[*A portion of this meeting is without audio*]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:28]
HERE. MEMBER KENT AND MEMBER BLANCHARD.
OKAY, NOW WE'LL OPEN THE WORKSHOP FOR DISCUSSION.
[4. DISCUSSION]
ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC.PUBLIC INPUT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MARINA HARBOR MARINA.
PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND ANNOUNCE WHO YOU ARE AND YOUR ADDRESS AND STATE YOUR COMMENTS.
I'M INVITING ANYONE THAT WANTS TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME.
MR. BLANCHARD, IF WE COULD GET THEM TO FILL OUT A REQUEST TO SPEAK FOR HIM AS WELL.
SAY AGAIN? THEY GOT TO FILL OUT A FORM.
A REQUEST IF THEY HAVEN'T FILLED OUT A FORM, WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE THEM DO THAT.
MORE OF A QUESTION SINCE Y'ALL ARE IN KNOW MORE ABOUT THE MARINA THAN MOST.
WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME OR IS THERE ONE FOR MOVING THE CHANNEL? FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WHAT WE HAD RECOMMENDED AND WANTED WAS A DISESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHANNEL.
FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, WHAT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAS ELECTED TO DO IS TO NOT REALLY ESTABLISH THE CHANNEL, BUT DE ESTABLISH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CHANNEL AND MOVE IT 100FT TO THE WEST.
THE REASON I ASKED IS IN THE FUTURE, WE COULD MOVE.
WELL, NOT I MEAN, THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT MOVING THE DOCKS FROM WHERE THEY ARE MOVING FURTHER NORTH, BUT I'M THINKING THAT IT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL JUST TO ADD DOCKS FURTHER NORTH NOT TO MOVE WHAT WE HAVE.
THAT SEEMS TO BE REDUCING OUR CAPACITY AND CREATING MAYBE CENTERS LIKE A CENTER FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING, ANOTHER CENTER FOR TOURISM ACTIVITIES.
SO EXPANDING IT FURTHER NORTH WITH NEW DOCKAGE WOULD CREATE SPACE FOR MORE TRANSIENT BOATERS, WHICH WOULD INCREASE TOURISM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS A BENEFIT.
AND IT ALSO CREATES MORE DEMAND FOR FUEL.
WELL, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO THE CHOIR ON THAT ONE.
OKAY. ONE, WE KNOW THAT THE DEEPER WATERS TO THE NORTH.
YES, SIR. WE ALSO KNOW THE BIGGEST DEFICIT TO THE MARINA IS THE DREDGING.
AND I THINK MOTHER NATURE KEEPS TELLING US THAT SHE WANTS TO FILL IN THE SOUTH END.
SO WE SHOULD MOVE TO THE NORTH AND EXTEND THE DOCKS TO THE NORTH.
AND IT'S BEEN, WHAT, SINCE THE 1960S, ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAS BEEN TELLING US THE SAME THING.
OF COURSE. SO I, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK HAVING MUD SLIPS CAN BE BENEFICIAL IF, IF A LEASE CAN BE WORKED OUT FOR LONG TERM SLIP HOLDERS SO THAT IF WE GET SOME PEOPLE LIVING ABOARD WHO AREN'T THAT FRIENDLY OR RESPECTFUL OF THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEY CAN BE BOOTED OUT MORE EASILY.
I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK FOR HAVING LONG TERM LIVEABOARDS IS WHAT KIND OF WHAT'S THE WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LIVING ABOARD AND ARE THEY GOING TO BE SUITABLE, YOU KNOW, TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.
RIGHT. YOU KNOW, ARE THEY GOING TO BE PARTYING TILL ALL HOURS? ARE THEY GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, HAVE VICIOUS DOGS, WHATEVER.
SO IN SOME WAYS LIVEABOARDS HELP YOU OUT BECAUSE THEY ACT AS A GUARD, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE AREA AND REPORT IT AS LONG AS THEY'RE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
AND ALSO IT CREATES A STABLE INCOME BASE.
[00:05:01]
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT IN YOUR BUDGET ON A CERTAIN INCOME COMING IN IF YOU HAVE LONG TERM LIVEABOARDS.AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD LIVEABOARDS AND HOW THEY WERE ALWAYS DOWN THERE YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS AGO, WE HAD A LOT OF LIVEABOARDS AND WE ALSO HAD DOCKS FURTHER SOUTH WITH MOSTLY LIVEABOARDS OR PEOPLE WHO WERE ONLY HERE PART TIME AND DIDN'T NEED THEIR BOATS TO HAVE DEEP WATER ACCESS ALL THE TIME.
THEY'D KEEP THEM IN THE CHEAPER SLIPS.
AND THEN WHEN THEY CAME DOWN DURING THE WINTER, THEY'D MOVE THEM TO DEEP WATER SLIPS.
I THINK IT COULD BE WORKED OUT.
SO IT'S STILL PROFITABLE FOR THE MARINA AS AN INCOME SOURCE, SO.
WELL, I DON'T THINK YOU'LL GET A DISAGREEMENT FROM ANYBODY AT THIS BOARD.
SO WE KEEP TRYING TO GET THIS MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.
OKAY. SO THIS IS JUST ME LOOKING AND SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON.
DECADES OF BEING A BUSINESS PERSON AND USING A LITTLE LOGIC.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M JUST PUTTING FORTH.
Y'ALL ARE THE EXPERTS. Y'ALL HAVE THE HOURS IN DOWN THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
WOULD YOU HAND ME THAT FORM? I'LL FILL IT OUT OKAY.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? HELLO, LAWRENCE.
AND HOW ARE YOU TODAY? GOOD. LAWRENCE PIPER, 404 SOUTH 5TH STREET.
THE THE PROPERTY ATLANTIC SEAFOOD BRETT, IS THAT UNDER THE MARINAS? I MEAN, IS THAT PART OF YOUR INCOME OR IS THAT NOT PART OF YOUR INCOME? I THINK THAT WOULD BE BEST ANSWERED BY WE COLLECT THE LEASE.
AND IT IS REGISTERED AS PART OF OUR INCOME.
IT'S NOT MUCH. IT'S VERY, VERY IT'S VERY, VERY LITTLE.
YEAH, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WELL, RIGHT NOW IT'S ZERO FROM FROM BRETT'S OKAY.
AND RIGHT NOW FROM ATLANTIC IT'S SO.
OKAY. SO MY MY IDEA IS NOT A SUGGESTION.
I MEAN, I WAS JUST THROWING STUFF AGAINST THE WALL.
OKAY. I CAN'T EVEN, I CAN'T, I MIGHT I COULD BE EASILY TALKED OUT OF THIS.
OKAY. BUT ASSUMING THAT BRETT'S IS GONE.
SOMEBODY ALREADY MENTIONED ABOUT JUST PUTTING A PAVILION THERE OR WHATEVER.
I QUESTION WHAT WHAT IF THERE WAS A SEAFOOD WHARF RIGHT THERE.
AND YOU'LL SEE IN THIS DRAWING I'M PASSING DOWN THREE, FOUR BUILDINGS THAT KIND OF LINE THAT WHARF.
AND THOSE COULD ALL BE LEASED OUT WITH A GOOD LEASE.
BUT WE KNOW WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM.
AND YOU COULD IMAGINE COMMERCIAL SHRIMP BOATS OR CRABBERS OR COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN PULLING UP TO THAT WHARF TEMPORARILY TO UNLOAD THEIR CATCH.
AND THEY'RE BEING A REAL SEAFOOD MARKET THERE LIKE THERE USED TO BE IN THE 50S AND 60S.
IT WAS OVER ON THE NORTH END OF THE PARKING LOT THERE RAN PERPENDICULAR AND POTENTIAL BAIT SHOP, POTENTIAL GIFT SHOP, POTENTIAL WE ACTUALLY WENT TO DINNER FRIDAY WITH A FRIEND OF MINE THAT CAME IN.
HE GREW UP HERE IN FERNANDINA, WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL HERE.
WE WENT TO CRAB TRAP AND HE ASKED, WHAT'S THAT DOWN DOWN THERE? AND WE SAID, WELL, THAT'S THE PORT.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER THE LITTLE RESTAURANT THAT WAS DOWN THERE NEAR THE PORT, YOU HAD TO EAT OUTDOORS, YOU KNOW, BUT IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN THE AREA, ESPECIALLY FOR LOCALS.
YOU KNOW, YOU GO DOWN THERE AND YOU GET YOUR SEAFOOD AND YOU CAN EAT OUTSIDE.
AND THIS WHARF, I COULD PICTURE A LITTLE DINER TAKE OUT TO WHERE YOU COULD BUY YOUR DINNER AND SIT OUT AND WATCH THE SHRIMP BOAT COME IN, AND THERE MIGHT EVEN BE SOME POTENTIAL LICENSING FEES THAT YOU MIGHT CHARGE THE COMMERCIAL GUYS TO BRING THEIR FOOD IN OR WHATEVER.
[00:10:08]
COULD, YOU KNOW, CHARGE A LEASE TO AND GET MONEY.YOU COULD HAVE THE, THE PAVILION WHERE PEOPLE COULD WALK OUT AND SEE THE SUNSET E VIDENTLY, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL TO FOLKS, YOU KNOW? AND ANYWAY, I WAS JUST TRYING TO THROW STUFF UP AGAINST THE WALL, AND THAT WAS ONE IDEA I CAME UP WITH TO ACTUALLY GET THE SEAFOOD BACK TO OUR AREA YOU KNOW, AND AND AS FAR AS THE SEAFOOD MARKET GOES, I MEAN, THERE'S NOT ONE.
I KNOW. THERE IS NOT A SEAFOOD MARKET.
I MENTIONED IN THE EMAIL TO ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS THAT MY CUSTOMERS THE OTHER DAY WERE, WHERE CAN WE BUY SEAFOOD? THEY SAID THEY WENT INTO ATLANTIC SEAFOOD AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE SELECTION.
THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE LOOKS OF IT.
BUT, I MEAN, THERE'S NOT A SEAFOOD MARKET.
AND, YOU KNOW, I I'VE HEARD BIGGER CITIES.
I HAVEN'T TRAVELED A WHOLE LOT, BUT I'VE HEARD BIGGER CITIES.
THEY HAVE THESE SEAFOOD WHARFS.
I MEAN, IT'S A BIG DEAL DOWN THERE.
YOU GO IN AND, YOU KNOW, SO ACTUALLY, I MR. PIPER, I WAS THINKING SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
I, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA IN CONCEPT.
I VISITED SEVERAL TIMES DOWN THERE WITH CATHY, AND I NOTICED IN THAT LITTLE GENERAL STORE THEY HAVE IN THE OFFICE, I MEAN, AS PEOPLE WOULD COME IN, I MEAN, THEY WOULD LOOK FOR SODAS, THEY WOULD LOOK FOR THOSE SNACKS, THOSE TYPES OF CONVENIENCE THINGS.
BUT WHEN SOME OF THE TRANSIENT BOATERS COME IN THEY BUY A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND SO ADDED TO THIS CONCEPT, THIS LITTLE STORE OR, YOU KNOW, WE COULD OFFER FRESH FISH TO THEM, WE COULD OFFER MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THEM COMMODITIES THAT THEY COULD PICK UP, BUILD IT OUT A LITTLE MORE, SAVE THEM A TRIP OR YOU KNOW, A TRIP TO THE STORE OR USING AN UBER OR HOWEVER THEY GET THEIR FOOD WHEN THEY COME IN.
MAYBE EXPAND IT AND ADD SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK IN CONCEPT, I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.
WELL, I NEVER HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO, I MEAN, LIKE, Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, ATLANTIC SEAFOOD, I MEAN, THAT'S THE THAT'S THE SUBJECT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WATERFRONT PARK AND ALL, YOU KNOW I CAN'T IMAGINE A HUGE RESTAURANT THERE, BUT I COULD IMAGINE A RESTAURANT, THE FOOTPRINT IT IS WITH OUTDOOR SEATING.
AND THEY THEY GO IN AND BUY THEM A SHRIMP BASKET, AND THEY GO OUT ON THE DECK AND AND EAT.
AND THERE'S ANOTHER LEASE RIGHT THERE.
YOU KNOW, THEY COULD COOK THE FRESH FOOD THAT THE SEAFOOD THAT COMES OFF THAT DAY.
YEAH. YEAH. WELL THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
I MEAN I KNOW FOLKS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE, THE VIEW AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BLOCK THE VIEW AND ALL BUT SOME SMALL PLACES LIKE THAT, AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT ANYWAY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
JOE, IS THERE IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT WE KNOW OF THAT WOULD SAY THAT IF WE TEAR DOWN BRETT'S AND REMOVE ALL THOSE PYLONS, THAT THE SILTATION PROBLEM IS GOING TO GO AWAY, IT'S GOING TO STAY THERE, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HAVING THAT SILTATION PROBLEM, THE DYNAMICS OF THE AREA.
AND, AND I, I'VE READ ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS RECENT STORIES OR EMAILS OR LETTERS TO EDITORIAL E DITIONS OF LOCAL PAPER THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IT WAS GOING TO COST US TO TEAR THAT DOWN AND MOVE THE FUEL LINES.
WELL, WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? IF IT'S PART OF THE MARINA, IT'S AN ASSET TO THE MARINA.
IF IF WE CAN REPAIR IT AND HAVE A BETTER LEASE FOR WAY LESS MONEY.
PEOPLE LOVE IT. IT'S AN ASSET TO THE MARINA.
SO WHY ARE WE ON BOARD WITH TEARING DOWN BRETT'S IF IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP OUR SILTATION PROBLEM? AND IT'S GOING TO COST US A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE IT WITH, YOU KNOW, THE LATEST PLAN WAS A VIEWING PLATFORM THAT'S ACTUALLY JUST GOING TO COST US MONEY AND HAVE ZERO RETURN.
AT LEAST WITH BRETT'S, WE GET SOME RETURN.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, PEOPLE.
I THINK PEOPLE COME HERE BECAUSE THEY THAT'S PART OF WHY THEY'RE HERE.
THEY THEY LOVE THAT MARINA AND BRETT'S IS PART OF IT.
BUT WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYTHING FROM BRETT'S RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT LEASE IS GOING TO BE OVER IN 18 MONTHS.
SO WHY DON'T WE THINK ABOUT MAYBE FIXING THAT, SEEING WHAT IT COSTS TO FIX THAT.
AND BUT DO YOU REALLY WANT TO PRESENT A NEW LEASE TO SOMEBODY WHO HASN'T BEEN PAYING THEIR LEASE FOR A WHILE? THAT HAS A LOT OF OF THINGS THAT NOT JUST BRETT'S, BUT THE CITY DAMAGE THOSE PEOPLE BY BY CLAIMING THAT THAT THAT'S UNSAFE.
[00:15:08]
AND THEN WE HAVE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON WHETHER IT'S UNSAFE.IT SURVIVED A HURRICANE WHERE THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE BOARDWALK DID NOT.
CAN WE RENEGOTIATE SOMETHING? SO A CONTRACT WORKS BOTH WAYS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER IT TO BRETT'S.
I'M SAYING WE COULD. YOU COULD PUT IT OUT FOR OPEN BID.
YOU COULD. YOU COULD PUT IT OUT FOR ANYBODY.
BUT FOR US TO TEAR THAT DOWN, AS BEAUTIFUL AND ICONIC AS IT IS AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE MONEY FROM THAT VERSUS TEARING IT DOWN, SPENDING 2 OR $3 MILLION AND THEN TURN IT INTO A NOTHINGNESS OF HAVING JUST A A I ENJOY A VIEWING PLATFORM WITH A DRINK IN MY HAND AND A NICE MEAL AND AN AIR CONDITIONING.
YOUR ISSUE IS AN ENGINEERING ISSUE UNDERNEATH THAT WITH THE PILINGS.
THAT'S THE QUESTION. YEAH. DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT ON HOW IT WOULD COST? IT WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX IT THAN IT WOULD BE TO TEAR IT DOWN.
BUT IF YOU TAKE A TAKE A WAY, STEP BACK.
WE HAVE A MARINA THAT'S NOT SELF-SUSTAINING RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A CAPEX PLAN IF YOU CAN'T EVEN PAY FOR YOUR PRESENT OPERATIONS.
RIGHT. SO THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO BUSINESS CASE TO SOLVE TO WONDERFUL IDEA IS GREAT.
IT MIGHT WORK, BUT WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? THERE'S NO MAGIC FUND MONEY.
WE'RE NOT PAYING OUR BILLS NOW.
I MEAN, WE'RE ONE. WHAT ABOUT $1.3 MILLION? $1.2 MILLION IN A HOLE? WE'RE $1.2 MILLION IN A HOLE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
I THINK THE CITY MANAGER WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
[INAUDIBLE] IN THIS REALM, I'LL DO THE CITY ENGINEER PART.
THE BIGGEST ISSUE THE MARINA HAS IS THE SILTATION, THE SEDIMENTATION.
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE THE WATER DEPTH.
WE'RE DREDGING $1 MILLION A YEAR, SO I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG HIT RIGHT THERE.
SO IT'S $60 SOMETHING DOLLARS A YARD, WHICH IF WE HAD A DISPOSAL AREA WOULD BE MORE LIKE TEN.
SO THAT'S THE BIG ISSUE THERE.
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THE WATER DEPTH AT THE MARINA WHERE BRETT'S IS FOR FOR SHRIMP BOATS AND ANYBODY TO DOCK THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE GONE HALF, HALF A DAY BECAUSE IT'S JUST IT'S JUST MUD.
AND IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT COMES FROM THE SOUTH.
IF YOU DO TEAR DOWN BRETT'S, IT WILL HELP SOME.
BUT THE ISSUE WITH THE BRETT'S DEAL IS WE GOT TO TEAR IT DOWN ANYWAY, BECAUSE IF IT GOES AT THE COST OF REPAIR, GOES MORE THAN 30% OF THE OF THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THAT STRUCTURE.
THAT THAT SUBSTRUCTURE IS UNSAFE.
THERE'S TWO BIG PIECES OF CONCRETE THAT FELL OFF THEM, THE BOTTOM OF IT THIS WEEK.
NOW, THEY WEREN'T STRUCTURAL SUPPORTING, BUT IT'S JUST AN INDICATION OF THE CONTINUED DETERIORATION.
IF WE IF WE WANT TO BUILD A RESTAURANT BACK, WE'D STILL HAVE TO TEAR THIS ONE DOWN.
SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SAVE THAT DEMOLITION COST.
NOW WHAT YOU WANT TO PUT BACK AFTERWARDS.
THAT'S UP TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
A PAVILION IF YOU WANT TO PUT BACK, LIKE YOU SAY, STORES, RESTAURANTS, BARS, WHATEVER.
THAT'S UP. THAT'S OUT OF MY MY DEAL.
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TEAR DOWN BRETT'S TO FIX IT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET UNDER THERE WITH THAT LACK OF AIRSPACE BETWEEN THE WATER AND THE BOTTOM AND THE LACK OF WATER DEPTH TO PUT ANYTHING IN THERE TO FIX THAT, THAT STRUCTURE, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT.
THAT WAS THE WHOLE REASON IT NEVER GOT DONE IS BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T GET IN THERE AND DO IT.
YOU'VE GOT TO BASICALLY TAKE THOSE CAPS OUT.
YOU GOT TO BRACE THEM UNDERNEATH AND POUR NEW CAPS.
AND IT WAS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHEN WE ESTIMATED IT.
SO THAT'S WHY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
SO I KIND OF WANTED TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.
THE BIGGEST THING THE MARINES GOT IS THE DREDGING PROBLEM AND MOVING THE CHANNEL TO THE NORTH.
AND WE CAN'T WE STRUGGLE WITH $1 MILLION OF DREDGING A YEAR.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO MOVE THE DOCKS? BUT CONTINUING ALONG THE LINE WE ARE IN NOW, ALL WE'RE GOING TO DO IS CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE DEBT BECAUSE OF THE DREDGING.
[00:20:01]
THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE IF I HAD TO SAY SO, I WOULD SAY, LET THE SOUTH AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO EAT THAT COST.BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL A BIG COST.
WOULD A DEBT PAYMENT, THOUGH, BE COST MORE THAN THE DREDGING DOES NOW? THAT'S, THAT'S. I'D HAVE TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
YEAH, YOU COULD IF YOU KEEP CARRYING, YOU KNOW, YOUR BUDGET EVERY YEAR FOR, FOR DREDGING THEN.
YEAH. YOU COULD EVENTUALLY START DOING THAT FOR, FOR THAT.
YEAH. BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW FAR YOU CAN TAKE THE DOCKS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE OUT IN FRONT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY IF YOU GO TOO FAR OUT THERE AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A SAY SO ABOUT DOCKS [INAUDIBLE].
GETTING BACK TO THAT, THE 30% OF THE VALUE OF THE OF THE PROPERTY, DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT IS? DO WE REALLY KNOW. DO WE HAVE AN IDEA WHAT WHAT THAT PROPERTY IS WORTH AND WHERE THAT WHERE THAT NUMBER WOULD FALL.
SO 30% TO BRING EVERYTHING TO CODE, I MEAN, EVEN EVERYTHING IS IS A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER.
I MEAN, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK, I DON'T HAVE THAT.
OR JUST MORE JUST MARSH OR JUST MARSH.
CREATE MARSH, YOU KNOW WETLANDS WELL.
YOU KNOW, SO IT'S SLOWLY SINKING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WITH FILL.
AND THEY, YOU SEE THEM BRING IN A WAHOO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND EVERYBODY GETS ALL EXCITED.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER DEPTH, CLOSE, CLOSE PROXIMITY.
YOU'D BE ANCHORING ON THE WAVE ATTENUATOR AND HAULING YOUR STUFF IN THAT WAY.
AND IT'S JUST THAT DOESN'T SEEM PRACTICAL TO ME.
HOW HOW FAR NORTH CAN WE GO UNTIL WE START ENCROACHING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY? WELL, WE GOT DOCKS OUT NORTH ALREADY, SO WE PROBABLY COULD GO MAYBE 80 MORE FEET AT THE MOST.
YEAH. SO THAT'S THAT'S A BIG COST TOO.
IF WE DID THAT, COULD COULD WE, INSTEAD OF HAVING THE BOATS PARKED LENGTHWAYS ALONG THE DOCKS, COULD WE HAVE THEM? YOU MEAN THIS WAY? YEAH. I THINK THAT'S THE WAY THEY WERE.
AND THAT REALLY CAUSED MORE SILTATION THAN IT CAUSED.
NO, NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT WHERE IT IS. I'M TALKING IF WE IF WE BUILT 80FT THAT WAY MIC]. YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S A TOUGH THAT'S A TOUGH ANCHORING WHEN YOU'RE COMING AGAINST OUTGOING CURRENTS.
WELL WE GOT THEM INTO OUR PROPERTY RIGHT.
AND IS THERE ANY THOUGHT OF THE PROPERTIES FURTHER TO THE NORTH.
ALL THE WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE WATERFRONT DESIGN, WE WERE TALKING TO ALL THOSE ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED TO JOIN, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PUTTING ANYTHING ON THEIR PROPERTY. IS IT WORTH LOOKING AT? OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'D BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD.
IS IT WORTH BUILDING ANOTHER RESTAURANT THERE OR SOMETHING THERE THAT WOULD GIVE US SOME REAL RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT? WELL, I THINK I THINK THAT'S AN OPTION.
I THINK IT JUST YOU JUST GOT TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND WHO'S GOING TO BE WILLING TO DO IT.
AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE THE NEW ATLANTIC SEAFOOD.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S SOME STRUGGLING ON THE ON THE FEASIBILITY OF THAT.
JUST WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S GOTTEN KIND OF GOTTEN QUIET.
SO I THINK THAT'S A HARD SELL.
SO YOU'D HAVE A BULKHEAD, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE UP REAL CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXISTING.
[00:25:01]
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS THING PAY FOR ITSELF IS TO QUIT DREDGING AND MOVE THINGS TO THE NORTH. WE JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT MR. PIPER CAME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, TO PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE OTHER THAN A RESTAURANT, A LARGE RESTAURANT WOULD BE MORE INEXPENSIVE TO BUILD A SUBSTRUCTURE UNDER THAT KIND OF A DOCK OR A WHARF THAN IT WOULD BE TO PUT A RESTAURANT OUT THERE.
SO PLUS, I DON'T THINK NOWADAYS DEP WILL LET YOU PUT A SEWER LINE OUT OVER THE WATER EITHER.
I'D HAVE TO CHECK ON THAT AGAIN.
AND IF I GET A CHANCE, I'LL COME HARASS YOU IN YOUR OFFICE.
SO THAT IS I MEAN, THE CORPS WASHINGTON, D.C.
HEADQUARTERS HAS APPROVED THE CHANNEL REALIGNMENT.
SO THEY ARE STILL GOING FORWARD.
THE THE ICW INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY AND THE FEDERAL CHANNEL DO NOT EXACTLY COINCIDE.
NOW I KNOW THAT THE MOORING FIELD HAS SOME BUOYS THAT ARE INSIDE THE CHANNEL.
NOW, WHEN THE CHANNEL GETS MOVED 100FT TO THE WEST.
WELL, THE CORPS HAS AGREED BECAUSE I ACTUALLY TALKED TO THE CORPS.
THEY SAID WE CAN KEEP THEM THERE IF THEY HAVE TO DO ANY DREDGING OR ANY MAINTENANCE OF THAT CHANNEL.
WE HAVE TO TEMPORARILY MOVE THE MOORINGS SO THEY CAN DO IT AND WE CAN PUT THEM BACK.
THEY HAVE AGREED TO LEAVE THE MOORING.
YEAH. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THERE'S NO REASON.
THE ONE THING THEY SAID IS THE ONLY THING WE WOULD HAVE TO DO AS A CITY.
WE'D HAVE TO PULL UP OUR, OUR BUOYS SO THAT THEY COULD DO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO.
BUT THEN WE COULD PUT THEM BACK IN THE SAME LOCATION.
OKAY. SO WE'RE SAFE ON WE'RE SAFE ON THE FIELD.
OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
YEAH. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE WORKGROUP? MR. [INAUDIBLE] HEY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PAUL LOWRY, 11 SOUTH 7TH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, 32034.
FOR ME, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT HERE FOR SINCE 2016-17, AND I'M JUST SEEING THAT MARINA JUST GET TOSSED AROUND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
IT IT JUST I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO BE THE STEPCHILD OF THE OF THE CITY.
IT'S IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF REAL ESTATE ON THIS ISLAND.
I MEAN, IT'S GOT EVERY ICONIC FEELING.
AND IT'S JUST NOT A FEELING THAT'S NOT TANGIBLE.
SOMEBODY, THE CITY MANAGER OR THE COMMISSIONERS OR SOMEBODY OR SOMEBODY HERE AT THE BOARD.
HOW DOES CENTER STREET PAY FOR ITSELF? HOW DOES ASH STREET PAY FOR ITSELF? DOES IT? DOES THE SHAVE BRIDGE PAY FOR ITSELF? THAT'S PAID THROUGH TAXES.
BUT YET WE BEAT THAT MARINA UP DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
AND AGAIN, I YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHY.
IT'S JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY.
SO MY SUGGESTION, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A IF IT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION, I'M SURE THERE'LL BE GIGGLES AND LAUGHS AND SMIRKS, YOU KNOW, BEHIND ME AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHATEVER IT IS.
BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE PRESERVATION OF THAT AREA SEEMS TO BE WHAT THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE.
IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO PAY FOR ITSELF.
ALL OF US THAT LIVE HERE THROUGH MY QUALITY OF LIFE, I USE IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
AND SO AS A RESIDENT, I LOVE IT.
AND I HAVEN'T FELT ANY PAIN FROM THAT MARINA THROUGH MY THROUGH MY TAXES BECAUSE I USE IT.
AND SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, I DON'T USE IT.
[00:30:10]
BENEFIT OFF OF IT.YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO STOP BEATING IT UP AND EMBRACING IT AND JUST LOVING IT AND TREASURING IT FOR FOR WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE GOING TO BE GONE AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO PASS IT ON.
AND THAT'S STEWARDSHIP IS IS CRITICAL.
SO WHY NOT LOOK AT THE MARINA IN A NONPROFIT SENSE? WHY NOT? AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH MY WORDS HERE, BECAUSE I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A WATER PARK OR ANY KIND OF PARK OR, YOU KNOW, THE BELLS AND WHISTLES.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING TO SEAL THAT PROPERTY AS EITHER A CITY, STATE, NATIONAL, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, I'M NOW AN OWNER OF A HISTORIC HOME, SO I TAKE THAT STEWARDSHIP OF TRYING TO PRESERVE THAT HOME.
ALL OF US ARE CITIZENS OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
WE ALL HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE THAT PROPERTY.
IT SHOULD BE VIOLATIONS ON THE PROPERTY.
THOSE VIOLATIONS SHOULD PAY FOR THE DREDGING.
I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO, IF WE WANT TO KEEP BEATING EVERYTHING UP.
BUT THAT TO GO BACK IN THE PAST IS, IS JUST A WASTE OF TIME.
HAVE TO SEE WHAT'S HERE IN THE FUTURE.
AND THE IDEA OF PUTTING SOMETHING OVER AND REPLACE THE BRETT'S IS GREAT.
WHY NOT KEEP A LITTLE STRUCTURE AS THERE IS NOW AT ATLANTIC SEAFOOD, RIGHT? TO RECREATE THE LITTLE ATLANTIC SEAFOOD, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ANYTHING BIG, RIGHT.
THAT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BUILDING, A LITTLE BIG HISTORIC BUILDING, RIGHT.
PRESERVE THAT. NOT THAT I KNOW THAT STRUCTURE IS UNSAFE.
WHETHER IT BE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A FISH MARKET, ANOTHER RESTAURANT, A CO-OP OR SOMETHING THAT COULD JUST GENERATE BACK JUST TO SUSTAIN THAT BEAUTIFUL, YOU KNOW, THAT BEAUTIFUL AREA.
WELL, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT JUST THE TAX REVENUE THAT YOU SEE FROM BRETT'S OR THE ACTUAL REVENUE THAT YOU SEE FROM THE MARINA, COMES EVEN CLOSE TO IDENTIFYING ALL OF THE REVENUE THAT THAT THAT IS WORTH TO US.
AND HE GAVE ME THIS REALLY INTERESTING HANDOUT THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THAT ANGLERS AND PEOPLE IN NEXT TO THE WATER SPEND. ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS WAS MORE AMERICANS FISH THAN PLAY GOLF 23.8 MILLION AND TENNIS 18.1 MILLION COMBINED.
MORE PEOPLE GO RECREATIONAL FISHING THAN THAN BOWL OR PLAY BASKETBALL OR SOFTBALL OR SOCCER.
THE POINT IS THAT THAT THAT MARINA AND THE CHARTER CAPTAINS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DOWN THERE, THOSE PEOPLE COME DOWN HERE TO GO FISHING AND USE THAT MARINA, AND THEY BRING THEIR FAMILIES THERE.
THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THAT BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY ALL THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN FROM THE WATERWAY.
IT MAY OPERATE AT A DEFICIT FOREVER ON PAPER, BUT IT IS NOT A DEFICIT.
IT IS A JEWEL OF THIS COMMUNITY AND IT SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE THAT.
AND I'LL END WITH THIS THOUGHT.
SO A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO, I WROTE IN FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE TO HERE, 75 MILES, 35 HOURS LATER, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHT THAT I SAW WAS COMING UP TO THE PORT, PASSING SALTY PELICAN, LOOKING AT A BEAUTIFUL MOORING FIELD IN SOME.
I THINK WE'RE OUTSIDE OF IT ON FREE ANCHOR, BUT IT WAS CROWDED.
IT WAS JUST A REALLY BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.
SO FOR ME THAT PAYS FOR ITSELF.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT PAUL.
[00:35:06]
2116 CEDAR STREET.I'M IF CHIP ROSS IS RIGHT, I'M ONE OF THE LAST TWO OWNERS IN THIS MARINA HAVING HIS AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY.
I'M THE OTHER, YOU HAVE THE OTHER ONE.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE AFTER WE ALL MOVED BACK HERE FROM ALL THE MARINAS AROUND THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD KIND OF BE WELCOME.
BUT THEN THE CITY GAVE THE CONTRACT TO OASIS, AND WITHIN SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME, ALL THE RATES WERE ALMOST DOUBLED.
AND NOW I ASK YOU, SO WE LIVE.
I LIVE SINCE THREE YEARS WITH A DOUBLED RATE.
IS THAT HAS THAT SAVED THE MARINA OR ARE WE STILL AT THE SAME DISCUSSION? YOU'RE STILL AT THE SAME DISCUSSION.
I READ THE PEOPLE SHOULD PAY MORE IF THEY HAVE THE LUXURY.
WELL, MY LUXURY IS AN 87 YEAR OBLIGATION, YOU KNOW.
SO THAT'S WAS NOT SEVEN YEAR OLD.
SO I LOVE THE PLACE I CAME HERE FROM PENNSYLVANIA, I'M FROM GERMANY.
I'VE WORKED OVER THE WORLD, I CAME HERE, I LIKED IT SO MUCH, I STAYED HERE.
SO MY SIMPLE I HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION.
WHEN OUR THE PARENTS, THE GRANDPARENTS WHEN THEY COULD AFFORD TO PUT A MARINA HERE, WHY THE HELL CAN WE NOT MAINTAIN IT? WERE THEY MORE CLEVER THAN WE ARE? I DON'T KNOW.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
I MEAN IF YOU LOOK, IF I LOOK FROM THE BOAT ON THE LAND, I MEAN, IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
WHERE ALL THE NEW OYSTER BANKS ARE AND SO ON.
BUT AS AN ENGINEER FROM THE SHORE AT LEAST TO THE FIRST FLOATING DOCK, MAYBE EVEN TO THE SECOND FLOATING DOCK THAT HAS TO BE DREDGED EVERY YEAR, $1 MILLION.
WHY, IF WE BUILT A NEW SEAWALL, WHY DON'T WE MOVE THE WHOLE SEAWALL INTO THE RIVER? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS IF THAT IS GETS A PERMIT OR NOT, BUT WE ARE HERE FOR IDEAS.
THAT'S MY. IF I LOOK AT THIS IN THE EVENING, MY WIFE AGREES WITH IT.
WE SAY, YEAH, THERE SHOULD BE THE MARINA AND THEN IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED INTO THE RIVER.
I THINK IF BUILD THEM FURTHER OUT AND THEN HAVE FOR INSTANCE I'M ON ON THE, ON THE [INAUDIBLE] DOCK AND THE [INAUDIBLE] DOCK IS THE [INAUDIBLE] DOCK, I THINK.
AND THEN SO AT LEAST MAKE THE WALL AT THE [INAUDIBLE] DOCK OR EVEN.
BUT THAT HAS TO BE DREDGED BETWEEN THE G AND E NO TWO.
AND THAT WOULD BE JUST A BIGGER IDEA.
IT'S NOT WILL NOT SAVE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT IT IS LIKE THINKING, THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE.
AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, KATHY AND HER CREW FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THEY ARE DOING.
AND I AND I TRY TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT BACK.
SOMETIMES I'M EXCHANGING BARBS ON MY OWN COST.
[00:40:02]
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD IN HERE BROUGHT UP A QUESTION YEARS AGO.
A SEVERAL CITY COMMISSIONS AGO.
THEY SEPARATED THE MARINA OPERATIONS FROM THE LAND.
I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE IF IF THE LAND PART LOTS A, B, C, AND D ARE SEPARATE FROM THE MARINA AND BRETT'S IS TIED TO THE SHORE, THEN I THINK THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THE CITY'S PURVIEW, NOT THE MARINA'S PURVIEW.
WELL, THAT THE THE LAND PART OF THE MARINA IS UNDER PARKS AND RECS.
OKAY. THAT WAS THAT WAS A DECISION MADE BY THE CITY COMMISSIONERS.
NOW, AS FAR AS HOW THEY HANDLED ATLANTIC SEAFOOD AND HOW THEY HANDLED BRETT'S, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M NOT POSITIVE HOW THAT REALLY WORKS. OKAY, MAYBE I OUGHT TO BE, BUT I'M NOT.
BRETT'S ONE THING THAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT ALL OF IT IS THIS.
THAT IS CITY PROPERTY WHERE BRETT'S IS LOCATED AND WHERE IT'S ATLANTIC SEAFOOD.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRUTH, MY UNDERSTANDING, AND THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY ENGINEER, WHOEVER HE, YOU KNOW, THAT PERSON IS COULD CORRECT ME, BUT IN THE LEASE YOU'RE RIGHT, THE LEASE HOLDERS, WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM THE RESTAURANT, THE LEASE HOLDERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE, BUT THE SOME OF THE STRUCTURE WAS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
AND THAT THAT FOUNDATION IS GONE OVER 20 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN KAYAKING UNDERNEATH THAT AT LOW TIDE.
AND THE CITY ENGINEER WAS CORRECT BECAUSE I WATCHED PEOPLE GO UNDER THERE.
BUT I'VE SEEN MASSIVE HOLES IN THERE WITH REBAR COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH.
AND WHAT HOLDS? YOU KNOW, YOU'RE AN ENGINEER.
WHAT HOLDS THE THE CEMENT TOGETHER WITH CONCRETE AND REBAR AND WITH SALT.
YEAH. AND MARINE CONCRETE HAS A SHELF LIFE AND OURS.
OUR, THAT FOUNDATION WAS FINISHED, I THINK, IN 61 OR 62.
AS FAR AS, AS WHAT MR. PIPER SAID, I MEAN, I'VE TRAVELED A LITTLE BIT.
I LIVED IN ENGLAND, I'VE LIVED IN CALIFORNIA, I'VE SEEN FOOD WHARFS THAT WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL FOR SO MANY DECADES.
I, I USED TO GO THERE 30 YEARS AGO.
I MEAN, SWAMPED, AND THEY HAD FRESH SEAFOOD.
AND THEN THEY THROW IT ACROSS TO THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD COOK IT RIGHT ACROSS THE AISLE.
YOU'D PICK OUT YOUR SEAFOOD AND THEN THEY'D COOK IT RIGHT THERE.
AND YOU EAT ON CONCRETE TABLES.
AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, JUST BEFORE I THINK, 2019, JUST BEFORE 2020, COVID, THEY REINVESTED INTO THAT THAT SUBSTANTIAL SUM THAT I MENTIONED.
YOU MENTIONED, SIR, THE VENTURA PROPERTY, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT LOCATION TO CREATE MR. [INAUDIBLE] VISION BECAUSE IT COULD BE LAND BASED.
AND THAT WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE OUR COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN COULD TIE UP IN DEEP WATER AND OFFLOAD.
IT'S JUST WE HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX A LITTLE BIT.
AND AS FAR AS WHAT PAUL SAID AND WHAT MR. SHARP SAID WE HAVE A WE HAVE A JEWEL HERE.
AND I HAVE SAID TO CITY COMMISSIONERS FOR YEARS THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO RUN IT LIKE A BUSINESS, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SOME MARKETING BUDGET.
AND THAT, MARINA, IS OUR MARKETING BUDGET.
THE MONEY WE THROW INTO THAT HOLE IN THE WATER.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU OWN A BOAT, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS THROWING MONEY IN A HOLE.
[00:45:05]
OF A RESTAURANT THAT WAS RIGHT UP HERE ACROSS FROM PATIO PLACE.FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS, FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS.
AND I ASKED TOURISTS, PEOPLE COMING BY.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY? AND THEY WOULD SAY, THEY WOULD MENTION, BESIDES THE BEACHES, THEY WOULD MENTION THE THE PORT BECAUSE IT WAS SO BUSY BACK THEN, 20 YEARS AGO, 21 YEARS AGO, IT HAD LIVEABOARDS ALL KINDS OF LIVEABOARD [INAUDIBLE] WAS THERE WITH HIS THREE CHIHUAHUAS RUNNING OFF THE HOUSEBOAT.
WE HAD, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COMMERCIAL FISHING BOATS COMING IN AND OUT OF THERE.
WE HAD CHARTER BOATS LIKE CRAZY.
WE HAD TRANSIENTS FILLING UP THE PLACE EVERY WEEKEND, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT.
I LOVE OUR MARINA, I LOVE IT, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT VIBRANT LIKE IT WAS.
AND I DON'T LIKE PAYING AS MUCH AS I DO IN TAXES, I REALLY DON'T.
BUT I IF PART OF MY MONEY GOES INTO THAT MARINA, I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I USED TO HANG OUT AT MONTEREY, AT THE WHARF.
IF WE DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME, IT MIGHT EXCEED 30% OF THE COST.
MY QUESTION IS, IS IT POSSIBLE? IS IT FEASIBLE? CAN IT BE DONE? AND DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT WOULD BE? YEAH. WE LOOKED THE LAST BIG STRUCTURAL EVALUATION WE DID.
WE HAD THE CONSULTANT COME UP WITH WHAT A REPAIR WOULD BE AND WHAT YOU'D END UP HAVING TO DO TO BRACE THE STRUCTURE UP, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING PILES AND YOU START DRIVING PILES AND SHALLOW WATER, MUD.
IT'S GOING TO CREATE VIBRATION ON AN ALREADY DAMAGED STRUCTURE.
YOU'D END UP HAVING TO DRIVE A CLUSTER OF PILES WAY OUTSIDE OF THE FOOTPRINT.
AND IT'S AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF YOU HAVE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE FROM WHEN THE [INAUDIBLE] WAS THERE THAT THEN THEY PUT A NEW SUPERSTRUCTURE ON TOP OF THAT FOR THE NEW RESTAURANT. AND THEN THE RESTAURANT WILL STICK BUILT.
SO I MEAN ANY KIND OF VIBRATION LIKE THAT IS GOING TO I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WE'D BE ALLOWED TO BUILD SOMETHING OUT THERE AGAIN LIKE THAT.
EVEN IF WE REPLACED ALL THOSE PYLONS, THEY PROBABLY.
IT MAY BE A SMALLER VERSION OF IT JUST BECAUSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE SIZE OF IT.
BUT I ALWAYS ENVISIONED PART OF THAT BEING LIKE A SNACK BAR, A LITTLE HAVING A LITTLE THING WHERE YOU COULD GET, YOU KNOW, FINGER FOODS AND DRINKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, NOT JUST SOME OPEN DEAL WITH PICNIC TABLES AND CHAIRS.
RIGHT. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT MY THOUGHT WAS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T GONE ANYWHERE WITH IT BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE WE ARE YET.
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THAT.
OH, YOU MEAN DOWN ON THE SOUTH END? YES. NEVER GOING TO LET YOU FILL THAT MUCH.
AND EVEN IF THEY DID, YOU'D BE PUTTING FILL ON TOP OF GOOP, WHICH IT WOULD NEVER STABILIZE, WOULDN'T STABLE, YOU'D HAVE TO PUT YOU'D HAVE TO BASICALLY BUILD A LEAVING PLATFORM WITH TIMBER PILES LIKE A PLATFORM UNDERNEATH SUBSURFACE AND THEN PUT FILL ON TOP OF THAT.
THAT'S SO I MEAN, IT'S JUST IT'S GOING TO EVENTUALLY GO BACK INTO A MARSH ANYWAY.
THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT IT WANTS TO BE.
AND THIS IS THE GREASIEST GOOFIEST MARSH I'VE EVER SEEN IN 40 YEARS.
QUESTION. HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT ASKING THE COUNTY TO HELP US WITH THIS MARINA? NOW, HERE'S THE REASON I HAVE NOT I HAVE NOT OKAY, HERE'S THE REASON I ASKED.
OKAY. WE, THE CITY RESIDENTS, PAY THE COUNTY THE SAME TAX AS COUNTY RESIDENTS, BUT WE HAVE A BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THEY HAVE A BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT AND WE CAN'T EVER USE THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
SO WE'RE PAYING FOR SOMETHING WE CAN'T USE.
THEREFORE, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT WOULD BE KIND OF NORMAL TO ASK THE COUNTY TO SAY, HEY, HELP US WITH OUR MARINA BECAUSE THE COUNTY USES OUR MARINA TOO, JUST LIKE THE COUNTY USES THE GOLF COURSE.
AND THE PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND THAT ARE IN THE COUNTY ARE USING THE GOLF COURSE.
[00:50:09]
COUNTY TO HELP SUPPORT OUR MARINA.YEAH. UNTIL RECENTLY, I MEAN, YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH THE TWO ENTITIES WORKING TOGETHER.
SO YEAH, THEY DON'T HELP WITH A LOT OF STUFF.
BUT MY POINT IS WE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO ADDRESS.
AND I'M GOING TO TRY DOING THAT, SEE IF I CAN GET THEM TO HEY, I'LL TAKE ANY HELP I CAN GET.
YES. BUT YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE THING.
I DON'T KNOW IF A MARINA THAT EVER HAS BEEN.
BUT WHAT? SO, I MEAN, THE CITY.
YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE HELPING PAY THAT DREDGING.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUTTING THAT IN THAT BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
REPAIRS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE DIFFERENT BOARDWALKS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE BUDGET.
I MEAN, THERE'S PEOPLE LIVING ON FLETCHER THAT DON'T HAVE A BOAT THAT HELP PAYING FOR IT.
SO THERE IS THERE IS SOME OF THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS SOME TIME IN THE PAST.
COMMISSIONER ROSS SENT AN EMAIL TO ME RECENTLY THAT THAT SAID THAT THERE WERE SOME INTERESTED PARTIES THAT WOULD REBUILD A RESTAURANT THERE FOR US, AT NO COST TO THE CITY. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH? YES. YEAH. THAT WAS THAT WAS EARLY ON WHEN WE FIRST STARTED LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM WITH BRETT'S.
AND IT JUST IT DIDN'T GET ANY LEGS WITH THE REST OF THE COMMISSION.
BUT BUT THAT'S A POSSIBLE YOU STILL HAVE THE CONTACT INFORMATION.
IT COULD BE DONE BY PRIVATE INDUSTRY RIGHT THERE.
YEAH. IT'S JUST YOU HAVE TO JUST BE SMART ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE THE LEASE, THE LEASE DEALS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOTTEN BURNED BY THE LEASE DEALS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'D BE LEASING THE PROPERTY TO THEM.
THE DIFFICULTY IS, DO YOU WANT THEM TO BUILD THE YOU KNOW, YOU WANT THAT PERSON TO BECAUSE I RAN INTO THIS BEFORE I HAD A CLIENT THAT HAD A WATERFRONT PROPERTY THAT HE WANTED TO HE HAD HIS RESTAURANT DOWN THERE, AND THEN HE WANTED THE THE TENANT TO BUILD THE NEW BUILDING.
I DEFINITELY THINK DOWN ON 101 NORTH FRONT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.
BUT I MEAN THAT JUST DRIVES THE COST UP.
YOU'RE RIGHT. MOST, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BUILD A RESTAURANT, THE LAND'S ALREADY THERE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO DO MUCH TO IT HERE.
YOU'VE GOT TO, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT MUD, WATER AND EVERYTHING ELSE FACTORS INTO THE COST OF THAT STUFF.
BUT YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
SURE. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BOARD MEMBERS IT'S GETTING NEAR THE END OF THIS TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START OUR MEETING ONE MORE SPEAKER IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT TO MAKE.
ONE OTHER COMMENT YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE COUNTY.
CITY MANAGER AND THE COMMISSIONERS.
AND IF MAYBE YOU GUYS OUGHT TO NOT THINK ABOUT SOME SORT OF SUMMIT WITH THE COUNTY AND THE TDC AND GET YOU ALL ALL IN A ROOM AND BEGIN TO TRY TO MAKE SOME LONG TERM PLANNING ABOUT THAT WHOLE AREA DOWN THERE.
COINCIDENTALLY, CITY COMMISSIONER ROSS SENT ME AN EMAIL ASKING ME WHAT HOW I FELT ABOUT THE PARKING.
WE WERE AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
IT WAS A CRA MEETING THE OTHER DAY.
AND ONE COMMISSIONER STURGIS, I THINK MR. STURGIS BROUGHT UP ABOUT POSSIBLY PURCHASING THIS THIS PROPERTY OVER HERE, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD IDEA.
YOU KNOW THEY NEED TO NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
BUT FRIDAY, WHEN WE CAME DOWN TO EAT DINNER I WAS EVEN AMAZED.
AND I LIVE HERE AS TO HOW MUCH HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE DOWNTOWN.
UNBELIEVABLE. JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
AND I GOT. I'VE BEEN THINKING ON MR. ROSS'S EMAIL, YOU KNOW, HOW TO RESPOND TO HIM.
AND I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? IF THEY IF THEY WERE EVEN TO BUY THAT AND IF THEY COULD AFFORD A PARKING GARAGE, EVEN IF YOU COULD AFFORD THAT, THEN ALL I
[00:55:07]
MEAN, YOU'VE GOT DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DOWN HERE.AND I JUST KIND OF WONDER WHEN IS ENOUGH? ENOUGH. WHEN IS ENOUGH? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU PACK DOWN HERE? WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP THEM. THEY'RE COMING.
WELL, I KNOW, BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN EVEN IF YOU WERE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT PARKING GARAGE, AFFORD TO BUY IT, AFFORD TO BUILD IT, NOT NOT A PARKING GARAGE WASN'T MENTIONED, BUT SAY IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE PUT PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP.
ADDING MORE AND MORE AND MORE AND MORE AND MORE.
I MEAN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS I WAS AGAINST THE WATERFRONT PARK.
I KNOW IF YOU CAN FIND A PARKING GARAGE, THERE'LL BE MORE PEOPLE COMING BECAUSE THEY'LL FILL THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD, YOU THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE TDC FOLKS, WHOEVER RUN ALL OF THAT ALL IN ONE ROOM, AND YOU CAME UP WITH A PLAN.
YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN THINKING THAT THE THE TDC SHOULD START WORKING TOWARDS MAKING THE AREA BETTER RATHER THAN HAVING MORE PEOPLE COME AND MAKE IT A MAKE IT THE BEST EXPERIENCE YOU COULD EVER HAVE, INSTEAD OF MORE PEOPLE AND MORE PEOPLE AND MORE PEOPLE AND MORE PEOPLE.
I MEAN, YALL HAVE SEEN SOME OF MY EDITORIALS ABOUT THE, THE MAKING IT LIKE SAINT AUGUSTINE.
IMAGINE, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, TEN YEARS, I KNOW IT.
WHOEVER MENTIONED GET EVERYBODY, GET THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND GET THEM INVOLVED.
AND I THINK YOU NEED TO INCLUDE THE TDC BECAUSE THEY'RE ON A DIFFERENT PAGE, YOU KNOW.
THANK YOU. WELL, HISTORICALLY THERE'S BEEN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE COUNTY, THE CITY AND THE PORT.
AND FOR SOME REASON, NONE OF THESE THREE GROUPS CAN EVER WORK TOGETHER.
I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT FOR SOME REASON CAN'T.
AND YET WE, THE TAXPAYER, ARE PAYING THE SALARIES FOR ALL THREE GROUPS.
SO YOU THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RUNNING THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLIC SERVANTS, IT SEEMS TO BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S AN EDITORIAL OF MINE.
SO I'M SORRY TO SAY IT, I'M GOING TO ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD BEFORE I CLOSE WHEN WE START OUR NEXT MEETING? YEAH. I HAVE A FINAL COMMENT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING TODAY.
I THINK THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE WANTED TO HEAR SOME IDEAS.
I HEARD SOME DIFFERENT IDEAS TONIGHT AND SOME PRETTY INTERESTING ONES.
IN CONCEPT, I THINK THERE'S SOME VALIDITY TO THEM.
I TOO BELIEVE IT'S A JEWEL AND BELIEVE IN KEEPING IT AS A AS WE HAVE IT.
AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM HAVING MY TAX TAXES SUBSIDIZE IN SOME FORM.
IT NEEDS TO BE GENERATING AND OR MAKING MONEY RATHER.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE GOAL.
SO IT SHOULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
AND I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
BUT AT SOME PART I THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE SUBSIDIZED FROM THE CITY, THEN I THINK THIS, THIS COMMUNITY GETS A BIG GETS A LOT OF I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR BENEFIT FROM HAVING IT THERE, JUST LIKE MR. MOORE TALKED ABOUT.
SO IT'S KIND OF ALL I WANT TO SAY.
THANK YOU. YEAH, I GOT SOMETHING, TOO.
SO. SO WE'VE HEARD A BUNCH OF IDEAS TO TO OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT MAKING THIS A GOING BUSINESS.
SO IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE A GOING BUSINESS OKAY.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S OUT THE WINDOW WITH THE DEFICIT THEY HAVE THEY HAVE TO CHARGE $100 A FOOT.
DON'T HAVE A HEART ATTACK TO BE ABLE TO TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT A MONTH.
SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE CAN MAKE IT A BETTER BUSINESS, RIGHT?
[01:00:03]
WE CAN TRY TO MAKE IT A BETTER BUSINESS, WHICH IS A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS.AND THEN [INAUDIBLE] HIS INTRINSIC VALUE, KIND OF S TEWARDSHIP MAKES YOU THINK THAT, OKAY, MAYBE WE'RE WE CONTINUE TO BE SUBSIDIZED BY THE CITY AND LEAN TOWARDS MAKING IT A BETTER BUSINESS.
BUT I JUST WONDER HOW TO GET THAT.
I'M A BUSINESSMAN, SO I COULDN'T COULDN'T OPERATE A BUSINESS THIS WAY.
RIGHT. BUT THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY A BUSINESS.
BUT HOW DO HOW DO YOU CAPTURE THAT? OH, YOU ALL HERE ARE WILLING TO PAY YOUR TAXES.
HOW ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE OUT THERE? ARE THEY WILLING TO PAY THEIR TAXES? AND HOW WOULD YOU CAPTURE THAT? IT COULD BE THAT THE THE IMMINENT DEMISE OF BRETT'S, IF IN FACT, IT IS IMMINENT, IT'S PROBABLY CLOSE TO IMMINENT GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.
I DON'T KNOW, A BOND OR SOMETHING THAT THE CITY GETS TO VOTE ON THAT THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO TO ESTABLISH WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE THE PRESIDENT YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO, TO BE TO DEMONSTRATE THE INTRINSIC VALUE.
RIGHT? YOU GET THAT ENCAPSULATED ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE CITY VOTE FOR SOMETHING TO TAKE SOME ACTION.
THEN YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM THERE.
DO SOMETHING WITH BRETT'S, WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ANYWAY.
MAYBE DO SOMETHING IN THE NORTH 80FT IN A LOT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT YOU GOT, BUT YOU CAN'T KEEP DREDGING TO THE SOUTH IF YOU IF YOU WANT IT TO BE A GOING BUSINESS, THAT RATE YOU'RE GETTING RIGHT NOW, TRUST ME, THAT'S A GOOD RATE. AND IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE IT AIN'T GOING TO GET ANY BETTER.
IT'S GOING TO GET MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE.
IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO GET IT STARTED.
THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S COMMENTS.
GOOD STUFF. ANYTHING? NO, JUST WHAT I SAID BEFORE.
FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE GIVES A SECTION DOCKS MUST BE WITHIN MARKET.
COMPARISON OF THE DOCK RATES OF OTHER AREA MARINAS, WHICH WERE ARE WE WE WERE RIGHT IN THERE.
I MEAN, THE EGAN'S CREEK IS 18 A FOOT.
WE'RE WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
WE CAN'T WE WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY CHARGE ENOUGH TO MAKE UP THE DEFICIT BY JUST SAYING THAT.
AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK THAT THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THAT MARINA AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY IS SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU CAN SHOW ON A PIECE OF PAPER RIGHT NOW WITHOUT HAVING THIS ENORMOUS STUDY THAT TALKS ABOUT ALL OF THE BUSINESS THAT COMES IN FROM EITHER THE MARINA, WHICH IS A THE THE RIVER BEING A HIGHWAY, IF YOU WILL, BRINGING PEOPLE IN.
SO FOR US TO SAY IT'S RUNNING AT A DEFICIT TO THE CITY? I DON'T REALLY THINK SO.
YEAH. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO ADJOURN THE WORKSHOP.
OKAY. AND WE'LL START IN A FEW MOMENTS WITH THE STANDARD MEETING, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR 6:00, AND WE'RE ALREADY RUNNING LATE BY THREE MINUTES.
SO I WILL CLOSE THE WORKSHOP, START THE MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, A REGULAR MEETING AND CITY MANAGER, WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET WITH YOU.
OKAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.