Aug 06, 2024 Workshop

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:09]

>>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM CALLING THIS SOCIAL WORKSHOP OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION UNDERWATER. AS ALWAYS, WE WILL START WITH THE

ROLE. >> MAYOR BEAN . COMMISSIONER STURGES. COMMISSIONER ROSS. COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC

[4.1 PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET - FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 - City Commission discussion regarding development of the Proposed Annual Budget Fiscal Year 2024/2025 based upon the adopted tentative millage rate of 4.6849.]

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU. THIS MEETING, WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA. THAT ITEM IS TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TODAY. THAT BUDGET HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO EVERYONE HERE AND IT IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AS WELL IF ANYONE WANTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THIS WHOLE QUEST PURPOSE IS TO ASK QUESTIONS, GET A DISCUSSION, WE WANT TO END UP IN A PLACE WERE ALL FIVE OF US THINK IT IS A GREAT LOOKING BUDGET. IT IS ALREADY OFF TO A GREAT START. I KNOW STURGES HAD A GREAT IDEA LAST MEETING. LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR WINS.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT ? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST TEXTED AND SPOKE TO JEREMIAH RIPLEY. YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS ACCOMPLISHED A WHOLE LOT OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS. WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT. THERE IS NOT A BAN AROUND THE CITY, THERE IS NOT A PUBLISHED WEBSITE, OTHER THAN OUR HEAT REELS WHEN MARY PUTS OUT A POST ON FACEBOOK. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE, HOW MUCH MONEY DOES THE CITY SPEND, HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE GET IN GRANT FUNDS, HOW MUCH IN TAXES, HOW MUCH WAS SPENT IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF RCD AND WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS ARE GETTING ACCOMPLISHED. I TASKED JEREMIAH 2, WITH A 30,000 VIEW, BUT WITH MOST OF THE DETAILS. HE HAS GOT A PRESENTATION THIS EVENING THAT I AM GOING TO LET HIM MOVE FORWARD WITH AND SHOW US ALL THE INFORMATION OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST BEFORE WE START WITH THIS BUDGET CYCLE . BASICALLY, IT IS WHAT WE HAVE GOTTEN ACCOMPLISHED, AND HE MIGHT EVEN HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT I SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT ABOUT PREVIOUS YEARS, HOW MUCH MONEY WE BROUGHT OVER FROM 2022, TO 2023, TO 2024. BASICALLY, I THINK IT WILL BE AN EYE OPENER FOR PEOPLE TO THINK, WE HAVE NOT SPENT A LOT OF MONEY IN OUR CITY. WE ARE UNDERACHIEVING. I HAVE A FEELING IT WILL BE EYE OPENING, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT AWAY, JEREMIAH.

>> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. YOU ARE CORRECT. WE OFTEN FALL SHORT OF TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE PEOPLE'S TAX DOLLARS AT WORK. THIS IS AN EFFORT TO TURN THAT AROUND TONIGHT. LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE. THE MILLAGE RATE WAS APPROVED LAST WEEK. THE 10 MILLAGE RATE, WHICH SETS THE FUND ON THE TAX FUNDING AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE THAT MONEY GOES.

THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE ARE DOES ALL OF THAT MONEY GO? OF COURSE, A BIG PART OF OUR BUDGET IS PERSONNEL. THE PEOPLE THAT PERFORM THE DUTIES.

POLICE, FIRE, ALL THE MANPOWER WE HAVE PERFORMING THESE SERVICES FOR THE CITY. CAPITAL EXPENSES, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PORTIONS OF OUR BUDGET . THIS IS ALL THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, OUR WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, OUR WATERFRONT , THIS IS OUR DOWNTOWN, THIS IS ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE TAKE CARE OF THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR CAPITAL FUND. OF COURSE, THERE IS YOUR DAY TO DAY OPERATING EXPENSES. THAT IS $24 MILLION EXPENSE. THEN, WE HAVE OUR OWN SERVERS FOR FINANCING COSTS. AS THE VICE PRESIDENT MENTIONED, TAKE A LOOK BACK TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO DO, TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE HAVE TO GO AND A LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE. THIS IS JUST VERY SURFACE LEVEL. WE CAN TALK ALL NIGHT ABOUT WHAT ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AT EACH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR HERE THAT HAS SHOWED UP TONIGHT AS WE DRIVE FURTHER INTO THE BUDGET TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN POLICE, FIRE, MARINA . WE CAN CARRY ON ALL NIGHT. AT THE SAME TIME, A VERY SURFACE LEVEL VIEW OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE. JANUARY 23RD, YOU ALL SAT DOWN AND SET THE PRIORITIES FOR STAFF AS WE MOVED INTO THE BUDGET. THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU ALL UPSET WITH THE DOWNTOWN BY

[00:05:01]

A MAJOR INCREASE IN FUNDING IN FACILITY MAINTENANCE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAS GONE UP BY 50% . THIS IS NOT STUFF YOU WOULD NECESSARILY SEE AT A COMMISSION LEVEL. THIS IS JUST YOUR R& M REPAINTING FACILITIES, REPLACING THE FLOORING, GENERAL UPKEEP WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS FUNDED FOR APPROPRIATELY. CITY HALL, WE HAD A FACELIFT . NEW ELEVATOR SYSTEM WENT IN. EXTERIOR PAINT. WE ALSO EXPANDED UTILITY SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM CITY. WE HAVE THE SIDEWALKS TO IMPROVE WALK ABILITY. THAT FUNDING HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS FOR SIDEWALKS. MAJOR GENERATOR CHANGES AT THE WATER PLANTS, THE HEART OF OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. OF COURSE WE HAVE THE WATER TOWER AND THE THREE PLANTS THAT DISTRIBUTE THAT WATER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE WATERFRONT, SEAWALLS WAS BUILT THAT SET THE PERIMETER FOR WHICH WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AMELIA ISLAND WATERFRONT PARK PEERED WE HAD PARKING LOTS TO HELP DELINEATE AN INCREASE DOWNTOWN PARKING. THE PET JIM ROOF, A PROJECT STILL UNDERWAY, WAS A SIZABLE GRANT FUNDED PROJECT AT ONE OF OUR OLDER FACILITIES ONE OF OUR LARGER CITY FACILITIES. IT WAS RESURFACED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, 10% OF OUR ROADS . THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES OF OUR NETWORK AND THAT FUNDING HAS INCREASED THE LAST FOUR YEARS BY 100%. WE HAD A MAJOR WATER TOWER PAINTING PROJECT AND THAT WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR. YOU ALL REMEMBER SEEING THE JELLYFISH LOOKING DRAIN AS THAT PROJECT WAS BEING DONE . THE BIKE TRAIL THAT WENT IN, OF COURSE TALKED ABOUT OUR WELCOME SIGN THAT WE REFRESHED. PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR AVERAGE RESPONSE TIMES, DESPITE AN INCREASE AND STRAIN ON PUBLIC SAFETY IS STILL HANGING AROUND THREE MINUTES 30 SECONDS. UNDER THE NEW LEADERSHIP , WE BROUGHT IN NEW MENTORSHIP TRAINING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. YOU HAVE SEEN THE FRUITS OF THAT LABOR.

THE FIRE STATION IS NEARING STATION COMPLETE. THAT OPENING IS AUGUST 30TH. SAVE THAT DATE, WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER. OCEAN RESCUE, SOME NUMBERS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE ADDITIONAL NEED THAT IS THERE. RESCUES WENT UP FROM 14 IN 2018 TO 125 IN THIS LAST YEAR. MAJOR, MAJOR INCREASE.

WHAT IS NOT LISTED HERE IS A NUMBER OF AVAILABLE ACTIONS. WE ARE PUSHING 13,000 ACTIONS IDLY FROM DOWN TO AROUND 2000. THIS IS ADDRESSING AN ISSUE BEFORE IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. WHETHER IT IS A RIPTIDE HERE, OR ALERTING PEOPLE ON THE BEACH.

ONCE AGAIN, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN A MAJOR PRIORITY AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE SEEING BENEFITS OF THAT. OUR NEW LETTER FIRE TRUCK HAS BEEN RECEIVED, REPLACING A 22-YEAR-OLD APPARATUS . THAT WILL BE UNVEILED WHEN WE HAVE THE STATION OPENING. THE GOLF COURSE, MARINA. WE HAVE AN UNFAILING OF OUR FAVORITE SHARK AT THE MARINA. OF COURSE WITHIN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE HAD A MAJOR REBUILD OF OUR MARINA. MORE IMPROVEMENTS WERE RECENTLY COMPLETED. WE BROUGHT IN ANTERIOR RATES, AN INCREASE TO THE MARINA. A BIG ONE WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT ENOUGH, NUMBER ONE.

OUR MARINA BEING RATED NUMBER ONE IN THE ENTIRE OASIS PORTFOLIOS OUT OF 50 PLUS MARINAS. WE HAVE A WAITING LIST OF APPROXIMATELY 90 PEOPLE ON LINE FOR HANGERS. NEW T HANGERS WENT IN. IN FACT, IN THE MEETING TONIGHT, WE WILL TALK ABOUT A PROPOSAL TO EXPAND THE HANGERS AT THE AIRPORT. ON THE GOLF COURSE TO ME WITH THE NEW GOLF CARTS. WE REPLACED OUR FLEET, REVAMPED OUR RESTAURANT, AND MADE SUBSTANTIAL

[00:10:02]

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE FROM AN ADMINISTRATION STANDPOINT. WE KICKED OFF THE BICENTENNIAL EFFORT. THIS IS A YEAR-LONG EFFORT THAT WILL END TOWARD THE END OF THIS YEAR TO CELEBRATE THE 200TH BIRTHDAY. ONE THAT DOES NOT GET ENOUGH ATTENTION AND THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IS THE GRANTS WE RECEIVED, THANKS TO MS. JACOBS, AND OF COURSE MR. JACOBS ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE. WE BROUGHT IN NEARLY $80 MILLION OF GRANT FUNDING FROM THE STATE AND OTHER FUNDED AGENCIES USED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PETS CENTER, OUR LIGHTHOUSE, A LOT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. 22 HERITAGE TREAT DESIGNATIONS CAME IN AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON PRESERVING OUR TREES IN OUR COMMUNITY. IMPROVE RETENTION PLANTINGS, 200 PLUS TREES PLANTED SINCE 2022. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS REALLY TAKING OFF AND WE ARE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THAT EFFORT. THE PAID CLASSIFICATION PLAN, HAPPENED COMING OUT OF COVID, COMPLETELY OVERHAULED PAID CLASSIFICATION PLAN, SOMETHING THAT IS STILL A WORKING WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT AN IMPROVEMENT IN PAID TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES AS OUR TURNOVER RATE WAS PUSHING 30%. AKERS, PLUS ACRES, ESPECIALLY WE MIGHT GET OVER THAT TONIGHT, IF Y'ALL APPROVE ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT , SHAMELESS PLUG. OUR RATING HAS IMPROVED WITH A SCORE OF FIVE . WE RECENTLY GOT RECOGNITION FOR OUR GOVERNMENT REPORTING IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT EFFORT. PARKS AND RECREATION. 20% OF OUR GENERAL FUND GOES TO PARKS AND RECREATION. WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES. MAYOR BEAN GETTING HIS WORKOUT IN. WE HAD AN EQUIPMENT , NEW EQUIPMENT AT MLK THAT WAS RE-STALLED.

FENCING . ALL OF OUR BALLFIELDS, AIRPORTS , THERE IS FENCING IN PLACE. THAT REQUIRES MAINTENANCE . WE REPLACED THE FENCING IN CENTRAL PARK. NEW COOL FEATURES, TEDDY BEAR PLAYGROUND THAT WAS A MAJOR HIT. JOG BY THERE EVERY DAY AND SEE HOW WELL IT IS BEING RECEIVED, AND IT IS BEING USED.

IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, REPLACED SIX BOARDWALKS AND A LOT OF INTERIOR RENOVATIONS AT OUR AGING RECREATION FACILITIES. WE HAVE THE SIMMONS PARK IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS YEAR . NOW, LET'S SHIFT THE CONVERSATION A BIT TO LOOKING FORWARD. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I APPLAUD THE COMMISSION FOR HELP FUNDING AND PRIORITIZING THOSE COMMISSIONS, ONCE AGAIN, THE TONE IS SET AS WE START THE DIVISION SECTION AND STAFF CARRIES FORWARD WITH THOSE PRIORITIES. I LOOK FORWARD, THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, $955,000 FOR PROPOSED SIDEWALKS. THE SEAWALL, THAT APPROPRIATION $2 MILLION. THAT IS IN THE BUDGET . BUILDING A LIGHTHOUSE, FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO CITY HALL, DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION THAT IS $1.2 MILLION , IT HAS TO BEGIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR. AN EXPENSE THAT NEEDS TO BE NOTED, BUT IT IS NOT A RECURRING EXPENSE IS INVESTING INTO OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY. CONTINUING TO LOOK FORWARD, THE WATERFORD PARK. MR. GEORGE WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THAT LATER THIS EVENING. ALSO, THE SOFTBALL FIELD, SOCCER COMPLEX . THIS IS A PROJECT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY ON. ADDITIONAL SIDEWALKS TO IMPROVE WALK ABILITY, AND ADDING RESTAURANTS AT THE STREET PARK. NOW, WE ARE GETTING TO THE PART WHERE WE NEED TO NARROW DOWN, START TALKING ABOUT PRIORITIES , AND DIG INTO FURTHER DISCUSSION IN CERTAIN AREAS. WE CAN'T DO IT ALL. WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDING.

TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE BUDGET THAT WORKS GOING FORWARD, WE HAVE GOT TO PRIORITIZE AND FACE SOME OF THESE THINGS. THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE HERE TO PROVIDE THAT INSIGHT TO GO FURTHER. WE HAVE ANOTHER BUDGET WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY. DEPENDING ON HOW THE CONVERSATION GOES, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO WORK WITH THIS EVENING , BUT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AND HAVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL AND BE BETTER PREPARED TO DRILL DOWN FURTHER AT THURSDAY'S MEETING. THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION I MENTIONED, FOR REPLACING SIDEWALKS, LANDSCAPING . PHASE 1 IS PROJECTED TO COST $2 MILLION. PHASE 1 IS OFF CENTER STREET.

IT IS A THREE TO FIVE YOUR PROJECT. WE HAVE 1.1 MILLION BUDGET. THAT IS A ROLLOVER FROM THIS YEAR TO NEXT YEAR. WE DO NOT HAVE FURTHER FUNDING TO CARRY THIS PROJECT FORWARD. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE, BUT WE WOULD NEED TO SECURE FUNDING TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD. WE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING TO CONTINUE WITH THAT PROGRESS. THE SEAWALL, THE SEGMENT HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY CMD. THE REST OF THE SEAWALL IS

[00:15:05]

BUILT IN THE 1960S, IT HAS BEEN AN AMENITY FOR THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME. CURRENTLY ENTERPRISE, WHICH IS A SELF-SUPPORTING BUSINESS. IT NO LONGER GENERATES THE REVENUE TO MEET THE INCREASED EXPENSES. WE HAVE A LOT OF COMPETING COURSES . THE DEMAND WITH GOLF HAS CHANGED, AS OTHER RECREATION FACILITIES, PROGRAMS HAVE BECOME AVAILABLE HERE. WE TRIED ANOTHER COMPANY, WE DID THAT 10 YEARS AND WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEM TO DO NO BETTER THAN WHAT STAFF WAS DOING.

RIGHT NOW, THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROVIDES A SUBSIDY OF $809,000 TO THE GOLF COURSE. THIS IS THE ONLY REAL VIABLE MODEL . WE NEED TO LOOK DOWN AND HAVE A WORKSHOP AT ANOTHER TIME, RATHER THAN NOW AND DIG INTO THE GOLF COURSE AND AMENITY, JUST LIKE OUR OTHER RECREATION PROGRAMS, OUR POOLS, OUR PICKLEBALL COURTS, TENNIS COURTS. THEY ARE USED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THEY DO NOT GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE TO ACCUMULATE EXPENSES, OR DO WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION? STAFFING. THE CITY HAS AROUND 300 EMPLOYEES .

WE HAVE MADE CHANGES TO THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE. A PROPOSED BUDGET PROVIDES FOR A 6.5 EQUIVALENT INCREASE . 16 1/2 WAS REQUESTED. THE CITY, WHILE SMALL IN ITS FOOTPRINT, PROVIDES A LOT OF SERVICES. WE HAVE WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE IN WORD , THEY DON'T HAVE A BEACH, WE HAVE AN AIRPORT. WE HAVE A MARINA . WE HAVE A GOLF COURSE, AS MENTIONED. WE HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA SERVICES SOME COMMUNITIES DO NOT HAVE IMMUNITY STAFFING TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. ALSO WHAT IS NOT SEEN, WHILE WE HAVE 13,500 RESIDENTS, 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE COME HERE A YEAR, TOURISTS . THAT PUTS A STRAIN ON ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. POLICE AND FIRE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE WHEN THEY GET A CALL, WHETHER THEY ARE A CITY RESIDENT OR NOT. WE RESPOND TO THAT AND YOU NEED THE STAFFING TO DO THAT. ONE CONCERN WITH STAFFING, A POINT OF FOCUS HERE IS THAT IS A PERPETUAL COST. AS YOU BRING IN EMPLOYEES, NOT LIKE A CAPITAL PROJECT WHERE YOU HAVE GOT ONE BIG-TIME EXPENSE AND YOU HAVE GOT MAINTENANCE, HERE, IT IS A COST THAT STICKS WITH YOU. WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT VERY CLOSELY AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY NOW THOSE ARE TO KEEP THE STAFF WE HAVE AND WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF COMPETING AGENCIES AROUND US AND WE NEED TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES APPROPRIATELY. THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN . WHAT IS NOT IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR, NOT WHAT IS NOT IN THE BUDGET, JUST SOME NOTES AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THERE IS NO REPLACING THE BOARDWALK IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. THERE IS A ROAD RESURFACING BACKLOG WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT. MAINLY, WE HAD A LOT OF SUBDIVISIONS THAT WENT INTO THE LATE 90S, EARLY 2000'S, AND THEY ARE ALL DUE AT THE SAME TIME. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FIND THOSE APPROPRIATELY, BECAUSE THE NEED IS CYCLIC IN NATURE . AND WE WILL HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF ROWS WE WILL HAVE TO RESURFACE HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. BABE RUTH'S EXPRESS INTEREST IN EXPANDING AND ADDING A BATTING CAGE.

THERE IS NO FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT. THERE IS ALSO AN INCREASED INTEREST IN A STATE SKATE PARK EXPANSION. WE HAVE MEMBERS FROM THE SKATE PARK COMMUNITY HERE TONIGHT AND WE WANT TO START THAT CONVERSATION. WE HAD FUNDING SET ASIDE IN THE BUDGET FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW . WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR TO DO ANYTHING, BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME INTEREST IN FUNDING THE DESIGN OF THE SKATE PARK . THAT IS NOT IN THE BUDGET, SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT. AND OF COURSE, DEFERRED HEAVIER EQUIPMENT . IT IS EASIER TO PUSH OFF THAT FRONT LOADER ONE YEAR AND SAVED $250,000. IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, YOU'RE LOOKING AT SIZABLE FLEET REPLACEMENTS AND THE COST CONTINUES TO GO UP. YOU WILL SPEND WAY MORE BECAUSE YOU WAITED A COUPLE OF YEARS. SO, HERE IS WHERE WE ARE AT TONIGHT. WE ADOPTED THE MILLAGE RATE JULY 30TH . WE ARE HERE AT THE WORKSHOP. ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH IT ALL TONIGHT, OR THAN LIKELY. WE ALSO AT THE MEETING ON THE EIGHTH WE CAN DRILL DOWN FURTHER. SEPTEMBER 3RD IS THE FIRST BUDGET HEARING. SEPTEMBER 17TH IS THE FINAL, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR OCTOBER NUMBER ONE, WE GET UNDERWAY IN THE NEW YEAR.

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>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, APPRECIATE THAT. WE WILL START

WITH VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JEREMIAH, FIRST AND FOREMOST , I WANT TO SAY THAT WAS VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED , NUMBER ONE, OF ALL THE DETAILS AND WHAT ALL THE CITY HAS ACCOMPLISHED, AND WHAT ALL OUR NEEDS ARE HERE WE HAVE A REAL GOOD GRIP, I THINK YOU HAVE A REAL GOOD GRIP OF WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AS A CITY AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, THERE IS ONE ITEM YOU KIND OF FORGOT . YOU KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU DEAL WITH IT ALL THE TIME, BUT YOU DID NOT MENTION IT WITH THE REST OF THE AMENITIES WE HAVE, NOT EVERY CITY HAS ITS OWN SEWER AND WATER DEPARTMENT . THAT IS NOT SOMETHING EVERY CITY HAS. WE FUNCTION AND THE REASON IT IS GOOD FOR US TO HAVE OUR OWN WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT IS, IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ROAD, WE WANT TO EXPAND OR DO ANYTHING, WE JUST TALK AND SAY, WHAT IS THE COST? OUR COST IS WHAT IT COST. SOME PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS DO NOT UNDERSTAND, IF WE HAD TO FORM THAT OUT , OR SOME OTHER ENTITY OWNED IT, THEY WILL MAKE IT FOR PROFIT. WE HAVE TO MAKE IT FROM COST HERE THERE IS A LARGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 20 AND 30% EVERY TIME WE DO SOMETHING AND PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT THAT A LOT.

OUR CITY IS VERY LUCKY WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN WHEN WE BROUGHT IT BACK, I THINK THAT IS CRAZY BECAUSE IT IS A MONEYMAKER AND ALLOWS US TO HAVE CONTROL HERE THAT IS ALL I'M GOING TO SAY AND WE CAN CARRY ON WITH THE PRESENTATION

AND TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET. >> VICE MAYOR , YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. THE MATERIAL DOES SUBSIDIZE TO HELP FUND OPERATIONS. IT WAS A GOOD BUSINESS DECISION AND CONTINUES

TO PAY. >> WHERE DO WE WANT TO START THE CONVERSATION FOR THE BUDGET, GENTLEMEN?

>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. I WILL GO AHEAD AND LEAD OFF. THERE ARE TWO THINGS ON THE QUESTION LIST . I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU ALL MY OPINION ON THE TWO THINGS ON THE QUESTION LIST I THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK YOU GUYS KNOW I AM A HUGE PROPONENT OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION . THE NUMBER ONE THING WE DO HERE-- I WOULD SAY THE NUMBER ONE THING WE DO AS A CITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICE AND FIRE ARE FUNDED. WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH JEREMIAH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE STREET AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE PRESENT WITHIN THE BUDGET . I WOULD LIKE TO PUSH FOR THAT. SECOND COMING NUMBER TWO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SKATE PARK. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE SKATE PARK FUNDING IS IN THE BUDGET. THOSE ARE MY TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE ALL DO. MOVING FORWARD IN THE DISCUSSION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT BUDGET WE ALL CAN BE PROUD OF.

>> FORWARD TO YOU, VICE MAYOR, OR SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> MR. ANTUN. >> SURE. I AGREE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT 100% . I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TWO OUT ANY POLICE OR FIREFIGHTERS . GIVEN SOME OF THE OTHER LARGER ITEMS WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE I ALSO WANT TO CONTINU A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW YOU WILL FIND WAYS TO LOWER TAXES TO CREATE REVENUE FOR THE CITY. I HAVE CONTINUED AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR AN OPTION SUCH AS PAID PARKING.

THE DISCUSSION WITH JEREMIAH LAST WEEK , HE MENTIONED THAT A 2018 STUDY HAD PROVEN WE COULD MAKE AS MUCH AS $2 MILLION-$3 MILLION A YEAR WITH EACH PARTNER ALONE IF WE INVESTED IN HOW MUCH THAT WOULD WORK. I THINK WITH THE NUMBERS PUT IN FRONT OF US , SOMETHING LIKE $90,000 FOR A SKATE PARK, AS MUCH AS I SUPPORT THAT, THAT IS SMALL POTATOES COMPARED TO THE BIGGER BUDGET WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE.

>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU ON TWO POINTS . ONE, YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US WORK TOWARDS THOSE THREE FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS. HOW WE GET THAT INTO THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, I THINK WE CAN GET THERE AT SOME POINT IN TIME. MS. LAURA LIE IS WORKING ON A GRANT FOR US. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND EXPLAIN IT IN DETAIL. I AM USED TO THE GRANT . I ACTUALLY WORK ON IT THREE SEPARATE TIMES WITH THE COUNTY. I UNDERSTAND HOW THE GRANT WORKS. WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS IF WE WANT TO. I ALSO THINK THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THREE FIREFIGHTERS INTO THE BUDGET AT SOME POINT IN TIME. MAYBE NOT INTO THE BUDGET, BUDGET. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT POSITIONS ON THE STAFF, EITHER THROUGH THE GRANT OR OTHERWISE.

AS FAR AS THE SKATE PARK , I THINK THIS COMMISSION PUTTING SKIN IN THE GAME IN TERMS OF THE DESIGN , AND LOOKING AT THE DESIGN AND GOING THROUGH THE DESIGN PHASE , I DON'T THINK IS WRONG. I WOULD SUPPORT THAT . I THINK THERE IS MONEY IN THE PARKS AND REC , IMPACT FEES WE COULD USE TO AT LEAST BE ABLE

[00:25:04]

IT WILL TAKE US A LITTLE WHILE TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THAT .

YOU START TALKING ABOUT LOCATION, YOU START TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS . BUT START LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS AND BRING EVERYBODY IN ME I WOULD BE ON BOARD WITH THAT . I HAVE ONE OTHER THING, BUT I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT UNTIL THE NEXT BUDGET , THE NEXT TIME WE MEET.

I AM ASSUMING WE WILL NOT FINISH IT ALL TONIGHT. I HAVE ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO BREAK UP FOR THE BUDGET TINY, TINY

ASK . >> VICE MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR . I DO THINK-- WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE SAFER GRANT, WAITING UNTIL IT IS ALL OVER WITH. WE CAN HAVE POLICEMAN . PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE. WE HAVE POLICEMAN IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, I HAVE SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF AND I HAVE SPOKE WITH STAFF . I BELIEVE WE CAN FUND AT LEAST, IN MY MIND, AT LEAST TWO FIREMEN AFTER THE GRANT , IF WE DON'T GET THE GRANT, OR SOMETHING DOESN'T HAPPEN. FROM THERE, IF WE ARE ABLE TO, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND LOOK AT THRE . I AM NOT AGAINST IT. I THINK WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THE BALLS IN THE AIR AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AS FAR AS THE SKATE PARK, I AM 100% . IF THE CITY WILL GET INVOLVED, WHICH WE SHOULD, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT, AS FAR AS DOING A DESIGN. ONCE WE GET THE DESIGN AND WE HAVE AN ENDGAME FOR THAT, WE CAN ULTIMATELY -- PRIVATE FUNDING WILL SHOW UP . PEOPLE WILL DONATE , AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRESS TO GETTING IT ACCOMPLISHED. I MEAN, WHEN WE PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER, AND I KNOW IT WAS LUCKY, IN EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PARK, BUT WE GOT A PRIVATE DONOR. I AM NOT SURE THAT WILL HAPPEN , OR WILL HAPPEN WITH THE SKATE PARK HERE HOWEVER, IF WE GET THE BALL ROLLING AND WORK WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE SKATE PARK, I AM SURE WE CAN GET THE BALL ROLLING. OTHER THAN THAT, A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS, WE NEED TO PUT IN-- IF THERE IS PAVING IN ALL OF THESE SUBDIVISIONS THAT WILL NEED TO BE DONE, I AM NOT SAYING WE WILL HIT IT THIS YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE A THOUGHT PROCESS WE NEED TO ADD X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, NEXT YEAR, THE YEAR AFTER, AND ASSUME THAT WE WILL HAVE TO FUND THAT AT SOME POINT, INSTEAD OF TAKING IT FROM OUR RESERVES. AS FAR AS THE FRONT END LOADER THAT JEREMIAH MENTIONED, WITH WHAT WE DID WITH THE FIRE TRUCK , I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF IT. I SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF A LONG TIME AGO. I KNOW I AM TALKING BACKWARDS, BECAUSE WE GOT THE FIRE TRUCK.

WE FINANCED IT. WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. HOWEVER, I WOULD PREFER TO PUT-- EVEN IF IT IS A LITTLE DULL OR NOT, TOWARD THE FRONT END LOADER IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET . INSTEAD OF US TRYING TO BITE OFF $230,000 , WHEN I WANT TO GO AND BUY ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY OR AUTOMOBILE I DON'T SHOW UP EVERY TIME AND FINANCE EVERY ITEM . I WILL LOOK AT WHAT I CALLED THE 50% RULE. I THINK IF THE CITY STARTED USING THE 50% RULE, IT WOULD BE MILES AHEAD. HOWEVER, WE CAN'T START EVERY ITEM THAT WE ARE BEHIND ALL AT ONE TIME . WE NEED TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA AND PLAN. I KNOW WE HAVE OUR CAPITAL PEERED WE HAVE OUR PLAN WITH THE CAPITAL FUND, IMPROVEMENTS. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO HOLD DOWN AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE ARE OUR BIG EXPENSES COMING UP . WE NEED TO HAVE A LINE AND SAY, WE NEED SO MUCH MONEY FOR THEM AND BE ABLE TO FUND IT. WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND GET IT DONE, I THINK. I DON'T THINK WE ARE UNDERFUNDED AT ALL. WE JUST WATCHED A PRESENTATION . I'M GOING TO THANK LAURA LIE AND BUDDY FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK. IT IS UNDERSTATED, $8 MILLION IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THAT RIGHT THERE IS OFF THE CHARTS. YOU CAN PUT THE DOLLAR FIGURE ON IT, BUT I THINK IT IS OVER 1000% RETURN FOR HER EFFORTS.

THAT IS JUST PHENOMENAL. ANYWAYS , WE CAN TALK ALL NIGHT LONG. WE WILL KEEP GOING OVER THE BUDGET.

>> ONE QUICK INTERJECTION. THAT IS WHAT WE WERE GRANTED. THAT IS WHAT MADE IT INTO THE BUDGET. WE MADE A LOT . MR. JACOBS HAD WORKED VERY HARD WITH OUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES. THAT WAS MORE IN THE BUDGET . THERE WAS A LOT MORE FUNDING THAT WAS AWARDED TO US, IT JUST HAPPENED TO NOT

[00:30:02]

IS A LOT HIGHER . >> THAT IS IMPRESSIVE . SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR 10 MORE SECONDS, OR 20 MORE SECONDS AND SAY, I THINK I SAW THAT REEL WHERE THERE ARE 40 TO 50 PROJECTS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS I KNOW ARE BETWEEN 20 AND $40 MILLION. THERE IS NO WAY THAT NUMBER CAN'T BE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE, BECAUSE I DO IT . THAT IS IMPRESSIVE . THAT IS JUST IMPRESSIVE . SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY, DOING THE REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED. I THINK IT IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT . WE SHOULD PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK AND SAY, KEEP GOING. KEEP DOING THE GOOD JOBS WE ARE DOING . WE DO NOT HEAR THAT ENOUGH. I THINK PEOPLE GET ON FACEBOOK AND THEY LIKE TO THINK ABOUT EVERY LITTLE NEGATIVE THING. WHEN I START MY DAY, I AM THINKING ABOUT POSITIVE .

HOW MUCH CAN I DO TODAY, HOW MUCH CAN I GET ACCOMPLISHED, WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE BEST THING I CAN GET ACCOMPLISHED TODAY? LET'S MOVE ON WITH THE BUDGET.

>> THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO LOOK AT IT VICE MAYOR. I CONCUR.

WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, THE WAY I THINK ME WE HAVE GIVEN FEEDBACK ALREADY. I WANT TO CLARIFY, THE REASON I WAS BRINGING UP THE FIREFIGHTERS TONIGHT SPECIFICALLY, I HEARD INFORMATION FROM OUR GRANT ADMINISTRATOR ABOUT THE LATEST ON THAT AND IT DOES NOT LOOK AS PROMISING AS IT DID BEFORE. I THINK WE MAY HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT TOO MUCH IN THE PAST. I THINK WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WORKING ON THAT. WHAT I AM HEARING, I I LOOK AT COMMISSIONER ROSS. I THINK WE HAVE GIVEN GOOD FEEDBACK TO JEREMIAH, WHO HAS ALREADY GOT A WONDERFUL BUDGET A GREAT DRAFT . WE HAVE THAT LONGER MEETING THURSDAY. I THINK YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM ALL OF US HERE TODAY . WE INCORPORATE THAT AND AND CAN TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THAT REVISED DRAFT. WE HAVE MORE INPUT TO GIVE. THAT COMES FROM COMMISSIONER ROSS. WHAT IF YOU GOT FOR US TODAY?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE WILL START PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. IF YOU WISH TO START PUBLIC COMMENT, FILL OUT ONE OF THESE FORMS. IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM THERE, YOU CAN SPEAK ON THE BUDGET WORKSHOP. COMMISSIONER

ROSS, GO AHEAD, SIR. >> I LIKE TO START WITH THE DETAILS.

UNDERFUNDED . AND I ALSO HEARD FROM THE CITY MANAGER THAT ONE OF OUR OBJECTIVES WAS-- CAN YOU MOVE THAT OVER A LITTLE BIT?

>> THE ORIENTATION OF THIS MONITOR OVER HERE IS AS GOOD AS

IT GETS. I APOLOGIZE. >> THAT IS FINE. OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WAS DOWNTOWN RESILIENCY. SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WATERFRONT . THE FIRST SEGMENT , THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT ARE ALL HERE . THIS IS A POLICY DECISION WHERE NOW, INSTEAD OF FUNDING -- THE CITY FUNDING THE ENTIRE WATERFRONT , NOW, THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO FUND NORTH OF SEGMENT 5. NORTH OF THERE WILL BE FUNDED BY SOMEBODY ELSE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IS THAT GOING TO BE OUR POLICY, HOW IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN? THE NEXT THING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, BRETT'S DEMOLITION, HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND THAT? BRETT'S NEW NUMBERS, THE ACQUISITION OF THE SIMMONS PROPERTY, AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS? WE PROMISED TO DO DOWNTOWN RESILIENCY, BUT WE HAVE NOT PROMISED HOW WE WILL PAY FOR IT. I'D LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP , IS IT OUR POLICY THAT WE WILL HAVE THIS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY? HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND THIS IN THE NEXT ONE TO TWO YEARS? WE PROMISED THAT WE WOULD BUILD THIS WALL SO THAT WE WOULD NOT FLOOD. WE HAVEN'T PROMISED , WE HAVEN'T ARTICULATED HOW WE WILL PAY FOR IT. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, BECAUSE I JUST HEARD , WE ARE NOT UNDERFUNDED AND WE HAVE MONEY TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS, HOW DO WE INTEND TO DO THIS? ANY TAKERS?

>> AS I SAID EARLIER, 2 TO $3 MILLION A YEAR TO PROFIT OFF OF A MONEYMAKING VENTURE, OTHERWISE, THE ONLY OPTION IS

[00:35:05]

TO GO INTO BOND REFORM. >> WHAT I AM ALSO INTERESTED IN KNOWING, IF YOU BELIEVE THIS WILL BE PARTIALLY, PRIVATELY

FUNDED? >> THAT, I CAN'T SAY. I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO THE OWNERS MORE RECENTLY TO KNOW WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS ULTIMATELY THE EXPECTATION THAT MR. SIMMONS WILL BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE

IN THE OPERATION. THIS >> I AM NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT THAT. WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS ON THE PROPERTIES NORTH OF WHERE THE CITY OWNS, THAT IS ALL PRIVATE PROPERTY THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. WE WOULD HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO COURT . WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THAT? IS THAT GOING TO BE THE CITY PAYING FOR THAT, OR IS THAT GOING TO BE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS PAYING FOR THAT?

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS ME THIS IS A BUDGET WORKSHOP. I DON'T THINK WE ARE HERE TO DECIDE-- THIS IS A LARGER POLICY QUESTION, WHO WILL PAY FOR SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE, THAT IS THE QUESTION. TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. IT LOOKS LIKE ACCORDING TO BY OWNERS, I WOULD TAKE THAT AS 0 DOLLARS WILL BE FUNDED, AND I PERSONALLY CAN SAY THAT FITS FOR MY IDEAL BUDGET. WE DO NOT NEED TO PUT ANY MONEY INTO SEGMENT 5. I'VE BEEN A PROPONENT OF WATERFRONT BOND, I'VE BEEN A PROPONENT OF OTHER WAYS TO HANDLE THIS AND I DON'T THINK TONIGHT WE NEED TO DECIDE IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS EITHER WAY. WE NEED TO DECIDE WHAT THE BUDGET WILL BE. THE ANSWER TO THAT IS 0.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MAYOR, THERE IS A FIVE YEAR CAPITAL COMPONENTS OF THIS BUDGET. THIS IS THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.

I TOOK THIS RIGHT OUT OF THE CAPITAL PLAN. THIS IS A PART OF THE BUDGET, TO DECIDE WHAT OUR FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN IS. I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING HOW WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS, HOW WE ARE COMMITTED TO PAYING FOR THIS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? IT IS A PART OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOP. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT PUSHING IT INTO THE NEXT THING. WE ARE NOW AT BUDGET WORKSHOP.

WHAT IS THE DISCUSSION? HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS JEREMIAH POINTED OUT , BOTH THE SEAWALL AND DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION ARE AT 70% BOND.

IF WE ARE GOING TO GO OUT FOR BOND REFERENDUM ON EITHER ONE, OR EITHER BOTH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A DESIGN THAT WE CAN SHOW THE PUBLIC EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE GETTING FOR THEIR MONEY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A DECISION ON , HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FINANCE IT, AND A BOND IS ONE OF THOSE WAYS, WITHOUT HAVING EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO FINANCE. I THINK WHEN THOSE COME BACK, WHEN WE GET EXACTLY WHAT THE SEAWALL IS GOING TO BE, AND WHAT IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, AND WE CAN HAVE WORKSHOPS HERE, MULTIPLE WORKSHOPS BEFORE WE EVEN THINK ABOUT BOND, THAT IS HOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO AT LEAST GET THE PUBLIC ON BOARD WITH A BOND. UNTIL WE HAVE 100% DESIGN ON BOTH PROJECTS, IT IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT . HOWEVER, WE ARE AT LEAST PUTTING A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION TOWARD DOWNTOWN

REVITALIZATION. >> WE WERE RIGHT ON THE SEAWALL

. >> I WILL LEAVE IT AT THE SEAWALL . THE SEAWALL, AS FAR AS THE BOND GOES, I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. WE WILL HAVE TO GET A DESIGN TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THE PUBLIC. THERE IS NO WAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO ASK THE PUBLIC FOR A BOND UNTIL WE CAN SHOW THEM EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE SPENDING . I DON'T SEE HOW THAT IS EVEN FEASIBLE.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THE PART -- WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL FROM THE CITY ENGINEER , IT SAID, IT IS GOING TO BE THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY. ARE WE SAYING TO THE PUBLIC THAT SEGMENT 5 AND NORTH OF THEIR WILL BE PAID BY SOMEBODY ELSE OTHER THAN THE CITY ? IS THAT

OUR POLICY? >> AGAIN, MR. ROSS , YOU ARE REALLY GETTING INTO A POLICY QUESTION THAT I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ARE PREPARED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON TONIGHT. I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER AYSCUE ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION, AS HAVE I, ABOUT A BOND THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF SEAWALL FUNDING COMES FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET. LET'S BRING IT BACK HOME.

>> BUT THIS IS IN THE BUDGET. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SIR, THIS IS IN THE BUDGET. RIGHT THERE CLEAR OWNERS, A PART OF THE BUDGET. ARE WE AGREEING THAT IS WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? IT IS A PART OF THE BUDGET. YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT IS THAT OUR POLICY THAT WE WILL HAVE-- IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION . IS THE CITY GOING TO

[00:40:02]

OTHERWISE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS, LET ME COMPLETELY REJECT THE FACT THAT IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE. THIS IS A VERY COMFORTABLE CONVERSATION, ONE THAT I AM ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO HAVE. LET'S HAVE IT ON ANOTHER DAY. TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT DOLLARS AND CENTS. I DO BELIEVE THE LINE IS NECESSARY. LET'S DISCUSS THE BUDGET. LET'S DISCUSS BONDS.

AGAIN, THAT IS WHAT COMMISSIONER ASKED. I THINK VICE MAYOR STURGES WAS ABOUT TO TALK, AND WE HAVE NOT LET HIM SPEAK YET. I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A PLAN AND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD. I WOULD NOT ANSWER FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT. COMMISSIONER AYSCUE, DID

YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? >> MAYOR , WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT, I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT PLENTY OF TIMES. A PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MAY ACTUALLY HAPPEN IN SOME FORM OR FASHION WITH A SEAWALL. OBVIOUSLY, IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO SOME OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS. I AM NOT-- I AM WITH THE MAYOR , I AM NOT 100% SAYING THAT THAT IS A POLICY OR WE NEED TO DRILL DOWN TO THAT . WE OBVIOUSLY CAN GO TO THESE OWNERS AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF APPETITE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A DESIGN. WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING WE CAN PRESENT THE PUBLIC, OR EVEN BE ABLE TO PRESENT THE OWNERS OF WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT WE WOULD WANT AND HOW IT WOULD BE.

>> HERE IS THE PROBLEM, WHAT WE ARE DESIGNING GOES IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. WE ARE SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY TO DESIGN A WALL THAT IS IN FRONT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY. ARE WE TELLING-- AND WE ARE USING PUBLIC MONEY TO DO THAT . WE DO HAVE A DESIGN. WE HAVE SEEN THE DESIGN . I HAVE LOOKED AT THE DRAWINGS. THE DESIGN IS PRETTY MUCH DONE. THE DEPARTMENT OF CORE OF ENGINEERS. IT IS MOVING ALONG . IT IS A PART OF THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. WE HAVE PUT IT-- AT LEAST IN THE ORIGINAL ONE, WHETHER IT HAS CHANGED OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW.

IT WAS IN FRONT OF TWO OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTIES, AND THEN IT STOPS. HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND, AS PART OF THIS-- THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIG VISIONS. WE WILL PROTECT THE CITY . UNLESS WE HAVE A SEAWALL THAT GOES FROM THE PORT, THE WATER ISN'T PROTECTED. PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT WATER-- MONEY INTO A BOND THAT WILL NOT PROTECT THE CITY . IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FUND THE NORTHERN SEGMENT ? ARE WE GOING TO BE DEPENDING ON PERSONAL PROPERTIES OF PEOPLE TO DO THAT? IT IS BEING DESIGNED. I HAVE SEEN THE DESIGN . IT IS

PRETTY MUCH FURTHER ALONG. >> VICE STURGES, I THINK YOUR LIGHT IS OUT. YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING IN LINE, GO AHEAD AND

TALK, . WE HAVE TWO MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE WE ARE FURTHER ALONG. WE HAVE $2 MILLION FOR THE SEAWALL THAT WE HAVE NOT SPENT YET . IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN, LORELEI AND BUDDY, MOSTLY BUDDY, IS WORKING ON OTHER FUNDING, NOT JUST ON A BOND, BUT WE COULD RECEIVE MORE FUNDING IN GRANT FUNDING, NOT FROM THE STATE , BUT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR A WALKER.

IT IS NOT LIKE THERE IS ZERO PLANS. THERE IS A PLAN, THERE IS A PLAN WITH THAT TYPE OF FUNDING. THERE IS A PLAN. THE DISCUSSION HAS GONE OUT TO THE PRIVATE OWNERS. YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THAT, CHIP. YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ZERO PLAN. I THINK THE PLAN IS IN ACTION, WE JUST NEED THE PLANS SO WE CAN CARRY ON AND MOVE FORWARD. I SAW CHARLIE SHAKING HIS HEAD, NO. IT IS NOT COMPLETE YET, RIGHT?

>> 70% COMPLETE. >> ALL RIGHT . THAT IS NOT 100%. WHEN I GO TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AT THAT A PERMIT , I DON'T GIVE THEM 70% OF THE PLANS. I THINK WE ARE WASTING TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF OTHER BUDGET ITEMS. STATEMENT ABSOLUTELY. TAKE YOU SO MUCH, VICE MAYOR. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL GO TO

[00:45:02]

[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]

THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. WELCOME .

>> SHEILA COKIE, 1415 INDIGO STREET. I JUST WANT TO SAY, IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE TWO THINGS BE TRUE AT ONE TIME. THE CITY THAT A LOT OF THINGS VERY WELL. WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT OF THINGS , BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF THINGS LEFT TO DO.

THINGS THAT DID NOT GET DONE. I SPOKE TO JEREMIAH EARLIER AND ASKED IF HE COULD PROVIDE A LIST OF THINGS THAT DID NOT GET DONE IN THE BUDGET, THINGS THAT AREN'T FUNDED THAT WE CAN'T GET DONE. I DID NOT ASK FOR THAT FOR TODAY, BUT FOR IN THE FUTURE. IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB , BUT COULD WE BE DOING MORE THINGS, YES, AND WE NEED TO BE FUNDED TO DO THAT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO FOCUS ON WHAT THINGS ARE BEING CUT TO ACCOMMODATE THE MODIFIED ROLLBACK RATE YOU GUYS ADOPTED . JUST TO REITERATE , AS GOOD OF A JOB AS MS. JACOBS DOES ON THE GRANT WRITING FOR THE CITY, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT , IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT WE SHOULD NEVER BE FUNDING SALARIES AND PERSONNEL WITH GRANTS. WE CAN FUND THINGS, BUT THOSE SALARIES AND PEOPLE GO ON IN PERPETUITY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT ISOLATING OURSELVES JUST WITH GRANTS. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WHEN IT CAME UP ABOUT STORM WATER TO ME WHAT IT COST TO AND ASKED FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO STORMWATER, IF I RECALLED IT WAS ABOUT $10,000, $9000? WATER AND SEWER TO CONNECT INTO THE CITY . WE KEPT IT AT 3000 EUROS WE ARE SUBSIDIZING A LOT OF MONEY FOR PEOPLE . THOSE ARE PLACES WHERE WE COULD BE DRINKING IN MONEY TO SUPPORT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. LAST MEETING , THE OTHER NIGHT, WE HAVE BEEN PAVING MORE THAN EVER, AND I AM SURE WE HAVE BEEN PAYING MORE THAN EVER TO PAY FOR PAVING WITH THE MONEY THAT THOSE PROJECTS COST . ARE WE DOING MORE PAVING? NO. WE HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PAVING TO DO, THE COST IS JUST MORE AND IT IS NOT FUNDED. I THINK IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO BE MAKING PROMISES FOR PEOPLE TO PROJECTS IN A BUDGET YEAR THAT SOME OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE HERE . I THINK IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO DO THAT. I HAVE ALSO HAD CONVERSATION WITH THE PEOPLE AT REGARDING THE BIOETHANOL PLANT . I WILL SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE MORE IN THE NEXT MEETING. THEY ARE PLANNING TO COME TO THIS CITY WITH BUILDING PERMITS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. SO, THAT IS IN FOUR MONTHS, THEY ARE COMING TO ASK YOU GUYS FOR PERMITS TO ME AND NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THIS TO

THE PUBLIC . SO, THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU MS. COKIE. WE HAVE GOTTEN MR. SCOTT ENGLISH. COME ON DOWN, SIR.

>> THANK YOU. I AM SCOTT ENGLISH. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET , BUT MY WIFE SAID THAT I COULD DO THIS ACCORDING TO THE WAY-- BECAUSE SHE WATCHES ALL OF Y'ALL

MEETINGS . >> YOU ARE WELCOME TO DO SO,

SIR. >> WHAT IS IT YOU ARE DOING? LAUGHTER ] SAG-AFTRA I AM SHRIMP FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN AND I WANTED TO INFORM THE ILLUSTRIOUS SIRS HERE THAT WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH COASTAL TIED EXCURSIONS TO BRING THE LADY JANE , A 65 FOOT SHRIMP BOAT THAT WILL ALLOW THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ACTUALLY GO ON THE BOAT DURING SHRIMP

FESTIVAL. >> WOW. TOO MUCH LIKE THE GEORGIA BULLDOG USED TO DO, SO THAT IS A NEW THING FOR US. I WENT TO THE MARINE ADVISORY BOARD, AND THEY VOTED TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL OF TWO SPACES AT 65 FEET AT THE CITY DOCS WITH THE APPROVAL FROM CITY COMMISSION. I KNOW YOU HAVE TO DO THAT AT ANOTHER TIME. ALSO, I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT TO BRING THAT SHRIMP BOAT DOWN HERE IT COST $11,000 FOR THE SHRIMP FESTIVAL COMMITTEE TO DO THAT. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A -- OKAY, WHO ARE YOU?

[00:50:06]

HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? >> I'M SORRY, THE MEETING STARTED. MARION PHILLIPS, 724 SOUTH SIXTH STREET, REPRESENTING THE MARINE ADVISORY BOARD. AT OUR MEETING , THEY ASKED FOR ME TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS AND ASKED FOR THE CITY TO WAIVE THAT FEE. HOPEFULLY, THE OTHER SHRIMP BOATS THAT WILL BE THERE AND THERE , IN OTHER WORDS, IT WOULD NOT TAKE UP MORE THAN ONE LENGTH OF A DOCK SPACE. THAT IS THE REASON I AM OVER HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT.

>> THANK YOU. I CAN'T PUT WORDS IN ANYBODY'S MOUTH HERE.

AS YOU SAID, WE WILL HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT AT A LATER TIME. I WILL SAY, AS WE DID LAST YEAR I THINK WE WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO GRANT YOU THAT DOCK SPACE ONCE AGAIN AND WE WELCOME THE SHRIMP BOATS BACK. THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO AS SHRIMP FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. WE HAVE GOT MR. WALLY VALERO. COME ON DOWN, SO SIR.

>> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. PO BOX 1, FERNANDINA, FLORIDA . I AM-- FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS, IN HONOR OF HAVING MR. KENNY BENSON, WHO JUST GOT BACK FROM PARIS, FRANCE WATCHING HIS DAUGHTER COMPETE IN THE 33RD OLYMPICS , REPRESENTING FERNANDINA BEACH , FLORIDA.

SEE HIS DAUGHTER PERFORM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND REPRESENT OUR CITY LIKE NO OTHER REPRESENTATIVE. SHE SMILED THE ENTIRE TIME , AND SHE LAUGHED. SHE WAS VOTED BY THE CROWD THE BEST SKATEBOARDER OUT THERE. I APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF YOU GOT TO SAID DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE SKATE PARK. IF WE ARE GOING TO NAME A SKATE PARK AFTER OUR PROFESSIONAL PRO-OLYMPIAN, IT SHOULD BE A SKATE PARK WHERE THE OF AN OLYMPIAN. WE HAVE ANOTHER GIRL RIGHT NOW WHO IS WILL BE GOING TO BE WITH HER IN THE 2028 OLYMPICS IN LOS ANGELES . WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FUND AND GET TWO OLYMPIANS FROM FERNANDINA BEACH , SKATEBOARDERS, GIRLS COMPETING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. THE WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS TO DO THE THINGS YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW,

AND I APPRECIATE THAT. >> THANK YOU, MR. VALERO.

APPLAUSE ] LET'S WELCOME MR. PAUL LORI.

>> SIR, CAN I JUST DIVERGE MY TIME?

>> I WILL PUT YOU AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STACK, SIR. NOT MANY PEOPLE REQUEST THAT, FOR YOU I WILL DO THAT. MR. MICHAEL NICHOLAS. COME ON DOWN, SIR. WELCOME.

>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL NICHOLS, I AM AT 876 ATLANTIC VIEW DRIVE, CITY RESIDENT . AGAIN, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DAD AS WELL, BECAUSE IT TAKES A FATHER LIKE THAT TO PUT THE TIME IN, AND PERSISTENT . IT IS AMAZING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL. I WANT TO COMMEND THE COMMISSION ON ACTUALLY ADDING THE BUDGET LINE ITEM THIS TIME. I HOPE IT GOES FOR GOOD CONSIDERATION. I KNOW THAT PARKS DIRECTOR IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO RE-FABRICATE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, BUT THAT IS A METAL STRUCTURE SITTING ON THE OCEAN.

IT WILL NOT BE MUCH LONGER BEFORE IT IS UNSAFE AGAIN. I WANTED TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE , THESE GET DOWN TO THE DESIGN SPACE. THIS WILL MEAN A LOT TO THESE KIDS. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY DOWN THERE FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE. PLEASE CONSIDER THAT BUDGET LINE AND LET'S GET THAT GOING.

>> MR. TAJ ODOM. I WILL SAVE HIM FOR JUST A SECOND. TAJ ODOM IS ON DECK, IF HE IS HERE. MR. JOHNSON, QUINN JOHNSON.

WELCOME, MR. JOHNSON. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN PULL IT DOWN, ABSOLUTELY. MAKE SURE YOU START WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS TO GET STARTED.

>> I AM QUINN JOHNSTON , 97990 YORKSHIRE DRIVE. NOT A CITY RESIDENT, BUT I REALLY LIKE OUR SKATE PART PARK. IT IS SUPER

[00:55:03]

BUDGET. >> THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSTON,

EXCELLENT POINT. >> IF I COULD, I AM ALEX JOHNSTON, I AM QUINN'S FATHER. I GOT ANOTHER SON HERE AS WELL.

I WANT TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR ME TO WATCH THEM GET THEIR FRIENDSHIPS, WATCH THEM LEAVE A LITTLE DNA ON THE SURFACE THERE. IT ADDS TO THEIR CHILDHOOD BY BUILDING RESILIENCE, BY JUST THE FRIENDSHIPS THEY HAVE MADE THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO AGREE WITH QUINN, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT EXPANDED, NOT JUST FOR MY CHILDREN, BUT FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY AND IT IS FOR ALL AGES. I GET OUT THERE WITH

THEM AS WELL. >> I AM YIELDING THE FLOOR TO

YOU. >> I AM THEIR GRANDMOTHER, I AM

A CITY RESIDENT. >> IS MR. TAJ ODOM BACK IN THE ROOM? MR. PAUL, YOU ARE BACK UP.

>> ACTUALLY, THAT IS A GREAT SEGUE. 11TH SOUTH SEVENTH STREET, FERNANDINA. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE CITY STAFF FOR WHAT EVERYBODY DOES AND MR. MAYOR THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO YIELD MY TIME. I THINK WHAT THE KIDS HAVE TO BRING RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THE SKATE PARK. ALSO, THE YOUNG MAN IS NOT HERE, BECAUSE HE IS AT THE BEACH, GOING SURFING. I WOULD ASK THAT ANY STANDING COMMISSIONER AND ANY FUTURE COMMISSIONER THAT COMES UP INTO THE COMMISSIONER RANKS, JUST MOVES VERY CAUTIOUSLY ON TRYING TO IMPLEMENT PAID BEACH PARKING. I COULD NOT IMAGINE FOR MYSELF, BEING A WATERMAN, LIKE TODAY, THIS MORNING, GOT UP RIGHT AT 6:00. I WENT OUT ON THE NORTH END , CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF NORTH END , WENT TO MAINE BEACH, I WENT TO SLIDERS FOR ME AND I WENT TO THE PEER TO GO TO THE OCEAN . I CANNOT IMAGINE BEING A CITY RESIDENT, LIVING HERE FULL-TIME, 365 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR, AND HOW TO PAY FOR

BEACH PARKING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. LORI. AS WE WRAP UP, I WILL GO AHEAD AND COMMENT ON THAT AND SAY, AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES -- AND I SAW THIS POP UP ON FACEBOOK TOO RECENTLY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY PERSONAL POSITION IS CLEAR.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COMMISSION, I AM JUST ONE PERSON. I WILL NEVER BE FOR CHARGING TO PARK AT THE BEACH OR DOWNTOWN. I AM INCREDIBLY OPPOSED TO PAID PARKING, NOW, AND ALWAYS WILL BE. WITH THAT IN MIND, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER ONCE TO SPEAK TO MARK HEATH, COME ON DOWN, SIR.

>> MY OLDEST SON, PAUL. >> CHECK IN AT THE MIC.

>> PETE STEPHENSON, 1267 HIGHLANDER WAY . THREE THINGS, ONE, A GREAT BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO JEREMIAH. I THOUGHT THAT WAS WELL DONE, GOOD TIMING, AND A LITTLE CHANGE TO THE THOUGHT PROCESS AS WE ARE GOING NOW. LET'S LOOK AT THAT AS A PLUS.

SKATEBOARD PARK . I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO MAYBE CONSIDER A LITTLE BIT, WHEN WE DID EAKIN'S CREEK , THERE WAS PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENTAL FUNDING THAT WENT INTO IT. I THINK WE CAN BUILD THE SAME BRIDGE. IT MAY TAKE SOME NONPROFIT CLUBS, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO BEAT THE DRUM SO TO SPEAK, TO GET THAT MONEY. LAST THING, WATERFRONT FEARED WE ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM TONIGHT, BUT MY CONCERN IS, BASED ON WHAT I COULD FIND, 21 YEARS AGO THE CITY COMMISSION HAD A PLAN FOR THE WATERFRONT. 7700 DAYS . I THINK IT IS TIME THAT WE GET TO A CLOSURE POINT. WE KEEP PUSHING THE MARBLE ALONG THE SLIDE, BUT WE ARE NOT GETTING TO THE END. WE HAVE GOT TO GET TO A PLAN THAT WILL SOLVE THAT WATERFRONT, MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL, AND GET COMMITTED TO IT. I STILL THINK THE BOND ISSUE MAY BE A REASONABLE WAY OF GOING. I THINK COMMISSIONER AYSCUE WAS RIGHT IN THE SENSE OF, YOU GOT TO HAVE A FIRM PLAN. GET A HOLD AND SAY, I BUY INTO IT. WE HAVE GOT TO ESTABLISH A LONG-TERM STRATEGY THAT DOESN'T TAKE ANOTHER 7000 DAYS TO IMPLEMENT, BUT IT IS THE FINISH POINT, THE FINISH LINE WE HAVE GOT TO GO AFTER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER WANTS TO SPEAK TO

[01:00:03]

>> I DID, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE OUR PROPERTY , MR. KEVIN.

>> WELCOME, SIR. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

>> I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE LAST THOUGHT.

>> ONCE AGAIN, COMMISSIONER AYSCUE, YOU FINISH UP .

>> IT IS KEVIN'S BIRTHDAY. >> I DON'T KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO WILL SPEND THEIR BIRTHDAY WITH US . THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.

COMMISSIONER ROSS, WRAP US UP. >> ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT WE WEREN'T GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FIREMEN, BECAUSE WE WERE GOING FOR A GRANT, WHATEVER IT IS.

>>

>> $1 MILLION A YEAR GOING FORWARD. WE NEED TO KEEP THAT

IN MIND. >> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.