[00:00:06]
>> CALLED TO ORDER THE MARCH 1 , 2022 CITY COMMISSION WORKSHO
, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH, VICE MAYOR KROGER, COMMISSIONER BEAN, COMMISSIONER STURGES,
>> THANK YOU, HOUSEKEEPING. PERSONAL DEVICES, I SAY THIS EVERY WEEK, EVERY MEETING. AIRPLANE MODE, SILENT, OR OFF, PLEASE. WE APPRECIATE THAT.HERE'S A FIRST. SO, EVERY MEETING, I TALK ABOUT COVID-19. THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING WHERE I LOOK AT EVERYONE AND I DON'T SEE ONE MASK.
THAT'S A GOOD THING. SO, LET'S HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY. BUT DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OTHERS. AND FINALLY, I WILL GET TO THAT
[3.1 TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN ]
IN THE MAY MEETING.O, DISCUSSION, I HAVE 3.1 FREE MANAGEMENT. THIS ITEM WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF VICE MAYOR KREGER.YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. >> VICE MAYOR KREGER: THIS CONCEPT OR THIS EFFORT WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE ON 15 FEBRUARY MEETING AND IT GOT PUSHED BACK FOR VARIOUS READINGS REASONS. YOU HAVE WHAT IS A DRAFT OF THE TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND YOU ALSO HAVE IN DOCUMENTATION, THE ACTION PLAN. THE ACTION PLAN ACTUALLY DOES INCLUDE THE MAJORITY OF THESE ITEMS FROM THE DRAFT.
AND WHERE WE ARE AT NOW, YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE THIS AGAIN EVER, UNTIL MAY OR JUNE. AND WHAT IT WILL DO, WHAT THE PROCESS IS RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A MAJOR EFFORT GOING ON, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION. DO WE HAVE ONE PICTURE THAT WE CAN PUT UP? SIERRA CITY PARTNERSHIP, WHERE WE BROUGHT IN FOR $2000 SEATING, $2000 MATCH.
THE ADVANCED TREE CARE. ADVANCED TREE CARE IS PROVIDING SIX TRAINING SESSIONS, THOSE TRAINING SESSIONS INITIALLY ARE FOR THE ARBORISTS TO GET IN SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING, AND IT HAS INCLUDED VARIOUS STAFF MEMBERS, SOTAMAYOR WAS THERE, MYSELF, AND INCLUDED SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM THE CEMETERY STAFF, TWO PEOPLE FROM MAINTENANCE, THREE PEOPLE FROM PARKS AND REX, AND THE FOLLOWING ONE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.
SOME OF THE SAME, SOME NOT. AND THE GOAL IS TO TRAIN THEM.
THE ADVANCED TREE CARE IS ONE OF 20, UM, ARBORISTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEY DON'T CUT TREES AND THEY DON'T SELL ANYTHING, THIS IS PURELY A TRAINING EFFORT.
ONE OF THE GULF, AND THIS EFFORT PARALLELS ACTUALLY WHAT THE TREE COMMITTEE WANTED TODO , WE WILL PROVIDE ACCURATE VIDEO, DOCUMENTED TRAINING FOR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE DOING IS TO DETERMINE THE TREE AND YOU KNOW, THE ARBORISTS IS HEARING IT, IF DAVE WANTS TO ACCOMMODATE, THAT WOULD BE FINE, TO LOOK AT THE TREES, THE STRUCTURE, THE HEALTH OF THE TREES, AND MAKE DECISIONS OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO. IT WILL INCLUDE DETAILED LANGUAGE. YOU'VE GOT A PLAN, YOU GOT ORDINANCES, YOU'VE GOT THE OBC, AND THIS IS TO LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE AND MAKE SURE WE ARE UP-TO-DATE ON THOSE AND HAVE A PLAN. IT'S REALLY MORE OF A MAINTENANCE PLAN.SOME EFFECTIVE SOFTWARE, WHICH COULD BE WHAT WE HAVE OR COULD BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT THAT WILL COME IN THE END. IT'S WORKING WITH THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WITH THE DIFFERENT STAFF.
ONE THING I FOUND, AND MIKE CAN COMMENT, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE KNOWLEDGE OF SOME OF OUR STAFF, PARTICULARLY CEMETERY STAFF AND SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE, THEY REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. SO, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING.
ND ANY COMMENTS YOU HAVE? OR DAVE, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE
ANY COMMENTS? >> JUST WITH THAT TRAINING.
STATE YOUR NAME AND POSITION. >> DAVE, CITY URBAN FORESTRY.
UM, I THINK IT'S BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM, WE'VE ONLY GOT TWO OF THE TRAINING SESSIONS SO FAR, UM, BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL WITH THE MAJORITY OF MY CALLS THAT I GET OUR PEOPLE
[00:05:05]
WANTING TO TAKE DOWN TREES, AND THEY SAY THIS TREE LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO FALL ON THE HOUSE OR THE STREET HAD A BRANCH COME DOWN. SO, WITH THIS TRAINING, THE FIRST ONE WAS REALLY HELPFUL WITH, YOU KNOW, HOW TO IDENTIFY THE TREE AND ACTUALLY SEEING THAT THE TREE HAS TWO THINGS TO LOOK AT, THE STRUCTUREAND THE HEALTH.AND HOW THEY BOTH , UM, KIND OF MARRIAGE EACH OTHER AND WHETHER THAT TREE SHOULD COME DOWN OR NOT.
SO, THAT HELPS WITH THESE PEOPLE:, THE RESIDENTS CALLING WONDERING ABOUT THESE TREES, AND IT'S HELPING ME TO IDENTIFY THAT SOME TREES, YES, THEY NEED TO COME DOWN, BUT THE MAJORITY DON'T, THEY DON'T POSE A RISK. SO THIS TRAINING HAS BEEN GREAT. THE FUTURE TRAININGS ARE GOING TO BE ON GROUPS, GROUP ASSESSMENTS.
A LOT OF TIMES, TREES GET PLANTED TOO DEEP.
NOT BY THE CITY STAFF, BUT BY VENDORS OR SOMETHING, SO WE CAN LOOK AT THAT, AND ALSO, HEALTH ON THE TREES AS THEY AGE.
AND REPLACEMENT OF THOSE TREES. SO, IT'S BEEN A GREAT LEARNING
EXPERIENCE FOR ME. >> AND I THINK IT WILL TRANSLATE INTO PERMANENT RECORDS FOR THE WHOLE STAFF.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS STAFF. ONE OTHER THING I WILL MENTION, WHICH IS SORT OF RELATED, IS THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE IN THE SENATE THURSDAY, WHICH ACTUALLY MODIFIES THE PREEMPTION BILL. IT DOES REQUIRE THAT THE STATEMENT BY AN ARBORIST BE THERE.
AND HAS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND DETERMINE RISK OF MODERATE OR WORSE.
SO, IT'S A LITTLE MOVE FORWARD. IT STILL DOESN'T GIVE US MANY TEETH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE TO CALL, BUT FROM THAT, HOPEFULLY WE ARE WORKING ON OUR SOLICITATION.
YOU KNOW, AND IT WILL GET UPDATED.
AND REMEMBER, BY CONSENSUS, WE ALL AGREED TO MOVE FORWARD AND ARE LOOKING AT LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO THAT.
NOW YOUKNOW THAT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN , SOB& I'VE BEEN REACHING OUT, PUSHING IT. THAT'S A LONG-TERM PROJECT, SOB I WILL KEEP YOU ALL INFORMED. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ANY COMMENTS? I JUST HAVE ONE.
PROBABLY AN ADDENDUM TO THIS LIST.
AND, UM, AS YOU WILL RECALL, I THINK IT WAS LAST MEETING OR THE MEETING BEFORE, TALKED ABOUT HISTORIC TREES AND DOING AN INVENTORY OF THE NUMBER OF HISTORIC TREES AND IDENTIFYING MORE TREES. SO, I WOULD ASK THAT THAT WOULD
BE INCLUDED. >> I THINK WE ARE WORKING ON
HERITAGE TREES MORE. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.
[3.2 ROAD MAINTENANCE PLAN]
>> 10 MINUTES OR LESS. >> ALL RIGHT, YOU SUCCEEDED.
ALL RIGHT, ITEM 3.2, ROAD MAINTENANCE PLAN, THIS IS PLACED ON THE AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER ROSS,
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS:
>> WE NEVER SHOWED MY PICTURE. IT'S OKAY.
IT'S ALL RIGHT. >> WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO
DISPLAY IT AT THIS TIME? >> WE DON'T NEED IT.
OH, IT'S A TRAINING ACROSS THE STREET.
SO, THE MAINTENANCE GUYS, DAVE IS THERE SOMEWHERE, I AM IN THE BACKGROUND. AND HE IS EVALUATING THAT TREE, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH OF THE TREE AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE TREE AND ROOT SYSTEM AND ALL. AND THEY HAVE DONE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL DO THAT ALL OVER.
THURSDAY, WE ARE GOING TO DO THE BIG TREES ON SEVENTH STREET, WHICH ARE ALMOST TOTALLY HOLLOW.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: SO, COMMISSIONER ROSS, ARE YOU DOING YOUR SUBMARINE SLIDESHOW? I JUST WANT TO PULL IT UP ON MY
DESKTOP. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: SO, THE NEXT ONE. SO, BACK IN 2019, THE CITY PAID $50,000 AND WE HIRED A COMPANY TO GO OUT IN THE ENTIRE CITY AND FIGURE OUT A PLAN TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF ROADS. NEXT ONE, PLEASE.
AND, UM, OUR ROADS ARE PROBABLY ONE OF OUR BIG $44 MILLION ASSET FOR THE CITY, 68.7 MILES OF ROAD.
WE HAVE 62 PARKING LOTS, WHICH WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE STUDY.
ALLEYS AND BICYCLE WAVES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE STUDY.
SO, WE HAVE AN ASSET WORTH $44 MILLION, AND LIKE MANY OF THE ASSETS IN THIS CITY, IN MY OPINION AND THE OPINION OF OTHERS, WE ARE NOT FUNDING ADEQUATELY TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
[00:10:02]
EXT, PLEASE. SO, THIS IS THE MONEY WE HAVE ACTUALLY SPENT ON RESURFACING SINCE 2016.UM, THE NEXT ONE. AND WHAT THE OPTIONS WERE, WE PAID $50,000 TO LEARN, THEY GAVE US A NUMBER OF SCENARIOS.
ALL THE WAY FROM SPENDING $4.7 MILLION, AND THEN JUST FIXING ALL THEROADS , OR JUST DOING NOTHING.AND THEY RECOMMENDED BUDGET OF SPENDING APPROXIMATELY $540,000 A YEAR, AND THAT WOULD KEEP THE PCI STANCE PREPAYMENT CONDITION INDEX AND BACKLOG, THE NUMBER OF ROADS THAT ARE NOT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, UM, AND THEY RECOMMENDED $540,000.
AND IF YOU GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WE HAVE NOT SPENT THAT. NEXT, PLEASE.
AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, ALL THIS COSTS IS $2019 AND WE KNOW THERE'S INFLATION, IT'S FOR PAVEMENT REHABILITATION ONLY, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE TAKING CARE OF THE POTHOLES, USUAL MAINTENANCE OF ROADS, AND IT DOES NOT INCLUDE TAKING CARE OF PARKING LOTS. NEXT.
SO, THIS IS A SLIDE THAT SHOWS ALL THOSE SCENARIOS.
AND BASICALLY, WE ARE NOW HERE. AND WE DIDN'TB IF WE HAD SPENT WHAT THEY RECOMMENDED, WE WOULD HAVE AN IMPROVEMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T SPEND THAT, SO WE ARE PROBABLY DOWN IN HERE IN OUR ROADS. SO, OUR ROADS ARE DETERIORATING BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. UM, AND SO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE FIRST TO TALK ABOUT OR AT LEAST MAKE A COMMITMENT, IS TO, UM, FOLLOW WHAT STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED, WHICH IS TO FOLLOW WHAT THESE PEOPLE RECOMMENDED. AND ADEQUATELY FUND THIS, MAKE A COMMITMENT, ACTUALLY, WITH THE POLICY.
THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID, ADOPT A POLICY TO MAINTAIN THE PCI OF BOTH 70 WHILE KEEPING THE BACKLOG BELOW 10 PERCENT. AND IT'S BASICALLY ABOUT $540,000 AND 2019 DOLLARS. AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTIONS GOT TO DO WITH WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO ABOUT PARKING LOTS AND WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO COMMIT TO FOR THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR? BUT WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS ARE WE WILLING TO COMMIT TO BACKING THE STAFF AND DOING WHAT THE CONSULTANTS SAID AND MAINTAINING OUR ROADS IN THE SAME OR A LITTLE BIT BETTER CONDITION GOING FORWARD?
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: VICE MAYOR?
>> VICE MAYOR KREGER: YEP. [LAUGHING] I FULLY EXPECT THE CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WILL INCLUDE WHAT IS NECESSARY THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONSULTANT IN THE FIVE YEAR CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND WE NEED TO FUND IT.
WHEN I DRIVE ON THE ROADS, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THESE ROADS.
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ASSET, SO, THE ANSWER IS, YEAH.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: I GOT FIVE YESES, WE ARE DONE TALKING. COMMISSIONER BEAN?
>> COMMISSIONER BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO EVERYTHING IN THE PACKET? COULD YOU PULL UP THE REPORT OPTION? I THINK IT'S LISTED AS B IT'S THE PAVEMENT ANALYSIS REPORT.
PAGE 23 ON THERE. IF WE CAN GO TO THAT SECTION OF THE REPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO QUOTE THE REPORT ITSELF AS WE TALK HERE, BECAUSE I JUST HAVE THREE POINTS ABOUT THE ROADS, AND I WANT TO MAKE THEM ALL. AND, UM, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT OUR ROADS ARE VERY WELL MAINTAINED.
I HAVE FULL FAITH IN OUR CITY STAFF TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR ROADS, AND I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD OF MAINTAINING OUR ROADS. ON THIS REPORT THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO LOOK AT, THE AVERAGE PCI AND WHAT PCI STANDS FOR, IT'S LIKE A GRADE OF HOW GOOD YOUR ROAD IS.
IT'S A GRADE FROM A SCALE OF ONE TO 100.
DOWN THE SCALE, 70 TO 85, THAT MEANS YOUR ROAD IS VERY GOOD.
SO, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE ROADS IN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, YOU AVERAGE, ALTOGETHER, WE HAVE AN AVERAGE GRADE OF 72, WHICH IS VERY GOOD. AND SO, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE PROUD OWNERS OF SOME VERY GOOD ROADS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
THAT'S STEP ONE, I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF.
AND HERE ON PAGE 23 OF THIS REPORT, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
I THINK IT IS ONE DOWN. OH, FOR DOWN.
[00:15:01]
THAT'S ALL GOOD. THAT'S PAGE 20.THREE MORE PAGES, REAL QUICK. THIS IS THE CHART.
ONE MORE PAGE NOW, PERFECT. >> THIS IS 22 RIGHT HERE.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE ONE AFTER THIS ONE.
>> ARE LOOKING AT THE PAGE NUMBER ON THE REPORT?
HERE IT IS, SO THAT'S THE PCI. SO, THIS IS ALL THE ROADS IN THE CITY CREATED BY THIS STUDY, AND IF YOU LOOK, AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE THE AVERAGE COMES FROM. THE AVERAGE IS 72.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE A LOT OF ROADS ABOVE THAT, THERE ARE SOME ROADS BELOW THAT, AND THAT'S THE POINT OF OUR REPAVING PROGRAM. BUT ON AVERAGE, WE HAVE A ROADS SCORE OF 72, WHICH IS A VERY GOOD SCORE.
THAT'S POINT ONE. I TO SAY THANK YOU TORAH STAFF FOR DOING THAT. THEN .2, THIS IS A GREAT DISCUSSION FOR THE BUDGET TOPIC COMING UP IN JUNE AND JULY AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT THEN.
AND POINT NUMBER THREE IS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CITY STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHICH ROADS WE SHOULD PAVE AND ONE AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THOSE ONE WE PROBABLY GET TO THAT PROCESS IN JUNE AND JULY OF THIS YEAR. BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WORKING. 72, THAT'S A GREAT SCORE.
EXCUSE ME, IT'S NOT GREAT, IT'S VERY GOOD, I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: CAROLINE, CAN YOU PUT UP COMMISSIONER ROSS'S PRESENTATION? PLEASE? AND IF YOU COULD GO TO THE SLIDE REVIEW SHOWED THE PAST YEAR OF FUNDING.
RIGHT THERE, THANK YOU. SO, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS541 541,000 . SOMEWHERE IN THERE.SO, AS WE CAN SEE, WE HAVEN'T MET THAT. AND THE ROAD REPORT WAS THREE YEARS AGO? SO, THREE YEARS AGO, YOU COULD SEEB SO, WE ARE AT A DEFICIT. RIGHT?
SO, WE ARE PLAYING CATCH UP. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: IT'S WORSE, CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE?
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: THAT'S FINE, WE ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP.OU'RE GOING TO NEED TO CATCH UP.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: YEAH, BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS IT'S GOING DOWN.EVEN IF YOU FIX, 100 PERCENT, IT'S GOING TO GO DOWN, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ASSET THAT DETERIORATES OVER TIME. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE CITY STAFF HAS DONE A VERY NICE JOB TAKING CARE OF IT, BUT WHAT THEY NEED IS MONEY TO PAY TO DO THIS.
SO, IF WE HAD FOLLOWED THE PLAN, WE WOULD BE GOING UP OR GETTING BETTER. INSTEAD, WE ARE GOING DOWN.
THAT'S IT. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: SO, WE ARE PROBABLY ABOVE 10 PERCENT. WE DON'T KNOW.
UM, SO I WOULD AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR.
ROADS IS INFRASTRUCTURE EVERYBODY USES.
AND I'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH OTHER GROUPS BEFORE.
OUR CITY IS POORLY DESIGNED. WE HAVE TWO MILLS AND A PORT, WHICH ARE INDUSTRIAL, WHICH SIT ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
THE ROADS ARE DESIGNED RESIDENTIAL.
THEY WEREN'T DESIGNED INDUSTRIAL.
AND SO, UM, A ROAD LIKE GOLLUM, A ROAD LIKE DAVE, WHICH HAVE HUGE TRUCK TRAFFIC ON THEM, THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THOSE ROADS IS INCREDIBLE. SO, YES, WE HAVE TO FUND ROADS.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT'S AT THE VERY TOP OF THE LIST.
ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE WE ALL USE THEM AND WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. AND IT SHOULDN'T BE ANY SURPRISE TO ANYBODY THAT OUR CITY IS AT A TIPPING POINT.
AND WE ALL SAW THE DRAFT OF THE BUILDING, UM, EVALUATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT, BUT , UM, THERE'S SOME NUMBERS IN THEIR THAT WILL WAKE YOU UP REAL FAST, SO I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ANYONE ELSE?
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: COMMISSIONER STURGES.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I THINK THE CITY STAFF HAS DONE VERY WELL WITH WHAT THEY HAVE, UM, WE HAVE INCREASED OUR BUDGET YEAR OVER YEAR IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WHETHER WE CAN MAKE IT TO THAT $540,000 MARK A YEAR, ONLY THE BUDGET WILL TELL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OKAY.
COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: BUT HERE'S MY POINT, WE NEED TO MAKE THE BUDGET TO MAKE IT THERE. I MEAN, WE NEED TO FUND THIS.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH OUR CITY. WE HAVE ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE SAY THE BUDGET. WELL, THE BUDGET IS WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO SPEND AND WE NEED TO SPEND IT AND WE NEED TO FIND
[00:20:01]
THE MONEY TO FUND IT, BECAUSE THESE GENTLEMEN OUT HERE CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THESE ROADS, AND WE SAY WHAT WAS IN THE BUDGET? WELL, THE BUDGET IS WHAT WE MAKE IT.WE SET THE TAX RATE, WE DECIDE HOW MUCH MONEY THERE IS, AND WE NEED ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND ROADS.
HOWEVER YOU WANT TO COME UP WITH THAT.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT B I DON'T THINK IT'S NEGOTIABLE FOR THIS CITY. I MEAN, THIS IS AN ASSET, IT'S $44 MILLION, IT'S WHAT EVERYBODY DEPENDS UPON, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FUND. THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE, SOB&.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS.
ALL RIGHT, WE ARE STARTING TO GET INTO A BUDGET DEBATE WHICH I REALLY WANT TO AVOID BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE LOTS OF TIME AND ENERGY TO DEBATE WHEN THE BUDGET IS PRESENTED TO US.
WE WILL GO OVER THIS VERY SAME MATERIAL WE HAVE MORE DATA.
AND WE KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL BUDGET IS.
SO, UM, IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING IN ADDITION TO THATB.
>> JUST BRIEFLY, IT'S KIND OF ALONG THE SAME LINES AS CHIP, UM, THE PLAN THROUGH STATE LAW REQUIRES US TO DEVELOP A CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FUNDED BASED ON PRIORITIES, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, THIS SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY.
AND THAT IS A DECISION THAT WE WILL MAKE.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS FOR THE VERY PURPOSE AND IS REQUIRED THAT WE DO IT.
[3.3 NON-PROFIT FUNDING CRITERIA]
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANYTHING ELSE ON ROAD MAINTENANCE? OKAY.ITEM 3.3, NONPROFIT FUNDING CRITERIA, THIS ITEM IS PLACED ON THE AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER ROSS. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: THANK YOU, THIS IS REAL SIMPLE.
LAST YEAR, WE SPENT $100,000 ON NONPROFITS.
SO, THE FIRST QUESTION IS, SHOULD BE CREATE THE POLICY OF DIRECTING THE CITY STAFF TO PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET AGAIN? AND IF WE DO PUT IT IN, WHAT CRITERIA, IF ANY, SHOULD BE HAVE FOR PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR THAT MONEY? UM, AND MY OPINION IS BECAUSE WE HAVE CHANGED FROM WHAT I HAVE PREVIOUSLY ARTICULATED, UM, THAT I THINK THAT WE HAVE MANY UNFUNDED INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, AND WE NEED TO FOCUS THAT BUDGET ON PAYING FOR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND, UM, SO, I WOULD NOT SUPPORT FUNDING NONPROFITS THIS YEAR. AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS WE ARE GOING TO FUND THEM, THEN I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD GO TOWARD BASIC NEEDS FOR PEOPLE THAT THE CITY PROVIDES, SUCH AS FOOD, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. SO, UM, THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS.
SOB& AND BEFORE PEOPLE APPLIED, THERE SHOULD BE CRITERIA FOR YOU HAVE TO MEET X, Y, AND C BEFORE WE ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOUMONEY . AND THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE STAFF, WITH A SET OF CRITERIA AS TO WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: VICE MAYOR?
>> VICE MAYOR KREGER: I'D, UM, I'M NOT WILLING TO COMMIT TO NOT FUNDING RIGHT NOW, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT POSITION, IT IS A VALID POSITION. THE SECOND ITEM, I THINK IS IMPERATIVE THAT IF WE DO FUN, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND IT IS KEPT IN THE BUDGET, WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AS SPECIFICALLY RELATES TO THOSE SERVICES THAT PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE KNOW, WE HAVE AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE THAT.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: ANYONE ELSE?
COMMISSIONER STURGES? >> COMMISSIONER STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR AND I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IN THE BUDGET.
I ALMOST THINK THAT THE MAIN CORE SERVICES SHOULD JUST BE ITEMS, AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CUT EVERYTHING ELSE OFF, OTHER THAN THOSE MAIN CORE SERVICES.
NOW, IF THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT WOULD APPLY THAT WOULD PROVIDE THOSE MAIN CORE SERVICESB& I MEAN, MENTAL HEALTH, I MEANB& YEAH. WE'VE SUPPORTED THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH THOSE NONPROFITS. UM, AND IF THERE IS A CRITERIA THAT WE COME UP WITH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE THE BETTER MAN, AND I DO AGREE THAT WE STILL NEED
TO SUPPORT, SOB THAT'S ALL. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH:
COMMISSIONER BEAN? >> COMMISSIONER BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHAT I WOULD SUPPORT IS THIS COMMISSION CAME TOGETHER LAST BUDGET CYCLE AND CAME UP WITH
[00:25:02]
$100,000, THAT WAS SCALED BACK FROM THE YEAR PRIOR.THAT $100,000 WAS FOR GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT I THINK MEET THE DEFINITION THAT THE VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER ROSS AND COMMISSIONER STURGES WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT.
THOSE FOUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY ALL PROVIDE SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROBABLY SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF, BUT WE ARE NOT, SO THAT'S WHAT THESE GUYS COME IN, AND WE CAN HELP THEM GET THEIR GOOD WORK DONE, SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT PORTION OF THE BUDGET, SO LET'S LEAVE IT BE AND LET'S DO THE SAME THING WE DID LAST YEAR IN
TERMS OF FUNDING THOSE FOUR ORGANIZATIONS.>> ANYONE ELSE?
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: I WILL JUST REITERATE THAT I THINK ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DO A FANTASTIC JOB PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
MY ONLY POINT IS, UM, THE CITY HAS OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND I THINK THOSE HAVE TO BE FUNDED FIRST.
AND IF WE CAN FUND OUR ROADS AND WE CAN FUND EVERYTHING ELSE AND THERE'S MONEY LEFT OVER FOR THAT, THAT'S GREAT.UT IF THE MONEY ISN'T THERE, UM, I JUSTB& IT'S A TOUGH DECISION, BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS FALLING APART.
AND WE KEEP DOING MONEY HERE, MONEY OVER HERE, MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE, AND WE DON'T PUT IT INTO INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WE NEED TO PUT OUR MONEY INTO INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE IT'S DETERIORATING AND DETERIORATING.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OKAY. ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE DEVOLVING INTO BUDGET DEBATE.UM, I WILL SAY THE FOLLOWING: I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TROUBLED BY HOW WE FUND NONPROFITS, BECAUSE WE CREATE WINNERS AND LOSERS.AND BY OPENING UP AND TELLING ALL THE NONPROFITS, HEY, APPLY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE CITY GRANTS, YOU ARE RAISING THEIR EXPECTATIONS. AND THERE'S NO EQUITY SYSTEM IN WHICH TO FUND THEM. SO, WE END UP FUNDING THE SAME FOUR, WHICH ARE JUSTIFIED, AND SHOULD BE FUNDED.
SO, MY POSITION ON THIS IS IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET, FUND THOSE FOR, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR TO APPLY FOR FUNDING. BECAUSE YOU ARE CREATING THIS LOSER SYSTEM AMONG NONPROFITS. I THINK THAT'S GROSSLY UNFAIR.
SO, ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE THIS DEBATE WHEN WE GET A BUDGET IN OUR HANDS. ANYTHING ELSE ON NONPROFITS?
[3.4 PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT - CENTRAL PARK]
OKAY. ITEM 3.4, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, CENTRAL PARK. THIS ITEM IS PLACED ON THE AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER BEAN.YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN: INCORPORATED YOU, MR. MAYOR, I THINK CAROLINE HAS THE PACKETS IF YOU WANT TO PASS IT DOWN, TAKE ONE AND PASS IT DOWN.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OKAY. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN: COMMISSIONERS, WE ENDED THE PLAYGROUND DISCUSSION TWO DAYS AGO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PICK BACK UP AND KEEP THIS DISCUSSION GOING.
SOME STUFF THAT WAS SAID, UPON FURTHER REFLECTION, I THINK THERE IS A PATH FORWARD THAT WILL WORK FOR ALL OF US, AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THESE OPTIONS BEFORE, BUT I HAVE A NEW PLAN. AND THIS IS A PLAN THAT I WANT TO RUN BY YOU GUYS AND DISCUSS OF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE IT WORK. IN THE SOLUTION IS IMPACT HE IS. LAST MEETING, THE VICE MAYOR MENTIONED HE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF USING IMPACT FEES FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND I KNOW THE MAYOR'S OPINION ON IMPACT FEES. SO, I HAVE THE DRAWING BOARD AND TRIED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
I REMEMBER COMMISSIONER STURGES'S POINT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE B& IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND TAMMY, WE CAN'T SPEND IMPACT FEES DIRECTLY ON THE PLAYGROUND THAT IS REPLACEMENT IN KIND. BUT WHAT WE CAN SPEND IMPACT FEES ON HIS NEW EQUIPMENT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE.
AND SO, THE GREAT NEWS IS, ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PIECES OF THIS WHOLE PLAYGROUND IS THE RUBBER MAT, WHICH HAS ABOUT $100,000 PRICE TAG.NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS, GENTLEMEN, WE CAN USE $100,000 OF IMPACT FEES TO FUND THIS 88 COMPLIANT RUBBER MAT, AND THEN ONCE WE RETURN THE OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE, YOU'RE ONLY ASKING FOR $20-$30,000 OUT OF THE CONTINGENCY FUND, AND WE CAN MAKE THE MOST EXPENSIVE OPTION HERE WORK. SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL HAVE THE TOP OPTION THERE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR, THE $96,000 OPTION UP ON TOP, WE CAN USE THAT PLAN, WE CAN USE THE $70,000 THAT WE ARE GOING TO FREE UP FROM THE
[00:30:01]
IMPACT FEE FUND BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND RETURNING THE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS INITIALLY INTENDED FOR SIMMONS ROAD.THEN STEP TWO, WE ARE PAYING FOR THE RUBBER MAT.
IT PROVIDES BETWEEN $200,000-$220,000 TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH I BELIEVE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE PLAYGROUND FOR A GOOD REPLACEMENT THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR Y'ALL'S THOUGHTS, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS, IS THERE SOMETHING MISSING FROM THIS PLAN? WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT?
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: THANK YOU, SIR
COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: FIRST OF ALL , YOU WANT TO PUT THIS IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET, NO PROBLEM. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PUTTING IMPACT FEES FOR THE SURFACE UNDERNEATH THERE.
BUT TO REPLACING THE EQUIPMENT ITSELF, UM, IT HAS TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND. AND FOR TAKING IT FROM THE CONTINGENCY FEE, I AM ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO THAT.
THE CONTINGENCY FEE HAS HARDLY ANY MONEY AND NOW, WE HAVE LEGAL ISSUES ON OUR HORIZON. AND, UM, THERE WAS TESTIMONY, AN HOUR AND A HALF AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING THAT THIS IS A REPLACEMENT FOR EQUIPMENT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UM, AND I THINK IT SHOULD GO INTO THE BUDGET AND PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
YOU CAN ADD IN THE IMPACT FEES FOR PAYING FOR THAT PART OF IT.
THE REST FROM THE GENERAL FUND. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT, WE HAVE SEVEN OTHER PROGRAMS. SEVEN OTHER PLAYGROUNDS. THIS IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, THE CITY HAS TOO MUCH STUFF. WE HAVE ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR AND WE CAN'T MAINTAIN.
SO NOW, WE SHOULD PUT IT BACK, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT I'M JUST POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE PLAYGROUNDS, SEVEN PLAYGROUNDS FOR A CITY OF12,000 PEOPLE , WITH SEVEN PLAYGROUNDS. THERE AREN'T TOO MANY OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH OUR POPULATION, I CAN'T THINK OF ONE THAT YOU KNOW THAT HAVE THAT KIND OF FACILITY.
WE HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF IT. AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE FACE GOING INTO THIS BUDGET AND THE PROBLEM WE HAVE FACED NOW FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO TAKE O . EVERYBODY LIKES NEW STUFF, EVERYBODY LIKES THAT STUFF, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. BEACH WALKERS ARE AN EXAMPLE.
ALL THE BUILDINGS MENTIONED IN THAT REPORT OR PART OF THE PROBLEM. ALL THESE PLACES, WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF, AND WE KEEP PUTTING IN NEW STUFF.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: VICE MAYOR? >> VICE MAYOR KREGER: LET ME
TALK ABOUT IMPACT FUNDS FIRST. >> THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE USE OF IMPACT FUNDS FOR EXPANSION, NEW CONSTRUCTION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE LAW, WHICH WOULD BE FINE FOR VARIOUS DIFFERENT THINGS. AS FAR AS THE PARK ITSELF, MOVING FORWARD, MY CONCERN IS THAT HOWEVER IT HAPPENED, IT BECOMES IRRELEVANT.THAT'S A PREMIER PARK.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO, IN MY MIND, IS HAVE A GOOD, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.WE MAY BE ABLE TO REALLOCATE, WE HAVE TO GO BACK O SIMMONS AND DO THAT. WE HAVE SOME NICE PARKS THE MLK IS A VERY NICE PARKS. BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OVERALL PLAN FOR THE PARKS, AND I WOULD PUT IT IN THE NEXT BUDGET HERE.
I WOULD GO OUT, AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO SCOTT, BUT I'M SURE SCOTT IS TALKING TO PEOPLE. AND, WITH THE PLAN TO MAKE CENTRAL PARK REALLY A NICE, VIABLE PARK.
IT WILL DO IT UNTIL THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
I BELIEVE WE DID HAVE 300,000 IN OUR NEXT YEAR.
I THINK IT'S IN THE CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN ALREADY, BUT I WOULD BACK UP AND GET A PLAN ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO, PUT IT IN THE CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, IT CAN USE IMPACT FUNDS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR. MAKE THAT A TIP TOP PRIORITY IT JUSTB& I WAS OUT THERE LAST NIGHT.
IT'S JUST HOW ABSURD. AND I'M NOT BEATING ON ANYBODY ABOUT THAT, IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO, I WOULD GO OUT, I WOULD ASK STAFF OR CITY MANAGER, COMING UP WITH A PLAN, TIMELY PLAN, SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE IN THE BUDGET, BUT WE CAN BE READY TO ORDER AND READY TO MOVE. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE.
I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH:
COMMISSIONER BEAN? >> COMMISSIONER BEAN: ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO SPEAK IN A SECOND.
[00:35:04]
DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO GO FIRST?>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: COMMISSIONER STURGES.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I AGREE WITH VICE MAYOR, AND I AM 1000 PERCENT AND WANTING TO FIX THAT PARK AND MAKE IT BACK THE WAY IT IS, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN, AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING LIVING ON THE ISLAND AND HAVE SEVEN PARKS AND BOAT RAMPS AND ALL THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME HERE. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE COMING HERE EVERY DAY. UM, SO IT'S A GREAT THING AND IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY TO BEGIN, BUT WE HAVE $250,000 IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. I THINK SOMEBODY SAID 300, BUT I REMEMBER IT'S 250 AND SOME CHANGE FOR NEW PARK EQUIPMENT AND NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE PUSHED IT.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO TAKING THAT $250,000, PLUS IMPACT FEES OF MORE, AND COMING UP WITH A PLAN.
WHEN EVERYBODY WAS GOING UPSET ON FACEBOOK ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT GETTING CHANGED AND INCORRECTLY FOR DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS, I REACHED OUT TO THREE OR FOUR OF THE MOST HOT TOPIC PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK AND TALKED TO THEM DIRECTLY, AND I SAID, WE ARE MISSING ONE IMPORTANT THING HERE.
WE HAVE REMOVED SOMETHING THAT ALL THE CHILDREN NEED.
HOWEVER, WE ARE MISSING A PLAN. BECAUSE IF WE GO OUT THERE AND JUST PUT THAT ONE ITEM BACK OUT, WE MIGHT, WE MIGHT CURE IT IF WE DO IT IMMEDIATELY, WE MIGHT NOT.
IT'S TIME TO RENOVATE THAT PARK AND MAKE IT LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S TIME TO MAKE IT A SHOWPIECE, AND I THINK THAT IT CAN BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER AS WELL.
THERE IS NO REASON, IF WE HAD A PLAN, THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T TAKE THE MONEY FROM NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, BORROW IT, THEN PUT IT BACK. THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T TAKE IMPACT FUNDS AND USE THEM. THE MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE.
THE ISSUE TO ME IS THE PLAN. WITHOUT A PLAN, SO I THINK THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, IF THEY CAN'T MAKE THE DECISIONS, I THINK WITHIN 2 TO 3 MONTHS OR LESS, IF THEY PUT B ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL THESE UPSET PARENTS, I CAN GIVE YOU THEIR NAMES, AND JUST GO PICK SOME UP FROM DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS, ALMOST LIKE A SUBCOMMITTEE, AND GO, OKAY, WHAT KIND OF PARK EQUIPMENT DO YOU THINK WOULD LOOK GREAT? AND I'M SURE SOME OF THOSE HOT TOPIC PARENTS AND SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WOULD GO OUT AND SPEND TIME AND RESEARCH THE EQUIPMENT. I HAD ONE MOTHER CALL ME AND SAY, I LOOKED AT ALL THESE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT THEY SHOWED, AND NONE OF THEM SHOWED LIKE THIS THAT I COULD PUT OUT THERE, IT WOULD BE 40 OR $50,000 LESS, AND IT'S A PREMIER PIECE. SO, I'M CONCERNED.
I'M NOT SAYING SCOTT HASN'T PUT TIME OR THE STAFF HOUSE AND PUT TIME AND EFFORT INTO THESE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET A LITTLE IN IT CITIZEN INPUT FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND MAYBE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE PARK OR SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PARK, THEN, WITH A MASTER PLAN FOR THAT PARK AND IMPLEMENT IT, MOVE RIGHT THROUGH.
BUDGET IT AND DO IT. BUT I'M ALSO OPPOSED TO USING OUR FEES, BECAUSE I KNOW WELL THAT WE ARE IN A FEW LAWSUITS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO COST NOT THAT I WANT TO BRING THAT UP, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO COST. SO, I AM KIND OF OPPOSED TO USING OUR CONTINGENCY FUNDS FOR ANY OF THAT, BUT THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T SPEND THAT MONEY FOR THE EQUIPMENT, HAVE IT ALL LINED UP, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER 1 OR NOVEMBER 1 OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS TO ACTUALLY ORDER ANYTHING, WE CAN ORDER IT IN THE SUMMER OR SOONER, AS SOON AS WE HAVE A PLAN. SO, I'M ALL ABOUT THE PLAN AND THEN ACTION. THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: COMMISSIONER BEAN.
>> COMMISSIONER BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
FROM THIS, I SEE TWO POINTS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ON POINT NUMBER ONE.
I THINK WE ARE. POINT NUMBER ONE IS THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE, THE BACKGROUND OF THAT EQUIPMENT THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE, BECAUSE IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR SIMMONS PARK, IT WAS PURCHASED WITH IMPACT FEES. AND NOW THAT IT'S THERE, THE IMPACT FEES WEREN'T ABLE TO USE.
WE HAD TO PAY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND REIMBURSE THE IMPACT FEE FUND TO THE TUNE OF $70,000.
OUR GENERAL FUND IS $70,000 LESS BECAUSE OF USING THAT EQUIPMENT THERE. SO, REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DECIDE HERE, WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION WHEN WE GET THIS NEW EQUIPMENT AND, WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION TO REPLACE THAT EQUIPMENT, THEREBY RECLAIMING THE $70,000 OF IMPACT FEES, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT IT BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THAT'S STEP ONE, AND THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: I JUST LOST YOU.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: STOP. >> COMMISSIONER BEAN: LEGALLY, WE CAN DO THAT. WE MADE A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE IMPACT FUND TO MAKE IT WHOLE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. BUT BY RETURNING THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT OR RE-ATTENDING IT FOR ITS USE, JUST NOT USING IT AT CENTRAL PARK, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET A REFUND, WE GET OUR REFUND FROM THE IMPACT FUND IF THAT MAKES SENSE, AND IT DOES.
WE ARE ABLE TO GET THAT BACK. THAT'S $70,000 COULD HELP WITH
[00:40:01]
HER FUTURE PROJECT WE ARE GOING TO DO. AGREE WITH YOU BOTH, VICE MAYOR AND MR. STURGES, THAT WE DO NEED A PLAN BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE BALL ROLLING ON THAT, BECAUSE COMMISSIONER STURGES, I KNOW IF WE HAVE THIS PLAN, WE CAN BEGIN TO MAKE MOVES TO MAKE THIS PLAYGROUND HAPPEN, SO IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU GUYS, I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT CITY STAFF OR DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO DIRECT THE CITY STAFF, MAYBE OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR CAN GET STARTED ON MAKING A PLAN, A MASTER PLAN, UM, THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK TO US A MONTH FROM NOW, THAT WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT AND JUST CONTINUE THE BALL ROLLING HERE, BECAUSE WE CAN'T MAKE ANYB& EVE IF IT IS A BUDGET DISCUSSION, WE CAN'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT THIS PLAN, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED ON ITCOMMISSIONER STURGES? >> COMMISSIONER STURGES: BRIEFLY, THE ONLY THING I WANT TO MENTION, AND EVERY TIME YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT, BROADLY, AND I'M ONLY SAYING THIS BECAUSE I AM A LITTLE EDUCATED IN THE SUBJECT, UM, THAT EQUIPMENT IS OUT THERE AND IT WAS MEANT TO BE AT SIMMONS ROAD PARK FOR B& IT WAS USED IMPACT FEES, BUT IT COSTS SOMETHING TO PUT IT OUT THERE, SO IT IS GOING TO COST SOMETHING TO REMOVE IT, AND IT'S GOING TO COST SOMETHING TO STORE IT, SO IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO LEAVE IT THERE AND JUST MOVE ON, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE BESTOPTION , IN MY OPINION, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SPENDING CITY STAFF AND EFFORT, GOING BACKWARDS.
THAT'S MY ONLY THOUGHTS ABOUT IT.
AND YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT 70 GRAND IS THAT IMPORTANT OR NOT, I'M NOT SURE YET IN THE BUDGET, IN THE MONEY SIDE OF THINGS.
THAT'S THE ONLY CONCERN, THERE IS COST IN MOVING IT, THEN WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PUT IT AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT? YOU KNOW, I WAS OUT THERE A WEEK AGO, WAS OUT THERE FOR TWO HOURS AND WATCHED KIDS PLAYING ON AND THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS PLAYING ON ALL THAT EQUIPMENT.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT REALLY INTENDED FOR YOUNGER KIDS, BUT ANYWAYSB THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: COMMISSIONER ROSS?
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: I BELIEVE THE PARKS AND RECREATION IS COMING UP WITH THE ACTION PLAN TONIGHT.
PRESENTATION, SO, UM, SEE WHAT IS IT NOT.>> COMMISSIONER
BEAN? >> I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I AM IN NO WAY IN FAVOR OF REMOVING THE EQUIPMENT UNTIL WE ARE READY TO REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE BLANK OUT THERE, BUT LET'S LEAVE IT FOR NOW UNTIL WE CAN REPLACE IT.
WHEN WE DO, WE CAN RECLAIM THAT $70,000 IF WE PUT IT BACK WHERE
IT WAS INTENDED. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: ANYONE ELSE? GO AHEAD.
>> JUST BRIEFLY, I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING.
SO, IF THAT'S THE CASE, ARE WE WILLING TO TAKE A FEW TREES DOWN AND GO INSTALL IT AT SIMMONS PARK WHERE IT WAS DESIGNED TO GO? SOMEBODY HAD A PLAN AND IT WAS
DESIGNED TO GO IN SIMMONS PARK. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH:
COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: CAN I ASK
A QUESTION OF STAFF? >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: ABSOLUTELY.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS: ONCE THAT STUFF IS INSTALLED AND THEN YOU MOVE IT, DOES THE WARRANTIES AND ALL THAT STUFF JUST
EVAPORATE? >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: STATE YOUR
NAME AND POSITION, PLEASE. >> SCOTT MICHELSON, INTERIM PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR. I THINK THE WARRANTY HAS ALREADY BEEN VOIDED, THAT STUFF WAS PURCHASED THREE YEARS AGO.
AND THEN WE, AS IN THE STAFF, ACTUALLY INSTALLED IT, UM, SO I THINK THE WARRANTY IS THERE IF IT'S INSTALLED BY THEIR INSTALLERS. SO, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT
WARRANTY IS VOIDED. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH:
COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: WELL, I THINKB PERSONALLY, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT IS THE STAFF COME BACK TO THE PLAN AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH ALL THIS EQUIPMENT, NOT JUST SIMMONS ROAD.
UM, JUST, WITH A PLAN. I AGREE WITH YOU, COME UP WITH
A PLAN. >> IF I COULD SAY ONE OTHER
THING? >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: YES, SIR.
>> SCOTT: SO, THAT WAS ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL ISSUES WITH THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT THAT WAS PURCHASED, THE FALL ZONES ACTUALLY REQUIRED MORE AREA TO BE CLEARED AT SIMMONS.
SO, THAT WASB& IF WE WERE TO PU ALL OF THAT EQUIPMENT THERE, THERE'S ALREADY AN AREA THAT'S THERE.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ENLARGED DUE TO FALL ZONES.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: COMMISSIONER STURGES?
>> COMMISSIONER STURGES: SCOTT, JUST BRIEFLY, SO MAYBE PARTIAL WITH A PLAN, PARTIALLY SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT DOES AND UP THERE AND NOT ALL OF IT. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE EVERYTHING, IT'S A POSSIBILITY TO MAKE IT FUNCTIONAL IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE.
>> SCOTT: THAT IS CORRECT AND I THINK SURFACING WOULD BE A PART
OF THAT, AND SIMMONS AS WELL. >> I GET TO PUT THE BOW ON THE PACKAGE?> SOME OF US MAY TRY TO UNTIE IT.
[00:45:01]
[LAUGHING] >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: FIRST OF ALL, PART OF MY IRRITATION IS WHEN PEOPLE SAY YOU'RE ONLY A TOWN OF 12,000 PEOPLE AND THEY USE THAT POLITICALLY.
WE ARE NOT A TOWN OF 12,000 PEOPLE.
WE ARE ACCORDING TO THE SENSES. WE ARE AN ISLAND OF 30,000 PEOPLE. THERE ARE NO PARKS SOUTH OF SIMMONS ROAD. SO, GUESS WHERE ALL THE SOUTH ISLAND PEOPLE GO? THEY USE CITY PARKS.
SO, YOU HAVE 30,000 PEOPLE, THEN YOU HAVE 1.4 A MILLION TOURISTS. WHO USE PARKS.
>> 600,000. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OKAY? SO, THIS BUSINESS ABOUT WE ARE ONLY A CITY OF 12,000 B& UM, AS FAR AS THE TREES ON SIMMONS ROAD, UM, LET'S GET A DESIGN WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE TREES DOWN.
AND WE CERTAINLY NEED TO FINISH SIMMONS ROAD PARK.
SPEND A HECKUVA LOT OF MONEY ON THAT, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FULLY ADA COMPLIANT FOR ADA KIDS.
AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO FULFILL THAT MISSION.
UM, THEN FINALLY, I WILL SAY THAT YOU CAN USE IMPACT FEES.
IF YOU CAN REPLACE THE LIGHTING WITH IMPACT FEES, AND I'VE SAID THIS 100 TIMES, YOU CAN TAKE THAT PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT OUT OF THERE, HIRE A PLAYGROUND DESIGNER, DESIGN A BRAND-NEW CENTRAL PARK PLAYGROUND, AND BY THE EQUIPMENT ALWAYS IMPACT FEES.BECAUSE IT'S A BRAND-NEW PARK.
BRAND-NEW. IT'S NOT A REPLACEMENT, IT'S BRAND-NEW. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS
TOPIC? >> WE GET THAT PLAN, THE ACTION
ITEM, IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN HAVE CONSENSUS ON THERE?>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO FUND IT, SO ARE YOU GOING TO USE IMPACT FEES OR NOT?
>> YES. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: I SEE ONE YES. THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO
WOULD ARGUE YOU CAN'T. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: I THINK THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO SIGN OFF HIS CONTROLLER, AND I WOULD STRENUOUSLY ARGUE THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT
APPROPRIATE USE OF IMPACT FEES. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: HOW IS IT
NOT? >> THE LIGHTS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, I VOTED AGAINST THAT FOR THE SAME REASON, WE REPLACED THE LIGHTS, THEIR BRAND-NEW LIGHTS.
BUT THEY REPLACE LIGHTS, IT'S A REPLACEMENT, GO READ THE LAW.
I MEAN, IT HAS TO BE FOR EXPANSION FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NEW. YOU HAD AN HOUR AND A HALF OF TESTIMONY AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING AT THIS IS TO REPLACE WHAT IS THERE. IT'S NEW, I'M NOT ARGUINGB.
>> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OUT OF THE CONTINGENCY FUND, MR. ROSS.
OKAY, >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: WE CAN
AGREE TO DISAGREE. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: WE CAN, WE HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY HERE. ITH THAT, WE WILL CONCLUDE THE PARK DISCUSSION. ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS AT THE WORKSHOP? SEEING NO ONE.
WE ARE ADJOURNED B& VICE MAYOR? >> VICE MAYOR KREGER: I WAS GOING TO BRING THIS UP IN COMMENTS, BUT I THINK IT PROBABLY IS APPROPRIATE HERE. I THINK MOST OF YOU, NOT ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT THE TDC'S INITIATIVES, WHICH IN OUR CASE IS THE BEACH, ARE PRETTY MUCH SITTING IN WATER, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RELATIVE TO SPENDING.
THAT BEING SAID, THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, AND THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, I TALKED TO GAIL WITH IT, AND I THINK THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF IT. AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE TAXING, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE BEACH SAND TAX TO THE FULL COUNTY.
UM, AND MODIFYING THE WORDING OF THE TO ALLOW FOR MORE EXPANSION. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PASSED THAT FIVE YEARS AGO OR SIX YEARS AGO, IT WAS SPECIFICALLY TO FUND REIMBURSEMENT BASED ON THE 2008 PROJECT.
AND MAYBE A LITTLE MILLS INCREASE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, THAT WOULD PROVIDE SOME MORE MONEY, IF WE HAD A PROPER FORMULA FOR THE COUNTY, MOVE FORWARD ON SOME THINGS THEY WANT TO DO, AND FOR OUR BEACH INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED NOW. I THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN
SITUATION. >> MAYOR LEDNOVICH: OKAY, ANY
COMMENTS ON THAT? >> COMMISSIONER ROSS: I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> VICE MAYOR KREGER: THE ISLAND MINUS THE STATES.
SO, WE EXPAND TO THE FULL COUNTY.
AND WE INCREASE THE MILLAGE, WE CHANGE THE VERBIAGE TO BE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF BEACH INFRASTRUCTURE AND IN THE CASE OF MAYBE ENGINEERING STUDIES THAT GIVES THE COUNTY
[00:50:04]
WHAT THEY WANT AND WOULD GIVE US MONEY FOR OUR BEACH INFRASTRUCTURE.