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NOVEMBER 25TH, MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING. WE'LL HAVE ROLE CALL PLEASE.
>> KEVIN MCCARTHY >> HERE >> SCOTT STEWART
>> HERE >> JOE BLANCHARD >> HERE
>> AL MILLS >> HERE >> PAUL LORE
>> HERE >> PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PLEASE.
ALLE ALLEGIANCE]. >> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU.
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EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING. IF WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ANYONE WANT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? EVERYONE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK IT OVER?>> BOARD MEMBER: MAKE A MOTION WE ACCEPT THEM. >> BOARD MEMBER: I'LL SECOND.
>> CHAIRMAN: ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. WE ACCEPT THE MINUTES. WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO
[Item 4]
SPEAK TO THE BOARD TONIGHT. MR. LEN WILLIAMS. >> PUBLIC SPEAKER: I AM LEN WILLIAMS. 597 EGANS CREEK LANE. I THINK WHAT I AM GOING TO DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT IS THE PARKING SITUATION WHICH I SUSPECT WHAT I HAVE TO SAY MAY NOT BE TO THE LIKING OF THIS GROUP. NO ONE SHOULD THINK THAT I'M AGAINST MARINES IN ANY WAY. I'VE BEEN IN MARINE AS FOR THE 70 PLUS YEARS I'VE BEEN SAILING BOATS AROUND THE WORLD. I LIVE IN A MARINA HERE ON THE WEST COAST. BUT THE SITUATION IS REALLY COMING DOWN TO KIND OF THREE THINGS. THE FIRST IS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS HAD IT IN ITS MIND SINCE FOREVER, WHICH PROBABLY IS TEN YEARS THAT I CAN REMEMBER, THAT IN REDOING A WATERFRONT PARK THERE WILL BE NO NET LOSS IN PARKING. AND THE DRAWINGS THAT I'VE SEEN SHOW THAT TO BE TRUE. IN ADDITION THERE IS A DROP OFF SPOT FOR PEOPLE AND, FURTHER, IF WE EVER WOULD TO GET THAT POOR OLD BOAT RAMP OUT OF THE WAY, THAT WOULD FREE UP ANOTHER 32 PLACES FOR PARKING. SECOND IS THAT THERE IS TALK ABOUT A WORKING WATERFRONT. WHAT IS IS IT? WELL THIS THE OLD DAYS WHEN WE USE TO GET THINGS GOING IN THE DISCUSSIONS AND THE SHIRRITS WE HAD WORKING WATERFRONT ALWAYS INCLUDED SHRIMP BOATS. BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE IN THE NORTHEAST AT LEAST A WORKING WATERFRONT INCLUDE AS MARINA. BECAUSE IT IS A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE. AS SUC SUCH, BY DEFINITION, THIS IS A WORKING WATERFRONT WITH THE BOATS THAT COME THERE AND PAY. IN THE NORTHEAST I KNOW AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT YACHT CLUBS THAT HAVE MARINAS OUT FRONT WHERE THEY OWN THE WHOLE THING AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMMERCIALS. SO THERE IS A DIFFERENCE AND MARINA IS A WORKING WATERFRONT. THE OTHER THING IS THAT I SENSE IN LISTENING TO MCCARTHY AND OTHERS THERE IS A KIND OF ANGST. IT'S NOT AN ANGER EXACTLY, BUT AN INSISTENCE THAT THE PARKING THAT WE PROVIDE IS NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE BUSINESS THAT GOES ON THERE. BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO WHAT THE MARINA MAKES MONEY AT, FIRST, IT'S BOATS. SECOND IS FUEL. THIRD IS LONG TERM MORAGE. AND FOURTH IS THE COMMERCIAL EH ENDEAVOR. SO IT'S IMPORTANT. BUT WHEN YOU THINK IN TOTAL WHICH THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, THEY WILL THINK WHAT CAN WE DO TO INCREASE THE TRAN GENT BUSINESS. THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS AND THAT IS HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK ABOUT IT. THE THIRD IS IS THERE'S -- I CAN'T TELL PEOPLE SAY DIFFERENT THINGS -- THERE'S 6-$10 MILLION BEING SPENT TO FIX THAT MARINA PLUS OLD DEBT AND MORE IF WE NEVER GET PAID BY FEMA FEMA. BUT THERE'S AT LEAST 6 MAYBE $7 MILLION WHICH THE TAXPAYERS ARE PICKING UP FOR THE BILL FOR SO THE COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES CAN HAVE THEIR PLACE TO PUT THEIR BOAT. IF YOU WANT TO PUT UP THE $6 MILLION, I'M SURE THE CITY IS WILLING TO TALK. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IT'S -- IT GALS A LITTLE BIT TO HEAR PEOPLE TALK
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ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THERE CHARTER FISHING BUSINESS IS, THEIR AMELIA CRUISE BUSINESS IS -- WHICH IS IMPORTANT, BUT IN LIGHT OF THE SIX OR SEVEN MILLION BUCKS THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE PUTTING UP, IT KIND OF PALES IN COMPARISON. TO EDITORIALIZE ON THIS IS THAT RATHER THAN BE TOO INSIST IPODATE ON THE COMMISSIONERS THAT THEY GIVE UP ON PARK PLANS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PARKING -- AND IT'S WORTH SAYING THAT WHAT WE'RE ARGUING OVER IS 8 OR 10 PLACES ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. AND WHETHER THEY GET SAVED OR WHETHER A PARK GETS IN THERE OR NOT, TEN PLACES REALLY DOESN'T MATTER SO MUCH. BECAUSE IN LISTENING TO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE WATERFRONT, TEN EXTRA PLACES TO PARK REALLY DOESN'T SOLVE A PROBLEM AT ALL.ALL THE MA REASONS I'VE BEEN IN, PARKING IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM. EITHER IT'S EMPTY OR OVERFLOWING. AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS HERE. SO, TO GET TO -- TOO EXOR SIZED ABOUT 8 OR 10 PARKING PLACES SEEMS NOT WORT WORTHWHILE. WHAT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE GET GOING WITH THE CITY AND THE DRIVERS DOWN THERE AND OTHERS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN BE TRANSPORTED FROM THE PARKING LOTS THAT WILL GO OUT INTO SIMMONS PLACE AND MAYBE FROM THE PARKING LOT AT BROOM STREET OR MAYBE CENTRAL PARK. THERE WILL BE PARKING FOR PEOPLE TO GET RIDES DOWNTOWN. AND MAYBE THAT WOULD BE MORE -- IT WOULD GO DOWN BETTER WITH THE CITY AND THEY WOULD BE MORE ANXIOUS TO HELP, ONE WOULD THINK, IF YOU GUYS WERE PART OF A SOLUTION RATHER THAN THIS TIRED INSISTENCE THAT A PARK IS
RUINING US AND RUINING OUR BUSINESS. >> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU. I'VE ALWAYS LIKED THE IDEA OF HAVING PARKS. I MEAN, I'M PRETTY GREEN. I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I ALSO WAS THE MARINA DIRECTOR. SO I GUESS I SEE IT FROM A COUPLE PERSPECTIVES. I'M ENCOURAGED TO HEAR THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THE PARKING STAYS THE SAME. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD HOPE. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE, THE BOARD, HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NOTHING OF ANY INFORMATION. SO WE GET TO HEAR IT THROUGH THE MEDIA, AND WE GET TO HEAR IT THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH. AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY LISTEN WE GOT TO LOOK AT HOW IS THIS AFFECTING THE MARINA. WE ARE THE MARINE ADVISORY BOARD. I THINK THE CITY HAS BEEN REMISS ON INVOLVING US IN THIS. IF IT IS INDEED SOMETHING THAT WORKS WELL WITH THE MARINA, OUR TASK, THEN I WOULD THINK THE BOARD WOULD BE PROBABLY PRETTY REASONABLE ABOUT THAT. IT JUST, FROM THE GET-GO, WAS CONCERNING. ANOTHER THING THAT CAME UP, AND WE'VE REALLY -- WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT TRYING TO DELINEATE WHAT IS MARINA LAND AND WHAT IS GENERAL FUND RESPONSIBLE LANDS. THE LAST MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, THE MARINA KIND OF PAID FOR SOME OF THIS STUFF IN THE UP LANDS. NO IT'S GOING TO BE PARK LAPPED. MAYBE WHEN WE GET THE COMMISSION TO DELINEATE SO WE HAVE CLARIFICATION, OUR ROLE STAYS WITH THE MARINA AND THE CITY WANTS TO DO A WATERFRONT PARK AND THAT'S FINE BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION. I WILL SAY THAT, AND THIS IS A BIT OF A TANGENT, BUT IF THE MARINA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PARKING, AND WE HAVE A PARK AND IT HAS A FINANCIAL HOOK ON IT AND NOBODY IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ENTERPRISE FUND BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THINGS NOW IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC. I THINK THE CITY IS UPSIDE DOWN. PREMIUM PARKING SPACE GOING FOR FREE ON THE BACKS OF THE TAXPAYER ONLY AS OPPOSED TO PAID PARKING. AND I WILL BEAT THAT HORSE FOREVER. AS LONG AS WE GET THAT CLARIFIED THAT THE MARINA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PARKING, THERE IS TRULY GOING TO BE ADEQUATE PARKING, AS WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED IT, AND THERE IS COMMUNICATION FROM THE REST OF THE CITY TO THE MARINE ADVISORY BOARD SO WE HAVE AN INKLING AND FACTS INSTEAD OF HEARING IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE I THINK THE BOARD WILL TAKE THE COMMENTS. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I WILL DEFEND THIS
BOARD'S REACTION BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM. >> BOARD MEMBER: THIS MARINA HAS BEEN DOWN FOR A YEAR AND PARKING WITHOUT THAT MARINA ANOTHER YEAR. BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO BOATS FOR A YEAR IN THAT MARINA. IT'S BEEN TORN UP FOR THREE YEARS. BUT THE MARINA HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN OFFICIALLY FOR A YEAR. AND OVER THE PAST YEAR, YOU CANNOT FIND A PARKING SPOT DOWN THERE DURING PRIME SEASON OR OFF-SEASON. AND NOW YOU ARE FIXING TO GET THE MARINA UP AND RUNNING WITH MORE ACCESSIBLE SLIPS IN THAT AREA. IT'S NOT HURTING JUST THE MARINA. IT'S
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HURTING EVERY BUSINESS DOWNTOWN. IF YOU TAKE THOSE PARKING SPOTS AWAY, YOU ARE NOT HURTING JUST THE MARINA. YOU ARE HURTING EVERYBODY WITHIN EIGHT BLOCKS. ALSO YOU ALREADY HAVE A PARK THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A SIGN ON IT, DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ANYTHING DONE TO IT. YOU ONLY HAVE FOUR SEATS IN THERE. LET'S WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE WE GO SPENDING A BUNCH OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE. IF YOU WANT TO BUY STEVE SIMMONS PROPERTY WHY DOESN'T THE CITY TURN IT INTO A PARKING PARK. MORE PARKING LOTS. EXTEND PARKING LOT A NORTH. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE BUILDING, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO THE CITY COMMISSIONERS LET'S PUT PARKINGSPOTS THERE. LET'S EXTEND A WHOLE MARINA PARK FOR PARKING >> THAT IS THE PLAN.
>> BOARD MEMBER: THE PLANS I SAW ARE NOT THAT. THE PLANS THAT I SAW WERE FROM THE OLD DESIGN OF
THE OLD MARINA. NOT THE DESIGN OF THE NEW MOO MARINA. >> BOARD MEMBER: I THINK IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO CONCEPT OF WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO CALL A PARK. WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE IS A PARK.
I THINK THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS ARE NOT LOOKING FOR SOME BIG GRANDIOSE THING WITH A BUNCH OF FOUNT.SAND OTHER STUFF LIKE WAS PLANNED AT ONE TIME. I THINK THE AVERAGE CITIZEN WANTS TO SEE C & D DEVELOPED ON THE GREEN SPACE. A & B TO STAY LIKE IT IS WITH THE GREEN SPACE THERE.
SIMMONS PROPERTY PUT SOME GRASS ON THE END DOWN THERE AND PUT THE BOARD WALK GOING ON DOWN ALONG THE VENTURA BUILDING THE SAME PLACE. JUST PUT SOME GRASS AND CALL IT A PARK. AND PUT SOME PARKING ON THE FRONT SIDE WHEREVER FRONT STREET WILL ALLOW YOU. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE AVERAGE CITIZEN WANTS TO SEE. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SPOTS. I'VE HEARD ALL KIND OF NUMBERS ON HOW MANY SPOTS ARE GOING TO BE LEAVING AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING FROM THE CONSULTANTS. I THINK THEY GOT PUSHED OUT TO JANUARY. EH TO BRING THEIR PLAN BACK. I AM ASSUMING THEY'LL SAY THIS IS HOW MANY SPOTS ARE GOING TO. BUT THEIR PLAN ARE GOING TO BE LEAVING WHAT? BUT A GOOD WAY TO FIND OUT THE IMPACT IS ALL OF THE SPOTS YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE NOW, GO BACK AND PUT CONES ON THEM. AND DON'T LET ANYBODY PARK THERE. AND SEE HOW MUCH COMPLAINING YOU GET. IF YOU DON'T GET ANY COMPLAINTS, NO PROBLEM.
>> BOARD MEMBER: I'VE GOT A -- ARE YOU FINISHED? >> BOARD MEMBER: I'M GOOD.
>> BOARD MEMBER: I WAS AT THE LAST COMMISSIONERS MEETING AND THEY WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET AND THERE WERE LIKE $800,000 LEFT AFTER ALL THE EXPENDITURES. I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH THIS PARK IS GOING TO COST. AND IF THERE'S NO MONEY TO BUILD THIS PARK OR CONSTRUCT THIS PARK, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? YOU KNOW. LEN YOU SAID YOURSELF WE MIGHT BE DEAD IN THE -- BY THE TIME THIS THING IS FINISHED. OR IF THEY HAVE MONEY TO BUILD THIS PARK. WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON THIS PARK, IF IT IS APPROVED. AND HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST IS MY QUESTION.
>> I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD POINTS AND THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY AROUND TO DO IT. BUT ALSO THE FIVE COMMISSIONS AT THE PLANNING SESSION LAST JANUARY THE NUMBER ONE THING ON THEIR LIST WAS A RIVERFRONT PARK. AND SCOTT YOU TALK ABOUT TAKING AWAY PLACES. THE NET OF IT IS IT INCLUDES THE SIMMONS PROPERTY AND IT INCLUDES FROM THERE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PARKING THAT EXISTS NOW AT LOT C AND D. AND THERE IS NO NET LOSS OF PARKING. THAT'S BEEN THE COMMISSION'S RULE FROM THE GET-GO. AND YET I HEAR YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY PARKING SPOTS THAT'S GOING TO BE HOW IT IS. IT ISN'T. AND ANOTHER THING IS THOSE PARKING LOTS DO FILL UP RIGHT NOW WITH AN EMPTY MARINA. WHICH MEANS IT'S OVERFLOW PARKING FROM PROBABLY WORKERS FROM [INAUDIBLE], WORKERS FROM DOWNTOWN. AND MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE A CONTROL. BUT THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS YOU GUYS CAN BE SO HELPFUL WITH TO THE CITY AND THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
AS OPPOSED TELLING THE COMMISSION WHICH THEY CAN'T DO. WHICH THEY DON'T OFTEN TAKE THAT
ADVICE. >> BOARD MEMBER: PLEASE DON'T GET ME AS ANTI-PARK. I'M ALL ABOUT HAVING A PARK THERE. IT'S JUST WHAT'S THE CONCEPT OF A PARK. I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO. UNTIL WE SEE THE CONSULTANT'S CONCEPT ON PAPER, THEN WE'LL HAVE A BETTER FEEL
FOR IT >> YOUR ISSUES ARE BASICALLY WITH THE NEW CONFIGURATION OF THE MARINA. A AND B ARE IMPORTANT. C AND D ARE NOT. EXCEPT FOR TRAILERED BOATS THAT ARE USING THAT RAMP. SO, IF WE CAN MOVE, YOU KNOW, KEEP A AND B AND GET MORE PARKING FURTHER TO
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THE NORTH SO WE CAN GET OUT TO THOSE RAMPS, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL BE IN GOOD SHAPE. THE PROBLEM ALSO IS THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN REQUIREMENT OF NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES THAT WE WERE SUPPOSE TO HAVE FOR OUR MARINA. WHO IS GOING TO ENFORCE WHO IS PARKING IN THOSE SPOTS? IS SOMEBODY GOING TO RUN AROUND AND FIND OUT IF THESE ARE MARINA PEOPLE OR IF THEY'RE SOMEBODY THAT'S WORKING AT BRETT'S? I DON'T KNOW. THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES HERE THAT ARE GOING TO CAUSE GRIEF TO EVERYBODY. BUT I'M WITH MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE. IF A PARK NEEDS TO BE BUILT AND THEY WANT TO BUILD IT WHERE C AND D ARE AND WE MAINTAIN ENOUGH PARKING PLACES FOR THE MARINA TO WORK AND FOR PEOPLE TO LOAD AND UNLOAD ICE, FISHING GEAR, BE ABLE TO GET TO THE BOATS WITH HANDICAPPED CONDITIONS, THEN I DON'T SEE A BIG PROBLEM BETWEEN THE CITY'S PLANS AND OURREQUIREMENTS TO SUPPORT THE MARINA. >> BOARD MEMBER: I AGREE WITH YOU, LEN. WE WANT TO BE COOPERATING WITH THE CITY. WE WANT TO COOPERATE WITH THE WATERFRONT'S ADVISORY GROUP AND RECREATION ADVISORY GROUP. WE DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO BE INVITED TO PART OF THE PROCESS. REALLY, I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. YOU ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE CONCERN WE HAVE ALREADY BEING ANSWERED. GREAT. WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT. IT DOES NEED TO COME TO THIS BOARD. I MEAN, LET'S FACE IT, DO WE HAVE A ROLE HERE FOR THE COMMISSION? THEN PLEASE GIVE US THE COURTESY OF LETTING US KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TORPEDOINGING ABOUT SO THAT WE DON'T SOUND LIKE A BUNCH OF ANGRY HORNETS. WE MIGHT ACTUALLY GO OKAY. JUST GIVE US
A CHANCE. SO, THAT'S THE MESSAGE OUT THERE FOR WHOEVER. >> BOARD MEMBER: I BELIEVE WE MIGHT WANT TO JUST BE PATIENT WITH THIS AND SEE HOW THE MARINA DOES A YEAR FROM NOW. WHEN IT'S OPEN FOR SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS AND SEE WHAT THE IMPACT IS TO HAVING A FULL SERVICE MARINA FINALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. LITERALLY IN DECADES THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE SLIPS THAN WE'VE EVER HAD. SO, IF WE GAVE IT SOME TIME, SEE HOW THINGS -- SEE HOW THE COOKIE CRUMBLES. SEE WHAT THE DEMANDS ARE FOR THE WATERFRONT AT THAT POINT WHEN WE DO HAVE A FULLY FUNCTIONING MARINA, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A BETTER TIME TO MAKE THIS DECISION ON PARKING AND PARKS. I WILL SHARE WITH YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION HOWEVER. AS YOU MAY KNOW I'VE TRIED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO SOME DAY GET ACCESS FROM FERNANDINA TO CUMBERLAND ISLAND, GEORGIA. AND I'VE WORKED AT THAT VERY HARD.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. BUT IT COULD HAPPEN. AND THERE ARE POWERS MOVING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT ARE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THAT WORK. IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT S ST. MARY'S, GEORGIA SEES TODAY WILL ALSO HAPPEN HERE. AND THE NUMBERS WOULD INCREASE -- THE VISITATION NUMBERS ON CUMBERLAND ISLAND COULD INCREASE FOR THAT. NOTHING'S HAPPENED YET. BUT THERE ARE THINGS MOVING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN. ST. MARYS DOES 50,000 VISITORS A YEAR THAT ACCESS CUMBERLAND ISLAND THROUGH THE TOWN OF ST. MARYS. WE COULD HAVE THAT SAME THING HAPPEN HERE. THAT COULD CHANGE THE COMPLEXION OF THE WATERFRONT.
>> BOARD MEMBER: THAT WOULD BE NEAT AND GREAT. BUT ARGUING WHAT YOU ARE ARGUING OVER IS THE DIFFERENCE OF TEN PARKING PLACES. AND WHAT WE'VE GOT IS A PARKING PROBLEM THAT GOES WAY BEYOND THAT. AND THAT SORT OF THING WOULD BE A HELPFUL SORT OF THING TO START MAKING IT A LONG-TERM PLAN. I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT. THERE'S NOTHING GOING TO HAPPEN FOR A YEAR. BUT IF WE HAVE KIND OF AN AGREEMENT OR WAY THAT YOU SEE A PATH FORWARD LOOKING UP FIVE, SIX YEARS, THAT
WOULD BE A GOOD THING. >> CHAIRMAN: ANYONE ELSE? >> BOARD MEMBER: I JUST WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS. THE BIG THING I'D LIKE TO WEIGH IN ON IS FOR ME AS A BOARD MEMBER, UNLESS I MISSED SOMETHING IN THE EMAIL OR ANYTHING, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING PRESENTED TOWARDS ME THAT I CAN PHYSICALLY LOOK AT. SO, WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD REALLY KIND OF DOUBLE-EDGED ON YOU ARE MAKING STATEMENTS BUT WE'RE MAKING STATEMENTS ON REALLY JUST SPECULATION. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S ANXIETY. BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION THERE. THAT'S PART ONE. PART TWO IS, AND I'M GOING TO GO ON MY EXPERIENCE FROM WHEN I WAS A PROJECT MANAGER FOR AEROSPACE REDESIGN. IF WE TOOK A SQUARE OF AIRSPACE AND WANTED TO RE-DESIGN IT, WHOEVER IS AFFECTED AS A STAKEHOLDER, THAT STAKEHOLDER WAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE FOR A DISCUSSION. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING PRESENTED IN SUCH A FASHION. YOU SHOULD HAVE THE MARINA. YOU SHOULD HAVE A PUBLIC REPRESENTATION. YOU SHOULD HAVE THE BUSINESSES.
WHATEVER THAT CHUNK IS GOING TO AFFECT, THOSE STAKEHOLDERS -- IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A LARGE
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GROUP, BUT IT AT LEAST NEEDS TO BE A STAKEHOLDER FROM EVERY GROUP INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION. AND THAT PIECE HASN'T TAKEN YET. AND, LEN, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, BECAUSE TO ME THESE ARE SOMETIMES THE THINGS THAT GET CONFUSING WHEN THROWN OUT THERE. WHEN YOU SAYING THE TRAILER SPACE WOULD BE TAKEN FROM PARKING? THAT JUST RAISED ALITTLE -- >> PUBLIC SPEAKER: THEY HAVE TO CLOSE THE BOAT RAMP AND THERE HAS BEEN TALK OVER THE YEARS THAT AS TRAILER AND BOATS NOW WEIGH A WHOLE LOT AND HAVE BIG MOTORS ON THEM AND BIG FUEL AND THEY WEIGH, YOU KNOW, 25,000 POUNDS IS ONE OF THEM GOING TO FALL THROUGH THE BOAT RAMP. THE OTHER THING IS THEY PULL THESE LONG TERM TRAILERS OUT, BANGS ON THE GRADE THERE AND THAT'S NOT SO GOOD. SO, MAYBE WE HAVE TO DO SOME FIXING TO THAT. BUT THE OTHER THING IS, AS TIME'S DEVELOPING AND BOATS ARE DEVELOPING, THAT BOAT RAMP MAY NOT BE THE THING. IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HELPS THE MARINA FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CASH.
AND IF THAT WERE TO GO AWAY, THEN THE TRAILERED SPOTS, THE 11 TRAILER SPOTS WHICH I THINK ARE 60 FEET LONG, 45 FEET LONG, I DON'T REMEMBER;, THEN YOU HAVE THE OTHER 11 OF THOSE I THINK RIGHT NOW. BUT IF YOU THEN DIVIDED THAT UP SO YOU HAD THREE ROWS OF PARKING RATHER THAN ONE YOU GET AN EXTRA 32 SPACES. THAT DOES COUNT THE 11 FIGURING THOSE ARE TRAILER SPOTS BUT EACH ONE OF THOSE DOES INCLUDE A CAR OR PICKUP TRUCK. I GUESS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY IS THE NET GAIN
WOULD BE 22 SPACES THERE. >> BOARD MEMBER: ANOTHER PIECE JUST FOR THE BOARD BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT BECAUSE THAT REALLY SENDS OUT A RED FLAG FOR ME, FOR PUBLIC ACCESS. I THINK IN A STATE THAT HAS SEEN A DIMINISHING AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE INNER-COASTAL WATERWAY, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN ACADEMICALLY SAID THEY'RE
DISAPPEARING -- CAN I FINISH? >> CHAIRMAN: YEP. >> BOARD MEMBER: I THINK IT WOULD BE A HUGE CAUTION TO NOT HAVE SET ANOTHER PLACE WHERE PUBLIC ACCESS IS GOING TO BE IF
WE SHUT DOWN THE BOAT RAMP IN THE CITY. >> BOARD MEMBER: I WOULD DISAGREE ON THE BOAT RAMP WITH YOU, LEN. AND THE REASON BEING, IF YOU SIT IN JOE'S OFFICE OR DOWN IN THE BOATER'S LOUNGE AND WATCH WHICH BOATS SCRAPE, CASE IN POINT, BEN'S. IT IS A 24 FOOT BOAT. YOU HAVE A TRAILER SET UP ON THE BACK OF YOUR TRUCK. HIS SCRAPES EVERY TIME HE GOES IN. AND THERE'S NOT THAT MANY THAT SCRAPE. THE OTHER WAY TO LIMIT IT IS THE WEIGHT ISSUE. I WAS LOOKING AT THE RAMP TODAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE PRETTY SOLID PIECE OF CONCRETE TO ME. YOU JUST LIMIT TWO AXLES OR LESS TO LAUNCH THERE. THREE AXLES, NO.
>> PUBLIC SPEAKER: I'M NOT RECOMMENDING ANYTHING I'M JUST SAYING IF THAT WERE ABANDONED IT WOULD FREE UP MORE PARKING. THE OTHER THING, PAUL, AND I KNOW THIS AS A REP IN THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT COMMISSION, IS IN THE PAST YEARS ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE WATERWAYS. AND WHEN YOU GET TO CANOE LAUNCHES, KAYAK LAUNCHES, AND OUTBOARD MOTOR LAUNCHES, I WOULD GUESS OVER THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION WE'VE SPENT IN EXCESS OF $6 MILLION BUILDING THOSE. AND THE NUMBER OF THEM IS, I WOULD GUESS, DOUBLE OR TRIPLED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE. SO, YOUR INFORMATION I THINK IS --
>> BOARD MEMBER: HOW MANY IN NASSAU COUNTY? >> PUBLIC SPEAKER: I THINK
THAT'S ONE HERE AND THE ONE AT THE NORTH END. >> BOARD MEMBER: HOW MANY ON
THIS THAT YOU SAID? >> PUBLIC SPEAKER: I THINK PROBABLY JUST THE ONE AT THE
NORTH END. >> BOARD MEMBER: CORRECT. DON'T TAKE IT AWAY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO BUILD OTHER ONE HERE. >> PUBLIC SPEAKER: WELL NAVIGATION WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO PUT UP A GRANT SO THAT YOU COULD. AND WE'VE LOOKED AT SPACES TO PUT IT. DOWN AT THE SHADY BRIDGE THERE'S ONE WE WERE LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE CITY WAS LOOKING
SERIOUSLY THEN. >> BOARD MEMBER: ALL RIGHT. THANKS.
>> CHAIRMAN: ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OLD BUSINESS. CHANNEL ELIMINATION. I THINK
[Item 5.1]
5.1 AND 5.2 ARE PROBABLY THE SAME TOPIC. THE OCEAN HIGHWAY PORT AUTHORITY UPDATE ALSO. SO I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT I DID SPEAK WITH CAROL FRANKLIN, ONE OF THE PORT AUTHORITY COMMI COMMISSIONERS FRIDAY, I BELIEVE IT WAS. AND OUR CONVERSATION WAS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THE PORT AUTHORITY IS WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD ON HAVING IT MOVED SLIGHTLY. THE BIG QUESTION IS: IN THE FUTURE IF THE CHANNEL EVER HAD TO BE REOPENED, WHO IS[00:25:09]
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ADDED COST BECAUSE OF THE MOVING OF THE CHANNEL? AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE CITY AND THE PORT AUTHORITY HAVE ASKED THE CITY TO AGREE THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST SOME OF THAT. SO I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE IT STANDS. THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PORT AUTHORITY AND THE CITY OF FERNANDINA TO ASK THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO HAVE THE CHANNEL PHYSICALLY MOVED. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHINGMORE ON THAT, JOE? >> BOARD MEMBER: MR. BLANCHARD HAD ME PUT A FEW SLIDES IN.
>> BOARD MEMBER: HOW WAS IT AT THE LAST OCEAN PORT AUTHORITY COMMITTEE MEETING. THE ARMY CORP ENGINEER REPRESENTATIVE WAS THERE AS WELL. AND THIS TOPIC CAME UP. FOR US TO DO THE SOUTHERN ATTENUATOR WE HAD TO GET A SPECIAL ARM PITT FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
BECAUSE AT ONE TIME IT WAS 60 FEET OF VARIANCE AND NOW IT'S 100 FEET. SO WE HAD TO GET A SPECIAL [INAUDIBLE] TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. NOW, THIS CHANNEL'S BEEN DISCUSSED FOR 25, 30 YEARS NOW, AND IT HASN'T BEEN USED IN ALL THAT TIME AS A FEDERAL CHANNEL. I ASKED AT THAT MEETING IF THAT CHANNEL COULD BE BASICALLY DE-AUTHORIZED. EVERYTHING SOUTH OF THE CURRENT PORT, THAT FEDERAL CHANNEL NEEDS TO BE DE-AUTHORIZED. IT'S STILL PART OF THE ICW. IT WILL BE MAYBE TABED AS PART OF THE ICW. THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THAT EVERY TIME WE GET INVOLVED WITH THE MARINA WE HAVE TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OVER A PIECE OF WATER THAT'S BASICALLY A CREEK. AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BRING ANY HEAVY DRAFTS DOWN IT.
IT'S GOING TO COST TOO MUCH MONEY. I ASKED THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS' REPRESENTATIVE WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT EVER, EVER BECOMING ACTIVE AGAIN AND BEING A SMART MAN HE WOULDN'T ANSWER THAT [LAUGHTER] BUT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT'S THE ISSUE. NOW, TRYING TO MOVE THIS THING 100 FEET MORE TO THE WEST IS JUST PUTTING A BAND-AID ON A MAJOR PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM HOW DO WE GO ABOUT DE-AUTHORIZING THIS CHANNEL. THEY SAID THEY NEED A LETTER FROM THE CITY TO DO THAT. TO THE OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY. I RECOMMEND TONIGHT, AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION, THAT THIS BOARD PUT TOGETHER A LETTER TO GO TO OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY VIA THE CITY COMMISSIONERS. BECAUSE WE WORK FOR THE CITY COMMISSIONERS. WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING DIRECTLY. TO REQUEST THAT THAT FEDERAL CHANNEL BE DE-AUTHORIZED SOUTH OF THE CURRENT WORKING BASIN. I'M ALSO GOING TO ASK WITH ANOTHER VOTE -- BUT LET'S GET THAT ONE OUT OF THE WAYFIRST. I MAKE SUCH A MOTION. THAT WE BRING A LETTER AND I'LL WORK ON IT WITH JOE. WE HAVE COPIES OF THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH TO ASK FOR DE-AUTHORIZE. I'M MEETING WITH CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD ON THE SECOND OF DECEMBER TO ASK FOR HIS SUPPORT. I THINK THAT IS THE ROUTE BEST TAKEN INSTEAD OF JUST TRYING TO MOVE THIS THING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND WORRY ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT IF IT EVER GETS ACTIVATED.
WHICH PERSONALLY THE CITY AND OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS.
EXCUSE ME. AND I'M A TAXPAYER. I'M JUST A LITTLE FRUSTRATED. I'M SORRY.
>> BOARD MEMBER: I WAS GOING TO SAY I'M GOING SECOND FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION.
>> CHAIRMAN: JOE'S MADE THE MOTION. COLEMAN HAS SECONDED IT AND NOW WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION.
>> BOARD MEMBER: I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. AND I THINK THAT I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT. I KNOW THERE'S SOME COMPLEXITIES TO IT SO I WANT TO BE A REALIST AND KNOWING THESE EXISTED FOR A LONG REASON PROBABLY FOR NO REALLY GOOD REASON BUT THEY ARE WHAT THAT ARE. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD CONCERN ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS. RAINIER IS ONE. ADJACENT PROPERTIES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS ON BOARD WITH THIS. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE -- I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD SOME HESITANCY BECAUSE THE SIMILAR SOLUTION WAS TO LOOK AT MOVING THE CHANNEL AND WE COULD DEAL WITH THAT AND YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. ALTHOUGH I AM AFRAID WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS AGAIN. AND I THINK WE DO
[00:30:01]
NEED TO MAYBE REACH OUT TO THE STAKEHOLDERS, HAVE THE CITY HAVE A MEETING AND SAY, LOOK, LET'S JUST GET THE BRASS TAX ONE MEETING THEN GO FORWARD WITH ASKING THE COMMISSION TO INDEEDMAKE THAT REQUEST. >> BOARD MEMBER: I TALKED TO RAINIER FOR THREE MONTHS NOW.
THEY CAN'T FIND A SINGLE PERSON THERE THAT KNOWS THERE'S A FEDERAL CHANNEL BEHIND THEIR
FACTORY. >> BOARD MEMBER: AND WE ALREADY HAVE ON RECORD, LETTERS FROM RAINIER, FROM THE PORT AUTHORITY, THE CITY, THIS HAS ALL BEEN DONE.
>> BOARD MEMBER: IN 1997. >> BOARD MEMBER: SO REALISTICALLY IT'S KIND OF A
HEAD SCRATCHER THIS IS EVEN A DISCUSSION. >> BOARD MEMBER: THE PROBLEM IS THIS. IF WE DON'T LANCE THIS WOUND AND GET IT HEALED RIGHT IT WILL JUST FESTER FOR ANOTHER 25
YEARS. >> BOARD MEMBER: SO WE CAN ASK THE COMMISSION TO DO THIS AS A
FOLLOW-UP. >> CHAIRMAN: ONE PERSON I DO SEE THAT AFFECTING IF IT GOES INTO A NON-KNAVE ACOBBLE CHANNEL, IT WILL BE A WORKING CHANNEL, WOULD BE DAVID COOK. BECAUSE HE MIGHT WANT TO SELL IT AND MOVE A CRUISE LINE THERE. SO, HE NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.
>> BOARD MEMBER: IS HE GOING DREDGE IT? >> BOARD MEMBER: I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE MIGHT DO >> BOARD MEMBER: HE IS A STAKEHOLDER. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BRING STAKEHOLDERS IN. BUT THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY CONDITION THAT WE, YOU KNOW, IN MOVING FORWARD THAT WE GET STAKEHOLDERS. AGAIN WE HAVE RAI
RAINIER'S LETTER. >> BOARD MEMBER: COULD I MODIFY MY RESOLUTION THEN. AT THE NEXT MEET WEEK REQUEST THAT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM RAINIER, COOK AND THE REST OF THE
STAKEHOLDERS ATTEND THE MEETING AND WE DISCUSS THIS THING. >> BOARD MEMBER: LET ME ASK YOU, JOE. WAS THERE ANY CONVERSATION OF THIS AT THE PORT AUTHORITY MEETING?
>> BOARD MEMBER: HE SAID I'D DO IT. HE SAID WRITE A LETTER. HE SAID YOU GOT TO GET CONGRESS TO DO IT. BUT REMEMBER THIS, YOU ARE ASKING A FEDERAL AGENCY NOT TO SPEND MONEY. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY CAN SAVE IT BY GETTING RID OF A FEDERAL CHANNEL THAT CAN'T EVER BE DREDGED OR PROBABLY NEVER WILL BE THERE AND THAT WILL PROBABLY GO THROUGH CONGRESS SO FAST IT WILL MAKE
YOUR HEAD SPIN. >> CHAIRMAN: WHAT WAS THE PORT AUTHORITY COMMISSIONER'S
>> BOARD MEMBER: THEY DIDN'T CARE. THEY SAID SEND US A LETTER. TO THEM IT'S THE SAME LETTER AS THE ONE THAT COMES FROM THE CITY. THE CITY IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT. OCEAN PORT AUTHORITY IS GOING TO WORK WITH THEM ON THE WHOLE DEAL AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.
UNFORTUNATELY TWO OF THEM FOR SOME REASON CAN'T GET IT TOGETHER RIGHT WHICH I HAVE NO IDEA WHOSE PROBLEM IT IS. BUT AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME I SAID SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THERE WILL BE NO MONEY INVOLVED. BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO AWAY WITH THE CHANNEL AS A FEDERAL CHANNEL.
IT WILL STILL BE INNER-COASTAL WATERWAY. IT WILL STILL BE A BARGE CHANNEL. EVERYTHING WILL BE THE SAME AS IT IS TODAY EXCEPT IT WON'T HAVE THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TIED TO IT.
>> CHAIRMAN: ANYONE ELSE? >> BOARD MEMBER: SOUNDS GOOD. >> CHAIRMAN: ALL RIGHT. ANYMORE DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT.
>> BOARD MEMBER: A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION. >> CHAIRMAN: WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK? >> SPEAKER: IF YOU'D LIKE. >> CHAIRMAN: PLEASE. YOU WERE
AT THE MEETING THAT NIGHT WERE YOU NOT? >> SPEAKER: FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE, YES. SO MY NAME IS CHIP ROSS. 210 NORTH THIRD STREET. I'VE NOT ONLY BEEN AT THAT MEETING BUT AT EVERY PORT COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. AND I SUGGEST BEFORE YOU SAY THE CITY COMMISSION DOESN'T WANT TO DO THIS AND WE HAVEN'T TALKED TO THEM, THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO MULTIPLE OTHER MEETINGS WHERE THEY'VE EXPRESSLY SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ABANDON THAT CHANNEL. AND THE PILOTS DON'T WANT THAT CHANNEL ABANDONED. SO I SUGGEST BEFORE YOU -- THE CITY COMMISSION WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT CHANNEL ABANDONED. BUT, FIRST OF ALL, THE CURRENT SPONSOR OF THE CHANNEL IS THE FORT. AND THEY HAVE TO BE THE ONES THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN NOW TO BRING IT FORWARD. AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO THAT. WHY DON'T YOU GET THEIR AGREEMENT FIRST AND THEN GET THE PILOTS TO AGREE. AND THEN THE CITY -- I'M JUST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BUT MULTIPLE TIMES HAVE SAID YEAH THAT WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION
TO THE PROBLEM. >> BOARD MEMBER: IF WE WRITE THE LETTER, OKAY, AFTER WE'VE TALKED TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE IN AGREEMENT AND WE WRITE THE LETTER AND SEND IT TO OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY AND THEY NIX IT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE
ARROW IS GOING. RIGHT AT OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY. >> SPEAKER: THAT'S FINE. BUT I
[00:35:03]
HAVE BEEN TO MULTIPLE MEETINGS WHERE THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THEIR MINUTES. BUT THEIR CONSENSUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN -- AND MR. RA GUCCI HAS EXPRESSED HE DOESN'T WANT THAT CHANNEL ABANDONED. THE PILOTS HAVE GOT UP AND SAID THEY DON'T WANT THE CHANNEL ABANDONED. SO THE REALITY IS THAT IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE DREDGED BECAUSE IT'S -- WHAT'S THE GUESS, ABOUT 100 MILLION TO DREDGE THAT? 58 MILLION BUCKS TO GO NOWHERE.BUT, IF YOU WANT -- I MEAN, I'M NOT TELLING YOU NOT TO WRITE A LETTER. A LETTER IS A GREAT IDEA. BUT I'M GOING TELL YOU WHAT'S PROBABLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> BOARD MEMBER: I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. EVERYBODY I THINK IN THIS ROOM UNDERSTANDS THE ISSUE.
IF PORT AUTHORITY DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT AND THEY ACTUALLY TAKE THE MOTION TO DO THAT, THEN THERE'S ELECTIONS AND THAT'S HOW WE SOLVE PROBLEMS LIKE THAT. THEY HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
>> SPEAKER: I SAT DOWN WITH RUTHERFORD AND TALKED ABOUT THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. YOU CAN SEE
WHERE WE ARE. SO. THANK YOU. >> BOARD MEMBER: OKAY. >> CH
>> SPEAKER: BEN WILLIAMS AGAIN. I THINK RATHER THAN GO FOR A DE-THORIZATION GO FOR THE CHANNEL MOVEMENT. THAT'S SOMETHING THEY AGREED TO IN THE PAST. ALL OF THE WORK AND THE PERMIT WRITTEN IN '98 INCLUDES MOVEMENT OF THE CHANNEL. THE CITY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DREDGING THAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE DONE OR REMOVE THE DOCKS AT CITY'S CHOICE IF THAT CHANNEL SHOULD BE REOPENED. BUT I THINK ONE THING IS THAT THE STAKEHOLDER -- YOU MENTIONED DAVID COOK. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS I THINK IF YOU MOVE THE CHANNEL, WHICH IS HERE, NO THAT'S NOT IT.
>> BOARD MEMBER: NOT FAR ENOUGH. THE OTHER WAY. SOUTH. SOUTH. THIS IS THE DOCK AT THE VERY
BOTTOM. >> BOARD MEMBER: AND YOU SEE BY MOVING THE CHANNEL WHICH IS UP HERE, DAVID ISN'T AFFECTED. WHEREAS IF IT'S DE-AUTHORIZED HE IS AFFECTED. I WOULD THINK IT WOULD JUST BE EASIER AND I KNOW THE PORT AUTHORITY, I GATHER, IS WILLING TO OWN UP TO THE AGREEMENT OF 1998. SO, I THINK TAKING IT ONE STEP AT A TIME. WRITE THE LETTER ASKING FOR CHANNEL MOVEMENT TO THE WEST 100 FEET WHICH WAS THE AGREEMENT AND GET THAT. AND IT'S DONE. AND THE CORPS CAN DO THAT WITHOUT -- THEY DON'T HAVE TO TALK TO ANYBODY. I WOULD --
>> BOARD MEMBER: I WOULD AGREE EXCEPT FOR OVER ONE THING IT'S TAKEN A YEAR AND NO ONE HAS
AGREED TO DO IT >> SPEAKER: I THINK YOU HAVE DONE A LOT IN GETTING IT SO THE WANT THE LETTER FROM THE CITY. I GATHER IF YOU ASK IT THEY'RE GOING TO AGREE WITH THE MOVEMENT. BUT I THINK GOING TO THE DEAUTHORIZATION IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THAT GETS BACK TO DEALING WITH CONGRESS AND A LOT OF STUFF. SO THAT THAT TURNS OUT TO BE NOT A YEAR BUT MAYBE FIVE OR MORE. SO, I'D GO FOR THE MOVEMENT FIRST AND GET THAT DONE AND THEN WE'LL GO FOR
THE NEXT STEP BUT MAKE IT A TWO-STEP PROCESS. >> BOARD MEMBER: AND MAYBE, JOE, AS A SECONDER OF YOUR MOTION I UNDERSTOOD WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM. I DO APPRECIATE WHAT I AM HEARING. THE TWO-STEP PROCESS. I WOULD MAYBE JUST ASK LET'S GO BACK TO PLAN A AND THEN B, TABLE THE MOTION. WE'RE NOT GOING TO ABANDON IT BECAUSE IF THAT ONE DOESN'T WORK WE CAN STILL --
>> BOARD MEMBER: CAN I OFFER A SUGGESTION HERE? WHEN YOU WANT TO BUILD A $10 MILLION HOUSE, RIGHT, YOU KNOW, YOU WILL SELL IT SETTLE FOR A 5 SOMETIMES. IN OTHER WORDS WHEN YOU GO TO THEM AND YOU WANT IT GONE, YOU MAY SETTLE FOR 100 FEET AT THIS TIME. BUT IF YOU GIVE UP ON
GETTING RID OF IT, YOU DON'T HAVE A FALLBACK. >> BOARD MEMBER: I THINK WE
ALWAYS HAVE A FALLBACK. I MIGHT JUST DISAGREE. >> BOARD MEMBER: WE HAVEN'T HAD
ONE. >> BOARD MEMBER: THAT'S JUST MY SENTIMENTS. SO I HAVE A CHANGE IN HEART IN LIGHT OF WHAT COMMISSIONER SAID RIGHT NOW. NOT THAT SAY THAT YOUR IDEA ISN'T GOOD BUT I LIKE THE STEP 1 PERSONALLY. I'M GOING SAY THAT AS THE SECOND.
>> BOARD MEMBER: THAT WAS WRITTEN IN JULY. >> CHAIRMAN: ANYMORE DISCUSSION.
>> BOARD MEMBER: I'D LIKE TO CONCUR. AFTER HEARING THE DISCUSSIONS BEFOREHAND WHAT WE WANTED TO DO AND WHERE WE WERE AT I WOULD SAY MOVE FORWARD WITH JUST MOVING THE CHANNEL AND THEN
PURSUING A LOFTIER GOAL. >> MY CONVERSATION THIS WEEK WITH CHAIRMAN WAS THAT IT WAS PRETTY MUCH AGREED BY THE CITY AND THE PORT AUTHORITY TO MOVE IT AT THIS POINT. THE TWO JUST
[00:40:03]
NEED TO COME TOGETHER QUICKLY NOW AND DO THAT. SO, THIS COULD BE ALREADY DONE. THIS PORTION OF IT. NOT OFFICIALLY YET BUT THE CITY AND THE PORT AUTHORITY SEEM TO BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY IT MAY NEED TO BE ABANDONED. THAT WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE. AND I'M NOT TOTALLY OPPOSED BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO TAKE AN ACT OF CONGRESS. TO THIS POINT CONGRESS HASN'T BEEN INVOLVED. IF WE GET CONGRESS INVOLVED WE CAN MAKE THAT MOVE WHETHER THE CHANNEL HAD BEEN MOVED PREVIOUSLY OR NOT. SO I SORT OF AGREE. I THINK WE SHOULD GO WITH WHAT WE'VE AGREED TO. I THINK ULTIMATELY ABANDONING THE CHANNEL COULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST SOLUTION FROM EVERYONE BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE WORK TO GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED, I BELIEVE. SO I THINK ALL OF THE STRAKE HOLDERS ARE AWARE OF THIS NOW THAT THE CHANNEL IS GOING BE MOVED THAT 100 FEET. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PILOTS HAVE PUSHED BACK A LOT ON THAT. I MEAN, I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT ANYWAY. SO, LET'S SEE WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?>> BOARD MEMBER: SO YOU ARE ASKING US TO GET MR. MARTIN TO WRITE ANOTHER LETTER? HE ALREADY WROTE ONE JULY 25, 2019, TO THEM TO DO THIS. SO WE NEED TO GET HIM TO WRITE ANOTHER ONE. ?
>> BOARD MEMBER: MAYBE MAYBE NOT. WE'LL SEE. I JUST KNOW THAT MR. CARROLL SAID HE NEEDED
TO HAVE FINAL AGREEMENT FROM THE CITY. >> CHAIRMAN: IT IS PROCEDURAL BECAUSE WE PUT THE MOTION UP. IF WE WANT THEM TO NOT GO FORWARD YOU HAVE TO VOTE NO ON THE MOTION. BUT, YOU KNOW, SO JUST AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT PROCEDURAL IT WOULD BE A NO VOTE
NOT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE MOTION AT THIS TIME. >> BOARD MEMBER: I UNDERSTAND.
>> CHAIRMAN: MAKE SURE WE FINISHED THE DISCUSSION AND WE WANT TO VOTE ON THIS. WE'LL
HAVE THE CALL FOR VOTE ON THIS THEN. >> KEVIN?
>> YES >> ALLEN? NO >> PAUL? NO
>> TERRY YOU DON'T GET A VOTE. >> CHAIRMAN: SO THE MOTION WAS MADE AND NOT APPROVED. NEXT
ITEM IS THE OCEAN HIGHWAY PORT AUTHORITY UPDATE. >> SPEAKER: ALSO DOORING THAT
[Item 5.2]
MEETING I ASKED THEM FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DELEGATING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FEDERAL CHANNEL AS THE SPONSOR SOUTH OF THE PORT, DELEGATING THAT THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT. THEY SAIDTHEY NEED TO HAVE A LETTER FOR THAT TOO. >> CHAIRMAN: HOW DOES
[INAUDIBLE] FEEL ABOUT THAT MOTION? >> BOARD MEMBER: I DON'T KNOW
THERE'S A REPRESENTATIVE RIGHT THERE. >> SPEAKER: THE FINE COMMISSION WOULD BE GLAD TO SUPPORT THAT. IT'S INTERESTING WHEN THIS ALL CAME ABOUT IN '97, THE FINE COMMISSIONER, THE HEAD GUY, NAMED DAVID ROCHE, SENT A NASTY LETTER SAYING HE OPPOSED MOVING OF THE CHANNEL AND RECOMMENDED DIGGING MORE INLAND AND NOT DOING THAT. AND THAT TOOK A LITTLE TIME TO GET AROUND. AND THE CORPS DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION. BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT AT THE FIND AND WHAT FIND OF COURSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AND THE CORPS ARE JOINTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE ICW CHANNEL. WHICH GOES THERE. IT'S 104 FEET WIDE AND 25 FEET DEEP AND FIND WILL SEE TO THAT WAS MAINTAINED. YOU MAY RECALL WE DID $2.5 MILLION WORTH OF DREDGING DOWN HERE LAST YEAR. THIS SPRING WE DID 500,000 CUBIC YARDS AT THE SOUTH END, WHAT WE CALL SOFFIT, AND PUT THAT ON THE STATE PARK BEACH ON THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND. SO, FIND IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED. AND IT MAKES ALL KINDS OF SENSE THAT FIND SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CHANNEL. WHETHER THE PORT WANTS TO GIVE THAT UP, I DON'T THINK THEY DO. BUT IF THEY DID, FIND WOULD BE CERTAINLY WILLING TO TAKE ON THE SPONSORSHIP.
>> BOARD MEMBER: MY PROPOSAL IS TO HAVE US WRITE A LETTER JUST LIKE THE FIRST ONE I PROPOSED.
MY RESOLUTION. TO WRITE A LETTER THROUGH THE CITY, TO THE OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY RECOMMENDING THAT THE OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY DELEGATE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FEDERAL CHANNEL SOUTH OF THE CURRENT PORT. I THINK IT WILL WORK.
[00:45:07]
>> BOARD MEMBER: YOU ONLY HAVE [INAUDIBLE] SPEAKING FOR THE -- THEY DON'T HAVE A LETTER FROM
FIND. >> BOARD MEMBER: I KNOW THAT. BUT WE CAN WRITE THE LETTER.
>> I WOULD GET THE DAMN THING MOVED THEN TALK ABOUT OTHER CONDITIONS LATER I WOULD THINK.
>> BOARD MEMBER: ANYWAY, RESOLUTION TO WRITE THE LETTER. OKAY. RECOMMENDING THAT THE OCEAN HIGHWAY PORT AUTHORITY DELEGATE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FEDERAL CHANNEL SOUTH OF
THE CURRENT PORT TO FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT. >> CHAIRMAN: ALL RIGHT. DO WE
HAVE A SECOND? >> BOARD MEMBER: I'LL SECOND. >> CHAIRMAN: ALREL RIGHT? DISCUSSION? DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS PROPOSING? OKAY. WE WOULD HAVE TO SEND A LETTER TO FIND FIRST. SO, I MEAN, WE CAN SEND IT TO THE CITY FOR THEIR COMMENT BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO
SEND IT TO FIND. >> BOARD MEMBER: WE HAVE TO SEND ANY LETTER WE SEND TO ANY OTHER
ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE CITY BECAUSE WE WORK FOR THE CITY. >> CHAIRMAN: ABSOLUTELY.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WANT TO POKE THESE GUYS IN THE NOSE. TAKE THE 100 FEET AND BE PLEASED
AND THEN LET'S GO POKE PEOPLE IN THE NOSE. >> BOARD MEMBER: AND I MIGHT ADD TOO, I DO AGREE WITH YOU. AND I THINK PROCEDURAL I THINK WE WANT TO HEAR FROM FIND FIRST BEFORE
WE EVEN WENT FORWARD ANYWAY. TO ASK THE FIND COMMISSION THEN -- >> BOARD MEMBER: I'D MODIFY THE RESOLUTION TO WRITE A LETTER THROUGH THE CITY TO FIND ASKING THEM WHETHER THEY WOULD TAKE ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY IF IT WERE DELEGATED TO THEM BY OCEAN HIGHWAY AND PORT AUTHORITY. AND THEN FOLLOW THAT ON IF THERE'S AN APPROVAL AND THEN TO WRITE THE LETTER TO OCEAN HIGHWAY AND
PORT AUTHORITY. >> BOARD MEMBER: ONE FOLLOW-UP IF I MAY? WE DO HAVE OUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE HERE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK AS -- TO BRING TO YOUR BOARD AND HAVE A DISCUSSION AS OPPOSED TO A FORMAL RESOLUTION AT THIS POINT FROM THE CITY. WOULD IT BE EASIER FOR YOU TO JUST HAVE THE DISCUSSION?
>> BOARD MEMBER: OUR NEXT MEETING IS IN JANUARY. I SUSPECT THEY WOULD WANT MORE INFORMATION. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. MOST OF THE FELLOW COMMISSIONERS THERE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE FRACAS THAT GOES ON HERE AND WHAT THAT ALL MEANS AND ARE THEY STEPPING ON SOMEBODY'S TOES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. SO I WOULD JUST LEAVE THAT CAN OF WORMS.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> CAN WE FIRST WRITE THE LETTER, A LETTER, PUT IT IN YOUR MOTION TO SUPPORT THE CITY MOVING FORWARD WITH A LETTER TO THE PORT AUTHORITY TO GET THIS CHANNEL MOVED 100 FEET? ALSO HAVE THIS OTHER ONE WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. GIVE THE LETTER THAT WE NEED TO GO TO THE PORT AUTHORITY TO TRY TO GET THE WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS 100 FEET AND ALSO HAVE THIS OTHER IN THE BACK WORKING IN CASE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH IT. WE'VE GOT MOTIONS GOING, LET'S GET THIS GOING. BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR HERE IS GOING TO BE DOWN THE ROAD AND TAKE A WHILE.
>> I HATE TO SWAT THE HORNET'S NEST. I THINK WE GOT A GOOD THING ROLLING WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY. ALL THESE IDEAS ARE GOOD I JUST THINK THE TIMING WE WANT TO SEE WHERE IT'S GOING. I THINK EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THE PORT AND CITY WERE ABLE TO AGREE ON SOMETHING WE HAD TO HAVE A DAY OFF FOR A HOLIDAY. BUT IT WOULD BE WORTH IT. I'M HESITANT TO GO ANY FURTHER THAN JUST
LET'S TAKE ONE BITE. MY TWO CENTS. >> CHAIRMAN: SOMEONE ELSE HAVE A
COMMENT? PAUL? JOE? >> SPEAKER: THE COMMENT I WOULD MAKE IS YOU'VE CHANGED THIS COURSE A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE DISCUSSION BUT IT STILL GOES BACK TO THE POINT THAT THE BOARD DOES NOT -- THIS BOARD DOES NOT KNOW WHERE THE CITY'S POSITION IS TODAY. ALLEN'S POINTED OUT THEY WROTE A LETTER TWO MONTHS AGO. COMMISSIONERS POINTED OUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO SET THAT AS AN ITEM TO DISCUSS WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED FROM US AND TO EXPLAIN WHERE WE ARE WITH IT. HE WILL KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE ELSEWHERE TO STAND WITH ALL THE WORKING PARTS. THEN INSTEAD OF MAKING THE MOTION THAT SAYS YOU ARE GOING TO DO THIS. IF THE MOTION WAS WORDED IN SUCH A WAY TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NEEDED TO MOVE IT
FORWARD. >> BOARD MEMBER: I'LL ACCEPT THAT.
>> CHAIRMAN: ALL RIGHT. SO THE MOTION WILL BE TO APPROACH THE CITY MANAGER FIND OUT -- I'M PRETTY SURE HE IS AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED RECENTLY. AND SO FIND OUT WHAT HIS POSITION IS. THEN WHAT HE WOULD SUGGEST FOR US TO DO AT THAT POINT. SO THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
[00:50:05]
PAUL, YOU HAD SECONDED THE EARLIER ONE. WOULD YOU SECOND THAT ONE?>> BOARD MEMBER: YEAH. >> CHAIRMAN: THE MOTION IS MADE AND SECONDED. ANYMORE
DISCUSSION ON THAT APPROACH? ALL RIGHT. LET'S CALL THE VOTE. >> MCCARTHY? YES
>> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE FORWARD HERE. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S THE END OF OLD BUSINESS.
[Item 6.1]
NEW BUSINESS. 6.1 THE WORKING WATERFRONT. JOE HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A PRESENTATION.>> SPEAKER: IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF A PRESENTATION BUT THE QUESTION WAS ASKED ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WE KEEP THROWING THIS WORD AROUND AND WHAT IS A WORKING WATERFRONT? WE'VE HEARD DEFINITIONS THAT IT REQUIRED A SHRIMP BOAT OR A WORKING FORM OF HAVING PEOPLE COMING BACK AND FORTH FROM THE WATERWAY. SO I WENT AHEAD AND THOUGHT THE BEST THING TO DO WAS TO NOT MAKE UP MY MIND WHAT IT WAS BUT TO GO OUT TO THE FLORIDA STATUTES FROM 2019 AND FIND OUT WHAT IT SAYS IT IS. IF YOU NOTICE THERE IN A, IN THIS AREA RIGHT HERE, IT'S TALKING ABOUT IF THE MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO PREPARE THIS COASTAL ELEMENT. WERE ALL OF THE -- AT THIS MOMENT WE'RE NOT REQUIRED. HOWEVER WITH THE STORM WATER THAT WE'RE DOING, WITH THE OTHER CHANGES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING, THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING WITH THE SHORELINE, IT MAY VERY WELL BECOME ONE. BUT IT'S NOT AT THIS POINT. SO, I'VE DEFAULTED TO ITEM B HERE THAT IS SAYING BASICALLY RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL WORKING WATERFRONT MEANS THAT PARCEL OR PARTS OF THE REAL PROPERTY THAT PROVIDE ACCESS FOR WATER DEPENDENT COMMERCIAL AT THIS TIMES OR PROVIDE ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC TO NAVIGATE WATERS IN THE STATE. WORKING RECREATIONAL COMMERCIAL WATERFRONTS REQUIRE ACCESS TO THE WHARF. INCLUDES WATER DEPENDENT FACILITIES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. INSTEAD OF IT SAYING YOU'VE GOT TO BE A FISH MONGER THROW THINGS AROUND, WHAT I PICKED UP FROM THIS WAS THE DOTS, THE WHY'RE OFS -- THE DOCKS, THE WHARFS AND THE BOAT RAM AND EVERYTHING THAT ALLOWS COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AND RECREATIONAL ACCESS TO THE WATER. WE HAVE A RAMP. WE HAVE THAT. WE HAVE THE INTERCOSTAL WATER IOWA. WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE AND WE'RE NOT EVEN INCLUDING THOSE BUSINESSES THAT GENERATE BUSINESS FROM THE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY THERE. THE VISITORS THAT COME AND GO ON THE TOURS, THAT GO SAILING, THAT GO DO ANY OF IT. I DON'T SEE HOW WE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A WORKING WATERFRONT. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, YOU KNOW, THAT MITIGATION HAZARDS AND MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT. THEY DON'T WANT US TO DO ANYTHING COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THAT. BUT BOTTOM LINE, AGAIN, IT'S OPINION LOOKING AT THIS TAKING THAT B SECTION IN THERE, WE HAVE A WORKING WATERFRONT. THE SECOND PART OF THAT THEN WAS OKAY IF WE SAY THAT THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF A WATERFRONT, HOW MANY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT FIVE BOATS? 15 BOATS? 15 BOATS? HOW MANY BOATS WOULD BE PART OF THIS WORKING WATERFRONT I WENT BACK TO OUR HISTORY THAT WE HAD AND MAY 2016 I WENT BACK TO A DOCK CHECK. WE DO IT EVERY DAY TO FIND OUT WHO IS IN THE MARINA AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS WHERE THEY'RE EASE SUPPOSED TO BE. IN MAY THERE WERE SIX COMMERCIAL CRUISE SHIPS THAT CAME AND WENT. THEY'RE ALL COMING BACK AND ALL WAITING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SUNDAY OF THIS WEEK COMING WE INTEND TO -- WE ARE TALKING WITH THE AMERICAN CRUISE LINE ABOUT THE OUTSIDE RAMP SO THEY CAN BRING THEIR PEOPLE ASHORE, BE THERE 30 MINUTES AND PULL AWAY THEN COME BACK AND GET THEM. WE HAD FIVE RECREATIONAL SAIL COMPANIES. WE KNOW THAT FOUR OF THOSE ARE COMING BACK. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT EITHER STAYED WITH US, THEY NEVER LEFT, OR I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY'RE COMING BACK TO US. RECREATIONAL POWER BOATS. THERE WAS FOUR, THERE'S GOING TO BE FOUR. COMMERCIAL SALE, FOUR AND FOUR. COMMERCIAL TOUR BOATS, THERE WAS FIVE. I KNOW THREE ARE COMING BACK. RIGHT DOWN THE LINE. THE POWER, ANNUAL ACCESS, INDIVIDUAL BOATS, TOTAL BOATS.
SO WE HAD 65 WHEN THE STORM CAME. WE KNOW 56 ARE COMING BACK. OF THE 56 36 OF THOSE WOULD BE COMMERCIAL BOATS THAT REQUIRE WATER ACCESS AND THE WATERWAY AND ALL OF THE FACILITIES, UPLANDS AND DOCKS PARADED BY US TO MAINTAIN THEIR WATER DEPENDENT BUSINESS. IN
[00:55:02]
ADDITION, WE HAVE A WAITING LIST NOW THAT WE'VE STARTED. AND WE'VE ALREADY GOT TEN BOATS ON IT IS WHAT I WROTE ON THIS ONE. BUT SINCE FRIDAY WE'VE ADDED FOUR MORE. SO, WE'VE GOT 14 BOATS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE THAT ARE WANTING TO COME BACK AND SOME OF THOSE ARE COMMERCIAL ALSO. ALSO, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MECHANICS, THE DIVERS, THE CLEANERS, THE PEOPLE WHO COME IN TO DO CANVAS WORK, TO SPIN PROPS, TO GET THE CRAB TRAPS OUT FROM THE PROPS, ALL OF THAT. THOSE ARE OTHER ANCILLARY BUSINESSES THAT ARE PART OF IT, TOO. SO, ARE WE A WORKING WATERFRONT? YES. DO WE HAVE BUSINESSES AT THE MARINA BEFORE AND AFTER? YES. 36 PEOPLE, INDIVIDUAL VESSELS WOULD QUALIFY AS A COMMERCIAL VESSEL AND THE REST OF THEM, AS YOU B, SAYS RECREATIONAL OR COMMERCIAL. REBELLING RAKESAL, THAT'S THE OTHER 20. SO, EVERY BOAT IS RECREATIONAL OR COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AND THAT'S WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE A WORKINGWATERFRONT. THAT'S IT. >> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU. PLEASE COME UP. WE'RE A LITTLE
INFORMAL BUT THAT'S OKAY. >> PUBLIC SPEAKER: I'M NOT REALLY DRESSED TO SPEAK. I LOOK LIKE I WORKED ON A BOAT TODAY. MARY ANN PHILLIPS 724 SOUTH SIXTH STREET I AM RUNNING FOR CITY COMMISSION. BUT THE REASON I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE THE MARINA IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME AND IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE TREASURES THAT I TALK ABOUT IN MY CAMPAIGN. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN. AND I BELIEVE AND I HAVE A DREAM LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD A DREAM. I HAVE A DREAM. I HAVE A DREAM OF ONE DAY THE SHRIMP BOATS COMING BACK TO THIS MARINA. I HAVE A DREAM THAT THAT CAN BE A REAL WORKING WATERFRONT. IT IS A WORKING WATERFRONT, BUT WHERE WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS MIRRORING WHAT IS IN SAN FRANCISCO. WHERE THOSE BOATS ARE THERE, CHILDREN CAN TAKE FIELD TRIPS DOWN THERE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS AND WHAT FERNANDINA IS ABOUT. WE ARE THE BIRTH PLACE OF THE COMMERCIAL SHRIMPING INDUSTRY. WHERE ARE OUR SHRIMP BOATS? I AM SO DEPRESSED THAT BARRY LOST HIS BOAT, THE ISLAND GIRL. I HAVE CRIED OVER THAT. I'M UPSET BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THEM.
I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER I LIKE TO PHOTOGRAPH THE BOATS. AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE DOWN THERE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN I AM GOING TO SAY WHEN NOT IF BUT WHEN I AM ELECTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION THAT'S ONE OF MY MAIN GOAL. TO HOPEFULLY HAVE SOMETHING. IF IT JUST GETS STARTED OR FINISH BEFORE I LEAVE THE CITY COMMISSION I WANT THAT WATERFRONT BACK OPEN AGAIN AND SEE ALL THE BOATS DOWN THERE. IT'S NOT JUST SPORTS FISHERMAN. IT'S ALL FISHERMEN DOWN THERE.
PEOPLE WANT THAT MARINA. HEY LOVE IT. WE DON'T NEED TO BLOCK IT. WE DON'T NEED SOMETHING HIGH-RISE WHERE NOBODY CAN SEE IT. MR. COOK, I HOPE HE KEEPS HIS DOCK. I HOPE THEY REPAIR IT AND WHATEVER. BUT I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO COME UP HERE AND SAY THAT. BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE MY PASSION AND HEART IS, THAT MARINA. THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS ON MY GOAL. THAT AND TO SAVE OUR BEACH. BUT THANK YOU ALL. AND IF I CAN EVER BE OF HELP, I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT
BECAUSE THIS IS A DREAM FOR ME. >> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU. I WILL SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY ALSO BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED MYSELF. I KNOW MR. ALLEN MILLS AND SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE. MY WIFE'S FAMILY HAS BEEN IN IT FOR FOUR GENERATIONS NOW. SO THEY WERE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FAMILIES, THE PIONEERS OF SHRIMP.
FERNANDINA THAT'S OUR HISTORY. WE ARE THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT MOST OF THE SHRIMP THAT WE CONSUME TODAY -- SHRIMP TODAY IS THE MOST POPULAR SEAFOOD IN THE WORLD. MORE SHRIMP EATEN THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF SEAFOOD. FERNANDINA TAUGHT THE WORLD HOW TO EAT SHSHH RIM P. SINGLE HANDEDLY. THE PROBLEM IS ANY PERCENT OF THE SHRIMP CONSUMED TODAY ARE GROWN ON A FARM IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. IT'S NOT SEAFOOD.
IT'S MANUFACTURED SEAFOOD. AND THE MAJORITY OF IT COMES FROM CHINA, SOUTHEAST ASIA, SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA. THE MAJORITY FROM CHINA. 90% OF THE SHIM THAT WE CONSUME ARE GOON ON A FARM. -- GROWN ON A FARM. THEY USE GROWTH HORMONES. THEY ALTER THE GENETICS OF THE SHRIMP TO GROW QUICKLY. THEY FEED THEM WITH PELL ATIED FEEDING. THE THIRD ROAD COUNTRIES THEIR COASTAL REGIONS HAVE BEEN DESTROYEDED FOR SHRIMP FARMS AND OTHER SORTS OF AGRICULTURE.
THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS. IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. THEY ARE DESTROYING THEIR COUNTRIES WITH THIS COASTAL INVASION. SHRIMP ARE PLENTIFUL IN THE WATERS
[01:00:01]
AROUND FERNANDINA ISLAND TO THIS DAY. AND, GUESS WHAT? WHEN THE WORLD CAN NO LONGER PRODUCE FARM RAISED SHRIMP, WILD CAUGHT SHRIMP WILL BECOME IMPORTANT ONCE AGAIN. WE COULD VERY WELL SEE THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY RETURN. THAT'S MY BRIEF. SO THANK YOU.>> BOARD MEMBER: I JUST WANT TO ADD THE FARM RAISED SHRIMP TASTE HORRIBLE.
>> CHAIRMAN: THEY'RE NOT GOOD FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO, WE'VE ALL BEEN ON OUR HIGH HORSES NOW.
>> BOARD MEMBER: I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID. >> BOARD MEMBER: WE HAVE THE LUCY FERGUSON THAT IS MAKING RUNS ALL THE TIME BACK AND FORTH. AND PEOPLE PARK OVER HERE THEY HAVE TO TAKE THEIR LUGGAGE, THEY HAVE TO TAKE EVERYTHING DOWN THE PIERS TO THE LUCY FERGUSON. FOR A WATER TAXI GOING TO ST. MARYS. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HOPPING ON THAT WITH BICYCLES AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE ON THEIR BABBLINGING TRIPS. THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT GOES UP AND DOWN THESE PIERS. BAGS OF ICE, EQUIPMENT, CLOTHING, FOOD. WHEN I GET READY TO GO ON A CRUISE WITH MY BOAT, I'VE GOT TO FILL THAT BOAT COMPLETELY UP WITH FOOD FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. AND I'VE GOT TO PUT ICE BOARD. I'VE GOT TO PUT ALL THE CLOTHING, THE BEDDING AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND ALL THE EQUIPMENT. AND IT ALL HAS TO GO DOWN THAT PIER. AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. EVERYBODY ELSE THAT OWNS A BOAT HAS TO DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING. THE IDEA ANYONE HAS THAT SOMEBODY JUMPS OUT OF THEIR CAR, WALKS DOWN THE PIER, GOES DOWN TO THEIR BOAT, HOPS ABOARD AND SHOVES A KEY IN AND THROWS TWO LINES OVER THE SIDE AND TAKES OFF IS NOT FACT OF LIFE. FOR ONE OR TWO PEOPLE MAYBE. BUT FOR THE 345 GERTIE
OF PEOPLE THAT IS NOT A FACT OF-. >> BOARD MEMBER: I'VE GOT A QUESTION. GOING BACK TO THE WORKING WATERFRONT. IS THAT KIND OF LIKE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE MARINA? >> CHAIRMAN: OH YES. >> SPEAKER: S4 HAS BEEN CLEARED BY THE CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE. IT'S UP AND RUNNING. IT'S GOT POWER AND ELECTRICITY CORRECT?
>> CHAIRMAN: THERE IS NO S4 >> SPEAKER: WHAT DO YOU CALL THE DINGY DOCK
>> IT WOULD BE THE DINGY DOCK. >> OKAY. NOW I KNOW [LAUGHTER]
WE CHANGED IT ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO >> I THOUGHT YOU ALL CHANGED IT
UP AGAIN. IT IS A WORKING DOCK, CORRECT? >> THAT I DO NOT KNOW. IT'S NOT
REPRESENTED TO ME TO BE A WORKING DOCK. >> BOARD MEMBER: IT IS CLEAR
SAYING THE POWER HAS BEEN CLEARED ON AND-- >> IF YOU SAY SO. I KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD THERE'S WATER ON THE DOCK. I'VE BEEN TOLD THERE'S ELECTRICITY ON THE DOCK.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THERE'S FIRE ON THE DOCK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE DONE ON THE DOCK. HAS IT ENCLEARED? I'VE NOT HAD ANYONE SAY THIS IS DONE THANK YOU.
>> BOARD MEMBER: IS IT POSSIBLE -- I KNOW THERE'S SOME ROYALERS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I RODE THROUGH THIS TWO HOURS AND COMING WE STILL HAD TO GET 12 FEET OF WATER IN FRONT OF THE BOAT RAMP WAS TEN. VERY IMPRESSED WITH THAT. GOOD FLOW. WE HAVE A LOT OF BOATS THAT COME IN AND TIE ALL AROUND THE MARINA, TIE IN FRONT OF THE CRUISE SHIPS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. CAN WE NOT GET THE MOORING FILLED BACK UP AND USE THIS DOCK TO START GENERATING MONEY AND OPEN THE BOAT RAMP SO WE CAN GET SOME ACTION GOING THROUGH THERE TO FLOW THE SILT.
I KNOW WE WON'T BE ABLE TO USE THE OTHER TWO DOCKS, BUT WE CAN START GETTING SOME MONEY IN TO THE CITY MARINA TO PAY FOR THIS FULL STAFF WE HAVE GOING. IF THAT DOCK IS CLEARED AND WHICH WE COULD GET IT CLEARED WITHIN TWO WEEKS YOU ALL CAN START GENERATING MONEY TO THE GET.
THE BOAT RAMP WILL GET OPEN WHERE WE CAN START MOVING THAT SETTLEMENT TO HELP OUT BECAUSE THERE'S NO BIG VESSELS HELPING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION NOW. I THINK IT WILL HELP.
>> CHAIRMAN: SCOTT? >> BRONSON TOLD ME TODAY THEY WOULD HAVE THE OILERS FINISHED TOMORROW. WATCHING THEM PUT THEM ON TODAY AND THEY WERE MAKING STEADY PROGRESS.
MR. ROSS AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEET, AT THE END OF IT, ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO TALK -- TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN OPEN THE RAMP. OPEN THAT DOCK. AND THE OILERS WAS THE ONLY HOLD UP THAT
I WAS AWARE OF. >> BOARD MEMBER: WE ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE WHALER ON NORTH 2 DOCK WHERE TERRY'S SLIP IS. THERE'S A WHALER BOARD MISSING RIGHT THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT JUST FELL OFF OR WHATEVER BUT I TIED UP THERE THE OTHER DAY AND THERE'S A BOARD OFF ON THAT SIDE THAT NEEDS TO GET REPLACED. THE BOLTS ARE STICKING OUT. BUT I THINK IF WE GET THE CLEAR ON THIS, WE NEED TO OPEN UP THE BOAT RAMP TO GET THE SETTLEMENT MOVING. AND FOR YOU ALL TO RENT OUT THE SPOTS ON THAT DINGY DOCK FOR THE SAILBOATS. THEY'RE COMING IN AND USING IT WE MIGHT
AS WELL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND MAKE MONEY. >> CHAIRMAN: I WALKED THE DOCK
[01:05:05]
THIS AFTERNOON. ALL THE EQUIPMENT WAS DOWN THERE AND THEY WERE WORKING ON IT TODAY DEFINITELY. LOOKED LIKE ALL THE WHERE'LLS WERE REATTACHED. THERE MAY BE A COUPLE OF SMALL PLACES THAT YET TO HAVE DONE. BUT THERE WASN'T A FENDER, THE RUB RAIL THAT WE USUALLY PUT ON.>> THE IT WASN'T INTENDED TO GO BACK ON THERE. COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE. FIRST OF ALL, WE WILL DO WHATEVER THE CITY TELLS US TO DO. WE WILL ALSO OFFER OUR OPINION EVERY TIME WE'RE ASKED ABOUT IT. COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE, ALLEN, LET'S OPEN IT UP SO WE CAN START MAKING MONEY. I DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY OFF THE RAMP. IF THAT NEVER HAPPENED, IT WOULD NOT HAVE ANY AFFECT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON THE INCOME FOR THE MARINA ITSELF. JUST THE RAMP.
YOU SAY LET'S GO AHEAD AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN AFTER WE'RE DONE AT NIGHT, LET'S OPEN IT UP SO THAT THEY CAN COME IN DURING THE DAYTIME. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GET $4 FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE BOATS THAT COME IN. IT'S GOING TO TAKE QUITE A BIT OF TIME TO GET THEM IN AND OUT AND USED TO PAYING US FOR IT. SO, BOTTOM LINE IS I'M GOING TO BASICALLY HAVE TO TAKE ONE PLOUGH AND DO NOTHING -- EMPLOYEE AND DO NOTHING BUT STATION THEM DOWN THERE SO THEY CAN TALK TO EVERY THING THAT COMES FUN WHETHER IT'S ONE OR I THINK WE CAN PUT 22 OF THEM DOWN THERE JUST TO COLLECT THE MONEY. IS THAT WISE? I DON'T KNOW. SHOULD WE OPEN IT UP AND JUST NOT CHARGE FOR IT, JUST LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS HAPPENS? MY CONCERN IN ALL OF THIS IS YOU CAN'T BE A LITTLE PREGNANT. YOU CAN'T BE A LITTLE OPEN. IF BOATS ARE COMING DOWN THE RAMP THEY'RE GOING TO GET TO THE DINGY DOCK UNTIL THEY DECIDE IT'S EASIER TO GO TO THE DAY DOCK. WHEN PEOPLE SEE BOATS ON THE DINGY DOCK THEY'RE GOING TO SAY LET'S GO TO THE DAY DOCK BECAUSE IT'S CLOSER AND ALL WE WANT TO DO IS GO TO LUNCH. NOW THAT WE'VE GOT BOATS IN THE DINGY DOCK AND PEOPLE HAVE SNUCK IN TO DAY DOCK, THE BOATS GOING BY ARE GOING TO SAY DO NOTHING BUT SPEND ALL DAYER - EVERY DAY, EIGHT HOURS A DAY PETE GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE DOCKS THAT AREN'T OPEN AND TRYING TO COLLECT FOUR OR FIVE BUCKS FROM PEOPLE THAT WOULD JUST ASSUME RATHER COME IN AT
NIGHT WHEN WE'RE NOT THERE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY. >> BOARD MEMBER: WHAT IT TAKE
FOR THE MOORING FIELD >> FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE TO GO BACK AROUND AND PUT ALL THE PERIMETER BOO GLASS IT. -- BUOYS. WE'VE GOT THE MONEY SET ASIDE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TEN BALLS THERE PUT BACK IN SHAPE. WE HAVE TO HAVE A DIVER. GO DOWN AND TOUCH EVERY LINK OF THAT CHAIN TO ENSURE IT'S THERE. IT'S OUR INTENT ALL OF THE CHAIN IS GOING TO REPLACED AND ALL THE TETHERS, ALL THE LINES, EVERYTHING WILL GO BACK ON THE BALLS. NONE OF THOSE BALLS ARE FUNCTIONAL. WE TOOK EVERYTHING OFF OTHER THAN THE FEW BOATS THAT CAME UP AND PUT A ROPE AROUND THEM. THEY'RE NOT USABLE. COULD THEY BE USABLE SHORTLY? IF I STARTED TOMORROW AND SAY I WANTED THIS OPEN IT WOULD FALL INTO MY MARCH OPENING THAT IT COULD BE COMPLETED.
JUST TO GET THE STUFF AND GET IT INSTALLED. SO NOW IF I'M PUTTING PEOPLE ON THE DEED, ASSUMPTION IS GOING TO BE THE MOORING FIELD IS OPEN. AND IT'S NOT.
>> BOARD MEMBER: I DON'T KNOW IF I AGREE WITH YOU. >> CHAIRMAN: BUT LET ME JUST
WEIGH IN ON THIS. >> JOE IS RIGHT. YOU CAN'T BE A LITTLE PREGNANT, I'M SORRY.
LET'S GET THIS MARINA DONE WITH THE OPERATORS, GET IT UP AND GOING. IF WE TRY TO PIECEMEAL THIS TO DEATH, LOCALS WANT TO GET ON THAT BOAT RAMP, THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR ME IS THAT BOAT RAMP AND THAT RAMP THERE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE PART OF THE MARONA. THAT SHOULD BE PARKS AND RECREATION. THE MARONA IS NOT MAKING ONE PENNY OUT OF THAT. IF WE WANT TO OPEN IT UP GET IT OUT OF THE MARINA ENTERPRISE FUND AND LET IT BE A PUBLIC FACILITY AND THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORT IT. TRYING TO RUN A BUSINESS AND I'M TELLING YOU, YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY MONEY FROM THE BOAT RAMP. EVEN WHEN WE TRY TO CHARGE, YEARS AGO PEOPLE WANTED TO SHOOT ME.
>> YOU ALL ARE MISSING THE POINT. THAT BOAT RAMP MOVES SILT. IT'S LIKE A DREDGING
MACHINE >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I AM JUST SAYING -- THE LITTLE PIECES DON'T MAKE SENSE. YOU GOT TO LET THIS PROJECT FINISH UP. TO OPEN PART OF IT -- AND HE IS RIGHT. YOU GOT TO PUT MANPOWER DOWN THERE THAT'S GOING TO COST MONEY. YOU GOT TO PAY FOR THE STAFF TO ENFORCE THAT. I THINK YOU'RE ASKING THAT'S NOT PART OF THE OVERALL PICTURE. WHEN THE WHOLE OPERATION GETS GOING THEY CAN PLAN, STAFF, IF THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO. BUT I THINK YOU ARE ASKING A LOT OUT OF THE MARINA ENTERPRISE FUND FOR NO REVENUE AND EXPENSES GOING UP JUST TO GET ONE PORTION UP. HE IS RIGHT. BOATS WILL START SCOOTING IN. IT IS A NIGHTMARE
[01:10:01]
CHASING BOATS AROUND. AS SOON AS ONE TOW GETS ON THE FOOT, THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW IT IS A CREEPY CRAWLY THING. I'M OPPOSED. I AM GOING TO SUPPORT JOE ON THIS.>> CHAIRMAN: SCOTT? >> BOARD MEMBER: I DISAGREE. I THINK THE MARINA SHOULD BE OPEN EVEN IF YOU CAN'T PARK ON THE DINGY DOCK. PARK IN THE PARKING LOT AND STILL THE SILT ON THE WAY OUT. LET ME GO FURTHER. THEY CAN TIE TO THAT FLOAT DOCK. BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT DOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PHOTOS TIME OF YEAR. BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF BOATS. IT'S NOT GOING BE HUNDREDS OF BOATS GOING THROUGH THE DINGY DOCK EVERY DAY THAT SOMEBODY'S GOT TO RUN OFF. AND YOU CAN MAKE MONEY ON THE DINGY DOCK. NOT A LOT. BY CHARGING PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME IN AND GO TO LUNCH. AND LET THEM PARK THERE FOR TEN
DOLLARS. >> BOARD MEMBER: THAT'S DIFFERENT. THE DINGY DOCK IS THE DINGY DOCK. NOW YOU WANT IT TO BE THE DAY DOCK SO NOW I'VE GOT BIGGER BOATS COMING
>> BOARD MEMBER: I WAS FILLING IT UP. MAKE MONEY. AND YOU CAN PUT A SIGN ON THOSE OTHER DOCKS AND I BELIEVE THE CAPTAINS AND EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND HERE PRETTY MUCH TELL THEM DON'T GET ON THERE. IF YOU POLICE THEM. I DON'T THINK THE POLICING JOB IS THAT BIG BECAUSE THERE AIN'T
THAT MANY BOATS LAUNCHED >> AGAIN, WHATEVER THE CITY CHOOSES TO HAVE THE MARINA DO, WE'LL DO WHATEVER THE CITY CHOOSES TO HAVE US DO. IF WE HAVE A PORTION OF THIS, THAT SAYS EITHER YOU ARE OPENED OR CLOSED. ANYONE THAT SAYS THAT EVERYBODY WILL PLAY BY THE RULES HAS NEVER RUN A MARINA WITH PEOPLE WHO AREN'T SLIP HOLDERS THAT THINK THE WHOLE MARINA
BELONGS TO THEM. JUST MY TWO CENTS. >> BOARD MEMBER: THE CONVERSATION LAST WEEK AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF OPENING THE DINGY DOCKS AND THE BOAT RAMP. SO THAT WAS THE QUESTION. AND MR. CHAPMAN BROUGHT UP THAT PERHAPS WE SHOULD DO A STUDY AT LEAST ON THE RAMP. BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN CONCERN WITH THE LARGER BOATS AND WHAT SHOULD BE THE WEIGHT LIMIT FOR THE LARGER BOATS. WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION TONIGHT AGAIN. I BELIEVE THE CITY IS MOVING FORWARD ON HAVING SOME STUDY DONE ENGINEERING TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT THE RAMP CAN SUSTAIN. SO IT MAY BE THAT TALKING ABOUT THE RAMP AT THIS POINT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT HAVING SOMETHING THE COMMISSION OF ENGINEER SAYS IT IS SAFER FOR 2,000, 10,000 BOATS OR WHATEVER AND LIMIT IT TO THAT. OR TWO
AXLES RATHER THAN THREE >> FOLLOWING UP ON ANOTHER COMMENT THAT SCOTT MADE. I KNOW THERE'S AN ACTIVE WORK ORDER WITH THE CITY FOR THE RAMP THAT GOES DOWN THE BOAT RAMP TO THE LANDING PLATFORM. THAT IT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED OUT SAFE AND NEEDS TO BE REATTACHED AND RECONNECTED IN A DIFFERENT MANNER. AND THE CITY IS LOOKING AT THAT TOO. SO WE CAN'T USE THE RAMP UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THE WEIGHT IS. WE CAN'T USE THE WALKWAY DOWN TO THE OTHER ONE UNTIL WE HAVE THE CITY CLEAR THAT WORK ORDER ON IT. SO THAT LEAVES THE DINGY DOCK ITSELF THAT MAYBE SHOULD BE FINISHED IN A COUPLE DAYS. ONCE AGAIN, WHATEVER THE CITY CHOOSES US TO DO, THE CITY WILL HAVE TO ASSUME ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE CONTRACTOR THAT WHATEVER THEY GOT THAT'S IT. ONCE WE START USING IT, NO ONE IS GOING TO COME BACK NO, NO, NO THAT WASN'T
THE WAY ITS IF. >> CHAIRMAN: SO MAYBE THE DECISION IS MADE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO THAT THE DINGY DOCK IS COMPLETED 100%. AND THEN THE COMMISSIONERS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE AWARE AND THEY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT THAT OPEN OR NOT. I GUESSES THAT ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE THEIR DECISION. SO THAT MEETING IS IN TWO WEEKS. A WEEK-AND-A-HALF.
>> I THINK THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IS OF THE MARINA SHOULD BE OPEN THE BOAT RAMP. IT'S BEEN CLOSED TOO LONG. YOU GO DOWN THERE AND JUST PEOPLE DRIVING AROUND DOWNTOWN AND THEY SEE THOSE BIG BLOCKS OF STONE OUT THERE. BOATS ON TRAILERS. REALLY GIVES A NEGATIVE LOOK ON FERNANDINA BEACH. PEOPLE BRING THEIR BOATS TO THE HAMPTON DOWN THERE AND THEY SPEND THE WEEKEND AND GO FISHING AND USE THAT BOAT RAMP. THERE'S ONLY A FEW CHARTER CAPTAINS THAT USE THAT BOAT RAMP. I MEAN, THE FEW THAT USE IT COULD PARK THEIR BOAT OR TIE THEIR BOAT UP ON THE BOAT RAMP DOCK. I JUST THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. I REALLY DO.
>> CHAIRMAN: THERE'S A FEW MORE HURDLES WE HAVE TO CROSS. >> BOARD MEMBER: THE BOAT RAMP
IS THE HEART OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA. >> CHAIRMAN: IT HAS BEEN FOR A
WHILE. >> BOARD MEMBER: PEOPLE PUT THEIR BOAT IN THE WATER THEY MIGHT BE RENTING A SLIP LATER ON YOU KNOW. INSTEAD OF USING THE BOAT RAMP THEY'RE GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BARTELL AND TIE THEIR BOAT UP ON THE DOCK THERE AND THE SHIP GOES BY. I WAS DOWN THERE TODAY AND ALMOST SET MY BOAT RIGHT UP ON THE RAMP. IT'S TERRIBLE.
[01:15:06]
>> BOARD MEMBER: AS A BOARD MEMBER, MY TWO CENTS ON IT. I DEFINITELY GET, JOE, WHERE YOU ARE AT AS FAR AS THE MANAGEMENT ASPECT OF THE PIECE AND THE CITY IS THE OWNER OF THE MARINA. SO, AS IN A PRIVATE BUSINESS THEY WOULD MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER THEY'RE GOING BE OPEN OR NOT.
BUT I THINK AND I HATE TO USE THE WORD SYMBOLIC BUT THE MARINA HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. IF THERE IS ANY PIECE OF THAT MARINA THAT COULD BE OPEN IN A VERY LOGICAL SENSE AND VERY MAN MANAGERIAL SENSE THAT'S EASY. I THINK YOU ARE SPOT ON. PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE I'M GOING BRUNCH AND THAT'S ALL I'M THINKING ABOUT IS GOING TO LUNCH AND TYING UP MY BOAT AND WALKING AWAY. AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF THAT. BUT I THINK IF THERE IS SOME WAY THAT THE PIECE OF THAT MARINA COULD BE OPEN FOR USE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL THING. AND I THINK AS A BOARD, IF WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT ON WHAT PIECE WE THINK COULD BE OPEN, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE ADVISE, RIGHT, AT A COMMISSIONER MEETING THIS WHAT'S WE FEEL LIKE SHOULD BE OPEN. WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO ENTERTAIN OPENING THAT. SO I THINK WE DO THAT AND COME UP WITH A SUGGESTION FOR WHAT WE FEEL NEEDS TO BE OPENED AND PRESENT THAT TO THE CITY COMMISSIONERS. AND TO THE CITY MAN
MANAGER. >> I AM GOING TO SAY WE HAVE A LOT OF HEART FELT SENTIMENTS.
WE WANT THAT OPEN AND WE KNOW IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT. BUT AS A MANAGER, I AM SAYING CONTINUE WITH THE LOGIC PORTION OF THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION. I KNOW WE ALL WANT TO GET THERE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT WE DON'T TRY TO FORCE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SORT OF SOLVE A MOMENTARY FEELING OR NEED RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, YOU OPEN UP THOSE DOCKS AND THERE'S NO REVENUE COMING IN, YOU ARE ASKING THE MARINA ENTERPRISE FUND TO PAY WITH SOMETHING FROM THE EXISTING BOATERS RIGHT NOW. THERE'S NO MONEY COMING IN TO SUPPORT THE STAFF TO MAINTAIN BECAUSE IT'S GOING BE AN ISSUE. THEY'VE GOT
A FULL STAFF >> THE FULL STAFF DOES NOT CONSIST OF ONE-AND-A-HALF PEOPLE. IT'S NOT A FULL STAFF. MY FULL STAFF IS SEVEN. WHEN WE'RE FULLY OPEN AND FUNCTIONING AND MAKING MONEY I HAVE IT IN THE BUDGET FOR THE BOOKKEEPER, ME AND THE DOCK MASTER AND SEVEN
OTHER PEOPLE. NOW I HAVE ONE >> SOMEBODY SAID THERE WAS FULL STAFF
>> THAT'S A MISTAKEN STATEMENT. >> JAY FULL-TIME AND I HAVE ADAM FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
>> BOARD MEMBER: AND A DOCK MASTER AND YOUR ACCOUNTANT >> WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY'RE NOT DOWN THERE TYING UP BOATS THEY'RE COUNTING MONEY BECAUSE NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE AN ACCOUNTANT THAT'S GOING TO SPEND FOUR HOURS CHASING 20 BUCKS. BUT IF IT IS THE WILL OF THE CITY TO HAVE THAT BOAT RAMP OPEN, WE'LL GET IT OPEN AND WE WILL MAINTAIN IT AND WE WILL MAKE IT WORK. AND WHEN SOMEONE GETS HURT ON ONE OF THE OTHER DOCKS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT
WAS OPEN I'LL BE ABLE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO. >> BOARD MEMBER: MAKE ANY DISCUSSION WE WANT, IT'S UP TO THAT GUY, THAT GUY AND THE OTHER GUYS ON THE BOARD WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO OPEN THAT. I WAS AT THE MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT AND THE COMMENT WAS MADE THEY WANTED IT OPEN BY DECEMBER 1ST. SO, TO ME THAT DECISION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE [LAUGHTER] YOU WOULD THINK IF THAT DECISION WAS MADE THEY MAY LET THE MARINA KNOW IT [LAUGHTER] THEY'D SAY SOMETHING TO US.
>> CHAIRMAN: SO I HAVE A SUGGESTION. I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO APPROACH THE CITY MANAGER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE MOVING OF THE CHANNEL. SO I CAN JUST INCLUDE THAT IN MY DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND SEE WHAT HIS FEELINGS ON, SEE WHERE WE STAND AND JUST TELL HIM WHAT THE CONSENSUS WAS. I DON'T KNOW THERE WAS A CON CONSENSUS. I'LL SHARE WE WENT BOTH WAYS BUT ULTIMATELY HE SHOULD BRING IT BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND I THINK THAT'S
ALL WE CAN DO WITH THIS ONE. >> BOARD MEMBER: IF THE PROJECT MANAGER SAYS THAT THE RAMP, THE DINGY DOCK AND -- THEN LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THE DOCK OPEN AND THE BOAT RAMP OPEN.
>> CHAIRMAN: ALL RIGHT. GOOD. WE BEAT IT TO DEATH. MARINA MANAGER REPORT. QUITE A FEW
[Item 7]
ITEMS HERE >> IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO GO THROUGH.
WE DISCUSSED HAVING THE SUNSET DOCK AND PUTTING A SIGN UP THAT WAS SAYING WELCOME TO FLORIDA.
I MEAN, WELCOME TO FERNANDINA. AND DOING THAT TYPE OF STUFF AND ENDED UP FINDING OUT THAT DOES REQUIRE GOING THROUGH A FEW DIFFERENT PLACES TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE. SO, I'VE GOT
[01:20:05]
JEFF WHO IS GOING TO BE COLLECTING MONEY FOR THE DINGY DOCK WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WORKING ON THIS TO PUT UP THE SIGN THAT SAYS WELCOME TO FERNANDINA HARBOR. IT'S REQUIRED. IT'S NECESSARY. IT DOES HAVE TO GO IN FRONT OF MORE THAN ONE BOARD. I TRULY UNDERSTAND WHY. THEY WANT CONFORMITY. WE FOUND OUT BY HAVING IT EIGHT FEET UP IN THE AIR SO YOU COULD GET A PICTURE BROUGHT UP A WHOLE RUE RULES. THE STANDARD HEIGHT IS SIX FEET. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN LEFT BY THE SIDE. IT IS BEING WORKED ON AS WE SPEAK. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THE BOOKKEEPER IS DOING FOR US. NEXT THING. I WANTED TO REPORT ON THE FORT LAUDERDALE BOAT SHOW. LAST MEETING WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GOING DOWN THERE AND GOING TO MAKE THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION AT A PRESS CONFERENCE. THAT'S THE BOOTH THAT WE HAD THERE. THERE WERE OVER 30 DIFFERENT OUTLET MEDIA PLACES, MAGAZINES, INDEPENDENT WRITERS, WHATEVER, THERE FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SAID... FERNANDINA HARBOR IS THE PLAN IS TO HAVE IT OPEN IN MARCH OF 2020 WITH THE FUEL DOCK TO FOLLOW LATER IN THE YEAR. THAT'S THE WORD THAT'S GETTING OUT ON THE STREET. IT WAS NICE JUST TO SEE THAT WE DID HAVE PEOPLE COME IN FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND THEY STUCK AROUND TO HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH US. SO, SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT. AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING WE'RE HEARING ABOUT COMMENTS BEING MADE AND THIS COMMENT WAS MADE.WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO KEEP THE SHORELINE CLEAN? THE COMMENT CAME UP THROUGH THE PROJECT MANAGER TO THE MARINA STAFF THAT NOW THAT THEY'RE FINISHED WORKING ON THESE DOCKS IS THERE SOME WAY WE CAN GET IN THERE AND LEAP IT UP. I GUESS ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO WE SAID THIS MAKES SENSE. I'VE GOT THE BOATS TO DO IT. I HAVE A FEW PEOPLE. WE WEREN'T BUSY YET. SO WE SAID WE'D BE GLAD TO DO IT. WHY IT CAME BACK UP I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE IF ANYONE HAD WALKED DOWN THERE THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN WE'VE GOTTEN ALL THE STUFF UP. WE RIPPED OUT AND REBUILT THIS ENTIRE DOCK TO MAKE IT PRESENTABLE FOR PEOPLE. SO I THINK WEST TRACK AND THE MARINA STAFF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. ON THE DINGY DOCK. THESE HOSES WERE THERE FRIDAY -- BY THE WAY, REMEMBER YOU JUST DON'T GO TO WORK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 9-5. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE THERE, TWO PEOPLE IN THE BOAT FOR SAFETY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE TIDE RIGHT. AND YOU HAVE NO HAVE NOTHING ELSE GOING ON TO DO IT. SO, I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONCE A DAY FOR MAYBE THREE HOURS THAT PEOPLE COULD DO THIS ON A GOOD WEEK. ONCE A DAY. YOU CAN'T JUST JUMP OUT THERE.
BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT. WE DID BRING IN THE SPECIALIST TO MAKE SURE THE INSPECTION WAS GOING RIGHT. HE LOOKED AROUND AND TOOK OFF SO WE WERE HAPPY WITH HIM. SOMETHING ELSE I WANTED TO BRING UP IS ON THE WEBSITE NOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WEST TRACK AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME IN. AT THE SAME TIME, THAT WE WENT DOWN THERE TO THE FORT LAUDERDALE BOAT SHOW WE ALSO INTRODUCED THIS VERY SIMPLE FORM ON THE BACKSIDE OF OUR FH MARINA WEBSITE. PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHEN ARE WE ABLE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS? WHY AREN'T YOUR BOOKS OPEN. WE SAID MARCH 2020.
NOW WE HAVE THE A ABILITY FOR THEM TO MAKE THE RESERVATIONS. GOSH, JOE, WHEN ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO OPEN UP YOUR WAITING LIST. HERE IT IS. THE WAITING LIST IS OPEN. AS YOU HEARD EARLIER WE HAVE 14 BOATS ON IT ALREADY THAT HAVE COME THROUGH HERE TO GET TO IT. WE OPENED UP THIS RENDEZVOUS GROUP AND WE'VE GOT ONE THAT SIGNED UP FOR 12 BOATS IN MAY. IN APRIL. WE KNOW THEY'RE COMING AND OTHERS. BY USING THE FORM THOUGH OUR INTENT IS NOW YOU ARE TYPING IT IN AND WE'RE GETTING THE SPELLING RIGHT, THE EMAIL RIGHT, THE LENGTH OF THE BOAT, THE SAME OF THE BOAT AND THIS IS ALSO PHONE FRIENDLY SO ANYONE WHO IS WORKING DOWN AT THE COAST DOESN'T HAVE TO STOP AT A COMPUTER. THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PUT THIS INFORMATION IN AND TELL US WHAT KIND OF BOAT THEY HAVE. IF IT'S CATAMARAN. WHEN THEY'RE COMING AND GOING. AND BOTTOM LINE IS WHAT DO YOU WANT. A LOT OF THEM ARE ALREADY GETTING IS PUT ME ON THE WAIT LIST: SO WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT. IN ADDITION TO THIS, A DECISION WAS MADE, WE JUST DID THIS IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE OLD METHOD OF SHRIMP FESTIVAL RESERVATIONS.
JANUARY 2ND AT 6:30 A.M. WE'LL OPEN UP THE RESERVATIONS FOR SHRIMP FESTIVAL. IF HISTORY HOLDS TRUE BY 6:45 WE WILL BE COMPLETELY SOLD OUT. NOW OUR DOCK MASTER WHO HAS BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK AS I'M FEEDING HIM INFORMATION, THESE ARE THE BOATS WE KNOW ARE COMING. THEY HAVE TO MOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE. THESE BOATS ARE COMING BACK THAT LEFT. THESE ARE THE BOATS ON THE WAITING LIST. BY THE WAY YOU HAVE TAKEN RESERVATIONS FOR SOME OF THESE
[01:25:04]
SO START WORKING YOUR MAGIC AND COME UP WITH HOW MANY LINEAR FEET ARE WE GOING TO HAVE FOR SHRIMP FESTIVAL. KNOWING THEY WANT TO BRING IN MULTIPLE VESSELS THEMSELVES. BUT THE WORD TO THE COMMUNITY IS WE'VE BEEN TOLD WE WILL BE OPEN FOR SHRIMP FESTIVAL AND WE'RE MAKING EVERY PLAN THAT WE CAN TO BE OPEN FOR THE SHRIMP FESTIVAL ITSELF. LAST THING THAT I HAVE, I BELIEVE, IS KEVIN MCCARTHY ASKED ME TO DO SOMETHING AND I ATTEMPTED TO DO IT AND WASN'T ABLE TO. THE LAST MEETING IT WAS SAID CAN WE GET THE CITY'S COME AM TROLLER IN HERE TO DISCUSS THE DEPTH RATE. I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH HER AND SHE PROVIDED ME THIS VERY SIMPLE, EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. IN 2016 THERE WAS 2 AN $5 MILLION OF DEBT. 2017 WE HAVE A $6000000 MILLION LINE OF CREDIT AND $3 MILLION TO GET THE MARINA BUILT. IN ADDITION THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL OF 1.8 MILLION IN INNER-CITY LOANS TO THE MARINA SINCE ITS INCEPTION. SO, THAT'S $11.4 MILLION THE MARINA IS IN DEBT. THE CITY IS ANTICIPATING FEMA IS GOING TO PAY 8.4 MAYBE A LITTLE MORE OR LESS, BUT THAT'S THE NUMBER THEY'RE WORKING ON. SO, THAT STILL LEAD LEAVES US WITH A $3 MILLION DEBT. THE 2016 DATE OF 2,500, THE INNER-CITY WITH THE LOINS OF CREDIT, 5.5 MILLION WITH NO COSTS, NO CHARGES, NO SUPERVISORY REFUNDING OR ANYTHING ELSE. WHAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE BUDGET WAS ABOUT $850,000 A YEAR PAYMENT.WELL 85 THE THOUSAND $303 WHAT'S WE STARTED OFF WITH. OCTOBER 1ST HAVING TO COME UP TO PAY ON THE LOAN JUST TO START WORKING THIS AWAY. THERE MAUL IN SAID THAT SCAN TECH HAD COME IN AND GIVEN A PROPOSAL WHERE THEY COULD PAY IT OFF WITH CITY FUND AND PAY THEMSELVES BACK.
IT WAS WAY OVER MY HEAD WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINANCES. BUT AS FAR AS THIS IS CONCERNED PAULINE SAID SHE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THIS ONE. SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECEMBER. BUT IF THERE WAS STILL A NEED FOR HER TO COME TO A MEETING PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH THE QUESTIONS SO THAT SHE CAN HAVE TIME TO GET THE ANSWERS FOR YOU. SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE THERE. AS I ALREADY SAID, THE AMERICAN CRUISE MONEY IS -- THEY'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH US ABOUT USING THE OUTSIDE DOCK. TO LOAD AND UNLOAD PASSENGERS. ON SUNDAY FOR 30 MINUTES, TAKE EVERYBODY OFF. GO OUT. COME BACK WHEN IT'S TIME TO PUT EVERYBODY BACK ON THE BOAT.
WE'RE TALKING WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER. WE'RE TALKING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE DOCK JUST TO SEE WHAT THEIR OPINION IS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY IT SO THAT THE CITY CAN SEE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON AT THE MARINA THAT'S POSITIVE. THAT BOAT IS $2.75 A FOOT TO COME IN. THAT BOAT IS 200 FEET LONG. DO I WANT TO DEAL WITH ONE BOAT TWICE A DAY FT TO GO COLLECT $4? WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO BUT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON IS GETTING THE BIG BOATS BACK AND YOU GUYS BACK IN THE MARINA. THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE MONEY FOR THE MARINA. GET THEM BACK FIRST. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I HAVE OTHER THAN THERE WAS SOME TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE OPENING ON THIS BOARD. WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT. AND ALSO WHETHER OR NOT WE NEEDED TO LOCATE A NEW RECORDING SECRETARY. THAT I'LL TURN BACK OVER TO YOU. UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OF ME FROM THE MANAGER'S REPORT. AND I
HAVE ALL OF THIS AVAILABLE TO YOU IF YOU NEED IT. >> BOARD MEMBER: I THINK YOU NEED TO DO BOTH. GET THE CRUISE SHIP THERE AND ALSO OPEN THE OTHER. GET MONEY BOTH WAYS.
ANYWAY YOU CAN GET MONEY. >> SPEAKER: OKAY. >> MAY I JUST MAKE A POINT?
>> CHAIRMAN: SURE. PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. MY NAME IS STEVE HARRINGTON. 617 SANTA MARIA DRIVE HERE IN FERNANDINA. I LOVE THE WATERFRONT AND I TAKE A LOOK AROUND AND AS A PROJECT MANAGER, NEWSPAPERS, ET CETERA, YES BACK WHEN THEY ACTUALLY MADE MONEY, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE'S NO TOMORROW IN OUR BUSINESS. IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAD TO PUBLISH SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THERE WAS NO TOMORROW. WHY DO WE NOT HAVE THE DINGY DOCK OPERATIONAL? WHY IS THE FIELD NOT POPULATED BY MOORINGS? THESE ARE SIMPLE THINGS TO BE DONE. THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE GOVERNMENT APPROVAL. IT SIMPLY REQUIRES THE WILL TO DO IT. I
[01:30:09]
DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER BECAUSE THAT'S MINUTIA. A GOOD, SOLID BUSINESS PLAN SAYS WHEN THINGS FAIL -- AND THEY ALWAYS DO -- WE KNOW WHAT TO DO. AGAIN, MY NEWSPAPER EXPERIENCE, 24 BY 7. GOD ONLY KNOWS I HAVE MORE ULCERS THAN CLUSTER HAD INDIANS.BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DID. THREE YEARS. GENTLEMEN, MAKE IT HAPPEN. THE OTHER STUFF, THE BIGGER PICTURE, IT WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STEVE HARRINGTON.
>> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU, STEVE. ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOE?
>> BOARD MEMBER: I JUST HAVE ONE. THIS IS HISTORICAL QUESTION. WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND I MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN DOWN THE LINE. IS THERE A FEE TO USE THE BOAT RAMP?
>> CHARGED BY THE CITY. NOT CHARGED BY THE COUNTY. THAT IS FREE AQ ACCESS. USE THE DOCK.
>> YEARS AND YEARS AGO THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT AT FEES THEN THERE WAS PARKING PASSES AND SO FORTH.
BUT, OF COURSE, EVERYONE RATHER NOT PAY. SO IT WENT AWAY. I HAVE A BIT OF AN OPINION ON THAT. BUT YES IT WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU HAD TO DEDICATE STAFF AND THE MONEY GOING IN AND
ALL THE POLITICAL ISSUES. THE COMMUNITY SAID NO. >> BOARD MEMBER: OKAY. BECAUSE
THERE'S JUST BEEN SPECULATION OUT THERE. >> BOARD MEMBER: ESSENTIALLY NO.
THEN THERE'S GRANTS TIED IN WITH THE REPORT THERE. >> CHAIRMAN: ALL RIGHT. I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, JOE. HAVE YOU BEEN APPROACHED YET BY THIS VICTORY CRUISE LINE NEXT YEAR?
>> I HAVE ONE EMAIL CONVERSATION WITH ONE PERSON THERE THAT WAS GOING TO GET ME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN BACK FROM THERE BUT THE VICTORY CRUISE WAS ANOTHER ONE IN ADDITION TO THE AMERICAN CRUISE LINE WHICH WASN'T PART OF THE SIX BOATS THAT WERE COMING THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME IN TO TOWN ALSO AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE THE DOCK TO TIE UP. ANOTHER 200 FOOT BOAT AT $2.50 A FOOT THAT WOULD COME UP FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS AT A TIME. SO, FIVE DOLLARS A FOOT FOR THAT ONE. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DOCK AVAILABLE FOR THEM. THAT'S THE REASON -- AMERICAN CRUISE LINES FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, IF THAT YOU DON'T KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN THE BEST COMPANY TO WORK WITH. WHEN WE HAD A PROBLEM THEY UNDERSTOOD IT AND WORKED WITH KEVIN TO DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO. ALL THROUGH THIS THEY HAVE GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO TRY TO KEEP BRINGING THE PEOPLE HERE AND THEY'RE JUST ASKING OKAY WE HAVE A QUICK TURN AROUND. DO YOU THINK WE CAN TRY IT? SENT THEM PICTURES OF WHAT THEY WOULD BE EXPECTING AND IF THEY USE IT SUCCESSFULLY, WE'RE NOT TALKING STEADY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OFF-LOADING AND ON LOADING. GET EVERYONE OFF, MOVE AWAY, COME BACK AND PUT EVERYONE BACK ON. IF THAT'S WORKS THERE'S A WAY TO GENERATE INCOME FOR THE MARINA THAT WILL BRING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO BUT WALK AROUND AND SPEND MONEY AND ENJOY THE SCENERY.
>> CHAIRMAN: I WAS JUST WONDERING BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE VICTORY CRUISE SHIP. I THINK IT'S 285 FEET AND CARRIES 200 PASSENGERS. SO, YOU HAVE THAT
APPROACH. >> THE ONE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THEM. BUT THEY WERE -- I DON'T THINK THEY WERE READY TO DISCUSS WITH US WHAT THEY NEEDED BECAUSE THEY HADN'T FIGURED OUT
WHAT THEIR OPTIONS WERE ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY. >> CHAIRMAN: CAL FRANKLIN WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY SAID THEY HAVE TAKEN TO THE PORT ABOUT TYING UP. AND THERE WERE ISSUES THERE. SO THEY MAY HAVE AN OPTION. SO. GREAT. THANK YOU. LET'S SEE IF ANYONE WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE WITH US TONIGHT THAT WASN'T ON THE AGENDA? PAUL, DO YOU HAVE
[Item 8]
ANYTHING? >> BOARD MEMBER: JUST IN THE COMMENT THING. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, JOE, IS ON THE NEXT MEETING I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE PUBLIC [INAUDIBLE] ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION. PUBLIC BOAT RAMP. BECAUSE TO ME THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I DON'T WANT TO GET ON A TANGENT ABOUT THE BEACH. BUT THEY'RE LIKE THAT.
SOMETIMES PUBLIC ACCESS PIECES ARE JUST NOT ABOUT THE REV NOW THAT IT PRODUCES. I KNOW WE GET STUCK ON THAT. AND I KNOW DEFINITELY WHEN WE'RE IN A TIME WHERE THERE'S DEBT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL WE THINK ABOUT IS WHAT EVERY PIECE OF THE MARINA CAN DO TO ERASE THAT DEBT. BUT THAT PUBLIC BOAT RAMP DOES, I THINK, A LOT MORE THAN JUST THE REVENUE. I WOULD JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT US AS A MARINA ADVISORY BOARD IS THAT WE MOVE CAUTIOUSLY IN WHAT WE DO AND SAY
[01:35:03]
ABOUT THAT PIECE OF SMALL REAL ESTATE. I WISH MR. WILLIAMS DIDN'T GO BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HIM FOR SOME OF HIS DATA SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE IT. BECAUSE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MIXING APPLES AND ORANGES AND ORANGES. BUT TO ME THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BOAT RAMP THAT HAS SUPPORT FOR CERTAIN CAPACITY THAN HAVING AN ACCESS POINT WHERE I JUST THROW OUT A CANOE OR KAYAK. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMPARING THINGS TOGETHER. BUT I REALLY KNOW WITH THE MULTIPLICITY OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN NOW AT THAT WATER FRONTD, THE PARKING IS GOING TO BE IN THERE. THE TRAILER BOAT PARKING IS GOING TO BE HUGE. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ON OUR AGENDA. OR AT LEAST I WOULD LIKE IT ON THE AGENDA FOR AHEALTHY DISCUSSION. >> CHAIRMAN: WE CAN HAVE THAT. >> BOARD MEMBER: ABOUT PRESE PRESERVATION. THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON THE AGENDA IS I DON'T KNOW HOW -- AND WE CAN DO IT DURING THE DISCUSSION. BUT THERE HAS TO BE A WAY WHERE WE JUST MARK A POINT AND SPACE WHERE WE SAY THAT THIS ADVISORY -- THIS MARINA ADVISORY BOARD IS GOING TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE CITY. BECAUSE WE JUST KEEP ROLLING ON IN TIME. I REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT -- AND THIS IS NOT A SLURJ AGAINST ANYBODY. BUT I FEEL LIKE ALL THESE POCKET CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN AND THEN THE MARINA ADVISORY BOARD IS NOT PRIVY AND WE WANT TO BRING UP A DISCUSSION TOPIC AND IT GETS OFF COURSE IN HERE WHICH EATS UP TIME. BECAUSE NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEBODY'S HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND IT'S BEEN PRETTY VIBRANT AND DIRECTIONS ALREADY MOVING AND WE'VE ABSOLUTELY HAD NO INPUT. I THINK WE'VE BEEN UP, WHAT, A YEAR NOW, OVER A YEAR. AND THAT HASN'T CHANGED A BIT. SO, SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER THAT HAS -- YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE PARKING THING IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. YOU HAVE NO PHYSICALNESS OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND YET WE'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, SPECK LATING. I THINK WE ALL OH CREATED ANXIETY. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THESE TWO PIECES THERE. MY LAST POINT THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, AND IT KIND OF GOES ALONG WITH THE WORKING WATERFRONT. SO, WHEN I MAKE THIS STATEMENT I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S REALLY -- GOSH, I HOPE THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY AND THE BOATS, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT THAT WOULD BE. I MEAN, WHEN I LOOK AT PHOTOGRAPHS OF WHAT PEOPLE TAKE, SHRIMP BOATS COME UP 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME. THEY WERE LIKE THIS VESSEL THAT DANCES ON THE WATER. THEY'VE GOT THEIR NETS AND IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL AT EVERY ANGLE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE AS A BOARD OR AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE STILL HAVE SO MANY OTHER INDUSTRIES OUT THERE. WHEN JOE STARTED GOING THROUGH THE LIST OR SOMEBODY STARTED GOING THROUGH THE LIST WITH DIVERS, WITH CHARTERS, ISLAND TOURS, ECO-TOURS, TAXI, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INDUSTRY THAT'S OUT THERE. AND I ONLY STICK ON THE CHARTER BOATS WITH THE FISHING BECAUSE THAT TO ME IS THE MOST ADVISE ILL. DIVERS ON THE BOAT HE IS CLEANING A BOAT AND WE DON'T SEE THEM. THEY'RE LIKE THE UNSUNG OCCUPATION. BUT WHEN THE FISHERMEN COME BACK THERE'S A CATCH THAT COMES BACK. IT'S VERY VISIBLE. IT'S VERY TANGIBLE TO AN ISLAND. YOU KNOW, TO A MARITIME ISLAND. TO AN ISLAND THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, EITHER ON THE BACK WATER OR ON THE OCEANSIDE. TOURISTS LOVE TO SEE THAT. KIDS LOVE TO SEE THAT. SO I THINK THE PRESERVATION OF A WATERFRONT AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO BRING THE SHRIMPING INDUSTRY BECOME AND I HOPE WE DO, I HOPE THAT HAPPENS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE JUST AS VIBRANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANOTHER INDUSTRY OR ANOTHER SEGMENT OF INDUSTRY DOESN'T GO AWAY OR WE DON'T PUSH THEM AWAY. I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
>> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU. WE HAVE AN AWESOME SUNSET PARK AND IT HASN'T BEEN ADVERTISED AT ALL.
WHEN YOU SIT IN PARKING LOT C AND D AND LOOK TO THE LEFT, TO THE SOUTH, WEST, YOU SEE SHRIMP BOATS. YOU SEE THEM THERE TODAY. YOU LOOK DUE EAST AND SEE -- DUE WEST LOOKING AT THE PERFECT SUNSET AND YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT AND YOU SEE ALL THE BIG VESSELS PULLING IN. YOU GET ALL THREE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT WE HAVE. HOW TO GET IT OUT THERE IS NOT ANY MAP, ANY ADVERTISEMENT OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE. IF THEY WERE JUST POLISH THAT UP, THE GROWNWAYS THERE, EVERYTHING'S THERE, AND ADD PARKING, EVERYBODY THAT COMES TO FERNANDINA CAN SEE IT ALL. IF THEY'LL JUST UTILIZE WHAT WE HAVE. WITH LESS SPENDING MONEY
ON THE TAXPAYER'S PART. >> CHAIRMAN: THAT'S A GREAT POINT. THANK YOU, AL. CHAPMAN,
[01:40:01]
ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SHARE? TERRY HOW ABOUT YOU? >> BOARD MEMBER: YOU PROBABLY DON'T REMEMBER BUT THE FIRST THING I SUGGESTED WAS TO HAVE A SHRIMP BOAT DOWN THERE ANCHORED ON THE DOCK. ON DISPLAY. SO, PEOPLE WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO THE MARINA AND HAVE STAFF ON THE SHRIMP BOAT TO SHOW PEOPLE, HAVE CERTAIN TIMES DURING THE DAY WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY SHOW HOW THEY CATCH A SHRIMP AND WHAT KIND OF SHRIMP AND WHAT ELSE THEY CATCH AND WHERE THEY CATCH THEM ON THE BEACH AT THE INLET. THE HISTORY OF THE BURR BANKS. HAVE IT ALL ON THE BOAT. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT WOULD JUST -- BESIDES THE BOAT RAMP BEING OPEN I THINK THAT
WOULD BE MY NUMBER TWO PRIORITY. THANK YOU. >> CHAIRMAN: SCOTT?
>> BOARD MEMBER: I PRETTY MUCH SCHEDULE ALL MY MINE. >> CHAIRMAN: COLEMAN, ANYTHING
TO SHARE? >> BOARD MEMBER: REITERATE THE THING ABOUT I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY BUT ASKING FOR THE RAMP AND THE DOCK FOR THE BOAT RAMP TO BE PUT IN THE GENERAL FUND.
JUST A THOUGHT BUS IT IS NOT A REVENUE PRODUCER. IF IT BECOMES PART OF THE PARK DEPARTMENTS.
IT IS A GREAT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY IT'S JUST FINANCIAL. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING. WE DID ACTUALLY ASK THE COMMISSION TO DO THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY IT JUST NEEDS TO BE REITERATED. AND THEN, LASTLY, I DO WANT TO TALK, I MEAN, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A VACANCY WITH [INAUDIBLE] DEPARTURE. I AM WANTING TO SHEP DOWN AS RECORDING SECRETARY. I WANT TO STAY ON THE BOARD. BUT I JUST HAVE A LOT GOING ON. AND IT'S JUST A LITTLE EXTRA THING TO DO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEBODY ELSE TAKE IT ON. SO, I'M GOING TO PUT THE FIRE TO PEOPLE'S FEET BY SAYING THIS WILL BE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED MY LAST NIGHT. I WILL DO THE MINUTES FOR THIS MEETING BECAUSE I WOULD NOT WANT TO WISH THESE NOTES ON ANYONE. I'VE BEEN TOLD I CAN DO A LITTLE TRAINING. WHAT I'VE DONE CERTAINLY PROBABLY CAN IMPROVE UPON IT. BUT I THINK THESE ARE THE KIND THINGS THAT WE COULD SHARE THE BURDEN A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO, YOU ALL BE THINKING ABOUT IT AND DON'T BE SHY. I'M SURE ONE OF YOU WOULD LOVE TO DO THIS. SO, THIS IS MY NOTES. THE LAST RECORDING.
>> CHAIRMAN: COME UP TO THE MIC. DO YOU WANT TO BE OUR RECORDING SECRETARY?
[LAUGHTER] >> PUBLIC SPEAKER: MIKE LEDNOVICH. SO I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THE PERSON WHO IS SITTING IN THE ROOM AND EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THEM [LAUGHTER] SO LET ME SAY THE FOLLOWING. ANY INFORMATION YOU WANT, YOU HAVE THE LUXURY OF THREE CITY COMMISSIONERS SITTING RIGHT HERE. AND I WILL SPEAK FOR MYSELF. I WON'T SPEAK FOR OTHER CITY COMMISSIONERS. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING, ASK ME.
THERE ARE NO SECRETS OKAY. I AM ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVOCATES OF TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT.
OKAY. NOW IF YOU ASK ME SOMETHING AND THERE'S A NEGOTIATION GOING ON THAT I AM UNABLE TO DISCLOSE, I'LL TELL YOU THAT. ALL RIGHT. AND I AGREE WITH YOU. I'VE BEEN SITTING WITH THIS GROUP FOR A YEAR AND IF YOU ALL WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING, FIRE AWAY AND ASK ME.
SO, LEN WILLIAMS CAME UP AND SAID A COUPLE OF THINGS. THERE IS NO DESIGN OF THE PARK.
THERE'S NONE. NOW I'VE SEEN ABOUT 20 ITERATIONS BUT THERE'S NO CURRENT DESIGN OF THE PARK.
THE ONLY DEFINITION IS A GREEN BLOB DEFINING WATERFRONT PARK. AND IT GOES [INAUDIBLE] ARE TO THE [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTY. IT IS A BLOB. THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I KNOW OF. THAT WAS VOTED ON 5-0. SO THAT'S THE ONE AND ONLY DEFINITION OF A WATERFRONT PARK. OKAY. AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PARKING. AND I KNOW THE PARKING IS IMPORTANT BUT I'M GOING TO SAY THIS.
DON'T GET TOO FAR AHEAD. AND COMMISSIONER ROSS HAS SAID THIS IN MEETINGS, THINK OF THE
[01:45:06]
WATERFRONT AS A SANDWICH. SHORELINE STABILIZATION IS ONE PART OF THE SANDWICH. FRONT STREET IS THE OTHER PART. AND THE WATERFRONT PARK IS THE MIDDLE. WELL WE GOT TO HAVE SHORELINE STABILIZATION AND FRONT STREET DONE FIRST. OKAY. COMMISSIONER CHAPMAN ASTUTELY TWO MEETINGS AGO BROUGHT UP THERE IS NO MASTER PLAN FOR FRONT STREET. BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OPENING ALACHUA. WELL YOU GOT TO HAVE A MASTER PLAN FOR FRONT STREET. GUYS, THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST. SO WE HAVEN'T DONE SHORELINE STABILIZATION. WE HAVEN'T DONE FRONT STREET. WE HAVE TO GO WHAT D.O.T. IS GOING TO DO WITH THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON ASH AND ALACHUA TO EVEN KNOW WHAT FRONT STREET IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. SO, YOU CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT PARKING. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU GUYS? SO, I WOULDN'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT PARKING AT THIS POINT. OKAY. BECAUSE WE'RE A LONG WAY DOWN THE ROAD TO EVEN HAVE ANY TYPE OF PARK DESIGN OREVEN TALK ABOUT PARKING. >> CHAIRMAN: LET ME ASK. IN THE FERNANDINA OBSERVER IN AUGUST THERE WAS A SKETCH THAT SHOWED I BELIEVE ERIC DID THE SKETCH OF THE PARK THAT WAS HIS DREAM.
AND SO IT DID SHOW, YOU KNOW, AN EXACT LOTION FOR THE PARK. AND THEN IT ACTUALLY SHOWED ALL THE PARKING SPACES THAT HE WAS PROPOSING IN HIS DESIGN. AND THE WAY THAT ARTICLE READ THAT DAY WAS THAT THIS WAS THE DESIGN THAT THE COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO MOVE FORWARD ON AND ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT PLAN. OR SOMETHING CLOSE TO IT. SO I BELIEVE THERE WAS A PLAN THAT WAS AT LEAST IN MY FACE SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING DO.
AND THE CITY COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT WAS THE PLAN THAT SHOCKED
ME WHEN I FIRST SAW IT. SO THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS. >> SPEAKER: WELL OKAY. --
>> BOARD MEMBER: WE WENT AND LOOKED AT THAT. THE OTHER THING IS, I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH JOE AND THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME NOW, AND THINGS HAPPEN AROUND HERE THAT ARE KIND OF STRANGE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE OLD DEAL WHERE YOU GET THE ROAD PAVED AND A WEEK LATER SOMEBODY CUTS A TRENCH THROUGH IT TO PUT A PIPE UNDER IT. AND YOU GO HOW COME THE GUY WITH THE PIPE DIDN'T TALK TO THE GUY WITH THE PAVING RIGHT. NOW WE'VE GOT PART OF THE CITY ON ONE SIDE OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND PART ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS. AND EVERY TIME SOMEBODY PUTS A CROSSING TO FIX THE CROSSINGS, LIKE YOU DID CENTER STREET, LIKE AT ASH STREET, NOBODY EVER PUTS IN THE PLAN TO RUN CONDUIT UNDERNEATH. THAT FLOORED ME. JOE AND I TALKED ABOUT IT. WE HAD STAINLESS STEEL WATER PIPE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR THAT CONDUIT. I WENT TO THE CITY AND SAID THE HOLES IN THE GROUND, CONDUIT. THEY WENT NOT IN THE PLAN. THE CITY NEVER ASKED FOR IT. I'M GOING WHY. I MEAN, YOU DIG A HOLE YOU PUT CONDUIT IN IT. SO, HOPEFULLY WHEN ALACHUA GETS MESSED WITH THERE'S A WHOLE PILE OF CONDUIT GOING UNDER THE GROUND
[LAUGHTER] >> BOAR >> BOARD MEMBER: HERE IS THE PLAN THAT YOU PRESENTED RIGHT HERE. I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT. THAT'S THE PLAN THE GREENWAY.
AND THAT'S THE OLD DESIGN OF THE OTHER MARINA. THAT'S NOT THE NEW DESIGN. THAT IS THE MARINA
DESIGN AS IT USED TO BE. >> SPEAKER: SO WHEN I SAID -- THAT HAS BEEN DEFINED AS WATERFRONT PARK. THAT'S WHAT THEY AGREED TO AT THE TIME. YOU ARE CORRECT.
>> CHAIRMAN: SCOTT HAD A QUESTION. >> BOARD MEMBER: IT IS MY
IMPRESSION THERE WAS THREE GROUPS OF CONSULTANTS. >> SPEAKER: THERE ARE.
SHORELINE STABILIZATION. FRONT STREET. AND YOU HAVE THE WATERFRONT PARK. THE THREE PARTS OF THE SANDWICH. THERE'S A CONSULTANT PER EACH OF THOSE. AND IF YOU WERE AT THE LAST MEETING, PASSERO GAVE A LITTLE INFORMATION. IN THEIR 3D MAPPING OF THE COASTLINE.
>> BOARD MEMBER: RIGHT. MY CONCERN THOUGH IS, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DIDN'T GET TO HEAR THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PARKING AND THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PARKING. I DON'T KNOW HOW IN TUNE TO IT THEY ARE. IN THE DESIGN FOR THE WATERFRONT PARK, I HOPE THEY CONSIDER PARKING IN
THERE. >> SPEAKER: SCOTT, I THINK EVERYONE, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF AGAIN. I AM FULLY AWARE OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE MARINA. SO, WHEN I SAW JOE'S
[01:50:05]
PRESENTATION ON THE BOATS. THAT LEFT AND ARE COMING BACK, MY VERY FIRST QUESTION MENTAL LIEWAS: WHAT ARE THE PARKING NEEDS FOR THAT MANY BOATS? >> 41.
>> SPEAKER: THERE YOU GO. SO IT'S ALL ABOUT DATA. RIGHT. YOU CAN'T MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS WITHOUT DATA. SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU ABOUT WHAT IS A WORKING WATERFRONT, WHAT ARE THESE BOATS REQUIRED FOR PARKING. BUT HERE'S THE OTHER THING WANT TO SAY AND I'M FREELANCING. I'M GOING FREELY ADMIT I'M FREELANCING. WE'LL NEVER MEET THE COMPLETE NEEDS OF PARKING FOR THIS CITY. EVER. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH LAND. THAT'S REALITY. SO, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN DO.
>> 41 PARKING SPOTS SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE MARINA AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN DO THAT. BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS GOING TO PARK THERE.
>> CHAIRMAN: 41 ACCORDING TO JOE. >> SPEAKER: YEP. I MEAN, TO YOUR POINT, WE HAVE EMPLOYEES AND BUSINESSES WHO TAKE UP CITY SPACES ALL DAY LONG. SO, THERE'S A LOT -- WHAT I AM SAYING THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. THERE'S A LOT TO FIGURE OUT. BUT MY PRIMARY POINT IN STANDING HERE IS, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T THINK YOU KNOW, ASK US. I WILL TELL YOU. I KNOW COMMISSIONER ROSS WILL TELL YOU AND
COMMISSIONER CHAPMAN CAN ADDRESS THAT AS WELL. >> CHAIRMAN: THE CITY DID PAY FOR PARKING STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN '02. I SHARED A LITTLE CLIP OF IT WITH JOE TODAY. IT'S JUST THE MARINA PORTION OF IT. BUT IT WAS PRETTY INDEPTH. MAYBE 30 PAGES OF A STUDY DONE. THIS WAS IN 20I02. THIS IS A COMPANY TH IS PROFESSIONALS. SOME OF THESE OLD STUDIES WE SHOULD PROBABLY BRING BACK TO LIGHT AND MAYBE UPDATE THEM AND TAKE A LOOK AT THEM AND SEE WHAT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WERE. >> SPEAKER: IF YOU WALK IN TO CHIEF HURLEY'S OFFICE, I BELIEVE HE HAS SIX PARKING STUDIES. SIX. THAT HAVE BEEN DONE OVER THE YEARS.
>> CHAIRMAN: THE ONE IN '02 WAS EXTENSIVE AND DISCUSSED AT COMMISSION MEETINGS FOR MONTH.
THE CITY PLANNERS WERE INVOLVED AND THERE WAS ALL KIND OF DISCUSSION ABOUT CHANGING ONE-WAY STREETS AND PARALLEL PARKING. SO THEY RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS. BUT AT LEAST THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME REAL PROFESSIONAL THOUGHT ABOUT IT HOW IT SHOULD HAPPEN. AND WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE WITH EMPLOYEES PARKING AND WHAT SHOULD BE TOURIST PARKING SPOTS AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING. IT WAS INTERESTING. I JUST SHARED THAT ONE LITTLE MARONA PIECE.
>> SPEAKER: I'LL FINISH WITH THIS. ALSO REALIZE THAT THE WATERFRONT IS A PARKS AND REC PROJECT. AND A MARINA ADVISORY BOARD PROJECT. SO, UNDERSTAND THAT THESE TWO GROUPS ARE GOING PARALLEL. AND SO THE CHALLENGE IS THEM TALKING TO EACH OTHER OKAY.
>> CHAIRMAN: WE SHOULD BE ATTENDING EACH OTHER'S MEETINGS CONSISTENTLY.
>> BOARD MEMBER: AND I THINK TO SEGUE I THINK WHAT WAS MISUNDERSTOOD I KNOW THE MARINA ADVISORY BOARD IS NOT CHARGED WITH DEALING WITH THE WATERFRONT. WE ARE A STAKEHOLDER. AND ALL OTHER STAKEHOLDERS HAVE BEEN INVITE TOTED THE PROCESS. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THIS BODY IS KIND OF LIKE WELL WE DON'T NECESSARILY GET INVITED INTO IT. I WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE STUFF ABOUT THE PARKS. ERIC HAS DONE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK. I DON'T KNOW HOW HE TIRELESSLY CONTINUES TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE. BUT IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO SEE A PARK DOWN THERE JUST AS LONG AS WE ALL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF INPUT. THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES NEED TO, YOU KNOW, HEY WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS. SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF THE CONCERNS MAY HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. WE JUST AS A BOARD HAVEN'T BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE LEVEL. AND YES WE CAN ASK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING ALL THE TIME. BUT THE ONUS IS ALSO ON THE BOARDS TO TALK. WE JUST NEED TO DO ATE LITTLE BETTER JOB MAYBE.
>> SPEAKER: YEP. AND TO PAUL'S POINT, ALL STAKEHOLDERS, THERE ARE INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. AND YOU HAVE TO TALK TO ALL OF THEM. SO, I'LL FINISH WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. >> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU. JOE? >> BOARD MEMBER: I HAVE A QUESTION. THE DISCUSSION THAT COMMISSIONER CHAPMAN STARTED ABOUT THE WEIGHT LIMITS AND THE STUDY ON THE BOAT RAMP WHERE DID IT GO? IS THERE A STUDY BEING DONE? ARE YOU A I WARE OF
ANYBODY THAT'S ACTING ON THAT OR WAS THAT JUST A COMMENT? >> SPEAKER: YOU KNOW, I'LL LET
[01:55:02]
COMMISSIONER CHAPMAN ANSWER THAT. BECAUSE HE IS PROBABLY MORE UP TO DATE ON IT.>> BOARD MEMBER: I JUST WANTED TO HIT YOU UP [LAUGHTER]
>> CHAIRMAN: GET THOSE LEGS MOVING [LAUGHTER]
YOU WANT TO BORROW THIS. >> SPEAKER: PHIL CHAPMAN 2120. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I BROUGHT IT UP AND WE ADJOURNED THE MEETING AND I HAVEN'T MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER YET.
UNFORTUNATELY, I USUALLY MEET WITH HIM ON FRIDAY BUT CITY HALL IS CLOSED. I WILL TRY TO TOUCH BASE WITH HIM TOMORROW OR WEDNESDAY TO SEE. PERSONALLY TO MOW IT IS A NO-BRAINER. I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE BACK IN MY DINGY AND HAVE THAT THING SPLIT. I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT. PERSONAL NOTE. I THINK THERE ARE TIMES WE'RE PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH. THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE BOAT RAMP IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT MARINA. AND I TRULY LEARNED THAT WORKING AT AMELIA PAINT AND HARDWARE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME IN AND THEIR FIRST THING WAS WHEN IS THE BOAT RAMP OPEN? WHEN IS THE BOAT RAMP OPENING? NUMBER ONE YQUESTION. I DON'T KNOW. SO I THINK IT IS A PIECE OF FERNANDINA HISTORY. I THINK THAT WHEN THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANNING THE ROADS DOWN THERE, THEY NEED TO INCLUDE A SWING FOR THEIR TRUCKS AND THE CARS TO SWING TO BACK INTO THAT RAMP. I THINK THAT'S A KEY PART OF IT. I MEAN, I CAME UP LAST
TUESDAY BUT I WILL CHECK TO SEE WHERE IT'S GOING. >> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU. ERIC, PLEASE. ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM WANT TO SPEAK? [LAUGHTER]
THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: ERIC BARTELL 2820 SOUTH FLETCHER. I JUST WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO WHAT COMMISSIONER LEDNOVICH SAID. THE CITY HAS HIRED THE THREE CONSULTING FIRMS BUT THERE IS A FOURTH ENTITY THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE WATERFRONT PARK DESIGN. AND THAT'S THE PARKS AND REC ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND I AM A MEMBER OF THAT. AND I BELIEVE, I HOPE, I THINK IT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE DECEMBER 10TH MEETING AND WE'LL START TO WORK ON THAT. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A VACUUM HERE AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT COMMITTEE WILL FILL THAT VACUUM AND START TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THAT PARK MIGHT BE LIKE. AND I HAVE LISTENED TO YOU GUYS AND I'VE LISTENED TO ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS ABOUT THIS. SO I KNOW A LOT OF THE ISSUES. I AM AWARE OF THE PARKING ISSUES AND ALL
THAT SORT OF STUFF. MAYBE ONE OF YOU GUYS -- >> BOARD MEMBER: WHAT TIME IS
THAT MEETING? >> SPEAKER: I THINK IT'S GOING BE 5:00.
>> BOARD MEMBER: WHERE IS IT? >> CHAIRMAN: IT'S HERE. >> SPEAKER: IN CHAMBERS.
>> BOARD MEMBER: WHAT DAY? >> SPEAKER: NOVEMBER 10TH. >> BOARD MEMBER: I WAS AFRAID
YOU WERE GOING TO SAY THAT. >> CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU. >> BOARD MEMBER: I HAVE A COAST
GUARD CHANGE OF WATCH THAT DAY. >> CHAIRMAN: ALL RIGHT. THE ONLY OTHER ITEM WOULD BE FOR OUR
[Items 9 & 10]
MIX MEETING WHICH WOULD BE THE EVE OF CHRISTMAS EVE. 23. IS THAT GOING TO WORK FOR EVERYONE?I KNOW. >> BOARD MEMBER: WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO WE HAVE?
>> CHAIRMAN: WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS >> THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP THAT MEETING. IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH NOT KEEPING THAT MEETING I CAN REQUEST WE HAVE A WORKSHOP OR DROP IT COMPLETELY. THIS IS WHATEVER THIS GROUP WANTS TO DO. TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT THEN I'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> BOARD MEMBER: IT'S AWFULLY CLOSE TO SANTA CLAUS. JUST SAYING.
>> CHAIRMAN: WE ONLY HAVE A FEW AGENDA ITEMS ALREADY SET. >> SPEAKING ON THAT. A LITTLE SEGUE. I HAVE BEEN SUBMITTING MY PAPERWORK TO THE CITY LATE I FOUND OUT. WHEN THEY SAID THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE MEETING I THOUGHT THEY MEANT THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE MEETING. SO, IF WE HAVE A MEETING FIGURE RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE WEEKEND, THE 15TH, THE 16TH, 13 THAT'S THE FRIDAY THAT WILL BE THE CUTOFF FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS.
[02:00:02]
>> CHAIRMAN: SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE ROOM IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY OTHER DATES
>> THE WAY WE DID THIS BEFORE WITH THE LAST WORKSHOP WHEN WE WANTED TO SWITCH THEM AROUND WAS YOU DECIDED AND GAVE ME TWO DATES AND TWO TIMES. THE WEEK OF, THE DAY OFF TYPE THING.
THEN I WHIPPED BACK TO THE CITY TO ASK IF EITHER WAS AVAILABLE. WE TURNED IT INTO A WORKSHOP.
BUT DO REMEMBER, IF YOU HAVE A WORKSHOP, THE WORKSHOP IS IDENTIFIED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND IT'S ALL BUSINESS THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED AND NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN. WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS DISCUSSING OUR BUSINESS. WE NEED TO TAKE THE ACTION ON IT. THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH THIS THING. IF WE DROP ONE MEETING TO GIVE TIME FOR SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF TO WORK ON THE 23RD OF DECEMBER I DON'T SEE HOW IT'S GOING STOP ANYTHING. BUT YOUR CALL.
>> CHAIRMAN: THE 23RD? >> BOARD MEMBER: COULD BE A QUICK AND DIRTY.
>> BOARD MEMBER: IF WE LIMIT THE AGENDA. >> WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON IT
RIGHT NOW. >> BOARD MEMBER: MAYBE YOU GET THAT TIMER FOR THREE MINUTES AND
HOLD TO IT. >> CHAIRMAN: I KNOW. >> BOARD MEMBER: WE DID DIGRESS
SOME. >> BOARD MEMBER: I SAY WE HOLD TILL THE 23.
>> BOARD MEMBER: WE DID DIGRESS BUT I THINK WE DIGRESSED IN A REALLY GOOD WAY. BUS FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING PROBABLY WAS THE BEST PUBLIC INPUT WE'VE EVER HAD.
>> BOARD MEMBER: THAT'S TRUE. I DIDN'T MEAN TO BELITTLE IT. >> BOARD MEMBER: I KNOW. JUST SAYING THAT I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE ON THAT. THERE'S A SILVER LINING.
>> CHAIRMAN: I'M ALL ABOUT LET'S TRY TO WORK TOGETHER. OKAY. SO THE 23RD IS WHAT WE'RE--
>> THE 23RD. DECEMBER 23RD. THAT MONDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. HERE. THEN THE CUT OFF FOR
AGENDA ITEMS IS DECEMBER 13TH. >> CHAIRMAN: OKAY. WE'LL TRY TO LIMIT IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
>> BOARD MEMBER: AND STICK WITH THE TIMEFRAMES >> EVEN IF YOU WOULD DO THIS FOR ME IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON THE AGENDA LET ME KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE ON OR WHILE I WAS THINKING. SO, THAT CAN GO ON A JANUARY ONE POSSIBLY. WE MAY
FIND OUT WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH BUSINESS TO GO 45 MINUTES. >> BOARD MEMBER: I APPRECIATE PUBLIC COMMENT. IF WE CAN KIND OF FOCUS THINGS THAT AREN'T ON THE AGENDA TO ONE SECTION. WE DO JUMP AROUND. IF THEY WANT TO COMMENT ON THE AGENDA ITEM BUT TO COME UP WITH NEW STUFF.
>> CHAIRMAN: YEAH. >> I WILL GET THAT QUESTION ANSWERED BECAUSE THAT'S A PROCEDURAL THING. I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE COMES UP FOR AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA, THEY GET TO TALK ABOUT IT, MAYBE GET AN ANSWER. BUT NOT THE DISCUSSION THAT WE GOT
INTO. >> CHAIRMAN: YEAH WE DID. WHEN THE COMMISSION DOES IT THEY
MIGHT ASK ONE OR TWO QUESTIONS AND THAT'S IT. >> THEN THEY MAKE THE DECISION
WHETHER OR NOT IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE AGENDA. >> BOARD MEMBER: RIGHT
>> ONCE AGAIN WE'VE NEVER FORMALIZED THIS IS EXACTLY THE WAY WE'RE GOING RUN THESE
MEETINGS. WE TRY TO GET THINGS DONE >> CHAIRMAN: THE DECEMBER 23RD
MEETING WE'LL RUN IT BY THE BOOK AND GET OUT OF HERE. >> BOARD MEMBER: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PLAN [LAUGHTER] FRESH BATTERIES TOO
>> BOARD MEMBER: SECOND. >> CHAIRMAN:
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.