[00:00:04]
CALL THE ORDER OF THE MARCH 15TH, 2022 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION. MADAM CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COMMISSIONER SERVICE. >> HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> HERE.
>> PERSONAL DEVICES, IF YOU CAN PUT THEM ON SILENT, AIRPLANE MODE OR TURN THEM OFF, GREATLY APPRECIATED. I SAID THIS IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING, COVID-19, NICE TO SEE A GATHERING WITH NO MASKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE STAY THAT WAY. BUT WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO GUARANTEE OR ENSURE YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY AND HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OTHERS PLEASE DO SO. AND FINALLY, THE QUORUM AND I'M GOING TO DIRECT THIS TO COMMISSIONERS, OUR CHAMBER LECTURN READS KINDNESS COSTS SO LITTLE. IN THAT SPIRIT, COMMISSIONERS, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND CONDUCT OURSELVES IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER. CAROLINE WROTE THAT AND DID A VERY GOOD JOB PROVIDING ME WITH THOSE THOUGHTS. AND I'VE BEEN FRUSTRATED OVER THE PAST TWO MEETINGS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS. AND IF I'M SHORT WITH YOU, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOL OF WHEN TO SPEAK AND SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOL OF HOW TO SPEAK AND WE'RE BETTER THAN THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE, YES, I WANT A DEBATE BUT A DEBATE CENTERED AROUND FACTS AND AROUND LOGICAL ARGUMENTS. I WANT TO EXCLUDE EMOTIONALLY CHARGED CHARACTE CHARACTERIZATIONS THAT HAVE NO PLACE ON THIS. BE MINDFUL AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. OUR INVOCATION WILL BE BY THE REVEREND FELIX OF TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AFTER FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR MR.
JOHN COTNER. >>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE REVEREND.
>> GOOD EVENING FRIENDS. IT'S SO GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. AND LET'S ALSO BE MINDFUL THAT INVOCATIONS ARE DONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN ALL THAT WE DO. SO THAT WE MAY NOT BE SEPARATED IN THE BUSINESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AMEN.
BUT IF WE KEEP THAT IN MIND, WE CAN ALWAYS TREAT EACH OTHER ACCORDINGLY. WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME. LORD, UNTO YOUR MOST HOLY PRESENCE WE NOW COME. CALM OUR ANXIOUS SPIRITS. REMOVE THE DISTRACTIONS THAT WOULD KEEP US FROM YOU TODAY, BREAK DOWN THE WALLS OF SEPARATIONS THAT WE HAVE BUILT TO KEEP YOU FROM OUR HARDENED HEARTS. FREE US FOR JOYFUL OBEDIENCE TO YOUR CLAIM AND CALL IN OUR LIVES THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY IS OUR PRAYER. IN
JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. >> AMEN.
>> THANK YOU. >> BOW YOUR HEAD IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR MR. COTNER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SEATED.
[4.1 PROCLAMATION - FOAR FROM HOME - TALISKER WHISKY ATLANTIC CHALLENGE]
ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO READ. WITH GREAT PLEASURE.CAROLINE IF YOU COULD PUT THAT PHOTO UP. DON'T BE BASHFUL.
HOME. WELCOME HOME. GREAT JOB. WELCOME HOME. GREAT JOB. WELCOME
[00:05:06]
HOME. GREAT JOB. COME ON OVER HERE. LET'S SEE IF I CAN DO THIS WITH MORE ELOQUENCE THAN I DID THE -- DISTINCTION THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH HERE BY CONGRATULATES FOUR FROM HOME A LOCAL VETERAN GROUP REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. ARMY, AIR FORCE, NAVY AND MARINES. MR. BILLY SAMINO. MR. PAUL HORD UPON COMPLETING THE OWING EVENT, THE WHISKEY ATLANTIC CHALLENGE. THE CHALLENGE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW HAD MORE THAN 30 TEAMS PARTICIPATING FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND SPANNED MORE THAN 3,000 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS AND YOU CAN TRACK THEM EVERY DAY WHICH I DID EVERY MORNING. WHERE SELF PROCLAIMED ORDINARY GUYS, THE FOUR FROM HOME TEAM WAS ESTABLISHED BY A STRONG DESIRE TO AID AND SUPPORT THEIR FELLOW VETERANS BY RAISING AWARENESS AND DONATIONS TO COMBAT THE HIGH RATE OF VETERAN SUICIDE AND VETERAN POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER MEDICAL RESEARCH. WHEREAS, FOUR FROM HOME EXCEEDED THEIR INITIAL FUNDRAISING GOAL OF $110,000 TO AN AS ON THE EARNED $870,000 AND COUNTING. FOUR FROM HOME -- YEAH, GIVE THEM A HAND.FOUR FROM HOME PARTNERED WITH CANINES FOR LAWYERS, LARGEST VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES TRAINED SERVICE DOGS TO AMERICAN HEROES. THEY DELIVER REAL LASTING RESULTS EMPOWERING THEIR VETERAN GRADUATES WITH CONFIDENCE, INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM FROM THEIR INVISIBLE DISABILITIES.
WHEREAS, THE OCEAN CROSSING WAS 51 DAYS. THE FOUR FROM HOME JOURNEY FROM BEGINNING TO END WAS 978 DAYS IN ACTUALITY. IT TOOK A DEDICATED LAND SUPPORT TEAM TO ORCHESTRATE AND COORDINATE VESSEL SHIPPING, CLEANING, MAINTENANCE, MENTAL TRAINING, ENDURANCE, COACHING, PHYSICAL CONDITIONING, PROPER NUTRITION, PHOTOGRAPHY, WEB DESIGN, MARKETING, AND SUR SURVEYING. THE GRUELING CHALLENGE FOREVER ALTERED THE TEAM MEMBERS CHARACTER, RESOLVE, DECISIVENESS AND GOALS ALL THE WHILE REMAINING LASER FOCUSED ON THE MISSION. PREVENTING THE HIGH RATE OF VETERAN SUICIDE WHICH DEEPLY IMPACTS FAMILIES, LOVED ONES AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THEIR CAMPAIGN REPRESENTS ALL OF FERNANDINA BEACH. AMELIA ISLAND AND NASSAU COUNTY WITH INTEGRITY, STRENGTH OF CHARACTER, STEWARDSHIP, PURPOSE AND PRIDE. NOW, THEREFORE, I BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY INVESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH EXPRESS SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO FOUR FROM HOME AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE PREVENTION OF VETERAN SUICIDE AND TO DONATE TOWARDS VETERAN POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND RESEARCH. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS AND THIS IS ALWAYS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE A LOT OF YOUR TIME BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE THE COMMUNITY -- AND ALSO BECAUSE I STRUGGLE THROUGH THIS PART TO LET THESE GUYS KNOW. THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN WOULD HAVE REALLY NOT BEEN A LOVING MISSION IF IT WAS
[00:10:01]
NOT FOR THE SUPPORT THAT WE REACHED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.$890,000 DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE FOUR OF US. $890,000 TO BUILD A KENNEL HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WERE SIX MAJOR SPONSORS WHICH NONE WERE REALLY CORPORATE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER BAPTIST TO BE CORPORATE, BUT THEY BELIEVED IN US REALLY FIRST AND LAUNCHED US AND THAT WAS AMAZING. BUT FIVE OTHER BUSINESSES FOLLOWED ON AT THE SPONSOR LEVEL AT $25,000 AND UP. AND THEN HERE IS REALLY THE MAGICAL PART AND I THINK EVERYBODY REALLY NEEDS TO KNOW. WE HAD A LAND SUPPORT TEAM WHEN WE WERE OUT IN THE OCEAN MADE OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PEOPLE LIKE LULU THAT HAVE PRIVATE BUSINESSES THAT WERE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY FROM THE COMPANY WHO WORKED ALL DAY AND WORKED ON OUR CAMPAIGN AT NIGHT. RUTH WHO 24 HOURS A DAY SENT OUT TEXT MESSAGES TO EVERYBODY IN HER CREW ON WHO WAS OUT THERE FOR THE MILES. PLUS WE HAD ALMOST 180 PEOPLE AT THE $1,000 LEVEL SPONSOR OUR TRIP. WE HAD OVER 60 BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORTED THE CAMPAIGN AND MISSION FROM THE $5,000 AND $10,000 LEVEL AND THEN HERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S JUST REALLY ASTRONOMICAL. WE HAVE HAD OVER ALMOST CLOSE TO 3,000 FOLKS THAT WERE AT THE VERY GRASS ROOTS LEVEL THAT WERE ANYWHERE FROM $10 TO $100 OR $500 THAT DONATED TO THE CAUSE.
EVERYTHING WAS GENERATED BY A VOLUNTEER BASE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT VOLUNTEER BASE, THAT COMMUNITY THAT BUILT THE AMOUNT THAT IS DONATED WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A KENNEL. WE STARTED OFF TO SPONSOR FOUR DOGS. AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A KENNEL THAT EVERY YEAR WILL HOUSE 64 DOGS AND TRAIN 64 DOGS BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW IT, OUR VETERANS ARE ON A WAITING LIST RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE WAITING TO BE PAIRED WITH A CANINE. AMELIA ISLAND, EXTENDED OUT TO CALIFORNIA, TO MONTANA, TO NEVADA, TO BOSTON. OUR COMMUNITY WAS JUST SO EVER LOVING AND HAS REACHED OUT AND MADE AN EVERLASTING IMPACT ON, I THINK, NOT ONLY OUR CITY, OUR ISLAND, OUR COUNTY, NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I'LL END ON THIS ONE NOTE. EVERYBODY KNOWS THE FOLKS THAT PAINT THE AMELIA SHELLS. WE HAVEN'T HAD AN EVERLASTING IMPACT ON THE TEAMS AND THE FLEET THAT WENT OUT WITH US IN THE OCEAN IN 2021. EVERY ONE OF THE LADIES IN THE SHELL COMMUNITY PAINTED A SHELL THAT REPRESENTED EVERY BOAT THAT TOOK ACROSS THE OCEAN FOR THIS 3,000 MILE JOURNEY. SO SOME OF THESE FOLKS TOOK PICTURES OF THEIR LOGOS AND PUT THEM ON THE BOAT AND SOME TOOK THE SHELLS WITH THEM AND WHEN WE LANDED IN ANTIGUA A LOT OF THE FOLKS STILL HAD THE SHELLS. WE REALLY FEEL LIKE AMELIA ISLAND AND FERNANDINA WENT WITH US ON THIS AMAZING JOURNEY. AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
[4.2 PRESENTATION - PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE]
PRESENTATION BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.AND I SEE MS. GRANT HERE. >> CAN WE USE THEM FOR THEIR
PLAYGROUND? >> I THINK YOU CAN. YEAH.
>> I THINK, YEAH, MY NAME IS CHERYL GRANT, THE NEW WISH CHAIR
[00:15:03]
FOR THE PARKS AND REC ADVISORY COMMITTEE. MY ADDRESS IS 1543 CANOPY DRIVE. DO WE HAVE -- I THOUGHT WE HAD SLIDES OF -->> PROBABLY DOES. JUST GIVE IT A SECOND.
>> OKAY. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE COPIES OF IT SOMEWHERE. I DIDN'T BRING EXTRA COPIES TO HAND OUT. I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER EVERY POINT BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL ARE LITERATE AND CAN READ IT ON YOUR OWN. IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU A MOMENT AT THE END TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. SOME OF THE INFORMATION I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO. SO I'LL CALL UP THE PREVIOUS CHAIR IF NECESSARY. AND HERE WE GO. FOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2021, WE IMPLEMENTED AND IMPROVED A NEW MEMBER PACKET TO CONSOLIDATE THE REQUIRED INFORMATION AND RULES. THAT'S NICE THAT IT GETS SENT OUT TO EVERYONE AND THEY HAVE A BACKGROUND TO HOW WE OPERATE. ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS WE INSTITUTED THE MONTHLY STAFF REPORT WHERE WE GET A HUGE LIST OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE FOR THE MONTH THROUGH PARKS AND REC.
PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. WE GATHERED OVER 1,000 RESPONSES TO THE PARKS AND REC SURVEY AND THAT WASN'T AN EASY TASK. WE HAD TO COME UP WITH MORE AND MORE WAYS TO GET PEOPLE TO RESPOND WHO LIVE IN THE CITY.
WE SORTED THEM FOR A LOCATION TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE WHO WAS THE COUNTY MEMBER, PART OF THE DATA. WE DOWNLOADED THE RESPONSES THAT WERE HANDWRITTEN. WE DOWNLOADED THEM ONLINE AND ENTERED EACH RESPONSE SO THERE WERE 18 QUESTIONS. SO 18,000 RESPONSES WERE ADDED TO A COMPUTER PROGRAM TO REVIEW THE TOTALS AND TO EVERY SINGLE QUESTION THAT THERE WAS. IN COMPLETING THE SURVEY RESULTS, THE 2021 ASSESSMENT AND AN ACTION PLAN INCLUDED PHOTOS, CONDITION, AMENITIES AND ADA COMPLIANCE AND THE ADVISORY BOARD HAD SEVEN ADDITIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS AND TWO SPECIAL MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE DATA AND APPROACH TO ISSUES. OUR MISSION FOR 2022 IS TO IMPLEMENT THE APPROVED ASSESSMENT AND ACTION PLAN AND REVIEW PARTS OF THE 2015 MASTER PLAN THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO FIT WITH THE GOALS ANYMORE. THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE DISCUSSED. WE ALSO WANT TO -- I REALLY LIKE THIS. COMPILE AN ANNUAL PARK PHOTO INVENTORY. IT'S REQUIRED BY THE COMP PLAN. BUT ALSO, IT'S SO MAINTENANCE REQUESTS ARE A PLANNED PART OF THE BUDGET AND GENERAL INFORMATION. FOR INSTANCE, IF PEOPLE COME AND THEY SAY WELL DO THEY HAVE A WATER FOUNTAIN, DO THEY HAVE A BATHROOM, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE OFFICE IF SOMEONE CALLS, THEY CAN JUST LOOK AND THERE IS A WHOLE LIST PLUS PICTURES OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE AT -- BECAUSE NOT ALL PARKS ARE THE SAME. I THOUGHT THAT WAS WOND WONDERFUL. WE GOT THE INFORMATION. ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE BOARD WERE ASSIGNED DIFFERENT PARKS, DIFFERENT FACILITIES AND WE ALL WENT OUT AND GOT ALL THE INFORMATION AND PICTURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THE LAST TWO THINGS ARE WE WANT TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A NEW CENTRAL PARK PLAY GROUND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE GIRL SCOUTS COUNCIL WHO JUST CAME FORWARD THIS PAST MONTH AND FUNDRAISING. THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO COME FORWARD WITH A PLAN IN ONE MONTH IS -- I HEARD THAT STATED EARLIER. THAT'S A HIGH BAR BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET AN AGREEMENT ON WHAT PEOPLE WANT IN THE PARK. AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DO MORE RESEARCH AND QUALIFY FOR VARIOUS GRANTS AVAILABLE THROUGH NATIONAL NETWORKS AND ALSO THOSE SPECIFIC TO FLORIDA.
I FOUND A LIST AND THERE'S PROBABLY AT LEAST 25 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL GIVE GRANTS IF YOU QUALIFY AND APPLY
[00:20:01]
TO THEM. THAT'S OUR PLAN FOR THE NEXT COMING YEAR. IF THERE'S ANYQUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. >> COMMISSIONERS?
>> ANY CONCERNS? NO. WE'RE GOOD? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
>> YES. >> JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU CHAIR FOR YOUR WORK AND THE WHOLE COMMITTEE'S WORK.
APPRECIATE YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.
[4.3 BUDGET SUMMARY]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> 4.3 BUDGET SUMMARY COMPTROLLER PAULINE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. CITY COMPTROLLER. FEBRUARY IS THE FIFTH MONTH AND REPRESENTS 41.7% OF THE BUDGETED FISCAL YEAR. FOR THE GENERAL FUND YEAR TO DATE REVENUE IS AT 72.8% OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. THIS IS DUE TO PRIMARILY PROPERTY TAX RECEIPTS.
OVERALL, YEAR TO DATE GENERAL FUND EXPENSES ARE AT 31.7%.
HOWEVER, SOME DEPARTMENTS ARE OVER THIS MARK DUE TO PAYMENTS FOR ANNUAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS. ALL THE INTERFUND TRANSFERS FOR THE MONTH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TYLER PAYROLL SYSTEM, POLICE EQUIPMENT, A SKID STEER AND THE TECH CENTER REPOINTING PROJECT. FOR THE GOLF COURSE MEMBERSHIP REVENUE UP $49,000 OVER LAST YEAR. ALL UTILITY FUND REVENUES EXCEED EXPENSES EXCEPT FOR WASTE WATER DEPARTMENT. FOR THE MARINA, THERE IS A NET OPERATING CONTRIBUTION AFTER ELIMINATING THE TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF $182,000. YEAR TO DATE DIESEL FUEL SALES AT 48.2% OF THE BUDGET. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? >> COMMISSIONER BEAM?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THESE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. DO YOU HAVE THE BALANCES OF THE IMPACT FEE
FUNDS? >> THAT'S A SCHEDULE IN YOUR
>> AND FOR THE POLICE, WE HAVE $429,000. FOR FIRE THERE'S $711,000. RECREATION IS $2.9 MILLION. AND ADMINISTRATION IS $1.2 MILLION. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY BUDGETED PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? BEING
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA OR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA]
NONE, THANK YOU, MA'AM. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA OR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. REQUEST TO SPEAK, MR. PAMARA. WELCOME, SIR. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FORTHE RECORD, PLEASE. >> TOM, 1518 NORTH PARK DRIVE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING BABE RUTH. IT HAS COME DOWN TO THE LAST SIX MONTHS THAT WE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY IN RAISING $20,000 FOR THE REDOING OF THE BACK STOPS WHICH WOULD GO ON FOUR FIELDS FROM NETTING AS YOU CAN SEE IS A $20,000 COST WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED BY AUGUST '22. I AM AT THE POINT RIGHT NOW OF SAYING TO YOU THIS MONEY WAS RAISED IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF OUR KIDS THAT PLAY ON OUR PLAYGROUND WHERE THEY COME FROM 32034 INSIDE THE CITY OR OUTSIDE THE CITY BUT WE MADE IT A OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A GROUP TO SHOW THE CITY WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT BEING PART OF THE CITY WHETHER IT BE FINANCIALLY FOR THIS $20,000 WOULD COVER ALL NEW NETTING ON ALL FOUR FIELDS FROM DUGOUT TO DUGOUT. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE SOME OF THE BRICKWORK THAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE DONE, THE REMOVAL OF THE METAL BACK STOPS ASAS THEY ARE TODAY, NOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A THREE-FOOT METAL FENCE AND THEN THE NETTING WOULD GO ON TOP OF THAT. THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE COMING TO YOU BUT WE AS A BABY RUTH ORGANIZATION WILL BE FUNDING $20,000 IF IT'S COMPLETED BY
[00:25:02]
AUGUST 31ST, '22. I WILL SAY TO YOU IT'S A HAZARD RIGHT NOW AND IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST THE FIELD BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONGOING FORWARD. >> QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? VICE
MAYOR. >> I JUST THINK IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STEPPING UP AND --
>> WELL, I HOPE THAT YOU THINK WE'RE STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE BECAUSE WE ARE. LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY. YOU GUYS WERE TALKING ABOUT IMPACT FEE THAT WERE A POSSIBILITY GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WELL, I THINK THIS SHOWS THAT IT'S BETTER THAN IMPACT FEES. IT'S SUPPORTING WHAT WE NEED ALONG WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE COULD GET IT DONE. AND I THINK SCOTT WILL BE GETTING THE REST OF THE BIDS FOR THE FENCING, THE THREE-FOOT FENCING, THE REMOVAL OF THE FENCING THAT'S THERE NOW AND WHENEVER IT NEEDS TO GO FORWARD BUT BABY RUTH IS -- I WILL GIVE YOU THE CHECK AND ANY TIME THAT YOU ASK FOR IT AS LONG AS I HAVE A COMMITMENT THAT BY THE END OF AUGUST 31ST, 2022 IT'S
COMPLETED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
[6. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> ALL RIGHT. ITEM 6, CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANY COMMISSIONER
WANT ANY ITEM PULLED OFF? >> RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
>> I SECOND. >> CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? MADAM, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
[7.1 BUDGET AMENDMENT - WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT]
>> COMMISSIONER STURGIS. >> YES.
>> WASTE WATER DEPARTMENT. >> CHARLIE GEORGE ACTING CITY MANAGER/CITY ENGINEER. BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE WASTE WATER DEPARTMENT WHICH IS RESOLUTION 2022-51 IS FOR APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT WITHIN THE WASTE WATER DEPARTMENT TO TRANSFER FUNDS THAT WERE FOR THE CLARIFIER UPGRADE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED TO BE DONE IN THE BUDGET YEAR OF 2021 BUT BECAUSE OF MATERIAL LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY, IT'S CARRIED OVER INTO THE NEXT YEAR. THIS IS A TRANSFER OF THE $435,000 TO BE DONE FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> RECOMMEND APPROVAL? >> SECOND.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD CALL THE VOTE.
[7.2 SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE APPROVAL - BARNEY'S PUMPS INC.]
>> COMMISSIONER STURGIS. >> YES.
>> PURCHASE APPROVAL. >> THIS IS RESOLUTION 2022-52. A PURCHASE OF SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS REACHING THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE AND UTILITY DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING TO REPLACE THOSE WITH HOMA PUMPS AND ONLY ONE DEALER IN FLORIDA WHICH IS BARNEY'S PUMPS AND A COST OF $82,000 AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
>> RECOMMEND APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGIS. >> YES.
[7.3 WORK ORDER APPROVAL - PASSERO ASSOCIATES, LLC]
>> ITEM 7.3 WORK ORDER APPROVAL. >> THIS IS A RESOLUTION 2022-53.
IT'S APPROVING THE ARCHITECT ON THE FIRE STATION TO DO CONSTRUCTION ADMIN SERVICES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION WHICH WOULD INCLUDE PRODUCT REVIEW SUBMITTALS, ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM THE CONTRACTOR AND BASICALLY JUST ASSISTING CITY STAFF DURING THAT CONSTRUCTION ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS WITH A NOT TO EXCEED OF $85,000 DURING THE COURSE OF THAT CONTRACT.
>> I'LL RECOMMEND APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? COMMISSION NEAR
BEAM. >> DISCUSSING THIS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE ABOUT TO BREAK GROUND ON THIS FOR US TO ASSIST WITH THE GROUND BREAKING. I WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE AND MAYBE DISCUSS THAT MOVING FORWARD. WANT TO MAKE SURE WE THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE BREAK GROUND.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM
CLERK. >> COMMISSIONER STURGIS.
[00:30:01]
[8.1 ZONING MAP AMENDMENT - WATERFRONT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT]
>> YES. >> MOTION PASSED 5-0. ITEM 8 ORDINANCE. ZONING MAP AMENDMENT WATERFRONT PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT. >> BY THE WAY IT WAS A MISTAKE ON THE AGENDA. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CITED AS QUASI JUDICIAL.
BUT IT WILL BE BRIEF IN TERMS OF PRESENTATIONS. I WILL READ THE TITLE FIRST. ORDINANCE 2022-09 FORMALLY ABANDONED THE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT DESCRIBED IN RESOLUTION 788 AND DESCRIBED AS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER PUD-0485. ESTABLISHED ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 1985 REVOKING ALL AMENDMENTS TO ALLOW FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TO CONFORM TO THE UNDERLYING FUTURE LAND USE MAP CATEGORY OF INDUSTRIAL WATERFRONT AND EXISTING IW ZONING DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY TOTALING 11.0 ACRES OF LAND, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. TONIGHT WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FORMAL MOTIONS OF THE QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING AND FIRST I THINK MAYOR IS TO ASK IF YOU OR YOUR FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE HAD ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS WHICH MEANS DISCUSSIONS THE CITY IS A PARTY, SO DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY STAFF OR DISCUSSIONS WITH ANYBODY THAT'S COVERED UNDER THE PUD, IF THERE ARE ANY PROPERTY
>> I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH AT LEAST FOUR MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD, CITY STAFF AND OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS I CAN'T REMEMBER ANY OTHER.
>> RELEVANT TO THIS DISCUSSION I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE DAB, MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD AND CITY STAFF. THANK YOU.
>> ANY COMMUNICATIONS FOR MR. STURGIS? NO? IS THAT A NO?
>> WITH PAB AND SOME CITY STAFF. >> I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH
A PAB MEMBER. >> OKAY. BRIEFLY THE RULES FOR QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING ARE BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S ONLY CITY STAFF HERE TO PRESENT EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY TO YOU AND IT WILL BE BRIEF. MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET WHERE EVERYTHING IN YOUR PACKET RELATED TO THIS ITEM IS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD AND WILL BE IN THE RECORD OF THIS HEARING. MS. GIBSON WITH CITY STAFF IS GOING TO COME UP HERE AND SHE AND I SPOKE TODAY AND SHE'S GOING TO BRIEFLY SAY SHE'S AGAIN SUBMITTING EVERYTHING THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET AND SHE MAY HAVE A FEW WORDS. IF THERE ARE ANY AFFECTED PARTIES WHICH IS BASICALLY ANYBODY THAT LIVES IN THE CITY LIMITS THAT WANTS TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY TONIGHT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT. THERE'S NO TIME LIMIT BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE AN OATH AS MS. GIBSON WILL BEFORE THE HEARING STARTS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? OKAY. AND APPEALS. THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE CITY COMMISSION WHEN THEY MAKE IT WHICH IS A MONTH FROM NOW YOU'LL HAVE 30 DAYS FROM THEN TO FILE AN APPEAL WITH THE CIRCUIT COURT. ANY QUESTIONS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
AND THE OATH, MR. MAYOR, PLEASE. MS. GIBSON WILL SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE STATEMENTS AND REPRESENTATIONS WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO PRESENT TO THIS COMMISSION DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE TRUTHFUL AND ACCURATE.
>> GOOD EVENING. KELLY GIBSON OF THE PLANNING CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT. I WILL SUBMIT TO YOU THE DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUESTED CHANGE. AND STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU. KELLY, WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN RIGHT NOW IS IT TIME TO DROP THE PUD SPECIFICALLY LIKE IN YOUR GENERAL MIND, WHAT'S YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, REASONING FOR THE CITY STAFF AND THIS PUD NEEDS TO BE DISSOLVED?
>> THE PUD ITSELF HAS EFFECTIVELY BEEN ABANDONED FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME AND HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWED IN ANY WAY. AT THIS POINT IT COULD BE NOW, IT COULD BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW. IT REALLY DOES NOT HAVE A PRACTICAL IMPLICATION ON MOVING FORWARD.
[00:35:04]
BECAUSE OF THE DEGREE OF CHANGE WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT IN PLACE WHETHER THAT'S -- THERE ARE CONCEPTUAL PLANS AND MODIFICATIONS MADE BY THE COMMISSION OVER TIME TO MODIFY WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN THAT AREA. THE OTHER IS THAT YOU HAVE A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WHICH SPEAKS TO MANY OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT THIS PUD WAS TRYING TO OVERCOME PREVIOUSLY.WITH THE RANGE OF USES THAT ARE ALLOWABLE IN THAT AREA. IT ADDRESSES PARKING, BUILDING HEIGHTS, DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS AND IS MUCH MORE ROBUST IN NATURE TODAY THAN IT WAS BACK IN
1986 WHEN THIS WAS PUT IN PLACE. >> OKAY. AND THAT BEING THE QUESTION, IS ABANDONING OR ONLY GOING WITH THE IW COMMERCIAL USE WITH REMOVING THIS PUD, WILL IT STILL SAY THE SAME ZONING?
>> YES. >> OR IS IT GOING TO -- WITH THE PUD WAS IT AVAILABLE TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT OTHER THAN
THE ZONING THERE CURRENTLY? >> WHAT'S THERE WITH THIS CHANGE IN PLACE, IT WILL REVERT TO ONLY THE ALLOWABLE USES AND THE PARAMETERS FOR DEVELOPMENT UNDER IW ZONING DISTRICT.
>> SO THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS OTHER THAN IW WITH A PUD?
>> WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE PUD THAT WAS DEPICTED PREVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A VERY DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME THAT WAS CONTEMPLATED FOR THAT AREA MUCH OF WHICH HAS OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS BEEN PUBLICLY VOICED AS NOT DESIRABLE FOR THE PATH OF DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE WATERFRONT.
>> SPECIFICALLY MULTIFAMILY, RESIDENTIAL OR STRICTLY
>> RETAIL. >> RETAIL AND RESTAURANT TYPESETTINGS, HOTELS. PARKING AREAS ARE ADDRESSED AS WELL. A LOT MORE VISUAL DEVELOPMENT IMPACT WAS PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE
PUD. >> OKAY. YOU HAVE ANSWERED MY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A COUPLE. HOW DID THIS GET ON THE AGENDA? I MEAN, DID YOU WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND GO, BOY, WE HAVE THIS 1985 PUD THAT REALLY ISN'T DOING ANYTHING?
>> NO. IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY MANAGER
WHO DIRECTED STAFF TO TAKE -- >> BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF
THE CITY MANAGER BY WHOM? >> BY COMMISSIONER ROSS
HONESTLY. >> BY ME FIVE YEARS AGO.
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ROSS. WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF DOING
>> OKAY. AND I WATCHED THE PAB MEETING. IT WAS A 3-2 VOTE. IT WAS NOT UNANIMOUS VOTE FORWARD. ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS THAT THE MATERIALS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN OUR PACKET, SEVERAL MEMBERS FELT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GO THROUGH THE MATERIALS AND REALLY WANTED ANOTHER 30 DAYS JUST TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE MATERIALS AND SHOW NO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND THEN REVISITING IT AND HAVING ANOTHER VOTE. SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE HARM IN TAKING ANOTHER 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS TO VISIT THIS AND MAKE SURE THERE'S NO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WE HAVEN'T
THOUGHT OF? IS THERE ANY RISK? >> THERE IS NOT. IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT IS TAKING PLACE TODAY OR IN THE FUTURE IN MY
PROFESSIONAL OPINION. >> OKAY. SO THERE'S NO URGENCY?
>> THERE IS NOT. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER,
ROSS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION. >> YOU TALKED TO THOSE TWO PAB
MEMBERS WHO VOTED AGAINST IT? >> I DID.
>> VICE MAYOR. >> I TALKED TO THE ONE MEMBER, IT WAS A PROCEDURAL THING EXACTLY THAT NOT ENOUGH TIME, I SEE NO VALUE IN NOT PROCEED WITH IT NOW. IT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE FIVE YEARS AGO. DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING?
>> NO VOTING TONIGHT. >> GOT YOU. I'M NOT GOING TO
VOTE TONIGHT THEN. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK
>> NOW IF YOU WOULD ASK FOR ANY AFFECTED PARTIES TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND IF NONE WE CAN CLOSE THE HEARING.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY AFFECTED PARTIES WHO NEED TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THAT PART OF THE HEARING. VICE MAYOR, YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON, SIR.
[00:40:04]
>> THEN WE'LL SEE THIS IN APRIL, SECOND MEETING IN APRIL AND YOU'LL GET A CHANCE TO VOTE THEN.
>> TERRIFIC. ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE DONE WITH 8.1. 8.2, CODE
[8.2 CODE AMENDMENT - TRANSFER OF FUNDS]
AMENDMENT TRANSFER OF FUNDS. >> ORDINANCE 2022-10, AMENDING ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 2, SECTION 4.12 BUDGET AMENDMENTS TRANSFER OF FUNDS AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPROVE INTRA DEPARTMENT BUDGET AMENDMENT TRANSFERS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 AND INTRA DIVISION TRANSFERS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $20,000 PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. IN THE CITIES I'LL DISCUSS WHAT THIS IS. I KNOW THE CITY AND MANAGER AND I MET WITH EACH OF YOU. THIS HAS BEEN IN THE CODE SINCE AT LEAST 1991. I SUSPECT BEFORE THAT WE HAD A FULL REWRITE OF THE CODES WHEN I LOOK AT THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, IT GOES BACK TO '91. IT'S NEVER BEEN CHANGED SINCE THEN AT LEAST. WHAT WE HAVE IS AN INTRA DEPA DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENTS WE HAVE GOT 13, 14 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. WITH REGARD TO DIVISIONS, THAT IS ALSO DISCUSSED IN HERE. THAT'S PART OF THE NEW ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND MR. GEORGE ARE CREATING. SO THEY PUT A LIMIT OF 20 ON THE DIVISION TRANSFERS AND THEN 50 ON DEPARTMENT. SO I'LL DEAL WITH DEPARTMENT WHAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH. I'LL PICK ON PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT OR CHOOSE THEM. WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT THROUGH A BUDGET EACH DEPARTMENT IS A ALLOTTED CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF MONIES IN THEIR EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS. AND IN THOSE EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS SOMETIMES WE DON'T USE ALL $6,000 OF OFFICE SUPPLY MONEY AND WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE IT. SO WE WANT -- THAT'S A BAD NUMBER. I NEED TO USE $18,000 OR SOMETHING MORE THAN $7500. $18,000 OF OFFICE SUPPLIES AND WE DON'T NEED THE $18,000, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED AND $10,000 WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE TO THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS ACCOUNT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GIVE SOMEBODY A BONUS FOR ACQUIRING A CERTIFICATION. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THOSE ARE INTRA DEPARTMENT TRANSFERS. IT'S ALREADY BUDGETED. YOU'RE NOT APPROVING ANY MORE MONEY ADDED TO THAT DEPARTMENT BUDGET. YOU'RE TAKING AND I SAID IT EARLIER AND I DON'T MEAN TO BELITTLE IT BUT YOU'RE TAKING THE BEANS AND MOVING THE BEANS WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT AMONG DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS. IF YOU'RE OKAY AND THAT WASN'T FOR YOUR BENEFIT EITHER, I SAID IT TODAY AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN SMILE, ANYWAY, SO THAT'S WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY MUCH SUPPORTED BY CITY STAFF PARTICULARLY IN THE LARGE DEPARTMENTS. SO THEY ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO DO THAT. MOST OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT YOU SEE COMING TO THE COMMISSION ALSO COVER THAT. I WILL BE QUIET NOW. YOU GET MY DRIFT. LIKE I SAID, STAFF AND ON BEHALF OF CITY MANAGER, THEY RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION? >> MOVE TO APPROVE.
>> I'LL SECOND IT. >> THE MOTION IS SECONDED.
DISCUSSION? VICE MAYOR. >> I WANT TO LOOK AT IT CLOSER.
I THINK $50,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY. AND BASICALLY WE'RE APPROVING BUDGETS BY LINE NUMBER. SO IT JUST -- I WANT TO LOOK AT IT CLOSER. THERE COULD BE SSOME MANIPULATIONS THAT AREN'T THE BEST BUT I'LL APPROVE IT ON THE FIRST READING.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGIS. >> THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAVE KIND OF THE SAME QUESTION FOR TAMMY, HOW DID STAFF COME UP WITH THE
$50,000 NUMBER? >> DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT.
YOU DID A GOOD JOB TODAY. >> CHARLIE GEORGE. I'M JUST THE CITY ENGINEER THIS TIME. THE BIG DEPARTMENTS LIKE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT HAS WASTE WATER, WATER AND STORM WATER. IF THEY'RE NEEDING TO DO LIKE IF THEY HAVE IN THE BUDGET LINE ITEM THEY NEED A CERTAIN PUMP AND WASTE WATER, AND THOSE ARE USUALLY NUMBERS BIGGER THAN $10,000, $15,000, $20,000. I THINK THE $50,000 BECAME SOMETHING THAT THOSE ARE BIG TICKET ITEMS WHETHER THEY'RE BIG PIPE PURCHASES OR THINGS LIKE THAT, THOSE ARE BIG NUMBERS. SO IF THEY'RE JUST TAKING THAT AND TAKING IT FROM THE PUMPS AND MAKING A PIPE PURCHASE, THE NUMBER CAME UP JUST BECAUSE MOST OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE IN THAT
RANGE. >> OKAY. IF IT WAS A UTILITIES
[00:45:05]
THING THAT GENERATED THE $50,000, I WOULD HATE TO WORD THE ORDINANCE TO WHERE IT SAID ONLY FOR UTILITY PURPOSES ONLY TO ALLOT $50,000 BUT THAT TIES THE HANDS OF THE CITY MANAGER ORSTAFF. >> IT'S NOT MEANT TO LOCK IT IN.
THOSE ARE THE KIND OF NUMBERS WE DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS THAT IF WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING EXPEDI EXPEDITIOUSLY. IF WE HAVE TO PUT IT ON THE COMMISSION MEETING THEN WE HAVE GOT TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA AND TWO WEEKS AND BY THAT TIME THE PRICES ARE CHANGING DAILY. IT HELPS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT TRANSFER EXPEDITIOUSLY SO WE CAN GET THE
LOCK-IN PRICE WE NEED. >> OKAY. YOU HAVE ANSWERED MY
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS I WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE AT THAT.
$50,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY. AND YES, THE ANSWER HOW WE GOT TO THAT NUMBER IS BECAUSE IT COVERS MOST THINGS. I WOULD PAUSE AT THAT. THE SPIRIT OF THIS LAW AND IT IS A IMPORTANT ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT IS NOT TYING THE HANDS.
WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES. IN 1991 THE BUYING POWER OF $7500 WAS A LOT MORE THAN IT IS TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WE DON'T MAKE AN ARBITRARY ONE BUT I LOOKED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. WHAT WOULD THE INFLATION ADJUSTED NUMBER FROM '91 THROUGH TODAY BE AND IT GOES TO ABOUT $16,000 AND I PROPOSE YOU ROUND THAT UP TO EVEN $20,000. THAT'S WHERE I WOULD PUT IT. WE CAN INCREASE THIS NUMBER AND LET'S INCREASE IT TO $20,000. THAT WOULD BE MY POINT. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> WHAT YOU'RE JUST SAYING IS YOU DON'T TRUST YOUR STAFF. I MEAN $50,000 IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IN SOME RESPECTS AND SOME RESPECTS IT'S NOT MUCH MONEY AT ALL IF YOU LOOK AT OUR TOTAL BUDGET. OUR STAFF, I TRUST THEM. THERE'S MULTIPLE PEOPLE OVERLOOKING. THERE'S THE COMPTROLLER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER. WE'RE PUTTING A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THEM THAT THEY CAN MANAGE THE MONEY INSTEAD OF COMING HERE WITH EVERY -- THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THEY DO THEY NEED TO WORK -- IF YOU WANT EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT, $50,000, YOU WANT TO RUN IT LIKE A BUSINESS, $50,000 IS NOT -- THEY DON'T GO TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO MOVE $50,000. THE MOST COMPANIES THAT HAVE $140 MILLION BUDGET. I TRUST THE CITY STAFF. I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH CHECKS AND BALANCES AND I DON'T THINK IT'S AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
IT'S NOT $2 MILLION. IF THAT'S THE WORKING CAPITAL THEY NEED TO RUN THE CITY, I DON'T THINK -- I VIEW US AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY, I DON'T THINK THEY NEED TO COME AND HAVE THAT APPROVED. IF WE CAN'T TRUST THEM WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY, I WONDER WHY THEY'RE WORKING FOR US AT ALL. I MEAN, WE'RE TRUSTING THEM WITH A LOT MORE THAN THAT. AND THEN ARBITRARILY $20,000, JUST SAYING WE NEED $50,000 IS THE KIND OF THING I NEED TO DO TO DO MY JOB. MY JOB IS TO MAKE HIS JOB -- THAT THEY CAN DO THEIR JOB AND IF THEY'RE COMING TO US AND SAYING THAT'S THE KIND OF AUTHORITY WE NEED, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON NOT. I MEAN, WE HAVE THE COMPTROLLER HERE THAT OVERLOOKS IT. YOU HAVE AGREED TO THIS I TAKE IT?
>> UH-HUH. >> SHE'S COMFORTABLE WITH IT. SO I'M QUITE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT LIMIT. IF THAT'S WHAT STAFF THINKS THEY NEED TO EFFICIENTLY RUN OUR GOVERNMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'M BOTHERED BY YOUR CHARACTERIZATION OF TRUST.
THAT'S A POLITICALLY LOADED WORD. THIS ISN'T A MATTER OF TRUST. IT'S A MATTER OF OVERSIGHT. THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID THESE WERE BEANS. YEAH, THEY'RE BEANS. THEY'RE CITY TAXPAYER BEANS AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW THOSE BEANS ARE SPENT. AND HOW WE VALUE THOSE ASSETS. SO TO GO FROM $7500 TO $50,000, THAT'S A SIXFOLD INCREASE IN ONE SWOOP. THAT'S A GIANT LEAP. AND IF THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT IS URGENTLY NEEDED, WE CAN CALL A SPECIAL MEETING. WE CAN DO IT LIKE THAT. WITH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY. AND TAKE A VOTE AND APPROVE THE FUNDS. I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF A SIXFOLD INCREASE. I
[00:50:06]
BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE INCREASED BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE A LOWERED NUMBER. AND DO THIS GRADUALLY INSTEAD OF LEAPING INTO THE POOL. I'LL VOTE FOR IT ON FIRST READING BUT I HAVE REALQUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> IT HASN'T BEEN CHANGED IN 31 YEARS AND IF THEY HAD GRADUALLY INCREASED IT OVER THE 31 YEARS WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION BUT THE CAN WAS KICKED DOWN THE ROAD AS IT HAS BEEN SO MANY TIMES AND NOW HERE WE ARE WITH A
LARGE INCREASE. >> COMMISSIONER STURGIS.
>> BEFORE WE CLOSE IT DOWN, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF $25,000 EASILY. AND JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT IN CASE WE WOULD HAVE TO RECRAFT IT OR TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE THE NEXT READING AND I'M FINE WITH APPROVING IT FOR THIS EVENING BUT HOPEFULLY WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT OR SOMETHING BEFORE THEN. THAT'S
ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> OKAY. VICE MAYOR.
>> YEAH. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE FIRST READING AND AT LEAST THREE OF US SAID WE WOULD LOOK AT IT CLOSER.
I WOULD SAY I DON'T CONSIDER THIS NECESSARILY KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY STAFF EARLIER. THEY SHOULD HAVE PROGRESSIVELY ASKED FOR THIS. WE DO KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD A BUNCH OF TIMES BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THIS
IS ONE. >> I'M NOT SAYING US. IT HAS
BEEN KICKED -- >> TURN YOUR LIGHT ON WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND. THANK YOU, SIR. MADAM CLERK WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. >> IS THERE --
>> THERE IS A SECOND. COMMISSIONER ROSS.
[9.1 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT]
>> SO THAT PASSED 5-0 ON FIRST READING. BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ONE APPOINTMENT.
>> I'M GOING TO APPROVE JACK PENDICO.
>> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
[9.2 PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND GOVERNMENT (PEG) CHANNEL COMMITTEE]
>> COMMISSIONER STURGIS. >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> MAYOR.
>> YES. THAT MOTION PASSED 5-0. >> I MOVE TO APPOINT ANDREW
>> ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK CALL THE VOTE.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGIS. >> YES.
>> THAT MOTION PASSED 5-0. CITY MANAGER REPORTS.
[9.3 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FIREFIGHTERS' AND POLICE OFFICERS' PENSION PLAN]
>> ONE MORE APPOINTMENT. >> OH, BOARD OF TRUSTEES. SORRY.
THANK YOU. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS PENSION PLAN. ONE APPOINTMENT.
>> I'LL MOVE TO APPOINT DARREN ASHUGH AND THANK YOU FOR BEING
>> ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER STURGIS.
[10. CITY MANAGER REPORTS]
>> YES. >> THAT MOTION PASSED 5-0. MR.
GEORGE. >> WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS BASICALLY GIVE YOU UPDATES ON A LOT OF PROJECTS JUST SO EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF WHERE WE ARE. THE MARINA DREDGING WILL START THEIR MOBILIZING THIS WEEK AND WILL START DIGGING EITHER THE END OF THIS WEEK OR BEGINNING OF NEXT. SO THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING VIEW. THE RAILROAD AND WATERFRONT ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT WITH ASH CENTER IN ALACHUA, THEY'RE UNDER CONTRACT. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER SHRIMP FEST TO MOBILIZE. WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUT A NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF WHAT'S GOING TO GO ON BECAUSE THERE'LL BE SOME TRAFFIC SITUATIONS AND PEDESTRIAN SITUATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT WILL BE GOING OUT. WALKWAY HANDRAIL REPLACEMENT IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE. WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE IT FULLY COMPLETE BY TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD. IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE GO OUT AND LOOK AT IT. IT'S A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT TO WHAT'S THERE. I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH THAT. THE PECK CENTER REPOINTING IS UNDER CONTRACT. WE HAVEN'T STARTED A LOT OF THE ACTUAL WORK BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING ON THE STATE TO APPROVE SOME PRODUCT MATERIALS THAT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE TO GET THROUGH THAT. AS SOON AS THAT GETS DONE WE'LL BE MARCHING FORWARD WITH THAT. THE BEACH ACCESS SIX END WALKWAY, WE RECEIVED BIDS ON IT. BID BELOW OUR BUDGET. THAT WILL BE COMING TO YOU FOR APPROVAL HOPEFULLY MARCH 5TH. I KNOW
[00:55:07]
EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH THE ALDA MAE PROJECT. THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT WENT OUT THERE AND PUT IN UNDERDRAINS AND YOU WOULD BE AMAZED AT WHAT THE IMPROVEMENT IS. THE GROUND IS DRYING UP. THE CURBS ARE NOT FULL OF WATER. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE HIT -- IT'S PRIMARILY IN THE INTERSECTION OF PATRIOTS WAY AND SPANISH WAY. YOU'LL SEE A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT. IF YOU STAND AT ONE INLET YOU'LL HEAR WATER RUNNING THROUGH IT. IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL. KUDOS TO THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT FOR GETTING THAT DONE QUICKLY. I THINK THE RESIDENTS ARE EXTREMELY PLEASED SOMETHING GOT DONE. THAT'S GOING FORWARD. THE FIRE STATION NUMBER 2 CONSTRUCTION IS UNDER WAY. WE WILL SET UP A GROUND BREAKING LIKE COMMISSIONER REED SAID. IT IS A HIGHLY VISIBLE PROJECT. THE CONTRACTOR IS SUBMITTING PRODUCT SUBMITTALS AND THE BUILDING PERMIT APPROVAL SHOULD BE DONE THIS WEEK AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE BILLING DEPARTMENT SAID SOME OF THE BEST PLANS THEY HAVE EVER SEEN. THEAT'S A BIG DEAL FR OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THE FACILITIES ASSESSMENT I THINK YOU HAVE GOTTEN THAT MASSIVE REPORT FROM A DROPBOX. IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT READ. IT HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION IN IT. SOME OF IT WAS SIGNIFICANT, SOME OF IT WASN'T. BUT I THINK AND I THINK JEREMIAH WOULD AGREE THAT IT CAME OUT BETTER THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD. AT LEAST ON SOME OF THE BUILDINGS. TAKE THE TIME TO GO THROUGH IT. BUT IT'S CUMBERSOME. 600 PAGES IS A BIG REPORT. THAT'S ONLY FOR FIVE BUILDINGS.>> ANY SURPRISES? >> I DON'T THINK SO. NOT ANYTHING TO REALLY SHOCK US. WE KNEW THERE WERE SOME THAT HAD ROOF ISSUES AND SOME THINGS. THERE WERE SOME ADA ISSUES BUT A LOT WERE MINOR AND SOMEWHAT FIXABLE. NO, I DON'T THINK WE WERE REALLY SHOCKED BY IT. AS FAR AS MR. MARTIN IS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, HOPEFULLY GETTING INTO FLORIDA SOON. HE HAD SOME BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH HIS CAR BUT HE'S ON THE WAY HEADING THAT WAY. AND
THAT'S IT. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. GEORGE?
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU SIR. >> UH-HUH.
>> WAIT A MINUTE. MR. STURGIS THOUGHT OF SOMETHING.
>> THANK YOU. HOW IS THE WATERFRONT PROCEEDING? WITH THE WEATHER LAST WEEK THERE PROBABLY WAS DELAYS.
>> THERE WERE. THE WEATHER CAUGHT SOME PROBLEMS AND THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH ONE OF THE SUBCONTRACTORS SUPERINTENDENT'S SON PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY. THE OYSTER BAGS ARE IN PLACE, THE GRASSING IS IN PLACE. WE GOT TO DO TWO MORE CONCRETE FLOORS
AND PUT THE HANDRAIL UP. >> YOU FOUND THE COCHINA?
>> WE DID. WE'RE HOPING TO POUR THURSDAY.
>> THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD REPORT FROM OUR ENGINEER.
>> FOR AN ENGINEER. THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD REPORT FOR A CITY
MANAGER. >> MY COMMENT, THAT WAS VERY GOOD REPORTING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT KIND OF REPORT MAYBE MONTHLY. YOU KNOW, WITH AS MANY PROJECTS AS WE HAVE GOING.
>> SURE. LOVE TO. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
[11. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS]
>> OKAY. ITEM 11 CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY REPORTS. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OF
>> ON THE HANSON REPORT, WHEN IS OUR MOTION? WHEN WILL THAT BE
>> TOMORROW. >> TOMORROW, MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION FOR AN EXPEDITED HEARING. THERE IS A CHOICE ABOUT FILING FOR AN EMERGENCY AND I DON'T WANT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH. WE REALLY CANNOT MEET THE STANDARD. THAT'S FOR -- WE KNOW THE STRUCTURE IS NOT SAFE AND WHAT THE REPORT SAYS BUT CASE LAW THAT'S OUT THERE AND THERE'S JUST -- YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO BE AT RISK OF HAVING SEWAGE RUNNING THROUGH THE STREETS IN ORDER TO GET EMERGENCY HEARING BUT WE HOPE BY SAYING EXPEDITED THE JUDGE WILL GIVE US A HEARING WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS. WE'RE HOPEFUL.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 12, CITY CLERK.
[13. MAYOR/COMMISSIONER COMMENTS]
>> NO REPORTS THIS EVENING. >> WE MAY FINISH IN RECORD TIME.
MAYOR, COMMISSIONER COMMENTS. >> NO COMMENTS.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGIS. >> DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THIS
EVENING. THANK YOU MAYOR. >> COMMISSIONER BEAM.
>> THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. GOOD NEWS FROM TALLAHASSEE. THREE MAJOR PROJECTS, RESILIENCY AND PECK CENTER AND DEW WALKER HAVE
[01:00:01]
ALL MADE IT THROUGH THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE. I WANT TO THANK YOU TO GET THAT INTO THE GOVERNOR'S HANDS. LOOK FORWARD TO HIMSIGNING IT INTO LAW. THANK YOU. >> VICE MAYOR.
>> I GOT PICTURES. >> YOU HAVE PICTURES.
>> LET'S SEE WHAT COMES UP FIRST.
>> NO. >> CHARLIE AND I KNEW YOU WERE
GOING TO HAVE A SLIDE SHOW. >> PICTURES. IT'S JUST A COUPLE
PICTURES. >> I GOT TO SEE WHAT COMES UP FIRST TO SAY WHAT I WANT TO SAY. I'LL DO THE 9 PICTURE FIRST. AS MOST OF THE COMMISSION KNOW, HOPEFULLY THE PUBLIC KNOWS WE OPENED OUR WARMING CENTER AGAIN THIS WEEK AND IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD TURNOUT. I THINK AN E-MAIL WENT OUT TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS THANK ING AND RECOGNIZING. THIS IS ON THE 26TH OF MARCH. CAN WE SKRSCROLL IT U BASICALLY IT'S THE SECOND HISPANIC REACHOUT BUT MORE THAN HISPANIC REACHOUT IT'S ALSO FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND THIS WILL BE PROBABLY PROFITS PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. INCLUDING MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDED FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THESE ARE GLUCOSE TESTING, BLOOD PRESSURE TESTING, OXYGEN TESTING, COVID VACCINATIONS PROVIDED, FLU SHOTS WILL BE PROVIDED. THAT WILL ALL BE SATURDAY, THE 26TH FROM 2:00 TO 4:00. IT'S ALL FREE. GOT ONE MORE PICTURE. THIS IS LAST SATURDAY. THIS WAS THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION. ALL UNDER THE THUNDERSTORMS. JUST FABULOUS VOLUNTEERS. THIS IS THE ELM STREET SPORTSMANS CLUB. WHICH WERE PURCHASED WITH IMPACT FUNDS BY THE WAY. AND THAT'S IT. I WAS
DIRECTING TRAFFIC. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WE LOST JOHN COTNER ON MARCH 4TH. I DIDN'T KNOW JOHN PERSONALLY BUT SAW HIS WORK AT MANY OF THE TECH MEETINGS, HISTORIC DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETINGS. AND I POSTED HIS PASSING ON FACEBOOK AND THERE WERE WELL OVER 200 COMMENTS. I'M JUST GOING TO READ TWO BECAUSE THEY STRUCK ME AS TO THE DEPTH, TALENT AND DEVOTION OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT JOHN HAD. AND THE FIRST ONE IS FROM DAVID LOTT AND HE WROTE THE FERNANDINA COMMUNITY HAS LOST A PILLAR OF GENEROSITY, DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP AND FAITH. I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH JOHN ON SEVERAL CITY COMMITTEES PARTICULARLY THE WATERFRONT PARK DESIGN AND THE PNR ADVISORY COMMITTEE. OTHERS THAT SPOKE OF HIS FREQUENT PRO-BONO WORK FOR VARIOUS NONPROFITS IN THE BUILDING OR REMODELING OF THEIR FACILITIES AS WELL AS SEVERAL STRUCTURES AT THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE RETREAT CENTER. JOHN WAS A LEADER ALONG WITH JIM CORBETT OF SAINT PETER'S CHURCH BY CARIBBEAN MISSION TRIPS THAT WOULD SPEND A WEEK DOING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AT VARIOUS CHURCHES IN THE CARIBBEAN. ONE YEAR JOHN HAD JUST FINISHED UP CANCER TREATMENTS BEFORE HEADING DOWN ON AN INSPECTION TRIP OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO DETERMINE WHAT MATERIALS WOULD BE NEEDED. ON ANOTHER TRIP JOHN FELL OFF A SCAFFOLDING AND SUFFERED FRACTURES OF BOTH LEGS. HE WOULDN'T LET ANYTHING STAND IN THE WAY OF COMPLETING THOSE PROJECTS. CONNIE WIGGINS WROTE I AM SO BLESSED THAT I GOT TO MEET JOHN AND LEARNED FROM HIM.
RECENTLY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RIVER PLACE AT SUMMER BEACH GOT TO LEARN OF OUR BEGINNINGS AND HEAR JOHN'S THOUGHTS ABOUT CARING FOR RIVER PLACE AND ENSURING A BRIGHT FUTURE. JOHN WAS AN ICON AND HIS LEGACY AND IMPACTS CAN BE SEEN ALL OVER THE ISLAND.
JOHN'S FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT SAINT PETER'S ON MONDAY,
[01:05:04]
MARCH 21ST AT 11:00. INATTORNEYMENT WILL BE IN SAINT PETERS CEMETERY. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SERVICE THERE WILL BE A LUNCHEON IN THE BURNS HALL. REST IN PEACE, JOHN. MY SECOND COMMENT IS TODAY MY DAUGHTER DEFENDED HER THESIS FOR BIO PHYSICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO AND I WAS ABLE TO WATCH THAT ON ZOOM AND YOU CAN TELL I'M A PROUD PAPA. THAT D DUCKTAILS INTO WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WHEN WE THINK BACK NOT THAT LONG AGO SHE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE DONE THIS. SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN DOVE TAILED INTO THE HOMEOWNER/HOUSEWIFE RAISING KIDS MODEL THAT WOMEN FOLLOWED FOR SO MANY CENTURIES AND DECADES. SO WE WANT TO HONOR PAST WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE 2022 THEME IS PROVIDING HEALING, PROMOTING HOPE. A TRIBUTE TO CEASELESS WORK OF CAREGIVERS AND FRONTLINE WORKERS DURING THE ONGOING PANDEMIC. AND MY GOODNESS, WITHOUT THEM, WHERE WOULD WE BE? SO WE WANT TO HONOR ALL WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CULTURE AND TO OUR SOCIETY. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MY DAUGHTER, CHRISTIE. AND WITH