Sep 03, 2024 Special Meeting

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

GOOD EVENING , LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION . AS ALWAYS, WE WILL START WITH THE ROLE.

>> -- HERE. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> >> PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE

OF ALLEGIANCE . >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> WE ARE GATHERING TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE MILLAGE RATE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BUDGET THAT YOU CAN GET THIS IS A FIRST READING BUT IN TWO WEEKS

[4.1 TRUTH IN MILLAGE STATEMENT (TRIM NOTICE)]

>> THANK YOU. >>

>> PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION WHICH SETS THE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RATE FOR OPERATING EXPENDITURE, CHAPTER 200. 065 SUB 4D, THE COILING STATEMENT MUST BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED BY THE TAXING AUTHORITY LETTING THIS IS THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. THOUGH ROLLBACK IS 45448 MILLS PER $1000 OF ASSESSED VALUE. THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IS 3. 08% OVER THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE PRINT OPERATING MILLAGE RATE TO BE LEVIED IS 4. 6849 MILLS PER

[4.2 PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE - RESOLUTION 2024-155 DECLARING AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 200.065, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Adopts the proposed millage rate of 4.6849 for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.]

$1000 OF ASSESSED VALUE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATES. WILL THAT BE A MR. GLISSON PRESENTATION? FOR 4.2 BUT WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE @YES, THAT IS THE CLEARING AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 200. 065, FLORIDA STATUTE, THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 PER THAT IS A 3% REDUCTION TO THE PRIOR

YEAR'S MILLAGE RATE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS

THERE A MOTION ON THAT ? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> I HEAR A MOTION AND DISCUSSION. I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.

>>

>> FOR THE REASONS THAT PREVIOUSLY ARTICULATED --

>> UNDERSTOOD . THANK YOU. >> YES. THIS IS A VOTE.

COUNTING ON THIS ITEM. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT.

>> YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE. SO EVERYONE AT HOME CAN SEE IS ALFRED YOU HAVE TO START WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD IF THAT IS OKAY?

>> I AM -- AND I LIVE HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH.

>> YOUR STREET ADDRESS? >> IT IS -- FIRST AVENUE.

>> AND YOUR NUMBER? >> 2666 .

>> YOU ARE THE BEST FIT THANK YOU, DAN.

>> I WANT TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING. ARE WE ON THIS THING, THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH AND THE -- AND YOU ARE PROPOSING TO INCREASE , RIGHT?

>> WE ARE LOWERING THE MILLAGE RATE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE. YES, MA'AM. SO LOWERING IT EVEN MORE COULD I MEAN, THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, HAS SUCH A HIGH MILLAGE COMPARED TO THE COUNTY IN CALLAHAN AND HILLIARD. , HERE IS THE HIGHEST. AND TO BE MORE COMPATIBLE TO THE NASSAU COUNTY IS GENERAL. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. THANK YOU FOR THAT IS AN EXCELLENT POINT. WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET AND THE NEXT ITEM. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE MILLAGE RATE PAYS FOR IT. THE SHORT ANSWER IS THE REASON IT CANNOT GO LOWER IS BECAUSE WE NEED MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE GREAT SERVICES WE HAVE HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH.

>> WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE TAXATION? BEFORE 1933 ? THERE IS NO TAXATION ON PROPERTY. HOW ARE THINGS PAID THEN? FOR ALL

OF THE SERVICES ? >> I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY

[00:05:02]

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND PIN YES, AND YOU HAVE DEVELOPED, KNOW THIS IS YOUR FIRST DAY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT ONE OF THOSE PUBLIC RECORD FORMS RIGHT THERE. AND -- WOULD LIKE TO COME UP. COME ON DOWN, PLEASE.

>> 5053 INDIGO STREET. I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE BUT I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THE ROLLBACK RATE BUT AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO PAY LESS TAXES, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND US OF A SITUATION. IN CENTRAL PARK. WHERE FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, WE DID NOT BUDGET THE REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE TO THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN CENTRAL PARK. WHEN THAT APPOINTMENT WAS AT THE END OF ITS LIFE, IT HAD TO BE REMOVED. WE DID NOT HAVE IT BUDGETED THREE PLAYSET EQUIPMENT AND WE HAD TO GET A $500,000 DONATION FROM A CITIZEN TO GET THAT PLAYGROUND.

>> LET'S NOT FORGET WHAT IT IS WHEN WE KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND PAY FOR THINGS WE NEED TO MAINTAIN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

OKAY, WITH THAT THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND BID DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS? THINGS DONE, LET'S CALL

THE ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> NO. >> --

>> YES. THE MILLAGE RATE HAS BEEN LOWERED TO THE ROLLBACK

[4.3 TENTATIVE BUDGET - RESOLUTION 2024-156 ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Adopts a tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.]

>> THANK YOU , MAYOR BEAN. ALL BEEN PROPOSED -- YOU HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS WAS ISSUED PRIOR TO THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS WOULD YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE EXPENDITURES, THE HIGH POINT OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST. ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 AND PROVIDING AN EFFECT DATE.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. >> PERFECT. IS THERE A MOTION?

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

>> LET'S HEAR THE APPROVED AMENDMENTS FROM COMMISSIONER

ROSS . >> THAT THE -- THE AGENCY FUND BE PUT IN THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET.

>> OKAY. WE HEAR THAT. WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ON THAT IF YOU

WOULD LIKE. >> IS THAT IN THERE YET CURRENTLY? I KNOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALREADY DOING

THAT . >> OF COURSE, THE GRANT IS STILL, YOU KNOW, IT IS STILL ACTIVE DID WE GET UPDATES FROM MS. JACOBS ON THOSE AWARDED. THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED . AS WE DISCUSSED, THERE IS MONEY WITHIN THE CONTINGENCY TO FUND THESE POSITIONS AT THE PERCENT.

YOU KNOW, WE WILL KNOW BY THE END OF THE MONTH, THE END OF THIS MONTH. WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE AWARDED THAT GRANT. IF NOT, THE FIRST MEETING IN OCTOBER WE HAVE PLAN TO MOVE THOSE MONIES FROM CONTINGENCY DOLLARS TO SALARIES FOR THE

FIRE DEPARTMENT >> SO I HAVE A PLAN TO DO THAT AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE FIREFIGHTERS ? EXCELLENT, MR. WILSON BUT I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT. WITH THAT, DO WE HEAR A SECOND ON THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ROSS?

>> SECOND COULD ELIMINATE THE $175,000 FOR THE -- SERVICE.

THAT ONLY OPERATES ON SATURDAYS FROM 9:00 UNTIL 12:00 AND 1:00 UNTIL 4:00. FOR $175,000. AND WITH THAT MONEY UNTIL FUNDING SIDEWALKS DOWNTOWN. I THINK THE ABILITY TO -- THAT EXPENDITURE.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THAT. MR. WILSON, WOULD YOU MIND COMING BACK UP? I KNOW WE HAD A NICE LONG BUDGET WORKSHOP. ONE OF THE PROJECTS BY MS. GIBSON. COULD YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE WHY THIS WAS PUT INTO THE BUDGET? AND WHY WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT KEEP IT IN THE BUDGET?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS MONEY , WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNTY ABOUT RE-ENGAGING WITH THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY FOR MICRO TRANSPORTATION TO NASSAU COUNTY. THAT IS WHAT THIS MONEY IS FOR. I HAVE MORE INFORMATION I RECEIVED THIS AFTERNOON I CAN SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT CONVERSATIONS. THERE IS A REQUEST ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THE LATEST WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS,

[00:10:01]

>> COULD YOU PLEASE VERIFY, WE ARE WORKING WITH, THIS IS PART OF PUBLIC TRANSIT? WE ARE WORKING WITH THE JACKSONVILLE

PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY? >> YES, CORRECT.

>> OF COURSE. MR. ROTH, GO AHEAD.

>> OPERATING ON SATURDAYS ONLY FROM 9:00 UNTIL 12:00.

INAUDIBLE ] FOR LUNCH WITH YOU HAVE TO CALL UP. THAT IS A TOTALLY NONEFFECTIVE PROCESS BUT I DON'T CARE WHAT THE COMPANY IS DOING. WHAT GAT IS DOING OR WHOEVER. IT IS NOT -- FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. WHAT I GOT BACK WAS NOTHING THAT WAS PARTICULARLY -- SO WE ARE SPENDING $175,000 FOR THIS SERVICE THAT THE -- THAT IS SERVE THE PEOPLE OF FERNANDINA BEACH AND THE CITY. WE ASK THAT QUESTION OF THE DIRECTOR AND IT WAS NOT ANSWERED. I THINK THIS IS $175,000 THAT IS -- I DO NOT KNOW WHY WE ARE SPENDING IT. I THINK IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER USED FOR OTHER THINGS SUCH AS SIDEWALKS OR THE SOFTWARE OUT THERE THAT THAT COUNTY USES.

TRANSFERRING FINANCES. MANY OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS MONEY , EXCEPT TALKING ABOUT SOME SERVICE ONE DAY A WEEK. IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO HIRE UBER. THIS MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE FOR THIS IS 175 THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THIS IS

WHAT DRIVES TAXPAYERS CRAZY. >> WITH THIS PROGRAM, IT WOULD REQUIRE A LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WILL COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL TO THIS IS NOT JUST SAYING LET'S MAKE A CHECK TO -- FOR THIS SERVICE. THERE IS STILL A LOT THAT NEEDS

TO BE DONE . >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN DONE ALREADY.

SHOULD BE A FRAMEWORK. THIS IS WHERE WE WILL SPEND $175,000.

THERE ARE MANY NEEDS IN THE CITY. THIS IS BEEN PUT IN THE BUDGET AND I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ CORRECT

>> OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS. THE MORE POINTS HERE . SO EVERYONE KNOWS, BUDGETING IS NOT SPENDING THE MONEY. AS WAS POINTED OUT, IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, THAT INFORMATION WILL BE FORTHCOMING AS THE PROGRAM IS CREATED. THIS IS A BRAND-NEW THING. SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. THE COUNCIL ON AGING HAS DONE A SERVICE LIKE THIS FOR MANY YEARS THAT IT IS TAKEN PEOPLE -- THE COUNCIL ON AGING IS LOSING THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO -- ACROSS NASSAU COUNTY. IT HAS TO BE REPLACED WITH, IT IS CALLED THE HEAD OF PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR NASSAU COUNTY. IT IS NO LONGER THE COLESLAW AND AGING. THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE CITY BE A PART OF THAT ? THAT IS WHITE MS. GIBSON HAS ASKED TO BE PART OF THAT. WHILE SHE IS NOT HERE, I DO NOT THINK WE WILL GOT THE -- I DO NOT THINK THAT IS SOMETHING I CAN BE IN FAVOR OF. AS WE MOVE ON, THERE WILL BE MORE TIME TO REVIEW HOW THE PLAN SHAPES UP. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BUDGET THE PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAN. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY HERE THAT WHAT HAPPENED IS WE LOWERED THE MILLAGE RATE. WE WENT BACK AND WE ARE ABLE TO BUDGET ALL OF THESE RIGHT THINGS AND DID A GOOD JOB. COMMISSIONER ROSS IS LOOKING AT ONE THINK THAT THIS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AS WAS SET FOR THIS IS RECOMMENDED AS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. UNDERSTAND SOME PEOPLE HERE ARE ANTI-PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT'S

OKAY. >> WILL BE PRO PUBLIC TRANSIT AND I WILL HEAR ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO TALK ON THIS .

>> I'M TOTALLY FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. IF THIS IS A MAYOR BEAN PLAN, BUT IT IS YOUR PRIORITY . WE HAVE COME FORWARD WITH THE PRIORITY THAT IS NOT FLUSHED OUT. SO WHAT WAS FORWARDED TO ME, AND IT IS ALL, IT WAS ALL GRANTS SPEAK AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. THE TRANSPORTATION, OR THAN HAPPY TO LISTEN TO IT. WITH 175,000, THE COMPANY HAS NOT BUDGETED.

JTA HAS COME UP WITH NO BUDGETED MONEY. SO WHY ARE WE

[00:15:02]

WILL STOP SPEAKING. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER ROSS, THANK YOU. WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, MOTHER FOR THEIR COMMENTS IT WILL SIMPLY TAKE A BOAT ON THE CEMENT. OH, PETE WANTS TO TALK ON THIS. COME ON DOWN, SIR. COME ON DOWN, PLEASE.

>> YOU HAVE MADE A COMMENT I THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE IN THE SENSE OF WE HAVE GOT TO START DOING SOMETHING ABOUT

TRANSPORTATION. >> CAN YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND

ADDRESS? >> 1627 -- FERNANDINA BEACH.

>> THANK YOU, SIR >> I'M NOT GOING TO DEBATE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHERE IT IS GOING. BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A NUMBER BESIDES ZERO TO START LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION IN THIS CITY. WE HAVE GOT TO START NOW.

SO I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A PLACEHOLDER. YOU CAN DEBATE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THE STRATEGY. PART OF IT IS YOU HAVE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE. THE FIRST THING IS TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN. AND JTA IS GOING TO BE THE COMPANY THAT WILL IMPLEMENT THAT STRATEGY BUT KEEP IN MIND, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT OUGHT TO GO TO ZERO.

>> THANK YOU, PETE ALSO PUT IN THE REQUEST TO SPEAK WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE AMENDMENT OR THE GENERAL

BUDGET? WHAT ONE WAS THAT FOR? >>

>> LET'S DO IT ALL. COME ON DOWN.

>> SHEILA COOKIE, 1515 INDIGO STREET. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE WERE VOTING ON MOVING MONEY OUT OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO FUND A STUDY OUT OF THEIR SALARIES , WE ARE FUNDING THIS . THIS SEEMS LIKE A BUDGETING STRATEGY TO ME THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GOOD FOR YOUR JUST PUTTING A PLACEHOLDER THERE. YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY HOWEVER YOU DECIDE TO EDIT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT AT THE END OF NEXT BUDGET YEAR BUT I THINK THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE. I WOULD ALSO QUESTION WHY, I BELIEVE WE PAY $40,000 A YEAR TO THE MAINSTREET ASSOCIATION TO GET SOME HELP. BUT NOW WE ARE REMOVING THAT BUDGET, THAT MONEY FROM THE BUDGET TO NOT FUND MAINSTREET. WE ARE CREATING A POSITION , PAY POSITION, FOR $80,000 BEFORE TOTAL COMPENSATION WITH HEALTHCARE BENEFITS ,

RETIREMENT, AND ALL OF THAT. >> WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY . THE MONEY, THAT POSITION ALONE, THE $170,000, THAT IS TWO OF THE FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS WE ARE NOT FULLY FUNDING THAT WE ARE PARTIALLY FUNDING UNTIL APRIL OR MARCH OR APRIL OR WHENEVER THE DATE IS YOU GUYS CAME UP WITH HALF WAY. AGAIN, I AM QUESTIONING WHAT WE ARE DOING AS FAR AS TRYING TO FUND SALARIES WITH GRANT. WE ARE CREATING NEW POSITIONS FOR THINGS THAT WE ALREADY PAY FOR FOR A LOT CHEAPER. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO ROLL BACK THE RATE AND NOT PAY FOR THE THINGS WE NEED TO. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS WOULD IF SOMEBODY COULD EXPLAIN IT TO ME LIKE I AM FIVE, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THIS. THANK YOU. SYMMETRIC YOU.

I THINK THAT IS ALL THE DISCUSSION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT BUDGETING IS NOT SPENDING THE MONEY. AND AS MR. STEVENSON POINTED OUT, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THAT POINT. WE NEED TO START THIS CONVERSATION NOW.

AS THE PLAN MATERIALIZES, WE WILL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION LATER. LET'S CALL THE ROLL ON THIS AMENDMENT. A YES POINT STRIKES THE MONEY. THAT GUTS THE MONEY BUDGET. A NO VOTE --

>> IT DOES NOT STRIKE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.

CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.

>> YES. >> --

>> NO. >> --

>> NO. >> THAT FAILS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO -- AND FUND ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS. TO MY AMAZEMENT AND DELIGHT, LAST WEDNESDAY, THE MAYOR SAID THE COUNTY IS WILLING TO TAKE OVER ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES.

>> ACTUALLY BE BUDGETING $176,000 FROM $100,000 . I THINK THAT IS A SUPER WIN AT THE COUNTY IS WILLING TO TAKE THAT OVER. SO THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT OVER, WE CAN TAKE THAT MONEY AND GET THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE NEED HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SIMO THAT WE ELIMINATE THE $100,000 FROM THE ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES , AND FUND ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS.

[00:20:01]

>> STACK CONFIRMING THAT, I CAN

>> WELL, I WILL SAY THAT MY DISCUSSION WITH THE ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES, THAT WAS, I HAD A DISCUSSION, AN IDEA BUT I THINK THEY'RE WILLING TO DO IT. HERE IS THE THING THAT WE HAVE NO CLEAR DISCUSSION ON THAT YET THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED IN A JOINT WORKSHOP WHICH WE HAVE HEARD THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED FURTHER. WE CANNOT JUMP THE HORSE BEFORE THE GUN ON THIS BUT I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE US WITHOUT ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES . IT WOULD BE LUDICROUS TO DO SO. FOR THAT REASON, I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS BECAUSE I NEED TO FLUSH THIS IDEA OUT BEFORE WE CAN GO ALL IN. THAT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE . COMMISSIONER AYSCUE?

>> I DO NOT THINK THAT IS A BAD PLAN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY .

HOWEVER, IF PEOPLE THINK THAT -- IS A PROBLEM, AND IT IS GOING TO MEAN PEOPLE SHOWING UP HERE, WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE DOGS AND CATS NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF IN THE ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT -- A HOUSE, YOU ARE GOING TO PACK A HOUSE. IN TWO WEEKS, SIT DOWN AND ACTUALLY FLUSH OUT ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES WITH THE COUNTY, I CANNOT BE IN

FAVOR OF MOVING MONEY OUT . >> I WOULD AGREE 100%. I, PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM, USE ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES. I HAVE MADE HUNDREDS OF PHONE CALLS.

THEY PROVIDE OF VERY GOOD AND NECESSARY SERVICE. WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT THE MAYOR, AT LEAST TO DATE, SAID, MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT HE SAID. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A DONE DEAL.

THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO TAKE THIS OVER. THE NEW ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES, SO WE COULD HAVE THIS -- A MONTH. I GUESS I

WAS WRONG. >> I WILL WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

>> THANK YOU . I WILL CLARIFY ON THAT FURTHER. THE CHAMBER SPECIFICALLY , WHAT THEY ASKED ME IN THE RECENT FORM WHICH I WAS VERY EXCITED TO GO TO. THE QUESTION WAS THIS. THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS CAN YOU HAVE WITH THE COMPANY TO STOP DUPLICATE SERVICES? WHAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS CAN WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY? MY ANSWER IS, OF COURSE, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING THAT. SO MANY GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY. WE HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ON OUR NEW -- SPORTS COMPLEX FOR THAT IS A HUGE WIN.

I SAID THAT IN THE MEETING. I WENT FURTHER AND I TALKED ABOUT HOW WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE WILL WORK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO ADD A NEW PRACTICE FIELD. RIGHT ACROSS FROM CENTRAL PARK. NEW BATHROOMS THAT YOU AGREE FIELD . THESE ARE THINGS THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE OTHER BOARDS FOR THAT IS WHAT I SAID IN THE MEETING. THERE IS MORE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE. AND ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WAS JUST LACK WEEK. I WAS MEETING WITH FOLKS FROM THE COUNTY AND I HAPPENED UPON THIS IDEA. THIS IS A VERY INTRIGUING IDEA. AT THIS TIME, IS A STILL A GOOD IDEA BUT SOMETHING WE SHOULD PURSUE AS A BOARD. SOMETHING THAT THIS BOARD CAN GET DONE.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT COMPLETE YET . FOR THAT REASON, TO MAKE SURE WE FUND ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES WOULD LOVE CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS IDEA WORKING WITH THE COUNTY FOR THE ME TELL YOU, NO BORDER CITY COMMISSION HAS WORKED AS WELL WITH THE COUNTY AS THE CITY COMMISSION EVER HAS THAT I APPRECIATE YOU GUY BEING WILLING TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND THE TONE BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE ONE MORE FEATHER IN OUR CAP ONCE WE COMPLETE THIS POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIP FOR ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES BUT IT IS A BIG WIN IN A FUTURE WIN. WE ALREADY HAD A LOT OF GREAT WINS AT THE COUNTY. IT IS NOT READY TO GO TONIGHT. THAT IS THE THREE MOTIONS BY COMMISSIONER ROSS. IS ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET AT THIS

POINT? >>

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO IT .

>> GO AHEAD. >> I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENCED AFTER THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB DOING WHAT THE CITY COMMISSION TOLD THEM TO DOOM AND TURNING IT INTO A WORKABLE BUDGET.

>> MY COMMENTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STAFF. I THINK THERE WAS A WELL-DONE EFFORT WITH THE HELP OF THE COMPTROLLER. THE UNTOLD HOURS ON THIS AND IT CAME UP WITH A FEASIBLE DOCUMENT AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

HOWEVER, LIVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES WHAT HE DOES NOT RAISE THE TAX BILL FROM STATE PROPERTIES AND WE MADE THAT PERFECTLY CLEAR. HOWEVER, IT SHIFTS THE TAX BURDEN INCREASED TO THE 40% OF THE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE NOT HOMESTEAD. IT SHIFTS THE TAX BURDEN INCREASED TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES WOULD HAVE TALKED EXTENSIVELY AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CHAMBER DEBATES TALKING ABOUT THAT. YET WE ARE SHIFTING THE TAX BURDEN TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. WE ARE

[00:25:04]

>> FIREFIGHTERS, WE SHOULD DO IT UP FRONT IN THE BUDGET TRANSPARENTLY. IN THE PRESENT FUND, THE ADDITIONAL FUNDED POLICE OFFICER AND TWO PART-TIME POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS NOT ADEQUATE REFUND THE RESILIENCY RIVERWALK PLAN AND THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE PROMISES WITHOUT FUNDING. IT DOES NOT ADEQUATELY FUND THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET. PROMISES WITHOUT FUNDING. IT DOES NOT FUND THE BEACH WALKERS. THEY NEED TO REPLACE IN THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET BUT AGAIN, PROMISES WITHOUT FUNDING. IT DOES NOT FUND THE STATE PARK THAT THE MAYOR HAS PROMISED THAT WE WILL BUILD IN THE FUTURE IN THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN. IT DOES NOT ADEQUATELY FUND ROAD REPAIRS AT LEVELS RECOMMENDED BY THE CONSULTANTS BUT AGAIN, WE DID A STUDY. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE SPEND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY EVERY YEAR ON ROADS. AN INCREASE THAT INCREMENTALLY. THEY HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THAT RECOMMENDATION AND THIS BUDGET DOES NOT THE RECOMMENDATION.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS BUDGET DOES NOT INDEMNIFY ANY NEW SOURCES OF -- THERE BEEN NO RESOURCES OF INCOME TO THE CITY BESIDES -- TAXES. NOTE RESOURCES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

AND THAT MULTIPLE IDEA HAS BEEN PRODUCED FOR DOING THAT. THEY HAVE BEEN DENIED BY THIS COMMISSION. AGAIN, WE ARE SPENDING $175,000 ON THE -- SERVICE WITHOUT ANY SUPPORTING DATA. CONSIDERING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS SERVICE.

FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING PASSING THIS BILL.

>> ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET?

GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WILL BE VERY BRIEF AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT BUDGET. I THINK IT FUNDS A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS. ALSO, THE HOMESTEAD INVENTION -- REDEMPTION. THE HOMEOWNERS GET A REDUCTION TO THEIR TAX , WHILE WE ALSO FIND A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT I THINK WE HAVE BEAT THAT TO DEATH. WE DID DO ALL OF THE CONSERVATION LAND WE DID IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WHETHER THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED OR NOT. PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY OTHER COMMISSIONS OR NOT, WE COULD NOT HAVE APPROVED IT. WE COULD HAVE NOT DONE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WE HAVE. WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN DOING THE RIGHT THING. AND I THINK WE CAN BE NEGATIVE NANCY'S ALL DAY LONG. WE CAN BE NEGATIVE ABOUT EVERY ONE OF THESE ITEMS WE ARE SAYING THAT WERE NOT FUNDED. HOWEVER, ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. I THINK THE ANSWER IS TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AND DOING ALL THE GOOD THINGS WE HAVE DONE. I WILL SPEAK ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY. WE HAVE GOT RENT FUNDING THAT WAS OVER ALMOST $8 MILLION AND DONE GREAT PROJECTS. WE HAVE INCREASED OUR PAINTING BUDGET EVERY YEAR , AS FAR AS I KNOW. IT IS INCREASED EVERY YEAR. SO

[00:30:01]

>> WE IMPROVED 2. 3 , WITH FIVE BEING WORSE. YOU KNOW, ONE BEING BEST. WHAT I HEARD AS WE IMPROVED. WE ARE IMPROVED .

EVERY YEAR WE ARE IMPROVING. I THINK IT WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND THIS YEAR TO THE PAINTING BUDGET, RIGHT?

>> WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET RELATED TO THE ASPHALT SIPPER PROGRAM. SO WE ARE BUYING THAT EQUIPMENT. IF YOU LOOK AT JUST OUR PAINTING BUDGET, IT APPEARS TO DECREASE AT ABOUT 30% OF THE COST OF PAVING IS RESURFACING . WITH THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WE CAN DO THAT IN HOUSE BUT IF YOU LOOK AT JUST PAVING, WITH LINERS ON, THAT IS GOING DOWN. THE EXPENSE OF DOING A LOT OF THE WORK CAN NOW BE DONE IN THE HOUSE. THE $300,000 MACHINE , ALONG WITH THE $500,000 WITH THE PAVING BUDGET PUTS YOU AT 800. COMMISSIONER ROSS VEGAN 900 AS OUR TARGET.

>> $900,000 WAS RECOMMENDED, I THINK, FOUR YEARS AGO? IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO UP INCREMENTALLY EVERY YEAR BUT THE WAY I DO ARITHMETIC IS 900 FROM 800,000 IS A $100,000 DEFICIT. THAT

MIGHT BE NO CURE. >> YEAR BEFORE, THAT WAS LESS

MONEY, CORRECT? >> JUST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO WE WERE AROUND 300-400,000 MONEY .

>> WE HAVE DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PUT INTO PAVING.

>> WHAT THE CONSULTANT SAID, WE ARE NOT SPENDING THE $900,000 IN THE INCREMENTAL INCREASES THAT WAS TO KEEP THE ROADS EXACTLY AS THEY ARE, NOT TO IMPROVE, CORRECT?

>> WILL, THE 900 REDUCE THE BACKLOG

>> AT THE TIME, THAT WAS 650,000. THAT IS -- AMINO HOW MUCH THAT IS BEEN. YEAH, TO REDUCE THE BACKLOG COMMONLY TALKED ABOUT THE BACKLOG COMING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THAT WILL NEED TO INCREASE FUNDING. I KNOW THE VICE MAYOR AND OTHERS WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS COMING IN THE RAFTER NEXT WE PRIORITIZE ROADS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE INCREASE AND RESURFACING NEEDS FROM THE RESURFACING THEM IN AND IN THE

LATE 1990S. >> CRACKED .

>> TO ADD ONE MORE THING ON, VICE MAYOR STURGES. THE THING THAT COMMISSIONER ROSS IS POINTING OUT. DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN AWFUL ZIPPER IN THIS REPORT. IN 2019, THERE WAS A BUDGET CYCLE THAT WOULD MEAN THE ENTIRE PROJECT HAD TO BE SCRAPED OUT AND BE DONE COMPLETELY OUT OF HOUSE. AS JEREMIAH HAS POINTED OUT, WE PURCHASED THE ZIPPER, GREATLY REDUCING THE COST AS THE ROAD. THE NUMBERS WOULD NOT BE AS HIGH AS COMMISSIONER ROSS IS POINTING OUT. SORRY,

COMMISSIONER. >> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THAT IS ALL RIGHT. I AM AMENABLE TO THE PEOPLE INTERRUPTING ME , THAT'S ALL RIGHT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE DOING NOTHING BUT IMPROVING THE CITY. THE CITY HAS BOLDLY MADE IMPROVEMENTS BUT IT IS NOT GOING BACKWARDS. ALL OF OUR SERVICES ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE ARE GOING TO FUND FIREFIGHTERS. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GRANTOR THAT IS WHY WE CHOOSE NOT TO DO A GRANT NEXT YEAR, BUT IF WE NEEDED TO FUND FIREFIGHTERS, WE COULD DO THAT. WE DID THE RIGHT THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS GRANT TO TRANSPIRE. SO SOMETIMES, IT IS ABOUT FOLLOWING THROUGH EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR CHANCES ARE SLIM THAT YOU MIGHT GET IT. ANYWAY, I CAN GO ON WITH MULTIPLE POINTS BUT I WILL LET IT GO. I THINK WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN THE RIGHT WAY. AND THERE IS A PLAN AND WE HAVE A PLAN OF RENOVATION . WHEN I STARTED AS A COMMISSIONER , THERE WERE RENOVATION PLANS THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. WE HAVE MADE THEM HAPPEN. ATLANTIC REC CENTER GOT REPAIRED. -- GOT REAPPOINTED AND THE ROOF IS FINISHING UP REPAIRS RIGHT NOW.

THERE WAS A LIST OF PROJECTS . ALMOST 40 OF THEM OUT OF BEEN COMPLETED WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS. SO THE CITY IS GETTING THE PROPER FUNDING PETTIT IS GETTING THE RINGS IT NEEDS , INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY. I CAN CALL IT JEFF UP HERE AND ASK HIM ABOUT RESPONSE TYPE AND IRONY KNOW THE ANSWER. OUR RESPONSE TIME IS BELOW LEVEL BUT I CAN CALL TODD IN THE FAR BACK AND ASK HIM ABOUT HIS RESPONSE TYPE IT HE WOULD TELL ME HIS RESPONSE TIME IS WITHIN STANDARDS. THE ONLY ISSUE IS, IF SOMEBODY GETS SICK IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IF WE HAVE EXTRA PEOPLE THAT GET HURT, AND THAT CAUSES AN EXTRA BURDEN. WE ARE GOING TO FUND THIS YEAR. SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT. I THINK THE BUDGET IS CORRECT AND WE ARE FUNDING IT BUT IT IS NOT THE OPINION OF SOMEBODY THAT SHOULD NOT BE GOING ON. THAT IS JUST NOT WHAT WE ARE THINKING.

[00:35:02]

>> EXCELLENT POINT. AND I WILL FINISH BY SAYING THIS BUT I APPRECIATE STAFF WORKING SO DILIGENTLY ONTO THIS PROJECT. I THINK YOU HAVE TRULY INCORPORATED THE NEEDS OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE NEEDS OF OUR CENTER. AND ALL OF THE WANTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS. THEY HAVE GOTTEN THERE TOGETHER BUT I APPRECIATE STAFF WORKING SO HARD ON THE BUDGET. THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THIS IS ANOTHER HUGE WIN . THIS BUDGET IS LOOKING GOOD. I WILL TELL YOU, THE STUFF IN THE BUDGET, THE QUESTION IS THE STUFF NOT IN THE BUDGET. IT IS RAISING THE MILLAGE RATE ARE KEEPING IT THE SAME. THIS IS THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS LOWERED THE MILLAGE RATE. THAT IS A HUGE WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE. THEY PAY LESS TAXES BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THIS BOARD. WE HAVE DONE THAT TWICE IN A ROW. I PRESUME EVERYONE DOING THAT BUT AS THE VICE MAYOR POINTED OUT, THIS BUDGET FUNDS EVERYTHING OUR CITY NEEDS IT FUNDS SO MANY GREAT THINGS, INCLUDING MAKING SURE OUR DOWNTOWN LOOKS NICE BUT IT FUNDS THE NEW POLICE OFFICERS. WE HAVE COMMITTED TO FUNDING NEW FIREFIGHTERS AND WE ABSOLUTELY REPRINT THE PARKS AND REC IS TAKEN CARE OF. EVERYTHING OUR CITY IS LOOKING FOR IS ON THE BOARD. I ESPECIALLY STAFF. THIS IS A HUGE WIN BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY AND THIS COMMISSION FOR WORKING TOGETHER. WITH THAT, I WOULD --

>> I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW-UP ON ONE OF YOUR POINTS.

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOU RECOGNIZE, SIR.

>> THANK YOU. -- WOULD TAXES FOR THAT IS TRUE TO SOME EXTENT BUT IT IS NOT DECREASED PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HOMESTEADED WHO LIVE HERE BUT IT IS NOT DECREASED ON THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE BUT IT IS NOT JUST BASED ON THE INDUSTRIES.

IT DOES NOT DECREASED -- WHETHER YOU THINK IT IS SOMEWHAT TRUE, IT IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE. I THINK THAT IS, YOU HAVE SHIFTED THE BURDEN OF THE TAXES.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS. TO POINT OUT, OUR COMMISSION WILL TAKE FULL -- THAT WAS A FULL WOOD FOR US BUT WE HAVE A GREAT BUDGET AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PASSING THIS GREAT BUDGET AS OPEN EXCELLENT STOP IT PLEASE GO AHEAD AND

CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ANTUN .

>> YES. >> --

>> NO. >> THAT PASSES FOR -1. THIS IS A WORKSHOP. PUBLIC COMMENT. IS ANYONE HERE WANTED TO, AND GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT ANY TIME? DOES ANYBODY WANT TO COME AND GIVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? OKAY , STICK AROUND. IT IS 6:00 -- AT 6:00 SHARP WILL

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.