Nov 24, 2025 Commission Meeting

[00:00:02]

WELCOME FRIENDS, RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORS. BEFORE WE OPEN THIS MEETING THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY COMMISSIONER BOLE.

[CALL TO ORDER ]

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BOLE. DONNA, CAN YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? SURE. COMMISSIONER BOLE. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER GRANT.

PRESENT. COMMISSIONER KELLY. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER RING.

PRESENT. MAYOR FORD. PRESENT. THANK YOU, DONNA.

[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ITEM 2, COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO OUR VISITORS.

[2. COURTESY OF FLOOR TO VISITORS]

YEAH THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING.

PREFERABLY SOMETHING ABOUT ATLANTIC BEACH. BUT YOU CAN SPEAK ON ANYTHING.

THE LIMIT IS FIVE MINUTES. I'M A NICE MAN, I'LL GO FIVE MINUTES AND FIVE SECONDS BEFORE I GAVEL YOU.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR NAME. THANK YOU JESSICA MCKINLEY AND I'M THE OWNER OF WHIT'S FROZEN CUSTARD AT ATLANTIC BEACH.

HERE TONIGHT. I WASN'T ACTUALLY PLANNING ON SPEAKING, SO BEAR WITH ME.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING OFFICIALLY PLANNED, BUT JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT PARKING, SO OBVIOUSLY, I'M SURE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP A LOT. SHAME ON ME. THIS IS MY FIRST MEETING HERE, BUT I IT IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.

I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER MERCHANTS HAVE AS WELL. IT'S MORE ABOUT EMPLOYEE PARKING FOR ME.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S OTHER PARKING CONVERSATIONS THAT PROBABLY ARE GOING TO BE HAD ABOUT THE METERS AND CHANGES IN PRICE THERE.

BUT FOR ME, IT'S JUST WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG STAFF.

AND WHEN THE EMPLOYEE, WHEN ALL THE PARKING BECAME PAID PARKING, WE REALLY LOST ANY SORT OF PARKING.

THERE'S NOTHING AT KMART ANYMORE. THERE'S JUST REALLY NOTHING IN THE AREA OTHER THAN THE LOT DIRECTLY BEHIND OUR STORE.

I KNOW A LOT OF RESTAURANTS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW. LONG TERM, WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR PARKING FOR EMPLOYEES? YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT AREA, BUT IF NO ONE CAN WORK THERE, NO ONE IS FEELS, PARENTS AREN'T DON'T FEEL SAFE ABOUT THEIR KIDS PARKING A LONG DISTANCE.

RECENTLY IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THEY CAN PARK BEHIND AQUA EAST, BUT THAT'S SUCH A LONG WALK.

A LOT OF TIMES EMPLOYEES IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY ARE LEAVING AT NIGHT WITH TIPS IN THEIR POCKET.

IT'S JUST NOT A SAFE JOURNEY FOR THEM TO GET TO THEIR CAR.

SO JUST WANT TO BRING IT TO LIGHT. I'M SURE IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF WORKING SOLUTION OR PLAN OR, YOU KNOW, MAGICAL PARKING GARAGE THAT MIGHT ONE DAY APPEAR [LAUGHTER].

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SANDRA BETTI.

HELLO. WELCOME. I WASN'T PREPARED EITHER TO SPEAK, BUT I AM GOING TO SPEAK WHAT'S IN MY HEART.

SO I DID GO TO THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER MEETING WHERE I TRY TO GO ONCE A MONTH.

AND LAST MONTH WE GOT AN EMAIL SAYING, YOU KNOW, PLEASE, IF AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE COME, WE HAVE REPRESENTATION OF CHANGES AT THE, AT THE PARKING AT THE BEACH.

SO I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I'M GOING TO GO. AND I WENT TO THE MEETING.

IT WAS GREAT. THERE WAS FOUR PEOPLE THERE FROM NEPTUNE BEACH, AND I WAS SITTING AND WE WERE LITERALLY TOLD WHAT WAS GOING TO BE CHANGED.

WE ANYTIME WE WENT TO SPEAK, WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO CHANGES.

THIS WILL BE THIS WILL BE STARTING TOMORROW AT 8:00 A.M.

$5 AN HOUR PARKING. NO FREE 30 MINUTE PARKING FOR PICKING UP FROM A BOUTIQUE, ICE CREAM, PIZZA.

AND THEN WE ASKED IS WHAT ABOUT RESIDENTS? AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THAT.

RESIDENTS WILL HAVE FOUR HOURS. BUT IT WAS JUST LIKE CUT DRY.

WE HAD NO REPRESENTATION FROM ATLANTIC BEACH.

AND I ASKED, WHY ISN'T THE REPUTATION REPRESENTATION FROM ATLANTIC BEACH?

[00:05:05]

I'M LIKE, OKAY, WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ALL THIS MONEY.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING BIKE RACKS AND EVERYTHING IN NEPTUNE BEACH, BUT ATLANTIC BEACH NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AS THE SAME.

AND THEY SAID, WELL, WHEN YOU CALL ATLANTIC BEACH, YOU NEVER GET ANYONE TO ANSWER.

I SAID, EXCUSE ME? SO I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING RIGHT THEN BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO, CAUSE AFTER THE MEETING, I WALKED UP TO THEM AND I, ALL FOUR OF THEM WERE SITTING THERE AND I SAID I FELT THAT WAS VERY RUDE AND NOT PROPER.

I SAID, I'VE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS. I MAKE A PHONE CALL.

I GET A PHONE CALL BACK. I NEED THE POLICE WITHIN TWO MINUTES AT MY DOOR.

I SAID I FELT THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR. WHAT YOU SAID.

OH, I DIDN'T MEAN IT THAT WAY. I MEANT, LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS A MACHINE TO ANSWER, NOT A HUMAN.

PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT THAT WAY. I'M LIKE, WELL, EVERYONE IN THE ROOM TOOK IT THAT WAY. SO I JUST FELT LIKE, WHY ARE WE LETTING THEM CONTROL ALL THE PARKING AND ALL THE DECISIONS WHERE I FEEL, OKAY, WE MAY NEED TO GO UP TO $5 TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR EXTRA IN OUR BEAUTIFUL AREA, BUT FROM $1.35 OR $1.50 TO $5 JUMP. I FELT LIKE I TOLD THEM WAS A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND GET A $20 PIZZA. THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND $15 TO SIT WITH THEIR FAMILY AND GO NEXT DOOR AND GET ICE CREAM, WHERE WE'RE ALL HERE TO WORK TOGETHER. I JUST FELT THAT WAS A LITTLE STEEP, AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE NOT NICE IN REPRESENTING THE WHOLE TOWN CENTER AS A WHOLE. I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS RIGHT. THANK YOU SO APPRECIATE YOU COMING.

MITCH REEVES. FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE THE PIZZA PLACE I LOVE WHIT'S VERY SELDOM GO TO WHIT'S.

I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PARKING, BUT I AM NOW SINCE THE LADIES CAME UP AND SPOKE ABOUT IT.

I WAS APPROACHED THIS MORNING BY ANOTHER BUSINESS OWNER THAT ATTENDED THAT MEETING AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO HANDLE THE PARKING. THEY ASKED WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY REPRESENTATIVES THERE, AND THEY WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD, TOO, AND THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT. SO I DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE THAT.

NOT ONLY THEY SEE HEARING IT, BUT THEY CAME DIRECTLY.

I HEARD IT THIS MORNING, TOO. I WANT TO COPY, I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE AN ISSUE OR ANYTHING, BUT I WANT TO BRING UP SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING.

AND MR. CITY MANAGER, DON'T TAKE THIS IN A WRONG WAY.

TAKE IT IN A POSITIVE. WHAT I'M GETTING READY TO SAY IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME DIRECTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER, WHEN HE GIVES A MANAGER'S REPORT NOT TO DO WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK OF GIVING, GETTING A WHOLE INVOLVEMENT FOR 35 MINUTES OF EVERYBODY IN HERE HAVING A DISCUSSION TO EITHER GET INVOLVED TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM HE'S GOT OR THEY GOT OR OUR NEW NEIGHBORHOODS DIRECTOR HAS.

THERE'S A SOLUTION TO IT, AND IF IT NEEDS AN ORDINANCE CHANGE, THEN DO THAT AND BRING IT FOR THE COMMISSION.

THE REASON I SAY THAT IS CITIZEN SAYS A LOT OF CITIZENS SAY IT'S AN EASY OUT.

YOU'RE JUST NOT TRANSPARENT, YOU'RE NOT VERY TRANSPARENT.

THEY'RE WRONG I THINK THIS COMMISSION, OUR CITY GOVERNMENT, IS VERY TRANSPARENT.

BUT WHEN THESE SURPRISES COME OUT OF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, CITIZENS DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS COMING UP. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU AS ELECTED OFFICIALS KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE RELEASED, BUT IT GOT INTO A DEBATE. WHAT WE SHOULD DO? WHAT SHOULD DO IT? WE TALKED ABOUT SENDING LOVE LETTERS. I CALL THEM DEAR JOHN LETTERS.

NOT A LOVE LETTER, BUT TO THESE CITIZENS. THESE PEOPLE LIVE IN THAT HOUSE.

AND IT WAS JUST A LONG DISCUSSION, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA SO CITIZENS KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE FOR IT OR AGAINST IT.

AND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING, IT WAS ALL ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, NOW UNDER THE STATE LAW, SOME OF YOU SAID, WELL WE'LL REACH OUT TO CITIZENS AND GET THEM TO VOLUNTEER AND GIVE US STUFF.

WELL, WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THE STATE CHANGED THAT.

AND THE STATE LAW SAYS IF YOU REPORT SOMETHING TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, THEY HAVE TO TELL WHO REPORTED IT.

SO THE PERSON WHO REPORTED ALL THESE THINGS THEY CAN BE EXPOSED.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET PEOPLE REPORTING ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE THEIR NEIGHBOR MAD.

SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THOSE. SO THAT'S SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT.

YOU'RE GOING BY SENDING CODE ENFORCEMENT OUT BASED ON COMPLAINT DRIVEN WHEN CODE ENFORCEMENT CAN DRIVE AROUND AND SEE A LOT OF MAJOR THINGS.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK THAT WAY.

AND THEN THE THING THAT REALLY GOT TO ME IS I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU COULDN'T PARK ON YOUR GRASS ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY AT HOME.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THAT WAS A SHOCK TO ME.

YOU GOTTA HAVE STONES OR ROCKS, OKAY? OR YOU HAVE TO HAVE MULCH.

[00:10:02]

IT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT, WE NEED THIS CHANGE THE ORDINANCE.

DO THINGS. NOBODY. NOBODY BROUGHT UP ONE THING.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SELL YOURSELF? WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SEND YOURSELF A LOVE LETTER? WHEN? AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS PICK ANY SUNDAY AND GO DOWN, EAT, GO DOWN PLAZA AND SEE ALL THE CARS PARKED IN ON THE GRASS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND NOTHING'S BEING DONE.

AND THERE'S SIGNS NO PARKING. PLUS THE NIGHT OF THE PRESENTATION, WHICH I THOUGHT THAT WAS WEIRD, THAT OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES WERE INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER ON THE AGENDA.

AND THAT NIGHT, IT EVEN SHOWED WHAT STREETS YOU COULDN'T PARK ON, ON NEW RIGHT OF WAYS.

NOBODY DISCUSSED THAT. SO INSTEAD OF YOU'LL SOLVE THIS OTHER PROBLEM, I KNOW YOU WILL.

YOU HAVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE AND STAFF, BUT FIRST PLACE IS LOOK AT YOUR OWN HOME.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASK SOMEBODY TO DO IT, THEN YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH TOO I MEAN, JUST THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU DO THAT AND THAT'S IT.

OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK EVERYTHING'S FINE. I THINK YOU'RE VERY TRANSPARENT. I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING AND A SAFE ONE AND ENJOY YOUR FAMILIES.

AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IT'S NOT EASY.

THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER FOR YOU. THE STUFF YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH PEOPLE LIKE ME AND OTHER PEOPLE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT COMES WITH THE JOB. ALRIGHT THANKS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE THAT'S IT. OKAY, WE'LL CLOSE COURTESY OF THE FLOOR AND MOVE TO NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY PROCLAMATION. I HAVE THAT, AND WHO IS HERE TO RECEIVE THAT? ARE YOU RECEIVING? YES. WELL, YOU'RE YOU ARE CERTAINLY A CANDIDATE TO DO THAT.

WELL, I AM THE VICE REGENT, SO [LAUGHTER]. OKAY, THERE YOU GO.

OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO READ IT. NO, LET'S GO DOWN THERE AND WE'LL READ IT, IF THAT'S OKAY.

MAKING MY HOUSE COME OVER HERE. AND GET THAT. SO THIS IS SOMETHING OUR CITY PARTICIPATES IN EACH YEAR AND OTHER ONLY ABOUT FIVE. FIVE YEARS. BUT I'M GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION FROM THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH.

AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. BUT BEGINNING DESIGNATING DECEMBER 13TH, 2025, NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY IN ATLANTIC BEACH. WHEREAS WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 2007 TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND THE ANNUAL WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, BEGUN BY MAINE BUSINESSMAN MORRILL WORCESTER IN 1992.

AND WHEREAS WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA'S MISSION IS TO REMEMBER THE FALLEN, HONOR THOSE WHO SERVE AND TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION ABOUT THE TRUE COST OF FREEDOM. AND WHEREAS WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA IS MADE UP OF MORE THAN 4,900 PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY RUN BY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS LOOKING TO SHARE THE MISSION TO REMEMBER, HONOR AND TEACH THROUGH ANNUAL WREATH LAYING CEREMONIES EACH DECEMBER AND AWARENESS AND EDUCATION EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NOW, THEREFORE, I, CURTIS MAYOR CURTIS FORD, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 13TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND EXTEND THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO OUR VETERANS AND GOLD STAR FAMILIES FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. AND TO WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA FOR BRINGING THIS HONOR TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH TO BE AFFIXED THIS 12TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DAR.

THANK YOU. THAT'S FOR YOU, YOU KEEP THAT. SO, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT NOT ONLY THE CITY PUBLIC WORKS AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COME OUT AND DO ALL THE PARKING FOR US AND HELP US WITH THE SETUP.

CULHANE'S LET US HOST A FUNDRAISER. AND SAFE HARBOR.

GOD BLESS SAFE HARBOR. WHEN THESE WREATHS ARE DELIVERED FROM MAINE, THEY COME A COUPLE DAYS EARLY AND THEY HAVE TO BE STASHED SOMEWHERE.

[00:15:07]

SO IT IS A COMMUNITY EVENT, AND WE HAVE 600 VETERAN GRAVES IN THAT ONE CEMETERY ON MAIN STREET.

SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COMMISSIONER ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THAT BACK TO THE DAR? YES. YES. MY NAME WAS MISSPELLED. SO IF YOU'LL SEE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, I THINK HE CAN GET MISSPELLED FORD? NO, [LAUGHTER] CURTIS. THEY MISSPELLED MAYOR? YOU SEE THAT? I NEED A COPY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE MOVING INTO ITEM 3.

[3. CITY MANAGER REPORTS]

NOTHING'S CHANGED THAT I'M AWARE OF SINCE LAST MEETING.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE ACCEPT THE 90 DAY DEADLINE.

COMMISSIONERS DO WE HAVE CONSENSUS? YOU HAVE YOUR CALENDAR? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE TOWN HALL.

WE'LL LET THE CHAPTER 23 PRESENTATION NOT HOLD FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY. SO TENTATIVELY RIGHT NOW I HAVE JANUARY 24TH, APRIL 18TH AND JULY 18TH AND OCTOBER 17TH AS DATES. IF WE COULD GET SOME CONSENSUS THAT THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY AND THEN WE'LL GET THOSE ON THE CALENDAR.

READ THOSE DATES AGAIN. JANUARY 24TH, APRIL 18TH, JULY 18TH AND OCTOBER 17TH.

JULY 1ST ALWAYS HITS HARD FOR ME. OKAY. IT'S LIKE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER TRAVEL.

RIGHT COMMISSIONERS ARE YOU GOOD? WE CAN PUT THEM ON THE CALENDAR AND THEN.

WE JUST NEED TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE JANUARY. OKAY I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOOD EXCEPT MAYBE COMMISSIONER GRANT.

SO GO AHEAD AND LET US CITY MANAGER KNOW, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.

BACK TO YOU. SO THE NEXT ITEM, AMANDA, IF YOU COULD DO A PRESENTATION ON ESC'S RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO CHAPTER 23.

GOOD EVENING, AMANDA ASKEW, THE NEIGHBORHOODS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

LET ME PULL UP OUR QUICK POWERPOINT. ALL RIGHT, SO CHAPTER 23 IS THE PROTECTION OF TREES IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

OFTENTIMES WE SHORTEN IT TO THE TREE CODE, BUT IT DOES OTHER THINGS BESIDES TREES.

THESE ARE SOME VERY LARGE HIGHLIGHTS. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO SUPER DETAILS.

WE'LL GO INTO NEXT STEPS THOUGH. THE LAST MAJOR CODE UPDATE WAS DONE IN 2021.

ESC HAS BEEN WORKING ON CHANGES TO CHAPTER 23 OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THEY'VE IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS WITH THE CODE AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS IN HERE.

IT'S BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. ESC, ALONG WITH STAFF, HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT THIS AND DISCUSSED THESE PROPOSED CHANGES.

MAJOR CHANGES INCLUDE SOME TO THE DEFINITION SECTION.

EXPAND THE MARITIME SPECIES LIST, AND THAT'S TO INCLUDE SOME SPECIES THAT WEREN'T PROTECTED.

THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED IN OUR CITY, AND BROADEN THE DEFINITION OF A HERITAGE TREE TO PROTECT MORE TREES.

RIGHT NOW, A HERITAGE TREE IS A MARITIME SPECIES.

ESC REALLY WANTS THE COMMUNITY TO EMBRACE HERITAGE TREES AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION.

SO IT'S A NON NONINVASIVE TREE 30IN IN DIAMETER.

AND IF YOU REMEMBER, HERITAGE TREES COME BEFORE COMMISSION FOR THE DESIGNATION.

AND THEN WE'VE HAD SOME PROBLEMS IN THE PAST CODE ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS WITH PRUNING AND IMPROPER PRUNING.

SO TWEAKING THOSE DEFINITIONS A LITTLE BIT. A RENAMING THE TREE CONSERVATION FUND TO THE TREE TRUST FUND.

THE MAJOR CHANGE IN THIS SECTION IS TO ALLOW THE TREE FUND TO BE USED IN REAR YARDS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

CURRENTLY IT'S ONLY ALLOWED ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND IN FRONT YARDS.

WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE MISSING OUT ON SOME CANOPY OPPORTUNITIES.

ORIGINALLY AGAIN, IT WAS JUST ALLOWED IN THE FRONT YARDS.

[00:20:01]

BUT WE ARE LOSING CANOPY AND FIGURE THAT ANYWHERE WE CAN ADD THE CANOPY IS A POSITIVE FOR OUR TREE CANOPY.

JUST TO REITERATE, THERE'S SOME MINOR TWEAKS, BUT STILL IT'S UNCHANGED.

THAT COMMISSION WILL HAVE THE FINAL APPROVAL TO THE EXPENDITURES TO THIS FUND.

AND IT'S BEEN TWEAKED BUT UNCHANGED THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF 20% OF THE FUNDS COULD BE UTILIZED FOR LANDSCAPING, EQUIPMENT, AND PRESERVATION AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH TREES.

SOME MINOR FEE ADJUSTMENTS. RIGHT NOW, WE CURRENTLY CHARGE $125 FOR A EXISTING PERMIT INCREASE THAT TO $150. THE INCREASE COMES FOR NEW HOMES. OFTENTIMES NEW HOMES REQUIRE THE MOST AMOUNT OF STAFF WORK.

THEY TAKE DOWN THE MOST TREES. SO THERE IS A LONG TIME IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS.

SO THAT FEE INCREASE IS TO HELP RECOVER SOME OF STAFF'S TIME THERE.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CRITICAL ROOT ZONE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN THE CODE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A ZONE. IT'S BASICALLY IN THE DRIP LINE.

IT'S TO HELP INCORPORATE IT INTO THE TREE BARRIER.

THE CRITICAL ROOT ZONE IS BASICALLY THE TOP 6 TO 8IN OF SOIL, AND THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT TO THE TREES.

OFTENTIMES THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE IN CONSTRUCTION SITES THE, THE DAMAGE TO TREES OCCURRING.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME PROPOSED CHANGES IN HERE THAT ARE TO THE PROTECTIVE BARRIERS FOR THE CRITICAL ROOT ZONE.

YOU DRIVE BY SITES RIGHT NOW, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF TIMES THAT ORANGE FENCING WITH STAKES IN THE GROUND.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THE TRUSSES ARE DELIVERED OR THERE'S A DELIVERY BY THE PLUMBING TRUCK.

THEY MOVED IT, POP IT OUT, FORGET TO PUT IT BACK OR END UP PARKING UNDER THAT DRIP LINE OR THE CRITICAL ROOT ZONE FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE STRINGENT, TALLER, 42IN AND MAKE IT WOOD OR METAL SO THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO MOVE, BUT YOU CAN STILL MOVE IT IF NEEDED. INCREASE THE BARRIER DISTANCE.

THIS IS THE PROTECTIVE BARRIER AROUND THE TREES RIGHT NOW.

THE CODE SAYS 6FT INCREASE IT TO 10FT. WITH THE CAVEAT THAT TREES OVER 30IN AND DBH THE BARRIER DISTANCE IS NOT LESS THAN 15FT AND 50% OF THE DRIP LINE. AGAIN, ESC WAS TASKED WITH HOW DO WE SAVE THESE LARGER TREES? WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROTECT THEM? SO AN INCREASED DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF THESE LARGER TREES? IN SOME INSTANCES, ESC REALIZED THAT THIS WASN'T GOING TO BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF LOT SIZES.

SO TO ALLOW AN ADMINISTRATIVE REDUCTION OF THAT DISTANCE, PROVIDED THERE WAS AN ALTERNATIVE PROTECTION, A THICK MULCH PADDING OR SOME METAL PLATES THAT WOULD BE PLACED OVER THAT ROOT ZONE.

RIGHT NOW, THE CODE CURRENTLY REQUIRES A MITIGATION PLAN.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING. AND OFTENTIMES WE SEE SOME PEOPLE THAT COME IN AFTER THE FACT AND JUST HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

SO IT'S HOPEFULLY TO CLARIFY THAT THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENS IS OFTENTIMES WITH THE TREE REMOVAL DURING NEW CONSTRUCTION, IT'S A LONG PROCESS. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A YEAR TO TWO THREE YEARS TO BUILD A HOUSE.

WHEN YOU TAKE THE TREES DOWN, YOU SUBMIT THE APPLICATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS.

YOU'RE GIVEN YOUR MITIGATION CALCULATIONS, BUT YOU OFTENTIMES FORGET THOSE IN THE 1 TO 2 YEARS THAT GOES BY.

SO IT'S KIND OF A SURPRISE TO THE DEVELOPER THAT THEY OWE A LOT OF INCHES.

SO THIS THOUGHT PROCESS IS TO HAVE THEM ACKNOWLEDGE WITHIN 30 DAYS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MITIGATE THE REQUIRED INCHES.

AGAIN, IT'S GIVEN TO THEM CURRENTLY, BUT OFTENTIMES IT'S FORGOTTEN.

AND AS I MENTIONED, IT OUTLINES THE STEPS FOR THE MITIGATION PLAN.

TREES, THE REPLACEMENT TREES RIGHT NOW IS TWO INCHES FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN OAK.

BUT TO INCREASE THAT TO A MINIMUM OF A FOUR INCH DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT TREE AND TO CLARIFY THE TREE PLANTING SPACING REQUIREMENTS.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE CRAM THE TREES IN THERE AND IT'S NOT THE BEST WAY THEY GET TOO CLOSE TO THE NEW HOUSE OR THE DRIVEWAY.

AND THEN FAST FORWARD A COUPLE YEARS FROM NOW AND THE TREE IS GOING TO BE GROWING INTO THE HOUSE OR THE DRIVEWAY.

INCREASE THE HISTORIC CORRIDOR TO INCLUDE 7TH STREET BETWEEN OCEAN BOULEVARD AND EAST COAST DRIVE.

AND THEN ESC BOARD COMPOSITION. ADD A LITTLE SECTION IN THERE THAT THE PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES WILL DEMONSTRATE THE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE AND EDUCATION THAT'S ALREADY OUTLINED IN THE CODE REQUIREMENTS. AND THEN ESC SHALL NOT CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER.

NEXT STEPS STAFF IS RECOMMENDING HOLDING A SEPARATE WORKSHOP TO DIVE DEEP INTO THESE CHANGES OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

OR YOU COULD PROCEED TO FIRST READ. THANK YOU.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP, IF I MAY.

I JUST WANT TO COMMENT BECAUSE I, I LISTENED TO A FAIR AMOUNT OF THE ONE MEETING AND MAYBE IT WAS SEVERAL WHERE ESC WAS GOING THROUGH ALL

[00:25:07]

SOMETIMES IT'S ONE OF THOSE DEALS WHERE IT'S NOT THERE'S NO RIGHT ANSWER.

I MEAN, THERE'S THIS PERSON'S OPINION, THAT PERSON'S OPINION.

BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, YOU GOT TO GET TO CONSENSUS AND MOVE, MOVE FORWARD.

I AM DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD A WORKSHOP ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS BIG STUFF.

AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. WHILE I AGREE IN PRINCIPLE WITH MOST OF THE ESC RECOMMENDATIONS, IT CONCERNS ME GREATLY ON OUR NARROWER LOTS IN THE OLD CORE CITY THAT ARE 50 FOOT WIDE.

IF YOU HAVE A BIG, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A LEGACY TREE OUT FRONT YOU'RE TAKING UP ALMOST THE ENTIRE 50FT WITH ROOTS.

AND SO AND THIS AND I WISH WE HAD MORE CITIZENS HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS TODAY.

I WORRY ABOUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF SAYING WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT THOSE TREES FURTHER BY EXPANDING THE RADIUS THAT YOU CANNOT OPERATE IN, I.E. PUTTING UP THE YELLOW FENCE OR THE ORANGE FENCING AT A FARTHER DISTANCE.

BUT THEN THE BUILDER DECIDES THAT IT'S GOING TO BE MORE HASSLE TO KEEP THAT TREE THAN TO JUST CUT IT DOWN AND PAY THE THE FEES.

AND SO THEN WE END UP LOSING MORE BIG TREES. SO I REALLY AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A SEPARATE WORKSHOP TO GET INTO THIS.

AND SO COMMISSIONERS FEEL FREE TO ASK A QUESTION, BUT I BUT HOLD MOST OF YOUR STUFF FOR THE WORKSHOP.

YES, COMMISSIONER OKAY. SO THAT'S FINE GO AHEAD, CAPTAIN. NO, NO GO AHEAD [LAUGHTER] SO HOPEFULLY WHEN WE CAN HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ONCE HE ARRIVES.

I THINK SO, YEAH. YES, COMMISSIONER. I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.

SO WHAT WAS THE PROCESS TO BRING US THIS? WELL, AS THIS, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, ESC HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR OVER TWO YEARS. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WITH ESC, ESC ULTIMATELY MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO STAFF.

I TOOK A LOOK AT IT ALONG WITH MY STAFF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS PALATABLE WITH THE WHOLE PERMITTING PROCESS AND KIND OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, I HEAR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. SO THEN THE NEXT STEP TYPICALLY IS WE HOLD A WORKSHOP WITH COMMISSION BEFORE WE INSTITUTE ANY CODE CHANGES. I GOT WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WE DECIDED WE'D BRING IT BEFORE YOU GUYS TO COMMISSION COULD MAKE A DECISION ON THE NEXT STEPS.

OKAY, SO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IS A MERGE BETWEEN ESC RECOMMENDATION AND STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS OKAY THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GO AHEAD. GO BACK A SLIDE.

OH, OKAY EXPERTISE AND EDUCATION. COMMISSIONER KELLY KIND OF STOLE MY QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, PROBABLY WHERE I'M GOING WITH YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM OR HER GO TO EVERY MEETING.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM, YOU KNOW, INPUT BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT EXPERTISE.

WE'RE NOW HIRING SOMEBODY THAT I KNOW BILL'S GOT SOME OTHER THINGS THEY'RE GOING TO DO, BUT THAT IS A WEALTH OF, I WOULD HOPE, A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT WE COULD USE IN THIS COMMITTEE AND LOOK AT CHAPTER 23, ETC. ETC. BECAUSE WE'RE ALL AMATEUR ARBORISTS, RIGHT? [LAUGHTER] SO IT WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT, YOU KNOW UP ON YOUR SLIDE THERE, YOU HAVE EXPERTISE IN EDUCATION IN THE CODE ABOUT WHERE THEY FIT IN? WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS OF WHERE THE ARBORIST WOULD FIT IN, ULTIMATELY. AND ESC HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

WE WERE HOPING TO GET IT BEFORE YOU. LIKE ANY CODE.

WE KIND OF DO THE BAND AID. IT'S A SECTION IS NOT QUITE RIGHT, SO WE TWEAK IT.

I FIND THAT THE EXISTING CHAPTER 23 IS NOT USER FRIENDLY AND IT'S NOT IN ORDER.

SO ULTIMATELY, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE ARBORIST TO COME BACK TO US AND START OVER WITH CHAPTER 23.

KEEP THE COMPONENTS OF THE PROTECTION, BUT MAKE IT MORE USER FRIENDLY.

I THINK IT CAN BE REDUCED RIGHT NOW. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENT THAT IS VERY WORDY, THAT COULD BE REDUCED.

AND HOPEFULLY OUR CANDIDATE IS PROBABLY WELL VERSED IN CITY CODES, ETC.

ETC. THAT CAN PROBABLY HELP WITH THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THEIR OKAY BACK TO YOU, CITY MANAGER. SO WHAT I HEAR IS YOU DO WANT A WORKSHOP.

I DO. AND YOU'D LIKE IT. SO YOU WOULD LIKE INPUT FROM OUR ARBORIST? WHICH MEANS IT WOULD PROBABLY BE. I THINK HE STARTS JANUARY 5TH, SO MAYBE FEBRUARY TIME FRAME WE WOULD HAVE A WORKSHOP?

[00:30:08]

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

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKING. ONE THING I THINK ISN'T MENTIONED HERE A LOT IS I KNOW SOME OF US GOT A BRIEFING ON WHAT ONE OCEAN BECOMES THE DUNES.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A MUCH BIGGER, SUBSTANTIAL PARKING ISSUE.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AS FAR AS THE FIRST DECK, ETC.

ETC. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE IN THAT AREA.

I DON'T HAVE A GREAT SOLUTION, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO FACE SOONER THAN LATER.

BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE BEACH, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE PARKING ISSUES THERE.

THAT ARE GOING TO BE MULTIPLIED. PROBABLY NOT THE BEST DAY TO BRING IT UP.

BUT MAYOR, I SAW YOUR WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT COMMITTEES TONIGHT.

I'VE BEEN THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY GUY FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, AND I'D LOVE FOR SOMEBODY TO DO THAT BESIDES ME.

YEAH, ALRIGHT. I HAVE BEEN AND I WATCH ONLINE, I YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU SEE ME THERE. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT IS WE'RE THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BEACHES, BOTH NEPTUNE AND US, WE'RE NON-VOTING MEMBERS.

YET, YOU KNOW, THEIR LOOK TO US, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK BUDGET.

WHEN I TALKED TO BILL ABOUT THE BUDGET, THINGS WE WANT, IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

BUT I THINK NEW BLOOD WOULD BE GREAT, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT? SO WHO ARE YOU NOMINATING? YOU. I KNOW [LAUGHTER] THAT OKAY.

WELL YOU NOMINATED YOURSELF LATER ON HERE FOR THE.

YES.

RAISE YOUR HAND. I'LL HELP YOU. IT'S REALLY INFORMATIVE TO THE MERCHANTS.

AND YOU GET A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS THAT I BRING BACK HERE HOPEFULLY SO.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT? SURE ACTUALLY REPRESENTED FOR A TIME, BUT WE HAD COMMISSIONERS PREVIOUSLY.

SO YOU'VE BEEN ON FOR FIVE YEARS? YEAH [LAUGHTER]. SO IT SO THE PROCESS, IS THERE A DATE THAT YOU ROLL OFF OR YOU'RE IN THERE TILL YOU DIE? CANDACE WAS HERE WHEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, I SAID, SURE, I WAS YOUNG AND STUPID.

NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. I SAID, SURE, I'LL DO THAT.

AND IT'S MORE INVOLVED THAN YOU WOULD THINK. YEAH, IT IS.

BECAUSE IT'S A CONNECTION IT'S A MEETING IT'S ANOTHER MEETING ON THE CALENDAR.

IT I THINK IT'S A GREAT CONNECTION THAT THE CITY HAS, BUT I'D LOVE FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN THAT.

TUESDAY OF THE MONTH THE OTHER THING, I HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS TODAY, AND I TALKED TO SOME, SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE.

I GOT TO DO THE PRAYER TONIGHT, WHICH IS AN HONOR, BUT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I WANTED TO MENTION SENATOR CAPTAIN MARK KELLY, WHO'S A FRIEND PATRIOT AND A GREAT AMERICAN. AND I'M THINKING ABOUT HIM TONIGHT, THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU. OKAY COMMISSIONER GRANT. YEAH THANKS, MAYOR.

I DO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PARKING FOR A MINUTE.

YEAH, THE TWO SPEAKERS TONIGHT ON IT BROUGHT UP SOME GREAT POINTS.

I THOUGHT MY DAUGHTER HAS WORKED AT WHIT'S AT THAT BEACH LOCATION FOR.

MUST HAVE BEEN TWO YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IN EVERY HOLIDAY SHE COMES HOME, SHE PICKS UP A SHIFT HERE OR THERE.

SOMETIMES IT'S AT THE ATLANTIC BEACH LOCATION, SOMETIMES IT'S BEACH BOULEVARD.

BUT SHE DOES KIND OF GO YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE HAS TO GO DOWN TO ATLANTIC BEACH BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE TO PARK [LAUGHTER].

SO I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, WITH, WITH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE OUGHT TO, YOU KNOW, PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE FIND EXISTING PARKING AND HAVE IT DEDICATED TO EMPLOYEES WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF IDENTIFICATION ON THEIR VEHICLE TO, YOU KNOW THAT THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO PARK IN, YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE TO GET SOME INPUT FROM THE MERCHANTS TO SEE WHAT'S BEST.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM CUSTOMER PARKING, BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK I THINK THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMEWHERE A SOLUTION IN BETWEEN SHARING THE PARKING DOWN THERE WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME DESIGNATED PARTY PARKING FOR EMPLOYEES BY HAVING THEM PARK AT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S AQUA EAST OR THE OLD KMART, WHICH I GUESS WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO ANYMORE.

[00:35:03]

AND THEN THE OTHER THING CITY MANAGER DID ON THE ON I DID HEAR A LOT.

I WAS DOWN THERE A FEW NIGHTS [LAUGHTER] THIS WEEKEND AT THE CORNER, AND I DID HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE PARKING FEES GOING UP.

IS THAT TRULY IN IN NEPTUNE BEACH'S HANDS, 100%, OR DID WE SIGN OFF ON THAT? WELL, WE HAVEN'T SIGNED OFF ON IT. THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO SIGN OFF ON IT.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS NEPTUNE BEACH HAS RAISED THEIR FEES.

YEAH YEAH. SO, YES SO THE DEBATE IS, YOU KNOW, DO WE MATCH THEM? RIGHT. AND THAT THAT IS A RESOLUTION.

GOT IT. WE'LL BOTH BE INVOLVED IN THAT ONE OR MAYBE ALL FIVE OF US.

BUT THANK YOU. YEP. OKAY. COMMISSIONER. KELLY.

I NOTICED THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD TOO MUCH ABOUT THE YOUTH, THE YOUTH COUNCIL LATELY, BUT THEY ARE PERFORMING A REALLY NECESSARY FUNCTION THAT THEY ARE BUILDING. WHAT'S.

I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK.

SO, TITLE 1, KIDS HAVE FOOD TO TAKE HOME WITH THEM FOR THE WEEKEND.

AND SO THEY ARE COLLECTING THE NONPERISHABLE, SNACKY THINGS THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KID CAN BRING HOME AND SUSTAIN THEMSELVES OVER THE WEEKEND. SO I KNOW THAT WE MY CHURCH DOES THAT FOR SOME OTHER CHURCHES, OUR SCHOOLS FARTHER SOUTH. AND IT'S HARD TO THINK THAT THERE ARE KIDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEED THIS SERVICE, BUT THEY DO. SO PLEASE GO SHOPPING AND BUY NONPERISHABLE STUFF AND DROP IT OFF AT ADELE OR THE OTHER PLACE BAKER, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE PUTTING THOSE TOGETHER AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY GET SCHOOL FOOD AND THEN IT'S ON VACATION AND THEY GET NO FOOD.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT SNAP IS IS BEEN PRETTY UNAVAILABLE.

AND THE FOOD BANKS ARE STRESSED, SO. GO SHOPPING.

OKAY THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RING.

I ATTENDED THE MAYPORT WATERFRONT PARTNERSHIP WITH MAYOR FORD AND SOME OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.

MAYOR CHRIS HOFFMAN FROM JAX BEACH, ALONG WITH MAYOR CORI BYLUND, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST WEEK.

BUT THESE WEEKS ARE JUST GOING PRETTY FAST. IT WAS FANTASTIC HEARING THE VISION.

THE PANELISTS WERE VERY INFORMED FROM THE OH SEARCH.

I SUPPOSE HE'S A PROFESSOR MAYBE DIRECTOR OF OH SEARCH.

AND FROM FRED JONES. HE'S ONE OF OUR CITY CITIZENS HERE IN ATLANTIC BEACH.

AND EVERYTHING HE HAD TO SHARE FROM THE PLANNING SIDE TO OUR SORRY, OR CHRIS HOFFMAN AS OUR BEACH'S MUSEUM DIRECTOR, SHARING THE HISTORICAL COMPONENT. AND, OF COURSE BILL GULLIFORD, FORMER MAYOR OF AB, IT WAS VERY IT WAS WELL, IT WAS INSIGHTFUL, LEARNING ALL ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, BUT ALSO WHAT THEIR VISION IS FOR DECADES TO COME.

SO I WANTED TO SHARE ABOUT THAT. ALSO, THIS IS A VERY BUSY TIME OF YEAR FOR OUR CITY FROM THE TOY DRIVE TO THE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING, SONGWRITERS CONCERT, WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 100TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN THE CITY.

SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. SO I JUST WANT TO TELL THE CITIZENS TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THERE AND DEFINITELY LOOK AT OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGERS GRINCHMAS VIDEO THAT JUST WENT LIVE TODAY [LAUGHTER]. IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE I'M JUST GOING TO COMMENT ON ONE THING, AND I APPRECIATE OUR GUESTS TODAY.

SPEAKING ON THE PARKING ISSUE. I STARTED THIS FIRST OF ALL I WAS NOT INVITED TO THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY MEETING ON BEHALF OF THAT ISSUE, AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS EVEN BEING DISCUSSED.

AND I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT IT THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, THROUGH A SOMEBODY IN THE CITY OF NEPTUNE BEACH WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS WHEN WE GET TO THAT PORTION OF THIS AGENDA ADDRESSING WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.

BUT BUT SO I STARTED THE CONVERSATION LAST WEEK ABOUT, WHAT ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES? I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE GUESTS THAT VISIT OUR TOWN, ALTHOUGH.

YOU'D HAVE TO BE. YOU'D HAVE TO BE JUST OUT OF TOUCH NOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT A JUMP FROM 150 OR $1.50 AN HOUR TO $5 AN HOUR IS A.

WHAT IS THAT? A 200% AND SOMETHING PERCENT INCREASE IN ONE TIME.

[00:40:06]

SO I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS AS RECENTLY AS THIS MORNING.

MR. KILLINGSWORTH AND I DISCUSSED THIS AND WE DIDN'T WALK AWAY WITH A RESOLUTION, BUT WE CERTAINLY WALKED AWAY WITH THE SAME CONCERN THAT I HEARD HERE TONIGHT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATION ON THAT BUT JUST KNOW THAT IT'S A BIG DEAL.

AND IT'S BEEN A BIG DEAL FOR YEARS ON HOW DO WE ACCOMMODATE OUR STAFF IN OUR BUSINESSES WITH LIMITED PARKING AND THIS WILL THIS WILL ACTUALLY PUT MORE ON IT. BUT ANYWAYS, I'M GOING TO SAVE MY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE AGREEMENT WITH NEPTUNE BEACH TILL WE GET TO THAT PORTION. YES, GO WITH MR. GRANT THERE. MY DAUGHTER WORKED AT HAWKERS AND SHE IS AT HIGH SCHOOL.

RIGHT? AND I THINK IT'S BIGGER THAN THIS. IT'S ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS THEY HAVE TO WALK ACROSS THIRD STREET.

YES. AND IT FREAKED ME OUT THAT AT 11:00 P.M.

MY 16, 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS WALKING ACROSS THIRD STREET TO FIND A PARKING FURTHER DOWN THERE.

SO I THINK THE WORD SAFETY SHOULD BE IN THIS EQUATION RIGHT UP FRONT, BECAUSE THE WORKERS AT NIGHT LATE, A LOT OF THEM HAVE GOT TO GO ACROSS A VERY BUSY PLACE THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, I JUST FEEL EMOTIONAL ABOUT THAT PILE ON SO THANKS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. I'M GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM 6 OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[6. CONSENT AGENDA]

AND I'M GOING TO READ THEM. FIRST ONE 6.A IS RESOLUTION NO.

25-86. 6.B IS RESOLUTION NO. 25-99. 6.C IS RESOLUTION NO.

25-101. 6.D IS 25-102 6.E IS 25-103, AND 6.F IS 25-105. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO PULL ANY OF THESE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IN ORDER TO DISCUSS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I RECOMMEND WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-88, 25-99, 25-101, 25-102, 25-103 AND 25-105. SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER KELLY.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[7.A. Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) proposed 2025-2026 Tree Fund Action and Spending Plan, Heritage Tree Grant program and Elder Tree Campaign]

IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE CHAIR OF ESC PRESENT THIS.

YES AND WHAT TIME DID WE ALLOW FOR THIS? IT WILL BE A SHORT PRESENTATION.

I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE SHORT. HI SARAH BOREN, OUTGOING CHAIR OF ESC. I LIVE ON 8TH STREET.

SO I'LL MAKE IT AS SHORT AS I CAN. IN THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, ESC SENT THE TREE SPENDING ACTION.

I'M SORRY. TREE FUND ACTION AND SPENDING PLAN TO YOU AND STAFF.

WE WORKED HARD ON COMING UP WITH PERCENTAGES AND A PROACTIVE PLAN THAT PRIORITIZES PLANTING TREES TO REPLACE THOSE LOST IN, WHICH ALSO ALWAYS LEAVES 25% IN RESERVE PER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY MANAGER.

THE GOAL IS TO NOT LEAVE FUNDS IDLE AND TO BE STRATEGIC IN HELPING OUR TREE CANOPY.

SO SINCE IT HAS BEEN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS SINCE WE SENT THE PLAN, I WANTED TO SHARE JUST A FEW UPDATES TO WHAT WAS IN YOUR PACKET.

FIRST, WE'VE COMPLETED ANOTHER FRONT YARD PLANTING AND ANOTHER TREE GIVEAWAY.

AND IN PROGRESS. THE STREET. THE CITY IS WORKING ON PLANTINGS AND PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS, SOME PARK REPLACEMENT, PLANTINGS, EDIBLE ORCHARDS IN THE IN PROGRESS AND A NO MOW DEMONSTRATION WILDFLOWER PILOT HAS BEEN STARTED.

TURNING TO THE MEMOS THAT YOU GUYS RECEIVED, OR AT LEAST TWO OF THEM WERE IN YOUR PACKET.

ONE WAS THE HERITAGE TREE PILOT PROGRAM. IT'S PROPOSING $10,000 AS A KIND OF PROOF OF CONCEPT.

THE SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN DESIGNATING THE HERITAGE TREE, THEY WOULD GET A FREE TREE ASSESSMENT AND THEN UP TO $1,000 GRANT TO HELP KIND OF TRIM OR PRUNE OR CARE FOR THAT HERITAGE TREE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET INCENTIVIZE MORE PEOPLE TO DESIGNATE HERITAGE TREES.

THE NEXT ONE IS THE ELDERS TREE PROGRAM. THIS IS A CAMPAIGN TO INSPIRE CARE, PRIDE AND CELEBRATION FOR OF OUR MATURE TREES OF 20IN OR

[00:45:09]

AND SO WE WANT TO KIND OF ENGENDER THOSE AND CELEBRATE THOSE.

AND THEN WHAT WASN'T IN YOUR PACKET WAS ANOTHER MEMO THAT YOU GOT WAS A MASTER ARBORIST A SO APPROVING UP TO $12,000 TO SCHEDULE ONE MASTER ARBORIST DAY 2 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR.

AND THIS IS WHERE CITIZENS COULD SIGN UP FOR A SLOT, A FREE TIME SLOT, TO HAVE THEIR MATURE TREE OR POTENTIAL HERITAGE TREE PRIORITIZING 20IN OR MORE ASSESSED AND EVALUATED FOR HEALTH AND LONGEVITY, AND THEN PROVIDED A GIVEN CARE AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

AND THEN WHAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN WHICH HAS PASSED IS ALSO THIS IDEA OF HONORS.

HONORS TREES. SO A CITIZEN COULD, IF THEY HAD A, A BIRTH OR A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, A GRADUATION THEY COULD REQUEST A TREE TO BE PLANTED ON THEIR PROPERTY IN HONOR OF THEM.

AND THE TREE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A EXPLANATORY PLAQUE.

AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE FREE FRONT YARD TREES PROGRAM.

THE CITY STAFF WOULD EVALUATE THE SELECTION AND PLANTING THE SITE, ETC.

AND THE TREE FUND COULD BE USED FOR IT. SO AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE MORE PLANTINGS.

AND THEN RECENTLY WE HAVEN'T KIND OF REALLY FLESHED IT OUT.

BUT DRIVING AROUND THE CITY, WE'RE LOOKING ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PLACES TO PLANT TREES.

AND WE THINK THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

SO WHETHER ONE AND AGAIN, IT'S A VERY INITIAL STAGES, BUT THE IDEA IS MAYBE WHEN THE CITY'S PUTTING IN AN ORDER, COMMERCIAL OWNERS CAN ALSO HOP ON THAT BULK ORDER AND WE EVERYBODY WINS.

LIKE THE COST GETS LOWER BECAUSE THE BULK ORDERS LARGER.

SO TO END, I DEFER TO STAFF IF AND WHAT TYPE OF FORMAL ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN? IT IS THE ESC HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION APPROVES THE REMAINDER OF THE PLAN SO IT CAN SO WE CAN HAVE CERTAINTY MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR RESEARCH AND PLANS.

A LOT OF IT GOES INTO EXECUTING THESE PROGRAMS. ESC ALSO DISCUSSED AT ITS LAST MEETING THAT THE BEST PRACTICE, A BEST PRACTICE MOVING FORWARD, WOULD BE FOR ESC TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS OF THIS PLAN EVERY QUARTER AND UPDATE AND ADJUST IT.

AS PROGRAMS ARE COMPLETED, NEW FUNDS COME IN AND NEW NEEDS ARISE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, COMMUNICATE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU AND STAFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LEADERSHIP.

OUR CANOPY TAKES AND DESERVES INTENTIONAL AND CONTINUED ATTENTION.

I WISH YOU ALL A VERY, VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO EACH OF YOU AND FOR THE WONDERFUL CITY THAT WE LIVE IN.

I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE. QUESTION? WELL, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY THAT WE'VE FOUND A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE.

I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL VERY WELL TO PLANT A TREE TO TREE CITY SIGN.

BUT IT IT'S NICE THAT WE'VE FOUND A WAY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND I THANK YOU.

WHILE YOU'RE HERE, QUESTION ON THE RECENT REPLANTING OF THE DEAD TREES ON SELVA MARINA DRIVE.

DID WE GET WATER TO THOSE TREES? I ASKED MR. THORNTON, OUR NEW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR GOOD DAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I'M BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE WE HAVE A BAD TRACK RECORD.

WE KILL TREES. WE ARE TREE CITY USA, AND WE KILL TREES.

OKAY? I'M TALKING ABOUT US, THE CITY. SO I WANT YOU IN YOUR ESC TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.

IF THESE TREES ARE NOT GETTING WATERED PROPERLY, LET ME KNOW.

LET MR. KILLINGSWORTH KNOW. BUT I'M ALL IN FOR MAKING SURE THE CITY FOLLOWS UP AND.

AND PROTECTS THE NEW TREES. OKAY? THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

OH WHEN WILL WE. ARE YOU GOING TO BRING AN ORDINANCE FOR THESE CHANGES? SO MY THOUGHT WAS WE COULD DISCUSS THIS AS PART OF THE WORKSHOP WITH THE CHAPTER 23.

GOOD. AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE CAN I ASK ONE THING? ABSOLUTELY. SO THAT'S THREE MONTHS FROM NOW.

CAN WE JUST KEEP CHUGGING ON WITH THIS PLAN? BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S THINGS THAT WE NEED TO START PLANNING NOW.

SURE. TO BUT WE'RE KIND OF MOVING FORWARD WITH A KIND OF A NOD.

IS THAT OKAY. I DON'T KNOW I HAVE TO STUDY THE DETAILS, WHICH I YOU KNOW, I WOULD EXPECT WE WOULD START THAT WHEN WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE COMING,

[00:50:04]

JUST KEEP ON KEEPING ON REALLY. I MEAN, WE WELL, SO I GUESS WE CAN HOLD OFF ON THE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE MEMOS, THE HERITAGE TREE, THE ELDERS CAMPAIGN, THE MASTER ARBORIST. BUT THERE'S LIKE, CANOPY HEALTH DATA AND STATE OF THE TREES.

THAT'S KIND OF A REPORT THAT WE WERE WORKING ON, AND WE NEED SOME MOVEMENT ON THERE.

THERE'S SOME MONEY PUT ASIDE FOR DEMONSTRATION AND LEARNING GARDENS, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

SO AND THEN WE HAVE FUTURE TREE GIVEAWAYS COMING.

THAT'S NOT IN THIS PLAN. SO IT'S JUST THE THING IS IT'S NOT STATIC.

RIGHT? AND SO IT'S IT EVOLVES AND IT'S GOT TO BE UPDATED.

SO YES COMMISSIONER, WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS ARBORIST, RIGHT? RIGHT. YOU KNOW, IF I WAS SITTING THERE IN BILL'S JOB, WHICH I AM NOT, THANK GOD.

THAT ARBORIST CHECKS IN IN JANUARY, CORRECT? CORRECT.

BOY, WHAT A FIRST JOB. HERE'S CHAPTER 23. RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT, A MONTH AND 15 DAYS AWAY. BOY, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A PROFESSIONAL GO THROUGH THAT.

YOU KNOW NOTHING AGAINST YOU GUYS. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S A THAT'S YOU TALK ABOUT UTILIZATION. YOU KNOW, YOU SAY, IS THIS GUY GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH WORK TO DO? WOW. YOU KNOW I WOULD DO THAT ON DAY ONE. JUST A RECOMMENDATION.

WE'RE PAYING FOR IT. WE GO AND REVIEW IT AND WE MOVE FORWARD.

GO AHEAD. YEAH I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK, QUICK COMMENT.

SO WHEN DID YOU FIRST ESC FIRST SUBMIT THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION FOR THE TREE FUND? DID YOU SAY FOR YEAH. AND THEN WE SUBMITTED A MORE. SO THEN IT SAT AND THEN AND THEN WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH BILL, HE'S LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, LET'S TRY NOT TO LEAVE FUNDS IDLE.

JUST LEAVE 25% IN THE RESERVE. AND SO WE WENT BACK AND JUST KIND OF ADJUSTED THE PERCENTAGES AND AMOUNTS.

AND I GET I GET THE SENSE THAT WE'VE HAD IT FOR A WHILE, AND I SENSE SARAH'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATED THAT WE HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, DONE ANYTHING WITH IT YET. SO THAT'S I AND I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BOLE THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE TO HAVE HIM CHIME IN. BUT I ALSO THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE IN A HOLDING PATTERN THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO TRY AND MOVE FORWARD IF WE CAN.

SO LET ME KIND OF BRING IT TO A CLOSE ON THIS, I HEAR YOU.

BUT I'M NOT ANSWERING YOU. NOT TONIGHT. BUT I'M WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS.

I HEAR YOU, MR. BOLE. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. WE SHOULD GET THE ARBORIST INVOLVED.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND GET INVOLVED.

BUT WE CAN BRING THIS BACK AND GIVE YOU A MORE CLEAR DIRECTION AFTER NEXT MEETING.

WOULD THAT BE OKAY? OKAY. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU.

SOUNDS GOOD SO ITEM 7.B REAPPOINTMENT OF MAYOR CURTIS FORD TO THE BOARD MEMBER REVIEW COMMITTEE BMRC.

[7.B. Reappointment of Mayor Curtis Ford to the Board Member Review Committee (BMRC)]

IF SOMEBODY THINKS THAT THEY CAN DO A BETTER JOB AND WANTS TO ASK FOR A NOMINATION, I'LL ENTERTAIN THAT AS WELL.

I HAVE NO INTEREST FOR THE RECORD TO SERVE ON ANOTHER BOARD, BUT WE'RE DENYING AROUND THE ROOM? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE? I DON'T KNOW. WELL, LET ME LET ME AT LEAST REPORT I, I FOUND IT IT'S BEEN FASCINATING WORKING ON IT.

I DO MY I DO THE BEST I CAN TO TRY TO HELP THE PROCESS AND OCCASIONALLY BRING NEW BLOOD IN FOR APPLICANTS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF APPLICANTS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEAT ALL THE APPLICANTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POSITIONS. SO IT IS, I THINK ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF ATLANTIC BEACH IS THAT WE HAVE REALLY, REALLY GOOD PEOPLE THAT VOLUNTEER FOR OUR CITY.

SO I, I THINK BMRC IS IMPORTANT. WE HAD A FULL HOUSE ON OUR MEETING A WEEK AGO WITH EACH OF THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN ATTENDANCE, PLUS TWO. ONE WAS A BOARD CHAIR, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS A COMMITTEE CHAIR.

SO WE JUST HAD REALLY GOOD PEOPLE. I WANT TO CONTINUE DOING IT BECAUSE I THINK I'M PRETTY GOOD AT BRINGING THAT TO THE BEST CONCLUSION.

YES COMMISSIONER. I DID RECEIVE SOME EMAIL FROM THE PUBLIC, AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, WHY IS THERE A COMMISSIONER? WELL, THE ANSWER IS THAT'S THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS IT'S |HAIRED BY A COMMISSIONER.

[00:55:04]

YOU KNOW, NEW BLOOD. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW.

BECAUSE WHEN WE ELECT THESE PEOPLE TO THE COMMISSIONS OR TO THE PROGRAMS THEY SERVE FOR A FINITE NUMBER OF YEARS LIKE WE DO, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN YOU HAVE TURNOVER, YOU GET KIND OF A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. AGAIN, HAVING BEEN INVOLVED, I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE, BAR NONE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

I'VE SEEN THE RESULTS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TRADE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY, BUT THAT'S NOT A DEAL.

I WANT TO BE I SEE YOU GUYS OKAY. BUT I JUST THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THAT'S I'M DONE YEAH, I THINK TWO YEARS. YOU FINISHED. YOU HAD THREE FULL TERMS, AND THEN ALSO A MONTH BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE ELECTION IS.

I HAD THREE FULL TERMS? THREE YEARS, THREE YEARS AND A MONTH.

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN MAYOR FOR THREE YEARS AND A MONTH.

YES. I'VE BEEN MAYOR SINCE I WAS SEATED IN JANUARY OF 2020.

NO, NOVEMBER OF 2022. I WAS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER I WAS SEATED.

OKAY FAIR ENOUGH. YEAH THEY ALWAYS. THEY'VE NEVER BUT I DIDN'T I DIDN'T SIT FOR THE BOARD MEMBER REVIEW COMMITTEE UNTIL FEBRUARY OR MARCH.

I WASN'T BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEIR FIRST MEETING TILL THEN SPEAKERS] DECEMBER OF 2022. OKAY. COMMISSIONER? WELL, I CAN TAKE TOWN CENTER, BUT I'M A LAME DUCK.

YOU GET ME FOR 11 MONTHS. YEAH. SO. YEAH. YEAH.

I'M HAPPY TO TAKE TOWN CENTER IF TOWN CENTER.

OKAY. I'LL THROW MY NAME IN THE HAT. I WILL BRIEF YOU IT WAS A CONSENSUS LAST TIME THERE WASN'T REALLY A VOTE.

IS THAT? NO. OKAY. YEAH, I'M JUST SAYING. YEAH.

FOR FUTURE CONVERSATION THAT'S A SEPARATE. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY SO. DISCUSSION OVER? THIS IS THIS IS NOT A. CONSENSUS. YEAH, IT'S JUST CONSENSUS SO.

MAKE A MOTION? YEAH. OKAY. SO I RECOMMEND MOTION THAT WE REAPPOINT MAYOR CURTIS FORD TO THE BMRC.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GOING TO VOTE NAY ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS WHO OBJECT.

OKAY I DIDN'T CATCH THAT SO NO, I WAS STILL. WE HAD ONE NAY FROM COMMISSIONER KELLY WHOEVER'S KEEPING THE RECORD.

NOTHING PERSONAL I DIDN'T HEAR. YOU WERE NOMINATED, JESSICA. I CAME OUT OF THE GATE WITH I WOULD LIKE TO NOT SERVE ON ANOTHER BOARD.

I MADE THAT ON WITH THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY. WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MOVE THAT COMMISSIONER GRANT BE OUR NEW REPRESENTATIVE REPLACING COMMISSIONER BOLE? I'D LIKE TO. GO AHEAD. YEAH YOU'RE NOT MOVING ON THAT.

[LAUGHTER] YOU ARE THE.

I MOVED COMMISSIONER GRANT TAKE OVER THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT WE'RE MOVING INTO RESOLUTIONS.

[8.A. RESOLUTION NO. 25-107]

FOR CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING AND INSPECTION SERVICES SUPPORTING THE AHERN STREET ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, 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 WE'RE GETTING READY TO RELEASE THE CONTRACT FOR THE AHERN STREET PROJECT.

IT'S A COMPLICATED PROJECT. IT INVOLVES SOME WORK ON A PRIVATE PROPERTY.

[01:00:02]

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO PROVIDE INSPECTION SERVICES FOR THE FIRM THAT'S DOING THE WORK.

IT'S A COMPLICATED PROJECT. AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT STAFF HAS THE CAPACITY, SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE COMMISSION APPROVE RESOLUTION NO.

25-107, AUTHORIZING ME TO ISSUE A TASK AUTHORIZATION TO CRAWFORD, MURPHY AND TILLY, AN AMOUNT OF $49,600 FOR INSPECTION SERVICES AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A AHERN ROAD.

AHERN STREET ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I MOVE, WE ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-107 AS READ.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND, DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 8.B RESOLUTION NO. 25-108 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ADJUST PAID PARKING FEES WITHIN THE BEACHES

[8.B. RESOLUTION NO. 25-108]

MR. KILLINGSWORTH, IF I MAY, IF I CAN JUST BACK UP TO THE LAST ONE, THERE WAS A PROJECT THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE CROSSWALK THERE THAT WE HAVE MONEY FOR. SO THAT'S A CONSTRAINED INTERSECTION.

AND WE HAVE TWO STREETS THAT ARE OFFSET. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE SPACE.

WE THOUGHT ABOUT MAYBE A RAPID RECTANGULAR RAPID FLASHING BEACON OR RFB BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PLACE TO PUT THE POLES AND THE BIG SIGNS.

SO THERE IS ANOTHER FEATURE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PUTTING A RAISED TABLE CROSSWALK THERE WHERE THE FLASHING BEACONS ARE ACTUALLY IN THE RAISED PART OF THE CROSSWALK. SO THAT WOULD DO TWO THINGS.

WHAT A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST COULD HIT THE BUTTON AND IT WOULD FLASH AND ALERT ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

BUT IT ALSO WOULDN'T BE ELEVATED, WOULDN'T TAKE UP THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND WOULDN'T BE FLASHING AT NIGHT FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. I HAVE STAFF LOOKING AT IT'S NOT A STANDARD DESIGN FEATURE, BUT IT IS IN THE UNIFORM MANUAL TRAFFIC CONTROLS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A DESIGN AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THAT ON THAT.

AND I DO BELIEVE THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY LEFT IN THAT AHERN PROJECT BECAUSE IT CAME UNDER BUDGET TO FUND SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OKAY. SO YEAH, JUST A QUESTION. THE AHERN PROJECT, WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME FOR THAT? WE EXPECTED TO BE UNDER CONTRACT BY JANUARY. YEAH OKAY JUST COMING UP OKAY. OKAY. I'M GLAD TO. I'M GLAD TO CHIEF IS IN HERE, AND I'M GOING TO GO A LITTLE OFF PAGE HERE FOR A SECOND IF YOU HAVE SO MANY FLASHING LIGHTS SIGNS I COUNTED ON SEMINOLE. THE AMOUNT OF SIGNAGE? AT ONE POINT. COMMISSIONER? YEAH. WE'VE GOTTEN OFF TRACK.

I'M ALREADY ON THE RESOLUTION 8.B 25-108. SO HE'S JUST BRINGING THIS FORWARD SO YOU'LL OKAY. ONCE HE GETS THE ESTIMATES AND SO ON, HE'LL BRING IT BACK TO US.

OKAY. OKAY. SO I'VE ALREADY READ THE RESOLUTION 25-108.

SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. THEN WE'LL OPEN UP DISCUSSION.

I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 25-108 AS READ.

SECOND. OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. NOW LET'S HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.

OKAY. WHO WANTS TO LEAD OFF? COMMISSIONER KELLY.

WELL, WHEN CITY MANAGER FIRST MENTIONED THIS TO ME IN ONE OF OUR MEETINGS, IT SOUNDED LIKE, WELL, DUH, THE WHOLE AREA SHOULD BE THE SAME, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF THE DECISIONS WERE MADE WERE RATHER CAPRICIOUSLY, AND THAT THERE THERE'S NOT BEEN ADEQUATE PUBLIC COMMENT ON WHAT THIS PRICE JUMP SHOULD BE.

I MEAN, IF WE KEEP OUR SIDE AT $1.50 AND THE OTHER SIDE IS $5, YOU KNOW, THE POOR TOURIST.

YEAH AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE $5 FOR FOUR HOURS DOESN'T.

YOU KNOW, OUR ONE OF OUR ORIGINAL REASONS FOR ADDING PAID PARKING WAS TO IMPROVE CHURN YEAH RIGHT? AND SO NOW WE'RE GIVING THEM FOUR HOURS.

THAT'S NOT RESTAURANT TIME. THAT'S BEACH TIME.

SO FIVE PER HOUR

[01:05:02]

THERE'S NO COMMENTS FROM NOBODY.

BUT OKAY, COMMISSIONER BOLE. ONE THING I THINK LET'S BE CLEAR.

IT'S NOT THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY THAT'S DOING THAT.

IT'S THE CITY OF NEPTUNE BEACH IT'S DOING IT SO THERE'S A LONG HISTORY HERE. SOME OF US WERE AROUND WHEN THIS STARTED.

OBVIOUSLY THEY BOUGHT THE SOFTWARE. I'M SURE BILL KNOWS THE HISTORY HERE.

YOU KNOW, AND WE KIND OF WENT ALONG ON THE TRAIN.

SO I THINK THIS IS A CHANCE, JUST, IN MY OPINION, TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT OUR END OF IT BECAUSE THEY HAD IT.

I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW, THEY HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THAT SOFTWARE AS FAR AS EVEN AND, AND I KNOW THE CHIEF WE TALKED ONE TIME ABOUT COLLECTING FINES.

RIGHT. IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO COLLECT FINES ON, YOU KNOW, YOUR SECOND VIOLATION OR WHATEVER IT IS.

SO I THINK THIS ENTERS INTO THE DISCUSSION ALSO WHERE WE WANT TO GO WITH THIS? SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THOSE POINTS. YEAH. COMMISSIONER RING.

I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY BROUGHT THIS UP REGARDING THE EMPLOYEE PARKING, IT IS AN ISSUE.

AND WHAT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AS A CITY? I KNOW I HEARD CITY OF NEPTUNE BEACH DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR THE EMPLOYEE PARKING, BUT THAT COMPONENT DOES MATTER, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIFEGUARDS.

LIKE WHERE ARE THE LIFEGUARDS PARKING? DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH PARKING SPOTS? IS THERE ENOUGH PARKING SPOTS FOR THEM? YOU KNOW, ON CITY LOTS? BECAUSE I HAVE GOTTEN SOME COMPLAINTS THAT OUR LIFEGUARDS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPOTS AND THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY FOR PARKING AT OUR TOWN CENTER.

SO DURING OUR BEACHES CROWDED SEASON OF SUMMER, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PARK.

NOT JUST THE RESTAURANTS AND THE BUSINESSES AROUND HERE.

OKAY, SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND NEED CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS.

SO WE HAVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. OUR OPTIONS ARE.

WILL YOU HELP ME WITH OUR OPTIONS? SO UNDER THAT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, COULD WE HAVE A TWO TIER SYSTEM WHERE NEPTUNE BEACH CHARGES $5 AND ATLANTIC BEACH CHARGES A DIFFERENT AMOUNT? THE QUICK NOW, THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT I'M NOT I'M NOT PRIVY TO IT.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT EXISTS AS WE SPEAK BETWEEN NEPTUNE BEACH AND? YES. YEAH AND IF SO, IF IT'S A NEGOTIATED TWO TIER SYSTEM.

NOW AGAIN, THAT'S PUTTING ASIDE THE PRACTICALITY OR POLICY, YOU KNOW, UNDERPINNINGS TO IT.

BUT THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS LEGALLY, YOU COULD.

OKAY. SO NEXT QUESTION IS ANOTHER OPTION IS THAT WE, AS THIS BODY SHOULD DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO OPERATE OUR OWN SYSTEM SEPARATE FROM NEPTUNE BEACH AND DISENGAGE FROM THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

IS THAT TRUE? I NEED TO REVIEW THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO SEE WHAT OUR TERMINATION POLICIES ARE OR AGREEMENTS WITH NEPTUNE BEACH.

BUT I WILL SAY, PURSUANT TO THE SOVEREIGN POLICE POWERS OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, YOU DO HAVE OBVIOUSLY, THE ABILITY TO CREATE YOUR OWN SYSTEM. SO BEFORE I GIVE IT TO COMMISSIONER RING, I HAVE A CONCERN.

I HAVE A CONCERN THAT WE'RE NOT PART OF THE PROCESS.

OKAY? THAT'S NUMBER ONE. I CERTAINLY HAVE A CONCERN AND TO COMMISSIONER KELLY, I DO NOT WANT TO BE A LOWER NUMBER THAN OUR SISTER CITY NOW COULD END UP THAT WE GO THAT DIRECTION EITHER BY SEPARATING COMPLETELY OR JUST DOING OUR OWN NUMBER.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE A LOWER NUMBER. GUESS WHY? WE WILL BE ADVERSELY SELECTED FOR PARKING BY EVERYBODY WHO FIGURES OUT THAT IT'S CHEAPER ON THE ATLANTIC BEACH SIDE THAN THE NEPTUNE BEACH SIDE.

SO IF YOU THINK WE GOT A PARKING PROBLEM NOW, IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE IN ATLANTIC BEACH IF WE ARE NOT THE SAME.

BUT ANYWAYS, COMMISSIONER RING. MAYOR THAT WAS EXACTLY MY POINT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

IF WE GO LOWER NOW FIRST, MY FIRST ISSUE IS EMPLOYERS OR THE EMPLOYEES.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN PARK, ESPECIALLY OUR LIFEGUARDS.

THE SECOND COMPONENT WAS IF WE GO LOWER, THEN THERE ARE GOING TO FLOOD OVER HERE TO PARK IN AB, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE UNIFORM IDEA THAT IT'S THE SAME ACROSS BOTH CITIES.

I'M NOT SO THIS WILL NOT AFFECT OUR CITIZENS BECAUSE THEY CAN STILL PARK FOUR HOURS FREE.

AND THEY, WE HAVE UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF VEHICLES, WHICH I BELIEVE NEPTUNE BEACH HAS A LIMITED AMOUNT.

I THINK IT'S FOUR REGISTERED VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT ISSUE HERE, WHICH IS NICE.

SO WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT TOWNEES [LAUGHTER] PARKING OVER HERE.

[01:10:03]

BUT THAT'S THE CAVEAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD BE FOR LOWERING IT FOR ALL PATRONS WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY JUST BECAUSE WE WOULD WE WOULD GET WITH MAYOR FORD JUST SHARED. COMMISSIONER GRANT.

YEAH, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. SO DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR HOURS FREE FOR RESIDENTS? THREE. WELL, WE HAD THREE THEY CHANGED IT TO FOUR.

IT WAS NEPTUNE BEACH DO THE SAME FOR THEIR RESIDENTS? THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AFTER TALKING WITH THE BEACHES' TOWN CENTER AGENCY.

YEAH. THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REINSTITUTE THAT HALF HOUR PERIOD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'VE DONE THAT OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT BY POLICY, IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT BY ORDINANCE BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. NOBODY RESIDENT OR OTHERWISE HAS FOUR HOURS FREE. OR DO WE? AS A RESIDENT? YEAH SO RIGHT NOW THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER, WHAT NEPTUNE BEACH HAS ADOPTED IS $5 AN HOUR AND FOUR HOURS FREE IF YOU REGISTER.

IF YOU REGISTER OKAY ALRIGHT THANKS FOR CLARIFYING. AND THEN AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION WAS, YOU KNOW, REGARDING THE PROCESS, DID THEY INVOLVE US IN THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING THIS PARKING AMOUNT? YEAH? YOU GOT NODDING YES. YEAH IN THE PAST.

OKAY. THEY CAME IN THIS CHAMBER AND WE DISCUSSED THE SOFTWARE THE ENFORCEMENT.

I THINK I THINK CHIEF REMEMBERS THIS. I THINK SOME OF US IN HERE, AND YES, THEY DID TALK TO US.

THIS TIME. I HAVEN'T SPEAKERS] SINCE I WAS THEY'LL JUST GO ALONG WITH US. AND I THINK, MAYBE THE MAYBE THE NEXT STEP HERE IS TO GO BACK TO THEM AND SAY, WAIT A MINUTE. THIS IS THIS AMOUNT IS A LITTLE BIT MUCH.

WELL MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THEY GET FOUR HOURS FREE.

IF THEY'RE A RESIDENT, THEY REGISTER THEIR CAR. YOU KNOW, THAT MAY BE ANOTHER THING CITIZENS FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN MAYOR. NO. IF THEY DON'T KNOW, THEY JUST KNOW PARKING. I, I DON'T THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ATLANTIC BEACH.

THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE BUSINESSES IN TOWN CENTER.

IT'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME VISIT, WHETHER THEY'RE TOWNEES OR OUT OF STATERS.

BUT THEY HAVE NO CHOICE. THEY'RE GOING TO PAY IT OR THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME.

AND AND SO I'M NOT I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD.

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A MUCH HIGHER AMOUNT. IF WE DO GET INTO A FURTHER DISCUSSION, IS $5 THE RIGHT AMOUNT? MAYBE NOT, BECAUSE I ALREADY STATED THAT'S 207% INCREASE.

BUT WHAT I THINK SHOULD WE SHOULD LEAVE THIS CHAMBER TONIGHT KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON SOLUTIONING, IF POSSIBLE, FOR EMPLOYEES. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.

YES, SIR. BUT ONE OF THE PRAGMATIC THINGS THAT WE I THINK WE NEED MAYBE BILL OR OR I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE PEOPLE WILL KNOW THIS.

WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT INTO THIS, IT WAS A SOFTWARE THAT WENT ACROSS BOTH SIDES.

RIGHT? TODAY THERE'S A SOFTWARE, THE NEW FLOWBIRD.

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT US SPECIFICALLY? BECAUSE WE NEED TO LOOK IN THE DETAILS THERE BECAUSE WE'RE CONNECTED ACROSS ON THIS.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, IF WE DISTANCE OURSELVES OR MAYBE WE DECIDE NO OR WHATEVER WE DECIDE, I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE WHAT THE OPTIONS HERE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE PAYING AND WHAT WE GET BACK BECAUSE WE WERE CONNECTED WHEN WE BOUGHT INTO THIS YEARS AGO.

YEAH WE'RE NOT PART OF THE CONTRACT IF WE DISTANCE OURSELVES OR WE SAID NO LET ME GET PUT SOME FRAMEWORK ON THIS. IF WE PASS NOTHING TONIGHT AND BUT DON'T REACH OUT TO THEM AND SAY NO, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO PROCEED. AND THEN THEY'LL, YOU KNOW, THE INCOME, THE REVENUE WILL LESS EXPENSES WILL BE DIVVIED UP AS IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST WITH A HIGHER AMOUNT. SO WHAT IS OUR PATH TO GO BACK TO THAT? LIKE, IF WE WERE TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT, WE CAN ALWAYS PASS A NEW ONE UNDOING IT, OR WE CAN PUNT ON THIS RESOLUTION AND GO BACK TO THEM THIS WEEK AND SAY, WE NEED A MEETING.

AND IT MAY NOT BE WE MAY NOT NEED A MEETING DIRECTLY WITH THIS BODY, BUT WE CERTAINLY NEED A MEETING WITH SOMEBODY WHO REPRESENTS ATLANTIC BEACH THAT WOULD BE YOU SO. OH, AND I MEAN, KIND OF WHAT I'M HEARING IS THE CONCERN SO MUCH.

[01:15:06]

SO A SOLUTION THAT POPS INTO MY HEAD RIGHT AWAY IS ALLOW THE EMPLOYEES TO REGISTER AND THEN AT A MINIMUM, IF THEY GOT FOR THREE HOURS, THAT WOULD CUT THE PRICE IN HALF.

WHETHER THEY WERE ATLANTIC BEACH RESIDENTS OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE SOFTWARE WORKS BUT PERHAPS THEIR REGISTRATION COULD BE IDENTIFIED THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES AND MAYBE THEY CAN GET MORE THAN 4 OR 3 HOURS.

MAYBE THERE'S A DEDICATED ZONE IN WHICH THEY CAN GET THOSE FOR THREE HOURS.

SO I THINK I THINK THERE ARE SOLUTIONS TO THE PARKING SITUATION THAT WILL PROBABLY REQUIRE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEACHES CENTER TOWN AT THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY, NEPTUNE BEACH, AND THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH.

SOME OF THOSE ARE LIKE WHAT I JUST SAID, I THINK ARE VERY SHORT TERM. WE COULD PROBABLY IMPLEMENT PRETTY QUICK SOME, YOU KNOW, WILL TAKE LONGER, YEARS PERHAPS. YEAH.

OH, ONE SECOND COMMISSIONER. ONE MORE ADVERSE EFFECT THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN.

IF WE LOWER HOURS FROM NEPTUNE BEACH, IT WOULD IT COULD POSSIBLY BLEED INTO FIRST, 2ND AND 3RD AND 4TH STREETS.

AND THEN NOW WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE OVER HERE PARKING.

RIGHT? AND HOGGING UP OR CLOGGING UP OUR STREETS.

SO, I MEAN, I REALLY I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP LOCK IN STEP WITH NEPTUNE BEACH, BUT SOLVE THE EMPLOYEE PARKING ISSUE.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE FAIR. UNDERSTOOD. COMMISSIONER OR I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER KELLY.

I THINK IT'S MORE THAN EMPLOYEES. YEAH. IF YOU'RE GOING FOR DINNER, YOU'RE ADDING $15 TO YOUR EVENT.

NO, NO, NO YOU'VE GOT FOUR LISTEN TO. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU LIKE. OH, OH, ABSOLUTELY I'M NOT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN PAYING THAT THAT'S EXTORTION [LAUGHTER].

PLUS THE FOUR HOUR THING IS CONTRARY TO OUR INITIAL REASON, WHICH WAS CHURN.

FOUR HOURS IS NOT DINNER AT MEZZALUNA. FOUR HOURS IS A DAY AT THE BEACH.

WELL, OKAY. I THINK IF YOU LOOK AND COMMISSIONER KELLY'S KELLY IS RIGHT.

THE INITIAL IMPETUS BEHIND THIS WAS TO GET PEOPLE NOT SITTING AT THE BEACH FOR FIVE HOURS IN PARKING DOWNTOWN.

AND IT'S NOT REVENUE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DOLLAR FIGURES, WE'RE NOT MAKING A TON OF MONEY ON THIS.

NO, BUT BUT WITH A 200 AND SOMETHING PERCENT INCREASE, YOU WILL ACTUALLY SEE YEAH. OKAY SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY SWITCHING THE RATIONALE SOMEWHAT BETWEEN TO REVENUE, THE TURNOVER AND REVENUE, ETC. ETC. I MY PERSONAL OPINION WOULD BE, HEY, LET'S GET TOGETHER WITH OUR NEIGHBOR LIKE WE DID WITH WATER, RIGHT. AND TALK THIS OUT AND MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A KIND OF A CONGRUENT, YOU KNOW, A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE BEACHES.

BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'VE GOT SOME YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO UNBALANCE THIS THING.

AND I'M NOT READY TO VOTE ON THIS UNTIL I UNDERSTAND IT, BECAUSE I'M I'M ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE SOFTWARE AND THE WAY THEY RUN IT.

YEAH. THEY RUN IT, BELIEVE ME, NOT US. SO PERHAPS WE CAN LIGHTEN THE LOAD HERE.

COULD YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION? AND THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION.

OKAY? BUT THE QUESTION REGARDING WHAT WAS THAT FINAL ONE THAT CAME UP? EMPLOYEE? NO, WHAT WAS THE ONE THING? NOW, I DO NEED TO ASK YOU.

WHAT WAS IT? YOU BROUGHT IT UP, CANDACE. NO ONE OF OUR GUESTS MENTIONED.

OH, THE THE 30 MINUTE, I THOUGHT THEY REINSTATED THAT.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AFTER MEETING WITH THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO REINSTATE THE 33 MINUTES.

BUT THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY DOESN'T DO IT THE CITY OF NEPTUNE BEACH.

NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THEY WOULD. THEY MET WITH THE BEACHES TOWN, AND I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT, THAT THEY FELT THEY COULD IMPLEMENT. SO IF I COULD, MR. MAYOR. YEAH. I MEAN, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE A I DO HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS THAT COMMISSIONER RING DOES IS THAT IF OUR FEES ARE DIFFERENTIAL IT'S GOING TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE, NOT JUST ON THE TOWN CENTER AGENCY, BUT ON A NUMBER OF STREETS.

BECAUSE THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DIFFERENTIAL. YEAH.

YOU COULD ADJUST THE FEES AND THEN DIRECT ME TO WORK WITH NEPTUNE BEACH.

SO I THINK THE BIG ISSUE REALLY IS THE EMPLOYEE PARKING.

YEAH. AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS THAT POTENTIALLY MAY MAKE JUST ONE SUGGESTION.

I KNOW NEPTUNE BEACH HAS JUST VISUALLY LOOKING MANY MORE SPOTS, PARKING SPOTS THAN WE DO.

IS IT POSSIBLE, SINCE WE'RE IN THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, TO SOMEHOW MERGE OUR TWO PARKING SPOTS AND SAY A AND AB AND NEPTUNE

[01:20:01]

IF WE WOULD MERGE OUR PARKING, WOULD THAT GIVE US MORE AN OPTION? BUT THEN OF COURSE, WE MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO. AND I WOULDN'T HAVE PICKED COMMISSIONER KELLY.

I WOULDN'T HAVE CHOSEN THE $5. MY ISSUE IS THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO LOWER.

AND THEN NOW OUR CITIZENS ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF THAT OVERFLOW.

OKAY COMMISSIONER. YEAH, BUT I SEE I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING COMMISSIONER RING.

BUT I'D ALSO BE CONCERNED THAT GOES BOTH WAYS. RIGHT? SO NEPTUNE BEACH, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS COME OVER TO ATLANTIC BEACH.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A NET NET GAIN FOR US ON THAT, BUT IT'S I THINK IT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO.

AND THEN LASTLY, IF WE DO NOTHING TONIGHT AND WE DO NOT PASS THIS, WHAT ARE OUR MACHINES CHARGING RIGHT NOW? DO WE KNOW? $5 BEACHES SYSTEM CHARGES $5. SO IF THEY'RE BUT AND THEY RUN THE SYSTEM SO THEY'RE CHARGING FIVE BUCKS OKAY.

CUZ I OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. CHICAGO PRICES. [LAUGHTER].

SO PROCEDURALLY COUNCIL. I THINK WE WANT TO TABLE THIS.

YEAH BEFORE, I MEAN, YOU GUYS CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT.

I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY A CONTRACT. I DON'T THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. BUT YEAH, OKAY, YOU GET BUT THAT WE'VE BEEN CONTINUING TO OPERATE AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY ORDINANCE THAT NEPTUNE BEACH HAS PASSED RECENTLY.

THEY HAVE NOT. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PHASED FROM A PREVIOUS ORDINANCE THAT WAS APPROVED EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY APPROVED AN ORDINANCE IN JANUARY 2025-10 OR SOMETHING AND HAD SOME PHASED, I GUESS, OKAY, I AGAIN, IT'S JUST THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK FROM WHAT THERE IS SO PROCEDURALLY TO NOT COMPLETELY DISMISS THIS RESOLUTION.

CAN WE TAKE A MOTION TO TABLE IT OR? YEAH, YOU CAN TABLE IT SUBJECT.

YOU CAN CONTINUE IT TO A DATE, CERTAIN SUBJECT TO ANY CHALLENGE OR YOU CAN TAKE A VOTE ON IT.

BUT I'D SUGGEST BEFORE ACTING ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT WE.

OKAY I MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE IT AND MOVE IT TO A DATE CERTAIN RESOLUTION 25-08.

SECOND. OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

HOW ABOUT THE NEXT MEETING? NEXT. IT'S DURING CHRISTMAS LIKE SECOND MEETING IN JANUARY.

YOU'RE GOING AFTER THOSE HOLIDAY FEES, AREN'T YOU? THANKS AS THE ADMINISTRATOR IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO COLLECT THE FEES.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE SO. ALL RIGHT THE MOTION.

OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION WE HAVE A SECOND THE DATE CERTAIN WOULD BE THE FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY OR THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY? I SAID THE SECOND SO Y'ALL DECIDE. CITY MANAGER, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THESE PEOPLE AND CONVINCE THEM TO CHANGE YOUR MIND? [LAUGHTER] WELL, THAT'S NOT IT. THAT'S JUST THE PRICE.

WE STILL GOT THE HARDEST PARKING PIECE EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE? HOW MANY PARKING SPOTS DO WE HAVE? CAN WE SHARE WITH NEPTUNE BEACH? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND THE SHARED PARKING? SECOND MEETING. YOU KNOW, AND THE OTHER REASON WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT NEPTUNE BEACH IS WE DO HAVE KMART RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER WE HAVE KMART, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY NOT OURS.

IT'S NEPTUNE, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ASKING FOR WATER SO.

[01:25:06]

OKAY SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND WE HAVE A DATE CERTAIN THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THAT MOTION OF WHAT DATE.

YEAH. WHAT'S I'VE GOT THE MOTION. SO WHAT'S THE DATE OF THE SECOND.

OKAY I JUST DON'T KNOW THE DATE. OH OKAY SO THAT WOULD BE THE SECOND AND FOURTH RIGHT? SO 26TH JANUARY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT SO. AMEND THE MOTION TO THE 26TH OF JANUARY.

THANK YOU OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? 26? 26.

OKAY. NO OTHER DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY MOTION CARRIES. SO THAT DISPATCHES WITH THAT RESOLUTION FOR NOW.

BUT IT DOES NOT FINISH THE STORY. SO WHAT DIRECTION BY CONSENSUS DO WE WANT TO GIVE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENGAGE WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS IN NEPTUNE BEACH? I CAN OFFER UP A COUPLE IS WHAT THOUGHTS HAVE YOU GIVEN TO ADDRESSING THE EMPLOYEE PARKING NEED? NUMBER TWO CAN WE OPERATE WITH THE DIFFERENT FEES? USING THAT? I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE NAME. WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE NEW COMPANY, I DON'T KNOW, T2. THANK YOU I THINK IF WE GET TO THAT POINT, IT MAY BE THAT WE JUST TAKE IT OVER OURSELVES.

WELL, NO, I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE JUST NEED TO ASK THE QUESTION.

AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS, WE'LL COME BACK AS A BODY AND DECIDE WHETHER WE WANT TO GO ON OUR OWN.

AND, BILL, I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, BUT WHEN WE GO INTO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS, YOU WANT TO GO IN WITH AN ANSWER, RIGHT? FOLLOW ME IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

BUT OUR ANSWER FOR US IS, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD BE A GREAT POINT OF DISCUSSION IN OUR NEXT MEETING.

OUR FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY TO GET A CONSENSUS OF WHAT WE WANT THE ANSWER TO BE NOT, HEY, NEPTUNE BEACH, YOU KNOW WE WANT TO RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT, REALLY IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY.

OKAY YES, SIR. YEAH I JUST ALSO LIKE TO WE HEARD FROM TWO OF THEM, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO HAVE MORE INPUT FROM THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION IN TERMS OF WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ON THIS IN TERMS OF WHAT'S THE RIGHT PRICE? I MEAN, I'M SURE THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE DATA WELL, I THINK I WILL. BUT YEAH, JUST TO HELP GUIDE THE CONVERSATION I THINK THAT'S A WOULD BE A NICE.

HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT, SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER AND GIVE HIM YOUR THOUGHTS, AS HE'LL BE SETTING THIS UP AND HAVING THE DIALOG.

MAYBE WE NEED A TROLLEY. OKAY. THAT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT WE NEED A TROLLEY.

RIGHT ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM 9.A ORDINANCE NO.

[9.A. ORDINANCE NO. 20-25-181, Public Hearing and Final Reading]

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, MR. KILLINGSWORTH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS IS THE SECOND READING.

THIS IS A CHEWING UP LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO RETIRE OR WHO'S GOING TO DROP.

AND SO AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE TO ADJUST OUR PENSION FUND BASED ON THAT.

ALL OF OUR OTHER FUNDS WE WERE ABLE TO BALANCE BASED OFF THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT WAS BUDGETED, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DRAW ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

ANY OTHER APPROPRIATIONS. SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS AN 85% INCREASE IN REVENUES AND AN 85% MATCHING INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS PENSION FUND. AND THEN A $367,504 INCREASE IN REVENUE FOR GENERAL EMPLOYEES AND A MATCHING EXPENDITURES THERE.

STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 2025-180.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DONNA, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SPEAKING? DO NOT. OKAY I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND WE'LL HAVE OUR OWN DEBATES. HAVE A MOTION WE HAVEN'T HAD A MOTION YEAH. WE DIDN'T MOVE.

OKAY.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, NOW WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION.

[01:30:01]

AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO CITY ATTORNEY DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?

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

THANK YOU. IF YOU ENJOY TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.

ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BOLE. YEAH COMMISSIONER BOLE'S TIP OF THE NIGHT IS BALLET PARK NEXT TO THE FLYING

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

WE DID NOT. THAT'S. IS THAT THURSDAY MORNING? YES THURSDAY MORNING. IN THE COLD AND DARK AND.

O DARK 30 BE THERE. SOBER. AND THEN YOU GO TO PETE'S IS ARE? ARE THEY DOING THEIR THING? [LAUGHTER] WELL, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING I'LL ADDRESS THAT IN MY COMMENTS YEAH. SO OKAY, I'LL SEE EVERYONE AT THE WREATHS. YES. OKA COMMISSIONER GRANT? NOPE JUST HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RING.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING JUST HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

ALRIGHT, CITY MANAGER, I'M DONE. OKAY. SO YES TURKEY TROT I DON'T WHAT TIME DOES THAT ACTUALLY START? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? IT'S 7:00 REMEMBER YOU YOU'RE NOT PARTICIPATING BUT THANK YOU.

SHE'S JUST TALKING CALENDAR. [LAUGHTER]. OKAY.

IT'S AN EARLY ONE. OKAY. AND IT. I'LL BE THERE.

BUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER THAT IS WE'RE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN NEPTUNE BEACH ON TOP OF.

I'LL BE ON TOP OF PETE'S BAR WITH TWO OTHER MAYORS, AND WE WILL BE DEDICATED.

OR I GUESS WE'LL BE RIBBON CUTTING, DEDICATING THE RENAMING OF THAT PORTION OF FIRST STREET TO A NEW NAME, COMMISSIONER ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT AS PART OF BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY? WHAT? THAT'S THURSDAY MORNING AT ABOUT 9:00 MAYBE. YEAH, RIGHT ABOUT 9:00 A.M.

ZERO NINE [LAUGHTER]. ALRIGHT SO I ALSO WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A VERY HAPPY AND SAFE THANKSGIVING, AND WE'VE GOT SOME WORK TO DO WHEN WE COME BACK, BECAUSE THERE'S A FEW ISSUES THAT WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF.

BUT I AM GOING TO JUST KIND OF FINISH ON THIS ISSUE.

I DON'T WANT TO GET MISALIGNED ON THIS ISSUE WITH THE PARKING.

WE HAVE SOME POWER AS THE CITY TO TRY TO ACHIEVE A DESIRED OUTCOME.

BUT COMMISSIONER RING I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE POWER TO JUST MAKE IT PERFECT FOR EVERYBODY.

SO RIGHT NOW, IF THERE WAS NO CHANGE, WE STILL HAVE A PARKING ISSUE TODAY WITH EMPLOYEES.

AND IT'S BEEN STATED BY THE CITIZENS THAT SPOKE TONIGHT.

THE REAL ISSUE IS HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE COST DIFFERENTIAL GOING UP TO 230% IN ONE YEAR FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES.

SO I THINK WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THERE. AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL BRING THAT BACK TO US ON THE NEXT AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

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

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.