[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:12] >> ALL RIGHT, FOLKS. IF YOU COULD PLEASE BE SEATED. WE'RE STARTING LATE. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS MEETING ROLLING. WELCOME TO OUR DECEMBER 2ND COMMISSIONER MEETING. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> ANTUN. >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER POYNTER. >> COMMISSIONER MINCHEW. >> COMMISSIONER TUTEN. >> AND NOW STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY COMMISSIONER TUTEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION READ BY PASTOR TIFFANY. I DON'T SEE HER HERE, SO I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS OR ELSE I'LL LEAD US OFF. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THIS MEETING, WE ASK YOU TO WATCH OVER US, TO PROVIDE US THE WISDOM TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE NEEDED TO LEAD THIS CITY IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE WISH TO GO. WE ASK FOR YOUR LOVE, YOUR MERCY AND OF ALL THINGS, WE JUST ASK THAT YOU BRING ANYTHING THAT IT IS THAT THIS COMMISSION NEEDS TO MAKE THE PROPER DECISIONS THIS EVENING. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY. >> AMEN. >> ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, FOR PURPOSES OF DECORUM, I'LL ASK THAT ANY CELL PHONES BE SILENCED AT THIS MOMENT, AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO SPEAK, YOU CAN SUBMIT A SPEAKER CARD TO MRS. BEST. IF YOU ARE GOING TO PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTS OR LITERATURE TO THE COMMISSION, THAT WILL ALSO GO TO THE SPEAKER CARD DROP. ANY PHOTOGRAPH TO BE TAKEN, I'LL ASK THAT YOU DON'T CROSS THE DAIS, AND IF YOU ARE TO SPEAK AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE ADDRESS THE COMMISSION OR MYSELF INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE. AND [4.1 PRESENTATION - NASSAU HUMANE SOCIETY - Nassau Humane Society Executive Director Chantel Scherer will present the "City Commission Dog of the Month. "] WITH THAT, WE'LL START OUR PRESENTATION, 4.1 WITH MS. SHANTEL FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR ANTUN. HELLO, EVERYBODY. I BROUGHT SOME HOLIDAY CHEER. THIS IS ED NA. SHE IS 8 MONTHS OLD, AND SHE WAS FOUND WITH A LITTERMATE HERE IN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. WE THINK SHE WAS DUMPED OUT. HER LITTERMATE HAS BEEN ADOPTED, SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND ED NA A GOOD HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. SO SHE'S 8 MONTHS, AND SHE'S READY TO GO. SHE'S BEEN SPAYED, AND SHE HAS -- SHE LIKES ]. AND SHE'S READY TO GO. SHE WAS ON RIVER CITY LIVE THIS MORNING, SO SHE'S HAD A BIG DAY. >> SO HOW DOES SOMEONE GO ABOUT ADOPTING THIS CELEBRITY? >> WELL, THEY CAN GIVE US A CALL 904-321-4617 OR VISIT NASSAUHUMANE.ORG OR GO TO THE AIRPORT. WE'RE AT 639 AIRPORT [5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA OR THE CONSENT AGENDA] ROAD. >> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THE HUMANE SOCIETY. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT MOVES US RIGHT INTO ITEM 5, OUR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, AND WE'LL START OFF WITH OUR FOLKS FROM THE WORKSHOP. I HAVE MR. SCOTT LAMONT. >> SCOTT, 512 CROSSMAN DRIVE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMELIA ISLAND SOCCER, PARENT, COACH. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM FOR 14 PLUS YEARS SINCE I MOVED HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITY RESIDENTS. AS LAND HAD TALKED ABOUT IN THE WORKSHOP IN HIS INITIAL PRESENTATION, TRUST AND FEAR, AND THAT IS THE FEELING OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THE SOCCER PROGRAM. THE PLANS FOR THAT FACILITY WERE ON THE BOOKS IN MARCH OF 2024. SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN IN LIMBO, OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH AND WORKING WITH SCOTT AND HIS TEAM TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE FACILITIES AND KEEP THEM SUITABLE FOR THE PLAYERS. SOCCER IN THE U.S. IS THE LARGEST YOUTH SPORT. MORE KIDS PLAY IT THAN BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL COMBINED. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. I'M A PRESENTER, NOT A PUBLIC SPEAKER, SO. ULTIMATELY WE HAVE JUST UNDER 800 YOUTH THAT PARTICIPATE, ROUGHLY 60% OF THEM ARE IN THE 32304 AREA CODE WHICH I KNOW IT IS NOT ALL CITY RESIDENTS, BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE IN-CITY RESIDENTS. WE'VE APPROACHED THE COUNTY ABOUT THE NEW FIELDS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN. WE HAVE LIMITED SUCCESS WITH ACCESS. WE ALSO USE RIGHT NOW NASSAU CROSSING AND THE OTHER FIELDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 95, AND WE USE HICKORY AS WELL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE CURRENTLY PARTICULARLY AROUND THE LIGHTING, AND THERE'S NO OTHER LIGHTED FACILITIES AROUND. WE ARE THE LARGEST YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTY, AND IT'S VERY CHALLENGING, WE'VE BEEN QUIET FOR A LOT OF YEARS. [00:05:03] IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR BUSINESS. WE'VE KIND OF IN GOOD FAITH JUST OPERATED AND EXISTED. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A GOOD PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT I HEAR TODAY, INAUDIBLE ] IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. IT'S CONSTANT. IT'S BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR TWO PLUS YEARS. WE CONTINUE TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. WE DON'T SEE AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT THE COUNTY HAS AN OPTION. WE HAD PLANNED TO TRY TO EXPAND IT THERE TO GET OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS. WE EXPECT THAT WE WOULD DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE SIZE BECAUSE THERE'S AN UNDERSERVED POPULATION WEST OF AMELIA -- I GUESS WEST, I'M CHALLENGED WITH DIRECTIONS TOO, AMELIA. BUT WE KNOW THERE'S -- AND I'VE APPROACHED THEM, AND I'VE ACTUALLY SUGGESTED SIX FIELDS OUT THERE WHICH THEY PUSHED BACK ON AND TOLD ME THAT THE ODDS WERE THAT DEPENDING ON HOW IT WENT, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED, WE GET PUSHED OFF THE FIELDS OUT THERE FROM TIME TO TIME FOR Y OR OTHER USE ACCESS NOW. SO WE DON'T SEE THAT AS AN OPTION. AS THE CITY RESIDENTS, I THINK THE $3.5 MILLION IS A HEAVY PRICE TAG, PLUS THE BUILDING, SO $5 MILLION. IT IS A HEAVY PRICE TAG. I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE IT AS GREEN SPACE. I LIKE, YOU KNOW, PROTECTION. BUT THE AREA -- THE TREED AREA -- AND I UNDERSTAND TREES AND CANOPY ARE A HOT TOPIC HERE, SEEMS LIKE A VERY VIABLE SPACE AND WOULD PROBABLY HELP WITH THE GOLF COURSE. WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT COME HERE, SPEND MONEY IN THE CITY, CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE OPERATE SIX DAYS A WEEK, SIX TO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND I KNOW A LOT OF YOU, YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE. WE'RE PARKED ALL THE WAY OUT NOW TO THE ROUND ABOUT. SO WE'VE BEEN LIMITED IN SPACE AS WELL, SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHALLENGES, AND WE'VE MANAGED THROUGH THEM. BUT FOR ME, YOU KNOW -- HANG ON. THAT'S MY TIME. ULTIMATELY WE NEED YOU GUYS TO MAKE A DECISION AND MOVE FORWARD. YOU KNOW, ANOTHER MONTH, WE'LL RUN OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU. >> NEXT I HAVE MR. TILLBY LYNCH. >> GOOD EVENING. TOBY WEDNESDAY, 832 PARK PLACE EAST, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, 32034. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR ANTUN, CITY AND STAFF MEMBERS. YOU'LL HEAR OTHERS TALK ABOUT MORE TANGIBLE ASPECTS OF OUR SOCCER PROGRAMS IN THIS COMMUNITY. AS THE SOCCER DIRECTOR FOR AMELIA ISLAND YOUTH SOCCER, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE MORE INTANGIBLE IMPACTS TO OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOCCER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN A GAME PLAYED ON THE FIELD. WE'RE TALKING THE HEARTBEAT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME AND THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF CHARACTER THAT WILL SHAPE THE NEXT GENERATION. WE SHARE ON A POWERFUL PRINCIPLE, SOCCER IS FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE NATURALLY GIFTED ATHLETES BUT EVERY SINGLE CHILD WHO WANTS TO PLAY. WE'VE OFFERED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WHO NEED IT, PROVIDED EQUIPMENT TO THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE IT AND CREATED OPTIONS FOR CHILDREN WHETHER THEY WANT TO PLAY RECREATIONALLY WITH FRIENDS OR COMPETE AT A HIGH LEVEL. WE'VE BUILT A PLACE WHERE KIDS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS BECOME TEAMMATES AND FRIENDS, WHERE A YOUNG PERSON LEARNS, THAT SHOWING UP MATTERS AND HOW YOU TREAT OTHERS ON THE FIELD REFLECTS WHO YOU ARE OFF IT. WE'VE CREATED A SPACE WHERE FAMILIES GATHER, WHERE THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER ON CRISP FALL EVENINGS AND WARM SPRING DAYS. THIS PROGRAM TEACHES CHILDREN LESSONS THAT WILL CARRY FOREVER. THEY LEARN TO WIN WITH GRACE AND LOSE WITH DIGNITY. BEYOND THE CHILDREN, THOUGH, THIS PROGRAM STRENGTHENS THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT GIVES FAMILIES A COMMON LANGUAGE, A SHARED EXPERIENCE, A REASON TO CONNECT WITH NEIGHBORS THAT MIGHT NOT -- MIGHT NEVER OTHERWISE MEET. IT CREATES TRADITIONS, MEMORIES AND STORIES THAT WILL BE TOLD FOR GENERATIONS. THE VALUE OF WHAT WE CREATED CANNOT BE MEASURED IN GOALS SCORED OR CHAMPIONSHIPS WON. IT'S MEASUREMENT IN THE CHILD WHO FINALLY MAKES A TEAM AFTER YEARS OF TRYING AND THE PARENT WHO VOLUNTEERS AS A COACH, DESPITE HAVING NO SOCCER EXPERIENCE AND THE TEENAGER WHO REFEREES GAMES FOR SOME EXTRA COLLEGE SPENDING MONEY BUT STAYS INVOLVED BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM CHANGED THEIR LIFE. FOR YEARS DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, COACHES, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE POURED THEIR HEARTS IN TO CREATING SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL HERE. ALREADY OUR AREA'S LARGEST YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM, THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS GROWN OUR SOCCER PROGRAM FROM 840 PLAYERS IN 2022 TO OVER 1,100 PLAYERS COMBINED IN OUR MOST RECENT SPRING AND FALL SEASONS, ALL DESPITE A COMMITMENT -- ALL DESPITE A COMMITMENT TO QUALITY PLAYING FIELDS AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT OUR FUTURE. ADD ON OUR COMPETITIVE PROGRAM AND OUR SUMMER AND WINTER CAMPS, AND THERE'S A [00:10:01] SIGNIFICANT AND GROWING PART OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS A STAKE OF THE FUTURE OF SOCCER IN OUR AREA. THIS IS WHY TODAY WE NEED YOUR HELP. FIRST, WE NEED CENTRALLY LOCATED FACILITIES THAT MAKE SOCCER ACCESSIBLE TO ALL FAMILIES. WHEN FIELDS ARE CONVENIENTLY SITUATED, EVERY CHILD CAN PARTICIPATE. SECOND, WE NEED TO PROMPTLY ADDRESS OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR THE FALL '26 AND '2027 SEASONS. REGISTRATION FOR OUR FALL PROGRAM STARTS IN JUST FIVE MONTHS, AND THE U.S. IS HOSTING THE WORLD CUP STARTING IN ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS. SO INTEREST IS SURE TO BE PIQUED. RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE A CAP ON REGISTRATION AND REDUCE PLAYER NUMBERS BY 60% TO 70%, IF WE DON'T QUICKLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE MR. WALDAMAR BURRARO. >> GOOD EVENING. 31 SOUTH FIFTH STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, HOME OF OLYMPIAN POE BENSON. AND ON MY SPEAKING THAT YOU FILL OUT, I PUT ONE WORD ON THERE, DIDN'T I? KIDS. WE'RE ALL HERE ABOUT KIDS. EVERY ONE OF US. WE HAD THANKSGIVING WITH OUR KIDS, WE WERE KIDS ONCE. AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT THE FOCAL POINT. WE HAD 14 KIDS IN HERE THAT NONE OF THEM ARE HERE RIGHT NOW, AND I'M SURE IF EVERY ONE OF THEM HAD SOMETHING TO SAY, THEY WOULD SAY SAVE OUR SOCCER FIELDS. KEEP THEM HERE CLOSE BY. AND WE'RE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS USUALLY FOR OUR KIDS. SO KEEPING IT ON OUR MIND, HAVING A WORKSHOP AHEAD OF TIME. I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER THINGS, NO PARKING, ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, WHATEVER YOU GOT GOING DOWN AT THE RIVERSIDE, THE SEAWALL, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT OF HERE IN A YEAR, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, AND THERE'LL BE ANOTHER GROUP. I HAIL THE GROUP WHO MADE THE DECISION TO PUT A SKATE PARK AT MAIN BEACH BECAUSE OF THOSE DECISIONS THE CITY COMMISSION MADE. IT HELPED OUT A YOUNG LITTLE GIRL THINKING ABOUT GOING TO THE OLYMPICS, AND SHE DID. SO IF WE CONCENTRATE ON THE KIDS, KEEP THAT IN THE FOREFRONT OF WHATEVER DECISIONS WE MAKE, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, WE'RE GOING TO DO GOOD. YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO DO GOOD, AND PEOPLE SAY, HEY, BESIDES THE NO-PAY PARKING, THAT'S THE GROUP WHO BUILT A GREAT SOCCER FIELD, BUILT A GREAT SOFTBALL FIELD FOR THE KIDS AND BUILT A GREAT SKATE PARK. PO BENSON JUST GOT BACK OR MIGHT ACTUALLY -- NOT TRUTHFUL, BUT SHE JUST GOT BACK HOPEFULLY FROM CHINA OR JAPAN. SHE WAS IN A SKATE COMPETITION WITH THE 35 BEST SKATEBOARDERS IN THE WORLD. SHE COMPETED IN THE QUARTERFINALS, AND SO THE WORD FERNANDINA BEACH IS BEING SET IN THE LITTLE TOWN IN JAPAN WITH SOME SKATEBOARDERS. AND THAT'S A LITTLE KID WHO ONCE DREAMED ABOUT THAT COMING OUT TO THE SKATE PARK THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE NOW. SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO. I HOPE YOU GUYS HAD A GOOD THANKSGIVING. BUT LET'S ALL KEEP IN MIND WHATEVER DECISION WE GOT GOING ON THAT WE PUT THE KIDS IN THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE LEADERS, AND THEY WILL EVENTUALLY BE A MAYOR, THEY'LL BE VICE MAYOR, THEY'LL BE THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY ATTORNEY. >> THANK YOU, MR. BURROWS. I HAVE NO OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. THAT WILL MOVE US ON TO ITEM 6. MR. STEVENSON, COME ON UP. >> GOOD EVENING. PETE STEVENSON, 1627 HIGHLANDS DUNE WAY, FERNANDINA BEACH. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS SO FAR THAT HAVE BROUGHT UP SOME VERY SERIOUS ISSUES THAT WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS. THEY ARE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK ITEMS THAT WILL HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITY THE WAY WE LIKE IT, THE WAY WE THINK WE WANT TO HAVE IT. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE MAY HAVE TO DO IS PARTICULARLY IN THE SOCCER FIELDS, WHAT IF WE DO SOMETHING [00:15:02] THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BRING THE WRATH OF YOU KNOW WHO DOWN ON US FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, MAYBE WE COULD GET RID OF NINE HOLES OF THE GOLF COURSE? THERE'S 300 ACRES ON THE FRONT NINE. I THINK -- YOU ALSO BROUGHT UP ANOTHER POINT, OVER AT THE AIRPORT, SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THAT LAND AT SOME POINT IN TIME. SO THAT MAY BE ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE. BUT THERE YOU'VE GOT, WHAT, $6 MILLION BY THE TIME YOU GET THE SOCCER FIELDS UP AND RUNNING. I THINK YOU COULD DO IT FOR LESS THAN THAT AT THE GOLF COURSE. THAT MAY NOT BE VIABLE FOR OTHER REASONS, BUT I JUST THINK WE'VE GOT TO EXPAND OUR THOUGHT PROCESSES ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO. WE'VE HEARD THAT SOCCER IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN THIS CITY. WE'D LIKE TO KEEP IT HERE. IT MIGHT BE ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT. IT MIGHT ALSO GIVE US IN THE FUTURE IF WE GOT TO REPLACE A REC CENTER OR SOMETHING, YOU PUT THE CENTER ON THE SAME LAND. JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT. BUT THERE'S ONE CRITICAL THING THAT I THINK, COMMISSIONER, I ASK YOU -- I'M SORRY. GENECE BROUGHT UP, I'LL GET IT RIGHT. ANYWAY, WE HAVE A CRITICAL PATH. AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THE CURRENT SOCCER COMPLEX IS GOING TO GO AWAY. AND IF WE KEEP THIS KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THERE. SO I THINK WE'VE ALSO GOT TO PUT A LIMIT ON WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD AND HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE LEFT? YOU CAN'T PUT A SOCCER FIELD IN IN 30 DAYS. AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET THROUGH THE PLANNING LOGISTICS THAT QUICK. SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET TOO MUCH FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A HARD AND FAST DECISION. MAYBE THE COMMUNITY GETS TOGETHER AND SAYS WHAT IS THE BEST TRADEOFF. I'M JUST SUGGESTING LOOK AT ANY POSSIBLE AREA. IF YOU NEED 15 OR 18 ACRES, MAYBE YOU REALLY WANT 20, MAYBE THAT GOLF COURSE MIGHT BE AN ALTERNATIVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. STEVENSON. WITH NO OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK [6. CONSENT AGENDA] FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, WE'LL MOVE IN TO ITEM 6 WHICH IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANY COMMISSIONER WISH TO PULL SOMETHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? BEING NON, MS. BEST, PLEASE START THE VOTE. >> THAT MOTION PASSES 5-0 WHICH BRINGS US TO OUR RES LIETIONS. [7.1 UTILITY BOND REFINANCE - RESOLUTION 2025-222 AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2013-43; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $17,000,000 UTILITY SYSTEM REFUNDING REVENUE NOTE, SERIES 2025, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REFUNDING CERTAIN OUTSTANDING DEBT OF THE CITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE UTILITY SYSTEM AND PAYING COSTS RELATED THERETO; AUTHORIZING THE PRIVATE NEGOTIATED SALE OF THE SERIES 2025 NOTE TO REGIONS CAPITAL ADVANTAGE, INC. PURSUANT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS SET FORTH HEREIN; APPROVING THE FORM AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THE ESCROW DEPOSIT AGREEMENT; MAKING CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.] 7.1 IS A UTILITY BOND REFINANCE. MS. CAMPBELL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GET THE ITEM PULLED UP HERE. OKAY. SO THIS IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025-222. AND THE BACKGROUND ON THIS IS THAT DURING THE LENDING PROCESS FOR THE $7 MILLION LINE OF CREDIT THAT WE TOOK OUT FOR THE DEMOLITION OF BRETT'S, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISER, MR. TYNDALL, WHO'S HERE WITH US TONIGHT, NOTICED THAT WE HAVE A WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BOND OUTSTANDING THAT WE'RE PAYING DOWN EVERY YEAR UNTIL THE YEAR 2033. AND HE SUGGESTED THAT WE MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFINANCE THIS BOND AT A LOWER INTEREST RATE AND SAVE SOME MONEY OVER THE REMAINING EIGHT YEARS OF THIS DEBT. HE ESTIMATED MAYBE ABOUT $500,000 IN SAVINGS. COMPTROLLER CARLIS AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO INVESTIGATE, SO WE INVESTIGATED AN RFP, AND SEVERAL BANKS RESPONDED WHICH YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET. FIVE BANKS RESPONDED. THE LOW BIDDER, IF YOU WILL, IS REGENTS BANK, THE INTEREST RATE THEY PROPOSED WAS $3.64%. AND AFTER THEIR ANALYSIS, WE WILL SAVE IS IT $865,000 OVER THE COURSE OF THE EIGHT YEARS. THIS IS, AGAIN, TO THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY FUND. IT'S A SEPARATE BUSINESS FUND. IT'S NOT THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND, BUT THE WATER AND SEWER FUND WILL SAVE APPROXIMATELY $110,000 EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS. THAT'S THE BACKGROUND ON IT. MR. CARLIS HERE, MR. TYNDALL IS HERE, OUR BOND COUNSEL, MR. ROWE IS HERE. WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, BUT WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BRING THIS PROPOSAL TO YOU AND SAVE A GOOD CHUNK OF MONEY TO THE CITY IN THE COMING YEARS. >> THANK YOU, MS. CAMPBELL. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS ITEM? >> I APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? >> THANK YOU. >> THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IN EFFICIENCY. ALL RIGHT. MS. BEST, PLEASE [00:20:02] START THE VOTE. >> UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T DO THAT AT THIS TIME >> MR. MINCHEW. >> YES. [7.2 LEASE AGREEMENT - NASSAU COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD - HICKORY STREET PARK - RESOLUTION 2025-223 APPROVING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE NASSAU COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD FOR USE OF HICKORY STREET PARK FOR SCHEDULED SPORTING EVENTS; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ] >> VICE MAYOR. >> YES. >> MAYOR ANTUN. >> THAT PASSES AND BRINGS US TO 7.2, THE LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE HICKORY STREET PARK FIELDS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025-223. WE'VE BEEN TALKING THIS FOR SOME TIME. WE FINALLY HAVE THE AGREEMENT IN 44 YOU FOR THE HICKORY STREET PARK WITH THE NASSAU SCHOOL BOARD. THIS WILL BE AN ANNUAL LEASE, AND -- SORRY. THE ANNUAL LEASE EXPIRES IN 2026. THIS IS GOING TO BE A 25-YEAR LEASE TO EXTEND THE USE OF THAT FIELD. AND ATTORNEY PRINCE HAS SOME UPDATES FOR YOU AS WELL. >> YES, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS. ON THE HICKORY STREET PARK ONE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED, WE DON'T HAVE A SIGNATURE PAGE, I BELIEVE, IN YOUR PACKET. I HAD RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THEIR COUNSEL AND IS ENSURING THAT THAT SIGNATURE PAGE IS COMING. THEY ALSO WANTED ME TO UPDATE ON THE ATLANTIC LEASE THAT THAT ONE WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD ON DECEMBER 11TH. SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT BACK TO YOU IN JANUARY AS WELL. SO THOSE WERE THE ONLY UPDATES I HAD FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. PRINCE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON ITEM 7.2 FROM THE COMMISSION? DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-223. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? >> JUST THANK YOU, THANK YOU, JEREMIAH, 25 YEARS, RIGHT? >> MS. BEST, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. IT'S BACK UP. THAT MOTION [8.1 CODE AMENDMENT - CHAPTER 78 - PAID PARKING - ORDINANCE 2025-13 AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 78, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES, ARTICLE III, STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING BY AMENDING SECTION 78-90(B) SCHEDULE OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES (FINES) FOR PARKING; BY AMENDING SECTION 78-91 ISSUANCE AND DISPOSITION OF CITATION; BY CREATING DIVISION 2 TO BE TITLED PAID PARKING; BY CREATING SECTION 78-100 PURPOSE; BY CREATING SECTION 78- 101 DEFINITIONS; BY CREATING SECTION 78-102 CREATING A PARKING FUND; BY CREATING SECTION 78-103 IMPOSITION OF TIME LIMIT ON PARKING; CREATING SECTION 78-104 PAID PARKING AREA ESTABLISHED, AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH PAID PARKING SECTORS; CREATING SECTION 78-105 PAID PARKING FEES, PERMITS, HOURS AND EXEMPTIONS ESTABLISHED; CREATING SECTION 78-106 ENFORCEMENT AND AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.] PASSES 5-0 WHICH BRINGS US TO 8.1, A CODE AMENDMENT FOR CHAPTER 78 FOR A PAID PARKING ORDINANCE. MS. CAMPBELL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 25-13 WHICH IS THE FIRST READING OF THE PAID PARKING ORDINANCE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE SINCE OUR LAST DISCUSSION, AND ATTORNEY PRINCE HAS A SUMMARY OF THOSE CHANGES FOR YOU, AND SHE WOULD ALSO GIVE THE ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY. >> YES. I'LL START, MR. MAYOR, READING IT BY TITLE. ORDINANCE 2025-13 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CONSIDERATION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE CHAPTER 78, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES, ARTICLE 3, STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING BY AMENDING SECTION 78-90B, SCHEDULE OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND FINES FOR PARKING BY AMENDING SECTION 78-91, ISSUANCE AND DISPOSITION OF CITATION, THE TITLE 2 TO BE ENTITLED PAID PARKING, CREATING A SECTION 71 PURPOSE BY CREATING SECTION 78102 CREATING A PAID PARKING FUND, BY CREATING SECTION 78103 IN POSITION OF A TIME LIMIT ON PARKING, CREATING SECTION 78-104, PAID PARKING AREA ESTABLISHED, AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH PAID PARKING AREA SECTORS, CREATING SECTION 78-105 PAID PARKING FEES, PERMIT HOURS AND EXEMPTIONS ESTABLISHED, CREATING SECTION 78-106, ENFORCEMENT AND AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE, AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTIONS OF SCRIFNER'S ERRORS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. AFTER READING THAT, I WOULD -- I THINK WE NEED SHORTER TITLES. BUT IF I MAY, MR. MAYOR, BEFORE I GO INTO THE CHANGES I WANTED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE VOTING TONIGHT AND SOME OTHER MATTERS THAT HAVE COME UP. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE HAS BEEN PUBLIC CONCERN RAISED ABOUT A PERCEIVED CONFLICT UNDER SECTION 281-6 OF THE CODE THERE, CAN BE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VOTING CONFLICT, IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE A VOTING CONFLICT. AND IF A COMMISSIONER HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THAT APPEARANCE, THEY MAY REQUEST AN OPINION. AS SUCH, YESTERDAY ON DECEMBER 1ST, BECAUSE OF CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT COMMISSIONER POYNTER'S ABILITY TO VOTE ON PAID PARKING AND REPEATED CONCERNS RAISED, AN INFORMAL VERBAL OPINION WAS ASKED FOR AND PROVIDED BY THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS. THE VERBAL OPINION FOUND THERE WAS NO VOTING CONFLICT UNDER SECTION 112-3143 OF THE BOARD OF STATUTES. HOWEVER, TO HAVE A MORE BINDING DETERMINATION, THE CUSTOMER CAN REQUEST AN INFORMAL WRITTEN, RATHER THAN SIMPLY THE VERBAL. SO COMMISSIONER POYNTER HAS DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND REQUEST THE INFORMAL WRITTEN OPINION THAT WILL BE ISSUED LIKELY WITHIN ONE TO TWO WEEKS, [00:25:02] AND THAT WOULD THEN MEMORIALIZE THE DECISION. YOU CAN ALSO GET A FORMAL OPINION LATER BY THE FULL ETHICS ON OPINION ETHICS COMMISSION. HOWEVER, THE INFORMAL OPINIONS ARE NOT ISSUED UNLESS THEY HAVE -- YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL VERY CERTAIN ABOUT THEIR DECISION. SO AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONER POYNTER WILL HAVE TO DISCLOSE WHAT IS PERCEIVED TO BE A CONFLICT, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A VERBAL, THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT YESTERDAY. WE SPOKE WITH THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, AND THEY ALLOWED FOR HIM TO CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE TONIGHT. IF HE READS INTO THE RECORD HIS POTENTIAL CONFLICT, WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE INFORMAL, THEN HE MAY PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS THIS EVENING. BUT HE MAY NOT VOTE. HE IS ALSO GOING TO FILL OUT THE DISCLOSURE -- THE DISCLOSURE PAPERWORK HAS BEEN FILLED OUT, AND HE IS REQUIRED TO HAND THAT TO THE CLERK WHO WILL THEN PLACE IT IN THE FORMAL MINUTES. SO AT THIS TIME, MR. POYNTER WILL READ WHAT IS A PERCEIVED CONFLICT SO HE MAY PARTICIPATE TONIGHT BUT NOT VOTE AND AWAIT 18 INFORMAL WRITTEN OPINION ON THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS. IS THERE ANY QUESTION ON THAT BEFORE HE READS? >> QUESTIONS FOR MS. PRINCE FROM THE COMMISSION? SEEING NONE. >> ALL RIGHT. I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THIS. SO I, TIMOTHY POYNTER, HEREBY DISCLOSE THAT ON DECEMBER 2ND, 2025, BY MY SPECIAL PRIVATE GAIN OR LOSS, THE MEASURE BEFORE MY AGENCY AND THE NATURE OF MY CONFLICTING INTEREST IN THE MEASURE ARE AS FOLLOWS, THE IMPACT OF MY OWNERSHIP AND LEASE HOLDS LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN BOUNDARY AND IN THE PAID PARKING AREA ARE NOT IMPACTED ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN ANY OTHER PARCELS WITHIN THESE AREAS AND THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OR HARM IS SPECULATIVE AND OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION TONIGHT, I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE BECAUSE I OWN OR LEASE SEVEN OF THE 460 PARCELS LOCATED WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN BOUNDARY WHERE PAID PARKING REVENUE MAY BE EXPENDED. OF THOSE SEVEN I OWN OR LEASE SIX PARCELS WITHIN THE PAID PARKING AREA WHERE THE PAID PARKING WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MADAM ATTORNEY OR MS. CAMPBELL. >> SO WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF QUICK SLIDES THAT SUMMARIZE THE CHANGES FROM THE LAST DRAFT SO YOU HAVE A CLEAR BREAD CRUMB TRAIL ON THE MODIFICATIONS THAT WERE MADE. >> YES. SO WHAT WE DID AFTER THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE, WE DID POSTPONE IT. AS WE KNOW, THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED, AND WE WILL DISCUSS THAT A LITTLE BIT AS WELL. BUT WE CHANGED THE MAP THAT WAS IN THE FIRST READING. IT DID HAVE A MAP. IT ONLY HAD THE RED SQUARE. WE CHANGED THE MAP TO SHOW THE BLUE HIGHLIGHTED AREA IS WHERE THE FUNDS CAN BE EXPENDED. SO THE FUNDS CAN BE EXPENDED IN THE ENTIRE MAIN STREET PROGRAM AREA WHICH WE DEFINE IN THE ORDINANCE AS DOWNTOWN BOUNDARY. AND THEN THE RED BOX IS WHERE THE PAID PARKING REVENUE WOULD BE GENERATED FROM, THAT WILL BE THE PAID PARKING AREA. THE AREA ITSELF HAS NOT CHANGED AT ALL. WE'VE JUST SIMPLY CHANGED THE MAP. AND IF YOU WOULD -- THANK YOU. AND THEN WITH THE DEFINITIONS, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT IS CREATING SECTIONS, ANY OF YOU THAT TOOK THE TIME TO READ IN THE AUDIENCE THE NEW LANGUAGE IS ALWAYS UNDERLINED. SO WHEN I REMOVE THINGS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, IT JUST GOES AWAY. YOU DON'T SEE IT AS A BLACK LINE OR ANYTHING. SO WE DID REMOVE DEFINITIONS THAT WERE NOT UTILIZED. THOSE WERE DEFINITIONS THAT WERE IN THERE THE FIRST TIME AROUND. THAT WAS -- WE HAD AN APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF SPACES, WE HAD PARKING, CAMPER OR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, THAT WAS DEFINED SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO WE REMOVED THOSE. WE ALSO HAD A CONCEPT OF DYNAMIC PRICING ORIGINALLY IN THE ORDINANCE. WE TIGHTENED THAT UP TO ADD A DEFINED TERM OF DYNAMIC PRICING, AND THEN MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT THAT THE RANGE OF DYNAMIC PRICING IS ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE IN THE CITY'S MASTER FEE SCHEDULE. SO THAT RANGE WOULD RESTRICT THE ABILITY TO INCREASE OR DECREASE THE AMOUNT. WE ADDED DEFINITIONS OF DOWNTOWN BOUNDARIES, AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT BLUE LINE THAT WE SHOWED YOU ON THE MAP FOR WHERE THE MONEY CAN BE EXPENDED. HOLIDAYS AND EVENTS, WE SIMPLY MADE THAT MORE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT AND DEFINED IT AS A DEFINED TERM AND USED IT THROUGHOUT. WE ALSO IN THE ORDINANCE HAD HAD PROVISIONS FOR EXEMPTIONS DURING WEATHER EVENTS, AND IT WAS -- WHEN WE DISCUSSED AND LOOKED AT IT FURTHER, WE JUST BROADENED THAT DEFINITION TO MAKE IT AN EMERGENCY EVENT BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE SOME OTHER EMERGENCY THAN WEATHER. AND THAT'S WHEN PAID PARKING FEES COULD BE SUSPENDED, [00:30:01] AREAS COULD BE CHANGED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE CITIZENRY AND ALLOW THEM TO PARK THERE. WE CLEARED -- CLARIFIED THE DEFINITION OF RESIDENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF ESTABLISHING THE RESIDENCY FOR PARKING PERMITS. AND THAT IS BECAUSE, AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE NEXT ORDINANCE, THERE ARE SOME FREE PARKING PERMITS FOR RESIDENTS, THEN RESIDENTS HAVE A DIFFERENT RATE FOR THEIR ANNUAL PERMIT. SO WE NEEDED TO CLEARLY DEFINE THAT. WE CHANGED PAID PARKING ZONES. THOSE ARE THE ZONES WITHIN THE RED AREA WHERE THERE IS PAID PARKING. WE CHANGED THAT TO SAY SECTORS SO THAT IT WOULDN'T BE CONFUSED AS A LAND USE REGULATION. AND THEN IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE EXPLAIN MORE CLEARLY THAT THE PARKING REVENUES ARE TO BE USED FOR FINANCING PROJECTS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN BOUNDARIES. SO WE MOVED SOME DEFINITIONS AROUND AND MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE REVENUES ARE FOR THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED AND THAT CAN BE USED DOWNTOWN. AND WE SIMPLIFIED THE LANGUAGE THAT ESTABLISHED THE TYPES OF PARKING PERMITS. SO THOSE ARE JUST BETWEEN READING ONE AND READING TWO THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE. WE ALSO HAD -- WE HELD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY TO CONSIDER THE -- TO DISCUSS THE LAWSUIT, AND I WANTED TO LET THE COMMISSION KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL CAN PROCEED ON FIRST READING. THERE COULD BE SOME CONCERN THAT ANY MOVEMENT ON FIRST READING COULD BE PERCEIVED AS BAD FAITH OR LACK OF GOOD FAITH TOWARDS ANY KIND OF SETTLEMENT OR RESOLUTION TO THE LAWSUIT. HOWEVER, WE HAVE TRIED TO DEFINITELY ASSURE OPPOSING COUNSEL, YOU KNOW, THAT FIRST READING IS SIMPLY THAT, IT IS FIRST READING. IT DOES HAVE TO BE TISESSED 10 DAYS PRIOR TO A SECOND READING. SO ANY ACTION, IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO PASS IT TONIGHT, IS NOT IMPLEMENTING THIS ORDINANCE, NOR IS IT IMPLEMENTING THE CONTRACT FOR ONE PARKING BECAUSE IT IS JUST FIRST READING. AND WITH THAT, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR MS. PRINCE OR STAFF ON THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE SEEN? SEEING NONE, I HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS FROM THE AUDIENCE. OUR FIRST IS GOING TO BE MR. -- I HOPE I PRONOUNCE THIS RIGHT, JIM CLANDOR. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. >> NAME. >> I'M NEW TO THIS DEBATE. >> NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? >> JAMES CLANDOR, 811 PARK VIEW PLACE WEST, FERNANDINA BEACH. NEWCOMER TO THE ISLAND, 20 YEARS, BUT I CAME HERE BECAUSE OF WHAT IT WAS THEN. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ME THAT WANTS TO KEEP IT THE WAY IT WAS OR WAS WHEN I CAME. I'M OPEN TO CHANGE. I KNOW CHANGE HAPPENS, AND PEOPLE HAVE TO ADAPT TO IT. WE HAD A VIGOROUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS OVER THANKSGIVING WITH SOME NEIGHBORS OF MINE, AND IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING. ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME UP WAS -- AND I DON'T KNOW -- BECAUSE I HAVEN'T READ THE ORDINANCE, I'M SORRY THAT I HAVEN'T, BUT ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME UP WAS COULD YOU GIVE A PERMIT TO EVERYBODY WHO'S A TAXPAYING RESIDENT ON THE ISLAND, IS THAT -- IF THAT'S IN THERE ALREADY -- >> EACH RESIDENT IS GOING TO GET TWO -- >> CITY RESIDENT. >> YEAH, IF YOU ARE A CITY RESIDENT, AND YOU HAD A CAR THAT YOU PAY TAXES FOR IN THE CITY, YOU COULD BE EXEMPT OF THIS? >> YES. AND UNLIMITED NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF $24, YES. >> I WANTED TO SPEAK AGAINST THAT BECAUSE TO ME THAT'S SORT OF A TROJAN HORSE. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A TEMPORARY TAX, AND TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH MONEY FROM THIS, THE SIMPLE SOLUTION WILL BE, WELL, LET'S TAKE AWAY THOSE STICKERS AND THOSE PERMITS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT GOT THEM, AND WE'LL GET MORE MONEY THAT WAY. AND I THINK THAT'S A BAD, BAD THING TO DO, AND I HOPE YOU DON'T DO IT. I HOPE THAT COMES OUT OF THE ORDINANCE. AND I'D LIKE TO SAY NO METERS AS A BOTTOM LINE, JUST NO METERS. >> THANK YOU, MR. CLANDOR. NEXT WE HAVE MR. RICHARD DEAN. >> THANK YOU. AND POINT OF INFORMATION, THERE WILL BE NO METERS. IT'S JUST PLANNED TO BE [00:35:06] SIGNS. >> RICHARD DEAN, 4014 DIMWOOD PLACE, MAKES ME A CITY TAXPAYER. I COME TO YOU TONIGHT IN SUPPORT, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PAID PARKING, AS A NECESSARY REVENUE SOURCE TO FUND MULTIPLE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE OUR CITY. SEVERAL PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS HAVE DISCUSSED BUILDING A SEAWALL TO MITIGATE FLOODING, INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS FOR THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, REPLACE INAUDIBLE ] BRETT'S. UNFORTUNATELY, PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS DID NOT MOVE BEYOND THE DISCUSSION OR PLANNING PHASE ON THESE PROJECTS. PROJECTS NEED TO BE COMPLETED COMES WITH A HIGHER PRICE TAG BECAUSE MATERIALS, LABOR AND OTHER COSTS INCREASE EVERY YEAR. THERE'S ALSO SOME URGENCEAY BECAUSE THE CITY HAS RECEIVED GRANTS FOR THE SEAWALL PROJECT THAT ARE TIME LIMITED, WILL EXPIRE IN A FEW YEARS WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEE OF AN EXTENSION OR NEW GRANTS. THIS COMMISSION IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE TOUGH DECISIONS TO FINANCE AND COMPLETE PROJECTS THAT PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN TALKED ABOUT BUT NOT ACTED UPON. I SUPPORT PAID PARKING BECAUSE IT REQUIRES NON-CITY RESIDENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FINANCING OF AMENITIES THEY ENJOY. WHILE SOME HAVE SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE FINANCING PROPOSALS, NO FULLY FLESHED OUT, CREDIBLE FINANCING ALTERNATIVE HAS BEEN PUT ON THE TABLE THAT I'M AWARE OF. THE CITY COMMISSION HAS PROVIDED MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO REGISTER ITS VIEWS AND CONCERNS ABOUT PAID PARKING, ISSUES SUCH AS ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND OTHER POLICY ADJUSTMENTS HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE. MANY PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES INVOLVE BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND REQUIRE TWEAKS. CITY COMMISSION AND STAFF HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR COMMITMENT TO AJUSTING PAID PARKING POLICY BASED UPON CITIZEN FEEDBACK. IN CLOSING, OUR COMMISSION HAS A LIMITED SET OF TOOLS TO FINANCE NECESSARY PROJECTS. SOME HAVE ASSERTED THAT YOU CAN JUST CUT $2 MILLION OUT OF THE CITY BUDGET AND MAKE THIS PROBLEM GO AWAY. I'VE NOT SEEN ANY LIST PUT FORWARD TO SUBSTANTIATE THAT ASSERTION. NOT TO SAY THAT THE CITY SHOULDN'T CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ITS BUDGET. THE CITY MANAGER HAS SHOWN -- WE SAW EVIDENCE AGAIN TONIGHT -- WITH THE SAVINGS ON THAT LOAN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO IMPROVE THE BUDGET. BUT GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, THE NEEDS ARE SUCH THAT THIS OPTION SHOULD BE PURSUED. THIS IS NOT TOWARDS FAIRNESS AND EQUITY, THE STATUS QUO BENEFITS FREE RIDERS. IN THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM ON THE PARKING ISSUE, I URGE OTHERS TO MAINTAIN PARKING AND FAIRNESS AND EQUITY ON HOW WE MAINTAIN PROJECTS AND IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. DEAN. NEXT I HAVE MR. JACK EMBER. >> JACK EMBER, 10033 BROOM STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH. THERE ONCE WAS A YOUNG MAN, WENT DOWNTOWN TO DO HIS ERRANDS, AND THE DOWNTOWN HAD JUST STARTED PAID PARKING. HE WENT DOWNTOWN, AND HE THOUGHT, WELL, I'LL START WITH THE COFFEE SHOP. HE WENT IN, GOT HIS CUP OF COFFEE, CAME OUT TO A MAN WRITING A TICKET. AND HE ARGUED WITH THE MAN. HE SAYS I WAS ONLY IN THERE FIVE MINUTES HAVING A CUP OF COFFEE. AND HE STARTED WITH AN INSULT, AND THE MAN WRITING HIM THE TICKET WROTE HIM ANOTHER TICKET. 15 MINUTES LATER, MANY NON-AGGRESSIVE INSULTS BUT INSULTS NONETHELESS, THERE WAS A STACK OF TICKETS UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE AT WHICH POINT THE YOUNG MAN WENT ACROSS THE STREET, GOT ON HIS BICYCLE AND RODE AWAY. THE POINT IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO CIRCUMVENT THIS SITUATION, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH PEOPLE STEALING LICENSE TAGS JUST FOR THE SAKE OF GOING DOWNTOWN AND PARKING, AND IT STARTS A WHOLE WATERFALL OF BAD ACTIVITY THAT WE DON'T HAVE NOW. RECENTLY I WAS AT A TOWN HALL MEETING WHERE I ASKED LOCAL PROPERTY AND BUSINESS OWNER WHY WE DON'T HAVE SAVINGS IN THE BUDGET. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE HERE'S THE BUDGET, WE SPEND THE BUDGET, AND NOTHING HAPPENS. HIS RESPONSE IS [00:40:07] YOU CAN'T CUT YOUR WAY TO PROFIT. AND THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE MORE I THOUGHT A BUDGET ISN'T ABOUT PROFIT. A BUDGET IS ABOUT USING THE MONEY YOU'VE GOT FOR THE NEEDS AT HAND. ANOTHER THING I WAS THINKING ABOUT IS YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEING HELD OVER OUR HEADS IS THE DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS, WHAT ATROCIOUS SHAPE THEY'RE IN, AND YET OTHER PROJECTS GET DONE FROM SCRATCH AND THEN COMPLETED, AND THESE SIDEWALKS DON'T EVEN GET STARTED TO BE FIXED. WHAT WOULD BE WRONG, WHAT WOULD SHOW THE BEST GOOD INTENTIONS IF AT LEAST ONE BLOCK OR TWO BLOCKS STARTED GETTING FIXED? BUT, NO, THAT NEVER HAPPENS. ALL WE HEAR IS YOU DIDN'T USE HIGH HEELS AND PLATFORM SHOES, YOU HAVE TO WEAR, YOU KNOW, SENSIBLE SHOES AND ALL. SO I REALLY THINK THE TOWN IS NOT A BUSINESS. YOUR TOWN IS LIKE YOUR HOME. YOU DON'T CHARGE PEOPLE TO COME TO YOUR HOUSE. YOU SHOULDN'T CHARGE PEOPLE TO COME TO YOUR HOME. THIS IS AN OPEN AND WELCOMING PLACE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. EMBER. NEXT I HAVE MR. CAMERON MOSS. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CAMERON MOSS, 3435 SEA MARCH ROAD, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, 32034. ALSO HAVE A 32035 ZIP CODE, BUT THAT'S WITH THE POST OFFICE, IN CASE ANYBODY WONDERED WHERE THAT WAS. I'M NOT HERE TO SUPPORT OR DENIGRATE PAID PARKING. I DON'T CARE. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE OPTION IS. I BELIEVE THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN A PRISONER'S DILEMMA. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, IT'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION WHERE TWO PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING INDEPENDENTLY AND THAT THEY ARE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO COOPERATE, BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY'LL BE BETTER OFF ON THEIR OWN. SO THEY GO ON THEIR OWN AND GET SCREWED. IF THEY'D WORKED TOGETHER, THEY WOULD HAVE WON AND GOTTEN OUT. SO BASICALLY IT'S A STORY THAT SAYS COOPERATION IS ALWAYS BETTER, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A SIMILAR INTEREST OF WELL-BEING. SO PUT THAT IN -- JUST THINK ABOUT THAT AS A CONTEXT. I HAVE THREE MESSAGES. ONE, LET'S DEAL IN FACTS. I THINK THE CITY CUT THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY COMMISSION, THE CITY ATTORNEY, YOU'RE ALL REARED TO DEAL IN FACTS. YOU HAVE THINGS THAT COME OUT OF YOUR SYSTEMS AND THINGS YOU MUST DISPLAY AND THINGS YOU MUST SHARE. THOSE ARE THE FOUNDATION. A LOT OF PUBLIC SCRUTINY SO YOU CAN'T MAKE MISTAKES. UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE THAT FILE LAWSUITS AND PEOPLE THAT START GROUPS AREN'T HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD. SO I READ THROUGH THE FACEBOOK POSTS FOR CITIZENS AGAINST PAID PARKING AND RECALL SITE, AND I RAN ACROSS THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTIONS, CORRUPT, CROOKED, ROTTEN, UNETHICAL, LIARS, GREEDY, ARROW GANT, CONDESCENDING, POSSESSED, THEY CAN'T BE TRUSTED. KICK THEM OUT OF OFFICE, DRAG THEM OUT OF CITY HALL ON LIVE TV. THEY'RE DRUNK ON POWER. THEY'RE DRUNK ON POWER. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE GOOD COMMUNITY SPIRIT TO ME, DOESN'T SOUND LIKE AN ATTITUDE FOR COOPERATION. I HAD MY BELIEFS FOR WHY THAT MAY BE. YA'LL SEEM TO OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH, THAT WHAT YOU'RE EXPRESSING IS A POINT OF VIEW YOU'RE TRYING TO PERSUADE PEOPLE OF THAT YOU'RE BACKED UP BY THE RATIONE. I DON'T THINK ESPECIALLY THE PARKING PEOPLE ARE OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH. I THINK THEY'VE DISCUSSED A -- PLACE MEMBERS OF THE GOP PARTY AND USE THE LANGUAGE, BREAK YOUR SUPER MAJORITY ON THE COMMISSION. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE GOOD POLITICS TO ME. AND I'LL DARE ANYBODY TO PROVE THEY'VE COMMITTED MALFEASANCE, MISFEASANCE, INCOMPETENCE, FELONY CONVICTION OR CORRUPTION. SHOW ME THE DATA. A PUBLIC LIE DOESN'T COUNT. FINALLY, EVERYTHING CHANGES. EVERYTHING CHANGES. IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT THAT AND EMBRACE IT, YOU WILL DIE. THE CITY WILL DIE IF YOU DON'T FIND GOOD INCOME SOURCES. I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RESISTING THIS ACCEPT THE FACT THAT A TEST FOR EIGHT MONTHS WILL TELL THEM EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT [00:45:02] OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-13. >> I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> I'LL SECOND IT. >> MOTION AND SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? VICE MAYOR. >> YEAH, I MEAN, I'M JUST GOING TO RITIERATE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS COMMISSION HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS TO A VOTE BEFORE YOU IMPLEMENT A SINGLE SIGN, A SINGLE METER OR A SINGLE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT AND PUT THEM IN THE GROUND. WE HAVE THE AVAILABILITY TO HOLD A VOTE BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. WE'VE DISCUSSED IT MANY, MANY TIMES. WE'VE DISCUSSED IT FOR AN HOUR IN SHADE, WE'VE DISCUSSED IT HERE NOW, MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND JUST NOT ALLOWING THE CITIZENS TO HAVE THE SAY FIRST. THERE'S AN EASY LITMUS TEST TO THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT TAKING IT. IT'S JUST TO REITERATE, AGAIN, THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS THE ABILITY TO LET THE CITIZENS SPEAK FIRST. THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER TUTEN. >> I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO LET THE CITIZENS SPEAK, AND THEY HAVE. AND WE'VE ALL TALKED TO HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS, AND LUCKILY OUR CHARTER IS STRONG, AND OUR CHARTER HAS GIVEN THE RESIDENTS THE ABILITY TO WRITE A PETITION, AND THIS WILL GO TO A VOTE. WE HAVE A VOTE IN AUGUST. IT WILL HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHAT THIS COMMISSION DOES. THE ORDINANCE WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COMMISSION, BEFORE THE VOTERS IN AUGUST TO SEE DO WE WANT TO DO PAID PARKING, AND IS IT GOING TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO DO PAID PARKING? AS THE ORDINANCE READS, THE ONLY WAY TO DO PAID PARKING IS TO FORCE IT TO GO TO A REFERENDUM VOTE WHICH MEANS IT WOULD THEN HAVE TO GO TO A VOTE IN NOVEMBER, IF WE WERE TO PUT A REFERENDUM ON AS SOON AS NOVEMBER. I DO THINK, THOUGH, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS COMMISSION FEELS THAT LITERALLY DECADES, DECADES OF POLICY THAT WE SHOULD FIX DOWNTOWN, WE SHOULD MAINTAIN BRETT'S, WE SHOULD BUILD A SEAWALL, THOSE ARE UNFUNDED POLICIES. WE -- THE PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS FOR DECADES HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO FUND THEM. THEY'VE NEVER FOUND THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET. AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED. MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE YOUR WHOLE LIVES. MANY OF US HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR DECADES. THIS CITY DIDN'T ALWAYS GET A MILLION TOURISTS, A MILLION TOURISTS COMING IN AND USING OUR DOWNTOWN, AND THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL KNOWS EACH TOURIST COMES ALMOST THREE TIMES. THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS DATA BASED ON CELL PHONE USAGE, BASED ON CREDIT CARD USAGE, THREE TIMES DURING THEIR VISIT. THEY ARE USING AND ABUSING -- BECAUSE, RIGHT, WHEN YOU WALK AROUND AND USE INFRASTRUCTURE, IT GETS WORN DOWN. AND WE ARE NOT FUNDING IT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE KIDS. CAN WE THINK ABOUT THE KIDS, ACTUALLY? WOULDN'T WE ALL LOVE OUR KIDS TO BUY OUR HOMES AND LIVE HERE FOR -- THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE? BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PROTECT THIS DOWNTOWN FOR THEM? AND I THINK ASKING A MILLION TOURISTS TO KICK IN A FEW DOLLARS TO USE OUR DOWNTOWN IS FAIR. WE ALL ARE KICKING IN -- PROBABLY SOME OF US PAID OUR PROPERTY TAX BILL JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE ARE ALL KICKING IN AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS TOWN. WE'RE FACING ENORMOUS NEEDS. AND I THINK IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS, WE CAN SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, AND THE TECHNOLOGY CHANGE, IT IS NOT LIKE IT WAS WHEN THERE WERE METERS IN THE '70S, AND IT WASN'T WELL RECEIVED. WELL, IN THE '70S, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A MILLION TOURISTS HERE. TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED. THERE WILL BE SIGNS ONLY, NO METERS. RESIDENTS WILL BE GIVEN TWO FREE PASSES, AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF PASSES FOR A [00:50:01] SMALL ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. THERE WILL NOT BE A TICKET IF YOU'RE GETTING COFFEE FOR FIVE MINUTES. THERE'LL BE A 20-MINUTE GRACE PERIOD. THERE WOULD BE A SLOW ROLLOUT OF 30 TO 60 DAYS. WE'RE NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THE ROLLOUT WOULD BE, 30-DAY ROLLOUT, OF EDUCATING PEOPLE ON HOW IT WOULD WORK. THERE WOULD BE NO STICKERS ON YOUR CARS. YOUR RESIDENT PASS IS A DIGITAL PASS. YOU SIGN UP, AND YOU DIGITALLY GET A PASS FROM YOUR LICENSE PLATE, AND THEN YOU JUST -- THAT'S IT. YOU'RE DONE. YOU JUST PARK ANYWHERE YOU WANT AS A RESIDENT. AND THE EXPLODING POPULATION IN THE COUNTY WHO DON'T PAY THE TAXES WE PAY, AND THEY -- AND MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE COUNTY PURPOSEFULLY DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS. THEY LIVE NEAR THE CITY BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHO LIVE IN THE CITY, WE KNOW IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY BECAUSE WE PAY ADDITIONAL CITY TAXES. BUT PEOPLE WHO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOU WHO ARE IN THE COUNTY OR FIVE MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD OR 10 MINUTES OVER THE BRIDGE WHO DON'T PAY THE TAXES WE PAY, THEY USE OUR CITY TOO, AND THEY LOVE OUR CITY. PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD LOVE OUR CITY. CAN THEY GIVE US $5 A YEAR, $10 A YEAR, $50 A YEAR TO COME AND WALK AROUND OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY AND HELP US PAY FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE? BECAUSE IT'S JUST CONTINUING TO CRUMBLE, AND IF WE DON'T CHOOSE TO FIND REVENUE FOR IT, THEN WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT DOING OUR DUTY TO PROTECT IT. AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. I THINK WE CAN DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE. WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND SEE HOW IT GOES, AND WE CAN ALSO ALLOW THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE A VOICE IN AUGUST. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER POYNTER. >> YEAH. EERYONE KNOWS I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. AND I DON'T REALLY HANG ON FACEBOOK TOO MUCH BECAUSE WHY BOTHER? AND SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE POSTED THAT IF -- WHEN I WAS A PREVIOUS COMMISSIONER, IF IT WAS SO BAD, WHY DIDN'T I FIX IT BACK THEN, WHY DIDN'T I FIX ALL THESE PROBLEMS BACK THEN WHEN I WAS A COMMISSIONER? BECAUSE I'M ONE VOTE, THAT'S WHY. THIS COMMISSION COMMISSION WHICH IS WHY I'M SO PROUD OF THIS COMMISSION IS THEY AREN'T KICKING THE STAFF. THEY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, BEING A ONE-OFF COMMISSIONER WHO'S TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE WHEN YOU GET BY FROM THE REST OF YOUR COMMISSION, YOU JUST DON'T GET THINGS DONE, AND THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN THE SCENARIO FOR DECADES, FOR DECADES. SO THIS COMMISSION IS SAYING, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE NEED TO GET THIS PLACE FIXED. WAITING FIVE MORE YEARS, YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE CHEAPER? FERNANDINA WAS LOOKING AT -- THIS WAS 15 YEARS AGO, FORD FERNANDINA WAS LOOKING TO FIXING SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS. ALACHUA WAS OPENING UP THEN. $165,000, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS GOING TO COST TO OPEN UP ALACHEWIA, $1.79 MILLION TO OPEN IT UP THIS TIME. IT DOESN'T GET CHEAPER, IT JUST GETS MORE EXPENSIVE. SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS, THIS WAS PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS, LACK OF INVOLVEMENT, LACK OF THIS, KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, I'LL GIVE YOU ALL THAT. SO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO JUST STOP, NOT FUND ANYTHING, NOT FIX ANYTHING, AND CONTINUE TO KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD? YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO GET CHEAPER TO TAKE DOWN BRETT'S FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? DO THE SEAWALL? 20 YEARS FROM NOW IT'S GOING TO BE CHEAPER? NO, IT'S NOT, AND WE HAVE HISTORY TO SHOW THAT. I WAS GOING THROUGH SOME INTERESTING PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS, 2002, THAT TYPE OF STUFF. THEY HAD A DOWNTOWN HISTORIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, A BUSINESS GROUP, AND I SAW WHERE THEY WERE DEMANDING THAT THE CITY WOULD START IMPLEMENTING AND ENFORCING THE TWO -- AT THE TIME THEY WANTED TWO HOURS ON CENTER STREET, THREE HOURS ON THE SIDE STREETS WHY THEY WEREN'T DOING IT BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO GET A [00:55:03] TURN BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE JUST PARKING IN FRONT OF THEIR BUILDINGS ALL DAY LONG. NOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A TURN, AND THEY'RE SAYING IT'S GOING TO RUIN ALL THEIR RETAIL BUSINESSES. IT IS ABSURD. IT IS LITERALLY ABSURD. AND YOU HEARD EARLIER TONIGHT WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR SOCCER FIELDS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR SKATE PARKS, AND WE ARE WHERE ARE WE GOING TO COME UP FOR THE DOLLARS FOR THAT? THIS IS A PLAN TO ASK OTHER PEOPLE TO HELP CONTRIBUTE SO IT'S NOT ON THE BACKS OF THE 8,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING FOR EVERYTHING NOW, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. THIS YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT I AM THINKING ABOUT TRUST AND FEAR. I DO RECOGNIZE THAT RESIDENTS ARE , SOME RESIDENTS ARE NOT HAPPY , AND FEARFUL, AND PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS DOWNTOWN. ONE OF MY SISTERS HAS A BUSINESS ON HER MAINSTREET, AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS . AND IT IS SCARY. NOBODY REALLY KNOWS. PROBABLY THE GROUP THAT KNOWS THE BEST ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THE SEVEN VENDORS THAT GIVE US PROPOSALS, THAT DO PARKING IN LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER POLICES , SPACES. AND I RECOGNIZE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT IT WILL DO TO THE CHARACTER OF THE TOWN, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, PAID PARKING IS NOT SO EASY. VISITORS, THERE WILL BE THREE WAYS TO PAY ON THE SIGN . THERE WILL BE A QR CODE OR A TEXT TO PAY OR A PHONE NUMBER TO PAY, BECAUSE THIS PHONE NUMBER HAS A COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION. I RECOGNIZE THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. THERE CERTAINLY WILL LIKELY BE OVERFLOW TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BECAUSE IT IS THE PAID PARKING AREA, ABOUT 700 SPACES IN THE CORE, BUT THERE ARE MORE THAN 1000 SPACES ON THE EDGES THAT WILL STILL BE FREE. SO PEOPLE, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY, THEY COULD CHOOSE TO WALK TWO OR THREE BLOCKS AND PARK FOR FREE. ALTHOUGH RESIDENCE, OF COURSE, WILL BE ABLE TO PARK FOR FREE. AND RESIDENTS THAT LIVE WITHIN THE ZONE, THERE ARE A FEW DOZEN RESIDENTS THAT LIVE WITHIN THE ZONE, THEY WILL NOT HAVE A TIME LIMIT ON THEIR AMOUNT OF PARKING. ALL OF THE RESIDENT TAGS MUST MOVE WITHIN FOUR HOURS, BECAUSE THE BUSINESSES NEED TURNOVER. BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY LIVE WITHIN THE ZONE, YOU WON'T HAVE A TIME LIMIT ON HOW LONG YOUR CAR CAN PARK. SO, YEAH, I RECOGNIZE IT IS SCARY. IT IS A SCARY VOTE FOR ME. I SIT UP HERE AND THIS IS A SCARY VOTE. BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. BUT I STAND WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER POYNTER SAID , THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT WE ADDRESS THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO LET THE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT SIT AND ROT AT THE WATERFRONT. WE HAVE TO SECURE A $7 MILLION LOAN FOR IT THAT REALLY WOULD BE BETTER OFF ROLLED INTO A BIGGER BOND, THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO A LARGE POT OF MONEY, THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THESE PROJECTS DONE . AND THESE PROJECTS , THEY WERE DECADES IN THE MAKING , BY LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO LIVED HERE, DIED HERE, MOVED AWAY FROM HERE. NOW WE ARE HERE AND THERE'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FUTURE RESIDENCE. WHY DO WE NOW BEAR THE BURDEN? IT'S TERRIBLE TIMING. I DON'T KNOW. WHY DID I HAVE TO JOIN THE COMMISSION NOW? I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD RATHER KICK THIS DOWN THE ROAD, LIKE THE PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS. IT WOULD BE EASIER. BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT. I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT TO AVOID THESE PROJECTS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES 3-1. ON TO ITEM [8.2 MASTER FEE SCHEDULE AMENDMENT - ORDINANCE 2025-14 AMENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE 2025-09 BY AMENDING THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FEE SCHEDULE TO PROVIDE FOR PAID PARKING FEES WITHIN THE PAID PARKING AREA IN FY 2025/2026; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.] 8.2, OUR MASTER FEE SCHEDULE AMENDMENT. >> CAN WE MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC WHAT MISPRINTS ALREADY [01:00:01] SAID, THAT WE STILL HAVE A SECOND READING OF THIS ORDINANCE. NOTHING IS MOVING FORWARD AT THIS POINT. >> YES, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY. THAT IS CORRECT. THIS IS A FIRST READING, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. WE'VE ALSO HAD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING, AND HAVE ASKED AND RECEIVED SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WILL REQUIRE ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING. SO LATER THIS EVENING I WILL BE ANNOUNCING AND DISCUSSING WITH YOU HAVING ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION PRIOR TO THE SECOND READING ON THIS PAID PARKING MATTER. SO THERE ARE STILL DISCUSSIONS GOING ON, AND IT IS NOT ENACTED YET. >> AND WHEN WE THINK SECOND READING WILL BE? >> SECOND READING WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BE JANUARY 6TH, IF EVERYTHING MOVES WELL. AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. YES, JANUARY 6TH. WE DO HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT, SO I WOULD BE PROPOSING AN EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER MY ATTORNEY COMMENTS FOR THAT DECEMBER 16TH DAY, AND THEN JUST TO CLARIFY, WHICH I THINK YOU DID, COMMISSIONER TUTEN , THE RESIDENT PASSED ALLOWS TWO HOURS PER DAY FREE. I THINK THAT CLARIFICATION WAS MADE LATER IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS. IT IS NOT A COMPLETELY ALL DAY FREE PASS. THAT WILL COME UP IN THE NEXT ORDINANCE WE ARE ABOUT TO DISCUSS. >> ALSO FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, STAFF MAY KNOW THIS, WE DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SECOND READING , I APPRECIATE THAT. I'VE HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT, WONDERING HOW THE PROCESS WORKS. HOW LONG BETWEEN THE SECOND READING AND WHEN THE FIRST SIGN GOES IN THE GROUND FOR PAID PARKING? WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME? >> THE VENDOR HAS INDICATED THEY NEED ABOUT SIX WEEKS TO GET STAFF HERE, TO GET PRODUCTS ORDERED, THEY WILL HAVE TO RELOCATE . THE MANAGER SET UP THEIR OFFICE, AND AFTER THAT SIX WEEKS WE WOULD HAVE THAT 30 DAY EDUCATION WINDOW, WHERE WE ARE ACTIVE BUT WE ARE NOT ISSUING TICKETS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> SO JANUARY, FIRST OF JANUARY TWO -- >> MID FEBRUARY? >> YEAH, YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY FIRST OF MARCH. NOTHING MOVES THAT FAST. AND 30 DAYS, SO IT'S MID APRIL WE ARE REALLY GOING LIVE WITH THIS. SO IT'S NOT SEVEN MONTHS. I MEAN, AM I WRONG ON THAT? IS MY MATH WRONG? IF IT'S THE FIRST OF APRIL THIS THING GOES LIVE AND WE ARE MID AUGUST, IS THAT SEVEN MONTHS OR IS THAT CLOSER TO FOUR? REALLY, WE ARE LOOKING AT FOUR MONTHS OF AN EXPERIMENT, NOT SEVEN. >> I THINK IT'S GOING TO GO LIVE, THEY ARE JUST NOT TICKETING. SO THERE WILL BE PEOPLE BUYING THEIR PASSES, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE DOING THAT IN MARCH. >> I MEAN, I'M ANNOUNCING IT RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A 30 DAY NO ENFORCEMENT PERIOD, I KNOW I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING. I ALSO KNOW I'M NOT PAYING FOR ANY PASSES, EXTRA PASSES FOR MY FAMILY UNTIL I REALIZE WHETHER THIS IS PERMANENT OR NOT. I WOULD ADVISE EVERY COUNTY PERSON TO DON'T BUY A SINGLE PASS, BECAUSE WHY WOULD YOU BUY A PASS IF YOU WERE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE VOTE ANYWAYS? I MEAN, I WOULDN'T DO IT. I MEAN, I WENT TO A FINANCIALLY SPEAKING, IF I WAS GOING TO COME DOWN HERE I WOULD PAY A FEW EXTRA BUCKS INSTEAD OF PAYING THE $124. SO WE ARE LITERALLY LOOKING AT THE FIRST OF APRIL, TALKING ABOUT FOUR MONTHS UNTIL THAT HAPPENS. BEFORE YOU ARE ACTUALLY ENFORCING IT. THAT'S ALL, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. >> AND ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION, ANYBODY, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD CAN BUY, ACCORDING TO THIS FEE SCHEDULE, CAN BUY AN ANNUAL, AT THE VERY BOTTOM, ANNUAL NONRESIDENT PERMIT FOR $100 PLUS THE $24 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. OR YOU COULD BUY A MONTHLY PASS. SO, IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY, YOU REALLY HAVE FOUR OPTIONS. PARK FOR FREE FURTHER OUT AND WALKED TWO OR THREE BLOCKS. PAY BY THE HOUR, WHICH IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN TWO OR FOUR DOLLARS. BY A MONTHLY PASS, IF YOU ARE JUST HERE AS A TOURIST FOR SHORT-TERM, OR BY AN ANNUAL PASS. >> SO WE ARE ON ITEM 8.2. MASTER FEE SCHEDULE AMENDMENT. >> THIS IS FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-14, THIS IS AN UPDATE TO OUR FEE SCHEDULE. WE TYPICALLY UPDATE THIS OCTOBER 1ST, HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PAID PARKING PROGRAM, WE NEEDED TO UPDATE THIS. SO YOU GOT EXHIBIT A IN THERE, IT IS PULLED UP ON THE SCREEN. AS WE'VE IDENTIFIED BEFORE, THE HOURLY RATE, THE BASE RATE IS TWO DOLLARS AN HOUR. WE DO HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO INCREASE THAT, HOWEVER, THERE IS A CAP ON THAT. IF THERE IS AN INCREASE, IT WILL BE CAPPED AT 30 DAYS. WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTENTION OF DOING THAT, BUT WE [01:05:01] NEED TO INCLUDE THE ORDINANCE TO GIVE US LIKABILITY. THE ANNUAL RESIDENT DIGITAL PERMIT IS ZERO DOLLARS, TWO PER HOUSEHOLD. THE ANNUAL RESIDENT DIGITAL PERMIT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL BE ON THE TWO IS $24 PER YEAR. THE ANNUAL NONRESIDENT DIGITAL PERMIT IS $124. THE ANNUAL RESIDENT DIGITAL PERMIT , IF YOU LIVE IN THE ZONE, IS ZERO DOLLARS. THAT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PERMIT. YET, SO SORRY, THE SECTOR. IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL'S BEYOND THE FIRST TWO AND YOU LIVE IN THE SECTOR, IT IS $24 A YEAR. AS SOMEONE WANTS TO BUY A MONTHLY DIGITAL PERMIT, THIS IS A NONRESIDENT DIGITAL PERMIT, IT IS $60. WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FEE, AND THE APPLICATION FEE, AND THE PARKING FEE. SO THAT IS A SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES TO THE FEE SCHEDULE. MISPRINTS WILL DO THE FIRST READING, BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. CAMPBELL OR MS. PRINCE BEFORE THE MEETING? >> AND THE HIGHLIGHTED YELLOW AREAS, AGAIN, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRST AND FIRST READING. WE HAD A FIRST READING PREVIOUSLY, CONTINUED IT TO TONIGHT, SO THE YELLOW ARE THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE. WE PULLED SOME OF THIS INFORMATION OUT OF THE ACTUAL PAID PARKING ORDINANCE AND INTO THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE. THAT IS WHAT THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT IS FOR THE PUBLIC. ON THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE, IF THE PUBLIC CHOOSES TO GO ONLINE AND LOOK AT IT, THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT IN THERE IS ALSO SHOWING CHANGES WE MADE. WITH THAT, ORDINANCE 2025-14, AND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH , FLORIDA , AND ENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE 2025 MONDAY 09, BY MENDING THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FEE SCHEDULE TO PROVIDE FOR PAID PARKING FEES WITHIN THE PAID PARKING AREA IN FISCAL YEAR 2025-26, AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTIONS OF SCRIVENERS ERRORS, PROVIDING FOR SEPARABILITY AND AND ACCORDING DAY. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM STAFF ON ITEM 8.2? I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> I MOVE THAT WE IMPROVE ORDINANCE 2025-14, AMENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE. >> I MOTION, DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? >> IF WE COULD, MR. MAYOR, WHEN WE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR COMMISSIONER POYNTER , WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, HAVE YOU HANDED THAT THE CLERK YET? WE WILL HANDLE THAT TO THE CLERK, AND THE SAME STATEMENT THAT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD FOR THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE IS FOR THIS ONE, AND AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, HE WILL COME AGAIN, ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON THIS ITEM . WITH THE VERBAL, WE KNOW THAT HE HAS BEEN GIVEN CLEARANCE, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE WAITING FOR A WRITTEN INFORMAL OPINION. >> THANK YOU. >> DO WE HAVE OUR MOTION AND SECOND? NO ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES, 3-1. THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NINE, [9.1 CODE ENFORCEMENT AND APPEALS BOARD — One reappointment (Ralph Stines).] BOARD APPOINTMENTS, STARTING WITH 9.1, CODE ENFORCEMENT AND APPEALS BOARD. WE HAVE ONE REAPPOINTMENT, MR. RALPH STEIN . >> I WOULD MOVE THAT WE APPROVE RALPH STEIN'S TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND APPEALS BOARD. >> MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. [9.2 FERNANDINA BEACH HOUSING AUTHORITY - One reappointment (Kimberly D. Richo).] THAT MOTION PASSES, 5-0, AND BRINGS US TO 9.2, FERNANDINA BEACH BEACH HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD. ONE REAPPOINTMENT, MR. KIMBERLY RICO. >> I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT MS. KIMBERLY RICO TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. >> MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES, 5-0, AS [9.3 HISTORIC DISTRICT COUNCIL - One reappointment (Tammi Kosack).] WELL. 9.3 IS OUR HISTORIC STREET COUNCIL, ALSO ONE REAPPOINTMENT, MS. TAMMY KOZAK. >> I MOVED TO APPROVE. >> MOTION IN A SECOND, ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES, 5-0. ON TO [9.4 PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD — Four appointments; three applicants (Mark Bennett, Daphne Forehand, and Richard Doster).] 9.4 , PLANNING AND ADVISORY BOARD. THIS HAS FOUR APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE WITH THREE APPLICANTS, MR. MARK BENNETT, DAPHNE FORAN, AND RICHARD DOSSO. I CAN MAKE A MOTION FOR INDIVIDUALS OR YOU CAN LUMP ALL THREE IF YOU MOVED TO APPROVE THE MALL. >> I MOVED TO APPROVE ALL THREE. >> I WANT TO BRING THEM UP. >> I WILL TAKE A SECOND MOTION. >> I MOVED TO APPOINT MARK BENNETT TO THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD. >> SECOND. >> ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES, 4-1. I WILL TAKE A SECOND MOTION. [01:10:12] >> I MOVE THE APPOINT DAPHNE FOREHAND TO THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD. >> MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION PASSES, 5-0. I WILL TAKE ONE MORE MOTION FOR OUR THIRD APPLICANT >> I MOVED THE RICHARD DOSSO TO THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD. >> SECOND. >> ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. >> CAN I CONFIRM WITH STAFF , FOUR OPENINGS -- >> THERE IS ONE REMAINING. THAT MOTION PASSES FIVE AND A ZERO. THERE IS ONE APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE. >> THANK YOU, MR. STEVENSON. 9.5 [9.5 WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD — One reappointment (David E. Cook, Jr.)] IS THE WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD, ALSO ONE REAPPOINTMENT, ONE APPLICANT. I HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. THAT MOTION ALSO PASSES 5-0, WHICH TAKES US ON ITEM 10, CITY MANAGER REPORTS. >> CAN I, REAL QUICK, JUST THANK ALL OF OUR CITIZENS? WE HAVE 70 CITIZENS WHO SERVE ON SO MANY OF OUR BOARDS, AND NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY BE HERE TO SERVE THE DAY THERE BOARD IS ASSIGNED, THEY DO DOZENS AND DOZENS OF HOURS OF HOMEWORK FOR THE BOARD MEETINGS AND WORK CLOSELY WITH STAFF, AND WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE SO MANY WHO SO WILLINGLY SERVE AND GIVE [10. CITY MANAGER REPORTS] THEIR EXPERTISE AND TIME. THAT'S IT, THANKS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WHEN ITEM TONIGHT. TODAY IS MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH THE CITY. THE STAFF SURPRISED ME A COUPLE DAYS AGO WITH A CELEBRATION, AND WE GOT TO WATCH A VIDEO AND REVIEW ALL THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING. I THINK THAT GLENN'S PRESENTATION EARLIER SPOKE TO SOME OF THAT, AND THE NAMING OF OUR LEADERSHIP GROUP , ASCEND, WAS INTENTIONAL. WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE BUILDING A TEAM AND A COMMUNITY THAT IS ON THE RISE. AND WE THINK WE ARE DOING THAT THROUGH THE WAY THE CITY LOOKS, THE WAY THAT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN RULED OUT, AND THE WAY PEOPLE ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THE TYPE OF PROJECTS THAT WE ARE COMPLETING , THE MONEY THAT WE ARE FINDING TO SAVE IN GRANTS, AND THE WINDS IN THAT AREA. AND THE PEOPLE WE ARE BRINGING TO OUR TEAM, OUR STAFFING EFFORTS AND THE TYPE OF TEAM WE ARE BUILDING , I THINK ARE ALL REFLECTIVE OF SOMETHING THAT'S VERY EXCITING, AND I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF IT. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU FOR THE YEAR, MS. CAMPBELL. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. CAMPBELL? >> DO WE GET TO SEE THE VIDEO AT SOME POINT? >> I THINK MARY PLANS TO SHARE, [12. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS] YEAH. >> VERY GOOD. WILL MOVE ALONG TO ITEM 11, CITY CLERK REPORTS. NO REPORTS? ITEM 12, MADAME ATTORNEY. >> A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING. THE RAINIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS LLC VERSUS CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH CASE NUMBER 25 CA 0060, AND THERE'S ALSO A MIDDLE DISTRICT CASE THE SAME PARTY, RAINIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS IN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, CASE TWO THROUGH FIVE CB -2343, ON THAT MATTER THE PLAINTIFF ON THE DECISION OF THE BOARD FOR BERT HARRIS NOTICE THAT WE RECEIVED THE PROTEST, AMENDED ITS COMPLAINT TO ADD THE BERT HARRIS COMPLAINT AS A NEW ACCOUNT, AND WE SEEK UNDER FLORIDA STATUTES 286.061 EIGHT , AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET GUIDANCE ON THE LAWSUITS AND WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE THAT, IF IT IS CONVENIENT, FOR DECEMBER 16TH AT 5:00 P.M. . IF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE AVAILABLE, THAT WOULD BE THE COMMISSIONERS , THE CITY MANAGER, MYSELF, AND A COURT REPORTER. >> IS THERE ANY CONFLICT ON THE COMMISSION FOR 5:00 P.M. ON THE 16TH? >> THAT'S TUESDAY? >> THAT'S THE TUESDAY OF YOUR COMMISSION MEETING, DECEMBER 16TH IS OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, AND I WOULD BE AT 5:00 P.M.. >> WORKS FOR ME. [01:15:02] >> OKAY. SO THEN THE SECOND ITEM WE HAVE, WE DID HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION EARLIER TODAY, AND AS A RESULT, WE NEED ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON THE OTHER LAWSUIT, WHICH IS THE PAID PARKING VERSUS CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH BEACH . LET ME FIND THE CASE NUMBER FOR YOU. THAT IS 25 CA 374, IN LIGHT OF SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WE NEED TO DISCUSS AND GET SOME DIRECTION ON THE LAWSUIT . I WAS GOING TO PROPOSE A 4:00 EXECUTIVE SESSION ON DECEMBER 16TH, HOWEVER, WITH AN ADOPTION ON JANUARY 6TH, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT DECEMBER 9TH, WHICH IS ALSO A TUESDAY , AT 5:00 P.M. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS PLEASURE IS. >> I HAVE A CONFLICT ON THE NINTH . >> AND THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, IS THERE ANY AVAILABILITY ON THAT DAY? AROUND 5:00 ? JUST TO GIVE MORE TIME . >> I'M GOOD WITH THE 11TH. >> I'M GOOD WITH THE 11TH. >> I HAVE NO IDEA. I'M SITTING IT'S DURING THIS AT THE CITY MANAGER, WE CAN DO 4:00, 5:00, EARLIER IN THE DAY. >>:00 P.M.? >> I HAVE NO IDEA, HAVE KIDS IN MY CALENDAR. >> DECEMBER 11TH? >> WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IS THAT? >> THURSDAY. >> IT IS A THURSDAY. I'M SITTING IN HERE. >> DON'T TURN IT OFF, JOYCE. >> MAKES ME NERVOUS THAT SOME ALARM WILL GO OFF. >> THE DICKENS PARADE . >> I'M GOOD. >> THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE? BECAUSE I HAVE THAT ON SATURDAY. >> YEAH, IT'S THE LANTERN PARADE. >> IT'S AT 5:00 LEXI ON THE 11TH? >> WE SEE HOW THAT GOES. WE COULD DO 4:00, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE CITY MANAGER. >> I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND A DAY ON THE 16TH, WITH THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT IS REQUIRED IN ALL THOSE THINGS . AGAIN, WE ARE DOING THIS ON THE FLY. WE KNOW WE CAN DO TUESDAY, MONDAY IS PROBABLY A LITTLE TOO SOON. BUT MONDAY THE EIGHTH AT 5:00 P.M. IS ANOTHER OPTION. >> NOT FOR ME. >> SO, WOULD YOU HAVE ACTUAL DATA FOR US BY THEN? >> I THINK SO. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND THAT OUT. >> I CAN'T DO THE EIGHTH. >> OKAY. >> I CAN DO THE 11TH. >> WE ARE JUST WORRIED ABOUT THE PARADE. >> IF I CAN FIND A PLACE TO PARK. >> YEAH, WE NEED ARCING. THE 15TH WOULD BE ONE DAY SOONER, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD HELP. >> I CAN'T DO THE 15TH . >> OKAY. SO IT'S EITHER THE 11TH AT 5:00 P.M., -- >> I VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE 11TH. WHAT WE HAVE? >> THAT'S FINE WITH ME. >> I GOT THE 11TH AT 5:00. >> PERFECT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR [13. MAYOR/COMMISSIONER COMMENTS] MADAME ATTORNEY? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO MAREN COMMISSIONER COMMENTS. START WITH COMMISSIONER POYNTER. >> AT 5:00? SORRY. >> YEAH, 5:00. LET'S SEE. WE HAD ABOUT 11 PEOPLE AT MY TOWNHALL MEETING LAST TUESDAY, WHICH WAS GREAT. CONSIDERING IT WAS JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING, WE HAD A NICE CONVERSATION . I THINK WE GOT A FEW THINGS ACCOMPLISHED. AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK OUR CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE EFFORT THAT SHE PUT IN ON MY BEHALF TO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS , SHE DID A GREAT JOB, WAS INCREDIBLY THOROUGH. AND BECAUSE OF THAT THOROUGHNESS, I WAS ABLE TO GET AN ANSWER BACK PRETTY DARN QUICK. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. LET'S SEE. I'M JUST REALLY HAPPY, WE GOT A CITY MANAGER NAMED SARAH. >> COMMISSIONER MINSHEW? >> I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A NICE, ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. SO, THIS WEEK I AM , THURSDAY AND FRIDAY I WILL BE IN ORLANDO AT A LEAGUE OF CITIES LEGISLATIVE [01:20:02] POLICY MEETING, WHERE WE WILL BE DISCUSSING A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE, INCLUDING THE PROPOSALS ON PROPERTY TAX REDUCTIONS , WHICH COULD IMPACT THE CITY TO THE TUNE OF THREE $-4 MILLION A YEAR. SO, IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING, THAT I THINK WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN AND WORK IN. AND THAT'S IT, I THINK. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> YEAH, I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A NICE THANKSGIVING. MINE WAS MOSTLY GREAT. HAD AN INCIDENT WITH A CAT. I ALSO WILL BE IN ORLANDO THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THE COMMITTEE I SERVE ON HIS UTILITIES, WE WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSING AND POTENTIAL TERRIBLE IMPACT TO THE CITY THAT TALLAHASSEE MIGHT BRING, THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER ALLOW US TO CHARGE A SURCHARGE TO NONRESIDENTS WHO WE SERVE SEWER AND WATER TO. SO, PARTICULARLY ON A BARRIER ISLAND, IS NOT SO EASY FOR THE COUNTY RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND TO GET SEWER AND WATER INLETS THEY GET IT FROM US. AND THE STATE AT PRESENT ALLOWS US TO CHARGE THEM A 25% SURCHARGE . IF THE STATE DOES NOT ALLOW US TO DO THAT ANYMORE, THEN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS TO PAY THAT ADDITIONAL COST TO SERVE THEM. SO ALL OF OUR UTILITY BILLS WELL, I THINK, I HAD A LONG MEETING WITH ANDRE, OUR UTILITY BILLS WOULD GO UP SOMETHING LIKE THREE DOLLARS A MONTH, MINIMUM, IF WE DO THAT. WHICH YOU, NOT GREAT. SPEAKING OF PARADES, THE HUMANE SOCIETY HAS THERE PARADE OF PAUSE ON SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. . I WILL BE A JUDGE IN IT . THAT WILL BE FUN. REGISTRATION IS ONLINE NOW, AND YOU CHECK IN AT THE PARKING LOT ON FOURTH AND ASH. THE LAST THING IS FOR YOU ALL, OUR VISION STRATEGY PLANNING MEETING IS CURRENTLY SET FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 29TH. LAST YEAR WHEN WE MET, WE ONLY MET A HALF DAY. BUT IN PREVIOUS YEARS THEY MET A FULL DAY. ALL IN FAVOR OF A FULL DAY? BECAUSE WE NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TALK. AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS , MULL THAT OVER, I WILL GIVE YOU TIME. BACK IN TWO WEEKS. AND CAN WE ALSO THEN HAVE LUNCH? AT THE GOLF COURSE, WHICH WOULD ENABLE US TO HAVE SIDEBAR CONVERSATIONS? AND HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT US KICKING AND MONEY TO HELP PAY FOR THE LUNCH, SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE BUDGET? MULL THAT OVER. >> DID YOU SAY 29TH? >> JANUARY 29TH. >> TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 29, HAS THAT EMAIL BEEN SENT? >> I BELIEVE SO. >> I'M UNAVAILABLE. >> OKAY, DIFFERENT DAY. >> OKAY, DIFFERENT DAY, DIFFERENT TIME . ALL RIGHT. >> BUT I WOULD LIKE A FULL DAY. I'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. THAT'S IT. >> VICE MAYOR? >> NOTHING, THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYBE THREE QUARTERS OF THE DAY. MAYBE ADD TWO HOURS TO IT. >> WANTING A LOT OF DRAW TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS THAT I'M INTERESTED IN BECAUSE OF THE TIME CRUNCH WE SAW TODAY, POTENTIALLY TO REMOVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE WORKSHOPS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THAT TIME IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS COMMISSION TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS IN THE SUNSHINE , BEFORE THEY GET TO THE AGENDA. SO, PUBLIC COMMENT IS A LITTLE BIT INAPPROPRIATE DURING THAT TIME, IF IT'S GOING TO CHOKE DOWN THE ONE THE LOWER THAT WE HAVE TO GET WORK DONE. >> WASN'T THAT DONE -- >> BECAUSE IT WAS MOVED TO THE BACK. >> AND BECAUSE IT WAS IN LIEU OF TOWNHALL MEETINGS. >> I AGREE. >> IF THERE NEEDS TO BE A MOTION TO CHANGE THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THIS TIME. >> DOES IT NEED A MOTION? >> OBVIOUSLY, LIKE HALF THE TIME WE RUN OUT AND PEOPLE ARE HELD TO THE START OF THE MEETING ITEMS, SO WE STILL COULD HEAR PEOPLE . >> EVERYTHING WOULD BE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE AGENDA, OTHERWISE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PREVIOUS WORKSHOP WITH MLK THERE WERE EIGHT OR NINE SPEAKER REQUEST, THAT'S THE WHOLE WORKSHOP. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS FIRST. THANK YOU. ON A HEAVIER NOTE, I WANT TO EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO DEPUTY UTILITY DIRECTOR JUAN BROWN AT THE PASSING OF HIS FATHER. HIS NAME WAS CLARENCE BROWN, AND MR. BROWN WAS A PECK HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. A MARY HOLMES COLLEGE GRADUATE, AND AN ARMY MILITARY POLICEMAN, AS WELL IS A RETIRED PAPER MILL EMPLOYEE. HIS LOVINGKINDNESS AND DEVOTION WILL BE MISSED BY THE ENTIRE BROWN FAMILY AND OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE THERE, I WAS HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE TREE LIGHTING [01:25:02] CEREMONY. IT WAS GREAT TO START OUR HOLIDAYS. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD SPIRIT, AND DID NOT GET RAINED ON LIKE LAST YEAR, SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL. THE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS HOSTING TRIVIA NIGHT, DECEMBER 16TH AT 5:30 AT THE GOLF COURSE. ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND. LASTLY, SHOP WITH COPS IS GOING TO BE AT WALMART ON DECEMBER 10TH, FROM 5:00 TO 7:00 P.M. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.