Aug 06, 2024 Board of County Commissioners

[Call to Order by Chair]

[00:00:10]

>> UP IN MOURNING. WELCOME TO THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE ST.

JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. -- ONCE YOU FIND THE MEETING AGENDA, CLICK ON THE AGENDA ITEM TO ACCESS ALL OF THE SUPPORTING MATERIALS. THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. -- IS THREE MINUTES.

ROLL BEING CALLED ] >> NOW WE WILL HAVE AN

INDICATION -- >> A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I WAS CALLED ON THE PHONE . SCOTT ASKED ME TO COME TODAY TO GIVE THE INVOCATION IS RECOGNIZED THE JUDGES. I WANT TO START WITH OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN I LOOKED AT FIRST TIMOTHY CHAPTER 12 -- IS SAID CHRIST JESUS, OUR LORD -- AND OF COURSE WE ALWAYS THINK OF BEING FAITHFUL. I LOOK THE BUMPER STICKER THAT SAYS, I THINK I WAS THE PERSON GOD THINKS I AM. AS I STUDIED THE VERSE, I LOOKED AT ANOTHER VERSE, KING JAMES. IT SAYS, I THINK HIM WHO IS GIVING ME STRENGTH, CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. BECAUSE HE JUDGED ME FAITHFUL, APPOINTED ME TO HIS SERVICE. TODAY, WE WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JUDGE GOT AN IS HARD WORK. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU FOR OUR CANINES WONDERFUL SERVICE. FOR OUR COMMUNITY, KEEPING US SAFE. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR K-9 OFFICERS. YOU MADE THEM WONDERFULLY. THEIR NOSE IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN OUR NOSE, TO FIND BOMBS, DRUGS, I JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS. WHAT A WONDERFUL TOOL , AND FRIEND AND COMPANION THEY ARE. WE PRAY, FATHER GOD, BLESS OUR K-9 UNITS TODAY.

INAUDIBLE ] WE THANK YOU, DEAR LORD, YOU VALLAS FAITHFUL. YOU CALLED US TO SERVE OUR FELLOW MAN. -- WON ALL OF THE WONDERFUL TROPHIES. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR OUR FIRE RESCUE BROTHERS, DEAR LORD. I PRAY YOU BLESS THEM TODAY. FOR OUR TROOPS HERE AND ABROAD. THAT YOU WOULD KEEP THEM SAFE.

DECIBEL AS WE MOURN -- IN THE LINE OF DUTY. WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM, GOD. WE PLAY TODAY -- WE ALWAYS TAKE THE SAME POSITION -- WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEATH DESK ON

RESURRECTION. AMEN. >> TO LEADERS IN THE PLEDGE --

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> IF I COULD ADD ONE THING,

[Proclamation Recognizing K9 Officer Judge's Retirement and Years of Service]

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT IS MY HONOR TO BE HERE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING K-9 OFFICER JUDGES

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BREEZE THE PROCLAMATION. >> -- A PROCLAMATION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WHEREBY K9 OFFICER JUDGE WILL BE SEPTEMBER -- AND WHEREAS K-9 JUDGE OR THE DECLINATION -- DESIGNATION OF THE K-9 ASSOCIATION ] AND WHEREAS K-9 JUDGE HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED OVER 700 -- THESE K-9 DEPLOYMENTS RANGE FROM -- FOR THE ST. JOHN'S JUDICIAL CENTER FEDERAL AGENCIES -- PROTECTION. AND WHEREAS K-9 JUDGE -- DEMONSTRATIONS FOR CHILDREN , FROM PRESCHOOL AGE TO HIGH SCHOOL, AND VISITED AREA ASSISTED-LIVING FACILITIES. AND WHEREAS K-9 JUDGE HAS GIVEN -- FOR EIGHT YEARS. AND WHEREAS K9 OFFICER JUDGE -- MAKING IT CHALLENGING FOR HIM TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF -- K9 OFFICER JUDGE HAS OFFICIALLY RETIRED FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE . BE A PROCLAIMED ON THE SIXTH DAY OF AUGUST, 2024, THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEREBY EXPRESSES THE WARM APPRECIATION -- FOR HIS EIGHT YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. K9 OFFICER JUDGE, RECOGNIZING THE IMMEASURABLE SERVICE HE PROVIDED TO THE CITIZENS AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY. HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, FLORIDA ON THE SIXTH DAY OF OUR -- AUGUST.

APPLAUSE ] >> I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF THIS MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION . IT IS KIND OF HARD TO GET THROUGH THIS.

SHAYNA, SHELBY, JOANNE, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. AND ALL YOU DO BEHIND THE SCENES PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I THANK DR. BOB -- FOR COMING HERE AND STARTING THE PLEDGE. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US. I WANT TO THANK SHERIFF HARDWICK FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY -- FOR BEING HERE. -- IS WORKING TODAY SO SHE CANNOT BE HERE. I WANT TO THANK -- AND SAMANTHA AT SMART PAUSE -- I WANT TO THANK LIEUTENANT COLE BURRELL. MANY YEARS AGO , SHE WAS ONE OF THE SENIOR HANDLERS -- I WANT TO THANK CRAIG MAGUIRE , HE IS ON LEAVE WITH HIS FAMILY. CRAIG REALLY GUIDED ME THROUGHOUT MY CAREER , AND MADE ME A BETTER HANDLER AND K-9 TRAINER. AS YOU CAN SEE, AND JUDGE HAS PUT ON SOME POUNDS. HE HAS RETIREMENT WAIT ON HIM. HE IS DOING WELL, HE IS FLOURISHING. I THINK AT THIS POINT, HE DOES NOT MISS A MEAL. I'M SO PROUD OF HIM. WE HAD EIGHT AMAZING YEARS TOGETHER. I CANNOT EXPRESS WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME IN MY CAREER. I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW, JUDGE SENT YOU ALL A MESSAGE. WE HAVE A BIG RECEPTION FOR HIM TODAY AT 11:00. IT IS GOING TO BE AT SMART PAWS. -- I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE . THANK YOU.

COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE -- THIS ANIMAL HERE HAS BECOME A

[00:10:06]

WITH THAT BEING SAID, EVERYTHING HAS DETERRED THINGS FROM HAPPENING ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE. YOU HAVE NO CLUE, THESE MEN AND WOMEN, THE HOURS THEY PUT IN AND THE DEDICATION.

THIS IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON. WE'VE JUST ADDED TWO DOGS TO JAIL. ALONG WITH TWO DOGS IN OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS. I WANT TO SAY, MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. AND IS STANDING BEHIND US. -- PROVIDING FIRST-CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR K-9 TEAM. THIS DOG, JUDGE -- IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

AROUND, AND HE'S A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL THAT MAKES YOUR DAY SHY.

AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HIM .

INAUDIBLE ] -- COULD COME UP , WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME K9 OFFICER

JUDGE WITH -- >> I'M DEBORAH RHODES GIBSON, THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY. -- IN LIGHT OF OUR RECENT ACTIVITY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR CITIZENS TO REALIZE THAT COUNTY EMPLOYEES WEAR MANY HATS. WHILE MOST PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ME AS THE LIBRARY LADY, I HAVE ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY -- EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTERS. SO IN K9 OFFICER JUDGE'S YOUNGER DAYS, WE BECAME BEST ABIDES. MOST OF MY ACTIVITIES WERE THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. AND I BECAME FAMILIAR WITH K9 OFFICER JUDGE. -- THE OVERNIGHT SHIFT AT THE -- IS PRETTY QUIET. MOST OF THE GUYS ON THOSE SHIPS HAVE POOR TASTE IN MOVIES. SO IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP AWAKE. NOT FOR K9 OFFICER JUDGE, HE WOULD BRING YOU A TENNIS BALL. AS YOU ROLL THE BALL, YOU ARE BURNING CALORIES FOR THE DOG -- THAT WAS MY INTRODUCTION TO K9 OFFICER JUDGE. I WILL SAY MY OTHER LIFE, I AM A QUILTER. THE AMERICAN QUILTING SOCIETY HAS RECOGNITION THEY DO FOR K-9 OFFICERS . IT IS MY HONOR TO BE A PART OF THIS PRESENTATION THIS MORNING. K-9 A JUDGE AND DEPUTY RIGHT, ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY -- I AM PROUD AND HONORED TO PRESENT THE K-9 QUILT OF HONOR TO YOU. IN HONOR OF YOUR SERVICE TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THE K-9 QUILT OF HONOR -- IS A PRICELESS GIFT YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU HAVE PROVIDED.

AND THERE IS A THREE-PART MESSAGE THAT GOES WITH THE K-9 QUILT OF HONOR. THE K-9 QUILT OF HONOR WILL HELP TELL THE STORY OF JUDGE'S STORY. IT IS HONORING YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY , STAND IN HARM'S WAY IN TIMES OF CRISIS. IN THE K-9 QUILT OF HONOR IS TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICES. WILL TO SAY EVERY QUILT HAS A STORY. AND THIS IS A PART OF YOURS. THE STORY OF YOUR QUILT STARTS HERE. FOR A QUILTER WHO LOVES ST. JOHN'S COMMUNITY. AS OF TODAY, THE STORY OF THIS QUOTE BECOMES A PART OF YOUR STORY. IT IS MY HOPE YOU WILL KEEP THE QUOTE AS A TANGIBLE REMINDER THAT THE ST. JOHN'S COMMUNITY IS FOREVER IN YOUR DEBT FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE. ON BEHALF OF JUDGE, IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE K-9 QUILT OF HONOR. MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU , DEBORAH RHODES GIBSON, LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY.

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>> NOW WOULD LIKE TO SHOW A SHORT VIDEO AS A TRIBUTE TO JUDGE.

>> ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS , I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT JUDGE WITH THIS PROCLAMATION . ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.

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>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION?

[Public Safety Update]

>> SO MOVED. >> IT PASSES . THAT BRINGS US INTO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY UP DATE.

>> TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW THERE. -- A QUICK FEW COMMENTS.

MONDAY, AUGUST 12TH IS OUR BACK TO SCHOOL. EVERYONE IS GETTING GEARED UP. I'M SURE PARENTS ARE READY TO LET THE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 52,000 KIDS -- AROUND FOR 2000 KIDS IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS YEAR, YOU HAVE ABOUT 63 DEPUTIES IN THE SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE SAFE. WE HAVE ADDED TWO RESOURCES -- THEY INVESTIGATE ANY THREAT THAT COMES END. -- IN. AS THE SHERIFF MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE ADDING TWO CANINES TO THE SCHOOL. THEY WILL BE -- AND BE ABLE TO SMELL GUNMETAL . AND MAKE SURE KIDS ARE SAFE. OVER THE SUMMER, -- JUST FINISHED DOING ALL OF THE ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS. AND ALL OF THE REAL-TIME STUFF GOING ON WITH OUR TRADING. THEY ARE UP TO THE TASK TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS STAY SAFE. ALSO, DURING THE SUMMER -- THIS YEAR, THEY HAD ABOUT 235 STUDENT DRIVERS COME THROUGH. THAT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. I THINK WE LED THE STATE IN THE NUMBER OF KIDS WOMEN AT THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FIRE RESCUE THIS PAST WEEKEND. WE HAD THE STORM COME THROUGH. I DO NOT THINK THE CITIZENS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY KNOW HOW FORTUNATE THEY ARE TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP WE HAVE IN THE CHIEF OF POLICE -- TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED TO HANDLE ANY DISASTER RESPONSE IS NEEDED FOR THESE STORES. AND THE COMMISSION ALWAYS SUPPORTS US, GIVES US THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR OUR CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU .

>> STEPHANIE WHALEY , FIRE RESCUE. I WANT TO THANK CHIEF MCGEE FOR ALLOWING ME THIS MOMENT TO DISCUSS OUR CADET PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SINCE 2022. AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH AGE 14 AND 18 TO GET AN INSIDE LOOK AT A CAREER WITHIN FIRE RESCUE. THE PURPOSE OF OUR PROGRAM IS INTRODUCE THE KIDS TO OUR EQUIPMENT, TERMINOLOGY AND CULTURE, SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR FIRE AND -- IN ADDITION TO WORKING AT OUT FIRE AND EMT SCHOOLS -- THE PROGRAM ENFORCES RESPONSIBILITY, TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. ON AUGUST 12TH AT 6:00, WE WILL HOST OUR NEXT CADET OPEN HOUSE WITH THE HOPES OF HAVING MORE LOCAL TEAMS JOIN OUR PROGRAM. WITH ME TODAY ARE MEMBERS OF OUR 2024 SUMMER COMPETITION TEAM. THIS DEDICATED GROUP OF CADETS HAS TRAINED OVER 100 HOURS DURING THE SUMMER BREAK. THEIR TRAINING WAS TESTED THIS WEEKEND AT THE THIRD ANNUAL SUMMER HEATER GAMES HELD IN A -- DURING THE COMPETITION, THIS TEAM WENT UP AGAINST 27 OTHER TEAMS FROM FLORIDA AND GEORGIA.

I AM PROUD TO SAY, THEY COMPETED IN SEVEN ADVENTS SPECIAL EVENTS. MY HOPE IS WHEN THESE GENTLEMEN GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THEY WILL COME BACK AFTER THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEIR TRAINING AND THEY WILL BE THE FUTURE OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND FIRE RESCUE. YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM EACH ONE OF YOU GUYS REAL QUICK. WHY AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT .

>> HONESTLY, I REALLY LOVE IT.

ME UP FOR LIFE -- THIS TEACHING ME AN ENTIRE NEW WORLD.

[00:25:11]

>> I'VE WANTED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER EVER SINCE I WAS LITTLE KID.

FIREFIGHTER, I REALLY WANTED TO DO THAT. WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM -- I WAS LIKE, OKAY. THIS PROGRAM HAS REALLY OPENED UP A NEW WORLD TO ME. AND I REALLY THANK -- IT HAS OPENED A NEW WORLD, NEW POSSIBILITIES. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE ALL OF THINGS I'M SAYING AND FIRE RESCUE WITHOUT THIS PROGRAM. I THANK -- VERY MUCH FOR THIS

PROGRAM. >> THIS PROGRAM TO ME IS NOT JUST A CAMP OR PARTICIPATION OF IT, IT'S MORE LIKE A FAMILY.

AND I HAVE MY FAMILY AT HOME AND THEN MY FAMILY HERE. I LOVE ALL OF THESE GUYS. EVEN THOSE THAT ARE HERE. I LOVE EVERYBODY HERE. AND IT'S AN AMAZING FAMILY, I HOPE AND CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEW KID THAT TO JOIN. MY TIME HERE WAS AMAZING, ECONOMIC DESK I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CADETS.

[Conservation Update]

>> GRADUATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS .

>> WILL GO TO THE CONSERVATION UPDATE. GOOD MORNING .

>> MIKE ROBERTSON . HARD ACT TO FOLLOW AFTER JUDGE. TO GET STARTED, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU TODAY. MANY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO BOARD PRESENTATIONS ABOUT CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE -- HELP INFORM ABOUT PROJECT STATUS. WHAT IS IT, WHERE IT'S BEEN, WHERE IT IS NOW AND ULTIMATELY WHERE IT WILL BE. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS BEGAN REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT CONSERVATION AREAS. STAFF REALIZED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION -- OVER THE LAST YEAR, STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER EASY WAYS FOR THE PUBLIC TO FINALLY LEARN ABOUT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS ALL OF THE CONSERVATION AND -- IN THE COUNTY. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE ALL ARE AWARE OF THE INCREDIBLE -- AND THE CONTINUING EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE MORE CONSERVATION LANDS. WITH THAT, LET'S BEGIN BY WATCHING A TWO MINUTE FILM INTENDED FOR TOURISTS AND NEW RESIDENTS , THAT ILLUSTRATES ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS WHY WE ENJOY LIVING HERE.

>> ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING AREAS -- THE POPULATION OF 370,000. FILLED WITH ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE, EACH PASSIONATELY IN LOVE WITH THE PLACE TO CALL

HOME. >> WHAT BRINGS YOU IS A NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, WATCHING THE SUNRISE IN THE WARNING -- MORNING. THERE IS NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE.

>> CONSERVATION EFFORTS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO THIS EFFORT . AREAS ON THIS MAP REPRESENT JUST SOME OF THE LOCATIONS ARE DESIGNATED FOR PROTECTION. PLACES LIKE ALPINE GROVES PARK, -- PRESERVE, MOSES CREEK, TURNBULL CREEK AND MCCULLOUGH CREEK CONSERVATION AREA .

[00:30:02]

TO RESET IN QUIET. >> WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE ARE MISSING UNTIL WE GET OUTSIDE. AND THEN WE REMEMBER.

AND BECOME MORE TRUE TO WHO WE REALLY ARE. OPEN AND FREE --

>> OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO ENSURING A -- IS A SHARED JOURNEY. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL ALLIES. WE UNITE AS A COMMUNITY TO PROTECT NATURAL WORLD IN ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN OUR OWN BACKYARD TO EXPLORE. TOGETHER, WE CAN PRESERVE OUR VIBRANT HERITAGE AND EMBRACE EXTRAORDINARY BEAUTY THAT MAKES OUR COUNTY TRULY UNIQUE.

>> NEXT, MR. -- WILL PRESENT A STORYBOARD THAT CAPTURES WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AND WHERE WE ARE NOW. IT IS FITTING RYAN HIGHLIGHT THOSE LINES. HE'S BEEN WITH THE DIVISION FOR -- AND EXPERIENCE REFRESHING AND PERSONALLY MANY, IF NOT ALL THE

LANDS HE WILL DISCUSS. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYONE. I APOLOGIZE FOR SOME OF THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE. THAT VIDEO WAS A BEAUTIFUL INTRODUCTION TO THE SHOWCASE OF THE COUNTY'S BOUNTIFUL RESOURCES. MY NAME IS RYAN OAK, I'M A STAFF MEMBER OF THE -- THIS CONSERVATION LINE STORYBOARD WAS COMPILED BY GROWTH MANAGEMENT -- SHOWS THE CONSERVATION LANDS THROUGHOUT ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AND WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE -- THE STORYBOARD IS A HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE LANDS. THIS IS NOT AN ENTIRELY EXHAUSTIVE LIST. CHECK OUT MORE INFO BY VISITING THE COUNTY -- RECREATIONAL LANDS , AND THE FLORIDA SERVICES.

FIRST, THE PROPERTY WILL SCHOOL TO -- SCROLL TO WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS EARLY AS 1935. IF YOU NEVER VISITED THE VERY POPULAR -- UP MY BOAT -- IT HIGHLIGHTS BOTH CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. THE PROPERTY IS MANAGED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS. AS A NATIONAL MONUMENT, PRESERVED SINCE 1742 -- THAT IS THE SOUTHERN APPROACH TO SAINT AUGUSTINE. PROTECTS 300 ACRES OF DUNES, MARCH -- MARSH -- A LONGER HAVE ANASTASIA STATE PARK. IT WAS ACQUIRED IN 1949. ON THE NORTHERN TIP OF ANASTASIA ISLAND. WHERE THERE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF MARITIME -- WITH HUNDREDS OF CAMPING SITES, KAYAK METALS -- ANASTASIA INCLUDES ACRES OF SALTWATER'S AND A SALTWATER LAGOON, WHICH HAS DOLPHINS, MANATEES -- SAND DUNES PROVIDE HABITAT FOR FEDERALLY ENDANGERED ANASTASIA ISLAND BEACH GOERS, WHICH IS FOUND ONLY ON ANASTASIA ISLAND.

IN 1950, -- WAS ESTABLISHED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 95 AND U.S. ONE -- ON THE COUNTY'S SOUTHERN BORDER. -- DONATED THE LAND TO THE STATE. THE PARK IS NAMED AFTER -- DEER, TURKEYS, EAGLES AND BOBCAT ROAMED THE PROPERTY.

THEIR CAMPSITES, A PLAYGROUND, TRAILS AND A RAMP.

] NEXT, IN 1980, -- PARK EAST AND WEST WAS ACQUIRED BY THE STATE. AND IS MANAGED BY THE COUNTY. THE PARK IS NAMED AFTER FRANK -- A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. OFFERED PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS AND HAS A BOAT

[00:35:05]

AND THEN EXPANDED IN 1985. ONE OF 30 NATIONAL -- FRESHWATER PINES AND COASTAL DUNES. VISITORS CAN SEE MILES OF TRAILS -- TORTOISES AND FISH. THERE'S ALSO A VISITOR CENTER, LOCATED ON THE COASTAL HIGHWAY. ALONG WITH ONE OR RIVER -- INAUDIBLE ] CULTURAL RESOURCES INCLUDE SEVERAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ACROSS -- NEXT, LOCATED ALONG STATE ROAD 13, AND 1988, THE COUNTY ACQUIRED -- AS A PRESERVATION PROPERTY. IN THE SAME YEAR, THE FOURTH OF CREEK COUNTY PARK WAS ESTABLISHED.

WITH ACCESS THE ST. JOHNS RIVER TRAILS -- LOCATED ALONG -- NORTH OF THE AIRPORT, -- WAS ACQUIRED BY THE DISTRICT IN 1993 TO PROTECT -- FLATWOODS, WILDLIFE HABITAT. I THINK THERE IS A PHOTO OF THE PLATFORM HERE. ON STATE ROAD 206, THE OVER 2000 ACRE MOSES CREEK CONSERVATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1997 AND PROTECTS -- THE AREA OFFERS HIKING TRAILS AND WELL-MAINTAINED HAND IN ACQUIRING THIS PROGRESS. NEXT, WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO THAT IS ALSO ON THIS STORYBOARD . IN 1999, THE COUNTY COMMISSION ACQUIRED -- WATERWAY PARK. JUST NORTH OF THE -- THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST PROPERTIES RECOMMENDED BY THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY IN THE ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

THERE IS A WALKING PATH AND OF YOU TO THE SOUTH . THAT'S A PRETTY NICE NATURAL FEATURE. ALPINE GROVES PARK WAS ACQUIRED -- THIS PICTURESQUE AND HISTORIC PARK IS IN THE SWITCHMAN AREA ALONG -- SEVERAL STRUCTURES FROM THE 19TH CENTURY CAN BE VIEWED ALONG THE WALKING PATHS . INCLUDING STABLES, IPAQ AND BARN WALKING TRAILS . ENVISAGED MACY TORTOISES, HOGS NEXT, WE HAVE THE -- PRESERVE. MANAGED BY NESTLED BETWEEN JUULING 10 RACE TRACK ROAD. THEY HAVE HIKING TRAILS THROUGH CENTRAL HABITAT. THE NEXT YEAR, -- ACTIVELY ACQUIRED THE WARDS CREEK PRESERVATION. THIS IS NEAR SAINT ROAD 16 -- AND IS PART OF THE FLOOD PLANE -- NEXT, IN 2003, KANSAS STATE

[00:40:01]

IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THE ROLE OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY FOR THE GREENWAYS AND PASSIVE RECREATION -- 45 ACRE RIVERTOWN WATERFRONT -- SHOWS MANY EXAMPLES OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS . NEXT, LESS THAN A MILE SOUTH OF THIS BUILDING, AND EAST OF U.S. ONE -- WHICH WAS ACQUIRED BY THE COUNTY AND STATE. IT INCLUDES TWO FORMER 18TH-CENTURY -- THE MUSEUM AND BOARDWALK WELCOMES VISITORS WITH THE ORIGINAL FIRST -- WITH FUNDING ASSISTANCE FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

HAS ACCESS AND GORGEOUS VIEWS FOR FAMILY SUNSETS. THIS LOCATION OF ALAN DINI'S HISTORIC -- -- HE WAS THE FIRST -- TO SERVE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

INAUDIBLE ] THE DISTRICT ACQUIRED OVER 20,000 ACRES IN THE CENTRAL ST. JOHNS COUNTY. KNOWN AS THE -- SWAMP CONSERVATION AREA. AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 95. -- PROVIDE ACCESS HIKING TRAILS . THE PROPERTY HAS SWAMPS, CYPRUS DOAN'S AND -- NEXT, WE HAVE THE LUTHER HAD SHE PARK -- THE PARK IS LOCATED ONLINE FULLY OWNED BY -- KENNEDY. IN THE 1940S -- WAS CREATED BY -- THE HISTORIC COUNTY WAS DESIGNATED -- IN 2015. NEXT, WE HAVE THE COUNTY 760 ACRE -- WHICH INCLUDES RESTORATION OF FORMER -- WETLAND CREATION AND PRESERVATION. THE CAPTAIN CONDUCTS ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF THE HABITAT . HERE, WE HAVE A SCROLLING MECHANISM, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE PROPERTY CHANGED OVER TIME. ON THE RIGHT, YOU SEE WHERE THE PROPERTY WAS FOR. THEY HAVE THESE EXISTING PONDED FEATURES. WE CONVERTED THOSE PONDS INTO A WETLAND -- IN THE PROPERTY CHANGED THERE. NEXT, WE HAVE ANOTHER VIDEO , THIS IS ALSO A DISTRICT MANAGED -- IT CONTAINS FLOODPLAIN SWAMPS INAUDIBLE ] THE DEEP CREEK ROMA WAS ACQUIRED A FEW YEARS LATER

[00:45:01]

THIS IS LOCATED TO THE WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF 13TH NORTH JOE ASHTON ROAD . THE PARK PROVIDES A FORESTED AREA, AND THE ST. JOHNS RIVER BOAT RAMP. IN 2006 THE -- RESERVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF CONSERVATION AREA. THE PRESERVE IS A PART OF -- VISITORS ENJOY OVER THREE MILES OF TRAIL AND A KAYAK LOUNGE AT THE SOUTHERN OFFICE. DEEP CREEK STATE FOREST IS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF -- IT WAS MANAGED BY ACCESS TO THIS PROPERTY. IN 2007, -- STATE FOREST WHAT ESTABLISHED. IT IS MANAGED THROUGH THE FOREST SERVICE. 500 ACRE COMBINED EAST AND WEST TRACKS -- IN 2008, THE OVER 500 ACRE -- WAS ACQUIRED BY THE DISTRICT. THE PROPERTY PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION . THE 18 ACRE -- WAS PURCHASED BY THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IN 2009 -- LOCATED ON -- AND IS HOME TO THE ANASTASIA ISLAND THE MOSES CREEK ROMA IS 450 ACRES COMBINED , PURCHASED BY THE BOARD AND LOCATED NEAR MOSES CREEK WATERSHED. NEAR 206 AND U.S. ONE. WITHIN TWO SEPARATE TRACKS, HABITATS PRESERVED -- FLATWOODS AND FRESHWATER WETLANDS. NEXT, WE HAVE A VIDEO OF THE MCCULLOUGH CREEK CONSERVATION AREA, ONE OF THE COUNTY'S LARGEST CONTRIBUTION PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS TO DATE. 1400 ACRES. ALONG WITH RESERVATION PROTECTING AND ENHANCING WATER QUALITY . IT ALSO PROVIDES RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

INAUDIBLE ] IT WAS PURCHASED BY -- IN 2018. WITH EXISTING HIKING AND BIKING TRAILS. THE -- PROPERTIES ALSO A REGIONAL -- RIGHT NOW, IT IS CLOSED BUT WE ARE REOPENING IT .

INAUDIBLE ] PLANTED PINES -- 150 TREES PER ACRE. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TREES WILL BE PRESERVED ACROSS THE 1400 ACRE PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY WILL BE TREATED FOR ANY INVASIVE SPECIES. -- WILL BE USED TO RESTORE AND PROMOTE NATIVE LAND AND WILDLIFE. THE NEXT WHEN WE HAVE IS THE SIX MILE CREEK PRESERVE. THIS WAS FIRST REQUIRED BY THE NONPROFIT GROUP -- IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF OTHER GROUPS ACQUIRING CONSERVATION LANDS IN THE COUNTY. AT THE LONG SIX MILE CREEK. -- CRAB SHACK RESTAURANT.

HAS BEEN PRESERVED UNDER CONSERVATION. THAT'S ON STATE ROAD 13 NORTH. IN LATE 2022, 30 ACRE SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER PROPERTY AT THE WEST AND OF STATE ROAD -- WAS ACQUIRED.

INAUDIBLE ] THIS PROPERTY WILL OFFER PASSIVE RECREATION ALONG

[00:50:04]

INAUDIBLE ] ONCE THE STORYBOARD IS ON THE WEBSITE, -- TO FIND MORE INFORMATION . HOW TO APPLY IF YOU ARE OR KNOW OF -- FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION AFTER THE COMMERCIAL.

HAS REALLY ADDED TO OUR COMMUNITY. WHY ARE THEY DOING THAT NOW? AND IT HAS TO COME FROM GENERAL FUND . JUST A

QUESTION, I JUST WAS WONDERING. >> I DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT. AND WE TALK ABOUT THE NOCATEE RESERVE. THESE WERE UNDER LARGE DRI'S .

>> EXCELLENT. GOING FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT,

WOULDN'T IT? >> COMMISSIONER DEAN?

>> I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE STATE GRANTS -- I WILL NOT GO THERE YET. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT QUICKLY? FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW, IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO ADD A BEAUTIFUL PIECE TO THE COASTAL WATERWAY . IT'S ALONG THE SAN AUGUSTINE SHORE PROPERTY -- ABOUT 100 ACRES, MORE OR LESS. -- JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT I'M TALKING THERE. WHAT I'M HOPING

FOR IS A JOINT EFFORT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DEAN. I CAN SEE PART THREE OF OUR PRESENTATION IS GOING TO ADDRESS THE FUNDING AND SPECIFICALLY THE -- THE FARM AND RANCH. IF YOUR PREFERENCE IS FOR ME TO GO THROUGH THAT, I CAN GO THROUGH IT . OR I CAN DO AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.

ANYWAY? OU PREPARED TO DO THAT - >> YES, SIR.

>> I CAN WAIT. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. -- MANY OF US HERE ENJOY LIVING IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY BECAUSE OF MUCH OF THAT BEAUTY. I SO BLESSED TO BE THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR. -- COMING HERE TO INTERVIEW FOR THE POSITION , AND BEING AMAZED AT THE BEAUTY BEING PRESENTED. AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THERE. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE -- OUR DIVISION IS CHARGED WITH GIVING THE PUBLIC HOPE. TO PARTICIPATE AND SEE ] THEIR GOAL IS TO CONNECT THE COMMUNITY WITH NATURE AND LEARN

[00:55:08]

>> THANK YOU. >> I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A LONG PRESENTATION. I MAKE NO APOLOGY. I SAID THE -- PURPOSE WAS TO INFORM EVERYBODY. THAT SAID, WE HAVE A CONSERVATION MAP. THE SUM THAT CISCO -- LET THAT SINK IN. ABOUT 31% OF THE TOTAL LAND IN THE COUNTY -- SOMEONE LARGE TRACTS , OTHERS C EASEMENTS . YOU ASK STAFF TO -- RYAN PRESENTED INFORMS US THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THESE INCREDIBLE NATURAL LANDS, AND FORTUNATE OF THE EFFORTS TO THOSE WHO CONSERVE THEM. WE ARE NOT FINISHED. AS THE COUNTY GROWS, THE NEED TO CONSERVE LAND BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT , SAFEGUARDING HABITAT FOR FLORA AND FAUNA, AND MAINTAINING THE NATURAL SYSTEMS , MAKING SURE ST. JOHNS COUNTY STANDOUT AS AN EXAMPLE. HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THIS? WE ARE RESEARCHING FINDING ALTERNATIVE. LAND IS COSTLY. COMMISSIONER DEAN INDICATED THAT. AND FINDING WAYS TO FIND THAT LAND WILL HELP. ONE WAY IS TO PROVIDE AN OPTIONAL APPROACH. THAT WOULD BE BY HAVING A DONATION CHECKBOX AND UTILITY BILL THAT ALLOWS FOR ANYONE -- I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH FUNDING THAT WOULD PROVIDE, -- ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE THROUGH A CONSERVATION IMPACT FEE. THIS WOULD BE APPLIED IN THE SAME WAY -- AND SUBSEQUENT FEES . WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ANALYZING THOSE FEES , AND EXPECT TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION BEFORE THE BOARD PRETTY SOON. WITH THAT, LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR CURRENT AND UPCOMING -- WITH A SUMMARY FROM ADAM.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO COME TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT OUR

[01:00:01]

MOST OF THE MONEY IS PASSED THROUGH GRANTS TO THE STATE.

USUALLY -- APPLIED FOR THE STATE TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE. WE WILL GET TO THIS LATER BECAUSE THEIR PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH THE -- THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS A CHANCE TO PARTNER TO ASSIST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. THIS IS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA . THAT WAS ALSO THE PROGRAM MENTIONED , FEDERAL FUNDS WERE BROUGHT IN, ABOUT $6 MILLION TO INCREASE THE LAND ACQUISITION.

TRANSPORTATION, THIS GENERALLY DEAL WITH RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM. AND IF WE GO ON TO OUR STATE FUNDS DEPARTMENT, WE ARE LOOKING AT PARK ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. I KNOW THE BOARD IS FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS. -- WHICH IS WHAT A RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND LAND ACQUISITION FOR THE FOR THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST. WE HAVE THE FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM.

AND THE -- THAT CAME OUT OF THE 2024 SESSION , SCHEDULED FOR THE 2025 PROJECT. IS ABOUT $250 MILLION FOR 17 COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA FOR LAND ACQUISITION. ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS ONE OF THOSE. AND WE ARE LOOKING TO HELP MATCH THESE FUNDS WITH -- FINALLY, IN THE AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FAMILY LINES PROTECTION PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED A HANDSOME AMOUNT OF FUNDING , COMING OUT OF A 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

PARTNER WITH THE STATE TO HELP BRING SOME -- TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY . NOW ONTO THE PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE ALSO AT PLAY HERE. WE HAVE THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FEDERATION.

AS THE BOARD PROBABLY RECALLS, THEY RECEIVE A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDING. SOME OF IT IS FROM OTHER AGENCIES. THEY WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES AND PRIVATE CORPORATIONS TO DEVELOP FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ONES IS THE NATIONAL COASTAL -- ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS APPLIED FOR THIS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DOWNTOWN PROPERTY. WE'VE MADE IT INTO THE FINAL LEVEL. FOR THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION, THEY ARE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH A SITE -- WE ARE TRYING TO COORDINATE THAT BY HELPING TO BRING THEM DOWN HERE AND SEE HOW VALUABLE THE POTENTIAL IS. AND ALSO, THE KEY PARTNER IS THE NORTH FOR THE LAND TRUST. THEY FACILITATE MORE COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO LAND ACQUISITION. THEY ARE INVOLVED DIRECTLY IN THE PROCESS. THEY ALSO PARTNER WITH -- TO LEVERAGE THE FUNDS TO MAKE THE LAND ACQUISITIONS POSSIBLE. AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE MORE SPECIFIC, STARTING WITH THE BILLY PROPERTY FIRST. THERE IS A PICTURE OF THE BILLY FARM AND RANCH. THERE ARE THREE ACRES THAT HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO JULINGTON CREEK.

THERAPEUTIC EQUINE OPPORTUNITY. THE PROPERTY IS ALSO -- CONTAINED REMNANT OF THE TRAILS. THE FLORIDA BRANCH WETLANDS ARE TO THE EAST OF THE PROPERTY. LOOKING AT CONSERVATION STRATEGY TO MOVE WATERFRONT -- HAS BEEN Y. - IDENTIFIED IN BY THE PARK AND RECREATION -- THAT CAN BE SIMPLY PURCHASED FOR NEW LINE. THROUGH GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS -- WE WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THE INTERIOR -- AS A CANDIDATE IN STATE AND FEDERAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT -- I AM

[01:05:03]

TOGETHER WITH THE NORTH FOR THE LAND TRUST, -- AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT TO GET THIS PRIORITIZE.

MOVING FAST. APPLICATIONS ARE BEING SUBMITTED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER SOON TO THE FEDERAL PROGRAM. WE ARE LOOKING AT -- PROBABLY BY DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR. IN THE PROCESS, -- BEFORE EVERYTHING IS FINALIZED. MOVING ON TO THE -- WE HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THIS AND WHERE WE ARE AT. JUST AN OVERVIEW ON THIS, IT'S 195 ACRES OF LAND 170 ACRES, WITH TWO SMALLER TRACKS UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENTS CURRENTLY. 89 ACRES -- 81 ACRES ARE WETLANDS . I KNOW STAFF HAS BEEN OUT TO THIS PROPERTY. THEY TOOK THESE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES HERE. SOME OF IT LOOKS LIKE A PAINTING.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LINE AND A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR CONSERVATION. LOOKING MORE SPECIFICALLY AT THE CONSERVATION STRATEGY, THE BOARD PRIORITIZED $1 MILLION -- ON TOP OF THAT, THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA BLUE WAY THAT I MENTIONED. IN THE 2024 FLORIDA FOREVER CLARITY LIST . IS DESIGNATED AS A CLIMATE CHANGE LINE. THERE'S A BELL FIVE OR SIX FLORIDA FOREVER LIST. YOU HAVE TO BE ON ONE OF THEM. BE ELIGIBLE FOR LAND ACQUISITION FUNDS FOR FLORIDA FOREVER ALSO MAKES YOU ELIGIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING MONEY FROM THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET. THAT'S ABOUT 250 MILLION DOLLARS. I KNOW THE DELTONA CORPORATION HAS MOVED FORWARD IN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THOSE IMPLEMENTING FUNDS.

IN ADDITION, THIS PROPERTY OF OF COURSE -- BETWEEN THOSE TWO, WE ARE LOOKING AT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FINES THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS. WHICH IS TYPICALLY STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS INAUDIBLE ] CAN ONLY GO UP TO APPRAISED VALUE, NOT ABOVE THE.

ANY -- THE BOARD PROVIDE, WE ARE RESTRICTED TO THE APPRAISED VALUE.

ABOVE -- MOVING ON FURTHER, I WANT TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE -- THE AREA OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS UNIQUE. YOU HAVE THE INLAND, YOU HAVE SOME RIVER. YOU OF COURSE HAVE GREENLAND'S. AND RESERVE. AND WE LOOK AT THE MAP -- THE AREA PROVIDES GREAT PROTECTION FOR STORMS AND OTHER STRESSORS FOR ENVIRONMENT AND RESTORATIVE EFFORTS WITH WIDESPREAD BENEFITS . THAT IS NOT EVEN MENTIONING THE HISTORIC ASPECTS OF THE AREA NEAR MATANZAS AND OTHER LONG COMMUNITIES AROUND THEIR -- THERE . ONE HOLISTIC AREA THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM LOOKING AT

[01:10:08]

CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU

MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU, ADAM.

COMMISSIONER DEAN? >> AS USUAL, ADAM DOES A THOROUGH PRESENTATION. I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH HIS

DELIVERY. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. >> I REALIZE WE'RE SPENDING SOME TIME ON THIS TOPIC. CAN I BORROW YOU FOR A MOMENT? DRI'S WERE MENTIONED -- DRI'S NO LONGER EXISTS.

>> NEW DRI. WE STILL HAVE OUR EXISTING DRI'S. WE ARE TRYING

TO FIGURE OUT 1000 UNITS. >> IN 2022, I ASKED YOU GUYS TO KEEP TRACK OF THE LAND BEING PRESERVED WITHIN DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE APPROVED. YOU TOLD THE BOARD AT THE TIME IT WAS ABOUT -- ACRES, IS THAT ACCURATE? AND DID YOU KEEP THE

NUMBER FOR 2023? >> WE DID. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE UP IN THE SAME AREA. MAYBE A LITTLE LESS , BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS COMING IN. THAT IS WHERE WE KNOW THE

ACTUAL -- >> I KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF DENIALS IN 2023. BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL PUT INTO PRESERVATION THROUGH THAT DEVELOPMENT.

AS MUCH WE SEE, ESPECIALLY ON FACEBOOK, WE'RE TOLD COSTLY THAT WE ARE PAVING OVER THE COUNTY. WE CAN LOOK AT THAT LENGTHY PRESENTATION. WE HAVE 117,000 ACRES OF CONSERVATION.

INCLUDING QUADRUPLING THE FINDING FOR LAND ACQUISITION.

EVERY YEAR WE ARE STILL ADDING NEW LANDS FOR PRESERVATION CONSERVATION OPEN SPACES. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ON THE RECORD. 2009, AND PRIOR TO THAT, THERE WAS AMAZING WORK DONE BY HENRY DEAN AND OTHERS .

LOT OF ACREAGE PUT INTO CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION.

IS THAT ACCURATE? THANK YOU . >> I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE OUT BY SAYING, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO STAFF. THAT WAS INCREDIBLY INFORMATIVE. NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT OUR RESIDENTS. I WANT TO

[Deletions to Consent Agenda]

[01:15:03]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO PULL FIVE, SIX, 19 AND 28.

>> WILL PULL FIVE, SIX, 19 AND 28, AND ADD THOSE TO THE END OF

THE REGULAR AGENDA. >> COMMISSIONER ALAIMO?

>> I HAVE NOT. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST?

>> NINE. >> COMMISSIONER DEAN?

>> I WAS GOING TO ADD TO PULL 28, BUT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH

BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH. >> WE WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON CONSENT AGENDA COMP OVER, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

>> DISTRICT 3, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, COUNTY COMMISSIONER -- I WAS SO GRATEFUL WITH THE STORE BECAUSE I FINALLY GOT TO CLEAN MY HOUSE. ANYWAY, WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA IS, THE FINAL PLAT FOR SEABROOK , WATERSONG. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESERVATION, THE LAND PRESERVATION, WE ARE DOING IT WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WHAT DID THEY JUST OFFER? $500 MILLION FOR ACQUIRED PROPERTIES. MY PROBLEM IS, WHEN THESE DEVELOPERS ARE SO KINDLY DONATING PROPERTY, THEY ARE FILLING IN OUR WETLANDS. WE HAVE DONE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES . WHY ARE THESE ENVIRONMENTAL MAPS IN CRITICAL AREAS NOT BEING PLACED ON THE DEVELOPERS? SURE, THEY GO AHEAD AND DONATE THEIR PROPERTIES WITHIN THE DRI'S, WHICH -- THEY WERE NOW REQUIRED 2500 ACRES. I AM STILL NOT CLEAR ON THAT. WE CAN'T GET ANY NUTS AND BOLTS PUT IN THE PLAN OTHER THAN THESE POSTER BOARDS . OF COURSE YOU WANT TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT. WE WANT ROADS AND BRIDGES. BUT THESE CONSENT ITEMS THAT ARE CRAMMED IN , ESPECIALLY ON ELECTION-YEAR , AND BEFORE THIS COMPREHENSIVE LAND PLAN , YOU ALL REALLY NEED TO ITEMIZE THIS. MR. WHITEHURST SAID LAST TIME WE COULD HAVE YOU ALL CALLED ON ALL OF THESE AGENDAS, BECAUSE THEY ARE CRYPTIC. THEY REALLY DO NOT SAY WHAT IS GOING ON. AND THE OTHER AGENDA ITEM, WITH THE SHERIFF WAS ASKING FOR -- I DON'T KNOW WHICH AGENDA ITEM THAT IS. BECAUSE THERE'S 32 OF THEM, THAT IS A LOT. TO BE RUBBER-STAMPED. THIS IS YOU RUBBER-STAMPING RIGHT HERE. APPROVAL. ANYWAY. THANK YOU ALL

VERY MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> I WILL SAY FIVE AND SIX DID -- THAT THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION ON THIS. I WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE TRANSFERS AND WHAT IS ABOUT.

BRIDGEWATER PUD IS GETTING LOT. I FOR ONE WANT TO KNOW HOW IT WILL BE USED. I DON'T KNOW, JUST AN OPEN DISCUSSION. I AM HAPPY THOSE -- IT JUST MAKES A COMPLETE PACKAGE. I AM VERY HAPPY. I HAVE TO SAY, TO SEE ITEM NUMBER 20 ON THE LIST. AS WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, -- MONEY IS A PART OF THAT. I KNOW ADAM WILL DO A GOOD JOB WORKING THAT INTO HIS DAILY SCHEDULE. THAT IS A JOKE. I HAVE TO SAY, I'M VERY HAVE

[01:20:07]

>> GOOD MORNING. AND FLAVIN. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DEAN AND COMMISSIONER JOSEPH FOR BOTH PULLING ITEM 28. I SENT YOU ALL A MEMO ABOUT IT.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS -- CONTRACTS, THAT WAS NOT DONE.

THE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT -- THAT IS NOT RIGHT. ALSO, THE POLICY QUESTION. THANK YOU BOTH FOR PULLING THIS. THERE TOO MANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. -- RIDE ALONG PROGRAM WITH THE FBI. THE STAFFERS WERE SUPPOSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND NEVER ACTUALLY GOT TO -- BUT THANK YOU TO 40% OF THE -- I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE RIDE ALONG PROGRAM UNTIL WE ANSWER QUESTIONS.

ABOUT. LET'S NOT HAVE ANY MORE -- TALK FROM THE COMMISSION.

>> -- JUST TO BELT AROUND A LITTLE BIT. OF COURSE, IT IS YOUR DECISION. BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF SOMEONE WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IF HE GETS PULLED -- I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT PRESERVATION AND PUTTING THINGS ON IT DEVELOPERS. I'M ALSO A CONSERVATIONIST . ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS ONE OF THE FEW COUNTIES THAT IS IN THAT DENSITY. DEVELOPERS WOULD BE MUCH MORE INCLINED TO BE ABLE TO DONATE SOME OF THESE LIEN -- IF YOU PUT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT OVER IT, IF WE COULD GIVE THE SAME DENSITY, THAT COULD DO A LONG WAY TO INAUDIBLE ] WHAT WAS SLIGHTLY MENTIONED, IS HOW MANY PRIVATE -- ARE OUT THERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THROUGH PRIVATE MITIGATION PROVIDERS THAT WAS NOT EVEN MENTIONED. AND IS SOMETHING THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY DOES SUPPORT. THANK YOU.

>> I THANK YOU FOR PULLING ALL OF THE ITEMS YOU HAVE CHOEN.

IF YOU COULD POLL SEVEN AS WELL THAT WOULD BE USEFUL. I THINK THAT IS ALL WE COULD POLL -- IF WE COULD PULL THOSE THAT WOULD

BE GREAT. >> CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. I APPRECIATE THESE BEING TOLD TO DO. AND FIRSTLY, I CANNOT STAY UNTIL FIVE, 6:00 OR 7:00 TONIGHT. I WILL BE MISSING ALL OF THESE THINGS. THE THING IS, I THINK WHENEVER YOU PULL THESE THINGS, UNLESS IT IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW, THAT IT BE PUT AT THE END OF THESE MEETINGS. WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT THE RESIDENTS, TAXPAYERS OF THIS CITY COUNTY, WHO SIT THROUGH THESE MEETINGS -- THEY ARE NOT PAID. DEVELOPERS AND THEIR TEAMS, LAWYERS INCLUDED, NOTHING PERSONAL -- ARE PAID TO SIT IN THESE MEETINGS. WE NEED TO DO THIS MORE OFTEN SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAXPAYERS PAYING EVERYBODY, DO NOT HAVE TO SIT HERE AS LONG. EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE TO STAY INTO THE END, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET LUNCH AND COME BACK. BUT I FEEL THIS IS A COURTESY TO THE TAXPAYERS. AND WE NEED TO STOP BEING AS ACCOMMODATING TO THOSE WHO CAN SIT IN THESE MEETINGS FOR HOURS

[01:25:03]

>> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?

SAY NONE, -- >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

[Approval of Consent Agenda]

>> CAN WE GO AHEAD AND POLL SEVEN. WE CAN MAKE THEM ALTOGETHER, FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN. FOR ONE AGENDA ITEM.

>> THAT WORKS. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT

[Additions/Deletions to Regular Agenda]

[Approval of Regular Agenda]

>> THANK YOU. IT SOUNDS GOOD. >> ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS?

[Item 1]

>> SO MOVED. >> PLEASE VOTE . THAT PASSES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING OUR TRANSITION TO SCC FOR SOLID -- SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT. MR. -- THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

INAUDIBLE ] I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR TRANSITION TO FCC ENVIRONMENTAL AS OUR NEW -- FOR WASTE AND COLLECTION SERVICES.

TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND, WE WENT THROUGH A SELECTION PROCESS FOR NOT ONLY QUALIFICATION BUT PRICING TO CONTINUE THE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES. WE BROUGHT A CONTRACT TO BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN DECEMBER TO MOVE FORWARD. THE REASON WHY WE BROUGHT THE CONTRACT WAS TO PREPARE FOR THE TRANSITION AND TO OUR NEW CONTRACT TIMEFRAME.

OUR CONTRACT TIMEFRAME STARTED ON AUGUST 1ST, 2024. THAT WAS LAST THURSDAY. -- IT FELT LIKE WE WERE IN GOOD STANDING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SYSTEM TO CONTINUE THE LEVEL OF SERVICES WE EXPECT. NOT ONLY FROM THE COUNTY STAFF, BUT ALSO ST.

JOHNS COUNTY AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THAT FAILS. IT DID NOT MEET OUR EXPECTATIONS. RIGHT NOW, ST.

JOHNS COUNTY -- HAVE CRAFTED A LETTER TO PROVIDE TO FCC THAT THEY ARE NOT MEETING OUR EXPECTATIONS. THIS STARTED LAST THURSDAY. AS OF YESTERDAY, WE ARE STILL BEHIND SCHEDULE ON OUR SERVICE LEVELS OR ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THEY DID MAKE STRIDES FORWARD ON MONDAY. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE. RIGHT NOW, PER OUR CONTRACT, ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS DRAFTED UP A LETTER -- TO NOTICE SCC OF THE VIOLATIONS OF THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. AND FAILURE TO FULLY COMPLY WITH THE TRANSITION PLAN. THE OVERVIEW OF THE RESIDENTS IN COLLECTIONS SERVICES -- AND SPILLAGE AND LITTER -- THOSE ARE LETTERS WE HAVE DRAFTED RIGHT NOW THAT WE WILL SUBMIT TODAY WITH THE INTENT THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE IS AN ACTION PLAN AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. PART OF THE CONTRACT ALLOWS ST.

JOHNS COUNTY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO GET US WHERE WE WANT TO BE . ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS -- INTERNAL RESOURCES . THOSE WILL BE REIMBURSED TO THE COUNTY AND MADE WHOLE . PART OF THE AGREEMENT ALLOWS US TO DO SO.

[01:30:01]

GETTING QUESTIONS ANSWERED. WE HAVE VERY FRANK CONVERSATION.

THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT.

WE HAVE A FULL CONTRACT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO WE NEED TO

DO. >> THANK YOU, MR. CALDWELL.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. >> THANK YOU. BEFORE I MAKE A COMMENT OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS , -- THESE ARE REMARKS I HAD BACK IN DECEMBER, BASED ON

PLEASE ROLL THAT? >> OBVIOUSLY, YOU AND YOUR STAFF SPENT TIME RESEARCHING ALL OF THE COMPANY THAT DID THE BIDS. I DON'T THE PAINSTAKING PROCESS. I NEVER HEARD OF FCC.

I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT ASSURANCES DO WE HAVE IN THE CONTRACT IF THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING SERVICES -- IS THERE AN OFFRAMP FOR US IF WE CHOOSE THEM AND THEY ARE NOT LIVING UP TO OUR HIGH EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS CONTRACT , OR TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FINANCIALLY?

>> IF THEY ARE NOT MEETING OUR EXPECTATIONS OR PROVIDING SERVICES AS DEPICTED IN OUR CONTRACT, WE WILL DEFTLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE OURSELVES FROM THE CONTRACT IF THEY FAIL TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE. WE ACTUALLY HAVE THAT

AS PART OF THE CONTRACT. >> FORGIVE ME FOR REPEATING MYSELF, THAT IS IN WRITING? LEGALLY WE CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID?

>> YES. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR, TO COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. THERE ARE DEFAULT -- AND MECHANISM FOR -- FOR FAILURE TO PERFORM.

>> THANK YOU. FOR THE THIRD TIME, RELIABILITY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WITH THE CERTIFICATION, I EXPECTED TO BE JUST AS RELIABLE, IF NOT BETTER.

>> WE HAVE THE SAME EXPECTATION, COMMISSIONER.

>> YOUR EXPECTATION OF THE SAME AS MY EXPECTATION. I WENT THREE TIMES TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE EXPECTED OF FCC. THEY HEARD MY CONCERNS OF RELIABILITY. I'VE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF GIVING A THROUGH F GRADE TO FCC. I HOPE YOU WILL INDULGE ME. WE HAVE HAD MISSED PICKUPS -- AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. THEY FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES. FOR YARD WASTE, I HAVE AN EMAIL IN MY INBOX THIS MORNING . THE SOMEBODY WHO'S YARD WASTE ARE NOT BEEN PICKED UP. THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING ALL WEEKEND.

THEY GET AN F. RECYCLING, AFTER. TRASH PICKUP, F. WITH THEY DID PICK UP RECYCLING, THERE WAS A NEIGHBOR IN SALT CREEK I WAS IN TOUCH WITH YESTERDAY. HE WAS AS NICE AS HE COULD BE, BUT FRUSTRATED. HE PICKED UP RECYCLING, THERE WAS BROKEN GLASS ALL OVER THE STREETS. EVEN WHEN THE PICKUP -- THE QUALITY, THEY GET AN F. THEY TOLD YOUR STAFF THAT PICKED UP WOULD BE CAUGHT UP ON FRIDAY. AND THEN WE GOT AN EMAIL THAT SAID FCC SAID, THEY TOLD US TO PICK UP WOULD BE CAUGHT UP ON SATURDAY. WE HEARD THE SAME PROMISE ON SUNDAY. AS OF THIS MORNING, PICKUP IS STILL NOT CAUGHT UP FROM LAST WEEK. FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THEIR PROMISES, THEY GET AN F.

BUT IS NOT ALL BAD. ON SALESMANSHIP, THEY GET AN A+.

THEY WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE YOU, THEY WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE US THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS COUNTY.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE FAILED TO DO THAT. -- OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE FREE TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS , BUT I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ANYMORE. THEY HAVE FALLEN THROUGH. RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTING SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED. IF IT DOES NOT HAPPEN, I AM PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION. THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS, MADAM CHAIR. YOU HEARD WHAT WAS SAID BACK IN DECEMBER. DO YOU

[01:35:05]

HAVE ANY COMMENTS? >> MY COMMENT IS, I AGREE WITH YOU 100%. WE HAVE BEEN LACKLUSTER IN THE PICKUP. THEY TOLD US MISINFORMATION . ALL THE WORDS YOU SAID HAVE BEEN RELAYED TO THEM. I'M TRYING TO PUT ON A GOOD FACE APPEAR. THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WILL PROBABLY SEE ME DIFFERENTLY ON OTHER CALLS. WE ARE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT, OR THEY BETTER GET IT RIGHT FOR WE HAVE POSITIONS TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> COMMISSIONER ALAIMO? >> THANK YOU. YOUR COMMENTS WERE SPOT ON. WHAT IS OUR STAFF IS DOING TO HELP? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE STAFF OUT THERE PICKING UP TRASH WAXY

>> YES, WE'VE HAD -- SINCE SUNDAY. COLLECTING YARD WASTE AND GARBAGE. THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE SUNDAY, MONDAY , 100 HOURS HAVE BEEN CAULKED SO FAR. WE CONTINUE TO DO THE OPERATION STATE THAT HOPE TODAY. WE ARE DOCUMENTING EVERY HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS BEEN MISSED. EITHER THROUGH PHONE CALLS, EMAILS -- OR GOING TO SITES TO LOOK AT ROUTES. WE ARE DOCUMENTING WHAT

HAS BEEN MISSED. >> I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK . OBVIOUSLY DISAPPOINTED IN FCC. WHEN I THINK BACK TO THE CHEAPEST OPTION, IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE BEST OPTION.

>> , THEY HAVE BEEN A SHINING STAR. THEY ALWAYS COME THROUGH FOR US. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT DESERVE THE PRAISE.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.

>> AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH YOU AND BEEN BRIGHT ALL WEEKEND LONG. AND ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

INAUDIBLE ] CARS WERE TRYING TO GO IN AND OUT THROUGH CANS. CAN WE START NEGOTIATING WITH REPUBLIC AND GET OUR CREW BACK? THAT IS ALL WE WANT. WE WANT THE OLD PEOPLE BACK. AND WANT TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER PRICE WITH THEM IF THAT IS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T SEE ANY WAY OF SAVING THIS. I'M REALLY SORRY. I WAS THE ONE WHO VOTED AGAINST THEM IN THE BEGINNING. THAT IS MY SUGGESTION TO EVERYONE HERE. THANKS.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH . THIS WAS WITHOUT QUESTION A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN ROLLOUT. NOT TO MENTION, IT WAS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE . WHEN WE WERE -- THAT IS WHERE I CANNOT GET PAST IT. I CANNOT BE MORE FRUSTRATED OR DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST WEEK IN TERMS OF THIS ROLLOUT.

QUITE FRANKLY, THIS IS A SMALL COMMUNITY. I KNOW YOU WILL HAVE CONTRACTS ROLLING OUT SURROUNDING COUNTIES WITH OUR FRIENDS. IT IS NOT JUST US WHO ARE EXTREMELY UNHAPPY. IT IS SURROUNDING COUNTIES AS WELL. THAT BEING SAID, I LIKE TO HEAR

FROM FCC. >> COMMISSIONER?

>> YES. >> IS THE COUNTY PAYING FOR THE

900 HOURS? >> AS PART OF OUR CONTRACT WITH FCC, WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO -- TO ASSIST THEM IN THE

EFFORT. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING .

>> MY NAME IS CHARLES -- FOR THE RECORD. VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, ALSO MITCH -- OUR REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR FLORIDA OPERATIONS.

WANT TO START BY SAYING, WE ARE NOT HERE TO PROVIDE EXCUSES.

THE FIRST TWO DAYS WERE SUBPAR AT BEST. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

WE'VE MADE CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE STAFF , TWO TO THREE TIMES A DAY, I SPOKE TO SOME OF THE

[01:40:04]

MEMBERS. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

>> WHAT COMMITMENT CAN YOU MAKE TO THE PEOPLE OF ST. JOHNS

COUNTY? >> OUR COMMITMENT IS TO COLLECT EVERYBODY'S TRASH PROPERLY, SAFELY . THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT OUR REFERENCES STATED TO YOU. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO ON A REGULAR PRACTICE. WE ALWAYS PRE-DEPLOYED OTHER RESOURCES FROM OTHER AREAS TO HELP ON ANY TRANSITIONAL STARTUPS . BACK TO GETTING THE OLD PEOPLE BACK 80% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE -- THE ARTWORK FOR US, COMMISSIONER. AGAIN, WE WILL PICK UP EVERYTHING . OUR SENIOR OPERATION TEAM KNOWS WHERE WE ARE AT. WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY GREAT HE IS TALKING TO OUR BOSSES DAILY. WE UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE AND WHERE WE ARE

AT TODAY. WE MAKE NO SKUS US. >> ARE YOU AWARE THAT OUR ROUTINE WAS OUT UNTIL 10:00 P.M. -- NOT ONLY DO YOU COMPENSATE THEM -- BUT SHAKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR

HANDS. >> YES, SIR.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? WITH THAT, I WILL BRING IT BACK TO CALDWELL. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> AFTER HE SPEAKS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION .

>> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE LETTER OF

DEFAULT. >> CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? SEVEN DAYS? 30 DAYS? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR, TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS -- THEY WILL HAVE SEVEN DAYS UNDER THIS DEFAULT. YOU WILL ALSO BE SEEKING LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AS WELL.

>> DO WE HAVE THE OPTION, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS ENOUGH TIME. THAT IS MY ONLY CONCERN. I UNDERSTAND THAT ROLLOUTS ARE TRICKY. THIS IS TRICKIER THAN MOST.

>> THE SEVEN DAYS IS BY CONTRACT.

>> IF THEY DON'T DO THAT, WE WOULD TAKE FURTHER ACTION.

>> OKAY. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> I AM NEXT ON HERE. >>

>> I WANT TO SAY ONE THING. THIS IS BEEN AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER. WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT --

INAUDIBLE ] >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT AND START RENEGOTIATING WITH REPUBLIC AS SOON AS THE SEVEN DAYS OF -- I DO NOT KNOW LEGALLY HOW TO DO THAT. THAT IS MY MOTION IF

ANYONE WANTS TO DISCUSS THAT. >> I WILL SECOND IT.

>> WE HAVE REPUBLIC ALSO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING, WE CANNOT JUST GO BACK AND NEGOTIATE WITH

[01:45:04]

OFFER A FULL -- >> YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION. THE PROBLEM IS A -- THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO COMMENT ON MAJOR AND MINOR DECISIONS. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK THE BOARD CAN MAKE THE MOTION. SECOND TO THAT

DAYS -- >> CAN I MAKE THE MOTION AFTER

SEVEN DAYS? >> IF THE DEFAULT IS NOT --

YES, YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION. >> AND WE DO THAT IN AN

EXPEDITED MANNER? >> YES, WE CAN. HOW WOULD I SAY

THAT? I WANT TO SAY IT RIGHT. >> I THINK YOU NEED TO WAIT

UNTIL THE SEVEN DAYS PASSES. >> I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO.

HENRY ? >> HEAR ME OUT, IN THE EVENT THAT THIS CONTRACT IS NOT CURED , WE ARE DIRECTING STAFF -- THAT WAY WE'LL HAVE THEM ASSUMING IT IS NOT CURED -- SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AUGUST 20TH. IF STAFF DETERMINES PROBLEMS NOT CURED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS -- TO TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT

>> IN AN EXPEDITED MANNER. SECOND-PERIOD

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND-PERIOD LEFT EAR PUBLIC

COMMENT. >> WE WILL NOT HEAR PUBLIC, ON

AGENDA ITEM 1A . >>

>> IS THAT A VALID MOTION? >> -- YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT REQUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU. >> IT'S KIND OF LIKE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH VOTED AGAINST THIS CONTRACT. I ASKED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS. NOT ONE WAS ANSWERED. IN FACT, OUR -- ARE UNINFORMED BY PUBLIC COMMENT. I WOULD ASK YOU TO ASK THE CLERK, PLEASE PULL THE TRANSCRIPT OF EVERYTHING I ASKED YOU ON DECEMBER 19TH.

MY MOTHER'S OFFICE IN -- COLLEGE. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS QUITE FREQUENTLY, FROM THIS COUNTY TO WASHINGTON, D.C. , TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PEOPLE. OVERCHARGED US, PROVIDE POOR SERVICE. WHETHER IT THE PENTAGON, THE MILITARY , OR SERVICES AS SIMPLE AS PICKING UP GARBAGE. WE ARE NOT DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OF MANAGING. I ASK YOU TO ASK THE STAFF ABOUT WHO VETTED THIS COMPANY. WHO DOES A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION? WHY ISN'T THERE A CONTRACT OR PERSON IN CHARGE OF VETTING, INVESTIGATING , OR CHECKING OUT THEIR PERFORMANCE ELSEWHERE? I'VE THIS COMMISSION, EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER JOSEPH AND F. RATHER THAN DEALING WITH THE CONTRACT ISSUE -- WE NEED TO REFORM BEEN ROBBED BY INVESTORS , UNSEEN PARTICIPANTS, CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS . AND THEY DON'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB, AND THEY REALLY DO NOT CARE WHAT WE THINK. THAT WAS THE IMPRESSION I GOT IN DECEMBER WHEN I CAME. NO ONE TRANSCRIBE WHAT I HAD TO SAY. NO ONE GOT BACK TO ME FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. YOU DO NOT LISTEN , UNTIL THERE IS A CRISIS. AND RESIDENTIAL

[01:50:03]

>> MICHAEL. THIS IS MY HOME YESTERDAY. AND THERE WAS A FCC TRUCK RACING AROUND, TRYING TO CATCH UP TO WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT THEM UNDER AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY. I AM HOPING WE ARE NOT STRETCHING THIS AND OTHER COMPANIES TO THE POINT WE HAVE TO PLAY CATCH-UP, AND NOW THE PEOPLE ARE STRESSING ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE OUR ROADS UNSAFE. LUCKILY, THIS WAS A MINOR INCIDENT. BUT IF YOU GET THESE PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND OUR COMMUNITY LIKE CRAZY, TRYING TO CATCH UP BECAUSE THEY'RE ABOUT TO LOSE A CONTRACT, HOPEFULLY THAT IS NOT WIND UP WITH A FATAL ACCIDENT. I RESPECT THE POINT OF VIEW FROM THE HURRICANE COMPANY. WHEN I WAS RIDING AROUND TOWN TO GIANT TRASH PILES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE PENDING STORM COMING, THAT IS FRUSTRATING.

EVERYBODY IS TO BE BLAMED. WE ARE GROWING AT A MASS RATE. AND WE HAVE TRANSITIONS, YOU ARE DESTINED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. INAUDIBLE ] THEY ARE GROWING IN SKILL TO WHERE THEY HAVE NOT SCALED OUR COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE US SERVICE. WE WILL HAVE THAT PROBLEM WHEN REPUBLIC OR WHOEVER GETS THE CONTRACT.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY DISTURBED THE COLLECTIVE -- I DO NOT SEE WHAT OUR SOLUTION IS GOING TO BE.

THAT SO NOT CAN IT BE INCUBATES A SECOND-PERIOD IF YOU PUT ANYBODY ON THE LINE FOR PLAYING CATCH-UP TO THIS , IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY TRUCKS YOU HAVE, HOW FIGURED FRANCHISES, HOW MANY DRIVERS YOU HAVE, THIS COMMUNITY IS HUGE. YOU CANNOT JUMP IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EXPECT TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. THIS WILL BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM. REMOVING THE CONTRACT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. THE SALESMAN TACTIC HAS GOT US. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. THE COMING, TAKE CONTROL -- AND YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO USE SOMEBODY OF THAT SIZE AND SCALE TO POSSIBLY SEARCH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS WILL DO ABOUT THIS. -- THEY WERE PUBLICIZING THAT BEFOREHAND. ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY FROM DAYTONA

OR DO ALL? >> HEATHER HARLEY DAVIDSON, 27 REIF DRIVE. -- IT WAS NOT THESE GUYS FALL. IT WAS THE WIND.

EMERGENCY SERVICES WITH DRAFT -- TRASH WE HAVE A STORM COMING, AND WINS THE HAVE SOME ORDINANCE TO IMPLEMENT MORE PICKUPS. WE ALL KNOW, ON THE BEACH. HEAVY PEAK SEASON. THE TRASH IS OVER FLOWING. ANYWAY. I HOPE THIS IS NOT, THREE STRIKES YOU'RE OUT FOR THESE GUYS. MAYBE THEY CAN REMEDY. WE HAVE ALREADY PUT A LOT OF ENERGY INTO SECURING THIS COMPANY. -- I STILL THINK YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT OTHER BIDS FOR THAT EVENT WHERE IT IS NOT ANOTHER MONTH OUT, MONTH OUT , IF THE BREACH THE CONTRACT. MY TRASH WAS FROM THE WIND , THEY

[01:55:03]

ANYWAY, THANK YOU. >> SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE

PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THAT BRINGS US BACK TO THE BOARD. MOVING A MOTION AND A SECOND-PERIOD

>> I HAVE A QUICK COMMENT. I KEEP HEARING THEY HIRED 80% OF THE REPUBLICS PEOPLE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT IS TRUE. BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CANS WERE LEFT. THEY KNOW BETTER. THEY ARE

[1. Presentation of St. Johns County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)]

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND-PERIOD PLEASE VOTE .

THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT LEADS US INTO AGENDA ITEM

NUMBER ONE. >> GOOD MORNING. -- HERE WITH ME AS AUDITOR -- TO PROVIDE THE DETAIL ON OUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, ALSO KNOWN AS ACFR. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE COUNTY STAFF FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION ANSWERED OORT AND GATHERING ALL OF THE NECESSARY INFORMATION, ALONG WITH OUR FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS. SCHIFF HARDWICK -- THE TAX COLLECTOR. AND THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. I'M ALSO HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF A POPULAR FINANCIAL REP OR, KNOWN AS PAFR. EACH OF YOU RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS. THIS IS OUR GUY TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY FINANCES. THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR WE HAVE PUBLISHED THIS. -- IS A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE ACFR. THE TAXPAYER GUIDE WAS TO HAVE RESIDENTS THAT UNDERSTAND -- IT PROVIDES HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACFR IN A STRAIGHTFORWARD, USER-FRIENDLY FORMAT. -- WE PROVIDED THE PAFR FOR YOU . IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE. AND IT CAN BE FOUND OUTSIDE THE AUDITORIUM AT THE COURTHOUSE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JOEL AND HE

COULD TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND PRESENT THIS -- OPERATIVE REPORT FOR THE COUNTY. FOR 2023. THE SLIDES ARE BEING DIRECTED HERE. WE HAVE A FEW REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS ON OUR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. ONE, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES -- AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT AUDITS AS WELL AS UNIFORM GUIDANCE, WHICH OVERSEES GRANTS AND THE RULES OF THE MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAINTAIN THESE CONTROLS FOR THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITY FOR -- FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THERE WAS NO AUDIT ADJUSTMENT, WHICH WAS A GOOD INDICATOR -- IDENTIFYING NECESSARY -- THAT HE TO BE MADE TO THE NUMBERS .

EXCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.

UNMODIFIED OPINION. THAT IS THE WEAKNESS. THE REMAINING THREE

[02:00:13]

QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE . >> ON PAGE FOUR IN THE MANAGEMENT LETTER, I HAD ONE RECOMMENDATION.

>> PAGE FOUR, THE MANAGEMENT LETTER FOR THE UNEXPENDED FUND BALANCE THIS IS A CARRYOVER COMMENT. WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THE ACTION PLAN THAT IS THE VERY LAST PAGE OF THE DOCUMENT, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE COUNTY HAS A PLAN IN PLACE WE BELIEVE THAT SHOULD CORRECT THAT ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN CARRIED OVER FOR A

NUMBER OF YEARS NOW. >> HEATHER DAVIDSON, LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL COLOR GLOSSY. HE LOST $2.4 MILLION IN TAX DOLLARS, INTERNET FRAUD, WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE. IN MY

[02:05:12]

IS AT THE HANDS OF THE TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE TO AUTHORIZE THAT. THE FUNDS GOING OUT. WITH BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG.

>> I THINK HER POINTS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> THE MILITARY ASSIGNMENTS AND NOT BE HERE, YOU CAN TAKE AN HOUR OF LEAVE AND HE CAN BE HERE BY ZOOM, LET'S DO IT THAT WAY. MAY WE PLEASE HAVE A LIST OF ALL OF THE INTERNAL CONTROLS? THIS IS A REASONABLE QUESTION. UNDER FIVE YEARS. WHO IS NOW RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE? WHAT WERE MY LESSONS LEARNED. AT LEAST ONE COMMISSIONER WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN DISCUSSING IT BACK IN YOUR SHADE MEETING WANTING TO SEAL. THE COUNTY IS LAX AND IN FACT IT WAS SO BAD THAT IT TURNED OUT IN THE SHADE MEETING THAT THERE WERE TWO CONTRACTORS, ONE OF THOSE CONTRACTS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE -- IS THAT KIND OF WEAKNESS STILL IN PLACE HERE? DO WE HAVE A STRONG POSITION WITH THE NEW ORDER, ARE THEY PREPARED TO ADDRESS THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM WHAT HAPPENED? IF YOU DON'T ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE THAT I THINK IT IS PLATO OR ARISTOTLE SAID IT'S NOT WORTH LIVING. MORE THAN $1 BILLION A YEAR KIND OF REMINDS ME OF MY MOTHER'S FAVORITE COMEDIAN, HE FAMOUSLY SAID $1 BILLION HERE, BILLION DOLLARS THERE, PRETTY SOON YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE INTERNAL CONTROLS. WE KNOW THAT FROM THE MONEY AND EMBEZZLEMENT, COULD WE PLEASE HAVE A LIST OF THE INTERNAL CONTROLS? AND THE

[02:10:02]

TIME, THANK YOU. >> PERSONAL, RESPECT EVERYTHING THAT THIS GENTLEMAN HAS DONE THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS THEIR LICENSED PROFESSIONALS, THE REPORT THAT WE HAVE NOW AS A SERIOUS DOCUMENT IN CONDUCT JUNCTION -- IN CONJUNCTION, IT'S VALUABLE. THE CRITICISMS ARE GOING TO BE CRITICISMS WITH PROCEDURES AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENT PREPARED TO MEET PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. AND IN MY TIME I KNOW WHAT THEY'VE DONE. WITH THAT IN REGARD, THIS IS A MEANINGFUL DOCUMENT AND I EXPECT THAT THEY WILL DO THAT AND I WILL REPORT TO ALL OF YOU IN THE COUNTY WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT WILL BE ADOPTED AND WILL START ON 2026 . I'M SORRY, JESSE I'M FUZZY ON MY DETAILS HERE. THE CONSULTANTS SAID THAT ON AVERAGE THE EMERGENCY RESERVES STATEWIDE MIGHT BE 3%.

THEY ONLY HAD AN 8% AND IT WAS JUSTIFIED ON THE BASIS OF BEING WELL PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES AND SO FORTH BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE THAT DISCUSSED FURTHER IF WE ARE STILL IN EXCESS OF A STATEWIDE STANDARD . THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND OTHER NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY, IT'S SORT OF LIKE A HOMEOWNER IN THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT SO I THINK WE HAVE GOOD SERIOUS INFORMATION I HOPE WE CAN COME UP WITH THE RIGHT

SOLUTIONS. THANKS. >> WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT

. >> I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT -- I DO APPRECIATE IT I THINK IT IS AN ASSET. IS COMPREHENSIVE, WE CANNOT PUT IT ON PAUSE. AND TO THE STAFF, THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. >> I FOUND IT PARTICULARLY INTERESTING IN THIS DOCUMENT, THE PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS BREAKING DOWN WHERE THE PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS GO THAT'S PHENOMENAL FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.

THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT, THAT DOCUMENT FOR EVERYBODY.

WOULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THE $200 MILLION --

>> FOR SMALL I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE CORRECT NUMBERS OUT THERE. $2.4 MILLION WAS TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NEVER LOST. THERE WAS AN ISSUE OF A MISSING CHECK THAT ULTIMATELY WAS THE RESOLUTION -- THE RESOLUTION TO THAT WAS FOUND I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ANYTHING INCORRECTLY ON THE RECORD AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE FRAUDULENT PAYMENT EVENT, THERE WAS A PAYMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY $600,000 AND THEN A SECOND PAYMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 600 TO 650 THAT A SECOND PAYMENT

[02:15:03]

>> I WANT TO GO BACK OVER YOUR ANSWERS HERE, YOU DON'T HAVE

TO TELL THE TRUTH . >> I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT, $2.4 MILLION IS NOT MISSING FROM TAXPAYERS, THE CHECK WAS LOST AND IT WAS RECUT BY THE VENDOR AND TAXPAYERS ARE NOT OUT $2.4 MILLION IS THAT ACTUAL?

>> THERE WAS A FRAUD EVENT. >> ADDITIONALLY, AS THE BOARD KNOWS WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE IMPLEMENTED THE PAYMENT WORKS THAT SPECIFICALLY PREVENTS AND ADDRESSES THOSE ISSUES OF WHEN AN OUTSIDE VENDOR GETS COMPROMISED AND INVOICES, THIS

VERIFICATION SYSTEM HELPS. >> YOU CAN EVEN ATTACK SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN ORDER TO PROTECT HER COUNTRY, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING FACTUAL INFORMATION.

>> OKAY, COMMISSIONER DEAN. >> WHAT I DON'T THINK WAS MENTIONED THIS MORNING WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP, IT WASN'T THE CLERK OR COURT THAT LOST THE MONEY. IT WAS OUR OWN STAFF. OUR STAFF PERSON FAILED TO DELIVER THE CHECK. THAT IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD TO CORRECT PUBLIC SPEAKERS IN THIS ISSUE. SECONDLY I DO HAVE A QUESTION I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMBEZZLEMENT. DOES THE CLERK OF THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET, I THOUGHT HE HAD BEEN OUTSIDE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT WE DO NOT AUDIT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE .

IT WOULD BE UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT THE $760,000 EMBEZZLEMENT TO OF BEEN DISCOVERED SINCE YOU DON'T DO

THE AUDIT. >> CAN WE JUST BRING THIS BACK ON TOPIC, ISN'T THIS A 2023 REPORT? THERE WAS NOTHING GOING ON IN 2023 THAT IS CONCERNING EXCEPT FOR ONE POINT I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE I'M NOT SURE WHERE

THIS IS GOING, BUT THANK YOU. >> THERE ARE NO FURTHER

COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD -- >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT, SOME OF THE INFORMATION HERE IS GREAT FOR RESIDENTS TO SEE I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OFFER THE MOTION I DO WANT TO SAY I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR YOUR OFFICE PRESENTING THIS. LEFT US THREE YOUNG CHILDREN BEHIND TO GO AND FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY. SOME OF THESE FOLKS HAVE THE FREEDOM TO COME APPEAR WITH THEIR LIES. SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE COWARDS TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I WILL GO AHEAD AND OFFER

[2. Public Hearing * PLNAPPL 2024-02 6345 Jack Wright Island Road Fence (Appeal of ZVAR 2023-10 Denial).]

>> EMOTION AND A SECOND? PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, THANK YOU. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE WILL BREAK FOR LUNCH. QUASIJUDICIAL,

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. >> YES, WITH ONE OF THE TEAM

[02:20:11]

MEMBERS . >> I MYSELF HAD A VISIT AS WELL, I ALSO RECEIVED A HANDFUL OF EMAILS .

>> I HAVE NO MEETINGS BUT I DO HAVE AN EMAIL.

>> I HAD A SITE VISIT WITH MR. HARRIS TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.

>> I'M SORRY I HAVE TO TAKE UP YOUR TIME WITH THIS. THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN OUT TO THE HOUSE ARE FAMILIAR OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON. IN OCTOBER OF 2022 , THIS WAS FROM MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR'S YARD. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS . THIS IS A PICTURE FROM OUR MASTER BATH WITH THE CAMERA WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. I WILL DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT -- POINTING A CAMERA AT A CHILD'S WINDOW REGARDLESS. HE WAS NOTIFIED THE DAY I NOTICED I CALLED HIM HE CAN PUT A CAMERA ON HIS PROPERTY ANYWHERE.

] EVIDENTLY A PRIVATE REPORT WAS WRITTEN. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE AT THE END OF THE STREET WHERE THE FENCE IS TOO HIGH. I BUILT THIS FENCE BECAUSE THERE IS 450 FEET AND I WANTED TO HIDE THEM SO I BUILT THIS FENCE ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE STREET. WHEN I BUILT IT HAD TO BE 25 FEET FROM THE ROAD, ACTUALLY IT IS 30 FEET FROM THE ROAD. AFTER A PRIVATE COURT WAS SUBMITTED SOMEONE CAN SEE THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THAT SECTION OF FENCE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM MY NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY WHERE HE WOULD BE SITTING, THIS IS THE DEFENSE RIGHT CLEAR BACK HERE. AS YOU CAN PLAINLY SEE , TAKING DOWN AN ADDITIONAL 16 FEET OF MY FENCE ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM SO I'D LIKE TO KEEP IT. THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF ZONING IS TO HAVE SITE DOWN THE STREETS AND MAYBE A LITTLE MORE. AT LEAST FOUR FEET OF YOU, YOU CAN SEE. YOU SHOULD'VE ALL RECEIVED LETTERS FROM MY NEIGHBORS TALKING ABOUT BOTH ENDS OF THE STREET. PROTECTING MY PATIO AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS WITH THE COMMISSION?

>> I WANT TO KNOW OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE A COUPLE OF PICTURES HERE

>> DO NOT WANT TO HEAR FROM THE OTHER PARTY AT THIS TIME?

[02:25:01]

>> OH ABSOLUTELY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE HERE.

>> THERE IS AN OVERHEAD RIGHT THERE.

>> WANT TO COVER SEVERAL THINGS.

>> HE IS ENTITLED TO MORE THAN THREE MINUTES CORRECT?

>> NOT EVEN SURE, I HAVEN'T MET HIM THIS IS BEEN SITTING HERE IN THE COUNT -- SIDEWALK WAS BLOCKED. ANYWAY, SO THIS WAS INSTALLED.

MAKING SURE IT WAS WHAT THEY SAID I NEEDED TO DO. HE PUTS HIS FENCE IN. IF YOU STOP AT THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY, YOU CAN SEE ANYTHING. BEING ABLE TO LOOK BOTH WAYS AND LOOKING FROM A DEAD STOP IN THE END OF THE ROADWAY. WHEN I TOLD HIM HE WAS VIOLATING THE CODE HE TOLD ME THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH, HE DIDN'T CARE . THEY BASICALLY SAID MY FENCE ON THE PROPERTY WHICH IS A WROUGHT IRON ALUMINUM FENCE, MUST'VE BEEN ABOUT $50,000 WAS ALSO NOT WITHIN CODE. AND SO I SPENT TWO DAYS TALKING TO THE PERSON ZONING OR CODE ENFORCEMENT EXPLAINING THE COACH THEM THAT MOST OF MY -- THERE IS NO HEIGHT LIMIT ON OUR FENCE. AND THEY STILL PURSUED THE VIOLATIONS. IT'S NOT A HARDSHIP FOR THEM IT'S A HARDSHIP FOR ME. IT IS A HAZARD AND IT IS A VIOLATION OF THE CODE. EVEN MOVING IN TO THE LOT, I'VE BEEN THERE FOR PROBABLY 40 YEARS I BUILT ON IT. I BOUGHT THE LOT AND I PUT A CHAIN-LINK FENCE DOWN. THAT IS WHERE THE FENCE STARTED, THAT IS THE CHAIN-LINK FENCE HE WAS STUCK OUT IN THE RIVER AND I PUT MY BOAT IN THE WATER AND PULLED HIS BOAT BACK. THINGS STARTED GOING SOUTH A LITTLE BIT AND I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY.

HE STARTED ASKING ME TO TRIM THE FENCE ON BOTH SIDES I SAID, OKAY I'LL DO IT , BUT I TOLD HIM THE LAW DOESN'T REQUIRE ME TO DO THAT. IF YOU WANT TO CUT ANYTHING THAT GROWS FROM MY SITE TO YOUR SIDE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO CUT IT. HE CAN

[02:30:05]

HALFWAY TO THE JOINING NEIGHBOR WAS CATCHING THE WATER. I WAS GETTING FLOODED SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET WHICH WAS DISHEARTENING.

WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING. HOW MY LOT WAS -- IT WAS FLOODING SO BADLY. AFTER THAT I WALKED OVER TO HIS PROPERTY TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THAT'S WHY I SAW THAT HIS PROPERTY WASN'T SOILED, I CONTACTED THE COUNTY AND SAID IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOILED. I DON'T REMEMBER HIS LAST NAME, ENDED UP SAYING YOUR NEIGHBORS AGREE THAT IF YOU GO AND START TRIMMING HIS SIDE OF THE HEDGE AGAIN SHE WILL PLUG THE PIPE UP AND I SAID I AM NOT GOING TO DO THAT. THE COUNTY SHOULD'VE REQUIRED SOIL WHEN HE FIRST BUILT HIS PROPERTY, THEY DIDN'T DO IT, THEY CAN ENFORCE IT. HE SAID I WILL BE BY YOUR PLACE IN THE AFTERNOON TO LOOK AT IT JUST A ONE ACRE LOT, HE SAID HE WOULD GET IT CORRECTED WHICH HE EVENTUALLY DID. PICKING UP THE WATER THAT WAS HELD IN THE SOIL AND THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS SPRAYING ON IT, THE PROBLEM IS THE HERBICIDE WAS ON THE ROOTS. WHEN THEY FIRST INSTALLED THIS FENCE , RENDERING IT TOTALLY

INEFFECTIVE NOW. >> HE IS SUPPOSED TO DO IT AND MAINTAIN IT. HE IS ALSO FLOWN DRONES OVER MY HEAD, HE HAS ALSO THROWN LIDS OVER THE FENCE MULTIPLE TIMES. I DON'T THROW IT OVER THE FENCE BUT I WAS UP THERE CUTTING THE GRASS I WENT OVER AND SAID LOOK IF YOU KEEP DOING THAT I'M GOING TO WALK OVER AND DEAL WITH YOU PERSONALLY BECAUSE THIS IS STUPID. THE NEIGHBOR'S PET DOG ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FAMILY PET DOG, HE ENDED UP GETTING THE DOG, HE PUT IN THE BACK OF HIS CAR HE WAS BRAGGING ABOUT DOING IT, THE FAMILY WAS IN

TEARS OVER LOSING THE DOG. >> WE NEED TO STAY ON TOPIC WITH REGARD TO THE REPEAL -- CAN WE SOUND TOPIC, SIR?

[02:35:08]

>> YES I WILL TRY -- TO SIT ON THE PORCH, HE DOESN'T LIKE TO LOOK AT MY HOUSE. HE WANTS TO BLOCK OUT MY HOUSE. TO ME, THE HIGH FENCE -- THE CAMERAS ON THE TREES WERE PUT THERE, THERE WERE DEAD CAMERAS THAT WERE PUT THERE , 3500 TO 1000 BUCKS, HE WAS PUTTING HIS -- YOU NEED TO DO IS CATCH HIM DOING IT BECAUSE HE IS HURTING YOUR FRIENDS I PUT UP TWO CAMERAS WITH BATTERIES IN THEM JUST TO LET HIM KNOW THAT HE WAS BEING WATCHED. IT DOESN'T MATTER. I WAS REALLY JUST TRYING TO WARN HIM THAT THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU KEEP DOING -- THE LAST MEETING HE ALSO HAD WAY THAT DOESN'T VIOLATE YOUR NEIGHBORS RIGHTS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ABLE TO STOP I SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL OUT, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK OUT OF THE APARTMENT WITHOUT THE SECTION OR TO BECOME A HAZARD .

>> IF YOU WANT TO DO IT RIGHT I AM JUST FIGHTING AGAINST THIS AS AN ATTACK AGAINST MY RIGHTS AND AGAINST MY WELFARE .

THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> QUESTIONS? >> I WANT TO GIVE FAIR CONSIDERATION TO YOU, DO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY THAT SHOWS THE OBSTRUCTED VIEW?

>> THE CODE IS MEANT TO GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO LOOK DOWN THE ROAD IF THE CODE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT -- ] HIS DRIVEWAY ISN'T OBSTRUCTED HE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT TWO INAUDIBLE ] THAT HE HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS THAT IS MY DRIVEWAY. OVER THERE, BY THE WAY -- YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A HUNDRED FOOT DISTANCE THE TELEPHONE FULL -- POLL NEXT TO MY DRIVEWAY SO, I HAVE TWO DRIVEWAYS. I HAVE A DRIVEWAY ON THE NEXT SIDE AND I HAVE ANOTHER ONE. I GET TO THE END AND HAVE TO STOP AND LOOK. IF I PULL OUT THE OTHER

[02:40:02]

>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS WE

WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> AND YOU'LL SEE THIS? D.C.

THIS FENCE RIGHT HERE? >> OH, HEATHER HARLEY DAVIDSON.

THIS GUY IS REALLY LUCKY THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A FENCE LIKE THIS. THIS IS A 10 FOOT TALL AND ANOTHER THREE, THIS GUY WAS IN VIOLATION. THIS WAS MY NEIGHBOR, FENCE VIOLATIONS ARE PRETTY BAD. THIS NEIGHBOR, HE IS A MARINE CONTRACTOR. THIS WAS MY MOM'S HOUSE ACTUALLY. THIS BOARD AWARDED THIS GUY AFTER ALL OF THESE VIOLATIONS, AWARDED HIM A CONTRACT FROM BULKHEAD AND TREASURE BEATS COMMON AREAS. AND CONFLICT INTEREST I AM RUNNING FOR COUNTY COMMISSION. ANYWAY, THE CAMERAS, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE CAMERAS.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT CAMERAS GOING IN TO YOUR HOME AND YOU'VE GOT CHILDREN, THAT IS NOT COOL AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL ADDRESS THAT. AS FOR THESE HORRENDOUS FENCES, THIS GUY NEVER GOT A VARIANCE RIGHT HERE. I CAN SEE THE TOILET RIGHT THROUGH THE SLOTS OF THE FENCE. YOU ARE, WHAT DO WE DO? WE AWARD HIM CONTRACTS AND I WAS NOT LYING WITH BRANDON PATTY . THE 1.3 THAT HE ADMITTED TO AT THE SAINT AUGUSTINE TRUMP CLUB YOU TWO COMMISSIONERS WERE THERE, YOU WERE THERE SO, AS IT STANDS WITH THESE FENCES AND YOU ALL LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MEANS TO ENFORCE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THEN LET'S GET ON THE BUILDING ASPECT, THE LATERAL WINDS THIS IS WHY WE HAVE CODES FOR THAT REQUIREMENT. THE LATERAL FORCE WIND LIKELY EXPERIENCED THE OTHER DAY, THEY KNOCK FENCES DOWN. SO, ANYWAY WITH THAT I

WILL FLUSH. >> MICHAEL MCDONALD, YES THESE CAMERAS ARE VERY ALARMING. I KNOW YOU NEED TO GIVE YOUR NEIGHBOR SOME AWARENESS OF WHAT HE IS DOING AND YOUR ABILITY TO PROSECUTE HIM BUT MAYBE MOVE THEM FURTHER AWAY FROM HIS WINDOW. THIS IS A LITTLE MUCH TO BE PUTTING CAMERAS OUTSIDE OF SOMEONE'S WINDOWS. YOU CAN EASILY PUT THEM PERPENDICULAR WITH YOUR FENCE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I'M SORRY BUT YOU NEED TO STOP WHEN YOU COME OUT OF YOUR ROAD. YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL THE NEED TO JUST LITERALLY TRULY TRAVEL OUT OF YOUR ROAD UNOBSTRUCTED. THAT IS NOT A PROBABLE FIGHTS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS CAN DO ABOUT THIS, I DON'T BELIEVE IN ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BUILD FENCES WHERE THEY DON'T BELONG. WHEN SOMEBODY NEXT YEAR IS TRYING TO INTIMIDATE YOU WITH CAMERAS I DON'T KNOW WHAT A BOARD CAN DO TO MAYBE GIVE THAT PERSON RELIEF OR INABILITY TO -- I

[02:45:01]

>> SORRY TO BE UP HERE AGAIN, I HOPE YOU ARE NOT AS CONFUSED AS I AM. IT DID SOUND LIKE IT IS A CAMERA ISSUE AND WE HAVE IN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS THAT MIGHT NOT SPILL OVER ONTO ADJOINING PROPERTIES AND HOW ON EARTH WE CAN TALK ABOUT INTRUSION IF YOU WILL ONTO ADJOINING PROPERTIES, THE CAMERAS HERE ARE AN ISSUE. I LOOK AT LAND DEVELOPMENT COACH AND IT SAYS, AND AGAIN I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE BUILDING CODE. WE'RE LAYING THESE OUT FOR GENERAL PURPOSE BUT THE INTENT IS IT WOULD BE APPLIED FOR UNIQUE CONDITIONS I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT A PRETTY UNIQUE CONDITION.

>> THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO AFFECT THE FINDINGS, PURPOSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY CHARACTER. I THINK YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT IN TO CONSIDERATION.

I PUT IT OUT THERE TO AFFIRM THAT BUT I THINK YOU HAVE SOME PRETTY WIDE DISCRETION HERE TO ADDRESS WHAT IS GOING ON AND A SENSE THAT IS PUT UP TO ADDRESS INTRUSION. I HOPE YOU ARE NOT AS CONFUSED AS I AM. DON'T FEEL SHY ABOUT APPLYING THAT.

>> WE ARE STILL IN PUBLIC WE FINISH PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> ON MAY 2ND, 2024, THEY DENIED THE REQUEST TO VIOLATE THE ZONING REQUIREMENT, TO VIOLATE THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS. THE CAMERON -- CAMERA DOES NOT HAVE ANY BATTERY IN IT. I WONDER IF ANYONE APPEAR WENT AND TALKED WITH HIM AND VISITED AND TALKED WITH HIM, I DON'T THINK SO IF I WAS HEARING RIGHT. THE LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 28, 2023 TO DENY THIS REQUEST AND DENY THIS APPEAL I'M GOING TO READ FROM THIS LETTER WHICH THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO UNLESS THEY WENT ON THERE BEFORE THEY CAME IN HERE AND STARTED LISTENING. MR. PEERS KNOWINGLY VIOLATED THE ZONE REQUIREMENT.

HE WAS NOT GOING TO ACCOMMODATE MR. BOWDEN BY DENYING THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS. HE THOUGHT HE COULD CONVINCE THOSE PEOPLE THAT HE WAS IN THE RIGHT AND HE IS NOT. HE VIOLATED THE ZONING THAT IS WHY THEY HAD TO GO OUT THERE AND START THIS WHOLE PROCEDURE. WE HAVE CODES IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THEM.

SODAS REGULATIONS. IT IS NOT ONLY A VIOLATION OF THE COUNTY'S CODE BUT A WIND STORM HAZARD WE JUST HAD A BIG STORM.

[02:50:07]

SHOWING UP. DENY IT. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC

COMMENT? >> BEN BROCKMAN, JACQUELINE ROAD. BOARD COMMISSIONERS, I THINK THE BEST USE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO USE COMMON SENSE AND RATIONALITY WHEN MAKING A DECISION THAT HAS TO DO WITH CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BETWEEN NEIGHBORS. IN THIS CASE IT IS ALL ABOUT EMOTIONAL AND VINDICTIVE, THE FENCE IS FINE, I HAVE LOOKED AT THE FENCE FROM BOTH SIDES AND I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED. THE SECOND TIER IS NOT A WIND HAZARD. THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OFFERS AMPLE VISIBILITY FROM BOTH SIDES WHEN I PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE A LOT OF RUNNERS AND A LOT OF BICYCLES. I'VE COME TO A FULL STOP AND LOOKED BOTH WAYS. I DON'T RUN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITH SPEED THINKING I'M GOING TO TURN ONTO THE ROAD BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A HAZARD FOR THE RUNNERS AND THE BICYCLISTS. I DON'T THINK ANY MODIFICATIONS NEED TO BE MADE TO DEFENSE. THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS GREG HARRISON I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS.

PRIOR TO MR. HARRIS BUYING THAT PROPERTY THEY WENT TO MY CHURCH, I KNOW THEM VERY WELL. JEFF IS CONSTANTLY HARASSING THEM ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS THE ENTIRE TIME THEY LIVED THERE. THIS DISPUTE IS NOT ABOUT VIOLATIONS. I CAN TELL YOU, THE COMMENTS HE MADE PERTAINING ARE INCORRECT, TOTALLY UNTRUE. THE VISIBILITY SHE WAS JUST MADE UP. HE HAS NO PROBLEM SEEING FROM HIS DRIVEWAY. THE THING WITH THE CAMERAS UPSET ME THAT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. HE HAS HAD A LOT OF STUFF THAT IS NOT TRUE ANYWAY. MY POINT IS THIS IS NOT ABOUT VIOLATIONS. AGAIN, I THINK YOU SHOULD -- THERE IS NO MERIT TO ANY OF THESE ARGUMENTS. THANK YOU.

>> WHAT ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO? ALL RIGHT, SAYING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE

PUBLIC COMMENT. >> I KNOW I ASKED YOU THIS

[02:55:03]

THESE CAMERAS, CORRECT? >> YES I DID AND WHAT DID HE

SAY? >> HE SAID I HAVE A RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND HE HAS A RIGHT TO CAMERAS.

>> THERE IS NOTHING LEGALLY THAT HE CAN DO --

>> THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO KEEP THE CAMERAS DOWN.

>> WHO IN THIS ROOM PUT THE CAMERA UP TO INTO PEOPLE'S -- HE DID NOT KNOW -- TWO YEARS, WHAT DOES THAT SAY? WHY WOULD YOU PUT CAMERAS --

>> THANK YOU, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE COMMENTS. CAN I HAVE THE

OVERHEAD, PLEASE? >> THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL CONFEDERATE -- I MAINTAIN THAT FENCE. A GOOD NEIGHBOR WOULD CUT HIS OWN FENCE EVEN ON MY SIDE OF THE PROPERTY BECAUSE IT IS HIS FENCE. YOU CAN ALSO SEE HOW TO RAISE MY PROPERTY. THE HOUSE HAS TO BE SEVEN FEET ABOVE. A LAYER OF PLASTIC AND ALL OF THIS ALL THE WAY DOWN. IT'S NOT LIKE I DID THAT JUST TO RAISE MY FENCE. I WOULD MOVE A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS -- INCHES. THIS IS HIS VIEW OF HIS GAIT WHICH IS ABOVE AT LEAST ONE TO TWO CAR LENGTHS. HE CAN SEE. IT IS NOT AN ISSUE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE GEOMETRY, HE CAUSES THE DRIVEWAY TOO WHICH I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM USE MY FENCE IS UNSIGHTLY. THIS IS HIS CYCLONE FENCE WITH LOTS OF -- UNSIGHTLY CHANGES AT THE PROPERTY. THAT'S WHAT I HAD TO LOOK AT . I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT DRAINAGE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE? PRIVACY IS UP MOST .

>> HE SAID HE DIDN'T CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THERE IS A

REPORT OF THAT? >> PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION APPROVING 2024-0026345,

[03:00:05]

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION, AND --

>> CAN'T I JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT?

>> YES. >> I AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER, BUT THE ONLY THING I AM TALKING ABOUT IS, THIS IS GOING ON AND ON AND ON, IF MAYBE HE GETS INTO CODE ON THE END OF THE FENCE , I AM JUST THINKING THAT EACH ONE

[Public Comment ]

GO IN FAVOR OF THIS. >> I APPRECIATE MY COMMENTS. I WILL STAND BY MY MOTION. PLEASE VOTE . IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR 30 MINUTES.

I APOLOGIZE THAT WE ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE. THAT TOOK LONGER THAN I THOUGHT . WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR 30 MINUTES, THEN

BREAK FOR LUNCH. >> REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS WILL BE ADDRESSABLE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, COME TO THE PODIUM, STATE HIS OR HER NAME, YOU SHALL COMPLY WITH THE RULES OF DECORUM. YOU MAY NOT INCLUDE THE DEMAND FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL , ANY SPEAKER THAT PRESENTS ANY OVERHEAD MATERIAL, PLEASE PRESENT THAT TO THE STAFF. THANK YOU.

>> BE JAKE CLAY , ST. AUGUSTINE, THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS, WITH A B, LIKE BABY DOLLARS, THIS SHOULD ROLLBACK THE TAX RATE, YOUR ADMINISTRATION IS RECOMMENDING A COST OF VOTING INCREASE, ALSO KNOWN AS A RAISE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO CONFRONT THE RISING COST OF LIVING. TAXPAYERS ALSO CONFRONT THE RISING COSTS OF LIVING.

THEREFORE, THE MILLAGE RATE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, SHOULD BE ROLLED BACK. THANKFULLY, WE WILL ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR THIS. THE JUNK MAIL FROM THE POLITICIANS WILL END ON AUGUST 20TH AND NOVEMBER 5TH. LET'S ALL SAY, HALLELUJAH. DEMOCRATS, AS WE REMEMBER, ARE REGISTERING AS REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONERS. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? YET, THE LOCAL GOP HAVE NOT , NOT ENDORSED THE CURRENT REPUBLICANS . I WONDER WHY THAT IS? BE CAREFUL WHEN VOTING.

PLEASE LISTEN TO FM 90.5 , IT WILL HELP CALM YOUR NERVES.

GOING BACK TO , YOU KNOW, WITH THE LAST HOUR, OUR AND A HALF, THAT LITTLE PRESENTATION, REMEMBER, FOLKS. WE, THE TAXPAYERS, PLAY FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES TO GET ALL OF THIS LAND CONSERVED. IT IS NOT FREE, DEVELOPERS WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THEY ARE BEING KIND . DO YOU KNOW WHAT? I LOVE THIS ONE. WE SIT DOWN AND WE LISTEN TO THESE MEETINGS. I HAVE A QUESTION. WHO LIES? WHO WOULD LIE IN THIS BUILDING ABOUT ANYTHING? IS IT ONLY THE PUBLIC? THEY DO NOT HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH? OR THE POLITICIANS? I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT. WHO IS LYING, THE PUBLIC TAXPAYERS, THE RESIDENTS, HOW DO YOU SAY WHO IS NOT GOING TO LIE? AND POLITICIANS WOULD NEVER, NEVER , NEVER, NEVER , NEVER TELL A LIE. IN MAKING THE DECISION. GOODBYE.

>> NEXT?

[03:05:07]

>> RICHARD NORWOOD . 3360 , THIS IS SIMPLY A MISHMASH OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION WHILE THE THREE OF YOU ARE STILL VIABLE. MY GOAL TODAY IS NOT TO DEBATE FRAUD WITH YOU AGAIN, I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR TWO YEARS.

YOU ARE HOSTILE ABOUT IT. MY GOAL IS TO REACH THE COMMUNITY . TO DEMONSTRATE JUST HOW HOSTILE AND VINDICTIVE YOU HAVE BEEN AGAINST A VICTIM OF FRAUD BY YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. PROVEN FRAUD. I PAID A $5000 FEE TO AN ATTORNEY JUST LAST MONTH, TO COME UP HERE AND EXAMINE ALL OF MY EVIDENCE AND PROMOTE TO YOU, IN A SPEECH, THAT THAT WAS FRAUD AND THAT WE ARE READY TO GO TO TRIAL, NOT JUST FOR INVERSE CONDEMNATION BUT FOR THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE TREATED ME AS WELL. IF I WANT TO FUND MY OWN BANKRUPTCY, I AM RIGHT ON THAT.

HERE IS WHAT I STARTED WITH, COMMUNITY , I STARTED WITH THIS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, PRIVACY, EROSION CONTROL , LOOKING AT IT FROM ANOTHER ANGLE, THAT IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, OKAY? COMING INTO THE PICTURE WAS WANTING TO PUT SIDEWALKS IN, THEY WANTED ME TO SIGN A TCE, WHICH I SIGNED AFTER MAKING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS FOR EXHIBIT EIGHT TO BE DEVISED. I SIGNED IT. AS YOU CAN SEE, I SIGNED IT ON 15 AND IT WAS WITNESSED AND IT WAS RECORDED ON THE 23RD, WHICH IS A NOTARY FRAUD IN ITSELF. THIS DOES NOT GET TO THE POINT, JESSICA , LATER ON, FEDERALLY FILING IN THE PUBLIC RECORD, THE OBSOLETE TCE EXHIBIT A, WHICH STILL GRANTS 10 ' ALONG MY WHOLE , ENTIRE STRIP. AFTER THAT , OF COURSE, IT BECAME DISASTROUS , ABSOLUTELY DISASTROUS. MY SIDEWALK COULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN. HERE IS WHAT THEY DID, OKAY? HERE IS WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE ENTITLED TO. ONLY ONE CUBIC YARDS, NOTHING BUT INVERSE CONDEMNATION, THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY DUE PROCESS, THEY HAD NO NEGOTIATIONS WITH ME. ALL I WANTED IS A RETAINING WALL, TO PUT BACK MY 21 YARD CUBIC AREA, AND THERE IS NO WAY, EVEN THOUGH MR. TAYLOR SEEMS TO THINK THAT THERE IS, TO PUT SOIL BACK IN, WITHOUT A RETAINING WATER, I DID NOT FILE OR ASK, NO, NEVERMIND, I AM OUT OF TIME HERE AT THE END. WELL,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, I AM ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY --

>> NAME AND ADDRESS ? >> I WILL GET TO THIS . IT IS PRELIMINARY. I HAVE TO LEAVE FOR A MEETING UNDER FLORIDA STATE LAW , THAT CHANGES . SOME OF MY COMMENTS ARE GENERALLY UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOME RELATE TO AGENDA ITEM 4, AND I HAVE TRIED TO TRIM THOSE DOWN AND OUT, BUT I REQUEST AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INDULGENCE UNDER THESE

CIRCUMSTANCES. >>

>> I AM ALREADY BEYOND THREE MINUTES, GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS , I AM HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF . WE SUPPORTED THE TRANSFER OF 120 ITEMS REFERENCED IN 2022, AND WE APPLAUDED THE COUNTY COMING FORWARD . FOR THE DEVELOPMENT , OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE UNDERSTAND, IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP. SO, WE PUT THIS STEP FORWARD, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR THE COMMITMENT TO MOVING FORWARD WITH WEST AUGUSTINE, ON THIS PROJECT. BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS. FIRST, CARE WORKS, ON AN ONGOING BASIS, ON ISSUES OF CARE CONCERN, WE ARE AWARE OF THE CITY EXTENDING CITY WATER OR CITY SEWER, THAT FALL WITHIN THE COUNTY CRA AREA, ANY MEANINGFUL SUITABILITY OF THESE

[03:10:01]

>> ANNMARIE EVANS, 3156 ROBERTS ROAD, EDITED FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, SEAT WANTED. FOR MANY MONTHS NOW, I HAVE GOTTEN UP IN THE MORNING AND I'LL PUT THE ARMOR OF GOD ON AND I GO OUT AND I TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT. AS I HAVE DONE, ESPECIALLY THE LAST FEW WEEKS, I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A LOT OF STORYTELLING GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY. SO TODAY I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT TRUTH TELLING, NUMBER ONE. I AM A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, THERE IS A RUMOR OUT THERE THAT IN RESPONSE TO COMMISSIONER JOSEPH 'S PROPOSAL, THAT THERE IS A TREE TAX. THERE IS NO TREE TAX. I AM A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, HOWEVER, THERE ARE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD WHO VOTED TO PUT A SALES TAX INCREASE OF 15% ON THE BALLOT , TWO YEARS AGO, SOME PEOPLE REFERRED TO IT AS THE DEVELOPER TAX. IT FAILED MISERABLY. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT% A WASTE, SOME COMMISSIONERS HAVE CLAIMED THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANY. SO, LET ME HELP YOU.

YOUR OWN COUNTY ATTORNEY SUGGESTED THAT YOU SETTLE A CASE LAST NOVEMBER, AT THAT TIME, IT WOULD HAVE COST APPROXIMATELY $105,000. AND THE CASE WENT TO THE TRIAL, GUESS WHAT, THE COUNTY LOST PART OF THAT CASE, BUT FOR ANOTHER LEGAL ACTION, THE REQUESTER WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN THE FULL EXTENT OF THE COUNTY'S NONCOMPLIANCE AND THE NEVER WOULD HAVE. THE PLAINTIFF HAS SUBMITTED AN ATTORNEY FEE BILL FOR OVER $576,000 AND $56,000 IN COSTS . THIS COULD COST MAYBE UP TO THAT AMOUNT, WE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL OCTOBER, BUT WE COULD HAVE SETTLED THAT CASE FOR $105,000, AND EVEN IF WE DID NOT PAY ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE ATTORNEY THAT THEY HAVE THE CONTRACT WITH, WE WOULD BE AT $203,559. UNLIKE THE CONTRACTOR APPROVED AT THE BOARDING -- BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING, I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE TRUTH FOR

FREE. >> SHERRY BADGER, 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE, WOW, I GUESS THIS IS A TRUE SESSION . I HAVE SEEN THE COMMERCIALS, THE LAST ELECTION, IN THE TOWN AND COUNTY VOTED DOWN NO NEW TAXES, BUT THIS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CHOSE TO RAISE THE TAXES, IN AN EFFORT TO GET THEIR MONEY FOR THE AIRPORT , WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OFF THE TAX ROLLS, NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS THAT DO NOT APPLY, YOU THINK THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO JACK OUR PROPERTY TAXES UP, GOOD LUCK ON THAT 400 STRAW POLL, HAVE A GREAT DAY,

[03:15:05]

GOD BLESS YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND TAYLOR, 3552 , TAYLOR DRIVE, I AM GLAD THIS IS THE TRUTH TELLING DAY.

BECAUSE GOD KNOWS WE ARE NOT GETTING IT IN THE MAIL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I HAVE TO ADDRESS, I KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT LIKE THIS BEING BROUGHT UP, UNLIKE MANY OF YOU ARE RUNNING, WE DO NOT HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET THE TRUTH OUT. WE HAVE THE DALE IN ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE, I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE LIES COMING OUT ABOUT ME. I AM VERY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT ANY SALES TAX INCREASE, AND I WANTED TO SHARE ONE EXAMPLE SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS GO, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT HIGHER TAXES, IMPLEMENTING THE TREE TAX , CREATING A $7 MILLION TAX BURDEN ON ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND ST. JOHN'S HOMEOWNERS, RESTRICTING THEIR PROPERTY RIGHTS. THAT IS A COMPLETE FABRICATION. I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT ANY TYPE OF TREE TAX. MY OPPONENT, IN HIS ADVERTISING, WHEN HE SUPPORTED SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH REPORTED, THEY SUPPORTED STRENGTHENING THE COUNTY TREE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING INCREASING PERMIT FEES, FINES, AND REDUCING DIAMETERS FOR SPECIMEN TREES.

THE EXACT SAME TOPIC, BUT WORDED ENTIRELY , ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. ALSO, THE FACT THAT I HAD SPENT MOST OF MY CAREER IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY. I WORKED FOR A HUGE, MULTIBILLION DOLLAR COMPANY, THEY CAN CONTROL WHAT THEY DO, THE FACT THAT I AM BEING TIED UP, WHEN I SOLD MEDICATION FOR ARTHRITIS, AND I AM BEING TIED TO A COMPANY THAT HAS PUBERTY BLOCKERS, THAT I HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO TIE ME TO SUPPORTING SEX CHANGES WITHIN CHILDREN, THINGS ARE LOW, BUT THAT IS MAKING THE BASEMENT SEEM LIKE THE PENTHOUSE. LIKE I SAID THERE ARE NO WORDS , I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING THE FACT THAT I WORK FOR THIS COMPANY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHEN THIS COMMISSION RECENTLY SUPPORTED A PUBLIC CENTER PHARMACY FILL FACILITY. IT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THAT WHEN THEY ARE DISTRIBUTING THESE TYPES OF THINGS AS WELL, I WANTED TO PUT SOME THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. I WILL NEVER SUPPORT A TAX INCREASE, UNLIKE MY OPPONENT WHO MADE A MOTION TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF COMMENTS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WHETHER IT BE SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE, PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO, THEY SAID THEY WERE A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE TAX INCREASE. THANK YOU.

>> MICHAEL MICHAEL DONALD , I AM APPEAR TO ADDRESS THE GRIEVANCES THAT I AM FINDING WITHIN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I WILL FIRST START WITH THE PROPERTIES COMING OFF OF THE TAXABLE VALUE, FLAGLER COLLEGE, THE CHURCH COMMUNITY, WHATEVER . WE ARE MOVING PROPERTIES FROM A TAX BASIS ALL OVER THE COUNTY, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE HOTELS . SOME OF THOSE ARE PROPERTIES THAT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN WITH US FOR THE LONG TURN -- LONG-TERM. I WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS BOUGHT, RIGHT UP NEAR, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CALL THAT? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT , SEE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE TRANSFERRING HANDS, NOW, YOU KNOW, NOW, WE HAVE REMOVED ONE OF OUR ENTITIES, ONE OF OUR AMENITIES, WE HAVE GIVEN IT TO A RESOURCE AT FLAGLER COLLEGE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN AREA WHERE THEIR COLLEGE IS SINKING INTO THE MUD AND THAT WILL HAVE TO PROBABLY GET REMOVED, THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE SETTING PRECEDENTS ALL OVER OUR COMMUNITY. IT WILL RESULT IN A CHAIN REACTION, THEY ARE GOING TO REPEAT THAT PRECEDENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THERE IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, A NEW DRIVEWAY THERE, A NEW EASEMENT THERE, IF WE SET PRECEDENTS , I AM ALL ABOUT SETTING NEW PRECEDENTS , IF WE ARE REPEATING THINGS, IF WE ARE

[03:20:01]

>> NICOLE CROSBY, 1169, NECK ROAD , THIS BLAST WAS BASICALLY A CONSPIRACY THEORY, IT WAS A LIE, FEATURING MYSELF, CANDIDATES, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, AND OTHERS, IT WAS RIDICULOUS BUT I DO STILL NEED TO ADDRESS IT , WHY IS NICOLE CROSBY SO OBSESSED WITH CONTROLLING THE COUNTY COMMISSION? SHE IS DOING HER JOB, SHE PLANS TO FIRE THE COUNTY STAFF, AND SHE TAKES OVER AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, WHICH IS A JOB HE IS HIGHLY UNQUALIFIED TO IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WAS WRITTEN BY THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER TO THE THREE INCUMBENTS, SO I AM MAKING THAT ASSUMPTION, ALTHOUGH I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE, SHE FLOATED THIS CONCEPT TO ME MONTHS AGO, I SAID NO, THAT IS FALSE, I DON'T KNOW , IF I WAS EVEN INTERESTED, IF I QUALIFIED, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, SHE HAS CIRCULATED AND RECIRCULATED, AND CONTINUES TO CIRCULATE IT.

IT WAS INTERESTING THAT SHE EXPLAINED HOW THE TREE TAX WORK, LET'S SAY YOU WANT TO BUILD A POOL AND THERE WAS A TREE THAT NEEDED TO BE REMOVED OR RELOCATED . I AM SORRY TO LAUGH, BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY A TAX TO REMOVE YOUR OWN TREE FROM YOUR OWN PROPERTY. WOW, SHE WROTE THAT IN A FREAKING LETTER AND SENT IT TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REPRESENTING THREE PEOPLE ON OUR COMMISSION. SHE SENT THIS TO THEM. MANY, MANY LIES, I DO NOT WANT TO WASTE EVERYBODY'S TIME, THIS IS LIBELOUS . SHE ALWAYS LIKES TO SAY, SHE IS A DEMOCRAT . I HAVE LAID THIS CARD DOWN BEFORE, NOT THAT IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU. ANYWAY THERE IS SO LITTLE TO SAY, IT IS A SAD STATEMENT , WITH WHAT SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER TO BE A CAMPAIGN , IT IS RIDICULOUS AND JUST STUPID. THAT IS ALL!

>> HEATHER HARLEY DAVIDSON , DISTRICT 3 WITH THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY MISSION, I AM NO LIAR. AND I AM NOT CONFUSED, OKAY ? WE WILL GET THAT STRAIGHT. WITH THE BUDGET, I ONLY HEARD ONE COMMISSIONER, AND IT SOUNDED SO CUTE , LET'S BE LIKE DAVE, LET'S GET THAT NUMBER DOWN, AWESOME ! THAT IS WHAT NEEDED TO BE HAPPENING. NOW, I ATTENDED THE WEEKLONG SERIES , OH, BUT THEY ARE RECORDED, NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS THAT WERE ABSENT EVEN WENT BACK AND ACTUALLY VIEWED IT? VIEWED THE DEPARTMENT'S DELINEATING THEIR DEPARTMENT? YOU ALL ARE NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT. AS THEY WENT OVER THE BUDGET, AND TABLING IT, RIGHT ? WHAT DID YOU ALL DO , RIGHT AFTER IT ?

[03:25:03]

>> BETH RIHANNA, SOUTH JACKSONVILLE , MY COMMENTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE VERY POPULAR. AND I MIGHT NEED SOMEONE TO ESCORT ME TO MY CAR. SOMEBODY HAS TO SAY THIS, THE COMMISSIONERS DID NOT VOTE FOR THE SALES TAX INCREASE, LET ME REPEAT, THE ONLY THING THAT THEY VOTED FOR WAS TO GIVE CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE CHOICE, THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE, NOW PAY ATTENTION. AS A DEVELOPER, I AM DISGUSTED BY BEING TOLD CONSTANTLY THAT WE HAVE COMMISSIONERS IN OUR POCKET, NO ONE THAT MAKES THOSE COMMENTS HAS EVER COME IN AND TRIED TO GET A REZONING OR PERMITS. IT TAKES THREE YEARS OF OUR LIVES TO GET THOSE DEVELOPMENTS PERMITTED, THERE IS NO CAKEWALK ABOUT IT BUT I DO PERMITS IN MULTIPLE COUNTIES. THERE IS NOT A SINGLE COUNTY THAT IS AS DIFFICULT AS ST. JOHNS COUNTY. SO, ANYONE THAT THINKS IT IS NOT, I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE THREE YEARS THAT IT TAKES, SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT STOP SPEAKING ABOUT THINGS THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DAYS OF CIVILITY AND TREATING EACH OTHER WITH KINDNESS AND CREW.

RONALD REAGAN AND TIP O'NEILL WOULD FIGHT ALL DAY AND THEN GO OUT FOR A NICE STEAK DINNER AT NIGHT AND HAVE CIVILITY TOWARDS EACH OTHER. IT IS DISGUSTING THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THAT. IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT ANYONE WOULD VERBALLY ATTACK SOMEONE THAT WAS PROTECTING OUR FREEDOMS, SERVICE MEMBERS, IF EVERY YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE SERVICE -- IT

>> MY SON DIED IN THE SERVICE.

>> THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT. YOU DO NOT GET TO DICTATE THAT I NEED AN HOUR OFF TO MAKE A ZOOM CALL TO MAKE SOME CITIZENS HAPPY. ON THE ONE HAND, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEW TO THIS AREA, THEY WANT TAXES ROLLED BACK. WE DON'T WANT TO BE TAXED ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY ARE SCREAMING, WE WANT WORLD-CLASS SERVICE. IT DOES NOT GO BOTH WAYS. THINGS COST MONEY IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO PAY HER TAXES OR PAY MORE IN TAXES,

STOP MAKING DEMANDS, OKAY? >> THE LAST ONE, RIGHT?

>> YES, SIR. DR. GEORGE SPIEGEL, I AM AT 101 GREEN LOOP BOULEVARD, DISTRICT

[3. Public Hearing * REZ 2023-28 105 Venetian Blvd.]

>> WE ARE BACK. THIS TIME , WE WILL TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE. CAUSE I - -- QUASIJUDICIAL .

>> MADAM CHAIR, NO EMAILS , NO MEETINGS.

>> I HAVE NO RECORDS. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST?

[03:30:04]

>> NO MEETINGS, NO EMAILS. >>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS JOHN, I AM IN VERONA BEACH, EASILY FOUND, BECAUSE THERE IS A PILE OF YARD DEBRIS THAT HAS NOT BEEN PICKED UP, I AM JUST SOUTH OF THE ENGLISH PUB ON U.S. 1 NORTH. AND I AM HOPING TO REZONE THE PROPERTY TO COMMERCIAL INTENT. AND THE REASON FOR THAT, I HAVE NOTICED , THROUGH MAYBE THE LAST FIVE OR EVEN 10 YEARS, THE DEMAND FOR SPACE HAS BEGUN TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT IN ITS NATURE. I AM GETTING PEOPLE LIKE CHIROPRACTORS, DENTISTS , LOOKING FOR SPACE. SMALLER SPACE , OF COURSE , I CANNOT LEASE THE SPACE. SO THAT IS THE REASON . FOR ASKING FOR THE REZONE.

>> OKAY. >> OH, SORRY, OBVIOUSLY, NOT

VERY WELL EQUIPPED. >> OKAY.

>> THE BUILDING IS APPROXIMATELY 7500 SQUARE FEET, LOCATED ON 105, ON THE CORNER OF THE NATION AND U.S. 1, IMMEDIATELY SOUTH OF THE ENGLISH PUB. AND THERE IS SOME CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF COMMERCIAL INTENSIVE PROPERTY IN THAT AREA AROUND ME. I AM IN THE MIXED USE DISTRICT. HERE IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE PROPERTY. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 20 OR 21 PARKING SPOTS. THE BUILDING CONSISTS OF FIVE 1500 SQUARE FOOT UNITS , INDIVIDUAL UNITS. AND, THERE SHE IS. THE LAYOUT OF THE PARKING, THE PROPERTY IS ACCESSED FROM VENETIAN BOULEVARD, AS OPPOSED TO U.S. 1. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ARE, IN MY CASE, THE MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICE USE IS NOT ALLOWED, BUT COMMERCIAL INTENT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I BUILT THE PROPERTY IN 2004 . THAT IS IT. ANY QUESTIONS? I

WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOHN

TESDORPF? >> WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

>> MICHAEL MCDONALD , I DO NOT SEE ANYONE FROM THE COMMUNITY, IT WILL RAISE CONCERN WHEN THEY SEE THE ORANGE SIGN. THIS GENTLEMAN LOOKS LIKE IT TAKES PRETTY GOOD CARE OF THE PROPERTY, I HAVE DRIVEN BY IT. IT SEEMS LIKE HE CARES FOR IT, I THINK I WOULD BE IN CONSIDERATION OF IT, IT SEEMS LIKE HE IS CARING FOR THE PROPERTY, IT SEEMS LIKE HE HAS A TRACK RECORD FOR AND I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM IN

SUPPORT OF IT. >> WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE? SEEING NONE,

WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> WE WERE BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD, COMMISSIONER HENRY DEAN ?

>> THERE ARE NO FENCES, EITHER HIGH OR LOW, SO I AM PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION. I WILL MOVE TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2024.

APPROVING THE REZONING OF 2023-128, 105 BUT -- VENETIAN

[4. Transfer of funds from West Augustine Historical Community Redevelopment Area Trust Fund Reserves to fund the West Augustine Affordable Housing Lot Analysis.]

REPORT. >> SECOND.

>> IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE? THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, CONGRATULATIONS. AT THIS TIME,

[03:35:02]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, SHAWNA NOVAK, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THIS IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE REQUEST TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM THE WEST AUGUSTINE TRUST FUND RESERVES TO FUND THE WEST AUGUSTINE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOT ANALYSIS. JUST AS A BRIEF BACKGROUND, AND AUGUST, 2022, THE BOARD , AS THE CRA, DESIGNATED 120 SCATTERED SITES WITHIN THE WEST AUGUSTINE CRA FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS NOTED IN CRA RESOLUTION 2022 -2, WAS DESIGNATED, STAFF FROM HHS , GROWTH MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, LAND MANAGEMENT , WE BEGAN TO LOOK AT THE LOSS, AND WE CONCLUDED THAT A COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS WAS NEEDED, WE DO NOT HAVE THE STAFF, WE ARE NOT DEVELOPERS, IT NEEDS A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO ASSESS THE LOTS FOR SUITABILITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS NOT PLANNED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE DID ALLOCATE FOR THAT. THE ALLEGATIONS -- ALLOCATIONS HAVE COME FROM THE TIP FUND, NOT THE GENERAL FUND.

CAN WE HAVE A MOTION? >> THANK YOU, MS. NOVAK.

>> WE WILL NOW HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

>> I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT THING. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS GREAT. ANOTHER STEP TOWARD AFFORDABLE

HOUSING . >> COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR

NAME ? >> JOE MCINERNEY , AND THEY WILL CONSIDER DENSITY. INCREASED DENSITY IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY CONSIDER. AND I AM NOT EVEN OPPOSED TO THAT. YOU KNOW? I AM HERE TO SAY, LET'S JUST BE CAUTIOUS, BECAUSE EVERY HOME , WHETHER IT IS A HOUSING UNIT, THERE MAY BE AN ELEMENT OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT HERE, I AM ONLY JUST SAYING THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CONSULTANT WILL SHAKE THINGS OUT, BUT WE DO NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING .

AND FROM CERTAIN AREAS, IN MY OPINION , IT MIGHT BE THE COUNTY THAT IS MAKING THAT INVESTMENT, NOT PARTICULAR DEVELOPERS THAT ARE PICKING UP THE PARCELS. SO, I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THE RESULTS. I THINK THAT IS GREAT FOR WEST AUGUSTINE. I HOPE IT DOES NOT PROMOTE GENTRIFICATION OR TOO MUCH GENTRIFICATION, PART OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT INCLUDES KEEPING WHAT WE HAVE, AND THAT IS ANOTHER ASPECT, ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE

PROJECT. >> MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF WHO IS GOING TO DO THIS ANALYSIS, HAVE WE SELECTED ANYTHING? WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA? I WISH THIS COMMISSION, OR THE NEXT ONE, WOULD PLEASE REVISIT YOUR VOTE AGAINST ESTABLISHING PUBLIC HOUSING, TWO OF YOU ALL GOT IT RIGHT, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD , YOU GOT IT RIGHT, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WHAT PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER WOULD CALL WAR PROFITEERING, JUST LIKE THE GARBAGE CONTRACT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING. SO I REALLY HOPE, IN MY HEART OF HEARTS THAT AT LEAST ONE COMMISSIONER WILL RECONSIDER HER VOTE, PLEASE , MA'AM, DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR HUSBAND . WE NEED A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MICHAEL MCDONALD, WHEN SLOPE ACRES , I WANTED TO POINT OUT

[03:40:07]

THEIR SITES, THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THE WALLAH WILLIS , I AM A COCHAIRMAN .

AND I HAVE LISTENED TO A FEW COMMENTS , IT IS A LITTLE LATE, BUT THE RESIDENTS OF ST. AUGUSTINE, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR 20 YEARS, PLUS. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE LANDINGS WITHIN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE HAVE SUFFERED THE WORST , WE WANT TO THANK THIS COMMISSION FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, WE HAVE NEVER ASKED ANYBODY FOR A HANDOFF . WE HAVE THE RIGHT, JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE, TO LIVE A LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY. IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS, I WOULD APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION . WE HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME GREAT THINGS TOGETHER, AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR WORKING WITH US, WE HAVE A LOT OF GROWTH IN THIS COMMUNITY.

BUT DO NOT EXCLUDE WEST AUGUSTINE, WE COUNT, TOO.

INCLUSION IS EVERYTHING. YOU HAVE NOT FAILED US YET. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE AND EVEN BE PART OF THIS GREAT TRAJECTORY, THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED AND I AM READY, IT IS A GOOD FIGHT NOW, IT IS A GREAT THING , A LONG TIME COMING, LET'S NOT STOP NOW, LET'S MOVE THIS FORWARD, LET'S GET IT, LET'S GO, THANK YOU, COMMISSION, FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, ROBERT NEWMAN , 871 NINTH STREET, ST.

AUGUSTINE , FLORIDA, LAST NIGHT , I WAS LOOKING AT THE AGENDA

[03:45:01]

THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

COMMISSIONERS MURPHY AND CLAY. A BRIEF NOTE , THIS IS PROBABLY AN EASY YES . ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO SKIN A CAT , IF YOU WILL. AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM, TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFILL INTO AN HISTORIC AREA, THAT IS A WIN-WIN FOR THE PEOPLE OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE YES VOTE. THANK

YOU. >> WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR? SEEING NONE ,

WE CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTED >> ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD FOR SHAWNA NOVAK ? SEEING NONE, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF $70,000 FROM THE WEST AUGUSTINE CRA TRUST FUND RESERVES TO FUND THE WEST AUGUSTINE AFFORDABLE

[5. First Reading for the Amendments to the Tourist Development Plan Ordinance for the removal of program funding limits.=]

HOUSING LOT ANALYSIS. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE EMOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE VOTE, IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ADJOURN AS THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND RECONVENE AS THE REGULAR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING, THIS TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, MS. TERA MEEKS, GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> TERA MEEKS, TOURISM AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, I AM SHARING THE FIRST READING OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE TAURUS DEVELOPMENT PLAN ORDINANCE FOR THE REMOVAL OF PROGRAM FUNDING LIMITS. SO, AT THE JUNE 17TH TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WAS THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION TO REMOVE THE PROGRAMMATIC FUNDING LIMITS FROM THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT PLAN, THAT IS WHAT GUIDES US AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IT INCLUDES THESE LIMITS, INCLUDED IN CATEGORY 4 , FOR A FEW OF OUR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. THESE LIMITS WERE ORIGINALLY PUT IN PLACE, WITH THE 2011 VERSION OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHEN IT WAS ADOPTED. THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN MONITORED -- MODIFIED AND UPDATED, THE LIMITS INCLUDE A $460,000 FUNDING CAP FOR THE ST. AUGUSTINE DEBT SERVICE, OUR COLLECTIVE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS PROGRAM, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH AND THE LIGHTING EXTENSION PROGRAM, THE FIREWORKS DISPLAYS. AGAIN, TWO FIREWORKS DISPLAYS, THIS IS THE NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS

[03:50:01]

THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS, WE NEED TO CONSIDER REMOVING THOSE LIMITS , AND THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THOSE LIMITS SHOULD BE INCREASED OR CHANGED, OR REMOVE THEM, AND TO REVIEW THEM , WITH THE REFUNDING BUDGET. AS WAS INDICATED, THIS IS THE FIRST READING, IT DOES REQUIRE TWO RATINGS, I WILL BE BACK IN A FUTURE MEETING. AT THAT POINT, YOU CAN ALL TAKE THE VOTE, IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED. WE DO HAVE PEOPLE HERE IN SUPPORT, THEY ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU DO HAVE ANY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> I HAVE TO GUESS, THE CURRENT NEW AMOUNTS ARE ALREADY IN THE BUDGET . WHAT IS IN THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET RIGHT NOW?

>> IN THE BUDGET THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED BEFORE OU, WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE TDC, THAT WAS A RECOMMENDED BUDGET, AND IT WAS IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS OF THE BUDGET, THAT THERE WAS SOME, I GUESS DISCUSSION ABOUT THESE EXISTING LIMITS BEING A LITTLE BIT OUTDATED, SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE FIREWORKS, THAT HAVE GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE. SO IT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, ASSUMING THAT YOU ALL APPROVE THIS, IT WILL INCLUDE INCREASED FUNDING TO THE AMOUNT OF, COLLECTIVELY, $250,000, FOR ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS, IF THIS IS NOT APPROVED, WE WILL MODIFY THE BUDGET THAT IS PRESENTED TO YOU

GUYS. >> THIS IS NOT FROM THE GENERAL

FUND? >> THIS IS NOT. THIS IS FROM THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT , THIS GOES TO THE ENTIRE TOURISM

BUDGET, CATEGORY 4 FUNDS. >> OKAY, ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST THE FIRST READING, CORRECT? THAN YOU. -- THANK

[6. Consider appointments to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC).]

>> I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR COMING. AND ALSO, THE COMMISSIONER, THAT WOULD BE THE

CITY MANAGER AS WELL. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING

HERE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JOANNE SPENCER, SENIOR ASSISTANT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I AM EVER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX, CONSIDERING APPOINTMENTS TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

CURRENTLY, TWO VACANCIES DO PRAME TO AN EXPIRING TERM, AND ANOTHER RESIGNATION, A VACANCY AND IT WAS RUN FOR SIX WEEKS.

FIND A RECOMMENDATION LETTER FOR ANDREW GUYS ALL, FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMODITY -- COMMITTEE.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> WE WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> WE WILL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEM

NUMBER SIX. >> JOE MCINERNEY, 100 30TH LANE, I READ THROUGH THIS, PREPARING FOR TODAY, THE RESUME THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS SHARON WITCHCRAFT, I THINK THAT I RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION, BUT HOLY COW! WHAT A TREMENDOUS RESUME , IF SHE IS STILL ON THE TABLE FOR CONSIDERATION, I WILL PUT THAT OUT THERE, SHE REPLIED THAT HER AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BEING LOOKED FOR, FOR NURSES I AND I WAS VERY UP THERE.

[03:55:01]

>> OF COURSE, SHARON WHITCRAFT IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED, AND SHE WAS RECOMMENDED BY SOMEONE WHO HAD TO RESIGN FOR DIFFERENT SEPARATE ISSUES, BUT SHE WAS ORIGINALLY SLATED TO BE IN THE SLOT, BUT SHE HAS HOWEVER BEEN ISSUED A POSITION BY ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF ADJUSTING TO THAT PROPERTY.

IN THE PROCESS, AND SHE HAD TO WITHDRAW.

>> I DO HOPE THAT SHE IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

[Items 5, 6, & 7]

>> WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX WE SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE,

PUBLIC COMMENT. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT ANDREW GEISEL TO THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, FOR A FULL FOUR-YEAR

TERM . >> SECOND.

>> WITH A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE.

>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO HEAR CONSENT ITEMS FIVE, SIX, AND

SEVEN. >> I AM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR GROWTH MANAGEMENT, ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS ARE IMPACTING TRANSFERS, TWO ARE FOR ROAD IMPACTING CREDITS, AND THIS IS WHERE BRIDGEWATER IS. ANOTHER ONE IS INTERNAL. THE SAME STATUTE ALLOWS FOR THE TRANSFER OF CREDITS. AND IT IS FROM THE ADJACENT ZONE , AND I HAVE TO SEE THAT THE ONE RECEIVING THE CREDITS HAS BENEFITED FROM WHATEVER THE SOURCE OF THE CREDITS WERE. BUT, FROM ONE, TO TWO, BOTH HAVE HAD PROJECTS THAT INCREASED THE CAPACITY FOR COUNTY ROAD 210, IT DOES NOT REALLY HAVE A PROCESS, OUR POLICY IS TO LOOK AT THE RADIUS FROM THE RECEIVING PROCESS AND THE PROCESS TRANSFERRING TO THAT , WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT, IT IS ANALYZED, AND YOU CAN SAY THAT IS WHERE THE BENEFIT IS COMING FROM, FOR THAT PROXIMITY OF RECEIVING THE COMMENT, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE ADJACENT DISTRICTS. THE OTHER ONE IS WITHIN THE DISTRICT, SO THERE IS NO RETENTION ON OUR END FROM THAT POINT, SO THAT PROCESS GOES THROUGH NOW, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAT WE WILL THEN IMPLEMENT THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT CODE, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT, WITHIN THIS INSTANCE, BOTH STERN HURST AND WE FEEL GLAND, -- STONEHURST AND WHEATFIELD GLENN, THEY ARE NOW IN NEED OF CREDITS TO REPOPULATE THE REST OF THE BLOCK. I AM HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING BY RIGHT, THAT IS NUMBER SEVEN, NUMBER FIVE AND NUMBER SIX,

THOSE ARE NOT BY RIGHT? >> THEY ARE CONSENT ITEMS , BUT THE ONES THAT ARE INTERNAL, YOU CAN CORRECT ME ON SOMETHING IF WE NEED CORRECTIONS, THE PROJECT THAT IS RECEIVING THE CREDITS, IF THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE IMPACT FEE BENEFIT ZONE, IT IS BASICALLY ALLOWABLE, THERE IS REALLY NO SHOWING BENEFIT, I BELIEVE THAT IS THE LANGUAGE THAT THE STATUTE USES, IT SHOWS BENEFIT WHEN IT IS OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT. WHEN IT IS INTERNAL,

IT BENEFITS WITHIN. >> FIVE AND SIX ARE NOT WITHIN THE ZONE, THESE CREDITS ARE FROM 2001. SO BASICALLY, WE ARE NOT EVEN GETTING THE MONEY FOR THE ROADS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUILT NOW, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SIMPLY BEEN SITTING ON THESE IMPACT FEES . SO , I DO NOT THINK THE DEVELOPER IS PAYING ITS SHARE, BY MONETARY RIGHT .

>> THESE ARE CREDITS -- IT >> COME ON, REALLY QUICK, YOU ARE SPEAKING REALLY, REALLY FAST. SLOW DOWN. EXPLAINED TO

THE PUBLIC. >> WHEN THEY DO AN OFF-SITE MITIGATION, IN THE CASE OF STONEHURST PLANTATION AND WINGFIELD GLEN, THEY WERE WIDENING COUNTY ROAD 210, AT VARIOUS LENGTHS, THAT INCREASED THE CONCURRENCY OF THE COUNTY ROAD, THAT COST A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, OF WHICH THEY WERE CREDITED . BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE IMPACT FEES WERE CHARGED , THEY HAD AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF CREDITS, THERE IS NOW A LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO TRANSFER THESE, IN THIS INSTANCE, THERE IS AN ALLOTMENT OF CREDITS THAT THEY WERE

[04:00:04]

PROJECT, TO THAT CREDIT. >> NOT IN A DIFFERENT ZONE, WHICH IS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, THIS IS 23 YEARS AGO, IS

THERE NO TIME LIMIT? >> I WOULD DEFER TO OCA, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT CREDITS EXPIRE BUT

>> I AM JUST AT A LOSS FOR WORDS. BUT THANK YOU. I HOPE

PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. >> THANK YOU, MR. DESOUSA. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> WAIT. >> I'M SORRY.

>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY. >> 1368, I ACTUALLY WAS THE PERSON WHO DID BOTH OF THESE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS 20 -SOMETHING YEARS AGO. THE WAY IT WAS THEN, WE DID NOT HAVE PROPORTIONATE FAIR SHARE, WHEN YOU DID THE CONCURRENCY, AND IT SAID YOU OWED $1 MILLION, IF THE ROAD NEEDED TO BE WIDENED, EVEN IF IT WAS $5 MILLION, YOU HAD TO WIDEN IT, YOU ARE REALLY GETTING $0.20 ON THE DOLLAR, BACK, THAT IS WHY THERE IS AN EXCESS AND A DIFFERENT I TAKE IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY FOR THE PUBLIC THAT IS LISTENING, BRIDGEWATER, THEY DID NOT GET ANYTHING FOR FREE, THEY HAD TO PAY $4.5 MILLION AS A PROPORTIONATE FAIR SHARE, THEY HAVE ADDITIONALLY CONSTRUCTED COUNTY ROAD 210, AND AT THE PARKWAY, FOR NO ADDITIONAL CREDITS, THAT WAS A FREEBIE. SO THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL UNITS, SO, THAT IS THE POINT, TO HELP THEM.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN, IF IT IS IN A DIFFERENT ZONE, HOW IS THAT

OKAY? >> IT IS FROM THE ORIGINAL BRIDGEWATER TRAFFIC STUDY, TO WHERE THE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS WERE DONE ON COUNTY ROAD 210, THESE LINK UPS HAD TO BE LOOKED AT, AND IF THERE WAS NOT ANY SUFFICIENT CAPACITY, THEY HAD TO PAY ADDITIONAL FINES, THE RADIUS IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE THE PROJECT COMES BEFORE YOU. IT IS NOT LIKE 10 MILES AWAY, IT LITERALLY SHARES 10% OF THE BRIDGEWATER TRAFFIC, COMING ONTO THE LINKS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THESE TWO PROJECTS. SO, THERE IS A DIRECT LINK OF USING THE IMPROVEMENT THAT TOOK PLACE.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? NOW WE WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> PUBLIC COMMENT NOW, FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 729. SORRY .

>> JOE MCINERNEY, BLACKBERRY LANE, I GUESS I AM HERE, BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO MOVE FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN. I REMAIN CONFUSED, BUT I CAN TALK TO SOMEONE AND GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE TRANSFER CREDIT POLICIES AND HOW THOSE WORK. I THINK I HAVE HEARD TODAY THAT THE COUNTY HAS THE MONEY, YOU ARE JUST TRANSFERRING IT FROM ONE TO ANOTHER, THAT OPENS UP A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL NOT GO THERE RIGHT NOW , BUT IF THE COUNTY HAS HAD THE MONEY AND HAS GROWN IT FOR 20 YEARS, THANK YOU, FOR YOUR EXPLANATION ABOUT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ON 210, THAT IS VERY USEFUL AT MOON BAY. SOON, IT WILL HELP SANDY CREEK RESIDENTS GET BACK OUT ONTO 210 AS WELL. SO, I WAS JUST UNAWARE OF THE DISTRICTS IN THE ZONES, THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER OR NOT TRANSFER , I GUESS MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. I WILL DIG DEEPER . I WILL DIG DEEPER. WELL, THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY.

>> MICHAEL MCDONALD , WINDSWEPT ACRES NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS DRAWS MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS, WE HAVE MONEY SITTING AROUND FOR 20 YEARS. WE HAVE NO PROPER NARRATIVE AND IT IS A GRAY AREA

[04:05:08]

MAYBE START DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, NEW CONCERNS. TRY TO FIND A START, AT VO-TECH , WITH A ROAD-BUILDING DEPARTMENT, LET'S TRY TO COME UP WITH LOGICAL PROCESSES , FOR THE IMPACTS THAT WE FACE . IF WE TURN A BLIND EYE AND WE EXPECT STAFF TO HELP US WHERE WE NEED IT, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTS, MILLIONS OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, NEIGHBORS FIGHTING NEIGHBORS, WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER, UNITE , AND FIND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY. IF WE DO NOT HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY, WE WILL ALL SUFFER FROM THAT, WE WILL ALL SUFFER. I DEFINITELY THINK THIS DREW MORE ATTENTION TO THE QUESTIONS, RATHER THAN PROVIDING ANSWERS. YEAH, GOODNESS. I HOPE THESE DEVELOPERS ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE AND THEY ARE USING IT IN A TIMELY MANNER WHERE WE ARE GETTING THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, IDEALLY. YEAH, HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> HEATHER STEAD WELL, 325 LEWIS LANE, I CAME HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE VOTE. YOU ARE WORKING WITH THESE DEVELOPERS, YOU ARE NOT PUTTING THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSEDLY COLLECTING FROM THEM TO HELP THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE. THERE IS A CAR WRECK EVERY HOUR AND A HALF AROUND HERE. YOU ARE RUINING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE, WITH YOUR, WELL, I WILL SAY THAT I BELIEVE YOU ARE CORRUPT. I BELIEVE THE MONEY GOES IN YOUR POCKET. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS MONEY, AND WE WILL FREAKING PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU HAD THE TOWNHOMES ILLEGALLY BUILT , ON LOVELAND, NEXT TO ME. YOU TOOK THE MONEY. IT MAKES ME CRY. YOU TOOK THE MONEY, AND YOU DID NOT EVEN PUT IN A TRAFFIC LIGHT. 650 CARS ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND MAKE FREAKING U-TURNS, WITHIN THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE, GOING IN ONE DIRECTION. DEATHS ARE OCCURRING. THAT'S ARTICLING -- DEATHS ARE OCCURRING DAILY BECAUSE OF, I THINK, YOUR CORRUPTION. WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING? I KNOW WE WERE TOLD WE WERE GOING TO PUT THE MITIGATION BACK TO WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. APPARENTLY, IT WAS BEING GIVEN UP AROUND THERE. IT IS NOT EVEN GOING TO WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. ALL OF THE MONEY YOU GIVE TO THESE DEVELOPERS, PLUS ALL OF THE FREE STUFF, LIKE HENRY DEAN --

>> PLEASE AVOID PERSONAL ATTACKS.

>> I WAS ASKING HIM TO LOOK AT ME, I AM NOT ATTACKING HIM.

HELLO, MR. DEAN. PLEASE, DO NOT VOTE FOR THESE PEOPLE AGAIN.

AND THE COMMERCIALS THAT SAY THEY ARE FIGHTING AGAINST DEVELOPERS, THAT IS A LIE. YOU NEED TO BE VOTING NEW PEOPLE IN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[04:10:04]

>> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE WILL

CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> WEIGHT , I HAVE A QUESTION , I AM NOT AN IMPACT FEE SPECIALIST BY ANY STRETCH, AND I DON'T THINK I EVER WILL BE. BUT BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD BEING DESCRIBED, CREDITS CREATED WHEN A DEVELOPER OVERPAYS TO BUILD A ROAD THAT EXCEEDS WHAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PAY IN TRANSPORTATION MITIGATION.

>> CREDITS ARE CREATED WHEN A DEVELOPER SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT IS CREDITABLE, IN THIS INSTANCE, THEY BUILT COUNTY ROAD 210, IN TWO SEGMENTS, EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE DEVELOPER SPENDS IS CREDITED BACK TO THEM, IN THE CREDIT ACCOUNT. IF THEY SPEND MORE THAN WHAT THEIR CHAIR IS, THEY GET ALL OF THOSE CREDITS, IF THAT ROAD COST MORE THAN THAN WHAT THEY PROTECTED AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO UTILIZE IN IMPACT FEES, THEY ARE STILL PAYING ALL OF THAT MONEY, TO DO

THE MITIGATION >> I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL COMMENTS MADE THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS GETTING THESE CREDITS. ARE ANY OF THESE DOLLAR CREDITS PROPERTY TAX

DOLLARS? >> THESE ARE ALL CREDITS THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED BACK TO THE COST THAT WAS EXPENDED FOR THE

MITIGATION OF THE ROADWAY. >> THEY ARE CREATED BY ROADS THAT ARE BUILT OR MONEY THAT IS PAID IN, OVER AND ABOVE WHAT

THE DEVELOPER OWES? >> AS WELL AS, UP TO WHAT THEY OWE. I NEED TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION, IT IS NOT JUST THE MONEY OVER THE AMOUNT, IT IS ALL MONEY THAT IS EXPENDED.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> SORRY, MADAM CHAIR, JUST ONE MORE THOUGHT, FOR THE RECORD, JUST FOR THE RECORD , WE HAVE, IN THE STATE STATUTE, IT WAS MENTIONED, I REMEMBER WHEN COMMISSIONER DEAN MADE A MOTION TWO YEARS AGO, DURING A LEGISLATIVE SESSION. A STATE LAW WAS PASSED THAT ALLOWED DEVELOPERS, BY RIGHT, TO TRANSFER THE IMPACT FEE CREDITS FROM ZONE TO ZONE , TO ZONE. AND COMMISSIONER DEAN MADE THE MOTION TO ASK THIS BOARD TO SEND A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO VETO THAT BILL. WE DID NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. UNANIMOUSLY, ALL FIVE COMMISSIONERS AT THE TIME SUPPORTED THE MOTION OF COMMISSIONER DEAN, TO REQUEST GOVERNOR DESANTIS TO SIGN THE BILL, HE VETOED THE BILL, THAT IS HIS RIGHT. THEY PUT IT ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, HE HAS THE RIGHT TO SIGN IT, BUT THE BOARD DID NOT SUPPORT THAT. THAT IS NOW A STATE LAW THAT GOVERNS WHAT WE DO IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. SO I WANTED TO GIVE EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE IMPACT FEE

CREDIT TRANSFERS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER

HARRIS, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH ? >> THIS WOULD NOT BE A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD NOT VOTE ON IT ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS NOT GOING FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER.

>> OKAY. DOES ANYBODY WANT TO OFFER A MOTION?

>> CAN WE MAKE ONE MOTION ? SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE?

>> IT IS THREE. THEY ARE ALL ON THE SCREEN.

>> I MOVE FOR APPROVING THE TRANSFER , DO I HAVE TO MAKE THREE SEPARATE MOTIONS THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT NUMBERS, DOLLAR AMOUNTS, OKAY. THIS IS NUMBER SIX, I GUESS ? THE TRANSFER OF $791,160.37 IN ROAD IMPACT FEE CREDITS FROM THE WINGFIELD GLEN PUD TO THE BRIDGEWATER PUD.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE EMOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE. AND THAT PASSES, 4-1.

>> NOW, I WILL MAKE ANOTHER MOTION HERE, WHEN IT COMES UP ON THE SCREEN. NUMBER SEVEN , THE TRANSFER OF $281,572 IN PARK IMPACT FEE CREDITS FROM THE MARSHALL CREEK PUD TO THE

BRIDGEWATER PUD. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE. AND THAT PASSES, 4-1.

>> I THINK THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THE FIRST ONE.

>> LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN.

>> BY THE WAY, IF PEOPLE DO NOT RECOGNIZE MARSHALL CREEK, TALK ABOUT ANCIENT TIMES, THAT IS WHAT WE NOW CALL PALENCIA. THE TRANSFER OF $918,783.70, IN ROAD IMPACT FEE CREDITS, FROM THE STONEHURST PLANTATION BEAUTY TO THE BRIDGEWATER PUD.

[19. Motion to adopt Resolution 2024-________, authorizing the County Administrator, or designee, to execute Change Order #06 to Master Contract No. 21-MCC-WOO-13032 with Woolpert, Inc, Inc. under RFQ No: 21-34; Digital Orthophotography for a Not-To-Exceed amount of $491,798.00.]

>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE

[04:15:02]

VOTE. THAT PASSES, 4-1. >> PALENCIA WAS BUILT IN 1998, WE ARE STILL BUILDING PROJECTS FOR THAT, IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT FEES, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> YES, WE ARE. THANK YOU. THAT TAKES US TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, FORMERLY CONSENT ITEM NUMBER 19.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> JAMIE LOCKLEAR, PURCHASING DIRECTOR, CONSENT ITEM NUMBER 19 WAS A CHANGE ORDER TO WOOLFORD, FOR THEIR DIGITAL ORTHO PHOTOGRAPHY, FOR PRE-IMPACT HURRICANE SEASON LIDAR , PROVIDING DETAILED ELEVATION INFORMATION ON THE BEACHES, PRIOR TO THE IMPACT OF A HURRICANE, SO THAT WE CAN BETTER ASSESS DAMAGES, IN THE EVENT OF A HURRICANE IMPACT, AND PROVIDES FOR THEM TO PERFORM PROCESSING OF THE DATA IN THE EVENT OF IMPACT, FOR FEMA , REIMBURSEMENT, DATA, THIS IS WHAT WE DO WITH THEM, EVERY YEAR, SO THAT WE CAN GATHER THE DATA IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY POSSIBLE. I ALSO HAVE JOE HERE TO ANSWER ANY

TECHNICAL QUESTION. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH ?

>> TWO QUESTIONS, NUMBER ONE, IT WENT UP TO $1 MILLION AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHY. IS THERE ANY WAY TO HAVE THIS, OF THE TAX? WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE BEACHES NICE FOR TOURISTS , FOR 42 MILES, OTHERWISE IT IS OUT OF GENERAL FUND, CORRECT?

>> I CANNOT SPEAK TO THE BUDGET.

>> I AM TRYING TO FIND PLACES WE CAN CUT, $1 MILLION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY KIND OF FREAKED ME OUT WHEN I SAW IT, SO?

>> WE ARE NOT IMPACTED IF YOU DO NOT UTILIZE THE OTHER HALF OF THE SERVICES, AND THE SERVICES ARE PERFORMED AT THE RATES THAT ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE CONTRACT SIGNED IN 2021, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY INCREASE FOR THIS PROPOSAL, WE REVIEW THOSE RATES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THAT IS WHAT IS PROPOSED FOR THE HURRICANE SEASON THIS YEAR.

>> DO OTHER COUNTIES DO THIS? >> I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT.

>> MADAM CHAIR, IN ORDER FOR US TO SEEK FEMA REIMBURSEMENT, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DETAILED TOPOGRAPHY OF THE SAND , ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE 30' CONTOUR LINE IN THE OCEAN. WE DO PRETTY -- PRE- LIDAR AND POST LIDAR DATA, WE MISSED OUT ON DETAILED ANALYSIS , THERE WAS A 10,000 CUBIC YARD SECTION MISSING.

WITH THE PRE-IMPOSED, WE NOW HAVE THAT DATA. AND IF WE DO NOT HAVE A STORM THIS YEAR, WE DO NOT USE THE POST DATA. AND WE HAVE IT, BASICALLY, WE DO THIS , AND WE USE THE DATA, THE POST-STORM FLIGHTS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER FEMA REIMBURSEMENT. AND WE USE THAT REIMBURSEMENT , TO SHOW THAT WE

ACTUALLY DID THIS. >> CAN WE DO THIS ALL OUT OF

THE BED TAX, FOR THE BEACH? >> I AM NOT SURE, IT HAS BEEN FUNDED FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS , FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE

BEACH. >> LOOK INTO IT, MAYBE?

>> I CAN LOOK INTO IT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. ANY

QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? >> I WILL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC

COMMENT. >> MICHAEL MCDONALD , WINDSWEPT ACRES, YES, IT DOES LOOK ALARMING. I AM CURIOUS HOW MANY SURVEYS AND ZONING EXPERTS THAT WE HAVE BECOME POTENTIALLY ENGAGED WITH FOR THINGS LIKE THIS. THIS STARTED IN 2019, WE WENT INTO THIS CONTRACT AND HERE IT IS, 2014, OR , 2024, AND THEY WANT 400,000 AND SOME ODD DOLLARS FOR LIDAR ORTHO PHOTOGRAPHY , I GET THAT SENTIMENT , CAPTURING MONEY FROM FEMA, BUT, IF EVERYBODY DOES THAT, IT IS, COLLECTIVELY, JUST WELFARE. EVERYONE IS DEMANDING MONEY, SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT, IF WE ARE PUTTING OTHER COMMUNITIES ON THE LINE AND WE ARE PAYING OUT MORE MONEY AND BURDENING US FURTHER, THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. YEAH. I DO NOT , I DO

[04:20:02]

DON'T KNOW. I JUST THINK -- >> WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10?

>> HE IS COMING UP. I WANT TO TELL YOU, REALLY QUICKLY. I WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE , THE ANSWER IS, IN ORDER TO GET FEMA REIMBURSEMENT MONEY, THEY MAY BUILD THE BEACH BACK TO THE PRE-STORM CONDITION, TO ALLOW THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, IF YOU CANNOT GET FEMA FUNDING, THAT IS MY POINT.

>> MADAM CHAIR, CLAY MURPHY, COMMISSIONERS , I HAVE ONE QUESTION. IT SEEMS THAT THIS SHOULD BE A REGULAR BUDGET ITEM . IT SHOULD BE LISTED IN THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR AND NOT SOMETHING THAT COMES UP AFTERWARDS. THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION. IF THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN FIGURE OUT, IF HE HAS BEEN DOING THAT THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT, YOU NEED IT , TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE STILL HAVE -- IT IS THERE ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> WELCOME BACK, JESSE. >> JESSE DONE, DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF BUDGET, ONE OF THE REASON THAT I CAME DOWN ON IT, AGAIN, THERE ARE MANY GOOD QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, IN PARTICULAR, THIS IS A RECURRING BUDGET ITEM, THAT PREDISPOSED LIDAR. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE APPROPRIATE, FOR BOTH OF THOSE, IF THERE IS NO REASON DO THE POST-LIDAR, THAT FALLS TO THE BOTTOM, WE BUDGET FOR THAT ANNUALLY, THE PRIOR QUESTION WAS RELATED TO THE USE OF THE TDC, I WILL ASK THAT QUESTION, I THINK THAT IS A FINE LINE AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET MONITORING, AND WE HAVE BEEN COGNIZANT OF TAKING THE GENERAL FUND ITEM, ANY ITEMS RELATED TO COASTAL, AND GET AS MANY INTO THAT, AS APPROPRIATE, INTO THAT CATEGORY 5 ASSET. I THINK THAT LIDAR GOT A LITTLE GRAY FOR US, WE COULD NOT SEE IT DIRECTLY CONNECT TO THE BEACHES. I AM GOING TO CHECK WITH LEGAL, AND CERTAINLY , IF WE CAN REALLY APPROPRIATE IN THE CATEGORY 5, THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD REFER BACK

TO THE FINAL BUDGET ON THIS. >> THANK YOU, MR. JESSE DUNN.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, I WANTED TO CLARIFY YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE $1 MILLION, THIS IS NOT AN INCREASE TO SERVICES THAT WERE UNPLANNED FOR. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUS YEARS AND THE PREVIOUS YEARS, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CONTRACT AS ACCUMULATIVE. I THINK , TO DATE, WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $500,000, THIS YEAR , SERVICES COST ABOUT $490,000. BECAUSE OF THAT IN ADDITION, THAT IS WHAT CREATES THE REQUIREMENT, BECAUSE IT EXCEEDS THE THRESHOLD. IT IS NOT AN INCREASE TO THEIR SERVICES OR THEIR PRICES, IT IS JUST CAPTURING THIS YEAR'S SERVICES, UNDER THIS ORDER.

>> OKAY , THANK YOU, MS. LOCKLEAR. DO WE HAVE ANY

[04:25:05]

DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BOARD? >> MA'AM, WE HAVE ALREADY DONE

PUBLIC COMMENT. >> DID YOU CLOSE IT OUT ?

>> I DID. I APOLOGIZE. >> I WILL OFFER A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-328, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 06 TO MASTER CONTRACT NUMBER 21- MCC-W00 -13032 WITH WOOLPERT

[28. Motion to adopt Resolution 2024-________, approving and authorizing the County Administrator, or designee, to execute and deliver, on behalf of the County, a Memorandum of Understating between St. Johns County Fire Rescue and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to establish and implement a ride along training program, in substantially the same form as attached hereto.]

>> I WILL SECOND. >> THAT PASSES, UNANIMOUSLY.

>> FINAL AGENDA ITEM, FORMERLY CONSENT 28.

>> ST. JOHN'S FIRE COUNTY RESCUE, THIS IS AN MOU, BETWEEN ST. JOHNS COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND THE FBI FIELD OFFICE OF JACKSONVILLE TO ALLOW THE CMT'S OR PARAMEDICS TO RIDE TO KEEP UP WITH THE TRAINING THAT IT IS ON AND OFF, FROM 2018, THE LAST ONE EXPIRED IN 2023, I BELIEVE, AND WE ARE ALLOWING THAT PERSONNEL TO RIDE WITH US, THE SAME MOU TO USE WITH ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, WITH THE EMT AND PARAMEDIC PROGRAMS, ACTUALLY, WE ALSO HAD THE SAME MOU IN THE PAST. THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE

QUICK SUMMARY >> I REREAD THE CONSENT AGENDA OVER THE WEEKEND. AND IT CAUGHT MY EYE. AND I DID NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND , I GUESS I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE FBI HAS EMTS THAT

SHARE THE SAME ROLES? >> THEY ARE UTILIZED FOR THEIR OWN AGENCY. THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN PERSONNEL, IF THEY DO SOME SITE, THEY DO SOME PERSONNEL SO THAT THEY CAN AID

THEIR OWN. >> AND THE BENEFIT? IF THEY DO THE MOU , WITH YOU, THEY SORT OF DO THAT ON THE JOB TRAINING?

>> THE REASON FOR THE MOU, IT ALLOWS THEM TO ENGAGE AND PERFORM, FOR TRAINING. AND THIS ALLOWS THEM TO ENGAGE . AND THEY ALSO FALL UNDER THE APPARATUS.

>> THOSE ARE BOTH AGENCY ADVOCATES, I THINK THE FBI USES OUR TRAINING FACILITY, YOU MAY NOT BE INVOLVED IN THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW SOMEONE HAS DONE A LOT OF ARRANGEMENTS . WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT I CERTAINLY FEEL THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT, I AM NOT SURE WHY IT WAS IN PLACE, AND NOW I UNDERSTAND.

>> I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS . AND IS THIS THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THE COUNTY, THE COUNTRY?

>> THIS IS THE FBI, THIS WOULD BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR JACKSONVILLE FIELD OFFICE, CERTIFIED MEDICAL EMTS OR PARAMEDICS FROM THE FIELD OFFICE, THEY WOULD REACH OUT, REQUEST A RIDE ALONG FOR TRAINING, AND WE WOULD SCHEDULE IT, AND HOWEVER LONG THEY DO ON THE RIDE ALONG .

>> DO THEY HAVE PRECEDENTS OVER YOU? IF YOU SAY, DON'T TOUCH THAT PERSON, ARE THEY OVER YOU?

>> THEY ARE DIRECTLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE PEOPLE IN THE FIELD, THAT IS WHAT THE MOU OUTLINES, DELINEATES, ALL OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES. SO, THEY CALL US, WHEN THEY WANT TO SEND SOME PEOPLE DOWN TO RIDE. AND WE WILL SCHEDULE, WE WILL PUT IT OUT THERE THAT HAVE NO AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER. THEY GET BACK THE INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION, TO HELP ONE OF THEIR OWN, THEY REALLY DO NOT HAVE AN AVENUE TO PARTICIPATE IN MEDICAL ACTIVITIES, IN THE ROLE OF THE FBI . AND SO, THAT

[04:30:02]

IS PATIENT CARE. >> IS THAT THE SAME THING?

>> WE ALLOW THEM FROM THE COLLEGES TO ARRIVE.

>> OF RUSSIANS THAT PEOPLE HAVE. THIS AGREEMENT HAS NO MODEL. IT HAS TO BE SENT BACK. ST. JOHNS COUNTY POLICIES, THEY HAVE A LIST THAT THEY WOULD DO IN ANY NORMAL AGREEMENT. THE FBI POLICIES HAVE NUMBERS. I FEEL ESPECIALLY IN CHARGE OF THE JACKSON DEAL. EXPLAINING IT TO US. THIS WOULD BE COMMON COURTESY TO INVITE THEM OUT. LET'S DO THIS IN THE FUTURE, AND IN THE OPEN. 40% OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY COMMISSION, IS REVIVING THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL ELECTIONS. THIS IS IN TERMS OF LEGAL TRAFFICKING. THIS STINKS ON ICE. AS MY MOM WOULD SAY.

THIS NEEDS TO BE PULLED FROM THIS AGENDA, LOOKING AT THE FUTURE AGENDA. CAN WE GET ON TO THE NEXT COMMISSION INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS? THAT IS TOO MUCH TO ASK. I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY HE COULD HAVE POLISHED IT. THAT IS

OUTRAGEOUS. >> WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11? SEEING NONE, WE

WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THAT BRINGS US BACK TO THE BOARD. ABOUT RESOLUTION 2024-329. APPROVING AUTHORIZED COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS. DELIVERING ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING COUNTY FIRE RESCUE. ESTABLISHING AND IMPLEMENTING SUBSTANTIALLY THE

SAME FORM. >> SECOND.

>> ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT?

>> I WAS JUST WONDERING. IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL. THEY

[Public Comment]

>> THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS USED. COLLEGES AND OTHER AGENCIES. THEY WERE TRYING TO DO THAT.

>> THANK YOU. >> MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE

VOTE. >> THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THAT WRAPS UP THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> WE WILL PICK UP FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. COME FORWARD, AND WE WILL GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES FOR THE RECORD.

>> BOX 3084. CALLING YOUR ATTENTION TO AUGUST 19, 2022.

THE DATE THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. 60% OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WE NEED TO RE-ESTABLISH PRESERVATION PARTNERS. MAKE THINGS RIGHT. SPEAKING ABOUT THE NEED TO PROTECT AFRICAN-AMERICANS. ONE OF YOU ALL EVEN SAID THINGS WHEN THEY HAVE HAD THE HOUSE OPENING.

LET'S MAKE THINGS RIGHT BY OUR EMPLOYEES. SECOND, THIS WEEKEND I SAW AN EMAIL. PACKING IS SERVING IT. THEY MADE A PHOTOGRAPH. LIFE-SUPPORT GAVE PRIDE TOO. THIS IS HALF OF THAT KIND OF ATTACK. IT IS BIGOTED AND WRONG. 35 YEARS AGO,

[04:35:14]

THE SALES TAX INCREASE. >> 25 SUGGESTIONS FOR GOVERNMENT REFORM. ONLY ONE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. FINALLY OVERRULES FOR SURE. TRYING TO PROVIDE US WITH THESE DASHBOARD CAMERAS. SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2010. MICHELLE O'CONNELL WAS MURDERED. I SAID TO SHERIFF HARDWARE, LOOKING AT THE POLICE CHIEF, BACK IN 2019. I KNOW WHEN YOU ARE SURE OF, YOU ARE GOING TO THANK THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF I WANTED IT. THIS IS WORD FOR WORD. YOU ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO IT. WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE SHERIFF TO HOLD THESE BANKS ACCOUNTABLE.

CARRYING A BADGE AND A GUN. THAT IS WRONG.

>> DO I STILL NEED TO SAY MY NAME?

>> LIKE MY HUSBAND, I AM NOT RUNNING FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE HEARD A LOT TODAY.

>> CAN YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS?

>> I BEG YOUR PARDON. 1010 GREENVILLE LANE. WE HAVE HEARD A LOT TODAY. THE DOG HAS SERVED US WELL. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

VERY THANKFUL TO BE HERE FOR THAT. NEXT TIME WE GATHER TOGETHER, WILL BE A BIG DAY. MAYBE NOT MUCH CAN BE SAID THAT WILL CHANGE ANYTHING. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

BOTH SIDES, THEY KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. I AM NOT GETTING UP HERE TO BLOW MY OWN HORN. THERE'S A LOT OF CRITICAL WORK WITH THE COUNTY. I RAN INTO AN INTERESTING SECTION OF SCRIPTURE THIS MORNING. JOSHUA, ABOUT TO CONQUER JERICHO. ARE YOU FOR US? ARE YOU FOR OUR ADVERSARY? THE ANGEL LOOKS AT HIM, AND SAYS NEITHER. I REPRESENT GOD. THAT IS THE ATTITUDE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. THIS IS NOT US AGAINST THEM. I WANT TO HONOR GOD. I AM NOT PRAYING FOR ANY PARTICULAR OUTCOME. NOT LOOKING TO WIN, OR TO LOSE. I WANT GOD'S HEART FOR PEOPLE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS TODAY. WONDERFUL CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE HAVING IN THE COUNTY. IT IS GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE THIS COUNTY.

I WAS AT PRAIRIE RESERVE YESTERDAY. SOMETHING WAS GOING ON ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS. GOD IS GREEN. GOD CREATED EVERYTHING THAT THERE IS. EVERYTHING WAS CREATED THROUGH HIM, FOR HIM, AND BY HIM. GREEN IS NOT GOD. PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN GREEN. I AM NOT SAYING IN ANY WAY THAT WE SHOULD CUT EVERYTHING DOWN FOR THE SAKE OF IT. THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT ON THIS EARTH TO US, ARE NOT RECORDED IN HEAVEN.

THE STREETS ARE PEOPLE SOULS. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. THERE IS SUCH A THING AS ABSOLUTE TRUTH.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, JESUS IS THE TRUTH. JESUS SAID THAT GOD IS LOVE. LOVE NEVER FAILS. WE ARE A COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER, HOW TO RESPECT EACH OTHER, AND HOW TO WORK TOGETHER. THAT WAS CALLED ON A CARPET THE OTHER DAY. ALL YOU WANT IS FOR EVERYBODY TO JUST GET ALONG. THAT IS NOT REALISTIC. YOU ARE LOOKING AT

[04:40:03]

[Commissioners’ Reports]

I PRAY FOR THIS COUNTY. I WANT GOD'S LOVE TO PREVAIL IN THIS COUNTY. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. WHEREVER YOU END UP AFTER NEXT TUESDAY. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. SEEING ON,

WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THAT BRINGS US BACK TO THE BOARD. COMMISSION REPORTS? COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?

>> YES. I FELT REALLY BAD FOR GREG TODAY. GOING AFTER IT.

GLAD HE IS WORKING OUT. I DO WANT TO CALL OUT FOR HIM, THESE ARE THE SANDBAG PEOPLE. THEY DISTRIBUTED 12,000 SANDBAGS.

THEY HAD OVER 4000 POUNDS OF SAND. THEY DID THIS AHEAD OF THE STORM. THEY STOPPED BY. THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD FOR THIS COUNTY AND FOR THE PEOPLE. I'M REALLY PROUD OF THEM. THEY WERE SO CUTE, THEY LET ME TAKE THE PICTURE. THEY WERE WORKING SO HARD. I WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT. THE NEXT MEETING IS ON VOTING DAY. WHO KNOWS? THANK YOU.

>> IN QUEUE. COMMISSIONER? >> I HAD A CHAIR FOR LEGAL. WE LOOK AT THE SITUATION THIS MORNING. WOULD WE HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING? IS THIS THE 20TH? HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

>> THE DIRECTION IS TO HAVE STAFF MOVING TOWARDS TERMINATING THE CONTRACT. THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BETWEEN NOW AND OTHERS.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> DID THEY HAVE TO PUT ANOTHER RFP OUT THERE AT THAT POINT? I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT THE

MOTION WAS. >> IF WE ARE GOING TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT, WE LOOK TO PUT IT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> I JUST WANTED TO GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, WE DID HAVE A GREAT MEETING WITH THE BOAT CAPTAINS. I MET WITH SEVERAL OF THEM. I THINK YOU BROUGHT THEM UP AT THE LAST MEETING. THIS IS THE COLLABORATION WORKSHOP WITH THEM. REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET SCHEDULED. WE ARE PUTTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT TOGETHER FROM THE NEXT MEETING.

>> OKAY. IS THERE A CONSENSUS ON THIS?

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THE WORKSHOP.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THE WORKSHOPS. GETTING THAT

SCHEDULE. >> DIDN'T WE ALREADY HAVE

CONSENSUS FOR THAT? >> DID WE?

>> WE HAD A COUPLE. WE HAD A MEETING WITH THEM. I PROMISED THEM. ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS LOOK AT THE AGENDA.

>> WE CAN LOOK FOR SUMS THAT -- WE CAN LOOK AT SOME DATES. THAT

WOULD BE GOOD. >> THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP NEXT MONDAY, ONE OF MY FAVORITE TIMES OF THE YEAR. WORST TRAFFIC WEEK OF THE YEAR. MY PARENTS MOVED TO ST.

JOHNS COUNTY IN THE 90S. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN WITH THEIR OVERSIZED BACKPACKS. INCLUDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND IT IS AN EXCITING TIME OF THE YEAR.

EXCITED TO START THIRD AND FIRST GRADE. JUST WANT TO WISH A HAPPY NEW SCHOOL YEAR TO ALL THE KIDS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE EXCITED ABOUT. ESPECIALLY TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT ARE FACED WITH A DIFFICULT TASK. JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY, NEW START.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. COMMISSIONER DEAN?

>> I HOPE IT GOES BETTER. >> THIS IS ALL I CAN SAY.

[04:45:04]

>> I'M TRYING TO DO THIS IF I MAY. THE STAFF BRIEFLY. THIS YEAR, THIS IS WHEN THE CORE FINISHED. THEY REALLY HAD A GOOD JOB. BASICALLY, THE FISHING PIER IS PART OF IT. IT IS NOT OVER WATER. WE HAVE A CORE PROJECT WITH THIS HISTORY.

THAT IS WASHING OUT. SITTING OUT OFFSHORE, COMING BACK. LET ME JUST READ THIS, AND SEE IF WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT. PLEASE SEEK BOARD CONSENSUS ON THE TOPIC AT TUESDAY'S MEETING.

THIS IS DUE TO CRUCIAL BEACH RECOVERY. THIS IS FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH. SAINT KNOX COUNTY FISHING OCEAN PEERS HAVE BEEN LANDLOCKED. I AM REQUESTING THE FISHING PASSES HAVE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MONTHS THAT FISHING IS GOING TO BE LOOKING ALONG THE PIER. I'M GOING TO LOOK AT YOUR CONSENSUS ON THAT. THEY HAVE ALL PAID AN ANNUAL FEE FOR EACH RUN. GOING FORWARD AND ADDING ANOTHER ONE. PRETTY SIMPLE. WE NEED

APPROVAL. >> ABSOLUTELY. WILL CONSENSUS

DUPLEX >> I NOTICED IT WAS WASHED OUT ON THE BRIDGE A LITTLE BIT. THERE IS AN EIGHT FOOT CLIFF OF SAND. WATER IS ALREADY UNDER THE PIER A LITTLE BIT.

>> THAT IS GOOD. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO VIEW AND.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PURPOSES OF BEACH RESTORATION.

THEY HAVE REALLY SURFACED THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB. IT IS A SACRIFICIAL LAMB. PROTECTING OUR OWN BUSINESSES AND HOMES.

PLACING THEM THROUGHOUT. THAT IS THE DEAL.

>> I THINK WE HAVE CONSENSUS. >> I WILL KEEP MY BRIEF AS

[County Administrator’s Report]

WORKING OVERTIME. ON THE WEEKEND, WITH STORM, STATE ADMIN, AND ESPECIALLY OTHERS THAT IT REALLY HAD TO STEP UP FCC DEBACLE. HUGE, HEARTFELT THANK YOU. THEY ARE UP THERE.

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS THE COUNTY ADMIN REPORT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE, HURRICANE DEBBIE TROPICAL STORM, THE STAFF DID A FANTASTIC JOB. RIGHT ON THE MONEY. THIS STORM, THE BAD PART IS ADJACENT TO THE COUNTY. ALL IT TAKES IS A WOBBLE. CHANGING DIRECTIONS. ON TOP OF IT.

PERFECT RECORD. AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, WE ARE LUCKY. THEY ARE SO GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO. NOT ONLY DID THEY PICK UP TRASH, BUT THEY HANDED OUT 4000 MORE SANDBAG. JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS HAD WHAT THEY NEED. THEY WERE OUT THERE THROWING GARBAGE INTO TRUCKS READ WEREN'T MADE AS GARBAGE TRUCKS IN THE BAD WEATHER. 30 PEOPLE SHOWED UP. JUST INCREDIBLE, WHAT THIS COUNTY DOES. THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.