Jan 21, 2025 Regular Meeting

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:10]

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 21 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. PLEASE CALL ROLLCALL?

>> MAYOR ANTUN? VICE MAYOR AYSCUE? COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? COMMISSIONER TUTEN ? MISSION OR POYNTER?

>> THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY COMMISSIONER

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

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR

THE INVOCATION . >> LET US PRAY. OUR FATHER OF GOD, WE HAVE COME TONIGHT, OH LORD, TO TELL YOU THINK YOU FOR LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. IT IS BY YOUR GRACE AND MERCY THAT WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH, AND WE SAY THANK YOU. NOW LORD, TONIGHT WE INVOKE YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS MEETING OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION. TOUCH HEARTS, TOUCH MINES, LORD, AND WE GIVE YOU THE PRAISES, THE HONOR AND THE GLORY, AND THE PEOPLE OF

[4.1 BUDGET SUMMARY - Comptroller Susan Carless will review the December 2024 budget summary and be available to answer any questions.]

GOD SAID-- >> AMEN.

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED. WE WILL START OFF WITH THE PRESENTATION FOR THE BUDGET SUMMARY. MISS SUSAN CARLESS, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION.

>> THANK YOU. >> I TEND TO BE A LITTLE SOFT-SPOKEN. CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY?

>> YOU MIGHT NEED THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE CLOSER.

>> IS THIS BETTER? GREAT. TO START OFF, DECEMBER IS THE THIRD MONTH SO WE SHOULD BE ABOUT 25% INTO OUR BUDGET REPORTING. FOR THE GENERAL FUND, ALL OF THE TRANSFERS THROUGH DECEMBER HAVE BEEN BOOKED. I WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDING SEPARATELY. GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE AT 66.9% OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND THIS IS BECAUSE WE GET MOST OF OUR MONEY UP FRONT AND MOST PEOPLE LIKE TO PAY TO GET THE DISCOUNTS THROUGH DECEMBER. FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, I WANTED TO COMPARE. FOR THE SAME PERIOD IN FY 24, DECEMBER RECEIPTS WERE $12.2 MILLION AND YEAR TO DATE WERE $13.6 MILLION. FOR 23 DECEMBER SEATS WERE $12.5 MILLION AND END OF YEAR $15.5 MILLION. FOR THIS PERIOD FOR DECEMBER 2024 WE WERE AT $12.5 MILLION AND TOTAL YOUR TO DATE , $16.6 MILLION. I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A LOT OF NUMBERS BUT THE ONE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME WAS, ALTHOUGH DECEMBER PERIOD TO PERIOD WAS SIMILAR WE ARE $1 MILLION AHEAD OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SO WE GOT MORE MONEY EARLIER THIS YEAR. BUDGETED TRANSFERS FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND 135 FOUR-LANE CONSERVATION INCREASED BECAUSE THE CITY MATCH -- WE HAD THE ADDITIONAL $25,000 FOR THE DONATED PROPERTY . AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, CLAIM CONSERVATION HAS $237,000 AVAILABLE FOR CONSERVATION PURCHASES. OVERALL, YEAR TO DATE GENERAL FUND EXPENSES ARE BELOW THE MARK NEAR 25%, AT 18.6%. THEY ARE A COUPLE OF DEPARTMENTS A LITTLE OVER AND THAT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE HAVE ANNUAL CONTRACT RENEWALS AND SURFACE AGREEMENTS THAT GET PAID OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY OVER. I STARTED WITH THE BUILDING FUND .

BUILDING FUND REVENUES ARE DOWN AND EXPENDITURES ARE UP . BEING NEW TO THE POSITION I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS BY DESIGN THAT REVENUES ARE ABOUT $100,000 LESS THAN THE SAME PERIOD AND EXPENDITURES ARE ABOUT $100,000 MORE THAN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR THEN THE BUILDING FUND SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT.

FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND , YOUR TO DATE PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT. STRAIGHT PAVING, WE PURCHASED A BUCKET TRUCK AND IT'S THE MILLING MACHINE THAT PULLS UP THE ROADS FOR STREETS ALSO. WALKOVER'S 28 AND 30 HAVE HAD WORK DONE ON THEM AND ARE ALMOST COMPLETE, AT LEAST ONE OF THEM. WE PAID OUT MONEY FOR THE ELEVATOR, AND MLK FOR POOL MODIFICATIONS. THEY EXCEED

[00:05:05]

YEAR-TO-DATE REVENUE AND CASH BALANCE EXCEED EXPENDITURES FOR THE CAPITAL EXPANSION FUND . THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP REVENUE IS $211,000 212 AND IT'S 76.8% OF THE BUDGET SO MOST PEOPLE PAY THEIR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS WHEN THAT RENEWAL PERIOD OPENS AND A LOT OF MONEY COMES IN IN OCTOBER. I WANTED TO COMPARE IT ALSO FOR FY 24 OR FY 23 SO WE COULD SEE THE TREND. LAST YEAR FY 24 FOR THE SAME PERIOD WE WERE AT $220,000 SO WE ARE A LITTLE BEHIND LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE WERE AT 80.1% VERSUS 76.8% OF THE BUDGETED REVENUE. BUT BOTH ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WE WERE IN FY 23. WE WERE AT $151,000 FOR THE SAME PERIOD. THE AIRPORT FUND HAS ENCUMBERED $2.6 MILLION FOR THE REHAB PROJECT AND $135,000 FOR STORM WATER FOR PIPE RELINING.

YOUR TO DATE IN THE AIRPORT, REVENUES EXCEED EXPENDITURES .

ALL OF THE UTILITY DEPARTMENTS, CASH BALANCE EXCEED THE EXPENDITURES SO ALL OF THOSE WERE IN A GOOD STATE. YOUR TO DATE, REVENUES EXCEED EXPENDITURES FOR THE MARINA.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS

CARLESS? >> I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT CONSERVATION BUT YOU ANSWERED IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING.

>> NEXT UP WE HAVE ITEM 5. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON

[4.2 PROJECT UPDATES - Deputy City Manager Jeremiah Glisson will provide an update on current and/or pending projects.]

THE AGENDA . >> PROJECT UPDATES?

>> I'M SORRY, 4.2. WE HAVE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER JEREMIAH

GLISSON . >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON PROJECTS AS WE BEEN DOING THE LAST FEW MEETINGS. WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE DIFFERENT APPROACH AND SHOWS SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE . OKAY, THANK YOU . IS THIS THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT WORKSHEET THAT WE USE OKAY.

THIS IS WHAT WE USE TO TRACK OUR PROJECTS. YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR-CODED PROJECTS WHICH DELINEATE EXACTLY WHAT IS MOVING ALONG. GREEN IS ON TASK, MOVING FORWARD NO ISSUES.

YELLOW WE HAVE A SLOW DOWN FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER AND A STOPPING POINT UNTIL WE CAN SORT OUT FUNDING ISSUES THAT MAY IMPACT THE PROJECT. WHO HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND GRAY IS ON HOLD. WE USE THIS INTERNALLY TO TRACK EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING ON. THESE ARE TIER 1 PROJECTS , ALL SIX-FIGURE , MULTI-DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY FACING PROJECTS . THERE'S A LOT MORE PROJECTS BUT THESE ARE THE TOP 50 REALLY FOR THE ATTENTION THAT IS WORTHY OF YOUR REVIEW. YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT THIS IS HOW YOU SCHEDULE THESE PROJECTS. CAN'T DO ALL OF THESE AT ONCE SO WE SCHEDULE THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND AS YOU CAN SEE FOURTH QUARTER WAS LAST YEAR AND NOT EVERYTHING STARTS AND STOPS RIGHT THERE AT OCTOBER 1, AND THEN WE CARRY THIS ON THROUGH THE YEAR. WE WILL JUST KIND OF REVIEW. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT NEEDS SOME ATTENTION. THIS IS A UTILITIES PROJECT AND ONCE WE FINISH UP THAT WILL SOON FOLLOW. THAT IS FOR GRANT FUNDED , AND TO IMPROVE THE STORM WATER SYSTEMS UNDERNEATH ASH STREET . THAT HAS BEEN ON HOLD UNTIL WE COULD GET THAT PROJECT SORTED OUT. WE ARE WAITING ON THE RESOURCES TO MOVE FORWARD. RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A RESOURCES AVAILABILITY THING. THE NEXT PROJECT IS ON HOLD BECAUSE IT'S A COORDINATED PROJECT WITH THE COUNTY AND SOMETHING THAT WILL LIKELY BE DISCUSSED AT THE JOINT BUSINESS SESSION WITH THE COUNTY. WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT NEXT STEPS WITH THAT. THERE'S ALSO A FUNDING ELEMENT THAT IS MISSING SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT. BEACH STREET TRAILS, NOTHING MORE THAN IT IS ON HOLD UNTIL WE CAN HAVE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THEM. CENTRAL PARK AND COORDINATE THAT TRAIL SYSTEM THAT WILL CONTINUE ALONG BEACH STREET FROM WHERE WE STOP AT

[00:10:01]

WE ARE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT WATERFRONT. THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS ELSEWHERE THAT HINGE ON OTHER PROJECTS BEING COMPLETED SO THOSE ARE TIED TOGETHER. FIRE STATION REMODEL, JUST NEED SOME UPDATES TO IMPROVE LIVING QUARTERS THERE.

THIS IS A COMPLETED PROJECT, EASY AND FUN TO TALK ABOUT. THE MARINA FUEL TANK PROJECT CURRENTLY OUT FOR A BID AND WE SHOULD HAVE THE RESULTS AT THE END OF THIS WEEK. DUE TO THE DELAY OF THE WATERFRONT PARK PROJECT , WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS THOUGH PARK SHUT DOWN FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME . WE WANT TO SLOW THIS A BIT TO WORK WITHIN THE DEMAND OF THE ARENA AS FAR AS THE BOATING SEASON AND DON'T WANT TO -- DOWNTOWN PARKING TERRITORY. WE ARE LOOKING AT 4 TO 6 WEEKS OUT OF COMMISSION SO THAT IS WHY WE'VE SLOWED THAT. THIS HAS BEEN SLOW SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANOTHER PROJECT THAT HAS THE RED LIGHT . RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A HOLDING PATTERN AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL WE GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ON THE ORIGINAL GRANT DOLLARS THAT WERE USED TO PURCHASE THIS LAND BACK IN THE LATE 80S. IT HAS BEEN A BIT OF A CHALLENGE WORKING WITH THESE AGENCIES. WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW IN TALLAHASSEE BUT BECAUSE OF THE STORMS THAT MEETING MIGHT GET POSTPONED. UNTIL WE CAN SORT OUT THIS PROJECT THAT WE CAN'T REALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. PARKING LOT C AND D , WE HAVE A RED LIGHT NOW. HOPEFULLY NEXT MEETING WE CAN TURN THAT TO GREEN AND IT WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU FOR HOPEFULLY FINAL APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WATERFRONT PARK. AND THEN WE WOULD MOVE ON TO THE WATERFRONT RESILIENCY DESIGN, WHICH IS YELLOW RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE DELAYS THAT WE'VE HAD . OF COURSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT THIS EVENING SO WE DON'T NEED TO BELABOR THAT BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND HOPE TO TURN GREEN HERE SOON. WE HAVE FILED FOR THE GRANT EXTENSION FOR THE STATE SENT OVER ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO AND WE ARE EAGER TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT THAT ALLOWS FOR A DESIGN PORTION AND ONCE WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT, ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PORTION , THAT $2 MILLION WOULD FOLLOW. ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS GOING ON AND OTHER THINGS AHEAD OF US. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

>> COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? >> THANK YOU THINK YOU THINK YOU, I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A RED, YELLOW, GREEN REPORT FOR A LONG TIME AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHOW NOT ONLY THE COMMISSION BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE KIND OF WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND THE COMPLEXITY OF

[00:15:09]

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER TUTEN?

>> JEREMIAH, THE BEACH WALK ON NORTH BEACH THAT HAD THE FIRE, IS THAT SMALL ENOUGH TO NOT BE ON HERE?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON. THAT IS A PROJECT AND I AM HAPPY TO SAY ACCESS NUMBER 30 . THERE IT IS.

MONDAY GOT MARKED TO COMPLETED. WELL, YESTERDAY IT JUST GOT MARKED AS COMPLETED SO INSTEAD OF MOVING TO 28, SCOTT HAS HAD THEM MOVE OVER TO ACCESS NUMBER 5 TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS AND THEN ONCE THAT IS COMPLETE WE WILL MOVE BACK TO 28.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF COURSE WE TRY TO STAY NIMBLE. THERE WILL BE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND THINGS THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU DELAY ONE THING OR ANOTHER TO TAKE ON PROJECTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET YEAR AND WE ARE HOPEFUL TO BRING IN ANOTHER BOARDWALK RESURFACING WITH FUNDING WE ARE READY HAVE BUDGETED, RECOGNIZING THAT 28 AND 30 WAS FUNDED BY THE MSTU DOLLARS THAT CAME BACK TO US FROM THE COUNTY. SO THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD ANOTHER BOARDWALK OR TWO IN THIS FISCAL YEAR SO YOU MAY SEE THIS MOVING FORWARD A BIT IN

THE FISCAL YEAR. >> DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THIS POINT. THIS CHART GIVES US AS THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE COMMUNITY AN IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES. TYING INTO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, WHEN YOU ARE BREAKING OUT JUST THE PROJECTS THAT WE THINK WE HAVE GOING ON FOR THE WATERFRONT AND HOW

[5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA OR THE CONSENT AGENDA]

DISCUSSED EARLIER. >> SEEING NO MORE QUESTIONS WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 5, PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'VE GOT A GOOD STACK SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM EVERYBODY. FIRST

UP IS MISS KELLY YATES. >> GOOD EVENING.

>> NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE?

>> YES, THANK YOU. KELLY AND YATES, 670 SPANISH WEIGHT EAST, FERNANDINA BEACH. THIS IS A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE

DISRESPECTFUL CONTACT -- >> HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

>> MISTER POOLE IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND ?

>> THIS IS A COMPLAINT REGARDING DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT THAT WAS SHOWN TO ME AFTER I CAME HERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HARASSMENT FROM COMMISSIONER GENECE MINSHEW , COFOUNDER OF FERNANDINA BEACH PRIDE. AS I WALKED AWAY, MISS MINSHEW AND MISTER POYNTER WERE LAUGHING OVER THE TOPIC. I ALSO WAS SICKENED TO LEARN THAT FERNANDINA BEACH PRIDE HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN INCLUDING -- INCITING HATE AGAINST ME INCLUDING A MAN HOPPING UP AND DOWN ON THE COUCH , TO ME SPEAKING AND BOASTING ABOUT THE MAIL THAT PRIDE SENT TO MY HOME. ALL OF THIS HARASSING ME. THIS SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOR IS ABOARD AND BENEATH THE CONDUCT OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER. THE FACT THAT MISS MINSHEW IS THE LEADER ON THE PRIDE BOARD AT APPROVED CITY EVENTS IS A SERIOUS CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND I ASK CITY MANAGERS TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS UNETHICAL CONDUCT. THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE A MAN IS A WOMAN AND A WOMAN IS A MAN HAVE BEEN SPREADING MISINFORMATION ABOUT ME SUCH AS, I DON'T RESPECTRIGHT TO ASSEMBLE AND HOLD EVENTS . SIMPLY NOT TRUE. I RESPECT FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY. WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE FROM SEXUALLY EXPLICIT, ADULT THEMED EVENTS. WHEN PEOPLE DECIDED TO MAKE A STRIP CLUB AND A SHOP, ID REQUIRED, IT WAS NOT A POLITICAL DECISION, IT WAS COMMON SENSE.

THE DEBAUCHERY WE ARE WITNESSING AT PRIDE EVENTS VIOLATES CHAPTER 847 FLORIDA OBSCENITY LAW. PRIDE HAS BECOME SO HYPER- SEXUALIZED AND DEVIANT THAT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY FEEL DISRESPECTED AND ALIENATED AND ARE JUST AS INSULTED BY WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING. GAYS AGAINST GROOMERS ARE STANDING AGAINST THE SEXUALIZATION OF CHILDREN AND -- FOR I DE-REQUIRE PRIDE EVENTS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

CHILD EXPLOITATION SHOULD NOT BE MOCKED AND I SHOULD NOT BE BULLIED OR THREATENED FOR SPEAKING UP FOR WHAT IS MORALLY RIGHT AND GOOD, THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL PREDATORS. HOLD YOUR HAND UP IF YOU THINK IT'S OKAY TO EXPOSE

[00:20:02]

>> NEXT UP WE HAVE FORMER MAYOR .

>> I LIVE AT 802 PARKVIEW PL. E. 802 PARKVIEW PL. E., FERNANDINA BEACH. WHILE I APPRECIATE MISS YATES USING THIS PLATFORM TO EXPRESS HER AGENDA, EVERY SINGLE CITY COMMISSION MEETING, I HAVE YET TO BE INFORMED AS PART OF THE PUBLIC AND HAVING TO ENDURE THESE HATEFUL WORDS , NO EVIDENCE OF ANY OF THESE THINGS THAT SHE SPEAKS ABOUT AT OUR LOCAL PRIDE EVENT. NOTHING. I HAVE BEEN

>> WE CANNOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE.

>> I HAVE BEEN TO THE PRIDE EVENT EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT IT HAS BEEN HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH. I KNOW THE GROUP EXTENSIVELY WORKS WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT ALL LAWS ARE BEING FOLLOWED, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN OR WITNESSED ANY OF THESE THINGS THAT SHE HAS SPOKEN ABOUT WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK. SO I JUST WANT TO ENTER THAT INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD AND AS A REMINDER, WE HOST MANY EVENTS IN CENTRAL PARK. THE PARK HAS A PLAYGROUND, IT HAS PICKLEBALL COURTS, IT HAS GREEN SPATES, IT HAS TENNIS COURTS.

IT IS FOR KIDS AND ADULTS. IT IS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

EVERYONE THAT LIVES HERE. WE HAVE A BEER FESTIVAL THERE. WE ARE LITERALLY BRINGING A BAR THAT IS ID REQUIRED TO A PARK BECAUSE IT IS FOR EVERYONE. SO I AM GOING TO KEEP SAYING IT EVERY TIME. THERE IS 0 EVIDENCE OF THESE THINGS BEING HELD IN THE PARK AND I WOULD LOVE IT IF SOMEONE WITH -- WOULD PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST OF THEIR HAVE BEEN POLICE REPORTS MADE OF SUCH ACCUSATIONS THAT SHE IS SAYING DURING THE PRIDE EVENTS HERE. SO, IT'S A WONDERFUL, ENJOYABLE FESTIVAL. IF IT'S NOT YOUR BAG, STAY HOME FOR THE DAY. OTHERWISE, JOIN THE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE THEY ARE SPREADING LOVE INOUR COMMUNITY AND SAYING THAT EVERYONE HAS A SPACE HERE AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME. SO CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH LOVE, MY FRIENDS.

>> NEXT WE HAVE JENNY. >> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

1605 HIGHLANDS BEACH FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA. I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE SINCE 2022. THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING TIME THIS WEEK TO SPEAK WITH ME AND DISCUSS THE WATERFRONT PARK. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE INCLUSION OF A PLAYGROUND IN THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK AS WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE AT THE 2023 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING, OUR COMMITTEE REACHED A UNANIMOUS CONSENSUS IN SUPPORT OF A WATERFRONT PARK WITH THE INCLUSION OF FIVE KEY ELEMENTS. A BAND SHELL OR MULTI-USE PAVILION, SIDEWALKS, RESTROOMS, SHAPE, AND A TRADITIONAL PLAYGROUND. THESE ELEMENTS WERE PRESENTED TO THE PREVIOUS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND APPROVED AS PART OF THE FINAL PLANS FOR THE WATERFRONT PARK. ELIMINATING ALL ELEMENTS THAT CATER TO CHILDREN DOES NOT FEEL LIKE AN INCLUSIVE DECISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR 33 YEARS. I GREW UP HERE AND I AM RAISING MY OWN CHILDREN. I TRULY VALUE WITH OUR INCREDIBLE DOWNTOWN OFFERS. ADDING A PLAYGROUND WOULD CREATE A MULTI GENERATIONAL SPACE THAT FOSTERS CONNECTIONS ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS AND WOULD ENCOURAGE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND FAMILIES TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND STRENGTHEN THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT EVERYONE HERE CHERISHES. I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT REGARDING FUNDING TO REVIEW THE CURRENT BALANCE AND IMPACT FEES AVAILABLE TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLOCATE FUNDING ORIGINALLY BUDGETED FOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DEFERRED AND ARE NO LONGER SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS YEAR AS WE ALREADY LOOKED. . THE CITY CONTINUES TO GENERATE IMPACT FEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHICH CAN THEN BE PUT BACK INTO THE BUDGET FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BREAK GROUND AT A LATER DATE. I URGE EACH OF YOU TO RECONSIDER THE DECISION TO EXCLUDE A PLAY

[00:25:03]

THE PRESENCE OF SOME PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT, AND I KNOW THERE WERE QUITE A FEW WANTED TO COME BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER AND WERE SCRAMBLING FOR ALL OF THAT, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS EMAILS THAT I BELIEVE MANY OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED UNDERSCORES HOW IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE IS TO OUR COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE PLAYGROUND BE INCLUDED IN THE WATERFRONT PARK DISCUSSION AT THE UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 4 TO ALLOW FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THIS MATTER. THINK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND IS BOTH A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO INSIST IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN TO ENSURE THAT THE WATERFRONT PARK HE COMES A SPACE THAT IS ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE INCLUDING OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS WHO PROBABLY CANNOT COME UP HERE AND SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I AM WILLING TO WORK WITH THE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO HELP WITH ANY CONCERNS THAT WERE ADDRESSED SUCH AS WHAT THE ACTUAL STRUCTURE IS TO GET SOMETHING

DOWNTOWN FOR ALL OF THEM. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. RICCIARDO, MAGNOLIA WAS COURT.

IT IS A FACT THAT THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING AND INDISPUTABLE , YET TO THIS DAY , MEMBERS OF THE FLAT EARTH SOCIETY VIGOROUSLY AND ABSURDLY CLAIM THAT IT'S FLAT. SO WHAT IS MY POINT? A SIMILAR COMPARISON CAN BE MADE WITH THE APPLICATION TO BUILD A NEW ETHANOL CHEMICAL PLANT AT THEIR SITE. WHY? BECAUSE IT IS ALSO A FACT THAT IF CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING AND REFINING ARE CLEAR AND USED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, IT IS ALSO A FACT THAT THERE IS NO CHEMICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BIOETHANOL AND ETHANOL. IT IS THE SAME CHEMICAL. THE PREFIX BIO IS SIMPLY USED TO DENOTE THAT A CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS IS FERMENTATION. A WELL ACCEPTED SUBCATEGORY OF CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING AGAIN.

JUST LIKE THE FLAT EARTH FOLKS, RYAN'S ASSERTIONS ARE EQUALLY ABSURD BECAUSE THEIR PROPOSAL ENTAILS MANUFACTURING AND REFINING OF A NEW INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL AT THEIR SITE USING WELL-KNOWN CHEMICAL PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENT. THEREFORE, THE PERMIT APPLICATION SHOULD BE DENIED BECAUSE IT IS CLEARLY PROHIBITED BY OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

SOME FOLKS SPECULATE THAT THEY LIED TO THE CITY OF THEIR APPLICATION IS DENIED SO FOR THE CITY COMMISSION, CITY STAFF AND CITY MANAGER TO EVALUATE WHAT MIGHT OCCUR BUT DON'T LET ATTORNEYS BULLY YOU LIKE THEY DID TO THE RESIDENT WHO WITHDREW THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING PETITION. RYAN MIGHT PRODUCE SO-CALLED WITNESSES REMINISCENT OF THE FLAT EARTH FOLKS WITH SMOKE AND MIRROR ARGUMENTS , BUT THE CONCLUSION WILL NOT CHANGE. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND ALL OF YOU OF THE AFFIDAVITS SIGNED BY THE CONSULTANT, A LICENSED CHEMICAL ENGINEER AND THEIR OWN PROJECT DIRECTOR IN THE AIR PERMIT APPLICATIONS. THOSE AFFIDAVITS CLEARLY STATE SIGNED AND SEALED THAT THE PROCESS IS CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING, ALTHOUGH ATTORNEYS ARE TRYING TO WALK BACK THOSE STATEMENTS. IN MY OPINION, ANY REASONABLE JUDGE IS UNLIKELY TO IGNORE THOSE AFFIDAVITS, PLUS THE THE INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN CHEMICAL ENGINEERS ET CETERA . THE FACTS ARE ON YOUR SIDE. BASED ON ALLEGATIONS OF THE ERRONEOUS AFFIDAVITS THE JUDGE MAY EVEN QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF THE AIR PERMIT SO WHERE DO WE STAND? MAYBE WE NEED TO REVIEW IT AGAIN AND THEY MAY CONCLUDE

--. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NEXT UP WE HAVE MISTER GEORGE MILLER.

>> GOOD EVENING COMMISSION, MAYOR. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE

I'VE BEEN HERE. >> NAME AND ADDRESS?

>> GEORGE MILLER, 1445 SADLER. I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT KELLY YATES MENTIONED EARLIER. I'VE KIND OF BEEN LOOKING AT THIS EVENT FROM AFAR AND I DO SEE SOME PROBLEMS. I REALIZE THERE ARE VARIOUS OPINIONS ON THE PRIDE GROUP AND THE

[00:30:03]

IT IS ILLEGAL TO IMPERSONATE SOMEONE AND MAKE IT SEEM LIKE SOMEONE IS SENDING SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVEN'T. SO YOU MAY WANT TO RECONSIDER THAT STRATEGY OF PRETENDING DONATIONS WERE MADE ON HER BEHALF AND THEN SENDING HER THANK YOU LETTERS WHICH IS KIND OF SNARKY, ACTUALLY. SOME SAY THAT THE EVENTS SHOULD JUST GO ON WITH NO PROBLEM, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE. SOME SAY THEY SHOULD BE 18 + AND PROOF SHOULD BE CHECKED, LIKE AT A BAR. SOME SAY THAT DISCRETION SHOULD BE USED BY THE CITY AND WHERE THEY STAGE EVENTS. SOME SAY THAT DISCRETION SHOULD BE MADE BY PRIDE WHO HAVE THE EVENTS.AS TO SEXUALIZATION, I'VE BEEN TO TWO OF THE EVENTS AND REPORTED ON THEM SO MY OPINIONS ARE IN WRITING. I WOULD SAY THERE IS DEFINITELY SEXUALIZATION. I DID NOT SEE AXA BEING PERFORMED ON THE GRASS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT THE MESSAGE WAS STRONG. I DO BELIEVE THERE WAS GROOMING IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE BOOTHS DESIGNED TO APPEAL WITH CHILDREN WITH THE LITTLE RAINBOW THINGS IN THE PAINTINGS AND PEOPLE GOING AROUND HAVING CONVERSATIONS. THOSE ARE DESIGNED TO NORMALIZE THOSE THINGS FOR KIDS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE. WHAT IS DONE BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS IS FINE BUT TO TRY TO NORMALIZE IT AND PUBLICIZE IT AND GO AROUND PARENTS AND GO AROUND CHURCHES, PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I THINK THAT ALL OPINIONS SHOULD BE RESPECTFULLY HEARD AND I RESPECTFULLY LISTEN TO THOSE THAT DISAGREE WITH ME .

IN THE PAST QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN OUT OR WRITTEN ABOUT THESE THINGS. MISS YATES HAS BEEN PERSISTENT AND YOUR REACTION IS PROBABLY INAPPROPRIATE. I WOULD NOT TAKE HER APPROACH MYSELF, AND YOU'VE SEEN HOW I'VE HANDLED IT IN THE PAST. I'VE SPOKEN RESPECTFULLY, PUBLISHED AND BEEN ON TELEVISON ABOUT IT AND MY POSITION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN HERS. BUT THE WAY THAT THE COMMISSION AND PRIDE HAVE HANDLED IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES, REALLY. PARTICULARLY SOMEONE WHO IS A COMMISSIONER, A PRIDE FOUNDER AND AN ACCOMPLISHED BUSINESSWOMAN IN HER OWN RIGHT, AND A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN ALSO WHO IS VERY WELL RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO BEHAVE TO RESIDENTS WHEN THEY COME TO SPEAK AND THERE'S DISAGREEMENT . THE WHOLE IDEA OF TRYING TO CANCEL SOMEONE WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO IS A BORE AND TO ME PERSONALLY. I WOULD NOT TRY TO DO TO YOU. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE LGBT PEOPLE-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NEXT UP WE HAVE DREW? I HOPE WE GOT THAT RIGHT.

>> 1741 NABER ST. I AM THE ACTING PRESIDENT AND WANT TO TALK ABOUT LIVE LOCAL AND I WANT THREE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE COMMISSION. THE FIRST ONE IS TO CONSIDER OPTING OUT OF THE TAX INCENTIVES. WHEN A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND DEVELOPS A PROJECT THEY GET TAX EXEMPTIONS ON THE PROPERTY. BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, WE ALL HAVE TO PAY THE TAXES FOR THE POLICE, THE FIRE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SO FORTH, AND THE COMMISSION CAN OPT OUT OF THE TAX EXEMPTION. IT'S CLEAR THAT THE CENTER FOR HOUSING ALLOWS FERNANDINA BEACH AND NASSAU COUNTY HAS OPTED OUT AND IT WOULD BE LOW HANGING FRUIT TO MOVE THE CITY AWAY FROM LIVE LOCAL RULINGS THAT ARE GOING TO FORCE OUR COMMUNITY. I DID LOOK AT YOUR 2045 VISION AND ONE OF THOSE IS LIVABILITY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TONIGHT TO PASS A RESOLUTION TO OPT OUT OF THE TAX INCENTIVES TO THEN BE VOTED ON AT A FUTURE CITY COMMISSION MEETING . AND, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DO THAT. THE SECOND POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT 40% OF UNITS HAVE TO BE RENTED WITH A 30 - YEAR COMPLIANCE. OUR CITY HAS TO WATCH OVER THAT COMPLIANCE OF THAT THIRTY-YEAR AFFORDABILITY COMMITMENT. WHERE HAVE I EVER HEARD ANYONE SPEAK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TO MONITOR 30 YEARS OF COMPLIANCE OF AFFORDABILITY? YOU CAN'T JUST SELL UNITS. YOU HAVE TO RENT THEM FOR 30 YEARS.

40% OF UNITS. YOU CAN SELL 60%, SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE WE

[00:35:06]

MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. >> NEXT UP WE HAVE MISS MARIAN PHILLIPS AND I SEE TWO SHEETS BUT IN ORDER TO BE CONSISTENT ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH EVERYTHING IN YOUR THREE

MINUTES? I THINK I CAN. >> MARIAN PHILLIPS, 724 S.

SIXTH I THINK I CAN. >> MARIAN PHILLIPS, 724 S. 6TH ST. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS THAT I HAD SENT EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS AN EMAIL AFTER THE LAST CITY COMMISSION MEETING BECAUSE OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED HERE WITH THE FIRING OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. I ASKED EACH OF YOU AND ONLY THREE HAD REPLIED TO ME, SO TWO DID NOT, ABOUT THIS CITY GETTING AN INSPECTOR GENERAL TO GO OVER EVERYTHING IN THIS CITY . WITH NOT HAVING A CITY ATTORNEY AND YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN, MISTER POOLE WHO IS EXCELLENT BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO BE PERMANENT, AND THE COMPTROLLER WAS GONE. SHE'S WORKING AT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE CITY HAS PUT IN THIS OTHER LADY. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ALL OF HER CREDENTIALS, BUT I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY AND THE TAXPAYERS IF WE GOT AN INSPECTOR GENERAL IN HERE AND WENT OVER EVERYTHING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THAT IS WHAT I AM PUTTING TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW ALL OF THIS WAS DONE, I'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH BUT I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE YOU.

THREE OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE AGREED WITH ME AND TWO DID NOT RESPOND. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS ABOUT PARKING. I KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE COMING BEFORE YOU BUT I AM PUTTING IT INTO THE AIR RIGHT NOW. I AM AGAINST PAID PARKING. I'VE ALREADY HAD A DISCUSSION WITH ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT PAID PARKING. THIS WAS DONE YEARS AGO. IF YOU WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALKS , YOU WILL SEE WHERE THE POLLS WERE CUT OFF. PAID PARKING DOESN'T WORK. LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, IT IS NOT WELCOMING. THERE WAS THE NOTION THAT THIS WOULD LOWER OUR TAXES. THAT IS NOT TRUE. I AM SAYING THAT IN A NICE WAY, THAT IS NOT TRUE. I AM TOTALLY AGAINST PAID PARKING AT THE BEACH, AS WELL. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ON MY WATCH. ALL OF THIS PAID PARKING MESS THAT PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT, PEOPLE KNOW THAT WHEN I START INTO SOMETHING, I DON'T BACK OFF. I AM AGAINST IT AND I WILL FIGHT IT AND I HAVE PEOPLE I AM RALLYING RIGHT NOW AGAINST PAID PARKING IN THE CITY AND AT OUR BEACHES. I PAY ENOUGH CITY AND COUNTY TAX. YEAH, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE COMING HERE. WELL WE KEEP ADVERTISING FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP COMING. SOMEBODY WAS TELLING ME TODAY ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE, I GUY AT WORK TELLING ME HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE STARTED COMING HERE SINCE THE 80S AND SET I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THAT IS. I SAID I CAN TELL YOU WHY.

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE ADVERTISEMENT. COME TO BEAUTIFUL AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH. AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND I LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO COME HERE, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE CHARGING PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY I DON'T GO TO SAINT AUGUSTINE. I LOVE IT THERE AND I LOVE TO EAT THERE.

AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT MONEY IN A METER AND WARY IF I'M GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS RESTAURANT IN TIME. AND I DON'T LIKE DEBIT CARDS AND CREDIT CARDS. THANK YOU.

>> NEXT UP WE HAVE CHARLES NOLTE .

>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I LIKE TO

SHARE MY VIEWS ON THE PLANT. >> NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN FLORIDA AND MOVED TO AMELIA ISLAND 2014. I AM A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF

[00:40:03]

DURING MY CAREER I WORKED ON A LOT OF COMMERCIAL PROJECTS . MY LAST ONE THAT I WORKED ON WAS THE GENERATION 2 ETHANOL PLANT WHICH IS SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS TO WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING TO DO HERE. THE TECHNOLOGY IS QUITE COMPLICATED. THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING -- USING DIFFERENT FEEDSTOCK. DUPONT USED CORN BYPRODUCTS. THIS WILL USE-- BYPRODUCTS. DUPONT SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON RESEARCH, 220 + MILLION DOLLARS ON THE PLANT ITSELF, AND THEN BECAUSE OF FLUCTUATING OIL PRICES AND SUCH THEY SOLD THE PLANT IN 2017, I BELIEVE. TO ECHO COMMENTS STATED EARLIER, I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT ETHANOL IS A CHEMICAL. YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITION FROM THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY AND A CHEMICAL IS ANY SUBSTANCE WITH A DEFINED SUBS -- COMPOSITION MEANING IT'S ALWAYS MADE OF THE SAME ELEMENTS OR ATOMS. PRODUCED BY FERMENTATION OR OTHER MEANS ALWAYS COMPOSES TWO HYDROGEN, -- TWO CARBON, TWO HYDROGEN AND ONE OXYGEN.

THEREFORE ETHANOL IS A CHEMICAL REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU MAKE IT.

A MAJOR CHALLENGE WILL BE THE WATER MAIN. ONE ETHANOL PLANT USES 3 TO 6 GALLONS OF WATER PER GALLON OF ETHANOL TO PRODUCE. IT WILL BE MUCH HIGHER FOR A GENERATION 2 PLANT BECAUSE THE FERMENTATION STEP HAS TO BE MUCH MORE DILUTED SO THAT MORE WATER IS ACQUIRED. I DO HAVE A PICTURE. THIS IS THE PLANT THAT DUPONT BUILT AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LET YOU ALL LOOK AT IT. IT IS QUITE LARGE AND WHILE THE PLANT HERE WILL BE LOWER VOLUME, THE FOOTPRINT WILL NOT BE PROPORTIONALLY LOWER BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ROOM FOR ACCESS FOR CONSTRUCTION, ACCESS FOR MAINTENANCE, AND SO ON. I GUESS IN SUMMARY , ABSOLUTELY ETHANOL IS A CHEMICAL. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY THAT REALLY UNDERSTANDS IT THAT WOULD SAY OTHERWISE. BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES LIKE AS WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER. AIR PERMITS AND I AM EVEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WATER PERMITS AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL FLAMMABLE MATERIALS. THANK YOU.

>> NEXT UP WE HAVE DOG. >> 524 TARPON AVE., FERNANDINA BEACH. LINEUP THE CHEMICAL ENGINEERS. I HAVE A BACHELORS AND MASTERS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND I WORKED AT A CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING PLANT FOR 34 YEARS. ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF OUR PROCESS WAS DISTILLATION. I AM FAIRLY FAMILIAR WITH THAT. SHORT, SAME THING FROM MY EXPERIENCE, THIS IS A CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING PLANT, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. THE SECOND PART OF THAT , AND IN RYAM 'S LONG LETTER THEY SAID THEY WERE USING A PHYSICAL PROCESS FOR DISTILLATION. IT'S NOT. DISTILLATION IS A CHEMICAL PROCESS. YOU ARE USING PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURES TO SEPARATE DIFFERENT BOILING POINTS.

ETHANOL IS 173°F WITH A FLASHPOINT 57°F WHICH MAKES IT A CLASS I FLAMMABLE . SO YOU ARE SEPARATING THE ETHANOL TO THE TOP WITH WATER AND OTHER CONFLUENCE TO THE BOTTOM. IT IS DEFINITELY A PHYSICAL PROCESS ON THE OTHER HAND JUST SEPARATING SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS WITH A FILTER. THAT IS WHAT THEY CLAIMED IN THEIR REPLIES. ANOTHER POINT I HAVE IS RYAM'S APPLICATION , THE BRIEF THAT I READ, NO. I'LL GIVE YOU A SIMPLE EXAMPLE. YOU'VE ALL HEARD 7.5 MILLION GALLONS IS GOING TO TAKE THREE TRUCKLOADS PER DAY. THAT DOESN'T DO THE MATH. IT TAKES 7.5 MILLION POUNDS, 7.5 MILLION GALLONS, 5000 GALLONS TO A TRUCK , 365 DAYS, THAT IS 4.1 TRUCKS PER DAY. WE'VE NEVER USED TRUCKS TO TRANSPORT FLAMMABLES. A

[00:45:03]

>> 31 S. 5TH ST., FERNANDINA BEACH FLORIDA, HOME OF THE OLYMPIAN BO BENSON. TIME FOR SOME GOOD NEWS. WE HAVE THREE GIRLS FROM FERNANDINA BEACH GO ALL THE WAY TO ARIZONA TO COMPETE IN THE CASTLE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, WHICH IS CALIFORNIA AMATEUR SKATE LEAGUE. COCO WALDO, PRIMROSE WALDO AND CANDACE HAUSER. COCO WALDO TOOK FIRST PLACE IN ADVANCED WERT. SHE TOOK THIRD PLACE IN ADVANCED BOWL AND TOOK THIRD PLACE IN ADVANCED STREET . CANDACE HAUSER TOOK SECOND PLACE IN ADVANCED BOWL AND TOOK THIRD PLACE IN ADVANCED VERT. I KNOW YOU GUYS PROBABLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT IT IS IN THE OLYMPICS. AND WE HAD ONE FROM FERNANDINA , AS YOU KNOW.

BO PENSON . THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. AND THE NEXT THING IS THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE THEM A FACILITY THAT THEY CAN TRAIN AT INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO TO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, TO TRAIN. WE DON'T SAY THAT TO BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND FOOTBALL PLAYERS. TENNIS, ANYBODY ELSE, GO TO JACKSONVILLE AND TRAIN.

WE CAN BUILD THEM A PROPER FACILITY WITH THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF AREA THAT WE HAVE. SPEAKING OF THAT WE DO HAVE A MEETING ON MONDAY WITH THE GROUP WHO IS PUTTING THE DESIGN CONCEPT TOGETHER AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH A NICE, PRETTY PICTURE TO PRESENT TO YOU GUYS ON WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE OUT THERE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK TO , I HAVE TO FIND MY GLASSES, I KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN HERE SOMEWHERE.

PROBABLY ON MY NECK. ANYWAY -- THERE WE GO. I'VE GOT TIME. 55 SECONDS, LET'S DO THIS. WE ARE MEETING MONDAY FOR THE UPDATES . I WANT TO CONGRATULATE CHAIR MOUNTJOY AND AGREE WITH HER ON A PLAYGROUND FOR KIDS. FORMER MAYOR LENZ, YOU SAID IT CORRECTLY, WE LEAD WITH LOVE. MISTER DOUG , RICARDO, AND CHARLES. WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT RYAM, I TRUST WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. MISS MAYOR, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS A GREAT IDEA. MISS JILL YATES, YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SPEAK AND I APPRECIATE YOU CAN COME UP HERE AND SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY UNDER THAT FLAG AND EVEN THOUGH I DON'T AGREE YOU DO HAVE THE RIGHT. MISTER MILLER , LETTERS COME FROM DONATIONS JUST FOR -- JUST LIKE FOR ALL NONPROFITS AND WE SENT THANK YOU'S TO ALL OF THEM WITH A LATER THANKING THEM FOR DONATIONS TO FRIENDS

OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK. >> NEXT UP WE HAVE MISTER

JACKSON. >> JACK EMBER, 1003 BROOME ST.

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, KNOWN AS NONE LOOKS ICEBOX -- NONE TOOK

'S ICEBOX. >> A QUICK NEWS , AS IT TURNS OUT, PERSONAL CLEANSING WIPES ALSO KNOWN AS BABY WIPES NEVER HAVE BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE FLUSHABLE. SO SAYS EVERY SINGLE

[00:50:01]

MISSES BEING, I LOVE Y'ALL . >> NEXT UP IS THIS IS

FINKELSTEIN. >> LISA FINKELSTEIN, 492 STAR BOARD LANDING. I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE PLAY AREA AT THE WATERFRONT. I KNOW THAT IT CAME UP FOR DISCUSSION BEFORE BUT THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A PLAN THAT CAME OUT OF THE CRA ADVISORY BOARD AND ORIGINALLY WHAT WAS PLANNED TO GO INTO THAT SPACE WAS A PIECE OF PLAY EQUIPMENT THAT WAS SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN OF MANY AGES . YOU SAW IN THE PLANS, THAT IS SUITABLE FOR AGES 5 TO 12. IT IS ALSO ADA COMPLIANT AND ACCESSIBLE FOR KIDS WITH VARYING ABILITIES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THAT AND TO PROVIDE AN ACTIVITY AND A PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO BE IS ADJACENT TO THE PICNIC AREA. IT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE MULTI-USE PAVILION AREA AND WOULD BE SUITABLE IF THERE IS A FAMILY PARTY OR SOME OTHER ACTIVITY HAPPENING. THE COST IS HIGHER THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT AND I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED AS WELL. THE EQUIPMENT ITSELF IS ABOUT 50% OF THE COST THAT WAS QUOTED IN THE ESTIMATE. THE SURFACE AREA NEEDS TO BE PREPARED AND NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED SO IT IS EXPENSIVE BUT TO PULL IT OUT AND LEAVE A BLANK SPACE AND NOT PROVIDE A DESIGNATED ACT AREA-- ACTIVITY AREA FOR KIDS IT WOULD FEEL LIKE IT'S ON FINISH AND WOULD WE EVER GO BACK AND FINISH IT? I THINK NOT. A PROJECT UNDER ONE FUNDING SOURCE AND I THINK THE TIME TO DO IT IS THE TIME THAT WE CONSTRUCT IT. I ALSO AGREE WITH JENNY THAT THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS JUST LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER TONIGHT IN THE WORKSHOP WHERE WE HAVE A GENEROUS DONATION THAT IS GOING TO HELP SUPPORT THE NEW TREES THAT ARE BEING PLANTED TOWARD THE RAILROAD. I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH SOME OF OUR ROTARY CLUBS AND POSSIBLY MAIN STREET AND TALK ABOUT SOME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN AREA. COULD ALSO BE A NAMING OPPORTUNITY. THE CITY DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK TO THOSE OPTIONS WHEN WE ARE LOOKING TO FUND SOMETHING. A FAMILY OR A GROUP OR AN ORGANIZATION MAY WANT THEIR NAME ON IT WITH A LITTLE PLAQUE AND BE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUNDING.

BEFORE WE COMPLETELY ELIMINATE IT WE SHOULD LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS, IF COST IS THE CONCERN. I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT BACK UP AND BRING YOU THE BACKGROUND ON HOW WE GOT TO

HAVING THAT IN THE PLAN. >> THANK YOU.

>> >> I AM LIKING MY NEW KNEE .

AND COME UP TO THE PODIUM A LITTLE FASTER. PAUL LORI, 11 S.

7TH ST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR ALWAYS LISTENING. I KNOW THAT IT MEANS A LOT TO EVERYBODY. I AM HERE ON A COUPLE OF SUBJECTS. THE FIRST ONE THAT I THINK NEEDS A BIT OF ATTENTION THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD IN COMMUNITY CONVERSATION, AND I PROBABLY JUST RECOGNIZE IT A LITTLE MORE SINCE I SPEND MORE TIME DOWNTOWN SINCE I HAVE A HOUSE DOWNTOWN , I THINK SOME OF OUR STREETS MAY HAVE A LITTLE -- MAY NEED A LITTLE ATTENTION AS FAR AS THE WAY WE HAVE STRUCTURED SOME OF OUR PARKING. WHEN THEY COME OUT OF SEVENTH STREET COMING ON TO ASH , AT TIMES WHEN IT GETS CROWDED AND PARKING DOWN THE STREET, IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS. TURNING OUT OF THE STREET YOU REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS. ONE PARKED VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING DOWN, JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON. IT'S A HUGE

[00:55:02]

IT'S KIND OF ICONIC FOR OUR TOWN. WHEN THOSE THINGS GO AWAY THEY ARE AWAY FOREVER AND WE WILL JUST NEVER GET THAT BACK.

HOPEFULLY THAT GETS PRESERVED. I AM UP HERE TODAY IS JUST A PLAYER AND NOTHING ELSE. THE ONE THING THAT IS BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THE TALK, I CAN GRAB A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AND GO DOWN TO CENTRAL PARK , NOT EVEN IN THE COURTS BUT I CAN PLAY ON THE GRASS. IT IS THE BEAUTY OF PETANQUE , IT IS AN INTERCHANGEABLE COMMUNITY GAME AND I LOVE WHAT WAS OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE IT TOOK TENSION DOWN BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PETANQUE CLUB BECAUSE IT SHOULD NEVER EXIST, BUT PETANQUE CAN BE PLAYED ANYWHERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

TIME. >> NEXT UP?

>> 50-50 INDIGO STREET. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT AGAIN, REMIND PEOPLE THAT WHEN YOU DONATE TO AN ORGANIZATION YOU GET A NICE LITTLE THANK YOU LETTER ACKNOWLEDGING THE DONATION THAT WAS MADE IN YOUR HONOR. I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DONATIONS THAT I HAVE MADE IN HONOR OF MY GRANDFATHER WITH ARTHRITIS AND I GET A THANK YOU NOTE FROM THE ORGANIZATION. UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT, MISS YATES CAN SAVE AND SHE SAYS AND EVERY TIME SHE DOES WE WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE MONEY. WE'VE RAISED $3000 FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FERNANDINA BEACH PRIDE THAT HELPS SUPPORT CHILDREN WHO GO BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND IT SERVES A LOT OF PEOPLE. WWW.FERNANDINA

BEACH PRIDE.COM. >> THAT IS ALL THE SHEETS THAT I HAVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. ANYONE

ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? >> MICHAEL SHARP, 130 -- STREET. I WAS UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO ATTEND LAST WEEK'S MEETING LIKE MANY OF US AS WE WORK FOR PART OF THE DAY.

MISTER BARTEL BROUGHT UP THE WATERFRONT TO DISCUSS IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA AND WENT INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM PARKING SPACES ALLOWED ACCORDING TO LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SPACES ALLOWED IS 63. HE THEN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PLAN ENDORSED HAS 74 PARKING SPOTS AND VIOLATES THE LDC. HE GOES ON TO EXPLAIN THAT THE CRAB CAN ENDORSE THE COMPROMISED PLAN WITH TOO MANY PARKING SPACES . IT WOULD BE-- TO ACCOMMODATE FOR MORE PARKING. IT'S OKAY TO VIOLATE WITH A PLAN THAT THEY ENDORSE BUT IT'S NOT OKAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A COMPROMISE PLAN THAT WAS AGREED TO BY THE PETANQUE CLUB PRESIDENT. AFTER TAXPAYERS PAID $56,000 TO REFURBISH CENTRAL PARK COURTS.

MISTER ABBOTT SAID THE PRIMARY VENUE FOR YEAR-ROUND CLUB PLAY WILL BE AT CENTRAL PARK. DURING THE PROCESS THE PETANQUE CLUB CAN USE THE GRAVEL PARKING AREA OR THE NEW PARKING LOTS IN C AND D FOR NATIONAL OR WORLD QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS AND THE AMELIA OPEN HELD EACH NOVEMBER. THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. THEY DECIDED TO PROCEED TO ENDORSE THE PREVIOUS DEVICE A PLAN FOR

[01:00:01]

>> ANY OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 6.

[6. CONSENT AGENDA]

>> I LIKE TO RECONVENE FOR OUR JANUARY 21 MEETING AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO ITEM 6, OUR CONSENT AGENDA. DO ANY COMMISSIONERS WISH TO PULL AN ITEM OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, DO I HEAR A VOTE?

>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND A COMMISSIONER DISCUSSIONS? MISS

BEST , PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? YES.

[7.1 POLICY AMENDMENT - CEREMONIAL DOCUMENTS POLICY, GUIDELINES, AND APPLICATION - RESOLUTION 2024-248 AMENDING RESOLUTION 2021-200 CEREMONIAL DOCUMENTS POLICY, GUIDELINES, AND APPLICATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Amending the Ceremonial Documents Policy, Guidelines, and Application by removing Ceremonial Document presentations, including Proclamations, from City Commission Regular Meeting agendas and proceedings. The City Commission, at their December 17, 2024,Regular Meeting, requested this matter be postponed to their January 21, 2025, Regular Meeting agenda for consideration.]

>> WE HAVE 7.1, THE POLICY AMENDMENT FOR CEREMONIAL

DOCUMENTS . >> MISS BEST IS GOING TO SPEAK

TO THIS ONE. >> THIS IS BEFORE YOU DO TO THE DIRECTION THAT STAFF RECEIVED IN DECEMBER, I BELIEVE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT IS REPORTED FOR REVISIONS FOR THE CEREMONIAL DOCUMENTS POLICIES PROCEDURES AND ADAPTATION SPECIFICALLY TO ELIMINATE PROCLAMATIONS FROM THE CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING . STAFF RECOMMEND A COUPLE OF OPTIONS . DO NOTHING, SO SOMEONE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND SOMEONE CAN SECOND THAT FOR DISCUSSION AND IF YOU DETERMINE THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE POLICY YOU WILL VOTE NO WHICH MEANS THE ORIGINAL ENABLING RESOLUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT AS WRITTEN. YOU CAN AMEND THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS WILL BE ISSUED OUTSIDE OF CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS, WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE HERE IN CHAMBERS ARE MATTERS RELATED TO LOCAL RECOGNITIONS FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND , SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAYS, SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE WOULD ISSUE REQUESTS FOR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MATTERS BUT THOSE WOULD BE ISSUED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU, MISS BEST. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES AND COMPROMISE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION HERE . I BELIEVE WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE HAVE OUR VOTE. I HAVE TWO SPEAKERS. MISS SHEILA?

>> SHEILA, 1553 INDIGO ST. >> SHEILA, 1553 INDIGO ST. I'VE TALKED WITH YOU BEFORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE PROCLAMATIONS. I FELT LIKE IT WAS DONE IN HASTE, IT WAS DONE IN RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER MAY BE A CONTROVERSIAL PROCLAMATION WAS MADE , AND I WANT TO BACK THIS UP A LITTLE

[01:05:01]

THE SHRIMP FESTIVAL, PRIDE DID ONE, THE SKATE PARK DID ONE, THERE'S BEEN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ONES UP THERE. IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT IT WAS COSTLY TO PUT THESE BANNERS UP AND MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT ANY MORE, EXCEPT FOR A SELECT FEW. SO OUR BOARD QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE WAYS TO GO AHEAD AND COVER THAT COST SO IT IS NOT COSTLY TO THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO USE THOSE BANNERS CAN PAID TO DO SO, AND IT IS A 0 COST TO THE CITY. BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO-- SO I PULLED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST ABOUT THE BANNERS AND TRIED TO FIND OUT SOME INFORMATION. WHAT I FOUND IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST WAS AN EMAIL FROM THE MAYOR TO A CITIZEN AND I WILL READ THIS TO YOU IN JUST A MOMENT. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PRIDE BANNERS BEING DOWN CTR., STREET AND THE MAYOR'S RESPONSE WAS THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMAIL. I WAS ALSO SURPRISED BY THIS. IN TALKING TO CITY STAFF WE HAS REALIZED THE FLAGPOLES ARE BASICALLY AVAILABLE TO RENT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I AGREE WITH AND HAVE ASKED THEM TO CHANGE THE POLICY. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GO DOWN MEMORY LANE A LITTLE BIT . A PREVIOUS COMMISSION , MAYOR MILLARD DECIDED TO FLY THE PRIDE FLAG AND THE RESPONSE TO THAT WAS TO HAVE A FLAG ORDINANCE. THEN WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CHAMBERS SUPPORTING THE PRIDE FESTIVAL AND NOW WE ARE MOVING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE END OF THE MEETING. THEN WE HAVE A TRANSGENDER PROCLAMATION AND NOW WE WANT TO GET RID OF PROCLAMATIONS. WITH THIS EMAIL AND ANOTHER CHOICE THAT'S GOING TO COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION OF ACCEPTING A POLICY, I WOULD DARESAY THAT WE ARE IN A PATTERN HERE OF DISCRIMINATION, AND I THINK AT THE VERY MINIMUM, WE ARE AT RISK OF A LAWSUIT FROM SOMEONE OR AN ORGANIZATION IN THIS PATTERN. I THINK YOU ARE FIXING SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE FIXED. WE ARE ALL PLEDGING THIS FLAG WHEN WE SIT HERE EVERY WEEK AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THAT REPRESENTS. I THINK THIS IS NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR OUR

CITY. THANK YOU. >> NEXT UP?

>> 31 S. FIFTH >> 31 S. 5TH ST. AND AGAIN THANK YOU FOR HAVING US IN HERE IN THIS HALLOWED GROUND WHERE YOU GUYS SIT UP THERE. I THINK IT'S A SACRED PLACE, I THINK HAVING OUR ORGANIZATION, FRIENDS OF FERNANDINA SKATE PARK RECEIVE RECOGNITION IN FRONT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT SKATEBOARDING, ABOUT THE 10TH ANNUAL TERRY KELLY SKATE COMPETITION. IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO GET A PROCLAMATION UP HERE. ALSO, TO OUR HISPANIC HERITAGE FOOD FESTIVAL , IT WAS FANTASTIC THAT WE GOT A PROCLAMATION UP HERE AND SOME OF OUR LOCAL LATINOS CAME OUT AND WE GOT A PICTURE WITH THE MAYOR. ALL OF THAT IS ALWAYS A GREAT FEELING FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. I HEARD ABOUT THE EMILY'S PROMISE WHERE THE MAYOR HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES GIVING OUT THIS PROCLAMATION. I LOOKED INTO THE PROCLAMATION AND JUST, SUCH GREAT WORDS WERE SAID. EMILY'S PROMISE, WHAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT IS , A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF EMILY ATKINS. I NEVER MET HER. I KNOW THAT SHE PASSED AWAY THREE YEARS AGO. IT IS THERE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF BLOOD CLOTS, PULMONARY EMBOLISM'S AND ANKLE FRACTURES. ALONG WITH PROMOTING KINDNESS AS A COMMUNITY VALUE .

I WAS ABLE TO REACH OUT TO DOUG ATKINS AND JANET ATKINS WHO IS OUR SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION BECAUSE OF THAT PROCLAMATION. I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THAT BEFORE AND IT TOUCHED MY HEART . WHEN I HEARD THAT THEY WANT TO BRING AWARENESS TO ANKLE

[01:10:01]

SO, WE HAVE THE VERY FIRST ANNUAL EMILY'S PROMISE SKATE JAM FOR MAY 8 AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PROCLAMATION THAT WAS READ UP HERE. THE TEARS IN THE EYES OF THE MAYOR TALKING ABOUT THIS. IT HIT ME HARD AND I WANT TO BRING AWARENESS TO OUR SKATING COMMUNITY AND TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GO OUT AND SEE SOME REALLY GOOD SKATEBOARDING LOCALLY. I AGREE WITH MISS SHEILA ON THE WHOLE BANNER THING . OUR NONPROFIT JUST WANTS TO GET BANNERS OUT THERE. AND AGAIN, THESE PROCLAMATIONS ARE A SACRED THING. IT REALLY IS, TO BE IN HERE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS AND IN FRONT OF THE FLAG AND IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING. EMILY'S PROMISE, YOU KNOW? YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT A. I HEARD IT. I NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE AND IT HIT ME HARD. I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE HITTING CITIZENS HARD WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN JUST WATCH THE VIDEO AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT REALLY HURTS YOU. I WANT YOU GUYS TO

VOTE NO AND DO NOT AMEND THIS. >> I HAVE ONE MORE REQUEST TO

SPEAK. MISTER PAUL LORI? >> 11 S. 7TH ST., FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA. AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE ON TOPICS. SOMETIMES WHEN I READ THE AGENDA FOR THE EVENING I REALLY NEVER KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING , SO IT'S KIND OF COOL JUST SITTING BACK HERE NOW AND IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE THE PROCLAMATIONS , WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO JUST SAY GOODBYE TO THEM HERE AT THE MEETING. IMA NOSTALGIA DUDE. I LOVE SMALLTIME COMMUNITY MESSAGES AND , I KNOW THAT IT'S A LONG DAY FOR YOU ALL. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL WORK AND YOU ARE AVID IN THE COMMUNITY AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD SAVE SPACE OR WHATEVER THE REASON MAY BE, IT DOESN'T MATTER. FOR ME THE REASON TO KEEP THEM ON IS REALLY JUST THE MULTIPLICITY TO CELEBRATE THIS COMMUNITY. WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, IT WAS SOME OF THE THINGS I REALLY DUG THE MOST, COMING IN HERE AND SEEING THIS GOVERNMENT, THIS BODY OF GOVERNMENT CELEBRATE THEIR CITIZENS. WHAT A GREAT STAGE TO DO IT, AND YOU CAN DO IT BOTH WAYS. I CAN'T IMAGINE MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE A MOMENT. YOU WILL HAVE TO BE SPOT ON WITH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE YOU ARE KIND OF TAKING SOMETHING AWAY. FOR ME AS AN AVID SIEVE IS CITIZEN IF YOU DON'T SEE ME AT THE MEETING I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THIS, I AM WATCHING THE VIDEO HEARING THE WORDS AND WHAT IS MOVING EAST WEST NORTH AND SOUTH. THOSE PROCLAMATIONS ARE JUST NEAT THINGS. SOMEBODY TONIGHT BROUGHT UP THE NOSTALGIA . I MISS THE MAYOR. I MISS CHARLIE, I'M GOING TO MISS TAMMY. SO MUCH CHANGE. JUST STOP IT AND CELEBRATE EACH OTHER AND I WILL TELL YOU AS AN AVID COMMUNITY MEMBER, SURFING, PADDLING, ROWING , PETANQUE. THOSE ARE JUST GREAT ORGANIZATIONS. THE ONLY WAY THAT I KNEW ABOUT THEM WAS SITTING OUT HERE WATCHING THE VIDEOS, MEETING MEMBERS IN THE CITY AND OUT AT THE RESTAURANTS. AND THERE ARE SO MANY GROUPS TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE. DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> ONE MORE SPEAKER WE HAVE IS JULIE FERRERA.

>> GOOD EVENING. 501 DATE ST. I JUST WANTED TO MIRROR SOME OF THE THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID TONIGHT. I THINK THAT THE PROCLAMATION CELEBRATES SMALL-TOWN VALUES AND GIVES RECOGNITION. I WAS IN THE AUDIENCE WHEN YOU ALL MADE THAT DECISION BEFORE. I THINK THIS IS A NICE TIME TO REVERSE THAT . I PERSONALLY HAVE PUT IN A LOT OF WORK WITH AMERICA'S YOUTH , AND THAT'S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT DOES GREAT WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. VERY FEW PEOPLE ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT LET'S JUST SAY WE WANTED TO GIVE AMERICA'S YOUTH A PROCLAMATION AND THE DECISION THAT YOU MADE THAT NIGHT WAS

[01:15:04]

IT'S IMPORTANT, THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. I SEE NO MORE REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. DO I HEAR A MOTION? AND TO CLARIFY, A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS POLICY REMOVES THE CEREMONIAL DOCUMENTS. NO MOTION LEAVES IT AS IT WAS AND AN AMENDED MOTION COULD CREATE A HYPER APPROACH.

>> SO IF WE WANT TO LEAVE IT THE SAME WE DO NOTHING? WE

DON'T EVEN MAKE A MOTION? >> CORRECT.

>> CAN WE HAVE DISCUSSION ON IT? I KNOW THAT IT'S OUT OF

ORDER. >> SURE. GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WE CAN TALK.

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? VICE MAYOR.

>> SO WE HAVE IT IN FRONT OF US , AND IT'S A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD DOCUMENT. IT IS VERY, VERY SIMPLE. LET'S TAKE THIS. CEREMONIAL DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE ISSUED WHEN THE REQUEST PROMOTES A CAMPAIGN, IDEOLOGY, POLITICAL. REQUEST FOR A COMMERCIAL NONPROFIT, REQUEST CONFLICTS WITH FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED MONTHS, WEEKS, AND DAYS OF OBSERVANCE. THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE NEED TO ZONE IN ON. I WAS ABLE TO DO ARBOR DAY LAST FRIDAY. I READ A PROCLAMATION. THAT IS A PROCLAMATION THAT PER THIS SHOULD NOT EXIST AT ALL. OUR DOCUMENT SAYS WE SHOULDN'T DO IT, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO IT. SO THIS IS THE WAY THAT I LOOK AT IT. I AM ADVOCATING FOR US TO FOLLOW THIS DOCUMENT.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO DO AND HERE'S THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE-- AND I AM NOT SAYING THESE COMMISSIONERS BUT IN THE PAST WE HAVE SEEN THAT IF A COMMISSIONER HAS-- LET'S SAY I HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND THAT PASSED AWAY FROM BREAST CANCER AND I SAY YOU KNOW WHAT? I WANT THAT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH READ IN CHAMBERS AND I GET IT PUT ON THE AGENDA AND I READ IT. THAT IS WHAT'S WRONG. WE JUST KEEP DOING THAT. IF WE WOULD STOP DOING THAT, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MOST OF THESE. THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO GET, THE SKATE PARK WILL STILL GET READ, EMILY ATKINS IS STILL GOING TO GET READ. ALL OF THOSE SPECIAL ONES ARE STILL GOING TO GET READY HERE IN CHAMBERS. IT'S THE OTHER ONES THAT AREN'T. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE NOT DOING.

WE AREN'T FOLLOWING THIS POLICY. IF YOU FOLLOW THE POLICY 90% OF THEM GO OUT OF CHAMBERS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, IT WAS REALLY KIND OF NEAT TO HAVE ARBOR DAY READ OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBERS SO I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THEM BEING PRODUCED AND THEN ASSIGNED TO A PARTICULAR COMMISSIONER OR MAYOR OR VICE MAYOR AND THEY GET READ OUTSIDE THE CHAMBERS BECAUSE THEY DON'T FALL WITHIN THAT. I'M FINE WITH THAT . THAT'S FINE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FOLLOW THIS POLICY AND ALL OF THIS GOES AWAY. THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO. SO FOR ME I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WANT TO GET FROM LETTER A TO B BUT AT A MINIMUM I WOULD RATHER FOLLOW THE POLICY AND BE DONE WITH IT AND THAT MAKES IT EASY. THAT'S WHERE I GO ON

THAT. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

COMMISSIONER POYNTER? >> I AGREE AND FOR CONSIDERATION CITY CLERK DOES PREPARE THEM WHEN PEOPLE ASK.

IT JUST WOULD NOT BE READ HERE. >> COMMISSIONER TUTEN?

>> I AGREE. IF WE HAVE A POLICY LET'S FOLLOW IT. CAN I GET CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THE VICE MAYOR IS SPEAKING ABOUT THAT THE REQUEST CONFLICTS WITH FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED DAYS OF OBSERVANCE? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THAT WOULD MEAN OF ITS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE IT ON A LOCAL LEVER -- A LOCAL

[01:20:07]

>> BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEING NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, WE DON'T NEED TO DO IT LOCALLY. OKAY.

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER TUTEN. AND TO KIND OF REFOCUS, I THINK THE PURPOSE WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN A PROCLAMATION IS READY HERE THAT IT MEANS SOMETHING. THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID WHEN FOUR, FIVE, OR SIX HAVE A MEETING. IT TENDS TO DILUTE THAT AND I WANT TO BE APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT THE CITIZENS ARE SAYING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID WHEN A PROCLAMATION IS READY HERE BUT ESPECIALLY HAVING DONE SO AT THE MLK BREAKFAST IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED TO READ THAT THERE. I HEAR YOU IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, COMPROMISE THE KEYWORD. IF WE CAN COMPROMISE AND ESPECIALLY FOLLOW A POLICY THAT WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING ON PAPER , WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE OR TO CHANGE THE POLICY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>> YES, SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE TALKED WITH ME ABOUT THE VALUE AND TALKING ABOUT THE CROSS-POLLINATION OF THE EMILY ATKINS AND SKATE PARK , ONE SMALL PROCLAMATIONS ARE READ HERE IN CHAMBERS , IT DOES REMIND YOU OF THE SMALL COMMUNITY AND THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN YOUR SMALL COMMUNITY. AND IT DOES OPEN AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING FOR THE GROUPS THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF IT WAS ONLY BROUGHT TO WHERE THEY ARE TO BE READ. THEIR PEOPLE ARE ALREADY THERE.

I COMPLETELY AGREE IT'S NICE TO GO AND DO THEM AND SHOULD AND COULD BE DONE WHEN POSSIBLE, BUT I DO ALSO HAVE THAT -- THINK THAT READING PROCLAMATIONS AT THE LOCAL

LEVEL HAS TREMENDOUS VALUE. >> SO WE WOULD STILL BE READING THE PROCLAMATION FOR THIS. THAT WOULD STILL HAPPEN. THE GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY THAT PLACED SEVENTH OR WHATEVER IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, THOSE ARE STILL BEING READ . THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE WOULD READ HERE. WE ARE JUST NOT READING ALL THE OTHER ONES THAT HAPPEN TO COINCIDE WITH EVERY OTHER NATIONAL DAY AND EVENT AND THAT'S WHAT THE POLICY WAS WRITTEN. YOU ARE PROBABLY ONLY GOING TO GET ONE OR TWO A MONTH AND IT MAKES IT EASIER. I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE GOOD ONES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN THE CHAMBERS. THE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM THAT HAD A STATE CHAMPION. ABSOLUTELY THOSE NEED TO COME IN HERE. I COMPLETELY AGREE. BUT THE OTHER ONES, ARBOR DAY, MLK IS A GREAT ONE AS WELL. I HAVE SEEN THEM OUT AND WELL RECEIVED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHERE THOSE EVENTS SHOULD BE TAKING PLACE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE STILL BEING PRODUCED . OR IF WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE

ANYTHING AND LEAVE IT ALONE-- >> MOTION TO APPROVE, MOTION TO AMEND SO THAT IT WILL AMEND THIS RESOLUTION TO NOTE THAT PROCLAMATIONS THAT ARE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARE ISSUED OR PRESENTED OUTSIDE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS.

>> SO MOVED. >> WE ALREADY HAD A MOTION ON

THE FLOOR. >> I CAN HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO WHAT MISS BEST SAID, OR I CAN TRY TO ARTICULATE IT MYSELF. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EVENTS, DAYS, AND MONTHS WOULD STILL BE PRODUCED BUT WOULD BE READ

OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBERS. >> COMMISSIONER MINSHEW?

>> I WAS TRYING TO GET A CLARIFICATION AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ONE THAT THE MAYOR DID ON SATURDAY. BASED ON THE CURRENT PROCEDURES THAT RECOGNIZED MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY WHICH IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY, THAT MEANS

YOU WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT. >> I STILL WOULD HAVE CREATED THE PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION AND WOULD HAVE INFORMED THEM THAT IT WOULD NOT BE PRESENTED HERE IN CHAMBERS.

AND WHERE IS YOUR EVENT ? ONE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD BE ECSTATIC TO BE THERE AND PRESENT IT .

>> IT SAYS CEREMONIAL DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE ISSUED --

>> RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS RIGHT NOW .

>> WHICH MEANS RIGHT NOW WE WOULD NOT HAVE DONE THE MLK

[01:25:04]

ONE. >> SO THE EXISTING POLICY WAS ADOPTED IN 2021 AND SINCE THE ADOPTION, THE ELECTED BODY HAS NOT FOLLOWED THE POLICY THAT WAS ADOPTED. SO YES, AT THE BEHEST OF ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO I REPORT DIRECTLY TO , TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE THESE DOCUMENTS . I WORK AT YOUR PLEASURE AND I'M TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION.

>> MY POINT IS , BY FOLLOWING THE CURRENT POLICY , WHICH IS YOUR SUGGESTION, LIKE THE MLK ONE --

>> WHAT THEY ARE SAYING NOW IS THAT -- THAT IS THE AMENDMENT.

>> SO THAT THERE'S NATIONAL RECOGNITIONS AND RECOGNIZING NATIONAL THINGS. THEY WILL BE ISSUED BUT THEY WILL NOT PRETTY PRESENTED HERE IN CHAMBERS. THEY WILL BE MAILED TO EVENT ORGANIZERS IF THEY SO CHOOSE OR I WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BE IN ATTENDANCE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION AT AN EVENT. IT JUST REMOVES NATIONAL RECOGNITIONS FROM THESE PROCEEDINGS AS AMENDED.

>> I AM AMENDED THE MOTION. >> AND I SECONDED IT.

>> SO MOTION AND A SECOND. VICE MAYOR YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON.

>> FOR PROCEDURAL PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE OR AFTER A VOTE

-- >> IT IS AT YOUR PLEASURE.

>> MAYOR WE CAN REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. COME ON UP.

>> THANK YOU. I JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS AS Y'ALL WERE DISCUSSING. TO BE CLEAR, CAROLINE, YOU WOULD BE THE GATEKEEPER SO YOU WOULD BE ENSURING THAT THE POLICY-- ME AS A NONPROFIT WOULD SEND TO YOU AND YOU WOULD ENSURE THE POLICY-- YOU WOULD BE THE YES OR NO. THE GATEKEEPER. WHAT ITEMS, AS I LOOK OVER THIS POLICY, IT SAYS CEREMONIAL DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE ISSUED WHEN THE REQUEST IS A SUBJECTIVE STATEMENT OF IDEOLOGY. SO LIKE , WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND -- IT MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE

GATEKEEPER OF THAT? >> THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE IN OFFICE AND WE HAD A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION THAT APPROACHED US THAT WANTED A PROCLAMATION AND YOU AND I CONFERRED PRIVATELY ?

>> OH GOD I DON'T REMEMBER. >> WE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS BEST NOT TO BRING RELIGION INTO THE GOVERNMENT . SO YES, I DO

MAKE JUDGMENT CALLS. >> WHAT IF SOMETHING COMES UP? IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE THINGS SO TONIGHT YOU CAN ALSO, AS WAS SAID, YOU CAN AMEND THINGS HERE THAT YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH BECAUSE JUST AS VICE MAYOR AYSCUE SAID, ARBOR DAY. I JUST THINK THESE THINGS WOULD BE GOOD TO RECOGNIZE. I KNOW THEY CAN BE RECOGNIZED OUTSIDE

OF THE COMMUNITY-- >> KEEP THEM GOING.

>> I DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT. I'VE TALKED WITH FOUR OF FIVE OF YOU ABOUT PROCLAMATIONS AND AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS MY COLLEAGUES DID NOT DISCUSS WAS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE TO HEAR THE PROCLAMATION HAD NEVER BEEN TO CITY HALL. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME ENGAGED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SO WHILE WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT BENEFITS THE NONPROFITS, IT BENEFITS US AS A COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY ARE ENGAGING HERE IN CHAMBERS. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING ME OUT OF

ORDER. I APPRECIATED. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND . VICE MAYOR IF YOU DON'T MIND--

>> PLEASE COME ON UP. NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMISSIONS BEFORE THE AGENDA ITEM, THANK YOU.

>> 1313 HICKORY. I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT BUT THIS IS TURNED INTO REALLY A BAG OF WORMS. I DON'T SEE WHAT THE BIG PROBLEM WAS. THE VICE MAYOR MAKES A GOOD POINT. IT'S WHEN IT BECOMES AN INDIVIDUAL THING THAT YOU WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ONE PERSON, IT'S A DIFFERENT THING. BUT IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL TO LET PEOPLE COME UP AND DO WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO . FOR YOU KNOW, VETERANS DAY, THE MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY, SPORTS

[01:30:02]

THE ISSUE WITH THE FLAG BECAME THAT WE HAVE TO DO EQUAL RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE. SO WHEN THAT FLAG WAS FLOWN THE NEXT DAY, I GOT A CALL THAT SOMEONE WANTED TO FLY THE FLAG. THAT'S THE REASON YOU HAVE RULES BUT YOU WANT TO LEAVE PROCLAMATIONS AS OPEN AS YOU CAN AND CONTROL IT A LITTLE BIT. THANK YOU. I DIDN'T MEAN

TO INTERRUPT. >> WE HAVE OUR MOTION AND A

SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> VICE MAYOR AYSCUE? YES.

COMMISSIONER POYNTER? YES. COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? NO.

[7.2 ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT - CITY ATTORNEY PRO TEM - RESOLUTION 2025-14 APPOINTING HARRISON POOLE AS CITY ATTORNEY PRO TEM TO TEMPORARILY EXECUTE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves the appointment of Harrison Poole to serve as City Attorney pro tem in accordance with City Charter Section 31.]

>> THAT ITEM PASSES. AND ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR OUR MAYOR PRO TEM. I DIDN'T MEAN TO LEAD YOU WIN LIKE THAT.

LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY. THIS WOULD APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF HARRISON POOLE TO SERVE AS CITY ATTORNEY PRO TEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHARTER SECTION 31. WE REACHED OUT TO HIM BECAUSE OF HIS LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE HISTORY OF THE FIRM OF HELPING THE CITY IN THE PAST. HE HAS PROVIDED A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT AND AN HOURLY RATE. HE HAS ABOUT 10 HOURS A WEEK TO ASSIST THE CITY IN ADDITION TO ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND THIS IS REALLY A TEMPORARY SITUATION FOR HIM. HE HAS GIVEN US A DEADLINE THAT WE CAN'T GO BEYOND SO I DON'T THINK WE WILL COME ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT IF WE MOVE THE SEARCH PROCESS FORWARD BUT WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENT.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION, MISTER POOLE JUST FOR PUBLIC RECORD ? FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US. DO YOU INTEND TO APPLY FOR THE OPEN

POSITION? >> I DO NOT.

>> OKAY THAT'S ALL I WANTED. >> SO THERE WILL BE NO LOBBYING WITH ANY OF YOU. THIS IS JUST TO ALLOW BUSINESS TO CONTINUE IN THE TEMPORARY AND WHILE I'VE GOT A MOMENT I NOTICED THAT COMMISSIONER MINSHEW DURING OUR MEETING SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING AND RUNNING FAST AND HARD. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO FOR FINDING A REPLACEMENT FOR A

FULL-TIME CITY ATTORNEY. >>

>> BUT I HAVE BUDGETED TIME TO HELP THE CITY CONDUCT ESSENTIAL BUSINESS BUT THE EXPECTATION IS THAT YOU WILL RUN FAST AND HARD FINDING A COMPETENT REPLACEMENT.

>> THANK YOU, MISTER POOLE. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE APPRECIATE YOU. DO I HEAR A MOTION?

>> SECOND. >> ANY COMMISSION OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

>> DID YOU MAKE THE MOTION? >> COMMISSIONER POYNTER?

[7.3 SINGLE SOURCE VENDOR APPROVAL - PURCHASE APPROVAL - BUDGET TRANSFER - FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANY - RESOLUTION 2025-15 APPROVING FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANY AS A SINGLE SOURCE VENDOR FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF TWENTY-FOUR POLES AT THE FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF COURSE DRIVING RANGE AND BUDGET TRANSFER; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves Florida Public Utilities Company as the Single Source vendor for the purchase and installation of twenty-two Fernandina Beach Golf Club Driving Range poles damaged by Hurricane Helene and the installation of two new poles, in an amount not to exceed $120,000.]

AYSCUE? MAYOR ANTUN? >> SINGLE SOURCE VENDOR

APPROVAL . >> THIS WOULD APPROVE FPU TO BE THE SOLE SOURCE VENDOR FOR PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF 24 POLES TO BE INSTALLED AT THE DRIVING RANGE. THESE WERE DAMAGED IN HURRICANE HELENE AND IN ADDITION, TWO NEW POLLS TO EXTEND THE EASTERN BOUNDARY FURTHER TO THE SOUTH IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $120,000 . A GOOD PORTION OF THIS, $114,000 WILL BE REIMBURSED BY INSURANCE AND THAT YOUR NEXT MEETING WE WILL HAVE A SECOND PHASE TO TALK ABOUT THE NETTING WHICH IS UNDER MY AUTHORITY BUT WE NEED TO DO A BUDGET TRANSFER ON THAT ITEM. THIS IS THE FIRST PART GETTING THEM ORDERED.

THERE HAS BEEN A 60 DAY LEAD TIME TO GET THEM SO WE WOULD LIKE TO START ON THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> I KNOW THAT IF MISTER-- WAS HERE HE WOULD ECHO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GOLFERS READY TO SEE THAT DRIVING RANGE BACK UP.

[01:35:04]

>> I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO FPU.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE INSTALL AND CARRY AWAY THE OLD

ONES AS WELL. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I

HEAR A MOTION? >> MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION

225 - 15. >> DO I HEAR A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> ANY COMMISSION OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? COMMISSIONER POYNTER? COMMISSIONER TUTEN? VICE MAYOR

AYSCUE? MAYOR ANTUN ? >> THAT PASSES 5 - 0. ONTO 7.4,

[7.4 AWARD OF INVITATION TO BID 25-02 - BRANCE DIVERSIFIED INC. - RESOLUTION 2025-16 AWARDING INVITATION TO BID 25-02 FOR MAINTENANCE DREDGING AND DISPOSAL OF SEDIMENTS FROM THE FERNANDINA HARBOR MARINA SOUTHERN BASIN TO BRANCE DIVERSIFIED INC. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $980,000; APPROVING A BUDGET AMENDMENT, AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Awards ITB 25-02 to Brance Diversified Inc. for Fernandina Harbor Marina dredging in the total amount of $980,000, of which $365,000 will be paid for from a Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) grant.]

AWARD OF INVITATION TO BID . >> THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M GOING TO HAVE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER JEREMIAH GLISSON SPEAK ON THE

NEXT TWO ITEMS. >> FOR INVITATION TO BID 25 - 02 THIS IS FOR BRANCE DIVERSIFIED INC. FOR MAINTENANCE DREDGING OF CERTAIN IN THE AMOUNT OF $980,000 IN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FROM MARINA RESERVES WILL HELP FUND THIS PROJECT. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, COMMISSIONER

TUTEN? >> JUST A QUESTION FOR THE PUBLIC WHO MAY NOT BE LOOKING AT THIS -- GIANT AGENDA PACKET.

THIS WAS -- THE ONLY OTHER BID WAS $6.5 MILLION, SO SEVEN TIMES HIGHER. DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHY THEY ARE SO DIFFERENT?

>> WE DO. BRANCE DIVERSIFIED OWN THE ISLAND ON TOP OF THE BRIDGE. YOU CAN LOOK DOWN AND SEE A BIG POOL OF MUCK .

BECAUSE THEY OWN THE SITE THEY DETERMINE WHO OWNS THOSE MATERIALS AND THAT'S WHY THE PRICE DISCREPANCY.

>> THEN MY MIND IS RUNNING TO THE LAST DUTY STATION AND THE LOCAL LANDFILL WAS GETTING READY TO CLOSE. SOMEDAY WHEN BRANCE CANNOT TAKE ANY MORE , WILL WE BE FORCED -- WILL DREDGING GO UP TO LIKE $7 MILLION?

>> THERE IS NO INDICATION ANY TIME SOON. WE ARE WORKING ON THE PERMIT FOR THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR DREDGING PERMIT SO NO INDICATION THAT THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE US ANY PROBLEMS ANY TIME SOON. OF COURSE WE ARE LOOKING AT ANY OPTIONS.

INJECTION DREDGING AND OTHER THINGS AS FAR AS THE SEDIMENTATION THAT WE HAVE REQUIRING DREDGING EVERY 18 HAVE BEEN 24 MONTHS. A LOT OF THINGS FACTOR INTO THIS.

THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT AND WE ARE CONSIDERING THAT.

>> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE DO I

HEAR A MOTION? >> MOVED TO APPROVE 2025 - 16.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. >> ANY FURTHER COMMISSION OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WE HAVE $335,000 BEING COVERED BY A GRANT SO WE ARE REALLY PAYING 60% OF THE BILL HERE AS A CITY BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IF WE CAN FIX THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

>> COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? COMMISSIONER POYNTER?

[7.5 AWARD OF INVITATION TO BID 25-03 - FLORIDA RESTORATION AND CONSTRUCTION, LLC - RESOLUTION 2025-17 AWARDING INVITATION TO BID 25-03 TO FLORIDA RESTORATION AND CONSTRUCTION, LLC FOR THE ATLANTIC AVENUE RECREATION CENTER JOAN BEAN AUDITORIUM WINDOW REPLACEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $70,000.00; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves the award of Invitation to Bid (ITB) 25-03 to Florida Restoration and Construction, LLC for the Atlantic Avenue Recreation Center Joan Bean Auditorium window replacement in an amount $66,144.00 with a contingency of $3,856.00 not to exceed $70,000.00.]

>> THAT PASSES 5 - 0. INVITATION TO BID FOR FLORIDA

RESTORATION AND CONSTRUCTION. >> INVITATION TO BID , RESTORATION CONSTRUCTION 2025 - 17. THIS WILL AWARD THE REPLACEMENT OF WINDOWS AND THE AUDITORIUM AND ADMIN BUILDING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $70,000. STAFF RECOMMENDS

APPROVAL. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS ON

THIS ITEM? >> JUST TO KEEP THE PUBLIC AWARE THAT THE ATLANTA RECREATION CENTER SITS IN A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD ZONE, CORRECT? SO RENOVATION , THE STATE IS THE 50% RULE BUT WE HAVE A 30% RULE SO WE CANNOT RENOVATE MORE THAN 30% OF THE VALUE.

>> AND DUE TO FUNDING AS WE SPREAD THE COST WE HAVE PHASES OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. THESE WINDOWS ARE GOING INTO

[01:40:08]

IMPROVEMENTS. >> IT'S GREAT. I USE THE REC CENTER , WELL NOT AS MUCH AS I SHOULD BUT IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT LOCATION. I CAN WALK TO IT AND IT'S GREAT. THE WOMEN'S BATHROOM AND THE POOL AREA ARE FANTASTIC. BUT MAYBE SOMEDAY A FUTURE COMMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THAT BUILDING? JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE. 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS FROM NOW , SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAYBE HAPPEN . I AM STIRRING THE POT.

>> I WILL GO OFF OF THAT. IF MS. PHILLIPS IS HERE IT'S NOT

GOING TO HAPPEN WHILE SHE IS. >> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR 7.5? DO I HEAR A MOTION?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> DO I HEAR A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

>> COMMISSIONER POYNTER? COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? VICE

[8. CITY MANAGER REPORTS]

>> WE ARE ON TO CITY MANAGER REPORTS.

>> REALLY JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER , THE BIG STORM SYSTEM IS JUST OVER TALLAHASSEE RIGHT NOW SO WE EXPECT IT TO HEAD THIS WAY VERY SOON. NASSAU COUNTY HAS CLOSED SCHOOLS TOMORROW, CLOSED GOVERNMENT OFFICES , STATE OFFICES ARE CLOSED . WASTE MANAGEMENT IS DELAYED BY ONE DAY AND CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST NOON. I WILL REEVALUATE WHAT THE ACTUAL CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND LOOK LIKE AND WE MAY REOPEN AT NOON IF WE HAVE POWER LINES DOWN OR AN INABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO WORK. BUT THE SHELTER OPENED AT 3:00 O'CLOCK TODAY AND WILL REMAIN OPEN AT LEAST UNTIL FRIDAY MORNING AT THIS POINT. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO BUT POLICE, FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS UTILITIES ARE PREPARED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CREWS DURING SHIFT CHANGE AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING GOES

SMOOTHLY. THAT IS ALL I HAVE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION GOING BACK TO ARBITRATION. WE HIRED A FIRM TO FILE THE RESPONSE FOR US .

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA IF INSURANCE IS GOING TO COVER OUR

EVENTS? >> WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER YET. WHEN I TALKED WITH OUR PARALEGAL LAST WEEK SHE WAS HESITANT TO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A POSITIVE ANSWER FROM THEM BASED ON OTHER DENIALS THEY HAVE HAD IN THE PAST BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL ANSWER YET.

[9. CITY ATTORNEY PRO TEM REPORTS]

>> THANK YOU. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY PRO TEM

REPORT. >> JUST ONE ITEM AND THAT IS TO GIVE NOTICE OF AN UPCOMING MEETING. PURSUANT TO SECTION 286.011 SUBSECTION 8 FOR THE STATUTES, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH WILL OPEN A SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING AND MEET IN AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS TENDING LITIGATION. CENTER STREET RESTAURANT GROUP , CENTER STREET RESTAURANT GROUP, LTD, AMELIA'S RESTAURANT, INC AND BRETT'S WATERWAY CAFE VERSUS THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. THOSE WHO MAY BE IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ARE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, LITIGATION COUNCIL , AND A COURT REPORTER FROM CERTIFIED COURT REPORTERS. THAT MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED ON FEBRUARY 4, 2025 AT 4:00 P.M. HERE IN CITY HALL.

[10. CITY CLERK REPORTS]

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISTER POOLE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MISS BEST , CITY CLERK REPORT? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AND I WILL TAKE THAT OFF MY LIST. THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE NASSAU COUNTY SCHOOL WILL MEET IN A

[01:45:02]

[11. MAYOR/COMMISSIONER COMMENTS]

TO ATTEND. >> ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, ONTO MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER COMMENTS .

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TONIGHT, ONE BY MISS MARY PHILLIPS. I WAS ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT REACHED BACKED OUT-- BACK OUT TO HER. A FEW WEEKS AGO I DID ASK FOR EITHER THE AUDITOR GENERAL OR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO COME IN AND GIVE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. IT GOT BOGGED DOWN. -- WENT FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WAS NOT GOOD THAT SHE REACHED OUT TO EITHER THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, AUDITOR GENERAL OR STATE'S ATTORNEY. IT JUST GOT LOST. I WOULD NOT MIND SEEING THAT HAPPEN BUT WE TALKED WITH STAFF AND THEY MAY HAVE HAD SOME OTHER IDEAS AS WELL CODIFYING BASICALLY ALL OF OUR LAWS . THAT WE COULD SEND IT OFF AND THERE'S A COMPANY THAT LOOKS THROUGH AND SAYS THIS LAW DOES NOT MEET UP WITH STATE LAW AND NEEDS TO COME OFF THE BOOKS.

STATE LAW HAS CHANGED, WE MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THEY CHANGE, THEY NOT BE PAYING ATTENTION. I WOULD LIKE A DEEP DIVE INTO A LOT OF THAT ARE AT LEAST SEE IF THERE IS CONSENSUS TO HAVE STAFF BRING US SOME OPTIONS ABOUT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

>> I WOULD BE AMENABLE TO BE HEARING OPTIONS BEFORE WE JUMP THE GUN BECAUSE I WILL ADMIT THAT DESPITE MS. PHILLIPS AND HER ADMITTING SHE'S NOT SURE WHAT IT ENTAILS I DON'T KNOW OF THAT IS EVEN THE APPROPRIATE WAY OF-- WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR BUT I AM OPEN TO SEEING WHAT DIRECTION IT WOULD TAKE US. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION OR DO WE HAVE CONSENSUS?

>> I'D BE WILLING TO FIND OUT WHAT IT'S ABOUT IN MY BIGGEST

CONCERNS WOULD BE COST. >> THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.

I'M ASKING US TO HAVE OPTIONS, THE COSTS , WHO CAN WE GO TO. I WILL BE THE 1ST TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK ANYTHING NEFARIOUS IS GOING ON. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AT ALL . BUT I THINK OUR COMMUNITY WOULD FEEL BETTER IF THERE WAS A TRANSPARENT LOOK AT IT ACROSS THE BOARD. THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR IT TWO YEARS

AGO. >> SO CODIFICATION IS RECURRING TO THE ORDINANCES AND SECOND AND SOMETIMES THIRD READING BUT CODIFICATION IS WHEN ORDINANCES ARE APPROVED AND A COUPLE TIMES ANNUALLY WE WILL CODIFY THAT BUNDLE. EVERYTHING IS IN THE CODE AND WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS A COMPREHENSIVE CODE REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES IS NOT REFERENCING THE OUTDATED STATUTE AND PRACTICES.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE OPTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER ONES AS WELL. AUDITOR GENERAL, INSPECTOR GENERAL, HOW DOES

THAT LOOK . >> WE DO HAVE AUDITS . THEY WERE NEVER DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WE ALWAYS SEEM TO DO VERY WELL WITH IT WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

>> THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. JOYCE TUTEN?

>> I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT. SO CODIFYING ORDINANCES IS FINE AND I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REASONABLE TO DO. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THESE MAJOR KINDS OF AUDITS IS THAT IT WILL TURN YOUR ORGANIZATION UPSIDE DOWN, IT WILL TAKE UP ALL OF YOUR STAFF TIME FOR MANY WEEKS DEPENDING ON HOW LONG THEY ARE HERE, SO ANYTHING ON OUR LIST OF ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO GET DONE WILL NOT GET DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. UNLESS THERE IS SOME REASON TO THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING FRAUDULENT OR COMPROMISING THAT'S GOING ON, I HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOUR RESOURCES.

UNLESS THERE'S A STRONG REASON TO DO THEM, I DON'T SEE WHAT THE VALUE IS TO THE ORGANIZATION AND WE WILL LOSE MONTHS OF PROGRESS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO

US. >> I AGREE. THAT'S WHY I SAID IF IT ENCUMBERS STAFF TOO MUCH, WE DON'T HAVE TO PURSUE

[01:50:02]

>> I DO BELIEVE THAT COUNTY DID OPT OUT OF IMPACT FEES AND WHATNOT . I WOULD NOT MIND SEEING THAT BROUGHT UP. I KNOW THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME RESEARCH BECAUSE IT IS LEGAL , SO PROBABLY SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STATE LAW AND SEE HOW THAT IS DONE AND HOW IT GOES THROUGH , BUT I AM ALMOST POSITIVE THE COUNTY DID IT SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS AGO AND I WOULD NOT MIND SEEING THAT BROUGHT UP FOR AT LEAST A

DISCUSSION. >> I HAD ON MY LIST OF THINGS TO MENTION AS WELL, IT IS SOMETHING I HAD TALKED WITH GETTING SOME TRACTION ON IT SO I WOULD AGREE THAT THAT SOMETHING IS VERY WORTHWHILE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION COME BACK TO US ABOUT WHAT ARE OUR OBLIGATIONS AND HOW WE MAY BE ABLE TO BETTER MANAGE UNDER THAT LAW.

>> MY QUESTION WHEN THAT CAME UP WAS OPTING OUT OF LOCAL TAXES, TAX INCENTIVES, WE ARE NOT A TAXING BODY SO I WAS WONDERING HOW-- YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

>> CITY TAXES. >> BUT I AM JUST SAYING

THERE'S NOT A LOT WE CAN DO . >> IT'S THE IMPACT. I WANT TO SAY IT'S OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UNITS ANYWAY. ONCE IT'S BELOW A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UNITS THERE IS NO AVAILABILITY TO OPT OUT. ONCE YOU GET OVER SO MANY UNITS YOU CAN ENACT THAT , YOU'RE GOING TO PAY. YOU HAVE TO PAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

IT'S OVER X AMOUNT OF UNITS AND THAT IS THE ABILITY THAT TRIGGERS IT TO WHERE THEY CAN NOT HAVE TO PAY THE IMPACT FEES. I AM SAYING LET'S LOOK INTO IT AND THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR ME. A LOT OF THE OTHER STUFF, SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE SEEN OF HOW DO WE NAVIGATE THAT LAW, I HAVE READ THAT LAW A BUNCH OF TIMES AND SOME OF THE STUFF THAT I SAW FRANKLY SUGGESTED , VIOLATIONS OF THAT. I AM ONLY INTERESTED IN THE TAX ASPECT OF THINGS WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT LET'S ENACT CODES AND ORDINANCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO BE ABLE TO COMBAT LIVE LOCAL. YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW. I'VE READ IT 100 TIMES. IT'S PRETTY SPECIFIC. I MEAN THERE'S A COUPLE OF LAWS THAT BASICALLY SAY IT SO ALL THAT I'M DOING IS FOLLOWING THE LAW THAT ALLOWS YOU TO OPT OUT OF IMPACT THINGS AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO LOOK INTO.

>> I THINK THAT IS A WORTHY GOAL. I DON'T HEAR ANY

REJECTIONS. ANYTHING ELSE? >> THAT'S IT . THANK YOU.

>> I JUST HAVE TWO THINGS. ONE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THE WATER TOWER BEHIND THE SCHOOL BOARD ON NORTH 11TH , SEVERAL YEARS AGO 2019 MAYBE THE CITY WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE 7 ACRES AND A CONSERVATION SO FOLLOWING WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO , A DEDICATION SIGN GOT PUT THERE AND IT'S A VERY NICE.

IT'S WHERE THE GOATS STILL ARE. AND THEN THE OTHER THING WE ARE HALFWAY THROUGH RESTAURANT WEEK WHICH IS MY FAVORITE EATING TIME TO TRY ALL SORTS OF PLACES, SO GO. SUPPORT

OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. >> JOYCE TUTEN, COMMISSIONER

MINSHEW? >> THANK YOU . LAST SATURDAY , THE MAYOR AND I ALONG WITH THE CITY CLERK AND THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER ATTENDED THE MLK PRAYER BREAKFAST. IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME. COMMISSIONER POYNTER, I'M SORRY.

>> PRAYER BREAKFAST AND I WANT TO PARTICULARLY THANK CAROLINE AND JEREMIAH FOR TAKING THEIR SATURDAY MORNING TO BE THERE.

IT WAS VERY NICE FOR THE CITY TO HAVE A TABLE AND I HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE SAY TO ME IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THE CITY HAD A TABLE AND THEY WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE US. THAT IS SOMETHING I WANT US TO CONTINUE. THEN ON MONDAY VICE

[01:55:01]

ACCEPTED THIS AWARD. THANK YOU. >> GLAD I COULD HELP.

>> SO THAT WAS GREAT. THE REGIONAL PLANNING BOARD SETS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES ABOUT RESILIENCY, HOUSING, SLEEPING AND CAMPING OUTSIDE WHICH IS THE NEW LAW AND THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO GO BACK AND WORK WITH THE COMMISSION. FOR LARGE COUNTIES THAT HAVE HOMELESS FACILITIES AND PROCESSES , IT IS EASIER FOR THEM TO MANAGE THAT LAW THAN IT IS FOR SMALL MUNICIPALITIES LIKE OURSELVES. SO THEY ARE GOING TO GO BACK AND ASK THE LEGISLATOR TO LOOK AT THAT. THEY ALSO CREATE A YEARLY PROJECT AND THEY'VE DONE ALL SORTS OF THINGS. THIS YEAR THEY ARE GOING TO WORK ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND I THINK WE ARE KIND OF A BOUTIQUE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT-- IN OUR CITIES SO I WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES. ON FEBRUARY 12, THERE IS A MEETING AT THE COUNTY WITH THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION ABOUT CONNECTING TRAILS. I WILL HAVE TO GET THE FLYER AND GET IT OUT BUT THE PUBLIC IS INVITED AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PARKS AND RECREATION AND PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY TO COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THINGS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY. I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO REPORT REGULARLY ON THINGS COMING OUT OF THE REGIONAL PLANNING BOARD TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER POYNTER?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PATRICIA THOMPSON AND HER COMMITTEE FOR THE MLK PRAYER BREAKFAST. IT WAS NICE AND IT WAS WELL ATTENDED SO I APPRECIATE THAT . IT WAS GREAT.

SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN BOTHERING ME FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT NOW, I AM SO SICK OF THIS AUDIOVISUAL PROBLEMS THAT WE ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE AND I WAS TOLD TODAY AT MY MEETING THAT WE WILL PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER NINE MONTHS TO FIX OUR COMPUTERS AND SCREENS . I WOULD LIKE A CONSENSUS FROM THIS COMMISSION TO HAVE STAFF FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE MONEY AND GET THIS FIXED SO WE CAN BE BROUGHT BACK INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. IT'S

JUST EMBARRASSING. >> DO I HEAR ANY OBJECTIONS?

>> HOW OLD IS A PROJECTOR? >> HOW OLD ARE YOU?

>> IT IS AT LEAST 13 YEARS OLD. >> IT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME AND EMBARRASSING TO WATCH ALL OF THIS SCRAMBLING AROUND WHENEVER WE TRY TO PUT SOMETHING UP ON THE SCREEN. I WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT IS AVAILABLE THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE PROCESS FOR A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

>> I THINK THE LAST STATEMENT, A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

ON A REASONABLE BUDGET I WILL GO WITH THAT.

>> AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, SCHOOLS ARE SO TECH HEAVY, BUT LACK TECH SUPPORT WE STOLE A LOT OF TECH SUPPORT FROM THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE ARE LUCKY AND WE HAVE TECH SUPPORT HERE TONIGHT. BUT TECH SUPPORT WHEN EQUIPMENT IS OLD AND BAD

[02:00:03]

>> YES MA'AM. >> I REMEMBER THOSE OLD BULBS, IF YOUR PROJECTOR WOULD GO OUT IN CLASS THEY WOULD YOU LIKE, DOES YOUR APARTMENT HAVE $650? I MEAN THEY ARE CRAZY EXPENSIVE AND THE NEW ONES AREN'T. SO IN THE LONG RUN WE MAY COME OUT AHEAD IN ADDITION TO THE FRUSTRATION.

>> I FORGOT ONE THING. I WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER THAT-- PLAYED ON JIMMY KIMMEL. THREE OF FIVE BANDMEMBERS GRADUATED FROM FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL AND THE LEAD SINGER SERVED ON THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY AND LOBBIED . AT THAT TIME IT WAS THE LARGEST VENUE AND NOW THEY SELL OUT VENUES ALL OVER THE WORLD SO WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF OUR HOMEGROWN MUSICAL BAND. THANK YOU.

>> I WILL ECHO THANKS FOR THE MLK BREAKFAST. IT WAS REALLY WELL INTENT-- ATTENDED AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO READ A PROCLAMATION TO THEM. CONGRATULATIONS TO TWO OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS. WE HAVE LIEUTENANTS WILCOX AND MAX-- THAT RECENTLY BECAME PROMOTED AND THEN THE OCEAN RESCUE DIVISION WITH THE OPENING OF FIRE STATION NUMBER TWO. RENOVATIONS ARE UNDERWAY SO FEEL FREE TO CHECK IT OUT WHEN THINGS ARE DONE. FINALLY WE HAVE BEACH ACCESS 5 WHICH IS STILL CLOSED. WE'VE JUST REOPENED NUMBER 30 SO I WANT TO APPLAUD THAT WE ARE GETTING THINGS DONE AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE BEACH ACCESS BEING AVAILABLE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.