[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:13] >> GOOD EVENING, FOLKS, WELCOME TO OUR NOVEMBER 18TH REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE . >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> AND PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE IMPLICATION, LED BY MR. RICHARD DOSTER. >> LET'S PRAY TOGETHER, PLEASE. HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU THAT IN YOUR PROVIDENCE YOU'VE BROUGHT US ALL TO THIS WONDERFUL CITY. FATHER, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY COMMISSION, AND FOR THE CITY STAFF, AND I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM ENORMOUS WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT. FATHER, I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR SO MANY ACTIVE AND ENGAGED CITIZENS WHO LOVE THIS CITY. WOULD YOU PLEASE EMPOWER US ALL TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES, AND TO BE AT PEACE WITH EVERYONE? HELP US, FATHER, ALTOGETHER TO STRIVE FOR THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, THE CITY THAT YOU'VE ENTRUSTED TO US. HELP US TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL PLACE WHERE EVERY CITIZEN CAN FLOURISH. I PRAY IN CHRIST NAME, AMEN. >> FOLKS, I'LL ASK YOU, IF YOU PLEASE SILENCE ANY MOBILE DEVICES AT THIS MOMENT, FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK, WE HAVE SPEAKER FORMS IN THE BACK, YOU CAN SUBMIT TO MADAME CLERK. FOR ANY DOCUMENT IS TO BE SENT TO THE COMMISSION, THOSE WILL ALSO GO TO MADAME CLERK, IF YOU WISH TO TAKE ANY PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOS PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CROSSING THE DAIS, AND IF YOU [4.1 PROJECT UPDATES - Deputy City Manager Jeremiah Glisson will provide an update on current and/or pending projects.] ARE SPEAKING AT THE PODIUM, LISA DRESSED MYSELF OR THE COMMISSIONERS AS A WHOLE, DO NOT START TO SPEAK TO THE AUDIENCE. WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ALONG TO ITEM FOUR, OUR PRESENTATION STARTING WITH DEPUTY CITY MANAGER JEREMIAH GLISTEN WITH OUR PROJECT UPDATES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE'LL DIVE INTO A QUICK PRODUCT UPDATE FOR THE MEETING, HERE. WE ARE AT THE START OF THE YEAR SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE PRODUCTS MARKED AS ACCOMPLISHED, BUT WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THE LIST AS A REMINDER. THOSE IN GREEN ARE IN PROGRESS, ON TRACK, YELLOW IS AT RISK OR PAUSED, RED IS SUSPENDED OR OFF-TRACK AND BLUE IS COMPLETED. I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO NUMBER NINE, DEMOLITION, NUMBER 13, NUMBER 14, WATERPARK RESILIENCY DESIGN AND PERMITTING, AND NUMBER 17, ALL MARKED IN YELLOW BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDER REVIEW THROUGH A REGULATORY AGENCY. LARGELY, THE U.S. ARMY OR OF ENGINEER AND ALSO FOR THE PROJECT. THE BALL IS IN THEIR COURT RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE WAITING PERMITS FOR THOSE FOUR PROJECTS, WE DO EXPECT THE PERMIT IN HAND WITHIN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS FOR ATLANTIC SEAFOOD AND FOR THAT DEMOLITION. THAT PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO GO TO HDC TOMORROW, THURSDAY NIGHT. NUMBER 12. THE DOCK REHABILITATION UNDER THE MARINA, NUMBER 15, WATERFRONT RESILIENCY CONSTRUCTION, NUMBER 20, A.R.C. WINDOW REPLACEMENT, AND ALONG WITH THAT, NUMBER 31, MLK WINDOW AND DOOR REPLACEMENT. THIS IS ALL STAGED AND READY TO GO OUT TO BID IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE LOOK TO START HAVING THAT WORK DONE THE FIRST OF 2026. NUMBER 27, BEACH BOARDWALK REHABILITATION, THAT REHABILITATION WORK SHOULD BE DONE, HERE, WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. AND IN THE REPLACEMENT FOR ACCESS, NUMBER NINE, SCHEDULED FOR THE FIRST NEXT YEAR, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THOSE PROJECTS COMPLETED BEFORE THE BEACH SEASON. NUMBERS 34, WE HAVE WEATHER DELAYS AT STREET SERVICING. THAT WORK ON IT NORTH SECOND STREET WAS JUST COMPLETED. THEY ARE WORKING ON WRAPPING UP PHASE ONE, THAT'S 1.5 MILES OF STREET RESURFACING. LARGELY IN SEASIDE SUBDIVISIONS, A COUPLE UNPAVED ROADS TO BEACH ACCESS AS I MENTIONED, NORTH SECOND STREET , ALL THAT WORK SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE BY THIS WEEKEND. SPEAKING OF NORTH SECOND STREET, NUMBER 35, THERE, NORTH SECOND STREET, REDEVELOPMENT, THANKS FOR WORKING MAGIC ON THIS ONE. HE SAID THE WORK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED BY THANKSGIVING BUT HE SAYS I'M WRONG, IT'LL BE DONE BEFORE THIS WEEKEND. TO GET THAT ROAD OPEN AND COMPLETE. NUMBER 10, REDEVELOPMENT. THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED AS YELLOW, BECAUSE MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED FROM YOU ON THIS PROJECT, WE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED THIS WORKSHOP FOR THE FIRST OF 2026, SO START LOOKING INTO PHASE TWO OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA , WE CALL PHASE ONE WHICH IS THE DEMOLITION TAKING EVERYTHING [00:05:02] OUT, CONNECTING THE DOTS, WE'LL KNOW MORE FROM OUR ENGINEERING TEAM AND BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT PROJECT, AND WHAT WILL PHASE TWO LOOK LIKE WHICH IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE LAND WORK AND HOW DO YOU REORIENT THIS PARKING LOT AND THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM THAT WILL BE GOING UNDERGROUND, THERE. WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT BACK TO YOU, AS WILL BE THE REDEVELOPMENT , THAT'S COMING TO YOU AT THE DECEMBER 2ND WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS NEW INFORMATION RELATED TO THAT PROJECT. SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN BUSY, THEY ACQUIRED THEIR ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND THEIR NEW MOBILE DATA TURN NUMBERS. KNOCKING THAT OUT QUICKLY. AND [4.2 BUDGET SUMMARY - Comptroller Susan Carless will review the October 2025 budget summary and be available to answer any questions.] THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME. >> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU, SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. MOVE ALONG TO 4.2, OUR BUDGET SUMMARY FROM OUR COMPTROLLER, SUSAN CARLOS. >> GOOD EVENING, ALL. >> OKAY, THIS IS OUR BUDGET SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER. WE ARE ONE MONTH INTO THE YEAR, WHICH IS 8.3% OF THE YEAR, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. AND WE START AS USUAL WITH THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES. OCTOBER LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN THE PERIOD WHERE WE ARE NOT YET RECEIVING TAXES. SO, FOR OCTOBER, THE PRIMARY SOURCES OF REVENUE USE OF FUEL TAXES, AND PROPERTY TAXES AND LICENSES AND PERMITS. SO IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT ON THE BREAKDOWN FROM USUAL. BUT CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR PERIODS, SO THERE'S NOTHING THERE THAT I THOUGHT WAS CONCERNING. GENERAL FUND REVENUES THIS YEAR, VERSUS LAST YEAR. SO, THE BREAKDOWN BY RECEIPTS PRESENT OVERALL WHEN YOU COMPARE IT IS VERY COMPARABLE TO LAST YEAR. WE DID SEE A REDUCTION IN RECEIPTS IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL SERVICES, AND AN INCREASE IN CHARGES FOR SERVICES. I'LL START WITH THE LAST ONE FIRST. AS WE KNOW, WE HAD HAD A PAUSE WITH AMBULANCE COLLECTIONS FOR LAST YEAR, WE HAD SOME BUMPS. THIS YEAR THAT'S RESTORED, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A MORE NORMAL CASH FLOW. AND THEN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GRANTS, SHARED REVENUES, AND PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES. LAST YEAR WE HAD A SETTLEMENT FOR 137,000. THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE NUMBER, SO THAT'S WHY IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WHEN COMPARED THIS YEAR, WE'RE BACK TO OUR NORMAL $50,000. AND THEN WE MOVED TO OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION. SOMEONE MENTIONED TO ME EARLIER THIS WEEK, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR THE EXPLANATION, FUNCTION JUST MEANS A GROUPING OF DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND THAT DO THE SAME KIND OF THING. SO WE GROUP POLICE, FIRE CODE ENFORCEMENT AS PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUNCTION. ONE TALL SO FAR. A REMINDER, GENERAL FUNDS , CITYWIDE SERVICES. MOST DEPARTMENTS ARE WITHIN 8.3%. WE'RE EARLY IN THE YEAR, THIS TIME OF YEAR WE RENEWED SOME ANNUAL SOFTWARE, SOME OTHER AGREEMENTS, SO WE'LL SEE A FEW DEPARTMENTS APPEAR OVER THE 8.3%. AND CITY COMMISSION WAS AT 15%, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THE CITY COMMISSION BUDGET INCLUDES, WE HAVE FUNDED THE FIREWORKS ALREADY FOR THIS YEAR. FINANCE, WE BOUGHT SOME SOFTWARE AND PLAYED -- PAID SOME ANNUAL MAINTENANCE. I.T., HR, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT ARE ALL SLIGHTLY OVER AND IT'S ALL FOR SOFTWARE RENEWALS. AND THEN NON-DEPARTMENTAL, WHAT WE SEE IS , THERE WERE TWO PAYMENTS TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY IN OCTOBER. WE DID THE FIRST OF THE MONTH, AND THEN WE DID THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER AND THE LAST OF OCTOBER. THAT'S WHY THAT ONE LOOKS A LITTLE SKEWED. I LIKE TO SHOW THE DOLLARS, HERE, BECAUSE I CAN TALK ABOUT CONSISTENCY AND PERCENTAGES, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE NUMBERS . THIS YEAR WE CAN SEE THAT WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PUBLIC SAFETY. IT INCREASED FROM 39.8%, [00:10:04] THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, TO 43.7%. TRANSFERS OUT FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT OTHER FUNDS DECREASED. AND, ALTHOUGH ADMINISTRATION AND PARKS AND RECREATION INCREASED , THE PERCENT OF THE OVERALL BUDGET THEY REPRESENT IS CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR PERIODS. THESE ARE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. YEAR TO DATE, REVENUES EXCEED EXPENDITURES BY ABOUT 378,000. FOR OCTOBER. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, THIS IS MY CONTINUING REMINDER. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS EXIST TO ACCOUNT FOR HOW WE SPEND REVENUES RECEIVED. THEY'RE NOT OPERATING FUNDS, THEREFORE THEY DO NOT HAVE BUDGETED RESERVES. THESE ARE OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUND BALANCES. YEAR TO DATE, REVENUES EXCEED EXPENDITURE FOR ALL SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, EXCEPT THE BUILDING TO FUND, AND THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT , IT'S BUDGETED, IT HAD A RESERVE AND WE BUDGETED TO REDUCE THEIR CASH BALANCE RESERVE, WE'RE STILL CONTINUING THAT FORWARD. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT IN THE BUILDING FUND, THEY DID HAVE A $75,000 EXPENDITURE FOR AN ANNUAL SOFTWARE RENEWAL. THAT IS PLAYING INTO THAT NUMBER. WASTEWATER AND UTILITY TAX, BOTH OF THOSE FUNDS ARE BUDGETED TO REDUCE THE CASH BALANCE, SO THAT IT GETS TRANSFERRED TO OPERATIONS, SO WE CAN SPEND IT FOR THINGS WE NEED. AND IN OUR CRA, I'LL REMIND YOU MONTHLY SINCE WE TALK ABOUT THIS ONLY ONCE A MONTH, BUT, THE CRA, THE PRIMARY REVENUES RECEIVED BY THE CRA ARE FROM THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, AND IT'S USUALLY RECEIVED IN JULY . SO, EXPENDITURES IN THAT FUND, WE WILL SEE IT EXCEED REVENUES, MOST LIKELY, MONTH OVER MONTH. AND THEN, WE MOVED TO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS. AS USUAL, I'LL REPORT FOR THE IMPACT FEES SEPARATELY. THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THE ACTIVITIES IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS. I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING. THIS YEAR, THE SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURES FOR OCTOBER ARE THE EXXON TASERS FOR PD AND DEBT PAYMENTS FOR A FIRE TRUCK. AND THE PRIMARY REVENUES WE'VE SEEN SO FAR ARE THE PROCEEDS TO BUY THE TASERS, AND THE TRANSFER FROM GENERAL FUND. CAPITAL EXPANSION IS ALSO CALLED OUR IMPACT FEE FUNDS, THAT'S WHAT FUNDS THE EXPENDITURES . OCTOBER, WE HAVEN'T SPENT ANYTHING YET, FROM OUR IMPACT FEE FUNDS. WE'LL SEE MORE OF THAT IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET. FOR OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THESE ARE OUR BUSINESS CLASS FUNDS. A REMINDER THAT CHARGES FOR SERVICES IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR OPERATIONS , AND TO SAVE MONEY AND FUNDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS . OCTOBER REVENUES EXCEED EXPENDITURES FOR ALL ENTERPRISE FUNDS EXCEPT THE MARINA, AND THE MARINAS IS BECAUSE THEY BOUGHT THE PUMP OUT BOAT. THEY ARE EXPECTING GRANTS TO REIMBURSED 93,000 OUT OF THE 125,000, THEY SPENT FOR THE PUMP OUT BOAT. AND THAT IS REALLY IT. ANY QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? >> SO DID WE GET THE 50,000 IN OCTOBER, AS SCHEDULED? >> YES, MA'AM. >> OH, YAY. THANK YOU, THAT'S [5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA OR THE CONSENT AGENDA] ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. THAT BRINGS US INTO ITEM FIVE, PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MISS WANDA BLUE. NEXT, WE HAVE -- >> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. 406 BEECH STREET. TONIGHT, I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT A PUBLIC ACCESS THAT HAS BEEN QUIETLY TAKEN AWAY FROM ALL CITIZENS IN FERNANDINA BEACH. UNLESS YOU'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A YACHT. RECENTLY, A SIGN [00:15:01] WAS PUT UP AT THE MARINA, MAIN DOCK ACCESS GATE. THERE'S A SIGN THAT SAYS SINGLE FILE GOING DOWN RAMP, BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT ON JULY 4TH. THERE'S A NEW SIGN NEXT TO IT THAT SAYS BOAT OWNERS ONLY, IT'S GOT THE OFFICIAL CITY SEAL ON IT. I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HE USED TO GO WALK ON THAT DOCK ALL THE TIME, AND THEY SAID THEY WALKED UP TO THE DOCK, SAW THE SIGN, REALIZED THEY'RE NO LONGER ALLOWED ON THE DOCK, AND LEFT. PUBLIC ACCESS HAS EFFECTIVELY BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM ONE OF OUR MOST TREASURED AREAS SHARED TO THE PUBLIC , WITHOUT EVER A CITY COMMISSION DISCUSSION. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT ON AN AGENDA. THE LAST TIME ANYTHING WAS DISCUSSED WAS IN 2023 WHEN THE GATES WERE PURCHASED , AND IT WAS GUARANTEED DURING THAT DISCUSSION THAT DAYTIME ACCESS WOULD CONTINUE FOR THE PUBLIC , AND IT WAS NIGHTTIME ACCESS WAS TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE OF VANDALISM AND THEFT. SO, I RECENTLY WROTE TO CITY MANAGER SARAH CAMPBELL, AND ASKED WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHO MADE THIS DECISION. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHO MADE THE DECISION, BUT SHE SAID TO ME, MY POSITION IS THAT THE CITY PROVIDES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE RIVER. TO ME, THAT MISSES THE POINT. IT WOULD BE LIKE AT THE BEACH IF THE PUBLIC WAS NO LONGER ALLOWED ON THE SAND UNLESS THEY OWNED A FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLE. AND WERE ONLY ALLOWED IN THE PARKING LOT AND SAYING THEY HAD PLENTY OF ACCESS TO THE BEACH. I THINK THAT MISSES THE POINT. I THINK THE CITY COMMISSION IS THE ONLY GROUP THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE ACCESS TO A TREASURED PUBLIC FACILITY LIKE THAT. THAT FACILITY HAS BEEN FUNDED WITH FEMA DOLLARS, IS MY UNDERSTANDING IN THE WORKSHEETS YOU HAVE TO CHECK BUT IT'S PUBLIC ACCESS. SO EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM HAS PAID FOR THAT THROUGH FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS, THROUGH CITY TAX DOLLARS, THAT THEY HAVE QUIETLY HAD THAT RIGHT REMOVED FROM THEM. SO I'M ASKING THE CITY COMMISSION TONIGHT TO DO A FEW THINGS. NUMBER ONE, REMOVE THE BOAT OWNERS ONLY SIGN THAT WAS RECENTLY PUT UP. AND IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT DECISION, GO AHEAD, TO REMOVE PUBLIC ACCESS, BUT, MAKE IT A PUBLIC DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY COMMISSION VOTING ON IT. AND MAYBE THE SIGN WAS REMOVED TODAY. I SAW IT YESTERDAY. NUMBER TWO, RESTORE DAYTIME PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE WHO PAY FOR IT. THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH IS NOT AN ELITIST PLACE WERE ONLY WEALTHY YACHT OWNERS ARE ALLOWED TO USE OUR TREASURES, IT'S FOR EVERYONE. WE'VE NEVER BEEN A PLACE LIKE THAT, PLEASE DON'T CHANGE US INTO ONE LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS MR. JACK EMBER. >> JACK EMBER, 1003 BROOME STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH. EIGHTH OF APRIL, 2011, WHEN I WAS WORKING DOWN THE ROAD AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS IN A CHEMICAL WEAPONS SITE, EIGHT WORKERS DESTROYING A BUNKER FULL OF GOVERNMENT CONFISCATED PYROTECHNIC EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS . FIVE OF THEM DIED IN AN EXPLOSION. AND ONE WAS INJURED IN THE BLAST. FOR TWO DAYS THE BUNKER BURNED TOO HOT TO ENTER, EXPLOSIONS CONTINUED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO RETRIEVE THE BODIES. THE ATF INVESTIGATION WAS INITIALLY UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE EXACT CAUSE, BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY IGNITION SOURCES. THE CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD BECAME INVOLVED, THE STATE OF HAWAII BECAME INVOLVED, OSHA BECAME INVOLVED, AND OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES. THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP NOW , IT'S INTERESTING THAT ALSO AT 9:00 IN THE MORNING, ON THE 14TH OF NOVEMBER, HAD A FIRE AT THEIR FACILITY, AND IF REQUIRED 13 APPARATUS TO BE DEPLOYED FIRE CREWS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WERE ON SITE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TO SUPPRESS THE FIRE AND ENSURE THE SITE WAS SAFE BEFORE THEY DEPARTED. THE REASON I'VE DRAWN A COMPARISON TO THESE TWO SITES, IS BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAVE MAJOR ERRORS IN PROXIMITY. THE SITE WAS PERMITTED, TO TAKE THE FIREWORKS OUT OF THIS BUNKER IN THE SIDE OF THIS HILL THAT HAPPENED TO BE LOCATED IN A PUBLIC STORAGE AREA WHERE PEOPLE [00:20:01] STORE THEIR STUFF. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TRANSPORT IT TO COCO HAD MILITARY FACILITY FOR DISPOSING OF ORDINANCE. THEY NOT ONLY WAITED TILL THEIR PERMIT HAD EXPIRED, BUT THEY DECIDED TO INNARD THE FIREWORKS ON SITE. THE CREW THAT WAS INEXPERIENCED, NOT PROPERLY TRAINED, THIS LED TO 11 INDICTMENTS FROM A FEDERAL GRAND JURY IT LED TO JUST A WHOLE MESS OF PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE THAT THE RYAN FACILITY IS NOW ON NOTICE THAT THEY'RE PUTTING THIS ETHANOL PLANT IN AN AREA WHICH IS ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE. THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE MR. WALTER. >> MY NAME IS WALTER MEMORIAL, FERNANDINA BEACH, HOME OF OLYMPIAN POPE HENSON AND FUTURE OLYMPIAN COCO WALDO. THE NASSAU COUNTY WAS RECENTLY CHANGED THEIR NAME, JUST HAD AN ARTICLE, AND I'D LIKE TO GO OVER IT REAL QUICK. IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE SKATEBOARDING IN NASSAU COUNTY IS ALIVE AND FLYING HIGH WE HAD THREE GIRLS COMPETE, NOT THIS WEEKEND, BUT THE WEEKEND PASSED, IT WAS AT THE SUPERGIRL CROW SURF COMPETITION, WHICH THEY HAD A SKATE BOWL IN THERE. THEY HAD 15 GIRLS COMPETE FROM AROUND THE STATE. FERNANDINA TOOK FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE. AND THEN THE WEEK PRIOR THE SAME GIRL WHO TOOK FIRST PLACE IN JACKSONVILLE TOOK FIRST PLACE IN CALIFORNIA. WE ALSO HAVE A YOUNG MAN NAMED JUDE RIVAS, SEVEN-YEAR-OLD WHO WENT TO TAMPA AND TOOK SECOND PLACE IN A YOUTH WORLD COMPETITION SKATEBOARDING. ALL TO SAY THIS IS THAT LAST YEAR, ABOUT THIS TIME, YOU GUYS GRANTED US $30,000 FOR A PRETTY PICTURE AND THE DESIGN WHEN WE DID THAT. WE HAVE YET TO COME BACK, WE HAVE NOT OFFERED US TO COME BACK TO SHOW YOU THAT DESIGN TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT DESIGN, AND TO COLLECT THE OTHER $60,000 THAT WERE PUT ASIDE WHICH IS STILL IN THE BUDGET. SO THAT WE CAN GET TO BLUEPRINTS, AND CONSTRUCTION. I KNOW THE MONEY IS TIGHT. IT IS TIGHT. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDS WHO ARE DOING SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL, BRINGING FERNANDINA'S NAME IN ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA, AND JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, AND TAMPA, FLORIDA, THEY TALK ABOUT OUR LOCAL SKATE TEAM. IT'S NOT A LOT OF KIDS, BUT, THEY'RE PRACTICING AT A HIGH LEVEL , THEY HAVE TO LEAVE OUR CITY TO GO PRACTICE BUT THEY MESS AROUND IN OUR SKATE PARK AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THERE SO FAR. SO, WE JUST WANT TO SEE HOW WE CAN COME BACK AND SHOW YOU THAT PICTURE, THE DESIGN CONCEPT THAT YOU RELEASED TO $30,000 WHEN WE COULD COME OUT HERE WITH AND EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW WE SPENT ABOUT $30,000. AND THEN SPEAK ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET THAT $60,000 TO MOVE FORWARD. WE'RE WILLING TO RAISE MONEY OURSELVES, IF THE CITY IS NOT WILLING TO. THINK ABOUT OUR FUTURE IN SKATEBOARDING. AND I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL THE SPEAKER CARDS I HAVE FROM THE [6. CONSENT AGENDA] AUDIENCE. IF ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK, YOU CAN STILL FILL ONE OUT AND COME UP . OTHERWISE, WE'LL MOVE ALONG. ITEM SIX BRINGS US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. DO I HAVE ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO WISH TO STRIKE SOMETHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES, 5-0, WHICH BRINGS US TO [7.1 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT COASTAL FLORIDA POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION - RESOLUTION 2025-215 APPROVING THE COASTAL FLORIDA POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE] [00:25:06] ITEM SEVEN, OUR SINGLE RESOLUTION FOR THE EVENING. THIS IS OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH COASTAL FLORIDA POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. MISS CAMPBELL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025-215 WHICH WOULD ADOPT A THREE-YEAR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH OUR POLICE UNION. I WILL CALL OUT ONE EXCEPTION TO THAT THREE-YEAR NUMBER, AND THAT HE IS, WE DID AGREE ON ONE YEARS WORTH OF WAGES . THE WAGE INCREASE IS ABOUT $7400 PER OFFICER. FOR THIS FIRST YEAR. AND THAT , THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THIS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS ABOUT $413,000. WE DID BUDGET FOR THAT IN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE MAKING ANY BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUEST AT THIS TIME. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER, SMALLER, MORE ADMINISTRATIVE TYPE CHANGES TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. I'VE ASKED TO COME SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE REMAINDER OF THOSE OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT. BUT, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OVERALL. >> GOOD EVENING, POLICE DEPARTMENT. A LOT OF THE CHANGES WERE MORE ADMINISTRATIVE. WE DID INCREASE SOME CELERY ITEMS, SUCH AS OUR NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL WENT FROM 2% TO 5%, WE ARE OFFERING A 2% BILINGUAL INCENTIVE, NOW. TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. TO COME AND APPLY AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE DID SOME OTHER STUFF, WE TOOK AWAY SOME CLEANING FOR THE UNIFORMS, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO USE A LOCAL DRY CLEANER WHICH IN THE END WILL SAVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND OUR UNIFORMS WILL BE NEATLY PRESSED, THE OFFICER DROPPED THEM OFF, THEY PICK THEM UP IN TWO DAYS, WASHED AND CLEANED. AGAIN, THAT WILL ALSO SAVE US SOME MONEY. A LOT OF THE OTHER STUFF WAS CLEANUP LANGUAGE THAT WAS PART OF THE OLD COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF MARK SEEING NONE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK. >> THANK YOU. >> DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES, 5-0, WHICH BRINGS US ALONG TO ITEM EIGHT, OUR CITY MANAGER REPORT. >> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING [9. CITY CLERK REPORTS] SPECIFIC FOR YOU TONIGHT, MAYOR, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS [10. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS] CAMPBELL FROM THE COMMISSION? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK REPORTS. >> THANK YOU. >> ROLLING RIGHT THROUGH, MADAM ATTORNEY. >> THANK YOU, I'M GOING TO HANG US UP A LITTLE, I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO REPORT. ONE, YOU TOOK ACTION ON THE TO AMEND HAVE ALSO BEEN SERVED WITH A LAWSUIT WHICH IS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE VERSUS THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, CASE NUMBER 2025 CA 374, I WOULD THIS EVENING UNDER SECTION 286 INAUDIBLE ] FLORIDA STATUTES LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT I NEED SOME DIRECTION ON THIS MATTER. I WAS GOING TO PROPOSE TO THE COMMISSION THAT WE DO IT ON DECEMBER 2ND, 2025 AT 12:00 P.M. AS YOU ALREADY HAVE A WORKSHOP THAT EVENING AT 5:00. THAT WOULD BE ONE OPTION. IF THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE, DECEMBER 4TH WAS ANOTHER THAT WAS PROPOSED AT 2:00 P.M. SO, THAT IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO GET YOUR CONSENT ON. SO THAT I CAN GET SOME DIRECTION CONCERNING THE DIRECTION WE WOULD HAVE THE CLOSED SESSION. >> THANK YOU, MADAM ATTORNEY. DECEMBER 4TH? IS THERE CONSENSUS ON THE TIME THAT DECEMBER 4TH , DECEMBER 2ND AT 4:00 P.M.? >> I PRESUME IT WORKS, I'M LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR RIGHT NOW, CONSIDERING I KNOW I HAVE TO BE HERE AT 5:00 I PROBABLY DON'T HAVE TO BE ANYWHERE. >> WE DO HAVE CONSENSUS ON DECEMBER 2ND BEFORE OUR WORKSHOP. [00:30:01] >> 4:00 P.M. WE'LL HOLD THE PROPER MEETING AHEAD OF TIME , AND FIVE OF YOU IN ATTENDANCE. INSURANCE COVERAGE AS WELL, SO IN ATTENDANCE AS CITY MANAGER , CITY CLERK AND THE COURT REPORTER, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH SCHEDULING THAT AT 4:00 P.M. THE OTHER ONE, I HAD SOMEONE ASK ME ABOUT ] ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND OR KNOW WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY, THAT'S THE MATTER THAT WENT BEFORE THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS. SO NOW, THE PLAINTIFF PROPERTY OWNER HAS FILED IT'S A WAY TO RESOLVE THE MATTER, ALL STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS. SO, ANOTHER COURSE OF ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO APPEAL THE ADJUSTMENT DECISION, THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE DONE IN 30 DAYS. THERE IS A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER COULD HAVE DONE BY TO ATTEMPT TO SETTLE IT, THAT'S WHAT THAT 6.1 ITEM WAS THAT YOU AUTHORIZED THIS EVENING. WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, THAT IS ALL I [11. MAYOR/COMMISSIONER COMMENTS] HAVE THIS EVENING. ANY QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISPRINTS? SEEING NONE, WE WILL GO RIGHT ALONG TO MAYOR COMMISSIONER COMMENTS, STARTING WITH VICE MAYOR. >> NOTHING, MAYOR. >> COMMISSIONER TUTEN? >> I HAVE TWO THINGS, I JUST WANT TO SAY, REALLY ENJOYED THE VETERANS DAY PARADE. I GOT MY HUSBAND TO RIDE ON THE CART WITH ME, AND EVERY NAVY SHE HAD TO SAY GO ARMY, HE WAS ENJOYING THAT. IT WAS FUN. ALSO WENT TO THE HOPE HOUSE, HAD A VETERANS DAY RECOGNITION, SO I WANT TO THANK FOR THAT, IT WAS REALLY MOVING. IT WAS A GREAT REMINDER OF HOW WE TREAT OUR VETERANS NOW COMPARED TO HOW WE USED TO. IT WAS PRETTY MOVING. HUMANE SOCIETY ON THE LIAISON FOR THEIR BOARD, THEY ARE HAVING THEIR ANNUAL PARADE OF PAUSE, ON DECEMBER 13TH. ON CENTER STREET. YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR PET IF YOU WANT. AND I'M GOING TO BE A JUDGE WHICH IS GOING TO BE HILARIOUS. AND THEY ALSO HAVE OPENED, FOR THE FIRST TIME, A HOLIDAY STORE. YOU KNOW ON JASMINE AND 14TH, HOW THE HUMANE SOCIETY HAS THE TWO THRIFT STORES NEXT TO THE CLOSET THEY OPENED A HOLIDAY STORE. THEY HAVE SO MANY HOLIDAY DECORATIONS TYPE DONATIONS, THEY HAVE A SEPARATE SPACE. THAT'S OPEN, NOW, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAYS, PRETTY MUCH ALL DAY. IT'S PRETTY GREAT. AND LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE GOLF COURSE. WE GET A NEWSLETTER, AN INTERNAL NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE GOLF COURSE, AND HOPEFULLY I WON'T GET THIS WRONG, OUR NEW TURF MANAGER, HIS DEGREE IN SOILS IS INCREDIBLE. AND WHAT HE'S DONE TO THE COURSE IS AMAZING. I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD CHECK IT OUT, AND THEY ALSO ARE HAVING A HOLIDAY SALE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 13TH, THE PRO SHOP HAS ALL MERCHANDISE 25% OFF. SO, MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. THAT'S ALL. >> COMMISSIONER POYNTER? >> I'M HAVING NEXT TUESDAY, THE 25TH FROM 5:30 TO 6:30 I'M HAVING MY TOWN HALL MEETING, HERE. PLEASE COME. WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, AND CONCERNS. IF I CAN'T ANSWER THEM OUT GET YOU THE ANSWER. IT WAS PRETTY WELL ATTENDED THE LAST TIME, AND MADE SOME GOOD DISCUSSIONS. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT I WAS AT THE GOLF COURSE PLAYING, AND I HAVEN'T PLAYED OUT THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. PROBABLY THE BEST I'VE SEEN. I KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT NEW SUPERINTENDENT, BUT, I DON'T THINK HE'S GOT THAT KIND OF SHAPE. IN THE FIRST WEEK HE GOT THERE. AND I ALSO WANTED TO SHOUT OUT TO THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WERE OUT THERE. CUTTING TREES AND PICKING IT UP, I WALKED OVER TO THEM AND THANK THEM BECAUSE THE COURSE REALLY HAS NOT LOOKED THIS GOOD FOR, I DON'T KNOW, COULD BE 20 YEARS. REALLY AMAZING, CONGRATULATIONS AND YOUR STAFF, YOU'RE DOING A [00:35:05] GREAT JOB, THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE DRIVER OF THE DIFFICULTY, DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, AND HOW THE CITY SHOULD PLAN AND PAY FOR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR CURRENT COMMISSIONERS STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE MUST LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF REVENUE TO FUND THESE IMPORTANT AND EXPENSIVE PROJECTS WITH PAID PARKING AMONG OUR CURRENT APPROACHES. YET IN SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY THERE HAVE BEEN HEATED AND VOCAL OPPOSITION, MUCH OF IT FUELED BY MISINFORMATION THAT HAS NOW TURNED INTO A CITIZEN PETITION, LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY, POSSIBLE RECALL OF AT LEAST TWO RECENTLY ELECTED OFFICIALS . WHILE I CONTINUE TO STRONGLY SUPPORT PAID PARKING IN OUR DOWNTOWN AS A NECESSARY AND RELIABLE REVENUE STREAM, I'M WILLING TO CONSIDER HOLDING OFF ON THE IMPLEMENTATION UNTIL THE CITIZEN PETITION HAS BEEN VOTED UPON. AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, COMMISSIONER SQ STATED THAT ALL OF THIS WOULD GO AWAY IF WE WOULD JUST LET PEOPLE VOTE BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT PAID PARKING. AFTER MUCH THOUGHT, RESEARCH, AND CONSIDERATION, I THINK THE COMMISSION SHOULD CONSIDER THIS AS AN OPTION IF AND ONLY IF WE CAN HAVE ASSURANCES THAT ALL OF THIS GOING AWAY MEANS THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY WILL BE WITHDRAWN, THE RECALL EFFORT WILL STOP, AND THE VITRIOL AND HATEFUL COMMENTARY ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL BE CALLED, WILL CALM DOWN OR BE ELIMINATED. THE CITY HAS IMPORTANT WORK AHEAD OF US DEMOLISHING , REBUILDING THE SEAWALL AND THE BULKHEAD THAT UNDERPINNED IT, ONGOING PLANS FOR SEAWALL STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS, THE FEELING DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MUST BE REPLACED, DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, PENDING LAWSUITS BROUGHT OVER THE PROPOSED BIOETHANOL PLANT, SPORTS FIELD ISSUES AND THE AD VALOREM TAX REDUCTION DISCUSSIONS GOING ON IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE , WITH A POTENTIAL TO HAVE A HUGE AND SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. ALL OF THESE ISSUES REQUIRE CRITICAL THINKING, MORE DUE DILIGENCE BY THE STAFF, AND BETTER COMMUNICATIONS WITH ALL IMPACTED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS. THIS CONTINUED ANTI-EVERYTHING THE CITY DOES IS AN UNNEEDED DISTRACTION, AND STALLS US FROM THE IMPORTANT WORK OF THE COMMISSION AND THE STAFF. ONE OF THE REASONS DRIVING ME AND THE MAJORITY OF COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK AT PAID PARKING REVENUE TO PAY FOR A REVENUE BOND IS TO ENSURE THAT THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION WILL CONTINUE TO COMPLETION , UNLIKE PAST EFFORTS THAT STALLED DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING, COMMISSION ELECTIONS, AND PLAIN OLD INERTIA. A CLEAR EXAMPLE, JUST LOOK AT THE UNDER GROUNDING OF UTILITIES THAT NOW STOPS AT FOURTH STREET. THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO GO ALL THE WAY TO EIGHTH STREET, BUT IT NEVER GOT COMPLETED. WE CAN'T LET PROJECTS JUST PETER OUT AND FAIL TO SEE COMPLETION. TYING THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS TO A LONGER-TERM REVENUE STREAM WILL BE A POSITIVE STEP IN PREVENTING THAT FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN. THE ENABLING ORDINANCE FOR PAID PARKING IS ON COMMISSION'S DECEMBER 2ND AGENDA. I AM PROPOSING THIS TONIGHT, SO THAT MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT, TALK TO STAFF, AND TALK TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS, WITH FACT-BASED INFORMATION, AND BE BETTER PREPARED TO MAKE A DECISION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I LIKE TO START OFF MY COMMENTS WITH CONDOLENCES TO THE VICE MAYOR AND HIS WIFE, MICHELLE, FOR THE PASSING OF HER RECENT BELOVED MOTHER. YOU HAVE MY SINCEREST CONDOLENCES, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THE CITY CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, WE'RE HERE. ON A LIGHTER NOTE, THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DAY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS A HIT. I'D LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS FOR HOSTING THE THIRD ANNUAL, THERE WAS PLENTY OF VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, A LOT OF SUPPORT OF RESIDENCE, AND IT WAS VERY WELL DONE. AN EXTRA SHOUT OUT TO THE GOLF COURSE, THE ADDED UTILITY CARTS WHICH HAVE IMPROVED THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SUCH BEAUTIFUL GREENS, AND FACILITIES. SO KEEP * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.