Nov 19, 2024 Board of County Commissioners

[Call to Order by Chair]

[00:00:09]

>>> GOOD MORNING , AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THERE ARE MATERIALS FOR THIS MEETING AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE, AND WHAT YOU BY THE MEETING AGENDA, YOU CAN ACCESS ALL THE SUPPORTING MATERIALS . THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. PLEASE PROVIDE THOSE MATERIALS FOR INCLUSION INTO THE RECORD. SO NOW WE HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE. OH, I AM SORRY. THIS IS NEW. CAN WE HAVE

ROLL CALL, PLEASE? >>

[Public Safety Update]

>> NOW THE PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE HAVE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE HOLIDAYS COMING UP, THEY CAN COME THROUGH VARIOUS WAYS THAT WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF IT. THEY COME THROUGH THE INTERNET, THROUGH YOUR EMAIL, THROUGH YOUR TEXT, YOU JUST A PHONE CALL. IF YOU FOLLOW THE ADAGE, YOUR PARENTS TELL YOU, DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS, SAVING WITH THE INTERNET. IF YOU DON'T KNOW SOMEONE, DON'T TALK TO THEM.

VERIFIED WITH AR BEFORE YOU START SENDING MONEY. MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE OVERSEAS AND THEY ARE HARD TO CATCH. THERE IS ONE RIGHT NOW GOING AROUND WHERE PEOPLE SAY, A, THERE'S SOMEONE IN THE JAIL. THEY LOOK UP THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ON WEBPAGES OR WHATEVER. HEY, I WILL BOND THEM OUT IF YOU SENT CASH. IT IS A SCAM , THE USE THE SPOOF NUMBER. THEY PREY ON WEAKNESSES AND YOUR CONFIDENCE . BE LEERY OF THAT, AND BE CAREFUL. WE HAVE A FEW MAINTENANCE PROJECT. WE APPRECIATE THE COUNTY HELPING US WITH. THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME REPAIRS FOR COUNTY MAINTENANCE, AND THAT IS GOING VERY WELL. HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS UPDATE, PLEASE.

KNOW? I DO HAVE -- I DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE , FROM

[Additional Item]

>> THANK YOU. HELLO. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, KIM KENDALL, WAS UNABLE TO INTENT TODAY DUE TO BEING AT THE TALLAHASSEE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION. SHE IS WANTING TO READ A LETTER WHICH REFERENCES THE RURAL GOLF VILLAGE TRAFFIC ISSUES. THE LETTER READS AS FOLLOWS. ST.

JOHN'S WORT OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND HARD WORK. I HAVE WORKED WITH EACH OF YOU FOR YEARS, AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW DO YOU ARE TO OUR FAMILY. SECOND, I AM HERE TO ASSIST YOU AND OUR RESIDENTS WITH ALL OF OUR PRIORITIES , AND THAT STARTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE. I BELIEVE AS DEVOTEES OFFICE IS AN INTELLIGENT WAY TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC ISSUES. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY F.OFFICIALS THAT THE CONCEPT CAN BE ADOPTED AS AN AMENDED CHANGE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED AND IS CURRENTLY ON THE FIVE YOUR WORK PLAN, WHICH WOULD KEEP THIS PROJECT IN THE PIPELINE AND MOVING ALONG. IF YOUR BOARD AGREES OF CONCEPT TWO , THE RAMP DESIGN, THAT IT IS A GOOD CHOICE TO THE TRAFFIC OF THE VILLAGE, THEN STATE DELEGATION OFFICES WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING TO REQUEST APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FUNDING DIFFERENCE OF THE WORK ORDER. CONCEPT ONE, WHICH IS TO ADD U-TURNS TO THE LIGHT IS ESTIMATED AT 5 MILLION. IN CONCEPT TWO , WHICH WOULD BYPASS THE MAJOR PORTIONS OF THE TRAFFIC , IS ESTIMATED AT 40 MILLION. PLEASE REQUEST THE

[00:05:01]

REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT 18. >> THANK YOU. IS A BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS? ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MISS TAYLOR. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. HANG ON.

GLAD. >> IS IT ON? THERE WE GO . I COULD NOT BE MORE THRILLED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS. I'M ACTUALLY ON THAT ROAD 60S WEEK, AND I HEAR ALL THE TIME FROM RESIDENCE , WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT AREA ? SO COULD NOT BE MORE PLEASED WITH THIS. VERY EXCITED.

>> I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD MAYBE GET CONSENSUS FOR SENDING THIS FORWARD. I WOULD HATE TO TURN DOWN $45 MILLION TOWARDS, I THINK , WHAT A REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL'S NUMBER ONE TOPICS OF TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA, IS ASHLEY WITHOUT OPENING OF ALL THE NEW STORES THERE, THE BRASS POST SHOPS . CAN I GET A CONSENSUS TO SEND THIS TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR TO LOOK INTO? OH.

I'M SORRY. I'M NOT USED TO THAT. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS A NEW SYSTEM FOR ALL OF US, SO WERE ALL GETTING USED ANY PUNCH BUTTON. I BROUGHT THIS UP WITH THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING BOARD WITH THE BOARD'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE NORTHEAST. I BROUGHT THIS UP SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. AS WAS MENTIONED IN THE LETTER, IT IS A CHANGE ORDER. IF WE TO BUMP ONE OF OUR PROJECTS THE TOP FIVE LIST, OUR TOP FIVE LIST A PRIORITY PROJECT, THOSE ARE ALL THAT ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED AND CURRENTLY UNDERCUTS ACTION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING THAT, AND THAT IT WILL CERTAINLY RELIEVE THE TRAFFIC. I'VE BEEN IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT IS A GAME FOR ATTENTION SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. WE HAD A MEETING WITH F D.O.T. , THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR . I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T UNINTENTIONLLY BUMPY PROJECT LIKE THIS AND RELIEVE CAPACITY IMMEDIATELY TO TRY AND GET A PROJECT FUNDED THAT MAY NOT BE GOING FOR 5 TO EXCUSE. SO BEFORE WE FULLY REALIZE WHAT THE TIMELINE IS TO GET THIS PROJECT CONSTRUCTED, I THINK MAYBE WE CAN GET CONSENSUS BEFORE WE GET WORK INFORMATION.

>> THIS PROJECT IS ALREADY UP AND MOVED BECAUSE IT IS A WORK ORDER CHANGE. CONCEPT ONE, WHICH IS SWITCHING OVER TO CONCEPT TWO. CONCEPT ONE IS ALREADY IN YOUR FIVE YEAR LAND, AND SO THE WORK ORDER CHANGE WOULD JUST CHANGE WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE EXIT. SO THE THINGS THAT ALREADY HAVE A CREATION AND REQUESTS APPROVED FOR THEM ALREADY HAVE FUNDING

GOING TOWARDS THEM. >> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT GIVING TOO MUCH OFF. I THINK WE DO NEED MORE INFORMATION AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS FUNDING CAN COME WITH US A LEVEL AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I THINK YOU MIGHT BE MORE INFORMATION WHEN WE DO OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES UPDATE , WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE FIRST MEETING OF DECEMBER. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME BACK WITH MORE INFORMATION FOR US TO MAKE IT VISION. THOSE ARE JUST

MY THOUGHTS. >> IS THIS IN THE TOP FIVE ALREADY, OR NOT ? THE MAC CURRENTLY, IT IS NOT. WE ALREADY HAVE FIVE PRIORITY PROJECT. BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE, IN FACT, THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH KENDALL'S OFFICE AND F D.O.T. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN APPROPRIATE STRATEGY MOVING FORWARD , SECURING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS CONCEPT TO CHANGE WITHOUT IMPACTING OTHER PRIORITY PROJECT. SO THERE IS A LOT TO BE DIGESTING ON THE TOP LEVEL TO WORK WITH THE STATE OFFICE, AND THEN ALSO RUTHERFORD'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE

[00:10:03]

>> WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD? OKAY.

LET'S DO THAT IN DECEMBER. ONE OF THE DECEMBER MEETING.

>> WE ARE PLANNING TO BRING THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN ON THE THIRD OF THIS NUMBER. THAT MAY BE A PLACE THE BOARD MEMBERS

CAN DISCUSS. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU

FOR COMING. >> THANK YOU.

[Deletions to Consent Agenda]

>> OKAY. DELETIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE ASK THAT WE CAN PULL ITEM NUMBER 4 AND WE WILL BRING IT BACK ANOTHER TIME. IT'S JUST NOT READY FOR CONSIDERATION AT THIS TIME.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

>> I HAVE NONE, MADAM CHAIR. >> I THINK I NEED ALL THE NAMES

APPEAR. OR -- >> I HAVE NONE.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. COMMISSIONER MURPHY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 5 AND PUT IT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. IT IS NOT SO MUCH FOR ME, BUT I HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THE TOTAL AMOUNTS, AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE JAN , IF SHE IS HERE, JUST TO KIND OF WALK ME THROUGH THIS SO THAT I CAN THAT HUMANS CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE $109 MILLION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I THINK IT IS A SIMPLE THING, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. IF IT WOULD HELP MY CONSTITUENTS, WE CAN

KIND OF WALK THROUGH THAT. >> ACTUALLY, I WAS THINKING OF LAYING ON THE TABLE NUMBER FIVE, NUMBER SIX, AND NUMBER 14 FOR A FUTURE MEETING. DO I HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT?

[Approval of Consent Agenda]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND. >> OKAY. THE COMMENTS, PLEASE.

>> AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE DONATIONS

TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. MR. MAY. >> GOOD MORNING. JOE MCINERNEY . I DO CONCUR TO PULL ITEM 14. I HAVE THE FOLLOWING REASONS.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WILL DESIGN THE INTERSECTION WIDENING AT STATE ROUTE 16. THIS IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR, MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE POINT TRAFFIC POINT. I WILL SAY THAT WHEN YOU DO READ -- THAT'S ON WHAT TO TALK ABOUT.

THANK YOU. >> YOU COULD HAVE GONE LONGER.

>> YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> WE NEED YOU OPEN AND READ ITEM 14, IT DOES SAY IN EXCESS OF 25% OF THE CONTRACT VALUE. CHANGE ORDER SIX MUST BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE A UNIT. THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT CAUGHT MY EYE. IT DID NOT THAT BEING BURIED WITHIN A CONSENT AGENDA WAS THE SAME THING IS BEING REVIEWED BY THE BOARD.

AND LOOK HERE. I WILL PUT THIS OUT AS WELL. THIS IS A 2020 CONTRACT. I WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF IT WAS ETM AND I WAS DELAYED FOR FOUR YEARS. I WAS ALWAYS DISAPPOINTED IS AN ARCHITECT WHEN MY PROJECTS WERE DELAYED, SO I KNOW THE FEELING.

I'M NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO GO BACK. IN THE 2020 CONTRACT, HERE WERE ARE STATISTICS FROM THE ANALYSIS SPREADSHEET 2020. THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE DEALING WITH . 87.9% ALONG A ROUTE 16 BETWEEN SILVERLEAF AND IG. 105 POINT

[00:15:05]

>> GOOD MORNING. CHARLIE HUNT. YES. WITH THAT INTERSECTION IN THAT AREA RIGHT THERE , I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO IT, AND IT WAS AWARDED BACK IN 2020 TO ETM TO DO A LITTLE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT OF IT. EXCUSE ME. FOR A STAGGERING COST OF 150 THOUSAND. WAS THE WARNING CONTRACT. BACK IN 2020. OR EXCUSE ME, JULY OF 2020. THERE'S BEEN A FEW CHANGES HERE AND THERE. THE CHANGES HAS ACCUMULATED TO $856,000. AND NOW, WITH THIS SIMPLE CHANGE GIVING PUT IN FOR ROUGHLY $128,000, THAT WILL BRING THE TOTAL OF $1.1 MILLION TO THE PLANNING AND DESIGNING OF THAT AREA. IT IS BEEN GOING ON FOR 4 YEARS. WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING? LIKE I SAID, I TELL YOU, I LIVE RIGHT HERE. I DRIVE BY EVERY DAY. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH IS GOING ON. AND WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP THE LAST TIME , ABOUT CHANGE ORDER 5, WHICH -- I THINK IT WAS AROUND 300 K ON THAT CHANGE ORDER. I HAD TO FINISH UP SOME THINGS. I WAS BROUGHT AWARE THAT THE REASON WHY THE CHANGE ORDER IS BECAUSE OF THE RISE IN ASPHALT IS THE REASON WHY THEY NEED THAT $350,000 ADDED TO THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. SO THERE IS STILL NO ASPHALT THERE. BUT OVER FOUR YEARS , AND LITERALLY $1 MILLION CHANGES , WHERE ARE THEY AT? WHAT IS GOING ON THERE ? THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, ELLEN A BREEZE. HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND I AM HERE BECAUSE THE CHAIR HAS RECOMMENDED OR MADE A MOTION TO LAY ON THE TABLE AGENDA ITEMS 5 AND SIX, AND I BELIEVE IN READING THE RULES OF PROCEDURE,% THAT IS NOT A PROPER THING TO DO. TO DELAY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ON THE TABLE. FIRST OF ALL, WITH RESPECT TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, SILVERLEAF WHITE SORT TIMBER, THE APPROVED SILVERLEAF DRI WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THIS COURT ON NOVEMBER 5TH CLEARLY STATES THAT IMPACTS THE CREDIT ARE AVAILABLE TO THIS PROJECT ALREADY. THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE IMPACT FEE CREDIT AGREEMENT SIMPLY MEMORIALIZES THAT AND DOCUMENTS IT AS A WIRED BY THE REGULATIONS. THE CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE LEGALLY AS A FEDERAL QUALITY, BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT ORDER HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. AND BY THE WAY, THE $4.16 MILLION I WAS DUE UNDER THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY. SO THAT IS A LEGALLY BINDING

[00:20:03]

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. RULE 4.607 OUR SEMANTICS WITH WHAT WORDS WE CHOOSE. YOU CAN VIEW THE MOTION AS A MOTION TO

POSTPONE. >> WHAT WOMEN THAT'S. NOW, OR

LATER? THANK YOU, SIR. >> CHUCK LEBEN ASCII. BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GETS UP HERE AND START STORING LAWS OUT HERE.

THAT'S NOT WHY THIS IS BEING POLLED. IT'S BEING MOVED UP AS A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM. A LOT OF QUESTIONS. WHEN WE HAVE 100 $7 MILLION HIDDEN IN THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMISSIONER MURPHY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING IT UP. BECAUSE THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO. IT IS LIKE IT IS BEING HIDDEN. RIGHT NOW, WHEN MILLION 300,000 IN TWO CONSENT ITEMS. JUST BRING IT FORWARD SO IT CAN BE DISCUSSED BY THE PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT. THAT IS ALL WE ARE ASKING. YES, THERE'S LAWS OUT THERE. WE KNOW THAT. BUT DON'T HIDE STUFF LIKE THIS AND THEY CAN RENT AGENDA. ANYTHING OVER $50,000 CAN'T BE PUT IN THE CONSENT AGENDA EVEN THOUGH THE CREDIT IS DUE.

>> DJ KHALED HE . CITY OF WEST AUGUSTINE. I ALWAYS QUESTION WHEN I SIT IN HERE AND WATCH THE DEVELOPERS COME UP HERE AND PUT IN THEIR OPINION, AND THEN WE AS THE PUBLIC COME IN AND THEN WE HAVE TO TURN TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND REMIND PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A COUNTY ATTORNEY. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET A NEW COUNTY ATTORNEY? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET A NEW COUNTY ATTORNEY? HOPEFULLY IT WILL START WITH THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT OF THE BOARD. BUT DEVELOPERS SEEM TO HAVE MORE SAY IN THIS THAN ANYBODY ELSE. AND MAYBE THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE. AND I AM JUST AMAZED SOMETIMES THAT LAWYERS COME AND TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T DO THIS. AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE BRILLIANTLY EXPLAINED NOT ONLY FOR YOU ALL, BUT FOR CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW -- AND I KNOW THE ANSWER SOMETIMES IS, WELL, YOU CAN CALL THE CITY AND WE WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT ANYTHING. SOME PEOPLE CAN'T CALL YOU ANYTIME AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK. SO I HOPE THAT WHEN WE PULL THINGS THAT IT IS LEGAL. AND MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SAY WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO. INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING IN HERE LISTENING TO DEVELOPERS . THANK YOU.

>> WELCOME NEW COMMISSIONERS. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT FOR THE

[00:25:04]

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A FRIVOLOUS OBJECTION. AND THE REASON WHY WE NOW HAVE THREE COMMISSIONERS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GROWTH IS -- GROWTH WITHOUT LIMITS IS THE IDEOLOGY OF A CANCER CELL. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. WERE SEEING IN CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE DANGEROUS. WE HAVE SEEN IT IN THE ROADS. YOU SEEN IT IN THE BUDGET. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH CHAIR JOSEPH'S MOTION, AND I THINK THAT THE OBJECTION BY ROGER WAS STRANGE , JUST ATTEMPTING TO BE ASSERTIVE , LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO. ANY ARGUMENT, THEY RUN UP THE FLAGPOLE. WE NEED A COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE BREAK, AND HE'S GOING TO MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT PEOPLE APPLY FOR THE POSITION. THE DEPOSITION NEEDS TO BE ADVERTISED PROPERLY. WE NEED A STATEWIDE SEARCH , AND NEVER AGAIN SHOULD WE HIRE SOMEONE AS AN ATTORNEY FOR ANYTHING ELSE JUST BECAUSE THE FORMER COMMISSIONER SAID IT IS HIS FRIEND. KIND OF REMINDS ME OF RAY BLANTON IN 20 .

GOVERNOR, DEMOCRAT, WENT TO JAIL. HE FAMOUSLY SAID, IF YOU CAN HELP YOUR FRIENDS, WHO CAN YOU HELP? THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN RELEGATED BACK COUNTRY WITH THAT BUDGET PROCEDURES AND BAD LEGAL PROCEDURES, LEGAL ADVICE, THAT CONTRACT DRAFTING. WE HAVE A CONTRACT AUDITOR THAT DIDN'T EVEN INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEE PRECISION. WE CAN DO BETTER. THINK.

>> NICOLE CROSBY. I AM JUST TO KIND OF REITERATE MUCH OF WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED. I FELT IT WAS AVERY SMITH ACTUALLY BROUGHT OUT A COUPLE OF INTERESTING AND VALID POINTS, BUT SADLY, THEY WERE WRAPPED UP IN ACCUSATIONS AGAINST OUR NEW CHAIR, WHO IS STILL HAS ONLY BEEN A CHAIR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR NOW. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS REALLY APPROPRIATE TO START MAKING ACCUSATIONS THAT SHE IS BROKEN THE LAW. I'M GETTING TIRED OF HEARING THAT. THAT DIDN'T GO LAST TIME SOMEBODY SAID SHE BROKE THE LAW. I WOULD ENCOURAGE WITH A RE-SMITH AND OTHERS . LET'S TRY TO PUT INFORMATION OUT THERE. LET'S TRY AND GET THIS KIND OF -- LET'S TONE DOWN THE FRICTION A LITTLE BIT. THINK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING. FLORENCE TAYLOR . CHAIR , COMMISSIONERS.

IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THE REASON THIS WAS PULL IS BECAUSE IT'S $109 MILLION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. IT STRIKES ME AS A PERFECTLY GOOD REASON. I'M NOT SURE I REALLY FULLY UNDERSTAND IT. I DIDN'T LOOK INTO IT. BUT COULD THIS -- SHOULD THIS HAVE BEEN BROKEN INTO PIECES? IT PUT IN IS ONE BIG LOVE? IS THERE -- IS THERE A GOOD ARGUMENT FOR HANDLING THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF PAPER -- PROPERTY AS SEPARATE ITEMS, AND THAT IT CAN BE DISCUSSED AS SUCH? THANKS FOR THE THREE MINUTES. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE EXTRA TIME.

[00:30:02]

>> HELLO. BIKE COLUMN . 285 PORTSMOUTH AVENUE. WE ARE THE APPLICANT FOR NUMBER 6, AND WE WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT WE PLACED ON THE REGULAR AGENDA TO TALK ABOUT THIS. I KNOW SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS REQUEST. WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE COUNTY WHICH I FIXED THAT HE. WE AGREED ON THIS AMOUNT WITH THE COUNTY , AND WE WOULD LOVE TO WRITE THIS CHECK SO THE COUNTY CAN WITH THESE IMPROVEMENTS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT REQUEST WILL REQUEST. MAYBE NOT TODAY, BUT A DATE CERTAIN FOR THE FUTURE. AND EVERYONE FROM THE PUBLIC. SO JUST A REQUEST. THANK YOU.

>> I AM JOHN METCALF. SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. I'VE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE AND APPEARING BEFORE THE BOARD FOR 43 YEARS.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A MORE EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION, THAT IS FINE. THE TERM OF THE TABLE IS ONE THAT I HADN'T HEARD BEFORE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S ASKING FOR IT DEFINITE POSTPONEMENT . THE NORM , WHEN YOU PULL IT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, AS THINGS ARE MOVED TO THE REGULAR MEETING. IF IT IS POSTPONED SOME OTHER DATE IN THE FUTURE, THAT IS FINE, TOO.

BUT THE INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT, IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD IT THE MOTION TO BE, THAT IS NOT WHAT THE OBJECTIVE

IS. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC

COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> ROBERT MARTIN IS . I LIVE IN SILVERLEAF. I JUST MOVED HERE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, AND TRAFFIC , FROM WHAT I'M HEARING -- AND TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS HERE. FOOBAR. THE TERM IS FOOBAR. HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T GET TO THAT POINT. BEING A VETERAN, BEING OVERSEAS COMBAT MEDIC VETERAN, WHEN I GET INVOLVED? YES, WE DO NEED DEVELOPERS, BECAUSE THEY BRING THE BUSINESS TO THIS COUNTY. TO BE HONEST AND FRANK ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING. HOW ABOUT THE VETERANS AS WELL, WHERE THE SENIORS CITIZENS ? HELP THOSE PEOPLE OUT. JUST BE MINDFUL MOVING FORWARD. THINK OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE FOR THE PEOPLE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.

THINK. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

>> I HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT WANT TO SPEAK ?

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M JUST SEEKING CLARIFICATION TO THE MOTION TO CONTINUE FIVE, SIX, 14 . I'M JUST SEEKING CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION AT

THIS SECOND. >> I DO WANT TO AMEND THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO A FUTURE DATE.

>> OKAY. WITH OVER SIX, MADAM CHAIR, TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM FREEHOLD'S POINT, I DON'T KNOW HIS NAME LIPS THIS

>> WE HAVE TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS. I WANTED TO GET VERSED ON IT. IF YOU WANT TO PUT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX ON

DECEMBER 3RD, THAT IS FINE. >> YES MA'AM. THINK.

>> THAT MOTION WOULD BE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO RESPOND TO A FUTURE DATE. NUMBER 5 AND 14, INPUT NUMBER 6 ON THE DECEMBER

[00:35:03]

>> WHEN THERE'S QUESTION TO DEFER TO A DATE IN THE FUTURE, AND THE SECOND NEEDS TO ALSO AGREE WITH THAT AMENDMENT.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> IT ALREADY HAD A SECOND, BUT THE SECOND NOW HAS TO BE WITH THAT MOTION.

>> MISS TAYLOR. >> OKAY.

>> SORRY. THESE MICS HAVE A DELAY, SO -- COMMISSIONER

ARNOLD. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I ALSO HAVE THE SAME QUESTION. IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ONE OF THEM TO DECEMBER 3RD, WHY DO WE JUST HEAR ALL OF THEM ON DECEMBER

3RD? >> I HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AT A SECOND. THAT IS KIND OF WHAT I WANT TO DO.

>> OKAY. JUST A QUESTION. SEEING AS HOW ALL THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE WILLING TO SPEAK, I THINK IT WOULD BE RESPECTFUL OF THEIR TIME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN

HEAR THEM ON DECEMBER 3RD. >> WELL, WE DO HAVE THE STUDY YOU ARE DOING , AND SOME OF THESE HAVE TO DO THAT. I THINK IF WE HAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR A COUPLE OF MEETINGS, WE CAN FIGURE OUT WITH THE NEW COMMISSIONERS WERE THIS IS GOING SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AT THE END. SO IF THAT IS ALL RIGHT. SHOULD WE VOTE ON THE MOTION? LET'S VOTE.

THAT PASSES 5-0. SORRY, YOU GUYS. THIS IS A DELAY APPEAR SO IT IS NOT AS QUICK AS LAST TIME. WE HAVE ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA? COMMISSIONER

WHITEHURST. MR. ARNOLD. >> I HAVE NONE.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. COMMISSIONER MURPHY. I HAVE NOT. SO THAT IS ALL FOR THAT. LET'S GOING TO BE AGENDA. ITEM ONE.

[Approval of Regular Agenda]

[1. Discussion Item - Accessibility Needs for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community.]

SO WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING . HERE COMES OUR SPEAKERS, CALVIN BRIGHT. YES . SURE. COME ON. THANK YOU.

>> LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS CALVIN BRITT. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF , I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE, DR. TRACY DANIELS. THE REASON WE ARE HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1917 TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITY IN THE DATE OF FLORIDA. THE NUMBER OF DEAF PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA BASED ON MY OWN RESEARCH IS APPROXIMATELY 800,000 DEAF PEOPLE HERE . HOWEVER, TALLAHASSEE SHOWS NUMBERS AND DISTRICTS THAT FIND ABOUT 1.1 MILLION. NOW, THERE COULD BE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED. BUT THAT IS THE ONE OF DEAF PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. TAMPA ALONE HAS 240,000 DEAF PEOPLE. NOW, WE HERE IN FLORIDA HERE A LOT ON THE NEWS ABOUT SHARK BITE. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT DIFFERENT DANGERS, AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY THERE? DEAF PEOPLE GO TO THE BEACH, TOO.

THEY SWIM. THEY DON'T GET THE EMERGENCY ALERTS. THERE IS NOTHING THERE THAT GIVES THEM THE SAME ALERTS THAT HEARING PEOPLE DO. WE HAVE A SYSTEM CALLED THE BEACH EMERGENCY

[00:40:02]

WE NEED ACCESS ON OUR BEACHES. WE WOULD LOVE TO SET THE SYSTEM UP HERE IN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. WE HAVE CHOSEN THE CITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGE DEAF COMMITTEE HERE . WE HAVE A DEAF SCHOOL HERE AND WE THINK IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GET THE SYSTEM STARTED IN FLORIDA. THIS SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED FOR ACCESS FOR THE HEARING AND DEAF PEOPLE ON THE BEACHES. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOME COMMENTS?

>> I AM PART OF THE BOARD FOR SEAME SYSTEMS. THE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY IN CALIFORNIA AND IT IS SANCTIONED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION IN THE BROCHURE. SO THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY IS INTERWOVEN INTO THE AMBER ALERT SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS EVER BRIDGE . SUCH AS IF THERE'S A NEED FOR, THEY CAN BE ACTIVATED SIMPLY BY USING YOUR CELL PHONE. SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO USE IT OTHER THAN JUST USING IT ON A BEACH WHEN THERE'S AN EVACUATION THAT'S NEEDED. SUCH AS A COMPLETE EVALUATION FROM THE BEACH, JUST GETTING OUT OF THE WATER. SO IT IS SET UP IN A WAY WHERE ACCLAMATION CANNOT ONLY JUST BEGUN ON THE BEACH, BUT CAN BE DONE IN ANY AREA BASED ON A CELL PHONE. THERE MIGHT BE CERTAIN TIMES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE INFORMATION THAT COMES DOWN, AND NOW IT IS NOT GOING TO BE USED ON THE BEACH, BUT YOU MIGHT GET INFORMATION FOR AN EVACUATION FOR SOMEONE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING. SO IT IS BUILT-IN JUST FOR THAT PURPOSE.

SO AS WE SAID, IT IS NOW IN CALIFORNIA. I LIVE ACTUALLY IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. SO WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THIS IN AROUND

THE UNITED STATES. >> IS THAT YOUR PRESENTATION? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, OR COMMENTS?

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HERE TODAY FOR ALLOWING US TO GET THIS HESITATION. I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE PERTINENT TO OUR COUNTY FOR SAFETY, ESPECIALLY HAVING THE DEAF POPULATION WE HAVE HERE BECAUSE OF THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND. I THINK IT COULD BE REALLY GREAT. I SEE CHIEF MILLIE IN THE BACK , SO PERHAPS WE COULD HOOK YOU GUYS UP TO DISCUSS WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. BUT THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT.

>> ALSO, COMMISSIONER MURPHY. >> I'D LIKE TO ADD MY VOICE TO THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS. MAYBE WE COULD SET UP A TIME OR WE CAN KIND OF GET AN IDEA WHAT THE SYSTEM WOULD LOOK LIKE. I AM INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF

THAT. >> ACTUALLY BROUGHT A PROTOTYPE WITH ME. IT IS THE SIZE OF A SUITCASE . I CAN SHOW IT TO YOU AT A LATER TIME. BUT IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN

CONNECTING. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR.

WEIGHTS. OKAY. GO. >> I AGREE. I LIKE TO LEARN A LITTLE MORE, TOO. ESPECIALLY WITH HER SCHOOL HERE. I THINK

IT IS CERTAINLY A GREAT THING. >> SO FOR THE NEXT STEP, WE HAVE YOU COME IN AND MEET WITH THE COMMISSIONERS. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO AGENDA ITEM TWO. I

[Items 2 & 3]

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ELLEN AVERY SMITH , SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND FOR THE BOARD TODAY, I'M GOING TO DO MY PRESENTATION OF AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE , BECAUSE THEY ARE FOR THE SAME PIECE OF PROPERTY AND I THINK IT WARRANTS EXPLANATION OF HIS VISION FOR THE ENTIRE PROPERTY AND HOW THIS FIVE ACRES FITS IN. SO JUST BY WAY OF

[00:45:05]

PROPERTY -- >> I AM TERRIBLY SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I FORGOT TO DO THE QUASIJUDICIAL PART.

THANK YOU. SORRY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, COMMISSIONER

WHITEHURST. >> THANK YOU. MR. DAY MET WITH MISS AVERY SMITH TO DISCUSS THE SITE LOCATION AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN BY THE APPLICANT WITH

THESE FIVE ACRES. >> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> I ALSO HAD A MEETING WITH THE APPLICANT YESTERDAY. WE DISCUSSED FUTURE PLANS FOR THE PROPERTY AND A HISTORY OF THE FLEA MARKET, AND JUST WHAT THE PLANS WERE AND THE

INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR.

>> I ALSO MET WITH THE APPLICANT AND ELLEN AVERY SMITH MEMBER SIX. AND ADJUST ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY, THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME THERE.

>> I MET WITH ELLEN AVERY SMITH ON-SITE ON THE FOURTH OF NOVEMBER AT 8:30 AND WENT OVER THE SITE.

>> AND I HAVE NO MEETINGS. IT IS ALL YOURS NOW. SORRY.

>> WE ARE MUDDLING THROUGH TODAY. SO JUST FOR ORIENTATION FOR EVERYONE, THE PROPERTY SUBJECT TO THE APPLICATIONS IS THIS FIVE ACRES. YOU SEE APPROXIMATELY THREE ACRES OF IT IS ALREADY FOR WATER, BUT BY BIGGER PICTURE , HERE AT STATE ROUTE 207, HERE IS I-95. THE PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED BY HIS FAMILY IS REALLY ALL OF THIS. THEY OWN IT AS TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES. AND SO YOU ALL WILL RECALL THAT BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN A LOT OF US WERE HERE, THERE WAS A FLEA MARKET. PEOPLE WENT OUT ON SATURDAY TO THE FLEA MARKET OUT AT THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY. WELL, HE AND I TOGETHER -- BECAUSE WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR 15 YEARS NOW -- HE ORIGINALLY HAD THE PROJECT IN THE FRONT, AND THEN HE REQUIRED SOME PROPERTY IN THE BACK WHICH WAS SLATED FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. SO HE HAS INSTALLED THIS ROAD THAT RUNS DOWN I-95 THAT IS CALLED MARKETPLACE DRIVE, AND IT IS A PRIVATE ROAD OWNED BY PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION AND HE HAS INSTALLED PRIVATE UTILITIES TO CIRCLE THIS PROPERTY. AND YOU KNOW THERE ARE OTHER CAR DEALERSHIPS. RECENTLY MUCH IMPROVED RB PARK. YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS PRODUCT IS DEVELOPED OVER TIME, AND HE HAS DONE ALL THIS WORK. HE'S A MAN WHO IS LIVED LOCALLY AND HAVE THIS PROPERTY FOR 40 YEARS. SO FAST FORWARDING TO TODAY, WE HAVE TWO APPLICATIONS. A SMALL-SCALE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT, AND THEN A REZONING OF THE PARCEL OF FIVE ACRES TO COMMERCIAL INTENSIVE. SO, AGAIN, ALL OF THIS PROPERTY THAT IS ALL BUSINESS AND COMMERCE, AND THIS PART IN PARTICULAR, FOR THE MIXED-USE DISTRICT, IS ALL PART OF WHAT IS OWNED BY MR. LEX ON'S FAMILY AND THE LIKE. SO THIS IS THE FIVE ACRES AND THE REQUEST IS TO CHANGE IT FROM RESIDENTIAL B TO MIX USED DISTRICT TO MATCH THIS PROPERTY. BY THE WAY, ALL THE PROPERTY THAT SERVE SURROUNDS THE FIVE ACRES IS OWNED BY HIS FAMILY. AND THEN RIGHT NOW, THE ZONING OF THIS IS A LOT OF OPEN RULE, BECAUSE HE ACQUIRED THIS LAND LATER IN TIME THAN THE OTHER PROPERTY.

AND SO THE REQUEST IS TO REZONE IT TO COMMERCIAL INTENSIVE, LIKE HIS PROPERTY THAT SURROUNDS IT ON THREE SIDES.

AND SO JUST, AGAIN, THE PROJECT IS CALLED SAINT AUGUSTINE MARKETPLACE. IT WOULD BE ON ÷207-95. HE WAS THE TOP SIGN .

AND SO GOING TO THE SITE PLAN , HERE IS THE EXISTING RV CAMPGROUNDS, RV PARKING. YOU GO OUT THERE, THERE'S A CLUBHOUSE, YOU CAN GO OUT THERE AND SEE THE NATIONAL PARK UP THERE. AND THE PROPERTY THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY JUST THIS FIVE ACRES. YOU SEE THE EXISTING ONE, WHICH IS PART

[00:50:04]

>> DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE JUST ONE.

COULD YOU ADDRESS THE ACT? >> YES, THANK YOU. SO AS YOU KNOW, THE ACT APPLIES TO NONRESIDENTIAL BUILT ON RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES. AND SO WITH RESPECT TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, BECAUSE THE REST OF HIS PROPERTY WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY , HE JUST OPTED TO SAY THE SAME THING TO THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS WHITE IN THE STAFF REPORT, IT SAYS FOR THIS PARTICULAR FIVE ACRES. BUT GOING BACK TO THE STORM WATER POND AS PART OF THE MASTER ASSOCIATION DRAINAGE, THERE'S REALLY ONLY TWO DEVELOPABLE ACRES WITHIN THIS AREA.

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY. >> AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 2 AND 3. ANYONE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

>> BACK TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE EMOTION OR COMMENTS? I'M NOT SURE WHAT DISTRICT IS IN.

COMMISSIONER MURPHY , DO YOU HAVE -- THERE YOU GO.

>> I DO HAVE EMOTION. I HAVE EMOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 2, CPA 2024- 10 , SAINT AUGUSTINE MARKETPLACE. CAN WE COMBINE THESE TWO TOGETHER? SO THE 2024-10 SAINT AUGUSTINE MARKETPLACE FOR SMALL-SCALE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AMENDED CHANGED TO THE FUTURE LAND USE. BASED ON FOUR FINDINGS OF FACT.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE EMOTION AND A SECOND.

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO SAY? OKAY. SO LET'S TAKE THE BOAT. AND THAT PASSES 5-0. NUMBER 3.

COMMISSIONER MURPHY. >> YES. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE, 2024-1 SEVEN , REQUEST TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY FIVE ACRES OF ROAD TO COMMERCIAL INTENSIVE, BASED ON FOUR FINDINGS OF FACT.

>> WHO WAS THAT THAT WANTS TO SPEAK? SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW

WHAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE. >> SURE. TO THE CHAIR. WHEN DOING YOUR MOTIONS, WHEN YOU GET THAT BLANK LINE, THE COURTS OFFICE IS GOING TO GIVE US AN ORDINANCE FROM THE RECORD. THAT

WOULD BE -- FOR SOME REASON -- >> REGULAR AGENDA NUMBER TWO IS ORDINANCE 2024-57. REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 3 IS NUMBER

2024-58. >> THANK YOU. THE FOUR FINDINGS OF FACT IS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT.

[00:55:02]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND. >> WE HAVE EMOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, STOP. I KNOW, BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS. OKAY, GO AHEAD AND VOTE, PLEASE. AND THAT PASSES, 5-0. ALL RIGHT. NEXT, I THINK WE

[Commissioners’ Reports]

>> HERE WE GO. I AM ON. ALL RIGHT. IN THE SYSTEM. GOT TO LOVE IT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND COMMISSIONER MURPHY FOR YOUR OATH OF OFFICE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, FOR BEING ELECTED CHAIR, AND COMMISSIONER MURPHY ON BEING ELECTED VICE CHAIR. I CONSIDER MYSELF OBLIVIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. OUR BEST DAYS ARE IN FRONT OF US, AND I BELIEVE THAT. PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND I'M PROUD TO WORK WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.

>> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY. LOOK FOR TO SERVING. THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO BRING UP TODAY WAS HOPEFULLY TO GET BOARD CONSENTS THIS. BASED ON A LOT OF THE DEVELOPMENT -- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, WHAT WE JUST VOTED ON, AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, AFFECTING OUR ACTIVE AG LANDS. I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD TALK TO STAFF, PERHAPS DIRECT STAFF TO START EXPLORING AN ADVISORY BOARD OF FARMERS WHO CAN REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY THAT IF THERE ARE ALREADY DEVELOPMENTS COMING FORWARD, THEY WOULD IMPACT ADVERSELY ACTIVE AG LANDS, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD. I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE HAVE THESE DEVELOPMENTS COME TO US IN THE STAFF WERE, WE ARE SEEING THE TRAFFIC IMPACT. WE ARE SEEING ALL THE DIFFERENT IMPACTS, THE DRAINAG. BUT WHAT WE ARE NOT IN, ESPECIALLY FOR PROPERTIES OR DEVELOPS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR AG FARMERS, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS COUNTY, BUT ALSO THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO HAVE A VOICE. AND SO I'D LIKE TO BRING THIS UP FOR THIS SESSION IF WE CAN PERHAPS LOOK AT CREATING A NEW ADVISORY BOARD OF OUR FARMERS HERE IN

JOHNSON COUNTY. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, DID

YOU HAVE A COMMENT? >> YES. FORGOT TO OPEN IT UP

FOR DISCUSSION . >> WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO OPEN THAT UP? FOR DISCUSSION? OKAY.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WHAT COMES TO MIND IS A BIG COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF FARM COUNTRY, AND THEY WERE COMPELLED TO GET OFF THE TRACTORS WITH DIRT UNDER THE FINGERNAILS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE USE FOR THAT PARCEL OF LAND, WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY FIELDS. IF YOU HAVE A COUNCIL OF FARMERS WERE ALREADY TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT FARMING AND AGRICULTURE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR WORK DAY TO SAVE REPRESENTATION THROUGH COUNSEL. SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALL AGREED TO, I'VE HEARD COMMENTS MADE BY EVERY COMMISSIONER ON THIS BOARD. WE HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE. THIS WOULD GIVE THEM A VOICE TO HELP US BETTER MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEIR LAND, FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. SO I AM FOR THIS

ONE. >> IF I MAY. MADAM CHAIR. I AGREE. I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN ADVISORY BOARD MADE UP OF THE VERY FARMERS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DECISIONS OF THIS BOARD . I

WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THIS IS A VERY GREAT IDEA, VERY

IMPORTANT. >> I'M JUST NERVOUS WITH ADVISORY BOARDS, BUT I DO FEEL THE FARMERS NEED TO BE IN IT IN THAT LAND. AND MAYBE CAN WE DO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, AND THEN WE GO BACK TO DISCUSSING WHERE WE WANT TO GO WITH THIS?

IS THAT ALL RIGHT? >> OKAY. WE WILL NOW YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE REQUEST FOR CONSENSUS ON ADVISORY BOARD

FOR THE AG COMMUNITY. >> GOOD MORNING. I THINK IT'S

[01:00:03]

PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE MARKET, PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE VALUE OF AGRICULTURE , ECONOMISTS. I THINK IF WE LIMIT THE ADVISORY BOARD TO JUST FARMERS, IT'S GOING TO LOOK VERY NARROW. IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE SOMETHING WE CAN'T BE PROUD OF. AND AS JFK SAID IN 1963 AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WE MUST ACT WITH DIVERSITY. THANK YOU.

>> NICOLE CROSBY, 1169 NECK ROAD. ALTHOUGH I REALLY LIKE THE CONCEPT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE GOALS, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT TWO YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY STATEWIDE, ALL SOIL AND WATER DISTRICT UNDER S E 1078 WERE DISMANTLED . PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT FARMERS OR MOVED , INCLUDING MYSELF, MR. LEBLANC WAS SITTING OVER THERE, WAS A WATER EXPERT, WE WERE ALL REMOVED FROM THOSE WORDS STATEWIDE. AND SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE SOIL AND WATER BOARD -- ACTUALLY, LAST I HEARD, WE HAVE FIVE FARMERS ON IT. I HAVE HEARD -- YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T CHECKED ON THEM LATELY. WITH THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF, THEY MET LESS THAN A HANDFUL OF TIMES. FARMERS ARE REALLY BUSY PEOPLE. THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO COME TO MEETINGS. SO I DO THINK THEY SHOULD BE REPRESENTED. I THINK THEIR VOICE SHOULD BE HEARD, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO PRESERVE AS MUCH FARMLAND AS WE CAN. I DON'T ENJOY PICKING UP PRODUCE IN THE SUPERMARKET THAT CAME FROM ECUADOR OR SOME OTHER PLACE WHERE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE SUPERVISION IS OF THOSE CROPS. SO I DO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF TAKING MEASURES TO SUPPORT OUR FARMING AND BRING FARMERS INTO THE PROCESS. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE TO AGREE WITH MR. SLAYTON ON THIS ONE, THAT PERHAPS SOME OTHER PEOPLE , THE STAKEHOLDERS MIGHT BE BROUGHT IN. NEIGHBORS . PEOPLE WHO MAYBE TAKE A VERY STRONG POSITION ON FARMING. I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU BE OPEN TO IT AND LOOK AT THE TRACK RECORD FOR THE ONE ST. JOHN'S COMMITTEE THAT IS ABOUT FARMING, AND THE FARMERS AREN'T SHOWING UP. I HAVE TO SAY, HONESTLY, I HAVEN'T CHECKED ON IT AND MAYBE THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. BUT I WAS FOLLOWING IT CLOSELY, AND THEY WERE NOT REALLY MEETING.

AND THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE I COMPLETELY RESPECT. THIS IS NOT IN ANY WAY TO DENIGRATE THOSE FARMERS. THEY ARE HARD-WORKING, I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR KEEPING FARMING GOING IN THE COUNTY. NOT 100% SURE ABOUT 100% FARMING BOARD IS THE BEST IDEA, BUT DEFINITELY AN ADVISORY BOARD OF SOME KIND THAT IS HEAVILY REPRESENTED BY FARMERS I THINK IS A GOOD IDEA.

THINK.

>> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, CHAIR JOSEPH. COMMISSIONERS. I AM DORIS TAYLOR. I THINK THE COMMENTS ARE SPECIFIC TO THE FACT THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS BOARD WOULD BE DEVELOPED. I MEAN, WHO DECIDES HOW IT IS COMPOSED? I LIKE THE IDEA. HOW DO WE -- YOU -- TURN THIS IDEA INTO A REALITY? WHO MAKES THE DECISIONS? AND THAT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PERVASIVE IN THE COUNTY , IS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS WORK. AND SOMETIMES IT IS REALLY HARD TO EVEN FIND OUT HOW THINGS WORK. I AM HOPEFUL THAT TODAY IS A NEW DAY, AND WE CHANGED. SO MY QUESTION IS, MAYBE THAT IS THE THING TO DO TODAY, IS TO DECIDE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. WHAT IS NEXT TO THE STEP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I LIVE AT 109 COURT LANE SAINT

[01:05:01]

AFTER ALL, YOU ARE OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS. YOU HAVE NO SPECIFIC HOURS THAT I'M AWARE OF. YOU ARE AVAILABLE ALL THE TIME. SO CHANGE THE WAY WE OPERATE. MAKE ST. JOHN'S FIRST IN TERMS OF ITS POPULATION REQUIREMENTS. HELP GIVE THE FARMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WITH THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO PRESENT THEIR CASES , OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN THE EVENINGS WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE CAN LISTEN. MOST OF THE WORKING PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO THESE COMMISSION MEETINGS.

WHY NOT GIVE THEM THE CHANCE WHEN THEY ARE HOME IN THE EVENING, OR NOT WORKING, TO COME IN AND LISTEN TO THE GREAT INFORMATION THAT CAN BE USED TO ENRICH THEIR LIFE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB YOU DO.

>> SUSAN COOL OH, 109 WAY. JEB SMITH IS MUCH MISSED. HE WAS THE VOICE OF THE FARMERS HERE FOR SO LONG. HE DID A WONDERFUL JOB. AND I THINK WE HAVE HAD A VOID SINCE HE HAS BEEN GONE.

THE IDEA OF SETTING UP AN ADVISORY COUNCIL OF SOME SORT TO FOCUS IN ON AGRICULTURE I THINK WOULD BE GREAT. I AM HEARING SOME OF THE PEOPLE GET UP HERE AND SPEAK. THERE'S A LOT OF CLUELESSNESS , I GUESS, ONE WOULD SAY, IN MODERN VERNACULAR, AMONG THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT OUR ADVISORY COUNCILS REALLY DO. AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, UNTIL I STARTED ATTENDING SOME OF THESE COUNCILS AND FINDING OUT WHAT THEY DO, AND HOW MUCH INFLUENCE THEY HAVE. AND STATE LAW DOES DICTATE WHAT THEY CAN DO AND CAN'T DO. THEY DON'T REALLY MAKE DECISIONS. THEY ARE AN ADVISORY. THEY ARE HERE TO ADVISE YOU ON THE WAY THAT THEIR GROUP IS THINKING, AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS. AND IF WE SET UP COUNCILS, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO BE SURE THAT WHAT THE WORK HAS DONE THERE IS REPORTED BACK TO THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC. MORE THAN JUST ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. EACH OF THESE COUNCILS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN ACTION HAS A BOARD MEMBER , ABO CC MEMBER WHO ATTENDS. OR IS SUPPOSED TO ATTED. AND REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD. I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPENING ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IF PEOPLE VOLUNTEER THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR TIME IS WELL SPENT, AND THAT THEIR VOICE IS, IN FACT, HEARD BY THE DECISION-MAKER , WHO YOU ARE. I THINK THAT IT IS A GOOD IDEA. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.

I THINK AS WE MOVE ON IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WE ALL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT VALUABLE LAND WE STILL HAVE , IT IS MOSTLY IN THE REALM OF AGRICULTURE AND SILVER CULTURE.

AND WE HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL HOW WE PROCEED FROM HERE FORWARD IN DEVELOPING THAT. THINK.

>> GOOD MORNING. CHARLIE HUNT, WOLF CREEK ESTATES. IT DOES SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA, BUT I WONDER IF THIS IS LIKE A, YOU KNOW, A CATCH 22. IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU WANT TO BRING UP ISSUES OF HOW TO DEVELOP THIS WORD. WHAT IS THIS WORD ABOUT?

[01:10:10]

OF THE POPULATED AREA , PACETTI ROAD AND ALL OF THAT. IN THE ORIGINAL 2209 TO GO DOWN THROUGH TO LOWER WEST , WHERE IS THAT ON THE LAST ONE FOR THE ROBISON IMPROVEMENT DEVELOPMENT. AND ALSO, YES. THERE IS THE WATERLILY PUD DOWN THERE PORTER ROAD, COUNTRY ROAD 200 13 AND 13. WHICH STARTED, YES, BACK IN 1925. THEY GOT PUT TO THE SIDE, BUT THAT IS COMING UP, BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT PROPERTY , THEY ARE SELLING, OR THEY SOLD. IT IS FARMLAND, AND IT IS BEING USED RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU.

>> WEST OF THE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. I LIKE THE LADY THAT'S OVER THERE DURING THE SIGN LANGUAGE. I LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME. ANYWAY, JUST A FOLLOW WITH SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE, ADVISORY BOARDS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, IF THEY WANT TO ATTEND AND PUT THEIR TWO CENTS IN, BECAUSE I HAVE JUST LEARNED RECENTLY THAT WEST AUGUSTINE CRA IS NOT AN OFFICIAL BOARD .

IT IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO COME IN HERE AND GET SOME HELP FOR WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THEIR DISTRICT. BUT IN THE CITY, THE CRA BOARDS ARE GOVERNMENT BOARDS, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SUNSHINE OPEN TO EVERYBODY , AND NOT JUST A GROUP OF PEOPLE, WHICH IS KIND OF INTERESTING, BECAUSE NOW I AM ON THAT BOARD IN THE CITY. I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT THIS. THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING THIS SEVEN. WITH THESE MEETINGS THAT ANYBODY CAN GO WHEREVER THEY ARE MEETING, AND ALSO THEY WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK AT THE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING WITH THE FARMERS. YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL? THE FARMERS -- I WON'T GO TO ONE OF THEIR MEETING. BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD DO WITH THE MEETING? THEY SHOULD HAVE THE MEANING -- GET THIS FOLKS, WRITE IT DOWN. 4:00 A.M. , BEFORE THEY HAVE TO GO DO THEIR JOB GETTING OUR FOOD TOGETHER. WHEN WE FIND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW WITH THE ATTENDING A 4:00 A.M.

MEETING. JUST JOKING ABOUT THAT. IT COULD REALLY BE THAT WAY, BECAUSE OF THE EVENING, THEY ARE TIRED. THEY WORKED ALL DAY. I MEAN, THEY HAVE WORKED. SO I'M CONCERNED IF THIS IS

[01:15:01]

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

CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY MORE COMMENTS? >> YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I WOULD SUPPORT EXPLORING THIS A LITTLE FURTHER. I THINK THAT IT COULD HAVE SOME MERIT , AND TAKING A HARDER LOOK AT IT

WOULD PROBABLY BE WISE. >> I COULD SEE EXPLORING IT. I DO HAVE CONCERNS. I USED TO BE MARRIED TO A DEVELOPER IN MY YOUTH. AND HE ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS FUN TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THE FARMING INDUSTRY IN BUCKEYE, ARIZONA, AND HE WOULD GO HAVE COFFEE WITH THEM, TALK TO THEIR CONCERNS, AND SLOWLY TALK THEM INTO SELLING THEIR PROPERTY. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS REALLY REPRESENTED IN THE RIGHT FASHION. I DID MEET WITH JEFF SMITH. I THINK HE IS AN AWESOME SOURCE, AND I THINK IF WE CAN INCLUDE HIM SOMEHOW GOING FORWARD TO DOING THIS THE RIGHT WAY, IF YOU THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK INTO. I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE, THOUGH. SO DO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR.

>> YES. FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, MADAM CHAIR , AND TO COMMISSIONER MURPHY AS WELL. VERY JUST SO HONORED TO BE SITTING UP HERE. SO GRATEFUL AND SO EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE. SO MANY, MANY, MANY THANKS. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO JUST ADD ON. I APPRECIATE DR. MICHELLE BRINGING UP SOMETHING THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME DURING THE CAMP NAME AND I HURT SO MUCH FOR MY RESIDENCE, AND THAT IS TO EXPLORE AND HAVE SOME MEETINGS IN THE EVENING WHEN EVERYONE CAN ATTEND, WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO ATTEND. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WORK. THERE WAS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HE SHARED WITH ME THAT THEY WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY, BUT THEY HAVE JOBS, THEY HAVE OTHER OBLIGATIONS. SO IF THERE IS NO WAY FOR TO INCORPORATE US AT LEAST A MEETING IN THE EVENING TIME, WE NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO

HEAR FROM EVERYBODY. >> YOU WANT YOUR CONSENSUS ON

THAT? >> SURE.

>> OKAY. KEEP GOING. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO, AS FAR AS HIRING A COUNTY ATTORNEY, SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO DO AS FAR AS GIVING UP ALL ROLLING , VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THAT. IT WOULD BE NICE TO NOT, YOU KNOW, HAVE THIS DONE MUCH SOONER THAN LATER. IF WE CAN GET GOING ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I ALSO WANTED TO DO SOMETHING AND JUST RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY THAT IS BEEN A VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MY TWO BOYS, AND THAT IS HAD COACH COLL AND DRAFTS, WHO IS THE NIECE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL -- I SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM. HE HAS LED THE TEAM TO AN UNDEFEATED SEASON THIS YEAR. THEY ARE NOW IN THE HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS, AND NIECE HAS NOT HAD A SEASON LIKE THIS SINCE 2006, WHEN TIM TEBO PLAYED FOR THEM. SO JUST SO, SO EXCITED THAT THIS IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN OUR COUNTY. COULD IT BE MORE PROUD.

ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO NOTICE THAT NIGHT OF LAKES IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY. THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TIME HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO JUST WISH EVERYBODY A VERY, VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING. AND I AM SO BLESSED AS I SIT UP HERE , AND SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS AMAZING COUNTY AND COUNTRY THAT WE LIVE IN. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE NEW COMMISSIONERS SWORN IN THIS MORNING. I THINK IT IS AN EXCITING TIME TO BE IN ST.

JOHN'S COUNTY. IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME THAT WE LIVE IN THE BEST CITY IN THE BEST COUNTY, THE BEST DATE, THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, AND WE ARE SO BLESSED FOR. THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AT THIS TIME IS, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO EXTEND THANKS TO ROY. ROY WAS APPOINTED TO THIS CHERRY COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND HIS LORDSHIP OF THE DISTRICT, DISTRICT THREE THAT I HAVE LIVED IN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUBLICLY SAY THANKS TO ROY FOR HIS STEWARDSHIP IN THE DISTRICT

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. >> THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO

[01:20:05]

I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST THING RIGHT AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND, YOU KNOW, TO SET THE AGENDA IN THE MORNING , SO IT WOULD GO INVOCATION, AND THEN -- WHAT IS THE REST? THE INVOCATION, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, THE CONSENT AGENDA, ADDING ADDITIONS, AND THE REGULAR AGENDA. AND THEN PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END. IT WILL ONLY BE AT THE BEGINNING, AND IT IS FOR HIS LONG AS IT NEEDS TO BE.

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. SORRY. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO INCREASE THE MINUTES FOR THE DETAILS . LIKE I HAVE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD, WHEN I GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE BOARD MEETINGS, THE DETAILS OF WHO SPOKE WHAT THEY SPOKE ABOUT, I LIKE TO GO BACK TO THAT. I WOULD CONSIDER A FEW EVENING MEETINGS, ALSO. 20 CONSENSUS ON

ANY OF THOSE THINGS? SORRY. >> AS A BOARD, YOU VOTE ON YOUR MEETING. THEY CAN VOTE IN PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST DIRECTIONLESS STAFF.

>> OKAY. AND ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITIZENS OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY FOR TRUSTING ME TO DO THIS JOB, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED. I WANT TO GO FORWARD AND HAVE A POSITIVE GOLDEN YEAR

[Public Comment is Time Certain from 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM, or at the conclusion of the Regular Agenda, whichever occurs first]

TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. PLEASE COME TO ONE OF THE THREE PODIUMS, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED WITH THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK , AND WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. SPEAKERS WILL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD'S RULES OF CIVILITY AND DECORUM.

COMMENTS ARE TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER. SPEAKERS MAY NOT DEMANDED IMMEDIATE RESPONSE OR ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH PERSONAL, AND PREGNANT, OR BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY DISRUPTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS AND APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF ANY COMMENTS. FINALLY, THE SPEAKER THAT WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MATERIALS, PLEASE UTILIZE THE CENTER PODIUM AND MATERIALS CAN BE PLACED WHEN PRESENTING.

THANK YOU. >> WELL, GOOD DAY. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IT'S A GOOD DAY. I WANTED TO GO FIRST, NOT BECAUSE I'M ANYTHING IMPORTANT OR ANYTHING SPECIAL, BUT THE GOD WHO HUNG THE STARS, AND HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. I JUST WANT TO BLESS THIS COMMISSION AS WE GO FORWARD. AS I PRAYED FOR YOU THIS MORNING, AS I DO FAITHFULLY EVERY SINGLE DAY LIPS THIS NOT THAT I'M ANYTHING IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK THAT GOD'S HAND IN OUR GOVERNMENT IS AN ANSWER TO EVERY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO BLESS YOU WITH UNITY AND A CLEAR FOCUS THAT BENEFITS OUR COUNTY. DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN GOD'S EYES. I PRAY THAT YOU WALK A PATH OF WISDOM IN FEAR OF THE LORD. THAT YOU ARE YIELDED TO HIM, BECAUSE HE IS WAY WISER THAN ANY OF US INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY.

AND THAT YOU HAVE THE GUARDRAILS OF FAITH AND LOVE ON EACH SIDE OF YOU. PROVERBS 3, 5, 6 SAYS TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT UNTO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL YOUR WAYS, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT. THAT IN HUMILITY, EACH OF YOU WOULD CONSIDER OTHERS AS BETTER THAN YOURSELVES. FIRST CORINTHIANS 13: 4-8 ARE THE LOW CHAPTERS, AND WE OFTEN HEAR THESE VERSES AT WEDDINGS. BUT THESE VERSES DESCRIBE WHO GOD IS. AND AS WE SERVE THE LIVING GOD, THEN THIS IS WHO WE ARE REPRESENTING AND THIS IS THE LOVE HE WANTS US TO MANIFEST. LOVE IS PATIENT. LOVE IS KIND. IT DOES NOT ENVY, AND IT DOES NOT BOAST. IT IS NOT PUFFED UP, AND IT DOES NOT BEHAVE INAPPROPRIATELY. LOVE DOES NOT DEMAND ITS OWN WAY. LOVE IS NOT PROVOKED. IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS. WE ARE STARTING A NEW SLATE TODAY. IT DOES NOT REJOICE OVER INJUSTICE, BUT REJOICES IN THE

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REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR , AND FROM HIS ENDLESS SUPPLY, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD DRAW MOMENT BY MOMENT AS YOU GO FORWARD AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS COUNTY. I PRAY BLESSINGS OF FAVOR AND STRONG COURAGE OVER EACH OF YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD. GOD BLESS .

I LOVE ALL OF YOU SO MUCH. IT IS JUST SUCH AN AMAZING WONDER TO BE PART OF THIS WONDERFUL COUNTY. THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LEGAL TEAM, EVERY PART OF OUR STAFF

APPEAR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> KIM SWARMER. GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE NEW COMMISSIONERS. YOU MAY KNOW OUR SITUATION WITH THE PAPER WALKWAY AND THE PAPER VIOLATION ALL OVER ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND ALL FIVE COMMISSION DISTRICT. THE PREVIOUS BOARD HAS BEEN SELECTIVELY ENFORCING AND ISSUING DAILY FINES WHILE ASSURING ALL OF THE HOMEOWNERS IN VIOLATION THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AND NOT REMOVE THEIR PAVERS. YOU CAN GO BACK AND WATCH THE COMMISSIONERS AT THE 2020 4B OCC MEETING STATE THIS TO THE HOMEOWNERS IN ATTENDANCE THAT ARE IN VIOLATION, AND ALSO A HOMEOWNER CALLS IN AND THEY INSTRUCT THEM OF THE SAME. CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS STOPPED INSPECTING AND ISSUING VIOLATION NOTICE THIS. SINCE THEN, FOLLOWING UP ON THE VIOLATION NOTICES THE ISSUE.

OTHER VARIANCES CAME TO A HALT. AS THE COUNTY IS DOING TO US.

$8050 TODAY. HEARING THE COMMISSIONERS LISTEN TO THE CLAMOR OF THE CROWD, AND MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT OTHER DESIGN ELEMENTS ON OUR HOME THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH A WALKWAY OR DRAINAGE. THE COUNTY ENGINEER REPORT SUPPORTED OUR DRAINAGE.

WE ALSO HAVE A PRIVATE ENGINEER OF WORK WHICH SUPPORTS DRAINAGE, AND HOW WE IMPROVE DRAINAGE IN OUR INSTALLATIONS.

WE PROVIDE COUNTLESS VIDEOS AND PHOTOS TO SHOW HOW DURING HEAVY RAIN STORMS, OUR WATER IS COMPLETELY DRAINED IN THE PROPER DIRECTION, AND WITHIN 20 MINUTES, ALL WATER SOAKED BACK INTO THE GROUND. THE COUNTY CONSIDERS POSITIVE DRAINAGE TO BE 72 HOURS OR LESS. WE DO NOT HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE OF LIVING NEXT TO. THE PREVIOUS BOARD HAS CREATED THIS MESS, BUT IT IS NOW FALLING ON YOUR SHOULDERS TO RESOLVE. WE REACHED OUT TO THE BOARD ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WE HOPE YOU TAKE THE TIME TO RESEARCH THIS MATTER ON YOUR OWN , BOTH INDEPENDENTLY ON ALL MATTERS, AND NOT AT THE DIRECTION OF ANYONE COMMISSIONER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO EQUAL RESOLUTION FOR ALL OF US. THINK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I LIVE AT 119TH OR A LANE, SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. DEAR COMMISSIONERS. NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONERS . CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ROLE. YOU WILL DO WITHOUT GETTING JOB WORKING WITH THE TWO LISTING COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE DONE GREAT SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IN THE PAST. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THREE OF YOU. I HAVE THREE POINTS TO MAKE THIS MORNING. FIRST, WE SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO HONOR ONE OF OUR VERY OWN RESIDENCE -- A WOMAN .

THIS POWERFUL WOMAN WAS HONORED BY THE PRESIDENT-ELECT 47 TO BE HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE NAMED TO THE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF. I AM SUGGESTING THAT YOU SUPPORT APPROPRIATELY AND OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE SUSIE WILES. THIS IS AN HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR ONE OF OUR OWN RESIDENCE FROM THE JOHNSON COUNTY. IT IS TIME FOR UNITY ACROSS THE BOARD IN OUR COUNTY. I KNOW SOME OF THE LOCAL COMMERCIALS WERE DISTURBING, DISTASTEFUL, AND IN SOME CASES, UNTRUTHFUL AND DEFAMATORY . BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND SEEK TO CHANGE THE WAY CAMPAIGNS ARE CONDUCTED IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN DO THAT LEGALLY, OKAY? WE HAVE TO SUPPORT AMERICA FIRST AND RECOGNIZE THE GREAT TEAM AND ITS MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY A LOCAL RESIDENT, OUR PRESIDENT-ELECT 47 HAS TOGETHER AS ARTIFICE.

UNOFFICIAL RESOLUTION WITH APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE IN MY OPINION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. THEY WILL NEED AN ADVOCATE, PERHAPS, FOR THE COUNTY IN THE FUTURE. SECOND, CONGRATULATIONS ON ELECTING AS YOUR NEW CHAIR KRISTA JOSEPH. SHE HAS THE

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YOU ARE A GREAT TEAM TO SUPPORT ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AND REMEMBER, SUSIE WILES. A HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT. A CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT. THE FIRST WOMAN -- AND LET ME MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THIS -- THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE APPOINTED THE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> GOOD MORNING. ZACH SWARMER. I HAVE SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW AT THE END. AND ALSO, A PART OF THE ISSUE, THAT WAS THE MOTHER WHO PREVIOUSLY SPOKE. I HOPE THAT WE CAN BE A PART OF YOUR POSITIVE CHANGE FOR YOUR GOLDEN YEAR GOING FORWARD FOR ST.

JOHNS COUNTY. THIS IS BEEN A LONG TWO YEARS FOR MY FAMILY.

WE HAVE UNDERGONE A LOT WITH THIS PAPER ISSUE. WE FIRST STARTED WITH A CORRUPT H AWAY, AND WE OVERCAME THAT ISSUE. WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT, WE EXPECTED TO BE HEARD FAIRLY WHEN WE CAME TO HAVE OUR VARIANT HEARING. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO NOW. NOW THAT WE ARE PAST THAT YEAR MARK, WE ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE VARIANCE THAT WE WERE WRONGLY DENIED, BUT WE ARE NOT APPLYING FOR IT AGAIN BECAUSE THERE ARE CURRENTLY FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR THEIR VARIANCE AND HAVE YET TO HAVE THEIR VARIANCE IS HEARD FOR THE SAME COUNTY CODE VIOLATION. I WAS KIND OF FORCED TO DO THESE REPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTY OF HUNDREDS OF VIOLATIONS. I DIDN'T EVER WANT TO DO THAT. WE ALWAYS CAME AND SHOWED THESE VIOLATIONS AND EMAILED AND CALLED, AND THAT IS WHY LAST NIGHT I WAS FORCED TO BE 50 MORE REPORTS OF VIOLATIONS OF COUNTY CODE. I GIVE A HEADS UP TWO WEEKS AGO AT THAT MEETING THAT I WOULD BE DOING THAT. GOING FORWARD, I WILL BE DOING DAILY VIOLATIONS REPORTS UNTIL CHANGES MADE. WE HOPE THAT THAT COMES VERY SOON, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MOVE PAST THAT. WE ARE TIRED OF THIS ISSUE. WE DON'T HAVE NICE NEIGHBORS, AND NEITHER DOES 59 STANSBURY OR 129 GRAND PALM COURTS. AND IT IS NOT FAIR FOR THOSE WHO ARE BAD NEIGHBORS TO BE PUNISHED.

NOW, I HAVE A CLIP THAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU, THAT IS ALL RIGHT.

IT IS FROM THE MAY 7TH -- THE HEARING THAT WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT. SO I'M GOING TO PUT MY PHONE DOWN, AND I'M GOING TO DIRECT THE MICROPHONE THERE.

>> RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY

ABOUT. >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR HIM.

THAT GOES FOR EVERYONE WHO IS HERE --

>> POINT OF ORDER. WE SHOULD BE ATTACKING A FELLOW

COMMISSIONER. >> THIS IS ON THE PUBLIC

WEBSITE. >> COMMISSIONER MURPHY, WHAT IS A COMMENT ON PUBLIC COMMENT TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AS A WHOLE?

>> NOT ANY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER.

>> I'M SORRY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LOOK

FORWARD TO CHANGE FROM YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> NICOLE CROSBY, 1169. I'M NOT WOULD BE GIVING THIS MONEY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN THE FUTURE. I'M JUST EXCITED. OUR NEW VICE CHAIR, AND YOU COMMISSIONER, KRISTA JOSEPH. AND I DO WANT TO GIVE SPECIAL KUDOS ALSO TO OUR OUTGOING CHAIR . COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND I MAY NOT FLY ON EVERYTHING BUT I HAVE TO SAY, SHE RAN THE MEETINGS VERY WELL AND VERY EFFICIENTLY, AND I THINK THAT SHE DESERVES RECOGNITION FOR THAT. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT DURING THIS TIME TO TALK, BECAUSE WHEN THE HARD OF HEARING CAME UP AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE WAS RISK TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T BEING GIVEN THE PROPER , YOU KNOW, SIGNALS THAT THEY NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT DANGER ON THE BEACH. I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY APPROPRIATE. I COULDN'T GET PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT MOMENT.

I KINDA WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON IT. ACTUALLY, PEOPLE WITH FULL SITE AND FULL HEARING ARE ALSO IN DANGER ON OUR BEACHES. I JUST WANT TO CITE WHAT HAPPENED AT MICHAEL BEACH A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. A YOUNG MAN DIED. THERE WAS WITH TIGHTS. THEY HAVE SET UP A BIG CONTROL STATION, AND I LIVE RIGHT THERE, SO I JUST WENT OVER TO THE OFFICERS AND SAID, ANYTHING

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NOBODY NOTICES, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN. JUST ON THE HEELS OF SOMEBODY DYING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO TAKE REALLY STRONG MEASURES AND RETIRE 40 MILES OF OUR COASTLINE TO BETTER PROTECT PEOPLE WHEN THERE ARE RIPTIDE AND WHEN THERE IS DANGER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. JOE MCINERNEY.

SO TODAY, I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ROADS AND WHETHER WE DO HAVE THE MASTER LIST . AND THE ANSWER IS, YES. WE HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION SPREADSHEET , AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. YOU CAN SEE THE COLORS UP THERE THAT THE NOTE THE STATUS OF CAPACITY OF THESE ROADS. AND OUR TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS SPREADSHEET INCLUDES 211 ROAD SEGMENTS FOR OUR COUNTY TRAFFIC. OUT OF THOSE 211, 77 EXCEED 100% CAPACITY.

17 RECEIVE 97% CAPACITY. 45% ARE OVER CAPACITY. IT IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HAS SAID, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF ROADS. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. WE NEED TO KNOW THIS. IN OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, THEY DO USE TAS AND ITS STAFF REVIEWS, SEEING THIS PROJECT BY PROJECT. THEY ALSO TELL US WHAT THE COST TO FIX THOSE ROADS WILL BE. AND SO I ASK THE QUESTION, IS THERE A MASTER LIST OF UNFUNDED ROAD COST? HOW GREAT IT IS TO GET THIS INFORMATION PROJECT BY PROJECT. THE ANSWER TO THAT WAS NO. SO, LOOK. SORRY, I'M NOT THE EXPERTS. I CREATED A WORKBOOK, AND I DIDN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP. I USED THE TAS DATA, AND INPUT FROM OUR STAFF REVIEWS PROJECT BY PROJECT -- LOOK HERE. SANDY CREEK. I JUST PULL THE INFORMATION THAT STAFF PROVIDED, AND INCLUDED THAT. THAT LEFT SOME BLANKS, BECAUSE NOT ALL 77 ROADS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATIONS.

YOU KNOW WHAT? OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TELLS US HOW MANY EACH IS. AND WHEN YOU INPUT THAT DATA, GUESS WHAT? IN THE TOTALS? THE TOTAL COST COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO $1.54 BILLION. I GOT SOME OTHER QUALIFIERS IN THERE. ANY OF THOSE COSTS ARE FROM 2021, 2023. I COULD TELL YOU ALL SO THAT WHEN I RUN THE COST PER MILE NEXT TOUR STAFF COST, OUR STAFF COST IS ALWAYS HIGHER. I AM NOT THE EXPERT. THERE ARE PARTS AND PIECES OF EACH PROJECT. SO JUST AS CONCLUSION,

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>> HELLO, TREY ASNER. 37 MAGNOLIA DRIVE. FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS, MADAM CHAIR. CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONER MURPHY AND COMMISSIONER TAYLOR FOR HAVING THE GUMPTION TO SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION AND SERVE THE PUBLIC. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST FOR RE-ELECTION. YOU KNOW, MR. MURPHY WAS RIGHT. WE LIVE IN A GREAT COUNTY AND A GREAT STATE. AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR HISTORY IN OUR COUNTY. WE HAVE FANTASTIC , HISTORIC RESOURCES . WE HAVE FANTASTIC HISTORIC STRUCTURES. FANTASTIC PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEIR HISTORY, WHO WANT TO SEE IT INTERPRETED AND PRESERVED AND PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTIVE FROM NEGLECT. SO WHY DON'T WE HAVE A HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE ANYMORE? MANY OTHER COUNTIES DO , AND THEY HAVE CREATED THOSE TO PROTECT THEIR HISTORIC RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND TWO YEARS AGO, OUR COUNTY GOT RID OF THE HISTORIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OFFICE. I WOULD KNOW -- I WAS FORCED OUT FOR DOING THE JOB THAT I WAS HIRED TO DO. AND THE PEOPLE DESERVE SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM AND THEIR HIS THREE, SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AFRAID TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR PAST , ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS, ABOUT SLAVERY. ABOUT WORKING WITH DEVELOPERS WHEN A RESOURCE IS THREATENED, TO INCLUDE THAT IN FUTURE PLANS. I HAVE BEEN REACHED OUT BY MISSA POLITIES AND BY CONCERNED CITIZENS IN OTHER COUNTIES WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO TO PROTECT THEIR HISTORIC RESOURCES, AND STOP THERE COUNTIES FROM TURNING INTO WHAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS TURNED INTO. AND TO CHANGE THINGS. WE NEED TO BRING BACK THE HISTORIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OFFICE. WE JUST CAN'T HAVE A LITTLE BULLET POINT AT THE BOTTOM OF ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST POSITION THAT THEY DO DEVELOPMENT FOR CULTURAL RESOURCE IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION.

WE NEED A PROFESSIONAL IN THAT POSITION. WE NEED ALL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE BROUGHT BACK. WE NEED ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES TO BE BROUGHT BACK. THE PEOPLE WANT THIS. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THIS UP, STAFF TOLD THE COMMISSION THAT THE POSITION STILL EXISTS. BUT DURING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETING, THERE WAS A BOARD UP HERE OR PEOPLE COULD VOTE ON BRINGING BACK THE OFFICE. SO THEY WANT IT BACK. SUPPORT THE CRV. THANK YOU.

>> CHOCOLATE JANOWSKI. I WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF YOU REALIZE WHAT THE TRAFFIC SITUATION IS AT THAT INTERSECTION. THE AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC , THE AVERAGE, IS 7300 VEHICLES A DAY . A DAY. YOU GOT BASS PRO SHOP COMING IN HERE. THE AVERAGE FOR BASS PRO SHOPS IS 3200 CUSTOMERS A DAY. COSTCO IS 1200 CUSTOMERS A DAY. THAT IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC. NOT TO INCLUDE HOME DEPOT THAT IS GETTING READY TO OPEN UP. THIS IS JUST AN OVERHEAD SHOT OF EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE AVERAGE AS FAR AS THE TRAFFIC IS CONCERNED. IF YOU LOOK, THEY'RE ALL BACKED UP TO GET OUT. PEOPLE COMING OUT OF COSTCO ARE BACKED UP. IT'S A CONTINUAL PROBLEM. INCLUDING COMING OFF 95. I LIKE THE IDEA -- I HAD NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS TODAY.

THAT IS WHAT THE PLAN THEY ARE LOOKING AT , IS TO COME OFF OF 95, COME ON THE FAR SIDE . NOW HERE'S THE PROBLEM. ALL THAT TRAFFIC COMING IN, HOW IS IT GOING TO GO OUT? BACK TO ITP? WE NEED TO ALSO ASK AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT PUTTING

[01:45:02]

JIM HAS ALSO ASKED ME TO GO UP TO SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION IN D.C., TO THE OFFICE THERE, BECAUSE THIS IS A FEDERAL HIGHWAY. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS I LOOK AT. AND LOOK AT THE NEXT MEETING , WHATEVER THAT IS. THIS IS A CONCERN ABOUT TRAFFIC, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

WHEN WE START APPROVING MASSIVE THINGS LIKE THIS , THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FOR THOSE AREAS, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE PLAN FOR COMMERCIAL. WE DON'T LOOK AT THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT. AND WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT THAT. THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE FUTURE. WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THESE HUGE DEVELOPMENT.

>> DORIS TAYLOR, 208 LOWE VALLEY ROAD. MR. MCINERNEY MADE A GREAT PRESENTATION, AND JUST LAID OUT SOME REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT PROVES THE FACT THAT THE WAY DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE BOARD HERE HAS BEEN DYSFUNCTIONAL. IT HAS LED TO THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS, AND I BELIEVE PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE ARE USING A FAULTY TOOL. THE TAS , TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS SPREADSHEET -- YES, IT IS A COMPLICATED SPREADSHEET. I'VE DUG INTO A QUITE A BIT. BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE USING THIS, AND IT LIKE -- YES. THIS IS TEDIOUS AND SAD. EVERYONE IS RELYING ON IT, AND IT IS NOT ONLY IMPERFECT -- IN SOME REGARDS, IT IS FLAT OUT WRONG.

SO IF YOU ARE USING A LOT OF SPECIFIC DATA, MAYBE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU GOT THE ANSWERS . THE ANSWERS YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND THE INFORMATION YOU ARE USING IS OUT OF DATE OR INACCURATE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FACTOR ON THAT SPREADSHEET THAT ANTICIPATES GROWTH IS LOW. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. ALSO, THAT SPREADSHEET DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH INTERSECTIONS OR LIGHT TIMING . NOTHING. SO IT IS NOT ENOUGH . IT IS NOT -- AND WE ARE RELYING ON IT TOO MUCH IN THE WRONG WAYS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE A COLUMN IN THE CURRENT ISSUE . HISTORIC CITY NEWS. I HAVE A LIST OF ACTION ITEMS FOR THE COMMISSIONERS . I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE READ IT, OR WILL READ IT. THIS IS NOT A TALKER SEEN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. PERHAPS THE FIRST TIME IS BUT A MERITOCRACY, AND I THINK THAT THE CENSURE OF COMMISSIONER JOSEPH IS SOMETHING THAT THE OTHER MEMBERS HERE SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A LEGALLY APPOINTED BUDGET OFFICER UNDER FLORIDA STATUTE 121.9. WHAT DOES THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DO? SHE JUST PROMOTED THE HEAD OF OFFICE AND BUDGET. AT THE LAST MEETING , I WOULD SUGGEST 129.025. YOU ALSO GET TO HIRE A COUNTY ATTORNEY. YOU HIRED A COUNTY ATTORNEY-BASED ON THE SAY-SO THAT HE WAS HIS FRIEND. THAT IS PATHETIC. THAT IS NOT DEMOCRACY. THAT IS NOT REPUBLIC. THAT IS A DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT.

COMPARING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH ENORMOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. WELL, ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS BEEN RUN

[01:50:03]

THAT IS UN-AMERICAN. AND WE DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THAT. WE WANT TO START RESPECTING PUBLIC RIGHTS TO CRITICIZE GOVERNMENT. AND SICILY, AND NORMANDY. MY RIGHT TO BE HERE INSTEAD AT THIS PODIUM AND CRITICIZE YOU.

THAT'S HOW I WAS RAISED AND WHAT MY MENTORS TAUGHT ME. SOME PAST COMMISSIONERS, SOME CURRENT COMMISSIONERS WERE ONCE IN CHARGE, YOU DEMEAN YOURSELVES AND YOU DEMEAN OUR COUNTRY AND OUR GOVERNMENT. I AGREE WITH EVERYWHERE THAT TREY ASTOR SAID. HE SHOULD BE REINSTATED AND HAVE AN APOLOGY, TOO. AFRAID THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE INTIMIDATED FOR SPEAKING THEIR TRUTH. THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> SUZANNE, NORWOOD WAY, 3208. I'VE GOT A LOT OF SCRIBBLE ON HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE B OCC SCHEDULE MORE DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS A SUGGESTION THAT WAS MADE AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE B OCC TO CONSIDER PAUSING THE HEARING OF REQUEST FOR DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE STATE ROAD 16 CORRIDOR. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT YOU CONSIDER EXPANDING THE PAUSE TO INCLUDE SOME OTHER HE AREAS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE B OCC ASK FOR A REPORT FROM THE COUNTY APPRAISER ON THE NEW CHANGES TO THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS DO TO THE BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WAS JUST PAST. I'M READING A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES WERE BECOMING GREAT TURNED IN ASKING THEIR ASSESSOR TO DO LIKEWISE. BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY CAUSE OUR COUNTY TO BE IMPACTED IN A NEGATIVE WAY IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET BEGINNING WITH THE 2025 '26 BUDGET YEAR. SOME REMARKS WERE MADE ABOUT THE WEST AUGUSTINE CRA HERE TODAY THAT I THINK NEEDS SOME STRONG , CLEAR CLARIFICATION OF THAT. I AM LISTENING, AND I WAS STARTING TO EVEN QUESTION MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT WAS. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT. THE CRA'S, THEY DO IN SAINT AUGUSTINE TALK MORE ABOUT THAN THEY HEAR ABOUT HERE. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE, HOW THEY WORK, HOW THEY ARE FUNDED. HOW THEY OPERATE , WHAT THEIR ASSOCIATION IS WITH THE B OCC.

AND IT COULD MAKE FOR A BIG DISCUSSION SO THAT IF THEY ARE QUESTIONED AGAIN, PEOPLE HAVE A FIRM BASIS FOR DISCUSSION. I DO AGREE THAT I THINK -- I THINK THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE BEGINNING -- I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME, AND YOUR PEOPLE WAITING HERE. THAT IS A PROBLEM WITH YOU. BUT THE WAY WE'VE GOT IT RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE - I DON'T THINK ARE HAVING THE AMOUNT OF VOICE THAT THEY COULD HAVE IF IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING. YOU KNOW, TRY IT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN STONE.

THE DETAILED MINUTES, DEFINITELY. ALTHOUGH, I HAVE TO SAY, MORE THAN A MINUTE, THE VIDEOS ARE WONDERFUL. I MEAN, THEY SHOW EVERYTHING. WE DO NEED THAT. EVENING MEETINGS, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE TROUBLE DRIVING AT NIGHT WILL HAVE A HARD TIME. THINK.

>> GOOD MORNING. SHERRY BADGER. 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE DOES NEED TO BE SOME UNITY IN THIS COMMISSION.

JUST LIKE FRIENDS. WHEN COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WAS VOTED

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WHICH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH UNITY THAT IS GOING TO BE. YOU ALL NEED TO GO INTO THIS WIDE OPEN. WE ALSO NEED SITE PLANS FROM DEVELOPERS, WHICH WENT AWAY WITH LAWN CHECK. AND THE PREVIOUS COMMISSION FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. THESE PEOPLE -- THESE PEOPLE CAN COME IN HERE, STAND UP HERE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND TELL YOU ALL WHAT THE LAWS ARE, WHAT TO DO, AND HOW TO DO IT. EVEN FROM HOME. DOUG MADE A PHONE CALL FROM THE LAST -- NOT THE LAST MEETING, THE ONE BEFORE THAT.

AND WAS INSTRUCTING YOU ON HOW TO PAIR AND PRESENT HER PACKAGE. WELL, SHE OPENED HER PACKAGE. EVERYTHING WAS CAN USED. TO ME, THIS IS DANGER WILL RODGERS. THAT'S HACKING, AND PEOPLE CAN GO INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S PLANS, DEVELOPMENTS, AND REARRANGE THEM. SO YOU ALL NEED TO GO INTO THIS WITH YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN. AND GOD BLESS YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> ANYMORE PUBLIC COMMENT? ANYONE ELSE?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF THE KIDS OVER THERE -- NOT REALLY KIDS. YOUNG ADULTS OVER THERE. DOES ANYBODY WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, OR ASK? COME ON UP? THANK YOU.

>> ELSA WHITEHURST, ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME AND CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE NEW COMMISSIONERS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. CHRIS AND MISS TAYLOR.

AND WE HAD SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BLESSING AT THE START OF THESE COMMENTS. AND I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT . IT WAS MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE , LIKE HAS BEEN EXPRESSED, AND LIKE I HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO SEE, THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO SHAME TOWARDS BECOMING UNITED.

BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY THAT WE HAVE A BOARD THAT IS CONCERNED WITH WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COUNTY . IT WAS A VERY CONTENTIOUS AND NEGATIVE AT TIMES CAMPAIGN, AND SO MY COMMENT ARE DIRECTED TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU , OLD AND NEW COMMISSIONERS THAT AS YOU GO FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE OLD COMMISSIONERS CONTINUE TO ENSURE WHAT IS BEST FOR COUNTY, AND THE NEW COMMISSIONERS TO ALSO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO YOU. YOU ARE ONE BOARD . WHEN WE GET SUED, YOU ARE SUED AS A BOARD. YOU NEED TO BE UNITED. THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T HAVE DISAGREEMENTS , AND A FAMILY, WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS. I HOPE YOU CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE. I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU ALL B STATES PEOPLE. STATES WOMEN, STATESMEN, AND NOT POLITICIANS. SO -- BLESS TO ALL OF YOU. YOU ALL HAVE MY PRAYERS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. TRY TO HELP MISS JOSEPH AS SHE LEARNS HER NEW ROLE. AND KEEP YOUR MIND OPEN THAT OLD ALSO WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COUNTY. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

>> HI. MY NAME IS VERONICA RIVERA. I GO TO WASHINGTON CLASSICAL CHRISTIANS RULE, AND I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS

AS WELL. THINK YOU. >> GOOD JOB. THINK YOU.

>> WEST CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. WE CAN LEARN FROM THE YOUNG . REALLY AND TRULY. TO THE POINT WE GOT IT CLEAR.

WAY TO GO. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THESE PEOPLE. THEY ARE JUST LIKE US. ALREADY. PUBLIC COMMENT BEING MOVED. YES.

ADVERTISE FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY. YES. AND LISTEN TO 98.54 .

ENTER THIS THANKSGIVING . IT IS THANKSGIVING. GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD. FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.

THINK.

[02:00:06]

>> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YOU CAN STEP RIGHT UP

TO EITHER ONE. >> MY NAME IS ELISHA, AND I GO TO WASHINGTON CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. I WAS WONDERING WITH THE WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME, THE OFFER WAS TAKEN UP TO BE TAKEN BY 1122 , EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A CHURCH BEHIND IT. AND THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE OFFER BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH PARKING. I JUST WANT WONDERING WHAT YOU GUYS

ARE GOING TO DO WITH THAT. >> THINK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL

LOOK INTO IT. THANK YOU. >> THINK YOU.

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. WE HAVE HAD SOMEONE ELSE ENTER THE AUDITORIUM. THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THINGS THAT ARE NOT

[County Administrator’s Report]

>> WAS ANDREWS COMEDY OF ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY?

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND VICE CHAIR MURPHY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO CHAIR JOSEPH , AND ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONER RE-ELECTED COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST . CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, FOR A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF BEING CHAIR. ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF, WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO ALL OF YOU , EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE MISSION AND THE VISION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS COUNTY AND CONTINUE TO BUILD

[County Attorney’s Report]

OFF THE OLD ONE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MR. KOMANDO.

>> FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ELECTION AS CHAIR, AND ALSO AS VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. EVEN DURING A CONTESTED CAMPAIGN, YOU MAY BE WILL FORGET HOW MUCH OF YOURSELF YOU HAVE TO PUT OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC, AND HOW MANY SHOTS IT WILL TAKE, ALL IN THE SPIRIT OF SERVING THE PUBLIC. CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. CONGRATULATIONS COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. OCA SERVES YOU DIRECTLY. I AM HERE TO PROVIDE THE BEST LEGAL ADVICE . I CAN TELL YOU HOW TO GO AND MANY IN THIS APOLOGIES. YOU HAVE A VERY STRONG LEGAL COUNSEL IN MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF HER TEETH. SO THANK YOU BOTH . I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.