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REGULAR MEETING.AND AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN THE BUDGET MEETING AT 5:08.
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GOOD EVENING.THIS IS OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET JUST FOR EDIFICATION, THE TENTATIVE WORK BOOK THAT THE LINE ITEM BUDGET RELATED TO THIS BUDGET WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMISSION AUGUST 28TH.
IT WAS ONLINE ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE ON AUGUST 29TH.
TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR A SEPTEMBER 31ST PUBLIC HEARING WHICH WAS CANCELED AND THEREFORE RESCHEDULED DUE TO HURRICANE DORIAN.
GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TONIGHT, IT IS A PRESCRIBED PROCESS AS ESTABLISHED BY FLORIDA STATUTE PRIOR TO THAT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS BRING EVERYONE BACK UP TO SPEED AS TO WHERE WE HAVE BEEN IN THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT BEGAN EARLIER THIS YEAR.
WE START WITH JUST REMINDING EVERYONE THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS A PORTION CHEFK FE SPECIFICALLY LAST YEAR 49.6% OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TAKING UP LARGELY THE OTHER 47% AND THEN THE OTHER DISTRICTS ARE REFERENCED THERE BELOW.
THE BUDGET PROCESS AS WE ALL KNOW BEGINS EVERY YEAR IN FEBRUARY.
IT'S BEEN QUITE A DISCUSSION THIS YEAR.
WE'VE COME TO AN INITIAL PRESENTATION OF THAT IN MAY WHEN WE HAVE THE ADMINISTRATOR BUDGET WORKSHOP.
WE HAVE THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET COMING FORWARD IN JULY OF 2019.
WHICH INCLUDED THE TENTATIVE RATES ESTABLISHED WHICH GENERATED THE TREND OR DRAFT PROPERTY TAX NOTICE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS RECEIVED.
AND WE ARE UP TO REALLY THE LAST TWO PORTIONS OF THE 20 BUDGET PROCESS TONIGHT THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE AND BUDGET AND THEN THERE WILL BE A SUBSEQUENT IF FINAL ADOPTION OF THE MILLAGE RATE AND BUDGET.
SINCE THE JULY 16TH RECOMMENDED BUDGET PRESENTATION AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY FORE SHADOWED AT THAT TIME THE FY 2020 BUDGET REFLECTS ADDITIONS OF AND DOES EVERY YEAR RECURRING CARRY FORWARDS OF MULTIYEAR PROJECTS AS WELL AS GRANTS AS PART OF THE NORMAL RECURRING CYCLE.
SO AT THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET THE LINE ITEM BUDGET REFLECTED A TOTAL BUDGET OF $797,092,876.
THE TENTATIVE BUDGET WITH CARRY FORWARDS NOW REFLECTS A $918,933,408 ANNUAL BUDGET AND I'LL BREAK DOWN WHAT THAT CARRY FORWARD PROCESS LOOKS LIKE IN A LATER SLIDE.
SO JUST AS A RECAP OF THE FY 20 BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR, THE PROPERTY APPRAISER CERTIFIED EVALUATION DETERMINED A 9.9% TAXABLE VALUE FOR FISCAL YEAR 20.
WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN THIS CHART OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
HAD WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE BASED ON AGAIN THE GROWTH IN THIS COUNTY KIND OF A NEW NORMAL WHERE WE'RE AT ABOUT A 9.9% VALUATION GROWTH UNDER KIND OF CHOICE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
INCIDENTALLY OF THAT 9.9%, ABOUT
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41% OF THAT IS RELATED TO NEW CONSTRUCTION ON THAT INCREMENTAL WITH 59% ON THE VALUATION ON CURRENT PROPERTY ON THE TAX ROLLS.THE 9.9% RESULTS IN AN INCREMENTAL $17.8 MILLION FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20.
THIS HAS BEEN THE BREAKDOWN AS WE HAVE REFLECTED IT SINCE THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
FOLLOWING KIND OF SUIT WITH OUR FEBRUARY GUIDELINES THAT WE WOULD INCLUDE A .15 MILLAGE SHIFT FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO TRANSPORTATION TRUST TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE PUBLIC WORKS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
SO HERE ARE PRE OF THAT 17.8 THE INCREMENTAL EFFECT IN THIS MIDDLE COLUMN OF THAT 9.9%.
WITH 8.4 MILLION GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND.
5.9 MILLION GOING TO TRANSPORTATION TRUST.
AND AT OR ABOUT 100,000 FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FUND.
SOME OF THE BUDGET SPECIFICS THIS YEAR WE REFERENCED THE .15 MILLAGE SHIFT FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
WE ALSO WORKED AS THE BOARD RECALLS WITH ESTABLISHING A NEW TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX CATEGORY 5 RESERVE INCLUDING $2.2 MILLION APPROPRIATE ATEED IN THERE WHICH APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING 2.2.
OUR OPERATING EX-PEN I DID CHORES AS -- EX -- WE HAD PAY PLAN BREAK DOWN OF COST OF LIVING INDEX AS WELL AS AN UP TO 2% FOR MERIT.
WE WERE OUR HEALTH INSURANCE PARTITION OCCUPATION CONTINUES TO BE INDEXED BY THE ECI WHICH WAS 3.1% THIS YEAR WHICH I WOULD SAY REALLY A SUCCESS WHEN HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS ARE INCREASING AT 9 AND 10% AND WE'RE SEEING OUR SHARED PARTICIPATION AT 3.1% LARGELY DUE TO SOME OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE REALLY THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN MIGRATION IN THE PAST YEAR.
THEY'RE KIND OF CONTINUED ITEMS HERE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT INCLUDING WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT PARKING.
WE'RE GOING TO -- FIRE SERVICES IS STILL WAITING FOR SAFER GRANT INFORMATION.
THE COUNTY COMMISSION WANTED TO DO A 1% SET ASIDE.
RESERVED WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND TRANSPORTATION IN THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND.
THE GENERAL FUND FUNDED $550,000 ON JUNE 4TH TOWARD THE ONE-TIME SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH DUNE RESTORATION AND THEN THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT RELATED TO EROSION CONTROL LINES AND EASEMENTS AND THEN RECENTLY THE FLORIDA DEP PROVIDED A COMMITMENT OF $500,000 FOR THE NORTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH RESTORATION AND DESIGN.
GOING FROM THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET TO THE TENTATIVE BUDGET, I'VE SHOWN OUR RECOMMENDED BUDGET AT 798 MILLION AND GOING UP TO 919.9 MILLION.
THAT INCREASE OF 121 IS LARGELY DUE TO WHAT ARE CARRY FORWARDS AND WHAT ARE CONSIDERED OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE IN THERE.
HERE ARE -- HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF THAT AND I CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE TO ANY CITIZENS OR TO THE BOARD A FURTHER BREAKDOWN IF YOU'LL AN AD NAUSEAM BREAKDOWN.
BUT BREAKING IT DOWN IT IS LARNLLY OF THE $121 MILLION CARRY FORWARDS ASSOCIATED WITH CARRY FORWARDS ON PROJECTS ALREADY APPROVED AND GRANT PROGRAMS ALREADY APPROVED THROUGH PREVIOUS BUDGETS INCLUDING UTILITY CEPHALEAS SERVICES.
ONE OF THE LARNLER PROJECTS IN THE NORTHWEST UTILITY -- PLANNED
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NORTHWEST PLANNED TRANSPORTATION HAS MULTIPLE -- MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAMS. THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS LARGELY REFLECTS THE TRAINING FACILITY THAT WAS APPROVED THIS YEAR.AGAIN, I HAVE THE BREAKDOWNS ON THOSE.
THEN WE HAD SUCH THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET SOME BCC APPROVED ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.
WE HAD SOME ADDITIONS TO RESERVES.
THERE'S THE OPEP SAVINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WAS KIND OF A LATE STATEMENT AND THEN WE HAD A DUPLICATION RELATED TO A UTILITY SERVICES STATE RESOLVING LOAN SO WHEN WE RESTATED IT IT BROUGHT DOWN THE BUDGET BY ABOUT $4.9 MILLION.
>> SO REFLECTING SOME OF THE BUDGET SUMMARIES THAT ARE IN THE BULK AND AGAIN THEY'RE I DON'T KNOW LINE WE DO A VEHICLE SUMMARY, COMPUTER SUMMARY, CAPITAL SUMMARY, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE SUMMARY.
THESE LARGELY REFLECT ACTUALLY THEY ALL REFLECT COMPREHENSIVELY JUST REFLECT CARRY FORWARDS OF ITEMS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
THOSE APPROPRIATIONS HAVE TO BE CARRIED FORWARD INTO THE NEXT YEAR.
THE RECEIPT OF THAT VEHICLE WOULD BE IN THE NEW YEAR SO WE HAVE MULTIPLE SCENARIOS WHERE WE HAVE VEHICLES WHERE THEY'RE JUST NOT RECEIVED WITHIN A YEAR.
COMPUTER SUMMARY WENT DOWN BECAUSE OF A WINDOWS 10 THEN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE SUMMARY AGAIN WE SEE SOME CARRY FORWARDS I THINK THE LARNLEST CARRY FORWARD RELATED TO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS THE -- THE TIMING OF THAT IS SOME OF THAT MAINTENANCE DURING THE OFF SEASON.
FULL TIME POSITIONS ARE REFLECTED HERE.
WE HAVE 47.29 STAFF RECOMMENDED POSITIONS.
WITH APPROXIMATELY 24 LITTLE LESS THAN 24 OF THOSE POSITIONS EITHER FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT PROGRAM OR THROUGH AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
GENERAL FUND RESERVES, WE'VE USED SOME GENERAL FUND RESERVES SINCE THE FY 2020 RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.
ABOUT 800,000 THAT -- IN INTEREST WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND THAT CAME IN SO WE WERE ABLE TO AND AS WELL AS AS AN EXPENSE PICK UP SO WE'RE STILL PRESERVING THAT WHAT WE'RE CALLING A ONE TIME $15.5 MILLION UNRESTRICTED RESERVE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS TONIGHT THERE'S NO BOARD REQUIREMENT TO MAKE A DECISION RELATED TO THAT 15.5 UNRESTRICTED RESERVE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSION HAD DIRECTED STAFF TO BRING BACK.
THAT IS NOT REQUIRED AS PART OF WHAT THIS STATUTORY PRESCRIBED PROCESS IS.
THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WILL SIT IN RESERVES VERY SIMILAR TO SITTING IN THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT WE BRING THAT BACK TO THE COMMISSION COMMISSION OVER I IMAGINE MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS.
SO AGAIN THAT'S STILL IN EXISTENCE THERE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE USES OF THAT $15.5 MILLION AND AGAIN WE ANTICIPATE IN OCTOBER A DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMISSION.
SO THE SUMMARY RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOCUSES ON MANY OF THE BUDGETARY ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THEN REALLY AT THIS POINT WE GET INTO WHAT IS THE TENTATIVE BUDGET HEARING AND THAT SHOULD SAY FY
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2020 BUDGET HEARING AND THIS IS REALLY WHAT IS THE PRESCRIBED BUDGET PROCESS ITSELF.SO WITH THAT, BEFORE WE GET INTO WHAT IS REALLY THE SPECIFICS OF REALLY ESTABLISHING THE PRESCRIBED BY FLORIDA STATUTE, DISCUSSION OF THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE ROLL BACK RATE AND THEN ADOPTING TWO RESOLUTIONS AND AN ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DAYTIME IN PLACE OF THE FINAL HEARING I'M GOING TO OPEN IT YOU TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE ON THE OVERALL BUDGET OR ANY CHANGES IN THE RECOMMENDED TO THE TENTATIVE BUDGET.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS AND THERE WAS NO NEED TO EVEN ASK ANYTHING TO TONIGHT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND ASSISTANCE PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CHEESE .
>> OKAY. WE'LL OPEN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> NOW OPENING UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SPECIAL BUDGET HEARING.
>> APPRECIATE ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT SUMMER HAVEN.
YOU ARE WISER THAN A TREE OF OWLS.
IT WAS ONCE SAID A BILLION DOLLARS HERE OR THERE PRETTY SOON YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL MONEY.
NEED A BUDGET COMMITTEE IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE.
YOU HAVE AN ANNUAL MAY MEETING THAT'S IN ANOTHER BUILDING IT'S NOT TELEVISED THAT IS PRIDED OVER BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
HE SETS THAT AGENDA AND THE PUBLIC IS NOT MADE TO FEEL WELCOME AND IT'S NOT TELEVISED AND IT'S DURING THE DAY.
YOU NEED TO HAVE THE COUNTY CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS PROVIDE THEIR BUDGETS BY MAY 1ST AS YOU CAN DO UNDER STATUTE AS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED AND THAT WAY YOU CAN GET ANSWERS.
SANDRA PARKS WISELY SAID A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.
THAT BUDGET DOESN'T HAVE ONE DIME FOR BODY CAMERAS.
YOU ARE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND YOU SHOULD NOT DEFER THE SHERIFF DAVE SHORE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO PROTECT HIS OFFICERS WITH BODY CAMERAS.
IF YOU HAVE POLICE BODY CAMERAS AND YOU'RE AN OFFICER AND YOU'RE WRONGFULLY SUED IN A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT, ALL THE ATTORNEY HAS TO DO IS ATTACH THE FILM, THE VIDEO, THE CD, WHATEVER IT IS, DVD, TO THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND YOU WIN.
WE WON'T PROVIDE BODY CAMERAS.
I ASK THAT YOU TAKE SOME OF THIS 15 MILLION AND PUT IT INTO BODY CAMERAS.
JUST PICK A NUMBER AND PUT IT IN THERE AND IF HE WON'T USE IT, THE NEXT SHERIFF WILL.
ALSO I WAS REALLY GRATE IDENTIFIED TO LEARN FROM A COMMISSIONER IN ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH THAT Y'ALL HAVE IN THIS BUDGET AM I CORRECT AND YAY GET AN ANSWER YET $15 LIVING WAGE.
AND I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT I COMMUNICATED WITH PATRICK SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THAT -- THERE IS NO LIMIT -- THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS IN A BUDGET HEARING AND HE NEVER GOT BACK TO ME SO I'M ASSUMING THE ANSWER IS YES.
I ASKED THAT YOU ADD A BUDGET COMMITTEE, ADD MONEY FOR LIBRARIES.
SPEND EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR AS I KNOW YOU WANT TO AS IF IT WERE YOUR OWN AND I'VE GOT A LOT TO SAY.
ALSO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING TO GO TO.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET A RAILROAD MUSEUM HERE IN TOWN BUT GOOD WORK.
AND PLEASE THINK ABOUT PROTECTING THE OFFICERS AND THE CITIZENS BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE BODY CAMERAS, FOR THE POLICE, IT PROTECTS EVERYBODY.
AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT BODY CAMERAS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT CRIMES AND SINS LIKE SHERIFF SHORE.
I NEVER GOT AN ANSWER ABOUT --
>> YOU'RE GOING TO LIMIT QUESTIONS TO THREE MINUTES IN A TRIM OR BUDGET HEARING BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT DO HIS LEGAL RESEARCH? I OBJECT TO THAT AND I'M NOT GOING TO RISK GETTING ARRESTED OR BREACHING THE PEACE BUT THAT SHOWS WHAT A LOUSY ATTORNEY HE IS BECAUSE I RAISED THAT ISSUE SEVERAL YEARS IN A ROW.
AND HE'S NEVER DONE THE LEGAL RESERGE.
YOU HAVE A MALFEE SANDT ATTORNEY AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THEY NEED TO BE DONE.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I DO APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT WE'VE HAD.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THOUGH SORT OF FOLLOWING THE BATTING ORDER UP ABOVE WHICH IS DISCUSSION OF PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE
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ROLL BACK RATE THAT MR. DUNN WILL PRESENT AND THEN I THINK THE BOARD WOULD HEAR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT.I WARNED YOU ALL IT IS A PRESCRIBED PROCESS.
SO THE REQUIREMENT IS TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION OF PESAGE INCREASE AND THEN GET RIGHT BACK INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO THE TAXING AUTHORITY IS THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
THE AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATES IS 6.8930 AND AGAIN I ALWAYS RECITE WHAT THAT AGGREGATE RATE IS.
IT IS WHAT IS -- IT'S AN EXPRESSION OF AN OVERALL AVERAGE TAX RATE.
IT'S THE SUM OF ALL TAXES TO BE LEVIED BY THE COUNTY.
DIVIDED BY THE RATE OBTAINED BY DIVIDING THE SUM OF ALL TAXES LEVIED BY THE COUNTY.
BY THE TAXABLE VALUE OF THE COUNTY AND IT'S JUST INTENDED TO EXPRESS AN OVERALL AVERAGE TAX RATE.
THE AGGREGATE ROLL BACK MILLAGE RATE IS 6. -- THIS IS REQUIRED TO REFLECT WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE IS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IT IS 5.56%.
THE REQUIREMENT IS TO PROVIDE A SP INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE AND THAT IS TO FUND OPERATIONS INCLUDING OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY AND ONGOING DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WITHIN OUR GENERAL FUND.
AT THIS POINT AS THE PRESCRIBED PROCESS GOES --
>> PATRICK, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, THE STATUTE PROVIDES THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AND ASK QUESTIONS PRIOR TODOT ADOPTION OF ANY MEASURES BY THE GOVERNING BODY.
I DON'T SEE ANY TIME LIMIT THERE BUT I ALSO DON'T SEE ANY OPEN ENDED JUST TO EXPAND THAT SOMEBODY CAN COME UP AND SPEAK FOR TEN HOURS.
SO I DON'T SEE A LEGAL BASIS TO REQUIRE DEPARTURE FROM THE THREE-MINUTE RULE.
>> OKAY. OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TRY TO SECURE FUNDING FOR -- WE LIVE IN THE BEST COUNTY.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST OUTLIERS IN THE STATE.
WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE HEALTHIEST COUNTY FOR EIGHT YEARS RUNNING.
AND ACCORDING TO A 24/7 WALL STREET STUDY IT'S ALSO THE WEALTHIEST COUNTY IN THE STATE.
TRIP ADVISOR RATED ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH THE ONLY BEACH WITH RENOURISHMENT PLAN.
WHEN YOU TAKE ACTION IT'S NOTICED AND PEOPLE COME.
JUST THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE GREAT OUTLIERS IN OUR COUNTY BUT WE HAVE ONE HUGE NEGATIVE OUTLIER AND IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE IT CAN TEAR DOWN ALL THE GREAT THINGS I JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
THE ONE MAJOR MEGANEGATIVE OUTLIER IS THAT WE HAVE NOT PROTECTED OUR BEACHES WITH THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT PLAN.
WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES IN THE ENTIRE STATE THAT HAS NOT DONE THIS.
WHY SHOULD THIS PARTICULAR OUTLIER KEEP EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM UP AT NIGHT WITH WORRY? BECAUSE EVERY OTHER COUNTY ACCOMPLISHED RENOURISHMENT OF THEIR BEACHES INCLUDING OUR NEIGHBORS.
I CAN KEEP GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN AND AROUND THE STATE.
WHY ARE WE THE SOLE OUTLIER IN THIS? IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
RENOURISHMENT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ITSELF.
IT NEEDS LEADERSHIP AND FOR SOME REASON WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET IT ACCOMPLISHED.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD 12 YEARS YET THE INACTION HAS MADE AN AKILL LEASE HEEL AND WE ALREADY HAVE DAMAGE TO OUR DUNE SYSTEMS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
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EXCUSABLE.NEED TO MAKE UP THE REMAINING 700,000.
NOW MY CONCERN IS I THINK THIS IS AN EQUITY ISSUE.
WE HAVE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY SPECIFICALLY SOUTH PONTE VEDRA RESTORATION EFFORTS AND WE DID NOT REQUIRE THEM TO PAY THOSE FEES BUT WE'RE REQUIRING THAT IS THAT CORRECT?
>> FRANKLY I THINK I WOULD ASK THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD TO LOOK AT THIS.
EDGE THE COUNTY NEEDS TO FINALED A WAY APPROXIMATE -- I THINK THAT'S AN EQUITY ISSUE.
WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT SUMMER HAVEN AND DON'T GET ME WRONG.
FIND A WAY I TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.
WE'LL ADDRESS THAT LATER BUT WE'RE ASKING SOME TAXPAYERS TO I LOOKED EARLIER IN THE -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE PRESENTATION WAS JUST GIVEN SO WE TOOK $550,000 OUT OF OUR GENERAL REVENUE FUND TO PAY FOR SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH DUNE RESTORATION IN THE USACE BREACH PROJECT AND THAT WAS A FEASIBILITY STUDY CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WAS THE FEASIBILITY.
I BELIEVE THAT IS PART OF THIS ONGOING PROJECT NOW THAT WE HAVE INITIATED ITS ADVANCE MONEY FOR THAT PROJECT.
SO HAS EITHER BEACH PAID FOR THEIR STUDIES?
>> FEASIBILITY WAS NOT PAID FOR.
>> THAT CAME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
>> BUT WE'RE ASKING THE RESIDENTS TO PAY FOR THAT.
THE MSTU HAS BEEN SET UP TO PAY FOR THAT.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I DON'T WANT TO GO OUT OF ORDER.
ITS GOING TO ADDRESS IT BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND I WOULD ASK OUR ADMINISTRATION TO HELP US COME UP WITH SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT -- THAT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF TAX REVENUE ON THE LINE HERE IN PONTE VEDRA AND I THINK IT WOULD SHOW A GOOD FAITH EFFORT FROM THE COUNTY TO ADDRESS THAT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR GOING OUT OF ORDER BUT I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, COULD I QUICKLY RESPOND? I MEAN, IN FAIRNESS TO THE BOARD AND TO STAFF I WOULD SAY DURING THE PAST 12 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE WE'VE DONE MORE FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT THAN THIS COUNTY HAS EVER DONE SGLSH PLEASE HOLD ON.
>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE QUITE FRANKLY.
IT IS A LONG FEDERAL PROCESS JUST LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH WE SPENT MORE THAN A DECADE WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS TO BRING THAT PROJECT TO FRUITION.
IT'S EASY TO LOOK TO JACKSONVILLE AND SAY THEY'RE DOING A PROJECT SO QUICKLY AFTER THE STORM.
BUT THEY DID A DECADE OR MORE AGO WHAT WE DID IN ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PRESCRIBED FEDERAL PROCESS WITH THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
WE'VE GOT I THINK THREE ONGOING PROJECTS NOW WHICH ARE FUNDED.
THE PROJECT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE MOST RECENT.
THE WAY THAT PROJECT PUTS THAT UP, YOU'RE RIGHT, THE RESIDENTS WERE ASKED THROUGH AN MSTU TO PAY FOR THAT PHASE.
IT WAS NOT THE REQUEST OF PRIOR PROJECTS AND OTHER RESIDENTS.
IF THE BOARD FEELS THERE'S AN EQUITY ISSUE THERE, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
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FIND A WAY TO FUND THAT BUT JUST TO THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND DISPARAGE THE COUNTY'S EFFORT AND EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.A SAND SOURCE PROJECT COULD BE UP TO THREE YEARS.
WE HAVE ONE GOING ON WITH PONTE VEDRA ON THEIR PROJECT.
SO WE'RE ALL COMMITTED I THINK TO ADDRESSING OUR BEACHES FAIRLY BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE PATIENT.
WE'RE WORK, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR REPRESENTS WASHINGTON, TALLEDEGA, LOCAL AGENCY -- TALLAHASSEE, LOCAL AGENCIES, RESIDENTS.
WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR IT AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
I JUST ASK THAT EVERYBODY'S PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING.
WE'RE NOT DENYING THAT THESE ISSUES HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED BUT THIS IS -- THE BEACHES ARE ONE ISSUE IN AN 800 ACRE OR 800 SQUARE MILE COUNTY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH HERE.
WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS AN EQUITY ISSUE HERE.
WE HAVE ABOUT $700,000 GAP THAT I THINK WE COULD FIND A WAY TO COME UP WITH THOSE DOLLARS.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY HESITATION ABOUT THAT.
WHAT I GUESS I'M DISTURBED ABOUT IS THIS ACCUSATION THAT STAFF IS NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH OR THE BOARD IS NOT DOING ENOUGH.
WE'VE PROBABLY TALKED ABOUT THIS MORE THAN ANY OTHER SUBJECT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
SO WE CAN ADDRESS THE EQUITY ISSUE.
THAT'S A SMALL ISSUE MAYBE $700,000.
WHATEVER THE BOARD'S PLEASURE IS.
BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO MISCHARACTERIZE THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT'S GONE INTO BEACH RENOURISHMENT.
IT'S A COMPLEX EXPENSIVE AND TIMELY PROJECT.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I APPRECIATE IT.
I HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS THAT I'LL ADDRESS AT THE END.
BUT LET ME WEIGH IN ON TWO POINTS.
I TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY SUPPORT COMMISSIONER BLOCKER'S SUGGESTION THAT IT'S A MATTER OF EQUITY AND WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY TO ASSIST PONTE VEDRA BEACH AS WE HAVE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA AND ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH.
NOW, I WANT TO IN FAIRNESS REITERATE WHAT WAS ADDRESSED AND THAT IS HERE'S THE FACT.
THE FACT IS THAT THIS COUNTY HAS WORKED HARD FOR 12 YEARS ON ST.
AUGUSTINE BEACH AND FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS ON SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH.
WE'VE DONE LITTLE OR NOTHING FOR PONTE VEDRA BEACH.
BUT IT'S ALSO A FACT FOR THE CITIZENS THAT REALLY IT DIDN'T BECOME A SERIOUS ISSUE AT LEAST IN MY MIND UNTIL AFTER MATTHEW AND IRMA.
NO ONE FROM PONTE VEDRA BEACH REACHED OUT TO ME THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF I WAS ON THIS COMMISSION.
AND I SPENT ALL MY TIME ON SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH AND WE GOT THAT DONE.
I'M AS COMMITTED TO PONTE VEDRA BEACH RENOURISHMENT AS I WAS AND STILL AM FOR SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH.
BUT WE'RE LITERALLY JUST STARTING THE PROCESS AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE WENT OUT OF OUR WAY AS A COMMISSION OVER THE LAST FIVE, TEN, 15 YEARS TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER MATTHEW AND IRMA.
THEN IT BECAME A CRITICAL PROBLEM.
ALL OF YOU HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM BOTH COMMISSIONER BLOCKER AND ME AT LEAST AT THIS MOMENT THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO FUND THIS PROJECT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND MOVE AHEAD BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO IT.
MAYBE AT THE END OF THIS MEETING AFTER THE BUDGET OR IN THE COMING WEEKS BUT WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH IT BUT THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THIS ISSUE.
AND THEY NEED TO BE DEALT WITH IN A VERY CIVIL MANNER AND WE HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO MOVE AHEAD.
>> DARYL, I WOULD ASK YOU TO HAVE DAMON PREPARE A SLIDE OF WHERE WE'RE AT ON PONTE VEDRA BEACH AND WHAT'S TRANSPIRED? COULD HE PUT IT UP NOW BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD?
>> I'M THINKING HE CAN WALK US THROUGH IT.
>> THAT'S FINE AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS WILL ONLY TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
JUST A QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT'S TRANSPIRED SINCE THE STORMS. THE COMMISSION TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION AFTER THE STORMS. WE HAVE MADE APPLICATION TO FEMA IMMEDIATELY AFTER MATTHEW FOR CATEGORY B BERMS ON THE WHOLE COUNTY SHORE LINE INCLUDING PONTE VEDRA BEACH.
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FEMA HAD NOT GOT THROUGH THE PROCESS BY THE TIME WE WERE HIT BY IRMA.WE PUT IN ANOTHER APPLICATION.
BOTH ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS AND THAT IS THE FASTEST MOVING PROJECT THAT WE HAVE EVEN THOUGH IT REQUIRES FEMA APPROVAL.
IT BRINGS SAND FROM UPLAND SAND SOURCES.
YOU ONLY HAVE TO PERMIT THE PLAITSMENT ON THE BEACH IF YOU HAVE A PERMITTED MINE TO COME FROM SO THAT'S BEEN GOING THROUGH THE EA, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS.
IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND FEMA WILL OBLIGATE FUNDS FOR THE PROJECT.
IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE BOARD IN EARLY 2020.
PENDING THE CURRENT APPROVALS.
WE'RE WAITING ON WILD LIFE RIGHT NOW.
SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE CITIZENS AFTER IRMA WE CREATED THE PLAN TO DEVELOP A PROJECT.
THAT IS WHAT WE WERE JUST SPEAKING ABOUT EARLIER.
THERE WAS AN MSTU CREATED TO DEVELOP AND DESIGN A PROJECT.
SO AS WE STARTED THE PROCESS TO SET UP THAT TAXING DISTRICT WE DID IMMEDIATELY HIRE A FIRM TO GO OUT AND INVESTIGATE A SAND SOURCE.
THERE WERE SOME FEDERAL DELAYS IN THAT PROCESS BUT WE NOW HAVE A REPORT THAT THERE IS A SAND SOURCE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS PLENTY OF SAND OF THE CORRECT QUALITY THAT IT COULD BE PERMITTED TO BE USED.
SO WE'VE HAD AN RFP, A FIRM THAT WON THAT RFP AND WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEM RIGHT NOW TRYING TO GET THEM ON BOARD SO WE CAN CONTINUE THAT PHASE ONE PROCESS IN ORDER TO GET A PROJECT PERMITTED.
NOW USING OFF SHORE SAND TO DO A PROJECT, THE PROJECT OF THE SIZE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
LARGE QUANTITY OF SAND CAN'T BE DONE FROM UPLAND MINES.
IN ORDER TO USE SAND THAT'S IN FEDERAL WATERS, IT IS TYPICALLY A MINIMUM OF A TWO-YEAR PERMITTING PROCESS.
AND THAT IS COMPLETELY A FEDERAL PROCESS.
THERE'S LOTS OF AGENCIES THAT COMMENT ON THAT THAT DO NOT HAVE A SHOT CLOCK.
WE ARE MOVING THAT AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
ONCE WE HAVE THAT, THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU AND SAY THIS IS THE PLAN WE'VE WORKED OUT WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE AGENCIES THAT PERMIT IT AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO TO RESTORE A MAJOR RESTORATION OF PONTE VEDRA BEACH SO WE HAVE A NEAR TERM WE'RE TRYING TO BRING IN SOME FEMA BERMS WHICH ARE LIKE A DUNE RESTORATION, A SMALLIZE DUNE RESTORATION TO PROVIDE SOME IMMEDIATE PROTECTION AND THEN AN INTERMEDIATE PROCESS IS TO FOR THE ENTIRETY OF PONTE VEDRA BEACH LOOK AT A BEACH RESTORATION PROJECT.
WE'VE ALSO FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER IRMA AND I BELIEVE BEFORE THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING THE ARMY CORPS TO INITIATE A FEASIBILITY STUDY.
SO WE ASK THE ARMY CORPS TO INITIATE A FEASIBILITY STUDY IN 2004 WHEN THEY GOT A NEW START DESIGNATION.
SO THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A HURRY WITH PONTE VEDRA BEACH AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE 14, 15 YEARS AS IT DID.
SO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET IT ON THEIR NEW START DESIGNATION.
ONCE THEY DO THAT, IT HAS TO BE PRIORITIZED AMONGST ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS IN THE NATION AND GET CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING TO START THE STUDY.
SO THAT'S MORE OF A LONG TERM.
THAT'S LIKE THE 50-YEAR COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.
SO THE MSTU TO LEVY .6 MILLS FOR TWO YEARS.
THERE WAS 500,000 AND A SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
THE BOARD IS ARE JUST BROACHED THE SUBJECT OF NOT LEVYING THE MILLAGE IF IT DOES LEVY IT IT'S NOVEMBER 2019.
ANY QUESTIONS THAT I COULD ANSWER?
>> WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAY TO THE MICROPHONE TO EXPEDITE THE COMMENTS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE TO OUR WHOLE COUNTY.
I KNOW YOU REPRESENT INDIVIDUAL
[00:40:01]
DISTRICTS AND HAVE INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS BUT I BELIEVE AS ST.JOHNS COUNTY AS PONTE VEDRA GOES HOW GOES ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
I'M HERE LIKE THE OTHER PEOPLE HERE TO BEG YOU FOR SOME FUNDS TO HELP RESTORE THE BEACH AND TO PROVIDE THE FUNDS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS CAN PROVIDE.
THEIR BEACHES LOOK PRETTY GOOD.
AMELIA ISLAND HAS PROVEN THAT YOU CAN FIGHT MOTHER NATURE AND THEY'VE BEEN RESTORING THE BEACHES.
MR. DEAN YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.
WE PROBABLY DIDN'T SCREAM LOUD ENOUGH.
WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE COME HERE SOONER.
AND WE SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU HOW DESPERATE WE ARE.
THIS IS MY THIRD TIME HERE AT A COMMISSIONERS MEETING AND WE ARE DESPERATE.
WE NEED THE FUNDING AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR FEMA OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE STATE GOVERNMENT OR ARMY CORPS TO ALLOCATE THE FUNDS BECAUSE FORTUNATELY THERE'S A SURPLUS AND IF MY MATH IS RIGHT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE PAY ABOUT 40% OF THE TAXES IN PONTE VEDRA, MAYBE WEBBED HAVE 40% OF THE SURPLUS.
JUST ACROSS THE ROAD IS CLOSE TO ANOTHER THOUSAND.
WE HAVE RESIDENTS HERE BEGGING YOU FOR SOME UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND WE CAN FIGHT MOTHER NATURE BECAUSE THE METHOD THAT THERE IS TODAY AVAILABLE TO FIGHT MOTHER NATURE EXISTS THANK GOODNESS SO WE CAN DO THIS AND DO IT IF ALL OF YOU WORK TOGETHER AND I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR COMMISSIONERS.
I'VE EMAILED YOU AND COME HERE AND WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS FROM PONTE VEDRA HERE TODAY.
THE BEACH SORT OF PRESERVATION PART OF THE FLORIDA STATUTE ALL AROUND FLORIDA IS BEING PROTECTED AND OUR PONTE VEDRA AREA IS THE ONLY AREA NOT AND THERE WAS SO MUCH TIME AND FOCUS ON ST. AUGUSTINE I MEAN I JUST THOUGHT THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY WAS BIGGER THAN ST. AUGUSTINE SO I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ABOUT WHY THIS IS -- WHY WE HAVE TO PRESENT OURSELVES AND FIGHT FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD JUST BE PART OF OUR COUNTY EXPECTATION THAT YOUR JOBS ARE TO HELP MAKE SURE IT'S BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
IF THE SEMEN A BIG CONCERN AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME FROM OUTSIDE OF THIS SURPLUS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BEG FOR SOME OF THIS MONEY TO COME TOWARDS OUR PROJECT THEN LET'S THINK FORWARD AND PLEASE FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR A CONTINUED PLAN TO KEEP THE BEACHES PROTECTED.
AND WHATEVER THAT PLAN MAY BE, WHETHER WEAN GIVE TALKED ABOUT IT BEYOND AND BEFORE ABOUT, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO I THINK THAT WE AS A COUNTY ARE PAYING
[00:45:04]
MONEY.I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COVER ALL GROUNDS MOVING FORWARD.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CRITICAL AND A PLAN THAT WE KEEP GOING FOR THE FUTURE.
>> QUICKLY SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A VERY COMPLETELY SIMPLE ISSUE.
WE DON'T -- FEDERAL AND STATE LAW REQUIRES THERE BE A DETERMINATION THAT THE BEACHES -- THERE HAS BEEN CRITICAL EROSION IN ORDER TO INITIATE A BEACH RESTORATION OR RENOURISHMENT OR SHORE PROTECTION PROGRAM.
UP UNTIL MATTHEW AND IRMA AND I'LL STAND CORRECTED IF SOMEONE CAN SHOW ME OTHERWISE UP UNTIL THEN THERE WAS NO DETERMINATION AND NO SHOWING OF CRITICAL EMOTION FOR THE NORTH PORTION OF PONTE VEDRA BEACH OR BEACH PROPER SO I'M ALWAYS IN FOR THE IDEA THAT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO DO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE WHEN YOU CAN BUT WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION.
IT WAS NOT -- THERE WAS NOT EROSION, CRITICAL EROSION AND THERE WERE NO GROUPS COMING TO US ASKING US TO TAKE ACTION SO SHAME ON US BUT WE DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CRITICAL EROSION AND THERE WAS NO ASK SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, MARPLOT THAT PROMOTE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BUILT ON THAT.
THE TAXES THAT WE PAY THAT ARE IN EXCESS OF OTHER HOMES BECAUSE WE ARE ON THE BEACH AND IT'S THE PROPERTY THAT'S ON THE BEACH.
THE BEACH IS A PUBLIC ACCESS POINT.
EVEN THOUGH I LIVE THERE AND I WANT TO PROTECT IT WHICH I'VE DONE PERSONALLY WITH BARRIERS WE'VE PUT IN.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.
WHY WAIT FOR US TO COME TO YOU TO ASK FOR HELP AND OTHER AREAS DIDN'T? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT AS A COMMISSION THAT HAS TO START TO DETERMINE WHERE WE LIVE AND WE LIVE IN AN AREA THAT IS PRONE TO HURRICANES I THINK.
AND THE VALUATIONS OF HOMES WENT DOWN DRAMATICALLY.
I HAVE A HOME AND A BUSINESS AND ANOTHER BUSINESS.
SO THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTRIBUTED TO THE TAX BASE.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE'RE ALL IN PONTE VEDRA A BUNCH OF SPOILED PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT.
I DON'T CARE IF I HAVE TO PAY FOR MONEY.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU CHARGE ME MORE MONEY AND THIS BE ALLOCATE MONEY TO PROTECT OUR BEACHES IS WHAT BRINGS OUR POPULATION JOY AND GIVES US THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR TAX BASE.
SO IF YOU'RE THINKING THAT WE'RE HERE JUST TO PROTECT OUR HOMES, WE'RE NOT.
WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT OUR BEACHES AND COMMUNITY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE WHICH HAS BEEN BUILT WHICH I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE ALLOCATED FUNDS TO OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY BUT NOT TO PONTE VEDRA.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY BUT THAT SOUNDS TO ME TO BE SKEWED FOR SOME PARTICULAR REASON.
I WOULD ASK WHY YOU DIDN'T VOTE THE THE BED TAX.
THAT SEEMED TO BE THE EASIEST THING TO DO.
I DON'T WANT TO GET ARRESTED LIKE THE OTHER GUY ALMOST DID.
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND COME UP AND STAND AT THESE OTHER MICROPHONES HAD SO WE CAN EXPEDITE THIS.
>> I LIVE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT CRITICALLY ERODED AREA BUT I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M THE MARINE TURTLE PERMIT HOLDER FOR THE FOUR MILES OF BEACH FROM SAW GRASS.
IF I CAN -- I'VE BEEN DOING TURTLE PATROL FOR 11 YEARS AND
[00:50:04]
IT REQUIRES ME TO GO -- MOST PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN PONTE VEDRA DON'T GOP TO MIKE LETTERS.I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN THOSE 11 YEARS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE USING MIKLERS LANDING BEACH HAS MORE THAN -- ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN ALL THOSE AREAS OUT 210, THE BEACH WALK, ALL THOSE, THEY COME TO MIKLERS.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BEACHES IN THIS COUNTY.
THE ONLY PUBLIC BEACH WITH PARKING IN PONTE VEDRA.
SO NOT JUST A HANDFUL OF SPOILED RICH PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE BEACH.
YOU'RE TALKING A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT USE THAT BEACH AND WANT THAT BEACH RESTORED.
BACK TO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT.
WE ARE THE DENSEST NESTING BEACH IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA NEXT TO THE GUANA.
WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD BEACH OR WE USED TO.
ANY WAY, ORDINARILY, AS A TURTLE PERSON I WOULD BE OPPOSED TO BEACH RENOURISHMENT BECAUSE IT DECREASES NESTING FOR A SEASON OR TWO AFTER THAT.
AND THEN IT WILL GO BACK TO WHERE IT WAS.
BUT IN THIS CASE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO SAVE US FROM SEA WALLS, RIVER DART, TRAP BAGS, AND GEOTUBES.
ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE REALLY HAD A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON TURTLE NESTEN ON OUR BEACH.
WE HAVE FOUR MILES OF BEACH, THE NORTH BEACH IS 2.2 MILES.
SO THE SOUTH BEACH IS A HALF MILE SHORTER.
THIS YEAR THAT BEACH HAS 70 NESTS, THE SOUTH WEAVE.
AND IT ONLY HAS 29 FAULTS -- THE NORTH BEACH WHERE ALL THE SEA WALLS, TRAP BAGS, WHERE ALL THE MAN MADE STUFF IS HAS ONLY THREE MORE NESTS EVEN THOUGH IT'S A HALF MILE LONGER BUT HAS 20 MORE FALSE CRAWLS.
WE HAD 49 FAULTS CRAWLS NORTH.
A FALSE CRAWL IS WHEN A TURTLE COMES OUT OF THE WATER TO NEST BUT DECIDES NOT TO.
IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SAFE US FROM THOSE FOUR THINGS I MENTIONED IF THEY GET THE RENOURISHMENT IT'S GOING TO BE REAL SAND AND NOT RIVER DIRT DREDGED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.
IT'S GOING TO BE REAL SAND COVERING THESE SEA WALLS.
ALL THEY DO IS LOWER THE BEACH.
I HOPE SOME OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME.
CERTAINLY COMMISSIONER BLOCKER DOES.
I WAS THE GUY AT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT IN THE SECOND REAGAN ADMINISTRATION.
JIM BAKER WAS THE TREASURY SECRETARY.
952 SPIN REACH DRIVE PONTE VEDRA.
YOU'VE CERTAINLY HEARD ABOUT THE CRITICAL NEED AND PERHAPS IT WAS NOT SO APPARENT BEFORE MATTHEW BUT IT SURE IS APPARENT NOW.
I DON'T NEED TO GUILD THE LILY.
IT'S PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT MATTER ON YOUR HANDS HERE.
JUST SHARE WITH YOU THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRESIDENT REAGAN.
HE BASICALLY WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF BIG GOVERNMENT AS YOU KNOW.
HE WAS A PRETTY CON SERVE AT THIS GUY.
BUT WHEN THERE CAME AN OBLIGATION THAT WAS PROPERLY GOVERNMENTAL, HE BELIEVED IN STEPPING UP AND FUNDING IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE GOT HERE.
YOU HAVE A REAL OBLIGATION, A CIVIC OBLIGATION AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
YOU MAY RATHER SPEND THE MONEY ON SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOT TO BE DONE.
IF IT'S NOT, YOU'RE GOING TO REALLY LOSE THOSE BEACHES.
THE RESULT WILL BE LOWER PROPERTY VALUES, LOWER TAXES.
LOWER REVENUES FROM BUSINESSES LIKE THE GENTLEMAN JUST TALKED ABOUT.
SO IT'S REALLY A VERY SIMPLE POINT.
>> ANYMORE PUBLIC COMMENT? PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO JUST COME UP AND
[00:55:02]
STAND SO WE CAN MOVE ALONG.>> THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE ENTIRE BUDGET SO IF YOU HAVE OTHER COMMENTS TO MAKE.
I LIVE AT 917 PONTE VEDRA BOULEVARD.
YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE REASONS AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF PONTE VEDRA AND OTHER PLACES WHO HAVE A NEED AND A CRITICAL NEED.
THE COUNTY FOR WHATEVER REASON OVER THE YEARS DECIDED THAT PONTE VEDRA DIDN'T HAVE A NEED AND ASSUMED EVERY OTHER BEACH DID.
IF YOU WALK DOWN ST. AUGUST STEIN BEACH YOU'LL SEE A BEACH THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY WIDE AND IF YOU LOOK AT ST. AUGUST STEIN FE TEEN BEACH AFTER THE HURRICANE YOU'LL NOTICE NO DAMAGE.
YOU SHOULD NO LONGER USE THIS AS A REASON TO SAY NO.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH EXCESS NONEDS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR GOVERNMENT APPROVALS TO DO THIS OR THAT.
YOU NEED TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND ALLOCATE MONEY.
WE HAD THE EFFORT ON THE BED TAX.
OKAY. YOU ALWAYS FOUND A REASON TO SAY NO.
EVERY TIME I HEAR ABOUT THIS I HEAR OH PONTE VEDRA DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY.
BUT IT'S TIME FOR YOU ALL TO TAKE A STAND AND DO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO.
IT'S TIME TO DO THAT AND YOU'VE GOT THE EXCESS AND SURPLUS FUNDS TO DO IT AND I URGE YOU TO MAKE A STAND AND DO IT SO YOU CAN REPRESENT TO THE PEOPLE OF PONTE VEDRA THAT YOU CARE.
123 SEA HAMMOCK WAY IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONDO ASSOCIATION FOR OLD PONTE VEDRA BEACH CONDOS.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING ABOUT 120 OWNERS.
JUST APPRECIATE THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY YOU ALL TODAY.
OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE FULLY AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND I SUPPORT ALL THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE FOLKS SO FAR.
JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER ISSUES OR FACTS TO CONSIDER.
I THINK FROM A PROPERTY VALUE STANDPOINT TO ATTRACTIVENESS TO PEOPLE MOVING TO PONTE VEDRA ST.
JOHNS COUNTY WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE AND USING SMOKE AND MIRRORS A LITTLE BIT FOR NEW FOLKS MOVING INTO THE AREA.
AND I SEE ALL THE PROPERTY TRANSFERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE MAJORITY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE OF ST.
JOHNS COUNTY OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA AND IT'S BECAUSE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY BECAUSE OF PONTE VEDRA.
NOT ONLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY BUT I HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE I'VE MET OVER THE PAST YEAR, 18 MONTHS THAT HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED TO TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY BECAUSE OF OUR SCHOOLS AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW OF EXPLAINING BEACH EMOTION AND WHAT OUR FUTURE PLANS IS GOING TO ONLY WORK SO LONG BEFORE WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING A DRAMATIC DECREASE TO OUR PROPERTY VALUES OR ATTRACTIVENESS TO THE COMMUNITY.
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> OKAY. COMMISSIONER BLOCKER.
>> WE HAVE SOME OTHER BUSINESS TO TAKE UP TODAY.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER BUSINESS THIS EVENING BUT I'M GOING TO ASK US AS A BOARD TO ADDRESS THIS.
I TALKED TO THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THIS ABOUT SETTING UP AN ADDITIONAL CATEGORY OF RESERVES REALLY TO ADDRESS THIS AND WE DO
[01:00:01]
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THAT AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY RECENTLY TO LOOK AT SOME OF OUR BEACHES AND THEY'RE RIGHT.DUVALL COUNTY HAS A MUCH MORE ROW BUST PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY STARTED A WHILE BACK SO THEY HAVE MORE THAN RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS A SOLVABLE PROBLEM BUT I WOULD ASK THE BOARD NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE UP LOOKING AT CREATING ANOTHER RESERVE CATEGORY WHERE WE CAN PUT FUNDS TO ADDRESS THIS.
I THINK A FIGURE I CALCULATED WOULD BE ABOUT 5 MILLION BUT WE CAN -- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATION MAYBE IT'S MORE THAN THAT BUT I THINK WE DO NEED TO SET SOME FUNDS IN RESERVE THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE WHEN WE HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME UP TO ADDRESS AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR A BOARD TO LOOK AT REALLY ADDRESSING THIS EQUITY ISSUE.
I THINK THE AT A MINIMUM WE CAN TAKE ACTION AND PAVE THE 700,000.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THOUGH AS WELL IF WE SET UP A RESERVE CATEGORY I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM LEGAL AS WELL, PATRICK, ON THIS.
IF WE SET UP AN ADDITIONAL RESERVE CATEGORY WITH FUNDS IN RESERVE, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO LEVAGE THOSE BECAUSE THERE IS A PROCESS.
I THINK MOST REASONABLE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT BUT THERE IS A GAP THERE IF WE GO AHEAD AND SET UP A RESERVE CATEGORY AND PUT FUNDS IN THERE, COULD WE LEVERAGE THOSE NONEDS TO HELP FURTHER MOVE ALONG WITH THIS TIMETABLE?
>> COMMISSIONER, LET ME TRY TO ADDRESS THREE THINGS.
ONE I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT COMMISSIONER DEAN SAID.
IT WAS NOT A MATTER OF THE COUNTY GOING TO THE COMMUNITY OR THE COMMUNITY NECESSARILY COMING TO US AND SAYING WE NEED HELP.
THE FEDERAL PROCESS REQUIRES A DETERMINATION BY THE FEDS THAT AN AREA IS CRITICALLY ERODED.
THAT DID NOT HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER THE TWO MORE RECENT HURRICANES OR MATTHEW AND IRMA.
THE CONDITIONS THERE TODAY NO ONE DENIES ARE SEVERELY ERODED.
ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH IS AT THE END OF THE PROCESS.
MID BEACHES ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS.
WE'RE JUST STARTING THE PROCESS IN NORTH PONTE VEDRA OR PONTE VEDRA PROPER BECAUSE OF CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED.
WE'RE TREATING THE AREAS GENERALLY THE SAME.
OKAY. WITH REGARD TO THE EQUITY ISSUE.
AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT BACK UP.
THE PROJECTS WERE DESIGNED AT DIVINITY TIMES.
FUNDING STRATEGIES WERE PUT IN PLACE AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
THE PRIOR PROJECT DID NOT REQUIRE THE DESIGN COMPONENT TO BE PAID FOR BY THOSE RESIDENTS.
THE BOARD PUT AN MSTU IN FOR TWO YEARS I THINK AT .6 MILLIONS TO PAY FOR THE DESIGN PORTION.
IF YOU THINK -- IF THE BOARD THINKS THERE'S AN EQUITY ISSUE THERE AND I THINK THE CASE CAN BE MADE THAT THERE IS WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO THEN IS RESCIND THAT MILLAGE TONIGHT BECAUSE OTHERWISE JESSE HAS TO PUT THAT MILLAGE IN PLACE FOR AND START COLLECTING THAT MILLAGE NEXT YEAR.
I THINK THE BOARD PROBABLY NEEDS TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION TONIGHT AND DECIDE THAT ISSUE.
AS FAR AS SETTING ASIDE MONEY FOR THE FUTURE, RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO PROJECT.
THERE WILL BE WE ANTICIPATE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE SO IF THE BOARD WANTS TO SET MONEY ASIDE FOR THAT IF THE BOARD WANTS TO HOPEFULLY MATCH THAT DOLLAR WITH OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE OPPORTUNITIES I'M SURE THEY'LL BE THERE.
EXACTLY HOW YOU GO ABOUT THAT IN LIGHT OF OTHER NEEDS COUNTY WIDE, IT'S A BOARD DETERMINATION BUT STARTING TO BUILD A FUND FOR THAT IS NOT A BAD IDEA.
>> I BELIEVE YOUR QUESTION WAS A RESERVE FUND COULD THE COUNTY USE THAT AS LEVERAGE PERTAINING TO FEDERAL FUNDING OR STATE FUNDING.
>> TO MOVE THESE PROJECTS ALONG.
>> IT WOULD BE MY SENSE THAT IT COULD TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY OF THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS REQUIRED MATCHING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT TYPE OF THING.
IT WOULD APPEAR TO BE AVAILABLE, SET ASIDE FUNDING SOURCE FROM THE COUNTY FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THIS, I WOULD ASK AT OUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY ASK THAT WE LOOK AT SETTING UP THAT RESERVE FUND OR SEE IF THE BOARD HAS AN APPETITE TO DO THAT.
I WOULD CERTAINLY ADVOCATE FOR THAT BUT TONIGHT THIS IS A MATTER I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE UP AS FAR AS THE MSCU I THINK THERE'S EQUITY ISSUE AND AT WHATEVER POINT IN THIS PROCESS.
>> ONE ISSUE WE NEED TO ADDRESS TOO GOING FORWARD IF YOU'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH EQUITY W ISSUES, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT --
[01:05:03]
ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH WAS ONLY RENOURISHED FOR ABOUT 1. -- I DON'T THINK IT'S TWO OR THREE MIMES.>> AND RENOURISHMENT ITSELF DUNE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE 1.6 MILES.
>> SO YOU KNOW AS WE MOVE FORWARD I'M ALL FOR CLOSING THAT GAP ON THE EQUITABLE PART OF IT WITH GOING AWAY FOR AN MSTU BUT WE NEED A PROJECT TO KNOW WHAT THE COST IS.
WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD.
BECAUSE WE ADOPT HAVE THAT ANSWER.
>> IF I CAN CLARIFY, MR. CHAIRMAN, BECAUSE YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT.
MY POINT IS NOT OBVIOUSLY THERE -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE EQUITY ISSUES TONIGHT.
MY CONTENTION IS SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE TWO PROJECTS WHICH ARE NEEDED PROJECTS WHICH WE SHOULD SUPPORT AND ARE SUPPORTING WHERE THEY DID NOT PAY FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
SPECIFIC WHICH I SO I'M CLEAR WHAT I'M ASKING FOR I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER FUNDING THAT 700,000; IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT THE FUNDING GAP? THE SPECIFIC SCOPE AND VIEWING THIS IN A VACUUM SPECIFICALLY I THINK THAT'S FAIR.
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES.
IT'S JUST THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE GET TO TALK ABOUT IT AND BRING IT UP AGAIN SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE LOOKING AT EFB.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF BEACH RENOURISHED IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
>> IF I COULD BECAUSE I THINK COMMISSIONER BLOCKER FRAMED IT VERY WELL.
IT'S THE EQUITY ISSUE IS THE DESIGN MONEY.
IT'S THE $700,000 THAT IS NECESSARY TO MATCH WITH THE STATE DOLLARS FOR THE DESIGN PORTION.
THAT WAS WITH COUNTY FUNDS SOUTH OF PONTE VEDRA.
THAT'S THE ISSUE WE CAN DEAL WITH TONIGHT.
ACTUALLY WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT TONIGHT IF JESSE IS GOING TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE MILLAGE.
HE HAD A SLIDE UP THERE REGARDING THE 15.5 AND POTENTIAL USES FOR THAT MONEY.
THAT'S A SEPARATE DECISION AS YOU ALL KNOW THAT COMES LATER.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT TONIGHT.
SO WE CAN SET THAT ISSUE ASIDE FOR THE TIME BEING AND YOU CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WHEN YOU'RE READY.
THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS DO YOU WANT TO RESCIND THE MSTU MILLAGE AND OFFSET THAT WITH $700,000 OF GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
>> MY SUGGESTION AND I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS ALTHOUGH OVER THE YEARS THERE WAS NO CRITICAL PROBLEM BUT TODAY TONIGHT THERE IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM.
THE PONTE VEDRA BEACH BEACHES ARE CRITICALLY ERODED AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND MONEY TALKS AND I'M PREPARED TO MOVE THAT WE ALLOCATE $700,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO MATCH THE STATE APPROPRIATION OF 500,000 FOR A TOTAL OF 1.2 MILLION TO GO TOWARD THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
LET ME -- THAT'S THE MOTION AND LET ME SAY RATHER THAN TRY TO EARMARK PUT IN RESERVES OR SET ASIDE 5 MILLION, 10 MILLION, 15 MILLION COUNTY GOVERNMENT OPERATES YEAR TO YEAR BUDGET AND IT'S SORT OF LIKE THE ROLLING STONES SAY, YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT GET WHAT WE WANT BUT SOMETIMES WE GET WHAT WE NEED.
THIS YEAR, WE NEED 1.2 MILLION TO GET THE JOB DONE.
WE KNOW WE NEED 1.2 MILLION AND AS A MATTER OF EQUITY, IT SHOULD COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND NOT FROM THE MSTU.
[01:10:02]
THAT'S MY MOTION THAT WE CAN CONSIDER TONIGHT.I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WE SHOULD CONSIDER TONIGHT.
>> COMMISSIONER, YOU WOULD ADD TO THAT I THINK RESCINDING THE MILLAGE FOR THE MSTU.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO THERE, WE WON'T NEED TO COLLECT THAT MILLAGE.
WE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD WITH THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE COMING CALENDAR YEAR OR THE COMING TAX YEAR AND INSTEAD GO FORWARD WITH --
>> I THINK HE'D HAVE TO MAKE THAT MOTION FIRST; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IF I CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE FURTHER CLARIFICATION.
THE 1.2 IS ALREADY FUND SOD THAT'S ALREADY BEEN FUNDED 200,000 THROUGH THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT FUND.
THE BOARD APPROVED THE MILLION DOLLARS LAST DECEMBER FOR THAT.
AT THE SAME TIME IT ENACTED THE MSTU.
SO IF WE'RE MAKING THE DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND THAT THE ONLY MOTION HERE WOULD BE TO RESCIND THE -- THAT SPECIFIC MILLAGE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT ASSESSMENT.
SO I WILL AMEND MY MOTION TO RESCIND THE MSTU.
>> AND I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
AND MR. DUNN, MR. DUNN, THIS IS THE BUDGET HEARING TONIGHT AND THE NEXT -- THE NEXT THING ON YOUR BATTING LIST THERE IS ADOPT TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION.
>> IN THAT RESOLUTION THERE'S A PONTE VEDRA BEACH DUNE AND BEACH RESTORATION MSTU AT A PROPOSED .6 MILLAGE.
IS THAT THE MILLAGE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> THAT IS THE MILLAGE THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
>> I'M WONDERING THEN THE BOARD NEEDS TO DO ARE RESIDENCE LUKES.
>> PATRICK, WHAT WE CAN DO, SO NOW THAT THERE'S A DECISION HERE IF THE -- WELL, THE BOARD HASN'T MADE THE DECISION.
>> WE'RE STILL HAVING DISCUSSION.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I'VE HEARD SOMETHING ELSE AND I WANT TO JUST POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
LAST I HEARD WAS A POINT TO RESCIND THE MSTU AND NOT THE MILLAGE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE RESCINDING, WE'RE RESCINDING THE MILLAGE; IS THAT CORRECT? I'VE HEARD TWO DIVINITY THINGS.
I THINK THEY'RE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THE MSTU IS ADOPTED BY AN ORDINANCE TO UNDO THE MSTU WHICH IS SORT OF THE FRAMEWORK THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE BY ADVERTISING AND REPEALING AN ORDINANCE.
MY SENSE COMMISSIONER DEAN I THINK WHERE YOU WERE GOING WAS FOR THE MILLAGE.
WHAT I TRIED TO SAY WAS THAT WE WOULD NOT DO THE ASSESSMENT THIS COMING YEAR TO RAISE THE 700,000.
WE'D COME OUT OF WHAT'S ALREADY IN THE BUDGET I GUESS.
BUT IT WOULD BE JUST TO ELIMINATE THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE COMING YEAR.
NOT ELIMINATE THE MSTU AT THIS POINT.
I WAS HEARING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
AS FAR AS I'M AWARE IT'S NOT BEEN TO WANTED YET.
WOULD THE RESCIND BE TAKING IT OUT OF THE RESOLUTION OR MARKING IT AS ZERO?
>> AS I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY I THINK THE DISCUSSION IS DO WE WANT TO -- THE DISCUSSION THERE OUT HERE IS SINCE WE HAVE NOT ADOPTED THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE AND WE'RE ABOUT TO ADOPT THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES, DO WE WANT TO TURN THE 0.6 MILLS FOR THIS SPECIFIC MSTU TO A 0.0 MILLAGE.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO BE HELPFUL HERE.
IF WE COULD HAVE THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION, THE MILLAGE -- THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RESOLUTION BROUGHT UP ON THE SCREEN -- THE SECOND IS THE PONTE VEDRA BEACH DUNE MILLAGE RATE OF 0.6 MILLS.
>> RIGHT IF THE AND THERE IS AN ACTUAL RESOLUTION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S IN THE POWER P POINT BUT IT'S IN THE AGENDA.
AND IN THERE IT'S LISTED OUT SO
[01:15:02]
I THINK THESE ARE THE SAME RIGHT HERE SO IN OTHER WORDS WHO WOULD BE ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION -->> PATRICK, LET ME -- IF THE BOARD -- FIRST OF ALL, THE BOARD HAS TO MAKE A DECISION.
IF THEY WANT TO GO TO THE 0.0 MILLS, WHAT I WOULD ASK IS WE WOULD NOT ADOPT THIS MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION BUT WHATEVER THE TERM IS RESCIND THE BUDGET HEARING, STOP THE BUDGET HEARING FOR TEN MINUTES, 15 MINUTES, WE COULD READDRESS THESE RESOLUTIONS.
>> OR I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S LISTED AS .6.
>> IT HAS AN AFFECT ON THE AGGREGATE MILLAGE RATE.
>> THEN MR. DID YOU KNOW WOULD RECESS TO CALCULATE THAT BE IN ORDER.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO VOTE FIRST.
SO IF I MAY AGAIN TRYING TO BE HELPFUL HERE.
COMMISSIONER DEAN, WOULD THE AFFECT OF YOUR MOTION TO BE DIRECT STAFF TO RECOUNT -- TO RECALCULATE THE AGGREGATE TENTATIVE MILLAGE WITH A PONTE VEDRA BEACH RESTORATION MILLAGE RATE OF ZERO?
>> THAT'S THE INTENT OF MY MOTION.
ZEROING OUT THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTIVELY NOT REIMBURSING $700,000 OF THE 1.2 MILLION.
IS THAT THE PURPOSE? OKAY. FOR THE MSTU THAT WAS APPROVED BY OVER 90% OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED IT AT THAT TIME.
IT'S EFFECTIVELY APPROVED BUT NOT FUNDED IS WHAT WE'RE SAYING FOR THIS MSTU.
SIMILAR TO THE MSTU FROM ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT WE HAD TO APPROVE BEFORE JANUARY 1ST.
NEVER FUNDED IT AND EVENTUALLY IT WAS DISSOLVED BY WHATEVER LEGAL TERMS YOU USE.
BASICALLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASSESS THE .6 MILLS ON THE MSTU PRIMARILY -- THE RATIONALE BEING AS EXPRESSED BY COMMISSIONER BLOCKER AND MYSELF IS THAT IT'S A MATTER OF EQUITY WE AS THE COUNTY PAID FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA PROJECT NOT THE MSTU AND THEREFORE TO BE EQUITABLE WITH THIS WOULD BE RESULTING IN THE SAME APPLICATION THAT SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH ENJOYED.
>> WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.
WE'VE DIRECTED STAFF TO TALK TO PROVIDE TO US AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT THEY WOULD RECOMMEND TO USE THE $15 MILLION, $15.35.01 TIME OPPORTUNITY WITH THE BUDGET SURPLUS WE HAVE.
WE APPROVED A RESERVE FUND AT COMMISSIONER BLOCKER'S REQUEST.
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY 5 THAT'S APPLICABLE TO BEACH RENOURISHMENT TO THE POINT OF $2.2 MILLION PER YEAR.
BASED ON THE PRESENTATION FROM JESSE.
AM I MISSING SOMETHING FOR THAT CATEGORY 5? IT IS ELIGIBLE FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT USES.
>> SO WE ALREADY HAVE A RESERVE FUND.
>> THAT'S CORRECT BUT IT'S NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
I MEAN, THAT MONEY IS EARMARKED FOR ST. AUGUST STEIN BEACH AND SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH TO THE MAX.
WHAT WE'RE MISSING IS FUNDING FOR THE PONTE VEDRA BEACH PROJECT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FILL.
>> THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE FUNDING THAT THROUGH A DIFFERENT SOURCE.
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS WE HAVE RESERVE CATEGORIES THAT WE CAN CREATE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S ACCURATE TO DESCRIBE THAT AS A RESERVE FUND.
IN EFFECT, MAYBE IT IS BUT AS FAR AS I'M TALKING ABOUT RESERVES THAT WE CAN SET ASIDE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU HAVE TO GET AN OPINION FROM LEGAL SOWNS ON THE TOURISM TAX THAT'S GOING TO FLUCTUATE IN YEAR TO YEAR BASED ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE CLASSIFY THAT AS A RESERVE FUND.
>> I'M JUST READING THE PRESENTATION.
>> I'M CLARIFYING THE PRESENTATION HOW I SEE IT.
>> PATRICK, CAN WE GET YOUR OPINION ON THIS?
>> I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, BLOCKER, I WAS CONFERRING WITH MR. DUNN.
THE LAST THING I HEARD WAS QUALIFY AS A RESERVE FUND?
>> I'M READING FROM THE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE $2.2 MILLION APPROPRIATED WITHIN A NEW TOURIST DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY 5 RESERVE SO I'M USING THE WORD RESERVE AND COMMISSIONER IS ASKING FOR A LEGAL DEFINITION OF RESERVE IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY.
[01:20:02]
ADDRESSING EARLIER JUST TO BE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE RIGHT LEGAL OPINION, PATRICK, WHAT I ASKED FOR IS WE HAVE RESERVE CATEGORIES IN RESERVES; CORRECT?>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT I THINK FOR THE BUDGET THING I MIGHT, COMMISSIONER, NEED TO RESERVE TO OMB FOR THAT HOW
>> THAT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THIS COMING FROM A TOURISM TAX.
>> A RESERVE IN ANY FUND ARE DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE BUT NOT YET APPROPRIATED FOR SPENDING. THAT FISCAL YEAR.
AND ANYTIME YOU WANT TO DRAW INTO AND MAKE THOSE DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR SPENDING IT SAYS IT IS ABOARD ACTION SO IN LAYMAN'S TERMS IT'S SORT OF IT IS SET ASIDE AND IN A SAVINGS SO TO SPEAK AND THAT'S NOT A LEGAL DEFINITION AND EACH POND MIGHT HAVE ITS RESPECTIVE RESERVES.
>> YOU JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION JOHN ASKED.
THE NEW COUNTY IS CALLED TOURISM ASSETS SO YOU CAN TAKE OUT OF THAT OUT OF YOU IF YOU CHOSE WHAT YOU COULD FIND ANYTHING THAT QUALIFIES FOR PVC FUNDS IN THE BOARD NEVER MADE ANYTHING AND THEY SAID THEY ARE BEING HELD IN THAT CATEGORY SO.
>> SO WE COULD TAKES FUNDS FROM THE SURPLUS AND PUT THEM IN THE CATEGORY OF TOURISM.
>> I WOULD NOT MIX THOSE FUNDS.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE HE AND I ESSENTIALLY COMING IN FROM A DIFFERENT DIRECTION BUT SAME POINT.
>> I WOULD DO JUST THE OPPOSITE. IF YOU WANT TO SET ASIDE AND BUILD A RESERVE I WOULD CREATE THE FUND FROM THAT TRANSFER MONEY.
>> LET'S WRAP THIS BACK INTO SOMETHING.
LET ME SEE IF THEY'VE GOT THIS RIGHT WE WILL HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE READER JUNE AND THE RESTORATION AT 0000.
>> I COULD CONSTRUE THAT AS A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO ADJUST THE RESOLUTION, THE DRAFT REVOLUTION, FOR THIS MONTH UPON A MANGER BEACH TO THE BEACH GREAT OF .60000 20 THAT OUT. THAT WILL CAUSE THE AGGREGATE RATE TO ADJUST WHICH WON'T BE TAKING 10 MINUTES OR SO TO DO IN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT I MAY ALSO HAVE AN EFFECT IN THE BUDGET NUMBER.
>> WE WILL TAKE A 10 MINUTE RECESS AND LET YOU FIGURE IT OUT.
DID WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SET OFF ANY TO YOU THAT WAS NOT FUNDED IS IT AUTOMATICALLY WITHDRAWN?
>> BECAUSE WE HAD THAT WITH THE OTHER ONE.WE TOOK A LOT OF WORK TO GET TO THAT POINT.
THE MOTION IS SECOND. PLEASE VOTE.
>> MR. CHAIR, WE ARE CHECKING IN ONE MORE DETAIL.
>> SURE, WE HAVE UPDATED BOTH THE SLIDES AS WELL AS THE RESOLUTION SO I WILL JUST KIND OF DARK BACK ONE PAGE HERE ON THE TAXING AUTHORITY AND THE AGGREGATE ROLLBACK RATE REMAINS THE SAME AND THE AGGREGATE VILLAGE RATE REMAINS NO CHANGE TO 7.2512 WITH THE REDUCTION SO THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF THE ROLLBACK RATE IS 5.20 PERCENT.
THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE REMAINS THE SAME.
FOR THE INCREASE OF THE ROLLBACK RATE TO FUND POPERATIONS INCLUDING CAPITAL LAND AND MAINTENANCE DEFERRED FOR FUND AND PRACTICE FOR TATIAN TRUST. COMING OUT TO THE ADOPTED TENTATIVE VILLAGE RATES IN THE RESOLUTION FRONT OF YOU, WE NOW SEE THAT THE PATTAVINA DRUG BEACH DOING AND BEACH
[01:25:03]
RESTORATION CHANGE FROM 0.6 0.0 AND ST. JOHN'S MILLAGE RATE IS UP 7.25 12 THE MOTION IS HERE ON THE SCREEN, IT SERVES THE BOARD AND I CAN CERTAINLY READ THAT.>> AND MR. CHAIR I WAS TRYING TO DOUBLE CHECK THE LANGUAGE OF THE MST YOU ORDINANCE AND CAN SOMEONE BRING ME A COPY OF THAT TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT.
>> YEAH, MR. CHAIR WE HAVE CHECKED THAT.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE I CAN READ THE MOTION.
>> MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION 2019 Ã
>> 302 APPROVING THE TENTATIVE RATES TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 OF SAINT, JOHN'S COUNTY IS AS FOLLOWS, LET'S RATE OF 4.95, MILLS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION FOR THE MILLAGE RATE OF 0.9 MILLS INC. COUNTY HEALTH MILLAGE RATE 0.017 MILS AND FIRE DISTRICT MILL RATE OR FOR 1.47 MILS AND LIGHTING DISTRICT RATE OF 0.07 IN SAINT AUGENSTEIN SOUTH STREET LIGHTING OF 0.21 MILLS AND SUMMER HAVEN MST YOU ILLUSTRATE OF A .5 MILLS AND PATTAVINA DRUG BEACH AND 0.0 AND THE ST. JOHN'S AGGREGATE COUNTY 7.2512.
IS THERE A MOTION? OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT IT'S THE ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE BUDGET RESOLUTION.
I CAN CERTAINLY WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE IS WHAT IS UP ON THE SCREEN.
UPON THE POWERPOINT AGAIN, I CAN CERTAINLY READ IT WITH THE DETAIL.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL MOVE THAT . I WILL READ THAT.I AM LOOKING UP RESOLUTION 2019.
>> FISCAL YEAR 2020 BOARD OF BUDGET TO FISCAL YEAR ST.
JOHN'S COUNTY USED IN THE TAXABLE VALUE OF 28,545,000,000 $236,518, GENERATING ESTIMATED $206 MILLION $242 IN TAXES AND RESULTING IN A TOTAL BUDGET OF 917 MILLION $82,424.
>> WE HAVE BUDGETS ON THE SECOND. PLEASE VOTE.
>> VERY GOOD AND FINAL MOTION.
>> I WILL MOVE TO A SET PUBLIC HEARING FROM SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 5:01 PM IN THE COUNTY AUDITORIUM TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE 2020 FISCAL YEAR TO VILLAGE RATES AND THE 2020 BUDGET FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ST.
>> WE HAVE MOTION AND 2ND, PLEASE VOTE.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE TENTATIVE BUDGET PROCESS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.