[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP. MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL?
>> ALL RIGHT. AS ALWAYS, HOUSE KEEPING.
PERSONAL DEVICES. EITHER PLEASE TURN THEM OFF OR SILENT. THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC.
COVID 19 GUIDELINES. WE ARE ALLOWING, OBVIOUSLY, A FULL ROOM. HOWEVER, IF YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE DISTANCING, I SEE THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THE WORKSHOP FOR YOU TO DO SO. EITHER WAY, EVEN IF YOU ARE VACCINATED, YOU ARE STILL SUSCEPTIBLE TO CONTRACTING COVID-19. I TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED WHO HAVE CAUGHT IT.
THE DISCUSSION ITEM ORDER. THE AGENDA IS PUT TOGETHER BY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS, WHO SEND IT IN TO THE CITY CLERK.
SO I'M GOING TO RE-ORDER THE AGENDAS.
I LIKE TO DISCUSS THINGS IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE.
I THINK THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THEN ALACHUA STREET RIVERFRONT AND, IS THE PROPER ORDER.
COMMISSIONERS, WITH YOUR CONSENT, THAT'S HOW WE'LL CONDUCT THE WORKSHOP. GOOD?
[3.3 BUILDING DEPARTMENT WORKSHOP REVIEW]
ITEMS 6.3. THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT WORKSHOP REVIEW. THIS IS PLACED ON THE AGENDA BY THE CITY MANAGER. COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS A FOLLOWUP FOR A PREVIOUS ACTION ITEM THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED. CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE AAQUARIUM. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS ACTUALLY RECAP THE APRIL 20 MEMO THAT I SENT TO YOU, WHICH FOLLOWED THE APRIL 6 WORKSHOP.
THAT LISTED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT OR NINE ACTION ITEMS. EIGHT ACTION ITEMS THAT YOU ASKED ME TO REVIEW.
I WILL GO OVER SOME OF THESE. HE IS HERE THIS EVENING TO OFFER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS REGARDING SOME OF THE WORK SHE HAS DONE IN CRUX WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
THE FIRST ITEM THAT YOU ASKED ME TO REVIEW WAS THE CONCEPT OF THE CONSTRUCTION APPEALS BOARD. THAT IS, I BELIEVE, TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO BE ON A FUTURE AGENDA, JULY 20, TO DETERMINE WHETHER THAT BOARD WILL BE CONSTITUTED BY ALL OF YOU.
AS A REMINDER, THERE THRRD IN EXISTENCE A CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT AND APPEALS BOARD. WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS ON THAT BOARD. AN ARCHITECT, A BUSINESS PERSON, ENGINEER, GENERAL CONTRACTOR, REALTOR, SUBCONTRACTOR AND A PERSON WITH ZONING OR BUILDING EXPERIENCE.
THEIR JURISDICTION AND POWERS INCLUDE THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH ORDINANCES AND STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL LAWS INTENDED TO PROMOTE HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY.
THEY ALSO HAVE THE POWERS TO HAR ISSUES RELATED TO UNSAFE HOUSING AND DETERMINATIONS OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL.
SO THAT BOARD DOES EXIST. IF YOU WISH TO PURSUE A SECOND BOARD FOR CONSTRUCTION APPEALS, THAT WILL BE BEFORE YOU AT THE
NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING. >> CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU ALLOW
US TO DISCUSS EACH OF THESE? >> SURE.
>> AFTER YOU PRESENT THEM. BY THE WAY, IT IS ALL EIGHT OF US. COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION OF THE APPEALS BOARD. COMMISSIONER ROSS?
>> IN THE CURRENTS APPEALS BOARD YOU TOLD ME WHAT IT SUPPOSED TO CONSTITUTE. ARE ANY OF THE MEMBERS -- I KNOW
THE ANSWER OF THIS BUTLY ASK. >> I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE BOARD MEMBER THAT IS CURRENLY EITHER A CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR.
>> THE REASON IS WE CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO APPLY.
>> THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY TRUE.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. STURGES.
>> I FIELD A LOT OF CALLS ON THIS WHEN WE ARE HAVING PROBLEM, WHICHEVER IT MAY BE. I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE SUGGESTING THAT WE GET A NEW BOARD.
IF THE PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED AND WE EXPANDED THE SIZE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD TO HOLD, IS IT FULLY STAFFED NOW?
>> YES, SIR. AND WE HAVE TWO ALTERNATES.
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>> I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY COULDN'T HEAR AN APPEAL FROM A CONTRACTOR OR HOMEOWNER ABOUT SOME CONDITION WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. I DON'T KNOW ANY REASON THEY COULDN'T SERVE AND DO THE SAME THING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE ACTION OR CASES WE'LL RUN IN TO.
>> I THINK I'VE NEVER HAD -- [INAUDIBLE] I THINK, MISS BACH, THERE ARE MORE CODE ENFORCEMENT APPEALS
THAN BUILDING OFFICIAL APPEALS. >> CORRECT.
THEY COULD BE THE SAME LEGAL, CORRECT?
>> YES. >> IS THAT WHAT WE USE THAT BOARD CURRENTLY AS THE SAME. ONE AND THE SAME.
WE FIND THAT SOMEBODY COMES BACK WITH AN APPEAL AT A LATER DATE AND SAY, BY THE WAY, WE ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH ACTION FROM THIS BOARD, OR THIS BOARD IS NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO HONOR A WHOLE NEW BOARD. I THINK IT'S A LOT OF PROCESS TO START A WHOLE NEW BOARD, JUST FOR -- WHEN CURRENTLY HOW MANY CASES HAVE THEY RECEIVED? IS ONE.
>> ONE BUILDING CASE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
>> OKAY. >> ON AN INTERPRETATION OF THE
LOCAL -- >> THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD SEE.
I DON'T KNOW ANY REASON WHY THEY CAN'T SERVE THE PURPOSE OF BOTH.
>> OKAY. SO ON DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONERS, IS THAT WHEN THIS FIRST DEVELOPED, YOU WILL RECALL WE HAD PROTESTERS, WE HAD PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, THAT WAS SOME 90 DAYS AGO. IF YOU WATCHED YOUR E-MAIL, I'M NOT INUNDATED WITH COMPLAINTS. PART OF THIS PROCESS IS WHICH OF THESE ITEMS DID WE WANT TO PROCEED ON AND INVEST CITY STAFF TIME. AND WHICH OF THESE ITEMS, AS MR. COMMISSIONER STURGES JUST ADVISED -- HE IS A BUILDER.
DO WE JUST WANT TO FOLD INTO CODE ENFORCEMENT.
DO WE WANT THIS TO BE ON THE JULY 20 AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION? OR DO WE WANT TO SAY WE JUST WANT CODE ENFORCEMENT TO HANDLE THIS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR FROM THIS BOARD.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO PROCEED WITH. OR AFTER 90 DAYS, NO, CODE
ENFORCEMENT CAN HANDLE THIS. >> I WOULD AGREE WITH DAVE.
CONSIDERING THEY HAVE ONLY HEARD ONE CASE, WHATEVER, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING. I WOULD BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THE PROBLEMS WITH CERTAINLY HAVE TO DO WITH SPECIAL DECISIONS.
THERE DON'T APPEAR TO BE THAT MANY THAT THE CURRENT BOARD COULD DEAL WITH IT. I GOT CALLS THROUGH THE PROCESS AND MOST OF THEM WERE PROCEDURE CALLS WHICH FELL INTO OTHER
>> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. AS THIS ACTION ITEM CONCERNED, IT IS Q1 OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WHICH IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE OPPOSITION THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ACTION ITEM FOR THEM.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A NEW BOARD. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EMPOWER THE CURRENTS CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD WITH A NEW LANGUAGE AND NEW NAME THAT CLEARLY DEFINES THIS THIS BOARD CAN BE USED FOR THE DEPARTMENT ISSUES AS WELL.
WHICH WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING AS STARTING A NEW BOARD. I WOULD SAY EFFICIENCY-WISE, IT MAKES SENSE TO USE THE SAME BOARD FOR BOTH CODE ENFORCEMENT AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT, LET'S MAKE SURE WE CLEARLY DEFINE THE NEW TERMS AND CLEARLY
THIS IS SECTION 2-383 OF THE CITY CODE.
ACTUALLY UNDER 2-387, JURISDICTION, POWERS AND DUTIES IT. SAYS ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES. SUB PARAGRAPH B-2.
THE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND APPEALS BOARD SHALL ALSO HEAR APPEALS FROM DECISIONS OF INTERPRETATIONS OF THE BUILDINGS OFFICIAL AND CONSIDER VARIANTS OF TECHNICAL CODES AS SET FORTH
IN THE STANDARD BUILDING CODE. >> OKAY.
>> THERE IS SOME REFERENCE TO THAT IN ITS CURRENT LANGUAGE.
>> CORRECT. TO COMMISSIONER BEAN'S POINT, YOU SEE THE TITLE "CODE ENFORCEMENT AND APPEALS"? IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT BUILDING. THAT IS WE ARE TRYING TO BRAND
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THE COMMITTEE AS. IT'S NOT CODE ENFORCEMENT AND APPEALS. IT'S ALSO BUILDING.IF WE CAN ALSO BRAND THAT COMMITTEE WITH THAT SO THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN DELINEATE THAT, THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC.
DID I APTURE? >> EXACTLY THAT.
>> YES, MR. MAYOR. ONE OTHER THING, I KNOW YOU ARE SAYING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ONE CONTRACTOR ON THE BOARD RIGHT NOW. IS IT A FIVE OR SEVEN-PERSON
BOARD. >> FIVE-MEMBER BOARD WITH TWO ALTERNATIVES. IT WOULD BE NICE IF AT LEAST TWO WERE IN THE FIELD, OF THE SEVEN PEOPLE.
AT LEAST TWO WAS AN ARCHITECT, ENGINEER OR CONTRACTOR.
>> LET ME CORRECT. SEVEN MEMBERS WITH TWO
OUT OF THE NINE PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF AT LEAST TWO WERE IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY. IN SOME FORM.
THAT WAY AT LEAST IF SOMEONE COMES TO THE BOARD AND THEY ARE EDUCATED AND COMING FOR AN APPEAL, THEY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT HAS A LITTLE REFERENCE IN THAT FIELD.
OTHER THAN AN ASSOCIATE. >> THAT'S FINE.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT COMMISSIONER BRADLEY WAS SAYING.
THIS BOARD EXISTED SO IT COULD DO EXACTLY -- REVIEW THAT AND THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, NOBODY SUBMITTED TO THIS BOARD.
THAT BEING THE CASE, OBVIOUSLY THEY DIDN'T KNOW.
SO IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT BOARD IS AVAILABLE AND HAS THE AUTHORITY AND THE SCOPE TO
SO, TO RECAPTURE WHAT I BELIEVE WE JUST SAID.
IS THAT THE JULY 20TH AGENDA, IF YOU COULD BRING BACK TO US A PROPOSAL THAT RENAMES THIS BOARD, AND ADDS ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE ON BUILDING APPEALS. BUILDING ISSUE APPEALS.
>> I GUESS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE -- IT WOULD HAVE TO BE
AUGUST. >> OFFICIALLY WE'LL BE THAT WILL BE AN ORDINANCE. WE'LL HAVE TO PUBLISH IT.
WE'LL WORK TO COME UP WITH A NAME.
>> THAT PROCEEDS THAT WAY? SO IS THAT'S AUGUST.
ALL RIGHT. >> THE NEXT ISSUE WAS DEVELOP A FRMENT OF FEEDBACK ASSOCIATED WITH EACH PERMIT.
I DID PROVIDE A COPY AFTER SAMPLE SURVEY THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT STAFF.
THE INTENT WAS THIS WILL BE EMBEDDED NOT ONLY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, BUT ALSO PART OF EACH PERMIT APPLICATION.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU REVIEW THAT DOCUMENT, WHICH HAS THE DARK HEADER ON THIS. I GAVE YOU TWO DOCUMENTS.
THERE IS ONE WITH SURVEY QUESTIONS ON IT.
PLEASE REVIEW THAT. THEN LET'S HAVE THE I.T.
DEPARTMENT INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE PERMIT, AS WELL AS THE STANDARD CITY WEBSITE FOR CUSTOMER FEEDBACK.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? >> ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS ON THE SURVEY? DO YOU NEED US TO BLESS THIS?
>> I JUST NEED SOME FEEDBACK. PLEASE LOOK IT OVER.
IF THERE IS ANY RECOMMENDATIONS YOU WOULD LIKE INCORPORATED OR
CHANGED, LET ME KNOW. >> WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE
THIS FINAL? >> I CAN GIVE YOU --
>> YESTERDAY. >> YOU KNOW, A WEEK TO TEN DAYS OF BEFORE THE NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
>> COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU COULD E-MAIL THE CITY MANAGER WITH YOUR COMMENTS ON THE SURVEY BY THE NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING. THEN WE CAN BLESS IT.
>> THE NEXT ISSUE WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BODY CAMERAS FOR PERSONNEL. THE ACQUISITION OF BODY CAMERAS, BUT BASED UPON OUR REVIEW WE'LL HAVE TO DEVELOP AN EXTENSIVE NEW SERIES OF OPERATIONS AND PRIVACY AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THOSE.
THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH MUCH DISCUSSION ON THIS TO ME REGARDING THE USE OF BODY CAMERAS.
BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM FEEDBACK AND IF THIS IS STILL SOMETHING YOU WANT TO PURSUE.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> I DON'T THINK WE REALLY NEED TO PURSUE BODY CAMERAS. TO WHAT POINT? I JUST HAVE A FEELING THAT IT WILL GO A LITTLE TOO FAR.
ALMOST EVERY ONE OF OUR CITY STAFF INTERACTS WITH CITY
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RESIDENTS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. IF THERE IS ISSUES, I DON'T FEEL WE NEED BODY CAMS. I THINK IT WILL GET LEGAL FAST.I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO IT.
THAT'S MY OPINION. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN?
>> THANK YOU, MAY MAYOR. I'M VERY OPPOSED TO BODY CAMERAS. I'M VERY OPPOSED TO IT.
THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. >> I THINK REMOVE IT.
>> OKAY. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS?
DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS? >> I WOULD AGREE WITH MY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WHEN THIS FIRST CAME TO LIGHT, AND YOU WERE FIRST DEALING WITH IT, WE HAD SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF HE SAID/HE SAID. IT WAS HARD -- IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN THE FACTS, BECAUSE THERE ARE FACTS ON ONE SIDE.
FACTS ON ANOTHER. SO THE BODY CAM REALLY CAME UP IN AN EFFORT TO REALLY DETERMINE THE FACTS.
AS I SAID IN THE PAST 90 DAYS, I HAVE HEARD NO EXAMPLES OF HE SAID/HE SAID. I'VE HEARD NO COMPLAINTS, ACTUALLY, OVER BUILDING DEPARTMENT ISSUES ON SITE.
SO I AGREE THAT THE BODY CAMERA ISSUE, WE SHOULD PUT THAT TO BED. DO WE HAVE CONSENSUS ON THAT? FOUR YESES AND A NO. THERE IS YOUR ANSWER.
>> NEXT, TWO ISSUES, REVIEW THE PERMIT APPLICATIONS, REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS IS ONE. AND REVIEW ON PERMITTING.
WITH THE DEPARTURE OF MR. BECKMAN, STAFF HASN'T HAD THE LEADERSHIP IN THAT DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW THAT.
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE REVIEWED.
WE HAVE POSTED A NOTICE TO HIRE A BUILDING OFFICIAL.
ALSO APPLICATIONS ARE COMING IN. WE HAVE A PRIVATE PROVIDER RIGHT NOW, A CITY BUILDING OFFICIAL. HE WILL PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO HELPING WITH THIS AS WELL. THIS IS ISSUES LIKE WHY DO YOU NEED A PERMIT FOR SMALL-SCALE PROJECTS.
CAN YOU COMBINE THOSE PERMITS INTO ONE PERMIT.
HOW DO YOU REVIEW IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM LOOKING AT DOING THAT WILL PROBABLY IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS S RECONSTITUTING WHAT WAS FORMALLY CALLED A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
I WILL CALL IT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE WORKING ON ORGANIZATION OF THAT.
THAT IS AN EFFORT TO BRING THE PLANNING AND CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT IN LINE -- OR IN HOUSE WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS CODE ENFORCEMENT.
I SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT REORGANIZATION BY THE END
OF THIS 340. >> COMMISSIONER STURNLINGS.
>> THANK YOU. I AM GETTING CALLS ABOUT ACCESS, EVEN THOUGH WEAPON ARE IN TRANSITION.
HOPEFULLY THE NEW BUILDING OFFICIAL.
I AM STILL GETTING A FEW CALLS ON A WEEKLY BASIS ABOUT PROCESS AND TO APPROVE THE PROCESS. EVERYBODY IS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I THINK WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AS FAR AS THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT GOES. WE JUST NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT PERSON AND IMPLEMENT A GOOD PROGRESS.
AND A GOOD SYSTEM. >> SO THE CALLS THAW GET, COMMISSIONER STURGES, THE MAIN -- NOT COMPLAINTS BUT
CONCERNS -- >> THEY ARE CONCERNS, MOST OF THEM. I GOT TWO, THREE CALLS THIS
>> MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S PLANNING AND HALF OF THE BUILDING. I CALL THAT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. I SWIPE THAT AS ONE BIG THING.
THAT'S THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. HALF OF THEM I GET ARE PLANNING AND HALF OF THEM ARE WHY DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE? WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? WELL, WE ARE STILL IN THE TRANSITION OF GETTING A SYSTEM. WHY AM I SUBMITTING MY PART TIME AND STILL WAITING? IT'S A PROCESS.
THAT'S MOST OF THE CALLS I'M GETTING.
>> VICE MAYOR? >> I THINK ONE OF THE KEYS AND ONE OF THE ISSUES IS CONCURRENT PLANNING.
WE HAD AND THEN IT WAS ELIMINATED AND NOW WE'RE BACK WITH CONCURRENT. CONCURRENT IS WHERE IT'S GOING TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT THE SAME TIME. I STILL GET CALLS.
THIS WEEK I GOT TWO CALLS. ONE POSITIVE AND ONE NEGATIVE.
THE NEGATIVE WAS ABOUT IN THE FIELD AND INTERPRETATION IN THE FIELD. THE POSITIVE WAS ABOUT THE ATTITUDE, THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE. DEPARTMENT.
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>> CITY MANAGER, HOW WOULD YOU SUMMARIZE THE NEXT STEP?
>> WE'LL PROBABLY WORK WITH THE PRIVATE PROVIDER BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR NOW AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DEVELOP.
IN THE SHORT TERM BASIS, WHILE WE ARE BRINGING ON THE FULL-TIME BUILDING OFFICIAL. BUT RECOGNIZING THAT THAT IS THE PREPONDERANCE OF COMPLAINTS WE GET IS ABOUT THE PROCESS.
HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THE PROCESS. >> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, SIR. >> NEXT ISSUE WAS REVIEW AND REPORT ON THE PERMITTING FEES AND IN THE MEMO I PROVIDED TO YOU, THE FEES WILL BE PART OF THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS. THOSE WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU, AGAIN, WITH REVIEW BY THE CURRENT PRIVATE PROVIDER.
REVIEWING THE PERMITTING FEES. I THINK THERE IS AN INTEREST OF REDUCING OUR PERMITTING FEES. WE WILL HAVE THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESS BEFORE YOU GET INTO THE ACTUAL BUDGET.
YOU WILL PROBABLY GET THOSE FEES IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER THE LATEST SINCE YOU HAVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.
>> THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHEN PERMITS ARE REQUIRED.
WILL THAT BE PART OF THE PROCESS?
>> I'M SORRY, THAT'S PART WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
I WILL WORK WITH PRIVATE PROVIDERS TO SAY HOW CAN WE STREAMLINE. WHY DO YOU NEED -- DO YOU BUILD A SMALL SHET AND DO YOU NEED A PERMIT.
WE'LL CONSOLIDATE AND GET DIRECTION ON THAT AS WELL.
>> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES, THANK YOU.
I, TOO, AM INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE WE CAN BUILD SMALL SHEDS WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A PERMIT. THERE IS TOO MUCH PERMITTING GOING ON. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD DO LESS.
LET'S ALLOW NEW SHEDS TO BE BEST.
NUMBER TWO, I AM IN FAVOR OF INTRODUCING THESE FEES.
WE DO HAVE A LARGE BUILDING DEPARTMENT SURPLUS.
THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT -- FOR OVER TWO YEARS.
THAT IS SOMETHING I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IS REDUCE THESE FEES UNTIL WE GET THAT FUND DOWN TO A REASONABLE LEVEL.
NEXT ITEM? >> THE LAST ONE FOR ME, BEFORE ASKING MR.-- TO COME FORWARD. SEEKING PRELIMINARY INTERESTS THAT NASSAU COUNTY ABOUT CONSOLIDATION OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS. WE DID SEND THAT ADDITIONAL LETTER AND THE FEEDBACK AT THIS CURRENT TIME THE COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE HESITANT TO PURSUE THAT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND WORK.
SO AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NO FURTHER ACTION WITH REGARD TO
YOU WANT TO MOVE ON TO SERVICE TRAINING?
>> THE FINAL IS DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENT CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING. WE DID ENGAGE TO ASSIST WITH THAT. KIND OF NOT QUITE TIED ONLY TO THAT. MR. JACOBY WILL SHARE EXPERIENCES. SHE DID QUITE A BIT OF TIME SHADOWING BOTH THE OFFICE STAFF AND THE FIELD STAFF OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, TO PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK ON THINGS THAT ARE GOING WELL. THINGS THAT CAN BE APPROVED.
I WOULD LIKE HER TO SHARE HER INSIGHTS AS WELL.
>> WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> SENDS ISY JACOBY. 24 NORTH STREET HERE.
MY WORK WAS FOCUSED ON THE PEOPLE AND THE PROCESSES TO DETERMINE THE ROOT US CAUSE OF THE GROWING MISTRUST AND FRUSTRATION THAT WAS MADE EVIDENT BY THE WORKSHOP AND BY THE CHAMBER SURVEY. I CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS WITH EACH OF YOU, THE INCOMING AND OUTGOING BUILDING OFFICIAL AND INCOMING -- INTERIM ONE. THE DEPUTY BUILDING OFFICIAL, THE PLAN REVIEWER. THE TWO INSPECTORS, I SHADOWED FOR HAVE A DAY. EACH MEMBER OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT STAFF, I HAD A PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH.
ALSO I INTERVIEWED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NASSAU CHAMBER, THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR NASSAU COUNTY, AND OVER A DOZEN BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS, CITIZENS WITH MY PERSONAL PERSONAL OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE.
AS I VISIT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, SOMETIMES I WAS A CONSULTANT INTERVIEWING THEM. SOMETIMES I WAS GETTING PERMIT TO DO PLUMBING WORK. THEN A THIRD TIME I WAS GETTING A LICENSE FOR A RENTAL PROPERTY. I WOULD SHOW UP SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WITH DIFFERENT HATS. INTERESTING TO SEE THINGS FROM BOTH SIDES. MY GENERAL OBSERVATION, SOME BACKGROUND, IN RESPONSE TO COVID CONCERNS THE DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTED AN ONLINE SUBMISSION PROCESS WHICH RAISED MORE ISSUES FOR THE CITIZENS. MR. BECKMAN WAS THE FIFTH
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BUILDING OFFICIAL IN AS MANY YEARS, WITHIN ONE OR TWO YEARS.THEN MR. GILSON IS NOW ON NO. 6. WE HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS LEADERSHIP. THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND CODE ENFORCEMENT USED TO BE UNDER THE SAME LEADERSHIP WITH DEVELOPMENT.
THE CHAMBER SURVEY -- IT DIDN'T HAVE THE SEPARATE QUESTIONS FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. JUST FOR THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER STURGES, TO YOUR POINT, THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT WHETHER IT'S JUSTIFIED OR NOT.
IN THE SURVEY THE RESPONSIBILITIES WERE DIVIDED BY HOMEOWNERS AND, OWNERS. I LOOKED MORE ON THE CONTRACTOR SIDE, PEOPLE WORKING WITH THE CITY ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO WHEN I FOCUSED IN ON A BUILDING OFFICIAL, THE BUILDING OFFICIAL WAS WELL RESPECTED BY HIS DEPARTMENT FOR REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE CODES AND FEELING LIKE HE WAS DOING.
CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS CONSISTENTLY COMMENTED ON HOW EASY IT WAS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM.
YOU SAW SOME OF THAT ON THE WORKSHOP.
HE ALWAYS CALLED BACK IN A TIMELY MANNER AND WILLING TO DISCUSS CODE INTERPRETATION. HE ENFORCED DIFFERENTLY THAN THE ONE BEFORE. DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT NASSAU COUNTY DOES. WHILE THAT'S WELL WITHIN HIS RIGHT, IT WAS FRUSTRATING TO A LOT OF THE BUILDERS.
ALSO NEW TO THE BUILDING COMMUNITY, HE WAS A BUILDING OFFICIAL THAT TOOK THE CODE MORE SERIOUSLY THAN PERHAPS HIS PREDECESSORS. IT WENT FROM A LAX ATMOSPHERE TO SOMEONE REALLY ENFORCING IT AND GOT A LITTLE WHIPLASH FOR.
THAT THE CONTRACTORS TELL ME HE WOULD ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION AND HIS INTERPRETATION AND OFTEN WOULD CHANGE HIS MIND IF THEY HAD A REASONABLE EXPLANATION. I WAS VERY SURPRISED HOW MUCH INTERPRETATION WAS REQUIRED FOR THESE CODES.
I THOUGHT -- THE NEWEST BUILDING INSPECTOR SAID IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FOLLOW THE BUILDING CODE EXACTLY.
YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING, THEY CONTRADICT EACH OTHER. THE NEW -- WHILE THERE ARE MANY POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUILDING INSPECTOR, MR. BECKMAN'S STYLE WAS OFFPUTTING TO SOME, AS EVIDENCED BY THE SURVEY. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE.
DEPENDING WHO YOU TALKED TO, YOU HAD TOTALLY DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. THE NEW BUILDING OFFICIAL SEMS WELL LIKED AND WELL-RESPECTED. HE HAS HAD POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH THE BUILDING ASSOCIATION. HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE IS A BIG P.R. PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. HE PLANS TO START ADDRESSING IT.
THE INSPECTORS WHO I SPENT A LAUGH DAY WITH SEEMED TO LIKE THEIR JOBS. THEN HE HAD A LOT OF CREDENTIALS AND CONSTANTLY ADDING TO THEIR CERTIFICATES.
I HAD GOOD INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE MAJORITY OF THE INTERACTIONS THE PUBLIC SHOWED APPRECIATION AND OFFERED THANKS.
THEY MADE JUDGMENT CALLS THAT FAVORED THE APPLICANT.
WHAT WAS DONE INCORRECTLY, INSTEAD OF FAILING THE INSPECTION AND FINING THEM, THEY SAID WE'LL CANCEL THIS OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND COME BACK WHEN IT'S REDONE AND DO A NEW ONE.
WE HAD OCCASIONS WITH THE INTERACTIONS THAT WAY, I WAS IN THE CAR FOLLOWING THEM. MAYBE.
BUT WHAT SHOWED ME THEY DO HAVE THE DISCRETION TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS THAT FAVOR THE APPLICANT, WITHOUT GIVING UP SAFETY. SO I KNOW THAT IT'S POSSIBLE.
SOME OF THE BUILDERS EXPRESSED DESIRE FOR BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INSPECTORS. THEY HAD A THEM VERSUS US KIND OF DEMEANOR. THE BUILDERS POINTED OUT, IT'S THE BUILDER WHO WERE ON THE HOOK FOR TEN YEARS.
THEY WANTED INSPECTIONS AND WANT IT TO BE DONE PROPERLY.
THEY WERE NOT TRYING TO PULL SOMETHING OVER.
THIS IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE INSPECTORS.
THE COUNTER STAFF, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY ARE CLOSE-KNIT SUPPORTIVE GROUP. THEY CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.
BUT THE MORALE IS LOW. ONE REPORTED BECAUSE OF THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE, THE UPTICK IN NEGATIVE CALLS, WAS -- ONE REFERRED TO IT AS A LICENSE TO BE MEAN.
THEY ARE DEALING WITH NASTY PEOPLE ON THE OTHER END.
ANOTHER INTERESTING THING, THAT STAFF HAS SO MANY DISTRACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH PEOPLE WANTING INTO CITY HALL AN TREATING THE OFFICE AS THE RECEPTIONIST.
NOT IN A NEGATIVE WAY, YOU WALK IN, THERE IS A BIG OPEN COUNTER, YOU WILL GO AND ASK IF YOU CAN HAVE YOUR WEDDING ON THE BEACH.
WHY ISN'T THE GARBAGE PICKED UP. THEE FIELD THESE CALLS ALL THE TIME. IT'S FRUSTRATING TO GET UP FROM YOUR DESK AND HANDLE THOSE CALLS WHEN THAT'S NOT PART OF YOUR JOB. THAT CAUSES PRESSURE.
THEY GET PHONE CALLS, TOO. WHILE I WAS OBSERVING THEY GOT THEM. THE STAFF, WHILE POLITE AND PROFESSIONAL DO NOT COME ACROSS AS OVERLY EAGER TO BE HELPFUL
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OTHER FRIENDLY. THEY WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION, BUT THEY DON'T ANTICIPATE ALL OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, UNTIL YOU ARE MEEKLY WALKING AWAY.THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS HOW LONG IT TAKES.
SOMETIMES VERY PICKY REQUESTS ON THE PLANS.
EVERY PAGE HAS TO HAVE A PAGE NUMBER, HAVE AN ADDRESS, HAVE A SEAL, IF ONE IS NOT THERE, IT GETS REJECTED AND YOU FIX IT AND THEN YOU START ALL OVER AGAIN. SO THE CLOCK STARTS OVER AGAIN.
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE BUILDING WORK FLOW. THEY ESCAPED A LOT OF SCRUTINY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT REPRESENTED ON THAT CHAMBER SURVEY.
ANY TIME A FRIEND OF MINE OR SOMEBODY IS FRUSTRATED WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, YOU SHOULD TALK TO MY CONTRACTOR, I WOULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT. I'M FINE WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. IT'S THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT -- I WOULD HEAR ABOUT THAT. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT BUT WE NEED A HOLISTIC VIEW OF THAT. AS FAR AS THE PROCESS, THE SUBMISSION PROCESS HAS BEEN HASTILY PUT TOGETHER.
IT DOESN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FEATURES THAT THE STAFF -- I THINK WAS REENGINEERED TO DO THE THING IT DID BEFORE, BUT IT'S MAKING IT WHERE A GENERAL CONTRACT CAN'T GET SUBCONTRACTOR INFORMATION, SO THEY CAN'T SCHEDULE INSPECTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THIS. I THINK THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO BE LOOKED AT WHEN THEY LOOK AT ALL OF THIS.
IT WILL BE IN AUGUST, AS I UNDERSTAND.
THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. IT'S FRUSTRATING THE CONTRACTORS. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR AN AVERAGE JOE CITIZEN TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT TO SUBMIT, BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE. I'M ALMOST DONE.
I KNOW YOU'RE IN A HURRY. THE TRADES AND THE CODE, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT. IT'S HARD TO -- THE SWITCH IS HARD ON THE STAFF AND IT'S HARD ON THE PEOPLE SUBMITTING THOSE DOCUMENTS. WE TALKED ABOUT CONDITION OCCURRENCE. THAT'S BACK.
THAT IS MUCH, MUCH BETTER HAVING EVERYONE LOOKING AT IT AT THE SAME TIME. TO MR. MARTIN'S POINTS, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT INSPECTIONS ARE NEEDED OR WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED.
THERE IS JARG ON IN THE FORMS. V.O.C., H.C.C., B.O.A.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FILL OUT THESE FORMS. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION. THIS SHOULD BE TESTED OUT AS THEY ARE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. RESULTS.
OVERALL, I DIDN'T FIND ONE OVER ARCHING ISSUE BUT A TON OF SMALL THINGS THAT ADDED UP AND CAME TO A HEAD WITH THE CHAMBER SURVEY.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THERE IS A LOT OF MISTRUST.
I TOLD ANYBODY WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR JOB, OH, THEY ARE AWFUL. SO THAT'S THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS THAT THE BUILDING OFFICIALS -- NOT THE OFFICIAL, BUT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS AWFUL.
PLANNING IS AWFUL. RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, THERE IS A BIG P.R. PROBLEM. IT WILL TAKE STRONG LEADERSHIP TO DIG OUT OF THE HOLE. RECOMMENDATIONS, I'M AFRAID THE SYSTEM, I THINK OBVIOUSLY WE ARE DOING.
THAT INSURE BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE NOT TALKED TO MR. MARTIN, BUT REFERRING BACK TO ONE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SO THEY CAN ALL BE IN THE SAME ROOM AND COMMUNICATE TOGETHER IT.
MAKES THINGS GO MUCH BETTER. OR AT A MINIMUM CONDUCT WEEKLY MEETINGS TOGETHER. INCREASE COMMUNICATION WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT BY MORE COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT CODE.
WORK WITH THE COUNTY OFFICIAL TO AGREE, WHATEVER POSSIBLE, HOW TO INTERPRET FLORIDA CODES. IF THEY NEED INTERPRETATION.
I HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AT THE VERY MINIMUM, INSURE THAT WE ARE GOING WITH THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR THE CODE TO BE SAFE. A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS. ALWAYS A THOUGHT TO THE MINIMUM.
THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE PEOPLE.
CITIZENS HAVE MORE INFORMATION, CHECKLIST ON THE WEBSITE, CONCIERGE SERVICE, ESPECIALLY HOMEOWNERS.
CONTRACTORS SEEM TO DO WELL. HOMEOWNERS NEVER KNOW WHO YOU WILL TALK TO AND WHAT YOUR STORY IS.
HAVING SOMEONE DESIGNATED TO AQUATIC THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS ON REBUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHAMBER IT. IS BROKEN RIGHT NOW.
THE CHAMBER -- SOMEBODY SAID, BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THEY CRINGE A LITTLE. THAT'S AWFUL.
THAT'S A PEOPLE THING. I THINK THE LOADERS NEED TO GET TOGETHER FOR THAT. RECOMMENDATIONS.
NO. THREE, SOLVE THE RECEPTIONIST PROBLEM.
EITHER ADD SOMEBODY WHO CAN BE THAT FACE.
BE THAT CONCIERGE, TELL THEM WHERE THE TROLLEY IS.
THEY GET THAT ASKED EVERY DAY. THE PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE BACK
[00:35:04]
THERE TRYING TO APPROVE PERMITS CAN DO THEIR JOB.OR CHANGE SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A RECEPTION AREA.
ULTIMATELY, MOVE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT SO ITS OWN SPACE AND PUT CODE ENFORCEMENT TOGETHER IN THE SAME BUILDING SO THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER. NO. 4 IS RECOMMENDATIONS.
UPDATE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT COMMISSION AND THEIR MINDSET TO INCLUDE GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN ADDITION TO SAFETY. WHEN CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCE -- THAT'S GUIDES DECISIONS MADE BY EMPLOYEES.
IF THEY KNOW CUSTOMER SERVICE IS PART OF THE MISSION, THEY WILL HAVE A THOUGHT TOWARDS THAT. THAT MEANS WE NEED TO ADD IT TO THE MISSION STATEMENT, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT THE CUSTOMER IN THE MISSION STATEMENT. IT SHOULD BE MEASURED.
MAYBE BY THIRD-PARTY SURVEYS OR FOLLOWUP CALLS.
EMPLOYEE REVIEWS SHOULD INCLUDE CUSTOMER AS MUCH AS COMPONENT.
I THINK ALL OF THESE OFFICES SHOULD ASSUME POSITIVE INTENT FROM THE PEOPLE THEY ARE WORKING ON.
RIGHT NOW THEY ASSUME SOMEONE IS TRYING TO SNEAK SOMETHING BY ME.
I THINK CHANGING THE CULTURE WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT BUT YOU NEED LEADERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES YOU GUYS, MR. MARTIN AND WHOEVER THE NEW BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS. THIS COULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE MOST WELL RESPECTED DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY. IT'S POSSIBLE.
I THINK THAT WOULD GIVE THE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE IS SOME NEW ENERGY TO REALLY GO OUT THERE AND SERVE THE PUBLIC WELL.
IF THAT'S PART OF THEIR MISSION. RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SURVIVING.
THE ACTING OFFICIAL IS FANTASTIC.
ACCEPT THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD THIS CHANGE.
I WISH HE COULD STICK AROUND AND DO THAT.
I KNOW THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I THANK MR. LESTER WHO ORDERED THESE INTERVIEWS.
OKAY. >> COULD YOU STAY THERE FOR A
>> VICE MAYOR. >> YEAH, I INTERPRET THE SURVEY A BIT DIFFERENT. I INTERPRET THE THE SURVEY OF BEING CRITICAL OF BOTH PLANNING AND THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE WAS IT WAS THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT WAS AN INDIVIDUAL.
THAT CAME, I THINK, WITH DISCRETIONARY ENFORCEMENT.
THAT BECAME A PROBLEM IS FAIR, EQUAL ACROSS THE BOARD DISCRETIONARY ENFORCEMENT. I THINK THAT WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. MAX SAW THAT PERSONALLY FROM MY HOUSE, WHICH WAS FINE. AND THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR, IT WAS A HASSLE. THAT BECOMES -- I BELIEVE THAT WAS A PEOPLE KIND OF THING. AND A RESPONSIVE THING.
FAILING TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS.
THE NEW BUILDING OFFICIAL, I HEARD HE IS SUCH A GREAT GUY.
WE SHALL SEE. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS LACK OF CRITICISM ACROSS THE BOARD.
I THINK IT WAS DIRECTED AT AN INDIVIDUAL.
YOU READ ONLY ONCE IN THE REPORT WAS A NAME THAT I REMEMBER OF A PLANNING DEPARTMENT. SO, YEAH.
I THINK PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THEY ARE A PART OF THE SYSTEM, TOO.
>> IN THE CHAMBER'S GRAPHS, WHERE THEY HAVE ALMOST LIKE A THERMOMETER OF CIRCLES, THE PIE CHARTS.
THERE WAS NOT A SEPARATE QUESTION ABOUT PLANNING.
>> BUTCH THE COMMENTS WERE ALL THERE.
THE COMMENTS WERE 75% NEGATIVE AND 15% POSITIVE.
I WOULD POINT OUT THE CITY WAS AWARE THAT THE SURVEY WAS COMING UP. I ENCOURAGED THEM TO SOLICIT POSITIVE COMMENTS. AND THEY DID.
>> UH-HUH. >> I THINK WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. I THINK AGAIN, THERE WAS SOMEONE WITH ME FROM THE CITY. WE HAD A CITIZEN RANT AND RAVE, THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE CODES, PERIOD.
SO THIS GUY HAD TO GO OUT AND SHOW THEM WHAT THE CODE SAID.
I THINK THAT HAS TO DO WITH EXPERIENCE, ALSO.
YOUR GUY SHOULD FIX THAT, TOO. >> ALL OF THIS, TO HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY ELSE IN, YOU JUST TAKE TWO STEPS BACK WITH THAT.
I DON'T DISAGREE. >> THE COUNTY -- THE COUNTY, THEY DO AN OKAY JOB. TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION THERE. THEY HAVE AS MUCH, PERCENTAGE-WISE, MONEY THAT WE DO.
THEY ARE NOT IN THE -- FOR SURE. >> I THINK WHAT -- WHEN I TALK
[00:40:03]
TO THE BUILDERS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE COUNTY, IT WAS THE ATTITUDE OF THE COUNTY WAS HOW CAN WE FIX THIS WHERE THE ATTITUDE HERE WAS WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SNEAK BY ME.THAT'S THE PERCEPTION. YOU'RE RIGHT.
I THINK FOR ALL OF THESE CODES, IF YOU HAVE A GREAT VISION, A VISION THAT WE ARE ALL MARCH, IN THE SAME DIRECTION, IS THAT THE MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT. IT'S NOT RIGHT NOW.
IT'S STILL A CODE. WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
BUT THERE IS NO SECOND HAND. >> MY CONCERN IS THAT, AS I -- YOUR DESCRIPTIONS, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHICH REQUIRES NEW
>> AND SO WHAT WE HAD, WE HAD AN EVENT.
THE EVENT, YOU CAME IN. YOU COLLECTED YOUR DATA.
YOU DID INTERVIEWS. YOU MADE A DETERMINATION.
NOW THE EVENT IS OVER. BUT THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS HOW DO WE CHANGE THE CULTURE AND INSTITUTE NEW BEHAVIORS AND HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND THOSE BEHAVIORS THAT ARE DIRECTED AT CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WOULD ASK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW. I'M TELLING YOU MY CONCERN.
THAT WE CONTINUE THIS WORK, AND THAT THE EVENT JUST DOESN'T END.
BECAUSE PEOPLE, AS YOU KNOW, WILL REVERT TO THEIR OLD BEHAVIOR. HOW DO YOU GET NEW BEHAVIORS AND
NEW CULTURE. >> IT HAS PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS. THEY CAN TAKE AN ONLINE CLASS ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE. BUT IF THERE IS NOT A SWELLING -- THIS IS WHAT WE'LL DO AS A TEAM.
I CAN LIST ALL THE THINGS I CAN DO AND VIP A LIST OF THAT.
STAND UP, BE FRIENDLY, MEET SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR.
THAT IS NOT HELPFUL WHEN THEY ARE NOT FEELING IT.
IT HAS TO BE A GROUP EFFORT INSPIRED BY THE LEADER.
THIS IS HOW WE'LL TREAT PEOPLE FROM NOW ON.
>> RIGHT. AND SO TO THE CITY MANAGER'S QUESTION ABOUT THE SURVEY. I THINK A NAME NEEDS TO BE ATTACHED. JUST AS WHEN I WENT TO THE XFINITY STORE, I RECEIVED A SURVEY.
WHO DID YOU DEAL WITH? NOW, RATE THEM.
I GET A LOT OF SURVEYS THAT WAY. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE I RECEIVED AND WHO THAT SPECIFIC PERSON WAS.
COMMISSIONER WELLS. >> THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE, THE SAFE BUILDINGS. THERE SHOULD BE A COMPONENT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CUSTOMER AND THE STAFF.
THE COMMISSION ISN'T THE BARE MINIMUM.
THE COMMISSION IS TO. [INAUDIBLE]
>> I DO NOT DISAGREE. SAFETY STILL NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE MISSION. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THE RESIDENT CITIZEN HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE, THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THE MISSION, TOO AND WHAT'S MEASURED.
WE DON'T WANT HAPPY PEOPLE WITH HOUSES FALLING DOWN.
THAT'S NOT THE GOAL. >> I THINK SURFSIDE WILL CREATE A SEA CHANGE WITH A LOT OF THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING
THANK YOU, MISS JA JOIB. APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, MISS JACOBY. APPRECIATE IT.
IF WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE DECISION, WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM
[3.2 N. FRONT STREET/ALACHUA STREET]
3.2. THIS IS 94TH FRONT STREET/ALACHUA STREET. I PLACED THIS ON THE AGENDA.HERE IS THE REASON I PLACED IT ON THE AGENDA.
AT OUR LAST MEETING WE VOTED TO END EMINENT DOMAIN.
OUR PURSUIT OF THAT. AND DURING DISCUSSION OF THAT, YOU WILL RECALL THAT I HEARD TWO CLAIMS. THERE WAS ONE SET OF PLANS. AND THEN THERE WAS AN OPPOSITE SET OF PLANS PROVIDED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
I RECEIVED E-MAILS THAT SAID, UNLESS WE HAVE THE SIMMONS PROPERTY, WE WILL -- FRONT STREET WILL HAVE TO BECOME ONE WAY. AND WE WILL LOSE 40 PARKING SPACES. THAT'S ACCORDING TO ONE SET OF PLANS. THE OTHER SET OF PLANS THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS SAYS NEITHER OF THOSE IS TRUE.
SO IS AS MAYOR, I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW DO I MAKE A JUDGMENT? HOW DO I MAKE A DECISION WHEN I HAVE TWO OPPOSING SETS OF PLANS THAT SAY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS?
[00:45:04]
SO, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE PLANS, WHICH IS TRUE. WHICH IS UNTRUE.AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE EMINENT.
DOMAIN. SO WHAT ARE THE PLANS?
I SEE YOUR LIGHT ON. >> MY BELIEF THE ELIMINATION OF THAT PROPERTY -- I CAN SEE THE PLACEMENT, THE CASKS, THE WALKABILITY OF THE AREA, THE PARKING, THE GREEN SPACE.
I THINK ANY FUTURE DISCUSSION IS PREMATURE UNTIL WE HAVE A FINAL REQUIREMENTS FROM FDOT AND THE RAILROAD.
THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN FINALIZED. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WILL REQUIRE. SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE TIME OR PLACE TO DISCUSS IT UNTIL YOU HAVE THOSE THINGS.
YOU CAN'T MAKE A DETERMINATION ABOUT WHAT FDOT AND THE RAILROAD
>> ALONG THOSE LINES, THE ELIMINATION, WHEN WE TERMINATED EMINENT DOMAIN, I WANT GET INTO TOO MUCH.
WE CHANGED THE CONCEPT OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN FROM THE WHOLE FOOTPRINT, UNTIL WE GET DECISIONS BACK WITH PLANNING.
REMAKE DECISIONS. THAT'S CORRECT, IT WAS GOING TO BE GREEN SPACE. HOW DOES THAT AFFECT WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW. HOW DO WE GO FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT AFFECTS THE SEAWALL THAT MUCH.
WE STILL HAVE TO BUILD IT. SHORE LINE STABILIZATION IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ISSUE THAT INVOLVES PUBLIC BUT PROPERTY.
THINK WE WE WANT MORE INFORMATION.
I THINK IT'S A BIG, BIG DEAL. SOMETHING TO LOOK AT LATER
TONIGHT. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN. WITH THE CONSENSUS, WE'LL TABLE THIS UNTIL WE HAVE THE FDOT AND RAILROAD REQUIREMENTS.
THEN WE CAN ACTUALLY GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY OF THE DESIGN AND WHAT THE IMPACT OF WHAT THE DEMANDS OF FDOT AND THE RAILROAD ARE. AND THE IMPACTON THE ADJACENT LAND. OKAY? GOOD ENOUGH? ITEM 3.1.
[3.1 PROCLAMATION POLICY AND PROCEDURE]
PROCLAMATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES.I PLAYED -- PLACED THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. ONE, THE CITY HAS NO POLICY REGARDING PROCLAMATIONS. THERE IS ZERO.
AS TO HOW PROCLAMATIONS ARE ISSUED.
HOW THEY ARE REQUESTED. HOW THEY ARE WRITTEN.
HOW THEY ARE DELIVERED. WHO DELIVERS THEM.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I GOT BLOWBACK OVER THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE I DIDN'T READ ALL THREE. I'M SERIOUS.
I GOT BLOWBACK ON THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY CLERK HAS REACHED OUT TO THE CITY CLERK'S ASSOCIATION AND PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION. SO I CAN GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU PROVIDED. ONE EXAMPLE FROM A CITY IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT IS NEAR, THIS IS STRONG -- INSTEAD OF ME STANDING UP THERE AND TAKING FIVE MINUTES TO READ THE PROCLAMATION AND PRESENTING IT TO ANDRE.
WHEN IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. WHY NOT JUST SAY, ON THAT PART OF THE AGENDA, THIS IS STRONG ORDER MONTH, EVERYONE.
LET'S RECOGNIZE OUR STORMWATER DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT'S IT. THEN WE CAN MAIL THEM, DELIVER THE PROCLAMATION, ETC. ANOTHER CITY HAS A FORMAL APPLICATION PROCESS. SOME APPLICATIONS COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND COMMISSIONS APPROVE THEM.
SOME, NOT ALL, SOME CITIES, NOT ALL PROCLAMATIONS ARE READ.
THEY ARE MAILED. THEY ARE SOMETIMES READ AT THE ORGANIZATION'S MEETING. SOME CITIES, ANY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS CAN READ A PROCLAMATION.
ANY ONE OF CITY STAFF CAN READ A PROCLAMATION.
SO WHAT I AM PROPOSING IS THAT CAROLINE AND CITY STAFF ARE THE EXPERTS. LET US START THERE AND HAVE THEM DEVELOP A PROCLAMATION POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR US TO REVIEW AND ADOPT. NOW I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR
[00:50:02]
I WILL POINT OUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU WOULD TAKE HEAT FROM THAT. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HAPPENED REGULAR, SOMETIMES IN THE COUNTY, THEY ACTUALLY ROTATE PROCLAMATIONS DIFFERENT PLACES. IN THAT CASE, SOMEONE READS A PROCLAMATION -- I THINK THAT IS TOTALLY APPROPRIATE.WE'VE DONE THAT ON DIFFERENT THINGS.
I THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE AS FAR AS THE DEVELOPMENT AND WHO CAN DO IT. I THINK IT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO.
>> MATTHEW? COMMISSIONER STURGES?
>> I SET MY LIGHT ON REAL QUICK. THAT ISN'T ME.
>> I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER BEAN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AS WE KNOW, IT IS YOUR PURVIEW TO CHANGE THE MEANING. AS THE MAYOR, I BELIEVE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JOBS AS A CITY IS TO RECOGNIZE OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR EMPLOYEES. I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING. I AM GLAD THAT WE DO THAT.
I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE IN OUR CITY TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THIS STAGE HERE AT THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS. AGAIN, THE YOUR PURVIEW.
BUT I AM -- I WILL CONTINUE TO SUBMIT THEM TO BE HOPEFULLY, BUT WE'LL SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> NOW, I WAS GOING -- IT'S LIKE YOU HAD E.S.P. ANYWAYS, I KIND OF SIDE WITH BRADLEY'S OPINION. I THINK IF YOU WANT TO DESIGNATE SOMEONE TO READ ONE. IF IT'S MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP. OR IT'S YOUR PURVIEW HOW MUCH THE MEETING -- I THINK THAT'S HOW A SMALL TOWN CITY SHOULD BE RUN. I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.
NOW WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT REASONS, LIKE STORMWATER MONTH, OR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME UP.
YEAH, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE IT DIFFERENTLY.
WHEN IT COMES TO THAT PERSONAL, SEEING SOMEBODY WALK UP THERE AND TO GET RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR RETIREMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. A MONTH, LIKE WE HAD CHARLES ALBERT GET RECOGNIZED. THAT'S JUST ABOUT AS GREAT AS IT GETS. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE
HAPPY THE WAY IT IS. >> THERE IS NO "WAY IT IS."
>> HOW MANY MEETINGS HAVE I SAT THROUGH THE LAST THREE, FOUR YEARS? WE'VE DONE THIS.
I'M HAPPY THE WAY IT IS. IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING TO ME. THAT'S MY OPINION.
>> I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.
I DON'T THINK HE WAS SAYING YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THEM.
I THINK ACKNOWLEDGE CITIZENS. I THINK YOU WERE SAYING WE
SHOULD LOOK AT A POLICY. >> CORRECT.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF POLICIES IN PLACE AND TIME ELEMENT.
IT CAN'T HURT TO LOOK AT POLICY. IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T READ
THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE. >> CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. BOUNCING OFF EVERYONE ELSE, I WOULD AGREE THAT IF IT'S NOT WORKING YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO FIX IT. CURRENTLY IT IS UNDER YOUR PURVIEW. I'M HAPPY TO HEM OUT READING WHEN YOU SO NEED. I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT MEETING OR YOU A MEETING COMING UP WITH WHAT YOU DEEM IS THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PROCLAMATIONS, WE CAN ADJUST THAT AT THAT TIME. I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK WE NEED TO HAVE IS -- I GUESS, ON ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS FOR
THIS -- >> IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE.
>> WE'VE MOVED THIS AROUND. THE CITY CLERK AND I WILL EXPLORE THIS FURTHER AND HAVE SOMETHING UNDERTAKEN ON THIS.
NOW WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES UNTIL OUR REGULAR MEETING.
I WILL NOTICE EVERYONE, INCLUDING MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, THAT IT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
BUT WE WILL DISCUSS BRECK AND THE SITUATION WITH BRECK.
THAT WILL EITHER HAPPEN DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, OR DURING THE CITY MANAGER REPORT. I WILL LET THE PUBLIC KNOW.
I WANT TO LET MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED. ALL RIGHT? WI
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.