[4.3 NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL - SHRIMPING STUDY - Northeast Florida Regional Council Post Disaster Recovery Coordinator Ms. Cassidy Taylor will provide a presentation.]

>> ALL RIGHT. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST FOR OUR PRESENTATIONS WE HAVE OUR NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL SHRIMPING STUDY. COME ON UP. LET'S HEAR ABOUT IT. WE HAVE MS.

CASSIDY TAYLOR. >> HI, GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.

MY NAME IS CASSIDY TAYLOR, THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY KOORD FLAY TOR AS THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL.

TODAY I WILL BE PRESENTING ON THE RECENTLY COMPLETED NORTHEAST SHRIMPING MARKET STUDY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, TO PREFACE THIS PRESENTATION, THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL, WE SERVE THE SEVEN COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN APPLICATIONS SUCH AS PLANNING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCY. OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS MADE UP OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS THE REGION, INCLUDING COMMISSIONER MINSHEW WHO SITS ON OUR BOARD. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO, LAST YEAR THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL DETERMINED A NEED TO ASSESS AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY TO REVITALIZE THE INDUSTRY MAINLY FROM PARTNERSHIPS, SUCH AS THE WATERFRONT PARTNERSHIP WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH FOR YEARS.

WE IDENTIFIED A NEED TO LOOK AT THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA, INCLUDING IN DUVAL, NASSAU AND ST.

JOHNS COUNTY AND ULTIMATELY THE GOAL OF THIS STUDY WAS TO ANALYZE THE MARKET AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVITALIZATION.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE PROJECT PROCESS HAD THREE PHASES. THE FIRST ONE BEING BACKGROUND RESEARCH. WE DID THAT FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH JANUARY. NEXT WAS TO REACH OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO WE HELD COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN ALL THREE OF OUR COASTAL COUNTIES WITH HISTORIC SHRIMPING INDUSTRIES AND THEN OUR THIRD PHASE OF THIS PROJECT WAS TO GO BACK, CREATE THE FINAL REPORT, PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALSO DO OUTREACH TO THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THIS STUDY AND SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS TO IMPLEMENT THIS STUDY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. IN PHASE ONE WE FIRST HELD A KICKOFF MEETING IN MAY PORT VILLAGE WITH A LOT OF LOCAL SHRIMPERS AND SOME OF OUR PARTNERS.

WE REALLY GOT A LAY OF THE LAND AND THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP GUIDE AND DIRECT SOME OF THE REST OF OUR BACKGROUND RESEARCH, INCLUDING WE DID AN ANALYSIS OF SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRY AS WELL AS LOOKING AT THE CURRENT INDUSTRY STATUS TODAY.

WE ALSO TOOK A LOOK AT SOME OF THE MARKET CHALLENGES THAT THE INDUSTRY IS FACING TODAY AND WE LOOKED AT SOME SUSTAINABLE SHRIMPING PRACTICES AND WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS AT WITH THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO NEXT WE HELD FOUR LISTENING SESSIONS. FIRST IN FERNANDINA BEACH RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM. THEN WE WENT TO MAY PORT AND ST.

AUGUSTINE AND ENDED WITH A FINAL ALL COUNTY VIRTUAL MEETING FOR THOSE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON. AND WE HELD THESE IN A DISCUSSION FORMAT, STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREAT. WE FOUND THIS WAS VERY VALUABLE IN THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE WE HEARD SOME OF THE STATUS OF THE INDUSTRY TODAY AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO THEN MOVE IN TO IDENTIFYING THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT STEM FROM SOME OF THE GAPS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. LOOKING AT A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE FERNANDINA BEACH LISTENING SESSION THAT WE HELD.

WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 25 ATTENDEES AT THIS MEETING.

AND WE HAD SOME KEY THEMES THAT RESONATED NOT ONLY IN FERNANDINA BEACH BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT OUR OTHER COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT REALLY HELPED GUIDE OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

SOME OF THOSE BEING TO CREATE A TASK FORCE OR CO- OP OF SOME SORT, GET FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY TALKING INDIVIDUALLY IN ROOMS TOGETHER WHERE THEY CAN COLLECTIVELY MAKE DECISIONS AND MOVE FORWARD AS A GROUP THERE'S ALWAYS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AND POWER IN NUMBERS AS WELL. NEXT, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT ECOTOURISM AND EDUCATION. THERE'S A HUGE COMPONENT ABOUT EJT KATING RESIDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HISTORY OF THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY AND ALSO THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC RELEVANCE OF THE INDUSTRY TODAY. NEXT IS BRINGING LOCAL SHRIMP TO RESTAURANTS. SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD AT THESE LISTENING SESSIONS WAS WE CAN'T GET A CONSISTENT SUPPLY OF LOCAL SHRIMP AT RESTAURANTS YEAR ROUND SO WHAT ARE SOLUTIONS THAT WE COULD WORK TOWARDS TO DO SO.

AND FINALLY, OF COURSE, THE AISLE OF 8 FLAGS SHRIMP FESTIVAL IS A HUGE ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE SPOKE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO BRING LOCAL SHRIMP OR BRING MORE OF EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT TO THAT FESTIVAL AS WELL. WE HAD SOME ORGANIZERS AT THAT EVENT AT THIS MEETING AS WELL.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. HERE WE JUST HAVE SOME PICTURES OF THAT MEETING TO JUST SHOWCASE THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM.

[00:10:01]

MOVING ON TO OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO, WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS STUDY THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE IMPLEMENTED LOCALLY.

SO WE FIRST STARTED WITH THE IDEA OF ESTABLISHING AN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE BY THAT STRENGTH IN NUMBERS MINDSET, FOLKS CAN BRANCH OUT INTO NEW MARKETS. THEY CAN DO MORE BRANDING AND THEY CAN SORT OF WORK TOGETHER TO ORGANIZE THEMSELVES AND IMPLEMENT A LOT OF THESE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE STUDY. THE SECOND WOULD BE TO TRADEMARK A UNIQUE LOGO AND BRANDING MATERIALS. SO THIS IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL MODEL THAT'S BEEN CONDUCTED IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. HAVING A BRAND THAT CAN BE PUT ON MENUS OR AT LOCAL MARKETS SO FOLKS KNOW THEY'RE GETTING LOCAL SHRIMP AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE IDENTIFIED WAS COMPETITION WITH IMPORTED SHRIMP, SO FOLKS BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE WHERE THEIR SHRIMP IS COMING FROM AND THAT IT IS A LOCAL PRODUCT IS VERY IMPORTANT. NEXT IS TO COLLABORATE WITH WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. SOMETHING THAT WE IDENTIFIED IS THAT THERE IS AN AGING WORK FORCE IN THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY, SO HOW DO WE GET YOUNGER FOLKS EITHER ON SHRIMPING BOATS OR WORKING ON SHRIMPING BOATS, KEEPING THIS HISTORIC INDUSTRY LIFE. AND THEN FINALLY, CONDUCTING PUBLIC OUTREACH AND MAINTAINING SOME PARTNERSHIPS. THINGS LIKE THE MUSEUMS, IT COULD BE OF COURSE WITH DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO NETWORK AND FORM A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK THAT CAN ALL TOGETHER REVITALIZE THIS INDUSTRY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AND SO FINALLY, WE RECENTLY COMPLETED THIS STUDY AT THE END OF MAY AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO CONDUCT OUTREACH, OF COURSE, MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS STUDY. SO FIRST WE DID A RESULTS PRESENTATION MEETING WITH ALL THE FOLKS WHO EITHER EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THIS PROCESS OR HAD ATTENDED MEETINGS IN THE PAST.

AND WE ALSO HELD A FOLLOW- UP MEETING TO THAT WITH LOCAL AND STATE EXPERTS OF HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THIS STUDY, AND THAT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. NEXT WE SENT THE FINAL REPORT TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE STUDY THUS FAR AND NOW WE ARE DOING CITY AND COUNTY PRESENTATIONS AND OUTREACH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE AWARE OF THIS STUDY AS WELL.

NEXT SLIDE. WITH ANY PLAN OR STUDY, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS ALWAYS, OF COURSE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS? AND WHILE WE DO WANT THE LOCAL RESIDENTS TO BE EMPOWERED TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THIS STUDY, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN HELP ALONG THE WAY AS WELL. SO WE RECENTLY APPLIED FOR A USDA GRANT TO DO SOME REGIONAL BRANDING AND MARKETS.

AND WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK ON THAT, BUT ALSO EARLIER TODAY ACTUALLY THE MAY PORTICO STALL MIDDLE SCHOOL DID SORT OF A TRIAL RUN OF A FACULTY DAY FOR A SHRIMPING INDUSTRY DAY THAT THEY HOPE TO REPLICATE FOR LOCAL STUDENTS. AND THAT WAS REALLY SUCCESSFUL WITH THE FACULTY AND HOPEFULLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN EITHER BE BROUGHT TO FERNANDINA BEACH SCHOOLS OR SOMETHING SIMILAR, SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AS WELL AT A LATER DATE.

THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AND I HAVE A FEW COPIES OF THE STUDY I CAN LEAVE WITH THE CITY

CLERK. >> THANK YOU, MS. TAYLOR.

ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS FOR MS. CASSIDY?

>> NO.

>> NICE PRESENTATION.

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

>> SEEING NONE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND THAT MOVES US ALONG INTO ITEM 5.

PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

SO, WE'LL START OFF WITH MR. FRED PEW.

>> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS FRED PEW, 1552 RHUS KIN LANE. I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS.

SOME OF WHICH I THINK ARE HERE THIS EVENING, IF YOU WOULD RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE HERE.

WE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED A PETITION WITH 309 SIGNATURES AND THE CONCERN IS OVER THE DAIRY LIVING LOCAL PROJECT ON 14 TH STREET. OUR REQUEST TO THE COMMISSION IS THAT YOU DIRECT CITY STAFF TO REVISIT THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS PROJECT. IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY HAS GIVEN THIS PROJECT A PARKING VARIANCE. THE JUSTIFICATION WAS THE LIVE LOCAL LEGISLATION. WE'VE READ FS 166 DOT 04151 WHICH IS THE MULTIFAMILY PORTION OF THAT LEGISLATION. AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT LEGISLATION THAT DIRECTS OR COMPELS MUNICIPALITY TO MAKE A PARKING VARIANCE.

IN FACT, QUITE TO THE CONTRARY, UNDER PARAGRAPH 7E IT

[00:15:01]

ACTUALLY SAYS DEVELOPMENT SATISFIES THE MUNICIPALITIES LAND DEVELOPMENT, REGULATION FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS, CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND IT SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT SETBACKS AND PARKING REQUIREMENTS.

SO IT'S SAYING YOU SHOULD KEEP THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS IN THE LAW THAT ALLOWS FOR HEIGHT CHANGES AND FLOOR REGULATIONS, BUT NOT PARKING AND SETBACKS. THERE'S A REASON THAT THIS MUNICIPALITY AND OTHERS HAVE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR MULTIFAMILY. AND OURS IS TWO PER UNIT.

THEY'VE REDUCED IT TO ONE PER UNIT.

SO THE REASON IS AMERICANS LOVE CARS.

THERE ISN'T ANY MASS TRANSIT ON AMELIA ISLAND OR TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN NASSAU COUNTY. SO IF YOUNG ADULTS MOVE INTO THESE APARTMENTS AND THEY WANT TO SAVE FOR THE FUTURE, THERE COULD BE THREE, FOUR ADULTS, ALL HAVE JOBS, ALL HAVE CARS. IF IT'S A YOUNG WORKING FAMILY WITH CHILDREN, NOW DAYS BOTH ADULTS PROBABLY WORK.

THEY NEED A PLACE TO PARK. SO THE QUESTION IS IF THIS DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T PROVIDE IT, WHERE ARE THE CARS S GOING TO GO? THERE'S NO PARKING ON 14TH STREET.

IF THEY PARK ON 15TH STREET, THEY'LL CONVERT ONE LANE ROAD WITH TWO- WAY TRAFFIC.

THEY COULD PARK AT SENOVIS OR THE VETERINARY CLINIC OR SONYAS, BUT I DON'T THINK THOSE BUSINESSES WANT THEM TO DO THAT.

REALLY WHAT THIS VARIANCE IS DOING IS FOISTING THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE NEEDS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT BACK ON THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S CREATING A PROBLEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS WE ALREADY HAVE 309 SIGNATURES SAYING WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO PARK.

THE REQUEST IS TO HAVE CITY REVISIT THIS BECAUSE THE JUSTIFICATION OF LIVE LOCAL LEGISLATION IS A MISREAD OF THAT LEGISLATION.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE OPPOSITE. SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. PEW. NEXT WE HAVE MS. MARY SULTRIANA.

>> GOOD EVENING. 344 TARPEN AVENUE.

STILL AGAINST PAID PARKING. NO CHANGES THERE.

BUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO TONIGHT WAS KIND OF PUT ON THE RECORD. I WANT TO DO A CALL TO ACTION TO MY FELLOW BUSINESS OWNERS OF DOWNTOWN.

AND THE RESIDENTS. IT JUST PAINS ME TO SEE SOME OF THE SMARTEST, KINDEST, MOST VIBRANT PEOPLE OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY TOO SCARED TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC. TOO SCARED BECAUSE EITHER THEY HAVE A FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING, A FEAR OF PUSHBACK FROM THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM OR EVEN FROM THE CITY.

I'M NOT SAYING THEIR RIGHT OR WRONG HOW THEY FEEL, NOT SAYING IT'S FOUNDED OR UNFOUNDED, THE REALITY IS THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE FEELING. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WILL GET PUNISHED FOR SPEAKING OUT. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WATCHING AT HOME, ON THE TV OR ONLINE OR HOWEVER YOU DO IT, SOME OF YOU ARE SITTING IN THIS ROOM.

I PROMISE YOU THAT ONCE YOU GET THOSE FIRST THREE MINUTES UNDER YOUR BELT, IT'S LIKE KARAOKE.

HAND ME THE BOOK OF SONGS. I'M READY TO GO AGAIN.

AND IT'S VERY SATISFYING. AND IT IS NOT A LUXURY, IT IS YOUR RIGHT. SO I URGE YOU, PLEASE.

I HAVE BEEN HERE WEEK AFTER WEEK, MEETING AFTER MEETING AND I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE -- YOU NEED ME TO HOLD YOUR HAND WHILE YOU'RE UP I WILL DO IT. PLEASE.

THIS IS NOW OR NEVER GUYS. YOU'RE WATCHING AT HOME, I WANT TO SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.

COME ON DOWN. BUT PLEASE DO NOT FEAR.

THERE IS SAFETY IN NUMBERS. I PROMISE.

IT'S PURE. IT'S NATURE. IT'S HOW IT IS. AND TOGETHER WE STAND.

THAT'S IT. NO PAID PARKING, GUYS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. NOW I HAVE A JEFF I CAN'T PRONOUNCE THE LAST NAME FREEZE.

COME ON UP, SIR. JEFF FREEZE, 2811 TURTLE SHORES DRIVE FERNANDINA BEACH. I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A TOUGH JOB TO DO. I UNDERSTAND. AND YOU GUYS HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF PUBLIC OUTCRY OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF WEEKS.

BUT, I HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS. NUMBER ONE, WE CONSISTENTLY HEAR OF AFFAIRS FOR THE CITY. AND I GUESS I STRUGGLE WITH THAT AS A PERSON WHO HAS A BACKGROUND AS AN EXECUTIVE EP MANAGING OVER A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF REVENUE. WE'RE HEARING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WHY DON'T WE HAVE HIRING FREEZES? WHY HAVEN'T SOME OTHER CHANGES

[00:20:02]

BEEN CUT? WHY HAVEN'T WE LOOKED AT OTHER BUDGET THINGS TO TAKE OUT? WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT FUTURE SPENDING THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD? WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A BOND ISSUE TO FINISH THE SEA WALL? THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE ON THE LONG HAUL TO GET US TO THE POINT THAT WE NEED TO BE FINANCIALLY. I THINK IF SOMEBODY WERE TO COME IN AND DO AN AUDIT, I WOULD BE SCARED TO SEE WHAT THEY FIND AND WHERE THE MONEY IS ACTUALLY GOING AND IS IT A CITIZEN THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME AS A LONG-TERM INVESTOR AND BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN FERNANDINA BEACH. I THINK THE OTHER THING IS, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO JUMP OFF AND GET ON THE PAID PARKING PIECE. I STRUGGLE WITH THE FACT THAT WE CONTINUALLY HEAR WHETHER IT'S 80%, WHETHER IT'S 96% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST PAID PARKING BUT WE'RE STILL SEEING PEOPLE SAYING THERE'S MORE FOR PAID PARKING. GUYS, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, DRIVE AROUND DOWNTOWN. DRIVE AROUND DOWNTOWN. YOU TELL ME ONE BUSINESS, THERE'S SEVERAL THAT DON'T, MOST OF THE BUSINESSES, INCLUDING MY OWN, HAVE A NO PAID PARKING SIGN UP. WHY IS THAT, RIGHT? THE COMMISSION HAS YET TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN SURVEY 1,000 PEOPLE. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PETITIONS COME AT YOU THAT ARE GOING TO SHOW YOU MORE THAN 250 PEOPLE THAT WERE SURVEYED, RIGHT? THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO, MY CONCERN IS THAT. GOING BACK TO FRED'S COMMENT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, WE HAVE A PARKING PROBLEM IN FERNANDINA.

PAID PARKING IS NOT THE SOLUTION.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. FREEZE.

NEXT UP, MR. PAUL LORI.

>> GOOD EVENING. PAUL LORI, 11 SOUTH 7 STREET.

THIS IS LIKE A SUPER MIC. COULDN'T HAVE HAD A BETTER SEGUE.

I FEEL UNFORTUNATE FOR THE PEOPLE AT THE 14TH STREET PROJECT IF I'M LISTENING TO THAT CORRECTLY, KIND OF ALMOST GOES WITH THE SEGUE OF WHAT I JUST MENTIONED EARLIER AT THE BUDGET MEETING. YOU KNOW, DEFINING THAT THE TAXPAYERS HAVE BUILT A MAJORITY OF THOSE PARKING STALLS THAT SIT HERE IN OUR DOWNTOWN. YOU KNOW, I HAD THE EXPERIENCE WHEN I CAME HERE AND I WANTED TO OPEN UP A LITTLE SMALL BUSINESS AND I PURCHASED 11 SOUTH 7 STREET. AS A SMALL BOUTIQUE B & B I HAD TO BUILD SIX PARKING SPACES ON THAT PROPERTY IN ORDER TO OPEN THAT BUSINESS. AND SO I MADE A CONSCIOUS CHOICE NOT TO DO THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO DESTROY THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THAT PROPERTY.

I DIDN'T WANT TO TURN THAT SIDE COURTYARD INTO A PARKING LOT.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO DO.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT DOWNTOWN HERE, HISTORICALLY THE TAXPAYERS AGAIN -- I KNOW I KEEP REPEATING THIS, THEY HAVE BUILT THOSE PARKING STALLS. SO I DO DIAGREE A LITTLE BIT WITH MY ONE FRIEND WHO IS ALSO AN ADVOCATE FOR NO PAID PARKING. AND WHERE HE SAYS THAT YOU HAVE A TOUGH JOB. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE A TOUGH JOB AT ALL. I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS YOU'RE NOT LETTING IT GO AND YOU'RE NOT LETTING THE TAXPAYERS JUST ASIDE A SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGE. IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

I HAVE NO -- IF ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS OVERWHELMING THAT THE TAXPAYERS WANT US TO HAVE PAID PARKING, PAID PARKING IT IS. THE TAXPAYERS HAVE SPOKEN.

SO, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT JOB.

AND I'LL END WITH THIS BECAUSE I LOVE STORIES. I LOVE TALKING STORY. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A RESIDENT NOW, A RESIDENCE IN FERNANDINA BEACH, IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

SO THINK OF THIS, IF I WANT TO INVITE 20 PEOPLE OVER FOR DINNER AND ONE OF THEM HAPPENS TO BE MS. LISA AND HER WONDERFUL CUP CAKES AND SHE DOES MAKE WONDERFUL CUPCAKES FILLED WITH CREAM. AND I NEED THEM FOR THE NEXT ROW. JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

THERE'S GOING TO BE 20 PEOPLE THAT ARE EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO PARK OUTSIDE OF THE PREMIUM AREA, SO THEY DON'T PAY, OR JUST TO COME OVER TO MY HOUSE -- ONLY HAVE TWO PARKING STALLS TO HAVE DINNER, EVERYBODY HAS TO PAY TO PARK DURING THE PRIME TIME DURING A DINNER HOUR. THAT'S JUST NOT OUR TOWN.

YOU HAVE A SIMPLE CHOICE. LET THE TAXPAYERS DECIDE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. LORI. NEXT UP WE HAVE MR. MICHAEL SHARP.

>> MIKE SHARP 130 NORTH 9TH STREET IN FERNANDINA BEACH.

MY FRIENDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JAGGED LINE THAT SEPARATES THE COUNTY AND CITY SPACE IN OUR COUNTY BORROWED ME FOR 30 YEARS AND I PAID THE WHOLE TAB EVERY TIME.

THIS BAR TAB IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.

CAN YOU CHIP IN JUST A LITTLE BIT? MAYBE A DOLLAR TO HELP? THEY SAID, BUT YOU ALWAYS PAY FOR ALL OF IT. I SAID, I KNOW.

I'LL KEEP PAYING FOR THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF IT,

[00:25:01]

I NEED A LITTLE HELP. NO WAY.

WE'RE INSULTED THAT YOU EVEN ASKED.

WE'RE ENTITLED TO DRINK FREE ON YUR BAR TAB FOREVER.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO THE BAR AGAIN IF WE HAVE TO PAY.

SUBSTITUTES THE WORDS EMERGENCY SERVICES AND DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DRINK IN THAT SCENARIO. MY FRIENDS WOULD NEVER LET ME PICK UP THE WHOLE BAR TAB FOR 30 YEARS BUT MANY OF THEM SEE THIS SOMEHOW AS A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

IT'S THE SAME. ALL USERS SHOULD PAY.

CITY TAXPAYERS ALREADY PAY. IT'S A SIMPLE, NONDISCRIMINATORY CONCEPT AND FAIRNESS ISSUE. ILIVED IN THIS AREA FOR 36 YEARS AND BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 20 OF THOSE YEARS, FOR OVER 20.

AND SOME EXPERIENCE -- SO I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE AS A RESIDENT AND A BUSINESS PERSON. I SPOKE TO A FRIEND THE OTHER NIGHT WHO TOLD ME A PLACE AS FAR AWAY WERE PAID PARKING FAILED. THOSE PLACES BEAR NOD RESEMBLANCE TO THE HIGH DEMAND, WALKABLE COMPACT SPACE OF CENTER STREET AND THE SURROUNDING BLOCKS. DRIVE TO ATLANTIC BEACH OR NEPTUNE BEACH AND TRY TO FIND A PARKING SPOT, PAID OR UNPAID THERE. WHEN I GO TO THOSE PLACES AND FIND A PARKING SPOT ANYWHERE NEAR MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS I FEEL LUCKY AND HAPPILY PAY THE THREE OR FOUR DOLLARS TO PARK.

FIND A NEARBY LOT FOR $20. THOSE PLACES LIKE OURS HAVE PEOPLE WHERE PEOPLE PARK AND WALK FROM PLACE TO PLACE.

MY FRIEND TOLD PEOPLE WOULD ABANDON OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.

THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

DOWNTOWN FERNANDINA BEACH OFFERS UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT CAN'T BE DUPLICATED IN OUR COUNTY.

JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH BUSINESSES WOULD SUFFER OFF THE SLOW SEASON.

THE TRUTH IS WE DON'T HAVE A SLOW SEASON ANYMORE LIKE BEUSED TO. I HAVE A CONDO I RENT NIGHT TONIGHT. IT'S BOOKED SOLID WITH TOURISTS. THERE ARE TIME PERIODS WHERE THEIR NOT AS BUSY AS OTHER BUT PAID PARKING IS NOT GOING TO AFFECT THAT.

PEOPLE WHO COME DOWN TO SPEND 50 TO $200 FOR A MEAL OR BAR TAB AREN'T GOING TO STOP COMING OVER 3 TO $4 PARKING FEE.

COUNTY RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A YEARLY PASS FOR $100. LESS THAN 28 CENTS A DAY.

IS THAT REALLY SO UNREASONABLE TO ASK? I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT FOR DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS.

WE SHOULD MAKE EVERY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO MITIGATE THOSE.

I HOPE THE PEOPLE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THAT WILL PARTICIPATE IN FINDING WAYS TO MAKE THIS WORK RATHER THAN THE ALL OR NOTHING HARD NO.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SHARP. NEXT IS MR. MAC MORRIS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. APPRECIATE IT.

MAC MORRIS, 821 PARK VIEW. I SPENT FRIDAY AND MONDAY WALKING CENTER STREET, TALKING WITH BUSINESS OWNERS AND MANAGERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS ON THE STREET.

THE MAIN THING THAT WAS MENTIONED USING DIFFERENT WORDS IS THAT OUR VISITORS MEANDER UP AND DOWN CENTER STREET. THEY MEANDER.

THEY WANDER AROUND. I HEAR THEM TALKING WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR CHILDREN.

DO YOU WANT TO GO IN THIS SHOP? THIS LOOKS INTERESTING.

WE'LL MEET YOU TWO SHOPS DOWN. THEY'RE NOT RACING THE CLOCK, WHICH IS WHAT PAID PARKING WILL DO.

PUT ALL THESE PEOPLE ON A CLOCK. THEY GO TO DINNER SOMEWHERE.

THEY'RE FULL. BUT IF THEY MEANDER DOWN THE STREET, THEY END UP GOING INTO ISLAND TIME OR THE FUDGE SHOP BECAUSE THEY WALKED OFF THEIR DINNER A LITTLE BIT AND SEE SWEETS AND WANT TO GO INTO ANOTHER SHOP.

THAT'S MEANDERING. IF JUST 3% WHICH IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF NASSAU COUNTY STOPS GOING DOWNTOWN, JUST ONE TIME LESS A MONTH, THAT'S $2. 1 MILLION THAT'S LOST TO SHOPS DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE A CHANGE. ORG PETITION, NOT BINDING BUT JUST COUNTY AND CITY FOLK WHO SAY WE DON'T WANT PAID PARKING AND WE'LL EITHER GO DOWNTOWN LESS OFTEN OR WE WON'T GO DOWNTOWN AT ALL. THERE'S A MIXTURE ON THERE.

WELL, THAT'S 7.5%. THAT'S -- WHAT IS THAT 5 MILLION OF LOST REVENUE? AND THAT'S JUST SPENDING ON THE 16 BUCKS EVERY TIME YOU COME DOWNTOWN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THEY SPEND FAR MORE THAN THAT WHEN THEY COME DOWN FOR DINNER AND DRINKS.

THAT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE RESTAURANTS AND BARS WILL PROBABLY DO BETTER BUT THE RETAIL SHOPS WILL REALLY SUFFER.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOTTEN BY TALKING WITH PEOPLE, WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET. YES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET MONEY. ESPECIALLY FROM THE BOCC, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER. AND I'LL BE MEETING WITH HIM SOON. TO TRY TO WORK OUT THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT STEPPING ON PEOPLE'S TOES OUT IN THE COUNTY. I DON'T WANT TO STEP AND DISRESPECT THEM. WE NEED IT HERE AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE IT HERE. OUR LIGHT STANDARDS, LIGHT POLES AND FIXTURES CAN BE PAID BY TDC MONEY BECAUSE THAT'S A TOURIST ELEMENT. SO -- AND THE MONEY CAN -- TDC OTHER MONEY CAN BE SPENT HERE AS WELL. AND I'M WILLING TO HELP AS MUCH AS I CAN TO HELP FIND OTHER

[00:30:01]

FUNDING. I KNOW FRIENDS OF MINE WILL HELP, TOO. WE'LL STAND UP AND WE'LL PUT OUR OWN PERSONAL TIME INTO IT, VOLUNTEER TIME INTO IT. BUT PAID MARK PARKING IS NOT THE ANSWER. IT WILL HURT MORE BIDS.

I HAVE TWO AND A HALF SHEETS FULL OF SIGNATURES FROM DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS AND MANAGERS ALREADY PEOPLE AGAINST PAID PARKING.

I'LL BE COLLECTING MORE THIS WEEK, MAYBE NEXT WEEK AND PRESENTING THEM TO THE CITY CLERK.

THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST IT, DEPENDING ON THE SURVEY, IS 80% UP TO 98% OPPOSED TO PAID PARKING. THAT'S A LOT. THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE. WE JUST HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO FIND IT.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MORRIS.

>> APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> NEXT UP WE HAVE MARK SHUSTER.

>> GOOD EVENING, FOLKS. MARK SHUSTER, 511 SPANISH WAY W FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I'M SPEAKING WITH YOU TONIGHT ON MY OWN OPINION.

I'M NOT REPRESENTING ANY GROUP OR ORGANIZATION.

MOST OF THE TIME I'M WORKING WITH YOU, SO THIS IS A VERY RARE FOR ME TO BE STANDING HERE.

THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ARE AGAINST THIS TAX, BUT MY POINTS ARE BASED ON WHAT I'VE WITNESSED AS AN OBSERVER AND/OR WORKING FIRSTHAND WITH CITIES AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.

I'M ALSO A BELIEVER IN PRADO OPTIMUM, NO ONE IN THE CORE BENEFITS AT THE COST OF ANOTHER.

TO ME THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE ALL PART OF ONE FAMILY.

FERNANDINA BEACH FAMILY. THEY PATCH TOGETHER AN EXTREMELY COHESIVE ENVIRONMENT IN A CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. IT'S NOT -- BUT ACROSS THE COUNTY STATE AND IT'S A MECCA ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE ISSUE AT HAND IS TO TRANSFER THE TAX BURDEN FROM OUR FAMILY OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO THE TOURISTS. AND I AGREE.

BUT THIS PROPOSED SOLUTION LEAVES TOO MUCH TO CHANCE.

I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THIS TO BE A NOVELTY TAX AND THE MOST DEBILITATING AND LEAST UNDERSTOOD.

I BELIEVE THAT BUSINESSES WILL BE AFFECTED MORE THAN WE ARE ASSURING.

YOU SEE, THIS ISN'T A CONSUMPTION TAX ON THE RESOURCES THEY USE. NOR IS IT A SALES TAX ON WHAT IS SOLD, SOMETHING THEY COULD ABSORB IF THEIR SALES ARE SOLID. AND IT'S NOT A FEE, LICENSE OR FLAT TAX THAT THEY COULD BUDGET FOR OVER A FEW MONTHS.

THIS AFFECTS THE ONLY TWO METRICS THEY CAN CONTROL, ACQUIRING NEW CUSTOMERS AND CUSTOMER RETENTION.

MOST PEOPLE KNOW THIS AS FOOT TRAFFIC.

CHARGING OUR LOCALS TO PARK WILL NOT SIT WELL AND THAT'S MY MESSAGE. AND THAT IS WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED. OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE COMMITTED TO BEING HERE. THEY SIGNED A ONE- WAY TICKET TO GET INTO THIS CENTRAL DISTRICT.

MOST SELF FINANCED AND THEY ARE ALL IN.

THEY'VE SURVIVED COVID. THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING AROUND LABOR ISSUES DUE TO COMPETITION, TRAFFIC AND INCREASED COSTS. AND I'VE SEEN THE OWNERS BEHIND THE REGISTER, BUSSING TABLES AND HELPING TO CARRY PRODUCT OUT TO THE CARS. THEIR HUMBLENESS AND LEVEL OF SERVICE IS OUTSTANDING. I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS LEVEL OF COHESION FROM A CENTRAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. EVER.

WHETHER IT IS THE DICKENS, SHRIMP FEST, SOUNDS ON CENTER OR ANY OF THE OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS, THESE OWNERS ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING EACH PROJECT A SUCCESS ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTSRESIDENTS GOTH. THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO RAISING THE 2 MILLION.

LET'S LET THE CORE FAMILY ALONE UNTIL WE COME UP WITH A VIABLE ALTERNATIVES.

FERNANDINA BEACH IS SPECIAL PLACE HAS TOO MUCH AT STAKE.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY OPINION.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SHUSTER.

>> NEXT UP.

>> 31 SOUTH 5TH STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, HOME OF OLYMPIAN AND POE PENSON. A YEAR AGO TODAY MR. VICE MAYOR WAS THE ONLY ONE SITTING UP HERE A YEAR AGO TODAY. AM I RIGHT? YES.

>> NO.

>> AND, YES, SO WE HAD TWO. AND A YEAR AGO TODAY WE WERE CELEBRATING A YOUNG LADY WHO WAS IN PARIS. POE PENSON.

A YOUNG LADY WHO MADE US ALL LOOK AT OURSELVES AND SAY, WOW. WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY FROM FERNANDINA BEACH REPRESENTING OUR CITY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL POSSIBLE.

AND SHE'S ONE OF OUR OWN A YEAR AGO.

WE'RE PLANNING FOR A PARADE FOR HER. AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK, WE HAD A FANTASTIC PARADE FOR HER. WE GOT A YOUNG LADY RIGHT NOW WHO JUST GOT BACK FROM CALIFORNIA, WHO HER NAME IS COCOA WALDO. AND HER THREE SISTERS.

[00:35:06]

AND THEY TOOK FIRST PLACE IN MOST OF THE COMPETITIONS THAT THEY WERE IN. AND THEY WERE SPEAKING ABOUT FERNANDINA BEACH IN CALIFORNIA AND THE POSSIBLE FUTURE OLYMPIAN. AND WE HAVE A 7-YEAR- OLD BOY WHO IS SKATEBOARDING AROUND THE COUNTRY AS WELL.

HIS NAME IS JUDE REVI-S. AND HE TOOK FIRST PLACE IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA EVENT. SO THEY'RE SPEAKING ABOUT OUR CITY IN THE SPORTING INDUSTRY ABOUT OUR SKATEBOARDING COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE.

THESE ARE KIDS WHO FAIL EVERYEVERY SINGLE DAY. POE PENSON FAILED HER WAY ALL THE WAY TO THE OLYMPICS. YOU TRY A TRICK 1,000 TIMES AND YOU LAND IT ONCE. SO WE WILL FAIL AT THIS PAID PARKING THING, BUT WE JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET UP AND TRY TO DO IT AGAIN. WE'RE ALL GOING TO FAIL.

IN MOST OF THE THINGS. OUR LOCAL SKATEBOARDERS LEARN THAT REALLY, REALLY QUICK. SO, I'M UP HERE JUST TO SAY THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO FAIL AS A COMMUNITY. THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE BUT WE APPRECIATE FIRST OF ALL THAT YOU GUYS ARE UP THERE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.

AND A YEAR AGO FROM TODAY SOMETHING MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.

WE MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER PERSON WHO IS BRINGING OUR NAME BACK TO THE CITY. SO, JUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE KIDS. I DO APPRECIATE THE IBOR ALVAREZ FIGHT WE HAVE GOING ON. AND YOU'RE CONCENTRATING ON DOING THINGS FOR THE KIDS. THEY ARE OUR FUTURE AND ALSO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE VOTING SOON.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE AND THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. BARERO. NEXT UP WE HAVE MR. JACK KIMBER.

>>> JACK EMBER. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT COST SAVINGS FOR THE CITY. IF WE HAVE COST SAVINGS, MAYBE WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT PAID PARKING. CITY NEEDS TO TAKE MORE TIME AND EVALUATE THE NEEDS AND BETTER PRIORITIZE NECESSITIES.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAS THAT IN MIND. WE NEED TO AUDIT PAST SPENDING PROTOCOLS OR REVIEW THEM IN SOME WAY.

COME UP WITH BETTER AND COME UP WITH NEW ONCE AND DO A BETTER COMPARISON OF CITY GOODS AND SERVICES. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONTENTION FOR ME. INSIST THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT DO A BETTER JOB IN EVALUATING AND ENFORCING VIOLATION, A SERIOUS DOWN FALLS OF NEIGHBORHOOD STANDARDS.

ALONG WITH THAT, COLLECT THOSE FINES.

TIME AND TIME AGAIN I SEE PEOPLE COMING IN FRONT OF THE CITY AND GETTING THEIR FINES WAIVED COMPLETELY IF NOT MARKEDLY REDUCED. I BELIEVE THERE'S TIMES AND HARDSHIPS AND STUFF, BUT CERTAINLY NOT EVERYBODY.

WE NEED TO ALSO START ENFORCING THE TREE REMOVAL REGULATIONS WHICH I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OF.

AND COLLECTING THOSE FINES. THE CITY NEEDS THAT REVENUE.

THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH HIRING PEOPLE AT TOP WAGES RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. I THINK WHILE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET THE BEST TALENT, THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR GIVING THEM INCENTIVES INCREASING PAY FURTHER DOWN THE LINE. THEY'RE ALREADYGETTING TOP WAGES. WHAT'S THE INCENTIVE FOR DOING BETTER. IN THE PAST, THE CITY ATTORNEY OFTENTIMES WOULD HIRE ATTORNEYS TO PERFORM FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.

AND I REALLY HOPE THIS ENDS. IT WAS A GROSS MISUSE OF THAT OFFICE. THE CITY SHOULD REQUIRE REGULAR, QUARTERLY CITY EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS. IF THEY DON'T ALREADY HAPPEN.

I'M JUST SUGGESTING. DEPARTMENT HEADS OF EVERYBODY IN THE CITY NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CITY,

[00:40:02]

THEIR EMPLOYEES THAT THEY SUPERVISE.

WRITTEN WARNINGS SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ANY EMPLOYEE THAT IS NOT WORKING A FULL DAY'S WAGE FOR THE FULL PAY THAT THEY GET. BECAUSE REMEMBER, COLLECTING WAGES FOR THE THE TIME WHERE NO WORK IS BEING DONE IS THE SAME AS STEALING. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. EMBER. NEXT IS MS. MARY ANN PHILLIPS.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS MARY ANN PHILLIPS I LIVE AT 724 SOUTH 6TH STREET. I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO SAY TONIGHT. FOR SOME REASON THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT UP I STARTED THINKING ABOUT A BROKEN RECORD. SO I GUESS I'M A BROKEN RECORD THAT KEEPS GOING AROUND ON THE SPINDLE AND THE NEEDLE IS THERE AND JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE LISTENING TO A RECORD ALBUM, AND IT KEEPS SKIPPING AND SKIPPING BUT IT'S TRYING TO SAY THE SAME MESSAGE. SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL TONIGHT, I'M TOTALLY AGAINST PAID PARKING.

ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT. AND I WANT TO PIGGY BACK OFF SOME STUFF THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID. WE HAVEA VERY UNIQUE CITY HERE.

WE LIVE ON ISLAND. IT'S NOT HILTON HEAD, ST.

AUGUSTINE, THERE'S NO PLACE FOR US TO GO.

THE CITY WAS NEVER BUILT FOR THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT'S COMING TO THIS ISLAND. NEVER BUILT FOR THAT.

THE CHURCHES THE HOMES, WE DON'T HAVE PLACES TO PARK.

AND PUSHING PEOPLE OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS IS WRONG.

I WILL SAY THIS, I WANT TO SAY THIS TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE STORE OWNERS.

I'VE NEVER BEEN AFRAID TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT WHEN I'VE SANG IN FRONT OF PEOPLE THAT IT DID MAKE ME NERVOUS AT FIRST.

BUT THE FIRST TIME YOU DO IT AND KEEP DOING IT, AND YOU GOT PEOPLE BEHIND YOU SAYING -- PUSHING YOU AND SAYING COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT. THIS MESSAGE IS GOING TO GO OUT TO EVERY BUSINESS OWNER IN THIS CITY. YOU'RE PAYING TAXES, JUST LIKE I AM A HOMEOWNER AND PAYING CITY AND COUNTY. WE HAVE A COALITION RIGHT NOW THAT WE'VE BUILT. WE NEED TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.

DO NOT BE AFRAID. DO NOT BE AFRAID BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, LIKE MY COUSIN USED TO TELL ME, THEY CAN'T EAT YOU.

NO, THEY CAN'T. SO THAT PUSHED ME A LITTLE FURTHER TO SAY WHATEVER I NEED TO SAY. I HAVE A LOT OF MY MOTHER IN ME AENED I SAY WHAT I MEAN AND I MEAN WHAT I SAY.

PAID PARKING WILL HURT THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH.

WE TRIED IT BEFORE, IT DIDN'T WORK.

SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD SHOPS, THE SHIP'S LANTERN, CORNUCOPIA, MS. WHITTAKER, THEY'VE ALL TOLD YOU, NO. IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

IT HURT THEIR BUSINESSES BACK THEN. IT'S GOING TO DO IT NOW. NOTHING -- THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE. I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO LISTEN TO THE TAXPAYERS BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL WE VOTED FOR YOU.

AND YOU NEED TO PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT WE'RE TELLING YOU.

WE WANT THIS PUT ON A REFERENDUM.

WORKING ON THAT PETITION, HOPEFULLY THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL GET THAT FINISHED AND THROUGH SO WE CAN GET IT ON A REFERENDUM. WE WANT TO GET THOSE PETITIONS GOING. AND I'M TELLING YOU, I'M WORKING HARD. I'M WORKING HARD ON THIS BECAUSE I FEEL JUST AS STRONG ABOUT IT AS I DID WHEN I WAS FIGHTING THE BEACH STUFF. THOSE TWO THINGS MATTER TO ME.

THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY AND THE BEACH MEAN A LOT TO ME.

I'M GOING TO PROTECT IT. EVEN WHEN I'VE BEEN TRAVELING, I JUST GOT BACK FROM D.C. THE WHOLE TIME I'M THERE I'M MONITORING EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU, MS. PHILLIPS.

NEXT WE HAVE MS. SHEILA COKIE.

>> SHE KA COKIE, 1553 INDIGO STREET.

I AM A SUPPORTER OF PAID PARKING. I THINK THAT IT'S AN EFFICIENT WAY TO GENERATE SOME REVENUE. I THINK IT'S AN EQUITABLE WAY TO GENERATE REVENUE.

AND I THINK IT IS AN EXPEDIENT WAY TO GENERATE REVENUE THAT WE NEED FOR SOME OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS. I DON'T THINK THE CITY IS IN THE POOR HOUSE. BUT I THINK HAVING CAPITAL PROJECTS, BIG INVESTMENT ISSUES IS HOW WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS. I WILL AGREE WITH EVEN SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR NO PAID PARKING. I'LL AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THEY SAID HERE TODAY. THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE.

AND THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE. AND I THINK IT'S OUR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE. I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO MANY PEOPLE, PROPERTY OWNERS, WHO ARE NOT GOING TO COME HERE AND STAND AT THE MEETING LIKE I DO EVERY WEEK. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME AND THEY'RE NOT BEING VOCAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

BUT THEY DO CARE ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY TAXES BEING RAISED.

IF WE WERE TO DO A REVENUE BOND WITH THE MONEY FROM PAID PARKING, PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD NOT BE TAXED AND THEN ASSESSED EVERY YEAR AND THEN THE TAX BE

[00:45:05]

AADDED TO THE ASSESSED VALUE SO THAT INCREASES YEAR OVER YEAR. WE DIDN'T JUST PAY, LIKE PAUL SAID, WE DIDN'T JUST PAY FOR THE PARKING SPOTS ONCE. WE PAY FOR THEM CONTINUE YULELY, WHEN THEY'RE MAINTAINED AND SIDEWALKS ARE MAINTAINED WHEN THE CURBING IS MAINTAINED.

THAT'S AN ON GOING EXPENSE. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE ADJACENT TO US. PEOPLE VISITING OUR TOWN, COMING ENJOYING OUR SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS ARE NOT JUST FAR AWAY TOURISTS. WE COLLECT BED TAX MONEY FROM PEOPLE WHO SLEEP HERE OVERNIGHT.

WE DO HAVE MANY PEOPLE FROM YULY, WILD LIGHT, THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY WHO COME AND USE OUR SERVICES AND THIS IS A WAY THAT PEOPLE WHO USE SERVICES CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SKIN IN THE GAME.

I KNOW IT'S PRELIMINARY UNTIL YOU ALL PICK A VENDOR AND CAN REALLY GET TOGETHER HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE SOME SORT OF TASK FORCE WITH CITIZENS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE, WHETHER IT'S $100 A YEAR OR WHATEVER THAT NUANCE IS. HOW TO ACCOMMODATE THE CHURCHES.

I HOPE THAT ALL OF THAT IS COMING BECAUSE I THINK THAT A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS CAN REALLY BE SOLVED AND NOT ON THE BACKS OF A FEW PEOPLE AND THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE I KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT TAKE UP TWO OR THREE SPOTS ALL DAY EVERYDAY IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESS. THAT'S HELPING A SHOP OWNER OPEN A SPACE FOR SOMEONE NEW TO COME TO THE BUSINESS. THERE'S TWO SIDES TO ALL OF THIS. I DO THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALL JUST SAYING NO TO PAID PARKING. I THINK -- WE CAN GET 90% OF THESE ISSUES RESOLVED.

NO ONE WANTS TO SEE OUR BUSINESSES HERE SUFFER.

WE ALL ENJOY THESE SHOPS LOCALLY.

WE ALL ENJOY THE RESTAURANTS AND THE BARS AND BEING DOWNTOWN. BUT WE NEED TO DO MULTIPLE THINGS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MS. COKIE.

>> NEXT UP, MR. LAWRENCE TRIANO.

>> LAWRENCE 1511 COASTAL OAK CIRCLE.

ALMOST FORGOT WHAT I LIVE. I'M ONE OF THOSE THAT DOESN'T LIKE TO COME UP HERE. THANK YOU FOR ENCOURAGING ME.

I WANTED TO SAY ONE COMMENT BEFORE I TALK ABOUT THE 14, 15TH STREET.

I TEND TO AGREE IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE WITH THE PARKING FEES AND NO FEES AND I'VE LIVED IN A COUPLE CITIES AND IT'S GONE SOMEWHAT OKAY AND A LOT OF TIMES BACKWARDS. MEANDERING IS A REALLY GOOD POINT. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, BUT THE POINT I WANTED TO SAY WAS FREQUENCY. ADD THAT WORD TO MEANDERING, FREQUENCY. IF YOU PARK ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, YOU CAN PROBABLY GET IN ABOUT ANYWHERE YOU WANT DOWNTOWN. BUT ON A HOLIDAY AND A WEEKEND, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO RUN INTO SOMETHING. SO, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD YOUR PAID PARKING, BUILD IT AROUND FREQUENCIES AND FIND PLACES TO HANDLE ALL THAT. THAT'S JUST FROM MY FORMER ER TRANSPORTATION EXPERIECE. WE HAD TRUCKS THAT OPERATED ON FREQUENCIES. WE KNEW WHICH DAYS TO PUT THEM INTO CONGESTION AND WHICH DAYS TO TAKE THEM OUT. THE REASON I'M UP HERE IS REGARDING 15TH STREET AND 14TH STREET, THE DEVELOPMENT, COASTAL OAKS HAS AN ENTRY IN AND ENTRY OUT THAT BOTH COME TO 15TH STREET.

THAT STREET IS PRIMARILY USED FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING THEIR DOGS, RIDING BIKES, THE ASSISTED LIVING. THE OTHER DAY I WAS WALKING, COMING BACK DOWN 15TH STREET A STOP SIGN RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF WEST PARK. GUY RAN A STOP SIGN AND HIGH BALLED ALL THE WAY DOWN 15TH STREET. I ALMOST TEXTED YOU, CHIEF.

WANTED TO TAKE HIS PICTURE BUT I COULDN'T GET MY PHONE OUT FAST ENOUGH.

SO, YOU HAVE TO DO A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND STUDYING THAT. I HAVE A FEELING THERE WILL BE ISSUES THERE WITH THE DENSITY, THE SIZE OF THE LOT THE NUMBER OF CARS. THE COUNTY TOLD ME THEY TAKE TWO CARS PER, 60 UNITS, 120 PEOPLE, 300 CARS COMING OUT ON 14TH AND 15TH AND LIGHT ON PARK AND NO OTHER LIGHT. THEY HAVE TO DIVIDE UP AND FIGURE IT OUT. SO, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO A REALLY GOOD IN- DEPTH STUDY OF THE PARKING AND THE TRAFFIC COMING DOWN. 300 CARS COMING OVER THE BRIDGE WHEN THEY START SELLING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TAME.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT I HAVE MR. JIM CROWDY.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS JIM CROWDY. I LIVE AT 1736 SOUTH 15TH STREET. I WANTED TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO THE DAIRY PROJECT, JUST A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND.

A LOT OF TALK ABOUT PARKING, HAVING ENOUGH PARKING

[00:50:03]

SPACES. SO I COULDN'T RESIST.

LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED FOR THE DAIRY PROJECT HAS BEEN A POINT OF DISAGREEMENT AND CONFUSION SINCE NOVEMBER, 2024. ON NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024, MS. KELLY GIBSON ADVISED US THAT AS OF THAT DATE, 160 PARKING SPACES WAS THE CORRECT NUMBER. AND WOULD BE THE REQUIREMENT FOR THAT PROJECT. THE APPLICABLE LDC SECTION THAT EXPLAINS THIS CALCULATION IS 7.01.04A.

TWO SPACES PER DWELLING UNIT. IN A SUBSEQUENT EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH THE TRC ON DECEMBER 4TH, MS. GIBSON APPARENTLY CHANGED HER THINKING ON THIS, EXPLAINING THAT SINCE THE PROJECT IS SEEKING APPROVAL UNDER THE LIVE LOCAL ACT, STANDARDS FOR DENSITY ASSOCIATED WITH C3 WOULD BE APPLIED. THE PARKING ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS FOR THIS USE DESCRIBED IN LDC SECTION 6.02.33. THE REFERENCE SECTION CLEARLY STATES IT'S C3 APPLIES TO TRIPLE X AND MULTIFAMILY USES IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

THAT IS NOT THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

NOT EVEN CLOSE. THEREFORE, WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT THE LESS STRINGENT PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN C3 ARE NOT REQUIRED OR AUTHORIZED BY THE LIVE LOCAL ACT. AND THE STANDARDS IN LDC 7.01.04A.

FURTHER THE LDC AT ITS CORE IS INTENT AND EXPRESSLY STATES IT'S INTENDED TO PROTECT DEVELOPMENTS, PROTECT THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS. WHERE THERE'S AN -- AND FURTHER, WHERE THERE'S A CONFLICT BETWEEN STANDARD APPLICABLE TO THE ZONING DISTRICT, IN WHICH THE USE IS LOCATED, THE MORE RESTRICTIVE STANDARDS SHALL APPLY.

WE BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGERS MISINTERPRETED THIS ON MAKING THEIR DECISION AND DID NOT CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CROWDY. NEXT MS. SANDY CARRY.

>> HI. SANDY CARRY, 1255 FOREST DRIVE.

I HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS I WANTED TO BRING UP.

ONE THAT I KEEP BRINGING UP AND BROUGHT UP FOR THE PAST THREE ADMINISTRATIONS COUNTING THIS.

IT IS WRITTEN BY NATIONAL KNOWN DUNE SCIENTIST FRANK HOF HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE HANDS OF THE CITY FOR LIKE I SAY THREE ADMINISTRATIONS.

IT'S TIME THIS DUNE ISLAND GETS THE DUNE ORDNANCE PASSED.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS AT THE LAST MEETING I UNDERSTOOD SENATE BILL 784 REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE REPLANNING WOULD BE BROUGHT UP.

IT WAS SO URGENT BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW JULY IS. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. I'M HOPING THAT'S IN THE WORKS. THIRD THING I WANT TO BRING UP IS THE SEA WALL COMPLETION. IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME THAT INSTEAD OF ALL OF THIS TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO GET THE PROPERTY NEXT TO BRETTS, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET THREE FEET OF THE PROPERTY OF THE EASEMENT TO PUT UP TO CONTINUE THE WALL AND DO THAT BY IMMINENT DOMAIN. THERE'S NO REASON YOU HAVE TO GOUT AND SQUABBLE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER.

THEY WOULD PROBABLY MORE THAN LIKELY GO AHEAD WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT TO THEIR PROPERTY. I WISH YOU WOULD LOOK INTO THAT.

THREE FEET OF EASEMENT FOR THE SEA WALL EMINENT DOMAIN.

LASTLY, ABOUT THE PARKING ISSUE. BOND REFERENDUM CAN BE PUT THROUGH BY THE CITY COMMISSION OR MUNICIPAL GOVERNING AUTHORITY.

THEY MUST FORMALLY CALL THE BOND REFERENDUM PUBLISH REQUIRED NOTICES. IT IS THAT LOCAL GOVERNING RESOLUTION THAT ESTABLISHES THE ELECTION DATE AND THIS TRIGGERS ASSOCIATED TIMING OBLIGATIONS. THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO DO IS NOTIFY THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. AND AGREE ON A DATE FOR THE ELECTION. THIS IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING A REFERENDUM THAN THROUGH A CITIZEN INITIATIVE PETITION.

OKAY. BUT IT WOULD TAKE YOUR WILL POWER, YOUR CONSENSUS TO DO IT. I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR CITIZENS. THIS IS WHY PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS ARE NO LONGER HERE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LISTEN.

THERE IS A WAY FOR YOU TO DO A BOND REFERENDUM.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TALK TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION.

SECTION 100. 151 STIPULATES THAT NO SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION INCLUDING A BOND REFERENDUM MAY BE SCHEDULED WITHOUT FIRST GIVING NOTICE TO THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND OBTAINING THEIR CONSENT TO THE ELECTION DATE. HOWEVER, THE STATUTE DOES NOT SPECIFY NUMERIC CUTOFF FOR THIS NOTIFICATION.

IT'S LEFT TO LOCAL PRACTICE TO ENSURE THE ELECTION DATE

[00:55:03]

IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. SO YOU DID A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR YOUR CHARTER, I REMEMBER A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WHEN IT WAS HARD -- I THINK IT WAS DURING COVID OR RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME.

THAT'S A PRETTY MAJOR SPECIAL ELECTION.

DONE BY MAIL. NOW THIS IS ON AN ISSUE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNTY OR OTHERWISE.

A BOND REFERENDUM CAN BE DONE BY YOU, BY RESOLUTION BY CONTACTING YOUR SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION.

SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SHOW THAT YOU WANT TO DO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, THEN LISTEN TO THEM AND HOLD THE BOND REFERENDUM.

[6. CONSENT AGENDA]

>> THANK YOU, MS. CARRY. THAT IS ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMISSIONS I HAVE TO SPEAK.

THAT WILL BRING US INTO ITEM 6, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WISH TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER COMMISSION DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MS.

[7.1 AWARD OF ITB 25-17 - J.D. HINSON COMPANY - RESOLUTION 2025-134 AWARD OF INVITATION TO BID 25-17 TO J.D. HINSON COMPANY FOR REHABILITATION OF T- HANGAR TAXILANES AND ENTRANCE ROADWAY PAVEMENT AT THE FERNANDINA BEACH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $652,746.23 CONTINGENT UPON RECEIPT OF ANTICIPATED FDOT GRANT FUNDING; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Awards ITB 25-17 to J.D. Hinson Company for the t-hangar taxilane and entrance roadway rehabilitation project in the amount of $652,746.23 contingent upon receipt of anticipated FDOT grant funding.]

BEST, PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES 5- 0, WHICH BRINGS US ON TO ITEM 7. BEGINNING WITH 7. 1 AND INVITATION TO BID FOR JD HENSON COMPANY FOR REHABILITATION OF TEE HANGER TAXI LANES.

I BELIEVE EITHER MS. CAMPBELL OR MR. COIL WAS GOING TO TAKE THIS?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, IF MR. COIL WANTS TO COME UP TO PRESENT THIS ITEM, THANK YOU.

>> AIRPORT MANAGER, THIS AGENDA ITEM IS FOR AWARD OF AN INVITATION TO BID THAT WAS RELEASED IN MAY.

THE PROJECT IS THE REHABILITATION OF TEE HANGER TAXI LANES IN AN ENTRANCE ROADWAY.

IN THE AREA WHERE WE HAVE OUR TEE HANGERS THAT PARK SMALLER PISTON AIRPLANES, THE ACTUAL TAXI LANES THAT ACCESS THOSE TEE HANGERS WERE DEVELOPED AT THE SAME TIME AS SOME OF THOSE TAXIS LATE '80S. REACHED THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE AND SMALL ROADWAY THAT ACCESSES THAT AREA BY OUR TENANTS. SO THIS PROJECT WILL USE AN FAA GRANT WHICH YOU APPROVED IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. F. GRANT FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. WE'RE REQUESTING YOUR AWARD OF THE BASE BID FROM THE INVITATION THAT WAS RELEASED AND COMPONENT OF A BID ALTERNATIVE. AND WHAT WE DID THERE WAS FOR COST SAVINGS WE -- THE BID ALTERNATE OR ALTERNATIVE WAS THE ENTRANCE ROADWAY WE SCALED BACK THAT ROADWAY TO THE AREA OF THE WORST CONDITION BASED ON THE BID RESULTS WE RECEIVED.

>> BEHIND YOU FOR REFERENCE IF

NEEDED. >> I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU. THAT'S GREAT.

SO, IT'S THIS CENTER TAXI LANE AREA HERE AND THE PAVEMENT TAXI LANES TO THE EAST OF THAT SCEPTER TAXI LANE.

AND THE AIRPORT ROAD ENTRANCE ROADWAY THAT COMES INSIDE THE FENCE TO ACCESS THE AREA.

>> DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. COIL? SEEING, NONE. THANK YOU, SIR. DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> MOVE THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION 2025.134.

I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? MOTION AND SECOND. DO I HAVE ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION. SEEING NONE, MS. BEST, PLEASE START THE VOTE.

>> COMMISSIONER TUTEN.

[7.2 SPECIAL EVENT ROAD CLOSURE APPROVAL - FIRST ANNUAL 2ND STREET OKTOBERFEST - RESOLUTION 2025-135 APPROVING THE ROAD CLOSURE OF SOUTH 2ND STREET BETWEEN CENTRE STREET AND HAMPTON INN AND CENTRE STREET TO FRONT STREET ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2025, FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL 2ND STREET OKTOBERFEST EVENT; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves South 2nd Street between Centre Street and the Hampton Inn and Centre Street to Front Street road closures on September 27, 2025, for Oktoberfest.]

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU, MR. COIL. THAT MOTION PASSES 5-0.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO SPECIAL EVENT ROAD CLOSURE APPROVAL FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL SECOND STREET OCTOBER FEST.

MS. CAMPBELL.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, THIS IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025.135. SPECIAL EVENT CLOSURE OF A PORTION OF CENTER STREET AND A PORTION OF SECOND STREET FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL SECOND STREET OCTOBER FEST. THIS WOULD BE ON SEPTEMBER 27TH , 2025. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

>> DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. CAMPBELL OR MR. VORHES COME UP JUST IN CASE.

>> COMMISSIONER MINSHEW, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.

>> SO, MY CONCERNS WITH ALL THESE STREET CLOSURES ARE THE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES.

SO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IS IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS, DOES ANYBODY CONTACT THE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES AND GET THEIR INPUT, THEIR

[01:00:05]

APPROVAL, THEIR CONCERNS? YOU KNOW, WHO -- HOW MANY BUSINESSES IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT WITH THE ROAD CLOSURE?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE MR. MICHAELSON AND MS. FINKLE STINE HAVE LEFT THE ROOM.

THEY WOULD BE THE ONES THE SPECIAL EVENT COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWS THESE, BUT I COULD GET THAT INFORMATION AND PROVIDE IT TO YOU IF THAT STEP HAPPENED IN THE PROCESS.

>> AND IF -- WHAT I WOULD SAY IN THE FUTURE FOR ROAD CLOSURES, IF IT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THE PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND I THINK THAT OVER BUSINESS ON THE STREET THAT IS AFFECTED HAS THE RIGHT TO BE CONTACTED PROACTIVELY AND GET THEIR INPUT ON ANY ROAD CLOSURES WE DO FOR ANY KIND OF FESTIVAL.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ANYBODY WAS CONTACTED.

>> NO, THEY'RE NOT. GENERALLY THEY'RE NOT.

>> VICE MAYOR?

>> SO I ALSO THINK THAT PART OF THE WATERFRONT PARK WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DOWN THERE WITH THE AMPHITHEATER THING AND ALL THAT, THE BATHROOMS AND ALL THAT, IS WHERE WE'LL PROBABLY SEE A LOT OF THESE EVENTS MATRICULATE TO. A, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CLOSE EVERYTHING OFF. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, ALL THE ALCOHOL IN THERE, ALL OF THE -- IT WILL BE A LOT BIGGER AREA.

THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF PARKING DOWN THAT WAY.

I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THIS ONE AT ALL, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE A LOT LESS OF CLOSURES OF STREET ONCE THE WATERFRONT PARK -- BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE A BIGGER AREA FOR THESE EVENTS TO OCCUR.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT AND I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD TAKE A POSITION THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO CLOSE STREETS AND THAT WE WILL MOVE WHATEVER IS APPROPRIATE TO THE WATERFRONT PARK. NOW I UNDERSTAND DICKENS IS DIFFERENT AND THE SHRIMP FEST IS DIFFERENT, BUT THESE SMALLER ROAD CLOSURES WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THEM ANYMORE AND THEY ALL SHOULD BE MOVED TO THE WATERFRONT PARK.

>> COMMENT?

>> COMMISSION ALL AGREES ON THAT.

COMMISSIONER TUTEN, DON'T LET ME PUT WORDS IN YOUR

MOUTH. >> EXACTLY.

I WOULD LIKE TO DISAGREE. HAVING BEEN STATIONED IN GERMANY TWICE, A, I'M EXCITED ABOUT AN OKTOBERFEST. B, PEDESTRIAN ROADWAYS ARE AMAZING. I WOULD IN ADDITION TO -- ARE WE CONTACTING BUSINESSES -- COULD MAIN STREET DO ANY BUSINESS IMPACT STUDY FOR US? IF A SMALL HALF DAY, ONE DAY EVENT LIKE THIS BRINGS AN ADDITIONAL SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, THAT HAS A TRICKLE IMPACT.

EVEN THOUGH IT IMPACTS PARKING AND MOBILITY AND MOVEMENT, CERTAINLY.

AND THAT'S A HUGE PAP FOR PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES DOWN THERE AND DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WAS HAPPENING.

BUT, I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS -- AND THIS IS JUST A GUESS -- SO I WOULD PREFER TO SEE NUMBERS, COULD MAIN STREET PROVIDE US WITH SOME DATA? WHAT DOES A BUSINESS DO ON A DAY LIKE THIS? MY GUESS IS MOST OF THEM DO BETTER BUSINESS ON A DAY LIKE THIS.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS? I SEE NO REQUEST TO SPEAK UP HERE. SEEING NONE, DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

>> SECOND.

>> AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MS. BEST, PLEASE START THE VOTE.

>> COMMISSIONER TUTEN?

[7.3 PROPOSAL APPROVAL – EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COVERAGE AND SERVICE - RESOLUTION 2025-136 APPROVING THE CIGNA GROUP PROPOSAL FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COVERAGE FOR HEALTH, DENTAL, AND VISION INSURANCE; APPROVING HEALTH EQUITY FOR FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (FSA) AND HEALTH SAVING ACCOUNT (HSA) ADMINISTRATION SERVICES; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Approves the Cigna Group proposal to provide health, dental and vision insurance and Health Equity proposal for FSA and HSA administration services, in Fiscal Year 2025-2026.]

>> YES.

>> THAT MOTION PASSES 4-1. AND WE WILL MOVE ALONG TO ITEM 7.3. ANOTHER ITB. THANK YOU, FOLKS.

FOR LASAMX CORP. FOR AN INVITATION TO BID ON PRESSURE WASHING AND PAINTING SERVICES. MS. CAMPBELL?

>> I DON'T HAVE THAT. IS THAT CONSENT?

>> THAT'S CONSENT.

>> I'M SORRY. I SCROLLED UP.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. 7. 3 IS OUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COVERAGE.

>> THANK YOU. YES.

THIS IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025.136.

AS WE TOUCHED ON DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, OUR CURRENT CARRIER UNITEDHEALTHCARE CAME BACK WITH AN INITIAL RENEWAL OF 16. 5% ON OUR EMPLOYEE HEALTH PLANS. I DID NOT FEEL THAT THIS WAS APPROPRIATE. AND WE DIRECTED OUR BROKER, BROWN & BROWN TO GO OUT TO THE MARKETPLACE AND SOLICIT PROPOSALS ON THE CITY'S BEHALF FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH PLANS. CIG THAT CAME IN AS THE MOST

[01:05:02]

COMPETITIVE 38.7%. AND KEEPING THE PLANS THE SAME.

BASICALLY THE LEAST DISRUPTIVE TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

SO, MS. MADSEN IS HERE TO GET INTO THE DETAILS FOR YOU, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. BUT WE ARE RECOMMENDING A SWITCH THIS YEAR TO CIGNA FOR HEALTH INSURANCE. THAT COST IS 3. 79 MILLION.

THE DENTAL AND VISION IS GOING TO STAY THE SAME.

THAT ANNUAL COST IS 107,000. THAT'S FULLY PAID BY THE EMPLOYEES. AND THEN THE FSA AND HSA ADMINISTRATION SERVICES WILL BE ABOUT $3,000.

>> MS. CAMPBELL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, LAST YEAR I KNOW YOU WEREN'T PARTICIPATING IN THIS OR VOTING WE ALSO HAD A DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASE WHEN UNITED HEALTH CARE RENEWED? IS THAT CORRECT?

>> DENISE IS NODDING HER HEAD

YES. >>

YES. >> WE HAVE NOT HAD GOOD CLAIMS EXPERIENCE. THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING ABOUT 160% ON THE CLAIMS TO PREMIUM RATIO.

SO THE CITY HAS NOT HAD A GOOD COUPLE OF YEARS AS FAR AS CLAIMS EXPERIENCE GOES. SO, BUT IT'S A COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE. CIGNA WANTED TO PLAY IN THAT FIELD. AND SO THEY GAVE US A VERY COMPETITIVE BID.

>> THANK YOU, MS. CAMPBELL. COMMISSIONER MINSHEW?

>> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, MAYBE IT'S FOR MS. MADSEN.

DO WE KNOW THAT THE LOCAL MEDICAL SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE GOING -- ARE WITHIN CIGNA'S NETWORK?

>> YES.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE THEIR DOCTOR ANYMORE?

>> CORRECT. DENISE MADSEN, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. WHEN WE MET WITH OUR BROKER, THEY PROVIDED US WITH A DISRUPTION REPORT FOR CURRENTLY WITH UNITED HEALTHCARE CIGNA AND BLUE CROSS WAS THE OTHER COMPANY THAT BID. AND ON THE MEDICAL SIDE THERE IS VERY LIMITED DISRUPTION. MAYBE ONE EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH A CLAIM. BUT, VERY MINIMAL DISRUPTION.

DENTAL AND VISION COVERAGE THERE'S A LITTLE MORE DISRUPTION. BUT AGAIN, VERY MINIMAL CLAIMS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MS. MADSEN. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. CATCH CAMPBELL OR MS. MADSEN.

>> I HAVE ONE RANDOM COMMENT FOR MS. MADSEN.

PARTICIPATED IN MILITARY MEDICINE MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE, MY HUSBAND JOKES THAT IT'S SOCIALIST SYSTEM DEFENDING A DEMOCRACY BECAUSE WE JUST SHOW OUR MILITARY ID CARDS AND EVERYTHING IS FREE.

EVERYTHING. PRIOR TO MY OWN TWO CHILDREN GROWING UP AND GETTING MEDICAL PLANS DIDN'T EVEN REALLY KNOW WHAT AN HSA, HEALTH SAVINGS PLAN AND FSA WERE BECAUSE I NEVER NEEDED SUCH A THING. AND I THINK ABOUT OUR YOUNG EMPLOYEES ESPECIALLY THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE TAX BENEFITS AND THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THESE SORTS OF THINGS AND JUST THAT WE GET THE WORD OUT TO

THEM. >>

CORRECT. >> BECAUSE IT'S EASY FOR US TO SIT UP HERE AND CHANGE THE HEALTHCARE PLAN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT IT'S A DISRUPTION TO THEM.

THEY ALL HAVE TO SWITCH. WE'RE SAVING MONEY BUT IT'S A DISRUPTION. AND I JUST WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP THEM

ALSO. >> YES.

ACTUALLY NEXT WEEK MY STAFF AND I ARE GOING OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE GOING OVER WHAT IS A PPO, HMO, HSA, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PLANS TO ENSURE THAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE IN THE RIGHT

PLAN. >>

RIGHT. >> BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ACTUALLY IN THE HMO, BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST ROUTE FOR THEM. SO, WE WILL BE EDUCATING

THEM. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, MS. MADSEN. AS A MEDICAL PROVIDER, I CAN APPRECIATE WHAT THEIR PATIENT INSURANCE COVERS AND IT'S NOT THE CASE. DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND.

ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MS. BEST, PLEASE START THE VOTE.

>> MS. MINSHEW?

[7.4 TASK ORDER APPROVAL - BUDGET TRANSFER - HANSON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - RESOLUTION 2025-137 APPROVING HANSON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TASK ORDER 2, PHASES A-D, FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE DOWNTOWN CIRCULATION AND TRAFFIC STUDY; AUTHORIZING A BUDGET TRANSFER; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF ERRORS; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Authorizes the approval of Hanson Professional Services Task Work Order 2 - Phase A-D in the amount of $74,709 to facilitate the completion of a downtown traffic circulation and traffic study. Task Work Order 1 involved traffic counts within the Downtown area and that work was completed in May 2024. Subsequent circulation and parking assessment work was postponed until Alachua Street and other parking improvements were completed and opened.]

>> YES.

>> THAT MOTION PASSES 5-0. BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL AGENDA ITEM FOR OUR RESOLUTIONS, NUMBER 7.4.

LET ME GET TO THE RIGHT ITEM BEFORE I READ IT.

A TASK ORDER APPROVAL FOR A BUDGET TRANSFE FROM HANSON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE DOWNTOWN CIRCULATION AND TRAFFIC STUDY. MS.

CAMPBELL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025.137.

THIS IS TO CONTINUE THE DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC CIRCULATION STUDY NOW THAT THE STREET IS OPEN, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS STUDY WITH HANSON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IT DOES INCLUDE A

[01:10:04]

BUDGET TRANSFER OF $50,000 FROM THE PROJECT LINE INTO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ACCOUNT. AND I THINK MR. GLISZEN WILL GET INTO THE DETAILED SPECIFICS OF THE PLAN IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION.

>> THANK YOU, MS. CAMPBELL. TAKE US AWAY.

>> SURE. THANK YOU.

SO THE FIRST TASK ORDER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT WAS TRAFFIC HOUSE PERFORMED AT ONE OF OUR ALL- TIME HIGH INFLUX OF TRAFFIC AROUND SHRIMP FESTIVAL. THE REST OF THAT DATA IS YET TO BE MANAGED YET OR BROUGHT TOGETHER INTO A CONCLUSIONARY FASHION WE WERE WAITING UNTIL IT COULD OPEN.