Apr 27, 2026 Commission Meeting

[00:00:03]

WELCOME RESIDENTS,

[CALL TO ORDER ]

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TOGETHER TODAY ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM AS WE BEGIN THIS COUNCIL COMMISSION MEETING. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR. FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY ENTRUSTED TO US.

GRANT THIS COMMISSION THE ABILITY TO LISTEN WITH OPEN HEARTS, SPEAK WITH HONESTY AND WORK TOGETHER IN UNITY EVEN WHEN FACING CHALLENGING DISCUSSIONS. MAY OUR DECISIONS TONIGHT BE ROOTED IN JUSTICE, EQUITY AND SINCERE DESIRE TO SERVE THE WELFARE OF OUR CITIZENS. IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN.

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.

BEFORE WE OPEN THE MEETING, I HAVE TO RELINQUISH CONTROL OF THE GAVEL THIS EVENING BECAUSE WE HAVE A MAYOR FOR THE DAY WHO HAS SPENT PART OF THE DAY WITH ME, AND HER MOTHER JOINED US EARLIER.

AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MAYOR RUBY RENATO. RUBY WAS.

WAVE TO EVERYBODY.

MAYOR. MAYOR. MAYOR RENATO IS ONE OF OUR STUDENTS AT ATLANTIC BEACH ELEMENTARY.

I SEE HER ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND SHE'S GOING TO ASK FOR A FEW THINGS LATER, AND I'M NOT GOING TO STEAL HER THUNDER, BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A SHORT STORY BEFORE WE OPEN AND WHY I AM SO FOND OF THIS MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, SHE WILL BE THE YOUNGEST MAYOR OF ATLANTIC BEACH EVER. SHE'S IN FIRST GRADE, ABOUT TO GRADUATE AND GO TO SECOND GRADE.

AND SO IT'S UNUSUAL TO HAVE SOMEBODY THIS YOUNG, BUT WHEN YOU SEE HER STAND UP, SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S THIRD OR FOURTH GRADE. SO SHE IS CERTAINLY A GOOD PICK FOR THIS. BUT THE STORY I HAVE TO TELL YOU IS HOW I MET MISS RUBY.

MAYOR RUBY. SO I MET HER IN THE AUDITORIUM AT BEACH.

AT ATLANTIC BEACH ELEMENTARY TWO YEARS AGO.

SHE CAME UP. WELL, IT'D BE LAST YEAR, BUT SHE CAME UP TO ME, AND SHE WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT BASHFUL, NOT SHY AT ALL. AND SHE ASKED ME TO BUY GIRL SCOUT COOKIES FROM HER BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE WANTED THE MAYOR TO BUY THEIR GIRL SCOUT COOKIES.

BUT THIS ONE IS THE ONE THAT GOT THE ORDER. WELL, THAT WAS ALL WELL AND GOOD BECAUSE I'M NEVER GOING TO REFUSE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES. I LOVE THEM AND I LOVE THE CHILDREN.

HERE'S THE RUB IS, I RAN INTO HER A FEW WEEKS LATER AT LOWE'S HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE.

I DIDN'T REMEMBER THAT. IT WAS THE LITTLE GIRL FROM THE AUDITORIUM.

AND SHE CLOSED ME A SECOND TIME ON A SECOND ORDER OF GIRL SCOUT COOKIES. SO I. I JOKINGLY REFER TO THE FLEECING OF THE MAYOR BY OUR MAYOR FOR THE DAY.

THAT'S RUBY RENATO. AND WELCOME, RUBY. SO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER? OKAY. SO GAVEL. PLEASE COME IN TO ORDER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO WE'LL.

WE'LL OPEN UP THE MEETING IN JUST A SECOND.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER BOLE. PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER GRANT.

PRESENT. COMMISSIONER KELLY.

PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER RING. PRESENT.

MAYOR FORD.

PRESENT. THANK YOU.

AND LET IT BE NOTED THAT THIS IS THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, DATED 4-27-19 OR 2026, HERE IN CITY CHAMBERS. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. THE

[ 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JOINT WORKSHOP OF THE CITY COMMISSION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE HELD ON MARCH 2, 2026. DO WE HAVE ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS? HEARING NONE. THE MINUTES WILL STAND AS PRESENTED.

ITEM 1B. APPROVE MINUTES AT THE COMMISSION WORKSHOP ON CITY CODE CHAPTER 23 HELD ON MARCH 2, 2026. ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS? HEARING NONE.

THE MINUTES STAND AS SUBMITTED.

ITEM 1C. APPROVED MINUTES OF THE PRIORITY SETTING WORKSHOP HELD ON APRIL 6, 2026.

DO WE HAVE ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS? THE MINUTES STAND.

[00:05:01]

ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS? THE MINUTES STAND AS SUBMITTED.

THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE

[2.COURTESY OF FLOOR TO VISITORS]

LAIA. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED IN? ONE. ONE.

OKAY. IMAGINE. ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEAK? WE GOT ROOM.

OKAY. LET'S CALL OUR SINGULAR PRESENTER, BRINKLEY. HAROLD.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITIZENS, AS YOU CAN PROBABLY IMAGINE, FOR THOSE THAT HAVE READ THROUGH THE AGENDA. YES, I AM GOING TO ONCE AGAIN TALK ABOUT ITEM 8D, THE RESOLUTION ABOUT CONTINUING TO PAY MORE AND MORE AND MORE TO COJ FOR FIRE PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

WE PAID FOR 25 YEARS UNDER A LEGITIMATE CONTRACT THAT WE PAID OFF OVER TO RIGHT AT TWO YEARS AGO.

THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER WAS SUPPOSED TO ENGAGE WITH THE COJ CHIEF OF STAFF WASN'T ABLE TO DO THAT. APPARENTLY, WE ENDED UP PAYING, I THINK, ANOTHER MILLION AND A HALF FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR. OKAY, AND THEN STILL NO MOVEMENT ON THE ILA TO INCLUDE THIS.

AND SO THEN UNDER MAYOR FORD'S LEADERSHIP, HE ENGAGED DIRECTLY WITH MAYOR DEEGAN. THEY CUT A DEAL TO CUT THE SECOND YEAR IN HALF AT 750,000. THAT YEAR IS COMING TO AN END NEXT MONTH, OR MAYBE IT'S THIS ONE.

REGARDLESS, NOW COJ WANTS US TO PAY ANOTHER 750,000 FOR A THIRD YEAR. OUR CONTRACT ENDED TWO YEARS AGO. WE BOUGHT IN.

WE TURNED OVER OUR ENTIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE PERSONNEL, THE PENSION BOARD, THE EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING TO COJ AND WE PAID IT OFF IN 25 YEARS. JUST LIKE YOUR HOME MORTGAGE.

AFTER YOU PAY OFF YOUR MORTGAGE, YOU DON'T KEEP PAYING THE MORTGAGE COMPANY.

IT'S DONE. WE BOUGHT IN AND IT'S OVER WITH. I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE WON'T CONTI.

THAT YOU ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL NOT CONTINUE TO ALLOW US TO BE FLEECED BY COJ.

ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, WE ARE BEING DOUBLE TAXED. MY PROPERTY TAXES, YOUR PROPERTY TAXES THAT YOU PAY TO THE COUNTY ARE FUNDING THAT COUNTY SERVICE, THE JF JACKSONVILLE FIRE AND RESCUE DIVISION.

OKAY. ALSO I'M AS TAXPAYERS HERE, WE'RE PAYING TAXES TO CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH. AND THEN CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH IS PAYING $750,000 OR A MILLION AND A HALF IN THE LAST YEAR OF THAT CONTRACT TO COJ FOR JFRD.

WE'RE BEING DOUBLE TAXED.

WE'RE PAYING TWICE FOR IT.

OKAY, SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF WE STOP PAYING? NOT A DOGGONE THING.

STATION 55, ENGINE 55 RIGHT HERE IS PART OF THE OVERALL PICTURE OF JFRD FIRE PROTECTIVE SERVICES ON THIS SIDE OF DUVAL COUNTY. THERE'S A STATION UP AT MAYPORT, STATION 41.

THERE'S A STATION IN QUEENS, HARBOR, STATION 58.

THERE'S A STATION DOWN IN JACK'S BEACH, RIGHT ALONG 3RD STREET AT 2ND AVENUE SOUTH. STATION 71. IF ENGINE 55 IN THIS STATION WERE TO GO AWAY, THERE WOULD BE A HUGE GAP IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE EACH OF THOSE STATIONS, MAYPORT, QUEENS HARBOR, JACKSON BEACH, ATLANTIC BEACH, THEY ALL BACK UP EACH OTHER.

YOU CAN SEE ENGINE 55 ALL THE WAY DOWN IN JACK'S BEACH AT TIMES. YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERCOASTAL BECAUSE THEY BACK UP EACH OTHER. IT'S LIKE A REALLY VICIOUS VENN DIAGRAM, YOU KNOW? YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE THAT STATION.

OH, AND MAYOR DEEGAN HAPPENS TO LIVE RIGHT OVER HERE ON MY STREET ALSO. YOU KNOW, SHE. SHE CAN'T POSSIBLY ALLOW THE FIRE PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO LEAVE FROM THE REGION AROUND HER OWN HOME HERE IN ATLANTIC BEACH.

IT JUST AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT WE'RE DISINCENTIVIZING COJ ON THIS WHOLE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT'S FINALLY UNDERWAY, THAT'S FINALLY GETTING STARTED THROUGH USE OF A DISINTERESTED THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA. WHEN YOU KEEP PAYING AND PAYING AND PAYING, THE OTHER SIDE DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING.

SO LET'S JUST STOP. LET'S JUST STOP THE BLEEDING. YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME THAT WE BE A BIT MORE ATTUNED TO OUR OWN BUDGET HERE AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

YOU KNOW, COJ IS NOT GOING TO SUE US. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUE THEM. NOT OVER THIS.

YOU KNOW, WE. WE MAY GET TO THAT POINT

[00:10:01]

BUT WE DON'T NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER WITH PAYING COJ FOR FIRE PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANYONE'S GOT ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SORRY THERE'S NO.

NO APPLAUSE IN THE CHAMBERS, BUT THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE.

AS HAS BECOME OUR. OUR CUSTOM HERE IS WE CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HIT MILESTONES, DISTINCTIVE YEARS OF SERVICE. AND SO TONIGHT I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED TO PRESENT.

WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN AND.

AND PRESENT IT AT THE LECTERN.

BUT THIS IS A GENTLEMAN WHO'S BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 35 YEARS.

THAT'S A LONG TIME. HE STILL LOOKS LIKE HE'S NOT MUCH OLDER THAN 35 YEARS OLD, BUT HE IS. AND THIS IS FOR 35 YEARS OF SERVICE.

WITH GRATITUDE, WE THANK VIC WALILO, OUR POLICE CHIEF. A MAYOR. YOU MET POLICE CHIEF AT LUNCH TODAY, DIDN'T YOU? DID YOU KNOW HE'S BEEN HERE 35 YEARS? YEAH.

OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, SO, MR. HOGENCAMP, WOULD YOU JOIN ME? GO AHEAD.

SO, CHIEF, I'VE BEEN. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING ONLY THREE YEARS AS MAYOR, WHATEVER. WE ARE JUST EXTREMELY BLESSED IN THIS CITY TO HAVE THIS KIND OF LEADERSHIP FOR THIS LONG, BECAUSE TIME MATTERS IN.

IN BUILDING A TEAM. AND IF YOU HAVE NEVER, ONE DAY MAYBE YOU'LL BE LUCKY ENOUGH LIKE I'VE BEEN TO WALK THROUGH OUR POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

SURE.

WE DON'T RUN AN OPEN HOUSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING CARE OF CRIMINALS AND OTHER THINGS.

BUT. BUT IN THE HEADQUARTERS, THERE'S A HISTORY ON THE WALLS OF PHOTOGRAPHS GOING BACK TO, I THINK WE DECIDED 60S, 32, I THINK 19, 36.

SO, OF COURSE, THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS PREDATES CHIEF TORILO, BUT HIS PICTURES ON THE WALL IN A COUPLE LOCATIONS OVER THERE. AND WE'RE JUST EXTREMELY PROUD THAT WE HAVE YOU LEADING THE TEAM. AND IT SHOWS UP.

WE TALK ABOUT THIS FROM TIME TO TIME. IT SHOWS UP IN WHAT.

WHAT THE CHIEF TEACHES TO THE NEW OFFICERS.

AND THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS.

ONE IS WE'RE A SMALL COMMUNITY AND YOU REACH OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE. WE DON'T JUST DRIVE BY A PATROL CAR AND DON'T ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN.

WE TALK TO PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE ENGAGE THE CITIZENS. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO CELEBRATE ABOUT OUR CHIEF IS IT'S NOT ABOUT HIM.

IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE THAT. THAT WORK FOR HIM AND WORK FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE LAND.

BE SO AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY HE IS FINDING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE DONE WORKED BY OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND CELEBRATING THEM RIGHT HERE IN CHAMBER.

SO CHIEF, THIS IS FOR 35 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH GRATITUDE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS. THANK YOU. OKAY, LET'S SEE.

[3. CITY MANAGER REPORTS]

CONSENSUS. WE HAVE CONSENSUS.

THANK YOU.

SEE MY REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS AVAILABLE AS YOU ENTER INTO THE COMMISSION CHAMBER IS ALSO PUBLISHED ONLINE AT COAB.USFORWARD/CITYMANAGER, STARTING WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE AN UPDATE THERE. ADAM THORNTON HAS RESIGNED AS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND WE WISH HIM THE VERY BEST IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

AND I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MATT KRUG HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO THE POSITION OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS.

DURING THIS TRANSITION. MATT WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO ME, WILL INITIATE A RECRUITMENT PROCESS TO FOR A NEW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AND THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM CONTINUES TO DO EXCEPTIONAL WORK AND HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN MATT'S LEADERSHIP AND AND THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO KEEP OUR VITAL PROJECTS AND DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITIES MOVING TOWARD FORWARD WITHOUT A HITCH. AN UPDATE ON THE DROUGHT DUO COUNTY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS FACING ITS DRIEST CONDITIONS AND STILL EVEN AFTER YESTERDAY'S LITTLE SHOWER SINCE 1872, PROMPTING A

[00:15:04]

THE CITY DOES NOT ALLOW FIRES AT DUTTON ISLAND PRESERVE FOR THE TIME BEING. AND TO PRESERVE THE LOCAL AQUIFER, THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS MANDATING THAT RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION BE STRICTLY LIMITED TO ONE SPECIFIC DAY PER WEEK.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THESE RESTRICTIONS, THEY'RE ON OUR WEBSITE AND THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THE CITY. THE 2020. 25.

I'M SORRY. THE 2025 ATLANTIC BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND WILL BE POSTED ONLINE THIS WEEK. EACH OF THE CITY COMMISSION MEMBERS HAS IT.

IT HIGHLIGHTS A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL SUCCESSES, INCLUDING REACHING FULL STAFFING LEVELS FOR BOTH SWORN AND CIVILIAN POSITIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT ACHIEVED A 40% REDUCTION IN THE OVERALL CRIME RATE OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, DRIVEN LARGELY BY A 43% DECREASE IN PROPERTY CRIMES. THOSE THOSE CRIMES, THEFT AND SHOPLIFTING ARE EXAMPLES OF THOSE CRIMES.

THE DEPARTMENT COMBINED PUBLIC EDUCATION AND HELMET DISTRIBUTION WITH INCREASED OFFICER PATROLS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF BIKE AND E BIKE SAFETY AND ENFORCEMENT.

PROFESSIONALISM REMAINS A CORE FOCUS AS EVIDENCED BY THE AGENCY MAINTAINING DUAL ACCREDITATION FROM BOTH STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONS, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS ISSUED A POLICY MANDATING THAT PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND UTILITIES PERSONNEL REMOVE UNAUTHORIZED SIGNS FROM PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY DURING THEIR DAILY ROUTINES.

PRIORITIZING MEDIANS IN THE AREAS BETWEEN CURBS AND THE SIDEWALK.

STAFF IS DIRECTED TO TRANSPORT THOSE SIGNS TO THE PUBLIC WORKS YARD FOR DISPOSAL OR RECYCLING. AND TO ADDRESS THESE RECURRING VIOLATIONS, EMPLOYEES MUST DOCUMENT REPEAT OFFENDERS. WHO WILL HEAR FROM US? MARSH HOOKS COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE.

IN ANTICIPATION OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING TONIGHT'S BUDGET AMENDMENT, STAFF HAS SCHEDULED A PRE CONSTRUCTION MEETING FOR THE PARKING LOT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. THAT'S FOR LATER THIS WEEK. AND NEXT ON TAP WILL BE TWO COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS TO HELP DEFINE THE OPERATIONAL FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO AS WE ENTER THE FINAL PHASE OF RENOVATION, THE CITY WILL TURN TO ITS MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES, RESIDENTS TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING A PROGRAMMING STRATEGY. THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND GARDEN ARE SLATED TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER. REMINDING EVERYONE ABOUT THE MAY 2ND TOWN HALL THIS SATURDAY, 2PM LET'S TALK TREE PROTECTION.

THAT'S THE THEME OF THE TOWN HALL. ALL THE RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO COME TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

THAT'S 10AM SATURDAY IN THIS ROOM.

AND ALSO ON THE CALENDAR THIS SATURDAY IS BEACH AS WELL FEST FROM 8:30 TO 2 AT JOHANSEN PARK. AND WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST TENNIS SOCIAL. OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL HOST A TENNIS SOCIAL AT 9AM THIS SATURDAY AT JACK RUSSELL PARK.

AND AS PLANNING ITSELF SUMMER YOUTH TENNIS CLINIC IN. IN JULY. BE DELIGHTED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANYONE HAS.

COMMISSIONER RING. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER HOGENCAMP. I DID HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE MARSH OAK CENTER WAS SLATED TO OPEN.

OH, YEAH, IT'S OKAY. OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD.

DID YOU GET ANY UPDATES REGARDING THE MAYPORT ROAD IMPROVEMENT? SOMETIME AFTER JUNE IS THE BEST. THEY WILL TELL ME. SO.

YES. SO JULY WILL BE THE EARLIEST WE SEE ANY MOBILIZATION FROM. I UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS.

THAT'S YOUR ENTIRE REPORT.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. BUT NOW WE HAVE THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND YOU HAVE THAT ON THERE WITH YOUR NAME. SO ARE YOU UPDATING US ON THE FIRE LINE? 3H.

3H. THAT'S A HOLDOVER. OKAY.

I'M KIND OF GLAD THAT THIS DIDN'T ALL OF A SUDDEN COME BACK TO US THIS TIME. SO. OKAY, GOOD ON THAT.

AND THEN THE FDEP CONSENT ORDER. IS THAT A HOLDOVER? THAT'S NOT A. THAT'S OLD.

OKAY. AND ITEM 3J. YEAH, I THINK ALL THAT'S OLD.

THAT'S OKAY. SO WE CAN MOVE.

MOVE RIGHT

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

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE AT ITEM FOUR ON THE AGENDA. AND WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER BOLE TO REPORT. GO AHEAD.

[00:20:02]

COME WITH A SOLUTION. SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY AND WHAT I THINK IS A GREAT SOLUTION. SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SINCE LATE 2013, ATLANTIC BEACH HAS NAVIGATED FREQUENT CHANGES IN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.

NOTABLY, NONE OF ITS LAST FOUR PERMANENT CITY MANAGERS HAVE SERVED MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS. PERMANENT CITY MANAGER 10 YEARS APPOINTED SINCE 2014 HAVE SERVED ON THE AVERAGE OF JUST APPROXIMATELY 26 MONTHS. NELSON VAN LEER DECEMBER 2014 TO 2017, 25 MONTHS RECRUITMENT WAS MANAGED BY AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM.

JOE GARRITY, OCTOBER 2017 TO OCTOBER 29, 24 MONTHS. SHANE CORBIN 2019 TO FEBRUARY 2023, 28 MONTHS. BILL KILLINGS WERE SEPTEMBER 2023 TO JANUARY 2026, 28 MONTHS.

THAT'S INTERIM APPOINTMENTS AND INTERNAL SUPPORT HAVE BEEN VITAL DURING THESE TRANSITION, TOTALING 32.5 MONTHS OF INTERIM SERVICE SINCE 2013, MORE THAN THE SERVICE OF ANY OF THE OTHER FOUR PERMANENT CITY MANAGERS DURING THAT PERIOD. AS OF LATE 2026, THE EARLIEST THE CITY IS EXPECTED TO HIRE A NEW MANAGER, KEVIN HOGANCAMP WILL HAVE SERVED AS THE OFFICIALLY APPOINTED INTERIM TWICE FOR A TOTAL OF 14 MONTHS.

17, 7.5 MONTHS 6.5 THE TRANSITION SUPPORT THAT HE'S BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN PERMANENT CITY MANAGERS DURING THIS TIME HAS BEEN EVEN MORE TIME THAN THAT.

BY 2026, HOGAN CALF'S 14 MONTHS OF OFFICIAL INTERIM SERVICE ALONE REPRESENTS ABOUT HALF THE TIME SERVED AS A TENURE OF A CITY MANAGER SINCE 2013.

IF KEVIN HOGANCAMP IS HIRED PERMANENTLY AND SERVES AT LEAST 16 MONTHS, HIS COMBINED TENURE AS INTERIM AND CITY MANAGER WILL BE THE LONGEST IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE SINCE 2013. IF HE SERVES AS A CITY FOR 29 MONTHS, HE WILL BECOME THE LONGEST SERVING PERMANENT CITY MANAGER IN ATLANTIC BEACH SINCE 2013.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE THROWN OUT THE TERM.

HEY, THE AVERAGE CITY MANAGER IN FLORIDA IS ABOUT FIVE, FIVE YEARS, GIVE AND TAKE. FOR US, IT'S NOT OKAY.

YOU CAN JUST SEE THE HISTORY THERE. I GUESS MY POINT IS TWO THINGS COULD BE HAPPENING HERE.

WE COULD BE HIRING NOT THE RIGHT GUY, OR WE COULD NOT BE PROVIDING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT CITY MANAGER TO FLOURISH.

RIGHT? I MEAN, JUST AS A PR OR HR PERSON. YOU LOOK AT THAT. I'VE TALKED TO A FEW PEOPLE THAT KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AND, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I CAME AWAY WITH.

AND I SAID, WOW, WE'VE GOT A GUY HERE. AND I'VE HEARD THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN KEVIN GO THROUGH A BUDGET CYCLE OR I DON'T KNOW IF KEVIN'S DONE THIS OR DONE THAT. WELL, I CAN TELL YOU IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE MATH AND LOOK AT THE TIME FRAMES, YOU'LL SEE THAT HE HAS BEEN HERE AND HE HAS CONTRIBUTED AND HE'S MADE ATLANTIC BEACH A BETTER PLACE.

RIGHT. I KNOW. I'M THE PROPONENT OF GOING THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM.

I SEE MY FRIEND BOB THERE SITTING IN THE OFFICE, PROBABLY IN HERE, PROBABLY SHAKING HIS HEAD.

BUT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SAVE THIS CITY WELL OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. I WOULD ESTIMATE WITH CITY TIME, PROBABLY ABOUT 150 TO $200,000 IN THE INTERIM PAYMENT.

NOW, REMEMBER, MR. HOGENCAMP THERE IS NOW SERVING IN TWO JOBS, HIS OLD JOB AND HIS CURRENT JOB. RIGHT.

SO I SEE THAT AS A VALUE ADDED AND MONEY SAVED TO THE CITY.

SO I KNOW I'M GOING THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF HERE, SO. BUT CAN I ASK HOW MUCH TIME YOU'RE GOING TO NEED ON THIS? AS MUCH AS I WANT.

NO, NO, I'M GOING TO LIMIT YOUR TIME. GO AHEAD AND SET THE CLOCK AT TWO MINUTES. LADASIA, WE'LL GO WITH TWO MINUTES FOR EACH.

COMMISSIONER. YOU CAN HAVE MY TWO MINUTES, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. SO I'M ALMOST DONE.

THANK YOU.

BUT, BUT HOW YOU CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS THAT AS MANY CITIES HAVE, YOU GIVE THEM, YOU HIRE THE CITY MANAGER AND YOU GIVE THEM A SIX MONTH PERFORMANCE REVIEW WHERE YOU HAVE GOALS AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND YOU SAY YOU HAVE MET THESE GOALS OR NOT MET THESE GOALS. WE CAN SAVE THE CITY MONEY, TIME AND MOVE FORWARD BY GOING AHEAD AND TAKING A RESOLUTION 2060 AND AMENDING IT AND MAKE MR. HOGENCAMP, CITY MANAGER OF THIS CITY TODAY WITH A SIX MONTH REVIEW PERIOD.

IF YOU'RE TELLING ME HE HASN'T BEEN HERE AND MADE A POSITIVE CHANGE AND BEEN PART OF THIS, I WOULD DISPUTE THAT. SO I THINK I'VE GOT A MINUTE AND 15 LEFT. RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO YIELD THAT BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER KELLY.

THANKS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BOLE, COMMISSIONER KELLY, JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DEEP THOUGHTS ABOUT TREES AND SATURDAY'S THE DAY TO COME AND TELL US ABOUT THEM.

[00:25:02]

COMMISSIONER RING , YES. SO LAST FRIDAY AND THESE WEEKS JUST KEEP BLOWING RIGHT BY.

MAYBE IT WAS THE FRIDAY BEFORE LAST, WE SAT FOR THE BEACHES MUSEUM ATLANTIC BEACH 100TH BIRTHDAY, WHICH WAS FANTASTIC THAT THEY HOSTED THAT. THE EXHIBIT IS ON DISPLAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS MONTH OR MAYBE EVEN INTO THE SUMMER. SO I WANT TO RECOMMEND ALL CITIZENS TO GO AND CHECK THAT OUT.

AS WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 100TH YEAR BIRTHDAY. WE ALSO HAD THE OPENING OF THE BEACHES. THE FLOAT WAS JUST FANTASTIC.

IT WAS, I THOUGHT, THE BEST OF ALL THE FLOATS THERE. I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS OUR STATE LEGISLATORS ARE MEETING.

THEY DID CONCLUDE THEIR SESSION, BELIEVE, LAST MONTH, BUT THEY WILL ALSO BE HOLDING A SPECIAL SESSION STARTING TOMORROW IN WHICH THEY WILL LIST, I BELIEVE, THREE DIFFERENT TOPICS.

REDISTRICTING, AI BILL AND MEDICAL FREEDOM BILL. WHAT'S NOT ON THE DOCKET IS A DISCUSSION THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT OUR MUNICIPALITIES, WHICH IS PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

SO I, ALONG WITH, I'M SURE EVERY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT IS ELECTED IN THE CITY IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THAT AS IT WILL DEFINITELY AFFECT US MOVING FORWARD.

SO CONSIDERING THAT AND THINKING ABOUT WE'RE ON THE HORIZON OF BUDGET SEASON AS WE GO INTO THAT, IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER GRANT. YEAH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A QUICK ITEM HERE.

THE BEACHES TOWN CENTER AGENCY GOLF TOURNAMENT IS A WEEK FROM TODAY AT MARSHLAND AND COUNTRY CLUB. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS, INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, WHATEVER YOU HAPPEN TO REPRESENT. THEY COULD USE SOME ADDITIONAL FOURSOMES.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND ALSO, TOO, IF, IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING TO MAYBE VOLUNTEER, THEY DO HAVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME CREDITS THERE FOR YOUNG TEENAGERS, ETC. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. I'LL FINISH IT OUT.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MR. BOLE. YOU'RE STEADFAST AND CONSISTENT, I GIVE YOU THAT.

BUT YOUR OPTIONS ARE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO MOVE FOR A CHANGE IN A RESOLUTION OR PROPOSE A NEW RESOLUTION, THEY CAN DO THAT.

BUT WE HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION AND WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AT THIS TIME WITH THE SELECTION OF A, A SEARCH FIRM. THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WHEN WE ACTUALLY GET TO THAT RESOLUTION TODAY, THAT WE TABLE IT FOR TWO WEEKS AND BRING IT BACK TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. AND HERE'S MY REASONING AND HOLD ON, MR. BOLE. MY CHANCE TO SPEAK. I HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO DO ENOUGH DUE DILIGENCE MYSELF.

I'M PERSONALLY DESIRING TO REACH OUT TO SOME OF THESE FIRMS AND I'LL OBTAIN THAT INFORMATION. IN FACT, I'D LIKE BOB AND OUR HR DEPARTMENT TO FURNISH CONTACT INFORMATION SO THAT IF WE SO CHOOSE, WE, EACH OF US COULD REACH OUT. WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY THAT WE HAVE A REPORT FOR EIGHT RESPONDENTS TO THE RFP AND EACH OF THEM HAS A RANKING.

WE HAVE A NICE MATRIX ON THAT. AND I WANT TO THANK BOB AND HIS DEPARTMENT AND THE THREE PEOPLE THAT PUT THAT TOGETHER BECAUSE IT DOES GIVE US A GOOD BASELINE TO START FROM. BUT ANYWAY, SO WHEN WE GET TO THE RESOLUTION, WE CAN DISCUSS IT FURTHER, AND THEN IF SOMEBODY SO CHOOSES TO TABLE IT AND MOVE ON THAT, WE'LL VOTE ON THAT.

BUT THAT'S MY REPORT. DID YOU HAVE A FINAL COMMENT? ONE THING, ERIC, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY JOBS IS TO KEEP THE TIMELINE, RIGHT? SO, IN FACT, IF WE DO DO THAT, WE NEED TO SLIDE THE TIMELINE BECAUSE WE. WE ARE ON A VERY SPECIFIC.

REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME, WHERE WE LET THIS. WE LET IT MOVE ON. SO IT WOULD BE TWO.

TWO WEEKS, OF COURSE, ON THE OTHER SIDE. OH, ABSOLUTELY. AND THANKS FOR MENTIONING THAT.

I KEEP TRACK OF THIS AND I. I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE IT.

STAYING ON TIME DOES MATTER.

BUT AS I RECALL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ENCOURAGED WAS ACTUALLY MORE TIME TO GIVE THE EXISTING INTERIM CITY MANAGER EVEN MORE TIME TO SHOW HIS CAPABILITIES IN THAT CHAIR. TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS WHERE I GET TO HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FUN. I WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR MAYOR FOR THE DAY. AND AGAIN, MS. MADAM MAYOR RUBY, THAT'S YOUR MICROPHONE. ONE OF THE THINGS I ASK THE STUDENTS WHEN. WHEN WE CELEBRATE AND.

AND HAVE THEM IN FOR THE.

TO CITY HALL FOR THE DAY IS WHAT DO YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT YOU

[00:30:01]

IT'S. IT'S YOUR CLASSMATES IN THIS CASE. OKAY, SO.

SO MAYOR RUBY ACTUALLY DID ASK HER CLASSMATES WITHOUT ME EVEN ASKING. SHE ASKED THEM WHAT THEY THOUGHT WE SHOULD DO IN THIS CITY. SO I'M GOING TO SEE IF SHE REMEMBERS ONE OR TWO OF THOSE THINGS.

WHAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT THEY WANTED YOU TO DO WHILE YOU'RE MAYOR? BRING BACK THE TIRES. BRING BACK THE TIRES WHERE? OVER HERE AT THE PARK. RUSSELL PARK.

THAT JACK RUSSELL PARK. AND SO WE HAD A MEETING TODAY WITH THE CITY MANAGER, AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THAT'S A BIG DEAL RIGHT NOW. THE TIRES WENT MISSING.

NOW, HE DID GIVE A GOOD EXPLANATION TO MAYOR RUBY ABOUT WHY THEY WERE REMOVED AND WHAT THE PLAN IS GOING FORWARD. DID HE TELL YOU WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO? YEAH, HE SAID THAT THE TIRES THAT WE HAD ARE NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND OR SAFE TODAY. AND SO WE CHANGED.

BUT DID HE TELL YOU WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO? TO REPLACE THEM.

THE PLASTIC. LIKE HE'S GOING TO BRING IN PLASTIC TIRES.

AND NOT THE SAME AS THE OLD TIRES, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE COLORFUL, THEY'RE GOING TO BE FUN. SO THAT'S KIND OF A COMMITMENT. RIGHT.

FROM THE CITY MANAGER. AND LATER, I EXPECT YOU TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE AND COME BACK IF YOU DON'T SEE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK. BUT THERE WAS A SECOND THING THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU.

WHAT WAS THAT? GIRL SCOUT HOUSE. A GIRL SCOUT HOUSE. SO WE'VE NEVER HAD A GIRL SCOUT HOUSE IN ATLANTIC.

WELL, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE HAD ONE. SO IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. WE.

THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND THE BEACH LONG ENOUGH, REMEMBER WE USED TO HAVE ONE OVER AT JARBO PARK IN NEPTUNE BEACH. RIGHT.

BUT I THINK THAT KIND OF GOT CONSOLIDATED INTO THEIR COMMUNITY CENTER AT THE PARK, SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT AWAY.

WAS THERE A THIRD THING THAT YOU WANTED TO SEE? MAYBE MAKE A TREE. NAME IT SMILEY. MAKE IT HAVE A.

MAYBE A DEDICATED TREE IN THE CITY THAT YOU NAME SMILEY. OKAY. THAT.

THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PASS A COUPLE OF RESOLUTIONS TONIGHT ON TREES. MAYBE. MAYBE ONE OF THOSE TREE OWNERS WOULD LIKE TO NAME IT SMILEY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION.

BUT THE FINAL ONE I REMEMBER AND SHE'S FORGOTTEN IS SHE WANTED A LARGE SANDBOX IN THE PARK HERE. AND SO WE'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT ONE AND SEE HOW THAT FITS INTO OUR.

OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN.

BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, MAYOR RUBY AND I STARTED THE DAY EARLY THIS MORNING, MEETING WITH CITY STAFF. WE DID A TOUR AND AN INSPECTION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF, I. VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE IN ORDER. WHAT DO YOU THINK? EVERYTHING WAS GOOD IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YEAH. AND. AND MAYOR RUBY CAME OUT WITH A BAG OF GOODIES FROM THE POLICE OFFICERS AND.

AND THE LIEUTENANT THAT SHOWED US AROUND. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT WE ALSO DID AN INSPECTION OF.

AND. AND IT'S TOUGH. YOU KNOW, WE.

DON'T. WE. WE CHANGED NAMES TODAY.

THE. THE. THE CORRECT NAME FOR A SEWER PLANT IS NOT THE SEWER PLANT TODAY.

IT'S THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. IS THAT FAIR ENOUGH? I.

I CALLED IT THE WATER PLANT, BUT I WAS REMINDED THAT'S FOR OUR DRINKING WATER.

BUT ANYWAYS, SO MAYOR RUBY AND I AND HER MOTHER WENT TO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND.

TELL ME, HOW DID IT SMELL PRETTY GOOD OVER THERE? NO, IT DIDN'T SMELL GOOD. IT.

OH. SHE SAID, NOT REALLY. YOU GOT TO TALK INTO THE MIC SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR YOU.

TELL US. NO, NOT REALLY.

BUT WHEN WE WENT UP ON TOP OF THE WALKWAY ABOVE AND LOOKED DOWN.

THAT ACTUALLY SMELLED PRETTY GOOD UP THERE, DIDN'T. YEAH, IT WAS BETTER. YEAH.

SO ANYWAYS, IT'S NOT TOO OFTEN THAT A FIRST GRADER GETS TO GO IN AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

BUT I INVITED HER BACK IN 10 YEARS AND SHE TOLD ME, BUT I'LL BE 16 IN 10 YEARS.

SO, YES, IN 10 YEARS WE GOT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND THEN YOU'LL UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

BUT WE DID THAT. WE HAD LUNCH AT. WHERE DID WE HAVE LUNCH? ANGIE SUBS? ANGIE SUBS.

AND SO WE FINISHED THAT PART OF THE DAY WITH THAT.

BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH DONE.

AND YOU MET MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN CITY STAFF.

RIGHT. SO YOU'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND TEACH YOUR CLASSMATES.

OKAY.

AND TOMORROW AT ATLANTIC BEACH ELEMENTARY, WE'RE CELEBRATING YET ANOTHER HABIT. THEY'RE LEARNING. THIS IS THE EIGHTH HABIT.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE EIGHTH HABIT IS TOMORROW? ANYBODY HERE KNOW THE EIGHTH HABIT? I'M SUPPOSED TO KNOW IT. I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON THAT TOMORROW.

BUT ANYWAYS, SO IT IS TO HELP OTHERS, TO TAKE YOUR OWN SKILLS AND WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED AND HELP OTHERS BECOME BETTER.

AND SO TOMORROW YOU CAN TALK

[00:35:02]

OKAY, THANKS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO A PRESENTATION. MS. RUBY, WOULD YOU COME DOWN WITH ME, PLEASE? WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN.

SO THIS IS A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION. THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED TO RUBY RENATO. IS THAT HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT? RUBY RENATO MAYOR OF FLORIDA DAY, REPRESENTING LANG BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, APRIL 27, 2026.

SIGNED BY ME PERSONALLY AS YOUR MAYOR.

THANK YOU. CAN WE GET A VOTE? WELL DONE, AND NOW YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ESCAPE THE CHAMBER IF YOU SO CHOOSE AND GO HOME AND, AND HAVE A PARTY.

DID, DID SHE LEAVE ANYTHING? WE HAVE, WE, WE TRY NOT TO DO TOO MANY PROCLAMATIONS.

THEY TAKE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO DO THEM.

THEY'RE IMPORTANT.

CERTAIN ONES ARE IMPORTANT. I WANT TO START OFF WITH WHO'S REPRESENTING BEACHES GO GREEN. CAN YOU COME ON UP? SO WHO HERE— RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU KNOW WHAT BEACHES GO GREEN IS.

OKAY, SO MOSTLY PEOPLE KNOW, AND I'M JUST DELIGHTED TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT I'M ALSO VERY SAD TODAY BECAUSE IT'S ANNOUNCED THAT AFTER, I THINK, 9 YEARS NOW, AFTER 9 YEARS OF TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND KEEPING OUR ISLAND CLEAN AND SO ON, BEACHES GO GREEN WILL CEASE TO OPERATE AS A NONPROFIT. AND LATER YOU CAN SHARE WITH ME HOW YOU CAN SOLVE THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GOT A PLAN.

YOU'RE GONNA— WE'RE GONNA GET THE GROUP TOGETHER.

BUT THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY THAT THEN CAN JUST BE FORWARDED, I GUESS. OKAY, THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH HONORING BEACHES GO GREEN, WHEREAS SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2018, BEACHES GO GREEN HAS SERVED AS A TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA, PIONEERING, PIONEERING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP BY CONNECTING THE DOTS BETWEEN THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEANS AND THE HEALTH OF OUR BODIES, EMPOWERING OUR CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CHOICES WE MAKE FOR THE EARTH ARE ULTIMATELY THE CHOICES WE MAKE FOR OURSELVES. AND WHEREAS, FOUNDED BY ANN MARIE MOQUIN, THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXCELLENCE, RECEIVING DOZENS OF PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS FROM MUNICIPAL PARTNERS AND ESTEEMED ORGANIZATIONS, UNDERSCORING A TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO CREATING LASTING POSITIVE CHANGE.

AND WHEREAS, THE ORGANIZATION HAS SUCCESSFULLY MOBILIZED A MASSIVE MOVEMENT OF ADVOCACY, RECORDING MORE THAN 53,000 VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS VALUED AT MORE THAN $1.63 MILLION AND REMOVING A STAGGERING 32,000 POUNDS OF LITTER AND 773,000 CIGARETTE BUTTS— AND I PICKED UP MANY OF THOSE FOR YOU— FROM OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. AND WHEREAS BEACHES GO GREEN HAS BEEN A VITAL PARTNER TO THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, NOTABLY THROUGH CLEANUPS AND COMMUNICATION EDUCATION PROJECTS, INCLUDING CREATION OF THE PROTECT OUR BEACHES RACK CARD, AND A COLLABORATIVE, A COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL TOOL DESIGNED TO EMPOWER RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO PRESERVE OUR FRAGILE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT.

AND WHEREAS THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OF HEALTHY PLANET, HEALTHY YOU BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN PERSONAL WELLNESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, DISTRIBUTING MORE THAN 37,000 REUSABLE BOTTLES AND INSPIRING US TO MOVE BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL 4 RS TO EMBRACE THE 4 E'S. THOSE 4 E'S ARE EXAMINE, ELIMINATE, EMBRACE, AND ELEVATE. AND WHEREAS, AS BEACHES GO GREEN CONCLUDES ITS NONPROFIT OPERATIONS, IT LEAVES A PROFOUND, PROFOUND FINANCIAL LEGACY BY DONATING OVER $60,000 TO THE NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST TO PROTECT 4 AREAS OF VITAL LAND ALONG BOGGY CREEK— CREEK— AND SURE, IS IT BOGGY? I SAY BOGGY.

BOGGY CREEK, ENSURING A PERMANENT SANCTUARY FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE AND OUR CITIZENS. I NOW, THEREFORE, I CURTIS FORD, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO BEACHES GO GREEN FOR NEARLY A DECADE OF TRANSFORMATIVE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR

[00:40:01]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I'VE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH TO BE AFFIXED THIS 27TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026. PRESENTED TO OUR LADIES OF BEACHES GO GREEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. AND THE, THE FOUNDER COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.

SHE'S UNDER THE WEATHER, I THINK.

AND SO PLEASE GIVE HER OUR BEST AND OUR REGARDS. AND I WANT TO HEAR BACK I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. I WANT TO KNOW, DO WE HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW WE CAN CARRY FORWARD WITH THE MISSION? BECAUSE IT'S BEEN EXTRAORDINARY WHAT YOU LADIES HAVE DONE AND YOUR TEAMS. THEY HAVE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING ON THE TEAMS, AND THIS IS OUR FUTURE.

THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO TO CHANGE OLD HABITS FROM OLD PEOPLE LIKE ME, BUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY BRING A NEW PERSPECTIVE, AND THEY'RE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THEY'LL BE CONTINUING AS WELL, ALL 14 OF OUR CLUBS. ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. THAT'S GOODNESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. AND NOW THIS ONE IS VERY IMPORTANT TOO, BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY INVESTED CITIZENS IN ATLANTIC BEACH.

AND THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH IN RECOGNITION OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.

WHEREAS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ENCOMPASSES THE ANALYSIS, PLANNING, DESIGN, AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT, TRANSLATING VISION INTO ACTION TO SHAPE PLACES THAT ARE HEALTHY, SAFE, AND RESILIENT.

AND WHEREAS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2026 IS RECOGNIZED AS PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, PLA DAY, CELEBRATING THE LICENSED PROFESSIONALS WHOSE EXPERTISE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS, STEM, IS ESSENTIAL TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH.

AND WHEREAS DURING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MONTH, CELEBRATED UNDER THE THEME LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN ACTION, WE RECOGNIZE THE PROFESSION'S TANGIBLE IMPACT ON PARKS, STREETSCAPES, CAMPUSES, AND PUBLIC SPACES ACROSS URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS, AS THE UNITED STATES APPROACHES AMERICA 250, WE RECOGNIZE THAT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS HAVE HISTORICALLY SHAPED AND CONTINUE TO STEWARD THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE, CREATING ENDURING PLACES THAT EMBODY PROTECT DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS THE LICENSED PRACTICE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IS A CRITICAL SAFEGUARD FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE, ENSURING THAT OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS FROM THERAPEUTIC GARDENS AND PLAYGROUNDS TO COMPLEX STORMWATER AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED WITH TECHNICAL RIGOR AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY.

AND WHEREAS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO ADDRESS A CHANGING CLIMATE THROUGH RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN STRATEGIES THAT RESTORE ECOSYSTEMS, MITIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, AND REDUCE THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL BURDEN OF DISASTER RECOVERY ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND WHEREAS THE ECONOMY OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH IS STRENGTHENED BY THE WORK OF LICENSED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND THE ACCREDITED PROGRAMS AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, WHO TOGETHER FOSTER TOURISM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND YES, ONE MORE WHEREAS. AND WHEREAS, THE, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IS A REGULATED PROFESSION IN ALL 50 STATES, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION ENSURES THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE THROUGH RIGOROUS EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2026 AS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MONTH, AND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2026 AS PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DAY, CALLING UPON ALL CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN ACTION AND THE ESSENTIAL ROLE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS PLAY IN SHAPING A RESILIENT, SAFE, AND ENDURING AMERICAN LANDSCAPE AS WE MOVE FORWARD— MOVE TOWARD AMERICA 250.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH TO BE AFFIXED THIS 13TH DAY OF APRIL 2026, AND I WOULD LIKE SARAH DARK— CAN YOU JOIN ME FOR THIS PRESENTATION? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THIS. THIS IS SARAH DARK.

AND IS THAT ACTUALLY YOUR PROFESSION? YES, I KNEW SHE'S DONE SOME PRO BONO WORK FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT. BUT HER INFLUENCE ON THIS CITY IS FELT.

YOUR THUMBPRINT IS DEFINITELY

[00:45:02]

YES, THAT OUR ENTRY, WE'RE VERY PROUD ABOUT OUR ENTRYWAYS AND WE CONTINUE TO SEEK TO IMPROVE THEM. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY. IT'S ABOUT HAVING THE TALENT TO GET IT PROPERLY DESIGNED.

[ 6. CONSENT AGENDA ]

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, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION ON THESE ITEMS. ITEM 6A, APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-56.

6B, APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-57. 6C, APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-61. AND 6D, APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-62.

IS THERE A DESIRE TO REMOVE ANY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS? HEARING NONE, WE'LL VOTE AS ONE BLOCK ON ITEMS 6A THROUGH 6D. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 6A THROUGH 6D AS WRITTEN.

SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED? HERITAGE STREET, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE WHAT WE CAN. YES.

YEAH, AND WE'VE ALREADY PASSED IT, AND I'M JUST GOING TO ADD ON TO THAT.

I KIND OF THOUGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CONSENT AGENDAS WHERE WE DON'T GO THROUGH ALL THE MINUTIA AND HAVE A DEBATE AND DISCUSSION. BUT WE MIGHT SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT ON THE TREES BECAUSE WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN DESIGNATED OR PROTECTED TREES BY RESIDENTS WHO ALLOW THEIR, THEIR TREE TO BE SO DESIGNATED IN THEIR YARD. AND THAT, THAT IS ACTUALLY A BURDEN ON THE PROPERTY OWNER IN THAT THEY CAN'T EASILY REMOVE THAT TREE ONCE THEY GET THAT DESIGNATION.

BUT WE HAVE RESIDENTS STEPPING UP RIGHT AND LEFT, AND THIS REALLY INFORMS THE CONVERSATION THAT WILL COME UP THIS SATURDAY WHEN TALK ABOUT OUR INTENT GOING FORWARD FOR PROTECTING OUR OLD-GROWTH TREES IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH. SO I WANT— I JUST WANT TO SAY, AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR KIND OF BRINGING THAT UP, THANK YOU TO THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTIC BEACH FOR CONTINUING

[7.A. Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee (ARCC) FY 2026-27 Priorities ]

AND AMANDA ASKEW, THERE YOU ARE. COME ON UP. JUST THIS A TAD CLOSER.

ALL RIGHT, SO GOOD EVENING.

AMANDA ASKEW, THE NEIGHBORHOODS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, ON BEHALF OF THE ARC COMMITTEE. THEY IN APRIL HAD A VERY INTERACTIVE AND THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION REGARDING THEIR PRIORITIES.

THEIR PRIORITIES WERE GIVEN TO YOU IN THEIR AGENDA PACKET, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO READ IT FOR THE RECORD AND OPEN IT FOR ANY DISCUSSION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. THEY HAD DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. THE FIRST CATEGORY IS COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING.

ONE OF THEIR GOALS IS TO IMPROVE SIGNAGE AND GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT EVENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AROUND THE CITY.

THEY ARE RECOMMENDING, AND ONE OF THEIR PRIORITIES IS TO HAVE ADDITIONAL MARQUEE-TYPE SIGNAGE. WE HAVE THE MARQUEE SIGNAGE OUT HERE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL AND ADELE GRANGE, AND TO EXPAND THAT DEEPER INTO THE COMMUNITY, SO HOPEFULLY IT WOULD BE MORE VISIBLE TO PEOPLE DRIVING BY AND WALKING BY.

THEY ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, AND THEIR GOAL IS TO HAVE ONGOING WITHIN THOSE SIGNS DIRECTING PEOPLE BACK TO OUR WEBSITE FOR EVENTS AND THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY. PROGRAMMING WAS ANOTHER CATEGORY THAT THEY LOOKED AT AND ARE RECOMMENDING SOME OF THEIR PRIORITIES TO LOOK AT IS THE MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER. AROUND, AROUND THAT, THEY WANT TO DEVELOP AND ARE RECOMMENDING TO DEVELOP THINGS BASED ON THE GARDEN THERE.

COOKING CLASSES USING HERBS AND VEGETABLES GROWN IN THE GARDEN, BASIC GARDENING CLASSES, CHILDREN'S GARDENING CLASSES, NATURAL METHODS FOR PEST CONTROL HOW TO HANDLE FREEZE WITH YOUR PLANTS TYPE CLASSES, TAI CHI IN THE GARDEN, AND CHAIR YOGA IN THE GARDEN.

ANOTHER PROGRAMMING THING THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS THE,

[00:50:02]

THEY ARE PARTICULARLY RECOMMENDING THE 18TH STREET BECAUSE OF THE EXISTING PARKING IN THE AREA.

IF THAT COMES INTO FRUITION, SOME RECOMMENDED RULES AND SIGNAGE REGARDING THAT SO THAT HOPEFULLY IT'S ORDERLY PLAY AROUND THAT. AND THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT MAYBE HOSTING A TOURNAMENT FOR VOLLEYBALL TO, TO GET PEOPLE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PLAYING VOLLEYBALL. ONE OF THE OTHER PROGRAM THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS TO DEVELOP MONTHLY SOCIAL EVENTS FOR ADULTS AGE 21 AND OLDER, AND TO HOPEFULLY PARTNER THAT WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

SOME OF THEIR IDEAS THAT THEY'RE EMBRACING IS LOCAL BITES NIGHT, WHICH WOULD BE FOOD TASTING WITH LOCAL RESTAURANTS. SIP AND SHOP, POP-UP VENDORS AND COCKTAILS. SUNSET SOCIAL, ROOFTOP OR WATERFRONT VIBES.

GAME NIGHTS AND SOCIAL NIGHTS. WELLNESS AND WINE.

NETWORKING LIGHT AND A DOGGY NIGHT.

AGAIN, THERE ARE IDEAS TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND BUSINESSES TO MAKE THIS COME INTO FRUITION. THERE ARE ALSO— WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT THEY ARE RECOMMENDING FOR THE RACQUETBALL COURTS HERE AT JACK RUSSELL PARK. ONE OPTION IS TO TEAR DOWN A WALL AND MAKE IT MORE OF OPEN SPACE, BUT STILL RETAIN A WALL THAT YOU COULD BOUNCE BALLS OFF OF.

AND THEN THE SECOND OPTION, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE A DIFFERENT APPROACH, WOULD BE TO LOCK THE DOORS. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF VANDALISM THAT OCCURS IN THERE, BUT IT WOULD BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH A RESERVATION SITE TYPE SYSTEM SO THAT WE COULD CONTROL ACCESS, WHO IS IN AND OUT OF THERE. THEY DID TALK ABOUT A LOFTY PRIORITY, AND THEY DID REALIZE IT, AND THEY LABELED THAT AS A STRETCH PRIORITY OR GOAL, AND THAT IS TO FACILITATE THE INSTALLATION OF A COMMUNITY POOL.

THEY FELT THAT IT WOULD CONNECT THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL PROGRAMMING AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO RECREATE AND HELP INCREASE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. THEY DID LOOK AT LONG-TERM WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO PUT THIS? MAYBE AN UNDERUTILIZED LAND, EXISTING PARKS, AGAIN KEEPING IT CONNECTED TO THE, THE COMMUNITY WITH WALKABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.

THEY DID REALIZE THAT THAT WAS A STRETCH GOAL, AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO FUND THIS, THEY RECOMMENDED, OF COURSE, SOME FUNDING COMING OUT OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET, POTENTIALLY SOME GRANTS, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, SPONSORSHIP AVAILABILITY, AND MEMBERSHIP.

THEY ALSO HAVE INVOLVEMENT TO HELP SHAPE PROGRAMMING, ASSIST WITH BRANDING WITH THE POOL, AND ENSURE THAT IT BECOMES A COMMUNITY HUB AND NOT JUST A COMMUNITY FACILITY.

SO, ANY QUESTIONS? I MEAN, MR. MAYOR, SO YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, SOME OF WHICH MAY BE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT OTHERWISE WE WILL ENSURE THAT THESE PRIORITY REQUESTS GET BACK BEFORE YOU DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

ALSO, SOME YOU'LL SEE IN OUR PARKS MASTER PLANNING. THEY DIRECTLY TIE TO THE PARKS MASTER PLAN PROCESS THAT WE WILL UNDERTAKE THIS SUMMER AND FALL. AND FINALLY, AS FAR AS MARSH OAKS, WE HAVE- I MENTIONED EARLIER OUR STRATEGIC PROGRAMMING PLAN THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER.

AND SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO INCORPORATE THESE SUGGESTIONS AS WE'RE CONTEMPLATING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PROGRAM AT MARSH OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER.

OKAY, THANK YOU. OH, HEARING NO

[8.A. RESOLUTION NO. 26-60 ]

WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 8A ON THE, AGENDA. THAT'S RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-60, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR CITY MANAGER EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANT SERVICES, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT AND FEE AGREEMENT WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE PROPOSAL, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT.

MR. HOGENCAMP. MR. MAYOR AND COMMISSION, I STEPPED ASIDE FROM THIS REVIEW AND WOULD TURN TO COMMISSIONER BOLE AND ROBERT BLANCO, WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE.

HE'S OUR HR DIRECTOR. SO GREAT, HIS REPORT. THANKS.

YOU GOT A LOT MORE SUBMISSIONS THAN I THOUGHT YOU WOULD. GOOD EVENING, I'M BOB BLANCO, DIRECTOR OF HR, SAFETY, AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR THE CITY, AND WE GOT, 8 PROPOSALS THAT CAME IN FROM OUR SOLICITATION, AND THEY'VE BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR MANAGER OF PROCUREMENT, PATTY, AND TWO OTHER STAFF MEMBERS ALSO GRADED AND REVIEWED ALL THE PROPOSALS AND SCORED THEM. AND THEY WERE

[00:55:02]

SO THEY WERE ALL RANKED IN, YOU KNOW, LARGEST TO SMALLEST POINT ORDER.

OKAY. QUESTIONS? WELL, NORMALLY WE TAKE A MOTION FIRST, BUT I'M GOING TO ALLOW QUESTIONS FIRST SINCE WE HAVE OUR STAFF MEMBER HERE.

SO GO AHEAD. FIRST, COMMISSIONER GRANT. CAN YOU TELL ME STAFF 1, STAFF 2, AND STAFF 3, WHO EACH PERSON WAS? SO I WAS STAFF MEMBER 1, AND DONNA BARTLE WAS STAFF MEMBER 02, AND PATTY WAS THE THIRD STAFF MEMBER.

OKAY. AND THEN WHO CREATED THE CRITERIA? THE CRITERIA WAS CREATED WITH THE RFP DRAFTING THAT BRUCE AND I AND THEN THE COMMISSIONERS REVIEWED, BEFORE WE PUT IT OUT FOR SOLICITATION. OKAY, PERFECT.

AND WHEN RANKING THEM, YOU DID THIS ON YOUR OWN INDIVIDUALLY, OR DID YOU MEET TOGETHER? THIS WAS NOT A CONSENSUS, NO. WE INDIVIDUALLY SCORED THEM. WAS THERE A REASON WHY YOU LEFT OFF THE NAMES OF THE STAFF 1, 02, AND 3? IT MAY BE A PROCESS THAT PATTY, YOU KNOW, USES IN PROCUREMENT THAT THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, LIST THE NAMES.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE NOT NORMALLY LISTED, BUT IT'S PROBABLY JUST A PROCUREMENT NORMAL PROCESS. OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER GRANT. YEAH, THANK YOU.

SO I APPRECIATE THE PROCESS. I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT GOVERNMENTS AND CORPORATE AMERICA DOES WHEN THEY GET AN RFP. YOU GOT TO DO, YOU KNOW, GOT TO GO THROUGH THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THINGS KIND OF THERE IN THE FIELD, IF YOU WILL.

HAVE WE HAD ANY MEETINGS? DO WE HAVE, HAVE WE HAD ANY MEETINGS OR PRESENTATIONS FROM THOSE FOLKS? WE HAVE NOT.

FACE TO FACE? NO. OKAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US BEFORE WE MAKE ANY FINAL DECISIONS ON WHO, THIS SEARCH FIRM IS GOING TO BE IN, YOU KNOW, I'M— WHAT, WHAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ESTIMATE YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO COST US? BRUCE THINKS IT'S GOING TO COST US $500,000.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? THAT'S NOT TRUE, COMMISSIONER GRANT. IF YOU THREW OUT THE HIGHEST ONE, YEAH, WHICH WAS OVER $70,000, THE REMAINING PROPOSALS WERE ALL WITHIN 10 OR 15% OF EACH OTHER, AND THAT IS IN THE UPPER 20S, $26,000, $28,000, $29,000, $30,000.

I THINK THERE WAS A $32,000 OR $34,000. SO THEY WERE ALL PRETTY TIGHTLY GROUPED IN THAT RANGE. OKAY.

AND SO THE TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT, A, AN ACTIVE CITY MANAGER, NOT AN INTERIM, YOU KNOW, THAT SALARY THAT WE, WE'VE PROBABLY ALREADY PAID FOR IT BY BASED ON THE SALARY THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL NO LONGER IS GETTING BECAUSE HE'S NO LONGER HERE. SO, SO WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY'S THERE.

WELL, THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY TO LOOK AT THAT.

OKAY. WELL, YOU KEEP GOING.

THIS IS THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT IT.

SURE. SO I THINK THE MONEY IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, HEY, IT, IT WORKS BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT KILLING OUR BUDGET.

IT ALLOWS US TO USE AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM TO BRING OTHER CANDIDATES.

AND KEVIN MAY BE THE GUY. I MEAN, AND I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST.

HE AND I GET ALONG JUST FINE ON MANY THINGS.

SO, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE DECIDED TO GO THAT ROUTE.

LET ME ASK YOU ONE OTHER THING SINCE YOU'RE UP HERE.

AND IT IS CONCERNING THAT WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE LONG TENURE IN, IN OUR CITY MANAGERS.

IN YOUR EXPERIENCE AND BASED ON, YOU KNOW, YOUR ANALYSIS OF THINGS, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK LEADS TO THAT? IT VARIES. I MEAN, EVERY CITY IS UNIQUE. WE'RE A VERY SMALL, TIGHT-KNIT COASTAL COMMUNITY.

THE POSITION MAYBE IS VERY DEMANDING AT TIMES. I'VE ONLY BEEN IN GOVERNMENT 10 YEARS OF MY 30 YEARS IN HR, BUT THIS IS KIND OF A UNIQUE COMMUNITY, VERY FOCUSED. RESIDENTS ARE VERY ACTIVE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE.

WHEN I WORKED AT THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, THERE WERE SOME MEETINGS WE, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY HAD HALF THIS MANY, YOU KNOW, AND A MILLION RESIDENTS IN JACKSONVILLE. I THINK, I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS IS, YOU KNOW, THEIR BOSS, WHO THEIR BOSS IS, AND THAT FOR THE MOST PART IS THE MAYOR, RIGHT? THE CITY MANAGER.

AND SO JUST IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 30 YEARS, WE'VE GOT, 6 MAYORS WHO, WHO ONLY SPENT 2 YEARS IN OFFICE. SO WHEN YOU HAVE HIGH TURNOVER AT THE BOSSES, THE BOSS TURNS OVER QUITE A BIT. SURE.

I THINK THAT IMPACTS, YOU

[01:00:02]

SO MORE TO COME ON THAT, BUT THANKS FOR YOUR— I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU. STABILITY IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT KEEPS PEOPLE IN THEIR JOB.

YEAH, YEAH, FOR SURE. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER BOLE.

COMMISSIONER GRANT, I JUST ADDRESS ONE THING THERE.

YEAH, YOU LOOK AT THE, EXECUTIVE SEARCH FEES, RIGHT? THAT'S A BASIC FEE.

BUT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE THERE IS ALSO THE STAFF TIME INVOLVED IN THAT. WE PAY BOB AND WE PAY THE REST OF THE TEAM DOLLARS EVERY DAY.

I TOOK A, TOOK A DIFFERENT LOOK IN THAT TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THESE EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRMS HAVE DONE IN OTHER CITIES LOCALLY, CLOSE.

I KNOW CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM BRING A GUY DOWN, HE LASTED A MONTH, RIGHT? WE HAD THE SAME THING TO THE SOUTH OF US. I, I JUST SEE THAT WE'VE GOT A, A GIVEN COMMODITY HERE. BUT THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS I THINK IT WAS A VERY OPEN, AND, AND KEVIN CAN BACK ME UP ON THIS, HE WAS NOT IN THIS EQUATION.

OKAY, THE GUY I TALKED TO IS RIGHT THERE. SO I THINK THE CITY MADE A GOOD, YOU KNOW, FAIR PICK FROM PROCUREMENT-WISE. IT'S WHAT SHE DOES EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW.

WHEN WE BUILD A ROAD, SHE LOOKS AT THE PROS AND CONS, THE PLUSES AND MINUSES, ASSIGNS VALUES. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY DID HERE, WHICH I, YOU KNOW, IS TOTALLY ABOVE BOARD AND LEGIT. SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

THAT THEY DID, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THEY DID A GREAT JOB GOING THROUGH. YEAH. MAY I COMMENT? YES.

NO, I THINK THEY DID TOO. I JUST THINK THAT WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I ARE, YOU KNOW, SELLING SOMETHING, OKAY, WE SELL SERVICES AND PRODUCTS AND STUFF, AND NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE BUY FROM US UNLESS WE SAT DOWN AND TALKED TO THEM, RIGHT? I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

AND I THINK YOU'VE ALSO GOT ANOTHER FIRM THIS WITHIN 4 OR 5 POINTS, I THINK, OF THE ONE WHO HAD THE HIGHEST TOTAL.

SO THERE IS SOME— I THINK SUBJECTIVITY IS NOT A BAD THING. I THINK GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, NARROW THE FIELD.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'D BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE JUST HIRING SOMEBODY BASED ON, YOU KNOW, THE PAPER RFP.

I'D LIKE US TO SEE US TAKE THE TOP 2 OR 3 YOU KNOW, IN MY FIELD, I WAS NEVER THE LOWEST PRICE, BUT I HAD THE BEST VALUE ADD.

AND WHEN I WAS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, I GAVE, YOU KNOW, I WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE TO SHOW WHY I, IN THE LONG RUN, I WOULD HAVE A, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO OFFER SAVINGS IF THE NUMBER UP FRONT DIDN'T SAY THAT, WHICH MANY TIMES IT DID. AND SO THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSPECTIVE I'M COMING FROM.

SO JUST, YOU KNOW, FOOD FOR THOUGHT. I THINK WE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IF WE HAD A— MAY I, SINCE I HAVEN'T SPOKEN ON THIS? THANKS FOR THOSE COMMENTS AND ALL OF THE COMMENTS. WHAT I'M HOPING TODAY IS THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY PUSH THIS OUT TO THE NEXT MEETING, TABLE IT FOR NOW.

BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A REASON.

WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? AND WHAT I'M HEARING AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD INTO IS I THINK IT'S REASONABLE THAT WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A SHORTLIST AND ACTUALLY INTERVIEW THAT SHORTLIST EITHER USING TEAMS OR ZOOM, EITHER HERE IN CHAMBER AT A REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING OR A SEPARATE MEETING. AND I WOULD NEED EVERYBODY'S DIRECTION ON THAT BECAUSE JUST LIKE YOU, COMMISSIONER GRANT, I FEEL A LITTLE UNEASY ABOUT JUST HIRING SOMEBODY OFF OF A SPREADSHEET AND THE DATE OF THE SUBMISSION OF RESPONSE TO THE RFP.

SO THAT'S ONE THING. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE KEY PERSON THAT SUBMITTED THE RESPONSE TO THE RFP FROM EACH OF THE 8 FIRMS. AND AT MY DISCRETION, I COULD CONTACT SOME OR ALL OF THEM.

I COULD STOP AT THE SHORTLIST THAT, THAT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED BY, BY YOUR DEPARTMENT, BUT, BUT EACH COMMISSIONER WOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF DOING WHATEVER DUE DILIGENCE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. SO I, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK, AND I GET YOU, WE'LL NEED TO AMEND THE TIMELINE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO BE IN A RUSH AT THIS POINT. WE DO HAVE COMPETENCY SITTING TO MY RIGHT.

THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER HOGAN CAMP. SO WE COULD TAKE OUR TIME AND GET THIS RIGHT. AND SO AT THE EARLIEST, I WOULD SUGGEST REVISITING THIS IN 2 WEEKS, BUT THAT COULD BE TO THEN SCHEDULE A TEAMS CALL.

ANY THOUGHTS, COMMISSIONER RING? YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE TABLING. I WANTED TO TABLE IT MYSELF ONLY BECAUSE I DID HAVE A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH ALL 8 PROPOSALS,

[01:05:01]

I SPOKE WITH HER EARLIER TODAY, BUT DONNA WAS OUT OF OFFICE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO WHAT EACH OF YOU HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE RATINGS, I HEAR WHAT COMMISSIONER BOLE IS SAYING.

I THINK WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT ON ONE THING. WE WANT TO HIRE SOMEONE AND NOT HAVE TO HIRE SOMEONE AGAIN IN THE NEXT 2 YEARS. HERE'S WHAT I'LL SAY.

EVERY 2 YEARS THE COMMISSION CHANGES, AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE THE CHARTER WAS INCEPTED.

OKAY, SO WE CAN'T BLAME THE COMMISSION ON THAT NECESSARILY.

FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE NOT USED A SEARCH FIRM IN OVER 20 YEARS, SO THIS IS THE TACTIC THAT WOULD BE NEW.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE OVER AND OVER, AND ALL OF THE CITY MANAGERS THAT COMMISSIONER BOLE HAS LISTED, IS HIRE INTERNALLY OR HIRE VERY SMALL CASTED NET OUT USING OUR HR RESOURCES. SO AS FAR AS I KNOW, AS AS I SPOKE TO PATTY, OUR PROCUREMENT MANAGER, TODAY, SHE SHARED WITH ME THAT THE LAST TIME ONE WAS USED WAS ACTUALLY SLAVIN, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE A CONTRACT BEFORE US. I WAS PRETTY SHOCKED TO SEE THIS RESOLUTION LISTED AN ACTUAL SEARCH FIRM, BECAUSE I THOUGHT I RECALLED THAT WE WANTED TO SEE ALL 8.

WE WOULD TAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AS A STAFF I CERTAINLY RESPECT THEM, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO JUST GO RUN WITH THAT. I WANT TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE. AS COMMISSIONER BOLE SAID, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL ENTITLED TO LOOK THROUGH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE 8 PROPOSALS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE SELECT THE BEST ONE.

I WOULD LIKE, MAYOR, TO HAVE MY TOP 3 SHARED AND EVERYONE ELSE'S TOP 3, JUST SO I COULD KNOW IF I'M ON THE RIGHT TRACK. BECAUSE I— 3 DEFINITELY STOOD OUT TO ME OUT OF THE 8, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SAYS. BUT TAKE YOUR TIME AND LET'S GET THIS RIGHT SO WE DON'T HAVE THE TURNOVER THAT WE'VE HAD.

AND MAYBE IT IS KEVIN HOGAN CAMP WHO PUTS THE VERY TOP, AND I HOPE, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY WISH HIM THE VERY BEST. ONE SECOND, COMMISSIONER. IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU MENTIONED THE FIRM SLAVIN, OR SLAVIN, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER I PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY.

THAT ACTUALLY IS THE NUMBER ONE RATED, AND FOR GOOD REASON.

HERE'S AN INTERESTING POINT, AND BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER BOLE, IS THAT THEY HIRED JIM HANSON. HOW MANY YEARS WAS JIM HANSON CITY MANAGER? ANYBODY KNOW? 14 YEARS.

SO IN THE ONE LAST TIME THAT WE USED A SEARCH FIRM, WE ACTUALLY HIRED SOMEBODY THAT LASTED— THAT'S NOT A TECHNICAL THAT'S NOT THE TRUTH. OH, IN 2014 TO 2017, WE HIRED AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM FOR NELSON BENDLER. OKAY, THANK YOU.

YEAH, I'D FORGOTTEN. THANK YOU.

YEAH, NO, YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT ANYWAYS, BUT SLAVIN IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS TODAY. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE THE FINAL CHOICE. AND TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER RING, I ACTUALLY SAW THAT AND I SHOULD HAVE PULLED THAT AND REMOVED THAT FROM THE RESOLUTION.

LEFT IT BLANK BECAUSE IT ALWAYS WAS THE INTENTION THAT THIS BODY WOULD MAKE THE CHOICE.

BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO AMEND OUR RESOLUTION, SO I WASN'T A WHOLE LOT WORRIED ABOUT IT. AND I HAVE TO COMPLIMENT INTERIM CITY MANAGER KEVIN HOGAN CAMP BECAUSE THAT WOULD ALSO BE SOMETHING I WOULD EXPECT HIM TO DO, IS TO CLEAN UP A RESOLUTION THAT MIGHT HAVE— SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT BLANK.

BUT THE REASON WHY HE DIDN'T IS BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING HE SHOULD HAVE HIS FINGERPRINTS ON IT. YOU SAY MY INEPTITUDE? NO, NO, NO, NO.

BUT THE POINT IS, CITY MANAGER HOGAN CAMP DID NOT FIX THIS IN THIS EXAMPLE BECAUSE HE SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.

SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ANYWAYS, I RETURN TO YOU.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER KELLY.

YES, COMMISSIONER KELLY, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO OUR VOLATILITY. I REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH HE LEFT, MR. KILLINGSWORTH TOOK US A LONG WAY TO STANDARDIZING PROCEDURES.

WHEN STAFF PEOPLE ASK HIM TO SIGN SOMETHING, HE'D SAY, SHOW ME WHERE IT SAYS I DO THAT. AND BY STANDARDIZING IT AND DOCUMENTING THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS, I THINK IT DOES AWAY WITH A LOT OF WISHY-WASHY, WELL, THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE DID IT BEFORE, AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY THIS GUY DID IT, THAT WE ARE MAKING A STANDARD PROCEDURE.

AND I KNOW KEVIN'S FOLLOWING UP ON WHATEVER WAS— WHATEVER HE'S DISCOVERING AROUND THE EDGES.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THE MOST PART, WE'VE GOT

[01:10:01]

SO, HOPEFULLY THE NEW— THE NEW GUY— THIS— OR NEW PERSON, INHERITS A STABLE WORKING ORGANIZATION.

YEP. COMMISSIONER BOLE? YEAH, WE, WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.

WE, WE WANT A QUALITY CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, TO, TO BRING THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND, AND MOVE FORWARD.

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT, I MAYBE TAKE OURSELVES OUT OF THIS, OUT OF THIS ROOM FOR A MINUTE. IF I WAS A CITY LOOKING FOR A CITY MANAGER, RIGHT, TO, TO GO TO WORK WITH A CITY OF 13,000 TO 15,000, 16,000 PEOPLE, I'D HIRE THIS GUY.

OKAY, THAT'S JUST ME.

I CAN SAY THAT. AND, AND THE THING I THINK WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF ALSO I KNOW COMMISSIONER GRANT'S PROBABLY WORKED WITH THE EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRMS. I'VE WORKED WITH THE EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRMS. REMEMBER, THEY DON'T PICK THE PERSON, THEY JUST GIVE YOU A MENU, RIGHT, THAT THEY— YOU COME TO THE TABLE. REMEMBER, WE ALSO HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT A CITIZENS GROUP TAKING A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS. ALL THESE COMPANIES HAVE A LINK WHERE YOU CAN GO ON, AND I LIVE ON 12TH STREET AND I WANT TO BE CITY MANAGER, GUESS WHAT? YOU CAN APPLY, RIGHT? ALL THE— THEY DO IS A FUNNEL AND A SCREEN TO HOPEFULLY— AND THE FIRST QUESTION I THINK WE WOULD ASK IS, SHOW ME YOUR RESULTS.

SHOW ME ALL YOUR CITY MANAGERS THAT ARE 10 YEARS, 10 YEARS, OR 5 YEARS OF CITIES OUR SIZE, OF CITIES THAT DO WHAT WE— AND CITIES WHERE WE'RE AT. I'M JUST SEEING A REALLY GOOD THING THAT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE. OKAY, SO MAYBE I'M LOOKING AT IT QUITE A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE DID IT AS WE DO EVERY PROCUREMENT, YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE A LOOK, THEY RANK THEM, AND, AND MOVE FORWARD.

SO WHATEVER THE, THE REASON, YOU KNOW, I, I AGREE WE WANT THE RIGHT OUTCOME. I'M JUST SEEING WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.

MAYBE THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

YES, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

MAYOR, IF WE COULD HAVE A CLEAR, CONCISE— SO THAT WAY NEXT COMMISSION MEETING WE KNOW WHAT OUR HOMEWORK IS, WHETHER IT'S COME WITH ONE OR TWO OR THREE, I PREFER I PERSONALLY WOULD PREFER HEARING EVERYONE'S TOP 03, BUT TO TAG ON TO THAT, SO MISINFORMATION IS NOT CONTINUING TO BE SPREAD, WHAT THE FLAT RATE FEE— BECAUSE EACH PROPOSAL OF THE 8 GAVE EXACTLY ONE FLAT RATE FEE. THE HIGHEST WAS $37,000, AND THE LOWEST WAS SLAVIN AT $16,595 WITH EXTRA ADDED FEES TO IT. WHAT I'D LIKE IS TO HAVE THAT LISTED ON EVERYONE'S, JUST AGAIN, SO WE'RE NOT THROWING OUT $100,000, $500,000, SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CUT OUT THE MISINFORMATION SPREAD TOO.

SO IF I MAY ENCAPSULATE THAT, WHAT I HAD HOPED AND WHAT I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO BOB ABOUT IS A MATRIX ON THOSE ITEMS THAT THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF IT, THE BASE, THE ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR IF THEY HAVE TO COME HERE. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE COST OF CANDIDATES COMING HERE. I DON'T CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THE CANDIDATES IF WE BRING THEM TO ATLANTIC BEACH.

BUT THE COSTS INCURRED BY THE FIRM BROKEN OUT IN A MATRIX FORM SO THAT— BECAUSE THEY'RE EMBEDDED IN EACH OF THE PROPOSALS, BUT YOU HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING BACK AND FORTH TO FIGURE IT OUT. YES, SO WE IN AGREEMENT ON IT.

I WOULD LIKE THAT AS WELL. SO WITH YOUR RATINGS, IT WAS SOMEWHAT HELPFUL, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHO, WHO RATED WHAT. ALL THERE WAS A NUMBER.

THERE WASN'T ANY COMMENTS. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT TO 8 INSTEAD OF 15. SO REALLY DIDN'T MEAN A LOT TO ME.

BUT WHAT THAT— WHAT MAYOR JUST MENTIONED WITH BREAKING IT DOWN TO WHAT IS THE FLAT RATE FEE, WHAT ARE THE ADDITIONAL FEES. I SAW SLAVIN CHARGED AN EXTRA $9,000 FOR ADVERTISEMENT.

SEEMS TO ME TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF SEARCH FORM, WHICH ONE OTHER ONE DIDN'T.

SO IF YOU COULD DO THAT WORK FOR US IN THE MATRIX, THAT WOULD BE UTTERLY HELPFUL.

EACH OF THESE PROPOSALS ARE OVER 50 PAGES EACH. WITH 8, YOU ARE DEFINITELY SIFTING THROUGH PDF TO PDF AND, AND COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES AND BANANAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT? YEAH.

YES. COMMISSIONER? $100,000 IS NOT BOGUS INFORMATION.

WE'LL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND SHOW YOU, GO TO ANOTHER CITY AND TAKE, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. TAKE A LOOK AT, AT THE MONEY INVESTED. TAKE A LOOK AT BOB'S TIME.

TAKE A LOOK AT PROCUREMENT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. SO I, I NEVER, I THINK MR. GRANT SAID HALF A MILLION.

THAT WAS, I WAS MESSING WITH YOU, BUT I KNOW, BUT THAT'S HIS JOB, RIGHT? EXACTLY. I MEAN, IS, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY. HEAD OF BASEBALL, HIS JOB IS LIKE FIND PEOPLE

[01:15:01]

BIT. START JUST A BIT. OKAY, HOLD ON.

01:9, PLEASE. START TO THE END, YOU KNOW. LET'S KEEP TRACK.

HEY, LET'S, LET, LET'S MAKE THE NEXT COMMISSION BETTER THAN US, YOU KNOW, AND SAY HERE'S WHAT IT COSTS.

OKAY. OKAY.

SO, I, BY THE WAY, COMMISSIONER BOLE, WE AGREE ON AT LEAST ONE THING TONIGHT, AND ACTUALLY MORE, BUT NO, WE'RE NOT AGREEING ON YOU STOPPING A CITY COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. I'M— POINT OF ORDER. OKAY.

THAT'S OLD NEWS. WE PASSED THAT, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE POINT OF ORDER.

BUT NO, THE NEED TO HEAR RESULTS FROM ANY OF THESE CANDIDATES, I THINK, IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S WHY MY RECOMMENDATION, IF YOU'LL GO WITH IT, IS THAT WE DO OUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS, AND THEN WE RECONVENE AT OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, AND WE DISCUSS WHETHER WE WANT TO PROCEED WITH THAT RESOLUTION THEN, OR WE COULD DECIDE NOW TO BUMP IT OUT 2 MEETINGS AND USE THE NEXT MEETING TO DECIDE WHAT FINAL STEPS, BECAUSE COMMISSIONER RING, I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS ON WHETHER YOU THINK THE TOP 3 OF THE MATRIX TODAY FROM PATTY AND COMPANY IS THE TOP 3 THAT YOU HAVE, OR MAYBE YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT TOP 3. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE REST OF THE COMMISSION SAW AS THEIR TOP WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING IS I WANT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I'M NOT THE GURU PER SE, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR. AND THEN FINALLY IS I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF SHORTLISTING. I DON'T WANT TO INTERVIEW 8 FIRMS, BUT IF WE WERE TO SHORTLIST OURSELVES TO 3 AND LET'S JUST SAY FOR THE SAKE OF THIS DISCUSSION, IT'S THE 3 ON THE MATRIX TODAY THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST RATINGS, I WOULD LIKE TO INTERVIEW THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM THOSE POINTED QUESTIONS. AND I HEAR CLEARLY, I HEARD IT FROM YOU, COMMISSIONER GRANT, THAT SELL ME, SELL ME. AND SO AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN I LOOK THROUGH ONE OF THEM, I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SLAVEN TODAY, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT HIRES THEY'VE MADE IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

BUT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE HIRES THEY'VE MADE AS CITY MANAGER IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE. AND SO I WANT TO TALK TO THEM THIS NEXT WEEK OR SO AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN TELL ME THERE.

AND THEN FINALLY, IF WE SHORTLIST AND THEN HAVE HAVE A CALL WITH THEM, ZOOM OR TEAMS, WHICHEVER, THEN I CAN DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE. BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS PART RIGHT BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT STEP. YES, COMMISSIONER.

OKAY, SO I'M NOT CLEAR. ARE YOU ASKING EACH ONE OF US TO INVEST THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY DID TO READ ALL 8 OF THESE 50-PAGE PDFS? IT'S— NO, I'M SAYING THAT'S YOUR OPTION BECAUSE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THE— WE EACH OF US HAS OUR OWN BELIEFS AND WHAT OUR OBLIGATION IS. SO YOU CAN READ THEM.

I WANT TO MENTION SOMETHING THAT BOB SAID EARLIER, THAT THE 3 PEOPLE THAT RANK ORDERED THESE RANK ORDERED THEM MOSTLY ON DATA IN THE SUBMISSION. THERE WAS SOME TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS.

BOB, YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT EARLIER, BUT IT WASN'T IN DEPTH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BEFORE WE DO MAKE A FINAL DECISION THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE VISUAL AND VOCAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH AT LEAST A SHORTLIST TO DECIDE WHO'S REALLY THE BEST CHOICE.

AND I'LL MAKE A POINT THAT WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER, OR I DISCUSSED IT, I THINK, WITH BOB SLAVIN, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS A PEDIGREE THAT WOULD SUGGEST— AND THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE RATED ONE ON THE MATRIX OF 8. THEY HAVE A PEDIGREE, PEDIGREE OF SUCCESS WITH US BECAUSE THEY HIRED A CITY MANAGER THAT WORKED FOR US FOR OVER A DECADE, RIGHT? BUT TODAY THAT ACTUALLY IS ONE OF, IF NOT THE SMALLEST FIRM IN NUMBER OF STAFF. IS THAT THE RIGHT ONE TODAY? MAYBE NOT, DON'T KNOW, BUT I'D LIKE TO DO A LITTLE DUE DILIGENCE ON THAT.

AND, AND I WOULD SAY TO YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ALL 8, MAYBE YOU DO THE TOP 3, BUT I THINK EACH OF US COULD MAKE A PHONE CALL AND TALK TO SOMEBODY AT THE FIRM THAT IS LISTED ON THAT MATRIX. I'M CERTAINLY NOT OPPOSED TO MEETING THE TOP 3 REPRESENTATIVES, A SHORT PITCH, AND MAYBE EITHER A PUBLIC MEETING OR, YOU KNOW, A WORKSHOP BEFORE THE MEETING.

I KNOW I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION WOULD BE THE MATRIX THAT YOU DESIGNED.

HOW DID YOU MEASURE— WHERE'D IT GO? GEEZ. YOU WANT A HARD COPY? HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHAT CONSTITUTED EXPERIENCE WITH FLORIDA GOVERNMENTS? I KNOW THAT WAS ONE OF THE TITLES. SO THAT WAS LISTED IN THE PROPOSALS.

YOU KNOW. OKAY, SO IT WAS

[01:20:01]

THERE WAS PROBABLY 4 OF THE 8 THAT HAD WORKED IN FLORIDA, SMALLER TOWNS, CASTLEBERRY, ORANGE COUNTY, PINELLAS COUNTY, MIAMI-DADE.

THOSE ARE ONES, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF ZEROED IN ON AND FOCUSED ON, READ A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, YOU KNOW. AND AGAIN, THEY WERE VERY LONG PROPOSALS.

I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT WAS WEIGHTED THE HEAVIEST BECAUSE FLORIDA'S GOT WEIRD, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS IN THE NEWS FOR SOMETHING THAT A FLORIDA GUY DID. AND IF IT'S A COMPANY OUT OF GEORGIA, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FAIRLY SIMILAR. THERE WAS ONE PROPOSAL FROM OREGON AND I DON'T KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR WAY OF DOING THINGS IS VERY RELATIVE TO HOW THEY DO THINGS IN OREGON OR CALIFORNIA.

PROBABLY NOT. PROBABLY NOT.

COMMISSIONER RING? THERE WERE TWO FROM OREGON, BUT COMMISSIONER KELLY, JUST KEEP IN MIND, AS BOB MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT IS HIS OPINION AND HOW HIS RATING WENT.

SO WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW DONNA THOUGHT AND CAME ABOUT HER RATING. WELL, OF COURSE IT— BUT YOU JUST SAID WHY, WHY, AND THEN EACH OF THOSE, AND ALSO PATTY. SO MY SUGGESTION, AND THIS IS JUST A SUGGESTION, IS TO MEET NOT JUST WITH BOB, BUT HOW DID EACH OF THE THREE COME ABOUT THEIR RATINGS.

I WAS JUST— YES, COMMISSIONER BOLE. I SWEAR, LAST THING.

I, I TALKED TO SOME FORMER CITY COMMISSIONERS AND PRESENT CITY COMMISSIONERS.

AN INTERESTING THING KEVIN'S COMPETITIVE GROUP, OKAY, IN ORDER TO APPLY AND COME DOWN HERE AND INTERVIEW, YOU HAVE TO OUT YOURSELF, RIGHT? SAY YOU'RE A CURRENT CITY MANAGER OF A SMALL TOWN IN FLORIDA, YOU WANT TO MOVE TO ATLANTIC BEACH, YOU WANT TO BE ATLANTIC BEACH, WELL, YOU HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND INFORM, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO COME OUT TO YOUR CITY COMMISSION, YOUR CITY COUNCIL, THAT I AM IN FACT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB. IF I WAS A, A CURRENT CITY MANAGER AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE, AND WE HAVE I WOULD CALL KEVIN ALMOST AN INCUMBENT CITY MANAGER. THAT'S A HARD NUT TO CRACK, RIGHT? WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITY, RIGHT? SO WE MAY NOT GET EVERY ONE OF THOSE EXPERIENCED CITY MANAGERS APPLYING TO THIS JOB FOR THE SOLE FACT THAT YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS 3 VOTES, RIGHT? YOU HAVE 3 VOTES, AND WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN, CAN GO AWAY.

SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING IN THE MIX, AND THAT'D BE A GREAT QUESTION FOR THESE SEARCH FIRMS, YOU KNOW, WHAT PREVENTS YOU KNOW, THE GUYS, THE QUALITY GUYS THAT WE WANT TO GO OUT THERE. REMEMBER, EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS A LINK WHERE YOU CAN APPLY, RIGHT? COMMISSIONER RING? ACTUALLY, A FEW OF THEM DID ADDRESS JUST HOW TO DO JUST THAT IN THEIR PROPOSALS. SO THAT'S A QUESTION YOU WANT TO KNOW.

DEFINITELY ASK THAT QUESTION.

DEFINITELY READ THROUGH THE PROPOSALS BECAUSE THEY DO MENTION HOW THEY GO ABOUT THAT. OKAY.

SO AFTER RECONSIDERATION OF WHAT I SAID EARLIER, I, I WOULD HOPE THAT SOMEBODY ACTUALLY MOVES TO, TO TABLE THIS, BUT TO BRING IT BACK 2 MEETINGS FROM NOW, WHICH WOULD BE THE SECOND MEETING OF MAY, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE NEXT MEETING FOR US TO DISCUSS WHAT WE LEARNED AND OUR RATINGS, IF YOU SO CHOOSE, AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO HAVE A A TEAMS CALL IN BETWEEN THE NEXT MEETING AND THE SECOND MEETING OF MAY, AT WHICH TIME WE MIGHT VERY WELL BE READY TO VOTE ON RESOLUTION. SO ARE, ARE YOU PROPOSING, MAYOR, THAT WE COME WITH 3 OR THAT WE TAKE THEIR 3? NO, NO, I THINK YOU CAN COME WITH 3. EACH OF YOU CAN COME WITH WHATEVER YOU HAVE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO 3, THAT'S FINE.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO GO A LITTLE DEEPER THAN THAT. BUT I'M LIKE YOU, THAT WAS A LOT OF PAPER FOR THOSE 8 PROPOSALS.

SO I'M NOT SURE I'M GOING TO GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STACK, BUT I'M GOING TO LOOK AT IT.

YES, COMMISSIONER? DO WE HAVE TO DETERMINE EXACTLY HOW WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK WITH OUR— RIGHT THIS SECOND, CAN WE JUST PASS A MOTION TO EXTEND IT OUT? WE CAN. AND THEN WE CAN HAVE SOME BACKGROUND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THAT. WELL, YES, WE CAN DO THAT.

I DO APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER RING TRYING TO PUT SOME FORMAT TO IT. AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE BURNING UP TIME BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEEM TO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.

AND THIS IS, BY THE WAY, THIS IS THE FIRST REAL DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD ON THIS.

OKAY. SO I DON'T FEEL THE LEAST BIT, YOU KNOW, BAD ABOUT PUSHING IT OUT IF THAT'S WHAT WE DO. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DISCUSSED IT.

BUT I DO THINK WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION NEXT MEETING BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING. SO WE MIGHT AS WELL PUSH IT OUT FOR

[01:25:01]

OKAY. SO I'LL LET YOU MAKE THAT MOTION. I MOVE WE TABLE RESOLUTION NO.

26-60 TO MAY 11TH MEETING.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

DISCUSSION? PARDON? IT WOULD— IT'D BE TWO MEETINGS. SO THE SECOND MEETING OF MAY, MAY 26TH. DO YOU WANT ME— OH, OH GOODNESS, THE TUESDAY.

YOU'RE RIGHT, I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE MAY IS THIS WEEK. OKAY, LET ME RESTATE THAT. MY APOLOGIZE— MY APOLOGIES.

I MOVE THAT WE TABLE RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-60 TO MAY 26TH. NEXT. SECOND.

IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE. I DO. AYE.

OKAY, HOLD ON, GO AHEAD. SEEMS TO ME THAT THE FIRM THAT WE'RE GOING TO PICK, THAT THEY'RE NOT THE CITY MANAGER, THEY'RE JUST THE SIV. THEY'RE JUST COLLECTING, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE COLLECTING FROM THE SAME POND OF, OF WHO'S AVAILABLE TO BE A CITY BUT THEY MAY USE BETTER BAIT.

YES. SAY AGAIN? THEY MAY USE BETTER BAIT. BETTER BAIT.

OR BETTER NETS. OR BETTER NETS.

YES, MA'AM.

SO YOU ALL ARE COMING BACK— SORRY, JUST COMING BACK WITH YOUR TOP 3. EACH COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO COME BACK WITH THEIR TOP 3? YES. OKAY.

BUT THAT WASN'T PART OF THE MOTION. THAT WAS JUST DISCUSSION. SO BY CONSENSUS, WE CAN AGREE THAT THAT'S WHAT WE DISCUSSED.

BUT THE ONLY MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO TABLE THIS, RESOLUTION FOR TODAY, AND MOVE IT OUT TO THE MEETING DATED MAY 26TH.

AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? NAY. OKAY, WE HAVE 4 AYES AND 1 NAY.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

[ 8.B. RESOLUTION NO. 26-64]

MR. HOGENCAMP. THANK YOU, MAYOR FORD.

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT YOU ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 2664.

THIS IS A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS. THIS IS— WAS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BECAUSE THIS WAS FILED AFTER THE DRAFT AGENDA WAS PUBLISHED, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

QUESTION? YES, COMMISSIONER KELLY. THERE'S SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 3 BIDS.

YEAH, I MEAN, ARE WE, ARE WE GETTING THE, THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CLEANING HERE? THANK YOU.

OR IS IT JUST THE RULE WE HAVE TO TAKE THE, THE, THE CHEAPEST ONE? IT IS FOR THE SAME WORK, AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU TAKE WHAT IS BY FAR THE, THE LEAST EXPENSIVE ONE. IT'S FOR THE SAME SO WHAT IF WE DON'T— AREN'T HAPPY WITH IT? THERE'S A— YOU'LL SEE IN THE STAFF REPORT THERE'S THE ABILITY FOR EITHER PARTY TO TERMINATE. WITH IT— WITH WHAT KIND OF NOTICE? AT LEAST 6 MONTHS PRIOR, WRITTEN NOTICE.

INCUMBENT IS NOT AMONG THESE BIDDERS. OKAY, FOR REASON, FOR CAUSE? NO, THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED. THEY STOPPED BIDDING.

THEY WEREN'T MAKING MONEY, COMMISSIONER BOLE. I MEAN, IT'S A STATEMENT OF WORK. IT'S LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S RIGHT. PUBLISH A STATEMENT OF WORK. THEY EITHER FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATIONS OR WE GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WHICH WILL BE IN THE LITIGATION.

SO I'M JUST LIKE— YEAH, NO, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

SO I HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS BECAUSE COMMISSIONER KELLY, I THOUGHT THE SAME THING. WHAT WAS THE LOW BID? $45,000.

$45,000 FOR 4 COMMUNITY CENTERS? YEAH. I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. I'M JUST MAKING SURE.

I THOUGHT, HOW DO YOU MAKE MONEY ON THAT DEAL? BUT THEY DON'T GO EVERY DAY. I MEAN, NO, AND I KNOW THAT. SO LET'S SAY ALL YOU DO IS GO IN AND EMPTY THE TRASH CANS AND WIPE THE TOILET AND THE SINK.

AND EVEN THAT, I DON'T KNOW, THAT SOUNDS— I LIKE THE LOW BID, BY THE WAY, BUT IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SO LOW THAT ARE WE GOING TO GET THE SERVICE? FRANKLY, IN OUR STAFF REVIEW, IF WE THOUGHT THE BID WAS SO LOW THAT WE WOULDN'T GET THE SERVICE, WE WOULD HAVE, WE WOULDN'T BE RECOMMENDING THIS.

WE THINK THEY CAN PERFORM THIS WORK FOR THIS AMOUNT. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER BOLE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CALLS IT LPTA, LOW PRICE TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE, RIGHT? SO YOU NEED— I'M SURE COMMISSIONER GRANT AS WELL. EVERYTHING WE FLY— SO YOU MEET THE BAR TECHNICALLY AND

[01:30:02]

THEY DON'T NEED IT.

YEAH, THEN YOU GO, IT'S IN THE CONTRACT. YEAH, THEY, THEY GET THE AXE. BUT WHAT I JUST HEARD IS THE AXE IS 6 MONTHS.

YOU CAN'T AXE THEM. I THINK THAT WOULD BE WITHOUT COST, RIGHT? BUT OUR CITY ATTORNEY PROBABLY TELL US THAT. I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE— I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS CONTEMPLATED IN THE INITIAL BID, BUT YEAH, THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED HERE.

WE CAN NEGOTIATE IT TO A 30-DAY TERMINATION. SO WHEN DOES THIS TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO CLEAN COMMUNITY AT THE MARSH OAKS UNTIL SEPTEMBER, OR WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO START CLEANING? IT DOES. THE $45,000 ANNUAL COST IS WHAT BEGINS ON OCTOBER 1ST IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

OKAY, SO THAT WOULD BE IN THERE. OKAY, VERY WELL.

WELL, I THINK THIS IS REASONABLE QUESTIONS, GUYS, SO I THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO OBJECT. I'LL VOTE YAY ON THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA TO PUT A SHORTER FUSE ON THESE CONTRACTS. I REALIZE WE CAN TERMINATE WITH CAUSE, BUT PROVING CAUSE CAN BE DIFFICULT.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT SHORTER EXIT. AND IF I MAY, I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN PRIVY TO THIS, BUT I WILL SAY THAT I WOULD ALWAYS WANT A, YOU KNOW, A MINIMUM, OR SHOULD I SAY A MAXIMUM OF 30-DAY NOTICE FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF ANY CONTRACT.

FOR ANY REASON FOR THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE BID. AND IF IT IS, I SUGGEST THAT WE CHANGE THAT.

IF I MAY CALL MS. ASKEW UP AND SEE IF SHE HAS A DIRECT ANSWER TO THAT.

AMANDA, THAT WE CAN TERMINATE WITH CAUSE, CAN WE DO THAT IMMEDIATELY OR WITH A 1-MONTH NOTICE? DO YOU KNOW? IT WAS NOT CONTEMPLATED IN THE RFP, SO WE WOULD— USE THAT DURING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TO MAKE SURE. SO WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT WE PUT IN A, FOR ANY REASON, TERMINATION ABILITY FOR THE CITY'S PART.

WITH— I MEAN, I'M NOT EVEN SURE I'D SAY 30 DAYS, MAYBE EVEN LESS. SO I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE SO YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY HAMSTRUNG WITH THAT 6-MONTH REQUIREMENT THAT'S IN HERE.

YEAH, WE WOULD, STAFF WOULD DO THAT ANYWAY IN OUR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.

CITY ATTORNEY, ARE YOU RECOMMENDING THAT THAT BE PART OF, AN AMENDED RESOLUTION? YEAH, I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE IT, JUST FOR CLARITY, WE'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT IT, I WOULD APPROVE IT WITH AN AMENDMENT THAT, A TERMINATION, WITHOUT CAUSE BE ADDED TO THE CONTRACT FOR THE CITY'S PART WITH 15 DAYS NOTICE. I MADE THAT UP.

WELL, I'M GOOD WITH 30.

WE DON'T HAVE TO SLICE IT INTO 2 WEEKS, 30 IS GOOD. BUT SO DID WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ON THIS? YEAH, WE JUST STOPPED THE VOTE. YEAH, VOTE AGAIN.

OH, OKAY. SO NOW I DON'T RECALL. LADEISHA, DID WE HAVE A MOTION? JUST TO BE CLEAN, I WOULD— I DON'T RECALL A MOTION ON IT, AND WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES HERE, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO RELY ON MY MEMORY.

IF I'LL ENTERTAIN A RESTATED MOTION AT THIS TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT THE CHANGE TO A 30-DAY, NOTICE, BEING ADDED FOR THE CITY WITHOUT CAUSE. I RECOMMEND WE ADOPT RESOLUTION 2664, AMENDED TO ADD A TERMINATION CLAUSE OF NOT MORE THAN 30 DAYS.

SECOND.

GOOD ENOUGH. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU.

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

[8.C. RESOLUTION NO. 26-65 ]

MR. HOGENCAMP. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

FROM A HIGH LEVEL, YOU— STAFF RECOMMENDS YOU DO ONE OF TWO THINGS TONIGHT, THAT YOU APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION AS IT'S STATED, WHERE WE, WE SELECT DIG LOCAL NETWORK AS A FARMERS MARKET OPERATOR AND ENABLE ME TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF A CONTRACT IF YOU'D RATHER, WE CAN BRING THAT CONTRACT BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL WITH AN AMENDED MOTION IF INDEED YOU PROCEED IN THE DIRECTION THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING. I'LL FURTHER STATE, IF I MAY, THAT OF THE 3 BIDS THAT WE RECEIVED, OUR COMMITTEE OF 4 PEOPLE, 2 STAFFERS, A MEMBER OF THE

[01:35:01]

OKAY.

WHO'S THE BEST PERSON TO ANSWER QUESTIONS NOW? YOU OR AMANDA? I'LL START, AND IF I CAN'T ANSWER, BOTH OF US ASK YOU, KEN. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SECOND.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. WE'LL OPEN DISCUSSION. I, I DON'T MIND LEADING OFF IF THAT'S OKAY.

DID ALL OF THE, IN THE RFP, AND I APOLOGIZE, I SHOULD HAVE RECHECKED THIS, BUT ARE ALL THREE OF THE BIDDERS ON THE RFP AWARE OF THE LIMITATIONS WE HAVE AND THE CONTROL THAT WE OWN AND NOT THEY ON SIZE, MEANING NUMBER OF VENDORS ALLOWED IN THE PARK? I'VE ALREADY BEEN ASKED A QUESTION I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO. CAN WE CALL MS. ASKEW UP? YES.

THANKS. HI, GOOD EVENING.

AMANDA ASKEW, NEIGHBORHOODS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

IT WAS INDICATED IN THE RFP, WE WERE LOOKING FOR CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, NOT NECESSARILY THE FARMERS MARKET ALWAYS HAPPENING HERE AT JACK RUSSELL PARK WITH A LIMITED FOOTPRINT. WE DID NOT PUT A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES IN THERE. WE LEFT IT UP TO THE BIDDERS TO COME TO US WITH A PROPOSED PLAN.

SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD LIMIT IN THE CONTRACT ONCE WE GET TO THAT PHASE. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. OTHER QUESTIONS OF AMANDA? I GOT A QUESTION.

YES. SO I GOT SOME FEEDBACK, GOOD FEEDBACK ON DIG. SO I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

BUT I DID TALK TO A FEW VENDORS OF THE FARMERS MARKET, AND I GUESS THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT LIMIT ON NON-FOOD VENDORS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AT THAT FARMERS MARKET FOR A LONG TIME NOW. I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING TO LIMIT IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT, HOW MANY SHE HAS OUT THERE TODAY, THE MANAGER.

DO WE HAVE AN IDEA? IT WAS 50 TO 55. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.

YES. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A BAD NUMBER. BUT IN ANY CASE, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT DOES SOUND LIKE, YOU KNOW, PER OUR CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY, KEVIN, THAT WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE EXACT— IT'S STILL A LITTLE FLUID IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT CONTRACT MAY LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, SIZE.

YOU KNOW, DO THEY PUT IN HOW MANY NON-VEGETARIANS? THEY PUT IN FOOD, YOU KNOW, FOOD TRUCKS, ALL THOSE THINGS. ARE THEY GOING TO BE PART OF IT? AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, THOSE ITEMS. BEFORE I CONFIRMED, BUT, YOU KNOW, SO MAYBE WE MIGHT NEED TO AMEND IT TO SAY IF EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE OPEN TO IT, THAT WE APPROVE, YOU KNOW, PER CONTRACT REVIEW, SUBJECT TO CONTRACT REVIEW. I DON'T KNOW IF WE SAY IT LIKE THAT. I THINK THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO DO IS STATE HERE WHETHER WE ARE GIVING THE CITY MANAGER WHERE YEAH, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN.

SO WE WOULD AMEND THAT TO SAY CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE, AND PRESENT FOR, COMMISSION APPROVAL THE OPERATING AGREEMENT. SO THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY CHANGE.

OKAY.

YEAH, SO, BUT WE'LL NEED TO AMEND THE, THE MOTION.

BUT COMMISSIONER, GO AHEAD.

SO QUESTIONS ABOUT DIG.

I'VE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT DIG, AND I'VE HEARD THEIR NAME THROWN OUT MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT WEREN'T THEY— AND JUST, I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS, BUT WHAT'S THE BACKGROUND AS FAR AS OUR CITY AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP? AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, THEY ROSE TO THE VERY TOP AS THE NUMBER ONE. WHAT WAS THAT RELATIONSHIP? DIG LOCAL HAD TWO MARKETS HERE AT MIDWEEK MARKET AT BULL PARK.

AND HAD OUR FARMERS MARKET HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE NEVER HAD AN OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH THE FARMERS MARKET OPERATOR, YOU KNOW, THAT WENT OVER ALL THE TERMS. SO, WE HAVEN'T HAD AN AGREEMENT TO ADMINISTER LIKE WE'RE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT MOVING FORWARD.

DIG LOCAL WAS PRESENTED WITH THE REALITY THAT ON SATURDAY MORNINGS, WE WERE, AS A COMMUNITY, PRIORITIZING YOUTH BASEBALL AT RUSSELL PARK, AND, AND WE TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE GOING

[01:40:02]

AND ULTIMATELY, DICK LOCAL OPTED NOT TO CONTINUE WITH THE RUSSELL PARK MARKET.

AND THE REASON WHY I ASKED THAT IS A LOT OF THOSE SAME ISSUES ARE HERE TODAY. AND SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED, THEY'RE INTERESTED IN PUTTING A BID IN.

FOR THIS FARMERS MARKET THAT WE STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH BASEBALL AND FARMERS MARKET OPERATING AT THE SAME TIME AT BOTH CAPACITIES.

TO BE CLEAR, THEY DIDN'T LEAVE BECAUSE OF BASEBALL BEING PLAYED ON SATURDAY. THEY PROBABLY LIKED IT.

THERE'S A BUILT-IN AUDIENCE.

WE TOLD THEM THEY'D HAVE TO MOVE TO SUNDAY OR TO SATURDAY AFTERNOON OR TO ANOTHER PARK OR ANOTHER DAY.

SO I KNOW— SO THIS IS NOT THE SAME.

IT'S NOT THE SAME ISSUE. SO I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE NOT DRAFTED OUT THE CONTRACT WITH THEM, OBVIOUSLY, BUT ARE THEY AWARE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE— I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY'RE THE SAME PEOPLE OPERATING DIG AS BEFORE, BUT ARE THEY AWARE THAT WHAT SOME OF THOSE CONTINGENCIES ARE, WHICH IS THAT THEY'D BE WORKING ON SUNDAY? AND I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY SHARED THIS WITH ME, I JUST WANTED FOR THE RECORD TO SHARE THAT, THAT THEY WOULD BE WORKING ON SUNDAY, POSSIBLY STAYING AT JACK RUSSELL. THERE'S OPTIONS TO MOVE, WE THROW THAT OUT AS COMMISSION TO MOVE IT ELSEWHERE TOO.

ARE THEY FAMILIAR WITH THE TEMPERATURE TODAY AS IT WAS WHEN THEY FIRST HAD OUR FARMERS MARKET RUNNING? YES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE. INDEED, THE RFP SAID THE CURRENT MARKET IS ON SUNDAYS. AND SO YES, THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT, OF THAT INDEED.

SO AWARE THAT THEY'RE REPRESENTED IN THE ROOM AT THE MOMENT. IF INDEED THAT MATTERS. SO YES, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

KEVIN, WE DID GROW UP WITH LADIES HERE. THAT'S WHAT I JUST SAID. I MEAN, RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO I'M NOT JUST SPEAKING FOR THEM. THEY'RE CURIOUS AND NODDING THEIR HEAD TO THIS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER.

DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OH YES, YOU DID. YOU DID. AND I, YOU KNOW, AND REALLY THE POINT WAS TO SAY A LOT OF THAT TEMPERATURE THAT WAS HAPPENING WHENEVER WE LAST HAD THEM AND WHATEVER THE FALLOUT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY BE THE CASE TODAY THAT THEY WOULD NOW BE OPERATING ON SUNDAY AND BASEBALL STILL CONTINUES TO TAKE OVER A LOT OF OUR PARKS OR OUR PARK SPOTS.

YEAH, AND IT'S OUR CHOICE WORKING WITH THE COMMISSION, IT'S STAFF'S CHOICE TO CONTINUE AT LEAST TO CONSIDER CONTINUING THE MARKET ON SUNDAY. THAT'S THE INTENTION AT THE MOMENT BASED ON WHAT THIS RESPONDER SAID IN ITS PROPOSAL AND THE REALITY THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE ENABLING THE CONTINUED COEXISTENCE OF BASEBALL AND THE FARMERS MARKET ON SUNDAYS.

OKAY.

I JUST HAVE TO SAY I THINK WE'RE VERY BLESSED, FIRST OF ALL, THAT WE GOT MORE THAN ONE BID.

THAT WAS NICE. PARTICULARLY THAT WE HAVE DIGLOCAL, AND I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THAT CHOICE.

THEY HAVE A PEDIGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY PLEASED TO EMBRACE. BUT I WOULD LIKE THIS— I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER GRANT. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO COME BACK FOR FINAL APPROVAL TO THE COMMISSION.

SO IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE THAT MOTION, WE CAN ADD IT. IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON WITH IT. I'LL DO IT.

RECOMMEND WE ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-65 WITH CITY MANAGER RETURNING TO THE COMMISSION APPROVAL FOR CONTRACT. WELL, PROBABLY COULD HAVE SAID THAT BETTER.

OKAY, MR. ATTORNEY, IS THERE A CLEANER WAY OF WRITING THAT? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY IT? I, I THINK THAT THE CONCEPT IS UNDERSTOOD, AND WHAT THAT'LL ACTUALLY MEAN IS WE'RE GONNA, BASICALLY AMEND 8C. YEAH, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE PROVISIONS, I THINK IS NUMBER 2, IN THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION THAT REQUIRE INSTEAD OF AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN IT, HE'LL NEGOTIATE IT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION. SO I THINK WITH THAT CONCEPT IT'S UNDERSTOOD.

ALL RIGHT, BUT HOW DOES LADAISHA KNOW WHAT TO WRITE? DO YOU NEED MORE? I THINK SHE COULD USE THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE.

OKAY, ONE SECOND, LET ME, YOU FIND IT? WE'RE ON 8C, RIGHT? YEAH, THEY'RE ON 8C.

OKAY, SO SECTION 2 OF RESOLUTION 26-65.

SECTION 2 SAYS THE CITY COMMISSION HEREBY AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN AN OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH DIG LOCAL NETWORK INC.

FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE MARKET SO WE'RE GOING TO AMEND THAT TO SAY THE CITY COMMISSION

[01:45:01]

FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE MARKET.

SUCH OPERATING AGREEMENT— THIS IS THE NEW LANGUAGE— SUCH OPERATING AGREEMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR FURTHER APPROVAL. THAT IS THE AMENDMENT. ALL RIGHT, SO FIRST WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT, AND THEN WE'LL VOTE ON THE MOTION.

SO WE'RE ONLY VOTING ON THE CHANGE TO THE RESOLUTION. SO IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED? YOU NEED A SECOND, DON'T YOU? YEAH. SO MR. GRANT HAS MOVED IT.

WE JUST NEED A SECOND.

SECOND. OH, RING IS SECOND.

I SECOND. NO, BOLD GOT THE SECOND. HE WAS FIRST.

FIRST WINNER. THEN YOU GOT THE SECOND. THAT'LL BE FOR THE AMENDMENT.

OKAY, SO NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

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

NOW WE'LL VOTE ON THE AMENDED MOTION. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION THERE? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDED MOTION SIGNIFY WITH AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION FAILS.

[8.D. RESOLUTION NO. 26-66 ]

THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE ARE PARTIES TO AN AGREEMENT THAT EXPIRES MAY 31ST, 2026, FOR ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES.

THIS AMENDMENT MODIFIES, THE EXISTING CONTRACT.

UNDER THE NEW TERMS, THE CITY WOULD PAY AN ANNUAL FEE OF $711,000 $746.40.

WE, THIS WOULD FOLLOW, THIS FOLLOWS, THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE APPROVING THIS ALREADY.

OUR FISCAL YEAR OPERATING BUDGET ACCOUNTS FOR THIS COST, AS WILL THE FISCAL YEAR '26-'27 OPERATING BUDGET THAT I PROPOSED TO YOU. WE'RE RECOMMENDING— STAFF IS— THAT YOU APPROVE THAT YOU ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 2666 AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ORMOND BEACH AND THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE FOR FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MAKE A— MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2666.

SECOND. WE HAVE MOTION AND SECOND.

DISCUSSION? YES, COMMISSIONER.

I KNOW WE'RE HERE AGAIN, AND, I JUST WONDERED WHY WE WERE HERE AGAIN AND NEPTUNE BEACH IS NOT HERE WITH US IN THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. I UNDERSTAND.

HERE'S THE THING, STATION 55 DOES NOT JUST SERVE ATLANTIC BEACH, IT SERVES ATLANTIC BEACH AND NEPTUNE BEACH EQUALLY. THAT IS THEIR JURISDICTION, AND WE'RE PAYING ANOTHER $751,000 PLUS HOWEVER MANY YEARS THAT WE PAID FOR BOTH CITIES TO RECEIVE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES. THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

I WANT TO SEPARATE WHAT WE'RE PAYING.

FIRST OF ALL, WE WERE PAYING 2 YEARS AGO ALMOST OR RIGHT AT $1.5 MILLION, AND PRIOR TO THAT WE WERE PAYING LESS BECAUSE IT WAS ESCALATING EACH YEAR, BUT WE WERE GETTING A CREDIT FOR THE COST OF NET TUNE BEACH. OKAY, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SPLIT IN HALF. NO, NO, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.

WHEN WE STARTED TO DEBATE WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE THAT WE DIDN'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE EVEN BE PAYING IT AT ALL, OR CERTAINLY NOT THAT AMOUNT, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT AT LEAST THE BULK OF IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF A COUNTY SERVICE. THEY, LET'S JUST SAY, I WON'T SAY THEY AGREED TO THAT, BUT WHAT THEY AGREED TO WAS THIS, THAT DURING THE TIME THAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR US TO ENGAGE A THIRD-PARTY FIRM TO TO RESEARCH THE HISTORY, THE VALIDITY, THE RATIONALE OF THE FORMER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, THAT DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME THEY WOULD REDUCE OUR FIRE CONTRACT TO $750,000. SO SEPARATE NEPTUNE BEACH OUT OF IT.

WE ARE NOT PAYING FOR NEPTUNE BEACH TO HAVE FIRE SERVICES.

WE'RE SIMPLY PAYING $750,000.

NOW, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NEPTUNE BEACH PAYS ZERO.

THAT'S OUR ARGUMENT ABOUT WHY IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A COUNTY SERVICE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE RESOLUTION TO THIS YEAR. THAT'S WHAT THE FIRM IS DOING RIGHT NOW IN THE STUDY OF THE OLD INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT PLUS THE

[01:50:02]

THAT'S A SEPARATE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. AND IT'S MY DESIRE, AND I KNOW YOUR DESIRE, CITY MANAGER, THAT WE MERGE THE TWO TOGETHER ONCE WE GET TO THE FINAL CONCLUSION.

LET'S, LET'S KNOW THAT THAT'S THE GOAL, AS WELL AS REFINING AND DEFINING OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE COUNTY SERVICES WITHIN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, WHICH MAY GIVE US ADDITIONAL RELIEF.

SO THE ISSUE OF SAYING, AS ONE CITIZEN SAID EARLIER, THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE PAYING ANYTHING BECAUSE WE PAID OFF THE MORTGAGE 2 YEARS AGO.

NO, IT WASN'T A MORTGAGE AND IT WASN'T A, IT WASN'T A PURCHASE PLAN TO PURCHASE SOMETHING. WHAT IT WAS, WAS IT WAS IT WAS EITHER A 25-YEAR— IT WAS 25-YEAR AGREEMENT.

CALL IT A LEASE, IF YOU WILL, BUT A 25-YEAR AGREEMENT THAT CAME TO ITS END. AND I THINK WE ARE RATIONAL IN OUR APPROACH WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE IN THAT WE WANT IT COUNTED AS A COUNTY SERVICE FOR TWO REASONS. NUMBER ONE, NEPTUNE BEACH NEXT DOOR GETS IT FOR FREE.

BUT BY THE WAY, JACKSONVILLE BEACH DOES NOT. AND BALDWIN DOES NOT. THEY PAY FOR FIRE.

OKAY, SO, BUT NEPTUNE BEACH GETS IT FOR FREE. AND IN ADDITION, THE ORIGINAL INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WAS— WHAT WAS THAT CIRCA? WHAT YEAR WAS THAT, COUNCILOR? 1999. THE ORIGINAL ONE, NOT THE FIRE AGREEMENT.

'68. OH, THE ORIGINAL FOR THE— YEAH, IT WAS 1968.

OKAY, WELL, IN THE ORIGINAL ONE, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS STATED IN THERE THAT WAS A COUNTY SERVICE WAS RESCUE.

BUT BACK THEN, FIRE DEPARTMENTS DIDN'T— THEY WEREN'T JFRD, JACKSONVILLE FIRE AND RESCUE.

IT WAS FIRE DEPARTMENT OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND A SEPARATE RESCUE THING.

BUT ALL THAT GOT MERGED IN, AND THEN WE ADOPTED JFRD.

WE SIGNED UP TO GO WITH JFRD, JUST AS OUR SISTER CITIES DID.

AND SO THIS COMPLICATES IT.

ORIGINAL INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT DID NOT SAY THAT FIRE WAS A COUNTY SERVICE, I BELIEVE.

OKAY, I THINK WE— COUNCILOR, YOU'RE BEST VERSED ON THIS, BUT CERTAINLY THE RESCUE PART OF IT WAS. ADDITIONALLY, AS I STATED, THERE'S NOW A PRECEDENT WITH NEPTUNE BEACH GETTING IT FOR FREE. FINALLY, IS OUR POSITION IS WE PAY A LOT OF TAXES FOR COUNTY SERVICES, AND SO WHETHER WE NEGOTIATE OR RENEGOTIATE THE FIRE PORTION OF IT OR RENEGOTIATE THE AD VALOREM SPLIT WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE NOW GOING TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN WE GET THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BY THE THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANT.

YES. I JUST, I JUST WANT TO POINT THIS OUT THOUGH.

AGAIN, IN THE '99 CONTRACT THAT WAS OUT, NEPTUNE BEACH IS PART OF THAT AGREEMENT.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE PART OF, THEY'RE SERVICED BY STATION 55. AND, AND SO AS WE RENEGOTIATED, SHOULD WE NOT HAVE KEPT NEPTUNE BEACH IN THE LOOP BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT FIRST INITIAL ONE THAT WE WROTE IN '24 AND NOW TODAY IN '26? I BELIEVE, AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT, I BELIEVE THAT WE ONLY ELIMINATED THE CREDIT FOR NEPTUNE BEACH WHEN WE GOT THE REDUCTION FROM THE $1.5 MILLION TO THE AMOUNT.

IS THAT— THAT'S MY RECOLLECTION. YEAH. SO IT JUST BECAME A NEW NUMBER, WHICH, BY THE WAY, WAS 50% OF A BIG NUMBER, RIGHT? SO THE NEPTUNE BEACH CREDIT WAS, I WANT TO SAY, $200-SOMETHING THOUSAND.

I'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT WAS.

SO THEY COULD HAVE SAID— THEY COULD HAVE MADE IT MORE COMPLEX AND SAID, WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE YOU FROM $1.5 MILLION TO $1 MILLION AND GIVE YOU THE $270,000.

RIGHT. BUT THEY'RE NOT— THEY'RE NOT CHASING NEPTUNE BEACH DOWN FOR THAT, FOR THE OTHER $750,000. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS FOR THE RECORD, YOU KNOW, SO CITIZENS KNOW, IN ATLANTIC BEACH YOU'RE PAYING FOR FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES TO ALL OF ATLANTIC BEACH AS WELL AS NEPTUNE BEACH, AND YOU'RE NOT PAYING FOR NEPTUNE BEACH.

TO RUN THAT STATION NEXT DOOR COSTS MORE THAN $750,000 A YEAR. WELL, I'M SURE, BUT MAYOR, THEY ALSO ALSO RECEIVE MONEY AND RESCUE EVERY TRANSPORT, AND THAT IS WHY IT'S NOT— THAT'S WHY IT'S CONSIDERED A COUNTY SERVICE AND NOT RESCUE PORTION IS CONSIDERED A COUNTY SERVICE BECAUSE THEY GET FUNDING ALREADY AS IT IS. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE'VE ALREADY HIRED A FIRM TO WORK OUT THAT MINUTIA, AND I'M VERY GLAD TO, AND I ALSO DON'T WANT TO DELAY THE PROCESS ANYMORE BY HALTING THIS RESOLUTION.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AGAIN, HERE COMES ANOTHER YEAR— AND NOTHING AGAINST MY NEPTUNE BEACH COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY'RE FANTASTIC— AND THEN, HEY, IF ONE

[01:55:02]

I'M NOT PAYING FOR YOUR DINNER.

I DON'T THINK IT'S LEGAL FOR YOU TO, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE POINT THAT OUT HERE AGAIN AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS CONTRACT. NOT JUST THAT, BUT BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO HEAR WHAT THAT CITIZEN WHO MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO PAY THE BILL, DOES THAT DE-INCENTIVIZE COJ TO WORK OUT A QUICKER DEAL HERE? BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING— SOMEONE'S PAYING IT.

NEPTUNE BEACH IS NOT. WE'VE MADE THAT COMPLETELY CLEAR.

BUT AS WE GO INTO IT, IF WE'RE SITTING HERE AGAIN NEXT YEAR, OR IF I AM OR NOT, THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP THE IDEA THAT MR. KILLINGSWORTH HAD OF TAKING THE MONEY AND PUTTING IT INTO AN ESCROW. IT WOULD SIT THERE, WE WOULDN'T SPEND IT. AGAIN, I, I DON'T WANT TO KEEP HARPING ON PROPERTY TAX REFORM, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE CONSIDERING, THAT AS A POSSIBILITY BECAUSE $750,000 IN OUR BUDGET WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL HIT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S— IF, IF PROPERTY TAXES— SO NOTED.

GOT TO LOOK AT OUR— WE GOT TO LOOK AT OUR SPENDING CLOSELY, GUYS.

YES, SO NOTED. YES, COMMISSIONER.

MAYOR, I WAS, I WAS LUCKY, AND I MENTIONED THIS TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, TO TALK TO 3 OF OUR JACKSONVILLE, CITY COUNCILORS, INCLUDING THE INCOMING PRESIDENT. AND YES, OF COURSE, WHAT DID I HIT THEM WITH? THIS EXACT ISSUE. AND I THINK THE ONLY REASON I MENTION THIS— I'LL BE REALLY BRIEF IS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IT FRONT AND CENTER.

WE NEED TO KEEP ON THEM. WE NEED— THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM US EVERY TIME WE GO SOMEWHERE.

WHO'S CITY OF JACKSONVILLE? CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.

SO I HAVE TO RESPOND TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S— I BELIEVE IN FAIRNESS. WHEN WE AGREED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO GO TO A THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANT ON THE MAIN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, THE BALL WAS IN OUR COURT TO GET THAT DONE. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE SAID, WE'LL SPLIT THE COST WITH YOU, BUT BALL IN YOUR COURT.

WE DIDN'T GET THAT DONE. SO HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, ON THE PRINCIPLE OF HAVING THE MORAL HIGH GROUND, HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO DEBATE THAT ISSUE ON THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ON FIRE WHEN WE COULDN'T EVEN GET THE DEAL DONE ON THE CONSULT? I DON'T THINK I'D USE HIGH GROUND, BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL AGREEING WITH JACKSONVILLE THAT WE WANT IT DONE SOON. THEY DO TOO.

MOVE ON. OH, THEY— AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE TO COMPLIMENT THEM. AT LEAST TO DATE, THEY HAVE NOT PUSHED BACK AT ALL.

THEY'VE BEEN- AND I'M NOT GOING TO USE THE NAMES, OBVIOUSLY.

WE HAVE THE MAYOR, DONNA DEEGAN, AT THE TOP, BUT THE PLAYERS INVOLVED ARE VERY— SO FAR, VERY REASONABLE IN SAYING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY AS WELL, AND WE WANT TO BE FAIR WITH THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH. WE'LL SEE ABOUT THE NUANCES ON THE FRINGES ONCE WE GET THERE, BUT YEAH, I'M WITH YOU.

AND BY THE WAY, COMMISSIONER RING, I TOTALLY AGREE. IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS WRAPPED UP SOMEHOW BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THEN WE PROBABLY SHOULD REDISCUSS EITHER NOT PAYING OR PAYING INTO ESCROW WHILE WE DUKE IT OUT LEGALLY, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT'S A BIG NUMBER THAT WE THINK WE HAVE GROUNDS FOR DEFENDING NOT PAYING.

ANYWAYS, THANK YOU.

AND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? WE'RE NOW ALL ON THE RECORD ON THAT. YES, COMMISSIONER GRANT. I GUESS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS AGREEMENT'S WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO REVISE IT.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, I GUESS THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMPANY, THE ARBITER THAT'S BEEN ENGAGED TO WORK WITH US AND THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, YOU KNOW, THEIR REPORT'S DUE IN 8 MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T WANT US TO HAVE TO PAY, YOU KNOW, AN EXTRA 4 MONTHS OF THIS NUMBER IF, YOU KNOW, WE COME TO AN AGREEMENT 8 MONTHS AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE OKAY. LET ME— ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

BUT LET ME HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT A NEGOTIATION.

YOU EITHER APPROVE THIS TONIGHT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT IT'S $700,000 AND MORE THAN $700,000 $150,000 UNDER THE $1.5 MILLION THAT WE HAD TO— WE'RE NOT— THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND ME AND RENEGOTIATE WITH ANOTHER CLAUSE IN IT.

THEY THINK THEY'RE BEING VERY REASONABLE IN DOING THAT AND NOT FIGHTING OUR REQUEST TO DO THAT PENDING RESULTS OF THE STUDY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ALREADY IF WE HAD OUR GAME ON, AND WE DID NOT. ANYWAYS, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY— WE DO HAVE A SECOND AND A MOTION, AND, AND WE DID.

OKAY, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION

[02:00:01]

[9.A ORDINANCE NO. 20-26-182, Public Hearing and Final Reading ]

MR. HOGENCAMP.

THANK YOU, MAYOR FORD. YOU APPROVED THIS ORDINANCE ON, FIRST READING AT YOUR LAST MEETING. THIS IS SECOND AND FINAL READING.

THERE ARE 3 FUNDS, THAT ARE BEING AMENDED.

ONE, HAS TO DO WITH CIVIC CONSULTING GROUP, THE AFOREMENTIONED FIRM. THIS ENABLES US TO PAY THAT COST, HALF OF WHICH WILL BE REIMBURSED BY THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.

THIS WAS NOT BUDGETED THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE AMENDMENT. WE ALSO DID NOT BUDGET THE RECEIPT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, SO THE SECOND ITEM IS ACTUALLY TO NOT SPEND MONEY BUT TO RECEIVE MONEY. AS IS THE CASE WITH THE THIRD FUND, THE LANDSCAPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT FUND, WHICH I THINK YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH.

AND IF NOT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 20-26-182.

SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE MOTION, SECOND. LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY, WITH NOBODY SPEAKING, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND, DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY

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

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WE ARE AT ITEM 11 ON THE AGENDA.

CITY ATTORNEY, WHAT SAY YE? NOTHING TO REPORT, SIR. OKAY.

CITY CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE ETHICS TRAINING YET? NO, IT'S USUALLY IN JUNE.

NO, I'LL, I'LL GET THAT THOUGH FOR THE NEXT MEETING. YEAH, USUALLY IT IS IN JUNE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT THE CITY OF JACKSON PROPOSES.

I HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING ON THAT, BUT I'LL REACH OUT TO THE ETHICS DIRECTOR, FIND THAT OUT AND SHARE THAT.

YEAH, THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP. I WAS STARTING TO WORRY.

I'M THINKING I'M BEHIND THE CURVE. ALSO, THE FINANCIAL FORM SHOULD BE DUE SOON. THAT'LL BE, YOUR DEADLINE WILL BE JULY 1ST.

OKAY. YEAH. OKAY.

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

COMMISSIONER BOLE.

YEAH, I JUST HAVE ONE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND I, I DO THIS FOR ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ALSO. IS THERE A RESTRICTION FROM THE MAYOR COMMISSIONER ON THE TIME LIMIT THAT A CITY COMMISSIONER CAN MAKE A REPORT? I'M, I'M SERIOUS. YEAH, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT WHEN THIS CAME UP EARLIER.

I'M JUST ASKING THE RULE IN CASE THERE WAS A POINT OF ORDER. YEAH, OF COURSE, EVERY COMMISSIONER ALWAYS HAS A RIGHT TO, YOU KNOW PAUL, POINT OF ORDER. THE CLOSEST THING WE HAVE— THIS IS IN THE, ORDINANCE CODE, IT'S SECTION 219, AND IT'S RULE NUMBER 4.

AND I, I, I POINT THIS OUT BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE PREDOMINANTLY COLLEGIAL HERE, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO IMPOSE, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, A, A TIME RESTRICTION, WE CERTAINLY CAN.

I THINK WE'RE KIND OF COLLEGIAL, WE LET PEOPLE KIND OF ASK QUESTIONS EVEN 3 OR 4 TIMES, BUT HERE'S THE RULE, NO MEMBER SHALL SPEAK AT ANY MEETING MORE THAN TWICE ON THE SAME QUESTION OR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES AT ANY ONE TIME. SO IF WE WANTED TO, WE COULD START IMPOSING THAT WHERE YOU MAY, YOU KNOW, BE RELEGATED TO SPEAKING ON THAT ONE QUESTION, FOR EXAMPLE, NO MORE THAN TWICE AND NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES.

SO I, AGAIN, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S OKAY TO TAKE LIBERTIES AND HAVE SOME CONVERSATION.

BUT IF PEOPLE ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND, WE CAN IMPOSE THAT RULE. AND THAT'S FOR ALL FIVE OF US? THAT'S FOR ALL FIVE OF YOU.

GOTCHA. OKAY, THANKS. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

BEEN HERE 6 YEARS AND I'M GLAD I KNOW THAT. IT'S RULE NUMBER 4 UNDER ARTICLE 2, 219 OF THE WORDS. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER GRANT? YES.

SO TO KEEP THIS ISSUE AT THE FOREFRONT, TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, THE BEACHES WATCH HAS A FORUM MAY 6TH AT 7 O'CLOCK. RORY DIAMOND WILL BE THERE TO— AND HE'S GOT ON THE AGENDA THIS— THIS SUBJECT. SO I THINK IT'D BE GOOD FOR, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE THERE AND ANYBODY ELSE BE THERE AS WELL TO KIND OF JUST CONTINUE TO HAMMER OUR DESIRE TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED.

ALONG THAT LINE, I KNOW WE GOT THIS FIRM ENGAGED TO TELL US WHAT'S FAIR AND NOT FAIR, BUT DO WE HAVE AN

[02:05:02]

LET ME HELP YOU OUT.

I THINK WE COULD ASK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONSULTANT IS LOOKING AT THAT. INDEED, THE CONSULTANT IS LOOKING AT THE OTHER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS AND IS CONTEMPLATING NUANCES LIKE THAT.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE A— BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A BUNCH OF INFORMATION.

I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY— WHAT NUMBER ARE THEY PAYING? OKAY. AND HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS DO THEY HAVE? IF YOU'RE ASKING STAFF TO PROVIDE THAT, I MEAN, I MEAN, I DIG THAT. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THAT OUT.

OH YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. I MEAN, SURE. I MEAN, JUST TO GIVE US AN INDICATION, INSTEAD OF WAITING 8 MONTHS FOR THIS GUY TO COME BACK, OR THESE FOLKS, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND, BECAUSE IT COULD HELP US WITH SOME LEVERAGE DOWN THE ROAD. IF I MAY, BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING FOR BOTH COST, NOT JUST US.

AND TO CLARIFY, YOU, YOU'RE HOPING LIKE PER CAPITA WHAT THE OTHER CITIES ARE PAYING? PER CAPITA, PER HOUSEHOLD, WHATEVER THE APPROPRIATE, YOU KNOW, MEASUREMENT IS FOR FIRE SERVICES CHARGED.

THERE'S AN INDUSTRY STANDARD, SO BE IT. NO, THAT, THAT'S VALID. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

THAT, THAT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT I'M EXPECTING OUT OF THEIR STUDY. BUT BEING MORE SPECIFIC CAN'T HURT, JUST IN CASE THEY WEREN'T BREAKING IT DOWN THAT WAY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

THERE'S MANY OTHER THINGS OUT THERE, BUT— WELL, YEAH, THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE. THAT'S THE BIG ROCK. YEAH.

OKAY. LET'S SEE, COMMISSIONER KELLY. WE— I THINK WE ALL HAD AN EMAIL LAST WEEK OR SO ABOUT FLOCK CAMERAS, AND I ASKED KEVIN AND HE HAD SAID HE WOULD CHECK IT OUT, SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT FLOCK CAMERAS DO.

PERHAPS I ANSWER THE MAYOR. WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE ROOM THAT CERTAINLY DOES KNOW. YOU HAVE THE POLICE CHIEF COME UP AND YOU ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

ARE THESE THE ONES LIKE THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT AROUND THE, AROUND THE EDGES OF THE CITY? VIC LILLA, CHIEF OF POLICE. YES, MA'AM.

THESE ARE.

SO FLOCK IS A COMPANY. THEY'RE PROBABLY THE, THE LARGEST COMPANY RIGHT NOW PROVIDING LPR LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, CERTAINLY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEY ALSO PROVIDE SOME SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, AS WE HAVE IN OUR PARKS.

WE DON'T USE FLOCK, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT COMPANY. FLOCK CAME UNDER SOME FIRE, I THINK, IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO MADE SOME ACCUSATIONS ON THE ON THE INTERNET ABOUT IMPROPER USE, RIGHT, OF— FROM EMPLOYEES.

WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE FLOC VP, FOR OUR AREA, AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THEY'VE SEEN THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT BEFORE. THEY GAVE A VERY GOOD EXPLANATION TO US, AND THERE IS ACTUALLY A BLOG, A POST ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT EXPLAINS THE COMPLAINT IN DETAIL. THERE WAS A CITY THAT ALLOWED FLOCK, PROBABLY TWO CITIES THAT HAVE ALLOWED FLOCK TO USE THEIR CAMERAS FOR DEMO PURPOSES UNDER A WRITTEN AGREEMENT.

WE ACTUALLY SAW A COUPLE OF THESE CITIES WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THEM AS A DEMO. IT WAS COMPLETE DISCLOSURE ON THE CITY'S PART, AND EVERYTHING IN FLOCK IS TRACKED, AND IT HAS AN AUDIT TRAIL ON OUR SYSTEM AS WELL AS THEIRS.

SO THE ACCUSATION WAS BASICALLY THAT THE FLOCK EMPLOYEES WERE IMPROPERLY USING THESE CAMERAS TO LOOK AT PLACES WHERE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, THEIR DAYCARES.

AND THEY— AND FLOCK ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE SITES THAT THEY USED FOR THE CAMERAS. THEY PUT POLICIES IN PLACE SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT— THEIR SALESPEOPLE WOULD NOT USE THOSE CAMERAS DURING SALES CALLS TO DEMO THE VIDEOS. SO THAT'S WHAT A BIG PART OF THAT COMPLAINT WAS.

UNDERSTAND, WE DON'T USE FLOCK FOR SURVEILLANCE. WE ONLY USE IT FOR LICENSE PLATE READERS.

THEY ARE FOCUSED ON A LANE OR TWO IN THE ROAD.

THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THE TAGS OF THE CARS. A GENERAL PICTURE OF THE CAR IS CAPTURED. IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE INSIDE THE CAR WINDOWS, AND WHAT THEY ARE RECORDING IS THAT LICENSE PLATE NUMBER THAT THEN IS RUN THROUGH A SYSTEM OF DATABASES FOR THAT TAG NUMBER BEING WANTED FOR— COULD BE ANY TYPE OF CRIME THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT PUTS IN THERE.

IT COULD BE FOR SUSPENDED DRIVER'S LICENSE, COULD BE STOLEN TAGS, STOLEN CARS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE USE FLOCK CAMERAS FOR. SO LIKE, I GET— I DON'T PAY TOLLS, I JUST GET IT IN THE MAIL, SO THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE PICTURE OF MY CAR.

THE VERY SAME TYPE OF CAMERA THAT FLOCK EMPLOYS.

THAT TECHNOLOGY IS EVERYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES, USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND

[02:10:01]

THE LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEMS. AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF TOW COMPANIES OUT THERE AND RECOVERY COMPANIES THAT USE LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEMS TO RECOVER VEHICLES THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE PAST DUE ON THEIR LOANS, ETC., TO RECOVER THEM ALSO.

SO THIS IS IN VERY WIDE USE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE TOO. SO IT'S NOT NEW TECHNOLOGY. MAY I ASK, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE? WHERE ARE THEY? SO WE HAVE 7.

AND WE TRIED TO LAY OUT INGRESS AND EGRESS IN OUR CITY. SO ATLANTIC BOULEVARD, MAYPORT ROAD, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ROADS INTERIOR, BUT NOT MANY. WE WENT FROM 11 WITH A DIFFERENT COMPANY.

WE REDUCED THE NUMBER FROM 11 DOWN TO 7. WE THOUGHT WE COULD BE MORE EFFICIENT. SO WE HAVE 7 CAMERAS OUT THERE NOW THAT ARE LOOKING 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR THINGS THAT ARE STOLEN OR WANTED.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT PART OF MY DECISION TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION WAS PROBABLY 6 OR 8 YEARS AGO, WE GOT SOME NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THROUGH A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT 3 INDIVIDUALS WANTED FOR MURDER WERE IN THE BEACHES AREA, AND IT JUST HAPPENED THAT ONE OF THE DEPUTIES WHO WAS OFF DUTY FROM JSO SAW THE DESCRIBED VEHICLE AT OUR BEACH. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEM IN AT THE TIME, AND WE WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SORT OF BACKTRACKED THEIR MOVEMENT.

SO THEY KNEW THAT THIS VEHICLE CAME FROM A DIFFERENT STATE, WAS IN THE JACKSONVILLE AREA, AND THROUGH A SORT OF SET OF HAPPENSTANCES, WE TRACKED THEM TO THE BEACH, AND ABOUT 2 HOURS LATER, THEY GOT CAPTURED IN JACKSONVILLE BEACH WITH 3 SUSPECTS WHO WERE WANTED FOR MURDER.

WE STARTED LOOKING INTO THE SYSTEMS THEN AND REALIZED THAT WHEN YOU USE THIS TECHNOLOGY, YOU CAN HAVE EYES WATCHING CERTAIN THINGS 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, WHICH WHICH EXPONENTIALLY EXPANDS THE SECURITY WE CAN PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE A POLICE OFFICER DO THAT ANYWHERE. SO THESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO US. WE HAVE MADE NUMEROUS ARRESTS BASED ON OUR EXISTING LPR SYSTEMS, NOTHING TO THE TUNE OF WANTED FOR MURDER, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THE OFFICERS USE THEM QUITE FREQUENTLY.

AND THE ARRESTS, THE STOPS THEY'RE MAKING FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS LIKE SUSPENDED DRIVER'S LICENSES, STOLEN TAGS, OFTEN LEAD THEM TO OTHER ARREST CHARGES, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY DRUG CHARGES OR WARRANT CHARGES FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE CARS. SO THEY ARE BEING PRODUCTIVE. IT'S A GREAT TOOL FOR US.

IT REALLY, REALLY EXPANDS OUR ABILITY FOR A LOW COST FOR THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT THEY'RE WATCHING OUR ROADWAYS.

OKAY, THANK YOU. YOU'RE DONE? I THOUGHT THAT WASN'T ME.

THAT WAS ME. OKAY, SORRY.

YES, DONE.

IF I MAY, THAT EXPLANATION WAS SO GOOD, AND THOSE QUESTIONS WERE— I'M GOING TO SHARE A VIDEO OF THE CHIEF'S REMARKS WITH THE RESIDENT WHO REACHED OUT TO US AS, AS OUR CONTINUED DIALOGUE WITH HIM. SO WE'LL SHARE, WE'LL SHARE THAT EXPLANATION AND INVITE HIS CONTINUED INPUT TO US, AS FAR AS HIS CONCERNS. OKAY, THANKS.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER GRANT. OKAY, I'M UP NEXT. I, I DON'T HAVE MUCH.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL BEACHES GO GREEN THAT THEY DID. THEY WORKED WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS FROM ATLANTIC BEACH TO FLETCHER HIGH AND FLETCHER MIDDLE, AND THEN THEY DID DONATE THE LAST OF THEIR $60,000. I KNOW IT WAS LISTED IN THAT PROCLAMATION, BUT THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE SO WORDY.

I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, THEY DONATED THEIR LAST $60,000 TO NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST TO PURCHASE, TO HELP PURCHASE THE BOGGY CREEK. I WOULD CALL IT BOGGY CREEK. THAT'S IT, MAYOR.

OKAY, THANK YOU. LET'S SEE, I GOT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, SO CITY MANAGER. THANKS.

FINALLY, BEACHES WATCH. JUNE MEETING WILL BE ABOUT THE FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

MYSELF AND THE CITY MANAGERS OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH AND NEPTUNE BEACH WILL BE THERE, AND SO WE'LL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT, THE IMPACT OF THE SPECIAL SESSION AND THE GENERAL SESSION ON THE BEACHES COMMUNITIES.

OKAY, THANK YOU. I GET THE FINAL WORD, AND, AND COMMISSIONER BOLE, I APOLOGIZE, IF I OFFENDED YOU TONIGHT.

GOOD.

EXCELLENT. NO, WE DO HAVE A COLLEGIAL GROUP, AND I THINK— AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING, COUNSELOR, BUT IT'S MY DESIRE TO JUST STAY A LITTLE BIT LOOSER THAN TOO STRUCTURED. I THINK WE'RE DOING JUST FINE.

SO APOLOGIES ABOUT THAT ISSUE TONIGHT. AND SO MY FINAL COMMENT FOR THE NIGHT IS, IT'S MILLER TIME. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.