTS OUT.
THE CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE ON APRIL 23RD.
THAT'S NOT STARTED YET, BUT IT IS CURRENTLY BEING PUT OUT FOR A DESIGN BUILD CONTRACT.
THE NEXT PROJECT IS A HYDRO PNEUMATIC PUMP FOR WATER TREATMENT.
ONE THE 90% PLANS ARE EXPECTED IN DECEMBER OF 23.
I THINK THAT'S SUPPOSED TO SAY WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE PLANS.
SO ALSO ON WATER TREATMENT PLANT NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE SOME CLEANING AND PAINTING INSIDE.
THAT'S 250,000 THAT HASN'T WE TOOK THAT MONEY TO HELP FUND ANOTHER PROJECT.
AND THEN $100,000 FOR ENGINEERING EVALUATION AND REPAIR OF WATER TREATMENT.
NUMBER TWO, THAT WAS MONEY THAT WE USED LAST COMMISSION CYCLE.
IN TERMS OF OUR POTABLE WATER DISTRIBUTION, THE SERVICE LINE AND VALVE REPLACEMENT.
WE HAVE $200,000 FOR 110FT OF LINEAR, 110 LINEAR FEET OF 12 INCH PIPE ALONG MAYPORT ROAD.
CAP CONTRACTING HAS HAD THAT CONTRACT, AND IT IS NOW COMPLETE.
WE HAVE $197,000 OR 250 LINEAR FEET OF 12 INCH PVC PIPE FOR A DIFFERENT SECTION OF MAYPORT ROAD.
AND WE'RE REVIEWING THE PLANS CURRENTLY.
SO FOR WATER WASTEWATER TREATMENT REPLACING THE DIGESTER CATWALK IS $185,000.
THAT'S PUT OUT TO HUTCHINSON WELDING.
AND THAT'S BEING MANAGED CURRENTLY.
AND THEN WE HAVE A $300,000 PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT A HYPOCHLORITE BUILDING.
AND WE'RE WAITING ON DESIGN FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN WE HAVE A REPLACEMENT OF CLAY SERVICES.
THIS IS A WASTEWATER COLLECTION, $100,000.
WE TOOK MONEY FROM THIS TO MAKE UP A SHORTFALL ON OUR PROJECT FROM LAST COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HAVE A INFILTRATION AND INFLOW CONTROL ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION.
SO WE ALSO BORROWED MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT.
THIS IS THE PROJECT THAT GOT IT ALL IS BUCCANEER LIFT STATION RETROFIT.
YOU APPROVE THAT LAST WEEK, AND IT'S GOING OUT FOR CONTRACT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A LIFT STATION VULNERABILITY FOR FLOODING ON A KAVA, KAVALA, EXCUSE ME.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE TAKEN FROM A LOT.
AND THEN THE LAST IS THE 20TH STREET LIFT STATION, THE ACCESS ROAD FOR THE.
CURRENTLY, THERE'S $250,000 THERE.
AND THAT IS THE PROJECTS FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. KILLINGSWORTH. AND WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED RESERVE IMPACT AND WE'VE MOVED AHERN PROJECT.
[01:10:06]
BUT I DO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU.YOU YOU HAD I THINK YOU HAD MENTIONED SOMETIME THIS PAST WEEK THAT YOU'RE PREPARING A SURVEY MONKEY SURVEY TO GO OUT TO THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH FOR THE USE OF THE ACQUISITION AT FIRST STREET FOR FIRST STREET AND GAIL BAKER.
THAT PACKET IN YOUR HANDOUTS IS A DRAFT SURVEY.
KEVIN'S GOING TO EMAIL YOU THAT.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US COMMENTS, ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK SHOULD BE ADDED TO IT? WE'LL TAKE THOSE COMMENTS OUT AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET THE SURVEY OUT ON THE STREET.
OKAY. I WOULD ALSO SAY SO BASED ON THE DISCUSSIONS, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULD ENTERTAIN AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE THE ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR THE LIFEGUARD STATION.
YES. SO, COMMISSIONERS WE COULD ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD ON THAT TODAY WITH DIRECTION VIA CONSENSUS TO INSTRUCT THE CITY MANAGER TO PREPARE THAT ORDINANCE IF YOU'D LIKE TO PROCEED.
SO, IF I MAY, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD.
AND NOW PULL THE BILL TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S BEING APPROPRIATED TOMORROW NIGHT.
AND WE'LL JUST DEDUCT THAT OFF THE OVERAGE AND I'LL MAKE IT THE DIFFERENCE.
SO CURRENTLY THERE'S A $700,000 SHORTFALL.
ACTUALLY IF THEY'VE ALREADY APPROVED THAT, YOU STILL WOULD PREPARE YOUR ORDINANCE FOR 700,000.
SO LET ME I'LL TALK WITH JASON ABOUT THAT.
WHETHER WE NEED TO DO A SEPARATE ONE TO APPROPRIATE THE 200,000 FROM COJ AND THEN 500 FROM US, OR IF WE CAN DO IT ALL AS ONE ORDINANCE, JUST RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I DON'T SEE WHY WE COULDN'T DO BOTH AS ONE ORDINANCE, BUT WITH TWO SORT OF SUB FUND DISCUSSIONS IN THAT ONE ORDINANCE.
BUT WE'LL, WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK THAT.
YES, COMMISSIONER. SO LIKE THE STUFF THAT THE MONEY WE'VE TAKEN FROM WATER PLANT NUMBER TWO IS, IS IT HOW CRITICAL IS IT THAT WE GET YOU KNOW, WE PROJECT FUNDS FOR WATER PLANT NUMBER TWO? SO WE'LL BRING THAT BACK IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
AND THEN, TROY, IF YOU WANT TO COME SPEAK TO THIS IDEA, IS THESE ARE PROJECTS, THE PROJECTS THAT WERE TAKING MONEY FROM, WE'RE TAKING THEM FROM PROJECTS THAT WE PERCEIVE TO HAVE A LESSER PRIORITY AND MOVING THEM TO A HIGHER PRIORITY.
IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE MAKING THE PROJECTS GO AWAY.
AND THEN THOSE THAT WE DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS, WE'LL PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT CYCLE.
YES, MA'AM. SO WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? WELL, WE TOOK FUNDS FOR FROM WE TOOK FUNDS FROM WATER PLANT NUMBER TWO.
SO WATER PLANT NUMBER TWO IS..
WE HAVEN'T TAKEN FUNDS FROM WATER PLANT TWO.
BUT IN THE SITUATION IN THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE MOVED MONEY AROUND.
RIGHT. WHAT'S THE SO WHY WAS THE CHOICE FROM THE PARTICULAR PROJECTS THAT YOU PULLED FROM.
AND THEN HOW ARE WE EXPECTED TO BACKFILL THOSE, I THINK IS WHAT THE QUESTION IS.
SO THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE TAKEN THAT WE'VE PUT MONEY INTO OUR HIGH PRIORITY, OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY JOBS LIKE THE LIFT STATION AT BUCCANEER, THAT'S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
YES. SO THOSE MONIES WERE ONLY TAKEN FROM WASTEWATER? NO, NO WATER.
THE OTHER JOB WAS 20TH STREET.
THOSE AGAIN WERE ONLY TAKEN FROM WASTEWATER ACCOUNTS AND NOT WATER ACCOUNTS.
SO WATER PLANT TWO IS STILL A HIGH PRIORITY.
AND WE'VE NOT TAKEN ANY MONEY FROM THAT PROJECT.
SO COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE THE EXPENDITURE THAT MR. HARLEY SPOKE ABOUT? BUT MR. BRINKLEY, 20TH STREET, BUCKHEAD.
YEAH. WE HAD TO BORROW FROM THREE OTHER ACCOUNTS TO BRING THAT UP TO THE LOW BID PRICE.
WE CHOSE THAT BULKHEAD DUE TO THE, THERE'S A BUFFER ALONG THOSE THOSE PEOPLE'S HOMES THAT LIVE THERE AND THEY DON'T REALLY WANT TO SEE THAT LIFT STATION, I THINK, IN THE PAST.
SO THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THAT, THAT ROUTE WITH THE BULKHEAD.
SO I THINK IT WAS SUGGESTED ON GOING BACK AND TAKING UP SOME OF THAT EASEMENT FROM THEM, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S A DOABLE OPTION JUST BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT LIFT STATION BACK THERE IN THE BACK.
AND WE DO VISIT THAT LIFT STATION.
WELL, MORE THAN WAS WAS REPORTED.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY AHEAD OF OURSELVES ON BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO RESOLUTION 24-10.
[01:15:04]
RIGHT IF HE WAS ALREADY THERE.BUT IF YOU'LL HOLD ON THAT BECAUSE I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU WHEN WE GET TO THAT.
YOU'RE. YEAH, I THINK I HAVE ONE MORE ITEM, MR. MAYOR. ALSO IN YOUR HANDOUT WILL BE A PRINTOUT THAT LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS IT'S NOT FOR DISCUSSION TONIGHT UNLESS YOU WANT TO MAKE IT SO.
BUT IT'S I SAID I WOULD GET YOU A COPY OF YOUR WORK FOR THE PRIORITY SETTINGS.
SO THIS IS HOW I'VE TAKEN IT AND MELDED IT INTO THE CITY'S VISION AND SET PRIORITIES AND IDENTIFIED PROJECTS THAT WOULD IMPLEMENT THOSE PRIORITIES.
AND THEN AT THE END OF IT, THERE'S TWO SECTIONS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE.
ONE OF IT IS ON PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND FINANCIAL INDICATORS.
AND THEN THE OTHER IS LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN AND BUDGET.
THOSE AREN'T IN THERE BECAUSE I DON'T.
BUT THE PRIORITY IS THE WORK THAT YOU DID.
AND ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT GOT A DOT MADE IT INTO THE LIST.
AND I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK BEFORE THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING.
YEAH. SO WHEN IS AMANDA GOING TO SLEEP? SHE HAS ALMOST ALL THE, IF I MAY, MR. MAYOR. THAT'S THE JOY OF BEING THE PLANNING DIRECTOR IS YOU END UP IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING.
OKAY. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM FOUR ON THE AGENDA REPORTS AND REQUESTS FROM CITY COMMISSIONERS.
[4. REPORTS AND/OR REQUESTS FROM CITY COMMISSIONERS]
I'LL START WITH THE COMMISSIONER KELLY.I NEED WE GET AN EMAIL FROM THAT WAS FORWARDED FROM DONNA TO US FROM LEAGUE OF CITIES REGARDING A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT OR.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONSIDER JOINING OR NOT.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REST OF YOU THINK, BUT WE ALL GOT THE SAME EMAIL.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW THAT? CAN WE FIND OUT? COUNCIL. SURE.
BUT REAL QUICK, I, SINCE YOU AND I TALKED COMMISSIONER KELLY, I DID LOOK INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT.
SO THERE'S A FIRM WEISS, SIROTA, HOFFMAN.
AND THERE'S A PARTICULAR ATTORNEY, A PARTNER.
THEY'RE THE MANAGING PARTNER, JAMIE ALLEN COLE.
AND SO WHAT THEY'VE DONE JUST BY WAY OF BRIEF AND THIS IS ACTUALLY PART OF MY CITY ATTORNEY REPORT.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET THAT DONE HERE.
AS OF FEBRUARY 15TH, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THIS FIRM HAS, ON BEHALF OF 26 CITIES AND 74 MUNICIPAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, FILED TWO DIFFERENT LAWSUITS ON BEHALF OF THOSE CITIES AND MUNICIPAL ELECTED OFFICIALS CHALLENGING THE FORM SIX REQUIREMENTS AS TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
ONE WAS FILED IN FEDERAL COURT IN MIAMI BASED ON I'LL SPARE YOU THE LEGAL YOU KNOW, THEORIES, BUT JUST AS AN UMBRELLA TOPICS BASED ON IT BEING COMPELLED ON CONTENT BASED, NONCOMMERCIAL SPEECH AND VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
THEY ALSO FILED A A CIRCUIT COURT CASE IN STATE COURT IN LEON COUNTY BASED ON THIS BEING AN INFRINGEMENT OF PRIVACY AND THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION, THOSE ARE THE MAIN THEMES THEY'RE USING AS THEORIES.
SO THEY FILED THESE TWO LAWSUITS.
THEY PREPARED A DRAFT RESOLUTION AND OTHER THINGS, BUT BASICALLY A FLAT FEE INCLUSIVE OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS OF $10,000 TO REPRESENT THE CITY AND INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I CAN CHECK AND SEE.
SO IS THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, FOR EXAMPLE.
ARE THEY UNDERWRITE, ARE THEY PAYING? ARE THEY INVOLVED WITH THIS PARTICULAR FIRM? FOR ALL I KNOW THERE MAY BE ANOTHER FIRM OUT THERE DOING SOMETHING, SO THAT'S WHAT I KNOW AT THE PRESENT.
OR NO, I, YOU KNOW, DECIDE WHETHER SOMETHING I WANT TO DO OR NOT.
OKAY. SURE. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, COMMISSIONER KELLY.
[01:20:01]
NO. THANK YOU.I'M GOING TO BE REAL SHORT AGAIN.
I IT WAS GREAT TO SEE OUR CITIZENS OUT HERE TONIGHT.
YES. AND ONE THING STRUCK ME WAS, DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE YOU YOU COULD ALMOST SEE THE INFLUENCE OF SOME POSTS THAT PEOPLE WERE GETTING WRONG INFORMATION.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME IN THIS ROOM OR EMAIL US, GRAB US, WHATEVER.
BUT IF YOU BELIEVE EVERYTHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEN YOU'RE.
YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT INFORMED. SORRY.
THANKS. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER RING. I WANTED TO DISCUSS THE LIFEGUARD STATION.
I HAD NO IDEA COUNCILMAN DIAMOND WAS GOING TO SHARE THAT GREAT NEWS WITH 200,000 OF US.
I WAS ACTUALLY PREPARED TO ASK BILL TO CONSIDER LOOKING INTO GETTING MORE MONEY FROM DOJ THROUGH OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, BUT NOW THAT'S OFF THE TABLE.
WHEN NOW THAT WE'VE ALL UNANIMOUSLY AGREED ON THE PURCHASE OF 100 WEST FIRST STREET, I'D LIKE TO IMPLORE OUR ART COMMITTEE TO GIVE US SOME SUGGESTIONS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ARC SORT OF LOOK INTO THAT AND, AND HAVE A SAY IN WHAT WE RECOMMEND OR WHAT THEY RECOMMEND US TURN THAT COMMUNITY CENTER INTO, ALONG WITH THE SURVEY THAT WAS IN ON OUR DESK WHEN WE FIRST WALKED UP.
AND JUST A LOT'S BEEN GOING ON, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE RESIDENTS COMING HERE AND SPEAKING.
ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MEETING WAS WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO TRIM TREES AROUND THE CAMERAS ON 18TH AND GET BETTER VISUALIZATION, IN MY OPINION, DID NOT GO VERY WELL AT ALL.
TALK TO EVERYBODY ABOUT IT, INCLUDING THE CHIEF AND INCLUDING SARAH BOREN.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THESE CAMERAS.
WE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ONLY A VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO WANTED THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND ARE THEY REALLY WORKING? ARE THEY WORTH IT? AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO TAKE DOWN TREES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO GET THEM, TO GET THEM TO VISUALIZE THE STREETS? WE JUST HAVE SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE.
THANK YOU. I ONLY HAVE ONE COMMENT TO CITIZEN ZISSER.
YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE COMMITTEE.
OKAY. WE'RE MOVING ON TO COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[7. COMMITTEE REPORTS]
FINALLY, MISS GOODRICH, WOULD YOU COME UP AND AND SPEAK TO US ARTS, RECREATION AND CULTURE COMMITTEE? AND. SORRY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG TO GET TO YOU.THANK YOU FOR BEING NUMBER TWO.
AND I'VE LOOKED AT ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU SENT US.
WELL, THANK YOU. AND I, LISA GOODRICH, I AM BUILDING OUR HOUSE ON SEA OATS.
BUT I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 30 YEARS, SO.
I SENT THESE DOCUMENTS ON FRIDAY TO EVERYBODY.
SO YOU HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO REVIEW AND HAVE QUESTIONS PREPARED.
AND IT SAID EVERYTHING WENT THROUGH ON MY END, BUT APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T.
SO NOW YOU HAVE IT AGAIN TODAY, AND AND KEVIN'S HANDING OUT HARD COPIES.
SO I JUST FIRST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WATCHED YOUR PRIORITY SETTING, AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE PROCESS.
LINDA HAS HAS GUIDED US THROUGH THE SIMILAR PROCESS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.
AND IT WAS COMMISSIONER WATERS THAT SAID QUALITY OF LIFE PERMEATES EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
[01:25:02]
AND AS CITY MANAGER, KILLINGSWORTH MENTIONED, ALL THE FUN THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN MARCH.SO WE'RE JUST THRILLED RIGHT NOW.
ON THIS PACKET THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU.
THE FIRST PAGE IS OUR, OUR PRIORITIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER KELLY SAID IN YOUR PRIORITY SETTING WAS TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN ARTS PROGRAMING THAT IS TOP OF MIND FOR US RIGHT NOW.
YOU'LL HAVE IN YOUR PACKET A COUPLE OF RATHER LARGE SPREADSHEETS.
WE HAVE ASKED OUR STAFF TO IN THE ARTS AND REC DEPARTMENT TO PUT TOGETHER A LISTING OF ALL OF THE PROGRAMING WHERE THEY TAKE PLACE.
WHO IS THE INTENDED AUDIENCE? WHO IS THE ACTUAL AUDIENCE? WHAT IS THE COST OF THIS PROGRAMING TO THE CITY? AND ARE WE, YOU KNOW, GETTING OUR MONEY'S WORTH? ARE WE SERVING A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY? AND THIS IS HELPING US TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE HAVE SOME HOLES AND SOME PLACES TO FILL.
AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ADDRESS THOSE TWO WAYS.
FIRST, WE HAVE THE GRANT CYCLE COMING UP, AND YOU HAVE THE GRANTS CALENDAR THERE.
IN 2022, WE PUT THAT WHOLE PROCESS ONLINE SO THAT WE'VE REALLY KIND OF STREAMLINED IT AND BROUGHT SOME STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION TO THAT PROCESS. AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY HAPPY WITH THE THE GRANTS THAT WE'VE MADE THIS PAST SEASON.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALL IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING EACH GRANT OR EACH PROGRAM AS IT'S IMPLEMENTED.
EACH ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAS BEEN ASSIGNED A COUPLE.
WE GO, WE ATTEND, I THINK COMMISSIONER KELLY, YOU DID GO TO CHAIR YOGA.
IT WAS GREAT. AND THERE YOU GO.
SO SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE AND CHECK THE CALENDAR TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN AND THEN EVERYONE WILL MAKE, WE'LL MAKE OUR FINAL REPORTS ABOUT HOW SUCCESSFUL THE PROGRAM IS OR ISN'T, AND WE'LL CONSIDER THEM FOR EITHER FUTURE PROGRAMING OR FUNDING IF THEY APPLY.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS STARTING IN IN JUNE, I THINK, IS WHEN THE CALENDAR SAYS THAT WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT THE, THE NEW GRANT APPLICATION. SO YOU HAVE A COUPLE COPIES OF THE GRANTS FOR SCHOOLS AND FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEN. LAST.
WE HAVE A COUPLE WORKSHOPS COMING UP.
ACTUALLY, TOMORROW, FROM 1 TO 4, WE HAVE A WORKSHOP TO TALK ABOUT TURTLE CRAWL.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE SET AS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES.
IT WILL HELP ADDRESS THE CONNECTIVITY DESIRES IN THE IN THE PARKS.
IT WILL BE A FAMILY FRIENDLY OPPORTUNITY IF YOU'RE NOT FULLY AWARE OR UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS.
AND YOU GO TO CITY HALL AND YOU GET A MAP AND IT'S LIKE A SCAVENGER HUNT, AND THERE'S THESE LITTLE BRONZE MICE ALL OVER ON MAIN STREET, AND YOU KIND OF WALK AROUND AND IT ENCOURAGES THE SHOPPING AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, THE RESTAURANTS, THE WHOLE AREA.
AND WHEN YOU FIND ONE IT ON THE MAP, IT TELLS YOU WHAT IS OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE MICE.
AND SO YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE CITY AS WELL.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR BIKING THROUGHOUT THE PARKS TO FIND THESE TURTLES.
AND SO WE'RE IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF REALLY PUTTING SOME MEAT ON THOSE BONES.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A FORMAL PRESENTATION TO YOU.
IF THIS IS SOME KIND OF PROGRAM THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO IMPLEMENT AND SET SOME MONEY ASIDE TO, TO DO.
AND WE'LL ADDRESS THE, THE NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR A MULTI-USE COMMUNITY CENTER.
HE SAID IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT, WHAT WOULD ARTS, RECREATION AND CULTURE LOOK LIKE IN OUR CITY?
[01:30:01]
AND THEN HE, OF COURSE, PREFACED THAT BY SAYING, OF COURSE, MONEY IS AN OBJECT.SO BUT WE'RE WE WERE ALL EXCITED WHEN WE PRESENTED WHEN I PRESENTED THAT TO OUR COMMITTEE.
ALSO EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE THE SURVEY MONKEY.
SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ARTS AND CULTURE? RECREATION. I JUST WANT TO SAY, I KNOW I.
I THINK YOU'RE A FULL TIME CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE, SO.
WELL, NO, WE HAVE WE HAVE STAFF, AND.
. WELL.. IT'S FUN. I KNOW YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON IT.
WHAT QUESTIONS DO WE HAVE FOR LISA? FIND SOMEBODY IN ROTARY BECAUSE WE DO BIKES AND BREWS, AND IT'S A HISTORY CRAWL WITH BEER.
YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION.
BOLE, MR. BOLE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT? OR QUESTION. I YOU KNOW, AS I WAS READING THROUGH, I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR SPREADSHEET REAL QUICK THAT WHAT WHAT DO YOU GUYS HAVE AT THE FARMER'S MARKET? BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN SUCH A HIT FOR US.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN BY ON A SUNDAY.
YEAH. WE DON'T THAT IS MANAGED BY AN ORGANIZATION.
I KNOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FOR PROFIT.
IT'S A FOR PROFIT. RIGHT. I WAS LOOKING THROUGH.
YOU DON'T HAVE YOU DON'T HAVE A BOOTH SET UP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT OUT THERE? NO, WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT THAT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR US TO ACTUALLY HAVE HARD COPIES OF THIS SURVEY THAT WE CAN ..
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY OUR FARMER'S MARKET.
YEAH. GAVE IT TO THE, YOU KNOW, A SIGN OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT PLACE..
PEOPLE. YOU'RE RIGHT. I WOULD GUESS WE HAVE HUNDREDS MAYBE THOUSAND PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THERE.
YOU'RE RIGHT. SO IT'S JUST AN IDEA.
YOU'RE RIGHT. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID NOTICE WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT ATTENDANCE, I KNOW WE DID A LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF ADULT AND SENIOR PROGRAMING FOR JANUARY, WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE, AND THE COPY OF THAT'S IN THERE AS WELL.
I DID NOTICE THAT SOME OF THE THINGS WERE NOT VERY WELL ATTENDED, AND I PUT OUT A REQUEST TO EVERYBODY IN MY CIRCLES, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU ATTEND? AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.
SO I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IS NOT NECESSARILY, ALTHOUGH I DO THINK WE NEED INCREASED PROGRAMING IN SOME AREAS, BUT WE NEED TO FIND OUT HOW THESE HOW OUR NEIGHBORS WANT TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S OUR PROPERTY. YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
CHIEF. DON'T WE HAVE AFFORDABLE SIGNED ON A TRAILER.
CHALLENGE TO GET IT TO THE LOCATION WHERE IT IS.
IT'S A MATTER OF WHERE WE WANT TO PUT IT.
BUT SO YOU COULD USE THAT, AND I WOULD SUGGEST PUTTING IT LIKE OVER ON WEST NINTH, WHERE PEOPLE ENTER TO THE MARSH SIDE SO THAT YOU GET, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DRIVE BY HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, PUT SOMETHING ON THE OTHER SIDE.
I SAW ONE RECENTLY THAT RIGHT WHERE THE FLYOVER IS IN FRONT OF THE PAWN SHOP.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA RIGHT THERE.
IT'S WHERE THE ATLANTIC BEACH SIGN IS, WELCOME TO ATLANTIC BEACH.
ANYTHING ELSE. JUST THANK YOU LISA FOR COMING.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO WITH OUR PARKS AND RECREATION AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I KNOW JANE IS BACK HERE AS WELL.
AND SHE SITS IN AND, YOU KNOW, RELAYS ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO YOUR COMMITTEE.
AND I THINK THIS WAS A HUGE WIN TONIGHT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION.
I THINK SO, TOO. AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS.
SO LOOK INTO WHAT PROGRAMING WE HAVE THAT COULD INCREASE.
AND WHAT YOU YOUR COMMITTEE WOULD SEE.
OKAY. THAT OR ENVISION THAT BEING OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU, MISS GOODRICH.
ITEM SEVEN B, REAPPOINTMENT TO POLICE OFFICER.
THE RECOMMENDED MOTION IS REAPPOINT ROBERT LEGGERO AS A MEMBER OF THE POLICE OFFICERS PENSION BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR AN ADDITIONAL TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MAKE A MOTION TO REAPPOINT HIM TO THE PENSION BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THIS IS ONE I FOLLOW AND DOES A GREAT JOB.
IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS.
AS FAR AS THE INVESTMENT THAT GO INTO THAT PENSION FUND AND ALSO THE GENERAL ANYWAY.
SECOND, BOB'S BOB'S A VERY GOOD AT IT FOR A LONG TIME.
[01:35:03]
YEAH. GOOD.ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
[8.A. RESOLUTION NO. 24-10]
RESOLUTION NUMBER, THIS IS ITEM EIGHT, A.THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, AWARDING BID NUMBER 2324-03 FOR 20TH STREET LIFT STATION ACCESS WIDENING, 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.
MR. KILLINGSWORTH? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
SO WHEN WE PUT THIS OUT FOR THE BUDGETED AMOUNT WAS $250,000 FOR THIS.
WHEN WE PUT IT OUT FOR BID, THE LOW BID WAS $456,809.
SO WE'VE MADE UP THE DIFFERENCE BY REPRIORITIZING THREE, FOUR OTHER PROJECTS, THREE OTHER PROJECTS AND TAKING FUNDS FROM THEM SO THAT WE CAN MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
TROY IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
GOOD. THANK YOU. COME ON UP, TROY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF SIMPLE QUESTIONS.
I HEARD FROM THE CITIZEN ABOUT THE PATH, WHICH I BELIEVE IS TEN FEET.
AND YOU WANT TO WIDEN IT TO 12, IS THAT.
YES, SIR. AND IT IS POSSIBLE TO GO TO THE WEST ON THAT WIDENING.
MY QUESTION IS, SO WE GOT TWO THINGS GOING ON HERE.
WE GOT SOME ROAD WORK, IF YOU WILL, AND A QUESTION MAYBE FOR YOU, MR. KILLINGSWORTH. IS THAT TIED INTO OUR OTHER ROAD CONTRACTORS THAT COMPLETELY SEPARATE.
SO IT'S SEPARATE. IT'S COMPLETELY SEPARATE.
AND THEN MAYBE SHOULD IT BE, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THEN WHAT I REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND, I GET IT ON THE ROAD.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE FREQUENCY OF TRAFFIC BY YOUR VEHICLES ON THAT ROAD.
BUT MY QUESTION IS WHY NOW, AFTER DECADES OF THAT DRAINAGE DITCH BEING THERE WITH NO RETENTION WALL, WHY NOW SPENDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A RETENTION WALL? WE HAVE A GRANT FUNDED GENERATOR.
OKAY. AND WITHOUT PUTTING WIDEN THIS ROAD, WE CANNOT ACCESS THAT GENERATOR.
WE COULDN'T EVEN GET THAT THE GENERATOR INSTALLED IN THAT LIFT STATION.
SO THE GENERATOR IS NOT INSTALLED YET? NO. AND WHEN IS IT DUE IN? IT'S COMING. IT'S IT'S IN THE WORKS NOW.
IS THAT THE PROBLEM? SANDY, MUDDY DITCH LINE.
SO IS, AND I'M GOING TO LET THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ASK QUESTIONS IN A SECOND.
BUT IS THE NEED FOR THE RETENTION WALL BECAUSE YOU SPEND AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME EXCAVATING THAT DITCH? WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE RETENTION WALL? IS IT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK PUSHING THE DIRT BACK DOWN INTO THE DITCH? WHY DO WE NEED THAT? WE SAY THAT'S A TEN FOOT ROAD, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS.
I BELIEVE IT'S MORE LIKE AN EIGHT THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY ACCESSIBLE.
WE CAN'T GET A BIG TRUCK DOWN THERE TO SERVICE THAT WET WELL DOWN THERE AT ALL.
RIGHT NOW OUR BACK CON CANNOT GO DOWN THAT TRUCK COULD GO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.
SO HOW HAVE WE SERVICED? THIS IS.. WE GOT TO SUB THAT OUT TO A SUBCONTRACTOR WITH SMALLER TRUCKS TO GO IN THERE.
AND IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT WET.
WELL, WE PAY AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO GO DOWN THERE AND WORK ON THAT.
SO FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE ON THIS.
YOU SAY WET. WELL, THIS IS A LIFT STATION.
OKAY. AND WE COULDN'T CONTINUE OUTSOURCING THE SERVICE OF THE NEW.
THAT'S THE ISSUE. GENERATOR IS COMING.
IT'S IN THE WORKS, IT'S A GRANT FUNDED THAT WE'VE BEEN AWARDED.
IT'S PROBABLY A YEAR OUT BEFORE WE CAN.
I'M GOING TO LET THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ASK QUESTIONS.
YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION. OKAY, I HAVE A QUESTION.
I HAVE NO IDEA. WE DON'T LIKE, SAY, UTILITIES.
WE DON'T MAINTAIN THE BULKHEADS, THE CREEKS.
UNFORTUNATELY. WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING A BULKHEAD.
SO WIDENING THIS ROAD FROM TEN FOOT TO 12.
YES. THAT CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT A BULKHEAD.
[01:40:03]
NO, IT NEEDS TO BE, IT NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED.WITH SUB SUB, YOU KNOW, GLAM ROCK AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO MAKE THAT ROAD FEASIBLE.
WELL, WHAT ARE THE ARE THERE ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVES? AND THAT IS THERE AREN'T ANY ALTERNATIVES.
THAT THE.. THE ONLY OTHER ALTERNATIVE, IF I MAY SAY, IS WHAT WAS ADDRESSED EARLIER, AND THAT IS TO GO RIGHT UP TO THE REAR PROPERTY LINE OR CLOSER TO THE REAR PROPERTY LINE OF THE RESIDENCE THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THAT ROADWAY.
AND THEN YOU ARE ENCROACHING ON..
THEIR PROPERTY. THEIR PROPERTY.
WHY DON'T WE BUY A SKINNIER TRUCK? MA'AM, WOULDN'T IT BE CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN JUST TO BUY A SKINNIER TRUCK? I MEAN, IT'S 400,000.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE GENERATOR GETS INSTALLED, IT'S HEAVY.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TELL A SMALLER TRUCK TO COME OUT THERE AND WORK ON THAT GENERATOR.
AND WE DON'T WORK ON THE GENERATORS OURSELVES.
WE USE, LIKE, RING POWER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
YEAH. JUST IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, THIS IS REQUIRED TO SERVICE THAT GENERATOR.
AND HOW WOULD YOU RANK THIS? YOU KNOW, OF THE PROJECT CURRENTLY THIS IS A RESILIENCY PROJECT.
WELL, DURING A STORM, WE COULD LOSE POWER, RIGHT? THAT WHAT? WELL, COULD OVERFLOW? CREEK IS RIGHT THERE. IT'S GOING TO CONTAMINATE THE.
SO MY PROFESSION WE NEED WE NEED THIS DONE.
THANKS. SO I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A FINAL COMMENT.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO STUDY IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
IF IT'S GOING TO BE A YEAR BEFORE WE GET THE THE GENERATOR, WE DON'T HAVE TO ACT ON IT TODAY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT AND LOOK AT IT AND I APOLOGIZE.
I ACTUALLY INTENDED TO GO OUT, DRIVE IT.
I'VE SEEN IT SO MANY TIMES GOING DOWN 20TH STREET, BUT I WAS NEVER PAYING ATTENTION.
SO I UNDERSTAND REALLY WHAT THE WIDTH OF IT IS.
AND THEN I'LL PROBABLY CHALLENGE YOU ONE MORE TIME.
YOU KNOW, I KIND OF KNOW. MAYBE SOME PICTURES WOULD HELP.
I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO VISUALIZE, RIGHT.
EXACTLY. BUT I, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE JUST TO SAY I SUPPORT THE STAFF ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL.
YES. IF YOU TELL ME THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO AS A PROFESSIONAL, THEN, YOU KNOW, I HEAR YOU.
YEAH. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS? I MOVE, WE DEFER THE RESOLUTION 24-10 AS READ.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE IS SIGNIFY YOUR VOTE BY SAYING AYE.
DID I GET A CLARIFY. WE'RE DEFERRING IT TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING. AND I DIDN'T HEAR YOU, MR. BOLE. DID YOU DID YOU VOTE? AYE. YEAH. THANK YOU.
TROY. MOVING ON TO WELL, WE ALREADY DID NINE A, SO AND WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO CITY CLERK DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO IT'S NOT. OKAY.
[12. CLOSING COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGER]
WE'LL GO TO CLOSING COMMENTS.MR. BOLE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START? YEAH. I APPRECIATE THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYING SOMETHING LIKE LAST TIME WHEN THERE WAS NO COMMENT.
BUT IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN HAVE A PRESENTATION EVERY SINGLE MEETING.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY TWO THINGS.
WE HAD A SQUAD REUNION OVER AT ONE OCEAN.
AND, BOY, I TELL YOU WHAT WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, THEIR MONEY IS OUR MONEY, YOU KNOW? SO WHAT A GREAT FACILITY AND AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH FARMERS MARKET DOWN BEFORE.
BOY, THAT THING IS QUADRUPLED FROM WHEN WE STARTED, YOU KNOW, AND AS I SEE IT FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CITY, WHAT I'M THINKING, THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY FOR US TO MAKE MONEY IN THERE. SO I'M THINKING.
COMMISSIONER KELLY. I'M NOTHING MORE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.
NOT JUST FOR MY DISTRICT, BUT FOR THE CITY.
AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT LIFEGUARD STATION.
I'M LEAVING HERE A LITTLE LATER THAN I THOUGHT, BUT HAPPY.
YOU'VE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND.
I'M FINE, THANK YOU. NEXT TIME, I GUESS I'LL YOU'RE GOOD.
I WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE DO THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES.
[01:45:04]
BY BEACHES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OVER ON I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE NAME, AMBERJACK.AND THIS MAN IS USING A WALKER.
HE IS, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY CITIZEN ZISSER.
HE IS AGING IN PLACE AND NOT WISHING TO LEAVE HIS HOME.
AND I'M JUST PROUD THAT THEY ARE A, AN ATLANTIC BEACH ICON THAT CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND IF YOU'RE UNAWARE, THEY HAVE THEY HAVE ADJUSTED WHAT THEY DO.
I SAID AT THE AT THE DEDICATION, WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER ONE OPENS.
THEY RECOGNIZE SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT LAND, AFFORDABLE LAND IN ATLANTIC BEACH WAS WAS RUNNING OUT.
AND SO THEY STARTED THEIR SENIOR REPAIR PROGRAM.
AND NOW HAVE MOVED INTO VETERAN REPAIRS.
AND IN THIS CASE, THIS WAS A VERY SENIOR VETERAN.
AND IF THERE IS NO FURTHER CITY BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.