Dec 19, 2022 2023 Legislative Delegation

[1. Prayer]

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2022 ST. JOHNS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING. I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO SEE YOU ALL HERE. WE HAVE A VERY FULL AGENDA TODAY. I WOULD ASK THE CONSIDERATION OF EVERYBODY, PLEASE SILENCING THEIR PHONES. AS WE BEGIN INTO THE MEETING, WE WILL BE ALTERNATING SIDES AND WE HAVE A RESERVED SPACE IN THE FRONT FOR SPEAKERS. AS YOUR ITEM COMES UP AS YOU COME UP ON THE AGENDA, PLEADS COME FORWARD WE'RE GOING BEGIN OUR MEETING TODAY WITH A PRAYER. PLEASE

RISE. SPEAKER REPORT ENNER WILL LEAD US IN PRAYER. >> DEAR LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE TO HEARING FROM EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE ASK FOR WISDOM IN THE UPCOMING SESSION, THAT WE MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER, WHICH IS OUR GOAL. AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO'S GATHERED HERE TODAY AND APPRECIATE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO MEET. IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. >> I PLEDGEE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE --

[5. Recognition of Elected Officials]

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING PRESENT. I KNOW WE HAVE MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY HOWEVER, I DO NOT HAVE A LIST OF YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOU HERE. I SEE OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION, HENRY DEAN, OUR SHERIFF, SHERIFF HARDWICK. WE'LL BE HEARING FROM CHRISTIAN WHITEHURST SOON AND SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT I WON'T RECOGNIZE, BECAUSE THEY'RE SPEAKING. JUST FOR A MATTER OF EFFICIENCY OF TIME. SPEAKERS, WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES OR LESS. THERE WILL BE A SMALL FLASHING LIGHT THAT WILL HELP YOU WITH RECOGNIZING THE END OF YOUR TIME. WE DO HAVE A VERY FULL AGENDA AND WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THAT, I BELIEVE, HAVE COME. WE WANT TO OPTIMIZE OUR CHANCE TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THE ADDITION TO THE DELEGATION. WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE BOBBY PAYNE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE

YOURSELF AND YOUR STAFF? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. BOBBY PAYNE, DISTRICT 20, MADE UP OF PART OF ST. JOHNS, ALL OF PUTNAM, SOURCES OF NORTH CLAY AND NORTH MARIAN. WITH ME, I HAVE SOME STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE MARIAN AREA: TAMMY STILL IS REPRESENTING OUR OFFICE THERE, AS WELL AS SEAN DELGADER, AND I HAVE PERHAPS A LEGISLATIVE AID COMING IN. SHE'S DRIVING IN

FROM QUITE A DISTANCE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

I'VE GOT MY AID SHANNON HERE. RAISE YOUR HAND THERE. AND THE CHANGES IN THE DISTRICT, JUST EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE, REPRESENTATIVE PAYNE GOT WESTERN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND I RUN UP THE SIDE OF THE AIRPORT, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE NOW AND ANASTASIA ISLAND, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE, BUT IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU. I KNOW WE'RE SUPER TIME

CONSTRAINED. >> SENATOR HUDSON? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE HUNTER CLEARY HERE, LEGISLATIVED AID, AND DANIELLE CARBO WAS GREETING EVERYBODY IN THE FRONT AS SHE COME IN. AS THE CHAIR ECHOED, I'M GOING TO BE PRETTY STRICT ON THE TIME HERE, BECAUSE WE WILL NOT GET OUT OF HERE ON TIME IF WE DON'T PROBABLY WON'T GET A LOT OF RESPONSES OUT OF US. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT LISTENING AND WE DON'T CARE. WE PROBABLY AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH YOUR STUFF, DID HE HELP OKAY WHAT IT IS. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR US BACK AND FORTH AS USUAL, BECAUSE AT 12:0E HERE FOR OTHER MEETINGS. SO WE APPRECIATE BREVITY, BUT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY, AND IF SOMEBODY HAPPENS TO SAY SOMETHING THAT YOU AGREE WITH OR DISAGREE WITH, YOU CAN WAVE IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION IF SOMETHING HAS

ALREADY BEEN SAID SO WE'RE NOT BEING REPEPTIVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND OF COURSE, I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS AWARE THAT WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT SPEAKER RENNER WAS CHOSEN TO BE SPEAKER. FLORIDA HOUSE AND WILL BE LEADING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL. [APPLAUSE]

[6. Speakers]

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONS CHAIRMAN. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM AREA AND MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION. ON BEHALF OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF, WELCOME BACK TO OUR BEAUTIFUL ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF OUR RESIDENTS. WE ALSO THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS MEETING TO PROVIDE LOCAL

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STATE OF FLORIDA AND ESPECIALLY TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE

SUPERINTENDENT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL, TIM FORSON. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION. FIRST, I WANT TO JUST OFFER MY THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT OF THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT ARE A PART OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT EACH AND EVERY YEAR, IT SEEMS, THAT SOME OF YOU TAKE TIME OUT TO SEE, TO LEARN, AND TO BE A PART OF THAT. VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. A COUPLE OF -- REALLY TWO MAJOR THEMES I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, GRATITUDE AS WELL FOR TEACHER INCENTIVE MONEY THAT HAS COME FORWARD FOR INCREASE IN SALARIES. AND IT'S DONE SOME GREAT THINGS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA AS A WHOLE. AND WHAT I'D ASK AND ENCOURAGE IS THAT WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE MET THOSE STARTING PAY SALARIES FOR US AT 47-5, BUT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH NEW MONEY, ASK THAT RESTRICTIONS KIND OF BE PULLED OFF SO THE VETERAN TEACHERS IN OUR SYSTEM ARE ABLE TO SEE FORWARD IN THEIR SALARY, BECAUSE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS OF THIS TEACHER INCREASE ALLOCATION, IT HAS REALLY BEEN DEDICATED, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, DEDICATED TO THE BOTTOM RUNG OF THE SALARY AND PUSHING ALL SALARIES FOR TEACHERS FORWARD, AND WHAT I'D ASK NOW IS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS, SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS THAT HAVE BEEN THE MENTORS FOR MANY NEW TEACHERS AND SUPPORT THOSE TEACHERS THAT HAVE ALSO REALLY STAYED WITH IT DAY IN, DAY OUT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THROUGH THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT HAVE COME ABOUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT HIRING IS A CHALLENGE, NOT JUST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT IN SO MANY DIFFERENT FIELDS. SOW IT IS FOR US, AND CONNECTED TO THAT IS ONE OF THE FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM LIMITATIONS OF REHIRE, RE-EMPLOYMENT. THERE IS A PAUSE, SO IF A TEACHER DOES EXIT THE SYSTEM, THEY DO HAVE TO WAIT EITHER A YEAR OR SIX MONTHS WITH A DELAY IN RETIREMENT SALARY. SO JUST ASK IF THERE COULD BE SOME CONSIDERATIONS AND REALTIME AND EFFORT PUT INTO THE IDEA OF TAKING AWAY THAT DELAY SO THAT WHEN A TEACHER RETIRES, THEY COULD COME BACK THE VERY NEXT DAY OR VERY SOON AFTER, BECAUSE CERTAINLY THERE'S SOME TALENTED FOLKS WHO CAN HELP OUR CHILDREN AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. YOU HAVE OUR PLATFORM. THERE ARE SOME OTHER TOPICS, BUT I THINK WITHOUT QUESTION, THAT IS PROBABLY THE GREATEST PRIORITY FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOLS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT. NEXT WE HAVE MAYOR NANCY SIKES-CLINE. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HEARING US TODAY. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. I'D LIKE TO JUST RECOGNIZE THAT I AM HERE WITH CITY MANAGER JOHN REAGAN TODAY.

WE WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER. AS YOU KNOW, WE VISIT ON YOU FREQUENTLY. TODAY, I HAVE A LIST OF FUNDING REQUESTS. I'M GOING TO BE AS BELIEF AS I CAN. TRANSPORTATION, RESILIENCY, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, LIFE SAFETY, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST, BUT I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE. WE'RE ASKING, AGAIN, FOR YOU TO SUPPORT HOME RULE, AND PARTICULARLY RESIST LEGISLATION THAT TIES THE HANDS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN MANAGING SHORT-TERM RENTALS. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STATE ROAD 313 WHICH WOULD BE A NEW ROAD AND THE EXTENSION OF 312 EXTENSION FUNDING, WHICH WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED RELIEF FOR CONGESTED U.S. ONE. WE'RE ASKING SUPPORT FOR A NEW ANASTASIA FIRE STATION. WE HAVE -- THE CURRENT FIRE STATION IS LOCATE AT A VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION, AND IT RECEIVES

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PERFECT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER CITY

OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH DYLAN RUMREL. >> CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND THE SUPPORT TO OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH. AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S A VULNERABLE COASTAL COMMUNITY. WITH THE HURRICANES OF THESE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT WE HAVE ENDURED, HAS REALLY INHIBITED AND WRECKED OUR BEACHES AND ALSO OUR FLOODING SITUATIONS. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN GREAT IN THE PAST AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN US. I'M ASKING, AS YOU ALL HAVE A LIST IN FRONT FOR OUR FUTURE PROJECTS AND I WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU DURING THE SESSION, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME, THE EFFORT, AND THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE

GIVEN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, COMMISSIONER. NEXT WE HAVE BRANDON PADDY, ST. JOHNS COUNTY CLERK COURTS.

WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, DELEGATION. GOOD MORNING, REPRESENTATIVE PAYNE. GREAT TO HAVE YOU IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I COME BEFORE YOU WITH THREE PRIORITIES. ONE, CHANGES TO THE COURT FUNDING MODEL TO ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE BUDGETS, FUNCTIONING COURT SYSTEM, AMENDING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POLICY TO REQUIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO NOT INVEST IN COMPANIES OR FUNDS RESTRICTED FROM BEING INVESTED IN BY STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION FUND MANAGERS AND ADDRESSING PROPERTY FLAWED AND MAIL SCAM TARGETING ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND FLORIDA RESIDENTS STATEWIDE. REAL QUICK I'LL GO THROUGH THE THREE PRIORITIES.

THE CLERK'S BUDGET, OUR ASSOCIATION PUT TOGETHER THREE PRIORITIES THAT WILL BE BEFORE Y'ALL THAT WILL PUT US ON A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE TRACK. WE'RE IN LONGER COMING BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE REQUESTING TWEAKS HERE AND THERE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO FUND THE COURT SYSTEM IT'S A PRIORITY FOR OUR OFFICE. WE'RE ONE OF THE LEAST FUNDED CLERKS OFFICES IN THE STATE PER CAPITA AND CASE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO MEET THE NEEDS BASED BUDGET, WHICH IS ABOUT 25% HIGHER THAN WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY FUNDED AT THIS TIME. SO THESE CHANGES, THESE PRIORITIES THAT THE ASSOCIATION IS PUTTING TOGETHER, DIVERSIFYING CLERK REVENUES, PROVIDING SUPPORT STAFFING NEEDS AND ACCOUNTING FOR ADDITIONAL NO FEE SERVICE WILL INSURE SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM FUNDING FOR OUR CRITICAL FUNCTIONS. THE SECOND PRIORITY IS THE SCRUTINIZED LIST OF COMPANIES. I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING THAT'S A GAP CURRENTLY IN FLORIDA STATUTE 218.415. IT REQUIRES LEGAL GOVERNMENTS TO FOLLOW THEIR POLICY AND TO HAVE A POLICY, BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO KNOWLEDGE INVEST IN COMPANIES OR FUNDS RESTRICTED FOR BEING INVESTED IN BY STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION FUND MANAGERS. THIS BECAME APPARENT LAST YEAR WITH UNILEVER WHEN THEY WERE PLACED IN THE SCRUTINIZED LIST OF COMPANIES THAT BOYCOTT ISRAEL. WE'RE STILL ABLE AS A LOCAL ENTITY TO INVEST IN UNILEVER. HERE WITH CHAIRMAN HENRY DEAN, WE FIXED OUR INVESTMENT POLICY, EXISTED THE INVESTMENT WITH UNILEVER, BUT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOCAL ENTITIES, POTENTIALLY MANAGING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PUBLIC DOLLARS THAT COULD STILL INVEST IN THESE UMS CAN. AS ESG IS A PRIORITY FOR THE STATE, ESG FUNDS OR QUALMS THAT USE ESG ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, GOALS AND

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WITH THE SESSION. MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT GOOD REPORT. NEXT WE HAVE PRESIDENT OF SAINTS JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE, JOE PICKENS. AND IN THE ROOM, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SPEAKING SOON, YOU CAN COME FORWARD AND

FILL THESE SEATS, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF FOUR ORGANIZATIONS IN THREE MINUTES. MAYBE SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR THOSE BEHIND ME. FIRST, THANK YOU FOR STARTING THIS MEETING WITH A PRAYER. THAT'S AN OCCURRENCE THAT WAS FREQUENT AT THE COLLEGE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE COLLEGE STARTED OBJECTING TO THAT OCCURRING.

AND SO WE HAD SEIZED THAT, BUT IT IS -- CEASED THAT, BUT IT IS MY PLEASURE TO HAVE LISTENED THAT TODAY. BOBBY, I ASKED FOR HASTINGS, AS WELL AS BONEL FOR REAPPORTIONMENT IN 2002 AND WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. I DO ENVY YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ST. JOHNS COUNTY IN OFFICIAL CAPACITY AND AGAIN AS A PART OF ANOTHER COUNTY IN IN THE ST. JOHN RIVER STATE DELEGATION.

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS HAVE RECEIVED $201 MILLION IN CAPITAL OUTLAY OR OTHERWISE CONSTRUCTION FUNDING. ST. JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE HAS RECEIVED ZERO. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEMICS TUESDAY HAVE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 53.3 MILLION IN RE-OCCURRING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF THE MONEY INVESTED IN THE NORMAL FUNDING FORMULA. SAINT JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE HAS RECEIVED ZERO WE ARE NOT INEPT. WE'RE PATIENT AND WE BIDED OUR TIME, ESPECIALLY IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE PAYNE AND WAITED UNTIL WE BELIEVED IT WAS OUR TIME TO RECEIVE OPERATIONAL FUNDING AND CAPITAL OUTLAY SUPPORT. SPEAKER, THANK YOU FOR MEETING ME AT SOUTHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. OUR REQUEST IS..$5 MILLION IN REOCCURRING FUNDING SPREAD OUT OVER TWO YEARS AND INVESTMENT IDENTICAL TO THAT THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO PAST OVER IN THE LAST TWO YEARS BY THE SENATE PRESIDENT. WE BELIEVE WE ARE WORTHY OF THAT INVESTMENT AND I'VE SPOKEN TO THE SPEAKER AND I WILL SPEAK TO EACH OF YOU ABOUT THE PRECISE PROGRAMS THAT WE INTEND TO IMPLEMENT WITH THAT RE-OCCURRING FUNDING. 6.5 MILLION OF RE-OCCURRING IN THE FIRST YEAR AND 6 MILLION IN NON-RE-OCCURRING IN THE FIRST YEAR, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 6 MILLION OF RE-OCCURRING IN THE SECOND YEAR SO WE CAN SPREAD THAT OUT. WE ALSO REQUEST 34.$1 MILLION IN CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING. WE ARE NUMBER 11 ON THE PICO LIST. WE HAVE BEEN AS HIGH AS NUMBER 8. IN THAT 200 MILLION, THERE WAS FUNDING OF PROJECTS THAT WERE NUMBER 54, NUMBER 56, AND 3 THAT WEREN'T ON THE LIST AT ALL. THOSE ARE OUR TWO PRIORITIES. LAST, I WANT TO SPEAK, AS I ALWAYS DO, ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND. THEY ARE A TREASURE HERE. THEY ARE UNDERFUNDED AND ANYTHING YOU CAN DO FOR THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND WOULD BE APPRECIATED. NORTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN MADISON DESERVES YOUR CONSIDERATION, SPEAKER AND BOBBY, FOR OPERATIONAL FUNDING AS WELL.

AND LAST, THE UNITED WAY GALA IS JANUARY THE 28TH SPONSORED BY THE HUDSON COMPANIES. WE INVITE

YOU ALL TO BE THERE. THANK YOU >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PICKENS NEXT WE HAVE TRACY SNOW FROM THE

FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE KIND WORDS. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO BE A PARTNER WITH PRESIDENT PICKENS.

GOOD MORNING, LEGISLATORS. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR LAST YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE CAPITAL OUT LEIA PRO PREASIANS, WHICH YOU SUPPORTED. FSTB RECEIVED FUNDING TOE RESTORE AND RESTORE TWO BOARDING PROGRAM BOARDS, GREG HALL AND KRAMER HALL. WE'RE MOVING THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS RIGHT NOW. CURRENTLY, APPRECIATING THE FINAL CONTRACT FOR CRAIG HALL AND KRAMER HALL IS AN EARLY PROCUREMENT STAGES. OUR STUDENT, STAFF, AND FAMILIES ARE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATIVE AND GRATEFUL AND EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE NEW AND RENOVATED DORMS. IT IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE A HOME AWAY

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HEALTHY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE BETH SWEENEY AND ONBOARD, NICOLE CROSBY. WELCOME, BETH SWEENEY FROM FLAGLER COLLEGE.

>> HI. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS ATTENTION. PRESIDENT DELANEY SENDS HIS REGARDS. UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAD A SCHEDULING CONFLICT THIS MORNING. SO I GET TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU. WELCOME, REPRESENTATIVE PAYNE. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU REPRESENTING ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I'M HERE THIS MORNING SIMPLY JUST TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT OF THE COLLEGE. LAST YEAR AND EVERY YEAR, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON OUR PROJECTS. OF COURSE, THIS YEAR, ALL OF YOU KNOW WE HAD SOME FLOODING OCCURRING IN THE PONDS. THE PONDS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BUILDING, BOTH TO THE COLLEGE AND TO THE STATE AND TO THE COUNTRY. IT'S ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTRY. IT'S A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK. IT'S ONE OF THE TOP 100 MOST IMPORTANT BUILDINGS BUILT IN 1988. IT'S GOT ORIGINAL THOMAS EDISON WIRING IN THE BUILDING. OF COURSE, THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF TIFFANY STAINED GLASS WINDOWS IN THE WORLD IS IN THE PONCE. AND THAT'S LETTING, OF COURSE, OUR RESIDENT SPACE WHERE WE HAVE OVER 400 STUDENTS WHO RESIDE IN THAT BUILDING EVERY YEAR. WE LIKE TO CALL IT OUR LIVING MUSEUM THAT OUR STUDENTS GET TO PARTAKE IN. AS A STUDENT THERE ONCE MYSELF, I GOT TO LIVE IN THE PONCE AND IT'S JUST A VERY, VERY SPECIAL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE UNDERGOING, AS YOU KNOW, A MASSIVE RENOVATION OF THE LIVING SPACES FOR OUR STUDENTS, RESTORATION. THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE UNCOVERED FIREPLACES ORIGINAL THAT WERE COVERED UP AND WE'RE DOING HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION TO THOSE SPACES.

THERE IS A GRIT PUBLIC INTEREST IN PRESERVING THIS BUILDING. WE HAVE OVER 40 TO 50,000 PEOPLE WHO COME IN AND TAKE TOURS OF THE BUILDING EVERY YEAR. THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE 1 MILLION PEOPLE WHO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE PONCE EVERY YEAR THROUGH TROLLEY TOURS OR WALKING THROUGH CAMPUS. SO THERE'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ACCESS IS TO THE BUILDING AND WE BELIEVE A HUGE STATE INTEREST IN HELPING US PRESERVE THIS BUILDING. SO WE WILL BE COMING, OF COURSE, THIS YEAR TO YOU TO ASK FOR SOME ASSISTANCE IN HELPING TO COVER THE COST OF SOME OF THESE RENOVATIONS. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU THIS MORNING. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR

TIME. >> THANK YOU. WE'RE SORRY YOU'RE HAVING THAT UNEXPECTED DAMAGE IN YOUR UNIVERSITY. WELCOME, NICOLE CROSBY, ST. JOHNS SOIL AND WATER

CONSERVATION DISTRICT. >> THANK YOU. I'M RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE REPEAL OF SB1078 I WAS ELECTED TO HOLD THIS OFFICE UNTIL 2025, AS IT SAYS RIGHT HERE, SIGNED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS. SENATOR HUDSON'S SB1078 CUT MY TERM IN HALF, AS IT DID FOR OVER 100 OF US STATEWIDE. DISENFRANCHISING MILLIONS OF VOTERS. IT ALSO DISQUALIFIES MOST PEOPLE FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE. I HOPE WE CAN ZOOM IN OTHER * * ON THIS. REPUBLICAN SENATOR BRANDISE CALLED IT THE BEGINNING OF SOCIALISM. HE SAID, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST INSANE THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN. EVERY FLORIDIAN SHOULD BE OUTRAGED. YET DESANTIS SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW AFTER RECEIVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM SENATOR HUDSON'S LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF FLORIDA'S SOIL AND WATER BOARDS

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>> MS. CROSBY, EVEN THOUGH SENATOR HUDSON DOESN'T THINK I SHOULD DO THIS, I'M GOING TO SAY PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMPLAINT OR YOUR CONCERN DIRECTLY TO THE PERSON. THANK YOU.

>> HE'S THE PERSON -- FINE. SB1078 SHOULD BE REPEALED. IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IT'S BASED ON A FOUNDATION OF LIES. IT WILL SET A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HAVE THEIR TERM SEVERED AND TO BE DISQUALIFIED FROM OFFICE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SHELBY EBENEZER FROM ST. JOHNS

COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 911 DISPATCH. WELCOME, NICOLE. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM SHELBY EBENEZER, A 911 DISPATCH SUPERINTENDENT FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY AGENCY AND ALL OF MY HELLO DISPATCHERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I'M ALSO HERE TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE JOB THAT 911 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATORS DO DAY IN AND DAY SUPPORT TO INCLUDE 911 YOUR- DISPATCHERS AS THE FIRST RESPONDERS THEY ARE. CURRENTLY THE STANDARD OCCUPATIONAL SYSTEM CLASSIFIES US AS CLERICAL WORKERS. HOWEVER, FLORIDA STATUTE 112.1815 ALREADY CONTAINS THE LANGUAGE DESCRIBING FIRST RESPONDERS AND ON COULD BE EASILY AMEN TODAY INCLUDE 8911 DISPATCHERS. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD NOT CHANGE OUR RETIREMENT BENEFITS, BUT INSTEAD WOULD PROVIDE THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED.

I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE A TIME WHEN YOU MAY HAVE NEEDED 911. A TIME THAT COULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. CONSIDER THE EMERGENCY THAT YOU WERE EXPERIENCING, WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO CALL 911. NOW THINK ABOUT THE DEMEANOR THAT YOU WERE MET WITH. DID YOU KNOW WHERE YOU WERE? WERE YOU DISTRAUGHT? DISTRACT? MAYBE EVEN INJURED? WERE YOU SCREAMING INTO THE PHONE, DEMANDING FOR HELP? WHAT WERE YOU MET WITH ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE? WAS YOUR CALL ANSWERED PROMPTLY BY SOMEONE WHO WAS CALMING, IN CONTROL, AND THEIR TONE REGULATED YOUR RESPONSES? WAS IT SOMEONE WHO TALKED YOU THROUGH YOUR PANIC SO THAT THEY COULD OBTAIN THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR THE RESPONDERS TO BE DISPATCHED TO YOUR AID? I'M CONFIDENT YOU WERE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WE ARE 911 PROFESSIONALS. WE ARE STATE CERTIFIED AND HIGHLY TRAINED ON HOW TO SIMULTANEOUSLY EMPHASIZE WITH A FRANTIC CALLER WHILE COLLECTING AND DOCUMENTING THEIR LOCATION, THEIR INFORMATION, AND IS WHAT SCENARIO THEY'RE FACING, MAKING THEIR SAFETY A PRIORITY, ALONG WITH THOSE WHO RESPOND TO THEM. ACCURACY IN EVERYTHING WE DO IS A MUST. JUST ONE MISTAKE AND YOUR HELP COULD BE 70 TO THE WRONG LOCATION. THIS ADDS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO AN ALREADY STRESSFUL SITUATION. WE HANDLE ALL OF THESE TASKS EVERYDAY BACK TO BACK WITHOUT HAVING TIME TO DECOMPRESS. WE HEAR THE SCREAMS OF A MOM WHO REALIZES HER NEW BABY WON'T WAKE UP, RIBS BREAKING THROUGH EACH COMPRESSION THAT WE INSTRUCT DURING CPR, AND WE HEAR THE TERRIFIED WHISPERS OF A CHILD WHO BRAVELY FINALLY CALLED FOR HELP AT THEIR MOTHER WAS BEING BEATEN IN THE OTHER ROOM. WE SEND POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND PARAMEDICS TO YOUR CALL WHILE WORKING TO STABILIZE THE SCENE BEFORE THEY ARRIVE. WE ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HELP YOU WHEN YOU NEED HELP THE MOST AND WE ARE THE DIRECT LINE THAT CONNECTS YOU WITH THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WHO RESPOND. LAST YEAR, ST. JOHNS COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANSWERING AND MAKING NEARLY 400,000 CALLS.

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THIS CREATES A HIGH STRESS ENVIRONMENTS THAT ISMENTLY EXHAUSTING, EXACERBATED BY LONG HOURS OF A STRESSFUL JOB THAT OFTEN REQUIRES MANDATORY OVERTIME. YEAR AFTER YEAR, DISPATCHERS ACROSS THE NATION PLEAD THEIR CASE TO DELEGATES, ASKING TO BE INCLUDED AS FIRST RESPONDERS. AND 18 STATES HAVE ANSWERED THAT REQUEST EFFECTIVELY DECLARING 911 DISPATCHERS AS THE FIRST RESPONDERS THEY ARE. I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER JOINING THE STATES WHO HAVE HONORED OUR POSITION AND RECOGNIZE THE LIFESAVING WORK WE DO, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> SHELBY, SPEAKER RENNER WOULD

LIKE TO YOU DRESS YOU. >> I KNOW YOU'RE SHORT ON TIME BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IT'S VERY MUCH ON OUR RADAR AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS DO WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD

BLESS YOU. >> THANK YOU. THERE WAS ALSO PAPERWORK THAT WAS PASSED OUT

FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW, STORE FRIDAYS BEHIND THE SCENES. >> THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING

TO TRY TO TAKE UP. >> APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD TO HEAR, SPEAKER. NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM MATT CLINE, THE

SHERIFF'S GENERAL COUNSEL. >> THANK YOU FOR GRANTING ME OUT OF ORDER. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, MATTHEW CLINE, I REPRESENT SHERIFF HARDWICK, ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING THIS YEAR IS WHAT WE FEEL IS THE A VERY COMMON SENSE ANSWER TO A PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE -- AN INCREASING PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THAT IS UNLICENSED GOLF CART DRIVERS. ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPLAINTS THAT WE GET FROM GOLF CART COMMUNITIES ARE THESE 14 AND 15 YEAR OLDS THAT ARE DRIVING GOLF CARTS. ANOTHER COMMON COMPLAINT THAT WE GET IN GOLF CART FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES IS SPEEDING. SO WHEN YOU COUPLE SPEEDING WITH A 14-YEAR-OLD PERSON ON A GOLF CART, THAT TENDS TO BE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE AND THIS IS OUR PROPOSAL FOR A RELATIVELY EASY SOLUTION, IS FLORIDA STATE STATUTE CREATES A RIGHT. IT'S FLORIDA STATUTE 316.227 (5). IT RECITES A RIGHT FOR 14-YEAR-OLD OR 15-YEAR-OLD TO OPERATE A GOLF CART WITHOUT A DRIVER'S LICENSE. OBVIOUSLY, A 14-YEAR-OLD AND 15-YEAR-OLD CAN'T GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE, BUT THEY CAN GET A LEARNER'S PERMIT. WE PROPOSE MOVING FROM 14 TO 15 AND 16 AND A LICENSE THE DRIVER. IT DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, IT GIVES THE DRIVER SOME BASIC COMMON SENSE KNOWLEDGE OF THE RULES OF THE ROAD. TWO, IF YOU WERE TO ISSUE IT TO A 15-YEAR-OLD WITH A VALID LEARNER'S PERMIT, IT DOES THE SAME THING. IT CREATES A PERSON BEHIND THE WHEEL THAT HAS SOME BASIC COMMON SENSE APPRECIATION FOR TRAFFIC LAWS AND TRAFFIC SAFETY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A TICKING TIME BOMB, AS ALL OF YOU REPRESENT, YOU KNOW, JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE GOLF CART FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES. IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS THAT WE HAVE. A LOT OF TIMES, WHAT OUR DEPUTIES SEE, IF THEY PULL OVER A GOLF CART DRIVER THAT'S 14 AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE UNLICENSED, TYPICALLY, THEY HAVE OTHER JUVENILES IN THE GOLF CART WITH THEM. SO IF THEY GET INTO A WRECK, THE GOLF CART VERSUS A VEHICLE, THE GOLF CART IS GOING TO LOSE THAT FIGHT EVERY SINGLE TIME. SO WE FEEL THIS IS A PRETTY EASY LYFT. A LOT OF SHERIFFS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE ENCOURAGED BY THIS, THEY'RE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF PUSH BACK. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF NEGATIVES TO THIS AMENDMENT. IT WOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE PAYNE. >> JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU. ACTUALLY TWO QUESTIONS. ARE YOU SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY SIDE BY SIDES AND THEY CAN GO

60, 70 MILES PER HOUR? >> YES. AND ALSO, THE ELECTRIC BIKE THING. I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK UP HERE MAYBE NEXT YEAR TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIC BIKES. SOME OF THESE ELECTRIC BIKES ARE CAPABLE OF 30-MILE AN HOUR PLUS. SO YOU PUT ELECTRIC BIKE ON A SIDEWALK WITH PEDESTRIANS OR IN THE ROAD AND IT'S RUNNING 30, 35-MILE AN HOUR, YES.

>> IT THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS, QUICKLY, DO YOU HAVE PROPOSED LANGUAGE THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE SIDE BY SIDE BARS IN YOUR PROPOSAL OR A FULL AMENDMENT TO THE STATUTE?

>> THIS WOULD SPEAK TO GOLF CARTS ONLY. >> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE SIDE BY SIDES, LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'RE CAPABLE OF SUCH FASTER SPEEDS.

>> RIGHT. >> BUT IT GETS A LITTLE TRICKY WHEN YOU START TO TRY TO DELINEATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOLF CART AND A LOW SPEED VEHICLE. LOW SPEED VEHICLES ARE CERTAINLY SIDE BY SIDES, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL FASTER THAN 25 MILES PER HOUR.

>> 25 OR LESS OR POSTED LESS THAN 35? >> YES.

>> THANK YOU. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I THINK YOU'VE HAD SOME RESPECTED SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND INJURIES, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT

FORWARDS. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU ALL.

>> NEXT WE HAVE OFFICER STEPHEN FISHER, CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE POLICE DEPARTMENT. JOHNNY C.

[00:35:01]

IT'S TIME. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO HEAR MY PLEA. I'M STEPHEN FISHER. I'M THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. I DEAL WITH QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND HOMELESS DARKNESS THAT IS MY MAIN FUNCTION. I'M HERE ASKING FOR FUNDING FOR TWO THINGS. FIRST OFF, WE'RE IN DESPERATE NEED OF A SHELTER, A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY SHELTER AND A DAY CENTER. AND WITH THE RISING COST OF PROPERTY HERE IN ST.

AUGUSTINE AND IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, TO ACQUIRE A PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE AND I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE MORE CITY FUNDING FOR EMPLOYEES OR SERVICES. I'M ALSO TRYING TO CREATE A PARTNERSHIP SO THAT WAY THE RESIDENTS OF ST. AUGUSTINE DON'T HAVE TO BEAR THE TAX BURDEN WITH THE CITY SPENDING MONEY FOR ALL OF IT. IT NEEDS TO BE A PARTNERSHIP. EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE A BUY-IN FOR THIS TO WORK AND FOR THIS TO WORK ON LONG TERM. ALSO, WITH THIS, I'M TRYING TO START A MENTAL HEALTH HOMELESS COURT. I'M WORKING WITH THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, THE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, IN CREATING THIS COURT. I'VE SPOKEN WITH JUDGE MCGILLAN, JUDGE MALTZ, BEN RICH AT THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CRAIG ADICK AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, AND IT'S SOMETHING EVERYBODY IS ALL IN FAVOR OF AND SEES DEFINITE BENEFIT FOR IT. FOR ME, THE CONJUNCTION OF THESE TWO WOULD BE -- WOULD DEFINITELY HELP IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS AND GETTING PEOPLE INTO SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. WITH THE COURT SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, WE SEE A REVOLVING DOOR. I HAVE OFFICERS THAT WILL TAKE SOMEBODY WHO IS INTOXICATED OR WITH AN OPEN CONTAINER DOWNTOWN. THEY'LL TAKE THEM TO JAIL AND WITHIN TWO OR THREE HOURS, SOMETIMES THEY'RE BACK ON THE STREET BEFORE THE OFFICER EVEN MAKES IT BACK AFTER THE PAPERWORK. SO WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE REVOLVING DOOR. SO IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE IN TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT COURT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THEN WE STOP THAT. AND IT'S A PASSION OF MINE TO DO THIS.

IT'S KIND OF -- BOTH OF THEM ARE REALLY BIG THINGS TO TACKLE WHEN YOU'RE ONE PERSON. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST REALLY ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS THEMSELVES. AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF SHELTER THAT SOMEBODY CAN SHOW UP TO AND HAVE SOMEPLACE THAT'S SAFE AND CLEAN AND WARM AND DRY TO SLEEP INSTEAD OF SLEEPING OUTSIDE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, OFFICER FISHER FROM CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

[APPLAUSE] >> OKAY. JOHNNY COUNTS, HASTINGS DRAINAGE DISTRICT.

>> YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. I'LL GET RIGHT TO IT REAL QUICK. I WANT TO TRY TO BRING ATTENTION BACK TO THE DEEP CREEK CHANNEL PROJECT THAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET GOING ON.

SENATOR HUDSON GOT SOME MONEY FOR THAT BACK IN 2018 OR 19 AND THAT WAS TO START GETTING SOMETHING GOING MAINTENANCE WISE AND THE CONTINUATION. AND THIS KIND OF FELL OFF THE RADAR THERE, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION WITH FLAGLER ESTATES WITH WHAT GOES ON THERE AS FAR AS FLOODING. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT OF COURSE WE'RE AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THAT IS A HUGE ECONOMIC ENGINE. IT SAYS THE DEEP CREEK CHANNEL PROJECT, EFFORT TO ALLEVIATE FLOODING IN SOUTHWEST ST. JOHNS COUNTY AROUND THE CONGESTED WATER WAY AND I TO MINIMIZE FUTURE DAMAGE TO RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AND ASSETS. JUST OUR AGRICULTURAL OPERATION ALONE IS A HUGE -- HAS A HUGE NEED FOR DRAINAGE, AND THE HAYS THINGS DRAINAGE DISTRICT IS THE OLDEST DISTRICT IN FLORIDA. AND IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1913. AND SO NOW WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE MOVING IN THE AREA AND THINGS ARE CHANGING AND WE'VE GOT A MULTI JURISDICTIONAL PROBLEM FOR US, FLAGLER STATE AFTER DRAINAGE, WATER MANAGEMENT HAVING CONTROL PAST OURS, AND I THINK WE EVEN GOT CORPS OF ENGINEERS WE'VE GOT TO BE INVOLVED WITH. THE BUREAUCRACY NIGHTMARE IS WORSE THAN WHAT YOU'VE GOT RIGHT HERE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME. I'D LIKE TO BRING

[00:40:02]

SOON. >> NEXT UP, WE EVER PATTY GREENO REPRESENTING EPIC, AND THEN A SECOND FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM. WELCOME, PATTY.

>> GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. I'M GOING TO SAVE YOU SOME TIME. CHAIR STEVENSON, SO I CAN DO BOTH MY HATS AT THE SAME TIME AS I'VE DONE IN THE PAST. FIRST OF ALL, MY HAT IS THE CHAIR OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM, REPRESENTING ABOUT 40 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT IMPACT OR CONNECT OR INTERSECT WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AND REALLY, THEY ASKED ME TO COME TODAY TO SAY REALLY ONE THING: THANK YOU. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL DELEGATION WHO GETS IT, WHO UNDERSTANDS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS OF OUR GREAT COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONE THING THEY DID ASK ME TO DO IS TO SAY PLEASE SUPPORT THE PROVIDERS WHO ARE COMING TO YOU FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS OR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR SOME FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THOSE SERVICES. IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ANYBODY THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES HAVE THE NEED FOR THOSE SERVICES HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN OUR NATION AND ST. AUGUSTINE, OF COURSE, IS NO EXCEPTION. SO WITH MY EPIC HAT ON, I CONTINUE TO YOU ABOUT TWO REQUESTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THE ONE IS TO CONTINUE THE NONRECURRING 750,000 THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED TO US TO EXPAND RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BEDS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AT OUR RECOVERY CENTER. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US. IT HAS AN EMPHASIS ON WOMEN'S SERVICES, THIS FUNDING DOES, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS CONTINUED OF THE SECOND THING IS THAT BECAUSE OF THIS INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR SUBSTANCE USE IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN OUR COMMON, WE ARE LOCKING TO EXPAND BOTH OUR MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT FACILITY AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH OUTPATIENT CLINIC. SO WE'LL BE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO DO SOME RENOVATIONS SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND BOTH SERVICES AND THE CAPACITY ITSELF. LAST SUMMER, WE WERE AWARDED ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL HOUSE REQUESTS FOR FUNDING FOR SOME CAPITAL OUTLAY UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS RESCINDED BECAUSE OF HURRICANE IAN, WHICH UNDOUBTEDLY WAS NEEDED. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ASK YOU FOR YOU TO LOOK AT THAT AGAIN FOR US. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I DID MY THREE MINUTES FOR YOU, CHAIR.

>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> THANK YOU THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT WE HAVE CARLTON DIBOOT, FLAGLER HOSPITAL PRESIDENT.

WELCOME. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS, OUR 1700 EMPLOYEES OVER 250 POSITIONS AND OVER 200 VOLUNTEERS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAM, THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, AND OUR PATIENTS. FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT PATTY JUST TOUCHED ON, WE ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR BEING RESILIENT AND VOICING EMOTION, ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT PROGRAM IS ALLOWING US TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM INTO MORE THAN NINE COUNTIES. AS WE'VE SAID TO YOU BEFORE, WHEN THAT PROGRAM STARTED IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, 36% OF THE ADOLESCENTS THAT WERE IN CRISIS, MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WERE RECEIVING CARE WITHIN 90 DAYS. IN OUR COUNTY NOW, OVER 90% OF THOSE KIDS ARE BEING SEEN IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS. SO THAT

[00:45:05]

YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND BLESSED HOLIDAYS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE GREG LEONARD AND FOLLOWING GREG, WE HAVE ALAINA

IMPORTANT AN SEE DOCTOR BEACH CITIZENS TRAFFIC TASKFORCE. >> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU ALL ASKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC ISSUES IN IN IN IN THE IMPORTANT AN SEE DOCTOR BEACH AND PALM COUNTY AREA. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME, REPRESENTATIVE PAYNE. I BELIEVE A HANDOUT WAS JUST HANDED OUT TO EACH OF YOU THAT IS JUST I'M GOING TO VERY QUICKLY RUN THROUGH IT, OBVIOUSLY. IT BEGINS WITH A REMINDER, WHICH REPRESENTATIVE PAYNE WILL BE HELPFUL AT LEAST, THE CITIZENS TRAFFIC TASKFORCE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2014. WE, LIKE ALL AREAS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, CERTAINLY, BUT OTHER AREAS OF FLORIDA HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN TRAFFIC FLOWS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE THOSE HAVING GONE UP MORE THAN 100% IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH ST. JOHNS COUNTY FDOT AND YOURSELVES TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO TO MAKE TRAFFIC FLOW IMPROVE AND, FRANKLY, IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY AS WELL. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE CTTF HAS MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF ALL OF THE MAJOR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING ON OUR BOARD SO WE LITERALLY TOUCH, THROUGH ALL OUR COMMUNICATIONS, ABOUT 85 % OF COMMUNITY. THE DECK THAT YOU HAVE TOUCHES BRIEFLY ON SLIDE NUMBER 3 ON OUR CURRENT ACTIVITIES. WE PUBLISH A QUARTERLY NEWSPAPER, NEWSLETTER. I INCLUDED A COPY FOR EACH OF YOU. WE MEET, ESSENTIALLY, ALMOST EVERY MONTH WITH EITHER THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OR WITH FDOT TO TALK ABOUT PROGRESS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS AT THE BEGINNING OF 2023 TO CIRCULATE A SURVEY TO 9,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR COMMUNITY CONCERNING ROADWAY ISSUES. WE'LL TABULATE THAT. WE'LL SHARE IT BACK WITH THE COUNTY AND WITH DOT. AND OF COURSE EACH YEAR, WE'RE HERE ASKING FOR YOU ASSISTANCE. THERE ARE TWO I CAN BELIEVES AS, MAP IMAGES. ONE SHOWS YOU THE INTERSECTIONS WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS. THE SLIDE NUMBER 5 SHOWS YOU THAT TWO OF THOSE INTERSECTIONS HAVE NOW BEEN FUNDED AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING SCHEDULED. SO WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. THE LAST THREE WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS, AND THAT GETS US TO SLIDE SIX, WHICH IS REALLY THE SO-CALLED MONEY SLIDE, THIS IS THE FOURTH MOST IMPORTANT ROAD PROJECT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. LAST YEAR, FDOT ESTIMATED IT WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE NORTH OF $10 MILLION TO MAKE ALL THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS. WE'RE ASKING FOR AN APPROPRIATION THIS YEAR OF $3 MILLION, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO GET ALL OF THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING DRAWINGS COMPLETED FOR THE REMAINING INTERSECTIONS THAT WOULD BE A TIPPING POINT.

WE GET THAT DONE, THEN FDOT IS IN A POSITION TO PUT DOLLARS AGAINST THIS AND COMPLETE THIS PROJECT. AND AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS GOING ON NINE YEARS. WE CERTAINLY COULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE WITHOUT YOUR ASSISTANCE. WE APPRECIATE THAT SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BY THE WAY. >> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. I KNOW YOU

AND THE COMMUNITY WORK HARD ON THIS. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT WE HAVE ALIGN AN SIRIAN AND ONBOARD MICHAEL TO REPRESENT FRIENDS OF PONTE-VEDRA BEACH. THIS IS COMING ON MUSICS YEAR I'M COMING TO TALK TO YOU AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US IN THE PAST. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE UNFORTUNATELY BEEN HIT WITH SO MANY HURRICANES OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR BEACHES FOR OUR COUNTY. IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE BEACH FRONT OWNERS. IT'S NOT ENTIRE COUNTY, AS YOU KNOW. WHEN WE WENT THROUGH COVID, PEOPLE CAME

[00:50:02]

WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO GIVE US MATCHING FUNDS, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US IN THE PAST AND GOING FORWARD. LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS. I GET NERVOUS EVERY TIME I COME UP AND HE CAN INTO, BUT WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THE HELP THAT WE GET FROM YOU AND WE JUST NEED TO GO FORWARD AND TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T PROTECT OUR BEACHES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PROTECTING OUR MARCH, AND THAT, IN ITSELF, IS DECIMATION TO ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THE MARCHS HAVE. THERE'S JUST -- IT'S AN ONGOING PROJECT THAT IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF IT, IT'S GOING TO BE DECIMATING TO EVERYONE. SO

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

>> YES. >> WE CERTAINLY HAVE LOST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SAND.

MR. RENNER HAS A COMMENT. >> IT'S RARE THAT WE CAN SOLVE A PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY COMES TO A PODIUM. WE JUST DID APPROPRIATE $150 MILLION FOR BEACHES IN THIS MOST RECENT SPECIAL SESSION. I WOULD LOOK TO THAT. THAT'S SOME GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING. THE MONEYS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DUE OUT I THINK BY MAY 1.

>> OH, MY GOSH. >> SO I THINK THE IDEA IS TO HAVE THOSE READY WITHIN THE NEXT

30 DAYS. >> THAT'S AMAZING. >> AND YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, HENRY DEAN AND OTHERS, YOU GUYS ARE WELL AHEAD IN TERMS OF PLANNING FOR BEACHES

THAN MANY OTHER COUNTIES, INCLUDING THOSE -- >> UNFORTUNATELY, LORI COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. SHE'S MUCH BETTER SUITED AT IT THAN I. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE DONE FOR US. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN OUR CHAMPIONS AND WE CAN'T SAY ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT. ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN AMAZING, TAKING CARE OF OUR COUNTY AND WORKING WITH US, AND WE DO APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THINK THE COALITION BETWEEN CITIZENS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH THE REPRESENTATION AND YOU'VE TAKEN CARE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. IT'S BEEN AMAZING AND WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

>> THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS. NEXT UP, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY YOUR NAME AGAIN IN CASE I DIDN'T

SAY IT NICE. >> CLOSE ENOUGH. SEENEY. >> MICHAEL SEENEY FROM ST. JOHNS

COUNTY CHAMBER. WELCOME. >> LET'S KEEP THAT POSITIVE MOMENTUM HERE IN THIS ONE. I'M JUST KIDDING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR TIME TODAY. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I'M THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE. THERE'S THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES I WANTED TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

SOME OF THESE WE BROUGHT IN PRIOR YEARS, BUT I WANTED TO REITERATE. SOME OF THEM HAVE CHANGED. THE FIRST IS THE SUPPORT FOR FULL FUNDING OF THE D DSUDOWSKI TRUST FUND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE CHAMBER'S POLLS, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FACING ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPPLY, WORKERS, INDUSTRIES, BUSINESS SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AGENCIES, AND HOSPITALS ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME ATTRACTING TOP CANDIDATES WHO CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. IN IN THE PAST YEARS, WE'VE SWEPT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THESE TRUST FUNDS TO PAY FOR OTHER PRIORITY PROGRAMS AND THIS PRACTICE MUST END. LAST SESSION, THE LEGISLATURE TOOK POSITIVE STEPS TO PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND AND WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY REQUEST THAT THE STAMP FEES COLLECTED ON ALL THAT REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY BE RETURNED TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE SECOND ITEM IS SUPPORT FOR FULLY FUNDING VISIT

[00:55:04]

WE'RE PROUD THAT YOU REPRESENT US IN TALLAHASSEE AND THE CHAMBER THANKS YOU SO MUCH.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, THANK YOU. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS. NEXT WE HAVE RICHARD GOLDMAN FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU. AND I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE THE LAST

TIME WE SEE NEW THIS CAPACITY. IS THAT CORRECT? >> IN THIS CAPACITY, THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, SPEAKER RENNER, CHAIR STEVENSON, VICE-CHAIR SENATOR HUDSON, AND REPRESENTATIVE PAYNE. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE CROWD BEHIND ME. AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE MATERIALS THAT YOU RECEIVED, THE CHAMBER AND THE VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU REPRESENTING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR ARE VERY MUCH IN LOCKSTEP ON A NUMBER OF OUR AMBITIONS AND REQUESTS OF YOU. THE ONE I'LL FOCUS ON THIS MORNING REALLY IS OUR DESIRE TO HAVE YOU OPPOSE ANY EXPANSION OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX USES. THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF TOURISM DEPENDS ON OUR SUCCESSFUL COMPETITION WITH ALL THE OTHER LOCATIONS IN FLORIDA AND OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA. THE EXPANSION OF USES OF THE BED TAX WOULD DILUTE OUR ABILITY TO MARKET. IN ADDITION, THOSE MARKETING FUNDS GENERATE DOLLARS THAT ARE COLLECTED ON THE TOURIST TAX TO BE USED FOR SAND OR LEVERAGED FOR SAND. FOR OUR PARKS AND OUR BEACH WALKOVERS AND CULTURAL EVENTS HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. SO A LOT OF THAT GOES INTO THE BENEFITS TO OUR RESIDENTS. ALSO, IT'S IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH A THIRD-PARTY RESEARCH REPORT ON THE TOURISM IMPACT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY THAT SPENDING LAST YEAR GENERATED 32,000 JOBS HERE, PAY ROLLS OF $854 MILLION JUST IN THE COUNTY, WHICH GENERATES A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT. THE RESEARCHERS CALCULATED AT 3.$8 BILLION. SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT INDUSTRY. IT REQUIRED VERY LITTLE WORK ON THE PART AT THE STATE LEVEL.

CERTAINLY SUPPORTING VISIT FLORIDA, BUT ESSENTIAL IS THE PROTECTION OF THE CURRENT USES OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX. AS I SAID, EXPANSION WOULD DILUTE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. NOT JUST TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA. AND WE

APPRECIATE YOU EVERYDAY. >> NOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND AS YOU WALK, I WILL SAY, AT A TIME LIKE THIS WHEN SOME OF OUR BEACHES IN SOME PARTS OF FLORIDA ARE SHUT DOWN, PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHAT A MASSIVE STATE IT IS AND THAT SO MUCH OF THE STATE HAS RECOVERED AND IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EMPHASIS ON ABILITY TO SEND A MESSAGE, ESPECIALLY AFTER AN EMERGENCY LIKE WE JUST HAD. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE BETH TAIT, ST. JOHNS COUNTY CIVIC ROUNDTABLE.

[01:00:04]

WELCOME, MS. TAIT. >> GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND TO HEAR FROM US TODAY. OUR FOCUSES ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE HEARD ALREADY FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE THIS MORNING. WE CONTINUE TO SEE RISING SEA LEVELS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND COMMEND THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNMENT FOR FUNDING A BROAD RANGE OF MITIGATION AND RESILIENCY PROJECTS. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE STATE LEADERS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THESE MEASURES AND MAINTAIN FOCUS ON THOSE CRITICAL NEEDS IN THE STATE. WE'RE VERY FOCUSED AROUND LAND PRESERVATION. FLORIDA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF LAND CONSERVATION DATING BACK TO THE MID 1800S. WE URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO FULLY FUND FLORIDA FOREVER AND THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE LEVEL TO PROTECT THE FRAGILE NATURAL RESOURCES. IN LINE WITH THAT, THE RURAL AND FAMILY LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM, WE HAVE BEEN LOSING FARMING AND RANCHING LAND TO RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR YEARS OF THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR AGRICULTURAL SECTOR CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED. WE URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE TO FUND THE PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE FAMILY FARM AND PROTECT THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST INDUSTRY WE WOULD SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WILL INCREASE FUNDS FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION FUND AND OPPOSE EFFORTS TO DIVERT FUNDS AWAY FROM THAT TRUST FUND. OUR GROWING POPULATION DICTATES EXPANDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO EMPLOYMENT AREAS AND TO COLLABORATE ON MORE REGIONAL ROUTES. WE WOULD OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD FURTHER ERODE LOCAL CONTROL, INCLUDING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM CAPTURING REVENUE IN THE FORM OF TAXES, IMPACT FEES, CONCURRENCY COMPENSATION AND USER FEES. WE WOULD ADDITIONALLY OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION THAT PREEMPTS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM REGULATING SHORT-TERM AND VACATION RENTALS LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES WHEN IT COMES TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE THE ABOUT I WOULD TO MANAGE APPROPRIATELY. LOCAL CONTROL IS BEST WHEN IT COMES TO THE ABILITY TO ENACT LOCAL ZONING PROVISIONS TO ENSURE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. AND LASTLY, WE WOULD SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S REQUEST FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF FUNDS COLLECTED FROM THE DOCUMENT STAMP TAX PAID TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO BE FULLY FUND AND HAD CRITICAL. THESE ARE CRITICAL TO MEET THE NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SHOULD NOT BE REDRECTED TO OTHER PROGRAMS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE HOPE YOU

HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT, WE HAVE AMANDA HARRIS FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, AND FOLLOWING HER, SANDRA JACKSON, AND WE DO HAVE THE CHAIRS UP FRONT. PLEASE COME. AMANDA HARRIS FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, WELCOME.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESSES YOU TODAY. I'M AMANDA HARRIS, ONE OF THE MANY FACE OF ALZHEIMER'S HERE IN FLORIDA. AS A FORMER CAREGIVER AND CURRENT ADVOCATE FOR THE DISEASE. OUR STATE RESIDES AT THE EPICENTER OF THIS CRISIS AS WE ARE THE SECOND HIGHEST PREVALENCE IN THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE OVER 580,000 PEOPLE RIGHT HERE IN FLORIDA LIVING WITH THE DISEASE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, RIGHT HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, WE HAVE OVER 6,000 PEOPLE JUST IN OUR COUNTY LIVING WITH THE DISEASE AS WELL SO FLORIDA REALLY IS GROUND ZERO. ALZHEIMER'S REMAINS THE ONLY TOP TEN LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH WITHOUT PREVENTION OR CURE. I KNOW MANY HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THE REALITY AND YOU REALIZE ALL TOO WELL HOW SERIOUS THIS DISEASE IS. TO THAT END, THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR RESOURCES AND CARE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS IMPACTED BY THIS DISEASE. WITH OUR SUPPORT, WE REMAIN RELENTLESSLY OPTIMISTIC AS WE PROPOSE THE 2023 PRIORITIES. FIRST, SEEK TO ESTABLISH BASELINE DEMENTIA STANDARDS FOR STAFF AND ALL LONG-TERM CARE PROVIDERS. DIRECT CAREWORKERS ARE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF QUALITY DEMENTIA CARE. THESE PROVIDERS HELP SHAPE THE DAILY LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA BY ASSISTING IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR PHYSICAL CARE. WE WILL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LONG-TERM CARE COMMUNITY KNOWING THAT ADDITIONAL TRAININGS HELP FACILITIES WITH STAFF RETENTION, MORALE, FAMILY SATISFACTION, AND CONFIDENCE. SECOND, WE KNOW WE MUST DO BETTER IN EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF AS LIMERS AND THE IMPORTANT OF BRAIN HEALTH. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT DISCUSSING HEALTH. THIS IS WHY WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR LEGISLATION THAT WILL REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CREATE A PUBLIC HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN THAT UTILIZES MULTIPLE DIFFERENT MEDIA PLATFORMS AND FOCUSES ON THOSE FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

FINALLY, WE ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE FUNDING OF PROGRAMS THAT HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH, CARE, AND SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED. THIS INCLUDES THE BRAIN BUS, THE ED AND ETHYL MOORE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH PROGRAM, AND RESPITE CARE THROUGH THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE INITIATIVE AND COMMUNITY CARE FOR THE ELDERLY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS. ON BEHALF OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, THE OVER HALF A

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IN TALLAHASSEE FOR OUR ADVOCACY DAY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> I ADMIT, ON THE ELDER POPULATION DISCUSSION, I HAVE

LINDA LEVINE FROM ELDER SOURCE? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, MR. SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION. I AM NOT LINDA LEVIN. I AM TONEKA GAINES-HOLLY, THE CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER OF ELDER SOURCE, WHICH IS THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA. AND WE REPRESENT THE SEVEN COUNTY AREA IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. WE ARE ONE OF 11 AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND AGING DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS.

AND I SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING, WHICH SERVES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. ON BEHALF OF OUR CEO AND OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE AND OUR DELEGATION FOR THE FUNDING AND SUPPORT OF OLDER ADULTS DURING THE PANDEMIC. AS AREA AGENCIES ON AGING, WE ARE THE LOCAL PRESENCE FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS AND AS SUCH, WE IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS, COMPETITIVELY PROCURE AND CONTRACT WITH LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO DELIVER VALUABLE SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS. TO HELP THEM REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES, AND THEN PROVIDE THE OVERSIGHT AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS TO ENSURE THEY ARE WELL AND PROPERLY SPENT. THOSE MOST IN NEED RECEIVE THE SERVICES AND THEY ARE QUALITY SERVICES. AS THE POPULATION AGES AND AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A GROWING DEMAND FOR THOSE SERVICES. WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR INCREASED FUNDING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, HOME CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, AND THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE INITIATIVE. PROGRAMS THAT ARE FAR MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN THAT OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE. WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST OLDER ADULTS AT RISK OF EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS. OLDER ADULTS ARE PARTICULARLY IMPACTED BY THE EMERGING HOUSING CRISIS, EXPERIENCING INCREASED RENTS AND LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BECAUSE THEY LIVE ON FIXED INCOMES, THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY THESE INCREASED HOUSING COSTS AND ARE AT RISK OF EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS. LAST, AS AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS, WE RECEIVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CALLS TO OUR HELP LINES FROM PEOPLE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES AND SERVICES. WE ALSO SCREEN ALL OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS FOR ALL THE STATE FUNDED PROGRAMS AND ALL OLDER ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR THE STATEWIDE MEDICAID MANAGED CARE, LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAM. WE MANAGED THE WAITING LIST FOR ALL THESE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING HELPING INDIVIDUALS GET THROUGH THE ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS, WHICH IS COMPLICATED AND ARDUOUS. THAT INCREASE IN NEED AND RESULT IN DEMAND FOR SERVICES THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER HAS CREATED A GROWING DEMAND ON THE WORKLOADS OF THE AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS. TO BE ABLE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE IN NEED, WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE SANDRA JACKSON FROM STUART

MARCHMAN ACT HEALTHCARE. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M SANDY JACKSON OF SMA HEALTHCARE. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY HEAR US THIS MORNING. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE ST. JOHNS AND PUTNAM COUNTY FACT TEAM. THIS TEAM WAS STARTED IN 2016 WITH FUNDING PROVIDED UNDER THE SPECIAL PROJECTS CATEGORY.

SO ANNUALLY FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, WE'VE BEEN MAKING REQUESTS FOR FUNDING TO CONTINUE AND TO BE MOVED INTO A RECURRING CATEGORY. DUE TO YOUR SUPPORT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE OPERATING FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TODAY MY REQUEST IS ONLY THAT THE FUNDING BE MOVED TO A RECURRING CATEGORY FOR THIS FACT TEAM. PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE WORK THAT IT INVOLVES, THE INCREASE IN SEVERITY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, THE GROWING DEMAND IN THE POPULATION, AND THE LABOR FORCE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE ALL FACING. JUST AS A REMINDER, FACT TEAMS TREAT THOSE THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH SEVERE AND PERSISTENT CROP I CAN MENTAL ILLNESS, DISORDERS LIKE SCHIZOPHRENIA, WHICH DON'T GO AWAY, WHOSE SYMPTOMS MAY IMPROVE, BUT NEED ONGOING MANAGEMENT, SIMILAR TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH

[01:10:01]

JUST AS OUR POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW EACH YEAR, THE CHALLENGING BUSINESS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STRUGGLES GROWS WITH IT. AND FOR THE FACT PROGRAM HERE TO HAVE STABILITY, ITS FUNDING SIMPLY MUST BE AVAILABLE ON AN ANNUAL AND RECURRING BASIS SO THAT THE POPULATION WE'RE SERVING, OUR STAFF MEMBERS, AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAN CONTINUE TO KNOW THAT TEY CAN COUNT ON AND BENEFIT FROM THIS VALUABLE RESOURCE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HEARING ME THIS MORNING. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO BE ALL REMINDED OF THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE JEANNIE MUELLER

GOOD MORNING. >> IS YES. AND THAT'S FOR THE HOMELESS COALITION. I'VE SPOKEN TO ALL OF YOU FOR AT LEAST 14 YEARS, BUT TODAY I AM WEARING A DIFFERENT HAT AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOMELESS COALITION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I'M EXCITED TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE HOMELESS COALITION WE ARE HELPING TO ALLEVIATE THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AND WE HOUSE -- WE HELP OUR FAMILIES BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE ST. JOHNS COMMUNITY. WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1998 AND WE PROVIDE LOW HOUSING WITH SUPPORTED SERVICES FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AND HARD TO HOUSE POPULATION. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A HELPING HAND TO GET THE FAMILIES OFF THE STREETS, RESIDENTS IN OUR PROGRAM MUST ACTIVELY WORK TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY, WHICH QUITE FRANKLY INCLUDES ATTAINING EMPLOYMENT. IN WEST AUGUSTINE, WE HAVE 23 HOMES, MANY OF THEM CLOSE TO 100-YEARS-OLD, ON A 5-ACRE CAMPUS THAT PROVIDES AFFORDABLE HOUSES. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON ASSISTING HOMELESS FAMILIES, AND WE ALSO PROVIDE HOMELESS -- HOMES FOR HOMELESS VETS AND INDIVIDUALS AND TWO OTHER BUILDINGS IN WEST AUGUSTINE. IT'S AMAZING HOW MOVING INTO A SAFE AND DECENT HOME CAN ALLEVIATE THE HOMELESS FEELINGS OF THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL PRESSURES OF THE DAY-TO-DAY STRUGGLES THAT CAN SAP THEIR WILLS TO BETTER LIVES OUR HOUSING NEEDS ARE -- THEIR HOUSING NEEDS ARE STABILIZED WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT BECOME A CRITICAL KEY TO FOSTERING SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THROUGH SUPPORTED SERVICES, THE HOMELESS COALITION CASE MANAGER WORKS WITH EACH FAMILY TO PROVIDE THE SKILLS TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. SERVICES INCLUDE BUDGETING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION ATTAINMENT, ASSISTANCE WITH FINDING A JOB, CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE, AND SNAP ASSISTANCE THE LENGTH OF THIS DAY IS ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS, AND OVER 85% OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE MAINTAINED OR INCREASED THEIR INCOME. JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, A YOUNG PREGNANT WOMAN AND HER 2-YEAR-OLD SON LIVED IN A CAR ON THE STREETS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHE ARRIVED AT THE HOMELESS COALITION WITH NO INCOME AND NO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. TODAY HER SON AND HER 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ARE THRIVING SAFE HOUSING ON THE HOMES CAMPUS. SHE'S BEEN EMPLOYED FOR TWO YEARS, IS WORKING ON GETTING HER GED, ANDS PLANNING ON GETTING AN EDUCATION THAT WILL HELP HER BEGIN A

[01:15:01]

TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF OUR LOW INCOME. >> THANK YOU, MS. MUELLER.

>> THANK YOU. AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN GIVEN A FORM AND WE WILL BE SEEING YOU IN MARCH.

>> SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND NEXT WE HAVE CHRISTOPHER STONE FROM CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY AND FOLLOWING HIM, DR. WHITNEY QUALS AND DR. REPORT EDUSHU, AN SHAYS

AN MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT. WELCOME, MR. STONE. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS. AGAIN, MY NAME IS CHRIS STONE. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT CAMPAIGNS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE. JUST LAST MONTH, CHS CELEBRATED 120 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR STATE THROUGH OUR WORK IN PRIORITIZING CHILDREN AND BUILDING BRIDGES FOR THEIR SUCCESS. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE FLORIDA CABINET NEXT MONTH, BUT IT IS AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU HERE TODAY WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE NEWS ON OUR COMMUNITIES PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL MODEL. LAST MONTH, SEVEN NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS WERE ANNOUNCED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL TODAY TO 36 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL SITES, INCLUDING WEBSTER ELEMENTARY AND SOUTHWOODS ELEMENTARY HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THANKS AGAIN TO SPEAKER RENNER AND ALSO REPRESENTATIVE PAYNE FOR MAKING TIME TO STOP BY AND SPEAK WITH OUR STUDENTS ON THE FIFTH GRADE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AT SOUTH WOODS RECENTLY. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THIS MODEL PULLS TOGETHER FOUR CORE PARTNERS. OF COURSE, OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SAINT JOHN'S, A NONPROFIT PARTNER SUCH AS CHS, OUR HEALTHCARE PARTNER, FLAGLER HEALTH PLUS, AND THE LOCAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY WHICH HERE IS SAINT JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE. THESE PARTNERS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO MAKE A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT AND INVESTMENT IN THE STUDENTS, AND THIS COMMITMENTS STARTS WITH A 25 YEAR MOU. WE KNOW FROM MANY OF OUR STUDENTS' SCHOOL NEEDS TO BE MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO LEARN, BUT ALSO A HUNT FOR RESOURCES THAT SERVICES OUR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EVERYTHING FROM EXPANDED LEARNING TO ADDRESSING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE IMPACT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE SINCE THE MODEL STARTED HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY OVER FIVE YEARS AGO. TO REMOVING BARRIERS TO THEIR EDUCATION AND POSITIVE IMPACT, SUCH AS HIGHER TEST SCORES, LESS DISCIPLINARY REFERRALS, GREATER TEACHER RETENTION AND STRONGER PARENTS ENGAGEMENTS. WE ARE REQUESTING THE LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE FUND TO GO A TOTAL OF 11 MILLION, TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE MODEL HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND ALSO EXPAND THIS PROVEN MODEL AND IMPACT MORE STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM TO SERVE OUR STATE AND YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR OUR PRIORITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. >> THANK YOU. >> DR. QUALS AND DR. --

>> HI. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US SPEAK TODAY. I'M DR. WHITNEY QUALS AND I'M THE SCIENCE DIRECTOR AT ANASTASIA MOSQUITO CONTROL DIRECT AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR DIRECTOR.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MOSQUITO CONTROL TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. AS WE ARE A SPECIAL DISTRICT, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW. AMCD HAS PROVIDED EXCELLENT SERVICE OVER THE LAST 75 YEARS. WE ANSWER AROUND 5,000 SERVICE REQUESTS A YEAR AND WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE HUMAN CASES OF MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE IN THE LAST 19 YEARS. NOW, IF YOU TAKE OUR VIRUS SURVEILLANCE, LOOKING AT OUR SENTINEL ANIMAL PROGRAM, WE SHOULD HAVE FIVE TO TEN HUMAN CASES PER YEAR. IT'S BECAUSE OF THE GREAT SERVICE THAT ANASTASIA MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT PROVIDES THAT WE HAVE REDUCED THE HUMAN DISEASE CASES NOW, BASED ON THE COST, WE'RE LOOKING AT 24,000 JUST TO TREAT ONE HUMAN CASE OF MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS. WE EXPECT TO HAVE FIVE TO TEN, SO THAT'S ROUGHLY AROUND 120 TO 240,000, THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENTS WOULD BE PAYING IF WE DIDN'T PROVIDE THE EXCELLENT SERVICE THAT WE DO.

AMCD HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 2 MILLION GRANT FUNDS FROM BOTH FEDERAL, STATE, AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS. AND THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL PROGRAM, AS WELL AS KIND OF SET THE PATHWAY FORWARD FOR OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND NATIONALLY. WE ALSO HOLD AN ANNUAL WORKSHOP WHERE WE ATTRACT MORE THAN 220 PARTICIPANTS, NOT JUST FROM THE STATE, BUT BOTH THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL I. WE CONTINUE TO BRING PROFESSIONALS IN ON A WEEKLY BASIS, WHICH INCREASES MONEY AND JOBS TO THE COUNTY. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE A PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SITE, AS RECOGNIZED BY BOTH THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION, THE CDC CENTERS OF VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE EXCELLENCE, HOUSED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OF CITY AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS, AND THE

[01:20:03]

OUR EMPLOYEES AND ALL CITIZENS FOR THEIR SUPPORT, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MR. WEAVER, RICHARD WEAVER FROM THE FLORIDA MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION? WELCOME.

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM SPEAKING FOR THE FLORIDA MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION AS PRESIDENT-ELECT.

THE FMCA IS VERY CONCERNED WITH TWO ISSUES THAT ARE LIKELY TO COME BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS TERM. THE FIRST ITEM IS THE AUDIT BEING CONNECTED AT THE BEHEST OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE BY THE OFFICE OF PROGRAM POLICY ANALYSIS AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OF A NUMBER OF SPECIAL DISTRICT TYPES THAT INCLUDE THE INDEPENDENT MOSQUITO CONTROL SPECIAL DISTRICTS. THE FM MCA WANTS TO MAKE SURE LAWMAKERS ARE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE INDEPENDENT MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICTS. I'VE GOT SOME FACTS ABOUT THESE DISTRICTS. THE MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICTS ARE SPECIAL DISTRICTS WITH SINGLE FUNCTION OF PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMFORT THROUGH THE CONTROL OF DISEASE CARRYING NUISANCE MOSQUITO SPECIES. THE MOSQUITO CONTROL IS REGULATED BY CHAPTER 388, FLORIDA STATUTES, AND 5E13 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND IS OVERSEEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES. WE FOLLOW ALL STATE PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS, SUNSHINE LAWS, ETHICS CODE, FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND WE'RE AUDITED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THE DISTRICTS ARE GOVERNED BY ELECTED BOARDS OF COMMISSIONS, AND THESE DISTRICTS FOCUS ONLY ON CONTROLLING MOSQUITOES PROVIDING A MORE CONSISTENT SERVICE, AND THIS WAS STATED BY A 2012 AUDIT BY THE GOVERNOR.

WE PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF INNOVATION AND ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGY, DRIVING BEST PRACTICES IN THE INTEGRATED SUCCEED MANAGEMENT. AGAIN, THAT WAS REPORTED BY THE GOVERNOR'S AUDIT IN 2012. THE SECOND ITEM OF CONCERN FOR THE FMCA IS LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO USE DRONES AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2023. SUCCEED CONTROL AGENCIES RELY ON THE USE OF DRONES FOR APPLICATIONS OF PESTICIDES TO MOSQUITO CONTROL HABITATS THAT ARE UP ACCESSIBLE BY VEHICLE OR FOOT. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAMS THAT DO NOT HAVE FIXED WING OR ROTARY AIRCRAFT AT THEIR DISPOSAL. FURTHER, OTHER DISTRICTS USE DRONE APPLICATIONS TO APPLY PESTICIDES IN A VERY SURGICAL MANNER, WHICH LIMIT APPLICATIONS TO ONLY THE AREAS THAT ARE HARBORING THE JUVENILE MOSQUITOES. AND THAT MAY BE TOO SMALL FOR HELICOPTER APPLICATIONS OR INACCESSIBLE BY FIELD STAFF. LOSING THE ABILITY TO USE THESE DRONES WHICH DO NOT RECORD OR STORE IMAGERY WILL DRASTICALLY IMPACT THE SUCCEED CONTROLLABILITY TO MEET YOU MISSION. THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES HAS RELEASED RULE 60GG.2.0075, BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A CHANCE TO FULLY REVIEW IT THIS TIME, WE SO WE JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO BE

AWARE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE DONNA -- I BEG YOUR PARDON. NEXT WE HAVE CHRISTINA PARISH-STONE FROM ST. JOHNS

COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL, THE LOCAL ARTS AGENCY FOR THE COUNTY, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND MORE THAN 100 NONPROFIT ARTS, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE ORGANIZATIONS HERE. WE ADMINISTER THE COUNTY'S ARTS, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES LIMITED SUPPORT FOR CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HOST EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING FOR VISITORS TO THE COUNTY WHEN REEMPLOYED DESTINATION MARKETING SERVICES FOR CULTURAL TRAVELERS AS WELL.

RICHARD GOAL MAN JUST SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM IN THE COUNTY AND STATE

[01:25:02]

JOHNS COUNTY CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED AND RECOMMENDED FOR 1.3 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING IN TO 24 THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S DIVISION OF ARTS AND CULTURE. WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT FULL FUNDING OF EACH OF THESE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS INCLUDING GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT, SPECIFIC CULTURAL PROJECTS, AND CULTURAL FACILITIES GRANTS X THAT YOU CONSIDER PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE ARTS, CULTURE, AND FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS WELL, PERHAPS THROUGH EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL GRANTS. THANK YOU FOR PAST AND

FUTURE SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE DEAN GUZO. DONNA FROM THE FIRST

COAST CULTURAL CENTER. >> DONNA GUZO, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE CULTURAL CENTER. WE BRING THE ARTS IN THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY. SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU. ALL LEGISLATURE * * LATER HERE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. YOUR PAST SUPPORT AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. YOU ARE CHANGING LIVES AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW. DURING THE PANDEMIC, JUST LIKE MANY OTHER NONPROFITS, ESPECIALLY SMALL NONPROFITS, WE HEARD, AND NOW WE ARE OPERATING AT ABOUT 80% OF WHAT IT USED TO BE IN 2019. HOWEVER, WE DID NOT SIT IDLE DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE INITIATED THE KICK START AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE CONTINUED 16 YEARS OF BRINGING MUSIC THERAPY TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. WE ARE THEIR ONLY VOICE HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOLS. AND WE EXPANDED.

THANKS TO YOU, THIS IS WHY YOU ARE CHANGING LIVES TO TWO TITLE I SCHOOLS THIS YEAR. SO WE WENT FROM THREE TO # SCHOOLS. -- SIX SCHOOLS. MENTAL HEALTH IS DEBILITATING KIDS, IS DEBILITATING KIDS AND VETERANS. WE PARTNER ALSO WITH UF, THANKS TO YOU, TO BRING ART CLASSES TO VETERANS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I'M GOING TO READ AN ARTICLE THAT I HELPED WRITE AND RESEARCH, AND IT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TO KIDS. EVERY AVAILABLE MARKER SHOWS THAT OVER THE PAST DECADE, RAISE OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE HAVE SURGED AMONG CHILDREN CHILDREN AND TEENS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PANDEMIC CLEARLYÚME PROBLEM PREDATES COVID. AND IT IS CONSISTENT ACROSS REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHIC LINES. FROM 2009 TO 2017, DEPRESSION SPIKED 69% AMONG 16 TO 17-YEAR-OLDS, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH. FROM 2009 TO 2021, ACCORD TO GO CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL STUDY, THE SHARE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FEELING PERSISTENTS FEELINGS OF SADNESS OR HOPELESSNESS ROSE FROM 26% TO 44%, THE HIGHEST LEVEL EVER RECORDED. YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE AFFLICTED AS WELL. SUICIDE IS NOW THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN TEN TO 14, ACCORDING TO THE CDC. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SAYS THERE ARE DRAMATIC INCREASES IN HOSPITAL VISITS FROM MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES FOR THE YOUNG AND DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. LIKE I SAID, WITH HE DO SERVE CHILDREN NOW AT HEAD START, WHICH IS PRESCHOOL THROUGH 5TH GRADE, WITH A MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM, AND K THROUGH 8TH GRADE WITH THE AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENTS PROGRAM. YOU ARE CHANGING LIVES. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU. AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB IN TALLAHASSEE. KEEP IT UP I KNOW YOU ARE SUPPORTERS OF THE ARTS. I WILL SEE YOU INNER MA: AND BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANT TO INVITE YOU AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU, SENATOR HUDSON, YOU'VE SPOKEN AT THE BEST ROTARY CLUB IN THE WORLD, THAT IS THE THURSDAY MORNING 7:15 CLUB IN PONTA-VEDRA BEACH. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EACH ONE OF YOU TO SPEAK DURING THE 2023/24 YEAR.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE LISA RINEMAN FROM THE SAINT JOHNS

RIVERKEEPER. WELCOME, LISA. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS LISA RYAN MAN, SAINT JOHNS RIVERKEEPER. WE'RE A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE ST. JOHNS RIVER WATERSHED TO PROTECT AND RESTORE OUR RIVER, TRIBUTARY, AND SPRINGS OF THE FIRST COAST IS 40 NATURAL TO HAVE THE ST. JOHNS RIVER RUNNING THROUGH THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY. OUR WATERS IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, SUPPORT OUR HEALTH, PUT FOOD ON OUR TABLES, AND PROVIDE JOBS. HOWEVER, FOR OUR RIVER TO SUSTAIN A HEALTHY ECONOMY, WE MUST ALSO SUSTAIN

[01:30:02]

EVIDENCE OF SEVERE CONDITIONS IN THE UPPER ST. JOHNS RESULTING FROM THIS DANGEROUS PRACTICE IS CLEAR IN UNDERMINING OUR RIVER'S HEALTH ALL THE WAY TO NORTHEAST FLORIDA. OUR RIVER CONTINUES TO NEED RELIEF NOW, AND WE APPRECIATE REPRESENTATIVE BOBBY PAYNE'S ATTENTION TO THIS AND PAST EFFORTS TO CORRECT THIS HISTORIC WRONG. WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE FIRST COAST AND ALL THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE SAINT JOHNS RIVER CAN HAVE MORE RESILIENT RIVER, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND MORE RESILIENT ECONOMY NO TODAY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU FOUL AN YOUR SERVICE TO NORTH EAST FLORIDA. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN 2023.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE JEAN WEST. >> JEAN WEST, POLICY AND PLANNING DIRECTOR FOR 1,000 PLANS OF FLORIDA. CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOME BEING SPEAKER. HOUSE. WELCOME TO THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY DELEGATION. OUR FIRST PRIORITY TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS FROM THE IMPACTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE AND NATURAL DISASTERS WITH SHORT AND LONG TERM INITIATIVES TO STEER DEVELOPMENT AT THAT WAY FROM VULNERABLE AREAS. ONE SHORT-TERM MEASURE THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD PASS THIS SESSION IS A BILL REQUIRING DISCLOSURE OF FLOOD HISTORY. ANOTHER CHANCE WILL BE THE EXPANSION FOR THE REQUIREMENT OF SEA LEVEL RISE IMPACT STUDIES FROM PUBLIC INVESTMENTS TO AUTOMATIC AREAS OF THE STATE.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IMPACTS ON INLAND FLOODING IN THE HEADACHE OF HURRICANE IAN AND ANY COMB.

THESE COULD BE IMPLEMENTED RIGHT AWAY AND WOULD LIKELY ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT IN VULNERABLE AREAS OVER THE LONGER-TERM, THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD RAISE THE HIGH HAZARD AREAS AND FLOOD PLAINS. A NEW STATE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES BUYOUTS FOR REPEATEDLY FLOODED PROPERTIES WOULD MOVE INVOLVEMENT OUT OF THOSE VULNERABLE YEARS AND THAT WOULD COMPLIMENT THE EXISTING FEDERAL PROGRAM. ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS WOULD HAVE THE ADDED MEANINGFUL ON THE GROUND CHANGES TO LOWER PROPERTY INSURANCE RISK. A SECOND PRIORITY WOULD BE TO DEVELOP, FUND, AND IMPLEMENT MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS AND POLICIES TO PROMOTE RESYMPATHY WANT COMMUNITIES AND REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD SUSTAIN ITS MAJOR INVESTMENTS OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND GRANTS TO COMMUNITIES FOR RESILIENCE PROJECTS, BUT WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE NATURAL BUFFERS AROUND WATERWAYS INSTEAD OF GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE SEAWALLS. OF COURSE, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE EFFORTS TO JOIN THE OTHER 30 STATES IN SETTING GOALS FOR GREEN ENERGY THROUGH RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.

IN ADDITION, WE NEED TO UPGRADE ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE, INTENSIFIED STORMS, AND FLOODING. CURRENTLY, THE CODE DOES AN EXCELLENT PROBLEM JOB OF ADDRESSING WIND LOADS, BUT IT IS SILENT ON STORM SURGE. OUR THIRD PRIORITY IS TO IMPLEMENT THE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE TASKFORCE RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS WAS GOVERNOR I DID SANITIES' INITIATIVE. A LOT OF TIME AND

[01:35:04]

>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MICHELLE DYLAN FROM THE ST. JOHNS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

WELCOME, MICHELLE. >> GOOD MORNING, REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON. I'M MICHELLE DILLON, PRESIDENT OF THE ST. JOHNS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WHICH IS THE TEACHER'S UNION IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING YOU FOR CONTINUING TO INVEST IN EDUCATOR SALARIES.

WHERE THE INVESTMENT AND MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES FOR STAFF PROFESSIONALS, WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO FINALLY MOVING EDUCATOR SALARIES OUT OF THE BOTTOM FIVE IN THE NATION. DURING THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE ASK YOU CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE YOUR INVESTMENT IN SALARY AND PRIORITIZE FLEXIBILITY FOR DISTRICTS TO MAKE SALARY INCREASES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS UNIQUE NEEDS AND THIS FLEXIBILITY WILL ALLOW DISTRICTS TO SET THEIR ACADEMIC PRIORITIES. AS YOU KNOW FROM FLOOR FACED SEVERE TEACHER VACANCIES IN THE PAST TEN YEARS. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THERE WERE OVER 6500 VACANCIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHICH LEFT MORE THAN HALF A MILLION OF FLORIDA'S STUDENTS STARTING THE YEAR WITHOUT A FULL TIME CERTIFIED TEACHER. YEAR IN SAINT JOHNS, WE HAD OVER 60 VACANT POSITIONS QUITE. THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE TO COVER THE CLASSROOM. WE HAVE TEACHERS NOT ONLY TEACHING THEIR OWN STUDENTS, BUT WRITING LESSON PLANS AND GRADING PAPERS FOR THE EMPTY CLASSROOM DOWN THE HALL.

AS YOU CONSIDER EDUCATION POLICY THIS SESSION, WE HAVE SUGGESTIONS TO HELP FILL THE GROWING NUMBER OF VACANCIES FOR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF: SUGGESTION ONE, PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH FLEXIBILITY TO RAISE TEACHER SALARIES FOR NEW AND VETERAN TEACHERS. TWO, PERMIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER EXTENDED PRATTS TO COULD HAVE HE KNOW EXPERIENCED TEACHERS.

THREE, CONSIDER REMOVING THE SIX MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR RETIRED TEACHERS TO RETURN TO THE

CLASSROOM. OUR UNION, OF COURS. >> WELCOME, MR. JACKSON. >> GOOD MORNING, LADY AND GENTLEMAN. THIS IS REALLY A PROJECT. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE A GROUP UP HERE WITH ME. MY NAME IS THOMAF THE DR. MARTIN SOUTH LUTHER KING CELEBRATION COMMITTEE. I HAVE WITH ME DAVID NOLAND. HE'S THE 40TH ACCORD AS TO JAMES WESLEY, HE'S ALSO WITH THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION COMMITTEE. THE GROUP GOT TOGETHER, BASICALLY, BECAUSE OF A REQUEST BY THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THE CULTURE RESOURCE REVIEW BOARD DESIGNATED THE HOUSE AS A CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT, BY THE HOUSE WAS UNDER THREAT OF BEING DEMOLISHED. THEY WANTED TO GET A GROUP TO FUNDRAISE IN ORDER TO MOVE THE HOUSE. THE COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO ACCEPT IT AND PUT IT INTO A PARK. SO THE RAISED MONEY, WE NEED ABOUT $430,000 IN ORDER TO GET THE HOUSE MOVED FROM WHERE IT IS INTO THE COUNTY PARK. THE

[01:40:06]

1960S. >> THANK YOU. WELL, ST. AUGUSTINE IS THE PLACE IN FLORIDA MOST ASSOCIATED WITH DR. KING. IT'S THE ONLY PLACE IN FLORIDA WHERE DR. KING WAS ARRESTED. AND IT WAS ALSO THE PLACE WHERE THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S FIRST OFFICIAL CELEBRATION OF DR. KING'S BIRTHDAY TOOK PLACE. THE GOVERNOR AND CABINET CAME OVER FROM TALLAHASSEE IN 1986 AND EVENTS WERE HELD IN THE MARK CLANTZ ARMORY AND IN THE PLAZA DO YOU WANT. AND IN A BOW TO OUR HISTORY, THEY HAD SWAT TEAMS STATIONED ON TOP OF ALL THE BUILDINGS OVERLOOKING THE PLAZA DOWNTOWN. WELL, TIMES HAVE CHANGED, YOU KNOW? NOW PEOPLE SAY, WELL, PEDRO MENENDEZ, NEVER HEARD OF HIM. HENRY FLAGLER, NEVER HEARD OF HIM. MARTIN& LUTHER KING? EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD HAS HEARD OF. SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR IT. AND WHAT WE FACE NOW IS THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HISTORIC SITES ASSOCIATD WITH DR. KING, AND THAT WAS THE BEACH HOUSE THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE FOR HIM, AND THEY RAN DIRECTIONS TO IT IN THE LOCAL PAPER AND IT WAS SHOT UP AND FIRE BOMBED NOT ONCE, BUT THREE TIMES. TO LOSE THIS WOULD BE A TRAGEDY. IT WAS THE PLACE WHERE ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS OF DR. KING WAS TAKEN, POINTING TO A BULLET HOLE THERE. SO IF YOU CAN SAVE THIS, WE WILL, IN THE FUTURE, HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW PEOPLE. AND WHEN THEY SAY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR DR. KING, WE WON'T JUST SAY, WELL, IT'S GONE WITH GONE WITH GONE WITH THE WIND. THANK YOU.

>> THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, NEVER GIVE UP THE MIC. BUT DAVID HAS A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO SAY TO THE GROUP PARTNER TO GET THIS DONE, THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE, THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AND WE JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY

IS. >> THANK YOU, MR. JACKSON. SENATOR HUDSON WOULD LIKE TO

SPEAK. >> QUICK QUESTION, BECAUSE THIS IS NEW TO ME. THE HOUSE, WE'LL BE RELOCATING IT. THAT'S WHAT THE DOLLARS ARE FOR. IS THE LAND OPENED BY A HISTORICAL

SOCIETY? COUNTY? OR IS IT PRIVATE LAND? >> THE LAND IS OPENED BY ST.

JOHNS COUNTY AND IT'S ON A1A, AND IT'S ABOUT .3 MILES FROM WHERE THE HOUSE IS LOCATED TO WHERE THE HOUSE IS BEING MOVED TO. IT'S OWNED BY ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

>> IT'S AT ONE OF THE BEACH FRONT PARKS. >> YEAH. IT'S A PARK.

>> THANK YOU. >> BUT I CAN GET YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. >> RIGHT AT BUTLER BEACH AREA.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU GUYS. >> THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS. NEXT WE HAVE ED SLAVEN FROM ST.

AUGUSTINE GREEN. >> GOOD MORNING. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. WELCOME. SENATOR HUDSON, REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON, REPRESENTATIVE RENNER, OUR NEW DELHI MAKES MEMBER, MR. PAYNE, WELCOME ALL OF Y'ALL. I'M HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR. I'VE BEEN SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION EVERY YEAR SINCE 2006 IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL PARK AND SEASHORE. AMERICA'S BEST IDEA, OUR NATIONAL PARKS. HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, WE'VE GOT 300 ACRES AT FORT METANSIS, 400 ACRES AT THE CASTILLO AND THAT'S IT. WHERE HE NEED TO DO BETTER. WE CAN TELL OUR STORY SO MUCH BETTER. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A DELEGATION LETTER. I JUST LEARNED ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE THIS MORNING. A DELEGATION LETTER FROM Y'ALL, THE FOUR OF Y'ALL FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, SECRETARIES OF THE INTERIOR, ASKING THEM TO PERFORM A NATIONAL PARK STUDY, AND THEY WOULD COME HERE AND HOLD HEARINGS AND IN TWO OR THREE YEARS, THEY'D COME OUT WITH THREE ALTERNATIVES AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE AND LET CONGRESS DECIDE ON WHAT MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL PARK AND SEASHORE. BASICALLY, WE ARE ATTACKING ABOUT 140,000 ACRES IN TWO COUNTIES. 70,000 ACRES OF WHICH HENRY DENA REQUIRED WHEN HE WAS HEAD OF THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. AND IT WOULD BE BICKER THAN CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE IN TERMS OF BRANDING, IN TERMS OF TOURISM MARKETING. YOU CAN'T DO BETTER THAN A NATIONAL PARK. IT WILL RAISE OUR PROPERTY VALUES. IT WILL RAISE THE WAGES OF OUR PEOPLE. IT WILL INCREASE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION. I AGREE ABOUT CAN WRIGHT HOUSE, AND IT'S REALLY TRAGIC THAT THE COUNTY RAN OFF THE CULTURAL RESOURCES COORDINATOR WHO WAS TRYING TO PROTECTS IT. WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT REVERSED. TREY ASTER.

WHAT THEY DID TO HIM WAS DISGRACEFUL. NOW, A NATIONAL PARK AND SEASHORE WOULD HAVE NO EFFECT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS. IT WOULD HAVE NO INCREASING GOVERNMENT REGULATION. IT WOULD REDUCE LOCAL BUDGETS AND STATE BUDGETS IT WOULD PROVIDE FOR HISTORIC

[01:45:01]

IT'S AMERICA'S BEST IDEA AND IT'S TIME WE HAD IT HERE. AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION

AND THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS MEETING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU THANK YOU, MR. SLAVIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS. NEXT WE HAVE CAROL ANDERSON SPEAKING ON RENTALS. WELCOME,

MS. ANDERSON. >> MAY I USE THIS? >> CERTAINLY.

>> IS * I HAVE OVERHEAD VISUALS GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR SPENDING THIS TIME WITH ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. AND FOR LISTENING TO A SERIOUS CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I REPRESENT NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE FOCUSED ON RESIDENT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR A BARRIER ISLAND JUST NORTH OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. THE LEGISLATION THAT THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE PASSED IN 2011 AND 2014 HAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF PROPERTY ZONING AND TURNED A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY INTO A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. THE INABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE THESE BUSINESSES PUTS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL ON OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITIES AND THAT COMMONALITY COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH THE EXPLOSION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS IS DESTROYING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS, AND I WANT TO SHARE THE IMPACT OF THIS LEGISLATION ON OUR PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. NORTH BEACH IS A HALF SQUARE-MILE WITH 603 RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS MAP, THIS SMALL BEACH COMMUNITY HAS BEEN OVERRUN. THE YELLOW AND BLUE DOTS REPRESENT 162 SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTAL PROPERTIES. THE YELLOW DOTS REPRESENT PROPERTY THAT HAS EITHER BEEN BUILT OR SOLD SINCE 2018. THAT'S ALMOST 30% OF THE COMMUNITY. AND THE INFERENCE HERE THAT NORTH BEACH HAS BEEN DISCOVERED BY BUSINESSES OPERATING IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AREA IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS AS OVER 70% OF THOSE IDENTIFIED AS VACATION RENTALS SHOW THE OWNERS ADDRESS DIFFERENT THAN THE PROPERTY ADDRESS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE INTENT OF RESIDENTIAL ZONING. OUR DATA WAS COLLECTED IN AUGUST AND THERE ARE ALREADY A DOZEN MORE BUILDS UNDERWAY. YOU CAN SEE THE CLUSTERS ON THE MAP WHERE THE LOTS HAVE BEEN SPLIT TO 50 FEET. THESE CLUSTERS ARE TYPICALLY NEW BUILD ON 50-FOOT LOTS, WHICH MAKES OUR NOISE ORDINANCE OF 100 FEET ESSENTIALLY INEFFECTIVE. WE NEED TO BE SMART ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN FUTURE YEARS AND ONLY OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS POISE TODAY TRULY UNDERSTAND.

THINKING OF THE MYRIAD DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES, OTHER CHALLENGES THAT NEED THE ATTENTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO BALANCE THE ECONOMIC ASSET OF DEVELOPMENT WITH RESIDENT QUALITY OF LIFE. WE ASK THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA REMOVE THE RE-'EM SHUN, DISALLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MANAGE VACATION RENTALS WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE STATE HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND LIFESTYLES TO OFFER. PLEASE DON'T ALLOW IT TO BECOME A COOKIE CUTTER COMMUNITY OVERRUN WITH VACATIONERS RUNNING OUT RESIDENTS OF THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU, MS. ANDERSON. NEXT WE HAVE CYNTHIA NOCHE.

SHE'LL CORRECT ME. >> CYNTHIA IS SO MUCH EASIER, KNOCHE.

>> PRIVATE RENTALS. >> GOOD MORNING. SPEAKER, SENATOR, AND REPRESENTATIVES.

MY NAME CYNTHIA KNOCKE. I RESIDE AT 402-13TH STREET THAT CAROL JUST SPOKE OF. MY REQUEST TODAY IS TO PRESENT A FORMAL REQUEST TO AMEND SECTION 509.032 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES TO REMOVE THE STATE EXEMPTION RELATED TO FREQUENCY AND DURATION LIMITATIONS ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, VACATION RENTAL PROPERTIES. MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS ZONED AS SINGLE

FAMILY RESIDENTS. HOWEVER -- >> I THINK WE'VE SEEN THE OVERVIEW. COULD YOU PLEASE

LOWER IT, PLEASE? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCIVILITY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SUBJECTED TO. >> WE'VE SEEN IT. THANK YOU.

>> ON A DAILY BASIS. AS I MENTIONED, SOME OF THE INCIVILITY, THE NOISE, THE

[01:50:08]

THE UNREGULATED RENTAL OF TRANSIENT LODGING WITHIN SINGLE FAMILY ZONED RESIDENCES DEPRIVES THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF PEACEFUL USE OF THEIR PROPERTY PER THE ORDINANCES ASSOCIATED WITH SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. AGAIN, I REITERATE MY REQUEST. IT'S IMPERATIVE THE LEGISLATURE TAKE ACTION TO AMEND SECTION 509 TO ALLOW LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO DEVELOP AND ENFORCE THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MS. KNOCHE. DID I GET IT RIGHT? >> YES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. VINCENT MAZELLA, FLORIDA CITIZEN'S ALLIANCE. WELCOME, MR. MAZELLA.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENTED OUR IDEAS AND DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU THE PRIMARY ROLE OF FLORIDA CITIZENS ALLIANCE IS TO IMPROVE K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION, AND WE'D LIKE TO DO THIS BY UNITING AND EMPOWERING TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND PARENTS. OUR VISION IS TO ENHANCE THE POTENTIAL, THE LEARNING POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD. PLEASE AUTHORIZE UNIVERSAL EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR ALL K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS AND EXPAND PARENTAL CHOICE OPTIONS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR FAMILY EMPOWERMENTS AND HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS. PLEASE CONSIDER A HARMFUL TO MINORS MATERIALS BILL THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN FLORIDA OBSCENITY CHAPTER 847 AND PREVENT EXPOSURE TO PORNOGRAPHIC AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL. PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING HOUSE BILL 1557 TO INCLUDE PRE-K AND GRADES 4 THROUGH 8. WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AN OPT IN BILL, PUTTING PARENTS IN CONTROL OF THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND ALLOWING PARENTS TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO SEXUAL MATERIAL AND DISCUSSION IN THE K THROUGH 12 READING LIST. WE ASK THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE FOR A RECALL OPTION FOR FLORIDA VOTERS TO HAVE THE RECALL ABILITY AND LEGAL ABILITY TO RECALL SCHOOL BOARD AND ELECTED SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS. PRESENTLY, THERE ARE 15 STATES THAT HAVE RECALL CAPABILITY. WE ASK FOR A FLORIDA STATE REQUIREMENT FOR EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS POLICY THAT REQUIRES ANY MATERIAL USED IN THE CLASSROOMS TO ADHERE TO ALL FLORIDA STATUTES AND TO HAVE A PENALTY FOR ANY VIOLATIONS.

PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. WE NEED THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO CREATE A WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION * INDICATION INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ASK FOR PROTECTION FOR SCHOOL, STAFF, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS THAT WOULD COME FORWARD WITH INFORMATION. PLEASE CONSIDER INSTALLING VIDEO CAMERAS IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOMS, SPORTING EVENTS, SCHOOL SPONSORED MEETINGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. THIS WOULD DOCUMENT ALL THE ACTIVITY THAT'S DONE THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MR. MAZELL, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DISTRIBUTED MATERIALS. LAMELLE FILLMONT, JACKSONVILLE LEAGUE OF WOMEN

VOTERS, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AND GOOD MORNING, DELEGATION MEMBERS. I'LL BE

[01:55:01]

MEDICAID EXPANSION. WE ASK YOU TO PASS MEDICAID EXPANSION COVERAGE TO THOSE INDIVIDUAL 18 TO 64 WITHOUT CHILDREN WHOSE INCOME ARE HIS AT OR BELOW 138% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, WHICH IS $18,762. THIS COURAGEOUS ACT ALONE WOULD PROVIDE HEALTHCARE ACCESS TO OVER FOUR HAD HUNDRED THOUSAND FLORIDIANS. GUN SAFETY. THE LEAGUE SUPPORTS REGULATION CONCERNING THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, AND USE OF HANDGUNS THAT BALANCE AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS WITH THE GENERAL INTEREST AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. CONSTITUTIONAL AND PERMITLESS CARRY DOES NOT SEEM TO BE IN THE GENERAL INTEREST OR WELFARE FAIR OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT GUN OWNERSHIP TO PROVIDE A WAITING PERIOD FOR A BACKGROUND CHECK, PERSONAL IDENTITY VERIFICATION, AND GUN SAFETY EDUCATION AND ANNUAL LICENSING. EQUITY AND EQUALITY WE ASK THAT GOING FORWARD, YOU ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN WAYS TO BETTER US ALL. FLORIDA IS A DIVERSE STATE MADE UP OF NATURAL BORN CITIZENS, NATURALIZED CITIZENS, IMMIGRANTS, HETEROSEXUALS AND LGBTQ FOLKS, SENIORS, AND INDIVIDUALS THAT VARY BETWEEN FAITH AND BEACHES. WE ARE BETTER WHEN EVERYONE HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND IS CONSIDERED WHERE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE.

WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. AND THE LEAGUE LOOKS FORWARD TO HOW EACH OF YOU WILL USE YOURS GOING FORWARD FOR THE BETTER MEANT OF OUR ENTIRE STATE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE NELL TONESMAN FROM THE ST. AUGUSTINE DEMOCRAT CLUB. WELCOME,

MS. TONESMAN. >> YES. THANK YOU. TINSMAN. IT'S GERMAN. DIFFICULT TO PRONOUNCE SOMETIMES. I'M ADDRESSING YOU AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE DEMOCRATIC CLUB, THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE SAINT JOHNS DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ALSO AS A DEMOCRAT. YOU'RE ALL MEMBERS OF A STRONG REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE THAT MAKES DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF ALL THE CITIZENS OF FLORIDA, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION, AND OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. MR. RENNER, YOU ONCE TOLD ME THAT WE HAVE MORE THINGS IN COMMON THAN SEPARATE US. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION. SO I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU, OUR LEGISLATORS, WILL FOCUS ON WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER BY WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH YOUR COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE AISLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL FLORIDIANS. VOTING RIGHTS ARE A PRIVILEGE. LISTEN TO YOUR SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS WHO ARE THE EXPERTS. YOU SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THEIR REQUEST AND SUPPORTING THEIR REQUESTS RATHER THAN PLACING BARRIERS TO VOTING IF YOU WITH ITCH TO REDUCE ABORTIONS, CONSIDER PASSING THE SAME LAW THAT COLORADO PASSED OFFERING FREE CONTRACEPTIVES OVER FIVE YEARS. THE RATE OF UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES WAS REDUCED BY 40% AND ABORTIONS BY 42%. CAN'T FLORIDA CONSIDER THIS OPTION? WHILE PERHAPS ALSO OFFERING ACCURATE SEX EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS SO THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE WELL INFORMED? RESPECT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. MEN IN THE LEGISLATURE WOULD NOT ANYONE TO INTERFERE WITH THEIR MEDICAL DECISIONS, BUT FEEL THEY CAN REGULATE MEDICAL DECISIONS BETWEEN A WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR OR TO INFLUENCE DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE HEALTH OF A YOUNG PERSON WHO CONSIDERS THEMSELF TRANS. DOCTORS ARE TRAINED IN MEDICINE. THE REST OF US ARE NOT. HEALTHCARE, MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE UNINSURED AND FLORIDA HAS NOT YET TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S OFFER OF MEDICAID. HEALTHCARE SHOULD BE A RIGHT FOR

[02:00:02]

OTHER PEOPLE HERE DO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT WE HAVE JOHN PULACKY CLUB AND FOLLOWING HIM, MICHELLE PULLEM, STELLAR ARTIST MANAGEMENT.

>> THANK YOU. AS YOU MENTIONED, REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON, I REPRESENT THE SIERRA CLUB. AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT IMPACTS OUR ENVIRONMENT IN THE STATE'S NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES. CLIMATE CHANGE. OUR CLIMATE IS I THINK CHANGING WITH THE RANGE OF NEGATIVE RESULTS. FLOODING, STRONGER AND MORE DESTRUCTIVE STORMS, INCREASING TEMPERATURES, AND AN UNTENABLE PROPERTY INSURANCE MARKET. WE HAVE ALL WITNESSED THIS HAPPENING. WE HEARD ABOUT SOME OF THEM EARLIER THIS MORNING. WE NEED LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, NOT JUST ACTION TO IMPROVE RESILIENCY. FLORIDA NEEDS TO TRANSITION TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY STATEWIDE BEFORE 2050.

EMISSIONS NEED TO DECLINE RAPIDLY ACROSS ALL ECONOMIC SECTORS. COAL NEEDS TO GO. AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS TO BE ELECTRIFIED. I WANT TO REITERATE BETH TAIT'S COMMENTS, PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON LAND CHANCE VAGUE STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CIVIC ROUNDTABLE AND ADD THAT ALL FUNDS REMAINING AFTER DEBT SERVICE AND THE LAND ACQUISITION TRUST FUND SHOULD BE USED TO ACQUIRE CONSERVATION LAND AS REQUIRED BY THE 2014 WATER AND LAND CONSERVATION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ELIMINATE THE CURRENT UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH FLORIDA. WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY. THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, ADDRESS CONTAMINANTS AND DRINKING WATER WITH TIGHTER STANDARDS, REGULATE ALL POLLUTERS OF OUR WATER SUPPLY, FUND THE REPLACEMENT OF SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS IN CITIES LIKE JACKSONVILLE, WHICH POLLUTE OUR RIVERS AND CREEKS. AND TO BE SURE, WE HAVE SUFFICIENT WATER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE SHOULD INCENTIVIZE CONSERVATION ONLY ISSUE CONSUMPTION * SHE HAVE PERMITS FOR LARGE PROJECTS WHEN THEY ARE CLEARLY IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NOT AS CURRENTLY REGULATED OR SUGGESTED, CONSISTENT WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND REVISIT A WATER USE FEE FOR WITHDRAWING WATER IN FLORIDA, LIKE THE BOTTLED WALTER COMPANIES. FINALLY, THE SIERRA CLUB IS IN FAVOR OF BREECHING THE RODMAN DAMN DAM, THUS ADVISING DISASTED EXPECTANCY. IN RESTORING THE RIVER AND ECOSYSTEMS OF THE SAME

JOHNS RIVER IN SILVER SPRINGS. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MICHELLE PULLMAN, AND THEN CINDY WOMPLER. PLEASE MOVE FORWARD, SO WE CAN HAVE ALL THE TIME AVAILABLE. WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS THAT HAVE COME TO THIS MEETING AS WELL WHO WANT TO SPEAK. MICHELLE PULLMAN? NOT PRESENT. CINDY WOMPLER, DENTAL HYGIENIST ASSOCIATION, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LAWRENCE DEFF. I'M SORRY IF I'VE MAULED YOUR NAME. UNINTENTIONAL. WELCOME,

CINDY. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION. MY NAME IS CINDY WOMAN POLICE OFFICER, REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST LICENSED TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN FLORIDA. I'M A MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA DENTAL HYGIENIST ASSOCIATION AND LIVE AND WORK IN DUVAL COUNTY. ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA DENTAL HYGIENE ASSOCIATION, WHICH REPRESENTS ALL LICENSED DIFFERENTIAL HYGIENISTS IN FLORIDA, I ASK YOUR SUPPORT INCREASING ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE FOR OUR STATE'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. AS A PROFESSOR IN THE DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM AT FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE, I WITNESS

[02:05:05]

>> THANK YOU, MS. WOMPLER. AND IF YOU HAVE YOUR INFORMATION, PLEASE PROVIDE IT. THESE GO INTO AN AGENDA BOOK THAT WE CAN REFER TO BY EACH ISSUE, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING

FORWARD WITH YOUR REQUEST. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO

YOU ALL. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS. AND FOLLOWING LAUREN JEAN MOORE, PLEASE MOVE FORWARD SO WE CAN GET THROUGH AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN. THANK YOU. WELCOME,

LAUREN. >> HI. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WITH THE JACKSONVILLE JUNIOR LEAGUE. >> YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF JACKSONVILLE AS WE PROUDLY APPROACH OUR 100TH ANNIVERSARY SERVING THE GREATER NORTHEAST FLORIDA COMMUNITY. WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN COMMITTED TO PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM, DEVELOPING THE POTENTIAL OF WOMEN, AND IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE EFFECTIVE ACTION AND LEADERSHIP OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE NEARLY 600 ACTIVE AND SUSTAINING MEMBERS IN THE REGION AND WE FOCUS OUR VOLUNTEER AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS ON ISSUES RELATED TO NUTRITION AND FOOD SECURITY. THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF JACKSONVILLE IS ONE OF 23 LEAGUES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND TOGETHER, AS THE JUNIOR LEAGUES OF FLORIDA STATEWIDE PUBLIC AN AREAS COMMITTEE, WE REPRESENT OVER 11,000 MEMBERS STATEWIDE ON ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR SINCE 2020 THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO RESUME OUR ANNUAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE IN TALLAHASSEE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING WITH OUR LEGISLATORS IN THE CAPITOL ON MARCH 14TH AND 15TH. BECAUSE OUR LOCAL LEAGUE'S PRIORITY IN BOTH VOLUNTEERISM AND ADVOCACY IS IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR FAMILIES IN OUR REGION, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH FEEDING NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND WE WANT TO LEND OUR WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT TO THE REQUESTS THAT THE WIDER FEEDING FLORIDA NETWORK MAKE TO THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE THROUGHOUT THE 2023 SESSION.

OUR STATEWIDE COMMITTEE TAKES POSITION ON HIS A BROADER PORTFOLIO OF PUBLIC POLICIES.

IN ADDITION TO ISSUES OF HUNGER AND NUTRITION, WE ADVOCATE FOR LEGISLATION IN THE AREAS OF IMPROVING EDUCATION, SUPPORTING AT RISK YOUTH, AND INCREASING COMMUNITY SAFETY. WE ALSO SUPPORT AFTERNOON INCREASE IN CIVIC INITIATIVES AND MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF THE FLORIDA CIVICS AND DEBATE INITIATIVE AND AN EXPANSION OF FIRST LADY CASEY DESANTIS' HOPE FOR HEALING PROGRAM. LAST YEAR WE ADVOCATE FOR THE SALES SALES TAX EXEMPTION ON DIAPERS AND WE WERE PLEASED TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE CREATED THAT EXEMPTION FOR ONE YEAR. WE WERE MORE PLEASED TO 70. SO WE ASK THAT YOU ONCE AGAIN SUPPORT THAT SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR DIAPERS AND MAKE IT PERMANENT FOR FLORIDA FAMILIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU OR OUR STAFF WHEN WE

ARE IN TALLAHASSEE IN MARCH. >> THANK YOU. JEAN MOORE, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACKIE DUNN.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M HERE TO REQUEST THAT THE NEW LEGISLATION OF FLORIDA TO DEAL WITH ONCE AND FOR ALL THE EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. THE STATE OF FLORIDA NEEDS TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE IN THE OBSCENITY LAW DETAILED IN FLORIDA STATUTE 847 THAT ALLOWS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENTS TO INFILTRATE SCHOOLS BY CLAIMS OF LITERARY OR SCIENTIFIC VALUE AND BECOME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE ONCE ACQUIRED DUE TO THE SUBJECTIVITY OF EXISTING LAWS. HOUSE BILL 1467 THAT WAS PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH WELL INTENDED, DID LITERALLY NOTHING TO HELP PARENTS SUCCESSFULLY

[02:10:01]

THIS NEW LEGISLATION AND TAKE IT TO TALLAHASSEE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE JACKIE COLUMBIA, PRIVATE CITIZEN, SPEAKING ON PRISON REFORM FROM FERNADINA BEACH.

WELCOME, MS. DUNN. >> GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR GREAT STATE. I'M HERE AS A CONSERVATIVE VOICE TO A LESS THAN POPULAR TOPIC OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND SPECIFICALLY SENTENCE REFORM. AND THERE ARE TWO PARTICULAR INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED IN THE PAST SECOND LOOK ACT, WHICH WAS PRESENTED IN 2020 BY FLORIDA REPUBLICAN SENATOR JEFF BRANDS THAT MADE IT TO APPROPRIATIONS, I BELIEVE, BEFORE IT DIED. BUT TYPICALLY IN FLORIDA, OF COURSE, AS A CONSERVATIVE STATE, THESE TYPES OF BILLS ARE NOT VERY POPULAR. AND ALSO, I'M A HUGE PROPONENT OF REINTRODUCTION OF PAROLE. PAROLE HAS NOT BEEN AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL INCARCERATION IN MANY YEARS, AND IN FACT, JOHN RUTHERFORD AND I HAVE SPOKE AT LENGTH ABOUT IT. IF YOU KNOW JOHN RUTHERFORD, WHO IS OUR UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN AND WAS THE DUVAL COUNTY SHERIFF FOR 30 YEARS IS A HUGE PROPONENT AND AD SLOW FOOT IN PAROLE AND BELIEVES IT HAS A MAJOR PLACE IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM AND PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY ONCE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS ARE RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION. AND THE SECOND LOOK ACT ESPECIALLY IS ONE THAT I HAVE A PASSION FOR, AND IT ONLY CONSIDERS A VERY NARROW GROUP OF CANDIDATES THAT HAVE SERVED AT LEAST TEN YEARS IN PRISON. IT FOCUSES ON EXCESSIVE INCARCERATION, THEIR AGE AT CONVICTION. IT ALSO LOOKS AT -- HEAVILY LOOKS AT THEIR BEHAVIOR WHILE INCARCERATED. AND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN EXPOSED TO THE PRISON SYSTEM OR HAVE A LOVED ONE, GOD FORBID, IN PRISON, IT'S VERY MUCH A CHOICE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BEHAVE, TO FOLLOW AUTHORITY, TO WORK HARD, TO BETTER YOURSELF, TO SOMEHOW MAKE YOURSELF A BETTER PERSON EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE WHILE YOU'RE IN THE LOWEST POINT OF YOUR LIFE AND IN A PRISON SYSTEM THAT IS OUT DATED AND NEEDS A LOT OF WORK. I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LOOK AT THESE BILLS WITH A FACT-BASED APPROACH AND NOT A PRECOMPOSED OPINIONS, PREDISPOSED OPINIONS OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS TOPIC. I USED TO BE ONE OF THOSE THAT THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS BLACK AND WHITE,

[02:15:03]

WONDERFUL HOLIDAY. >> THANK YOU, MS. DUNN. RHONDA BRENNAN, ST. JOHNS COUNTY

SCHOOLS, FOLLOWED BY SHANNON MYER, SCHOOL CHOICE. >> HI. MY NAME IS RHONDA BRENNAN. I'M A PRECINCT COMMITTEE WOMAN FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AND WHEN I WAS INDUCTED INTO THE COMMITTEE, I ACTUALLY TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE, SO I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU WHAT YOUR OATH IS. AND YOU ALL SIGNED IT I DO HAVE A COPY OF IT. AND WHAT IT IS, I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA AGAINST ALL FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC ENEMY.

AND I DULY HOLD OFFICE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM DUTIES OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. ONE OF THOSE DUTIES WOULD BE 985.02, LEGISLATIVE INTENT FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. IT WOULD BE UNDER A PROTECTION FROM ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION, C, A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHICH WILL PRESERVE A PERSON'S PERSONAL INDIGNITY AND INTEGRITY. AS A ST. JOHNS COUNTY REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BOARD MEMBER, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TO REMOVE THE PORNOGRAPHY FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOLS. I'M SURE YOU'LL ALL AWARE OF IT, BECAUSE SOME OF YOU ARE MEMBER OF THE PARTY.

OKAY? SO THE REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY DECLARES SUPPORT AND ACTION TO REMOVE THIS PORN "GRAPHIC MATERIAL FROM ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOLS. REMIND YOU, THIS IS THE MAJORITY. IT MIGHT NOT BE ROY. IT MIGHT NOT BE PEOPLE YOU'RE WORKING WITH, BUT THIS WAS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE. THE SHERIFF IGNORED ME. MATTHEW CLINE HAS IGNORED ME. EVERYONE IGNORED ME. THIS COMES FROM THE MAJORITY OF THE PARTY. THE REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ALSO, OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, DECLARED SUPPORT TO REQUEST THE ASSISTANCE OVER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, SAINT AUGUSTINE SHERIFF, IN THE REMOVAL OF THE PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL FROM OUR SCHOOLS. THE REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY DECLARES SUPPORT FOR LEGAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN THROUGH THE OFFICE OF FLORIDA STATE ATTORNEY AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THIS UNLAWFUL MATERIAL IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS WAS SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022. ANTICIPATE PRETTY SURE YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN IT. OKAY? NUMBER3, RIGHT HERE WE HAVE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ESTABLISH THE TEST THAT JUDGES AND JURIES USE TO DETERMINE WHETHER A MATTER IS OBSCENE IN THREE MAJOR CASES. MILLER VERSUS CALIFORNIA, SMITH VERSUS UNITED STATES, AND POPE VERSUS ILLINOIS. OBSCENITY INVOLVING MINOR SECTION 1470 OF TITLE 18 U.S. CODE PROHIBITS AN INDIVIDUAL KNOWINGLY TRANSFERRING AND ATTEMPTING TO TRANSFER OBSCENE MATTER USING THE U.S. MAIL OR MEANS OF FACILITY INTERSTATE OF FOREIGN COMMERCE TO MINORS UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE, CONVICTED OFFENDERS FACES FINES AND IMPRISONMENT UP TO TEN YEARS. IN ADDITION, 1466A OF TITLE 18 UNITED STATES CODES MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR ANY PERSON KNOWINGLY TO DISTRIBUTE, RECEIVE, OR POSSESS WITH INTENT --

>> MS. BRENNAN, YOU NEED TO BRING IT IN FOR A LAND BEING. THANK YOU.

>> BRING IT IN FOR A LANDING RIGHT NOW? YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, AND IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE DUTY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN, OUR MOST VULNERABLE. AND YOU'RE WORRIED

ABOUT SAND. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND PLEASE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO

PROVIDE US SOME OF THE MATERIALS -- >> I HAVE PROVIDED ALL THESE TO

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TEN TIMES. I GAVE HIM 14 PAGES. >> MADAM, YOU MAY PROVIDE --

>> AND I'VE GIVEN IT TO YOU, TOO. >> YOU DID NOT PROVIDE IT WITH

THIS -- >> OKAY. WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU ABOUT 3 INCHES OF PAPERWORK.

>> WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. NEXT WE HAVE SHANNON MYER, SCHOOL

CHOICE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, MS. MYER. >> HI. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF ST. JOHNS DELEGATION MY NAME IS SHANNON MYER. I LIVE HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND SPEAKER RENNER AND SENATOR HUDSON'S DISTRICT. I AM A GRAMMAR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AT VERITAS CLASSICAL SCHOOL AND MOTHER OF THREE STUDENTS THAT ARE ON THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP. JESSE IS IN EIGHTH GRADE, ERIN IN 7TH, AND CORA APP, MY YOUNGEST, IN FIFTH. OUR

[02:20:01]

IT WOULD BE A HUGE BENEFIT TO OUR FAMILY IF WE HAD THE SAME KIND OF FLEXIBILITY TO USE THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS THE WAY WE CAN ERIN AND CORA ANN. AS A SCHOOL LEADER, I WITNESS EVERY DAY HOW EACH OF OUR STUDENTS LEARNS AND THE IMPACT FLEXIBLE SPENDING COULD HAVE ON THEIR EDUCATION.

FAMILIES WOULD BENEFIT BY BEING ABLE TO USE THEIR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO TAILOR THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION TO MEET THOSE UNIQUE NEEDS. I WANT TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF EDUCATION CHOICE PROGRAMS IN FLORID. I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER GIVING EVERY SCHOLARSHIP FAMILY THE SAME FLEXIBILITY OURS ARE BLESSED TO RECEIVE. THANK YOU, AND MERRY

CHRISTMAS. >> IS THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE RACHEL KING

SPEAKING ON SCHOOL CHOICE. >> HELLO. HELLO, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE ST. JOHNS LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION. MY NAME IS RACHEL KING AND I AM THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF KING THERAPY SOLUTIONS IN PONTE-VEDRA BEACH. I'M LOCATED IN HUDSON AND STEVENSON'S DISTRICTS. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TODAY OF THE BENEFITS OF GIVING FAMILIES FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THEY SPEND THEIR EDUCATION DOLLARS. I AM A FORMER EDUCATOR TURNED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND I SPECIALIZE IN FUNCTIONAL AND COGNITIVE REHABILITATION FOR CHILDREN. I FOCUS ON HELPING CHILDREN WITH DIAGNOSES OF SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER, ADHD, AND AUTISM. I ESTABLISHED MY PRIVATE PRACTICE TO ENACT BIGGER CHANGES THAN I CANNED AS A TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONER, TO HELP PROVIDE THE BEST METHODS TO MEET CHILDREN'S UNIQUE NEEDS IN THEIR HOME AND OUT OF HOME EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTS. MY BUSINESS HAS MANY PATIENTS THAT ARE USING THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES TO ACCESS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES.

THE SCHOLARSHIP OPERATES AS AN EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT, WHICH GIVES FAMILIES THE ABILITY TO SPEND THE FUNDS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS BEYOND PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION SUCH AS TECHNOLOGY, TUTORING, AND THERAPIES. OUR FAMILIES OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD THE SERVICES WE OFFER DUE TO INSURANCE RESTRICTIONS AND OTHER LIMITATIONS. EXPANDING FLEXIBLE SPENDING TO ALL OF FLORIDA'S EDUCATION'S CHOICE SCHOLARSHIPS WOULD ALLOW KING THERAPY SOLUTIONS AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE STUDENTS WITH THERAPEUTIC OPPORTUNITY AND A GREATER HOPE FOR THE FAMILIES THAT LOVE THEM OTHER FAMILIES WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THEIR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO FURTHER CUSTOMIZE THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION TO MEET THEIR CHANGING NEEDS. THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, LIKE THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENTS SCHOLARSHIP, FOR STUDENTS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES. I WANT TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR ITS SUPPORT OF EDUCATION CHOICE PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA AND ASK THIS DELEGATION TO PLEASE CONTINUE THEIR EXPANSION. THANK

YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE KERRY GUSTOPHSON FROM SOS, AND

FOLLOWING HER, DOUG RUSO REGARDING SCHOOL LIBRARIES. >> HI. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT AN URGENT NEED IN OUR COUNTY. I AM HERE TODAY REPRESENTING SOS, SAVE OUR SCHOOLS. WE ARE A GROUP OF ST. JOHNS PARENTS CONCERNED WITH TEACHER SAY CHANCE THESE OUR SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. I AM INVOLVED WITH MY SON'S EDUCATION HE IS AND CURRENTLY HAPPILY SERVING AS THE PTSO PRESIDENT AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED RIGHT NOW THAT WONDERFUL, LONG TIME TEACHERS, OUR VETERAN TEACHERS ARE LEAVING OUR DISTRICT, CITING LOW PAY AND THE INABILITY TO MAKE THEIR ENDS MEET. THE VACANCIES, COUPLED WITH KONSTANTIN FLUX OF NEW FAMILIES AND STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY, SOME LAGGING BEHIND DUE TO COVID LOCK DOWNS THIS THEIR STATES AND ALL WITH QUESTIONS AND NEEDS IS LEADING TO EXTRA WORK FOR ALL THE STAFF. THE NEW HIRES THAT ARE COMING ONBOARD USUALLY REQUIRE A LOT OF MENTORING AND OVERSIGHT BY THE EXPERIENCED TEACHERS. SO THIS IS MORE WORK FOR THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE STAYED. I, FOR THE FIRST TIME, AM SEEING BURNOUT.

[02:25:02]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND I'M ASKING TO FOLLOW THAT UP BY ADDRESSING THE NEED TO RAISE VETERAN TEACHER PAY. I AM ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE SUPPORT OF EXPERIENCED VETERAN TEACHERS IN OCTOBER, THERE WERE 72 TEACHING POSITIONS UNFILLED IN OUR ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOLS. A CLASSROOM RUN BY A SUBSTITUTE OR COVERED BY AN ADMINISTRATOR OR PLACED IN THE AUDITORIUM DUE TO SUBPAR STAFFING TRANSLATES TO LESS LEARNING, AND THAT'S JUST A FACT. THIS YEAR, MY SON HAS HAD TWO LONG TERM TEACHERS LEAVE, CITING LOW PAY. BOTH LEFT FOR JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE WAY OUR DISTRICT IS GROWING, WE NEED TO ATTRACTED NEW TEACHERS AND RETAIN OUR CURRENT TEACHERS, BUT THAT ISN'T HAPPENING. MY OWN JUNIOR IS WONDERFUL WITH KIDS AND IS CONSIDERING MAJORING IN SECONDARY EDUCATION, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TEACH HERE IN FLORIDA ON THE CURRENT SALARIES AVAILABLE. SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME HAVE MOVED TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATING IN, BUT THAT IS CLEARLY IN DANGER TODAY. I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT I AM CURRENTLY ASKING THE DISTRICT, THE COUNTY, THE STATE TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN OUR TEACHERS. I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO PAY MORE IN TAXES, SUCH AS A PENNY TAX FOR SCHOOL STAFF PAY OR MILLAGE AND I'M HERE TO SOUND THE ALARM AS A PARENT, LOOKING TO SEE OUR COUNTY CONTINUE TO OFFER A TOP-NOTCH EDUCATION. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MR. RUSO, PORN IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES, FOLLOWED BY JOANNE YE. WELCOME, MR. RUSO.

>> YES. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DOUG RULE OH. I'M THE FATHER OF 11 CHILDREN, ONE WIFE, AND 51 GRANDCHILDREN AND COUNTING. OUT OF MY 51 GRANDCHILDREN, NOT A ONE OF THEM ATTENDS PUBLIC EDUCATION. THEY'RE EITHER HOME SCHOOLED BY STAY AT HOME MOMS OR PRIVATE SCHOOL. BUT I AM AN ACTIVIST. I'M A BAPTIST PREACHER. SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND HAVE BEEN DOING THIS OVER 50 YEARS, AND I AM A NATIVE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. GRADUATED ST. AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL, 1972, AND BOY, DO WE HAVE A LOT OF CHANGES TO OUR CITY THAT AREN'T GOOD. NOW, I HAVE SEEN THESE BOOKS THAT ARE IN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION. I CAN'T GO TOO FAR. MY WIFE CRIED THE FIRST TIME SHE SEEN IT. SHE'S NEVER BEEN AROUND THAT KIND OF STUFF HER ENTIRE LIFE. HER DAD WAS A BAPTIST PREACHER UP IN VIRGINIA BUT THIS IS -- I KNOW WE'RE LAST SPEAKING, BUT THIS SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST PRIORITY. PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT TEENAGE SUICIDE, CHILDREN, ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF. LET ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE CAUSE FOR MOST OF THAT. THE HOME HAS BEEN RUINED. THERE IS NO TRADITIONAL FAMILY ANYMORE. WE KILL OUR UNBORN CHILDREN.

YOU GUYS ARE OUR LAST RESORT. I PERSONALLY AND MY OTHER FRIENDS, WE WENT EVERY ROUTE. WE'VE BEEN TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. OUR PRESENT SUPERINTENDENT IS UNFIT TO RULE OUR SCHOOLS. HE HAS A QUESTION ONABLE BACKGROUD. HIS DAUGHTER HAD A LESBIAN LOVER WHO STRANGELY

KILLED HERSELF. AND THAT'S SUSPECT. HIS -- >> MR. RUSO, COULD WE NOT

PERSONALLY TACK PEOPLE? >> IT'S NOT ATTACK. THIS IS PUBLIC INFORMATION. THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS THAT OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS UNFIT TO RUN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE PORN IN SCHOOLS IF YOU WANT TO, IF THAT'S OKAY.

>> WE'VE ALSO CONSULTED THE LOCAL SHERIFF. WE'VE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS. WE'VE SENT THEM THE INFORMATION, THE PICTURES, THE BOOKS, THE LAWS, AND SHERIFF HARDWICK AND MCCLINE AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE, THEY'VE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. ONE LADY SPOKE ABOUT A LOOP NOLL AN OBSCENITY LAW. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, DO YOU WANT CHILDREN LOOKING AT PICTURES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION OF TWO MEN GETTING IT ON? I MEAN, VERY EXPLICIT. I'VE SEEP THE PICTURES. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL EDUCATION, THEN THERE'S NOT ANYBODY FIT IN OUR GOVERNMENT TODAY, FIT TO RULE. YOU ARE MAGISTRATES. YOU'RE LESSOR MAGISTRATES. YOU'RE UNDER GOD. YOU'VE HAD A PRAYER HERE TODAY.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD. GOD'S LAW REQUIRES THAT THIS FILTH BE THIS IS NOT FREEDOM OF CHOICE.

THIS IS NOT LIBERTY. THIS IS PORNOGRAPHY. THIS IS GROSS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WOULD FIGHT OVER. THEY FOUGHT OVER AN UNDUE TAX. SURELY THEY WOULD HAVE FOUGHT OVER THIS UNGODLY STUFF THAT'S IN OUR SCHOOLS TODAY. THIS SHOULD BE YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. YOU GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. THE LOOPHOLE, THE NO SAY GAY BILL THAT RON DESANTIS DID WAS NOTHING BUT A SHOW. IT DOES NOTHING. THESE SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE FOR ALL THIS GARBAGE. I'VE BEEN. THIS I'VE SEEN THEM. THE ONE LADY RIGHT THERE THAT JUST CAME THAT'S THE HEAD OF THE TEACHER'S UNION, SHE IS PRO ALL THIS NONSENSE. I AM TELLING PEOPLE IN ST. JOHNS

[02:30:05]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> NEXT WE HAVE JOANNE YE. AND I WILL SAY PART OF THE REASON THIS IS TOWARDS THE END IS IN THE EVENT THAT THERE WERE YOUNG CHILDREN WATCHING IN THE BEGINNING. THIS WOULD BE A DIFFICULT --

>> I'M JOY AN YE, A LEGAL IMMIGRANT COME OVER FROM 27 YEARS AGO. I'M A BIBLALLING CHRISTIAN. IN GOD WE TRUST. THAT'S MY THING. NOW I'M WITNESSING WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. I THINK IT IS JUST BEGINNING OVER THE HORRIBLE HISTORY. SOMETIMES MY HEART IS SO HEAVY. IF AMERICA BECOMES CHINA, IT WOULD BE MUCH WORSE THAN CHINA. DO YOU KNOW THAT IN CHINA, IT'S TAKING OVER AMERICA PEOPLE WAKE UP, SPEAK UP AND TAKE ACTIONS. YOU OFFICIALS, BE THE PUBLIC SERVANTS TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS IN THE EYES OF GOD AMERICA ABUSES FREEDOM AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. THIS IS FROM JOHN 8:32. JESUS SAID, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. THIS IS FROM JOHN 14:6. BECAUSE AMERICA HAS TURNED AWAY FROM GOD. AND HIS PRINCIPLES.

FORGET BELIEVING GOD'S WORK. TAKING BIBLE READING AND PRAYERS OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS ONLY THE MAN AND THE WOMAN, MALE AND THE FEMALE, EITHER BOY OR GIRL, HE CREATE EACH OF US. HE CREATED US IN HIS OWN IMAGE. THIS IS FROM GENESIS 1:27. BECAUSE LGBTQ AND TRANSGENDERRISM HAS NOT BEEN REALIZED IN CHINA YET. NO PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS IN SCHOOLS. SO CHINA, AS I THINK.

TWO SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ABOUT MATERIALS WERE HELL AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY ON MAY 24TH AND AUGUST 25TH. BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD WON'T AFFORD BOOKS, AND IF THOSE FILTHY PORN BOOKS ARE STILL ON THE SHE FEELS OF OUR SCHOOLS, THE ISSUE IS NOT ONLY IN OUR COUNTY, BUT ALL OVER OUR NATION. AMERICA IS SO DEEP AND WHITE AND THE YOUNG GENERATIONS ARE INDOCTRINATED.

MORE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS NEED TO REALIZE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT OPENED BY OUR BY SCHOOLS, NOR TEACHERS, NOR CHURCHES, NOR SOCIETY. OUR CHILDREN RE OWNED BY GOD. AND WE PARENTS AND OTHER STEWARDS ON THE EARTH TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR HERITAGE FROM GOD AND FOR GOD.

I PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE THE PARENTS WISDOM AND DETERMINE FOR THEIR SCHOOL CHOICES AND ALSO PRAY FOR YOU, OFFICIALS. YOU ARE LEGISLATORS. BE WISE. BE INSTRUCTED. YOU'RE JUDGES OF THE EARTH. SERVE THE LORD WITH FEAR AND CHOICE [INDISCERNIBLE] LEST HE BE ANGLY AND YOU PERISH IN THE WAY. WHEN HE'S [INDISCERNIBLE] IT'S KINDLED BY THE LITTLE. BLESSED ARE THOSE,

ALL THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM.

>> GOD BLESS AMERICA AND [INDISCERNIBLE] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NEXT WE HAVE HILLARY LOPEZ ADDRESSING DRUG USE IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. SEEING NO ONE MOVING, I WILL GO TO MATT METZ, THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OF THE 7TH -- GOT THAT

7TH CIRCUIT. >> 7TH CIRCUIT. DELEGATION, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS MATT METZ, ELECTED PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT. FIRST I WANT TO SAY I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR OFFICE AND ALL THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE THROUGH LAST YEAR. AS WE CAME TO ALL OF YOU IN A HIRING CRISIS BECAUSE OF THE LOW SALARIES THAT BOTH PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND THE [INDISCERNIBLE] OFFICE HAD SEEN, WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH BOTH RETENTION AND RECRUITING. SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN ALLEVIATE. YOU WILL SEE IN A COMING LEGISLATIVE BUDGET REQUEST THAT IT HASN'T BEEN TOTALLY SOLVED. WE STILL HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE TROUBLE HIRING ANY EMPLOYEES FOR SOME PARTS OF THEIR CIRCUIT. AS THE LEGISLATIVE CHAIR OF THE FLORIDA PUBLIC DEFENDER'S ASSOCIATION, I WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO EVERYONE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING. WE HAVE PEOPLE GETTING HIRED STRAIGHT OUT OF LAW SCHOOL FOR 75 TO $70,000 IN

[02:35:04]

BUT TO PROVIDE THE COMPETENT CARE NECESSARY TO MEET THAT CONSTITUTIONAL THRESHOLD, WE DO NEED TO KEEP SOME OF OUR FOLKS, AND EVEN FOLKS WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION CAN'T LIVE ON CRUMBS. I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET APARTMENTS BECAUSE THEIR SALARIES WEREN'T HIGH ENOUGH OR GET LOANS OF OVER THE $200,000 NECESSARY TO BUY HOUSES IN SOME OF OUR AREAS. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE AUTOMATIC THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND I REALLY HOPE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO WORK WITH YOU IN THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO HELP INCREASE THOSE SALARIES FOR BOTH THE STATE ATTORNEYS AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO MEET THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL THRESHOLD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE DR. MICHELLE

EDUCATION, FOLLOWED BY ELLEN WHITMER. >>

>> GOOD MORNING, REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON. IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE OUR CULTURE AND HERITAGE. WE LOOK TO YOU FOR LEADERSHIP. YES, YOUR LEADERSHIP. I AM ASKING YOU, THE STATE LEGISLATURE REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT HERE TODAY, TO DO THAT SPECIFICALLY IN REGARD TO OUR NATIONAL MODEL, IN GOD WE TRUST. IN GOD WE TRUST IS OUR NATIONAL MODEL BYLAW AND HAS BEEN USED ON COINS AND PAPER MONEY. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LEAD THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE IN FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE, WHICH PASSED A LAW REQUIRING SCHOOLS, A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR PUBLIC UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE, MUST DISPLAY IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE IN EACH BUILDING OF THE SCHOOL OR INSTITUTION A DURABLE POSTER OR FRAMED COPY OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MOTTO, IN GOD WE TRUST, IF THE POSTER OR FRAMED COPY IS DONATED OR PURCHASED FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE SCHOOL OR INSTITUTION. BUT THE DONATED SIGN MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA TO BE REQUIRED TO BE DISPLAYED. FOR EXAMPLE, HERE WE HAVE WHAT WE COULD CONSIDER FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA. CONTAIN A REPRESENTATION OF THE UNITED STATES FLAG CENTERED UNDER THE NATIONAL MODEL AND A REPRESENTATION OF THE STATE FLAG ABOVE THE MODEL. MAY NOT DEPICT ANY WORDS, IMAGES, OR OTHER INFORMATION. THE STATUTE REQUIRES A DURABLE POSTER OR FRAMED COPY. I'VE ATTACHED TO MY PRESENTATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION DRAFT LEGISLATION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AS WELL AS COPIES OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED FOR FLORIDA. I WOULD PROPOSE FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA THE BOTTOM BASE OF THE BANNER FRAMED AS DEPICTED HERE. I AND OTHER SUPPORTERS LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ASSISTING IN PASSING THIS LEGISLATION. IT WOULD BE A VERY IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT IN OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU VERY

MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> AND I WILL GIVE COPIES OF THE PRESENTATION TO SENATOR

[INDISCERNIBLE] >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE ELLEN WHITMER,

FOLLOWED BY TAMARA HELENE. WELCOME. >> WELCOME. HADN'T SEEN YOU IN A LONG TIME. GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU. ELLEN WHITMER OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT AFTER LISTENING TO A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION HERE, I FEEL COMPELLED TO DO SO. I'M A FORMER VOLUNTEER IN THE PSALM SCHOOL SYSTEM. I WORKED ON THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM AT ONE TIME, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF GREAT STRIDES THAT WERE MADE DURING THE TIME THAT I WAS THERE. HOWEVER, I DO KNOW WE'VE GOT NEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT WHAT I THINK IS ODD IS THAT THEY MOVED IN BECAUSE ST. JOHNS COUNTY DOES HAVE A A GOOD PROGRAM AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE SAME PEOPLE ARE BASHING IT. I SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD. I SUPPORT OUR SUPERINTENDENT. I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY ATTACKED.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB. THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY. AND THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE

[02:40:09]

JOHNS COUNTY POLITICS, BUT I SAW WHAT I CONSIDER OUTSIDE GROUPS TRYING TO INFLUENCE AND TAKE OVER OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS. THERE WAS A LOT OF UNFAIR PUBLIC PUT OUT. A LOT OF UNFAIR STATEMENTS. AND I WAS JUST SHOCKED AT FIRST, AND THEN I THOUGHT, OH, I'VE GOT TO TAKE THESE PEOPLE SERIOUS, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING OUT ON THE INTERNET IS JUST NOT TRUE. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I THINK THINGS ARE VERY WELL IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. I WOULD LEAVE IT TO THE JUDGMENT OF OUR EDUCATORS. MUCH OF THIS MATERIAL THAT MAYBE PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT, I DO THINK THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE TO THEM. BUT THEY'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED AND NOT JUST THEIR POINT OF VIEW AND NOT JUST THEIR AGENDA. I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING, AND I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT AFTER SITTING THERE AND LISTENING TO ALL THIS STUFF. SO

KEEP ON WITH THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. WHITMER. NEXT

WE HAVE MS. TAMARA HELENE. YOU DON'T HAVE A TOPIC. I'M SORRY. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> EDUCATION. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING. THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, MY FAMILY MOVED TO FLORIDA FROM OUT OF STATE, AND LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO COME FROM OUT OF STATE, WE CHOSE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. BUT LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE, WE'VE ALSO HAD A FEW SURPRISES, AND ONE OF THOSE SURPRISES IS THE NUMBER OF LONG TERM SUBSTITUTES THAT ARE CURRENTY IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. SOME OF THOSE ARE EVEN DAUGHTER IS ZONED TO, AND WITH THOSE BEING THE YEARS THAT PREP CHILDREN FOR COLLEGE, THAT'S A VERY CRITICAL TIME FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE QUALIFIED TEACHERS, AND THAT'S A HUGE CONCERN FOR OUR FAMILY AND OTHERS. I ALSO THINK THAT THERE IS A MORALE ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE LOW PAY OF VETERAN TEACHERS. EVERY TEACHER THAT I KNOW FEELS UNDER VALUED AND DISCOURAGED. WE'VE SEEN SOME LEAVE THE PROFESSION THAT WE KNOW. AND MY DAUGHTER SAYS THAT IN CLASS EVERYDAY, SHE HEARS COMPLAINTS FROM TEACHERS. AND TWO TEACHERS SHARE WITH THE STUDENTS THAT THEY'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT. THERE'S MANY GREAT CAUSES THAT HAVE ALL BEEN REPRESENTED HERE TODAY AND THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS, BUT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU GUYS CONSIDER MORE PUSHING FOR EDUCATION IN GENERAL, AND PARTICULARLY FOR VETERAN TEACHER SALARIES SO THAT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION CAN CONTINUE TO

IMPROVE AND BE SUSTAINED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. HELENE. THAT BRINGS ME TO THE END OF THE SPEAKER CARDS THAT WE HAVE. MEMBERS BE IT'S 11:43:00 P.M.

AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR WHAT THEY'VE SAID AND KNOW THAT WE ALSO MEET WITH PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICES. THERE'S QUITE A FEW PEOPLE SPOKE AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY MATERIAL, SPOKE IN GREAT DETAIL. IF YOU HAVE HANDOUTS, PLEASE GIVE THEM TO OUR OFFICE AND WE'LL DISTRIBUTE THEM. WE

[7. Public Comment]

YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? >> I'D LIKE TO GO LAST. >> SENATOR HUDSON IN.

>> USUALLY WE HAZE THE NEW PEOPLE. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME IN AND SPOKE TODAY. FOR THE MOST PART, IT WAS AT CORDIAL AS IT COULD BE. THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS. AND UNDERSTAND WHEN WE GO UP TO TALLAHASSEE, UNLESS IT'S A SPECIAL SESSION,

[02:45:01]

UP NOTICE. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE

PAYNE? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I CERTAINLY CONCUR WITH SENATOR HUDSON. IT'S NICE TO BE A PART OF THIS DELEGATION. IT'S NICE TO SEE AND MEET MANY OF YOU.

LOOK, WE THINK A LOT LIKE SOME OF OUR COMMENTS. SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS, BUT WE'RE ALSO HANDCUFFED BY SOME FEDERAL LEGISLATION AS WELL. I WOULD SAY -- I WOULD INVITE YOU TO COME TO TALLAHASSEE. I'D LIKE TO INVITE TO YOU COME TO OUR OFFICES. IF YOU CAN'T GET TO OUR OFFICES FOR SOME REASON, BECAUSE WE ARE BUSY, SIT IN THE GALLERY AND LISTEN TO WHAT GOES ON ON THE FLOOR. MR. RUSO, YOU MADE A FEW COMMENTS THERE. I DON'T NOT THINK LIKE YOU DO IN MANY CASES. CHRISTIAN, RAISED BY A FAMILY THAT BELIEVED IN CERTAIN THINGS, D-DAY LANDER FATHER. VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE VALUES. BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE ARE LIMITED BY, SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN GET DONE. I WOULD INVITED YOU TO COME TO TALLAHASSEE AND REALLY SEE HOW THINGS ARE PASSED THROUGH IN THE LEGISLATURE AND WHAT WE TRY TO DO AND THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE

FALL UNDER. THANK YOU. >> JUST REAL BRIEFLY, APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE GONE. BUT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW GREAT COMMENTS, AND MANY, MANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE ITEMS THAT WE'LL BE TAKING UP THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO LISTEN, SO DON'T TAKE OUR LACK OF COMMENT AS A LACK OF ENDORSEMENT OF WHAT YOU'VE ASKED FOR. THERE'S SOME FOLKS WHO FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT SOME ISSUES. I SHARE THOSE BELIEFS ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP QUITE A NUMBER OF THINGS

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY PRODUCTIVE SESSION. >> WELL, THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF HOW MUCH I APPRECIATES OF THE MANY SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD. AS WELL AS THINGS ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES AND THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA. I ESPECIALLY -- THERE WERE TWO THAT SPOKE THAT I ESPECIALLY TOUCHED MY HEART, AND BECAUSE I KNOW THEM TO BE TRUE. WHEN CARLTON AVOID THE TRAUMA OF A BAKER ACT BEING THROWN IN A PADDY WAGON AND CARRIED IN FOR CHARGES OR PUT IN THE BACK OF A POLICE CAR IS VERY DISTURBING, AND WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE A FULL GRASP, YOU'RE IN DISTRESS, DO NOT HAVE A FULL GRASP OF REALITY, PERHAPS, IT CAN BE QUITE CATASTROPHIC.

ALSO, THE 911 OPERATORS, I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE HAD A GUN ISSUE WHERE I WAS -- I HAD AN AN INTRUDER WITH TWO POITS OF ENTRY, AND DID ALL THOSE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT 911 OPERATORS SAID THAT PEOPLE DO. AND THEY WERE COOL AND THEY RESPONDED AND DISPATCHED, BUT I KNOW THAT I GAVE THEM STRESS. AND I'VE HEARD THE CALLS THEY TAKE. SO I'M ENCOURAGED WITH WHAT YOU SAID, SPEAKER RENNER. ON THE PORNOGRAPHY, I'M GOING TO LOOK AT THE MECHANICS OF WHERE WE ARE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE RESTRAINTS. THERE ARE IN SCHOOLS AND I BELIEVE IT EVEN TOOK SOME OF OUR SCHOOL BOARDS SURPRISED BY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAME. THEY HAD COME IN ON RECOMMENDATION LISTS THAT SOUNDED A LOT LIKE SOMETHING REALLY OFFICIAL THAT HAD CHANGED TO BE VERY MUCH NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE OF RECOMMENDATION. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING, AS WE CONTINUED TO WORK THROUGH THOSE THINGS. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY AND TO HAVE THIS GREAT DELEGATION, AND KNOW THAT WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SAND. IT IS A DISTRESSING LONG TERM ISSUE. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH

[8. Election of Chair and Vice Chair]

[02:50:02]

>> AM I ALLOWED TO MOTION MYSELF? I'LL MOVE TO NOMINATE SENATOR HUDSON.

>> I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION. >> ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE? >> SENATOR HUDSON?

>> AND I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND CHAIR STEVENSON AS OUR VICE-CHAIR.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE? >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.