[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:09]
IT IS 5:00. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS WORKSHOP. I WILL START FROM THE TOP. THIS IS NOT A WORKSHOP. THIS IS THE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING. WE ARE CALLING TO ORDER. WE WILL START WITH ROLL CALL. CITY CLERK?
>> BUT WILL GO TO 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
[4.1 FRONT STREET FLOODING AND EROSION]
INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. WE DO HAVE THE DOCTOR HERE TO PRESENT THE FRONT STREET FLOODING AND EROSION AGENDA. THANK YOU FOR DIBS. THIS LOOKS GREAT. WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU. MY NAME IS FRANK OFF. I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE NASSAU GROUP. IT'S A NONPROFIT. THEY HELP PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON RESILIENCY ISSUES. GROWTH ISSUES. AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY. I GOT INVOLVED IN THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN FROM THE COMMITTEE. AND ASKED IF THEY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT. AND INDEED, WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, WE DO HAVE ISSUES THAT ARE PRETTY DRAMATIC. OR COULD BE. LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY. WE HAVE A BUNCH OF TIDES THAT COME IN.WE HAVE FLOOD GAUGES IN THE MARINA. WE HAVE HAVE THEM THERE SINCE 1894. I WAS INVOLVED RECENTLY TO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE GREAT DATA ON WHAT OUR FLOOD LEVELS ARE. WHAT WE SEE, WE START TO SEE FLOODING EVERY TIME WE GET WATER ELEVATION OF FOUR FEET. YOU CAN SEE JUST EVERY MONTH, TWICE A MONTH, THE NEW MOON OR FULL MOON, WE SEE WATER COMING UP OVER THESE PROPERTIES ON FRONT STREET. THE LAST NEW MOON ON MARCH 23RD WAS PARTICULARLY HIGH BECAUSE OF THE POSITION OF THE MOON AND EARTH. YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS INDEED FLOODING ON THE SITE. YOU CAN SEE THE WRAP MUCH LIKE THE BEACH. YOU SEE THE RACK ANYWHERE THERE IS HIGH WATER ON A TITLE AREA. HERE IT IS AGAINST THE FENCE ON FRONT STREET FURTHER DOWN TOWARD THE PORT. YOU CAN SEE THE RACK COLLECTED AGAINST THE FENCE. WATER CAME OVER AND FLOODED US. WE ALSO HAVE EROSION . THERE'S A FLOOD WHILE THEY ARE THE COVERS A QUARTER OF THE PROPERTY. IT IS SEVERELY DAMAGE. THERE'S A NEW HOLE IN THE DIKE HERE. SAND AND MUD IS CONSTANTLY IN THERE. IT DOESN'T SHOW IN 2021 PHOTOGRAPHY AT ALL. WE KNOW IT'S GROWING. THE EROSION IS GETTING WORSE. HERE IS THE BANK AGAIN ON THE PROPERTY.
IT IS SLOWLY BUT SURELY ERODING AWAY OUR PROPERTY ON FRONT STREET. SAME SORT OF PICTURE THERE. SAME AREA. EACH TIME WE HIT A FOUR FOOT FLOOD LEVEL THREE TIMES A MONTH, OR FOUR TIMES, DEPENDING ON THE TITLE CYCLE, MORE SAND GETS ERODED AWAY AND WE LOSE MORE THE PROPERTY. WE ARE ALSO LOSING SAND BECAUSE OF THE RUNOFF IN THE STORMS.
[00:05:01]
APPARENTLY THE STORM SOURCE CANNOT HANDLE THE FLOW . WE USE THE EVIDENCE HERE OF THE EROSION. THE WATER HAS COME OUT. TRUST ME, THE WATER COMES OUT OF THE INLET AND GOES CROSS COUNTRY TO GET INTO THE RIVER AND IS DOING QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE THERE. THIS ISN'T QUITE WORKING. OKAY, SO, WHAT DOES THE FOREFOOT TIED TO DO TO US? THE DARK LOSE WHAT GETS COVERED. A FIVE FOOT TIDE GOES FURTHER INLAND AND ACROSS THE STREET. AND INDEED, WE DID HAVE A FIVE FOOT LEVEL TIDE ON THAT LAST NEW MOON. GOING FURTHER SOUTH, SAME ISSUE HERE. WHEN THE COLD PASSED , WE HAD OVER A SIX FOOT TIDE.ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS WELL OVER FIVE FOOT. SEVERAL WERE OVER FIVE FOOT. AGAIN, ONE GOOD STORM COULD TAKE FRONT STREET AWAY, PARTICULARLY IN THIS LOCATION, WHERE WE HAVE LITTLE SOIL LEFT TO PROTECT THE STREET AND REBEL TRACKS. I THINK I HAVE THE WRONG POWERPOINT.
>> THE LAST ONES. >> IS THIS WHAT YOU ARE
WORKING ON? >> DO YOU HAVE THE SAME SLIDES?
>> IT ENDS RIGHT THERE. GUESS WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENS. WHAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT, THIS EROSION WILL SLOWLY TAKE AWAY OUR LAND THERE. IT MAKES US VULNERABLE TO INCREASING FLOOD LEVELS.
BUT, WHAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, OF COURSE, IS THE BIG SCORE. THE ONE WE HAVE ALREADY BUILT A SEAWALL FOR. FROM THE PARKING LOT SOUTH TO THE CONCOURSE. THAT WOULD PROTECT US FROM A NINE FOOT FLOOD. WHICH IS A 100 YEAR STORM. IN MORTGAGE TERMS, IT MEANS YOU HAVE A CHANCE AT 80% OF HAVING THAT HAPPEN DURING THE LIFE OF A 30 YEAR MORTGAGE. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO UNPOPULAR. I NINE FOOT FLOOD WOULD INDEED GO AROUND OUR WALL WE HAVE THERE AND COME ACROSS THE PROPERTY WERE THE OTHER PROPERTIES ARE ON FRONT STREET AND FLOOD. WE WOULD BE SITTING HERE IN A FOOT OF WATER. AT NINE FOOT. 1% CHANCE OF EVERY YEAR THAT HAPPENING. WHAT I WAS HOPING TO SHOW YOU WAS EXACTLY WHERE A SEVEN FOOT FLOOD OR A SIX FOOT FLOOD COMES ACROSS THE CITY. AS WE EXPERIENCED WITH NICOLE, WITH QUITE A BIT OF DISCOMFORT WITH THAT LEVEL OF FLOODING IN THE CITY. THAT IS LISTED OFFICIALLY AS A 25 YEAR FLOOD. 6.1 FOOT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. WHICH WOULD
[00:10:03]
INDICATE POTENTIALLY, IS A FAR GREATER PROBABILITY THAN 25%.OR , 25%. 5%, I'M SORRY. ANYWAY, SO, A EIGHT FOOT FLOOD WOULD MAKE IT APPEAR. TO THE GATES OF CITY HALL. I'M ASSUMING DURING A FLOOD EMERGENCY, THIS WILL BE THE COMMAND CENTER. WHAT WILL WE DO TO OPERATE OUR COMMAND, IF INDEED, THE WATER COMES AROUND OUR FLOOD WHILE? UP FRONT STREET, AND HAVE GOTTEN APPEAR. AND THE OTHER THING THAT MAKES THAT INCREASING THE OF CONCERN, IS THE FACT THAT NOW WHEN THE WATER LEADS, IT CANNOT GO OUT ACROSS THE PARKING LOT. IT CANNOT GO PASS THAT. IT'S GOT TO GO BACK OUT THROUGH FRONT STREET AND A LITTLE GOES TO THE NORTH. I WOULD GUESS THAT WE HAD A 100 YEAR STORM, FRONT STREET WILL NOT SURVIVE AND NEITHER WILL THE RAILROAD TRACKS. THAT IS WHY WE WERE HOPING TO INCREASE CONCERN. IT SHOULD BE UP PARTICULAR CONCERN. AND HAVE PROTECTION FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA. WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT MONEY. I WISH MY POWER PERKED POINT WORK.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS GREAT DATA. YOU MENTIONED YOU MIGHT KNOW HOW FAR THE NINE FOOT FLOOD WOULD GO. HOW MANY BLOCKS WITH THE NINE FOOT FLOOD COME?
>> I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THAT. I EMAIL.
>> IT GOES UP TO THE COURTHOUSE.
>> IT GOES TO THIRD STREET AND UP PAST LIKE THIRD STREET.
>> OH, WELL. >> IT VARIES ALL OVER. AGAIN, WE HAVE HAD GOOD FLOOD RECORDS HERE. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PREDICT OUR SOURCE. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE 10 YEAR FLOOD IS AT 5.7. WE HAVE HAD FOUR TENURE FLOODS IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. WE HAVE HAD A SERIES OF BAD LUCK. OR, SEE LEVELS GETTING US QUICKER THAN WE FEARED. NONE OF THOSE ARE PARTICULARLY GOOD OUTCOMES. WE HAVE HAD BAD LUCK , AND WE HOPE IT GETS BETTER. PLENTY OF GOOD LUCK IS NOT ENOUGH.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.?
>> DOOR I WAS A 100 YEAR STORM?
>> NO. NOT EVEN CLOSE. >> AND THE FLOORING IN DOOR I
WENT TO THE COURTHOUSE? >> YES.
>> SO, IT WASN'T A 100 YEAR FLOOD? AND THE WALL WOULD HAVE
PROTECTED US FROM DOOR? >> LET ME DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT.
RECENT DATA INDICATED IT WOULD NOT BE A 100 YEAR STORM.
BUT INDEED, IF IT MADE IT TO THE COURTHOUSE, THEY WOULD SAY IT WAS INDEED A 100 YEAR STORM.
>> I THINK IT WAS A 90 YEAR STORM.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PROBABILITIES. YOU CAN ARGUE
BETWEEN 75 AND 125 YEARS. >> 64. THE WORST STORM WE HAD WAS IN 1890. IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE HAD THE GAUGES CONTINUOUSLY. IT'S HARD TO COMPARE WITH THE GAUGES TO SEE IF THE WATER LEVELS ARE THE SAME ON THE VARIOUS TABLES.
>> THE TAKE-HOME MESSAGE IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THE DOWNTOWN WILL BE UNDERWATER UNLESS WE DO
SOMETHING TO PROTECT IT? >> EXACTLY. AND FRONT STREET IS A GREAT RISK. MUCH LIKE SAN CARLOS IN OLD TOWN WAS WASHED
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS GOOD. THANK YOU, SIR. WE APPRECIATE
[5.1 WATERFRONT PARKING LOTS C AND D - REZONING]
YOU. MOVING ALONG. WE HAVE ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION. THAT IS THE WATERFRONT PARKING LOT. WILL THAT BE JEREMIAH? IS THAT YOU, RONALD ROSS?[00:15:06]
>> I HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE COME TO ME THIS IS OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS. TO THE AREA WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS WHERE THE CONCOURSE IS RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE CITY ZONED PROPERTY. LOTS 30 THROUGH 34. AND THEN WHERE ATLANTIC SEAFOOD WOULD BE AS DOWN HERE. CURRENTLY, THAT AREA IS ZONED WHAT IS CALLED INDUSTRIAL WATERFRONT. AND INDUSTRIAL WATERFRONT'S -- I WILL QUICKLY READ THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. WATERFRONT INDUSTRIAL, IS INTENDED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WATER DEPENDENT AND RELATED MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION, SALES, AND PORT OPERATIONS THAT ARE HIGH INTENSITY. THE WATERFRONT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT RECOGNIZES THE INSISTING DEVELOPMENT WITH LOCATIONS THAT HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES BY AIR, SHIP, OR HIGHWAY. THE DESIGNATION OF LAND FOR THE DISTRICT SHOULD BE BASED ON COMPATIBILITY WITH THE SURROUNDING LAND USES. CONSIDERING ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY PROPENSITY USE, HOURS OF OPERATION, AND IMPACT.
THAT IS WHAT THE ZONING IS. THAT IS NOW , AND WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED, IN RECREATION. INTENDED TO PROVIDE A LOCATION FOR LAND DEVOTED TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES. THE TYPES OF PARKS INCLUDE PASSIVE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE. ACTIVITY-BASED PARKS. AND A MARINA IS INCLUDED IN THAT. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, AND THE NUMBER OF CITIZENS WHO APPROACHED ME, THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS BECOME A RECREATION GOING FORWARD. WHICH I THINK IS FAR MORE COMPATIBLE THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY ZONED. I WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE IS NOT TO MAKE A DECISION, BUT SEND IT TO THE PLANNING BOARD I LET THE COMMUNITY TALK ABOUT IT AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. LET THE PLANNING BOARD MAKE A
RECOMMENDATION. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RONALD ROSS. REMIND ME, I BELIEVE WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC BEFORE? IS THAT RIGHT? MAYBE IT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE HAD OVER DISCUSSED OF THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL GOING TO RECREATION.
>> I AM 70 YEARS OLD, MAYBE I JUST FORGOT.
>> I CAN SEE THAT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT?
>> NO. >> THERE IS A LIGHT ON. WHO IS
>> YES. NO WORRIES. JAMES ANTUN ?
>> I WILL ECHO THE FEEDBACK. I HAVE HAD QUITE A BIT OF PUBLIC INTEREST TO RETAIN THIS IS A PUBLIC SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE AS A PARK AND POTENTIALLY PREVENT OVER DEVELOPMENT OF A WATERFRONT AREA. IT WOULD POTENTIALLY DRAW MORE TRAFFIC .
WE ARE QUITE HAPPY WITH WHERE WE ARE AT. I SUPPORT IF IT'S
CHOSEN TO BE RECREATION. >> THANK YOU. VICE
COMMISSIONER? >> WE USE IT MOSTLY FOR RECREATIONAL ANYWAYS. HOWEVER, I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE PARKING THAT IS THERE. OR MESS WITH IT AT THE MOMENT. IF WE ARE REZONING TO STATES COMMERCIAL, TO RESIDENTIAL -- TO RECREATION, IF WE ARE REZONING FOR RECREATION, IT DOESN'T HURT ANYTHING. I DON'T FORESEE IT BEING COMMERCIAL AT ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE ANYWAY. IT'S JUST A TITLE.
>> THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. CAN I ASK ?
>> YES. I AGREE WITH VICE-MAYOR DAVID STURGES. I DON'T SEE THAT BECOMING ANYTHING COMMERCIAL. WHETHER IT'S MARINE ORIENTED OR WAREHOUSING OR SHOPS,
[00:20:03]
WHATEVER. I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. BUT, THAT IS AT LEAST ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE PIECES OF LAND THAT WE OWN IN THE CITY. AND WE KNOW THE PROCESS, WHICH IT CHANGES TO RECREATIONAL, IT IS THERE. IT'S NOT COMING OUT. I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT. MAKE IT A CONSIDERATION THAT IF IT DOES CHANGE TO RECREATIONAL, IT IS NEVER COMING OUT OF THAT ZONING. I WOULD JUST BE CAUTIOUS WITH THAT. BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL IS A NEED TO GO AHEAD AND SECURE THAT AS RECREATIONAL, I WON'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN ISSUE. JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE PIECES OF LAND THE CITY OWNS. AND THAT IT IS ZONED RECREATIONAL. IT'SNEVER COMING OUT. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. TAMMI BACH, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? THERE IS PARKING ON THERE AND A NICE AREA TO ENJOY THE RIVER WALK THAT HAS BEEN BUILT. AND THERE ARE CURRENT USES, THAT WE CHANGE IT TO RECREATION, IT'S IN COMPLIANCE? WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES AT ALL? THAT WOULD SUBMIT INTO OUR FUTURE. THE CURRENT USES
FIND? >> YES. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES. BUT TO ADD TO THAT, THE RECREATION OR SOMETHING THAT IS ZONED RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, IF IT BECOMES ZONED RECREATION, IT FALLS UNDER THE CHARTER PROVISION THAT IS A LONG-TERM LEASE FOR 40 YEARS. IT REQUIRES A REFERENDUM. BUT, THERE IS NOTHING THERE. IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO REFERENDUM, THE THING TO DO IS TO REZONE IT.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. WITH THAT IN MIND, I THINK WE DO LIKE THE CURRENT USE OF THIS PARCEL. I SEE NO PROBLEM CHANGING IT TO RECREATION. JUST TO GIVE IT ADDED PROTECTION TO THIS PIECE OF LAND. I WOULD ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER RONALD ROSS SAYS. LET'S SEND IT TO HAVE A LOOK TAKEN AT IT.
>> THANK YOU. >> EVERYONE GOOD? EVERYONE
HAVE CONSENT? >> LET THE CITIZENS WAY AND AFTER THAT. GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. I THINK IT LOOKS
GREAT. >> ALL RIGHT. WE PRESENTED.
THAT IS ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. ARE THERE ANY MORE TOPICS THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP TO DISCUSS?
>> WANT TO TALK ABOUT PARKING GARAGES?
>> WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT. IS THAT SOME WILLING SOMETHING
ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN? >> WE HAVE 37 MINUTES.
>> I AM INTERESTED. >> LET'S HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
WHO WAS SICK!? >> COMMISSIONER RONALD ROSS, GO
AHEAD. >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING. I DID GOOGLING AND LOOKED AROUND. TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE, YOU NEED A MINIMUM OF 240 LINEAR FEET IN ONE DIRECTION. AND AT LEAST 100 IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. IT TURNS OUT, THERE ARE TWO PARCELS IN DOWNTOWN THAT HAVE THAT SIZE.
ONE IS THE LIBRARY. YOU WOULD HAVE TO TEAR DOWN THE BUILDING.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE GOODS PROPERTY. THIS PROPERTY RIGHT NEXT DOOR ISN'T BIG ENOUGH. YOU COULD COMBINE IT WITH THE WAREHOUSE NEXT TO THAT. IT IS PROBABLY STILL NOT QUITE BIG ENOUGH. I DON'T KNOW OF ANOTHER. THERE IS ONE OTHER PARCEL BY THE BANK THAT MIGHT WORK. THOSE ARE THE PARCELS.
THE COST OF DOING A PARKING GARAGE IS BETWEEN $30-$50,000 PER SPOT. FOR -- THAT'S WITHOUT THE COST OF LAND. 100 PARKING SPACES IS $4 MILLION TO $6 MILLION. IF YOU GO TO PLACES THAT PEOPLE NOTORIOUSLY USE PARKING GARAGES THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR, ONLY WHEN THERE'S NO OTHER PARKING AVAILABLE. SO, TO DO A PARKING GARAGE HERE, A, IT'S NOT THE LAND. MB, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ECONOMICS. MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY. AND IF THE COMMISSION SO DESIRES, PERHAPS WE SHOULD GET SOMEONE TO COME IN . NEW
[00:25:07]
NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT NUMBERS. BECAUSE THIS KEEPS COMING UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I DON'T THINK IT ECONOMICALLY WORKS.PERHAPS WE SHOULD LOOK INTO IT TO THINK ABOUT IT. HAVE SOMEONE COME IN AND DO A MORE DEFINITIVE PRESENTATION AS TO
>> I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK?
>> YOU HAVE TO SAY THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE TORN
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> IT WOULD BE JAMMED UP AGAINST THE LIBRARY. YOU WOULD ABSORB THE ENTIRE LOT AND IT
WAS STILL BE TIGHT. >> AND WOULD YOU NEED TWO OR
THREE FLOORS? >> YOU CAN DO THREE FLOORS, BUT THERE ARE ALREADY 60 PARKING SPACE THERE. YOU ARE PAYING FOR RE-DOING THAT PLUS MORE. IF YOU PUT 180 PARKING SPACES OR 200 THERE, YOU ARE TALKING -- YOU ARE ONLY GAINING LESS THAN 150. YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT THERE. AND THE COST OF THAT FOR 300 -- IT'S ABOUT $9 MILLION.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER JAMES ANTUN?
>> I HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH A RESIDENT WHO IS QUITE PASSIONATE ABOUT A PARKING GARAGE BEHIND THE BANK . IF THAT IS FEASIBLE. ULTIMATELY, I THINK IT'S A BENEFIT. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE WILL CHARGE. WE DON'T CREATE A RESTRICTION ON CENTER STREET PARKING, YOU WILL HAVE TIME WHERE THAT PARKING GARAGE HE COMES IN OVERFLOW AND MAY NOT GET FILLED. YOU HAVE TO GO IN TANDEM WITH REVISITING THE DISCUSSIONS. THERE HAS BEEN PUSHBACK ABOUT PAID PARKING DOWNTOWN. THAT THEY DRIVE PEOPLE TO USE THE PARKING GARAGE. $9 MILLION IS A BIG BITE. WE HAVE A SEAWALL TO GET UP FIRST. THAT'S MY TWO CENTS.
>> I HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
SPECIFICALLY THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY. I REALLY THINK THIS WILL TAKE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES. AND MAYBE HELP . IF WE PROVIDED PARKING IN DIFFERENT AREAS FOR DOWNTOWN , THERE CAN BE DIFFERENT GRANTS AND THINGS THAT WE CAN ACCESS.
IT WILL COST MONEY. IT WILL BE COSTLY. I THINK IT WOULD BE TO A BENEFIT TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE, INSTEAD OF HAVING A REACTIONARY THOUGHT PROCESS. IT'S JUST IN MY OPINION. I THINK THAT LOCATION IS ALL RIGHT. THERE ARE COUPLE OF LOCATIONS. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE I THOUGHT OF. I REALLY THINK , IF WE CONTINUE TO GET PEOPLE COMING TO OUR ISLAND MORE AND MORE, AND IT'S DURING THE DAYTIME AND PEOPLE WANT TO PARK, IT'S NOT IN THE EVENING. AT 7:00 P.M. ON, YOU CAN FIND A SPOT WHERE YOU WANT, JUST ABOUT. THE ISSUE IS NOT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. THE ISSUE IS THE DAYTRIPPERS AND THE TOURIST. ULTIMATELY, IT'S GOING TO BE A DRIVING FACTOR .
AND I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK WE WILL SLAUGHTER THIS PIG TODAY OR START ON THIS MISSION, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN. I REALLY THINK THE ANSWER IS A PARKING GARAGE. THE PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE THAT HE MENTIONED ABOUT THE LIBRARY IS A FEASIBLE PROPERTY. BUT I DON'T THINK YOU DO THAT ONE FIRST. I THINK YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU EXHAUST OTHER RESOURCES. I HAVE A PERSON THAT DESIGNS PARKING GARAGES THAT'S LOOKING IN FOR THE COST . HE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK WITH ME NEXT WEEK ON THE ESTIMATED COST OF THAT SIZE PARKING GARAGE. THEY DESIGNED 12 OVER THEIR LIFETIME AND BUILT THEM. WITH LOCAL CONTRACTORS OUT OF JACKSONVILLE. I AM JUST WAITING FOR MY RESEARCH BACK ON WHAT THE COST ANALYSIS WOULD BE FOR THAT SIZE PARKING GARAGE. HE WORKS FOR HASKELL. AS SOON AS I GET INFORMATION, I WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. I REALLY DO THINK WE NEED TO LEAN TOWARD THAT DIRECTION. IT MIGHT NOT BE A NECESSITY RIGHT THIS MOMENT, BUT WE NEED TO START PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. INSTEAD OF
BEING REACTIONARY. >> IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE. LET ME ASK YOU. I WOULD ADD THAT IF WE ARE LOOKING INTO IT, AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR PARKING. GETTING WITH THE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN, IF WE ARE PUTTING A PARKING GARAGE UP OR SOMETHING
[00:30:03]
OF THAT MANNER, YOU REALLY WANT TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN PARKING AND GET WITH THE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN. AND GET THEM A PARKING SPOT. WHETHER IT'S A GARAGE OR AN AREA THAT THEY WOULD AGREE, THIS IS WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN PARK. YOU REALLY WANT TO IMPROVE WHAT'S GOING ON IN CENTER STREET AND DOWN SECOND AND THIRD. LET'S GET WITH THE BUSINESS DOWNTOWN.WHAT CAN WE DO TO WORK WITH YOU TO GET AN EMPLOYEE PARKING THAT YOUR EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO TO THE SPOT. THERE WILL BE PARKING FOR THEM. THEY CAN PARK THERE AND GO TO WORK.
IT WOULD BE SAFETY IN NUMBERS. MOST ARE GETTING OFF OF WORK LATE. ALL THE PARKING WOULD BE THERE AND THEY WOULD BE TOGETHER VERSUS SPREAD OUT ALL OVER. I HEAR THAT OFTEN TIMES.
HEY, I NEED MY EMPLOYEES TO PARK CLOSE. WHEN WE CLOSE, THERE'S ONLY TWO OF US AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO WALK BY THEMSELVES. I WOULD PARTNER LOOK AT THE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN AND WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP PUT THE EMPLOYEES IN WHAT AREA.
IF IT'S A PARKING GARAGE OR ONE PARTICULAR PARKING AREA. I THINK THAT WILL IMPROVE DOWNTOWN PARKING MORE THAN JUST ADDING A GARAGE TO WHERE PEOPLE OVERFLOW TO. THAT IS MY
INPUT. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD SECOND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. WE NEED TO HAVE A GOOD HADLE ON WHAT OUR BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN NEED BEFORE WE MAKE ANY CHANGES. MAY BE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THAT. JUST TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE WE JUMP IN LIKE THIS. COMMISSIONER RONALD ROSS?
>> WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT NOW? THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES YOU
CAN DO SHUTTLE PARKING WITH. >> I ECHO THE MAYOR SENTIMENT ON THAT. LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ENTICE THERE BEING AN AREA FOR EMPLOYEES TO PARK. I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF EXPLORING THAT OPTION. IF IT WORKS -- I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF. JUST ANSWERING THE QUESTION. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WORKING WITH THAT NOW. TO BE, IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE THE PARKING, GET THE EMPLOYEES IN ONE AREA, I THINK THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM THAT A
LOT OF US ARE LOOKING AT. >> HOW CAN WE DO THAT NOW?
>> IF YOU ARE ASKING, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PARKING LOTS THAT WOULD WORK WELL FOR EMPLOYEE PARKING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD SOLVE ALL OF THE EMPLOYEE PARKING. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES DOWN HERE. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ENTICE BUSINESSES.
I HONESTLY DON'T. THESE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN EXPLORE AND WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES. IT'S ONLY GOING TO HELP THEM. IF WE GET OUR EMPLOYEES IN AN AREA, IT WILL ONLY HELP THE BUSINESSES HAVE A BETTER TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF THEM. I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN. I THINK LISA WOULD DO A GREAT JOB OF GETTING A ROUNDTABLE OF THAT.
AND SEEING IF THEY HAVE ANY APPETITE FOR IT. TO ME, YOU WANT TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN PARKING, I WOULD START THERE.
I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF THE MAYOR. I WOULD START THERE
BEFORE GOING FURTHER. >> WE WILL ASKED MAINSTREET TO
LOOK INTO? >> YES, AND NO. IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME WHAT WE NEED TO DO. OBVIOUSLY, WE CANNOT SPEAK FOR MAIN STREET. WE DO NOT HAVE A RUSH ON THIS. TO QUOTE THE VICE MAYOR, WE NEED TO START WOODLAND. WE ARE BEING VISIONARY. EITHER MAIN STREET OR THE CHAMBER, WHEN THEY HAVE TIME, WE COULD WORK WITH THEM. I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYONE ON THE SPOT. I WILL REACH OUT AFTER THE MEETING AND SEE IF WE GET A ROUNDTABLE. I THINK A LOT OF BUSINESSES WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO IT. TELL US WHAT THEY THINK. WE DON'T KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW. VICE-MAYOR DAVID STURGES?
>> THANK YOU. I WAS THINKING, WE BROUGHT THIS UP AT A DIFFERENT MEETING ABOUT THE OVERFLOW PARKING. THE PORT OPERATOR HAS THE PARKING LOT DOWN AT THE NORTH END THAT THEY BARELY USE. DID ANYBODY REACH OUT TO THE OPERATOR AND TALK ABOUT THE PORT MEETING, THAT'S ONE OF THINGS WE DISCUSSED. USING THEIR PARKING LOT AS OVERFLOW FOR ONE OF OUR CITY LOT THAT IS DOWN THERE NEXT TO IT. ON THE NEXT ROAD.
WE HAVE A CITY LOT OF THE NEXT ROAD. ON FRONT STREET YOU HAVE THAT LOT CURRENTLY, THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO USE. THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT WOULD BE GOOD. MAYBE WE CAN HAVE THE MANAGER REACH OUT AND SEE WHAT AVAILABILITY WE CAN HAVE. I AM NOT SITTING. I'M JUST THINKING THIS OUT.
VERBALLY, THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD REACH OUT AND SEE IF WE CAN USE THAT? I'D HAVE THAT. BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR RESTAURANT ARE DOWNTOWN. IF THEY DO THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES COULD PARK IN
[00:35:06]
THIS ONE GENERAL AREA AND MULTIPLE DO, THEY MIGHT NOT MIND WALKING AS A GROUP BACK TO THEIR CAR AT THE END OF HE NIGHTS. I THINK IT'S USED UNTIL WE CAN'T USE IT ANYMORE.WHEN THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF USE FOR IT. JUST THINKING OUT LOUD. THOSE OF THE TYPE OF THINGS. OUR CITY LOT BARELY GETS USED IN THE NEXT ROAD OVER. THERE ARE EXTRA CITY LOTS UP THE STREET. THAT IS CORRECT. IT IS HARDLY EVER USED. OF COURSE, IT'S A SMALL LOT, BUT IT HOLDS MULTIPLE CARS. WHEN I MEAN SMALL, IS NOT A GIANT ONE LIKE THIS ONE
NEXT-DOOR. ALL RIGHT. >> COMMISSIONER?
>> IT IS BECOMING QUITE POPULAR.
>> ALL RIGHT, HERE IS WHAT I'M THINKING. I LIKE THE IDEA OF CALLING A ROUNDTABLE. LET'S PUT AN INVITATION OUT TO THE BUSINESSES. EVERY OTHER MEETING HAS AN WORKSHOP MEETING. WE HAVEN'T OUR , WE CAN CALL THE ROUNDTABLE. WE CAN MAYBE GET BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE AND GIVE FEEDBACK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO? BRING THESE IDEAS THERE.
WE CAN MAYBE -- THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO WORK OUT. LET'S RUN THESE BY THE BUSINESSES. SEE IF WE HAVE PUBLIC SUPPORT. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE. AFTER THIS MEETING, LET'S TALK WITH CITY STAFF ON SCHEDULING A BLANK WORKSHOP TO BE A PARKING ROUNDTABLE. WE WILL MAKE SURE MAINSTREET IS OKAY WITH THAT. SEE IF WE CAN GET DESIRED
FEEDBACK. CITY CLERK? >> MAY 2ND?
>> THAT IS THE NEXT MEETING. THAT IS THE NEXT WORKSHOP.
OKAY. >> YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE.
>> THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING ON IT.
>> CAN I GET UP COMES UP? IS THAT TOO SOON? SHE IS A MAYBE.
WHAT ABOUT MAY 16TH? >> I DON'T KNOW. I WILL CHECK.
>> THERE'S NOTHING THERE. >> LET'S PUT IT TENTATIVE A MONTH FROM NOW. MAY 16TH AS THE PARKING ROUNDTABLE. THAT WILL GIVE US A MONTH TO PREPARE FOR THIS. AS OPPOSED TO SNOOZING A LOSING , AS COMMISSIONER RONALD ROSS HAS SAID. THAT PUT THE PIN IN THAT DISCUSSION. THEY CAN FOR THE GOOD TOPIC. THAT WAS IMPROMPTU. WE GOT STUFF DONE. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO BRING THIS UP. DO YOU THINK AS A BOARD, WE MEET TOO OFTEN? DO YOU THINK THAT? I WILL POINT OUT THAT THAT LIMITS THE CONVERSATION. WE TALKED ABOUT PARKING BUT THAT'S NOT DIRECTLY RELATED. SOME OF THE PARKING LOT ART IN THE CRA. I WOULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT. IT'S UP TO THE COMMISSION. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP MEETING QUARTERLY, THAT'S FINE.
I WOULD PROPOSE WE GO TO EVERY SIX MONTHS THAT WE MEET AS A
CRA BOARD. WHAT YOU THINK? >> I THINK IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE ARE DOING. WE HAVE AN ACTIVE BOARD. I THINK EVERY SIX MONTHS IS TOO INFREQUENT.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS IT AWAY? I HAVE ONE NO. EVERY FOUR MONTHS? OKAY. THREE TIMES A YEAR. IF WE ARE GOING EVERY FOUR MONTHS, WHAT YOU THINK?
>> I THINK WE EITHER KEEP IT THE SAME OR GO TO SIX MONTHS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME. I THINK WE CAN HEAR THE TOPICS.
UNLESS WE EXTEND THE MEETING AND TAKE IT TO SIX MONTHS. ONLY ONE HOUR OF THE TIME. WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO
TALK ABOUT MUCH. >> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK. WE WILL KEEP IT AT THREE MONTHS. WE CAN TALK ABOUT PARKING AT ACR A CRA BOARD. I FEEL LIKE WE GOT STUFF DONE.
I'M EXCITED. ANY OTHER TOPICS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, WE WILL ADJOURN. WE WILL
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.