[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:11]
WORKSHOP OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH IN TOWARDER.
>>MAYOR BEAN: HERE. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: HERE.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: HERE. >>COMMISSIONER ANTUN: HERE.
>>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: HERE. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. LET'S GO RIGHT INTO DISCUSSION.
TWO DISCUSSION ITEMS AND BOTH WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND WHEN WE GET TO 3.2, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT THEN.
[3.2 PARCEL RECORDS]
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW MUCH TIME FOR THIS MEETING. 3.2 IS ABOUT PARCEL RECORDS AND IT LIGHTLY TOUCHES AN ISSUE WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IN A QUASI-JUDICIAL FORUM LATER ON TONIGHT.FOR THAT REASON, I DON'T THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO GIVE OUR OPINIONS ABOUT THINGS ON 3.2. FOR THAT REASON, I AM GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE TABLE THAT TO THE NEXT WORKSHOP.
IS EVERYONE OKAY WITH THAT WITHOUT OBJECTION?
>> I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. >>MAYOR BEAN: ANY OTHER
OBJECTIONS? >> I AM GOOD WITH THAT, MAYOR.
[3.1 CITRONA DRIVE STREETLIGHTS]
>>MAYOR BEAN: WE WILL TABLE THAT ONE.
WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DISCUSS 3.1 AT LENGTH WHICH IS OUR CITRONA DRIVE STREETLIGHTS. GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH 3.1. PLACED ON THE AGENDA BY COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO THIS WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY JUST A CONVERSATION THAT I WAS ABLE TO HAVE WITH COMMISSIONER JOHN MARTIN WITH THE COUNTY I TOOK LIBERTY TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WITH WORK TOGETHER.
AND I AM GOING TO THROW ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT WE CAME UP WITH, AND NOT STREETLIGHTS, BUT JUST TO SHOW THE DEPTH THAT WE ARE GOING INTO OF WORKING TOGETHER. AN ONE OF THEM IS USING T THE MSTU, WHAT WE CALL THE SAND TAX, USING -- LOOKING AT USING THOSE FUNDS TO HELP REPAIR OUR WALKOVERS.
OUR BEACH WALKOVERS. SAYS IN THE MTSU, YOU CAN USE THAT FOR BEACH EROSION. THAT WILL HAVE TO CLEAR COUNTY STAFF. OF COURSE, IT WILL HAVE TO CLEAR THE COUNTY COMMISSION. BUT IT IS JUST ANOTHER WAY THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT SAYING, HEY, LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
AND USE FUNDS TO -- TO HELP EVERYBODY.
SO WHEN WE ARE -- WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.
THE SUBJECT OF STREETLIGHTS CAME UP.
I SAID, WELL, COMMISSIONER, LET ME SEE WHAT I CAN DO AND LET'S JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. SO WHAT I DID WAS, I REACHED OUT TO A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, CITY RESIDENT MR. MARK CUT SHAW THAT WORKS, AND WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH JEREMIAH AND YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THE E-MAIL FROM JEREMIAH AND OF COURSE I GOT E-MAILS ABOUT GETTING LIGHTS TURNED ON AND 75 LIGHTS TOTAL THAT GOT TURNED OFF. WE WERE TO TURN ALL OF THEM ON, IT WOULD BE ABOUT $1500 A MONTH. SO THE REMAINING FISCAL YEAR, WE WOULD BE SITTING AT $10,500. JEREMIAH WAS ABLE TO SHOW THAT WE ARE ONLY ABOUT 30% OF THE BUDGET IN STREETLIGHTS AND WE WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF ROLLOVER THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. BUT IF WE DID WANT TO DO THAT AND WE JUST WANTED TO SAY, HEY, LET'S JUST TURN THEM ON FOR CITRONA, LIME JASMINE. WE ARE LOOKING AT $500 A MONTH.
THE REST OF THE BUDGET YEAR ABOUT $3500.
IT DIDN'T SEEM THAT BIG OF A STRETCH TO ME TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO SHOW THAT WE ARE -- WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO PUT THE BEST FOOT FORWARD. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO BRING IT UP FOR DISCUSSION JUST TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY APPETITE FOR TURNING THESE BACK ON FOR OUR CITIZENS.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
MAGNIFICENT WORK YOU DID. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS? I SEE DR. JAMES ANTUN A'S LIGHT.
>>COMMISSIONER ANTUN: I WAS SPEAKING WITH CONSTITUENTS AND FORMER MAYOR, AND PROPOSAL TO POTENTIALLY SUGGEST HALF IN HALF. IF THE COUNTY WILL PAY HALF AND THE CITY WILL PAY HALF. THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IF FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WILL BE IN FAVOR
OF THAT. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU.
VICE-MAYOR STURGESS. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR BEAN, I THINK IN MY OPINION, IT IS A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF MONEY. DARREN, DID COMMISSIONER MARTIN
SPEAK OF THE COUNTY HELPING? >> YES, SIR, I CAN ANSWER THAT AND SPOKE MORE THAN JUST COMMISSIONER MARTIN.
SPOKEN TO COMMISSIONER HUFFMAN AND FARMER AND I DON'T THINK THE COUNTY WILL HAVE ANY APPETITE WHATSOEVER.
THE REASON IS, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY STREETLIGHTS THEY PROVIDE IN
[00:05:03]
THE COUNTY. REALLY NO OTHER JUSTIFICATION FOR THEM TO DO THIS OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW -- IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE IN AN AREA WE WERE PAYING FOR IT.AND NOW COUNTY STREETS. I DON'T BELIEVE ANY APPOSITE FROM THAT COMMISSION TO OFFSET ANY OF THE COSTS, BUT LIKE I SAID, I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH US ON MANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO FAR EXCEED, YOU KNOW, $500 OR $1500 A MONTH. WHEN WE START TALKING OF MSTU.
>> YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY HAD AN APPETITE FOR IT.
OR IF YOU HEARD SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I THINK WE SHOULD TURN THE STREETLIGHTS BACK ON IN THAT AREA. ONE DAY IT WILL BE THE CITY, IT ISN'T YET, BUT I WILL BE. I FEEL THAT ESPECIALLY FOR THE KIDS GOING BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL, IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING. AND ONCE YOU ASK, EXTREMELY -- PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WE DO HAVE WILDLIFE.
AND IT IS NOT UNCOMMON, ESPECIALLY IF -- TO BECOME A PREY FOR MANY DIFFERENT ANIMALS. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR BEAN: YES, THANK YOU, VICE-MAYOR.
COMMISSIONER ROSS. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: SO AS FAR AS THE MSTU AND THE SAND TAX, THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
EVERY YEAR FOR LAST FIVE YEARS THEY NOT ONLY SAID NO, BUT NO.
MAKE SOMETHING WORK, I AM HAPPY TO DO THAT.
BUT NOT A NEW IDEA. AND IT HAS BEEN PURSUED.
I ALSO TALKED TO PROFESSOR -- JOHN MARTIN, COMMISSIONER MARTIN AND COMMISSIONER HUFFMAN ON THIS.
HERE IS MY SPIN ON IT. CITY RESIDENTS ARE 15% OF THE COUNTY POPULATION AND PAY 22% OF THE AD VALOREM TAX.
AMELIA ISLAND RESIDENTS PAY 54%. 54% OF THE TAX OF THIS COUNTY.
CITY RESIDENTS PAY MORE IN COUNTY TAXES THEN THEY DO IN CITY TAXES. THE CITY AND ISLAND RESIDENTS HEAVILY SUBSIDIZES THE REST OF THE ISLAND.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY RESIDENTS PAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE BEACHES -- OF THE BEACHES, THE PARKS AND THE OTHER AMENITIES THAT COUNTY RESIDENTS USE WITHOUT CONTRIBUTING TO THE UPKEEP BECAUSE THE COUNTY DOES NOT PROVIDE THOSE AMENITIES JUST LIKE THEY DON'T PROVIDE LIGHTING FOR THEIR CITIZENS. THE STATE REIMBURSES -- THE AREA IS IN THE CITY, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, BUT IT IS A COUNTY ROAD.
THE STATE HAS ROADS IN THE CITY. AND THEY PAY FOR THE -- WE PAY FOR THAT ELECTRICITY, BUT THE STATE REIMBURSES US.
THE REASON GIVEN IS THAT THE COUNTY POLICY DOES NOT PAY FOR THE STREETLIGHTS ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THE CITY IS GOING TO SUBSIDIZE THE COUNTY FOR SERVICES THAT THEY -- THAT THE CITY WILL SUBSIDIZE SERVICES THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MYSELF, ALL OF YOU RAN AS FISCAL CONSERVATIVES. FISCAL CONSERVATIVES ADVOCATE TAX CUTS, REDUCED GOVERNMENT SPENDING, FREE MARKETS, DEREGULATION, PRIVATIZATION, AND MINIMAL GOVERNMENT DEBT.
ADVOCATING THAT THE CITY PAY FOR THE SERVICE THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD PROVIDE WILL NOT LEAD TO TAX CUTS.
IT IS A REDUCED GOVERNMENT -- OR REDUCED GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
WON'T LEAD TO DEREGULATION. WON'T LEAD TO PRIVATIZATION.
THE WAY COUNTY DEALS WITH IT, HOA, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAD TO MINIMAL GOVERNMENT.
IF YOU ARE TRULY A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE YOU WOULD HAVE A BUDGET CUT TO COVER THIS INCREASE OF SPENDING.
SO THIS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS THAT THIS COMMISSION WILL VOTE TO INCREASE SPENDING WITHOUT REVENUE SOURCE TO PAY FOR THE INCREASE IN SERVICES. I SUPPORT HAVING THE LIGHTS.
BUT I DO NOT SUPPORT HAVING THE CITY PAY FOR THEM FROM COUNTY ROADS. IF THIS IS PASSED, THE INCREASE SHOULD BE SET OFF BY REMOVAL OF SOME OTHER SERVICE OR AN
INCREASE IN REVENUE. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS. TO COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: YES, COMMISSIONER.
I AM NOT GOING TO SIT UP HERE AND PAY POLITICS WITH THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECT OF IT. SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE FISCAL PART OF IT. AND IT IS $500 JUST FOR THE CITRONA, LIME AND JASMINE. I LOOK AT IT WITH THE ASPECT LET'S WORK TOGETHER. THE COUNTY WILL BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE BY WORKING WITH THEM, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
[00:10:01]
THEY MAY NOT HAVE AN APPETITE FOR STREETLIGHTS BUT AN APPETITE FOR A MSTU. THEY HAVE AN APPETITE FOR WORKING WITH US IN ANOTHER WAY. I BELIEVE THIS IS JUST AN OLIVE BRANCH OF SOME SORTS TO SAY LET'S WORK TOGETHER.I FIRMLY BELIEVE FROM THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THEM THAT THEY ARE WILLING AND READY IN OTHER AREAS.
TO ME I AM NOT GOING -- I AM NOT GOING TO PASS UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUNT A HAND OUT AND SHAKE AND SAY LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: MAY I RESPOND.
>>MAYOR BEAN: YES, SIR, GO AHEAD.
>> THE MSTU THAT UNANIMOUSLY PAYS US, WHO PAYS THE MSTU, THE CITY, THE CITY RESIDENTS AND A LITTLE PART OF THE AMELIA ISLAND -- THEY WILL LET US USE THE MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT THEY SHOULD BE HELPING US TAKE CARE OF.
PRETTY MAGNANIMOUS FROM THAT PART.
THAT DOESN'T ADD UP TO ME. THEY PUT TOGETHER A $1.10 MILLION -- $1.10 MILLION BUDGET -- I MEAN PROPOSAL FOR MASTER PLAN FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. AND YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY PUT INTO THE CITY, IF YOU SAY ANYTHING BUT ZERO, YOU WOULD BE WRONG. SO THIS IS ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I BELIEVE IN THE SAFETY -- I BELIEVE IN THOSE LIGHTS, BUT WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT? IF YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT, FINE.
WHERE IN THE BUDGET YOU WILL TAKE THAT $500 BUCKS OUT? WHAT ARE YOU NOT GOING TO FUND? THIS IS GOING FORWARD FOR FOREVER. REMEMBER YOU WANT TO GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE. THE ROLLBACK SAYS AND -- IS THAT YOU COULD HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THIS YEAR AS NEXT YEAR THAN THIS YEAR. THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY BUT THE ELECTRICITY RATES IS GOING UP AND WE NOW HAVE THAT $500.
SO WHAT DO YOU TAKE OUT OF THE BUDGET TO REPLACE THAT? THAT IS WHAT -- THAT -- MY CONCERN ISN'T ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY. I MEAN I KNOW WHAT I DID FOR 40 YEARS. I AM INTO HEALTH AND SAFETY, BUT I AM INTO PAYING FOR THINGS RESPONSIBLY.
WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? JUST DON'T TELL ME WE WILL SCROUNGE IT OUT OF THE BUDGET.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CUT IT OUT?
>> WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH THE BUDGET, IF YOU EXTRAPOLATE OUT, AT 30% -- 33% FOR THE YEAR, SITTING AT 30% IN THAT BUDGET.
WE CAN WORK THE NUMBERS REALLY QUICKLY.
$394,000 IS WHAT WE ARE BUDGETED FOR.
SPENT 30%. IF YOU EXTRAPOLATE THAT OUT, YOU ARE LEFT WITH, LET'S SAY $39,000 THAT WILL BE ROLLED OVER.
THIS ISN'T EVEN 25% OF THAT IF WE TURN ALL OF THEM ON.
TO ME THE MONEY IS THERE. THE MONEY IS ALREADY THERE.
SO WE ARE NOT -- WE ARE NOT PULLING FROM ANYTHING.
IT IS ALREADY THERE. UNLESS WE HAD SOME SORT OF QUAY WE ARE GOING TO USE THE MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE THAT I DIDN'T KNOW. IT IS ALREADY IN THE BUDGET.
EVEN IF WE DID WANT TO DO ALL OF THE LIGHTS, WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT WOULD BE LESS THAN 10% OF WHAT WOULD BE LEFTOVER IF WE ARE EXTRAPOLATING IT OUT OVER THE YEAR.
>> SO WHEN WE GO TO BUDGETING THIS YEAR AND YOU WANT TO GO TO THE ROLL BACK RATE YOU ARTICULATED.
THE SAME AMOUNT MONEY THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.
ARE YOU GETTING READY TO HAMMER ME DOWN.
>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT. WAITING TO HEAR WHAT YOU WERE
GOING TO SAY BEFORE I -- >> BRADLEY, QUITE HONESTLY, YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THINGS. THIS IS A DISCUSSION.
I MEAN, IS THE -- WE HAVE 45 MINUTES.
AND IT IS FREE SPEECH. SO -- SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HOW YOU INTEND TO FUND THIS ONGOING THROUGH THE YEARS.
BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW TAKING ON A OPERATING EXPENSE.
NOT A CAPITAL EXPENSE. AN OPERATING EXPENSE.
WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THISSED A INFINITUM.
WHAT IS TO SAY WE DON'T TURN ON THE NEXT LIGHT, AND THE NEXT GROUP COMES US TO ON A COUNTY OR A STATE -- A COUNTY ROAD AND THEY WANT LIGHTS. SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY TO TH THEM? I AM JUST ASKING ALL THESE QUESTIONS.
I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THE LIGHTS. I AM OPPOSED TO THE MECHANISM OF
PAYING FOR THEM. >> LET ME JUMP IN BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD A TURN YET. AND I WILL TAKE THAT NOW.
WE DO HAVE TIME. I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HERE HAS SOME EXCELLENT POINTS. AND COMMISSIONER ROSS, WHERE I WILL SAY YOU ARE CONNECT IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SITUATIONS IN THE PAST WHERE THE COUNTY COULD DO MORE FOR THEIR FAIR SHARE, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY THAT COMMISSIONER AYSCUE IS CORRECT, THE WAY WE FIX THAT IS WORKING TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD.
I â– DOBELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES NOT ON THE LIGHTS, THEY MADE IT CLEAR TO ME AS WELL THAT THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWING PAY FOR STREETLIGHTS ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY WHICH INCLUDES HERE ON
[00:15:01]
AMELIA ISLAND. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND TAKE CARE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUT THE LIGHTS UP.BY THE SCHOOL, BY FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO. FURTHER THOUGHT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT? A GOOD QUESTION.
WE ALREADY ARE. AS COMMISSIONER AYSCUE POINTED OUT, MONEY IN THE STREETLIGHTS. SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THAT I DIDN'T VOTE FOR LAST YEAR. SOMETHING THAT I VOTED AGAINST WAS A TAX INCREASE. WE RAISED TAXES.
IN THE SAME TIME FRAME, WE CUT SERVICES.
IT SEEMS ODD, HOW CAN IT BE THAT WE RAISE TAXES AND DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THINGS THAT WE WERE PAYING FOR THE YEAR BEFORE. THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE. AND THE ANSWER IS, WE HAVE THE MONEY. IT IS CLEARLY THERE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TURN THESE LIGHTS BACK ON.
I WILL GO TO VICE-MAYOR STURGES. GO AHEAD, SIR.
>>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR BRADLEY.
WE HAVE AN EXCESS OUR BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVE YET NOT TO HAVE AN EXCESS OF THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR AND I AM SURE THE EXCESS CAN COVER THESE STREETLIGHTS WITH NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE AN EXCESS BETWEEN $180,000 TO $300,000 EVERY YEAR. WE ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE 3500. I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL OR VICE VERSA, A MOLEHILL OUT OF A MOUNTAIN. BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A MINIMAL THING FOR US TO BE DISCUSSING OVER STREETLIGHTS AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR RESIDENTS. SO I REALLY -- REALLY HAVE TO AGREE WITH MAYOR BEAN AND COMMISSIONER AYSCUE THAT ULTIMATELY I THINK THAT IT IS FOR THE BEST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND EVEN IF IT IS FOR A MINOR EXPENSE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE NOW AND FROM THEREON, I FORESEE THAT IT WILL BE THE CITY ONE DAY SOON. IT WILL BE THE CITY AND NOT THE
COUNTY'S RIGHT-OF-WAY. >> WE GOT TO TAKE OVER THE
COUNTY ROAD? >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: NO, NO.
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING. >> NO I DON'T.
>>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: OKAY. IT'S A COUNTY ROAD IN THE CITY.
BUT IT IS OUR CITY. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: I
UNDERSTAND. >> WHY ARE WE BICKERING OVER A FINE LINE. WHY ARE WE BICKERING OVER $5,000
OR $10,000 AND EVERY YEAR. >>MAYOR BEAN: WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE DIRECT CONVERSATION. BUT MOVING FORWARD, COMMISSIONER ROSS. ONE LAST POINT.
I WILL GO ON A LIMB AND WE NORMALLY DON'T TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN MEETINGS -- THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT. ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE
PUBLIC COMMENT. >> I AM NOT OPPOSED TO HEARING
IT. >>MAYOR BEAN: THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO HEAR HERE FROM COMMISSIONER ROSS FIRST.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: WHY DID OUR TAXES, QUOTE, GO UP WHICH THEY DIDN'T. AND OUR SERVICES GO DOWN, WHICH THEY DIDN'T. WE GAVE A VERY LARGE INCREASE TO OUR EMPLOYEES TO KEEP THEM WORKING.
THAT IS NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, PERHAPS WE COULD LOOK INTO -- BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE ARGUE SOMETHING NOT OVER THE LIGHT, BUT WHAT WE ARE ARGUING OVER IS THE ELECTRICITY FOR THE LIGHTS. SO WHY NOT IF THE COUNTY IS WILLING -- THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR STREETLIGHTS, BUT MAYBE THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR SOLAR LIGHTS.
SOLAR STREETLIGHTS. SOLAR STREETLIGHTS.
I GOT A NICE LETTER FROM A CONSTITUENT OF SOLAR STREETLIGHTS AND WILL TAKE CARE OF THE ELECTRICITY PROBLEM.
AND WHY DON'T WE LOOK INTO SOLAR STREETLIGHTS AND TAKE CARE OF
THIS WHOLE PROBLEM. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. BEFORE -- ANY PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE ROOM. WE WERE THINKING ABOUT -- BEFORE WE GET THERE, ONE LAST POINT COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: NO, SIR. >>MAYOR BEAN: PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE ROOM. 45 MINUTES.
AND I DON'T ATTEND -- I HAVE A HUNCH THE NEXT MEET ALSO BE A LONG ONE. COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND LET'S GO. WHEN YOU ARE DONE, FILL OUT YOUR REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ROBERT ERICKSON. 30 SOUTH THIRD STREET, THE YELLOW HOUSE AROUND THE CORNER. MAYBE A QUESTION BUT IT IS A COMMENT. AND I LISTEN TO BUDGET QUESTIONS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. ONE THING THAT I WORK BUDGETS TOO. I WORK BILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS IN THE JOB I HAD. BUT I WONDER, THE PERSON THAT CONTROLS THE SPENDING IS THE CITY MANAGER.
I REMEMBER ONE TIME WHERE THE COMMISSION WAS CHALLENGED WITH COMING UP WITH SOME MONEY, AND THE CITY MANAGER SAID YOU GUYS
[00:20:03]
FIND IT. PERSON WHO SPENDS IT AND CAN CONTROL THE BUDGET THE BEST IS THE CITY MANAGER.WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ARE YOU NOT GOING TO THE CITY MANAGER AND SAY WE NEED $500,000 OR $500 A MONTH.
WHERE CAN WE PULL THIS OUT. HE SPEPDZ THAT MONEY.
HE WRITES THE CHECKS. HE KNOWS WHERE HE CAN PULL IT OUT. HE KNOWS -- YOU SAY THAT THE BUDGET IS OVER EVERY YEAR. THAT IS TERRIBLE.
IT SHOULD NOT BE OVER EVERY YEAR BECAUSE OF THAT CAUSES YOU NOT TO IT BE EFISH MEANT YOUR SPENDING.
MY QUESTION IS WHEN YOU NEED MONEY, WHY ARE YOU NOT GOING TO THE CITY MANAGER AND SAYING FIND US THIS $500.
IT MIGHT BE IN STAPLE GUNS, MIGHT BE TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF WHEN YOU DON'T -- WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROOM, BUT IT CAN BE DONE.
AND AM I MISSING SOMETHING? >>MAYOR: I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD ANSWER THE CONSTITUENTS. ANY MORE REQUESTS TO SPEAK FROM
THE PUBLIC? >> THANK YOU, GUYS.
ROBIN LENZ, PARKVIEW PLACE EAST, FERNANDINA BEACH.
THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION OF LIGHTS.
I HAVE BEEN E-MAILED FINS FISCAL YEAR 2022.
YOU SAW MY E-MAILS, I DO NOT DISAGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS THAT I THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD PITCH IN THEIR FAIR SHARE 37. WHAT I WANT TO SAY 16 MONTHS LATER, WE ARE SIT THE DARK. A HIGHER TAX BILL FOR THE COUNTY AND A HIGHER TAX BILL FOR THE CITY AND I DON'T HAVE LIGHTS ON MY STREET. I LIVE ON THE WARNER OF HICKORY AND CITRONA, PITCH-BLACK DARK. MY HOUSE IS NEXT TO FERNANDINA BEACH HIGHWAY. I AM THE MOTHER OF A 13-YEAR-OLD WHO WALKS TO AND FROM FERNANDINA BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL.
KIDS ARE WAITING FOR THE BUS AT HICKORY AND CITRONA WHERE IT IS AS DARK AS CAN BE. I RUN.
I TOLD YOU GUYS -- MAYOR BEAN AND COMMISSIONER ANTUN.
I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN ME. YOU HAVE BEEN OUT THERE AT 5:30 BEFORE, BUT DO IT NOW WITH THOSE LIGHTS TURNED OFF.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND I THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.
BACK TO YOUR POINT, DARREN, OF THE BEACH WALKOVERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW MANY BEACH WALKOVERS THE CITY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPARED TO HOW MANY BEACH WALKOVERS THAT THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HAVE A FEELING WE HAVE MORE THAN THEY DO. OF COURSE THEY WANT TO PARTNER WITH US, BECAUSE THEY WILL GET ANOTHER SLICE OF OUR PIE.
WE TALK OF BIG PROJECTS, TO ME THAT IS NOT THAT BIG.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT THE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON.
THEY REALLY HONESTLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TURNED BACK OFF.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF UNTIL THERE WAS A SOLUTION.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THE LIST OF LIGHTS THAT WERE TURNED OFF, I AM VERY CONFLICTED WHY THE LIGHTS ON CITRONA WERE TURNED OFF AND NOT LIGHTS ON 14 ST STREET.
YOU KNOW I DROVE IT LAST NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT IN ATLANTIC ALL THE WAY TO THE APARTMENTS ON 14TH STREET, THOSE LIGHTS ARE ALL ON AND CONSISTENTLY WORKING, AND THEY ARE, LIKE, EVERY HUNDRED FEET OR WHATEVER. WITH A ROAD THAT SCHOOLCHILDREN ARE ON IS OFF. SO WHEN WE LEAVE HERE TONIGHT, I AM EXPECTING THESE LIGHTS TO BE TURNED ON.
AND THEN BEHIND THE SCENES, I SUGGEST THAT WE SEND OUR ELECTRICAL BILL TO THE COUNTY. SAY, HEY, HERE IS HALF OF WHAT WE ARE BILLING YOU FOR. AND I AM GOING TO WORK WITH THEM. AND INSIST -- BECAUSE I ACTUALLY -- AND I HOPE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HEARS THIS, BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU ARE A CITY RESIDENT, WE ARE NASSAU COUNTY RESIDENTS TOO.
AND WE SHOULD BE PRESSURING THE COUNTY TO PUT LIGHTS ON STREETS WHERE THERE ARE SCHOOLS. AND EMMA LOVE, IT IS DARK AS ALL GET OUT. THE PRINCIPAL RAISED SO MANY DOLLARS AND SPENT THE NIGHT ON THE ROOF.
YOU COULDN'T DRIVE BY AND SEE. IT WAS SO DANGEROUSLY DARK THERE. THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF AFTERHOUR ACTIVITY BECAUSE THEY ARE ELEMENTARY KIDS NOT LIKE A MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL. THE COUNTY NEEDS TO PUT LIGHTS ON EVERY STREET WHERE THERE IS A SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT TO WRITE THE COUNTY, AND WE NEED THESE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. PLEASE MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>>MAYOR BEAN: MADAM MAYOR, TO COMMENT ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
I WAS TOLD IT WOULD A FEW DAYS TO TURN THEM BACK ON.
RIGHT. AND ACTUALLY ONE OF THEM IS BAGGED. ONE OF THEM IS BAGGED.
AND IT IS ON UNDERNEATH THE BAG. THE ONE THAT IS DIRECTLY IN
FRONT OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. >>MAYOR BEAN: INTERESTING.
[00:25:03]
>> LET'S GO RUN THURSDAY MORNING, 5:30, YOU AND ME.
>>MAYOR BEAN: I WILL MARK IT ON MY CALENDAR.
>> I WILL DO THAT. >>MAYOR BEAN: ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? WE HAVE ONE FROM THE FRONT ROW.
AND MAKE SURE YOU FILL OUT A PIECE OF PAPER.
>> PETE STEVENSON, 1627 HIGHLANDS BEACH WAY, FERNANDINA BEACH. MAKE COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
I AM VERY PROUD OF THE WAY EACH OF YOU BRING OUT YOUR IDEAS, YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR CONCERNS, HOW YOU WANT TO BALANCE.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I THINK IT HINGES UPON HOW THIS CITY GETS A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY.
THIS MIGHT BE A STEP TO START THE CROSSTALK.
WHAT I CALL EYEBALL TO EYEBALL, INSTEAD OF E-MAILS, TALK TO EACH OTHER. AND I WOULD EXCEPTED COMMISSIONER AYSCUE FOR JUST STEPPING OUT AND GIVING IT A TRY. I WILL ALSO COMMEND COMMISSIONER ROSS FOR HE IS LOOKING AFTER THE BUDGET, AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
BUT I THINK THE POINT IS, THIS MIGHT BE A SMALL STONE, AND IF IT IS NOT A HUGE INVESTMENT, SO IF THE -- YOU KNOW, IF THE ENTRANCE COMES OFF THE TRACK, IT IS NOT A MAJOR DEAL.
SO I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND TO GIVE IT A SHOT, SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WE THINK WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WILL CONTAIN IT THIS YEAR. THAT WILL GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, SIR. MAKE SURE YOU FILL OUT A FORM AS WELL. ALL RIGHT, SO I THINK THAT IS ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT. ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE HAVE A DISCUSSION AND DECISION FROM THE COMMISSION? ANY MORE? MISS BRAND, COME ON DOWN.
>> DO WE HAVE TO ANNOUNCE OURSELVES?
>>MAYOR: YES YOU DO. BRYNN BYRON, SOUTH FLETCHER.
I WANT TO PASS THIS AROUND TO YOU IT GENTLEMEN.
SOLAR LIGHTS. I STENT TO CHUCK -- CHIP MONTHS AGO WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING PUTTING LIGHTS ON CENTER STREET.
AND I SUGGESTED AT THAT TIME WE DO WHAT SARASOTA, FLORIDA HAS.
THOSE ARE LIGHTS IN SARASOTA. NOW AS I RECALL IN OUR COMP PLAN THE LAST WEEK TO SO. I READING IS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING SOLAR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND BESIDES THIS POOR WOMAN HERE TALKING OF THE CHILDREN.
IT MUST BE AWFUL TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOUR BACK YARD IS TOTALLY BLACK. HOW UNSAFE CAN THAT BE? BESIDE THE CHILDREN, ALSO THE SAFETY ISSUE FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE LUMINATION. IN THIS DAY AND AGE WHEN YOU HAVE TREES AND ALL -- ALL OF THIS -- YOU KNOW, BRUSH, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IS LURKING IN THERE.
AND WE HAD, WHAT, PLANELOADS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DROPPED OFF.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE HANGING IN PRESIDENT BUSHES THERE. FOR SAFETY ISSUE ALONE, WE SHOULD HAVE LIGHTS. THAT'S ALL.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO TURN THIS PUBLIC COMMENT SLIGHTLY BACK OFF. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND MAKING YOUR VOICES HEARD TONIGHT.
SO WITH THAT, I AM NOT GOING TO GO TOO FAR ON A LIMB.
IT SEEMS LIKE I AM COUNTING -- THERE IS ANOTHER -- I THOUGHT
WAS -- >> I TURNED IT OFF AND ON.
>>MAYOR BEAN: COMMISSIONER ROSS, CLOSE US OUT.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: TWO POINTS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THIS.
THE CITY MANAGER ALREADY FOUND THE MONEY.
HE FOUND THE MONEY LIKE HE SAID HE COULD.
THE CITY MANAGER DID EXACTLY WHAT HE DID, FOUND THE MONEY.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY TO DO WHAT YOU DID.
NUMBER TWO, BEACH WALKOVERS. THE CITY HAS, LIKE, 30 WALKOVERS -- ABOUT 40, AND THE COUNTY HAS FOUR.
WE ARE GETTING A GREAT DEAL THERE.
JUST SAYING. I MEAN MSTU, MOST OF THAT MONEY COMES FROM THE CITY. WE HAVE ASKED FOR THAT FOR YEARS AND WE WERE TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT WE ARE NOT DOING IT.
SO YOU CAN GET IT TO WORK. ANOTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, SIR. FINAL COMMENTS BECAUSE IT IS YOUR ITEM. CLOSE US OFF, COMMISSIONER
AYSCUE. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S MONEY THAT NECESSARILY IF WE -- IF THE COUNTY DIDN'T WANT TO OPEN THOSE COFFERS.
THAT MONEY EVEN THOUGH IT IS PAID THROUGH THE CITY, IT GOES TO THE COUNTY, AND REALLY HAVE NO OBLIGATION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. BY WORKING WITH THEM AND THEY UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WAY TO HELP CONTROL BEACH EROSION, IT'S -- THE POSSIBILITIES ARE, ARE GREAT FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER WITH
[00:30:03]
THAT. IT IS JUST ANOTHER SOURCE.AND WE CAN TAKE, YOU KNOW, MONIES THAT WE HAVE APPROPRIATED FOR BEACH WALKOVERS AND APPLY IT IN MANY OTHER WAYS.
SO FOR ME, IT'S JUST -- IT'S -- IT IS EXTENDING THE HAND AND WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND GETTING IT STARTED AND HELPING OUT OUR CITIZENS IN FERNANDINA BEACH.
LAST THING, I THINK YOUR HE SOLAR IDEA IS GREAT.
>> MISS BRIAN'S IDEA. SHE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION.
>>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: I ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH GREEN ENERGY. I THINK IT AS GREAT IDEA.
IF THERE ARE WAYS TO FOSTER THAT GREEN ENERGY RIGHT HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH, I AM GOING TO BE FOR IT.
SO I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.
AND LET'S, YOU KNOW -- LET'S LOOK INTO IT HOWEVER WE CAN.
I HAVE NO PROBLEMS IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT AND REACHING OUT -- REACHING OUT -- TO SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO DO THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, LET'S -- I HAVE NO PROBLEMS DOING THAT.
THAT IS -- THAT IS AN EASY -- EASY SELL THERE.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. >>MAYOR BEAN: I WILL GO OUT ON A LIMB. THIS IS AN ITEM HERE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE. IF WE HAVE COMMISSION CONSENSUS WE CAN DIRECT CITY STAFF TO GO TO FPU AND HAVE THEM TURN THESE LIGHTS BACK ON. IF WE HAVE THAT CONSENSUS WE CAN GET THIS PROCESS STARTED. I AM TOLD UP TO TWO WEEKS TO GET THAT PROCESS STARTED. IF WE CAN GET THAT BY THE END OF
THE MONTH HAVE CITRONA -- >> I CANNOT SUPPORT IS IT.
>> I SUPPORT IT. >> I SUPPORT IT.
>> I SUPPORT IT. >>MAYOR BEAN: FORMER MAYOR SAYING MAYBE HAVE A MEETING WITH FPU TO DISCUSS ISSUES AND I AM NOT GOING TO SAY NO. I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE A HABIT OF READING THINGS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
I READ IT BUT IT WAS TOO GOOD NOT TO READ OUT LOUD.
I APPRECIATE YOU FLASHING THAT FROM THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
I THINK WE HAVE THAT CONSENSUS. CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGER, ONE
MORE THING. >> I ALSO WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK COMMISSIONER MARTIN WITH HIS WILLINGNESS TO MEET AND OPENNESS IN WANTING TO WORK. AS YOU KNOW HE IS OUR DISTRICT 1 COMMISSIONER. AND THE CITY IS IN HIS DISTRICT AND HE LOOKS TO FERNANDINA BEACH AND I WANT TO GIVE COMMISSIONER
MART ANNE SHOUT OUT. >>MAYOR BEAN: I ECHO THAT.
THE CONSENSUS FOR CITY STAFF. IT IS GREAT WHILE AMENABLE, TO COME -- I THINK WE HAD QUESTIONS OF STREETLIGHTS AND I KNOW THE COMMISSION WOULD. ASK THEM IF THAT IS OKAY.
FIRST AND FOREMOST GET THE STREETLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON.
THAT ENDS DISCUSSION 3.1. THAT CONCLUDED THAT.
NO OTHER ITEMS WE WERE SET TO DISCUSS ON AGENDA.
3.2 PARCEL RECORDS. WE POSTPONE.
WITH THAT WE HAVE 15 MINUTES LEFT OF TIME THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT WANT TO USE. ANYTHING THAT SOMEONE HAS OFF THE WALL OR SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS TO USE THIS TIME? ALL RIGHT --
>> I WOULD LIKE -- IF NOT MORE APPROPRIATE TO THE ACTUAL MEETING TO MAKE THE MOTION TO PURSUE COST ANALYSIS ON THE SOLAR LIGHTS AND PROJECTS FOR FUTURE SAVINGS.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THAT IS GOOD. EVERYBODY OKAY WITH THAT? LET'S LOOK INTO IT. ALL PART OF THE FPU DEAL.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT IS EVERYTHING FOR DISCUSSION IN THIS WORKSHOP. WE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.