Dec 18, 2020 2021 Legislative Delegation

[00:00:02]

>> GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON THIS CHILLY MORNING, FOR THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY DELEGATION MEETING. WE WANT TO BEGIN OUR MEETING WITH A PRAYER. REPRESENTATIVE RENNER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE LEAD US IN PRAYER

AND SENATOR HUTSON WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> PLEASE JOIN ME FOR PRAYER.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND IN THIS GREAT COUNTY TO SERVE IT, AND WE JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE, THE THREE OF US, TO SERVE IN TALLAHASSEE AND WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS ON THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY, AS WE HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY, IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, 1 NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL NA UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALLO N UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JN NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALLE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR

ALL >> FIRST, DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING REMARKS, REPRESENTATIVE

[4. Opening Remarks and Announcements]

MR. MARCO, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CHAIR STEVENSON.

HUTSON. REPRESENTATIVE RENNER. >> OKAY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOUR STAFF? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR.

>> MY STAFF, MY ONE STAFF MEMBER HERE, SAMANTHA STORY, WE ARE INTERVIEWING FOR OUR DISTRICT DAY. SHE IS OUR LEGISLATIVE AID, SHE DOES A GREAT JOB AND WE'RE VERY VERY PRIVILEGED TO HAVE SAMANTHA. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU, SENATOR.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE DANIELLE CARBO, HUNTER CLEARY, LEGISLATIVE AIDE AND CATHERINE BABCOCK IN THE BACK. LEGISLATIVE AIDE AS WELL. THE CHAIR: FROM MY OFFICE, WE HAVE FRANK DEMARCO. WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL. WE WANT TO, I'LL JUST BEGIN BY LAYING OUT THE MEETING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE DELEGATION AND HAVE NOT YET SUBMITTED A SPEAKER CARD, PLEASE FILL ONE OUT AT THE BACK TABLE AND RETURN IT TO THE STAFF. WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE. I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZING. ANYBODY ELSE? I DON'T SEE ANY. OKAY. VERY GOOD.

[6. Special Recognition]

AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR STEWARDSHIP. THEY DO HARD WORK.

THEY DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T READ ABOUT IN THE PAPER.

THE LESS WE READ, THE HARDER WE KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING. THEY CONTRIBUTED A LOT FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FROM PUBLIC SAFETY, TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, TO THE EDUCATION OF OUR YOUTH. WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE RETIRING AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEM. SENATOR HUTSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THE FIRST TRIBUTE.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DAVID SHORE, WHO HAS BEEN A VETERAN FOR 24 YEARS, HAS BEEN MARRIED FOR 30 YEARS, WITH HIS WIFE. HE HAS BEEN A PILLAR TO THIS COMMUNITY. FIRST STARTED AS A PATROL OFFICER IN '81.

BECAME A SERGEANT IN '91. COMMANDER IN '97. CHIEF OF POLICE IN 2000.

AND THEN HE SERVED IN 2004 AS OUR ELECTED SHERIFF. I MET SHERIFF SHORE, WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS HIS INTRODUCTION PARTY OR ELECTION PARTY, BACK IN 05, 06, 04. HE HAS BEEN A GREAT MENTOR THEN.

ANYONE THAT KNOWS THEM KNOWS THAT HE IS WELL RESPECTED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HE HAS KEPT US SAFE AND INSTRUMENTAL REASON WHY PEOPLE WANT TO COME LIVE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU, SHERIFF FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. THE CHAIR: WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE EACH PERSON AND THEN COME DOWN TO DO THE PRESENTATION.

REPRESENTATIVE RENNER. >> IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE JUDGE JOHN ALEXANDER.

AND WE'VE ALL SEEN A PICTURE OF LADY JUSTICE, WITH BLINDFOLD AND SCALES.

[00:05:01]

NOBODY BETTER EXEMPLIFIES A COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW THAN JUDGE ALEXANDER.

HE WENT RIGHT HERE TO ST. JOHNS RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THEN TO FLORIDA LAW SCHOOL, GO GATORS. TOOK A TURN AS A TEACHER AND ATHLETIC COACH BEFORE HE GOT INTO THE PRACTICE OF LAW AND WAS AN ATTORNEY BOTH IN PALATKA AND JACKSONVILLE.

AND SERVED ON THE BENCH SINCE 1996. JUDGE ALEXANDER, WE ALL KNOW THAT THOSE WHO SERVE, INCLUDING YOURSELF COULD HAVE MADE A LOT MORE MONEY OUT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. BUT YOU CHOSE TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND MAKE SURE THAT THE RULE OF LAW IS PRESERED HERE IN THE 7TH CIRCUIT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH SO GREATLY FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.

THE CHAIR: IT'S MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE DR. JOSEPH JOINER. DR. JOINER, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS OF OUR COUNTY DURING TIME OF TREMENDOUS GROWTH.

FROM 2003 TO 2017, OUR STUDENT POPULATION NEARLY DOUBLED AND WE HAD TO BUILD 13 NEW SCHOOLS TO ACCOMMODATE THEM. WE ARE GRATEFUL. DURING THIS TIME YOU WERE ABLE TO KEEP A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE. I KNOW THAT IS AN EFFORT OF THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS. IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. AS IF THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH, YOU WENT ON TO FLAGLER COLLEGE AND SERVED AS PRESIDENT AND HAVE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED YOUR RETIREMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING NEXT, BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE MORE TIME WITH YOUR FAMILIES. I KNOW FAMILIES SACRIFICE A GREAT DEAL. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO RECOGNIZE YOU AT THIS TIME.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE USUALLY HAVE DONE AS A DELEGATION.

BUT WE HAVE THREE EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RETIRING AND WE'RE REALLY VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE OUT THERE DOING GOOD THINGS.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. MEMBERS, IF YOU WILL COME JOIN ME DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND WE'LL PRESENT THE RECOGNITIONS. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY AND

[00:11:25]

BUT WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. WE WANTED TO HAVE YOU SPEAK, BUT WE KNEW THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME. WE NEED TO HAVE A HALF HOUR FOR EACH ONE OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND YOUR SERVIENT LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL GET ON TO THE REGULAR PART OF OUR AGENDA.

WE WILL HAVE, WE'RE GOING TO ASK SPEAKERS TO PLEASE LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES

[7. Speakers]

>> THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO THIS MORNING, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND REALLY GIVE OUR HEART FELT THANKS TO THE DOCTORS AND NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH PERSONNEL IN THIS COUNTY THAT ARE JUST DOING WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND JOB PROTECTING US DURING THIS CRISIS.

ALSO WANT TO ALSO THANK ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING THE EMTS, THE FIREMEN AND THE DEPUTIES AND THE POLICE OFFICERS OF BOTH SMALL CITIES. FABULOUS JOB.

SECONDLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY TWO FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY.

COMMISSIONER JEB SMITH. IF YOU WILL WAVE. PAUL IS HERE TOO.

COMMISSIONER PAUL WALDRON. LET ME SAY THIS, IF ANYONE DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER, YOU SHOULD NOW. BECAUSE EVERYONE I KNOW IN THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR PAUL. AND HE HAS MADE A MIRACULOUS RECOVERY AND COMEBACK AND ALL OF US COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. BUT IT WAS -- IT'S BEEN A BLESSING THAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO RECOVER LIKE HE HAS. I'LL BE BRIEF GIVEN THE TIME LIMITATION.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS. MOST OF THEM ARE BEHIND ME.

SOME EVEN IN THE LOBBY. WITH RESPECT TO OUR LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN THAT I AFFECTIONATELY CALL OUR WISH LIST, OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES ARE OUTLINED IN OUR REPORT, WHICH YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE A COPY OF. THEY INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVATION.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS YEAR, FUNDING FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT AND NECESSARY SERVICES LIKE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND FIRE AND RESCUE ARE PRIORITIES THAT OFTEN LIE BEYOND THE BUDGETS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THAT IS NOT JUST TRUE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, I'M SURE Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE BEACH RNOURISHMENT IN SOUTH FLORIDA. EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION, BUT IT RETURNS EVERY DOLLAR SPENT FIVE DOLLARS FROM THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.

I'LL TELL YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT FROM VILANO UP TO SOUTH PONTE VEDRA, IT'S GOING TO BE DONE IN ABOUT A WEEK TO TEN DAYS. IT'S REMARKABLE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT OVER THE HOLIDAYS, MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE A SITE VISIT.

IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. AND THE PEOPLE ARE VERY VERY HAPPY.

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IT'S RATHER THICK. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE HAVE AN EXPERT STAFF THAT CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS THAT I CAN'T. THANK YOU.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU, CHAIR DEAN. THERE IS A LITTLE LIGHT READING HERE FOR US. NEXT WE HAVE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CLERK OF COURT BRANDON PATTY.

>> DELEGATION, GOOD MORNING. GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRES YOU ON SOME OF THE PRIORITIES FACING THE CLERK'S OFFICE HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FIRST, AS YOU KNOW, ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS IN SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR ADDITIONAL JUDGES.

ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES IN THE NATION, WE CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE TWO COUNTY JUDGES AND FOUR CIRCUIT JUDGES SERVING HERE. WE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER SERVED. ALACHUA HAS FIVE COUNTY JUDGES, WITH A POPULATION OF ONLY 254,000. WE ARE FACING SIGNIFICANT HEADWINDS, VARIOUS FACTORS NOT CONSIDERED IN THE SUPREME COURT CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR NEW JUDGES.

RETIRING JUDGES, CHANGES TO THE LIMITS FOR COUNTY COURTS AND SMALL CLAIMS ARE PUTTING SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE ON AN ALREADY STRESSED COURT SYSTEM. AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE STRAIN IN OUR SYSTEM, IT IS TAKING 60 DAYS TO GET AN INITIAL HEARING AND 6 MONTHS FOR A TRIAL IN CIVIL. IF FAMILY COURT, THEY ARE SCHEDULING TRIALS TO SEPTEMBER.

THESE ARE UNACCEPTABLE DELAYS IN ACCESSING OUR COURT SYSTEM AND RESOLVING REAL LIFE ISSUES.

OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS MY OFFICE HAS BUILT A BROAD COALITION OF STAKEHOLDERS AND HAVE THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY COMMISSION REPORT. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE DELEGATION SUPPORT INCREASING JUDICIAL CAPACITY BEING NEW JUDGES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH Y'ALL IN TALLAHASSEE. IN ADDITION, THE FLORIDA CLERK'S ASSOCIATION, THEY ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO FIX OUR FUNDING MECHANISM AND MODEL.

ALLOWING RESERVES, INCREASING FUNDING, AS WE'VE BEEN FACING SIGNIFICANT CUTS OF THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, TUNE OF $50 MILLION. WE PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT TO THE RESIDENTS HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE ASK THAT YOU ALL LISTEN TO OUR ASSOCIATION WITH OPEN EARS AND ALLOW US TO COME AND ADVOCATE TO IN ORDER TO BE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE PROVIDING WORLD CLASS SERVICE HERE IN ST. JOHNS.

CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE NANCY SIKES-KLEIN. GOOD MORNING.

>> SO GREAT TO BE HERE AND AMONG PEOPLE. IT'S BEEN A WHILE FOR ME.

GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU, CHAIR STEVENSON, REPRESENTATIVE RENNER, SENATOR HUTSON. THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE THANKS YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ROLE IN PAST SUPPORT FOR OUR ONGOING PRIORITY TO CONVERT WEST AUGUSTINE TO GRAVITY SANITARY SEWER SERVICES. 12 RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS ARE COMPLETE.

ANOTHER 25 UNDERWAY. WE REQUEST $600,000 FOR STATE ASSISTANCE TO ELIMINATE 20 MORE SEPTIC TANKS AND ALLOW UP TO 32 NEW CONNECTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, ITEMS WE SEEK SUPPORT FOR THAT REMAIN A PRIORITY AND NOT NECESSARILY IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE.

WE ARE SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

RETAINING LOCAL CONTROL OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WILL BE AN ISSUE. SO WE WILL BE SEEING YOU IN TALLAHASSEE AGAIN, AS WE HAVE IN MANY PAST YEARS. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. WE SUPPORT AND REQUEST CONSTRUCTION FUNDING FOR STATE ROAD 313, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON FUNDING FOR THE PHASE CONNECTING STATE ROAD 207 TO STATE ROAD 16. WE NEED RELIEF FROM CONGESTION.

AND THAT SEGMENT THERE IS WHAT IS THE NECESSARY SEGMENT TO HELP THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, THE BEACH AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE SUPPORT FULL FUNDING FOR THE SADOWSKI TRUST FUND. MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING, WE LEND OUR VOICE TO THE CALL TO FUND THE FLORIDA ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT TEAM. HOMELESS SERVICES.

[00:20:02]

FOR NOW, THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME LEFT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT SHORT. BUT WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY VERY MUCH.

AND WE REALLY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS. AND WE STAND TO SUPPORT YOU IN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AS WELL IN THIS SESSION COMING UP.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S BEEN A TRUE HONOR TO REPRESENT MY CITY TODAY.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. NEXT WE HAVE CITY OF ST.

AUGUSTINE BEACH, MARY MARGARET ENGLAND. WELCOME.

>> GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE LEGISLATORS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU DIRECTLY ABOUT A SPECIAL PROJECT IN ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.

LIKE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, WE HAVE AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO FLOODING. LIKE NANCY, I EXPERIENCED FLOODING IN MY HOME FROM A SPECIAL RAIN EVENT THIS YEAR. WE KNOW OF WEATHER CHANGE AND THE DANGERS OF FLOODING AND HOW TERRORIZING IT CAN BE TO A RESIDENT AS YOU'RE WATCHING THE WATER GROW IN YOUR HOME.

I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MR. BILL TREDDIK WHO IS GOING TO PROVIDE YOU THE DETAILS OF THIS SPECIAL PROJECT WE WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE WE NEED HELP.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, FLORIDA.

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH IS A SMALL TWO SQUARE MILE COASTAL COMMUNITY OF LESS THAN 7,000 PEOPLE. SOME AREAS ARE VERY LOW LYING AND VULNERABLE TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGE. AN AREA OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS ON THE NORTH PORTION OF THE CITY, CALLED OCEANWALK SUBDIVISION. LOW LYING.

ELEVATIONS OF THE ROAD ARE AS LOW AS FOUR FEET. STORM SURGE AND EXTREME TIDES COME IN FROM THE NORTH, SALT RUN, ANASTASIA STATE PARK. THE AREA EXPERIENCES RECURRENT FLOODING DURING HIGH TIDES, EXTREME TIDES AND STORM SURGES. THIS PICTURE ON YOUR LEFT IS FROM HURRICANE MATTHEW IN 2016. YOU CAN SEE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS PRETTY MUCH INUNDATED FROM THE NORTH, FROM STORM SURGE. WITH CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSING THE SEA LEVEL RISE AND INCREASED FREQUENCY OF EXTREME TIDES, FLOODING CHANGE IS OCCURRING WITHOUT HURRICANES.

PICTURES ON THE RIGHT HAPPEN THIS SUMMER IN SEPTEMBER, WHERE THE WATER LEVELS WERE ALMOST AS HIGH AS HURRICANE MATTHEW. THE RAINS WERE BIG, BUT NOT THAT BIG.

THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE OUT THERE, NOT BETTER, DUE TO SEA LEVEL RISE.

EXTREME TIDES DON'T ALLOW THE WATER TO DRAIN. INTENSITY OF THESE STORMS SEEMS TO BE GOING UP. WE HAVE A PLAN TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT WE REALLY NEED SOME HELP. WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE RESILIENCY BY BLOCKING THE STORM SURGE WITH BACK FLOW PREVENTERS. CONVEYING THE WATER BETTER WITHIN THE SUBDIVISION AND CONTROLLING THE GROUNDWATER. THIS PROJECT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF FLOODING IN THE AREA.

SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK, REQUEST LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $694,000 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEA LEVEL RISE RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENTS FOR OCEANWALK SUBDIVISION.

PROVIDES LIFE AND SAFETY BENEFITS. ALLOWS ACCESS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. RIGHT NOW EMERGENCY VEHICLES STRUGGLE, AS WELL AS REDUCING THE RISK TO PRIVATE PROPERTY AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. I GUESS YOU'LL BE SUBMITTING A MEMBER PROJECT REQUEST FOR THAT. YOU'LL GET WITH THE STAFF ON THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DR. JOYNER. BEG YOUR PARDON.

SUPERINTENDENT TIM FORCEN. I APOLOGIZE. ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

SUPERINTENDENT TIM FORCEN, WELCOME, TIM. >> THANK YOU.

[00:25:03]

THANK YOU. IT'S TURN TO THREE YEARS OF COMMITMENT THAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE TO MENTAL HEALTH AND STUDENT SUPPORT, SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPORT AND IT'S MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE. IF YOU RECALL LAST YEAR, I SHARED QUICKLY ABOUT SOME OF THE INTERNAL THINGS WE'RE DOING. AND THIS YEAR I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING EXTERNAL. SO YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR AS A LEGISLATOR.

IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE'RE PLEASED TO SHARE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT EXISTS BETWEEN FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS, AND NUMEROUS OTHER AGENCIES. EPIC BEHAVIORAL SERVICES.

CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY. ST. AUGUSTINE YOUTH SERVICES. SO THOSE DIFFERENT GROUPS HAVE BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT IS CARE CONNECT NOW. WE HAVE SEEN A HUGE INCREASE OF ND IT'S THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS THESE MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES. SOME OF IT YOU'LL HEAR FROM TODY, I'M SURE.

THAT HAVE PROVIDED A HIGH LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION BY FAMILIES AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND SUPPORT AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES THAT EXTEND FROM THAT. SO THEY BENEFITTED FROM ALL OF THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND SAY THANK YOU.

I KNOW IT WAS DIFFICULT IN THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR TO STAY THE COURSE WITH TEACHER COMPENSATION, BUT THANK YOU. THE IDEA OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF TEACHERS IS IMPORTANT AND THIS WAS A HUGE STEP. I DO ASK FOR CONSIDERATION AND A LOOK AT BENEFITTING ALL TEACHERS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO RAISE THE BAR FOR ALL TEACHERS SO THAT THAT SALARY IS SOMETHING THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND BECOMES MORE OF A CAREER THAT WE CAN COUNT ON FOR EACH AND EVERY TEACHER IN OUR SYSTEM.

THE NEXT IS A NEW CHAPTER ON THE SAME STORY, GROWTH. WE FACE GROWTH IN OUR DISTRICT.

EVEN THIS YEAR, JUST MAKING EVERYONE AWARE, WE'RE AT ABOUT TWO PERCENT GROWTH RATE IN A YEAR THAT MOST DISTRICTS ACTUALLY WENT THE OTHER WAY. WITH THE PANDEMIC, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT. PARENTS GO TO HOME SCHOOL OR OTHER ALTERNATIVES. WE'VE STILL SEEN THAT CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING OUR SOURCES OF CAPITAL DOLLARS.

FOR US, IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S A COMPLEX PROCESS. BUT IT IS ONE THAT INCLUDES THE ABILITY TO HAVE A HALF PENNY SALES TAX. THE SCHOOL CONCURRENCY MODEL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP WITH PROJECTS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS. IMPACT FEES.

PROPERTY TAXES. ALL OF THOSE THINGS PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE.

LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO JUST PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT. AS WE GO THROUGH THIS YEAR, IT'S A TOUGH YEAR. WE CAN SEE KIDS STRUGGLING. SO HOPEFULLY THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME KIND OF SUPPORT FOR ACADEMIC LOSS THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED DURING THE COURSE OF 2020. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK WITH CARE PLUS. I KNOW EACH ONE OF OUR OFFICES HAVE REFERRED PEOPLE THROUGH THAT. IT WAS A GREAT SYSTEM THAT YOU WORKED WITH, ALONG WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHER AGENCIES. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. FLAGLER COLLEGE PRESIDENT. DR. JOE JOYNER.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT. WHEN YOU GET OLDER, YOU TEND TO GET AWARDS THAT YOU DON'T DESERVE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WILL SAY ONE THING, WHEN SUSAN AND I CAME TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY, IN 2003, GOD BLESSED US TO BE ABLE TO LIVE OUT OUR PASSION. IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR, OBVIOUSLY FOR FLAGLER COLLEGE. COVID-19 HAS CAUSED US TO RETHINK HOW WE DO EVERYTHING, FROM STUDENT HOUSING, TO DINING, TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES. WE HAD TO REDUCE OUR DORM CAPACITY AND DINING FACILITIES AND JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. ALL OF THIS CAME AT A SIGNIFICANT MONETARY COST TO FLAGLER COLLEGE. IN THE MILLIONS AND TO OUR STUDENTS.

THROUGH THE DILIGENT WORK OF THE FOLKS ON OUR CAMPUS, WE'VE HAD A LOW SPREAD RATE ON OUR CAMPUS. IN FACT, WE'VE HAD NO SPREAD OCCUR IN OUR CLASSROOMS AT ALL.

I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. THROUGH VERY AGGRESSIVE REDUCED SPENDING, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THIS WITHOUT ANY LAYOFFS OR FURLOUGHS.

JOBS HAVE BEEN PRECIOUS TO ME. SO I'M PROUD OF THAT. I JUST WANT TO FOCUS MY COMMENTS ON THE EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO STUDENT EDUCATION, EASE GRANT PROGRAM.

FLORIDIANS HAVE SUFFERED GREATLY, 58 PERCENT OF FLORIDIANS EXPERIENCING A JOB

[00:30:02]

67 PERCENT OF NEW FLORIDA JOBS BY 2025 WILL REQUIRE SOME FORM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

EASE PROVIDES TUITION ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS.

IT GOES THROUGH THE STUDENTS, WHO ATTEND INDEPENDENT COLLEGES IN FLORIDA, NO MATTER WHERE IN FLORIDA THEY CHOOSE TO GO. THESE DOLLARS ARE CRITICAL TO FLAGLER STUDENTS.

ENROLLMENT IS CRITICAL TO US. 50 PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FROM FLORIDA.

NOT ONLY DOES EASE PROVIDE ACCESS TO PRIVATE EDUCATION FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, THERE IS A STRONG RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE STATE'S INVESTMENT FOR PRIVATE COLLEGES IS 314 COLLEGE DEGREES FOR EVERY MILLION DOLLARS SPENT.

STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, IT'S 45 DEGREES, FOR EVERY MILLION DOLLARS SPENT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRONG SUPPORT. I ASK THAT YOU DO ALL YOU CAN TO KEEP THE FUNDING, THERE WON'T BE ANY ADDITIONAL DOLLARS NEEDED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE TO FUND THAT. WE WON'T HAVE THE GROWTH. FIND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR BUDGET REQUEST. WE CUT THAT IN HALF FOR OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, BUT THAT IS A PRECIOUS JEWEL IN FLORIDA. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU, DR. JOYNER.

THE FLAGLER COLLEGE IS A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. YOU'RE TURNING OUT SPECIAL PEOPLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN THE LONG-TERM, THANK YOU. NEXT UP, FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND. NEW PRESIDENT, TRACY SNOW. CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME.

>> GOOD MORNING, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY.

MY NAME IS TRACY SNOW. I AM THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND. I WAS APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO ON NOVEMBER 2ND. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE AND THE HONOR OF WORKING AT THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND FOR THE LAST 26 YEARS. I AM A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. ON BEHALF OF FSDB, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MYSELF, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. YOUR DOORS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OPENED TO US.

WE GREATLY THANK YOU. FSDB IS A FULLY ACCREDITED TUITION FREE COLLEGE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR ELIGIBLE HEARING WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, FROM THE TIME THEY ARE IN PRESCHOOL UNTIL THEY GRADUATE FROM US IN 12TH GRADE. WE DO HAVE A BOARDING PROGRAM THAT SERVES STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. HOWEVER, STUDENTS WHO LIVE LOCALLY COME TO OUR CAMPUS DAILY. FSDB PROVIDE SPECIALIZED STUDENTS FOR OUR UNIQUE POPULATION, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, BRAILLE, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND MANY MANY OTHER SERVICES. FSDB STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, ATHLETICS, RECREATION, CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSES, AS WELL AS DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THESE DIFFICULT TIMES HAVE BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE. BUT WITH DEVOTED AND COMMITTED EMPLOYEES AT FSDB, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES TO EDUCATE THE WHOLE CHILD WITHIN OUR CURRENT BUDGET.

I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE THE STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND FOR OUR FAMILIES TO CONTINUE TO CHOOSE US, BEING THAT WE ARE A CHOICE SCHOOL. IN THE EVENT, THE LEGISLATURE FINDS FUNDS TO INCREASE SPENDING IN EDUCATION, FSDB REQUESTS THAT YOU INCLUDE OUR STUDENTS AND PERSONNEL IN ANY SUCH POLICY. HOWEVER, IN RECOGNITION OF THE CURRENT NATIONAL AND STATE CONDITIONS, REGARDING THE ECONOMICS, WE REQUEST CONTINUAL FUNDING OF OUR CURRENT BUDGET LEVEL. I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THE OPPORTUNITY I HAVE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ON BEHALF OF FSDB. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT SO YOUR STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE MORE. I OFFER YOU AN OPEN INVITATION TO OUR CAMPUS. I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A TOUR OF OUR BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES, BUT AFTER COVID IS OVER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. IT'S A GREAT TOUR.

IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GET OUT THERE AND SEE THAT CAMPUS.

[00:35:03]

PICKENS. ARE YOU WITH US? >> GOOD MORNING.

SO I HAVE TO START WITH ADDING MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE THREE GENTLEMEN THAT YOU RECOGNIZED THIS MORNING AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AFTER LAST NIGHT'S VIRTUAL GRADUATION, ST. JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE HAS HAD ALMOST 30,000 GRADUATES. BUT LESS THAN 20 HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES WITH HONOR. TWO OF THOSE ARE SHERIFF SHORE AND THE HONORABLE JOHN ALEXANDER. SO IT WAS FUN AND REWARDING TO SEE TWO OF OUR ALUMNI BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY. AND WHILE PRESIDENT JOYNER DIDN'T HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF A ST. JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE EDUCATION, I HEAR HE DID JUST FINE FOR HIMSELF. NOTWITHSTANDING THAT HANDICAP. THERE WILL BE NO WHINING HERE AS A LEGISLATOR WHO CUT IN 2008, AFTER A YEAR OF UNPRECEDENTED IF NOT FAULT BOON IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA OF TIMES ARE TOUGH EVERYWHERE AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT.

THE FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM HAS RECEIVED A SIX PERCENT HOLDBACK THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND WE EXPECT THAT FRANKLY, THAT HOLDBACK TO BECOME PERMANENT.

FRANKLY, IT'S EASIER TO CUT MONEY THAT WE NEVER RECEIVED. WE DO HOPE, HOWEVER, THAT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE IN MAKING DECISIONS AS TO WHETHER ANY OTHER CUTS WILL BE NECESSARY THAT YOU PRESERVE OUR BASE AND CUT FROM THINGS THAT ARE HARDER TO MEASURE NOW, SUCH AS PERFORMANCE FUNDING. WHERE THE COVID IMPACT TO ME MAY BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE COVID IMPACT TO FSJC OR PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE. NEVERTHELESS, WE WERE ALL IMPACTED. PRESERVE OUR BASE FUNDING IS WHAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM US, OTHER THAN THE SIX PERCENT THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED. AND CUT ELSEWHERE, IF YOU STILL HAVE TO CUT OUR BUDGETS MORE. BUT I WILL REMIND YOU THAT IN MARCH, WHEN THIS STATE WENT TO LOCKDOWN, WE WERE ASKED TO CONTINUE TO BE AN EXTENSION ESSENTIAL STATE FUNCTION.

YOU EXPECT US TO BE ONE IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH AS WELL. WE WILL BE.

WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE YOUR RELIANCE UPON THE STATE COLLEGE SYSTEM WHEN CUTS ARE BEING MADE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE JACK HALL, AS I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME AIDE SWAPPING AS OCCURRED. JACK HALL STARTED WITH ME IN 2000 AND IS STILL WITH ME AFTER EIGHT YEARS AS MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE AND NOW AT THE COLLEGE. HE WILL BE REPRESENTING THE COLLEGE ON MY BEHALF MANY TIMES IN TALLAHASSEE. HE SHOULD REQUIRE NO INTRODUCTION. BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO REMEMBER JACK HALL.

LAST, I HAVE NOT MET PRESIDENT SNOW, BUT I REMIND YOU FOR THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND. IF ANYONE DESERVES ANY NEW MONEY ANY TIME EVER, IT IS THEM. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PICKENS. ST. JOHNS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BETH SWEENEY, CHAIR OF THE CHAMBER PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE. WELCOME, MS. SWEENEY.

>> GOOD MORNING. PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. NOT TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION FOR ONCE. SO I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ISABELL, OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO. THE CHAMBER REPRESENTS OVER 1,000 BUSINESSES. WE HAVE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS THIS MORNING.

THE FIRST IS COVID-19, LIMITED LIABILITY SHIELD PROTECTION FOR OUR BUSINESSES.

FLORIDA BUSINESSES HAVE SPENT UNTOLD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, RETROFITTING THEIR OPERATIONS, TO SAFELY PROVIDE THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. A LIMITED COVID-19 LIABILITY SHIELD FROM LAWSUITS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT, WHO HAVE FOLLOWED CDC GUIDELINES, TRIED THEIR BEST TO PROTECT THEIR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.

THE SECOND ITEM IS LEGISLATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDMENT 2, THE MINIMUM WAGE AMENDMENT.

AS THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION, WE STRONGLY URGE THE DELEGATION TO SUPPORT FLEXIBILITY AND COMMON SENSE GUIDELINES TO AVOID UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS AMENDMENT.

IT WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO SUPPORT

[00:40:01]

WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT BUDGET YEAR. WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE HAVING TO MAKE CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE BUDGET. WE ASK THAT YOU DO ALL WE CAN TO PROTECT THESE DOLLARS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AS WE STRUGGLE WITH GROWTH AND THE RISING COSTS OF LIVING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AS YOU KNOW, FLORIDA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE U.S. THAT TAXES RENT PAID BY BUSINESSES. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO INCREMENTALLY CONTINUING ROLLING THAT TAX BACK.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR FOR TAX CUTS. BUT KEEP CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT TAX, IF YOU CAN. THE LAST ITEM IS WE ARE ALSO, OUR BOARD DID VOTE TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL JUDGES, THAT BACKLOG ON CASES DOES IMPACT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY TOO, AS THEY HAVE CASES BEFORE OUR JUDGES. SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO MOVE THAT REQUEST FORWARD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE COMING MONTHS AND THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU MS. SWEENEY. CIVIC ROUND TABLE.

LISA MCGLENN VICE CHAIR. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING, TO PRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE CITIZENS OF THE ST. JOHNS CIVIC ROUND TABLE. THE PURPOSE OF THE ROUND TABLE IS TO PRESERVE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

OUR FULL LIST OF PRIORITIES ARE BEING SENT TO YOU IN WRITING. BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND FOCUS ON A FEW ISSUES THAT ARE ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR BELOVED AND HISTORIC ST. JOHNS COUNTY. FIRST, FUNDING FOR FLORIDA FOREVER AND THE PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURE LAND. HELP US PRESERVE OUR BEAUTIFUL LAND, WHICH IS SO MUCH A PART OF WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTY SO GREAT. TWO, SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF HB 7103 AND RESTORE CITIZENS RIGHTS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL LAND DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING.

CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO FILE LEGITIMATE CHALLENGES WITHOUT THE FEAR OF FINANCIAL RUIN, SHOULD THEY LOSE IN COURT. THREE, ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REGULATE SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS. NOT ALL COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE THE SAME. PLEASE ALLOW OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DETERMINE THE BEST RULES FOR THEIR LOCALITIES. 4, SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE VILANO BEACH, PONTE VEDRA BEACH TRAIL ALONG A1A. 5, SUPPORT MEANINGFUL AND COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION TO FURTHER LIMIT WATER POLLUTION. OUR METANZAS RIVER IS ONE OF THE CLEANEST RIVERS. THE ST. JOHNS RIVER IS UNDER ATTACK.

WE NEED TO STOP THE GROWTH OF ALGAE IMMEDIATELY. THE SENATE BILL 712, SET THE STAGE FOR IMPROVED WATER QUALITY PROTECTION. BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE NEED INCREASED PROTECTIONS TO STOP POLLUTION AT THE SOURCE. RATHER THAN TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP AFTER THE FACT.

MORE MONITORING AND TESTING. LAST, SEA LEVEL RISE PROTECTION INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING.

WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR FUNDING TO HELP IN ASSESSING RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEA LEVEL RISE AND TO HELP DEVELOP PLANS AND MITIGATION APPROACHES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO TO OUR COUNTY AND OUR STATE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BE HERE TODAY. APPRECIATE IT. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LAST SESSION WE DID DO SOME ENHANCED MONITORING ON WATER.

THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE THERE. A LOT.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE, FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY BCB, VIRGINIA WETSTONE.

VIRGINIA, WELCOME. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY.

YOU'VE GOT YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RICHARD GOLDMAN. WELCOME, RICHARD.

>> YES. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU, ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU AS OUR 2021 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

THE FIRST ONE IS WE OPPOSE THE EXPANSION AND USES OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX PER THE FLORIDA STATUTES, AS IT EXISTS CURRENTLY. THE LOCAL OPTION TOURIST

[00:45:02]

YIELDED $52 MILLION IN LOCAL SALES AND PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. AND STIMULATED TOURISM BUSINESSES TO PAY EMPLOYEES AND OWNERS $884.5 MILLION IN COMPENSATION.

THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY. AS YOU KNOW, ST. JOHNS COUNTY'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IS TOURISM.

THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX REVENUES NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON TOURISM MARKETING AND TOURISM ASSETS TO KEEP ST. JOHNS COUNTY COMPETITIVE IN AN INCREASING COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE INSIDE THE STATE OF FLORIDA. OUR SECOND PRIORITY IS THAT THE VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU SUPPORTS THE RULE OF LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF THE REASONED LOCAL GOVERNANCE. INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED VACATION RENTALS DO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THE OPERATIONS OF SUCH BUSINESSES SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH ACCEPTABLE BUSINESSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF WHICH THEY OPERATE AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT STATUTES THAT REGULATE THEM. INCLUDING THE COLLECTION AND REMITTANCE. IT IS UNFAIR THAT OUR LOCAL LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE TO COLLECT IT BUT VACATION RENTALS DO NOT. THE THIRD ITEM THAT WE SUPPORT IS THE SADOWSKI FUNDING. ONE OF THE PRIMARY ISSUES FACING ALL OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYERS IS THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKERS ARE HAVING TO GO TO OTHER COUNTIES TO LIVE AND THEN TO COMMUTE TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT.

WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP SUPPORT ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. IT WAS PRESIDENT AND CEO, LET ME CORRECT.

RICHARD GOLDMAN. I KNOW THAT WE HAD A NICE ARTICLE, THE RECORD DID, ON THE INDUSTRY AND THAT YOU STILL ARE SUFFERING SOME. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THAT FOR THEIR INCOME. I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK TO BRING IT BACK.

THANK YOU. PORT AND WATERWAY BEACH DISTRICT.

CLAY MEEKS. GENERAL COUNSEL. AND FOLLOWING HIM WILL BE ANASTASIA MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, JEANNIE MUELLER.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK ALL OF THE LEGISLATOR'S STAFF, PARTICULAR MR. DIMARCO.

I AM HERE, ON BEHALF OF THE PORT. I HAVE AN FORTUNATE TO SIT IN THE AUDIENCE AND LISTEN TO THE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS THAT CAME BEFORE ME.

I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THE THREE OF YOU PERSONALLY. BUT I KNOW TWO THINGS ALREADY.

I KNOW ONE, YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN AN UNWORTHY REQUEST FOR FUNDING SO FAR TODAY. THEY MADE VERY GOOD POINTS, VERY GOOD CAUSES.

THE SECOND POINT THAT I THINK YOU ALL KNOW, IN THE CURRENT BUDGET ENVIRONMENT THAT THIS STATE IS FACING, THERE IS NO WAY TO FUND EVERYTHING THAT HAS COME UP ALREADY.

WHAT I'M HERE TO DO IS TO ASK YOU TO HELP US HELP YOU DO YOUR JOBS AND GET BILLS PASSED.

WHAT YOU HAVE ALL FACED OVER THE PAST LEGISLATIVE TERMS AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FACE EVEN MORE SO IN THE NEXT ONE, YOU GET IT THROUGH COMMITTEE. YOU GET IT THROUGH YOUR CHAMBER. YOU GET THE BILL FULLY PASSED. IT HITS THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

IT GETS LINE ITEM VETOED. BECAUSE OF FUNDING ISSUES. THE PORT IS ITS OWN TAXING DISTRICT. WE ARE CONSTRAINED BY THE BOUNDARIES EXISTED MANY DECADES AGO. IF OUR DISTRICT BOUNDARIES WERE EXPANDED TO ENCOMPASS ALL OF THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY, WE COULD BE YOUR TOOL FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD TO GET THE GOVERNOR TO NOT LINE ITEM SOME OF THE FUNDING REQUESTS. BECAUSE INSTEAD OF ASKING TALLAHASSEE TO OPEN UP THE COFFERS AND SPEND 100 PERCENT OF THE DUNES RENOURISHMENT

[00:50:08]

A QUICK REMINDER, I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT ISN'T ASKING FOR MONEY TODAY.

I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO IS HELP YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT ACCOMPLISHED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU, MR. MEEKS. JEANNIE MUELLER. GREETINGS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. I AM HERE TO ASK FOR MONEY. $890,000 FOR A STERILIZED INSECT TECHNIQUE LAB, THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THE 19 NORTHEASTERN DISTRICTS FOR MOSQUITO CONTROLS. IT WILL ELIMINATE A LOT OF CHEMICAL USE, WHICH WILL DEFINITELY HELP ALL OF OUR SMALLER COUNTIES. OTHER THAN NASSAU WHO HAS A SMALL INDEPENDENT DISTRICT. AND EAST FLAGLER, WHO HAS A VERY SMALL INDEPENDENT DISTRICT. WE ARE THE ONLY LARGE DISTRICT IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA.

WE HAVE BEEN TESTING THE STERILIZED INSECT TECHNIQUE SINCE 2017.

WE ARE SEEING A REDUCTION IN THE MOSQUITO THAT CARRIES A LOT OF DIFFERENT DISEASES BY 79 PERCENT. 82 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE SURVEYED APPROVE OF OUR TESTING. IT'S BEEN IN WEST AUGUSTINE, ST. AUGUSTINE SOUTH, ISLAND AND IN LINCOLNVILLE. ALL OF YOU HAVE GOTTEN A DIGITAL COPY.

SENATOR HUTSON HAS A HARD COPY. I HAVE HARD COPIES WITH ME. WE HAVE 11 AND MORE LETTERS COMING IN, BUT WE CURRENTLY HAVE 11 LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS PARTICULAR DISTRICT.

AND PROJECT. SO I HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT. IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BENEFIT ALL OF THE NORTHEAST SIDE. AND WE REALLY WOULD, EVEN IN THIS HARD BUDGET TIME, APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. YES, WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT DISTRICT. AND YES, WE CAN BILL OUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

BUT WE DO NOT THINK THAT IT'S 100 PERCENT KOSHER TO ASK THEM TO SUPPORT 18 OTHER COUNTIES.

SO WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND WE WILL BE SEEING YOU IN TALLAHASSEE. AND WE WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAY.

THANK YOU. GREG LEONARD. FOLLOWING GREG LEONARD, WE WILL HAVE ELAINE ASSURIAN. FRIENDS OF PONTE VEDRA. WELCOME, GREG.

ELCOME TO ALL OF YO. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

. AS COMMISSIONER DEAN MENTIONED, TRANSPORTATION IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AS YOU PROBABLY DO KNOW, THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, PONTE VEDRA BEACH, GENERALLY HAS NOT SEEN ANY MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS SINCE 1980. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER 30 YEARS.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE WE ARE PRESSING FORWARD WITHOUT THE SERIOUS NEED, AS OUR COMMUNITY AND NOCATEE AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES HAVE GROWN.

MOVING FORWARD. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS PROJECT SINCE 2014.

[00:55:08]

THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY EIGHT INTERSECTIONS INVOLVED. THE TWO AT THE BOTTOM ARE ACTUALLY PART OF THE HURRICANE EVACUATION CORRIDORS. ALL OF THESE ARE ABOUT INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH DOES HOLD THE COST DOWN. IN THE PAST YEAR, WORKING WITH FDOT. IF YOU'LL ADVANCE IT, PLEASE. WE HAVE TAKEN THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL INTERSECTIONS AND TURNED IT INTO ONE MASTER PROJECT, WHICH THE FDOT, ALONG WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS HAS COLLABORATED AND THEY HAVE COMMUNICATED TO YOU AS PART OF THEIR TRANSPORTATION REQUEST WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL HERE BECAUSE OF TIME. BUT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING TO MAKE CHANGES, USING THAT $1.5 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO US THIS YEAR.

AND WE'LL SEE FURTHER CHANGES NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT VERY MUCH. IF YOU'LL GO TO THE FINAL SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO OUR ASK, BASICALLY. ONE MORE. I DO HAVE HARD COPIES OF THIS, WHICH I CAN LEAVE BEHIND. SO IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE NARRATIVE, YOU CAN SEE IT MORE CLEARLY. OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS. AND TO SEE THAT SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS CONTINUE TO FLOW. WE KNOW THIS IS AN INCREMENTAL PROCESS, UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES THAT THE STATE IS DEALING WITH THIS YEAR. BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR PROGRESS AND OVER TIME, ADDRESS ALL OF OUR NEEDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU, MR. LEONARD. THANKS TO THE PONTE VEDRA TASK FORCE. IT'S A CONGESTED ROADWAY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

BUILDING CONSENSUS IS IMPORTANT WORK. >> WHO SHOULD I GIVE THE HARD COPIES TO? THE CHAIR: YOU CAN GIVE IT TO MR. DIMARCO THERE.

NEXT WE HAVE ELAINE ASSURIAN, FRIENDS OF PONTE VEDRA. >> I'M HERE TODAY SEEKING HELP TO RESTORE PONTE VEDRA'S COASTLINE. AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, NORTHEAST FLORIDA WAS THE ONLY PART OF THE STATE IMPACTED BY THE COMBINATION OF HURRICANES IRMA, MATTHEW AND DORIAN. PONTE VEDRA'S COASTLINE IS THE ONLY BEACH THAT STILL LACKS FUNDING. DECADES OF NEGLECT OF PONTE VEDRA'S BEACH HAS RESULTED IN A MASSIVE LOSS OF 2.8 CUBIC YARDS OF SAND. THE MOST AT RISK SHORE LINE ON FLORIDA'S ATLANTIC COAST. 900 PROPERTIES COULD BE AT RISK AND 6 BILLION OF PROPERTY VALUE. WE MUST RESTORE THE BEACH AND DUNE SYSTEM TO PROTECT OUR LARGE TOURISM BASED ECONOMY, PRIVATE PROPERTY AND TAX BASE. IN FACT, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT PONTE VEDRA MAY CONTRIBUTE UPWARDS OF 40 PERCENT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THOUSANDS OF E-MAILS TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF MEETINGS, PHONE CALLS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS, ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS FINALLY ALLOCATED INITIAL FUNDING ON THE ORDER OF 3.5 MILLION. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR ST. JOHNS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR FINALLY PROVIDING FUNDING. AND WE ASK FOR THE STATE TO FOLLOW ST. JOHNS COUNTY LEAD. WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY ON A LONG-TERM ONGOING FUNDING SOURCE. PONTE VEDRA BEACH IS NOW ONE OF THE ONLY BEACHES IN THE STATE WITHOUT A RENOURISHMENT PROGRAM IN PLACE. THE FUNDING WILL WORK TOWARDS CORRECTING THIS DEFICIENCY. I VOLUNTEER FOR THIS. I AM NOT PAID.

I OWN BUSINESSES IN PONTE VEDRA, IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE TAX BASE.

IT IS VITAL THAT OUR BEACHES BECAUSE WE CONTRIBUTE TO ALL OF THESE REQUESTS BECAUSE IF WE ALLOW OUR BEACHES TO WASH AWAY, THE IMPACT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS IMMEASURABLE.

YOU THINK THAT TOURISM, NUMBER ONE, YES, ST. AUGUSTINE IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT PONTE VEDRA BEACH IS JUST AS WELL. WE CONTRIBUTE A LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE TAX DOLLARS TO ST.

[01:00:03]

VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY, ENTIRE COUNTY, AS THE COMMISSIONERS CAN SPEAK TO YOU, WHEN THE BEACHES WERE SHUT DOWN FOR THE COVID, THEY HAD PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE WOOD WORK, FROM EVERY SECTION IN OUR COUNTY, NOT JUST THE BEACH--GOERS. YES, I AM HERE AS A BEACH GOER.

YES, I AM HERE AS A BEACH PERSON. I AM HERE AS A SOMEONE THAT OWNS PROPERTY. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.

THE TOURISTS DO, ALMOST ALL OF THEM GO TO THE BEACHES. PONTE VEDRA BEACHES ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE WEST AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. GREG WHITE. LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM, REGINA

GAIL PHILLIPS, EXECUTOR DIRECTOR. >> GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GREG WHITE. I AM REPRESENTING WEST AUGUSTINE, HISTORICALLY CDC, OUR NON-PROFIT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A MEDICAL COMPLEX THAT WILL ADDRESS THE MEDICAL NEEDS, MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, VISION, DENTAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL LOCATED IN THE LMI AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

WE WILL ALSO BUILD TWO QUADRAPLEXES TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS.

ONE OF THE QUADS WILL ADDRESS THE VETERANS NEEDS. THE OTHER QUADS WILL ADDRESS OUR SENIOR CITIZENS. WE'VE HIRED CENTRAL FLORIDA CDC CONSULTANT TESLA TO GET OUR PROJECT QUOTE/UNQUOTE SHOVEL READY. WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY LETTERS OF SUPPORT. FLAGLER HOSPITAL, WHICH WILL POSSIBLY SERVE OUR MEDICAL NEEDS. EPIC, OUR SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS. SUPPORT LETTERS FROM SHERIFF DAVID SHORE. CONGRESSMAN JOHN RUTHERFORD. STATE SENATOR TRAVIS HUTSON.

PLUS 20 MORE. OUR NON-PROFIT RECEIVED $700,000 TO ACQUIRE A POP LOAN FROM FLORIDA HOUSING. WE PARTNERED WITH ABILITY HOUSING TO BUILD 92 UNITS ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR. THE TOTAL COST OF THAT PROJECT IS $24,365,894. WE ARE HERE THIS MORNING FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THE STATE LEVEL TO MAKE OUR DREAMS A REALITY. AND I YIELD TO MR. ROBERT NEWMAN.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ROBERT NIMMINS. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK CYNDI STEVENSON. JUST RECENT, OUR STATE FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE WAS CUT.

WE UNDERSTOOD THIS TRAGIC PANDEMIC THAT WE ALL FACE AS A NATION PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT DECISION MADE BY THE GOVERNOR. THE WEST AUGUSTINE STEERING COMMITTEE HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD TO ENSURE THE RESIDENTS STAY COMMITTED TO SEEING THIS PROJECT THROUGH.

YOUR JOINT EFFORT FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY HOOKED UP 58 RESIDENTS TO SEWER THROUGH OUR MINI GRANT FROM THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

WE HAVE 12 CUSTOMERS ON SECOND STREET AND A POTENTIAL 25 ON FIFTH STREET.

THROUGH STATE GRANTS THAT MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE. IT'S OUR HOPES THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THIS PROJECT YEARLY, SO WE CAN SERVE EVERYONE IN EVERY HOME IN HISTORICAL WEST AUGUSTINE. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THIS SCREEN, THIS IS WHERE WE STARTED. MS. STEVENSON CAME FOR A TOUR, TEN YEARS AGO, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE IN RESIDENT'S YARD THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO HOOK UP 15 TO $17,000 FOR A HOUSE TO THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.

THIS IS WEST 5TH STREET. THIS WAS STATE FUNDED. THIS IS 2ND STREET.

[01:05:01]

HISTORICAL WEST AUGUSTINE ON 2ND STREET. THANK YOU.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. THIS IS A WELL DESERVING PROJECT.

I APPRECIATE THE CREDIT. MY COMPANION IN THE SENATE AND REPRESENTATIVE RENNER ALSO ARE BIG ADVOCATES. I'VE TOLD PEOPLE MANY TIMES IF THERE IS ONE PLACE THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING SEPTIC CONVERSION IN THE STATE, IT'S WEST AUGUSTINE, IT'S VERY WELL DESERVING. THANK YOU. MS. PHILLIPS.

I THINK YOU HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR US. AND REQUESTS FROM LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK THERE.

>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE ENTIRE DELEGATION FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE LAST SESSION FOR PUSHING OUR PROJECT THROUGH TO THE BUDGET.

HOWEVER, WE ALL KNOW THAT IT GOT VETOED. SO WE STAND HERE BEFORE YOU BEGAN WITHOUT HAVING RECEIVED ANY FUNDS AT ALL FOR SUPPORT FOR THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER AND THE HIGH SCHOOL PRESERVATION PROJECT. THAT MEANS THAT OUR NEEDS ARE JUST AS GREAT NOW, IF NOT GREATER THAN BEFORE. IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID-19, WE'RE PRESENTED WITH NEW ISSUES IN TERMS OF HAVING TO PRESENT PROGRAMMING IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO WE HAVE TO ALSO BEEF UP OUR WI-FI IN A BUILDING THAT IS ALMOST 100 YEARS OLD.

SO WITHIN A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD, WE'LL BE CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF LINCOLNVILLE'S OLDEST CONTINUALLY OPERATING NON-RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION. SO IT IS THE FOCAL POINT FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY FOR THIS COUNTY. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PROPOSAL IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE'VE MADE A LOT OF STRIDES IN TERMS OF GETTING SOME NATIONAL GRANTS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING GRANTS TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP THINGS GOING.

WE ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER A GRANT FROM THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES, WHICH HAS HELPED US TO BUILD CAPACITY. WE HAVE A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO HELP US WITH SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILDING.

HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT COVER EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED AND IT COVERS VERY LITTLE OF THE NCLUDES A LOT OF AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED TO CARRY OUT OUR PROGRAMMING THAT WILL ALSO HELP TO EDUCATE OUR POPULACE AT LARGE AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN ABOUT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IS TO WORK WITH OTHER CURATORS IN THE COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH A PROGRAM IN THE NEXT YEAR THAT IS GOING TO BE HIGHLIGHTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, OVER 455 YEARS OF IT. AND WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL BECOME MORE OF A NATIONAL FOCUS. BECAUSE ST. AUGUSTINE DOES HAVE A HISTORY THAT PREDATES A LOT OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE PAST. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE SUPPORT.

I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF BUDGET CONCERNS. WE'VE ALL BEEN TOUCHED BY THEM.

BUT I THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM AND

CULTURAL CENTER. >> THANK YOU. THE LAST TWO ITEMS WERE FUNDED AND VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR. HE SAID IN HIS VETO, IT'S NOT THAT THEY WEREN'T EXCELLENT PROJECTS, BUT IT'S THE FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA FACED.

WE'LL DO OUR BEST FOR YOU. NEXT WE HAVE EPIC AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM FLAGLER WILL BE CONTACTING YOU INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THEIR LEGISLATIVE CONCERNS. MS. PATTY GREENO AND ST.

AUGUSTINE YOUTH SERVICES SKYLARSEKER. GOOD MORNING.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. I JUST WANT TO SAY YOUR SUPPORT IS TODAY I WEAR TWO HATS.

[01:10:09]

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. OUR BEHAVIOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVE REMAINED THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

OPEN, STEADFAST IN THEIR WORK, PROVIDING THE CENTRAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS. THE NEED HAS INCREASED DURING THIS PANDEMIC. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY MORE THAN EVER. THE COVID PANDEMIC, I BELIEVE HAS CLEARLY SHOWN TO EVERYONE NOW THAT WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN AMERICA. I HAVE SENT BY MY PEERS TO INFORM OF OUR TOP FOUR PRIORITIES. THE FIRST IS TO CONTINUE STATE FUNDING FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, RECURRING GR, NON-RECURRING GR, FEDERAL BUDGET AUTHORITY FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY LOCAL. THE SECOND ONE IS TO CONTINUE TO FUND OUR TEAMS. YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR TEAMS. CAT TEAM.

WE HAVE THE FACT TEAM, MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM AND THE FIT TEAM IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, PROVIDED BY SMA HEALTH CARE, ST. AUGUSTINE YOUTH SERVICES AND EPIC.

CONTINUE THE FUNDING, THE NON-RECURRING FUNDING THAT WE HAVE NOW FOR THE WOMEN'S LEVEL ONE, INTENSIVE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICES AND NUMBER FOUR.

TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT THE INCREASE FOR SERVICE FOR FUNDING FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. I KNOW THAT MR. FORCEN AND MS. SYKES BOTH MENTIONED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE NEED THEM FOR CHILDREN. THE LOCAL PROVIDERS ARE ALREADY UNDER-FUNDED FOR THIS LEVEL OF CARE. BUT FUNDING IS NEEDED FOR THIS INFLUX OF REFERRALS FROM OUR SCHOOLS, MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, FROM PEDESTRIAN OFFICES, IT IS ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THE REFERRALS. NOW I'LL PUT MY EPIC HAT ON.

IN THE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU ALL THREE CHAMPIONED ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES, WHICH WAS INCREASING RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BEDS FOR ESPECIALLY WOMEN. $600,000 IN NON-RECURRING FUNDING WAS APPROPRIATED AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. IN SPITE OF COVID AND THE NEED TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AND WITHIN OUR BEDROOMS AND COMMON AREAS, WE'RE STILL ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON TRAUMA INFORMED RECOVERY, INCLUDING THE TENETS OF SAFETY, CONNECTION AND EMPOWERMENT. THROUGH GROUP THERAPY, PEER LED RECOVERY MEETINGS, FAMILY REUNIFICATION ACTIVITIES, THE WOMEN IN OUR PROGRAM BUILD SKILLS FOR LIFE-LONG RECOVERY.

WHILE ADDRESSING THE RELAPSE TRIGGERS. CONTINUATION FUNDING IS CRITICAL TO KEEP THE BEDS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND CAPACITY OVERALL AT EPIC RECOVERY CENTER. IF YOU RECALL, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION HAS PROVIDED THE BRICKS AND MORTAR MATCHING FUNDING FOR THIS EXPANSION. THAT WOULD ALLOW US A 12-BED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT WING, AT THE RECOVERY CENTER. IT STILL TAKES ABOUT 90 DAYS FOR A WOMAN TO FIND A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BED. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND YOUR EFFORTS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO US AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY. ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE, I THANK YOU. AND I DID IT IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. SEEING NO QUESTIONS.

SKYLAR SEAKER FROM ST. AUGUSTINE YOUTH SERVICES. >> THANK YOU.

PATTIE DID A GREAT JOB REPRESENTING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

AND AS HER CO-CHAIR FOR THE CHILDREN'S CONSORTIUM, REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT EVERYTHING SHE SAID WAS 100 PERCENT ON POINT AND WE REALLY NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR FUNDING FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND IF AT ALL POSSIBLE INCREASE AS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING UP. AND NOW IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE, AS YOU KNOW.

I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH, WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SERVICES, ST. AUGUSTINE YOUTH SERVICES IS REMARKABLE.

WE ARE SO THANKFUL. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A NEW FEDERAL FFPSA, FAMILY FIRST

[01:15:06]

SADLY, IT HAD GREAT IDEAS, IT WAS TRYING TO PREVENT FAMILIES AND YOUTH FROM ENTERING FOSTER CARE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAD SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WHICH ARE REALLY GOING TO AFFECT THE MAJORITY OF OUR GROUP HOMES IN OUR STATE.

BUT ST. AUGUSTINE YOUTH SERVICES IN PARTICULAR. BECAUSE OF THE IMD RULE.

AND THIS IS A RULE FOR PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. WE WILL BE LIMITED TO 16 BEDS, WHICH WILL MAKE US HAVE TO CLOSE TWO OF OUR PROGRAMS AND NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM THAT WE'VE TRIED SO HARD TO GET GOING. SO WE'RE NEEDING SOME HELP ALONG WITH THAT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE OFFICE OF CHILD WELFARE IS REWRITING 65C-14, WHICH IS OUR LICENSING STANDARDS. THEY ALSO ARE BECOMING MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES REQUIRE, WHICH IS GOING TO HURT OUR STATE, WHEREAS MANY PROGRAMS WILL HAVE TO CLOSE. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN OUR MATCHING 4E FEDERAL DOLLARS, WHICH WILL COST OUR STATE MILLIONS, TO OUR CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. AND MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE TYPE OF SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, THAT THEY RECEIVE, IN GROUP HOMES. SO THAT IS OUR FAMILY FIRST. AND I HAVE SOME DOCUMENTS THAT I WILL SHARE THAT WILL GIVE MORE INFORMATION. AND I WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH YOU AND TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THIS AT ANY TIME. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US AT ST. AUGUSTINE YOUTH SERVICES FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR US.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, SKYLAR. I NEED TO JUMP BACK HERE TO NUMBER 18. CATHY FLEMING, ARE YOU HERE. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

>> NO WORRIES AT ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, IN WHAT WILL BE A TOUGH YEAR. I WANT TO SAY HOW HONORED I AM TO BE AMONG SUCH POWERFUL PROJECTS AND TO LISTEN TO EVERYBODY ELSE. I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE P PERS OUR STORY IS IMPORTANT, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S ECHOED ACROSS ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

WE STARTED OUT THIS YEAR AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS RUN 80 PERCENT ON TOURISM.

$582,000 IN THE RED. AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BECAUSE OUR GOVERNOR HAS KEPT THE STATE OPEN AND BECAUSE WE FOLLOWED CDC GUIDELINES, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF HARD WORK TO CUT THAT PROJECTED DEFICIT IN HALF SO FAR. WE LOOK FORWARD WITH TREPIDATION IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC AND HARD WORKING. AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE BACK.

WE HAD A VIRTUAL LUMINARY NIGHT. 400 KIDS CAME TO SEE SANTA FROM THEIR CARS. WE HAD TWO FARM SHARE EVENTS. WITHOUT MAKING A DIME OF MONEY, PARTNERING WITH THE LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM. AND WITH SUNBELT RENTALS, WILSON HEATING AND AIR. WE HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH FARM SHARE AND FED A THOUSAND FAMILIES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. 60 PERCENT OF THOSE FAMILIES LAST WEEK, INCLUDED VETERANS, THE ELDERLY POOR WERE INCLUDED, HEARING IMPAIRED WERE INCLUDED. WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE BACK IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE LIGHT HOUSE WAS CONNECTED TO FARMERS IN THE OLD DAYS, WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE BACK TO PEOPLE TODAY. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US. HISTORIC PRESERVATION DOLLARS BECAUSE THOSE GO TO CREATE JOBS FOR US. CREATE MORE JOBS PER MILLION THAN WHOLESALE MANUFACTURING, FUNCTION OF LABOR DENSITY IN A LOCAL AREA.

IMPORTANT TO US ARE MUSEUM GRANTS AND AID. VISIT FLORIDA IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU WILL MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WISELY.

WE KNOW YOU WILL. AND WE THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR US AND FOR BEING THERE TO ECAUSE WE COULDN'T SUCCEED WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SMA HEALTH CARE, VP SANDRA JACKSON AND JOYCE MAYER, FROM BETTY GRIFFIN HOUSE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZE, MS. JACKSON.

[01:20:03]

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SANDY JACKSON, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY SERVICES FOR SMA HEALTH CARE. I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW US TO BRING CRUCIAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR PUTNAM ST. JOHNS FACT TEAM.

SERVES 100 OF OUR MOST MENTALLY ILL IN OUR COMMUNITY. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, JAILS, OR THEY END UP AS PART OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION. THE FACT TEAM CONSISTS OF THERAPISTS, NURSES, PEER SUPPORTS, PSYCHIATRIC CARE. THEY WORK TO KEEP THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT OF THOSE MORE COSTLY SERVICES. THE FOCUS OF THE TEAM IS TO WORK WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS IN HOMES AS WELL AS IN THE COMMUNITY.

TO HELP THEM STABILIZE THEIR SYMPTOMS AND IMPROVE THEIR DAILY FUNCTIONING.

JUST IN THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, GREATER THAN 90 PERCENT OF OUR FACT PARTICIPANTS REMAIN PSYCHIATRICALLY STABLE AND DIDN'T NEED TO BE ADMITTED TO ANY LOCAL OR STATE HOSPITALIZATIONS. AS MENTIONED, WE'RE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE TEAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE IN-HOME CARE, WHICH INCLUDED DAILY MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS DELIVERY ACROSS TWO COUNTIES.

TRANSPORTATION TO CRITICAL APPOINTMENTS AND MANY OTHER SERVICES WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTION AND DURING THAT TIME, EVEN ADDED 20 NEW PARTICIPANTS TO THE PROGRAM.

THE TEAM IS CURRENTLY FUNDED WITH NON-RECURRING FUNDS. WE'RE HERE TODAY, ONCE AGAIN, NOT ONLY TO ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT FOR 2021, BUT THAT THIS CRUCIAL SERVICE BE CONSIDERED FOR RECURRING FUNDING. THE REALITY IS, THAT NON-RECURRING FUNDING DOESN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT SEVERE AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT A SHORT-TERM OR NON-RECURRING ILLNESS. IT'S THERE DAY AFTER DAY, FOR SOME PEOPLE, YEAR AFTER YEAR. THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY INCREASE IN FACT FUNDING SINCE THE YEAR 2000. ALL OF THE PROGRAM FISCAL AND CLINICAL REQUIREMENTS HAVE NOT CHANGED. WE'RE ASKING THAT THE PROGRAM BE FUNDED AT THE LEVEL ORIGINALLY, 1.5 MILLION. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO BRING THIS ISSUE FORWARD. WE KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY DIFFICULT YEAR FOR EVERYONE. AND THE RISE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INCIDENTS HAS REFLECTED THAT. HOWEVER, THAT IS EXACTLY WHY OUR COMMUNITY KNEELEDS THESE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TH SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TH SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SO THESE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SO THESE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER.

THANK YOU SO THESE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SO THESE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SO THESE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TH NOW, MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SO N THESE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER.

THANK YOU SO D THESE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SO S THESE SERVICES NOW, MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

JOYCE MAYER. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

LIKE MANY OTHERS, THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT UNRELENTING SEAR, SICKNESS AND DEATH.

AT THE SAME TIME, DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE HAVE BEEN UNRELENTING, IN FACT, THEY HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. OVER THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS, THERE HAS BEEN A 53 PERCENT NCREASE IN SERVICES PROVIDED. SEVERAL REASONS. ONE SURVIVORS, CHILDREN AND ABUSERS SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER AT HOME. TWO, FINANCIAL STRUGGLES MAY HAVE INCREASED. AND THREE, NEW PRESSURES HAVE BEEN PUT ON FAMILIES SUCH AS HOME SCHOOLING CHILDREN WHILE TRYING TO WORK. BETTY GRIFFIN CENTER SERVICES ARE MORE ESSENTIAL NOW THAN EVER. I HAVE BEEN SO PROUD OF OUR STAFF AND THE WAY THEY HAVE QUICKLY ADAPTED TO NEW REALITIES WHILE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICES AT NO COST. MANY ASPECTS OF OUR WORK ARE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ZOOM, FROM STAFF MEETINGS TO TRAINING SESSIONS, TO COUNSELORS MEETING WITH SURVIVORS. STRICTER CLEANING PROCEDURES, REMOTE WORKING AND GREATER CAUTION HAD BECOME ROUTINE. THE NEW WAY OF BEING HAS NOT DEGRADED ANY ASPECT OF OUR WORK. WHAT HAS DEGRADED, THOUGH, ARE OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

THE FUNDRAISERS WE RELY ON WERE CANCELLED OR CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY.

OUR 5K RUN FOR PEACE SAW A 30 PERCENT DECLINE IN NET REVENUE. AS NON-PROFITS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT FULL CAPACITY AND WORK TO RECOVER, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST NO REDUCTION IN FUNDING FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE YEAR. BEFORE I CLOSE, I WOULD LIKE TO READ A LETTER FROM A SURVIVOR. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE NOW IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE WONDERFUL SERVICES OFFERE TO WOMEN IN DISTRESS. I LOVE MY COUNSELOR.

[01:25:02]

THANK YOU. THE CHAIR: CATHY JACKSON. MICHELLE BRANNON.

IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD SO WE DON'T RUN OUT OF TIME TODAY. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING FORWARD INFORMATION ABOUT THE GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND WHAT OUR NEEDS MIGHT BE.

ALSO TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE WORD OF TODAY IS DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS. WHAT IS A DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL? A PERSON WHO SPENDS THEIR DAY HELPING THE PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN THEIR DAILY ROUTINES OF LIFE. HELPING THEM TO EAT, BATHE, DO BASIC ESSENTIAL NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS YEAR, WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, IN MID-MARCH, WHEN WE RECOGNIZED THAT OUR FOLKS WERE IN TROUBLE, WE HAD TO CLOSE DOWN SERVICES AND MAINTAIN THEM IN THEIR HOME.

THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US. THAT STAYED IN THEIR HOME ALL THE WAY FROM MID MARCH UNTIL THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER, WHEN WE FELT COMFORTABLE ENOUGH THAT WE UNDERSTOOD HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC, HOW TO PROVIDE SAFETY AND ASSURANCE THAT WE COULD TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AS WELL AS TAKE CARE OF THOSE. TEACHING THEM HOW TO WEAR A MASK, WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

TEACHING THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KEPT SOCIAL DISTANCE FROM PEOPLE THAT THEY ENJOY BEING AROUND, AND TOUCHING. IT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US.

AND YOU KNOW, WE DON'T PAY OUR FOLKS VERY MUCH MONEY. AND WE HAVEN'T THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF TIME. WE PLEADED WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE WAGES THAT OUR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS HAVE IS VERY LOW. WHEN THEY COULD GO OUT AND GET A JOB IN A LESS STRESSFUL SITUATION, LIKE FLIPPING HAMBURGERS OR WORKING AT TARGET OR WHATEVER. INSTEAD, THEY WOKE UP EVERY DAY, THEY WERE AFRAID TO COME TO WORK. BUT THEY DID. AND I WAS VERY VERY PROUD OF OUR STAFF AND THE COURAGE THAT THEY HAD TO JUMP IN THERE, EVEN AS MUCH AS SETTING UP A MAKESHIFT HOSPITAL ON OUR CAMPUS, WHEN A WHOLE GROUP OF OUR CLIENTS BECAME INFECTED.

THEY JUMPED IN THERE. THEY WERE TAUGHT HOW TO WEAR THE SHIELDS.

TAUGHT HOW TO WEAR THE GOWNS THAT YOU SEE IN THE IICU UNITS. WHEN WE WANTED TO BE CLOSE TO THEM AND NOT HAVE TO TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL AND DROP THEM OFF.

OUR STAFF HAD THE COURAGE TO DO THAT. I AM VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND WE'RE ASKING THIS SESSION, WHILE THE GOVERNOR HAD TO VETO THAT MUCH NEEDED INCREASE THAT WE NEEDED, WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT AND THE FACT THAT THE VOTERS VOTED FOR A MINIMUM WAGE OF $15 AN HOUR IS GOING TO CRUSH US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU, MS. JACKSON. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE HARDSHIPS YOU'RE EXPERIENCING SO REAL FOR ALL OF US. NEXT WE HAVE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION. MICHELLE BRANHAM. IS IT MICHAEL?

ON DECK WE'LL HAVE ZACHARY DEUTSCHE. >> MY NAME IS EVAN HALLER.

[01:30:01]

I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S. IT'S ONE OF THE 6TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH. FLORIDA HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST PREVALENCE.

RIGHT BEHIND CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE GIVEN YOU THESE FACTS AND FIGURES FOR MANY YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE. THE LEGISLATURE HAS ACTUALLY SUPPORTED OUR PASSAGE OF DEMENTIA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. WE ARE FOCUSING ON TRAINING THIS YEAR. SO TRAINING FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS.

SO ON THE FRONT END OF WHEN A PERSON IS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA, THEY NEED TO GET A DIAGNOSIS, A TIMELY DIAGNOSIS AND GET PROPER REFERRALS THAT THEIR FAMILY CAN GET, THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED. UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS DON'T HAVE THE TRAINING FOR DEMENTIA RIGHT NOW. BACK END OF THAT, WHEN A LOVED ONE NEEDS TO GO INTO A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, WE HAVE 4,000 IN FLORIDA RIGHT NOW. 3,000 OF THEM ARE ASSISTED LIVING, WHICH ACTUALLY OFFER AN INCREDIBLE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THEIR STAFF. 3,000 ARE ROBUST.

INED UP TO THAT LEVEL OF CARE. ANOTHER THOUSAND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES THAT NEED TO INCREASE THEIR TRAINING. I WAS GOING TO READ THE WHOLE SPEECH. BUT I'M DEALING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S. IT'S A PERSONAL CONQUEST. I KNOW WHAT WE GO THROUGH.

IT'S SO HARD TO FIND THE RIGHT ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY FOR MY FAMILY TO GO INTO.

ONE THAT WE FEEL WILL GET THE PROPER CARE THAT WE CAN NOT GIVE THEM AT HOME.

CURRENTLY BOTH OF THESE BILL ARE IN DRAFTING RIGHT NOW. FULL BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THE SENATE. I AM LOOKING AT YOU GUYS TODAY, WE NEED SUPPORT ON THE HOUSE SIDE. WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT. I KNOW THAT OUR DIRECTOR OF STATE AFFAIRS HAS SPOKEN WITH YOU. WE NEED THIS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS, HAVE BOTH BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS LAST YEAR. WE KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THESE THIS YEAR.

WE COULD USE THE HOUSE'S SUPPORT. SPECIFICALLY YOU GUYS.

WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. I CAN TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.

THE CHAIR: NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THERE IS A LOT OF FAMILIES SUFFERING AND DEALING WITH THAT. APPRECIATE THAT.

YOUR WORK. ZACHARY DEUTSCHE, FLORIDA SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN. I DIDN'T BRING BUSINESS CARDS.

I WROTE MY CONTACT INFORMATION ON THE BACK. I ALSO HAVE FORTUNATELY NO REQUEST FOR FUNDING. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS PHYSICIANS HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. OUR BIGGEST LEGISLATIVE ISSUES ARE REGARDING TRANSPARENCY OF THE BILL THAT WE WENT THROUGH LAST YEAR, IN TERMS OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS APPROPRIATE TITLES RESERVED FOR PHYSICIANS. CONFUSION OF PATIENTS. THE OTHER PRIORITY IS INDEPENDENT PRACTICE IN THE SENSE OF ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES FOR CARE PROCEDURE AND SURGICAL CARE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS APPROPRIATE, GOOD FOR PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THE LITERATURE THAT WE HAVE IS IN SUPPORT OF THAT, I THINK IT'S INTUITIVE.

ANY TIME PATIENTS ARE RECEIVING THIS TYPE OF CARE, A PHYSICIAN SHOULD BE INVOLVED, WHETHER PERSONALLY PERFORMING THAT OR DIRECTING A CARE TEAM THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE STRUCTURE.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF US HAVE FATIGUE.

THE STUFF THAT PROFESSIONALS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

IN TERMS OF ICU CARE. AIRWAY MANAGEMENT DEVICE ALLOCATION, REPURPOSING VENTILATORS, RECOVERY UNITS. I THINK OUR PROFESSION HAS STEPPED UP AND SHOWN THE PUBLIC HEALTH BASIS. WE'RE KIND OF A SILENT SPECIALTY.

WE KIND OF HANG IN THE BACKGROUND. WE'RE NOT HIGH PROFILE.

WHICH IS APPROPRIATE. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING IS QUIET.

WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR ADVOCACY AND SPEAKING UP, WE TRY TO DO IT AGGRESSIVELY.

BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE CARE AGAIN IN THE PROPER SETTING, WITH THE PROPER TRANSPARENCY

[01:35:05]

I THINK SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES HAVE COME UP OVER AND OVER IN LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

THEY WILL COME UP AGAIN THIS YEAR. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE FOR ME AND OUR SOCIETY IN GENERAL TO BE ABLE TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE AND MEET WITH Y'ALL.

I AM AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST AT UF HEALTH. I LIVE IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH.

REPRESENTER RENNER, I HAVEN'T MET WITH YOU PERSONALLY. BUT THESE ARE THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. I'M NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

BUT I AM HOPING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE FACE TO FACE TIME IN ORDER TO EXPLORE THIS AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT HEALTH CARE IN FLORIDA.

I AM HAPPY TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE. THANK YOU.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. LUTHERAN SERVICES FLORIDA HEALTH SYSTEMS, DR. CHRISTINE COFFIELD. WEL

WEL WELCOME. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL OF YOUR ADVOCACY AND YOUR PASSION FOR THOSE THAT ARE STRUGGLING AND LIVING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE ISSUES. I AM DR. CHRISTINE CAUFIELD, I AM YOUR MANAGING ENTITY FOR THIS REGION. WE MANAGE A NETWORK OF MORE THAN MORE THAN 60 PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS, HOSPITALS, INCLUDING SEVERAL HERE TODAY, EPIC, WE SUPPORT THEIR REQUESTS AS WELL, I CAN'T THANK OUR PROVIDER NETWORK ENOUGH FOR BEING IN THE FIELD, BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS DURING THIS VERY VERY STRESSFUL TIME. PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ADDICTION DISORDERS AND SO ON. WE FUND, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY PREVENTION, WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, SUCH AS HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION, PLUS WE LEVERAGE FUNDING AND SERVICES BY WORKING ACROSS SYSTEMS, INCLUDING CHILD WELFARE, SCHOOL SYSTEMS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ET CETERA.

WE HAVE SECURED AN ADDITIONAL 60 MILLION IN THE LAST TWO YEARS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES IN ORDER TO EXPAND OUR ABILITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES. WE REALLY WANT TO THANK NOT ONLY YOU ALL BUT FIRST LADY DESANTIS AND OUR GOVERNOR FOR PRIORITIZING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND CONTINUING TO DIRECT RESOURCES TO THESE VITAL SERVICES, ESPECIALLY AS YOU HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES DURING THIS TIME OF COVID, WHEN AMERICANS ARE STRUGGLING MORE THAN EVER WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE EXPERIENCED A 62 PERCENT INCREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS DUE TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

AND WE HAVE A 30 PERCENT INCREASE IN SUICIDE. WE ARE IN A SERIOUS SITUATION WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE IN OUR COUNTRY. WE REMAINED OPENED, AS YOU HEARD FROM OUR PROVIDERS. WE PIVOTED QUICKLY TO TELEHEALTH, SO THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO COULDN'T BE SERVED IN PERSON WERE SERVED THROUGH TELEHEALTH.

WE WANT TO ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO FUND CARE COORDINATION, SO THAT INDIVIDUALS DON'T SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS. AND WE CAN FOCUS ON OUR HIGH UTILIZERS AND OUR ACUTE CARE SYSTEMS. WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS IN CO-RESPONDER TEAMS, WHERE WE PAIR A CLINICIAN WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINED IN CIT, SO THAT WE CAN DIVERT INDIVIDUALS FROM JAILS, EMERGENCY ROOMS AND CRISIS STABILIZATION UNITS. AND WE WILL ALSO BE CONDUCTING A WEBINAR FOR YOU.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU CLOSELY AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR SYSTEM OF CARE. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE FIRST COAST HONOR

FLIGHT, REPRESENTED BY SELENA HERNANDEZ HANES. >> FIRST COAST HONOR FLIGHT MISSION IS TO HONOR WORLD WAR II, KOREAN WAR, VIETNAM WAR VETERANS WITH AN ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C. THESE ELDERLY VETERANS MADE POSSIBLE THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY EVERY DAY. FIRST COAST HONOR FLIGHT WAS CREATED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, PART OF THE NATIONWIDE HONOR FLIGHT NETWORK, 125 HUBS IN 45 STATES.

OPERATED ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEERS. SINCE 2005, HONOR FLIGHT HAS CARRIED MORE THAN 245,000 VETERANS TO WASHINGTON D.C. FIRST COAST HONOR FLIGHT IS THE

[01:40:06]

I EXTEND AN INVITATION TO ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US AT ONE OR MORE OF THESE JOYOUS AND REWARDING EVENTS. HONOR FLIGHTS ARE POSSIBLE ONLY THROUGH THE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. EACH FIRST COAST HONOR FLIGHT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $30,000. FLORIDA'S TEN HONOR FLIGHT HUBS ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR A STATE OF FLORIDA HONOR FLIGHT LICENSE PLATE AS AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCE.

NO STATE FUNDING WILL BE REQUIRED. HOWEVER, WE WILL NEED STATE WIDE SUPPORT FROM THE LEGISLATURE. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION TO SPONSORING AND SUPPORTING SUCH A BILL FOR THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HELP FLORIDA HONOR VETERANS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WE WILL HAVE TO WORK ON THE BILL SLIDES.

IT'S TIME TO GET THE REQUEST DONE. THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE FLORIDA COALITION FOR SPOKEN LANGUAGE OPTION, WHICH IS OUR FIRST VIRTUAL CALL-IN PERSON. DO WE HAVE THAT PERSON READY TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME?

>> YES, MA'AM. I AM HERE. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU.

THIS IS A VERY BIG, FIRST FOR ME AND FOR THE DELEGATION I BELIEVE.

WELCOME. FLORIDA COALITION FOR SPOKEN LANGUAGE OPTION, YOU'RE

RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS LINDSEY HENAKA, I'M HERE THIS MORNING WITH MY DAUGHTER.

AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH THE OPTION TO LEARN TO LISTEN AND SPEAK. THE WINDOW TO LEARN SPOKEN LANGUAGE FOR THE FAMILIES CHOOSING THAT PATH IS VERY NARROW. SCRE SCREENINGS AND QUALIFIED EARLY INTERVENTION IS KEY. OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS WERE ABLE TO PIVOT WITH YOUR SUPPORT, SO THAT CHILDREN DO NOT LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOREVER.

WHETHER THROUGH A MOBILE VAN, ZOOM SERVICES, IN-HOME OR CENTER BASED, ALL OF THE PROVIDERS WERE ABLE TO FULLY CONTINUE SERVING THE CHILDREN EVEN DURING THE LOCKDOWNS.

THIS FOR MY FAMILY WAS HUGE, BECAUSE WHAT THAT MEANT FOR US IS DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO MAKE TWO YEARS WORTH OF PROGRESS IN ONE YEAR.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT SHE IS NEWLY FIVE AND SHE IS NOW ABLE TO SPEAK, HER RECEPTIVE SPEECH AND EXPRESSIVE SPEECH IS THAT OF AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD LEVEL.

YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF AUDITORY ORAL SERVICES GOING FORWARD IS ESSENTIAL FOR

CHILDREN TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CHANCE TO LEARN AND SPEAK. >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME LEARN HOW TO SPEAK. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU FOR BEING

WITH US TODAY. >> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THE FUNDING THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US THIS PAST YEAR AND WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE KIDS.

IT BENEFITS THEM IN MAINSTREAMING AND IT ALSO HELPS THEM MAINSTREAM IN CLASSROOM.

ULTIMATELY, IT REALLY DOES HELP THE FAMILIES, THE CHILDREN AND ALL OF THE STUDENTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. >> BYE.

THE CHAIR: BYE. FOR THIS NEXT ITEM, ST. AUGUSTINE AIRPORT, SENATOR HUTSON WILL BE DOING THAT HEARING. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE AIRPORT, PLEASE COME FORWARD. DOUG BURNETT. WELCOME, MR. BURNETT.

[01:45:08]

>> GOOD MORNING. I APPRECIATE FIRST THAT YOU WOULD SET US FOR A TIME CERTAIN AND GIVE US 30 MINUTES TO SPEAK. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

A LITTLE LEVITY. BEING A LAWYER, I COULDN'T RESIST.

WANT TO SAY I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TODAY TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE ST.

JOHNS COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY. WITH ME TODAY, IS ED, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JUSTIN, IS ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO IS HERE. I KNOW BRUCE MCGUIRE IS ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE. ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. I THINK THAT IS IT.

WE ALSO HAVE ON OUR BOARD, STEVE KIRA AND RANDY BRUNSON. OUR CHAIR PERSON IS SUZANNE GREEN, A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF OUR AIRPORT AUTHORITY. HAD A BRIEF MOMENT BEING OFF THE GREEN, A LONG-TIME MEMBER OUR AIRPORT AUTHORITY. HAD A BRIEF MOMENT BEING OFF THE REEN, A LONG-TIME MEMBER O OUR AIRPORT AUTHORITY. HAD A BRIEF MOMENT BEING OFF THE AUTHORITY. GREAT LEADERSHIP THERE. TWO MEMBERS RECENTLY BEEN ELECTED AND ONE AVIATION INTEREST HERE IN THE COUNTY, REBA LUBLOW.

ROBERT OLSEN WILL START. WE APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US COME BACK AGAIN.

SHORTEN THE NAME FROM ST. AUGUSTINE ST. JOHNS COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY. MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OVERALL JURISDICTION.

WE DO HAVE THE LETTER PREVIOUSLY FROM THE CITY. THIS WAS CONSIDERED BY THEM.

AND THE HISTORIC CITY HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE NAME CHANGE. WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE NAME OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL AIRPORT AS PART OF OUR CHARTER SO THAT WE CAN USE THAT AS A TRADE NAME. IT HELPS TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE'RE LOCATED.

AND THE SHORT STORY ON THAT IS PREVIOUSLY ONE OF THE COMMERCIAL AIRLINES OPERATED THERE, THEY CALLED THE LOCATION JACKSONVILLE/DAYTONA BEACH. BECAUSE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY COULD IDENTIFY NORTHEAST FLORIDA.

FOR US IT'S A MARKETING ADVANTAGE TO BE ABLE TO USE THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA MONIKER.

ADDITIONAL THING IS TO INCLUDE SOME SMALL STIPEND. THE CAP ON THIS WOULD BE AT 7500 PER YEAR, WHICH IS NORMAL FOR THIS KIND OF ORGANIZATION. THAT WOULD BE THE MAX THAT THEY COULD IMPOSE. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT IS IT'S TIED TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY REMAINING OFF OF THE TAX ROLLS. THIS IS THE 10TH YEAR THAT THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY HAS REMAINED OFF OF THE AD VALOREM TAX ROLLS.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING YOUR SUPPORT ON.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED. WHEN THIS WENT THROUGH COMMITTEE IN 2016, WITH THE EXACT SAME VERBIAGE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING NOW, ALL THREE COMMITTEES UNANIMOUS SUPPORT, SO THERE IS THE BILL HISTORY THERE AS WELL. SO WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT

ABOUT IT AT THIS STAGE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A LOCAL BILL IN FRONT OF US TODAY. REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE BILL. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE LOCAL BILL? SEEING NONE, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE LOCAL BILL? SEEING NONE. IS THERE A DEBATE ON THE LOCAL BILL? SEEING NO DEBATE. FRANK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE LOCAL BILL.

>> CHAIR STEVENSON >> YES. >> SENATOR HUTSON.

>> YES. >> REPRESENTATIVE RENNER. >> YES.

>> BY YOUR VOTE, LOCAL BILL APPROVED BY THE DELEGATION. NOW TURN THE CHAIR OVER BACK TO REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. WE WILL WORK ON IT AND HOPEFULLY GET IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS. THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL CONFLICT AND CIVIL RESOLUTION COUNSEL, MICHAEL KNAPPY.

>> GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF DELEGATION, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

CHIEF ASSISTANT REGIONAL COUNSEL FOR THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL CONFLICT AND CIVIL REGIONAL COUNSEL. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ONGOING SUPPORT FOR OUR LEGISLATION ISSUES.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE RACHEL GETTLEMAN, WHO IS A SENIOR ATTORNEY.

SHE WILL BE WORKING IN TALLAHASSEE FOR THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. THE REGIONAL COUNSEL'S OFFICES WERE CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE SKYROCKETING COSTS TO THE STATE'S OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE

[01:50:03]

AND WE ARE FROM THE FIFTH DISTRICT. LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE WERE APPOINTED TO 13,598 CASES. IN OUR ST. JOHNS COUNTY OFFICE, WE EMPLOY TWO FULL-TIME ATTORNEYS AND ONE FULL-TIME ASSISTANT. WE HAVE ONE ATTORNEY THAT HANDLES DEPENDENCIES, DELINQUENCY, CIVIL CASES, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASES, ONE CRIMINAL ATTORNEY HANDLING FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS. CURRENTLY WE HAVE OPEN 195 CASES. LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE WERE APPOINTED TO 395 CASES, AND CLOSED 209. EVEN WITH COVID. ON JULY 1ST, 2020, DECEMBER 1ST, WE'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO 192 CASES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, EIGHT AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE. LAST FISCAL YEAR, ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES WAS IMPLEMENTING FORENSIC SOCIAL WORKERS. AND YOU WILL BE GLAD TO KNOW THAT WE NOW HAVE TWO OF THOSE.

WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD A THIRD. THESE HELP OUR 25 DEPENDENCY ATTORNEYS AND ASSIST OUR PARENT CLIENTS DIRECTLY FOR OBTAINING REFERRALS FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

THE GOAL IN IMPLEMENTING THESE FORENSIC SOCIAL WORKERS IS TO QUICKLY REUNIFY AND GET THAT DONE IN LESS TIME. THIS YEAR WITH GREAT DEFERENCE TO THE BUDGET IMPACTS THE LEGISLATURE IS FACING, WE'VE HAVE ONLY REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR RENTAL SPACE INCREASE, $36,000. WE'RE UNLIKE SIMILARLY JUDICIAL RELATED OFFICES, WE ARE NOT PROVIDED OFFICE SPACE BY THE COUNTIES. WE MUST LEASE SPACE ON PRIVATE REAL ESTATE. WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

THIS YEAR WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING A PATERNITY LEGISLATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN QUICKER PERMANENCY FOR CHILDREN IN OUR SYSTEM. THE CHAIR: NEXT WE HAVE ST. JOHNS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MICHELLE DILLON. ON DECK, WE HAVE JANE WEST, FOLLOWING THAT, JIM MCCARTHY.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND DELEGATION MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MICHELLE DILLON, PRESIDENT OF THE ST. JOHNSDILL PRESIDENT OF THE ST. JOHNS EDUCDUCATION ILLON, PRESIDENT OF THE ST. JOHNS DUCATION ILLON, PRESIDENT OF THE ST. JOHNS DUCATION DILLON, PRESIDENT OF THE ST. JOHNS DUCAEDUCATION ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT BONUSES DON'T WORK.

BY INVESTING STATE FUNDING IN SALARIES, YOU ARE HELPING MOVE FLORIDA'S EDUCATOR SALARIES OUT OF THE BOTTOM FIVE IN THE NATION. WE APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT FUNDS APPROPRIATED LAST YEAR WERE A FIRST STEP.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT COVID PRESENTS YOUR CHAMBERS WITH A STARK REALITY.

WE ASK THAT YOU HOLD HARMLESS FUNDING FOR RAISES. BUT IF AN INCREASE IN INVESTMENT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED, WE ASK YOU TO GRANT MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE DISTRICTS, IN ORDER TO MAKE SALARY INCREASES ACHIEVABLE, NOT ONLY FIRST-TIME TEACHERS, VETERAN TEACHERS, BUS DRIVERS, CAFETERIA WORKERS, CUSTODIANS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF STUDENTS. AND THIS COVID WORLD, WHERE MANY OF OUR TEACHERS ARE TEACHING ONLINE AND IN PERSON AT THE SAME TIME. TEACHERS ARE EXPERIENCING RECORD BURN-OUT. BUT SO ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE FORCED TO COPE WITH A VASTLY DIFFERENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. MORE SO THAN EVER BEFORE, AS KIDS MOVE IN AND OUT OF QUARANTINE. WE BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS, PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ARE STRUGGLING ENOUGH, WHY ADD HIGH STAKES ACCOUNTABILITY TESTING ON TOP OF IT.

LAST YEAR OUR STATE ASSESSMENTS WERE SUSPENDED DUE TO THE SPRING INSTRUCTION.

LET'S NOT TAKE AWAY MORE PRECIOUS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS OF NEEDLESS TESTING AND TEST PREP. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO HOLD HARMLESS. A STRONG AND ROBUST PENSION SYSTEM IS A PERTINENT FACTOR IN

[01:55:01]

STOP TESTING THIS YEAR AND TO HOLD FRS HARMLESS. >> NEXT WE HAVE 1000 FRIENDS OF FLORIDA. NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST. JIM MCCARTHY.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JANE WEST. 1000 FRIENDS IS A NON-PROFIT GROWTH MANAGEMENT WATCH DOG THAT WORKS ON A STATEWIDE BASIS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, IN ORDER TO PRESERVE ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE LANDS, ECONOMY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

DURING THIS UPCOMING SESSION, WE WILL BE PRIORITIZING THE RESTORATION OF A FREE FLOWING RIVER THROUGH THE BREACH OF RODMAN DAM. IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE BENEFITS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY, THIS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE TURNS 50 YEARS OLD THIS JANUARY. IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN INCREASING FINANCIAL DRAIN WITH THE LIABILITY FOR DAM FAILURE, RESTING ON THE STATE AND TAXPAYERS.

YOUR LEADERSHIP CAN HELP RESTORE THE GREAT FLORIDA RIVERWAY, ONE OF FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC TREASURES, BY RECONNECTING THE SILVER SPRINGS AND THE ST.

JOHNS RIVER. HERE IS ANOTHER REFRESHING CHANGE.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR FUNDING. IN FACT, I'M ASKING YOU TO CUT FUNDING TO MCORS.

THEY DIVERT FUNDING FOR LOCAL PROJECTS HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

DIVERTING FUNDS FROM MPO PRIORITIES WILL HAMPER OUR ABILITY TO INVEST IN OR UPGRADE EXISTING ROADS. $738 MILLION THAT FDOT HAS COMMITTED TO MCORS INCLUDE 300 MILLION FROM OTHER TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SOURCES BESIDES GENERAL REVENUE.

IT'S GOING TO PULL THE TAX DOLLARS AWAY FROM OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO BENEFIT TOLL ROADS THAT COME NOWHERE NEAR NORTHEAST FLORIDA. WE DON'T BENEFIT FROM THESE TOLL ROADS HERE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CAREFULLY MONITOR THAT FUNDING. AND REPEAL THE LEGISLATION. FINALLY, WE URGE YOU, I KNOW I SPOKE TO ALL OF YOU LAST YEAR, REQUESTING A REPEAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, COMING IN WITH A DIFFERENT ASK THIS TIME, I'M ASKING YOU TO AMEND FLORIDA STATUTE 163.3215, TO BAR INTERVENERS IN DEVELOPMENT LITIGATION FROM RECOVERING ATTORNEY'S FEES.

THIS IS IN LINE WITH JUDGE COOPER'S RECENT RULING AND THE PENDING LITIGATION AT THE FIRST DCA. IF YOU'RE GOING TO VOLUNTARILY SUBJECT YOURSELF TO THE RISK OF LITIGATION, YOU SHOULDN'T GET TO PROFIT OFF THE BACKS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LIKE THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, WHICH ULTIMATELY FLOWS DOWN FOR THE TAXPAYERS HAVING TO PAY FOR THE INTERVENING STATUS. THANK YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU.

MR. MCCARTHY NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST. WELCOME.

>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE. GOOD TO SEE YOU ONCE AGAIN IN SOME CASES. WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR THE STATE BUDGET AND SINCERELY WISH YOU WELL IN MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS. YOU'RE GOING TO BE ASKED TO SOLVE BUDGET PROBLEMS AND KEEP OUR ECONOMY GROWING. TO CREATE JOBS AND FIND SOLUTIONS FOR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. WE MAKE A CASE THAT CONSERVATION IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY, IT CAN HELP IT GET BACK ON ITS FEET.

IT HAS TREMENDOUS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS. TOURISM IS OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY. PEOPLE COME TO FLORIDA TO VISIT OUR BEACHES, ENJOY OUR PARKS, ESPECIALLY IN AND AROUND ST. AUGUSTINE. VIEW OUR ABUNDANT WILDLIFE, FOUR BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR ECONOMIC IMPACT. KAYAK AND CANOE.

PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO FLORIDA IN DROVES. THE NUMBER ONE REASON IS THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. NOW IS THE TIME TO PROTECT THAT QUALITY OF LIFE. CLEAN WATER, THEY WILL STOP COMING. UNDER A CONTRACT WITH THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WE ARE PARTNERED WITH A FIRM SUCCESSFULLY REMOVING 94 PERCENT OF THE PHOSPHOROUS. WE WILL BE OPENING AT LEAST ONE RECIPIENT SITE IN CLAY COUNTY

[02:00:08]

GREEN SPACES LIKE PARKS, REDUCE HEART HATES, LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE AND STRESS LEVELS.

ALL OF THESE ARE RESOLVED THROUGH CONSERVATION. WHILE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ONSERVATION ACQUISITIONS LIKE LAMP, A CONSISTENT LEVEL OF FUNDING FROM FLORIDA FOREVER IS NEEDED. BECAUSE YOU ALLOCATED MONEY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE SUCCESSFULLY FACILITATED THE ACQUISITION OF FISH ISLAND.

NOW MANAGED BY THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. WE CAN ASSIST COUNTIES WITH OTHER STRATEGIC CONSERVATION PLANNING, LIKE THE ONE WE JUST FINISHED IN NASSAU COUNTY, TO IDENTIFY AREAS IN THE COUNTY IN MOST NEED OF PROTECTION. WE HAVE BECOME QUITE ADEPT AT UTILIZING STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING. CREATE JOBS TO IMPROVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH TO PROTECT OUR WATER SUPPLY. LET US FUND FLORIDA FOREVER.

WE WISH YOU SAFE TRAVELS AND BEST OF LUCK. THE CHAIR: MEMBERS, WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR ALLOTTED TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOUR COURTESY TO EXTEND.

>> MOTION TO EXTEND UNTIL 12 NOON. THE CHAIR: SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW, FOR OUR REMAINING SPEAKERS, IF WE CAN HOLD IT TO TWO MINUTES, EVERYONE WILL GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK. BEG YOUR PARDON? IF WE CAN DO THAT, THAT WOULD

BE HELPFUL. >> THAT IS NOT FAIR. THE CHAIR: MR. SLAVEN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THREE MINUTES YOU CAN. WE'RE EXTENDING AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET AS MANY PEOPLE A CHANCE. BUT IF YOU CAN COMPLETE YOUR COMMENTS IN TWO MINUTES, MORE PEOPLE WILL GET TO TALK. THANK YOU.

>> THERE IS OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TALK. I'M (INAUDIBLE) THIS IS THE 16TH TIME THAT I'VE SPOKEN OVER 16 YEARS TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION ABOUT THE ST. AUGUSTINE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND NATIONAL SEASHORE, FIRST PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR OF ST. AUGUSTINE WALTER FRAZIER, BACK IN 1939.

NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED IT. IT WOULD COMBINE IN THE CURRENT FORMAT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE Y'ALL'S SUPPORT FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS, 140,000 ACRES (INAUDIBLE) HELP US GUARD AGAINST OCEAN LEVEL RISE. IT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS ABOUT TOURISM THAT Y'ALL HEARD TODAY. IT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS ABOUT HEALING AND RACIAL JUSTICE. AND TELLING OUR WHOLE HISTORY HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

(INAUDIBLE) NOT CURRENTLY BEING TOLD BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

RIGHT NOW OUR ECONOMY IS IN THE DITCH. WE NEED HELP.

WE NEED HELP BY COMBINING THE STATE PARKS, STATE FORESTS AND CURRENT (INAUDIBLE) ONE COHERENT MANAGED AUTHORITY. AFTER 16 YEARS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE Y'ALL DISCUSS IT AND NOT JUST LISTEN AND DO NOTHING. RAISING A PROCEDURAL CONCERN, WHY DIDN'T Y'ALL HONOR DR.

JEANNI JEANNIEPRICKETT. YOU ALLOWED DOUG BURNETT

THE CHAIR: IF YOU COULD PLEASE KEEP TO THE TOPIC. >> I WAS TOLD I COULD TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF TOO. SHERIFF SHORE IS UNWORTHY OF HONOR.

NATIONAL PARK AND SEASHORE, EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW AND LOVE IN THIS COUNTY IS BEING DESTROYED BY DEVELOPERS. THEY'RE DESTROYING WILDLIFE HABITAT.

THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO THE ARMY CORPS FOR A 404 PERMIT.

WHAT STANDS BETWEEN DESTROYING WHAT WE KNOW IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THE HISTORY.

WE NEED TO SATISFY THE 7TH GENERATION TEST. EVERYTHING WE DO HERE NEEDS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT I RAISED IN THE ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD COLUMN LAST YEAR.

[02:05:05]

IT WILL SAVE MONEY IN THE STATE BUDGET. IT WILL PROTECT LANDS THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED AGAINST A ROAD THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE BUILT THROUGH OUR 12 MILE SWAMP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU, MR. SLAVEN.

>> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THE CHAIR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE LAENELLE FILLMAN. WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. >> GOOD MORNING.

IN PREPARING FOR TODAY'S DELEGATION MEETING, I LOOKED AT THE PRIOR YEARS PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PLEASED TO SEE THAT SOME OF THE REQUESTS ARE ON YOUR 2021 ACTION PLAN.

THIS SHOWS THAT YOU'RE LISTENING AND CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR THE NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITY. THERE WAS A CONSISTENT REQUEST FOR PRECIOUS FUNDING THAT ALLOWS SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS A MYRIAD OF COMMUNITY NEEDS.

I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER A MEANS OF ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS.

ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER WORKING WITH OTHER FLORIDA LEGISLATORS TO BRING MEDICAID EXPANSION TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA OF THERE WAS AN 800,000 ADULT FLORIDIANS, 5700 HERE IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY, WITH INCOMES BELOW 138 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND UNINSURED. WE ANTICIPATE THIS NUMBER IS RISEN WITH THE PANDEMIC AND LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH COVERAGE THROUGH EMPLOYERS. ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA POLICY INSTITUTE AND THE COMMON FUND, FLORIDA WOULD SEE A REDUCTION OF ROUGHLY $200 MILLION BY EXPANDING MEDICAID. THIS WOULD ALLOW SOME OF OUR POOREST CITIZENS, TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH COVERAGE. THIS WOULD FREE UP SOME OF OUR STATE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS BEING PRESENTED HERE TODAY, THAT DO SUCH GREAT WORK HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO FACILITATE AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY WHO CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE PRESENTATION THAT REFLECTS CURRENT STATISTICS DATA.

AND BRIEFLY I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER INTRODUCING LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE WRITE-IN CANDIDATE OPTION. MOST RECENTLY THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S RACE WAS AFFECTED BY A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.

THE USE OF THE WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE TO CLOSE THE PRIMARY -- MAY I

CONTINUE? THE CHAIR: WE REALLY -- >> I'LL SUBMIT IT VIA E-MAIL.

THE CHAIR: PLEASE DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN VISUAL

MEDIA ASSOCIATION. PAUL SERMONS. >> MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, FLORIDA RESIDENT, FLORIDA BORN. MY WIFE AS WELL.

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN VISUAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT 2000 CHRISTIAN FILM MAKERS WORLD. I'M ALSO THE FORMER STATE FILM COMMISSIONER APPOINTED BY JEB BUSH. AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE 50 SOME WORKERS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WHO WORK IN THE FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY.

300 PLUS THAT WORK IN THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE AREA. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT AS YOU KNOW, MAKE ABOUT $85,000 A YEAR SALARY, ACCORDING TO THE STATE RECORDS.

AND THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE FLORIDA AMOUNT OF INCOME.

AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT THOSE BECAUSE WHEN A FILM CHOOSES TO GO SOMEWHERE, THEY CHOOSE BASED ON DO THEY HAVE YOU KNOW, A FILM CREW LOCALLY THAT THEY CAN HIRE.

WE DO HAVE THAT HERE. AND THESE FILMS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON OUR AREA.

I PRODUCED A MOVIE, THE LAST MOVIE I PRODUCED IN OKLAHOMA, IT WAS A HISTORICAL WESTERN.

PART OF IT HAPPENED IN THE TRUE STORY IN ST. AUGUSTINE. IN 1877.

THE CHICKASAW NATION WANTED TO PRODUCE WHERE IT HAPPENED. WE HIRED 60 LOCAL CREW.

WE SPENT OVER $300,000 IN THAT THREE DAYS. BROUGHT 50 KIDS UP FROM VALENCIA COLLEGE FILM SCHOOL. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT MOVIE LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE PREMIERING ON NETFLIX AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. SO I JUST ASK FOR YOU TO

[02:10:01]

THANK YOU. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WE ALSO HAVE CHRIS DERMONT, ON DECK, DR. TONY CRIHELL,

NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER. >> GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON FOR BRINGING TOGETHER GOVERNMENT FROM TALLAHASSEE, D.C. AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE THIS MORNING. I'M CHRIS MCDERMONT.

I AM A MEMBER OF SEVEN OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE TALKED TO YOU TODAY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY CAUSES LOOKING FOR YOUR ATTENTION, SUPPORT AND BUDGETARY SUPPORT IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE. SO I AM HERE TO TALK, NOT TO ASK YOU FOR MONEY, BUT TO SHARE SOME VIEWS OF THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BASICALLY CONSERVATION ON THE ONE HAND, OR ENVIRONMENT ON THE OTHER.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE TODAY BECAUSE LISTENING FOR TWO HOURS PLUS IS NOT EASY TASK. NOW, ONE THING I'VE LEARNED AS A MASTER NATURALIST, SINCE COMING TO FLORIDA, TAKING THE NINE-CREDIT COURSE OFFERED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, WHICH GETS YOU OUTDOORS IS THAT CONSERVATIONISTS ARE USUALLY REPUBLICANS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE USUALLY DEMOCRATS. IN FACT, IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, IT'S THE SAME MESSAGE, JUST WITH A DIFFERENT LABEL. I BELIEVE THAT.

SO I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS ABOUT GOOD LEADERSHIP.

I SPENT A CAREER ADVISING CITY OFFICIALS, GOVERNMENT MINISTERS OVERSEAS, AS THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT'S CHIEF HEALTH ADVISOR, IN SIX COUNTRIES, WORKING IN 20 MORE, AFRICA, ASIA, MIDDLE EAST. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT YOU DO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES. STAY INFORMED.

PLEASE LOOK AT SOME OF THESE WEBSITES YOURSELF. FASCINATING STUDIES.

I CAN'T MENTION THEM ALL TODAY. BUT ONE OF THEM, 1000 FRIENDS OF FLORIDA, OCEANIA.ORG, THEY TALK ABOUT THREATS TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, SEAS AND -- THE CHAIR: YOU NEED TO WRAP IT

UP. I'M SORRY. >> REMEMBER THAT I WAS INVITED TO TALK. I WILL WRAP IT UP IN TEN SECONDS.

MCORS WAS APPROVED BEFORE THE COVID CRISIS. SOME OF THESE GROUPS THAT CAME HERE TODAY ARE GOING TO SUFFER AND LOSE IF WE FUND NEW THINGS THAT MAYBE AREN'T AS HIGH RIORITY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET THE GOOD INFORMATION.

DON'T LET PARTY LABELS DETER YOU FROM THAT. MAKE GOOD DECISIONS THAT PRESERVE OUR TOURIST ECONOMY AND THE FUTURE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES FOR OUR CHILDREN.

THEY WILL THANK YOU AS I DO. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK. WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE LINE FROM FILM FLORIDA, JOHN LUKES.

OR JOHN LUX. ARE YOU THERE, JOHN? >> YES, I AM.

THE CHAIR: TERRIFIC. I APOLOGIZE THAT I SKIPPED OVER YOU.

I HAD THE TWO FILM PEOPLE TOGETHER. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS JOHN LUX, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FILM FLORIDA. NOT-FOR-PROFIT ASSOCIATION RUN BY VOLUNTEER MEMBERS THAT REPRESENT ALL SECTORS OF THE FILM, TELEVISION, AND DIGITAL MEDIA TECH INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT THE STATE. FLORIDA'S RICH HISTORY IN FILM TRACES BACK TO 1908, WHEN JACKSONVILLE WAS NAMED THE WINTER FILM CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

JACKSONVILLE'S STUDIO IS THE ONLY ONE LEFT STANDING IN THE U.S.

DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK IN 2016. FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY CAN BE A MAJOR PART OF FLORIDA'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY. CONTINUING TO DIVERSIFY THE STATE'S ECONOMY WHILE SUPPORTING HIGH WAGE, HIGH TECH JOBS IS VITAL, WHEN AN AVERAGE FEATURE FILM OR TELEVISION SERIES FILMS IN A LOCATION, THE PRODUCTION SPENDS $20 MILLION IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY. ONE SINGLE PRODUCTION CAN PUT $150,000 A DAY DIRECTLY IN THE POCKETS OF CITIZENS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. THIS GENERATES A SIGNIFICANT

[02:15:01]

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER, DR. TONY

CRAYHILL, ON BOARD, FLORIDA CITIZENS ALLIANCE. >> GOOD MORNING.

I'M TONI, I HAVE BEEN THE FLORIDA DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER SINCE 2001. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH STATE LAW VACCINATION POLICIES AND EXEMPTION ISSUES WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

I SPOKE WITH YOU LAST YEAR ABOUT FEDERAL INITIATIVES TO IMPLEMENT MANDATORY TRACKING AND SURVEILLANCE AND VACCINATION PROGRAMS FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND THAT WAS BEFORE COVID. NOW WE ARE MOVING VERY SWIFTLY INTO A COVID WORLD OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANDATES AND TRACKING AND SURVEILLANCE OF EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS COUNTRY.

OVER THE PAST YEAR WE'VE WITNESSED THE ABUSE OF EMERGENCY POWERS BY GOVERNORS AND WE'VE EXPERIENCED DRACONIAN SOCIETAL RESTRICTIONS PREDICATED ON THE IDEA THAT CIVIL RIGHTS CAN BE SUSPENDED IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC HEALTH. NOT SURPRISING, WEIGHING HEAVILY ON THE MINDS IS WHETHER WE WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE A VACCINATION TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL AND REASONABLY FUNCTION IN SOCIETY. IT IS LIKELY TO PLAY OUT THROUGH THE WITHDRAWAL OF RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES FROM THOSE WHO DO NOT CONSENT.

RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THE INEVITABLE, CITIZENS MUST TAKE ACTIONS NOW.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CANNOT BYPASS THE LEGISLATURE AND EXPLOIT THE RULE MAKING AUTHORITY. IF WE DO NOT PUT PROPER MEASURES IN PLACE NOW TO PROTECT THESE GOD-GIVEN PROTECTED RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE THEM.

SO I AM GIVING YOU NBIC MODEL LEGISLATIVE REMEDIES FOR DRAFTING LEGISLATION TO PREVENT MANDATES AND TO PROTECT MEDICAL FREEDOM AND PRIVACY. THIS TEMPLATE ADDRESSES -- AM I FINISHED WITH MY TIME? OKAY. I LEFT YOU THAT INFORMATION.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER USING SOME OF THIS LEGISLATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. FLORIDA CITIZENS ALLIANCE.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS OUR ISSUES AND CONCERNS. FLORIDA CITIZENS ALLIANCE IS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MADE UP OF PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, TEACHERS, BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO EXCELLENT EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN.

I BELIEVE THAT SOME OF OUR CONCERNS ARE IN YOUR PACKET. SO IN THE ESTIMATE OF TIME, I WILL SPECIFICALLY BE BRIEF. THE FIRST THING WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS AUTHORIZING UNIVERSAL EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR ALL FLORIDA PARENTS AND EXPAND PARENTAL CHOICE AND OPTIONS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIPS.

SECOND THING WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, WE'RE AGGRESSIVELY ADVOCATING FOR THE FLORIDA PARENTAL RIGHTS BILL SPONSORED LAST SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVE ERIN.

MANY PARENTS FEEL INCREASINGLY INTIMIDATED BY STATE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES INFRINGING ON THEIR

[02:20:07]

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS BENEFIT IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO FLORIDA SCHOLARSHIPS STUDENTS.

PLEASE CONSIDER ALLOWING RECIPIENTS OF FLORIDA SCHOLARSHIPS TO USE ONLINE INSTRUCTION. OUR LAST REQUEST WOULD BE TO STR STRENGTHEN -- LAST YEAR TEAMS FROM FLORIDA CITIZENS ALLIANCE IDENTIFIED NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF MATERIALS HARMFUL TO CHILDREN IN TEXTBOOKS, READING MATERIALS AND TEACHING MATERIALS.

IT IS OUR REQUEST THAT YOU STRENGTHEN STATUTE 847. THIS CAN BE COMBINED WITH A STATUTE TO IMPROVE THE ENFORCEMENT -- THE CHAIR: THE CHAIR: THANK YOU. THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE ADDITIONAL THINGS -- THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. MEMBERS, WE ARE DOWN TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

[8. Public Comment]

NOT HEARING FROM HIM. FLAGLER COLLEGE, SPEAKING ON FLAGLER COLLEGE EASE GRANTS.

AND THEN FOLLOWING THEM, WE WOULD HAVE RICHARD MARQUIS FOR FACT FINDING.

YOU CAN COME TO THE ALTERNATE, YOU WANT TO BE AT THIS PODIUM ALREADY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVES.

I AM ELIZABETH AND I'M A STUDENT AT FLAGLER COLLEGE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, FLAGLER COLLEGE AND THE EASE GRANT. I AM THE PRODUCT OF A TEENAGE PREGNANCY, NEITHER OF MY PARENTS GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. I AM THE ELDEST OF FOUR SIBLINGS, WIFE TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, MOTHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS.

I'VE LIVED IN NORTH FLORIDA MY ENTIRE LIFE. OFFICE MANAGER AND LEGAL ASSISTANT AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE FOR THE LAST 21 YEARS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A DREAM PERCEIVED AND REALIZED AND SOON TO BE PERCEIVED.

I HAVE BEEN ENTHALED ENTHRALLED WITH FLAGLER NTHALED ENTHRALLE WITH FLAGLER LD ENTHRALLED WIT FLAGLER COLLEGE. IT WAS A DREAM PERCEIVED. FAST FORWARD A FEW YEARS AGO, WHILE READING A NEWS ARTICLE. I NOTICED AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FLAGLER COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM. IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. THE ADVERTISEMENT TOOK ME TO A WEBSITE FOR THE PAD PROGRAM. IT WAS THERE THAT I READ ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF THIS PROGRAM THROUGH THE EASE GRANT. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, I HAD APPLIED FOR THE PROGRAM.

ALMOST 20 YEARS AFTER A DREAM WAS PERCEIVED, A DREAM WAS REALIZED.

I SWELLED WITH PRIDE AS I COULD SAY I WAS A SAINT. I CAN SAY THAT IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE GRANT, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A STUDENT AT FLAGLER COLLEGE.

MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WORK IN PUBLIC SERVICE. WE ARE NOT MAKING HAND OVER FIST. WE HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS IN COLLEGE.

SO THAT CAUSES FINANCES TO BE SPREAD ALL THE THINNER. BECAUSE OF THE GRANT, I WAS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT ONLY FOR ME TO REALIZE MY DREAM BUT COME NEXT DECEMBER, MY DREAM WILL BE ACHIEVED WHEN I BECOME A GRADUATE OF FLAGLER COLLEGE.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU FOR PUTTING A FACE ON THE IMPORTANT FUNDING SOURCE.

AND FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MARQUEZ.

>> GOOD MORNING. EARLIER THIS YEAR I SPOKE TO BOTH ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND ST.

[02:25:06]

THE COMMISSIONERS EFFORTS AND THE EFFORTS OF THE THREE OF YOU PAID OFF, AS FUNDING WAS RETAINED IN A COMPETITIVE, PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS TIME I'M ADDRESSING A NON-RECURRENT FUNDING ASPECT OF THIS PROGRAM. WE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY DO NOT ENJOY THE SAME STATUS OF DUVAL COUNTY. STATING THE OBVIOUS, EACH YEAR THE FUNDING IS AGAIN AT RISK AND EACH YEAR WE AGAIN HOLD OUR BREATH AS OUR LEGISLATORS NAVIGATE THE BUDGET PROCESS. NOT JUST THE FUNDING AT RISK, BUT HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES WHEN THEIR JOB IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK EACH YEAR.

THESE PEOPLE WHO FIGHT IN THE TRENCHES EVERY DAY NEED OUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO BELIEVE THERE IS EFFORT UNDERWAY TO MAKE THAT PART OF THE REGULAR BUDGETS AND GET THAT FUNDING RECURRING.

THE THREE MEMBERS HERE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'RE AT THE END OF OUR TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT THIS SESSION OR ANYTHING. THE BUDGET. ANYTHING.

>> REAL BRIEFLY. I SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS AT THE BEGINNING.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE BIG BUDGET CHALLENGES. WE'VE HEARD SOME REALLY IMPORTANT NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO

TRY TO MEET WHAT WE CAN. THANK YOU. >> I'LL JUST SAY FOR ANYONE THAT WANTED MORE TIME, OR COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, WE MONITOR OUR E-MAILS, OUR STAFF IS CONSTANTLY ON THE PHONES, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US. WE WILL HEAR YOUR CONCERNS VIA

E-MAIL OR PHONE AND TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE. >> THANK YOU.

AND WE HAVE TO END AT 12. I'M SORRY. THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT CAME. WE DID DO BRIEF RECOGNITIONS IN THE BEGINNING. BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE WELL DUE RECOGNITION AND CONDUCTING THEMSELVES AS CHAMPIONS THROUGHOUT THIS DELEGATION.

>> >> WE'LL EXTEND TO 12:05. AND ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO STICK WITH US. REPRESENTATIVE RENNER AND MYSELF HAVE ANOTHER DELEGATION MEETING THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO THAT IS TIME CERTAIN BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY ONES FOR QUORUM.

SO WE WILL ALLOW ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE ONE MORE MINUTE TO BE BRIEF.

>> MICHAEL FLETCHER, JULIE MALONE. >> WE'LL TRY TO STICK AROUND FOR ANOTHER FOUR OR FIVE MINUTES FOR ANYONE THAT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK WITH US.

MADAM CHAIR. >> WE HAVE MICHAEL FLETCHER. AND JULIE MALONEY.

WADE ALFORD. >> DID YOU HAVE A CARD IN PLEASE COME FORWARD.

WE DON'T HAVE YOU ON THE LIST. >> MY NAME IS RHONDA BRENNAN. I'M AN EVERY DAY CITIZEN, PATRIOT. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF OUR CITY. I AM HERE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THIS DELEGATION, BEFORE YOU ALLOCATE ANY MONEY FOR ANYTHING, THAT YOU PLEASE LOOK AT THE MONEY THAT THEY SPENT REMOVING OUR MEMORIALS OVER $400,000 AND COUNTING.

IT WAS AGAINST THE CITIZEN'S VOTE. WE DID NOT GET A VOTE ON THIS.

IT'S UPSETTING. NOW THEY'RE COMING BACK AND ASKING FOR MORE MONEY WHEN THEY TOOK OVER $400,000 ON THEIR OWN. THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO ASK. IF YOU COULD PLEASE LOOK BEFORE YOU ALLOCATE ANOTHER DIME TO JOHN REGAN OR MAYOR UPCHURCH. WE HAD $400,000 FOR THE PLUMBING FOR WEST ST.

AUGUSTINE. WE HAD MARK BAILEY WHO OFFERED TO LOOK AT THAT MONEY.

LOOK AT THE CODE OF VIOLATIONS CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COMMISSION, 350.041.

THEY'RE COMMITTING ACTS OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS. WE NEED HELP.

AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CALL YOU GUYS ALL SUMMER. E-MAILED.

[02:30:03]

IS MICHAEL FLETCHER HERE? I DON'T SEE HIM. JILL, MALONEY.

WE DID HAVE CLAIRE HEFFERMAN. >> I'M GOING TO READ REALLY REALLY FAST.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IMAGINE BEING STUCK IN THE PERPETUAL CYCLE OF SELF-LOATHING AND SELF-DOUBT. THIS IS WHAT I FOUND MYSELF IN.

IT WASN'T UNTIL AN UNINTENDED OVERDOSE. I WAS AT A POINT THAT I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO ESCAPE THIS ADDICTION ON MY OWN. I WAS ABLE TO GET IN AN IN-PATIENT AND RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM. AFTER IN-PATIENT TREATMENT, I SECURED FUNDING TO BE A PART OF THEIR MEDICAID ASSISTANT PROGRAM.

IN THE PROGRAM, I LEARNED ABOUT MY DISEASE, MENTAL HEALTH AND WAS ABLE TO PINPOINT WHY AND WHAT LED TO MY ADDICTION. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN AN HONEST UNDERSTANDING OF MYSELF.

I AM HERE AS A PEER SUPPORT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. EVERYONE DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR LIFE. THE CHAIR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH

FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES ABOUT HOW EPIC HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE. >> EPIC HAS CHANGED MY LIFE.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WADE ALFORD.

>> YOU MAY REMEMBER MY UNCLE TOM KING, FORMER DIRECTOR OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

DRAFTED IN THE NAVY IN WORLD WAR II. MY FATHER WAS DRAFTED IN THE ARMY. SEVERAL NIECES AND NEPHEWS IN THE SERVICE.

I'M A VETERAN. I NOTICED A TREND. THE ATTENTION ON THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE STATE'S MONUMENTS. WE PREDICTED THAT IT WAS GOING TO GO BEYOND THAT.

IT HAS. I WILL BE SENDING YOU A COLLECTION OF PICTURES AND INFORMATION STATEWIDE THAT DEPICT OUR MONUMENTS TO NOT ONLY MILITARY VETERANS, BUT 9/11 PEOPLE FIRST RESPONDERS. THERE IS A LOT OF POLLS OUT THAT SAY THAT THEY WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THEY'RE HOLDING LL GOVERNMENTS HOSTAGE. THESE GOVERNMENTS HOSTAGE.

THESE L GOVERNMENTS HOSTAGE. THESE OCA GOVERNMENTS HOSTAGE. THL GOVERNMENTS HOSTAGE.

THESE RADICALS. MAYBE WE CAN PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR THAT.

THE CHAIR: THANK YOU, MR. ALFORD. WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF MONUMENTS

TORN DOWN. >> WE WOULD APPRECIATE ENHANCED PENALTIES.

THE CHAIR: WE WERE WORKING ON SOMETHING ON THAT LAST SESSION. WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN'T MAKE PROGRESS ON THOSE THINGS. THANK YOU. WELL, THAT IS IT, MEMBERS.

I THANK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND I THINK WE HAVE ONE LITTLE LAST ACT OF BUSINESS.

[9. Election of Chair and Vice Chair]

>> NOMINATE SENATOR HUTSON TO CHAIR NEXT YEAR. >> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.

>> ALL IN FAVOR. >> YAY YAY YAY. SUPER.

>> I NOMINATE REPRESENTATIVE RENNER TO VICE CHAIR. REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON FOR

VICE CHAIR. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT WOULD CONCLUDE OUR BUSINESS TODAY. THANK YOU.

IT'S KIND OF A FAST MEETING. BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS BROUGHT FORWARD.

INTERESTING TO SEE HOW PEOPLE HAVE WORKED SO HARD DURING COVID.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOUR FACE AND HEAR THAT YOU'RE GETTING THE WORK DONE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A BETTER TIME, HOPEFULLY DURING 2021.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.