[1. CALL TO ORDER ]
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>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> SO FOR REAL THIS TIME. I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH TO ORDER. MS. BESS, START US OFF.
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> HERE. PLEASE STAND 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. >> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A
PRAYER. >> FATHER GOD, WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING US TOGETHER. PLEASE GIVE US WISDOM IN OUR DECISIONS. PLEASE BE WITH US AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY. WE
[4.1 PRESENTATION - NASSAU HUMANE SOCIETY - Nassau Humane Society Executive Director Chantel Scherer will present the "City Commission Dog of the Month." ]
ASK FOR ALL THIS IN YOUR SON'S NAME, AMEN.>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A LOT ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT. FIRST, WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO PROBABLY SHOULDN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
THAT IS OUR DOG OF THE MONTH. WELCOME.
>> GO FOR IT, BRADLEY. >> IT'S A MAMA, TOO.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THIS IS MS. LOUISE. SHE IS THE DOG OF THE MONTH THIS MONTH SHE COMES FROM ANOTHER SHELTER HERE IN FLORIDA. WE ARE A NO KILL STRUCTURE. WE OFTEN RESCUE THOSE PETS FROM KILL SHELTERS.
SHE WAS AT ONE, AND SHE HAD HER FOUR PUPPIES WITH HER, AND THEY WERE ALL ON THE LIST, SO WE DROVE DOWN AND WE GOT THEM. WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS GIVES HER A CHANCE TO SHOW YOU HOW CUTE SHE IS, BUT ALSO NOT FOR -- TO FORGET OUR OLDER DOGS. IT IS THE PARENTS THAT SOMETIMES NEED SUPPORT. SHE WAS SPAYED YESTERDAY. SHE IS GOOD TO GO. SHE WAS A BREEDER DOG, SO SHE HAS HAD SEVERAL LITTERS OF PUPPIES. BUT IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN HER OR ANY OTHER CATS AND DOGS, COME SEE US OUT AT THE AIRPORT OR VISIT US AT NASSAUHUMANSOCIETY.ORG WE HAVE 77 DOGS WAITING FOR THEIR HOMES AND SIX CATS. I THINK I'M TAKING NINE MORE TOMORROW. SO WE HAVE QUITE A LOT.
[4.2 PRESENTATION - "FERNANDINA 200" - In commemoration of Fernandina Beach's 200th Anniversary, Lighthouse Keeper Thomas Patrick O'Hagan will provide a presentation at the first City Commission Regular Meeting of each month in the year 2024.]
>> LET'S FIND A HOME FOR ELOISE. THANK YOU FOR BEING
>> ALL RIGHT. AND THEN IN CELEBRATION OF OUR BICENTENNIAL, LET'S WELCOME BACK TO THE PODIUM OUR LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER, MR. THOMAS PATRICK O'HAGAN .
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR BEEN. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE ON TIME TONIGHT. HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS, DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, US COMMON FOLK, THE GOOD CITIZENS OF FERNANDINA BEACH . I AM THOMAS PATRICK O'HAGAN, YOUR LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER FROM 1924. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T SEEN ME APPEAR, I'M YOUR MASCOT FOR THE 200 YEAR BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH WAS INCORPORATED ON JANUARY 1ST, 1825, AND TO CELEBRATE ITS IMPENDING 200TH BIRTHDAY, WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT 2024 WHICH IS GOING TO COLLATE INTO A CITY WHAT -- WIDE PARTY. I'M LOOKING BEHIND ME TO SEE WHAT GETS PUT ON THE SCREEN EACH MONTH. AND WE WILL START WITH JUNE. ON JUNE 24TH -- 21ST, WE HAVE AMELIA ALLEN AT THE AMELIA ALLEN MUSEUM OF HISTORY. THIS EVENT IS GOING TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON ALL THE MUSICIANS AND SONGS THAT HAVE DONE A SOUNDTRACK OF AMELIA ALLEN'S HISTORY. WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR GREAT NATION ON JULY 4TH. IT IS FROM 6:00 TO 9:00 -- THAT'S ON MY SHEET. I HOPE WE WAIT UNTIL AFTER 6:00 TO LIGHT THE FIREWORKS. NOW COME ALSO TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN FERNANDINA BEACH, SOUNDS ON CENTER, ON JUNE THE SEVENTH, FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 . DOWNTOWN FERNANDINA BEACH. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE LIBERTY BLUES BAND, THEY WILL NOT BE PLAYING THAT EVENT. AND ON JUNE 15TH, AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING FACILITY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY FIELD DAY. AND THEN JUNETEENTH, THE JUMPOFF. JUNE 22ND, AT THE PICK CENTER FIELD PARKING LOT AND 10TH AND 11TH
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STREET. FINALLY, ON JUNE THE 29TH, FROM 10:00 TO 2:00, THERE IS AN ORIGINAL ART EVENT. MR. LEWIS IS ONE OF THE 26 ARTISTS KNOWN AS THE FLORIDA HIGHWAYMAN. HE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT A FAMOUS GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS. HE'S GOING TO BE PAINTING AN ORIGINAL WORK WHILE HE'S GIVING YOU THE PRESENTATION. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET ALL OF YOU TO COME OUT AND JOIN US FOR THAT. LOOKING AROUND IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE. NO. IF YOU AT HOME TAKE NOTICE OF IT, SHOW TO THE EVENT. MR. MAHER AND COMMISSIONERS, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING US CELEBRATE[4.3 PROCLAMATION - "NATIONAL FLAG DAY" AND "NATIONAL FLAG WEEK" - Proclaims June 14, 2024, as “National Flag Day,” and the week of June 9 - 15, 2024, as “National Flag Week.” National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Amelia island Chapter 2nd Vice Regent Ms. Jan Watts will be in attendance to accept. ]
200 YEARS WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. FIRST, LET'S WELCOME MS. JAN WATTS FOR THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO CELEBRATE
NATIONAL FLAG DAY WITH US. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ADOPTED THE STARS & STRIPES AS OFFICIAL FLAG, OR IS EACH JUNE THEREAFTER, OUR NATION HAS LIFTED ITS SITES TO THE FLAG SINCE THE DAYS OF OUR FOUNDING, WE SEE THE ARK OF THE AMERICAN STORY FROM A HANDFUL OF COLONIES TO THE 50 STATES. THEY CAME TOGETHER UNDER A STANDARD THAT SHOWED THEIR COMMON CAUSE.
WHEN THE WINDS OF WAR WERE SO FRESH AND OUR COUNTRY WALKED ALONG THE ROUTE OF RECONSTRUCTION, WE HAD HOPE IN A BANNER THAT TESTIFIED TO THE STRENGTH OF OUR UNION.
INAUDIBLE ] WHEREVER THE PAD HAS TAKEN US, OLD GLORY HAS FOLLOWED IT, REMINDING US OF THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY' S THAT WE SHARE AS CITIZENS. WHEREAS THIS WEEK, WE CELEBRATE THAT LEGACY AND HONOR THE GREAT MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SECURED IT THROUGH THE CENTURIES OF SERVICE AT HOME AND ABROAD. TO COMMEMORATE THE ADOPTION OF OUR FLAG, CONGRESS DESIGNATED JUNE 14TH EACH YEAR AS IF LIKE AND DESIGNATED THE WEEK ON WHICH JUNE 14TH OCCURS AS FLAG WEEK. IF THERE ARE ANY VETERANS, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.
INAUDIBLE ] WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 14TH AS NATIONAL FLAG DAY, AND THAT WE GUESS NATIONAL FLAG WEEK BY THE POWER INVESTED ME -- IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY.
>> IT IS OKAY. EITHER WAY. >> THANK YOU.
>> OF COURSE. >> ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION , I THINK MAYOR BEHAN, CITY COUNCIL, AND CAROLYN BEST FOR OUR FLAG DAY CONFIRMATION. PLEASE JOIN US FOR A FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY ON JUNE 14TH AT THAT NASSAU COUNTY FIRE STATION NUMBER 20 NEAR THE PLANTATION. DURING THIS CEREMONY, A U.S. FLAG IS HONORABLY RETIRED. AFTER THE CEREMONY, ALL OF THE RETIRED FLEX COLLECTED FROM THE UPS STORES WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE FUNERAL HOME TO BE HONORABLY RETIRED WITH OUR DECEASED VETERANS.
[4.4 PROCLAMATION - "PRIDE MONTH" - Proclaims the month of June 2024, as “Pride Month" in recognition of progress towards equality for all people. Fernandina Beach Pride President Jordan Morris, Vice President Don Harley, Treasurer Genece Minshew and members of the Pride community will be in attendance to accept.]
SEE DON AND GENECE MINSHEW. WE HAVE PEDRO HERE. WE HAVE MAYOR PAGE HERE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE. COME ON DOWN.
>> PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS 246 YEARS AGO, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE FOUNDING DOCUMENT ON WHICH OUR GREAT NATION STANDS WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, READING, ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. AMONG THOSE INCLUDE THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. THE JOURNEY HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT STRIFE. THE FIGHT
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FOR DIGNITY AND EQUALITY FOR ALL PEOPLE IS SEEN IN THE ADVOCATES AND ALLIES THAT STRIVE TO FORM A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. WHERE IS THE SUPREME COURT DECISION GUARANTEED MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN ALL 50 STATES, FOR EVERY PARTNERSHIP THAT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED UNDER THE LAW , DENYING BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS -- AND THE PRIDE COMMUNITY FACES DETERMINATION FOR BEING WHO THEY ARE AND LOVING WHO THEY LOVE. ADVANCING THE FAIR TREATMENT OF ALL PEOPLE HAS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY. THEY REMAIN STEADFAST. BY THE VIRTUE OF AUTHORITY INVESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2024 AS PRIDE MONTH AND I CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME AND TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY WE HAVE CREATED IN OUR COMMUNITY.>> THANK YOU, MR. MAHER. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, AS WELL.
MAKING THIS PROCLAMATION MEANS MORE THAN YOU KNOW TO MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU THINK. AT A TIME WHEN MANY IN THE PRIDE COMMUNITY FEEL ATTACKED BY THE POLICIES OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, MANY TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS HAVING TO FLEE THE STATE TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE, YOUR WORDS THIS EVENING SERVE AS A GENTLE REMINDER THAT WE DO FEEL SEEN TONIGHT BY OUR ELECTION -- ELECTED OFFICIALS. IF YOU HAVEN'T ATTENDED BEFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME AND SEE WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. PRIDE IS FOR ANYBODY THAT BELIEVES, AS THE PROCLAMATION STANDS, WE ARE ALL CREATED EQUALLY. PRIDE IS FOR PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE , AS THE BIBLE STATES, GOD LOVES EVERYBODY. IT IS FOR PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT LOVE IS LOVE. MULTIPLE LOCAL CHURCHES ARE A FEW OF THE OVER 100 VENDORS AND SPONSORS TAKING PART THIS SATURDAY. THE PRAYING STARTS AT 10:00. THE FESTIVAL WILL GO UNTIL 2:00 P.M. IN CENTRAL PARK. WE WILL HAVE FOOD TRUCKS, LIVE MUSIC, SPEAKERS, A FAMILY ZONE WITH FACE PAINTING, HEADED 21 AT A PARTY AT THE PALACE SHIPYARD. JOIN FERNANDINA BEACH
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. -- PRIDE.
[4.5 PRESENTATION - FERNANDINA BEACH MAIN STREET - Fernandina Beach Main Street Executive Director Ms. Lisa Finkelstein will provide a synopsis of projects occurring within each of the four Main Street Councils (Promotions, Economic Vitality, Organization, and Design).]
>> ALL RIGHT. AS THEY FILTER OUT, ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO STAY. WE HAVE A MEETING COMING UP WITH A LOT OF FUN AND EXCITING THINGS, STARTING WITH HER MAINSTREET PRESENTATION.
WITH THAT IN MIND, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND KICK IT OVER TO MS.
LISA FINKELSTEIN . >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS OUR THIRD QUARTER REPORT FOR MAIN STREET. I WANT TO GO OVER THINGS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. I WILL START WITH OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY COUNSEL. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON GETTING THE ARBORETUM PROMOTED. SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH KEEP NASSAU BEAUTIFUL. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THIS PAST WEEK THAT THERE WERE NEW BANNERS UP THAT WERE RECOGNIZING THE ARBORETUM.
WE ARE WORKING ON -- WE HAVE MARKETING ON OUR PAGE. WE ARE WORKING ON SIGNAGE THAT WILL GO UP ON THE STREETS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SCAN THE QR CODES ON THE BANNERS, OR ON THE
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PERMANENT SIGNS. AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIND OUT INFORMATION, MAPS ON OTHER ARBORETUM'S. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE A TREE WALK TO SEE THE CITIES THAT ARE IN OUR MAIN STREET DISTRICT. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PROMOTE THAT AS A WAY OF RECOGNIZING OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WITHIN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA. WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF CARRYING OUT A BUSINESS SURVEY FOR THIS HALF OF THE YEAR. WE ARE ASKING OUR BUSINESSES TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THE CHALLENGES ON EIGHTH STREET , AND SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THEY LOCATED THEIR BUSINESS THERE, AND THEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT , YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM HEADACHES ABOUT HAVING THE BUSINESS THERE, AND WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN IMPROVE IT, WHETHER IT IS BEAUTIFICATION OR PARKING CHANGES -- WE HAVE ADDRESSED SOME OF THEM HERE, BUT WE WANT TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK. WE ARE ALSO ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT PARKING AND HOW THAT HAS IMPACTED THEIR BUSINESS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AS WELL, OR ON EIGHTH STREET, TO GET THAT FEEDBACK AND TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. AND WHAT THEY ARE HEARING FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES. WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE DOWNTOWN TO DUNES CLEANUP. THAT IS WITH THE KEEP NASSAU BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION. THAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH. WE HAD ABOUT 60 VOLUNTEERS THAT CAME OUT AND CLEANED UP, FROM DOWNTOWN ALL THE WAY OVER TO MAINE BEACH, AND THEN ALL THE WAY UP TO EIGHTH STREET AND CLIMB ON A SATURDAY. AND FINALLY, WE ARE PLANNING ANOTHER BUSINESS MEET AND GREET. WE DO THESE QUARTERLY. WE HAVE A TOPIC FOR EACH ONE. THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE HOSTED AT THE ATLANTIC TEMPORARY -- CONTEMPORARY GALLERY IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE BUSINESS PEOPLE, WE WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN MORNING AND EVENING. THIS WILL BE A 5:00 START. THE TOPIC IS WALK ABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY WITHIN THE MAIN STREET DISTRICT. WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE AARP INITIATIVES WE ARE WORKING ON WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STUDY WALK ABILITY, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WALK, INCLUDING POTENTIALLY A SIGNAGE PROGRAM AND SOME OTHER INITIATIVES. WE ALSO HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH AARP ON, WHERE BUSINESSES CAN REGISTER THEIR BUSINESS AS AN ACCESSIBLE BUSINESS. ACCESSIBLE, MEANING, NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL ABILITY TO GET INTO THEIR STORE OR MANEUVER WITHIN THEIR STORE, BUT ALSO, THINGS LIKE THE SIZE OF THE FONT ON THEIR SIGNAGE, HOW CLEAR IS THEIR SIGNAGE, POSSIBLY FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OR THAT HAVE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. THAT TYPE OF THING. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS INVOLVED , AND WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES ON THAT INITIATIVE. WE ALSO AWARDED OUR CURB APPEAL AWARD THIS LAST QUARTER. THIS WENT TO THE WILLIAMS HOUSE. VERONICA, WITH THE HELP OF BLOOMBERG GROWERS PUT IN A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN, INCLUDING AN HEIRLOOM ROSE GARDEN, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL. SHE WAS AWARDED THAT AWARD. OUR ORGANIZATION COUNSEL IS GEARING UP FOR OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING, WHICH WILL HELP US DEVELOP OUR WORK PLAN FOR THE NEXT YEAR. WE USUALLY DO THAT OVER THE SUMMER. IT ALSO DRIVES OUR BUDGET, WHAT WE ALLOCATE FOR PROJECTS. IF THERE IS INPUT FROM THIS GROUP, AS ALWAYS, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING AT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING PARTNERED. WE HAVE MORE BUSINESSES INVOLVED THIS YEAR THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.BOTH IN NUMBER AND IN DOLLARS. AND THEN WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON INCREASING AWARENESS FOR ALL THAT MAIN STREET DOES SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND . A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE THINK IT IS A SHRIMP FESTIVAL OR SIP AND SHOT. WE DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND WE SUPPORT EVENTS, BUT WE DO A LOT MORE, TOO. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WITH HELP FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ALSO, OUR PRINT MEDIA, AND SO THAT'S BEEN AN EFFORT FROM THAT COUNSEL. OUR PROMOTIONS COUNSEL WORKED THIS PAST QUARTER ON THE SHRIMP FESTIVAL. THEY COORDINATED THE WINDOW PAINTING THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DO, WHICH IS GREAT. WE RAISED $710 THAT LED TO THE HIGH SCHOOL ART DEPARTMENT FOR SUPPLIES. AND WE ARE PURCHASING ADDITIONAL PAINT FOR THEM FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.
SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND THEN WE ARE ALSO COMING IN TO PLAN OUR SUMMER SIP AND SHOT. THIS IS FOR MID AUGUST, WHEN THINGS SLOW DOWN HERE AFTER KIDS HAVE GONE BACK TO SCHOOL. AUGUST 16TH, WHICH IS IT YOU FRIDAY EVENING. WE ARE GATHERING OUR SHOP LOCATIONS NOW, LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER
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SUCCESSFUL EVENT THERE. THEN OUR DESIGN COUNSEL WAS VERY BUSY LAST QUARTER WORKING ON THE PRESERVATION OF BOARDS AND THE PRESERVATION TOUR. SO WITH THE AWARDS, WE HAD SEVEN AWARD CATEGORIES. WE HAD THREE JUDGES THAT REVIEWED ALL OF THE SUBMISSIONS. RUBEN ACOSTA, THE CHIEF -- CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF THE STORY PRESERVATION FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA WAS ONE OF OUR JUDGES. JULIA EPSTEIN, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE JACKSONVILLE CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, AND OUR NASSAU COUNTY MANAGER. WE WERE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM . LIKE I SAID, WE HAD SEVEN CATEGORIES. WE HAVE NOMINATIONS IN FIVE. THERE WERE TWO THAT DID NOT HAVE NOMINATIONS. ADAPTIVE REUSE AND FACADE STOREFRONT RENOVATION.WE HAVE A LOT OF UPCOMING CANDIDATES FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON DOWNTOWN. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO NOMINATIONS FROM THOSE CATEGORIES ON THE NEXT GO AROUND. THE TOUR INVOLVED EIGHT OF OUR HISTORIC CHURCHES. AGAIN, THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE FROM BOTH OF THE ATTENDEES AND THE CHURCHES THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF RAISING AWARENESS OF THOSE HISTORIC THINGS, INCREASING THE AWARENESS OF HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE WHEN YOU GET INSIDE OF THEM. THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, A VERY GOOD EVENT, AS WELL. AND THEN WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AND CITY STAFF ON THE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT DOWNTOWN, WHICH WE ARE GETTING VERY GOOD FEEDBACK FROM OUR BUSINESSES. AND ON THE DOWNTOWN, AS WELL.
WE DID AWARD OR ANNOUNCE OUR NEXT FACADE GRANT WINNERS. THEY WILL BE -- THERE ARE TWO PROPERTIES. ONE ON EACH STREET, WHICH HOUSES THERAPEUTIC SOLUTIONS AND THE OTHER IS DOWNTOWN. IT IS 205 TO 207 CENTER STREET, WHICH IS WHERE GO FISH AND THE AMELIA ISLAND COFFEE SHOP ARE. THEY WILL BOTH BE GETTING THAT TO SOME EXTENT.
BE PART OF BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS. AND THEN WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING VERY MUCH ON THE DINING DOWN CENTER EVENT, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE BICENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON JANUARY 1ST. THERE IS A WHOLE NEW COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN FORMED WITHIN MAIN STREET THAT HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THAT.
WE ARE COORDINATING WITH RESTAURANTS FOR MEALS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS. SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT TO SEE HOW THAT COMES TO FRUITION. THEN ON TO FINANCES. WE ARE SEVEN MONTHS INTO OUR YEAR. THIS IS AS OF THE END OF APRIL.
IN 2021, OUR ISLAND HOP EVENT FELL ON OCTOBER 1ST, AND THEN IN 2022, IT FELL ON OCTOBER 7TH. SO THERE WERE PROCEEDS AND REVENUE AND EXPENSES IN LAST YEAR'S ACTUAL NUMBERS . IT MAKES THIS YEAR IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE DOWN IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE, BUT IT'S REALLY PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY ISLAND HOP.
IT IS ODD THAT IT FALLS ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF OCTOBER NOW.
OF COURSE, THAT IS THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, BUT A LOT OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES HAVE HIT THE YEAR PRIOR. SO THERE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A VARIANCE OR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VARIANCE BECAUSE OF THAT. AS I SAID BEFORE, OUR MAIN STREET PARTNER DONATIONS ARE UP. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND THEN IN OUR EXPENSE SIDE, THE GENERAL AND ADMIN EXPENSES ARE UP, PRIMARILY DUE TO OUR NEW WEBSITE. IT FEATURES THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY THAT IS MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE, AND THE ENHANCED EVENT PAGE. SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THOSE THINGS. WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD. WE HAVE 45 VOLUNTEERS ON OUR BOARD. THEY MEET EVERY MONTH, WORKING ON ALL OF THESE PROJECTS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL ALWAYS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND GRATEFUL
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> QUESTIONS FOR MISS LISA? I'LL JUST SAY THAT PRESERVATION AWARDS THIS YEAR WAS EXCELLENT. IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EVENT. YOU GIVE A LOT TO
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THE CITY, AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ARE AT. THAT IS THE END OF 4.5. BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM 5, IT DOES TAKE A SUPER MAJORITY. IT TAKES 4 OUT OF 5 TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA DURING THE MEETING. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF ACTION TONIGHT TO DO. COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US MORE CLARIFICATION ON
THAT? >> YES. WE HAVE ONE NOW AND ONE
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LATER IN THE AGENDA. WE WILL DEAL WITH NOW FIRST. MR. GEORGE IS ON MEDICAL LEAVE FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND SO, HE LEFT HIM WITH THAT. HE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR A FEW WEEKS.INAUDIBLE ] IT IS TO RECOMMEND THAT JEREMIAH GLISSON -- WE HAVE TALKED WITH EACH OF YOU -- BE APPOINTED THE TEMPORARY CITY MANAGER UNTIL WE APPOINT ANOTHER INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
BUT THE STAFF NEEDS HIS DECISION-MAKING ABILITIES TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT CHARLIE WOULD NORMALLY MAKE. WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE DOING IS -- I HAVE A DRAFT CONTRACT THAT I HAVE PROVIDED TO JEREMIAH THAT MIRRORS CHARLIE GEORGE'S CONTRACT AND AT THE NEXT MEETING ON JUNE 18TH, TONIGHT, WE NEED YOU TO GIVE HIM THE AUTHORITY TO VOTE TO APPROVE FIRST , ADDING THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, TO APPOINT A NEW INTERIM CITY MANAGER, AND THEN VOTE ON THAT. WE NEED 4 AT A 5 OF YOU TO APPROVE THAT AND THEN TO CONSIDER ANOTHER OPTION TO APPOINT JEREMIAH GLISSON AS THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER. AND AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE WOULD BRING A RESOLUTION AND A CONTRACT BACK SO THE PUBLIC GETS TO SEE IT AND WE HAVE THAT RESOLUTION NUMBER FOR THE RECORD.
>> PERFECT. I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT WE -- AND I SPEAK FOR MYSELF -- ABSOLUTELY PRAY FOR MR. GEORGE TO GET BACK TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HE DOES SUCH GREAT WORK FOR THE CITY. HE IS SOMEONE I GREATLY RESPECT. WE HAVE HEARD GOOD NEWS THAT HE'S GOING TO BE COMING BACK BUT IT TAKES SOME RECOVERY TIME, SO WE ARE CERTAINLY ROOTING FOR HIM TO COME BACK SOON. AFTER WE DO THIS VOTE, I THEN WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT -- BRIEFLY -- THERE WON'T BE A VOTE ON IT. FIRST, TO KNOCK THIS OUT, LET'S GET MR. GLISSON, WHO I HAVE ABSOLUTELY 100% CONFIDENCE IN. NO ONE KNOWS THE CITY BETTER THAN MR. JEREMIAH GLISSON. LET US DO THESE MOTIONS AS THE CITY ATTORNEY DESCRIBED IN LET'S GIVE HIM INTERIM AUTHORITY. I DO WANT TO
HEAR A MOTION. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
>> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A
SECOND. WE WILL VOTE ON THIS. >> WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM . THE DISCUSSION WILL BE RELATED TO PUTTING THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. YES.
>> OKAY. PERFECT. WE HAVE A MISSION AT A SECOND. KEEP IN MIND. THIS PUTS IT ON THE AGENDA. THIS IS NOT VOTING FOR IT. THIS IS ALLOWING IT TO BE VOTED UPON. WITH THAT, CAN YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> VICE MAYOR STURGES.
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.
>> YES.. >> THAT PASSES. DO I HEAR A MOTION ON THE PROPOSITION TO GIVE MR. GLISSON INTERIM CITY
MANAGER. >> MOTION TO MAKE JEREMIAH GLISSON OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER POINT
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AT A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON MAKING HIM INTERIM MANAGER? MR. ANTUN.
>> I THINK IT SHOULD PASS . I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OPINIONS.
THAT WAS MY FIRST CHOICE, LEAH SMITH.
SOME OF THE LEGWORK HAS BEEN DONE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE THAN JUST A SHORT-TERM FIX , AND I ECHO ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT MR. GEORGE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE COULD NOT HAVE
FORESEEN. WE NEED TO ACT NOW. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON A SEMI-DAILY AFTER THIS BOOK. LET'S FIRST GET HIM IN AND WILL CONTINUE ON. COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>> IS THAT AN AMENDMENT? >> JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION SO I KNOW WHAT I AM VOTING ON NEXT. IS IT AN AMENDMENT? ARE WE GOING TO DISCUSS IT? WE ARE GOING TO POINT JEREMIAH AS THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER -- OR I-I WOULD
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LIKE TO DEFER TO HIM. >> OKAY.
QUESTION FOR THE MOTION MAKER IS -- THE MOTION MAKER MADE A MOTION AND CONDITIONED APPROVAL OF THAT MOTION ON THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DISCUSSION -- A TWO-PART DISCUSSION. ONE ABOUT THAT CANDIDATE, SMITH FROM LAST YEAR'S POOL, AND THE SECOND PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS, IF NOT THAT PERSON, AS YOUR CITY MANAGER OR HOPEFUL, THEN GOING OUT FOR A SEARCH. THAT IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD.
>> APPROVING THAT MOTION -- WE SHOULD ENGAGE IN THAT TWO-PART DISCUSSION. IF YOU DIDN'T INTEND THAT ADDITION, THEN I WOULD JUST REMOVE THOSE POSITIONS AND JUST SAY WE CAN GO AHEAD AND VOTE, KNOWING THAT THE COMMISSION WISHES TO DISCUSS IT. THERE COULD BE A REASON.
>> I FEEL THOSE CONDITIONS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED.
>> WILL YOU CONSIDER THIS, COMMISSIONER ANTUN? I'M GOING TO PUT A PAUSE ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THIS MOTION AND LET'S GO AHEAD -- LET ME BE CLEAR. I DON'T WANT IT CONDITIONAL ON MAKING JEREMIAH THE CITY MANAGER IN THE INTERIM. LET'S HAVE THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW. INSTEAD
OF PAUSING THIS VOTE. >> LET'S GET CLARIFICATION ON
IT. >> I WAS GOING TO DISCUSS.
>> OKAY. SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR WAS THAT AMENDMENT WAS NOT SECONDED YET. I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER ROSS MOST LIKELY WILL POINT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPOINT JEREMIAH AS OUR INTERIM PERIOD BEFORE I CALL THIS WOULD, I THINK WE WON'T NEED AN AMENDMENT IF WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO, SEEING THAT WE COULD NOT FORESEE THIS.
FOLKS, I WILL GIVE YOU GUESS WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO AND YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU GUYS THINK. SO WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO IS CALL OUR INSURANCE POLICY WITH OUR INSURANCE POLICY. WE HAVE A FREE SEARCH READY TO GO. THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO DO TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK CITY STAFF TO RESTART THAT SEARCH. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS THE FINAL STEP AGAIN. THAT IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. YOU GUYS WILL REMEMBER THIS. WE HAD A WONDERFUL CITIZENS COMMITTEE AND THE FIRST SEVERAL STEPS -- THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS GIVE US THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR. THEY GAVE US -- THEY GAVE US MULTIPLE -- THEY HELPED PUT IT OUT. FOLKS, WHAT I'M ASKING IS WHAT WE DO TONIGHT IS A SEARCH PARTY.
LET'S CALL THEM UP AND SAY, WILL WE USE THAT FEEDBACK THAT OUR CITIZENS COMMITTEE ALREADY GIVE US IN THE PAST TO BRING BACK FIVE TOP CANDIDATES? THE TOP FIVE CANDIDATES THEY HAVE, AND WE CAN THEN GO THROUGH AND REPROCESS WITH US. LET'S GET THE TOP FIVE CANDIDATES AND LET'S GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO QUICK TURNAROUND. SOMETHING THAT WON'T LEAVE OUR CITY STAFF THINKING. IF WE GET THAT DIRECTION TONIGHT, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A FEW WEEKS FOR THAT. WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A 30 DAY POSTING PERIOD. BY MY RECKONING, WE CAN HAVE A LIST OF CANDIDATES AS EARLY AS THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, AND WE COULD CERTAINLY DO INTERVIEWS AND HAVE SOMEONE SELECTED BY THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST. THERE IS A TIMELINE HERE THAT WORKS IF WE SKIP THAT THAT LAST STEP. IF WE GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF TONIGHT TO REENGAGE THAT INSURANCE POLICY WITH OUR SEARCH FIRM. THAT IS WHAT I SUGGEST WE DO. WE APPOINT JEREMIAH AS INTERIM. AND THEN WE REENGAGE WITH THE SEARCH . I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR Y'ALL'S THOUGHTS ON WHAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO.
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS. >> WE SHOULD.
>> OF COURSE. >> LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THAT NOW.
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND IT BEFORE THIS PROCESS. HE WENT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE. HE CAME UP WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS. HE CAME UP WITH FIVE CANDIDATES. WE CAME UP WITH ONE OF THEM. WE HAD EXTREMELY STRONG CANDIDATES. ONE THAT I WOULD'VE CHOSEN AS MY FIRST CHOICE. I KNOW MR. LEE SMITH -- THE GENTLEMAN FROM SAVANNAH HAS -- IS STILL AVAILABLE. I THINK WE CAN BEGIN A NEGOTIATION WITH HIM IF WE WANT HIM TO COME BE OUR MINIATURE POINT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WE WENT THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS. WE HAD TWO STRONG CANDIDATES. ONE OF THEM IS STILL AVAILABLE. IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR CITIES TO GO TO SECOND OR THIRD CHOICES AND NEGOTIATE WITH THEM IF THE
[00:35:03]
FIRST ONE DOESN'T WORK OUT. I'M NOT GOING TO DWELL ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST. I THINK WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS. I THINK HE IS WELL RECEIVED. I KNOW THAT HE IS AVAILABLE. HE IS INTERESTED IN BEING CITY MANAGER.] SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS . GO TO OUR SECOND
CHOICE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS THOUGHTS. VICE MAYOR STURGES.
>> I AGREE WITH BRADLEY. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT TIME PERIOD WITH THE FIRST CANDIDATE AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE POOL AND JUMP TO THE LAST STEP AND ASK HIM TO PUT FIVE OF THE TOP FINALISTS. I DON'T THINK IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO COME UP WITH THAT. AND I'M SURE COLIN WOULD BE WILLING BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE DIDN'T WORK OUT. THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THIS FOR US. AND IT WOULDN'T TAKE LONG. I BELIEVE THAT IS THE ROUTE WE SHOULD TAKE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. >> MAYOR, I WANT TO SPEAK. I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER TO PUBLIC COMMENTS . I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO ANYBODY ON IT. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE
PUBLIC SPEAK. >> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS ISN'T A NEW ITEM THAT WAS ADDED TO OUR AGENDA, AND SO, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR IF ANYONE WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, I HAVE ONE REQUEST HERE ON PAPER. IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO COME ON DOWN TO THE PODIUM, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU. FIRST, LET'S CALL DOWN MISS SHEILA.
>> THANK YOU, MERE PAIN. SHEILA COKIE , 1533 INDIGO STREET. I CERTAINLY SUPPORT JEREMIAH BEING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER, AND CHARLIE'S ABSENCE. I HOPE THAT HE GETS BETTER. I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN RECRUITING AND THAT SORT OF STUFF, AND I THOUGHT THAT THE SECOND CANDIDATE WAS THE BETTER CANDIDATE OF THE CANDIDATES THAT YOU ALL CHOOSE FROM. IF THINK THAT THAT IS A GOOD WOULD- SOLUTION FOR US. IN THE SHORT TERM. HOWEVER, I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT THIS COMMISSION, WITH THE ELECTION SO CLOSE, SHOULD BE THE PEOPLE MAKING THAT DECISION. IT WOULD'VE BEEN A DECISION THEY MADE EARLY ON. YOU ALL USE THAT AS YOUR SELECTION PROCESS, BUT AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME, I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT FOR THIS COMMISSION TO MAKE THAT DECISION. SO I WOULD SUPPORT JEREMIAH BEING IN THIS POSITION. PAST THE ELECTION, WHEN THE NEW COMMISSION COULD MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE RECRUIT AGAIN FOR THAT POSITION, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS -- AND WE HAVE GREAT DEPARTMENT HEADS. PEOPLE THAT ARE CAPABLE OF WORKING THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS.
AND WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A SITUATION, HOWEVER WE GOT HERE, WE ARE HERE. I DON'T THINK IT IS PRUDENT TO START A WHOLE NEW SEARCH THAT WILL CERTAINLY GO BEYOND THE ELECTION IF WE RECALL THE TIME FRAME OF HOW THIS PROCESS MIGHT MOVE FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. LET'S CALL MR. JACK DOWN TO THE PODIUM.
>> OKAY. >> CHECK AMBER .1003 BRIM STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH. ITEM ON THE AGENDA 5.0.
THIS REMINDS ME OF AN OLD-TIME EXPRESSION. HOW A CITY OR A COMPANY WILL STEP OVER A DOLLAR TO PICK UP A DIME. THAT IS WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO ME. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE CITY WAS NOT OPEN TO NEGOTIATIONS ON THAT. BUT IT IS WAY PAST TIME TO, AS MR. ANTUN IS SUGGESTING -- GET A CITY MANAGER IN HERE.
DEPENDING ON CHARLIE GEORGE'S RECOVERY, YOU MAY BE LOOKING AT AN ENGINEER, AS WELL. BUT THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT. I LIKE JEREMIAH. I LIKE HIS WORK. HE IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE A MINIATURE. HE'S JUST NOT. I MEAN, HE CAN SIGN CHECKS AND DO THIS AND THAT, BUT IN THE LONG RUN, HE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS. ON PAPER OR IN ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. SO THAT'S IT. AND THE OTHER CONCERN OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE IS THAT THIS IS -- THIS IS BAD TIMING FOR IT OR IT'S GOOD TIMING. WE
[00:40:02]
DON'T KNOW WHICH, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CITY MANAGER BEING PASSED WITH THE INTERPRETATION OF THE LTC IN REGARDS TO THIS ETHANOL PLANT BUSINESS. AND I JUST WANT TO READ CHAPTER 1 OF THE LTC SPECIFIES, THE MANAGERS INTERPRETATION OF THE LTC -- AND YOU MAY AS WELL INCLUDE THE COMP PLAN IN THERE, TOO -- WILL NOT EXCEED THE RESPONSIBILITY OO OF THE CITY COMMISSION IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC WELFARE AND SAFETY. SO, STILL, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH AND A LOT OF SHYING AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE ON THIS, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE , AND THE ECONOMICS IN THIS TOWN IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS WHY YOU ARE HIRED. IT IS WHY YOU ARE SITTING BEHIND THE PODIUM. IT IS WHY YOU ARE TRUSTED TO DO THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.>> THANK YOU, MR. AMBER. THE ONLY PART OF THAT I WILL RESPOND TO IS -- I HAVE SAID THIS TO JEREMIAH PUBLICLY. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY QUALIFIED FOR THIS. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE I WOULD RATHER HAVE THAT MR. JEREMIAH, SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO FOR THE CITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU SERVING.
WITH THAT IN MIND, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>> I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THOSE COMMENTS, FIRST, MAYOR. I THINK JEREMIAH IS GOING TO DO A JOB IN THE INTERIM. AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY FAIR TO HIM TO TASK HIM WITH THIS LONG-TERM. WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW WE NEED SOMETHING SHORT-TERM. I DON'T AGREE WITH GOING BACK TO LEE SMITH. JUST ON ITS SURFACE, IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT THAT THERE WILL BE ENOUGH TRANSPARENCY. THERE WILL BE ENOUGH CITIZENS INPUT THROUGH THE PROCESS. IF WE WENT IN RIGHT NOW WITH MR. LEE SMITH. WE WENT THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS. YOU KNOW. EIGHT, NINE MONTHS AGO. BUT I STILL WOULD PROBABLY MORE OR LESS AGREE WITH THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR THAT, HEY, LET'S CALL THIS SEARCH FIRM. DON'T PUT ANY TIME FRAME ON IT. WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHEN IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I DON'T THINK THAT DECISION NEEDS TO HAPPEN TONIGHT, BUT LET'S GET THEM INVOLVED .
IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR STAFF TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN AND WHAT CANNOT BE DONE AND BRING IT BACK TO US, AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE -- DO WE NEED TO SPEED THIS UP? MAYBE THEY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION . I DON'T KNOW.
BUT LET'S GET THEM BACK INVOLVED. LET'S GET THE BALL ROLLING. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH PUTTING THE INTERIM IN JUST THIS MINUTE, BUT WE HAVE TO GET JEREMIAH IN THERE
TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. I AGREE. I AGREE 95% WITH YOU. ALMOST THERE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH YOU. I THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT CALL. I THINK WE SHOULD CALL THEM. WE SHOULD GIVE THEM A CALL AND GET THEM REENGAGED. I THINK WE AGREE . I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TOP FIVE NAMES. YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. I'M INTERESTED IN THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THE TOP FIVE NAMES FOR THE ASPECT OF TRANSPARENCY. I WANT TO SEE THAT ONE MORE TIME. FOR THE CITIZENS. IT HAS BEEN NINE MONT SAID. IF IT IS LEE SMITH -- IT COULD BE LEE SMITH. HE MIGHT BE IN THIS TOP FIVE NAMES, BUT WE NEED TO SEE WHO WE ARE PICKING FROM. THAT IS IMPORTANT. IT IS NOT THAT MUCH LONGER TO DO THAT. THAT IS WHY, AGAIN, I LAID IT OUT. IF WE HAD A 30 DAY WINDOW OF TAKING APPLICATIONS -- IF WE ENGAGED THE SEARCH FORM TOMORROW, WE WOULD LOOK AT AUGUST TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS LEE SMITH, THAT IS UP TO US, WHEN WE SEE THE OPTIONS. I THINK WE SHOULD PUT SOME URGENCY BEHIND THIS , AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING TO DIRECT STAFF TO DO TONIGHT. LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> I THINK YOUR TIMELINE IS TOTALLY , TOTALLY NOT GOING TO WORK. YOU'RE SAYING CALL THEM WHEN THEY PUT SOMETHING OUT FOR A TOTAL SEARCH IN TWO WEEKS.
GIVE 30 DAYS TO SEARCH. OKAY. 30 DAYS TO SEARCH. THE BIDDING PROCESS TAKES 1 TO 2 MONTHS. I THINK TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE. I TOTALLY SUPPORT JEREMIAH TO BE THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WE HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THIS WHOLE VETTING PROCESS. IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE TRANSPARENT. WE HAD THE CITY COMMITTEE. WE HAD MEETINGS. WE VETTED THEM ALL. YOU CAME UP WITH FIVE
[00:45:03]
CANDIDATES. WE VETTED THEM. WE PICKED ONE. IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. WHY NOT GO TO THE SECOND ONE? WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS REPEATED ALL OVER AGAIN. IT IS NOT TO STAY FOUR WEEKS OR THREE WEEKS. THIS IS GOING TO TAKE MONTHS. YOU'RE ASKING JEREMIAH GLEASON TO DO TWO JOBS. AND YOU CANNOT DO TWO JOBS. I THINK FOR SHORT-TERM, HE IS AN EXCELLENT PERSON TO DO THIS. I SUPPORT HIM 100%, BUT I THINK DRAGGING HIM OUT FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS AND WEEKS IS JUST THE WRONG THING TO DO. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS. FIVE OF US HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT. WE MET ALL THESE PEOPLE. THEY WERE ALL HEAVILY VETTED. IT'S ALL BEEN DONE. IF YOU DON'T WANT LEE SMITH, THAT IS FINE. I THINK HE IS A VIABLE CANDIDATE -- AND I WOULD SUPPORT HIM. HE WOULD BEMY FIRST CHOICE. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>> I'M NOT SAYING IT IS A TERRIBLE OPTION, COMMISSIONER ROSS. I'M NOT. I'M SAYING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD GET THEM INVOLVED. IF THEY COME BACK AND THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY OR THEY GIVE US A TIMEFRAME AND SAY WE CAN DO THIS IN X AMOUNT OF TIME, OR YOU CAN GO GET THE CANDIDATES THEY HAD BEFORE AND BRING THEM BACK IN -- I SIMPLY WANT TO USE THEM AS A RESOURCE.
IF THAT HAPPENS IN TWO WEEKS OR FOUR WEEKS, OKAY. BUT WE HIRE HIM. WE HAVE THE ENTRANCE POLICY. LET'S USE IT. LET'S TALK TO HIM. THEY MAY COME BACK AND SAY THAT LEE SMITH SHOULD BE THE DUDE. COOL. OKAY. RIGHT NOW, THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.
LET'S GET THEM BACK INVOLVED AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. INSTEAD OF TONIGHT, STARTING NEGOTIATIONS WITH LEE SMITH.
LET'S ASK THEM. LET'S GET THEIR ADVICE. LET'S PAY FOR A SEARCH. WE HAVE AN INSURANCE POLICY. LET'S USE IT.
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> FOR THIS HEAVILY VETTED SEARCH, WE ENDED UP WITH WHAT WE ENDED UP WITH. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD RUN ANOTHER SEARCH AND SHORTEN UP THE TIMELINE, AND I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE. I THINK IT IS DOABLE. I THINK YOU CAN DO IT. MAYBE SEARCH FOR 30 DAYS, AND THEN IF LEE SMITH IS THERE, HE CAN INTERVIEW WITH ALL THE OTHER FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE. WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD NARROW OUR OPTIONS DOWN TO ONE PERSON AND MAKE A HASTY DECISION. THAT IS JUST MY THOUGHT PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO THREE ON LEE SMITH. BUT GOING BACK TO YOUR POINT, CLYDE IS NOT GOING TO COME BACK UNTIL LEE SMITH'S REVERSAL. THEY ARE GOING TO TELL YOU, LEE SMITH IS SOMEONE WE RECOMMENDED. WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING A CITY MANAGER. THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF GIVING YOU SOME OPTIONS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THAT YOU SHOULD PICK LEE SMITH. THEY WILL SAY, BECAUSE I CALLED HIM AND IF HE IS AVAILABLE, WE WOULD BE INTERESTED. THEY ALREADY RECOMMENDED HIM. THEY GAVE US THE RECOMMENDATION. IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THEM AND SAY, WE WILL NEED TO PROVIDE FIVE CANDIDATES BY X DATE, GO FOR IT. I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. I THINK WE ARE REPRODUCING WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE BEFORE.
INAUDIBLE ] THAT IS MY OPINION, BUT CAN COUNT TO THREE.
>> WEIGHING THIS OUT, THERE ARE THREE SEATS AVAILABLE THAT ARE OVER THIS ELECTION TERM. WHAT IF YOU GUYS CHOOSE SOMEONE -- LET'S SAY YOU'RE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE SEARCH PROCESS, AND IF THERE ARE NEW PEOPLE SITTING UP HERE, THEY DON'T LIKE THE CANDIDATES AND WE ARE BACK TO SQUARE ONE. THAT CAN HAPPEN. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. SO WHAT ABOUT IF YOU DO A COMBINATION OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT? BECAUSE WHILE I THINK YOU GUYS LIKE THE SECOND PERSON, TO MAYOR BEAN AND COMMISSIONER AYSCUE'S POINT, MAYBE THERE ARE PEOPLE AVAILABLE NOW THAT WERE NOT AVAILABLE BEFORE THAT COULD BE GOOD CHOICES. I WOULD HATE FOR YOU TO OVERLOOK THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF STRIFE HERE. YOU COULD KIND OF BE DOING BOTH OF THESE THINGS THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DELAY IT AND MAYBE TRY TO HAVE THAT SHORT-TERM LIST READY AFTER THE ELECTION. YOU KNOW. BECAUSE YOU ARE WORKING CONCURRENTLY, AND I DO THINK YOU NEED TO ENGAGE JEREMIAH AND ASK. I HEARD YOU SAY, HE WOULD BE DOING TWO JOBS. HE WOULD BE DOING THREE BECAUSE CHARLIE HAS BEEN DOING TWO JOBS. I THINK YOU NEED TO TALK WITH STAFF AND SEE IF THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY
[00:50:01]
TO LIMIT THIS THROUGH TO THE ELECTION BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN IT SWAY AN ELECTION. WE WOULD BE LOSING OUR INSURANCE POLICY.YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN. SO I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO REALLY THINK THIS OUT. I THINK YOU NEED TO GET JEREMIAHS FEEDBACK TO SEE HOW LONG THE CITY CAN SUSTAIN, AND CAN WE GET THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH HIM AT THE HOME? THAT HE IS VERY CAPABLE, BUT THE CITY IS A VERY COMPLEX ENTITY AND YOU KNOW IT HAS MANY ENTITIES THAT ARE COMPLEX. JUST MY ADVICE AS SOMEONE WHO SAT IN YOUR SHOES BEFORE TO TRY TO DECIDE. COUSIN SHEILA AND I DON'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT I AGREE WITH HER ON THIS, THAT YOU SHOULD PERHAPS WAIT BECAUSE THREE SEATS -- IF YOU ALL THREE ARE NOT SITTING THERE -- THAT IS A SWAY TO SOMEONE NEW. FOR A NEW CITY MANAGER, IF YOU CHOOSE
NOW. >> THANK YOU, MARILYN. WITH THAT IN MIND,
>> PETE STEVENSON, 1627 HIGHLAND DUNES, FERNANDINA BEACH. JUST A THOUGHT. I THINK COMMISSIONER AYSCUE HAS BROUGHT UP A POINT THAT I AGREE WITH . WE HAVE A FIRM THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE EXPERTS POINT LET'S GO TO THOSE EXPERTS AND SAY, MAYBE WE NEED THREE ALTERNATIVES. GIVE US SOME IDEAS. GIVE US THE PLANS AND GIVE US YOUR PROJECTIONS IN TERMS OF A SCHEDULE. HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE , PLAN A VERSUS PLAN B, VERSUS PLAN C? YOU GET TO THAT POINT, YOU MAY HAVE TO GO BACK AROUND AND RE-CIRCLE THE WAGONS AND LOOK AGAIN ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO GO, BUT I THINK, GET THE EXPERT. WE HAVE USED THEM. LET'S GET THEIR VIEWS. THEY COULD SAY, LET'S DO THIS AND THAT SPEEDS IT UP MORE. IT IS JUST HOW YOU GO ABOUT TRYING TO DISH COME TO A SOLUTION. THE FIRST STEP IS TO FIGURE OUT -- WHAT IS THE PLAN OR PLANS THAT ARE EVEN POSSIBLE THAT YOU CAN DO. END
OF DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU, MR. STEVENSON.
THOSE LAST TWO SPEAKERS DID BRING UP SOME EXCELLENT POINTS.
AND THEY MAKE ME LEAN HEAVILY TOWARD WHAT MR. ASK YOU WAS SAYING. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE SEARCH. TO NOT DO SO WOULD BE FOOLISH. WE MUST -- WE SPENT MONEY ON THE SEARCH FIRM.
LET'S ENGAGE THE SEARCH FIRM. THAT IS OUR NEXT STEP. LET'S DIRECT STAFF TO DO THAT AND LET'S GET THEM TO BRING BACK TERMITES OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO WHAT I DESCRIBED ABOUT BRINGING THE CANDIDATES BUT, -- BACK.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT STAFF TO DO TONIGHT. GET THOSE TIMELINES BACK. THAT, I THINK WOULD BE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR TONIGHT. COMMISSIONER AYSCUE, YOUR LIGHT
IS ON. >> I WAS GOING TO FOLLOW-UP.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT MR. SMITH SEPARATE HE SAID IT MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN I DID. WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT TIME FRAMES POINT LET'S GET HIM INVOLVED. LET'S PICK UP THE PHONE TOMORROW AND TELL THEM, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US? AND IF WE CAN HAVE THOSE OPTIONS, LAID OUT TO US IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEN WE WILL KNOW MORE IN TWO WEEKS. IF WE NEED TO SPEEDED UP OR SLOW DOWN OR PICK ONE OF THE CANDIDATES THAT WAS STILL AVAILABLE, WE WILL HAVE OPTIONS. I'M ONLY SAYING, LET'S JUST GET THEM INVOLVED, AND THEN LET THEM ADVISE US, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A DECISION. THAT IS ALL I WAS SAYING. I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO DISCUSS TIME FRAMES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE EXPERTS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT TIMEFRAME IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE UNTIL THEY
TELL US. >> OF COURSE. WITH THAT IN MIND, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE UNORTHODOX, BUT BECAUSE WE ADDED THIS SLATE TO THE AGENDA, WE ARE GOING TO LET ALL PUBLIC SPEAKERS COME FORWARD. AS I YOU HAD THE HAND WRIST. MR. DEAN.
I'M SORRY. MR. DEAN, COME ON DOWN.
>> STAFF IS IN A DIFFICULT POSITION HERE. WE WANT A QUICK RECOVERY FOR CHARLIE. WE WILL HAVE TO MUDDLE THROUGH THE SITUATION. WE ARE IN A LOUSY PLACE. BECAUSE WE ARE PUSHING THINGS. THIS PROCESS, IF YOU GO THROUGH A RECRUITMENT PROCESS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT ON TOP OF THE ELECTION. I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. WE ARE GOING TO DO A QUICK TURNAROUND EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE STRETCHED IT OUT MONTHS.
[00:55:02]
WHILE THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY, I THINK IT WOULD BE THE WRONG DECISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY FOR THIS CITY COMMISSIONERS -- THREE OF WHOM MIGHT BE HERE -- TO INSERT A NEW CITY MANAGER. GIVEN WHAT IS FACING THE CITY, I THINK THE NEW CITY MANAGER COMING IN SHOULD HAVE THE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE OF THE COMMISSION THAT IS GOING TO BE SITTING HERE NEXT TERM.AND PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. DO NOT DO THIS ON THE EVE OF ELECTION AND HAVE SOMEBODY WHO , YOU KNOW, THE NEW COMMISSION MAY FEEL THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH. IT IS A TERRIBLE PROCESS TO GO THROUGH FOR THE CITY. LET'S NOT KEEP MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES AGAIN AND AGAIN AND
AGAIN. >> THANK YOU, MR. DEAN.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> I THINK IT IS UNTENABLE TO ASK JEREMIAH GLEASON OR ANYONE ELSE -- TO PROLONG THIS MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS POINT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW COMMISSION NOT TAKING EFFECT UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER. IT IS TRUE. I WON'T BE HERE NEXT WEEK. IT'S THE
END OF NOVEMBER. >> IT IS THE THIRD WEEK OF THE
MONTH. >> THE END OF NOVEMBER. ASKING ANYONE TO DO TWO OR MORE JOBS IS UNTENABLE. I THINK THIS COMMISSION GOT US INTO THIS SITUATION AND THE COMMISSION SHOULD FINISH WHAT IT STARTED. IT SHOULD ELECT A CITY MANAGER POSTHASTE. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE NEXT ELECTION. WELL, TWO YEARS LATER, THEY MAY NOT LIKE HIM, EITHER. SO I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS SETTLED. I THINK WE ARE IN A BAD SITUATION.
NEED TO GO FORWARD AND GET A PERMANENT CITY MANAGER. I THINK IF YOU ASKED THE STAFF THAT, IT IS A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME.
IT IS MONTHS. IT IS AN APPROPRIATE. I THINK IT PUTS US IN AN INAPPROPRIATE POSITION. YOU CANNOT DO TWO JOBS.
INAUDIBLE ] THAT IS MY POSITION.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS. COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>> I'M NOT DISAGREEING. YOU KNOW, I'M SIMPLY SAYING, LET'S JUST BRING THEM IN. THAT MAY CHANGE . IN TWO WEEKS, THEY MAY COME BACK AND GIVE US OPTIONS. WE MAY TURN AROUND AND HIRE SOMEBODY IN TWO MONTHS. THAT MAY HAPPEN.
>> SO YOU ARE ON BOARD WITH COMING BACK IN TWO WEEKS AT THE NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING AND REVISITING THIS WITH HAVING
STAFF IN THE INTERIM? >> WITH THE CITY CLERK AND I, THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN HAVE THAT.
HAVE TO BE JULY 2ND. >> THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS. THE NEXT THING HAPPENS. THE NEXT THING HAPPENS. I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE POINT THAT WE VETTED ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT MR. SMITH IS WELL VETTED. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR HIM, FINE. YOU MOVE ON. BUT THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW.
>> YOU JUST HEARD. IT IS TWO PEOPLE GONE. IT IS GOING TO BE A MONTH. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING -- AGAIN -- ALL
THESE PEOPLE ARE GONE. >> WE COULD, BUT YOU'RE THE ONLY COMMISSIONER THAT HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT. I HAVEN'T. PLEASE GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS NEW. THIS WAS DROPPED ON ME AT 1:00. I'VE HAD ZERO TIME TO REALLY THINK THIS THROUGH. AT THE END OF THE DAY, GIVE US SOME TIME. LET US REACH OUT TO LET OUR STAFF REACH OUT TO HIM . GET HIM ON BOARD. GET HIM INVOLVED, AND THAT MAYBE THE PROCESS MOVES A LOT FASTER THAN WE THINK, OR MAYBE IT DOESN'T.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO PUT A TIMEFRAME ON IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. I JUST WANT TO BRING THE EXPERTS IN PRINT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THEM AND GET THEIR ADVICE. THAT'S IT. I MAY COMPLETELY DISAGREE AND GO, NOT LISTENING TO YOU. LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH LEE SMITH. THAT MAY HAPPEN, BUT I STILL HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THEM. THAT'S ALL. THAT'S ALL I WANT. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. IN FACT, I'M HOPING NOT JUST TO HEAR A RESPONSE BACK AT A FUTURE MEETING. I'M HOPING THAT WHEN CITY STAFF ENGAGES, I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL CC US IN THE EMAIL AND I CAN SEE WHAT HE COMES BACK WITH TO OUR EMAIL BOXES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT IN A
[01:00:06]
SECOND. WE HAVE TWO QUESTIONS TO ASK. CAN I JUMP IN?>> SORRY. I'M WORKING ON THIS.
>> I WAS ON THE SAME TRAIN OF THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE. WOULD IT
BE OUR HR TEAM REACHING OUT? >> WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE? IF WE REACH OUT TOMORROW MORNING FIRST THING , COULD YOU INCLUDE ANY RESPONSES BACK TO US SO WE CAN SEE THOSE AND HELP FORMULATE OUR OPINIONS ON THIS?
>> YES SIR. DENISE, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. ABSOLUTELY.
WE WILL REACH OUT TO THEM TOMORROW AND TRY TO GET A TIMELINE FOR ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE WARRANTY THAT THEY OFFERED. AND GET THAT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AS SOON AS
>> WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THE TIME. WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS -- I'M HEARING THE CITY CLERK IS STAYING FOR TWO WEEKS. CAN WE -- AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT OFF, NOT HAVING IT AT THE NEXT ONE.
SPECIAL MEETING ON THIS WHEN YOU GET BACK. I DON'T WANT TO KICK THIS INTO JULY. I WANT TO MOVE AND MOVE NOW AND COME UP WITH A PLAN. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR TO OUR STAFF TO NOT HAVE A CITY MANAGER. I HAVE SAID THAT BEFORE, AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN. WE NEED A PERMANENT CITY MANAGER.
>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS DISAGREEING. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH OF AN ISSUE TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING. I HOPE WE CAN DO THAT AT A TIME WHEN BOB DOES RETURN FROM VACATION.
INFORMATION ON TIMELINES AND MULTIPLE OPTIONS? I WANT TO SEE FROM THE EXPERTS THAT WE HAVE ON RETAINER, I WOULD LIKE TO
HEAR ALL ABOUT OUR OPTIONS. >> CORRECT. YES. EVEN LAST TIME, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS. THEY DID PUT TOGETHE A VERY COMPREHENSIVE TIMELINE OF EACH STAFF -- STEP OF THE PROCESS AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION. I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.
>> WHAT I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR THIS TIME IS THAT EXPEDITED TIMELINE. WHAT WOULD THAT BE LIKE , WITH NOT HAVING TO USE -- BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE INPUT FROM OUR CITIZENS.
WHAT WITH THAT TIMELINE LOOK LIKE?
>> YEAH. I THINK IT WOULD BE SHORTENED JUST BECAUSE THE RECRUITMENT PRESSURE IS ALREADY COMPLETE. SO UNLESS THERE WOULD BE ANY CHANGES ANY OF YOU WOULD WANT TO MAKE TO IT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN JUST SETTING UP THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. AND YOUR
AVAILABILITY TO DO SO. >> OF COURSE. WELL, THANK YOU.
I FEEL GOOD WITH THAT . AND I THINK I WOULD GO FURTHER AND SAY -- AND THIS TIME WE WILL COME TO YOU IN JUST ONE MOMENT.
I THINK I WOULD GO FURTHER AND SAY THAT I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ENOUGH ISSUE FOR US TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING ON. ONE THAT I THINK WE SHOULD WITH THIS INFORMATION, WE CAN GET A BIKE TOUR IN BOXES. WE CAN ABSORB IT. THEY CAN BE INFORMED ABOUT AND COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL MEETING ON JUST THIS TOPIC. AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT -- THAT IS WHERE I'M LANDING ON THIS.
>> BEFORE WE HAVE ANY MORE DISCUSSION, -- IS READY TO SPEAK.
WELL,, MISS CHRIS NALLAN. >> WE ARE IN AN AWFUL SITUATION RIGHT NOW. WE'VE GONE THROUGH PLAN A, PLAN B, PLAN C, AND WE ARE AT PLAN D. ANYONE WHO HAS MANAGED A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A TERRIBLE SITUATION. I FEEL SO POORLY FOR JEREMIAH BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO ASK HIM TO DO THREE JOBS. I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN YOU, BUT THAT IS HIGHLY STRESSFUL. MR. GEORGE WAS DOING TWO JOBS. I FEEL FOR HIM. SO JUST A SUGGESTION. I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I AGREE WITH ALL COMMISSIONERS. YOU DON'T WANT TO RUSH INTO SOMETHING. SO WHAT ABOUT HIRING -- ASKING THE FIRM IF ONE OF THE CANDIDATES ARE AVAILABLE NOW TO COME IN ON A CONSULTANT BASIS FOR A FOUR MONTH, SIX MONTH CONTRACT BECAUSE I THINK THAT HERRING IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT LONGER THAN ANY OF US ARE THINKING. JUST LIKE LAST TIME, IT TOOK NEARLY A YEAR. SO WHAT ABOUT HIRING? I'VE BEEN IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY, WHERE WE HIRED EXECUTIVE LEVEL ON A FOUR MONTH BASIS. THAT MIGHT HELP A LOT. WHAT IF JEREMIAH FINDS A BETTER JOB AND HE LEAVES US? YOU KNOW, HE WILL SAY, I DID THREE JOBS. WE WILL REALLY BE IN TROUBLE THEN. SO WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY. I THINK HE CAN ONLY DO THAT THROUGH A TEMPORARY CONTRACT RIGHT NOW.
SO THANK YOU. >> THAT'S NOT A BAD IDEA. MISS
[01:05:05]
DENISE, WHEN YOU REACH OUT TO THE SEARCH FIRM, COULD YOU PLEASE ALSO HAVE THEM BRING US OPTIONS ON WHAT SHE JUST TOLD US? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL BUT I WILL ALLOWED IN THIS CASE. MR. KING, , DOWN FOR AROUND TWO ON THIS ONE.
>> PETE STEVENSON .1627 IHLEN DUNES WAY FERNANDINA BEACH.
ANOTHER THING TO MAYBE THINK ABOUT -- FOLLOWING COMMISSIONER AYSCUE'S IDEA, LET'S GET INFORMATION PRETTY OF SOMEBODY HERE WHO IS VERY TECHNICALLY COMPETENT, THAT CAN DO THAT EXTENSION OF THE BUDGET. IT MIGHT HELP TO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ARM. LOOK AT SOMEONE IN THE CITY. YOU HAVE MAYORS HERE THAT UNDERSTAND THE CITY, WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON, AND CAN JUMP IN AND WORK WITH THEM. THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DOUBLE TEAMING IT FOR A WHILE. LET MR. GLEASON DO WHAT HE IS VERY GOOD AT. HE HAS SOME TIME TO WORK ALSO ON THE BUDGET SIDE, AND THEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATORS.
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA, MR. PETE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WITH THAT MY THING WE DO HAVE -- WE HAVE MISS SANDY. COME ON DOWN. WELCOME.
'S BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK. YOU ARE ABOUT TO GO THROUGH THE READING PROCESS AND YOU NEED SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE. YOUR CHARTER REQUIRES SOMEBODY THAT HAS EXPERIENCE AND IS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS. SO, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS GOT TO BE LOOKED AT. I THINK THAT IDEA WAS EXCELLENT. I WOULD ADD, ONE CAVEAT IS TO JUST GO TO YOUR TOP LIST OF CANDIDATES, SEE IF YOU CAN BRING ONE OF THEM IN ON A TEMPORARY BASIS. IT WOULD BE KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, BECAUSE YOU CAN TRY THEM OUT AND SEE HOW THEY WORK OUT AS YOUR CITY MANAGER. THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN VETTED. THEY ARE ALREADY MEETING THE CRITERIA.
INSTEAD OF GOING TO SOMEONE ON THE OUTSIDE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, I THINK YOU HAVE A POOL OF CANDIDATES THAT ARE READY TO GO. YOU CAN TRY THEM OUT ON A THREE MONTH OR SIX MONTH BASIS OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT. YOU GET TO SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT. THE NEW COMMISSION COMES IN. YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY WANT. THAT IS HOW THE OLD ONE WENT OUT. NOT EVERYONE LIKED THE OLD ONE. SO JUST A SUGGESTION.
>> NOT A BAD IDEA. THANK YOU, MISS SANDY. ART, WITH THAT IN MIND, I THINK WE DO HAVE SOMETHING MOVING FORWARD. WE ARE GOING TO REACH OUT TO THE SEARCH FIRM. MISS DENISE WILL BRING BACK WHAT THAT SEARCH FIRM SAYS AND WILL SHARE IT WITH ALL OF US. WE WILL HAVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THERE. WE HAVE HAD CITIZEN COMMENTS THAT OUTLINED ADDITIONAL THINGS.
INAUDIBLE ] MISS DENISE WILL BRING THAT BACK. FURTHERMORE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE DATE THAT WE CAN, AND SO, COULD YOU PLEASE GET YOUR SCHEDULE WITH JEREMIAH ON WHENEVER YOU ARE BACK.
>> WILL, IT IS DEPENDENT UPON THE CITY CLERK, ALS. WE WILL ALL BE BACK HERE BY JUNE 19TH IS A CITY HOLIDAY. JUNETEENTH.
WE ARE ALL BACK IN THE OFFICE ON JUNE 20TH. IF YOU WANTED TO DISCUSS THE DATES AT SOME POINT TONIGHT, WE CAN TRY.
>> EXCELLENT. THAT WEEK. SO CAROLINE, YOUR FIRST DAY OFFICE TOMORROW. WELL THEN, MISS SPOCK, WHILE YOU ARE HERE, I WOULD LIKE, IF YOU COULD, JUST SOMETIME, SEND AN EMAIL OUT TO US THROUGH THE WEEK OF JUNE 20TH, LET'S HAVE THAT SPECIAL MEETING WHERE WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S DO THAT ONLINE. OKAY. THANK YOU. DOES EVERYONE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT RESOLUTION? REACH OUT TO THE SEARCH FIRM AND HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING? ALL RIGHT. I SEE SOME NODS AND YESES. WITH THAT, LET'S BRING IT BACK TO THE MOTION THAT WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND ON. THAT IS TO MAKE JEREMIAH GLEASON OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER. WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WILL SAY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU DOING GREAT WORK FOR US. AND I KNOW YOU WILL. WITH THAT, LET'S CALL ROLE.
>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> YES.
>> MAYOR BEAN. >> AND YES. CHARLIE IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS --'S
[01:10:01]
>> IF YOU ARE WATCHING THIS, TURN IT OFF AND GET SOME SLEEP,
SPEAKERS ] >> ON FURTHER REVIEW, I HOPE HE
[5.1 AWARD OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 24-03 - FEMA TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES - RESOLUTION 2024-91 AWARDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) 24-03 FOR FEMA TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO GRANTWORKS INC. AS THE PRIMARY VENDOR, AND TO TETRA TECH, INC. AS A SECONDARY VENDOR; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Awards RFP 24-03 for FEMA Technical Support Services to Grantworks Inc. as the primary vendor and Tetra Tech Inc. as the secondary vendor. ]
IS NOT WATCHING THIS. I HOPE HE IS GETTING REST. THAT'S GO BACK TO RESOLUTION 5.1, AWARD AND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR FEMA TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES. OUR CITY MANAGER, MR.JEREMIAH GLEASON. >> THANK YOU FOR THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. THOSE ARE BIG SHOES TO FEEL -- FILL .
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR. JEREMIAH IS THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER. HE HAS THE FULL POWERS OF CITY MANAGER. IS THAT CRYSTAL-CLEAR? DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THAT?
>> BY UNANIMOUS VOTE. GO AHEAD.
>> ITEM 5.1. THIS IS FOR FEMA TECHNICAL SUPPORT CYSTS -- SERVICES. THIS IS A CONTRACT WE DON'T WANT TO USE. THIS IS FOR WHEN WE HAVE A DISASTER AND WE NEED TO NAVIGATE THE FEMA HIERARCHY, IF YOU WILL, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL -- RECOMMENDS AWARDING THIS PROPOSAL TO GRANTWORKS AS OUR PRIMARY VENDOR AND TETRA TECH AS HER SECONDARY VENDOR.
>> I MOVED TO APPROVE POINT >> SECOND.
>> I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND. BEFORE WE JUMP IN, WE HAVE A REQUEST TO SPEAK. MR. JACK EMBER, COME ON DOWN.
>> JACK EMBER. 1003 BROOME STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH.
HAVEN'T MOVED SINCE THE LAST HOUR. A CONCERNING THING IS THE SECONDARY VENDOR, TETRA TECH. ANYBODY HEAR FROM TETRA TECH? NOBODY IS HERE FROM TETRA TECH. THEY ARE THE PRIMARY VENDOR ON ITEM 5.2. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO BETTER RESEARCH ON TETRA TECH BECAUSE I HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE WITH THEM ON THE PROJECT, IN MASSACHUSETTS, AT CAPE COD. MASSACHUSETTS MILITARY RANGE, AND THEY PERFORMED VERY POORLY . THEY ALMOST COST US THE WHOLE PROJECT. JUST TO GET INTO SOME SPECIFICS, THEY DIDN'T PAY SUBCONTRACTORS. SUBCONTRACTORS THREATENED TO LEAVE. ONE SUBCONTRACTOR DID LEAVE AND THAT IS WHEN PEOPLE STARTED GETTING PAID. THE OTHER THING IS THEY ASKED FOR A CORPORATE CARD. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE TO GET GAS FOR VEHICLES. ANY EQUIPMENT EXPENDITURES, ET CETERA. WE RESEARCHED IT. IT WASN'T A CORPORATE CARD. NO. THEY WANTED US TO GO OUT INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS. SUBCONTRACTORS, AND GET A CARD WITH THEIR NAME ON IT, BUT WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. IN OTHER WORDS, ANOTHER PERSONAL CREDIT CARD FOR US, THAT WE WOULD GET REIMBURSED FOR AT SOME LATER DATE. WE SAID NO.
THEY SENT A HIGH-POWERED MANAGER FROM THEIR MAIN OFFICE IN PASADENA THAT SAID, I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU ARE NOT GETTING THIS CARD. WE SAID, WE DON'T LOAN MONEY TO MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS. WE ARE HERE TO DO A JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE'S OTHER COMPLICATIONS IN THE WORKINGS OF THE JOB. FINDING 1.75 MILLIMETER PROJECTILES DISH ARTILLERY PROJECTILES, USING PICKAXES. IT WAS NOT FUN. AND VERY HARD SOIL. WE SAID, YOU NEED EXCAVATORS AND THE. THE WHOLE THING WAS RUNNING AMOK. WHEN WE LEFT, IN OUR CONTRACT, IT SAYS WE ARE TO HAVE DEMOBILIZATION . THEY REFUSED DEMOBILIZATION PAY FOR ANYBODY, BUT THE HIGHER ECHELON THAT HAD THE CORPORATE CARD. THEIR REPUTATION GOES BEYOND THEM.
THEY HAVE AN OFFICE IN ORLANDO . THEY HAD A SITUATION AT HUNTERS POINT, CALIFORNIA, THAT WENT VERY WRONG, DEALING WITH A FRAUDULENT SAMPLES OF RADIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATED SOILS. AND SINCE THAT TIME, THEY'VE HAD MULTIPLE LAWSUITS.
CONCERNING FRAUD. I JUST ASK THAT YOU TAPE -- TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AND DO BETTER RESEARCH BEFORE YOU GIVE A LOT OF THESE A LOT OF THESE ISSUES. SINCE THIS IS IN A PRELIMINARY STAGE AT THIS POINT, THIS IS A GOOD CHANCE TO GO OUT AND FIND
[01:15:09]
PROBABLY A BETTER COMPANY. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU, MR. EMBER. WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. IT IS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
>> VICE MAYOR. >> JEREMIAH, ARE YOU AWARE -- DID YOU THAT THIS CONTRACTOR THAT WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT? THE SECONDARY CONTRACTOR? TETRA TECH?
>> YES, WE DID. YOU WILL SEE THIS AND 5.1, 5.2, AT 5.3. THIS IS UNIQUE, WHAT WE ARE WORDED WITH THIS CONTRACT WITH MULTIPLE VENDORS. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, AS ALLUDED TO, WHEN THE DISASTER HITS, EVERY CITY, EVERY COUNTY IS FIGHTING FOR THAT CONTRACT. CONTRACTORS TEND TO GO WHERE THE MONEY IS AT. WHERE THERE IS THE MOST VOLUME. THAT IS WHY THE CITY HAS LEARNED TO TRY TO AWARD A NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO. WE HAD LIMITED RESPONSES HERE FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES, SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING AWARDING GRANTWORKS AS PRIMARY WITH TETRA TECH AS SECONDARY. WE ARE LOOKING TO AWARD THOSE TWO UP TO THREE CONTRACTORS SO WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY OF NUMBER ONE DOESN'T RESPOND, WE CAN MOVE TO NUMBER TWO QUICKLY.
>> JUST SO I'M CLEAR ON THIS, GRANTWORKS, IF AVAILABLE, WILL BE THE VENDOR. WE WILL ONLY GO TO TETRA TECH IF GRANTWORKS IS
NOT AVAILABLE. >> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. NO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS. CALLED THE POLE.
[5.2 AWARD OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 24-04 - DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES - RESOLUTION 2024-92 AWARDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) 24-04 FOR DISASTER DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES TO TETRA TECH INC. AS THE PRIMARY VENDOR, AND TO DEBRISTECH, LLC. AS A SECONDARY VENDOR; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Awards RFP 24-04 for Disaster Debris Monitoring Services to Tetra Tech Inc. as the primary vendor and DebrisTech LLC as the secondary vendor.]
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> YES. FOR THE
>> THAT PASSES 5-0. MR. GLEASON POINT
>> THIS IS PROPOSAL RESOLUTION 24.04. THIS IS ANOTHER COMPONENT IN DISASTER RECOVERY. THIS IS IS WE HAVE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS THAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED, THIS IS THE THIRD PARTY THAT WOULD DO THAT.
FOX GUARDING THE HENHOUSE, SO TO SPEAK.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. GLEASON?
>> AND YOU HAVE RESEARCHED THESE COMPANIES?
>> YES SIR, COMMISSIONER RUSS POINT WE WENT THROUGH WITH OUR PEER REVIEW PROCESS. WE HAD A THREE-PERSON EVALUATION TEAM AND WE RESEARCHED ALL THE CONTRACTORS. WE FIND ISSUES WITH EVERY CONTRACTOR, BUT STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[5.3 AWARD OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 24-05 - DISASTER DEBRIS REMOVAL/HAULING SERVICES - RESOLUTION 2024-93 AWARDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) 24-05 FOR DISASTER DEBRIS REMOVAL/HAULING SERVICES TO DRC EMERGENCY SERVICES, LLC AS THE PRIMARY VENDOR, AND PHILLIPS AND JORDAN, INC., AFTERMATH DISASTER RECOVERY, INC., AND JB COXWELL CONTRACTING, INC. AS ADDITIONAL VENDORS; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Awards RFP 24-05 for Disaster Debris Removal/Hauling Services to DRC Emergency Services as the primary contractor, and three other vendors: Phillips and Jordan, Inc., Aftermath Disaster Recovery, Inc., and JB Coxwell, Inc.]
>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> YES.
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> YES.
>> MAYOR BEAN. >> YES. AND THAT PASSES, 5-0.
DISASTER REMOVAL HAULING SERVICES.
>> DISASTER DEBRIS REMOVAL. THIS IS IF WE WERE TO EMPLOY THE CONTRACT, THIS IS ONE THAT WOULD RECEIVE THE MOST ATTENTION AND WOULD BE THE MOST COSTLY. WE HAD QUITE A FEW SUBMITTALS FOR THIS RFP. AS I REFERENCED EARLIER, THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF OTHER -- IF THE STORM WERE TO HIT, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY COUNTY. THIS IS WHERE STAFF RECOMMENDS THE CONTRACT TO DRC EMERGENCY SERVICES. JB COXWELL CONTRACTING, INC. AS A THIRD. WE RECOMMEND CONTRACTS TO ALL THREE, AND --
>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> GOING BACK TO THOSE OTHER QUESTIONS I ASKED -- YOU MENTIONED THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF BIDDING ON THIS.
>> IT IS MUCH LESS FOR THE FEMA TECHNICAL SERVICES. WE HAD 10 RESPONSES ON THE DEBRIS HAULING.
>> BUT THE OTHER TWO, IT WAS VERY LIMITED.
>> THERE WAS MUCH LESS, YEAH. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> SO WITH THAT IN MIND, DO I HEAR A MOTION?
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[5.4 AWARD OF INVITATION TO BID 24-13 AND BUDGET AMENDMENT - ER ROOTER INC. - RESOLUTION 2024-94 AWARDING INVITATION TO BID (ITB) 24-13 TO ER ROOTER INC. FOR THE ATLANTIC RECREATION CENTER WOMEN'S RESTROOM AND LOCKER ROOM RENOVATIONS; APPROVING A BUDGET TRANSFER; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Awards ITB 24-13 to ER Rooter Inc. for the Atlantic Recreation Center pool complex women's restroom and locker room renovations and approves a budget transfer of $108,933 from the Recreation Department Capital Improvements account, 3007200 56300 to Project 24015.]
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> YES.
>> MAYOR BEAN. >> YES. THAT PASSES FIVE MINUS 0.5.4. AWARD OF INNOVATION TO BID 24-13 AND BUDGET AMENDMENT READ ER ROOTER INC. FOR RENOVATION OF THE WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOM AT THE ATLANTIC RECREATION CENTER. THIS WAS LESS THAN I ANTICIPATED SO WE ARE EAGER AND EXCITED TO GET THIS PROJECT STARTED. THESE RESTROOMS REALLY NEED A FACELIFT, A RENOVATION.
OF THE MONEY THAT WE EARMARKED FOR IMPROVEMENTS. STAFF
RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. >> I HEAR A MOTION AT A SECOND.
[01:20:01]
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. GLEASON? WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BRIEFLY IN THE MEETING -- HOW IT CAME IN UNDER BUDGET, WHICH IS GREATNESS POINT YOU MENTIONED, THIS MIGHT BE ABLE TO COVER THEMEN'S RESTROOM, AS WELL. >> IS THAT --
>> WE HOPE. LADIES COME FIRST. IF THAT'S AVAILABLE.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THIS DONE TONIGHT.
] >> I WANT TO MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A WHILE FOR THESE RESTROOMS TO GET RENOVATED. I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM TIME TO TIME, ESPECIALLY FROM THE WOMEN THAT THEIR RESTROOMS ARE ATROCIOUS. I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE GETTING THE REPAIRS THAT IT
NEEDS. THANK YOU. >> WITH THAT, WE HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS. LET'S CALL ROLE.
[5.5 BUDGET TRANSFERS - FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF CLUB - RESOLUTION 2024-95 APPROVING BUDGET TRANSFERS FOR THE FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF CLUB IN FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approving a Golf Club budget transfer, in the amount of $8,500.00 from the Machine Equipment account, 410 56400 into the Golf Promotional account, 410 54800 and $34,295.00 from Machine Equipment account, 410 56400 into the Golf Operating Supplies account, 410 55200 for a total transfer amount of $42,795.00.]
>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN . >> YES.
>> 5.5 POINT BUDGET TRANSFERS FOR THE FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF
CLUB. >> THIS IS RESOLUTION 20-24 DASH 95, APPROVING A BUDGET TRANSFER FOR THE FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF CLUB IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. BASICALLY, WE HAD INSTALLED AN IRRIGATION PUMP AND IT CAME TO $42,000 UNDER BUDGET. WE ARE TAKING SOME OF THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY AND TRANSFERRING IT BACK TO OPERATIONS, MEANING CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES FOR THE GOLF COURSE. IT IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL CONTINUE.
>> IS THIS ALL INTERNAL TO THE GOLF COURSE BUDGET?
>> YES OR POINT >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> NO QUESTIONS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, SCOTT. IT CAME UNDER BUDGET. AS USUAL, THE GOLF COURSE JUST KEEPS PERFORMING WELL. UNDER OUR MANAGEMENT. SO THANK YOU. I'M GLAD TO SEE -- I SAW OUR NEW HIRE --
>> I THINK INTERIM CITY MANAGER JEREMIAH WAS GOING TO MAKE A
COMMENT ABOUT THAT. >> I WILL LET HIM DO THAT
LATER. >> BUT HE WAS -- THIS IS HIS SECOND DAY ON THE JOB. SO I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HIM PERSONALLY YESTERDAY AND MOST OF TODAY. BUT YEAH. WE ARE EXCITED. THE GOLF COURSES HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT IS IMPROVING. AND I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE ON THE COURSE TO HELP ON THAT SIDE OF
>> PERFECT. WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CITY
CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.
[5.6 SECOND AMENDMENT - SHORE PROTECTION PROJECT AND ENGINEERING DOCUMENTATION REPORT - RESOLUTION 2024-96 APPROVING AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 TO THE PROJECT COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY AND THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NASSAU COUNTY, FLORIDA SHORE PROTECTION PROJECT AND THE 2019 ENGINEERING DOCUMENTATION REPORT (EDR); AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves the Department of the Army and City of Fernandina Beach Second Amendment to the construction of the Nassau County, Florida, Shore Protection Project and the 2019 Engineering Documentation Report in an effort to ensure that the 2024 beach renourishment activities may timely proceed.]
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>> THAT PASSES. OUR CITY ATTORNEY, MISS
>>. >> THIS IS HOUSEKEEPING. ONE YEAR AGO, BE APPROVED AMENDMENT ONE TO THE AGREEMENT, WHICH PROVIDED FOR DOING RESTORATION PROJECT. AND THEN, THE CITY RESCINDED THE AMENDMENT AT A MEETING A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND AFTER WE TOOK THAT ACTION, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS -- I THINK IT WAS MISCOMMUNICATION -- SAID THE CITY ON AMENDMENT TWO. IT WAS THE SAME THING AS AMENDMENT ONE. AMENDMENT TWO IS HOUSEKEEPING. IT IS ACTION YOU HAVE TAKEN BEFORE. IT MEANS THE DOING RESTORATION OF IT AND THE AGREEMENT WITH THE ARMY CORPS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NO LONGER A VIABLE OPTION BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT FOR THE PRIVATE BEACH SAND THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT TYPE OF PROJECT. SO WE HAVE AGREEMENTS THAT COVER THE BEACH READ NOURISHMENT BUT NOT THAT POINT WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL. AFTER THIS ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ADDING
[Additional item]
ANOTHER AGREEMENT DEALING WITH THE ARMY CORPORATE>> WE HAVE A MOTION AT A SECOND GRADE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> YES.
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> YES.
>> THIS GOT LOST IN THE EMAILS. THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, EVERY YEAR, IF YOU RECALL, THEY RECEIVED THE DOLPHIN PARKING LOT. WE CALL THAT DOLPHIN STREET AND FLETCHER CLOSED. AND WITH A BIG GAIN AROUND. THAT IS THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE MOBILIZED FOR EACH READ NOURISHMENT. THAT PROJECT EVERY YEAR IS WHEN THE NAVY DREDGES THE CHANNEL FOR THE SUBMARINES. THE SAND THAT COMES OUT OF THAT CHANNEL EVERY YEAR GOES BACK ONTO FERNANDINA BEACH. AND IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM TO PUT THAT BACK ON , THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ASKS FOR A TEMPORARY EASEMENT TO USE THAT DOLPHIN PARKING AREA FOR A FEW MONTHS. WE NEED TO ADD THOSE EASEMENTS, WHICH WILL
[01:25:06]
COME BACK NEXT MONTH TO BE SEEN, AND IT'S ALL TRANSPARENT. WE REALLY DO NEED TO SEND THIS BACK TO THE COURT.THERE IS NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR. THE EASEMENTS ONLY
LAST 12 MONTHS. >> I MOVED TO PUT IT ON THE
AGENDA. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. KEEP IN MIND, THIS REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY. FOUR YESES TO DO IT. SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> VICE MAYOR STURGIS. >> YES. THIS ITEM IS ON THE
AGENDA. >> PUT IT ON THE EASEMENT.
SECOND ON APPROVING THE EASEMENT. ANY FURTHER
DISCUSSION ON THESE? >> THE ONLY DISCUSSION IS THIS IS VERY GOOD. THEY GIVE US SAND FOR FREE.
>> NOT ONLY YES, BUT HELL YES.
>> REITERATE TO ALL CITIZENS, THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME FOOTPRINT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FROM LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT. THIS IS NOTHING DIFFERENT. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO DO TO GET SOME FRESH SAND IN OUR BEACH. LOOK FOR THAT. WITH THAT, LET'S CALL ROLE.
>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> YES.
[5.7 SUNSETTING THE PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL (PEG) CHANNEL COMMITTEE - RESOLUTION 2024-97 SUNSETTING THE PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL (PEG) CHANNEL COMMITTEE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Permanently sunsets the PEG Channel Committee.]
>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> YES.
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> YES.
>> MAYOR BEAN. >> YES. THAT PASSES 5-0. 5.7.
CENSORING THE PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND GOVERNMENTAL
CHANNEL COMMITTEE. >> I'M ALREADY UP HERE. I THINK YOU ARE AWARE FROM OUR INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS OVER THE LAST WEEK -- WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS LEFT ON THE P.E.G.
COMMITTEE. WE RECOMMEND THAT IT BE SUNSET IT PERMANENTLY.
INAUDIBLE ] ONE OF THE JOBS OF THE P.E.G. COMMITTEE WAS MAKING SURE IT MET POLICY.
THAT WAS PRIOR TO THE P.E.G. COMMITTEE REINSTITUTING IT.
>> FIRST, WE WILL DO CITIZEN COMMENTS. WE INVITE MR. JACKIE
TO THE PODIUM. >> CHECK AMBER, EXCEPT WHEN I'M HERE, MET 1003 BROOME STREET FOR FERNANDINA BEACH. MY CONCERN ON SUNSETTING THIS COMMITTEE IS THAT THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE ASSESSMENT AND AUDIT OF THE CITY'S USE OF THIS CHANNEL. I THINK INSTEAD OF SUNSETTING IT, WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS. WE NEED TO FIND MORE MEMBERS. THAT'S ALL. I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING ANYTHING ANYWHERE IN THE CITY'S INFORMATION, ASKING FOR MORE PEOPLE FOR THIS COMMITTEE. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE CHANNEL IS UP AND RUNNING PROPERLY. THAT IS WHY IT NEEDS TO BE ASSESSED AND AUDITED. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THROUGH. I HAVE FRIENDS OF MINE -- THEY WENT UP TO TENNESSEE FOR A SHORT TERM -- A COUPLE OF MEETINGS BACK. THEY TRIED TO LOOK AT THE MEETING. WHAT THEY GOT WAS A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO STARRING MR. BEAN. SO I JUST THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD RESOURCE. SOME PEOPLE ARE BEDRIDDEN. AT SOME POINT, CHARLIE IS GOING TO WANT TO WATCH IT. THE THING IS, THIS IS ANOTHER RESOURCE TO GRANT PUBLIC ACCESS. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS CHANNEL . SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS THE BEST. IT IS UP TO CERTAIN STANDARDS. I THINK THAT IS BEYOND A COMMUNICATION
DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. AMBER. CITY
CLERK. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE P.E.G.
MEETINGS ARE STREAMED THROUGH THE CITY WEBSITE.
THE P.E.G. CHANNEL IS COMCAST CHANNEL 264. IT IS TWO SEPARATE THINGS. I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE STREAMING OPTIONS AVAILABLE. I KNOW A LOT OF CITIZENS WATCH FROM HOME, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. OKAY BREAD WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IN A COMMISSIONER
DISCUSSION ON THIS? >> I DON'T HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND. >>- PREMATURELY JUMPING IN ON
[01:30:07]
THE. TO HEAR A MOTION? >> SECOND. I HEAR A MOTION AT A SECOND. NOW, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> I THINK THIS COMMITTEE -- WE DID LOOK FOR PEOPLE. IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE. IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR YEARS. I THINK THE IDEA HAS COME AND GONE.
>> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER ROSS, THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I WILL REITERATE. I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THERE IS A PRESENCE FOR SHIPMENT TO MAKE SURE THOSE AT HOME CAN WATCH THE MEETINGS. THAT IS IMPORTANT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, AS WE HAVE, AS FAR AS WE ALL REMEMBER. WITH THAT IN
MIND, PLEASE CALL ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.
[5.8 SOLE SOURCE VENDOR APPROVAL AND BUDGET TRANSFER - GREENFIELD OUTDOOR FITNESS INC. - RESOLUTION 2024-98 APPROVING GREENFIELD OUTDOOR FITNESS, INC. AS A SOLE SOURCE VENDOR FOR THE PURCHASE OF EGANS CREEK PARK NEW/REPLACEMENT OUTDOOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $56,175.00, AND APPROVES BUDGET TRANSFERS; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approving Greenfield Outdoor Fitness as the sole source vendor to replace ten pieces of Egans Creek park outdoor fitness equipment in an amount not to exceed $56,175.00. ]
>> YES. >> VICE MAYOR STURGES.
>> YES.. THAT PASSES. 5.8. SOLE-SOURCE VENDOR APPROVAL AND PROJECT TRANSFER. GREENFIELD OUTDOORS FITNESS INC.
>> THIS IS RESOLUTION 2024-98, PROVING GREENFIELD OTHER FITNESS EQUIPMENT THIS IS THE ACCOUNT AT EGAN'S CREEK PARK.
ONE OF THE ITEMS AND HERE IS THE SOLE-SOURCE. THAT IS IN THERE BECAUSE THERE IS A WARRANTY ISSUE WITH THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT. WE ARE GETTING 60% OFF OF THOSE ITEMS. WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK AND HAVE IT GALVANIZED JUST BECAUSE OF WHERE IT IS, AND IT'S PROXIMITY TO THE OCEAN. THIS IS ALLOWING US TO GET A PRODUCT THAT WOULD COST US AROUND $90,000 FOR THE PRICE TAG OF $56,000. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR SOLE SOURCE. WE ARE GOING TO INSTALL THE EQUIPMENT.
IT IS GOING TO BE GALVANIZED NOW. WE ARE GETTING 50% OFF BECAUSE WE FALL WITHIN A WARRANTY PERIOD. THAT IS THE MAIN REASON FOR THE SOLE SOURCE.
>> I HEAR A MOTION? >> AND A SECOND.
>> VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. SCOTT, THIS IS ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE OF US SAVING MONEY AND REFURBISHING OUR PARKS AND UPGRADING THEM. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS MUCH NEEDED.
>> ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, LET'S CALL THE ROLL. MS. BESS.
[5.9 BUDGET TRANSFER - PLANNING AND CONSERVATION - RESOLUTION 2024-99 APPROVING A PLANNING AND CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT BUDGET TRANSFER IN FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves reallocating $50,000 from the Planning and Conservation Salaries account, 0011500 51200 into the Professional Services account, 0011500 53100 to facilitate the completion of a downtown traffic circulation and parking assessment and update to the Community Redevelopment Area Plan.]
>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> YES.
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> YES.
>> MAYOR BEAN. >> YES. BUDGET TRANSFER ,
PLANNING AND CONSERVATION. >> THIS IS 24.299 -- APPROVING A PLANNING AND CONSERVATION THE PROJECT BUDGET TRANSFER FOR COMPLETION OF THE DOWNTOWN PARKING ASSESSMENT AND UPDATES OF THE COMMITTEE -- COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL BUT WITH SOME HESITATIONS.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE? >> GO AHEAD.
>> SO, WE UNDERSTAND THAT FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S BEEN AN ELEMENT OF THIS PROJECT THAT HAS GOTTEN UNDERWAY. THIS IS FOR SOME TRACK ACCOUNT WORK THAT BEGAN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. HERE IS THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE. THE DATA THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR DOWNTOWN PARKING CIRCULATION -- ARE PARKING, LIKABILITY -- A NUMBER OF THOSE THINGS IS FROM 2000 AND .1 STAFF RECOMMENDS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH -- WHETHER IT IS MAKING A STREET ONE WAY OR ADDING PARKING OR TAKING AWAY PARKING, ANY ADJUSTMENTS , THAT DATA OF HOW THE VEHICLES ARE BEHAVING ON THE STREETS DOWNTOWN, WE DON'T HAVE THAT .
WE NEED THAT DATA TO BRING TO THE COMMUNITY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE. SO THAT IS THE INTENT OF THIS STUDY, TO PROVIDE THAT QUANTIFIABLE DATA BY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT WAYS TO IMPROVE THE HIGHLY VISITED, HIGHLY TRAFFICKED DOWNTOWN. SO THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT TO GET THAT FOUR PHASE STUDY UNDERWAY. WE HAVE ONE ELEMENT OF IT NOW. STAFF RECOMMENDS MOVING FORWARD WITH APPROVAL. I TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAD A FEW -- LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT PARKING ABOUT MAYBE A PARKING GARAGE OR HOW ARE PARKING IS HANDLED DOWNTOWN. HOWEVER CITY COULD HAVE TOO MUCH GOING ON.
PLENTY OF PARKING BUT NOWHERE TO PARK. IF WE HAVE A STUDY THAT TELLS US ACCURATE FIGURES ON WHAT'S GOING ON, WE WON'T
BE GUESSING ANYMORE. WILL WE? >> CORRECT.
>> I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING. I THINK WE SHOULD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT. WITHOUT THIS STUDY, WE DON'T KNOW -- YOU DON'T KNOW. YOU CAN'T PERCEIVE WITH YOUR JOB AND SAY, WE CAN MAKE ONE STREET ONE WAY, OR WE COULD CHANGE SOMETHING
[01:35:02]
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> I AM ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THIS AMENDMENT. THIS IS A WASTE OF $60,000. HAVE ANY OF YOU READ WHAT THIS THAT IT REALLY
DOES? YOU FRET THE PROPOSAL? >> YES. IT IS A TRAFFIC PLAN.
>> HAVE YOU READ WHAT THE CONTRACT IS? WHAT THEY ARE
ASKING THE CONTRACTOR TO DO. >> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
>> WHAT SPECIFICALLY WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACK. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SCOPE OF SERVICES. HAVE ANY OF YOU READ
THAT SCOPE OF SERVICES? >> I THINK YOU ARE ABOUT TO
READ IT TO US NOW. >> I'M NOT BECAUSE IT IS PAGES AND PAGES. IT'S HERE TO DO THIS ONE OF THE THINGS IT IS SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT IS THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN. THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN IS BEING REENGINEERED. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO PAYING THE $15,000 THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT. I DO NOT, WITHOUT FURTHER EVALUATION AND COMMENT ON EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THIS $60,000 -- I AM OPPOSED TO THIS. AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I'M NOT OPPOSED -- IF YOU READ THE SCOPE OF SERVICES -- WHICH I'VE READ -- I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE HAS -- THIS IS FAR MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT. IT IS TO DO THINGS THAT I THINK ARE AN ABSOLUTE WASTE OF TIME. WE SPENT DOLLAR AFTER DOLLAR ON GETTING STUDIES. BROTHER PUT THAT $60,000 AND PUT IT ASIDE DO A WORKABILITY STUDY. WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS BEFORE THE CIRCULATION STUDY, BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP. THAT IS A WASTE OF TIME.
MAKE DECISIONS POINT THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. WHAT I WOULD PREFER IS THAT WE PAY FOR THE $15,000 THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SPENT, AND COME BACK WITH A MUCH MORE DETAILED -- WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR OUR MONEY, AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO -- WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO IT? MAYBE SUBSTITUTING A WORKABILITY STUDY FOR THIS -- A LOT OF THIS STUFF -- PART OF THE STUDY'S SCOPE IS TO GO TO THE STATE AND GET MATERIAL THAT THE STATE HAS ON THE 36 SQUARE BLOCKS. THERE IS NO MATERIAL. WHY ARE WE PAYING SOMEBODY TO DO THAT? I WENT THROUGH THE SCOPE OF SERVICES AND I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA TODAY. I'M NOT AS PREPARED AS I WOULD BE.
I THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION. I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE FUND $15,000 TO PAY WHAT WAS SPENT.
THINKS THAT WE SHOULD GO FURTHER WITH STUDIES AND THEY WILL COME BACK WITH WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT, AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT US.
I'M GOING TO POINT OUT THAT THIS MONEY WAS NOT IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. THIS MONEY IS COMING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SPENT ON THE TWO POSITIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED. THAT IS WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM. THIS WAS NOT A BUDGETED ITEM. IT WAS A SURPRISE TO ME. I TALKED TO CHARLIE GEORGE ABOUT THIS. HE ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING IN HERE ABOUT PARKING AND THE CIRCULATION STUDY WAS GOING TO GO ON . I THINK THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE THIS TIME AND I'M GOING TO MAKE THE OCEAN THAT WE APPROVE IT, BUT FOR THE $15,000.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT. REAL QUICK, LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>> YEAH. I GET YOUR POINT. I GET YOUR POINT, MR. ROSS PRATO NOT TRYING TO ARGUE THAT. I ALSO KNOW THIS WOULD BE NORMALLY KELLY'S PRESENTATION. SO, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO
HEAR THAT . >> LET'S PAY $15,000 TODAY AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND VISIT THE REST OF IT.
>> DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU, JEREMIAH?? VOTE YES ON THIS. WE WILL COVER WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT, AN ADDITIONAL 45. IT WILL BE ANOTHER RESOLUTION IN THE FUTURE THAT WILL COME BACK OUT AND TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE PROJECTS.
>> YES. COMMISSIONER AYSCUE MENTIONED THAT KELLY GIBSON IS UP. SHE CAN SPEAK MORE TO THIS PROJECT. COMMISSIONER ROSS BRINGS A GOOD POINTS BUT WE DO HAVE THE CIRCULATION DATA THAT WE'VE BEEN GATHERING ONCE IT OPENS, YOU HAVE DATED SOME OF YOUR DATA. SO WE WANT TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT. WE ALREADY DID SOME PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC COUNTING MEASURES. THAT IS WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT. WE NEED THAT MONEY. THIS WAS THE REST OF THAT. SHE IS BLUDGEONING FOR OTHER ELEMENTS BUT SOME OF THESE PHASES IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
[01:40:05]
ADDRESS OTHER THINGS LIKE PARKING AND WORKABILITY. WE WILL BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING LATER SOMETIME>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> CHIP, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO WAIT AND DELAY IT, WE CAN DELAY IT. UNTIL KELLY IS HERE. I'M FINE WITH PAYING WHAT WE OWE RIGHT NOW AND MOVING FORWARD, BUT I JUST FEEL THAT WE DO NEED THE NUMBERS AND IF WE WANT TO DO IT LATER, I WAS ASSUMING THAT KELLY WAS ON BOARD WITH THIS BEING DONE RIGHT NOW. SHE JUST WASN'T HERE. SO IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, AND WE NEED HER TO BE HERE, WE CAN WAIT. IT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LITTLE OFF. SHE WILL BE BACK.
>> BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS ITEM, I SEE NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. I WILL SAY I BELIEVE IN THIS PROJECT. THIS IS SOMETHING IN MY CONVERSATION WITH STAFF, I THINK THIS IS DATA THAT WE NEED TO HAVE TO MAKE A GOOD, INFORMED DECISIONS FOR THE BROUGHT UP BY COMMISSIONER ROSS AND COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. AND YEAH. LET'S JUST WAIT. THERE IS NO REASON TO RUSH THIS THROUGH. WE STARTED THE PROJECT AND WE WILL FINISH IT UP AT A LATER TIME. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS AMENDED RESOLUTION. BEFORE THAT I HAVE A REQUEST TO SPEAK. MS. CODY, PLEASE COME ON DOWN.
THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER, MS. CODY.
>> THANK YOU. >> SHEILA CODY. WHEN I FIRST READ THIS, I WAS CONCERNED AND WONDERING WHY WE WOULD BE PULLING MONEY FROM A STUDY -- FOR A STUDY . WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. WHY ARE WE NOT RECRUITING AND TRYING TO FILL THAT POSITION IMMEDIATELY? THAT MONEY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THAT REASON. I DON'T THINK REALLOCATING IT FOR ANOTHER PLACE IN THE BUDGET THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS NOT FUNDED -- ESPECIALLY -- YOU GUYS ARE ABOUT TO RUN ON THE ROLLBACK RATE. SO WHERE WILL THIS MONEY COME FROM IN THE NEXT BUDGET? I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE COMING FROM SALARIES AND DEPARTMENT THAT WE DO NEED.
>> I WOULD BE INTERESTING DISH INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE HESITATION THEY HAVE. I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT THE
PAUSE IS. >> THANK YOU, MS. CODY.
>> THE PAUSE IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN THIS ROLE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES.
THAT BEING SAID IT'S BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE TIMING CONCERNS, AND KELLY IS NOT HERE AND CAN SPEAK MORE AUTHORITATIVELY ON THIS PHASED PROJECT. WE DIDN'T WANT TO YANK ABOUT THE AGENDA BECAUSE THERE IS A BILL TO BE PAID. WE HAVE TO PAY THAT INVOICE AND THE OTHER AILMENTS CAN WAIT.
>> THANK YOU. >> SHE HAS ONLY BEEN WITH US MAYBE TWO WEEKS. THE OTHER POSITIONS, WE HAVE PUT ON HOLD FOR RIGHT NOW. MISS GIBSON WANTED TO REVIEW -- OR ANALYZE HER DEPARTMENTS A LITTLE FURTHER. SO WE DON'T HAVE THEM POSTED CURRENTLY. BUT WE DID RECENTLY HIRE A PLANNING
TECHNICIAN. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE AMENDED RESOLUTIONS.
>> THIS IS FOR $15,000 JUST TO REITERATE WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON. THIS IS NOT FOR THE WHOLE ENCHILADA. THIS IS FOR 15,000.
THIS IS THE INVOICE THAT WE ALREADY RECEIVED. THE OTHER 45 WILL COME AT A FUTURE DATE. WITH THAT, MISS BEST, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS POINT
[5.10 PURCHASE APPROVAL - COLOGIX US INC. - RESOLUTION 2024-100 APPROVING THE COLOGIX US, INC. PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR SERVER COLOCATION AND CLOUD STORAGE FOR DISASTER RECOVERY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $34,488 FOR THE INITIAL YEAR; AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO TERMINATE THE CITY’S AGREEMENT WITH THE ARCO GROUP FOR THE SAME SERVICES; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves the purchase of collocation and cloud storage from Cologix US in an amount not to exceed $34,488.]
>> YES BUT >> VICE MAYOR STURGES.
>> YES. THAT PASSES 5-0. ITEM 5.10. PURCHASE APPROVAL FOR
COLOGIX U.S. ASSOCIATED. >> THIS IS TO PURCHASE HARDWARE HOSTING SERVICES AND CLOUD DATA SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,488. WE ARE GOING WITH THE MIDDLE PRICE PROPOSAL FOR SPECIFIC REASONS, WHICH I CAN GO INTO DETAIL ON. A LITTLE BIT -- THE LOW PRICE PROPOSAL IS FROM OUR CURRENT VENDOR. WE'VE HAD MANY WITH THIS IN RECENT YEARS OR SO. THAT IS WHY WE ARE
LEAVING THEM. >> THANK YOU, SIR. THEY
[01:45:05]
WOULDN'T LET YOU IN OVER WEEKENDS. THINGS LIKE THAT?>> YES. THE NEW JEFFREY ONE FACILITY, WE WILL HAVE 20 4/7
ACCESS TO THE FACILITY. >> THAT IS GREAT NEWS. ANY
QUESTIONS? >> I MOVED TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> I HEAR A MOTION AT A SECOND PRODUCING, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[5.11 AGREEMENT APPROVAL - DRIVING DYNAMICS INC. - RESOLUTION 2024-101 APPROVING A THREE-YEAR FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT WITH DRIVING DYNAMICS, INC. FOR THE USE OF AIRPORT PROPERTY TO CONDUCT CORPORATE DRIVER SAFETY TRAINING; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves a three-year agreement with Driving Dynamics Inc. for use of the Aiport for up to twenty days per year for corporate driver safety training. ]
>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> YES.
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> YES. AND
>> MAYOR BEAN.. >> 5.11. APPROVAL FOR DRIVING
DYNAMICS INC. >> THIS IS FOR RESOLUTION 2024-101. APPROVING A THREE-YEAR APPROVAL FOR DRIVING DYNAMICS. DRIVING DYNAMICS HAS BEEN A REGULAR USER OF THE AIRPORT WHERE THEY CONDUCT CORPORATE DRIVER TRAINING. AND THEY USE AN AREA OF THE AIRPORT THAT HAS ZERO IMPACT ON OUR OPERATIONS FOR SAFETY. THEY PAY US $1000 EVERY DAY THEY COME OUT. AND THEY ARE REQUESTING THAT WE ENTER A THREE-YEAR
>> WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY DONE THIS YEAR BY YEAR. THIS IS THE END
>> BASICALLY MEANS YES? >> WELCOME I THINK WE CAME EVERY TIME. NOT EVEN A YEAR. EVERY SINGLE TIME. THIS
SIMPLIFIES IT. >> IT SIMPLIFIES IT SO IT IS ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS. THAT IS GREAT.
>> SAM, DO THEY DO THIS MULTIPLE DAYS, OR JUST ONE DAY?
>> THEY USUALLY COME OUT TWO DAYS AT A TIME. THEY HAVE GIVEN US THREE DATES. I KNOW, THEY ARE COMING FOR TWO DAYS. ONE, THEY'RE GOING TO COME FOR FOUR DAYS, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY VERY QUIET. I'VE NEVER GOTTEN A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEM AS FAR AS NOISE. IT IS AN EASY $1000.
>> THANK YOU. >> HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR -- ABANDONED PIECE OF PAVEMENT. THERE IS NO CONTACT WITH A MOVEMENT AREA OR ANY OF THE FLIGHTS, OBVIOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU. >> I MOVED TO APPROVE.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
[5.12 OPIOID SETTLEMENT EXPENDITURES - RESOLUTION 2024-102 APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS RECEIVED IN YEAR ONE OF THE OPIOID LAWSUITS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 2024/25 IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,870.79; APPROVING A BUDGET TRANSFER; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves spending Year One settlement funds for a handheld narcotics analyzer for the City's police department.]
SEEING ON, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLE.>> COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> YES.
>> VICE MAYOR STURGES. >> YES.
>> ITEM 12, OPIOID SETTLEMENT EXPENDITURES.
>> GOOD EVENING. POLICE CHIEF JEFF TIM BASCO. THIS APPROVES THE FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE OPIOID LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT FROM VARIOUS OPIOID MANUFACTURERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,870 AND MET -- NINE CENTS. THEY WILL HOLD A SPECTROMETER TO GIVE US THE CAPABILITY OF TESTING UNKNOWN POWERS WITHOUT HAVING TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE ACTUAL CARRYING DEVICE , THE BAG, THE WRAPPER, WHICH WILL CAUSE A CONTAMINATION AIRBORNE, AND PROVIDES A SAFETY RISK FOR OFFICERS. THIS DEVICE WILL ALLOW US TO NOT EVEN HAVE TO OPEN THE BAG, AND IT WILL TEST THE SUBSTANCE AND LET US KNOW WHAT KIND OF NARCOTICS IS
INSIDE. >> PERFECT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR
THE CHIEF? >> WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS
BAKING SODA? >> IT'LL, WITH NO TEST. HAVING WAS THE GO TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT LAB, BUT ARE FIELD TESTING CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY PULL THE SAMPLE OUT, AND WITH THE SENTINEL THAT IS VERY SMALL -- MICRO PARTICLES . IT GETS IN THE AIR AND INGESTED. IT CAN CAUSE OVERDOSES FOR THE OFFICERS. THIS ALLOWS US TO GET A FEEL FOR IT WITHOUT HAVING TO OPEN THE BAG AND CONTAMINATE
>> YES SIR. >> SPECTROMETERS USED TO BE THE SIZE OF THIS ROOM. LITERALLY. LITERALLY. IT IS INCREDIBLE . I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE THIS. THIS IS A GREAT DEVICE THAT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL.
>> TO HEAR SECOND? >> I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. SEEING THAT, CITY
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN.
[5.13 GRANT SUPPORT - NASSAU COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION 2024-103 SUPPORTING THE NASSAU COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ GRANT APPLICATION SUBMISSION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) PORT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM (PSGP); AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Supports Nassau County's grant submission to DHS for an all-hazards rescue vessel. ]
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>> YES. >> VICE MAYOR STURGES.
>> YES.. AND 5.13. GRANT SUPPORT NASSAU COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. >> WE WERE COMMISSIONED TO
[01:50:09]
BRING BACK A SUPPORT RESOLUTION. WE WILL PUT THISWITH AIR GRANT APPLICATIONS. >> DO I HEAR ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS BACH? DO I HEAR A MOTION?
>> SECOND. >> I HEAR THE MOTION AND THE
SECOND. COMMISSIONER AYSCUE . >> I NEED TO ANNOUNCE THAT I HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I'M A NAMED PARTICIPANT FOR THIS GRANT FOR THE COUNTY. AND IT CREATES A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR MY EMPLOYER.
FORM HERE LIKE I DID TWO WEEKS AGO. I WILL ABSTAIN.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS GRANT. HOPEFULLY OUR COUNTY GETS IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HELP ALL OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA, THE COUNTY IN THE CITY ALIKE. I'M EXCITED THAT WE GET TO SUPPORT IT. THAT SOUNDS GOOD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, CITY
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.
[6. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]
>> YES. >> THAT PASSES, 4-0. WE ARE AT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. GO AHEAD AND START WITH IS TO EXPEDITE THE MANAGERS HIRING . I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, GIVEN THE SITUATION WITH THE ETHANOL PLANT. EVERYBODY IS WATCHING THIS WITH BATED BREATH BECAUSE WE THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE NEXT STRATEGY OF THE CITY TO HELP GET IT HAPPENING. THE OTHER THING -- I JUST WANTED TO SAY -- FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER COMMISSION. WITHOUT YOUR ACTIONS , RESPONSES -- COMMENTS , IT HAS REALLY BEEN HELPFUL IN GIVING US THE INSPIRATION TO GET OUR INVESTIGATIONS DONE, SO, WE REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MR. JACK AMBER. >> THANK YOU. LET'S CALL ON
MR. RICHARD DEAN. >> RICHARD DEAN, 4102 -- PLACE.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU WITH HOW YOU CONDUCTED YOUR DIALOGUE WITH THE CITIZENS ABOUT THAT SITUATION. THERE WAS A GIVE AND TAKE. YOU DIDN'T CUT OFF PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET UP AFTER OTHER DISCUSSION BY THE
>> THE DISCUSSION EARLIER AT THE WORKSHOP WAS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE. IT WAS REALLY DEPRESSING. THERE WAS A LOT SAID IN THAT MEETING ABOUT -- WE ALLOWED QUESTIONS. GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE TAPE OF MAY 7TH. THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
YOU TOLD SOMEBODY -- WE DON'T TAKE QUESTIONS. THIS IS NOT A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD. PLEASE LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND ENGAGE YOUR CITIZENS . WE DON'T WANT TO HASSLE YOU. WE WANT TO PROVIDE INPUT AND YOU WANT TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE. ALLOW A TOWN HALL MEETING. ETHANOL IS EXHIBIT ONE. OF WHY WE NEED A TOWN HALL MEETING. WE HAVE A CITY COMMISSIONER THAT WON'T SPEAK IN CHAMBERS ABOUT THE ETHANOL PLANT BUT IS FREE TO GO ON THE WEBSITE AND DO SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTARY ON THERE. THAT SHOULD BE IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC. IT WAS SAID THAT WE COULD DO THE MAYOR COMMENTS AT THE COUNCIL ON AGING. THAT IS NOT SET UP FOR A TRUE TOWN HALL. I WANT PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD, POSE QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE DON'T WANT TO TURN IT INTO A CIRCUS. WE WOULD LOSE A TOWN HALL OPPORTUNITY IF IT TURNS INTO A CIRCUS. WE WOULD HELP YOU POLICE IT. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE A RICH DIALOGUE. WITH ALL OF YOU. THERE WERE COMMENTS MADE ABOUT VOTES. BE CAREFUL THERE. WE HAVE A
[01:55:02]
SITUATION HERE WITH THE ETHANOL PLANT WHERE THE MAYOR HAS TO RECUSE HIMSELF. WE ARE 2-2 ON SOMETHING. IF 82-2 VOTE IS BRINGING SOMETHING FORWARD, WE SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO BRING THINGS BACK IF, YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS VOTED DOWN. WELL, NEW INFORMATION COMES FORWARD. NEW DATA. DON'T PUT TIME LIMITS ON YOURSELF. IF THERE IS NEW INFORMATION, JUST --. REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW YOU ARE PROJECTING HERE BECAUSE YOU GIVE LIP SERVICE TO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, BUT YOUR ACTIONS HAVE SPOKEN OTHERWISE. UP UNTIL THIS YEAR. AND I'M HOPEFUL THIS IS A NEW CHAPTER GOING FORWARD THAT YOU ARE THINKING TO THINK ABOUT A TOWN HALL MEETING WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME FORWARD AND HAVE GIVE-AND-TAKE. THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT. MOVED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS EARLIER. WE ARE NOT GOING TO OVERTAKE THE AGENDA. THERE WERE A LOT OF MADE-UP ARGUMENTS LIKE WE HAD ARGUMENTS ABOUT THINGS IN THE ZONING PROCESS. SCARE TACTICS.>> THANK YOU. WE WELCOME MISS SANDY CARRIED TO THE PODIUM.
AND I BELIEVE MISS BACH RECAPPED THAT SHE THOUGHT THAT THE COMMISSION WITH THE STATE WANTED TWO AGENDA ITEMS AND TWO RESOLUTIONS TO THESE AGENDA ITEMS. THOUGH, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS REGARDING RULES OF PROCEDURE. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THAT CLEARLY WAS THE DIRECTION THAT WAS GIVEN. PUTTING IT THROUGH THE WORKSHOP IS EXACTLY WHAT IS CAUSING CITIZENS TO BE UPSET.
WE WEREN'T ALLOWED ANY PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THOSE THREE RULES FOR PROCEDURE ARE ABOUT, ENGAGING YOUR CITIZENS THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE VOTES ARE TAKEN, BEFORE CONSENSUS ACTIONS ARE TAKEN. AS I RECALLED, WORKSHOPS ARE NOT A LEGISLATIVE BODY OF ACTION. YOU TAKING CONSENSUS VOTES, AND THEN YOU ARE USING THAT TO DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TAKE ACTION AT SOME FUTURE MEETING THAT NOBODY KNOWS WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE. THAT IS NOT RIGHT. THAT IS JUST NOT RIGHT. YOU NEED A PUBLIC MEETING DIRECTED. THOSE ITEMS SHOULD BE PUT ON THE NEXT MEETING. THE REFERENCE ABOUT THE COUNTY DOING PUBLIC COMMENTS -- THAT WAS JUST CHANGED, SO LET'S BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT. I THINK YOU SHOULD DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO INVOLVE YOUR CITIZENS IN A TOWN HALL MEETING, WHERE THERE IS MUCH CONCERN ABOUT THE BIOETHANOL PLANT, AS YOU KNOW. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING THAT THE CITIZENS WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS TIME LIMIT THING. THAT IS THE REASON . IF A MOTION DIES, YOU BRING IT UP AGAIN. CONGRESS DOES IT ALL THE TIME. YOU ARE A COMMITTEE. IT IS INVALID.
INAUDIBLE ] NEW EVIDENCE COMES FORWARD. NEW MOTIONS ARE MADE.
THAT IS THE PART OF DISCOVERY THAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUT AND MAKE THE PROPER AND RIGHT DECISION. THE MORE YOU PUT RESTRAINTS ON YOUR PROCESS, WHOEVER CONTROLS THE AGENDA CONTROLS THE PROCESS, CONTROLS PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING. FIVE OF YOU WERE ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS, AND ALL FIVE OF YOU REPRESENT THE CITIZENS. WHY SHOULD ONLY THREE OF YOU IN A CONSENSUS AND A WORKSHOP THAT CITIZENS CAN'T TALK AT BE THE ONES TO SAY, IT'S GOING TO GO ON AN AGENDA ITEM? THAT IS WRONG. THAT IS DEPRIVING THEM OF THE RIGHT TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS THAT HAD COLLECTED THEM. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT ANYWHERE. BY THE WAY, YOUR CODE SAYS THAT WHEN EMOTION COMES UP LIKE COMMISSIONER AYSCUE MENTIONED ABOUT THE TIME LIMIT IF SOMETHING FEELS ON A VOTE TO BRING IT BACK -- IF IT'S NOT ADDRESSED IN YOUR CITY CHARTER OR CODE OR ANYTHING, AND IT'S NOT, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO FALL BACK ON THESE RULES. AND YOU NEED TO CHECK INTO THAT TO SEE IF THAT WOULD COVER IT. I DOUBT IT IS. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU, MISCARRY. -- MS. CAREY.
>> THANK YOU. I FEEL LIKE I LIVE HERE, TOO. SHEILA COOK, 1553 INDIGO STREET. THE WORKSHOP WAS ON PUBLIC COMMENT, YET THERE WAS NO PUBLIC COMMENT, THEY FEEL LIKE IT IS A COMMON THEME THAT WE HAVE HAD A BE THE LAST TWO YEARS . IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S LESS INPUT FROM CITIZENS AND THE LAST
[02:00:07]
EIGHT YEARS PRIOR TO THAT THAT I'VE LIVED HERE. AS JEFFREY SICK SAID, ALL OF YOU ARE ELECTED BY ALL OF US. THIS COUNTRY IS FOUNDED ON THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY HAS THE VOTES TO DO THINGS, BUT THE BEAUTY OF IT IS THAT THE MINORITY HAS INPUT, AS WELL. AND IT ONLY WORKS BECAUSE THE MINORITY HAS THE INPUT. SO IF IT'S ON COMMISSIONER BRINGING SOMETHING FORTH, THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT COMMISSIONER REPRESENTS PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THESE ISSUES.AND FIVE OF YOU IN FIVE DIFFERENT PLACES -- IT IS WHAC-A-MOLE FOR THE REST OF US TRYING TO GET WHERE YOU'RE AT.
TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE OPEN DISCUSSION WITH YOU WITH ALL OF YOU IS IMPORTANT. I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT WHEN YOU ARE ASKED A QUESTION, NO RESPONSE IS VERY OFTEN A RESPONSE AND THAT IS NOTED IN A LOT OF THESE ISSUES. AS FOR THE BUSINESS THAT TRANSACTS HERE, IT IS THE CITY'S BUSINESS. AND THE CITY'S BUSINESS IS CITIZENS BUSINESS AND THE CITIZENS ARE THE CITY'S BUSINESS. ALL OF IT, NO MATTER WHO IS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IMPACTED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL -- AND I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE -- IF WHEN YOU GUYS READ THE RESOLUTION OR WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE VOTING ON -- TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT AND THEN HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT IS HELPFUL. BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE THINKING AHEAD OF TIME. SO TO GET SOME INPUT ABOUT HOW WE CAN GIVE YOU INPUT IS IMPORTANT, AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU VOTE. MAYBE YOU WILL HEAR SOMETHING. WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HEAR FROM US.
YOU HEAR VARIOUS ROUNDS OF INFORMATION, AND USUALLY, YOU HAVE MADE UP YOUR MIND. WITHOUT THE INPUT. OR MAYBE YOU WILL HEAR SOMETHING FROM CITIZENS THAT MAKES YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND. THERE IS NOT A PART OF THAT CADENCE THAT ALLOWS THE CITIZENS TO HAVE INPUT, FIRST. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS DONE HERE IN THE SUNSHINE. I KNOW THAT SEVERAL OF YOU WERE AT A DINNER THAT WAS NOT PUBLICLY NOTICED.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THAT FOR THE REST OF US TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE PUBLIC. AND OUTSIDE THE SUNSHINE. THANK
YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MISS CODY. WE INVITE MR. PETE STEVENSON.
>> PETE STEVENSON, 1627 HIGHLANDS WAY, FERNANDINA BEACH. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT AN ITEM THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. HOWEVER, I'M WONDERING IF I NEED TO PAINT MY FACE BLUE. SOME OF YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY I MAKING THAT COMMENT. IT IS TALKING ABOUT THE WATERFRONT. WE HAVE HAD FITS AND STARTS. WE HAVE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK IN THE WATERFRONT. WE HAVE NO PLAN AT ALL TO GO FROM NORTH. WE HAVE NO MONEY SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED FOR IT. AND WE'VE GOT BASICALLY ATE WATERFRONT RIGHT NOW THAT IS CONTINUING TO DETERIORATE. ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, SEE WHAT HER COMING ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS ON A HIGH TIDE WITH HIGH WIND.
ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, I SEE WATER COMING ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS WE ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF IT. WE ARE NOT GOING FORWARD. WE DO NOT HAVE A PLAN . BY THE WAY, I HAVE A PLAN HERE CALLED WATERFRONT AREA REDEVELOPMENT. 2004. OH GOSH. THAT IS ONLY 7300 DAYS AGO. GOLLY. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET STARTED AND GET TO A PLAN THAT WILL GET FUNDED AND WILL GET DONE ON A PARTICULAR SCHEDULE?
>> WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON THAT WATERFRONT. THERE ARE BUSINESSES, INSTRUCTORS, AND SOMETIMES, A BUSINESS IS RENTING FROM THAT STRUCTURE. THOSE STRUCTURES ARE DETERIORATING WITH TIME. THAT SALTWATER INTRUSION IS EATING AWAY AT THE FOUNDATION ZONE. THEY ARE NOT POURED CONCRETE.
THERE IS REBAR HOLDING THAT STUFF TOGETHER.
IF YOU TRY TO PUT A LOAD ON IT, IT IS GOING TO TAKE INTERNAL INAUDIBLE ] TO KEEP IT GOING. WE HAVE TO GET STARTED AND GET IT DONE. WE'RE TALKING 20 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE WATERFRONT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. MAYBE WITH THE EXTENSION OF THE
>> THANK YOU, PETE. THAT IS SOMETHING I'M COMMITTED TO WORK ON AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO THAT. WE HAVE THE PRIORITIES RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE RUN A LOT OF THOSE IN OUR PARKS READ THAT IS SOMETHING I'M COMMITTED TO DO. IT IS SOMETHING OUR CITY DEFINITELY NEEDS. THAT SEAWALL PROJECT. IT
[02:05:01]
IS COMING SOON. WE WILL GET IT DONE AT A FUTURE, VERY SOON[7. CITY MANAGER/CITY ENGINEER REPORTS]
DATE. WITH THAT, THAT IS ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I HAVE.IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? LET'S CALL OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER. MR. JEREMIAH GLISAN.
>> THANK YOU. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE BUDGET PROCESS IS IN FULL SWING. WE REACHED OUT TO YOU FOR A CHANCE TO WORK ON IT. THE PROJECT IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE. WE PAVED 1.5 MILES OF CITY STREETS. WE ARE WAITING FOR THAT TO CURE BEFORE WE GO IN THERE WITH THE NECESSARY STRIPING. LOOK FOR FUTURE PAVING TO NORTH SEVENTH STREET, THE INTERSECTION OF BEACH AROUND THE THE NEW TENNIS COURTS HAVE BEEN PAVED. THEY ARE NOT THE RIGHT COLOR IT. WE WILL GET THERE. THE FENCE IS GOING UP NEXT WEEK. BY THE MIDDLE OF JUNE, JUNE 17, THE NEW TENNIS PLAY SERVICE IS SCHEDULED TO BE PUT DOWN. ALSO, THE SKATE PARK STRUCTURES ARE BEING REBUILT. WE ARE HALFWAY COMPLETE WITH THAT PROJECT AND THAT SHOULD BE FULLY OPEN FOR PLAY BY THE END
OF THE MONTH. >> HOW MANY NEW STRUCTURES -- HOW MANY REFURBISHMENTS ARE WE DOING?
>> SEVEN TOTAL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. GLISSON?
>> CAN YOU COMMENT ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH ATLANTIC AVENUE?
INAUDIBLE ] >> SURE. F D.O.T. MOVED FORWARD WITH REMOVAL OF THE SIDEWALK ELEMENTS. AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SIDEWALK , WHERE THE PAPERS ARE AT AT THAT AREA BETWEEN 8TH STREET AND 10TH RIGHT IN FRONT OF ZION CHURCH.
THEY MOVED FORWARD QUICKLY AFTER THEIR TOWN HALL. THEIR COMMITTEE OUTREACH MEETING. SO STAFF MOBILIZED. SO THE PAPERS WOULD NOT BE LOST. THEY SECURED THE PAPERS THERE TO STORE AT THE CITY YARD ABOUT 23 PALLETS OF PAPERS. THE GOAL IS TO PRESERVE THOSE ELEMENTS AND RELOCATE THEM SOMEWHERE INTO THE DOWNTOWN. WE PROVIDED THAT ATTENTION TO -- DEBBIE HORN, WHO IS WORKING WITH US ON THAT DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT NOW. I DID TALK WITH THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR WITH F D.O.T. AS FAR AS THE TIMELINE FOR REMOVING THE PAVERS AND WORKING WITH THE SIDEWALK THERE BETWEEN NINTH AND EIGHTH STREET. THAT IS WHERE THE LARGE TREE IS AT THAT HAS BEEN . THEY ARE PLANNING TO WORK ON THAT
LATER IN THE WEEK. >> I WOULD TO POINT OUT THAT SHOWS GOING TO DO A COMMISSIONER COMMENT TO POINT OUT TO THE THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY HAD THE TREE WAS GOING TO PRESERVE THE TREE. THE ONLY WAY TO MAINTAIN IT WAS TO GO AROUND IT. THE ONLY WAY TO GO AROUND IT WAS TO GO INTO THE HOUSE PROPERTY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT GIVE AN EASEMENT. IT WAS A 10 BY 30 PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE COULD'VE GONE AROUND THE TREE.
THANKFULLY PROVIDED A DRAWING FOR WHERE IT COULD BE. THE PRICE WAS NOT DISCUSSED, BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO DO THAT.
THAT WOULD'VE NEGATED THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH GOING THROUGH THE TREE ROOTS AND THE PROBABILITY OF THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY THAT THE TREE WOULD BE MAINTAINED. F D.O.T. CAME BACK WITH AN EMAIL YESTERDAY BASICALLY SAYING, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED.
DO IT WE ARE GOING TO DO. SO THE STATE OF FLORIDA BASICALLY SAID, WE ARE NOT WILLING TO LISTEN TO ANY OTHER OPTIONS. SO KUDOS TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERING IT. SO THE TREE COULD BE MAINTAINED.
[8. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS]
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MR. GLISSON POINT ALL RIGHT, MISS BACH.
>> SPECIAL REPORT FOR THE CUSHIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS BACH?
>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> WHAT IS THE STATUTE ON
NOTICE OF PUBLIC GATHERING? >> THERE IS NO -- THE DECISION IS NOT GOING TO BE MADE. NOTICE OF PUBLIC GATHERING THAT THE CITY DOES AS A COURTESY WHEN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE KNOWS
[02:10:02]
THAT THERE IS A GATHERING OF MORE THAN ONE COMMISSIONER AT A SOCIAL EVENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN THEY WILL DO A NOTICE OF GATHERING , BUT THERE IS NO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR IT.>> ARE WE REQUIRED TO LET YOU KNOW IF I KNOW I'M GOING THERE THIS WEEKEND -- AND I THINK THE VICE MAYOR MAY BE THERE, AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY, I THINK THE VICE MAYOR MAY BE AT THE
BALLPARK WITH ME? >> NO, NOT FOR A SOCIAL EVENT.
[9. CITY CLERK REPORTS]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. ANY OTHER CUSHIONS FOR MISS BACH? IT DOES HAVE A GREAT WEEK WITH YOUR VACATION.
>> JUNE 18TH. I WANTED TO GIVE MR. GEORGE AND HIS FAMILY WELL
[10. MAYOR/COMMISSIONER COMMENTS]
WISHES. WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HIM. THANK YOU.>> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS. YOU ALSO HAVE A GREAT
VACATION. >> IT'S GOING TO BE BOTH.
>> LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER ANTUN FOR HIS COMMENTS POINT
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.
>> I HOPE HE GETS THROUGH IT. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF LIEUTENANT JAMES TUCKER. TUCKER AND I WORKED SIDE-BY-SIDE WHEN I WAS THE -- PRESIDENT. HERE AT FERNANDINA BEACH. WE DEVELOPED A GREAT RELATIONSHIP, AND HE WAS A DEAR FRIEND, AND SOMEBODY THAT WOULD SPEAK TOO OFTEN. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT HIM AS A PERSON. PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT ME AND MISS COKIE PROBABLY DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE ON A LOT OF THINGS, HOWEVER, TUCKER WAS A VERY DEAR FRIEND OF HERS, AND I KNOW THAT. AND HE WAS A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE, AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE KIND OF PERSON THAT HE WAS, THAT HE DIDN'T SEE THIS KIND OF STRIPES AND ARGUMENTS. HE SAW EVERYBODY FOR WHO THEY WERE. HE WAS A VERY GENTLE, GREAT SOUL, AND THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY IS
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> BEACH ACCESS 40 . WHEN THE BEACH ACCESS WAS PUT IN, THE AREA WAS DENUDED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE, AND THEY PUT IN LANDSCAPING TO -- AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS TO CREATE THIS EXCUSE ME WAX HURDLES, AND DOWN THE DRAINAGE THAT COMES OFF THE ACCESS THERE. SO IT WAS PUT IN FOR THOSE TWO REASONS. THE SR BEAUTIFUL DID THE WORK AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY COMMISSION FOR PAYING FOR IT. BECAUSE THEY GAVE THEMSELVES A RAISE , AND I TOOK MY PART OF THE RACE AND PAID THE $3800 TO PAY FOR THE PLANTS. THAT IS WHAT WAS PLANTED THERE. AND I THINK I HAD A LOT OF POSITIVE COMMENTS FOR PEOPLE . SO THAT'S THAT. I WANT TO REACH OUT TO CHARLIE GEORGE. I SAW HIM ON SUNDAY. I WISH HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERY. AT THE BAPTIST HOSPITAL. HE'S IN GOOD HANDS. IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE. I THINK HE WILL DO WELL.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO FIRST AND FOREMOST SAY I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR CHARLIE GEORGE. AND HE DID A GREAT JOB.
HE CONTINUED TO DO WHATEVER. I'M GLAD HIS SURGERY WENT
WELL. >> I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE
[02:15:03]
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE. THESE ARE LARGE SHOES TO FILL, BUT I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN DO THE JOB, HOWEVER LONG WE NEED YOU TO DO THE JOB. OBVIOUSLY, WE WEREN'T INTENDING FOR THIS TO BE THE SITUATION, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING IN, AND THAT IS ME PERSONALLY SAYING THAT I THINK THAT NOBODY INTENDED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. CHARLIE WAS GOING TO FILL THE SHOES FOR AS LONG AS HE NEEDED TO. SO WE ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD AND MOVE FORWARD.APPRECIATE IT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU FILLING THOSE
ISSUES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.
>> I WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO THE MARINE CORPS FOR PUTTING ON A WONDERFUL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND SERVICE. GET WELL SOON TO MISS CHARLIE GEORGE. I HOPE YOU ARE NOT WATCHING THIS LIVE. AGAIN, WE WISH YOU THE BEST, AND CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO GET BACK OUT HERE. IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK. I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT OVER THE WEEKEND ON FRIDAY -- THE YAC YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE PUT ON A GREAT TURN AMOUNT -- TURNOUT AT THE HEAT WAVE FESTIVAL. I'VE LEARNED THAT THEY CALL IT THE YAC. ONE OF OUR TOP YAC MEMBERS IS WITH US. GREAT JOB. IF YOU SAW THE PICTURES, THE TURNOUT WAS OUTSTANDING, AND IT WAS A GREAT EVENT PUT ON BY OUR YOUTH, AND FINALLY, HI, TOO, WANT TO JUST GIVE THE SINCEREST CONDOLENCES TO THE TUCKER FAMILY. TO MELISSA, TO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.