[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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FEASIBILITY AND WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR CITY .
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER .
>> 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.
>> YOU MAY BE SEATED. AS A POINT OF ORDER, DUE TO THE EXTENDED TIME WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THIS WORKSHOP, WHAT I PLAN IS TO HAVE
[5.1 PAID PARKING - The City Commission, at their December 3, 2024, Workshop directed staff to place this matter on their April 1, 2025, Workshop agenda for discussion.]
PUBLIC COMMENT AT 6:00 WHEN WE BEGIN SO WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE OUT THE END OF THE MEETING WITH SOME DIRECTION FOR OUR STAFF. WITH THAT WE WILL START WITH PRESENTATION FROM OUR STAFF AND THEN MOVE INTO DISCUSSION .>> THANK YOU MAYOR, WITH THE PARKING DOWNTOWN CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP SLATED FOR TODAY, APRIL 1ST . WHY PAY FOR PARKING ? THIS WAS A GOAL SET BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND WE HAVE ALSO PASSED BY CITY COMMISSIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE REVENUE STREAMS OUTSIDE OF LOWERING TAXES . IT IMPROVES PARK ABILITY AND IMPROVES THE TURNOVER SPACES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IT CREATES A REVENUE STREAM FOR ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS AND IT SHIFTS THE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE TAX PAYER , WHERE IT IS NOW, TO THE USER .
>> WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED . WE HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE , QUITE A FEW TIMES. I DECIDED NOT TO OPEN UP A PRESENTATION AND SAY APRIL FOOLS AND HERE WE GO. BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PAID PARKING AND ONE THING WE HAVE LOOKED AT IS THERE IS NO FREE PARKING. SOMEONE PAYS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND RIGHT NOW IT IS ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE TAXPAYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE LEARNED WE NEED A PROGRAM FOR PAID FREQUENT BENDING PARKING AND NOT REQUIREMENT. THIS IS A PAID PARKING PROPOSAL FOR PREMIUM PARK YEAR DINEEN PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA . WE NEED A PARKING PROGRAM THE BENEFITS TAX PAYERS. LOCAL RESIDENTS PAY THE TAXES TO PROVIDE WORK AND THE STRUCTURE AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR MAINTENANCE DOWNTOWN AND THERE NEEDS TO BE THE LOCAL RESIDENTS.
WE ALSO NEED A PARKING PROGRAM FOR PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND VEHICLE TURNED AROUND . IT CEASES TO BE A PARKING MANAGEMENT TOOL BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO TURNOVER FOR EMPLOYEES AND BUSINESS AND LOCALS WILL PARK IN THE PRIMARY AREA AND THERE WILL BE NO TURNOVER PARKING FOR VISITORS VISITING THE AREA . AND WE NEED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS AND IT CAN'T BE WHERE THE MONEY GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND ABYSS .
OUR COMMUNITY HAS CHANGED QUITE A BIT. AND YOU AS YOU ARE AWARE, IN THE 1970S , IT WAS A STRUGGLE WITH POPULARIZATION AROUND 7800 AND TODAY THE POPULATION IS AROUND 14,000. THE POPULATION GROWTH AND NASSAU COUNTY WAS 28,700 AND IT IS NEARLY QUADRUPLED TO OVER 100 THOUSAND . THAT GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH 138,000 IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND DOUBLE THAT BY 2050. 50 YEARS AGO WE HAD 25,000 REGISTERED VEHICLES AND TODAY THAT IS OVER 90,000 . NOT ONLY HAS THERE BEEN A GROWTH IN POPULATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN TOURISM. WE SEE 1.3 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR AND TOURISM IN THE 1970S WAS VIRTUALLY NONEXISTENT. THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED THE REBIRTH OF FERNANDINA AND BRING VISITORS TO OUR COMMUNITY. WITH 79% OF ISLAND VISITORS VISITING OUR AREA. THE DOWNTOWN IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS PEOPLE COME HERE. THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE DRIVE CARS AND THAT BRINGS APPROXIMATELY 459,000 ADDITIONAL CARS ON THE ROADS INTO OUR PARKING LOTS DESPITE A DOWNTOWN FOOTPRINT THAT HAS VASTLY REMAIN THE SAME SINCE THE 1970S . WHEN WE LOOK AT PAID PARKING, WE LOOK
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AT WHAT THE REVENUE WOULD BE USED FOR. THERE ARE CAPITAL NEEDS DOWNTOWN IN THE COMING YEARS AND THE REVITALIZATION IS A PROJECT INVOLVING THE REPLACEMENT OF SIDEWALKS, LIGHTING, AND LANDSCAPING IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR. IN ADDITION TO REPLACING STRUCTURE WHICH IS A NUMBER ONE COMMISSION PRIORITY. AND THE NEXT STEP IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE STRUCTURE AND HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT? THIS IS A POSSIBILITY FOR PAID PARKING . WE ALSO HAVE THE PAID PARKING FOR OUR SEAWALL. THIS IS OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL AND THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN EVERYDAY EXPENSES TO KEEP DOWNTOWN OPERATIONAL. YOU HAVE YOUR R&M FOR FACILITIES AND LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION AND LIGHTING. UTILITY EXPENSES WITH THE ELECTRIC BILL DOWNTOWN NEARLY $30,000 JUST TO KEEP THE POWER TURNED ON. THEN OF COURSE THE DOWNTOWN WITH STRIPING AND SIGNAGE, ET CETERA . WHEN YOU LOOK AT PAID PARKING AND WHAT IS INVOLVED IN MAINTAINING DOWNTOWN , YOU HAVE TWO APPROACHES. YOU HAVE REVENUE BY MILLAGE WHICH IS TAXES AND THEN BY PAID PARKING AND USER FEES . WE OFTEN SAY THE BURDEN TO THE TAX PAYER IS ON THE 14,000 RESIDENTS BUT OF COURSE NOT ALL RESIDENTS ARE PAYING TAXES . THERE ARE 8000 TAXPAYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CURRENT MILLAGE IS 6.3 PER TAXABLE VALUE. TO GENERATE $2 MILLION PER YEAR WE ARE LOOKING AT A 14.5 MILLAGE INCREASE OR AN INCREASE IN TAXES. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MODEL FOR PAID PARKING AND THE USER FEE WITH 1.3 MILLION VISITORS AND THE SAME OR TEEN THOUSAND RESIDENTS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT REVENUE OF 1.5 TO $2 MILLION WHICH COMES IN THROUGH ANNUAL PERMITS AND TRANSIT PARKING AND CITATIONS. LET'S DIVE INTO THE PARKING REVENUE A LITTLE BIT TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WE HAVE WORKED WITH SP PLUS AND IN THE ROOM WE HAVE WILL MORE BRICK WITH SP PLUS AND THEY HELP PROVIDE THESE REVENUE ESTIMATES FOR US. THIS IS JUST A SURFACE DIVE INTO THOSE REVENUE NUMBERS. WE ARE LOOKING AT GROSS REVENUE OF $2.2 BILLION WHICH COMES WITH THE TRANSIT FEES, ANNUAL PERMITS AND CITATIONS. ON THE ACCENTS THEY NEED EXPENSE SIDE YOU ARE LOOKING AT $237,000 FOR SALARIES AND WAGES AND PROCESSING AND A MANAGEMENT FEE . OF COURSE, WITH THOSE REVENUES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS. TRANSIENTS PROVIDE THE VISITOR COUNT THAT WE HAVE AT AN HOURLY RATE WITH AN AVERAGE OF WHAT WE SEE IN COMMUNITIES OUR SIZE. EXCUSE ME, WE LOOK AT ANNUAL PERMIT HOLDERS BECAUSE WE KNOW AN ANNUAL PERMIT FOR A LOCAL RESIDENT WOULD BE AN NECESSITY AND WE MADE AN ASSUMPTION OF 25% OF ISLAND RESIDENTS WILL SECURE THAT ANNUAL PERMIT. THESE ARE ALL ESTIMATES BUT WE FIGURED TO START LOWER RATHER THAN HIGH. IT WOULD BE 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 8:00 P.M. SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK WITH EXEMPTIONS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS DAYS. OCCUPANCY AROUND 70% WITH A FOUR CITATION REVENUE AT 5% TO 7% . IT WOULD BE AN OUTSOURCED PROGRAM AND NOT DONE BY CITY STAFF .>> THE DOWNTOWN CORE AREA AND WHERE THE PREMIUM PARKING WOULD BE HAS BEEN PROVIDED AS A PICTURE OF 90 SPOTS IN LOTS A AND B TO COMBINE TO APPROXIMATELY 660 SPACES IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1800 SPACES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND ONCE AGAIN THIS IS A PREMIUM PARKING PROPOSAL AND THIS IS FOR PAID PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE
ONLY . >> A LOT HAS CHANGED IN THE WORLD OF PAID PARKING . METERS AND KIOSKS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED AND THAT MAINTAINS A SENSE OF SPACE IN THIS HISTORIC COMMUNITY. AND WITH TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS AND IT'S A QR CODE. WE HAVE SIGNAGE ENFORCEMENT AND PAYMENT PROCESSING WERE IMPLEMENTATION CAN BE FULLY OUTSOURCED. IT GIVES THE ABILITY , WITH TECHNOLOGY, TO HAVE DYNAMIC PRICING OPTIONS . THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN ADJUST TIMES ON-THE-FLY TO MEET SUPPLY AND DEMAND. TO TURN OFF PARKING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND FLEX THE TIME FOR CHURCH TIME, ET CETERA. SO, THAT BRINGS US TO THE TAIL END OF THIS PRESENTATION. THE PLAN TO STEPS FORWARD FOR THE COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND TO PROCEED WITH AN RFP FOR PREMIUM PAID PARKING WITH THE CERTAIN ELEMENTS WE HAVE MENTIONED TO MAKE SURE THE DISCOUNTS ARE THERE TO PROVIDE BENEFIT FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO ESTABLISH A DOWNTOWN CORE
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BOUNDARY FOR PREMIUM PAID PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.FOR LICENSE REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND THE FULLY ENFORCED ENFORCEMENT OF THIS TURNKEY PROGRAM. THIS STRATEGY WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS. AN RFP WOULD BE ISSUED AND CITY STAFF WOULD EVALUATE THE RFP. THERE WOULD BE COMMUNITY BOARD ENGAGEMENT .
THERE WOULD BE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SET VENDOR WITH CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION. FUNDING WOULD HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH IT AND THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS WITH A REVENUE FUND HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AND MOVING EXPENSES WITH IT. WE WOULD DEVELOP A PAID PARKING FUND TO GO TO THE DOWNTOWN CAPITAL WITHIN THAT BUDGET WHICH WE ARE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS NOW AND THEN UPDATE THE FEE SCHEDULE TO UPDATE THESE NEW FEES. AND WE WOULD NEED NEW REVENUE LOAN WITH AN RFP FOR A NEW REVENUE LOAN . WE PLEDGE THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM PAID PARKING TO PAY BACK THAT LOAN AND THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE RFP AND VALUATION AND OF COURSE ADMISSION AND ADOPTION WOULD BE REQUIRED AS WELL. WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF SP PLUS HERE TO ENGAGE IN THIS DISCUSSION ON PAID PARKING FOR
OUR DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU MAYOR . >> THANK YOU MR. GLEASON . A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION. I WILL LEAVE IT TO FELLOW COMMISSIONERS IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF OR ST PLUS REGARDING THE
PROPOSAL WE HAVE HERE. >> COMMISSIONER TUTEN .
>> JEREMIAH, DO YOU OR DOES SP PLUS NO IN THE ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE COSTS , HOW MUCH WAS THE ANNUAL PERMIT FOR RESIDENT EXPECTED TO BE . WAS A NUMBER PUT ON THAT?
>> YES . THE INITIAL ASSUMPTION MADE WAS WITH A $100 ANNUAL PERMIT AND ONE DOLLAR PER HOUR . THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS MADE AND IT WAS JUST THAT . IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ALLOW THE VENDOR OR THE CONTRACT THAT BRINGS IN THE PROPOSAL TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THE ONE THAT FEE STRUCTURE SHOULD BE . THIS IS DONE ALL OVER THE EASTERN SEABOARD AND IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN'S AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES . THEY CAN PULL FROM THAT DATA TO ESTABLISH A RECOMMENDATION FOR THESE. ON THE SCALE, YOU NEED A CERTAIN FEE TO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT SO IT IS A BURDEN ON YOUR RESIDENCE. YOU NEED TO ALLOW THE FIRM TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> AND THAT $100 IS NOT PER HOUSEHOLD BUT PER VEHICLE?
>> PER VEHICLE BUT THERE ARE ABILITIES WITHIN THE SOFTWARE TO REGISTER MORE THAN ONE PLATE PER RESIDENT . YOU CAN REGISTER UP TO THREE PLATES PER TAXPAYER . SO, OF COURSE YOUR TAX -- YOUR LICENSE PLATE IS TIED TO AN ADDRESS AND ANOTHER VEHICLE OR TWO WITH THE SAME ADDRESS WOULD RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT
>> YOUR MICROPHONE IS ON. >> THINKS.
>> VICE MAYOR . >> OF THE 90,000 REGISTERED VEHICLES, IS THAT FROM THE DMV ? I MEAN, I'M CURIOUS LIKE -- ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ALL REGISTERED VEHICLES , INCLUDING RVS ? DOES IT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TRAILERS? DOES IT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BOATS
? >> THERE IS 90,000 REGISTERED VEHICLES IS WHAT YOU HAD A THERE. I'M JUST ASKING THINKING
ARE WE MORE THAN THAT? >> NEVERMIND .
>> PARKING LOT A AND B WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS CORE ?
>> YES . >> SO, THE CHARTER BOATS WHERE THEY PARK AND THEN ALSO AMELIA RIVER CRUISERS WHERE A LOT OF THEIR PATRONS PARK, THEY WOULD PAY BEFORE THEY WENT OUT ON THE
BOAT? >> IF THEY PARKING LOTS A AND B,
YES . >> I SEE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE REGISTERED VEHICLES, YES, THAT'S OUR --
ALL REGISTERED VEHICLES . >> RVS AND TRAILERS AND BOATS?
>> YES , WE DID NOT DRILL DOWN ANY FURTHER THAN THAT .
>> WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO DELINEATE WHAT THOSE ARE FOR USUAL DAY TODAY VEHICLES VERSUS THOSE WHO WOULD USE THE PARKING
SPACE ? >> I WOULD NEED TO TALK TO THE TAX CLERK TO SEE HOW THEY SEPARATE THOSE. IF YOU HAVE A
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LOT OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES THAT COME TO DOWNTOWN .>> I WAS JUST CURIOUS. >> COMMISSIONER POYNTER .
>> THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE COMING HERE IN THEIR CARS AND THIS IS JUST NASSAU COUNTY AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE POINT IS ON THAT. WE -- YOU KNOW, IT'S FOUR DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST TWO HOURS AND TWO DOLLARS AFTER THAT . IT'S $15 FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY MEMORIAL DAY AND LABOR DAY . A FLAT FEE OF $15 FOR THE DAY . I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NO MONEY TO TAKE DOWN THREATS AND FIX UP OUR DOWNTOWN. WHAT WE ARE PROS -- PROPOSING TO DO HERE IS TO GENERATE SOME DOLLARS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO FIX THIS WITHOUT PUTTING IT ON THE BACKS OF THE 8000 PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES HERE .
WHO PAY FOR ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE DOWNTOWN. ALL OF THE BUSHES. AND THE 1.3 21.5 MILLION PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP HERE TO USE OUR DOWNTOWNS AND USE THE PARKING SPACES, THEY ARE NOT PAYING ANY OF IT . I MEAN NO ONE HAS A PROBLEM GOING TO FORT CLIFF AND PAYING TWO DOLLARS TO WALK IN. NOBODY HAS A PROBLEM DRIVING IN FOR FOUR DOLLARS. WHY ? BECAUSE THE DOLLARS ARE USED TO FIX AND MAINTAIN JUST LIKE THEY DO WITH ALL THE PARKS. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS SUCH A REACH HERE TO ASK OTHERS THAN JUST THE TAXPAYERS OF FERNANDINA . IT'S NOT EVEN THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE ISLAND HERE EVERY DAY. WHY DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR THEM, ALSO TO SHARE IN THE EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING THIS BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN . I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION TO OTHER TIMES AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS TO OTHER TIMES. WE HAVE NO OTHER MONEY, GUYS . THIS DOWNTOWN IS NOT BEEN REFURBISHED SINCE 1970 . IT IS LOOKING OLD AND TIRED. WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PLACE . IT NEEDS TO BE BETTER THAN WHEN WE LEFT IT AND WERE NOT DOING THAT NOW . THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF THIS COMMISSION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT COMES DOWN SO IS NOT SITTING TWO OR THREE YEARS AS AN EMPTY PLACE. IT'S EITHER WE DO THIS TYPE OF THING OR YOUR TAXES WILL HAVE TO GO UP BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER -- NO ONE HAS COME UP TO ME ON ANY LEVEL AND SAID, WELL, THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IN ORDER TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES FOR THIS COMMUNITY. EVERYONE KEEPS SAYING , THERE'S GOT TO BE OTHER WAYS OF DOING IT, BUT NO ONE HAS SAID WHAT THOSE WAYS ARE. THE ONLY WAY IT CAN BE AS FEES. I MEAN, IT'S EITHER TAXES OR FEES . IF IT IS FEES , IT'S ON THE BACKS OF THE EIGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE OF FERNANDINA AND NOT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE . I AM ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE IN THE EXPENSES OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR THE 8000 TAXPAYERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, THE YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE NUMBERS NEED TO BE SOLIDIFIED BECAUSE THEY ARE ESTIMATES AND THEY COULD BE MORE AND COULD BE LESS. I WOULD CONTEND IN KEEPING WITH YOUR POINT, WHERE COULD WE FIND THE $2 MILLION ELSEWHERE? I WOULD AGREE I'VE NOT HAD OTHER SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW THIS COULD BE DONE. THIS COMMISSION FACES THE CHALLENGE OF DO WE FIND THE MONEY IN BUDGET CUTS OR DO WE FIND THE MONEY IN MILLAGE OR IN A NEW STREAM . I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FEEL ABOUT THIS IDEA.
>> COMMISSIONER MINSHEW ? >> I THINK WE NEED TO FIND A NEW STREAM AND THIS IS, TO ME, SO OBVIOUS. I LIVED IN FOUR DIFFERENT CITIES IN THREE STATES OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS . AND, IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE CITIES, I PAID PROPERTY TAXES AND, WHEN I WENT DOWNTOWN, I PAID TWO PARK . IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO. IT IS WEIRD. IT IS LIKE -- IN 1980, WHEN I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE AND OWNED A LITTLE HOUSE OVER OFF OF EMERSON , I PAID $80 PER MONTH IN 1982 PARK MY CAR. IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY IN 1980 . IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TODAY BUT
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IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY IN 1980 AND I WASN'T MAKING MUCH MONEY.AND, IN NASHVILLE , IF YOU FOUND A PARKING PLACE, YOU TOOK IT REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU WANTED TO GO IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE. YOU TOOK A PARKING PLACE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT THAT -- AND, YOU PAID FOR ALL OF THEM. I JUST THINK IT IS TIME FOR US TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN THIS CITY AND HOW MUCH OF THAT WE WANT TO PUT ON THE BACK OF THE TAXPAYERS AND HOW MUCH WE WANT TO PUT ON THE BACKS OF RESIDENTS AND BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN GENERATE REVENUES THROUGH OTHER FEES .
SO, I AM VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING NRF BE WITH A LOT MORE DETAIL THAT WE CAN THEN COME OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TALK ABOUT IN VERY SPECIFIC DETAIL. AND, THEN WE CAN -- BECAUSE FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT RENTS AND THE WATERFRONT AND THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION WITH LIGHTING AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, IT'S REALLY JUST THE FIRST PIECE OF THIS.
BECAUSE, WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS CITY HALL ? WE HAVE FAILING FACILITIES. YOU KNOW, WITH TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE , THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER AND MLK . WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUT $800,000 AND $900,000 PER YEAR INTO PATCHING THOSE FACILITIES OR WE CAN DO SOMETHING ELSE. ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE . SO, THIS REVENUE STREAM CAN ACTUALLY BE USED TO DO A LOT OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OR NEW PLANNING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE NEXT 20 YEARS OR SO . SO, I THINK IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO . LIKE I SAID, I'M ANXIOUS TO GET AN RF BE OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT IT
LOOKS LIKE . >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER
MINSHEW, VICE MAYOR . >> SO, THIS SUBJECT HAS COME UP MULTIPLE TIMES AND NORMALLY , I JUST GIVE IT A CHANCE THAT I'M NOT FOR PAID PARKING PEERED I WANT TO ENSURE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS. SO, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF I UNDERSTAND WHAT PAID PARKING IS TODAY . I JUST USED IT YESTERDAY. IT'S VERY SIMPLE, IT'S A NAP . IF YOU GO ON YOUR PHONE, STORAGE OR LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS AND IT EVEN HAS THIRD-PARTY PAYMENT . IS VERY EASY . AND, IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT AT ALL AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT PAID PARKING IS TODAY . IT'S NOT THE METERS IN FRONT OF EVERY SINGLE PARKING SPACE. SO, YOU KNOW, THINKING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT, I ALSO UNDERSTAND, AT LEAST I BELIEVE , THAT IT WON'T HURT DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES . I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL CRUSH THEM . THERE WERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT COME DOWNTOWN OUT OF SPITE AND THAT IS JUST THE CASE. MARKET DOWN, I'VE HAD PLENTY OF PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DOWNTOWN AGAIN AND I BELIEVE THEM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME DOWN HERE . I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S GOING ACROSS THE BUSINESS AND I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THAT THEORY. YOU KNOW, BY AND LARGE , WE CAN RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS GOING TO MAKE MONEY, IT IS . IS GOING TO PRODUCE MONEY . HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO PRODUCE? I DON'T KNOW , YOU WOULD HAVE TO DIG DEEPER INTO IT BUT IT WILL PRODUCE MONEY FOR THE CITY THAT WE DON'T HAVE. IN TERMS OF REVENUE WE WOULD NOT PRODUCE THROUGH AD VALOREM. DOWNTOWN FERNANDINA IS DIFFERENT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND FERNANDINA ITSELF IS DIFFERENT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT THE SIDEWALKS AND THE BUILDINGS AND YOU KNOW, THE OLD HISTORIC COURTHOUSE AND THE BEACHES AND IT IS SOMETHING TO SOMEBODY. FOR ME, FERNANDINA IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND, IT'S ABOUT THE CORBETT'S OF THE WORLD AND THEIR FAMILY WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOREVER. THE THOMPSON FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, GOING ON TO MS. MARION PHILLIPS AND HER FAMILY IN THE LINEAGE. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE LADY EDGE, IT'S A GOOD ONE TO LOOK INTO. OF COURSE EVERYBODY INVOKES THE NAME ALL THE TIME OF MS. JOANNE BEING WHEN THE SUBJECTS COME UP. AS BUSY AS I AM, I WILL OFTEN TIMES SWING IN AND TALK TO NICK WHO IS THE LAST SHRIMP BOAT BUILDER HERE . YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY, POPPA NICK, WHAT WAS THAT BUILDING BEFORE IT WAS THE BOATHOUSE OR BEFORE IT WAS THIS OR BEFORE IT WAS THAT ? HE ALWAYS TELLS GREAT STORIES IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN, BUT IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT A PERSON. THAT WAS MS. SO AND SO'S . I WOULD GO SWEEP THE FLOOR AND SHE WOULD GIVE ME A NICKEL AND I WOULD GET A POP. THAT, TO ME , IS FERNANDINA . IT'S ABOUT THE
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PEOPLE . WHETHER YOU WERE BROUGHT HERE IN A BABY CARRIAGE OR MOVING VAN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO FERNANDINA . PAID PARKING IS NOT WELCOME, IT'S NOT WELCOME AT ALL . I'M NOT GOING TO SELL OUT THE SOUL OF FERNANDINA BEACH FOR THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, I SIMPLY AM NOT GOING TO DO IT. I HAVE NOT AND NEVER WILL BE FOR PALEY -- PAID PARKING IN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH PERIOD.>> COMMISSIONER . >> MY FAMILY HAS SIX BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN AND THEY WILL ALL BE IN THE PREMIUM PARKING SPACES. I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT OUR BUSINESSES AND THAT THIS WOULD BE A DETERRENT. AS MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT THE VICE MAYOR MENTIONED, WELL, I'LL NEVER COME DOWNTOWN BECAUSE I HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING . I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY I DON'T GO DOWNTOWN BECAUSE I CAN'T FIND ANY PARKING. THAT IS CONVENIENT . NOW, LET'S NOT FORGET , WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PREMIUM PARKING AND SO, THERE IS STILL NOT PAID PARKING IN PARKING LOT C AND D AND BROOME STREET AND ALL OF THE STREETS OUTSIDE OF ASH TO ALACHUA. YOU STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT USE PAID PARKING, YOU HAVE TO WALK. THE 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO COME HERE WILL HAVE ZERO ISSUE WITH COMING HERE AND PAYING ONE DOLLAR PER HOUR OR TWO DOLLARS PER HOUR OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS. THEY WILL HAVE ZERO ISSUES WITH DOING THAT . SO, I KNOW PERSONALLY BY 10:00 IN THE MORNING THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS ACROSS FROM SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES ARE COMPLETELY FULL . THERE IS NO BUSINESS OPEN YET AND IT IS ALL CITY STAFF . NOT CITY STAFF, IT'S MY STAFF AND OTHER PEOPLE'S STAFF WHO ARE FILLING UP ALL OF THE QUOTE PREMIUM PARKING SPACES. WELL, GUESS WHAT , MY STAFF IS NOT GOING TO PARK OUT IN FRONT OF CAFE CARIBOU LIKE THEY DO NOW . THEY WILL GO TO BROOME STREET AND LEAVE THOSE SPACES OPEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO COME DOWN, HAVE LUNCH, GET BACK IN THEIR CAR AND DRIVE AWAY AND THEN ANOTHER CAR WILL COME IN . I MEAN, THAT'S HOW THIS WORKS . EVERY CITY THAT IS PUT THIS IN, BUSINESSES, AT THE END OF THE DAY, SAY IT IS BETTER FOR BUSINESS BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A TURN . THE CARS ARE TURNING OVER WHEN THEY WEREN'T BEFORE . SO, THAT IS JUST TO ADDRESS IT'S GOING TO HURT DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT TO BE THE CASE. >> COMMISSIONER MINSHEW .
>> I WOULD JUST SAY WE ARE LOOKING AT PUTTING PARKING ON 700+ PARKING SPACES , BUT I THINK THE PRESENTATION SHOWED
>> 1000 OR MORE PARKING SPACES THAT WILL NOT BE UNDER THE PAID PARKING UMBRELLA. SO, THERE IS STILL AMPLE PARKING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO PAY OR FEEL THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY.
THAT IS ACTUALLY AN EASY FIX. AND , PEOPLE ARE PARKING IN THOSE AREAS TODAY, ALREADY . IT'S NOT LIKE WE ARE PUSHING PARKING OUT SOMEWHERE THAT THERE IS NO PARKING. PARKING LOT C A D WILL NOT BE IN THE IN CATCHMENT AREA AND SO BOAT TRAILERS WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. AND, IT IS JUST -- IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO KEEP OUR CITY THE WAY WE WANT IT TO LOOK AND FEEL AND HAVE THE SENSE OF PLACE. AND, A FEW SIGNS WITH QR CODES ON IT FOR HOW YOU ARE GOING TO PAY YOUR PARKING IS NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT . AND, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I JUST THINK WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE ANYMORE AND WE'VE GOT TO DO IT BECAUSE WE NEED THE REVENUE , WE JUST NEED THE REVENUE BEFORE GOING TO KEEP THIS CITY THE WAY WE WANT IT TO BE AND TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT
BETTER . THANK YOU . >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ,
COMMISSIONER TUTEN . >> I AM CURIOUS TO SEE AN RFP WITH WHAT THIS REVENUE ACTUALLY MEANS BECAUSE I AGREE, THAT CORE BOX NEEDS MORE THAN 1000 FREE SPACES OPEN IN. AND, I THINK -- I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE TALK ABOUT IT . WE NEED TO SAY THE WORDS PREMIUM PARKING . WE NEED TO STOP SAYING THE WORDS FREE PARKING BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUCH THING. WE NEED TO SAY
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PARKING THAT RESIDENTS MAINTAIN AND GIVE AWAY FOR FREE . THAT'S WHAT WE DO RIGHT NOW . WE PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS -- IN FACT DURING THE COMMISSION THINKING THE REGULAR MEETING WE HAVE $4 MILLION TO USE FOR PAVING. $4 MILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS GO TO PAVING AND ONE OF THEM IS PARKING LOT A WHICH IS ABOUT $45,000 . WE ARE PAYING FOR THAT AND GIVING IT AWAY FOR FREE .AND, WE CAN CONTINUE TO GIVE IT AWAY FOR FREE , OR WE CAN CONTINUE TO LEAVE -- WHAT WAS THE PROJECTED REVENUE?
>> $1 MILLION ? >> $2 MILLION .
>> $2 MILLION? IS THAT NET OR GROSS?
>> IT IS NET . >> I DON'T KNOW , MY IN-LAWS OWN THE PLACE HERE FOR 50 YEARS . FERNANDINA, I DIDN'T START COMING HERE UNTIL THE 1980S AND THEY WERE HERE IN THE EARLY 70S AND FERNANDINA IS NOT THE SAME PLACE BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF FERNANDINA . AND, WE ARE INUNDATED WITH VEHICLES . IF WE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE BEAUTY OF THIS, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO SOME KIND OF PARKING MANAGEMENT . AND, WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE IN 2017 AND 2010 , AND ALL THE OTHER STUDIES COME I THINK IT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY . TO INCLUDE LICENSE PLATE READERS THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE ENFORCED. THERE IS STILL ONE SIGN THAT I FOUND WHILE WALKING AROUND LOOKING AT PARKING . THERE IS STILL ONE SIGN THAT SAYS A THREE-HOUR PARKING LINE -- LIMITED WHICH WE DON'T ENFORCE. WE AGREED ON THAT BECAUSE RESEARCH SHOWS IF YOU FORCE CARS TO TURN OVER, IT IS BETTER FOR BUSINESS . BECAUSE I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH IN THE LAST TWO YEARS -- I MEAN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. LICENSE PLATE READERS CAN IN FORCE THAT . AND, AS COMMISSIONER POYNTER SAID, MOVE EMPLOYEES . THE PARKING LOT AT ROME AND SECOND, THAT IS ALWAYS EMPTY, THAT LOT. PUSH EMPLOYEES OUT TO THAT LOT AND HAVE THEM WALK TWO BLOCKS AND LEAVE PARKING OPEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THE BUSINESSES. I DON'T KNOW , I COUNTED UP ALL OF THE SERVICE LOTS AND I WAS OVER FOUR ACRES. WE HAVE FOUR ACRES OF LAND IN DOWNTOWN DEVOTED TO SERVICE LOTS AND, WE ARE MAINTAINING ALL OF THOSE LOTS AND GIVING THE PARKING AWAY FOR FREE . WE COULD DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THAT LAD. -- LAND. WE COULD SELL THE LAND FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OR DEVELOP THE LAND AND COLLECT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN TAX. I DON'T KNOW , I ALSO THINK THE RISK OF DOING THIS IS RELATIVELY LOW . WERE NOT BUILDING A BUILDING OR TEARING A BUILDING DOWN . WE ARE INVESTIGATING AN ALTERNATIVE REVENUE STREAM. IN A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE , IF WE DON'T LIKE IT , WE CAN MODIFY IT OR CHANGE IT OR GET RID OF IT
ENTIRELY. >> IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE .
>> ACTUALLY, IT IS ROCKET SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS AROUND
PARKING ARE FASCINATING >> YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON .
THANK YOU . >> I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH ONE OTHER PIECE THAT SOLIDIFIES THE POSITION THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. I'M PROUD TO SAY THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS HERE WERE ALL IN TALLAHASSEE LAST WEEK LOBBYING .
>> I WASN'T THERE, I WAS SICK .
>> MY APOLOGIES COMMISSIONER TUTEN . WE WERE ABLE, AT LEAST AS IT STANDS NOW ABLE TO SECURE $2 MILLION IN THE HOUSE AND $1 MILLION IN THE SENATE FOR OUR SEAWALL AND WELL MILLION DOLLARS FOR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AND AS IT STANDS NOW COULD BE TEMPORARILY DEFERRED . IT HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE AND AS WE SAID EARLIER, IT'S EITHER THROUGH MILLAGE OR CREATIVE BUDGET CUTS WHICH MEANS KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR MILLAGE LATER OR SOME VIABLE REVENUE STREAM . FOR THOSE WHO MAY OPPOSE THIS , I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE YET TO SEE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WILL NET $2 MILLION PER YEAR THAT WILL BE
[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]
AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION . I SEE NO MORE COMMISSIONER LIGHTS ON AND UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE TO ADD FROM STAFF, WE CAN HEAD INTO PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER THAN EXPECTED.>> VERY GOOD. FIRST UP , I HAVE MR. KEVIN LEARY.
>> KEVIN LEARY 320 SOUTH NINTH STREET. IT IS INTERESTING THAT MS. MINSHEW LIVED IN FOUR PLACES AND PAID PARKING FEES AND
[00:35:08]
DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. I WAS BORN A LITTLE TOWN CALLED FERNANDINA BEACH AND NEVER HAD A PARKING FEE . A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE ASSIGNED AND WE HAVE SIGNAGE THAT STATES THREE-HOUR PARKING BUT IT'S NOT BEEN IN FORCE, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORDS. I'M JUST CURIOUS . WERE GOING TO PASS A RULE TO CHARGE MONEY AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN ENFORCE THE RULES ON THE BOOKS.I HAVE PICTURE AFTER PICTURE OF VARIOUS SHOP OWNERS THAT PARK IN FRONT OF THEIR OWN SHOPS WHICH DOESN'T SEEM SMART FOR BUSINESS NOR OUR PARKING SITUATION. AND, MR. POYNTERMENTION HIS EMPLOYEES OCCUPY THE PARKING AREA ON BROOM AND SECOND BEHIND THE LIBRARY. IT SEEMS KIND OF BASIC TO ME THAT IF THOSE PEOPLE DIDN'T PARK IN THOSE AREAS AND IF SHOP OWNERS DIDN'T PARK AND WE ENFORCED THE PARKING LIMIT , WE WOULD HAVE MORE PARKING .
MAYBE THAT'S TOO BASIC . I THINK WE NEED TO START AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE MR. POYNTER MENTION WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY . I FIND THAT BIZARRE AND WE LIVE ON AN ISLAND VOTED THE TOP 10 DIAMOND ALL THE TIME IN OUR BEACHES ON THE TOP 10 BEACHES. WE LOCALS HAVE PUT UP WITH THE RAT RACE OF FERNANDINA AND THE LINE OVER THE BRIDGE BEING BACKED UP TO ATLANTIC AVENUE. WE DEAL WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS ON A DAILY BASIS AND NOT ALL OF US PROFITED FROM THE BOOM THAT OCCURRED ON AMELIA ISLAND AND WE GET WHAT FALLS UPON US WHERE WE CANNOT FIND A PARKING SPOT. WE HAVE TWO LAUNCH OUR BOAT AND CAN'T FIND A PLACE
TO PARK THE TRAILER. >> THANK YOU MISTER LEARY.
>> PURPOSES, CLAPPING OR BOOING IS TO BE KEPT TO YOURSELF, PLEASE .
>> MARY PHILLIPS AT 726 TOP STREET IN FERNANDINA BEACH , FLORIDA. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. MR. POYNTER AND MS. MINSHEW , I BELIEVE YOU ARE BEHIND THIS. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PAID PARKING .
SAINT AUGUSTINE IS NOT WELCOMING AND IT'S LIKE A ZOO THERE .
PEOPLE KEEP COMING AND YOU KEEP INVITING THEM HERE . YOU TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, YOU NEED TO CUT THE BUDGET. YOU JUST HIRED , WHAT'S HER NAME, LISA OVER HERE . WHERE'S THAT MONEY COMING FROM AND WHERE DID YOU GET THAT OUT OF THE BUDGET. AND MR. POYNTER, ME AND YOU HAD A PHONE CONVERSATION AND YOU SAID THIS WOULD HELP WITH THE TAXES. THAT'S BLOWING SMOKE AND YOU ARE NOT BLOWING SMOKE UP ME ABOUT THAT. THERE IS MONEY IN THAT BUDGET AND IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT IT, YOU WOULD FIND A WAY AND NOT CHARGE PEOPLE. I'M NOT PAYING PARKING IN TOWN. WE'VE HAD METERS HERE BEFORE AND WALK ALONG THE SIDEWALK AND YOU WILL SEE WHERE THEY WERE CUT UP. I'M FROM HERE AND I'M SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE TELLING US HOW WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE FERNANDINA BEACH. IF I HAD MY WAY, I WOULD PUT UP THE DRAWBRIDGE AND TELL PEOPLE WHETHER THEY CAN COME ACROSS THE DRAWBRIDGE OR NOT . THAT'S HOW SICK I AM OF THIS. HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU PAY FOR THIS STUDY. HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR THAT? HAVE YOU TOLD THE PUBLIC THAT? I COME IN HERE FULL DOUBLED BECAUSE I MET. I CAN TELL YOU AS LONG AS I HAVE BREATH IN MY BODY, THAT AIN'T HAPPENING . AND MR. POYNTER, YOU CAN ASK SMOG ALL DAY LONG AND I WILL SIT HERE AND ARGUE WITH
YOU. >> NO PAID PARKING. THANK YOU MR. AYSCUE. I KNOW YOU ARE HERE TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF FERNANDINA
FOR WHAT IT IS. >> HOW MUCH SHOULD WE PAY FOR THE WORK WE DID TO GET THIS PROPOSAL?
>> THE REVENUE? >> HOW MUCH MONEY DID THE CITY
DIDN'T GET THAT WRONG. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS KATIE KOO YABBA . SO, PAID PARKING IS A VERY BAD IDEA . I AM FAIRLY NEW TO THIS AREA, ABOUT FIVE YEARS AND FERNANDINA BEACH IS ONE OF THE LAST FRONTIERS OF WELCOMING FLORIDA WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF PAID PARKING. WITH REMOTE PAY OR
[00:40:03]
WHATEVER . YOU COME HERE AND RELAX AND ENJOY THE CITY AND PAID PARKING IS A VERY BAD IDEA. WE DID NOT HAVE PAID PARKING HERE BEFORE THE CITY MANAGED AND THE RESIDENTS HERE MANAGED, SO WHAT HAS CHANGED ? IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS ALWAYS A PROJECT TO FINANCE . HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BRINGING IN INVESTORS TO FINANCE THESE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE? MAYBE THE CITY NEEDS TO BE MORE FRUGAL ON MANY ISSUES INSTEAD OF ALWAYS ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.AND , PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND THE PAY PROPERTY TAXES, ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY WITH THE HIGHEST MILLAGE OF THIS AREA , I THINK IT IS LUDICROUS TO ASK THEM FOR MORE MONEY TO PAY FOR PARKING ON TOP OF IT. SO, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I AM VERY MUCH OPPOSED AND I BELIEVE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE. WE DO NOT WANT THIS IDEA , IT'S A BAD IDEA. PARKING FEES ARE TAXES , JUST A DIFFERENT NAME. AND , BLACKMAILING PEOPLE BY SAYING , POYNTER, YOU EITHER AGREE TO THIS OR WE RAISE YOUR TAXES .
THAT IS NOT KIND OR NICE. SO, ANOTHER POINT I WANT TO BRING IS THAT ENFORCEMENT IS ALSO COSTLY . ALL OF THOSE THINGS ADD MORE COSTS THEN ADDED BENEFIT . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MS. KATE. NEXT UP MR. VINSON .
>> PETE STEPHENSON 16217 ISLAND WAY IN FERNANDINA BEACH. LET ME START WITH A DIFFERENT THOUGHT , THIS CITY IS STARTING TO FALL APART . WE HAVE NOT BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE ALREADY OWN. THE COST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT GOING ON A LINEAR BASIS , IT IS GOING UP EXPONENTIALLY. AT SOME POINT THOSE BUILDINGS WILL BE AT RISK FOR NOT BEING REPAIRABLE . ALL THE WAY UP TO MAYBE SECOND OR THIRD STREET AND WE'VE GOT TO START FOCUSING ON THAT. THE PARKING -- WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TONIGHT AT LEAST OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE IN ANOTHER SOLUTION.
I HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHY THEY DON'T WANT PARKING BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN FIVE PEOPLE WALK UP HERE AND SAY THAT HERE IS ANOTHER WAY OF DOING IT . PROVIDE THAT AND YEAH, WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT IT . I LOOK AT IT AS AN IDEA THAT IS THROWN OUT. IT HAS SOME QUANTITATIVE ELEMENTS TO IT AND SO WE KINDA HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT CAN DO. IT CAN SOLVE UPWARDS OF $2 MILLION PER YEAR IN REVENUE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CITY . THAT IS $2 MILLION THAT DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO THE TAX BASIS. WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE MILLAGE RATE JUST FOR THAT. YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE PAVING AND THE TREES AND THE SHRUBBERY AND SO FORTH DOWNTOWN . I THINK THERE IS OTHER THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE THAT IS WORTH LOOKING AT. I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK AT OTHER THINGS. THIS IS NOT A PARTICULARLY BICYCLE FRIENDLY DOWNTOWN . YOU TAKE YOUR HANDS IN YOUR LIFE ON A BICYCLE ON CENTER STREET . WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OTHER WAYS THAT TEND TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES DOWNTOWN, WHEREVER WE CAN. MAYBE EVEN THE PAID PARKING MIGHT GIVE US A REVENUE SOURCE TO GO AND DO SOME OF THAT STUFF. THE OTHER THING IS, IF YOU DO CHARGE PARKING , YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE MIX OF WHO IS USING THOSE PARKING SPACES . I SAY THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF GROWING THE REVENUE STREAM FOR THE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN BECAUSE NOW OTHER PEOPLE CAN GO AND USE IT. I CAN'T PROVE IT JUST YET, BUT I THINK IT'S A POSITIVE THING. I DON'T KNOW THE STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF SPACES THAT ARE CONSUMED -- I WILL SAY BY THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, BUT IT HAS GOT TO BE MORE THAN 100 AND IS PROBABLY MORE THAN 300 . SO, THOSE ARE SPACES THAT WILL BE FREED UP FOR A GOOD PART OF THE BUSINESS DAY THAT I THINK YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ITEMS WITH ALTERNATIVE FEEDBACK WHEN YOU USE THAT AS A CONSIDERATION. THE OTHER THING IS THING THING WE KIND OF HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE WANT TO DEAL WITH EVERYTHING WITH CONFRONTATION . I THINK WE WANT TO LOOK AT THIS WITH GOOD AND BAD POINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE EQUATION. I DON'T DISAGREE THERE ARE VALID POINTS BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE . I THINK WE NEED TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND SIT DOWN AND WORK TOWARD A
COMPROMISE , THANK YOU . >> THANK YOU MR. STEPHENSON .
NEXT WE HAVE CAPTAIN ALAN MILLS. >> ALAN MILLS 1425 GROUP STREET
[00:45:06]
, FERNANDINA BEACH . I'VE BEEN THERE LONG TIME AND WE DID HAVE PAID PARKING AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY CUT THEM OFF. YOU HAD TO PUT A QUARTER IN AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. YOU JUST HAD TO PUT A QUARTER IN. IT WAS -- WE DIDN'T HAVE A BIG TOURIST TOWN BACK THEN. MY CONCERN IS WHAT ABOUT THE CITY TAXPAYERS LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS TO IN HERE OUR WHOLE LIFE . HOW ABOUT THE MARINA PEOPLE THAT HAVE SLIPS , WHAT ABOUT THOSE GUYS? AND THIS COUNCIL, FIVE YEARS AGO , ONE OF YOUR GUYS SAID, ROLLBACK TAXES. WE NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PAVED ROADS AND CUT THE BUDGET BACK. YOU CUT THE TAX MILLAGE BACK, I BELIEVE.AND MISTER ROSS SAID IT WOULD WRITE YOU IN THE BUTT IN HERE WE ARE AND IT'S BITING US IN THE BUTT . NOW, WE SHOULD MAKE THE TAXPAYERS PAY FOR THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT. I GO A LOT OF PLACES AND THERE IS PAID PARKING, BUT YOU'VE GOT THE CITY PEOPLE AND THEY SHOULDN'T PAY FOR THIS . YOU KNOW, WE PAY FOR THE ROAD AND WE PAY FOR THINGS ALL THE TIME AND YET THESE PEOPLE COME AND HELP THEMSELVES TO IT. IT'S A TOUGH DECISION . BY THEM ROLLING BACK THE TAXES WHATEVER IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO , IT BUILDS UP IN FIVE YEARS LATER HE COULD HAVE PAID FOR IT . THAT'S WHAT I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH OUR BUDGET AND THE MARINA BUDGET TOO. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE HAVING A COMPANY PAYING FOR THE MARINA AND MANAGING THE MARINA AND YOU COULD SAVE ALMOST $200,000 AND THE PEOPLE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF IT FOR US . THAT'S $200,000 IN THE CITY'S BUDGET . THERE IS A LOT OF BUDGET TO BE CUT .
>> THANK YOU CAPTAIN MILLS . >> AND THIS IS JUST TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION FOR AN RFP . IF THE RFP DOESN'T PAN OUT, MAYBE WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, IT DOESN'T WORK. AS MOST OF US HAVE SAID HERE, WE NEED TO START SOMEWHERE. THAT BEING SAID , I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM MISTER RIVERA.
>> I AM WALTER MARLBOROUGH , 31 SOUTH FIFTH STREET . I LIVE HERE IN DOWNTOWN . I WAS LOOKING AT THE HOURS OF WHAT IT WOULD BE FOR ME TO STAY HERE DOWNTOWN AND HAVE MY KIDS WHO ALSO LIVE HERE AS WELL DOWNTOWN . IT LOOKS LIKE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 AND 10:00 A.M. THINKING I HAVE A SON HE WORKS NIGHTS AND SO HE SLEEPS FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. . SO, IT LOOKS LIKE HE HAS TO PAY TO SLEEP FOR HIS CAR TO BE IN THAT SPOT. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED VOUCHERS AS WELL. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL WORK OUT . I'M OPPOSED TO THIS AS A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT. GOING TO TAMPA -- I MEAN, TRYING TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVES , IF THERE IS SOME WAY THAT THAT 1.5 MILLION TOURISTS THAT COME TO OUR CITY THAT THEY COULD BE IDENTIFIED SOMEHOW THROUGH THEIR LICENSE PLATES AND WE CAN CAPTURE THAT AS THEY ARE COMING ACROSS INTO OUR CITY THAT THEY CAN -- JUST LIKE THE TOLLBOOTHS -- NOT AN ACTUAL TOLLBOOTHS BUT THEY CAPTURE THE LICENSE AND SEND A FEE. MAYBE THAT IS AN ALTERNATIVE OF HOW WE CAN CAPTURE INSTEAD OF CITY RESIDENTS HAVING TO PAY. THAT WE CAPTURE THAT 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE . I DON'T THINK 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE COME TO THIS DOWNTOWN ONLY . THEY GO DOWN TO THE OMNI AREA AS WELL AND THERE IS NO PAID PARKING IN THE COUNTY . SO, I THINK A LOT OF THAT 1.5 MILLION FOLKS DON'T ALL COME TO OUR DOWNTOWN AREA. SO, I THINK THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES . WE JUST HAVE TO BE CREATIVE ON HOW WE LOOK AT THINGS . I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU DID BRING THIS UP SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY IN HERE WHO IS GOING TO HAVE AN IDEA. BUT, I THINK THE DOWNTOWN PARKING IS NOT A GOOD IDEA AND I OPPOSE IT. THANK YOU.
[00:50:01]
>> HI . MY NAME IS ADRIANA 444 TERRAPIN AVENUE. I HAVE THE CUBAN RESTAURANT AND I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE COMMUNITY IN DOWNTOWN FERNANDINA. PLACES LIKE THE GREEN TURTLE THAT RESIDENTS COME ON THE DAILY IF NOT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY OR SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. I FEAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS WILL IMPACT OUR BUSINESS. PLACES LIKE HISPANIA WITH THE HIGH IN PLACES, PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO BE THE COST BECAUSE IT'S A TREAT. PLACES LIKE OURS WHERE PEOPLE COME FOR THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND A FIVE DOLLAR COFFEE, WHICH I KNOW IS EXPENSIVE TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT STILL, THAT MIGHT
IMPACT US. >> I HAVE TO SAY THIS THAT AS FAR AS THE EMPLOYEES GO , IN PREMIUM PARKING . PLEASE, LET'S NOT FORGET WHAT THE SERVICE INDUSTRY BRINGS TO DOWNTOWN . WE WALK OUT OF OUR KITCHENS AND OUR SHOPS AND SPEND MONEY DOWNTOWN TOO. OUR MONEY IS JUST AS GREEN AND TO ACT LIKE WE NEED TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE PREMIUM PARKING AREA LIKE A BUNCH OF STRAY CATS IS JUST NOT FERNANDINA. WE GET OUT OF OUR KITCHENS AND WE GO TO THE TURTLE OR WE GO TO SCULLY'S. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE NOT PUTTING UP THE MONEY WE JUST GOT. WE GOT THE TIPS IN OUR POCKET AND WE ARE LITERALLY WALKING DOWN THE STREET TO SPEND THE MONEY AT A LOCAL BUSINESS. PLEASE HAVE CONSIDERATION AND RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK DOWNTOWN AND THE PEOPLE SERVING YOU YOUR FOOD IN YOUR COFFEE AND EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE LIVES TOO , THANKS . >> THANK YOU.
>> MS. SHEILA COATES . >> SHEILA CÔTE 5350 INDIGO STREET . LET ME JUST FIRST SAY THAT I'M NOT A FAN OF PAID PARKING , BUT AS A TAXPAYER, I DO UNDERSTAND THE OBLIGATIONS WE HAVE WITH THE ASSETS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN THIS CITY AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE. ALSO, I DON'T MIND PAYING MY TAXES BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KEEP THEM AT A REASONABLE FUNCTION. SOMETIMES LAST FALL, I HOPE YOU GUYS WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS WHAT KIND OF LOOK AT IT FROM A STRATEGIC PLAN TOO AND NOT WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW BUT WHAT WE MIGHT NEED IN FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS . I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TOWARDS HAVING SOME SORT OF SHUTTLE SERVICE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY PARKING SPOTS WE HAVE HERE AND HOW MANY PARKING SPOTS PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR , IF THEY ARE GOING TO PAY ON THE MACHINES, SOMEBODY WILL BE FILLING THEM UP AND WE WILL HAVE MORE AND MORE AND MORE CARS DOWNTOWN. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE -- I APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS TARGETED FOR AN AREA AND NOT EVERYWHERE SO THAT THERE IS THAT . I WOULD HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING TAXES -- IF YOU ARE A TAX PAYER AND YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT DESIGNATION, I WOULD HAVE CONCERNS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE HOUSES IN THAT CORRIDOR , SOME OF THEM DO NOT HAVE DRIVEWAYS TO PARK THEIR CARS AND SO STREET PARKING IS KIND OF THEIR LIFE , RIGHT? OR, PART OF THEIR JUST HOW THEY CAN PARKING BE AT THEIR HOUSE . SO, WHEN WE CONSIDER THOSE THINGS, THAT'S IMPORTANT. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO NOT HAVING SO MANY CARS DOWN HERE . WHEN YOU HAVE TO WALK TWO OR THREE BLOCKS AWAY , THERE IS NOT AS MUCH TRAFFIC AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT . I KNOW THIS IS A HARD TOPIC FOR PEOPLE . I WOULD NEVER WANT TO SEE PARKING AT OUR BEACHES. I CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR A COUPLE OF PLACES WHERE WE HAVE FACILITIES AND THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED THAT ARE BIG PUBLIC PLACES , THAT MIGHT BE FOR THAT . BUT, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT LIVING HERE IS THAT THERE IS -- THERE IS NOT THAT HUGE DIVIDE , IN SOME RESPECTS FOR THE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS AND THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT. BUT KEEP THAT IN
MIND , THANK YOU. >> NEXT UP MISTER PAUL LORI.
>> GOOD EVENING , GOOD AFTERNOON, PAUL LORI 11 SELF SEVEN STREET IN FERNANDINA. I WILL STAND APPEAR FOR MY THREE
[00:55:01]
MINUTES AND WILL PROBABLY BE ABSENT OF WORDS A LOT BECAUSE I AM THINKING I'M REALLY ASTOUNDED OF HEARING ABOUT PAID EACH PARKING AGAIN. IT'S LIKE A -- IT'S ALMOST LIKE A PERENNIAL FLOWER THAT JUST KEEPS COMING BACK AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.WITH A FROSTED DIES FOR A WHILE AND COMES BACK AGAIN. MY CONCERN IS 2050. I MIGHT NOT BE HERE THINKING I PROBABLY WON'T BE HERE, BUT WHAT REVENUE STREAM WILL THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS FIND THEN TO KEEP UP THINGS THAT ARE MISMANAGED FROM THE PAST INSTEAD OF TRYING TO STOP FOR A SECOND AND MANAGE THE STUFF THAT WAS ALREADY MISMANAGED AND FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION. NOW, I COME TO THE PODIUM WITH ABSOLUTELY NO SOLUTION BUT I ONLY DO SO BECAUSE I NEED TO HEAR A DISCUSSION . A DISCUSSION WITH WHERE OUR LEADERS ARE GOING WITH THE SUBJECT . IT IS GOING TO CHANGE ANOTHER ASPECT OF OUR CITY. I AM GLAD I HEARD ONE COMMISSIONER UP HERE STAND PRETTY STEADFAST ABOUT NO PAID PARKING . SOMETIMES SOME THINGS ARE NOT WORTH TRAVELING ON .
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOWNTOWN PARKING .
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT DOWNTOWN PARKING OR BEACH PARKING OR WHATEVER. YOU'RE GOING TO PUT PAID DOWNTOWN PARKING AND CALL IT PREMIUM AND GIVE IT ALL THE BUZZ NAMES YOU CAN GIVE IT.
DYNAMIC SOLUTIONS AND DYNAMIC PARKING . WHAT IT TURNS OUT TO AS IT WILL BE PAID DOWNTOWN PARKING . THE COUNTY WILL JUMP ON IT AND WILL BE BEACH PARKING . THE CITY WILL GO INTO THAT ASPECT AND IT WILL BE PAID PARKING DOWN AT OUR BEACHES .
WHEN DOES IT STOP? YOU KNOW, I HAS TO SAY -- HAVE TO SAY IS A RESIDENT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND I'M WHOLLY AGAINST ANY PAID PARKING . DOWNTOWN, AT THE BEACH, ANYWHERE . I WANT TO DRIVE AROUND AND YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE FABRIC .
I HAVE TO TELL YOU IT DOESN'T IMPACT ME FINANCIALLY AT ALL.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME , IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT AND THE PEOPLE THAT IT WILL CHANGE. I WATCH AS THEY COME OUT OF THE MERMAID BAR AND THEY ARE HANGING OUT AT THE FLORIDA HOUSE AFTER WORK AND SOCIALIZING AND THAT PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN . THEY PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO SAY I'VE GOT TO GET HOME BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE PARKING. I'VE GOT IN MY -- TO GET IN MY CAR AND GO HOME . YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FROM YOUR ACTIONS IF YOU IMPLEMENT PAID BEACH PARKING . THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE MS. LISA WEST.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING , I AM LISA WEST AT 614 ASH STREET . MY HUSBAND AND I OWN THE ADDISON ON AMELIA ISLAND. IT'S A 14 ROOM BED-AND-BREAKFAST AT THE CORNER OF SEVENTH AND -- AND I MET BASICALLY ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS . WE HAVE TWO DEDICATED PARKING SPACES ON OUR PROPERTY WITH NO ROOM TO ADD PARKING SPACES ON THE PROPERTY . THEREFORE OUR GUESTS RELY ON PARKING ALONG ASH STREET WHEN THEY STAY WITH US.
THEY COME AND CHECK IN AND USUALLY NEVER GET INTO THEIR CAR AGAIN UNTIL THEY LEAVE. IF THEY MOVE THEIR CAR, THEY LOSE THE RISK OF LOSING THE PARKING SPACE TO PATRONS AT THE PATIO AND WE DO CAUTION THEM TO KEEP THEIR CAR WHERE IT IS SO YOU HAVE A PLACE TO PARK. WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT OUR NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR ALLOWS OUR GUESTS TO PARK IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE AS WELL WHICH GIVES US AN ADDITIONAL FOUR SPACES AND WE DO NEED IT . I AM MORE ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION . WE ARE THE ONLY LODGING PROPERTY ALONG ASH STREET OR EVEN WITHIN THE CENTRALIZED DISTRICT AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS ON EIGHTH STREET OR FURTHER SOUTH ON SEVENTH STREET . AND, WHAT WOULD THIS DO TO OUR GUESTS? WHERE DO I TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PARK AND HOW WOULD WE TRANSFER PAID PARKING TO A GUEST WORDS INC. INTO THEIR ROOM RATE.
ONE OF THE DRAWS TO STAY WITH US IS FREE PARKING AND THE FACT THEY CAN WALK DOWNTOWN AND GO TO THE BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS AND LISTEN TO MUSIC AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING INTO THEIR CAR . I'M ASKING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION .
>> TO YOUR POINT, MR. LISTEN , COULD YOU PULL UP THE MAP WERE NOT GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO SEVENTH STREET TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION. SIX SO, ONCE AGAIN , TO THE CONVERSATION POINT
[01:00:14]
EARLIER, THE POINT OF THIS EVENING IS TO GO FOR WAS FOR POLE THE NEW PROPOSAL TO SEE IF THERE IS FEASIBILITY . TO POSSIBLY CARVE OUT ONE MORE STREET OR USING DIFFERENT RATES ARE HAVING RESIDENT CARVEOUTS IS ALL ON THE TABLE. THIS IS JUST TO SEE , CAN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. ABSOLUTELY THERE WOULD BE CONSIDERATION FOR THAT AND I BELIEVE THE CITY IS SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT BUSINESSES COULD BE IMPACTED. TO MAKE A CROWN OR ARGUMENT FOR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK DOWNTOWN , THERE IS NOTHING THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM WALKING TWO BLOCKS AND WITH MY BUSINESS WE ASK EMPLOYEES NOT TO TAKE SPOTS IN FRONT OF THE DOOR. THAT'S FOR CUSTOMERS AND NOT EMPLOYEES AND IT WAS STEER TRAFFIC TO MAKE IT MORE VIABLE FOR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS. THAT BEING SAID, UNLESS THERE IS FEEDBACK FROM MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS COME I SEE NORTH -- NO MORE SPEAKING CARDS.>> COMMISSIONER . >> WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS ADDRESS REVENUE SHORTFALL FROM YEARS OF CUTTING TAXES AND THE MILLAGE. YOU ARE RIGHT , WE CUT TAXES AND KEEP CUTTING TAXES .
WE KEEP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND THAT'S THE WAY THE DOWNTOWN LOOKS THE WAY IT DOES AND THE REC CENTERS LOOK THE WAY THEY DO BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GREAT TO CUT TAXES. RIGHT? HERE WE ARE AT A PRECIPICE NOW. WE HAVE A DOWNTOWN WITH NEEDS AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS FIND A WAY TO GENERATE REVENUES TO TAKE CARE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A REVENUE STREAM TO DO THAT . NOT JUST AD VALOREM TAXING THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY . NO ONE HAS STOOD UP HERE AND SUGGESTED ONE OTHER WAY OF DOING THAT. WE HAVE ALL AGREED THAT THE TOWN IS LOOKING SHABBY . WE HAVE EXPENSES TO DO . TALK ABOUT UNFRIENDLY, LET'S -- LET'S NAIL PEOPLE COMING OVER THE BRIDGE AND HIT THEM UP . THIS IS A REASONABLE -- THIS IS A REASONABLE SOLUTION FOR A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE. AND, THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT SAYING THE ENTIRE DOWNTOWN IS PAID PARKING , WE ARE SAYING THE CORE PART.
PEOPLE CAN PARK OUTSIDE AND NOT HAVE TO PAY . I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A CHOICE . I'D RATHER DO THAT THEN COME TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY THAT WE HAVE TO RAISE THE MILLAGE BECAUSE ALL OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE HAS TO BE FIXED. YOU CANNOT CUT YOUR TAXES AND PROSPERITY. WHEN THIS COMMUNITY IS SEEING -- THIS CITY SEES THE EXPENSES GO UP JUST LIKE EVERYBODY SEES EXPENSES GO UP.
INSURANCE GOES UP AND HEALTHCARE GOES UP AND GAS GOES UP AND THOSE ARE THE SAME THINGS THE CITY PAYS FOR AS WELL. SO, AS THESE EXPENSES CONTINUE TO GO UP, WE CAN'T KEEP LOWERING OUR REVENUE STREAM AND EXPECT THIS STEP TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
THAT'S WHY WE DO IT . I UNDERSTAND AND I'M LISTENING TO EVERYTHING EVERYBODY SAYS, BUT GIVE US A SOLUTION . THIS STUFF
HAS TO GET FIXED. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
>> JEREMIAH, CAN YOU PUT THE POPULATION GRAPH UP , OR DATA UP
? >> THE ONE THAT HAD -- WHEN NASSAU COUNTY'S GOING TO DOUBLE? THAT ONE. I -- WE ARE SEEN AN EXPLOSION OF PEOPLE COMING HERE OVER THE BRIDGE AND LIVING ON THE OTHER SIDE IN THE COUNTY. PEOPLE ARE NOT MOVING TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS NECESSARILY SO BEAUTIFUL . THEY ARE LIVING THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE NEAR THE BEACH AND NEAR THIS BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN . WHY ARE THEY LIVING HERE , LIKE SOME OF US FORTUNATE RESIDENTS ? IT'S BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE AND OUR TAXES ARE HIGHER . WE PAY COUNTY TAX AND CITY TAX BUT THEY ARE STILL COMING HERE AND USING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WE ARE GIVING IT AWAY TO THEM FOR FREE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT IS SUSTAINABLE IF WE ARE GOING TO GROW THIS MUCH IN THE COMING YEARS. AND, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER POYNTER, THE AMOUNT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WITH NOT PAVING THE ROADS AND FULLY
[01:05:03]
FUNDING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS -- NOT REALLY FUNDING -- ONE YEAR WE FUNDED LAND CONSERVATION AND WERE NOT DOING A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY WANT TO DO BECAUSE WE LACK THE FUNDING AND HAVE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON THE SHELF . I THINK WE NEED TO EXPLORE THIS . I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WE DO NOT FORESEE WITH PARTICULAR BUSINESSES . AND, IT IS SOMETHING WHEN WE PUT OUT OUR RFP THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE -- THAT IT IS AGILE ENOUGH , BUT THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE IN TERMS OF THE SOFTWARE . THAT WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING IN LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS INTO THE SOFTWARE, CERTAIN PLACES AND CERTAIN PEOPLE CAN AUTOMATICALLY BE EXEMPT. I BELIEVE, AND IN FACT, JEREMIAH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH IN THE RF P. I BELIEVE WITH THE RESEARCH I WAS DOING THAT THERE IS A FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 31- 364 , THE DISABLED VEHICLES DRIVEN BY DISABLED DRIVERS OR DISABLED PEOPLE ARE EXEMPT. THEY CANNOT BE MADE TO PAY FOR PARKING AND THAT INCLUDES PLACARD S AND 100% SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS WILL HAVE TO BE EXEMPTED. THEN WE WILL HAVE TO DISCUSS -- YEAH, ADA , THANK YOU AND THEN WE WILL HAVE TO DISCUSS OTHER POTENTIAL ISSUES. BUT, NOBODY -- NOBODY WILL BE FORCED TO PAY . WE ARE ALL ALREADY PAYING FOR THESE PARKING SPACES AND NOBODY WILL BE FORCED TO PAY ANYMORE IF YOU ARE WILLING TO WALK TWO BLOCKS.AND, I DON'T SEE HOW WE DON'T AT LEAST EXPLORE IT. THERE IS TOO MUCH MONEY . THE PROJECTED REVENUES IN 2017 WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THAT STUDY WAS $300,000 AND THE PROJECTED REVENUE RIGHT NOW, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO LEAVE ON THE TABLE AND GIVEAWAY
>> SO WITH THE POPULATION AND I JUST HAD COFFEE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS THAT -- NOT THAT LONG AGO AT THE CHAMBER. WHEN WILDLIFE GETS BUILT OUT, IT'S GOING TO HAVE ITS OWN ECOSYSTEM AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT WILL TURN LEFT OUT OF THE CONCOURSE RATHER THAN RIGHT BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MORE TO DO THERE THAN THERE IS IN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. THEY WILL HAVE A RESORT THAT IS GOING TO MATCH THE RITZ CARLTON AND THEY WILL HAVE WAY MORE OUT THERE THAN WE HAVE HERE. SO, JUST BY SHEER GROWTH OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY , THE PRESSURE IS GOING TO COME OFF OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH .
THAT IS ONE THING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN . BUT, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE TAX ISSUE . TWO YEARS AGO, THIS COMMISSION ROLLED BACK THE TAX RATE. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE WHERE THERE WAS AN ACTUAL WHAT YOU WOULD CALL TAX DECREASE.
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
THE DYNAMICS OF HOW THE MILLAGE RATE WORKS AND WHAT WE ARE DOING, AT LEAST WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR , WE BROUGHT IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT MORE REVENUE . I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAM AND I GET THAT BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO DEFEND THE POSITION THAT THE COMMISSION HAS FOR DECADES BEEN CUTTING WHICH IS NOT THE CASE. THERE HAS BEEN A TAX INCREASE AND LAST YEAR WITH THE MODIFIED ROLE BOUT PER STATE STATUTE, IF YOU LOOK IN THE NAVY THINKING THE NEWSPAPER, WE HAD TO ADVERTISE WE HAD A TAX INCREASE . THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH ADVERTISE A TAX INCREASE PER STATUTE . LOOK IT UP, IT'S THERE. I DON'T WANTED TO BE THAT WERE NOT DOING WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING . WE DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE BUDGET LAST YEAR AND A GREAT JOB BEFORE THAT . THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS JUST NUTS .
[01:10:01]
>> THANKS VICE MAYOR THAT BRINGS INTO QUESTION SOME OF THOSE WHO QUESTION THE REVENUE SIDE OF THINGS . WHAT IF WE COULD GO TO CUTTER VILLAGE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE REVENUE STREAM AND TO ME THAT SEEMS SAVVY . IF THE RFP NUMBERS COME BACK AND THEY DON'T WORK, THIS DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD. I DON'T THINK THIS WORKSHOP NEEDS TO BE THE IMPETUS OF WHETHER THIS TOWN CHANGES TOMORROW OR NOT . COMMISSIONER TUTEN AND I HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER AND I'D LIKE TO ALLOW TIME TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION .
>> I WON'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT IF WE -- IF WE BRING IN THIS REVENUE WE WILL BE AT THE LOWER TAXES BECAUSE WE NEED THIS REVENUE . WE OBVIOUSLY NEED EXISTING REVENUE BECAUSE WE HAVE EXISTING BUDGETS . BUT I DO AGREE THAT POTENTIALLY IN THE FUTURE, THE WAY THIS WORKS OUT AND I WILL SAY ADDED TOTALLY THAT I HAVE SISTERS WHO GREW UP IN AS THEY AND THEIR FRIENDS ARE RETIRING, THEY ARE MOVING TO THE BREACH BECAUSE THE TOWNS ALONG THE SHORE HAVE THE LOWEST TAX RATES IN THE STATE BECAUSE THEY CHARGE TOURISTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE 10 MILLION TO 20 MILLION PEOPLE BETWEEN NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA COMING TO THEIR BEACHES AND SO THEY CHARGE TO USE THE BEACHES. WE , ACTUALLY COULD NEVER CHARGED TO PARK AT THE BEACH BECAUSE OF OUR FEDERAL -- OR ITS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF OUR FEDERAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH BEACH NOURISHMENT AND EQUAL ACCESS TO PARKING. BUT, YEAH , I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT . REDUCED REVENUE AND REDUCE TAXES IS A POSSIBILITY .
>> THE LAST SPEAKER FORM IS MR. MICHAEL SHARP AND THEN WE WILL GO TO A DISCUSSION ABOUT CONSENSUS ABOUT HOW WE MOVE
FORWARD . >> THANK YOU. MICHAEL SHOT AT 139 NORTH NINTH STREET IN FERNANDINA. I PAY TAXES AND THINGS ARE NOT KEPT UP LIKE THIS SHOULD AND I THINK WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE SPEND IN THE COUNTY SERVICES. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS A BILL COMING . SO, I CAN CHOOSE EITHER TO PAY $1000, OR I CAN CHOOSE TO PAY $100 AND LET THE TOURISTS PAY $900. WHY I CAN CHOOSE NONE IN PARK DOWN THE STREET AND WALK TO DOWNTOWN. EVERY COASTAL COMMUNITY IN EVERY TOURIST PLACE I GO, THEY ALL CHARGE TO PARK BECAUSE THEY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THIS KIND OF INFLUX OF TOURISTS AND OTHER PEOPLE USING THE FACILITIES AND THE TAX PAYERS , AND US AS WE KEEP SPENDING MORE MONEY AND INVITING MORE PEOPLE TO COME AND WE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH IT. I DON'T WANT TO PAY TO PARK DOWNTOWN AND I DON'T WANT MY TAXES TO KEEP GOING UP LIKE THEY ARE NOW . THERE IS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF EFFORT OR SOLUTION THAT WE CAN FIND. I THINK USING THE DOWNTOWN CORE AS A PREMIUM PARKING SPACE AND ALLOW PEOPLE WHO WANT TO OFFER DOUBT TO NOT PAY ANY OF IT, THAT IS AWESOME. I APPRECIATE YOUR POINTS OF VIEW , BUT THIS BILL IS COMING AND IT IS NOT OPTIONAL . WE HAVE TO PAY IT . WE CAN EITHER PAY ALL OF IT OR THAT MUCH OF IT . IT IS UP TO US AND I THINK THE LEASE WE NEED TO DO IS TO AT LEAST LOOK AT IT AND THEN DECIDE. TO JUST DISCARD THE IDEA, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA . I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO AT LEAST LOOK AT THE RF P TO SEE WHERE THAT TAKES US AND THEN DECIDE .
>> THANK YOU MISTER SHARP . >> SEEING NO OTHER SPEAKER FORMS, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION WITH HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS . DO WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD ON GIVING STAFF AT THUMBS-UP ON NRF P FROM THE
CONTRACTORS HERE TODAY ? >> YES . NOT JUST THEM BUT THE RF P TO THE PARKING -- THERE ARE LOTS OF PARKING COMPANIES . THIS ONE COMPANY WAS VERY GENEROUS IN HELPING US PUT THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER AT NO COST BUT WE WILL DO AN RFP OUT TO MANY COMPANIES AND SEE. I THINK WE NEED TO PROCEED WITH THE PLAN TO STEPS .
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER MINSHEW . COMMISSIONER TUTEN?
>> YES, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF PUTTING OUT AN RF P . I DID READ THAT A COUPLE OF CITIES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CONTRACTS REGARDING THEIR PROPOSED REVENUE AND THE COMPANIES DEMANDING THAT
[01:15:03]
YOU HIT THOSE REVENUES STREAMS AND NOT GIVING THE CITY'S ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY. BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE OUR RF P TO MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT AND WE MIGHT NEED TO TWEAK THINGS AND TWEAK YOU KNOW, WHAT SIDE OF THE STREET AND WHERE AND HOW FAR. AND, WE MIGHT BE HAPPY IF THE REVENUE GOES DOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE OPTIONS. BUT, THERE HAS BEEN SOME CITIES STILL REQUIRED TO GIVE THAT REVENUE TO THE -- TO THE COMPANY MANAGING IT AND I WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE ARE NOT LOCKED INTO A CERTAIN REVENUE TO A COMPANY .>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER TUTEN .
>> MR. AYSCUE. >> YOU WILL GET HARD NUMBERS BACK . PUT THEM DEIGNING PUT IT TO THE BALLOT AND LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. MAKE IT A REFERENDUM AND LET THEM DECIDE. YOU WILL HAVE A HARD NUMBERS AND YOU CAN PRESENTED TO THEM AND THEY WILL KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS, PUT IT ON THE REFERENDUM AND THE BALLOT .
>> THANK YOU. IT DOES APPEAR WE HAVE CONSISTENCE DEIGNING CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RF P . AT LEAST AT THIS POINT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A FEASIBLE STUDY TO WORK ON. WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE OUR REGULAR
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.