[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:13]
>> LET'S START WITH THE ROLL CALL, CITY CLERK.
TODAY, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE. >> 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. ALL RIGHT, ITEM FOR DISCUSSION.
[4.1 YBOR ALVAREZ SPORTS COMPLEX - SOCCER FIELDS]
TODAY'S WORKSHOP IS ABOUT ONE ITEM AND ONE ITEM ONLY.THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE ABOUT THE YBOR SPORTS COMPLEX.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE SOCCER FIELDS AND THE SOFTBALL DIAMONDS. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I KNOW WE ALL HAD INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR CITY STAFF ABOUT. BUT IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT DURING THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WE HAD THAT WE WERE ON THE SAME PAGE. WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THESE OPTIONS. WHAT OUR STANCE IS AS A COMMISSION AND HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.
I BELIEVE THAT MY GOAL IS TO SAVE THE SOCCER FIELDS BY WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND SO, I'M VERY GLAD THAT STAFF HAS PUT TOGETHER SEVERAL OPTIONS OF HOW WE WILL DO THAT. AND I KNOW THEY ARE HERE TODAY TO HELP PRESENT THAT. TO LEAD US OFF, I THINK WE WILL LISTEN TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS AS TO WHAT OUR PATH FORWARD CAN AND SHOULD BE.
SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE STAFF TO COME FORWARD.
LET'S SEE WE HAVE HERE. I KNOW WE HAVE OUR (INDISCERNIBLE) NATE IS HERE TO GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND -- AIRPORT CONSULTANT. WOULD YOU MIND COMING FORWARD TO GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SOCCER FIELDS? WHAT'S THE ISSUE THAT WE NEED
TO FIX TODAY? >> GOOD EVENING, (INDISCERNIBLE) FROM PARKWAY BERNADINO BEACH. MEANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT AIRPORT PROPERTY, SOMEOF THE OBLIGATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTY LAYOUT , THE RULES OF THE ROAD AND WHAT'S GOVERNING THE CONVERSATION.
THE REPORT WAS CONSTRUCTED BACK IN 1943, AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II. THOSE UNDER LEASE OF THE U.S.
NAVY. THERE'S A PROGRAM AT THE END OF THE WAR WHERE THE US GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDED PROPERTY AND HER ASSETS BACK TO MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL AGENCIES.
IT IS CALLED THE SURPLUS PROPERTY ACT.
THEY HANDED BACK THE ASSET OR THE REAL PROPERTY AND AGAIN WITH SPECIFIC OBLIGATIONS. IN THIS CASE THEY HANDED BACK THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY AND CANCELED THE LEASE WITH THE U.S. NAVY AND IT BECAME A PUBLIC USE AIRPORT PUBLIC PROPERTY.T COMES WITH AND CAME WITH AT THE TIME CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THOSE OBLIGATIONS OVER TIME HAVE BECOME WHAT WE COMMONLY CALL TODAY GRANT ASSURANCES. THIS AIRPORT IS A PUBLIC AIRPORT. IT RECEIVES FEDERAL AND STATE ASSISTANCE. AND YOU HAVE CERTAIN WHAT WE CALL GRANT ASSURANCES THAT YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO FOR OPERATION OF THE AIRPORT, MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY AND FEDERAL OPERATIONS ECHO ALONG WITH THE PROPERTY THAT THEY MANAGE AT THE AIRPORT. I PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSIONERS, I THINK THERE MR. FOXWORTH, A FEW DOCUMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE TIME TO READ ONE OF THOSE VERY CLOSELY THERE IS A DOCUMENT WITH SOMETHING CALLED AIRPORT ASSURANCES.
AND IF YOU KNEW NOTHING ELSE ABOUT THE AIRPORT I TAKE THE TIME TO READ THAT. WHEN YOU SEE AIRPORT DISCUSSIONS COME THROUGH THAT'LL GIVE YOU INSIGHTS AS TO WHY THEY COME THROUGH AND IS FRAMED THE WAY IT IS.
USUALLY FOLLOWS AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE THOSE GRANT ASSURANCES. GRANT ASSURANCES ARE FURTHER DEFINED IN GREAT DETAIL WITHIN THE DOCUMENT WE CALL FFA 5190 POINT SIX B IT'S CALLED AIRPORT COMPLIANCE MANUAL.
IT SPEAKS TOWARDS YOUR OBLIGATIONS FOR USE OF AIRPORT PROPERTY. THERE IS ONE SECTION IN THERE, AND I PROVIDED THAT TO THE COMMISSIONERS, THAT TALKS ABOUT PRIMARY USE OF AIRPORT PROPERTY.
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR. IT'S ABOUT A SENSE LONG.
IT SAYS AIRPORT PROPERTY IS PRIMARILY USED FOR AERONAUTICAL PURPOSES OR FOR NON-AVIATION USE TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE AIRPORT. SO THEY ARE GENERALLY DOING ONE OF TWO THINGS: THEY ARE EITHER USING IT FOR AVIATION USE, OR THEY FOUND A WAY TO CREATE AN IN AVIATION USED TO GENERATE FAIR MARKET VALUE TO BRING MONEY AND TO HELP SUBSIDIZE THE AIRPORT. THEY ARE USING THAT REVENUE TO HELP OPERATE THE AIRPORT AND MAKE IT SELF-SUSTAINING AS POSSIBLE. IT OPERATES IN THE BLACKENED AND PERFORMS VERY WELL. THERE ARE CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS TO THE RULES ABOUT REVENUE GENERATION.
ONE OF THOSE EXEMPTIONS IS COMMUNITY USE BENEFIT, RIGHT? AND THE WAY IT IS PHRASED IS IF AN AIRPORT HAS PROPERTY THAT MAY HAVE MINIMAL VALUE, CANNOT BE USED IN THE FORESEEABLE
[00:05:04]
FUTURE FOR AN AVIATION PURPOSE, YOU CAN PROVIDE IT TO THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AT LESS THAN FAIR MARKET VALUE.IT HAS A NUMBER OF COMPONENTS IN THERE THAT YOU MUST MEET.
WE ALL KNOW ONE OF THOSE IS YOU CAN'T PRECLUDE AERONAUTICAL USE. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT STATES LESS THAN FAIR MARKET VALUE.
IT DOESN'T STATE ZERO. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO PAY SOMETHING. IT ALSO SAYS IN THERE THE POINT AT WHICH THE PROPERTY CAN PRODUCE MORE THAN MINIMAL VALUE, IT SHOULD BE RECEIVING LIKE VALUE.
SO IF THAT PROPERTY ESCALATES OVER TIME AND BECOMES VALUABLE, YOU SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THAT LIKE USE OF THE PROPERTY.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT USE OF AIRPORT PROPERTY, THE PRIMARY WAY -- IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN BLOCKING THAT PROPERTY INTO A TERM FOR NON-AVIATION USE, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU PROPOSE AND IN AVIATION USED TO THE FFA. YOU SEND THEM A FAIR MARKET VALUE APPRAISAL AND A LEASE TERM.
THE LEASE TERM IS USUALLY RELATED TO THE VALUE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, OR WHAT THE FAA WANTS TO KNOW IS YOU ARE PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO PLAN. IN A MASTER PLANNING PERIOD OF 20 YEARS. SO THEY WANT TO KNOW IF WE GET 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, THAT LEASE IS AN EXTREMELY LONG AND YOU ARE PROHIBITING YOUR RIGHTS AND POWER TO PLAN AND OPERATE THE AIRPORT. SO THAT'S REALLY THE TOOL THAT IF YOU WANT TO GUARANTEE NOT LOSING PROPERTY, THAT YOU WANT TO LOCK IN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
IT'S REALLY A LAND LEASE. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY -- THERE IS AN AVENUE TO RELEASE PROPERTY FOR SALE.
I CAUTION THAT. THE SALE DESK OF THE RELEASE OF PROPERTY FOR SALE IS ONLY IF THAT PROPERTY COULD NEVER BE USED FOR AVIATION USE WHICH INCLUDES REVENUE GENERATION.
IT EXPLICITLY SAYS IN THE REGULATORY GUIDANCE IT CAN BE FOR COMMUNITY INTEREST. SO YOU CAN'T SAY HEY, IN THIS CASE WE HAVE A PARK. IT EXPLICITLY SAYS YOU CAN'T (INDISCERNIBLE). THAT'S WHAT LEADS BACK TO THE LEASE DISCUSSION. IF YOU WANT TO LOCK PROPERTY AT FAIR MARKET VALUE, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
HONESTLY, THAT'S BEEN THE CHALLENGE WITH SOME TIME.
THERE'S A NEED FOR SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
IT'S CHALLENGING TO PUT SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE IF YOU KNOW
YOU CAN POSSIBLY LOSE IT. >> MR. (NAME) THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE TO THE PUBLIC. SO FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, JUST A QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT IF WE WERE TO LEASE THIS FROM THE AIRPORT AT FAIR MARKET VALUE, THEN WE COULD WORK OUT A WAY TO KEEP THESE SOCCER FIELDS IN THE
PLACE THEY ARE? >> THAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS.
BECAUSE THE ISSUE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO PRECLUDE AERONAUTICAL USE ONLY TIES TO COMMUNITY USE AT LESS THAN FAIR MARKET VALUE. SO IF YOU PRESENT A FAIR MARKET VALUE NINE AVIATION LEASE FOR FFA AND THEY APPROVE IT, THAT IT BLOCKS IT IN FOR THE TERM OF THAT LEASE.
YOU HAVE A FEW EXISTING CITY ASSETS (INDISCERNIBLE).
SOLAR FIELD IS ON THE LEASE BUT THE AIRPORT GETS VALUE OUT OF IT AND THERE'S EXCHANGE OUT OF AETNA LEASE.
YOUR YARD DEBRIS SITE IS PAYING A FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THEIR SITE. SO THAT'S WHERE YOU LOCK THE
USES AND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHAT WOULD A PLAT OF LAND THE SIZE, WHAT FAIR MARKET VALUE
WOULD WE BE LOOKING AT? >> WE ACTUALLY APPRAISE THAT PROPERTY. I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. IT'S ABOUT 25 ACRES, BOTH SIDES OF IT. YOU ARE OVER 200,000 A YEAR.
COMMISSIONER ROSS HAS AN EXTREMELY GOOD MEMORY.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS? >> WELL, JUST SHY UNDER 200,000 FOR THE PART WHERE THE SOFTBALL FIELDS AND JUST A SHY UNDER 200,000 WHERE THE SOCCER FIELDS ARE.
>> YET. THE CITY CAN SHARE WITH THE
WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
BEFORE WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION, LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> AND YOU COULD TYPE IT UP FOR US FOR A 20 YEAR LEASE?
>> I THINK YOU ARESOMEWHERE -- IT MIGHT BE 20 AND YOU COULD
ASK FOR A TENURE OPTION . >> A 20 YEAR LEASE?
>> WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THAT LEASE, YOU MAY SAY FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, WE WANT TO PROPOSE ANOTHER LEASE AND IT MAKES SENSE TO THE FAA AND YOU MAY DO THAT.
IF THERE IS NOTHING FROM THAT (INDISCERNIBLE) ON THE PLANNING SIDE. THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE IN OPPOSITION OF 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD YOU LEASED IT AND YOU HAD NO PROPERTY TO PUT TANKERS NOWHERE ELSE ON THE AIRPORT.
THEN YOU WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE. >> AND ONE LESS QUESTION.
SO SOMEDAY COME ALONG AND WANTED TO USE THOSE FIELDS FOR
AERONAUTICAL USE? >> I THINK THE CITY HAS RECEIVED TWO APPLICATIONS. THE FIRST APPLICATION IS FOR ANGER DEVELOPMENT. SECOND APPLICATION WAS A NINE AVIATION PROPOSAL. AS I MENTIONED, THE NINE
[00:10:06]
AVIATION PROPOSAL, SOMETIMES IT GETS ATTENTION BUT IT'S NOT INCONSISTENT WITH USE OF THEIR PROPERTY.IN FACT IF YOU LOOK AT THE MASTER PLAN, THERE CERTAIN SECTIONS WHERE THE MASTER PLAN CALLS THAT WE PUT NINE AVIATION DEVOUT MEN. FROM AN OBLIGATION STANDPOINT, THERE IS NOTHING REALLY THAT I KNOW OF THAT WOULD FORCE A CITY COMMISSION TO PURSUE NINE AVIATION, OTHER THAN REVENUE GENERATED NET GENERATION FOR THE AIRPORT.
IF I WERE TO AIRPORT PLANNING, THE CONCEPT OF PUTTING HANGERS THERE? JUST AIRPORT SIDE? MAKES SENSE. YOU HAVE A FEELING FACILITY THERE. IT HAS A GAS PUMP SO PEOPLE CAN FEEL COMING OUT OF T HANGERS. KEEPING T HANGERS AND SMALL AIRPLANES TOGETHER. FROM AN AIRPORT'S BEST STOMACH PERSPECTIVE, JAN MAKES SENSE. IN SOME OF THE EARLY DISCUSSION WAS YOU PUT THE HANGERS THERE AND CONTINUE (INDISCERNIBLE) ON
THE SOUTH SIDE. >> AND WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS PUTTING THAT WHERE THE CURRENT SOCCER FIELDS ARE RIGHT
NOW? >> THAT'S WHERE THE APPLICATION PROPOSED IT. AND THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION EARLY ON. THERE WAS A TAX WAY THAT GOES BY THE FEW FEELING FACILITY -- -- (INDISCERNIBLE).
>> AND THERE'S NO INTEREST, AT THIS TIME, FOR ANYBODY FOR USE
WHERE THE SOFTBALL FIELDS ARE? >> NO.
>> THANK YOU. >> AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS EXISTING PEOPLE APPLYING, DOES THAT PRECLUDE US FROM ALSO APPLYING TO LEASE OUR OWN LAND FROM THE AIRPORT? DOES THAT STOP US FROM DOING IT?
>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY -- I THINK YOU HAVE DISCRETION FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE TO DIRECT THE LOCATION OF FINGERS ON THE AIRPORT. LIKE I SAID, IT IS, FROM AN AIRPORT PERSPECTIVE, IT MAKES SENSE TO PUT IT THERE.
THE CHALLENGE YOU HAVE IN THE EXISTING STATE OF NOTHING CHANGES, IS IF YOU RESPOND TO THE APPLICANT AND SAY WE DON'T WANT YOU USE THIS PROPERTY, BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO USE THIS PROPERTY WITHOUT PAYING ANYTHING TO THE AIRPORT? I DON'T THINK YOU ARE IN GOOD STANDING.
I THINK AS IT STANDS TODAY BECAUSE THERE IS ZERO VALUE PAID TO THE AIRPORT, (INDISCERNIBLE) (AWAY FROM
BUT HIS QUESTION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
HIS QUESTION IS CAN WE GET AHEAD OF THE PEOPLE -- QUOTE JUMP THE LINE OR WHATEVER WAY WE WANT TO PUT IT?
>> IF YOUR INTENT IS TO REQUEST A NON-AVIATION LEASE OF THOSE PARCELS? I THINK YOU CAN SUBMIT THAT.
>> WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT AS (INDISCERNIBLE)?
>> YOUR OBLIGATION FROM AN AVIATION PERSPECTIVE -- ONE, JUST SO YOU KNOW I HAVEN'T MENTIONED IT, THEAIRPORT HAS CARRIED FOR A WHILE T HANGERS (INDISCERNIBLE) .
WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT AND DECIDED THAT IT'S CHALLENGING TO KEEP PACE WITH DEMAND. THE INTENT WAS TO OPEN IT UP.
BUT IT DOES STILL EXIST THERE. BUT YOUR OBLIGATION FROM AN AVIATION PERSPECTIVE IS TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE THE AVIATION. SO IN MY OPINION, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE NORMALLY LOOKING FOR IS ARE YOU REASONABLY ACCOMMODATING AVIATION NEEDS? SO IF YOU PUT IT ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SAY WE HAVE AN ARGUMENT.E ARE CREATING REVENUE FOR THE AIRPORT AND STILL REASONABLY ACCOMMODATING AVIATION USE. DOWN THE ROAD, IF YOU FILL THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE AIRPORT WITH T HANGERS, THE BIG-BOX HANGERS HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE. THAT WAS ISSUE BEFORE.
THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD YOU COULD FILL IT WITH YOU HANGERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND (INDISCERNIBLE) NORTHSIDE (INDISCERNIBLE).
BUT IF YOU ARE LEASING, YOU'LL LOCK IT IN FOR 20 OR 30 YEARS.
>> EXCELLENT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT THERE IS NO PLACES TO PUT THESE T HANGERS? THE AIRPORT OPERATORS INTERESTING IN USING? LIKE WE HAVE NO OTHER AVAILABLE?
>> YOU COULD PUT THEM ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE AIRPORT.
YOU ENTER THE AIRPORT ON JAMESTOWN ROAD.
THERE IS A SECTION OF THAT THAT IS ANTICIPATED FOR DEVELOPMENT.
FROM (INDISCERNIBLE) PERSPECTIVE THE ONLY REASON THAT WASN'T THE PRIMARY DISCUSSION WAS IF YOU PUT YOUR T HANGERS THERE WITH YOUR FUELING FACILITIES ON THE NORTH SIDE? JUERGEN HAVE RUNWAY CROSSINGS BACK AND FORTH TO GET ACCESS TO FUEL.
THE OTHER THING WE WERE TO DO IS IF YOU FEEL THAT WITH T HANGERS, THERE'S ALWAYS INTEREST IN LODGE BOX HANGERS.
YOU FILL THAT UP IN THE LARGE HANGERS WILL COME BACK TO THE NORTH SIDE AS WE ARE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW.
AND 10 YEARS FROM NOW SOMEONE WILL BE ASKING WHY DON'T WE THINK ABOUT THIS BEFOREHAND AND PUT THE T HANGERS HERE IN THE BOX HANGERS THERE? SO FROM A PLANNNG ASPECT, IT'S
NOT IDEAL FOR SURE. >> AND I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THAT NOBODY HAS ASKED YET. SO YOUR FUELING AREA IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE, LIKE YOU ARE EXPLAINING, CORRECTLY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JAMESTOWN IS THE SOUTH SIDE.
AND THAT'S ONLY FUELING AREA THAT WE WOULD HAVE? WHAT WOULD THESE PEOPLE DO IF THOSE HANGERS ARE GONNA BE BUILT THERE ANYWAY? THAT ROAD ON JAMESTOWN IS
[00:15:01]
SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE NORTH SIDE IS YOU'VE GOT TWO LARGE STORAGE TANKS, A (INDISCERNIBLE) TANK AND A JET FUEL TANK. WITH THE AVGAS TANK IS WHAT YOUR SMALL SINGLE PISTON AIRCRAFT ARE USING --.THE OTHER WAY TO GAIN ACCESS TO FUEL IS HAVE A FUEL TRUCK COME TO YOU. IF YOU BUILD THE T HANGERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE, THEY ARE EITHER GOING FREQUENTLY, NOT ALL THE TIME, THEY HAVE TO TAXI ACROSS AND GET SOME SERVICE OR THEIR CALLING A FUEL TRUCK TO GO OVER TO THE SOUTH SIDE.
>> OKAY. AND IT WOULDN'T BE AN IDEA AT THAT POINT DESK BECAUSE IF WE HAVE THESE HANGERS ON EITHER
SIDE, TO PUT FUEL ON THAT SIDE? >> YOU COULD.
WITH SOME EXPENSE. (INDISCERNIBLE) $600,000.
IT'S A LARGE EXPENSE. YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE TO PUT THAT LARGE OF A FUEL TANK -- THERE'S JUST SOME EXPENSE TO IT.
AND A LOT OF TIMES, A GOOD CHUNK OF THAT IS BORN OF THE FBO. THE AIRPORT COULD FUND IT, BUT
THERE ARE SOME EXPENSE TO IT. >> OKAY.THAT IS MY QUESTION.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? >> I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS -- THE LAST PIECE YOU ASK ABOUT GETTING IN LINE? I NEVER ENDEAVORED TO SPEAK FOR THE FAA BUT THAT'S A GOOD ONE TO REACH OUT AND HAVE A DISCUSSION JUST TO CONFIRM.
SAY HERE'S WHAT'S GOING ON, HERE'S WHAT WE ARE THINKING.
LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT WE THINK WE WANT TO DO.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE WISE. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE WE HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION,I'D LIKE TO INVITE CATHERINE OR SCOTT TO COME FORWARD.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THREE POSSIBLE OPTIONS .
GIVEN THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO, THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS (INDISCERNIBLE) CATHERINE, OUR PARKS AND REC'S DIRECTOR FOR PRESENTING THE THREE OPTIONS. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF WE WERE TO LOSE A PROPERTY OVER THERE, YES, WE IDENTIFIED THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO TAKE A LOOK AT. I'M HOPING THAT YOU ALSO MY MEMO THAT I PROVIDED AND I THINK THIS WAS LAST WEEK.
WHEN WE TALK TO THE SOCCER ASSOCIATIONS, THE ONLY THING THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH IS THEY HAVE A PLACE TO PLAY.
THAT IS OUR MAIN CONCERN SO THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR FIELDS.
AS FAR AS ONE OF THE OPTIONS IS YES, TAKE THE SOCCER FIELDS AND PLACE THEM OVER TOP OF THE SOFTBALL FIELDS AT THE SAME LOCATION, AT YBOR. IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THOSE FIELDS WERE USED. THOSE ARE USED, ACTUALLY, BY THE ELM STREET LITTLE LEAGUE. THE GIRLS YOUTH SOFTBALL.
SO THAT IS AN OPTION THAT YOU WANT TO ENTERTAIN, WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS A PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE THE TWO SOFTBALL FIELDS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST AT THE MLK CENTER. SO THAT'S ONE OPTION.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT, BUT SOMETHING TO EXPLORE. THE OTHER IS MOVE THE SOCCER LOCATION TO HICKORY PARK. THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AS WELL.
CERTAINLY, A LOT OF PROS AND SOME CHALLENGES IN THAT LOCATION. WE ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH THE CONGESTION AND THE WHITES. THE SOCCER ASSOCIATION NEEDS TO HAVE LIGHTS. THEY PLAY INTO THE EVENING.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET ALL THEIR USAGE.
SO LIGHTS IS IMPORTANT IN THAT LOCATION MAY BE CHALLENGING.
NOT ONLY FOR LIGHTS, BUT FOR PARKING, CONGESTION.
THERE ARE SOME SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO DO. AND THERE ARE ALSO ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS THAT USE THAT.
SO THEY WILL THEN BE DISPLACED SOMEWHAT.
THEN I DID IDENTIFY A THIRD OPTION.
I WILL ALWAYS IDENTIFY OPTIONS FOR YOU AND SOME MIGHT BE PALATABLE AND SOME MIGHT BE SHOCKING.
BUT I WILL ALWAYS IDENTIFY THEM FOR YOU.
THAT'S MY JOB AND YOU THE COMMUNITY MAKE THE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT IT DOES INVOLVE THE PROPERTY SOUTH OF SIMMONS PARK. IT'S A 20 PLUS ACRE PROPERTY, BUT IS FULL OF TREES. IN THIS COMMUNITY LOVES TREES.
TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT IS AN OPTION. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. ROSSI? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE MIGHT CALL YOU BACK UP. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS.
SO WE'VE HEARD SOME OPTIONS, SO NOW IT'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
I'LL START BY TALKING ABOUT MY GOAL IS TO SAVE THESE FIELDS.
ND I THINK WE'VE OUTLINED A VERY EASY PATH TO DO THAT.
AND THAT IS SIMPLY BY LEASING IT FROM OURSELVES.
WE WILL PAY THE AIRPORT LEASE FEE, AND THAT WILL THEN MAKE SURE WE HAVE A LONG-TERM LEASE WHERE WE CAN ENJOY THESE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS IS A FIELD I GREW UP PLAYING ON. THIS IS A FIELD THAT SO MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE. THIS IS A PART OF MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH. TRAINING FOR THE RIVER RUN JUST LAST MONTH. I WAS RUNNING AND I RAN PEASANT MULTIPLE TIMES. AND EVERY TIME I CONFIRMED, IT WAS PACKED WITH KIDS. PACKED WITH FAMILIES.
THAT IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SAVE THESE FIELDS, AND I THINK THERE'S AN EASY WAY TO DO IT. LET'S SIMPLY LEASE IT.
I LIKE TO HEAR DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME.
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ALL RIGHT, LET'S START WITH COMMISSIONER SQ.>> YES, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FROM THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN WE MET JOINTLY WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS WAS A TOPIC THAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WHEN MR. MARTIN WAS HERE. HE ASKED WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS, IF YBOR ALVAREZ WAS TO GO AWAY. SO I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH HIM, AND IS IT POSSIBLE TO LEASE? OW IS THIS GOING TO WORK? YOU KNOW, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
AND I BROUGHT UP JUST HICKORY STREET, JUST AS AN OFF-THE-CUFF HEY, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT? WE WENT THROUGH A COUPLE OF THE BIGGER CONCERNS -- LIGHTS, PARKING, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THEN I JUST SIMPLY ASKED HIM, HEY, WOULD YOU MIND DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE COUNTY, IF IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, GOOD WITH? HE AND STAFF HAD A MEETING, COMING WITH THE COUNTY STAFF ANYWAYS.
IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE MENTION ON THAT.
THAT'S WHY WANTED TO CLARIFY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, IT WAS SO DISCOMBOBULATED IN MY MIND. THAT WAS AS FAR AS IT WENT, AS FAR AS THE OPTION WENT. THERE WASN'T ANY REAL DISCUSSION OF IT 100 PERCENT HAPPENING.
AT LEAST NOT AFTER THAT. I GOT FEEDBACK FROM MR. MARTIN.
SAID OKAY. IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AT YBOR ALVAREZ, WE AT LEAST HAVE ANOTHER OPTION.
YOU CAN TELL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WERE ABSOLUTELY FLOORED.AD NO IDEA. I HAD NO CHANCE TO TALK TO ANY OF THEM. SO IS JUST KINDOF AN OFF-THE-CUFF DISCUSSION. I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT .
I SEE CHALLENGES WITH ALL THREE OF THESE.
I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT WE HAVE GREAT, GREAT OPTIONS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, LET'S COME UP WITH THE BEST ONE.
AND I WANT TO THANK CATHERINE AND PARKS AND REC FOR COMING UP WITH EVERY OPTION POSSIBLE. AND EVEN SOME THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY PALATABLE, I WOULD HOPE THE COMMUNITY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR JOB IS TO PROVIDE US WITH AS MANY OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE, EVEN ONES THAT MAY NOT BE, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT BE GREAT TO SOME PEOPLE. BUT LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB BY BRINGING US AS MANY OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE. AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. SO THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. WE APPRECIATE THAT.
COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING. WHEN YOU SAY KEEP IT THE SAME, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING KEEP THE SOCCER FIELDS WHERE THEY ARE AND KEEP THE SOFTBALL FIELDS WHERE THEY ARE?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I AM SAYING.
YES. >> SO THAT IS AN INTERESTING IDEA. MY ONLY CONCERN ABOUT THAT IS THAT'S A $400,000 A YEAR LEASE PAYMENT.
AND THAT IS ASSUMING THAT THE FAA ALLOWS -- WHICH THEY MAY WELL -- US TO PUT SOCCER FIELDS THERE, AS OPPOSED TO ALLOWING THE USAGE OF THAT FOR HANGERS. SO THAT IS -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE $400,000 YEAR IS GOING TO COME FROM.
THAT IS AN ADVISABLE CHUNK OF MONEY GOING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS (INDISCERNIBLE). AS FAR AS HICKORY STREET AS AN ALTERNATIVE, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU WERE GOING TO BE DISPLACING PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY USING IT.
AND IT IS APPARENTLY USED FAIRLY HEAVILY.
NUMBER 2, IT CREATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH CONGESTION, PARKING AND SO ON THERE. NUMBER 3, I THINK THE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD ALLOW THE USE OF BATHROOMS THERE THAT ARE ALREADY THERE. THAT WOULD BE A HELP IT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THE LIGHTS ARE ANOTHER ISSUE THERE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS YOU ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO PAY $200,000 A YEAR OR DO SOMETHING WITH THE SOFTBALL FIELDS. BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM. SO I MEAN IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TOTALLY ABANDONING YBOR ALVAREZ, YOU STRIVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE (INDISCERNIBLE) FIELDS.
TO ME, I THINK THE BEST OPTION IS WHAT THE PARKS AND REC'S SUGGESTED, WHICH IS MOVE THE SOCCER FIELDS TO THE BASEBALL FIELD AND REDO THE SOFTBALL FIELDS.
THAT'S ONLY $200,000 A YEAR. AND THEN SEE IF WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY TO GET THEM TO PAY THAT. MEAN, IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING, SEVEN OR 800 KIDS ARE GONNA LOSE THE ABILITY TO PLAY SOCCER. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. NOW THEY ARE ALL NASSAU COUNTY KIDS. HALF OF THEM ARE PROBABLY CITY KIDS. IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.
KIDS ARE GOING TO LOSETHE USE OF THAT.
THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A TIME LIMIT ON THIS .
THAT APPRAISAL THAT WAS DONE, IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR SIX MONTHS
[00:25:05]
TOTAL. I THINK WE ARE ALREADY TWO MONTHS INTO WHEN IT WAS DONE. SO SOME DECISION HAS TO BE MADE. SO I WOULD SUPPORT THE NUMBER 1 PLAN. BUT IT'S INTERESTING, IF YOU HAVE A WAY TO PAY FOR IT, THEN YOUR PLAN OF SUPPORTING BOTH(INDISCERNIBLE). >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS. COMMISSIONER ANTON.
>> YEAH I WAS INTERESTED IN CLARIFICATION.
I THOUGHT HE MENTIONED 200,000 FOR THAT FIELD.
YOU ARE MENTIONING 400 FOR THAT FIELD.
BUT WE ARE TALKING 200 FOR THE SOFTBALL FIELDS BUT 400 FOR THE 10 ACRES THAT IS NOT AS ABOVE FIELDS?
>> I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBERS.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS 400.>> I COULD BE WRONG.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE 150 ASIDE.
I CAN'T RECALL THAT FAR BACK. I'M SORRY.
>> I THINK THE NUMBER WAS 199 EACH, BUT I COULD BE WRONG.
>> IT'S DOUBLE. WHATEVER THE DOUBLE IS.
REX I THINK YOU ARE DEFINITELY OVER 300, I THINK, IS SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
>> YEAH, IF THAT IS THE CASE I WOULD AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS. OPTION 1 SEEMS LIKE THE LESSER OF THE EVILS HERE. WE ARE CAN HAVE SOME COSTS AND SOME CHANGES. I ALSO WANT TO CLARIFICATION.
CITY ATTORNEY GAVE ME SOME ROUGH NUMBERS HERE.UT IF WE LOSE THE GRANT REPAYMENTS, THAT IS ALSO 67,000 AND 120,000 RESPECTIVELY. SO THAT IS A CONSIDERATION TO MAKE. IT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.VICE MAYOR. >> AM AN ESKIMO QUESTION IF
THAT'S ALL RIGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THE 67,000, THE REPAYMENT, SPECIFICALLY WHAT HESAY?
>> SO THERE'S A BULLET POINT HERE.
AND COMMISSIONER ROSS, IF YOU HAVE THIS , I'LL LET YOU TAKE
THE SOFTBALL FIELDS WERE ORIGINALLY PUT THERE IN THE EARLY 19 NINETIES. TO DO THAT, THE CITY GOT A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT BASICALLY HELPED PAY FOR THAT. IN THE GRANT, I CAN'T REMEMBER -- ONE WAS FOR 125 FOR THE SOP OF FIELD.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THAT WAS THE SOFTBALL FIELD.
THE OTHER WAS AROUND 65,000 FOR THE OTHER ONE.
ONE WAS 65 AND THE OTHER WAS 125.
BUT BASICALLY SAID IF YOU TAKE THAT FACILITY AWAY, YOU'D HAVE TO PAY US THE MONEY BACK. NOW THERE MIGHT BE ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION IF YOU PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
IN THE BACK IN THE EARLY 2000'S WHEN THEY PUT IN YBOR ALVAREZ, THE SOCCER FIELDS, THEY TOOK OUT ANOTHER GRANT.
SO THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE GRANTS.
THE CITY TALK TO (INDISCERNIBLE) AND THEY BASICALLY SAID IF YOU HAVE TO PAY THEM BACK OR (INDISCERNIBLE). BUT THEY WERE REAL THRILLED
WITH THAT IDEA. >> SO I LIKE YOUR IDEA, BRADLEY, ABOUT SUPPORTING THE KIDS.
THAT'S NUMBER 1. HOWEVER, THIS IS KIND OF LIKE PAYING AND AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF RENT WHEN YOU CAN OWN IT.
SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, FINANCIALLY, TO PAY 200,000 A YEAR. I WOULD WANT TO EXPLORE OTHER PROPERTIES. IF WE'RE GONNA START SHELLING OUT 200,000 A YEAR, (INDISCERNIBLE).
HOW I LOOK AT THINGS, WHEN I PURCHASE PROPERTY OR WHEN I DO THINGS COMMERCIALLY AND RESIDENTIALLY, IS IS A CHEAPER TO LEASE IT OR IS IT CHEAPER TO OWN IT?AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS PROPOSING A PLAN, ANY ONE OF THESE PLANS, IF WE CAN HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LEASE OUR OLD PROPERTY IS PAY IT.
WE ARE PAYING THAT MONEY TO WHO? WE ARE PAYING THAT MONEY TO OURSELVES? OR ARE WE PAYING THAT MONEY TO WHAT IS IT? AND IF WE CONTINUE TO PAY THAT MONEY TO OURSELVES, THAT COULD WASH OUT AND BE ALL RIGHT OVER TIME.
AND WHAT EXPENSE IT'S GOING TO HAVE? ARE WE GONNA GET KICKED OFF OF THAT PROPERTY EVENTUALLY? AND HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE? BECAUSE AT 200,000 A YEAR, FIVE YEARS, THAT'S $1 MILLION. 10 YEARS, THAT'S $2 MILLION.
IS THERE ANOTHER PIECE OF PPROPERTY THAT WE WANT TO PURCHASE AND PUT THESE CHILDREN ON TO PLAY SOCCER? THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSED QUESTION TO ANYONE OF US.
HAVE WE DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH? THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
>> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. APPRECIATE THAT.>> PART ONE I WAS ASKING FOR MS. (NAME) TO CLARIFY.
IF WE HAD OBLIGATIONS FOR POOL OR PARTIAL REPAYMENT OR
(INDISCERNIBLE)? >> WHEN WE SPOKE TO THE STATE, IT SOUNDED LIKE -- I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THEY CARE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.THAT IS THE MONEY THAT IS LEFT TO BE PAID BACK IF
[00:30:01]
WE REMOVE THOSE. >> THAT'S NOT A TOTAL AMOUNT?
>> RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT IS LEFT TO PAY.
THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID BACK.
IF WE MOVED THE FIELDS SOMEPLACE ELSE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS TO WHETHER IT WAS APPLES TO APPLES.
AND THEN, THEY MIGHT CONSIDER REDUCING OR EVEN WAVING THE AMOUNT THAT NEEDS TO BE PAID BACK.
>> OKAY. >> BUT IN THIS SCENARIO, WHEN WE WERE TALKING BY THE OPTION YOU BALL PUT OUT THERE SO FAR, MAYBE BEING THE LEAST OF THE EVILS, RIGHTLY MOVING SOCCER FIELDS TO SOFTBALL. SO THEN YOU WERE JUST LEFT FOR PAYBACK TO SOFTBALL? AND IF YOU TAKE THE SOFTBALL FIELDS AND YOU ARE ABLE TO RE-CREATETHEM SOMEPLACE ELSE , WHICH ANOTHER LITTLE WRINKLE IN THIS IS OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS NO NET LOSS OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.O BY REMOVING, IF YOU DON'T REPLACE SOFTBALL FIELDS SOMEPLACE ELSE, THEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NOT IN KEEPING WITH OUR PLAN.
SO WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, TOO.
YES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ONE OF THOSE BACK.
>> AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF MLK WON'T SATISFY THAT? IF WE STILL HAVE SOFTBALL FIELDS THERE, CORRECTLY.
>> I THINK THIS IS ROUGHLY THAT THERE ARE THREE SOFTBALL FIELDS OUT HERE IN YBOR ALVAREZ. AND I'M NOT SURE THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM AT MLK TO ADD THREE MORE FIELDS TO WHAT THEY ARE READY HAVE. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE THOSE IN ORDER TO BE IN KEEP -- OR WE WOULD HAVE TO
CHANGE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. >> OKAY.
MY SECOND PART OF THAT, JUST TO FURTHER THE DISCUSSION WITH COMMISSIONER STURGES, THE ONLY OTHER LAND THAT I SEE THAT WE HAVE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, THE ACREAGE, IS COVERED IN TREES RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THAT'S UP TO OUR COMMUNITY TO DECIDE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO LET 10 ACRES OF TREE TO GO.INDISCERNIBLE). I HAVE A HARD TIME
(INDISCERNIBLE). >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.> I WANT TO ANSWER HIS QUESTION ABOUT THE 10 ACRES.
>> ALL RIGHT. >> SO I LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S 10 ACRES. THERE IS 10 ACRES.
JACK (NAME) OWNS IT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
IT'S ZONED INDUSTRIAL. (INDISCERNIBLE) USE THAT FOR RECREATION UNDER OUR CURRENT ZONING.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO CHARGE FOR THAT PROPERTY. THAT'S THE ONLY 10 ACRE -- YOU
NEED 10 ACRES, 10 TO 12 ACRES? >> (INDISCERNIBLE).
THERE ARE 23 ACRES SOUTH OF SUSAN DRIVE.
THESE ARE ALL OWNED BY PRIVATE ENTITIES.
BUT THERE IS ACREAGE. IT'S A MATTER OF HOW MUCH AND WHETHER THEY ARE WILLING TO (INDISCERNIBLE).
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MILLIONS. >> PROBABLY MORE THAN TWO OR 3 MILLION. YOU ARE PROBABLY TALKING A MILLION PER ACRE OR CLOSE TO THAT.
ANYHOW, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PARCELS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO TALK REAL QUICK AND WE CAN CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION FURTHER.
VICE MAYOR, I WANT TO ANSWER YOUR POINT ABOUT LEASING RATHER THAN BUYING. SO THE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE BACK IS LET'S NOT FORGET THAT WE ACTUALLY DO OWN THIS PROPERTY ALREADY. CURRENT LEASING IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE. IT'S FROM OURSELVES.
IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING WITH THESE FAA REGULATIONS.
BUT THE AIRPORT BUDGET IS NOT A RESTRICTIVE BUDGET.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAN DO WITH THAT.
WE COULD PAY, WE COULD CHARGE A (INDISCERNIBLE) FEEDBACK.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE ARE NOT YET TAPPING INTO ON THE AIRPORT. WE HAVE TO DO IS SECURE THIS LEASE. THAT STEP ONE.
NUMBER 2, I'VE HEARD TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY WAS HELP WITH SOCCER FIELDS.
THERE ARE READY TO. I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THIS AND I WILL TELL YOU -- ONE THING THEY ALL NEED IS A PRESENCE OF COUNTY RECREATION SOCCER ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. THAT IS SOMETHING RIGHT NOW THEY ARE LACKING. THEIR YULEE FACILITY IS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OUT. THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO COME IN. BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS SECURE THIS LEASE.FOLKS, I WANT TO SET THE CLOCK BACK.
THIS IS BEFORE THE NEW TWO COMMISSIONERS CAME ON.
THINK ABOUT THE CENTRAL PARK ISSUE, WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED.
WE HAVE THIS ROOM PACKED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES TALKING ABOUT WE LOST AT THE PLAYGROUND.
WE TALKED ABOUT CHANGING UP. A CENTRAL PARK LOOKED.
WE WERE GOING TO DIG A LAKE. THAT WAS NEVER AN OPTION IN MY BOOK. BUT FOLKS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IF THIS GETS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE SOCCER FIELDS AND GET RID OF THEM, OR TAKE DOWN PRISTINE LAND BUT SOCCER FIELDS THERE? THIS IS A PLAN THAT WILL RALLY THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO DO.
THE POPULAR MOVE, THE ONE THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS US TO DO IS SAVE THESE FIELDS. SO THE REASONS I'M SAYING IT'S OKAY TO DO THAT IS THAT THIS IS A BUDGETING ISSUE.
[00:35:02]
WE CAN WORK IT OUT DURING THE BUDGETING CYCLE.AND THE NUMBER I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FROM OUR 2022 BUDGET, 169. 169.
THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAD IN OUR BUDGET. IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT $169 MILLION, WHAT IS $300,000 WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING THE CHILDREN STAY ON THE FIELD THAT THEY LOVE PLAYING AT? THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT I JUST WANT TO BRING UP.
AN ISSUE I WANT TO DISCUSS. THERE'S NOT THESE BIG BARRIERS TO SAVING THE FIELDS. IN FACT, IT'S A MOST TOO EASY TO SAVE THESE FIELDS. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SECURE A LEASE WITH THE FAA. SO LET'S JOIN TOGETHER AND SAVE THESE FIELDS FOR THE COMMUNITY. COMMISSIONER AYSCUE?
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR. THE BEST SOLUTION TO THIS IS TO SAVE ALL THE FIELDS. I MEAN, IF WE CAN MAKE IT -- IF IT'S FISCALLY ATTAINABLE TO DO SO, THAT IS THE BEST OPTION.
I THINK WE WOULD ALL AGREE WE CAN ATTAIN THIS FISCALLY, THAT IS THE NUMBER 1 OPTION. I MEAN, IF THERE SCOPE PATHWAY FORWARD FOR THAT, AND WHETHER THAT IS DISCUSSING IT WITH THE COUNTY AND SEEING WHAT OPTIONS WE WOULD HAVE THERE WITH THEM.
AND THEN, LOOKING INTO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS YOU MENTIONED WITH MANAGEMENT FEES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AT THE AIRPORT -- I'M IN FAVOR OF EXPLORING THAT OPTION AS NUMBER 1. 100 PERCENT. THE NEXT OPTION WOULD BE, AS STAFF RECOMMENDS, IF THAT'S NOT FISCALLY ATTAINABLE AND WE CAN'T GET THERE WITH THAT, THEN I WOULD AGREE THAT MOVING THE SOCCER FIELDS TO THE SOFTBALL FIELDS WOULD MAKE SENSE.
THE ISSUES I HAVE WITH THAT ARE WE ARE TAKING THE SOCCER FIELDS AND MOVING THEM THAT MUCH CLOSER TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THEM AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. AND ALSO, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AREA IS FINISHED BEING DEVELOPED STOP I MEAN, COMMISSIONER ROSS MADE A POINT. THERE IS LAND JUST RIGHT THERE THAT WE CALL BAILEY ROAD OR BAILEY YARD WE CALLED IT IN THE COUNTY. AND OF COURSE THERE IS A BIG PARCEL OF LAND THAT SITS WHEN YOU COME DOWN BAILEY ROAD AS WELL. I WOULD KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL, IF WE ARE GOING TO STAY THERE,WHETHER IT'S ALL OR A LITTLE BIT MOVING , THAT AREA STILL HAS DEVELOPMENT THAT I WOULD ASSUME IS COMING AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
WE MENTIONED HICKORY STREET HAVING ISSUES.
THERE'S ENGINEERING ISSUES. THERE'S A LOT OF DIRT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT IN TO GET IT STRAIGHT.
THERE ARE CONGESTION ISSUES. I AGREE WITH THAT.
LIGHTS. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE TALK ABOUT. ANYTHING WE BUILD THERE HAS TO BE DOE STANDARDS. SO THOSE ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO INCUR WHEN WE BUILD SOMETHING OUT THERE.
SO I THINK THAT'S PROBLEMATIC. IF WE HAD TO GO TO A THIRD OPTION, I WOULD BE THERE. AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIMMONS PARK WOULD BE THE LAST OPTION. WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE COMMUNITY BUY IN FOR THAT. THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DO WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR AT LEAST BRINGING ALL OPTIONS FORWARD.
SO THAT'S WHERE I WOULD BE. WOULD BE WITH YOU, MAYOR.
IF IT'S FISCALLY ATTAINABLE, LET'S SEE.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SQ, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND I AGREE THAT THAT SHOULD BE OUR SECOND CHOICE OF THE FIRST ONE DOESN'T WORK OUT. ALL RIGHT.
LOOKING FOR MORE DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> SO THE WAY FORWARD -- I'M NOT OPPOSED TO PAYING $400,000 HERE OR WHATEVER IT IS (INDISCERNIBLE) (AWAY FROM MICROPHONE). SO NUMBER 1, WE NEED, I WOULD THINK THE WAY FORWARD IS YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE FAA AND SEE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR.
BECAUSE IF THEY ARE NOT, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.
NUMBER 2, IF THEY ARE WILLING TO ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR AND CONCURRENTLY, WHILE WE ARE DOING THAT, APPROACH THE COUNTY AND FIND OUT HOW MUCH THEY ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ENDEAVOR, I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO NEXT STEPS.
THEY'LL NEED TO BE DONE WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO END UP PAYING FOR A NEW APPRAISAL IF WE DON'T, WHICH IS NOT CHEAP EITHER.
SO IF YOU WANT TO DO BOTH FIELDS, THAT'S GREAT.
I THOUGHT FROM A FISCAL POINT OF VIEW, I THOUGHT OF THAT ORIGINALLY (LAUGHING) BUT I SAID THAT WOULD NEVER FLY FISCALLY (LAUGHING). SO THAT'S FINE, IF YOU WANT TO GO THERE. THAT'S FINE.
PYOU ARE TALKING A COMMITMENT O A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. I WOULD ENDORSE HAVING STAFF WRITING A LETTER TO THE FAA AND ALSO STARTING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE COUNTY TO SEE WHAT THEIR INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS IS.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> I HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS FOR NATHAN.
IF HE COULD COME UP QUICKLY? HEY, NATHAN.
[00:40:08]
SO IF THE PERSON THAT TURN THE AVIATION REQUEST IN FOR THE ADDITIONAL HANGERS, IF WE DID REACH OUT AND GET THIS ACQUIRED, WHICH I'M NOT AGAINST LEASING THE PROPERTY AND USING IT WHAT IT IS. WHERE WOULD THEY PUT THE HANGERS? BECAUSE WE DO HAVE 96 OR 90 SOMETHING PLANES THAT ARE ON A WAITING LIST, CORRECTLY.>THAT'S CORRECT. >> A LOT OF PLANES THAT WOULD LOVE TO USE OUR AVIATION CENTER.
OUR AIRPORT. SO WHERE WERE THE PROPOSED AREA
BE FOR THAT? >> I THINK THEY EVEN INDICATED WITH THEIR APPLICATION WHEN THEY PRESENTED TO AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION, AN ALTERNATIVE SITE THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE AIRPORT NEAR JAMESTOWN ROAD.
(INDISCERNIBLE) (AWAY FROM MICROPHONE).
I BELIEVE MR. FOXWORTH AND MS. BACH AND REACH OUT TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION (INDISCERNIBLE). >> OKAY.
SO IT CAN EASILY BE INSTALLED ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND WE IN CONJUNCTION, THAT GOT APPROVED, WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT FUEL?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT MANDATORY.
I'M JUST EXPRESSING THAT FROM AN OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATION.
THAT'S WHY THE NORTH SIDE WAS PREFERRED.
SOME OF THOSE COMPONENTS OF FUTURE PLANNING AND CROSSING THE RUNWAYS. IT'S NOT MANDATORY TO HAPPEN.
YOU HAVE A BUSY AIRPORT WITH A LOT OF USE OF THE RUNWAYS.
AND CROSSING OF THE RUNWAYS BECOME SAFETY ISSUES
(INDISCERNIBLE). >> ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. SO I THINK WE HAVE CONSENSUS.
AND STOP ME IF I AM GOING TOO FAR, COMMISSIONERS.
WE WILL REACH OUT TO THE FAA. HE WILL DIRECT STAFF TO DO THAT. LET'S SEE WHAT FAA'S TERMS ON THE LEASE WOULD BECOME ALESSI WITH ACCEPTABLE THERE.
THOSE TWO THINGS MAY RESOLVE OUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE -- WE ARE THAT MUCH CLOSER TO SAVING YBOR ALVAREZ FIELD.
DOES THAT SOUND GOOD EVERYBODY? DO WE HAVE CONSENSUS?
>> WE CERTAINLY DO. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD STRESS AS I KNOW WE HAVE TO GO BY AN APPRAISAL. BUT IF THERE ARE ANY DISCUSSIONS (INDISCERNIBLE) REDUCE THE COST.
JUST KEEP IT AT A MINIMUM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. SO WITH THAT -- I THINK THIS WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING. I THINK WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO SAVING THE YBOR ALVAREZ FIELDS. SO VERY EXCITING.
IT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW BIG OF A DEAL IT IS. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ON THE FRONT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.