Sep 19, 2023 Regular Meeting

>> COMMISSIONER AYCUE. >> YES.

[5.3 BUDGET AMENDMENT - WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT ]

THAT PASSES. WITH THAT WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM

5.3, WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT. >> GOOD EVENING, I'M THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR. WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A REQUESTED BUDGET AMENDMENT REALLOCATING FUNDS FROM OUR RESERVE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ACCOUNT TO COVER A SHORTAGE IN OUR ELECTRICAL UTILITY FUND.

AND THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE, I WENT BACK AND CALCULATED WEED HA ABOUT A 24% INCREASE IN OUR ELECTRIC RATES OVER THIS FISCAL YEAR TO DATE. AND OUR USAGE IS ALWAYS KIND OF SOMEWHAT OF A GUESS. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FACILITIES

USE A LOT OF POWER. >> THANK YOU.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? >> SO MY QUESTION IN TAKING IT OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA, IT'S NOT CONTROVERSIAL, I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO VOTE FOR IT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THE RATE OF INFLATION FOR THE ELECTRICITY IS 24% IN ONE YEAR. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THAT'S ALL.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.

[6.1 LIABILITY INSURANCE RENEWAL - PREFERRED GOVERNMENTAL INSURANCE TRUST (PGIT) -]

THAT PASSES. MOVING TO 6.1 LIABILITY INSURANCE RENEWAL. PREFERRED GOVERNMENTAL INSURANCE

TRUST. >> THIS IS OUR INSURANCE RENEWAL

COVERING THE CITY'S BUILDINGS. >> EXCELLENT.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

ALL RIGHT LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE.

[6.6 PURCHASE APPROVAL & DECLARING SURPLUS - CITY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT]

THAT PASSES 5-0. THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 6.6, THAT IS THE PURCHASE APPROVAL AND DECLARING SURPLUS CITY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. WELCOME BACK TO THE PODIUM.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE VEHICLE EQUIPMENT PURCHASE PLAN FOR THIS COMING YEAR.

WHILE THE BUDGET WAS JUST APPROVED, WE PUT THIS IN RIGHT BEHIND IT TO GET A JUMP ON THINGS.

WE OFTEN FALL BEHIND LARGER CITIES.

AND OF COURSE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF LEAD TIME ON ORDERING VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. SO THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT WAS A BIG PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

AND THIS IS THE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASE AND SURPLUS PLANS. SO THIS INCLUDES THOSE ITEMS THAT WE'VE TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AND THOSE THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING INTO SERVICE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE SERVICES FOR THE VARIOUS

[00:20:02]

DEPARTMENTS. SO STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

>> THANK YOU. DO I HEAR A MOTION?

SEEING NONE -- YES, MR. ROSS. >> WE DO A REALLY NICE JOB, A REALLY NICE JOB OF DOING OUR FLEET MANAGEMENT.

AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I HOPE THE CITY APPRECIATES THAT BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS AND IT WAS AN AWARD-WINNING PLAN YOU CAME UP WITH YEARS AGO WHEN YOU FIRST DID IT.

THANK YOU. >> THAT'S REALLY NICE, COMMISSIONER ROSS, THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

[6.7 AWARD OF RFP 23-05 - GOLF CART FLEET AND HAULER CART FINANCING]

THAT PASSES 5-0. 6.7 AWARD OF RFP 23-05 GOLF COURSE FLEET AND HAULER CART FINANCING.

>> THIS IS TO PURCHASE NEW GOLF CARTS AND ONE HAULER.

THE RESOLUTION SHOULD SAY THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF LOAN WHICH CLOSES THIS WEEK IS $715,000. SO THERE'S BEEN SOME NUMBER 725 FLOATING AROUND, IT IS $715,000. AND THAT IS A FIVE-YEAR LOAN.

THE INTEREST RATE IS FIXED AND IT IS 4.855%.

>> EXCELLENT. DO I HEAR A MOTION?

COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> THIS WAS JUST BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AND I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH VOTING FOR THIS. WE HAD THREE BIDS THAT CAME IN.

ONE OF THE BIDS THAT CAME IN FOR THE RFP A LOCAL BANK.

AND THEY'RE VERY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY, VERY WELL RESPECTED.

THEY CAME IN IN THE HIGHEST, LET'S JUST CALL IT $10,000 MORE.

I WANTED TO BRING IN THE POINT THAT MAYBE WE COULD START LOOKING AND CONSIDERING IF WE WANT TO USE LOCAL, IF WE WANT TO BUY LOCAL, THERE MAY BE AN EXPENSE TO IT.

IT MAY BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE LOOK INTO.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING IT THIS TIME, BUT MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE LOOK INTO IN THE FUTURE THAT WE USE OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND PAY TAXES AND ARE INVOLVED. THAT'S IT.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'LL JUST MAKE THE SAME POINT WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE.

I KNOW WE DID PUT IT OUT FOR RFP.

OBVIOUSLY THE BEST BIDDER WON AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT I WOULD LISTEN TO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE IF WE PUT IT OUT FOR RFP HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND LOCAL. BUT FOR THIS IT IS WHAT IT IS AND IT WAS FAIR AND EQUAL SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP.

>> I THINK I WOULD ECHO WHAT YOU SAID.

IF YOU READ THE MATRIX WE ALL HAVE UP ON OUR SCREEN, IT WAS A VERY FAIR PROCESS OF WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT I WILL SAY I AGREE WITH YOU, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE DESIRED. IT'S NOT THE END ALL BE ALL, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULDN'T SPENT MILLIONS DOLLARS MORE TO GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO DO LOCAL. BUT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE COULD TALK WITH STAFF ABOUT HAVING A LINE IN THE MATRIX TO CONSIDER IF IT WAS LOCAL OR NOT. AND THAT MIGHT HELP OUR THING HERE. PERFECT, THAT'S THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO A CITY EMPLOYEE. THE FACT THAT WE DID AN RFP FOR THIS AT ALL IS VERY EXCITING. THE FIRST OPTION WOULD BE TO FINANCE, THIS IS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WOULD BE TO FINANCE WITH THE GOLF CART COMPANY. AND THAT RATE WOULD BE OVER 8%.

THAT WOULD BE AN 8% RATE. BUT OUR COMPTROLLER CAUGHT THAT AND SAID WIE NEED TO GO OUT TO BID BECAUSE THAT IS WAY TOO HIGH A PRICE. SHE RAISED THAT RED FLAG AND SAVED THE CITY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

>> YES. >> VICE MAYOR STURGES.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.

[6.8 BUDGET AMENDMENT - PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT]

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> YES. >> MAYOR BEAN.

>> YES THAT PASSES DOWN THE LINE.

MOVING ALONG WE HAVE 6.8 BUDGET AMENDMENT PARKS AND RECREATION

DEPARTMENT. >> THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO MOVE $15,000 INTO THIS ACCOUNT FOR REPAIR MAINS FACILITY FOR

[00:25:05]

GENERAL ARC IMPROVEMENTS TO THE OFFICE SPACES OUT THERE.

SO PUT THE MONEY IN A CAPITAL ACCOUNT, SHOULDN'T HAVE.

SO WE'RE JUST MOVING MONEY AROUND TO GET THIS PROJECT THAT WAS PLANNED. THIS IS FOR THE INTERIOR OFFICE SPACES AT ATLANTIC. SOME OF IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. THIS IS JUST $15,000 MORE TO GET

THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. >> THANK YOU.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? >> MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST SAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THROUGH WITH JEREMIAH RECENTLY AND WOW THOSE OFFICES LOOK GREAT.

SO GOOD WORK TO OUR CITY MAINTENANCE STAFF FOR ALL OF THE WORK THEY'RE DOING IN HOUSE. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE

ROLL. >> VICE MAYOR STURGES.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

[6.9 PART-TIME STAFFING HEADCOUNTS]

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> YES. >> MAYOR BEAN.

>> YES. THAT PASSES 5-0.

FINALLY 6.9 PART-TIME STAFFING HEADCOUNTS.

>> YOU SAW THE LAST MEETING FOR THIS.

THIS IS THE FORMAL RESOLUTION ASKING TO INCREASE AN ACCOUNT.

AGAIN IT'S NOT AN INCREASE IN BUDGET.

IT'S JUST INCREASING THE HEAD COUNT TO ALLOW FOR MORE

PART-TIME STAFF. >> THANK YOU.

>> I HEAR A MOTION AND A EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND -- AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? I WANT TO REITERATE TO THE PUBLIC WE ARE NOT INCREASING THE BUDGET. WE ARE RESTRUCTURING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE GOLF COURSE TO FIND MORE PART-TIME EMPLOYEES.

WE ALL GET IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MAYOR BEAN. >> YES, THAT PASSES 5-0.

GO DOWN TO ORDINANCE-FIRST READING.

JUST TO REMIND THE PUBLIC WE'RE INTO ORDINANCES NOW, AND OUR CITY OFFICIAL PROCEDURE IS WE ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO THAT BACK TABLE, FILL OUT A FORM AND PUT IT IN THAT BASKET. WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT DURING THE ITEM YOU ARE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING NOT ON THE AGENDA, THAT WILL BE AT THE END OF THE AGENDA.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR PUBLIC

[7.1 (Legislative) - FUTURE LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT - UNIMPROVED N. 7TH STREET AND CALHOUN STREET]

COMMENT IF YOU WISH TO PUT IT IN THE BASKET, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO THAT. ITEM 7.1, A FUTURE LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT UNIMPROVED NORTH 7TH STREET AND CALHOUN STREET.

>> ORDINANCE 2023-24 ASSIGNING A FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF CONSERVATION FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF UNIMPROVED NORTH 7TH STREET AND CALHOUN STREET AND THE MID BLOCK OF IMPROVED NORTH 7TH STREET TOTALLING APPROXIMATELY 8.46 ACRES OF LAND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR

AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> DO I HEAR A MOTION?

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?

SEEING NONE -- >> DO WE NEED A PUBLIC HEARING?

>> THERE IS ONE ON 7.2. >> THE NEXT ONE IS

QUASI-JUDICIAL. >> I THINK THIS IS A REAL GOOD IDEA. THIS IS THE PROPERTY WE RECENTLY PURCHASED. INSTEAD OF IT BEING RESIDENTIAL, THE USE HOPEFULLY WILL BE IN THE FUTURE TO MOVE OVER AND MODIFY ESCAMBIA SO ALL OF THIS AREA WILL BE BACK TO OUR NATURAL STATE. AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THIS AREA. THAT'S MY OPINION.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> YES, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THOSE COMMENTS OF THE VICE MAYOR.

I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD THING FOR THE CITY.

MORE LAND IN CONSERVATION IS A GOOD THING.

AND RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO PURCHASE THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS EXCELLENT BY STAFF. I'M HAPPY TO VOTE FOR THIS.

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

[7.2 (Quasi-judicial) - ZONING MAP AMENDMENT - UNIMPROVED N. 7TH STREET AND CALHOUN STREET]

THAT PASSES 5-0. THE NEXT ONE IS QUASI-JUDICIAL, ZONING MAP AMENDMENT UNIMPROVED NORTH 7TH STREET AND CALHOUN

STREET. >> YOU WILL NOT VOTE TONIGHT.

THERE'S TWO OTHER ITEMS, 7.3, AND 7.5 WHICH ARE QUASI-JUDICIAL. CITY STAFF IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN APPLICANT THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.

WE ARE RELYING ON FOR THE RECORD TONIGHT THE STAFF REPORT AND ALL MATERIALS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM WHICH ARE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE.

AND I WANTED TO JUST CHECK IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION IF THERE ARE ANY AFFECTED PARTIES HERE TONIGHT THAT WISH TO SPEAK OR

TESTIFY. >> IS THIS WHERE I OPEN THE

PUBLIC HEARING? >> NO, I JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW

[00:30:02]

MUCH OF THE RULES I NEED TO GO THROUGH AND HOW MUCH TIME I NEED TO TAKE UP. BUT IT IS QUASI-JUDICIAL, THE RULES ARE ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE. AND IF THERE ARE AFFECTED PARTIES HERE I NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE EXPLAINING.

AND IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ORAL PRESENTATIONS, THEN WE'LL RELY ON THE RECORD WHICH IS THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU. YES, SIR?

>> UNFORTUNATELY AT LEAST, I DON'T THINK THE STAFF REPORT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET. SO I WANT THIS TO GO THROUGH, I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS OVER AGAIN.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE PACKET WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

>> RIGHT. >> JUST BRINGING THAT TO YOUR

ATTENTION. >> AND I FOUND THE SAME ON THE WEBSITE. BUT THAT DOES NOT WITHDRAW THIS

-- >> BUT YOU SAID INCLUDED IN THE

PACKET. >> WHATEVER IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET AT THIS TIME IS ON THE RECORD.

AND THAT IS THE COMPLETE RECORD SINCE THE HEARING WAS CLOSED.

SO WHAT IS IN THE PACKET THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW EVEN WITHOUT THE STAFF REPORT IS A REQUEST TO ZONE THE PROPERTY TO CONSERVATION WHICH I DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY HAS A PROBLEM WITH. I DON'T SEE ANY AFFECTED PARTIES AND CITY STAFF CERTAINLY DOESN'T OBJECT.

SO CITY STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

AL YOU'LL HAVE A SECOND HEARING IN A MONTH AND THAT'S WHEN YOU WILL VOTE ON THIS. BUT THERE WON'T BE ANY OTHER EVIDENCE PRESENTED TONIGHT. AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND

READ THE TITLE IF THAT'S OKAY. >> YES, PLEASE.

>> ORDINANCE 2023-25 ASSIGNING A ZONING MAP CATEGORY OF CONSERVATION FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT CORNER OF UNIMPROVED NORTH 7TH STREET AND CALHOUN STREET AND MID BLOCK OF UNIMPROVED NORTH 7TH STREET TOTALLING APPROXIMATELY .46 ACRES OF LAND PROVING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. AND YOU SHOULD CLOSE THE

HEARING. >> DID WE AGREE TO OPEN THE

HEARING? >> I'M GOING TO DO BOTH.

I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER HERE? I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> NO VOTE?

>> THERE IS NO VOTE, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S .49 ACRES FOR THE

[7.3 (Quasi-judicial) - VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION - 123 HIRTH ROAD AND 96030 SOMERSET DRIVE]

CONSERVATION POOL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MOVING ON DOWN TO ITEM 7.3, ANOTHER QUASI-JUDICIAL.

VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF 123HIRTH ROAD AND 96030 SOMERSET DRIVE.

>> YES ORDINANCE 2023-36 ANNEXING APPROXIMATELY 20.89 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 123HIRTH ROAD AND 96030 SOMERSET DRIVE CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY LIMITS PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

PLEASE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

>> THE CITY STAFF RELIES ON THE DOCUMENTS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM. THIS IS AN APPLICATION FOR VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF THIS PROPERTY.

>> AGAIN I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY STAFF REPORT ATTACHED TO

THIS. >> ON THE SECOND READING, CAN YOU MAKE SURE THE STAFF REPORT IS ATTACHED?

>> YES. >> YOU'RE THE BEST.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING

[7.4 (Legislative) - FUTURE LAND USE MAP ASSIGNMENT -123 HIRTH ROAD AND 96030 SOMERSET DRIVE]

IS CLOSED. DID YOU READ THE TITLE?

>> I DID READ THE TITLE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> PERFECT. THEN WE'RE ON TO ITEM 7.4 WHICH IS LEGISLATIVE OF THE SAME TOPIC, FUTURE LAND USE MAP ASSIGNMENT OF 123HIRTH ROAD AND 96030 SOMERSET DRIVE.

>> ORDINANCE 2023-37 ASSIGNING A FUTURE LAND USE MAP CA THE GORE FOR HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL FOR 20.89 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 123HIRTH ROAD AND 96030 SOMERSET DRIVE PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

YOU WILL VOTE ON THIS AS IT IS LEGISLATIVE.

>> ABSOLUTELY. I HEAR A MOTION?

VICE MAYOR. >> I HAVE TO STAND UP AND SAY THIS IS 20.89 ACRES THAT IS JOINING THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. I STOOD UP TO MAKE MY STATEMENT.

THAT IS AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE BEING THAT THESE ARE LOTS OF APARTMENTS. AND WE ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY ORGANICALLY PIECE BY PIECE TAKING THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND. SO IT IS GOOD FOR THE CITY.

IT'S GOOD FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THIS AREA AND USE CITY RULES AND CITY ORDINANCES TO MAKE IT A BETTER ENVIRONMENT.

>> I WANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE I SEE SOME CONFUSED LOOKS IN THE CROWD. WHAT THE LOCATION IS THESE ARE ALREADY BUILT APARTMENT COMPLEXES BEHIND CANTINA LOUIS.

THEY'RE ALREADY EXISTING APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE

[00:35:01]

JOINING THE CITY IF THAT HELPS YOU NARROW DOWN WHERE THEY ARE.

>> THESE WERE THE VERY FIRST APARTMENTS BUILT ON AMELIA ISLAND. I KNOW VERY WELL THAT MY UNCLE WHO IS SITTING IN THAT CORNER IT'S ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PLACES HE STAYED. THEY WERE THE VERY FIRST APARTMENTS BUILT ON AMELIA ISLAND.

>> THAT'S GOOD HISTORY, VICE MAYOR.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>> AGAIN IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE THE STAFF REPORT IS INCLUDED.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MAYOR BEAN. >> AND YES THAT PASSES 5-0.

[7.5 (Quasi-judicial) - ZONING MAP ASSIGNMENT]

HEADING ON DOWN TO NOW IT'S 7.5 QUASI-JUDICIAL ZONING MAP

ASSIGNMENT. >> ORDINANCE 2023-38 ASSIGNING A ZONING CATEGORY OF HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL R-THREE FOR 20.89 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 123 HIRTH ROAD AND 96030 SOMERSET DRIVE PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS AGAIN IS QUASI-JUDICIAL, YOU WILL NOT VOTE TONIGHT. PLEASE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK?

>> STAFF SUBMITS WHAT IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA AS THE

RECORD. >> AGAIN IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE

THE STAFF REPORT IS IN THERE. >> ALL RIGHT WE HAVE SOME STAFF REPORTS TO DO, THAT'S ABOUT IT. IF ANYBODY WISHES TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND WE WILL NOT VOTE

[7.6 CAPACITY FEES - WATER & WASTEWATER]

ON THIS TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 7.6 CAPACITY FEES, WATER AND

WASTEWATER. >> ORDINANCE 2023-39 AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION ARTICLE VII FINANCE DIVISION 4, BY REPLACING THE TERM IMPACT FEE WITH CAPACITY FEE IN THE TITLE AND THROUGHOUT THIS ARTICLE.

BY REPLACING LEGALESE TERMS SUCH AS SHALL BY PLAIN ENGLISH MUST OR MAY FOR REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS ARTICLE. BY SPECIFICALLY AMENDING SECTION 2-475 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS TO STATE INTENT TO SATISFY DUAL RATIONAL NEXUS TEST. AMENDING SECTION 2-476 DEFINITIONS BY ADDING DEFINITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

AMENDING SECTION 2-477 TO REQUIRE PAYMENT OF CAPACITY FEE UPON ISSUANCE OF A BUILDING PERMIT.

REPEALING SECTION 2-481 BECAUSE IT IS OBSOLETE AND RELATED TO REPAYMENT OF STATE OF FLORIDA GRANTS AND MATCHES FOR GRANTS THAT ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT. AMENDING SECTION 2-482 BY ESTABLISHING A SEWER SYSTEM CAPACITY FEE BASED UPON RECENT AND LOCALIZED DATA AND BASED ON EQUIVALENT RESIDENTIAL UNITS BY CREATING SECTION 2-483 PROVIDING FOR A SANITARY SEWER CAPACITY TRUST FUND, DEPOSIT OF FEES, USE OF FUNDS.

AND BY AMENDING DIVISION 7 WATER CAPACITY FEE AND TRUST FUND BY AMENDING SECTION 2-540 PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.

AMENDING SECTION 2-542 BY ESTABLISHING A WATER CAPACITY FEE BASED UPON RECENT AND LOCALIZED DATA AND BASED ON EQUIVALENT RESIDENTIAL UNITS. AMENDING SECTION 2-544 BY ADDING DEFINITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE. AMENDING 2-547 BY CLARIFYING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE SEEN THIS ORDINANCE BEFORE AND THIS IS BASED UPON THE FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION STUDY THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU IN JULY.

AND THE LAST TIME WE SAW THIS STAFF HAD RECOMMENDED OPTION B WHICH WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE WATER AND THE WASTEWATER CAPACITY FEES. THE COMMISSION REJECTED THAT ORDINANCE THAT EVENING AND SO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE RECENT AND LOCALIZED DATA, WE EITHER ACCEPT THE FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION STUDY AND CONSIDER THE OTHER OPTION, OPTION A WHICH IS A REDUCTION IN THE WATER CAPACITY FEE AND A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE WASTEWATER CAPACITY FEE.

THEN WE WILL NOT HAVE RECENT AND LOCALIZED DATA.

IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT THIS TONIGHT, WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO ANOTHER STUDY, BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE UPDATED DATA.

SO STAFF RECOMMENDS AT THIS TIME BASED UPON YOUR COMMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING THAT YOU ADOPT OPTION A, YOU ACCEPT THIS REPORT AND ADOPT OPTION A AS THE NEW CAPACITY FEES.

>> THANK YOU. DO I HEAR A MOTION?

VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

TAMMY -- >> YES, SIR.

>> BRIEFLY, THIS IN REFERENCE TO THE LAST STUDY THAT WAS DONE, THIS IS APPLES AND ORANGES, CORRECT? THIS STUDY IS DONE ON A DIFFERENT BASIS AND A DIFFERENT

[00:40:03]

METHOD COMPARED TO LAST STUDY? >> CORRECT.

THE LAST STUDY WE HAD ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO WAS COMPLETED BY BURTON & ASSOCIATES FOR THE WATER AND WASTEWATER CAPACITY FEES. AND IT WAS USING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT METHOD THAN THE FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION

HAS USED. >> THAT'S ALL I WAS POINTING OUT. WE JUST HAD TWO DIFFERENT METHODS. THAT'S WHY IT WENT SLIGHTLY DOWN. IF WE WENT ON A DIFFERENT METHOD IT COULD HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

BUT THIS IS THE STUDY WE HAVE? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> I HAD SOME QUESTIONS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT. THIS APPLIES TO -- CONNECTING TO THE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF USING SEPTIC?

>> YES. >> AND THE CAPACITY FEE ALSO APPLIES TO CONNECTION OF EXISTING CONSTRUCTION WHICH WANTS TO USE THE CITY SYSTEM IN EXPANSION OF THEIR EXISTING

FACILITIES? >> CORRECT.

>> IN OTHER WORDS IF I'M A RESTAURANT AND I WANT TO ADD ON TO IT, I HAVE TO PAY THE CAPACITY FEE?

>> CORRECT. >> AND THE CAPACITY FEE DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY OF THE CURRENT USERS THAT ARE IN THE CITY OR

NOT IN THE CITY? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> SO IT APPLIES TO NEW CONSTRUCTION?

>> EXACTLY. >> OKAY.

AND THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY YOU HAVE TO HAVE SEWER AND WATER.

IN OTHER WORDS YOU HAVE TO EITHER BE ON CITY SEWER OR INSTALL A NEW SEPTIC SYSTEM, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THOSE ARE THE TWO OPTIONS, YES.

>> AND FOR WATER, IT'S EITHER CITY WATER OR YOU HAVE TO DRILL

FOR A NEW WELL, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND THE COST OF A NEW WELL IS ABOUT $5,000, CORRECT?

>> APPROXIMATELY. >> MORE OR LESS.

AND NEW SEPTIC IS ABOUT $15,000? >> THAT'S REASONABLE.

>> SO IT'S ABOUT $20,000. SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW, YOU'VE GOT TO SPEND $20,000.01 WAY OR ANOTHER IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE THE CITY'S SYSTEM, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND WHILE OPERATING THAT WELL SEPTIC, THERE'S NO OPERATING COSTS FOR ELECTRICITY AND MAINTENANCE, BUT EVENTUALLY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE

THE SYSTEM AT SOME POINT? >> YEAH, THEY HAVE A DEFINITE

SERVICE LIFE. >> BUT THE CITY CAPACITY IF WE GO WITH OPTION A, IT WOULD BE $3,000 OR IF WE GO WITH OPTION B, IT WOULD BE $10,400 TO HOOK UP TO THIS THE CAPACITY FEE.

>> YEAH, IN LIEU OF THE WELL OR SEPTIC.

>> IN LIEU OF WELL OR SEPTIC. SO THAT'S ABOUT EVEN IF WE GO WITH THE MORE EXPENSIVE, THEY'RE STILL SAVING $10,000.

THAT'S NOT EXACTLY TRUE BECAUSE THE HOOK UP FEE IS $3,000, AND A

METER OF $250? >> YES.

>> SO IT'S ABOUT $8,000 SAVINGS EVEN IF YOU WENT WITH OPTION B OVER HAVING TO INSTALL WELL AND SEPTIC.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT, BUT THERE IS A SEWER. SEWER BILL IS ABOUT $50 A MONTH FOR MOST USERS AND THE WATER BILL IS ABOUT $25 A MONTH?

>> YEAH FOR TYPICAL USAGE. >> SO THE EXPENSES OF OPERATING THE UTILITY OF THE CITY WATER SYSTEM, THERE'S OPERATING COSTS,

CORRECT? >> YES.

>> AND THE SALARIES GO UP ABOUT 5% EVERY YEAR MORE OR LESS.

>> YES. >> TYPICALLY.

ELECTRICITY WENT UP 26%? >> 24%.

>> 24%. AND CHEMICALS WENT UP ABOUT

200%. >> YES.

>> SO THERE'S PRETTY BIG INFLATION AND THE FEES KEEP GOING UP EVERY YEAR IN THOSE COSTS WE HAVE TO PAY.

>> YEAH, OPERATING COSTS ARE CONTINUALLY INCREASING.

>> ALTHOUGH WE SAVE FOR THIS, THE COST OF CAPITAL REPLACEMENT IS ALL GOING UP AS WELL. SO THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF INFLATION AND THE COSTS OF THAT ARE GOING UP AS WELL; IS THAT

CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND THE DEBT THAT WE CURRENTLY OWE ON THAT IS

$2.5 MILLION? >> I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PAID OFF IN ABOUT TEN YEARS, CORRECT? AND THE PAYMENTS IN 23 ARE GOING TO BE $2.7 MILLION.

IN 24 IT'S $2.7 MILLION. AND 25, 26, 27, IT GOES DOWN TO $2.5 MILLION EVERY YEAR, IS THAT CORRECT? AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DEBT, ALL OF THE OTHER EXPENSES FOR OPERATING OUR UTILITY SYSTEM ARE INCREASING, CORRECT?

>> YES. >> AND THE ONLY WAY WE'LL BE

[00:45:01]

ABLE TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS IS EITHER THE CURRENT USERS ARE GOING TO PAY IT OR THE FUTURE USERS ARE GOING TO PAY IT.

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO PAY IT BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO POOLS WE GET

MONEY? >> YEAH, THOSE ARE THE TWO

REVENUE STREAMS. >> SO THE LESS THE FUTURE USERS PAY, THE MORE THE CURRENT USERS PAY, IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

>> YES. >> AND THE CAPACITY FEE IS SIMILAR TO LIKE AN INITIATION FEE IN A GOLF COURSE OR A BUY IN IN A CO-OP WHERE YOU'RE PAYING FOR THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY BUILT SO THAT YOU CAN USE THEM, ISN'T THAT CORRECT.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD ANALOGY. >> SO THE FUTURE USERS ARE PAYING FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH THE CURRENT USERS HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE GROWTH, ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN USE, IS

THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND THE CAPACITY FEE IS 100% USED TO PAY FOR DEBT WHICH FINANCED THE CAPACITY THE NEW USERS ARE GOING TO BE USING, IS

THAT CORRECT? >> YES.

>> FINALLY THE CITY HIRED A CONSULTANT, CORRECT?

>> YES, THEY DID. >> WHO WAS THAT?

>> FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION WE WERE CONTRACTED WITH. THEY USED ONE OF THEIR CONSULTANTS TO PERFORM THE STUDY AND THIS GROUP I THINK THEY'VE DONE OVER 150 OF THESE TYPES OF STUDIES.

SO EVERYTHING IS LABELED FLORIDA RURAL WATER.

BUT IT WAS ALL REVIEWED BY THEIR ATTORNEYS AND PROFESSIONALS.

>> SO WE HIRED A QUALIFIED CONSULTANT?

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> AND WHICH DO THEY RECOMMEND

OPTION A OR OPTION B? >> THEIR STATEMENT IN HERE WAS THAT OPTION B WHICH USED THE REMAINING USE OF THE LIFE CRITERIA FOR THE EVALUATION, FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT VALUE BUS IT REPRESENTS MORE EQUITABLE COMPENSATION FOR THE UTILITY FOR THE COST OF KEEPING NECESSARY CAPACITY AVAILABLE FOR NEW USERS WHEN IT IS NEEDED.

>> PUT THAT INTO ENGLISH. >> THEY RECOMMENDED OPTION B, IT WAS MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE OPERATING COSTS.

>> SO THE QUALIFIED CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED OPTION B BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD SPREAD OUT THE COST MORE BETWEEN THE FUTURE

USERS AND THE CURRENT USERS? >> CORRECT.

>> OKAY. AND WHAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION?

>> I AGREE WITH THIS STUDY. I THINK OPTION B REPRESENTS THE BEST FOR THE LONG TERM HEALTH AND VIABILITY OF OUR UTILITY.

I THINK THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSIONS THE LAST TIME WE BROUGHT THIS UP OF THE INITIAL SHOCK OF THAT LARGE INCREASE.

THERE'S ALWAYS THE OPTION TO PHASE THAT INCREASE IN IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION. THAT BEING SAID, OPTION A I THINK WE HAVE TO DO ONE OR THE OTHER AS TAMMY MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN HER PRESENTATION THAT RECENT AND RELEVANT DATA IS WHAT WE NEED TO BASE ON.

ONE OF THE OPTIONS WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.

>> SO THE QUALIFIED CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED OPTION B AND YOU ARE

RECOMMENDING OPTION B? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WHAT YOU'RE REALLY TELLING ME IS WHO IS GOING TO PAY THE COST

OF ALL OF THIS. >> YES.

>> SOMEBODY IS GOING TO PAY THE COST, IT'S EITHER GOING TO BE THE CURRENT USERS PLUS THE FUTURE USERS AND WE'RE JUST DISCUSSING HOW MUCH THE FUTURE USERS ARE GOING TO PAY AND HOW MUCH THE CURRENT USERS ARE GOING TO PAY; IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES. >> THAT'S ALL.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> I RECOMMEND THAT I'M FOR PASSING THIS. I ALSO RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE OPTION B FOR THE REASONS STATED. WE HIRED AN EXPERT.

THEY GAVE US AN OPINION. OUR OWN EXPERT HAS GIVEN US AN OPINION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, I MEAN BASICALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WE HAVE A CAPACITY DEMAND.

EITHER THE CURRENT USERS ARE GOING TO PAY MORE OR THE FUTURE USERS ARE GOING TO PAY MORE. SO I THINK THAT TO MAKE IT EQUITABLE THE FUTURE USERS SHOULD HAVE MORE OF THE BURDEN AND PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE WHICH WAS DETERMINED BY NOT ONLY OUR EXPERT BUT OUR CONSULTANT THAT WE HIRED.

SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. ROSS.

COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ANDRE OR TAMMY MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS.

WHEN WE COLLECT THESE FEES, THESE CAPACITY FEES OR WE DON'T CALL THEM IMPACT FEES ANYMORE, ARE WE ABLE TO USE THOSE FUNDS TO PAY FOR ELECTRICITY? NO?

>> NO. >> ARE WE ABLE TO USE THEM TO

[00:50:01]

PAY FOR SALARIES? >> NO.

>> OKAY. >> THEY'RE FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ONLY OR DEBT SERVICE WHICH IS WHAT WE USE IT

FOR. >> SO WE'RE NOT ABLE TO USE ANY OF THOSE FUNDS, WHERE DOES IT GO? THAT MAY BE A BETTER QUESTION. WHEN WE COLLECT THESE FEES,

WHERE DO WE PUT THIS MONEY? >> SO THERE'S A SPECIFIC BUDGET ACCOUNT FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER CAPACITY FEES.

SO ALL OF THE MONEY IS RECONCILED, MOVED TO THAT ACCOUNT, AND THEN ANNUALLY THERE'S A TRANSFER FROM THAT ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER DEBT SERVICE ACCOUNT WHICH IS WHERE ALL OF THE PREMIUMS FOR THE BONDS ARE PAID FROM THAT ACCOUNT.

SO OUR ANNUAL BOND PAYMENTS EXCEED WHAT WE COLLECT ON IMPACT FEES. SO THAT'S WHERE ALL OF THE IMPACT FEE MONEY GOES TO. IF THAT WAS REDUCED, THEN THE FUNDS FROM THE WATER AND WASTEWATER REVENUE MAKE UP THE

DIFFERENCE. >> OKAY.

QUESTION, AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT WHAT WOULD WE DO IF ANOTHER HOUSE OR NO OTHER STRUCTURE WHATSOEVER WAS BUILT IN FERNANDINA BEACH, HOW WOULD WE GO ABOUT RECTIFYING THAT SITUATION?

>> REGARDING OPERATING EXPENSES AND DEBT SERVICE?

>> MHM. >> THEN OUR RATE STUDY WOULD REFLECT NO OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE AND WE WOULD BALANCE THAT BUDGET BASED ON OUR CURRENT USERS.

>> SO WE WOULD GET ANOTHER STUDY AND IT WOULD SAY BASED ON THIS, WE THINK THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT.

>> YES. >> OKAY.

THAT WAS IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR ANDRE TOO. SO THE COST TO HOOK UP TO CITY SEWER AND WATER, THE HOOK UP COST, THAT IS A, THAT WOULD MEAN THIS CAPACITY FEE, THAT WOULD BE THIS CAPACITY FEE PLUS WHAT OTHER FEES DOES SOMEONE PAY TO HOOK UP TO CITY WATER AND SEWER

AS OF RIGHT NOW? >> SO FOR YOUR TYPICAL HOUSE, THERE'S A CONNECTION FEE OF $1,500 FOR BOTH WATER AND

WASTEWATER. >> THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THE

CAPACITY FEE? >> CORRECT.

THAT'S PHYSICALLY US GOING AND MAKING A TAP ON THE MAIN, MAKING THAT EXTENSION, SELLING A METER BOX AND DOING EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. THAT'S ASSUMING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BRING A MAIN FROM 100 FEET DOWN THE STREET.

THAT'S YOUR BASIC CONNECTION. IN A NEW SUBDIVISION THOUGH ALL OF THOSE METER BOXES ARE ALREADY STUBBED OUT.

ALL OF THOSE SEWER SERVICES ARE ALREADY INSTALLED BECAUSE IT WAS A MORE MODERN SUBDIVISION. SO THOSE FEES DON'T APPLY, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS COME IN AND SET IN A METER WHICH IS A $250 CHARGE FOR THE METER WHICH IS OUR COST.

AND THEY PAY THEIR CAPACITY FEES AND THEY'RE OFF AND RUNNING IN A NEW SUBDIVISION. IF IT'S AN OLDER AREA OF TOWN, THEN THOSE TWO $1,500 FEES FOR A TOTAL OF $3,000 CONNECTION WOULD

APPLY. >> UNDERSTOOD.

SO THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER ROSS WAS TALKING ABOUT, IT WOULD BE $3,000 PLUS $1,500 SOMETIMES SO IN TOTAL IT WOULD BE $8,000 IS

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. >> YES, WORST CASE SCENARIO WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO THAT

AREA. >> THAT'S ACTUALLY MY NEXT QUESTION. LET'S SAY I LIVE ON FRIENDLY ROAD. ON FRIENDLY ROAD IF SOMEONE ON THAT ROAD NEEDED TO HAVE A CONNECTION, WHO PAYS FOR THE SEWER, HOW DOES IT GET OUT THERE?

>> OUR ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER PAY FOR THAT

EXTENSION. >> HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST?

>> OUR CURRENT RATES ARE BASED IN THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE SO THAT'S GOING TO COME UP LATER TONIGHT.

BUT WE HAVE A PER FOOTAGE COST. I THINK A TWO INCH LINE IS ABOUT $14 PER FOOT. A FOUR INCH LINE IS ABOUT $20 PER FOOT. WE PROVIDE A PRICE FOR THAT EXTENSION. BUT THE PROPERTY OWNER IS ALSO MORE THAN ABLE TO GO HIRE ANOTHER CONTRACTOR TO INSTALL THAT RATHER THAN HAVING THE CITY DO IT.

>> SO THEY WOULD OWN THEIR OWN PRIVATE SEWER, AT THAT POINT,

RIGHT? >> NO.

IT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY.

>> SO THEY WOULD BUILD A SEWER FOR US IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HOOK UP, THEY HAVE TO BUILD A SEWER AND THEY PAY FOR IT FOR US?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> OKAY, THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANTED TO GET AT. THAT'S NOT THE ONLY COST TO HOOKING UP TO CITY SEWER. THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE FAR AWAY FROM THE SEWER SYSTEM HAVE TO BUILD THE ACTUAL SEWER AND THEY PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES. THAT'S THE POINT I WANT TO GET AT IS THAT IN CERTAIN CASES THAT CAN BE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BASED ON PEOPLE I'VE SPOKEN TO.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THAT AFTER THAT WE WOULD ALSO THEN CHARGE THEM A $10,000 FEE FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF HOOKING UP AFTER THEY GAVE US THE SEWER, SO I THINK AND I WANT TO CLARIFY THIS POINT TO THE

[00:55:05]

COMMUNITY IS THAT THE WHOLE INITIATION FEE AND THEY'RE STILL GOING TO PAY ABOUT $3,000 WHEN SOMEONE NEW JOINS THE CITY.

THEY'RE GOING TO PAY $3,000, THAT IS FOUR DIGITS, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. THE PROPOSAL WOULD MAKE THAT $10,000, THAT IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH MONEY, I WOULD ARGUE.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M GOING TO VOTE YES, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR OPTION A. COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE LAST FIVE

YEARS HAVE PUT THEIR OWN SEWER >> QUITE A FEW ACTUALLY.

IT DEPENDS ON THE DISTANCE. OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF TIMES IT'S COST PROHIBITIVE. BUT THAT SAME POLICY ALSO APPLIES TO DEVELOPMENT. THE DEVELOPMENT HE REFERENCED DOWN BONNAVIEW ROAD. THAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEVELOPER AND WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY THEN WE PROVIDE SERVICE TO ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS. SO THE SAME POLICY APPLIES

WHATEVER THE SCALE OF DOCUMENT. >> THANK YOU.

I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE NUMBER BUT IT'S STILL CHEAPER THAN PUTTING IN YOUR OWN WELL AND SEPTIC.

WE'RE SUBSIDIZING DEVELOPMENT IN THAT SENSE.

IF YOU ADD IT UP, THAT'S WHY I WENT THROUGH THESE NUMBERS.

IT'S $20,000 IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR OWN WELL AND SEPTIC IN.

IT'S $10,200 AND THEN IT'S $3,000 PLUS IT'S $250, AM I

CORRECT, THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS? >> YES.

>> SO THAT'S 10,000, 13,200, $13,500.

SO THAT'S STILL $7,000 LESS THAN WHAT IT WOULD COST TO DO SEWER

AND WATER, CORRECT? >> YES.

>> SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, NOT WE, THE CURRENT PAYERS ARE SUBSIDIZING THAT DEVELOPMENT IN A SENSE.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M VOTING FOR OPTION B.

>> ALL RIGHT. SEEMS LIKE WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ON THIS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> WHAT ARE WE VOTING? >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE CLEAR. >> I LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE

VOTING ON. >> A YES VOTE, IF YOU VOTE YES ON THIS, YOU ARE CONFIRMING THAT YOU LIKE OPTION A.

YOU THINK THAT $3,000 IS THE APPROPRIATE CAPACITY FEE.

THAT'S WHAT A YES VOTE HERE MEANS TONIGHT.

CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

[8.1 MASTER FEE SCHEDULE]

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> NO.

THAT PASSES 4-1. MOVING ON TO ORDINANCE-SECOND

READING MASTER FEE SCHEDULE. >> ORDINANCE 2023-31 ESTABLISHING AND AMENDING FEES FOR THE AIRPORT, BUILDING, BUSINESS SERVICES, CODE ENFORCEMENT, CEMETERY, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, FIRE, GOLF COURSE, MARINA, PARKS AND RECREATION, PLANNING, POLICE, SANITATION, STORMWATER, STREETS, WASTEWATER, WATER, AND IMPACT FEES EXCLUDING WATER AND SEWER CAPACITY FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023--24 PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

PLEASE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? HEARING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

DO WE NEED TO CALL A VOTE? >> YOU DO NEED TO CALL A VOTE.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST AND FINAL VOTE ON THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE.

I WANTED TO NOTE SINCE FIRST READING THERE'S A NOTE THAT THE COMMERCIAL RATES AT THE MARINA WILL BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2024. AND THERE'S A FEE FOR STREET CLOSURES, THOSE STREET CLOSURES CAN ONLY HAPPEN WITH APPROVAL OF

THE CITY COMMISSION. >> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER ROSS. FIRST DO I HEAR A MOTION?

>> I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> I'M WILLING TO VOTE FOR THIS BUT WITH THE CAVEAT THAT I STILL BELIEVE THAT BOTH THE MARINA OPERATOR AND THE GOLF COURSE OPERATOR, GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO SET THEIR OWN FEES IF WE'RE GOING TO RUN THAT LIKE AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SET THEIR OWN FEES AND NOT HAVE TO BE A

PART OF THIS LIST. >> DULY NOTED.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? VICE MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. TAMMY, THE COST OF THE STREET CHANGE OR DID WE PUT THE CAVEAT WE JUST ADDED ANYTHING ABOUT

APPROVAL BEFORE -- >> THE ONLY THING THAT MY OFFICE CHANGED SINCE FIRST READING WAS THE CAVEAT THAT THE COMMISSION MUST APPROVE IT. I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.

MR. GEORGE DOES, HE'S GOING TO LET US KNOW.

>> WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? >> STREET CLOSURE FEE, WAS THAT

THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST YEAR? >> IT WAS $1,500 OR --

>> NO CHANGE TO THE AMOUNT. >> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

[01:00:02]

>> AND JUST TO CLARIFY ABOUT THAT, WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT NEW PATH FOR A STREET CLOSURE, THERE WILL STILL BE

SOME SORT OF COMMITTEE? >> A POLICY.

YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

[9.1 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE]

THAT PASSES. BOARD APPOINTMENTS, PARKS AND

RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. >> I MOVE TO APPROVE LOU GOLDEN.

>> SECOND. >> HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> I JUST WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE ABOUT MR. GOLDEN.

HE'S A REAL TREAT TO TALK TO IF ANYBODY GETS THE CHANCE TO.

REALLY GOOD GUY. FASCINATING.

I STOP BY HIS HOUSE FROM TIME TO TIME JUST TO SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. JUST A REALLY GREAT INDIVIDUAL.

AND I'M GLAD THAT HE'S STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE TO SERVE.

THAT'S JUST AWESOME. MAKES ONE HECK OF A KEY LIME PIE

TOO BY THE WAY. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I'LL AGREE WITH THAT. MR. GOLDEN HAS DECADES OF FERNANDINA EXPERIENCE. I'M HONORED HE WOULD DECIDE TO DO THIS FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT IN MIND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE.

[10. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]

THAT PASSES 5-0. CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. GOLDEN.

WE ARE NOW AT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING TONIGHT, WE WANT TO HEAR IT.

FILL OUT THE FORM AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL KNOW YOU ARE READY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. WITH THAT, LET'S GET STARTED.

WE CALL FORWARD MR. WAYNE O'ROURKE.

PLEASE START WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU

HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MY NAME IS WAYNE O'BORG. I'M ON VACATION AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST SIX MONTHS. I RETIRED FROM PUBLIC SERVICE.

I USED TO BE A FINANCE DIRECTOR SO WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT RATES AND I DID A RATE STUDY FOR ONE OF THE CITIES I WORKED WITH.

SO I GOT FIRED UP ABOUT THAT. AT ANY RATE, I'VE HAD SOME ENGAGEMENT WITH SOME OF YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS.

AND THEY'VE BEEN WONDERFUL. A COUPLE OF TIMES I PROBABLY HAD THE MOST POPULAR YELLOW LAB IN TOWN BECAUSE SOME PHONE CALLS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT HER. BUT ANYWAY I'VE HAD A POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH OFFICER LIEUTENANT HEPLER AND OFFICER ALVIN. TREMENDOUSLY PROFESSIONAL USING DISCRETION. AND YOU CAN WALK UP AND THE POLICE CHIEF WALK UP TO THE INTERIM POLICE CHIEF AT ANY OF YOUR GET TOGETHERS AND NICE TO TALK TO.

VERY NICE PERSON. YOU EVIDENTLY HAVE A GREAT CULTURE IN YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND ALSO I SORT OF HANG OUT AT THE PARK DURING THE DAY, FIND SOME SHADE AND A BREEZE. AND PARK PERSONNEL WOULD BE MAINTAINING THE PARK. AND I SAY YOU NEED ME TO MOVE AND THEY SAY NO WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE PARK.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL OF THEM.

I MOVED ANYWAY. BUT YOU'RE EVIDENTLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE WORKING FOR YOU. AND I THOUGHT I'D PASS THAT ALONG BECAUSE I WON'T BE HERE FOR THE NEXT MEETING AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO PULL ANYBODY ASIDE AND YOU'VE GOT A CITY MANAGER THING GOING ON. I'M NOT SURE HOW ALL OF THAT WORKS. BUT ANYWAY I THOUGHT AS A FORMER PUBLIC SERVICE WORKER THAT THEY DON'T HEAR ENOUGH PRAISE FROM THE PUBLIC AND I JUST HAPPENED TO BE TRAVELING THROUGH AND I'VE HAD SOME REALLY POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH THEM.

SO THANK YOU. >> MR. WAYNE, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR VACATION HERE IN FERNANDINA.

COULD YOU PLEASE PASS THAT ALONG TO BOTH THE DEPARTMENTS?

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

>> OF COURSE. OKAY, WITH THAT ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? THAT'S THE ONLY ONE I HAD HERE.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, LET'S HEAD ON DOWN TO CITY MANAGER REPORTS.

[12. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS]

MR. GEORGE. >> NOTHING AT THIS TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. BACH, CITY ATTORNEY.

>> IN OUR MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS THIS MORNING, WE MEET WITH ALL OF YOU OVER THE WEEK PREPARING FOR THE MEETING,

[01:05:04]

HE ASKED THAT I BE ABLE TO AND MS. BEST WILL BRING THE SLIDE UP. AS YOU KNOW, YOU ALL CHOSE A NEW CITY MANAGER, TY ROSS. AND LAST WEEK I SPOKE WITH MR. ROSS, WE DID FINALIZE A CONTRACT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THE OCTOBER 3RD AGENDA. AND AS OF TODAY MR. ROSS HAS SECURED A RENTAL PROPERTY. HE WILL BEGIN RENTING AND BE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY AS OF OCTOBER 11TH.

AND HIS FIRST DAY WILL BE OCTOBER 16TH.

SO I JUST WANTED TO REVIEW WITH YOU AND THE PUBLIC WHAT HE HAS REQUESTED IN TERMS OF SALARY AND THEN BENEFITS THAT WE OFFER AND JUST GO OVER IT REAL QUICK. HIS START DATE IS OCTOBER 16TH SO THAT'S RATHER QUICK. AND THEN THE SALARY, AS YOU KNOW THE SALARY RANGE THAT WAS PUBLISHED WAS 190 TO 225.

MR. ROSS REQUESTED THE TOP OF THE SALARY RANGE AT 225 FOR LESS SALARY AND A HOUSING ALLOWANCE BECAUSE OF THE COST OF HOUSING.

VEHICLE WILL EITHER BE A TAKE HOME VEHICLE, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN THE BUDGET. SO IT'S EITHER A TAKE HOME VEHICLE OR A $500 A MONTH STIPEND.

THAT IS WHAT PRIOR CITY MANAGERS HAD.

FOR TECHNOLOGY A CELL PHONE. I ENCOURAGE HIM AS MANY OF US DO CARRY TWO PHONES, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT AS CONVENIENT AS ONE, IT CERTAINLY MAKES IT VERY CLEAR WHERE THE LINE IS BETWEEN YOUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. AND OF COURSE A LAPTOP COMPUTER.

MOST OF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AT THAT LEVEL HAVE A LAPTOP.

THE CITY PROVIDES THE HEALTH INSURANCE.

CITY PAYS 100% OF THE HMO PREMIUM RATE FOR AN EMPLOYEE AND THEN PAYS 50% OF EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE'S DEPENDENT COVERAGE.

SO DEPENDING IF THEY WANT TO COVER THEIR FAMILY.

THE LAST SLIDE IS CONTINUE RETIREMENT IS JUST LIKE WE GAVE PRIOR CITY MANAGERS. THE CITY CONTRIBUTES OVER 20% OF AN EMPLOYEE'S SALARY INTO THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES PENSION FUND.

IN THIS CASE WE'LL SAVE A LITTLE BIT, IT'S 10% OF HIS SALARY TO A DEFERRED COMPENSATION. WHICH IS ALWAYS IN THE FORM OF WHAT WE CALL 457B, THAT'S AN IRS CODE REFERENCE.

457B. I HAVE ONE.

OTHER CITY MANAGERS HAVE HAD ONE.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU CAN'T BORROW MONEY.

IT'S NOT A 401K, IT'S LOCKED IN THERE UNTIL YOU LEAVE THE PLOILT OF THE CITY. -- EMPLOYMENT OF THE CITY.

SO 10%. THREE WEEKS OF VACATION, THEY GET THAT AS OF OCTOBER 1ST. AND SICK TIME FOR ALL OF US IS ACCRUED OVER THE YEAR. IT EQUATES TO ABOUT 12 DAYS IN A YEAR. AND THEN SEVERANCE PAY, MR. ROSS ASKED, IT'S A 30 DAY NOTICE. IT WOULD BE BOTH WAYS, IF HE GAVE US NOTICE, IF THE CITY GAVE HIM NOTICE THAT WE INCREASE THAT FOR 60 DAYS IF THERE'S A TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE, IT'S A 60 DAY NOTICE. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE CITY COMMISSION HAS TO WORK WITH THAT PERSON IN THEIR OFFICE FOR 60 DAYS. WHAT WE DO IS WE END UP PAYING ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE AND THEY GO HOME FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

SO 60 DAYS NOTICE, SAME THING IF THE MANAGER RESIGNS.

AND THEN 16 WEEKS OF PAY AND BENEFITS.

AND THAT'S A SEVERANCE PACKAGE IF HE'S TERMINATED WITHOUT CAUSE. SO THAT'S STANDARD.

THE STATUTE ALLOWS UP TO 20 WEEKS.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> WAS THERE ALSO A MOVING

ALLOWANCE? >> YES.

THERE IS A MOVING ALLOWANCE. $7,500, MR. MARTIN RECEIVED IN 2015, $7,000 SO THAT'S COMPARABLE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> VICE MAYOR.

>> TAMMY, EXPLAIN THE 60 DAYS AAIN.

WHAT WAS THE PREVIOUS POLICY THAT THE CITY HAD?

>> IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE CITY COMMISSION'S RIGHTS AT ALL TO TERMINATE A CITY MANAGER'S CONTRACT WITHOUT CAUSE.

WE HAD A 30 DAY NOTICE PROVISION.

30 DAYS NOTICE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TERMINATE THAT PERSON.

THE SAME THING IF THEY RESIGN, THEY HAVE TO GIVE 30 DAYS NOTICE. AND SO THIS WAS MR. ROSS ASKED WE INCREASE THAT TO 60 DAYS. HOW THAT WOULD PLAY OUT, NOT TO NEGATIVE BUT I'M A REALIST. THAT WOULD PLAY OUT LIKE THIS, WITH MR. MARTIN, HE WAS ENTITLED TO A 30 DAY NOTICE OF TERMINATION. THE NIGHT THAT THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED THE TERMINATION OF MR. MARTIN, HE THEN WAS EARNING PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

HE CAME INTO WORK, HE GATHERED HIS THINGS, AND THEN HE EARNED

[01:10:02]

30 DAYS OF PAID LEAVE AND THEN HIS SEVERANCE TOOK OVER AFTER THAT AND THEN HE GOT PAID SEVERAL WEEKS OF SEVERANCE.

>> WAS IT 16 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS OR WAS IT DIFFERENT?

>> NO, SO FOR MR. MARTIN, HE ENDED UP GETTING 30 DAYS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE AND OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I BELIEVE IT WAS 12 WEEKS OF SEVERANCE. IN FLORIDA THEY CAP SEVERANCE PAY AT 20 WEEKS. FOR EXAMPLE I HAVE 16 WEEKS OF SEVERANCE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT MS. BEST HAS IN HER CONTRACT. BUT MR. MARTIN HAD 12 AND HE WAS PAID 30 DAYS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

IN THIS CASE IT WILL BE A TOTAL IF YOU ADD EVERYTHING UP 60 DAYS

PLUS 16 WEEKS OF LEAVE. >> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S AN EXTRA TWO MONTHS COMPARED TO THE LAST CONTRACT WE HAD.

YOU'RE TELLING ME IT'S NOW 30 NOW 60 INSTEAD OF 12 NOW 16.

SO THAT TELLS ME IT'S EIGHT MORE WEEKS OF PAY, CORRECT?

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. >> I'M NOT SO SURE I'M COMPLETELY INTERESTED IN ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN PRIVATE?

>> NO, THERE IS NO PRIVATE. >> THEN SOME LIGHTS I'M SURE WILL START COMING ON IF SOMEBODY ELSE DOESN'T AGREE.

>> YEAH, I'M MORE THAN COMFORTABLE COUNTER OFFERING

WITH WHAT MR. MARTIN'S WERE -- >> FAIR ENOUGH.

>> SO HE'S AGREED TO THIS AS OF RIGHT NOW?

>> HE'S AGREED TO THIS. HE'S VERY EXCITED.

HE'S ALREADY RENTED, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A DEAL BREAKER.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT. WE WILL GO BACK.

AND MOST OF THE TIME WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO USE THESE

PROVISIONS. >> SO THEN IF WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IT RIGHT NOW, I'M COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE DISCUSSING IT RIGHT NOW. WHY AREN'T WE AT THE TOP END OF

THE $225,000 RANGE? >> HE TOLD ME THAT'S HIS REQUEST BECAUSE IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE.

>> IT'S EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I'M COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDING THAT.

BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE TOP OF THE RANGE.

IF WE'RE SPEAKING BETWEEN 200-215 IN MY OPINION THAT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE RANGE. IF I WAS GOING TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, EVERYTHING ELSE I CAN GO ALONG WITH.

I WOULD GO WITH 30 DAYS AND 12 DAYS.

>> 30 DAYS AND 12 WEEKS. >> 30 DAYS AND 12 WEEKS AND THEN BETWEEN 200-215. THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

THAT'S MY THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT.

EVERYTHING ELSE I THINK IS FINE AND ACCEPTABLE.

>> AND MR. MAYOR, I THINK THE BEST WAY FOR US TO SOLIDIFY WHAT ANY COUNTER OFFER WOULD BE TONIGHT IS AFTER SOME DISCUSSION LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON WHAT I TAKE BACK TO IF YOU DON'T MIND.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. INCLUDED IN HIS PACKET OF INFORMATION WAS WHAT HE WAS CURRENTLY MAKING AND IF I

REMEMBER CORRECTLY THAT WAS 185. >> 175.

>> I OVERESTIMATED. IT WILL TAKE A RAISE TO GET HIM DOWN HERE. IT'S NOT IDEAL, IT'S NOT LIKE A COMPANY. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE A PUBLIC BODY WE HAVE TO PUBLISH THE RANGE OF PAY, WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT EVERYONE ELSE KNOWS. AND OF COURSE HE'S GOING TO PICK THE TOP. THAT'S WHAT I THINK ANY OF US WOULD DO. YOU WOULD SAY THAT'S YOUR RANGE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW IT AND THAT'S THE.

TO I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, VICE MAYOR.

I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET A FAIR DEAL FOR THE CITY, BUT I AM VERY EXCITED TO GET MR. MANAGER ROSS TO COME IN HERE.

>> SORRY, MAYOR. I'M NOT BY ANY SENSE OF THE MEANS WANTING TO DEVALUE HIM. I'M VERY EXCITED TO GET HIM STARTED. I'M VERY EXCITED TO GET OUR CITY UNDER THE RIGHT NEW MANAGEMENT. I JUST BELIEVE THAT IF I WAS DOING THIS AS A PROFESSIONAL, THOSE WOULD BE THE THINGS THAT I WOULD COUNTER WITH TO START WITH.

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> ACTUALLY I TALKED TO HIM DURING HIS INTERVIEW ABOUT THIS VERY MATTER.

AND I TALKED TO HIM ABUNDANTLY. I CALLED HIM AND HE WANTS THE TOP OF THE RANGE. I THINK THIS MIGHT B A DEAL BREAKER. I'M NOT SAYING IT IS, I'M NOT SAYING IT ISN'T. HE DIDN'T SAY THAT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. HE SAID HE NEEDED THE TOP OF THE RANGE BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING COSTS HERE.

I KNOW ABOUT HOUSING COSTS HERE. YOU'RE TALKING A LOT OF MONEY TO LIVE HERE. OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER WHEN HE CAME HERE PAID I THINK $500,000 FOR HIS HOUSE.

I THINK THEY'RE SELLING FOR A LITTLE OVER $800,000.

[01:15:01]

IT IS EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE. I'M NOT WILLING TO SIT HERE AND QUIBBLE OVER $10,000 OR $15,000 FOR SOMEBODY WHO I THINK IS WEL QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION WHO WE ALL SEEM VERY EXCITED ABOUT, WHO SEEMS LIKE HE'S WELL QUALIFIED.

AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY THE 225 IF YOU WANT TO QUIBBLE ABOUT THE 30 DAYS AND 60 DAYS, THAT'S FINE.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT I SAID I DID NOT THINK WOULD BE A DEAL BREAKER. I'M JUST PUTTING MYSELF IN HIS SHOES. BUT I WILL SAY THIS WITH REGARD TO THE SALARY, I THINK THAT, I'M NOT SAYING THAT HE WOULD ACCEPT SOMETHING LOWER THAN THE TOP OF THE RANGE, BUT I THINK THAT WE OWE IT TO THE COMMUNITY TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING.

AND IF HE SAYS, HIS CONTRACT IS ON THE OCTOBER 3RD AGENDA.

SO WE STILL HAVE TIME TO TALK IF HE SAYS THAT'S IT, I'M STUCK, THAT'S WHAT I BRING BACK TO YOU ON OCTOBER 3RD.

>> ALL RIGHT. IS THAT ANTUN?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO YOUR COMMENT, TAMMY, AND SAY WE OWE IT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO AT LEAST DISCUSS THE OPTION.

BUSINESS IS BUSINESS. YOU CAN OFFER A NUMBER, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO RUN AWAY, HE'LL JUST SAY NO, THIS IS THE NUMBER

THAT I NEED. >> CORRECT.

>> SO I THINK IT'S WORTH A CONVERSATION.

>> ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> I'D LIKE TO GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE OF HOUSING.

I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS THAT WE CAN SOLVE THAT ISSUE.

MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO RIGHT NOW.

THE CITY CAN PURCHASE A HOUSE AD OWN IT AND THAT BE THE HOUSE THAT THE CITY MANAGER LIVES IN. THAT'S A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT THAT NEVER GOES AWAY. OF COURSE YOU THEN HAVE TO COME IN AND WORRY ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE COULD ASK THE PUBLIC DO A REFERENDUM IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO GO OUT FURTHER.

I THINK THERE'S OPTIONS WITH HOUSING.

I'M BRINGING THAT UP TO SAY IS IT ANYTHING THIS COMMISSION WANTS TO EXPLORE OR DO WE JUST WANT TO SAY NO, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A PRICE, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE LOOKING IN TERMS OF YOUR SALARY AND YOU WOULD BE ON YOUR OWN FOR PAYING FOR YOUR HOUSE IN THE CITY. IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONSTANT ISSUE THAT'S BROUGHT UP WITH CITY MANAGERS IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO HOUSE THEM. AND I'M LOOKING LONG TERM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM NOT JUST EVERY TIME THAT THIS SITUATION COMES UP.

SO BACK TO THE SALARY AND AGAIN IF WE DON'T WANT TO GO DEEP DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE, I'M OKAY WITH HAVING A LITTLE BACK AND FORTH.

I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T HAVE A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH ANY OF IT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS OR WE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT, I'LL SUPPORT THE COMMISSION ON IT.

SO THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU.

INTERESTING IDEA. I WOULD SAY TO BE HONEST WITH YOU GUYS, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS ON THIS.

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW WHICH IS $10,000 IS JUST MINUSCULE COMPARED TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT OTHER PLACES IN THE BUDGET. I WOULD JUST SAY TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS SMOOTH, I WOULD SAY I'M FINE WITH THE CURRENT CONTRACT AS IT IS. IF WE WERE GOING TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING, I WOULD SAY WHAT COMMISSIONER ANTUN SAID WHICH I WOULD THINK THAT THE SEVERANCE PAY, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE OLD CONTRACT ON THAT. I'M FINE PAYING THIS GUY IS A TOP DOLLAR CITY MANAGER BECAUSE HE'S A TOP DOLLAR GUY.

I'M ALL ABOUT TY ROSS AND I THINK THAT HE'S WORTH IT.

I THINK IT'S WORTH IT TO BRING TO THE CITY.

AND I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO START A RELATIONSHIP OFF WITH HIM ON A BAD FOOT, WE'RE NICKEL AND DIMING HIM WHEN HE COMES OVER HERE. LET'S START WITH THAT, AND THAT'S WHERE I WOULD GO. LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> AS FAR AS THE HOUSING OPTION, THOSE ARE INTERESTING IDEAS YOU PROPOSED, BUT THOSE IDEAS ARE GOING TO TAKE MONTHS IF NOT YEARS TO COME TO FRUITION. AND I THINK PUTTING A HOUSING AL ALLOWANCE IN THIS, I KNOW TY ROSS HAS A WIFE WHO HAS HER OWN IDEAS ABOUT HOUSING SO I'LL LET THEM DEAL WITH THE HOUSING ISSUE.

A HAPPY WIFE IS A HAPPY LIFE, TRUST ME.

BRADLEY AND I DON'T AGREE ON A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS, BUT I WOULD

[01:20:03]

AGREE WITH HIM ON THAT I THINK THE CURRENT SALARY WE OFFER IS WHAT WE SHOULD PAY. IF YOU WANT TO HAGGLE ON THE LAST DEAL, I WOULD SUPPORT EITHER WAY ON THE LAST PART OF IT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY

PROBLEM WITH THE COMPENSATION. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> I'LL ECHO I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY THE CONTRACT IS WRITTEN. BUT I UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF THE VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

THERE MAY BE SOME EXTREMES WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUY OUT PART OF THINGS. BUT I THINK WHERE I AM WITH IT IS I WANT US TO HAVE THE SAME VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR MR. ROSS THAT WE HAD JUST LAST WEEK. AND I THINK THAT THE CONTRACT AS ITS WRITTEN IS US SAYING WE BELIEVE IN YOU AND WE THINK THAT YOU ARE WORTH ALL OF THE PRAISE AND ACCOLADES THAT WE'VE TOLD THE COMMUNITY THIS LAST WEEK. SO I'M KIND OF LOOKING AT IT FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW. I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND ESPECIALLY THE SEVERANCE IS A LITTLE EXTREME.

BUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT, THAT'S FINE.

JUST MY OPINION ON THAT. COMMISSIONER ROSS, I AGREE WITH YOU. WE'RE TALKING MONTHS.

WE'RE TALKING RESOLUTIONS. WE'RE TALKING SO MANY OTHER THINGS. THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT IT UP IS I'D LIKE TO SEE THE ISSUE ADDRESSED LONG TERM.

NOT NECESSARILY TODAY, BUT MAYBE WE START THINKING ABOUT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO HOUSING FOR OUR CITY MANAGER IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE. SO THAT WAS IT.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. VICE MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IF THE MAJORITY IS FINE WITH THIS NUMBER OF THE SALARY THE WAY IT IS, MY STICKING POINT REALLY IS AT THE VERY END WITH THE 30 AND THE 12 WEEK.

I CAN LIVE WITH THE SALARY THE WAY IT IS IF THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION, I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T APPROACH THAT DIRECTION, HOWEVER I FEEL JUST AS STRONG ABOUT THE CHOICE THAT WE PICKED HIM. I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR OUR CITY AND MY ONLY ONE THING THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY SEND BACK WOULD BE THE 30 DAYS AND 12 WEEKS INSTEAD OF 60 AND 16. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEND THAT BACK. AND EVERYTHING ELSE I THINK I WOULD BE FINE WITH. I'M NOT GOING TO HAGGLE OVER $10,000. HOWEVER I DO BELIEVE THE CITY SHOULD IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HARPING ABOUT THE COST OF HOUSING, THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT, BUT IT WILL TAKE MONTHS IF NOT A LONG TIME BEFORE WE DECIDE ON THE LOCATION, WHAT IT IS, HOW IT IS, BUT I WOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO GO

THAT ROUTE IN THE FUTURE. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

WOULD YOU MIND PUTTING WHAT YOU JUST SAID IN THE FORM OF A

MOTION. >> I WILL PUT IT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION THAT WE COUNTER WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE PROPOSED SALARY AND BENEFITS EXCEPT WE MAKE ONE CHANGE --

>> INCLUDING THE MOVING ALLOWANCE.

>> INCLUDING THE MOVING ALLOWANCE THAT WASN'T ON THERE $7,500, THAT WE HAL HAD ALL OF THOSE STIPULATIONS AND WE CHANGE IT TO 30 DAYS NOTICE AND 12 WEEKS SEVERANCE PAY.

I THINK IF WE SEND THAT BACK OVER, I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE

WITH THAT GETTING APPROVED. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? >> I'LL SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ISSUE? I WILL JUST REITERATE THAT I AM VERY EXCITED TO GET TY ROSS.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET TO THE CITY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS START DATE IN OCTOBER.

>> ONE LAST COMMENT. I'LL SUPPORT THIS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DIE ON THAT LAST PART. I'M NOT GOING TO DIE ON THAT.

>> HE CAN ALWAYS COUNTER BACK. >> THAT'S ALL.