[00:00:03]
>> GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 13TH, 2024.WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND ALL? WOULD YOU PLEASE QUICK ROLL CALL?
>> MEMBER SPAULDING. [BACKGROUND] MEMBER PEARLSTINE.
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?
>> [BACKGROUND] I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF HOUSE RULES THAT I WANTED TO SEND OUT TO EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
SINCE WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP IN ATTENDANCE, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GO OVER A FEW HOUSEKEEPING RULES TO ENSURE THAT OUR MEETING RUNS SMOOTHLY AND THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM YELLING OUT FROM THE AUDIENCE.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL NOT RECOGNIZE ANYONE TO SPEAK WITHOUT THEM SUBMITTING A PUBLIC COMMENT FORM.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE FILL OUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT FORM, WHICH YOU CAN FIND AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM, AND SUBMIT IT TO DIANA AND KATIE BY THE COMPUTER.
WITH YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.
WE OFFER TWO TYPES OF PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA AND FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SPECIFICALLY THE TYPE OF FORM BEFORE YOU SUBMITTING IT.
EACH ITEM ON THE AGENDA WILL FOLLOW A STRUCTURED PROCESS, PRESENTATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AFTER THE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
WE ARE EAGER TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK, [NOISE] AND WE ASK THAT ALL COMMENTS REMAIN RESPECTFUL AND APPROPRIATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION, AND LET'S HAVE A PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
PLEASE, ALSO, ANYBODY THAT HAS THEIR CELL PHONES, PLEASE TURN THEM OFF.
I APPRECIATE THAT VERY, VERY MUCH.
[NOISE] [BACKGROUND] SEVENTY-ONE AND FIVE OVER. GOT IT.
>> I WOULD LIKE, FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, WE HAVE POE IN THE AUDIENCE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND EVERYBODY CAN GIVE YOU A ROUSING APPLAUSE? [APPLAUSE].
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 4, 1.JULY 2024, REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.
I'M ASKING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
>> NUMBER 5, PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITMES NOT ON THE AGENDA]
I HAVE FIVE PEOPLE AS OF RIGHT NOW [NOISE] THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK.I LIVE AT 95079 RAINTREE LANE FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA. I AM IN THE COUNTY.
HOWEVER, I AM THE PRESIDENT FOR ELM STREET LITTLE LEAGUE.
AT THE LAST MEETING THAT I DID NOT COME TO,
[00:05:03]
WHICH I WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING, JOE VELARDI WAS VOTED TO GO TO PAQUETTE, HOWEVER, YOU SAY AT COURTS.WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE USE THAT FIELD.
ELM STREET LITTLE LEAGUE ONLY HAS TWO FIELDS RIGHT NOW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIELDS ARE BEING REDONE AND THAT'S IN THE FUTURE.
HOWEVER, WE USE THAT FIELD NOW.
I HAVE EIGHT TEAMS. DURING SEASON, WE USE BOTH OF THOSE FIELDS FOR GAMES.
WE WERE USING JOE VELARDI DURING THE SPRING AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK DURING OUR SEASON.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANYBODY OVER THERE.
WELL, THAT'S A HIKE FOR MOST OF MY PARENTS, FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE ELM STREET IS WHERE IT'S LOCATED.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, ALSO, THEY SAID, WE CAN USE THE NEW BALL FIELD AT THE PECK CENTER.
IT'S NOT LITTLE LEAGUE-APPROVED.
THERE'S NO ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE GIRLS.
THERE'S NO RESTROOM. THERE'S NO SHADE.
[NOISE] THERE'S NO SITTING. THERE'S NO DUGOUTS.
I'M NOT SPEAKING JUST FOR ELM STREET, BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT BABE RUTH USES THAT FIELD ALSO.
WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO FINISH USING THE FIELD AT JOE VELARDI, FOR MY GIRLS TO TAKE THE FIELD.
WE WOULD BE DOUBLE BOOKED SOMETIMES.
THE CITY KNOWS WE USE THIS FIELD.
WE HAVE TO RESERVE IT THROUGH THE CITY.
BABE RUTH KNOWS THAT WE USE THE FIELD BECAUSE WE DOUBLE BOOK.
THEY CAN'T ALWAYS RESERVE THE FIELD EITHER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER FIELDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE.
THERE'S REALLY ONLY TWO FIELDS OVER AT YBOR THAT ARE SOFTBALL-APPROVED THAT ARE SOFTBALL FIELDS.
I'M JUST SPEAKING FOR [NOISE] THIS GROUP OF GIRLS THAT WE HAVE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO GO TO PRACTICE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT WE DO. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> HI. I'M KATESON ZELENSKY AT 302 SOUTH 18TH STREET.
I JUST BECAME AWARE ABOUT THIS FIELD RENOVATION ON SATURDAY.
IF I'D KNOWN THIS WAS IN THE WORKS AND BEING PLANNED AND VOTED ON, I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INVOLVED, BUT IT JUST NEVER DAWNED ON ME. IT'S SHOCKING.
I KNOW THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BIG THE SOFTBALL COMMUNITY WAS UNTIL MY DAUGHTER STARTED PLAYING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT IT'S A BIG FAMILY, AND IT'S A HEARTFELT FAMILY, AND THEY FIGHT FOR FIELD USE EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE OF OPEN SPACE.
IT'S JUST I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ENJOY LOOKING AT OPEN GREEN SPACE.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT CAN BE AS IMPACTFUL AS TAKING A FIELD AWAY FROM YOUTH NOW AND YOUTH FOR YEARS TO COME.
[NOISE] I ENVISION COACHING SOFTBALL WHEN MY DAUGHTER'S GONE ON THAT FIELD FOR YEARS TO COME JUST AS I WAS COACHED ON THAT SOFTBALL FIELD, AND MY UNCLES WERE COACHED ON THAT BASEBALL SOFTBALL YOUTH FIELD FOR 50 YEARS.
THERE'S HUNDREDS OF OTHER OPTIONS, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN VOTED ON.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE PUSHED BACK WITH EVERY SINGLE VOTE YOU MAKE, EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HARD IT MUST BE TO ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE AGAINST YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE ALWAYS JUST TRYING TO APPEASE WHO'S IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT THIS IS A MISTAKE.
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I PRAY THAT WE CAN RE-EVALUATE THIS BECAUSE IT'S GOT A LOT OF IMPACT TO TAKE THIS AWAY FROM THEM, THESE KIDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [NOISE] JONATHAN PEREZ.
HE'S COMING. I'M SORRY. [LAUGHTER].
>> HE'S LOOKING FOR [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANKS FOR A MOMENT. I REALLY JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE FORM IF THEY CAN GET LAID OUT HERE [OVERLAPPING].
>> CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE?
>> SURE. NAME IS MICHAEL STONE.
ADDRESSES 96212 OCEAN BREEZE, WHICH IS IN THE COUNTY.
[00:10:04]
IT'S ONE OF THOSE WEIRD ENCLAVES.IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE CITY, BUT TECHNICALLY COUNTY.
WE HAD THIS PRESENTED TO US INITIALLY LAST NIGHT WITH THE PROPOSAL OF HAVING PETANQUE COURTS PUT AT JOE VELARDI FIELD.
WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF THE SPECIFICS AND THE NUMBERS LAID OUT.
ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS, HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS OR HOW MANY REGISTERED PLAYERS ARE THERE WITH THE PETANQUE COMMUNITY [NOISE]? I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PETANQUE.
IN FACT, IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, I'VE LOOKED UP AND LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SPORT.
I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT, BUT I DO THINK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE'S GENERALLY SHOULD BE PROPORTIONALITY OF FIELDS AND COURTS PROVIDED PER THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE PARTICIPANTS IN IT.
JOE VELARDI FIELD, IT'S A SOFTBALL FIELD, SO IT'S PRETTY BIG.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD LAID OUT HOW MANY PETANQUE COURTS ARE PLANNED TO BE PUT THERE.
THEN WITH THE NUMBER OF PETANQUE PLAYERS THAT THEY ARE ON THE COMMUNITY, IF THAT'S PROPORTIONATE TO THE OTHER SPORTS AND OTHER FIELDS AND COURTS THAT ARE PROVIDED FOR THOSE SPORTS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE THING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO BE SUPPORTED IS THAT THERE'S PROPORTIONALITY FOR THE FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED SO THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SERVED EQUITABLY IN THAT WAY. THANKS.
>> MACK MOORES, 821 PARKVIEW CITY RESIDENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT VELARDI FIELD MAKES SENSE IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE DAILY PETANQUE PLAY AND THE INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL TOURNAMENT BECAUSE OF THE SPACE THERE.
BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IF ALL YOU'RE DOING IS USING IT FOR DAILY PLAY.
THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS TO PUT THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT.
YOU COULD DO IT AT DOLPHIN STREET PARKING LOT AT MAIN BEACH.
JUST COVER THAT UP WITH THE GRIT NEEDED, AND THEN REUSE THAT GRIT TO FILL IN THE HOLES ON OCEAN AVENUE, REEFER ROAD, OR KEEP THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT DOWN AT THE WATERFRONT.
NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM DOING THAT ON THE GRAVEL PARKING LOT.
DOING IT ONCE A YEAR IS A TEMPORARY THING.
THERE'S PLACES FOR THOSE DAILY PLAY PETANQUE COURTS AT MAIN BEACH BETWEEN PUTT-PUTT AND THE BOARDWALK THERE.
THERE'S ROOM FOR THAT AT CENTRAL PARK, BUT NOT ROOM FOR THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT.
THERE'S OTHER PLACES THAT CAN BE USED.
EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT THE PLAYING FIELDS OVER AT THE AIRPORT.
NOW, I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE CITY-COUNTY DEAL WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING IN MONEY TO BUY PROPERTY SO THAT THE FAA CAN'T KICK US OFF ANYMORE.
BUT THAT MEANS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM MULEY AND WILDLIGHT TO PLAY THERE, WHICH MEANS OUR YOUTH ARE GOING TO BE SQUEEZED OUT.
WE NEED PROPERTY FOR OUR YOUTH THAT WE CAN CONTROL AS TAXPAYERS.
IT'S PART OF OUR HISTORY AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
[NOISE] I KNOW YOUR JOBS ARE NOT EASY.
I'VE SAT UP THERE, NOT AS A COMMISSIONER, BUT ON BOARDS.
I'VE SPENT ABOUT TWO YEARS UP THERE ON VARIOUS BOARDS, SO I KNOW YOUR JOBS ARE NOT EASY.
WITH THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF DENSITY THAT OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS GRANT THROUGH VARIANCES OR LAND CODE CHANGES, WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE PLACES FOR OUR YOUTH TO PLAY, NOT LESS.
SWAPPING AROUND AND PLAYING MONOPOLY WITH OUR YOUTH'S FUTURE JUST DOESN'T REALLY WORK.
ANYWAY, I REALLY RESPECT ALL OF YOU.
EVEN IF I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU, I RESPECT YOU FOR DOING THE JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. [NOISE] LESLIE ANDREE.
>> LESLIE ANDREE 940894 OLD NASSAUVILLE ROAD, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
I'VE BEEN WITH ELM STREET LITTLE LEAGUE FOR APPROXIMATELY SEVEN YEARS AT THIS POINT.
WHEN THIS WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, I WAS LIKE, WELL, WE'RE GETTING NEW FIELDS.
BUT AS I LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE OF IT ALL AND I WATCH ALL THESE KIDS THAT ARE SITTING IN THIS ROOM TODAY, THIS IS THE FUTURE OF WHAT WE ARE BUILDING AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT SPORTS DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHERE IT'S NORMALLY AT,
[00:15:03]
NORMALLY, THESE KIDS INVOLVED WITH SPORTS ARE THE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THEY START.WHY WOULD WE TAKE AWAY ANOTHER PLACE THESE KIDS HAVE TO PLAY? MAYBE JOE VELARDI FIELD DOESN'T SAY A SOFTBALL [NOISE] BASEBALL DIAMOND FOREVER.
[NOISE] BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT DOESN'T BECOME A FOOTBALL PRACTICE AREA OR SOME OTHER PIECE THAT THE YOUTH USES ONE DAY FORWARD.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM SITTING ON THE BOARD THAT I HAVE, WE HAVE NOT SLOWED DOWN ON GROWTH WITH CHILDREN COMING INTO IT.
I CAN SAY THAT ABOUT OUR SKATE PARK, LACROSSE, EVERY YOUTH BASEBALL, FOOTBALL.
LACROSSE WASN'T ANYTHING, AND LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE WITH CROSSE.
TAKING AWAY ANOTHER PIECE FROM THESE KIDS IS NOT OKAY, GUYS.
OUR DUTY, I BELIEVE, AS US CITIZENS, IS TO PROTECT OUR YOUTH, AND WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB RIGHT NOW WITH THAT.
I'VE SAT HERE AND I SHUT MY MOUTH WHEN WE HAD THE AIRPORT PART GOING ON, AND I LET IT GO BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.
BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO ANOTHER FIELD TO TAKE AWAY KIDS' SPACE.
Y'ALL, I GET YOUR JOBS ARE HARD, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE SOME GOOD GREENFIELD SPACE.
I'VE GOT OTHER SUGGESTIONS I WON'T GO ON TO RIGHT NOW.
BUT DON'T TAKE AWAY SOMETHING THAT WE'LL NEVER GET BACK.
YOU GUYS KNOW, AS WELL AS I DO STANDING HERE, ONCE IT'S GONE, WE'LL NEVER RETRIEVE IT AGAIN.
IT'S GONE. I'M COMING TO YOU AS A CITIZEN, SOMEONE THAT VOLUNTEERS ON YOUR CITY GROUNDS THAT PUTS HER HEART AND SOUL INTO THESE KIDS FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
MAYBE I HAVEN'T BEEN PRESENT FOR THE LAST YEAR. I'VE BEEN A LITTLE BUSY.
BUT DON'T TAKE ANOTHER FIELD SPACE.
PUT MONEY AND INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THESE PARKS.
ELM STREET HAS BEEN FALLING APART FOR YEARS, AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUT IT TOGETHER WITH TAPE.
I'VE WATCHED POE OUT ON THOSE FIELDS SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL GETTING IN MY CAR WITH MY DAUGHTER.
DID IT REALLY TAKE FOR US [NOISE] TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS TO GET THESE GUYS AT SKATE PARK? [APPLAUSE] DID WE NEED TO BRING OUT AN ALL-STAR SOFTBALL KID FOR SOMEBODY TO LISTEN TO US? [NOISE] THINK ABOUT YOUR YOUTH IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I'M GLAD TO SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE FOR OUR YOUTH SITTING ON THIS BOARD TODAY.
THAT MAKES ME A LOT HAPPIER BECAUSE FOUR YEARS AGO, THREE YEARS AGO, THAT WASN'T THE POLICY IN HERE. APPRECIATE YOU.
>> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO TALK AT THIS TIME? MICHAEL STORE?
>> MICHAEL STONE. [OVERLAPPING]
[BACKGROUND] I JUST LITERALLY GOT HERE.
I CAUGHT THE LAST END OF LESLIE'S. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS?
>> I'M SORRY. YES. MY NAME IS JONATHAN PEREZ.
I'M AT 2804 TURTLE SHORES DRIVE IN FERNANDINA.
I CAUGHT THE LAST FEW WORDS FROM LESLIE, WALKING IN THE DOOR.
IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME, I FELT TO BE HERE.
MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE TWO YEARS AGO, FULL TIME, BECAUSE WE HAD A YOUNG DAUGHTER, AND WE WANTED HER TO GROW UP IN A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY WAS SMALL KNIT, AND EVERYBODY CARED FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND WE REALLY SAW THAT HERE.
IT TOOK A LOT FOR US TO SELL OUR BUSINESS AND OUR FOREVER HOME IN ATLANTA, I'M ONE OF THOSE, BUT I LOVED WHAT WE HAD HERE.
I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE HERE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COACH LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL WITH ELM STREET, THE LAST THREE SEASONS.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS TO COACH THESE GIRLS, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN YOU GET IN FRONT OF THESE KIDS, AND THEY'RE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, THEY HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING, THEY HAVE A SENSE OF A PLACE TO BE.
THEIR PRIDE IS BEYOND BELIEF OF WHAT THEY CAN DO ON THAT BALL FIELD.
YOU'RE BASICALLY SETTING THESE KIDS UP IN THIS AREA TO BE LEADERS LATER ON IN LIFE.
AS A BUSINESS OWNER FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, THAT'S WHAT I TRY TO INFLUENCE THESE KIDS IS TO BE LEADERS.
DON'T JUST FOLLOW, BE THE LEADER.
[00:20:09]
I WAS AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT AT ELM STREET AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING THREE OR FOUR FIELDS.IT'S ALREADY SO STRESSED ALREADY, AND AS A CITIZEN HERE, I DO WHAT I CAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AT OUR BALLPARK.
I VOLUNTEERED HOURS IN FIXING THE SCOREBOARD AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I DO IT FOR THE KIDS, AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THESE CHILDREN, GET THEM OFF THEIR SCREENS.
YOU TAKE THIS PROGRAM AWAY FROM THEM, YOU LIMIT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THEM.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT HOME ON THEIR SCREENS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY AWFUL, I REALLY DO.
SO I URGE THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER TAKING THESE FIELDS AWAY FROM THESE KIDS.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE HERE, AND I YIELD BACK.
[NOISE] IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS? PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE CLOSED.
[6.1 Friends Of Fernandina Skate Park (Skate Park Future)]
THE PRESENTATION FOR FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK, 6.1.>> THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL SEATS, YOU GUYS.
I LIVE IN 876 ATLANTIC VIEW DRIVE.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING US PRESENT THE IDEA OF NEW SKATE PARK TODAY.
BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PHOTO.
LOOK AT THOSE HAPPY LITTLE SKATERS, THAT'S THE FUTURE RIGHT THERE. AND KNOW WHAT? THESE ARE ALL FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT A RECENT SKATE EVENT RIGHT HERE IN FERNANDINA.
AS WE GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OTHER PHOTOS JUST LIKE THIS.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, ALTHOUGH THE CAPTURE SAYS, "THIS IS THE FUTURE OF SKATING," I SAY THE FUTURE IS NOW.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH TO BUILD A NEW SKATE PARK.
BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS, I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND LET YOU HEAR STRAIGHT FROM THE SKATERS THEMSELVES AND LET THEM TALK ABOUT WHAT SKATING MEANS TO THEM.
HOPEFULLY, [INAUDIBLE] GIVE IT OUT, WE TRIED THIS YESTERDAY.
>> GREAT, GOT GREAT FRIENDS. EVERYBODY'S NICE.
[00:25:01]
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SKATE PARK ITSELF?
>> IT'S A NICE PARK, ESPECIALLY FOR A BEGINNER.
>> I'M ASIHA DAY, AND I'M SEVEN-YEARS-OLD.
>> YOU'RE SEVEN-YEARS-OLD? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SKATEBOARDING?
>> I'M SKATEBOARDING THROUGH ALMOST ONE YEAR.
>> ALMOST ONE YEAR? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, YOU'VE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB EVERY TIME I SEE YOU.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SKATE PARK OUT HERE?
>> I THINK IT'S GOOD. I LIKE IT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FERNANDINA SKATE PARK?
>> I LIKE BECAUSE IT'S BY THE BEACH.
>> IT'S BY THE BEACH? WELL, THAT'S A GOOD REASON TO LIKE THIS SKATE PARK BECAUSE WE ARE RIGHT CLOSE TO THE BEACH.
HOW OLD ARE YOU, CORAL MAE, EIGHT-YEARS-OLD? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SKATEBOARDING?
>> TWO YEARS? WELL, YOU'RE REALLY GOOD.
THERE'S YOUR SISTER RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK?
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF OUR SKATE PARK?
>> IT HAS A BIT OF EVERYTHING.
>> NOT LIKE THE SKATE PARKS IN CALIFORNIA THOUGH, RIGHT? WELL, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET SOMETHING REALLY CRAZY HERE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK?
>> IT'S A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO ME, HONESTLY.
>> I SPENT SO MANY HOURS HERE AND DEFINITELY HAD A BIG ROLE IN MY DEVELOPMENT AS A PERSON.
>> I THINK IT'S A VERY SACRED PLACE AND IT DESERVES TO BE TAKEN CARED OF.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SKATE PARK?
>> I LIKE IT. IT'S WORTH THE DRIVE. I LIVE PROBABLY AN HOUR AWAY.
>> I LIVE IN CALLAHAN. WE AIN'T GOT NOTHING.
HILLIARD'S NOT LIKE THAT, SO THIS IS MY GO-TO SKATE PARK.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SKATE PARK?
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT IT IS THAT WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE YOU NOTICING THAT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FERNANDINA SKATE PARK?
>> I THINK IT'S REALLY INSPIRING, A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND SKATE AND STUFF.
I LIKE IT A LOT BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE OBSTACLES AND STUFF THAT YOU CAN DO.
IT'S PRETTY EASY FOR BEGINNERS AND STUFF.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FERNANDINA BEACH SKATE PARK?
>> I THINK IT'S GOT THE BEST PEOPLE AND THE BEST SKATE COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE HERE IS A GREAT PERSON.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OUR SKATE PARK?
THE COMMUNITY HERE IS AWESOME. WE GOT A GOOD SET OF GUYS.
EVERYBODY HERE IS GOOD, PROGRESSING FAST, FRIENDLY, FAMILY-ORIENTED.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SKATE PARK?
>> DO YOU LIKE THE SKATE PARK? DO YOU WANT US TO EXPAND IT?
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK? DO YOU LIKE IT? WOW.
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COMING TO FERNANDINA BEACH SKATE PARK?
>> SINCE I WAS ABOUT 10-YEARS-OLD, SO ABOUT 13 YEARS.
>> THIRTEEN YEARS? WOW. THAT'S A LONG TIME. HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW?
>> TWENTY-THREE, AND YOU GOT A LITTLE BOY? IS THAT YOURS? HI, DAKOTA.
>> THREE-YEARS-OLD. HE LIKES COMING OUT HERE TOO?
>> HE'S BEEN SKATING FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW.
WELL, I APPRECIATE IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SKATE PARK?
>> I LIKE IT, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
>> WE GOT MISS POE PINSON. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE SKATE SHACK?
>> I HAVEN'T. THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FIRST TIME.
>> IT LOOKS COOL. AFTER 14 YEARS OF SKATING HERE, FIRST TIME SEEING THE INSIDE.
>> IT LOOKS GOOD, DOESN'T IT? [LAUGHTER] MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE WILL COME BACK AND CHECK OUR LITTLE SKATE SHACK OUT.
WE'RE RIGHT NEXT TO THE SKATE PARK.
WE'RE IN AND OUT, FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK AND POE PINSON.
>> WHAT DID YOU GUYS HEAR? FRIENDS, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, INSPIRATION, LIFE-CHANGING, A SACRED PLACE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, SKATING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THESE KIDS' LIVES. WHO ARE WE? WE ARE A NONPROFIT, CALLED FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK.
AT THIS MOMENT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TWO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM WITH US TODAY, MR. WALDEMAR BORRERO AND MR. KENNY PINSON. WHERE'S KENNY? BACK TO HIDING IN THE CORNER.
I WAS PRECLUDED BY THIS, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO US TO CHECK A VERY SPECIAL GUEST TODAY THAT TOOK A RED EYE ALL THE WAY BACK FROM PARIS, FRANCE TO MAKE SURE SHE MADE IT TO THIS MEETING, OLYMPIAN POE PINSON.
[APPLAUSE] WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING
[00:30:09]
FOR A NEW SKATE PARK FOR A LONG TIME NOW.BUT AS FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA, NO, IT'S NOT JUST OUR MISSION.
OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS.
YES, SKATEBOARDING IS A HEALTHY OUTDOOR ACTIVITY, BUT WE ALSO ARE NOT JUST ABOUT SKATEBOARDING.
WE ALSO HOST A LOT OF OTHER EVENTS.
FOR INSTANCE, WE HOST A HISPANIC HERITAGE FOOD FESTIVAL.
AT OUR NEXT TERRY KELLY SKATE JAM, NEXT WEEK, WE'RE HOSTING OUR FIRST 5K RUN, THE TK 5K, AND SIGN-UP IS STILL AVAILABLE, RUNNERS.
ENOUGH ABOUT US. WHAT'S OUR VISION? WE BELIEVE THAT FERNANDINA BEACH CAN HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL, SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE FOUND ANYWHERE ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD FROM MAINE TO MIAMI.
THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL SKATE PARK, OCEAN-FRONT SKATE PARK THAT COMPLEMENTS THE BEACH AND BRINGS THE TWO TOGETHER, AND ONE THAT MEETS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ONE THAT CAN TRULY BE A DESTINATION FOR ALL SKATERS FROM ALL OVER.
OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD A NEW SKATE PARK THAT IS CONSTRUCTED OF LOW MAINTENANCE CONCRETE, A SKATE PARK THAT COMPLEMENTS THE SURROUNDINGS.
WE WILL WORK WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THAT IT MEETS THE NEEDS OF BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND THE RIDERS, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING RIDERS TO THE MOST ADVANCED RIDERS, AND A DESIGN THAT WILL MEET COMPETITION STANDARDS, ALLOWING FOR SANCTION SKATE EVENTS TO BE HELD RIGHT HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH.
WHO IS IT FOR? WELL, THE SKATE PARK IS FOR EVERYBODY, KIDS, ADULTS, FAMILIES.
JUST LIKE THOSE FANS YOU SEE GATHERING ON A SOCCER FIELD, IT'S THE SAME THING AT THE SKATE PARK.
IT REALLY IS A FAMILY SPORT, AND IT HAS BECOME GENERATIONAL.
PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN ENJOYS SKATING TOGETHER ALL DAY LONG.
WE MAY CALL IT A SKATE PARK, A SKATEBOARD PARK, BUT IT'S REALLY ALL WHEELED SPORTS, SCOOTERS, IT'S INLINE, IT'S TRADITIONAL SKATES, IT'S BMX.
THAT'S ALL KINDS OF WHEELED SPORTS, AND SKATING IS INCLUSIVE.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS YOUNG MAN.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR LOCAL ADAPTIVE SKATERS.
ISN'T THAT INCREDIBLE? WELL, GUESS WHAT? WE HAVE ANOTHER NINE-YEAR-OLD ADAPTIVE SKATER WHO JUST RECENTLY TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE OF SKATING, AND THAT IS INSPIRATION.
>> HOW ABOUT SOME BENEFITS? I'VE ALREADY HINTED AT A FEW BENEFITS ON THE SLIDES AS HE DID GOING THROUGH.
BUT THE BENEFITS ARE ALMOST TOO LONG TO LIST ON A SHORT SLIDE.
HERE'S A SHORT LISTS. IT PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES TO ENJOY.
IMAGINE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A SKATE PARK, I ASSURE YOU THESE KIDS WILL FIND SOMEWHERE TO ESCAPE, AND IT'S PROBABLY NOT WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO ESCAPE.
IT'S A HEALTHY OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.
MARY EARLIER SAID, HEY, GET HIM OFF THE SCREENS. GUESS WHAT? THIS GETS HIM OFF THE SCREENS AND OUTDOORS.
THESE KIDS MAKE LIFELONG FRIENDS DOWN TO SKATE PARK. GUESS WHAT? YOU HEAR IN THE VIDEO, THIS SKATE PARK IS LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY. YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT FAMILY IS GETTING BIGGER EVERY DAY.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE HERE? WELL, THE CURRENT PART REALLY IS IN THE LIFE.
YES, I KNOW THAT THE CITY JUST INVESTED $50,000 TO TRY TO FIX THIS THING UP.
BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, THESE METAL RAMPS ARE A MESS, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE A MAINTENANCE HEADACHE AND CONTINUE TO CAUSE SAFETY CONCERNS. PARK USAGE.
I DON'T HAVE CLICK COUNTS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU MY OBSERVATION OF BEING DOWN AT A SKATE PARK DURING PRIME HOURS, THAT THE CAPACITY IS OVER THE DENSITY OF THE PARK, AND IT CAN BE VERY UNSAFE.
LIGHTING, THE CURRENT SKATE PARK HAS NOT LIT.
DURING THE WINTER HOURS, IT REALLY DOES REDUCE THE TIME THESE KIDS CAN GO OUT AND SKATE.
WHEN THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL, IT'S DONE.
IT'S GETTING DARK. TODAY, WE SIMPLY CANNOT HOLD A SANCTION SKATE PARK AT THIS PARK.
THE CURRENT PARK DOES NOT MEET COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF LOCAL KIDS WHO ARE COMPETING, AND TODAY, THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL TO JACKSONVILLE THE TRAIN.
OUR PROPOSAL, AND TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT ASKING TO EXPAND THE EXISTING SKATE PARK.
[00:35:01]
WE'RE ASKING TO BUILD A NEW SKATE PARK.IT WILL BE A SKATE PARK THAT USES THE EXISTING SKATE PARK SPACE, BUT ALSO A PORTION OF LAND JUST TO THE NORTH.
BUT BY THE WAY, WE WORKED WITH CITY COMMISSION LAST YEAR TO ACTUALLY REMOVE THE RIGHT AWAY ADJACENT TO THAT PARK, SO WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PARCEL, AND THAT WAS APPROVED FOR THE USE OF THE SKATE PARK.
THE REASON WE DO A PHASE APPROACH IS BECAUSE WE CAN KEEP THE CURRENT SKATE PARK OPERATIONAL SO THE KIDS CAN KEEP SKATING THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.
PHASE 1 STARTS TO BUILD THE PARK ON THE NORTH PARCEL, AND THEN PHASE 2 FULLY INTEGRATES THAT PARK USING THE FOUNDATION OF THE CURRENT SKATE PARK.
HERE'S A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICS AROUND WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR DESIGN SCOPE.
PRIMARILY, IT HAS TO FIT IN AND COMPLEMENT THE SURROUNDINGS.
I LIKE TO CALL IT FUNCTIONAL ART.
A LOT OF SKATE PARKS THESE DAYS DO JUST THAT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEW RIVERSIDE JACKSONVILLE SKATE PARK, THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE. HOW DO WE DO THIS? WE WORK WITH THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO FINALIZE THE DESIGN.
BUT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, LIKE USING LOW COST MAINTENANCE CONCRETE, AND ENSURING IT MEETS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS, TOTAL SAFE LIGHTING.
WE MAKE SURE IT MEETS WORLDSKATE.ORG COMPETITION STANDARDS, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY AND INCLUSIVE FACILITY FOR EVERYBODY.
THAT'S A RENDERING THAT WE ACTUALLY DID MANY MANY YEARS AGO, BUT THIS IS A CONCEPT OF WHAT WE LIKE.
HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST? BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A ROUGH ORDER ESTIMATE, BUT OUR ESTIMATE FOR THE NEW SKATE PARK IS APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION.
THIS ESTIMATE IS BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE COSTS FOR RECENT SIMILAR PARK BUILDS.
I DO WANT TO KNOW THAT PHASE 2, IF YOU LOOKED AT PHASE 2 SQUARE FOOT PRICE, IT IS A LOT LESS THAN PHASE 1.
THAT'S IT TO NOTE, BECAUSE THIS TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE EXISTING FOUNDATION, AND THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS ONLY FOR THE ABOVE GROUND FEATURES ONLY.
IF YOU BUT THE SAME DESIGN SOMEWHERE ELSE, THAT SKATE PARK IS GOING TO BE MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT 1.2 MILLION PRICE TAG.
WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS? OUR NEXT STEPS, WE WOULD LOVE TO GET DOWN THE PATH NOW WITH THE DESIGN PHASE.
KEY OUTPUTS, OF COURSE, TO FINALIZE DESIGN, REFINE PRICING, AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO BUILD.
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, TO HAVE THE PARK DESIGN COMPLETED, AND ARCHITECTURE BUILD DOCKS WOULD BE A GIANT STEP.
DESIGN IS A THREE-MONTH PROCESS, AND IF IT'S COMPLETED, THEN I THINK IT'S REASONABLE IF WE'RE ABLE TO SECURE '25/26 FUNDING THAT WE CAN START BREAKING GROUND ON THE NEW SKATE PARK LATE NEXT YEAR.
IN SUMMARY, FERNANDINA BEACH HAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL, A FACILITY THAT SUPPORTS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN BE PROUD OF AN EXPERIENCE THAT NO OTHER PLACE CAN OFFER ANYWHERE ELSE ALONG THE EAST COAST.
IT WOULD BE FAMILY-ORIENTED, IT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE, AND IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PROUDLY NAME AFTER OLYMPIA AND PAUL PENSION.
[7.1 Skate Park Discussion]
>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL PATRICK.
I LIVE AT 842 PARKVIEW PLACE EAST.
MY FAMILY MOVED HERE IN 2013 WHEN MY KIDS WERE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THE SKATE PARK WAS GREAT FOR US.
BEING NEW TO THE COMMUNITY, IT HELPED MY KIDS MAKE FRIENDS, GET INTEGRATED WITH THEIR PEERS AT SCHOOL.
WE MADE CONNECTIONS AS ADULTS FROM HANGING OUT DOWN THERE WITH IT JUST.
REALLY WAS GREAT. IF YOU DON'T GIVE THESE KIDS A HOBBY, SOMETIMES THEY CAN GO DOWN THE WRONG PATH.
IT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING ONCE THAT'S OUT THERE.
THEY'RE JUST OUT THERE SKATING, AND STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE.
ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY, WAS THAT, I THINK THAT THE CHARACTER OF A COMMUNITY IS JUDGED BY HOW IT TREATS ITS YOUTH, AND THIS WOULD BE A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY.
AS ADULTS, WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE YOUTH SPECIFICALLY IN ORDER TO HEAR THEM,
[00:40:06]
BECAUSE WE HAVE A VOTE WHEN WE COME ON ELECTION DAY, WE HAVE MONEY, WE HAVE BUSINESSES, WE CAN GO DO THINGS, BUT AS ADULTS, WE DON'T LISTEN TO OUR CHILDREN ENOUGH.THEY'RE TELLING US, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE.
AS ADULTS, WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THEM.
IN GOVERNMENT, NOT ALL PROJECTS ARE POSSIBLE AT ALL TIMES, BUT THIS FEELS LIKE THE MOMENT TO PUSH THIS OVER THE GOAL AND GET IT DONE NOW.
I WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS MOMENT PASS, AND US NOT DO THAT.
LET'S GET IT DONE FOR THESE KIDS.
>> WE'RE REMEMBER GOING TO HEAR FROM SCOTT MICHAELSON, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
>> SCOTT MICHAELSON, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
MIKE, THANKS FOR THE NICE PRESENTATION.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, I REALLY AM EXCITED FOR THE SKATING COMMUNITY, AND ALSO VERY EXCITED FOR PAUL FOR YOU TO BE HERE.
I DIDN'T REALLY GROW UP SKATING, BUT I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING AS MY FAMILY WAS SITTING THERE WATCHING THE OLYMPICS, ALL FOUR OF US, MY TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS, WHEN I BELIEVE, SOME OF THIS TERMINOLOGY I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE NAMES OF THESE TRICKS, BUT WHEN SHE LANDED THAT FIFTH RUN, OUR FAMILY DID JUMP OUT OF OUR SEATS.
IT WAS PRETTY COOL WHILE IT HAPPENED.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE PAUL.
WHAT I WANTED TO DO BEFORE WE HAVE PUBLIC MEETING IS, I WANTED TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY AND PRAC, SOME ITEMS HAVE CHANGED SINCE LAST WEEK.
I WANTED TO GIVE EVERYONE WHERE WE ARE WITH THE SKATE PARK.
SOME GOOD NEWS, AND I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR MANY MORE THAN WE HAVE OR LONGER THAN WE SHOULD HAVE, BUT I SAW SOME POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY, AND I'VE BEEN BEGGING THIS CONTRACTOR TO GET DOWN HERE TO FERNANDINA BEACH, AND HE'S HERE TODAY.
THANK, GOD. WE ARE PUTTING THOSE RAMPS TOGETHER.
IT'S THREE OF THEM. THE THREE THAT WERE TAKEN.
THEY HAVE BEEN GALVANIZED, AND THEY'RE BEING PUT TOGETHER.
OUR GOAL, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING RIGHT NOW IS TO HAVE THOSE READY FOR THE RENAMING OF THE PARK FRIDAY AT 1:30.
ALSO, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A SKATING COMPETITION COMING UP.
WE'RE WORKING HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
DURING LAST WEEK'S BUDGET MEETINGS, AND I KNOW MOST OF YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE OF THIS, THE COMMISSION HAD REQUESTED STAFF TO PUT $90,000 INTO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BUDGET.
THIS MONEY WILL BE GOING INTO THE FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET, WHICH IS FROM OCTOBER 1ST OF 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2025.
THIS $90,000 WILL ALLOW US TO GET A DESIGN AND PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH A DESIGN ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS.
AT THAT POINT, WE WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HAND THIS DOCUMENT, GO OUT TO BID, AND THE GOAL WOULD BE TO BUILD A NEW SKATE PARK IN FISCAL YEAR '26, WHICH STARTS OCTOBER 1ST OF 2025.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. TONIGHT, THIS MEETING HAS BECOME MORE OF AN AWARENESS WITH LAST WEEK'S CHANGES DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.
THE $90,000 WILL BE GOING INTO THIS COMING BUDGET.
I WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK.
PRAC WILL BE INVOLVED, THE COMMUNITY WILL BE INVOLVED.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A DESIGN THAT IS APPROVED RUBBER STAMPED BY THE SKATE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEN AT THAT POINT,, ONCE THAT IS COMPLETE, WE WILL BRING THIS BACK TO PRAC, PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, FOR A FORMAL APPROVAL RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD THEN BE TURNED OVER TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
AS OF NOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOT GREAT NEWS FOR THE SKATE PARK COMMUNITY.
[00:45:03]
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK AT THIS POINT WE COULD HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT.THEN AFTER COMMUNITY INPUT, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANYONE HERE, MR. NICHOLS AND THE FRIENDS OF THE FERNANDINA SKATE PARK BOARD, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO RUN IT.
>> HELLO. MEGAN CHISHOLM, 711 GARDEN STREET IN FERNANDINA BEACH, AND THIS IS JACKSON BARNIAK, MY SON, AND HE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY I THINK OUR SKATE PARK SHOULD BE BETTER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE IT IS IN BAD SHAPE.
I'M TRYING TO THINK. I'M INSPIRED ABOUT LIKE OUR COMMUNITY AND STUFF.
IT'S LIKE OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY GOOD, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALL SURROUNDED BY.
BUT OUR SKATEBOARD IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE.
IT'S ALL RUSTED OUT AND STUFF.
ALL THESE PUT OUT, AND THEY DID ALL THAT.
OUR RAILS BUSTED. WE HAVE TO USE LIKE HONKIES TO HOLD IT UP AND STUFF, AND THEN, I NEED A GOOD SKATEBOARD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO JACKSONVILLE TO GO TO, AND IT'S LIKE PARIS.
THAT'S LIKE 30 MINUTES AWAY YOU'RE WASTING A LOT OF GAS.
THEN PART VIEW INSPIRES ME TO SKATE.
SHE HAS LIKE THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN.
I'M LIKE, OH, CAN I BE SUPER GOOD AND STUFF.
I WOULD JUST LIKE HER SKATEBOARD TO BE BETTER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.
YOU SAID, RIVERSIDE IS SUPER GOOD, SUPER NICE.
I WISH OUR SKATEBOARD COULD JUST BE LIKE THAT.
IT WAS GOOD, AND GOOD STUFF. [LAUGHTER]
>> STEVEN MCCLOSKEY, 94934 CAL NEGO COURT FERNANDINA.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS IN SUPPORT OF THE SKATE PARK.
I'VE BEEN HERE 30 YEARS AS A RESIDENT.
SHE WAS THE FIRST GIRL TO MAKE THE BOYS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM, AND SHE CAME IN SECOND IN THE DISTRICT, AND THEN AGAINST THE GIRL, SHE CAME THIRD IN THE STATE IN THE TOURNAMENT.
I KNOW HOW KENNY FEELS AND HOW PROUD HE IS.
LET'S SEE, HE WAS FOURTH GRADE, I THINK THAT WAS WHEN POE WAS BORN THAT'S WHEN HE STARTED SKATING.
I WAS BRINGING HIM AND HIS FRIENDS EVERYWHERE TO ALL THE SKATE PARKS, AND THEN WE GOT HIM A RANT, BUILT HIM A HALF PIPE FOR THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.
EVERYDAY HE WAS DOING HIS SKATEBOARD AND THEN WHEN THE PARK OPENED UP, HE WAS DOWN THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
HE EVENTUALLY CONTINUED SKATING.
HE'S BEEN SKATING FOR ABOUT 15 OR 16 YEARS, EVEN AT HIS AGE NOW.
I CALLED HIM THE OTHER NIGHT AND I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ANY WORDS THAT HE'D LIKE TO SHARE AND HE SAID, YEAH.
HE SAYS, I DID IT FOR ABOUT 14 YEARS, I GAINED SO MANY FRIENDSHIPS.
IT KEPT ME FIT AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT IT DID FOR MY LIFE.
HE MOVED AWAY ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
IN FACT, HE USED TO WORK WITH POE AT DAVID'S RESTAURANT.
[00:50:05]
THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS JUST THAT WE NOW HAVE AN OLYMPIAN, AND NOW LET'S HAVE AN OLYMPIC.SHE PUT US ON THE MAP IN THE OLYMPICS.
LET'S PUT HER LEGACY ON THE MAP WITH A WORLD CLASS SKATE PARK.
>> PAUL LOU, 11 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
IT'S THE HOUSE ON SEVENTH STREET WITH THE GPO SIGN OUT IN FRONT, JUST IN CASE.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TIME.
IT'S A GREAT WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY.
I LOVE LISTENING AND TO PICK PIECES OUT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU TWO THINGS.
THE OTHER DAY I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH FACEBOOK, WHICH, FOR ME, I THINK FACEBOOK AND SOCIAL MEDIA IS EXTREMELY POSITIVE.
WHEN I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH THERE, I'M GOING TO TRY TO SAY THIS WITHOUT CRYING, I CAN TURN BACK, AND I CAN SEE SO MANY FAMILIES THAT I KNOW NOW SINCE MOVING HERE.
SO MANY KIDS GETTING READY FOR THAT FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, SO MANY PARENTS THAT ARE PROUD.
IT'S REALLY UNIQUE TO FEEL THAT WAY WHEN YOU LIVE IN CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITIES.
WE LIVE IN AN EXTREMELY SPECIAL PLACE, AND OUR YOUTH SHOULD ALWAYS COME FIRST.
THE SECOND PIECE, I CAN LOOK BACK HERE FOR A MAN THAT'S SITTING OFF TO MY RIGHT NOW THAT'S ON THIS BOARD.
WHEN I THINK OF FERNANDINA, I THINK OF THE PEOPLE THAT JUST HELP EACH OTHER HERE.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO BE SIX LEADERS, ALONG WITH THE COMMISSION.
WHEN I ASKED HIM WHEN I WAS ROWING ACROSS THE OCEAN, I NEED A DAGGERBOARD THAT'S BIGGER THAN WHAT WE HAVE TO GET US ACROSS AND OFF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF.
WITHOUT HESITATION, HE TOOK A LEADERSHIP ROLE, BUILT A DAGGERBOARD, AND WE GOT OFF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF.
WE NEED TO BUILD A PARK SO THAT FAMILIES HAVE THAT PLACE TO GO.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE SIMPLEST THINGS IN THE WORLD.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE ENRICHMENT ON THIS ISLAND OF BEACH HOMES, OF PROJECTS THAT WE DO, I JUST CAN'T CONCEIVE THAT WE WOULD NOT BUILD A PARK FOR THESE KIDS, AND FOR FAMILIES SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BURN GAS MONEY TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I'M RESTORING A HOUSE ON 11 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET, NOT FOR MYSELF, BUT AS A STEWARD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
YOU ARE GOING TO BUILD A SKATE PARK, AND IT'S GOING TO BE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS LOGAN BRADY.
IT'S PATH STATE PARK ACTUALLY.
EVERYDAY, I GO TO SCHOOL AND COMING BACK FROM SCHOOL I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY AROUND IT, AND IT'S ALWAYS FUN.
I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN SKATING SINCE I WAS IN LIKE THE SECOND GRADE.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ON AND OFF BECAUSE I'VE ALSO DONE MOTOCROSS WITH MY DAD.
BUT WHEN I HAD MY PACEMAKER PUT IN TWO YEARS AGO, I HAD TO QUIT MOTOCROSS, AND IF IT WASN'T FOR SKATING, I WOULD PROBABLY BE DOING ANYTHING ELSE, AND I'D PROBABLY BE IN A LOT OF TROUBLE TO BE HONEST.
I'VE BROKE MY SKULL AT THE PARK, AND POE HERSELF WAS THERE, AND SHE ACTUALLY HELPED ME OUT AND THE DUDE NAMED JACOB HELPED ME OUT.
THEY HELPED ME PRETTY MUCH GET UP, WALK ACROSS THE PARK, AND I WAIT MY PARENTS THEY GOT THERE AND EVERYTHING.
I'VE LEARNED EVEN IF IT MIGHT NOW WORK OUT THE FIRST TRY, IT MIGHT WORK OUT THE SECOND TRY.
I'VE TRIED PROBABLY THE SAME TRICK OVER 1,000 TIMES.
I MADE IT ONCE, BUT 1,001 TRY WORKS, AND IT ALWAYS HELPS ME OUT.
I'VE LEARNED THAT WITH EVERYTHING.
I DO THAT WITH EVERYTHING NOW.
[00:55:01]
I'VE MADE A LOT OF LIFETIME FRIENDS THERE.IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE, IT KEEPS ME OUT OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE DOING SCHOOL SPORTS, BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT. IT GIVES ME SOMETHING TO DO OUT THE HOUSE.
I ENJOY IT. I HAVE A BLAST THERE EVERY TIME I GO.
THERE'S NOT ONE TIME I GO THERE, AND I'M MAD AT SOMEBODY OR THERE IS NOT ONE TIME I GO THERE AND I'M NOT HAVING FUN.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO GO THERE. IT'S AMAZING.
THE PARK DOES NEED SOME HELP, BUT IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO GO.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS. EVEN WHEN IT'S RAINING, YOU'RE STILL HAVING FUN BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS THERE HANGING OUT.
IT'S CLOSE TO THE BEACH SO IN THE HOT SUMMER DAYS, LIKE IT IS IN JULY, YOU COULD ALWAYS BRING A BATHING SUIT, TAKE IT TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF AND GO TO THE BEACH, TAKE A QUICK DIP IN AND COME BACK AND YOU CAN STILL SKATE AND EVERYBODY IS THERE, EVERYBODY IS WITH YOU, EVERYBODY IS PUSHING EACH OTHER TO BE BETTER.
EVERYBODY KEEPS YOU IN CHECK IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING BAD AND SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO OR SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE.
THEY WILL KEEP YOU IN CHECK, AND THEY WILL GUIDE YOU ON THAT PATH, AND IT'S JUST AMAZING COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING.
I LOVE THE PARK, I LOVE EVERYTHING IT DOES, AND THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE TO SAY.
>> GOOD EVENING, BETH FUR, 700 MAGNOLIA BLUFF WAY IN THE CITY.
I'M A RETIRED READING TEACHER OF 31 YEARS.
I JUST MOVED HERE WITH MY HUSBAND LAST OCTOBER OF 2023.
WE WANTED TO VOLUNTEER, SO I'M A VOLUNTEER FOR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NASSAU COUNTY.
WE ALSO JOINED THE FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK TO VOLUNTEER OUR TIME WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR EVENTS.
MY HUSBAND AND I VOLUNTEERED IN MARCH, AND WE SAW THE MOST POSITIVE, FUN COMMUNITY INSPIRING EVENT.
IT REALLY MADE AN IMPACT AND I KNOW HOW HARD EVERYONE IS WORKING TO GET THIS NEW SKATE PARK.
I JUST WANTED TO COME UP AND SAY, I'M NEW.
I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE LONG, BUT IT'S SO GREAT FOR THE CHILDREN.
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE IN VIRGINIA BEACH WATCHING THE OLYMPICS, AND I HAD PRIDE FOR POE.
I MET POE'S FATHER KENNY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND WALLY, THEY'VE BEEN GREAT FRIENDS, AND THEY'VE WELCOMED US, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'M A PROUD FERNANDINA BEACH RESIDENT, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE SKATE PARK BE BUILT FOR THE KIDS.
>> JAMIE MCCARTHY, 2187 CUMBERLAND COURTS.
I'LL TRY NOT TO EMBARRASS YOU ABOUT.
THIS IS COMING FROM A PARENT'S STANDPOINT.
MY KID IS IN FRESHMAN YEAR THIS YEAR.
HE STARTED SKATEBOARDING, I WANT TO SAY MAYBE SEVENTH GRADE, AND IT TOOK US SO LONG TO FIND SOMETHING THAT MADE HIM TAKE.
WE PUT HIM IN EVERY SINGLE SPORT YOU CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF, AND SKATEBOARDING WAS WHAT IT WAS.
THIS KID HAS TAKEN SO MANY LICK INS.
LIKE LOGAN SAID, THEY TRY THESE TRICKS 100 TIMES BEFORE THEY CAN GET IT, AND IT JUST GIVES THEM SO MUCH CONFIDENCE.
I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW PARK FOR THESE KIDS BECAUSE THE OLD PARK IS NOT UP TO PAR.
WHEN IT'S SUMMERTIME, AND IT'S NOT SO HOT, IT IS SO PACKED FOR THESE KIDS.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY CAN GET HURT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY KIDS.
ANYWAYS, I'M LOSING MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
THEY HAVE SPENT ALL SUMMER WITH THIS SKATE PARK THAT HAS BEEN TORN UP, AND THEY'VE WATCHED A RACKET BALL COURT GET BILLED WITHIN WEEKS.
IT'S A LITTLE DISCOURAGING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THIS SPACE.
THE SMALL SPACE THAT THEY DID HAVE, HALF OF IT'S GONE.
IT'S NICE TO HEAR THAT IT IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE FIXED BEFORE FRIDAY.
ANYWAYS, WE NEED A BIGGER SPACE FOR THESE KIDS, AND THAT'S IT.
[01:00:06]
>> IT'S BECCA. BECCA BARLOW 23583, BAHAMA POINT.
I WROTE SOMETHING BECAUSE OTHERWISE, I'LL LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT COMPLETELY.
CITY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO MEET WITH YOU ALL TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF OUR SKATE PARK AND ITS EXPANSION.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A WARM THANK YOU TO WALLY AND KENNY AND MIKE AND THE REST OF THE FRIENDS OF FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA AND SKATE PARK CREW FOR MAKING IT WHAT IT IS TODAY.
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU GUYS.
[APPLAUSE] AGAIN, MY NAME IS BECCA BARLOW.
I'M A LOCAL ARTIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER, AND I'M IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT, NOT ONLY AS A NATIVE CITIZEN AND RESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT AS A FRIEND OF FERNANDINA BEACH SKATE PARK.
AMONG ME TONIGHT ARE MANY FAMILIAR FACES, BOTH OLD AND NEW.
I ALSO HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE AND LIFETIME TITLE OF AUNT, WHICH BEGS TO BE MENTIONED HERE AS I HAVE WATCHED TWO OF MY NIECES AND ONE NEPHEW, UTILIZE THE SKATE PARK OVER THE YEARS.
OVER 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, THE FIRST EFFORTS TO BUILD AND FUND THE SKATE PARK BEGAN.
MANY OF YOU, MY AGE OR OLDER LIKELY REMEMBER THE SIGN THAT STOOD OVER ON THE GROUNDS.
IT HAD THAT BIG TEMPERATURE LOOKING THING ON IT WITH THE MONETARY CALLS, AND SO SHOUT OUT TO WHOEVER FILLED THAT IN OVER TIME.
YOUR EFFORTS WEREN'T UNNOTICED.
REGARDLESS, I REMEMBER WHEN THE SKATE PARK WAS FINALLY APPROVED TO BREAK GROUND, IT FELT SURREAL.
MANY OF THE FACES YOU SEE HERE TONIGHT WEREN'T EVEN BORN YET.
THAT JUST SPEAKS TO HOW FAR IT'S COME IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MANY STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE IN RECENT TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF OUR SKATE PARK, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR THAT NOW.
HOWEVER, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT EVEN WHEN EARNEST EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY IS SAYING LOUDER THAN EVER THAT WE WANT OUR SKATE PARK BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER.
A PIPE DREAM, SURE. NO PUN INTENDED.
HOWEVER, I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE FITTING DREAM TO COME TRUE AFTER WATCHING OUR VERY OWN POE PINSON MAKE HISTORY THESE LAST FEW WEEKS OF THE 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN PARIS.
SHE HAS SHOWN OUR COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD THAT WITH DEDICATION, HARD WORK, AND SUPPORT THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT SKATE SKATING IS OUTLAWED IN PUBLIC PLACES ALL OVER AND IT'S NEVER MADE MUCH SENSE TO ME IF OUR KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE SEEKING SAFER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE ALTERNATIVES, THEN IT'S IMPORTANT WE'D BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
IT IS WITH THIS SENTIMENT IN MIND THAT WE URGE AND ASK OUR LEADERS TO BE A PART OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF HISTORY WITHIN OUR CITY WITH THE EXPANSION AND BUILDING OF A NEW SKATE PARK, A SKATE PARK THAT IS NOT ONLY WORTHY OF ITS NAME, BUT EXEMPLIFIES EFFORT, SAFETY, CONSIDERATION, AND PRIDE.
AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS TO EMPHASIZE TONIGHT IS THE IMPACT THAT THE SKATE PARK HAS HAD AND CONTINUES TO HAVE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
ANY GIVEN DAY, YOU CAN DRIVE BY AND YOU'LL SEE ALL WALKS OF LIFE, SOME YOUNGER, SOME OLDER, ALL DIFFERENT ABILITIES, GENDERS, ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS, AND THEY'RE ALL THERE TO DO ONE THING, AND THAT'S TO SKATE.
ONE THING I'VE ALWAYS LOVED AND APPRECIATED WITHIN THIS COMMUNITIES ARE STRONG TIES TO SURFING AND SKATING.
IT ADDS A UNIQUE UNDERBELLY TO WHAT IS TYPICALLY CONSIDERED A RESORT TOWN, A TYPE OF GRIT THAT IS UNEXPECTED, BUT IS WELCOME WITH OPEN ARMS AMONG OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES. I'M GOING TO FINISH THIS.
IT TOOK A WHILE. I'VE HEARD OUR SKATE PARK BE DESCRIBED AS A SECOND HOME FOR SOME, A PLACE THAT SAVED ME FROM ANOTHER, OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT IT.
IT'S A PLACE TO COME TOGETHER AND INDULGE IN THE LOVE OF SKATING WHILE CULTIVATING FRIENDSHIPS, AND IT DEFINITELY DOESN'T HURT TO HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO DIAL IN TRICKS AND SKILLS.
HAVING A SPACE LIKE THIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY OUR YOUNG NATIVES, IS ESSENTIAL TO THE HEALTH AND GROWTH OF THE CITY AND IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE GROWTH, SELF ESTEEM AND WELL BEING OF OUR KIDS, YOUNG ADULTS, AND FAMILIES.
ME PERSONALLY, I'M TERRIBLE AT SKATING.
I CAN CRUISE WITHOUT FOLLOWING IT BEST, AND I COULDN'T DO A KICK LIP IF I TRIED.
HOWEVER, IT IS NICE TO KNOW THE PARK AND THESE AMAZING PEOPLE ARE THERE, IF I EVER GOT SERIOUS ABOUT IT.
FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, THE PARK OFFERS A PLACE TO SEEK BELONGING, AND IT OFFERS A CHANCE FOR SOMETHING NEW.
LOOKING FORWARD, THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR OUR SKATE COMMUNITY, AND IT ALL BEGINS HERE WITH YOUR APPROVAL AND YOUR SUPPORT IN OUR MISSION, TO EXPAND, TO IMPROVE, TO CULTIVATE, AND TO BUILD, TO STRENGTHEN BONDS WHILE OFFERING A SAFE SPACE TO CALL HOME TO SO MANY, A PARK WORTHY TO BE MENTIONED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, A PARK WORTHY TO BE NAMED POE PINSON AND SKATE PARK.
SURE PERHAPS IT RAISES THE QUESTION, WELL, IF THE CURRENT PARK CAN PRODUCE AN OLYMPIAN, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? AS SOMEONE WHO RESPECTS A TWO SIDED ARGUMENT, I'LL ANSWER WITH THIS.
THE WORLD OF SKATEBOARDING IS EVOLVING FASTER THAN EVER.
SKATING MANEUVERS, TRICKS, AND SKILLS, COMPETITIONS LOOK WILDLY DIFFERENT THAN THEY DID EVEN 10 OR 20 YEARS AGO.
MUCH LIKE HOW THE NFL, FOR EXAMPLE, CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE LEAGUE.
ADJUSTING RULES AND ENSURING SAFETY OF ALL PLAYERS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RISE TO THE OCCASION WITH SKATEBOARDING ALL THE SAME.
YOU MAY THINK, WELL, WE'RE NOT THE NFL, AND YOU'D BE RIGHT WERE THE HOME OF AN OLYMPIAN.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE'VE DONE SO WELL CULTIVATING SAFE AND GROWING SPORTS HOME FOR OUR FAMILY, AND IT'S IMPERATIVE.
[01:05:01]
WE KEEP SKATEBOARDING AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT MISSION.WITH POE'S LEADERSHIP, WE'VE ALL WATCHED ON A GLOBAL STAGE JUST WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE SKATERS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.
AS HUMANS, LEARNING NEVER STOP, SO AS LONG AS WE'RE HERE, IT'S IMPERATIVE WE LISTEN WHEN THE TIDES ARE SHIFTING.
BEHIND POE IS ANOTHER WAVE OF EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETES READY TO CRAFT AND HONE THEIR SKILLS.
YOU'VE HEARD THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY TONIGHT, AND WE ALL WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, MONETARY CONTRIBUTION, AND SOLIDARITY FOR THE REBUILD, EXPANSION, AND CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF THE FUTURE OF POE PINSON SKATE PARK.
>> MY NAME IS AUGUSTA HIRSCHFELD.
I LIVE AT 2145 PURCELL DR, FERNANDINA BEACH.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY GRANDSONS WHO ARE IN CALIFORNIA RIGHT NOW GOING AROUND DIFFERENT SKATE PARKS.
BUT THEY SPEND LOTS AND LOTS OF TIME AT THIS SKATE PARK.
I'M WITH THEM MUCH OF THE TIME THAT THEY'RE HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSES ME THE MOST WHEN I'M AT THE SKATE PARK IS HOW THE OLDER KIDS TAKE CARE OF THE YOUNGER KIDS AND SHOW THEM AROUND AND WHAT TO DO, AND THEY DON'T REALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM THAT MUCH GETTING IN THEIR WAY.
THEY'RE JUST A WONDERFUL GROUP OF KIDS.
WHEN YOU GET TO KNOW THEM, THEY'RE JUST LOVELY KIDS.
I'M PROUD TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH, AND WE HOPE TO KEEP THEM HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH AT THE SKATE PARK HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL'S ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. THANKS A LOT.
I'LL SAY ONE MORE THING AS AN OLD PERSON.
WE HAVE ENOUGH THINGS IN THIS TOWN FOR OLD PEOPLE TO DO.
BUT IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISH TO TALK ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER? WOULD YOU PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM? KENNY, PENSON.
>> MY NAME IS KENNY A. PENSON.
I RESIDE ON CLOUD 9 [APPLAUSE] AT 2946, FIRST AVENUE, IN FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.
FIRST, I'D LOVE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR AGING MY DAUGHTER WITH THE PARK NAMED AFTER HER.
KUDOS. [LAUGHTER] THE RISE IN THE ROAD LED US TO THE EIFFEL TOWER IN FRANCE.
PAUL STARTED WHEN SHE WAS 4-YEARS-OLD, AND WE'VE RISEN TO THE OLYMPIC STAGE.
I JUST BEEN BEAUTIFUL WITH ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND OUR FAMILY.
CARVING OUT A NICHE FOR HERSELF, SHE'S ESTABLISHED A NETWORK OF POISE AND CHARACTER AND JOY FOR THE WHOLE SKATEBOARDING COMMUNITY.
IN THAT PROCESS, SHE'S CAUGHT FOUR BRONZE MEDALS IN THE PROCESS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN AND FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OUR OLYMPIAN POPE PENSION.
I RESIDE AT 2946 FIRST AVENUE WITH MY DAD.
YEAH. WOW, I FEEL LIKE I HAD SO MUCH TO SAY WHEN I WAS SITTING DOWN, BUT NOW HERE I'M LIKE, WOW.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH TIME I'VE SPENT AT THE SKATE PARK, BUT IT HAS BEEN A LARGE PORTION OF MY LIFE.
I'VE MET SO MANY FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN MY FRIENDS SINCE I WAS FOUR,
[01:10:03]
FOR THE MOST PART, THAT ARE STILL IN MY LIFE.IT'S A SACRED PLACE, HONESTLY, ESPECIALLY TOO, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN, I GUESS AROUND NOW.
[LAUGHTER] I'VE SEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, SO MANY DIFFERENT SKATE PARKS, SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, I'VE MET SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.
I'VE MET, I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY TOO IS THAT WITHIN SEEING ALL OF THAT AND EVERYONE, THERE'S STILL NOT A COMMUNITY LIKE OUR OWN.
IT'S CRAZY HOW ONE PIECE OF WOOD BASICALLY CAN BRING SO MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER. I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING TOO BECAUSE SKATEBOARDING CAN BE ANYTHING.
IT CAN BE A WAY TO JUST GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.
IT CAN BE ALMOST A THERAPY TO CONNECT WITH YOUR BODY WITH NATURE ALMOST.
THEN FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT'S A SPORT.
FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT'S JUST A SOCIAL CONNECTION.
FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT'S A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
I DON'T KNOW. IT CAN BE ANYTHING.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S RARE THAT A SPORT CAN BE SO MANY THINGS TO SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
FOR ME, I GUESS IT'S ALL THE ABOVE.
BUT YEAH, GOING TO THE OLYMPICS AND STUFF, PEOPLE ASK ME HOW.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW, HONESTLY, [LAUGHTER] I GO, JUST ASK.
>> YEAH, I BEEN OBSESSED WITH SKATING MY WHOLE LIFE.
BUT I WILL SAY, IT IS A LITTLE BIT HARD SKATING ALL THESE OBSTACLES AT ALL THESE COMPETITIONS, EVEN FILMING FOR VIDEO PROJECTS, SKATING RAILS AND STUFF.
THE AMOUNT OF WHICH ADRENALINE IT TAKES FOR ME TO HAVE TO HOP ON ALL THESE RAILS AND STUFF BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A PHOTO, BUT YOU SAW THE PHOTOS THAT JACK BROUGHT UP, AND WE HAVE A LITTLE RAIL THAT SOMEONE BROUGHT THAT JACOB ACTUALLY BROUGHT AND WE DRILLED INTO THE GROUND.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NEVER REALLY BEEN A RAIL.
AT CONTEST, I DON'T PRACTICE ANY TRICKS ON RAILS BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW, I JUST VISUALIZE AND THEN TRY AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.
THANKFULLY, THAT'S WORKED OUT.
I'VE GOTTEN HURT DOING IT A FEW TIMES.
BUT I WOULD SAY WOULD BE A LITTLE EASIER DOING ALL THESE THINGS IF WE HAD A PLACE TO DO THEM LOCALLY.
SKATING, I CAN SAY, FOR ME, HAS JUST TAUGHT ME SO MUCH, BROUGHT ME TO SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES, KEPT ME OUT OF TROUBLE, BIG TIME.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF MY FRIENDS TOO WHO I GREW UP SKATING WITH.
THEY'RE LIKE, I'LL GET BORED WITH IT, WHATEVER, GO A DIFFERENT PATH.
IT'S INSANE BECAUSE THERE ISN'T REALLY THAT MUCH TO DO HERE FOR THE YOUTH.
WITH THE SOFTBALL FIELDS AND STUFF, TOO, IT'S LIKE, ALL THESE SPORTS, ALL THESE THINGS, ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS.
THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM THE LIFE SKILLS, PROPEL THEM TOWARDS A GOOD LIFE RATHER.
BECAUSE IT'S ALSO A COMMON TREND HERE TOO, A LOT OF PEOPLE.
FOR THE YOUTH, IT'S VERY BORING.
WHEN THEY'RE BORED, IT'S EASIER TO TURN TO MIND ALTERING SUBSTANCES AND STUFF, AND THEN ARE JUST DOING RECKLESS THINGS CHASING ADRENALINE. I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S A COMMON THEME HERE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE MY AGE, AND ESPECIALLY, I WAS JUST IN EUROPE, THERE'S BASKETBALL COURTS, LITTLE PARKS EVERYWHERE IN EVERY LITTLE NOOK AND CRANNY THAT JUST KIDS ARE PLAYING AT, JUST ANYTHING.
I FEEL LIKE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO JUST HAVE ROOM FOR THE YOUTH BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S LIKE THE YOUTH.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.
HONESTLY, I'VE LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGH.
BUT I'M SURE YOU ALL CAN GET WHERE I'M GOING AT.
BASICALLY THIS SKATE PARK, I LOVE IT.
BUT I'VE MET SO MANY OF MY BEST FRIENDS THERE THAT ARE STILL MY BEST FRIENDS TODAY.
ALL THE LITTLE KIDS, THAT'S ALSO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE.
WHEN I STARTED SKATING, THERE WERE REALLY TWO GIRLS THAT SKATED, TESSA AND KELLY AND NOLA,
[01:15:02]
TOO. WHATEVER, HE'S NOT A GIRL.YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? EVERYONE, I'M PRETTY SURE NOAH WAS THERE THE FIRST TIME I EVER WENT TO THE SKATE PARK. HE'S STILL OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW. SKATING IS LIFE CHANGING.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I CAME TO SAY.
I GUESS WOULD JUST LOVE TO EXPAND THE LOVE INTO EVERYONE.
BUT THANK YOU, EVERYONE SO MUCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> I THINK AT THIS TIME, IF ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SKATE PARK.
I THINK THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING IT OR WHERE WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN ASK, MIKE IS HERE, OR ANY QUESTIONS TO THE PEOPLE HAD SPOKE.
I'M OBVIOUSLY HERE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU'D HAVE, OR WE CAN MOVE ON.
BASICALLY, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IS AT THE LAST WORKSHOP, THE CITY COMMISSION DID ASK STAFF TO PUT $90,000 IN FOR THE SKATE PARK DESIGN, AND THAT'S HOW STAFF IS PROCEEDING AS OF NOW.
WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I'LL LIKE TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU JUST SAW A COMMUNITY IN ACTION, SUPPORTING THIS SKATE PART IS NOT JUST FOR ONE GROUP OF, BUT IT'S A COMMUNITY, AND A COMMUNITY IS WHAT WE LIVE IN, AND I AM PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF FERNANDINA.
BUT ALSO A PROUD MEMBER TO HAVE THE YOUTH STEP UP TO THE PLATE.
THAT'S A BASEBALL TOURNEY, GUYS.
TO GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS AND PROCESSES OF HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT AND WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I'M GLAD THAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO SUPPORT YOU ALL THE WAY BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS ABILITY TO SHOW WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO, YOU ENJOY TO DO, AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS THERE FOR YOU.
THE BEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO SUCCEED, I'M GOING TO WORK MY DARNEDEST TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE BECAUSE IT'S UP TO YOU TO FOLLOW SOMEBODY'S SHOES LIKE POE.
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU.
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU YOU HAVE ANOTHER PERSON ON THIS BOARD THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN THE CHAIRPERSON FOR PRATT, EVERY MONTH, EVERY MEETING, EVERY INSTANT, ANY TIME THAT HE CAN, HE PUTS A PLUG IN FOR THE STATE PARK.
GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TOO.[APPLAUSE] DO YOU ANYTHING TO SAY?
>> I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO SAY.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SKATE PARK AND TO SUPPORT THE SKATE PARK.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE'S SOME MOVEMENT GOING.
I MOVED HERE 10 YEARS AGO AND HEARD ABOUT WHERE A SKATE PARK COULD GO AND HOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE, IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A VERY LONG TIME COMING.
I GREW UP MYSELF IN ATLANTA SKATEBOARDING.
LUCKILY, I HAD A FRIEND WHO HAD A HALF PIPE THAT WE SKATED ON, AND WE WERE SKATING IN PLACES WE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN, AND DOING THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
IT'S NICE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A PLACE TO DO THAT SAFELY, AND ALSO WHERE IT'S SUPPORTED AND THERE ARE SO MANY OF YOU.
I HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET WITH MIKE NICHOLS LAST WEEK.
[01:20:01]
WE TALKED FOR PROBABLY A LONGER THAN HE WANTED, TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PARK AND THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS WERE WORKING ON, AND I WAS VERY ENLIGHTENED TO KNOW OF THINGS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE THINGS THAT FRIENDS UP FN DIANA STATE PARK ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE AND THE WAYS THAT YOU'RE REACHING OUT.I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR THAT, AND BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
PAUL LAURA SAID AT BEST, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW TO MY CORE.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I CONTINUE TO WANT TO LIVE HERE, IS THAT THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE FOR A LOT OF REASONS, BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU DON'T SEE IN SOME FAR OFF LAND, YOU SEE IT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND YOU SEE THOSE PEOPLE AND THOSE KIDS IN YOUR GROCERY STORE, AND IF YOU'RE JUST WALKING DOWNTOWN.
I HAVE SOME REAL CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO GET DONE BECAUSE I REALLY DO HOPE THAT IT GETS DONE.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND AND YOU HEARD SOME OF THIS TONIGHT WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE SPEAKING ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT ON THE AGENDA.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND AND HISTORY ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS SO THAT YOU HAVE SOME PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THIS.
PARKS AND REC, YOU GUYS WE DON'T PAY ANYTHING TO GO TO OUR PARKS.
THERE'S NO FEES FOR ANY OF THAT STUFF, AND IT'S ALL FUNDED BY PARK AND REC BUDGET.
ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WE HAVE IN THE CITY IS THE AIRPORT.
THE AIRPORT IS ONE OF THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS THAT ACTUALLY MAKES MONEY, AND THEY MAKE THAT MONEY OFF HANGERS.
WHEN THEY SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MORE MONEY AT THE AIRPORT, THEY WANTED TO TAKE SOME OF THE PROPERTY BACK THAT IS THE SOCCER FIELD.
SO THAT CONVERSATION PRECIPITATED A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO ACQUIRE THAT.
OUR CITY COMMISSION WORKED REALLY DILIGENTLY WITH THE COUNTY TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A DEAL TO BUY THAT LAND, WHICH THEY HAVE.
THE CITY IS GOING TO BE SPENDING $1.6 MILLION AS OUR PORTION TO BUY THOSE SOCCER FIELDS.
WHEN THIS SOCCER FIELDS GET REBUILT AND THAT SPORTS COMPLEX GETS DONE, WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE SOFTBALL FIELDS FROM THAT AREA, AND THOSE SOFTBALL FIELDS WERE BUILT IN OUR CITY WITH GRANT MONEY.
WHEN WE MOVE THOSE FIELDS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR PAY BACK THAT GRANT MONEY.
WE HAVE DECIDED NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THOSE SOFTBALL FIELDS, AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE REBUILT OVER AT MLK.
CORRECT? IS THAT WHERE THE SOFTBALL FIELDS ARE GOING? SCOTT.
>> WE ARE WORKING ON A DESIGN TO REDO SOME OF THE FIELDS AT ELM STREET.
>> WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A DESIGN.
WITH THOSE, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, I'M SURE YOU'LL HAVE HEARD WE'RE BUILDING A WATERFRONT PARK.
SOME PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED TO IT.
I ACTUALLY SUPPORT THAT PARK BEING BUILT DOWN AT THE MARINA.
CURRENTLY THE PETANQUE COURTS ARE THERE.
WITH THE MARINA BEING BUILT, THE PETANQUE COURTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE SOMEWHERE, AND SO THAT SHUFFLING HAPPENING.
ONE OF THE PLACES THAT IT WAS PROPOSED TO BUILD THE PETANQUE COURTS IS THAT VELARDI FIELD, AND ALSO SOMETHING I PERSONALLY DID NOT SUPPORT.
THAT MOVEMENT TO GIVE THE PETANQUE FOLKS A HOME, WHICH THEY DESERVE ALSO, THEN IS GOING TO DISPLACE MORE BASEBALL FIELDS, OR I'M SORRY, SOFTBALL FIELDS, OR WHOEVER PLAYS AT THAT PARK WHERE THEY'RE ALREADY NEEDED.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO LOVE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY IS THAT WE HAVE MANY OPTIONS.
WE HAVE OPTIONS FOR OLDER PEOPLE, WE HAVE OPTIONS FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE, WE HAVE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE, OR SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS OVERLAP, AND WE CAN ALL ENJOY THEM TOGETHER AND I APPRECIATE THE DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN OFFER ALL OF THESE THINGS IN FINITE SPACE AND FINITE RESOURCES.
I HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY AS A CITIZEN OR AS A PERSON THAT SITS ON THIS BOARD TO SEE THE REACTIONARY MOVEMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING TO MAKE SOME OF THESE DECISIONS AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY THEN IMPACT.
I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN START TO WORK BETTER
[01:25:01]
WITH LONGER TERM PLANNING AND NOT JUST RIGHT NOW, BUT IN THE FUTURE, AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT, SO THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE ENJOYING THESE PARKS AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, THAT MAYBE WHEN YOU TRANSITION FROM THE EXCITEMENT AND THE HELMET NEEDS OF SKATEBOARDING, THAT YOU MAY WANT TO BE HANGING OUT AT THE PETANQUE FIELDS.THAT BEING SAID, WHEN I TALKED TO MIKE ABOUT THIS, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, THE FRIENDS OF THE FERNANDINA LIBRARY IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A WAY THAT WE TOOK MONEY FROM THE CITY AND HAD A 501C3 GROUP, THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY THAT WERE FUND RAISING TO PROVIDE MONEY TO GO TO THAT PROJECT, TO CONTRIBUTE, AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS A $1.2 MILLION PROJECT, AND THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY CAME AND THEY SAID, HEY, WE'VE GOT SKIN IN THE GAME.
I WENT TO MANY FUNDRAISERS MYSELF WHERE THAT THERMOMETER WAS GROWING TO RAISE THAT MONEY SO THAT WE COULD FUND THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I SUGGESTED TO MIKE WAS, WITH ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK DOES IN THE COMMUNITY, TO BE ABLE TO MAYBE AFTER WE GET THROUGH THIS DESIGN AND PLANNING PHASE, TO LOOK AT THIS IN A WAY OF, HEY, CAN THE CITY CONTRIBUTE? WE ALREADY HAVE THE LAND, AND WHAT CAN THE CITY CONTRIBUTE? CAN WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO SEE IF THEY'D BE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE AS PART OF THAT TOO TO BUILD THIS SKATE PARK AND ALSO HAVE FUND RAISERS THAT FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA CAN BRING TO THIS AS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO GET THAT MONEY? MY CONCERN IS WITH, I UNDERSTAND IT'S 1.2 MILLION FOR THE NEW PARK, WHICH I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HOW THAT GETS FUNDED WITH IMPACT FEES, IF IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY A NEW PARK.
I DON'T KNOW THE MECHANISM OF HOW THAT WORKS.
I'M INTERESTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IS, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS MOMENTUM AND THIS CELEBRATION OF POE'S SUCCESS.
NOT JUST POE, BUT EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAS BEEN THERE AND SUPPORTED HER AND KIDS LIKE HER TO GO AND MAKE THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS GET KICKED DOWN THE ROAD, AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT NOT BECOME A REALITY BECAUSE WE CAN'T FUND IT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE SAYING, YES, AND WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
I DON'T WANT TO BE DEBBIE DOWNER.
I JUST WANT TO OFFER A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT OF HOW CAN WE DO THIS SO THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THE BEST SKATE PARK, AND JACKSONVILLE IS NOT THE BEST SKATE PARK.
[LAUGHTER] JUST THAT BEING SAID, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL CONSIDER THE THINGS I'VE TALKED ABOUT AND HOW WHEN WE'RE DOING THINGS FOR ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE, THEY'RE ALSO IMPACTING OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE BURDEN OF THE TAXES IN OUR CITY, AND WHAT'S GETTING FUNDED AND WHAT'S NOT.
JUST WANT TO GIVE THAT PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
DOES ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS. I HAVE A QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE NEXT THING THAT THIS COMMITTEE COULD DO TO MOVE THIS PROJECT ALONG?
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ENSURE THE BUDGET HASN'T BEEN APPROVED, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE COMMISSION DID TELL STAFF TO PUT IT INTO THERE.
I WORKED CLOSELY WITH JEREMIAH, WHO'S OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER THAT ONCE THAT BUDGET IS APPROVED AND THIS ITEM IS IN THERE, WE START WORKING WITH THE FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK TO GO OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET WHO'S GOING TO DESIGN IT, SOME OF THESE SKATE BUILDING COMPANIES, THEY'RE ALREADY WITH THE SOURCE WELL, SO WE CAN PIGGYBACK OFF CERTAIN THINGS DEPENDING ON, AND I'LL WORK WITH THEM WITH THE SKATE PARK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE TO MAKE THIS DESIGN HAPPEN.
BASICALLY, ONCE THE BUDGET IS APPROVED, WE HAVE THE MONEY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO. I SEE NO REASON TO VOTE TONIGHT.
THE COMMISSION HAS BASICALLY TOLD US THAT THIS $90,000 IS GOING INTO THE BUDGET.
>> RIGHT. THE BUDGET ITEM IS JUST FOR THE DESIGN PROCESS AND THE STUDY, NOT [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES. THE $90,000 WILL BE IN THE FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET, WHICH IS STARTING IN OCTOBER.
[01:30:01]
THAT $90,000 GOES TOWARDS BASICALLY WORKING WITH MIKE AND THESE COMPANIES IS THAT $90,000 GOES FROM WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH A DESIGN ALL THE WAY TO THE FINAL STEPS OF CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS.THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH WILL THEN AT THAT POINT, BE READY TO BASICALLY SAY, GO OUT TO BID OR HOWEVER WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESSES, WE NEED A PRICE ON HOW TO BUILD THAT.
THEN WE WORK WITH GETTING THAT PRICING, AND THEN WE WOULD BUDGET IT IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S BUDGET.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR IDEAS ON WHERE THE FUNDING WOULD COME FOR THAT IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET? I KNOW THE NUMBER THAT THEY THREW OUT WAS PRETTY HIGH TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE READY FOR THAT NEXT YEAR WITHOUT HAVING A FINAL NUMBER RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH. THE $90,000. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO. AFTER WE GET THE BIDS BACK, IS THERE IMPACT FEE SINCE IT'S NOT A NEW PARK, LIKE SHEILA SAID,, IDEAS FOR HOW TO FUND THE $1.2 MILLION ROUGHLY THROUGH [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> STAFF WILL HAVE TO WORK ON HOW WE FUND IT, AS MEMBER COCCHI WAS SAYING, IS YES, THIS IS AN EXPANSION.
THERE ARE LEGAL WAYS THAT WE CAN EXPEND IMPACT FEE MONEY.
OUR CITY ATTORNEY WILL WALK US THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING THAT APPROPRIATELY.
IT WOULD BE AN EXPANSION, THAT'S WHAT IMPACT FEES ARE FOR, EXPANSION.
YES, THERE IS A SKATE PARK THERE, BUT WE ARE EXPANDING IT.
SOME MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEND ON IMPACT FEES WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE EXISTING SKATE PARK, THAT MIGHT HAVE TO COME OUT OF PARKS AND RECREATIONAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT.
>> YES. NO QUESTIONS FOR MIKE. NO QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK ALL THE SKATEBOARDERS ARE HERE WHO CAN'T VOTE LIKE US ADULTS FOR THINGS THAT ARE IMPROVED IN THEIR CITY.
THEY CAN JUST TELL THEIR PARENTS, THEY CAN TELL THEIR FRIENDS, BUT THEY CAN'T GO TO THE BALLOT AND DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT'S WHY THESE ADULTS ARE HERE FOR YOU GUYS, FOR YOUR KIDS.
I WANT TO THANK SOME OF THESE KIDS AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEM WHO ARE HERE, WHO TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THE DAY TO COME UP HERE AND HANG OUT WITH US AND ALL THE SKATEBOARDERS THAT ARE HERE.
BEN HARAN, WHO'S A SKATEBOARDER, AND SKATE PARK BUILDER, HIM AND HIS WIFE, TAJ ODUM, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
DYLAN RUSSO, HE HAS WON SEVERAL OF OUR TERRY KELLY SKATE COMPETITIONS, EGAN MCCARTHY, LOGAN BRADY, NOAH BECKHAM, CHASE, ASRAN ALI, WE'RE IN HERE, RIGHT? GOOD. PLUS THE CROSBY FAMILY, KYE NICHOLS, JACK BARNIA, CANNON. YOU USED TO SKATE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SKATE ANYMORE.
IF I MISSED ANYBODY, I DO APOLOGIZE, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
SOME OF THE ADULTS THAT USED TO SKATE, NICK, USED TO BE A SKATEBOARDER, OR HE STILL DOES EVERY NOW AND THEN, [LAUGHTER] AND ANY ADULTS THAT ARE OUT THERE WHO GET ON THE BOARD EVERY NOW AND THEN.
WE HAD A 51-YEAR-OLD IN THE OLYMPICS, 51-YEAR-OLD SKATEBOARDER, IN THE OLYMPICS.
HE WASN'T A STREET SKATEBOARD, HE WAS VERT IN THE PARK, BUT HE WAS STILL OUT THERE.
SKATEBOARDING ISN'T JUST FOR KIDS.
IT'S FOR ANYBODY WHO CAN GET ON A BOARD AND TRY TO BALANCE.
THERE'S A LOT OF IMPACTFUL THINGS THAT WERE SAID IN HERE, ESPECIALLY WHAT SCOTT MICHAELSON SAID WHEN HIM AND HIS FAMILY WERE SITTING THERE WATCHING AND WHAT THAT MEANT TO HIM WHEN THEY ROSE UP WHEN POE HIT HER LAST TRICK, IT WAS PRETTY POWERFUL, AND ANYBODY WHO WAS AT THE WATCH PARTY AT MOCAMA, IT WAS PRETTY POWERFUL TO SEE EVERYBODY STAND UP AND REALLY CHEER ON OUR LOCAL HERO.
BUT I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CORRECT WORD.
SHE IS DEFINITELY MUCH MORE THAN THAT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I GOT TO PUT ON MY GLASSES REAL QUICK.
SORRY. MARCA PATRICK, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID.
[01:35:05]
"THE CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITY REALLY RELIES ON WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE." JACK BARNEY, EVERYTHING YOU SAID AND YOUR SIGNS, AND YOU TOOK THE TIME TO MAKE THOSE SIGNS.APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT. I WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT THE VIDEOS THAT WE SHOWED, THOSE VIDEOS OF THOSE KIDS, THAT WAS TAKEN TWO YEARS AGO, SO A LOT OF THEM ARE A LOT BIGGER.
JACK HAD HIS HAIR SPRAY PAINTED BY HIS SISTER.
[LAUGHTER] MR. MCCLOSKEY, APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP, SPEAKING ABOUT YOUR SON AND HOW IT KEPT HIM OUT OF TROUBLE, AND I APPRECIATE YOU WEARING YOUR POE PINSON SHIRT HERE TODAY, THE OLYMPIC POE.
IF YOU COULD STAND UP AND SHOW EVERYBODY THE BACK OF IT.
[APPLAUSE] THAT WAS A DESIGN THAT WAS THOUGHT OF BETWEEN TIFFANY TAYLOR AND KENNY PINSON.
PAUL LOWER, YOU MADE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.
YOU SAID A LOT OF GOOD THINGS TODAY.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID IS THAT, "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TIME TO DO THIS." AND IT REALLY IS A BEAUTIFUL TIME.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER AT MOCAMA AND WATCH POE GO TO THE HEIGHTS THAT SHE DID.
PAUL, WHEN YOU SAID THAT OUR YOUTH COMES FIRST, IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
LOGAN BRADY, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU'VE FALLEN DOWN AND THE DUDE, JACOB, HE CAME UP AND HELPED YOU OUT.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I LIKE THE PART WHEN YOU SAID HE KEEPS YOU IN CHECK.
THE WAY EVERYBODY IN THAT PARK KEEPS YOU IN CHECK, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SAID, "YOU TRY SOMETHING 1,000 TIMES JUST TO LAND IT ONCE.
THERE'S NO BETTER WAY ON THIS PLANET TO LEARN ANYTHING." YOU GOT TO TRY EVERYTHING.
YOU GOT TO TRY, AND SO TRYING AS YOU DO TO LAND AT ONE TIME IS HUGE.
FAILURE IS A PART OF THE SKATE PARK.
THESE KIDS DEAL WITH FAILURE ALL THE TIME.
BETH, YOU SAYING THE VOLUNTEERING, AND YOU ONLY BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF TIMES, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT TO OUR EVENTS.
IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO US WHEN YOU COME OUT AND HELP US.
JAMIE MCCARTHY, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING EVERYTHING YOU SAID, THE DISCOURAGING AND NOT EMBARRASSING YOUR SON.
[LAUGHTER] BUT HE DID COME FROM A LOT.
YOU GUYS TOOK HIM TO CALIFORNIA AND A LOT OF THE PARKS HAD YOU THERE, SO HE'S GOT A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT GOOD SKATE PARK SHOULD BE LIKE.
BECCA BARLOW, I THINK WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT US BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING WHAT YOU SAID.
AUGUSTA, THE OLDER KIDS ARE THE COACHES.
WHEN SHE BROUGHT UP WHAT THE KIDS DO, SKATEBOARDER DOESN'T HAVE COACH OUT THERE.
IF THE KIDS KNOW A TRICK AND THEY SEE A LITTLE KID STRUGGLING WITH THAT TRICK, IT'S WITHIN THEMSELVES TO SAY, HEY, COME HERE.
THEY BECOME THE COACHES. THERE'S NO RULES.
IT'S ATTRACTIVE TO A LOT OF KIDS WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH JUMP, SCREAM, TACKLE, SHOOT, NONE OF THAT'S OUT THERE.
THE SKATE PARK IS A CANVAS, AND THESE KIDS ARE ARTISTS.
EVERY DAY THEY GO OUT AND THEY PRACTICE THEIR RUNS, AND THEY TRY 1,000 TIMES JUST TO HIT IT ONE TIME.
A LOT OF THESE KIDS WHEN THEY SKATE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE.
IT'S ENCOURAGING WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY LIKE CONNOR MILLEN OUT THERE ON HIS CRUTCHES TRYING TO SKATE.
WHEN HE FALLS DOWN, THAT SKATEBOARD SHOOTS ACROSS THE PARK, AND HE TAKES TWO OR THREE MINUTES TO GET UP, WALK ACROSS THAT PARK, JUST TO GET THAT BOARD UP BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO TRY IT AGAIN, THAT'S INSPIRING, AND NOT TOO MANY THINGS CAN BE INSPIRED BY US, BUT IF YOU GO TO THAT SKATE PARK, JUST FOR ONE DAY AND WATCH WHAT'S HAPPENING, YOU'LL BE INSPIRED.
ANYBODY WILL BE INSPIRED JUST WATCHING ONE DAY BECAUSE OF THE NO COACHES, NO RULES.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT'S ATTRACTIVE TO A LOT OF KIDS, AND THERE'S NEVER ANY NEGATIVITY OUT THERE.
[01:40:01]
YOU GOT THIS.THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HEAR.
>> KENNY PINSON, LIVE IT ON CLOUD 9.
[LAUGHTER] I LOVE THAT ADDRESS, AND I HOPE YOU STAY THERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND EVERYTHING THAT POE SAID.
POE, YOU HAVE REALLY DONE WHAT YOU DID, HAS BROUGHT THIS COMMUNITY WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DID. UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR 10 YEARS TO TRY TO BRING THIS UP IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF LEADERS WHO WOULD LISTEN TO US, AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED.
IT HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU WERE IN THE OLYMPICS.
IT WAS ALMOST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN; THIS MEETING.
BUT, WHAT YOU DID ON THE WORLD STAGE IN PARIS, FRANCE HAS SET A MOTION, A TSUNAMI THAT IS NOT GOING TO END RIGHT NOW.
FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK IS VITAL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LIKE MIKE SAID, THE HISPANIC HERITAGE FOOD FESTIVAL.
IT'S THE SKATE PARK COMMUNITY THAT PUTS ON THIS FESTIVAL.
WE GOT A PARADE IN TWO DAYS, HONORING OUR HOMECOMING.
THIS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK.
WE HAVE OUR NINTH ANNUAL SKATE COMPETITION.
IS A TERRY KELLY SKATE COMPETITION.
FOR NINE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN PUTTING THIS ON.
THE FIRST THREE YEARS, POE PINSON WON THOSE COMPETITIONS.
THE FOURTH ONE CAME UP, NO MORE POE.
THESE KIDS DIDN'T WANT TO SIGN UP IF POE WAS GOING TO COMPETE.
[LAUGHTER] DYLAN RUSSO HAS WON THE LAST THREE OR LAST TWO.
YOU LOST COUNT. BUT AN EXCELLENT SKATEBOARDER.
IN CLOSING, I THINK WE REALLY, REALLY DO HAVE A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY.
FOR US ALL TO BE HERE TODAY FOR ONE REASON ONLY, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SEEING IF WE CAN BUILD A SKATE PARK WORTHY OF THE NAME THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO PRESENT ON FRIDAY AT 1:30.
AM I CORRECT 1:30? IN WORKING WITH SCOTT MICHAELSON, WHO HAS DEFINITELY BEEN HELPING US OUT, I DEFINITELY WANT TO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE.
JEREMIAH, WE APPRECIATE YOU AS CALLING US IN A MEETING, BEING ABLE TO TRY TO WORK THINGS OUT.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU, POE, FOR DOING WHAT YOU DID.
WE GOT A REALLY GOOD PARADE COMING UP.
I HOPE TO SEE EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS OUT THERE.
>> I WON'T SPEAK AS LONG AS WALLY DID. [LAUGHTER]
>> I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING OUT.
I LOVE THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM, AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO GO TO MEETINGS OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, BOTH THE BOARD AND THE CITY.
DON'T LET THEM FORGET, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT MOMENTUM NOW, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP IT GOING.
I APPRECIATED HEARING FROM THE ELM STREET LITTLE LEAGUE 2, AND THE STORIES OF THE GIRLS WHO PLAY THERE, AND I HOPE SOMETHING WORKS OUT FOR THEM THAT THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR PLAYING SPACE.
>> 7.2 PUBLIC ART APPLICATION.
[7.2 Public Art Application (Committee Will Review Application And Vote For Recommendation To The City Commission)]
[01:45:57]
>> ITEM 7.2, PUBLIC ART APPLICATION.
AS YOU REMEMBER, THE ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU WAS SUNSETTED A FEW MONTHS BACK.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, ALL PUBLIC ART, PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY, WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU TO REVIEW, AND THEN ANY PERMANENT ART, THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE SENT FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A PERMANENT PIECE OF ART, A MURAL, WHICH WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE SKATE PARK, WHAT I CALL THE CONCESSIONS SHACK.
>> WE CALL IT DIANA'S SKATE SHACK.
>> THE DIANA'S SKATE SHACK COMMUNITY CENTER.
IT WHAT WE ORIGINALLY HAD PUT DOWN THERE AFTER THE SKATE PARK.
BUT THAT ITEM, AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, KATIE WILL HAVE IT ON UP HERE.
BASICALLY, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
THIS ITEM WILL THEN PROCEED TO THE COMMISSION WITH EITHER A YAY OR NAY FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>> CAN YOU GO THROUGH THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> GO UP TO THE MAP TO SHOW WHERE EXACTLY IT IS.
>> RIGHT THERE, THAT'S THE EXISTING SHARK.
THE ONE JUST TO THE EAST IS ACTUALLY FOR OCEAN RESCUE USES.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT. AS WE GO THROUGH HERE, I THINK IT'S ON EVERY SIDE, AND AS YOU CAN SEE UP HERE, THEY'LL SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW, AND THEN WHAT THE MURAL WOULD LOOK LIKE.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, KATIE, IF YOU COULD WALK THROUGH.
>> THIS IS SIDE 1 AND THIS IS THE MURAL THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON.
THIS IS THE SOUTH SIDE, WEST SIDE.
THIS WOULD BE THE MURAL FOR THE WEST SIDE.
EAST SIDE, EAST SIDE MURAL, NORTH SIDE, AND THEN WEST SIDE MURAL.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE A SPECIFIC SLIDE AGAIN?
>> WAS THIS ON OUR ORIGINAL AGENDA THAT WAS EMAILED TO US?
>> I CAN GO THROUGH IT AGAIN. THAT'S OKAY.
I MUST HAVE READ IT WHEN I FIRST SAW EMAILED, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME TO THE COMMISSION MEETINGS ABOUT THE ART INSTALLATIONS AND WORKING WITH US ABOUT THE PERMANENT THINGS.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT THIS WAS. I'M JUST CONFUSED.
>> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T BUDGET ITEMS, THIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE PAID FOR, OR THEY'RE DOING.
>> THE FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK, ALONG WITH WALLY, THE ONES THAT SUBMITTED THIS, THERE WOULD BE NO COST TO THE CITY FOR THIS WORK.
>> THEN IS THIS A BUILDING THAT IS PLANNING TO STAY THERE WITH THE POSSIBLE?
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DETAILED DRAMES.
THESE LOOK LIKE THEY WERE DONE FAIRLY QUICKLY.
IF IT'S GOING TO BE PERMANENT, I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE I DON'T KNOW. MORE DETAIL.
[01:50:06]
>> THE ARTIST IS BRIAN ARNARD.
LOCAL ARTIST WHO [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF YOU CAN SHOW THAT PAINTING AGAIN, THE WELL ONE AT THE BACK. THAT'S A RIGHT WELL.
WHEN THEY HAVE THE RIGHT. WELL FESTIVAL OUT THERE THAT WILL BE FACING THE FESTIVAL ITSELF.
YOU HAVE TO APPRECIATE IT FOR WHAT IT IS.
IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN HIM DRAW, HE'S AT THE GREEN TURTLE.
HE DRAWS WHILE MUSIC IS PLAYING.
HE'S DANCING, DRAWING, COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE, SELLING HIS ARTWORK.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HE DID REAL QUICK.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT TOOK SOME TIME FOR HIM TO DO.
HIS ARTWORK, LIKE I SAID, IS IN ACQUIRED.
BUT HE'S A LOCAL RESIDENT, BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT'D BE PERFECT FOR US TO CONSIDER A LOCAL ARTIST LIKE THIS.
I LIKE THE ART. I THINK IT'S FUN.
I THINK IT'S A FUN ADDITION TO THERE'S NOT A LOT AESTHETICALLY TO LOOK AT.
IT'S KIND OF JUST PLAY OUT THERE, RIGHT WITH JUST THE OBSTACLES YOU HAVE.
MY CONCERN HAS ZERO TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT, BUT IT DOES CONCERN ME THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IT RIGHT NOW WHEN WE HAVE NOT DETERMINED THE POLICIES FOR ART INSTALLATIONS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TAKING ON, ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD BE.
I THINK WE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THIS AT ALL, AND I WOULD IMMEDIATELY VOTE NO ON THIS ON THAT BASIS, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT.
I WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DOES THAT GET MAINTAINED? WHEN YOU DO HAVE TO TOUCH IT UP AND MAINTAIN IT, IS IT THE SAME ARTWORK OR WOULD THAT CHANGE OR HOW IS THAT PROTECTED FOR THE ARTIST?
>> I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN THIS LOOKS GREAT, AND WE SHOULD ENJOY THIS.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD FROM THE GENTLEMAN WHO PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT BEING AN ARTIST AND THE THINGS THAT WE WERE NOT LOOKING FOR, I THINK THIS BODY PARTNERING WITH THEM WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT PARK LOCATIONS AND AREAS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE FOR AN ART INSTALLATION.
BUT THEN HAVING SOMEBODY WHO IS MORE OF AN EXPERT IN THE ART AREA, HOW WE WOULD EXECUTE THOSE THINGS.
I WOULD SAY NO TO THIS PROJECT TODAY BASED ON THAT.
AGAIN, NOT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ART, BUT ABOUT THE PROCESSES THAT WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING.
>> HOW LONG WILL THE ARTIST MAINTAIN THIS?
>> IT'S PERMANENT. IN OTHER WORDS, THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE CYCLE, IT WILL BE THERE FOREVER.
THAT'S WHAT PERMANENT MEANS TO ME, I'M GUESSING.
>> HE WILL HAVE TO, NOT JUST HIM, FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK WILL BE ABLE TO.
IF YOU EVER GO DOWN TO THE GREEN TURTLE, HIS STUFF IS STILL THERE.
IT'S BEEN PAINTED AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.
I IMAGINE LIKE ANYTHING ELSE AT THE GREEN TURTLE OR ANYWHERE OUT HE HAS AN ART PIECE THAT'S RIGHT BY THE CYCLE.
THERE'S WINGS THAT PEOPLE TAKE PICTURES WITH THEIR WINGS ON IT.
THAT'S AN OUTDOOR ART INSTALLATION.
IT WILL BE DONE AS IF IT WERE SPRAY PAINT GRAFFITI TYPE.
THAT PAINT DOES LAST, I WOULD SAY 15 YEARS.
BUT TO GET A CORRECT ANSWER WOULD BE TO TRY TO SPEAK WITH THE ACTUAL ARTIST ON HOW LONG THIS WOULD LAST, BUT IT IS SPRAY PAINT.
IT'S GOING TO BE PERMANENT OUT THERE UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COULD TAKE THAT OFF.
>> I THINK TO WALLY, JUST TO AGAIN, DEVI'S ADVOCATE, IS LIKE, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO IT.
WHAT IF WE PUT THIS UP THERE AND WE ARE
[01:55:02]
THINKING IT'S PERMANENT AND THEN WHEN YOU GUYS GET A NEW STATE PART, IT DOESN'T FIT IN WITH THE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE DESIGNED OR WANTS TO BE CHANGED.IS THIS ARTIST? ARE WE AGREEING THAT THIS ARTIST IS GOING TO HAVE THOSE RIGHTS TO HAVE THAT ART THERE? I THINK WE JUST NEED CLARIFICATION ABOUT WHO OWNS THAT, WHO MAINTAINS IT, WHAT THE DEAL IS, HOW LONG IT IS.
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, AND AGAIN, IT HAS ZERO TO DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE COMING UP MORE AND MORE, IS IT NOT [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE LOOKING FOR PLACES TO PUT ART THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I THINK IT'S PREMATURE FOR US TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO.
>> WHAT WE COULD DO, IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE, IS WE COULD BRING BACK THE PUBLIC ART APPLICATION TO THE BOARD AND WORK WITH WORK WITH PRAC TO DETERMINE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU HAD THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED.
IF THE CITY IS GOING TO ACCEPT PERMANENT ART, WHAT ARE THOSE EXACT LOCATIONS? THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW IS, YES, THIS APPLICATION CAME TO US AND IT'S BEFORE YOUR APPROVAL.
IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE US, WE COULD WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACT LOCATIONS THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT PERMANENT ART.
>> IS PERMANENT ART WOULD HAVE TO GO ON PUBLIC PROPERTY? IS THAT WHAT I'M SAYING YOU'RE SAYING NOT?
>> YES. THAT IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> IT IS PUBLIC PROPERTY. THAT IS CORRECT.
>> IF YOU GO UP TO THE APPLICATION, PLEASE.
>> IT TELLS YOU EXACTLY ALL THE STUFF RIGHT THERE.
IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
THESE APPLICATION FORMS, AND YOU CAN SEE IT WAS PUT IN ON MAY 13TH, AND THAT IS A WHILE BACK.
I THINK THE WEEK THAT IT WAS PUT ONTO PARKS OF REC.
THE DAY OF THE APPLICATION, THOUGH, THAT PROCESS AND THE THINKING OF THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS BEFORE THAT BEFORE WE EVEN GOT THE APPLICATION.
ON THE APPLICATION, IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING THAT'S NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD ASKED.
IF YOU GO UP ONE MORE TIME RIGHT THERE, IT TALKS ABOUT EVERYTHING, THE CONTRAST, DIVERSITY, LOC CAR, FEASIBILITY, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, SUPPORT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND OTHER.
THE APPLICATION ITSELF IS SELF EXPLANATORY ON LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND WE, AS A COMMISSION, SINCE IT'S ON OUR I CAN'T VOTE ON THIS ANYWAY.
>> AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A ZERO PROBLEM.
MY ISSUE IS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR MONTHS, MULTIPLE TIMES IN THIS IN OUR MEETINGS ABOUT, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A POLICY.
ARE YOU GUYS NOT WORKING ON THAT AS ONE OF YOUR TO DO? THAT'S ONE.
>> WE HAVE THE POLICY, WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT THE BOARD OR SOME PEOPLE ON THE BOARD ARE ASKING IS, WHAT ARE THE EXACT LOCATIONS?
>> WELL, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE MEETING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
BUT IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE WERE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE PLACES MIGHT BE, POTENTIAL PLACES, WHAT THE POLICIES WOULD BE IF SOMEBODY CAME TO US WANTING TO PUT SOMETHING.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE IF THAT WAS ONE AND APPROPRIATE PLACE, IF IT WAS A PLACE WE HAD EVEN DEEMED THAT THAT WAS OKAY, WHAT THE LIFE CYCLES WOULD BE.
IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S ON LOAN AND THEY OWN IT, AND WE'RE HAVING TO COVER DAMAGE IF IT GETS DAMAGE, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PERMANENT.
HOW LONG IS PERMANENT? WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS? I'M JUST USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE, WALLY, YOUR PROJECT, BUT IT'S AT THE OCEAN, WHICH IS VERY HARSH ENVIRONMENT, LIKE CONSTANTLY, SO DOES THAT IMPACT? DOES IT HAVE A TIME FRAME? I THINK THERE ARE JUST QUESTIONS IN GENERAL FOR A POLICY THAT WE'RE NOT ONE CLEAR ON, AND TWO DON'T EVEN HAVE IT FULLY DEVELOPED TO MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> I THINK FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THE CONCERN AND THERE IS THAT WHAT WAS APPROVED BY THE I BELIEVE, IF I REMEMBER, RIGHT, BY PRAC AND THE COMMISSION THAT THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED.
THIS DOES FALL WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF IT.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT REVIEWING IT AND ALSO, ARE WE GOING TO CHOOSE SPECIFIC PLACES THAT WE ARE GOING TO ACCEPT PERMANENT ART?
[02:00:03]
THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.>> I WOULD SAY WE'VE GOT ONE PAGE, AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF ITEMS. IS THERE MORE TO THIS APPLICATION?
>> OKAY. BECAUSE AS SHEILA WAS SAYING, THERE'S MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
THERE'S SCALED SITE PLAN, THERE'S A LOT THAT I THINK I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE.
FOR SOMETHING PERMANENT, I DO LIKE THE DRAWINGS I THINK THEY FIT IN WITH THE FEELING OF THE SKATE PARK.
BUT IF IT'S A PERMANENT PIECE OF ART, I'D LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION.
>> DOES THE CITY NOW THAT IT'S ON PARKS AND RECREATION, IS THIS ALL THAT WE HAVE AS REQUIREMENTS, JUST THIS APPLICATION?
>> CORRECT. YES. THAT'S CORRECT.
>> IF THIS IS ALL THAT'S JUST REQUIRED, THEN IF WE READ THROUGH THESE ALL, THEN THAT WOULD BE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD AND I THINK YOU WERE NOT AT THE COMMISSION MEETING, OR YOU HAD LEFT EARLY THE GENTLEMAN, AND I CAN'T THINK OF HIS NAME RIGHT NOW.
>> RICHARD RESTIANO, WAS THE CHAIR OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU GROUP AND WHAT HE IS ASKING, WHAT HE HAS ACTUALLY ASKED THE CITY IS, HE IS STARTING A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WHAT HE IS ASKING IS THAT HE CAN ASSIST THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO HELP MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
AT THIS TIME, THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS THE POWER TO SAY YES OR NAY WITH THAT.
HE IS A NONPROFIT, IF YOU GUYS WANT HIS AS OF RIGHT NOW, HE DOESN'T HAVE HIS NONPROFIT DOESN'T, WE'RE NOT ASKING HIS OPINION, I GUESS.
>> WELL, HE HAD STOOD HERE WHEN THAT WAS IN SETTING, HE ASKED THE COMMISSION, COULD THEY BE INVOLVED AND THAT HE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE PARKS AND REC SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE, LIKE UNDERSTANDING ART AND WITH THEIR WHEEL HOUSE.
I SAID BECAUSE YOU WERE NOT THERE THAT EVENING, THAT WE HAD JUST DISCUSSED THAT PREVIEW THE WEEK BEFORE IN OUR PARKS AND REC MEETING THAT WE WOULD BE TAKING THAT ON AND THAT WE WOULD BE WORKING WITH THEM, WHICH IS SOMETHING I THOUGHT WE HAD DISCUSSED HERE IS WORKING WITH THE EXISTING PEOPLE SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME GUIDANCE AND SO THAT'S WHERE I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING AND I DIDN'T THINK THAT WE WOULD BE APPROVING ANYTHING UNTIL THOSE POLICIES AND THINGS WERE SET.
I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M JUST TAKE A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK ABOUT THIS.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT TODAY.
IS THIS GOING TO BE OUR STANDARD FORM GOING FORWARD.
>> JUST BACKGROUND BECAUSE IT'S LATE, AND I THINK WE'RE FORGETTING A FEW THINGS.
THIS FORM WENT THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS WHEN IT WAS STILL A BOARD.
WE REVIEWED THIS, WE EDITED IT, WE BROUGHT IT BACK, I THINK IT WAS ALMOST A YEAR OF REVIEW.
IN THE TRANSITION FROM SUNSETTING ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU TO BRINGING IT TO PRAC IN THAT TRANSITION, THIS APPLICATION WAS APPROVED TO COME TO YOU.
IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THIS APPLICATION AND REVIEW IT AND PUT MORE STANDARDS IN IT, WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST FOLLOWING THE FLOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU ANYWAY.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS TO A LATER MEETING, HAVE A DISCUSSION ITEM WHERE WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD, AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE. THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION.
>> THIS CAME TO US LAST WEEK OR WITHIN THE PAST FEW DAYS, I GOT THIS.
>> THIS WAS PART OF YOUR AGENDA THAT WAS SENT TO YOU.
>> BUT IT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME.
>> NOT THIS ACTUAL APPLICATION, I MEAN LIKE THE ACTUAL [OVERLAPPING].
THIS WAS WERE SUNSETTING ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU, SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE SEEN IT BESIDES PARKS RECREATION.
>> YES, SO THE APPLICANT, AND CORRECT ME, KATIE, IS THE APPLICATION CAME IN ABOUT
[02:05:01]
THE TIME THAT ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU WAS BEING SUNSETTED.>> OKAY. YOU'RE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE HERE.
>> I'VE JUST BEEN READING FOR THE APPLICATION AND IT SAYS THE [INAUDIBLE] WILL MAINTAIN THE ROAD AND REMOVE IT AFTER THE DISPLAY PERIOD ENDS.
WHAT IS SUDDEN HEAVEN HERE IS THE TIMING FOR THE DISPLAY PERIOD.
>> THAT'S FOR THE TEMPORARY ART.
>> WHEN IS HE GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN?
>> YEAH. THIS APPLICATION IS FOR PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY ART.
>> THAT IS CORRECT, THEY ARE COMBINED.[NOISE]
>> IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THEN IT HAS TO GO ALSO THROUGH.
>> IT WOULD NOT GO THROUGH PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD GO TO THE HDC.
>> SINCE THAT SKATE SHACK IS OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
THEN IT'S UP TO US, AM I CORRECT?
>> I SAY MOVING THIS TO ANOTHER TIME AS SHE SUGGESTED IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL NOT VOTE FOR.
I SAY WE'RE HERE, THAT APPLICATION HAS BEEN IN THERE SINCE MAY, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ALREADY.
I'M JUST SAYING WHAT I SAID THERE AND I CAN'T VOTE I'M SORRY.
THIS APPLICATION HAS BEEN THERE.
IT'S BEEN SITTING SINCE MAY 13 AND ALTHOUGH IT SUNSET IT AND PUT IT ON TO THIS PARKS OF RECREATION, EVEN IF IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT OUR NONPROFIT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH, I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO MAKE A SUGGESTION ON WHERE WE SHOULD GO.
IF THAT IS A SUGGESTION, WHICH IS A LEGITIMATE SUGGESTION, AND THE SAME WITH SHEILA, VIE CHAIR, I THINK WE SHOULD AT LEAST MOVE FORWARD ON SOMETHING.
>> CAN I JUST GET ONE MORE LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
THE APPLICATION WAS TURNED IN WHILE ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU WAS BEING SUN SETTED.
WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN AFTER THAT IS AN ORDINANCE CHANGE HAD TO HAPPEN, SO PARKS RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL AND HDC COULD APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS.
WE WERE JUST SITTING ON THIS APPLICATION, IT HAD TO GO THROUGH TWO READINGS WITH THE CITY COMMISSION AND BE APPROVED FOR IT THEN TO COME TO YOU, SO THAT'S ACTUALLY, THAT JUST HAPPENED, SO THAT'S WHY IT CAME TO YOU TODAY.
IT'S NOT THAT WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WENT THROUGH THE RIGHT [NOISE]SO IT CAN COME TO YOU NOW.
>> I AGREE WITH WALLY AND SHEILA ON PARTS OF THIS, I FEEL THAT SINCE WE HAVE THIS APPLICATION IN FRONT OF US THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY TURNED IN, AND THIS IS THE CURRENT PROCESS AS OF RIGHT NOW, THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY MAKE A MOTION BASED ON THIS APPLICATION, BUT THEN WE COULD ALSO MAKE A MOTION TO SAY, MAYBE ANY FURTHER OUR APPLICATION TO BE PUT ON HOLD UNTIL WE HAVE TIME TO REVIEW, GOING FORWARD, THAT WAY, WE DON'T CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHERE THERE'S QUESTIONS.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE COULD IMPROVE ON THIS APPLICATION FOR OUR PARTICULAR BOARD.
BUT THIS WAS TURNED IN BASED ON THE CURRENT GUIDELINES, SO I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR TO THEN THAT WE MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATION IN MIND AND THEN GOING FORWARD, MAYBE WE LOOK AT HOW WE FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE CHANGED.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT POSITION FOR SURE.
I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHAT IS THE RUSH, WALLY? IS THERE A TIME LIMIT? I KNOW IT'S NOT A RUSH BECAUSE YOU DID THIS IN MAY, BUT I'M SAYING.
>> MY CONCERN IS BECAUSE IF WE DO MOVE FORWARD NOW SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMMENT SO I'M ASKING, IS THERE A SENSE OF URGENCY FROM YOUR TEAM OTHER THAN YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS DONE SOONER THAN LATER?
>> HERE WE ARE IN AUGUST, WE ARE ABOUT TO NEXT WEEKEND, HAVE OUR NINTH ANNUAL TERRY KELLY SKATE COMPETITION.
THIS WAS PUT IN IN THE HOPES THAT WE CAN GET THAT STARTED AND HAVE IT FINISHED BY OUR NINTH ANNUAL SKATE COMPETITION.
AT THAT NINTH ANNUAL SKATE COMPETITION, WE HAVE SIX ARTISTS, 24 VENDORS, FOOD TRUCKS.
WE HAVE A 5K SO IT WAS A RUSH.
AGAIN, IT WAS PUT IN BACK THEN SO THAT WE CAN GIVE THE ARTIST TIME ENOUGH TO GET THIS DONE BY OUR NINTH ANNUAL SKATE COMPETITION.
>> HE'S GOING TO DO THIS IN A WEEK?
[02:10:02]
>> IT'S AT A POINT WHERE MAYBE HE CAN START IT AT THE COMPETITION.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING AS THE MUSIC'S GOING JUST LIKE HE DOES AT THE GREEN TURTLE CAN START THE ARTWORK AT THAT EVENT.
I DO APOLOGY., I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.
>> WHEN WE PUT IT IN MAY, IT WAS FOR THE REASON THAT IT WOULD TAKE TIME AND IT WOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE NINTH ANNUAL TERRY KELLY SKATE COMPETITION.
>> ANY PERMANENT ART WORK HAS TO GO TO THE CITY COMMISSION?
>> THIS WOULDN'T BE DONE BY THEN AND HE WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO START ON THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO ADD THIS TO TUESDAY'S?
>> NO, I CAN'T ADD IT TO TUESDAY'S MEETING.
I THINK AT THE AT THE EARLIEST, IT'S GOING TO I BELIEVE THE DEADLINE FOR THE FIRST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER IS THIS FRIDAY, SO WE MAYBE COULD GET LUCKY TO PUT IT ON THAT AGENDA.
FRIDAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE SEPTEMBER 3 CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST APPLICATION WE'VE HAD.
>> WHAT IS IT YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT?
>> I'M JUST SAYING I DON'T THINK IT ANSWERS ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ABOUT.
IT'S VERY BASIC. AGAIN, WALLY, I DON'T WANT TO USE THIS PROJECT AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THIS.
>> THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ART THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY ARE TO GIVE THE GUY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS WITH A DISPLAY PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS.
I PERSONALLY DIDN'T CARE FOR THAT BULL ON CENTER STREET FOR A YEAR.
>> TO YOUR POINT, I THINK AN APPLICATION OUGHT TO HAVE SOMETHING, SO LET'S JUST SAY IT IS PERMANENT AND FOREVER.
WHAT IS PERMANENT AND FOREVER? [OVERLAPPING]WHO THEN MAINTAINS THAT, OR IF IT STARTS LOOKING RATTY AND THE PERSON JUST DOESN'T WANT TO MAINTAIN IT ANYMORE, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME RECOURSE AND SOME EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THAT IS AND THEN MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WHERE YOU SAY, OKAY, EVERY FIVE YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO ROTATE THAT SO THAT SOMEBODY NEW COULD ADD SOME ART THERE.
I DON'T KNOW. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO HAVE SOME DEFINITIONS AND SOME SPECIFIC, I CAN'T EVEN TALK ANYWHERE ELSE.
SPECIFICITY TO THESE THINGS AND NOT JUST UNTIL.
>> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, SHOULD THAT BE IN THE APPLICATION?
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE SHOULD REWRITE THIS ENTIRE APPLICATION?
>> I'M SAYING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PROTOCOLS AND PROCESSES FOR WHAT THIS IS AND QUESTIONS TO ASK FOR NOT JUST THIS PROJECT, BUT ALL PROJECTS TO BE CLEAR ON IS IT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED EVERY YEAR? IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S I JUST THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING AND IT'S NOT ON THIS SLIDE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] LET ME INTER I'M SORRY. LISTEN.
>> BASED ON THE APPLICATION THAT WAS GIVEN, BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE, BASED ON WHAT THEY SET UP AS THE RULES FOR THE APPLICATION, I KNOW THAT WE SHOULD, MAYBE IN DEPTH, HELP THEM BUILD AN APPLICATION, MAYBE IN THE FUTURE.
BUT THIS WAS BASED ON THE OLD RULES THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE ART DEPARTMENT AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BASE IT ON HOW THIS THING WAS WRITTEN.
IF WE'RE PLAYING SEMANTICS WITH WORDS, WHAT'S PERMANENT? THOSE ARE WORDS THAT MEAN IT COULD GO PERMANENT, DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S GOING TO END.
I'M LOSING THE TREND OF THOUGHT HERE.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THIS APPLICATION WAS GIVEN TO US BASED ON WHAT WE RECEIVED, WHAT THEY RECEIVED, TO MAKE A DECISION.
I THINK WE JUST GIVE IT TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND IF GOING FORWARD, WE HAVE TO REWRITE THIS, LET'S REWRITE IT.
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACKWARDS WHEN WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY YAY OR NAY TO THIS, AND THAT'LL BE IT AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
>> RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY, WHERE'S THE ART? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? THE BULL WAS ONE, HE NAMED THAT ONE.
DO YOU KNOW THE OTHER PIECE OF ART WORK THAT'S ON THE STREET?
[02:15:02]
THAT IS A TEMPORARY ART THAT THEY FILL OUT THE APPLICATION EVERY YEAR TO HAVE THAT BENCH RIGHT OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE BUTTERFLIES.
THERE IS NO ARTWORK HERE AND WE ARE NOW THE GROUP THAT'S MAKING THE DECISION ON THE ART.
WE NEED ART. WE NEED THIS CULTURE.
THIS IS THE VERY FIRST THING THAT COME IN FRONT OF US THAT WE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON TO BRING ART IN OUR CITY. THERE IS ZERO.
>> WALLY, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION ON THIS SINCE ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HAD IS BASED ON THE MAINTENANCE.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA FEELS THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO MAINTAIN IF APPROVED AS A PERMANENT ART?
>> INSTALLATION, IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD PUT INTO THE MOTION TO SEND TO THE COMMISSION THAT THE FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA WOULD MAINTAIN IT? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW? [LAUGHTER] THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE CONCERNS.
IF WE COULD SAY THAT ANY FUTURE ARTWORK, PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY, MIGHT BE PUT ON A HOLD WHILE WE REVIEW THIS.
BUT THIS ONE'S IN FRONT OF US NOW, AND FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA AGREE TO MAINTAIN THIS ONE FIRST UNTIL IT'S DEEMED THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY THE CITY.
I WAS ASKING YOU THAT WE SHOULD SAY THAT THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
>> KATIE, THE COMMISSION HAD APPROVED THIS PUBLIC ART APPLICATION, AM I CORRECT? [NOISE] THIS APPLICATION BEFORE YOU IS FOLLOWING WHAT IS PUT IN PLACE AT THIS POINT, THAT IT IS A PERMANENT ART TO ME.
SOMEONE COULD SAY IT'S GOING TO BE PERMANENT ART.
>> BUT [INAUDIBLE] TO THIS BOARD.
>> THESE ARE NOT RULES THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED.
>> YOU GUYS WENT THROUGH THIS APPLICATION TO CHANGE IN THE WORDS?
>> WITH THE ARTS AND CULTURE NASSAU COMMITTEE THAT WAS SUNSETTED.
MULTIPLE MEETINGS, WHICH THEN THEY APPROVED AND THEN WENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
>> THESE ARE GROUPS, THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE OUT WHO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PREVIOUS ART IN OUR CITY, WHICH IS ZERO RIGHT NOW, WE NEED ARTS AND CULTURE.
WHAT MAKES OUR CITY IS THAT WE CAN FOSTER THIS TYPE OF THIS ARTWORK.
IT'S NOT WITHIN US TO HAVE TO SEE IT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THIS SHOULD BE DISPLAYED ALL THE TIME.
AGAIN, I THINK CITY HALL HAS A SPOT THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT ART.
I THINK SOMEWHERE OUT THERE, SOMEWHERE CAN BE DONE.
BUT THERE ARE DESIGNATED AREAS.
>> I BELIEVE IN THE DESIGNATED AREAS DOWNTOWN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THAT, BUT ALL THOSE AREAS WOULD HAVE TO BE.
AT ONE POINT, THERE WAS DESIGNATED LOCATIONS.
>> I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING THOSE.
>> IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE, WAS ANOTHER ONE.
>> BUT I'M SAYING THAT IT WAS ARTWORK.
NONETHELESS, IT'S ART THAT IS NO LONGER EXISTENCE IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW AND THIS IS AN APPLICATION THAT IS BRINGING ART TO OUR CITY.
>> THERE IS SOME ART. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE ONE PERSON WHO WOULD LIKE TO TALK ON THIS MATTER, MR. JOHN ABBOTT, PLEASE.
>> DON'T WORRY. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE TALK.
>> JOHN ABBOTT, 16:01 UTTERING.
AMONG THE OTHER HATS THAT I WEAR IN THE COMMUNITY, I AM ON THIS BOARD OF THE NEW NASSAU COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE.
I ALSO HAPPEN TO BE A MEMBER OF EXHIBITING ARTIST AT THE ISLAND ART ASSOCIATION AND A PAST PRESIDENT OF THAT ORGANIZATION AS WELL.
I HAVE BEEN IN DIALOGUE WITH RICHARD ABOUT THIS TRANSITION THAT HE HAS GONE THROUGH TO CREATE THIS NEW NONPROFIT FOR QUITE SOME TIME OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
I'M NOT REALLY PRIVY TO THE DETAILS OF THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION.
I HAVE SEEN THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE REALLY A HOLDOVER FROM THE OLD ARTS AND CULTURE NAUSSA ORGANIZATION.
THE WHOLE POINT THAT RICHARD [INAUDIBLE] IS TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT THE FOLKS THAT WE REPRESENT UNDER THE COUNCIL CAN HELP YOU TO VET THIS ART,
[02:20:08]
EVALUATE THIS ART, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT I'VE SEEN HERE.
BUT I HAVE SOME TECHNICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE ACHIEVED.
SHEILA IS RIGHT, THERE ARE SOME CONTRACT ISSUES HERE WITH THIS ARTIST.
DO WE HAVE THE ARTISTS RESUME, WHICH I THINK WAS REQUIRED IN THAT APPLICATION? I'M SURPRISED THE ARTIST HIMSELF IS NOT HERE TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
BUT I'M NOT REALLY PREPARED TO SPEAK IN DETAIL ABOUT THIS TONIGHT, BUT THE WHOLE POINT OF OUR NEW NONPROFIT, AND WE DO REPRESENT 22 ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS IN NASSAU COUNTY IS THAT WE ARE A RESOURCE TO HELP THIS BOARD THAT THE CITY COMMISSION HAS SAID, HEY, YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC ART, WE CAN HELP YOU IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
THIS WON'T BE THE FIRST OR LAST APPLICATION THAT YOU GET.
THE NEXT ONE MIGHT BE A SCULPTURE.
WHAT WE CAN DRAW ON IS A LOT OF EXPERTISE TO HELP YOU GUYS EVALUATE THIS ART AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO MR. ABBOTT?
>> THANKS, MR. ABBOTT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I THINK THAT WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO SEE FOR US TO HAVE AS A BOARD OR WHOEVER THE NEXT BOARD IS IS THAT WE HAVE A PLAN LAID OUT ALL OF THE POSSIBILITIES THAT WE CAN AT LEAST IDENTIFY.
MAYBE THERE'S SOME WE NEVER GO.
OH, YEAH, THAT WE COULD SEE SOMETHING THERE.
BUT THAT WE HAVE A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF AVAILABLE SPACES THAT PROJECTS COULD BE DONE WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY ADVERTISE IN THE PAPER OR ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OF, HEY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY.
IF YOU'VE GOT AN IDEA THAT YOU COULD CONTRIBUTE OR SOME ART THAT YOU COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A PERSONAL SPACE SO THAT WE CAN BUILD THIS OUT TO HAVE ALL THE ART.
I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS, BUT THAT WE HAVE A PLAN AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I SAY IT ALL THE TIME.
I DO NOT THINK THAT WE DO ENOUGH PLANNING IN THIS CITY TO THOUGHTFULLY EXECUTE A LOT OF THINGS, AND WE ARE USUALLY JUST BEING VERY REACTIONARY AND I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THINKING THROUGH WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, NOT JUST FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, BUT FOR YEARS TO COME AND HOW THAT EVOLVES SO THAT IT DOESN'T JUST LOOK LIKE WE DID THINGS HAPHAZARDLY.
SO THAT IS MY CONCERN, AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE BUILDING THAT OUT.
I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE WITH THAT BOARD SUNSETTING.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED AND WILLING TO HELP US, AT LEAST HELP US MAKE EDUCATED DECISIONS.
IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO DECIDE WHERE THOSE LOCATIONS COULD BE.
BUT IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S PRACTICAL OR THINGS OUTSIDE OF MY PAY GRADE?
>> HAS THE 501C3 APPLICATION BEEN APPROVED AND ARE YOU GUYS ARE A 501C3 NONPROFIT, OR IS IT STILL IN THE PROCESS?
>> WE HAVE A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL BOARD MEETINGS.
>> THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WOULD WE THEN MAKE A DECISION TO HAVE THIS APPLICATION GO IN FRONT OF YOU? IS THAT HOW IT IS? THEN YOUR DECISION WILL BE THE FINAL DECISION OR WILL WE COME BACK TO THEM SAYING, HEY, THIS IS THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND THEN WHEN WE TAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AND MAKE A VOTE ON THEM? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE?
>> I WOULD IMAGINE [NOISE] THE WAY THAT IT COULD WORK BECAUSE IF WE HAVE IDENTIFIED PLACES, THEY COULD BE THE GROUP THAT'S TAKING A LOOK AT ALL THE APPLICATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN WE GET HERE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, SO THEY'RE BASICALLY RECOMMEND TO US.
>> SORRY. RIGHT NOW, THAT IS NOT THE PROCESS.
THE PROCESS IS TO COME TO PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THEN GO TO THE COMMISSION.
THAT IS THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THAT PROCESS, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO STEP BACK AND REVIEW THAT PROCESS.
>> ON THIS ITEM, I WON'T DO IT.
>> I'M NOT TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO.
>> WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS IS FOLLOWING WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW BEFORE YOU AND IF FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME CONCERNS SO WE CAN REVISIT THIS AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND THEN AND HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.
[02:25:02]
>> ANY DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ART, IF IT HAS TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE PARKS AND REC, ARE WE DOING THE SAME? ARE WE GOING TO A NONPROFIT AND ASKING THEM TO BRING IT TO US? I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING THAT. ARE WE?
>> THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
>> NO, I'M JUST SAYING. EVERYTHING ELSE.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO HERE AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE, DO WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS OURSELVES.
>> THE PREVIOUS GROUP I THINK THAT THEY HAD PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THAT BOARD, IF I'M SPEAKING CORRECTLY, THAT WERE EXPERIENCED IN.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THEY WERE MADE UP OF [OVERLAPPING] MEMBERS OF LOCALS WITHIN THE CITY, 501C3 ART ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY.
THEN THERE WAS A FEW JUST OPEN POSITIONS FOR CITY RESIDENTS AND A FEW OPEN POSITIONS FOR THE COUNTY, AND THEY DID HAVE BACKGROUND IN THE ARTS.
>> NONE OF US HAVE BACKGROUNDS OF PARK RECREATION, AND WE MAKE DECISIONS EVERY DAY ON BASEBALL, WE MAKE DECISIONS ON FOOTBALL, WE MAKE DECISIONS ON PETANQUE, WE MAKE DECISIONS ON PICKLEBALL, WE MAKE DECISIONS ON SKATEBOARD.
HOW MANY OF US DO WE KNOW ABOUT ALL THIS? WE DON'T.
WE MAKE THE DECISIONS ON WHAT WE FEEL IS RIGHT. DON'T WE? I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ANYBODY HERE, BUT I KNOW THAT WE AS A GROUP, WE MAKE DECISIONS ON THINGS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE TIME.
[OVERLAPPING] YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK. ABSOLUTELY.
>> I THINK WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH AND I THINK ULTIMATELY DO WE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION OR DO YOU NOT WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ART INSTALLATION BASED ON THE CURRENT APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ART GIVEN THAT THE FRIENDS OF THE SKATEPARK IS GOING TO MAINTAIN THIS WITH THE ARTIST.
THEN I'D LIKE TO PUT A PAUSE ON ANY FUTURE APPLICATIONS UNTIL OUR BOARD HAS TIME TO REVISIT THE PROCESS.
WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION AT OUR NEXT MEETING FOR FUTURE APPLICATIONS, BUT I THINK THAT THIS ONE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE SINCE IT DOES FOLLOW THE CURRENT APPLICATION PROCESS.
>> DID YOU ADD DISPLAY PERIOD?
>> IT'S PERMANENT. IF AT SOME POINT IT STARTS LOOKING BAD, THE FRIENDS OF THE SKATE PARK IS GOING TO MAINTAIN IT AND THEN IF AT SOME POINT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THAT WOULD BE VOTED ON BY [INAUDIBLE] NOT NEED AT THAT POINT.
>> DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE DISCUSSION?
>> CAN I JUST ASK FOR THE DISCUSSION PIECE, CAN WE? THIS IS A WORKSHOP.
THIS TOPIC I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN A WORKSHOP BEFORE WE COME BACK TO VOTE ON IT, IF POSSIBLE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A PERFECTLY LOGICAL WAY OF APPROACHING IT BY HAVING A WORKSHOP AND MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE GROUND RULES OF APPROVING ART FOR THIS CITY.
>> FOR CLARITY, I'M GOING TO READ THE MOTION, WHICH I JIBBER-JABBER.
[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE THAT APPROVES THIS APPLICATION, GIVEN THAT THE FRIENDS OF FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA BEACH SKATE PARK WILL COMMIT TO MAINTAINING THE WORK UNTIL FOREVER.
THEN WE WILL PAUSE ALL OTHER APPLICATIONS THAT GO FORWARD UNTIL THE BOARD HAS REVISITED THIS APPLICATION.
>> THERE WAS A MOTION AND THERE WAS A SECOND.
>> THEN MEMBER BORRERO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> AS OF NOW, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THIS WILL GO TO THE COMMISSION, SO NOTHING WILL HAPPEN BEFORE IT GOES TO THE COMMISSION.
AT THE EARLIEST, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, AT THE EARLIEST.
I WILL MAKE SURE I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THAT MEETING IS. THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE YOU LEAVE, YOU ASKED ABOUT ART DOWNTOWN.
[02:30:02]
THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF ART DOWNTOWN.>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHERE IT IS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW.
>> THE ART BUILDING ON NORTH 3RD, THE ART COOP HAS GOT A WALL AROUND IT.
IT'S GOT A [INAUDIBLE] ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT WALL.
>> IT'S PRIVATE. IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED, ISN'T IT?
>> THE SECOND ONE, THERE'S A MURAL ON THE BACK OF THE [INAUDIBLE] ANTIQUES PUT ON BY PEOPLE THAT REMODELED A HOUSE ON 7TH STREET.
IF YOU DRIVE BEYOND 6TH STREET, ONE WAY, BEFORE YOU GET TO THE END, LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE WALL OF THE ANTIQUE SHOP.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE HOUSE PUT A MURAL THERE.
>> IT'S PRIVATE, BUT THEY GOT PERMISSION FOR SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, THEY GOT PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING.
>> THANK YOU. [NOISE] I WANT TO GO INTO 8.1, STAFF COMMENTS.
[8. STAFF COMMENTS]
>> AS I WAS ATTACHED TO YOUR AGENDA, A COUPLE OF QUICK UPDATES.
TENNIS COURTS 1 AND 2 ARE FINALLY COMPLETED.
THE ATLANTIC AUDITORIUM AND SOME OF THE OFFICES OR PARTS OF IT, WE JUST HAD REPAINTED, NICE UPGRADE.
ALL THE SMALL BEACH ACCESS SIGNS ALONG FLETCHER AND TO THE NORTH, THOSE ARE ALL COMPLETED, THE SMALL BLUE SIGNS THAT HAVE THE BEACH ACCESS.
THEY LOOK VERY NICE. EGANS CREEK FITNESS EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN ORDERED.
THAT WILL BE SHIPPED ON AUGUST 21ST.
WE WILL TAKE SHIPMENT OF THAT, AND THEN WE WILL BE THE ONES INSTALLING THAT IN-HOUSE.
THE SKATE PARK REPAIRS, THE GENTLEMAN IS HERE, THEY'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT PROBABLY AT THIS TIME, EVEN NOW.
ALSO, OVER AT PECK FIELD, THE INSTALLATION OF THE WALKING TRACK HAS STARTED, [NOISE] THAT IS IN PROGRESS.
THE CITY STAFF IS ACTUALLY DOING SOME SMALL EXCAVATION, AND THEN AFTER THAT'S COMPLETE, THE ROCK WILL GO IN.
THEN I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE BEING PAVED [NOISE] DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR.
SO THAT PROJECT IS IN PROCESS.
THE CENTRAL PARK GAZEBO, AND I KNOW WE HAVE STARTED THIS, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT.
WE HAVE SOME WOOD REPAIR DONE, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PAINTED PRIOR TO THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THE MLK POOL RESURFACING IS GOING TO THE COMMISSION FOR THEIR APPROVAL, AUGUST 20TH.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF POSITIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
WE HAD ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT DID TRANSFER OUT OF OUR PARKS DIVISION, SO WE DO HAVE THAT PLACE POSITION AVAILABLE, AND THEN ALSO ONE RECREATION COORDINATOR POSITION AVAILABLE.
THEN UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS IS AUGUST 16TH, THE OLYMPIC HOMECOMING PARADE FOR POE PINSON PUT ON BY FRIENDS AT FERNANDINA SKATE PARK.
I BELIEVE A FORMAL INVITATION SHOULD OBVIOUSLY BE GOING OUT TO EVERY ONE OF YOU, BUT AT 1:30 AT THE SKATE PARK, HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN ALL BE IN ATTENDANCE.
AUGUST 17TH, WHEELS AND WINGS IS AT THE AIRPORT.
AUGUST 24TH, TERRY KELLY SKATE JAM IS AT THE SKATE PARK.
SEPTEMBER 6TH, SOUNDS ON CENTER; AND SEPTEMBER 7TH, AMELIA ISLAND DANCE FESTIVAL; AND SEPTEMBER 15TH IS THE ENDLESS SUMMER WATERMELON RIDE.
THE NEXT PRAC MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 10TH.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION, SCOTT.
ON THE EGANS CREEK FITNESS EQUIPMENT, HOW OLD IS THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS THERE?
>> ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS.
>> REALLY? HAS IT BEEN THERE THAT LONG?
>> IT GOT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY?
>> IT DID. WE DID GET A LARGE DISCOUNT.
WE GOT A 50% DISCOUNT ON THE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND WHEN WE DID REORDER IT, WE REORDERED IT WITH IT BEING GALVANIZED.
OBVIOUSLY, DUE TO THE ELEMENTS, IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THE CREEK.
SO WITH THIS, THE LIFE EXPECTANCY SHOULD BE MUCH LONGER.
[02:35:03]
>> WHAT WHAT IS MUCH LONGER? ARE WE LOOKING AT TWICE OF WHAT WE GOT OUT OF THIS CURRENT EQUIPMENT?
>> YES. ABSOLUTELY. WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY ABSOLUTELY.
>> YES. [OVERLAPPING] I FEEL CONFIDENT IN THAT NUMBER.
>> THANK YOU, SCOTT. ITEM NUMBER 9, BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
[9. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
>> WELL, I CERTAINLY HAVE, BUT WISHING YOU GUYS A GREAT EVENT ON FRIDAY FOR THE PARADE.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE OUT, AND CERTAINLY FOR THE NAMING OF THE PARK.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE JOE VELARDI, THE SOFTBALL PEOPLE CAME OUT.
I DID MISS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE COMMISSION MEETING, I'M SORRY, BUT DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT IF THAT'S WHERE THE PETANQUE IS GOING OR IF THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE WITH THE CONCERNS FROM THE ELM STREET LEAGUE? I KNOW THEY ALL SPOKE, BUT THEN WE AREN'T ADDRESSING THEIR CONCERNS.
>> WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT IS [NOISE] THE EXISTING PETANQUE COURTS WERE AT THE WATERFRONT AND WERE AT CENTRAL PARK.
THE WATERFRONT PARK DESIGN, MOVING FORWARD, DID NOT HAVE THE PETANQUE COURTS IN IT, SO WORKING WITH THEM TO FIND OPTIONS WHERE WE CAN PLACE PETANQUE.
>> DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS NOW?
>> AS OF RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OR WHAT WE HAD DONE, IT CAME BEFORE THE BOARD, IT CAME BEFORE PRAC.
YOU GUYS VOTED 4-2 ON BOTH OPTIONS, ONE AT CENTRAL PARK AND ONE AT JOE VELARDI.
IT DID GO TO THE COMMISSION LAST WEEK, AND THEY VOTED FIVE VOTES TO GO TO JOE VELARDI.
>> IS THAT FINALIZED NOW? BECAUSE I KNOW OF ALL THEIR CONCERN, BUT IS THERE ANY GOING BACK WITH THE SOFT HOOK?
>> THE ONLY THING, I THINK AND JEREMIAH IS HERE TO POSSIBLY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE COMMISSION MADE A DECISION, AND I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO CHANGE THAT DECISION ON WHERE THEY WANTED TO LOCATE THEM.
>> I MISSED WHAT HAPPENED AT THE COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK, SO I WAS JUST ASKING BECAUSE THEY CLEARLY WERE NOT REACHED OUT TOO.
I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THE BABE RUTH USE AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT THE SOFTBALL USE WAS NOT DISCUSSED, AND SO THEY HAD THEIR CONCERNS.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS ADDRESSED AT ALL.
>> WE MET WITH THEM LAST NIGHT, THERE'S CONCERNS.
JOE VELARDI FIELD IS USED, BUT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PLACES, IF WE LOOK AT [OVERLAPPING] PETANQUE AND WHEREVER WE MOVE THEM, THERE'S GOING TO BE ISSUES.
>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ELM STREET THAT'S AFFECTED, I HAD ABOUT [NOISE] PHONE CALLS REACHING OUT TO ME WHEN IT HIT FACEBOOK OR WHEREVER IT WAS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS IN PAPER OR ON FACEBOOK.
BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THERE OFF JEAN LAFITTE WERE VERY UPSET BECAUSE THEY USED THOSE FIELDS AS WELL.
THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T COMMUNICATED, LIKE IN THE AREAS OR TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IMPACTED, I THINK IS REGULAR OCCURRENCE, I FEEL LIKE.
I THINK, AGAIN, TO MY POINT EARLIER, THINGS ARE BEING DONE AND THEN YOU HEAR IN THESE POCKETS OF CONVERSATION, THEN I WAS AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT WITH ELM STREET JUST BY A STROKE OF LUCK, BUT THEN THEY'RE WORRIED, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY PETANQUE SHOULD GET SOMETHING.
ISN'T THAT DISPROPORTIONATE, OR WHY ARE THEY GETTING THIS OR WHY ARE THEY GETTING THAT? THIS LACK OF PLANNING IS PUTTING US AT AN AREA WHERE WE ARE ERODING THE VERY THING WE SAT HERE CELEBRATING TONIGHT, THE COMMUNITY AND THE THINGS LIKE THAT, AND WHO'S GETTING WHAT AND WHY, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.
>> DOES THE CITY PUT THE AGENDAS JUST LIKE THAT ON THE SCREEN ON ANY SOCIAL MEDIA,
[02:40:04]
JUST LIKE THAT, WHAT'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU? IS THAT AGENDA EVER POSTED NOT WHERE SOMEBODY HAS TO HIT A CLICK AND GO TO ANOTHER PLACE, BUT JUST LIKE THAT? DOES IT PUT ANYWHERE IN SOCIAL MEDIA?>> ALL AGENDAS, WHICH FOR THE MOST PART, UNLESS IT'S A DAY, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE POSTED A WEEK IN ADVANCE.
>> THE CITY OF FERNANDINA HAS A FACEBOOK PAGE, AND THE CITY OF FERNANDINA PUTS STUFF ON THAT FACEBOOK PAGE.
THAT AGENDA THAT'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU, THAT SHOULD BE ON THESE FACEBOOK PAGES.
I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THAT TO FIND OUT THESE INFORMATIONS, BUT IT SEEMS TO WORK IF THAT WAS OUT THERE, JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE.
THERE HAS TO BE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WAY SO, WHAT VICE CHAIR SAID, THAT WE DON'T RUN DOWN THESE ROADS AGAIN, THAT THE COMMUNITY IS INFORMED ABOUT COMING OUT, THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE JOE VELARDI FIELD, WHICH I DEFINITELY VOTED AGAINST, BUT THEY HAD CONCERNS.
IT'S JUST THEY WERE LATE, AM I RIGHT? THAT CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD AND THEY VOICED WAS LATE.
THE TRAIN IS ALREADY GONE, AND THERE'S NO WAY TO GET BACK ON THAT TRAIN, NO WAY TO BRING THAT TRAIN BACK.
SO I THINK AS VICE CHAIR SAID, THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY FOR US TO DO THESE THINGS TO GET THE VOICE OUT.
I KNOW THAT THE SKATING COMMUNITY WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS EVENT, THEY WERE PERSONALLY NOTIFIED.
THEY WERE TOLD, AND WE SHOWED THEM THE AGENDA.
SO THERE HAS TO BE A WAY THAT THIS CAN BE DONE BETTER THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
ARE WE IN OUR LAST COMMENTS? IS THAT WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW?
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR STAYING OUT THIS LATE.
[LAUGHTER] I KNOW IT'S BEEN TOUGH AND I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING OUT.
SCOTT, YOU'VE BEEN REAL GOOD AT SAYING ALL THE THINGS AND STANDING UP THERE AND LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY AND ACTING REALLY PROFESSIONAL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THANK YOU, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE SPIRITED MEETINGS THAT WE HAD FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE SKATE PARK.
I THINK IT'S WELL DESERVED AND, MOVING FORWARD, WILL BE A TASK THAT WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE ON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCORPORATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE APPROVE.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO ASK BEFORE WE GIVE THE FINAL STAMP OF APPROVAL.
ONE YEAR FROM NOW, A BUDGET WILL BE PUT OUT FOR OUR SKATE PARK, AND THAT WILL BE THE FINAL SEAL.
I HOPE WE HAVE WORKSHOPS ON THIS.
I HOPE THAT WE DO THE RIGHT WAY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ASKED TO DO.
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.