[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:09] >> CALL TO ORDER THE SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 CITY COMMISSION MEETING. WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH. >> HERE. >> MR. STURGES. >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> HERE. >> PERSONAL DEVICES, IF YOU WILL PUT THEM ON AIRPLANE, SILENT OR VIBRATE OR OFF, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. WE ARE STILL UNDER COVID-19 GUIDELINES SO PLEASE ENSURE YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY THE WAY THAT THE CDC RECOMMENDS. DECORUM, WE WILL CONDUCT OURSELVES IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AT ALL TIMES. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING DURING THE INVOCATION BY FORMER MAYOR BRUCE MALCOLM OF THE AMERICAN LEGION. >> I'M ABOUT TO TURN AROUND AND TELL EVERYBODY TO TAKE COVER HERE. BOW YOUR HEADS. GOD, WE KNOW YOU WILL BE WITH US, GUIDING AND DIRECTING THE MINDS OF MEN, THAT THEY MAY BE O BEAD AG -- OBEDIENT TO YOUR WIL. ONLY ONE TRUE HAPPINESS LIES IN YOU. GIVE US UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR GRACIOUS MAY FULFILL OUR LIVES THAT WE MAY BE AN EXAMPLE FOR GOOD THROUGH OUR ASSOCIATES AND INFLUENCE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE PRAY FOR YOU THAT WE MAY BECOME NEIGHBORS EACH TO THE OTHER AND TO ALL MEN. AMEN. >> AMEN. >> THANK YOU, CHAPLAIN. GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> GOOD TO BE HERE. [Additional Item] ALL RIGHT. A DIFFERENT ORDER ON THE AGENDA, GENTLEMEN. I'M GOING TO DO PROCLAMATIONS FIRST. WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS. FOLLOWED BY THE REGIONAL COUNSEL PRESENTATION. THEN THE BUDGET SUMMARY. SO THAT'S THE ORDER THAT WE'LL TAKE THESE IN. I WILL BE READING TWO OF THE PROCLAMATIONS AND THE VICE MAYOR WILL BE READING NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. SO, MISS LITTLE, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE'LL DO THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS. WHEREAS UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH. AND IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE AWARENESS FOR THE SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES AVAILABLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WHEREAS, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS STARTING POINT GABRIEL HEALTH CARE, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION SUCH AS THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF A BATTLE THAT MANY STILL REFUSE TO DISCUSS PUBLICLY. ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE AND PREVENTION, 47,500 DEATHS OCCURRED IN 2019 AS A RESULT OF SUICIDE WHICH CAN AFFECT ANYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE, GENDER, RACE ORIENTATION, INCOME LEVEL, RELIGION OR BACKGROUND. AND WHEREAS, SUICIDE IS THE TENTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG ADULTS IN THE U.S., SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATHS AMONG INDIVIDUALS AGES 10-34. HISTORICALLY CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG INDIVIDUALS AGE 34-54 AND FIFTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR INDIVIDUALS AGE 45-54. WHEREAS THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH SUPPORTS LOCAL EDUCATORS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, ATHLETIC COACHES, PARK LEADERS, PACK LEADERS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND PARENTS IN THEIR EF FOR THES [00:05:03] TO ASSIST AT RISK COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY INVESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2021 AS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS. I THINK EVERYBODY CAN HEAR ME. I JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE SUICIDE PREVENTION AS SOMETHING TO FOCUS ON. HERE IN NASSAU COUNTY IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS WE'VE LOST THREE MEMBERS, TWO OF WHICH WERE FROM FERNANDINA, ONE WHO WAS AN ADOLESCENT. IN CAMDEN COUNTY, IN LESS THAN 45 DAYS THEY'VE LOST TWO ADOLESCENTS WHO DIED BY SUICIDE. WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO INCREASE. SINCE COVID-19, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OUR MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM HAS INTERACTED WITH HAS DRASTICALLY INCREASED. THE NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO HAVE SUICIDAL IDEATIONS, HAS DRASTICALLY INCREASED. ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, WE ARE INTERACTING WITH YOUNG KIDS, SOME UNDER THE AGE OF 10, WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT ENDING THEIR LIFE. AND AS A PARENT, AS A FRIEND, AS A FAMILY MEMBER, AUNT, UNCLE, GRANDPARENT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ASK THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS TO OUR LOVED ONES. WHETHER IT'S OUR KIDDOS, OUR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE THE SAME AGE AS US OR OLDER, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE OKAY. AND SOMETIMES IT'S JUST CHECKING IN. HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? IF WE DON'T ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, WE WON'T KNOW. AND ONE FAMILY MEMBER WHO DIED BY SUICIDE IS ONE TOO MANY. SO WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE ALL OF THE STEPS NECESSARY TO HELP PREVENT SUICIDE, WE HAVE OUR MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM WHO INTERACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS 25 AND YOUNGER WHO ARE IN CRISIS. WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE WE ARE EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS ON HOW TO ASK THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS. WE HAVE OUR OUT PATIENT SERVICES TO HELP HELP. WE ARE ONE SMALL AGENCY HERE IN NASSAU COUNTY, AND WITHOUT THE HELP OF OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. SO ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I ASK THAT EVERYBODY TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN INTERACTING WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THEIR FRIENDS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. SOMETIMES EVEN JUST A SIMPLE GESTURE OF A SMILE CAN REALLY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S DAY. THANK YOU. [4. 3 PROCLAMATION - "LES DEMERLE AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL WEEK"] >> ALL RIGHT. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. >> FOR MANY YEARS THE LES DEMERLE AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL HAS BROUGHT EXCITING WORLD CLASS JAZZ ENTERTAINMENT TO FERNANDINA BEACH IN STYLES INCLUDING TEMPORARY, BIG BAND, LATIN, SWING, DIXIELAND, BLUES AND MORE. WHERE AS THIS YEAR THE AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL FEATURING GRAMMY AWARD WINNING HEADLINING PERFORMERS WHICH INCLUDE JAZZ, VOCALIST EXTRAORDINARY STEVE MARSH TORME, INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SAXOPHONIST CLARA NETTER, LATIN GROUP TRIO CALIENTE, 21 PIECE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA'S JAZZ ENSEMBLE DIRECTED BY DENNIS MARKS THE SPARE RIB TICK DIXIELAND BAND. [00:10:04] IT IS TRULY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THESE WORLD CLASS PERFORMERS AMONGST US. THE AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL IS ENDORSED BY JAZZ ICON WINSTON MARCELLIS, TONY BENNETT, DAVID SANDBORN AND RAMSEY LEWIS AND WHEREAS, IN AN EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO AS MANY CONCERT GOERS AS POSSIBLE, THE AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL IS OFFERING A WIDE RANGE OF CONCERT VENUES INCLUDING AMELIA PARK, THE COURTYARD AMELIA ISLAND SPRING HILL SUITES BY MARRIOTT, SADLER RANCH. AND WHEREAS THE AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL PRESENTS MANY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING JAZZ IN THE SCHOOLS, JAZZ FOR KIDS, JAZZ FOR SENIORS, AS WELL AS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WHICH SUPPORTS CONTINUING MUSIC EDUCATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL MUSICIANS WHO DESIRE TO STUDY JAZZ MUSIC IN COLLEGE. NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL LED LEDNOVICH, BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME, DO HEREBY ENCOURAGE THE CITIZENS OF FERNANDINA BEACH, PROCLAIM THIS WEEK THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 3RD THROUGH OCTOBER 10TH, 2021 AS LES DEMERLE AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL WEEK. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COMMISSION, FOR HAVING BONNIE AND I TODAY. NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE TO THANK THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND BOARD MEMBERS. SHE WORKS EFFORTLESSLY WITH US ALL YEAR ROUND. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THIS YEAR IT'S VERY DIFFERENT, OF COURSE, WITH COVID. LAST YEAR WE DID THE FESTIVAL VIRTUALLY, BUT THIS YEAR WE ARE GOING TO GO WITH SAFETY GUIDELINES IN PLACE AT EVERY EVENT. THE FIRST KICKOFF CONCERT ON OCTOBER 3RD, AS YOU MENTIONED, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'RE INCLUDING THE SENIOR BAND IN OUR AREA, NASSAU COUNTY JAZZ BAND WILL BE OPENING UP AT 12:00 NOON AT AMELIA PARK. THAT'S A 20 PIECE BAND. FOLLOWED BY THE 33 PIECE BAND, HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND, FOLLOWED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA JAZZ ENSEMBLE, WHICH IS A 20 PIECE BAND. AROUND 3:30 P.M. THAT DAY, ALL THREE BANDS ARE GOING TO JAM ON A NEW ORLEANS SECOND LINE, WITH OVER 70 MUSICIANS. THIS IS GOING TO MAKE AMELIA ISLAND SIGNIFICANT. IT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, PUTTING THREE REALLY BIG BANDS TOGETHER SIMULTANEOUSLY. THAT'S WHAT JAZZ MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT. THEY'LL ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO JAM AND INTERACT. WE HOPE YOU ALL SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THAT FREE CONCERT AT COMMUNITY PARK. THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME GREAT BARBECUE THERE THAT DAY. COME ON OUT FOR LUNCH. MONDAY NIGHT IS OUR SPONSOR PARTY AT SPRINGHILL TWEETS. TUESDAY WE SWING OVER TO THE DECANTERY FOR OUR JAZZ AND WINE EVENT. THURSDAY WE HAVE A TRIO CALIENTO FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. THEY DO A GREAT LATIN SHOW. THE HEADLINING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, KENNY PLEKOWSKI TOOK OVER BENNY GOODMAN'S BAND. BENNY PASSED THE BATON TO KENNY. THERE'S A HIGH ENERGY SHOW. ALSO A VERY FUNNY GUY. WORLD CLASS MUSICIAN. SATURDAY WE HAVE STEVE MARSH TOURME, THE SON OF THE LEGENDARY MEL TOURME. SUNDAY THE JAZZ BRUNCH. IT WILL BE A NEW ORLEANS MENU AT SPRING HILL SUITES WITH BENEITS AND GOODIES. SWINGING MUSIC. SO WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AND INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME ON OUT AND ENJOY THE FESTIVAL. WE'RE TRYING, AS ALWAYS, TO PROMOTE ALL THE ICONS, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT SHARING THE LOVE AND SHARING THE MUSIC. AT OUR AGE, IT'S A BIG PART OF IT IS PAYING IT FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. [00:15:05] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. [4.4 PROCLAMATION - "NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH"] >> MR. BORDERO WILL RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION. I'LL READ PART OF IT. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND START. >> OKAY. SEVERAL LATIN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAYS COMMEMORATIVE DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD WITH CO COSTARICO, CHILE, EL SALVADOR. >> WHEREAS NATIONAL SPANISH HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATES AND HONORS THE RICH CULTURE AND NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE SPANISH WHOSE ANCESTORS CAME FROM SPAIN, MEXICO, CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. AND -- INFLUENCE IN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH DATES BACK TO THE EARLY 1500S AND THE CULTURE INDISPUTABLY AND INTRICATE PART OF FERNANDINA, MAKING IT A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE. UNITED STATES, UPON WHICH THIS GREAT NATION WAS FOUNDED. COUNTRY'S HISPANIC POPULATION CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURE AND -- IMPACT -- PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE IN PRIDE THOUGH ROOTS AND HELP DIVERSITY THESE CULTURES OFFER. AND -- AND GOVERNMENT ARE PROUD OF THE CULTURE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM AND DIVERSITY OF OUR DYNAMIC SPANISH POPULATION. VESTED IN ME, DECLARE SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15 AS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. IN WILT THEREOF, THE 21ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021. [00:20:09] THERE'S A LOT OF HISPANICS HERE ON THE ISLAND. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR, THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE VICE MAYOR FOR ACKNOWLEDGING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WHICH BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15 AND ENDED ON OCTOBER 15. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND READING IT IN SPANISH. I DO APPRECIATE THAT. AGAIN, I AM JUST ONE. MY PARENTS COME FROM PUERTO RICO. I HAVE THE FEELING OF FREEDOM WHICH MY FELLOW HISPANICS DON'T. ESPECIALLY FROM CENTRAL AMERICA AND SOUTH AMERICA. IF YOU'RE BORN IN PUERTO RICO AND AMERICA, YOU ARE AMERICAN. THE STRUGGLE I DON'T UNDERSTAND BUT I STILL REPRESENT BECAUSE I KNOW THE STRUGGLE THEY HAVE. I WORK AT PEPPERS ON MONDAYS. WE HAVE AT LEAST 10 TO 15 DIFFERENT CULTURES IN PEPPERS ALONE. A LOT OF THEM LIVE UNDER THE RADAR. A LOT OF THEM ARE SCARED TO SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE IN FEAR OF RETALIATION. FOR SPEAKING THEIR NATIVE TONGUE. I HAD AN EXPERIENCE AS A KID AND VOWED THAT I WOULD NEVER LET IT HAPPEN TO ANOTHER. IN A GROCERY STORE, WHEN I WAS A KID, MY MOTHER SAID, HEY, IN SPANISH, STOP PLAYING AROUND. AND SOME MAN OUT OF NOWHERE CAME AND SAID SPEAK ENGLISH, YOU'RE IN AMERICA. AS A LITTLE KID, I FELT THAT RIGHT THROUGH MY HEART AND I VOWED THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. YOU SEE HISPANICS RIDING BICYCLES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET DRIVER'S LICENSES HERE ON THIS ISLAND. YOU SEE SOME OF THEM WHO DO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A NATURALIZED CITIZEN, THEN BECOMING A CITIZEN. BUT THAT PROCESS IS LENGTHY. AND THAT PROCESS ISN'T EASY. I WAS TOLD BY THE VICE MAYOR THAT THINGS WOULD BE UPDATING. I JUST CAME INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS HERE TO SEE IF I CAN PRESS A BUTTON AND THE CITY WEBSITE WOULD CHANGE INTO MY NATIVE TONGUE. I CAN'T DO THAT HERE. I CAN'T HIT A BUTTON AND HAVE MY NATIVE TONGUE, MY LANGUAGE SO THAT I CAN READ. NOT JUST ME, BUT OTHER HISPANICS IN THIS COUNTY. I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF SUICIDE PREVENTION BECAUSE THAT'S DEAR TO MY HEART. THANK YOU. IT'S TOUGH TO COME AFTER SUCH A GREAT ELOQUENT SPEECH THAT YOU GAVE. I HAD A SON WHO TRIED TO AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE STATISTICS THAT YOU MENTIONED. AND LES DEMERLE AND BONNIE FOR HAVING HISPANIC BAND THAT'S GOING TO REPRESENT. I DO APPRECIATE THE TWO PROCLAMATIONS THAT CAME UP BEFORE WE THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH ME PERSONALLY. I'D LIKE TO AGAIN THANK EVERYBODY. HOPEFULLY, WE'LL SEE MORE HISPANICS COME UP HERE AND SPEAK. OF FERNANDINA BEACH IS 6.7. WE KNOW IT'S SERIOUS. THE HISPANIC POPULATION IS THRIVING. WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE A METHOD ON THE WEBSITE WHERE IT DOES TRANSLATE INTO SPANISH. IT'S DIFFICULT. WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS. THIS IS AN EFFORT FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO BE AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. [4.2 NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL PRESENTATION] ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BE ON ITEM 4.3, WHICH IS THE READJUSTED AGENDA. NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> IT'S A FULL PLAN. [00:25:14] WE TRIED. NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. >> SHAWN MCHOME JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. SO, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT. I'M FROM THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL. I SERVE AS THE RESILIENCY COORDINATOR FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL. CAN YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN? OKAY. WE'LL GIVE IT ONE SECOND. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. >> TESTIFY JUST THERE. >> OKAY. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. EVERYONE CAN SEE IT? ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE IT. THE FOCUS OF MY PRESENTATION TONIGHT IS SON THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA COVID-19 ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. REALLY ONE YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PRESENTATION WILL ALSO ADDRESS LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIONS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND HOW ITS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES RELATE TO WHAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THIS RECOVERY PLAN. ON AN INTRODUCTORY VOTE THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL IS ONE OF TEN REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCILS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. NORTHEAST FLORIDA COVERS SEVEN COUNTIES AND 25 MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING THEM ALL IN NASSAU COUNTY LIKE FERNANDINA BEACH. I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE VICE MAYOR KREGER WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. SO OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, OUR UNDERSTANDING OF RESILIENCE HAS TRANSFORMED IN PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY WAYS. JUST LIKE HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH AND ACROSS FLORIDA, RESILIENCY HAS TRADITIONALLY BE UTILIZED TO LOOK AT COASTAL FLOODING AND HAZARDS. HUGE PRIORITY WITHIN MY POSITION. WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMIC SHUTDOWNS THAT HAPPENED ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ECONOMIC RESILIENCE CAME TO THE FOREFRONT OF POLICY DISCUSSIONS. SO WHEN WE'RE UTILIZING THIS, WE'RE TRYING TO RECOGNIZE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN ASSIST LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN BOUNCING BACK TO NORMAL AFTER AN UNCONTROLLABLE EVENT LIKE A PANDEMIC. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE ALL CONCERNED WITH HOW WE CAN BOUNCE FORWARD MOVING INTO THE FUTURE AND TAKE LESSONS IDENTIFIED FROM THE PANDEMIC AND INCREASE OUR RESILIENCE MOVING FORWARD. SO GOING BACK ALL THE WAY TO THE BEGINNING OF COVID-19, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL SHIFTED ITS RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO ECONOMIC IMPACT CAUSED BY THE SHUTDOWNS. ONE OF THE FIRST PRODUCTS THAT WAS PRODUCED WAS A SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE THAT ARTICULATED ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. WE SHARED THAT WIDELY ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA. ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH REMY ECONOMIC FORECASTING SOFTWARE. WE UTILIZED REMY WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY USED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT'S AN ECONOMIC FORECASTING PROJECTION TOOL. WE UTILIZED THAT TO MONITOR DAMAGE IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC ACROSS DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AND SECTORS. THAT WAS ALSO VALUABLE TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN DETERMINING WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND THEN THIS BRINGS US TO WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT. AUGUST 2020, REGIONAL COUNCIL RECEIVED A GRANT THROUGH THE CARES ACT AWARDED BY THE U.S. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION AND IN UTILIZING THIS GRANT, WE ESTABLISHED THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA ECONOMIC RESILIENCE TASK FORCE A POLICY BODY OF 20 LEADERS FROM ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA REPRESENTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT INTERESTS, PRIVATE INTERESTS, NONPROFIT INTERESTS, ETC. FOR NASSAU COUNTY, THE COUNTY MANAGER WAS THE TASK FORCE REPRESENTATIVE WHO SERVED THIS COUNTY'S INTEREST. HE WAS A REALLY VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE THAT BROUGHT A LOT OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE TABLE. SO TO START THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE OVER A YEAR AGO, STAFF PRODUCED A TASK FORCE BRIEFING GUIDE AND WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT, IT'S ABOUT 100 PAGES, THERE ARE DETAILED SECTIONS FOR EACH COUNTY ON WHAT DEMOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS LOOK LIKE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TO UNDERSTAND SOME POTENTIAL VULNERABILITIES AND THEN WHAT DAMAGES WERE INCURRED AFTER THE PANDEMIC. WE EVEN LOOKED AT ISSUES LIKE BROAD BAND ACCESS AND GAPS ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS IDENTIFIED. THEN AFTER MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS OF MEETINGS AND A SERIES OF PRIORITY MEETINGS FOCUSED ON PARTICULAR SUBJECTS, A NORTHEAST FLORIDA ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN WAS PRODUCED BY THE TASK FORCE. THIS PLAN REFLECTS THE EFFORTS OF MORE THAN TWO DOZEN PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATE LEVELS. IT REALLY WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. WE HAVE SOME PICTURES OF ALL OF THE LEADERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS STUDY. [00:30:04] VERY BRIEFLY, BEFORE GETTING TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, THERE WERE THREE PRIORITY AREAS THAT WERE EXAMINED BY THE TASK FORCE. INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPORT RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE ISSUE OF DRIVING EQUITY IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT MARGINALIZED AND LOW INCOME POPULATIONS. AND SO IN LOOKING AT INFRASTRUCTURE, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WAS IDENTIFIED, EVEN NASSAU COUNTY, WAS EXPANDING HIGHSPEED AFFORDABLE BROADBAND ACCESS. WE LOOKED AT CASE STUDIES OF HOW THIS IS BEING EXAMINED ACROSS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. BASED ON OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH NASSAU COUNTY, THEY CAME UP WITH SOME INNOVATIVE IDEAS OF POSSIBLY PUTTING PUBLIC WI-FI INTO PARKS AND OTHER PLACES. THAT'S AN INTERESTING USE OF THIS MONEY. ADDITIONALLY, ALL ACROSS THIS REGION, ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE JACKSONVILLE, THERE'S SOME LEGACY INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES, PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN IGNORED FOR MANY DECADES. SO THIS MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE OUTSTANDING PROBLEMS. IN TERMS OF SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF, THIS WAS A PARTICULARLY INTERESTING SECTION BECAUSE A LOT OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS WERE IDENTIFIED. THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT UNF HAS A WIDE ARRAY OF BUSINESS ASSISTANCE SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE SEVEN COUNTY REGIONS. SO IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE THAT FOLKS OR BUSINESS OWNERS IN NASSAU COUNTY MIGHT NOT BE AWARE THAT THOSE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS TO BOLSTER THOSE EFFORTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE JACKSONVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAN ALL OFFER BUSINESS ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN NASSAU COUNTY. THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY UNDERSTOOD. AND THEN THERE WAS A FEW OPTIONS LIKE INVESTMENT BASED CROWD SOURCING, SMALL BUSINESSES RAISED VENTURE CAPITAL THROUGH BRINGING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH AN ON LINE FUNDING MECHANISM. THESE WERE SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WERE EXPLORED. FINALLY, IN TERMS OF EQUITY, AS ADDRESSED WITH THE SUICIDE MONTH PROCLAMATION, MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE CONCERN. NOT ONLY HERE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. SO WITHIN THIS PLAN, THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH GAPS, INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES. THEN THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS BECOMING A HUGE PROBLEM IN SOME OF OUR RAPIDLY GROWING AREAS ACROSS THE REGION. THE FLORIDA HOUSING COALITION RECENTLY GAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE TASK FORCE FOCUSED ON HOW MONEY CAN BE UTILIZED TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBJECTIVES. THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS IN HERE. I ENCOURAGE YOU IN YOUR FREE TIME TO CHECK OUT THE DOCUMENT AND SEE WHAT'S IN THERE. SO ONE MORE SECTION OF THIS PRESENTATION. I'LL TRY TO GO THROUGH IT PRETTY QUICKLY. I'M SURE ALL OF YOU HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO THE RESCUE AMERICAN PLAN ACT. MAYOR, HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU ANTICIPATE RECEIVING? 6 MILLION? >> A LITTLE OVER 6. >> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT WE IDENTIFIED FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN FLORIDA. IT REALLY HAS GREAT RESOURCES FOR FOUR MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES. NORTHEAST FLORIDA IS ANTICIPATED TO RECEIVE MORE THAN $500 MILLION. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A HUGE TUNE FOR THIS ENTIRE REGION. REGIONAL COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THAT IF WE CAN CONNECT THE DOTS AND HELP COMMUNITIES IDENTIFY WAYS OF SPENDING THIS, THERE MIGHT BE MORE VALUE ADDED OUTCOMES. SO AS YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY READ INTO, ELIGIBLE PROJECT FOCUS AREAS RELATED TO HEALTHCARE, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, INVESTING IN HOUSING, WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE AMONG OTHER TOPIC AREAS. SO WE, AS THE TASK FORCE, WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING WHAT WAS OFFICIALLY RELEASED. IT'S REALLY INTERESTING THE PRIORITIES WITHIN THE RECOVERY PLAN LINED UP PERFECTLY WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. IT SHOWED SOME NICE SYNERGY BETWEEN THOUGH IDEAS. JUST A FEW MORE NOTES. WE ARE ENCOURAGING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA TO CONSIDER NASSAU COUNTY'S PROSPERITY PLAN THAT WAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED IN THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE. IF YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED THIS OUT YET, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING EXAMPLE OF HOW TO APPROACH THE MONEY. THE WAY THEY EXPLAINED IT, THE CARES ACT IS FOCUSED ON REAL-TIME ECONOMIC STABLIZATION DURING AN EMERGENCY. ARPA, ON THE OTHER HAND, CAN BE SPENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH 2026 SO THERE'S MORE LONG TERM HORIZONS WITH THIS MONEY. THE WAY NASSAU COUNTY IS LOOKING AT IT, THEY REALLY WANT TO SEE A LONG-TERM RETURN ON INVESTMENT, BUILDING MULTIGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTY. THERE MIGHT BE SOME INTERESTING THINGS IN THERE. MAYBE SOME SYNERGIES BETWEEN [00:35:02] WHAT FERNANDINA IS DOING AND THE COUNTY. AND THEN JUST VERY BRIEFLY AS WELL. EDA RECENTLY ANNOUNCED MORE THAN $3 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. THESE ARE FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS. SO WE ARE TALKING WITH FOLKS ON THE GROUND TO SEE WHAT'S OF INTEREST. IF YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN ON YOUR WISH LIST THAT MIGHT FIT INTO ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES, WE HAVE STAFF ON SITE THAT COULD ASSIST WITH GRANT WRITING AND DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY WITH THE FEDS. SO THIS IS THE FINAL SLIDE OF CONTENT. REALLY JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE RECOVERY PLAN CAN BE UTILIZED AS A REFERENCE IN INFORMING YOUR DECISION. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT WAS VETTED BY REPUTABLE PEOPLE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THERE. JUST READ THROUGH IT. IF SOMETHING PIQUES YOUR INTEREST, BE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT. IF YOU NEED ANY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER, AS A MEMBER OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. IF IT'S DATA COLLECTION, PLANNING NEEDS, GRANT WRITING, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ASSIST WITH THAT. JUST TWO MORE SLIDES, JUST CONTACTS AND LINKS. BETH PAYNE, HER E-MAIL IS SON THE SLIDE. MARGOT MOWRY, WHO MANY OF YOU KNOW, IS DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PLANNING AND JACK SCHADD IS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER. HE'S REALLY THE BEST FOR FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. BEYOND THE PRINTOUT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, THERE'S SOME LINKS IN HERE. IF YOU WANT QUICK ACCESS TO ALL OF THE MEETING MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY THE TASK FORCE, SIMPLY GO TO NEFRC.ORG. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME IN YOUR CITY TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. JUST TO BE SURE I'M CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE TASK FORCE AND WHAT THE PRESENTATION IS TALKING ABOUT. SO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, THEY RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> CORRECT. >> THE TASK FORCE IS DECIDING HOW TO SPEND IT AROUND THE REGION? >> THE $400,000 IS REALLY JUST SIMPLY A PLANNING GRANT. SO WE UTILIZE THAT MONEY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF COSTS. ALL OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WENT INTO THIS PLANNING PROCESS. IT BASICALLY FUNDED THE STUDY. IT'S FUNDING ME BEING HERE TO WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. BUT THE MONEY THAT YOU ALL ARE RECEIVING IS TOPIC OF INTEREST OF THE TASK FORCE, BUT WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER THAT, BUT SIMPLY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION. >> OKAY, GREAT. JUST TO PUT A NOTE IN WHAT THE TASK FORCE PLAN IS, THIS IS JUST SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THE MONEY? >> CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS IT. >> YES, MAYOR? >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE REGIONAL OFFICE OFFERS SIGNIFICANT SERVICES TO US. I WAS ON IT SIX YEARS, WELL BEYOND STUDIES. IT'S FREE TO US. IT'S PAID FOR BY THE COUNTY. >> GOOD POINT. AS AN EXAMPLE, ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE WORKED WITH KELLY GIBSON ON THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES WORK PLAN. THAT WAS A GREAT EXERCISE. THIS IS JUST ONE SINGLE ASPECT OF WHAT THE REGIONAL COUNCIL DOES. IT'S BEEN VERY VALUE ADDED OVER THE PAST YEAR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR PRESENTATION, AND YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR EFFORTS. >> I APPRECIATE IT. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR WEEK. >> THANK YOU. [4.1 BUDGET SUMMARY] APPRECIATE IT. >> ALL RIGHT. ITEM 4.1 ON THE AGENDA, BUDGET SUMMARY. >> GOOD EVENING. AUGUST IS THE 11TH MONTH AND REPRESENTS 91.7% OF THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR. WITH THE GENERAL FUND YEAR TO DATE REVENUE IS AT 102.4% OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. THIS IS DUE PRIMARILY TO PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX, LOCAL BUSINESS TAX AND INTRAGOVERNMENT TAX. OVERALL YEAR TO DATE GENERAL FUND EXPENSES ARE BELOW THE 91.7 MARK AT 68.3. THERE ARE NO DEPARTMENTS OVER THIS. ALL FUND TRANSFERS FOR THE MONTH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. FOR THE OTHER FUNDS, THE DEB SERVICE PAYMENT WHICH MAKES FOR THE UTILITY BOND -- PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR IT EQUIPMENT, CITY HALL GROUPS, FIRE RESCUE VEHICLE, STREET STRIPING AND PAVING, TECH CENTER WINDOWS, MLK PRESCHOOL AND THE [00:40:02] ATLANTIC REC CENTER IN BUILDING C. FOR THE GOLF COURSE, THE MONTH OF AUGUST CLOSED PRO SHOPS DOWN AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE ARE BELOW THE BUDGETED GROSS PROFIT PERCENTAGES. AIRPORT REVENUE EXCEEDED PRIMARILY TO GRANT REVENUE. ALL THE UTILITY FUNDS EXCEEDED EXPENSES. FOR THE MARINE TRANSIENT REVENUE, 680,000 OR 123.3% OF THE BUDGET. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA OR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM 5, PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, OR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE ONE REQUEST TO SPEAK. MISS TAMMY KOZAK. >> MR. MAYOR, I'LL KEEP TIME HERE. I'LL JUST TACKLE HER WHEN HER TIME IS UP. THREE MINUTES. >> I'M HERE JUST FOR AN UPDATE. I ATTENDED THE 9/8 MEETING. WE HAD A FULL HOUSE THERE WITH THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER ROSS. LOT OF NEIGHBORS AND A DOZEN SUPPORT WORKERS. THERE WERE FOUR PORT WORKERS THAT SPOKE HEATEDLY AT TIMES WITH THE BELIEF THAT WE WERE TRYING TO TAKE AWARE THEIR JOBS. THE OTHER ITEMS, OPA HAS GONE TO TWO ITEMS A MONTH ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH. PORT DIRECTOR STATED HE WAS USING TEMPORARY DAY LABOR TO COVER THE LOSS OF TEN EMPLOYEES, NOT OF DEATH BUT THROUGH COVID ATTRITION. PIDP GRANT APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED THROUGH A REQUEST. ESSENTIALLY THE SAME EXPANSION PLAN THAT RAISED $15 MILLION REQUEST. OPA DID NOT SEE THAT APPLICATION PRIOR TO ITS SUBMISSION. THERE WAS AT THE END A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE PORT DIRECTOR, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS. SINCE THE MEETING, NASSAU COUNTY HAS HAD SIX APRAISERS AT THE PORT TO ASSESS FOR TAX VALUATION. THE FINAL REPORT IS PENDING. WE STILL HAVE A GROUND SWELL OF CITIZEN CONCERN WITH PORT MANAGEMENT AND THAT CONTINUES. ON SUNDAY THE RAINIEST DAY WE'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME, 39 PEOPLE SHOWED UP FOR AN OUTDOOR MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER GILL FROM THE PORT, CHIEF FOXWORTH AND CAPTAIN DAVID BISHOP WERE ALSO PRESENT. THE MAIN TAKE AWAY, OPA IS ACTIVELY SEEKING FULFILLMENT OF A PORT DIRECTOR ROLE. OPA IS IN THE FINAL RED LINE STAGE OF THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR RSH FOR THEIR MASTER PLAN. THE MASTER PLAN PROCESS WILL HAVE THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO ALLOW FOR COMMUNITY INPUT AND OUR GRASS ROOTS GROUP IS ASSEMBLING A SUPPORT TEAM FOR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT IN THIS PROCESS. WE WOULD ALSO LOOK TO YOU FOR CITY GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT WHENEVER POSSIBLE IN THAT PLANNING. DISCUSSION FINALLY ON THE PORT POWERS OF EMINENT DOMAIN AND HOUSE BILL 619 REVISION. THERE'S BROAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO LIMIT OR REMOVE THE TOWER. I KNOW COMMISSIONER KREGER HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND IT WILL BE COMING UP IN THE OCTOBER 5TH COMMISSION WORK SHOP. I URGE YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS AND SUPPORT SOME CHANGES AT LEAST LOCALLY ON THIS. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED SINCE THE PORT FIRST WENT IN AND WHAT WAS RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY CONSIDERED A BLITHED AREA HAS BECOME A THRIVING RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, MOSTLY HISTORIC, WITH RESTORED HOMES, NEW HOMES. I REMIND YOU THE PORT PAYS NO TAX ON ITS PROPERTY, SO ANY FURTHER EXPANSION OR ENCROACHMENT FROM ITS EXISTING FOOTPRINT IS A LOSS OF REVENUE FOR THIS CITY. WE CONTINUE TO STAND FOR A SAFE AND PROPERLY RUN PORT WHICH MAXIMIZES ITS EFFICIENCY IN ITS CURRENT FOOTPRINT THAT MAINTAINS SAFE CONDITIONS AND JOB SECURITY FOR THE WORKERS AND PROVIDES AN ENJOYABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ACRONYM IS NOPE, NO PORT EXPANSION. EXPANSION IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN IMPROVEMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A FEW SECONDS. [6. CONSENT AGENDA] >> ALL RIGHT. CONSENT AGENDA. COMMISSIONERS, ANYONE LIKE ANY ITEM PULLED? >> VOTE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> I DUALLY MOVE TO APPROVAL. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. [00:45:02] >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER KREGER. [7.1 PURCHASE APPROVAL – CITY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT] >> YES. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH. >> YES. >> ITEM PASSED 5-0. >> 7.1. PURCHASE APPROVAL CITY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. >> I RECOMMEND APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND WITH AN AMENDMENT. >> IF WE COULD BEFORE THE MOTION, IF YOU WOULD ACCEPT THIS AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE. I'M SPEAKING FOR JEREMIAH. HE WILL COME UP HERE IF HE NEEDS TO. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE PROBABLY HEARD AND ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF MICROCHIPS. MICROCHIPS ARE USED IN VEHICLES. THE 2022 CHEVY TAHOES THE CITY PURCHASES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON A STATE OF FLORIDA SHERIFF'S CONTRACT. THAT CONTRACT HAS TO BE ABLE TO PRICE IT AT $36,000 AND CHANGE. THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THEY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR PROBABLY. SO THERE IS RIGHT NOW ANOTHER SUPPLIER, BRANNON, WHO WILL SUPPLY THESE FOR $37,000 AND CHANGE AND CAN GET FIVE OF THEM FOR US. I THINK WE NEED SIX. WE NEED FIVE. OKAY. AND THEY CAN FULFILL THAT ORDER FOR $37,000 AND CHANGE. BESIDES YOU ESSENTIALLY APPROVING THAT PURCHASE, WHICH IS WITHIN THE SPENDING LIMIT, WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU APPROVE THAT OF A SINGLE SOURCE, BUT THEN THROUGHOUT THIS FISCAL YEAR, THERE MAY BE TIMES WHERE, WITHIN THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY, THAT JEREMIAH MAY HAVE TO PURCHASE VEHICLES FROM ANOTHER SINGLE COURSE VENDOR, MEANING THE ONLY VENDOR THAT CAN GET THAT VEHICLE AND HAS SOME LEFT IN THEIR STOCK. SO WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO ADD LANGUAGE TO THE RESOLUTION, IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THIS. OH, LORD. I ADDED THE CITY MANAGER IS ABLE TO PURCHASE VEHICLES SPECIFICALLY -- COME ON UP HERE. LOOKS LIKE OTHER VEHICLES. >> YES. AS MENTIONED WE'VE ALREADY MISSED THE CUTOFF FOR THE CHEVROLET TAHOE. CHEVY ANNOUNCED THE CUTOFF FOR 2022 IS AUGUST 31ST. THEY JUST TOLD US. CLEARLY, WE CAN'T MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE'D LIKE A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY. SHE'S PULLING THAT LANGUAGE UP NOW. IF WE ENCOUNTER A PURCHASE THAT WE CANNOT PURCHASE THROUGH OUR STANDARD CONTRACT, WE CAN USE ALTERNATIVE PURCHASING PROCESS TO GET THAT EQUIPMENT. SOLE SOURCE, SINGLE SOURCE, BEING ONE OF THEM UNDER THE CITY MANAGER'S PURVIEW. >> SPECIFIC LANGUAGE WE'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE RESOLUTION IS "DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING A WORLDWIDE COMPUTER CHIP SHORTAGE, SOME VEHICLES MAY NEED TO BE PURCHASED THROUGH SINGLE SOURCE ACQUISITION WITH DOCUMENTATION JUSTIFYING THE SINGLE SOURCE." AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROCEDURE, AN ALTERNATIVE PURCHASING PROCEDURE. THAT LANGUAGE AND THAT AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION. >> OKAY. I'M GOING TO REWIND. WE HAD A MOTION AND SECOND. I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER ROSS WANTED TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT MOTION. >> BASED ON WHAT I'M SAYING. >> SAME THING. >> BASED ON WHAT SHE SAID? >> YES. >> OKAY. DISCUSSION? VICE MAYOR? >> IF THEY HAVE A MOTION, I'LL CHANGE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH THE CONSIDERATION THAT THE PURCHASE MAY BE MADE CONSISTENT WITH THE PURCHASING POLICY, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. >> YES, SIR. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER BEAN? >> THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS REGARDING THE NEW LANGUAGE. DOES THIS LANGUAGE EXPIRE? AND IF SO, WHEN DOES IT EXPIRE? WILL IT GO BACK TO THE NORMAL PURCHASING PROCESS OR IS IT JUST UNTIL WE UNDO IT? >> FIRST OF ALL, THIS RESOLUTION WOULD NOT DISPERSE. WOULD NOT GO BEYOND THE FISCAL YEAR, NOR DO THESE PURCHASES. IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. IT'S ONLY GOOD IF THE SHERIFF'S CONTRACT THAT WE PIGGY BACK OFF, IF WE CAN'T GET IT FROM THOSE DEALERS. OTHERWISE, JEREMIAH WILL LOOK FOR OTHER DEALERS. IF WE NEED VEHICLES, HE NEEDS TO GET THEM. IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE, HE'LL TRY AND GET A QUOTE FROM EACH. IF THERE'S ONLY ONE, LIKE IN THIS INSTANCE, WITH THE FIVE [00:50:03] FROM BRANNON, THEY HAVE A PRICE THAT'S CLOSE TO OUR CONTRACT PRICE. EVERY SINGLE SINGLE SOURCE PURCHASE WHERE OTHERWISE IT'S REQUIRED TO BE ANYTHING OVER $20,000, THAT HAS TO BE JUSTIFIED THAT WE KEEP IT A PUBLIC RECORD. IN THE FLEET SENSE, JEREMIAH WILL DEFINITELY WRITE UP EVERY TIME HE HAS TO USE A SINGLE SOURCE AND IT WILL BECOME PART OF OUR POLICY. >> EXCEL LEN. I KNOW JEREMIAH IS VERY GOOD AT SOURCING. MY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION IS, IS THERE AN UPPER LIMIT? I'M THINKING ABOUT WORST CASE SCENARIO. ARE WE ENABLING A $100,000 USED TRUCK? DOES OUR CURRENT PROCESS STOP SUCH AN ITEM? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. EVERY SINGLE SOURCE FORMAT WOULD BE SIGNED OFF BY THE CITY MANAGER. THAT WOULD FALL WITHIN HIS ACCORD. WE HOPE TO USE THIS AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE AWARE ALREADY THESE FIVE VEHICLES WE NEEDED FLEXIBILITY ON. AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE NONEMERGENCY VEHICLES, WE MAY ENCOUNTER IT AGAIN. THE GOAL IS TO PURCHASE THROUGH CONTRACT, THE BEST PRICE, THE SIMPLEST PROCESS. I WOULD DEFER TO THE CITY MANAGER THAT THE BUCK STOPS THERE, SO I'M SURE THAT'S WHERE IT WILL. >> AND WE HAVE A BUDGET SO THERE'S A CEILING. ALL RIGHT. JEREMIAH, RIGHT? THERE'S A CEILING IN OUR ANNUAL BUDGET IN TERMS OF WHAT'S SPENT ON VEHICLES, AND WHAT VEHICLES WE ACQUIRE. >> I'M SATISFIED. >> ANY OTHER COMMENT OR DISCUSSION? JEREMIAH, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. SO NUMBER ONE, I SEE WE'RE REPLACING 2013 FORD TAURUS WITH A TAHOE. THOSE ARE TWO VERY DISTINCT AND DIFFERENT VEHICLES. WHY ARE WE GOING FROM A SEDAN TO A VERY LARGE SUV? >> AS THE POLICE VEHICLE BECOMES MORE AND MORE OF AN OFFICE PLATFORM, THE NEED FOR GREATER ROOM IN THAT VEHICLE IS NEEDED. THE CROWN VIC, WHICH WAS THE ICON OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE VEHICLES, RAN ITS COURSE AND DIED OFF IN 2011. THERE WAS A TRANSITION POINT WHERE YOU DID NOT HAVE A PURSUIT -- POLICE PURSUIT VEHICLE AVAILABLE. WE WENT WITH THE FORD TAURUS FOR A LITTLE WHILE. IT'S VERY LIMITED IN ITS ROOM, WHEN IT COMES TO OUTFITTING OF THE EQUIPMENT, PARTITION. THAT'S ALL WE HAD TO WORK WITH FOR A LITTLE BIT. ONCE THE TAHOE BECAME A PPV, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE UP TO A LARGER VEHICLE. WITH THE OFFICERS, THE GEAR, EVERYTHING THEY CARRY, IT'S AN OFFICE AND THEY NEED THE BIGGER ROOM TO PROVIDE THAT. >> OKAY. I SEE -- HERE'S MY OVERRIDING CONCERN. THERE'S A CHIP SHORTAGE. RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT THE PEAK OF NEW AUTOMOBILE VEHICLE PRICES BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE. IT'S SUPPLY AND DEMAND. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING TO REPLACE FIVE VEHICLES THE HIGHEST PRICE IN THE MARKET PLACE DOING IT RIGHT NOW. SO MY QUESTION IS -- THERE'S A 2013, A 2014 AND THEN YOU HAVE THREE 2015S. CAN WE DELAY OR PUT OFF SOME REPLACEMENTS? IN OTHER WORDS, CAN SOME OF THE 2015S STILL MAKE A GO OF IT UNTIL THE MARKET READJUSTS? >> WE ORDER THROUGH CONTRACT. WE ORDER DIRECTLY THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER. THEY DESIGNATE A DEALER. THAT'S AWARDED AT A STATE LEVEL. WE ARE GETTING VERY AGGRESSIVE PRICING. OUR GOVERNMENT DISCOUNTS ARE 30%, 35% LESS THAN STICKER PRICE. PRICES WE GET ARE SHOCKINGLY CHEAP. THE PRICES YOU SEE HERE, YOU RECOGNIZE THAT'S OUTFITTED WITH ALL THE EQUIPMENT. BY THE TIME YOU ADD RADAR, CAMERA. THE ACTUAL COST OF THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST HALF OF THAT. THERE ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR WE ARE STILL IN, ANOTHER NINE DAYS, THERE ARE A COUPLE VEHICLE PURCHASES WE DID NOT EXECUTE. CONTINUED VALUATION OF THE BUDGET, WE DID NOT MAKE HAPPEN. SO IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE DO NOT NEED A PURCHASE, WE'LL DO THAT. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> YES. SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH A VOTE TO PROCEED ON ALL FIVE. >> YES. WE HAVE THE NEED FOR THESE. THE OUTFITTING OF THE ONES YOU MENTIONED IS GOING TO TAKE AMOUNT OF TIME. IF WE DO NOT ACT QUICKLY, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF IN THIS BUDGET YEAR. >> WHAT'S THE LOWEST MILEAGE VEHICLE? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME. >> UNDER 100. >> YEAH, UNDER 100. >> UNDER 100,000. [00:55:04] HOW MANY OF THE VEHICLES ARE UNDER 100,000? >> WE HAVE A FLEET OF 200 PLUS. >> I UNDERSTAND. >> I'D BE GUESSING. DO RECOGNIZE THE WEAR AND TEAR OF A POLICE VEHICLE IS 300% THAT OF A NORMAL VEHICLE. IF YOU WERE TO SEE 70,000, 80,000, YOU'RE 240, 270. >> RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT. VICE MAYOR. >> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THIS PURCHASING ISSUE. EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING, THE PIGGY BACKING AND THE CHANGED AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT EXACTLY WHAT OUR PURCHASING POLICY IS. THERE'S NO CHANGE. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD CALL THE VOTE. >> VICE MAYOR KREGER. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> YES. [7.2 LOBBYING SERVICES AGREEMENT – JACOBS SCHOLZ & WYLER, LLC] >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH. >> YES. >> 7.2, LOBBYING SERVICES AGREEMENT. >> MR. MAYOR, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH JACOBS, SCHOLZ AND WYLER. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? VICE MAYOR? >> THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT VALUE. I THINK MOST OF US KNOW THAT ALMOST FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WITH ONE YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID, WE'VE GOT SIGNIFICANT FUNDING REALLY DUE TO BUDDY AND HIS CREW. IT'S RUNNING OVER $2 MILLION PLUS. FOR THIS YEAR, HE'S GOING TO DO BETTER. >> THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER BEAN? >> THANK YOU. I CERTAINLY HOPE FORMER MAYOR AARON BEAN WILL BE LISTENING WHEN BUDDY JACOBS IS THERE. LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR KREGER. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER STURGES. [7.3 CHARTER OFFICERS' PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS] >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> YES. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH. >> YES. >> CHARTER OFFICERS PERFORMANCE EVAL EVALUATIONS. IT'S ALL YOURS. AS REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER, ANNUALLY, WE DO CHARTER OFFICER PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. THEY WERE DUE TODAY. ACCORDING TO THE CITY CLERKS, WE HAVE EXECUTED OUR DUTIES AND THEY ARE DONE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, PLEASE TURN YOUR LIGHT ON. VICE MAYOR? >> AS I HAVE FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, I HAVE WRITTEN EVALUATIONS FOR ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS. THEY ARE AVAILABLE AS PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. I WON'T GET INTO DETAIL. I WILL POINT OUT THAT ALL THREE JOBS ARE DIFFERENT. THEY'RE GOVERNED BY THE CHARTER, BY THE CONTRACTS AND IN MANY CASES BY JOB DESCRIPTIONS IN FAIR DIFFERING LEVELS. ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS HAVE MET OR EXCEEDED THE REQUIREMENTS. I DO ADDRESS SOME ISSUES WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS. IN THE PAST I HAVE IDENTIFIED THINGS AND HE'S ALWAYS WORKED ON THEM. THIS IS THE BEST EVALUATION I HAVE EVER GIVEN HIM. I'M SATISFIED. LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE ALL IN THE RECORD FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO REQUEST THEM. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE? COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I COMPLETED THE SAME EVALUATION OF ALL THREE CHARTER OFFICERS. I THINK THEY'RE DOING GREAT JOB. THEY'RE SUPERIOR EMPLOYEES. IF ANYTHING, I THINK CAROLINE NEEDS SOME HELP IN HER OFFICE. SHE HAS A LARGE LIST OF DUTIES AND A LOT TO TAKE FORWARD. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I PICKED UP FROM MY EVALUATIONS. THAT IF ANYTHING, SHE NEEDS SOME HELP IN HER OFFICE. OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYBODY'S DOING GREAT AND WE'RE WAY EXCEEDING OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR PERFORMANCE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. FOR MY THIRD YEAR, I HAVE USED FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES SPECIFIC JOB PERFORMANCE REVIEW FORMS. SO CITY MANAGER SPECIFIC, CITY ATTORNEY SPECIFIC, CITY CLERK SPECIFIC. AND IN MEETING WITH ALL THREE OF THE CHARTER OFFICERS, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THESE ARE THREE VERY DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONAL CHARTER OFFICERS WHO CARE DEEPLY AND SERVE THIS CITY. [01:00:01] ABOVE AND BEYOND. PUBLIC REALLY HAS NO IDEAS OF THEIR DAILY DUTIES. THE JOB THAT THEY PERFORM AND EXECUTE. AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY PUT IN ON THEIR BEHALF. SO I'D LIKE TO THANK THEM. I'D LIKE TO THANK THEIR STAFFS. AS ALWAYS, MY WRITTEN REVIEWS ARE PUBLIC RECORD. SO, THANK YOU, CHARTER OFFICERS. ALL RIGHT. DO I HAVE -- THIS IS A RESOLUTION. DO WE NEED A MOTION? >> I MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MADAM CLERK, CALL THE VOTE. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR KREGER? [7.4 LIABILITY INSURANCE RENEWAL- PREFERRED GOVERNMENTAL INSURANCE TRUST (PGIT)] >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES. COMMISSIONER LEDNOVICH. >> YES. LIABILITY INSURANCE RENEWAL. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU RENEWAL FOR LIABILITY INSURANCE. WE WILL OFFER A FEW PRELIMINARY COMMENTS ABILITY THE CITY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS LIABILITY LAW ENFORCEMENT, PHYSICAL DAMAGE POLICY. >> THANK YOU, DALE. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION. I WANT TO GIVE THE CITY A QUICK HIGHLIGHT OF MATERIALS THAT ARE IN YOUR PACKET RELATIVE TO THE CITY PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE RENEWAL, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE CITY COMMISSION MIGHT HAVE. PARTICULARLY FOR THE TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS GIVE YOU A QUICK PERSPECTIVE. TWO YEARS AGO WE DID AN RFD GENERATED COMPETITION BETWEEN THE TWO MAYOR INSURANCE TRUSTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR CITIES WHICH IS YOUR CURRENT FOR PROGRAM ONLY INSURANCE TRUST AND THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL TRUST. THAT PROCESS GENERATED A 32% DECREASE IN THE COUNTY'S COST WHICH WAS $279,000 DECREASE IN OUR COSTS. WE NEGOTIATED A TWO YEAR RATE GUARANTEE WHICH WAS A GREAT DECISION BY THE CITY COMMISSION TO ACCEPT THAT RATE GUARANTEE. THE LAST TWO YEARS, MOST OF YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN A CHALLENGE TO OUR MARKET PLACE. WE'VE SEEN DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES FOR PROPERTY AND LIABILITY. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR COMING OFF THAT RATE GUARANTEE. WE NEGOTIATED WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A GREAT RENEWAL. 14.9% INCREASE. THAT'S GREAT CONSIDERING CITY'S GROWTH. AS PAYROLL GROWS, THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES GROW, THOSE THINGS OBVIOUSLY INCREASE OUR PREMIUM. COMBINE THAT WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THE MARKET PLACE, WE THINK WE HAD A GREAT RENEWAL. I WANTED TO HIGH LIGHT THE CITY'S WORKER'S COMPENSATION RESULTS. THROUGH JULY OF THIS YEAR, THE CITY HAD A TOTAL INCURRED OF $21,000 IN WORKER'S COMPENSATION CLAIMS. WE'RE ON TRACK TO HAVE ONE OF OUR BEST YEARS EVER. I'LL SAY IT RELATES TO COVID, IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR, STATE OF FLORIDA INITIATED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND CFO THAT WORKER'S COMPENSATION CLAIMS THAT CAME FROM FIRST RESPONDERS WOULD BE CONSIDERED ADMISSIBLE CLAIMS. WE ANTICIPATED A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON WORKER'S COMPENSATION CLAIMS. FORTUNATELY, THE CITY HAS NOT HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT, SEVERE WORKER'S COMPENSATION CLAIMS RELATED TO COVID. I PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY LAST WEEK. THEY HAD FOUR COVID, SIGNIFICANT COVID CLAIMS THAT CAME IN THE FALL AND WINTER OF THIS YEAR. THOSE FOUR CLAIMS TOTALLED IN EXCESS OF $750,000 ALONE. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOSPITALIZATIONS, ICU. THOSE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT EXPENSIVE CLAIMS. THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY FORTUNATE. HOPEFULLY, WITH VACCINATION, WE WON'T SEE THOSE TYPES OF CLAIMS IMPACTING THE CITY. COMMEND CITY, CITY STAFF, ON THEIR INCREDIBLE JOB OF MANAGING THEIR WORKER'S COMPENSATION CLAIMS. LASTLY, SIMILAR TO COMMENTS ABOUT THE CHARTER OFFICERS. WE'VE HAD FORTUNATE ABILITY TO WORK WITH CITY STAFF, WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY FINANCE DEPARTMENT, HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, SIMILAR COMMENTS EARLIER, EVERYONE IS FIRST CLASS. WORK REALLY HARD ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. DOING A LOT OF THINGS TO HELP MITIGATE RISK FOR THE CITY AND HELP US MANAGE INSURANCE COSTS. WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH THE GREAT TEAM AT THE CITY. WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE CITY COMMISSION HAS. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. [01:05:03] >> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR KREGER. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> YES. [7.5 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT AMENDMENT - CHARLES ABBOTT ASSOCIATES, INC.] COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER LEDNOVICH. >> YES. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. BEFORE YOU HAVE A SHORT TERM CONTRACT WITH CHARLES ABBOTT TO PROVIDE INTERIM BUILDING DUTIES. CITY HAS MADE AN OFFER WHICH HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR A FULL TIME BUILDING OFFICIAL. MR. JAMES PARR IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN WITH THE CITY ON OCTOBER 18. IN THE INTERIM, WE DO NEED THE INTERIM ASSISTANCE SO THIS PROVIDES FOR ASSISTANCE. >> RECOMMEND APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. >> VICE MAYOR KREGER. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES. [7.6 AUTHORIZATION TO ENGAGE DOAH SERVICES] >> COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER LEDNOVICH. >> YES. AUTHORIZATION TO ENGAGE SERVICES. >> THIS IS A REALLY NEAT OPPORTUNITY. MUNICIPAL ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE AND PETER AVANANTE, THEIR MAIN OFFICES ARE IN TALLAHASSEE. HE TALKED TO THE GROUP ABOUT SERVICES THAT THE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, WHICH IS WHAT THAT STANDS FOR, NOW OFFERS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. CITIES, COUNTIES, DISTRICTS, FOR $155 AN HOUR. I KNOW SOMEWHERE I PUT $150. THAT'S NOT CORRECT. IT'S $155. $155 AN HOUR. DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS WILL OFFER EVERYTHING FROM JUST THE FINDING OF FACT IN DISPUTES AND GENERALLY THAT'S GOING TO BE BETWEEN THE CITY AND A PRIVATE PARTY. OR IT COULD BE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. AND WHAT THEY'LL DO, THEY CAN DO A ZOOM MEETING OR IF YOU WISH TO PAY THE TRAVEL COST AND FIND IT NECESSARY TO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE HERE IN PERSON, THEY'LL MOST LIKELY SIT WHERE YOU ARE, MR. MAYOR. THEY HAVE THEIR ROBE. THEY LOOK VERY OFFICIAL. THEY'RE SMART LAWYERS. AND THEY WILL DO A REALLY GREAT JOB OF MAKING FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, IF THEY NEED TO, AND ISSUING AN ORDER. NOW, THAT, LIKE MEDIATION, CAN RESOLVE A LOT OF DISPUTES. AND I THINK IT CAN BE EVEN BETTER THAN MEDIATION IN SOME CASES. WITH A MEDIATOR, THEY TRY TO GET YOU TO COME TOGETHER SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE USUALLY. WITH THIS, THIS IS WHERE THE JUDGE WILL HEAR THE FACTS AND THE LAW, APPLY THE LAW AND THEY WILL ACTUALLY MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHICH PARTY IS RIGHT OR WRONG, GENERALLY. SO I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE SYSTEM FOR OUR APPEAL HEARINGS, I'M NOT GOING TO CALL IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE FROM TALLAHASSEE TO HEAR AN APPEAL OF A PARKING TICKET, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR $25. YOU HAVE APPEAL OF OUR RESORT RENTAL, PERMIT VIOLATIONS, WHICH ARE $1,000 APIECE, THINGS LIKE THAT. IF WE CAN'T FIND ONE OF OUR ATTORNEYS THAT'S ON THE PREAPPROVED LIST, THEN WE CAN ALWAYS USE THIS SERVICE WHICH IS, QUITE FRANKLY, CHEAPER THAN ANY OF THE ATTORNEYS ON OUR LIST. I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING. I'LL SHUT UP AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> MOTION FOR APPROVAL. >> I SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE -- >> WAIT. >> I'M SORRY. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. JUST A QUICK QUESTION. I KNOW THESE ATTORNEYS WILL CHARGE $155 AN HOUR. IS THERE A COST FOR HAVING THEM ON RETAINER? >> NO, NO COST WHATSOEVER. >> GREAT. >> THERE'S NO RETAINER, NO COST. IF THEY TRAVEL, WE HAVE TO PAY THEIR TRAVEL COSTS. >> ALL RIGHT. MADAM CLERK. [8.1 MASTER FEE SCHEDULE] >> MOTION PASSED 5-0. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 8, ORDINANCE SECOND READING 8.1 MASTER FEE SCHEDULES. >> I AM JUST SCROLLING DOWN THE ORDINANCE. OKAY. HERE WE GO. [01:10:03] 20201-26. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF FERNANDINA BEACH FLORIDA ESTABLISHING FEES FOR THE AIRPORT, BUILDING, BUSINESS CODE ENFORCEMENT, CEMETERY, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, FIRE, GOLF COURSE, MARINA, PARKS AND RECREATION, PLANNING, POLICE, SANITATION, STORM WATER, STREETS, WASTE WATER, WATER AND IMPACT FEES EXCLUDEING WATER AND SEWER IMPACT FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021, 2022 PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. PLEASE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. SEEING NO ONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. >> I HAVE A MOTION. >> AND A SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? >> THERE'S NO PROPOSED AMENDMENT. >> >> THIS WAS TO HAVE A CHARGE WHERE EVENTS REQUIRE OFF DUTY POLICE. THIS IS WHAT THE CHIEF IS REQUESTING BE ADDED TO THE FEE SCHEDULE. >> I CHANGE MY MOTION TO INCLUDE THE POLICE SPECIAL EVENTS FEE. >> I CHANGE MY SECOND. NEW SECOND. >> MR. MAYOR, CAN I JUST READ IT INTO THE RECORD? UNDER POLICE, THERE'S AN ADDITION, POLICE SPECIAL EVENTS, THREE HOUR MINIMUM FOR ALL EVENTS, A POLICE OFFICER WILL BE $38 PER HOUR, A POLICE SUPERVISOR WILL BE $48 PER HOUR AND THERE IS REQUIRED ONE SUPERVISOR PER FOUR TO SEVEN OFFICERS, AND A POLICE SERVICE AIDE IS $24 PER HOUR. >> THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE FEES? I'M NOT SEEING ANY. COMMISSIONER STURGES? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I STILL CAN'T SEE THE PLANNING FEES. I'M LOOKING HERE. HOW DID THEY CHANGE? ALSO, THE SHORT TERM, DID IT STAY AT $1,000 OR DID IT CHANGE FROM $1,000 SHORT TERM? >> IT STAYED THE SAME AS FAR AS I KNOW. >> MISS FORESTER REPORTED THERE'S A REFERENCE OF $1,000 IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. >> IN THE CODE, YES. >> SO IT STAYED THE SAME? >> UNDER CHAPTER 26 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, YES, IT STAYED THE SAME. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOOD WITH IT. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? >> I JUST WANT TO NOTE ON THE GOLF COURSE FEES, WHEN WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS, THE VICE MAYOR HAD A VERY GOOD SUGGESTION ABOUT IT BEING 25%, WHICH IS WHAT WE CHARGE. AS I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE FEES, I DON'T SEE THAT REFLECTED. I'M SEEING LIKE A 14% INCREASE BETWEEN CITY AND NONCITY. SO I'M WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 25%. >> I HAVE NO IDEA. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE THE GOLF FEES AND MARINA FEES OUT OF THE FEE SCHEDULE ENTIRELY BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND LET THE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT SET THOSE FEES. >> THE GOLF COURSE IS NOT UNDER PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT. IT'S UNDER CITY MANAGEMENT. >> IT'S STILL AN ENTERPRISE. ENTERPRISE FUND. SO I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE HAD AGREED TO PREVIOUSLY. I THINK THE CITY COMMISH SETTING FEES FOR THE GOLF COURSE, I THINK GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO UP AND DOWN PRICES DEPENDING ON THE MARKET, SO ON, SO FORTH. I DON'T WANT THEM LOCKED INTO FEES ESPECIALLY WHEN I VIEW THIS AND PRICING. GOLF COURSE LIKE THAT, YOU NEED FLEXIBILITY. I THINK WE SHOULD TRUST THE MANAGERS, PROFESSIONAL MANAGER [01:15:03] THAT WE HIRED, TO BE ABLE TO SET FEES. >> I JUST WANT TO ADD, MR. MAYOR. I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING. IT IS REQUIRED BY THE BOARD THAT ALL FEES THAT ARE SET BY THE CITY ARE SET BY ORDINANCE. I'M NOT SAYING THEY HAVE TO BE IN THIS ORDINANCE, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE AN ORDINANCE. THEY CAN'T BE BY A PEN STROKE OF THE CITY MANAGER OR GOLF COURSE MANAGER OR MARINA STAFF, FOR THAT MATTER. DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HERE. WE DO HAVE SEPARATE ORDINANCES, FOR EXAMPLE SEWER AND WATER IMPACT FEES. BUT WE DO HAVE TO SET THEM BY ORDINANCE. >> I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT. >> I WOULD RESPECTFULLY, COMMISSIONER ROSS, DISAGREE. I'LL TELL YOU WHY. THE REASON THAT I DISAGREE IS THAT THE GOLF COURSE HAS BEEN LOSING MONEY FOR OVER TEN YEARS. DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT IS INSANITY. AND WE'VE BEEN CHARGING CITY RESIDENTS AND NONCITY RESIDENTS THE SAME FEE. CITY RESIDENTS SUPPORT THIS FACILITY. SO THAT A TIERED STRUCTURE FOR CITY RESIDENTS, NONCITY RESIDENTS, NONCOUNTY RESIDENTS AND NONSTATE RESIDENTS ALMOST UNIVERSALLY EVERY PUBLIC GOLF COURSE I HAVE LOOKED AT HAS A TIERED TEE FEE SYSTEM BASED ON THOSE QUALIFICATIONS. AND WHY DO WE KEEP DOING THE SAME THING OVER, THIS GOLF COURSE CONTINUES TO LOSE MONEY AND THE CITY RESIDENTS KEEP PROPPING IT UP. SO SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE. IF THEY'RE OUT OF WHACK, WE CAN ALWAYS ADJUST IT. I'M SORRY I WAS LOOKING AT COMMISSIONER ROSS. I DON'T KNOW WHOSE LIGHT CAME ON FIRST, BUT I'LL JUST RECOGNIZE THE VICE MAYOR FIRST. >> I ALSO THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO USE 25%. GOLF COURSE MANAGER CONCURRED THAT WAS A GOOD MANAGER. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT IF WE CHANGE THE MOTION AGAIN. IT GETS A LITTLE MUDDY AS WE START DOING ALL THAT STUFF. >> ARE YOU ASKING? OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT SPEAKING OUT OF TURN. I WOULD SUGGEST IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION TONIGHT ABOUT OBVIOUSLY IT WAS DONE BEFORE TONIGHT. THAT WE HAVE TO PASS TONIGHT THAT OCTOBER 1ST THESE FEES ARE PUBLIC NOTICE AND WE HAVE EFFECTIVE FEES OCTOBER 1ST. IF YOU'RE ALL COMFORTABLE WITH 25%, YOU CAN AMEND THE MOTION, ADD 25% HIGHER RATE FOR NONCITY RESIDENTS. WE'LL ADD THAT IN. IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU HAVE TO TAKE 30-45 DAYS. WE CAN AMEND THIS WITH ANOTHER ORDINANCE. IF YOU NEED MORE COMFORT. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM MR. KEUHNE. BUT DO PASS SOMETHING TONIGHT. EITHER ADD 25% NONCITY RESIDENT SURCHARGE TO THE GOLF FEES. THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY IN THE NEXT AMENDMENT. OR TONIGHT ADD THIS WITHOUT THAT CHANGE IN THE GOLF FEES AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK AFTER A DISCUSSION WITH MR. KUEHNE. >> I HAVE TO SAY I'M A LITTLE PERTURBED. IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT, MANAGER, OF WHAT WE WANTED IN REGARD TO THESE FEES. AND I WAS RATHER SURPRISED WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS AND JUST SAW THEY REALLY WEREN'T CHANGED FROM THE LAST TIME THAT WE LOOKED AT THIS. COMMISSIONER BEAN? >> THANK YOU. I AM COMPLETELY IN FAVOR OF THE 25% SURCHARGE AND WILL SUPPORT ANY AMENDMENT TO THIS MOTION THAT ADDS A 25% SURCHARGE. >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WILL INCLUDE NONCITY RESIDENT GOLF COURSE FEE SURCHARGE BE 25%. THAT'S ALONG WITH THE RECOMMENDED POLICE CHANGE THAT YOU READ. >> I RESECOND THE MOTION. >> I VOTE A MOTION AND A RESECOND ON THE AMENDMENT. COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, SIR. >> I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING A DIFFERENTIAL WITH NONCOUNTY RESIDENTS. I HAVE BEEN WANTING THAT FOR FOUR YEARS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE A MORE NIMBLE WAY THAT THE CITY, [01:20:04] WHO EVER IS RUNNING THE GOLF COURSE, CAN REACT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH 30 OR 60 DAYS TO CHANGE THE PRICE. WE'RE NOT GONNA SETTLE THAT ISSUE TONIGHT. BUT YOU SAID PERSONALLY, WHAT I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY, DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS INSANITY. WE'VE DONE THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR YEARS. THE COMMISSION SETS THE PRICE. IT SITS THERE FOR A YEAR. I THINK WE NEED A MORE NIMBLE WAY TO ALLOW THE MANAGEMENT OF THE GOLF COURSE TO BE ABLE TO SET PRICES. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. THAT'S WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO, NOT THE DIFFERENTIAL IN PRICING, WHICH I STRONGLY ADVOCATE. >> OKAY. SO WHAT'S YOUR SOLUTION, COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION. I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT AS IS. PARKS AND REC IS GOING TO COME BACK AND DO A FEE FOR THE USES OF THE PARKS AND REC SYSTEM. THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK AT THE END OF THE YEAR. WE NEED TO PASS IT TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT. WE NEED TO LOOK INTO NOT ONLY ADJUSTING PARKS AND REC FEES, BUT BASED ON THE USAGE, WHAT THEY COME UP WITH, BUT A MORE NIMBLE WAY FOR THE GOLF COURSE TO BE ABLE TO SET PRICES. >> THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER BEAN? >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I AGREE THE WAY TO SOLVE OUR IMMEDIATE ISSUE IS TO PASS THIS WITH THIS 25% SURCHARGE. THAT IS GREAT. I HAVE A POSSIBLE IDEA OF HOW WE CAN ADDRESS COMMISSIONER ROSS' IDEA. I DO AGREE SOMETIMES RUNNING A SPECIAL WOULD SOMETIMES BE A SOLUTION. IS THERE A WAY TO SET AN ORDINANCE FOR LATER ON THAT CAN SET A RANGE OF FEES? WOULD THAT APPLY? >> SURE. >> WE COULD SET A LOW, WHICH WOULD BE THE SPECIAL RATE, THEN A HIGH, IF THERE'S A PREMIUM, THEN A SUGGESTED RATE. THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY PASS NOW. >> I'M IN AGREEMENT. WE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT FEES. I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE GOLF COURSE, FOR GOING UP ON THE FEES, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, THE PLANNING, WHAT I SAW IN THE PLANNING, NOW THAT I'M ACTUALLY SEEING IT. BRIEFLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. LOOKS LIKE NOTHING HAS CHANGED EXCEPT FOR A VARIANCE, IF YOU'RE GOING FOR A VARIANCE IN RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL, OR GOING FOR A VARIANCE FOR HISTORIC COUNCIL, THE FEES HAVE DOUBLED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE EVERYBODY AWARE OF THAT, THE VARIANCE FEES HAVE DOUBLED. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S TO STOP FOR VARIANCES. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE AN EXCESS OF FUNDS WHY THEY SHOULD DOUBLE UNLESS WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE APPLYING FOR VARIANCES. THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION THAT I BRING UP IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL. >> I CAN ANSWER THAT. THERE'S NO EXCESS OF FUNDS IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. THEY'RE PART OF THE GENERAL FUND. THERE'S NO EXCESS. STAFF WORKS REALLY HARD. I WORK WITH THEM EVERY DAY. THEY WORK REALLY HARD ON ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS. EVEN A $3,000 APPLICATION FEE, THAT INCLUDES PAYMENT TO THE CITY THAT PUBLISHES ADVERTISEMENT, POSTS SIGNS, A PERSON, A CITY STAFF PERSON HAS TO GO OUT. THERE'S A CAR WITH GASOLINE. ALL OF THOSE THINGS COST. EVEN WITH SOME OF THE FEES THAT ARE $3,000, THE CITY IS NOT RECOUPING THE COST. >> YOU THINK WE WERE UNDER BUDGETED BEFORE OR UNDER CHARGING BEFORE FOR THIS? >> YES. THAT'S WHY STAFF AND CITY MANAGER ARE RECOMMENDING RAISING THE FEE. >> OKAY. >> VICE MAYOR? >> WHAT BRADLEY SAID, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE WITH A RANGE OF $10 TO $50 BASED ON SOME KIND OF CRITERIA FOR THE GOLF COURSE. MAYBE OTHER FACILITIES. >> WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND INSTEAD OF A RANGE OF FEES. I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. WHO THEN MAKES THE DECISION ON THE RANGE? IT'S GOING TO BE $50, THEN WE'RE RUNNING A SPECIAL AND IT'S $25. I THINK YOU'RE BET OFF HAVING A FEE SCHEDULE OR ORDINANCE THAT SETS FEES. THEN IF YOU WANT TO PASS AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION TO GIVE SOME OF THESE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, MARINA, GOLF COURSE, RECREATION TYPE THINGS, WE AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGERS TO BE ABLE TO RUN SPECIALS TO OFFER DISCOUNTS OF UP TO WHATEVER PERCENTAGE OF THE FEE. I THINK YOU CAN DO THAT ACROSS THE BOARD WITHOUT VIOLATING THE [01:25:05] STATE STATUTES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> WHO SETS THE DISCOUNTS? SOMETIMES YOU WANT TO PUSH THE PRICE UP. MARINA WANTS TO PUSH THE PRICE UP DURING SHIP FEST. >> THEN WE CAN PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT. >> SO THERE'S FLEXIBLE PRICING. >> SURE. WE CAN DO THAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE STATE LAW TELLING US WE HAVE TO DO AN ORDINANCE FEE IS OBVIOUS. >> WE HAVE AN AMENDED MOTION. A SECOND. IF YOU WILL PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. >> COMMISSIONER KR TKPWE ER. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> YES. COMMISSIONER STURGES. [8.2 CODE AMENDMENT- CHAPTER 18 ANIMALS] >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER LEDNOVICH. >> YES. >> THAT PASSED 5-0. CODE AMENDMENT CHAPTER 18. >> ORDINANCE 2021-27 ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 18 ANIMAL BY RENUMBERING THE CHAPTERS AND INCLUDING A NEW SECTION 1 TITLED PURPOSE INTENT BY AMENDING ITEM 2 BY AMENDING SECTION 15 REMOVING REQUIREMENT FOR A SEPARATE LICENSE TO OWN A PET IN CITY LIMITS BY AMENDING ARTICLE 3 TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT, AMENDING SECTIONS 1-10, 15-17, 20-25, 30-35, 40-41. FOR CLARITY, WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE MEANING. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. THIS JUST ELIMINATES THE CITY LICENSE FEES TO HAVE A DOG OR CAT. >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. YOU SAID OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NO ONE, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> MOTION APPROVED. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. I BELIEVE FOR THE FIRST TIME, EVERY ITEM ON THIS AGENDA PASSED [9. CITY MANAGER REPORTS] 5-0. SO CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. CITY MANAGER REPORTS. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MISS TESTGROSS, ALL OF THE FEMA DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONFIRMED THEY, IN TURN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ARBITRATION SETTLEMENT HAVE UPLOADED THAT TO THE FEMA DOCUMENTS, OR THE FEMA PORTAL. FEMA HAS 60 DAYS TO REVIEW. SO THANK YOU TO MRS. TESTGROSS ON THAT. ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER CHARTER OFFICERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE COMPLIMENTS. I WORK CLOSELY WITH MISS BACH, WE ENJOY WORKING WITH EACH OTHER AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WE DO HAVE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS SCHEDULED THEIR PUBLIC OFFICIALS APPRECIATION EVENING. THAT IS FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 4TH. JUST ANNOUNCING IT EARLY BECAUSE IT IS BEFORE WE MEET AGAIN. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE, SUPPORT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DID EXTEND AN OFFER. WE STILL STRUGGLE WITH SOME STAFFING CHALLENGES. WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL AREAS WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH ARE FIREFIGHTERS. WE CONTINUE TO LOSE FIREFIGHTERS TO OTHER AREA AGENCIES. WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION, AS WELL AS GENERAL STAFF. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES ADEQUATELY AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. THE EMPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE. YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF THE MARKET FORCES THAT ARE IN PLAY. I COMMEND THE CITY STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO. PENDING ANY QUESTIONS, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU THIS EVENING. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER? VICE MAYOR? >> WE APPROVED A SURVEY. THE SURVEY INCLUDES WATERFRONT PARK. WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT SURVEY WILL BE DONE? >> WE RECEIVED THE INVOICE LAST WEEK. WE WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING THE PREPARATION FOR THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY. AS I EXPECT AS IN THE PAST WE DID RECEIVE A PAGE WHERE WE COULD TAILOR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. WE WILL WORK ON PREPARING SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, BRING THEM TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL. HOW TO PHRASE QUESTIONS OR WHAT QUESTIONS TO INCLUDE BEFORE THAT SURVEY GOES OUT. BUT I EXPECT MISS BENSHACK HAS [01:30:03] BEEN WORKING WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES TO MOVE THAT PROJECT FORWARD. >> COMMISSIONER STURGES, IF YOU WOULD WAIT JUST ONE SECOND, I'D LIKE TO PIGGY BACK ON THE VICE MAYOR'S QUESTION. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PUTTING WATERFRONT PARK QUESTION IN WITH THE CITIZENS SURVEY SINCE THE CITIZENS SURVEY HAS LIKE 100 QUESTIONS IN IT. WHERE I WOULD LIKE THE CITIZENS TO BE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE OF THE WATERFRONT AND THE WATERFRONT ALONE. THAT WAS MY ORIGINAL THINKING OF HOW WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS WAS, ONE, A WATERFRONT SURVEY, FOLLOWED BY THE CITIZENS SURVEY, SINCE WE WERE PAYING ESSENTIALLY ONE PRICE FOR THE SURVEY. >> WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAILOR A SEPARATE SURVEY BASED ON THE POLLING THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO US TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THE WATER FRONT. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> THANK YOU. CITY MANAGER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BROUGHT UP AND HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT IT A COUPLE TIMES AND WE'VE SPOKE ABOUT BRIEFLY IS JUST FIRE, YOU SAY THEY'RE HAVING HARD TIME GETTING FIREMEN OR EMT'S OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE PROBABLY LOOKING AT SALARIES OR BENEFITS OR WORKING WITH THAT. COUPLE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FIRE CHIEF, IT KEEPS COMING UP ABOUT THE OVERTIME AND THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME THE EXISTING EMPLOYEES HAVE. I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT RESEARCH AND PROCESS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. HE SPOKE ABOUT DIFFERENT GRANTS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN GET TO HELP FUND FOR THE FIRST TWO OR THREE YEARS OF NEW EMPLOYEES. I WANT TO PURSUE THAT. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD AVENUE FOR US TO GET NEW EMPLOYEES AN EXTRA STAFF. JUST LIKE COVID, WHEN I SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT AND HE'S RUN TO ME A COUPLE TIMES IS WHERE THEY WERE IN A VERY TIGHT SPOT AND HAD A LOT OF OVERTIME BECAUSE COUPLE PEOPLE GOT COVID. JUST TO BE PREPARED FOR THE SITUATION, I THINK WE'RE YOUNG STAFFED TO START WITH IN THAT AREA. THAT'S ALL. I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON YOUR RADAR. >> MR. MAYOR? I SENT MS. JACOBS AN INFORMATION BOARD. THE GRANT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS CALLED THE SAFER GRANT. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> I KNOW CITY OF ORLANDO JUST GOT AN AWARD FOR SOME OF THAT. AS YOU EXPLAINED, YOU CAN USE THAT SAFER GRANT TO FUND THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS OF FIREFIGHTERS EMPLOYMENT. WE WILL EXPLORE THAT AND HOW WE CAN PURSUE THAT GRANT. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> I'M JUST CURIOUS, IS THAT IF YOU HIRE ANYBODY TO FILL A CURRENT POSITION OR IF YOU ADD A >> I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE OF THE - DETAILS. >> A LOT OF THOSE FUNDS YOU THEN HAVE TO COMMIT TO MORE EMPLOYEES. AND IF YOU COMMIT TO MORE EMPLOYEES, YOU'RE COMMITTED TO RAISING TAXES. I'LL JUST REMIND YOU, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. >> I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULDN'T DO IT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. >> I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION. I AM FULLY AWARE THAT THAT'S GOING TO COST MORE MONEY WHEN THERE'S NEW EMPLOYEES. BUT OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS SAFETY, IN MY OPINION. NO MATTER WHAT, I THINK THEY'RE UNDERSTAFFED. THEY'RE UNDER STAFFED. ANYWAYS, THAT'S ALL. >> OKAY. >> I JUST HAD TWO QUICK QUESTIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER. ONE, IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE WE PASSED A NOISE ORDINANCE. SO, A, STATUS OF THE DECIBEL ORDINANCE? >> ACCORDING TO CHIEF FOXWORTH THE NOISE METERS WERE ORDERED ON JULY 21ST. THEY HAVE AN EXPECTED 6 TO 12 WEEK DELIVERY WINDOW. >> WE'RE TWO MONTHS OVER ON, NO FAULT OF THE CHIEF. THEN NUMBER TWO, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS SINCE THE NEW ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT? >> ACCORDING TO CHIEF FOXWORTH, FROM JULY 1ST TO TODAY, THERE HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF 48 TOTAL NOISE COMPLAINTS CITY-WIDE WITH SIX BEING DOWNTOWN. THOSE SIX WERE A VEHICLE AND BOAT AT THE MARINA WERE PLAYING MUSIC TOO LOUD. THERE WAS A POCKET PARK THAT WAS TOO LOUD, TURNED DOWN. THEN CENTER STREET AND SECOND STREET, SOMEBODY WAS OPERATING A LEAF BLOWER. GREEN TURTLE ON TWO OCCASIONS. ONCE THEY WERE WARNED AND STOPPED PLAYING. SECOND TIME OFFICERS ARRIVED, THERE WAS NO MUSIC PLAYING. [01:35:03] SIX DOWNTOWN, 48 TOTAL SINCE JULY 1ST. >> OKAY. GENERALLY, PEOPLE, WHEN NOTICED, ARE COMPLYING? >> YES, SIR. ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF, WHEN THE POLICE HAVE RESPONDED, THE ALLEGED OFFENDER APPARENTLY HAS RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY. >> GREAT. THANK YOU, SIR. SECOND QUICK QUESTION. THE SUBSTRUCTURE X-RAY, DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT INSPECTION WILL TAKE PLACE? >> I'M NOT SURE WHEN THAT'S SCHEDULED. THAT IS ALL BEING COORDINATED, JUST TO CLARIFY, THE X-RAY AND ALL THAT EXTRA WORK IS BEING HANDLED BY THE CENTER STREET RESTAURANT. THAT'S NOT A CITY PROGRAM. >> THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT, CENTER STREET COMPANY RESTAURANT GROUP IS USING A LOCAL COMPANY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- HANSON AND ASSOCIATES IS AN ENGINEERING FIRM ON THE CITY APPROVED CONTRACTORS LIST. THEY HAVE AGREED TO REVIEW GPR IMAGERY AND TELL US WHAT THEY THINK. TODAY I WENT AHEAD FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS HEARING, APPEALS HEARING. I WENT AHEAD AND SENT -- SHE SENT ALL OF THE REPORTS THE CITY HAS ON HAND. I ADDED ONE TODAY WHICH COMES FROM CENTER STREET RESTAURANT GROUPS. KEISTER, MARK KEISTER IS THE NAME OF THE RESTAURANT FIRM. FOUND THAT IT'S SAFE. SO FAR FROM THE CITY'S REPORT THE CENTER STREET RESTAURANT GROUP, THIS RECENT REPORT IS SAFE. WE'RE GIVING THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT BECAUSE IT IS A VERY POPULAR BUSINESS. OCTOBER 20 WE STILL HAVE AN APPEAL HEARING SCHEDULED SO I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. [10. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS] ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, SIR. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT. >> YES. I SENT THOSE LITIGATION REPORTS OUT. IT COVERS QUARTER 2 AND 3. YOU'VE GOT ONE MORE AT THE END OF THE YEAR OR THE FIRST OF NEXT YEAR. NOTHING SIGNIFICANT. WE DON'T HAVE ANY REAL SIGNIFICANT CLAIMS. IF YOU NOTICE ON THERE, AND BECAUSE THIS WILL BE IN THE NEWS BUT A IT WAS BEFORE. THE LADY THAT WAS RUN OVER ON THE BEACH AT SEASIDE PARK NEAR THE PARKING ON THE BEACH AREA. THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND IT WILL BE MOST LIKELY MAKE NOISE. THE CITY IS DENYING LIABILITY IN THAT. SLIDERS SEASIDE GRILL WAS ALSO NAMED AS A DEFENDANT IN THAT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY, LET ME KNOW, BUT DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU SEE MR. PHILLIPS, ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF, ON TV AT SOME POINT CLAIMING THEY HAVE A LAWSUIT AND IT'S A STRONG CASE. I JUST SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS AND KNOW WE HAVE IT HANDLED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS COVERING IT. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ADD FROM THE INSURANCE DISCUSSION. IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. IS DEDUCTIBLES. WITH LITTLE OR NO INCREASE IN PREMIUMS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'RE GOING ON THE THIRD YEAR. THE CITY DOES NOT PAY ANY DEDUCTIBLE. ZERO DEDUCTIBLE FOR OUR LIABILITY CLAIMS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS LIABILITY, WHICH INCLUDES WHEN WE'VE HAD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHALLENGES. CHALLENGES AND SO FORTH. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT LIABILITY. WE HAD A COUPLE OF LAWSUITS THAT ARE NOW OVER, CASE CLOSED, NO AWARD AGAINST THE CITY. PLAINTIFFS WENT AWAY. THEY WERE SHOOTERS, OR THEY WERE SHOT, PARDON ME, AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS WERE ACCUSED AND EVERYTHING CAME OUT JUST FINE. YOU REALLY HAVE A GOOD ORGANIZATION HERE WORKING REALLY HARD FOR YOU. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL. AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE POSITIVE EVALUATION. THIS IS 14 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE AS CITY ATTORNEY. I STILL LOVE COMING TO WORK. I'M NOT JUST SAYING THAT. I LOVE COMING TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY KUDOS TO ALL FIVE OF YOU. I THINK THIS IS THE VERY FIRST TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE -- ALSO I SERVED ANOTHER CITY FOR SIX YEARS. THAT EACH OF THE FIVE OF YOU MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER, CITY CLERK AND I, IF NOT EVERY WEEK, EVERY TWO WEEKS. THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN MY CAREER. YOU'LL AULSZ HAVE SOME [01:40:01] COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE VERY BUSY. BUT YOU ALL MAKE THE TIME. WHETHER YOU'RE WORKING FULL-TIME, WHATEVER YOU HAVE. I KNOW I APPRECIATE IT. THE MANAGER AND CLERK AND I, I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THAT YOU TAKE THAT TIME. MAKES A REALLY HUGE DIFFERENCE. I FEEL LIKE EACH OF YOU, I DON'T HAVE ANY SURPRISES. IF THERE'S SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND REGARDING MY PERFORMANCE OR QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ALL VERY WILLING TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. CITY CLERK. [12. MAYOR/COMMISSIONER COMMENTS] >> NO REPORT. >> COMMISSIONER COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> THAT WAS A FUN MEETING. >> COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY JOKINGLY, BRADLEY, WE LET THE DOGS OUT. NOW THE DOGS AND ANIMALS ARE FREE. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. APPRECIATE IT, COMMISSIONER STURGES. WE HAD A GREAT TIME OVER THE WEEKEND. WE WERE PROUD TO EMCEE THE FIRST EVER ISLAND HOP CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL. THAT WAS A GREAT TIME. WE SOLD OUT THE EVENT. REALLY BENEFITTED MAIN STREET. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. >> VICE MAYOR? >> TAMMY KOZAK MENTIONED THE WORK SHOP OF OCTOBER 5TH, CITY MANAGER ASKED FOR LEGISLATIVE REQUEST BACK IN JULY. AND AFTER THAT, I SOLICITED SOME PUBLIC INPUT DEALING WITH THE PORT EMINENT DOMAIN. I THINK SOME OTHER PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON THAT, ALSO. COMMITTEES ARE IN SESSION ALREADY. NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL ASKED FOR LEGISLATIVE REQUEST ALSO. THAT CAN BE -- THAT CAN HELP US. THAT'S IT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. FINALLY, CONDOLENCES TO FORMER CITY COMMISSIONER PAT GAS AND HER FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF HER BROTHER, STEVEN KELLY, WHO SERVED TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS AS A NASSAU COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPRESENTING DISTRICT 2. COMMISSIONER KELLY WAS A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT WHO SERVED WITH COMMITMENT AND INTEGRITY. HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS KIND NATURE AND SENSE OF HUMOR AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. THE MINIVERSION OF SHRIMP FEST IS THE FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER. SO THE EVENT WAS CANCELLED THE LAST TWO YEARS DUE TO COVID. WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE SHRIMP FEST TO ATTEND THE EVENT. BIRTHDAY WISHES, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MISS DOROTHY BRAZIL. SHE WORKED FOR THE COOL BOARD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT HER PASSION WAS QUALITY SEWING, ALTERATIONS AND SEAM STRESS SERVICES. THE CITY CLERK IS WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE HER. FINALLY, I WILL BE OUT OF TOWN THURSDAY, SO VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE IN CHARGE. I WILL BE RETURNING SUNDAY. >> YOU'LL BE SURPRISED WHAT HAPPENS. DON'T WORRY. >> I'M NOT GOING TO GO THERE. STAY SAFE, EVERYONE. WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.