[00:00:02]
ALL RIGHT. I CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CAROLINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER.
AND AS ALWAYS, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
WE'LL ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED TODAY BY COMMISSIONER ASKEW.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
SO THAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND BEFORE THE RESOLUTION.
I ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL REQUESTS TO SPEAK.
IF YOU WISH TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD TONIGHT, WE WANT TO HEAR IT.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT.
BUT AS WE GET STARTED, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL UP.
WE'LL GO CITY RESIDENTS FIRST.
LET'S CALL UP MR. LEONARD PEARLSTEIN.
COME ON DOWN TO THE PODIUM. AND AS ALWAYS, START WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
AND SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO LEAVING WITH THAT GOAL IN MIND.
MR. PEARLSTEIN, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU. LEONARD PEARLSTEIN 1521 FRANKLIN STREET.
UM, I'M HERE BECAUSE OF CONCERN FOR MAINTAINING A BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS LAND CONSERVATION.
I REALIZE THE THE INTEREST AND THE NEED TO KEEP OUR BUDGET AT A AT A LEVEL THAT'S MANAGEABLE.
LAND CONSERVATION IS AT A CRITICAL POINT RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE THE STATE LEGISLATURE WITH SENATE BILLS.
545 ONE 7178 A BUNCH OF OTHER REGULATIONS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THE CITY'S ABILITY TO TO LIMIT OR CONTROL ITS CHARACTER AND ITS GROWTH THROUGH WETLANDS LIMITATIONS ON YOU, WATER QUALITY, EVEN BEING ABLE TO CUT TREES OR NOT CUT TREES, YOU'RE BEING TOLD YOU'RE YOU'RE BEING LIMITED IN YOUR HOME RULE AND WHAT AND WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO CONTROL.
SO IT COMES DOWN TO BEING ABLE TO OWN THE LAND, TO MAKING, TO TO PURCHASING LAND, TO SAVE IT.
AND IT COMES DOWN TO MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER OF FERNANDINA BEACH AND THE INTEGRITY.
AND IT'S A SHORT TERM VALUE TO TO RESTRICT THE BUDGET SO MUCH THAT YOU THAT YOU'RE ZEROING OUT LAND CONSERVATION BOTH IN TERMS OF THE VALUE OF IN IN FERNANDINA BEACH AND AMELIA ISLAND IN TERMS OF TOURISM AND AND JUST IN TERMS OF ECOLOGICAL SERVICES THAT THAT LAND CONSERVATION PROVIDES US AND THAT YOU'LL BE MISSING OUT ON.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. MR. PEARLSTEIN. WE CALL VICE MAYOR LEN KREGER TO THE PODIUM.
THAT BEING THE CASE, ON THE LAST TWO WORKSHOPS I'VE DISCUSSED THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND WHATEVER THE ROLLBACK, WHATEVER THE RATE SET, I THINK THAT IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF YOU TO REVIEW THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IN DETAIL.
UH, I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT STAFF WAS DECIDING WHAT TO DO.
YOU NEED TO LOOK AT IT CLOSE AND YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES.
YOU NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE STATE LAW SAYS.
AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE.
AND YOU HEAR A LOT OF STORIES.
YOU HEAR BIG DOLLARS AND YOU HEAR LITTLE DOLLARS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THAT WHEN MY EMAIL WENT AWAY, I LOST I LOST THAT REPORT.
[00:05:09]
3 TO 5 YEAR COST AT LIKE 7 OR $8000.AND YET WE GET THESE BIG NUMBERS.
SO I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT IT CLOSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW PERSONALLY.
MY TAXES WENT DOWN LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, I ADVOCATED INCREASING TAXES PUBLICLY TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE NEED TO DO, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE LEVELS OF SERVICE. SO IF IF THE ROLLBACK IS ADOPTED, WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME INTERESTING STUFF.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.
WE WELCOME MR. PETE STEVENSON TO THE PODIUM.
PETE STEVENSON 1627 HIGHLAND DUNES WAY FERNANDINA.
LAST WEEK I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT I HAVE I HAVE SOME CONCERNS.
MY I GUESS MY VISION IS THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY TRY AND GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE.
I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S A DECISION YOU COLLECTIVELY HAVE TO MAKE.
NOW, THAT WORRIES ME BECAUSE OF A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, MY WATER RATES ARE GOING UP NEXT YEAR.
MY COST OF TRASH IS GOING UP AND I'M GOING TO GET LESSER SERVICE FOR MORE MONEY.
HOWEVER, THAT'S MAYBE THE BAD PART.
I GOT BRAND NEW STATISTICS TODAY CONCERNING THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE 6.5 IS WHAT I TOLD YOU LAST TIME.
IT'S 11 YEARS. IT'S GOING TO EVERYTHING'S GOING TO DOUBLE.
THE PROJECTION FOR THIS YEAR IS NOW 3.6, 3.6.
SO THAT'S TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF THE PRESSURE OFF.
THE CASH FLOW SITUATION FOR 24 IS 2.5.
SO WE'VE GOT A DECLINE BASED ON THIS IS THE LATEST FORECASTING.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT IS GOING TO HELP A LITTLE BIT.
I HAVE IN THE NEW CITY MANAGER, WHOEVER SHE OR HE IS, TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THE WHOLE BUDGET.
I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO THAT.
THAT DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, IT PUTS A NEW FRESH PAIR OF EYES ON, BUT I THINK YOU COLLECTIVELY NEED TO PASS ON TO THEM WHAT YOUR YOUR OWN VIEWS ARE ABOUT WHAT THINGS SHOULD BE. BUT IT MIGHT COME BACK AND SAY, OKAY, THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE WE CAN TAKE REDUCTIONS.
AND I WOULD SAY TUCK THAT AWAY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HAVE YOU COMMIT.
YOU PROBABLY WON'T, BUT LET ME LET ME PASS IT ON ANYWAY THAT IF IF THE LET'S CALL IT THE EXPERIMENT THIS YEAR DOES NOT WORK, THE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL THOROUGHLY CONSIDER AN INCREASE IN THE TOTAL TAX REVENUES COMING INTO THE CITY.
RIGHT NOW, I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE THE CITY GO ON LIFE SUPPORT.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. THANK YOU, MR. STEVENSON. WE INVITE MR. RICHARD DEAN TO THE PODIUM.
4104 FERNANDINA BEACH CITY RESIDENT COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE EFFORT TO CONSTRUCT A BUDGET MILLAGE RATE TO ACHIEVE THE ROLLBACK RATE.
NO ONE LIKES TO PAY TAXES ANYMORE THAN THEY NEED TO, BUT THE PATH WE'RE GOING DOWN TO AMIDST NECESSARY FUNDING FOR CITY MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, ROADS, LIGHTS AND DEFERRING THESE PROJECTS, DEFERRING THE SPENDING IS GOING TO COST US THE CITY MORE DOWN THE ROAD. MATERIALS GO UP, THE COST OF SERVICES GOES UP AND WE'LL PAY MORE IN THE LONG RUN.
NOW, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME CITY COMMISSION HAS KICKED THE CAN, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OTHER PROJECTS DOWN THE ROAD THAT ARE BIG TICKET ITEMS. WE'VE GOT A SEAWALL.
THE REC CENTER HAS BEEN MENTIONED.
WE'VE GOT EXPENSIVE COMPLIANCE WITH WASTE WITH STORMWATER THAT COMES DUE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
[00:10:05]
AND WE'VE GOT PROJECTS LIKE A BICYCLE AND WALKING PATH THAT SOUNDED REALLY GREAT.IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS GOING FORWARD.
AND THE I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK TWICE ABOUT THE PATH WE'RE GOING DOWN TO BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COST MORE AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A BIGGER TAX BURDEN AFTER THIS NEXT ELECTION, I GUESS.
NOW, I ALSO URGE THE CITY IN THE BUDGET NOT TO ADOPT THAT 50% INCREASE IN THE SALARIES.
I THINK THAT OPTICS OF THAT ARE JUST WRONG IN THE FUTURE.
THAT'S THE WAY MANY LEGISLATURES, MANY LEGISLATIVE BODIES DO IT.
NOT DOING IT FOR FOR THE INCUMBENTS.
LAST POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT THE PROCESS THIS YEAR AND THE BUDGET DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.
IT SEEMS LIKE A SHOTGUN PROCESS.
WE'RE GOING TO START THINKING ABOUT BUDGETS, NOT JUST IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET THAT WE ADOPT FOR A YEAR, BUT THE FIVE YEAR VISION, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
THANK YOU, MR. DEAN. WE INVITE MISS SHEILA COOK TO COME ON DOWN TO THE PODIUM.
WELCOME, MISS GUPPY. THANK YOU, SHEILA.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS ROLLBACK INITIATIVE.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU CAMPAIGNED ON THIS, AND IT'S A CAMPAIGN PROMISE.
BUT TO TAKE SOMETHING THAT IS SO SHORT SIGHTED AND IMPACTFUL TO THE CITY I THINK IS WRONG.
IT WAS WRONG ON IT WHEN IT WAS PROPOSED, AND IT'S WRONG TO DO IT NOW.
WE HAVE SO MANY PROJECTS THAT WE CURRENTLY CANNOT FUND.
I NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRICE THAT I PAY FOR MY CITY TAXES.
I SEE THESE DOLLARS AT WORK EVERY DAY.
I DRIVE ACROSS THE STREET TO THE COUNTY AND I FEEL LIKE MY TIRES ARE GOING TO FALL OFF.
SORRY. SO I DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THESE DOLLARS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE.
THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO GET CHEAPER.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET MORE EXPENSIVE.
I DO AGREE THAT IT SHOULD BE DEFERRED UNTIL THERE'S ANOTHER COMMISSION SO THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS SPENDING ALL OF THE MONEY AND THEN TAKING IT AS WELL. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT ARE COMING AT US.
WE'VE GOT A VERY EXPENSIVE SOCCER PARK COMING THAT ALSO WILL HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED IF WE TAKE THE ROLLBACK RATE SO FAR BACK THEN WHEN WE DO HAVE TO RAISE IT TO A REALISTIC RATE TO COVER THE EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE, THEN IT'S GOING TO SEEM EXORBITANT TO PEOPLE AND THE PITCHFORKS WILL COME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS COHEN.
WELCOME, MISS JULIE FERREIRA, TO COME ON DOWN TO THE PODIUM.
GOOD EVENING. TONIGHT I CAME JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO RAISE THE RATE ONCE THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE HAS BEEN SET AND FORWARDED TO THE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER.
HOWEVER, AS THE BUDGET PROCESS CONTINUES, THE COMMISSION HAS THE OPTION OF GOING BACK AND VOTING TO LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE ONCE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO DOING THE ROLLBACK RATE NOW IS NOT REALLY NECESSARY BECAUSE LATER YOU COULD GO BACK AND LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE AFTER YOU GO THROUGH THE BUDGET WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB.
BUT IF YOU'VE LIVED HERE LONG ENOUGH.
FERNANDINA RESIDENTS HAVE GONE THROUGH TAX ROLLBACK RATES, AND THAT'S WHEN BY DEFAULT, THE CITY MAINTENANCE STARTS FALLING BEHIND AND THAT ALWAYS COST CITY RESIDENTS MORE IN THE LONG RUN.
[00:15:01]
THE CITY IS FACING COSTS TO DEMOLISH BRETTS IN THE FUTURE.WE HAVE HIGH TICKET ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, WHETHER IT'S THE GOLF COURSE, WHETHER IT'S BEACH WALKOVERS, WHETHER IT'S IMPROVEMENTS TO SEASIDE PARK.
SEASIDE PARK IS A RIDICULOUSLY BAD SHAPE AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT INFLATION HAS MADE OUR PRICES INCREASE AND IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE KEEP UP WITH CITY MAINTENANCE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO UNDERFUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND WE SHOULDN'T KICK ANY CANS DOWN THE ROAD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PEREIRA.
WE INVITE MISS JOYCE TUTEN TO COME ON DOWN TO THE PODIUM.
HI. THANKS. MY NAME IS JOYCE TUTON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS A LOT OF TIME.
EXTRA MEETING YOU GUYS WORK REALLY HARD FOR VERY LITTLE MONEY.
I AGREE THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD GET A PAY RAISE.
I DO THINK IT PROBABLY HAS BETTER OPTICS TO MAKE IT FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION.
UM, I AM ON THE BOARD OF CONSERVE NASSAU AND OUR WE HAVE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ROLLBACK RATE.
OUR MAIN CONCERN IS LAND CONSERVATION.
UM, THE ROLLBACK RATE IS VERY BLACK AND WHITE.
IT GETS INSTANT CHEERS FROM SOME PEOPLE, BUT FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IT DOESN'T.
AND, AND AS LEADERS, I THINK YOU CAN TAKE THE TIME TO EXPLAIN THE GRAY IT'S GRAY TO TO DEMAND A HIGHER RATE AND EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THE COMPLEXITY OF REQUIRING MORE TAXES.
AND WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO CONSERVE LAND ON THIS ISLAND.
YOU ALL KNOW I'M A NOAA CLIMATE STEWARD EDUCATOR, AND IF ANYONE'S BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NEWS, JULY 2023 IS ALREADY BEING DECLARED AS THE HOTTEST, THE HOTTEST MONTH EVER ON A GLOBAL AVERAGE ON THIS SINCE RECORD HAS BEEN KEPT AND IT WILL ONLY GET HOTTER.
I LOOKED AT THE AT THE RECORDS IN IN THE 60S AND THE 50S AND 60S, FERNANDINA BEACH AVERAGED 31 DAYS ABOVE 90 DEGREES AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. WE ARE ESTIMATED TO AVERAGE 90 DAYS ABOVE 90 DEGREES TURN OF THE CENTURY.
WILL ALL OF US BE DEAD? NO, NOT ALL OF US.
SO. SO WHO? WHO DO WE DO THIS FOR? NOT FOR OURSELVES.
WE DON'T CONSERVE LAND FOR OURSELVES.
WE DON'T PLANT AN OAK TREE FOR OURSELVES.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE KIDS OR GRANDKIDS OR YOUNG PEOPLE YOU LOVE.
WE DO IT FOR THEM AND WE'RE ABOUT TO BLOW THROUGH.
BY NEXT WEEK WE WILL BLOW THROUGH THE THE OLD AVERAGE OF 31 DAYS ABOVE 90.
IMAGINE IF WE WERE DONE WITH THAT.
IMAGINE IF WE WERE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY MORE DAYS ABOVE 90.
WE ARE GOING TO BLOW PAST THAT.
WE STILL HAVE JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER COMING.
BUT WE NEED IT TO KEEP THE CITY COOL.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO PLANT TREES ANYWHERE THEY CAN FIT THEM.
AND WE IF WE OWN THE LAND, WE CAN FIT MORE.
DO WE INVITE MISS REBECCA MCCARTHY MCCARTNEY TO THE PODIUM? WELCOME. THANK YOU.
REBECCA MCCARTNEY, 2601 FIRST AVENUE.
AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HERE, IT SEEMS I'M AGAINST THE ROLLBACK RATE.
AND I EMAILED ALL OF YOU EARLIER TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR THE THREE THAT RESPONDED.
AND I AM JUST GOING TO GO FROM THE NEWS-LEADER JULY 21ST AS A RECAP OF YOUR BUDGET MEETING AND MR. GEORGE SAID THERE WOULD BE HAVE TO BE 2.5 MILLION IN CUTS TO THE CIP FOR THE 2324 FISCAL YEAR.
[00:20:05]
REDUCTION IN COSTS WOULD COME FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.GEORGE TOLD THE COMMISSION THE ITEMS THAT WOULD BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED FROM THE CIP TO GET TO THE FUNDING LEVEL OF THE ROLLBACK OF THE ROLLBACK RATE WOULD PROVIDE INCLUDE SIDEWALK, STREETSCAPE AND PARKING IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN BEACH WALKOVERS STREET RESURFACING, DOWNGRADING WORK ON CITY HALL TO THE REPLACEMENT OF AN ELEVATOR, WORK ON THE LIGHTHOUSE, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER AND THE REC CENTER AND DEFERRING SEVEN MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT ITEMS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE CUT.
WHAT WE HAD TO DO TO GET THERE, MR. GEORGE SAID. I'M AGAINST THAT.
I HATE MY TAX BILL, BUT I'M WILLING TO PAY TO KEEP THESE ITEMS IN.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO TO THE OUT OF THE CITY RESIDENTS.
WE WELCOME MISS MARGARET KIRKLAND TO THE PODIUM.
MARGARET KIRKLAND, 1377, PLANTATION POINT DRIVE.
AND I'M REPRESENTING CONSERVE NASSAU AND MOST OF OUR MEMBERS THUS FAR ARE CITY RESIDENTS.
SO ANYWAY, EVERYONE WANTS LOWER TAXES, RIGHT? BUT SHOULD WE SACRIFICE OUR FUTURE FOR A SHORT TERM IMMEDIATE BENEFIT? OKAY. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS OR MILLION OTHER THINGS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND THAT COULD BE INCLUDED BETWEEN THE E.R.
MEETING IN 2019 AND THE BEGINNING OF 2021.
AND IN THAT RESEARCH WE KEPT COMING FACE TO FACE WITH ONE REALIZATION, AND THAT IS THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DO FAR MORE SERIOUS LONG TERM PLANNING.
AND THAT HAS BEEN TOUCHED ON HERE.
IN OTHER WORDS, NOT FIVE YEARS, NOT EVEN 20 YEARS, AS THE STATE HAS SAID, BUT LONG TERM PLANNING.
WE NEED TO TAKE ALL OF THESE REPAIR BILLS.
WE HAVE MAINTENANCE REPLACEMENT AND HANDLE IT THE WAY WE HANDLE OUR VEHICLES.
OKAY. YOU KNOW, BUILD IT OUT OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
OKAY. SO THAT IS IS ONE THING THAT WE NEED.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY.
OKAY? AND AS THE LEADERS OF THE CITY, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT WE ARE AS WELL PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE AS AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS ALL THE THINGS, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT LIKE LAND CONSERVATION AND SO ON, WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
WE'VE EVEN HEARD THAT FROM THE STATE IN TERMS OF SEA LEVEL RISE, CLIMATE CHANGE, STORM SURGE.
WE KNOW WE HAVE THE THE COUNTY'S VULNERABILITY STUDY AND SO ON.
AND THEN THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN'T BE HANDLED THAT WAY, THAT NEED HARDSCAPE, LIKE THE SEAWALL FOR DOWNTOWN, LIKE UPGRADING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.
THOSE ARE ALSO THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
WE DON'T WANT TO SACRIFICE OUR FUTURE FOR A ROLLBACK RATE TODAY.
WE WELCOME MISS MARGARET SERVER TO THE PODIUM.
BICYCLE TRAILS BENEFIT PUBLIC HEALTH.
[00:25:02]
CYCLING IS A LOW IMPACT CARDIO EXERCISE THAT CAN HELP WEIGHT MANAGEMENT REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE AND IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION.BICYCLE TRAILS HELP THE ENVIRONMENT BY REDUCING AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION.
BICYCLE TRAILS ALSO BENEFIT THE ECONOMY.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING FUNDING FOR BICYCLE TRAILS IN YOUR BUDGET.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT I MISSED? ANYONE ELSE WISH TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR RESOLUTION ITEM 4.1 AS IT MR.
[4.1 TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE FOR FY 2023/2024 – RESOLUTION 2023-130 SETTING A TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE FOR OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE CITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]
GEORGE TO PRESENT ITEM 4.1.THAT'S A I JUST I JUST TAKE A MOTION.
TEN OF THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2324.
AND WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO SET A TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE.
SO DO I HEAR A MOTION? I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
FIRST, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION.
THEN WE CAN HAVE COMMENTS. SURE, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE. WE CONTINUE AT THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE.
ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND? NO.
I MOVE THAT WE GO TO THE ADJUSTED ROLLBACK RATE.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
CAN YOU PUT THAT UP? SO I'VE REPEATEDLY STATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHAT'S BEING FUNDED AND WHAT'S NOT BEING FUNDED AND THE ROLLBACK RATE.
AND I THINK REPEATING THAT TONIGHT WOULD NOT BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL OR PRODUCTIVE.
AND AS WE FOUND OUT, THERE ARE NOT FOUR VOTES TO DO THAT.
SO I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S THE THE TOP NUMBER RIGHT THERE IS THE AMOUNT OF TAX THAT WOULD COME IN IN THIS 96% MEANS THAT WE DON'T WE GET 100%, BUT THEY ONLY COUNT 96% OF IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT EXTRA 4%.
SO THAT'S WHY THESE NUMBERS IS TO KEEP ALL THESE NUMBERS THE SAME.
SO AT THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE, IF WE KEPT THAT MILLAGE RATE, WE BRING IN ABOUT $20 MILLION.
SO IF YOU ADOPTED OVER LAST YEAR, THERE'D BE 2.2 MORE MILLION DOLLARS THAN THERE WERE THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S IF WE WENT TO THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE, WHICH WE'RE CLEARLY NOT DOING.
YOU CAN MOVE IT UP A LITTLE BIT AT THE ADJUSTED MILLAGE RATE, WHICH IS, IF ADOPTED, WOULD CAUSE AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF $879,000. CAN YOU BRING IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT? AND THAT ACCOUNTS FOR INFLATION.
SO THIS IS THE NUMBER THAT THE STATE CRANKS INTO THE NUMBERS TO GIVE US AN INFLATION RATE.
SO YOU CLEARLY SEE THAT GROWTH DOES NOT FUND THE BUDGET.
I MEAN, AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS.
WE ARE REQUIRED BY ORDINANCE, WHICH THE CITY COMMISSION ADOPTED, AND I TOTALLY SUPPORT THAT.
WE HAVE TO KEEP 20% OF THE IN RESERVE.
SO THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WOULD BE KEPT IN RESERVE.
THE ROLLBACK RATE, I CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE BIGGER.
YES, SIR. SO I HAVE A PROPOSAL.
I WOULD LIKE TO FUND THE ROLLBACK RATE AND USE IT FOR RENOVATION OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
THE DOWNTOWN IS THE ECONOMIC DRIVER OF THIS, THIS COUNTY AND CITY.
IF YOU TAKE A WALK DOWNTOWN, YOU'LL FIND THE BRICK WALKS FALLING APART.
THE SIDEWALKS ARE FALLING APART, THE CURBS ARE BROKEN, THE TREES NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE, THE LIGHTS CAN NO LONGER BE REPLACED BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIND ANY PARTS.
ALL THE WIRING IS UNDER WATER.
IT'S GOING TO GO OUT ONE NIGHT AND THERE'S GOING TO BE DARKNESS.
AND SO ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
[00:30:02]
WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE TO DO IS TAKE SIX BLOCKS THESE BLOCKS AND REDO THEM.AND THE WAY YOU WOULD FUND THAT IS IS WHAT'S CALLED THE RESERVE EXCESS.
AND THAT UNDER THE ROLLBACK RATE, UNDER ALL THESE RATES IS $840,000.
THIS IS A REAL WAY THAT WITHIN ONE YEAR, 18 MONTHS, WE CAN HAVE SIX BLOCKS OF DOWNTOWN RENOVATED.
AS JULIA FARRAR POINTED OUT, WE DON'T WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK FROM THE ROLLBACK RATE.
SO I THINK THIS IS AN IDEA THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS MORE FULLY IN THE BUDGET HEARINGS.
BUT UNLESS WE GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS.
I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER AT LEAST THE ADJUSTED ROLLBACK RATE, EVEN IF THE APPETITE HAS BEEN DEFINITELY GOING TOWARDS OUR ROLLBACK RATE BECAUSE OF OUR BIKING TRAIL.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO, BASED ON THAT, IF IT SHOULD BE PASSED, CHARGE OUR CITY MANAGER WITH CREATING AT LEAST 3 TO 5 OF THOSE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE DEFERRED TO USE THE REST OF THAT MONEY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? COMMISSIONER HASKEW UM, SO I UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY WHAT THE ADJUSTED ROLLBACK RATE IS, AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE TIMES THAT IT'S PERFECTLY USEFUL WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY DOES IT AS A POLICY.
THEY, THEY HAVE IT AS THEIR POLICY.
THEY GO WITH THE ADJUSTED ROLLBACK RATE, CREATES MORE REVENUE.
AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I DON'T MIND EXPLORING.
BUT I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS YEAR AND I THINK STAFF DID A TREMENDOUS JOB, I REALLY DO.
I THINK THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB GETTING US THIS BUDGET.
BUT I THINK THIS YEAR AND UNTIL WE CAN GET A NEW CITY MANAGER ON BOARD, I'M IN FAVOR OF GOING TO THE FULL ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.8298. SO I THINK WE CAN STILL DO A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS, BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S BEST UNTIL WE GET OUR NEW CITY MANAGER AND WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT THOSE ADJUSTED ROLLBACK RATES, WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO FUND.
WITH THAT, WE CAN START LOOKING AT BIANNUAL BUDGETS.
THERE ARE ALL MANY KIND OF CREATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN GO ABOUT BUDGETING AND GETTING POLICY IN PLACE.
SO THE COMMISSIONER ASKS YOU ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION? VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I THINK BRIEFLY. I FEEL THE SAME WAY DARREN DOES, AND I THINK WE HAVE CLOSE TO $1 MILLION WORTH OF OR AROUND $1 MILLION WORTH OF EXCESS MONEY IN OUR BUDGET THAT THAT WE CAN ALLOCATE WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT IT.
THAT ISN'T BUDGET IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET THAT ISN'T ALLOTTED FOR RIGHT THIS MOMENT.
I THINK WE CAN FUND BICYCLING.
I THINK WE CAN FUND SOME BIKE PATHS POSSIBLY DOWN BEACH STREET.
I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN OUR NEXT MEETING OR SO.
I THINK WE CAN FUND SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, LIKE OUR IN THE GOLF GOLF COURSE.
AND I AGREE WITH THE NEW CITY MANAGER COMES.
WE WILL ADDRESS OTHER THINGS AT THAT TIME.
COMMISSIONER ROSS, I DON'T THINK A NEW CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO LEAD US TO THE PROMISED LAND.
[00:35:03]
THANK YOU, MR. ROSS. SO BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS, I WILL ALSO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.NUMBER ONE, I WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO OUR COMMUNITY ITSELF.
I WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION. THIS IS REAL NUMBERS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW.
YOU CAN GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS WITH THAT CAPPED 3% INCREASE.
BUT IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO IS BELOW THAT POVERTY LINE, IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO LIKELY AT THAT POINT IS A RENTER, YOU ARE NOT IN A HOMESTEAD PROTECTED PROPERTY, YOU THE THE HOUSE THAT YOU LIVE IN, THE TAXES GO UP AT THAT FULL 10% RATE.
IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE SINCE WE DID IT.
WE'RE SIMPLY NOT RAISING THEM.
IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE SINCE WE'VE ACHIEVED THIS GOAL.
AND THAT'S WHO WE'RE LOOKING OUT FOR TONIGHT.
WHEN I WANT TO GO TO THE ROLLBACK RATE, I WANT TO LOOK OUT FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WHO HAVE LIVED HERE AND WHO ARE HURTING, WHO ARE STRUGGLING, AND THEY JUST NEED A PLACE TO LIVE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO BRING UP A POINT ABOUT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
THERE IS BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE ROLLING FORWARD AND BASED ON OTHER MONEY THAT WAS THAT IS BEING THERE IS ABOUT $2 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WAS SIMPLY NOT SPENT.
$2 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
THAT WAS PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT COMPLETED BECAUSE WE RAN OUT OF TIME OR PROJECTS.
THESE ARE BEACH WALKOVERS THAT WE JUST RAN A MAINTENANCE TIME TO GET THEM DONE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THEM IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
THAT IS $2 MILLION IN PROJECTS.
WE TAXED YOU SO MUCH LAST YEAR THAT WE LITERALLY COULDN'T SPEND IT ALL IN A CALENDAR YEAR.
THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW AS A CITY.
I WOULD QUESTION, DO WE NEED EVEN MORE MONEY THIS YEAR? AND WE CAN GET A LOT DONE AS AND AS I'VE ALREADY SAID BEFORE IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THERE IS A LONG LIST OF ITEMS THAT WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING WITH A ROLLBACK RATE BUDGET THIS YEAR, INCLUDING AND AS IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS NEXT WEEK IN OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE RIGHT NOW ON THE LIST, THERE IS $50,000 FOR OUR DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS, SPECIFICALLY $50,000 FOR SIDEWALKS.
THERE'S $125,000 FOR STREETLIGHTS DOWNTOWN.
THERE'S ALL THESE WONDERFUL PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED.
TAKING CARE OF OUR CITY AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEED MOST.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND REST MY CASE AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE CITY CLERK.
AND THIS IS JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE VOTING FOR.
A YES VOTE SAYS YES TO THE ADJUSTED ROLLBACK RATE.
THAT'S WHAT A YES VOTE DOES HERE TO THE ADJUSTED ROLLBACK RATE.
THAT IS CORRECT. A YES IS FOR ADJUSTED.
YES. THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
THE MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR. COMMISSIONER ROSS.
MAYOR LATINOVIC SHE'S THE MOST RECENT ONE I TALKED TO.
ALL GOOD? ALL GOOD. WELL, AND NO.
SO THAT, THAT THAT MOTION FAILS.
3 TO 2. DO I HEAR ANOTHER MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.8298.
A SECOND. I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND.
DO WE HAVE DISCUSSION NOW? ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER ANTON, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF ENCOURAGE THAT.
IF WE'LL GO TO OUR ROLLBACK RATE, WE SHOULD AS A COMMISSION, BE SERIOUSLY DISCUSSING OTHER POTENTIAL REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITY, REVISITING WHAT PAID PARKING OPTIONS WOULD BE AMENABLE AND OR CONSIDERING PUTTING TOGETHER A CITIZENS COMMITTEE TO DRIVE THE MY FERNANDINA PROGRAM, WHERE WE HAVE SOME KIND OF VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FROM OUR TOURISM AND OUR RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. MR. ROSS.
I THINK THE ROLLBACK RATE IS JUST A PROMULGATION OF MORE OF THE SAME.
WE'RE PRETENDING THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ALL THESE NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE FUNDED, NEED TO BE FIXED.
[00:40:01]
THE ROLLBACK RATE DOES NOT ADDRESS THE DOWNTOWN.THE CITY HALL DOESN'T ADDRESS MANY, MANY THINGS.
AND I THINK IT'S IT'S A DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS THAT THE QUALITY OF THE LIFE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IS BEING DIMINISHED BY MANY, MANY LITTLE CUTS AND CUTS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FUNDING THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURES OF WHAT'S HERE.
AND I THINK THIS IS JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THAT.
AND I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THE ROLLBACK RATE AND IT WILL BE YOUR BUDGET, NOT MINE.
COMMISSIONER ASKEW I AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER ANTON I DEFINITELY THINK THAT LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS OF REVENUE, I THINK WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE COUNTY, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AND THE TDC TO EXPLORE HOW WE ARE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND SEEING THE FRUITS OF THAT LABOR AND THEN BRINGING REAL DOLLARS TO TO THE TABLE.
SO I SAY CONTINUE ALONG THAT I BELIEVE IT'S HELPED WITH THIS BUDGET AS WELL.
CONTINUE SEEKING THOSE THOSE AVENUES.
THANK YOU, BY THE WAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE WORKSHOPS ON ALTERNATE WAYS OF FUNDING AND ALL THOSE MAY HAVE GOTTEN BROUGHT UP WAY AFTER WAY AFTER WAY AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN EMBRACED.
BUT THIS COMMISSION IS GUARANTEEING THEY DON'T WANT TO RAISE FEES.
THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING, BUT THEY WANT TO FUND EVERYTHING.
AND DESPITE WHAT SOME PEOPLE THINK, YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT, TOO.
WE'RE PRETENDING THAT IT DOESN'T EXIST AND WE'RE JUST EXTENDING AND KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
AND THIS NONSENSE ABOUT TALKING OTHER SENSES OF FUNDING AND OTHER COOPERATION, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR YEARS, AND MAYBE YOUR MAGIC CAN LEAD US TO IT.
I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL HAPPEN.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
WE SIMPLY DO NOT RAISE THE TAXES OF THE PEOPLE OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
SO WITH THAT CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
MAYOR. AND YES, THE ROBOT PASSES 3 TO 2.
AND WITH THAT WE HEAD TO ITEM FIVE.
THEY'RE NOT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.