Nov 25, 2024 Commission Meeting

THANK YOU. WELCOME, RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORS AND GUESTS.

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:07]

COMMISSIONER WATERS. COMMISSIONER BOLE.

WE COME TO THAT TOGETHER, LORD, IN YOUR MIDST, BESTOWED WITH THE HONOR OF SERVICE TO LISTEN, LEAD AND GUIDE.

GOD GRANT US THE COURAGE, STRENGTH, AND WISDOM AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY.

BLESSINGS TO ALL, ESPECIALLY THOSE DURING THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS.

WE GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE.

PLEASE LORD, TAKE CARE OF DOCTOR WATERS AND HIS FOOTBALL TEAM.

GO, NAVY! AMEN.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. BOLE.

THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, DATED NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024 WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.

THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT IT IS.

I HAVE TO TAKE A PHOTO OF ALL OF YOU.

THAT'S OUT OF ORDER, BUT APPROPRIATE.

MY WIFE IS AT HOME RECOVERING FROM SURGERY, AND THIS IS TO VALIDATE THAT I ACTUALLY CAME TO THIS MEETING TONIGHT AND THAT I'M BEING SWORN IN.

SO WELCOME, EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT.

WE'LL START WITH ROLL CALL.

[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ONE A, IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON JUNE 10TH, 2024 AND OCTOBER 14TH, 2024.

DO WE HAVE ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS? HEARING NONE, THE MINUTES STAND AS PRESENTED.

ITEM ONE B APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS HELD ON JULY 27TH, 2024 AND OCTOBER 19TH, 2024.

DO WE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS THERE? OKAY, THOSE MINUTES WILL STAND AS SUBMITTED.

ITEM ONE C APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOP HELD ON AUGUST 29TH, 2024.

ANY CORRECTIONS TO THOSE MINUTES? OKAY, ONCE AGAIN, THOSE MINUTES WILL STAND AS SUBMITTED.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE TO COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO OUR VISITORS.

[2. COURTESY OF FLOOR TO VISITORS]

LENNY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN HERE TO READ THIS, BUT HE IS ILL TONIGHT AND HE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR THE CITY AND SO MUCH FOR VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK.

SO I'LL JUST READ THIS SHORT STATEMENT.

THE BEACHES VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK COMMITTEE APPRECIATES THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERANS, PAST AND PRESENT BY COMMISSIONER MIKE WATERS.

HE HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR HELPING GROW THE VETERANS PARK.

WHENEVER WE BROUGHT AN ISSUE REGARDING VETERANS UP, COMMISSIONER WATERS WAS THE FIRST TO SAY, HOW CAN I HELP? HIS SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERANS, PAST AND PRESENT IS BEYOND REPROACH.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER WATERS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR VETERANS.

WE WILL MISS YOUR LEADERSHIP.

WELL, AND I'LL ENTER THAT INTO THE RECORD.

NOW DONNA, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS FOR COURTESY OF THE FLOOR? WE HAVE ONE MAYOR.

OKAY. BRUCE ANDREWS.

OKAY. GOOD EVENING, BRUCE ANDREWS, 328 11TH STREET.

I'D LIKE TO SAY I WAS HERE TONIGHT TO IN HONOR OF OUR COMMISSIONERS AND THE SWEARING IN AND THE INGOING INCOMING AND OUTGOING COMMISSIONERS. BUT I'M ACTUALLY HERE REPRESENTING THE ESC.

WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF OUR MEMBERS ATTEND EVERY COMMISSION MEETING JUST TO TRY TO HELP KEEP US IN ALIGNMENT AND SHARE INFORMATION.

AND OF COURSE, SINCE I'M HERE, I HAD TO SPEAK.

I DIDN'T REALIZE I'D HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE.

ANYWAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU UP THERE FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.

I KNOW HOW MUCH WORK IT IS TO.

AND WHAT A COMMITMENT IT TAKES TO DO WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.

AND IT'S TO BE APPRECIATED.

AND I THINK YOU GUYS ARE ALL DOING A GREAT JOB.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANKS TO COMMISSIONER BOLE AND MAYOR FORD FOR RE-UPPING.

[00:05:03]

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I DID WANT TO SPEAK ON A COUPLE OF TOPICS.

ONE MAYPORT ROAD, SO WE HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING HOSTED BY CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, WHERE FDOT WILL BE HERE.

I POSTED THAT ON ONE OF THE FACEBOOK PAGES, AND IT GOT QUITE A BIT OF INTEREST.

MOST PEOPLE WERE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THE ONLY ONES THAT WEREN'T WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE DIET WOULD DO TO THE TRAFFIC FLOW.

BUT FDOT, I'M TOLD, HAS ASSURED US THAT THEIR ANALYSIS SAYS THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ON THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.

SO IT'S EXCITING THAT WE'LL BE GETTING THE 12 FOOT MULTI-USE PATH ON THE ON THE EAST SIDE OF MAYPORT ROAD THAT WILL BECOME PART OF THE NATIONAL GREENWAY AND TIE INTO EXISTING COMPONENTS OF IT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE DOWN IN NEPTUNE BEACH.

THE EAST SIDE IS GOING TO HAVE SORT OF THIS ODD SOUTHBOUND ONLY BIKE PATH THAT WILL BE AT GRADE.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE PLAN.

I'LL LEARN MORE WHEN I COME TO THE TO THE MEETING NEXT WEEK.

IF YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE DETAILED PLANS, I REALLY SUGGEST THAT YOU DO.

IT'S A IT'S A BIG PROJECT, AND IT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON OUR CITY.

AND MAYPORT ROAD HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF FOCUS TOPIC FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO OVER THERE TO KEEP IT THRIVING AND IMPROVE IT IS IMPORTANT.

SO THE CHANGES THAT I SEE ARE GREAT.

FOR WALKABILITY AND SAFETY.

WHAT I DON'T SEE IN THE PLAN, AND MAYBE I JUST DON'T SEE IT FROM WHAT I WAS ABLE TO ACCESS.

BUT THERE'S NO I DON'T SEE ANY LANDSCAPING OR TREES ANYWHERE IN IT, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN MOVING THE CURBS IN AND BUILDING THE MULTI-USE PATH AND THE BIKE PATH AND EVERYTHING TO DO SOMETHING IN THAT REGARD.

SO IF YOU THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, I HOPE YOU WILL ENCOURAGE FDOT TO INCORPORATE THAT.

AND TO THE EXTENT THAT IT INVOLVES US HAVING TO DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO REFUND MONIES AND THINGS THAT PERHAPS COULD BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT THAT.

SO PLEASE KEEP THAT HIGH ON YOUR LIST.

AND THEN THE LAST TOPIC, THE TREE CANOPY CONTINUES TO SORT OF BE UNDER ATTACK.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUR ORDINANCE DOES ITS BEST TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM TAKING DOWN BIG OAK TREES AND, AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR CANOPY.

BUT NONETHELESS, WE'RE STILL SEEING A LOT OF LOSS OF CANOPY, MOSTLY COMING FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION, KNOCKDOWNS OF EXISTING HOMES BEING REPLACED BY NEW HOMES WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND BUYING LITTLE HOUSES WITH LOTS OF BIG TREES AND DECIDING THAT THEY DON'T WANT THOSE TREES OR THAT THEY'RE IN THE WAY OF THE HOUSE.

IN MANY CASES, THEY'RE NOT IN THE WAY OF THE HOUSE AND THEY JUST DON'T WANT THE TREES, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

BUT NONETHELESS, ATLANTIC BEACH IS A POPULAR PLACE AND PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT.

SO THE ORDINANCE IS STRONG.

THE COURTS RECENTLY, YOU ALL PROBABLY SAW THE GOOD NEWS WHERE THE LITIGATION THAT HAD BEEN INSTIGATED AGAINST THE CITY RELATED TO OUR ENFORCEMENT OF OUR ORDINANCE SURVIVED A NUMBER OF APPEALS, AND IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT NOW, WHICH, FROM WHAT I READ, IT SOUNDS PRETTY UNLIKELY.

SO THAT'S GOOD. OUR ORDINANCE IS STRONG.

IT'S BEEN UPHELD.

THE CITIZENS LOVE TREES.

THE SC LOVES TREES.

WE. THERE ARE SOME VARIANCE REQUESTS COMING IN, AND THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO MENTION.

PLEASE STUDY THOSE CAREFULLY AND DON'T BE SWAYED BY EMOTION.

THE MOST RECENT ONE THAT WAS DENIED ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IS GOING TO BE APPEALED TO YOU.

PLEASE DENY IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. ANDREWS. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR.

OKAY. I'LL CLOSE.

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO OUR VISITORS.

AND MOVE TO ITEM THREE.

[3. CITY MANAGER REPORTS]

THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY NEW ADDED TO THE AGENDA TO THE 90 DAY CALENDAR WE DID AT JANUARY.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S NOT NORMAL BUSINESS.

IN JANUARY OTHER THAN MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY, WHICH IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

AND THE THING YOU WILL NOTICE, THOUGH, IN THE STAFF REPORTS AND THEY'LL BE IN THE STAFF REPORTS GOING FORWARD, IS THE DATES FOR THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

AND SO THEY'LL HOPEFULLY ALWAYS BE FRONT AND CENTER.

AND WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD RECOMMEND ACCEPTANCE OF THE 90 DAY CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 24TH THROUGH JANUARY 25TH.

[00:10:03]

CITY MANAGER, ON DECEMBER 9TH.

WE HAVE AN ORIENTATION.

IT'S NOT LISTED THERE.

IS THAT AT 530? CORRECT. OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER ONE.

IS THERE A REASON WHY WE DIDN'T PUT THE FDOT VIRTUAL MEETING NEXT MONDAY ON HERE? WE TRIED TO GET THE LINK ON THERE AND WE JUST COULDN'T MAKE IT WORK.

SO THAT'S I WAS GOING TO ANNOUNCE IT TONIGHT.

OKAY. OKAY. AND THEN ONE LAST ONE.

SURE. USUALLY THERE'S THE GAIL BAKER TOY DRIVE THAT CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH DOES EVERY YEAR.

IT'S WELL ATTENDED AND UTILIZED BY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF OUR FAMILIES HERE IN ATLANTIC BEACH.

I DON'T SEE IT LISTED HERE, AND I'M HOPING THAT'S IN THE EMAIL TO THE NEWSLETTER.

OKAY. CAN WE GET IT LISTED HERE AS WELL? WE CAN. YES.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS? OKAY. SO DO WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO ADOPT THE 90 DAY CALENDAR, AS AMENDED BY COMMISSIONER RING? YES, YES.

OKAY. YOU HAVE YOUR 90 DAY CALENDAR.

AS AN UPDATE TO THANK YOU.

COMMISSION AS AN UPDATE TO THE VETERANS MONUMENT.

SO THE OUR PARTNERS ARE WORKING WITH US ON GETTING THE VETERANS MONUMENT FOR THE BEACHES VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK.

HAVE A SINCE WE LAST TALKED GATHERED UP ALL THE MONEY.

AND SO THEY HAVE THE $25,000.

I TALKED WITH BRITTANY IN TERMS OF FINANCE, WE DON'T NEED TO IMMEDIATELY BRING IT HERE.

WE'LL DO IT AS A MID-YEAR BUDGET MOD WITH SOME OTHER BUDGET MODS.

AND I TALKED WITH PATTY ABOUT PROCUREMENT BECAUSE OUR VETERAN FRIENDS HAVE A SPECIFIC VENDOR THEY WOULD LIKE US TO USE WHO'S DONE THE MONUMENT FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE AND I THINK FOR THE NATIONAL CEMETERY UP ON THE NORTH SIDE.

APPARENTLY THOSE MONUMENTS CONSTITUTE ART.

AND THERE'S AN EXCEPTION FOR THE ART IN TERMS OF PROCUREMENT, THAT WE CAN DIRECT OUR ARTISTS.

SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST ONCE I GET THE MONEY, PUT THAT OUT FOR BID, NOT FOR BID, BUT PUT IT OUT ON THE CONTRACT AND GET THAT MOVING.

SO THAT SHOULD BE GOING PRETTY QUICKLY.

I DID WANT TO ANNOUNCE, AS COMMISSIONER RING STATED DECEMBER 2ND IS THE VIRTUAL MEETING FOR THE FDOT.

MAYPORT ROAD LINK IS ON OUR WEBSITE UNDERNEATH THE PROJECTS PAGE.

AND THEN DECEMBER 4TH IS AN IN-PERSON MEETING.

IT'LL BE HELD IN THIS CHAMBER.

I WILL NOT BE HERE BECAUSE I WILL BE IN TALLAHASSEE.

THE USTA HAS INVITED KEVIN AND I TO GO MEET WITH THEM IN TERMS OF HOW THEY CAN HELP WITH ADVOCACY, AND THEY'RE PAYING OUR WAY AND EVENING.

SO I WON'T BE I WON'T BE HERE, BUT I'LL BE ADVOCATING FOR YOU THERE.

AND THEN THE LAST THING, IF I CAN IT SEEMS LIKE AN APPROPRIATE TIME WITH THE COMMISSION THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OUR STANDING COMMITTEES AND BOARDS AND MAYBE MAKE SOME RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THEM.

SO I'M JUST ASKING IF THERE'S A CONSENSUS FOR US TO, FOR STAFF TO BRING BACK RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO PRINCIPALLY THE THREE COMMITTEES ARC ESC AND BOARD MEMBER REVIEW COMMITTEE.

CDB WILL LOOK AT THAT.

BUT THAT ONE'S LARGELY DRIVEN BY STATUTE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE COULD REALLY MAKE CHANGES THERE TOO.

SO DO WE HAVE CONSENSUS.

NO. I'M. NO, I'M GOOD WITH IT.

OKAY? I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE THREE OUT OF THE FOUR OUT OF FIVE.

FIVE. ALL RIGHT.

PLEASE DO. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ADD ON TO WHAT MR. KILLINGSWORTH SAID ABOUT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL MONUMENT THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED BY LENNY JEVIC.

I WANT TO I APOLOGIZE.

WE HAVE A VISITING MAYOR FROM JACKSONVILLE BEACH.

WELCOME, CHRIS HOFFMAN TO ATLANTIC BEACH CHAMBERS.

BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY CHRIS RECENTLY STEPPED UP WITH A $5,000 MATCH FOR THAT MONUMENT.

SO WE THANK YOU.

WELL, OKAY, THE CITY DID INDEED AND REALLY APPRECIATE THAT GREAT SUPPORT.

OKAY. MOVING TO ITEM THREE C, IMPROVEMENTS ON MAYPORT ROAD FROM ATLANTIC TO DUTTON ISLAND ROAD.

MISTER KILLINGSWORTH, I BELIEVE I DID THAT ONE.

THAT WAS THE DECEMBER MEETING AND THE DECEMBER.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM FOUR REPORTS AND REQUESTS FROM CITY COMMISSIONERS, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BOLE.

[4. REPORTS AND/OR REQUESTS FROM CITY COMMISSIONERS]

THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING IS DECEMBER 7TH.

COME ON OUT AROUND SUNSET.

YOU'LL NOTICE THE SURFBOARDS AND THE NEW LIGHTS.

AND I THINK YOU'LL LIKE DOWNTOWN THERE.

I THINK IT'S A NICE LOOK.

[00:15:02]

WE WILL EVEN INVITE PEOPLE FROM JACKSONVILLE BEACH TO COME AND SPEND THEIR MONEY DOWN HERE WITH US IN THE NEPTUNIANS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER KELLY. SO IT WAS INSTRUCTIVE THAT IN THE MINUTES THAT WE THAT WE APPROVED FROM OCTOBER 19TH, THAT WAS THE DAY WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ELECTRIC SCOOTERS AND THE WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY PRESENT TO THE REST OF US LIVING HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOBBYIST AND HOPEFULLY THAT THAT WE COULD PETITION THEM OR DIRECT THEM TO LOBBY FOR SOME MOTORIZED VEHICLE LEGISLATION FROM THE STATE.

THERE ARE OTHER STATES THAT REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE YOU HAVE TO BE 16 WITH A DRIVER'S LICENSE, JUST LIKE WE REQUIRE THAT WITH THE GOLF CARTS. SO WE CAN'T DO MUCH ON OUR OWN, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A LOBBYIST.

AND IF OUR LOBBYIST, YOU KNOW, ISN'T THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK FOR US, THEN WE MAYBE WANT TO CONSIDER GETTING ANOTHER LOBBYIST TO, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN BE MORE TARGETED FOR THE THINGS THAT WE NEED.

OKAY. SO ONE OF THE ONE OF THE, ONE OF MY HOBBY HORSES FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS HAS BEEN ESC AND AS BRUCE AND SARAH ARE HERE TO REPRESENT THEM, THEY WERE GIVEN A VERY BROAD DIRECTIVE UNDER MITCH REEVES ADMINISTRATION TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEREFORE, BEFORE WE MESS WITH THE, THE ORGANIZATION AND OF THE ESC WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE SCOPE OF THEIR DUTIES.

SO IF WE WANT THEM TO HAVE FEWER PEOPLE, THEN WE NEED TO DECIDE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE CHARGED TO DO ORIGINALLY, WHICH THINGS WE WANT TO TAKE AWAY, OTHER THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN ON TO DO FOR THEMSELVES.

WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN WE NOW THAT THEY'VE INSTITUTED THEM AND, AND SHOWN THAT THEIR WORK, THAT THEY WORK, WHICH OTHER THINGS CAN WE PUT ON THE DEPARTMENTS INSTEAD OF VOLUNTEERS DOING THINGS, ARE THERE THINGS THAT THE STAFF CAN EXECUTE ON OUR BEHALF REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENT IS, YOU KNOW, WE PASSED OUR AMENDMENT THAT SAID, THE ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT TO US, SO I'M NOT WILLING TO CHANGE THE MAKEUP AND CHARGES UNTIL WE'VE DECIDED WHAT THE WHAT THE CHANGE SHOULD BE.

SO THOSE ARE MY TWO THINGS.

SEE YOU ALL AT PETE'S.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER RING.

YES AND I ALSO APPRECIATE MR. ANDREWS COMING AND DISCUSSING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE MAYPORT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

I DID HAVE THAT ON MY COMMISSIONER REPORTS.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL IMPROVEMENT TO MAYPORT ROAD.

IT WILL INCLUDE RESURFACING AND MILLING.

IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THAT ROAD DIET, TAKING IT DOWN FROM 40MPH TO 35, MAKING IT GOLF CART FRIENDLY, WHICH HELPS A LOT OF MY FELLOW MARSH OAKS NEIGHBORS.

WHAT MY CONCERNS ARE LOOKING INTO IT, AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS IN DETAIL WITH THE CITY MANAGER, IS THAT IT APPEARS THAT THE EAST SIDE OF MAYPORT WILL BE GETTING THE LARGER SIDEWALK, THE LANDSCAPING, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I VIE FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF MY DISTRICT, THAT THE WEST SIDE GETS JUST AS NICE OF A SIDEWALK, JUST AS NICE OF A LANDSCAPING, AND POSSIBLY EVEN THE LANDSCAPING BUFFER THAT WE HAVE THAT WE SEE OVER ON THIRD AND ATLANTIC BOULEVARD.

SO I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING ALL OF THE LAID OUT PLANS BY FDOT.

I KNOW IT'S NOT THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH'S PROJECT BUT I, I WANT TO VOICE AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN. MY CONCERNS OF WALKABILITY FOR THE WEST SIDE OF MAYPORT ROAD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEARD ON THAT SIDE AS WELL.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER WATERS. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

THANKS. OKAY.

I HAVE ONE THING, AND THAT IS, IT'S NOT A CITY SANCTIONED EVENT, SO IT'S NOT ON OUR CALENDAR.

BUT EVERY YEAR WE CELEBRATE WITH THE LEIBECKI'S DOWN AT OCEAN WALK.

THE LEIBECKI DECORATIONS ARE KNOWN FAR AND WIDE.

IT'S JUST A SPLENDID CHRISTMAS EVENT, SO I RECOMMEND PEOPLE PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR.

IT'S DECEMBER 1ST THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST AT 7 P.M..

[00:20:03]

THAT'S LEE AND DEB LEIBECKI.

AND SO TRY TO MAKE IT.

WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN, COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[7.A. General Employees' Pension Board of Trustees - Fifth Member]

AND THEN THE FIFTH MEMBER IS APPOINTED BY THE FOUR SITTING BOARD MEMBERS.

BUT THAT APPOINTMENT IS CONFIRMED BY THIS COMMISSION.

SO ON NOVEMBER 14TH, THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES PENSION BOARD THEY INTERVIEWED TWO CANDIDATES FOR IT, UNANIMOUSLY SELECTED JOHN HOFF AS THE FIFTH BOARD MEMBER TO SERVE THE UNEXPIRED TIME THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.

AND WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE COMMISSION CONFIRM JOHN HOFF TO FILL THE FIFTH BOARD MEMBER VACANCY ON THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES PENSION BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF JOHN HOFF AS THE FIFTH TRUSTEE MEMBER OF THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES PENSION BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO IMMEDIATELY FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.

I'LL JUST SAY THIS.

I'VE HEARD FROM A FEW PEOPLE.

IN FACT, I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM A PRIOR MAYOR.

THE CREDENTIALS OF MR. HOFF ARE EXCEEDINGLY GOOD FOR THIS POSITION.

HE'S GOT A BACKGROUND IN ON WALL STREET AND BOND TRADING AND SO ON.

SO. SO HE UNDERSTANDS THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD HOPE THAT SOMEBODY WOULD UNDERSTAND ON THAT PARTICULAR COMMITTEE.

SO IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH I OPPOSED.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU.

MOVING TO ITEM 9A, ORDINANCE NUMBER 95-24-123.

[9.A. ORDINANCE NO. 95-24-123, Public Hearing and Final Reading]

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, COUNTY OF DUVAL, STATE OF FLORIDA.

AMENDING SECTION 5-3, LIGHTING OF FIRES OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, CODE OF ORDINANCES.

PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF SAID AMENDMENTS, PROVIDING FOR PURPOSE AND INTENT.

PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

MR. KILLINGSWORTH.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO THIS IS YOUR SECOND HEARING ON THIS ORDINANCE.

THIS ORDINANCE IS TO HELP MANAGE THE NUMBER OF FIRES.

AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, ONE OF THE FEW BEACHES THAT ACTUALLY ALLOW BONFIRES ON THE BEACHES, AND WE'VE LITERALLY HAD AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PERMITS REQUESTED AND ILLEGAL BONFIRES.

SO AS YOU SAW LAST TIME, WE WERE REQUESTING THE INCREASE THE APPLICATION FEE FROM $25 TO $75.

THAT $50 DIFFERENCE IS TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF HAVING A OFFICER PATROL THE BEACH FROM 7 TO 11 TO ENFORCE THE CODE. TO HAVE A REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT TO ENSURE THAT THEY CLEAN THE SITE BEFORE.

AND WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTING THE DEPOSIT FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, AND THAT DOES SEEM TO $150 SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH THAT THEY WILL CLEAN UP THE SITE AND SHOW US PICTURES OF IT SO THEY CAN GET THEIR $150 BACK.

AND WE DID HAVE A $500 FINE LAST TIME.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR PACKET ON PAGE TWO OF THREE THERE'S A ASIDE FROM THE UNDERLYING AND STRIKETHROUGH, THERE'S A HIGHLIGHTED UNDERLINE.

THAT UNDERLINE IS A RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD BASICALLY PROVIDE FOR AN APPEAL PROCESS.

IN WHICH IT GIVES THE OFFICERS THE ABILITY TO SITE, BUT IT ALSO GIVES THE PERSON WHO CITES THE ABILITY TO REQUEST THAT THEY GO TO A JUDGE AND BE ABLE TO ASK A JUDGE TO WAIVE THE FEE IF THEY DON'T.

IF THE JUDGE DENIES OR THEY DON'T REQUEST A JUDGE, THEN WITHIN 30 DAYS THEY WILL BE IN VIOLATION AND OWE US THE $500. WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD RECOMMEND A, THAT YOU APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 9524-123, AMENDING A SECTION 5-3 WITH THE UNDERLYING AMENDMENT.

OKAY. I HAVE A QUESTION REAL QUICK.

SURE. YES. BILL, I KNOW WE I WENT THROUGH THE RESOLUTION OR THE ORDINANCE FROM THE 600 FIRES WE CURRENTLY HAVE, IF YOU DO THE MATH, WHERE

[00:25:01]

WHERE WOULD WE BE? YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

LET ME LET ME ASK KEVIN.

KEVIN, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT OUR TRAJECTORY IS THIS FOR NOVEMBER? IF WE WERE TO STAY AT THIS TRAJECTORY, AND I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER BOLE IS GETTING AT IS LAST YEAR WE HAD 600 BONFIRES, THE YEAR BEFORE WE HAD 300 BONFIRES, AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WE HAD A 150, 175 BONFIRES.

SO THEY'RE LIKE DOUBLING EVERY OTHER YEAR OR EVERY YEAR.

HOW MANY HAVE WE HAD IN NOVEMBER? DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? IT'S GOING TO END UP BEING ABOUT 100.

SO WE'RE ON A TRAJECTORY OF 400 OR SO OVER THE BEACH FIRE SEASON.

OKAY. YEAH, I JUST I LOOK AT THAT AS A LOT.

AND I KNOW I TALKED TO THE CHIEF ABOUT THIS, BUT I WOULD BE ALMOST MOVING TO THE MORE RESTRICTIVE BECAUSE WE ARE, IN FACT, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY BEACH FROM HERE TO PONTEVEDRA PLUS THAT DOES THAT.

AND I KNOW HOW SMART THAT IS, BUT.

WELL, WE CAN LOOK AT. SO WE'VE LIMITED THE NUMBER OF ACCESS POINTS THIS TIME.

IF WE HIT THAT 400 TRAJECTORY, THEN I'D BE MORE THAN GLAD TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND LIMIT THE NUMBER OF ACCESS POINTS EVEN FURTHER, UNTIL WE GET TO A NUMBER THAT THE COMMISSION IS COMFORTABLE WITH.

YES, COMMISSIONER. I THINK IT'S A NICE COMPROMISE BETWEEN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH WE'VE ALL AGREED IS IMPORTANT TO US, AND GETTING TO ENJOY THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS FOR THIS, DONNA? WE DO NOT.

OKAY. THEN I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 95-24-123.

I RECOMMEND WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 95- 24-123.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, AS AMENDED, WITH THE AS ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT.

SECOND. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

NOW WE CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION.

KIND OF ALREADY HAD OUR DISCUSSION.

OKAY. HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.

OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. MOVING TO ITEM 9B.

[9.B. ORDINANCE NO. 20-24-174, Public Hearing and Final Reading]

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

MR. KILLINGSWORTH. THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. MAYOR. SO THIS IS THE SECOND HEARING.

THIS IS OUR END OF YEAR FOR 23-24 BUDGET.

TRUE UP. SO THESE ARE THE BUDGET MODS THAT WE USE TO TRUE UP OUR FUNDS.

WE WENT THROUGH THEM LAST TIME.

BUT WITH THAT MR. MAYOR I WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 20-24-174.

OKAY I MOVE WE APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-174.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO, DONNA, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SPEAKING? WE DO NOT. OKAY.

EXCUSE ME. IT SAYS, IS IT 17620-24-176.

NO, 174 IS WHAT I HAVE.

I THINK YOU'RE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THERE'S TWO. YOU'RE AHEAD.

YOU GOT YOUR NEXT ONE. OKAY.

I'M SORRY. YOU'RE RIGHT.

SO I OPEN AND I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY. AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AS AMENDED.

AND SO DO WE HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION.

PARDON? THIS ONE'S AMENDED AS WELL.

NO, ACTUALLY, THIS ONE WAS NOT AMENDED.

OKAY. IT WAS THE PREVIOUS ONE THAT WAS AMENDED.

SORRY. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

YES. OKAY.

THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. NINE C, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20-24-176.

[9.C. ORDINANCE NO. 20-24-176, Introduction and First Reading]

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

MR. KILLINGSWORTH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, AS THE COMMISSION IS AWARE, WHEN WE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, WE PROMISED THAT WE WOULD MATCH UP TO $100,000 WHEN THEY RENOVATED OUR FACILITIES WHEN WE WERE DOING THE BUDGET.

SO WE'VE HAD THE MONEY IN THE, IN THE BUDGET FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.

AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HAVE NOT AVAILED THEMSELVES OF THAT.

AND TALKING TO THEM WHILE WE WERE DOING THE BUDGET, THEY DID NOT INDICATE THAT THEY WERE IN ANY KIND OF HURRY, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE IN A HURRY. AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER WE GOT THE BUDGET APPROVED AS THINGS GO, THEY DECIDED THEY WERE IN A HURRY.

[00:30:03]

ALSO, THERE'S A $60,000 APPROPRIATION.

I'VE IRONICALLY, ASKED TROY TO QUIT BREAKING A OUR PUMPS AND EQUIPMENT.

AND THE DAY AFTER I ASKED HIM TO DO THAT, WE LOST A PUMP IN ONE OF OUR WELLS.

SO THAT'S A $60,000 HIT.

HE PROMISES ME IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE TWO APPROPRIATIONS ONES WHERE IT'S KIND OF A BACKUP EMERGENCY.

I'VE ALREADY ORDERED THE PUMP AND THEN THE $100,000 FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF 20-24-176.

I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-176, AS AMENDED.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.

I JUST HAVE A IS THERE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS ONE AS WELL? NO, I DID NOT SEE.

WELL, THERE IS AN ASTERISKS.

OH WAS IT JUST ADDED.

IT WAS AN, IT WAS ADDED TO THE AGENDA AFTER.

YEAH. THAT'S IT. THERE'S NO AMENDMENT TO THE RIGHT.

THE ORDINANCE THAT'S GOING FROM DRAFT TO FINAL AND THEN THE AMENDED.

SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESTATE YOUR MOTION? SURE. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20-24-176 AS READ.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.

I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.

I KNOW IT WAS BROUGHT UP DURING BUDGET ABOUT THE ROOFS ON JORDAN AND ON GAIL BAKER THAT THEY WERE IN NEED.

WE CANNOT UTILIZE THE 100,000 TOWARDS THAT.

WE JUST HAVE TO USE IT ON, I GUESS, NEW KITCHEN COUNTERS AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS MATCHING THE INTERIOR BUILD OUT.

IT'S NOT. WE'RE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR EXTERIOR.

FOR THE EXTERIOR, OKAY, I SEE, THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

MOVING TO ITEM 10A CHARTER OFFICER.

[10.A. Charter Officer FY2023-24 Performance Reviews]

MR. HOGENCAMP.

GOOD EVENING. I'M KEVIN HOGENCAMP, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

PER ARTICLE TWO, SECTION NINE OF OUR CITY CHARTER, THE COMMISSION, AND I QUOTE, SHALL PERFORM AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF THE CITY CLERK, THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY. THE CITY COMMISSION MEMBERS HAVE ALL COMPLETED PERFORMANCE REVIEWS OF THESE CHARTER OFFICERS.

AND THOSE REVIEWS ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET.

THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU ACCEPT THE CITY CLERK, CITY MANAGER, AND CITY ATTORNEY'S FY 2324 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS, COMMISSIONERS? YES. OKAY, WE'LL KEEP THEM.

WE HAVE CONSENSUS.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD. GOOD.

EXCELLENT. MOVING NOW TO ITEM 11, CITY ATTORNEY.

[11. CITY ATTORNEY/CITY CLERK REPORTS AND/OR REQUESTS]

NO COMMENTS OTHER THAN THANKS FOR KEEPING ME.

OKAY. YEAH. AND THEN, DONNA, YOUR COMMENTS.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE.

AND IT WAS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU COMMISSIONER WATERS.

THANK YOU, DONNA. I'M GOING TO MISS YOU.

YEAH, I MISS YOU, TOO.

THANKS. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE.

YEAH. I'M MOVING TO ITEM 12.

[12. CLOSING COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGER]

I'M GOING TO LEAD OFF BECAUSE I HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO READ.

THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF THE DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE OF DOCTOR MIKE WATERS.

WHEREAS MIKE WATERS SERVED THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH AS A CITY COMMISSIONER FROM NOVEMBER 23RD, 2020 TO NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024.

AND WHEREAS, IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO PROTECT THE WELFARE OF THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS BY APPOINTING ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL, ADOPTING LEGISLATION, ENSURING SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT, APPOINTING MEMBERS OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, AND PROVIDING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH RECOGNIZES THE VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS MIKE WATERS HAS MADE AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION AND AS A CITIZEN OF ATLANTIC BEACH.

AND WHEREAS, UNDER MIKE WATERS LEADERSHIP AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION, THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH HAVE BENEFITED GREATLY FROM NUMEROUS PROJECTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THESE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PURCHASING THE FUTURE MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER, SELVA PRESERVE TRAIL PROPERTY.

THE DOOR DRIVE STORMWATER MITIGATION SITE, OVERHAULING THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS AND LIFEGUARD FACILITIES.

[00:35:02]

ESTABLISHING CONNECTIVITY AND COMPLETE STREET PLANS.

UPDATING LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE PARK'S MASTER PLAN.

IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE WITH WIDER SIDEWALKS, BETTER STREETS AND NEW PUBLIC PARKING REGULATIONS.

HONORING MILITARY HEROES AND VETERANS THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS, INCLUDING INSTALLING NEW SIGNAGE HONORING ATLANTIC BEACH NATIVES KILLED DURING WARTIME, PLANTING TREES AND AMENDING THE CITY CHARTER.

AND WHEREAS MIKE WATERS HAS GIVEN MOST GENEROUSLY OF HIS TIME, TALENTS, AND ENERGY TO ADHERE TO SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WHILE PRESERVING THE COMMUNITY'S CHARACTER AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, HEREBY EXPRESSES ITS DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MIKE WATERS AND, ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH, EXTEND HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN THE FUTURE.

IN WITNESS WHEREFORE I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH TO BE AFFIXED THIS 25TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024.

CURTIS FORD, MAYOR.

COMMISSIONERS, I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME FOR A HANDSHAKE PHOTO FROM THE DAIS.

OH, HE'S GOING TO KEEP IT FOR NOW.

KEEP IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU.

I THINK PERMANENTLY. OKAY.

OKAY. LET'S SEE.

NOW WE'LL MOVE TO COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS.

COMMISSIONER BOLE. I JUST GOT TO SAY ONE THING.

DOC WATERS AND I WERE SWORN IN THE SAME DAY FOUR YEARS AGO AT THIS TIME, AND I RESPECT HIM SO MUCH AS HE LOOKED ME RIGHT IN THE EYE AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M HERE ABOUT THE PARKING, OKAY.

AND THAT MAN SINGLE HANDEDLY, I KNOW WE READ OFF A LOT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT IF I WANT TO TALK TO ANYBODY ABOUT PARKING IN ATLANTIC BEACH, THAT'S THE GUY THAT I'M GOING TO TALK TO. AND I'LL PROBABLY SEE HIM AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, AND I WON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, BRUCE, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

COMMISSIONER KELLY, ALONG THE SAME LINES, 19TH STREET WAS, YOU KNOW, THE BURR UNDER OUR SADDLE AND I THINK IT'S MUCH BETTER NOW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RING. THANK YOU, DOCTOR WATERS.

I'VE ENJOYED SITTING NEXT TO YOU THESE PAST TWO YEARS, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ABOUT.

WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TALK.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IS, AS MAYOR FOR TWO YEARS, I'VE ONLY WORKED WITH THE DOC WATERS FOR TWO YEARS.

BUT IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE, ABSOLUTE PLEASURE.

AND JUST WHEN I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, YOU'VE OFTEN, YOU KNOW, TURNED THE TABLES AND SAY SOMETHING ELSE.

SO, I CHANGED MY MIND A LOT.

I HAVE TO STAY ON MY TOES.

BUT NO, YOU ARE VERY THOUGHTFUL.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU GREATLY ON THIS DAIS, SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO CALL A TEN MINUTE RECESS.

SO CAN I SAY.

OH, OF COURSE YOU CAN.

I SKIPPED OVER. THANK YOU, I APOLOGIZE.

YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? WELL, I DON'T PREPARE ANYTHING AS USUAL, BUT I'D SPEAK FROM MY HEART.

I WHENEVER I WAS GOING TO RUN FOUR YEARS AGO, I TALKED TO FORMER MAYOR MIKE BUONO, AND HE HAD TWO QUESTIONS.

HE SAID, WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO IT? AND HOW THICK IS YOUR SKIN? AND I SAID, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

I WANT TO KEEP ATLANTIC BEACH A SAFE, QUIET BEACH TOWN AND NOT MAKE IT HUGE.

AND AS FAR AS MY SKIN GETTING THICKER MAYBE A LITTLE BIT.

BUT HONESTLY, IT HAS BEEN A AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE THAT WHEN I LOOK AT THE PAST FOUR YEARS

[00:40:09]

IT'S TIME CONSUMING.

BUT I AM SO PROUD OF THIS WHOLE COMMISSION.

OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR MAYOR.

I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THIS STAFF.

THIS STAFF IS INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN, I'VE GOT A STAFF THAT I THOUGHT WAS GOOD.

I THINK ALL THESE TOWNIES, NOT TOWNIES, EXCUSE ME, OUR TOWN FOR STEPPING UP AND COMING TO THAT PODIUM RIGHT THERE AND SPEAKING.

WHAT IS UP WITH THEM? I THINK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE TREMENDOUS VOLUNTEERS IN THIS TOWN.

AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THOMAS GRANT TO TAKE MY POSITION.

I'VE KNOWN THOMAS A LONG TIME.

HE'S AN LSU FAN, BUT I CAN OVERLOOK THAT.

BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE HE'S GOING TO BE HE'S GOING TO BE VERY OPEN MINDED AND HE'S GOING TO BE STRONG.

AND HE'S I LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING YOU ALL.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE E-BIKES AND IF I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING IT, BRUCE DOESN'T GET THE E-BIKE SITUATION FIGURED OUT.

I'M GOING TO COME BACK AND HAUNT HIM.

I KNOW. SO I'VE GIVEN UP ON THE FIVE WAY STOP SITUATION.

I KNOW. THE E-BIKE IS LIKE NUMBER IS LIKE NUMBER TWO, BUT I'M THIS WHOLE COMMISSION IS, CURTIS SAID IS THIS WHOLE COMMISSION, THIS WHOLE STAFF HAS REALLY DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THESE LAST FOUR YEARS.

AND I'M JUST ONE LITTLE BITTY PART OF IT.

AND I JUST THANK EVERYBODY FOR EVERYTHING.

I'M GOING TO MISS YOU. THANKS.

MISTER KILLINGSWORTH.

COMMISSIONER WATERS.

I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO QUITE GIVE UP ON THE FIVE WAY STOP THERE.

I DO HAVE THE TPO DOING A STUDY, AND THEY'VE COME UP WITH A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN THAT IS A PEANUT SHAPE THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IT WILL WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO ACQUIRE MUCH EASEMENT, IF ANY AT ALL.

AND HOW MUCH STRESS THAT'S GOING TO BRING DOWN ON OUR TOWN IF WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.

SO WHEN WE HAVE THE TOWN HALL MEETING, YOU CAN COME AND STAND AT THE PODIUM.

ABSOLUTELY. FIVE MINUTES.

ADVOCATE. FIVE MINUTES.

THREE MINUTES. AND THEN WHAT? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE PROGRESS THAT THEY'VE MADE ON THE BOARDWALK.

YES, I HAVE. I WENT, TOOK MY DOG AND KIND OF WALKED UP ILLEGALLY UP 18TH STREET AND SAW IT AND YEAH AND JUST ONE OF THE GUYS, I MEAN, SCOTT, SCOTT PHILLIPS.

I MEAN, HE JUST BEEN GREAT.

AND SCOTT WILLIAMS. SORRY ABOUT THAT LITTLE TYPO.

YES, HE'S BEEN GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS TO NOW GO TO THE ONE OF OUR MAIN EVENTS TONIGHT.

AND THAT IS TO SWEAR IN OUR NEW COMMISSIONER.

SO TEN MINUTE RECESS FOR THAT, AND THEN WE'LL.

07:15.

[14. ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS]

[00:53:46]

[00:53:48]

WE'RE STILL TECHNICALLY IN RECESS, BUT AT THIS MOMENT, WE ARE GOING TO SWEAR IN THE NEW COMMISSION.

AND. AND AS EACH COMMISSIONER TAKES THEIR OATH AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE, PLEASE COME UP AND TAKE YOUR SEAT AT THE DAIS AND THEN WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH ALL THREE, THE MAYOR WILL CALL US BACK INTO SESSION.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH COMMISSIONER BRUCE BOLE, SEAT NUMBER TWO.

AND HE'S GOING TO BE TAKING THE OATH WITH DONNA BARTLE.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

I, BRUCE STANLEY BOLE.

I, BRUCE STANLEY BOLE SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT ALL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, AND WILL OBEY THE LAWS AND WILL OBEY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THAT I WILL THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS, IN ALL RESPECTS, OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS, OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER, OF THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, AND WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE AND WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES

[00:55:05]

THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER SEAT TWO OF COMMISSIONER SEAT TWO.

THANKS. THANKS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP IS BRAND NEW COMMISSIONER THOMAS GRANT, WHICH IS A SEAT NUMBER THREE.

AND HE WILL BE SWORN IN BY ATTORNEY MITCHELL STONE.

NICE. RIGHT HAND.

AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

I, THOMAS GRANT, I, THOMAS GRANT, SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

SOLEMNLY SWEAR. SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND WILL OBEY THE LAWS.

OBEY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THAT I WILL. THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS, IN ALL RESPECTS.

OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS.

OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER, OF THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, AND WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE.

THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER C3.

OF COMMISSIONER C3.

CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS MAYOR SEAT ONE, CURTIS FORD, WHO WILL BE GIVEN THE OATH BY THE HONORABLE JUDGE GARY FLOWER.

PUT YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE.

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

I, CURTIS RANDALL FORD.

I, CURTIS RANDALL FORD, SOLEMNLY SWEAR SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT.

THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION THE CONSTITUTION WILL OBEY THE LAWS, WILL OBEY THE LAW, THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

STATE OF FLORIDA. THAT I WILL.

I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS, ALL RESPECTS OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS, OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER, THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY, CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, AND WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE AND WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE.

THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR.

MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THIS MEETING WILL NOW RETURN TO ORDER.

AND I WANT TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO CONGRATULATE MR. BOLE ON HIS REELECTION OR RECERTIFICATION.

AND OUR NEWEST MEMBER, THOMAS GRANT, WELCOME TO THE DAIS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

FOR ME, AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO YEARS, FOR THE REST OF THEM, 2 OR 4 YEARS.

SO ANYWAYS LET'S SEE.

MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? PRESENT. PRESENT.

SORRY, THIS WAS OFF.

13, COURTESY OF THE FLORIDA VISITORS.

DONNA, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? NO, SIR. THIS WAS FROM LAST TIME.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE COURTESY OF THE FLOOR.

MOVE TO CLOSING COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGERS, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BOLE.

I JUST WANT TO WELCOME THOMAS GRANT ON BOARD.

THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER GRANT? YES. WELL, FIRST, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, SAY HOW GRATEFUL AND HONORED I AM TO BE UP HERE.

I WAS YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO CONVERSATIONS WITH MIKE WATERS, YOU KNOW, MONTHS AGO ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH SEAT THREE AND HIM TALKING TO ME ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING AND I'M, YOU KNOW I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT I TOOK HIS ADVICE TO RUN.

[01:00:04]

AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING, YOU KNOW, ALL OF ATLANTIC BEACH AS I SAY.

AND JUST LEAVING THIS PLACE IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER SHAPE THAN WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

WELCOME. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER KELLY.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN SUCH BAD SHAPE.

SO HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE.

COMMISSIONER RING.

JUST WANT TO SAY WELCOME TO COMMISSIONER GRANT.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONER BOLE AND MAYOR FORD FOR YOUR REELECTIONS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

AWESOME. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. MR. KILLINGSWORTH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO ALSO CONGRATULATE COMMISSIONER BOLE, COMMISSIONER GRANT, MAYOR FORD.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.

AND IF YOU NEED ME FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS, I WILL BE OUT.

YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD THANKSGIVING.

THANK YOU. I'LL CONCLUDE BY SAYING, THE LAST TWO YEARS, I THINK I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER KELLY SAID, THAT OUR CITY IS IN GOOD SHAPE. BUT I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE CHANGED BY ONE TODAY, BUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED VERY WELL TOGETHER, I WOULD SAY VERY MUCH COLLEGIAL, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER KELLY OR COMMISSIONER BOLE OR COMMISSIONER RING OR COMMISSIONER WATERS.

BUT LIKEWISE, YOU DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH ME AND YET WE CONTINUE TO DO THE IMPORTANT BUSINESS OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, TAKING CARE OF CITIZENS FIRST, AND WE WORK THROUGH IT. SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT COLLEGIALITY.

AND I AGAIN, WANT TO RECOGNIZE MR. GRANT TO THE DAIS.

WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER COMMENT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.