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GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND I AM CALLING THIS WORKSHOP OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH TO ORDER. AS ALWAYS, WE
WILL START WITH THE ROLE. >> -- HERE. VICE MAYOR? HERE.
COMMISSIONER ROSS. HERE. COMMISSIONER ANTUN. HERE.
>> I THINK THIS IS THE CRA MEETING.
>> ARE ACTUALLY CORRECT. THIS IS NOT A WORKSHOP OR THIS IS AN AFFORDABLE MEETING. THIS IS THE CRA BOARD MEETING. THE ROLL CALL STILL COUNTS. LET'S RAISE NOW -- RISE NOW FOR
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE
[4.1 PROJECT UPDATES]
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITHLIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT SIX PROJECTS ONGOING RIGHT NOW THAT ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. I LOOK KIND OF RUNDOWN WHERE WE ARE ON THOSE PROJECTS IN THE STATUS AND WHAT IS COMING FORWARD. THE FIRST ONE IS LOT C AND LOT D . THOSE PLANS WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE COMMISSION AT THAT MAY 7TH MEETING TO SHOW THE FUTURES THEY HAVE GOTTEN DONE SO FAR AND GET COMMENTS BACK. THE DESIGN TEAM WILL BE HERE TO DO THAT PRESENTATION. THE WATERFRONT WAS THE RIVERWALK PROJECT. DURING 90% COMPLETE.
EXPECT PLANS FOR REVIEW IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS . COMING UP PRETTY QUICK ON THAT. A LOT FASTER THAN I WAS EXPECTING.
I'M EXPECTING IT TO BE VERY SIGNIFICANT, COMPREHENSIVE, AND READY TO GO. IF NO MAJOR CHANGES, THE NEXT STEP IS SUBMITTING IT FOR CORE AND STATE PERMIT. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT. THE DESIGN IS UNDERWAY.
APPROXIMATELY 20% COMPLETE. WENT ON THE TOPOGRAPHIC AND LOCATION SURVEYS. THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE STREET LIGHTING, STREETSCAPE, SIDELIGHTS, LANDSCAPING. AND THE FEATURES OF TRENCHES AND PLANTERS AND ALL OF THE KIND OF STUFF THAT GOES WITH IT, INCLUDING CROSSWALKS FOR THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY APPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT IS DONE IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS TO GET IT DONE. IT IS IN THE EARLY STAGES RIGHT NOW CAN RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE GOING ON DOWNTOWN. THAT WORK CONTINUES TO IMPROVE AND REFURBISH THE BETTING MALTS, TRIMMING, AND CLEANING OF LANDSCAPED AREAS. STAFF HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND IT IS HARD TO KEEP UP WITH SO WE HAVE AN OUTSIDE TERM DOING THAT AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB. AREA FIVE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. AS YOU KNOW, THE CONTRACT WITH THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR WAS TERMINATED DUE TO LACK OF PROGRESS. WE REACHED OUT TO ANOTHER CONTRACTOR FOR THEIR OPINION AND ANTICIPATED REMAINING CUSTOM WORK TO BE DONE BUT IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE SIGNIFICANT AND WILL COST.
THE CITY STAFF IS DEVELOPING OUT REDUCED TO SCOPE OF THE DRAINAGE AND THE ROBE OPENING TO ACHIEVE BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR FOR THE SCOPE INCLUDES PAYMENT OF THE INTERSECTION ON NORTH FRONT STREET AND THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH SECOND STREET. THE PAINTINGS WILL START IN THE MIDDLE STOP OF THE -- AND WE ARE GOING TO PUT A DRAINAGE SYSTEM DOWN THERE TO HANDLE ALL OF THE DRAINAGE ASSOCIATED PROPERTIES WILL NEED UNTIL THEY GET THE FINAL PROJECT DONE.
THEY WILL PUT A PERVIOUS SURFACE OVER THAT AREA. THE RAILROAD CROSSING, THAT FRONT STREET, WITH THE FINALIZATION AND MARKING OF PAYMENTS. THAT IS WHERE THAT IS. ALONG FRONT STREET, THE ELECTRICAL CONVERSION -- IMMACULATE QUESTIONS AT THE END? ELECTRICAL CONVERSION UNDERGROUND IS CURRENTLY OUT FOR BID PER MILEY THE -- OF THE RAILROAD. WORKING WITH THE RAILROAD ON THE PERMITTING OF THAT AND ANY ISSUES THAT GO ALONG WITH LIABILITY. THE SMALLEST ONE IS THE NEW ROAD PUT IN BETWEEN ASH AND CENTER. THE RAILROAD IS CLEANED OUT.
THE BETTING THAT IS BEEN KIND OF OVERGROWN. BRAND-NEW STONE SO REAL GOOD. THE START OF THE CLINIC, THE BETTING STONE WILL PROBABLY START COMING IN ABOUT A WEEK AND WILL TRY TO GET MOST OF IT DONE BEFORE SHRIMP FEST IF POSSIBLE. BASICALLY, ASH STREET, THAT DESIGN IS ONGOING AT NOW 60%. THOSE ARE THE PROJECTS WE HAVE GOING ON. THE PROJECTS ARE AT SOME LEVEL OF COMPLETION OR PROGRESS THAT I AM OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> TWO QUESTIONS. THE AREA TO THE EAST OF THE TRACKS. ARE YOU GOING TO DOUBLE TESTING
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BACK YES. >> SO THAT GRASS IN THE WHOLE
AREA? >> YES. THAT IS SUCH A HARD THING TO MAINTAIN THE GRASS IN THOSE RAILROAD ZONES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT , THE PEOPLE IN THERE CUTTING IT AND WEED WHACKING IT SO THEY'RE TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO THAT KIND OF THING.
>> GREAT. AND I -- STREET. TO MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR. BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR TO HAVE THAT OPEN?
>> YES . ABACK BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR?
>> NO, CALENDAR YEAR. >> OH, CALENDAR. ALL RIGHT.
VICE MAYOR? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR BEAN.
CHARLIE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING WITH THE CRA WITH THE BULLETS?
HOW IS THE PROGRESS ? >> FOR THE STREETS?
>> YES. >> THE BIDS ARE PRETTY HIGH AND WERE NOT GOING TO GET THEM INSTALLED BY SURFACE BUT THEY ARE 66 BOLLARDS WHERE PUTTING IN. THEIR RETRACTABLE SO NOTHING IS GOING ON. DRIVE RIGHT OVER THEM BUT WE CAN PULL THEM UP. THEY WILL STOP TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE TRYING TO GET DOWN THE STREETS WHEN THEY ARE CLOSED FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS. WE ARE STILL HOLDING ON THAT. LOOKING AT WAYS TO LOWER THE COST. WE HAVE ONE PRICE AND IT WAS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BASED ON WHAT WE HAD ESTIMATED BID WE COULD NOT GET IT INVITE SHRIMP FEST SO WE ARE ELEVATED -- RE-EVALUATING THAT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THE LANDSCAPING DOWNTOWN AND WE HAVE THE CONTRACT TO DO THAT.
WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THEIR WORK? IS THAT JUST MULTI-DIMENSION? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
>> TRIMMING, CLEANING UP ANY BRANCHES AND WEEDS AND TRASH.
PLANTING WHATEVER THEY NEED TO PLAN TO REPLACE WHAT IS DEAD.
IT IS BASICALLY JUST CLEANING UP THE WHOLE THING. GETTING TRASH OUT OF THE PLANTERS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. IT IS AN
ONGOING PROCESS. >> ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. CHARLES GEORGE, BOTH OF PROJECT UPDATES WERE RECEIVED ON THIS? THE BALL IS UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW WITH CRA? MR. CHARLES GEORGE WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME
[5. DISCUSSION - DIRECTION - ACTION ITEMS]
TONIGHT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. THAT IS DISCUSSION, DIRECTION, AND ACTION ITEMS BID IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO DISCUSS ANOTHER ITEM RELATED TO THE CRA? THAT SEEMS PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY HAVE PEOPLE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PARKS SPECIFICALLY. AT THE MAY 7TH MEETING WE WILL BE SEEING THE ACTUAL PICTURE. WE CAN CUT INTO IT AND LOOK AT IT.>> THAT IS CORRECT. AND THE CONSULTANT WILL BE HERE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> EXCELLENT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE. THAT IS GENERAL DISCUSSION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US, MR. CHARLES GEORGE. YOU MAY SIT DOWN. I DO NOT WANT YOU STANDING FOR THE REST OF THE
NIGHT. >> YEAH, THIS IS GENERAL DISCUSSION. YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH, I THOUGHT I HEARD A RUMOR POSSIBLY ABOUT SOMEBODY INTERESTED IN THE COMMISSION ENTERTAINING THE -- THAT IS IN THE CRA. SO I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT. I REALLY DO THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA FOR THE CITY TO PURSUE IT. WHATEVER MATTER THE CITY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN USING . IF IT IS PARKING FOR NOW OR IF IT IS SOME OTHER USE IT IF WE COULD REVITALIZE THE BUILDING, I DO NOT REALLY, I JUST THINK IT IS GOING TO BE BAD IF WE LET THIS SLIP THROUGH OUR HANDS BUT IF THE CITY LET THAT WHOLE ENTIRE PIECE OF PROPERTY SLIP THROUGH OUR HANDS. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A COUPLE MORE CONDO APARTMENTS. CURRENTLY, IT BORDERS OUR PROPERTY. I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF THE CITY ACQUIRED IT IF WE NEEDED IT. IT EXPANDS THE PARKING SIZE. WE COULD EXPAND OUR AREA NEXT TO US. IF WE NEEDED TO BUILD SOMETHING AT A FUTURE DATE , I REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THE CITY TO LOOK INTO IT. I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S THAT EMPTY AND NOTHING SAT ON IT FOR LITTLE WHILE NOW SO NOBODY COULD JUMP ON IT. THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS WHEN I HEARD A RUMOR ANOTHER COMMISSIONER WAS INTERESTED IN IT AND I THOUGHT WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS, BEFORE WE GO TO HIM, VICE MAYOR STURGES.
SOME MORE DETAILS ON THIS? CAN WE ASK ABOUT THAT NOW?
>> WELL, THEY DID HAVE ONE POINTED FIVE AND THEY WENT TO TO POINT TO. 2.2 MILLION. HOWEVER, EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD GET THAT MONEY IMMEDIATELY. I WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE IT.
>> OKAY. COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOUR THOUGHT IS IMMEDIATELY WE COULD GET DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE PARKING LOT RIGHT THERE .
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>> WE CAN MOSTLY EXPANDED AND GET A LOT MORE PARKING IN THAT AREA. THE ONLY REASON I GO RIGHT TO THAT IS BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS OUTDATED. THE BUILDING IS OUTDATED. IT HAS SOME DEFICIENCIES. EVERYTHING IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN AND IT HAS DEFICIENCIES. I JUST THINK IMMEDIATELY THE CITY COULD USE IT FOR PARKING AND IT WOULD NOT COST AS MUCH. IT IS COSTLY TO BUY IT, HOWEVER, I THINK THIS IS A VALUABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY
AND IT IS RIGHT FOR THE CITY >> I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I THINK MR. CHARLES GEORGE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT? STRUCTURE AND TRY TO COME UP WITH AN ESTIMATE WITH WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO TURN IT INTO A POSSIBLE ANNEX FOR CITY HALL.
SOME CITY BUILDING OR IF WE JUST TOOK IT DOWN TO A SLAB AND CREATED PARKING. ONE ISSUE WITH WHAT WE COULD WITH THE BUILDING IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN. WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT DROVE THAT INSTRUCTION COST UP FOR THE HYBRID THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT TURNING THAT INTO A PARKING AREA. WE COULD NOT ONLY JUST PUT IT IN WHERE THE BUILDING IS, PUSH IT MORE INTO LOT D TOWARD THE RAILROAD.
>> THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHARLES
GEORGE . >> COMMISSIONER ROSS?
>> LET ME SPEAK TO THE RUMOR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RUMOR IS , BUT AT THE NEXT CITY CONNECTION WORKSHOP, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PARKING. AND TOPIC NUMBER TWO IS ACQUIRING THE POSSIBILITY OF ACQUIRING THAT PROPERTY. THERE ALREADY SOME DRAWINGS OF WHAT YOU COULD DO WITH PARKING OR ALTERNATIVES. 65 PARKING SPACES, ESSENTIALLY. IN THE PACKET WHICH WILL COME OUT THE WEEK BEFORE. WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION. ACROSS THE DEMOLITIONS FELL BETWEEN 50,000 AND $100,000 . THE NEW PARKING LOT IS PROBABLY ABOUT $50,000.
SO THE REAL QUESTION IS WHERE YOU COME UP WITH THE MONEY? MAYBE WE CAN BE THINKING ABOUT THAT IN THE WORKSHOP. THERE ARE SIX OTHER TOPICS ON THAT. THE WHOLE ISSUE OF DOWNTOWN
PARKING. >> THAT IS ON MAY 7TH?
>> IT IS INDEED. I THINK IT WILL PICK UP THE WHOLE
WORKSHOP. >> WE CAN EVEN TALK ABOUT A PARKING GARAGE. WE CAN TALK ABOUT 73. WE HAVE ALL KIND OF
COOL THINGS TO TALK ABOUT. >> OKAY. THAT IS INTERESTING.
I AM INTRIGUED BY THE IDEA. I HEAR YOUR POINT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT . IT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE. RIGHT NOW IT IS NOT BEING USED FOR DOESN'T MAKE SENSE? LET'S LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE. ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS A GOOD POINT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, VICE MAYOR. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO DISCUSS IN THIS MEETING ABOUT THE CRA? ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE ARE 45 MINUTES OUT IF YOU'RE HERE WAITING, STICK AROUND AND 45 MINUTES WILL COME BACK WITH YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING. UNTIL THEN , WE WILL IF YOU COULD WE MAKE QUICKLY AS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.