Dec 05, 2023 Regular Meeting

>> I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION ON THIS? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND WITH NO DISCUSSION.

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ASKEW.

>> YES. >> STURGES.

>> YES. >> ROSS.

[5.2 AWARD OF ITB 23-14 - MARINA DREDGING]

HEADING TO 5.2, AWARD OF ITB 23-14, MARINA DREDGING.

>> YES. >> IT PASSES.

>> THE MARINA MAINTENANCE DREDGING, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S DONE EVERY YEAR. THE SOUTHERN BASIN INCURS SIGNIFICANT SEDIMENTATION THAT HINDERS THE UPSTREAM OF THE FLOATING DOCKS AND REQUIRES YEARLY MAINTENANCE.

THIS INVITATION TO BID WAS ISSUED AND ITEM GOING TO PASS THE TORCH TO OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND ENGINEER MR. CHARLIE GEORGE TO TALK ABOUT THAT OUTCOME AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

>> THANK YOU. WE PUT OUT THE INVITATION TO BID LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL. WE GOT ONE PRICE BACK, THEY WERE THE ONLY BIDDER AND THE PRICE WAS $950,000 FOR ABOUT 14,500 CUBIC YARDS WHICH IS WHAT WE TYPICALLY HAVE DREDGED AND BEEN PERMITTED FOR FOR THE SOUTHERN BASIN.

THAT WAS OVER OUR BUDGET OF 826.5 OF WHICH $326,000 WAS FROM THE FIND GRANT. I WENT BACK TO THE CONTRACTOR WHO SUBMITTED THE BID, WE NEGOTIATED THE PRICE DOWN TO GET IT DOWN TO THE PRICE OF $81,200,500.

SO WE STILL HAVE A CONTINGENCY TO GET THE DREDGING DONE.

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> WHEN IS THIS THROUGH?

>> JANUARY. >> HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

>> ABOUT FIVE WEEKS. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

SEEING NONE, DO I HEAR A MOTION? >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

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

ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION ON THIS?

>> SEEING NONE, CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

[5.3 AWARD OF ITB 23-18 - PECK CENTER GYMNASIUM ROOF SYSTEMS RESTORATION AND REPLACEMENT ]

>> YES. >> STURGES.

>> YES. >> AYSCUE.

>> YES. >> ROSS.

AND 5.3 AWARD OF ITB 23-18 PECK CENTER GYMNASIUM ROOF SYSTEMS

>> YES. >> THAT PASSES.

RESTORE RATION AND REPLACEMENT. >> YES, THIS WAS RESTORATION FROM A GRANT WE RECEIVED AT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

IT'S FOR RESTORATION OF THE PECK CENTER ROOF.

THE CITY REQUESTING QUALIFIED ROOFING CONSTRUCTERS FOR THE PECK GYM CENTER'S ROOFING SYSTEMS TOTALLING ABOUT 17,500 FEET. FOUR BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING ADUDDELL INDUSTRIES OUT OF PORT ST.

LUCIE, FLORIDA AT A PRICE OF $824,535.

NOW, OF THAT AMOUNT, $636,285 WILL BE PAID FOR FROM THE DIVISION HISTORIC RESOURCES GRANT.

>> PERFECT. ANY QUESTIONS?

SEEING NONE, DO I HEAR A MOTION? >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> WITH A MOTION AND A SECOND, COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND SAY THIS IS A GREAT DEAL FOR THE CITY.

I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS AND ALL STAFF'S WORK.

A HUGE DEAL TO HAVE OVER A HALF MILLION DOLLAR GRANT COMING FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO HELP REFURBISH OUR HISTORIC PECK CENTER. THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THANKS TO ALL OF THE STAFF FOR THE GREAT WORK ON THIS PROJECT. CITY CLERK, CALL THE QUESTION.

>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> YES.

[5.4 ATLANTIC SEAFOOD LLC CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN]

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> YES.

THAT PASSES. 5.4 ATLANTIC SEAFOOD LLC

CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN. >> THIS IS THE SITE PLAN DUE TO THE EXISTING ATLANTIC SEAFOOD STRUCTURE WHICH CROSSES WITH OUR WATERFRONT RENOVATION SITE PLAN PROJECT.

THIS SITE PLAN REQUIRES THAT THE BUILDING BE RESITUATED JUST SOUTH OF THE STRUCTURE. I BELIEVE THE SITE PLAN WAS

[00:25:03]

PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER RECENTLY.

>> IT WAS. ALL RIGHT FIRST WE HAVE REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON THIS. BUT WE START WITH COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS. ANY COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS? WE'LL JUMP IN WITH THE REQUESTS TO SPEAK.

WE'LL START WITH MS. TINA CHRISTENER.

WELCOME TO THE PODIUM. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU. TINA CHRISTENER, 406 BEACH STREET. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT ABOUT THIS PROPOSED RESTAURANT BEING BUILT ON PUBLIC LAND.

YOU'RE ALLOWING THE CITY STAFF ACCORDING TO THIS PROPOSAL TO NEGOTIATE THE LEASE AMOUNT. AND LAST SUMMER, THE LAST TIME I SAT THROUGH THIS I BELIEVE THE LEASE AMOUNT THAT WAS BEING RECOMMENDED WAS $6,000. AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT NOW. BUT TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE AS TO HOW MUCH $6,000 PER MONTH WOULD HELP THE CITY AND I'M GOING TO USE YOU AS AN EXAMPLE, CITY MANAGER, TY ROSS, YOUR SALARY IS $225,000 PER YEAR OR APPROXIMATELY $19,000 PER MONTH.

SO IF WE WERE TO LEASE ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS OF THE CITY FOR $6,000 A MONTH, IT WOULD ONLY EQUAL 1/3 OF THE SALARY ONLY OF ONE OF OUR CITY STAFF MEMBERS. HOW MUCH WOULD BE ENOUGH TO GIVE AWAY ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS FOR 30 YEARS UNDER THE LAST PROPOSED LEASE I SAW? MY THOUGHT WOULD BE THAT NO AMOUNT WOULD BE ENOUGH, BUT I WOULD EXPECT TO GET AT LEAST THE SALARIES OF OUR FOUR HIGHEST PAID EMPLOYEES WHICH TO ME WOULD BE ABOUT $70,000 PER MONTH. SO WHEN YOU TASK CITY STAFF TO NEGOTIATE THIS LEASE AMOUNT, I WOULD KEEP THAT AMOUNT IN MIND.

THE GIVING AWAY OF PUBLIC LANDS TO PRIVATE INDUSTRIES UNDER WHAT I'LL TERM AS A SWEETHEART DEAL IF YOU'RE REALLY REALISTICALLY LOOKING ABOUT $6,000, THAT HAS TO STOP.

AND I'LL USE THE GREENWAY FOR AN EXAMPLE.

30 YEARS AGO, COUNTLESS CITIZENS LED BY RON SAP SPENT YEARS NEGOTIATING TO GET THE GREENWAY. THEY NEGOTIATED WITH PRIVATE LANDHOLDERS TO LEASE THE LAND TO THE CITY OR TO GIVE IT TO THE CITY AND WE'RE SQUANDERING THAT AWAY AS RECENTLY AS ALLOWING A LICENSING AGREEMENT TO A PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO USE PART OF THOSE.

SO I THINK IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THIS WATER FRONT PROPOSAL AND ONE THING I'LL SAY IS MANY OF YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE OPPONENTS OF -- PROPONENTS OF CONSERVATIVE VALUES.

I'VE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE GREATEST CONSERVATIVE MINDS IN THE COUNTRY IN MY TIME IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

CONSERVATIVE VALUES DO NOT INCLUDE GIVING AWAY OR SQUANDERING THE PROPERTY AND HARD WORK OF THE COMMUNITY TO PRIVATE COMPANIES UNDER WHAT I CONSIDER SWEETHEART DEALS.

CONSERVATIVE VALUES DO NOT INCLUDE SQUANDERING THE RICHES WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO STEWARD.

CONSERVATIVE VALUES DO NOT INCLUDE HANDING 30 YEAR BAD DEALS TO THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF STEWARDS AND HAVING THEM DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS. SO PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THIS.

I THINK IT'S A BAD DEAL FOR THE CITIZENS AND IT'S YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE YOU GET US THE BEST DEAL.

WE WELCOME COMMISSIONER -- TO THE PODIUM.

>> TIM POINTER. I'M HERE TO AGREE.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM THE PAST.

WE HAVE TWO BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE FAILING BUSINESSES, WHEN I SAY FAILING BUSINESSES, FAILING PROPERTIES ON THE WATERFRONT. WE GET IT BACK, WE GET TO TEAR IT DOWN. IT'S GOING TO COST THE CITIZENS TO DO THAT. IN THOSE AGREEMENTS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE BUILDINGS.

THEY DIDN'T MAINTAIN THE BUILDINGS.

IT'S ON US. ATLANTIC SEAFOOD IS FALLING INTO THE WATER. THEY JUST DISCOVERED LAST YEAR ALL OF THE SEWER WAS GOING INTO THE RIVER.

I MEAN WHAT KIND OF STEWARDS ARE THESE? NOW YOU'RE GETTING READY TO GO DOWN THE SAME PATH AGAIN.

I HEAR NOTHING BUT PEOPLE SAY WHO MADE THAT STUPID DEAL 45 YEARS AGO. DON'T BE THE COMMISSION NOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING 45 YEARS AGO, WHO MADE THIS DEAL? IT'S NOT ABOUT RAISING MONEY TO HELP OFFSET THE MARINA AS COMMISSIONER ROSS USUALLY SAYS. IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING WHAT WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY. YOU GO EVERYWHERE ELSE IN FLORIDA, THE WATERFRONTS ARE BUILT OUT LIKE CRAZY.

[00:30:06]

THEY'VE DONE IT FOR ECONOMIC GAIN.

BUT HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING ON OUR WATERFRONT. THAT MAKES US UNIQUE TO ALL OF FLORIDA. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GIVING ONE PERSON, I'VE GOT NOTHING AGAINST -- HE'S A GREAT GUY.

BUT THIS IS MY PROPERTY. THIS IS THESE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.

YOU CAN'T JUST GIVE THIS AWAY BECAUSE A LONG-TERM LAND LEASE IS SELLING THE PROPERTY WITHOUT COLLECTING THE MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE. SO IF ERNIE WANTS TO BUILD ON THE WATERFRONT, FIND A PIECE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY AND BUILD ON IT. I'M ALL ABOUT PRIVATE RIGHTS.

THIS IS OUR RIGHTS. THIS IS OUR PROPERTY.

YOU GUYS NEED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF IT.

YOU HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO LET THIS DEAL GO FORWARD AT 3900 SQUARE FEET. YOU'RE OBLIGATED FOR 1200 SQUARE FEET TO ATLANTIC SEAFOOD. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. VICE MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S ENTHUSIASM.

WE DO HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE DECORUM IN OUR CHAMBER, WE CAN'T CLAP, CHEER, OR BOO. TAKE IT AWAY.

>> I WAS REALLY CONFUSED BY THIS.

WE WENT THROUGH THIS AND WE REFUSED A LEASE EXTENSION BEYOND THE 1200 SQUARE FEET ON THE PREVIOUS COMMISSION.

HOW WE COME UP WITH A DESIGN THAT CAN INITIATE AN APPROVED DESIGN BEFORE WE'VE EVEN TALKED ABOUT A LEASE EXTENSION IS REALLY BACKWARD. AND I JUST DON'T, YOU'RE BASICALLY GOING TO APPROVE A DESIGN AND SAY OKAY NOW WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A LEASE AND I WON'T GET INTO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT TONYA AND TAMMY SAID ABOUT THE POOR QUALITY WE'VE DONE WITH LEASES. THIS IS JUST THE WRONG WAY TO GO. THE LEASE IS ASSUMED AT 1200 FEET, IT SHOULD BE 1200 FEET. AND TO APPROVE THIS WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE I THINK. IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD LATER ON THESE TYPES OF THINGS, I HAVE ANOTHER THING I DON'T LIKE IS THE LACK OF WHEN YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING IS TO NOT GO OUT TO AN RFP TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

HE MAY BE A GREAT GUY, BUT IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, GO OUT AND SOLICIT SOME.

IN THIS CASE, I WOULD NOT APPROVE A BUILDING DESIGN BEFORE YOU'VE EVEN DEALT WITH THE LEASE ISSUE.

AND I WOULDN'T APPROVE A LEASE ISSUE BEYOND 1200 FEET FOR VARIOUS REASONS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. WE WELCOME MS. MARIAN PHILLIPS

TO THE PODIUM. >> GOOD EVENING.

MARIAN PHILLIPS. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON THIS BECAUSE I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ATLANTIC SEAFOOD AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

YOU KNOW, THIS CAME UP IN MY MEMORIES LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE WERE JUST HERE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS.

THE BUILDING THAT IS PROPOSED IS WAY TOO BIG AND TOO HIGH AND IT'S GOING TO BLOCK THE SUNSETS AND PEOPLES WALKWAY SO THEY CAN SEE IT PUBLICLY UNLESS THEY'RE IN THAT RESTAURANT.

AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN AND SAID. I THINK THIS IS WRONG AND IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. Y'ALL DON'T NEED TO VOTE FOR THIS, I'D ASK YOU NOT TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. PHILLIPS.

WE WELCOME MR. JACK EMBER TO THE PODIUM.

>> JACK EMBER, 1003 BROOM STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.

PUBLIC LAND NEEDS TO GO TO A PUBLIC REFERENDUM AND VOTED BECAUSE IT'S PUBLIC LAND BEFORE THERE IS ANY USE, SALE, DEALS MADE, ET CETERA. THIS WAS IGNORED WHEN THERE WAS A BRIDGE PROPOSED OVER EGEN'S CREEK TO ACCESS CUSTOMERS BETWEEN TWO HOTELS NEAR EAST SADLER.

SO JUST SO WE STAY OUT OF COURTS, I HEARTILY RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COMMISSION FOLLOW THE LAW.

I KNOW THAT'S A SORE SUBJECT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T APPLY TO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. BUT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO

STEP UP TO THE PLATE. >> THANK YOU, MR. EMBER.

[00:35:03]

WE WELCOME MR. MAC MORRIS TO THE PODIUM.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IF I COUGH I APOLOGIZE, I WAS SICK LAST WEEK AND THIS DRY AIR IS CATCHING UP TO ME.

MAC MORRIS, 821 PARK VIEW. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COMMISSIONER ROSS, THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL HAS THE PERCEPTION OF THIS CITY COMMISSION AS VERY PRO DEVELOPER.

IN MY UNIQUE POSITION AS THE MANAGER OF A SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE THAT HAS 32,000 MEMBERS, I SEE A LOT OF FEEDBACK.

AND NONE OF IT IS GOOD AND POSITIVE THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE FOR OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS. ESPECIALLY ON THIS TOPIC.

TONIGHT'S VOTE COULD CHANGE THAT PERCEPTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

OUR OLDER POPULATION PARKS DOWN NEAR TO SEE THE SUNSET VIEWS.

THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO WALK SOME OF THEM.

I PARK DOWN THERE OFTEN TO LOOK AT THE SUN EVEN THOUGH I CAN WALK JUST FINE. I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SAID EXCEPT FOR BY CONTRACT THE CITY IS ONLY OBLIGATED TO 1200 SQUARE FEET. NO MORE THAN THAT AND THIS IS NO LONGER THE SAME BUSINESS MODEL, THIS IS NOW A RESTAURANT OF 4,000 SQUARE FEET WHICH IS THREE TIMES THE 1200 WHICH SHOULD GO OUT TO RFP. FOR 40 YEARS, TAXPAYERS HAVE BEEN SAYING NO TO DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY RIGHT THERE, NO BUILDINGS BLOCKING THEIR VIEW, FOR 40 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN SAYING NO FOR A REASON. THEY DON'T WANT IT.

THEY DON'T WANT THIS. WE TOLD YOU ALL OF THAT JUST RECENTLY. THIS IS PUBLIC PROPERTY.

IF IT WAS PRIVATE PROPERTY NO ONE WOULD CARE.

NOW THERE IS A SOLUTION BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST GOING TO AFFECT OUR VIEW, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES AS WELL TAKING MINIMUM 80 PARKING SPACES AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES BECAUSE THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR MR. SALTMARSH TO PROVIDE PARKING IF THAT DEVELOPMENT GOES IN.

YOU'RE AFFECTING ALL OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, EVERY SINGLE ONE. HERE'S A POSSIBLE SOLUTION BESIDES JUST SAYING NO, SOME OF YOU KNOW I ALWAYS BRING SOLUTIONS AS MUCH AS I CAN. SO HERE'S A POSSIBLE ONE, IN TWO YEARS TIME, DECEMBER OF 2025, BRETT'S LEASE IS UP.

THAT BUILDING HAS TO COME DOWN, THE FOUNDATION IS ROTTEN, WE ALL KNOW THAT. THAT'S A GIVEN.

IN THAT FOOTPRINT ON THE LAND YOU COULD BUILD A RESTAURANT.

THAT WOULD BE A NEUTRAL CONDITION AS FAR AS PARKING IS CONCERNED. AND IT WOULD NOT BE BLOCKING ANY OF THE VIEWS BECAUSE THAT'S ALREADY THERE.

IT'S BEEN THERE, WE'VE HAD THAT STRUCTURE THERE SINCE 1962.

SO JUST SAY NO TO SELLING OUT OUR SUNSET VIEWS, PLEASE.

AND LET'S GET OUR REPUTATION BACK AS A CITY COMMISSION THAT WE'RE ALL PROUD OF. I'D APPRECIATE IT.

WE WANT TO BE PROUD OF OUR CITY AND IT STARTS WITH YOU.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. MORRIS.

WE WELCOME MS. CORY TO THE PODIUM.

THANK YOU. >> 408 WHEAT STREET.

GOOD EVENING TO YOU. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT PROJECT AS IT IS NOW IN THE NEWSPAPER. 30 FEET IS TOO HIGH, BUT EVEN IF IT'S ONLY 30 FEET YOU'VE GOT AN ORDINANCE ON THE FLOODPLAIN BUSINESS THAT MIGHT CAUSE HEIGHT TO THAT.

SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF STATISTICS.

A DAY OR TWO AGO I DROVE UP AND DOWN THE SIDE STREETS AND UP AND DOWN CENTER STREET. AND I COUNTED 31 FOOD SERVICE BUSINESSES. I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANOTHER RESTAURANT ON THE WATERFRONT. I THINK THAT IT HAS IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST COUPLE OF PAGES OF THAT THAT COME FROM THE WATERFRONT PARK CONCEPTUAL PLAN WHICH WAS DONE BY THE WATERFRONT'S FLORIDA PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE AND PARKS AND

[00:40:02]

RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND THIS WAS DONE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT IT DID HAVE SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND THEY GOT SOME ELEMENTS FOR BACK THERE ON THE LAST TWO PAGES.

ONE IS THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO SEE OVER THERE OF WHICH THERE MAY BE ONE THING RIGHT NOW.

AND ONE OTHER THING IS THINGS THEY DEFINITELY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE OVER THERE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WAS A BUSINESS THAT WAS COPYING AN EXISTING BUSINESS.

SO IF THE PLACE COULD STAY IN ITS EXISTING FOOTPRINT AND EXISTED BUSINESS, I WOULD APPROVE IT.

BUT ANYTHING ELSE, NO. THAT MEANS THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF RIVER FRONT IN ALL OF FERNANDINA, WE HAVE NO RIVER FRONT. AND WE DESERVE TO HAVE IT THERE.

I SEE FAMILIES WALKING UP AND DOWN CENTER STREET ON THE WEEKENDS AND SOMETIMES DURING THE WEEK WITH LITTLE KIDS.

AND JUST THINK IF THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO AND HAVE A PICNIC OR A LITTLE SWING ANY PLACE, THE FACTS ARE THAT ALTHOUGH FERNANDINA BEACH HAS GOT 11 PUBLIC PARKS --

>> BRING IT HOME. >> OKAY.

THERE ARE NO REAL PUBLIC PARKS ON THE REST OF 8TH STREET.

THEY'RE ALL EAST. SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO GET THAT WATER SIDE PARK THERE THAT NONMOTORS CAN ENJOY.

>> THAT'S ALL OF OUR REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON THIS.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD ON THE ATLANTIC SEAFOOD CONCEPTUAL PLAN? COME ON DOWN, SIR. MAKE SURE YOU FILL OUT A FORM ON YOUR WAY OUT. IT'S ALL GOOD.

WE HAVE TO DO ONE FOR EACH, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME AND TALK,

SIR. >> I'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD

BEFORE. >> OF COURSE.

>> I JUST DROPPED IN AND I HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC LAND. YOU KNOW, WHAT I WANT TO BE TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT IS PRIVATE LAND.

WE CAN'T EVEN DO WHAT WE WANT WITH OUR PRIVATE LAND, OKAY IN THIS CITY. BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH A WEB OF JUST MASS CONFUSION AND IT'S PRETTY SAD REALLY.

IT'S PRETTY SAD. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY CLERK, THEY KNOW WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH. I THINK CHARLIE KNOWS WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH. AND I'M NOT GOING TO BRING THIS UP RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO BRING IT UP IN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT LIKE I SAID I'M GOING TO MAKE IT SHORT AND SWEET ON THIS, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL ENGAGE WITH ME WITH THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE MY BEEF IS NOT WITH PUBLIC PROPERTY, MY BEEF IS WITH MY PROPERTY THAT I PAY TAXES ON. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR

TIME. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK, SIR.

WITH THAT, THE NEXT STEP IS WE HAVE A MOTION THEN COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION. DO I HEAR A MOTION?

>> I MOVE TO APPROVE. >> I'LL SECOND.

>> I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND NOW WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> I HAVE LISTENED TO EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID.

I'M THE ANTIDEVELOPMENT GUY AND SO PEOPLE KNOW MY FEELINGS ABOUT MANY THINGS. BUT I WANT TO TAKE EACH ONE OF THESE CONCERNS. I'VE BEEN AT WATERFRONTS ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, I'VE BEEN AT WATERFRONTS ALL ACROSS EUROPE. AND I REALLY RAN TO DO SOMETHING WITH OUR WATERFRONT. AND FOR 30 YEARS, 40 YEARS, 100

[00:45:02]

YEARS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LET'S DO SOMETHING.

AND THEN WHEN WE GET TO THE BRINK, WE GO WELL THIS DOESN'T WORK. SO LET ME JUST GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE POINTS BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS.

I'M NOT DIMINISHING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

YOU HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS. BUT FIRST OF ALL WE TALKED ABOUT -- AND THESE ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.

NO MASTER PLAN. WELL THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE MASTER PLANS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

THE 2012 MASTER PLAN SHOWED RETAIL SPACE IN THIS VERY SPOT.

AND THE 2021 PLAN SHOWED RETAIL SPACE IN THIS VERY SPOT.

AND WE KEEP COMING UP WITH PLAN AFTER PLAN, BUT THERE'S NEVER ANY ACTION. WITH E -- WE GET TO THE PRECIPICE AND THEN IT FALLS APART.

THE NEXT ONE IS WE DON'T NEED THIS.

WELL, WE NEED THE WATERFRONT. THE BEST WATERFRONTS AND I'VE BEEN READING NUMEROUS BOOKS, ARTICLES, THE BEST WATERFRONTS FEATURE AMENITIES FOR PEOPLE'S COMFORT AND ENJOYMENT.

PEOPLE COME TO THE WATERFRONT NOT JUST TO LOOK AT THE SUNSET BUT OTHER THINGS. WE NEED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO DO THINGS AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE INTERESTING THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO DO. WE NEED TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES THEY CAN DO AT NIGHT AND DURING GOOD WEATHER SO IT'S NOT JUST GOING OUT TO LOOK AT THE SUNSET, IT'S SOMETHING AT NIGHT, SOMETHING IN THE EVENING. WE NEED TO BOOST PUBLIC ACTIVITIES IN THE SPACE. I'VE SPENT I DON'T KNOW, 400, 500, 600 HOURS IN THAT AREA DOWN THERE.

I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS THERE. THE ENEMIES THERE ARE SUNSHINE AND BUGS. BUT THAT SPACE IS NOT USED.

IT IS NOT USED. IT IS NOT USED VERY MUCH.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT DRAW PEOPLE, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT DRAW DIFFERENT PEOPLE. AS FAR AS THE LEASE GOES, THE LEASE, YOU ARE CORRECT, I'M THE BIGGEST CREDIT OF BRETT'S LEASE AND THE ATLANTIC SEAFOOD LEASE. BUT WE DID GO OUT AND GET ANOTHER OPINION. AND THIS IS JUST TO NEGOTIATE A LEASE. AND THAT LEASE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, HAS TO COME BACK TO THIS COMMISSION TO BE APPROVED?

>> YES. >> SO $70,000 A MONTH WOULD BE A LITTLE ABSURD AND A LITTLE HIGH. BUT YOU WERE RIGHT, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THERE THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

AND I AGREE. SO THAT NEEDS TO COME BACK HERE AND IT WILL COME BACK HERE IF THIS IS APPROVED TONIGHT.

BUT I KEEP HEARING BLOCKS THE VIEW.

IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, THE VIEW FIRST OF ALL THE VIEW RIGHT NOW IS BLOCKED ON ASH STREET BY ATLANTIC SEAFOOD.

ATLANTIC SEAFOOD WILL BE RENEWED AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE A VIEW CORRIDOR THAT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN.

SO WE'RE IMPROVING THE VIEW AND YOU'RE MOVING IT TO THE SOUTH AND THE ONLY VIEW YOU'RE BLOCKING IS IF YOU'RE STANDING ON THE RAILROAD TRACK ON NORTH FRONT STREET.

AND WHAT THIS DOES IS IT PUTS SOMETHING IN FRONT OF THAT WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY SIT AND ENJOY BEVERAGES, ENJOY A MEAL AND SIT AND LOOK AT THE WATERFRONT AND DO WHATEVER.

IT ALSO DOES NOT BLOCK, IT IS BEHIND THE BOARDWALK THERE THAT'S THERE. SO IT'S NOT BLOCKING THAT VIEW.

YOU CAN STAND THERE AND LOOK AT THE WATERFRONT ALL YOU WANT AND WALK ALONG THAT PROMENADE. I'M VERY PROUD THAT THE CITY AND CHARLIE GEORGE PUT THAT. THIS DOES NOT BLOCK THAT VIEW.

DO NOT OFFER THIS TO OTHERS. THAT'S A FREQUENT ONE.

I MUST HAVE GONE OUT AND BEAT THE BUSHES ON THIS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I'VE HAD RESTAURANT OWNERS DOWN HERE, DEVELOPERS DOWN HERE, I'VE CALLED PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY TRYING TO GET THEM TO INVEST THERE.

I CANNOT FIND ANYBODY WHO IS WILLING TO COME AND DO THIS.

WE HAVE A LOCAL BUSINESS PERSON WHO IS WELL REGARDED, DOES THINGS THAT ARE GOOD PROJECTS, HE'S WILLING TO PUT HIS CAPITAL INTO THIS AND PUT A BUSINESS THERE.

WE CAN PUT OUT ALL OF THE ARTICLES IN THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY, WE GOT ZERO. SO PUTTING OUT AN RFP, WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS WILLING TO PUT THEIR TIME, MONEY, AND EFFORT INTO THIS. ANOTHER ONE IS THE FOOTPRINT IS TOO BIG. WELL, IT'S THE SMALLEST FOOTPRINT THAT'S ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE AND IT FITS NICELY IN THAT SPACE AND YOU GO SOUTH OF THERE, THERE'S A NICE BIG SPOT FOR THE PARK AND ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF AND THIS CAREFULLY

[00:50:01]

FITS INTO THAT. THE AESTHETICS OF THE BUILDING, WE CAN ARGUE THAT FOR FOREVER. IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE CRA, IT DOES MEET THE CRA ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES.

IT MEETS THE GUIDELINES THAT THE CITY HAS SAID THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW. THAT'S WHAT THEY FOLLOWED.

IT HAS TO GO BEFORE IT GETS APPROVED.

AND THEN THE ELIMINATING OF PARKING SPACES, THERE MAY BE SOME PARKING SPACES ELIMINATED, THERE MAY NOT, IT DEPENDS ON THE SITE PLAN. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT AREA NEUTRAL. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, NOBODY DOWNTOWN HAS A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE -- SO WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE HERE? WE HAVE A KNOWN QUALITY DEVELOPER WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN THE CITY WHO'S WILLING TO INVEST IN HIS COMMUNITY, WHO'S WILLING TO COMMIT THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO DO NOTHING AND COMPLAIN THAT NOTHING EVER HAPPENS ON THE WATERFRONT.

SO DESPITE WHAT YOU'VE ALL SAID AND I DID LISTEN TO YOU AND I'VE HEARD THIS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, I JUST THINK IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S A PROVEN ENERGY AND I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH THAT PERSON TO SEE IF WE CAN PUT A QUALITY PRODUCT DOWN THERE. SO THAT'S MY THOUGHT.

>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COMMISSIONER ROSS TOOK PROBABLY JUST ABOUT EVERY TALKING POINT THAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. AND I'LL JUST SAY I'M WILLING TO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS. I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT ATLANTIC SEAFOOD AS IT SITS NOW AND HE MADE A VERY GOOD POINT THAT FOOTPRINT IS NEVER COMING BACK. WE KNOW THE BUILDING HAS TO BE REMOVED. BUT THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S GOING TO BRING IN A 1200 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING AND RELOCATE IT JUST SOUTH OF THERE. THERE'S NO BUSINESS THAT MAKES IT VIABLE TO HAPPEN. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THE CURRENT LEASE OWNER NOW.

AND THEY'VE BROUGHT FORTH JUST A DESIGN, A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR US TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION. SO I THINK AND I'LL SAY THIS, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THE CRA MEETING THAT WE HAD ABOUT C AND D PARKING AND OPENING UP SOME GREEN SPACE.

THAT'S ONE SILO. AND WE HAVE THE OTHER SILO OF ATLANTIC SEAFOOD. AND THEN THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS BRETTS. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT AND I KNOW MAC MENTIONED IT, YOU COULD MOVE IT THERE, BUT IF WE LOOKED AT ATLANTIC SEAFOOD AND THIS PROPOSAL MOVING IT SOUTH, WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF ASH, CENTER, AND ALACHUA ALL HAVING BEAUTIFUL CORRIDORS THAT YOU CAN LOOK DOWN.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO COME WITH A PLAN ALL TOGETHER, LOOK AT IT FROM A BIGGER PERSPECTIVE THAN JUST THE SILOS THAT WE KEEP PUTTING UP HERE AND LOOK AT THE PLAN AS A WHOLE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.

COMMISSIONER ROSS, I THINK YOU LAID IT OUT ABOUT AS PERFECTLY AS IT COULD BE. I WILL NOTE I AM NOT A FAN OF 30 YEAR LEASES, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I PARTICULARLY CARE TO GET INTO. 30 YEARS IS A LONG TIME.

BUT I KNOW STAFF IS GOING TO WORK WITH THIS AND I KNOW THAT STAFF IS GOING TO DO THE BEST THAT CAN BE DONE.

AND AS COMMISSIONER ROSS SAID, IT STILL HAS TO COME BACK TO US FOR APPROVAL. WE STILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS ON THIS.

>> ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION?

GO AHEAD. >> IT'S ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SIT ON THE HOT SEAT FOR A SECOND.

I'M NOT AFRAID. NUMBER ONE, WE ALL HAVE IDEAS OF WHAT WE THINK THE WATERFRONT CAN OR CAN'T DO.

WE ALL KNOW THAT BRETT'S IS AROUND THE CORNER.

A YEAR FROM NOW WE'LL START TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OR WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO WITH BRETT'S.

WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO REENTERTAIN AN IDEA OF A RESTAURANT THERE OR ENTERTAIN SOMETHING MORE PUBLIC FOR THE CITIZENS. TAMMY, I HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT CAME BACK TO MY MIND WHEN WE WERE HEARING ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS AND THE QUESTION IS DOESN'T THE CURRENT LEASE THAT'S

[00:55:04]

BEEN PURCHASED FOR THAT ATLANTIC SEAFOOD PROPERTY, DOESN'T IT STATE IN THE CURRENT LEASE THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE HIM AN EXPANSION OPTION OR WHAT DOES IT STATE EXACTLY?

>> IT REQUIRES THAT THE COMMISSION AT LEAST ALLOW 1200 SQUARE FEET BUT THAT THE CITY COMMISSION WILL NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH FOR A NEW LEASE IF THEY HAVE TO MOVE AND REBUILD, BUT IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE IT. IT JUST SAYS THE COMMISSION WILL

NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH. >> SO IT DOESN'T STATE IT IN

THERE? >> IT DOESN'T SAY THAT WE HAVE TO ALLOW FOR LARGER SQUARE FOOTAGE THAN 1200 SQUARE FEET,

NO. >> OKAY.

>> IF YOU WANT I GOT IT RIGHT HERE.

>> THAT WAS JUST ONE OF MY QUESTIONS THAT CAME TO MIND.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLAN. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN THE AREA, IT WILL OBVIOUSLY CHANGE IT AND I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF 30 YEAR LEASES.

I'M REALLY NOT, BUT ANYBODY THAT INVESTS THAT KIND OF MONEY AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THAT LEASEHOLDER ON THE PROPERTY, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A VIABLE BUSINESS THERE.

AND IT WAS IN OUR ORIGINAL PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED, I'M KIND OF ON THE FENCE ABOUT IT. I REALLY THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A NICE RESTAURANT THERE IN THAT LOCATION.

HOWEVER, I'M ON THE FENCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

ONCE AGAIN, COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> SO IT'S ON PAGE 8 AND 9 OF THE LEASE, IT'S SECTION 30 THE LAST SECTION.

IN THE EVENT THAT ADDITIONAL LAND, SPACE, OR SQUARE FOOTAGE IS REQUIRED BY THE TENANT TO ACCOMMODATE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEMISED PREMISES AND/OR ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE BUSINESS, THE PARTIES SHALL RENEGOTIATE THIS LEASE IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DEMISED PREMISES AS DESCRIBED HERE.

SO RENEGOTIATE THE LEASE WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF OUR CITIZENS' FEEDBACK. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO VALUE WHAT YOU SAY. BUT IN ADDITION TO THE COMMENTS COMMISSIONER ROSS HAD MADE, A COMMENT WAS MADE ABOUT INABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE BUILDINGS. I THINK IN BRETT'S LEASE IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT PARTNER WITH THE CITY IN THINGS LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T BE CATCHING A BLACK EYE FOR OBLIGATIONS THAT THIS CITY HAD TO THEM IN THAT LIMO

AS -- LEASE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

WHAT AM I THINKING ABOUT THIS? THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY HARD ONE.

FOR ME, THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH, THINKING ABOUT. WHAT I'M THINKING IS ATLANTIC SEAFOOD MEANS A LOT TO THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW. I KNOW THAT WHEN I SPEAK TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, EVERYONE HAS A STORY ABOUT PEOPLE. IF YOU ASK ANY PERSON WHO'S FROM FERNANDINA, WHERE DO YOU GO TO GET OYSTERS, THEY GO TO ATLANTIC SEAFOOD TO GET THEIR OYSTERS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SPECIAL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES FERNANDINA A PART OF WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVE. OUR WATERFRONT ISN'T JUST FOR TOURISM, IT'S A PLACE WHERE RIGHT NOW PEOPLE CAN GO AND THEY CAN SHOP AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY BUY THINGS THAT THEY NEED.

IT USED TO BE WHERE YOU WOULD COME DOWNTOWN TO ACTUALLY GET YOUR MILK. BUT NOW YOU COME DOWNTOWN, ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS YOU CAN COME DOWNTOWN FOR IS FRESH SEAFOOD.

IT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES FERNANDINA A PLACE THAT PEOPLE LOVE LIVING IS THE FACT THAT IT'S REAL, IT'S AUTHENTIC.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I SEE IN ATLANTIC SEAFOOD AND WHEN I TALK TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS, THAT'S WHAT I HEAR IS THAT ATLANTIC SEAFOOD IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR HISTORY.

SO WHEN I'M TALKING TO THE CURRENT LEASEHOLDER ABOUT THIS, ABOUT HOW WE CAN KEEP THE BUSINESS HERE, HOW CAN WE KEEP ATLANTIC SEAFOOD HERE, THE ONLY OPTION HE HAS TO ALSO BE ABLE TO SELL FOOD OUT OF THE SIDE. THE COST DOESN'T WORK IF YOU WANT TO KEEP JUST THE SEAFOOD STORE IT'S NO LONGER FEASIBLE TO KEEP JUST THAT. I THINK THAT THAT IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR WATERFRONT IS THAT IT'S A PLACE OUR LOCALS GO TO BUY THINGS. AND IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS

[01:00:02]

CONCEPT, THIS ISN'T THE LEASE, THIS IS THE CONCEPT OF WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LEASE IS VERY CLEAR THAT IT HAS TO MAINTAIN THE SEAFOOD STORE ASPECT.

I KNOW THAT'S THE PLAN NOW. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S LOCKED IN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND FINALLY, I THINK THE ALTERNATIVE OF THIS, WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE IS IF WE WAIT THREE YEARS AND THEN THE LEASE STARTS TO EXPIRE, I THINK WHAT'S WORSE AND I'M NOT JUDGING THINGS BASED OFF OF -- WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS THINK OF THE ALTERNATIVE OF ATLANTIC SEAFOOD DISAPPEARING ENTIRELY IS NOT SOMETHING I THINK THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE OKAY WITH.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I THINK PEOPLE WOULD FEEL RIGHT ABOUT IS THAT JUST LETTING THAT LEASE GO. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO DO. I WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH ATLANTIC SEAFOOD IN GOOD FAITH AND SEE IF WE CAN COME TO A SOLUTION THAT BENEFITS EVERYBODY.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

SEEING NONE, CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

[5.5 GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD - RESCINDING RESOLUTION 2017-82]

>> YES. AND THAT CONCEPT PLAN PASSES 5-0. 5.5, GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD RESCINDING RESOLUTION 2017-82. MR. ROSS.

>> THIS IS A BIT OF A COURSE CORRECTION, NO PUN INTENDED, FROM 2017-82. THIS MODIFIES THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD AND REFORMATS IT TO THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD TO BETTER REFLECT THE GOAL OF THE BOARD.

THE GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT TO A THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTOR. NOW IT'S A WHOLLY MUNICIPALLY RUN GOLF COURSE WITH OUR CITY STAFF.

THIS COMES AT THE DIRECTION OF OUR GOLF COURSE MANAGER DAVID DEMAY AND HE IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. DEMAY OR MR. ROSS?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION, MR. MAYOR. >> GO AHEAD, SIR.

>> THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION JUST BEFORE THE MEETING. DID WE NOTIFY THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD THAT THE COMMISSION HAD AN ACTIONABLE ITEM ON THE AGENDA? DOES ANYBODY KNOW FROM CITY STAFF WHETHER OR NOT WE NOTIFIED THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD

WE HAD AN ACTIONABLE ITEM? >> I DON'T KNOW.

ANYBODY ELSE KNOW? I THINK WE DO HAVE DISCUSSION POINTS COMING FIRST RIGHT AFTER COMMISSION QUESTIONS.

>> THAT'S JUST A QUESTION I HAVE THAT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET

ANSWERED. >> EXCELLENT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. QUESTION, COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> THIS IS MORE FOR TAMMY. THIS DOESN'T SUNSET THE BOARD

MEMBERS, CORRECT? >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THE BOARD STAYS THE SAME? WE'RE NOT GETTING RID OF THE

BOARD, CORRECT? >> NO, NOT CHANGING THE MEMBERS.

>> AND THE ONLY OTHER THING, I DON'T THINK I MISSED TOO MANY IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS OR SIX YEARS OF GOLF ADVISORY BOARDS.

AND THIS COMES UP ALL THE TIME ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD MEET ONCE A MONTH OR THIS THAT AND OTHER THING.

THE ONLY SUGGESTION I'M GOING TO MAKE ON THIS IS THAT YOU CHANGE SECTION 7 TO MEETING FREQUENCY, THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ON A MONTHLY BASIS OR LESS FREQUENTLY IF APPROVED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD.

IF THEY WANT TO MEET LESS THAN ONCE A MONTH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK HERE AND CHANGE THIS ONCE AGAIN.

JUST A SUGGESTION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THEN WE GO TO CITIZEN DISCUSSION. FIRST, WE DO HAVE COMMISSIONER MIKE MEADOWS HAS PUT IN A REQUEST TO SPEAK.

AS ALWAYS PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, SIR.

>> MY NAME IS MIKE MEADOWS, I LIVE AT 2601DEL RAY.

I WANT TO SAY FIRST OF ALL DAVID HAS BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB AT THE GOLF COURSE. I APPRECIATE THAT AND I THINK EVERYBODY DOES. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

THERE IS SOME MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WHEN THIS GOLF COURSE COMMITTEE WAS FORMED. I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 20 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN GOING TO THESE MEETINGS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE. IT WAS NOT SET UP WHEN THE PRIVATE COMPANY CAME IN. THIS BOARD HAS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS GOLF COURSE FOR ALL OF THOSE YEARS.

I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE MEMBERS OF THIS GOLF COURSE

[01:05:08]

ADVISORY BOARD WHICH ARE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS, THEY VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME, THEY'VE SHOWN UP, THEY'VE DONE THEIR JOB. WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU NOT EVEN NOTIFY THEM THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT? SOMEBODY SAID WELL I READ IT ON THE AGENDA.

WELL I DID TOO, BUT I'M NOT A NORMAL HUMAN BEING, I READ THIS STUFF. YOU'RE NOT NORMAL.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T READ THE AGENDA OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. BUT THESE PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN UP AND DONE THEIR JOB AND VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME.

AND THIS CITY HAS NOT EVEN HAD THE DECENCY TO NOTIFY THEM THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE ON THE MEETING TONIGHT.

I TRIED TO CALL THEM, BUT I COULD ONLY GET IN TOUCH CAN ONE, HE'S HERE TONIGHT. HE DIDN'T KNOW A THING ABOUT IT.

WHO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT? AND LET ME TELL YOU THIS, THEY'VE MET ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THIS THAT YOU WANT TO DO TONIGHT TWO MONTHS AGO. AND THEY REJECTED ALL OF IT UNANIMOUSLY. AND THEY DID WANT TO MEET MONTHLY. THIS BOARD, THIS ADVISORY BOARD WAS REVISED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, TY, IT WAS REVISED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT BECAME NOTHING BUT A CHITCHAT GROUP.

SO THAT COMMISSION REVISED IT AND SET UP NEW MEMBERS.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. OTHER THINGS ON THIS THAT REALLY UPSET ME IS NEAR THE BOTTOM. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL LATE THIS AFTERNOON. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RESOLUTION, I THINK WE'RE GETTING TO THE MEAT MATTER, IT DESCRIBES THE GENERAL MANAGER DOESN'T MEET WITH THIS BOARD.

IT'S ALWAYS SAID ALL THESE YEARS THE GENERAL MANAGER HAS MET WITH THIS BOARD. AM I WRONG?

>> I DON'T RECALL, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.

>> WELL, YOU NEED TO LOOK IT UP. IT STRIKES THE GENERAL MANAGER FROM THIS. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IF YOU DO THIS TONIGHT IT'S GOING TO BECOME ANOTHER CHITCHAT

GROUP. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN FOR THE CITY, MR. MEADOWS. MR. OR CHAIR PELICAN, PLEASE

COME ON DOWN, SIR. >> JOHN PELICAN 425 NORTH FLETCHER AVENUE. AGAIN AS MR. MEADOWS DESCRIBED, THAT'S HOW I LEARNED OF THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT AT THE MEETING. AND I WAS A BIT DISTURBED.

I'LL JUST REVIEW A FEW POINTS FOR YOU.

AND I'LL HOPEFULLY MAKE SENSE OF IT.

IT'S A BIT EMBARRASSING THINGS JUST BEING CROSSED OUT AND IT'S INCOMPLETE. THE MAIN QUESTION IS WHY CHANGE IT? WHAT IS THE CASE FOR CHANGING THE RESOLUTION? WHO MADE THE CASE? DID IT CONVINCE YOU? DID HE DISCUSS IT WITH YOU? I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE IMPORTANT, IF YOU'RE CONVINCED IT SHOULD BE CHANGED, YOU'RE THE BOSS AND YOU CAN MAKE THAT DECISION. BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED YOU LOOKED AT BOTH SIDES OR ALL SIDES OR ANY SIDES OF IT ACTUALLY.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE COMMISSION, THE CITIZENS, OR THE GOLF COURSE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED WITH THIS CHANGE.

AGAIN MR. MEADOWS CAME UP WITH IT, THE GENERAL MANAGER DAVID DEMAY WANTED TO GO TO A QUARTERLY MEETING.

WE DOWN VOTED THAT 4-1 BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION DESCRIBED WHEN WE SHOULD MEET. SO WE WENT ALONG WITH THE RESOLUTION AND FOLLOWED IT. WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT ONCE YOU CROSS OUT THE MAIN SECTION OF IT IS POWERS AND DUTIES.

AND I WON'T GO OVER THEM, IT'S BLACK AND WHITE THERE.

I THINK THERE'S A BALANCE OF DISCUSSION WITH BOARD MEMBERS TO DISCUSS WITH GENERAL MANAGERS EITHER AT THE GOLF COURSE OR IN THE PRIVATE MEETING. NO ONE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS HAS THOUGHT THEY WERE IN A SUPERVISORY CAPACITY OVER THE GENERAL MANAGER. IT WAS ALL ADVICE FREELY GIVEN WITH CONSIDERATION TO THE RAMIFICATIONS.

[01:10:08]

IT'S A GOLF ADVISORY BOARD. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? IN THE OLD DOCUMENT IT REALLY HAS NOTHING.

I DON'T THINK IF YOU DECIDE TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION, THE GOLF COURSE WOULD BE AS SUCCESSFUL.

AGAIN MR. DEMAY IS DOING A GREAT JOB.

THERE WAS A TENDENCY NOT TO HAVE AS MUCH OPENNESS IN THE OPERATION AS FAR AS FINANCES AND CHANGES CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE THINGS. GENERAL MANAGERS COME AND GO.

IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE IT AT THAT, THEY MEET AND I DON'T KNOW TALK ABOUT THE PGA. SO I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THESE POINTS AND I PROBABLY DIDN'T GIVE A FULL JOB GIVING THE RAMIFICATIONS, BUT I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

WE APPRECIATE THAT. I'LL ALLOW DISCUSSION ON THIS PRE-MOTION THIS TIME, LET'S SHAKE IT UP.

OR I'LL HEAR A MOTION. >> FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES, GO

AHEAD. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT MEETING TO GIVE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THEIR TWO CENTS LIKE MR. PELICAN HAS.

>> DO I HEAR A SECOND? >> MR. MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER.

TABLE IS NOT SOMETHING -- IT'S POSTPONED IS WHAT YOU MEAN.

POSTPONED TO A DATE. >> TABLE IS WE NEVER COME BACK TO IT. IT'S POSTPONED TO OUR NEXT

MEETING. >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE OUR BOARD MEMBERS SPEAK ABOUT THIS.

I THINK THE NOTICE PORTION OF THIS IS IMPORTANT.

AND EVEN IF THEY DON'T SPEAK AT THE NEXT MEETING, AT LEAST WE'VE

GIVEN THEM ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY. >> I CAN SECOND THAT.

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. NOW COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO, SIR. >> YES, I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS. WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE INFORMED THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY THAT THIS WAS AN ACTIONABLE ITEM BY THE CITY. FOR THAT, I APOLOGIZE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ACTION AND IT DEALS WITH AN ADVISORY BOARD, THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE DONE.

SO I DO APOLOGIZE THERE. SO MY UNDERSTANDING, JUST TO CLARIFY THIS SO WE CAN GET THIS ALL OUT IN THE OPEN, ALL THIS REALLY DOES IS ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A, THE GOLF COURSE WAS MANAGED BY A THIRD PARTY, THE RESOLUTION WAS BROUGHT FORTH SO THAT THERE WAS A BOARD THAT OVERSAW THE BUDGET ASPECT OF THINGS WITHIN THAT THIRD PARTY.

SO THERE WAS KIND OF LIKE ANOTHER WATCHDOG OF WHAT'S GOING ON. NOW THAT THE CITY HAS FULLY TAKEN BACK OVER THE GOLF COURSE, THERE'S NO NEED FOR THAT OVERSIGHT SO TO SPEAK OF THE BUDGETARY ASPECT OF THINGS.

SO I REALLY THINK THAT ALL THAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND WE HAVE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARDS, WE HAVE MARINA ADVISORY BOARDS.

WE HAVE ADVISORY BOARDS THAT ADVISE.

>> COMMISSION. >> ENTERPRISE.

WE HAVE ADVISORY BOARDS FOR ALL OF THIS.

WE'RE NOT REALLY CHANGING ANYTHING.

THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE AN ADVISORY BOARD.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER ROSS SUGGESTED IN TERMS OF THE MEETING FREQUENCY THING.

BUT I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO CLARIFY EVERYTHING.

SO WE CAN KIND OF TALK ABOUT IT NOW, GET IT OUT IN THE OPEN.

THIS ISN'T A MASSIVE CHANGE, THIS ISN'T A HUGE UPSET OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BOARD. IT'S JUST SIMPLY A CLARIFICATION OF THE DUTIES NOW THAT THE CITY IS RUNNING THE GOLF COURSE.

SO THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE FOR THAT.

I'M FINE WITH POSTPONING IT SO THAT WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE FEEDBACK. BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE DRASTICALLY CHANGING ANYTHING.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER ROSS.

VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> THANK YOU.

I BELIEVE THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD, IF WE HAVE NOT NOTICED THE MEMBERS OF THIS ADVISORY BOARD, ESPECIALLY THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD, THAT WE SHOULD NOTICE THEM AND WE SHOULD HAVE TIME TO SPEAK WITH THEM AND WE SHOULD GO OVER THIS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION OR A CHANGE.

[01:15:01]

I DO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THOUGH.

IT DOES SOUND LIKE BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A THIRD PARTY THAT WAS RUNNING THE GOLF COURSE AT ONE POINT THAT WE HAD A DIFFERENT STRICTURE. ALL I HEAR IS VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR GOLF COURSE. AND I CAN TELL YOU OF THE TIMES I'VE BEEN OUT THERE IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, IT'S LOOKING BETTER EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY OUR GOLF COURSE IS LOOKING BETTER AND BETTER. AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'VE GOT GREAT MANAGEMENT AND WE HAVE A GREAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO I DON'T WANT TO UPSET ANY CITIZENS THAT SPEND THEIR HARD AND VALUABLE TIME ON OUR RESOURCES.

AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT, EVERY SINGLE ONE.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS MOVE THIS FORWARD.

IT'S A FAILURE ON THE CITY'S PART.

IT'S A FAILURE ON OUR PART, COMMUNICATION IS OUR BEST ASSET IS WHAT I'M GETTIN AT. SO IT IS A BUMMER AND I APOLOGIZE THAT WE DID NOT INFORM ANYBODY OF THIS CHANGE.

AND WE'LL DISCUSS IT IN FULL NEXT MEETING.

BUT I THINK THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS PROPER NOTICE ON THIS.

MR. PELICAN, I'LL ALLOW THAT SINCE YOU'RE THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD. COME ON DOWN TO THE PODIUM

THOUGH. >> JOHN PELICAN.

ONE FACTOR I DIDN'T MENTION, IT'S MY BELIEF THAT WE'LL PROBABLY ONLY HAVE IF I GET REAPPOINTED MYSELF AND POSSIBLY VICE MAYOR CORBETT AND MAYBE ONE OTHER PERSON REMAINING ON THE BOARD. SO OUR NEXT MEETING NEXT WEEK, I GUESS THIS WILL BE AN ITEM OF DISCUSSION.

BUT TWO OF THE MEMBERS WILL PROBABLY NOT BE ON THE BOARD

AFTER THAT MEETING. >> WELL, THANK YOU, MR.

CHAIRMAN. >> I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE VICE MAYOR'S COMMENTS THAT MR. DEMAY IS DOING A FANTASTIC JOB OUT THERE. IT'S AWESOME.

I MEAN WHERE WE WERE TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE THAT HE IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OUT THERE. I SUPPORT HIM, I SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

I UNDERSTAND WHERE HE'S COMING FROM, WHERE STAFF IS COMING FROM. THERE WILL BE AN ADVISORY BOARD, THEY'LL DO EXACTLY LIKE THE OTHER ADVISORY BOARDS.

EVERYTHING IS GOOD, EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT HE'S DOING A FANTASTIC JOB WITH NOT JUST THE BOARD, BUT THE GOLF COURSE AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TABLE.

EXCUSE ME, WE CLARIFIED THAT EARLIER.

A MOTION AND A SECOND TO POSTPONE.

CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.

>> ANTUN. >> YES.

>> ROSS. >> YES.

[5.6 NETWORK STORAGE HARDWARE PURCHASE]

THAT PASSES 5-0. MOVING ON WE HAVE 5.6 NETWORK

STORAGE HARDWARE PURCHASE. >> OUR DIRECTOR HAS IDENTIFIED A CERTAIN NETWORK STORAGE THAT'S AT THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.

WE SECURED A PROPOSAL FROM SOFTWARE HARDWARE INTERNATIONAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $86,355. THIS AUTHORIZES THE PURCHASING CONTRACT IN COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AS THEY PROVIDE THE LOWEST PRICE AND BEST FIT TO REPLACE THE HARDWARE AT THE END OF ITS

EXPECTED LIFE. >> ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS?

SEEING NONE, DO I HEAR A MOTION? >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

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

COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, PLEASE

CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

[5.7 SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE APPROVAL - EMPIRE PIPE & SUPPLY]

>> YES THAT PASSES 5-0. 5.7 SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE

APPROVAL EMPIRE PIPE AND SUPPLY. >> THIS IS A PURCHASE APPROVAL FOR SOLE SOURCE. OUR DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES IS HERE TO GET INTO THE INTRICACIES OF THIS SYSTEM.

BUT TO BE BRIEF AND FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, THIS MATCHES OUR EXISTING SYSTEM FOR READING AND BILLING PURPOSES.

THE COST IS $70,725.85. THIS APPROVES A TRANSFER OF $70,725.85 TO THE WATER FUND WATER METER ACCOUNT.

[01:20:05]

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, SIR?

>> YEAH, JUST TO CLARIFY, WE DID A SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE FROM THE SAME VENDOR EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR THE BULK OF OUR RESIDENTIAL METER PURCHASE. THESE ARE OUR LARGER TWO INCH METERS MAINLY FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS AND WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE AT THE TIME HOW WE WERE GOING TO ADAPT.

WE HAD DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO MAKE OUR EXISTING METER STYLES WORK WITH SOFTWARE. WE WERE EVALUATING THAT, BUT ENDED UP WITH THE SOLUTION YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU.

>> THE REASON THIS IS SOLE SOURCE IS OUR METERS HAVE TO MATCH THE METERS WE ALREADY HAVE?

>> CORRECT. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THIS METER SYSTEM AND SO TO STAY CONSISTENT WITH THAT, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS ONE NETWORK, ONE SYSTEM AND EMPIRE PIPE IS THE ONLY LICENSED

VENDOR FOR THIS METER SYSTEM. >> MAKES SENSE TO ME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, DO I HEAR A MOTION?

>> ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, CALL

THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

[5.8 PURCHASE APPROVAL - CUMMINS GENERATOR]

5.8 PURCHASE APPROVAL OF CUMMINS GENERATOR.

>> I'LL LET HIM GO INTO THE DETAILS OF WHY WE'RE PURCHASING

THIS REPLACEMENT GENERATOR. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS A REPLACEMENT BACKUP GENERATOR FOR WATER PLANT NUMBER THREE WHICH IS DOWN OFF OF AIRPORT ROAD.

MOST OF OUR LARGE PLANT GENERATORS ARE AT THE END OF THEIR SERVICE LIFE. SO THIS IS JUST UPGRADING THAT TO PROVIDE BACK UP POWER IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE A SUSTAINED POWER OUTAGE SO WE CAN CONTINUE SUPPLYING WATER TO THE

COMMUNITY. >> I LOOKED AT THIS.

IS THIS A 50 KBA GENERATOR. >> 500.

>> WOW, THAT'S A GOOD DEAL. >> THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT LESS EXPENSIVE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WE'VE DONE RECENTLY BECAUSE WE ARE REUSING THE FUEL TANK THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

SO THAT BRINGS THE PURCHASE COST DOWN.

THIS IS REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSFER SWITCH WHICH IS ALSO AT

THE END OF SERVICE LIFE. >> PERFECT.

ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, DO I HEAR A MOTION?

>> ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, CALL

THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> YES.

[5.9 VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AGREEMENT - 528 ELIZABETH ROAD]

. >> YES.

THAT PASSES 5-0. ITEM 5.9 VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AGREEMENT, 528 ELIZABETH ROAD. MR. TY ROSS.

>> PARCEL NUMBER 00-00-30-0700-0011-0000, THEY ACHIEVED A PERMISSION FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GO AHEAD AND BUILD ON THIS PARCEL. THIS IS BEING BUILT IN THE COUNTY, BUT THEY DESIRE CITY SEWER SERVICE AND EVENTUALLY WATER SERVICE. AND THEY MADE THIS APPLICATION TO THE CITY FOR AN ANNEXATION AGREEMENT FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER. THE STAFF DETERMINED THE REQUEST IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 82-404 AND 82-403, ITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. AND THIS ANNEXATION AGREEMENT IS

>> SO I HAVE A QUESTION. HOW CLOSE IS THE NEAREST SEWER

LINE TO THIS PROPERTY? >> I'M THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR.

IT'S ABOUT 500 FEET TO BRING SERVICE TO THESE PROPERTIES FROM

THE MAINS ON FLETCHER ROAD. >> AND WHAT'S THE COST OF THAT 500 FEET, WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT?

>> ALL OF THE COLLECTION FEES, METER FEES, EXTENSION, IS I BELIEVE CLOSE TO $30,000. THAT IS BEING PAID FOR BY THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE EXTENDED WATER MAINS AND SEWER MAIN WILL

BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY. >> SO THE CITY IS NOT PAYING TO BRING THAT LINE ALL THE WAY DOWN THAT STREET? BY THE WAY THIS HOUSE IS ALREADY BUILT, I DON'T GET IT, BUT IT IS. IT'S A BIG HOUSE.

IT'S A NICE LOOKING HOUSE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY PULLED

THAT ONE OFF. >> ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ARE AT THE COST OF THE PROPERTY OWNER.

>> OKAY, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO KNOW.

[01:25:05]

>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, I DO HAVE ONE REQUEST TO SPEAK ON THIS FROM MR. ROSS.

COME ON DOWN. >> JOE ROSS, JUST HEAR TO ANSWER

ANY QUESTIONS. >> I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW YOU GOT A BUILDING PERMIT WITHOUT HAVING SEWER OR SEPTIC?

>> WE TOOK OVER A PROPERTY THAT HAD SEPTIC ON IT THAT WAS UNREGISTERED AND REGISTERED TO THE COUNTY, DUMPING BASICALLY STRAIGHT INTO THE MARSH. WE'D LIKE TO FIX THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT. AND THE HOUSE YOU BUILT, I MEAN YOU WANT IT DONE, THAT PROPERTY IS ENTIRELY BUILT OUT, AM I CORRECT? THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL LOTS YOU

CAN POP OFF OR ANYTHING? >> NO, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL

LOTS. >> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT. I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW YOU DID

IT. >> WE ORIGINALLY WANTED TO PUT A SEPTIC SYSTEM IN, THEN FOUND OUT WE'RE RUNNING SEWER.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER. >> VICE MAYOR STURGES.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ANSWER A SPECIFIC QUESTION.

THE SEWER AND THE WATER SOMETIMES CAN COME AT THE END OF THE PROCESS. YOU CAN APPLY FOR IT, DO ALL OF THAT, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE TO INSTALL.

THEY HAVE TO APPROVE IF YOU ALREADY HAVE AN EXISTING SYSTEM TO SAY I HAVE AN EXISTING SYSTEM, HERE IT IS.

BUT I'M VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE DOING CITY WATER AND SEWER. OR AT LEAST SEWER TO START WITH.

>> WELL THE COUNTY HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS EVEN A SEPTIC SYSTEM

ON THE PROPERTY. >> THAT'S INTERESTING.

>> THANK YOU. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO GET A SEPTIC SYSTEM OFF OF OUR MARSH.

WE APPRECIATE THAT. >> THANK YOU, MR. BEAN.

>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY?

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> NO, I'M GOOD.

>> I THINK WE'RE GOOD. DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND?

>> I HEAR THE MOTION AND THE SECOND.

ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, LET'S CALL THE

ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

[5.10 FDOT GRANT AGREEMENT ACCEPTANCE - TRACTOR MOWER]

WELCOME TO THE CITY. WE HAVE ITEM 5.10, FDOT GRANT AGREEMENT ACCEPTANCE FOR A TRACTOR MOWER.

MR. ROSS. >> THIS IS FOR TRACTOR MOWERS AT THE AIRPORT PURSUANT TO AN FDOT GRANT AGREEMENT.

EXHIBIT A AUTHORIZES $180,000 TO BE EXPENDED FOR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT WITH A FIVE LOCAL MATCH.

WE DID BUDGET $130,000 FOR THIS, BUT THE COST INCREASED $50,000.

THIS IS FOR A NEW TRACTOR MOWER, 0 TURN AND A BUSH HOG.

THE FDOT GRANT AWARD WILL INCREASE THE AIRPORT FDOT REVENUE LINE ITEM $50,000 AND THE AIRPORT EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT BY $50,000. THE CITY'S TOTAL FISCAL YEAR BUDGET WILL INCREASE BY $50,000 TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS INCREASED

GRANT REVENUE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION?

>> ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MOWER? CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> YES.

[5.11 CITY COMMISSION RULES OF PROCEDURE]

THAT PASSES 5-0. ITEM 5.11 CITY COMMISSION RULES OR PROCEDURE. MR. TY ROSS.

>> THIS RESOLUTION MAKES CHANGES TO THE CITY COMMISSION RULES AND PROCEDURE AS MENTIONED OR SUGGESTED AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS.

THE SUBSEQUENT REVISIONS ARE TO SECTIONS 4.8 THAT COVERS MOBILE DEVICES, SECTION 6.2 ORDER OF BUSINESS, PUBLIC-SPEAKING MOTIONS, AND THAT'S THE DISCUSSION BEFORE THE MOTION, AFTER THE MOTION, SUCH AS THAT. AND ITEM 6.3 AGENDA COMPILATION.

ONCE DONE BY HAND, THIS IS NOW A SOFTWARE-DRIVEN MEDIUM AND THIS JUST MEMORIALIZES THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS DRIVING THE BUS ON AGENDA COMPILATION THROUGH THE CLERK'S SOFTWARE.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS?

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> JUST A COMMENT.

I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION UNDER ORDER OF BUSINESS SECTION 6.2, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER ROSS YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE

[01:30:02]

ORDER, BUT I THINK IT PROBABLY MAKES MORE SENSE FOR SUB SEVEN, IT SAYS AFTER DISCUSSION BY THE COMMISSION IT SAYS DEBATE ON MOTION AMENDMENTS AND DEBATE AND DISCUSSION ARE KIND OF THE SAME THING. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT DEBATE BE REPLACED WITH JUST MOTION OR MOTION AMENDMENTS.

I DON'T KNOW, THAT MAY NOT HELP YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS.

BECAUSE THIS MEANS THERE'S NO DISCUSSION OR DEBATE PRIOR TO, OH I SEE THE INITIAL MOTION MADE BY THE --

>> LET'S GO AHEAD, CAN I GET A MOTION AND SECOND THEN WE'LL GO -- WE'RE AIRING ON THE SIDE OF COMMISSION DISCUSSION.

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

>> SECOND. >> I HEAR THE MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION STARTING

WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> SURE.

I'LL START WITH 2.8 WHICH I DIDN'T SEE UNTIL I READ IT THIS WEEKEND. WE'RE NOW GOING TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT AT WORKSHOPS? THAT'S A QUESTION.

IT SAYS WORKSHOP AND WORK SESSION MEETINGS, DURING WORKSHOP OR WORK SESSION MEETINGS, PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE ALLOWED USING THE SAME RULES AS THE CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS.

SO THAT SUGGESTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW COMMENT WHICH WE'VE NEVER DONE IN THE SIX YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.

>> HUH. >> THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

>> WE CAN DO ONE AT A TIME. >> SO I READ THE RULES WHEN WE FIRST GOT ON THE COMMISSION AND SAW THAT AND UNDERSTOOD THAT YES, THERE IS THE ABILITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE WORKSHOP. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING AND WHILE IT'S NOT CLEAR HERE, THAT WAS A MAYORAL DISCRETION ON WHETHER OR NOT PUBLIC INPUT WOULD BE HAD AT THE WORKSHOP SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE DURING WORKSHOPS, WE MAY WORK THAT FULL HOUR. THERE MAY NOT BE TIME FOR IT.

I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS OFFERED AT TIMES, PLENTY OF TIMES IF THERE WAS TIME LEFT OVER TO HAVE IT. BUT I ALWAYS AT LEAST TO MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS A MAYORAL DISCRETION TO HAVE COMMENT AT

THE WORKSHOP. >> THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS SAYS.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> SO I THINK I'M GOING TO AGREE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS CRYSTAL CLEAR WHAT THIS IS BACK AT HOME. SO HERE AND I SEE THE LIGHTS ARE

ON. >> CAROLINE JUST TURNED HERS

OFF. >> OKAY, ALL GOOD.

CRYSTAL CLEAR AT HOME -- SO WE WERE HAVING A REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THERE IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON EVERY SINGLE ITEM. EVERY SINGLE ITEM WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS AND DISCUSS THAT AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. WHAT WE DO TO MAKE SURE THE CITY COMMISSION HAS TIME TO TALK AND WORK THROUGH ISSUES, AS WE HAD TONIGHT, A LOT OF YOU WERE HERE EARLIER THIS EVENING, WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A WORKSHOP WHICH IS NOT THE SAME AS A MEETING. A WORKSHOP IS SPECIFICALLY FOR COMMISSION DISCUSSION. BECAUSE OF THE FLORIDA SUNSHINE LAW, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC SETTING LIKE THIS. SO WE SET AN HOUR WHERE WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AHEAD OF THE ACTUAL MEETING SO WE HAVE A DISCUSSION THEN AND THEN DURING THE MEETING OF COURSE WE HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THAT'S TWO SEPARATE THINGS.

SO AT THAT POINT WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST CALL IT ANOTHER MEETING AT THAT POINT. I THINK FOR THAT REASON, I THINK MAYOR DISCRETION IS NAME OF THE GAME.

CAN WE MAKE THAT CLEAR? IS THAT AMENABLE TO COMMISSIONER

ROSS? >> I JUST WAS CURIOUS, THAT'S

ALL. >> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POINT TO BRING UP ABOUT CLARIFYING THAT.

>> 4.8. I MEAN IF THIS IS INCLUDED IN THIS, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THIS RULES AND PROCEDURE.

I THINK THAT ALLOWING CITY COMMISSIONERS TO HAVE CELL PHONES AND USE THEIR CELL PHONES AND BE TEXTING WHILE THERE'S A CITY COMMISSION MEETING GOING ON IS JUST BAD OPTICS AND I THINK IMPROPER. YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSING YOUR WHOLE ATTENTION ON THIS. YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT A CELL PHONE WITH A COMPUTER HERE, YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT A CELL PHONE FOR THE LIFE OF THESE MEETINGS. WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TEXTED COMMISSIONERS DURING THESE MEETINGS WHICH IS I THINK IMPROPER.

SO I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR IF THIS IS INCLUDED THE WAY IT IS. AND I HEARD ALL OF YOUR ARGUMENTS THE LAST TIME, I JUST DON'T AGREE.

GOING ON TO 6.2, THE CITY MANAGER WILL INTRODUCE SO FAR SO

[01:35:06]

GOOD. THE CITY STAFF PRESENTS IF APPROPRIATE. SO FAR SO GOOD.

COMMISSIONER MAY ASK FOR FACTUAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE ITEM, SO FAR SO GOOD. PUBLIC INPUT FOR SPEAKERS WHO REGISTER TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS, SO FAR SO GOOD.

AND THEN WHAT I THOUGHT WE AGREED TO LAST TIME IS THEN BEFORE A MOTION WAS MADE THERE WOULD BE PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION BY THE CITY COMMISSION TO DECIDE WHAT THE MOTION WOULD BE.

AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY THIS READS.

BECAUSE THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY A MOTION MADE AND THEN DISCUSSION AND DEBATE AND SO ON. SO I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE DISCUSSION BEFORE A MOTION IS MADE AND THAT SHOULD BE

INCORPORATED INTO THE RULES. >> ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER

AYSCUE. >> I THOUGHT OUR ORDER OF BUSINESS FOLLOWS THIS. I THOUGHT ONCE PUBLIC COMMENT HAD ENDED, THAT'S WHEN THE CHAIR WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION.

>> THAT'S WHAT THIS SAYS. >> THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD IT.

I UNDERSTOOD IT AS ONCE PUBLIC INPUT HAD BEEN MADE, THERE WOULD BE A MOTION, OF COURSE THE MOTION COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO IT. AND THEN TO ME 6 AND 7 ARE THE SAME THING. I THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING RID OF ONE OF THOSE. DISCUSSION BY THE CITY COMMISSION COULD JUST EASILY BE REPLACED WITH DEBATE BY THE CITY COMMISSION. THAT'S HOW I UNDERSTOOD IT.

SO WE HAVE LIKE A DOUBLE DISCUSSION THERE AND IT SHOULD JUST BE SIX AND THEN SEVEN SHOULD BE MOTION OR AMEND MOTION RESTATED BY THE MAYOR. I MEAN I THINK WE'VE GOT DOUBLE DISCUSSION THERE AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IT, I THINK. AND I AGREE WITH THE WAY IT'S LAID OUT NOW. ONCE PUBLIC INPUT HAS BEEN HAD, THE MOTION IS MADE WHETHER IT'S AMENDED OR NOT.

I BROUGHT IT UP LAST TIME THAT THERE IS AN AMENDMENT.

I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST HAVE MAYBE THE MAYORAL DISCRETION TO OPEN IT BACK UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT THAT'S JUST ME IF IT'S AMENDED. BUT I CAN LIVE WITH IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE 6 AND 7 AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS GOOD TO ME FROM THERE.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET, I GET A GOOD FEEL FOR HOW THE WHOLE COMMISSION THINKS ABOUT THIS.

I HEAR COMMISSIONER AYSCUE IS OKAY WITH IT AS WRITTEN, GIVEN THAT WE RESOLVE THE TWO. I THINK EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE THAT WE DON'T NEED TWO DISCUSSIONS.

IF IT PLEASES THE BOARD, I THINK I'D RATHER HAVE DISCUSSION THAN DEBATE, IT JUST SOUNDS BETTER TO DISCUSS THINGS.

REGARDLESS, AS LONG AS WE RESOLVE THAT DOUBLE, YOU'RE OKAY WITH IT AS IT STANDS. COMMISSIONER ROSS WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANOTHER LINE OF DISCUSSION BEFORE THE MOTION.

VICE MAYOR STURGES, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO GET RID OF 6 OR 7, JUST PUT DISCUSSION BY COMMISSION IS FINE WITH ME.

JUST THAT ONE LINE. DISCUSSION BY CITY COMMISSION.

AS THE NEXT MOTION OR AMENDED MOTION BY THE MAYOR, I'M FINE WITH THAT ONE. AND I'LL GO BACK TO THE CELL PHONE THING, I DISAGREE WITH CHIP.

I'VE SAT AT THIS COMPUTER STATION AND STATE A CASE ABOUT IT, BUT I'VE SAT HERE AND THIS COMPUTER HASN'T WORKED AT LEAST 40% TO 50% OF THE TIME. I DO USE MY PHONE, NOT TO SPEAK OR TALK TO ANYBODY, SOMETIMES TO USE IT AS A CALCULATOR, SOMETIMES TO USE IT AS AN INTERNET SEARCH TOOL OR OTHER MEANS. I USE EVERYTHING IN MY ABILITY TO TRY TO MAKE A DECISION. SO I'M FINE WITH THE CELL PHONE 4.8 WRITTEN THE WAY THAT IT IS. OTHER THAN THAT, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG. I DON'T REALLY NEED TO ADD ANOTHER DISCUSSION OR DEBATE. I COULD LEAVE THAT UP TO THE MAYOR TO DETERMINE IF WE NEED ONE.

>> THANK YOU. SO WHAT I'M HEARING HERE IS THE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT I THINK WE DO HAVE AND COMMISSIONER ROSS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THESE UP TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

WHAT I'M HEARING, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, GENTLEMEN, I'M HEARING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE WORKSHOP PROCESS STAYS THE SAME AS IT IS NOW. AND WE ALSO ADDITIONALLY WANT TO ON THE ORDERS OF BUSINESS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE JUST STRIKE LINE SEVEN.

THAT SHOULD CORRECT THAT. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, I THINK THAT RULES AND PROCEDURE LOOKS GOOD TO ME.

I FEEL LIKE THAT IS GOOD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

[01:40:04]

>> THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION CLARIFYING 2.8, THERE WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO CLARIFY, WHEN YOU SAY THE WAY WE DO IT NOW MEANING HOW WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS WHERE THERE'S A DISCUSSION AND DECISION BUT NOT PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS THE MAYOR DECIDES WE CAN

HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> TO ME SAY THE MAYOR OR THE

WILL OF THE CITY COMMISSION. >> THAT'S AMENABLE TO ME.

>> IS THAT MAJORITY OR CONSENSUS?

I HEAR YOU. >> IF THREE COMMISSIONERS JUMP

TOGETHER THEN THERE'S -- >> MAYOR OR MAJORITY.

>> MAKES SENSE TO ME. PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S GOOD. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT DISCUSSION. WE HAVE THAT MOTION AND SECOND ON THE TABLE. DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO CLARIFY THAT? EXCELLENT.

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

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> NO.

>> MAYOR BEAN. >>

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M RECALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION.

WE HAVE THREE LAST BLOCKS TO GO THROUGH.

[6.1 AMENDING ORDINANCE 2023-09 - RIGHT-OF-WAY VACATION - PORTION OF CESSNA LANE]

WE HAVE OUR ORDINANCES, SOME APPOINTMENTS COMING UP AND THEN PUBLIC COMMENT NOT ON THE AGENDA.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT ALL. LET'S START WITH OUR ORDINANCES.

WE HAVE ITEM 6.1 AMENDING ORDINANCE 2023-09 RIGHT-OF-WAY VACATION, PORTION OF CESSNA LANE.

IF YOU'VE BEEN WITH US A LONG TIME AS A CITY, YOU KNOW WE'VE VOTED ON THIS QUITE SOME TIMES, MANY, MANY TIMES.

HOPEFULLY THIS IS THE LAST ONE. >> ORDINANCE 2023-47 AMENDING ORDINANCE 2023-09 TO CLARIFY THAT THE CITY DOES NOT WISH TO CONTINUE MAINTAINING THE ROADWAY AT A PORTION OF CESSNA LANE BETWEEN AIRPORT ROAD AND AMELIA ISLAND PARKWAY, 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? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS?

>> THIS IS THE LAST TIME. >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> IT IS THE LAST TIME. AND JUST SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST AN INSIDE JOKE, THIS IS A PORTION OF CESSNA LANE NORTH AIRPORT ROAD IN BETWEEN AMELIA ISLAND PARKWAY.

THE CITY IS NOT USING IT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD OR WHAT'S IT, THE ROAD IS THE STUBS PROPERTY, THEY'VE ASKED THE CITY IS THEY CAN PURCHASE AND THEY DID PURCHASE FOR $40,000 THIS SECTION OF ROAD SO THAT THEY CAN UNIFY THEIR PROPERTY AND CLOSE IT OFF AND LIKE I SAID JUST OUT THERE ONE PARCEL.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT THE TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY IF YOU'VE EVER PURCHASED PROPERTY KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THEY HAVE CONDITIONS AND THIS WAS A CONDITION.

THEY DIDN'T QUITE LIKE THE WORDING OF OUR LAST ORDINANCE TO VACATE READILY. SO THAT'S THE STORY.

>> WITH THAT, DO I HEAR A MOTION?

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

>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >>.

[6.2 MASTER FEE SCHEDULE AMENDMENT - GOLF COURSE, SANITATION SERVICES, AND UTILITIES]

YES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> YES. >> MAY CORE -- MAYOR BEAN.

YES. THAT PASSES 5-0.

ITEM 6.2 MASTER FEE SCHEDULE AMENDMENT, GOLF COURSE, SANITATION SERVICES, AND UTILITIES.

>> ORDINANCE 2023-48 ESTABLISHING AND AMENDING FEES FOR THE GOLF COURSE, SANITATION, AND WATER 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 THE FEE SCHEDULE? SEEING NONE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. ANYONE HAVE A QUESTION?

VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I SEE DAVID IS NOT HERE ANYMORE. ARE THESE FEES CHANGING DRASTICALLY, OR WAS THIS PART OF THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE BEFORE?

>> ARE YOU SPEAKING TO THE GOLF COURSE, SIR?

>> YES, SPECIFICALLY. >> I CAN ANSWER THAT.

>> PLEASE. >> GO AHEAD.

>> FEES AT THE GOLF COURSE, THERE'S SOME CLARIFICATION AS TO A MEMBER CART FEE OR MEMBER GREEN FEE.

[01:45:04]

THERE'S ONE SET OF GREEN FEES AND THERE'S ONE SET OF CART FEES. REMEMBER IT JUST CLARIFIES THAT IF YOU GO RENT A CART, THERE'S THE ONE FEE.

IT ALSO CLARIFIES THAT TOP TRACER USE IS A BENEFIT OF MEMBERS AND TO THE TOP TRACER IS DELINEATED IS THERE IN THE FEE SCHEDULE AS AN INCLUDED BENEFIT FOR MEMBERS.

>> DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, VICE MAYOR?

>> I THINK IT DOES. I THINK YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS IS MORE OF A CLARIFICATION THAN ADJUSTMENT OR CHANGE TO WHAT

WE'VE ALREADY PASSED IN 23-24? >> IT'S TWEAKED IN THAT REGARD.

TOP TRACER IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN THE DRIVING RANGE. IT'S A VIDEO GAME.

IT'S NOT LIKE -- >> I KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.

>> SO IT'S A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE AND IT'S DELINEATED DIFFERENTLY ON THIS FEE SCHEDULE.

>> THAT CLEARS IT UP FOR ME. THANK YOU.

>> PERFECT. HEADING ON DOWN THE LINE.

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

>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? SEEING NONE, COMMISSIONER ROSS

GO AHEAD. >> THE ONLY OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT I THINK THE CITY COMMISSION SETTING A FEE FOR THE GOLF COURSE OR ANY OTHER ENTERPRISE FOR THAT MATTER IS PROBABLY INAPPROPRIATELY. THAT WE SHOULD RUN THIS AS A BUSINESS AND GIVE THEM THE DISCRETION TO DO THAT.

I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE THE DISCRETION TO RUN THE FEES AS THEY SEE FIT TO RUN THE BUSINESS.

THAT BEING SAID. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR. WITH NO FURTHER COMMENTS, CITY

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

[Items 7.1 - 7.10]

MOVING ON TO ITEM SEVEN, BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

IF YOU'VE BEEN WITH US A REALLY LONG TIME, YOU'LL NOTICE WOW THIS IS A LARGE NUMBER OF BOARD APPOINTMENTS ALL AT ONCE.

IT'S BECAUSE RECENTLY WE HAVE CHANGED HOW APPOINTMENTS FOR OUR BOARDS GO. THEY ALL EXPIRE AT THE SAME TIME. SO WE STAGGERED THEM, THEY WON'T ALL EXPIRE ALL AT ONCE, BUT THEY WILL EXPIRE IN THE SAME MONTH, THAT WAY WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK IS THERE ANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME JOIN OR IS IT JUST REAPPLICATION OR REAPPOINTMENTS.

WHAT I'M SEEING ON THIS LONG LIST IS OF COURSE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR CITY VERY WELL.

AND IT APPEARS THATINTMENTS GOIG DOWN.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ENOUGH SEATS TO COVER IT.

THIS IS AT THE COMMISSION'S WILL OF COURSE.

AND I SEE MANY DIFFERENT, I KNOW WE HAVE APPLICANTS THAT ARE WITH US TONIGHT THAT ARE HERE. WE ALLOWED IN PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, WE COULD HEAR THESE AS A BLOCK IF ANYONE WANTS TO HEAR IT AS A BLOCK AND DISCUSS INDIVIDUALS, OR IF THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE AS A COMMISSION, WE CAN GO DOWN THE LIST.

>> I MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE THEM ALL A BLOCK IF IT'S AMENABLE TO

THE COMMISSION. >> IS ANYBODY INTERESTED IN ME READING THE NAMES? THERE ARE REPORTS WITH NAMES, WE DON'T DO RESOLUTIONS WITH THESE. THERE ARE THE SAME NUMBER OF

APPLICANTS AS THERE ARE SEATS. >> THAT'S PERFECT, THANK YOU.

VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'VE LOOKED OVER ALL OF THEM. THEY'RE JUST REAPPOINTMENTS.

I THINK EVERY ONE OF THEM ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH COMMITTEE, I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO HAVE ANY SEPARATE DISCUSSION ABOUT ANY OF THEM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CITY CLERK.

>> THANK YOU. WHO MADE THE SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BLOCK. SO NOW WE DO NEED TWO VOTES.

THIS VOTE WILL MAKE IT A BLOCK, THEN WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER VOTE FOR THE BLOCK. SO CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE

ROLL ON MAKING IT A BLOCK. >> BY A BLOCK, YOU MEAN APPOINTING THEM ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY AS OPPOSED TO

GOING THROUGH ONE BY ONE. >> CORRECT.

LET ME STATE THE MOTION, THIS DOES NOT APPROVE ANYONE.

THIS IS SAYING THAT INSTEAD OF TEN DIFFERENT VOTES AND BY TEN DIFFERENT VOTES, THERE WILL BE SUB VOTES FOR EACH ONE, WE'RE DOING ONE VOTE FOR ALL OF THE APPLICANTS AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THAT'S WHAT A YES VOTE DOES. MAKES IT ONE VOTE RATHER THAN TEN SMALL VOTES. SO CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE

VOTE. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

[01:50:01]

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE SAID BLOCK?

>> MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> NOW WE HAVE COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION.

ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION HERE?

>> I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR SERVICE AND CONTINUING TO SERVE ON THESE BOARDS.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND GO ONE STEP FURTHER. I'M GOING TO READ EVERYBODY'S NAME OUT THAT'S BEING APPOINTED. QUICKLY GO THROUGH THIS.

AIRPORT MR. TOM WALKY. WE HAVE CHRISTINE, WARREN HILL.

ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR OUR PENSION PLAN, MR. ROBERT VIRTUE.

THANK YOU, SIR. REVEREND BERNARD THOMPSON ON THE APPEALS BOARD. THE YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD ETHAN JOHNSON AND CHRISTIAN STOCKS. CHAIR PELICAN ON THE GOLF COURSE BOARD. ON THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COUNCIL MR. MIKE WHO WAS HERE EARLIER AS WELL.

ON THE PAB WE'RE REAPPOINTING MR. STEPHENSON.

ON PARKS AND REC MS. JENNY. WITH THAT, THANK YOU GUYS FOR AGREEING TO THE BLOCK. AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR CITY.

ALL RIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS?

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

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

PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT ITEMS NOD ON THE AGENDA.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE. WE'LL START WITH VICE MAYOR KRIEGER. COME ON DOWN, SIR.

>> I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING TONIGHT I HAVEN'T DONE, I COME HERE PRETTY REGULAR. I WANT TO -- I ALWAYS SPEAK FOR MYSELF. TONIGHT ACTUALLY I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO ME.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF ISSUES, BUT THE FIRST ISSUE IS THE AIR QUALITY PERMIT AND THE -- PLANT. THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS THE COMP PLAN 10712 WHICH PROHIBITS CHEMICAL PROCESSES.

SO THE ARGUMENT WILL BE THAT THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF ITS EXISTING PLAN. BUT THAT'S NOT QUITE THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED IN THE PROPOSAL. SO THAT'S JUST ONE ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE DECIDED BY THE COMMISSION.

THEN YOU MOVE ON TO WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS.

NUMBER ONE CONCERN, IT HADN'T BEEN AN OPEN TRANSPARENT PROCESS WHICH IT NEEDS TO BE. AND IF YOU ALL REMEMBER, I THINK ALL OF THAT WAS DONE. HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO THAT.

THE PERMIT WILL ADDRESS THE AIR QUALITY THING.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CORRESPONDENCE ALREADY AND WE'LL HAVE SOME OTHER PEOPLE THAT WILL SPEAK ABOUT THE AIR QUALITY.

ANOTHER MAJOR THING IS THE SAFETY ISSUE, THEY'VE HAD SOME ISSUES ABOUT TRUCKLOADING AND THE AMOUNT OF TRUCKS.

WHICH BRINGS UP THE ISSUE I BROUGHT UP 5, 6 YEARS AGO OF WHAT'S A HAZARDOUS PLANT. AND I REMEMBER TAMMY, YOU GAVE ME A THREE INCH NOTEBOOK. I WOULD SAY AS WE MOVE ON, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND THAT HAS TO BE A PART OF THIS WHOLE PUBLIC TRANSPARENT ISSUE. ANOTHER THING, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS THAT PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ASSESSMENT AND THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE FEDS AND ACTUALLY IT DEALS WITH GENERALLY MINORITY POPULATIONS. THAT WOULD SUGGEST HERE THAT WHEN YOU GO DOWN 7TH STREET AND 6TH STREET YOU'RE GOING TO SEE LOTS AND LOTS OF CONSTRUCTION. I DON'T KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE DENSITY IN A PLANT THAT'S VERY, VERY CLOSELY ADJACENT TO THE PLANT.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DEAL WITH ON THAT IS TALK ABOUT THE CITY RESPONSIBILITY, I KNOW THE CITY -- BUT WE NEED TO GET THIS OUT IN THE PUBLIC. AND WE NEED TO HAVE A PROCESS THAT THIS IS ALL OUT AND DISCUSS.

WE DID THAT YEARS AGO, CHIP, YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE DID -- YOU

[01:55:04]

REMEMBER THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG DEAL AND THE CITY HAS A LOT OF IMPACT.

>> THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO

BRING HOME? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY REAL BRIEFLY ON THE RESILIENCY PLAN. THAT PLAN WE'VE ADDED TWO SECTIONS. WE ADJUSTED THE SECTION DOWN TOWARDS THE PORT. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE RESILIENT, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, YOU BETTER LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE.

WE HAD A PLAN AND IF YOU'RE ADDING STUFF THERE, WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT ADDING OVER HERE WHERE WE CAN PROTECT ROADS.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC -- THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC INPUT MARK.

>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.

GOOD THINKING BRINGING THAT HOME.

LET'S CALL IN MR. TIM GREEN TO THE PODIUM.

WELCOME BACK, SIR. >> TIM GREEN 1119 -- FERNANDINA.

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE THE COURAGE TO ENGAGE BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY BAD. NUMBER ONE, I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY DOES ON THEIR PROPERTY. I COULD CARE LESS.

WHEN IT AFFECTS ME, I'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH IT.

BUT I WAS BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION WITHIN THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS ABOUT WEAPONIZATION OF CODES ON THE CITIZENS.

WELL LOOKY HERE, I HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT'S I THINK PRETTY MAD AT ME. YEAH, PRETTY MAD AT ME BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH THE CITY. I SPOKE WITH THE CITY MANAGER ON THIS ISSUE. AND MY BOAT HAS SAT THERE FOR THREE YEARS. CODES HAS GONE UP AND DOWN THAT STREET, NEVER SAID A WORD. THIS IS MY POINT, I HEARD A DISCUSSION HERE AWHILE BACK. AND I ASKED CAROLYN ABOUT IT, ABOUT THIS LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGE TO WHERE YOU COULD SELL PART OF YOUR LAND OFF OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHERE IF YOU HAD A COUPLE OF LOTS AND CHANGED WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU ALL DO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU ALL LET US USE OUR LAND.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. THIS BOAT HAS SAT THERE FOR THREE YEARS, NOTHING. BUT NOW MY NEIGHBOR IS MAD.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, I DECORATE IT FOR CHRISTMAS.

AND I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO GET CALLS ABOUT IT.

I'VE BEEN MEAN MUGGED, THAT DON'T INTIMIDATE ME.

LIKE I SAID, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR PROPERTY.

BUT THIS WEAPONIZATION OF CODES AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBORS, I MEAN IT'S RIDICULOUS. THE NEIGHBOR THAT DID THIS, THEY'RE NOT A NEIGHBOR, THEY DON'T LIVE UP THERE, OKAY.

BECAUSE THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT IS CHANGING THE CODE, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IT'S ONLY HELPING TWO PEOPLE, THE REALTORS AND THE CONTRACTORS, THE BUILDERS.

YOU WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE, LET THEM USE THEIR LAND THAT THEY PAID TAXES ON. THEY FOUND THIS LITTLE GLITCH WHERE I NEED TO MOVE MY BOAT, OKAY.

AND I'M COOL WITH THAT. I'VE GOT PLENTY OF LAND.

BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS THOUGHT, THAT LOT THAT I HAVE WHERE MY BOAT SITS, I GOT LIKE FOUR LOTS, IF THAT LOT BELONGED TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY GARAGE, HE COULD PARK HIS BOAT THERE, UNDER THE CODE HE COULD PARK HIS BOAT THERE. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE HIS PORCH STICKS OUT A LITTLE FURTHER THAN MINE.

YEAH. SO I'M LOSING ALL OF THIS PROPERTY AND LIKE I SAID I DON'T CARE, BUT DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S KIND OF RIDICULOUS THAT I CAME TO YOU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HERE WE ARE. THIS HERE IS WHAT YOU CALL GETTING EVEN. ANY COMMENT?

>> MR. GREEN -- >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> YES, SIR, MR. ROSS. >> WE'LL START WITH MR. ROSS'

QUESTION. >> I'M JUST SURMISING BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SAY. I TAKE IT THAT'S FROM CODE

ENFORCEMENT. >> YES, SIR.

>> I MISSED THAT. AND I TAKE IT THAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOUR BOAT IS PARKED WHERE AND IT SHOULD BE PARKED

[02:00:05]

THERE OR SOMETHING. >> MY BOAT IS PARKED PROBABLY --

>> IS THE PROBLEM THE BOAT IS PARKED IN THE WRONG PLACE

ACCORDING TO THE CODE? >> I GUESS SO, BUT IT'S LIKE 75 FEET FROM MY HOUSE. I OWN ALL OF THIS LAND.

>> WHAT'S THE VIOLATION? >> THE VIOLATION SAYS THEY SAY THAT I NEED TO MOVE MY BOAT BACK BEHIND SO THAT MY FRONT PORCH STICKS OUT FURTHER THAN MY BOAT. MY BOAT SITS WAY OVER HERE.

AND LIKE I SAID, MY NEIGHBOR, IF HE OWNS THAT LOT THAT I OWNED IN OLD TOWN, HE COULD PARK HIS BOAT EXACTLY WHERE I HAVE MY BOAT BECAUSE HIS FRONT PORCH STICKS OUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

>> I THINK THAT THE CODE, I'M JUST DOING THIS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD HAVING BEEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF CODE MEETINGS, IS THAT YOUR BOAT IS PARKED IN YOUR FRONT YARD AS OPPOSED TO YOUR

SIDE YARD, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? >> WOULDN'T THAT BE, MY SIDE YARD BE AS MY YARD AND GOES ALL THE WAY ACROSS THREE OTHER, TWO OTHER LOTS. I'M JUST ASKING, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT LIKE I SAID, I'LL MOVE THE BOAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY GOT TO DO, I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I GOT TO DO. MY PROBLEM IS THE CITY COMMISSION HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS WEAPONIZATION.

AND THE LADY FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT TOLD ME STRAIGHT UP, THE CITIZENS DO IT ALL THE TIME. AND LIKE I TOLD HER SHE SAID ALL WE DO IS WE JUST ANSWER THE COMPLAINT.

AND I SAID TO HER, AND I DO FEEL THIS WAY, IF THIS POLICE OFFICER RIGHT HERE WAS WALKING DOWN A ROAD SOMEWHERE AND A YOUNG LADY WAS BEING RAPED, AND HE TURNED HIS HEAD AND HE SAID HEY I'M NOT ON DUTY, EVERY ONE OF YOU WOULD WANT TO FIRE HIM.

TRUE? >> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT

THAT -- >> LET ME SAY ONE MORE THING.

>> ONE MORE THING. >> THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER KNOWING THAT THIS GOES ON AND I COME TO YOU WITH IT AND NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT. LIKE I SAID I'VE GOT PLENTY OF LAND. I COULD PARK 50 BOATS UP THERE.

BUT LET THE CITIZENS USE THEIR PROPERTY, NOT YOUR PROPERTY, THEIR PROPERTY. THANK YOU AND YOU ALL HAVE A

MERRY CHRISTMAS. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY TOUCHED BASE WITH THE CITY MANAGER, I'D LIKE TO TOUCH BASE WITH YOU. WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS MYSTERY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US

TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NEXT WE HAVE TONY CRAWFORD. WELCOME, SIR.

>> YOU SAID SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING TONIGHT, MR. BEAN.

YOU SAID COMMUNICATIONS IS A GREAT ASSET.

WE DON'T WE HAVE -- COMMUNICATE TO US WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

PERCEPTIONALLY YOU GO TO THE GAS STATION THERE'S A PUMP IT SAYS ETHANOL ON THERE. IT'S DANGEROUS.

THEY'RE BUILDING AN ETHANOL PLANT, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE TRUCK DRIVERS. WHY CAN'T THEY PRESENT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO. IF ANYBODY IN THE COMMISSION HAS AN ISSUE WITH IT, RAINIER CAN ANSWER THAT ISSUE.

IF ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY HAS AN ISSUE WITH IT, THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. WHY ISN'T IT TRANSPARENT, NUMBER ONE. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND THAT THE COMMISSION, THEY CAN'T FORCE IT.

THERE'S NO CITY ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THEY HAVE TO COME IN AND DO IT. BUT WHY ARE THEY INVITED IN TO PRESENT TO THE CITY WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND YOUR JOBS HERE, YOU GUYS WORK FOR US, OKAY.

YOUR ALLEGIANCE HAS GOT TO BE TO US, NOT TO RAINIER.

MR. BEAN, YOU'RE IN A TIGHT SPOT BECAUSE YOU WORK FOR RAINIER AND IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD THAT YOU'RE NOT INVITING THEM IN TO PRESENT TO THE CITY WHAT THEY'RE DOING. IT'S TRANSPARENCY.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AND PEOPLE I TALK TO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS. IT MAY BE THE SAFEST THING ON EARTH. BUT WE AS THE CITY DESERVE AN EXPLANATION ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT.

THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS I WASN'T HERE BUT A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO OR SOMETHING THERE WAS A PROCLAMATION ABOUT HIRING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED AND YOU REFUSED TO READ THAT PROCLAMATION AND I'VE BEEN TOLD BECAUSE IT WAS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

WE'RE PART OF THE NATION. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY REALIZES

[02:05:02]

THIS, IT MIGHT BE A BIG SECRET, BUT THERE'S GAY PEOPLE, THERE'S TRANSSEXUALS, THERE'S TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WHO YOU REPRESENT. AND WHEN YOU REFUSE TO READ A PROCLAMATION AND AT LEAST HONOR THE DEATHS OF THOSE PEOPLE AND MR. ROSS HAD THE -- TO READ IT, IT'S EMBARRASSING TO THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY IS MADE UP OF STRAIGHT PEOPLE, GAY PEOPLE, TRANSSEXUALS, TRANSGENDER, AND BISEXUAL PEOPLE. YOU REPRESENT ALL OF US, NOT JUST THE STRAIGHT PEOPLE. AND IT JUST SEEMED REALLY I DON'T KNOW, THE REPUBLIC PARTY, THE CONSERVATIVES ARE AGAINST GAY PEOPLE. POLITICS IS COMING INTO THIS CHAMBER AND IT NEVER DID BEFORE AND IT NEVER SHOULD NOW.

YOU GUYS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETELY BIPARTISAN AND BEFORE THE COMMUNITY, NOT REPRESENT THE POLICIES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

OR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. >> THANK YOU, MR. CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

WE WELCOME BACK MR. MIKE MEADOWS TO THE PODIUM.

>> MY NAME IS MIKE MEADOWS. I APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING UP TWICE AT THIS MEETING AND TALKING TO YOU.

I'VE BEEN COMING TO THIS MEETING FOR 20 YEARS, I THINK I'VE SPOKEN THREE TIMES. AT THE CITY GOLF COURSE, THERE'S A LARGE PILE OF DEBRIS THAT'S BEEN IN THE PARKING LOT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. IT LOOKS REALLY BAD, LOOKS BAD FOR THE GOLF COURSE, LOOKS BAD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WAS WONDERING HOW WE CAN GET THAT REMOVED.

THERE'S ALSO A COUPLE OF VERY LARGE PILES OF WOODCHIPS IN THE PARKING LOT. THAT IS NOT A PLACE TO USE WOODCHIPS, THAT TYPE THING. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD AND THE GENERAL MANAGER WHEN HE'S AT THOSE GOLF COURSE MEETINGS HANDLE THOSE TYPE OF ISSUES. COME HERE EVERY MONTH AND ASK YOU OR DO YOU WANT TO LET THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD ATTEND TO THAT TYPE THING. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AT PARKS AND REC MEETING, ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, THERE WAS AN ISSUE ABOUT HAVING QUARTERLY MEETINGS. I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN BEFORE, IT DOESN'T WORK. IT TURNS INTO NOTHING.

BUT AT THAT MEETING, THEY SOUNDLY DEFEATED IT.

THEY VOTED IT DOWN, THEY WANT TO HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS.

BUT AT THAT MEETING, AT THE PECK CENTER, THE PARKS AND REC CENTER DEPARTMENT WANTED TO PUT A FENCE AROUND THE -- THERE WAS A BIG MOB, NOT MOB BUT A BIG GROUP THERE, I CALL IT A FLASH ISSUE.

AND THAT SPOKE OUT. IF THEY HAD BEEN MEETING QUARTERLY, THERE WOULD BE OFFENSE BE -- A FENCE BEHIND TH PECK CENTER NOW. BUT THE PARKS AND REC BOARD VOTED IT DOWN. THAT'S THE REASON YOU NEED THESE CITIZEN COMMITTEES AS SOUNDING BOARDS AND PUBLIC COMMENT AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THAT'S A GOOD ISSUE.

THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE. THAT FENCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TODAY BEHIND THE PECK CENTER IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO COME TO THAT MEETING. AND IT WAS A FLASH ISSUE.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT Y'ALL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MONTHLY MEETINGS AT THESE BOARD MEETINGS.

THE BOARD MEMBERS WANT IT AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. MEADOWS.

AND MR. ROSS, COULD YOU PLEASE FOLLOW UP MR. DEMAY ABOUT THE STUFF AT THE PARKING LOT OF THE GOLF COURSE.

MR. RICHARD DEAN TO THE PODIUM, SIR.

>> RICHARD DEAN. I'D LIKE TO START BY SECONDING THE COMMENTS MADE BY MR. CRAWFORD ON BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES. PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THE RAINIER ISSUE. THE PUBLIC DESERVES THIS.

I SPOKE BEFORE ABOUT -- AND TO SHOW RESPECT TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY WHO MAYBE DIFFERENT THAN YOU ARE.

WE ARE WELL SERVED BY DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS ACROSS OUR CITY

[02:10:05]

GOVERNMENT. THAT GOES FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS DOWN TO WORKERS WHO TAKE OUR CALLS AND RESPOND TO OUR REQUESTS. UNFORTUNATELY THE INCIDENT BY THE RECENTLY APPOINTED CITY MANAGER HAS CAST A CLOUD -- I WANT TO SAY OUT LOUD WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CITY MANAGER'S ACTIONS -- TO OPERATE WITH THE INTEGRITY AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE CITIZENS DESERVE. FIRST, RIDING A BIKE IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS IN THE CITY.

THE SECOND ERROR IN JUDGMENT HERE WAS THAT HE FAILED TO INFORM YOU ALL, THE CITY COMMISSIONERS THE NEXT MORNING.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. GOD KNOWS I'VE MADE MY SHARE.

BUT WE OWN OUR MISTAKES RIGHT AWAY.

WE DON'T TRY TO SWEEP THINGS UNDER THE RUG.

UNTIL PUBLIC REQUESTS OR MADE OR INQUIRIES.

THE JUDGMENT OF THE CITY MANAGER WAS TO -- IN AN ATTEMPT TO SWEEP THIS ALL UNDER THE RUG. THE CITY MANAGER STATED HE WAS DRINKING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, YET THE POLICE CHIEF SAID NO PUBLIC INTOXICATION FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE.

THAT STATEMENT IS DOWNRIGHT CREDULOUS.

THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW IF THE POLICE CHIEF OR SUPERVISORS INSTRUCTED THE RESPONDING OFFICER OR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS TO RESPOND IN ANY WAY TO THE ACCIDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DIDN'T BECOME PUBLIC. WHILE PRIVACY CONCERNS ARE RESPECTED, DELAYING THE RELEASE OF BODY CAMERA VIDEO, THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT INCRIMINATING INFORMATION WOULD BE DELETED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE CITY MANAGER FROM TERMINATION.

IT'S NOT LOST ON YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THE CITY MANAGER APPOINTED TO THE CHIEF TO HIS POSITION BEFORE THIS

ACCIDENT. >> YOU HAVE 15 MORE SECONDS.

BRING IT HOME. >> I'LL COME BACK AND DISCUSS THE OTHER THINGS I'M URGING YOU TO DO TO REQUEST THE CITY MANAGER'S RESIGNATION. AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO LOOK AT HOW THIS CASE HAS BEEN HANDLED BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> THANK YOU. WE INVITE -- THANK YOU, SIR.

POWER. THIS COMMISSION PARTICULARLY LED BY THE MAYOR HAS ATTEMPTED TO STIFLE THE PUBLIC REVIEW OF A SIGNIFICANT PROCESS CHANGE IN A FACILITY THAT IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF -- PARTICULARLY WHEN THE REQUEST FOR PUBLIC IS MADE BY A FELLOW CITY COMMISSIONER WHO IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS A DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY. SO I FIND IT USEFUL TO REMIND THIS COMMISSION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A FEDERAL LAW CALLED THE EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMUNITY ACT OF 1986.

AND I QUOTE, IT REQUIRES THE INDUSTRY TO REPORT ON THE STORAGE USE AND RELEASE OF CERTAIN CHEMICALS TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE. AND IT ALSO REQUIRES, LET ME SKIP A FEW WORDS, YOU, IT REQUIRES LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO EVALUATE AND TO DEVELOP PROCEDURES TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. SO WHEN YOU FAIL TO VET FULLY THIS PROJECT PUBLICLY, YOU'RE SETTING YOURSELF UP AT LEAST THE OPTICS ARE TO NEGLECT COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW.

AND ALSO TO RESCIND ON YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS GOVERNMENT WHICH IS TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

[02:15:05]

I HAVE A DEGREE, ADVANCED DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY AND I WORKED FOR MANY YEARS IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES.

SO I REVIEWED THE AIR PERMIT THOROUGHLY.

AND I HAVE FOUND ASSERTIONS AND DATA THAT PROMPT SERIOUS QUESTIONS AND THE NEED FOR A PUBLIC REVIEW.

LET ME JUST STATE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.

THE AIR PERMIT APPLICATION STATES IN SEVERAL PLACES THAT THE PLANT WILL NOT IMPACT PRODUCTION.

THAT IS PHYSICALLY AND CHEMICALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

NUMBER TWO, THE APPLICATION RELIES ON OUTDATED AIR EMISSION BASELINE DATA AND INSUFFICIENT DATA THAT I PLAN TO WRITE ABOUT.

FURTHERMORE, OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE STORAGE, USE, AND DISPOSAL OF OTHER CHEMICALS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR PERMIT, AT LEAST NOT EVIDENTLY, MICRO ORGANISMS GENETICALLY MODIFIED, ANTIBIOTICS, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DISPOSED IN THE LAND AND THE WATER IN THIS FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT.

AND I WANT TO CONTRAST WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN 2016, I SEE I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME. SO I HAVE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS, FIRST OF ALL ORGANIZE A PUBLIC EVENT AND DO WHAT WE DID IN 2016. HE'S THE GENERAL MANAGER OF RAINIER NOW. I THINK HE WILL WELCOME THE EXPERIENCE OR THE OPPORTUNITY TO AS HE DID IN 2016 TO EXPLAIN THIS OPENLY IN PUBLIC. AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THAT TO HAPPEN. AND SECONDLY AND RESPECTFULLY, MAYOR, I DO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO DEFINE PUBLICLY WHETHER THE MAYOR NEEDS TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM ANY INVOLVEMENT WHATSOEVER INCLUDING AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE REVIEW OF THIS PROJECT. BECAUSE THE OPTICS IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE THAT THERE'S A CLEAR CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHEN HE STIFLES THAT REVIEW AND WHEN HE BLOCKS THAT REVIEW.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> THANK YOU. >> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

>> GO AHEAD, MR. ROSS. >> I'M CURIOUS WHY YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET MORE EMISSIONS FROM THIS PLANT AND YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE BASELINE?

>> WELL, IF YOU READ THE APPLICATION, THE APPLICATION PROVIDES AS A BASELINE AIR EMISSIONS FROM 2014 AND 2015.

THOSE ARE THE AIR EMISSIONS THAT EXISTED AT THE PLANT PRIOR TO --. THAT VENTURE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2018 AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY THEY SUPPORTED THAT VENTURE WAS BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN AIR EMISSIONS. SO WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AND I THINK MORE TRANSPARENT IS TO PROVIDE BASELINE DATA TO THE VP THAT IS AFTER WHEN THEIR REDUCTIONS WERE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED BETWEEN 2018-2023. MAYBE IT WILL LAST THREE YEARS BECAUSE WHEN YOU START UP A PLANT -- TO ME THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SECONDLY, THIS IS JUST BASIC CHEMISTRY, WHEN YOU PRODUCE ONE MOLECULE OF ETHANOL, YOU PRODUCE ONE MOLECULE OF CO2, 7.5 MILLION GALLONS TRANSLATE TO 2500 TONS OF ETHANOL.

THE YIELD IS NOT 1 TO 1. SO IT IS LIKELY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GENERATE HERE 3,000 TONS MORE OF CO2 AND THAT WAS THE FULL PURPOSE TO REDUCE. IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH EMISSIONS OF OTHER BYPRODUCTS LIKE THEY INTEND TO DO HERE.

FERMENTATION OF ALCOHOL DIVIDE BY CELLULOSE IN MICROORGANISMS AND THERE ARE LOTS OF CHEMICALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW MUCH.

MAYBE AFTER THAT CLARIFICATION, WE'LL SAY HEY IF IT'S A MISTAKE, THEN IT'S A MISTAKE. BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHERE THE LAW SAYS WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW.

THAT'S A 1986 LAW. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> VERY QUICKLY, REGARDING NUMBER ONE THE MAYOR BEING AN EMPLOYEE OF RAINIER. WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING OR THE COMMUNITY IS REQUESTING IS SOME TYPE OF PUBLIC OUTREACH OR THE CITY AND RAINIER GET TOGETHER. THE MAYOR HIMSELF WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT OTHER THAN -- AND I THINK I UNDERSTOOD BLOCK AGENDA ITEMS, I THINK WHAT YOU MEAN IS A CONVERSATION WHERE COMMISSIONER ROSS ASKED AT THE LAST MEETING THROUGH THE MAYOR IF HE COULD HAVE A PRESENTATION AND THE MAYOR SAID WE'RE NOT

[02:20:04]

HAVING A PRESENTATION. I DON'T THINK THAT AND I AM SPEAKING FOR YOU, BUT NUMBER ONE, THE MAYOR WITH RESPECT TO THE MAYOR, THE POSITION, OUR TOWN IS SET UP THE MAYOR THAT IS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION WITH NO OTHER RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, OR POWER OR AUTHORITY OVER THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS BUT IS THE CEREMONIAL HEAD, NOT A TIE BREAKER, CAN'T SAY WE'RE NOT PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.

IF TWO OR MORE COMMISSIONERS AND THE CITY MANAGER FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, WE WILL.

MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PROCESS IS THAT AND I HAVEN'T STUDIED IT, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE APPLICATION FOR THE AIR QUALITY PERMIT, AND I KNOW THAT SOME FOLKS HAVE, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THIS PERMIT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED OR APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THE MAYOR'S EMPLOYER IS RYAM, THEY HAVE SUBMITTED FOR AN APPLICATION. AND THIS IS A PROCESS.

THIS IS A STATE AGENCY. THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A VERY LONG TIME AND THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO INTERACT WITH THE STATE AGENCY AND THERE'S GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO INTERACT WITH THE CITY CERTAINLY. THE CITY COMMISSION AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AT THIS POINT, THERE WILL NEVER BE ANYTHING THAT COMES FOR A FORMAL VOTE TO THIS CITY COMMISSION REGARDING THIS PROJECT AND SO THE MAYOR WOULDN'T HAVE ANY CONFLICT FOR ANY REASON IN PARTICIPATING IN A PUBLIC DISCUSSION OR LISTENING TO A PRESENTATION, BUT I AGREE THAT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING AN APPLICATION THAT RYAM SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL, THAT THE MAYOR WOULD HAVE A VOTING CONFLICT, ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, BUT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK AND I DON'T THINK MAYOR BEAN DOES EITHER THAT MAYOR BEAN HAS DECIDED THAT THIS IS GETTING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.

I THINK THAT'S UNFAIR AND THAT IS NOT THE FUTURE OF THE DISCUSSION. IT'S NOT JUST BEEN TAMPED DOWN THAT WE'RE NEVER DISCUSSING IT. IT'S A PROCESS.

IT'S GOING TO GO ON FOR MONTHS OR MORE.

>> I FEEL THAT I NEED TO RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENTS.

COMMISSIONER ROSS -- >> THAT'S UP TO --

>> YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS REQUESTED A PUBLIC REVIEW OF THIS PROCESS AND MAYOR BEAN SHOT IT DOWN.

THOSE ARE THE OPTICS. >> I UNDERSTAND, BUT FOUR OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS THAT IF THE PUBLIC WISHES TO HAVE A PRESENTATION, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST FROM THEM BOTH OUTSIDE OF THIS CHAMBERS AND IN THE CHAMBERS.

AND I THINK THAT WE ARE VERY AWARE THE PUBLIC IS INTERESTED

IN HEARING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. >> THAT WAS MY REQUEST.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU. >> AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GO AHEAD AND REITERATE WHAT TAMMY SAID AND I WANT TO REVISE WHAT I SAID LAST WEEK. SO NUMBER ONE, I THINK WHAT TAMMY SAID IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. IF THERE EVER IS ANY KIND OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT COMES UP OR OUR ATTORNEY ADVISES ME THIS IS A CONFLICT, I WILL NOT VOTE IN ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST CASE AT ALL. AND WHAT TAMMY SAID I SAID LAST WEEK, YES, I DID SAY THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE AN OPINION ON WHETHER OR NOT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE A PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO SAY I'M GOING TO TAKE NO COMMENT ON THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE A COMMENT EITHER WAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT POINT, I THINK THAT'S A DISCUSSION FOR THE COMMISSION BUT THAT PARTICULAR SUBJECT IS NOT FOR ME.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

>> AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR CITY ENGINEER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER ARE INTENDING TO HAVE A MEETING SET UP AND THIS IS EXACTLY HOW THE OTHER PROCESS STARTED.

SO THAT'S HOW THIS IS STARTING. AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS PLANNED FOR ANY OTHER WAY. THIS WASN'T THE CITIZENS DISCOVERED THIS AND NOW THE COMMISSION IS STUCK WITH HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT. THAT'S NOT AT LEAST MY

EXPERIENCE THROUGH THIS. >> ALL RIGHT.

VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS TO MAKE THIS.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE WORKED FOR ONE OF THE MILLS FOR OVER 35 YEARS COME VISIT ME IN MY OFFICE THIS LAST WEEK PRIOR TO THIS MEETING AND SAID HE WAS RATHER DISAPPOINTED THERE WERE A FEW THINGS THAT WEREN'T STATED TRUTHFULLY IN THE MEETING. BOTH OF THESE MILLS FOLLOW EPA STANDARDS. AND BOTH OF THESE MILLS HAVE SENSORS ON THEM. AND IF THERE'S A REPORT OF SOME SORT OF POLLUTION GOING ON THAT SHOULDN'T BE, THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES THAT WANT TO REPORT IT BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, ENVIRONMENTALLY IF THEY REPORT IT, IT COSTS THEM NEXT TO

[02:25:01]

NOTHING. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS REPORT IT AND FIX IT. IF THEY DON'T REPORT IT, AND IT'S FOUND OUT THAT IT DID HAPPEN, IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

AND IT'S NOT VERY KIND OF OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO ENVIRONMENTALLY. SO BOTH OF OUR MILLS TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY, THE POLLUTION AND WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING TO FOLLOW EPA STANDARDS. SO I JUST WANTED TO REFERENCE THAT AND THAT WE FULLY UNDERSTAND IT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT ON THE RECORD THAT I THINK THAT'S A TRUE STATEMENT. THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VICE MAYOR.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CITIZEN SPEAKER.

WE DO HAVE MS. ELIZABETH. MS. ELIZABETH, HELLO.

>> ELIZABETH SEMINI C 2735 PIRATES BAY DRIVE.

I WOULD START WITH A COUPLE OF DEFINITIONS.

ETHICS, MORALS THAT GOVERN A PERSON'S BEHAVIOR.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST, A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PRIVATE INTEREST AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES -- MY LIST ONLY GOES BACK TO LATE JULY.

BUT I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS THAT CALL INTO QUESTION THE ABILITY OF THIS CITY'S LEADERSHIP TO MANAGE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

MANY OF THESE ISSUES ARE EXAMPLES OF CITY OFFICIALS BLURRING THE LINES OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR AND ARE EASILY PERCEIVED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

SOME PERTINENT EXAMPLES, THE CITY PAYING FUNDS TO A LARGE CORPORATION FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DID AND SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE. COMMISSIONERS NOT DISCLOSING ALL SOURCES OF INCOME AND LIABILITIES.

COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE SEVERELY IN DEBT ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES OR THEIR BUSINESSES MIGHT PRESENT A CONCERN ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO FINANCIALLY MANAGE OUR CITY.

THE CITY PAYING FOR LEGAL FEES ASSOCIATED WITH COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE THE SUBJECT OF MULTIPLE ETHICS INVESTIGATIONS.

CURRENT COMMISSIONERS GIVING THEMSELVES RAISES THROUGH A VOTE. OTHER VARIOUS INCIDENTS INDICATIVE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

I MEAN BRETTS HAS COME UP MULTIPLE TIMES TONIGHT.

MR. STURGES, I BELIEVE HAS SOME INTERESTS AT PLAY THERE AND I'VE HEARD IT COME FROM HIM. WE'VE HAD A PUSH TO REDEFINE ZONING DENSITY BY SOMEBODY WHO OWNS AND OPERATES A CONSTRUCTION REMODELING BUSINESS. WE'VE HAD A COMMISSIONER TRYING TO STRIP THE CHECKS AND BALANCES OF POWER FROM THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT IN THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT COUNCIL.

MR. BEAN, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE EMPLOYER ISSUE AND THE ETHANOL. MOST RECENTLY, WE HAVE OUR NEWLY HIRED CITY MANAGER WHO HAS BEEN IN ROLE A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

ONE OF HIS FIRST ACTIONS AS MANAGER WAS TO PROMOTE THE INTERIM POLICE CHIEF TO THE COMMISSION OF POLICE CHIEF.

DAYS AFTER THAT PROMOTION, OUR CITY MANAGER WAS THE SUBJECT OF A CALL OR CALLS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

PER THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, MR. ROSS WAS INTOXICATED WHILE RIDING HIS BICYCLE, CRASHED AND WAS ROLLING AROUND ON THE GROUND. WAS THERE ANY CITATION ISSUE? IF NOT, WHY? WOULD THAT HAPPEN TO A NORMAL PERSON? BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT YOUR EMPLOYEES WOULD BE THE POLICE CHIEF ROLLING UP TO THE MANAGER.

I UNDERSTAND FERNANDINA BEACH IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO VISIT, BUT MR. ROSS IS NOT HERE ON VACATION.

HE'S HERE BECAUSE HE WAS HIRED TO DO A JOB AND TO UPHOLD A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE CITY.

HOWEVER, ONCE AGAIN IT LOOKS TO THE PUBLIC LIKE A GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM WITH THIS JUST RUNNING RAMPANT.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSIONERS TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR AND STOP THE MISUSE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS.

WE DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR MISBEHAVIORS OF CITY COMMISSIONERS OR OTHER MEMBERS.

I WOULD PUT WE RE -- WE'RE NOT PRESENTING A GOOD PUBLIC IMAGE TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE AROUND US.

>> THANK YOU. MS. SHEILA COBY.

VICE MAYOR STURGES. I'LL RESPOND TO ELIZABETH, I DIDN'T CATCH HER LAST NAME'S COMMENTS.

EVERYONE HERE ON THIS BOARD HAS OTHER POSITIONS OR JOBS HOWEVER THE FACT IS. ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY VIOLATIONS

THAT I VIOLATED MYSELF? >> WE'RE NOT CALLING YOU BACK

UP. >> CAN I JUST RESPOND?

>> THIS ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE A BACK AND FORTH TIME.

WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS, MA'AM.

WE APPRECIATE THAT. >> THIS IS WHAT I WILL SAY --

>> THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. >> I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY VIOLATIONS OF THE LAWS OR RULES OF ETHICS.

[02:30:06]

ANYBODY CAN MAKE AN ALLEGATION TO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, THAT'S PART OF OUR RIGHT AS THE PUBLIC.

ANYBODY CAN DO THAT, IT'S CONFIDENTIAL AND UNTIL ALL OF THIS COMES OUT IT'S NOT FAIR TO ALREADY DECIDE THAT SOMEBODY HAS VIOLATED ANY RULES OR LAWS OF ETHICS.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE ETHICS COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AND WE WILL SEE WHAT THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS DOES WITH THAT. THE FIRST STEP IS THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS HAS AN INVESTIGATOR MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS, I DON'T KNOW THE LEGAL TERMS, BUT IT'S LIKE PROBABLE CAUSE.

IS THERE A PROBABLE CAUSE THAT THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS HAS SOMETHING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS.

IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS WILL MAKE A RULING. AND NOT UNTIL THEY MAKE A RULING IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT SOMEBODY HAS BEEN UNETHICAL.

I DO THINK THAT SHE DID SAY THAT THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS.

WE DO NOT KNOW, I KNOW, BUT THOSE REPORTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL.

THE INVESTIGATION IS CONFIDENTIAL AND WE'LL FIND OUT AT THE END. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS AND THIS IS RIGHT FROM THE ETHICS INVESTIGATOR, BOB MALONE'S MOUTH IS THAT RIGHT NOW WE KNOW WHAT WE SEE ON TELEVISION EVERY DAY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'RE FIGHTING BACK AND FORTH. AND THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF ETHICS COMPLAINTS.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE UPTICK IN THE FINDINGS OF ETHICAL VIOLATIONS. IT'S BECAUSE IT IS ANYBODY CAN DO IT AND WE'LL SEE AT THE END. I AM NOT THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, I DON'T GET TO RULE, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THAT COMPLAINTS CAN BE MADE BY ANYBODY AND AGAIN WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END. BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE COMPLAINTS FILED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAN THERE HAVE EVER BEEN

FILED BEFORE. >> THANK YOU.

MS. COBY. >> SHEILA.

A YEAR AGO THREE COMMISSIONERS CALLED TO TERMINATE THE THEN CITY MANAGER FOR ISSUES THAT ESSENTIALLY AMOUNTED TO PERSONALITY DIFFERENCES WITHOUT REMEDIATION.

OUR NEW CITY MANAGER CAME IN PROMISING THE FOLLOWING, BUILDING CONSENSUS AROUND THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, NO ONE CONTACTED THE CITY WITH NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT HIM.

THE MOST REASONABLE PERSON IN THE ROOM, A PERSON OF INTEGRITY.

HE EXPLAINED AT MANY INTERVIEWS PUBLICLY AND IN BRIG HIS HIGHLY SCRIPTED TENANTS DO NO HARM, DON'T DO HARD STUFF ALONE, AND MAKE OTHERS PROUD. ON OCTOBER 29TH, THE CITY MANAGER WAS INVOLVED IN A BICYCLE ACCIDENT, FBPD RESPONDED TO MULTIPLE 911 CALLS OF AN INTOXICATED PERSON.

UPON ARRIVAL OFFICERS NOTED AN INJURED MAN AND A DAMAGED BIKE.

ALTHOUGH BIKING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IS UNLAWFUL IN FLORIDA, HE WAS NOT GIVEN A BREATHALYZER.

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS SHOW THAT OFFICERS ON THE SCENE MADE CALLS TO THE CHIEF PRIOR TO LOADING UP THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS BIKE AND TAKING HIM HOME. A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR BODY CAM FOOTAGE OF THE INCIDENT ALERTED THE CITY MANAGER.

INSTEAD OF GETTING AHEAD OF THE SITUATION HE DEFIANTLY DEFENDED THAT THE ACTIONS OCCURRED ON HIS OWN TIME.

AMID GROWING PRESSURE AND ONLY IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS, HE RELUCTANTLY ISSUED A STATEMENT, THE PUBLIC APOLOGY WAS FOCUSED ON HIMSELF AND DAMAGE TO HIS BIKE WHILE ONLY LIGHTLY ADMITTING DRINKING AND RIDING A BICYCLE.

SHORTLY AFTER THIS, A STATEMENT BY THE POLICE CHIEF INDICATED THE CITY MANAGER WAS NOT ADMINISTERED A BREATHALYZER BECAUSE HE WAS NOT WITNESSED ON THE BIKE.

THE BODY CAM VIDEO IS STILL BEING REVIEWED AND BEING REDACTED BY AN OUTSIDE VENDOR WITH DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE. THERE ARE SOME WHO SEE THIS SIMPLY AS AN EMBARRASSMENT, A VICTIMLESS CRIME OR THAT THE INCIDENT WAS OFF DUTY. BODILY INJURY, INCREASED INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE REAL CONSEQUENCES OF DRIVING OR OPERATING A VEHICLE WHILE INTOXICATED.

FURTHER COMPLICATING THIS SITUATION IS THE RECENT PROMOTION OF THE POLICE CHIEF AFTER A TWO YEAR CONTROVERSY.

WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR NOT, FAVOR WAS BESTOWED UPON THE CITY MANAGER CREATING IMPROPER BALANCE OF POWER WITH A SUBORDINATE. THIS CAN CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAVORITISM OR IN EXTREME CASES EXTORTION.

CONDONING THIS BEHAVIOR SETS TERRIBLE PRECEDENCE WITHIN OUR CITY. HOW CAN THE CITY MANAGER ADDRESS SITUATIONS WITH ANY EMPLOYEE WHO MIGHT NOT GET OFF AS EASY.

HOW DOES FBPD AVOID CHALLENGES TO DUI CHARGES WHEN THE PUBLIC CAN DEFEND INCONSISTENT APPLICATION OF THE LAW.

IF THE CITY MANAGER HAD BEEN SITTING NEXT TO A WRECKED CAR, WOULD THE PROCEDURE HAD BEEN THE SAME? WHY IS THE CHIEF OVERSEEING THE BODY CAM PROJECT THAT IS

[02:35:02]

TYPICALLY DONE BY A LOWER LEVEL EMPLOYEE? THIS INCIDENT CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF THE CITY MANAGER. I'M WRAPPING UP -- THE INCIDENT ITSELF AND THE DELAYED REPORTING GO AGAINST THE CITY'S EMPLOYEE STANDARDS AND GENERAL CODE OF CONDUCT.

THE CITY MANAGER IS A ROLE THAT'S FORWARD FACING TO OUR COMMUNITY, EMPLOYEES, OTHER LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS.

IT'S A POSITION THAT REQUIRES INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

AND I CAN THINK OF A QUARTER OF A MILLION REASONS WHY A RESIGNATION HAS BEEN GIVEN. THIS INCIDENT AND THE COVER UP ARE A TERMINABLE OFFENSE. I HOPE WE ARE NOT SO DESENSITIZED BY BAD BEHAVIOR AND OPTICS THAT WE ARE WILLING TO LET THIS PERSIST. IF THE CITY MANAGER REFUSES TO RESIGN, I HOPE THIS BODY SEES FIT TO TERMINATE HIM IMMEDIATELY AND CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER.

AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD ASK THAT THE CITY COMMISSION PLEASE PUT THE CITY MANAGER AND POLICE CHIEF ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE AND REQUEST AN EXECUTIVE INFORMATION FROM FDLE.

MS. VICTORIA TO THE PODIUM. >> MAYOR, CAN I MAKE A COMMENT

REAL QUICK. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE CITY MANAGER ASPECT OF THINGS OR THE POLICE CHIEF. BUT I WANT TO DEFEND OUR OFFICERS IN THE STREET. THEY'RE HERE TO PROTECT AND SERVE AND THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY'RE VERY UNDERSTANDING AND THEY'RE VERY COMMITTED TO THIS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO BE CONSTRUED WHATSOEVER THAT THEY DID NOT DO THEIR JOB. I'VE SEEN THEM OUT MANY TIMES.

THIS CITY HAS A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ABOUT IT.

AND THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO AND I'VE SEEN THEM OUT MANY TIMES MANAGE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM. SO I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THE POLICE CHIEF, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THE CITY MANAGER.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO DISPARAGE OUR OFFICERS OUT ON THE STREET.

I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> VICTORIA, 2161 SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE, FERNANDINA.

FROM THE MOVIE COOL HAND LUKE, THE CLASSIC LINE WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE OF COMMUNICATION.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE THAT LINE ONE STEP FURTHER WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO MAKE TIMELY REPORT.

WAITING ALMOST A MONTH FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE AN APOLOGY IS FAILURE TO MAKE A TIMELY REPORT.

NOT ONLY IS THIS A SMALL TOWN WHERE WE STILL KNOW EACH OTHER, THIS INCIDENT WAS MADE SO MUCH WORSE BY THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME BETWEEN THE INCIDENT INVOLVING THE CITY'S NUMBER ONE EMPLOYEE AND THE DEPARTMENT THAT REPORTS TO HIM.

THE SELF-INFLICTED EVENT NOW PUTS YOU, COMMISSIONERS, IN THE SPOTLIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE ACTIONS NOT ONLY OF THE CITY MANAGER BUT ALSO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO RESPONDED.

THIS OPENS UP THE QUESTION OF WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG? ALL EMPLOYEES ARE INDOCTRINATED BY HR DEPARTMENTS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT AN ACCIDENT OR AN INCIDENT INVOLVING PEOPLE AND PROPERTY. YOU CAN'T USE THE EXCUSE THAT YOU WEREN'T ON THE JOB OR BECAUSE EMPLOYEES REFLECT THE EMPLOYER. ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVES THE CITY AND ITS EMPLOYEES. THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS INCIDENT IMMEDIATELY WITH HIS BOSSES, YOU THE CITY COMMISSION, AND GOTTEN AHEAD OF THIS RATHER THAN LEAVING THE QUESTION IN CITIZENS MINDS OF HOW WELL THE CITY

MANAGER CAN LEAD CITY EMPLOYEES. >> THANK YOU.

WE CALL MR. JACK TO THE PODIUM. >> JACK EMBER, 1003 BROOM STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH. AS WE PUSH AHEAD TO THIS AGENDA OF INCREASED DENSITY AND CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE TO BE MORE LIKE NORTHERN JACKSONVILLE EVERY DAY, LESS TREES, MORE HOUSING, MORE DENSITY, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS BICYCLE SAFETY.

THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADVISORY BOARD OF BICYCLE SAFETY AT ALL TIMES. THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM IN THE

[02:40:07]

PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS ALLOWED BY BICYCLE.

I WENT DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE, THEY HAD NO ANSWERS, THEY WERE AS CONFUSED AS EVERYBODY ELSE ABOUT IT.

WHAT'S REALLY PROPER FOR A BICYCLE.

AND I JUST WANT TO SUMMARIZE AFTER 60 YEARS OF CYCLING MYSELF IN DOZENS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES THAT THE UNITED STATES FOR ONE IS AS BACKWARD AS ANY THIRD WORLD COUNTRY AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE, USEFULNESS, AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF RIDING A BIKE.

YOU CANNOT RIDE A BICYCLE ON THE SIDEWALK IF THERE'S PEDESTRIANS THERE. YOU CANNOT RIDE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT'S THE SAME AS A VEHICLE.

WITH THE EXCEPTION YOU CAN RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK IF THERE IS NO BIKE LANE. YOU CAN MAKE OTHER REASONABLE ALLOWANCES. COMMENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED, BUT IT'S A GREAT IDEA IF YOU FOLLOW THE BICYCLE THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU'RE GOING TO BUMP YOUR NOTHING BE -- NOGGIN.

IF YOU DO, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU'LL NEVER BE THE SAME.

YOU'LL BE FOREVER DISFIGURED, MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, OR DEAD.

THERE'S A BIG QUESTION ABOUT DRUNK DRIVING, AND I CAN TELL YOU IF I'M RIDING AND DRINKING A BEER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I'M GOING TO GET ARRESTED. THERE'S GOING TO BE A DUI.

NO DOUBT. NO WARNING, NOTHING.

IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRINKING, I COULD ENDANGER MY LIFE OR HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE MAKE AN ADVERSE MANEUVER AND END THEIR LIFE INTO A POLE OR WHATEVER.

I FACE THIS EVERY DAY. BUT I DON'T DRINK.

SO I ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO FORM A BICYCLE ADVISORY TO HELP PEOPLE KNOW YOU CANNOT RUN THROUGH STOP SIGNS, YOU CANNOT RUN THROUGH RED LIGHTS, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT IT AS SAME AS A CAR.

YOU SHOULD BE SIGNALLING, USING ARM SIGNALS, IF YOU'RE RIDING AT

[9. CITY MANAGER REPORTS]

NIGHT YOU HAVE TO HAVE LIGHTS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. EMBER. HEADING ON DOWN TO CITY MANAGER

REPORT. >> I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT JANUARY 23RD WE HAVE A VISIONING SESSION SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMMISSION. THERE WE HOPE TO TACKLE SOME BIG TIME LEGACY ISSUES IN THIS TOWN. WE WANT TO ADDRESS THE WATERFRONT RESILIENCY PROJECT AND THE STORM WALL.

IT'S JUST GOOD TIMING WITH THE WORKSHOP, THIS WILL LINE UP WELL WITH OUR PLANNING. WE'LL HAVE AN ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST. THAT WILL HELP US DETERMINE AT THIS SESSION WHAT FINANCING THAT WE CAN LINE UP TO ACTUALLY GET THESE THINGS DONE. AND YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY TELL I'M A LITTLE DISTRACTED. SO I'LL TAKE A STEP BACK AND ADDRESS THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TOWARDS MYSELF EARLIER.

YOU SAID A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE.

A FAILURE OF TIMING. I CAN'T DISAGREE.

THE FIRST PERSON THAT ASKED ME ABOUT THIS WAS JULIA ROBERTS.

SHE CALLED ME ON THE PHONE. AND WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND I DECIDED THEN AND THERE THAT I NEEDED TO WRITE AN OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE EVENT OF OCTOBER 29TH. LIFE'S TOUGH.

I ENCOUNTERED STRESS I NEVER FELT BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

I MOVED TO A NEW STATE, TOOK A NEW JOB WITHOUT MY SUPPORT SYSTEM. MY WIFE, JENNIFER ROSS IS HERE TONIGHT. I MISS HER AND MY FAMILY DEARLY.

AND LIFE'S HARD SOMETIMES, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, IT'S HOW YOU REACT TO IT. IT'S NOT ABOUT FALLING DOWN, IT'S ABOUT GETTING UP. AND WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE PAST FIVE WEEKS.

I'VE SOUGHT PROFESSIONAL HELP FOR MYSELF.

[02:45:03]

I LEARNED THROUGH TALKING TO PROFESSIONALS THAT I WAS USING MALADAPTIVE COPING STRATEGIES. SOCIAL LUBRICATIONS IN SETTINGS WHERE I WAS TRYING TO MAKE FRIENDS AND BEING FUNNY.

AND I OVERDID IT. I GOOFED.

I THOUGHT I WAS BEING RESPONSIBLE BY NOT DRIVING A MOTORIZED VEHICLE AND RIDING MY BICYCLE.

AND THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR ME. AND I APOLOGIZE.

I NEVER INTENDED FOR THIS TO COME TO YOUR ATTENTION, AGAIN IT HAPPENED ON THE WEEKEND. WE CAN TALK ABOUT ON THE JOB, OFF THE JOB. I CALLED MY WIFE THE NEXT MORNING IMMEDIATELY TOLD HER ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WAS ANGRY AND EMBARRASSED. SHE GOT PRETTY ANGRY AND EMBARRASSED TOO. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW FOR THE PAST FIVE WEEKS AND FOREVERMORE, I'VE DOUBLED DOWN AND REDEDICATED MYSELF TO MY MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS MY PHYSICAL HEALTH. AND I THINK I'M DOING BETTER THAN I'VE EVER DONE BEFORE. AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WITH JENNIFER'S SUPPORT AND HOPEFULLY YOUR SUPPORT.

AND I CAN PROMISE YOU TODAY JUST TO REITERATE MY PUBLIC APOLOGY AND TO SAY THAT I'LL NEVER LET YOU DOWN AGAIN.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO COMMENT ON THE CITY MANAGER. TY, I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. AND YOU AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ACCIDENTS AND I FELT YOU'RE VERY REMORSEFUL. YOU CONTINUE TO BE REMORSEFUL.

BUT YOU ALSO CONTINUE TO WANT TO DRIVE AND MOVE FORWARD.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR OPEN AND HONESTY. I WANT TO SAY TO THE PUBLIC THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM ATTEMPTED TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME CONFLICT BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGER OR OUR POLICE AT ALL. IT WAS AN OFFICER THAT WAS ON SCENE, HE USED HIS DISCRETION. THERE WAS IN NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM SOME FORM OF COMMUNICATION THAT I CAN SEE THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANY SORT OF CONFLICT. AND OUR OFFICERS USE THEIR DISCRETION ALL THE TIME. AND THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB.

AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR POLICE CHIEF AND TO OUR CITY MANAGER. I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO LONG WINDED WITH THIS. WE'RE GOING TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS SOME MORE AND APPROVE THIS.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO RUSH TO JUDGMENT HERE BECAUSE I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH TY.

AND I KNOW WHAT OUR OFFICERS DO. AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> I WAS GOING TO BRING THIS UP AT THE END OF THE MEETING, BUT IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE NOW. AS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD AT 7:00 ON OCTOBER 29TH, THE NEWLY HIRED CITY MANAGER HAD A BICYCLE ACCIDENT. 911 WAS CALLED BY A PASSERBY, POLICE RESPONDED. FORTUNATELY AND IT'S FORTUNATE THAT THE CITY MANAGER SUSTAINED NO SERIOUS INJURIES.

THE CITY MANAGER WAS GIVEN A RIDE HOME BY THE RESPONDING POLICE OFFICER. THOSE ARE ALL FACTS.

IN A PREPARED STATEMENT RELEASED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CITY MANAGER STATED QUOTE, THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED HAD I NOT HAD TOO MANY DRINKS DOWNTOWN THAT AFTERNOON. ONE OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS OR CITY ATTORNEY WERE MADE AWARE OF THIS INCIDENT UNTIL A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST WAS MADE ON THE 28TH OF NOVEMBER.

THAT WAS A MONTH AFTER THE INCIDENT FOLLOWING THE POLICE OFFICER'S BODY CAMERA VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT.

THE VIDEO IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED AT THE END OF THIS

[02:50:03]

WEEK. WHEN ASKED BY MYSELF WHY HE DID NOT REPORT THE INCIDENT, HE SAID IT OCCURRED ON HIS OWN TIME AND DIDN'T SEE THE IMPORTANCE. I'D LIKE TO READ A PART FROM THE PERSONNEL MANUAL OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH THAT EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN. SECTION 104 GOVERNMENT ETHICS AND CONDUCT, THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE CITY IS DEPENDENT UPON THE TRUST OF ITS CITIZENS AND THE CITY STAFF IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING THAT TRUST. EMPLOYEES WHETHER ON OR OFF DUTY HAVE A DUTY TO ITS CITY AND ITS CITIZENS TO ACT IN A WAY THAT WILL MERIT THE CONTINUED TRUST AND CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC.

SO I AM REQUESTING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING NEXT WEEK AFTER THE VIDEO FOOTAGE IS RELEASED TO DISCUSS THIS INCIDENT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE RESPONSE AFTER THE INCIDENT BY THE NEW CITY MANAGER.

>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> I'LL SECOND THE REQUEST SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE NOTHING PERSONAL TO MR. ROSS, I THINK WE OWE OUR CITIZENS AN ANSWER. WE OWE THEM TO BE AS COMPLETE AND TRANSPARENT WITH THIS AS POSSIBLE.

WHATEVER THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION, SHOULD THERE BE ANY, WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT THAT CONSIDERATION MIGHT BE.

>> ALL RIGHT. AND DO WE HAVE, COMMISSIONER

ROSS, YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON. >> I'M SORRY.

>> OKAY. THAT'S TWO PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT

THAT. >> ONLY I WILL POINT OUT THE RULES WE JUST ADOPTED TONIGHT THAT IF A REQUEST IS MADE, THAT REQUEST MUST BE HONORED. RIGHT?

>> YEAH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE ADDRESSING ME, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CLERK AND I UNDERSTAND THOSE ARE THE RULES.

YES. BUT YOU SAID NEXT WEEK.

>> I WANT IT AFTER THE VIDEO IS RELEASED.

>> AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, MAY I, MR. MAYOR?

>> PLEASE. >> THE BODY CAM VIDEO THAT POLICE OFFICERS WEAR AND KEEP ON WHEN THEY RESPOND TO ANY CALLS, THAT WAS ONE OF THE RECORDS THAT WAS REQUESTED.

THAT BODY CAM VIDEO HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COVER UPS, SWEEPING THINGS UNDER THE RUG OR REALLY PROTECTING SPECIFICALLY CITY MANAGER ROSS. IT'S ABOUT THE 911 SYSTEM AND PROTECTING PARTIES THAT CALL 911.

SO THERE'S INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARTIES THAT CALLED 911 IN THE VIDEO, WE ARE PROTECTING THEM AND FOLLOWING THE LAW.

AND THAT IS THE ONLY REASON. AND WE DO SEND OURS TO A VENDOR.

THAT'S A PRACTICE WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR SOME TIME NOW BECAUSE THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE SOFTWARE TO REDACT THINGS FROM VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS. NOT WITHOUT SPENDING A WHOLE LOT MORE TIME THAN IT WOULD BE PROBABLY SOME WEEKS OR MONTHS BEFORE WE WOULD GET OUR OWN STAFF TO DO THAT.

AND JUST BECAUSE THIS IS A SPECIAL SITUATION IN TERMS OF -- WE'VE HAD PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY THIS IF YOU DON'T MIND, MAYOR.

NORMALLY THERE IS A CHARGE FOR THIS KINDS OF THING, IT CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM $150 TO $300, THAT'S HOW MUCH IT COSTS THE CITY TO HAVE THESE REDACTIONS DONE.

IN THIS CASE THERE'S NO CHARGE AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE SUBJECT IS THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY COMMISSIONERS ARE HIS BOSSES AND IF THEY GET THE VIDEO, THEY'LL JUST SHARE IT WITH ANYBODY ELSE.

SO THERE'S NO REASON TO CHARGE THE REQUESTING PARTIES FOR THE RECORD IN THIS CASE. IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU REQUEST BODY CAM VIDEO, YOU CAN EXPECT TO BE CHARGED ANYWHERE FROM $150 TO $300. THE WAY THAT IT WILL BE DONE IS THE WAY IT'S DONE THROUGH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.

YOU'LL GET A LETTER THAT SAYS THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPRODUCING THESE RECORDS IN THE EXTENSIVE USE IS $300, PLEASE PROVIDE A DEPOSIT OF $100, THAT'S IN OUR WRITTEN POLICY.

AND I'M SAYING IT NOW SO IF THERE ARE REQUESTS IN THE FUTURE I DON'T WANT TO HEAR BELLY ACHING ABOUT THE PRICE.

YOU CAN GO TO COURT IF YOU WANT. BUT THAT IS THE PRICE.

I'VE RESEARCHED IT, IT'S ALLOWED, WE CAN USE CONTRACTORS AND RECOVER THE CITY'S COSTS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT TIME.

>> THANK YOU. OKAY, YOU'LL WORK WITH THE CITY

[10. CITY ENGINEER REPORTS]

TO FIND THE TIME THEN. PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, CITY ENGINEER REPORT. >> REAL QUICKLY TWO WEEKS AGO AT THE LAST MEETING I TALKED ABOUT CONCEPT FOR CITY HALL ANNEX WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO SHOW YOU A HI HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED DRAWING THAT SHOWS YOU A FLOOR PLAN, A LAYOUT AND A CROSS SECTION. IT'S BASICALLY A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO BE ELEVATED OVER THE

[02:55:01]

PARKING LOT BEHIND US. THE CARS WILL BE PARKED UNDERSTOOD BENEATH IT. IT WILL HOUSE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT AND CODE ENFORCEMENT WHICH IS WHAT MAKES UP THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT. IF THERE'S A CHANCE THEY CAN BE MORE UNIFIED IN WHERE THEY WORK, HOW THEY DEAL WITH EACH OTHER AND DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC IN ONE SPOT AS OPPOSED TO COMING TO

DIFFERENT AREAS OF CITY HALL. >> IS IT THE CITY ANNEX,

MR. GEORGE? >> YES.

>> AS IT'S PULLING UP, I HAVE ONE QUESTION, IS THIS DRAWING TO

SCALE? >> THE FLOOR PLAN IS.

>> YES, I SAW THAT. >> WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY?

>> IT'S A GOOD DRAWING. THE LINES ARE STRAIGHT.

>> THERE WILL BE A BREEZEWAY OR A WALKWAY BETWEEN THE TWO BUILDINGS. YOU COME IN HERE AND TAKE THE ELEVATOR AND STAIRS UP TO THE SECOND FLOOR.

THIS IS THE HIGHLY DETAILED ONE. THERE WILL BE A RECEPTIONIST UP THERE THAT CAN CLEAR WHOEVER COMES IN.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW HERE THEY'LL COME TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT BUT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT SO YOU HAVE TO SHOW THEM OVER THERE OR THEY GO TO CODE ENFORCEMENT.

THIS WAY YOU HAVE ONE CLEARINGHOUSE SO TO SPEAK.

IT GIVES ROOM FOR GROWTH AND IT ALSO JUST GIVES IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE CITIZENS TO GO TO ONE SPOT TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH A BUILDING PERMIT, ZONING, LBTR, ALL KINDS OF -- SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE BASICS OF IT.

FLIP TO THE NEXT ONE. IT'S A REALLY SOPHISTICATED SLIDESHOW. LIKE I SAID THERE WOULD BE A GAP BETWEEN AFTER THIS BUILDING AND THE NEW BUILDING SO IT WOULDN'T BE BUTTED UP AGAINST IT THAT WAY WE'RE NOT TOUCHING THE HISTORIC ASPECT OF IT. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS ASK FOR CONSENSUS TO AT LEAST TAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF DETAIL BEFORE WE DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO GO THIS WAY OR NOT JUST TO GET MORE CLARITY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> PERSONALLY, THERE'S A COUPLE OF POINTS HERE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHT BEFORE WE GO FOR CONSENSUS.

I'M ACTUALLY FINE WITH THIS. NUMBER ONE, IS THIS IS BUILDING DEPARTMENT FUNDS. THIS IS BUILDING DEPARTMENT FUNDS, THE LEGAL USE OF THOSE. SO MAKE SURE THE BUILDING

DEPARTMENT IS TAKING CARE OF IT. >> THIS IS NOT TAX DOLLARS.

>> THIS IS NOT STRAIGHT TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THIS IS BUILDING DEPARTMENT FUNDS. AND FURTHERMORE, THIS WOULD NOT IMPACT PARKING. SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER WIN.

I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT SOLUTION.

AS YOU POINTED OUT, NOT ONLY IS THERE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FUNDS, BUT THERE'S IMPACT FEE MONEY. $1 MILLION FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING THAT WE CAN ONLY USE FOR CAPITAL BUILDINGS.

SO THAT WOULD WORK NICELY INTO THIS.

WE ALREADY HAVE THE MONEY TO BUILD THIS.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED

WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. >> YES.

>> YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MY -- >> VICE MAYOR.

>> YES, CHARLIE. I LIKE THE IDEA.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. IT MAKES A GOOD USE OF A SPACE SO IT'S A WIN/WIN AS THE MAYOR SPOKE ABOUT.

YOU WON'T LOSE ANY PARKING AS WELL AS WE'LL HAVE A SPACE FOR THE WHOLE BUILDING DEPARTMENT EVEN THOUGH IT'S BUILDING, PLANNING, CODE ENFORCEMENT. HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T ANSWER THE ONE QUESTION AND YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS BEFORE I EVEN SAY IT, AND THE ANSWER IS THE ROOM WE'RE SITTING IN HERE.

SO WHEN WE BUILD THIS BUILDING AND MOVE EVERYBODY IN THIS NEW BUILDING OUT OF HERE AND GO TO THERE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO EXPAND THIS WHERE WE ARE TO MEET THE FUTURE?

>> THAT'S A COMPLICATED QUESTION BECAUSE ONE, IT'S GOT SOME HISTORIC LAWS IN HERE THIS ONE AND THIS ONE WE'D HAVE TO DO SOME DEMOING. REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO EXPAND IS BLOW THAT OUT TO THE SIDEWALK WHICH IS A DIFFICULT TASK.

NOT SAYING IT CAN'T BE DONE, BUT IT'S COMPLICATED.

BUT THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO EXPANDING THE CHAMBERS

IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION. >> THAT POSES A PROBLEM.

I LOVE THE IDEA, I LOVE THE BUILDING.

I LOVE MOVING THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT.

[03:00:02]

>> HOW ABOUT WE DO THIS WE MAKE THAT --

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF OUR

CITIZENS AND THAT'S UPSTAIRS:. >> IT'S GOT AN ELEVATOR.

>> I THINK WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO SEE THAT FLESHED OUT A LITTLE

[11. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS]

BIT MORE. I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, CITY ATTORNEY.

>> I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE REPORTS, BUT I WANTED TO ADDRESS OUR NEW CITY MANAGER, MR. ROSS. AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT UNLIKE OUR CITY CLERK THAT WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, I LIKE YOU CAME TO THIS COMMUNITY IN NOVEMBER OF 2007, 16 YEARS AGO.

AND MY FAMILY WASN'T ABLE TO FOLLOW ME EITHER RIGHT AWAY AND I WAS VERY LONELY. I CHOSE TO DRINK ALONE AT HOME AND NOT GO OUT. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SO I WAS LUCKY TO KEEP IT TO MYSELF. BUT I THINK THAT WHAT YOU DID TONIGHT WAS DIFFICULT AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO SIT UP HERE AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE CRITICIZE SOMEBODY ELSE.

I WILL SAY THIS BECAUSE I'M AN HONEST PERSON, THE CRITICISM IS DUE AND SHOULD YOU SURVIVE THIS AND STAY HERE AS OUR CITY MANAGER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IS YOU MUST FIND NOT AMONG CITY EMPLOYEES THAT REPORT TO YOU, BUT WHETHER IT'S ONE OF THE CHARTER OFFICERS OR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU NEED TO FIND SOME GOOD FRIENDS FAST BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO NOT ONLY HELP YOU BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HELP YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. I HAVE A SOLID SET OF FRIENDS THAT I GAINED THAT ARE BOTH FROM FERNANDINA AND RECENT OR MORE RECENT TRANSPLANTS HERE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. AND NO MATTER WHAT SMALL TOWN YOU CAME FROM, AND I DIDN'T, I CAME FROM MUCH BIGGER PLACES, IT WAS DEFINITELY SHOCK WHEN I CAME HERE.

YOUR ENTIRE LIFE IS AN OPEN BOOK.

SO IF YOU HAVE SECRETS, JUST GET THEM OUT THERE.

AND EVERYBODY WILL KNOW YOUR SECRETS HERE.

WE ALL HAVE THEM, WE'RE ALL HUMAN.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. I HAVE TOO, I JUST CONFESSED I DRANK ALONE. BUT I QUICKLY CAME AROUND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A TOUGH JOB, BUT WITH YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM, YOU CAN DO IT. AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME UP HERE TO CRITICIZE US, THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHTED -- RIGHT TO DO THAT.

THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DO THAT AND THEY SHOULD DO THAT.

AND IF THEY STOP DOING IT, THEN WE'RE NOT AMERICAN ANYMORE IF WE DON'T QUESTION OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL DID, SOME OF YOU WANTED TO AND DIDN'T COME TO THE PODIUM TONIGHT. BUT I KNOW THAT MR. ROSS KNOWS THAT THIS IS WHAT WE SIGNED UP TO DO AND I SUPPORT YOU AND I AM REALLY IMPRESSED BY YOUR ABILITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND DON'T FEEL LIKE AN OUTSIDER.

YOU'RE HERE, THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO EMBRACE YOU AND THERE'S NOTHING TO HIDE. IN THE FUTURE ANYTHING COMES UP, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO, YOU CAN CALL ME, YOU CAN CALL CAROLINE, WE WILL HELP YOU TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.

WE'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE DONE THAT.

WE'RE HERE FOR YOU, I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE NOT CAROLINE A LONG TIME. WE'LL SEE WHAT COMES OF OUR SPECIAL MEETING. BUT PLEASE DON'T THINK THAT YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN. THIS IS A UNIQUE PLACE AND YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH.

AND IT'S NOT BY GOING HOME AND FIGURING IT OUT.

IT'S KIND OF BY OPENING YOURSELF UP AND LETTING THE COMMUNITY HELP YOU AND WORK WITH YOU. IF YOU'RE A MYSTERY, YOU'RE OUT OF HERE. THAT'S WHAT I WILL SAY.

YOU CANNOT BE A MYSTERY. YOU HAVE TO BE OPEN.

[12. CITY CLERK REPORTS]