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>> CALL TO ORDER THE AUGUST 17, 2021 CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS, ALWAYS HOUSEKEEPING, PERSONAL DEVICES, IF YOU CAN SILENCE THOSE OR TURN THEM OFF, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. IF YOU CHOOSE TO WEAR A MASK, UM, AS I ALWAYS SAY, THEY ARE NOT MEANT FOR SPEAKING, SO IF IT SLIPS, PLEASE HAVE IT ABOVE YOUR NOSE AT ALL TIMES.
IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. WE ARE UNDER COVID-19 PROTOCOLS.I DID SEE OUR INFECTION RATE IS COMING DOWN, STILL HIGH, STILL 21 PERCENT, SO IT'S STILL UP THERE.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO DISTANCE IN THE ROOM AND, UM, OUR DECORUM IN THESE TIMES, WE TRIED TO KEEP COOL HEADS, RESPECTFUL, AND TREAT EACH OTHER WITH INTEGRITY.
SO, WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON. THIS WORKSHOP IS SOLELY FOCUSED
[3.1. BOND REFERENDUM PROJECTS]
ON A POSSIBLE BOND ISSUE BEING ON THE BALLOT FOR 2022.OUR PREVIOUS WORKSHOP, WE HAD AGREED THAT COMMISSIONER WOULD SUBMIT PROJECTS THEY FELT WERE WORTHY TO BE CANDIDATES FOR A POTENTIAL BOND. SO, GENTLEMEN, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TOACCOMPLISH TODAY IS TO REVIEW OUR LIST OF THE PROJECTS AND SET A PRIORITY SO THE PROJECTS WE HAVE, WHAT'S NUMBER ONE, WHAT'S NUMBER TWO, WHAT'S NUMBER THREE, AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE THAT PRIORITY SET, AT SOME POINT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO OF COURSE LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS.
I THINK I HAD SIX ON MY LIST. OF COURSE WE CAN'T HAVE UNLIMITED PROJECTS ON A BALLOT ISSUE.
AND WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE BOND.
BUT ONCE WE SET A PRIORITY, UM, THEN THE PROCESS WOULD BE TO TURN NOT OVER TO STAFF, HAVE STAFF THAT THOSE PROJECTS, GIVE US ESTIMATED COST AND TIMELINE , AND THEN COME BACK WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THOSE PROJECTS.
DID I MISS ANYTHING? IS THERE ANYB THING LC WANT TO ACCOMPLISH ON THIS TOPIC? I AM SEEINGB OKAY, THE VICE MAYOR. I THINK WE, I THINK WE ARE READY TO START. I ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO COMPILE, UM, OUR LIST, AND IF YOU WOULD PUT THAT UP, AND THEN VICE MAYOR, YOU WILL HAVE THE FLOOR.
WHY DON'T WE PUT THAT UP? AND BEAR WITH THE CITY CLERK, WE ARE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES, UM, AS FAR AS, UM, COMPUTERS. SO, THERE IS, THERE IS THE LIST. MADAME CLERK, IF YOU COULD JUST TURN OFF THAT ONE LIGHT.THANK YOU, MA'AM, SO THAT WE CAN SEE THAT. YES, SIR, GO AHEAD.
>> YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU WERE ALL PRETTY WELL CONSISTENT ON ALL YOU HAD, SO BASICALLY, IT'S RESILIENCY, DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE, CITY HALL, AND THEN YOU KIND OFB THE MAYOR HAD CONSERVATION AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, UM, AND A COUPLE OF YOU HAD BEACH WALK ORDERS. THAT IS BASICALLY THE COMPLETE SUMMARY OF THE PROJECTS YOU SUBMITTED, BUT AS THE MAYOR INDICATED, WE ARE HERE TO THROW EVERYTHING OUT THE WALL AND SEE WHAT STICKS, PRIORITIZE WHEN STAFF WILL REVIEW THE COSTS AND COME BACK TO YOU AND FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR OPTIONS ARE AT THAT
POINT, SOB. >> THANK YOU, SIR, VICE MAYOR?
>> WELL, MY NUMBER ONE AND A LOT OF THE OTHER NUMBER ONES ARE STABILIZATION OF THE SHORELINE.
TO BE TRUTHFUL, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT POLICY AND THAT GOAL, WE SET THAT GOAL BACK IN JANUARY AND WE ACTUALLY INITIALLY GOT A COST ESTIMATE OF 19 TO $26 MILLION.
WE FURTHER PUT THAT IN PLACE, WHICH GETS US LIMITED, IF ANY VULNERABILITY, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS FLOODING IS CONCERNED. SO TO ME, THAT IS KEY AND THAT IS A BIG BIG NUMBER. THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS IT HAS TO BE MORE THAN THE RIVER.
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YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO BE ALL THE NORMAL AREAS, WHICH INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, EGANS CREEK. AND THERE WAS SOME PRELIMINARY WORK DONE WITH S.. THOSE AREAS, HIGH-RISK AREAS, I THINK THAT IS NUMBER ONE. AND THE REST OF THEM ARE, YOU KNOW, OMITTING THE DETAIL ON THAT, THERE OBVIOUSLY BUILDING AND IT'S CRITICAL, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE WOULD NEED STRUCTURE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOT THE ASSESSMENTS THE AND I AM NOT GOING TO THE CITY ENGINE ON THE SPOT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THE INDIVIDUAL BUILDING ASSESSMENTS, OTHER THAN CITY HALL, ARE GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT.AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH, I JUST WANT TO, I THINK SHORELINE STABILIZATION FOR THE WHOLE CITY IS THE KEY ISSUE AND IT'S THE BIG DOLLAR ISSUE. THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE?
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR THAT SHORELINE STABILIZATION OR RESILIENCY, IS WHAT I HAVE, WHAT I THINK IS A TOP PRIORITY. IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OUT OF ON, WE MAKE SURE IT'S A PROJECT THAT THE PEOPLE OF FERNANDINA BEACH CAN AGREE ON, AND THAT IS MAKING SURE IT'S GOOD FOR YEARS TO COME, SO THAT IS MY TOP PRIORITY AS WELL, MAKING SURE THAT OUR WATERFRONT, OR RESILIENCY IS TAKEN CARE OF, SO THAT'S WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, THAT BOND SPENT.
BUT SECONDLY, I WANT TO GO TO DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE, UM, THERE IS A NUMBER OF OUR STORMWATER DOWNTOWN, THINGS SUCH AS THAT, OUR DOWNTOWN NEEDS TO BE REALLY SOLIDIFIED, SO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OR RESILIENCY, THAT'S WHAT I WOULDB IF WE ARE GOING TO DO A
BOND, IT SHOULD BE FOR THAT. >> MIKE LEDNOVICH: THANK YOU FOR THAT.O WE HAVE CONSENSUS THAT SHORELINE STABILIZATION
RESILIENCY IS NUMBER ONE? >> SO WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
>> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
>> SHORELINE STABILIZATION, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FRONT STREET OR THE ENTIRE ISLAND? THE ENTIRE CITY?
>> THANK YOU. NOT THE ENTIREB& WELL, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE YOU ARE LOOKING AT MEB.
>> I AM JUST LOOKINGB& X YOU AR LOOKING DOWN THIS WAY.
>> I AM LOOKING EAST. X YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN THIS WAY. I THINK THE VICE MAYOR IS CORRECT THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE, HAVE BLINDERS ON AND JUST LOOK AT THE RIVERFRONT. THAT THERE ARE OTHER AT-RISK AREAS, UM, THAT NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED.
AND, UM, AS I SAID WHEN I PREFACED THE MEETING, BY PRIORITIZING THE PROJECTS, NOW WE WILL TURN THIS OVER TO STAFF AND WE WILL HAVE STAFF LOOK AT SHORELINE STABILIZATION AND WHAT ARE THOSE KEY AREAS THAT NEED PROTECTING? SO, SO I CAN'T ANSWER YOU FULLY UNTIL I KNOW THAT.
ANYONE ELSE I CAN RESPOND TO? >> MR. ROSS.
I AM SORRY, MR. STURGIS. THANK YOU, MR. ROSS.
>> DAVID STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR LYNN. IT'S PART OF WHAT CHIP IS GETTING AT AND WITH THE SHORELINE STABILIZATION, YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE BEACH, AS FAR AS THE SAND, OR WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU REFERRING TO AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS EACH ONE
B& YOU ROUNDED OFF $19 MILLION. >> $19 MILLION, 19 TO $26 MILLION, PAST THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE FOR THE SHORELINE STABILIZATION, JUST ON THE RIVERFRONT.
>> JUST ON THE RIVERFRONT. >> OKAY.
>> I THINK THEY BROUGHT THAT DOWN A LITTLE, BUT THAT WOULD JUSTB& I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S PGOING TO BE HIGHER IN THE END.
THE OTHER AREAS HAVE ACCRUED TO THOSE AREAS THAT I'VE PRESENTED WITH THE CHART OF THE SEA LEVEL RISE ISSUE.
SO, EIGHTH STREET FLOODS NOW. EIGHTH STREET HAS FLOODED TWICE THIS YEAR. THAT IS AN INTERMODAL HIGHWAY AND IT ACTUALLY COMES THROUGH ESCAMBIA, IT COMES UP OVER THERE. SO, WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED ABOUT EARLIER ON ONE OF THE GRANT ISSUES, SO THAT IS ANOTHER, THE MOST VULNERABLE AREA IN THE CITY IS EGANS CREEK.
IT'S ALSO THE MOST DIFFICULT, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE EGANS CREEK, NUMBER SET BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR SEA LEVEL RISING.
IT WILL ACTUALLY FLOOD FROM ATLANTIC ALL THE WAY PAST JASMINE TO THE EAST, BUT NOT ON THE BEACH, THIS HAS NOTHING TO
>> SO I AM JUST SAYING. AND THERE WERE SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH FDOT. I AM JUST SAYING, WE LOOK AT ALL THOSE THINGS AND WE MAKE SOME DECISIONS, UM, WHAT THEY
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ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH WAS SIMILAR TO, UM, THE NORTH END OF THE SHORELINE STABILIZATION ON THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT, WHICH WAS SORT OF A SEAWALL BUILT ALONG THE RAMP.THAT IS GOING TO BE A FDOT PROJECT WHEN IT'S OVER WITH.
>> SO YOU ARE REFERRING TO, AS WELL, BASICALLY ATLANTIC WHERE IT MEETS EGANS CREEK AND THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO FLOOD.
UM, IF WE GET A CATASTROPHIC EVENT, ALL THAT AREA IS GOING
>> I MEAN, IT REALLY IS.> I'M JUST SAYING, THE WHOLE THING IS THAT WE CANNOT, IN MY MIND, AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SIX YEARS, WE CANNOT JUST WORRY ABOUT DOWNTOWN.
THIS IS A CITY WITH 12,000 PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE REST AND WITH THE ESCAMBIA SLOUGH , THAT IS REALLY NOT A PROJECT. IT'S AN INTERCOASTAL, IT'S AN INTERMODAL HIGHWAY. WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN IT,
SO, SOB&. >> WELL, YOU HAVE ANSWERED MY QUESTION, I HAVE HEARD SHORELINE STABILIZATION A LOT IN THESE MEETINGS, AND NOW YOU HAVE ANSWERED WHAT YOU MEAN BY SHORELINE STABILIZATION. CORRECT.
BECAUSE I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BEACH IS IN GREAT SHAPE, SOB AND I DON'T WANT TO DABBLE TOO FAR INTO THE DETAILS YET, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE RESILIENCY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND I BELIEVE THAT I AM NOT ANY OF THESE ENGINEERS, BUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO THAT IS GOING TO LAST THE LONGEST.
AND IF WE ARE GOING TO GO OUT FOR A BOND, THAT IS THE MOST MAJOR PROJECT, I THINK. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> SIR, COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> CHIP ROSS: DOWNTOWN, SHORELINES, WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
IT'S A HIGH PRIORITY. I THINK, LOOKING AT ATLANTICB& AND STAFF ONLY HAS SO MUCH TIME AND SO MUCH EFFORT AND I THINK TO LOOK AT OTHER AREAS IS, IS NOT GOING TO BE VERY PRODUCTIVE. UM, THE ATLANTIC, THE COST OF DOING THAT IS ASTRONOMICAL. THE COST OF DOING ESCAMBIA SLOUGH, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SIR, THAT AREA IS GOING TO FLOOD. AND YOU KNOW, RETREAT IS A WAY OF DEALING WITH FLOODING. DON'T GO WITH RETREAT.
AND, UM, SO, I WOULD JUST B& I WILL LIMIT THIS TO TRYING TO FIND THE DOWNTOWN. HAVE STAFF FOCUS ON THAT.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE A OVERALL, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANY OF THIS IF WE DON'T BOND.
>> YEAH, BRIEFLY, I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON CHIP.
I REMEMBER US HAVING DISCUSSIONS AT ONE TIME ABOUT THE ESCAMBIA SLOUGH, AND NOT TO GO TOO DEEP INTO IT, BUT IN MY VISION, AND WHAT I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO TRY TO, UM, DO ANY SORT OF WALLS.
I WOULD THINK THAT WE NEED TO REMOVE THE DIRT ROAD AND JUST LET IT BECOME MARSHALL AGAIN AND THAT GIVES IT MORE AREA TO FLOOD.I THINK THAT'S THE MOST COMMON SENSE, MOST REASONABLE THING TO DO. SO, THAT'S JUST MY TWO CENTS.
AND I AM NOT AN ENGINEER, I WOULDHAVE TO HAVE AN ENGINEER LOOK AT THAT AND FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT , UM, ULTIMATELY, I THINK THAT IS THE ESCAMBIA SLOUGH, AND IT GIVES MORE WATER AREA TO GO. NOT MANY PEOPLE USE THAT DIRT ROAD, THERE'S NOT MANY HOUSES ON IT, IT SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE PROJECT TO ME. UM, ANYWAYS, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE RESILIENCY, I THINK IT'S A TOP
PRIORITY. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: ALL RIGHT, SO CAN WE AGREE THAT STABILIZATION IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER IS NUMBER ONE AND THAT THE FINE DETAILS OF WHAT THAT ENTAILS IS TO BE FURTHER DISCUSSED? OKAY, I AM JUST LOOKING FOR A NUMBER ONE PICK.
>> YEP, NUMBER ONE.> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: SO, NUMBER ONE.
ALL RIGHT, SO, AND ADJUST FOR INFORMATION ON MY LIST, THEY WEREN'T IN ORDER. THEY WERE JUST LISTED.
UM, SO GENTLEMEN, WHAT DO WE CONSIDER THE SECOND MOST PRESSING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED THROUGH A BOND?
MR. ROSS? >> COMMISSIONER CHIP ROSS: SO, THE BIGGEST ATTRACTION OF OUR CITY IS DOWNTOWN.
AND THAT IS THE ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THE CITY.
AND THE LIGHTS NEED TO BE REDONE.
THE SIDEWALKS ARE BREAKING UP, THEY NEED TO BE FIXED.
MORE SIDEWALKS NEED TO BE PUT IN.
UM, AND A LOT OF THE TREES ARE AT THE END OF B& TOWARDS THE EN
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OF THEIR LIFE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED.SO, I THINK THE DOWNTOWN, UM, IS A HIGH PRIORITY.>> OKAY, SO I HAVE AN ADVOCATE FOR DOWNTOWN BEING NUMBER TWO.
>> BRADLEY BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, DOWNTOWN IS ALSO MY
NUMBER TWO.>> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: OKAY, ANYONE ELSE,
COMMISSIONER STURGIS? >> DAVID STURGES: I AGREE AS WELL. MY LIST WASN'T IN ORDER EITHER, IT'S JUST HOW I THOUGHT OF THEM AND WROTE THEM DOWN, BUT THE DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE IS LOOKING TIRED AND IT CAN DEFINITELY USE SOME HISTORIC, UM, IMPROVEMENTS, I THINK THAT IS HOW I WOULD LIKE TO PHRASE IT.
POSSIBLY GOING BACK TO THE PAVERS, IT WOULD BE HISTORIC.
I KNOW SAL IS NOT AT THIS MEETING, BUT THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT ITHINK, AND THEN THE LIGHTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT , AS WELL AS SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT JUST SIDEWALKS AND LIGHTS, BUT IF THERE'S ANY IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE TO THE ALLIANCE, IF THERE'S ELECTRICAL LINES THAT ARE GOING WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T BE.
ANY SORT OF IMPROVEMENTS LIKE THAT FOR THEDOWNTOWN AREA , MAINLY THE MAIN STREET AND HOW MANY EVER WE WOULD ENCOUNTER, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN LIMIT.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO DO EVERYTHING, EXCEPT FOR THE MAIN STREET AND SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS, SOB ANYWAYS, YES,
IT IS ON MY NUMBER TWO. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: VICE
MAYOR, ANY THOUGHTS? >> I AM FINE WITH DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S ON MY LIST, I WOULD JUST SOMEWHAT QUALIFY IT UNTIL WE SEE THE NUMBERS FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.
IF WE GET BIG NUMBERS FOR BUILDINGS, THEN I WOULD LIKE T LOOK AT , UM, WELL, I AM FINE WITH IT.
AND WITH ALL OF THIS, THE INTERESTING PART IS THE CITIZENS WILL MAKE THIS DECISION.
WE WON'T. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: WELLB CORRECT, BUT WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE COST THAT WE THINK WILL PASS. BECAUSE IF IT'S TOO EXORBITANT, IT'S SLATED FOR FAILURE. WHY EVEN PUT IT ON THE BALLOT? THAT'S WHY I AM SAYING, YOU KNOW, IF BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MAINTENANCE, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO BE HOT, BUT IF IT COMES IN MEGA HOT, THAT DISPLAYS THE
DOWNTOWN. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: YES, SIR, THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE CONSENSUS THAT DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE IS NUMBER TWO.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? X I'M JUST GOING TO ADD IT TO
THE LIST, MR. MAYOR. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT.
NUMBERB& AND DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE, JUST IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY MANAGER, $10 MILLION WAS THE NUMBER THAT WAS MENTIONED TO ME.
THAT'S JUST BALLPARK ESTIMATE, OKAY? SO, REALIZE 10 MILLION, UM, THE STABILIZATION, AS VICE MAYOR KREGER SAID, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF FUNDING, THERE IS A TON OF RESILIENCY FUNDING UP THERE. UM, MR. ROSS?
>> COMMISSIONER CHIP ROSS: WELL, I AM LOOKING AT THE MAGIC NUMBERS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE, AS PART OF RESILIENCY, JUST A THOUGHT, COMBINING PART OF THE WITH CONSERVATION OPEN SPACE, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS FOR FLOODING, THE STAFF COULD LOOK AT THAT, OPEN SPACE IS PART OF THAT. BUT THE NEXT ONE, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR CONSTITUENCIES, BEACH WALK OVER IS IS A BIGB& A LOT OF INTEREST IN HAVING THOSE BEACH WALK HOOVER'S. UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ISSUE IS CITY HALL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH CITY HALL? AN ITEM THAT IS UNLIKELY TO BE BUILT WITHOUT BONDING, SOB& I
WILL LOOK AT THOSE TWO THINGS. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE OF FUTURE WALK OVER OR CITY HALL, WHICH
CARRIES MORE WEIGHT WITH YOU? >> OH, WHICH ONE? I MEAN, LET'S GO FOR IT, GO FOR THE POT OF GOLD.
>> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: GENTLEMEN, WE ARE ON NUMBER
THREE, SOB I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.>> COMMISSIONER BRADLEY BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
OUT OF THOSE TWO, IF WE ARE GOING OVER A BEACH WALK OVER OR CITY HALL, IT'S GOT TO BE A BEACH WALKOVER.
BECAUSE LET'S JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO SELL? BECAUSE ON THE BALLOT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LISTED, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE SPENDING THIS MONEY ON, AND IF I COULD SEE THE FUTURE, I WOULD SAY THAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT WANT US TO
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BUILD A NEW CITY HALL. AND IF THAT IS WHAT THE BOND IS FOR, THE BOND SAYS WE ARE GOING TO BUILD A NEW CITY HALL SOMEWHERE ON THERE, I THINK THAT MIGHT PUT IT IN JEOPARDY OF NOT PASSING IF IT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO BUILD A NEW CITY HALL, BECAUSE THAT JUST IS REALLY SELL WELL WITH THE PUBLIC. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOND GOES TO THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC CERTAINLY WILL REALLY LOVE TO SEE AND IF IT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO STABILIZE THE SHORELINES, WORK ON DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE AND A BEACH WALKOVER AND THAT'S WHAT THE BOND IS FOR, THOSE TOP THREE, I THINK THAT GOES WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC LIKES THOSE THREE. ONCE YOU PUT THE CITY HALL IN, I START TO THINK THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT NOT LIKE THE WHOLEPACKAGE THAT WE ARE SELLING. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER STURGIS?
>> COMMISSIONER DAVID STURGES: I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE NEXT ONE ON MY LIST IS A BEACH WALKOVER, THAT WOULD MAKE NUMBER THREE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT IS A HIGH DEMAND, A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THE BEACH WALKOVER, IT IS GOING TO BE A LARGE EXPENSE, NO MATTER WHAT ROUTE WE PICK.
AND I DON'T MEAN A LARGE EXPENSE, I THINK IT MIGHT BE THE CHEAPEST ONE ON THAT POINT. I SHOULDN'T SAY CHEAP, BUT MOST REASONABLE ONE ON THAT BOARD. HOWEVER, UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND IT SHOWS OUR ISLAND HOW WELL AND HOW NICE WE KEEP OUR FACILITIES AND I HAVE HEARD LOTS AND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS EVER SINCE. BEFORE I STARTED ON THE SPORT TO BEING ON THIS BOARD, ABOUT BEACH WALKOVERS.
>> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: THANK YOU, SIR.
VICE MAYOR? >> VICE MAYOR LEN KREGER: I AM OFFER BEACH WALKOVERS, I WILL TELL YOU, THOUGH, PART OF THIS PROCESS IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, THE STAFF IS GOING TO COME UP WITHB& INITIALLY, WALK THROUGH, THEN WALKOVER, SO, I SUPPORT BEACH WALKOVERS FULLY, IF YOU WERE JUST TO TAKE THE BEACH WALKOVERS FROM SETTLING SOUTH, WHICH IS THE LARGEST BEACH WALKOVER, 7000 FOOT, ALL WALKOVER'S, YOU'RE TALKING PROBABLY 4.5 MILLION DOLLARS PLUS.
SO, IT IS A BIG NUMBER, BUT IT'S LESS SIGNIFICANT, YOU'RE GOING FROM 100 FEET DOWN TO 500, 600 FEET, BUT I WOULD SUPPORT THAT, CERTAINLY. AND I THINK BRADLEY IS CORRECT IN TERMS OF BEACH WALKOVERS OUTSIDE OF THE BEACH PARKS, YOU KNOW, ARE REALLY, YOU KNOW, WERE PUT IN BY THE RESIDENCE FOR THE RESIDENTS, AND GENERALLY ARE USED BY RESIDENTS, NOT AS MUCH TOURISM, AND I THINK POLITICALLY, IT
WOULD BE SUPPORTABLE. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: OKAY, SO I HEAR CONSENSUS AROUND BEACH WALKOVER'S FOR NUMBER THREE. SO, MY ROUGH MATH HERE, AND I AM GOING ON, ON SHORELINE PATH FUNDING, OKAY, JUST ROUGH, SO WE ARE AT ABOUT 25 MILLION. WHAT WAS THE EGANS CREEK, HOW
>> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: SIX, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, NUMBER FOUR. MR. ROSS MENTIONEDB& ROSS?
>> I THOUGHT OUR GOAL WAS CONSERVATION LAND AND OPEN SPACE LAND. WHICH WE WERE ALL SET TO DO A
BOND ON, SOB&. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: QUESTION AROUND THAT, COMMISSIONER ROSS, AND HELP ME AROUND THAT, PLEASE, WAS IN DISCUSSIONS, WHAT LARGE PARCELS ARE LEFT IN THE CITY, UM, TO ACQUIRE B&.
>> COMMISSIONER CHIP ROSS: THERE ARE NO LARGE PARCELS LEFT. IT IS ALL SMALL.
THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS OF SMALL PARCELS THAT IF YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER, CAN MAKE A BIG PARCEL.
>> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: RIGHT, AND WHEN I PUT THIS ON MY LIST, IT WAS WITH THE THOUGHT, AS YOU SAID, THAT WE WERE READY FOR A REFERENDUM. AND ALSO, THE ISSUE OF THE WETLANDS PROPERTY. BECAUSE, UM, HOW MANY OF THOSE PARCELS ARE THERE, SIR? ABOUT A DOZEN?
>> COMMISSIONER CHIP ROSS: PROBABLY A LITTLE LESS THAN THAT, MAYBE A BIT MORE, DEPENDS.
BUT THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT WITH FLOOD INSURANCE, THE MORE LAND WE TAKE OUT FOR OPEN SPACE, THE FLOOD INSURANCE RATES GO DOWN. SO, THIS IS A WAY OF DRIVING DOWN CAR INSURANCE. BIG, OPEN SPACE.
THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE LOTS AROUND PUT TOGETHER TO DO THAT,
SOB&. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: AND DOES ANYONE RECALL WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLE
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REFERENDUM, HOW MUCH B& WAS IT COUPLE OF MILLION?>> FIVE. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: IT WAS 5 MILLION? VICE MAYOR?
>> VICE MAYOR LEN KREGER: WHEN WE DID THE HALF-MILLION, THE LAND TRUST, WHICH I GUESS HASN'T BEEN VERY ACTIVE WITH US, TALKED ABOUT $4 MILLION, RAISING MONEY, I THINK WE HAVE 206,000 NOW LEFT IN THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO ADD IN THEIR FOR CONSERVATION. KIND OF AN OFFSHOOT IS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, JUST CONSERVATION, THE BOND ISSUE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TOWNS IN FLORIDA THAT HAVE CONSERVATION IMPACTS. AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING
ELSE TO LOOK AT. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: OKAY,
COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> COMMISSIONER CHIP ROSS: THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO USE PART OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION'S FUND, IF OPEN SPACE IS ALLOWABLE UNDERTHAT .
IT'S BASICALLY THREE THINGS YOU CAN USE PARKS AND RECREATION, NEW PARTS, CAN PROBABLY USE IT FOR BEACHWALKOVERS, AND YOU CAN PROBABLY USE IT FOR OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION .
>> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: WE DEFINITELY COULD USE BEACH WALKOVERS, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT, I AGREE. AS LONG AS IT MEETS THE DUAL NEXUS AND I BELIEVE IT WILL, AND THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND IT WOULD, AND THAT WAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD DOLLARS OUT TO THE BOND ISSUE.
ALTHOUGH, I DO THINK THAT EVERYTHING WE HAVE SEEN IN SURVEYS, IS THERE IS STRONG STRONG CITIZENS SUPPORT FOR
CONSERVATION, SOB&. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: ALL RIGHT, SO ARE WE AT CONSERVATION ON NUMBER FOUR? I AM TRYING TO READ THE ROOM HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER BRADLEY BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
THE EFFICACY OF SMALL, TINY LOTS IS NOT THE SAME AS LARGE PARCELS. AND YES, BY AKERS, TAKE A BUNCH OF TINY PARCELS, THEY WILL ADD UP TO A LARGER AMOUNT OF ACREAGE, BUT IF THE GOAL IS TO PRESERVE NATURE, THAT IS NOT REALLY IT, THAT IS JUST TAKING OFF WHAT COULD BE EXTRA TAX SPACE IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, TAKING THEM OFF FOREVER, WHICH IS THERE. IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY WOULD HAVE LESS PEOPLE IN THOSE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS AND AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T BE ALL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEN TAKE THE LAST 12 EMPTY LOTS AND SAY YOU CAN'T BUILD ON THEM.
THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE A WEIRD THING TO DO, SO, I AM NOT FORB BECAUSE AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT I JUST SAID ABOUT CITY HALL, I DON'T REALLY WANT, I WANT TO HAVE A GREAT BOND, I WANT TO HAVE A GOOD BONDING OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE HAVE SOME PROJECTS THAT I BELIEVE ARE ALMOST UNANIMOUS ACROSS THE BOARD. IF YOU ASK ANY PERSON IN FRONT OF THE BEACH, DO WE NEED TO WORK ON INFRASTRUCTURE DOWNTOWN, DO WE NEED TO WORK ON OUR BEACH WALKOVERS, AND DO WE WANT TO WORK ON SHORELINE STABILIZATION, I THINK EVERYBODY WILL TELL YOU YES. BUT ONCE YOU START GETTING INTO MORE ISSUES LIKE DO YOU ALSO WANT TO BUILD A CITY HALL OR DO YOU WANT TO BUY 12 LOTS AROUND THE CITY, THEY MIGHT START TO TELL YOU KNOW, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THIS IN A WAY, P OR, OF PROJECTS THAT EVERYBODY IS BEHIND AND I THINK THOSE THREE PARTICULAR PROJECTS ARE PROJECTS THAT EVERYBODY, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, CAN GET BEHIND, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE ANTIQUE THAT WHERE IT IS.
>> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BEAN.
AND I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT IN THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, UM, A VERY, ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITY HALL.
HOWEVER, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CONSERVATION, SO LET'S DEAL WITH THE CONSERVATION, AND THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT CITY HALL AND WHETHER THIS BELONGS ON A BOND ISSUE OR NOT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT OPINIONS HERE.
COMMISSIONER STURGIS? >> COMMISSIONER DAVID STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK I HAVE A HARD TIME GOING TO THE CONSERVATION ON A BOND, BECAUSE I THINK IT DOES ADD TOO MANY THINGS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD BE, BUT IHAVE A HARD TIME , I CAN MAYBE SEE THE 10 OR 12 LOTS, THAT IF THEY WERE CONTINUOUS TO WETLANDS LIKE EGANS CREEK, OR IF THEY WERE CONTINUOUS TO OTHER AREAS THAT WERE MARSHLANDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, I CAN SEE THAT.
I CAN'T SEE GETTING JUST SOMETHING THAT'S A CITY LOT OR WETLANDS, UM, AND THERE REALLY AREN'T ANY MAJOR PARKS, SO I DON'T LIKE TAKING IT OFF THE TAX ROLL, SO I AM NOT FOR THAT AS A WHOLE. I WOULD BE FOR IT AS A SMALL
[00:30:02]
PACKAGE AND NOT AS A WHOLE. HANK YOU.>> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: COMMISSIONER ROSS?
>> COMMISSIONER CHIP ROSS: THERE IS ONE LARGE PARCEL, IT'S THE ONE B& THERE IS A LARGE PARCEL.
BUT THE PARCELS I AM TALKING ABOUT ALL HAVE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND, AND WE PLAY THE STORY THAT WE WANT TO KEEP A MILLION WILD, BUT WE SELL OFF THE LAND FOR TAX USES AND BUILDING HOUSES. AND SO, THERE'S A THOUSAND LOTS LEFT AND PROBABLY 20, 30 PERCENT OF THEM ARE HIGHLY SENSITIVE LAND, SO THOSE ARE THE ONES HE WOULD FOCUS ON.
AND THEY ARE NOT IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY ARE AROUND MARSHLANDS, WHERE OTHER PLACES ARE, AND IF YOU WANT TO KEEP WILD, YOU NEED WILDLAND.
AND WE TEND TO IGNORE THAT. >> MAYOR MIKE LEDNOVICH: VICE
MAYOR? >> VICE MAYOR LEN KREGER: I THINK BASED ON THE POTENTIAL TO PASS, I WILL LEAVE CONSERVATION OFF OF IT, BUT I WOULD PRESS CONSERVATION MORE AGGRESSIVELY WITH THE POTENTIAL TO USE IMPACT FEES, AND MORE IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH ANY IMPACT OF CONSERVATION LAND IMPACT FEE SEPARATELY JUST FOR THAT. AND WE CAN DO THAT.I WOULD KEEP IT SEPARATE. I THINK THERE'S TOO MUCH STUFF ON. A LITTLE STICKER SHOCK GOING.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: COMMISSIONER BEAN?
>> COMMISSIONER BEAN: THANK YOU, I THINK I WANT TO REINSTATE WHAT COMMISSIONER STURGES SAID.
I CAN BE BEHIND CONSERVATION ON A MORE SMALL-SCALE.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL LOTS WHERE THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE TENDENCIES, I WOULD BE ALL THE FORGETTING BEHIND THOSE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SIGN OFF ON A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUYOUT OF ALL THE EMPTY LOTS. KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LIKE BEFORE I AGREE TO SAY CONSERVATION TO BE HONEST, WE NEED TO SEE A CONFERENCE OF LIST OF EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT TO MOVE WITH. THAT WAY, WE CAN ALL BE ON BOARD THAT IT IS INDEED THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT PLACE, THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THAT, SOB& BUT WITH THAT, I STILL THINK THAT THE VICE MAYOR IS RIGHT AND WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY PASSES, BUT ON A MICRO SCALE, YES, KEEP WORKING
TOWARDS CONSERVATION. >> THANK YOU.
>> REAL QUICKLY, I AGREE, I WOULD PREFER TO SEE IT ON A IMPACT BASIS. AND PURCHASE LANCE SOME OTHER WAY, BUT, I AGREE WITH BRADLEY AS WELL, I THINK THAT ON A SMALL NATURE, I COULD GO FORB& ANYWAYS, THAT'S ALL GOING TO
>> SO, HEARING THIS CONVERSATION, THE SUMMARY THAT I AM GETTING IS THAT CONSERVATION, WE ALL AGREE CONSERVATION IS IMPORTANT. HOWEVER, WE SEE SOME AVENUES TO BE ABLE, OTHER THAN A BOND ISSUE, TO PAY FOR THAT.
>> I THINK MR. ROSS DISAGREED WITH THAT.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: NOT NECESSARILY, BUT I AM GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE WILLING TO CONSIDER IMPACT USE FOR THAT.
THAT'S GOOD. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: THAT'S GOOD. AND LET ME JUST SAY THE FOLLOWING, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE CITY HALL.
I THINK ANY BOND ISSUES THE FIVE OF US WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC, AND IN OUR HEARTS, AND IN OUR MINDS, AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THIS CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE, SUPPORT IT. SO, I, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED NOT 322 CONSENSUS, BUT OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS FOR THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ON ANY PROPOSED BOND.
SO, UM, AND THAT IS THE PLACE I AM TRYING TO GET OF STUPID AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT ARE DIFFICULT. SO, LET US TALK ABOUT CITY HAL . AND, UM, AND IF WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR, A LITTLE BACKGROUND WITH THE REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THIS CITY HALL. AND THE NAME OF THE OUTFIT WAS
>> THANK YOU. THEIR PROPOSAL FOR A REPLACEMENT CITY HALL WAS THE PROPERTY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. THE PARKING LOT.
AND THIS WOULD BE AN ANNEX, AND IF MY NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, I BELIEVE IT WAS $8 MILLION FOR THE NEW STRUCTURE AND A $2 MILLION RENOVATION OF THIS BUILDING.
AS AN ANNEX. SO, A TOTAL OF $10 MILLION.
NOW, THAT IS THEIR PROPOSAL. THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO, THAT'S $11
[00:35:01]
MILLION.SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND ONLY THIS CHAIR, THE SELLABLE WAY IN MY MIND OF DOING THIS IS, ONE, TO SELL THIS PROPERTY. IN ORDER TO FINANCE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A NEW CITY HALL. YOU HAVE TO SHOW THE PUBLIC IN MEANS OF MANAGING HER PROPERTY. IN MY MIND, CITY HALL DOES NOT HAVE TO BE HERE. THERE ARE OTHER LOCATIONS IN THIS. THIS CITY IS ABOUT LARGE.AND FOR EXAMPLE, THE TECH CENTER PROPERTY IS HUGE.
I WANT TO THROW THIS OUT AS AN ALTERNATIVE, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK ABOUT THIS, OKAY? WHY ARE WE SPENDING $11 MILLION, ASKING TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR IT, WHEN WE HAVE VALUABLE LAND?HIS LOT AND THE LOT NEXT DOOR.
IF THE PROPERTY IS WORTH 2.3 MILLION DOLLARS, IMAGINE WHAT THIS PROPERTY IS WORTH. AS A MEANS TO DO THAT.
BUT ANYWAYB& SO, THAT STARTS TH DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOUR LIGHT IS ON, SIR.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: AND THEN IMAGINE WHAT THIS PROPERTY IS WORTH AND IT'S NOT WORTH WHAT YOU THINK IT IS WORTH.
NUMBER TWO, THE PROPERTY, THEY CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION BECAUSE THEY TOOK AND USED ALL THE PROPERTY THERE, $60 A SQUARE FOOT, AND THEY SAID THE WATER WAS WORTH $60 A SQUARE FOOT BECAUSE YOU COULD BUILD ON THE WATER, WHICH WAS COMPLETE FALLACY, WHICH WAS WHY THAT WHOLE EXTRAORDINARY CONCLUSION IN THEIR WAS TOTALLY NOT SUPPORTED.
THINK THAT THIS PROPERTY IS WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
REMEMBER, IT HAS GOT ABILITY BEING ON IT THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE DOWN.
AND SO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE BUILDING B& SOMEBODY I GOING TO COME IN BEHIND YOU. ANYBODY WHO BUYS THIS BUILDING HAS ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE IN RENOVATING IT. AND BUILDING HERE B& GOING ELSEWHERE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT PROPERTYB& NOT USING THAT BUILDING, BUT YOU CAN BUILD OUT THERE.
YOU CAN USE THE PARKING LOT UP THERE, BUT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY OTHER LAND. I GUESS YOU COULD PUT IT IN CENTRAL PARK, THAT WAS AN IDEA SOMEBODY SAID.
PUT ON THE GULF COURSE, I SUPPOSE.
BUT I THINK HAVING A CITY HALL DOWNTOWN IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF DOWNTOWN. AND I WOULD NOT SUPPORT MOVING
THE CITY HALL. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OKAY.
I, I LEAD THAT OFF WITH SOME IDEAS.
I THINK THE ISSUE IS BUILDING A NEW CITY HALL.
WITHOUT WHERE IT IS, JUST THE VERY IDEA OF BUILDING A NEW CITY HALL. COMMISSIONER BEAN?
>> COMMISSIONER BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
I AM OPPOSED TO BUILDING A NEW CITY HALL AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A BUILDING THAT HAS WORKED FOR OUR CITY FOR OVER 100 YEARS BUT IF YOU LOOK IN THE HALLWAY, YOU CAN SEE POSTERS OF OUR FOREFATHERS AND ARE FOR MEMBERS OF OUR TOWN THAT WERE IN THIS BUILDING, DOING CITY BUSINESS, AND I FEEL IT IS A GOOD TRADITION THAT WE ARE STILL HERE TODAY, PERFORMING THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE DO HAVE CITY FACILITIES OVER AT THE TECH CENTER WHERE WE DO HAVE OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES WORKING, AS WELL AS OVER ONLINE STREET. AND THE CITY RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE, IS OPERATING VERY WELL AND I DON'T SEE IT, I NEED TO BUILD A NEW LARGER BUILDING, WHEN WE CAN STAY WHERE WE ARE NOW. AND, UM, THEIR AGENCY THAT I SEE TO BUILD A NEW CITY HALL IS VERY LOW AND WE CAN CONTINUE JUST TO CARRY ON AND WE WILL SEE WHERE WE ARE IN A FEW YEARS. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE PARKING LOT IS VERY VALUABLE REAL ESTATE AND I INTEND TO BE AROUND FOR HOPEFULLY 50 MORE EUROS RIGHT HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH AND I CAN'T PROCEED WHERE CHALLENGES WILL BE IN THE YEAR B& 2071. IN THAT YEAR, I CANNOT SEE WHAT OUR TOWN WOULD BE LOOK LIKE, BUT IF I HAD TO MAKE A PREDICTION, THE LAND VALUES ARE GOING TO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE AGAIN, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE VERY VALUABLE REAL ESTATE, PARKING WILL BE EVEN MORE OF AN ISSUE.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT SELLING THIS PROPERTY OR B WE NEED BOTH OF THESE. AND GOING INTO THE FUTURE, I THINK IT IS A DISSERVICE TO FUTURE CITY COMMISSIONS WE UNLOAD THE BUILDING WE ARE CURRENTLY IN.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF BUILDING A NEW CITY HALL, I WISH TO STAY IN THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT THAT WE HAVE AND WE WILL LOOK INTO
THE FUTURE. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH:
COMMISSIONER STURGES? >> COMMISSIONER STURGES: THANK
[00:40:03]
YOU, MAYOR, APPRECIATE IT. JUST TO PIGGYBACK, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF BUILDING A CITY HALL. I HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA.AND MY IDEA MIGHT USE MORE BUILDING EXPERTISE AND I WOULD SAY THERE IS A BUILDING THAT IS ON 10,000 SQUARE FEET THAT'S FOR SALE RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN MOVE THE WHOLE ENTIRE BUILDING DEPARTMENT INTO AND RENOVATED FOR ABOUT MILLION DOLLARS AND BUY IT FOR ABOUT 1,000,000 A HALF TO 1.8 AND WE HAVE 2 A HALF MILLION DOLLARS WITH THE WHOLE BUILDING DEPARTMENT OUT OF THIS FACILITY AND EXPAND CITY HALL AND RENOVATE THIS BUILDING FOR ABOUT 3 MILLION, THATCOMES OUT TO 5.5 MILLION , THAT IS NOWHERE CLOSE TO $10-$12 MILLION.AND THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION, AND NOT SELL ANY PROPERTY, BUT BY MORE PROPERTY THAT IS GOING TO BE MORE VALUED LATER.
WE HAVEN'T MADE THE CALIFORNIA JUMP YET.
ON OUR ISLAND, BUT IT WILL HAPPEN SOON.
AND YOU WILL HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, I CAN GET A 15 BY 100 LAW OR I CAN GET A BUILDING.
OH, IS IT LESS THAN HALF $1 MILLION? YOU ARE LUCKY IF IT IS LESS THAN HALF MILLION DOLLARS, SO, I THINK IT WOULD BE DOING A DISSERVICE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A DISSERVICE THAT WE DIDN'T BUY THE PIECE OF PROPERTY BEHIND US FOR $1 MILLION AND EXPAND THE CITY'S FOOTPRINT EVEN MORE. SO, AND THEY BUILT MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES AND IT'S VERY NICE AND THERE'S A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE AND I THINK IT'S ATTRACTIVE, BUT I THINK THAT WAS AMISS VOTE BY THE CITY AND I THINK NOT BUYING THIS PROPERTY THAT IS CLOSE TO 10,000 SQUARE FEET WOULD BE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY ASWELL, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO DO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT , AND RENOVATE AND MAKE OUR AREA NICER WITH THE BUILDINGS THAT WE COULD USE AROUND, VERSUS TRYING TO BUILD A BRAND-NEW CITY HALL.
THAT'S MY OPINION. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OKAY, SO TO CLARIFY YOUR POSITION, YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE ON
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OKAY. >> YEAH, I WOULD NOT PUT IT ON THE BOND ISSUE, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND RESOLVE. WE HAVE POURED MONEY INTO THIS BUILDING CONSTANTLY. FOR A WHILE.
I WOULDN'T DILUTE THE BOND ISSUE.
AS FAR AS MOVING OUT, THE PLAN SAYS IT'S THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING THAT IS DOWNTOWN. I THINK PEOPLE DO WANT IT DOWNTOWN, BUT I WOULD TAKE IT OUT OF THIS CONVERSATION AND
PUT IT IN, IN ANOTHER PLAN. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER ROSS?
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: WHAT BUILDING ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
>> IT'S FOR SALE RIGHT NOW FOR 1.9 MILLION.
OF COURSE, YOU CAN NEGOTIATE, I AM SURE.
IT'S SAT THERE FOR A WHILE NOW, EMPTY.ND WE COULD PROBABLY PICK IT UP FOR 1.5 TO 1.7 EASILY.
IS 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE, RIGHT THERE TO USE IT.
>> HOW ARE WE GOING TO WRITE THAT CHECK? WANT TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE BUILDING FUND?
>> IT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA. >> YOU MEANT THE WHOLE ENTIRE BUILDING FACILITY OUT OF THIS AND RIGHT THERE, RIGHT NEXT DOOR, SO IF YOU WALK OUT OF THE BUILDINGB&.
>> YOU ARE ALL WILLING TO COMMIT TO RENOVATING THIS
BUILDING? >> I WOULD COMMIT TO RENOVATING
IT, YES.>> GREAT. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: VICE MAYOR? AND COMMISSIONER ROSS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, I'M GOOD.>
MAYOR LEDNOVICH: YES, SIR? >> VICE MAYOR KREGER: THANK YOU, I WAS JUST ON A ROLL WITH MY THOUGHTS AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA, I HAD THE IDEA AS WELL, AS MOVING CITY HALL OVER TO, UM, OVER TO THE CENTER, AND I THINK THAT THAT COMMUNITY HAS THEIR CENTER AND I THINK WE NEED TO CHERISH WITH THE CITY HAS THEIR USE THE FACILITY THE WAY WE HAVE IT AND I THINK THAT THOSE CITIZENS THAT USE THAT FACILITY WOULD BE VERY DISHEARTENED IF WE CHANGED IT.
AND THERE IS A BIG, BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, BIG BEAUTIFUL AREA, I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IT HISTORICALLY CORRECT AND USE IT THE WAY WE ARE CURRENTLY USING IT AND MAYBE ALTER SOME OF THE OFFICES, THAT'S IT.PENT THANK YOU, SIR.
>> COMMISSIONER BEAN: THANK YOU.
I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO GATHER HERE IN THIS SPOT. IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE COME TO US AND I REMEMBER RALLYING FOR FELIX AND FOR OTHER ISSUES. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WHEN THE PUBLIC COMES TO RALLY, THEY GET TO COME TO DOWNTOWN AND ENDING AT EACH AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO COME AND STAND AND MAKE YOUR CASE AND PROTEST AND THIS IS THE MOST PITIFUL PLACE TO DO THAT, FERNANDINA BEACH, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR THE PUBLIC'S SAKE, WE REMAIN IN A VERY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION, RIGHT
HERE IN DOWNTOWN. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH:THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT .
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: YEAH, ONE LAST THOUGHT, I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE PEOPLE ABOUT ANY RECREATIONAL CENTER.
[00:45:01]
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: I WAS GOING TO GET TO THAT.
I WAS GOING TO THROW THE LIST BACK UP.
AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR BITE ON AND I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.
THOSE PROCEDURALLY.O, I THINK WE AGREE CITY HALL IS NOT ON A BOND, UM, NOW TO COMMISSIONER ROSS IS! , OKAY, THANK YOU. SO, OUR RECREATION FACILITIES, COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.
I WILL LET YOU SPEAK. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR REC CENTER, WHAT THE CITY CAN AFFORD AND WHAT THE CITIZENS WANTED OUT OF THE FOUR BUILDINGS OUT THERE NOW, TWO OF THEM ARE PROBABLY UNDERUSED OR NOT USED MUCH. I THINK BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT A REC CENTER, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT AND WHAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO PAY FOR. THE COUNTY IS TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A BIG RECREATION, UM, SWIMMING POOL, ANNEXED OUT RIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE, SO, WE ARE A SMALL LITTLE TOWN.
IT'S NOT WORTH PUTTING OUT A BOND FOR MORERECREATIONAL BUILDINGS . THAT WE CAN'T SUPPORT.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: SO, JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID. SO, WHEN YOU CONSIDER, UM, THE CONDITION OF MLK, ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT ONE CENTRAL
CENTER? >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: NO, I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT EITHER ONE. I PRESERVE MLK.
YOU RENOVATE IT. WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER, THE FLOODPLAIN, THERE'S FOUR BUILDINGS THERE, THERE'S THREE BUILDINGS AND THE POOL.
THE POOL IS CERTAINLY ADEQUATE AT THIS TIME.
YOU CAN ALWAYS BUILD A BIGGER POOL, BECAUSE DO WE NEED A BIGGER POOL, I AM NOT SURE. I THINK IT'S JUST MORE CITY RESIDENTS. AND TWO OF THE BUILDINGS ARE IN
PRETTY SAD SHAPE, SOB&. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, YOUR THOUGHTS ON RECREATION FACILITIES?
COMMISSIONER STURGES? >> COMMISSIONER STURGES: THANK YOU, I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS, I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD NOT B& JUST REPAIR THEM. ASKED MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER THIS AFTERNOON, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE ATLANTIC AVENUE REC CENTER? THERE'S BEEN TALK ON FACEBOOK.
OF COURSE, THOSE PEOPLE DON'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE SAME CIRCLE WE DO. BUT SHE SAYS, THAT'S RIDICULOUS, LIKE I GO TO THAT REC CENTER FOR TIMES A WEEK AND SWIM AND THE DAUPHIN GIRLS GO TO AFTERSCHOOL DAYCARE? YEAH, THEY DO SOMETIMES. ANYWAYS, LONG STORY SHORT, I THINK WE ARE JUST REPAIRING THOSE BUILDINGS AND USE THEM CURRENTLY IN THE STATE THEY ARE AND I AM NOT FOR PUTTING THEM ON A BOND REFERENDUM TO BUILD OR, UM, I JUST THINK WE SHOULD REPAIR THOSE FACILITIES BASED ON THE COST.
IF WE WANT TO GET A COST ON WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR THOSE FACILITIES, I THINK I WOULD BE INTERESTED, BUT I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO REPAIR THEM.
BUT, UM, I THINK THEY ARE BOTH GREAT FACILITIES AND THE FLOOD CAME IN PART, THERE IS LOT OF FACILITIES THERE IN THE FLOODPLAIN. YOU CAN DO UP TO 30 PERCENT REPAIRS WITHOUT HAVING TO REDO THE WHOLE THING, AND I WOULD STICK WITH THAT AND JUST DO 30 PERCENT REPAIRS IF IT IS ONE BUILDING AT A TIME, THAT'S MY OPINION.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: COMMISSIONER BEAN.
>> COMMISSIONER BEAN: I WOULD ECHO COMMISSIONER STURGES'S SENTIMENTS. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN TO MULTIPLE EVENTS HELD AT THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER AUDITORIUM. I HAVE BEEN THERE MULTIPLE TIMES TO ATTEND THINGS SUCH AS THE QUARTERBACK CLUB, WHICH HOST THEIR ANNUAL GATHERING THERE, AND OTHER EVENTS.
I, I WOULD SAY JUST LIKE THE CITY HALL, IF IT AIN'T BROKE CURRENTLY, LET'S NOT FIX IT. I DON'T WANT TO LIMIT OUR BOND WITH OTHER PROJECTS THAT WILL GREATLY SWELL THE COST, BUT LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE AND LET'S BOND OUR TOP THREE ISSUES AND
LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE THERE. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: VICE MAYOR?
>> VICE MAYOR KREGER: I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T PUT THEM IN BOND ISSUE. I MENTIONED A COUPLE EARLIER, WE RECEIVED BIDS FOR BUILDING ASSESSMENTS AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE REEVALUATING NOW. WE WILL FIND OUT WHAT THE COSTS ARE.WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN THIS BUILDING, WE COULD PROBABLY DEFER SOME STUFF, BUT WE COULD FIX THE BUILDINGS.
I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT, FROM EVERYTHING THAT I LOOK AT FROM THE POPULATION, EXACTLY WHAT BRADLEY SAID, PEOPLE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THOSE FACILITIES. FACEBOOK IS LIKE LUDICROUS
ANYWAY, YOU KNOW? >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: SO MY FINAL THOUGHT BEFORE WE RECESS, I LIKE THE VICE MAYOR'S
[00:50:02]
DESCRIPTION, BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE.WHICH WOULD ENCOMPASS UPDATING MLK, BRINGING THOSE STRUCTURES UP, BECAUSE AS COMMISSIONER ROSS HAS FINAL SAY, WHO IS GOING TO WRITE THE CHECK? AND SO, IF YOU THINK 2 MILLION PER ATLANTIC REC, 2 MILLION FOR MLK, THAT IS $4 MILLION.
THAT IS A CHECK WE CAN'T CURRENTLY RIGHT.
SO, IF WE DID PLACE SOMETHING ON THIS BOND, IT WOULD BE BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE. ANY THOUGHTS AROUND THAT?
>> FINE WITH THAT. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: VICE MAYOR
CUSTOMERS. >> VICE MAYOR KREGER: I AM FINE, WE WILL SEE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE, YES.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: AND REMEMBER, THIS IS A DIRECTIONAL LIST TO STAFF. IT'S NOT A FINAL LIST, BUT IT'S GETTING THEM GUIDANCE TO COME BACK.
COMMISSIONER STURGES? >> COMMISSIONER STURGES: YEAH, I AM FINE WITH FINDING OUT WHAT THE NUMBERS WOULD BE TO REMODEL, RENOVATE THE BUILDINGS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. FIX IT, REPAIR IT, REMODEL IT,
SO I AM FINE WITH THAT. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH:
COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: THAT'S
FINE. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: ALL RIGHT, SO, CITY MANAGER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, PUT BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE REC CENTERS WITHIN THAT DESCRIPTION. IS THAT GOOD, GENTLEMEN? OKAY, GOOD DISCUSSION. ARE WE GOOD TO RECESS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL 6:00.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.