[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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[3.1 PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET]
>> PRESENTATION FROM STAFF FOR OUR PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FIRST LED BY VICE
MAYOR. >> 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.
>> MS. CAMPBELL, TAKE US AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT THE FIRST GLIMPSE AT THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR '25/'26. IT WAS A PROCESS THAT REALLY STARTED BACK IN FEBRUARY AND HAS INCLUDED ALL MEMBERS OF STAFF AT EVERY LEVEL.
AND CERTAINLY THE LION'S SHARE OF THE LIFT IS IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT WITH OUR COMPTROLLER SUSAN AND ALICIA BROWN. SO TONIGHT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO COVER IS A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET IN ITS ENTIRETY AND GET QUESTIONS FROM YOU AND THEN ANY RESPONSES THAT STAFF HAS AND POTENTIAL DIRECTION FOR TOMORROW NIGHT'S BUDGET WORKSHOP.
THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A BUDGET WORKSHOP THIS THURSDAY EVENING. THERE WERE TOO MANY SCHEDULING CONFLICTS WE COULD NOT MAKE THAT WORK. WE DO HAVE TWO ON THE CALENDAR FOR NEXT WEEK, IF WE NEED THEM. BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN RESOLVE ANY QUESTIONS BETWEEN TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT.
THIS IS THE MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET THAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO YOU.
IT HAS NOW BECOME YOUR BUDGET. AND SO, ANYTHING THAT WE DO IN THESE WORKSHOPS IS REALLY JUST DISCUSSION AND CONSENSUS BUILDING. ANY ACTIONS THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE TO AMEND THIS PROPOSED BUDGET WILL HAPPEN AT BOTH OF THE HEARINGS IN SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER 3RD AND SEPTEMBER 16TH, WHERE YOU CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TO THIS BUDGET BEFORE IT BECOMES ADOPTED.
AND THEN OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS ON OCTOBER 1ST.
SO SOME BROAD HIGHLIGHTS OF WHOLE PICTURE.
I THINK I MENTIONED IN OUR WORKSHOP THE CITY HAS OVER 30 DIFFERENT FUNDS. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM IN TOTALITY, ALL TOTAL $240 MILLION.
ALL OF THOSE FUNDS ARE BALANCED. I MENTIONED THERE'S A SURPLUS OF ABOUT $500,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE BUDGET REFLECTS A REDUCTION OF 17 FULL- TIME EQUIVALENCE OVER CURRENT YEAR.
AND 99% OF THOSE WERE THROUGH VACANCIES THAT WE IDENTIFIED HAD NEVER BEEN FILLED AND ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO REMOVE FROM THE BUDGET.
ONE POSITION FULL TIME POSITION THROUGH ATTRITION THAT WE JUST WON'T BACK FILL.
SO, PRETTY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO THE STAFFING FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
NO NEW POSITIONS ADDED. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE THREE POSITIONS IN FIRE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION ADDED MID-YEAR.
SO, AROUND APRIL I THINK IS WHEN THOSE ADDITIONAL THREE POSITIONS WERE ADDED. AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THIS NET DECREASE OF 17. WE'RE CONTINUING OUR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING IN EXCESS OF $28 MILLION IN THE CAPITAL FUNDS. HOWEVER THERE IS CAPITAL FUNDED IN LOTS OF PLACES, AIRPORT FUND, WATER AND SEWER FUNDS, CAPITAL FUNDS ALONE 28 MILLION.
THE GENERAL FUND TOTALS 44 MILLION, UP ABOUT 6.5%.
AND WE DIDN'T ELIMINATE ANY MAJOR PROGRAMS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED AND THE RESERVE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET FOR THOSE FUNDS. WHEN WE LOOK AGAIN AT ALL OF THE FUNDS COMBINED, THE BULK OF THAT 240 MILLION IS RESERVE HOLDINGS AND LARGELY THOSE ARE PENSIONS WHICH WE'LL GET INTO JUST BRIEFLY HERE. AFTER THAT PERSONNEL MAKES UP 14%, OPERATING 13%, CAPITAL 12% AND DEBT 2%.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF EACH OF THOSE FUNDS BY CATEGORY, SO WE HAVE OUR GENERAL FUND. WE HAVE A SERIES OF SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SMALL DEBT FUNDS. OUR CAPITAL FUNDS, THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS WHICH ARE YOUR BUSINESS- TYPE ACTIVITIES, INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS THAT SERVICE OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY, AND THEN THOSE VERY LARGE PENSION FUNDS, AS I MENTIONED. SO THOSE ARE CATEGORICALLY HOW ALL OF THOSE 32 DIFFERENT FUNDS ARE ORGANIZED.
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WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE, THIS IS JUST THAT VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THAT SAME DATA, 46% OF ALL OF THAT MONEY IS TIED UP IN PENSION FUNDS. AND THEN WE HAVE LARGE SECTORS IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND THE GENERAL FUND AND SMALLER SECTORS IN CAPITAL, SPECIAL REVENUE, DEBT AND INTERNAL SERVICE. SO THE PENSION PLANS, OVER $105 MILLION. THE BULK OF THAT FUNDING IS HELD IN RESERVE. THOSE ARE THE INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS. THERE'S VERY LITTLE THAT ACTUALLY GETS EXPENDED IN A GIVEN YEAR FOR BENEFITS AND ADMINISTRATION, ABOUT 2 MILLION IN GENERAL EMPLOYEES AND ABOUT 3 MILLION FOR POLICE AND FIRE. ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THESE ARE OUR BUSINESS- TYPE ACTIVITIES. YOU CAN SEE THEM FROM LARGEST TO SMALLEST IN EXPENDITURE. THE LARGEST IS OUR WATER FUND.AND THEN WE HAVE AIRPORT, WASTE WATER, MARINA, SANITATION, GOLF AND STORM WATER IN THAT ORDER.
SO STORM WATER IS THE SMALLEST OF OUR ENTERPRISE- TYPE FUNDS. EACH OF THESE FUNDS IS BALANCED ON ITS OWN WITH TWO EXCEPTIONS, GOLF AND MARINA.
YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT WE ARE SHOWING A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR THOSE TWO ACCOUNTS, FOR THOSE TWO FUNDS.
I HAVE SOME MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE LATER ON. THE REMAINING BUSINESS ENTERPRISE FUNDS HAVE A RESERVE. THEY KEEP A RESERVE ON HAND.
IT'S QUITE SMALL IN SOME CASES, LIKE WASTE WATER AND STORM WATER HAVE VERY SMALL RESERVES. WASTE WATER DOES HAVE OTHER FUNDS IN ITS CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, SO THAT IS NOT A TROUBLING NUMBER TO ME BY ANY MEANS. CAPITAL FUNDS, THIS INCLUDES OUR 300 FUND, THE BULK OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE FUNDED, THE CAPITAL EXPANSION FUNDS, WHICH IS THE IMPACT FEES THAT WE TALK ABOUT, THOSE FOUR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF IMPACT FEES.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF ARPA FLOW-THROUGH MONEY THAT'S REMAINING. THAT'S ALL GOING TO BE USED FOR STORM WATER IN AREA 6. AND THEN WASTE WATER IMPROVEMENTS, ABOUT $2 MILLION IN WASTE WATER IMPROVEMENTS, THE BULK OF THAT BEING HELD IN RESERVE.
THE CAPITAL FUND I WANT TO MENTION TWO THINGS ABOUT THAT, WE ALSO INCLUDE A TRANSFER OF GENERAL FUND REVENUE 2. 5 MILLION TO THE CAPITAL FUND. THAT IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE WE'RE TRANSFERRING THOSE SALES TAX DOLLARS.
AND THOSE SALES TAX DOLLARS FROM THE STATE CAN ONLY BE SPENT FOR CAPITAL PURPOSES.
SO THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE TRANSFER OF GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THERE.
THAT CAPITAL FUND ALSO HAS A RESERVE OF ABOUT 1. 2 MILLION.
NORMALLY WE WOULD NOT HOLD A RESERVE IN OUR CAPITAL FUND.
IT'S INTENDED TO BUILD PROJECTS.
BUT, THIS WAS EARMARKED FOR THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT.
BUT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE COMPLETE FUNDING FOR THAT, IT HASN'T BEEN ASSIGNED TO ANYTHING.
IT'S SITTING THERE IN CASE WE WANT TO USE IT FOR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION, BUT IT'S NOT NEAR ENOUGH TO FUND THAT PROJECT. THE ONLY THING WE FUNDED FOR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION WAS ABOUT $200,000 TO FINISH THE DESIGN WORK. BUT SHOULD THAT PROJECT MOVE FORWARD, YOU DO HAVE SOME MONEY AVAILABLE TO START THAT OFF OR IT COULD BE REALLOCATED TO ANOTHER AREA IF YOU DEEM THAT MORE APPROPRIATE. SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CAPITAL FUND. WE HAVE $6 MILLION INCLUDED FOR SEA WALL CONSTRUCTION. THOSE ARE THE TWO PHASES FUNDED BY STATE GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS.
WE HAVE 1. 1 MILLION IN STREETS RESURFACING AND SIDEWALKS.
200,000 FOR MLK IMPROVEMENTS. ONE BEACH WALKOVER.
ABOUT 1. 3 MILLION FOR VEHICLES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
AND THAT VARIES ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.
WE'VE GOT A NEW AMBULANCE. WE HAVE POLICE VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE I.T. SOFTWARE AND NETWORK IMPROVEMENTS. ABOUT $2 MILLION IN SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANT UPGRADES.
WE HAVE THE STREET SWEEPER. AGAIN, THOSE ARPA FUNDS THAT I MENTIONED FOR AREA 6 DRAINAGE WHICH IS BEING PUT TO THE TEST TONIGHT RIGHT OUT HERE ON ASH STREET. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ARE A PARTICULAR ANIMAL. THEY'RE UNIQUE LITTLE FUNDS.
MOST OF THEM ARE ON THE SMALLER SIDE. THEY WOULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE CONSERVATION, YOUR TREE FUND, LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUNDS.
IT UNCLUDS UTILITY TAX FUND WHICH IS QUITE LARGE, FLOW-THROUGH FUND WHERE REVENUES ARE RECEIVE AND FLOW OUT. THE MAIN ONE TO POINT OUT, I THINK, IS THE BUILDING FUND. THIS IS WHERE ALL OUR BUILDING PERMITTING ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE. THAT'S A STAND ALONE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND. AGAIN YOU SEE IN THE RESERVE COLUMN HERE THAT ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE A SMALL RESERVE.
TWO FUNDS THAT ARE NOT USED MUCH, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND IS NO LONGER IN
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USE. WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THAT TO ROLL OFF OF OUR BOOKS. CONSERVATION DOES NOT HAVE A RESERVE. AND THE BUILDING FUND DOES NOT HAVE A RESERVE. WE HAD BEEN SPENDING DOWN THEIR RESERVE OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, AND THIS YEAR WE'LL TAKE THAT DOWN BACK DOWN TO A 0 BALANCE RESERVE.THE CEMETERY FUND DOES HAVE A SPECIAL CATEGORY OF RESTRICTED RESERVES, 1. 5 MILLION.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR GENERAL RESERVES THERE.
INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS ARE UNIQUE.
THEY SERVE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
SO THAT INCLUDES OUR FLEET, OUR UTILITY BILLING AND UTILITY ADMINISTRATION. AGAIN, THESE ARE FLOW- THROUGH DOLLARS. THEY CHARGE OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR SERVICES. FLEET IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING WITH SOME GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO BALANCE ON PAPER. BUT ULTIMATELY THEY CHARGE THE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.
SO THAT SHOULD TRUE UP OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
GENERAL FUND. GENERAL FUND IS WHERE MOST PEOPLE LIKE TO SPEND THEIR TIME.
IT'S WHERE A LOT OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE.
THIS MAKES UP 19% OF THAT TOTAL POT OF 240 MILLION.
SO, EXPENDITURES ANTICIPATED TO BE ABOUT 44 MILLION THIS YEAR IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 6%. HOWEVER, REVENUES WERE UP CLOSER TO 8%. WE DID NOT UTILIZE ALL OF THAT IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT'S WHERE WE GET THAT DIFFERENCE OF $510,000. WE HAVE INCLUDED THE REQUIRED RESERVE OF ABOUT 6. 8 MILLION OR 20% OF EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND. AND THEN I ADDED THE CAPITAL GOLF MARINA AND FLEET FUNDS HERE AS WELL. THOSE ARE THE FOUR FUNDS THAT THE GENERAL FUND IS SUPPORTING THIS YEAR.
AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE AMOUNTS. AGAIN, I THINK THE CAPITAL TRANSFER AND THE FLEET TRANSFER ARE APPROPRIATE.
ULTIMATELY MY GOAL WAS TO ELIMINATE THE TRANSFERS TO GOLF AND MARINA, BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO QUITE GET THERE THIS YEAR. BUT I THINK WE'RE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR, SO MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THOSE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES THE LARGEST BY FAR IS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE POLICE, FIRE, OCEAN RESCUE, BEACH RANGERS. IT INCLUDES A SMALL PORTION OF BUILDING SERVICES, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THOSE ARE ALL CONSIDERED PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIVITIES.
THE NEXT LARGEST LARGEST OUR PARKS AND RECREATION, SUPPORTING ALL OF THE AQUATICS PROGRAMS, THE REC CENTERS, THE YOUTH PROGRAMS. GENERAL GOVERNMENT IS 15%.
THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDEINCLUDE DEPARTMENTS LIKE HR AND FINANCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, THE COMMISSION, THE ADMINISTRATION.
CONTINGENCY I DID PUT IN ABOUT $125,000 INTO OUR CONTINGENCY FUND AND OUR RESERVES THAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT OF 6. 7 MILLION. TRANSPORTATION AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ARE UNUSUAL TERMS YOU MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THOSE, BUT THAT TRANSPORTATION 5%, THAT'S OUR STREETS DEPARTMENT. AND THAT IS -- THAT NOMENCLATURE WE USE IS BECAUSE IT'S FUNDED BY THE GAS TAX REVENUES. THOSE GAS TAX REVENUES FROM THE STATE HAVE TO BE PAID FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
SO THAT'S WHERE THAT GOES. RESURFACING, SIDEWALKS, POTHOLES, STREET SIGNS, ALL OF THAT IS WHAT WE CALL THE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION. AND THEN ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, THAT'S THE DOWNTOWN DIVISION.
SO, THE DOWNTOWN LIGHTING, THE LANDSCAPING, THE JANITORIAL SUPPLIES AND OPERATING SUPPLIES FOR THE COMFORT STATION DOWNTOWN AND THE NEW WATERFRONT PARK.
ALL OF THAT IS INCLUDED IN THAT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT CATEGORY. SO DIGGING A LITTLE BIT DEEPER IN GOLF AND MARINA, BECAUSE THOSE ARE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, AGAIN, AND WE'RE SUPPORTING THAT WITH THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR, WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME ANALYSIS OF GOLF BY THE DIVISIONS, BY THE FOUR DIVISIONS THAT EXIST IN GOLF. AND THOSE ARE THE GOLF OPERATIONS, TOP TRACER, THE PRO SHOP AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE. WE KNOW THIS IS THE LAST YEAR FOR TOP TRACER, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE COMING IN FROM THE SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT WE HAVE AND THEN THAT LAST LITTLE BIT OF RENTAL INCOME. THIS WILL BE THE LAST YEAR FOR TOP TRACER TO SHOW UP IN OUR BUDGET IN THAT WAY.
GOLF OPERATIONS, GETTING BETTER BUT STILL NOT QUITE BALANCED. SAME WITH THE PRO SHOP.
GETTING BETTER BUT NOT QUITE BALANCED.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE IS IN THE POSITIVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MORE IN THE POSITIVE TO HELP SUPPORT SOME OF THOSE OTHER DIVISIONS
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GOING FORWARD. BUT OVERALL, NEGATIVE 429,384 FOR GOLF. SO THREE OF THOSE TO FOUR DIVISIONS OPERATE IN THE RED. IN THEIR BUDGET THERE IS ABOUT $327,000 OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.AND $163,000 OF DEBT. SO, YOU COULD CONSIDER THAT THE SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO SUPPORT THOSE TWO AREAS. WE ARE INCREASING REVENUE NEXT YEAR. THERE'S A RATE INCREASE INCLUDED IN YOUR FEE SCHEDULE.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE FUNDING THIS YEAR WILL HELP GENERATE REVENUE AT THETHE COURSE.
WE INCLUDED AUTOMATIC BALL DISPENSER AT THE DRIVING RANGE. THAT WILL HELP USERS SPEND MORE MONEY AND BUY MORE BALLS. SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CLUBHOUSE TO HELP IMPROVE THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE BAR AND RESTAURANT AREA AND THINGS THAT WOULD GO TO IMPROVE COURSE CONDITIONS, PURCHASES OF NEW EQUIPMENT, THE COMPLETION OF THE WELL AND FULLY FUNDING THE CHEMICAL TREATMENT FOR THE COURSE, JUST TO SPEND MONEY IN WAYS THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO BRING IN MORE REVENUE.
ON THE MARINA, THERE AREN'T MULTIPLE DIVISIONS SO WHAT I'VE GIVEN YOU IS JUST A BREAKDOWN OF THE TOTAL REVENUE WE ANTICIPATE OF 4 MILLION AND THEN THE EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES, PERSONNEL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CITY PERSONNEL THAT WORK AT THE MARINA. THE BULK OF THE COSTS ARE IN THE OPERATING AREA. AND THAT INCLUDES OUR CONTRACT WITH OASIS, BUT ALL OF THE OTHER OPERATING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MARINA. SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, ABOUT 776,000 AND WE DO HAVE DEBT ON THE MARINA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
THAT PAYMENT IS 686,000 PER YEAR.
THE MARINA IS NEGATIVE 674,659. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, 776,000 DEBT, 686 AND INSURANCE IS ANOTHER HEFTY ITEM, 676,000.
WE DID PROJECT REVENUE DOWN SLIGHTLY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION.
WE THINK FUEL IS GOING TO BE DOWN FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
WE MAY HAVE REDUCED SLIP FEE REVENUE WHILE WE REARRANGE DOCKS AND HAVE THINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. SO THAT IS PROJECTED DOWN A LITTLE BIT FOR THIS YEAR. WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DRAMATIC CUTS TO THE BUDGET ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
IF YOU WERE TO DIRECT ME TO GO BACK AND REMOVE THINGS FROM THE BUDGET, I HAVE A PHASED APPROACH TO THAT AND DON'T REALLY INTEND ON GETTING INTO THE DETAILS OF THESE. I HAVE THE BACKUP IF YOU WANT SOME MORE INFORMATION, BUT PHASE ONE I COULD CUT ANOTHER 420,000 FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
IT WOULD ELIMINATE SOME BUDGETS, SOME PRIORITIES FROM THE COMMISSION THIS YEAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY HEAD COUNT REDUCTIONS. IT WOULD JUST BE PROGRAMMATIC- TYPE THINGS WE WOULD NOT FUND.
PHASE TWO WOULD BE MAJOR PROGRAM AND PERSONNEL CUTS.
THOSE WOULD BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE BIGGER THINGS THAT WE SPEND MONEY ON THAT YOU MAY JUST NOT WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON ANYMORE.
PHASE THREE WOULD BE PERSONNEL REDUCTIONS JUST SPREAD OUT A LITTLE BIT, THIN SLICING THROUGH THE WHOLE GENERAL FUND.
AND PHASE FOUR, YOU WOULD THEN START TO REDUCE PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL AND REALLY START TO FOCUS ON SOME PENSION REDUCTIONS.
THAT'S A BIG AREA. ABOUT 4. 6 MILLION EXPENDITURES THIS YEAR ON CITY PENSION PLANS.
SO, THAT COULD BE ONE AREA, BUT THAT -- BECAUSE THOSE ARE NEGOTIATED ITEMS, THAT WOULD TAKE A LOT LONGER TO RESTRUCTURE. SO THAT'S WHY I HAD IT IN A LATER PHASE.
AGAIN, IT'S REALLY -- WE'RE NOT IN A RECESSION- TYPE SCENARIO. SO HOW DRAMATICALLY WOULD YOU WANT TO CUT THE BUDGET IS REALLY A POLICY DECISION AT THAT POINT. THE BUDGET IS BALANCED AS PRESENTED, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO GO DEEPER WE COULD.
SO FOR NEXT STEPS, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE TONIGHT, DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE SOME AREAS OF FOCUS THAT YOU WANT US TO BRING BACK ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON, IF YOU HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS ALREADY ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED, WE COULD CERTAINLY TAKE THOSE AND IF YOU HAVE ANY DECISION POINTS THAT YOU KNOW ABSOLUTELY YOU WANT TO DO X, Y, OR Z WE COULD HEAR THAT AS WELL AND PREPARE FOR TORMENT NIGHT AND PUBLIC HEARINGS IN SEPTEMBER. SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. CAMPBELL. DO I HAVE ANY COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS FOR MS. CAMPBELL OR DISCUSSIONS WE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN GIVEN WHAT WE WERE PRESENTED.
MINSHEW. >> FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS LEVEL OF DETAIL.
I'VE SAT THROUGH A LOT OF BUDGET MEETINGS OVER THE LAST
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FEW YEARS AND THIS IS STEPS ABOVE, I THINK, WHAT THE COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN ABLE TO SEE.I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INDIVIDUALLY SITTING DOWN.
I KNOW YOU SAT DOWN WITH ME FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS ANDAND GOT INTO A DEEP DIVE OF WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS THIS? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? AND LET'S SEE WHAT ARE THE THINGS INSIDE THIS.
SO I HAVE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THIS BUDGET. AND DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS OR CHANGES.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS, ONE OF THEM I MENTIONED YESTERDAY.
A COUPLE -- A FEW WEEKS AGO WE APPROVED A GRANT FOR -- I WON'T GET THIS EXACTLY RIGHT, BUT IT'S FOR -- MAYBE COMMISSIONER CAN HELP ME WITH THE VERBAGE, FOR DIESEL, FUME AND VAPOR REMOVAL OR REMEDIATION IN THE FIRE STATION ON 14TH STREET.
AND WE DID A BUDGET -- WE DID A GRANT REQUEST FOR $37,000.
PERSONALLY I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING A GRANT REQUEST AND WHY WE HAVEN'T JUST ALREADY DONE THIS.
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THIS BUDGET IS THAT -- WHETHER WE GET THE GRANT OR NOT, I THINK WE NEED TO BUY THAT EQUIPMENT AND BECAUSE IT IS AN EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE, I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT.
THAT'S ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET SOMEWHERE.
IF WE GET THE GRANT MONEY, GREAT. BUT I DON'T WANT TO WAIT ON THAT. AND I DON'T WANT TO DEPEND ON IT BECAUSE OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE BETTER. THE OTHER THING THAT'S COME UP IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS IS EMAILS FROM MARGARET KIRKLAND AND MAYOR FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, I THINK IT'S $55,000 FOR SOME AIR QUALITY MONITORING EQUIPMENT THAT I THINK WE NEED TO GET A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT, BUT IT SEEMS REASONABLE THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AS A COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR AIR QUALITY.
SO THAT EITHER US AS A CITY OR THE STATE OR OUR -- WHOEVER IS CAUSING AIR QUALITY ISSUE WE CAN ENGAGE WITH THEM WITH A LOT MORE DETAIL. SO THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. THEY'RE MINOR.
TOGETHER THEY'RE $150,000 OR SO.
INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET AT SOME POINT.
YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I SEE NO OTHER -- OH, COMMISSIONER TUTEN.
>> OKAY. SO, I ALSO WANT TO THANK STAFF AND ESPECIALLY MS. CAMPBELL FOR THIS BUDGET BECAUSE SHE WENT THROUGH IN GREAT DETAIL.
WHEN WE WENT IN THE VISIONING SESSION AND WE SAID WE WANTED EFFICIENCY, THAT'S WHAT MS. CAMPBELL CAME BACK WITH. WE TALKED ABOUT REDUCTION IN HEAD COUNT. THAT'S WHAT MS. CAMPBELL CAME BACK WITH. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY HOW A VISIONING SESSION SHOULD WORK BUDGET PRESENTED WITH A SURPLUS. SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THAT SURPLUS USED FOR A ROLLBACK RATE, JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE OF LOWERING SOME OF THAT MILLAGE, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR BUSINESSES, FOR OUR NON- HOME SET PROPERTIES AND HOME SET PROPERTIES JUST USING SOME OF IT.
I DON'T HAVE ISSUES FUNDING HOWEVER WE NEED TO DO FUNDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, IF THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT, THAT'S FINE. IT'S REALLY NOT -- IT'S A ONE- TIME CAPITAL COST. IT'S NOT A REOCCURRING.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THAT.
BUT THAT'S MY CONCERN IS TO LOOK AT THAT SURPLUS AND SEE IF WE CAN'T USE IT TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITIZENS.
IF WE'RE NOT, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE US AS A COMMISSION TO CONSIDER IS THAT LAST COMMISSION PUT IN RESERVES PRETTY HEFTY AMOUNT. ONE OF THEM WAS FOR A REASON THAT WE KNEW.
THE OTHER ONE WAS FOR LEGAL REASONS. AND JUST SUFFICE TO SAY THAT I WOULDN'T MIND SEEING SOME -- IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO ROLL BACK, SOME MONEYS PUT ASIDE FOR WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE A PRETTY HEFTY LEGAL BILL THIS YEAR.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT BOTH COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS BUDGET.
I ALSO APPRECIATE YOU SITTING DOWN WITH ME, MS. CAMPBELL ALSO SAT DOWN WITH ME FOR TWO HOURS LAST WEEK WITH MY MANY TABS AND MANY, MANY QUESTIONS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATED NOT
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ONLY HER INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BUDGET BUT I WAS SUPER IMPRESSED HER JUMPING AROUND ON THE SPREADSHEET. QUERYING THE SPREADSHEET FOR QUESTIONS THAT I HAD. SO, I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER ASKEWS DESIRE TO NOT USE THAT $500,000 SURPLUS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO USE IT.I DO RECOGNIZE THAT STAYING AT THIS FLAT MILLAGE RATE IS TECHNICALLY A TAX INCREASE BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING IN ALMOSTALMOST MILLION MORE, BUT I WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET AND JUST, JUST FUNDING PROPERLY FUNDING THE NEW THREE FIREFIGHTERS IS $700,000, IN ADDITION TO THE NEGOTIATED 5% INCREASE THAT THEY -- THAT THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR CONTRACT WITH. SO, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THAT $2 MILLION SURPLUSOR THAT $2 MILLION ADDITIONAL AMOUNT THAT WE TAKE IN IS ALMOST HALF OF IT IS GONE TO SAFETY, WHICH I WOULD ARGUE ALL OF US WOULD PUT CLOSE TO NUMBER ONE IN TERMS OF PRIORITY.
AND THEN MS. CAMPBELL QUERIED WORKMAN'S COMP.
WORKMAN'S COMP INCREASES WERE $177,000 FOR WORKMAN'S COMP INSURANCE WITH THE LOSS OF AN FTE.
HEALTH INSURANCE, THE CITY RENEGOTIATED HEALTH INSURANCE THIS YEAR. WAS SUPPOSED TO GO UP -- UNITEDHEALTHCARE WAS SUPPOSED TO GO UP 16% WHICH IS -- WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE ALL PAYING HEALTHCARE, IT'S A HUGE INCREASE. SO THE CITY SHOPPED, RENEGOTIATED AND GOT I THINK A 3. 9% INCREASE WITH CIGNA, WHICH IS STILL A HUGE INCREASE. AMOUNTS TO ALMOST $300,000 INCREASE ON OUR BUDGET. AND I MEAN, ON AND ON THINGS THAT ARE JUST ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASES. THAT WE'RE ALL FEELING, ALL OVER THE PLACE. BUT, SO, I WOULD LIKE US TO UTILIZE THAT $500,000 SURPLUS, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER AYSCUE'S IDEA OF PUTTING A LARGE PORTION IN CONTINGENCY. THE CONTINGENCY FUND IS ONLY $125,000 THIS YEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MUCH HIGHER. I ALSO LOVE THE IDEA OF THE CITY PROACTIVELY INVESTING IN PUBLIC HEALTH. WE DO SO MANY THINGS TO PROTECT OURSELVES WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SECTOR, WITH YOU NAME IT, SPEED LIMITS, FLAGS AT THE BEACH.
WE CAN PROTECT OURSELVES MORE WITH AIR QUALITY AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING. AND SOME FUNDING TO PAY FOR SOMESOME THAT EQUIPMENT, I THINK, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T PUT A PRICE TAG ON UNTIL WE SUFFER IT LATER.
AND SO I THINK PUTTING A PROACTIVE PRICE TAG ON IT, IT WOULD GREAT. I WOULD BE VERY, VERY FOR THAT.
AND, OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT PUTTING A PENNY INTO LAND CONSERVATION. I WOULD LIKELIKE SEE SOMETHING MORE THAN 0 IN LAND
CONSERVATION. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> YEAH. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE BEST BUDGET I'VE SEEN SINCE OFF AND ON BEING A COMMISSIONER.
>> I'VE SEEN A LOT OF BUDGETS. REALLY WELL DONE.
INCREDIBLY ORGANIZED, WHICH IS GREAT.
THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE DON'T NEED TO GO INTO NOW BECAUSE IT'S REALLY FOR NEXT YEAR'S TYPE BUDGET.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS MORE MONEY, IT'S VERY -- IT'S A VERY SKINNY BUDGET. THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO FLUFF IN THIS BUDGET. AND WE STILL HAVE NOT FUNDED ANYTHING FOR THE DOWNTOWN OR THE DEMO OR ANYTHING ELSE. SO, AS FAR AS GIVING DOLLARS BACK, I THINK THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE USED AND THENTHEN BY THE TIME WE'RE ALL SAID AND DONE THIS COMING YEAR, BETWEEN POTENTIAL LEGAL CONTINGENCIES ON WHAT'S THIS REALLY GOING TO TALK TO TAKE DOWN BRETTS AND GET STARTED ON THE DOWNTOWN. YOU KNOW, I'M FINE WITH THIS BUDGET. BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED THERE'S NO DOLLARS IN HERE TO START FIXING UP THE DOWNTOWN. W. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I'LL ECHO WHAT WE'RE DOING WELL. I WOULD REMISS IF WE DIDN'T POINT OUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE CRITICIZED THIS COMMISSION'S DECISIONS NOT TO GO TO A ROLLBACK RATE OR WHY WE'RE EVEN TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING SUCH AS PAID PARKING THAT THIS IS MUCH LARGER THAN JUST BALANCING THIS ANNUAL BUDGET.
THIS IS UPWARDS OF $50 MILLION OF CAPITAL
[00:30:02]
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE GETTEN TAKEN CARE OF IN THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS OR LESS.THE PAINFUL CONVERSATION THAT NO ONE WANTED TO HAVE BEFORE IS WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD MAKE A CHANGE AT THE GOLF COURSE, WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD MAKE A CHANGE AT THE MARINA.
I'M NOT ADVOCATING EITHER OF THOSE, I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE MENTION ON PUBLIC RECORD IF THE COMMISSION OUGHT TO JUST CUT COSTS THOSE ARE YOUR TWO BIGGEST LOW HANGING FRUIT $1348 WE'RE SUBSIDIZING. THE REASON I'M NOT BEING MORE VOCAL ABOUT CONSIDERING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE GOLF COURSE, WHEN WE WENT FROM $800,000 SUBSIDY TO THE GOLF COURSE LAST YEAR, WE'RE DOWN TO 429 AND NEXT YEAR IT'S PROJECTED TO BE HALF OF THAT.
>> THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP CHIPPING AWAY AT THIS DEFICIT SO THAT WE ARE WORKING DAILY, THIS MORNING EVEN, ON HOW TO SOLVE THE MATH OF GOLF AND MAKE IT POSITIVE.
CITY JACKSON HAS DONE IT. WE'RE STUDYING HOW TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL. WE ALL WANT TO SEE IT SUCCEED, BUT I AGREE. IF YOU HAD -- IF YOU HAD TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT TO SPEND.
>> AND I THINK SOMETHING THAT WE'LL GET INTO THE NEXT ITEM A LITTLE MORE SO I WON'T JUMP THE GUN F THAT CHANGE SHOULD HAPPEN WITH OUR POTENTIAL OUTLOOK ON THE YBOR ALVAREZ FIELDS, THERE'S LOW HANGING FRUIT WHETHER OR NOT WE REPURPOSE NINE HOLES, RECREATION LAND, MAYBE THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCCER FIELDS IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR ITEM 4.1.
I DON'T WANT TO JUMP THE GUN ON THAT TOO
FAR. >> MAYOR, I DON'T -- ARE WE IN CONSENSUS THAT DO WE NEED TO COME BACK TOMORROW? ARE WE GOOD?
>> I BELIEVE WE'RE IN CONSENSUS THAT WE LIKE THIS BUDGET, BUT I WANTED TO PLANT SOME SEEDS FOR WHAT THE FUTURE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS IF NOT THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR MIGHT ALSO
INCLUDE. >> I'LL SAY NEXT YEAR, TOO, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED IT, WE HEAR THE ROLLBACK RATE AND WE HEAR THAT. THE PRIVILEGE OR THE CURSE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH POLICY DECISION MAKERS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEY HEAR THE SAME THING.
SO I WOULD NOT -- I WOULD EXPECT THERE TO BE SOMETHING COME OUT OF TALLAHASSEE THIS YEAR THAT'S GOING TO ADDRESS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. SO, I MEAN, I MENTIONED IT ON MY END, JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE I HEAR IT A LOT.
SO, I KNOW THAT MS. CAMPBELL IS UP ON THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS THAT ARE POSSIBLY COMING DOWN THE PIKE.
SO, WE DO TALK ABOUT FUTURE BUDGETS, THAT'S ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO MENTION.
>> I AM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS BUDGET AND I THINK THAT THE ISSUES THAT YOU BROUGHT ARE UP ARE EXCELLENT ISSUES FOR OUR VISIONING SESSION IN THE EARLY NEXT YEAR, LATE, MAYBE EVEN LATE THIS YEAR WOULD BE NICE TO DO THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. SO THAT WE COULD FIGURE OUT -- YOU'RE RIGHT. THE GOLF COURSE HAS TO GET CASH POSITIVE. AT A MINIMUM, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO SUPPORT THEIR OPERATING FUNDS.
I DO THINK BECAUSE THEY ARE AN AMENITY THERE MAY BE SOME CAPITAL EXPENSES THAT ARE OVER AND ABOVE WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING AND THEY OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR OTHER CAPITAL EXPENSES.
BUT AT A MINIMUM, THEIR OPERATING FUNDS OUGHT TO ALL BE CASH POSITIVE.
AND IF THEY CAN'T, THEN I AGREE THERE ARE SOME REALLY HARD DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE ABOUT HOW THAT -- HOW THAT MOVES FORWARD. YOU KNOW, THE MARINA TO ME IS REALLY JUST A DEBT ISSUE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE DEBT.
THE MARINA WOULD BE AT A MINIMUM EVEN HAVING TO PAY THE VERY EXPENSIVE INSURANCE. SO, YOU KNOW, I AGREE THAT OUR -- WE PROBABLY NEED TO HOLD THAT 500,000 IN CONTINGENCY BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO NEED SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR LEGAL SERVICES. THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY DOWN A LITTLE BIT OF DEBT, WHICH IS ALWAYS A NICE THING TO DO WHEN INTEREST RATES ARE HIGHER THAN WE ARE USED TO. SO, AGAIN, THIS IS THE BEST BUDGET I'VE SEEN EVER. AND SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK FROM THE COMMISSION? ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. CAMPBELL?
>> I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION. HOW DO WE -- HOW DO WE COME TO CONSENSUS OR DECIDE HOW MUCH OF THE -- THIS 500,000 SURPLUS GOES INTO CONTINGENCY OR WHETHER OR NOT WE PUT $100,000 IN LAND
CONSERVATION. >> YOU WOULD MAKE A MOTION
SIMPLY. >> KEEP IN MIND, YOUR FELLOW
[00:35:01]
COMMISSIONERS TWO DIFFERENT EXPENSES THAT AMOUNT TO THE $150,000 RANGE.HOW WE BREAK THAT 500,000 UP CONSENSUS CAN BE GIVEN TO STAFF THIS EVENING.
>> AND SO I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU MAKE THOSE MOTIONS DURING MAYBE YOUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER.
WE, STAFF, I MEAN, THIS IS SO FLUID.
IT CHANGES EVERYDAY. AND SO, I'M NOT TOUCHING IT ANYMORE. I'M NOT MAKING ANY MORE CHANGES TO IT. IT'S YOUR BUDGET.
ANY FLUCTUATIONS THAT HAPPEN IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS WE'RE KEEPING A RUNNING TALLY OF.
WE WILL LIKELY BRING YOU A HANDFUL OF THINGS WE RECOMMEND YOU ADJUST AT THAT PUBLIC HEARING. AND THAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO MAKE ANY OTHER ADJUSTMENTS BY MOTION AS WELL.
>> THERE'S OFTENTIMES THAT DOES HAPPEN, THAT LITTLE
BIT. >> AND IT COULD BE TWO OR THREE MOTIONS, YOU KNOW. YEAH.
>> I MEAN, AND FOR THE RECORD, I DID STATE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GIVEN BACK TO THE PUBLIC, BUT I'M SURE WE'LL GET THAT IN THE BUDGET HEARING.
WE'LL GET THROUGH THOSE BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETIMES THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT INSURANCE, STATE FUNDS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS JUST HAPPEN AND THERE'S $100,000 HERE, $50,000 THERE.
THOSE ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAPPEN IN THE NEXT 45 DAYS.
I'M SURE WE CAN GET THROUGH THAT.
BUT ALL I WANT TO DO IS SEE IF WE WERE HERE TOMORROW.
>> I DON'T NEED TO BE HERE TOMORROW.
[4.1 YBOR ALVAREZ REGIONAL SPORTS COMPLEX]
>> YOU HAVE CONSENSUS, MS. CAMPBELL.
>>> NEXT WE'LL BRING MR. GLENN, OUR PROJECT MANAGER UP FOR AN UPDATE ON YBOR ALVAREZ FIELDS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT IS TO DO AN UPDATE TO THE COMMISSION ON YBOR ALVAREZ PARK, WHERE WE ARE. WE WILL ALSO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OPTIONS TODAY. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF DIRECTION ON HOW TO PROCEED AS WELL.
SO, TONIGHT WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SITE HISTORY, AND THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT MULTILAYER OF THAT. WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHY A IS NEEDED NOW. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WE USE TO BRING US TO TODAY. BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL GOING ON HERE. THEN WE'LL GO OVER THE OPTIONS.
I'LL TALK ABOUT PROS AND CONS FOR EACH.
AND THEN WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME KEY QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO ANSWER AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND THEN WE'LL -- WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME NEXT STEPS AND THAT WILL BE BASED ON YOUR DISCUSSION AS WELL.
SO, HERE IS WHAT THE SITE LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ON THETHE END IS -- THERE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY UP THERE, BUT IT'S USED CURRENTLY AS OVERFLOW PARKING. THERE ARE SOME RUMBLINGS ABOUT MAYBE SOME FUTURE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY THAT. SO THEN YOU WOULD HAVE JUST THE CENTER -- THE CENTER WHITE PIECE IS THE PARKING LOT. ON THE EAST SIDE WE HAVE THE FOUR BASEBALL FIELDS AND THEN WE HAVE THE SOCCER FIELDS, WHICH ARE THE NEWEST EDITION TO THE SOUTH IS THE AIRPORT. SO, HISTORY.
THIS AIRPORT AND THE SITE CAME FROM A 1947 AFTER WORLD WAR II, IT WAS DEEDED THE AIRPORT SITE WAS DEEDED TO OPERATE AS A PUBLIC USE AIRPORT, WHICH IT STILL DOES TODAY.
THEN IN 1984, A GRANT -- THE CITY GOT A GRANT TO CONSTRUCT FOUR SOFTBALL FIELDS, WHICH THEY COMPLETED IN 1986. AND THEN IN AUGUST OF 2000, SOCCER FIELDS, GRANT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR THE SOCCER FIELDS. YOU'LL SEE THE GRANT IS 112.5.
THE CITY ONLY EXPENDED ABOUT $46,000 OF THAT GRANT AT THAT TIME TO BUILD THEM.
IT WAS COMPLETED IN 2006. SO WHY NOW? FIRST, AS -- I WANTED TO MENTION OUR PARKS DIRECTOR IS HERE TONIGHT AS WELL AS OUR AIRPORT MANAGER TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN'T. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM AROUND THE FAA REQUIREMENTS THAT THAT LAND BE USED FOR AERONAUTICAL USE AND ALSO IF IT'S SOLD IT HAS TO GET FAIR MARKET VALUE. IT ALSO HAS TO HAVE FAIR MARKET VALUE IF IT'S BEING LEASED.
AND AT THIS TIME WE ARE NOT PAYING THE LEASE PAYMENT BUT SHOULD BE. THERE'S A HANGER CONSTRUCTION GRANT THAT WAS GOT THROUGH THE FAA TO GO ON THAT SITE. SO THERE'S SOME DECISIONS TO BE MADE AROUND THAT AT THIS POINT, AND THAT'S ON GOING.
THE FIELDS ARE IN POOR CONDITION.
[00:40:01]
I WANTED TO ADDRESS THIS IN THAT IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE. FIELDS GET OLD, TOO, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER AND THEY'RE AGING OUT. EVERY PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE IS AGEING OUT.ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES IS THE DRAINAGE.
IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT SITE TO PUT DRAINAGE ON ANY WAY, AND THEN IT FILLS UP AND FAILS OVER THE 25 OR 20 YEARS THAT IT'S BEEN IN.
I TALKED ABOUT THE REDUCTION OF THE PARKING ALREADY.
AND THEN I DIDN'T MENTION THE GRANT THAT -- IT'S AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY THAT THEY AGREED TO GIVE US CITY $1.
7 MILLION TO HELP WITH -- AS A MATCH, A MAXIMUM MATCH TO HELP WITH THE CONSTRUCTION. THOSE FUNDS HAVE A TIME LIMIT OF SEPTEMBER, 2027, TO BE EXPENDED.
OR AT LEAST TO BE ALLOCATED. WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY OF THAT MONEY YET. IT'S STILL SITTING WITH THE COUNTY. SO THE PROCESS, WE HAVE ON GOING COMMUNICATION WITH THE FAA THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AS WE STARTED TO LOOK AT REDEVELOPING THESE FIELDS AND REPAIRING THEM. WE HAVE -- THERE IS A WRITTEN DOCUMENT ABOUT OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FLORIDA DEP.
THEY WERE ONE OF THOSE WHO PROVIDED US THE GRANTS.
WE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH NASSAU COUNTY ABOUT ALL OF THESE OPTIONS. AND THEY WERE -- WHAT THEY SAID IS THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH US IN ANY WAY THAT WE NEED THEM TO, TO MEET THE NEEDS SO THEY WERE VERY WILLING TO DISCUSS PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING. THE PARKS DIRECTOR WENT ON A COUNTY PARKS TOUR, INCLUDING A COUPLE OF FUTURE SITES THAT THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTING, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT. AND THEN WE DID MEET WITH THE AMELIA ISLAND YOUTH SOCCER TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AND TALK ABOUT THE OPTIONS AND GET THEIR INPUT ON THE PROCESS. SO LET'S 'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OPTIONS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO US.
WE CAN PROCEED AS PLANNED. AND THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS -- THE PRO IS THAT WE COMPLY WITH ALL OF OUR GRANT REQUIREMENTS. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT WE'RE NOT -- IF -- WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO TO PROCEED AS PLANNED IS WE HAVE TO BUY A PERCENTAGE OF THE PROPERTY. WE'VE LOOKED AT ABOUT 12 ACRES OF THE 22 ACRE SITE. THE ESTIMATE OF THAT PRICE WAS EVERYTHING HAS BEEN BASED ON 1. 8 MILLION TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.
THAT VALUATION WAS DONE TWO YEARS AGO.
THE FAA REQUIRES A SIX- MONTH VALUATION.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO RE- DO IT. AND WE COULD ANTICIPATE BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENED THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT THAT PRICE WOULD BE HIGHER.
SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER -- THE LIST WAS -- I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO ADD ALL OF THE PROS AND CONS, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I PUT THE BIG ONES ON THERE. SO THE OTHER -- THE SITE IS FAMILIAR TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY'VE BEEN USING IT SINCE 1986 IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
AND IT IS GENERALLY SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY OR HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS. AND THEN ANOTHER PRO IS THAT WE WOULD BE USING 1.7 MILLION FROM THE COUNTY THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED. SO SOME CONS. THE COST.
I MENTIONED THE PURCHASE. WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE DESIGN AND THE BUILD. WHICH AT THIS POINT WE'RE LOOKING AT AT LEAST, AT LEAST THE 1. 7 MILLION TO BUILD.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY.
WE DON'T HAVE A FULLY DESIGNED STORM WATER SYSTEM.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THE FIELD ABOUT JUST SHORT OF A FOOT WITH FILL TO MAKE THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM WORK. AND SO THOSE ARE UNKNOWNS.
THERE'S ALSO AN UNKNOWN ON THE SITE.
THE FAA HAS REQUIRED A ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND WE DON'T KNOW THE OUTCOME OF WHAT THAT WILL BE. AND THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT THERE MAYBE SOME ISSUES OUT THERE. SO THAT WILL RAISE THE COST TO HAVE TO MITIGATE WHATEVER HAPPENS THERE.
AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE USUALLY DON'T TALK ABOUT IN CAPITAL BUT IS TRUE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW FACILITY, THE OPERATING COSTS DO NOT GO DOWN. THEY GO UP.
BECAUSE YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN IT AT THE CURRENT LEVEL AND ONE
[00:45:01]
OF THE REASONS IS BECAUSE WE WANT THE FIELD TO LAST. THESE FIELDS SHOULD LAST 25 YEARS OR SO. IF THERE'S A HIGH MAINTENANCE LEVEL, YOU CAN STRETCH TO 30 AND 35, WHICH LESSONS YOUR CAPITAL IMPACT, WHICH AS YOU WERE DISCUSSING EARLY, THE CAPITAL PROGRAM IS LARGE AND THE CAPITAL NEED IS LARGER. AND ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAN MITIGATE THAT IS BY MAINTAINING THINGS AT A HIGH LEVEL. SO THE COUNTY PARTNERSHIP, THIS IS AN OPTION THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR BUILDING A COUPLE OF SETS OF FIELDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.ONE -- THE NEAREST ONE I BELIEVE IS IN YULY AREA.
AND THEY'RE BUILDING THREE FIELDS THAT ARE TARGETED TO BE DELIVERED IN LATE '26.
THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY THERE THAT IF WE WERE TO REVERSE THE FLOW AND HELP THEM WITH THE PARTNERSHIP OR JUST GIVEN THEM MONEY BACK FOR THAT PURPOSE, THEN THEY COULD BUILD AN ADDITIONAL THREE FIELDS ON THAT SITE. SO, TO TALK ABOUT THE PROS.
THAT IS A LOWER COST FOR US. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
THE COSTS ARE MUCH MORE PREDICTABLE AS WELL.
THEY KNOW THEIR SITE. THEY KNOW WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED AND PLANNED FOR. THAT EXPANSION EVENTUALLY ANY WAY. THE PARKING AND OTHER AMENITIES ARE THERE, WILL BE THERE, OR ARE BEING BUILT AS PART OF THEIR EXPANSION SO THAT WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE AS FAR AS THAT GOES.
AND THEN ONE THING THAT I DIDN'T MENTION ON THE FIRST ONE BUT IS TRUE OF THIS ONE IS THAT IMPACT FEES AND HOW WE FUND THE PROJECT IS A CHALLENGE. IF WE -- ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY IS VERIFYING THIS, BUT I DID TALK TO OUR CONSULTANT FOR THE -- FOR IMPACT FEES ABOUT WHETHER WE COULD USE -- TWO QUESTIONS I ASKED.
ONE, CAN WE USE IMPACT FEES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY IF IT BENEFITS CITY RESIDENTS. AND THEIR ANSWER WAS YES.
AGAIN, OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS VERIFYING THAT.
THE OTHER CHALLENGE IS THAT AT YBOR, WE ARE NOT INCREASING, WE ARE DECREASING THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND WE'RE REBUILDING A PORTION OF IT.
THAT BRINGS INTO QUESTION WHETHER WE CAN BRING IN IMPACT FEES.
BECAUSE GENERALLY IMPACT FEES ARE USED FOR EXPANSION WHICH IS WHY WE ASSIGNED THEM.
SO THE FUNDING BECOMES A CHALLENGE ON PHASE ONE.
SO, SOME OF THE CONS, ON U COUNTY PARTNERSHIP, 1.7 WOULD NOT COME TO THE CITY FOR THAT PURPOSE. SO THAT HAS TO BE A CON.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DO -- IF WE WERE GOING TO CREATE A PARTNERSHIP, WE HAVE TO RENEGOTIATE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MET. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE WILL HAVE IN THAT AGREEMENT IS WHO PAYS FOR OPERATION. SO THAT'S A CONCERN FOR THEM, OF COURSE. JUST LIKE IT WAS WHEN THEY GAVE US THE MONEY TO DO IT. THE FACILITIES ARE NOT WITHIN THE CITY. THAT'S A CON.
THEN WE HAVE SOME OPERATING AGREEMENTS WITH THE MAIN USERS.
AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE SECURE THAT FOR THEM IN A FACILITY THAT IS NOT DIRECTLY OURS.
SO THAT CAN BE A CON FOR SURE. OPTION THREE IS ALTERNATIVE SITING. AND IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT A POSSIBILITY. THE GREAT THING ABOUT AN ALTERNATE SITE IS WE GET TO DO FULL PLANNING OF IT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
WE CAN IDENTIFY THE PROPER SITES, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FULLY VETTED AND THEN GET THE TRUE COSTS OF THEM.
THE OTHER PROS ARE, THEY WOULD BE FULLY IMPACT FEE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE ADDING A NEW -- MULTIPLE- NEW FACILITIES. WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT THE PARKING AND OTHER AMENITIES THAT GO WITH THESE SITES ARE BUILT AND PLANNED FOR -- AND MET THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT LOOKING INTO MULTIPLE AREAS WHERE WE COULD FULFILL AN INTERIM NEED, WHICH IF WE PICKED AN ALTERNATIVE SITE, THAT'S SOMETHIG WE COULD SPEND A LITTLE OF TIME AND SOME REVENUE ON IS WHERE THE ALTERNATIVE SITE IS WE'RE PLANNING AND BUILDING THAT. THE KEY DATE IS 2027.
ALL AGREEMENTS COME DUE IN 2027. MID TO END OF THE YEAR.
[00:50:04]
SO SOME CONS ON FINDING ANOTHER SITE, MOST OF THE SITES WE HAVE WILL HAVE COMMUNITY CONCERNS OF SOME SORT. IF NOT ALL.THAT'S THE NATURE OF PUTTING SOMETHING NEW SOMEWHERE.
WE HAVE NOT VETTED ANY OF THEM FULLY FOR VIABILITY YET.
THAT WOULD BE A PROCESS THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US SOME TIME.
WE HAVE NOT UPDATED A LONG- TERM PLAN OF WHERE WE WANT THEM.
THE LATEST PLAN WAS IN 2015. I DO KNOW IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WE SET SOME ASIDE TO DO THAT PLANNING PROCESS, THAT WILL BE LED BY OUR PARKS DIRECTOR. THAT IS A PRO ON THE OTHER SIDE WE WOULD HAVE TIME TO PLAN THAT AND THE COMMUNITY COULD WEIGH IN ON THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
COUPLE OF OTHER FACTORS. I TALKED ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLANNING PROCESS THAT WILL START NEXT YEAR. MARTIN LUTHER KING FIELDS THERE'S A PROJECT IN 2026 TO GET THOSE FIXED AND CREATE A BETTER LAYOUT. AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT IMPACT FEES ALREADY.
WE HAVE TO EVALUATE HOW WE USE THEM AND WHERE THEY'RE BEST USED, UTILIZED. THE TIME LINE, 2027 IS THE CRUCIAL YEAR. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME. THEN I WANTED TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE COMP PLAN REQUIREMENTS. IF WE CHOOSE ANY THREE OF THESE OPTIONS IN LOOKING AT THE COMP PLAN AND LOOKING AT THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE ALREADY HAPPENING WE WOULD MEET ALL OF OUR COMP PLAN REQUIREMENTS.
ONE OF THEM THAT I AM CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT MEETING NOW IS TO PROVIDE FIRST CLASS FACILITIES. THIS ONE COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AT THIS POINT. AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE -- TO MEET THE NEED THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS.
SO QUESTIONS. WILL THE GRANTING AGENCIES ALLOWALLOW TO RELEASE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRANT OPTION IF WE CHOOSE OPTION TWO OR THREE? THAT'S AN UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT. THE AMOUNT OF GRANTS THAT WE WOULD -- IF THEY REQUIRED US TO PAY BACK AS LONG AS THERE WASN'T INTEREST AT THIS POINT WOULD BE 84 -- LITTLE OVER $84,000. AND I THINK WHAT THAT NUMBER REALLY SHOWS US IS HOW MUCH CAPITAL COSTS HAVE INCREASED FROM 1984 AND FROM 2006.
IT'S REALLY AMAZING. WHAT IS THE BEST USE OF OUR COMMUNITY PARKS CAPITAL FUNDS INCLUDING OUR IMPACT FEES? HOW DOES THE CITY MEET THE GROWING SOCCER FIELD? IT'S ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SPORTS BESIDES PICKLEBALL.
PICKLEBALL IS NUMBER ONE. AND SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT NEED SHORT- TERM BUT ALSO LONG-TERM.
AND THEN WE NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT THE ACTUALLY PURCHASE AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF THE AIRPORT SITE SHOULD THAT BE THE OPTION. SO WITH THAT, WE'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THESE ARE THE NEXT STEPS.
YOU NEED TO DETERMINE THE DIRECTION AND KIND OF MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU. SINCE WE ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES REMAININGLY TAKE THE LIBERTY OF STRETCHING THIS UP TO 6:15 BEFORE WE START THE REGULAR SCHEDULED
MEETING. >> ANY OF MY FELLOW ODY, ANY COLLEAGUES ON T COUNTY LEVEL? HAVE YOU TALKIN' TO ANY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THIS?
>> I HAVE ZERO, ZERO APPETITE TO TALK ABOUT THIS UNTIL I TALK TO AT LEAST ONE, TWO OR THREE OF THEM. SECOND THING IS, Y'ALL MAY SEE THIS LITTLE SCAR RIGHT HERE. THAT'S THE LAST TIME I TOUCHED A PARK, LIKE JOE VALARTI.
SO IT'S HOT. THAT'S YBOR ALVAREZ AS WELL.
I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING UNTIL WE GET THIS ROOM FULL AGAIN, FULL OF CITIZENS THAT WE'RE GETTING RID OF YBOR ALVAREZ.
>> I SEE NO OTHER COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER TUTEN?
SUPER SMART. YEAH, I THINK WE -- I THINK WE NEED A LOT MORE BASIC INFORMATION.
I SPOKE TO SOME OF THE SOCCER PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS MORE.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW THE UPDATED FAA SIX- MONTH VALUATION OF THAT PROPERTY IF THAT'S -- WHAT DID YOU SAY THE OLD ONE WAS 1.8 MILLION.
>> YEAH AND IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.
>> TWO YEARS AGO. THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE POTENTIALLY.
DECISION MAKING. AND THEN ONE MINOR QUESTION.
DID YOU SAY THE FIELDS OUT AT YULY THEY WERE TEMPORARILY PLANNING THREE BUT IF WE GAVE THEM BACK THEIR 1. 7 MILLION AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
[00:55:01]
THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER THREE, POTENTIALLY SIX?>> POTENTIALLY. I MEAN, THEY DIDN'T MAKE ANY KBHITDMENTES WHATSOEVER BUT TO ME THEY PLANNED LONG- TERM TO ADD THEM. SO THAT WOULD BE A DISCUSSION POINT IN ANY AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD DISCUSS WITH THE STAFF.
>> YEAH. I GOT COMMISSIONER -- GO AHEAD.
>> I'M SORRY. >> WE'RE GETTING -- IT'S IN THE BUDGET TO DO A BIG OVERALL PLAN FOR THE REC DEPARTMENT AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF AND WHERE WE COULD PUT THINGS. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE TO START MAKING THE DECISION ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO A PLAN. I MEAN, BUYING BACK PROPERTY FROM OURSELVES TO PAY THE AIRPORT OVER $2 MILLION IS AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY WHEN WE'VE GOT OTHER LAND THAT WE POTENTIALLY COULD USE. AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE COST OF BUILDING IT OUT. AND IT COULD BE MORE THAN THAT.
PLUS, PAYING OFF THE GRANTS. FROM THE PEOPLE I'VE HEARD IN THE PAST THAT THIS IS NOT A VERY CLEAN SITE. AND WHEN WE SOLD THE LAND TO FBU TO BUILD THEIR -- OVER NEAR THE AIRPORT AND I REMEMBER SELLING IT FOR 800,000 AND WE GAVE THEM 800,000 TO CLEAN THE LAND AFTER THEY STARTED PULLING OUT GARBAGE CANS AND REFRIGERATORS AND PARTS OF CARS ON THE SITE THAT WE THOUGHT WAS CLEAN.
SO, I'VE HEARD THIS IS SIMILAR POTENTIAL SITUATION. SO MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO GO DIGGING IN THERE, VICE MAYOR.
YOU'LL DEFINITELY CUT YOUR HANDS AGAIN.
I JUST THINK IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE PREMATURE AND I AGREE WE NEED TO TALK TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE.
THIS JUST CAME UP TO US IN THE LAST DAY OR TWO? GOT ADDED ON TO THIS. SO CERTAINLY NOT PREPARED ANYMORE TO SPEAK ON IT.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER MINSHEW?
>> I AGREE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BUY PROPERTY BACK FROM OURSELVES. IT JUST DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A BIGGER PICTURE PLAN SO THAT WE CAN SIT DOWN WITH THE COUNTY AND HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT MAKES SENSE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WE HAD OUR VISIONS SESSION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, I ASKED ABOUT THIS.
BUT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY INFORMATION.
BUT I KNOW THAT THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE GROWTH OVER THE NEXT TEN TO 15, 20 YEARS. IN POPULATION OF THE CITY BY DEMOGRAPHIC. SO, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY CITY KIDS WE'RE BUILDING THIS STUFF OUT FOR. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE RECREATION ASSOCIATIONS DON'T LOOK AT IT THAT WAY AND THAT THEY JUST RECRUIT KIDS IN.
SOME OF THEM HAVE GEOGRAPHIC REQUIREMENTS, SOME DON'T.
BUT THEY RECRUIT KIDS IN. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING IN OUR ANALYSIS OF WHAT DOES THE DEMOGRAPHIC POPULATION LOOKED LIKE IN THE CITY IN TERMS OF GROWTH OF CHILDREN THAT WOULD BE USING SOCCER OR SOFTBALL OR BASEBALL OR ANY OF THESE, YOU KNOW, FACILITIES THAT WE'RE BUILDING OUT. BECAUSE MY FEELING IS THE MAJORITY OF THE GROWTH IS ALREADY OFF ISLAND.
AND MAYBE IT DOES MAKE BETTER SENSE FOR US TO ENTER INTO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, SUPPORT GROWTH IN THE COUNTY RATHER THAN CONTINUE GROWTH IN A FAIRLY RESTRICTED AREA WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE MAJOR TRAFFIC CONCERNS, PARKING CONCERNS, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE, I THINK, INCLUDED IN WHATEVER ANALYSIS THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND THEN WE CAN HAVE BETTER FACTS AND DATA TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING?
>> AS A FORMER SOCCER PLAYER I WOULD BE REMISS IN NOT PUTTING A BIGGER PLUG FOR SOCCER. I COMPLETELY AGREE, I WANT TO KNOW THE DATA AND WHAT'S THE GROWTH OF CHILDREN. BECAUSE ALL OF OUR SPORTS TEAMS ARE PLAYED BY CITY AND COUNTY KIDS AND SOME OUT OF STATE KIDS WE HAVE SOME KIDS COME OVER. AND THAT'S ALL OF THOSE KIDS ARE IMPORTANT. BUT OUR TAXES ARE ONLY DIRECTLY
[01:00:01]
RELATED TO THE CITY KIDS. AND SO UNDERSTANDING THE GROWTH OF CITY KIDS I THINK IS CRITICAL. I WILL, THOUGH, SAY GIVEN THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF THE SPORT OF SOCCER AND PARTICULARLY HOW INEXPENSIVE IT IS FOR A CHILD TO PLAY THAT SPORT BECAUSE YOU LITERALLY JUST NEED SNEAKERS AND SHIN GUARDS AND THAT'S IT.THE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENT IS EXTREMELY LOW.
AND ANY 2-YEAR- OLD CAN KICK A BALL. CAN RUN AROUND AND SORT OF KICK A BALL.
SO THE MAKING AT LEAST SOME -- AS WE EXPLORE FUTURE FIELDS AND OUR FUTURE PARKS AND REC FIELDS, MAKING AT LEAST YOU KNOW, RECREATION ENTRY LEVEL SOCCER AVAILABILITY ON ISLAND FOR ANY OF THE KIDS WHO ARE HERE I THINK IS PRETTY CRITICAL. BUT THAT'S
ALL. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS IF YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THIS OFF HAND WHAT WOULD THAT ASSESSMENT FOR THAT SIX- MONTH VALUATION COST? IS THAT DIRECT TO THE CITY? IS THAT SOMETHING WE EVER GET A GRANT FOR? WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT TIED TO IT?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF -- 6,000. OKAY.
>> SO WE WOULDN'T WANT TO WASTE MY MONEY, OF COURSE, NOT LIKE WE'RE WASTING 10S OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ACHIEVE THAT IN JANUARY AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET BASED ON A VISIONS
SESSION. >> TO ME BASED ON WHAT -- THE INPUT YOU'RE GIVING US WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO GO AHEAD WITH THAT PROCESS.
>> SO WE CAN IDENTIFY THE COST AND THAT GIVES US TIME TO HAVE THE -- CONTINUE REGIONAL DISCUSSIONS AT EVERY LEVEL AND DO DEMOGRAPHIC WORK AND OTHER STATISTICS WE'RE WORKING
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]
ON ASI SEE NO OTHER COMMISSIONER REQUESTS TO SPEAK.
I HAVE A FEW ENTRIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
COMMISSIONERS, CITY STAFF AND GUESTS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF RECREATION SOCCER.
I'M HAPPY TO SHARE A PERSPECTIVE.
SOCCER IS PROUDLY OPERATED AT THE YBOR FIELDS CITY PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT FOR DECADES. O YOU ARE PROM CURRENTLY SERVES MORE THAN 750 PLAYERS AND CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE DOUBLE DIGIT ANNUAL GROWTH. OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM INTRODUCES SOCCER TO A NUMBER OF FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT COULDN'T OTHERWISE AFFORD IT. AS THE LARGEST YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM IN NASSAU COUNTY, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE NEEDS OF OUR ORGANIZATION REMAIN A CENTRAL CONSIDERATION THROUGH ANY CURRENT DISCUSSIONS AND IN ANY FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS. FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNCERTAINTIES SURROUNDING THE STATUS OF THE YBOR FIELDS PRESENTED CHALLENGING PROGRAMS FOR THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
THE LACK OF A DEFINITIVE TIME LINE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND LONG- TERM IMPROVEMENTS ALONG WITH LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO FURTHER GROW AND DEVELOPMENT THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER. TODAY WE RESPECTFULLY ASK TO EXPEDITE A CLEAR AND ACTIONABLE PATH FORWARD TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAM AND VIABILITY. WE ASK THE FOLLOWING THREE CONSIDERATIONS BE INCLUDED.
FIRST, CONSOLIDATION OF THE FACILITIES. WE URGE THE CITY TO MAINTAIN A SINGLE UNIFIED LOCATION. FRAGMENTS THE PROGRAM ACROSS MULTIPLE SITES WOULD DIMINISH THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE OFFER AND STRAIN OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER CONSISTENT COACHING AND RESOURCES. TWO.
CONTINUITY OF SERVICE. WE ASK FOR A NEW FACILITY OR EQUAL SIZE OR LARGER, LIT AND COMPLETED AND READY FOR USE BEFORE ING YBOR FIELDS. APPROXIMATELY 40 OF OUR PLAYERS RESIDE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. 06% LIVE 32034 ZIP CODE.
OUR PROGRAM FAMILIES REGULARLY SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES DURING THE SEASON CONTRIBUTING MEANINGFULLY TO THE CITY'S ECONOMY.
AS THE PROCESS ADVANCES, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COMMISSION PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK WITHIN THE NEXT 90 DAYS OUTLINING THE PROPOSED DIRECTION FOR THESE FACILITIES AND ESTABLISHING KEY MILESTONES AND TARGET DATES FOR POINTS. OUR FALL SOCCER SEASON STARTS SOON AND THE AMELIA SOCCER BOARD EXTENDS OPEN INVITATION TO COME OUT TO SEE WHAT LOCAL SPORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF YOUTH RECREATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT I HAVE MS. KATHY SHOWFIELD.
[01:05:06]
>> HI. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT AIR QUALITY MONITORS.
>> MS. SCHOFIELD, NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD,
>> MY HEARING IS NOT TOO GREAT. IS IT OKAY TO BEGIN?
>> OKAY. SO, WHY DO WE NEED DATA OR AIR QUALITY MONITORS IN FERNANDINA BEACH. I THE WE ALL WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE BREATHING. THE EPA TOXIC RELEASE REPORT FOR ZIP CODE 32034 IDENTIFIED AT LEAST 22 TOXINS WITH LONG- TERM SIDE EFFECTS THAT IMPACT THE PULMONARY, CARDIO, NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND ARE LINKED TO CANCER, OCULAR ISSUES, FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND MORE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE PURPLE AIR MONITORS THAT MEASURE PM 2.5.
THEY ARE SHOWING FREQUENT PATTERNS OF UNHEALTHY SPIKES, DANGEROUS SPIKES IN THE LATE EVENINGS, LIKE TWO, THREE IN THE MORNING AND ALSO SOMETIMES MIDDAY.
PM 2. 5 IS A CRITICAL POLLUTANT THAT PENETRATES THE PULMONARY CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, THE BLOOD AND THE BRAIN. PM 2. 5 IS LINK TODDY MEN SHA, CANCER AND RESPIRATORY ISSUES SUCH AS COPD AND PNEUMONIA. PM 2. 5 MEASURES YOUR TINY PARTICLES, BUT POLLUTIONS IS A MIXTURE OF CHEMICALS AND TOXINS SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE REALLY BREATHING. WE COULD BE BREATHING PM 2.
5 BUT IT COULD BE MIXED WITH OTHER CHEMICALS WE NEED TO IDENTIFY. EPA MONITORS HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF SINCE 2006 IN FERNANDINA BEACH EXCEPT FOR ONE SULFUR DIOXIDE MONITOR AT THE WATER WASTE TREATMENT PLANT. WE NEED MULTIPLE CITY MONITORS IN LOCATIONS TO REALLY MEASURE WHAT WE'RE BREATHING.
I BELIEVE LYNN KRUGER IS ALSO WORKING ON THAT.
THE FREQUENT ROTTEN EGG AND NOXIOUS ODORS DISRUPT OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO WHAT DO WE DO? WE CAN MODEL AFTER OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES.
SO WE REQUEST THE CITY COMMISSION BUDGET 55,000 FOR INDEPENDENT, COMPREHENSIVE AIR QUALITY MONITORS WITH ALERTS AS A PRIORITY. NEW TECHNOLOGY IS USER FRIENDLY, PLUG-IN-PLAY AND COST EFFECTIVE. DATA IS THE SOLUTION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE BREATHING. AND KEEP IN MIND, THE SYSTEM IS SCALEABLE AND CUSTOMIZABLE. SO FINALLY WE ARE NOT JUST PRESENTING A PROBLEM, WE'RE PRESENTING AN ACTION PLAN. CITY AIR QUALITY MONITORS CAN BE CUSTOMIZED TO MEASURE SPECIFIC TOXINS AND GASES THAT THE EPA CANNOT. THEY CAN INTEGRATE WITH PURPLE AIR AND EPA DATA AND INTERFACE ON THE CITY WEBSITE AND BE TRANSPARENT TO ALL.
TRANSPARENCY BUILDS TRUST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
DATA EMPOWERS THE COMMUNITY FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY.
PROVIDING DATA AND ALERTS FOR UNHEALTHY AIR IS ESSENTIAL -- OH MY GOODNESS.
PAUL LORI. I DO WANT TO GIVE HUGE SHOUTOUT TO MS. SARA, THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER UNDERSTOOD A BUDGET JUST AS A CITIZEN SITTING ASIDE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LITTLE INNUENDS ABOUT NEXT YEAR COMING UP FOR THE BUDGET YOU HEAR ABOUT CREATING A NEW REVENUE STREAM. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS AND THAT MEANS PAID PARKING. SO, MY PIECE ON THAT IS OVER THE HISTORY OF TIME IN FERNANDINA BEACH, THE TAXPAYERS HAVE BUILT DOWNTOWN.
NOT THE BUSINESSES. THE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN A SUPPORT IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR PARKING DOWNTOWN.
AND IN A COLLABORATION BETWEEN TAXPAYERS AND BUSINESSES WE HAVE AN AMAZING DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE AN AMAZING COMMUNITY.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH THE TAXPAYERS BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH I KNOW PERSONALLY AT TIMES WITH IT BEING VERY RECIPROCATING AS A CITIZEN OF THIS TOWN, FROM THE BUSINESSES, AND FROM GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE ALL FLOURISHED BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND I'LL END WITH THIS, SINCE THE TAXPAYERS HAVE BUILT A
[01:10:02]
MAJORITY OF THOSE PARKING STALLS, LET THE TAXPAYERS DECIDE IF WE SHOULD HAVE PAID PARKING OR NOT AS A REVENUE STREAM. THANK YOU.>> THAN YOU MR. LORI. AND LAST UP WE HAVE MS. MARGARET KIRKLAND. YOU'LL DEFER TO THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING. WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND RECONVENE AT 6:17.
>> SHEILA COKE. 1550 INDIGO STREET AND MEMBER OF THE PARKS AND REC ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT OUR MEETING WAS CANCELLED THIS MONTH.
AND I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT WITH SO MANY QUESTIONS AND CHANGES FOR SOMETHING AS A MEMBER OF PRAC, I THOUGHT WAS WELL ON THE WAY.
THERE ARE -- AS COMMISSIONER AYSCUE MENTIONED, THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION AROUND SOCCER AT YBOR ALVAREZ AND THE EXPANSION OF THE AIRPORT PROPERTY SPURRED THE MOVING OF THE SOFTBALL FIELD, WHICH WE COULDN'T DO BECAUSE OF A GRANT OR HAD TO REBUILD THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. WAITING FOR OCEAN RESCUE TO MOVE FROM THE SPACE AT MLK SO THAT THOSE SOFTBALL FIELD COULD BE REBUILT AND WE COULD NOT HAVE TO PAY BACK THE GRANT MONEY OVER THERE. THE KIDS AT MLK WITH THE BALL FIELDS THERE.
SO ALL OF THE SOCCER KIDS -- WELL AND THEN THE TALK OF THE VALARTI, THEN EVERYBODY HATES PETANQUE, THAT HAS COME ALONG. WE GOT THAT WORKED OUT. IT WAS LIKE A DOMINO SITUATION OF FIELDS AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOVING. AND MAYBE IT'S BEEN 18 MONTHS -- I FORGET WHEN ALL OF THIS --
>> STILL GOT THE SCAR. SO WHEN R THAT STARTED, HOWEVER LONG THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, ALL OF THE KIDS AND ALL OF THOSE FIELDS ARE STILL PLAYING ON SUBSTANDARD FIELDS.
SO, THEY WERE BEING MAINTAINED IN THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN TO DO NOTHING, BUT AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING AND NOW WE'RE STARTING -- IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK AND ALL OF THESE KIDS ARE STARTING YEAR ROUND SPORTSSPORTS THIS ISLAND.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS MORE JUST KICKING THE CAN.
I'M HOPING THIS IS GOING TO COME BACK TO PRAC, THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE CHANGES TO BE ABLE TO ADVISE YOU GUYS ON SOME THINGS THAT WE SEE.
I MEAN, I HAVE QUESTIONS. I BROUGHT THIS UP WHEN WE MADE THIS DEAL. YES, THE CITY WAS GOING TO PUT IN 1. 8 MILLION AND YES THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO DO THAT, BUT WE ARE ALL ALSO COUNTY RESIDENTS. THAT'S DOUBLE DIPPING FOR US.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS. SO, IF WE DO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THIS NOW RESIDES IN THE COUNTY, ARE WE JUST GOING TO GIVE THEM A ONE TIME FEE AND THEY'LL MAINTAIN IT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ANYMORE.
THOSE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS I'M WONDERING ABOUT AND I WOULD THINK AS A MOM MYSELF AND I HAVE TWO KIDS DOING SPORTS, TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY LOCAL WHERE I CAN GET THEM TO PRACTICE IN THE AFTERNOONS, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT TO YULY FOR A SATURDAY GAME OR TOURNAMENT MIGHT BE A GREAT THING BUT WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS HERE LOCALLY FOR KIDS WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO GET OUT THERE. SO, WHAT ARE WE DOING? I WILL BE INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM PARKS AND REC, MAYBE NECHB OUR PRAC MEETING HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE PARKS NOW. THE PLANNING IS GREAT, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE -- I KNOW WHEN IT RAINS AT THE SOCCER FIELDS YOU CAN'T PLAY AT ALL.
>> ALL RIGHT, FOLKS. WE'LL BREAK FOR FIVE MINUTES AND RECONVENE THE REGULAR AGENDA MEETING AT 6:20. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.