[00:00:02] BRRR GAVEL SOUNDING [1. CALL TO ORDER] DUAL ORDER THE JUNE 15, 2021 WORKSHOP. ITEMS ARE PERSONAL DEVICES. PLEASE PUT THEM ON AIRPLANE MODE OR SILENCE THEM. DECORUM. INTEGRITY AND RESPECT -- SEE IF MY MOUTH WILL WORK AT ALL TI TIMES. DURING THE COURSE OF THE WORKSHOP AND THE FOLLOWING MEETING. AND WE ARE -- WELL, WE ARE FULLY SEATED, WE ARE USING C M -- CDC COVID-19 IF YOU FEEL SAFER OR SECURE DISTANCING PLEASE DO SO. WITH THAT WE WILL GO TO ITEM 3, DISCUSSION, 3.1, NEVER KNEW SOURCES. [3.1 REVENUE SOURCES] THIS ITEM IS PLACED ON THIS AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER ROSS. COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. >> RONALD ROSS: THANK YOU, DO YOU HAVE THE SLIDE SHOW? THIS COMES FROM THE MATERIALS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED. SO WHILE HE IS DOING THAT, IN THE TEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE WITH THE CITY FULL TIME, I HAVE NOTICED WE HAVE -- CITY CITY COMMISSIONS COME AND GO AND THEY ARE ALL VERY GOOD AT SPENDING MONEY. AND THEY TALK ABOUT THAT AT EVERY MEETING. WHAT THEY NEVER TALK ABOUT IS HOW TO RAISE THE MONEY. AND FUNDING SOURCES. AND THIS CAME FROM A LETTER AND E-MAIL ACTUALLY THAT I GOT A REQUEST FROM A -- ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVES IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE JOHN LAF LAFITTE, THAT CROSSOVER IS, AND SHE WANTED THE CITY TO FUND THAT CROSSOVER. AND POINTE OUT TO HER. AND GOT E-MAILS FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT SHE WAS ONE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO THE R ROLL-BACK RATE SO WE HAD TO CUT BACK ON SPENDING AND NO NEW THINGS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. AND I SAID, WELL, WE WERE -- YOU WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY, SO WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM. SO SHE, TO HER CREDIT, SENT ME AN E-MAIL WHICH YOU ALL HAD THAT TALKED ABOUT WAYS THAT WE COULD RAISE MONEY. SO THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT THE PATH WE ARE CURRENTLY ON AS A CITY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. WE KEEP ADDING NEW THINGS. AND WE KEEP REVENUE FLAT. AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY WAY OF PAYING FOR THAT. SO EVENTUALLY, WE WILL RUN OUT OF FUNDING. WE ALREADY WILL WE BEGINNING TO RUN OUT OF FUNDING AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN A MINUTE. SO I THINK WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY. IF WE KEEP FUNDING FLAT -- I AM NOT SAYING RAISE TAXES BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER METHODS, WE CAN'T PAY FOR INFLATION AND CONTRACTUALLY WE PAY THE POLICE 5% MORE EACH YEAR AND EMS OR FIRE 5% MORE 50% OF BUDGET. 80% GOES TO SALARIES. THAT IS A CHUNK OF MONEY. WE KEEP ADDING NEW PROGRAMS AND WE INCREASE THE NEED FOR FIRE AND EMS IS INCREASING. THE POPULATION OF NASSAU COUNTY INCREASES AND PEOPLE KEEP COMING HERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF DAY-TRIPPER AND MORE RESIDENTS. SO WE HAVE MORE SERVICES TO PROVIDE. SO, WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE. SO IF WE KEEP REVENUE FLAT, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT MLK RECREATION CENTER AND IN SERIOUS NEED OF REHABILITATION AND THE RECREATION CENTER. CITY HALL WE HAVE DONE A STUDY AND SAID IT IS IN SERIOUS DISREPAIR AND NEEDS SERIOUS RENOVATIONS OR REPLACEMENT. THE TECH CENTER, WE ARE LUCKY THIS YEAR. WE GOT A GRANT FROM THE STATE AND IT STILL NEEDS A LOT OF WORK. EACH WALKOVER IS ONE TO ASK A RESOLUTION PROMISING THE CITIZENS TO GIVE BEACH WAL WALKOVERS. NOWHERE NEAR HOW WE WERE GOING TO FUND IT. MORE PARKS IN OUR CITY THAN THEY HAVE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY. AND MANY OF THE FENCES AND THE EQUIPMENT AND WHAT NOT IS IN -- IS BEGINNING TO AGE AND IS GOING TO NEED REPLACEMENT [00:05:04] EITHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. OUR DOWNTOWN LIGHTS ARE OLD. AND NO LONGER REPLACE THEM. BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIND PARTS. THE SIDEWALKS -- GOING TO NEED FIXING AND THE TREES NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING TO THE USEFUL LIFE. AND PUTTING OUT A BID FOR A FIREHOUSE FOR $3 MILLION OR $4 MILLION. DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND THAT. SO ALL THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO REQUIRE FUNDING. SO, NEXT ONE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IS NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ANNEXATION WHICH IS GOING TO GROW OURSELVES OUT OF THIS SITUATION. WELL, I WOULD -- THESE ARE THE NUMBERS. THEY COME FROM THE ACTUAL DATA OF HOW MUCH MORE WE GET EACH YEAR BECAUSE OF NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ANNEXATION. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS YEAR IS PREDICTED TO BEEN 280,000. IN 2020, IT WAS HIGH BECAUSE WE INCREASED THE MILITARY BY .5 WHICH WENT AWAY. BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO PAY NEW GROWTH IS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR FIXING OUT INFRASTRUCTURE. ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT AT ALL? >> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. >> SURE. >> JUST ON THE NUMBERS. WE DON'T HAVE -- CORRECT ME IF I MISTAKE THIS. WE DON'T HAVE THE PROPERTY APPRAISER ESTIMATE HE ON REAL ESTATE VALUES. >> THERE WAS A PRELIMINARY THAT WAS RELEASED. >> OKAY. IS THAT NUMBER BASED OFF OF THAT? >> YES, THERE IS. >> IT IS NOT -- IT IS A PRETTY GOOD NUMBER. IT IS NOT -- PROPERTY VALUES WENT UP 9% IN THE CITY. NOT A HARD NUMBER BUT A PRETTY GOOD GUESS. >> BALLPARK NUMBER. >> BALLPARK NUMBERS. THE OTHER NUMBERS ARE HARD NUMBERS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. SO -- I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO GROW OURSELVES OUT OF THIS. AND IT HAS OFTEN BEEN SHOWN THAT RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS THE CITY ABOUT 20% AND COMMERCIAL BRINGS IN 20% AND MOST OF THE CONSTRUCTION IS RESIDENTIAL. AND ONE THING BROUGHT YOU BY A CONSTITUENT THAT WE SHOULDN'T -- THESE WERE A NUMBER THINGS SHE BROUGHT UP THAT I HAVE OFTEN GOTTEN E-MAILS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RAISE MONEY? PEOPLE BRING THEM UP ALL THE TIME. FIRST RAISE SALES TAX. THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT STATUTORILY. CREATE PENNY GAS TAX. PUT A TOLL ON THE BRIDGE. WE TRIED TO DO THAT AND IT IS OWNED BY THE STATE AND THEY SAID, NOPE. SELL SURPLUS EQUIPMENT. THE CITY ALREADY SELLS -- OR SELLS THAT AND SOMETHING WE ALREADY DO. CITY BID TAX FOR TOURISTS BY FLORIDA STATUTE, ONLY THE COUNTY CAN PUT A BED TAX ON. THE CITY CANNOT DO THAT. ONE OF THE FAVORITE OF MOST PEOPLE IS GET MORE MONEY FROM THE TDC. THE T DC -- WHAT THE TDC DOES IS A MARKETING ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE THERE TO SPEND MONEY AND GET TOURISTS TO COME HERE. UNDER THE CURRENT STATUTE 10% BROUGHT IN BY THE BED TAX FOR CITY OR INFRASTRUCTURE AND BEACH RELATED THINGS AND ALL CONTROLLED BY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR IN OUR ASK IN THE PAST, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG VICE-MAYOR KREGER, THAT WE DON'T DO WELL. >> LEN KREGER: WE HAVEN'T DONE WELL AT ALL. >> RONALD ROSS: WE HAVEN'T DONE WELL AT ALL. GETTING MONEY FROM THE TDC IS NOT IN THE CARDS. >> CAN I A QUESTION? >> SURE. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT TDC. >> I WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER. >> OF THE BED TAX, WHAT DOES FERNANDINA BEACH RAISE OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY? >> ACTUALLY IT IS PROBABLY -- I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME BUT THE TWO BIG ONES TO RAISE THE REVENUE ARE THE RITZ AND THE OMNI. WHERE MOST OF THE MONEY COMES FROM. >> THE BASIS OF MY QUESTION. >> LIKE -- LIKE 1020. >> THE REASON I AM ASKING THAT IS WHAT AMOUNT OF BED TAX IS GENERATED FROM THE CITY AND DO WE GET 10% OF THAT? >> THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY NOT. >> I THOUGHT IT USED TO BEEN 20 SOME%. AND IT IS PROBABLY INCREASED WITH THE NEW HOTELS ON SADLER. WE GET AS GOOD A PERCENTAGE AS THE COUNTY BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO [00:10:07] PAY FOR IS BEACH CLEANING AND THE COUNTY HAVEN'T GOTTEN MUCH MONEY FROM INFRASTRUCTURE EITHER AND A WHOLE ANOTHER SUBJECT WHEN YOU MOVE ON WITH THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS DRIVING THE TDC FUNDING. THEY DIDN'T USED TO DRIVE IT THE SAME WAY. IN TERMS OF WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE RELATIVE OF THE COUNTY WITH THE BEACH CLEANING CONTRACTS. AND YOU REMEMBER 2017, 18, RENOURISHMENT THEY PAID THE TOTAL LOCAL SHARE FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE NEAR $400,000 THE FINAL NUMBER. WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE OF THAT, BUT BUNCHES IN RESERVE. THAT WE SHOULD BE GETTING. >> SO THE TDC IS A GOOSE THAT IS LAYING GOLDEN EGG. BUT IF EVERYBODY WANTS PART OF THAT GOLDEN EGG. SO, I MEAN, WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT GETTING MONEY THROUGHOUT COUNTY FAIR AND DOING ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. SURE, WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PURSUE THAT, BUT I THINK VIEWING THAT AS ANY RELIABLE SOURCE OF INCOME EXCEPT FOR BEACH CLEANING, WHICH I AM HAPPY FOR, IS UNREALISTIC. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE COUNTY AND DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT THE COUNTY IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GIVE US ANY MONEY? >> WELL, AND TO THE POINT COMMISSIONER ROSS THEIR MAKING SO THAT WE HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS. >> RONALD ROSS: WHICH IS WHAT I LIKE. >> YES. THE COUNTY CONTROLS THE TDC MONEY AND WE HAD A COUNTY MEETING. >> RONALD ROSS: WE DID. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS IMPRESSION OF THE MEETING BUT I HEARD SILENCE. I DID NOT FEEL WE HAD AN ENGAGED, FRUITFUL, AND GIV GIVE-AND-TAKE CONVERSATION WITH OUR FELLOWS FROM THE COUNTY. I JUST -- I FELT THEY SAT THERE, LISTENED AND SAID, GOODBYE. >> WELL, I LIKE TO QUOTE JAMES SCOTT. HERE IS WHAT HE SAID OF THAT MEETING. YOU BOUGHT IT. YOU GOT IT. NASSAU COUNTY HAS MADE OF IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT FERNANDINA BEACH IS ON ITS OWN PAYING FOR UPKEEP OF THE COUNTY FACILITY. GO POUND SAND THEY TOLD THE FERNANDINA BEACH WITH A BEGGING BOWLS OF RECENT SESSION. >> VICE-MAYOR HAS A COMMENT. >> LEN KREGER: I AM A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC. I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IF YOU LOOK WHAT THE.VOTE SAID WHEN BEGAN TALKING OF THE BEACH HOME AND, ETC, ETC. THERE IS AN RFP OUT TO A CONSULTING COMPANY AND THAT INCLUDES THREE CITY BEACHES. AND IF YOU REMEMBER WHAT T ACO SAID NUMBER ONE THE PRIORITY BEACH THAT THEY SELECTED WHICH FORGOT TO ASK US IS SEASIDE AND MAKES GOOD SENSE WITH HOTELS ROOMS AND THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST BEACH THAT THEY DID. THE MEETING WAS GOING TO BE THE 21ST WHICH WAS CANCELLED AND LAST NIGHT I WAS AT THE COUNTY MEETING OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND AFTER EIGHT MONTHS THIS STUDY SHOULD BE DONE AND WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS AND I AM SAYING A MILLION DOLLARS FOR SALE AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC FOR SOME AND SHE SAID THAT AT THAT MEETING. SO QUOTING A MAYOR, HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY. >> I KEEP PUSHING ON IT. >> THANK YOU, SIR. AND THE LAST ONE THERE. AND SO I THINK THE CHANCES OF GETTING MONEY -- MORE MONEY FROM THE COUNTY AT LEAST FOR THIS BUDGETING YEAR IS NONEXISTENT. THE LAST ONE IS SELL CITY-OWNED LAND. AND FROM THE COMMON SENSE MR. NAKI. IN DOES NOT COUNT THE CITY PROPERTY THAT CAN BE LEASED TO GENERATE MILLIONS ANNUALLY IN REVENUE. WELL, ABOUT -- LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, DID AN INVENTORY OF ALL THE CITY OWNED PROPERTIES AND IT IS TRUE THAT THE CITY OWNS A LOT OF PROPERTY. WE OWN SUCH THINGS AS LIFT STATIONS, A LIBRARY, LIGH LIGHTHOUSE, A BEACH WALKOVERS, REC CENTERS. WE DON'T OWN ANY PROPERTY. ONE LITTLE TINY LOT THAT THE CITY OWNS THAT SURPLUS PRO PROPERTY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY THINK WE ARE GOING TO LEASE. AND IF THEY PRODUCE THAT, I WOULD LOVE IT BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ACCESS -- EXCESS [00:15:02] PROPERTY THE CITY HAS. AND I WENT THROUGH THAT LIST CAREFULLY. THAT IS THE WHOLE REASON WE DID THE EXERCISE. AND I DON'T KNOW ANY OF YOU IDENTIFIED PROPERTY THAT WE CAN MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LEASING. I WILL TAKE AS A NO. >> THAT WOULD BE A NO. >> THE ONLY THING I HEARD IS THE GOLF COURSE. LIKE SOME PORTION OF THE GOLF COURSE. >> SURE, YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU FIND A PERSON WHO WILL COME AND LEASE IT AND PAY AD VALOREM TAXES. THAT IS WONDERFUL IDEA. NOBODY EVER COMES UP WITH THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO DO IT. IT IS CORRECT. >> A GOOD IDEA. >> IN REALITY WE TRIED ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND SOMEBODY COMES FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL, I AM SURE WE ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO IT. SO GET OVER TO THE NEXT ONE. SO WHAT CAN WE TO DO -- I AM NOT TALKING OF INCREASING TA TAXES. WHAT CAN WE DO BESIDES INCREASING TAXES TO COME UP AND MANAGE. THE THIRD THING THAT THE CONSTITUENT WHO WROTE THE LETTER SAY NO NEW COMMITMENTS UNLESS ONGOING REVENUES ARE ASSURED. I AGREE WITH THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS -- HERE IS A LIST OF THINGS IN THE LAST THREE TO FOUR MONTHS HAVE BROUGHT UP. ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE JOHN LAFITTE RIGHT-OF-WAY, WALK AWAY. $70,000 UP FRONT AND NO PARK. NO REVENUE SOURCES. SEASIDE PARK. COMMUNITY GARDEN. BEACH WALKOVERS ARE NONEX NONEXISTENT. WE TRY FUND THOSE. PEOPLE COME UP WITH A DOG PARK. BATHROOMS AT NORTH BEACH. NEW BATHROOMS INCLUDING GOLF COURSE OF TOP TRACER. WE KEEP ACCEPTING GRANTS THAT NEED MATCHING FUNDS AND IT NEVER SAYS WHERE THOSE MATCHING FUNDS ARE COME FROM AND IF YOU EXCEPT THE GRANT. WHY BOTHER ASKING FOR GRANTS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO MATCH IS THE ONLY POINT I AM MAKING. WE TALK OF NOISE METERS. NOISE METERS BETWEEN 20,000 TO 30,000 NEW EXPENSE. THE ONGOING EXPENSE OF TAKING CARE OF THEM. AND A NATIONAL CITIZEN SURVEY HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP $20,000. THE OPENINGS $6800. INCREASED FUNDING FOR HUMANE SOCIETY. ALL THOSE THINGS -- THEY ARE ALL GREAT THINGS TO DO BUT MY ONLY POINT. AND I LIKE TO HEAR A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS IS SHOULD WE BE DOING NEW THINGS IF THERE IS NO FUNDING SOURCE TO NOT ONLY FUND THE INITIAL UP-FRONT EXPENSE BUT THE ONGOING OPERATIONAL COSTS. ANYBODY HAVE THINK THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT? >> VICE-MAYOR? .EINGZ CEI >> I THINK I SHALL ALLEY LISTS ARE FROM WHAT WE BROUGHT UP FROM ONE TIME TO THE OTHER. IF YOU USE THAT COMMITMENT WITHOUT UNSUPPORTED REVENUE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK BACK TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. DO WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING ON THE WATERFRONT? DO WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING? WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS GOING BACK TO WHERE ARE WE AT WITH OUR BUILDINGS AND STUFF. WE DEFERRED THIS BUILDING TO ALMOST OBLIVION. WE DEFERRED PECULIAR CENTER ALMOST -- TO THE SAME CASE. SO WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON DOING THOSE THINGS AND THAT IS GOING TO COME OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND WE PICK THOSE PRIORITIES. I DON'T THINK MOST OF THESE -- I DO SAY WHEN YOU ASSUME THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ON THAT WALKOVER, THAT IS A RIGHT-OF-WAY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF WHY IT IS, I THINK SOME THINGS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO. AND YOU ASSUME IT. NOW I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE GOING TO GET TO IT. I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IS WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE THANKS ONE WE SAW COULDN'T INCLUDE THE SHORELINE STABILIZATION OF THE AREA WHICH WE HAD ESTIMATES OF $26 MILLION DOWN TO $19 MIL MILLION. WE CAN'T DO ALL OF THOSE TH THINGS. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND THE CITY MANAGER HAD AN EXCELLENT POINT MADE AT LEAST TO ME ALL OF YOU. SOME POINT WE GOT TO LOOK AT BONDSING. >> WE WILL GET THERE. SO I WILL LEAVE THAT AS WE ON THE CITIZENS OF FERNANDINA BEACH HAVE 580 MILES OF BEACH, 48 WALK THROUGHS, THREE BEACH PARKS -- THERE WERE SOME GR GRANTS. [00:20:03] EVERYBODY KNEW THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THAT. LET THE NEW PEOPLE PAY FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE. WE WILL GET TO THAT. >> ALL I AM SAYING WHENEVER SOMETHING COMES UP THAT IS A NEW EXPENSE THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT AND PAY FOR IT GOING ON AND GOING TO THE END THE U USEFUL LIFE. >> INTERESTING I WENT TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT WORKSHOP WITH THE COUNTY 200 OR SOME PAGES AND THEY PUT IN THE COST AND THE MAINTENANCE COST INTO REVENUE SOURCE. WHETHER THAT IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. >> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? >> I DO. >> GOOD. >> I AM A LITTLE AMAZED THAT THE BIGGEST TICKET ITEM IS NOT ON THAT LIST. THE WATERFRONT PRK. THAT IS IMPACT FEES BUT WE HAVE OTHER NEEDS FOR THOSE IMPACT FEES. THAT IS THE BIGGEST. WE HAVE BEEN ROLLING ALONG WITH THE GRANDIOSE PLANS WHERE WE ARE IN DIRE STRAITS FINANCIALLY TO YOUR POINT AND BUILD ANOTHER PARK WHEN WE DO NEED A SEAWALL, WE DO NEED A WALKWAY. >> THAT IS WHY I KEPT THE PARK OUT OF THIS. >> THOSE TWO THINGS ARE NEEDED. OTHER THAN THAT, LEAVE IT AL ALONE. HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT ON THE DESIGN OF THAT THING. $160,000? >> I AM NOT SURE IF THAT EXPENSE -- I AM NOT SURE IF IT WAS THAT MUCH. >> A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT. >> RIGHT. >> TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER. THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. >> I GUESS WHAT I AM SAYING IS GOING FORWARD AS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN WE BRING UP SOMETHING NEW, WE BRING UP HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND IT. AND BECAUSE -- AS PART OF THAT FUNDING, IS STAFF FUNDS. DON'T WANT TO CUT STAFF AND GIVE YOU MORE AND MORE TO DO. ANYHOW. >> VICE MAYOR. >> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MATCHING FUND ISSUE TOO. WE DO HAVE FUNDS. WE PUT IN SOME AND GET THEM THAT REQUIRE MATCHING FUNDS THAT WE NEVER MATCH. MOST -- A 5 WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MATCHED AND 500,000 AND -- I DON'T WANT TO TALK TOO MUCH OF IT AND GOT THE MONEY AND DOING IT. ALL THE FINE GRANTS HAVE TO BE MATCHED. SO I THINK -- IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, BETTER TO PAY 50% OR UNDER. >> ANY THOUGHTS? COMMISSIONER? >> WELL, WAIT A SECOND. MR. MAYOR, AIM LOWED TO SPEAK BECAUSE I AM NOT RECOGNIZED BY YOU. >> JUST IN A CONVERSATION MATTER, WHEN SOMEONE -- WHEN ANOTHER COMMISSIONER ASKS YOU A QUESTION, YOU ARE NOT COMPELLED TO ANSWER, OKAY. SO YOU CAN JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, I WOULD RATHER NOT ANSWER. SO THIS ISN'T -- YOU ARE NOT ON TRIAL. YOU CAN ANSWER IF YOU WISH. IF NOT, JUST DECLINE. >> OKAY. WELL YOU KNOW WHAT, INSTEAD OF DECLINING, I WON'T DECLINE BUT THANK YOU FOR THE OPTION TO DO SO. >> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> MR. MAYOR. >> VICE-MAYOR, YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON. >> I DISAGREE WITH THE PREMISE THAT OUR REVENUE IS STAYING FLAT. I DISAGREE WITH THE PREMISE EVEN IF WE WENT TO THE ROLL BACK RATE BECAUSE I HOPE NOT TO RAISE TAXES BECAUSE OUR REVENUE WILL INCREASE BY $200,000 OVER THE YEAR BEFORE. IN ADDITIONAL PERPETUITY. AND HAVEN'T GONE BACK TO THE ROLL BACK RATE. AND OF THE OLD ARTICLES AS WE GO BACK. WE HAVEN'T GONE BACK. WE HAVE HAD INCREASED REVENUE EVERY YEAR IN PERPETUITY IN ADDITION TO THE SLIDE YOU SHOWED WITH NEW REVENUE COMING THAT WAY. >> THAT IS NEW REVENUE. THERE IS NO OTHER NEW REVENUE. >> THERE IS OTHER REVENUE NOT GOING BACK TO THE ROLL-BACK RATE AND ON TOP OF THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION. >> NEW CONSTRUCTION ISN'T $ $280,000. >> YES WITH THE ROLLBACK BUT YEARS BACK -- >> THAT $280,000 IF WE DON'T GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE. >> THERE IS -- >> YOU ARE RIGHT. YOU ARE CORRECT. >> WE WOULD STILL INCREASE OUR YEAR-OVER-YEAR REVENUE BY THAT. I DISAGREE WITH THE PREMISE THAT WE ARE STAYING FLAT. THE WAY WE PAY FOR THINGS IS A BUDGETING PROCESS FOR A RACINE AND A LOT OF GOOD BULLET POINTS AND WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T DO [00:25:01] ANYTHING AND WE CAN CHOOSE WHAT ITEMS ARE IMPORTANT US TO AS A COMMISSION AND WHAT ITEMS SIMPLY AREN'T AS IMPORTANT TO US. THAT LIST WOULD TAKE A PRIORITY AND WITH THAT,S THAT THANK IS HOW YOU DON'T RAISE TAXES AND HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. THAT IS MY POSITION. >> COMMISSIONER STURGES. DAVID STURGES THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST BRIEFLY. I KEEP HEARING THAT THE CITY HAS BLOATED THEIR EMPLOYEES, BUT THE LAST TIME I HEARD THE NUMBERS, IT WAS, FOUR OR SIX NEW EMPLOYEES IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. I DON'T THINK THAT THE CITY IS BLOATING THEIR EMPLOYEE STAFF. I JUST THINK THAT THE EXPENSES ARE MORE FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS GOING ON. SO I THINK THAT IN CULMINATION, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AS WELL AS FIND OTHER REVENUE SOURCES. FIND OTHER REVENUE SOURCES AND I CAN THINK OF A COUPLE OF T THEM. THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM AND I WILL LET YOU GO AHEAD. >> WE HAVE OUR OWN LIST. >> MR. MAYOR JUST TO ADDRESS COMMISSIONER STURGES. IF YOU WERE STUDYING HISTORIC EMPLOYMENT TRENDS FOR THE CITY, WE HAVE DATA THAT GOES BACK TO OVER A DECADE THAT CAN SHOW THAT YOU. SHOW YOU EMPLOYEE GROWTH AND CONTRACTION. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, I WILL PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU. >> I AM INTERESTED IN THAT. >> CAN YOU PROVIDE THIS TO EVERYBODY? >> YES. THAT WAS A GREAT SEGUE INTO THE NEXT SLIDE. NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT EACH ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY. THE FIRST ONE IS INCREASED FEES OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR NONCITY RESIDENTS. ANYONE OPPOSED TO DOING THAT? ANOTHER ONE -- AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS COUPLE UP WITH IN -- IN THE END OF IT IF YOU WANT STAFF TO LOOK INTO THESE. IF THREE OF YOU SAY WE SHOULD NEVER DO THIS, IT OFF THE TA TABLE. THREE OR FOUR OF US THINK IT IS A POSSIBILITY, LET STAFF HAVE A LOOK AT IT. THE THIRD ONE IS RAISE ST STORMWATER FEES. ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? >> YES. >> YES? >> YES. >> YES. >> THREE YES, SIRS. >> FOUR YES, SIRS. DO WE HAVE FIVE YES, SIRS. >> WE DON'T HAVE FIVE YES. >> STORMWATER FEES. DO WE NEED TO RAISE STORMWATER FEES. WHERE ARE WE WITH THE 2015 P PLAN. WE WILL SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA WITH HALF A MILLION OR MILLION DOLLAR THAT PROVIDES -- LET'S LOOK AT IT AND LET'S NOT GET TOO CARRIED AWAY. >> JUST LOOK AT IT. NEXT ONE IS INCREASE THE FRANCHISE FEES CURRENTLY WITH THE CITY OF 6% FRANCHISE FEES. AND INCREASE THAT TO 10%. WHY THAT IS ATTRACTED TO ME IS BECAUSE THE LIGHTS DOWNTOWN, IT'S ABOUT A $2 MILLION TODAY 3 MILLION PROJECT HAVE NO FUNDING SOURCE. AND THEY ARE AT THE END THE U USEFUL LIFE. WE HAVE TROUBLE REPLACING THAT. SO WOULD PEOPLE BE USED TO -- INCREASING THE FRANCHISE FEE TO DO THAT ALL AT ONCE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT. >> HOW MUCH MONEY WILL THAT RAISE? >> $400,000 A YEAR. ISN'T THAT THE NUMBER -- >> I AM OPPOSED -- IT IS A SIGNIFICANT REGRESSIVE TAX AND FBU IS OPPOSED TO THAT ALSO. I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO RAISE MONEY AND WHEN YOU TIE IT TO THE DOWNTOWN STREETLIGHTS IT IS A WHOLE ANOTHER ISSUE. WE DON'T HAVE THE STREETLIGHTS ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND WERE NOT BEING DISCUSSED. BACK UP TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND FEES. IT IS A BACK-DOOR TAX NO QUESTION ABOUT IT AND SIGNIFICANT MORE. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. >> I AGREE WITH THE VICE-MAYOR. >> ANYBODY ELSE? >> I HAVE TO AGREE WITH HIM. I GUESS THAT IS OFF THE TABLE. GENERAL OBLIGATION. VICE-MAYOR KRIEGER. SOMETHING TO LOOK AT, BUT ONCE [00:30:02] AGAIN THAT IS RAISING TAXES. >> IF WE USE A REFERENDUM FOR A PROJECT -- >> MUST BE VOTER APPROVED. >> THAT'S FINE. I SAID FOR A LONG TIME, I TRIED TO GET ON THE CHARTER, AND THAT'S MY WHOLE ISSUE WITH THE CITIZEN SURVEY. LET'S HEAR FROM THE TAXPAYERS. IF THEY DON'T WANT TO BUILDING A AND SPENT THE $8 MILLION FOR CITY HALL AND TO PUT SIDEWALKS DOWNTOWN, I WILL FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY. BUT I THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO GO. >> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? >> COMMISSIONERS -- MAY I -- WHAT -- WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU THINKING OF TYING A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND. >> I AM NOT THINKING OF ANY IN GENERAL. A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS THAT THE CITY -- WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SPECIFICALLY FUND ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. A NEW FIREHOUSE, REFURBISHING MLK AND REFURBISHING THE DOWNTOWN WHETHER IT IS ON THE CAPITAL PROJECT OR NOT COSTS MONEY. CITY HALL. ALL THESE THINGS COST MONEY, SO -- >> COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> CHIP, SPECIFICALLY YOU KEEP MENTIONING THE TECH CENTER AND WE HAVE A GRANT WE ARE WORKING ON BUT STILL WE HAVE TO MATCH IT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YEP -- >> NO? WE DON'T HAVE TO MATCH IT. >> THIS YEAR. >> SHOULD GET RENOVATED OR SOME RENOVATION DONE TO IT. . >> BUT THE OTHER HALF COMES THIS YEAR, THIS COMING YEAR. AM I CORRECT? >> THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL GRANTS PURSUED. A LINE ITEM IN THE CITY BUDGET TO MATCH THE STATE REVENUES AS WELL. >> OKAY. >> JUST A POINT OF ORDER, COMMISSIONERS WE HAVE TWO OTHER ITEMS ON THE BUDGET. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLACE A TIME LIMIT ON THIS DISCUSSION? >> I AM ALMOST THERE. >> TAKE ANOTHER EIGHT MINUTES. >> WE WILL GO THROUGH THEM QUICKLY. >> I WANT TO BE RPT RESPECTFUL TO COMMISSIONER. >> WHATEVER MAKES YOU GUYS HAPPY. CHARGE YOUTH TEAMS FOR USE OF THEIR FACILITIES. >> HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD THAT RAISE? >> I DON'T KNOW. >> THE FEE WOULD HAVE TO BE SETTLED. >> BASICALLY GETTING IN FOR FREE -- EVEN IF YOU SAID COVERING THE COST. >> COVERING THE COST OF MAINTENANCE. >> THAT'S ALL I AM TALKING ABOUT. AND PAY -- I KNOW ONE -- I AM NOT ADVOCATING PAID BEACH PARTY -- PARKING. >> TAKE IT OFF. >> THE COUNTY WILL PROBABLY GO TO PAID BEACH PARKING. AND THEY ARE DOING A BEACH PARKING STUDY AS WE SPEAK OR ABOUT TO. SO HOW ABOUT -- >> WALKER COUNTY -- TIDE TO EQUAL ACCESS IT IS PROBLEMATIC. >> HOW ABOUT BID PARKING FOR THE DOWNTOWN FOR PREMIUM PARKING. >> I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO THAT. >> WE GOT TWO. I AM NOT FOND OF IT, BUT THE REALITY IS, SPACES ARE DISAPPEARING. IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO PARK. AND SO I WILL LISTEN TO IT AND ENTERTAIN. >> THERE IS ANOTHER ONE. INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE CRA. AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER ABOUT COMPARING US TO ANOTHER CRA. WELL, THEY FORGET TO MENTION IN THAT LITTLE ARTICLE -- I WENT AND LOOKED, THAT 40% OF THEIR TOWN WAS BLIGHTED, AND THEY ARE LESS THAN 2% OF THE TOTAL THERE AND 40%. SO IS THERE ANY -- ANYBODY HAVE -- WANT TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE CRA TO SEE IF THEY CAN USE THAT AS A FUNDING SOURCE. >> NO. >> NO, NO, NO? OKAY. FINALLY THIS TO ME WAS A NO BRAINER AND BUT WHATEVER. IN CALVERT COUNTY WHEN UNITED STATES TO REPLACE A TREE, YOU HAD TO PUT A BOND ON IT AND ALIVE IN THREE YEARS. IF IT WAS ALIVE IN THREE YEARS, YOU GOT YOUR MONEY BACK. IF NOT ALIVE IN THREE YEARS THE CITY KEPT YOUR MONEY AND REPLACED IT. EVEN THE ONES THAT LIVED, PEOPLE NEVER WENT BACK TO GET THE MONEY. A SMALL SOURCE OF MONEY, AND IS ANYBODY OPPOSED TO LOOKING INTO THAT? >> NO. >> AND THE LAST ONE, JUST SO WE [00:35:02] ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. LAST ONE. IF WE MAINTAIN THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE AND GOES BACK TO THE ROLL BACK RATE LOSE AN ESTIMATED IN REVENUE. >> COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, I ALSO DISAGREE WITH THE PREMISE WE ARE LOSING AN ESTIMATED $1 MILLION. NOT OUR MONEY. THE PEOPLE OF FERNANDINA BEACH. IT IS NOT LOSING IT AND TO AMELIA ISLAND. >> LOSING WAS A POOR CHOICE OF WORDS. LET $1 MILLION LESS OF REVENUE TO BE USED TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> ANY EAR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS? >> ONE OTHER. >> THE ONLY THING THAT I SEE AND ESPECIALLY WITH THIS BUDGET TERM GOING INTO THIS BUDGET TERM IS THE UNEVEN PART OF LAST YEAR. THE 2020 REVENUE THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE GETTING OR NOT GETTING AT THIS POINT. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN? >> ALL THE BUSINESS SALES TAX SHORTAGES PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH TAX BASE NO GAUGE ON WHAT WE DID OR DIDN'T GET, RIGHT? >> A BETTER PERSON TO ASK WOULD BE THE CITY COMPTROLLER. >> CORRECT. THAT WOULD BE A GOOD QUESTION AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH HER AND HAVE AN EDUCATE ANSWER NEXT TIME. >> PERHAPS YOU CAN TALK TO THANK TONIGHT. >> I THINK THERE IS NO CORRELATION. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAY SOMETHING IS STOPPING FOR FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS. SO I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT. >> THE STATE ESTIMATES ON REVENUES ARE REALLY PRETTY G GOOD. AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE FUND THAT IS GOING TO COVER ANY SHORTFALL ON REVENUE FROM, SAY, STATE SALES TAX. SO THAT WOULD REMAIN THE SAME, YOU KNOW. >> THAT IS GOOD. ARE WE GOING TO USE IT FOR NORMAL BUSINESS BUDGETING OR SPECIAL PROJECTS? >> WELL, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT IS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. >> AND WE WILL. TO MOVE THIS ALONG, ITEM 2.2 IF YOU WERE READY FOR THAT. [3.2 FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FLORIDA JOB GROWTH GRANT] THE FLORIDA JOB GROWTH GRANT. THIS IS ON THE AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF VICE-MAYOR KREGER. VICE-MAYOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> SHOULDN'T TAKE US ANY TIME BEFORE. YOU ALL REMEMBER WE GOT E-MAILS FROM LORELEI JACOBS AND A FLORIDA JOB GROWTH GRANT DEDICATED TO FLORIDA JOB GROWTH. YOU ALSO REMEMBER -- >> VICE-MAYOR I DON'T -- DISTRIBUTED SUPPLEMENT. >> THIS PROJECT THAT WE ARE SUGGESTING FOR THE ESCAMBIA PROTECTION WAS ONE OF OUR PROJECTS ON OUR RIFT. SO BASICALLY I SENT OUT SOME DOCUMENTS ONE BEING THE CAMP PLAN A STREET. A STREET WAS FLOODED. AND WHAT -- WHAT THE CHARTS SHOW IS ACTUALLY HE IS CAM BEE IAN SLEW ACROSS INTERMODAL HIGHWAY. IT IS FLOODING NOW AND CAME WITH A MINOR NOR'EASTER. I AM PROPOSING THAT WE PUT IN FOR THIS FRONT AND PUT IN FOR THIS FRONT FOR A FEW MACHINES. ONE OF THE MAYOR REASONS THAT STRATEGICALLY WE PUT A GRANT. ONE OF THE REASONS WE GOT THE GRANT FOR A STABILIZATION BECAUSE THIS PAST YEARS WE PUT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT DATA. ONE WAS A LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY WAS 5.8 MILLION. WAS RATED SECOND IN THE COUNTY FOR PARKING LOT A, B, C AND D, AND THIS BECAME SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. A LOT OF RESILIENCY. AND LORELEI SAY A NO BRAINER EASY GRANT. NO SIGNIFICANT TIME. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT AREA, IT IS 26 FEET ELEVATION AT THE PORT. TWO FEET AT ESCAMBIA SLEW. 14 FEET AT 14 STREET. PUT TIE GATES. YOU KNOW, IT WOULD WORK. AND, YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO THE -- TO THE PORT OPERATORS AND I TALKED TO WEST ROCK AND, OF COURSE, THEY SUPPORTED THAT. SUPPORTED THAT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN ANY WAY. IF HE ENDORSE SEA LEVEL RISE OVER HERE AND FAILED TO LOOK AT [00:40:04] IT IN THE CITY THERE AND AT EAGANS CREEK. AND YOU SAW SOME DOCUMENTATION, E-MAILS ABOUT EDEN'S CREEK. SO THIS STRATEGICALLY IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO AT NO COST. WE MIGHT GET THE MONEY, BUT IF NOT, WE IN AND BUILT A NICE BASELINE. >> VICE-MAYOR, ARE YOU ASKING FOR CONSENSUS. >> YES ASKING FOR CONDITION CENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD. NO DEADLINE BUT SOONER THE BETTER BECAUSE THE MONEY WHEN IT IS OUTS IT IS GONE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> RONALD ROSS: I AM ADAMANTLY OPPOSED AND HERE IS WHY. THE GRANT WAS POSITION TODAY BE USED AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, FOR ATTRACTING INDUSTRY AND EXPANDING FRIDAY. IN THE CITY. AND THE NUMBER BUN COMPLAINT I GET FROM PEOPLE IS WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING MORE. WE WANT TO KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS. THAT IS NUMBER ONE. NOT THE REAL REASON. IF YOU WANT TO USE THIS FOR WATERFRONT RESILIENCY, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT. THE ESCAMBIA SLEW, I HAD TO TALK TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT. AND I AM NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT, BUT BASICALLY TO PUT A ROAD IN THERE LIKE WE ARE DO DOING, WE ARE FILLING A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WETLANDS AND RIGHT NOW THAT IS NOT ALLOWED IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. NUMBER ONE. AND NUMBER TWO, WHETHER -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE PLANT THERE, AND YOU LOOK AT THE OCEAN HIGHWAY PORT AUTHORITY, BOTH OF THOSE THINGS WILL MASSIVELY FLOOD. THE ROAD WILL BE THE LEAST OF THEIR PROBLEMS. BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH IN THE 100 YEAR PLAIN. THE ENTIRE PORT I THE 100-YEAR PLAIN AND PUTTING A GATE AND A WALL IS NOT GOING TO AMELIORATE THAT PROBLEM. I WOULD IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS RESILIENCY FOR THE DOWNTOWN WHICH WOULD BE OUR VISION FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT YOU AND I SERVED TOGETHER, I WOULD DO THAT. BUT GOING FOR THE ESCAMBIA SLEW IS PING PROBLEMATIC AND I CAN TELL THOUGHT PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE THINK IT IS PROBLEMATIC TOO. >> THE PROJECT HAVEN'T BEEN ENGINEERED. AND I LOOKED AT THE MODELS. PPD. AND LOOK AT THE MODELS OF WHAT THEY WILL DO. THERE WILL BE NO -- NO ACTUAL EFFECT ON THE WETLANDS. SO, YOU KNOW, >> COMMISSIONER BEAN, WHEN YOU ARE DONE. >> YOU CAN'T IGNORE. IF WE ARE GOING TO ADOPT STANDARDS FOR WATER FRONT, AND ACTUALLY THIS IS MUCH WORSE, AND WE ARE GOING TO SAY THAT STRATEGIC INTERMODAL HIGHWAY AND FOR JOBS TARGET INDUSTRY PAPER BILLS, LOGISTICS. AND THEY ARE GOING TO EXPAND WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. THEY ARE EXPANDING. SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, STRATEGICALLY IT IS A WISE MOVE. AND IT PUTS NEWS POSITION TO COMPETE WITH SOUTH FLORIDA, WHICH HAS -- HAS A SIGNIFICANT MORE PROBLEM AND, YOU KNOW FOR FUTURE GRANTS LIKE WE GOT THIS GRANT. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE DATA FROM 1890 TO 2020, SEA LEVEL HATS REQUIRES INNER LOOP FERNANDINA BEACH -- RISEN IN FERNANDINA BEACH 8.4 INCHES. -- KNEES ARE NOAA, 2000 TO 20102.84. IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE AREAS WHY WOULD WE EVEN LOOK DOWNTOWN. >> ARE YOU ASKING ME? >> NO, I AM JUST MAKING A STATEMENT. >> I HAVE TWO OTHER LIGHTS ON SO I WOULD LIKE OTHER COMMISSIONERS. >> LET ME JUMP IN REAL QUICK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THIS D. O. E. GRANT PROJECT AND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO WITH THIS RAMP WE ARE LOOKING AT TARGETED INDUSTRIES THAT CAN'T BENEFIT ANY ONE PARTICULAR EMPLOYER. ESCAMBIA, THE BENEFITS IT BENEFITS THE PORT AND RESTAURANT THE COST VERSUS JOBS AND LITTERS FROM PLAYERS STATING HOW MANY JOBS AND I AM SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS, BUT HOW MANY JOBS THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE IN RETURN FOR HOW MUCH MONEY. THAT RETURN ON JOB DEVELOPMENT IS THE MET TWRIBING THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. THE GOOD NEWS IS NASSAU COUNTY [00:45:02] WILL NOT ONE OF THE PARTICULAR. I WOULD SECOND THE VICE-MAYOR'S OPINION TO PUT THIS IN. ANOTHER THING -- THAT IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH JOB RETURN ON ONCE WE FACTOR THE NUMBERS ARE BACK TO THE WATER FRONT BECAUSE THAT WOULD REALLY PROVIDE A LOT OF JOBS, FOR INSTANCE. THAT WILL PROVIDE JOBS IN EVERY DOWNTOWN BUSINESS AND THOSE LETTERS CAN AGGREGATE INTO A LARGER CREATIVE JOB NUMBER AND FOR ESCAMBIA SLEW AND SEE IF IT IS A VIABLE OPTION. >> COMMISSIONER STURGESS. >> I AM NOT AGAINST LOOKING AT THE ESCAMBIA SLEW AS A PROJECT. BUT MY FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE ROAD THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY, LITERALLY A DIRT ROAD THAT RUNS RIGHT ACROSS. IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN MIGHT BE BETTER TO REMOVE THE ROAD AND JUST LET MORE AREA OPEN UP AND MORE WATER BE ABLE TO NATURALLY MOVE ACROSS LIKE -- TO BLOCK IT. IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO REMOVE IT COMPLETELY. DO AWAY WITH ESCAMBIA ROAD AND MAKE IT BACK MARSH. TURN IT BACK. THAT IS JUST AN IDEA. I AM NOT -- I AM NOT A CIVIL ENGINEER. I DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE INS AND OUTS BUT THE WHOLE THING THAT COMES TO MY MIND. JUST A THOUGHT. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> RONALD ROSS: I AGREE WITH YOU 100% AND SPENT THE LAST SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS LOOKING AT T THAT. A VERY VIABLE OPPORTUNITY AND CREATE A GREAT -- A GREAT PLACE FOR BIRD SANCTUARY AND WILDLIFE AND I CAN SUPPORT THIS IF YOU WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH DOWNTOWN FOR THE ESCAMBIA SLEW. I -- >> AND VICE-MAYOR, YOUR THOUGHTS ON DOING AWAY WITH THE ROAD. >> I THINK IF DO YOU AWAY WITH THE ROAD, YOU ARE GOING TO FLOOD 8TH STREET AND FLOOD THE WHOLE AREA. YOU ARE JUST GOING TO INCREASE THE FLOODING AREA. IF YOU WANT AN OPTION. IF DO YOU AWAY WITH THE ROAD YOU ARE DOING AWAY WITH THE OPPORTUNITY AS FOR -- FOR THE MONTH. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK FURTHER, I WANT TO PURSUE THIS AND AS MUCH AS I SAY STRATEGICALLY AND THEN IF IT DOESN'T WORK YOU LOOK AT ESCAMBIA AND OTHER OF WHAT WE TALK ABOUT. >> IS THERE A DEADLINE. >> NO, THERE ISN'T BUT THE MONEY WILL BE GONE. >> THE TIME WHAT CITY STAFF HAS FOR YOU AN INTENT FOR OUR PROJECT AND WE DON'T HAVE THE PLANS FOR A PROJECT. IS THE DO WE WANT TO HAVE HIM DEVOTE TIME TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO APPROVE ESCAMBIA OR REMOVE ESCAMBIA AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO YOU. RIGHT NOW WE ARE APPLYING FOR A GRANT THAT WE DON'T APPLY FOR A GRANT. THE FIRST STEP MR. GEORGE WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE APPLYING FOR AND WE WANT MONEY. DO WE HAVE A CITY ENGINEER COME UP WITH OPTION A, OPTION B. BRING IT BACK TO YOU AND THAT TAKES TIME BUT WE NEED THAT DIRECTION. >> AND I WOULD SAY TO YOU CITY MANAGER THAT WE CAN'T MAKE A DECISION. MY FEELING IS THIS BODY CANNOT MAKE A DECISION UNTIL WE NOTE IMPACT OF -- OF DOING ESCAMBIA. THIS PROJECT. WHAT -- A, HOW MUCH WETLANDS WILL WE BE FILLING. AND B, WILL IT FLOOD. THE PORT AND WILL IT FLOOD WEST ROCK. AND UNTIL WE KNOW THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT, I DON'T THINK WE CAN PURSUE IT IF WE KNOW THE IMPACT IT WILL DO A, B, C AND D, THEN WE CAN GO FOR IT. >> LET THE ENGINEER LOOK AT IT. >> GOOD ENOUGH, FAIR SNUFF GIVEN THE TASKS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE, WE ARE GOING TO BRING AT THAT T BACK TO YOU IN AUGUST FOR CONSIDERATION. THAT IS THE EARLIEST LIKELY GIVEN THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE COMMISSION AND I HAVE T TASKED MR. GEORGE WITH. >> THAT IS FINE AND WEST ROCK'S ENGINEER IS LOOKING AT THAT. THAT IS FINE. >> THANK YOU. >> ITEM 3.3. [3.3 YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL] YOUTH YOUTH. THIS ITEM IS PLACED ON THE AGENDA BY COMMISSIONER BEAN. COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> BRADLEY BEAN: THANK YOU. YOU ARE GOOD TO GO. [00:50:03] YOU DON'T TALK -- >> YOU WANT ME TO STAND UP H HERE. >> ALL GOOD MY FRIEND. WE APPRECIATE YOU. WHAT THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL -- THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING IT TO BE ON THE AGENDA IS UNDER MAYOR LENTZ WE USED TO HAVE A YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. ONE I THOUGHT DID SOME GOOD WORK AND RAN OUT OF STEAM AND SUNSET A FEW YEARS AGO. GOOD NEWS BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE THE INTEREST ONCE AGAIN TO START THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, TY -- IF YOU COULD COME UP THAT IS ALL GOOD. WE APPRECIATE -- MR. MAYOR IF WE DO ALLOW THAT. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS NOT PUBLIC COMMENT. >> HE IS NOT GIVING PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE SHOWING TY. >> THAT TY. >> TY BOSTON. AND IDENTIFY TY IN HIGH SCHOOL. >>'S RISING -- I NEED TO GO THROUGHOUT PROGRAM THAT I HAVE. A RISING SENIOR AT FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL. AND TY HAS IDENTIFIED A GREAT NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE CITY RESIDENTS AND WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH A COUNCIL. I BELIEVE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR CITY RESIDENTS AND YOUTH. FULL JOIN ME IN REINSTATING THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, WE COULD HAVE IT START WHENEVER THEY ARE READY. >> I -- I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THIS PLACED ON AN AGENDA FOR A VOTE, SINCE WE DON'T VOTE IN WORKSHOPS. >> THAT'S CORRECT AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. >> SURE. LAY THEM ON, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU. WHAT HAS CHANGED FROM THE LAST TIME THIS WAS TRIED? >> WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I MET WITH TY, HE HAS A GREAT BUSINESS PLAN THAT INVOLVES NOT JUST -- IT INVOLVES A SET METHOD OF SELECTING STUDENTS TO BE ON THIS COUNCIL. MULTIPLE GRADES. ALWAYS CONSTANT -- CONSTANT -- NEVER BE AN ABRUPT TURNOVER WHICH HAVE KILLED PAST COU COUNCILS. THIS NEW PLAN -- AND I KNOW WE DON'T ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT BUT TY HAS THE PLAN, BUT WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON TIME. >> I HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. >> WHAT DO YOU GOT? >> WHO IS GOING TO BE CHARGE. WHICH CITY STAFF ARE WE GOING TO TASK WHO TO TAKE CARE FOR IT AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND IT. >> MAYOR HAMBRICK ONE OF YOUR TOP PEOPLE -- DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH THE PEG CHANNEL, THAT WILL BE RIGHT UP HER AL ALLEY. >> HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK WILL THIS TAKE HER TO DO. >> ONE TO TWO. >> THE ESTIMATE FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE IN THE PAST HAS BEEN ABOUT TEN HOURS A WEEK. THAT IS -- THAT IS A FOURTH OF HER TIME. WELL, I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. I AM NOT SAYING IT IS A BAD IDEA. I AM GOING TO THE FIRST THING ON THIS THING. WHEN WE BRING UP NEW THINGS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THEM AND PAYING FOR THEM IS THE STAFF TIME. AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DECREASING STAFF. AND NOW GIVING STAFF ANOTHER MANDATE TO DO. MY LAST QUESTION -- AND I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THIS -- MY LAST QUESTION IS WHICH ONE OF US WILL BE THE CHAMPION OF THIS AND TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT. >> LOOKING UP AND DOWN, IT WOULD APPEAR TO BE ME. >> WELL, WE GOT ONE ANSWER. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I WOULD SAY WE HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ALL OF THEM. WE WILL BE DOING THAT. THAT'S ALL I GOT. WE MAY PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ON THE NEXT AGENDA AND WE CAN GET A FORMAL VOTE AND GET HIM STARTED BY THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. >> GENTLEMEN? >> DO WE HAVE CONSENSUS OF PUTTING IT ON AGENDA WITH DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL. >> WITH THE PROVISO A MECHANISM OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND IT. >> FUNDING AND HOW IT WILL WORK AND WHO WILL OVERSEE IT. , ETC, ETC. >> THAT IS FINE. >> I SUPPORT THIS 100%. AND I THINK IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING YOUTH BACK INTO THE SYSTEM A CHAMPION ALONG WITH BRADLEY AND I AM SURE THIS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY DONE WITH THE AVAILABLE TIME AND STAFF. >> THANK YOU SIR. >> JUST A POINT OF ORDER. WHEN WE ARE AT THESE MEETINGS, WE -- THE AGENDA DEADLINE HAS PASSED ALREADY FOR THE NEXT MEETING SO WON'T APPEAR IN TWO WEEKS. IT WILL APPEAR ON FOUR WEEKS ON THE AGENDA, SIR. >> YES, MA'AM. IN THIS -- IF I MAY, MAYOR. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, SEEING THAT IT IS A TWO-WEEK -- COULD WE MANAGE TO SQUEEZE IT IN THIS TIME? >> OF COURSE, SIR. >> IF THAT IS OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR THE WORKSHOP. VICE-MAYOR. >> I AM GOOD. >> IF NO OTHER BUSINESS. WE ARE ADJOURNED UNTIL 6:00. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.