[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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[4.1 WEATHER EVENTS - AFTER ACTION REVIEW - Staff will present After Action Reviews related to recent rain events, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.]
MOVING FORWARD, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING AND I'M THANKFUL TONIGHT THAT JEREMIAH HAS SOME UPDATES ON THAT SO PRESENTATION 4.1 WEATHER EVENTS AFTER ACTION REVIEW SO YOU HAVETHE FLOOR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, THIS ITEM WAS REQUESTED TO BE PUT IN THE WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS SOME OF OUR AFTER-ACTION REVIEW OF THE STORMS. IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTANT MEMORY NOW. WE HAD UNUSUAL THREE EMERGENCY ORDERS THAT WERE ISSUED HERE JUST WITHIN A 45 DAY PERIOD DUE TO AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF HEAVY RAINFALL. HURRICANE HELENE, HURRICANE MILTON ALL OF WHICH OCCURRED WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIMEFRAME. SOME OF THE PREPARATION WE TAKE IS NOT DONE IN A VACUUM. IT IS A CITYWIDE EFFORT. WE START ISSUING EMERGENCY ORDERS. WE ALSO BEGIN FUELING GENERATORS AND EQUIPMENT, MAXIMIZE OUR FUEL INVENTORY . WE SECURE PUMP RENTALS. WE SERVICE CHAINSAWS, RELATED EQUIPMENT AND THEN WE HAVE COORDINATION MEETINGS WITH THE CRITICAL STAFF AND THE CRITICAL STUFF IS POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES AND WE BEGIN ESTABLISHING ON-CALL PERSONNEL IN THE COORDINATION EFFORT WITH ESC BEGINS IN THE PREPARATION STAGES AS WELL.
DURING THE EVENT WE TRANSITION STAFF TO CRITICAL ROTATING SHIFTS FOR 24-HOUR COVERAGE.
THERE IS DECREASED COMMUNICATION WITH CITY LEADERSHIP POSTED AND AS EVERYONE KNOWS AS WELL AS A FULL DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF VEGETATIVE DEBRIS, FLOODING, CALCULATE COSTS, DAMAGES AND BEGINNING CLEANUP EFFORTS AND OF COURSE CONTINUING COORDINATION WITH EOC AND I WANT TO STOP THERE BECAUSE WHAT IS REALLY MISSING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STORM PREP DURING THE STORM EVENT AND AFTER IS THE COORDINATION EFFORTS THAT HAPPEN NESSA COUNTY EOC. THIS IS A HIGHLY COLLATED EFFORT THAT INVOLVES ALL OTHER LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AND IT IS A COMPLETE TEAM EFFORT AND FOR THAT WE ARE GOING TO BRING IN DIRECTOR TIM COOPER OF THE NASSAU COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH A PRESENTATION FOR US OF WHAT GOES IN, HOW THEY SERVE IN THIS ROLE AND DO WHAT THEY DO. YOU WILL NOT CEASE TO BE
AMAZED. >> MR. COOPER, I'M VERY READY TO BE IMPRESSED HERE. THIS
SOUNDS GOOD. >> I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T START BY SAYING YOU KNOW I KNOW WE ARE JUST OFF OF ELECTION SEASON. I AM THE SON OF A PUBLIC SERVANT MYSELF SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE ALL DONE AND THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT YOUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE A SIMILAR ROLE BEING THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE COUNTY. I AM NOT LOCKED INTO ONE AREA. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THERE ARE 67 DIRECTORS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE APPOINTED IN THIS COUNTY AND I TAKE THAT ROLE AND MY JOB VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TRY TO MAKE PLANS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT YOU GUYS DISCUSS HERE TODAY SO I'M NOT REALLY GOOD TO LISTEN TO BUT I HIT THE NEXT BUTTON OR SOMETHING SO WE ARE GOING TO GO TO SOME OF THE ROLES, MISSIONS AND FUNCTIONS AND BEGIN, I DIRECTOR TIM COOPER SO I WOULD LIKE TO DO A PRE-QUIZ BECAUSE WE HAVE CITIZENS IN THE ROOM SO I LIKE TO SHARE ANY TIME I DO THIS PRESENTATION. CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME OKAY? THE FIRST QUESTION I LIKE TO ASK IS WHO DO I ANSWER TO DURING THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCIES. DOES ANYBODY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT? THE GOVERNOR? I'M GLAD IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THAT HIGH BUT I ANSWER DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY MANAGER AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COUNTY. I AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL BY MY UNIFORM. WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM
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OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COUNTY AND A LOT OF AGENCIES CHOOSE TO DO THAT AS FAR AS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GOES BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE JUST NATURALLY IN THAT MANAGEMENT ROLE ANYTIME AN EMERGENCY HAPPEN SO THAT IS WHO I ANSWER TO UNDER THE SOURCE OF MRU THAN THE COUNTY MANAGER OF COURSE ANSWERS DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONS MUCH LIKE YOU WILL HAVE HERE, SO HAVING SAID THAT, THAT IS THE DESIGNATED PERSON I ANSWER TO BUT WE STILL FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF THE COUNTY. IN MY JOB AND RESPONSIBLE TO ALWAYS TAKE A WHOLE-COMMUNITY APPROACH SO THAT MEANS I CAN'T JUST BE WORRIED ABOUT THE CITY OF FERNANDINA . I HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND THE IMPACTS OF ANY EMERGENCY. ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE A GUESS OF HOW MANY OF ACTUATION ROLES WE HAVE IN NASSAU COUNTY? THERE IS 11. IT IS A THROUGH K. ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE DONE THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE STATE SO THEY LIKE YOU TO BE ABLE TO SAY VERY CLEANLY, WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXACTLY WAIT -- EVACUATE ZONE A IN ZONE B, THOSE ARE YOUR VERY LOW-LYING REGIONS. WE HAVE SOME HIGH ELEVATIONS IN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT DATA WE GET THE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, SOME FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SOME FROM OKLAHOMA -- FLORIDA STATE SOME WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE MAKE DECISIONS SO AS MUCH AS I HATE TO CALL IT AN EVACUATION FOR ALPHA AND DELTA AT LEAST THAT DOESN'T IMPACT THE ENTIRE ISLAND WHEN WE DO THAT BUT IT DOES START ADDRESSING THINGS WHERE WE HAVE TROUBLE WITH BEING ABLE TO GET ON OR OFF OF THE ISLAND BECAUSE OF LOW-LYING AREAS AND MARSHLANDS BETWEEN THERE SO THAT IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONVERSATION WITH THE HOSPITAL ABOUT, OUR RESORTS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SO WE DO HAVE 11 OF THEM AND I WILL PROBABLY TELL YOU LATER, JUST NOT ON THE SLIDESHOW SOMEWHERE YOU KNOW, ONE NASSAU.COM IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET THAT. IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE SPENT A TON OF TIME REDEVELOPING THAT WEBSITE. IT IS A COMPLETELY NEW WEBSITE IF YOU WENT THERE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO YOU WOULD'VE SAW SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT SO WHEN DO YOU THINK THE LAST TIME WE WERE ACTIVATED THAT WAS NOT RELATED TO A HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM, ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA? IT WAS FOR COVID. SO, COVID WAS A RARE OCCURRENCE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT THAT AND GO, THAT IS A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISSUE AND THEY WOULD BE RIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS WE DETERMINED THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH JUST DID NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO MANAGE SOMETHING TO THAT SCALE IN THE PANDEMIC SO THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA STEPPED IN AND SAYS HEY, I THINK WE CAN DO THIS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND WE DID THAT. DURING THAT TIME I WAS NOT THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. I WAS ON THE INSTANT MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR THE COUNTY AS THE LOGISTICS SECTION CHIEF. THIS IS ANOTHER POPULAR QUESTION WE GET THAT AFFECTS THE CITY OF FERNANDINA GREATLY. WHAT IS THE TRIGGER FOR CLOSING OUR BRIDGES? Y'ALL MADE ME HAPPY IF NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS GOOD TO ME, THAT MADE ME HAPPY. IT IS 39 MILES AN HOUR FOR A SUSTAINED ONE MINUTE AND AT THAT POINT, WE DO NOT TECHNICALLY CLOSE OUR BRIDGE. WE TEMPORARILY SUSPEND DRIVING ON THAT BRIDGE BECAUSE THE BRIDGE ITSELF IS NOT CLOSED. JUST THE MODERN TRAFFIC IS RIVETED FROM CROSSING THAT.I'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY SOMEBODY WOULD TRY TO WALK ACROSS IT. COULD THEY? I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE THAT. THE FEAR THERE IS TRAFFIC CRASHES OBSTRUCTING THAT BRIDGE AND WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE ARE NOT IN HURRICANE SEASON, ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT THAT?
>> GET READY FOR THE NEXT YEAR. >> I THOUGHT YOU SAID PRAY. WE DID THAT A LITTLE BIT, TOO. WE DO TRAINING, EXERCISES BUT WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANS ON A ROTATING SCHEDULE SO WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN WE REFER TO IN THE BUSINESS AS A CMP . WE HAVE TO WORK ON THAT AND THAT IS ON A FOUR-YEAR CYCLE THEN THIS YEAR WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY AND AGAIN THAT IS FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY STAYS INVOLVED IN THAT AND STAYS INVOLVED IN THAT AND THEY HAVE BEEN. THEY ARE PART
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OF THE TEAM WE HAVE BUILT OUT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COVERING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THERE BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF MONEY COMING INTO THE STATE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY SO MANY STORMS TO DO MITIGATION PROJECTS AND NOT ONLY IS THIS A GREAT YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE WRITING LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUNDS COVER MITIGATION BEHIND THAT.THE GOOD NEWS IS THE MONEY IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THERE. THE BAD NEWS IS IF IT IS NOT ON THAT WHEN YOU CANNOT REQUEST THOSE MONIES FROM THE STATE SO KEEP THAT IN MIND WITH YOUR ENGINEERS AND YOUR PERSONAL WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD AND TOOK OUT THAT PLAN. MONEY IS COMING AVAILABLE. WE HAVE TO GET THAT ON THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR IT ON YOUR BEHALF. I AM WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I'VE BEEN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 30 YEARS IN DECEMBER. I HAVE FILLED POSITIONS IN TROLL, TRAFFICKING, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GO BACK THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS AS A SUPERVISOR. I WAS A LIEUTENANT OF COURT SERVICES AND CAPTAIN OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BEFORE BEING POINTED TO THE RECORDS POSITION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2001 SO I'VE BEEN IN THIS JOB FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER THREE YEARS, AND PART OF THAT , PRECEDING THAT, I WAS PART OF NASSAU COUNTY'S INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR THE PRECEDING SEVEN YEARS AND THAT WAS MOSTLY AS A LOGISTICS SECTION'S CHIEF . THAT'S HOW IT WAS USED IN THAT CAPACITY. YOU GUYS MAY NOT KNOW BUT ONE OF YOUR FINEST POLICE OFFICERS THE CHIEF HAS BEEN NICE ENOUGH TO IN DALLAS -- WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE COMING INTO MY GENERAL STAFF THAT ARE EMPLOYERS OF FERNANDINA BEACH AND THAT IS LIEUTENANT SERGEANT BRITTANY DECKER WHO IS LIAISON SECTION'S CHIEF WITH US WHENEVER WE ACTIVATE SO AGAIN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INCORPORATING THESE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITHIN YOUR JOBS THAT HAVE TALENTS THAT CAN THEN HELP THE HALL COUNTY. THAT ALSO ALLOWS THEM TO BE PART OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THIS IS MY TEAM HERE. I AM THE GUY ON THE TOP LEFT AND I HAVE MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR IS MARTHA AND THEN MARK WILSON WHO IS SENIOR PLANNER AND DOES A LOT OF OUR TECHNICAL SPECIALTY WORK THAN JD MCCORMICK , IF YOU GO TO OUR SITE SHE IS PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER. MARCY IS MY ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST. SHE IS THE WHOLE DIVISION'S ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST BUT SHE DOES A GREAT JOB IN KEEPING ME IN LINE. SHE ALSO KEEPS OPEN THOSE GRANTS AND MONIES THAT WE SPEND SO WE HAVE FIVE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE A LOCATION SPOT FOR A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE THAT IS A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR. WE ARE PLANNING TO TRANSITION THAT OVER TO A LOGISTICS PERSON. WE JUST FOUND THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT ALWAYS THERE . OUR LOGISTICAL NEEDS ARE SO WE ARE GOING TO TRANSFERS THAT OVER INTO A LOGISTICS SPECIALIST POSITION THAN WE GET A LOT OF WORK FOR VOLUNTEERS. ANNUAL BASIS WE HAVE OVER $130,000 WHICH IS BASICALLY FREE MONEY TO THE COUNTY FROM VOLUNTEER WORK THAT HAPPENS WITH OUR ESC. ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 40 HOURS A WEEK WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN AND VOLUNTEERING SO IF ANYONE IN THIS ROOM IS INTERESTED PLEASE GO TO STAFF WILL GET BACK WITH YOU. I PUT ON MY GLASSES TO READ SOME OF THIS. THIS IS KIND OF A CONTINUUM HERE SO WE TALKED ABOUT PREVENTION AND MITIGATION AND THEN PREPAREDNESS . WE GET INTO THAT STUFF, THAT'S WHEN I START REACHING OUT TO MY LEADERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, CHIEF, HEAD ENOUGH TO RETIRE HE WAS THE EQUIVALENT TO THE CITY THEY ARE JUST CALLED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LIAISON WITH THE TERMINOLOGY? COORDINATOR. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR SO THEY HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TITLES BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE COUNTIES THAT MAY HAVE YOU KNOW, NINE SMALLER COMMUNITIES IN THERE AND EACH ONE OF THEM CAN HAVE A COORDINATOR BUT THEN THAT COORDINATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR AND THE COUNTY SO ONCE WE GET DONE WITH RESPONSE YOU WOULD GO TO RECOVERY PHASE. THE RECOVERY IS DONE THROUGH YOUR CITY STAFF AND THROUGH US IT IS DONE THROUGH COUNTY STAFF. WE HAVE HIRED SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR THE COUNTY, IT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST RECOMMENDATIONS WE NEED TO GET A P.I.O. AND RECOVERY COORDINATOR AND THEY HAVE BEEN BETWEEN MY STAFF INTERNALLY AND THEM HIRING ONE WITH THE COUNTY WE'VE COVERED BOTH OF THOSE OBJECTIVES WHICH IS A HUGE ASSET FOR OUR COMMUNITY. TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WE SPEND DURING ANY ONE OF THESE STORMS BETWEEN HALF 1 MILLION TO $1.2 MILLION EACH TIME WE ACTIVATE. IT BECOMES VERY VERY EXPENSIVE. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE MAY HAVE ONLY BEEN RECOVERING 60% OF THAT MONEY. WE ARE ON RANGE NOW TO RECOVER CLOSE TO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THAT MONEY SO YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING OUT BUT THEN THEY'RE COMING BACK IN AND OF COURSE WE GET THOSE NUMBERS FROM YOUR GUYS, AS WELL , SO THE COUNTY IN ITS ENTIRETY CAN BE REIMBURSED. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? I WILL KEEP MOVING, THEN. WE DO LOCAL THREATS AND HAZARDS. SOME OF THOSE ARE PRETTY COMMONSENSE. SEVERE WEATHER, FIRE, DISEASES AND REALLY SINCE I'VE BEEN IN
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THIS POSITION WE'VE RESPONDED TO OF COURSE WEATHER. WE'VE RESPONDED TO FIRES. WE HAD THE FIRE ACROSS THE STATE LINE THAT THREATENED US THEN WE HAVE THE BRACEWELL FIRES TWO YEARS AGO.WE ALSO DO TECHNOLOGICAL HAZARDS SUCH AS ACCIDENTS, FAILED SYSTEM STRUCTURES, CLAIMS, BRIDGES , TRUCKS AND TRAINS. WE DID HAVE AN EXERCISE WITH THE TRAIN IF ANY OF YOU REMEMBER THE MEDIA WE GOT BECAUSE OF THAT. IT HAPPENED IN A TIME UNFORTUNATE FOR THE COMMUNITY UP NORTH WHERE THEY HAD A TRAIN TO RUN, HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE MEDIA, AND SAY TO ME DID YOU ALL PLAN THAT BASED ON THIS? I WISH WE COULD PLAN AND EXERCISES DEVELOPED IN THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. IT ENDED UP HAPPENING WITHIN ABOUT 30, 45 DAYS OF THAT MAJOR TRAIN DERAILMENT THEN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME IN THIS COUNTY WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTY OR THE CITY BUT CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL -- WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAINS. WE HAVE A LOT OF PORTS HERE SO ANNUALLY YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES TRAIN IN REFERENCE TO ANY KIND OF THREATS WITH THE MILLS AND OBVIOUSLY I HAVE ROUTINE CONTACT AND PARTICIPATE IN EXERCISES AT THE SUBMARINE BASE THAT HAS NUCLEAR ASSETS ON IT JUST REALLY CLOSE TO YOU WILL BUT NOT TOO FAR FROM US WAS SOMETHING IN THE NATIONAL NEWS ALL THE TIME IS THE ACTIVE SHOOTERS. CIVIL UNREST IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY AND THEN CYBER ATTACKS ROUTINELY WE ARE UNDER THREAT OF CYBER ATTACK AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL EVENTS WE HAVE HAD. YOU WILL PROBABLY REMEMBER MOST OF THOSE SO I WILL GO THROUGH THEM RELATIVELY QUICKLY. THIS YEAR WE HAVE ACTA CATERED FOR HURRICANE DEBBIE, HER CANE -- HELENE, AND MILTON. THOSE WERE RELATIVELY COSTLY I DON'T THINK HELENE AFFECTED THE SIDE OF THE COUNTY , ESPECIALLY NOT THE ISLAND, HARDLY AT ALL. SOME OTHER SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF COURSE WE TALKED ABOUT COVID IN MY ORIGINAL SLIDE AND THEN YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION IN 2021 . WE ALSO UNFORTUNATELY HAD THE INCIDENT WHEN ONE OF OUR OFFICERS WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN 2021 , WHICH WAS A MANHUNT TYPE INCIDENT , AND THAT PICTURE TO THE RIGHT THERE YOU CAN SEE , BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER, HOW MANY LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAME FROM THE STATE AND WHAT MADE ME FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT IS IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE HOW MUCH THIS COMMUNITY SUPPORTED OUR AGENCY DURING THAT EVENT, AND THEN OF COURSE, FOREST FIRES OR OTHER SIGNIFICANT EVENTS WE DEALT WITH. MITIGATION IS JUST A SUSTAINED ACTION TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE RISK TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTY FOR HAZARDS AND THEIR EFFECTS, AND THAT IS THE STRATEGY WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THIS YEAR AND IT SAYS THAT LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGIES, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IS ON A CYCLE. THANK GOODNESS I WILL BE RETIRED BY 2030 BECAUSE ALL OF THEM HAPPEN TO FALL ON THE SAME YEAR , 2030 SO WHOEVER THE PERSON IS TO GETS MY JOB AFTER ME THE THINGS WE DO, SHORELINE STABILIZATION, DRAINAGE PROJECTS, WHEN HAZARDS OF SCHOOL SHELTER IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR COUNTY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BUILDINGS IN JACKSONVILLE SO OUR SHELTERS IN SCHOOLS SO WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP. DR. BURNS HAS BEEN AN EXCEPTIONAL PARTNER. PREPAREDNESS IS SIMPLY A STATE OF READINESS TO RESPOND TO DISASTERS AND CRISES AND ANY OTHER TYPE OF EMERGENCY, AND SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO BE PREPARED AND THAT WE REALLY PUSHES AGAIN KNOWING YOUR ZONES, KNOWING WHAT WOULD IMPACT YOU BECAUSE AGAIN IT MAY NOT BE A HURRICANE THAT WE ARE CALLING FOR AN EVACUATION OF PART OF HIS OWN. IT COULD BE A FOREST FIRE. IT COULD BE SOME SORT OF NUCLEAR DEAL OR CIVIL UNREST OR SCHOOL SHOOTING SITUATION. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT AND HAVE A PLAN AND THEN PRACTICE THAT PLAN. YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST PLAN OF THE WORLD. IF YOU NEVER PRACTICE THAT PLAN IT ENDS UP BEING UNSUCCESSFUL. THEN BUILD A KIT AND IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT YOU NOW HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS , WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THIS EARLY. THERE IS A CUT OFF.
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DON'T LET THE CUT OFF WILL YOU. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO LEAVE SOMEBODY IN A SITUATION OF PERIL. WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HELP THEM BUT THERE IS A CUT OFF FOR ACTUALLY DOING A SPECIAL NEEDS REGISTRY AND THAT HAS TO BE DONE EVERY YEAR. AGAIN, YOU CAN FIND THAT ON OUR NASSAR WEBSITE THAN THE COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY PLAN FOR THE COUNTY THAT I SPOKE ABOUT, WE COMPLETED THAT IN 2024 AND OF COURSE, YOU ALL RATIFIED THAT HERE IN THE CITY, AS WELL. OUR CITIZENS DISASTER GUIDE HERE IN THE TOP HIM CORNER IS ALSO ON OUR WEBSITE AVAILABLE . IF YOU EVER NEED COPIES OR WANT COPIES PLEASE REACH OUT TO US AND PART OF OUR TRAINING IS OF COURSE WITH THE USC STAFF COUNTY STAFF OF COURSE THE CITY STAFF , NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS . AGAIN SOMEBODY POINTED OUT TRAINING. THAT IS SOMETHING WE DO VERY FREQUENTLY. WE WERE ALREADY TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EVACUATION ZONES BEING RE-ENVISIONED SO I WILL SKIP PAST THAT. THESE ARE THE EVACUATION ZONES AGAIN THE ONES THAT APPLY TO YOU WELL IF YOU ARE ON THE ISLAND, RA, B, AND C AND THOSE ARE ALL A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS. SO A, YOU COULD EXPECT A FLOOD WITH ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO 5 FOOT STORM SURGE. SOME OF THE EVACUATIONS WE DID OF ZONE A DURING THIS LAST STORM WAS FOR THAT PURPOSE. WE HAVE COMPUTER SOFTWARE EQUIPMENT WE USE TO SAY, IF WE GET THE PROJECTED INUNDATION BEING FORECASTED, THESE ARE AREAS WE KNOW ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO RESCUE PEOPLE WHEN IT IS HAPPENING SO WE ENCOURAGED HIM TO GET OUT BEFORE IT HAPPENS SO IF YOU START SEEING A B OR C, THAT MAY BE JUST BECAUSE WE ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT THE SIX OR 7 FOOT SURGE . THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT EITHER ONE ARE GOING TO FLATTER YOU WERE GOING TO BE IN A LIFE SAFETY SITUATION UNLESS, FOR SOME REASON, YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE ISLAND BECAUSE AT 7 FEET, ALL THE PASSES THE COME ON AND OFF THE ISLAND WOULD BE UNDERWATER SO THE ONLY WAY TO GET ANYONE OFF OR ON THE ISLAND AT THAT POINT WOULD BE BY HER SUPPORT SO YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL WOULD BE HER ONLY SOURCE OF REFUGE IF THAT HAPPENED IF YOU NEEDED SOMETHING MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN THAT AND HELICOPTERS COULD NOT FLY AT THAT TIME, YOU COULD BE IN TROUBLE. AND IN RESPONSE. RESPONSES FOR I HAVE THE BIGGEST AMOUNT OF HELP AGAIN TALKING ABOUT THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE BOTH ENGAGED AS WELL AS THE COUNTY. WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM WITHIN COUNTY OFFICES THAT ARE ENGAGED THERE. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID DURING RESPONSES OR COVID-19 VACCINATIONS PRIOR TO ME THANK GOODNESS I KNOW THAT WAS A HEADACHE WE FREQUENTLY SET UP SHELTERS, A LITTLE LESSON FREQUENTLY WE HAVE TO CALL FOR EVACUATIONS AND WE ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE WEATHER THAT IS STRIKE TEAMS FOR SHALLOW WATER RESCUES. BEEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE I KNOW YOU COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT THEN WE PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS HAVE EMERGENCY ROAD ACCESS. SOMETIMES WE HEAR THEM CALLED CUT AND TOSS TEAMS AND THEY GO THROUGH AND TAKE ALL THE DEBRIS THAT ENDS UP ON THE ROAD AND MOVES IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO YOU CAN GET EMERGENCY ACCESS. RECOVERY AND ACTIVITIES THAT BEGIN WITH STABILIZATION OF THE INCIDENT BEGIN WHEN THE COMMUNITY HAS RECOVERED FROM DISASTER SO WHEN WE GET DONE DOING ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAY BE PART OF OUR RESPONSE AND WE LOOK AT WE ARE READY TO MOVE IN THE NEXT PHASE THAT IS WHERE WE WOULD GO INTO RECOVERY AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOING TO GO BACK TO NORMAL. IT MAY BE WHAT YOUR NEW NORMAL IS. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THESE COMMUNITIES WE ARE SEEING THAT IN NORTH CAROLINA. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACK TO NORMAL. THEY'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THEIR NEW NORMAL. WE SAW IT VERY RECENTLY WITH HURRICANE IAN DOWN IN SANIBEL ISLAND. IT IS NOT THE SAME PLACE BUT IT IS LIVABLE AND INHABITABLE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA DOES A VERY GOOD JOB IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE RECOVERY OF COMMUNITIES. SOME OF THOSE THINGS INCLUDE DEBRIS REMOVAL , RESTORATION, PUBLIC GRANT ASSISTANCE AND THAT AGAIN WILL BE DONE IN COORDINATION WITH US, AS WELL THEN WE LIAISON WITH OUR NONGOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES SUCH AS TEAM RUBICON, BAPTIST HEALTH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE COME INTO YOUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT MEANS YOUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BUT WE DO KEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM. WE DO KEEP THEM ON THE LINE THEM FOR EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO CONDUCT DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS BECAUSE LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER YOU ALWAYS WANT TO GET THAT FEDERAL MONEY OR STATE DOLLARS BACK SO YOU HAVE TO DO DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS TO DO THAT AND THEN COORDINATE FUNDING AND LIAISON WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. WHAT IS NEXT? WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON? PLANNING FOR MITIGATION PROJECTS. I CAN'T DO THAT BY MYSELF. I NEED INPUT FROM EVERYONE WHETHER IT IS THE CITY[00:25:01]
OF FERNANDINA BEACH, CALLAHAN, THE COUNTY ITSELF. WE ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE INFORMATION ENGINE NEEDS ARE PROVIDED TO US. WE CAN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THAT PLAN FOR YOU BUT WE CAN HELP YOU DEVELOP THAT PLAN . INTEGRATION OF DRONE CAPABILITIES, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS. IF YOU PAY ATTENTION RIGHT BEFORE OR AFTER A STORM UCR DRONE UNIT OUT FLYING BUT WE DO THAT TO ASSESS BOTH PRE-AND POST-STORM IMPACTS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THE NOURISHMENT OF OUR BEACHES AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVE YOU HAD DAMAGE FOR THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME IN AND PROVIDE THE MONIES TO FIX THAT DAMAGE AND THEN WE DO COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM CLASSES. WE DO USE CLASSES. YOU'VE PROBABLY PREVIOUSLY HEARD IT CALLED THE YETI PROGRAM. WE ARE TRANSITIONING THAT. THERE'S A BIG PUSH TO COMPLETE THE SUPPORT OF BRINGING YOUNG WOMEN INTO THE PUBLIC SERVICE INDUSTRY WEATHER THAT IS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, POLICE OR FIRE. THERE IS STATE AND FEDERAL INITIATIVE 30 X 30 THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE 30% OF PEOPLE WORKING IN THOSE AREAS BE WOMEN BY 2030 , SO WE ARE GOING TO TRANSITION SOME OF OUR CLASSES TO TARGET SPECIFICALLY YOUNG WOMEN WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO THAT AND NO BETTER WAY TO GET THEM INVOLVED AND INTERESTED THEM TO PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR THEM. WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON A PASSPORT PROGRAM.A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WE OFFER CLASSES ALREADY, MONTHLY OUTED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THOSE COULD RANGE FROM ANYTHING FROM CERT-TYPE CLASSES TO STORM SPOTTER CLASSES. WE HAD AN INITIATIVE WHERE WE INPUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THROUGH HANDS-ON CPR. WE ARE GOING TO CREATE THESE CLASSES AND IF YOU TAKE A SERIES OF THOSE NINE CLASSES WE'RE GOING TO STAMP YOUR PASSPORT ANYTIME YOU TAKE THAT. IT'S FREE TO THE COMMUNITY. IT IS THERE. IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE , YOU COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN CLASSES. WE DID HAVE OUR FIRST SUCCESS STORY FROM HANDS ONLY CPR AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THROUGH THAT CLASS IN THIS COMMUNITY COMPLETELY FREE, IT IS ALL BEEN THROUGH VOLUNTEERS. WE HAD A CLASS THAT WE PUT ON THE OTHER DAY THAT REALLY GOOD SUCCESS STORY, HAPPENED WITHIN AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER THE CLASS AND LITTLE LADY AND HER HUSBAND BOTH DID HANDS ONLY CPR ON A PATIENT WHO WENT DOWN IN A RESTAURANT FROM A CHOKING INCIDENT AND WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST AND THEY KEPT THAT PERSON STABILIZED WITH HANDS-ON CPR UNTIL NASA COUNTY PARAMEDICS GOT THERE AND TRANSPORTED THAT PERSON AND THEY SURVIVED SO IT IS GREAT WHEN YOU SEE THOSE TYPE OF PROGRAMS . THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN HELP ANSWER? I PROBABLY SAID MORE THAN ENOUGH. I USUALLY DO.
>> YOU SAID SOME GREAT THINGS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR COOPER?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT . WE APPRECIATED AND WE LOVE WORKING WITH YOU.
>> AGAIN I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT. HEAD IF I DIDN'T MENTION
OF AN ASSET WITH EMERGENCY TRAINING SO THANK YOU. >> I'VE GOT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE CITY STAFF. YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED TWO BUT LAST TIME I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER I SAW PEOPLE LIKE KATIE NGUYEN FROM THE CITY VOLUNTEERS FOR TIME OUT THERE SO WE APPRECIATE ALL VARSITY TEAM AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US HELP.
>> THERE ARE MORE NAMES THAT I COULD NAME SO I THANK YOU FOR POINTING ADDITIONAL ONES OUT.
ESPECIALLY WANT TO POINT OUT MY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF. >> DO YOU WANT TO ASK A
QUESTION, MY FRIEND? >> ARE THERE ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO ST. JOHN'S OR SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE YOU HAVE AN INTERCOUNTY TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP?
>> WE DO THAT IN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I'M KIND OF IN A POSITION WHERE I CAN'T REALLY LEAVE THE COUNTY. MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR DOES. SHE WENT DOWN TO IAN. SHE WAS DOWN FOR TWO WEEKS. CHIEF EDMONDS WITH THE COUNTY, CHAMBLEE WITH THE CITY AS PART OF THE STATES REGION THREE RESPONSE TEAM. I'M JUST THE POINT OF CONTACT TO THEM. I JUST GO OUT AND DO THAT WE DO HELP OTHER COMMUNITIES IF THEY NEEDED AND WE ALSO HAVE EMAC WHICH IS SENDING PEOPLE ACROSS STATE LINES. WE SENT ONE OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS UP TO NORTH CAROLINA TO RESTORE COMMUNICATIONS SO WE HAVE SOME REALLY STRONG ASSETS IN NASA COUNTY WHICH IS YOU KNOW, I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF TALENT HERE IN THIS
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COMMUNITY THE SIZE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT. WE ONLY HAD TIME FOR ONE PUBLIC QUESTION. WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH. WE HAVE TO
[4.2 PROJECT UPDATES - Staff will provide updates on all pending and upcoming projects]
HURRY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE PRESENTATION 4.2 PROJECT UPDATES UNLESS YOUHAVE ANYTHING MORE FOR 4.1. >> NO. APPRECIATE DIRECTOR COOPER, HERE SHOWING THAT IT IS A REALLY COORDINATED RESPONSE DURING STORM PREPARATION, DURING THE EVENT, FOR THE EVENT, MULTIPLE COORDINATED CALLS. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND SHARING THE EEOC OPERATIONS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT THIS WAS REQUESTED BY A NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS THAT WERE COMING HERE.
WE HAVE QUITE A FEW. I'M GOING TO PULL UP A CHART THAT SHOWS YOU WE HAVE ABOUT 50 TIER ONE PROJECTS FOR THIS YEAR . WE'RE NOT GOING TO DIVE INTO ALL THIS LIST. THAT WOULD BE EXHAUSTIVE BUT AS YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE DO IS OUR PROJECT COMMITTEE WILL MEET ONCE A WEEK TO DETERMINE WHERE WE ARE ALL OUT OF THE PROJECTS. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH FINANCE, THE GRANTS ALL THOSE THAT WILL TIE INTO THE PROJECTS. WE SCHEDULE THE SCHEDULING IS OVER THERE TO THE RIGHT. YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING IN THE FISCAL YEAR YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SEASONS. YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER THINGS WE WORK AROUND SO WE GOT OUT THESE PROJECTS. THIS IS RIGHT HERE A LIST OF 48 IN THE QUEUE ON THE PROJECT MANAGERS ARE ALL HERE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT. THIS FALLS ON THE SHOULDERS OF MYSELF, ANDRE, SCOTT AND A COUPLE OTHERS WHO MAY BE MISSING HERE BUT THIS IS EXTENSIVE. WE CALL THESE TIER ONE. THESE ARE GOING TO BE MULTI-SIX-FIGURE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMMUNITY FACING.
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION COUPLE RUSSIAN, REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE KIND OF THINGS. WE WILL LOOK AT SOME OF THESE. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT PROBABLY 15 OR SO GIVING AN UPDATE WHERE WE ARE AT AND MOVING FORWARD INTO THE NEW YEAR. OUTSIDE OF THIS WE HAVE $2.5 MILLION BUDGET AT THIS YEAR FOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. THAT IS REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE TO EQUIPMENT, VEHICLES, GROUNDS, BUILDINGS. THAT IS OUTSIDE OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING HERE, SO WE WILL MOVE INTO DISCUSSION ON SOME OF THE PROJECTS THE COMMUNITY CAN LOOK TO SEE HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. FIRST OF ALL, AMELIA WATERFRONT PARK . THAT'S A $2 MILLION PROJECT THAT IS CURRENTLY UP FOR BID. WE HAVE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE A COUPLE TIMES. WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS COME IN. WE HAVE FOUR VENDORS EXPRESS INTEREST FOR THIS PROJECT. GETTING READY TO CALL FOR BID ON THE FACILITIES . RESTROOMS WILL BE A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH THE CIVIL WORK OF THE PROJECT AND ALL THAT WORK SCHEDULE TO GET UNDERWAY VERY SOON , DECEMBER AND WILL BE COMPLETE BY MAY OF NEXT YEAR. THIS IS A PROJECT COMING DOWN FROM PARKS AND REC IMPACT FEES. THE DESIGN IS 50% COMPLETE AND TIMELINE FOR THIS PROJECT IS SPRING FOR THE END OF NEXT YEAR THIS IS ONE PROJECT CONTINGENT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS HERE. IT IS A DOMINO EFFECT . A LOT OF IT HAPPENS TO BE AROUND FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PROJECTS IN OTHER AREAS. THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I, WITH DEP AND WITH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE GRANT INSURANCES FROM WHEN THIS BECAME RENT DOLLARS BACK IN 1986 RELATED TO THIS , SOCCER FIELDS AND SOFTBALL FIELDS THERE SO WORKING THROUGH THAT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SO SAY WE STILL WANT HER FINGERS INVOLVED IN THE SPRINT BACK IN THE 1980S. WE NEED TO CHECK SOME BOXES BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH REPURPOSED THING THIS AND MOVING THINGS AROUND. THIS IS A COORDINATED PROJECT BETWEEN NASA COUNTY. -- NASSAU COUNTY ON THIS PROJECT IS THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2025 AND OF COURSE THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS THAT DEPEND ON THIS. HANGERS IN PLACE AT THE AIRPORT AND A LOT OF OTHER STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA. HAPPY TO REPORT THIS WILL BE COMING TO YOU FOR APPROVAL AT NEXT MEETING, $150,000 TO ADD RESTROOMS TO ONE OF THE PARKS THERE ON HIGGINS STREET. THE
[00:35:02]
PROPOSAL AGREEMENT IS IN HAND. THE NASSAU SCHOOL BOARD IMPROVE THIS -- APPROVED THIS PROJECT. CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED THROUGH MAY OF NEXT YEAR. WE WILL BE READY TO GO TO ADD RESTROOMS AND ELECTRIC TO THIS PART. IT IS DROP IN PLACE. IT IS JUST A SIMPLE RESTROOM STRUCTURE BUT THE COMMUNITY HAD INTEREST FOR IT AND THIS IS FUNDED BY PARKS AND RECREATION.WE ARE FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE TWO GRANTS FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE. THIS IS RESTORATION OF THE CITIES OLDEST BUILDING BUILT IN 1848. WE ARE OUT FOR BID NOW FOR THE RESTORATION. WE EXPECT TO BEGIN PHASES ONE AND TWO HERE ON JANUARY . THE GRANT DEADLINE IS ON JUNE I BELIEVE SO WE HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY ONCE WE GET THOSE BIDS AND BEGIN RESTORATION EFFORTS. THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT LATER THIS EVENING. WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF KIMBERLY HORN HERE TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THIS PROJECT. DESIGNS ARE ABOUT 90% COMPLETE. WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO HDC TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK THEN GET THE FINAL DESIGN, GO OUT FOR BID AND FINAL CONSTRUCTION SOMETIME NEXT YEAR. THE FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT $4.4 MILLION PROJECT 99% COMPLETE.
18 MONTHS PAST DUE, AS YOU ARE AWARE THIS IS BEEN A FRUSTRATING PROJECT BUT WE FILED A CLAIM AGAINST THE BOND OF THE CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROJECT. WE MADE SOME PROGRESS. WE HAD A PHONE CALL YESTERDAY . WILL NOT GET INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT IS INVOLVED AND WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED. THE BUILDING IS DONE. WE NEED CERTAIN INSPECTIONS CLOSED OUT IN THE PUNCH LIST WE BROUGHT IN A SEPARATE GC TO HELP WITH THAT BUT WE ARE STILL UNDER BUDGET .
REC CENTER WE HAVE A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS SCHEDULED FOR THIS YEAR. IT IS OUT FOR BID NOW.
RENOVATIONS TO THE MEN'S LOCKER ROOMS WE JUST AT THE WOMEN'S HERE A FEW MONTHS BACK AND ALL THESE PROJECTS ARE SCHEDULED TO GET UNDERWAY SECOND QUARTER. SECOND QUARTER FOR US IS JANUARY THROUGH APRIL OF NEXT CALENDAR YEAR. VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PLAN , WE REPLACE OUR FLEET ON A 10 YEAR ROTATION. THIS IS A $15 MILLION FLEET SO A SCHEDULED ROTATION IS CRITICAL. WE ARE 40% COMPLETE AND EXPECT ALL THE ASSETS WE AFFORDED TO BE IN PLACE BY JUNE OF NEXT YEAR. STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, WE HAVE 850,000 BUDGETED . 10% COMPLETE. WE ARE WORKING ON ESTABLISHING PHASE ONE. WE DO A STRAIGHT SURVEY FOR WE USE AI TO LOOK AT SCANNER STREETS AND DETERMINE WHAT IS PRIORITY FROM OUR PAVING THAT WE HAVE DONE LAST YEAR AND WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE OUR FIRST PHASE OF STREET RESURFACING WITH OUR NEW ASPHALT ZIPPER JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR. STREET OPENING $3.4 MILLION PROJECT . THE TIMELINE JANUARY OF 2024 . THAT IS WHERE WE STARTED TO CRANK OUT DEDICATING DOLLARS TO IT. THE STORM WATER SYSTEM, THE SIDEWALKS TRACK OPENING IS STILL SCHEDULED FROM DECEMBER THE END OF THIS YEAR. WE HEARD THE SIGNAL STATION MAY NOT BE USED UNTIL MARCH OF NEXT YEAR.
YOU CAN'T OPEN THE TRACKS WITHOUT SIGNALS, SO THERE MAY BE A DELAY. WE ARE LOOKING INTO TEMPORARY STIGMATIZATION BUT DEPENDING ON THE COST WE MAY BE PUSHED OUT UNTIL MARCH OF NEXT YEAR BUT WE WILL HAVE A LECTURE -- ALACHUA STREET OPEN. THIS DESIGN IS COMPLETE . IT IS A GRANT PROJECT SENDING IT OUT TO BID HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. MARINA WE HAVE A COUPLE PROJECTS. THIS IS A HIGH-LEVEL VIEW. WE HAVE A WHOLE NUMBER OF PROJECTS TO GET INTO. IT WOULD BE VERY EXHAUSTING YOU KNOW THOSE TOP 50 THAT I SHOWED HER JUST TIER ONE PROJECTS.
THERE'S A LOT WE CAN TALK ABOUT BUT WE ARE JUST HITTING A SAMPLE OF WHAT SOME OF THE TOP VISIBLE ONES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. MARINA DREDGING, THIS IS A $750,000 IN THE QUEUE TO GO OUT FOR BID. WE SHOULD BE GOING OUT FOR BID ON THAT ONE NEXT WEEK. PERMITTING IS COMPLETE AND THAT WORK WILL OCCUR SPRING OF NEXT YEAR AND ALSO UNDERGROUND THERE IN PARKING LOT A IS OUR MARINA FUEL TANK. THAT WILL BE REPLACING THAT TANK HERE. WE'RE GOING OUT FOR BID NOW. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT LEAD TIME WE WILL BE REPLACING THAT TANK HERE NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE SOME BOARDWALK REHABILITATIONS HERE . WE ARE NOT REPLACING THESE
[00:40:08]
STRUCTURES, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE REJECTING SOME OF OUR STRUCTURES. WE ARE RE-DECKING ACCESS 28, 30 ALSO FUNDED THROUGH THE SAND TAX AND THEN WE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FOR THE BEECH STREET BRIDGE. THESE PROJECTS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. WATER METER REPLACEMENT. NOT MUCH TO SEE HERE BECAUSE IT IS LARGELY A KNOT BOX AT YOUR DRIVEWAY DOWN THERE AT THE RUNWAY. THIS IS $840,000 PROJECT UPGRADING AND REPLACING ALL THE WATER METERS , I THINK AROUND 10,000 M IN THE CITY AND OUTSIDE . THE PROJECT IS ABOUT 60% COMPLETE. LOOKS DONE. THIS METER WILL PROVIDE A DIGITAL INTERFACE METER READING GOING BY AND CHECKING IT WILL BECOME A THING OF THE PAST AS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO A COMPLETE READ THROUGH THEIR USAGE SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO IT, AS WELL. WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THE METER? THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THIS SHOULD BE DONE BY SEPTEMBER , OCTOBER OF 2025.THERE ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT FEE STUDY. WE ARE DOING DOWNTOWN CIRCULATION, STALLING THE TASK ON THAT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH WAS OPENED BEFORE WE CAN START EXAMINING THE CIRCULATION TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO PERFORM DIFFERENTLY. ARE SOFTWARE SYSTEM IS CLOSE TO BEING IMPLEMENTED. WE HAVE OUR FDEP ACTION PLAN. ALLIGATOR CREEK WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT, SMALL PRICE TAG BUT BIG EFFECT COMPLETE WITH PERMITTING . THE MID-ISLAND TRAIL PROJECT. B STREET IMPROVEMENTS RIGHT THERE BETWEEN EIGHT AND 10TH STREET AND THE NEXT STEP IS TO WORK ON EXTENDING THAT TRAIL. YOU CAN SEE THE RED DOTS. IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND YOU CAN SEE THAT BIKE TRAIL. WE WILL BRING THAT TO THE DOWNTOWN AND THE RED DOTS THERE TRAIL WORK THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON BRINGING THAT TRAIL DOWN 14TH STREET, AND THAT IS WHERE WE WILL PICK UP AND MEET THEM IN THE MIDDLE SO WHAT WE CONTINUE TO DO HIS WORK IS TO LONG BEACH STREET ALONG CENTRAL PARK THERE, FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TIE IN , CUT OVER TO HICKORY THEN UP TO 14 SO WE WILL HAVE THAT TRAIL IN PLACE HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING AT THE AIRPORT. IF YOU WANT TO DIG INTO THE DETAIL WITH AVIATION WE HAVE A LOT OF BIG THINGS HAPPENING OUT THERE. EVERYTHING YOU CAN SEE COLORED, IS SOME PROJECT THAT IS IN THE PIPELINE. WE HAVE A $2.7 MILLION GRANT-FUNDED PROJECT HERE TO COMPLETELY REHABILITATE TAXIWAY A . THAT IS NEW PAVEMENT, LIGHTING, STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS. THAT PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN VERY SOON AND BE COMPLETED IN APRIL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN EVERY DEPARTMENT BUT A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THE AIRPORT SPECIFICALLY AND THESE ARE A FEW MORE OF THOSE. IF YOU WANT TO DIG IN FURTHER, NATE HAS A PRESENTATION HERE. WE CAN DO THAT OR WE CAN JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER. STAFF HERE CAN MAYBE FIELD ONE.
>> I TELL YOU WHAT, JEREMIAH. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. WE HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH DONE. IT IS OUTSTANDING, THE AMOUNT OF STUFF WE'VE GOT IN THE PIPELINE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE TEAM FOR TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THAT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.
>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SEVENTH STREET? >> SPECIFICALLY --?
>> YOU FINISHED IT AND IT REALLY LOOKS NICE. >> OKAY YES, NORTH SEVENTH STREET. YES, WE DID FINISH NORTH SEVENTH STREET. THAT WAS THE ONE BLOCK IN DOWNTOWN THAT WAS STILL TWO-WAY. THERE WAS NO WAY TO CONVERT ONE WAY. INCREASE TRAFFIC AND DESIRE FOR PARKING WE DID A RE-PAVEMENT OF THAT ONE BLOCK BETWEEN CENTER AND ASH STREET. THE STAKEHOLDERS THERE ARE HAPPY WITH IT AND 25 OR SO PARKING SPOTS IN THAT AREA AND WE DID SOME STORM RANGE IMPROVEMENTS. TAKE A LOOK. IT IS A PAVED ROAD WITH WHITE LINES BUT IT'S A
[00:45:05]
LOT BETTER THAN WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE. WE ADDED THE SIDEWALK TO IMPROVE WORKABILITY THERE SO THERE IS A WHOLE NEW SIDEWALK FROM CENTER STREET . WE WERE FORTUNATE TO WRAP THAT SIDEWALK UP. FORTUNATELY STOPPED RAINING LONG ENOUGH TO PAVED. WE ARE GLAD TO PUT THAT PROJECT IN THE[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]
COMPLETED BOX. >> YOU AND YOUR TEAM SHOULD BE COMMENDED. IT TURNED OUT REALLY
NICE. >> APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT. IT IS 5:45 AND AS EVERYONE HERE KNOWS, WE HAVE ADDED A BRAND-NEW PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION DURING WORKSHOPS LEVEL START BY THANKING THE TWO COMMISSIONERS WHO JOINED ME IN ADDING PUBLIC SPEAKING TO WORKSHOPS. LET'S CALL DOWN DANNY CARRERA. PLEASE START WITH YOUR NAME AND
ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. >> MY NAME IS DANNY FERREIRA. I LIVE 1754 SOUTH 15TH STREET.
THE QUESTION I HAD ON THAT WEATHER EVENTS WAS OF CAPACITY . HAVE WE DECIDED THAT THE ISLAND CAN WITHSTAND A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE BE CONCERTED THAT THE ISLAND IN CERTAIN AREAS OF FLORIDA WOULD BE OUT OF CAPACITY AND ONCE THEY REACH THAT CAPACITY THE INCREASE OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT ON SOUTH 15TH STREET. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSAL IS PREMEDITATED WITH MALICE. NOWHERE IN THE CITY HAS 15TH STREET AND AS EXPOSED AS THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL IS BEING PRESENTED. TO PRESERVE THE COMMERCIAL INTEGRITY OF 14TH STREET AS A BUSINESS AND NOT ALLOW ACCESS TO 15TH STREET, I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY NOT FAMILIAR FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE BUT 15TH STREET ENDS WHEN IT GOES INTO AMELIA PARK AND I KNOW THIS DEVELOPMENT IS THREE PARTIALS. IT HAS 14TH STREET THE INTENTIONS OF BEING IN A COMMERCIAL MIXED APARTMENTS AND MEDICAL BUILDINGS AND THE AREA OF 15TH STREET THERE THAT THEY OWN IS JUST NOT SUITABLE FOR ANY TRAFFIC TO BE USED AS COMMERCIAL USE. I KNOW OF NO OTHER GOVERNMENT-APPROVED NEIGHBORHOOD OF RESIDENTIAL HOMES BEING FORCED TO ACCEPT WHAT IS NOW BEING PROPOSED BY DEVELOPERS WHO SHOW THEIR INTENT TO FORCE THIS TRAFFIC THROUGH AMELIA PARK SO ALREADY ENGINEERED ITS DESIGN FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS AND PRESENTED IT TO THE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD FINAL APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONERS I ASSUME SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE BUT I PROPOSE A PUBLIC SIDEWALK DOWN 15TH STREET FOR PUBLIC COMFORT FOR ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE LIVING THERE INCLUDING THE NEW PROJECTION FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD YET ABSOLUTELY NO ACCESS TO 15TH STREET FROM THS PROJECT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR LIVE LOCAL. YOU GOT TWO AREAS. YOU GOT ONE OVER THERE AT THIRD AND BEECH DOWN HERE IN HISTORIC DISTRICT AND YOU GOT THIS ONE OVER HERE ON 15TH STREET AND BOTH ARE JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE IMPACTING THAT AREA FOR
COMFORT AND RESIDENTIAL USE. >> THANK YOU . I APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY AND AS YOU ALLUDED, THAT DECISION IS NOT COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION YET . IT WILL BE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE AND I'M SURE IT WILL BE A LOT TO CONSIDER WHEN IT DOES.
>> I JUST ALWAYS WANT TO DROP TO THE COMMISSIONERS ATTENTION. >> I APPRECIATE YOU DOING SO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ACTUALLY, I LIKE TO MAKE A CORRECTION TO THAT. THAT PROJECT WILL NEVER COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION BECAUSE THROUGH THE CRT IT DOES NOT
COME TO THE CITY COMMISSION. >> IT WILL NOT BECAUSE OF THE STATE JURISDICTION?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE WERE AFRAID OF. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. SHEILA CODY. COME
ON DOWN. >> SHEILA COOKIE , 1515 INDIGO STREET. I WAS SORRY THAT
[00:50:16]
DIRECTOR COOPER WAS LEAVING BECAUSE I WAS HOPING HE WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER A COUPLE QUESTIONS. I TALKED TO HIM BRIEFLY FOR A MOMENT AND I WILL SET UP A MEETING WITH HIM OUTSIDE OF TONIGHT. BUT, I TOLD HIM I THOUGHT THE CITY DID A GREAT JOB AND WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR LOCAL AGENCIES AS AN AVERAGE CITIZEN. I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT NEED ANY EXTRA SERVICES THAT YOU CAN SEE THE COMMUNICATIONS GOING OUT. YOU CAN SEE THE PEOPLE WORKING ON THE ROADS AND ADDRESSING THE STORMWATER DAMAGES AND IS A NEED TO SHELTER. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO ON HERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO WELL AND ALSO SOMEONE FOR IMPROVEMENT. IT'S DIFFERENT FOR ALL OF US WHO LIVE HERE. WE KNOW THE CHANNELS AND WHERE TO GET INFORMATION ON WHO TO LISTEN TO ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE BRIDGE OR WHATEVER. GOD HELP THESE VISITORS WHO COME HERE AND EVERYBODY HAS A JOKE ON FACEBOOK ABOUT THE BRIDGE CLOSING AND ALL OF THAT. THOSE THINGS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THEY ARE NOT REALIZED SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE COURSE OF COMMUNICATION IS FOR ALL OF THE VISITORS WE HAVE HERE, ESPECIALLY DURING HURRICANE SEASON WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW? I THINK THAT IS A DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TACTIC THAN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. THE OTHER THING I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IS , WE HAD THREE EVENTS BACK TO BACK. ONLY ONE OF THEM I THINK REQUIRED ANY SORT OF EVACUATION BUT WE HAVE A HOMELESS POPULATION HERE WHO ARE OUTSIDE EXPERIENCING THE WEATHER AND THOSE EVENTS PRIOR TO ANYTHING OFFICIAL HAPPENING, AND I MENTIONED TO DIRECTOR COOPER AND WOULD URGE THEM TO WORK WITH COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS AND HAVE THEM AS A LIAISON ON THEIR TEAM OF HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THIS POPULATION WHEN THERE IS A DEVASTATING EVENT LIKE THE FLOODING WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE AND THIS IS GOING ON FOR THREE WEEKS AND THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE PROTOCOL WOULD BE TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL BIOETHANOL PLANT AND WHAT CONVERSATIONS RYAN MAY HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THEM PREVIOUSLY TO START PREPARATION AND PREPARING FOR THESE THINGS ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE LOOKING AT A LONGER-TERM PLAN THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INVOLVE SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE SO I WOULD HOPE THE CITY STAFF AND ALSO THIS BODY WOULD BE -- HAVE AN INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THOSE THINGS WERE ADDRESSED AS THE OPPORTUNITIES ARISE FOR FUNDING AND POLICIES. THANKYOU. >> THANK YOU. TO ADDRESS THAT, JEREMIAH , I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY HAVE THIS COMMUNICATION. WHAT CAN YOU OPEN A HOMELESS OWN IN AN EVACUATION ZONE, PLEASE.
>> WELCOME. MR. BRADLEY BEEN. JACK AMBER 1003 BROOME STREET , FERNANDINA BEACH. ON THE NEW METERS QUESTIONS FOR JEREMIAH , AND THAT IS HOW CAN A HOMEOWNER ACCESS THE METER IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR AN ACCIDENT ALONG SEVENTH STREET THERE WAS DRAINAGE MITIGATION BEING DONE AT THE TIME . MY QUESTION FOR JEREMIAH IS, IS THIS A LONG-TERM PROBLEM, SHORT-TERM PROBLEM, WAS IT JUST DONE DURING THE REIGNS TO GET THE SIDEWALKS IN? I KNOW WHEN F.
REPLACE SIDEWALKS ON ATLANTIC IT CREATED SOME HUGE DRAINAGE ISSUES SO I'M THINKING THIS MIGHT NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED LONG-TERM. THE OTHER ONE IS GOATS. WHAT I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WILL GO ON TO THE NEXT MEETING BUT I NOTICED CONVENIENTLY IT IS NOT ON THE CITY AGENDA. I DON'T KNOW WHY. PROBLEM THERE IS IT WAS KIND OF DONE IN AN UNDERHANDED WAY WITHOUT PEOPLE BEING PROPERLY NOTIFIED, AS FAR AS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASCERTAIN AND WHEN I CALLED THE GOAT PERSON, THE PERSON THAT OWNS THE COMPANY, SHE WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS AN INFORMATION PHONE THAT WAS LISTED ON THE BROCHURE, SO
[00:55:01]
MORE TO COME ON THAT LATER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. JUST IN CASE YOU HADN'T HEARD ABOUT IT , THE GOATS ARE PRETTY COOL. THEY CLEAR OUT OUR CONSERVATION LAND. GO CHECK THAT OUT WHEN YOU GET A SECOND. WE HAVE ONE MORE REQUEST TO SPEAK ON THIS ONE. I HAVE TWO MORE REQUESTS TO SPEAK. WE WILL START WITH GEORGE.
>> NOW >> OKAY. MISS BRIAN PHILLIPS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.