>> HEY, CHRIS, ARE YOU COME TO THE MEETING? [BACKGROUND].
[00:00:03]
>> WOULD EVERYBODY STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE?
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
IF YOU HAVEN'T GUESSED, MY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN MOST PEOPLES.
BUT IT STILL SAYS THE SAME THING.
I JUST MENTIONS THE CONSTITUTION. ANYWAY.
>> THAT WAS CHRIS THAT CALLED AND HE'S IN WASHINGTON, DC AND SAID THAT HE HAD TOLD SOMEONE THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO BE HERE.
>> CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, MA'AM?
>> WE CAN'T APPROVE THE MINUTES IF WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM.
PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY THAT IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE AGENDA? HEARING NONE. DO I SPEAK NOW IF I HAVE SOMETHING OR WAIT TILL BOARD COMMENTS?
>> I THINK THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT.
THESE ARE BOARD COMMENTS. YES.
>> YOU'LL HAVE A YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE FINAL LATER.
[6. PRESENTATION]
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, AND THAT PRESENTATION IS THE AMELIA ISLAND WHALE AMBASSADORS.WE'LL WELCOME YOU ABOARD AND LISTEN TO AN ENJOYABLE BRIEF.
>> YOU HAVE TO, BY THE WAY, GIVE US YOUR NAME.
>> WHERE YOU LIVE AND ALL THAT STUFF.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD.
I AM A RESIDENT OF FERNANDINA BEACH.
I AM SPEAKING FOR THE AMELIA ISLAND WHALE AMBASSADORS, WHICH IS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION BASED HERE ON AMELIA ISLAND THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE THROUGH ACTIVITIES OF EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.
>> MR. RALLY, CAN WE HAVE YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE?
>> I'M SORRY. MY ADDRESS IS 1569 PARK AVENUE.
>> AND HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH.
ANYWAY, SO SPEAKING FOR THE AMELIA WHALE AMBASSADORS.
BEFORE I START, I DO WANT TO DECLARE MY CONFLICTS.
I'VE ALWAYS DONE THIS IN MY TALKS.
I AM RETIRED PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST.
I'VE NEVER WORKED IN THE MARINA BUSINESS.
I HAVE NO INTERESTS, VESTED INTERESTS OR FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN ANY MARINA ACTIVITIES.
>> I SPENT MY TIME DOING MEDICAL RESEARCH.
>> I WILL TRY TO TALK CLEARLY.
SO MAY I THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? SO MY PRESENTATION THIS EVENING IS TO COVER A NUMBER OF POINTS ABOUT THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES.
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THEM? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE PRESENT HERE IN THE WATERS OFF OF AMELIA ISLAND IN NORTH FLORIDA.
OTHER TOPICS I WANT TO DISCUSS IS WHY ARE THEY SO HARD TO SEE? HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THE RIGHT WHALES? THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS THAT WE CELEBRATE FOR THIS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES, BUT THERE ARE ALSO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE SPECIES MAY BECOME EXTINCT IN THE NEXT 10 OR 15 YEARS.
THEN WHAT IS BEING DONE TO TRY TO PROTECT THE RIGHT WHALES? SO THEY DO NOT GO EXTINCT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WHY ARE THE WHALES HERE? THE REASON THE WHALES ARE HERE IS THESE ARE THE CALVING GROUNDS FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES.
THIS IS THE SOUTHERN EXTENT OF THEIR HABITAT.
THEY'RE MOSTLY UP IN THE NEW ENGLAND WATERS, WHERE THEIR FORAGING IS, WHERE THE FEED IS FOR THEM.
WHEN THEY'RE DOWN HERE, THERE IS NO FOOD, SO THEY'RE HERE STRICTLY FOR CALVING PURPOSES.
REASONS WE DON'T KNOW, IT MAY BE BECAUSE THERE'S LESS PREDATORS HERE, IT MAY BE BECAUSE THE WARMER WATERS, THE CALVES ARE WARM WITH LESS BLUBBER OR LESS INSULATION, AND THIS PROVIDES FOR BETTER CALF SURVIVAL.
WE DON'T KNOW. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE RIGHT WHALE IS A BALEEN WHALE.
THESE WHALES, THEIR FEEDING GROUNDS OR FORAGING GROUNDS ARE OFF THE COAST OF NEW ENGLAND AND THE MARITIME PROVINCES OF CANADA.
THIS IS WHERE THEY SPEND THEIR SUMMERS FORAGING, AND THEY'RE VERY RESTRICTED IN THEIR FOOD.
THEY RESTRICTED TO COPPER PODS.
[00:05:01]
UNLIKE OTHER WHALES, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER FILTER FEEDERS, SUCH AS THE HUMPBACK WHALES THAT ARE FILTER FEEDERS, BUT WILL ALSO EAT FISH.THE RIGHT WHALE ONLY EATS THE COPPER PODS AND THERE IS NO FOOD DOWN HERE IN THE FLORIDA WATERS.
THEIR FEEDING GROUNDS ARE OFF THE COAST OF NEW ENGLAND AND WHERE THEY ARE FOUND IS RELATED TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE COPPER PODS THESE WHOLE PLANKTON THAT THEY EAT.
AGAIN, THEY TRAVEL ALONG THE EASTERN SEA COAST OF THE UNITED STATES DOWN TO THE FLORIDA WATERS IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA NORTHERN FLORIDA, FOR CALVING PURPOSES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THESE ARE LARGE WHALES.
THEY'RE AMONG THE LARGER WHALES THAT WE SEE, MORE COMMON WHALES.
ON THE RIGHT WHALE IS SHOWN HERE AND THERE ARE CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS ABOUT THIS WHALE.
THEY'RE ABOUT 45, 55 FEET LONG.
THEY WEIGH ABOUT 100-140,000 POUNDS.
WHEN THEIR CALVES ARE BORN, AFTER ABOUT 10, 15 FEET LONG AND THEY WILL WEIGH ABOUT 10,000 POUNDS AS WELL.
SO THESE ARE LARGE WHALES, NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO STRIKE WITH YOUR BOAT.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS ABOUT THEM, COMPARED TO THE OTHER WHALES, THE RIGHT WHALE DOES NOT HAVE A DORSAL FIN.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THEM? ALL THE BALEEN WHALES HAVE TWO BLOW HOLES, BUT THE RIGHT WHALE HAS BLOW HOLES THAT ARE AT ANGLE; THEY HAVE A V SHAPED BLOW THAT IF YOU'RE AT THE RIGHT ANGLE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE V SHAPE.
THEY HAVE BONY PROJECTIONS ON THEIR HEADS THAT ARE COLONIZED BY SEA LIFE, AND THESE ARE CALLED CALLOSITIES.
YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHT WHALE, MUCH LIKE YOU CAN IDENTIFY A PERSON WITH A FINGERPRINT BY THE PATTERN OF THE CALLOSITIES ON THE HEAD.
OTHER ASPECTS OF THESE WHALES, THEY HAVE VERY PADDLE SHAPED FLIPPERS, SHORTER FLIPPERS, NOT LIKE THE PUMP BACK WHALE, IT HAS THE LONG FLIPPER THAT PEOPLE ARE USED TO SEE.
SO SHORT FLIPPERS, MOSTLY DARK SKIN.
THEY CAN HAVE SOME WHITE PATCHES ON THE BELLY, BUT THE BACK WILL BE BLACK, EXCEPT FOR, OF COURSE, THE CALLOSITIES ON THE HEAD.
THE THROAT IS NOT PLEATED UNLIKE THE OTHER VEILING FEEDERS.
AGAIN, THEY HAVE NO DORSAL FIN. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THEY ARE VERY RARELY SEEN. THEY'RE HARD TO SEE.
THE REASONS WHY IS THEY ARE WELL, THEY'RE RARE IN THIS AREA.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD 81 INDIVIDUAL WHALES THAT WERE SPOTTED BY THE SURVEILLANCE FIGHTS OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA HERE.
NOT MANY WHALES DOWN HERE, SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE SEEING THEM MANY BE OF THAT PURPOSE.
THEY'RE ALSO DIFFICULT TO DETECT. THEY'RE MOSTLY BLACK.
THEIR BODY SHAPE IS A VERY BROAD BODY SHAPE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE DORSAL FINS, THEY SIT DOWN LOW IN THE WATER.
THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO DETECT.
THIS PUTS THE MARINER AND THE WHALE BOTH AT RISK OF VESSEL STRIKES.
THE MOTHERS ARE VERY INACTIVE DOWN HERE. THEY'RE NOT FEEDING.
THEY'RE DOWN HERE SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALVING AND TAKING CARE OF THEIR CALVES.
THEY'RE NURSING. THEY'RE NOT FEEDING.
THEY'RE RESTING QUIETLY CLOSE TO THE SURFACE AND NOT CALLING.
AGAIN, THEY'RE TRYING TO AVOID THE ATTRACTING PREDATORS SUCH AS THE WHITE SHARKS THAT WOULD BE IN THIS AREA. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF A MOTHER AND A CALF HERE, NOT FAR OFF FROM SHORE.
THE RIGHT WHALES ARE WHAT ARE CALLED THE BAY WHALES.
THEY ARE NOT THE OCEAN GOING WHALES, SUCH AS THE BLUE WHALES, OR THE SPERM WHALES.
THESE WHALES MIGRATE ALONG THE COAST AND THEY ARE OFTENTIMES FAIRLY CLOSE INTO THE SHORE.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS PICTURE IS TAKEN NOT FAR OFFSHORE.
BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT THE WHALE AND THE CALF CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DETECT IF YOU'RE A MARINER. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF HALO AND HER CALF.
THAT CAME IN TO VISIT US OFF OF BURNEY PARK, ATLANTIC BEACH LAST FEBRUARY, MARCH, I'M NOT EXACTLY CERTAIN WHICH.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE WHALE HERE, SURF FISHING POLE HERE.
CALVES TAIL HERE AND A DRONE PICTURE OF THE MOTHER AND THE CALF.
USUALLY THE CALVES ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE MOTHERS.
USUALLY WITHIN A BODY LENGTH, THEY'LL BE SWIMMING AROUND THE MOTHER ENJOYING THEIR TIME.
THAT'S WHY WE SEE THE WHALE THE CALF'S TAIL HERE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HOW DO WE KNOW THE WHALES ARE HERE? THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE COMMISSION CONDUCTS SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS.
EVERY DAY BETWEEN DECEMBER 1 AND MARCH 31, WEATHER COMMITTING.
AND WITH THE WEATHER DOWN HERE, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET FLIGHTS UP ABOUT 50% OF THE DAY SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO FLY.
THESE FLIGHTS ARE FLOWING 1,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, AND YOU CAN SEE THE GRID MARKS HERE OFF OF THE FLORIDA COAST SOUTHERN GEORGIA COAST, THAT THEY FLY.
THEY FLY THREE MILE TRACKS AND EXTEND 30 MILES OUT AND THEN BACK IN,
[00:10:01]
THE GOALS OF THESE FLIGHTS ARE TO IDENTIFY THE WHALES, AND THEY CAN SERVE TO GIVE VESSEL NOTIFICATIONS IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE LARGE VESSELS COMING OUT OF ONE OF THE PORTS, FOR EXAMPLE, OR OUT OF THE SUBMARINE BASE, AND NAVY BASES.THEY CAN IDENTIFY THESE WHALES AND NOTIFY THE VESSELS AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT COLLISIONS.
THEY'RE ALSO THERE FOR IDENTIFYING INJURED OR ENTANGLED WHALES, MONITORING THE WHALE CAPPING AND FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
THE FUNDING FOR THESE FLIGHTS COME FROM NOAA, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, COAST GUARD AND NAVY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THESE ARE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE COMMISSION AERIAL SURVEILLANCE.
THERE'S A WHALE IN HER CALF THERE.
THERE'S ANOTHER WHALE RIGHT THERE AND HER CALF. HARD TO SEE.
AGAIN, YOU PUT SOME CHOP ON THE WATER OR HAVE GLARE FROM THE SUN.
THEY CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE.
I THINK THIS IS THE WHALE HERE WITH CALLOSITIES ON THE HEAD, BUT I CAN BE TOTALLY WRONG ON THIS ONE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AGAIN, WE HAD 81 UNIQUE WHALES SPOTTED OFF THE FLORIDA COAST LAST YEAR.
YOU GOT 20 OF THOSE WERE MOTHERS, 20 WERE CALVES.
THAT MEANS THERE ARE ANOTHER 40 WHALES THAT CAME DOWN HERE FOR PURPOSES AND WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT NON PREGNANT FEMALES, AND MALE WHALES OFTEN TAKE THE TRIP DOWN HERE AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, THERE IS NO FOOD DOWN HERE FOR THEM.
THESE ARE JUST DOTS WHERE WHALES WERE SPOTTED DURING THE CALVING SEASON, INCLUDING ON HALO, I THINK WAS IT WAS HERE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. NOW, WHY ARE WE CELEBRATING? WE ARE SEEING NEW CALVES BORN EVERY YEAR.
THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 20 CALVES THAT WERE BORN DURING THE 2024 CALVING SEASON.
THIS IS JUNO AND HER CALF WERE THE FIRST CALF THAT WAS BORN NOVEMBER 28, 2023.
IT WAS FIRST SIGHTED OFF OF CANE ISLANDS.
NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CALF IS DECEASED.
THIS CALF IS STRUCK BY A VESSEL, I THINK IT WAS RECREATIONAL VESSEL OUT OF ST. AUGUSTINE THAT CUT THE MOUTH OF THE WHALE CALF AND IT'S NO LONGER NURSE AND DIED FROM THAT.
BUT WE DID SEE A TOTAL OF 20 CALVES? SO FAR THIS YEAR, SEVEN CALVES, INCLUDING THREE NEW MOTHERS OR TWO NEW MOTHERS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE ARE SEEING NEW MOTHERS.
THE WHALE POPULATION, THESE WHALES ARE MATURING, BECOMING SEXUALLY MATURE, AND WE'RE SEEING WHALE FEMALE WHALES ENTERING THEIR CALVING YEARS.
THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE NEW MOMS THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR FOR THE 2024 CALVING SEASON.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, TWO NEW MOMS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
NOW, WHY ARE WE WORRIED? THESE COULD BECOME EXTINCT OVER THE NEXT 10 OR 15 YEARS.
THEY'RE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.
IN TERMS OF TRYING TO BUILD THE POPULATION, YOU HAVE TO DO TWO THINGS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CALF BORN AND YOU HAVE TO DECREASE THE MORTALITY RISK TO THESE.
BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE ONLY ABOUT 70 BREEDING FEMALES.
IT'S NOT A LARGE POPULATION OF BREEDING FEMALES FROM WHICH TO BUILD THIS POPULATION.
THE RIGHT WHALE WILL CAP ABOUT EVERY THREE YEARS.
IT'S A YEAR OF PREGNANCY, A YEAR OF NURSING, AND A YEAR BUILDING THEIR STRENGTH BACK.
ONE OF THE WHALES HAD JUST CALVED GRAND TETON IS HER NAME.
THE LAST FEW CALVES HAVE BEEN A THREE YEAR INTERVALS, BUT OTHER MOTHERS HAVE HAD CALVES AT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEAR INTERVALS.
MAYBE NOT CALVING AS FREQUENTLY AS WE WOULD LIKE BECAUSE OF OTHER STRESSES SUCH AS FOOD SCARCITY, ENTANGLEMENTS, VESSEL STRIKES, OTHER SOURCES OF TRAUMA THAT WOULD REDUCE THE CALVING OR INCREASE THE CALVING INTERVAL.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, OF COURSE, IS THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
ALL THE CAUSES OF DEATH, ALMOST ALL THE CAUSES OF DEATH OF THESE WHALES ARE MAN MADE.
BECAUSE THESE WHALES ARE NOT LIVING TO THEIR NATURAL LIFESPAN, WHICH WOULD BE ANYWHERE FROM MAYBE AS LOW AS 70 YEARS, BUT MAYBE AS LONG AS 130 YEARS.
THESE WHALES ARE DYING AT A MUCH YOUNGER AGE FOR TWO REASONS.
ENTANGLEMENT AND VESSEL STRIKES.
THESE ARE THE TWO PRIMARY CAUSES OF LOSS OF THESE WHALES AND YOU SEE A CARCASS OF A WHALE HERE THAT'S BEEN TANGLED WITH FISHING GEAR.
THIS CALF HERE WAS CLEARLY STRUCK BY A VESSEL.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE PROPELLER AND THE PITCH OF THE PROPELLER AND IDENTIFY THE SIZE OF THE VESSEL THAT STRUCK THIS WHALE.
>> THE PROPELLER CUTS ARE VERY DRAMATIC.
BUT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE HERE AND AS A PHYSICIAN, I'M VERY AWARE OF THIS IS JUST THE BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA THAT REALLY WHAT KILLED THIS WHALE.
THIS WHALE WAS HIT HARD, AND THE INTERNAL ORGAN DAMAGE IS PROBABLY WHAT LED TO THE WHALE'S DEATH.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE NOAA IS INTERESTED IN
[00:15:02]
REDUCING THE SPEED OF VESSELS SO THAT IF THEY STRIKE A WHALE, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO KILL THE WHALE FROM THE PURE BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA THAT THESE VESSELS CAN INDUCE.NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. LAST YEAR, 20 CALVES, FIVE ARE KNOWN DEAD OR PRESUMED DEAD HERE.
WE DIDN'T SEE THE DEAD WHALE, THE DEAD CALF.
WE CAN PRESUME THEY'RE DEAD BECAUSE THE MOTHER AND THE CALF ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY FOR THE FIRST YEAR.
THEY'RE NURSING FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND WHEN YOU SEE THE MOTHER AND YOU DON'T SEE THE CALF, THEN YOU CAN PRESUME THE CALF HAS BEEN LOST. PRESUMED DEAD.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW THESE CALVES DIED.
COULD THEY HAVE DIED OF VESSEL STRIKES, THEY DIED OF PREDATION, OTHER NATURAL CAUSES.
COULD THERE BE GENETIC DEFECTS IN THIS POPULATION IS BEING HANDED DOWN.
HALF NOT MOST OF HER CALVES HAD DIED SHORTLY AFTER BIRTH, THAT COULD BE A GENE THAT SHE'S HANDING OVER TO HER CALVES.
IT COULD BE THAT SHE'S JUST A BAD MOTHER AND CANNOT PROTECT HER CALVES FROM PREDATORS.
BUT ANYWAY, SO JUNO, I MENTIONED DIED OF A VESSEL STRIKE, AND THIS CALF IS PRESUMED DEAD BECAUSE ITS MOTHER DIED AFTER A VESSEL STRIKE.
BUT WE HAVE 15 CALVES THAT SURVIVED TO THIS POINT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
NOW, THIS IS A COMPLEX SLIDE, BUT THIS REALLY GETS DOWN TO THE SCIENCE THAT NOAA IS FACING IN TERMS OF TRYING TO PROTECT THIS WHALE POPULATION.
I ALREADY MENTIONED THAT VESSEL STRIKES AND FISH AND GEAR ENTANGLEMENTS ARE THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF DEATH.
I ALREADY MENTIONED THAT THEY MIGRATE FROM THEIR FORAGING GROUNDS ALONG THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES TO THEIR CALVING GROUNDS HERE.
IN 2008, NOAA IN ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE THE MORTALITY RISK FROM VESSEL STRIKES, ESTABLISH SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREA.
SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS ARE LIKE SLOWS ZONES IN FRONT OF SCHOOLS.
THE KIDS ARE PRESENT, YOU GO SLOWER.
WHEN THE KIDS AREN'T THERE, YOU CAN GO FASTER AND SO WHEN THE WHALES ARE IN THE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREA HERE OFF THE COAST OF AMELIA ISLAND, THE VESSELS ARE RESTRICTED TO ATTEND KNOT SPEED.
VESSELS 65 FEET LONGER ARE RESTRICTED IN THEIR SPEED.
NOW ON THIS GRAPH, GOING BACK TO THE YEAR 2000, IS THE ESTIMATED BIRTHS AND DEATHS AND YOU CAN SEE THE ESTIMATED DEATHS ARE FAIRLY STABLE HERE UNTIL ABOUT 2014, 2015, INTO 2017 HERE WHEN NOAA DECLARED AN UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS THE COPEPOD POPULATION SHIFTED FROM THE MARITIME PROVINCES, NEW ENGLAND, BAY OF FUNDY, INTO THE ST. LAUREN SEA WHERE WE HAVE ALL THE VESSELS COMING OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES AND IN THEIR SHIPPING LANES HERE, AND THEY WERE NOT PROTECTED.
WE HAVE A HIGH DEATH RATE FROM VESSEL STRIKES HERE.
IN CANADA IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS IN 2017, SLOWING THE SHIPS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH HERE.
THEY CLAIM ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE THAT FOR THESE FOUR YEARS, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT 2024, BUT FOR THESE FOUR YEARS, THEY HAVE NO KNOWN DEATHS FROM VESSEL STRIKES IN THE CANADIAN WATERS.
IT'S SLOWING THE SHIPS DOWN APPARENTLY WORKS AND THEY ALSO CLAIM THEY HAVE GOOD COMPLIANCE TO THE SPEED LIMITATIONS.
UNITED STATES WATER, DEPENDING ON WHO'S GRADING THE SHIPS, YOU RANGE 0-88% COMPLIANCE WITH THE SPEED RESTRICTIONS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
I DIDN'T MENTION, IN OCTOBER 1, 2022, NOAA PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SPEED RULES, AND WE'LL GO OVER THOSE IN A SECOND.
WHY ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT THESE WHALES? WHALES ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE OCEAN ECOLOGY.
WHALES WILL EAT THROUGHOUT THE WATER COLUMN FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR TO THE OCEAN SURFACE, BUT THEY CAN ONLY POOP AT THE OCEAN SURFACE.
THEY BRING NUTRIENTS THROUGHOUT THE WATER COLUMN UP TO THE SURF OF THE WATER WHERE THEY FERTILIZE PHYTOPLANKTON.
PHYTOPLANKTON CREATE HALF THE OXYGEN THAT'S MADE.
THE OTHER HALF, OF COURSE, WILL BE FROM TERRESTRIAL PLANTS SUCH AS TREES AND SO FORTH.
BUT THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OXYGEN, AND THE START OF THE FOOD CHAIN IN THE OCEAN, SO PHYTOPLANKTON TO ZOOPLANKTON, TO YOUR SMALL CRUSTACEANS TO FISH AND SO FORTH.
WHALES ARE CRITICAL PART OF THE OCEAN ECOLOGY AND THE SCIENTISTS ARE NOW FINDING THAT IF YOU WANT A HEALTHY FISH POPULATION, IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH A HEALTHY WHALE POPULATION.
I WON'T SAY THAT ONE IS THE CAUSE OF THE OTHER, BUT THERE'S AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HEALTHY WHALES AND HEALTHY FISH. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
NOW, THE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREA OFF OF AMELIA ISLAND IS SHOWN HERE IN THE HATCH MARK, EXTENDS FROM JUST NORTH OF BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA TO JUST SOUTH OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
IT'S IN EFFECT, NOVEMBER 15 THROUGH APRIL 15, AND VESSELS THAT ARE 65 FEET AND LONGER ARE RESTRICTED TO 10 KNOTS.
[00:20:04]
>> THEY GO OUT. I PUT THIS ON A STICK HERE AND FROM ST.
MARY'S INLET OUT TO THE EASTERN BORDER IS 28 NAUTICAL MILES.
THIS IS THE ISSUE FOR YOUR RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN THAT MAY WANT TO GO OUT 40, 50, 60 MILES OFF, AND THEY CAN DO THIS FIRST SECTION HERE, 28 MILES AND ONE HOUR.
BUT IF THEY'RE RESTRICTED TO 10 KNOTS, NOW YOU'VE JUST ADDED TWO HOURS TO THEIR OUTBOUND TRIP AND TWO HOURS TO THEIR TRIP BACK.
THIS IS OF COURSE, THE RECREATIONAL BOATERS A LOT OF CONCERN BECAUSE AS I'LL GET INTO, NOAA PROPOSED THAT THE SPEED RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE DROP FROM 65 FEET TO VESSELS OF 35 FEET OR LONGER, SO YOU'RE GOING TO CAPTURE ALL THE 40, 45 FEET SPORTS FISHERMEN IN THAT AS WELL.
ANYWAY, SO THIS IS THE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREA AS IT EXISTS AND FIRST OUT HERE, THAT'S A PARTICULAR DIP IN THE COAST HERE, IS ABOUT 28, 29 MILES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. NOAA HAS PROPOSED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO EXPAND THE SMA SIZES, AND WHY WOULD THAT BE? WELL, HERE IS A SCREENSHOT FROM WHALE ALERT.
YOU CAN GET TO SIGN YOUR CELL PHONE AND JUST LOOK AT WHERE THE WHALES HAVE BEEN SPOTTED.
YOU CAN SEE BACK ON DECEMBER 7, I MADE THIS SLIDE, AND WHALES ARE EXTENDING ALL THROUGH THE EASTERN COAST ON THEIR MIGRATION DOWNWARDS.
THE GREEN DOTS ARE RIGHT WHALES, WE HAVE A FEW HUMPBACK WHALES HERE, A COUPLE OF THIN WHALES HERE.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT THE WHALES ARE CLOSE TO SHORE AND THEY'RE EXTENDING DOWN THROUGH THE EASTERN SEABOARD.
THIS IS A CLOSER IN SHOT, SO YOUR SEASONAL ANTIGEN AREA, AND AMELIA ISLAND IS HERE.
YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF RIGHT WHALES THAT ARE BEING SPOTTED BOTH IN OUR SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREA, BUT ALSO FURTHER SOUTH IN AREAS THAT THEY'RE NOT PROTECTED BY THE SPEED LIMITS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE RATIONALE FOR INCLUDING SMALLER VESSELS IN THE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREA, THE SPEED RULES IS THAT, THIS IS A MUCH SMALLER PROPELLER OF THE PITCH, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS A SMALLER BOAT THAT STRUCK THIS CALF.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHAT NOAA PROPOSED 2.5 YEARS AGO, WAS THEY'RE GOING TO MODIFY THE TIMING AND BOUNDARIES OF THE SPEED RESTRICTIONS, AND I WILL SHOW A GRAPH OF THAT.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS THAT REFLECT WHERE THE WHALES ARE LOCATED IN THEIR MIGRATION.
THEY SELECTED THE 10 KNOT SPEED LIMIT BASED ON THE ANALYSIS OF VESSEL STRIKES.
ONCE YOU GO ABOVE 10 KNOTS, THE BLUNT TRAUMA IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE FATAL TO THE WHALES.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO CREATE MANDATORY DYNAMIC SPEED ZONE.
IF THREE WHALES ARE SPOTTED OUTSIDE THE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREA, THEY'RE GOING TO SLAP A CIRCLE OF 50 MILES AROUND THOSE WHALES.
I WANT YOU TO DO THE MATH IS ABOUT 2,000 SQUARE MILES OF OCEAN SPACE.
THAT WOULD NOW HAVE SPEED RESTRICTIONS IN THOSE AREAS.
THEY ARE GOING TO INCLUDE VESSELS 35-65 FEET BECAUSE THE SMALLER VESSELS ACCOUNT FOR HALF OF THE WHALE DEATHS SINCE 2008, THE LETHAL STRIKES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS A PICTURE OF WHAT THEY HAD PROPOSED.
THE DOTTED LINES ARE THE CURRENT SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE ONE OFF AMELIA ISLAND HERE AND ONE OFF OF SOUTH CAROLINA HERE.
BUT THEY PROPOSE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO EXTEND THESE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS ALL ALONG THE EAST COAST AND EXTENDING OUR SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREA FURTHER SOUTH TO INCLUDE DAYTONA, FORT LAUDERDALE, THOSE AREAS.
AGAIN, THIS PROPOSAL RECEIVED 90,000 COMMENTS AND TWO WEEKS AGO NOAA WITHDREW THESE PROPOSALS FROM CONSIDERATION.
THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHY ARE WE HOPING? WELL, THERE ARE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO HELP PROTECT THESE WHALES.
THE SPEED REDUCTIONS IN THE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS DO WORK, AS IS SHOWN BY THE 2017 CANADA EXPERIENCE FOR DECREASE IN THE FATAL VESSEL STRIKES.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SEE AND AVOID IS THE ONLY TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND THESE WHALES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE.
FOR THE PROTECTION, WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY OF PROTECTING THE MARINER OR THE WHALE FROM THESE VESSEL STRIKES, EXCEPT AS SEE AND AVOID.
THERE'S NO TECHNOLOGY RIGHT NOW TO IDENTIFY WHERE THESE WHALES ARE LOCATED SO THAT THE MARINERS CAN AVOID STRIKING THE WHALES.
THERE ARE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, FOR EXAMPLE, UP NORTH, WHERE THE ENTANGLEMENT IS MORE OF A PROBLEM.
THE CLASSIC PICTURE OF THE LOBSTER TRAP HERE WITH THE LINE GOING UP TO THE BUOY ON THE OCEAN SURFACE, AND THE RIGHT WHALES GET ENTANGLED IN THESE LINES, DESTROYING THE FISHERMAN'S TRAPS,
[00:25:03]
OF COURSE, AND CAUSING INJURY TO THE RIGHT WHALE.BUT THEY HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY OF SO CALLED ON DEMAND LOBSTER BUOYS, OR CALL LOBSTER BUOYS, WHERE THEY REST ON THE OCEAN FLOOR AND WHEN THE FISHING BOAT COMES ALONG, THEY CAN SIGNAL TO THE BUOY TO BE RELEASED TO COME UP, AND THEN THEY CAN PULL THEIR TRAWL LINE OF TRAPS HERE.
THAT IS BEING WORKED OUT, AND THE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WORKING OUT THE LOGISTICS OF THIS.
THAT MAY HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF ENTANGLEMENT TO THESE WHALES.
BUT OTHER THINGS THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT SATELLITE SURVEILLANCE.
THE CANADIAN COMPANY USING DRONES WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, SONOBUOYS, WITH MACHINE LEARNING AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DETECT THE SOUNDS OF THESE RIGHT WHALES FROM ALL THE OTHER NOISE IN THE BACKGROUND.
ALL SHIPS OVER 100 TONS ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THESE ARE FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE DEVICES, $8,000 OR SO THAT WILL COMMUNICATE AND SEND OUT WHERE YOU ARE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE OTHER BOATS ON IT.
BUT IF YOU FIX THE TRANSMITTERS ALONG THE COASTLINE, THEN YOU CAN USE THESE DEVICES TO SEND MESSAGES TO THE SHIPS THAT ARE TRANSITING YOUR AREA.
IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE WHALES WHERE THEY ARE, YOU CAN TRANSMIT THIS TO THE VESSEL OPERATORS.
TECHNOLOGY IS COMING ALONG, BUT IT IS STILL SEE AND A VOID. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE KEY MESSAGE IS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.
IT'S NICE BEING DOWN HERE IN AMELIA ISLAND WHERE WE HAVE THIS UNIQUE WHALE POPULATION.
WE ARE AT THE HEART OF THE CABIN GROUNDS.
WE KNOW THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF DEATH AND INJURY ARE ENTANGLEMENT AND VESSEL STRIKES, BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT WHALE MORTALITY CAN BE REDUCED WITH LOWER SPEEDS, FINDING SOME WAY OF IDENTIFYING WHERE THE WHALES ARE LOCATED, REDUCING THE RISK OF ENTANGLEMENT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THE WHALE AMBASSADORS ARE INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES HERE, PUBLIC PRESENTATION SUCH AS THIS ONE.
WE'LL HAVE A MUSEUM OF HISTORY DISPLAY IN DECEMBER.
WE HAVE AMELIA SIGNAGE THAT WE PUT OUT.
WE'RE GIVING THE TRANSIENT VOTERS INFORMATION ABOUT THE RIGHT WHALES, SO AS THEY COME THROUGH AND STOP AT MARINA.
WE HAVE THE [INAUDIBLE] BAGS ARE BEING HANDED OUT AND SO FORTH.
I HOPE I HAVEN'T OVERSTAYED MY WELCOME.
>> THAT WAS WONDERFUL. VERY INFORMATIVE.
>> WHAT COMMUNICATIONS DO YOU HAVE WITH THE LOCAL CHARTER PEOPLE? WHEN WE GO OUT THERE, WHEN I'M OUT THERE IN MY BOAT AND IN THE WATER SMOOTH, WE'RE DOING 45 KNOTS TO WE GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN THIS PRESENTATION, AND I'LL BE MORE CONSCIOUS OF IT.
I HAVE SEEN WHALES OUT THERE ALONG.
BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY PROGRAM OR ANY COMMUNICATIONS THAT YOU DO WITH THE CHARTER CAPTAINS GROUPS?
>> NO. I HAVE COLLEAGUES, RICHARD, TIM, AND CANDACE FROM THE RIGHT WHALE AND ASCENDERS, AND WHETHER YOU'VE GIVEN TALKS TO ANY OF THESE GROUPS?
>> WE'VE GIVEN MAYBE 30 OR SO PRESENTATIONS AROUND TOWN.
>> WELL, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT FOR THE GUYS THAT GO OUT THERE EVERY DAY.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO FIND SOME WAY TO TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE.
>> SCOTT, YOU PRESENTED IT TO THE FISHERMEN.
>> I DID NASSAU SPORTS FISHING PRESENTATION.
MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE DO NOT OWN BOATS, OR THEY OWN BOATS, THEY DO NOT OWN THE OFFSHORE BOAT.
GIVEN PRESENTATION TO THE YACHT CLUB, BUT MOST OF THEM HAVE BOATS THAT GO SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN THE WHALES, WHICH YOU DO FIVE OR SIX KNOTS.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE INVITED TO THE SPORTS FISHERMEN.
THESE ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE ANTAGONISTIC.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY WILL TAKE IT THAT WAY.
NOBODY WANTS TO RUN INTO A WHALE NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE WHALE, BUT YOUR BOATS.
>> I DID NOT SHOW ANY PICTURES OF BOATS THAT HAD STRUCK WHALES, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF THE BOAT.
BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET PRESENTATIONS LIKE THIS BECAUSE THE WHOLE GOAL OF THE WHALE AMBASSADORS IS EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.
KEEP SPEAKING ABOUT THESE RIGHT WHALES SO THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE RIGHT WHALES IN THEIR AREA HERE.
>> THAT 28.5 MILE ZONE GOES OFF FROM SHORE.
IS THAT JUST BECAUSE THAT'S GENERALLY WHERE THEY ARE? YOU DON'T SEE THEM PAST THAT POINT, THAT'S 30 MILES?
>> THESE ARE THE RIGHT WHALES TO KILL BECAUSE THEY'RE CLOSE IN TO SHORE.
THE HISTORY OF WHALING IS WHY THEY CALLED THE RIGHT WHALES.
THEY'RE CLOSE INTO SHORE, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO ON TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MASS TO GO OUT AND FIND THEM.
THEY'RE SLOW, FIVE OR SIX KNOTS, LIKE THE BLUE WHALE, WHICH WILL DO 30 KNOTS.
[00:30:02]
IF YOU'RE IN A WHALE BOAT, YOU TRYING TO CATCH UP AND GET YOUR HARPOONS FROM THAT WHALE, YOU'VE GOT A BETTER CHANCE.ALL THESE REASONS ARE WHY THESE ARE CALLED THE RIGHT WHALES.
THEY ARE THE BAY WHALES, THEY ARE THE SHORE WHALES.
THESE ARE THE WHALES THAT ARE CLOSE IN.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ENJOY SIGHTING WHALES FROM SHORE, DOWN SOUTH OF DAYTONA THIS YEAR.
WE'VE NOT HAD THEM CLOSE TO OUR BEACHES HERE SO FAR THIS YEAR.
>> THERE IS THE AMELIA ISLAND GUIDES ASSOCIATION.
IT'S ALL FISHING GUIDES, AND YOU COULD GIVE A TALK TO THEM.
I'M A MEMBER, SO THAT'S HOW I KNOW ABOUT THAT.
>> WELL, I'D LOVE TO HAVE THE INVITATION.
ANY ONE OF US WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS INVITATION.
>> I'LL TALK TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB OR ORGANIZATION.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY, YOU INDICATED THAT NOAH RECEIVED SO MANY COMPLAINTS, THEY DROPPED THE WHOLE THING.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A WIN-WIN SITUATION BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS A TRADE-OFF.
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO PROTECT THE WHALES AND ALSO ALLOW THE FISHERMAN TO MAKE A LIVING.
I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS BEING ABLE TO PRESENT ON THE CHART PLOTTERS ON THOSE BOATS, BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE THEM, THE LOCATIONS OF WHERE THE WHALES HAVE BEEN CITED LATELY, SO THEY KNOW IF THERE'S ANY IN THAT AREA THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, AND THE RULE SHOULD BE IF THEY'RE IN THE AREA WITHIN SO MANY MILES OR WHATEVER, THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO 10 MILES AN HOUR.
IF THEY'RE NOT, YOU CAN THEN INCREASE YOUR SPEED.
THAT WOULD BE A WIN FOR THEM AND A WIN FOR THE WHALES.
THE TRICK IS HOW TO GET THAT ON THEIR CHARTS.
>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO SPOT THE WHALES, BUT YOU COULD USE THE CURRENT EXISTING AIS.
THOSE ARE GOOD FOR ABOUT 25 MILES.
THERE'S A LINE OF SITE TRANSMISSION.
THERE'S ONE ON THE CROWN HOTEL HERE AT THE END OF ATLANTIC AVENUE.
I KNOW OF ONE ON A TV TOWER DOWN IN JACKSONVILLE.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT THIS INFORMATION TO THE BOAT FROM THE AIS RECEIVERS, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF-
>> I WONDER IF THERE'S ANY TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD ALLOW THE WHALE TO TRANSMIT THE SIGNAL.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU PUT A TAG ON A LOT OF WHALES AND A LOT OF FISH FOR THAT MATTER, SHARKS.
SO IF YOU COULD TAG THEM WITH SOME SENSOR BECAUSE AIS IT'S VERY ACCURATE, BUT THE THING IS YOU DON'T NEED TO RANGE.
IF YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU COULD TRANSMIT AN AIS SIGNAL EVEN THREE MILES.
>> A CUTE LITTLE YOUTUBE VIDEO FROM, I THINK IT WAS FROM NOAH, THAT SHOWED A CALF THAT THEY MANAGED TO TAKE FOR, I THINK, 16 DAYS AND IT LOOKED LIKE A PINBALL GAME GOING UP PAST NEW YORK CITY IN THE LONG ISLAND SOUND BEFORE THE TAG WAS RUBBED OFF BUT THEY WILL RUB OFF THE TAGS.
>> THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY FOR A WIN-WIN SOMEWAY WITH TECHNOLOGY, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO SAVE THE WHALES, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING.
>> TO BE FAIR YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THE WHALES AND THE MARINERS.
SOMEBODY GOES OUT THERE AND JUST SAYS, I'M GOING TO BE A YAHOO AND JUST GO 45 MILES AND WITH THE BEERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE BUT WAYS OF PROTECTING THEM AND THE WHALES WILL BE THE IDEAL SITUATION.
>> WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE. YOU COME UP WITH A PROBLEM YOU CAN USUALLY COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
RICK IS UNDERSTANDING THERE'S A PROBLEM.
>> NOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE LASER POINTERS [INAUDIBLE] TALK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] JIM SAID, THIS IS MY SMALLEST AUDIENCE YET.
BUT WE DO LIKE TO GIVE THESE PRESENTATIONS.
>> I USED TO DESIGN SAUNA BOOS.
SO I KNEW THE TECHNOLOGY WELL.
>> AND THE BEST STAR TREK MOVIE IS THE ONE WITH A WHALES.
>> [INAUDIBLE] SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I WAS THE MARINE BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS AND [INAUDIBLE].
[00:35:07]
>> HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
[7. OLD BUSINESS]
WELL, WHOLE BUSINESS WAS BRETT.>> AND NOW IT'S BACK TO NEW BUSINESS, BUT THE WHOLE BUSINESS ON BRETT IS I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF HOURS TRYING TO FIND OUT IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO SAVE THE BUILDING AND SAVE THE STRUCTURE.
AND I TALKED TO SEVERAL ARCHITECTS, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT BRETT'S HIRED TO EXTEND THEIR LEASE OR EXTEND THEIR STAY THERE UNTIL THE END OF THEIR LEASE.
AND I THINK WHAT HE SAID WAS THAT WE CAN'T NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU THROW AT IT, IT DOES NOT MATTER YOU COULD THROW MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT IT.
THE MOST YOU COULD GET OUT OF THAT STRUCTURE IS FIVE YEARS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE DID.
HIS WORDS WERE THAT THE JUICE DIDN'T JUSTIFY THE SQUEEZE.
SO THE BUILDING IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME DOWN, AND NOW WE HAVE TO DECIDE AS A COMMUNITY WHAT NEEDS TO GO BACK UP THERE, AND I'M HOPING THAT OUR CITY COMMISSION WILL SEEK OUT COMMENT FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST THE FEW BOARDS THAT WE HAVE.
I DO THINK THAT THEY MAY GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME BOARD MEMBERS FROM OUR VARIOUS BOARDS TO BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION OF A LARGER MIXED BOARD GROUP, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ONE OF THE ONES THAT REPRESENTS THIS BOARD IN THAT GROUP.
I'M VERY INVOLVED IN WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.
I GO TO BRETT'S SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AS A MATTER OF FACT, AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO TRY AND SAVE IT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I CAN'T.
BUT I FEEL LIKE I'LL BE FAIR ABOUT IT.
AND I'LL TRY AND REPRESENT EVERYONE'S WISHES, BUT I'D LIKE TO BE PART OF THAT.
YOU'RE FIT ROGER. JUST LIKE MINES THAT CHANNEL UP THERE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE PANAC TOURNAMENT.
AND THAT POPPED BACK UP AT THE CITY COMMISSIONERS MEETINGS.
APPEARED TO BE A COMPLETED DEAD ISSUE OF WHAT THE DECISION WAS MADE.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT CAME BACK UP BEFORE THE CITY AND YOU GO, YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON ANY OF THAT SINCE IT'S DOWN IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT THAT.
>> I DID MEET WITH THEM. I DID MEET WITH JEREMIAH GLISTEN, AND JOHN ABBOTT IN JEREMIAH'S OFFICE WHEN.
THIS IS AFTER I HAD THE AGREEMENT WITH JOHN ABBOTT ON THE COMMUNITY AND THE CLUB'S AGREEMENT ON HOW THIS WAS GOING TO GO.
AND BEFORE THE CLUB DECIDED TO BRING THIS DIVISIVE ISSUE BACK UP IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY.
BUT, THE CLUB PROBABLY WILL NOT HAVE THEIR ANNUAL TOURNAMENT DOWN THERE THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE FURTHER INTO THE YEAR THAN WE COULD REASONABLY BE.
SO THEY MAY NOT HAVE THEIR TOURNAMENT AT ALL THIS YEAR.
I DID TALK TO THEM ABOUT NEEDING THAT PARKING LOT THAT'S JUST ACROSS FROM HERE, WHEN THEY HAVE THAT EVENT OR ANY EVENT SO THAT BOAT TRAILERS CAN USE THIS LOT RIGHT HERE FOR PARKING BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION THAT BOAT TRAILER PARKING'S CLOSED.
>> [OVERLAPPING] RAMP AT THE SAME TIME.
>> THERE'S SOME OTHER ISSUES I'VE ASKED THEM TO LOOK INTO.
THE TRAILER SLOTS ARE ONLY 44 FEET LONG.
NOW, IT IS DIAGONALLY, SO IT HAS A COUPLE OF OTHER FEET.
BUT A LARGE TRUCK TRAILER RIG CAN BE AS MUCH AS 60 FEET LONG OR ONE THAT'S ACTUALLY TRAILERABLE.
SO I TOLD HIM I SAID, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE BIG TRAILER RIGS OUT THERE.
YOU'VE GOT TWO WAY TRAFFIC IN THAT PROPOSED PARKING LOT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BOAT TRAILER STICKING 14 FEET OUT INTO YOUR TRAFFIC LANE. IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE TO LOOK AT THAT RATHER THAN WELL, THAT RAMP'S ONLY GOOD FOR 20 FOOT BOATS BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE CAN PARK A TRAILER THERE.
AND MY SUGGESTION WAS ONE, THEY CHANGE IT TO ONE WAY TRAFFIC THROUGH THERE.
AND TWO, I THINK THEY NEED TO SHOVE THAT WHOLE PARK IN ABOUT FIVE FEET TO AT LEAST IN FRONT OF THOSE TRAILER SLOTS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A REASONABLE WAY TO GET IN THERE.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S ON THAT PLAN THAT I ASKED THEM TO REMOVE WERE PARKING STOPS, WHEEL STOPS IN FIVE OF THE 17 SLOTS TRAILER SLOTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO I SAID YOU'VE GOT SIGNS UP THERE THAT SAYS TRAILER PARKING ONLY,
[00:40:04]
AND THEN YOU PUT WHEEL STOPS FOR CARS TO PARK IN THERE.YOU'RE JUST ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PARK THERE.
I DROVE OUT THERE THE OTHER DAY AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS CARS IN THOSE BOAT TRAILER SLOTS.
AND THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF THIS.
I NEED TO GET THE COMMISSION ON BOARD WITH DIRECTING THE CHIEF OF POLICE THAT THAT IS A NO TOLERANCE ZONE THAT WE WILL TICKET YOU OR TOW YOU.
AND MY THOUGHT IS IF YOU PUT WE WILL TOW YOU SIGNS UP THERE, NOBODY WILL PARK THERE.
THEY'LL RISK A TICKET. THEY WILL NOT RISK BEING TOWED.
I HOPE THAT THEY'LL MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE PARK PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO.
WE MAY JUST BE HAVING TRAILER STICKING OUT ON THE ROAD.
AND THEN THEY'LL GO OH, WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT.
>> SECURITY GATES, WE'VE WORKING WITH THE CITY MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.
SOME MATERIAL WAS DELIVERED TO THEM.
ONE OF THEIR KEY PEOPLE HAS BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR A WHILE.
HE JUST RETURNED ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
AND SO WE DO HAVE THE MATERIAL THERE TO MAKE THE MESH COVERING WHERE IT'LL PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO REACH AROUND TO JUST OPEN THE GATE.
AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT UP, WE SHOULD BE VERY SECURE.
>> I'M SURPRISED THAT WASN'T PART OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN.
>> YES, SIR. I'M NOT A SECURITY GATE DESIGNER, AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE HALF MOONS WERE AS SMALL AS THEY WERE AS WELL.
>> WHO APPROVED THE DESIGN THOUGH?
>> THAT WAS DESIGNED BY THE CONTRACTOR.
>> AND IT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY?
AND THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T YOU DON'T THINK TO ASK, WELL, HOW BIG ARE THE FANS ON EACH SIDE OF THE GATE.
IT'S JUST SURPRISINGLY ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
>> IF WE'D HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE WE'D HAVE PROBABLY ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, A LOT OF CHANGES WERE MADE TO THOSE GATES WITH CHARLIE GEORGE, THE CITY ENGINEER, AND THEY WERE REVIEWED MANY TIMES FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
HOWEVER, BE THAT AS IT MAY, WE'LL GET THERE.
>> SO THE GATES AREN'T COMPLETED, YET.
>> THEY'RE COMPLETED, AND THEY ARE LOCKED OR THEY'RE CLOSED EVERY NIGHT AT NINE O'CLOCK BY CITY STAFF, AND THEN REOPENED BY OUR TEAM IN THE MORNING.
HOWEVER, THOSE HALF MOON SCREENS NEED TO BE EXPANDED ON.
AND ONCE THAT'S COMPLETE, WE SHOULD BE VERY SECURE.
AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE VOTERS.
THEY'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE ON THE SECURITY GATES.
>> HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER SECURITY INCIDENTS SINCE OUR LAST MEETING?
>> NOT REALLY. NO. WE LOOK AT OUR VIDEO AND WE DO SEE THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME THROUGH AT NIGHT, THEY ARE VOTERS AND IF THE GATE THEY DON'T SHUT THE GATE ALL THE WAY OR WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE ON CAMERA REACH THROUGH THE GATES.
BUT OCCASIONALLY, PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING DOWN THERE, BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE WHAT WE SAW BEFORE.
>> THERE'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULDN'T SEE NORMALLY ANYWAY, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> UNLESS IT'S THEIR BOAT THAT THEY WORRY ABOUT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON THAT.
AND MARINA SIGN, STILL ON HOLD?
>> OH, ARE WE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT MINUTES?
>> I'M LOOKING AT THE ONES THAT ARE HERE ON THE SYSTEM.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE OLD BUSINESS. NEW BUSINESS WAS ELECTRIC RATES.
>> WELL, THE AGENDA PACKET THAT I'M LOOKING AT IS THE ONE THAT CAME UP, BUT IT IS AN OLD ONE.
>> SEE IF YOU COULD SCROLL UP TO WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE.
>> DOWN BELOW UNDER OLD BUSINESS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA PACKET THAT'S OUT THERE, AND THE DATE ON IT IS OLD.
I'LL SAY THAT, BUT IT'S THE ONE THAT CAME UP.
>> WHICH SURPRISED ME BECAUSE YOU AND I DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING THE SIGNAGE, AND YOU SAID YOU GUYS WERE STILL WORKING ON IT.
>> SIGNAGE AS FAR AS A BIG MARINA SIGN.
YES, SIR, THAT WILL HAVE TO BE BUDGETED.
WE'LL PROBABLY PUT THAT ON THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.
ONE REASON TO POSTPONE, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A BIG SIGN LIKE THEY HAVE DOWN AT
[00:45:02]
STEWART OR FORT PIERCE IT'S REALLY A NICE SIGN.WE'VE NOT LOST SIGHT OF THAT, BUT WITH THE WATERFRONT, REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH BRETT'S.
THE LOCATION OF THE SIGN WOULD NEED TO BE THOUGHT OUT PROPERLY.
WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND THAT MONEY AND THEN HAVE TO TRY TO RELOCATE IT SOMEWHERE.
WE WANT IT TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
>> UNLESS I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER OLD BUSINESS, ANYTHING ELSE, HOW ABOUT NEW BUSINESS?
[8. NEW BUSINESS]
ELECTRIC RATES?>> YES. THIS WAS BROUGHT ONTO THE AGENDA BY MIKE SHARP, REQUESTED THAT WE DISCUSS THE ELECTRIC RATES.
THIS WAS BORNE OUT OF, REALLY, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GIVE HOW THIS WHOLE TOPIC CAME TO BE EVERY YEAR AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
I JUST ON JANUARY 1ST, EXCUSE ME, WE CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE BOATS IN THE MARINA, AND WE GO THROUGH, I DO THIS PERSONALLY, AND WE JUST MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE THAT'S PLUGGED IN IS BEING CHARGED FOR ELECTRICITY.
SOMETIMES RATES GET DROPPED OFF, AND THINGS HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SO WE TRUE UP EVERY YEAR.
THIS YEAR, WE HAD FIVE SMALL BOATS THAT WERE PLUGGED INTO POWER THAT WEREN'T BEING CHARGED FOR POWER.
>> USING 30 AMP AND THEN STEPPING IT DOWN TO TRICKLE CHARGE.
[OVERLAPPING] THERE ARE SMALL BOATS.
OUR SMALLEST RATE, OUR LOWEST RATE AT THE NO COURSE IS FOR 30 POWER, AND THAT IS $60 A MONTH.
IT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE ME BY SEVERAL BOATERS THAT THEY FELT THE $60 WAS TOO HIGH OR TOO EXCESSIVE FOR WHAT THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY THAT THEY WERE USING.
OF COURSE, WE DON'T METER OR ANYTHING, BUT IT IS JUST TRICKLE CHARGING.
IT'S PROBABLY NOT A LOT OF ELECTRICITY.
I SAID THAT I WOULD LOOK INTO THIS AND JUST SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN COMPARE TO, KEEPING IN MIND THAT WE CAN'T JUST CHANGE THE RATES.
OASIS MARINAS, OUR JOB IS TO CHARGE IF YOU'RE PLUGGED IN, OUR JOB IS TO CHARGE ELECTRICITY, AND OUR LOWEST RATE IS 30 AMP, AND THOSE ARE 30 PEDESTALS DOWN THERE.
WELL, WHAT I DID FIND, I CONTACTED FIVE MUNICIPAL MARINAS, AND OUT OF THE FIVE, ONLY ONE CHARGES AT A LOW 30 OR 110 RATE, AND THAT'S FT. PIERCE MUNICIPAL ARENA.
ST. AUGUSTINE, THEIR MINIMUM CHARGE IS $100 FOR 30.
YOU CAN SEE ST. PETE MUNICIPAL ARENA IS METERED AND THEIR VOTERS PAY DUKE ELECTRIC.
FOUR FISH IS $100 FOR 30, JUST LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE, AND THEN TITUSVILE IS 50.
BUT FT PIERCE IS A MUNICIPAL ARENA, AND THEY ARE CHARGING 50 CENTS PER FOOT FOR 110 FOR TRICKLE CHARGING.
HOWEVER, IT'S IT IS A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF POWER THAT'S GOING TO THE BOAT TO CHARGE BATTERIES AND WHATNOT?
>> THERE'S NO WAY TO DETERMINE EXACTLY HOW MUCH CURRENT OR HOW WHAT IN BOAT USE?
>> WE CAN ASSUME THAT IT'S MINIMAL.
>> I'VE GOT A COUPLE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THIS.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT'S NOT USUAL OR CUSTOMARY TO CHARGE THESE SMALLER BOATS, HAS BEEN PART OF THE FEE SLIP FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, AND THOSE CHARTER CAPTAINS ARE PROBABLY ALL THE ONES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND MYSELF INCLUDED AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, IF WE EVER HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION OR A VOTE OR ANYTHING, I'LL RECUSE MYSELF BECAUSE I'M FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY NOT BY A LOT.
>> BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HERE TO VOTE ANYWAY.
>> JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSION, I DID CALL THE OTHER AREA MARINAS, MILIANO MARINA AND TIGER POINT, AND THEY DON'T CHARGE FOR THAT.
THAT'S JUST PART OF THE SLIP FEE.
THAT WHEN THAT CHARGER IS PLUGGED IN, IT PROBABLY USES THE SAME AMOUNT OF POWER AS 100 WATT LIGHT BULB, AND THE BOAT CAPTAINS MIGHT DO IT TWICE A MONTH TO KEEP THE BATTERIES CHARGED UP.
IT'S A VERY MINIMAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WE ALREADY PAY MORE TO KEEP OUR BOATS HERE THAN AT THE OTHER AREA OF MARINA.
WE'RE ALREADY PAYING MORE, WHICH I EXPECT TO DO BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD NICKEL DINER PEOPLE.
DOES ANY OTHER OASIS MARINAS CHARGE THIS FEE FOR ELECTRICAL CHARGES?
[00:50:02]
>> MARINAS POLICY IS IF THE BOT IS PLUGGED IN, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE TO CHARGE.
IF BOT IS PLUGGED IN, THEN WE'RE RESPONSIBLE TO CHARGE SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL FEE.
MANAGEMENT SUGGESTS WHAT I SUGGEST IS FORTUNATELY ON THE FEBRUARY 18 AGENDA, WHICH IS COMING UP VERY QUICKLY, THE CITY IS MAKING A CHANGE TO THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE.
WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS INTRODUCE A NEW RATE TO THE MARINA MASTER FEE SCHEDULE OF 50 CENTS PER FOOT PER BOAT FOR 110 FOR TRICKLE CHARGING.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT $15 OR SO IF YOU'RE A SMALLER BOAT FOR THE ELECTRICITY FOR THE 30 AMP GOING TO 110.
ONCE WE GET THAT ON THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE, THEN THAT BECOMES A RATE THAT WE CAN CHARGE BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST RELY MAKE UP CHARGES AT MARINA, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ON THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE AND APPROPRIATE.
ONCE THAT GETS APPROVED ON FEBRUARY 18, THEN ON 1ST OF MARCH, WE WOULD START CHARGING THAT NEW FEE. THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
>> THE BY THE FOOT CHARGE DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME BECAUSE IT'S A BATTERY IN A BOAT.
BY THE FOOT MAKES SENSE IF YOU'RE TAKING UP DOCK SPACE.
BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHARGE A FEE, THEN IT SHOULD BE A FLAT FEE.
IT SHOULD BE MINIMUM IF IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING TO COVER THE FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH THAT THAT IT COSTS NOT PROBABLY NOT EVEN THAT, BUT THAT IT ACTUALLY COST THE MARINA TO HAVE IT THERE, EVEN AS MUCH AS, I DON'T THINK THEY'D COMPLAIN ABOUT EVEN $10 A MONTH.
BUT I JUST THINK THAT JUST KEEPING IT AS A MINIMUM FEE, EIGHT DOLLARS A MONTH, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT BUT SOMETHING'S MINIMAL, JUST TO COVER WHATEVER THE PERCEIVED COST IS, I CAN SEE THAT BEING REASONABLE.
BY THE FOOT, LIKE I SAID, IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME.
>> DO THE PEDESTALS HAVE 110 OUTLETS ON?
>> IF THEY DID, SO THE NICE THING THERE IS IF YOU PLUGGED INTO THAT, YOU'D GET THE MINIMAL FEE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY 15 AMP CAPABLE THERE.
>> WELL, IT COST MORE TO CHANGE THAT THAN IT'D BE WORTH.
>> BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THEY WERE DESIGNED IF SOMEBODY ANTICIPATED THAT BECAUSE OF WORKING ON THE PIER, IF YOU HAVE THE POWER.
>> WHEN THEY WERE DESIGNED, BACK WHEN THEY WERE BUILT IN 2019 AND 2020, THAT WAS NOT CONSIDERED.
>> WELL, MY COMMUNICATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION, I'LL EMAIL ABOUT IT AND MY THOUGHTS AND PROBABLY THE CHARTER GUYS TO WILL BE THAT IT'S NOT DONE BY THE FOOT, IF THERE'S SOME FEE THAT IT SHOULD BE MINIMAL, JUST A STANDARD SOMETHING SEVEN OR EIGHT DOLLARS A MONTH, IF WE NEED TO COVER THAT COST.
>> SHOULD WE FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSION, AS YOU KNOW.
LAST TIME WE HAVE HAD RATE INCREASES.
IT'S GONE FOR THE COMMISSION AND WE TAKE THEIR ADVICE OBVIOUSLY.
THE DELAY POSTPONING THE INCREASE FOR THE COMMERCIAL OPERATORS AND DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I THINK IF YOU WERE TO PRESENT AT THE FEBRUARY 18TH MEETING WITH YOUR THOUGHTS AND OBVIOUSLY CONTACT THE COMMISSIONERS BEFOREHAND, THEN THEY WILL GIVE THEIR OPINION.
WE WILL PROBABLY STAY WITH THE 50 CENTS PER FOOT SINCE IT IS A MUNICIPAL, WE MIRROR FORT PIERCE MARINA, THERE A MUNICIPAL MARINA.
IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN FOLLOW AND WE SEE WORKS AT OTHER MARINAS, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE COMMISSION.
>> THE RECOMMENDATION OF OASIS WILL BE?
>> TO STAY AT THE CURRENT RATE?
>> NO, NOT TO STAY, TO CREATE NEW RATE.
IT IS $60 A MONTH THAT IS ELECTRICITY IF YOU'RE TRICKLE CHARGING 50 CENTS PER FOOT.
>> I THINK PERSONALLY, IT WOULD BE MORE FAIR TO USE OUR AREA MARINAS INSTEAD OF SOMETHING DOWN AT FORT PIERCE UNIT.
>> FIFTY CENTS PER FOOT PER MONTH?
>> AS WE CAN LOOK AND SEE ST. AUGUSTINE MARINA IS ALSO COMPARABLE TO FERNANDINA.
IT'S ON THE INTER COASTAL WATERWAY, AND IT'S A MUNICIPAL MARINA.
YOU CAN SEE THEIR RATES ARE 50% MORE THAN OURS FOR ELECTRICITY.
>> THEY CHARGE FOR PEOPLE TO USE THEIR TRICKLE CHARGERS?
>> THEIR LOWEST CHARGE THAT THEY ALLOW IS 30 AMP.
>> I'M GOING TO JUST CALL THEM AND CHAT WITH THE MARINA OPERATOR THERE AND JUST ASK THAT EXACT QUESTION FOR OCCASIONAL USERS OF YOUR CHARTER CAPTAINS THAT CHARGE THEIR BATTERIES.
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, AS FAR AS I KNOW, I'VE BEEN A BOAT OWNER FOR MOST OF MY LIFE AND HAVE BOATS IN ALL MARINAS.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FOR THAT MINIMAL TRICKLE CHARGE.
YOU'RE GOING TO TOP OFF YOUR BATTERIES EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS.
IT'S THE USUAL IN CUSTOM AREAS.
[00:55:03]
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY CHARGE FOR.>> I UNDERSTAND. AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND AND AS THE MARINA MANAGER, WE'RE JUST HERE TO DO OUR BEST JOB.
I REALLY OBVIOUSLY CALL ST. AUGUSTINE.
I'VE SPOKEN TO THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES JUST TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THE INFORMATION, CORRECT.
ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSION.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO HAVE A HATCHET IN OUR HANDS OR ANYTHING.
WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO OUR JOB IS TO CHARGE FOR ELECTRICITY AND DO THE RIGHT THING AS MEMBER OF THIS BOARD.
ABSOLUTELY. WHATEVER'S APPROPRIATE.
>> INTERESTING. [NOISE] YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT THE MEETING WITH THE COMMISSIONER 18TH?
>> FEBRUARY 18TH, TO SCHEDULED. YES, SIR.
>> I WILL MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO BE THERE FOR SURE.
>> I THINK WE'RE UP TO MARINA MANAGEMENT REPORT.
[9. MARINA MANAGER REPORT]
>> DECEMBER WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR THE MARINA.
WE'LL START WITH THE DECEMBER FINANCIALS. YOU YEAR OVER YEAR.
WE BROUGHT IN $11,000 MORE THAN LAST DECEMBER, AND WE REALLY CAN ATTRIBUTE THAT MOSTLY TO THE ELEVATOR.
THEY WERE WITH US FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
THEIR DOCKET WAS TO THE $2-550 A DAY.
THEY WERE WITH US FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ALL THROUGH DECEMBER.
THAT REALLY IMPACTED THAT BOTTOM LINE.
WE ALSO SAW A FEW EXTRA DICKINSON CENTER VISITORS, VOTERS THAT COME EVERY YEAR THAT BROUGHT THEIR FRIENDS WITH THEIR VOTE, AND THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME AND DRESS UP.
THEY'RE PRETTY SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR DICKINSON CENTER.
THAT WAS NICE TO SEE THEM COME.
OUR PAYROLL BUDGET WAS WE HAD A POSITIVE NOI, AND THAT WAS ALSO IMPACTED BY OUR PAYROLL BUDGET WAS WELL UNDER BUDGET.
THAT WAS MOSTLY DUE TO WE'RE TRYING TO BACK FILL AN ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR POSITION, AND SO WE ARE NOT PAYING OUT THAT PAYROLL RIGHT NOW IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, SO THAT'S HOW WE HAD THAT.
THE OPERATING BUDGET IS +24,000.
OUR PROJECTS. THE MARINA HAS A LOT OF PROJECTS THIS YEAR, SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY BUSY.
AHEAD OF SHARP DROP, WE HAD AN AWNING REPLACED AT THE BOATERS LOUNGE.
IT WAS TORN AND TOWED, SO THAT WAS REPLACED BEFORE SHRIMP DROPPED, SO IT LOOKED NICE.
THE B DOCK WATER LINES HAD BEEN REPLACED, AND WE'RE REALLY THRILLED WITH THE JOB THAT COKER CRANE DID.
THEY INSTALLED A REALLY ROBUST HANGAR SYSTEM SO THAT WE ANTICIPATE WE WON'T HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS WITH THAT WATER PIPE.
JUST FALLING DOWN BECAUSE THE WAVE ACTION IS TREMENDOUS ON B DOCK ON THE WEST SIDE.
YOU WOULDN'T THINK THAT IT IS, BUT IT IS.
THEY ALSO REPLACED THE SPICKOTS AT EACH PEDESTAL.
EACH PEDESTAL HAS A REALLY NICE SPIGOT, THE LEVER STYLE, EVERYTHING STAINLESS STEEL.
THE FUEL LINES, YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE IN THIS PICTURE HERE, THE FUEL LINES WERE SHORTENED A BIT, AND THIS WAS WARRANTY WORK.
REMEMBER LAST YEAR WHEN WE REINSTALLED THIS SECTION DUE TO THE PROBLEMS WE HAD.
THEY WERE REINSTALLED LONGER FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND THEY WERE RUBBING AT HIGH TIDE HERE.
BOTH OF THESE LINES WERE SHORTENED TO ALLEVIATE THAT RUB ON THE LINE AT HIGH TIDE.
THE BATH HOUSE RENOVATION IS IF ALL GOES WELL, WE'LL START AROUND FEBRUARY 10TH.
THAT IS GOING TO BE A COMPLETE REMODEL THE INSIDE OF THE BATHROOM.
IT'S MUCH NEEDED, SO THAT ALL THE TILE WILL COME OUT, THE TOILETS, THE VANITIES, AND EVERYTHING WILL BE REPLACED WITH FRESH FITTINGS.
IN THE INTERIM WE'LL HAVE A PORTABLE SHOWER AND TRAILER UNIT THAT WILL BE AT THE MARINA.
IT WILL BE FENCED IN WITH A LITTLE GATE WITH SIGNAGES FOR VOTERS ONLY, AND SO THE VOTERS CAN STILL SHOWER AND USE THE REST ROOMS IF ALL THAT WORK IS BEING DONE.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROJECT.
OF COURSE, THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE DREDGING ON THE 121 MEETING, AND THE CONTRACT IS BEING SIGNED AND ALL THE PAPERWORK IS UNDERWAY NOW.
BRANDS DIVERSIFY IS READY TO START, AND WE LOOK FOR THEM TO BE HERE IF THEY CAN MOBILIZE QUICKLY ENOUGH MID TO LATE FEBRUARY TO START DREDGING.
THAT WILL BE 15,000 CUBIC YARDS.
ABOUT 1,000 CUBIC YARDS THEN, THAT WAS PERMITTED LAST YEAR.
>> MORE. YES. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT, SO DOES AN WOULD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THE FUEL TANK REPLACEMENTS, DID WE FIGURE OUT A SCHEDULE ON THAT IN THE PARKING?
>> YES. THAT WOULD BE A LOT HAPPENED.
[01:00:01]
THE INVITATION TO BID IS TOMORROW FOR THE FUEL TANK, SO WE'LL KNOW A LOT MORE AFTER TOMORROW'S BID OPENING, HOW FAR OVER BUDGET OR UNDER BUDGET WE ARE.THERE ARE DIFFERENT IDEAS IN PLAY.
WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TOO MANY PROJECTS GOING ON AT ONCE.
WE DON'T WANT A LOT TORN UP WHILE WE'RE ALSO DOING THE WATERFRONT PARK PROJECT, SO THAT'S ALL BEING REALLY THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERED.
WE'LL KNOW MORE AFTER TOMORROW. A THOUGHTFUL PLAN.
>> IS THERE A PROJECTED TIME FRAME FOR COMPLETION OF THE TANKS ONCE THEY START?
>> THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT IF THE SOIL REMEDIATION, THE SOIL TESTING COMES BACK, FINE, THEY CAN HAVE EVERYTHING DONE IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS [OVERLAPPING] VERY QUICKLY.
WE WILL ALSO OBVIOUSLY, WILL SCHEDULE THAT DURING THE OFF SEASON FOR THE MARINA, SO WE WON'T DO IT DURING TRANSIT SEASON.
>> WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TRANSIT SEASON IS ALSO.
>> [LAUGHTER] TRANSIT SEASON IS WHAT WE LOOK FOR, AND THAT IS SPRING AND FALL SO IT'S MARCH, APRIL, MAY, AND THEN AGAIN, IN OCTOBER NOVEMBER, DECEMBER.
IT'S SIX MONTHS, SIX MONTHS A YEAR WHEN THE BOATS ARE MOVING NORTH AND SOUTH.
THAT IS GENERATE 75% OF THE REVENUE FOR THE DO.
>> I STILL SCREW THAT UP. [LAUGHTER]
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBER REPORT COMMENTS.
[10. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS/COMMENTS]
I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY MADE MOST OF YOURS.>> I'VE GOT SEVERAL. [NOISE] REGARDING THE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S MANDATORY THAT THE MARINA BE FUNCTIONAL DURING THE PROCESS OF WHATEVER'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE DOWN THERE, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A PARK IN OR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
THE MARINA, WE KNOW IS CRITICAL TO OUR WATERFRONT.
I'LL REITERATE THAT AGAIN, OUR WORKING WATERFRONT.
WHERE IS THE MARINE ADVISORY BOARD REGARDING PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE FOR THE AREA WHERE BRETT'S IF IT'S GOING TO BE TORN DOWN? THAT'S A QUESTION.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY COMMISSION IS IN FAVOR.
IT SEEMS TO BE FOR HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT ON WHAT GOES DOWN THERE? IF THEY TEAR BRETT'S DOWN, IF IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER RESTAURANT, THEY WANT SOME PAVILION.
REGARDING THE PAVILION IN THE DESIGN, HERE ARE QUESTIONS TO PONDER.
WHAT CAN WE USE FROM OUR HISTORY IN THAT DESIGN? THE PUBLIC DOES WANT A RESTAURANT. WE KNOW THAT.
ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT IS GETTING LOCAL TRACTION IS THE TP DESIGN THAT USED TO BE THERE WHEN IT WAS THE MARINE WELCOME CENTER.
I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IF THAT COULD BE IN CORPORATE INTO THE DESIGN, THAT WE USED TO HAVE THE MARINE WELCOME STATION AND IT COULD BE A PAVILION, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC AND WORKING WITH WHOEVER IS GOING TO DESIGN THIS THING.
BUT THE MAIN GOAL OF WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY FROM AND I HOPE THAT THE MARINE ADVISORY BOARD WOULD BE IN ON THIS.
[OVERLAPPING] IS THAT WE COLLABORATE AND BE A PART OF WHATEVER'S GOING TO GO DOWN THERE.
LIKE I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SIT ON THAT COMMITTEE.
I'VE BEEN ASKED ABOUT IT IF I WOULD SIT ON IT, BECAUSE OF THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS INCORPORATED INTO IT.
REGARDING THE TP DESIGN, WE ARE THE FIRST MARINE OR THE FIRST AREA ON THE INTER-COASTAL.
>> WHERE THE GATEWAY, SO IF WE WHATEVER I'M NOT A DESIGNER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRAW. I WISH I DID.
BUT IF WE COULD IMPLEMENT THE TP DESIGN INTO WHATEVER LIKE, IF THAT'S GOING TO BE THE TOP AND IT WOULD BE THE TOP OF THE RESTAURANT OR THE PAVILION.
BUT HAVE IT ALL IN ONE AND MOVE WHAT ALL HAVE NOW AND PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER, SO YOU'D HAVE MORE OR BRING IT ALL TOGETHER FROM WHAT YOU ALL HAVE NOW, SO THAT YOU HAVE MORE SPACE TO HAVE THINGS FOR THE VOTERS WHO ARE COMING IN.
MORE STUFF THAT THEY WANT TO BUY THAT THEY NEED ON THE BOATS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE WHAT I'M SAYING?
>>ARE YOU SAYING TO EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF [INAUDIBLE]?
[01:05:01]
>> [OVERLAPPING] YES. IT COULD BE AND IN MY OPINION, AS SOMEBODY WHO IS FROM FERNANDINA, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR HISTORY, AND OUR HISTORY NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THAT WATERFRONT.
I BELIEVE, TRULY, AFTER SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE AND I KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE, THAT IF A DESIGN WAS MADE TO LOOK LIKE THAT TP, AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WELL, THAT GLASS WOULD BE AND BE TOO HOT.
WELL, THEY'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE 60S OF WAY THINGS ARE DESIGNED, AND I KNOW IT CAN BE DESIGNED SO THAT IT WOULD NOT BE HOT.
IF THAT WAS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME ENCLOSURE IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE SITTING UNDER IT.
IF THAT'S THE PART WHERE THE SO CALLED PAVILION WOULD BE.
BUT IF IT CAN ALL BE INCORPORATED TOGETHER IN A RESTAURANT BE THERE OR WHATEVER.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME COLLABORATION, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FROM THE MARINE ADVISORY BOARD.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE ON ANYTHING TONIGHT, BUT I KNOW THAT THE CITY COMMISSION WATCHES THESE MEETINGS AND GETS THESE MINUTES, THAT WE BE ALLOWED TO BE IN THAT PROCESS.
LET ME LOOK AT MY NOTES AND MAKE SURE I'VE COVERED EVERYTHING.
THE SPACE THAT WILL BE DOWN THERE, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE WATERFRONT.
THAT WOULD BE A SPOT, AND IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM HERE CAN SAY, THAT'S WHAT I USED TO SEE WHEN I WAS A CHILD OR YOUNG, THAT'S WHAT I USED TO SEE.
BECAUSE TOO MUCH OF WHAT WE HAVE IN FERNADINA IS BEING TAKEN AWAY, AND NOTHING'S BEING REPLACED.
WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE MOVE HERE.
WITH IDEAS FROM WHERE THEY COME FROM, AND ALL THOSE IDEAS SEEM TO GET INCORPORATED, BUT THE THINGS THAT WE WANT AREN'T HERE ANYMORE. THEY'RE GONE.
I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR OUR CITY TO INCORPORATE SOME THINGS AND MAKE THINGS LOOK THE WAY WE USED TO HAVE THEM, AND TRY SO THAT WE COULD HAVE PEACE.
SAY WE HAD A PIECE LEFT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
THE SEA WALL THAT NEEDS TO SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, WHETHER IT'S ADVANTAGEOUS, THE COST OF THAT.
I KNOW WE NEED TO PROTECT THIS CITY.
BUT THERE DON'T JUST THINK WELL, A CONCRETE SEA WALL IS WHAT WE NEED.
ARE THERE OTHER TYPES OF SEA WALLS? I KNOW I SAW SOMETHING I BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE COMMISSION MEETING BEFORE, WHERE THERE WAS SOMEBODY WHO INVENTED IT, A TYPE OF SEA WALL WHERE THE WATER COMES IN COMES OUT.
IT WAS ON THE NEWS ON CBS THAT I SAW THIS.
THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING THOSE DOWN TOWARDS MIAMI.
WHOEVER THE ENGINEER IS IS GOING TO BE WORKING ON THIS, I HOPE THAT THEY'LL TAKE IN CONSIDERATION SOME OF THESE NEW PRODUCTS TO SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BETTER AND LAST LONGER TO PROTECT OUR CITY.
WE'VE HAD SOME COMMUNICATION ABOUT THAT.
IS THAT REALLY GOING TO PROTECT THE CITY, THE SEAWALL? IS IT GOING TO REALLY PROTECT THE CITY? I'M NOT A SCIENTIST. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW THAT NOT HAVING ANYTHING IS ALLOWING THAT WATER TO CONTINUE TO COME IN.
IT'S NOT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BRACE AND ALL EROSION, WATER KEEP SAND AND MOLD, THE SILT AND ALL THAT'S GOING OUT.
THEN WHEN WE DO HAVE ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH TIDES, THERE'S NOTHING TO STOP IT, NO BUFFER, SO THE WATER COMES IN AND FLOODS AND FLOODS THE AREA.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW ON THAT.
THEN THE OTHER THING IS ON FEBRUARY 24TH, I GOT INVITED AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS OF WORK SO I CAN COME.
EVERYTHING'S ALWAYS IN THE MORNING WHEN I'M WORKING.
BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LISTENING SERIES ON THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY, AND I'VE BEEN INVITED TO COME TO THAT, SO I AM GOING TO COME TO THAT.
>> BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE SOME INPUT.
THE CRAB BOARD SEEMS TO HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE TOO.
THEY SEEM TO HAVE SO MUCH PULL IN THIS CITY WITH EVERYTHING, AND WE'RE GIVING UP OUR TIME ON THESE BOARDS.
I HAD ANOTHER MEETING TONIGHT AT 6:30 THAT I COULDN'T BE ON A ZOOM MEETING FOR MY UNION.
I GIVE UP THINGS TO BE ON THESE AND WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN ONE GROUPS GETTING MORE ATTENTION THAN THE OTHER, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
THAT'S NOT RIGHT. YOU SEE THAT WE DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY HERE.
I KNOW SOMEBODY'S OUT OF TOWN AND SOMEBODY DIDN'T STAY ON THE BOARD.
BUT IN ORDER TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING, WHO WANTS TO SIT ON HERE IF YOU'RE NOT FEELING LIKE YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> WELL, THAT'S MY TURN, I GUESS.
I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY ON THE DESIGNS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
[01:10:02]
IT'S JUST LIKE I THINK THAT IN REALITY, THE SHOWERS AND THE HEADS FOR BATHROOMS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, FOR THE BOATER SHOULD BE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WHERE PART OF BRETZ IS BECAUSE THE BOATERS COME OFF THE PIERS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO WALK ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CORNER AND DOWN THE STREET AND GO TO THE SHOWER, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER WHEN IT'S A LITTLE ON THE CHILLY SIDE AND ESPECIALLY LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.THOSE SHOULD BE DOWN SOMEWHERE WHERE BRETT IS AND WHERE THAT STORE IS DOWN THERE AND THAT STUFF.
THE THINGS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
IT'S JUST LIKE THE PROBLEM WITH THE FLOODING.
MOST EVERYTHING FROM FIRST STREET TO THE RIVERFRONT EARTH'S FILL.
THAT WAS ALL SWAMPS WAY BACK IN THE OLD DAYS AND PEOPLE FILLED ALL THAT IN.
WELL, IT'S SUBSIDING, IT'S SINKING.
WHEN IT IT'S FLOODING FOR A REASON, IT'S GONE DOWN IN ITS ELEVATION SO PUTTING A WALL OUT THERE TO STOP THE WATER IS LIABLE TO TURN YOU TURN INTO A SWIMMING POOL, YOU'RE BUILDING BEHIND THE WALL.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED AS WELL.
ORIGINALLY WHEN THIS BOARD CAME INTO EXISTENCE, THEY WERE REPLACING THE ATTENUATES, THE PIERS, AND EVERYTHING FROM THE HURRICANE.
WE CAME INTO EXISTENCE AFTER ALL THE CONTRACTS WERE ALREADY LIT AND THEN ASKED TO LOOK AT THE CONTRACTS.
WE DID, AND WE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAD BEEN IN THE CONTRACT TO BUILD WERE PROBABLY NOT THE MOST LOGICAL THING TO PUT THERE.
WE HAD LONG DISCUSSIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE ON THE ATTENUATES, THE PEERS, AND ALL THAT STUFF.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THIS BOARD HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST DOING A LOT OF THIS STUFF.
THE TROUBLE IS, NOWADAYS, WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKED.
I THINK THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRUDENT FOR WHEN THEY DECIDED YOU GUYS DECIDED, WE SAID WE NEEDED THE GATE SECURITY GATES.
BUT THE PLANS FOR THOSE GATES SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THIS BOARD, SO WE COULD AT LEAST LOOK AT WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH MARINAS.
WE ALL HAVE BOATS AND MARINAS, AND WE'VE ALL HAD PROBLEMS IN THOSE MARINAS BECAUSE OF SECURITY ISSUES, HEADS THAT DIDN'T WORK, ALL ISSUES, GAS, FUEL, WHATEVER.
THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO US.
AT LEAST WE HAVE A SAY SO, OR AT LEAST A RECOMMENDATION BEFORE IT GOES BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, AND THEY JUST SAY, IT LOOKS GOOD AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
WE MADE DECISION COMMENTS BACK WHEN THE ATTENUATES WERE BEING BUILT THAT, HEY, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THIS AND YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT.
THOSE HAD TO BE ADDED INTO THE CONTRACT AND THEY WEREN'T THERE TO START WITH.
THOSE BECAME ADDITIONS THAT WERE ADD ON, WHICH YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO ADD ON, THE PRICE GOES TO THE ROOF.
IT'D BE I THINK IT BEHOOVE THE CITY COMMISSIONERS AND MARINA TO AT LEAST LET US HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE STUFF BEFORE IT GETS PASSED DOWN THE MIKE.
ANYWAY, I'VE SAID MY SAYS.THEN ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY? WELL, ANY COMMENTS?
>> NO. MY AGENDA ROSE, I APOLOGIZE.
I THINK THE LAST THING ON THE AGENDA IS THE NEXT MEETING DATE.
[11. NEXT MEETING DATE]
>> THE NEXT MEETING [OVERLAPPING] DATE WILL BE MARCH 24TH.
CORRECT. THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DISCUSS AT THAT MEETING SHRIMP FESTIVAL.
PROBABLY THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER MEETING IN APRIL IF WE CAN'T CONCLUDE ALL THE THINGS FOR THE SHRIMP FESTIVAL.
WHAT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON THERE.
SO A LOT OF TIMES WE END UP WITH AN EXTRA MEETING IN APRIL TO CONCLUDE ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE FOR THE SHRIMP FESTIVAL.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
THIS MEETING IS HEREBY ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU. [NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.