[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I AM CALLING THIS WORKSHOP OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION TO
ORDER. >> COMMISSIONER -- HEAR COMMISSIONER ROSS. HERE.
>> PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[4.1 AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS - WATER AND SEWER EXTENSIONS - This item is placed on the agenda at the request of Commissioner Ross.]
>> THANK YOU BREAD TONIGHT, OUR WORKSHOP AGENDA, WE HAVE ONE ITEM FOR DISCUSSION. THAT IS USING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THAT FUND , OR THE ARPA FUND FOR THE WATER AND THROUGH EXTENSIONS FOR THAT WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA BY COMMISSIONER ROSS. COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.
>> SO THE ARPA ARE THE COVID FUNDS. AND BROKEN DOWN , THERE IS 100,000 BUDGETED FOR THE -- THREE PROJECT. 400,000 FOR THE WATER MAIN PROJECT. CLINCH DRIVE, 150,000 . -- 350,000. AND 335. FOR THOSE PROJECTS, YOU HAVE FRIENDLY ROAD WATER MAIN, CLINCH DRIVE , CITRONA DRIVE WATER MAIN OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. AND IT IS DEDICATING ONE POINT TO $3 MILLION TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL NOT SERVE CITY RESIDENTS. IT WILL NOT SERVE THEM IN THE NEAR DISTANT FUTURE. AND TRUST WITH THAT, THE AREA FIVE, WHICH IS THE -- SIX AND THE STORMWATER PROJECTS, THEY ARE NOT FULLY FUNDED FROM ENGINEERING. NOT FULLY FUNDED FOR CONSTRUCTION.
I WAS WANTING TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM THE PROJECTS THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE CITY AND USE THAT MONEY INSTEAD TO FUND THE PROJECTS DOWN ASH STREET . I WAS WONDERING IF THE CITY
MANAGER COULD COMMENT ON THAT? >> CHARLES GEORGE, CITY MANAGER. YES, THAT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE TO BE GOING AROUND A LOT OF EXISTING FACILITIES -- FACILITIES. THERE IS THE BIG PUMP STATION AND THE BIG PIPE THAT GOES UNDERNEATH THE RUBBER. ON AREA FIVE, AS YOU RECALL, THE DESIGN WAS DONE IN 2021. THE CONSULTANT GAVE US AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST WHICH WAS ONE .94 MILLION. WE PUT IT UP FOR BIDS AND GOT ONE BIT BUT IT WAS 2.4. WE HAVE THE FUNDING TO COVER THAT SO WE AWARDED THAT CONTRACT. AS YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO GET A CONTRACT ON SITE AND TO GET GOING. ALTHOUGH WE ORDER THE PUMPS, WE HAVE A LOT OF MATERIALS AND THINGS WE CAN DO. WE TERMINATED HIS CONTRACT IN OCTOBER 2023. THREE DAYS LATER, I TALKED TO ANOTHER CONTRACTOR ON THE WATERFRONT OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND IN THE PROCESS OF COMING UP WITH A PRICE TO DO THAT JOB. I DO NOT HAVE THE NUMBERS . THEY TOLD ME IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT THE FIRST CONTRACTOR WAS.
>> MOST LIKELY, THE FIRST CONTRACTOR UNDERBID IT. WILL NEED SOME FUNDS TO DO ASH . THAT IS WHY THE CONVERSATION CAME UP ABOUT USING THE ARPA FUNDS TO OFFSET THOSE COSTS
FOR THOSE TWO PROPERTIES. >> IS THERE ANY DOWNSIDE TO
SWITCHING THE FUNDING? >> I KNOW AT LEAST ON MILLER ROAD AND CITRONA DRIVE, THERE'S NOT CITY RESIDENTS CURRENTLY ON THOSE AREAS WHERE THE EXTENSION WOULD OCCUR. THE GOAL WAS , PUT THE EXTENSIONS IN AND IT WOULD DRIVE THAT EXTENSION. IT WOULD ALSO SPREAD THE SERVICE AREAS . WE HAVE FEES COMING IN FOR THAT AND THAT IS THE PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARPA FUNDS . IT IS WHAT YOU, THE COMMISSION, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THE FUNDS YOU HAVE AVAILABLE.
>> I AM CURIOUS. I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO DEVOTE THOSE
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FUNDS TO FUND THOSE TWO PROJECTS. THE CITY RESIDENTS, I WAS WONDERING IF THE OTHER CITY COMMISSIONERS AGREE WITH>> WELL, PROBABLY FOR ANDRE, WHERE WITH THESE FUNDS THE MOST IMPACTFUL IF WE WERE , WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK. THAT IS WHAT I AM ASKING.
>> ABSOLUTELY. UTILITIES DIRECTOR. INITIALLY, WHEN WE OUTLINED THESE UTILITY PROJECTS THAT COMMISSIONER ROSS REFERENCE, THE THOUGHT WAS TO UTILIZE THE FUNDS WHICH WERE EARMARKED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. PROJECTS THAT WOULD DRIVE ANNEXATION. WE WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE TAKEN ON.
ABSOLUTELY, I AGREE THAT THE SHORTFALLS IN THE BUDGET FOR BOTH AREA FIVE AND AREA SIX WOULD BE THE PRIORITY. THAT WAS THE DIRECTION THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, REALLY TRY TO TAKE ON SO MANY AT A TIME. WE TAKE ON THOSE PROJECTS WOULD WANT TO HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF THE FULL COST OF THESE TWO PROJECTS, AS IS A DISCUSSION WE WERE LIKELY GOING TO INITIATE WITH THE COMMISSION ABOUT UTILIZING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF UTILITY PROJECTS, AT LEAST ONE THAT JUMPS OUT OF MY MIND. THE FRIENDLY ROAD WATER MAIN. THAT WAS AN EFFORT , BOTH TO UNLOCK AREAS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY SERVED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE , BUT ALSO TO TELL YOU IN A COUPLE AREAS THAT ARE -- IN THE WATER MAIN SYSTEM. TO MARK THE FLOW OF THE WATER QUALITY IN THOSE AREAS. THAT IS SOME OF THE REASONS BEHIND SOME OF THOSE.
>> SO IF YOU RECOMMEND WE SWITCH THE MONEY --
>> POTENTIALLY YES WANT TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF THOSE PROJECTS. THE FUNDS ARE KIND OF EARMARKED. THEY ARE IN THAT FUND THE COUNT . THEY CAN BE EASILY REALLOCATED TO ANOTHER PROJECT. TYPICALLY, WE DO THAT WHEN WE COME FORWARD WITH A BID THAT NEEDS TO BE AWARDED? SHE HAS THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND THAT PRESENTLY, THERE IS A CONSENSUS AMONG THE COMMISSION TONIGHT, WE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD OR CONTINUE EXPANDING ANY FUNDS ON ANY OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO
REPURPOSE THOSE FUNDS FOR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO WOULDN'T FRIENDLY DRIVE AND CLINCH DRIVE KIND OF GO HAND-IN-HAND AT THE CLOSE PROJECT? ROSETTA -- NOT CLOSE PROJECT? THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS?
>> THEY ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON EACH OTHER. SO FRIENDLY ROAD, THE WATER IS ALREADY RUN DOWN. THERE IS A DEVELOPMENT DOWN THERE THAT EXTENDED THAT WATER MAIN. THE OTHER DEAD-END WOULD BE TIED IN IS AT GATEWAY. I'M SORRY. AMELIA ROAD FOR THAT PROJECT WOULD BASICALLY BE POURING DOWN FRIENDLY ROAD, UNDER THE RAILROAD, AND TIGHTEN THOSE TWO KIND OF DEAD-END LOOPS. ONE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON THE OTHER.
>> OKAY. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. BUT UNTIL WE KNOW THE ACTUAL NUMBER AND WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE, I AM NOT SAYING COULDN'T WE REALLOCATE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS? I WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE. IF WE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS, WHICH HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO THIS BID WE HAVE TO FINISH IT.
SO I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS THAT . WHETHER I'M READY TO REALLOCATED BUT NOT -- I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS IT AND GET IT
DONE. >> YEAH, THE TWO PROJECTS WE HAVE CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN IN ENGINEERING , WHICH IS AMELIA ROAD AND CLINCH DRIVE. THOSE ARE ABOUT 96 PERCENT COMPLETE.
LET'S FINALIZE THOSE PLANS AND HAVE THEM ON THE SHELF FOR WHEN AND IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. THAT IS A MINIMAL COST TO FINALIZE BOTH OF THOSE.
SPENDING HAVE DONE SO FAR IS BASICALLY IN THE PLANNING
STAGES? >> ABSOLUTELY. NO CONSTRUCTION FOR ANYTHING FUNDED BY THIS MONEY.
>> WOULD HAVING THIS FUNDING IN THE AREA, WITH THAT EXPEDITE THE PROJECT ? WITH THAT HAVE ANY IMPACT WITH OUR NEW
CONTRACTOR COMING IN? >> YES. THE GUY SAID, WHAT WE
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ARE HEARING IS THE COST WILL GET SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. THE TWO GOALS IS TO OPEN LATCH OR STREET TO CONNECT NORTH FRONT STREET. HAVE CIRCULATION VEHICULAR -WISE. WE WOULD STILL BE DOING THAT THIS YEAR. WE ALSO WOULD NEED TO MAKE SOME DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES DOWN IN THAT AREA. THOSE WOULD BE THE TWO PRIORITIES HE WOULD BE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. THOSE DOLLARS WOULD HELP WITH THAT.>> GOOD . SO THE OVERALL PROJECT WOULD BE HELPFUL?
>> YES. WE PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FINISH THE WHOLE BIG PROJECT , BUT THE TWO GOALS WERE OPENING AND SOLVING THE DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA AND WE CAN DO THAT.
>> EXCELLENT. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF COMICALLY -- CONCRETE BLOCKS IN THAT AREA RIGHT THERE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAME TO MIND THAT A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ON THAT STREET AND RADIUS HAVE MADE IT KNOWN. WILL THIS HELP WITH THAT? IF WE GO FORWARD , FOCUSING ON THE TWO ASPECTS THAT I'VE REACHED OUT TO MR. GOOD CELL. HIS PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO SEE IF HE WILL LET US STORE THOSE ON HIS SIDE WHILE WE DO THAT WORK. I THINK YOU WILL BE AMENABLE TO THAT.
>> EXCELLENT. FOR ME, THAT IS A GOOD REASON TO MAKE THIS MOVE. THAT IS THE PROJECT CURRENTLY IN PROCESS, AND IF WE CAN EXPEDITE THAT PROCESS, IT IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON.
THAT IS A GOOD REASON FOR ME. I HAVE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. MR. CHARLES GEORGE, DO YOU CONCUR ?
>> YES, I THINK WE NEED TO GET THE DESIGN DONE. ONCE YOU GET THAT DONE, THE GRANT FUNDING OUT THERE, WE CAN BE SEARCHING FOR, YOU KNOW, -- UTILITIES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE FUNDING TO HELP FASHION THE LATCH WORK TOO BUT I THINK THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN GET TO BOTH. IT IS JUST IF YOU RELOCATE NOW BEFORE, YOU KNOW, LET'S GET THE DESIGNS DONE ON THE OTHER FOUR OR FIVE. GET THEM READY. GET THEM FUNDED.
THEN WE CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> I REMEMBER THERE WAS A RESOLUTION FACTORING COVID, WE HAD A RESOLUTION TO ALLOCATE THOSE ARPA FUNDS . WE HAVE TO GO BACK WITH ANOTHER RESOLUTION
TO MAKE THIS CHANGE ? >> KNOW, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT IS ARPA LET'S YOU DO ANY KIND OF UTILITY WORK. IT IS NOT EARMARKED TO THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS . IT IS EARMARKED TO
THE TYPE OF WORK WE DO. >> UNDERSTOOD BUT I THINK WE GET THAT GENERAL, I GUESS? OKAY, PERFECT FOR THAT IS ALL MY QUESTIONS. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO ASK? YOU HAVE THE DIRECTION YOU NEED FROM US? I FEEL IT IS A FINE CHANGE.
ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. >> I WILL KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT IF THAT IS WHERE WE ARE GOING.
>> WE AGREED THIS CAN GO FORWARD?
>> THAT WAS THE WORKSHOP. >> POLICE SAY AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT?
] >> OF THE NEXT LINE. WE HAVE 45 MINUTES OF THE PEOPLE'S TIME. COMMISSIONER ROSS, WHAT YOU
HAVE? >> I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT DENSITY AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE WOULD LIKE THE PLANNING BOARD TO LOOK AT WHETHER WE SHOULD CHANGE THE INTENSITY FOR THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. THAT IS CURRENTLY 84 UNITS PER ACRE. AND MU 8 THOSE IDEAS WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST. I WONDERED IF THE CITY ATTORNEY COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT MIGHT BE.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, MS. TAMMI BACH.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND IT WAS MENTIONED IN OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS. WITH THE LIVE LOCAL ACT, THERE IS A NEW BILL PENDING TO LOCK IN THE DATE AT WHICH DENSITY IT IS CALCULATED. I HAVE NOT READ THE FINAL BILL. BUT IT INDICATES THAT IF WE WANTED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS LOCAL AND HAVING 34 UNITS PER ACRE, POTENTIALLY BUILT AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN DOWNTOWN, THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE DENSITY. THAT INCLUDES A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND AMENDMENT. THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES IT WILL BE DONE AT THIS JUNCTURE BY THE TIME THE BILL IS EFFECTIVE. THAT WILL EITHER BE A JULY 1ST OR THE DATE IT IS SIGNED.
AND THEN WE HAVE NO CHOICE? >> RIGHT.
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>> WHAT YOU ARE ASKING? >> I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH ON IT. I SAT DOWN WITH MS. GIBSON AND KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IT. SO I DO NOT WANT TO , I DO NOT WANT IT TO SPEAK ILL OF THE DECISION TO HAVE IT AT 34 UNITS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DID IT AT THE TIME. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE WHY THE DENSITY IS AS IT IS. I JUST HAVE A PILLOW, -- ELLIS TOPICAL DIFFERENCE. I WOULD PREFER THE CENTRAL DISTRICT HAVE MORE COMMERCIAL THEN RESIDENTIAL. SO I WOULD BE FINE LOWERING THAT TO 18.
AS IT STANDS WITH MU 8, I STILL THINK THAT IS GOOD LEGISLATION. I STILL THINK THAT IS GOOD WORK THAT THE COMMISSION DID AT THE TIME. IT STILL HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REALIZE ITS FULL POTENTIAL WE ARE IN MU 8 IT IS BUT I THINK THAT CAN BE VERY IMPACTFUL TO THE EIGHTH STREET CORRIDOR. I AM WILLING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS OR GIVE STAFF DIRECTION TO LOOK INTO THE COMP PLAN AND THE LPC TO CHANGE THE NET DENSITY FROM THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT DOWN TO 18TH STREET. THAT IS WHERE I AM WITH IT .
>> EXCELLENT POINT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KIND OF AGREE WITH THE FIRST NUMBER THAT CAME TO MY MIND. IT WAS 20. NOT 10 OR 12. IT WAS 20. ONLY BEING A HAPPY MEDIUM. WITH 18, THAT COULD BE MEANINGFUL , TELLS LOOK AT THE ONLY REASON IS, WITH OUR LAND, THERE IS NO PARKING. THAT PARKING COMES IN ISSUE 439 UNITS PER ACRE. SO ANYBODY THAT RUNS ANY CALCULATIONS, I DO NOT SEE KELLY OUT THERE THIS EVENING.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I SPOKE WITH HER DIRECTLY FOR A COUPLE HOURS ABOUT THIS. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT MANY PROPERTIES THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE CONVERTED ANYWAY. SO I DO NOT MIND LOWERING IT, BUT I HAVE TO AGREE WITH DARREN. I THINK THE MU 8 IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT FACTOR. THERE IS SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THAT COMMERCIAL AREA. BUT REGARDLESS, I CAN SEE 18 OR 20 UNITS. THAT DOES NOT BOTHER ME AT ALL. I THINK IT IS
PROBABLY THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> VICE MAYOR STURGES ?
>> EVEN GOING UP TO THE 14 OR 16 MARK. WE HAVE NOT DONE IT YET SO WHY WOULD WE START DOING IT NOW?
>> I AM HEARING A CONSENSUS TO AT LEAST GO TO 18. THAT IS SOMETHING -- IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT DOWNTOWN. THE LIVE LOCAL ACT FOR THAT IS ABOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE 34 IS THE MARKER AROUND THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF WHAT CAN GO BUT I THINK LOWERING THAT 18 DOES MAKE SENSE. I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONER FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD BUT I THINK THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO TAKE A STAB AT THAT IN THE LANGUAGE THERE.
COMMISSIONER AYSCUE? >> WELL, -- TO SEE IF SHE WOULD KNOW HOW MANY PIECES OF CODE THIS WOULD TOUCH. THAT CASCADES INTO A LOT OF WORK.
IT IS A LOT TO TACKLE. WHAT TIMEFRAME ARE WE DEMANDING OF OUR STAFF? THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER TED
>> YET. I JUST THIS NOT KNOW. TO SEE HOW MUCH WORK THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE , NOT ONLY FOR STAFF, BUT FOR THE PAD AS
WELL. >> THAT IS A LOT OF WORK FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH AND A LOT OF TIME TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF
DIFFERENT CODES. MR. GEORGE? >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, CAN TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND GET WITH THEM THIS WEEK AND FIGURE OUT A TIMEFRAME TO MAKE A BETTER DECISION . SHE MET PERFECT FOR THANK YOU FOR THAT. COMMISSIONER ROSS, WHAT HAVE
YOU GOT? >> I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE INTERSECTIONS . HOW MUCH DENSITY DOES THAT CREATE? THAT
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IS ALL YOU ARE CHANGING. WHATEVER NUMBER YOU WANT. SO THAT IS GOING THROUGH THE VOTE AND THAT IS IT. THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT THAT PART OF IT IS PRETTY EASY. IT IS ONE STRIKEOUT, ONE NUMBER. THE CONCEPT. I WOULD ASK WE SAY TO THE PLANNING BOARD , TELL US WHAT YOU BELIEVE THE DENSITY SHOULD BE. YOU CONNECT WITH A NUMBER. WE THINK 18 MIGHT BE A GOOD NUMBER, BUT WHATEVER YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.>> COMMISSIONER ROSS, IF THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE, I THINK THAT MAKES TOTAL SENSE. VICE MAYOR STURGES, GO AHEAD .
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONE THING I WAS GOING TO SAY, AND KELLY IS HERE NOW , BUT I DO THINK STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO CARVE THAT OUT AND SAY MOST OF THE PARCELS WE HAVE, THEY ARE NOT REALLY GOING TO DO THIS. ULTIMATELY, IF WE AS A CITY , HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT SOME LOCATION, WE CAN ALWAYS DO A VARIANCE AND A VOTE FROM THE ORDER THAT THEY FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE IN AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION. WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE UNITS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I AM SAYING THAT IS WHY WE NEED KELLY TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS. KELLY?
>> WAIT, LET ME FINISH MY THOUGHT.
>> THAT WAS THE IDEA . CANNOT THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR STURGES.
IF IT IS REALLY TWO NUMBERS TO CHANGE, THAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT STORY. WHERE I WANT TO HEAR THAT INFORMATION IS FROM STAFF. IF I CAN CONFIRM WITH MS. GIBSON OR MR. GEORGE, AND I KNOW MR. GEORGE IS WORKING ON THAT. IF IT IS A REAL QUICK TWO NUMBERS AND WE CAN GET THIS TURNED AROUND WITHOUT TOO MUCH STAFF TIME, THAT SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER BUT I LIKE TO HEAR FROM STAFF AND MS. GIBSON. HOW MUCH WORK
WOULD THAT BE? >> PLANNING CONSERVATION.
THERE ARE TWO KEY AREAS TO BE MODIFIED. ONE IS IN THE COPPER AT THE PLAN UNDER THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. DENSITY CALCULATION. THE SECOND IS -- IT EXPRESSES THE SAME NUMBER.
SO MODIFYING AT THEIR. THE BASIS BEHIND 18 UNITS PER ACRE IS A BEEN APPLIED TO MIXED-USE IS THAT IT NEARED WHAT WE WOULD'VE FOUND TYPICALLY DOWNTOWN WITHIN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WITH THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 17 1/2 UNITS PER ACRE . RATHER THAN WORKING PRACTICE, WE WERE OUT OF THAT WILL NUMBER AND GOT 18 TO MIXED-USE IN THE STREET.
>> EXCELLENT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. GIBSON?
>> NO, I BELIEVE THE VICE MAYOR?
>> I'VE A QUESTION FOR KELLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ULTIMATELY, YOUR THING AND AT ANY FUTURE POINT, WE WOULD HAVE TO REWRITE THIS CODE IF WE WANTED TO PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON IN THE CITY IN SOME AREA THAT WOULD BE MORAL THAN 18 UNITS CURRENTLY? TO SOME OTHER FIGURE BEYOND 18. WE REALIZE IT WOULD BE GREATER THAN THAT FROM A DENSITY STANDPOINT. THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO PUT INTO YOUR CODE DENSITY INCENTIVES AND APPLY THEM WITHIN CERTAIN ZONING DISTRICT THAT ALLOW YOU TO ELEVATE. YOU WOULD HAVE TO PUT THAT IN THE DEVELOPMENT CODE SO IT WOULD READ THE SAME.
>> OKAY. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER
AYSCUE? >> YEAH, I WANTED TO KIND OF MAKE THE COMMENT THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS SIMPLE. IT IS PROBABLY WORRYING ABOUT THE CODE CHANGES AND THE COPPER AT THE PLANT. I THINK -- IS THE SAME WAY. THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD HAS HAD A MEETING, WORKSHOP, A SUBCOMMITTEE, AND ANOTHER MEETING FOR TWO PIECES OF CODE.
I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS THAT SIMPLE TO GO THROUGH AND CHANGE IT, JUSTLY LOOKING AT THE IMPACTS OF NET DENSITY SPECIFIC THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST THIS CAN GET THROUGH STAFF AND THE PAB, BUT IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE TAKING THEIR TIME. I WANTED TO SEE IF THAT
WOULD BE THE CASE. >> IF I COULD RESPOND TO THAT.
I WOULD VENTURE KIND OF ATTEMPTING TO GET INTO THE MINDS OF THE PLANNING BOARD. THE EFFORT TO DO INCREASED DENSITY IS CURRENTLY 34 UNITS PER ACRE WOULD BE WELCOME TO CHANGE. IN DOING SO, IN AN EXPEDITIOUS MANNER, THAT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN DOING. AND PERHAPS GOING BACK AND FORTH, A LOT OF IT , PUTTING IT INTO A SUBCOMMITTEE OR SPECIAL WORKSHOP WOULD NOT BE
ADVANTAGEOUS. >> -- WOULD BE THE EASIEST WAY
? >> RIGHT. IF THERE IS EXPRESS DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION TO WORK TOWARD THAT END, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK ON THAT . THE SOONEST IT COULD BE ON AN AGENDA FOR THE PLANNING BOARD WOULD BE IN APRIL. THAT BRINGS
IT TO YOU IN MAY AND JUNE. >> PERFECT .
>> THE TIMING OF IT IS DICEY, DEPENDING ON WHEN THAT
LEGISLATION GOES INTO EFFECT. >> I THINK THAT SOUNDS GOOD. IS THAT SOMETHING COULD BE LINKED TO WORK ON, MS. GIBSON?
>> YES . >> WITH THAT IN MIND, THERE IS
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A CONSENSUS YOU'RE AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS TO LOWER IT DOWN TO 18. DO I HEAR ANY OBJECTION TO THAT ?>> AT LEAST 18. THEY CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT IS MORE
THAN 18. >> I THINK YOU'RE GIVING DIRECTION ON THIS. WHAT YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> I AM IN SUPPORT. LESS THAN 18 IF NECESSARY. BUT MY THAT WOULD BE YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD MORE.
COME UP WITH A NUMBER. WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE AROUND 18. IF THEY THINK IT IS 20 OR 22 OR 16 I MEAN, THEY COULD COME BACK WITH A DIFFERENT NUMBER. I THINK WHAT STAFF COMES BACK WITH AN ANSWER, IT WILL NOT TAKE THAT LONG. IF EVERYBODY IS INTERESTED IN MAKING THIS CHANGE, IT SHOULD NOT TAKE TOO LONG TO COME BACK WITH AN ANSWER AND THAT STAFF SAY, WE REALLY THINK THIS SHOULD BE THE ANSWER AND THIS IS WHY.
>> EXCELLENT ADVICE, VICE MAYOR STURGES.
>> LET'S GET A RECOMMENDATION. WE TALKED BEFORE.
>> I CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY YOU SHOULD NOT GO TO LESS THAN 10. THE REASON BEHIND THAT IS THE HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, HAVING IT INTACT AND BEING ABLE TO BE FULL-TIME SO WE CAN MAINTAIN OLD TOWN. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND LESS THAN 10.
I KNOW YOU HAVE IT ON THERE. 18 WAS THE DESIRE BUILDING PATTERN WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE OF THE 18TH STREET . IT IS TYPICALLY WHAT YOU WOULD FIND DOWNTOWN TO BE CENTER STREET LAKE. IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOU WOULD LIKE TO MODIFY THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW MANY RESIDENTIAL -- YOU WOULD POTENTIALLY GET FOR DOWNTOWN. RIGHT NOW, 18 UNITS, THAT IS APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AS THE 25 LOT . -- HALF OF THE ADJOINING RIGHT-OF-WAY. YOU GET TO THAT AMOUNT. AND SO 18 IS , THAT IS WHY THERE WAS THAT FIGURE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THOSE 25.
>> SO YOU'RE TELLING ME 18 WAS CURRENTLY IN OUR DOWNTOWN?
>> THAT SEEMS LIKE YOU PEOPLE LIKE WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD NUMBER.
>> IT GIVES YOU ONE RESIDENTIAL LOT. WHEN YOU FACTOR THAT OUT.
>> CORRECT. ABSOLUTELY. >> VICE MAYOR STURGES?
>> KELLY, MY ONLY QUESTIONS WITH ALL OF THIS -- THE LITTLE DEVELOPMENT I'VE EVER DONE WHAT I HAVE WORKED WITH WITH CLIENTS. IT IS ALL DRIVEN BY THE PARKING. EVERYTHING IS DRIVEN BY THE PARKING. ULTIMATELY, I WANT TO KNOW SOME CALCULATIONS AND FIGURES WERE THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT ABOUT THE PARKING. BASED ON ALL HER SETBACKS, BASED ON REAL ESTATE , BASED ON EVERYTHING THAT IS IN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, HOW DOES THE PARKING AFFECTED? WHAT IS LOGICAL?
>> WITH THE BUSINESS DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY, FOR COMMERCIAL USES, THERE WERE ONLY PARKING MINIMUMS. ON THE RESIDENTIAL, IT IS. WHEN YOU DEVELOP IN A MULTIFAMILY TYPE OF SCENARIO , AND DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE UNITS, YOU MAY HAVE LESS PARKING REQUIRED FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PIECE. UP TO TWO SPACES PER DWELLING UNIT WHEN YOU GET TO 1250 SQUARE FEET .
BUT IT GOES DOWN TO AS LITTLE AS ONE SPACE PER UNIT.
>> OKAY. I JUST WANT TO KNOW THE FACTORS YOU CAN PUT IN THERE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT.
>> PARKING LITERALLY -- THAT AN STORMWATER ARE THE TWO BIGGEST FACTORS THAT WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH WE ARE GOING TO DEVELOP ON A PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.
>> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE A CONSENSUS TO GO
FORWARD? >> I BELIEVE WE DO. THANK YOU, MS. GIBSON. AS YOU SAID, PARKING IS -- THANK YOU SO MUCH. I BELIEVE LAST TIME, WE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT DOING SOME SORT OF FORMAL RESOLUTION. DO WE WANT TO DO THAT AT THIS
TIME? >> WE DO NOT NEED AT THIS TIME.
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER -- >> THERE IS ONE MORE.
>> WAS GOING TO SAY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO GO THROUGH?
TIME. >> YOU CAN EITHER GO FOR A LONG TIME OR NOT LONG AT ALL. WHAT IS OUR TIMETABLE ON LOOKING AT A NEW CITY MANAGER? DO YOU HAVE A TIME PERIOD? HOW DO YOU WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT? I AM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH CHARLES
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GEORGE. WHAT ARE OUR LONG-TERM PLANS? THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION. WE ARE HAVING A GOOD WORKSHOP SO THERE WE ARE.THAT I AM INCREDIBLY CONFIDENT IN THE WORK THAT MR. CHARLES GEORGE HAS DONE AS THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER. INCREDIBLY CONFIDENT HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK AS CITY MANAGER. I WOULD SUPPORT MR. CHARLES GEORGE TO STAY IN THAT ROLE.
HERE IS THE THING. I THINK WE NEED TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT THIS FIRST READ WE SHOULD NOT BE AMBUSHING. I FULLY SUPPORT THE WORK MR. GEORGE'S DONE FOR US. I KNOW HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. I WANTED TO GIVE HIM THAT WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT. THAT IS
MY THOUGHT. MR. GEORGE? >> YOU RECALL BACK IN DECEMBER, I COMMITTED TO NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR TO GET US TO THE BUDGET. AND THE ELECTION SO WE HAVE SOME STABILITY. I AM STILL STANDING BY THAT. WHAT YOU GUYS DECIDE YOU WANT TO DO IS ON YOU. THAT IS WHERE I AM AT.
OTHER COMMENTS ON THAT? >> ALL GREAT COMMENTS AND COMPLIMENTS TO MR. CHARLES GEORGE. MY CONCERN IS SUCCESSION PLANNING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE NEXT POTENTIAL CITY MANAGER FOR FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS. THAT IS A CONVERSATION WE CAN HAVE PRIVATELY WITH CHARLIE. WE DO NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE DAY CHARLIE SAYS HE WANTS TO RETIRE TO TALK ABOUT GETTING A NEW CITY MANAGER TO REPLACE THEM.
>> PERFECT. >> SO AT THIS POINT, OUR DECISION IS NOT TO MAKE A DECISION AND TO GO FORWARD? IS
THAT FAIR? >> MY DECISION IS PHRASED SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY. TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MR. CHARLES GEORGE.
>> BUT WE HAVE NO PLANS AS TO WHAT WE ARE DOING TO DO WHEN? NO, THAT IS FINE. THAT IS A DECISION.
>> MY DECISION IS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MR. CHARLES GEORGE
IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM. >> THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM ASKING. I'M NOT ASKING YOU ANYTHING ON THE SPOT. I'M ASKING, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DETERMINE THE PROCESS? ARE YOU GOING TO DETERMINE WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO PICK A NEW CITY MANAGER? DO YOU WANT TO BUT HERE IN NOVEMBER? DO YOU WANT SOMEBODY AFTER NOVEMBER? TO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE WANT? I MEAN, WHAT IS THE PROCESS? THE PUBLIC DOES WHAT THE PROCESS
IS GOING FORWARD. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE?
>> I WOULD SAY, GENTLY , WE CAN SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC THAT I DID NOT HAVE MUCH OF AN APPETITE OF THEM WANTING TO MAKE A CHANGE OR ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. THAT'S JUST HOW I FEEL.
GENERALLY, THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN -- WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED. I THINK THEY JUST WANT STABILITY RIGHT NOW. I DO NOT EVEN KNOW IF THERE REALLY ASKING ABOUT -- THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS, IF CHARLIE WANTED TO HELP, I WOULD NOT MIND LOOKING INTO HOW TO ACCOMPANY AND OVERLOOK THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. HIRING A CONCEPT FIRM. MAYBE THAT KIND OF HELPS THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS. A SUCCESSION PLAN OR SUGGESTING A DEPUTY TO COME MAYBE IT GIVES US A LITTLE DIRECTION. I DON'T KNOW.
I'M TRYING TO GIVE IDEAS TO HELP CHARLIE AS HE HAS GOT ALL OF THESE THINGS HE HAS TO DO, PLUS BE THE ENGINEER. TO KIND OF HELP ORGANIZE THE CITY. I KNOW THEY ARE KIND OF GOING THROUGH SOME CLEANUP, REORG STUFF NOW. THAT IS ABOUT THE ONLY SUGGESTION I WOULD MAKE. BY AND LARGE, TALKING TO MOST CITIZENS, I DO NOT THINK THEY HAVE AN APPETITE RIGHT NOW FOR ANY KIND OF CHANGE OR PUSH FORWARD WITH GETTING A
PERMANENT SOLUTION. >> SO IT IS STATUS QUO?
>> I THINK THAT IS WHAT MOST OF THE CITIZENS WANT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT IS REASONABLE. I JUST, YOU KNOW, HAVE RELIEVED THIS. IT IS ON AN EXTREMELY POSITIVE NOTE.
WHERE WE STARTED THIS CONVERSATION IS MR. CHARLES GEORGE HAS BEEN DOING EXCEPTIONAL WORK FOR THE CITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HIM CAN TUNING TO DO EXCEPTIONAL WORK FOR THE CITY. I THINK MORE WHAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT OUR CITY NEEDS. I APPRECIATE YOU, MR. CHARLES GEORGE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?
COMMENTS. >> IS THIS WHAT YOU'RE
[00:35:01]
GETTING EXCITED ABOUT? >> MAYBE. WE WILL SEE.
>> WE SEE ON THE AGENDA COMING UP, THE INDIGO STREET AND THE ELM STREET PROPERTIES. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN OUR WORKSHOP. THERE IS THOUGH ONE PIECE THERE ON EIGHTH STREET STILL. THERE IS BEEN LOTS OF DISCUSSION . I KNOW COALITION OF THE HOMELESS HAVE ASKED. I KNOW HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HAS ASKED. I AM NOT SURE IT WOULD EVEN BE LEGAL TO GIFT THAT PROPERTY, MUCH LESS THE CITIZENS BEING OKAY WITH US GIVING AWAY A POTENTIAL OF 200 , OR MAYBE EVEN MORE, $100,000 PIECE OF PROPERTY. WHAT IS THE CONDITION TEMPERATURE ON MAKING THAT A POCKET HOLE AND PUTTING IT IN RECREATION OR CONSERVATION? SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I KNOW IT IS A UNIQUE PIECE. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE 8TH STREET QUARTER, IT COULD WORK IN THE FUTURE. WHEN I PUT IT IN CONSERVATION AND RECREATION NOW? JUST ASKING THE TEMPERATURE.
>> THAT IS AN INCREDIBLY INTERESTING IDEA .
>> THANK YOU, MARY. ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT THE -- THREE? THE SKINNIEST NARROW LOT? IT IS RIGHT ALONG 8TH STREET? I AM NOT SURE THAT IS A GOOD LOCATION FOR A POCKET. THAT IS MY ONLY CONCERN BUT YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. SOME OTHER DATE COULD PUT SOME SORT OF UTILITIES THERE THAT COULD BE.
I WOULD JUST ASSUME WE LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS AND JUST EVENTUALLY EITHER USE IT FOR SOMETHING OR SELL IT.
>> TAKE THE MONEY TO USE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE BUT I'M NOT SURE THE CITY ONLY NEEDS THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT IS NOT REALLY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE BUT IT IS NOT VERY BIG. I AM JUST SAYING, IT REALLY DOES NOT MAKE MUCH SENSE , IN MY OPINION , TO MAKE IT A PART. WHO KNOWS IN THE FUTURE WHAT THE CITY COULD USE IT FOR? IT IS JUST NOT IN A GREAT LOCATION. THAT IS ALL I
AM SAYING. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER
ROSS? >> I THINK IT MIGHT BE A GOOD LOCATION. THE WHOLE IDEA OF 8TH STREET TO MAKE IT INTO A PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR AND IF PEOPLE LIVING THERE. I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA, ACTUALLY. THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT.
A GREAT IDEA, ACTUALLY. >> WHEN I LOOK AT THE OPTIONS, SUNLIGHT, WE COULD ALL RIGHT SOLID ZONED RESIDENTIAL.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THERE IS NOTHING ELSE I CAN GO THERE OTHER THAN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME TO SELL IT. YEAH, THAT IS
>> NO, I BELIEVE THAT IS THE WHOLE PREMISE BEHIND US MOVING THE ZONING'S. THEY ARE RESIDENTIAL, I BELIEVE . KELLY CAN SPEAK TO THAT. IT IS ZONED RESIDENTIAL RIGHT NOW. THAT IS REALLY WEIRD. IT IS WEIRD THE WAY IT IS WHY IT IS
>> MEAN , OKAY. THAT MAKES SENSE. SORRY. AND IT GOT LIMITED VALUE TO ANYBODY THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHATNOT.
>> I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK INTO FURTHER. WE CANNOT MAKE ANY FIRM DECISIONS ON THIS TONIGHT. WE DON'T NEED TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS. MY KNEE-JERK REACTION, JUST TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT I AM THINKING ABOUT THIS. VICE MAYOR STURGES, I HEAR YOUR POINTS AND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
THE FUTURE IS A LONG TIME. THE FUTURE IS, WE ARE AROUND OUR 200TH ANNIVERSARY AND I HOPE TO HAVE ANOTHER 200 YEARS . MAYBE รท600 MORE AT FERNANDINA BEACH BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. WHEN THE CITY OWNS HIS LAND, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO GO THERE. WHAT WILL 8TH STREET LOOK LIKE IN 100 YEARS? WE CANNOT ENVISION WHAT TECHNOLOGY WILL BE IN 100 YEARS. AND THIS PROPERTY, IT COULD BE ONE THING. ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS IS WHY -- RECREATION IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I LOCKING THAT IN AS A RECREATION SITE, THAT COULD DIRECT 8TH STREET TO DEVELOP IN A CERTAIN WAY THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY THERE. THAT IS SOMETHING INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL DO AT THIS TIME. WE'LL ALL THINK ABOUT IT AND COME BACKWARD WITH THAT, I WILL ASK ONE MORE TIME. WE HAVE 20 MORE MINUTES. ANYTHING ELSE? WHAT IF WE GOT?
[00:40:01]
>> WITH THAT, WE HAVE OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.