[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
WELCOME RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORS, AND GUESTS.
BEFORE I OPEN THIS MEETING, WE WILL HAVE AN INVOCATION AND PLEDGE LED BY COMMISSIONER BOWLES.
GOD, PLEASE WATCH OVER OUR SAILORS, AIRMEN, SAILORS, AND MARINE THAT ARE IN HARM'S WAY.
GIVE OUR LEADERS WISDOM TO PROTECT AND BE AWARE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE TIP OF THE SPEAR.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER THIS UH CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH DATED APRIL 13 2026 WILL NOW COME TO ORDER WELCOME, NEIGHBORS.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
LET'S SEE.WE'LL OPEN UP THE MEETING WITH APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, SPECIFICALLY THE IRREGULAR COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MARCH 23RD, 2026.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS? HEARING NONE, THE MINUTES STAND AS PRESENTED.
[2. COURTESY OF FLOOR TO VISITORS]
MOVING TO ITEM TWO, COURTESY OF THE FLORIDA VISITORS, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO START WITH A POLICE DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION, AND ARE YOU HANDLING THAT? THE POLICE CHIEF WILL COME UP.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, ATLANTIC BEACH RESIDENTS.
IF I COULD, CAN I HAVE JONI LYONS AND JOE SPARZA COME UP, PLEASE? THANK YOU ALL.
SO NEXT WEEK IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK.
AND SINCE THERE'S NO COMMISSION MEETING, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HONOR OUR VOLUNTEERS TONIGHT.
THE DEPARTMENT IS RECOGNIZING THOSE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE SURPASSED.
A THOUSAND HOURS OF SERVICE TIME SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR PROGRAM.
TONIGHT I HAVE THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO TRULY REPRESENT THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
OUR POLICE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2018 WITH A SMALL GROUP OF DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WHO WANTED TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY.
SINCE THEN THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM HAS GROWN INTO AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR OPERATIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
OUR PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 17 VOLUNTEERS WHO ATTEND MONTHLY MEETINGS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND EACH CONTRIBUTE A MINIMUM 40 HOURS OF SERVICE ANNUALLY.
MANY EXCEED THAT BY A VERY GREAT MARGIN.
WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THREE OF THOSE MEMBERS TONIGHT.
TO REACH THIS LEVEL OF COMMITMENT, IT TAKES YEARS OF DEDICATION, RELIABILITY, AND WILLINGNESS TO SERVE WHENEVER WE NEED.
OUR FIRST VOLUNTEER, JAMES JOHNSON, WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
HE'S GALLIVANTING SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE, I THINK.
BUT SINCE JOINING US IN 2018, JAMES HAS CONTRIBUTED OVER 02,600 HOURS OF SERVICE.
HE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO OUR DEPARTMENT AND PARTICULARLY BY ASSISTING COMMANDER CAMERON WITH ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, HELPING COORDINATE SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SERVING AS A FIRST AID TRAINER.
HE CERTIFIES EMPLOYEES AND CITIZENS IN CPR AND AED USE.
HE ALSO CERTIFIES THEM AND STOP THE BLEED.
AND HE HELPED TRAIN OUR SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS EVERY YEAR, OUR CROSSING GUARD, THEN OUR BACKUP CROSSING GUARDS EVERY SUMMER.
AND NUMEROUS SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, LIKE PROVIDING WINTER COATS TO CHILDREN IN NEED EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
AND WE WILL CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE HIM WHEN HE RETURNS FROM HIS VACATION.
THE SECOND VOLUNTEER WE HAVE IS JONI LYON.
JONI JOINED THE VOLUNTEER CORPS IN 2019 AND HAS CONTRIBUTED OVER 1,000 HOURS OF SERVICE.
JONI IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF OUR GO-TO VOLUNTEERS.
SHE'S ALWAYS READY TO RESPOND.
AS A MEMBER OF OUR BERT TEAM, IT'S A VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.
AND ALWAYS VERY EAGER TO HELP.
LOVE SEEING THE SMILING FACE WHENEVER YOU SHOW UP, JONI.
SHE SERVES AS A SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD BACKUP, AND IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN ALL OF OUR SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE THE HALLOWEEN AT HAUNTED HOUSE, OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT BASKET GIVEAWAY, WHICH OUR VOLUNTEERS SPONSOR FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHETHER IT'S ASSISTING WITH HOLIDAY DECORATIONS, SUPPORTING THE DONNER RUN, HELPING SET UP AND CLEAN UP THE STATION, OR PLAYING SANTA'S ELF AT CHRISTMAS, JONI'S ALWAYS TO BE COUNTED ON.
I HOPE THAT ONE DAY WHEN I RETIRE, JONI, I HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU HAVE.
TO SERVE OTHERS AND TO VOLUNTEER FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S AMAZING THE HOURS YOU PUT IN AND HOW MUCH ENERGY YOU HAVE.
[00:05:01]
ESPARZA.JOE JOINED OUR VOLUNTEER CORPS IN 2018.
HE'S CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 01,500 HOURS OF SERVICE.
AND JOE IS A HIGHLY DEPENDABLE VOLUNTEER, CONSISTENTLY STEPS UP WHENEVER THERE'S A NEED AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF OUR VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.
AND IT'S ALWAYS ON SHORT NOTICE, SO THANK YOU, JOE.
HE SERVES THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD TRAINER, AND SEVERAL YEARS AGO HE PILOTED A BACKPACK PROGRAM FOR THE KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. JOE DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO COLLECT BACKPACKS AND FILL THEM WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
AND NOW EVERY SCHOOL YEAR, HE PUTS THAT TOGETHER FOR US WITH OTHER VOLUNTEERS, AND THEY DO THAT OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS.
THEY DO OVER 60 OR 80, JOE, HOW MANY BACKPACKS A YEAR NOW? SO AROUND 80 BACKPACKS A YEAR, THEY PUT TOGETHER THEMSELVES OUT OF THEIR OWN FUNDS AND GIVE THEM TO OUR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB PROGRAM.
LIKE JONI AND JAMES, HE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE FACE.
A FAMILIAR FACE OF OUR VOLUNTEER CORPS IS ALWAYS HAPPY TO GIVE HIS TIME TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY.
SO WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME ABOUT ALL THREE INDIVIDUALS IS NOT JUST THE NUMBER OF HOURS THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED, BUT THE CONSISTENCY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE THEY BRING EVERY TIME THEY SHOW UP.
WE ARE CONTINUALLY IMPRESSED WITH THEIR DEDICATION TO SELFLESSLY GIVE THEIR OWN TIME TO SERVE OTHERS.
AND THESE FINE VOLUNTEERS, MANY OF THEM LIVE IN OUR CITY, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
SO SOME OF THESE FOLKS COME FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY TO SERVE THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH ALSO.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND OUR CITY, I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK ALL THREE OF OUR EXCEPTIONAL CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS, THEIR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE ATLANTIC BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO VOLUNTEER FOR.
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
JOE, JOE, JOE AND JONI, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I HAVE TO PUT AND JAMES, WHEREVER YOU ARE ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW, THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH IN PARTICULAR, I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU MAKE US SO MUCH BETTER, AND I KNOW HOW YOU GOT ALL THOSE HOURS RACKED UP BECAUSE I SEE YOU AT EVERY EVENT.
YOU ARE SO RELIABLE, AND THE THE EXTRA MILE THAT YOU GO WITH DOING THE BACKPACKS AND, AND OTHER INVESTMENTS OF TIME AND MONEY AND ENERGY.
AND WE'RE JUST SO VERY PROUD OF YOU.
AS IS CUSTOMARY, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS TODAY, WE'LL LIMIT THE TIME TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
YOU CAN SPEAK FOR LESS IF YOU WISH.
BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND KICK THIS OFF WITH OUR FIRST SPEAKER.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOUR VOLUNTEERS.
THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB WHEN YOU SEE THEM OUT AT EVERY EVENT.
MAYOR, IT WAS NICE OF YOU TO SAY THAT TO THEM BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE MY WHOLE TIME.
I'M GOING TO QUICKLY JUST SAY ONE THING.
AT THE LAST MEETING, I SAID THAT THE CITY SHOULD TURN DOWN $72,000 A YEAR.
I NEVER WAS GOOD IN SCHOOL WITH MATH BECAUSE I GOT MY ZEROS CONFUSED.
IT'S ACTUALLY WHEN I LOOKED AT 7,200.
BUT WHETHER IT'S 72 OR 7,200 OR 72,000, ANY TIME THAT AN ENTERPRISE ACCOUNT COLLECTS MONEY, WHICH IS THE UTILITIES IS AN ENTERPRISE ACCOUNT, AND THEY BASICALLY DON'T DRAW MONEY FROM OUR GENERAL FUND.
I'M PROBABLY STILL THE ONLY ONE HERE TONIGHT PROBABLY.
BUT I STILL SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT BIG OF AN ISSUE BASED ON GIVING IT.
AND THE LAST THING I JUST WANT TO CLEAR UP IS IF ANYONE CONTINUES TO SAY THEY'RE USING OUR WATER, THEY ARE TOTALLY, 110 PERCENT, I HAVE VERIFIED THIS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW IT.
IT IS ALL THE SAME WATER DRAWN FROM THE THREE CITIES, THE RESERVE UNDERNEATH US.
AND IF OUR ENGINEERING, I'M SURPRISED WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, BUT IF OUR ENGINEERING SAYS THAT OUR SYSTEM CAN HANDLE IT AND I BELIEVE IT, THEN I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THERE'S A DEBATE.
[00:10:01]
OKAY, THANKS.JIM WHEATLEY. OKAY, THE OPPOSING VIEWPOINT.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE OPINION THAT WHEN YOU HAVE AN ERROR DISCUSSION, IT REDUCES THE SIMPLER TERMS. REGARDING ITEM 8A, THE LANGUAGE READS, WHEREAS IT IS THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH TO COOPERATE IN PROVIDING ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES THROUGH A LOCAL AGREEMENT.
MY FEELING IS THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH, NOR WILL THE PROPOSED FIRE LINE CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
A VERY LARGE DEVELOPMENT THAT AMOUNTS TO A CLUSTER FORMATION OF APARTMENTS AND CONDOS.
IF MEMORY SERVES, IT COULD BE 335 UNITS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR A FACT BECAUSE I'VE ASKED, AND NOBODY WILL CONFIRM THE NUMBER OF UNITS.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT A MEETING IN EFTON BEACH A FEW YEARS AGO.
WHERE THE CITIZENRY OF NEPTUNE BEACH OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSED THIS FIASCO.
IF BUILT, IT WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING.
HIGHER TAXES FOR EXISTING RESIDENTS.
COURTESY OF GOVERNOR DESANTIS, THE DEVELOPER NOW GETS OFF SCOT-FREE FROM PAYING ANY ADDED COST TO THE CITY.
NO DOUBT, MORE TRAFFIC, MORE ACCIDENTS, STATISTICALLY MORE CRIME, MORE CROWDED SCHOOLS.
AND A BUNCH OF KIDS, TEENS, AND ADULTS WITH THE OPTION OF STARING AT FOUR WALLS OR MILLING AROUND THE TOWN CENTER, WHICH IS A FEW FOOTSTEPS AWAY.
YOU'RE REALLY WANTING TO RUN TO JACK'S BEACH HERE.
THIS WOULD BE A LARGE STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF A NOW DANGEROUS JACKSVILLE BEACH.
PERSONALLY, I WOULD NOT GO TO JACKSVILLE BEACH WITHOUT A 380 IN EACH POCKET.
THE MAIN SALES PITCH NOW SEEMS TO BE FIRE SAFETY FOR NEPTUNE BEACH.
WATER LINES SUPPLY FIRE SUPPRESSION SIMPLY FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT THE REST OF THE NYMPHS AND BEACH NOT AFFECTED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER LET'S GO A STEP FURTHER IF WE HAVE A BAD HURRICANE WE'LL HAVE TO EVACUATE THE BEACHES I I HAVE A HOUSE NEAR THE COAST AND I'VE ACTUALLY DONE A BAD HURRICANE YOU YOU CAN'T GO ANYWHERE YOU'RE STUCK NOT A NOT A GOOD THING WHEN THE HURRICANE DOES HIT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH BANK BOULEVARD ANOTHER THREE FOUR HUNDRED SEVEN HUNDRED CARS WE DON'T NEED THANKFULLY, THE LAND LEASE IS RAN BY FOLKS WITH GREAT BUSINESS ACUMEN, ESPECIALLY THE MAYOR.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY SELF-INTEREST FROM THIS COMMISSION.
THERE WILL NOT BE A COMPLETE AGREEMENT ON THIS OR ANY OTHER ISSUE, I'M SURE.
AND I BELIEVE THE REASON THAT THIS IS BEING PUSHED IS WE GET REVENUE FROM THIS, WHICH IS ADMIRABLE.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THIS PROPERTY COULD BE USED FOR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY, BUT I JUST DO NOT LIKE THIS LARGE DEVELOPMENT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
LET THE DEVELOPER GO TO MCLINNEY OR FOR THAT MATTER SIBERIA OR SOME SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE THEY ARE REALLY WELCOMED OR NOT THANK YOU THANK YOU MR WHEATLEY NANCY STOTT GOOD EVENING EVERYONE COMMISSIONERS UM I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WHO DID MEET WITH ME LAST WEEK.
I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR CANDOR.
I REMAIN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS VOTE TONIGHT, WHETHER IT'S VOTED ON TODAY OR TRIED TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, WHICH I THINK IS A BIG MISTAKE.
THE FACTS OF THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT REMAIN THE SAME AS THEY WERE IN 2023 WHEN THERE WAS A HUGE PUBLIC OUTCRY.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING TIRED OF DOING THIS.
BUT I THINK MOST OF YOU ALREADY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED MANY OF THESE.
NUMBER ONE, THERE IS LITTLE TO NO BENEFIT TO THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH, AN UNCERTAIN BENEFIT TO NEPTUNE BEACH.
NUMBER TWO, THERE IS POTENTIAL RISK FOR US IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SINCE WE ARE OBLIGATED TO MAINTAIN THIS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IN PERPETUITY BECAUSE THERE'S NO END DATE.
NUMBER THREE, THERE'S A POTENTIAL LOSS OF OUR OWN WATER PRESSURE, WHICH MIGHT AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR.
AND COULD BE DISASTROUS IN THE EVENT THAT BOTH CITIES NEEDED TO SUPPRESS FIRES AT THE SAME TIME.
NUMBER FOUR, THE DEVELOPER'S ATTORNEY STATED AT THE LAST MEETING THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS, NAMELY BUILDING A NEW TANK OR TAPPING INTO THE EXISTING TANK.
LET ME REPEAT THAT FOR THOSE IN THE BACK.
OUR DOWN VOTE TONIGHT WILL NOT PROHIBIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY.
NUMBER FIVE, NEPTUNE BEACH'S INFRASTRUCTURE WOES ARE ONE REASON THEY'RE IN THIS MESS.
IF WE PROVIDE THEM THE PRESSURE, THEY WILL NEVER FUND THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO FIX THEIR SYSTEM.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO END THIS AGREEMENT.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S A DEAL BREAKER TO PUT A TIME LIMIT ON IT.
NUMBER SIX, OF COURSE, WE WANT
[00:15:01]
TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO OUR FRIENDS IN ATLANTIC BEACH.BUT PLEASE REMEMBER WHO WE'RE REALLY HELPING.
AS HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED, WE'RE HELPING THE DEVELOPER.
GRANTING THEM THIS WATER PRESSURE OPENS UP THE POSSIBILITY OF HIGH DENSITY, HIGHER, MORE FLOORS, HOTELS, ETC.
SO NOW THE DEVELOPER GETS A MAXIMUM RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
BUT LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES THAT WE'RE HELPING OUR NEPTUNE BEACH NEIGHBORS.
NUMBER SEVEN, AND LASTLY, THIS GROUP HAS NOT BEEN TOLD THE PLANS FOR THIS PROJECT, NOR HAS THE CITY OF NEPTUNE BEACH, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY FEELS DISINGENUOUS.
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT WHAT WE PUT THERE.
OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT WANT A STRIP CLUB.
BUT WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE IMPACT ON US COULD BE VERY REAL.
BUT THIS IS EVEN MORE REASON TO LET THEM WORK IT OUT.
THE BOTTOM LINE, WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEPTUNE BEACH, AND GOOD DEVELOPMENT.
CAN BE GREAT FOR A COMMUNITY, AND I AM NOT ANTI-DEVELOPMENT.
BUT OUR MAIN PRIORITIES NEED TO BE THE RESILIENCE, SAFETY, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS TREASURE CALLED ATLANTIC BEACH.
PLEASE VOTE THIS REQUEST DOWN TONIGHT.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
PETER STOTTS, AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF ATLANTIC BEACH NOW FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I DON'T FREQUENTLY COME TO THESE MEETINGS, BUT I CAME HERE THREE YEARS AGO TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, THE POTENTIAL SALE OF ATLANTIC BEACH'S WATER.
AT THAT TIME, IT WAS CLEAR THAT A VERY LARGE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS, LIKELY 90 TO 95 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE THAT DAY, WERE OPPOSED.
THE SENTIMENT HAS NOT CHANGED.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR TONIGHT.
THIS PROPOSAL SHOULD NOT BE PAUSED OR MODIFIED.
WHAT IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY IN THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW CONTRACT DISCUSSIONS HAVE CONTINUED NOW FOR MANY MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS, DESPITE SUCH CONSISTENT, WELL-DOCUMENTED OPPOSITION.
THAT DISCONNECT HAS DEEPENED THE CONCERN AND ERODED THAT THE COMMUNITY INPUT IS BEING FULLY APPRECIATED AND REFLECTED IN THE PROCESS.
THERE ALSO REMAIN SIGNIFICANT UNANSWERED QUESTIONS REGARDING PRICING, INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY, LONG-TERM COSTS, AND RISKS.
BUT EVEN SETTING THEM ASIDE, THE CENTRAL POINT REMAINS.
WE DO NOT WANT TO SELL OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT OPPOSING DEVELOPMENT.
I SUPPORT THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S CLEAR THAT ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS EXIST.
THE DEVELOPER'S ATTORNEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN NEPTUNE BEACH IF THIS PROPOSAL IS DECLINED.
THIS IS ABOUT ENSURING ATLANTIC BEAST'S RESOURCES ARE MANAGED IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES AND LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AGREEMENTS LIKE THIS CARRY LASTING CONSEQUENCES AND ARE NOT EASILY UNDONE.
THAT IS WHY THE THRESHOLD FOR MOVING FORWARD MUST BE VERY HIGH.
AND WHY CLEAR COMMUNITY OPPOSITION MUST BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY RESPECTFULLY BUT FIRMLY THE RESIDENTS OF ATLANTIC BEACH DO NOT WANT THIS PROPOSAL TO PROCEED TONIGHT I URGE YOU TO REFLECT THAT THAT WILL AND VOTE NO I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION THANK YOU MR STOTTS CAROLYN GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS AND CITY STAFF.
I'M A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND AN ATTORNEY.
LAST WEEK, I SPOKE AND I ALSO PUT MY LETTER STRONGLY AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION 8A TO THE RECORD.
SO I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT I SAID LAST WEEK, NOR DO I WANT TO REPEAT YOU WHAT MY PREDECESSORS, DR.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE WHAT WE ARE HERE ABOUT.
AND MY THEME LAST WEEK WAS IT'S HARDER TO SAY NO FOR THE RIGHT REASONS THAN TO SAY YES FOR THE WRONG REASONS.
THE WRONG REASON WOULD BE TO BE NEIGHBORLY.
THE PEOPLE IN ATLANTIC BEACH, NEPTUNE BEACH, DO NOT NEED THE WATER.
IT IS THE DEVELOPER WHO IS ASKING FOR THE WATER FROM ATLANTIC BEACH.
THEY DO NOT NEED ATLANTIC BEACH TO PROVIDE THIS WATER
[00:20:01]
FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION, NO MATTER WHAT THEY TRY TO SAY IN A 13-PAGE SINGLE-SPACE DOCUMENT THAT MAKES ME AS A LAWYER CROSS-EYED TRYING TO READ IT.SO I WONDER, I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE OF YOU ON THE DAIS HAVE READ IT ALL YET.
BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT NITPICKING THE AGREEMENT.
THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, THROUGH THE COMMISSIONERS, SHOULD AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION AND THE NEGOTIATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
IF THERE IS ANY EFFORT, EXCUSE ME, TO POSTPONE THIS, THE ANSWER SHOULD BE NO.
IT'S LIKE GOING INTO COURT AND SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN LITIGATING THIS FOR MANY MONTHS IS SAYING, I WANT A CONTINUANCE.
WELL, WE HAVE A ROOM FULL OF STAKEHOLDERS HERE WHO ARE READY FOR THIS MATTER TO BE DECIDED.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK THAT YOU DECIDE TODAY NO AGAINST THE RESOLUTION.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THESE SPECIFIC TERMS. IT'S ABOUT WHETHER, IT'S A POLICY ISSUE, WHETHER ATLANTIC BEACH SHOULD GO ON THE HOOK, EVEN IF THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE COMING IN.
SHOULD WE BE GOING ON THE HOOK ON LEGAL ISSUES WITH NOT TWO, BUT THREE ENTITIES AND FUTURE LEGAL ISSUES WHEN THE DEVELOPER HIMSELF OR HERSELF OR THEMSELVES HAVE OTHER OPTIONS.
MAY THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT AND GET THEIR WATER FROM NEPTUNE BEACH BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN DO IT.
THEY JUST WOULD PREFER TO DO IT FROM US.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU, CHIP DRYSDALE, 2051 SEMINOLE ROAD.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO CLARIFY, I DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THIS FIGHT.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS GET CAROLYN ZISSER MAD AT ME.
I'VE KNOWN HER FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT RELATIONSHIP, AND I WANT TO MAINTAIN IT.
BUT I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH FORMER MAYOR MITCH REEVES THIS MORNING, AND I GUESS HE'D ASKED ME TO COME HERE AND SAY A FEW THINGS IN REGARDS TO MY EXPERIENCE.
FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS. I JUST RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER 42 YEARS IN THE FIRE SERVICE.
I'M NOT A FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER, BUT I'VE WORKED WITH SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, STANDPIPE SYSTEMS, FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS, AND HAVE USED THEM.
AT FIRES, AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS THAT HE FELT MIGHT BE A LITTLE CONFUSING OR A LACK OF INFORMATION.
99% OF ALL FIRES ARE PUT OUT WITH ONE SPRINKLER.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN THESE BUILDINGS.
I'M NOT HERE TO DEBATE WHETHER THE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE HERE OR NOT, BUT WITH AN AVERAGE OF ONE SPRINKLER GOING OFF 99% OF THE TIME, IT USES 20 TO 40 GALLONS PER MINUTE.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED WHEN THAT SPRINKLER GOES OFF AND THE FIRE LUNG GOES OFF.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE THERE IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES.
THEY'LL HAVE THE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN IF THE FIRE IS CONTROLLED, WHICH IS USUALLY CONTROLLED WITHIN SIX, EIGHT, TEN MINUTES.
SO WE'RE ONLY TALKING TWO OR THREE HUNDRED GALLONS OF WATER HERE.
FIRE LIFE SAFETY CODES ARE REQUIRING, OBVIOUSLY, A LARGE AMOUNT OF VOLUME THAT'S NEVER USED FOR THESE SYSTEMS. IT'S OVERDONE.
SO THE POINT BEING, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT MAYOR REEVES' CONCERN WAS, IT DOESN'T USE MUCH WATER, HARDLY AT ALL.
AND IF THERE WAS A BIG FIRE ACROSS THE STREET, WE'RE GOING TO BE USING HYDRANTS ANYWAYS.
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HYDRATE FROM THIS SIDE OF ATLANTIC BOULEVARD, THAT SIDE OF ATLANTIC BOULEVARD.
WE'RE GOING TO USE LOTS OF HYDRANTS FOR BIG FIRES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE DOROUGH FIRE.
THAT WAS A SPRINKLERED EIGHT-STORY BUILDING.
IT HAD A STANDPIPE SYSTEM, AND IT BURNT TO THE GROUND, $60 MILLION.
YOU KNOW WHY? THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM WASN'T OPERATIONAL YET.
ANY CITIZENS WANT TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO SOME OF THE NUANCES? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES IN REGARDS TO RECEIVING MONEY FOR ENTERPRISE FUND, THE COST, WHO'S MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU ALL WORK THAT OUT.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO ASK ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
I ACTUALLY HAD PUT IN TWO CARDS.
AND I'LL TRY TO TALK TO BOTH ISSUES VERY QUICKLY RATHER THAN SPEAKING TWICE.
THE FIRST ONE IS YOU HAVE AN ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA 9A, WHICH IS I THINK WILL COME UP WITH A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS REGARDING RAGTIME AND A VARIANCE FOR LANDSCAPING.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT LATER ON, BUT IT'S A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT BASICALLY WE'RE TAKING CARE OF LANDSCAPING WITHOUT SACRIFICING PARKING SPOTS.
AND THAT'S BEING DONE AS A RESULT OF THE RENOVATION OF THE BUILDING AND THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO PHYSICAL ROOM ON THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO PLANT.
[00:25:01]
TREES OR GRASS OR SHRUBS OR ANYTHING REQUIRED BY THE LANDSCAPING CODE.THE SECOND ISSUE, AGAIN, IS 500 ATLANTIC.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID PREVIOUSLY.
I HAD A LOVELY MEETING WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY LAST WEEK WITH CAROLYN ZISSER AND JACKIE AND LISA AND DON WOLFSON.
WE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE AND I THINK VERY UH, VERY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION.
THEY WERE VERY RESPECTFUL OF MY TIME.
THEY WERE RESPECTFUL OF MY CLIENT'S POSITION.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE RESOLUTE IN THEIR POSITION AS WELL.
I MADE SOME REVISIONS TO THE AGREEMENT THAT'S BEFORE YOU AND CIRCULATED IT OVER THE WEEKEND BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD.
THEY ALSO ASKED ME SEVERAL POINTS THAT I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TIME TO TAKE BACK TO MY CLIENT.
I COULDN'T AGREE WITH CAROLYN'S THIS OR MORE IN THAT I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO MAKE A YES DECISION FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.
MY CLIENT CERTAINLY APPRECIATES THE ABILITY TO COME AND SPEAK AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR ASSISTANCE.
AND SO AS A RESULT, OUR REQUEST THIS EVENING IS THAT WE PUT THIS OFF FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND GIVE ME SOME TIME TO TALK WITH MY CLIENTS TO SEE IF WE CAN ANSWER SOME OF THE OTHER OBJECTIONS AND SOME OF THE OTHER CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED, NOT ONLY BY THE FOLKS THAT I MET WITH LAST WEEK, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE CONCERNS I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF YOU AND THEN ALSO FROM OTHER FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE SHARED FREELY ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE HAD AVAILABLE.
WE'VE BEEN COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT ON EVERYTHING THAT'S AVAILABLE BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME CONCERNS BUT I GAVE OUT MY PHONE NUMBER, MY EMAIL LAST TIME ONLINE.
I'VE GOTTEN SOME INQUIRIES, SHARED INFORMATION WITH FOLKS THAT HAVEN'T COME AND SPOKEN.
BUT AGAIN, MAYOR, WHAT WE WOULD ASK THIS EVENING IS THAT FOR THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, THAT YOU GIVE US THE ACCOMMODATION OF AT LEAST ONE MORE CYCLE TO MEET AND TALK WITH A FEW MORE FOLKS BEFORE WE JUST PART WAYS ON THIS IDEA.
MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE BEFORE ME PRETTY MUCH LAID OUT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT I HAD TO SAY.
A, THIS IS, IN ALL DUE RESPECT, COMMISSIONER GRANT, YOU SAID THAT WE NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAD DONE SOMEWHAT OF THE SAME AGREEMENT WITH MAYPORT. WELL, IT'S NOTHING LIKE MAYPORT.
IT IS BENEFICIAL TO BOTH OF US, AND WE KNOW THAT.
THIS IS ABOUT A DEVELOPER THAT EITHER DIDN'T DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE OR GOT CAUGHT BY A LAW BECAUSE THEY WAITED TOO LONG TO DEVELOP.
OK, WE'RE NOT HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEPTUNE BEACH.
AND I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S THE CITY'S BUSINESS TO HELP A DEVELOPER.
AND TO LIBERALLY SUM UP THIS SITUATION WITH A QUOTE FROM SOMEBODY WHO'S A VERY SMART MAN.
ATLANTIC BEACH CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM.
THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO MAKE THEIR PROBLEM OUR PROBLEM.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE WHEN, ACCORDING TO THE DEVELOPER, THEIR LAWYER AND THEIR ENGINEER, THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED US TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM.
SO WHEREVER THAT LEADS US, I THINK THAT SUMS IT UP PRETTY WELL.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE REDUNDANT EITHER.
I WON'T TAKE THE WHOLE THREE MINUTES.
LISA HAROLD, MY ADDRESS IS ON FILE.
I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION THAT I WANT YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT A BACK AND FORTH.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF THE ROLES WERE REVERSED? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WITH A...
ATLANTIC BEACH AND NEPTUNE BEACH, LIKE IF THEY WERE TRYING TO COME IN AND SOLVE A DEVELOPMENT PROBLEM OVER HERE IN OUR CITY, RIGHT? SO IT WOULD BE INTERESTING.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU WATCHED OR LISTENED TO THE NEPTUNE BEACH CITY COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK OR ATTENDED IT, HOW THEY FEEL.
LIKE, ARE THEY FOR THIS? I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK WHEN MRS. ISSER SPOKE TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND SAID COMPLEXITY AND RISK TO THE CITIZENS HERE IN ATLANTIC BEACH, THAT SPOKE
[00:30:01]
VOLUMES TO ME.WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSION STAFF.
JACKIE BECKENBACH, 2210 OCEAN WALK DRIVE WEST.
I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK, HOPEFULLY FOR THE LAST TIME, ON RESOLUTION 2648.
IT'S KIND OF DISAPPOINTING TO ME THAT THIS ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED AND OPPOSED VIGOROUSLY BY RESIDENTS OF AB BACK IN 2023, AND YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN.
AS I MENTIONED THE LAST TIME THAT I ADDRESSED THIS GROUP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, I DO NOT SUPPORT GETTING IN BED WITH NEPTUNE BEACH AND A DEVELOPER TO PROVIDE FIRE SUPPRESSION WATER THROUGH A COMPLEX AGREEMENT.
FOR ONE, THERE'S NO DIRECT BENEFIT TO THE CITIZENS OF NEPTUNE BEACH, SO THIS IS NOT JUSTIFIED BY BEING A NEIGHBORLY THING TO DO.
I DO NOT SEE ANY BENEFIT TO THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND ONLY POTENTIAL RISK IN GETTING INVOLVED WITH A CITY THAT IS NOT ADDRESSED.
ITS INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AND IS SEEMINGLY NOT VERY WELL RUN.
THE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEVELOPER, MR. DEVA NOW, STATED CLEARLY DURING THE LAST MEETING THAT THEY WOULD MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS PROJECT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE SUPPLY THEM WITH FIRE SUPPRESSION WATER.
SO I SUGGEST WE LET THEM PURSUE THAT.
I'VE MET AND SPOKEN WITH ALMOST ALL OF YOU OVER THE PAST WEEK REGARDING THIS RESOLUTION AND I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOU THAT I SPOKE WITH EXPRESSED YOUR AGREEMENT THAT THIS REQUEST BY A DEVELOPER IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING A VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AGREEMENT BETWEEN NEPTUNE BEACH AND A DEVELOPER.
AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT OUR CONVERSATIONS WERE TRUTHFUL.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ATTORNEY IS NOW ASKING FOR MORE TIME BEFORE A DECISION IS VOTED ON.
THIS SEEMS VERY UNNECESSARY, AS THE ISSUE IS NOT ABOUT THE NUANCES OF THE CONTRACT.
IT'S ABOUT CITIZENS OF AB FEELING THAT THIS IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I WOULD ASK EACH OF YOU THIS EVENING TO VOTE NO TO THIS AGREEMENT AND TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO INCLUDE A CLAUSE THAT THIS ISSUE WILL NOT BE REVISITED IN THE FUTURE, EVEN IF THE CHARACTERS CHANGE.
SO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MYSELF AND TO THE OTHER ENGAGED CITIZENS.
WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT, AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL ALL DO THE RIGHT THING.
LINDA BARNWELL, 2011 BEACH AVENUE.
I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT A YEAR, AND I'M FROM THE WEST COAST WHERE WATER IS AN ISSUE.
AND WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND MY CONCERNS WITH THIS AGREEMENT ARE THE SAME SAME REASON FROM WHAT FROM READING THE DOCUMENTS FROM YEARS BACK IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S ANY BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH THAT IT'S ALL FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DEVELOPER AND SO I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS IDEA THANK YOU THANK YOU MR BARNWELL STAN BORNWELL I'M STAN BARNWELL, RESIDENT OF 2011 BEACH AVENUE, AND REALLY JUST WANT TO BRING MY OPINION ON MY OWN, BUT ALSO ALL THE NEIGHBORS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
IT'S JUST THERE'S LIMITED RESOURCES OF WATER.
AS THE EARLIER SPEAKER SAID, WE DON'T OWN THE WATER NECESSARILY, BUT WE DO HAVE A SHARE OF IT THAT WE NEED TO PRESERVE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL GROWTH IN ATLANTIC BEACH, AND WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT.
THE WATER IS AVAILABLE FOR OUR OWN DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE RATHER THAN A NEIGHBORING CITY SO PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS AND PLEASE VOTE ON IT TONIGHT SO WE CAN BE DONE WITH THIS THANK YOU THANK YOU MR BARNWELL JULIE LAGOUEY HELLO COMMISSIONERS MAYOR FORD AS I STATED AT THE LAST MEETING, I'M AGAINST GIVING AB WATER TO ANY ENTITY.
IN ADDITION, I ASKED AT THE LAST MEETING HOW, WHEN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THE STANDING ROOM ONLY CROWD, WHO CAME TO SPEAK PASSIONATELY AGAINST GIVING OUR WATER TO A NEPTUNE BEACH DEVELOPER AND BEING TOLD, AND WHAT FELT LIKE PROMISED BY THE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT,
[00:35:02]
THEY WOULD NOT VOTE FOR IT, GIVEN THE STRONG PUBLIC SENTIMENT AGAINST IT.SO I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT IT CAME UP, AND I ASKED, SOME OF THE COMMISSION TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THAT WAS AND MAYOR FORD AFTER THE MEETING KINDLY EMAILED ME AND EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS TABLE TO HIS RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE THE CITY HADN'T RECEIVED A PROPER FORMAL REQUEST FROM THE MAYOR OF CITY COMMISSION OF NEPTUNE BEACH SO AS SUCH, I'M REQUESTING THAT THE COMMISSION VOTE NO AND ENSURE AB RESIDENTS THAT THIS ISSUE WILL NOT COME UP IN ANY FORM AGAIN.
WE WILL END IT TONIGHT AND WE WON'T HAVE TO REVISIT AGAIN.
THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKER FORMS I
[3. CITY MANAGER REPORTS]
HAVE, MAYOR.WE'LL CLOSE COURTESY OF THE FLOOR AND MOVE TO ITEM THREE ON THE AGENDA.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSION.
AND TO THE COMMUNITY, ITEM 3A ON YOUR AGENDA IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE 90-DAY CALENDAR FROM APRIL TO JUNE 2026.
I'D LIKE TO ADD THE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY MAY 25TH AT BEACHES VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK TO THAT AND ASK FOR YOU TO APPROVE THE CALENDAR.
COULD YOU MENTION THE TOWN HALL? JUST BECAUSE WE'VE GOT AN AUDIENCE HERE.
WE CHANGED THAT, RIGHT? TO MAY, RIGHT? MAY 2ND IS THE TOWN HALL IN THIS CHAMBER.
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, ARE YOU GOOD WITH THE CHANGES? OKAY, YEAH, WE'RE TALENTED.
CONTINUING WITH THE MANAGER'S REPORT, WHICH IS SUMMARIZED BOTH IN A DOCUMENT AT THE DOOR AND ON THE WEBSITE, THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.
COAB.US FORWARD SLASH CITY MANAGER.
FIRST, BETH IS FINALIZING A COMPREHENSIVE ACTION PLAN TO FINALLY IMPLEMENT THE STOP COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS, OR AT LEAST BRING THAT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THIS PLAN INCLUDES INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE DEMARCATION OF PARKING SPACES.
IT'S SCHEDULED FOR PRESENTATION BY STAFF AT THE MAY 11TH COMMISSION MEETING.
PLEASE NOTE THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS CARRY SUBSTANTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE.
FOLLOWING THE RECENT COMMISSION PRIORITIES WORKSHOP, THE STAFF WILL PRESENT THE FORMAL PRIORITIES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AT THE MAY 11TH MEETING.
THIS REPORT WILL OUTLINE THE FINALIZED GOALS AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
MOVING ON, THE CITY OF NEPTUNE BEACH HAS TRANSITIONED TO T2 SYSTEMS. SOFTWARE TO MANAGE THE UNPAID BEECH'S TOWN CENTER OVERTIME PARKING CITATIONS.
AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2025, THERE ARE MORE THAN 3,000 UNPAID VIOLATIONS ON THE ATLANTIC BEACH SIDE OF BEECH'S TOWN CENTER, TOTALING NEARLY $80,000.
ATLANTIC BEACH WILL RECEIVE 70% OF ALL FUNDS RECOVERED THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE.
AND OUTSIDE OF BEECH'S TOWN CENTER, THE CITY CONTINUES TO UTILIZE A NEW SEPARATE VENDOR FOR CITATIONS ISSUED.
TONIGHT WE LAUNCH COMMUNITY BRIGHT SPOTS.
WE'RE PROUD TO UNVEIL THIS NEW DIGITAL SANCTUARY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, INSPIRED BY RESIDENT STEVE PISCITELLI, WHO'S HERE.
THIS INITIATIVE ENCOURAGES THE COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE ART, THE ARCHITECTURE, THE PEOPLE, THE NATURAL BEAUTY, AND THE ANIMALS THAT DEFINE ATLANTIC BEACH.
WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED.
YOU WILL HEAR MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
JOIN THIS JOURNEY AT WWW.COAB.US COMMUNITY BRIGHT SPOTS.
AND MS. BARTLE HAS PULLED UP TODAY'S ENTRY, THE VERY FIRST COUPLE OF PICTURES THAT STEVE HAS PUT UP WITH A NICE DESCRIPTION.
I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND PROUD OF IT AND SO GRATEFUL TO MR. PISCITELLI.
FOR BRINGING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO US.
TONIGHT'S MEETING FEATURES A NEW TWO-CAMERA SETUP.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, I KNOW WE HAVE UP HERE ONE DEDICATED TO THE PODIUM AND ONE TO THE COMMISSION.
THIS UPGRADE, MANAGED BY OUR IT STAFF, IS PART OF OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO RON BAUTISTA, OUR CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, WHO'S HERE WITH US TONIGHT, RIGHT OVER HERE.
[00:40:03]
HE ENTHUSIASTICALLY, EXPERTLY, AND WITH STRONG CONSIDERATION TO PUBLIC EXPENSES HAS CARRIED OUT THIS INITIATIVE.AND I THINK WE CAN ALL SEE THIS IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT.
SORT OF PUT SARAH OUT OF BUSINESS.
WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING, I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYONE DOES.
JOIN US THIS SATURDAY, PLEASE, APRIL 18TH FROM 10 A.M.
AT JOHANSSON PARK FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LOCAL CREATIVITY KNOWN AS ARTS IN THE PARK.
AND FINALLY, REGARDING OUR POLICE VOLUNTEERS, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THE COST SAVINGS TO THE CITY THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE, AND IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS OUR EYES AND EARS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AN IMPORTANT ROLE THAT THEY HAVE.
THEY ACT AS A HUMANIZING LINK BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PUBLIC.
BECAUSE THEY'RE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FIRST, THEY CAN HELP DE-ESCALATE TENSIONS AND BUILD RAPPORT THAT SWORN OFFICERS, WHO ARE OFTEN VIEWED THROUGH A MORE FORMAL LENS, CANNOT.
THEIR PRESENCE SIGNALS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, NOT JUST A GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
I'M BLOWN AWAY AND SO GRATEFUL TO JONI AND JOE.
AND JAMES AND ALL THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS AND SPEAKING OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE SCOUTS WHO ARE HERE WITH US.
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND WELCOME.
[4. REPORTS AND/OR REQUESTS FROM CITY COMMISSIONERS]
ALL RIGHT.LET'S START WITH THE COMMISSIONER BOWL.
YES, SIR, AS I, AS I DO EVERY WEEK, AN UPDATE ON OUR CITY MANAGER SEARCH.
WE HAVE EIGHT PROPOSALS FOR THE CITY MANAGER EXECUTIVE SEARCH.
THE PURCHASING MANAGER AND HR DIRECTOR WILL COME BACK IN THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING WITH A BEST VALUE RECOMMENDATION TO US TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND WHITTLE IT DOWN AND COME BACK WITH THAT.
CAN WE GET HIM TO FURNISH ALL OF THE RESPONDENTS TO US SO THAT WE KNOW? ULTIMATELY, IT'S OUR DECISION, EVEN THOUGH HE'S DOING A SHORT LIST FOR US.
YES, WE'LL BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT.
BUT I'D ALSO LIKE, DUE TO SUNSHINE LAWS, THAT WE KEEP OUR FINGERS OUT OF THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? NO, IT DOESN'T.
WELL, OKAY, IF WE TURN IT DOWN, UNDERSTANDABLY, THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER SEVEN APPLICANTS.
ARE WE STILL ON THE HIRING FIRM? THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
RIGHT, THIS IS THE HIRING FIRM.
SO THE HIRING FIRM, WE ARE THE ONES THAT, AS A COMMISSION OF FIVE, VOTE ON THE HIRING FIRM, NOT THE HR.
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A CITY RECOMMENDATION OR STAT TO US.
I'M OKAY WITH THE RECOMMENDATION, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY THE REQUIREMENT.
SO I WANT TO SEE EVERY RESPONDENT TO THAT RFP, AND THEN WE'LL LISTEN TO THEIR RECOMMENDATION, AND PERHAPS WE AGREE TOTALLY, BUT IT'S STILL OUR FINAL DECISION.
AND IF I MAY, MAYOR, THIS IS WHY I DID HAVE A SUGGESTION THAT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE RECEIVE ALL OF THE FIRMS, NOT THE HR, BUT ALL OF THE FIRM'S APPLICANTS, JUST AS A RECORDS KEEPING, THAT IT WOULD BE GIVEN TO OUR COMMISSION AND THE FIVE OF US WOULD.
WE WOULD BE THE ONES DWINDLING IT DOWN.
WELL, TECHNICALLY, THOSE PROPOSALS GO TO OUR PURCHASING MANAGER AS THE CITY.
IN ANY APPLICATION, RIGHT, ANYTHING THAT WE GET TO THE CITY, THE PROPOSALS GO TO THE PURCHASING MANAGER.
WE'LL BE TRANSPARENT AND GO AND SHOW YOU ALL EIGHT OF THEM.
AND IF YOU WANT THE CITY CLERK TO PUT THOSE OUT, THAT'S FINE.
BUT UNLESS WE CHANGE THE SYSTEM, KEVIN, YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, PROPOSALS COME IN TO THE PURCHASE MANAGER.
I PUT THE HR DIRECTOR, WHICH WE DISCUSSED WEEKS AGO, THAT THEY ALSO SHOULD HAVE AN INPUT.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT? IS IT THAT WHERE I'M JUST ASKING YOU IF THE PROPOSAL NORMALLY GOES TO THE PURCHASING MANAGER? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT, BUT I THOUGHT WE ACTUALLY HAD DISCUSSED THIS AT A PREVIOUS MEETING.
ONCE THEY'VE GONE TO THE PURCHASING MANAGER, SINCE THAT'S OUR FLOW, THEY NEED TO GO TO THE CITY CLERK SO THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.
THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO BE THE THIRD MEMBER OF THE SO-CALLED COMMITTEE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
AND I'M ALSO GOING TO BE SCORING ALL EIGHT OF THEM.
AND IT'LL BE COMPILED AND PRESENTED TO YOU AS A RECOMMENDATION.
IF YOU WANT ALL OF THEM, WE'LL LINK ALL
[00:45:01]
OF THEM IF WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE A CLEAR TOP.YOU KNOW, SELECTION, THEN WE COULD HAVE JUST GIVEN YOU THOSE.
BUT IF YOU WANT LINKS TO ALL OF THEM, WE'LL CERTAINLY DO THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO WITH THE CONSENSUS HERE.
I WANT ALL OF THEM, COMMISSIONERS.
I WOULD BE FINE WITH ALL OF THEM.
AND AGAIN, I WOULD SAY THANK YOU FOR HELPING US SHORTLIST IT, BUT I STILL WANT TO SEE THEM.
COMMISSIONER, ARE YOU OKAY? COMMISSIONER? GOOD.
I THINK WE STILL GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM CITY STAFF.
THEY'LL MAKE A CHART AND THEY'LL DO ALL THE COMPARISONS.
SECOND, SOMEBODY ASKED ME, WILL, SAY, A LOCAL BE ABLE TO APPLY? YES, THERE WILL BE A LINK WHERE YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE, JUST LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.
I THINK WE'RE MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT IN WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS TIME AROUND.
SO I WANT TO KEEP THE TIMELINE GOING.
AND NEXT MEETING, WE REALLY NEED TO PUSH THAT IF WE WANT TO KEEP ON.
SO PART OF OUR ONGOING YEAR LONG CELEBRATION OF OUR CENTENNIAL, THE BEACHES MUSEUM HAS MOUNTED A DISPLAY SPECIFICALLY FOR US.
AND THEIR OPENING RECEPTION IS THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6 P.M.
SO I'M HOPING THERE'LL BE A NICE SHOW OF ATLANTA BEACH RESIDENTS TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE ASSEMBLED FOR US.
I WANTED TO GET AN UPDATE ON MAYPORT ROAD'S IMPROVEMENT FROM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO CITY MANAGER HOGAN CAMP BEFORE.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO OPEN IN MARCH, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN KICKED DOWN ALL THE WAY UNTIL...
POST JUNE, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS ALL OF A SUDDEN LEAVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL OF MAYPORT ROAD IS SHUT DOWN.
SO IF WE COULD JUST GET AN ONGOING UPDATE ON THAT WHEN YOU KNOW IT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
ALSO, I WANT TO DISCUSS CHERRY DRIVE DURING OUR APRIL PRIORITIES LAST MONDAY.
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW CITIZENS WHO CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT CHERRY DRIVE AND SOME.
LAST FALL, I DID MENTION TO THE CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME ABOUT PAINTING THE STRIP RIGHT THERE AT HOWELL.
THERE'S A DOG LAKE THERE WHERE HOWELL PARK IS, AND THERE'S A BLIND SPOT WHEN YOU COME ACROSS.
IF THE PAINT AND OR EVEN FLASHING LIGHTS WOULD BE HELPFUL THERE.
I ALSO BROUGHT UP A RAISED SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF ATLANTIC BEACH ELEMENTARY.
AND ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT LIST, RIGHT WHERE, IS IT AHERN OR STURDIVANT IS WHERE THE PALMS HOTEL IS, THAT'S ANOTHER PRETTY DANGEROUS AREA.
AS I'M LISTENING TO THE GENTLEMAN SPEAK LAST MONDAY NIGHT, I WONDERED WHY WASN'T THE PAINT ON THE STREET ALL READY FOR HOWELL AND THE LIGHTS? THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE CARE OF.
A WHOLE WORKSHOP AND A MEETING.
AND FURTHERMORE, NOW THAT YOU BROUGHT UP THE STOP COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN, WAS SHERRY DRIVE BROUGHT UP IN THERE? IS THERE ANY INFORMATION THERE AT SOME HOT SPOTS? BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IN-HOUSE RIGHT NOW, IF I HAD A CONSENSUS, ACTUALLY, FOR MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR.
WELL, THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK THERE.
I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR BACK FROM THE CITY.
WE COULD EITHER HEAR PART OF IT TODAY OR ALL OF IT ON THE NEXT MEETING, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN JUST DO CONSENSUS ON THE SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS.
WELL, THERE'S TWO THAT WE CAN FIX, PAINT ON HOWELL AND RIGHT AT STURDIVANT.
THE ONE THAT WOULD TAKE MORE TIME AND FUNDS WOULD BE THE RAISED SIDEWALK RIGHT IN FRONT OF ATLANTIC BEACH ELEMENTARY.
WHY WAS THAT HALTED? WHY DIDN'T WE GO FURTHER WITH THAT BACK FROM FALL? AND WHAT CAN WE DO NOW? YES, I AM NOT AWARE.
YOU BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WHAT HAPPENED LAST FALL.
I DO KNOW THAT A MONTH OR SO AGO, THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST TO REVIEW THIS FROM A TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STANDPOINT.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PAINT.
SO THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF CITY COMMISSION CONSENSUS.
OTHERWISE, AS FAR AS THE OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING A RAISE POTENTIAL TO RAISE CROSSWALK AT ABE AND OTHER POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS AT BUDGETARY IMPACT,
[00:50:01]
YOU'LL HAVE A REPORT FROM ME AT THE NEXT MEETING.I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER COMMUNITY UPDATES FOR PROJECTS.
WE COULD LIST THEM ON HERE AS WELL, IN PARTICULAR MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER.
COULD WE HAVE AN ONGOING WHERE WE'RE AT MANAGER OR PROJECT MANAGER? REPORT AND UPDATE.
I JUST HAVE THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY MEETING WILL BE TOMORROW NIGHT.
SO I'LL COME BACK WITH A REPORT ON THAT NEXT MEETING.
THE REST OF MY COMMENTS I'LL RESERVE FOR OUR DISCUSSION LATER.
I CONDUCTED A KIND OF AN UNUSUAL COURTESY OF THE FLOOR A WEEK AGO IN MY HOME.
I HAD THREE OF OUR RESIDENTS VISIT MY HOME AND KNOCK ON THE FRONT DOOR.
I THINK IT WAS LIKE SEVEN OR EIGHT O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
I WAS SITTING DOWN TO DINNER AND I LOOKED AT MY WIFE AND I SAID, SHOULD I ANSWER THAT? AND THEN I SAID, YES, WE NEED TO ANSWER THAT.
SO I WENT TO THE DOOR AND I OPENED IT.
AND THE THREE RESIDENTS THAT CAME TO SEE ME.
ARE I BELIEVE THEY'RE SIXTH GRADE IS THAT CORRECT SO THEY'RE THREE SIXTH GRADERS AT MAYPORT ELEMENTARY UH THAT WERE SOME OF MY FAVORITES AT UH ABE UP UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN THEY GRADUATED AND WENT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT I WANT TO READ TO YOU THE LETTER THAT THEY BROUGHT TO ME UH IT STARTED OUT AND AND BY THE WAY IT WAS NICELY ADDRESSED UH TO THE MAYOR ON THE ENVELOPE BUT IT STARTED OUT DEAR MAYOR FORD WE ARE ATLANTIC BEACH RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS OF MAYPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL YOU WE LOVED TO USE ATLANTIC BEACH PARKS, BUT TODAY OUR EXPERIENCE WAS NOT PLEASANT.
SOUND LIKE SOME OF US? WE LIKED TO PLAY PICKLEBALL AT JACK RUSSELL PARK, BUT A MAN AND HIS TENNIS PARTNER CAME UP TO US AND DEMANDED WE LEAVE JUST BECAUSE WE WERE PLAYING PICKLEBALL ON A TENNIS COURT.
HE SAID THEY WERE TENNIS ONLY.
WE LIVE TOO FAR AWAY FROM PARKS WITH PICKLEBALL COURTS.
WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO PUT SIGNS UP SAYING PICKLEBALL IS ALLOWED.
OAKLEY, MAY I USE LAST NAME'S MOTHER? OH, BUT NO, YOU'RE, I'M SORRY, YOU'RE RYAN'S MOTHER.
OKAY, SO SINCERELY, OAKLEY KELLER AND RYAN KIRBY.
AND THEN THERE WAS A THIRD FRIEND.
HE CAME WITH YOU, BUT HE WAS AFRAID TO ACTUALLY SIGN IT.
BUT ANYWAYS, THEY GAVE ME A LIST OF THEIR REASONS.
SO IT WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT WHY THEY BELIEVE IN PICKLEBALL BEING ALLOWED ON TENNIS COURTS AND MADE SURE THAT THEY GAVE ME THEIR NAMES AND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION FOR FOLLOW UP.
BUT THEIR REASONS WERE PICKLEBALL IS ASSOCIATED WITH TENNIS.
ADDITIONALLY, BOTH SPORTS NEED NETS AND LINES AND TENNIS COURTS HAVE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
AND THEN FINALLY, PLAYING PICKLEBALL LETS KIDS BE ACTIVE AND NOT ON SCREENS.
AND I ASSUME YOU'RE YOUR CELL PHONES AND YOUR DEVICES.
SO, AGAIN, THIS WAS HAND-DELIVERED BY RYAN, OAKLEY, AND JAMES.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SEE ME AND EXPRESSING AND DOING IT IN SUCH A PROFESSIONAL MANNER, AND I HAVE DISCUSSED IT WITH THE CITY MANAGER, AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER.
I DISCUSSED WITH YOU THEIR ASK, BUT THEIR ASK REALLY IS SPECIFIC TO HAVING SIGNAGE, AND I HATE TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT BECAUSE I DIDN'T...
TEE YOU UP FOR THIS, BUT WOULD YOU GIVE OUR CITIZENS SOME FEEDBACK? FIRST OF ALL, IS IT OKAY TO PLAY PICKLEBALL AT JACK RUSSELL TENNIS COURSE? I'M IN A UNIQUE POSITION.
I'M IN CHARGE OF THE PARKS FOR THE MOMENT.
I'M A PICKLEBALL PLAYER, AND I'M A TENNIS PLAYER, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU ALL SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
OF COURSE, YOU CAN PLAY PICKLEBALL ON THE TENNIS COURTS.
AND YES, WE CAN PUT A SIGN UP THERE.
PLEASE DON'T PUT ANY STRIPES DOWN, ANY NEW STRIPES.
AND PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THIS HAPPENS ANYMORE.
IT WASN'T OUR STAFF WHO DID THIS, AND WE'RE NOT AWARE OF WHO DID THIS.
BUT WE'LL SPREAD THE WORD THAT YOU ALL HAVE AS MUCH RIGHT TO BE OUT THERE HITTING A PICKLEBALL AS TENNIS PLAYERS HAVE HITTING TENNIS BALLS.
SO AND THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, I'M PUTTING YOU ON NOTICE.
I JUST OPENED UP A REAL CAN OF WORMS HERE, BUT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO DO SO.
I TOLD MANY OF YOU I STARTED PLAYING TENNIS
[00:55:01]
ON THOSE COURTS IN 1970.SO I KNOW THOSE COURTS, AND WE'VE LIVED ALL THESE DECADES WITHOUT HAVING A BUNCH OF RULES POSTED, AND HERE WE GO.
SO KIDS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO US, BUT UNDERSTAND THIS MAY BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DELINEATE ON A SIGN EVERY POSSIBLE PERMUTATION.
SO I ASK YOU TO BE THE GENTLEMAN THAT I KNOW YOU ARE, AND DON'T ARGUE WITH ADULTS.
LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER, BUT IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, DO NOT ARGUE WITH THE ADULTS, BUT LET ME OR THE CITY MANAGER KNOW AND WE'LL INTERVENE.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE A SIGN UP, AND UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE HAVE A SIGN THAT'S SPECIFIC ON THAT, YOU COULD BE TOLD THAT THAT'S FOR TENNIS ONLY, JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
AND BEING OUTSPOKEN TO BE CLEAR THAT SIGN WILL BE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD AND I HOPE ONE OF YOU WILL COME GET MY CARD I'LL BE THE PERSON TO REPORT IT TO UH OKAY THANKS ALL RIGHT THANK YOU ALL RIGHT UM WITH THAT UH WE'LL CLOSE UH
[6. CONSENT AGENDA]
LET'S SEE WHERE WE AT THAT WAS UH ITEM FOUR UH WE'LL MOVE TO UH TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA LET'S SEE CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT YEAH OKAY CONSENT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX ALL MATTERS LISTED UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION IN THE FORM LISTED BELOW THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WILL BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION ON THESE ITEMS ITEM 6A APPROVED RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-55 WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO HOLD THAT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.I RECOMMEND WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2655 AS WRITTEN.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
[7.A. Appointments to Various Boards and Committees]
COMMITTEE REPORTS.SO ITEM 7A, APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
WE RECENTLY HAD A MEETING OF THE BOARD MEMBER.
SELECTION COMMITTEE, WHICH I CHAIR, AND I HAVE A LIST OF APPOINTMENTS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
SO YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT LIST IN YOUR PACKET, BUT I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS.
THE FIRST ONE WAS A MOVEMENT OF AN ALTERNATE MEMBER ON THE CDB INTO A PERMANENT VOTING POSITION.
AND IT'S NOT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW IT'S NOT ABSOLUTE THAT SOMEBODY AUTOMATICALLY MOVES UP, BUT AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHAIR OF THAT BOARD, CDB IS A BOARD.
SO AT HIS RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE HIM UP, WE VOTED TO APPROVE THAT, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL OF THE SLATE BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THIS.
BUT MOVING ON, THE NEXT APPOINTMENT FOR THE CDB WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE NANCY STOTTS AS THE FIRST ALTERNATE.
AND THEN KELLY ELMORE, WHO HAS SERVED PREVIOUSLY ON THE CDB AS A SECOND ALTERNATE.
THEN MATTHEW MATILLA FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED AND AGREED UPON.
THE NEXT ONE, AARON TOBEL, I'M REMOVING THAT FROM THE LIST AND FROM CONSIDERATION TONIGHT BASED ON THE REQUEST OF THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE ARCC.
THE ARC, AND THAT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK IN THE FUTURE.
HE WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING, AND AT HIS REQUEST, HE'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS BEFORE THAT MOVES FORWARD.
AND THEN FINALLY, FOR THE GENERAL PENSION BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DID I GET THAT RIGHT? OKAY, THE GPBOT, THAT'S ROY GOLDMAN, WHO HAS SOME GREAT CREDENTIALS THAT LEND ITSELF TO THAT.
I ALWAYS SWEAT IT WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH PENSION BOARDS BECAUSE MOST OF US ARE NOT SUITED TO DO THAT TYPE OF WORK.
THIS MAN WAS ABSOLUTELY A GREAT EXAMPLE OF SOMEBODY THAT CAN SERVE WELL ON THAT.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE APPROVE THIS SLATE AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AARON TOBEL, WHO WILL BE DEFERRED AT THIS TIME FOR THE ARCC.
I MOVE WE APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
AS WRITTEN ASIDE FOR DEFERRING AARON TOBEL TO THE ARCC.
SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL
[01:00:01]
IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.[8.A. RESOLUTION NO. 26-48]
MOVING TO ITEM 8A, RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-48, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, THE CITY OF NEPTUNE BEACH, AND TBR, NEPTUNE OWNER, LLC, FOR THE PROVISION OF POTABLE WATER.FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MAYOR AND COMMISSION, CONSIDERING THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING THIS MATTER, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT UNTIL OR UNLESS WE RECEIVE A PROPOSED AGREEMENT THAT COMES TO US, HAVING ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE CITY OF NEPTUNE, BE IT SUCH YOU EITHER WITHDRAW OR VOTE AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION.
I HEAR NO MOTION TO THAT AND SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO EITHER APPROVE, DENY OR DEFER.
I MAKE A MOTION TO DENY RESOLUTION 2648.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
I'M GOING TO LET MR. BOHL LEAD OFF SINCE HE MADE THE MOTION.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO READ IN MY STATEMENT BEFORE WE GO ANY FARTHER.
THERE'S BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF CONVERSATION IN OUR CITY ABOUT PROVIDING WATER TO THE OWNERS OF 500 ATLANTIC.
IN NEPTUNE BEACH AND I'VE LISTENED TO THE VOCAL CITIZENS, MANY OF WHICH ARE HERE TODAY, AND I'VE LISTENED TO THE QUIETER ONES THROUGH EMAIL, VOICE CONVERSATIONS, AND FACE-TO-FACE.
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THIS PREPARED STATEMENT, AND THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY PREPARED STATEMENT I'VE ISSUED IN OVER THREE YEARS AS MAYOR.
I SUPPORT ANY REASONABLE REDEVELOPMENT OF 500 ATLANTIC, BUT MOSTLY I SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF NEPTUNE BEACH AND THEIR CITY STAFF TO MAKE THE DECISIONS REGARDING WHAT CAN BE APPROVED AND BUILT ON THAT SITE I WISH ONLY THE BEST FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE CITIZENS OF NEPTUNE BEACH IN THE COLLABORATIVE QUEST TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO RESPECTING PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT SAID I AM THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH NOT NEPTUNE BEACH I HAVE WRESTLED WITH THIS WATER REQUEST FOR SOME TIME WHEN I HEARD FROM MR. DEBENOW, ATTORNEY FOR THE KMART PROPERTY OWNERS, TWO WEEKS AGO, I REALIZED THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AN ATLANTIC BEACH SOLUTION IN NEPTUNE BEACH.
MR. DEBENOW EXPLAINED THAT THE FAILURE OF ATLANTIC BEACH TO PROVIDE WATER TO THE KMART SITE WOULD NOT STOP THE OWNERS FROM MOVING FORWARD WITH REDEVELOPMENT.
THE OWNERS OF THE KMART PROPERTY WOULD MOVE FORWARD BY EITHER GAINING PERMISSION TO ACCESS THE WATER TANK BEHIND PUBLIX OR INSTALLING THEIR OWN WATER TANK.
FOR THIS REASON, I AM VOTING NO TODAY ON THE RESOLUTION AND ASKING MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO DO SO AS WELL.
AND SO I'LL TURN OVER THIS TO YOU, MR. MULVER.
I'VE BEEN PRETTY STEADFAST, I THINK, IN MY POSITION ON THIS ONE.
BUT I TOOK A TOOK A STEP BACK FOR A MINUTE.
YOU KNOW, WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO YOUR SISTER CITY? RIGHT.
I THINK WE ALL WANT TO DO THAT.
I THINK MAYBE A DIFFERENT VIEW FROM A BUSINESS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE DEVELOPER'S INSURANCE.
THAT COST IS LESSENED OR IN A DIFFERENT MANNER IS REDUCED BY THE ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE.
SO THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY DONE THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND FOUND THAT THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY AND PROBABLY THE CHEAPEST WAY IS TO HAVE US INVOLVED.
NUMBER TWO, MAYOR, YOU HIT ON SOME OF THE POINTS AND WE HEARD.
WE HEARD TALK ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO FIX THAT PROBLEM THAT ARE THEIRS.
AND I DID PROBABLY THE SAME THING MOST OF YOU DID.
MY CONSTITUENTS ARE NINE TO ONE AGAINST.
AND I DON'T WANT TO KICK THIS DOWN THE ROAD.
WE WAITED FOR COMMISSIONER RING TO COME BACK, WHICH I'M GLAD WE DID.
BUT WE'VE BEEN GOING AT IT OVER, WHAT, 16 MONTHS.
ADDITIONAL? YES, COMMISSIONER.
I WAS LOOKING AT IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY MYSELF, TOO.
YOU KNOW, MY CAREER HAS BEEN BUILT ON DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES AND PARTNERING WITH THEM TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE MOST PART, TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS TO THEIR NETWORK.
THE POSITION I CAME FROM IN THAT NOT NECESSARILY THE
[01:05:01]
DEVELOPER, BUT WORKING WITH NEPTUNE BEACH TO FIND A SOLUTION.AND FOSTERING THAT RELATIONSHIP.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYBODY CARES ABOUT THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S A SHAME BECAUSE AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO NEED THEIR HELP TO DO SOMETHING.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.
THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO IMPROVE.
AT SOME POINT, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK ON THIS AND BE LIKE, OH, WELL, THEY'LL LOOK BACK ON IT.
LIKE, WELL, THEY DIDN'T REALLY HELP US AND WE NEEDED THIS.
WE DO SHARE A BORDER, WHICH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BUSIEST POINTS AT THE BEACH OUTSIDE OF BEACH BOULEVARD AND 3RD STREET, THAT AREA DOWN THERE.
SO I WAS HOPING WE WOULD SUPPORT IT.
AND I KNOW IT'S DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SITUATIONS WE HAVE, BUT IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WITH THAT PIPE BEING IN PLACE, IT COULD NOT BE OF MUTUAL BENEFIT.
TO BOTH PARTIES IF THERE WAS EVER A NEED TO SHARE WATER.
AND WE'RE REALLY NOT GIVING THEM OUR WATER.
WE'RE GIVING THEM, WE WOULD BE GIVING THEM OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE AS IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT, WE'RE ALL PULLING FROM THE SAME POT OF WATER, SO TO SPEAK.
SO WE'RE NOT ABLE TO CONSERVE ANYTHING HERE.
THEY CAN GO GET AS MUCH WATER AS THEY WANT TO FROM THE SAME POT WE'RE PULLING OUR WATER FROM.
SO, I MEAN, I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW WE THINK THAT WE'RE SAVING WATER OR CONSERVING WATER WHEN THEY'RE PULLING FROM THE SAME WATER WE'RE PULLING FROM.
SO WE'RE JUST REALLY GIVING THEM OUR MUCH BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO I'LL SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THE NO VOTE TONIGHT.
BUT I JUST THINK MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD, WE MIGHT NEED THEIR HELP AND WE MIGHT NOT GET IT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON WITH THEM RIGHT NOW.
AND I WAS JUST I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, TOO.
WELL, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN, BECAUSE I ALWAYS AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE ADJOINING NEIGHBOR.
THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS SOMETHING WITH JACKSONVILLE BEACH, BECAUSE WE SHARE A COMMON LINE WITH NEPTUNE BEACH.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF ONE OF THE CITIZENS MENTIONED IT, IF YOU WATCH THEIR MEETING FROM LAST WEEK, THEY'RE NOT 100 PERCENT READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND MAYBE IF THEY PUT IT TO A VOTE, THEY WOULD AND SAY WITH DEFINITY THEY WANT ATLANTIC BEACH.
BUT IT IS NOTABLE THAT HERE WE ARE DEBATING IN ATLANTIC BEACH SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN RATIFIED BY NEPTUNE BEACH.
AND THIS IS NOT A CALL OR AN OFFER TO KEEP THE DOOR OPEN.
BUT WHY WOULD WE VOTE FIRST ON SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE REQUESTED STRONGLY? NOT FROM THE DEVELOPER, BUT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL OF NEPTUNE BEACH, AND IT HAS NOT, AND IT MAY NOT BE.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE ISSUE OF WATER.
THIS WAS NEVER INTENDED, AND I HEAR SOME OF THE CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY THE LEGAL EXPERTS IN THE ROOM, ABOUT CONTRACTS, AND THIS CONTRACT DID NOT PROTECT AGAINST THE ULTIMATE DELIVERY OF WATER, AND I THINK IT DID AND OR COULD BE ENHANCED AND CORRECTED.
SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE SALE OF WATER.
THIS WAS ABOUT THE SALE OF THE FIRE SUPPRESSION CAPABILITY.
BUT AS ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS, I THOUGHT, RATHER ELOQUENTLY STATED TODAY, THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT THEY WANT TO GIVE US THEIR PROBLEM, AND WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO TAKE THEIR PROBLEM.
AND IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THIS NEVER WOULD COME BACK, BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THIS, AND THIS IS JUST ONE COMMISSIONER.
I'M YOU THE MAYOR SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF IS I WILL NOT FURTHER CONSIDER THIS UH FOR APPROVAL IN THE FUTURE AS LONG AS UM TWO THINGS AT THIS POINT THE CITY OF NEPTUNE BEACH HAS THE CAPABILITY ACCORDING TO MR DEMON NOW TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEM WITH A WATER TANK BEHIND UH PUBLICS AND OR THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW WATER TANK SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE AND NOW SECONDLY IT IS I AND THIS IS A CHANGE FROM WHERE I I MY THINKING WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I DO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT WHAT IS BEING DEVELOPED ON THAT SITE.
AND SO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SAID TO ME PERSONALLY THAT THEY'RE NOT OPPOSED TO GOOD DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT, I'LL HOLD YOU TO YOUR WORD JUST AS YOU ASKED ME TO STAY TO MY WORD.
AND THAT IS THIS CERTAINLY COULD BE REVISITED IN THE FUTURE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, BUT FOR THIS PERSON ON THIS DAIS… I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE UNLESS I KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT IS I'M
[01:10:02]
SUPPORTING AND THAT I AGREE THAT THAT IS NOT A DETRIMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH, AND THAT'S MY FINAL WORD ON THAT.I ALSO, TOO, YOU KNOW, HAD HEARD FROM CITY MANAGER AND FROM CITY MANAGER KEVIN THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THAT NEPTUNE BEACH HAD NOT FORMALIZED THIS REQUEST YET.
SO I DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, MY PREFERENCE WAS TO, TO, I'M KICKING IT DOWN THE ROAD, RIGHT, BUT NOT TO VOTE ON IT AT ALL UNTIL WE KNOW ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IF THEY ACTUALLY NEED US.
SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, IF WE VOTE NO ON THIS TONIGHT, I THOUGHT WE COULD NOT BRING ANYTHING BACK.
OR IS THERE A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD OR I DIDN'T THINK WE COULD REVISIT IT DOWN THE ROAD IF SOME, FOR SOME REASON.
WE WANT IT TO WHATEVER THE REASON IS THAT COUNSELOR.
YES, THAT'S GENERALLY CORRECT.
UM, TYPICALLY WHEN SOMETHING IS DENIED.
IT'S NOT BROUGHT BACK FOR A PERIOD OF A YEAR UNLESS IT'S SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED FROM THE, YOU KNOW, THE FORM IT WAS IN.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IT'S BROUGHT BACK IF IT'S CHANGED.
AND YOU ALL WILL HAVE TO BE THE DETERMINERS OF WHETHER.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE QUESTION AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENT ON THAT.
SO I'VE BEEN TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA OF TURNING ON THE FAUCET AND NOT SQUIRTING THE HOSE UNTIL THERE IS A FIRE, AS MR. DRYSDALE ELOQUENTLY EXPLAINED.
BUT THE SURROUNDING CIRCUMSTANCES OF HOW WE GOT TO THAT, ESPECIALLY FROM AFTER HEARING FROM NEPTUNE BEACH.
I GUESS I'LL JUST TRY AND THEN REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT'S REALLY BEEN SAID ON THE DAY.
AS WE'VE REALLY BEATEN THIS DEAD HORSE, I MEAN, AND IT TURNS OUT IT'S NOT EVEN OUR HORSE IN THE RACE.
SO FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SO WITHOUT A LOT OF, WITHOUT THE PLANS, THE SOLID PLANS, WITHOUT NEPTUNE BEACH AND LISTENING TO THE COUNCIL MEETING LAST MONDAY, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THEY'RE ALL THAT GUNG-HO ON THIS EITHER.
AND AGAIN, YES, IT'S NOT A CELL OF OUR WATER.
IT'S ALL THE FLORIDIAN'S AQUIFER.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN IT'S COMING DOWN TO ITS FIRE SUPPRESSION.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S COMMENT THERE ABOUT REMINDING US ALL THAT STEVE DEBENOW, THE LAWYER, DID STATE THIS TIME LAST YEAR WHEN WE MET TO DISCUSS THIS THAT IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE HOOKUP, FROM ATLANTIC BEACH THAT THEY COULD VERY WELL SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEM.
SO I AM WITH MS. RUCKUS ON THIS ONE THAT THAT'S THEIR PROBLEM AND DOESN'T NEED TO BE OURS.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, YOUR VOTE WOULD BE TO DENY THE RESOLUTION.
SO ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
[8.B. RESOLUTION NO. 26-58]
MOTION CARRIES AND THIS RESOLUTION IS DENIED.MOVING TO RESOLUTION OR YOU ITEM 8B RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-58 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF A 2026 T-MOBILE HOMETOWN GRANT APPLICATION UPON EXECUTION BY THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS AND DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE MR HOGAN CAMP THANK YOU MAYOR FORD OUR STAFF AND GRANT WRITER HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR A $50,000 GRANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT BEACHES VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK.
AND I CAN'T SAY THAT WITHOUT REMINDING YOU WHERE I STAND IN TERMS OF ANY PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT WE WOULD HAVE A COMMUNITY PROCESS OF SELECTING THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT THAT IS INSTALLED.
WE ASK THAT YOU ADOPT RESOLUTION NO.
658 SO THAT WE CAN PURSUE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I MOVE WE APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-58.
DISCUSSION? JUST ONE QUESTION.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING AROUND AND IT APPEARS THAT WE'RE UPGRADING ALL THE PLAYGROUNDS.
WERE THE FUNDS THERE FOR JORDAN AND DONNER AS WELL AND ROSE AND THEN THE T-MOBILE GRANT WAS NEEDED FOR THE VETERANS? SO THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION WILL ADDRESS BEACHES VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE CARRYING OUT OUR PARKS MASTER PLAN.
SO THESE PROJECTS ARE IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
AND SO THE FUNDS ALREADY PULLED OUT FOR THAT? WELL, THE FUNDS, FRANKLY, THIS, IF WE RECEIVE THIS GRANT, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PROGRAM IT INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
EITHER, EITHER BEFORE THE BUDGET'S APPROVED OR AFTER IT'S APPROVED,
[01:15:01]
WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE A HAVE IT APPROVED IN THE BUDGET TO ACCEPT THIS GRANT.I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
WELL, I JUST NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PLAYGROUND AND IT SORT OF DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH THIS GRANT IN PARTICULAR.
BUT ARE THE OTHER PLAYGROUNDS GOING TO BE RENOVATED AND WHERE THEY THEY DON'T PULL FROM THIS GRANT MONEY THAT THEY ALREADY PULLED FOR FROM THE BUDGET WE PASSED LAST YEAR? YES.
MOST MANY OF THE PLAYGROUNDS ARE BEING UPGRADED FOR OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
AND I THINK I WOULD SERVE YOU ALL IN THE COMMUNITY WELL BY LAYING THIS ALL OUT, WHAT ALL OF OUR PARK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENT PLANS ARE.
SO EXPECT JUST A FULL TIMELINE OF WHAT WE EXPECT MOVING FORWARD.
IS THIS BASED ON AN UPDATED MASTER PARKS PLAN? NO.
WILL IT BE INTEGRATED INTO THE UPGRADED MASTER PARKS PLAN? PRESUMABLY, UNLESS YOU PULL THE PLUG ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
WHEN WE ARE UPDATING THE PARKS MASTER PLAN, THIS WILL BE INCORPORATED IN IT.
FRANKLY, WHETHER YOU'LL APPROVE THIS AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, ULTIMATELY, IT WILL BE UP TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
SO THIS IS LIKE WE'RE REALLY ACTIVATING VETS PARK WITH BATHROOMS AND NOW WE GET PLAYGROUNDS, WE GET A BUILDING.
THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR US IN TERMS OF THE UNVEILING OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY ALREADY DELINEATE THE PARKING SPACES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES ON THE ROAD.
THIS WILL BE A PUBLIC-FUNDED PARKING PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING THERE? I DO, PRECISELY, COMMISSIONER.
OKAY, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
[8.C. RESOLUTION NO. 26-59]
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.MOVING TO ITEM 8C, RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-59, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, RECOMMENDING TO THE DUVAL COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD THAT ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS RESIDING WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL LIMITS OF ATLANTIC BEACH BE ZONED TO ATTEND ATLANTIC BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS THEIR FIRST CHOICE, PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS, PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
STAFF PUT THIS RESOLUTION TOGETHER AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER KELLY.
STAFF DOES RECOMMEND THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY'S EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES AND THE LONG TERM SOCIAL COHESION.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE DID GO THROUGH THIS LAST YEAR AND THE SUPERINTENDENT BERNIER WAS INVITED TO BEACHES WATCH BEGINNING OF THE MONTH.
AND I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST BECAUSE MY KIDS IN THAT SCHOOL.
AND A YEAR AGO, THE BIG PANIC WAS THAT WE WERE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, ON THE CLOSE THE SCHOOL KIND OF PANIC REACTION TO BUDGET SHORTFALLS.
SO THIS YEAR, IT WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE, THAT THEY'VE CLOSED THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY REALLY WANTED TO CLOSE.
AND HIS PRESENTATION WAS PRIMARILY BASED ON OTHER WAYS THAT THEY WERE ACCOUNTING FOR THE BUDGET SHORTFALL AND ESSENTIALLY STOPPING THE BLEEDING AND REORGANIZING THE WAY THAT THEY WERE SAVING MONEY AND THEY HAD ACCESS TO ANOTHER POT OF MONEY AND HOW THEY WERE GOING TO SPEND ALL THAT.
AND SO I MANAGED TO GRAB THE MIC, THE QUESTION AND ANSWER, AND I SAID, HEY.
YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WANT TO GET ALL ABE KIDS IN ABE SCHOOL.
AND THIS TIME, HE DID NOT SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THAT SCHOOL.
HE ANSWERED REASONABLY, OKAY, I REMEMBER THAT YOU ASKED LAST TIME.
HE SAYS, AND BEFORE I DO THAT, BEFORE I CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES, THESE ARE THE THINGS I'M GOING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
THE NUMBER OF FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH KIDS, THE BALANCE OF IT, THE SCHOOL GRADE AND TEST GRADES.
THE POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS OF BOTH SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY INPUT.
SO WE KNOW WE CAN GET COMMUNITY INPUT IN THIS PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY.
AND COMMISSIONER RING DID A GREAT JOB OF ADVOCATING FOR US AT DCPS LAST YEAR.
AND AT THE END OF HIS ANSWER, HE SAID THAT I COMMIT TO HAVING MY STAFF RE-EXAMINE THIS ISSUE.
SO MY STRATEGY IS THAT WE NOT LET UP.
OUR PRESSURE ON THEM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG IMPACT THAT THE QUALITY OF KIDS IN BOTH SCHOOLS ARE PRETTY MUCH SIMILAR COMMUNITIES AND THAT IT, I DON'T SEE THAT
[01:20:04]
THERE WOULD BE A BIG CHANGE IN ANY STATISTICS THAT HE'S GOING TO RELY ON TO MAKE THE CHANGE.NOW, PERSONALLY, I REALLY SUPPORT THIS MOVEMENT BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS IN THE NINE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS, RESENTED ME PERSONALLY GIVING MONEY TO ABE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ALL OF OUR KIDS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE CONTINUED TO GIVE THE GRANTS AND, AND, PEOPLE SAID, WELL, NEPTUNE BEACH DIDN'T ASK FOR ANY MONEY.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T BENEFIT OUR KIDS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
SO I WANT ALL OUR KIDS TO BE HERE WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT THEM WITH OUR GRANTS AND ANY OTHER SUPPORT WE CAN GIVE THEM.
SO KEVIN DID A GREAT JOB OF SMOOTHING OVER MY ENTHUSIASM AND CATCHING IT IN TERMS THAT SHOULD BE POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE.
SO TOGETHER WE WANT TO COMMIT TO LIKE KEEPING THE KEEP NAGGING THEM AGREED THANK YOU COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER BULL I READ SOMEWHERE MAYBE COMMISSIONER RING I THINK OUR REPRESENTATIVE IS LEAVING RIGHT IS SHE MOVING ON YES OTHER JOBS SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ENGAGE OUR NEW REPRESENTATIVE THAT WILL BE REPRESENTING JUST ADD THAT AGREED UM JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT COMMISSIONER KELLY WAS SAYING WE DID BRING THIS TO THE COMMISSION IN FALL OF 2024 UM AND WE UNANIMOUSLY SIGNED OFF ON IT, SENT IT TO DCPS, AND IT WAS NOTED.
SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
WE COULD DO IT AGAIN EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR ALL I CARE.
AS LONG AS I'M HERE, I WOULD ALWAYS APPROVE THIS.
AND FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT COMMISSIONER KELLY LAID OUT, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT IN DUVAL COUNTY, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SCHOOL CHOICE YOUR CHILDREN.
MY CHILDREN ARE SCHOOL-CHOICED INTO ATLANTIC BEACH.
HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL GROWING UP WEST OF MAYPORT ROAD, I WAS SENT TO NEPTUNE BEACH ELEMENTARY, A VERY FINE SCHOOL, WONDERFUL SCHOOL, AND I HAD VERY WONDERFUL MEMORIES THERE.
BUT YOU COULD STILL, IF YOU WANTED TO STAY AT NEPTUNE BEACH ELEMENTARY, YOU COULD CHOICE INTO THAT.
BUT THE POINT HERE IS THAT EVERY ATLANTIC BEACH CHILD SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SCHOOL-CHOICE INTO YOU OUR ONE AND ONLY SCHOOL IN THE CITY LINES OR IN OUR CITY ZONE.
SO THIS JUST MAKES SO MUCH SENSE TO ME.
SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KELLY, FOR FIGHTING THAT FIGHT.
AND THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER HOGENKAMP, FOR DRAFTING A SECOND RESOLUTION.
SO IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL
[9.A. ORDINANCE NO. 90-26-259, Public Hearing and Final Reading]
IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.ITEM 9A, ORDINANCE NUMBER 90-26-259, PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL READING.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, COUNTY OF DUVAL, STATE OF FLORIDA, APPROVING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND SOUTH COAST CAPITAL PARTNERSHIP LIMITED AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SAME TO PROVIDE FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT TO GOVERN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF 299 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD PROVIDING LANDSCAPE COMPENSATION, ALLOWING FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF A PORTION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS, OF COURSE, IS SECOND READING.
TELL ME, PLEASE, CITY CLERK, THE PUBLIC HEARING COMPONENT OF THIS.
STAFF DOES RECOMMEND THAT YOU ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE ON SECOND READ, AND IF NEEDED, DIRECTOR ASKEW OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AS IS MR. DEBENOW.
AT THIS TIME, THOUGH, WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? I DO, AND IT'S STEPHEN DEBENOW.
SO HE WAIVED HIS SPEAKING RIGHT, AND ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 90-26-259.
COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE THE SECOND.
THIS MIGHT BE THE EASIEST ONE THIS YEAR.
SINCE THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
[9.B. ORDINANCE NO. 20-26-182, Introduction and First Reading]
ON THE ROOF.OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM 9B, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20-26-182.
THIS IS INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
[01:25:01]
THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING A FIRST READ INVOLVES THREE.
ONE IS A NEW BUDGET ITEM THAT IS TO PAY FOR CIVIC CONSULTING GROUP TO PERFORM OUR FORENSIC FISCAL ANALYSIS RELATED TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
THIS THE AMOUNT IS $89,150, HALF OF WHICH WE WILL BE GETTING FROM THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
AND THEN THERE'S TWO NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO GET INTO OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
ONE PERTAINS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND THE OTHER IS RELATED TO THE ITEM THAT YOU JUST APPROVED ON SECOND READING.
THAT'S THE LANDSCAPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT FUND.
AND THAT ENABLES US TO PROGRAM, TO ACCEPT AND PROGRAM THIS.
NEW REVENUE INTO A NEW REVENUE FUND AND THAT AMOUNT IS $162,595.
THE AMOUNT FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IS $196,751.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND WE RECOMMEND YOU ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING WITH THE EXPECTATION OF HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING AT THE NEXT MEETING.
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 20-26-182.
YOU GOT THAT ONE, COMMISSIONER KELLY.
DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY
[11. CITY ATTORNEY/CITY CLERK REPORTS AND/OR REQUESTS]
WITH AN AYE.MOVING ON TO ITEM 11, CITY ATTORNEY.
WHAT SAY YOU? IT'S A SHORTER MEETING, SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD NIGHT FOR ME TO HAVE A LITTLE QUICK PRESENTATION.
I WOULDN'T CALL IT A PRESENTATION, MAYBE MORE OF A BRIEFING, BUT MORE OF A NOTICE.
SO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, I'M GOING TO FORWARD TO ALL OF YOU A IT'S ACTUALLY A NICE GUIDE THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE ATTORNEY'S CHAPTER OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.
IT'S A REALLY NICE GUIDE TO ANY LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED IN THIS LAST SESSION THAT AFFECTS MUNICIPALITIES AND MORE SO.
THAT ACTUALLY IMPOSES DUTIES ON US.
AND ACTUALLY, THIS IS A PRETTY ACTIVE SEASON.
I KNOW THEY ALL ARE TO SOME DEGREE, BUT THIS WAS A PARTICULARLY ACTIVE SEASON FOR LEGISLATION.
MOST OF THESE BILLS HAVE NOT BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR YET, BUT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE VETOES OF ANY OF THEM.
SO WE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO COME INTO PLAY.
AND THEY RANGE FROM UTILITY REQUIREMENTS TO SOME NEW POLICE FEATURES.
CHIEF, I'LL ACTUALLY INCLUDE YOU ON THIS EMAIL.
TO SOME LAND USE REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE COME UP AND FOR POPULATIONS THAT ARE GREATER THAN 10,000, WHICH I BELIEVE WE ARE RIGHT.
JUST 1 QUICK SAMPLING ON THE POLICE SIDE OF THINGS.
THERE'S A MICRO MOBILITY DEVICE LEGISLATION.
YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE OF THIS SHEET.
THAT REQUIRES POLICE OFFICES TO MAINTAIN RECORDS OF MICRO MOBILITY DEVICE CRASHES AND TO PROVIDE THIS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
JUST SOME OBSCURE STUFF, SOME UTILITY STUFF.
SO IN ANY EVENT, RATHER THAN GO LINE BY LINE, AND I'M HAPPY TO IF YOU GUYS EVER WANT THAT, I'LL SEND YOU THE MEMO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
IT ACTUALLY HAS SOME LINKS YOU CAN CLICK ON.
AND IF THERE'S ANY PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION OR BRIEFING YOU WANT ON A PARTICULAR BILL, LET ME KNOW, AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.
BUT I'LL BE GETTING WITH KEVIN TO KIND OF GENERALLY OFFLINE AND NOT TO BORE YOU GUYS WITH IT TO GET WITH.
THESE ARE MOSTLY OPERATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE TYPE REQUIREMENTS, NOT ANYTHING FOR YOUR, YOU KNOW, DAIS OPERATIONS, REALLY MORE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONAL STUFF.
SO ANYWAY, WITH THAT, I'LL GET THAT TO YOU IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND CERTAINLY CALL ME OR EMAIL ME.
YOU MIGHT HAVE, BUT THAT'S IT.
NEW ONLINE CAMPAIGN FINANCE PORTAL IS UP AND RUNNING.
WE HAD OUR FIRST CANDIDATE FILE USING THAT NEW SYSTEM.
WE PROVIDED A COMBINATION OF AN INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO AND SUPPLEMENTAL WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS, AND THE CANDIDATE GAVE POSITIVE FEEDBACK SAYING
[01:30:01]
IT'S EASY TO USE.BEFORE I MOVE ON, DID WE DO ANYTHING TONIGHT THAT YOU NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT? THE ONLY ONE THAT I MISSED HEARING A MOTION ON WAS...
THAT WAS 8C, 8C, RESOLUTION NUMBER 2659.
DID SOMEONE DEFINITELY MAKE A MOTION ON 2659 AND GET A SECOND? I THOUGHT WE DID.
MR. REHM, DID YOU MAKE A MOTION? THAT WAS FOR THE SCHOOL DESIGNATION, NEPTUNE BEACH TO ATLANTIC BEACH.
YEAH, I THINK I DID THAT ONE, BUT WE CAN DO IT AGAIN IF THAT HELPS.
WELL, BUT WHO WOULD HAVE SECONDED IT? YOU WERE IN THERE.
WELL, I GUESS YOU BROUGHT IT BEFORE.
I HAD MY DEFENSE OF MY EMOTION.
OKAY, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE.
VIDEO SAY THAT WE DIDN'T MOVE ON IT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS? I THINK JUST WE'RE HERE, WE'RE HERE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2659.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES.
[12. CLOSING COMMENTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGER]
THANK YOU.COMMISSIONER RING, I'M GOING TO LET YOU LEAD OFF.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE STARTED OUT, THOSE THREE.
I SEE THEM EVERY TIME THERE'S AN EVENT.
I THINK I SAW THEM AT CHRISTMAS TIME DRESSED AS ELVES, MAYBE.
SO THEY'RE VERY DEDICATED AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION DID END, BUT A SPECIAL SESSION WILL BE CALLED ON MONDAY AND WE'LL HEAR MORE WHAT THAT WILL ENTAIL AND WHETHER IT WILL ENTAIL.
A SISTER BILL TO THE HOUSE BILL OF PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS POSED AS RELIEF.
I DID WANT TO SAY WITH OUR COUNSEL WHO JUST SHARED THAT HE WOULD SEND AN EMAIL, TIFFANY MCCLINNEY FROM THE FLORIDA GROUP DID SEND US A REALLY GOOD SYNOPSIS AS WELL THAT I LOOKED AT, AND THAT'S FROM MARCH 16TH.
YEAH, I IN FACT HAVE A FEW THINGS, AND I GUESS I HAVE 56 MINUTES.
I DO HAVE TWO THINGS, AND ONE OF THEM, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE I'M SURE AS HE WAS SITTING THERE AND WATCHED THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT GO UP IN FLAMES, HE WAS PROBABLY THINKING ABOUT THE HOURS THAT HE SPENT CRAFTING AND WORKING ON THAT.
TO THE WORK THAT YOU DID ON THAT.
THAT'S APPRECIATED, I'M SURE, BY EVERYBODY UP HERE.
NUMBER TWO, AS YOU LOOK AT THE I WAS THINKING OF THINGS AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PROPOSAL COMPANY THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME JUST SOME STATISTICS.
I THINK YOU SHOULD LOOK AT AS YOU SCREEN THESE, YOU KNOW, AND YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IN FLORIDA, THE AVERAGE TENURE OF A CITY MANAGER IS FIVE POINT SIX YEARS.
THAT'S ACROSS ALL THE CITIES AND COUNTIES IN FLORIDA.
I THINK ONE THING WE SHOULD DO.
IS LOOK AT THIS AS A BEST VALUE PROPOSITION.
IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO WAYS THEY LOOK AT A PROPOSAL.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT QUALITY DO WE GET FOR THE R DOLLAR, RIGHT? KIND OF MAKES SENSE.
BUT THERE'S ALSO LPTA, LOWEST PRICE TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE, ALL RIGHT? $800 TOILET.
IT'S BEEN DONE A LOT, OKAY? SO I HOPE THAT WE LOOK AT IT AS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, AND WE WANT THE BEST VALUE.
THE INTERESTING THING I THINK YOU SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT IS LOCAL PLACEMENT OF THESE COMPANIES.
WE HAVE TWO LOCAL CITIES THAT WERE WITHIN 50 MILES OF HERE THAT SPENT MORE THAN $200,000 ON A SEARCH FIRM, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND THEIR CITY MANAGERS, YOU PROBABLY, I KNOW KEVIN PROBABLY, THEY SPENT LESS THAN SIX MONTHS THERE FOR WHATEVER REASON. YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT A GOOD TRACK RECORD.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT. COMMISSIONER GRANT WOULDN'T LET ME LEAVE TONIGHT IF I DIDN'T SAY AI. WORKS REALLY GOOD IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT. I'M SURE YOU APPRECIATED THAT. ACTUALLY, IT DOES PARSE THE NUMBERS. AND ONE THING I WANT, I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. I METICULOUSLY KEPT KEVIN OUT OF THIS, OKAY? AND ALSO, AS WE GO
[01:35:01]
THROUGH THESE PROPOSALS, BE VERY CAREFUL, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. AS FAR AS SUNSHINE LAW VIOLATIONS, WE HAVE TO MYOPICALLY LOOK, YOU KNOW, DOWN THE TUBE AT OUR PICKS BECAUSE ANY SHARING OF THAT WOULDN'T BE GOOD. SO I KNOW THIS IS MINUTIAE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE MOVING ON LINE, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT IN THE FACT THAT AS WE MOVE THROUGH, WE SET GOALS. THANK YOU.COMMISSIONER KELLY. I HAVE NOTHING. OK. CITY MANAGER.
NOTHING. AS LONG AS YOU EMPHASIZE THE MUSEUMS. ONE HUNDRED. SO THIS IS GIVING ME MY ONLY COMMENT. OK. SO LET ME SEE A SHOW OF HANDS. WHO THINKS THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO ATTEND BETWEEN SIX AND EIGHT ON FRIDAY EVENING, THE 17TH THIS WEEK AT THE MUSEUM? SIX TO EIGHT.
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT. 6 P.M. TO 7 OR TO 8. FREE BEVERAGES? NO, THERE'S A JAR. I'LL BUY YOU A DRINK. THAT'S ALL I CAN DO. I CAN'T TALK TO YOU, BUT I'LL BUY YOU A DRINK. I'LL DO SOMETHING ELSE IN THE MORNING. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MR. HOGENKAMP, DO YOU THINK YOU'LL MAKE IT? I THINK I MIGHT. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU.
IT'S PENCILED IN. THANKS. SO IT WAS. A GOOD MEETING, AND WE HAD SOME GOOD PARTICIPATION. THE BOY SCOUTS OR ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT THE BOY SCOUTS NOW.
IT'S THE SCOUTS, RIGHT? THERE'S GIRLS AND BOYS IN THAT, BUT ALSO THE CHILDREN FROM MAYPORT MIDDLE AND THE AWARDS TO THE VOLUNTEERS. SO I SO APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I REALLY WANT TO PICK OUT ONE OUTSTANDING THING THAT I NOTED, AND THAT IS TWO MEETINGS IN A ROW WHERE COMMISSIONER KELLY AND I SEEM TO AGREE ON PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING. I KNOW.
I KNOW. IT'S CONCERNING, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. YOU'LL FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU. SO ANYWAYS, WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.