[00:00:07]
VIKAN. >>MAYOR BEAN: I CALL THIS
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
MEETING OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH WORK SHOP TO ORDER.A GREAT DAY TO BE HERE. AS ALWAYS WE WILL START WITH THE
ROLL CALL. >>MAYOR BEAN: HERE.
>>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: HERE. >>COMMISISONER AYSCUE: HERE.
>>COMMISSIONER ANTUN: HERE. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: HERE.
>>MAYOR BEAN: NOW THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY COMMISSIONER ANTUN. 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.
>>MAYOR BEAN: YOU MAY BE SEATED. ITEM 4 WHICH IS DISCUSSION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, WE ARE HERE
[4.1 PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET FOR FY 2023/2024]
TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR ANNUAL BUDGET, 2023, 2024.WE SET OUR TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE.
GOING BACK TO THE ROLL BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE.
I WANT TO THANK FOR OUR LEADERSHIP TO GO BACK TO THE ROLL BACK RATE. WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY. PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET AND LOOKING FOR DISCUSSION ON THAT. AS WE GET STARTED.
I WANT TO INVITE OUR INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER CHARLES GEORGE.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
WELCOME TO THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS. TWO WEEKS AGO, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME GENERAL RESERVE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN SOME MORE FUNDS THAN WE ANTICIPATED.
SO I KIND OF WANTED TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE WITH YOU.
THE CURRENT RESERVE IS $7,898,078.
THE EMERGENCY OF 20% $5,631,085. EXCESS OVER 20% 841,222 EXCESSIVE WE CAN GO TO PUT IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THERE IS ADDITIONAL ESTIMATES FOR STATE REVENUES.
ONE IS THE $21,147 MUNICIPAL REVENUE SHARING.
HALF-CENT SALES TAX $26,239. DISCRETIONARY SALES TAX $542,385. TOTAL $17466993 THAT WE CAN PUT TO THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE REMOVED TO GET TO THE ROLLBACK RATE. SO WHAT I WANT TO KIND OF DO IS GIVE YOU WHAT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FAR AS WHERE THESE MONIES SHOULD BE SPENT.
>>MAYOR BEAN: BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM I KNOW MUNICIPAL AND THE SALES TAX.
WHY THIS ISN'T IN THE BUDGET. >> WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR STATE REVENUES BEFORE WE CAN PUT THIS IN. THEY LAG BEHIND OUR BUDGET PREP AND THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO FULFILL THE WHOLE BUDGET
PROCESS. >>MAYOR BEAN: UNDERSTOOD, THANK
STAFF RECOMMENDS PUTTING IN $741,993 INTO DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION. ON TOP OF THE $330,000 THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY BUDGETED IN THE GENERAL FUND.
A MILLION DOLLARS TO GO TO DOWNTOWN WHICH IS A BIG, BIG DEAL. WE WOULD LOOK STREETSCAPE, STREET RESURFACING, PLANTERS. THE WHOLE THING.
DO IT BLOCK BY BLOCK DUE TO LACK OF DISTURBANCE OF BUSINESSES AND JUST THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD. THE GOLF COURSE,S IN DETERIORATING CONDITIONS. $.
IT WILL DIE. $250,000 FOR THAT.
YOU SEE THAT ON THERE. A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WALKABILITY BIKABILITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
BEACH STREET AND THE TRAILS. WE WANT TO PUT $125,000 INTO THAT TO GET THAT AREA TO GET MORE AVAILABILITY TO GET PEDESTRIANS AND BIKER INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND THEN WE HAVE A STREET RESURFACING PROJECT OF $600,000 EACH YEAR, ROUGHLY. WE WANT TO ADD 150,000 TO THAT TO DO A LITTLE MORE WHAT WE PLANNED IN THE ROLL BACK.
CITYWIDE SIDEWALK REPAIRS $50,000 IN THE BUDGET AND WANT TO ROLL ANOTHER $100,000 TO ENCAPSULATE MORE OF THE SIDEWALK RENARES ARE NEEDED. LASTLY, TWO TENNIS COURTS, SLABS ARE BROKEN AND THEY NEED TO BE FIXED AND WE NEED TO PUT THAT IN
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THERE TOO TO GET THAT UP AND RUNNING.WHERE THE 1.46693. THAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDING
DISTRIBUTED. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. GEORGE. THAT LOOKS LIKE GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS TO ME. ANY COMMENT FROM THE COMMISSION ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL? COMMI
COMMISSIONER ASKEW. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: ONE QUESTION ABOUT TENNIS COURT REPAIR.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ACTIVITY IN FERNANDINA BEACH IS PICKLEBALL.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD REACH OUT TO THE TENNIS COURT PEOPLE TO MAYBE GET THOSE COURTS AND ADD PICKLEBALL COURTS TO IT, IF IT IS AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: WE CAN CERTAINLY GET THOSE TWO ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS TOGETHER TO TRY TO BENEFIT BOTH OF THEM. I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THEY GET DUAL USE. IF THAT COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WE CERTAINLY WILL TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I THINK THIS IS A GOOD USE OF THESE FUNDS. I SUPPORT THIS.
AS FAR AS THE PICKLEBALL, THESE -- HOW SHOULD I PUT IT, DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND THE TENNIS COMMUNITY IS PRETTY ADAMANT THAT TENNIS IS TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL IS PICKLEBALL. BUT ALWAYS WELCOME TO GO THERE.
BUT I THINK YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT THE TENNIS COMMUNITY BY AND LARGE, AT LEAST IN THE PAST, WHEN THIS TO HAS COME UP IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS ARE PRETTY ADAMANT ABOUT NOT -- THAT THEY SHOULD BE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: WE WILL JUMP INTO THAT FORAY AND SEE WHAT WE
CAN FIND OUT. >> ASKING IF THEY CAN HAVE A
CONVERSATION. >>MAYOR BEAN: COMMIS
COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >>COMMISSIONER ANTUN: I WANT TO APPLAUD STAFF FOR FINDING THESE PROJECTS TO GET IT DONE.
A GAP IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THEM DONE, ESPECIALLY THE GOLF COURSE AS SPOKEN WITH MANAGER DAVID DEMAY.
NO LESS THAN SIX DAYS BEFORE IT IS BROWN AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN THIS. >>MAYOR BEAN: VICE-MAYOR.
>>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
CHARLIE, AN AWESOME PLAN. A GREAT IDEA.
THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WHICH TWO BLOCKS OR WHICH AREA -- DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA YET OF WHERE TO START ATTACKING IN PROBLEM? BECAUSE IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME, I AM NOT SAYING NOT TO DO IT, I AM JUST SAYING IT IS GOING TO BE A GOOD -- JUST LIKE WHEN I DO RENOVATIONS AS A CONTRACTOR, I WILL GO INTO THEIR HOUSE AND THEY WILL SAY, HEY, I WANT TO DO THIS. AND YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THE WHOLE THING. AND LOOK AT IT AND GO -- WE HAVE
TO DO THE WHOLE THING NOW. >> ONCE THIS IS ALL APPROVED AND EVERYBODY IS GOOD TO GO, WE WILL GET THE GROUPS TOGETHER, MAIN STREET, CITY STAFF AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DISRUPTIONS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE.
WE WILL DO A SURVEY. WE WILL DO CONCEPT DESIGNS AND FIGURE OUT WHERE IS THE BEST SPOT.
I THINK RIGHT NOW THE CONSENSUS BETWEEN SECOND -- BETWEEN SECOND
STREET AND FOURTH STREET. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: JUST TRYING TO GET AN IDEA. DPORJZ GEORGETOWN THE KEYSTONE WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE FOR REST OF THE AREAS AND GENERATE MORE
INTEREST AND EXCITEMENT. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: THE BEST TO START AT ONE END AND EVENTUALLY WORK YOUR WAY TO THE OTHER END. AS FAR AS THE GOLF COURSE.
IT IS IN DIRE NEED. I WENT OUT AND VISITED IT.
THAT IS -- I WOULD TELL YOU THAT IMPROVED -- IT IMPROVED INSTANTLY. LIKE THAT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM.
THEY ARE SAYING IT COULD BE SIX TO NINE MONTHS FOR THE EQUIPMENT. COR
CORRECT? >>CHARLES GEORGE: ABOUT A 30-WEEK DELIVERY ON THE PUMPS AND WHAT WE WILL DO WE HAVE GOT IT OUT -- WE HAVE A BID GOING OUT TO GET PRICING ON ALL THIS.
WHAT WE WILL DO AS PART OF A BID, THE CONTRACT WILL HAVE AN EMERGENCY PUMP ALONG IN HIS BID SO IT DOES GO DOWN WHILE WE ARE
WAITING ON IT, KEEP IT RUNNING. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: I WAS SURPRISED IT WAS STILL RUNNING WHEN I SAW IT.
I WAS LIKE, THIS IS RUNNING? ANYWAYS, GLAD TO SEE THAT THE STREET -- THE BIKE PATH ON BEACH STREET.
I AM SURE WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT AND GET IT ALL DONE IN ONE YEAR.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: WE HAVE A CONCEPT ON BEACH STREET ON 8TH AND 10TH WHERE WE IMPROVED THE PARKING AND DRIVABILITY BECAUSE IN THE MORNINGS AND THE AFTERNOONS WHEN PEOPLE WERE AT THE SHOPS, AND IT GETS CONGESTED AND A LITTLE HECTIC.
SO WE HAVE GOT A CONCEPT DEVELOPED ON THAT.
WE WILL TAKE THAT TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND GO THE REST OF THE WAY
TO 14TH STREET. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: THANK YOU,
CHARLIE. >>MAYOR BEAN: I WANT TO THANK
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CITY STAFF. LAST WEEK LOOKING AT THE ROLLBACK BUDGET. I WAS PROUD OF THAT BUDGET AND ALL THE WOULD, THAT STAFF MADE SUCH A GREAT BUDGET.WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, UNBELIEVABLE WHAT OUR CITY IS ABLE TO FUND WITHOUT RAISING TAXES AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU PERSONALLY PUT INTO THIS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU. >> ONE OTHER THING IN THE BUDGET, YOU WILL SEE THIS ISN'T PART OF THE GENERAL FUND OR ANY OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS.
WE HAVE FUNDED ALMOST $2 MILLION OF MAINTENANCE WORK JUST OPERATING. YOU KNOW, THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF THINGS FROM THE MAINTENANCE STANDPOINTS, SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY LIMIT.
BUT WE HAVE SOME OF THAT FUNDED TOO.
>>MAYOR BEAN: OF COURSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET DISCUSSION, THIS WILL BE THE PART OF THE BUDGET -- YOUR FIRST BUDGET CYCLE. THE WAY THIS HAS GONE IN YEARS PAST AND THE WAY I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO GO, ADDRESS QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION OF VARIOUS ITEMS YOU HAVE WITH THE BUDGET. AND IT IS ON THE COMMISSIONERS.
IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE BUDGET, TO BRING THAT FORWARD NOW. WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
WE CAN TALK OF THE POSSIBLE ISSUE AND -- AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE FLOOR. ANY COMMISSIONER WHO WISHES TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE THEY HAVE WITH OUR CURRENT BUDGET AS WRITTEN? LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE $30,000 THAT IS SET ASIDE FOR CITY COMMISSION RAISES AND MOVE IT TO THE CONTINGENCY FUND WITH A $230,000 INSTEAD OF $230,000.
IF THE CITY COMMISSION WANTS TO VOTE FOR RAISING COMMISSIONERS' SALARIES FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION, I WILL CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT. AND I HAVE -- AFTER THAT ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. ROSS.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? LET'S START WITH VICE-MAYOR
STURGESS. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST AND FOREMOST -- I DIDN'T LAST MEETING, THIS ISN'T A RAISE.
THIS IS A PUT BACK OF BENEFITS FOR THIS POSITION.
I THINK I SAID IT BRIEFLY AND I AM JUST GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.
I DECENT WANT TO STRIP THIS POSITION FROM THE VALUE THAT IT WILL HAVE FOR SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE.
NOTHING AT THE MOMENT, BUT I THINK STRIPPING IT -- THE $10,000 OR $12,000 THAT GOT STRIPPED WILL BE A TRAVESTY NOT TO PUT SOMETHING BACK FOR THE AMOUNT OF WORK.
I SPEND AT LEAST FOUR TO SIX HOURS EVERY DAY DOING SOMETHING WITH CITY BUSINESS. AND I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE A TRAVESTY TO THINK THAT THIS JOB CAN BE DONE FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY OTHER THAN FOR WEALTHY, AFFLUENT PEOPLE WITH PLENTY OF TIME. SO I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, VICE-MAYOR.
ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER ASYCUE. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: COME UP IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE SEEN ONE PERSON YET THAT SAID THEY DISAGREE WITH THE FACT THAT THE -- THE RAISES SHOULD BE THERE. IT IS MOSTLY WHAT COMMISSIONER ROSS SAYS, THE COMMISSION SHOULDN'T VOTE FOR THEIR OWN RAISES. WELL, AT SOME POINT IN TIME THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I HONESTLY, IT WOULDN'T BOTHER ME IF IT WENT AWAY. I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT I WANT TO SEE IT BASED OFF OF SOMETHING.
A WAY TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT -- WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OUR SIZE DO. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE COUNTY DOES, AND MOST CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY ARE ALL BASED OFF OF POPULATION.
THERE IS A PARTICULAR RATIO AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I KNOW INTERIM CITY MANAGER GEORGE DID A GREAT JOB OF JUST LOOKING AT SOMETHING. HE IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM.
HE CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION. AND THAT IS WHAT STAFF IS THERE TO DO. SO I AM NOT -- I AM NOT BASHING THE OUTCOME OR THE WAY THAT YOU WENT ABOUT IT.
I JUST -- IF WE ARE GOING TO DO IT, WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PATHWAY FORWARD THAT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A -- THERE IS SOME BASIS OF WHY THIS HAPPENED. THERE IS A FORMULA.
THERE IS SOMETHING. THAT IS MY ONLY ISSUE.
IF IT IS $500, IT IS $500. PBASED OFF OF CPI, IT IS BASED OFF OF CPI. TO ME, IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AS FAR AS THIS GOES.
THE INSURANCE FOR COMMISSIONERS WENT AWAY.
THAT WAS A BENEFIT. IT WENT AWAY 1I6R7LY BECAUSE WE ARE A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE. NO WAY FOR IT TO BE GIVEN US TO UNLESS WE HAVE OUR OWN CLASS OF EMPLOYEE.
SO IT -- IT DOES HELP MAKE UP FOR THAT DIFFERENCE, BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, I DON'T CARE. DOESN'T BOTHER ME IF IT IS THERE. I DON'T DO THIS FOR MONEY.
BUT IF I WAS LOOKING AT IT, I WOULD LOOK AT IT LET'S FIND A BASIS OR INDEX TO USE TO BASICALLY SHOW OR PROVE WHY IT
NEEDS TO BE THERE. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. BEFORE WE HEAR FROM
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COMMISSIONER ANTON. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MR. GEORGE, THE REASONING. YOU WORKED HARD ON THE BUDGET.WHATS WAS THE REASON PUT THIS IN.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: IT WAS ALL ME. I WASN'T ASKED TO DO THAT.
I WENT AND LOOKED AROUND AT MULTIPLE CITIES WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT ARE BASICALLY OUR SIZE.
OUR KIND OF MAKE-UP. MOST OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM MAKE TEN TIMES MORE THAN WHAT Y'ALL MAKE. SO I FELT LIKE WE COULDN'T GET THERE WITH THIS BUDGET, BUT WE AT LEAST GET YOU HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I DID A GOOD BIT OF LOOKING AROUND IN DIFFERENT AREAS TRYING TO FIND COMPARABLE BETWEEN PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME. FULL-TIMES MAKE $40,000 A YEAR.
PART-TIMES BETWEEN $10,000 TO $15,000 TO $18,000.
AND YOU ARE MAKING -- I AM -- I AM TALKING ABOUT A YEAR.
YOU ARE AT $1,000 A MONTH. YOU ARE WAY BEHIND.
I FELT THAT IS NOT RIGHT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO FOR YOUR CIVIC DUTIES AS FAR AS SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THE RESEARCH YOU DO AND THE NIGHTTIME WORK YOU DO.
I FELT IT WAS FAIR. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE -- YEAH, APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT, MR. GEORGE. LET'S TALK ABOUT --
COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >>COMMISSIONER ANTUN: I WAS GOING TO HE CAN COULD HE YOUR QUESTION FOR CITY MANAGER WHERE THE NUMBER COMES FROM. BUT JUST MY TWO CENTS, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN TALENT.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I THINK IT IS WORTH CONSIDERING WHAT IS THAT NUMBER GOING TO BE. I WILL ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER CASS S-- AYSCUE. I DIDN'T DO THIS TO GIVE ME A RAISE. VICE-MAYOR STURGESS SAID WHEN YOU REMOVE A BENEFIT, WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR THE FLAVOR OF THE POSITION SUGGESTION POTENTIAL SUGGESTION DEFER FOR NEXT YEAR AND ACCEPT IT FOR THE REMAINING TWO YEARS.
HOW DO YOU COMMISSIONERS FEEL ABOUT THAT?
>>MAYOR: THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THAT.
SO WITH THAT, I AM HEARING -- I HEARD A SLIGHT DIFFERENT
OPINIONS THERE. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: CAN I
RESPOND. >>MAYOR BEAN: ONE SECOND.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MY OPINION FIRST.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: SURE. >>MAYOR BEAN: ABSOLUTELY.
MY OPINION IS, I REALLY LIKE THE BUDGET.
I LIKE THE BUDGET AS IT IS WRITTEN AND A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY, AND THE BIGGEST, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE HAVE ACHIEVED IN NO TAX INCREASE IN VERY MANY YEARS.
I LIKE WHAT DARRON IS SAYING. I LIKE COMMISSIONER AYSCUE'S IDEA AND GET AHEAD FOR NEXT YEAR AND DO IT LIKE THAT.
I LIKE THE BUDGET AS WRITTEN. WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE SHOULD DEFER IT FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION, AND THAT'S ALL I AM SIMPLY SAYING.
THAT WE SHOULD NOT VOTE IT FOR OURSELVES.
THAT WE SHOULD COME UP WITH AN ORDINANCE, TAKE IT OUT OF THIS BUDGET, PUT IT INTO RESERVES. AND THEN IF YOU WANT, SOMEBODY CAN MAKE A MOTION TO COME UP WITH A FUNDING FOR THE NEXT CITY COMMISSION STARTING IN NOVEMBER, 18 MONTHS FROM NOW OR WHATEVER IT IS, THAT THEY GET A RAISE, WHATEVER IT IS, YOUR PLEASURE.
IT IS A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THIS WAS A BENEFIT TAKEN AWAY. WASN'T TAKEN AWAY FROM ALL CITY COMMISSIONERS. TWO CITY COMMISSIONERS AT THE TIME DIDN'T PARTAKE IN IT AT ALL AND ONE GOT $15,000 AND ANOTHER $10,000 A. AND ANOTHER $12,000.
DIFFERENT CITY COMMISSIONERS AND THAT IS FINE.
BUT I THINK THAT IT SHOULD -- I THINK WE DO NEED -- IT IS NECESSARY TO RAISE THE SALARY, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD GO TO THE NEXT CITY COMMISSION, RAISING IT FOR OURSELVES, I THINK, IS BAD
OPTICS. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS. GO TO COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: WHEN YOU SAY FUTURE COMMISSIONS.
IT HAS GOT TO BE THREE YEARS FROM NOW.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I AM SAYING 18 MONTHS.
>>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: AT A MINIMUM, TWO OF US WILL BE SITTING -- I MEAN WE WOULD STILL BE VOTING FOR -- WHETHER WE
DEFERRED IT TWO YEARS OR NOT. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: YOU CAN
LOOK AT IT THAT WAY. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: IF WE ARE NOT -- AGAIN, AT SOME POINT IN TIME WHEN THE BUDGET -- WHEN IT IS IN THE BUDGET IT WILL GET VOTED FOR BY THE COMMISSION THAT IS THERE. TO DEFER IT FOR JUST -- JUST TWO YEARS WHEN TWO OF US ARE STILL GOING TO BE HERE.
WE ARE STILL VOTING FOR THAT RAISE.
AND IT STILL DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE NEXT COMMISSIONS CAN'T COME ALONG AND VOTE IT BACK DOWN. WE STILL HAVE THAT ABILITY.
THAT IS WHY TO ME, VOTING FOR IT, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.
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IT'S -- IT IS STILL GOING TO AFFECT AT LEAST TWO OF US AT SOME POINT IN TIME. SO THAT -- THAT IS A MUTE POINT FOR ME. THAT WAS ALL I WAS SAYING.>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A
QUESTION. >>MAYOR BEAN: WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE QUESTION. FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: SO IF THIS IS PUT IN THE BUDGET, IT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT THE CITY COMMISSIONERS GET A RAISE.
IT HAS TO GO TO AN ORDINANCE AND BE VOTED ON, AM I CORRECT?
>>TAMMI BACH: THERE IS AN ORDINANCE.
THE CHARTER REQUIRES THAT WE PASS AN ORDINANCE, BUT I IMAGINE THAT COULD BE DONE PRETTY QUICKLY.
YES, IT IS NOT JUST DONE BECAUSE IT IS IN THE BUDGET.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: SO THERE WOULD BE AN ORDINANCE AND HAVE
TO BE VOTED UPON. >>TAMMI BACH: RIGHT.
>>MAYOR BEAN: I AM NOT HEARING CONSENSUS ON THIS.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANOTHER IDEA TO
BRING FORWARD NOW? >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: SURE.
>>MAYOR BEAN: COMMISSIONER ROSS. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: CAN YOU PUT UP THE CITY FIVE-YEAR CITY HALL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
SO PART OF THE BUDGET IS THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU CAN DISCUSS AMONG US, BECAUSE CITY HALL NEEDS HELP NOW. HOW IS THIS CITY COMMISSION GOING TO FUND THAT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? I THINK THAT DESERVES A DISCUSSION.
I TOOK THAT FROM THE REPORT THIS AFTERNOON.
THAT IS THE ESTIMATED COST OF ALL THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. AND SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO START FUNDING THAT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? OR ARE WE? SO I WAS -- I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE OTHER -- WHAT THE, SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE WRONG. THE ELEVATOR SHOULD BE 90,000.
AND STUCCO IS $1 20,000. AM I RIGHT, CHARLIE?
$90000 FOR THE ELEVATOR -- >>CHARLES GEORGE: 90 FOR THE
STUCCO. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: THOSE TWO NUMBERS ARE WRONG. OTHER THAN THAT TAKEN OFF THE REPORT. AND I WAS WONDERING WHAT THE COMMISSION'S IDEAS ARE FOR GOING FORWARD AND FUNDING CITY HALL.
>>MAYOR BEAN: COMMIS COMMISSIONER ANTUN.
>>COMMISSIONER ANTUN: JUST THIS PAST THURSDAY AND A FOLLOW-UP ON PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS OF SUGGESTIONS WHEN DALE MARTIN WAS STILL OUR MANAGER, SUGGESTION OF PARING THIS BUILDING BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL SKILL AND MOVING DEPARTMENTS TEMPORARILY INTO THE CENTER TO IMPROVE THIS OR EX-AND IF OR IMPROVE THE PECK CENTER AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS MORE AMENABLE TO YOU COMMISSIONERS, BUT WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR
FEEDBACK. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, FIRST
VICE-MAYOR PUTTING ON HIS LIFE. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: THANK YOU, MAJOR. JAMES, I WOULD SUGGEST -- AND AS WELL AS TO CHIP, I WOULD SUGGEST WITH ANY OF THESE THINGS, THAT WE -- THAT WE BITE THE ELEPHANT ONE BITE AT A TIME.
WE START EATING THE ELEPHANT ONE BITE AT A TIME.
AND ULTIMATELY THE ANSWER IS DOING A FEW OF THESE PROJECTS EACH YEAR UNTIL THEY GET ALL ACCOMPLISHED.
I HAVE A FEELING THAT MOST OF THEM CAN BE DONE WHILE THE BUILDING IS USED. NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT MOST OF THEM CAN BE. A COUPLE OF THEM ARE ON THERE STUCCO REPAIR AND THE ELEVATOR REPAIR IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO,
>>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY ARE ON THERE.
WE SHOULD TAKE THEM OFF. THEY ARE ALREADY BUDGETED.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THEY ARE ON HERE BECAUSE COMMISSIONER WAS MADE --
TRYING TO MAKE A POINT. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: I UNDERSTAND. ULTIMATELY EACH -- SOME OF THESE ARE REASONABLE REPAIRS THAT WE CAN PROBABLY FIT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET LIKE THE 40, THE 30, THE 40, THE 50, THE 30.
AND THESE ARE ALL ASSUMPTIONS ON WHAT THE PRICE COULD BE.
I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY TO HALF OF THOSE PROJECTS IN ONE YEAR NEXT YEAR. IT JUST IS A MATTER OF DEDICATION AND TAKE DOWN SOME OF THE MONEY OFF OF ONE OF THE OTHER PROJECTS AND DO IT FASTER IF WE WANTED TO.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION IS MORE IMPORTANT AT THE MOMENT. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, VICE-MAYOR.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THESE NUMBERS, WHERE THEY ORIGINALLY CAME FROM BEFORE THEY WERE IN THIS DOCUMENT CREATED BY STAFF AND LOOKED INTO BY STAFF AND VICE-MAYOR SAYS SEVERAL ARE ON THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. WE HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER ROSS, SEVERAL OF THE NUMBERS ARE INCORRECT AT THE MOMENT.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE WAY THIS NEEDS TO BE HANDLED WE NEED TO
[00:25:01]
TRUST OUR STAFF TO MAKE DECISIONS GOING FORWARD.MONEY IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. MONEY THE NEXT YEAR AFTER THAT MAKING SURE WE REACH THESE GOALS AND ACHIEVE THEM.
RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE ARE DECIDING IS THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO FUND THE NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS.
RIGHT NOW ADA ACCESSIBLE ELEVATOR WE NEED TO WORK ON.
I AM VERY PROUD THAT OUR BUDGET IS TAKING CARE OF THAT ELEVATOR AMONG OTHER THINGS HERE AT CITY HALL.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE AND THAT IS MY THOUGHTS ON IT. LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: SO I AGREE WITH YOU.
BUT PART OF THE CURRENT BUDGET IS THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET.
THAT IS PART OF THE BUDGET WE ARE ENDORSING AND -- IF YOU LEAVE THAT UP THERE. THAT IS PART OF THE -- WHAT WE ARE ENDORSING AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
THAT FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET. SO THOSE NUMBERS NEED TO BE FILLED IN BY SOMEBODY OR NOT FILLED IN AT ALL.
SO, I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU COULD SAY IS LET'S COME UP WITH A -- WITH THE BOTTOM NUMBER THERE FOR DESIGN.
AND TELL ME IF I AM WRONG, CITY MANAGER, THIS IS A REASONABLE IDEA. THAT AS PART OF THIS YEAR, WE LOOK AT -- PUT OUT A BY TO GET SOMEBODY TO DESIGN AND HOW OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS HOW WE CAN -- HOW WE WOULD STAGE AND REHABILITATE THIS BUILDING. YOU WOULD ASSUME -- THE REAL CONVERSATION IS THAT WE ARE BY ENDORSING THIS, WE ARE SAYING WE ARE GOING TO RENOVATE THIS BUILDING AND NOT BUILD ANOTHER BUILDING AND THAT IS FINE. IF THAT IS THE POLICY OF THE CITY COMMISSION, THEN THAT IS PART OF THIS BUDGET, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CAPITAL -- THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN IN THE F THIS IS DONE OR GET THAT DESIGN IF THAT IS A REASONABLE APPROACH. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TAKE ON AS STAFF IS DOING A BETTER JOB AT THE PROJECT PLANNING.
ONCE WE GET A PROJECT AND START LAYING OUT THE PRIORITIES THE MAIN TASKS, THE MILESTONES, THE SCHEDULE AND THE COST.
WE ARE TAKING CITY HALL ON THIS COMING YEAR AND START PLANNING THIS OUT AND DECIDE WHICH ONES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND WHICH ONES NEEDS TO GO FIRST BEFORE THIS ONE AND WE NEED TO START IDENTIFYING THE FUNDING AND WHERE IT ACTUALLY HITS.
WHAT YEAR AND WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
I PLAN ON DOING THAT WITH THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AS WELL ON ALL THESE COMPLICATED PROJECTS.
WE ARE GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB PROJECT PLANS AND CONCEPTUAL PART OF IT THAN WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: AS PART OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET, YOU ARE
GOING TO LEAVE ALL THESE BLANK? >> FOR NOW, WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE. AS SOON AS WE CAN, WE WILL START IDENTIFYING EACH ONE IN YEAR ONE, TWO AND THREE.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, MR. GEORGE.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I HAVE ANOTHER ONE.
>>MAYOR BEAN: SEEMS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE CONSENSUS ON THIS.
ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: YES. NEXT ONE, BEACH WALKOVERS.
SO -- SO, PREVIOUSLY, THE -- THE CITY COMMISSION -- THE CITY STAFF FOR DOWN A BUNCH OF BEACH WALKOVERS.
AND VERY ROBUST COMMUNITY THAT CAME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO -- AS TO HOW THAT -- THEY SHOULD, HE PLACED IN THE FUTURE BEACH WALKOVERS. SO AS PART OF THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, I WAS WONDER GOING WE COULD ENDORSE THAT PLAN AND JUST BASICALLY WHAT THEY PROPOSED, I BELIEVE, AS PART OF THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN OF THIS BUDGET.
WHEN PEOPLE CALL ME AND ASK ME WHEN IS THIS BEACH WALKOVER GOING TO BE REPLACED AND I GET ONE PHONE CALL A MONTH ON THAT.
I SAY, WELL, THIS IS WHAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECOMMENDED AND HERE IS OUR PLAN. ONE THING THAT IS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE PLAN IS THE NORTH BEACH WALKOVER THAT IS IN ROUGH CONDITION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SHORTLY WHICH IS WHY A QUESTION MARK THERE. THREE OF THOSE, 2023.
THREE OF THOSE WILL BE BUILT THIS YEAR.
THEY ALL START IN OCTOBER. AND PUT THERE AS PLACE MARKERS.
THERE WILL BE NO NEW CONSTRUCTION OF ANY BEACH WALKOVERS IN 2024. THEN THE CITY COMMISSION'S PLEASURE TO ENDORSE THIS AS A FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN FOR BEACH
WALKOVERS. >>MAYOR BEAN: ALL RIGHT,
[00:30:05]
COMMISSIONER ROSS. WE DON'T HAVE TO ENDORSE THIS PLAN. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.WE CAN ENDORSE IT AS WE PASS THE BUDGET.
AS I STATED IT IS IN THE BUDGET. WHAT I WOULD QUESTION IS, DO WE NEED TO ENDORSE A PLAN THAT IN '24, THERE WILL BE A NEW COMMISSION. IN '26.
THERE WILL BE A NEW COMMISSION AGAIN.
IN '28, ANOTHER COMMISSION. ARE WE GOING TO SET BLANK MANDATES FOR FUTURE COMMISSION THAT AREN'T US? THAT IS THE QUESTION. THE BUDGET WE ARE ABOUT TO PASS.
LET ME JUMP IN -- CHARLES GEORGE WANTS TO JUMP IN.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: JUST FOR THE RECORD THIS WAS CREATED BY THE BEACH ACCESS COMMITTEE IN 2021. THE COMMISSION ENDORSED THIS WITH THE TIME FRAMES AND NUMBERS.
I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO ENDORSE IT.
UP TO STAFF THAT WE BUDGET IT AT THE APPROPRIATE YEARS.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU. AND THAT IS THE ANSWER TO YOUR
QUESTION, COMMISSIONER ROSS. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: THAT'S
FINE. >>MAYOR BEAN: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? I WILL NOW GO TO THE LIGHTS AGAIN. ANY COMMISSIONER WISHING TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET? ANYBODY WANT TO TALK? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: NOW ONE LAST THING.
CAN YOU PUT UP THE DOWNTOWN PROJECTED.
SO THIS IS -- FOR THE DOWNTOWN FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.
YOU LOOK IN THE CURRENT FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN THAT WAS PROPOSED THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE ON EVENTUALLY.
IT HAD THIS WHOLE THING LOADED INTO 2024.
SO WHAT I WAS WONDERING IS -- IF -- ARE WE ENDORSING THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO DO -- HOW WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS AND ARE YOU ENDORSING IT. BECAUSE THAT IS IN THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET RIGHT NOW. ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS IN 2024. AND IF SO, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT AND SHOULD WE BE PREPARING TO DO THAT? I THINK THE THOUGHT BY STAFF WAS THAT WE WOULD DO A BOND TO DO THIS. SO IF THAT IS THE CITY'S PART OF OUR FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN AND PART OF THE BUDGET THAT WILL BE PASSED, WE SHOULD BE BEGINNING TO PREPARE TO -- FOR THAT, BECAUSE TO -- TO COME UP WITH HOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET THOSE BONDS AND THE APPROACH APPROPRIATION FOR DOING THAT AND A PROCESS THAT WILL TAKE A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME.
>>MAYOR BEAN: MR. GEORGE, ONE MORE TIME, DO A SIMILAR --
SIMILAR TALK. >>CHARLES GEORGE: OKAY.
THIS -- THIS TOTAL OF THE BREAKDOWN FOR WATERFRONT IS ABOUT A $13 MILLION PROJECT. WE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS OVER LAST SEVERAL YEARS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS DONE.
WE ALL KNOW THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A TAX THROUGH OUR NORMAL BUDGETING PROCESS.
THE GOAL IS THE DESIGN IS UNDER WAY.
IT IS BROKEN INTO FIVE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS.
THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY WOULD BE TO FUND THE WHOLE THING AND THEN JUST GO WITH IT. BUT THAT IS PROBABLY NOT PRACTICAL. SO WE WILL BE TAKING A SEGMENT AND BROKEN UP INTO DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE SEGMENTS.
STATE FUNDING FOR ABOUT A MILLION.
HOPEFULLY COME BACK FOR THAT. $975,000.
THE PARKING LOT DEED. KIND OF SET FOR EACH OTHERS.
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE INDEPENDENT OF THE OTHERS THAT ARE NOT CONNECTED. SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE TACKLE FIRST, BUT, IT IS GOING TO BE A MULTIYEAR PROCESS.
SO I -- UNLESS YOU -- UNTIL WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A BOND, IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A FIVE TO SIX-YEAR PROCESS.
>>MAYOR BEAN: OF COURSE, MR. GEORGE.
THIS COMMISSION, WE DID ACTUALLY DISCUSSION IN OUR VISIONING SESSION GOING TO A BOND. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THAT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE FUTURE. SOMETHING THAT STAFF IS STILL
WORKING ON? >>CHARLES GEORGE: WE ARE WORKING ON SOME DIRECTION TO MAKE SURE THAT IS WHERE THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE PUBLIC WANTS TO GO. WE CAN CERTAINLY START WORKING ON THAT. I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT FOR NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE TO HAVE IT DONE BY -- I GUESS JULY OR AUGUST, SOMEWHERE IN THERE TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT. SO I WOULD SAY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TO AT YOUR DIRECTION, WE WILL START THAT
PROCESS. >>MAYOR BEAN: ABSOLUTELY.
I KNOW WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. OUR ENGINEERING TEAM IS OUT THERE. ANDER IN WORKING ON ALL THE SURVEYING AND WORKING ON MAKING A PLAN.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: RIGHT NOW THEY ARE DOING ALL THE FIELD WORK.
THE UNDERGROUND, THE HYDRO, THE GEO TECHNICAL.
[00:35:05]
THEY WILL COME UP WITH THE CONCEPT THAT THEY WILL BRING BACK TO THE COMMISSION TO LOOK AT -- TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE GOOD WITH THE CONCEPT OF WHAT THE SYSTEM WILL BE.ONCE THINK GET OUR APPROVAL. THEN THEY WILL GO TO THE NEXT STEP OF DESIGN AND NEXT STEP OF PERMITTING AND AT THE END, WE WILL HAVE A SET OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS THAT WE CAN START GOING
OUT FOR BIDS. >>MAYOR BEAN: WE NEED THOSE PLANS. FRANKLY, COMMISSIONERS, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING TO THE CITY OR BRINGING THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION UNTIL WE HAVE THOSE PLANS.
WE ARE WORKING ON IT. WE HAVE OUR TEAM MAKING ENGINEERING PLANS AND SEEING WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
ONCE WE HAVE THAT PICTURE, WE WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC AND MAKE THAT SALE AYE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
GO TO COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: I AGREE WITH YOU MAYOR. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF THIS.
THIS PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD. I KNOW IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT
-- >>CHARLES GEORGE: GO OUT THERE TONIGHT. THEY WILL BE IN THE WATER.
>>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: WE CAN SEE THEM MOVING FORWARD.
WE CAN AS COMMISSIONERS. WE KNOW THAT IT IS THERE AND I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT PROJECT.
I KNOW WHEN WE HAD THAT SET OF PLANS, WE ARE ABLE TO PUT IT UP THERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. THAT IS WHEN NOSE ISSUES OF
BONDS WILL COME UP. >>MAYOR BEAN: OF COURSE, DO THESE THINGS ON ORDER AND ON TIME.
>> THE PLAN TO HAVE THE CONCEPT BY THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU FOR WORKING HARD ON THIS PART OF THE PROJECT. COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: SO -- I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OF CITY ATTORNEY. SO IF WE HAVE -- TAMPA TAYLOR
DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT -- >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: YOU KNOW A
LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT BONDING. >>TAMMI BACH: I DO.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I FIGURED. THE CURRENT CAPITAL PLAN, IT SAYS IN 2024, PUT $15 MILLION IN THERE AND THAT -- THAT IS WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET YOU PRESENTED. THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS UP SO IF WE KNOW BY DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR -- THIS YEAR.
DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR HOW MUCH LEAD TIME DO WE NEED.
IF YOU WANT TO DO A BOND, YOU USUALLY DO IT AT ELECTION TIME.
NOVEMBER OF 24. >> OUR ELECTION CYCLE CHANGED.
AUGUST 2024. >>TAMMI BACH: THE RUNOFF IS IN
NOVEMBER. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. WE CAN HAVE IT SAT EITHER ONE,
CORRECT? >> IF A RUNOFF IS NECESSARY.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: BUT YOU CAN ALSO STILL HAVE IT ON THE
NOVEMBER BALLOT, NO? >> IF YOU HAVE A RUNOFF.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: ALL RIGHT. SO THAT NEIGHBORS EVEN LESS.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH LEAD TIME DO YOU NEED TO PREPARE --
>>TAMMI BACH: ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PREPARING BALLOT LANGUAGE?
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: THE WHOLE THING.
>>TAMMI BACH: THE WHOLE THING IS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT.
THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT.
THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT ON THE BALLOT.
AND MAKING SURE THAT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE IS WRITTEN.
MAXIMUM 75 WORDS. AND GET TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IN TIME FOR THEM TO CREATE THE BALLOTS.
HAND THIS IS SO I WORK BACKWARDS.
WHEN DO WE NEED TO GET IT TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, NO LATER -- THE GOAL WAS ALWAYS AT THE END OF JUNE BECAUSE THAT
GIVES US PLENTY OF TIME. >> ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN
ESCALATED. >>TAMMI BACH: TO MAY.
>> BECAUSE THE ELECTION CYCLE HAS CHANGED.
>>TAMMI BACH: MAY 12. END OF APRIL IS OUR DEADLINE.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: APRIL NEXT YEAR?
>>TAMMI BACH: CORRECT. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: BETWEEN DECEMBER AND APRIL, YOU CAN EASILY PUT THAT TOGETHER?
>>TAMMI BACH: EASILY DONE. MOST OF THE WORK HAPPENS IF THE PUBLIC ON THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND WHICH MEANS TAXES ARE TO PAY BACK THE BONDS. THE VOTERS IF THEY APPROVE IT, THEN THE WORK STARTS. DO YOU A BOND VALIDATION.
GO OUT TO MARKET TO GET YOUR BEST RATES.
THOSE KIND OF THINGS. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: IT DOES. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU,
COMMISSIONER ROSS. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I HAVE ONE MORE. IF YOU CAN GO TO THE MARINA
BUDGET, CHARLIE. >>CHARLES GEORGE: WHAT?
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: THE MARINA BUDGET.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: OKAY. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: ORIGINALLY THE MARINA BUDGET. THE DREDGING -- WE NEED TO
DREDGE IN NOVEMBER, CORRECT? >>CHARLES GEORGE: WE NEED TO
DREDGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: NOVEMBER MORE OR LESS. AND THE COST OF THE DREDGING IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $1 MILLION. PLUS OR MINUS.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: 14,000 CUBIC YARDS AND UNIT RATES, THAT IS
ABOUT RIGHT. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: $57 A CUBIC YARD COMES A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: CORRECT. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I IN ITSED IN THE BUDGET. THE $500,000 WAS IN THE GENERAL FUND AND NOW PUSHED INTO THE MARINA FUND.
[00:40:01]
SO THE MARINA IS GOING TO FUND THAT, CORRECT?>> CORRECT. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: AND THEN INLAND NAVIGATION GROUP ALL THIS FIND ON YOUR LITTLE TAX BILL IS GOING TO GIVE US $341,000 FWORJZ GEORGETOWN CORRECT.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: THAT IS 841.
SO THERE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A SHORTFALL.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET TRYING TO GET TO THE ROLLBACK RATE. WE LOOKED AT -- TYPICALLY DOING $800,000 TO $900,000 EVERY TWO YEARS ON DREDGING AND BROKE THAT -- INSTEAD OF TWO YEARS DOING SOMETHING EVERY YEAR.
SO WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE A DREDGING EVENT IN -- LIKE, NOVEMBER LIKE YOU SAID. AND WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ANOTHER ONE RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT -- LIKE OCTOBER 1 NEXT YEAR. TO TRY TO JUST -- AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO OPTIMIZE WHERE WE DREDGE TO HIT THE CRUCIAL POINTS BUT WON'T BE DREDGING 14,000 EACH OF EACH TIME.
PROBABLY SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT.
STAY WITHIN THE BUDGET AND DOING IT EVERY YEAR INSTEAD OF EVERY
TWO YEARS. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: WHAT I AM INTERESTED IN THIS TIME, IS IT NECESSARY TO DREDGE 14,000 CUBIC YARDS TO MAKES THE MARINA FUNCTIONAL.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST WE HAVE DREDGED WHERE POSSIBLE. EVEN CLOSE UP TO THE BULK HEAD WHERE IT SUNK IN. WE STAY AWAY FROM THAT AND WORK WITH THE FAIRWAYS NEAR THE DOCKS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MOST CRITICAL. WE WILL DO 9,000, 8,000 CUBIC
YARDS THIS TIME. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: THANK YOU
SO MUCH. >>MAYOR BEAN: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS. ALL RIGHT, SO CONTINUING ON.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM COMMISSIONERS? ALL RIGHT. LET'S -- WE HAVE 18 MINUTES TO -- WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. IWANT TO POINT OUT ONCE AGAIN A FEW MORE -- AND THIS IS JUST TO REMIND THE PUBLIC, THIS IS A WORKSHOP FOR COMMISSION DISCUSSION ONLY.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE FOLLOWING MEETING.
STICK AROUND AND MAKE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS THEN AS WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT I AM PERSONALLY VERY EXCITED ABOUT. NUMBER ONE, ONCE AGAIN, AS WE ESTABLISHED, THIS IS THE FIRST NO TAX INCREASE BUDGET IN MANY YEARS. AND WE HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. ONCE AGAIN I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND STAFF FOR PUTTING TOGETHER AN EXCELLENT BUDGET THAT FUND SO MUCH AND DOES SO MUCH WITHOUT RAISING OUR TAXES. IT DOES SO MUCH THAT STUFF THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT OR LOOKED AT, THE POLICE BUDGET, THE POLICE LINE ITEM OVERALL IS AN INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, AND LET ME JUST CONFIRM IT IS BIGGER THAN LAST YEAR AS I AM LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE YES.
THE LARGEST PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET BE IN FERNANDINA BEACH HISTORY.
WE HAVE GONE UP ANOTHER YEAR FOR POLICE AND FIRE.
THAT IS BIG NEWS THINGS LIKE THIS ARE BIG WINS FOR THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. I THINK AS THE PUBLIC LOOKS THROUGH THIS BUDGET, THEY FIND WIN AFTER WIN.
THINGS WE ARE FUNDING AND TAKEN CARE OF AND THINGS WE ARE MAKING SURE GET DONE FOR THE PEOPLE OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
AND WE ARE DOING THAT WITHOUT RAISING YOUR TAXES.
I WANT TO THANK THE GREAT BUDGETING SKILLS OF OUR STAFF AND CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. WITH THAT THIS WAS OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP, WITH THAT, DO I HEAR ANY MOTIONS?
COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: REAL QUICK. IF I -- I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT. STAFF DID A GREAT JOB.
I PRAISED THEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
IF -- IF WE ARE LOOKING AT WORKSHOP.
WE HAVE ALL BEEN THROUGH THE BUDGET.
OUR QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED. I AM -- I AM GOING TO LOOK AT MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. DO WE NEED ANOTHER WORKSHOP TOMORROW OR IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT WE HAVE BUDGET MEETINGS COMING UP THAT ARE GOING TO BE -- THEY ARE GOING TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC INPUT. DO WE ACTUALLY NEED TO HOLD ANY
MORE WORKSHOPS? >>MAYOR BEAN: THAT IS A GREAT POINT, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. WE DON'T HAVE WORKSHOPS BUT BUDGET MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC INPUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WITH THAT IN MIND, WE SCHEDULE THE ONES NEXT WEEK AS TENTATIVE.
DO WE NEED TO MEET TOMORROW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
COMMISSIONER ROSS? METEOROLOGIST ROSS MY QUESTION I --
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: NO FURTHER ANOINTING FOR CHANGING, THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT GOES TO PRESS, PRINTED UP AS A TENTATIVE
BUDGET. >> THERE NAY BE A FEW TWEAKS HERE AND THERE. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR TWO GREAT REVENUE SOURCES. THERE MAY BE SOME PURCHASE ORDERS THAT WILL ROLL -- INSTEAD OF BEING PAID FOR THIS YEAR, THEY MAY ROLL INTO NEXT YEAR. SO WE MAY HAVE SOME FINAL LITTLE TWEAKS TO THE BUDGET BUT NOTHING MAJOR THAT WILL HAPPEN.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO -- I HEAR YOU.
[00:45:01]
CAN YOU SAY THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION?>>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: I WILL MAKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CANCEL TOMORROW'S BUDGET MEETING --
>>MAYOR BEAN: WORKSHOP. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: BUDGET WORK SHOPS AND ONES TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS DURING OUR BUDGET
MEETINGS. >>MAYOR BEAN: EXCELLENT.
DO I HEAR A SECOND. >> SECOND.
>>MAYOR BEAN: A MOTION AND A SECOND.
CALL THE ROLL. >>CLERK: COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: YES. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: YES.
>>COMMISSIONER ANTUN: YES. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: YES.
>>MAYOR BEAN: YES. SO ONCE AGAIN WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT IN THE MEETING FOLLOWING THIS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT AT YOUR ACTUAL BUDGET MEETINGS. THIS WAS A BUDGET WORKSHOP.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL ADJOURN AND SEE YOU AT 6:00.
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]
. >>MAYOR BEAN: WE ARE BACK OPEN AND WE HAVE ITEM 5, PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WANT TO THANK MISS COKIE. YOU HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT PLACED
IN THE BASKET? >> YES, IT WAS ADVERTISED AS
SUCH. >>MAYOR BEAN: I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING US OPEN THE MEETING UP ONCE AGAIN.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT BESIDE MISS COKIE WHO SO ELOQUENTLY HAD US OPEN THE MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. >>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU.
THANKS MISS COKIE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH OPINION I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP. I DIDN'T SEE THAT ONLINE OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING.
FIRST, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AS A COMMISSION VOTING FOR THE ROLLBACK RATE THIS YEAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FOUR YEARS AGO I CAME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION AND I SAID, THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO. AND IT HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH DISMISSED EVERY TIME. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COURAGE OF THIS COMMISSION GOING AFTER THAT ROLLBACK RATE.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED TODAY.
I THINK WITH THE -- WITH THE RESERVES, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE RESERVES IN EVERY DOLLAR OF THAT RESERVE HAS BEEN SPENT, I AM NOT SURE WE SHOULD JUST PUT THE GAVEL DOWN AND SAY WE SHOULD DO THAT. IF WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A TIGHTER BUDGET, WE MAY WANT TO LEAVE A LITTLE MORE OUT THERE.
COMMISSIONER ROSS SAID MAYBE PUT THE TAX RAISE -- OR THE RAISES FOR YOU GUYS. MAYBE PUT SOME OF THAT INTO THE RESERVE. AND -- AND THE FACT WE HAVE THIS -- JUST A WEEK OR TWO AFTER THE LAST BUDGET MEETING.
I WONDER IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IN THAT BUDGET THAT ONCE WE GET DEEPER INTO IT, WE COULD DISCOVER OTHER SAVING OPPORTUNITIES. I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED AT THE -- AT THE LIST OF ISSUES FOR CITY HALL.
I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS LOOKING AT THE BUDGET FOR BRETT'S OR THE BUDGET FOR CITY HALL. THAT IS SAY LOT OF THINGS.
IF THAT WAS MY HOUSE, I MIGHT SAY, I WONDER IF I SHOULD BE DOING ALL THESE THINGS. MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY MAYBE CITY HALL SHOULD GO SOME PLACE ELSE HAND THIS IS A VERY VALUABLE AS IT SET THAT THE CITY HAS.
HOW CAN WE MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF THIS ASSET TO HELP WITH THE BUDGET? TO HELP WITH FUNDING OTHER PARTS OF THE BUDGET? TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER WE LEASE THE PROPERTY OR SELL THE PROPERTY OR DO SOMETHING THAT ALLOW IT IS TO BE USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS, BUT ALSO HELPS US WITH A BUDGET CRUNCH.
SO SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. FEES ARE ANOTHER THING.
I KNOW THAT WILL BE A CONVERSATION AT SOME OF THE OTHER BUDGET MEETINGS. AND I THINK ONE OF THE ONE OF THE STYLES OF OUR BUDGET SPENDING WITH THE GUYS HAVE BEEN, WE NEED TO SPEND MORE ON STAFF BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH RESERVE AND SO MUCH REVENUE COLLECTING WITH GUYS.
I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR USES TO ACTUALLY REDUCE THE GUYS BY LOOKING WHAT OUR COST IS TO SUPPORT THOSE GUYS .WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE STUDIES AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE DONE
[00:50:02]
PROPERLY. JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE STAFF DOESN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY FOR THE FEE REVENUE. WE SHOULD SAY ARE WE OVERENFORCING WITH THAT STAFF. AND IN SOME CASES WITH HE MAY BE .THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE YOU REOPENING THEMEET FOR SOME COMMENTS. >>MAYOR BEAN: APPRECIATE THAT.
HEY, VICE-MAYOR KREGER. AND WE HAVE SOME MORE REQUESTS TO SPEAK. COME ON DOWN.
>> I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO DO THIS.
LEN KREGER, 1313 HICKORY. I HAVE BEEN HERE COUPLE OF TIMES AND TALKED ABOUT THE CAP CAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND STATE LAW EVERYTHING WILL HAD BEEN PUT IN FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WITH PRIORITIES. WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT IS EXTRA REVENUE COMING IN ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS COMING UP.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY ARE ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THEY HAD A PRIORITY. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST -- ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE JUST THROWING MONEY OUT.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN SAYS WHAT IT IS WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IT.
IF THE EXTRA REVENUE COMES, THAT IS WHERE IT CAME FROM.
NOT BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.
IS THAT CORRECT, CHARLIE? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS CORRECT. THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS A CRITICAL ISSUE AS YOU MOVE DOWN THE FIVE YEARS.
I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, VICE-MAYOR.
OUR FORMER COMPTROLLER. COME ON DOWN.
MISS CLIFFORD. >> PENNY CLIFFORD, 1747 AZALEA STREET. I ALSO THRILLED ABOUT THE ROLLBACK RATE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WEREN'T ANSWERED AND THEY HAVE TO DUE WITH THE UTILITY FUNDS. I WAS WONDER GOING THE RATE PAYERS WILL BE EXPERIENCING ANY INCREASES AND IF THEY ARE, WHAT THOSE INCREASES ARE. IF THAT HAS BEEN OUT IN THE PUBLIC PURVIEW. I HAVEN'T SEEN IT AND I APOLOGIZE IF SOMEBODY CAN GET BACK TO ME WITH THE INCREASES ON
WATER, WASTEWATER. >>MAYOR BEAN: YES, MA'AM.
CITY ATTORNEY, TAKE POINT TO MAKE SURE THAT MISS CLIFFORD
GETS THAT INFORMATION. >>THE OTHER THING IS AND I WROTE TO YOU, I FIND IT CONFUSING WITH THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT. I THINK IT WILL BE DIFFICULT ANALYZING THINGS AS WE GO FORWARD.
>>MAYOR BEAN: WE HAVE MORE MINUTES.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS? PETE, YES, SIR.
COME ON DOWN. >> PETE STEVENSON, FERNANDINA.
I HAVE A THING ABOUT THE WATERFRONT.
I WANT IT FIXED. AND WE STARTED.
THIS IS JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT MAYBE GOING UP.
WE ALSOS ARE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY. IF YOU COULD TIE A BOND REFERENCE RUM, THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY AND SAY THIS IS A PRESENT TO THE CITY, THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY, IT MIGHT BE A WAY OF, ONE, GETTING ACCEPTABILITY LIKE WE DID WITH REGAN'S CREEK.
YOU GOT THE CITIZENS TO SUPPORT IT.
JUST AN IDEA. GET THROUGH THE NUMBERS NOW TO SEE WHAT IT WILL REALLY COST. SEE HOW FAR WE REALLY NEED TO GO WITH IT. AND PUT A PLAN THAT SAYS BY GOLLY, WE WILL GET THE WATER FRONT DONE ONCE AND FOR ALL.
>>MAYOR BEAN: A GREAT IDEA OF THE FERNANDINA 100.
>> TO MAYBE MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT IT AND SIGN UP AND BE A PARTNER IN THIS PROCESS. BECAUSE WE NEED TO FIX THE
WATERFRONT. >>MAYOR BEAN: YES, SIR.
>> 7400 DAYS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT.
>>MAYOR BEAN: HAVE YOU DONE THAT MATH?
>> YES. >>MAYOR BEAN: I WILL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC? ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ONCE AGAIN WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING NEW SIX MINUTES AT OUR 6:00 MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.