[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:11] GOOD EVENING AND A BUCKET OF OU SPECIAL MEETING. OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> YOU MAY BE SEATED AND WE WIL [4.1 TRUTH IN MILLAGE STATEMENT] BEGIN BID THIS WILL BE OUR FINA PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE WE FINALIZE. MS. CAMPBELL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR . >> EXCUSE ME JUST A MOMENT WHIL I PULL UP MY STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD. >> I HAVE IT AVAILABLE IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO READ IT. >> PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION THAT SET THE PROPERT TAX RATE FOR OPERATING EXPENDITURES, 200.065 2 D, FLORIDA STATUTES -- THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IS NINE-POINT TO 4% AND THE ROLLBACK MILEAGE RATE. THE MILLAGE RATE IS FOUR-POINT [5.1 ADOPTION OF FINAL OPERATING MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027 - RESOLUTION 2026-117 ADOPTING THE FINAL LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, NASSAU COUNTY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Adopts the final operating millage rate of 4.8530 mills for the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 budget.] 8530 MILLS FOR ASSESSED VALUE. >> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. >> BECAUSE THIS IS OUR SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, HAD A COUPLE OF SLIDES TO GO THROUGH. AS A RECAP, ALL 36 ON THE BALLOT . GOLF AND MARINE ENTERPRISE ENTERPRISE FUND THIS YEAR INCLUDED A MAJOR STORMWATER PROGRAM AND THEY'VE INCREASE TH CAPITAL PROJECT. THIS IS THAT SNAPSHOT OF ALL 31 SHOWING REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR. AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE WHERE THE FUND IS SUPPORTING IN THREE OTHER PLACES. ABOUT $8,000 TO THE CONSERVATIO FUND. ALL TOLD, ALTOGETHER -- UP THAT 93 MILLION IS IN RESERVE . WE HAVE MADE PERSONNEL CHANGES AT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND HAVE ADDED THREE FULL-TIME AND SEVEN PART-TIME POSITIONS FOR THAT FUND. THIS IS ALSO ENTERPRISE FUNDED. [INDISCERNIBLE] IT PULLS FROM WATER AND SEWER AND STORM WATER. WE CONTINUE TO REDUCE CERTAIN AREAS AND HAVE MADE -- IN THE AVERAGE WAGE ACROSS AT ABOUT 6%. A SNAPSHOT OF THE GENERAL FUND, LAST YEAR WE WERE AT 35 MILLION AND THIS YEAR WE ARE AT 50 MILLION, THE LARGEST INCREAS IN TRANSFERS. THE ADDITIONAL MILLAGE IS IN THAT CONTINGENCY LINE. THAT'S WORTH THAT EXTRA REVENUE HAS BEEN PLACED. THAT IS ALL I HAVE. CARLOS AND MISS BROWN ARE HERE IF YOU WANTED TO DIG INTO ANY OTHER AREAS. >> THANK YOU. RABBIT GRABBING QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? SEEING MAN, WE WILL MOVE INTO ITEM 5. IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING OUT OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL WE HEAR FROM PUBLIC COMMENTS? >> YOU CAN OPEN IT NOW FOR THAT [00:05:03] MILLAGE RATE. >> WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK? PLEASE SUBMIT A SPEAKER CARD TO MADAME CLERK AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AFTER WHICH YOU ARE CALLED. WE ARE ADAPTING OUR FINAL MILLAGE RATE AS SAID FOUR-POINT 853 MALES. >> ON THE CONTINGENCY AND AS TH COMMISSION AT 25,000 TO CONSTAN AGING, SINCE IT'S BEEN TREATMEN TO CUT OFF AND THEY PROVIDE AN INCREDIBLE SERVICE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. ASKED TO TAKE 25,000 OUT OF THE CONTINGENCY. >> ANOTHER WITH A MENTION OF FUNDING BASED ON THE CURRENT PEPPERTREE MILLAGE. I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DRIVE AS A FUNDRAISER. >> WE DON'T TELL THEM HOW TO SPEND THEIR MONEY. SO I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANYTHING OTHER THAN I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM MORE DOLLARS. >> COMMISSIONER TUTEN, YOUR FIRST SLIDE. >> WE KNOW HOW MUCH THE COUNTY CUT THEM OFF? $250,000? >> I THOUGHT IT WAS 100. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS A MAN ACROS EVERYTHING. >> ALL I KNOW IS SHE SAID IT WA THREE. GIANNIS TOLD ME IT WAS THREE HEADCOUNTS. BECAUSE OF THE COUNTY REDUCTION. TO BE CLEAR, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER, YOU WANT TO DROP IT BY $25,000. >> THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. >> I WAS NOT IN FAVOR. I AM SUPER IN FAVOR OF HELPING THE COUNCIL ON AGING. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE PEPPERTREE PRESIDENTS DON'T LIV IN THE CITY LIMITS BUT GIVEN THAT IT IS THERE FUNDING. MATT, I AGREE. THEY HAVE A MASSIVE LOSS IN FUNDING. CAN THEY ALSO STAY IF AMENDMENT 3 PASSES, OUR ABILITY NEXT YEAR TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS THROBS TO 0? COMMISSIONER MINSHEW. >> THE MONEY THAT WAS GENERATED EVEN THOUGH IT SHOWED, WE ASK THAT IT BE SET INTO A SEPARATE LINE ITEM THAT IS ONLY APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS. THERE IS REALLY TWO CONTINGENCY LINE ITEMS REALLY. THERE WAS AN INCURRING AN EXISTING OF, WHAT, 500,000. AND THEN THERE IS ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT WAS BROUGHT IN AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO DESIGNATE THAT IF WE ARE TO DO THIS, THEN IT COMES OUT OF BASI CONTINGENCY FUND, THE ADDITIONA FUNDS TIED TO THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE, NUMBER ONE. I THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR THA THERE ARE TWO CONTINGENCIES. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT I'M NOT WILLING TO DO THIS UNTIL AFTER NOVEMBER 3 AND THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THI AND OTHER BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS BU FOR NOW, I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVO OF IT. >> COMMISSIONER? >> IS THIS A MILITARY DISCUSSIO OR A BUDGET. >> TAKE ACTION ON THE MILLAGE FIRST. I CANNOT MAKE ANY MOTIONS OR ACTIONS ON THE BUDGET UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE ON THE MILLAGE. >> CORRECT. >> THAT'S IT. I'LL JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET. >> I WOULD MOVE THAT RESOLUTION 2026.7 BE ADOPTED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING DONE, PLEASE START THE BOAT. [6.1 ADOPTION OF FINAL FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027 BUDGET - RESOLUTION 2026-118 ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR THE 2026/2027 FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING THE FIVE- YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Adopts the final budget for Fiscal Year 2026/2027.] [00:10:11] THAT MOTION PASSES 4-1, WHICH BRINGS US INTO ITEM SIX NET, ADOPTION FINAL FISCAL YEAR BUDGET 2026-2027. MS. CAMPBELL, DO YOU WANT DO YO COME BACK UP? DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS? >> ON THE LAST DISCUSSION, ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND THAT CONTINGENCY FLYING INTO US RESTRICTED RESERVE SO WHAT WE I CONTINGENCY WILL BE CALLED IN OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE. AND THAT ACCOUNT IS RESTRICTED. I CAN CAMP THE 25,000 ADDITIONA IN THE LINE. THAT WAY AFTER NOVEMBER 3, IT I READILY AVAILABLE. 25,000 RESTRICTED. >> THANK YOU. >> CONSENSUS. >> I THINK THAT'S WERE GOING TO GIVE THE COUNCIL SUPPORT. I JUST HAVE CONCERNS WE FORFEITED THE REVENUE OF PAVED PARKING AND I'D LIKE TO SEE, WE COULD SEE THAT THERE IS THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD GET BEHIND THIS LIKE THEY DID LAND CONSERVATION. I ARE ALL THERE IS ANY APPETITE AMONG THE COMMISSION TO START THAT. OTHERWISE I WOULD MAINTAIN THAT IT IS WISER TO WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER 3. >> I THINK THESE ARE ALL GREAT IDEAS, WAITING UNTIL NOVEMBER 3 DOING IT NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT AMENDMENT 3 ASPECT OF IT, I DON'T NECESSARILY SHARE THOSE FEARS OR WHY THERE IS A PANIC. I STILL GROUP WITH COMMISSIONER TUTEN THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS AS GOING FORWARD. HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE IT UNTIL AMENDMENT 3 PASSES. SO I'M NOT A FAN OF PULLING THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE NONPROFITS THAT WE HAVE FUNDED FOR YEARS SO I'M KIND OF IN THA SAME BOAT OF SINK LET'S SEE WHA WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW. HOWEVER, AS THE MAYOR SAYS, MAYBE WE NEED TO START THAT PROCESS TO SAY, LISTEN, THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE FUNDING, THEY HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO GOLDTHWAITE NEXT FUNDING YEAR. THERE MAY BE CERTAIN CUTS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE LOOK AT SO I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA. DOESN'T BOTHER ME IF IT HAPPENS NOVEMBER 3. I'M NOT A FAN OF PULLING THE ROCK OUT FROM UNDERNEATH OUR NONPROFITS AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME FOR $25,000, WE HAVE WELL OVER 2 MILLION IN CONTINGENCY. I CAN SUPPORT AT. I CAN SUPPORT IT NOW AND I CAN SUPPORT IT NOVEMBER 3. EITHER ONE IS FINE WITH ME. MY STATEMENT HAS MORE TO DO WIT DON'T PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THEM NOW. LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO BUT NEXT YEAR WHEN THE BUDGET ROLLS AROUND, NONE OF THESE -- THAT'S IT. >> YOU COULD MAKE A MOTION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY, 25,000, INT THE BUDGET THIS YEAR SO THAT THEY HAVE TO THAT MONEY SOONER VERSUS LATER. >> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NINE, PLEASE START THE BOAT. >> HAVE YOU STARTED THE BOAT? SO YOU ARE MOVING THAT MONEY AN THEN WE ARE VOTING ON APPROVING THE BUDGET AS WELL, SO PUBLIC, IT HAS BEEN OPENED. JUST ON MOVING THE MONEY, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? >> ON MOVING THE 25,000. CERTAINLY WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THE BUDGET. >> ITEM 6.1, OUR ADOPTION FOR THE FINAL FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, D I HAVE A MOTION. >> I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-008 ADOPTING TH FINAL BUDGET FOR THE 2027-2028 FISCAL YEAR. >> MOTION AND SECOND. >> ANYMORE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION . >> WAIT A SECOND. CAN WE JUST SAY DOES. >> AS AMENDED BY THE PREVIOUS- >> THANK YOU. OKAY, WONDERFUL. >> I HAVE NO REQUEST TO SPEAK [00:15:02] FROM THE COMMISSION PAID TO I HAVE ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK FROM THE AUDIENCE AT THIS TIME? SEEING NINE, PLEASE START THE VOTE. >> CAN I MAKE ONE COMMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET? >> MS. CAMPBELL, CAN YOU GO BAC TO THE BUDGET PICTURE WITH THE STAFF. OUT WHICH IS LIKE TO REITERATE SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAR. THAT ONE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAR TO EVERYBODY THAT WE USED TO PAY, PAGE 96 IN THE BUDGET, WE USE TO CONTRACT $700,000 TO RUN THE MARINA. THAT IS NOW DROPPED TO 0 AND SALARY, CITY SALARY HAS INCREASED TO 640 SO IT'S ROUGHL A $60,000 SAVINGS TO BRING IN THREE FULL-TIME AND SEVEN PART-TIME AND GIVEN THAT'S -- THAT'S NOT OUR TAX MONEY. AND THEN THE NEXT TWO ITEMS AND THREE IN STORMWATER, THAT IS ALSO IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND PAID BY VISA NOT TAXES. IT WOULD LOOK AT OUR PERSONNEL ALLOCATION WHICH IS ON PAGE 5 O THE BUDGET. IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL FUND WHERE OUR TAXES ARE, THE CITY I DOWN TO .5 IN PARKS, 1.3 IN BUILDING, .5 IN POLICE, 1.5 IN GOLF BUTTES OF THE CITY IS DOWN AND PERSONNEL IN TERMS OF OUR TAXES AND UP IN TERMS OF FEE-BASED REVENUE. AT A FEW LOOK AT OUR 2024-2025 BUDGET, WE ARE DOWN 12 EMPLOYEE FROM THAT WHILE ADDING 9.5 IN ENTERPRISE FUNDS. SO IF YOU DO THE MATH, THAT IS 21.5 PEOPLE THAT WE ARE DOWN OU OF THE GENERAL FUND. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN SUPER IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THAT MS. CAMPBELL HAS WORKED WITH STAFF REGARDING OUR BUDGET. >> THANK YOU, BUT COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE OUR BOAT. >> PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] THE QUESTION IS FOR MS. CAMPBELL . EXPECTED VIEWPOINT, SIR, JUST SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE FOR THE RECORD. >> THE QUESTION IS FOR THE CITY MANAGER. THE INCREASE OF 24.5% IN HER BUDGET. >> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. TWO COMPLETE CAN'T COMPEL BUT, MISS CAMPBELL, IF YOU WOULD LIK TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION, WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE HER COME UP. >> THANK YOU. >> SO IN THE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE FOUR FULL-TIME PEOPLE, TWO CITY MANAGERS AND A PROJECT MANAGER. THE PROJECT MANAGER WAS PREVIOUSLY SPLIT FUNDED, 50% IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. MOST OF THEIR DUTIES ARE FALLIN UNDER THOSE PROJECTS. SO I'M SPEAKING OF JACOB PLATT' POSITION. HE IS NOT 100% FUNDED IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. SO 100% OF THE SALARIES THEY AR NOW BUT AS FAR AS INCREASES COM EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME 3% AND ALL CITY EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING. SO THAT IS WHY SALARIES ARE UP 21%. FICA AND RETIREMENT FICA ARE CALCULATED AS SALARIES. >> THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE OUR VOTE ON THE FLOOR . >> CAN I MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT. >> CERTAINLY. >> PR UP TO $.3 MILLION IN [00:20:07] INFLATION FROM SALARIES, FICA. INCREDIBLE THEY RENEGOTIATED HEALTH AND IS DOWN 9%. I DON'T HAVE MY LAST. GASOLINE COMING TRIP ELECTRICITY . WORKMEN'S COMP. WAS A HUGE ONE. WERE IN THE HOLE THANKS TO JUST INFLATION THAT I'M NOT COUNTING ALL THE OTHER CATEGORIES LIKE COST OF PAPER AND THE COST OF PARTS AND THE COST OF LABOR. >> TIME IS UP, COMMISSIONER. I'M READY TO VOTE. >> THAT MOTION PASSES, WHICH BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL ITEM OF THE EVENING, PUBLIC COMMENT. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEA BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT BEFORE OUR REGULAR BEATING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.