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ORDER THE OCTOBER 4, 2022 CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
HOUSEKEEPING, AS ALWAYS, PLEASE TURN YOUR CELL PHONES OFF -- AIRPLANE OR SILENT. GREATLY APPRECIATE IT! COVID-19 IS STILL WITH US, SO TAKE WHATEVER MEASURES YOU FEEL NECESSARY TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR SAFETY.
AND THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER ROSS FOR PROVIDING ME WITH THE CITY COMMISSION RULES OF PROCEDURE, WHICH SPECIFICALLY SPEAK ABOUT DECORUM. AND SO, I URGE EACH
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COMMISSIONER, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE CODE OF CONDUCT, DO S , AND BEHAVE ACCORDINGLY! SO, THANK YOU! SO COMMISSIONERS, I DON'T HAVE OVERREACHING AUTHORITY WILL STOP I THOUGHT IN LIGHT OF THE STORM, OUR THIRD STORM IN SIX YEARS, IN LIGHT OF LOSING ONE THIRD OF THE BOARDWALK ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE MARINA, IN LIGHT OF PARKING LOT A TO BE CLOSED FOR 4 TO 6 WEEKS, IN LIGHT OF MAJOR BUSINESS, (NAME) CRUZ, TO BE SHUT DOWN, THAT WE SHOULD SPEND THE NEXT HOUR TALKING ABOUT FLOOD PROTECTION. I SAY THAT, REMINDED OF COMMISSIONER ROSS'S WORDS FROM A MEETING AGO, "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START DOING SOMETHING?" SO IF IT'S YOUR PLEASURE, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THIS WORKSHOP ADDRESSING. IF NOT, PLEASE, SIGNIFY TO ME.>> IT'S FINE. >> OKAY, THAT'S FINE?
MR. STURGIS? >> (INDISCERNIBLE) I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS IT. I THINK THE CITY MANAGER IS WORKING ON IT. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA, I'M FINE WITH IT.
>> VICE MAYOR? >> I THINK OF THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF PREPARED A PRESENTATION, I THINK IT'S WELL WORTH LOOKING AT (INDISCERNIBLE).
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FOURTH HURRICANE (INDISCERNIBLE) ALL OF WHICH CAME HERE, WERE TROPICAL STORMS. WE PROBABLY SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK WE SHOULD DISCUSS WHERE WE ARE AT IN TERMS OF BEACHES AND THOSE VARIOUS THINGS. I KNOW THEY HAVE DONE SOME WORK, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE DID.SO I AGREE.
>> THINKING. SO WE WILL SPEND THIS WORKSHOP DISCUSSING FLOOD PROTECTION, AND POSSIBLY, GO FORWARD.
SO CITY MANAGER, WHY DON'T YOU WALK US THROUGH CITY STAFF IN THE STORM, AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES ETC., ETC.?
>> MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING THE RECENT STORM. I KNOW I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND TALK -- AT LEAST TALK WITH ALL OF YOU, SEVERAL OF YOU. BUT I WILL ASK STAFF TO DO, BEGINNING WITH MR. (NAME), GIVE A BACKGROUND ON THE STORM WATER IN THE (INDISCERNIBLE) EFFORTS. PE HAS A BRIEF POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.HEN WE HAVE A BRIEF VIDEO THAT INDICATES THE ONGOING EFFECTS OF THE STORM. MR. (NAME) WILL SHARE SOME OF HIS INSIGHT ON THAT. AND THEN, THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION COMPLETED BY MR. GEORGE AND HIS COMMENTS ON THE IMPACT OF THE MARINA. SO IF I COULD INVITE MR. (NAME)
UP TO BEGIN HIS PRESENTATION. >> EVENING, ANDRE (NAME), UTILITIES DIRECTOR, CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
JUST REALLY BRIEF, KIND OF TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, I THREW A COUPLE OF SLIDES TOGETHER TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT OUR PREPARATIONS ARE IN ADVANCE OF THE STORM EVENT LIKE WE EXPERIENCED LAST WEEK. OUR PROCEDURE THROUGHOUT THE STORM, AND WHAT THE EFFECTS WERE ON THE UTILITY SYSTEM.
WE FARED EXTREMELY WELL THROUGHOUT THE STORMEVENT .
ESSENTIALLY, A FEW DAYS AHEAD OF TIME, WE GO THROUGH AND SECURE ALL OUR MATERIALS THAT WE CAN'T GET INSIDE STRUCTURES.
ALL OF OUR GAS CANISTERS, CYLINDERS.
OUR (INDISCERNIBLE) PLANTS. YOU KNOW, JUST TIE EVERYTHING
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DOWN. WE GO THROUGH AND START INSPECTING AND CLEANING THE STORM WATER IN THE CRITICAL AREAS. WE GO THROUGH OUR LIFT STATIONS AND OUR GRAVITY SYSTEM IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS.ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WITH WASTEWATER IS INFILTRATION.
WE END UP TREATING A LOT OF RAINWATER, A LOT OF STORM WATER (INDISCERNIBLE). IT PUTS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON OUR TREATMENT PLAN. SO WE GO THROUGH AND TRY TO PREVENT THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND WE DO SOME PRE-INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHY OF AREAS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE IMPACTED, SO WE CAN ESTABLISH THE PRE-STORM CONDITIONS. THROUGHOUT THE STORM, WE PLACE OUR STORMWATER PERSONNEL ON ON-CALL ROTATION.
THEY WERE ACTIVATED QUITE A BIT THROUGHOUT THE STORM TO ASSIST THE STREETS DEBRIS REMOVAL THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.
FOR OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER OPERATORS, WE GO TO 12 HOUR ROTATING SHIFTS. SO WE HAVE A CONSTANT PRESENCE AT ALL FOUR TREATMENT PLANTS. TO ADDRESS ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE STORM. WE HAVE OUR TELEMETRY SYSTEM, WHICH ALLOWS US TO MONITOR THE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE EVENT AND LET US KNOW WE HAVE ISSUES THAT WE CAN GET BOOTS ON THE GROUND TOO. WHAT WE EXPERIENCED DURING THE STORM. WE HAD TO LIFT STATIONS THAT FLOODED, THAT WERE UNDERWATER. THAT WAS (INDISCERNIBLE) STATION TO WHICH IS ON WATER STREET AND (INDISCERNIBLE) STATION AT THE NORTH END OF 15TH STREET.
BOTH WERE AREAS THAT ARE FLOOD PRONE.
WE WERE ABLE TO STABILIZE THOS , SEAL THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WITH THE DECREASE IN FLOW DUE TO RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES BEING CLOSED, THE ADDITIONAL INFILTRATION PUT US RIGHT ABOUT OUR AVERAGE DAILY FLOW.
SO WE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE ANY HUGE INCREASE IN FLOW FOR THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM, AND NO ISSUES OTHER THAN THROUGHOUT THE STORM HAVING TO GO IN, MANUALLY RUN PUMPS, MANUALLY TURN ON GENERATORS. THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE ONE DEFAULT MOTOR AT WATER PLANT NUMBER 1 THAT FAILED. LIKELY DUE TO THE DRIVING RAIN.
I GOT THE MOTOR WET. WHEN IT RAN, IT SHORTED OUT.
WE HAD A SPARE, WE SWAPPED IT OUT.
NOTHING WAS DOWN. THERE WERE NO INTERRUPTIONS TO SERVICE OR ANY LASTING ISSUES IN THE SYSTEMS. THE FLOODING ISSUES, YOU KNOW, WE KINDA -- EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THE PHOTOS OF THE AREAS THAT FLOODED.
THURSDAY, HIGH TIDE, CALHOUN, ESCAMBIA, PORTIONS OF NORTH (NAME) STREET AND THE TYPICAL SECTION ON FRONT STREET WERE UNDERWATER FOR A FEW HOURS. WE ALSO HAD SOME FLOODING AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHLAND AND NORTH 50TH UP AROUND THE NORTH END BY THE OTHER LIFT STATION.
TO GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE, THE TIDE GAUGE AT WATERFRONT MEASURED OURPEAK WATER ELEVATION AT 6.9 .
THAT'S RELATIVE TO ALL THE ELEVATIONS YOU'LL SEE IF YOU GO ON THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S MAP.
THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE WATERFRONT AT ELEVATION 9. THAT'S ALL RELATIVE ON THE SAME DATA. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, MATTHEW, WE GOT UP TO 6.91. IN (NAME) WE SAW 6.31.
SO LITTLE LESS THAN BOTH OF THOSE STORMS, BUT ENOUGH TO CREATE SOME ISSUES. THIS IS JUST KIND OF A QUICK GRAPHIC, SHOWING THOSE AREAS THAT WERE FLOODED.
WE HAD NORTH EIGHTH STREET CLOSED OFF COMPLETELY, FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.
DUE TO CONCERN OVER THE OVERNIGHT TIDE CREATING ADDITIONAL ISSUES. DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IS THE RESULTS FROM THE TIDE GAUGE. THE BLUE IS WHAT IS THE PREDICTED TIDE, AND THE GREEN IS WHAT WAS ACTUALLY MEASURED.
SO YOU CAN SEE IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER WHAT THE TYPICAL TITLE PATTERNS ARE. THIS IS JUST THE AREA ON NORTH 14TH PLACE AND NORTH 15TH STREET.
NONE OF THOSE ROADS WERE CLOSED (INDISCERNIBLE) TRAFFIC.UT IT DID EXPERIENCE SOME STANDING WATER IN THAT AREA.
WE, SO FAR, HAVE TOTALED ABOUT 1100 MAN-HOURS FOR UTILITIES AND STORMWATER DEPARTMENTS, FOR STORM PREPARATION AND RESPONSE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR CLEANUPOR RECOVERY , SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT HOURS ONTHAT .
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BASICS OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCE FROM UTILITIES. IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
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> I JUST HAD ONE. YOU SET A MOTOR BURNED OUTBECAUSE I GOT WET. >> TYPICALLY -- I MEAN, THE MOTORS ARE ON DEEP WELLS. WE DON'T NORMALLY HAVE ISSUES.
I THINK IT WAS THE DRIVEN RAIN FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT WAS EXPOSED. IT JUST GOT SOME OF THE INTERNALS WET. WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME WAYS TO PREVENT THAT. OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SPARES. WE SWAPPED IT OUT.
IT DIDN'T PUT US DOWN, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE WILL LOOK AT IN
THE FUTURE. >> YEAH, PREVENTION (INDISCERNIBLE). THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER STURGES? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ANDRE, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT'S ON THE PREVENTION SIDE.
YOU CAN ANSWER OBVIOUSLY THE WAY YOU KNOW APPROPRIATE: DO YOU THINK THAT THOSE TWO STATIONS THAT FLOODED, IS THERE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT THEM FROM FLOODING? OR DOES IT NOT REALLY MATTER? IS IT NOT REALLY GOING TO BE A HINDRANCE -- I ONLY SUGGEST THIS BECAUSE YES, THESE ARE HURRICANE OCCURRENCES THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO US, BUT THEY'RE NOT
AS BIG AS WE COULD SEE ONE DAY. >> ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR LIFT STATION UPGRADES, PARTICULARLY THE ONES IN THE FLOODPLAINS, WE WANT TO RAISE ALL THE CONTROL PANELS, ALL THE GENERAL RS ABOVE ELEVATION.
WE CAN PUT RISERS ON THESE (INDISCERNIBLE).
THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO BOTH OF THESE CASES.
WE WILL RAISE THAT LEVEL UP SO IT AT LEAST MINIMIZES THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT IS COMING IN.
ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS IS THE MANHOLES.
YOU KNOW, A MANHOLE LID, IDEALLY, SHOULD BE SEALED.
BUT OVER TIME, THEY ARE NOT QUITE AS SEALED AS THEY CAN BE.
SO WE GET A LOT OF INFILTRATION THROUGH THOSE.
AND THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO HELP MINIMIZE THAT. THAT SOMETHING WE KNEW THIS HELPED US REMIND US OF THE ISSUES WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND ABSOLUTELY, WE WILL TAKE MEASURES TO PREVENT -- WE HAVE A PLAN TO KIND OF GO FORWARD WITH THIS?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU, SIR.
>> (NAME) PUT TOGETHER A BRIEF VIDEO, THE EFFECTS OF THE STORM. THERE IS NO SOUND ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, SO YOU ARE NOT HEARING SOMETHING.
>> JEREMIAH (NAME), OPERATIONS DIRECTOR.
I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR OPERATIONS PRIOR TO THE STORM, DURING AND AFTER, WHILE THEY ARE WORKING ON THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. PRE-STORM, WE WORKED A NUMBER OF THE STORMS. IT'S LARGELY AN IDLE EVENT, THIS ONE WAS. PRE-STORM EFFORTS CONSISTED OF THREE DIVISIONS BEING PLACED ON CALL, THAT WAS FLEET, FACILITIES AND STREETS. CHECKING GENERATORS AND CHAINSAWS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR SERVICE IN OPERATION PRIOR TO THE STORM. FILLING AND PLACING SANDBAGS AT KEY FACILITIES. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTING WROTE CLOSED SIGNS AND CONSTRUCTING BARRICADES AT THE PLACES WE KNOW THERE WILL BE FLOODED STREETS.
WE DID SUSPEND A GARBAGE AND RECYCLING SERVICES ON YOUR COLLECTION THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. WE DID ESTABLISH THREE CUTS AND PUSH CREWS TO DISPATCH THROUGHOUT THE STORM AS NEEDED, BUT WE DID NOT END UP MEETING THOSE THREE CREWS.
WE SEND UP BACKUP FEELING, (INDISCERNIBLE) AND TOPPED UP ALL OF OUR VEHICLES PRIOR TO THE STORM.
REMOVE THE TOWERS OFF THE BEACH, AND THEN, FILL THE BREACH IS ON THE FRONTAL DUNE AT MAIN AND SEASIDE TO PREVENT
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SEARCH FLOODING. DURING THE STORM, WE APPLIED THE ROADBLOCKS AS ANDRE HAD MENTIONED, SECURED BLOWING AND FLOATING ITEMS. WORKED ON FALLEN TREES, POWER LINES IN CONJUNCTION WITH (NAME) AND PUBLIC SAFETY.WE HAVE ABOUT 750 MAN-HOURS INVOLVED IN STORM PREP AND WORKING DURING THE STORM. POST-STORM WAS LARGELY CONSISTED OF TOP-DOWN BUILDING AND ROAD ASSESSMENT.
WORKING WITH THE FIRE CHIEF, DECIDED NOT TO ACTIVATE OUR DEBRIS CONTRACT BUT WE STILL HAVE FALLEN TREES.
AND AS ALL OF YOU ALL ARE AWARE, DEBRIS IN THE YARD EVERYWHERE. DEBRIS VOLUME IS UP 800 PERCENT. STREET SWEEPING VOLUME IS UP 500 PERCENT. WE HAVE SUSPENDED THE REGULAR YARD COLLECTION ROUTE. OF COURSE WE ARE STILL WORKING IN ZONES. WASTE MANAGEMENT BEGAN ASSISTING THE CITY TODAY IN THE DEBRIS CLEANUP.
IT DEDICATED A (INDISCERNIBLE) TRUCK AND OPERATOR FOR AT LEAST THIS WEEK AND HOPEFULLY INTO THE NEXT, IF NEED BE.
WE DO HAVE MINOR DAMAGE TO CITY SIGNAGE BUT THE EFFORTS ARE ONGOING AND WILL CONTINUE THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
WE ARE PUTTING EVERYTHING AT STORM DEBRIS CLEANUP.
OUR ENTIRE STREETS DIVISION, THAT'S HER FOCUS THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE HAVE FIVE TRUCKS A DAY WORKING ON DEBRIS CLEANUP AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS OUR PRIORITY. EXPECT HEAVY DEBRIS CLEANUP TO GET CALLS OR EMAILS. (INDISCERNIBLE) YARD WASTE, STORM DEBRIS WILL GET PICKED UP.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH OUT INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. BUT WE EXPECT ANOTHER TWO OR POSSIBLY THREE WEEKS BEFORE WE ARE BACK TO NORMAL.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU, SIR.
WELL DONE. >> OKAY, WE HAVE THE VIDEO HERE. THIS IS SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE WERE (INDISCERNIBLE).
[VIDEO] >> NEXT WILL BE MR. CHARLES GEORGE, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER. I DID SPEAK WITH MR. RJ (NAME) FROM FPU, POWER OUTAGES WERE MINIMAL.
I THINK AT ONE TIME HE REPORTED TO BOTH THE MAYOR AND I THERE WERE FIVE PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER DURING THE STORM THEY DID HAVE 20 CREWS REPOSITIONED .
THEIR EQUIPMENT WAS POSITIONED AT THE AIRPORT.
AND AS THE STORM SUBSIDED, THEY RELEASED THEIR CREWS FIVE AT A TIME TO GO ATTEND TO OTHER MORE AFFECTED AREAS OF THE STATE.
BUT MR. (NAME) EXPRESSED GREAT THANKS TO THE CITY AIRPORT STAFF, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO STAGE THEIR EQUIPMENT THERE.
SO YEAH, THE IMPACT ON THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM WAS PRETTY NIL.
I THINK HE REPORTED EARLIER THERE WERE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE AT THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND WITHOUT POWER.
BUT AFTER THAT, HE REPORTED THERE WERE FIVE PEOPLE, AT THE TIME, WITHOUT POWER WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
I THINK THAT'S REASONABLY, QUICKLY ADDRESSED BY FP RESOURCES. THANKS TO FPU FOR THEIR SUPPORT OR WILLINGNESS TO POSITION. INDISCERNIBLE) HOTEL.
MR. GEORGE. >> CHARLES GEORGE, CITY ENGINEER. PRIOR TO THE STORM, I DID A PRE-STORM BEACH ASSESSMENT. TAKING MEASUREMENTS BASED ON WHAT THE (INDISCERNIBLE) ASKED ME TO DO.
I'M IN THE PROCESS OF DOING POST-STORM.
WHAT I HAVE SEEN, THERE'S BEEN MINIMAL DAMAGE.
WHEN I FINISH THAT, I THINK WE'LL FIND WE DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE BEACH.
OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE KNOWS THE MARINA TOOK QUITE A HIT.A
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GANGWAY CAME DISLODGED. IT'S ARI BEEN PICKED UP TODAY AND IS LAYING ON ONE OF THE DOCKS.WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT INSTALLED THIS WEEK.
THE TIMBER WALKWAY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE (INDISCERNIBLE) STRUCTURE GOT DAMAGED JUST BY UPLIFT FORCES BY THE WAVES HITTING ALL THE STRUCTURES IN THE WATER.
TO REPAIR THAT WILL START THURSDAY AND WILL PROBABLY TAKE 2 TO 3 DAYS. AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE BACKUP WITH THE STRUCTURE WE CAN USE. TO CORRECT, MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE NOT SHUT DOWN THE (NAME) RIVER CRUISES.
WE WORKED OUR WAY TO BE ABLE FOR THEM TO ACCESS THEIR DOCS SAFELY. WE'VE DONE SOME SHORING UP THAT WALKWAY IN THAT AREA, TO MAKE THAT SAFE.
SO THEY ARE STILL OPERATING, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IT ON A SMALLER CAPACITY. JUST TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THAT.
BUT THEY ARE STILL OPERATING. >> ARE THEY USING A MAIN WALK -- BOARDWALK BY THEIR TICKET OFFICE?
>> YES. >> AND HAVING THE GANGWAY --?
>> THE GANGWAY IS STILL THERE. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE MINIMIZED THE AMOUNT OF DECK SPACE THEY ARE USING.
WE PUT UP TEMPORARY FENCING TO KEEP THEM OFF THE DAMAGED AREA.
WE WORK THAT OUT WITH MR. MCCARTHY.
SO FAR, IT'S WORKING WELL. WE SHORED UP OUR MAIN CONCERN UNDERNEATH THERE. SAFETY ISSUES.
WE DID THAT TODAY. THE CRANE WILL SHOW UP IN THE PARKING LOT THURSDAY TO HELP PICK SOME OF THAT BROKEN DEBRIS UP. SO WE CAN START MAKING SOME REPAIRS. A QUESTION ABOUT THE PARKING LOT A BEING CLOSE. IT'S GOOD TO BE CLOSE THURSDAY FOR THE CRANE, BUT AFTER THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSE.
BECAUSE OUR WATERFRONT ROADWAY CONTRACTORS COMING BACK TO START THE WORK ON CENTER STREET.
WE NEED THAT AREA FOR UNLOADING (INDISCERNIBLE) AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, Y'ALL SHOULD BE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE STAFF YOU HAVE WORKING THIS WEEKEND. THEY WERE AMAZING!
>> I, WITH A LOT OF OTHER COMMISSIONERS, ROUTE DURING THE STORM LOOKING AT SOME OF THE AREAS AND (INDISCERNIBLE).
THEY DID A GREAT JOB. ALSO, NONE OF THIS FLOODING -- OR ALL OF THIS FLOODING IS EXACTLY WHAT THE MODEL SHOWS US (INDISCERNIBLE). SO YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF AN AREA WHERE WE LOOK AT PARTICULARLY OTHER THAN DOWNTOWN. WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALLIGATOR CREEK AND WHERE IT CAME UP. ALMOST (INDISCERNIBLE) AT EGAN'S, WHICH IS A VERY VULNERABLE AREA.
AND TO THE CREDIT OF STAFF SERVING THE BEACHES, WHEN I WAS ON THE BEACHES I DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGNIFICANT LOSS.
A LITTLE BIT (INDISCERNIBLE) CONFIGURATIONS, BUT IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES IS BECAUSE OF THE SURVEY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROBABLY MODIFY FISCAL YEAR 24 WE NOURISHMENT TO WORK WITH THAT.
>> CORRECT. ONE OTHER THING, ON THE PARKING LOT C AND D, WE PUT THE HYDRO PLANKS IN.E DIDN'T ANTICIPATE IT BEING A PROBLEM, BUT WE PUT IT IN ANY WAY.
(INDISCERNIBLE). THERE WAS SOME RESIDUAL WATER UP AGAINST THEM WITH ZERO LEAKS.
(INDISCERNIBLE). >> THANK YOU, SIR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? REPAIRS ON THE MARINA? WE ESTIMATED IT TO BE A TOTAL OF 40,000.T'LL BE LESS THAN 20.
SO ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS, AND HARKENING BACK TO COMMISSIONER ROSS'S THOUGHTS.
(INDISCERNIBLE) PROTECTION. WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN.
WE ARE, ESSENTIALLY, OR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, IN A HOLDING PATTERN. IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF WE GET HIT BY A STORM, IT'S WHEN. AND I DON'T WANT TO OVERREACT TO FORT MYERS AND SANIBEL. THAT SHOWS YOU THE POTENTIAL DEVASTATION OF AN ISLAND. WHICH WE ARE.
AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER ROSS HAS DONE EXTENSIVE WORK ON THE SEAWALL, SEAWALL SOUTH, SEAWALL NORTH.
HE'S PREACHED TO US, RIGHTFULLY SO.
DOING NOTHING IS NOT A PLAN. AND WE NOW HAVE A WINDOW OF
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OPPORTUNITY TO START PLANNING. BECAUSE AS I SAID, GENTLEMEN, WE ARE IN A HOLDING PATTERN. AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO STAY JUST HOLDING, DOING NOTHING. WE'VE GOT TO FINISH THAT SEAWALL. THIS WAS AN INDICATION OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT'LL HAPPEN IF WE GET AND EIGHT FOOT TO 10 FOOT STORM SURGE. WE WILL FLOOD 6 TO 10 BLOCKS INWARD FROM FRONT STREET, NORTH THE SOUTH.MAYOR? >> WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE A PLAN, IT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN TO FINISH THE SEAWALL TO NINE FEET, WHERE THOSE NUMBERS ARE. WE ARE AT 6.9.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR IS THE REST OF THE CITY.
SO (INDISCERNIBLE) ALLIGATOR CREEK, ALL THE WAY AROUND, IT'S GONNA FLOOD DOWNTOWN FROM AND BEFORE DOES FROM THIS END.
HE CAME OUT. WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THE MODELS ARE CORRECT.
WHETHER A STORM SURGE OR THE SEA LEVEL RISE.
THIS HAPPENS TO SPECIFICALLY BE STORM SURGE.
SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND I KNOW ANDRE HAS DONE SOME STUDIES ALONG EGAN'S (INDISCERNIBLE) UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA. THOSE ARE AREAS THAT WE HAD BETTER ADDRESS, BECAUSE WE HAVE ABOUT A YEAR LEFT OF GRANT MONEY AVAILABLE. WHEN FLORIDA WRITES THE NEW RULES FOR GRANTS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO MEET. BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO FAVOR SOUTH FLORIDA. BECAUSE SOUTH FLORIDA IS REALLY MUCH MORE IN JEOPARDY. AND WE'VE GOT MONEY -- I GUESS I CAN SAY, DALE HAS BEEN TALKING TO THE COUNTY, I GUESS.
HE TOLD ME. THERE'S BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM (INDISCERNIBLE) AND GET OUR -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY OUR DUCKS IN ORDER, BUT I GUESS I WILL.
SO WE CAN GET GRANTS THIS YEAR, BECAUSE IT'S CAN IT BECOME MORE DIFFICULT. IT'S GOT TO BE THE WHOLE CITY.
WHEN (INDISCERNIBLE) WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE NOW.
DOWNTOWN, WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT MORE BUSINESSES.
THREE FEET -- DIDN'T COME UP TO SECOND STREET.
IT ALMOST CAME AROUND TO DADE STREET AND SURGED IN THE BACKYARDS OF THOSE HOUSES. SO WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN.
THE PLAN HAS TO BE CITYWIDE. OKAY?
WE NEED THAT RIGHT AWAY. >> THE WALL PLAN YOU REFERENCE, ARE YOU REFERENCING THE SEAWALL COMING ACROSS OUR PROPERTY?
>> NO, I'M REFERENCING BASICALLY THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF NINE FEET. WE ARE AT 6.9.
NINE FEET WOULD DO THE WHOLE THING.
HOW WE DO IT, HOW WE GO PAST THE VULNERABILITY DESK OF THE LOWEST AREAS ARE RIGHT OUT HERE.
FOUR FEET. THEN IT GOES UP 67 (INDISCERNIBLE). SO THE NINE FEET WILL PROTECT THE DOWNTOWN. IT'S NOT GOING TO PROTECT THE DOWNTOWN COMING UP ALLIGATOR CREEK.
WE DON'T HAVE A FIRM PLAN, BUT I THINK THE CITY IS CLOSE TO COMING UP WITH PROPER AGREEMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THAT. >> COMMISSIONER STURGES?>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. NOT TO GET OFF THE RIVERFRONT (INDISCERNIBLE) WALL, WHICH WE DO HAVE A PLAN FOR AND IT IS MOVING FORWARD. IT'S JUST NOT MOVING FORWARD FAST. BUT ON ANOTHER NOTE, THE ESCAMBIA SLOUGH ISSUE, WITH SOME OF THE MODELS -- THAT WAS VERY SURPRISING TO ME TO SEE HOW MUCH IT CAME UP WITH A HURRICANE, WITH THE RIGHT TYPE OF TIDE.
SO THAT STORM SURGE WAS VERY SURPRISING TO ME WHEN I DROVE BY THAT ROAD AN HOUR EARLIER, AND I COME BACK AN HOUR AND AND A HALF LATER DRIVING HOME AND IT IS FLOODED IN AN HOUR.
SO IT WAS JUST THE PERFECT TIDE AND THE RIGHT TYPE OF STORM.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT THERE'S CHANCES IT WILL.O WE DO NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
SO IN MY OPINION, I WANT US TO LOOK AT WITH THE ESCAMBIA SLOUGH, BUT I THINK IT EASY SOLUTION COULD BE IS TO REMOVE THAT DIRT STREET (INDISCERNIBLE) ESCAMBIA SLOUGH. AND BRING BACK MORE AREA FOR THE WATER TO TRAVEL. AS WELL AS A PLAN OF SOME NATURE TO BUILD A WALL WHERE IT ENDS UP.
BUT MOST OF THAT AREA FALLS INTO AN EMPTY BLOCK, WHICH IS ON EIGHTH STREET. THAT'S A LOW-LYING AREA TO START WITH. SO IT'S KIND OF SOMETHING SOMEBODY NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT A MODEL AND HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. BECAUSE IT SPREADS, BUT IT'S A
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LARGE AREA THAT IT COVERS. BUT IT WAS VERY SURPRISING TO SEE HOW HIGH IT GOT. BUT I THINK ONE OF THE IDEAS, AND WE DISCUSSED THE ESCAMBIA SLOUGH MANY TIMES.YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT ROAD THAT JUST GOES TO NOWHERE, RIGHT THROUGH THERE. WILL IT HELP TO REMOVE THE ROAD OR WILL IT HELP TO LEAVE THE ROAD, AND CREATE SOME SORT OF WALL IN THAT AREA OR AN AREA FURTHER IN ADVANCE? BUT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOMEBODY WITH MORE ENGINEERING THEN, OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE.BUT I THINK THAT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS TO FIGURE OUT. AS WELL AS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS THE LOWEST LEVEL (INDISCERNIBLE) NINE FEET.
WHICH WE DO HAVE A PLAN AND IT IS MOVING FORWARD.
>> OKAY, CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU UPDATE US -- FIRST TELL US ABOUT THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS, I'LL LET YOU DESCRIBE THE LETTER IN THE PROCESS.
>> PROBABLY HAVE MR. GEORGE COME UP AS WELL.
THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH FOUR PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED BY THE CITY, WHICH IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS 101 NORTH STREET WHICH IS AT THE FOOT OF (NAME) STREET.
WE SENT A LETTER TO THEM INDICATING WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THEM. THE POSSIBILITY OF INSTALLING A BULKHEAD. MR. GEORGE HAS BUILT THAT RELATIONSHIP OVERTHE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS .
BASICALLY, WHAT THE LETTER IS INTENDED TO DO IS GET AN AGREEMENT AS TO WHERE THIS BULKHEAD WOULD GO.
AND ONCE WE GET THE OTHER FOUR PROPERTY OWNERS TO SIGN OFF ON THAT LETTER, WE WILL COME TO YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT A PRE-APPLICATION ABOUT THE BULKHEAD TO THE APPROPRIATE (INDISCERNIBLE) AGENCIES.
ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER AND, STATE DEP, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.O WE ARE GETTING THERE.
WE ARE STILL WAITING ON PROPERTY OWNERS TO SIGN IT.
MR. GEORGE ACTUALLY MET WITH ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS TODAY. HE STAYS IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, SO IT IS MOVING FORWARD.WE JUST CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
I DON'T KNOW, IS ANYTHING MORE TO ADD TO THAT?
>> CHARLIE GEORGE, CITY ENGINEER.
WITHOUT GETTING INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, BUT THE CORE AND THE STATE ASKED US TO DO WAS TO GET A CONSENSUS BASICALLY THE FOUR PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG THAT AREA OF WHERE THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD WANT TO WALL. SO THEY CAN EVALUATE THAT AS A TOTAL VERSUS AN INDIVIDUAL THIS WHILE HERE, THIS WHILE THERE.
TRYING TO GET A CONSENSUS. THIS LETTER IS BASICALLY JUST TO GET -- BASICALLY AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE LINE OF THE WALL. SO THESE AGENCIES WILL APPROVE THAT. THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PERMITTING PROCESS. BUT IF WE TRY TO DO THAT WITHOUT GETTING THIS CONSENT, THE FIRST THING THESE AGENCIES WILL DO IS ASK, WALL WHOSE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER? SO WE ARE TRYING TO BE THAT PUNCH AND GET THAT DONE.
ONCE WE GET THAT -- AND WE ARE ALMOST THERE.
WERE REAL CLOSE. ONCE WE GET THAT DONE, THEN WE CAN START THE PERMIT PROCESS. AND THEN, START CARING ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AGENCIES TO GET THIS THROUGH.
>> SO OUT OF THE FOUR PROPERTY OWNERS, HOW MANY HAVE SIGNED
THE LETTER? >> WE'VE GOT TO THAT ACTUALLY SIGN THE LETTERS. THE THIRD I MET TODAY, WHO IS GOING TO SIGN IT. AND WE ARE WAITING ON THE LAST ONE.> OKAY. THANK YOU.
VICE MAYOR. >> I WANT TO GO BACK TO
ESCAMBIA SLOUGH. >> WAIT A MINUTE, MR. GEORGE -- COMMISSIONER ROSS HAS A QUESTION --
>> HOW LONG IS THIS PROCESS BEEN GOING ON FOR?
>> I THINK I SENT THE LETTER -- END OF AUGUST.
>> OKAY, VICE MAYOR. >> ESCAMBIA SLOUGH FLUTTERED IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER. SAME AS (NAME).
THE DIFFERENCE HERE WAS (INDISCERNIBLE) TIDE.
THIS WAS STORM SURGE. I HAVE A NICE VIDEO THAT I TOO , IF DALE COULD PULL IT UP, THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME, I GUESS. IT WOULD ACTUALLY SHOW YOU SOME OF THE STORM SURGE. THAT IS AN AREA THAT WE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT TAKING THE ROAD OUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST TAKING THE ROAD OUT WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL. BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO FLOOD THE SAME WAY, JUST SOONER.
[00:35:03]
THIS IS BIG WATER OUT HERE. THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS.I THINK THERE ARE SOME SIMPLE OPTIONS.
10 FEET AT A STREET AND IT GOES DOWN TO TWO FEET, THEN IT GOES UP TO 21 FEET. SO THERE ARE OPTIONS.
THEY ARE NOT EASY FIX THIS, THEIR COSTLY FIXES.
BUT JUST TAKING IT OUT, I THINK (INDISCERNIBLE).
LOOKING TOWARDS THE EAST AT EIGHTH STREET.
THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS VIDEO, IF WE GET IT UP, IS THIS WAS TAKEN ABOUT 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON ON THURSDAY.
HIGH TIDE WAS ABOUT NOON. SO THIS WAS THE TIME WHEN THE VELOCITY OF THE TIDE GOING OUT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE STRONGEST.
YOU ARE GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> (INDISCERNIBLE) (AWAY FROM MICROPHONE).
>> IT WORKED FOR MR. (NAME), ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S NOT (INDISCERNIBLE) (AWAY FROM MICROPHONE).
>> SO WHEN THIS WAS TAKEN, THE ACTUAL TIDE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY RECEDED THREE FEET ALREADY. I'VE GOT OTHER VIDEOS, TOO, BUT
I'M JUST SHOWING YOU THE ONE. >> THIS IS THE (INDISCERNIBLE)?
>> YES. >> YOU ARE PASSING OUT THE POPCORN!
[LAUGHTER] >> I WAS THINKING OF SOMETHING WITH A LITTLE MORE SUBSTANCE!
[LAUGHTER] >> A COMPUTER PROBLEM.
>> I GUESS SEMI COAT TECHNOLOGY!
>> THERE, NOW IT IS WORKING. >> SO YOU'RE LOOKING ACROSS (INDISCERNIBLE). THIS IS THE STORM SURGE COMING IN. BUT TIDE WOULD'VE BEEN MAXIMAL VELOCITY GOING OUT. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE A STORM SURGE, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE.
I REALLY LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT THE INTENT, BUT IT REALLY SHOWS THAT. IF THE TIDE WOULD'VE BEEN EVEN HIGHER, IT WOULD'VE BEEN FURTHER ON A STREET AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE BACKYARD OF THOSE HOUSES ALONG THERE.
THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR.
NORFORK ATLANTIC (INDISCERNIBLE).
BUT ATLANTIC IS LESS OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE THOSE HOUSES ARE MOSTLY BUILT TO FLOOR PLAN COAT.
THAT'S IT. I REALLY LIKE THAT VIDEO!
>> OKAY, COMMISSIONER ROSS.> ESCAMBIA, ALLIGATOR CREEK, ESCAMBIA SLOUGH. THE WHOLE THING IS IN THE 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN. LOT OF IT IS STILL VACANT PROPERTY.
I WOULD SUSPECT THAT ANOTHER STRATEGY, A DIFFERENT STRATEGY, WOULD BE TO START BUYING UP THE PROPERTY OR GET THAT PROPERTY SO IT'S PART OF OUR WETLANDS. ESCAMBIA, TAKING THAT ROAD OUT, WILL NOT BLOCK IT COMING IN. BUT IT CERTAINLY WILL LET IT GO OUT QUICKER. AND ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS FOR A WHILE. (INDISCERNIBLE) STUDIES AND SOME OTHER THINGS. SO THERE ARE SOME OTHER OPTIONS THERE. BUT ONE OF THE OPTIONS IS (INDISCERNIBLE). THAT'S NOT GOING TO FLOOD DOWNTOWN. IT'S NOT GOING TO COME THROUGH THE BACK DOORS THERE, IN MY OPINION.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT.
BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.
I THINK ONE OF THE STRATEGIES IS IT NOT ONLY HELPS WILD AMELIA, LOOKING AT PROPERTIES THERE.
BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THERE THAT SHOULDN'T BE BUILT ON TOP OF IT. AND ACTUALLY, THE COUNTY AND THEIR NEW -- WHAT IS CALLED? CLAN PLAN IDENTIFY THAT AREA AS (INDISCERNIBLE) PROPERTY. (AWAY FROM MICROPHONE).
BUT ALL OF THAT IS FOR ANOTHER DAY.
I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD MOVE ALONG ON FRONT STREET, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF OUR ISLAND IS THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MOVE IT ALONG. WE DO HAVE A PLAN, IT'S JUST IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN. I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM IS MONEY SO MUCH. THERE IS MONEY OUT THERE (INDISCERNIBLE). WE HAVE A MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT TO PLAN THIS. WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE WE
[00:40:01]
ARE PLANNING IT. (INDISCERNIBLE).THANK YOU. >> SO TO COMMISSIONER ROSS'S POINT, WE HAVE THE LETTER THAT PIS IN PROGRESS.
WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PLAN FOR QUITE A WHILE.
WITHOUT IMPLEMENTATION. THE REAL QUESTION BEFORE US IS HOW LONG DO WE WAIT? HOW LONG DO WE WAIT UNTIL WE -- TAKE STOCK OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ON OUR ISLAND? TO BUILD THIS PROTECTIVE WALL? BECAUSE AS I SAID, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE HOPEFUL.
AND AS I SAID MANY TIMES, HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY.
IT REALLY ISN'T. SO THE QUESTION IS, HOW LONG DO WE WAIT? DO WE WAIT 90 DAYS? DO WE WAIT SIX MONTHS? BECAUSE REMEMBER, ONCE YOU HAVE THE LETTERS SIGNED, NOW YOU'VE GOT A GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS OF NOT ONE AGENCY, BUT THREE.
SO, AT SOME POINT, WE NEED TO ANSWER THAT.
MR. STURGIS, THEN VICE MAYOR. >> I'LL BE BRIEF.
I THINK WE JUST STARTED THIS PROCESS.
AND OF CHARLIE CAME UP FOR THE CITY MANAGER MAC CAME UP, AND I DO UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO MOVE AS FAST AS WE CAN TO DO IT.
BUT WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES IN REBUILDING THIS WALL IN THE FRONT OF OUR CITY THAT IS OUR MOST VULNERABLE PART, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE THE CLOSEST WE'VE EVER BEEN TO FIRMING UP A POSITION WITH THE WALL AND GETTING EVERYTHING GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO AS CLOSE AS WE ARE, AND IT'S ONLY BEEN 4 TO 6 WEEKS THAT THEY'VE HAD THIS LETTER IN WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO CREATING WHAT WE NEED TO GET IT IN AND MOVE IT, IT COULD TAKE A LITTLE WHILE WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THAT'S ALL.
>> VICE MAYOR. >> WELL, BASED ON WHAT I AM HEARING, I DO BELIEVE WE ARE CLOSE AND STEP IS WORKING HARD.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE WORK HARD.
BECAUSE AS I SAID, THE MILLION DOLLARS IS IN THE STATE BUDGET.
THAT'S NICE. BUT THE ACTUAL, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED OUT, IT WAS 26 MILLION.
(INDISCERNIBLE). BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT HIGHER WHEN WE GET THERE. WE NEED TO GET IT READY SO THAT WE ARE IN THE POSITION TO GET STATE FUNDING.
BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO MEET GRANT FUNDING.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARDERONCE THE STATE ESTABLISHES NEW ROLES , IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR US.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT STAFF IS GOING TO GET THAT DONE SOON.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. BEFORE I COMMENT, THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT I WANT TO SAY TWO THINGS.
YES, LOOKING AT SOUTH FLORIDA, WE CERTAINLY DODGED A BULLET.
WE WERE BLESSED NOT TO GET THE WORST OF THE STORM OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THOSE IN SOUTH FLORIDA .
PRECEDING THAT, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO COMPLETE THE SEAWALL PROJECT. I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO IT, AND I ALSO FIRMLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT.
WE NEED TO DO THIS RIGHT. FOR ME, DOING IT RIGHT IS MAKING A SEAWALL/RIVERWALK THAT MATCHES WHAT WE ARE READY BUILT SOUTH OF ATLANTIC SEAFOOD. WE NEED TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT, WE NEED TO GET THAT LAST SIGNATURE.
I THINK WE WILL. I THINK WE WILL.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO BUILD THIS, WE NEED TO BUILD IT RIGHT. (INDISCERNIBLE) IS ONE WE ARE CURRENTLY TAKING AND I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL GET THIS DONE A DUE TIME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. TO KIND OF WRAP THIS UP, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THIS. AND HOPEFULLY, PUSH IT FORWARD.
SO CITY MANAGER MAC, THE TWO AREAS IN WHICH WE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED IS A PLAN FOR ESCAMBIA SLOUGH AND ATLANTIC AVENUE BY EAMES CREEK. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THIS LATEST EVENT.
BUT IT WAS REINFORCED? >> CORRECT.> REINFORCED ONCE AGAIN. SO HOW DO WE PROCEED WITH SOME TYPE OF PLAN , GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT'S ON YOUR PLATE ALREADY?
>> I KNOW THAT MR. (NAME), WHO WAS WORKING WITH THE PRELIMINARY PROJECT FROM -- YOU ENOUGH -- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH
[00:45:02]
FLORIDA ON ATLANTIC AVENUE IN EAGAN'S CREEK.THERE IS SOME HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF THAT FLOODING AREA. SO THAT EFFORT WILL CONTINUE.
I KNOW WE HAVE DONE SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY MODELING FOR THE ESCAMBIA STREET AREA FLOODING AS WELL.
SO STAFF WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT AND SHARE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WITH YOU AS IT DEVELOPS.
VICE MAYOR. >> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, CITY MANAGER MAC, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME UP.
(INDISCERNIBLE) IT'S CRITICAL FOR US TO MOVE TO FDOT.
IT'S A STATE ROAD. IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE IT AT THE STATE ROAD. SO THE PULMONARY STEP SHOULD HELP US. THEY ARE ACTUALLY AN AGENCYTHAT PLANS WELL IN ADVANCE. WE NEED IT GET IT IN THEIR
QUEUE . >> THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.
[3.1 SIMMONS ROAD PARK - PLAY GROUND EOUIPMENT - USE OF IMPACT FEES]
>> ALL RIGHT, WITH THE TIME REMAINING, I THINK WE CAN KNOCK OUT 3.1, SIMMONS ROAD PARK PLAYGROUND.
WHICH WAS PUT ON THIS AGENDA BY ME.
HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS: I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE WHEN THIS WAS DISCUSSED, WHEN IT WAS APPROVED, IT WAS APPROVED AS AN ADA ACCESSIBLE NATURE WALK AND PLAYGROUND.
NATURE WALK AND PLAYGROUND. THAT PLAN WAS SUCH THAT THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT WAS PURCHASED IN ADVANCE.
WAITING TO BE INSTALLED ONCE IT WAS READY TO GO INTO THE PARK.
NOW, WE TOOK OUT THE MAIN PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE AT CENTRAL PARK. I WAS NEVER AWARE THAT THIS PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN FROM THE WAREHOUSE AND PUT IN CENTRAL PARK. THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT OF THE PURCHASE. THE INTENT OF THE PURCHASE WAS FOR IT TO GO TO SIMMONS ROAD PARK.
PARKS AND REC, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THEIR UNDERSTANDING WAS IT WAS GOING TO BE A PLAYGROUND.
THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA, THEIR EXPECTATION THERE WAS GOING TO BE A PLAYGROUND. THE PARKS AND REC MASTER PLAN SAYS THERE WILL BE A PARK AND A PLAYGROUND WITHIN AND A HALF MILE OF NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THE INTENT WAS ALWAYS TO HAVE A PLAYGROUND. THAT IS THE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. IN THE MONEY EXISTS.
IN THE IMPACT FEES TO PUT THAT EQUIPMENT THERE.
IT'S NOT A LOT OF EQUIPMENT, IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT THE PARK, TO THIS DAY, THREE YEARS LATER REMAINS UNFINISHED. AND WITH THAT, I WILL LEAVE IT OPEN TO YOUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS.
VICE MAYOR. >> THAT PARK WAS BUILT WITH IMPACT FUNDS BASED ON THE CRITERIA OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, OUR PARK MASTER PLAN, AND ESTABLISHED PARK PLANNING CRITERIA. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD FINISH THAT PARK AND INSTALL THE PLAYGROUND.
>> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER STURGES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS HERE AT THE MEETING WHEN I GOT APPROVED. I WASN'T COMMISSIONER, BUT I WAS SITTING ON THE BACK ROW AS A CANDIDATE.I REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM THE CITIZENS ABOUT THE EXTRA REMOVAL OF TREES. SO THAT'S MY CONCERN, AND I'M BRINGING THAT AS AN OPINION THAT IF WERE GOING TO FINISH THIS PART, YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TREES. AND I THINK THAT WAS THE WHOLE THING WAS. I BROUGHT THIS UP MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, IF WE'RE GONNA REMOVE THE TREES AND PUT THE PARK EQUIPMENT IN THERE? DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM SPENDING THE IMPACT FUNDS TO PUT THE PARK IN THERE. BUT WE HAVE TO BE AT PEACE WITH IT IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THOSE TREES OUT AND PUT THE (INDISCERNIBLE) IN THERE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BEAN?> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IN YOUR OPINION, BY PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA, YOU WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THIS PARK, GETTING THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AS ORIGINALLY
PLANNED? >> TO REFRESH EVERYBODY'S MEMORY, I VOTED AGAINST HIS PARK.
>> RIGHT. >> BECAUSE IT WAS SIX ACRES OF
[00:50:01]
NATURAL, WILDLAND. IOPPOSED IT.YOU WERE AT THE MEETING. I DID A PRESENTATION .
YOU KNOW WHAT, ONCE IT WAS VOTED, AND I TOLD THIS TO THE CITY MANAGER -- MAKE IT THE BEST PARK IT CAN BE.
I GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL INTENT: IF WE TOOK THAT PRISTINE SIX ACRES AND BUILT A SPARK, FINISH IT! SO YOU ARE RIGHT, I AM IN FAVOR.
AND TO COMMISSIONER STURGES THIS POINT, I WOULD URGE US TO DO A TREE SURVEY, AGAIN, TO PLAN THE EQUIPMENT SO WE ARE NOT DISTURBING TREES. HOW MANY TREES CAN WE SAVE.
IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE THIS HUGE, EXPANSIVE PLAYGROUND.
IT WAS ALWAYS VERY TINY AND CONTAINED, BUT IT WAS THERE TO SERVE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO YES, I AM -- BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MONEY, FINISH THE PARK. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD ECHO COMMISSIONER STURGES THIS POINT THE TYPE OF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS, WHAT I WOULD WANT TO SEE IS THAT SAME PLAN YOU JUST DISCUSSED, WHAT IS A WAY WE WOULD MINIMIZE THE IMPACT? THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS OF TREES IN THERE.
AS I WALKED AROUND, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
I JUST WANT TO MINIMIZE IMPACT MOSTLY AS WE CAN, IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS. THAT'S MY TWO CENTS.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> THE CITY HAS SEVEN PLAYGROUNDS. WE ARE A CITY OF 12,000 PEOPLE.
MOST OF THOSE PLAYGROUNDS ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP.
AND YET, WE ARE GOING TO BUILD ANOTHER PLAYGROUND THAT WE CAN'T MAINTAIN? WE JUST PASSED THE BUDGET.
THERE IS NOTHING IN THAT BUDGET FOR MAINTAINING MORE PERKS.
WE ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE.
AND SO, WE ARE GOING TO ADD YET ANOTHER PARK? OR PLAYGROUND THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF? I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THIS. I OPPOSED IT THEN AND I OPPOSE IT NOW. IT IS A NICE PARK NOW AND THERE IS A NICE NATURE WALK THERE. I TALKED TO THE (NAME) PLAYGROUND PEOPLE THIS MORNING, WHO WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO FUND ALL OF THIS. BASICALLY, WHO I TALKED TO SAID PUT UP SOME SIGNS AND MAKE IT NATURE AND NICE.
AND IT IS OKAY THE WAY IT IS. SO WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER PLAYGROUND WHEN WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE? MY RECOLLECTION IS THIS WAS ALL ABOUT MAKING AN ADA ACCESSIBLE PARK. AND THE VERY KIND $500,000 CONTRIBUTION WE HAVE, WE NOW HAVE AN ADA ACCESSIBLE PARK WHICH I ADVOCATED BACK THEN. WHEN THIS WAS APPROVED, THIS WAS A SIX-HOUR MEETING. 60 SLIDES.
IT WAS HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS. WE HAVE A NICE PARK THERE WITH A NICE WALK. MY BOAT IS TO LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS -- MORE IS NOT BETTER. LET'S MAKE WHAT WE HAVE BETTER.
AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE, INSTEADOF PUTTING MORE RESOURCES INTO SOMETHING ELSE. MORE PLAYGROUND TO TAKE CARE OF. WE HAVE SEVEN PLAYGROUNDS.
WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE ANOTHER REALLY NICE PLAYGROUND AT THE VERY -- THE CONTRIBUTION THAT WAS MUCH APPRECIATED.
SO I DO NOT SEE WHY WE ARE PUTTING IN ANOTHER PLAYGROUND.
AS FAR AS THERE IS MONEY THERE FOR -- IN THE IMPACT FEE FUND.
BUT REMEMBER, WE HAVE THE WATERFRONT.
I WILL BRING UP THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE BUYING SOME CONSERVATION LAND TO MITIGATE FLOODING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. AND THEN, FINALLY, WHAT WILL COME UP SHORTLY IS THAT AT THE AIRPORT, THE SOCCER FIELDS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE -- REPLACED WITH AIRPORT HANGERS.
AND THERE'S A PLAN AFOOT TO MOVE THAT OVER TO WHERE THE BASEBALL FIELDS ARE NOW.SO, MAYBE, THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE SPENDING OUR MONEY? WHERE A LOT OF KIDS WILL BE USING THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO USE IMPACT MONEY FOR THOSE PROJECTS. BUT MY MAJOR OPPOSITION TO THIS IS YET ANOTHER THING THAT WE WANT TO BUILD BUT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE ARE READY HAVE. LET'S MAKE WHAT WE HAVE NOT GOOD BUT GREAT AND I KEEP ADDING TO IT.
SO OPPOSE? I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHERE YOU
ARE (LAUGHING). >> I HAVE TO AGREE.
AT THE MOMENT. WE CAN ALWAYS ADD THE EQUIPMENT
VICE MAYOR? >> I'M IN FAVOR.S I SAID, WE COLLECTED THAT MONEY AND OUR COMP PLAN SAYS IT, OUR PARKS PLAN SAYS IT. NATIONAL STANDARDS SAYS (INDISCERNIBLE). USE THAT MONEY FOR SOMETHING BETTER. THOSE PEOPLE WHO WE COLLECTED
[00:55:01]
MONEY FROM, (INDISCERNIBLE) IS WRONG.(AWAY FROM MICROPHONE). >> COMMISSIONER BEAN?
>> TO BE HONEST, MR. MAYOR, I THINK I WOULD NEED TO SEE A PICTURE. THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT SIDES HERE. I'M PICTURING LIKE CENTRAL PARK, THERE IS A SMALL HIPPO. IT'S A PIECE OF PLASTIC.
VERY LITTLE MAINTENANCE, VERY SMALL FOOTPRINT.
THEN THERE IS MUCH BIGGER -- IT'S A SLIDING SCALE.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M VOTING YES TO IF I SAY YES RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD NEED TO SEE A PICTURE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
HOW MANY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT ARE WE PUTTING IN?
THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> I HAVE TO DO IS GO TO CENTRAL PARK IN THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT ISTHERE.
>> BERGEN WITH THAT SAME PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT BACK TO
I PROPOSE WE BUY NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THAT.
WE ARE TALKING $60,000. OUT OF 3 MILLION.
THIS IS NOT SOME -- AS I SAID, THIS IS NOT SOME GRANDIOSE , EXPANSIVE . A VERY, TINY, COMPACTED PARK.
>> MR. MAYOR, IF WE SAY YES RIGHT NOW, ARE WE LOOKING AT A PLAN LATER THAT WOULD THEN SHOW WHAT THE DESIGN WOULD BE? OR ARE WE APPROVING IT, AND THEN IT WOULD GO FORWARD?
>> THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT AN APPROVAL.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A GO FORWARD. I WOULD ASK THAT A RESOLUTION BE PLACED ON THE CITY COMMISSION'S AGENDA AND THEN, WE WOULD HAVE A VOTE. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING?> WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR, I RECOMMEND WE MOVE THIS TO THE PARKS AND ADVISORY BOARD. SO THEY CAN WEIGH IN ON WHAT DIRECTION OR AT LEAST GIVE YOU A RECOMMENDATION FROM THEIR
PERSPECTIVE WILL STOP. >> PERFECT.
IS THAT GOOD WITH EVERYBODY? >> I'M GOOD WITH THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO WILL YOU MAKE SURE --
>> I'LL PUT IT ON THE NEXT (INDISCERNIBLE) AGENDA.
>> GREAT. ALL RIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.