Sep 22, 2020 Special Meeting

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>> WELCOME. THIS IS THE FERNANDINA BEACH SPECIAL MEETING.

SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2020. 5:04. MADAME CLERK ROLL.

>>

[4.1 Statement regarding the percentage increase in Millage over the rolled-back rate necessary to fund the budget and the specific purpose for which ad valorem tax revenues are being increased. I. Millage rate for operation expenditures II. Millage rate for voter approved debt]

THE TRIM STATEMENT. >> YES I'M HAPPY TO. JUST IN FULL DISCLOSURE WHEN I READ THE STATEMENT THE OPERATING MILITARY THERE WAS A NUMBER LEFT OUT LAST TIME AT THE LAST MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO I READ THE MILLAGE RATE WAS TENTATIVELY SET 5.463.

IT IS ACTUALLY 5.4683. I'LL START FROM THE BEGINNING. PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2020-127 WHICH SETS THE PROMPT TAX MILLAGE RATE FOR OPERATING EXPENDITURES AND SETS THE MILLAGE RATE FOR VOTER-APPROVED DEBT CHAPTER 200.065 SUB-4 SUB-D FLORIDA STATUTES REQUIRES THE ANNOUNCEMENT. THE TAXING AUTHORITY LEVYING THIS PROPERTY TAX IS THE CITY COMMISSION OF CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. THE ROLL BACK RATE IS 5.2977 MILLS PER 1,000 DOLLARS ASSESSED VALUE. THE PERCENT INCREASE IS 3.22 PERCENT OVER THE ROLL BACK MILLAGE RATE. THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE TO BE LEVEL I HAD IS 5.483 MILLS PER ASSESSED VALUE. THE RATE IS.1553.

[5.1 RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FINAL OPERATING MILLAGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021 – RESOLUTION 2020-127 ADOPTING THE FINAL LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR OPERATING EXPENSES AND THE FINAL LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR VOTER APPROVED DEBT FOR THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, NASSAU COUNTY, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

>> THANK YOU MA'AM. WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> I HAVE ONE REQUEST TO SPEAK ON ITEM 5.1. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE?

OKAY. >> THERE'S A NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.

>> OH SURE. >> MAY I? NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT BUT IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING TIME. DO YOU SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGE SENATE.

>> NO. I JUST WANT TO HEAR BIT. >> VERY GOOD.

>> THANKS. >> OPEN THE FLOOR COMMISSIONERS FOR DISCUSSION K. COMMISSIONER

ROSS. >> THANK YOU. CAN YOU PUT THAT SLIDE UP THERE?

I'LL TAKE THAT FOR YOU COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> ALL RIGHT.

SO, TO PREPARE FOR THIS VOTE, I LOOKED AT THE FOLLOWING. BUDGETS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED, PREVIOUS AUDITOR FINANCIAL REPORTS, 2019 INTEGRATED FINANCIAL STABILITY REPORT, FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS, REPORTING AND COMMENTS IN THE NEWS LEADER COMMENTS IN THE OBSERVER, NASSAU COUNTY INDEPENDENT BLOG, OTHER BLOGS, EMAILS RECEIVED AND RESPONDED TO. CONVERSATIONS FROM CONSTITUENTS. FROM THAT, I AGREED WITH SOME OF THEIR THOUGHTS AND I DISAGREED WITH OTHERS BUT I DID LISTEN TO WHAT WAS SAID.

SO, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN WHY I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE ADJUSTED ROLL BACK RATE.

MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS IS FOLLOWING. BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2019, STAN TECH WHO THE CITY HIRED PRESENTED THE CITY COMMISSION A REPORT HOW TO MAINTAIN THE FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS. I PRESENTED THAT TO THE CITY COMMISSION, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NO COMMISSIONER DISAGREED AND NO ONE IN THE PUBLIC DISAGREED OR COMMUNICATED TO ME CERTAINLY ANY DISAGREEMENT.

WHAT THAT REPORT SAID ABOUT THE LONG-TERM STABILITY WAS ESSENTIALLY THAT THE CITY WOULD BE FINE GOING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, ASSUMING A COUPLE OF THINGS.

NUMBER 1,THAT THEY MAINTAIN THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE AT THAT TIME WHICH WAS 5.833.

I THINK THAT'S THE NUMBER, AND THAT WOULD PRODUCE SUFFICIENT REVENUE TO TAKE CARE OF THE DEBT OF THE MARINA AND THE GOLF COURSE. SO, BASED ON THE PREMISE OF THE

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ACTUALLY THE PER CAPITA EXPENDITURES THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT PER CITIZEN HAS GONE DOWN FROM 2017-2019. IT WAS $3077 BANK IN '17 AND $3001.

SO OUR PER CAPITA SPENDING HAS GONE DOWN. SO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER MET WITH ALL FIVE CITY COMMISSIONERS AND WENT OVER THE PROPOSED BUDGET AT 5.853 AND NOBODY DISAGREED WITH PROCEEDING FORWARD.

SO BASED ON THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF PREPARED A BUDGET AND THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE JULY 28, 2020 MEETING. AT THAT TIME THE COMMISSION DECIDED TO TAKE THE VOTE BY 3-2. GO BACK TO THE ADJUSTED ROLL BACK RATE AND SO, AND THE ADJUSTED ROLL BACK RATE WAS THE ROLL BACK RATE PLUS THE RATE OF INFLATION.

ADDITIONALLY, SINCE THAT TIME, THE CITY COMPTROLLER RECEIVED AND UPDATED INFORMATION FROM THE STATE THAT PREDICTED A $900,000 SHORTFALL FROM REVENUE STATE SALES TAX.

THE CITY MANAGER DIRECTED THE COMMISSION TO PRODUCE A BUDGET AND TO FUND $145,000 FOR NON-PROFITS. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT THERE WERE TWO WORKSHOPS AND THEN ON SEPTEMBER EIGHTH, THE CURRENT BUDGET WHICH IS WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED TONIGHT, WAS PRESENTED.

AND THAT BUDGET HAD $1.9 MILLION OF EXPENSES REMODE FROM THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BUDGET.

IT ELIMINATED $500 BUDGETED TO THE GOLF COURSE STAFF, ELIMINATED $700,000 MARINA DEBT ELIMINATED A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPLACEMENT OF A FAILING FENCE AT PLAY FIELD REDUCED TRAVEL AND TRAINING, ELIMINATED THE PURCHASE OF 13 VEHICLES, AND SEVERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS WERE ELIMINATED FOR ABOUT $335,000. THE REMAINING CAME FROM MONEY NOT YET SPENT.

AND WHAT I LEARNED IN THIS FROM THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IS WHAT THE RESERVE FUND REALLY MEANS.

WHAT I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND IS THE RESERVE FUND FIRST OF ALL THERE'S A BY STATUTE -- BY RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION THAT 20 PERCENT OF THE OPERATING BUDGET NEEDS TO BE NOT SPENT IN ANY GIVEN YEAR. THAT'S KEPT FOR EMERGENCIES. SO, LEET START AT YEAR ONE.

YEAR ONE WE HAVE A BUDGET OF A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT $20.

SO THE BUDGET IS REALLY THE OPERATING BUDGE SET BASED ON $80.

SO WE GO FORWARD IN THE YEAR BUT OFTEN BECAUSE THE CITY IS FRUGAL THEY OFTEN DON'T SPEND THE ENTIRE $80, IF YOU WILL. SO NOW AT THE END OF THE YEAR THERE'S SOME MONEY LEFT OVER.

LET'S SAY IT'S $5. AND ON TOP OF THAT, MORE REVENUE MAY HAVE COME IN THAT WASN'T EXPECTED. SO LET'S SAY THAT'S TWO DOLLAR OR ONE DOLLAR.

SO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGE SET REALLY A HUNDRED DOLLARS, MONEY AVAILABLE IS A HUNDRED DOLLARS PLUS ANY EXPECTED FEES AND THE $5 THAT'S LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR.

SO REALLY IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE HAVE $86 TO SPEND AND SIX OF THOSE DOLLARS IS PEOPLE LUMP INTO THE RESERVE FUND. SO THERE'S MONEY EVERY YEAR LEFT OVER AND NEW FEES THAT IS QUOTE PART OF THIS RESERVE FUND BUT THERE'S A RESTRICTOR RESERVE FUND THAT'S THE 20 PERCENT.

SO FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS I WENT BACK AND LOOKED, AND THE CITY HAS SPENT PART OF THOSE LEFTOVER MONEY, NOT THE 20 PERCENT EVERY YEAR TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. BACK IN 2017-2018 UNDER THE

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SO $20,000 WAS IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET TO REPLACE THAT AND I BELIEVE THAT $20,000 SHOULD BE PLACED BACK IN THE BUDGET SO WE HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. ECONOMIC FUND WAS CRITICIZED FOR SPENDING $15,000.

$10,000 OF THAT WAS AN AGREEMENT WE HAD WITH LIGN TECH THAT WE WERE GOING TO SUPPORT THEM FOR PUTTING HIGH PAYING JOBS IN SO THAT WAS MONEY PLEDGED TO THE STATEMENT ANOTHER $5,000 WENT TO NASSAU ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD ONLY GROUP I KNOW BRINGING HIGH PAYING JOBS IN THE COUNTY.

THERE WAS 87,000 BUDGETED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVISION. CITY COMMISSION ORIGINALLY HAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THE DEVELOPMENT CODE REDONE. ONE WAY OF DOING THAT WAS TO HAVE PAYING FOR A CONSULTANT. CONSULTANT IS LIKE $250,000. INSTEAD OF THAT WHAT WAS PROPOSED WAS AN ALTERNATIVE HIRE ONE PERSON TO LEAD THAT EFFORT. AND I THINK IF WE WANT A NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WE NEED TO PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO FUND THAT EFFORT.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S $50,000 TO LOOK AT REDOING THIS BUILDING. THIS BUILDING IS DILAPIDATED, EXTERIOR WALL FALLING OFF, HAS ALL KINDS OF ISSUES AND IF WE WANT TO PRESERVE THIS BUILDING WE NEED TO HIRE AN EXPERT TO LOOK AT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DOWN TO MAINTAIN RESERVE THE BUILDING.

THERE WAS MONEY BUDGET FOR CELL PHONES. TURNED OUT THAT WAS THE CELL PHONE [INAUDIBLE] PAYING COMPANIES TO HAVE THE CELL PHONES.

THERE WAS ALSO $17,000 FOR NEW DESK TOPS. WELL, PUSHING WE HAVE A ROTATING PLAN FOR THAT TOO FOR NEW COMPUTERS. AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CUT THE EXPENSE OF COMPUTERS AND THE EXPENSE OF PHONES INSTEAD OF PUSHING INTO NEXT YEAR WHERE WE ARE GOING EVEN MORE DEBT WE NEED TO ELIMINATE THE PEOPLE THAT USE THOSE CELL PHONES AND THE PEOPLE THAT USE THOSE COMPUTERS AND ELIMINATE THE SERVICES THAT THEY REPRESENT.

I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TAX SAVINGS GOING FORWARD, JUST ELIMINATING AND CELL PHONE OR PUSHING IT INTO NEXT YEAR AND PUSHING A COMPUTER PURCHASE INTO NEXT YEAR DOESN'T SOLVE THE ONGOING SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. THEN WE COME TO VEHICLES.

WE HAVE A VERY TALENTED EMPLOYEE NAMED JEREMIAH GLEESON WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY A LONG TIME AND PUT TOGETHER AWARD WINNING IT TURNS OUT REPLACEMENT PLAN FOR OUR VEHICLES.

AND THEN EVERYBODY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SEVERAL OF THE COMMISSIONERS NIT PICK AT THAT PLAN AND SAY WE SHOULDN'T DONE THIS OR THAT. TWO EXAMPLES.

I LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THIS. ONE OF THEM WAS A VEHICLE WHICH IS AN 8-YEAR-OLD POLICE PATROL CAR. THANK YOU. THAT PATROL CAR WHOM HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. TURNS OUT WITH THE POLICE PATROL CAR BECAUSE IT I'D ALSO AND IS

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THAT'S A 19-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL BUS WITH A MOTOR FELL OUT. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE KIDS TO RECREATION PROGRAMS USE A SCHOOL BUS SO REPLACING THAT NOT FOR ANOTHER YEAR IS NOT HELPFUL.

FINALLY, THE CITY MOORING FIELD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AD VALOREM TAX.

BUT THE CITY, AN THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WE HAVE. THIS IS WITH CITY COMMISSIONERS.

WE ASK FOR GRANTS. WE APPROVE THE GRANT. WE GO AND GET THE GRANT, AND THEN WE DECIDE WE DON'T WANT THE GRANT. THE TIME TO DECIDE WHETHER TO FUND THEY HAD OR NOT IS WHEN YOU APPLY FOR THEM NOT LATER ON N. THIS PARTICULAR GRANT E-IT ONLY PAYS AFTER YOU PUT THE AD VALOREM IN. WE HAVE SPEND -- 12,000 HALF OF WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REIMBURSED. SO IF WE CUT THIS OUT WE ARE GOING TO LOSE $112,000 AND I THINK THAT INSTEAD OF CUTTING THIS OUT WHICH WON'T AFFECT THE AD VALOREM TAXI WOULD HAPPEN WE WOULD AGREE TO WAIT FOR THE NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO COME ON

SEE IF THAT'S [INAUDIBLE] >> TWO MORE THINGS. ONE MORE THING IS THIS PICTURE.

THERE'S $250,000 TO REMOVE THOSE TELEPHONE POLES IN THAT PICTURE. THIS IS A PICTURE THAT WAS TAKEN FOUR YEARS AGO AND IT SHOWS A LADY, HARD TO SEE, WITH A STROLLER COMING TOWARD YOU AND A TRUCK COMING DOWN THE ROAD. YESTERDAY THAT ENTIRE ROAD WAS UNDERWATER THAT WHOLE AREA AND WHERE THE RAILROAD TRACKS WERE, THEY WERE UNDERWATER. SO THE TIDES ARE COMING.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT, I SAT HERE FOR THREE YEARS AND HEARD ABOUT RESILIENCEY AND I AGREE WITH IT. I HEARD ABOUT FLOOD PROTECTION. I AGREE WITH IT.

BUT THOSE TELEPHONE POLES ARE THE BEGINNING OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO GO. NOW WE CAN PUT THAT OFF ANOTHER YEAR BUT EVENTUALLY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME DOWN AND BE ABLE TO ALLOW WHAT RESILIENCEY AND A USABLE STREET THAT'S SAFE FOR PEOPLE THAT LADY WALKING WITH HER BUGGY UP THE STREET, WHICH IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE THERE, IS NOT SAFE THERE. SHOULD BE A SIDEWALK AND THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO PUT A SIDEWALK IN IS TO TAKE THOSE POLES DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY 30 FEET THERE. SO WE CAN KEEP PUSHING THIS DOWN THE ROAD, BUT I -- THIS IS FIRST PROPOSED 20 YEARS AGO AND THE CRA IN 2004 IT'S IN OUR RESILIENCEY PLANS.

WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT DOING THINGS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WE BUDGETED THE MONEY THIS MONEY WAS BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR BUT IT COMES TO PAYING THE MONEY NOBODY WANTS TO DO IT.

THEY SAY THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON WHY NOT. AND THERE MAY BE GOOD REASONS BUT REMEMBER, THE WATER IS GETTING WORSE EVERY YEAR. FINALLY THERE WAS A SIGN MAKING MACHINE. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. THE SIGN MAKING MACHINE IS USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REC AND ROADS DEPARTMENT TO MAKE ALL THE SIGNS FOR THE CITY.

THE MACHINE IS 20 YEARS OLD. IT BREAKS DOWN MONTHLY AND TAKES 4-6 WEEKS OFTEN TO GET PARTS AND IF WE HAVE TO TO OUTSOURCE THOSE SIGNS IT'S ABOUT 300 PERCENT MORE THAN THAN DOING IT IN HOUSE SO WHY WOULD WE NOT BUY A NEW SIGN-MAKING MACHINE? MAKES NO SENSE.

SO, WHY ARE WE GOING TO VOTE FOR THE ADJUSTED ROLL BACK RATE? AS YOU KNOW I'M RUNNING FOR REELECTION AND WHY SOMEBODY RUNNING FOR REELECTION IS GOING FOR THE ROLL-BACK RATE IS A QUESTION I'VE BEEN ASKED. IT'S BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN DOING WHAT'S RIGHT NOT TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR ME. I BELIEVE THAT GOING TO THE ADJUSTED ROLL-BACK RATE ALLOWS FOR MAINTAINING OUR POLICE FORCE AND OUR FIRE CONTRACTS WHICH ALL CALL FOR 5 PERCENT RAISE EVERY YEAR. EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT SUPPORTING THE POLICE.

WELL YOU GOT TO SUPPORT THEM WITH MONEY. 2, THE COST OF MATERIALS THE

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AND THE COST FOR CONTRACTED SERVICES GO UP. THE EXTERNAL COST TO THE CITY TO MAINTAIN THE SAME SERVICES THE QUALITY OF LIFE WE HAVE COME TO LIKE EVERY YEAR AND THE ROLL-BACK RATE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH COST OF FOODS GOING UP FOR THE LONG RUN, SO I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE LONG-TERM INTEREST OF THE CITY TO ADOPT THE ADJUSTED ROLL BACK RATE WHICH HELPS TO PAY FOR INCREASING EXTERNAL COSTS WHICH THE CITY HAS NO CONTROL OVER AND I MOVE TO APPROVE. THE ADJUSTED ROLL-BACK RATE.

>> I'LL SECOND IT. >> SECOND. >> VICE MAYOR KREGER?

>> SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. AFTER CITY COMMISSIONER MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER I BELIEVE IT WAS 16TH OF JUNE I MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER FINANCE CONTROLLER AND THE ATTORNEY AND INDICATED I WOULD NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING ABOUT THE ROLL BACK RATE AND THEY SHOULD LOOK TO CUT THE BUDGET.

THAT WAS THE 16TH OF JUNE. OKAY. I STILL SUPPORT THE ROLL-BACK RATE BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO TELL THE COMMUNITY WE UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION IN THE WORLD AND THE STATE 2.3 BILLION SHORTFALL THE STATE TOLD THE DEPARTMENTS TO REDUCE 78.3 PERCENT.

SO, I'M GOING TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF POINTS YOU MADE. THESE -- NONE OF THEM DEAL WITH ENTERPRISE FUNDS. NONE OF THEM DEAL WITH VEHICLES. THE FIRST WAS A UTILITY POLE RELOCATION, $250,000. I MENTIONED BEFORE WHEN WE FIRST WENT IN IT WAS FOR SAFETY AND THE CODE REQUIREMENT. THAT WAS LAST YEAR. THEY WEREN'T TRUE.

IT WAS NEITHER OF THOSE. THIS YEAR IT'S PART OF ANOTHER PROJECT BUT IT'S REALLY A STAND ALONE PROJECT AND IT MAY BE VIABLE BUT THE REASON I SUGGESTED WE MOVE IT OR NOT DO IT IS BECAUSE FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES IS WORKING WITH THE STATE PLAN AND MAY WELL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT NO COST TO US. NOW, I REMEMBER YOU KNOW THE $180,000 THAT WE BLEW WHETHER WE WENT OUT AND JUMPED THE GUN THAT WAS BEING PAID FORWARD BY SOMEBODY ELSE ON THE BEACHES AND WE WENT OUT AND CANCELLED CONTRACTS BECAUSE WE WEREN'T HAPPY THE ECONOMY WAS MOVING FAST ENOUGH AND WE PAID $180,000 WE WILL NEVER BEEN REIMBURSED. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT WITH THESE POLES. NEXT THING I SUGGESTED. I DIDN'T MENTION.

THIS I SUGGESTED WE CUT THE $10,000 FOR THE TRAIL CERTAINLY. WE ALREADY PAID MONEY FOR THEM.

THEY'RE A NONPROFIT. I SIGNATURE YOU KNOW THAT NON-PROFITS CAN COME UP WITH THOSE TYPE OF THINGS THEMSELVES. OUR VEHICLES WERE 426 FOR STREETS, 446, VEHICLES FOR RECREATION, ONE PARK VEHICLE. THERE'S NO QUESTION WE HAVE A FINE VEHICLE PROGRAM AND WE CAME HERE ON ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS AND HOW GREAT IT WAS OH REMINDED ME LAST WEEK WHEN WAYS AT THE AAC MEETING HERE AND SAW FIVE ALMOST BRAND NEW VEHICLES SITTING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING WITH A ROOF THAT LEAKS WITH CRACKS IN THE SEEING. THEN THE $30,000.

WHY DID I SUGGEST TO CUT THAT? WHY WOULD I THINK WE COULDN'T CUT THAT WHEN IT WAS NEVER IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN? WE HAVE A FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN REQUIRED BY LAW. WASN'T IN THERE. TO CUT THOSE THINGS WE WERE BROUGHT DOWN $468,000. I WANT TO DO THE ROLL BACK BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS IN A CRISIS. PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TAX INCREASE FOR ANYBODY. SO, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT DID I AND THEY WERE PUBLISHED AND TO SAY THAT WE ALL AGREED WHEN THE TWO DAYS AFTER IS REALLY NOT QUITE TRUE.

AND I'VE BEEN PUSHING SO LONG. SO YOU KNOW I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN'T CUT $48,000 OUT AFTER BUDGET. LET ME TALK ABOUT STAN TECH. STAN TECH WAS NEVER APPROVED WE AGREED THE TAN STEK PROGRAM COULD BE IN EFFECT NOW. IT WAS THE CITY CHOICE NOT TO

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I THINK WE NEED TO REFINANCE AND DO SOME THINGS BUT TO CUT $468,000 OUT TO GO TO THE ROLL BACK RATE SENDS A POSITIVE MESSAGE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A MESSAGE EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEND. I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO SEND IS WE NEED MORE MONEY EVERY YEAR. IT'S GOING TO BE PROBLEMS NEXT YEAR.

WELL, WE WILL GET INTO THAT AS WE MOVE ON. WE CAN BECOME A LOT MORE EFFICIENT. WE CAN LOOK AT BUDGETS AND WHEN I TALKED TO YOU ON THE 16TH I THOUGHT WE WOULD SEECUT'S. WHAT DID WE SEE? ONE CUT WHICH IS REALLY CRAZY IS WE WERE GOING TO CUT, I THINK WE HAVE CUT $25,000 FROM BEACH WALK.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WE CLOSED THOSE A YEAR AGO. WE FIXED THE BAD ONES AND WE GOT THEM WASHING OUT AND WE ARE GOING TO CUT IT OUT? I HAVE NO PROBLEM GOING TO THE RESERVE. I AGREE THE RESERVE IS REGULATED, WE MEET THE REQUIREMENTS BUT THERE WEREN'T ANY SIGNIFICANT CUTS. SO WHAT WE DID IS WE CUT STAN TECH. SO I'M JUST SAYING I WOULD LIKE TO GO AND I WON'T SUPPORT THIS MILLAGE. I'LL SUPPORT THE RATE IN. THESE WERE PUBLISHED UP THERE.

I WOULD SAY WHEN WE GET THE CASSIUS MONEY BACK THAT WOULD COVER US GOING BACK.

I WOULD ASSUME WE GET A LOT OF MONEY. I WON'T GO FOR THIS.

>> MR. LEDNOVICH. >> I HEARD EVERYTHING VICE MAYOR KREGER SAYS.

WHAT COMMISSIONER ROSS DESCRIBED IS A NORMAL YEAR. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL BUDGET YEAR BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. I'M GOING TO READ A STATEMENT THAT I PREPARED. I GAVE IT SOME THOUGHT. IT'S NOT VERY LONG.

LAST WEEK, THE COMMISSION HEARD A MESSAGE OF HOPE REGARDING POTENTIAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY DURING THIS PANDEMIC. I SUPPORT THAT MESSAGE 100 PERCENT.

MY HOPE IS THAT I AM 100 PERCENT WRONG IN FORECASTING AN ECONOMIC DOWN TURN.

NOBODY WANTS THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALL WANT THE BEST AND HOPE THAT WE ARE COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC. BUT HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY.

A WISE STRATEGY IS HOPE FOR THE BEST BUT PREPARE FOR THE WORST. IT WOULD BE ILL ADVISED FOR US NOT TO RECOGNIZE THE WARNING SIGNS OF A POTENTIAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

GIL LANGLEY MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE MEAL YEAH ISLAND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IN HIS LATEST REPORT WHICH VICE MAYOR KREGER AND COMMISSIONER ROSS WILL HEAR THE FOLLOWING, TOURISTS VISITS ARE DOWN 45.1 PERCENT. SPENDING IS DOWN MORE THAN HALF WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR. TAXABLE SALES ARE DOWN 26 PERCENT.

BED TAX REVENUE IS DOWN MILLION THIS YEAR. REGINA WROTE US UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS FOR NASSAU COUNTY FOR THE PERIOD AUGUST 7 THROUGH MARCH 16, 6181 CLAIMS, 15 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, UP FROM 13.9 PERCENT THE PREVIOUS REPORT.

WE HEARD ABOUT A 1.8 GAIN ON THE SALES TAX LAST TUESDAY, OVER 2019.

THIS IS WHAT WE DIDN'T HEAR. YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING BUSINESSES WERE DOWN 41 PERCENT. THIS IS DURING THE SUMMER. THIS IS DURING THEIR BOOM TOWN.

THEY WERE DOWN 41 PERCENT. AUTOMOBILE REPAIR AND SERVICES WERE DOWN 21 PERCENT.

MEDICAL DENTAL SURGICAL OPTICAL AND RELATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WERE DOWN 14 PERCENT.

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AND LAST WEEK THE NASSAU COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT CUT 26 FIRST YEAR TEACHERS AND SIX PARA PROFESSIONALS IN ORDER TO SAVE THE DISTRICT $2 MILLION. WHAT YOU HAVE, WHAT WISE PEOPLE DO IS YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS IN TOTALITY. IT'S LIKE WATCHING THE HORIZON AND YOU SEE A STORM COMING AND A WISE PERSON GRABS THEIR UMBRELLA.

MY POINT FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS AND TODAY IS NOT IN OPPOSITION OF PROJECTS, BUT RATHER, TO ASK, DO WE NEED TO SPEND THIS MONEY RIGHT NOW AS WE HEAD INTO AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE? THAT'S THE QUESTION BEFORE US. THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. THIS IS A 100 YEAR PANDEMIC.

IF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS APPROVE THE ADJUSTED ROLL BACK RATE, WHICH I WILL NOT, THEN TOGETHER, WE MUST BE PREPARED TO BE NIMBLE IN RESPONSE TO A FALTERING ECONOMY.

WE MUST BE PREPARED TO ACT QUICKLY TO REDIRECT TAXPAYER ASSETS FROM THOSE BUDGETED PROJECTS INTO RELIEF PROGRAMS THAT WILL SUPPORT BOTH CITY RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN DISTRESS. SO, THIS IS GOING TO BE A 3-2 VOTE.

I HOPE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ARE WITH ME THAT IF OUR ECONOMY STARTS TO FAIL, THAT WE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROJECTS AND

BURYING UTILITY POLES. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU SIR.

>> IT'S THE SAME THING. IT'S ALL THE SAME. >> I THOUGHT WE VOTED TWICE.

>> WE DID. SHE HAS TO SPEAK ON 5.1. >> I CAN SPEAK ON EITHER ONE.

>> MR. LEDNOVICH YOUR LIGHT IS ON. NEXT THING I'M GOING TO DO IS

CALL THE VOTE. >> OKAY. SO THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS [NAME] I'M HERE TO PROVIDE MY THOUGHTS ON A BUDGET WHICH CAN'T BE DONE IN 3 MINUTES. HERE'S A QUICK SUMMARY OF MY THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS.

FOR THE 2021 BUDGET I BELIEVE WE SHOULD GO TO FULL ROLL BACK RATE BUT NO MATTER WHICH MILLAGE RATE YOU END UP APPROVING CUTS SHOULD COME FROM THE GENERAL AD VALOREM FUND NOT PROTECTED FUNDS.

HAVING SAID THAT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THAT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGETS AND WHY. MOVING THE FUNDING FOR THE COMP PLAN PROJECT MANAGER TO PLANNING DEPARTMENT AS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND ALLOW THE PAB TO DO THEIR JOB AND MANAGE THE REWRITE OF THE COMP PLAN AND THE LDC. WE TALK ABOUT MANAGING GRANTS AND DEVELOPMENT AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN AFFECT MEANINGFUL CHANGE. THE PAB AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY AND THIS PROJECT AN THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO IN 2021. INCLUDE THE PLANNING MONEY FOR [NAME] WHICH IS $85,000. THERE ARE OPTIONS TO START SMALL AN GENERATE REVENUE IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE THIS PROJECT PROFITABLE AND IT'S REQUIRED BY [NAME] PLAN AND DOES NOT IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND WITH IMPACT FEES LEAVE THE CEMETERY TREE PROJECT NOT GENERAL FUND AND REQUIRED BY THE CEMETERY MASTER PLAN AND RETURN THE $25,000 FOR WALK OVER MAINTENANCE.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LET THESE WALK OVER'S DETERIORATE ANY MORE THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE AND I CAN HELP FIND THE $25,000 OUT OF THE BUDGET TO MOVE IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME HELP.

I ALSO BELIEVE WE SHOULD USE 2021 TO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO THE PROCESS AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE OR BUDGING PROSZ AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CREC SESZ DEPARTMENT THERE ARE SAVINGS TO

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>> THANK YOU MA'AM. >> MR. [NAME]. >> DO I HAVE A COUPLE OF ISSUES.

IF YOU LEAVE THIS ISLAND IN THE MORNING, THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC STREAMING ONTO THIS ISLAND IS QUITE HEAVY. I'M SURE THAT ALL THOSE CARS ARE NOT COMING TO SIT ON THE BEACH.

SO, THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING HERE TO WORK. IF YOU LOOK AT HOME SALES ON THE ISLAND, BUILDING PERMITS ON THE ISLAND, THEY SEEM TO BE SKYROCKETING.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT TO GET A TRUCK OF CEMENT I WOULD HAVE HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS ON A WAITING LIST. THEY'RE THAT BUSY.

I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE HOW BAD THINGS ARE WHEN YOU GET AMAZON BEGGING FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING $5 AN HOUR. YOU GET WALMART BEGGING PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK. I ALSO THOUGHT OF SOMETHING INTERESTING A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. AT THE HEIGHT OF AMELIA BLUFF I WAS GET PROBABLY 50 EMAILS A WEEK OVER THIS TAX THING I GOT A HANDFUL WHICH SAYS TO ME EITHER PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE ADJUSTED ROLL BACK RATE, BUT THEY REALLY DON'T CARE. AND I JUDGE THAT ON THAT ISSUE.

NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE EMAILED OUTRAGED. I DON'T PERSONALLY THINK THAT THE CLOUD IS AS DARK AS IT'S MADE OUT TO BE. I THINK THAT YES, WE DO HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. BUT WHEN I GET UP IN THE MORNING AND I HEAR AMAZON SAY WE ARE COMPLETELY FILLED WITH JOBS, THEN I WILL BE HAPPY. BUT AS LONG AS AMAZON IS BEGGING PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK, I HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING ECONOMIC TIMES ARE THAT BAD.

MY MOM ALWAYS HAD A BUNCH OF SAYINGS BUT ONE OF HER FAMOUS ONES WAS PUT YOUR MUSCLE WHERE YOUR MOUTH. IF YOU'RE THAT BAD ECONOMICALLY GO TO AMAZON, GET A JOB.

GO TO WALMART. GET TO JOB. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SIR. >> SORRY. >> ALL RIGHT.

MADAME CLERK CALL THE VOTE PLEASE. >> MILLAGE VOTE.

>> YES, 5.1. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> CHAPMAN YES.

[6.1 ADOPTION OF FINAL FY 2020/2021 BUDGET - RESOLUTION 2020-128 ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR THE 2020/2021 FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Adopts the final budget for Fiscal Year 2020/2021.]

>> YES KREGER. >> NO. SECTION 6 ADOPTING THE FINAL HEARING. 6.1 ADOPTION OF THE FINAL BUDGET FOR 2021.

I HAVE NO REQUEST TO SPEAK. >> MILLAGE APPROVED. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION TO SECOND VICE MAYOR YOU RECOGNIZED. >> I ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

THOUGHT THERE WAS AN UNNING ON THE ISSUE OF THE STAFFING OF THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE THAT WE WOULD SHIFT THAT MONEY OVER TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH CONSULTANTS.

I THOUGHT -- IS THAT WHAT WE AGREED TO? IS THAT WHAT THE CONSENSUS WAS? HERE'S MY CONCERN. WE HAVE A PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFFED WITH FOUR PLANNERS THAT'S PROFESSIONAL AND TO HIGHER A TEMPORARY AND TAKE THAT OUT OF THEIR AREA FOR $75,000 YOU'RE NOTHING GOING TO GET MUCH AND IT'S DEVICES I HAVE AND WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE COMP PLAN WE WROTE WHEREAS IF WE TRANSFER THAT MONEY INTO THERE AND WE SELECT, THIS IS THE PAB IS GOING TO, PLANNING AND ADVISORY BOARD WILL BE WITH US MORE EFFECTIVELY.

WE DON'T NEED A CONSULTANT TO WRITE THE WHOLE PLAN IN MY OPINION.

MANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE ONE OF THEM IS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T NEED A CONSULTANT TO DO INTERGOVERNMENTAL THING SO WE CAN SELECTIVELY DO THAT AND HAVE

[00:40:01]

A MORE EFFECTIVE COMP PLAN MOVING TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT. >> AND I GUESS BASED ON THE ATTORNEY, IF YOU WANT TO AMEND, RIGHT NOW THAT MONEY DOES REMAIN UNDER THE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT F. YOU WANT TO AMEND YOUR MOTION AND MAKE THAT TRANSFER NOW, YOU CAN DO THAT.

OR I GET THE CONSENSUS THAT YOU PREFER -- AND WE HAVEN'T HAD. I NOW MISS MINSHU CHAIRPERSON OF THE PAB IS PLANNING ON A PRESENTATION. IF YOU APPROVE THE BUDGET AS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ROSS THAT MONEY STAYS THERE UNTIL THERE'S MORE DEFINITIVE DIRECTION AND IF WE NEED TO AMEND THE BUDGET WITHOUT AMENDING THE BOTTOM LINE AND ACTUALLY MOVE THAT MONEY TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES YOU CAN DO THAT AT LATER DAY.

UNTIL THERE'S MORE CONSENSUS BECAUSE AS WE TALKED ABOUT, SOMETIMES THE TERM CONSENSUS MUDDLES THINGS SO UNLESS YOU AMEND THE MOTION NOW THE BUDGET WILL BE APPROVED WITH THAT ROUGHLY $87,000 DUE TO ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WOULD BE IN THE CITY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT THAT MONEY WILL NOT BE SPENT I PLEDGE UNTIL THERE IS MORE DEFINITIVE

DIRECTION AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PAB TO USE THE CITY COMMISSION. >> I ASSUME THAT'S ACTUALLY TRUE WITH MANY THINGS IN THE BUDGET GOING ON WHAT MIKE SAYS. IF IT'S REMOVED LONG WE WILL SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE WILL BE DUE DILIGENCE WITH OUR OUR EXPENDITURES LIKE WE SHOULD BE

ALL THE TIME AND MOSTLY ARE. >> THANK YOU. AND SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION VOTE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.