[1. 2025 Roadway and Transportation Alternatives List of Priority Projects (LOPP). The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) request project priorities from local governments for potential funding of new transportation projects to be considered for inclusion in the new fiscal year of FDOT’s Work Program. This is an annual recurring request sent to local governments. The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners is charged with prioritizing all projects within the County, including those within municipal boundaries. The Transportation Advisory Group (TAG), consisting of County staff, representatives of the City of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, St. Johns County School District, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority met on November 14, 2024, to review last year’s priorities and recommend this year’s priorities. The attached LOPP includes TAG's recommendations for both highway and alternatives projects. At this meeting, staff is requesting the approval of the Regional Priority list.]

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS MIKE ROBERTSON, GROWTH MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR.

HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING WELL.

BEFORE I JUMP INTO THE LOT, I HAD A FEW NICE CITIZENS.

RESIDENTS REACH OUT TO ME YESTERDAY ABOUT A MAP THAT THEY SAW ON THE THE TPO WEBSITE, AND IT HAD TO DO WITH COUNTY ROAD 2209, I THINK, AND RIGHTLY SO. THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION.

IT LOOKED LIKE THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF FROM WHAT THE ACTUAL ALIGNMENT IS.

[01:30:01]

SO I WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND ALLAY ANY FEARS OR CONCERNS.

IF YOU ALL CAN HEAR ME, I CAN WAIT TO FOR EVERYONE TO CLEAR OUT.

YES, PLEASE REPEAT.

PLEASE REPEAT. I'LL STAND BY IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE CHAIR.

YEAH, IF YOU'LL JUST HANG ON. YES, SIR.

OKAY. YOU'RE ON.

ALL RIGHT. AS I WAS SAYING, THERE'S A MAP THAT'S AT THE NORTH FLORIDA TPO THAT HAS A A ROUTE OR A IT'S A ROUTE THAT'S NOT THE ACTUAL ROUTE FOR 2209.

I JUST WANT TO ALLAY THE FEARS FROM THE CITIZENS.

THE ROOT FOR 2209 HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED.

THIS IS THE ROOT AS IT'S BEEN.

IF YOU CAN SEE AND TOM, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ZOOM IN JUST A TAD FOR ME, SIR YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY IT COMES DOWN HERE THROUGH THE ROBINSON TRACT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO COUNTY ROAD 305, AND THEN ON DOWN IN PART OF 305 IS PAVED.

THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT GREEN.

AND THEN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLAGLER ESTATES AGAIN, THAT'S THE PROPOSED ROUTE.

I WILL PUT THE MAP UP HERE JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.

AS TO WHAT MAY BE SOME OF THOSE PSAS, YOU CAN SEE THE SOLID GREEN LINE HERE THAT GOES THROUGH MOLASSES JUNCTION THAT IS LISTED AS THE COUNTY ROAD 2209.

HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT IT.

IT IS HERE WHERE THEY SHOW THE TRAIL MAP.

RIGHT HERE. I APOLOGIZE IF YOU CAN READ THAT.

THERE YOU GO, RIGHT THERE.

SO AGAIN, JUST WANT TO ELIMINATE ANY CONFUSION.

COUNTY ROAD 210 2209 REMAINS AS IS AND HAS BEEN THAT WAY.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE READY FOR THE LOT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT.

EACH YEAR THERE IS.

OKAY. GET IT BACK HERE.

GOT IT. EACH YEAR, THERE IS A LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT CARRIES OVER AND COMES TO THE COMMISSION.

SOME OF OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS MAYBE HADN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE.

BUT IT'S A LIST OF OUR PRIORITY PROJECTS IN TRANSPORTATION.

AND THIS LIST GETS TRANSMITTED TO THE NORTH FLORIDA TPO.

TODAY I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT VERY BRIEFLY.

MR. JIM KNIGHT FROM DOT IS HERE.

WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE HIM HERE.

AND HE'LL SAY A FEW WORDS ON BIG PICTURE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL.

WE APPRECIATE APPRECIATE HER BEING HERE AS WELL.

AND THEN JUST THE REQUEST TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

HOW'S IT GOING? THERE WE GO.

THE REGIONAL PRIORITIES.

THIS IS AGAIN, IT'S AN UPDATED LIST.

AND THIS LIST GOES BEFORE WHAT'S CALLED OUR TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP.

THAT GROUP CONSISTS OF COUNTY STAFF, THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ANY CITIZENS WHO ATTEND.

SO THEY MADE A FEW TWEAKS THAT COME BEFORE YOU TO REQUEST TO BE ADDED THERE.

AND YOU CAN SEE IT HERE ON THIS RED LINE.

SO THIS IS THE REGIONAL PROJECTS LIST SHOULD BE NOTED THAT REALLY THE TOP FIVE IS THAT PRIMARY LIST THAT GOES FOR EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITHIN THIS TPO, WHICH I BELIEVE IS NASSAU, DUVAL AND CLAY COUNTIES.

AND THEY ALL SUBMIT THEIR LIST AS WELL.

RIGHT. AND THE NORTH FLORIDA TPO AND DOT HAS TO TAKE THOSE LISTS AND MAKE THEIR ORDER OUT OF THAT.

SO THAT SAID, SOME OF THE CHANGES FOR NUMBER ONE STATE ROAD 16 REMAINS ON THERE.

HOWEVER, THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL THE EXTENSION OF THAT OUT TOWARD THE FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY.

WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS POTENTIALLY GET FUNDING FOR THOSE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS WHEN IT DOES MERGE INTO OR NEAR THE FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY.

AND AGAIN, THAT WOULD NORTH UP AND INCLUDE 16 A.

THE SECOND CHANGE YOU CAN SEE THERE IS NINE B TO 208 FOR COUNTY ROAD 2209.

THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR FUNDING.

AND IF THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR FUNDING ON DOWN THE LINE, YOU YOU INCLUDE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS TO WHETHER YOU ADJUST THE BOUNDARIES.

SO THEY WE MADE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE TWO 208 SOUTHWARD FROM STATE ROAD 16 NUMBER THREE.

PINE ISLAND RACETRACK ROAD REMAINS.

THAT'S A BIG ISSUE FOR THE COUNTY WITH ALL THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS THERE AT PINE ISLAND ALL THE WAY UP TO RACETRACK ROAD.

[01:35:01]

AND THEN NUMBER FOUR, THERE WAS SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY COULD GET SOME INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE STATE ROAD A-1-A CORRIDOR.

AND THEN NUMBER FIVE WAS BUMPED UP FROM 16.

SO THAT'S A NEW ONE ON THE LIST.

AND THAT'S FOR COUNTY ROAD 210.

AND THAT IS THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR FUNDING AND FOR COUNTY ROAD 210.

WE ALL KNOW THERE'S SOME BUSY TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD.

AND IF YOU CAN GET SOME FUNDING FOR THAT TO HELP, WE HAD SOME STUDIES ACCOMPLISHED THAT HELP WITH THAT AS WELL.

SO THAT ITEM IS UP THERE.

AND THEN THE REMAINING LIST YOU CAN SEE THEY JUST MOVED DOWN ACCORDINGLY.

SO THAT'S THE LIST OF REGIONAL PRIORITIES.

THE BOARD HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE KEEP AS IS WHATEVER YOU LIKE.

AND THEN AGAIN, STAFF WOULD SUGGEST YOU MAKE WHATEVER YOU DO AND THEN WE'LL MOVE IT FORWARD.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE'LL ASK MR. JIM KNIGHT IF HE'S ABLE TO POP UP, AND I'LL SEE IF I CAN GET THE MAP UP HERE FOR HIM.

JIM KNIGHT, FLORIDA DOT.

KIND OF JUST WANT TO GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW NOT TO GO THROUGH OUR ENTIRE WORK PROGRAM.

THAT WOULD BE QUITE EXTENSIVE WITH EVERY SAFETY RESURFACING TYPE PROJECT.

WE JUST RECENTLY LET THE NEXT PIECE OF FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY, SO WE'LL VERY SHORTLY BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON EVERYTHING FROM COUNTY ROAD 2209 BACK TO THE WEST.

THE LAST PIECE LET'S THIS COMING YEAR IN OUR FISCAL YEAR, 2526.

AND THAT'LL CONNECT US INTO I-95.

AND, YOU KNOW, AT THAT POINT, WE'LL HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON FIRST COAST, PROBABLY LOOKING AT OPENING YEAR AROUND 2031.

YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME THEN THE BRIDGE, YOU KNOW, THE SHANDS BRIDGE REALLY BEING THE PACING ITEM ON WHEN THAT OPENS OUR I-95 PLAN.

IT JUST JUST SHOWN ON THE ON THE MAP HERE.

WE HAVE LETTINGS SPREAD OUT FROM FIRST COAST TO THE NORTH BETWEEN OVER 28 THROUGH 30.

THE PIECE TO THE SOUTH.

FROM FIRST COAST TO THE IGP RIGHT NOW, IT'S SORT OF WHAT WE CALL OUR OUR PLANNED SECOND FIVE.

IT'S OUT IN YEAR 34.

SO IT IS A WAYS OUT.

BUT THE OTHER PORTIONS OF 95 NORTH OF IGP ARE COMING WITHIN OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN.

ON THE THE TPO THE WHICH ARE THE THE FEDERAL SOU FUNDED PROJECTS WE HAVE RACETRACK ROAD IS FUNDED FOR AT US ONE THAT INTERSECTION UPGRADE THAT IS FUNDED IN 27 FOR CONSTRUCTION.

AND WE'RE WORKING REALLY HEAVILY ON STATE ROAD 16.

IT IS NOT FUNDED YET, BUT WE DO HAVE DESIGNED, FULLY FUNDED FOR THE STATE ROAD 16 CORRIDOR.

THAT'S A REAL QUICK OVERVIEW OF OUR WORK PROGRAM.

LET ME JUST GO TO THE BOARD.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR HIM? ANY COMMISSIONERS? NO. I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION.

IN THE TOP FIVE REGIONAL PRIORITY PROJECTS, IS THERE FUNDING FOR SOME OF IT? YOU JUST TOLD ME THE ONE 16 DESIGNS FUNDED.

HOW ABOUT THE THE NEXT FOR THE.

WE ONLY HAVE PARTIAL FUNDING ON 16, RIGHT? OKAY. THOSE.

ONCE THE JOB BECOMES FUNDED, FULLY FUNDED, IT MOVES OFF THAT LIST.

SO THAT IS SORT OF THE UNFUNDED LIST, YOU MIGHT SAY IS WHAT YOU'RE SUBMITTING TO US, BUT THERE'S SOME FUNDING ON SOME OF THEM.

PARTIAL. YEAH.

THE FOUR COUNTY REGION, WE HAVE ABOUT 20 MILLION A YEAR THAT WE USE FOR FOR THESE NON-INTERSTATE TYPE PROJECTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WHEN WE GET THAT LIST, WE FIGURE OUT THE THE BEST WAY TO BALANCE THOSE.

WE LOOK AT RESURFACING JOBS YOU KNOW, AND WHEN WE CAN LINE UP PROJECTS WITH RESURFACING TO HELP LOWER THEIR COST, THAT CAN CAUSE A JOB TO MAYBE MOVE A LITTLE HIGHER OR LOWER.

FOR, FOR INSTANCE, TODAY, WHEN A QUARTER, WE'RE GOING TO BE RESURFACING THROUGH PONTE VEDRA IN 28.

THAT'S ON YOUR LIST.

THAT'S WHEN WE'D LIKE TO TRY TO MARRY UP WITH THAT RESURFACING JOB.

THAT'S THE BEST. I LIKE THAT.

AND AND LET YOU KNOW THE INTERSECTION UPGRADES WITH THE RESURFACING IN 28, I GUESS.

I THINK THE QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S MIND IS ALSO THE WORLD GOLF INTERSECTION ON 95.

THERE'S MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS THERE ALL THE TIME.

PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THAT THAT STRETCH.

THEY EVEN CALL IT, YOU KNOW, A DANGEROUS MILE.

YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND IT'S SCARY TO ME THAT NOW WE'RE ADDING THE WALMARTS AND WE'RE WE'VE ALREADY ADDED BUCKY'S AND THE BASS PRO.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE COME FROM OTHER STATES, AND THEY REALLY JUST COME OFF THE FREEWAY AND THEN WANT TO VISIT AND THEN GET BACK ON THE FREEWAY.

SO MY CONCERN NOW IS THEY GET OFF THE FREEWAY, THEY GO INTO THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS, HAVE TO DO U-TURNS, AND I THINK THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.

HOW CAN WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE FOR KIND OF GETTING PEOPLE OFF AND ON BACK ON THE FREEWAY BETTER? I MEAN, AT THE REQUEST OF COUNTY STAFF, WE HAVE LOOKED AT SOME SOME CONCEPTS TO UPGRADE THAT AREA.

[01:40:06]

THAT INCLUDES UPGRADES AT THE INTERSECTION OF IGP AND WORLD COMMERCE, AND THE INTERCHANGE ITSELF OF I-95 AND IGP, INCLUDING A RAMP THAT PROVIDES A MORE DIRECT CONNECTION, YOU KNOW, INTO THE WORLD COMMERCE CENTER AREA.

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? I THINK THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THAT AREA.

THE FUNDING WILL BE FUNDING IS ALWAYS THE KEY ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU COULD PURSUE THE TPO FUNDING.

IT'S OFTEN NOT USED ON INTERSTATE PROJECTS BECAUSE THE THERE ARE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FOR INTERSTATE, BUT IT CAN BE USED AS WELL AS PURSUING STATE AND FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING.

WE HAVE BEGUN PROGRAMED A PDA PHASE, NOT USING THE TPO FUNDS USING SORT OF DISTRICT DOT CONTROLLED FUNDS.

WE HAVE BEGUN THE INITIAL PROCESS OF THE INTERCHANGE.

WOULD YOU MIND IF I HAVE REPRESENTATIVE KIM KENDALL COME UP AND KIND OF TALK ABOUT THIS, THAT AREA? CERTAINLY. AND I'M SURE SHE'LL WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.

SO OUR REPRESENTATIVE, KIM KENDALL.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. FOR ME, I RARELY GET TO TALK MORE THAN THREE MINUTES.

I'LL TAKE THIS AS MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO. AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH JIM KNIGHT.

HE HAS BEEN WONDERFUL, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WHO HAVE WORKED WITH HIM.

SO FIRST, I WANT TO TALK FROM THE STATE PERSPECTIVE JUST TO GIVE ALL OF YOU SOME INSIGHT.

SO THIS IS HOT OFF THE PRESSES.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY I TOOK WITH MY CAMERA A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO UP IN TALLAHASSEE JUST TO GET YOU BRIEFED.

SO EVERY SEPTEMBER ON THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMISSION ON ISSUES A LONG RANGE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK.

SO THEY DO A THREE YEAR PLAN.

THIS IS A LITTLE CLOSER SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO THE STATE IF WE CONTINUE ON THE TRAJECTORY THAT WE'RE ON ON OUR SPENDING, WE WILL BE IN THE BLACK THIS COMING 2025 AND 2026.

WE WILL BE IN THE RED 2.8 BILLION AND IN 2027, 6.9 BILLION IN THE RED.

NOW, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE ARE REQUIRED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING.

SO I'M LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S EVEN MORE OF A FOCUS OF MAKING CUTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOK AT PRIORITIES AND MAKING THE TOUGH CHOICES.

SO THAT BEING SAID, WHEN WE MAKE THE TOP FIVE PLAN, WHEN YOU AS A BOARD BRING US YOUR TOP FIVE PLAN, LET'S REALLY TRY TO CONSIDER BEING MORE STRATEGIC, REALLY BE THOUGHTFUL THAT THE STATE AND THE FDOT PRIORITIZES INTERSTATE PROJECTS.

SO ALWAYS KEEP THAT IN MIND.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR TOP FIVE PLAN, BUT THERE ARE 67 COUNTIES THAT HAVE TOP FIVE PLANS.

THAT MEANS THE STATE IS LOOKING AT 335 TOP FIVE PLANS.

SO WHAT MAKES MORE SENSE? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TO MAKE CUTS OR MAKE DECISIONS, WHAT PROJECTS ARE GOING TO GET FUNDED? SO I'VE MET WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY.

I'VE MET WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE RESIDENTS.

I HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH WHAT THE CHAIRMAN JUST SAID THAT THE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE EXIT IS ONE OF OUR OUR DIRE NEEDS FOR A PROJECT TO BE ADDRESSED. AND THIS IS ACTUALLY MANAGER JIM KNIGHT'S CONCEPT.

THERE'S ALSO THE SAME CONCEPT ACTUALLY BEING USED IN JACKSONVILLE.

HE COULD TALK TO THAT IF NEEDED.

I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL CONCEPT.

IT'S CONCEPT NUMBER TWO.

SO THIS IS 95.

THIS IS IGP. AND THIS IS BUCKY'S.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE A CLOVERLEAF COME FROM THE EAST THAT GOES DOWN ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND YOU WOULD EXIT OFF 95.

YOU'D COME DOWN THE RAMP DIRECTLY ONTO THE COMMERCE CENTER LOOP.

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WILL TAKE ABOUT 50% OF THE TRAFFIC PRESSURE OFF OF THE BUCKY'S STOPLIGHT.

SO I THINK IT'S PHENOMENAL.

NOW, THAT BEING SAID, THIS WOULD BE A WORK ORDER CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN.

THAT WAS A FOUR TO APPROXIMATELY 4 TO $5 MILLION CONCEPT ONE, WHICH ADDRESSED THE BUCKY'S STOPLIGHT.

THIS WOULD BE A CHANGE FOR THIS CONCEPT.

NUMBER TWO. NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE $40 MILLION IS WHAT'S ESTIMATED.

NOW IT DOES INVOLVE THE INTERSTATE AND THE STATE.

SO I'VE SPOKEN WITH CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD, THE FDOT, EVERYBODY I CAN TALK TO.

IT'S TYPICALLY AN 8020 SPLIT.

SO THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD WOULD MAKE A REQUEST FOR 32 MILLION.

AND AT OUR LEVEL AT THE STATE, WE'D MAKE A REQUEST FOR 8 MILLION.

THE REQUEST IS NOT A GUARANTEE.

BUT OUR WORK BEHIND THIS, OUR PASSION, EVERYBODY I'VE TALKED AND TALKED TO UNDERSTANDS WHAT A PRIORITY THIS IS.

[01:45:02]

WE'RE GOING TO WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN TO TO GET THIS THROUGH.

NOW, PUTTING IT IN AS A PROJECT MEMBER REQUEST DOES HELP MOVE IT UP THE PIPELINE.

IT'S. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT DOES NOT AFFECT OTHER WORK GOING ON WITH THE FDOT.

SO THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THAT.

BUT TIMING COMES DOWN TO TIMING.

SO YOU GUYS WEREN'T PREPARED FOR ME TO COME THIS EARLY.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR TOP FIVE PLAN.

OUR TOP FIVE PRIORITIES ARE REALLY KIND OF IN THE PIPELINE, AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY OF THESE TOP FIVE PRIORITIES CAN BE SHIFTED DOWN TO PUT THIS IN.

AND YOU KNOW, I'M SPEAKING OFF SCRIPT FOR A SECOND.

WE PROBABLY HAVE 50 ROADS IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

HONESTLY, THAT NEED TO BE ON THE TOP FIVE PLAN.

IT'S OUR WE SEE OUR COUNTY.

YOU GUYS HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.

AND I AM SO PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH EACH FIVE OF YOU, BECAUSE ALL FIVE OF YOU ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THERE'S ABOUT A THOUSAND PEOPLE A DAY MOVING INTO THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND WE ARE THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE STATE.

THIS IS THIS IS A HEAVY LIFT.

AND THAT'S WHY I WANT YOU TO KNOW.

AND YOUR OTHER YOU KNOW, CONGRESSMAN, FDOT, FORGOT EVERYBODY.

WE'RE HERE TO TRY TO HELP.

THIS IS A HEAVY LIFT. AND SO WE WANT TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

SO MOVING FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS LET'S BE THOUGHTFUL WITH THESE TOP FIVE PLANS BECAUSE YOU SEE THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR BUDGET GOING DOWN.

MOST OF THAT IS A LACK OF COVID.

MONEY IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.

IT'S WHY MOST OF THAT'S HAPPENING.

BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TIMING OF THIS, WHAT OUR OFFICE IS REQUESTING IS IF YOUR BOARD COULD GIVE US A LETTER OF SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS RAMP CONCEPT, NUMBER TWO, IS A PRIORITY FOR OUR COUNTY, AND THAT THIS HELPS OUR RESIDENTS, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR SAFETY CONCERNS AND OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS.

SO THAT'S MY ONLY REQUEST.

I'LL BE HERE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, BUT SIMPLY WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO HELP US TRY TO MOVE THIS UP THE PIPELINE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

DO YOU HAVE BOARD? HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. KNIGHT, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR NOTHING TO ADD? COMMISSIONER, I JUST HAVE ONE.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL, FOR FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT IN THIS PARTICULAR THING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SEE THE WORK THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO TRY TO GET, YOU KNOW, $40 MILLION FOR A PROJECT IN OUR COUNTY.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU.

SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS SHARE MY MY THOUGHTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR CONSENT OR IF WE CAN CAN BE AN AGREEMENT TO ISSUE THAT KIND OF LETTER THAT SHE'S ASKING FOR.

IS THAT IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD DO? LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE CONSENT.

THANK YOU. WELL, THEN I WOULD DIRECT.

WOULD IT HAVE TO COME FROM MISS ANDREWS OFFICE OR FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS? ONCE WE ONCE WE HAVE THE BUT.

REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL ASKED IF WE COULD WRITE A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

I-95 AND BUCKY'S IGP EXIT WITH THAT LETTER OF SUPPORT NEED TO COME FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ITSELF.

OR CAN IT COME FROM YOUR OFFICE? IT NEEDS TO COME FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

GREAT. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR.

NO, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

I CAN'T EVEN COUNT HOW MANY MESSAGES I GET ABOUT THAT INTERSECTION.

I LIVE NEARBY, AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE.

AND TO KNOW THAT IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE, WE WE NEEDED RELIEF YESTERDAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THIS WAS APPROVED MANY YEARS AGO.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO, YOU KNOW, TO DO SOMETHING AND DO SOMETHING RIGHT FOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

I KNOW OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE STATE IS FIGHTING FOR DOLLARS.

SO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE BOTH DOING WHAT YOU CAN TO GET US $40 MILLION THAT CAN BE USED IN OUR COUNTY, THERE'S NO WORDS.

SO I KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY GREATLY, GREATLY APPRECIATES IT.

AND WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, I AM 110% BEHIND THIS.

LIKE I SAID, WE NEEDED IT YESTERDAY.

FINALLY, I DO WANT TO SAY WHY IT'S SUCH A PRIORITY IS BECAUSE ECONOMICALLY, ALL THE COMMERCE CENTER NEEDS TO HAVE BETTER FLOW AND AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY, OBVIOUSLY. AND SO HOW I ALSO DON'T WANT TO FORGET ABOUT THE OTHER OTHER ROADS IN THE TOP FIVE.

SHOULD WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT? COULD WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE? UNLESS, MIKE, YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY? ALL RIGHT. WE NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.

YES. YOU CAN COME FORWARD IF YOU WANT TO.

[01:50:02]

SUZANNE CLULOW 109 LAURELWOOD WAY 32086.

I'M A TAD CONFUSED.

I SOMEWHERE I HEARD REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AT A PRIOR BOOK MEETING OR SOMEWHERE ELSE I WAS AT, AND I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT IF THIS PROJECT WAS NOT ON OUR FIRST FIVE PRIORITIES, THAT WE WOULD NOT GET CONSIDERATION.

SO I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT THESE TOP FIVE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

WE NEED THAT PROJECT.

WE NEEDED IT YESTERDAY.

SO THAT'S ALL.

I WOULD JUST LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

THANK YOU. HI.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KELLY LEGAULT AND I LIVE AT 5475 SAINT AMBROSE CHURCH ROAD.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.

AND MIKE HAD BROUGHT UP A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, JUST VERY BRIEFLY.

YOU KNOW, WE DID SEE THE ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT OF 2209 THAT'S ON THE TPO WEBSITE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR DISCLAIMER SAYS THAT THEY'RE HOSTING AUTHORITATIVE WEBSITES SORRY, AUTHORITATIVE DATA SETS THAT ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. AND I SPOKE WITH MIKE YESTERDAY, AND HE WAS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL TO ALLAY MY FEARS AND TO ATTEMPT TO ALLAY THE FEARS OF THE SUBSET OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY AN EASTERN ALIGNMENT OF 2209, WHERE, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE A VERY TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY.

AND WE ABSOLUTELY LIVE IN AN EMERALD GREEN GEM OF A NEIGHBORHOOD AMONGST, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING AROUND US.

AND WE CERTAINLY ARE LIVING THE DREAM.

SO I'D REALLY LIKE SORRY.

IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL.

I'D REALLY LIKE FOR THE COUNTY TO POSSIBLY UPDATE THE AUTHORITATIVE MAP WITH A DATE THAT SUPERSEDES THE DATE OF THIS ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT, WHETHER IT WAS A MISTAKE OR NOT.

AND COMMENTS TO INDICATE THAT THE CURRENT PLAN AND ASSURANCES FOR THE FUTURE PLAN, THAT 2209 IS THE EASTERN ALIGNMENT AND WOULD AVOID DESTROYING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD ALSO JUST ASK THAT IF THE WESTERN ALIGNMENT HAD BEEN CONSIDERED UNDER FEASIBILITY, THERE IS A RECORD AS TO WHY THAT ALIGNMENT WAS ABANDONED AND IT'S NO LONGER BEING CONSIDERED AS AN ENGINEERING ALTERNATIVE.

THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO US.

AND THE LAST COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT THE SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DID FUND AN ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDY IN 2009.

IT'S EXTREMELY INTERESTING.

AND IT EXAMINES HISTORICAL FARMING HOMESTEADS IN ELKTON AND HASTINGS IN MY LITTLE HOME IS FROM 1890.

THE GOAL OF THE STUDY WAS TO RECORD CULTURAL RESOURCES DUE TO THE INCREASING RATE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA AND THE ATTENDANT MANAGEMENT CONCERNS. SO AT ONE POINT, THESE MULTIGENERATIONAL HISTORIC HOMESTEADS MUST HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH VALUED BY OUR COUNTY.

AND I ASKED THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL, PLEASE MAINTAIN THIS POSITION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

HELLO AGAIN. JOE MCINERNEY 1005 BLACKBERRY LANE.

I DID GIVE A PRESENTATION MONTH AND A HALF AGO ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS SPREADSHEETS THAT OUR COUNTY TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS ANNUALLY. AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I DID POINT OUT THAT THEY MONITOR 211 ROAD SEGMENTS, AND OUT OF 211 ROAD SEGMENTS, 77 OR 37% ALREADY EXCEED 100% AND AN ADDITIONAL 17 EXCEED 90%. SO 45% OF OUR ROADS ARE OVERCROWDED.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES AND DEVELOPING A PRIORITY LIST, I MEAN, I'LL POINT TO THOSE 77 RIGHT THERE.

SOMEBODY SAID, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE AT LEAST 50.

I THINK WE'VE GOT 94.

BY MY COUNT, THAT COULD BE IN THE TOP FIVE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ROADS.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, I DON'T SEE YET HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

[01:55:04]

SO MY QUESTIONS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

WHY DO ANY ROADS EXCEED 100%? I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE TO STEP BACK AND ASK THAT QUESTION, WHY DO ANY OF THESE ROADS EXCEED 100%? AND HOW DID WE LET THIS GET SO BAD? I'LL REPEAT THAT QUESTION HOW DID WE LET THIS GET SO BAD? AND WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO ASK OURSELVES AND TRY TO FIND SOME ANSWERS.

SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE HAVE TO ADMIT WE'RE IN A HOLE.

WE'RE IN A DEEP HOLE.

AND AS I SAID, A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, THOSE 45% OVERCROWDED ROADS COULD COST $1.5 BILLION.

WHERE DO WE GET THAT MONEY? $1.5 BILLION.

WE ARE IN A DEEP HOLE.

AND YES, WE'VE HEARD TODAY FROM JIM KNIGHT AND OTHERS WE SHOULD ACCEPT ANY OUTSIDE HELP TO GET US OUT OF THIS HOLE.

I MEAN, WE SHOULD TURN AWAY NOTHING THAT IS OFFERED TO US.

AND THANK GOODNESS THAT REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL HAS HAS OUTLINED WHAT SHE HAS.

LET'S LET'S TAKE IT, PLEASE.

I WOULD SAY LET'S AVOID FUTURE DECISIONS THAT DRIVE ROAD CAPACITY OVER 100% LOSS.

THAT'S A BIG ASK.

THAT'S A HUGE ASK.

WE SHOULD AVOID FUTURE DECISIONS THAT DRIVE ROAD CAPACITY OVER 100%.

AND THE LAST TWO HERE RELATE TO NONRESIDENTIAL.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THE POLICY THAT WAIVED TRANSPORTATION CONCURRENCY.

WE'VE GIVEN AWAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN.

WE DIDN'T NEED TO WAIVE TRANSPORTATION CONCURRENCY TO HAVE NONRESIDENTIAL COME HERE.

THAT FOLLOWS ROOFTOPS.

THE ROOFTOPS WERE HERE, AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THE POLICY THAT OUR STAFF DOES NOT ESTIMATE THE TRAFFIC IMPACT FROM NONRESIDENTIAL.

YOU HAVE ONLY TO LOOK AT IGP TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT POLICY IS IN EFFECT.

SO THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT WE NEED TO GO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS GREG LEONARD.

I LIVE AT 2027 PALMETTO POINT DRIVE IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PONTE VEDRA BEACH CITIZENS TRAFFIC TASK FORCE.

THAT'S A GROUP THAT FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, HAS MET EVERY SINGLE MONTH WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF COLLABORATING WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE NORTH FLORIDA TPO, AND WITH SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY STAFF TO FACILITATE IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND SAFETY IN THE PONTE VEDRA BEACH AND PALM VALLEY AREAS.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW TO THAT END.

FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN HERE REQUESTING SUPPORT FROM OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION EACH YEAR, AND WE HAVE RECEIVED INCREMENTAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM OUR STATE SENATOR.

OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES FOR ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS TO HIGHWAY A1, A IN OUR COMMUNITY IN AGGREGATE OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND REALLY, I'M STATING A CASE FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE TOP FIVE, REALLY IN AGGREGATE, OVER THAT PERIOD, THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS GRANTED US IN EXCESS OF $8 MILLION FOR THAT EFFORT.

SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THE WORK TO TRY TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG A1, A AND GET STATE SUPPORT TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

MOST OF THOSE FUNDS HAVE NOW BEEN ALLOCATED TO SEVERAL KEY INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NOW IN THE DESIGN PHASE.

CURRENTLY, WHAT WE CALL THE A1, A INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IS NUMBER FOUR ON THE 2025 LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR THE COUNTY.

BOTH FDOT AND THE NORTH FLORIDA TPO HAVE KIND OF HAMMERED INTO OUR HEADS, CERTAINLY IMPRESSED UPON US THAT A PROJECT MUST BE IN THE TOP FIVE LIST OF A COUNTY'S LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, FDOT PLANS TO COMPLETE THE A-1-A INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN CONCERT WITH THE RESURFACING OF A-1-A, WHICH THANKFULLY COMING THROUGH PONTE VEDRA BEACH, WHICH IS, AS MR. KNIGHT NOTED BRIEFLY, IS ON THE FDOT PLAN FOR COMPLETION BY THE END OF THIS DECADE.

I'M HERE TO SIMPLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT, AND TO ASK THAT IF ANY NEW ROADWAY PROJECT IS ADDED TO YOUR LIST OF PRIORITIES, THAT THE A-1-A PROJECT REMAINS IN THE TOP FIVE.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY HAVE INVESTED LITERALLY MANY HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME TO GET TO THIS POINT.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT OUR PROJECT IS COMPLETED AS CURRENTLY PLANNED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND AGAIN HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

THANK YOU. REUBEN FRANKLIN 616 SUNDOWN CIRCLE.

[02:00:08]

GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

REUBEN FRANKLIN. I'M THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE TODAY.

MAYOR SYKES, KLEIN AND I ARE IN ATTENDANCE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PRIORITY REGIONAL LIST.

SPECIFICALLY PROJECT NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE A-1-A INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.

THERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT INTERSECTION THAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT FOR THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE THROUGH THE TAG GROUP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SO I JUST WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED.

IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE A PROJECT IN THE TOP FIVE TO MAKE IT A REQUEST.

WE CAN REQUEST ANYTHING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

IT JUST IT HELPS BECAUSE THE PERCEPTION IS THERE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE IT'S A TOP FIVE PRIORITY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE TO SHOW LOCAL SUPPORT.

BUT THAT AND SO THAT IS WHY OUR OFFICE IS REQUESTING A LETTER FROM THIS BOARD TO SAY IT IS A PRIORITY.

WHILE RECOGNIZING THE TOP FIVE PRIORITY IS ALSO A PRIORITY.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

THANK YOU. WE'LL FINISH WITH PUBLIC COMMENT AND THAT WILL HELP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANNIE MARKS.

I LIVE ON 6450S FARM ROAD IN ELKTON.

WE ARE A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY OUT THERE, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS OVERLAY THAT WAS WRONG OR WAS SENT OUT TO EVERYONE AND IT'S VERY DISTURBING FOR US.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF FARMERS.

WE PROVIDE ABOUT $58 MILLION TO SAINT JOHNS COUNTY EVERY YEAR WE ARE 26% OF THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY. SO THIS 2209, WHICH MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL.

AND YES, WE WANT TO RELIEVE ALL THE PRESSURES OF EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT 2209 IS A GATEWAY FOR DEVELOPERS TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY, TAKE FARMLAND AND BUILD 3000 UNIT COMMUNITIES LEFT AND RIGHT.

SO THAT OVERLAY THAT WAS SENT IS PROBABLY NOT A MISTAKE, BECAUSE THERE IS A BIG, HUGE PROJECT THAT WE ALL KNOW IS COMING AND THAT IS THE EASIEST WAY FOR THEM TO GET THERE.

SO EMINENT DOMAIN IS NOT IT'S INSULTING TO US.

WE ARE. WE ARE A COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

SO MY NEIGHBORS ARE VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT AND SO AM I.

SO WE ASK THAT YOU STOP.

JUST STOP FOR A MINUTE.

WE DON'T NEED ALL THIS NONSENSE.

WE DON'T WANT PUBLIX OUT THERE.

WE DON'T WANT A BUNCH OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.

WE'RE A FARMING COMMUNITY.

YOU NEED TO PROTECT OUR FARMERS.

IN THE YEAR 2050, IT IS EXPECTED THE FARMING COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO DOUBLE WHAT THEY DO RIGHT NOW IN ORDER TO FEED THE WORLD.

WE FEED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE'RE NOT JUST OUT THERE MAKING FRITO-LAY POTATO CHIPS.

OKAY, SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A WHOLE YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE.

WE ASK THAT YOU COME OUT AND YOU LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY, AND YOU GET ON BOOTS ON THE GROUND, FOLKS, AND SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE OUT THERE.

WE ARE A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY FULL OF GREENERY AND AND WE'RE THERE FOR A REASON.

WE'RE THERE TO FEED THE WORLD.

SO PLEASE JUST STOP.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

AND IF YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO STOP THIS DEVELOPMENT, THEN YEAH, WE UNDERSTAND DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO COME, BUT THERE'S REASONABLENESS.

IT IS NOT REASONABLE TO PUT 6000 UNITS IN A FARMING COMMUNITY.

IT'LL DOUBLE THE SIZE OF ELKTON.

AND THEN THE NEW PROJECT WILL TRIPLE.

QUADRUPLE IT. AND SO THIS 229 IS NOT GOING TO BE BIG ENOUGH FOR ANYTHING.

IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH. NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO PUSH PEOPLE FROM 210 TO 16 TO 207.

THAT DOESN'T START.

DOESN'T SOLVE ANY OF OUR PROBLEMS IF YOU ALLOW MORE DEVELOPMENT TO CONTINUE OUT THERE AND TAKE AWAY FARMLAND.

WILTON SIMPSON, YOUR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER, JUST ON FRIDAY ENACTED A PROGRAM TO COME AND BUY FARMLAND UP SO THAT WE COULD PROTECT THE FARMLAND.

AND HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE EXPANSIONS, AND WE ARE NOT THE LARGEST COUNTY AND GROWING COUNTY IN FLORIDA.

WE ARE NOT EVEN ON THE TOP TEN LIST, FOLKS.

POLK COUNTY IS THE LARGEST COUNTY GROWING, SO WE NEED TO SLOW.

WE DON'T NEED THIS.

THIS IS NOT A NEED THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

IT'S A WANT FROM A FEW DEVELOPERS, FROM A FEW PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GETTING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, ROBERT MARTINEZ FROM SILVERLEAF.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. KNIGHT, BRETT KENDALL.

YOU FIVE COMMISSIONERS THIS IS $1 BILLION PROJECT THAT'S CONNECTED FROM 95 TO I-10.

WE WERE TOLD THIS BY THE BUILDERS WHEN I MOVED HERE THREE YEARS AGO.

THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INTERSTATE.

I UNDERSTOOD IT, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW THIS.

UNSTABLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SOUNDPROOF WALL.

MY QUESTION IS THAT PROJECT, AS I SAID EARLIER, THAT 4229387, THAT $243 MILLION, IS IT COMING OUT OF FUNDS

[02:05:08]

OR ARE WE ARE WE ON TRACK WITH THE FUNDS? IF IN SIX YEARS WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE HOLE.

THIS COUNTY, THIS COMMISSIONERS AND THE PAST COMMISSIONERS APPROVED FOR $1.8 BILLION BUDGET FOR US.

SO MY QUESTION IS WHERE ARE THE SOUNDPROOF WALLS? BECAUSE BY LAW, THERE SHOULD BE A DESIGN BUILT FISCAL YEAR FOR 2023.

CONSTANTLY MODIFYING TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, I BELIEVE IS SUPPOSED TO BE 16,000 UNITS AND WE'RE ONLY 30% COMPLETE.

THAT'S JUST SILVERLEAF ALONE.

WHEN INCLUDING RIVERFRONT, WE'RE NOT INCLUDING SHEARWATER OR BEACHSIDE.

SO ALL THIS CONSENT, THE DEVELOPERS NEED TO KNOW.

HEY, PUMP YOUR BRAKES.

LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE NEED TO ALLEVIATE.

THEY GOING TO BUILD THAT EXIT.

FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY THAT'S ABOUT A MILE.

TWO MILES FROM BUCKY'S EXIT.

MORE FATALITIES.

SAINT JOHNS PARKWAY 22 AND I ALREADY HAD TWO FATALITIES WITHIN TWO YEARS.

I MOVED THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CRUISING AT 70 MILES AN HOUR ON A 45 MILE ZONE.

SO WHERE'S THE HELP ON THAT WITH THE SHERIFFS? WHERE'S THE HELP? ARE YOU HELPING OUT THE SHERIFF? HEY, WE NEED MORE DEPUTIES OUT THERE.

SO, YES, THERE'S GOING TO BE HAVOC AND IT'S GOING TO OPEN UP TO IG PRETTY SOON BY END OF THE YEAR OR BY Q1 25.

SO THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

WHERE'S THAT BUDGET COME FROM? I DON'T KNOW. MR. KNIGHT IS ACTUALLY BEING HONEST WITH US.

IF YOU GUYS BEING HONEST WITH US, IF WE'RE ON BUDGET FOR THIS FORCED EXPRESSWAY.

BUT OVERALL, THE PEOPLE NEED A SOUNDPROOF WALLS THAT BORDERLINES COMING TO THE PROPERTY ON SILVER PINE DRIVE, ON CREEKMORE DRIVE ON HARFORD, ON WATERFORD FRONT.

WHERE'S THAT PROTECTION CASCADE AT? WORLD GOLF VILLAGE WERE PROMISED THIS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

A SOUNDPROOF WALL HASN'T BEEN BUILT.

SO I WANT TO KNOW, IS ARE WE ON BUDGET BECAUSE WE CAN'T BUILD A FIREFIGHTER A HOUSE OF FIREFIGHTERS WITHIN A34 MILLION BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S OVER COSTING? HOW ARE WE GOING TO BUILD THIS HALF $1 BILLION PROJECT? WHERE'S THE MONEY COME FROM? SO DEVELOPING THOSE PUMP YOUR BRAKES.

WE NEED THEM. BUT PUMP YOUR BRAKES.

FIX ALL THE LITTLE THINGS.

FIRST, LET'S HEAR ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL TO GET THIS.

BUCKY'S LINED UP.

I'M FROM TEXAS. I LOVE BUCKY'S RIGHT.

WE'RE COOL WITH THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S COMMON SENSE.

WE NEED THE COMMON SENSE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LISA MCGLYNN.

I LIVE AT 703 PINEHURST PLACE ON ANASTASIA ISLAND.

I WAS APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSION TO SERVE ON THE CITIZEN'S TASK FORCE FOR THE NORTH FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION, WHICH I DID FOR FOUR YEARS.

I JUST STEPPED DOWN BECAUSE MY TERM WAS OVER.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THESE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

AND I WANT TO RAISE TWO I, THREE ITEMS. ONE, WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT MOVING PEOPLE, NOT JUST MOVING CARS.

WE CAN'T BUILD ENOUGH ROADS FOR ALL THE CARS OUT THERE.

SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT ALTERNATIVES.

AND I FIND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE COMMUTER RAIL HAS FINALLY MOVED UP ON THE LIST.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION AND NOT JUST BUILDING ROADS.

THE FIRST OF THOSE IS 207.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPOSAL TO WIDEN 207 FROM 95 INTO 312 AND WIDEN IT TO SIX LANES.

THE JUSTIFICATION HAS BEEN THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SPEEDING ON THAT ROAD.

WELL, IF YOU WIDEN IT TO SIX LANES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE SPEEDING.

YES, THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH IN THAT AREA.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE CARS GO FROM 95 TO 312? IT'S ALREADY A HUGELY CONGESTED AREA, AND I KNOW THERE'S PLANS TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH 312 FROM THERE TO ONE.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM OF SOME SORT OF TRANSIT DOWN 95, I MEAN, DOWN 207 TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE CARS.

THE SECOND THING I WANT TO RAISE IS THE ISSUE OF 305.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT 2209, BUT IT'S 305 ON THE ON THE LIST HERE.

THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO EXPAND 305 AND WIDEN IT.

AND I WOULD SAY TO YOU, I DON'T SEE A NEED.

IT'S OUTSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ROADS IN OUR COUNTY.

YOU'VE HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ELKTON AND HASTINGS AND THAT WHOLE AREA.

DRIVE IT SOMETIME.

THE ONLY PEOPLE YOU SEE ON THAT ROAD ARE A FEW FARMERS WHO ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE THEIR FARM EQUIPMENT.

SO PLEASE DON'T DON'T MOVE THAT UP.

WE DON'T NEED TO BUILD MORE ROADS THROUGH OUR BEAUTIFUL AGRICULTURAL AREA.

SO WITH THAT, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING TO MY COMMENTS.

[02:10:01]

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

COMMISSION. HOW ARE YOU GUYS TODAY? I ALSO LIVE IN THE BEAUTIFUL ELKTON COMMUNITY, AS YOU'VE HEARD OUR NEIGHBORS TALK ABOUT AND JUST I'VE GAINED A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE JUST SITTING HERE TODAY.

I DON'T, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THIS IS THE FIRST COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING I'VE ATTENDED HERE AT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

SO I CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK YOU GUYS DO AND A LOT OF PRESSURE, AND I WOULD NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO BE IN YOUR SHOES, BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

BUT SPEAKING TO THE THE TWO 209 THAT I GUESS EARLIER WAS SAID THAT THERE WAS A MISTAKE, THAT THE ROAD WAS NOT GOING TO BE ADJUSTED.

IT JUST SEEMS REALLY WEIRD.

FOR US WHO MAYBE SEMI DON'T TRUST GOVERNMENT ALL THE WAY FROM FEDERAL LEVELS TO STATE LEVELS TO EVEN COUNTY AND CITY LEVELS.

WE'RE JUST A LITTLE SUSPECT SOMETIMES, RIGHT? SO ALL OF A SUDDEN A MAP POPPED UP AND LAST NIGHT OUR COMMUNITY WAS IN A SEMI UPROAR.

TEXTS WERE GOING AROUND. PEOPLE WERE DRIVING ON THEIR SIDE BY SIDE.

I LITERALLY HAD A LADY COME TO MY RANCH ON A HORSE LAST NIGHT AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW.

IT'S A BIG DEAL TO US.

WE LIVE THERE. THAT'S OUR HOMELAND.

WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THAT.

WE ALSO REALIZE THAT THE COUNTY WILL GROW.

AND I PERSONALLY AM NOT JUST AN ANTI-GROWTH PERSON.

I, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S PEOPLE MOVING TO FLORIDA AND WE'RE GOING TO HOST THOSE PEOPLE AND WELCOME NEW NEIGHBORS.

WE SHOULD BE FRIENDLY LIKE THAT.

BUT. SO I DON'T ENVY YOUR JOB.

BUT I WOULD ASK THIS ON THIS PARTICULAR WEBSITE THAT JUST GOT POSTED.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE JUST GOT FANCY WITH A MARKER AND JUST DREW SOMETHING ON THERE THAT POPPED UP.

SOMEBODY INTENTIONALLY POSTED THAT AND PUT THAT ON THAT WEBSITE.

I'M ASKING YOU, WHOEVER'S IN CHARGE OF THIS, PLEASE REMOVE IT.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN SPOKEN HERE AS A PUBLIC RECORD TODAY, BUT JUST FOR OUR CONCERNS, COULD YOU GUYS PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT IS TAKEN DOWN, CORRECTED? AND THEN THE CURRENT 2202209I GUESS THAT IS THERE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT WAS APPROVED A LONG TIME AGO.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO.

I WOULD ASK YOU GUYS, I GUESS FUNDING IS AN ISSUE.

I WOULD ASK YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT THAT.

I, I'M SURE THERE'S SOME BIG PICTURES, MAYBE THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT FOR US RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE, WE'RE ASKING YOU GUYS TO JUST PLEASE CONSIDER US.

WE'RE NOT THE BIGGEST COMMUNITY OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, BUT WE LOVE OUR AREA.

GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

THROUGH THE CHAIR. CAN WE GET YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, RICH GIFFORD.

AND I'M A54, FOUR SIX DON MANUEL ROAD IN THE GREAT ELKTON, FLORIDA.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

HEY, LET ME JUST LET ME JUST ADDRESS THIS.

CLAPPING IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NORMALLY DON'T ALLOW, BUT IT'S BEEN ALLOWED AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE NEXT SPEAKER.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO CLAP, KEEP IT QUICK AND SHORT.

SO THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIRMAN MURPHY.

THAT IS VERY WISE WORDS.

AND IT IS INDEED FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED ACTIVITY TO CLAP OR TO SMILE OR TO NOD OR TO STAND, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THE PRIOR ANCIEN REGIME TRIED TO CHILL AND COERCE PEOPLE'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS FOR.

THANK YOU. BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

I AGREE WITH LISA MCGLYNN VERY STRONGLY.

WE NEED TRANSIT. AND LOOKING AT THIS LIST, THE SOUTHEAST.

COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE AND SAINT AUGUSTINE IS NUMBER 14 ON THE LIST.

WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.

WE NEED LIGHT RAIL.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROPOSAL THAT I CAME UP WITH FOR THE PROPOSED SAINT AUGUSTINE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND NATIONAL SEASHORE, WHICH WAS FIRST PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IN 1939, WE COULD GET FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION TO DO LIGHT RAIL AND TO DO IT MAYBE IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATES AND IN THE MIDDLE OF OTHER ROADS.

IT MAKES SENSE. YOU'VE BEEN TO OTHER CITIES LIKE SACRAMENTO.

THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.

PEOPLE NEED TO GET TO WORK AND SCHOOL AND CHURCH WITHOUT HAVING TO OWN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

WE DON'T HAVE A FUNCTIONING SYSTEM HERE OF TRANSIT AT ALL.

AND SO ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS SESSION AND EVERY OTHER SESSION WHEN DDOT EVER COMES TO TOWN IS BUILDING ROADS.

THAT'S IT. BUILDING MORE ROADS DOES NOT RELIEVE CONGESTION.

IT INCREASES IT.

THE STUDIES ARE REALLY CLEAR ON THAT.

AND IN THE IMMORTAL WORDS OF THE LATE ELIHU ROOT, WHO WAS SECRETARY OF STATE AND SECRETARY OF WAR FOR SEVERAL REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS.

ELIHU ROOT AS A CORPORATE LAWYER AND AS A LAWYER FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

HE SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE THAT A LAWYER COULD SOMETIMES GIVE THEIR CLIENTS WAS, YOU'RE DAMN FOOLS.

AND YOU COULD. YOU SHOULD STOP.

WE'RE BUILDING TOO MANY ROADS.

WE'RE DOING THEM AT THE DROP OF A HAT.

JUST BECAUSE A DEVELOPER CREATES A DEMAND RATHER THAN SAYING, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE FROM HERE TO HERE? LIKE MR. MCGLYNN SAID, HOW DO WE MOVE PEOPLE, RIGHT? NOT CARS, NOT TRUCKS.

[02:15:02]

MOVE PEOPLE AND GET PEOPLE TO WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON IT EITHER.

OUR SYSTEM HERE THAT WE'RE SUBSIDIZING THE SUNSHINE BUS COMPANY IS PITIFUL.

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO TAKE IT? HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER TRIED TO TAKE IT? I WOULDN'T ENCOURAGE IT BECAUSE IT TAKES FOREVER.

IT'S NOT WELL PLANNED.

IT'S NOT WELL FUNDED.

AND UNDER THE PRIOR ANCIEN REGIME, THEY DOUBLED THE FARES ON POOR PEOPLE.

THIS COMMISSION DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF SENSITIVITY FOR POOR AND WORKING PEOPLE, BUT WE NEED TO NOW ATTORNEY GENERAL ROBERT KENNEDY WOULD TELL HIS STAFF, DON'T TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE.

TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD DO.

NOW. WHAT WE SHOULD DO NOW IS PLAN FOR TRANSIT TO GET PEOPLE FROM HERE TO THERE.

NOT THE NEEDS OF THE ROAD BUILDERS, NOT THE NEEDS OF TRAVIS JAMES HUDSON OF THE DEVELOPERS, BUT THE NEEDS OF THE ACTUAL PEOPLE TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE.

WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.

THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHARLIE HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATE.

YEAH. I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO WHAT IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE AND WHO'S PAYING FOR IT? WHO'S BUILDING RIGHT THERE AT 16.

STATE ROUTE 16 AND IGP PASETTI ROAD INTERSECTION.

I'VE BEEN TO THE FDOT MEETINGS.

I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MICHAEL BROCK, WHO PRESENTED THE MEETINGS AND EVEN WITH PUBLIC WORKS.

MISS BASSETTI AND ASK HIM ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE INTERSECTION THERE AND AND 16IN GENERAL.

WHAT MISS PASETTI TOLD ME IS MAYBE HER NAME MATCHES THE ROAD.

THAT'S WHY SHE'S IN CHARGE OF IT.

SHE SAID THAT THE DESIGN AND REVIEW IS 100%, AND THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE FDOT ALSO.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO GET FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, AND THEY NEED THE ENGINEER OR, EXCUSE ME, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PERMIT TO CLEAR IT OR TO CLEAR THE FURTHER CONSTRUCTION, AND IT MAY START AROUND MAY 2025.

SO WITH ALL THIS GOING ON OF WHERE, WHERE, WHERE'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING THERE, PLEASE.

BECAUSE IF SHE'S SAYING THIS AND WE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS ABOUT FINDING FUNDING FOR IT, IT IT'S CONFUSING OKAY.

AND YES I LIVE RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT THERE.

AND SPEAKING OF MR. BROCK FROM FDOT, WHEN I GOT IN CONTACT WITH HIM RECENTLY, I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE PLANS, IF ANY CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE OF WHAT HE SHOWED AS 16 FROM THE IGP INTERSECTION ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 95.

HE SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGES IN A SENSE OF THE DESIGN, THE MAXIMUM WIDTH OF IT BEING OVER 230 FOOT FROM EDGE TO EDGE.

AND THE REASON WHY IT WILL BE A FOUR LANE AND POSSIBLY SIX LANE DOWN THE ROAD.

OKAY. AND WHICH WHAT IT IS, IS IT WOULD BE JUST MIRRORED FROM THE TIP OF 2209 AND IT WOULD BE AN EXTENSION, BASICALLY, OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THAT LITTLE AREA.

SO THERE'S SO MUCH CONFUSION WITH, WITH THIS AND THEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD GO OUT ON 95.

THAT'S ALL FINE AND DANDY, BUT THIS LITTLE INTERSECTION RIGHT HERE, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF IT? WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE DONE? AND CAN WE HAVE A FULL LIST OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND ITINERARY PLEASE? BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I DRIVE THERE, I LIVE THERE.

OKAY, THERE'S A MAP, BUT OKAY, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT WHEN IS IT GOING TO GET DONE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS PATRICK HAMILTON.

MY ADDRESS IS 201 OWENS AVENUE, SAINT AUGUSTINE.

AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING AND I'M ASKING THAT YOU REMOVE THE COUNTY ROAD 305 EXTENSION FROM THE PRIORITY LIST FOR THE COUNTY.

AND IN FACT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GIVE THE LAND BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO DONATED IT.

WE KNOW IF DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS INFRASTRUCTURE, PERIOD.

IF YOU PUT A BIG MAJOR HIGHWAY THROUGH, YOU'RE GOING TO URBANIZE THE AREA.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

AND TO PUT, IF WE VALUE FARMING, WHICH WE SAY WE DO, IT'S AN ECONOMIC DRIVER.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS DOWN THERE.

IT MAKES A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR THE COUNTY.

[02:20:01]

IT'S A IT'S ONE OF THE LEGS OF THE ECONOMIC STOOL FOR THE COUNTY.

WE'VE GOT PART OF OUR COUNTY HAS LOTS OF GOLF COURSES AND RECREATION FACILITIES.

SOME ARE THE MOST HISTORIC AREAS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THEN WE HAVE A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT FARMING AREA, AND WHICH IS GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT AS WE GO THROUGH.

IF YOU PUT A MAJOR HIGHWAY THROUGH THOSE AREAS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE URBANIZATION AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE FARMING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ELKTON.

IN 2012, THERE WERE PUBLIC HEARINGS DISCUSSING THE GIFT OF THE LAND FROM STATE ROAD 206 DOWN TO 305. THERE WAS A LOT OF PUBLIC OPPOSITION IN THE COUNTY.

TABLED THAT MOTION AT THAT POINT.

WITHIN A YEAR, IT GOT PUT ON A CONSENT AGENDA WITH NO NOTICE.

NOBODY KNEW IT. WE I SPOKE AT THE HEARING AND THAT GIFT WAS WAS PASSED AND WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT FOR A YEAR THAT THE COUNTY NOW OWNED THAT EXTENSION FROM 305 FIVE SOUTH.

IF YOU LOOK IF YOU LOOK AT THAT GIFT, PART OF IT SAYS SAINT JOHNS COUNTY DOES HEREBY AGREE TO INCORPORATE THE COUNTY ROAD 305 RIGHT OF WAY PLANS FOR FULL MEDIUM CUTS, ALLOWING BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH BOUND ACCESS FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS INTO THE ADJACENT LAND OWNED BY ELKTON GREEN AT NO COST TO ELKTON GREEN.

SO THIS HAS GOT TWO MAJOR ACCESSES TO THE LAND ON THE EAST SIDE AND TWO MAJOR ACCESSES TO THE LAND ON THE ON THE WEST SIDE, AND IT'S JUST ABOUT ACCESS TO ALL OF THAT LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT.

WE DON'T HAVE A HORRIBLE PROBLEM WITH TRAFFIC.

THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU HAVE YOU HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS FOR MONEY TO SPEND OTHER PLACES.

AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU DO THAT AGAIN.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU REMOVE THIS FROM THE PRIORITY LIST, AND I ASK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THE LAND BACK.

AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO ASSESS THAT ISSUE, LET'S ASSESS IT THEN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. SHERRY BADGER, 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE.

THERE'S BEEN SOME GREAT STUFF SAID HERE TODAY.

AND ONE OF THEM IS THAT THE PREVIOUS BOARDS HAVE OVERSTRESSED THIS INFRASTRUCTURE SO BAD THEY'VE LEFT THE NEW BOARD WITH A MESS.

AND WE AND WE IN THE COUNTY, WE WE'RE NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE WE'RE AGAINST 600 HOMES, 800 HOMES HERE JUST LIKE THE WALMART.

WALMART WAS APPROVED WAY BEFORE SILVERLEAF.

OKAY. THEY HAVE MORE RIGHT TO BE OUT THERE THAN SILVERLEAF DOES.

BUT THEN IT IMPEDES ON THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE, SO Y'ALL ARE IN A STICKY WICKET.

BUT Y'ALL CAN FIX THIS.

GET SOME PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

I'VE BEEN HARPING ON THIS FOR SEVEN YEARS.

WE HAVE NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

THE SUNSHINE BUS DON'T GET IT.

IT CLOSES AT 9:00.

YOU GOT A HIGH SCHOOL KID GOING TO WORK? OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO GET UP AND GO GET THEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

IF Y'ALL ARE CALLING THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THE SUNSHINE BUS, Y'ALL ARE ALL MISTAKEN.

ANOTHER THING ABOUT THESE TYPOS.

YEAH, I'M A CONSPIRACY THEORIST, BUT THIS COUNTY HAPPENS TO BE FAMOUS FOR ITS TYPOS.

MR CREEKS THAT ARE RAN OVER IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS.

THIS MAP THAT JUST SHOWED UP.

HOW ABOUT KAREN TAYLOR'S PROPOSAL A MONTH AND A HALF AGO WHERE ALL HER STUFF WAS REARRANGED? Y'ALL NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHOEVER'S GOING IN TO THE COUNTY WEBSITE AND ADJUSTING THIS STUFF.

IT'S HAPPENING. IT'S GETTING OUT SOMEWHERE, AND Y'ALL NEED TO INVESTIGATE.

GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU. CHUCK LABANOWSKI 1748 NORTH CAPITOL. IT'S A SHAME WE CAN'T TAKE ALL THE TOP, ALL THE ROADS THAT ARE OVER 100% AND MAKE IT AS ONE ITEM, THE TOP OF THE LIST.

IT'S A SHAME WE CAN'T DO THAT.

I'M. JIM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M GLAD TO SEE IT'S BEING LOOKED AT AS FAR AS THE IGP AND 95 INTERSECTION, BUT THERE'S ONE COMPANY OF I'VE BEEN LEAVING OUT EVERY TIME I GET UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE TRAFFIC THAT'S GOING IN THERE.

THAT'S RING POWER.

RING POWER HAS BEEN THERE LONG BEFORE ANY OF THESE OTHERS.

[02:25:03]

THEY USED TO TAKE THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE RESIDENTIAL AREA TO GET TO THEIR PLANT BECAUSE IT WASN'T VERY ACCESSIBLE.

NOW IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE AT ALL FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH THE TRAFFIC.

THEY CAN'T MAKE THE WIDE TURNS TO GET THROUGH THAT TRAFFIC.

WHAT WOULD BE NICE? AND I'M ASKING FOR THE MOON.

THIS IS THE RAMP THAT IS PROPOSED.

THIS IS THE SECOND PLAN.

BE NICE TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL RAMP RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF THAT TO GO BACK ONTO 95.

SIDE BY SIDE RAMPS.

IT COULD BE DONE. IT'S A QUARTER OF A MILE ACCELERATION LANE THERE.

PLENTY OF ROOM.

THAT'LL GIVE ROOM FOR THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT COMING OUT OF RING POWER, AS WELL AS REALLY MOVING A LOT OF TRAFFIC OUT OF THAT INTERSECTION.

AND AGAIN, I'M ASKING FOR THE MOON.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? MR.. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, BEN GRIGGS.

I LIVE AT 1902 WINDJAMMER LANE.

TO ECHO SOME OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN ELKTON AND THIS PROPOSED ROAD THAT ENDED UP ON A MAP.

I TOO DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, BUT ON THE MAP THERE IS 2209.

AND THEN THERE IS THIS ALSO COLOR CODED NEW ROAD.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN COINCIDENCES ANYMORE.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS THIS ROAD TERMINATES AT THE ENTRANCE, PARTICULARLY OF ELKTON GREEN.

SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO AGAIN, LIKE OTHERS HAVE, REMOVE THIS FROM THIS MAP OR EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS PUT THERE BECAUSE 2209 IS LOCATED ON THE MAP.

SO IS THIS PROPOSED NEW ROAD.

THEY TALK ABOUT IT.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THIS COUNTY.

MY MOTHER IN LAW, WHO SPOKE EARLIER TALKED ABOUT THE RICH HISTORY THAT'S THERE.

AND HER GRANDCHILDREN, MY CHILDREN PARTICULARLY ENJOY GOING TO THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE, RIDING THEIR HORSES AND SPENDING TIME WITH HER ON HER FARM.

THIS PARTICULAR NEW ROAD JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE LOCATED DOWN HER DRIVEWAY.

AND THE ENTRANCE AGAIN TO ELKTON GREEN IS WHERE THIS TERMINATES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD AND THE COMMISSIONERS.

I HAVE SOMETHING AFTER SOMEONE ELSE.

COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE HEARD TODAY.

I JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF OF THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I'M HEARING A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ENCROACHING INTO THE HASTINGS AND ELKTON AREA. AND SO I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ADDRESS THAT.

OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THIS BOARD HAS DENIED A GREAT MANY PROJECTS THAT WOULD ENCROACH INTO THE FARMLAND.

AND I KNOW IF WE APPROVE ANYTHING, PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO TAKE TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND THAT'S THAT TRAVELS QUICKLY.

BUT IF WE DENY SOMETHING, I'M NOT SURE THAT WORD EVER GETS OUT.

SO I THOUGHT YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW.

WE'VE DENIED A PROJECT CALLED WINDING OAKS TWICE.

THAT WAS TO THE WEST SIDE OF I-95.

WE DENIED A COMMERCIAL PROJECT THAT FINANCIALLY WOULD HAVE BENEFITED THE COUNTY A GREAT DEAL.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ELKTON.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT ONE POINT 2,000,000FT² OF OF INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE, AGAIN FINANCIALLY GOOD FOR THE COUNTY.

BUT THE BOARD DENIED THE PROJECT BECAUSE WE FELT IT WAS INCOMPATIBLE AND WOULD HAVE ENCROACHED ON THE CHARACTER OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

WE DENIED THE ROBINSON PROJECT OVER 3000 HOMES.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS ROAD.

WE DENIED ADLER CREEK, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF 22 AND NINE.

WE DENIED ANOTHER COMMERCIAL PROJECT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MULTI-MODAL.

IT'S A HUGE 24 HOUR A DAY OPERATION, BUT IT WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS RURAL COMMUNITY RIGHT OFF OF 214.

SO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JUST UNDER TWO YEARS AGO, DENIED THAT PROJECT, TOO.

SO WE'VE PROBABLY DENIED MORE.

BUT THOSE ARE THE BIG ONES THAT I CAN REMEMBER AS A AS A POLICY MAKER.

I JUST THOUGHT YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW THAT AS ONE COMMISSIONER.

AND I THINK THERE'S OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE UP HERE AND THAT ARE STILL UP HERE WHO HAVE HAVE HEARD YOU AND HAVE TAKEN YOUR CONCERNS TO HEART AND VOTED BASED ON YOUR FEEDBACK ABOUT WANTING TO MAINTAIN THE CHARACTER OF ELKTON AND HASTINGS AND SOME OF THE RURAL LANDS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

SO THAT'S MY FIRST COMMENT BASED ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU ALL MADE.

NUMBER TWO IS THE IDEA ABOUT GETTING MORE PUBLIC TRANSIT SOMETHING I'M A BIG FAN OF? IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A BIG CITY IN THE NORTHEAST, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO EUROPE, YOU UNDERSTAND HOW WELL THE TRAINS RUN AND HOW CONVENIENT THEY ARE.

WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED BRIGHT LINE HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

I LOVE, I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT BRIGHT LINE IS, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IT LOST NEARLY HALF $1 BILLION IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2024, AND

[02:30:07]

SO GETTING EVEN IN THE DENSE AREA.

SO THIS TRAVELS FROM ORLANDO DOWN TO MIAMI.

AND THOSE ARE THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREAS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND EVEN WITH THE POPULATION DENSITY THAT THEY HAVE DOWN THERE, THE RIDERSHIP IS NOT ENOUGH TO TO PAY THE BILLS.

AND SO I'M PRAYING EVERY DAY THAT BRIGHT LINE IS FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE THIS STATE NEEDS IT.

I'M A BIG FAN OF IT, BUT I DID THINK IT WAS WORTH MENTIONING, BASED ON SOME OF THE CONSIDERATION THAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO, TO THINK OF FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT, THAT PAYING THE BILLS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER UP HERE.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO STAND UP A PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM, WE'VE GOT TO CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON YOU, THE TAXPAYERS OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.

AND SORRY I'M A LITTLE SCRATCHY.

I'M GETTING OVER A VIRUS.

TO START OFF FIRST.

MR.. MR..

MIKE, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW.

WHY, WHEN THIS WAS PUBLISHED.

AND BECAUSE IT SEEMS IT'S VERY INACCURATE.

AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, I SAW IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, JUST LIKE YOU DID, AND WAS JUST AS PANICKED.

SO I'D LOVE IF WE COULD DIG IN AND GET SOME ANSWERS FOR THAT.

AND THEN ON THE SECOND POINT, I KNOW WE HAVE CONSENSUS FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR COMMISSIONER MURPHY, BUT I HAVE AN IDEA THAT MIGHT BE A WIN WIN THAT I'D LIKE TO THROW OUT THERE. I'M PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO DEFER TO LEGAL IF WE CAN DO THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN NO WAY, MR. KNIGHT, JEOPARDIZING ANY OF THE TOP FIVE.

I HAD LUNCH WITH CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WHILE THE NUMERICAL ORDER OF PRIORITY PROJECTS WAS NOT IMPORTANT TO HIM ON THE FEDERAL SIDE IN TERMS OF FUNDING REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL HAS BEEN TOLD BY LEADERSHIP THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT IN AN EFFORT TO SEE ALL OF THESE SUCCEED, PROVIDED WE'RE NOT HURTING ANYTHING IN THE TOP FIVE.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD MAKE THIS OFF RAMP FIVE A? WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE TO THAT? IS THAT LEGAL? I JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE.

IS THERE A WIN WIN HERE? AND IF I MEAN OF COURSE WE'D HAVE TO HAVE BOARD SUPPORT, BUT I MEAN, IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD, YOU CAN ESTABLISH YOUR PRIORITIES.

I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S ILLEGAL TO MAKE IT 5 OR 6 OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CHARACTERIZE IT, BUT THAT GETS YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL.

MR. KNIGHT.

YOU NEED A CLEAR ORDER.

SO YOU NEED A FIVE AND A SIX.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE TPO AT THEIR MEETING LAST WEEK HAS FLOATED THE IDEA OF EXPANDING IT FROM 5 TO 6, SO I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU MAY WANT TO PUT IT AT SIX. THAT MAY PUT IT ON THE REGIONAL LIST, DEPENDING ON THE FUTURE ACTION OF THE BOARD.

OKAY, IS IT ILLEGAL TO MAKE IT FIVE? A. I'M TRYING TO SPLIT THE BABY HERE.

I'M TRYING TO GET A WIN WIN BECAUSE IT WILL GET PRIORITY.

IT WILL GET VIEWED AS SIX, BUT YOU COULD SELL IT AS FIVE.

A Y'ALL CAN SEND A LIST HOWEVER YOU DESIRE TO THE TEAM.

OKAY, WELL THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MOVE IT ALONG AS SUCH.

PROVIDED AGAIN, IT DOESN'T HURT ANYTHING IN THE TOP FIVE.

BUT ALSO GIVES US THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS FOR THE STATE FUNDING AND THE FEDERAL FUNDING.

BECAUSE I DRIVE THIS EVERY DAY, IT'S A MESS.

I AM AN AVID COSTCO SHOPPER, A LESS AVID BASS PRO SHOPPER, OR RELUCTANT BASS PRO SHOPPER.

BUT IT'S IT'S SOMETHING I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING ON, AND IT'S SOMETHING I'D LOVE TO SEE US HAVE THE BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS ON.

SO IF THAT'S, I'D BE HAPPY TO I GUESS PUT THAT INTO A MOTION IF IF YOU HAVE CONSENSUS, IF YOU WANT TO JUST DO IT THAT WAY.

OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO A MOTION? IT HAS TO BE A MOTION.

YOU'D HAVE TO BE PART OF THE MOTION.

THANK YOU. SO, COMMISSIONER MURPHY, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? BECAUSE THIS WOULD KIND OF SUPERSEDE THAT LETTER OF SUPPORT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY.

THANK YOU. WELL, IN THAT CASE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL'S SUGGESTION TO BE FIVE A FOR THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY LIST OF PRIORITIES.

I'LL SECOND SO.

OH. THROUGH THE CHAIR.

I DID IT WRONG. SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THE WHOLE LIST, ADDING THAT CONCEPT TO S FIVE.

PERFECT. OKAY. I WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER, CAN.

CAN I TAKE COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? YEAH. I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE DONE WITH OUR COMMENTS BEFORE.

I KNOW I HAVE SOME TOO. SO I'D RATHER DO THAT BEFORE.

SHOULD WE WAIT FOR THE MOTION? SURE. OKAY. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. YES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THAT'S GREAT, BECAUSE THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO HINDER US FROM FROM GETTING THOSE DOLLARS USED IN OUR COUNTY.

AND $40 MILLION IS A LOT, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT BY ANOTHER COUNTY THAT'S WILLING TO SHOUT LOUDER THAN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL AND ALSO MISTER KNIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE NUMBER OF FARMERS THAT SPOKE UP TODAY.

[02:35:01]

GOD BLESS OUR FARMERS FOR HELPING TO FEED US AND FEED AMERICA.

LAST THING IN THE WORLD I WANT TO DO IS EAT MORE BIOENGINEERED FOOD.

WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THAT. SO WE NEED TO PRESERVE OUR FARMLAND.

AND I MEAN, I'M I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE I WOULD I MEAN, I FULLY SUPPORT I AGREE I DON'T THINK WE REALLY I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE 305 ON THE LIST.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER MURPHY? NO. ALL RIGHT.

SO I'M GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BEER TO BE PROACTIVE AND TO I LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTY, THE ELKTON PEOPLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MIKE ROBERTSON.

WOULD YOU BRING UP THE MAP OF WHERE THIS ROAD WAS GOING TO GO AND WHERE THE ROAD IS GOING.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO KEEP THAT ROAD GOING WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO AND NEVER GET MOVED.

AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

IF I HAVE A SECOND.

GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT IF YOU WOULD.

IS THAT IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO? WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO KEEP IT WHERE IT WHERE IT'S ORIGINALLY DESIGNED LEGALLY.

I GUESS WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE WANT TO, BUT I DON'T WANT TO.

SO I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE VOTING ON THE LIST, RIGHT? I VEERED OFF FOR A PROACTIVE MOTION AHEAD OF THE LIST.

AND THAT IS TO TO TO CALM THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK ABOUT WHERE 2209 IS GOING AND WHERE WE HAVE A PLAN NOW IT NEEDS TO STAY THERE.

AND I WOULD LIKE THAT MOTION.

SO I THINK MIKE'S GOING TO BRING UP THE MAP.

SO AGAIN THIS HERE IS THE CORRECT ALIGNMENT.

AND THEN THIS HERE IS THE MISTAKEN ALIGNMENT.

THAT AGAIN THERE'S NO SURREPTITIOUS ACTIONS HERE.

I'LL GIVE YOU MY WORD.

THERE WAS A MISTAKE.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE TPO TO CLEAR IT.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD FOR SURE WILL LOOK INTO IT AND FIND OUT HOW IT WAS.

BUT THAT'S ALL IT IS TELLING YOU ON THE RECORD.

BUT TO YOUR TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, THAT'S WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT'S REMOVED AND WHATEVER MOTION YOU STATE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND ON MY MOTION AT ALL? I'LL SECOND. DO WE DO PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN OR OR SHOULD I WAIT FOR THE NEXT MOTION, TOO? COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, JUST SEEKING CLARIFICATION.

AND THROUGH THE CHAIR TO MR. ROBERTSON. DO WE NEED A MOTION? THE MAP, THE PORTION THAT JOGS OFF TO TO MY RIGHT AS I'M LOOKING AT THE.

I GUESS IT'S EAST.

ISN'T THAT THE OFFICIAL TRAIL? YES, SIR. OKAY.

SO WE'D BE MAKING A MOTION JUST TO ENSURE THAT THAT IS, IN FACT, THE OFFICIAL TRAIL? NO, THAT IT DOESN'T MOVE, THAT IT THAT IT NEVER MOVES BACK.

BUT A BOARD COULD OVERTURN THAT WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

WELL, NOT RIGHT TODAY, BUT OKAY.

UNLESS I HAVE IF I HAVE THREE VOTES, I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THREE VOTES, BUT I'D LOVE TO PUT THAT OUT THERE SO THESE PEOPLE CAN GO HOME AND NOT HAVE A CAR DRIVE DOWN THEIR DRIVEWAY AND HIT THEIR MAILBOX.

AND LET ME BE VERY CLEAR.

OF COURSE I SUPPORT IT WHERE IT IS DESIGNED TO GO.

FURTHER EAST.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LINE IS TO THE WEST.

AND MR. ROBERTSON SAYS IT'S A MISTAKE.

I'M ASSUMING HE'S.

I SUPPORT THE ROAD GOING WHERE? IT'S WHERE IT'S DESIGNED TO GO NOW.

BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE FORMAL ACTION IF THAT'S THE CURRENT DESIGN.

I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO MOVE.

THAT'S PART OF THE MOTION.

IF I MAY, MADAM CHAIR IN THINKING ABOUT THIS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT THE ROUTE AS PLANNED IS THE ROUTE IS PLANNED.

IF WE KIND OF TRY TO LOCK INTO THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY WIGGLE ROOM GOING FORWARD.

I THINK IT MIGHT.

IT MIGHT TIE EITHER OUR HANDS OR OTHER BOARD'S HANDS TO MAKE NECESSARY CHANGES.

THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE NOW IS THAT THE WAY IT'S PLANNED NOW, THE THE THE ROBINSON PROPERTY WAS VOTED DOWN BY THIS BOARD A MONTH AGO, AND IT WILL BLOCK THIS PATH THAT WE'VE GOT PLANNED.

SO I THINK WE MAY NEED TO PIVOT IN SOME WAYS.

AND I THINK IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE WISE TO TO HOLD OFF ON THIS PARTICULAR MOTION AT THIS TIME.

THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS.

WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.

DO WE WANT TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. OKAY.

WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE MOTION.

THANK YOU SIR. WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE MOTION TO KEEP 2209 WHERE IT IS.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. 2209. I'M SURE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SMALL WIGGLE ROOMS, BUT BASICALLY IN THE CORRIDOR WHERE IT'S PLANNED.

[02:40:03]

HOW'S THAT CORRIDOR? PUBLIC COMMENT. YEAH. PLEASE.

PLEASE COME UP. SUZANNE? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH. I'M ON.

SUZANNE CLULOW, 109 LAURELWOOD WAY.

32086. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THERE'S TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

UNLESS I'M WRONG.

DO WE HAVE TWO ACTIVE MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW? NO, WE HAVE THE ONE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER JOSEPH THAT WAS SECONDED.

OKAY. SO THE ONE WITH THE LIST.

OKAY. I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SAYING, LET'S PUT IT THERE AND LEAVE IT THERE AND NOT MOVE IT, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A MOOT POINT LATER ON.

A BOARD COULD CHANGE THAT IF THEY WANTED TO.

AS FAR AS THE ROBINSON THING GOES, THERE WAS ONE SMALL SECTION UP IN THE UPPER NORTHWEST CORNER THAT STILL WASN'T NAILED DOWN FOR 2209, SO I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WITH THAT.

I CAN SEE WHY PEOPLE GOT UPSET SEEING THAT LINE.

I DID NOT SEE THAT MAP.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM.

I WOULD BE UPSET TOO, PARTICULARLY IF IT WENT UP MY DRIVEWAY.

I THINK WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.

2209 TODAY.

LET'S SAY.

YES, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE IT.

MOVE IT.

AS FAR AS THE SOUTHERN PORTION GOES OF THAT, I HEARD A RECOMMENDATION FROM SOMEBODY IN THE PUBLIC SAYING, GIVE IT BACK.

I THINK WHEN YOU GIVE, GIVE THE COUNTY A PIECE OF GROUND, I'M NOT SURE I THERE'S PROBABLY SOME SORT OF A CONTRACTUAL THING THERE.

I'M GIVING YOU THIS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ME THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT CAN BE GIVEN BACK.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT.

NO, I'M I'M FOR IT.

IT'S LET'S MOVE FORWARD.

WE WE'RE GETTING TOWARDS LUNCH HERE.

THANK YOU. THROUGH THE CHAIR.

JUST IN THE VICE CHAIR.

THE CHAIR, JUST TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS ONLY ON THE MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER CHAIR JOSEPH MADE AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ARNOLD TAYLOR WITH REGARD TO KEEPING THE COUNTY ROAD 2209 AT THE CURRENT LOCATION.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LISA MCGLYNN, 703 PINEHURST PLACE.

MY CONFUSION I UNDERSTAND THE THE INTENT OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.

MY CONCERN IS THERE'S STILL A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE SOUTHERN PORTION THAT'S ON THE PLANS, BUT MANY OF US HOPE IT WILL NEVER BE WIDENED.

SO I'M HOPING THAT YOUR MOTION WOULD NOT AFFECT THE 305 PORTION OF THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANKS. RICH GIFFORD, FIVE FOUR, FOUR SIX DON MANUEL ROAD, ELKTON.

OKAY, SO I'M NOT SURE IF THERE CAN BE INTERACTION BETWEEN HERE AND THERE, BUT I DO SUPPORT THE SUPPORT THE MOTION TO KEEP 209 WHERE IT'S AT.

OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS A WHOLE LOT.

SO THIS IS OUR LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

AND SO THERE'S A LITTLE BUZZ BACK HERE, JUST LIKE THERE WAS LAST NIGHT ABOUT THIS BEING THIS ROAD BEING KIND OF MOVED OVER.

EVERYBODY THAT HAS SPOKE ON OUR BEHALF HAS BASICALLY SAID THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

IT MIGHT HAVE ACCIDENTALLY GOT POSTED, BUT SOMEONE DIDN'T JUST ACCIDENTALLY DRAW THAT ROAD THAT GOT MOVED.

SOMEBODY WAS DISCUSSING MOVING IT, AND THEN SOMEBODY SAID, POOF! AND IT GOT UP THERE ON THAT WEBSITE.

AND THEN OUR LITTLE COMMUNITY WENT BUT IT'S ALSO IN A LITTLE BUZZ BACK HERE.

THAT IS THE 209 OFFICIALLY APPROVED.

I CAME UP HERE EARLIER AND I SAID THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT ROAD IS ALREADY APPROVED AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT WHEN IT GETS FUNDED.

SO I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MOTION, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THAT MOTION, PROVIDED THAT ROAD IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE THERE.

PERSONALLY, AS AN ELKTON RESIDENT AND AS A SMALL CATTLE FARMER, I WOULD PREFER THE ROAD NOT BE THERE AT ALL.

OKAY, BUT I SURE AS HECK DON'T WANT IT MOVED OVER.

SO I WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE SOME REAL CLARIFICATION.

I GET IT THAT ANOTHER BOARD IN TWO YEARS FROM NOW COULD COME BACK AND RE AMEND THAT THING, AND THEN I WOULD JUST STAND HERE AGAIN FOR MY SECOND TIME EVER BEING IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND SAY, HEY, I OPPOSE THAT.

SO FOR TODAY, IF THAT ROAD IS FULLY APPROVED, I WOULD SUPPORT A MOTION TO SAY IT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED WHERE IT'S CURRENTLY AT AND STRIKE THE OTHER LITTLE ADJUSTMENT TO IT.

[02:45:04]

THANK YOU GUYS. HAVE A GOOD DAY.

THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

THAT SLAVE IN BOX 308 FOR ED SLAVIN COM.

I SUPPORT THE MOTION.

AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE GROWTH SO-CALLED MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IS, I THINK, THE THERMAL EQUIVALENT OF WHAT THEY WOULD CALL WARM FUZZIES, AS AT NASA OR DRY LABBING IN SCIENTIFIC LABORATORIES.

THEY HAVEN'T SUPPLIED YOU ANY DATA ON THE ETIOLOGY OR ORIGIN OF THIS MAP.

COULD WE PLEASE HAVE THE FDOT INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL INVESTIGATE AND GET THE DATA FROM THE COMPUTERS FROM THE PEOPLE, TAKE WITNESS STATEMENTS AND FIND OUT HOW THIS THING CAME HERE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE ASSERTION THAT THE COUNTY STAFF JUST GAVE YOU.

OH, IT WAS A MISTAKE.

IT WAS A MISTAKE.

I REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST TIME I MET NANCY.

SYKES. KLEIN WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING FOR CITY COMMISSION THE VERY FIRST TIME.

AND I THINK IT WAS IN THE TASTING ROOM CIRCA 2008, 2010.

AND SHE CAME UP TO A TABLE OF 4 OR 5 OF US, AND I SAID, NOW TELL ME ABOUT WHEN THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE DUMPED THE LANDFILL IN THE LAKE UNDER BILL HARRIS, THE CITY MANAGER OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.

AND SHE SAYS, OH, IT WAS A MISTAKE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS A MISTAKE.

DO ANY OF YOU BELIEVE THIS WAS A MISTAKE? I THINK WE CAUGHT THEM RED HANDED AGAIN ONE MORE TIME.

SAINT JOHNS COUNTY STAFF DOING SOMETHING THAT FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE PLANS OF THE DEVELOPERS AND THE TRAVIS JAMES HUDSONS OF THE WORLD.

IT WASN'T A MISTAKE.

THAT IS AT BEST FACETIOUS.

IT DOES NOT PASS THE LAUGH TEST.

IT DOES NOT PASS THE SMELL TEST.

AND I KNOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU BELIEVE IT EITHER.

SO COULD WE PLEASE AMEND THE MOTION TO REQUIRE OR REQUEST, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST, THAT THE FDOT INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL, WITH THE CLERK OF COURTS AND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, WORK TOGETHER TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS MISTAKE.

THAT DOG WON'T HUNT.

IT WASN'T A MISTAKE.

THESE FINE PEOPLE CAME HERE FOR A REASON.

AND. WHO IN THE COUNTY STAFF, STARTING WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, STARTING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, KNEW ABOUT THIS. WHERE ARE THE RECORDS? LET'S HAVE THE ELECTRONIC RECORDS FOR THE CREATION OF THIS MAP FILE.

LET'S SEE THE FINGERPRINTS, THE THUMBPRINTS OF THE PAW PRINTS OF EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY, AND THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY THAT CALLED THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

ISN'T THAT CUTE? THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

WHO WAS IN ON THIS? CAN WE HAVE A REPORT, PLEASE? CAN WE HAVE AN ACTUAL LEGAL MEMO FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CITING TO LEGAL AUTHORITIES AND CASE LAW AND STATUTES FOR A CHANGE RATHER THAN WARM FUZZIES, DRY LAUGHING? OH, IT WAS A MISTAKE.

THAT DOG WON'T HUNT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE.

THANK YOU FOR FOR APPROVING THE MOTION.

BUT LET'S GO A LITTLE FURTHER AND LET'S STOP THIS KIND OF MISTAKE.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING. SEEING ONE WILL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MURPHY.

BEN GRIGGS, 1902 WINDJAMMER LANE.

AGAIN, MORE SO, I THINK AGAIN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY MY MOTHER IN LAW AND AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY OF ELKTON, VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION IS THIS MISTAKE WHICH I, AGAIN, LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A MISTAKE, BUT IS IT AN ADDITIONAL ROAD THAT FLOWS OUT OF THIS? LIKE, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THAT SOMEBODY AT THE HUDSON DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES DIDN'T JUST GET CREATIVE WITH A MARKER AND HAND IT OVER TO SOMEBODY.

HOPEFULLY THESE THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON AND THESE FOLKS DEMAND AN EXPLANATION.

SO NOT ONLY WOULD I ASK THAT YOU MAKE A MOTION TO LEAVE 2209 WHERE IT IS, I WOULD LIKE SOME CLARITY AS TO WHAT THIS ROAD IS.

IS IT A PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE? BECAUSE THIS OTHER ROUTE FOR THE ROBINSON PROPERTY GOT VOTED DOWN? IS IT ANOTHER ROAD? IS THIS ANOTHER ROAD THAT MR. HUDSON WANTS TO PAY FOR? WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM? JUST ELECTED OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND TRANSPARENCY.

AND LIKE MY FRIEND ED SLAVIN, I WOULD JUST QUOTE JOHN F KENNEDY.

THIS IS NOT A TIME TO KEEP THE FACTS FROM THE PEOPLE, TO KEEP THEM COMPLACENT, TO SOUND THE ALARM IS NOT TO PANIC, BUT TO SEEK ACTION FROM AN AROUSED PUBLIC.

CAN WE GET SOME CLARITY ON WHERE THIS CAME FROM AND WHY?

[02:50:04]

I DON'T THINK IT'S A MISTAKE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC? MR.. THANK YOU.

CHARLIE HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATES.

IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY AT THE END OF THE MEETING, WHEN THE ROBINSON IMPROVEMENT COMPANY PUD WAS NOT APPROVED, DENIED.

WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS FOR THE DAY.

I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER IF A REQUEST FOR A STUDY OF 2209 WAS FOR THAT OF, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A REALIGNMENT OF 2209 OR THE FUNCTION OF 2209.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW 2209 IS ALREADY JUMPING.

16. AND SO WHERE WOULD IT GO FROM THERE? I MEAN, IT'S CONFUSING.

IS THAT IS THAT JUST A A REQUEST TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET REVERTED INTO A MORE WEST OF I-95 TO GET PUSHED DOWN? I DON'T KNOW, BUT LIKE I SAID, IF IF I CAN REMEMBER IT WAS A A REQUEST TO BE STUDIED ON 2209 FOR THE REALIGNMENT OR THE ALIGNMENT OR THE DIRECTION OR THE THE PATH THAT IT WOULD TAKE GOING MORE SOUTH IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE.

PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD. ANY MORE COMMENTS? YES, MA'AM. I'VE GOT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

BASED ON SOME OF COMMISSIONER MURPHY'S CONCERNS AND THE FACT THAT WE MAY NOT NEED TO BE MARRIED TO EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THE EASTWARDLY ALIGNMENT, PERHAPS IF YOU'RE WILLING, WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO JUST NOT PURSUE THE WESTWARDLY ALIGNMENT SO IT WOULD PROHIBIT THE COUNTY FROM PURSUING ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THAT WESTWARDLY ALIGNMENT, WHICH WOULD ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS AND NOT MARRY US TO THE LAND THAT WE HAVE NOT YET PURCHASED AND ACQUIRED.

IT WOULD NOT MARRY US TO LAND THAT MAY BE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WETLANDS CHANGE.

SO THAT'S MY FRIENDLY SUGGESTION.

CAN WE MAKE IT A CORRIDOR? I'M SORRY, CAN WE SAY THE CORRIDOR WHERE IT'S PLANNED NOW? SURE. YEAH.

I THINK IT WAS JUST THE CONCERN TO TO ELIMINATE ANY PURSUIT OF THE WESTWARDLY ALIGNMENT AND THEN THE CORRIDOR THAT IT'S IN NOW, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE IMPLIED, BUT JUST A THOUGHT.

ANY COMMENT? OTHER COMMENTS? I WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO TO THAT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN.

22 09I DON'T THINK WAS PLANNED ON.

I MEAN, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THE THE PERMITTING AND RIGHT OF WAY.

YEAH, IT'S 20, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO TO BE A LITTLE MORE GENERAL ON THAT.

SO I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

SO COULD WE PUT IN THERE THAT IT'S NOT TO MOVE WEST AND STAYS IN THAT CORRIDOR.

DO I HAVE A SECOND FOR THE AMENDED MOTION.

I WOULD SECOND THAT.

OKAY. AND I GUESS WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE'RE AMENDING THE MOTION TO STAY IN THE EASTERLY CORRIDOR AND NOT SUPPORT OR NOT PURSUE.

OH 2209 TO THE WEST.

SEE THE MAP AGAIN. CAN WE SEE THE MAP AGAIN? I WANT TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

MR. ROBERTSON.

AND IF HE CAN POINT TO WHAT? SORRY. WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT A MINUTE.

COUNTY SECURITY HERE DOING THEIR JOB.

IT.

SO THE DARK LINE HERE, THE DARK GREEN LINE, IS THE ERRONEOUS CORRIDOR.

THIS IS THE CORRECT CORRIDOR.

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR.

NO THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION.

I DO, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

WHERE DID THAT DARK LINE EVEN COME FROM? I KNOW IT'S ON THE THE 2050 PATH FORWARD, BUT WHERE DID IT COME FROM? SO THIS IS ON OUR NORTH FLORIDA TPO YOU ARCGIS WEBSITE.

[02:55:03]

I WE JUST HEARD ABOUT IT YESTERDAY.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE RESEARCHING.

AND I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHY IT'S ON THERE.

WE'RE CURRENTLY WE'RE RESEARCHING IT WITH THEM NOW AS TO WHY IT'S ON THERE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN 2209 WAS BEING PLANNED, THERE WAS SPAGHETTI MODELS, RIGHT? OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ROUTES, YOU COULD GO.

RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO NAVIGATE WETLANDS, PROPERTIES, ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF.

SO I'M GOING TO SAY POTENTIALLY THAT WAS ONE OF THE ROUTES.

AND SOMEHOW IT GOT ON THERE.

AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT.

WELL, IF I MAY, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE TPO HAD IS THAT THERE'S A RELIEVER FOR THE INTERSTATE INSTEAD OF WHEN THE INTERSTATE BACKS UP PEOPLE GOING TO US1 OR GOING TO HOLMES BOULEVARD OR 16, IS THAT THERE WOULD BE A ROUTE THAT WOULD HELP THAT KIND OF CONGESTION AND MOVING FARTHER WEST DEFEATS THAT PURPOSE.

SO I WOULD I'M NOT SURE IF WE'VE GOT A CLEAR MOTION EXACTLY WHAT THE MOTION HAS BEEN ADJUSTED TO.

BUT. OKAY.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO KEEP 2209 THE PLAN IN THE SAME CORRIDOR WITHOUT IT MOVING WEST, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, I WOULD SECOND THAT MOTION.

IF I MAY AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO.

YOU DON'T WE DON'T WANT TO HAMSTRUNG THE BOARD OR ANYTHING.

IT MAY HAVE TO MOVE EAST OR WEST SLIGHTLY AS WE GO THROUGH JUST I THINK COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST OR COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, ONE OF YOU MENTIONED, I THINK IN WHAT YOUR OBJECTIVE.

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH AND COMMISSIONERS, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS OTHER ROAD.

THAT'S THE MISTAKE. WE CLEARLY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S PART OF YOUR MOTION, THAT THIS ERRONEOUS ROAD WILL NOT BE THE 2209.

FURTHER, THE EXISTING PLANNED ROUTE FOR 2209 NINE WILL STAY IN ITS GENERAL ALIGNMENT AS WE SEE IT.

YES. AND AGAIN, I'M NOT DOING THIS AS MYSELF.

I'M DOING THIS AS REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE IN HERE, AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED.

AND I THINK THIS WOULD HELP GOING FORWARD.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS.

WE HAVE A MOTION. SO LONG AS WE'RE NOT LEGALLY HAMSTRINGING OURSELVES OR A FUTURE BOARD WITH POND ACQUISITIONS AND RIGHT OF WAYS, IF AS LONG AS WE HAVE A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM, BECAUSE THAT DOES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION.

SHOULD WE VOTE? LET'S VOTE.

THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER ARNOLD'S MOTION.

YES. SO MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2025 SAINT JOHNS COUNTY ROADWAY AND TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES.

LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR TRANSMITTAL TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE NORTH FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION.

ADDING THE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE IGP OFF RAMP AS FIVE A AND ALSO SENDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR REPRESENTATIVE KENDALL AND FOR CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. THANK YOU MA'AM. LET'S VOTE.

AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS FIVE ZERO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. MIKE.

LET'S SEE WHAT TIME IT IS. WE'RE ON TO AGENDA ITEM TWO.

[2. Change Order #09 to RFQ 22-13 DBIA 530 Final GMP for Inclusion of the Veterans/Greenbriar/CR 210/ Alt 210 intersection improvements into the #5072 CR 210 / Greenbriar to Cimarrone Widening project. On April 18, 2023, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County approved execution of the Secondary Design-Build Agreement with SUPERIOR Construction Company Southeast, LLC for construction of the CR-210 Widening from Greenbriar Road to Cimarrone Boulevard, in accordance with RFQ No. 22-13. Due to the existing widening project of CR-210 from Greenbriar to Cimarrone it was determined necessary to include the Greenbriar Road/Veterans Parkway Intersection to maximize efficiencies in the design and construction of the additional work, in order to minimize design and construction costs, and avoid prolonged construction period and traffic restrictions in the area immediately after new construction has taken place. The County incorporated the addition of design services and submittal of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the Greenbriar Road/Veterans Parkway Intersection to extend the beginning of the CR-210 widening to the east of Veterans Parkway on Greenbriar Road and South of CR-210 on CR-210A by Change Order. The County negotiated the scope and fee submitted in the GMP Proposal for construction of the additional Work for the required widening, signalization, and drainage improvements necessary for the Greenbriar/Veterans Parkway intersection to accommodate the projected widening of CR-210 and came to agreement with SUPERIOR for at a total cost of $8,589,240.37. Staff recommends Board approval to execute Change Order #09 to the Secondary Design-Build Agreement for the completion of construction, as negotiated, with SUPERIOR Construction Company Southeast, LLC in accordance with the Secondary Design-Build Agreement and as provided in RFQ No. 22-13.]

WE'RE GOING QUICK HERE.

THANK YOU. I THINK WE DID A LOT JUST NOW.

SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING PATIENT.

YES. HELLO, COMMISSIONERS.

JAMIE LOCKLEAR. PURCHASING DIRECTOR AND GREG CALDWELL, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO IS FOR THE VETERANS PARKWAY INTERSECTION.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PROJECT AND INCORPORATING IT INTO THE CURRENT DESIGN BUILD CONTRACT WITH SUPERIOR CONSTRUCTION.

SO GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

JUST TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT, TO GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD TWO, TEN ALTERNATE GREENBRIER ROAD.

COUNTY ROAD 210 AND VETERANS.

SO THIS IS THE EXTENSION OF VETERANS PARKWAY WILL EVENTUALLY TIE INTO THIS INTERSECTION.

THE STAR DEPICTS THE LOCATION WITHIN THE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

MAYBE. THERE WE GO.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HELP.

SO THIS NEXT SLIDE DEPICTS THE ULTIMATE INTERSECTION AND WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.

RIGHT NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE ADDED INTO OUR COUNTY ROAD 210 WEST PROJECT THAT IS ONGOING.

THIS WOULD BE INCLUSION INTO OUR CURRENT CONTRACT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A FULL SCALE INTERSECTION AT VETERANS AND 210 AND GREENBRIER.

THIS WILL ALLOW ALL THE LANES TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND BE A SEAMLESS PROJECT AS PART OF THE ONGOING EFFORT THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

[03:00:08]

THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW THE CONNECTION OF VETERANS INTO THE INTERSECTION, AS WELL AS THE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG COUNTY ROAD 210 ALTERNATE.

SO THE SCOPE IS IS DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE COUNTY ROAD 210 WEST PROJECT THAT'S ONGOING.

WE FELT LIKE IT WAS THE BEST WAY TO EXPEDITE THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS IS TO INCLUDE THAT INTO THAT CURRENT CONTRACT.

WHAT THIS ALSO DOES IS PUT SOME OF THE BENEFITS.

IT ALLOWS A LOWER COST FOR DESIGN AND A QUICKER TURNAROUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT.

IT ALLOWS THE INCORPORATION INTO OUR COUNTY ROAD 210 WIDENING.

THIS PROVIDES US TO LEVERAGE THE CURRENT CONTRACTOR THAT'S OUT THERE SUPERIOR.

THEY ARE ALREADY MOBILIZED.

THEY ALREADY HAVE CONTRACTORS ON SITE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A QUICK TURNAROUND TO GET THIS MOVING FORWARD AND WORKING THROUGH THE DESIGN BUILD PROCESS WITH SUPERIOR.

WE FEEL LIKE WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THIS OVERALL COST FROM 10 MILLION DOWN TO ABOUT 8.5 MILLION.

THIS IS AN AERIAL THAT DEPICTS THE INTERSECTION OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT RIGHT NOW IT'S A THREE LEGGED INTERSECTION.

ULTIMATELY, THIS WILL BE A FOUR LEGGED INTERSECTION, BUT WITH A FULL BUILD OUT FOR THE FUTURE, FOR THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THIS AREA.

SO THIS CONTRACT WAS INITIATED IN JULY 2022 FOR THE DESIGN BUILD OF THE 210 WIDENING PROJECT.

THAT INITIAL CONTRACT WAS FOR THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR SUPERIOR TO GO THROUGH THE DESIGN OF THE 210 WIDENING PROJECT AND GET US TO A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE, WHICH IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EVERYTHING AFTER.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THIS CONTRACT SINCE ITS EXECUTION, WE'VE COMPLETED THE DESIGN OF THE 210 WIDENING.

WE'VE COMPLETED THE DESIGN OF THE INTERSECTION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

AND WE'VE BEGUN AND THEY'RE UNDERWAY WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE WIDENING PROJECT.

THIS CHANGE ORDER WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GO INTO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERSECTION PROJECT.

THERE'S BEEN OTHER CHANGES TO THE PROJECT AS THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE WIDENING EFFORT BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, MAJOR PROJECTS LIKE THIS, THEY EVOLVE, THEY ADJUST.

AND THIS IS JUST KIND OF THE HISTORY OF THE CONTRACT THAT WE'VE DONE TODAY.

SO THIS CHANGE ORDER IS CHANGE ORDER NINE.

IT IS FOR THE ADDITION OF THE SCOPE FOR THE FULL CONSTRUCTION OF THAT INTERSECTION AS AN ADDITION TO THAT EXISTING CONTRACT.

THE CURRENT CONTRACT OR THE INITIAL CONTRACT THAT WAS ISSUED AGAIN FOR THE DESIGN, IT WAS ABOUT $1 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 210 WIDENING.

IT WAS ROUGHLY $32 MILLION, SO WE'RE AT ABOUT 33.8 MILLION.

WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF 210 WIDENING AND WITH THE ADDITION OF THE DESIGN OF THE INTERSECTION.

THIS CONSTRUCTION PORTION IS AN ADDITION OF ABOUT $8.5 MILLION TO THAT CURRENT CONTRACT.

AND JUST TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM, THE BOARD MADE SOME DECISIONS RECENTLY TO ALLOW THE SURPLUS OF FUNDS FROM THE LONGLEAF PINES PARKWAY PROJECT.

WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT PROJECT UNDER BUDGET OR UNDER THE YES, UNDER THE BUDGET.

SO THOSE FUNDS ARE NOW GETTING REDIRECTED INTO THIS $8.5 MILLION.

IT'S ABOUT $3.7 MILLION.

WE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO COME OVER INTO THIS PROJECT.

THE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES WILL BECOME WILL COME FROM THE IMPACT FEES OR DEVELOPER OBLIGATIONS.

SO THE MOTION BEFORE YOU IS THE CHANGE ORDER FOR THE COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERSECTION.

AND WE'RE HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE.

THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW BE ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER TWO.

JOE MCINERNEY 1005 BLACKBERRY LANE AND GREG.

I'M SORRY. I WAS VERY COMFORTABLE BACK THERE UNTIL YOU SAID SOMETHING.

SO I JUST AM LOOKING FOR CLARIFICATION THAT THE FUNDING.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A GOOD SAVINGS ON LONGLEAF PINE IN 3.5 MILLION COMES OVER.

THAT'S GREAT.

BUT THEN YOU SAID THAT THE BALANCE WILL COME FROM DEVELOPER IMPACT FEES.

AND ARE THOSE IMPACT FEES IN HAND NOW OR ARE WE LOOKING TO APPROVE MORE DEVELOPMENT? WE ACTUALLY PROGRAMED FUNDS OUT OF THE IMPACT FEES FOR TRANSPORTATION FROM PREVIOUS DEVELOPERS INTO THIS PROJECT ALREADY.

SO THOSE MONIES ARE IN HAND TODAY.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OH, COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION.

IT'S IN MY DISTRICT.

WHEN YOU'RE READY. OH, GO FOR IT.

OKAY. MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024, DASH 571, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, OR DESIGNEE, TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER NINE TO THE DBIA 530 FINAL GMP AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN BUILD SERVICES FOR CR 210 WIDENING FROM GREENBRIAR ROAD TO CIMARRON BOULEVARD WITH SUPERIOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, SOUTHEAST, LLC FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ADDED GREENBRIER VETERANS PARKWAY INTERSECTION AT AN AMOUNT OF

[03:05:03]

$8,589,240.37. SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, SO PLEASE VOTE.

AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

FIVE ZERO. THANK YOU GREG.

THANK YOU JAMIE.

ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE.

HURRICANES. AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.

[3. FEMA Public Assistance Category G (Permanent Work) for Hurricanes Ian, Nicole, and Milton. Hurricanes Ian, Nicole, and Milton inflicted severe impacts on Florida, resulting in a presidential declaration for federal assistance. FEMA’s Public Assistance program is a Federal grant to aid State and Local governments in returning a disaster area to pre-disaster conditions. The grant is provided to primarily address the repair and restoration of public facilities and infrastructure damaged or destroyed or the restoration of services that were negatively impacted. This update is focused on the current FEMA Category G project in South Ponte Vedra and will present an opportunity to include North Ponte Vedra Beach because of impacts from Hurricane Milton.]

COMMISSIONERS. JOSH, BANK FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

I AM GOING TO BE TALKING TO MY SLIDES.

HERE WE GO. BE FEMA BEACH PROJECT UPDATE.

I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IAN, NICOLE AND ALSO MILTON.

SO I'M GOING TO BRING IN ALL THE LAST THREE STORMS HERE THAT WE'RE WE'RE DEALING WITH AND ONLY IN SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.

SO THE TWO LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS THE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH AREA, WHICH IS THIS SECTION HERE WHERE YOU KIND OF SEE BETWEEN THE EXXON AND THE THE PARK. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT NORTH PONTE VEDRA, WHICH IS BASICALLY FROM THE COUNTY LINE DOWN TO THE WANDA PARK.

SO OUR ELIGIBILITY AND WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HERE REALLY QUICKLY IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF REGULATIONS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECTS OR FEMA BRINGING FEMA INTO THE MIX.

SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED, YOU CAN'T BRING FEMA IN IF YOU HAVE AN ARMY CORPS PROJECT OR OTHER FEDERALLY FUNDED AREAS.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU FOLLOW ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS GRAIN SIZE, EVERYTHING HAS TO MATCH ENVIRONMENTALLY AND ALSO HAS TO BE A MAINTAINED BEACH.

SO THIS IS NOT A NATURAL BEACH AREA WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FEMA FUNDS.

SO THOSE TWO AREAS WERE PREVIOUSLY BUILT PROJECTS.

SO THE SPV S OR SOUTH PINE RIVER PARK PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN 2022.

WE ROUGHLY PUT ABOUT 730,000YD³ OF SAND AND BUILT THAT TEMPLATE.

IT HAS BEEN FUNDED THROUGH STATE, COUNTY AND MSTU FUNDS FOR THAT PROJECT.

SO FEMA IS COMING BACK BASICALLY BECAUSE THIS PROJECT WAS DAMAGED.

AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

THE SECOND PROJECT IS NORTH PONTE VEDRA, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 2024 FOR ROUGHLY 02,000,000YD³ OF SAND, ROUGHLY AROUND $38 MILLION MOSTLY FUNDED THROUGH STATE AND COUNTY FUNDS.

SO I WANTED TO KIND OF SHOW THIS THIS IS KIND OF HOW WE DETERMINE WHAT IS ELIGIBLE AND INELIGIBLE.

AND THIS WAS THE THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND IT.

SO HOPEFULLY THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS IT.

SO THIS IS BASICALLY POST-CONSTRUCTION OR PRE-STORM.

THIS IS WHAT THE TEMPLATE LOOKS LIKE.

AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO IS THAT DEPTH OF CLOSURE.

THAT IS THE WATER SIDE.

MY COLORS ARE ACTUALLY BACKWARDS THAN THAN THEY ARE ON MY WHEN I PRESENTED THEM.

BUT ANYWAY, THE BLUE SIDE, THAT'S THE SAND, THE YELLOW SIDE THAT'S ACTUALLY THE WATER.

BUT THAT DEPTH OF CLOSURE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE FEMA DETERMINES WHERE WHAT'S ELIGIBLE AND WHAT'S INELIGIBLE.

SO BASICALLY, AFTER A STORM, WHAT YOU HAVE IS NOW THE SOLID LINE IS WHAT IS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

SO WE'RE SEEING A DECREASE IN THAT DRY BEACH.

WE'RE SEEING SOME SAND GO INTO THAT NEARSHORE SYSTEM WHERE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHERE THE SIDE OF THE LANDWARD SIDE OF THAT DEPTH OF CLOSURE.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME SAND THAT'S MOVED OUT OF THE SYSTEM TO THE RIGHT OF THAT DEPTH OF CLOSURE.

SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WHAT WE DO IN OR WHAT FEMA DOES IN TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT'S ELIGIBLE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE THREE SECTIONS.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE TWO SECTIONS ON THE BEACH.

SO THAT KIND OF THE ORANGE AREA YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT NUMBER WHICH IS A NEGATIVE.

YOU'RE GOING TO ADD IT TO THE THE NUMBER THAT'S THE GREEN AREA THERE.

THAT'S A POSITIVE. AND YOU'LL HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER THERE.

AND THEN YOU'LL LOOK AT WHAT'S LEFT IS OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM.

SO THE SIMPLEST WAY IS TO KIND OF LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, IF WE HAD 100YD³ OF BEACH AND WE HAD A STORM, AND WHEN WE DO THE CALCULATIONS OF THE THE NUMBERS IN THE TOP, YOU HAVE 75YD³ LEFT WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

SO FEMA WILL COME BACK AND PAY OR ASSIST IN PAYING FOR THE 25 THAT'S OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM.

SO WHAT I WANT RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND IS THE DRY BEACH MIGHT NOT LOOK THE SAME THAT YOU WHAT WE DID WITH THE PRE STORM BECAUSE THE SAND IS NOT NECESSARILY ON THE DRY BEACH.

IT'S STILL IN THE SYSTEM, BUT IT'S IN THAT NEARSHORE UNDERWATER SYSTEM.

SO THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK AT IT.

SO WHEN PEOPLE COME IN AND LOOK AT IT AND THEY'RE STANDING ON IT, WELL, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE HAD PRIOR TO THE STORM.

WELL, FEMA LOOKS AT THIS SAND IN THE OFFSHORE SYSTEM.

SO WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF CALCULATIONS TO GET TO THESE NUMBERS AND GET TO THESE THESE YOU KNOW, THESE FIGURES.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR, AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOUTH POINT FIRST, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD WE'RE KIND OF MOVING DOWN THAT THAT PATHWAY.

[03:10:04]

THE BOARD HAS AUTHORIZED $750,000 FOR US TO GO THROUGH THE PLANNING, DESIGN, THE PERMITTING, ALL THE WAY UP TO CONSTRUCTION WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE MIGHT HAVE NEEDED A NEW SAND SOURCE, DEPENDING ON OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES AS WE GO THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.

SO WE CONTRACTED WITH FIRST LINE COASTAL AS OUR DESIGN FOR FOR THE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA.

WE PUT IN THE CONTRACT.

BASICALLY, WE WE BELIEVED IF WE HAD TO GO TO A FULL NEW SAND SOURCE.

COMPLETELY DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.

IT WAS GOING TO COST AROUND A LITTLE OVER $600,000.

WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, BOEM AND THE STATE AND EVERYBODY, WE ARE ALLOWED TO GO TO A SITE THAT'S PREVIOUSLY BEEN USED.

BUT WE HAVE TO UPDATE.

WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND DO SOME BORINGS.

WE HAVE TO DO SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS OF THAT AREA, WHICH IS GOING TO COST $90,000 TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, THAT SAND SITE.

SO THAT'S THE REQUEST FOR TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE IAN NICOLE BEACH PROJECT FOR FOR THAT STORM.

NOW FAST FORWARD, WE TALK ABOUT MILTON.

MILTON CAME IN AND DID SOME DAMAGE.

WE DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE.

IN ORDER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT, WE HAVE TO DO THOSE SURVEYS.

AND AS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, IT'S NOT JUST A DRY BEACH, EASY SAND SURVEY OR LIDAR SERVICE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO INTO THE WATER AND DETERMINE WHERE THE SAND IS AND DO IT BASED ON THAT DEPTH OF CLOSURE.

SO THAT'S THAT'S COSTLY.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO DO THE SAND ASSESSMENT OF THAT, AND HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CALCULATION IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, TO SHOW FEMA EXACTLY WHERE ALL THE SAND WENT.

SO THAT COST THAT WERE CREATING OF THAT POOL, WHICH WE CALL A PROJECT WORKSHEETS, ABOUT $104,000.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IN MILTON.

IF YOU WANT US TO PURSUE MILTON DAMAGES, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD NEED TO PROVE TO FEMA WHAT WE HAVE GOING INTO NORTH PONTE VEDRA.

SO NORTH PONTE VEDRA AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL DAMAGES IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY OF THE SURVEYS.

SO AS YOU RECALL, IN SOUTH PONTE VEDRA, THE BOARD GAVE ME $750,000 TO DO ALL THAT WORK UP UNTIL CONSTRUCTION.

SO TODAY, IF WE IF I WAS HERE TO ASK FOR THAT, IT WOULD BE ABOUT $1.3 MILLION, BECAUSE NORTH PONTE IS A LOT LARGER AREA THAN SOUTH PONTE VEDRA.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR THAT TODAY.

WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS 156,000 TO DO THE SAME CALCULATIONS AND TO DETERMINE WHERE THOSE SURVEYS ARE AND DETERMINE WHERE ALL THAT SAND IS.

SO THEN IF WE HAVE THE DAMAGE THERE, THEN I CAN COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND PRESENT THAT AND SEE IF THE BOARD WOULD WANT US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INCORPORATING THAT PROJECT INTO A MILTON FEMA PROJECT.

SO AGAIN, SINCE I DON'T KNOW, I MIGHT WANT TO ASK FOR ALL THE MONEY RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO DO PIECE BY PIECE, AS I'VE DONE BEFORE, YOU KNOW, BRING TO THE BOARD STEP BY STEP AS WE GO THROUGH THESE PROJECTS.

SO WITH THAT, I HAVE TWO.

I APOLOGIZE A LITTLE LONGER MOTIONS, BUT THE FOR THE FUNDING OF THIS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT REALLY QUICKLY FOR SOUTH PONTE VEDRA SINCE WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT. FEMA AGAIN IS A REIMBURSABLE PROGRAM.

IF WE COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT.

FEMA GIVES US THE MONEY BACK AND WE HAVE OTHER DEP MONEY.

SO THAT PROJECT IS LARGELY FUNDED.

I WOULD SAY WE'RE IN THE HIGH 90 PERCENTILE WITH THAT PROJECT BEING FUNDED.

BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEES.

AND SO WHAT THE MOTION BASICALLY DOES IS RECOGNIZES THE FEMA GRANT, RECOGNIZES THE STATE GRANT, AND THEN THERE'S A LOCAL MATCH TO THAT.

BUT THAT LOCAL MATCH IS WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO COVER THAT.

SAME WITH WITH MILTON.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR IS THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT IN ORDER TO SEEK THOSE FUNDS BACK.

SO IF WE START THIS PROJECT DOWN, DOWN THIS ROAD WITH MILTON, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH PONTEVEDRA, AND WE DETERMINED THERE'S NOT A LEFT DAMAGE OR ENOUGH FOR US TO SEEK FEMA REIMBURSEMENT, THEN THERE'S NO MONEY FOR THAT TO COME BACK.

SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR.

WE HAVE TO FINISH THE PROJECT.

AND WITH THAT, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY BOARD QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. SHOULD WE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL NOT ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

GOOD MORNING. AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.

JOE MCINERNEY 1005 BLACKBERRY LANE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD GET THOSE SLIDES BACK.

MAYBE THE FIRST OR SECOND SLIDE SHOWED SOME SOME SAND BEING INSTALLED.

OH, OKAY. THERE WE GO.

THERE WE GO. BACK, BACK GO BACK, GO BACK.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO, LOOK JOE GIAMMANCO, WHAT A GREAT ASSET.

HE IS HERE FOR US AND FOR THIS COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

WHAT A GREAT PRESENTATION.

SO, LOOK, I'M UP HERE ONLY BECAUSE I HAD HEARD THAT RIVER SAND WAS BEING HAD BEEN DREDGED AND WAS BEING USED FOR OUR BEACH RENOURISHMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S JUST THE THE WAY THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN, BUT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I WOULD EXPECT SAND OUT OF THE SAINT JOHN'S RIVER TO

[03:15:07]

NOT LOOK LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT WE SEE ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK.

AND JOE CAN SAY. YES.

EVERYTHING IS IS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

BUT DID FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSIDER THE SAND SOURCE.

DID THE EPA SIGN OFF ON THE SAND SOURCE? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR SEA TURTLES AND FOR THE NESTING SITES.

AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT AS A TECHNICAL QUESTION THAT JOE COULD SAY YES TO THAT.

THE EPA AND OTHERS HAVE SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL NOT CHANGE THE PATTERN OF OF SEA TURTLE NESTING.

IT'S COMPATIBLE.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT AND THAT'S WHY I'M UP HERE, SO THANK YOU.

TO THE CHAIR. I CAN ANSWER THAT PRETTY QUICKLY.

OUR SAND SOURCES ARE VERY HEAVILY REGULATED.

SO WE GO THROUGH EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION WE CAN TO GO THROUGH THEIR FISH AND WILDLIFE.

BOEM, EVERYBODY IS SIGNED OFF BEFORE WE ACTUALLY TOUCH ANY SAND OFFSHORE.

IT'S A FEDERAL ASSET.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE? GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS GUY RASH.

I'M A HOMEOWNER AND PERMANENT RESIDENT OF SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH, BUT I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA VILANO BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION. SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT I'VE KIND OF BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED THAT SO MUCH IS MOVING FORWARD AFTER ALL THIS TIME.

WE REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 270 PROPERTIES AND THE HOMEOWNERS IN SOUTH PONTE VEDRA AND VILANO, WHERE, AS I JUST SAID, EXCITED THAT WE'RE STARTING TO MOVE SAND FORWARD WITH THE HELP OF JOE GIAMMANCO, HIS STAFF AND THE BEACH STAFF, I'M GOING TO MENTION A COUPLE OF THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE WORTH MENTIONING.

STEVEN HAMMOND, SLOANE STEPHENS AND PREVIOUSLY DAMON DOUGLAS JUST HAVE WORKED WITH US IN PARTNERSHIP AND DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB FOR US.

WE SO MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

I WANT TO SPEAK TODAY IN FAVOR OF THE FUNDING REQUEST THAT JOE HAS PRESENTED HERE.

WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN BRINGING A STABLE AND MANAGED BEACH TO SOUTH PONTE VEDRA.

OUR PROPERTY OWNERS, AS JOE MENTIONED, EVEN PONIED UP THEIR OWN MONEY FOR THE 2022 RENOURISHMENT IN THE FORM OF THAT TEN YEAR MSTU.

IT WAS WIDE OPEN.

IT WASN'T EXACTLY A VOTE, BUT IT WAS A SURVEY, AND 60 SOME PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA VOTED TO TAX THEMSELVES.

AND I THINK THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER HAD MORE PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVED HERE AND NOT BEEN SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES.

WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO REALIZING ANOTHER STEP IN OUR BEACH STABILIZATION WITH THIS FEMUR CAG PROJECT AND THE FUNDING THAT'S COMING FROM IAN AND NICOLE ON BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE ISSUES WITH THE ORIGINAL SANDBAR SITE HAVE COME UP.

AND ALSO, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAD ADDITIONAL DAMAGE DUE TO HURRICANE MATTHEW.

EXCUSE ME, HURRICANE MILTON LAST YEAR THAT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO AMEND THE ORIGINAL PROJECT AND COST THE COUNTY A FEW MORE DOLLARS.

BUT THE FUNDING REQUEST TO THE COUNTY FOR THESE CHANGES ARE VERY SMALL IN COMPARISON TO THE FUNDING OF THIS FEMA PROJECT BY BOTH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS. AND IN FACT, IF WE GET MOVEMENT FORWARD IN THIS AFTER THE MILTON STUDY IS DONE, WE'LL ACTUALLY EVEN GET MORE SAND UP TO SOMETHING LIKE 01,000,000YD³ THAN WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET FOR THIS FEMA PROJECT.

SO THEREFORE, MYSELF AND THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA VILANO BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION FULLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS FUNDING REQUEST. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? YEAH, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

THANK YOU. ARE YOU GOING TO PUT IT UP SO I CAN READ IT? NO. ARE YOU GOING TO PUT IT UP SO I CAN READ IT? JUST PUT IT ON THE OVERHEAD.

IT SHOULD BE IN YOUR FOLDER. YOU SHOULD HAVE TO STATE IT FOR THE RECORD.

I COULD DO IT IF YOU WANT.

NO. I HAVE THE MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024, DASH 572, AUTHORIZING $90,000 TO PERMIT A SAND SOURCE FOR THE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH FEMA CATEGORY G PROJECT IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE IAN, NICOLE AND MILTON, AND RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE A DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FEMA GRANT FOR UP TO 67,500.

A STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRANT FOR UP TO 11,250, AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $11,250.

[03:20:03]

GENERAL FUND RESERVE TRANSFER AS THE LOCAL GRANT MATCH.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

GO AHEAD AND VOTE. THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

FIVE ZERO. ALL RIGHT.

AND NOW A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024, DASH 573, APPROVING THE FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO FEMA PROJECT WORKSHEETS.

ONE NORTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH AND TWO SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BEACH IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE MILTON.

AND TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE A DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FEMA GRANT FOR UP TO $195,000.

A STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRANT FOR UP TO 32,500, AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $32,500.

GENERAL FUND RESERVE TRANSFER AS THE LOCAL GRANT MATCH.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.

PLEASE VOTE. THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

FIVE ZERO. NOW WE'RE OFF TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR AND THEN WE'LL HAVE LUNCH AFTER THAT.

SORRY. BACK THERE.

[4. Public Hearing * A review of the St. Johns County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Annual Report. As required by Florida State Statute, the St. Johns County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) annually reviews established policies, procedures, ordinances, and the County’s Land Development Code, and Comprehensive Plan and make recommendations on strategies to encourage or facilitate the development and/or preservation of affordable housing. On November 20, 2024, AHAC conducted a noticed public hearing and by affirmative vote of the majority of the AHAC membership approved the attached final report.]

MR. WHITEHOUSE.

GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS JOSEPH KONY.

I AM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY.

VERY QUICKLY BEFORE YOU IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVE RECOMMENDATION REPORT THAT IS GENERATED ANNUALLY BY OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

VERY QUICKLY, I'D LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK ALL THE MEMBERS FOR ENGAGING IN MONTHLY, DEEP, SOPHISTICATED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ALL OF THEM TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENTS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS AND ASSIST OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I'D LIKE TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG. I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE OUR CHAIRMAN, MR. ALEX WINDSOR. THANK YOU.

WELL. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD AFTERNOON. SO.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.

MY NAME IS AGAIN ALEX MANSOUR, AND I RESIDE AT 249 EAST PIZZA PLACE.

SORRY. SORRY.

HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT. I SERVE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE TODAY OF PRESENTING TO YOU THE OUR 2024 INCENTIVE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS ANNUAL REPORT.

AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR THE SHIP PROGRAM.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.

THE ACT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1993 TO MEET THE STATE REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE SHIP FUNDING.

OUR PRIMARY ROLE IS TO RECOMMEND STRATEGIES THAT INCENTIVIZE THE PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS JUST NOT OUR COUNTY, BUT THE NATION AS A WHOLE AS WELL.

WE ARE TASKED ANNUALLY WITH PREPARING AND REVIEWING THIS INCENTIVES REPORT AS PART OF THE SHIP REQUIREMENTS.

WE DO MEET ON THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 3 P.M.

NEXT DOOR AT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING.

THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF 8 TO 11 MEMBERS REPRESENTING KEY SECTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS NEEDING TO BE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER ACTING AS LIAISON.

WITH THAT SAID, OUR NEWEST LIAISON.

AND TAYLOR, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE COMMITTEE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT NEW YEAR.

ALSO, AS JOE SAID I DID JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR MEMBERS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO OVER THE YEAR.

THEY ARE VERY TALENTED AND DEDICATED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO VOLUNTEER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME WORKING TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITY.

SO AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF, EVERYBODY AT HOUSING SERVICES FOR HELPING OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THANK YOU. SO THE PURPOSE FOR TODAY.

THERE WE GO. THE PURPOSE FOR TODAY, EVERY YEAR, THE COUNTY DOES RECEIVE SHIP FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE USE THE FUNDS FOR SUCH THINGS AS GRANTS, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, HOUSING, REHABS, HOMEOWNER COUNSELING, AND MORE TO REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE STATUTE.

IT IS NECESSARY TO APPROVE AND SUBMIT AN EXCUSE ME, AN INCENTIVE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT ANNUALLY BY DECEMBER 31ST.

I THINK ON THE SLIDE UP HERE, IT SAYS OH, YOU DID CHANGE IT.

[03:25:03]

I THINK YOU DID. SORRY.

MY APOLOGIES. NOTHING.

NO, NO, YOU CHANGED THE.

YOU CHANGED IT? NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

NO. EXCUSE ME.

THERE WAS SOME LAST MINUTE CHANGES ON THINGS.

SO THE REPORT ITSELF DOES LIST OUT SEVERAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE SHIP PROGRAM.

BUT ONLY ONLY THOSE.

ONLY THOSE HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED.

BUT ONLY TWO OF THEM NEED TO BE MANDATED, WHICH ARE EXPEDITED PERMITTING AND AN ONGOING REVIEW PROCESS OF THE INCENTIVES.

BOTH OF THOSE INCENTIVES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE BY OUR COUNTY.

SO FOR THE 2024 REPORT, THE AHRQ, WE CONDUCTED A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE EXISTING INCENTIVES AND HAVE NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE REPORT, AS WE BELIEVE THE CURRENT INCENTIVES ARE ALL WELL ALIGNED WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING AND MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS YEAR WE DID IMPROVE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT, KIND OF STREAMLINED IT, MAKE IT SHORTER.

AND THEN WE DID ADD AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AT THE FRONT OF THE REPORT.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE INCENTIVES WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TWO OF THE TWO KEY INCENTIVES THAT WE BELIEVE AS A COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HAVE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN OUR COUNTY, AND THAT IS FLEXIBLE DENSITIES AND IMPACT FEES.

FLEXIBLE DENSITIES.

AS WE ALL KNOW, ALLOW FOR MORE HOUSING UNITS TO BE BUILT ON A SINGLE PARCEL OF LAND.

WHICH DIRECTLY SUPPORTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY PROVIDING SMALLER AND MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.

IT CAN ALSO LOCALIZE HOUSING NEAR CITY CENTERS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE BROUGHT UP EARLIER ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.

THIS ALSO HELPS IMPROVE ACCESS TO SHOPPING SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THESE HOMEOWNERS THAT LIVE THERE.

PERSONALLY, I'M IN FAVOR OF FLEXIBLE DENSITIES BECAUSE I'M OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I HAVE MY OWN BUSINESS, I DO HOME INSPECTIONS.

JUST TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND SEEING ALL THESE LARGE YARDS.

PEOPLE DO NOT USE THEM.

IT'S JUST KIND OF GOES TO WASTE A LITTLE BIT.

AND, AND FRANKLY, IT JUST INCREASED THE COST OF OWNING A HOME.

SO FOR ME, IF YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, INCREASE THE FLEXIBILITY AND INCREASE DENSITIES, YOU'RE DECREASING, YOU KNOW, YARD MAINTENANCE AND STUFF.

AND SO IT JUST KIND OF MAKES SENSE FOR HELPING HOMEOWNERS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS IMPACT FEES, WHICH WE ALL LOVE TO TALK ABOUT. WHILE IMPACT FEES ARE ALL NECESSARY TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.

THE COUNTY DOES HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST IMPACT FEES IN THE STATE WHICH UNDOUBTEDLY INCREASES THE COST OF BUILDING HOMES.

WE DO RECOMMEND AS A COMMITTEE EXPLORING WAYS TO EASE THE BURDEN OF THIS FOR HOMES DESIGNATED TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SUCH POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS AS FEE WAIVERS, CREDIT TRANSFERS, EXTENDED DEFERRAL PLANS, AND EVEN JUST ADJUSTMENTS TO UTILITY CONNECTION FEES IS ANOTHER ONE.

WE DO FEEL REDUCING THESE COSTS WOULD DEFINITELY HELP INCENTIVIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO WITH YOUR DIRECTION.

WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER DIRECTING THE STAFF AND US TO FOCUS ON THESE TWO HIGHLIGHTED AREAS MOVING FORWARD.

AS THIS CONTINUES TO BE, AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTINUES TO REMAIN KEY KEY ISSUE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MAYBE TOP FIVE KEY ISSUES.

SO LASTLY BEFORE YOU AGAIN IS THE 2024 INCENTIVES REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT, WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE AHAC COMMITTEE FOR ANNUAL SUBMISSION.

THIS REPORT DOES NOT PROPOSE ANY CHANGES TO EXISTING POLICIES OR PROCEDURES WITHIN THE COUNTY PLAN.

JUST TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

BUT WE DO RESPECTFULLY ASK OF YOU TODAY TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE INCENTIVES REPORT TO ENSURE CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE SHIP PROGRAM. AND ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD APPRECIATE MEETING WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO KIND OF COME UP AND WITH YOUR TO COME UP WITH THE IDEAS AND SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE ON IMPROVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

WITH THAT SAID, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT.

I'LL LEAVE THAT TO ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? LOOKS LIKE WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU GUYS. OKAY.

WHEN I ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

[03:30:01]

MY NAME IS GREG BURKE.

I LIVE AT 434 MONTSERRAT DRIVE.

I'M AN ARCHITECT AND URBAN DESIGNER, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.

WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY WAS WITH THE DENSITIES AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS A WAY TO INCREASE THAT AT THE SAME SCALE AS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES.

I CURRENTLY HAVE A PROPOSAL INTO THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, WHICH IS THE BODY THAT WRITES THE BUILDING CODES FOR THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, AND THEN EACH STATE WILL MODIFY IT TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

THAT PROPOSAL IS TO ALLOW FOR TRIPLEX AND FOURPLEX UNITS TO BE BUILT THE SAME WAY YOU BUILD A ONE AND A TWO FAMILY UNIT.

THE THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT A TRIPLEX AND A FOURPLEX CAN BE BUILT IN A 40 BY 60 FOOT PRINT ON A LOT THAT IS NO BIGGER THAN 60 BY 135 OR 140.

SO IT FITS INTO THE SAME SIZE THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY GET FOR SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS, LIKE WINDWARD RANCH, WHERE I HAPPEN TO LIVE.

MY WIFE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PLACE.

SHE'S HAPPY.

BUT BUT THIS MISSING MIDDLE TYPE THING.

WE'VE MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSION.

UNFORTUNATELY, COMMISSIONER MURPHY, TAYLOR AND COMMISSIONER ARNOLD WAS UP SELLING THE MUSEUM AT THE TIME, SO SHE MISSED IT.

BUT SHE. SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE MISSING MIDDLE.

I'D LIKE TO COME BACK AND MAKE THOSE PRESENTATIONS EITHER TO THE BOARD IN WHOLE OR INDIVIDUALLY, TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT CAN MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE WILL HAVE TO BE SOME LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE ADOPTED.

AND IF THIS DOES PASS, THE PROPOSAL WILL BE HEARD IN ORLANDO IN LATE MARCH OR EARLY APRIL.

IF IT PASSES THERE, IT GOES TO COLUMBUS, OHIO IN THE FALL IF IT PASSES THERE, BECAUSE THIS IS A SCOPE CHANGE TO THE BUILDING CODE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO MAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO INCLUDE IT IN THAT MANNER.

I WILL MAKE PRESENTATIONS AT ALL THREE OF THOSE IF WE GET THAT FAR ALONG.

SO IT'S ONE TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX THAT CAN HELP US ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT 40 BY 60 FOOTPRINT.

I CURRENTLY HAVE A TRIPLEX IN DESIGN THAT PROVIDES A ONE AND TWO BEDROOM LIVING UNITS ON THE GROUND FLOOR, IN A THREE BEDROOM ON THE UPPER FLOOR.

THAT WOULD BE EASY TO CONVERT INTO A FOURPLEX BY GETTING RID OF THE THREE BEDROOM ON THE UPPER LEVEL.

AND WHAT WE DID ON THE FIRST LEVEL, JUST TAKING IT UP ONE MORE, ALL IN THAT SAME 40 BY 60 FOOTPRINT.

SO YOU SEE, WE'RE NOT BY BRINGING THE MISSING MIDDLE IN, WE'RE NOT IMPACTING WHAT LOOKS LIKE A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF MISSING MIDDLE.

SO I WOULD HOPE WE'D GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN MAKE THAT PRESENTATION, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE OR TO TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY.

I'D APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS VICKIE PEPPER.

I LIVE ON HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE.

I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF AND CARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY.

WE SPEAK FREQUENTLY ON OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS, WITH MEDIAN HOME PRICES OF OVER HALF $1 MILLION AND AVERAGE MONTHLY RENT FOR A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT OF OVER $1,900. LOWER AND EVEN MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS REPRESENTING VITAL SEGMENTS OF OUR WORKFORCE, SERVICE WORKERS AND THE HOSPITALITY AND HEALTH CARE INDUSTRIES.

TEACHERS, POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS INCREASINGLY STRUGGLE TO FIND HOUSING IN OUR COUNTY.

GROWING NUMBERS OF OUR WORKERS COMMUTING FROM SURROUNDING COUNTIES ONLY EXACERBATE STRAINS ON OUR ROADS, THAT SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN OUR POPULATION OVER 120% IN THE LAST 20 YEARS HAVE CAUSED.

SO CARE APPLAUDS THE WORK OF YOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHOSE DEDICATED MEMBERS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE CONCRETE MEASURES FOR INCREASING SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY'S STOCK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE URGE YOU TO ACCEPT AND PURSUE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

THAT SAID, THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

IN ADDITION TO MORE FLEXIBLE DENSITY THAT PROVIDES FOR MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND MORE CREATIVE AND FLEXIBLE USE OF IMPACT FEES, WE NEED ALL AVAILABLE TOOLS IN OUR TOOL KIT BECAUSE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES A CLEAN, SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

AND FRANKLY, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO CREATE HOUSING FOR THOSE AT 80% OF OUR AREA MEDIAN INCOME OF OVER $98,000 A YEAR THAN IT IS AT 60%, AND IT'S EASIER TO CREATE HOUSING FOR THOSE AT 60% OF AMI THAN IT IS FOR THOSE AT 50 OR 30%.

AND A WORKER MAKING $15 AN HOUR.

WORKING 40 HOURS A WEEK COULD GROSS ROUGHLY 30% OF AMI.

WE NEED SOME LEVEL OF SMART GROWTH TO BUILD OUR STOCK OF HOUSING AVAILABLE TO THOSE AT MODERATE TO LOWER INCOME LEVELS.

ACCEPTING SOME TRADEOFFS IN TERMS OF DENSITY AND TRAFFIC WILL MAKE SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN THE AMOUNT AND TYPES OF HOUSING AT THE PRICE LEVELS WE NEED.

[03:35:03]

WE NEED MORE MIXED INCOME, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.

YOU AND COUNTY STAFF NEED TO WORK WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND KEY NGOS TO ESTABLISH, THEN WORK TOWARD CONCRETE GOALS FOR SPECIFIC TYPES AND AMOUNTS OF HOUSING ATTAINABLE TO RESIDENTS AT A RANGE OF INCOME LEVELS.

YOU NEED TO USE THE LEVERAGE YOU HAVE WHEN YOU HAVE IT TO PUSH PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO CREATE MORE HOUSING OF THE TYPES THAN AT THE PRICE RANGES WE NEED.

FOR EXAMPLE, DON'T APPROVE ZONING CHANGES SOUGHT BY DEVELOPERS UNLESS THEY AGREE TO PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR DEVELOPMENTS.

YOU NEED TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO ENABLE THEM TO KEEP THEIR HOUSING AFFORDABLE.

AND FINALLY, WE NEED ACCESS TO THE FUNDING AND OTHER TOOLS THAT A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY COULD BRING TO SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY COUNTY, IN ORDER TO BUILD OUR HOUSING STOCK AVAILABLE FOR WORKERS AT THE LOWER INCOME LEVELS, THE 30 TO 50%.

CLEARLY, WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN ADOPTING AND PROVIDING MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS.

EMBRACING THE GOOD WORK AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF YOUR AHRQ WILL PROVIDE A GOOD START.

WE URGE YOU TO DO SO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M POLLY CRABTREE.

I LIVE AT 320 LHASA DRIVE, AND I'M A BRAND NEW MEMBER OF THE AHAC COMMITTEE, AND I JUST WANTED TO THROW MY SUPPORT BEHIND THESE INITIATIVES, THESE INCENTIVES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I WORK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE FOR HEALTH SCIENCES, AND WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE TO LIVE IN PALATKA AND HASTINGS AND JACKSONVILLE AND ARE COMMUTING INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS AREA.

SO I REALLY WANT TO THROW MY SUPPORT BEHIND THESE INCENTIVES AND ALSO REALLY ASK YOU TO CONSIDER AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A PRIORITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I AGREE, IT'S LABAN BOX 304.

ED SLAVIN COMM I ESPECIALLY AGREE WITH VICKI PEPPER.

WE NEED A PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY.

IT WAS WRONG FOR THE BCC TO VOTE DOWN A PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IF SOMEONE NEEDS A HUD SECTION EIGHT HOUSING VOUCHER AND THEY LIVE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, THEY'VE GOT TO GO TO DUVAL COUNTY.

NOW THINK OF THAT.

IF SOMEONE NEEDS A HUD SECTION EIGHT HOUSING VOUCHER, THEY'RE A MEMBER OF A PROTECTED CLASS, AND OUR COUNTY WOULD NOT PROVIDE FOR A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS CURRENTLY SERVING VOTED FOR IT, AND I COMMEND COMMISSIONER ARNOLD FOR VOTING FOR IT.

BUT THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS VOTED AGAINST IT, AND THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE TO THEM AT THAT TIME WERE, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO SAY BORDERLINE RACIST.

I'M GOING TO SAY THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE TO THEM AT THE TIME WAS JUST OUTRAGEOUS.

I THINK WE'VE GROWN PAST THAT, AND I THINK WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND SUPPORT A PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE AND SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

IT'S A DISGRACE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE.

IT'S A DISGRACE THAT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY SPENT MONEY HIRING SOME HAM AND EGGER LAWYER WHO DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS TO DEFEND AGAINST MY HUD TITLE VI COMPLAINT. YEAH.

SO RATHER THAN MEDIATE OR CONCILIATE, HUD INVITED SAINT JOHNS COUNTY THROUGH PRIOR COMMISSIONERS AND PRIOR COUNTY ATTORNEYS.

INVITED SAINT JOHNS COUNTY TO CONCILIATE MY HUD TITLE SIX COMPLAINT.

NOW, SAINT JOHNS COUNTY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO TALK.

THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT AL GORE JR.

SAID IN 1992, IN HIS BOOK EARTH IN THE BALANCE.

HE COMPARED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY, AND IT'S DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

NOT ONLY DO WE NOT PROVIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR ANY KIND OF A TRANSIT SYSTEM HERE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE CARS, BUT WE'RE NOT EVEN WILLING TO CONSIDER A PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY BECAUSE OF WHAT? THE TEA PARTY, BECAUSE OF SEGREGATIONISTS.

OUR FORMER COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR, BEN RICH SR, CORRECTLY SAID THAT SAINT AUGUSTINE AND SAINT JOHNS COUNTY WERE ONE OF THE LAST BASTIONS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN. WE'RE ABOVE THAT IN TERMS OF PUBLIC POLICY.

WE SHOULD NOT TELL THE AHAC NOT TO BRING FORWARD TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY.

I THINK OUR PUBLIC POLICY DEBATES HERE ARE CRINGEWORTHY AND CREPT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT WILLING TO TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, WHICH IS BIGOTRY. DOCTOR KING CORRECTLY SAID THAT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY WAS ONE OF THE LAST ONE OF THE LAST BASTIONS OF THE KKK.

AS BEN RICH SENIOR SAID.

BUT HE ALSO SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST BASTIONS OF THE KKK.

I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR PUBLIC HOUSING IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE PUBLIC HOUSING OFF THE TABLE? WE NEED BETTER PUBLIC POLICY DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[03:40:10]

THANK YOU.

YEAH, I'M JUST KIDDING.

I'M. SURE.

YOU MUST BE GOOD. YEAH, YEAH.

DO SLIDESHOW AND THEN GO TO FROM BEGINNING.

RIGHT. OKAY.

OH GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS JUDY SPIEGEL, AND I LIVE AT 101 WILLOW LANE.

I'M ALSO THE SCHOOL BOARD OR THE PTA MEMBER OF THE AHAC COMMITTEE.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ANN TAYLOR TO THE GROUP.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ARNOLD FOR ALL YOUR WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN HELPING GET AFFORDABLE, ATTAINABLE HOUSING IN JUST OUR COUNTY. IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.

AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE A GREAT HEART FOR THE WELL-BEING AND THE COMFORT OF OUR SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT ATTAINABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING IS ESSENTIAL TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS COUNTY.

THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE ARE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT PHYSICAL.

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SEE CHANGE, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR THE WAY THIS COUNTY FUNCTIONS.

THERE IS A MISPERCEPTION, AND I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT I WAS ONE OF THESE PEOPLE BEFORE I STARTED GETTING INVOLVED IN ALL THIS WONDERFUL COUNTY STUFF ABOUT GROWTH. TRAFFIC IS OBSERVABLE TO RESIDENTS.

AND THERE'S A CONCERN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THERE'LL BE MORE TRAFFIC AND IT'S GOING TO MESS UP MY, MY TRIPS AND MY LIFE.

BUT IF WE'RE HOUSING LOCAL WORKFORCE, THEN THEY'RE ALREADY ON OUR ROADS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AND THE TIMING BETWEEN WHEN SOMETHING IS APPROVED AND WHEN SOMETHING ACTUALLY BEGINS TO BE CONSTRUCTED.

THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND FUNDING AND HOW MUCH DEVELOPERS HAVE TO PAY.

THERE'S MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE WORKFORCE IS TO OUR SURVIVAL AS A COUNTY, AND EDUCATION IS A HUGE PART OF BEING ABLE TO RECTIFY THAT.

AS WE HEARD EARLIER FROM MISS PEPPER, THERE IS NO SINGLE SOLUTION THAT WILL FIX THIS ISSUE.

BUT BUT WE ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION RIGHT NOW WITH THE REWRITING OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SPEAR TIP THAT HAS BEEN PRESSED INTO THIS ISSUE, AND WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THRUST WE CAN PUSH THROUGH AND WE CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THIS COUNTY AS WE'RE REWRITING THIS PLAN.

AS WE KNOW IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE, THE INTERVIEWS AND SURVEYS THAT THEY DID, IT WAS A TOP THREE PRIORITY.

I BELIEVE IT WAS NUMBER TWO WAS ATTAINABLE HOUSING.

SO I JUST AM STANDING HERE AS AN AHC MEMBER, THANKFUL TO BE HERE.

AND SO HONORED TO BE WORKING WITH THESE VERY LEARNED PEOPLE.

I'M LEARNING SO MUCH FROM THEM, BUT THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER FLEXIBLE DENSITY AND IMPACT FEES.

ONE SUGGESTION WAS MADE, I THINK IT'S IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, WHERE THEY USE THE INTEREST FROM IMPACT FEES TO FUND WORKFORCE HOUSING AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING. AND THAT IS SOMETHING CERTAINLY WE COULD LOOK INTO.

BUT I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE THIS AS A TOP PRIORITY FOR YOU, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THE WARNING SIGNS.

AND IF WE DO NOT BEGIN TO MAKE MEASURABLE, DEFINABLE OUTCOMES, WE WILL HAVE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON.

IT'S ALMOST THERE. I'M BILL LAZAR WITH THE SAINT JOHN'S HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, 525 WEST KING STREET.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME LISTENING TO THIS REPORT.

THERE'S THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT THAN JUST THE REPORT, WHICH IS A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT FOR EVERY MUNICIPALITY.

SO WE GET OUR MONEY FROM THE STATE, WHICH COMES FROM OUR PROPERTY TAXES.

BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS REALLY IT'S VERY SIMPLE IN ONE WAY.

IT'S A DISPARITY BETWEEN WAGES AND HOUSING COSTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY STRUGGLES WITH.

WE'VE GOT EMPLOYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOT OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND THE WORKFORCE.

IN SOME CASES, YOU'VE GOT RESTAURANTS THAT'LL DO TWO OUT OF THREE MEALS A DAY, BUT THEY CAN'T DO ALL THREE.

AND THAT'S NOT THE BUSINESS PLAN THEY TOOK TO THE BANK.

IT'S ALL THEY CAN DO.

THEY CAN'T FIND PEOPLE.

I'VE GOT A PAINT STORE THAT SAYS THEY DON'T CLOSE, EXCEPT FOR A CERTAIN TIME AT LUNCH, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T HIRE SOMEBODY AT THE COUNTER.

Y'ALL LISTENED THIS MORNING TO ALL THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND TO A LARGE DEGREE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS VERY CONNECTED TO THAT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO FAMILIES THAT ARE EARNING LESS THAN, SAY, $80,000 A YEAR, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY

[03:45:05]

FOR THE COST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IT TAKES TO BRING THAT ROADS, WATER AND SEWER TO THEIR HOME.

SO THEY'RE THE FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY STRUGGLING, WHETHER IT'S ON THE RENTAL SIDE OR THE HOMEOWNERSHIP SIDE.

THE BIG PART IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THAT THERE'S REALLY TWO THINGS WE WANT TO STABILIZE OUR EXISTING HOUSING STRUCTURES.

WHATEVER HOUSES ARE HERE THAT PEOPLE OWN, YOUR HOME, YOUR COUNTY HOUSING STAFF DO A GREAT JOB USING THE STATE FUNDS AND CDBG FUNDS TO STABILIZE SOME OF OUR EXISTING HOMES, WHICH KEEPS THOSE FAMILIES FROM BEING PREYED UPON BY RENTAL INVESTORS WHO WILL OFFER THEM MONEY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD WHAT IS NOW A NEW ROOF BECAUSE OF THE INSURANCE CRISIS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR AFFORDABLE CHALLENGE IS IF WE CAN FIX THOSE HOMES UP, THEY REMAIN HOPEFULLY IN THE COMMUNITY BENEFITING THAT FAMILY.

THEIR KIDS POSSIBLY GET SOLD OR PASSED ON TO AN HEIR.

BUT WE ALSO WE'VE GOT TO CREATE NEW HOUSING UNITS, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT BECOMES CHALLENGING.

YOU'VE SEEN THE CHAMBER'S REPORT.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOME UPDATED FIGURES IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE'VE GOT TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE CAN CREATE MORE.

AND THE BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IF THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE COST OF THE LAND AND FINANCING THE ROADS, WATER AND SEWER FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS BEFORE THAT FIRST HOUSE GETS BUILT, THAT THEY CAN'T BUILD SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE WHO MAKES LESS THAN $60,000 A YEAR.

BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE REALITY OF IT.

SO THE DENSITY BONUS LETS US LOOK AT PROPERTY INFILL LOTS.

CAN WE PUT A DUPLEX OR A TRIPLEX ON SOME? YOU KNOW, IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS YOU SEE IT POPPING UP UNOFFICIALLY WHEN PEOPLE PUT A SHED IN THEIR BACKYARD AND SOMEBODY'S LIVING IN IT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE SOUTH AND THE SHORES AND DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO STABILIZE THEIR KIDS OR SOMEBODY ELSE.

WE'RE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE LIVED FOR 400 YEARS, AND WHAT MANY OF THEM ARE TELLING YOU IS THEIR KIDS CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE.

SO WE NEED YOUR HELP AND YOUR SUPPORT.

YOU'VE GOT $1.3 MILLION IN A COMMERCIAL IMPACT FEE ACCOUNT NOW THAT CAME FROM SILVERLEAF, AND I THINK THE COMMERCIAL ONE OR THE OTHER COMMERCIAL PROJECTS CHALLENGE THE STAFF TO PUT IT TO USE, YOU KNOW, DON'T LET IT JUST SIT THERE.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHARLIE HINTON, MILL CREEK ESTATES.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING AND RESEARCHING AND GOING TO SOME OF THE MEETINGS, AND I LEAVE MORE CONFUSED.

AND I ACTUALLY DO WHEN I WALK IN THERE ABOUT HOW'S IT GOING BETWEEN THE, THE TERMINOLOGY OF WORKFORCE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE WORKFORCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE, IT NEEDS TO IT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE IN THE COUNTY LIKE THIS.

OKAY. GRANTED, LIKE THE PROPERTY THAT WAS OWNED 16 AND 16 A THAT WANTED TO PUT 240 ODD APARTMENTS RIGHT THERE ON THAT CORNER, THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

THAT'S A BAD LOCATION.

THE PROPERTY THAT WAS OUT ON 208 NEAR THE FIRE STATION THAT WAS WANTING TO PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THERE WAS NO REAL STRUCTURE FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIVE IN THOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BECAUSE IF THEY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A LOT OF THEM WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WORK OR.

EXCUSE ME OWN A VEHICLE.

OR IF THEY DO, THEY MAY NOT DRIVE IT A LOT IF THERE WAS TRANSPORTATION THERE.

SO YES, THIS IS A PART OF LIVING IN A COUNTY.

LIVING IN A STATE IS THAT WE DO NEED WE DO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THOSE PERSONS.

ALSO, THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOES CARRY A BAD STIGMATISM.

IT CARRIES A STEREOTYPE OF SOME OF THE OTHER OLD STYLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, QUOTE UNQUOTE, GOVERNMENT APARTMENTS. THAT COMES OFF FROM IT.

THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR SHAPE.

THEY CHANGED THEIR, THEIR THEIR LOOK, THEIR THEIR THEIR WHOLE APPEARANCE.

BUT IT STILL CARRIES THE ASTIGMATISM OF WHAT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE.

ALL RIGHT. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS BEING HEAVY DRUG PLACES DRUG DEALING OUT OF THOSE PLACES LIKE THAT.

YES. THEY WERE UP IN JACKSONVILLE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF THEM, OKAY, THAT ARE STILL LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED THE STIGMATISM.

THIS COUNTY NEEDS IT.

OKAY. YES.

GREAT. THE SILVERLEAF EMPIRE, THEY DID DONATE THE 200 ACRES OUT THERE WAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ARMSTRONG.

GREAT. NO TRANSPORTATION, NO UTILITIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY JUST CHECK THE BLOCK, AND NOW THEY GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

IF THEY CAN, IF THE COUNTY CAN DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

BUT TO HAVE IT IN, WITHIN, NEAR THE CITY LIMITS IS IS FEASIBLE.

[03:50:03]

IT'S FEASIBLE OUT IN THE OTHER AREAS.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARD BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL NOT WANT THAT NEAR THEIR HOUSE.

THEY KNOW THEY'LL APPROVE IT, BUT NOT NEAR THEIR HOUSE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SUZANNE CLEWLOW 109.

LAUREL WOOD WAY 32086.

I'VE BEEN ATTENDING THE AHAC MEETINGS AS JUST AN INTERESTED PERSON, AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, I'VE BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH THE CALIBER OF PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE SERVING ON THAT COMMITTEE.

THEY REALLY KNOW THEIR STUFF.

THEY THINK OUT OF THE BOX.

AND THEY'VE BEEN SITTING THERE, SOME OF THEM FOR YEARS AND PUTTING FORTH IDEAS OUT OF THE BOX, OUT OF THE BOX.

AND AS I WENT THROUGH AND READ BACK THROUGH SOME MINUTES FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN MAKING THE SAME SUGGESTIONS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW WHY SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE NOT GETTING IMPLEMENTED, WHY WE CAN'T GET SOME TRACTION.

I LEARNED THIS MORNING THAT MISS TAYLOR IS GOING TO BE THERE AS THE LIAISON.

WE REALLY NEED A LIAISON.

WHO'S GOING TO COME BACK HERE AND BE REPORTING THIS ONE REPORT, BECAUSE IT'S NEEDED FOR THEM TO GET THE SHIP MONEY EVERY YEAR ISN'T GOING TO CUT IT.

WE NEED CONSTANT GOOD INFORMATION FLOWING HERE BECAUSE EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE 100 OTHER THINGS WITH THE COUNTY THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE CONSTANTLY BRINGING YOU BACK SOME INFORMATION.

SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT HAPPEN.

WE CANNOT DEPEND ON DEVELOPERS ANYMORE.

TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR US, THAT THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM THEY SEE THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM.

WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THEY WILL SAY, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THESE WORKFORCE HOUSING.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU 30%.

YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US SOME PERKS FOR DOING THAT.

AND THEY LEARN TO WORK THE SYSTEM AFTER A WHILE AND MAKE IT WORK FOR THEM.

AND I REALLY SEE THAT HAPPENING.

THE DEVELOPERS WE'RE IN A TRANSITION PERIOD AGAIN, AS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH HOUSING AND THE MARKET IS CHANGING.

AND WE HAVE WE CAN'T WAIT AROUND 4 OR 5 YEARS BECAUSE THE MARKET CHANGES TWICE BEFORE WE GET AROUND TO DECIDING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

SO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE REPORT.

THERE'S MANY MORE THINGS IN IT OTHER THAN JUST THOSE TWO.

ONE IS ON THEIR RESERVE INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY FOR HOUSING, FOR VERY LOW INCOME.

I'M FOR THAT ONE STOP RESERVING CAPACITY FOR HOUSES THAT 75 TO 80% OF OUR RESIDENTS CANNOT AFFORD. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE.

PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY INCREASING DENSITY.

I'VE GOT SOME CONCERNS WITH DOING THAT, GIVEN THE TRANSPORTATION MITIGATION HOLE THAT WE FOUND OURSELVES IN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.

BUT BUT IMPACT FEES.

I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET A GOVERNMENT FEE OUT OF THE WAY OF BUILDING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THE, THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR SO CLEARLY NEEDS.

I ASKED MR. KOMANDO, YOU KNOW, DID WE HAVE ANY OPTIONS? WHAT WERE THE OPTIONS? HE MADE ME AWARE OF A PROGRAM THAT WAS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ENACTED BY CLAY COUNTY, AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT REIMBURSES THE IMPACT FEES ONCE THEY'RE PAID.

THAT BASICALLY REQUIRES THE DEVELOPER TO BUILD THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO YOU MAKE SURE YOU GET THE PRODUCT THAT YOU'RE SIGNING UP FOR.

IT HOLDS THE DEVELOPER ACCOUNTABLE, AND IT BENEFITS THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE COUNTY.

SO I'M NOT ASKING TO VOTE ON THAT.

BUT WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO GET CONSENSUS ON, IF IT'S THE BOARD'S WILL, IS TO HAVE MR. KOMANDO COME BACK AT OUR JANUARY MEETING OR MAYBE THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY AND MAKE A PRESENTATION SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MAKING A REDUCTION IN IMPACT FEES IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM WOULD BE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, SEEING THAT IT'S BEING DONE ACROSS THE RIVER IN CLAY COUNTY, I THINK VERY EFFECTIVELY.

[03:55:03]

I AGREE. I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING OVER THE IMPACT FEES.

MISS ANDREWS, WHAT ARE WE DOING? THE IMPACT FEE THING. BECAUSE WE MIGHT BE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE BY JANUARY.

JUST. WE'RE SCHEDULED TO PRESENT THE IMPACT FEE STUDY IN JANUARY.

SO MAYBE WE SHOULD DO YOURS IN FEBRUARY OR.

YES, MA'AM. IF IT'S IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR IT IN FEBRUARY, I JUST WANT TO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A PATH FORWARD TO AT LEAST START LOOKING AT WORKING ON THE PROBLEM.

WELL, AND THEN THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT YOU BUY.

YOU PURCHASE THE HOMES OR YOU RENT THE HOMES AND IT'S ONLY A TWO YEAR HOLD.

IT NEEDS TO BE 30 YEARS.

THE HOMES NEED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE FOR 30 YEARS INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S YOUR INVESTMENT.

REALLY? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER MURPHY? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

I WILL MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024 574 TO ACCEPT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

2024 INCENTIVE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS ANNUAL REPORT.

I'LL SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE. A50 UNANIMOUS.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH TILL 130.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK IN SESSION NUMBER FIVE.

MR. WHITEHOUSE.

[Items 5 & 6]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.

COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RECORD, JAMES WHITEHOUSE, SAINT JOHN'S LAW GROUP, 104 SEAGROVE MAIN STREET, HERE IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA.

I'M EXCITED, ACTUALLY, AND PROUD TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HARDY FAMILY.

I THINK A FEW OF YOU MET THEM WHEN WE MET, AND THEY HAVE THEIR LONG TERM OWNERS OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. THIS IS ITEM FIVE AND SIX.

I'M GOING TO PRESENT THEM TOGETHER.

IF YOU NOTICE IN YOUR AGENDA THERE'S SWITCHED SIX AND FIVE.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION FOR SIX BEFORE YOU MAKE IT FOR FIVE.

I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN I GET TO THE END.

IN ANY CASE, THE LOCATION OF THIS PROPERTY IS ON 13 A IT'S BETWEEN 214 AND 208 WHEN YOU'RE HERE ON THE WEST OF 95 WITHIN OUR COUNTY.

A LITTLE CLOSER UP SECTION SHOWS THAT IT'S BETWEEN THESE TWO PRDS.

THE FUTURE LAND USE IS RS.

THE ZONING IS THE IS EXPIRED PRD FOR THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S BETWEEN THESE TWO PRDS THAT WERE APPROVED PREVIOUSLY WITHIN THE COUNTY.

THE ONE TO THE NORTH IS THE ASHTON OAKS PRD, WHICH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, AND THE ONE TO THE SOUTH IS THE ASHTON DOWNS PRD, WHICH IS EXPIRED, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IS THAT NORTHERN SECTION OF THAT PRD, WHICH WAS APPROVED PREVIOUSLY FOR FIVE UNITS.

YOU CAN SEE HERE AN AERIAL OF THE PROPERTY ITSELF.

THIS PROPERTY IN GREEN IS WHERE THE HARDYS LIVE AND HAVE RESIDED FOR MANY YEARS.

THEY BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY BEHIND THEM, SO THEY HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THIS PROPERTY AFTERWARD.

IT'S ABOUT 30 ACRES.

AND LIKE I SAID THIS, THE THE BLUE AND THE ORANGE ARE THE EXPIRED PRD BACK IN 2022.

THIS SOUTHERN SECTION WAS REZONED TO TO OR FOR ONE UNIT.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THERE'S ANOTHER REZONING AND SMALL SCALE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO OURS BACK IN 2023.

THIS WAS FOR A LONG TIME FAMILY OWNED PROPERTY AS WELL, FOR A MAXIMUM OF SIX UNITS.

AGAIN, THIS AREA OF THE ASHTON DOWNS PRD WAS APPROVED FOR FIVE COMPATIBLE LOTS PREVIOUSLY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS PROPERTY IS HAS AN AREA OF WETLANDS ON THE, ON THE BOTTOM PART, WHICH WHICH SORT OF DEFINES HOW MANY UNITS YOU CAN DO ON THAT.

THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE TODAY IN THE STAFF RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A TEXT AMENDMENT LIMITING THIS TO A MAXIMUM OF FIVE UNITS.

THE HARDY FAMILY IS HERE TO ASK FOR REASONABLE RELIEF DUE TO THE EXPIRED PRD TO TO REZONE OR TO ACTUALLY DO THE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT TO REZ A SMALL SCALE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT TO RES, LIMITING IT TO THE MAXIMUM OF FIVE UNITS WHICH THEY MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO GET FIVE.

BUT SINCE THAT'S WHAT IT PREVIOUSLY WAS APPROVED FOR, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE TO ASK FOR.

IN THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION, YOU'LL SEE THE RECOMMENDED TEXT FOR THE THE LIMITING TEXT AMENDMENT FOR A MAXIMUM OF FIVE.

THE COUNTY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THESE WHERE WE'VE DONE REZ A AND SINCE REZ AOR ALLOWS FOR ONE UNIT PER ACRE, WE'VE LIMITED IT TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNITS.

AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT SEEMED APPROPRIATE TO DO THE FIVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS APPROVED FOR PREVIOUSLY.

AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THEIR LONG TERM OWNERS OF THIS, IT'S REALLY SMALL.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT IT WAS SMALL WHEN I PUT IT ON.

IN ANY CASE, THEY WANT COMPATIBLE, LARGE LOT LIMITED DEVELOPMENT BEHIND THEM BECAUSE THEY PLAN TO LIVE HERE.

[04:00:07]

THEY'VE ESTABLISHED THEIR HOME HERE AND BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND THIS IS A WAY TO DO SO.

AND IT'S CONSISTENT AND COMPATIBLE WITH THE AREA WITH THE LARGE LOT RESIDENTIAL AND THE PRD TO THE NORTH OF THEM AND UP AND DOWN OSCAR ASHTON ROAD.

THE, THE, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ROUTED THIS TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.

THERE'S NO OPEN COMMENTS.

WE HAD THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, WHICH IS IN YOUR PACKET.

THERE'S NO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHATSOEVER.

AND AGAIN, IT WENT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY AND WE RECEIVED A RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

SEVEN ZERO.

AND AT THAT AGENCY, THE HOA PRESIDENT OF THE HOA TO THE NORTH, WHICH IS WHERE THE HARDYS LIVE, CAME AND SPOKE IN FAVOR AND SAID THE HOA HAD VOTED IN THERE IN FAVOR OF IT AS WELL.

AND THEREFORE, WE ASK FOR YOUR REASONABLE REVIEW OF THIS AND APPROVAL OF THE SMALL SCALE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT TO RAISE WITH THE LIMIT OF MAXIMUM FIVE AND THE REZONING TO OR.

AGAIN, IT'S MESSED UP SOMEHOW, BUT THE THE MOTIONS ARE WITHIN YOUR PACKET THEMSELVES AND WE WOULD BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ANY QUESTIONS THROUGH THE CHAIR REGARDING ITEM FIVE, IF THERE'S ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS WE CAN HAVE PLACED ON THE RECORD, PLEASE GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST.

SORRY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MET YESTERDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, WITH MR. WHITEHOUSE. WITH MRS. AND MR. HARDY.

WE DISCUSSED THE SITE LOCATION.

WE DISCUSSED THE HISTORY OF THE PRD.

WHAT WAS APPROVED? THE COMPATIBILITY WITH THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.

THAT'S MY EX PARTE, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

YES. THANK YOU. I ALSO HAD A MEETING WITH JAMES WHITEHOUSE AND MR. AND MRS. HARDY YESTERDAY HERE IN THE OFFICE.

WE DISCUSSED WHEN THEY BROUGHT THE PROPERTY, THE SCOPE OF THE PROPERTY, THE FIVE UNITS AND THE LACK OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? YES. AND I MET WITH THEM AS WELL.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE, THOUGH, BUT IT WAS AT LEAST A WEEK AGO LAST THURSDAY.

WHAT WAS THE DATE? LAST THURSDAY.

LAST THURSDAY? YES, I MET WITH THE WITH MR..

MRS. HARDY AND MR. WHITEHOUSE YESTERDAY AND WE DISCUSSED ALMOST EVERYTHING BUT THIS.

WE HAD A GOOD TIME.

THAT'S RIGHT. I MET WITH YOU, MR. WHITEHOUSE, AND THE APPLICANT ON DECEMBER 12TH.

YES. NOW, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT. LET'S HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AT THIS TIME. WE'D LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER FIVE AND SIX.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2024 DASH 60 APPROVING COMP PLAN AMENDMENT, SMALL SCALE 2020 406. HARDY FAMILY BASED UPON FOUR FINDINGS OF FACT AS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.

MISS ARNOLD, YOU'RE WAITING FOR IT TO LOAD.

MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2024 DASH 61 APPROVING REZONING 2024 DASH 15 HARDY FAMILY.

BASED UPON FOUR FINDINGS OF FACT AS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

FIVE ZERO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND WAITING.

THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. AND JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD, THE INITIAL MOTION WAS WITH THE LIMITING TEXT AMENDMENT AS WELL.

YES, MA'AM. I THINK IT WAS, BUT YES MA'AM.

THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ON TO.

I THINK I HAVE TO CLOSE.

[7. Vilano Beach Main Street Contract. The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, by the adoption of its Resolution 2002-184, established the boundaries of the Vilano Beach Community Redevelopment Area, and, by the adoption of its Resolution 2002-208, incorporated the boundary areas of the Vilano Beach Community Redevelopment Area into the St. Johns County Community Redevelopment Agency. The Vilano Beach Main Street, Inc., (VBMS), is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing, promoting, and preserving the historic character and economic vitality of the Vilano Beach Town Center by implementing the Florida Main Street program. The established goals of Vilano Beach Main Street are consistent with the approved community redevelopment plan for the Vilano Beach Community Redevelopment Area, and the CRA and VBMS wish to work in harmony in implementing the community redevelopment plan. This agenda item is a Contract between the St. Johns Community Redevelopment Agency and VBMS for the purpose of providing services and projects consistent with the community redevelopment plan for the Vilano Beach Redevelopment Area. Funding for this contract was approved in the FY 2025 CRA budget.]

CLOSE THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND AND CONVENE AS THE CRA.

NOW, WE'RE NOW WE'RE BACK.

GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR.

BOARD OF THE CRA.

MY NAME IS SARAH MAXFIELD.

FOR THE RECORD, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND VILANO MAIN STREET, INC..

FOR SOME BACKGROUND, THE VILANO BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2002.

THE VILANO BEACH MAIN STREET GROUP IS A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS HAND LOCK IN STEP WITH THE CRA AREA, AND THEY ARE DEDICATED TO ENHANCING, PROMOTING AND PRESERVING THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE VILANO BEACH TOWN CENTER BY IMPLEMENTING THE FLORIDA MAIN STREET PROGRAM.

SAINT JOHNS COUNTY CRA PROVIDED FUNDING TO TO THE VILANO BEACH MAIN STREET TO IMPLEMENT THE FLORIDA MAIN STREET PROGRAM LOCALLY SINCE 2018.

[04:05:11]

AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET PROCESS, THE VILANO BEACH MAIN STREET REQUESTED FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,000 AND WAS APPROVED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE VILANO BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA.

AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, WE HAVE A PROPOSED MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO THE FOR THE AGREEMENT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? I DO WANT TO SAY IT'S AMAZING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE OUT THERE.

COULD WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE? YES. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

WELCOME. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M LINDA LAZAROVA.

I LIVE AT 301 GENOA, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF VILANO BEACH, MAIN STREET.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST FOR YOUR UNDYING SUPPORT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER TAYLOR AND COMMISSIONER MURPHY.

YOU KNOW, VILANO BEACH, MAIN STREET HAS UNDERGONE A LOT IN THE LAST, PARTICULARLY THE LAST THREE YEARS IS, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WALK INTO VILANO, YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGE IN VILANO. YOU CAN SEE THE ENTRY.

YOU CAN SEE THE TILES OF THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND.

SAINT JOHNS COUNTY PUT IRRIGATION BACK INTO THE FRONT.

WE'LL HAVE SOME GREAT PLANTINGS THERE AS SOON AS IT'S PLANTING SEASON, WE ARE GOING TO UPGRADE THE MONOLITHS.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE NEON LIGHTING OFF AND REPLACE IT WITH LED.

IN THE BACK OF ONE OF THE MONOLITHS WILL HAVE A DIGITAL SCREEN.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY UPCOMING EVENTS.

AS YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET, YOU'LL SEE THE BANNERS ON THE POLES, AND AT THE END OF THE STREET, IT'S A QUARTER OF A MILE.

AT ONE END OF THE STREET IS THE OCEANFRONT PARK, WHICH HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC ADDITION THANKS TO SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE BEACH HOUSE.

HE'S GOING TO ADD A BUILDING WITH FOUR ADDITIONAL UNITS.

NEXT IS A MAGIC BEACH.

THEY ADDED THE AMO CAFE.

NEXT TO THAT IS COLONIA.

IT IS SO FAR APPROVED FOR ABOUT 11 CONDO BUILDING BUILDINGS, BUT RICK JOHNSTON IS ENTERTAINING THE THOUGHT OF BUYING THE MAGIC BEACH MOTEL AND TURNING IT INTO SOMETHING ELSE REALLY COOL, AND VILLANO LIKE SMALL SHOPS AND THINGS.

I THINK A REASON FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN VILANO INSTEAD OF JUST STAYING IN VILANO AND, YOU KNOW, GOING DOWNTOWN, HISTORIC SAINT AUGUSTINE.

WE MOVED OUR STORE, OUR RETAIL STORE FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE TO VILANO.

THREE YEARS AGO.

YOU KNOW, THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS OPENED.

THE HOLIDAY INN COFFEE SHOP OPENED.

THE DINER WILL OPEN IN THE SPRING.

NEXT IS HALEY'S COURT, WHICH WAS A RUNDOWN APARTMENT BUILDING.

IT'S BEEN COMPLETELY RENOVATED.

IT OPENED AS SHORT TERM RENTALS A FEW WEEKS AGO.

NEXT IS HALEY'S PUB.

IT WAS BOUGHT BY NELLIGAN'S.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOCAL PUB, AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT IS SNAPPERS, BOUGHT BY NATHAN STEWART.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A FAMILY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE HYDE, WHICH YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN OPENED ABOUT A YEAR IN NOVEMBER.

AND AS YOU KNOW, MICHAEL LUGO IS MOVING MICHAEL'S FROM DOWNTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE TO THE HYATT.

SO WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON.

AND WE DID THIS.

AND IN ADDITION, WE RECEIVED THREE AWARDS FROM FLORIDA MAIN STREET THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 22 YEARS.

AND IN NOVEMBER, WE WERE THE MAIN STREET OF THE MONTH FOR FLORIDA, FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WE HAVE DONE THIS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY.

BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING.

THE DEVELOPERS COME BEFORE OUR BOARD, COME BEFORE THE COMMUNITY AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS.

WE HAVE A MUSIC EVENT THAT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY FREE.

WE HAVE A CHRISTMAS EVENT, AND WHEN I SAY IT'S LOCAL, SANTA IS THE POSTMAN, AND WE'RE GOING TO END THE YEAR WITH A SMALL FIREWORKS DISPLAY ON THE VILANO PIER ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AT 9:30 P.M..

SO THAT'S US.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY.

I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE AND I DON'T I DON'T MEAN TO BE A NEGATIVE, BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RV PARK? I THINK WE HAVE TO SEE THESE REAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT THAT IS.

COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY PITCHED AS AN RV PARK.

WE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT IT AS AN RV PARK FOR THE SAME EXACT REASONS WE HAVE AS HAVING MODULAR UNITS THERE.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE UTILITIES.

IT'S ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.

IT'S ABOUT STRESS AND HOW IT'S CONTROLLED.

THEY WERE PRETTY LOOSE AT THE NORTH COASTAL DESIGN REVIEW BOARD WHEN WE ASKED IF THE PUBLIC SPACE, IT'S A COUPLE THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT COMMUNITY CENTER WOULD BE USED FOR OUTSIDERS THEY REALLY DIDN'T KNOW.

I'M PRETTY SURE THEY KNOW.

I'M PRETTY SURE THEY HAVE A WHOLE PLAN, AND I REALLY THINK THEY NEED TO COME AND PRESENT IT, AT LEAST TO THE COMMUNITY FIRST AND GET INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

WELL, I WAS GOING TO ASK MR. KOMANDO ABOUT THAT.

THIS IS IS THERE ANY WAY FOR IT TO COME BACK IN FRONT OF THE BOARD OR HAVE SOME COMMUNITY OUTREACH ON THE DISCREPANCIES OF THE RV PARK IN VILANO?

[04:10:08]

I MEAN, SHE'S WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE IT A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.

I'D HATE TO SEE IT JUST NOT BE COMPATIBLE SO YOU CAN HOST TOWN HALL MEETINGS, OR YOU CAN SOLICIT PUBLIC INPUT.

AND I BELIEVE WE WILL DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK IT CAME TO ANYBODY'S ATTENTION.

IT SORT OF DID.

WE ALWAYS WERE A LITTLE SKEPTICAL, BUT IT WAS APPROVED, I THINK, OCTOBER 2021.

SO IT WAS COVID AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE PROBABLY PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE IF YOU RECALL, WE WERE TRYING TO PUT THAT GIANT EMBASSY SUITES OF 175 ROOMS ON THE CORNER AT THE SAME TIME. SO WE SORT OF LOST A LITTLE BIT AND IT WASN'T RV PARK.

AND SO WE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE LOOSE ABOUT IT.

BUT NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN THE INTERVIEW AND THERE'S ALMOST NO RVS DESIGNATED THERE, IF ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, THE CROSSWALK PROBLEMS WE HAVE ON A-1-A AND AND YOU'VE ALL BEEN INVOLVED WITH NORTH BEACH FLOODING, NOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT CEMENT PADS BECAUSE IT'S NO LONGER AN RV PARK.

AND SO WHERE'S THE WATER GOING? IT'S GOING TO GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS I'M GUESSING.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN IT WAS APPROVED.

IT WAS APPROVED AS AN RV PARK.

AND MAYBE THESE ARE CLASSIFIED AS RVS, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT IT BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE FROM TODAY, THERE'S A LOT OF AND IT'S NOT REALLY NEGATIVE JUST TO BE NEGATIVE, JUST LIKE YOU SAY IT'S NOT.

IT'S REALLY DID WE DO A TRAFFIC STUDY? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? SINCE THEN THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN OVER NORTH BEACH UTILITIES.

WE HAVE 125 ROOM HYATT.

SO A LOT HAS CHANGED IN VILANO SINCE 2021.

WELL, I HOPE OUR GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT SORT OF LOOKS AT THAT AND GETS ON THAT.

I'D REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT BACK AT THE BOARD.

DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CRA? YEAH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

A MOTION TO ADOPT CRA RESOLUTION 2020 4-1 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT. OH, IT JUST WENT AWAY.

I WAS READING IT. THERE WE GO.

BETWEEN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND VILANO BEACH MAIN STREET, INC..

AND SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME FORM AS ATTACHED HERE, TOO.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE. THAT'S FIVE ZERO.

UNANIMOUS. AND NOW I'M GOING TO ADJOURN.

ADJOURN THE CRA MEETING AND RECONVENE AND RECONVENE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER, MEETING NUMBER EIGHT.

[8. Second Presentation of the Draft Countywide Strategic Plan. During the BCC Meeting on February 7, 2023, County Administration received approval from the Board to hire a consultant to develop a countywide strategic plan. In March 2023, the County issued a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) and subsequently entered into a contract with BerryDunn, the top-ranked respondent. After extensive engagement with the community and stakeholders, representatives from BerryDunn presented a draft strategic plan for discussion at the Commission Meeting on September 17, 2024. The Board and community members in attendance provided feedback and suggestions. The consultant and staff collected these comments and held one-on-one sessions with both current and incoming Board members to review them. A second draft is now being presented, which incorporates the feedback received during the Commission meeting as well as recommendations from the one-on-one sessions. This draft outlines the proposed strategic priorities and objectives for the Board's discussion and consideration. The Board can choose to approve the draft as it is or make additional changes. The next phase of the project will involve finalizing the implementation plan, which includes specific action items to achieve these objectives, identifying performance measures, and developing a graphic version of the final plan to share with the community.]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CONSULTANT, BARRY DUNN, WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY.

SHE HAS SOME TRAVEL ISSUES, SO I'M HERE.

ANGIE COWLING, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, ALONG WITH SARAH TAYLOR, OUR ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH MICHELLE'S SLIDE DECK WITH YOU AS BEST WE CAN.

SO WHY ADOPT A STRATEGIC PLAN? ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES IN A STRATEGIC PLAN CAN HELP US TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AND SERVICES TO FOCUS ON.

IT'S ALSO A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT GUIDES OUR DECISION MAKING.

IT ALLOWS US TO ADAPT TO CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY, LEADERSHIP AND DURING EMERGENCIES.

AND THE BOARD CAN REVIEW THE PLAN ANNUALLY TO DECIDE IF THERE'S ANY NECESSARY CHANGES.

THE PLAN IS ALSO A TOOL TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE AND PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC.

THE TEAM AT THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE AND TRANSPARENCY HAS BEEN WORKING ON DATA DASHBOARDS FOR THE PUBLIC ON OUR WEBSITE TO TRACK OUR PROGRESS IN CARRYING OUT THE PLAN.

SO HERE'S A TIMELINE TO REMIND EVERYONE HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.

SORRY I GOT A LITTLE MESSED UP THERE, BUT WE STARTED BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS WITH YOU FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE SOURCES OF INFORMATION THAT INFORM THE PLAN.

WE CONDUCTED SEVERAL EVENTS TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS ON WHAT ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.

WE COMPLETED A COMMUNITY SURVEY, HELD MULTIPLE FOCUS GROUPS, WORKSHOPS AND INTERVIEWS, AND WE ALSO COLLABORATED WITH THE COMP PLAN TEAM TO HOST SIX COMMUNITY FORUMS. OUR CONSULTANT ALSO PRESENTED THE FIRST DRAFT TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER, AND WE USE THAT FEEDBACK AS WELL.

[04:15:05]

SO HERE'S OUR MISSION STATEMENT.

WE DID NOT HAVE ANY RECOMMENDED EDITS TO THE MISSION OR THE VISION STATEMENTS, BUT JUST AS A REMINDER, IT STATES THAT WE SERVE AND INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP, HIGH QUALITY SERVICES, AND PRESERVING THE COUNTY'S HISTORY AND NATURAL BEAUTY WHILE ENHANCING ECONOMIC VITALITY.

IN OUR I'M SORRY, I'M LOSING MY VOICE.

OUR PROPOSED VISION STATEMENT IS THAT SAINT JOHNS COUNTY IS A HISTORIC COMMUNITY WITH A THRIVING POPULATION AND ECONOMY, OFFERING WORLD CLASS CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND THESE ARE OUR PROPOSED VALUES.

THESE ARE HOW WE INTEND TO INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED.

AND SO NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SARAH TO GO THROUGH THE PRIORITIES AND THE REVISIONS WE'VE MADE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. SARAH TAYLOR, ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

AS YOU WILL SEE ON THE SLIDE, THESE PRIORITY AREAS HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE IN SEPTEMBER.

EACH ONE IS LISTED WITH A GOAL STATEMENT INCLUDED.

FOR THE SAKE OF TIME. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THEM.

THEY ARE ON THE SCREEN, BUT THE PRIORITIES ARE COMMUNITY TRUST, COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, ENHANCED CONSERVATION, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE.

SO THIS IS SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT'S SUMMARIZED FROM THE LAST MEETING THAT WE HAD IN SEPTEMBER.

WE TOOK THESE COMMENTS AND AS YOU KNOW, WE MET WITH EACH ONE OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO GO THROUGH THE PLAN AS A DRAFT WITH YOUR COLLECTIVE INPUT THAT WE RECEIVED, WE MADE THE FOLLOWING REVISIONS.

AND AS A REFERENCE, THERE'S A RED LINE VERSION IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET.

SO THE NEXT TWO SLIDES WILL REFERENCE SOME REVISIONS.

WE MADE CHANGES TO IMPROVE CLARITY AND FLOW, AND MADE REVISIONS USING PLAIN LANGUAGE.

BASED ON THAT FEEDBACK, WE'LL HIGHLIGHT JUST A COUPLE OF AREAS FOR EACH SECTION THAT WAS OF IMPORTANCE.

OBJECTIVE D IN COMMUNITY WELL-BEING REGARDING ANIMAL SERVICES WAS ONE THAT CAME UP AS A TOPIC LAST TIME.

WE BROADENED AND REVISED THAT TO SUPPORT PET OWNERSHIP THROUGH PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS AIMED AT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STRAY ANIMALS AND OWNER SURRENDERS.

OBJECTIVE H REFERENCED PROGRAMS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AND NEEDED TO BE CLARIFIED BASED ON FEEDBACK.

IT NOW READS. PROVIDE SUPPORT TO HOME OWNERS THROUGH INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT AND FOSTERING AFFORDABILITY.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES ENHANCING OR IN THE ENHANCING CONSERVATION, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE AGRICULTURAL LAND.

THE OBJECTIVE WAS REVISED TO CLARIFY THE INTENT TO PROMOTE THE AG COMMUNITY WHILE RESPECTING THE LANDOWNERS PROPERTY RIGHTS.

IT NOW READS.

SUPPORT THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING INCENTIVE OPTIONS TO PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN THE CULTURAL IDENTITY OF AGRICULTURAL LAND, WHILE RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS.

THE OTHERS WERE JUST SIMPLE REVISIONS TO TO LANGUAGE.

SO FOR WHAT'S NEXT? WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE PLAN, THE DEPARTMENTS WILL DEVELOP ACTION PLANS TO FOCUS ON ACCOMPLISHING THESE OBJECTIVES.

SOME OF THESE ALREADY EXIST, SO WE'LL WORK TOGETHER TO ALIGN THEM WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE AND TRANSPARENCY WILL MONITOR AND TRACK THE PROGRESS TO IDENTIFY SUCCESSES AND OBVIOUSLY AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT.

WE'LL ALSO INCORPORATE THE STRATEGIC PLAN INTO THE BUDGETING PROCESS STARTING IN FY 26, TO SHOW YOU AND THE PUBLIC HOW THE BUDGET ALIGNS WITH THESE PRIORITIES.

WE'LL ALSO BEGIN PUBLISHING DASHBOARDS AND REPORTS THAT WILL PRESENT TO THE BOARD ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND WE'LL HAVE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE AND TRANSPARENCY WEBSITE.

WE'RE IMPLEMENTING A TOOL TO COLLECT AND TRACK THIS PERFORMANCE, WHICH WILL ENHANCE AND EXPAND OUR CURRENT DASHBOARDS, WHICH YOU SEE REFERENCED ABOVE.

WE'RE ASKED TO CREATE SOMETHING EASY TO READ AND SIMPLE, SO WE HAVE A DRAFT PLAN AT A GLANCE FOR YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE FOR COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS TO THE PUBLIC.

AND ALSO IN THE AGENDA PACKET IS THE FULL PLAN, INCLUDING PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT STAFF WILL USE TO ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVES AND PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY.

THAT'S IT FOR OUR PRESENTATION, AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

ON WE DISCUSSED THIS IN THE IN THE BRIEFING YESTERDAY, BUT ON STRATEGIC PLAN NUMBER THREE, ENHANCED CONSERVATION.

E THE OBJECTIVE OF INCENTIVIZING THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN THE CULTURAL IDENTITY OF AG LAND.

INCENTIVE MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU WANT THESE OBJECTIVES TO BE ACTIONABLE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT SENDING THE SIGNAL THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BUY AG LAND FOR THIS, FOR THE USE OF FARMING, OR THAT WE

[04:20:04]

ARE GOING TO SOMEHOW SUBSIDIZE OUR FARMING COMMUNITY WITH LOCAL TAX DOLLARS.

COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT'S INTENDED BY THIS OBJECTIVE? YEAH. THE GOAL OF THIS OBJECTIVE IS TO SUPPORT EXISTING AND FUTURE INCENTIVES THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS, AND THEN EDUCATE AND PROMOTE THAT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THE INTENT IS NOT NECESSARILY TO ALLOCATE COUNTY FUNDS AS INCENTIVE DOLLARS TO SUPPORT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE.

THANK YOU, MISS TAYLOR. ABSOLUTELY.

THE ONLY ONLY COMMENT I HAD IS, IS WHEN WE'RE MEASURING THE PERFORMANCE, I DON'T WANT TO GET, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO MEASURE THE PERFORMANCE.

I MEAN, EVERYONE WHO'S WORKING HERE NOW CAN DO THAT ON THEIR OWN.

SO IT'S NOT COSTING US ANY MORE MONEY TO.

YES, MA'AM. UNDERSTOOD.

ACTUALLY, THE CONSULTANT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE HAS HELPED US GIVE US THE FRAMEWORK TO DO THAT.

AND SO WE'RE DEVELOPING THAT ON OUR OWN USING A TOOL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SHOULD WE OPEN IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

NOW WE'LL OPEN OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M STILL VICKI PEPPER.

I STILL LIVE ON HARBOR VISTA CIRCLE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF AND OUR COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL EQUITY.

AND THIS MY ON ITEM FOR I NEEDED EVERY SECOND.

BUT I WILL ALSO GO ON TO SAY WE'RE AN INFORMAL, INDEPENDENT CIVIC ACTION GROUP THAT GREW OUT OF SAINT AUGUSTINE'S ONGOING COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EFFORT.

CARES PURPOSE IS TO SERVE BLACK AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY BY IDENTIFYING RESOURCES, INCLUDING FUNDING SOURCES, AND LINKING THEM WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS, AS IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AS CONCERNED AND ENGAGED CITIZENS WHO LOVE SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

WE CONTINUE TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN THE DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE WERE HOPING FOR A MORE EXTENSIVE OVERHAUL.

THE VISION STATEMENT IS DESCRIPTIVE AND NOT VERY VISIONARY.

THE GENERAL IDEA OF EXPANDING ACCESS TO ATTAINABLE HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE BURIED WITHIN PRIORITY TWO, WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED AS COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AT THE INITIAL COMBINED PUBLIC MEETINGS WE ATTENDED, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VISIONARY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2050 AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN WAS EXPLAINED AS THE FORMER LOOKING OUT OVER THE HORIZON.

WHILE THE LATTER WAS INTENDED TO BE A MORE SPECIFIC ROADMAP FOR THE COUNTY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

IRONICALLY, AFTER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT'S CLEAR THE PUBLIC PLACES A VERY HIGH PRIORITY ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OUR COUNTY FACES.

THE PROPOSED STRATEGIC PLAN JUST DOES NOT REFLECT THAT PRIORITY, AND THIS DRAFT CONTINUES TO CONTAIN A LOT OF BROAD CONCEPTS FOR A PLAN, BUT IT'S STILL NOT A PLAN, AS WE SAID IN SEPTEMBER, TO BE MEANINGFUL.

THIS PLAN NEEDS TO SET SPECIFIC, CONCRETE GOALS AND MEASURES THAT OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT CAN WORK TOWARD OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND THAT THE PUBLIC CAN EVALUATE ITS PROGRESS AGAINST FOR PURPOSES OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE DRAFT STILL CONTAINS A LOT OF WELL-WORN PLATITUDES AND GENERALITIES, MOST OF WHICH IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH, BUT ANY ROADMAP THAT DOES NOT IDENTIFY SPECIFIC DEFINITE DESTINATIONS AND PROVIDE WELL-DEFINED GUIDEPOSTS TO POINT THE WAY TO GET THERE ISN'T REALLY A ROADMAP.

FINALLY, AS AN ENGLISH MAJOR AND TRAINED DRAFTSMAN, DESPITE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, I CONTINUE TO SEE INCONSISTENCIES IN TENSE PARTS OF SPEECH AND OTHER GRAMMATICAL FEATURES.

ADOPTING THIS DRAFT AS YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WILL PROVIDE LITTLE VALUE TO THE PUBLIC.

WE FEAR IT WILL BECOME YET ANOTHER EXPENSIVE, FEEL GOOD STUDY COLLECTING DUST ON A SHELF.

WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE RESIDENTS OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY DESERVE BETTER.

THANK YOU. TED SLAVIN, BOX 384.

ED SLAVIN COMM.

IT'S A VERY SHALLOW PIECE OF WORK.

AND THE CONSULTANTS? NOT EVEN HERE.

SO WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE VOTE TO HAVE THE CONSULTANT COME BACK BEFORE WE TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON THIS? OR ANOTHER VOTE ON THIS? I'M ESPECIALLY ANNOYED THAT ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT SOMEONE OFFERED, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WOULD BE.

MAYBE A DEVELOPER.

TOO MANY WORDS.

SO ANTI-INTELLECTUALISM IS GOING TO BE THE PUBLIC POLICY OF SAINT JOHNS COUNTY FROM NOW ON.

BASED UPON WHO THE ANONYMOUS, SOME ANONYMOUS COMMENTER KIND OF REMINDS ME OF THE MUSICAL MOVIE ABOUT MOZART, AMADEUS, WHERE THE EMPEROR SAYS ABOUT AN OPERA THAT MOZART HAS WORKED ON TOO MANY NOTES.

IS THAT THE BEST WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF CRITIQUING PUBLIC POLICY IN SAINT JOHNS COUNTY? I HATE SHALLOWNESS, I REALLY DO, AND THIS IS SO SHALLOW, THIS REPORT.

JUST TAKE A GANDER AT THE REPORT AND YOU CAN SEARCH THROUGH IT ON YOUR COMPUTER.

LOOK UP WETLANDS, LOOK UP EMPLOYEE RIGHTS.

WHAT ARE WE SAYING ABOUT EMPLOYEE RIGHTS? AND ONE OF THE PRESENTERS JUST NOW, MISS COWLING WAS THE PERSON WHO I GUESS WAS THE DESIGNATED JAVELIN CATCHER TO MEET WITH TREY ALEXANDER ASNER ABOUT HIS

[04:25:04]

HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

NOW, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH MR. ASNER. NEVER DID.

THE CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD ONE, WAS THE PERSON WHO WAS ASSIGNED TO MEET WITH MR. ASNER. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR STILL HASN'T MET WITH HIM.

ONE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STILL HASN'T MET WITH HIM.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAINT JOHN'S COUNTY, SPEAK WITH US BEFORE WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS.

I DID NOT BUY THE LAME EXCUSE.

OH, THE CONSULTANTS GOT TRAVEL ISSUES.

WELL, DON'T WE ALL? THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.

THE DEVELOPERS HAVE RUN THIS COUNTY FOR YEARS.

THERE WAS A FELLOW FROM ROGERS TOWERS, GEORGE MAURICE MCCLURE, WHO FACILITATED A BRIBE TO A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AT THE BEHEST OF THE FBI.

AND, OH, THERE'S LOTS OF INTERESTING FBI TAPES ON THAT ISSUE.

BUT YOU EVER NOTICE ON US ONE, HOW MANY OF THE RETAIL STORES HAVE THEIR OWN CURB CUTS INSTEAD OF COLLECTOR ROADS LIKE YOU WOULD SEE IN A HOUSTON OR ATLANTA? OUR TRAFFIC SYSTEM HERE IS REALLY BAD BECAUSE DEVELOPERS FROM ROGERS TOWERS, GEORGE MORRIS MCCLURE, GOT EVERYTHING THEY EVER WANTED FROM SAINT JOHNS COUNTY AND THEN SOME.

ANYWAY, THIS IS NOT A STRATEGIC PLAN, AND IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF MY LONG RANGE PLANNING PROFESSOR AT GEORGETOWN, PROFESSOR METZGER, WHO WAS WORKING FOR THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD.

AND HE MADE FUN OF THE CHAIRMAN, ARTHUR BURNS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD.

AND HE BASICALLY GO TO CONGRESS.

AND HE IN FACT, I HAVE ANOTHER COUPLE OF SECONDS.

HE'D GO TO CONGRESS AND HE'D BE TESTIFYING AND HE'D BE SMOKING HIS PIPE, AND HE'D SAY, IT IS MY CONSIDERED OPINION THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ENOUGH OF THAT KIND OF POMPOSITY FROM SAINT JOHNS COUNTY.

WE NEED A PLAN THAT'S WORTHY OF THE WORD PLAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. MY NAME IS JUDY SPIEGEL.

I LIVE AT 101 GREEN WILLOW LANE.

DID NOT EXCUSE ME, INTEND TO SPEAK ON THIS, BUT I HAVE TO AGREE WITH VICKI AND ED, THOUGH.

IT JUST EMPTY.

IT JUST FEELS VERY EMPTY TO ME.

I DON'T SEE MEASURABLE OUTCOME OUTCOMES.

I DON'T SEE A PLAN.

I DON'T SEE DESTINATION.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE A ROADMAP WITH NO STREETS NAMED ON IT.

AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO IT, AND I DO UNDERSTAND IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PIGGYBACKING ONTO OUR COMP PLAN CHANGES.

BUT WHEN I WAS WORKING ON THE AHRC PRESENTATION, I, I STUMBLED UPON THE IDEA OF THE CONDO COLLAPSES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA AND THAT STRUCTURAL DEFECTS WERE IDENTIFIED AND NOT DEALT WITH.

AND I THINK THAT HAVING JUST A GLOSSED OVER REPORT, YES, WE LOOKED AT THIS, BUT NOT HAVING ANY ACTION PLAN LIKE THESE, WE HAVE SOME DEFINITE DEFICITS IN OUR COUNTY THAT WE HEARD ABOUT TODAY, AND I DON'T SEE THAT THOSE ARE RED FLAGGED POINTED OUT. WHAT CAN WE DO RIGHT NOW? JUST A SMALL MEASURABLE THING.

I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE DASHBOARD.

I LOVE THE IDEA OF FEEDBACK.

I LOVE THE IDEA OF TRANSPARENCY.

THERE'S A LOT ABOUT THIS THAT'S GOOD, BUT I THINK IT DOES NEED TO BE FLESHED OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND THAT'S JUST MY PUBLIC OPINION.

THANK YOU. ANYWHERE ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE.

PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER MURPHY I'M SORRY.

YEAH. IT'S HARD.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO AGREE WITH.

CERTAIN THOUGHTS AND WHERE THEY COME FROM.

BUT I TEND TO AGREE THERE TENDS TO BE A LITTLE AMBIGUITY HERE.

AND SO I'D LOVE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICITY IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I'M JUST ONE ONE VOTE, BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE MEAT ON ON THE PLATE FOR THIS ONE.

I ACTUALLY VOTED AGAINST IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE DOING THE COMP PLAN, AND I THINK THESE KIND OF DETAILS ARE GOING TO SHOW UP IN THE COMP PLAN.

I LIKE LOOKING AT THIS AS A MACRO, A MACRO FEEL GOOD PLACE TO START.

AND AS WE FINISH THE COMP PLAN, MAYBE WE RELOOK AT THE DETAILS OF THIS.

BUT I THINK AGAIN, THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE COMP PLAN IS REALLY THE DETAIL WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

IN MY OPINION. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS FEEL.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MISS TAYLOR, PLEASE REFRESH MY MEMORY.

WHEN THE CONSULTANT WAS HERE AT OUR LAST MEETING, SHE MADE A STATEMENT.

AND I MAY NOT BE REMEMBERING IT EXACTLY, BUT SHE MENTIONED THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BROAD STROKES, AND IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO GET GRANULAR.

[04:30:03]

AM I REMEMBERING THAT CORRECTLY? PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS STRATEGIC PLAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

YES, CORRECT. THANK THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, AND I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

YES. AT THIS JUNCTURE IN OUR TIMELINE, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A VERY HIGH LEVEL.

SO ASSUMING THAT THE BOARD WOULD APPROVE THE CONCEPT OF THE PLAN AND WHAT WE'VE OUTLINED AS THE PRIORITIES, THEN YES, STAFF WOULD WORK TO DEVELOP THE GRANULAR LEVEL, WHAT THOSE PERFORMANCE MEASURES ARE.

AND I FAILED TO MENTION THIS IN MY PRESENTATION.

BUT IN THE AGENDA PACKET ARE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT ARE REFERENCED IN THE ACTION PLAN OF HOW WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO CARRY OUT THIS PLAN.

AND YES, THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS ARE CORRECT.

WE WOULD THEN BUILD THESE THRESHOLDS OR MEASURES AND WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF PROGRESS IN THESE AREAS, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT PHASE AS FAR.

AS PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

SHOULD THE BOARD WANT TO ADOPT THE PLAN, THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT PHASE.

MADAM CHAIR, IF I COULD JUST FINISH MY THOUGHT.

IN THE 203 YEAR HISTORY OF THIS COUNTY, WE'VE NEVER HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND SO THIS IS NOT PERFECT.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT'S PERFECT, BUT I DON'T WANT PERFECT TO BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD.

IF WE PASS THIS AND AGAIN TO THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, THERE'S NO PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP.

YOU DIDN'T YOU DIDN'T INITIATE THIS.

BUT BUT A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO DEVELOPING WHAT WE DO HAVE.

AND SO IF WE WERE TO ENACT THIS, WE CAN GET A LOT MORE DETAIL.

WE CAN BUILD ON THIS.

THIS IS A LIVING, BREATHING THAT IS, THAT IS GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

AND SO WE CAN BE THE FIRST BOARD IF WE VOTE YES TODAY, TO SAY THAT WE FINALLY HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN TO BUILD FROM IT WILL NOT BE PERFECT.

AND OF COURSE, WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO FINE TUNE IT AND FOCUS IT IN THE DIRECTION THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS US TO.

BUT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT HAVING NEVER HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING GOOD TODAY AND MAKE IT MORE PERFECT AS WE MOVE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

TO FOLLOW UP, YES, I AGREE WITH WITH COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE IT.

I MEAN, THE CONSULTANT'S DONE, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH OUR OUR OWN, OUR OWN PRODUCT.

OR ARE WE STILL GOING TO USE THE SAME CONSULTANT? THIS CONSULTANT IS GOING TO HELP US BUILD THAT PLAN, TAKE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND BUILD IT.

AND THEN, YES, THEY WILL MOVE ON.

I'M AGAINST THAT. I'M SORRY.

I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF.

I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH. WELL, AND I'M GOING TO SAY TEAM TO TO DO THAT PART OF IT AS WELL AS HOW WE'RE DOING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

I'M NOT HAPPY WITH HOW IT WAS WRITTEN.

I AGREE, I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE THE LAST TIME WE APPROACHED THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S IF IF WE ADOPT IT TODAY, I DON'T WANT TO USE THE SAME CONSULTANT.

IN MY OPINION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REST OF THE BOARD SAYS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T DO THIS OURSELVES.

UNDERSTOOD. MADAM CHAIR.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, SORRY.

I WOULD JUST BE CURIOUS AS TO WHAT OUR CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT IS WITH THIS CONSULTANT.

AND IF WE'VE WE'VE ALREADY PAID THEM FOR SERVICES THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GETTING IF WE GO AHEAD AND TERMINATE OUR RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE THE JOB ISN'T DONE RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. YES, COMMISSIONER.

WE DO HAVE A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT.

WE ARE NEARING THE END OF THAT AGREEMENT.

SO THE BULK OF THE WORK WITH THE CONSULTANT HAS BEEN DONE.

SARAH AND HER TEAM HAVE SOME MINOR, I THINK, LIKE JUST FINISHING UP THAT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

BUT AS SARAH SAID, WE CAN BUILD ON IT AS WE GO AND GET DOWN INTO THE DETAILS.

THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THEM YET, SO WE NEED A STARTING POINT.

AND THAT IS WHAT THIS IS.

IT IS YEAR ONE.

WE CAN REEVALUATE NEXT YEAR AND MONITOR WHERE WE ARE AND AND TAKE DIRECTION FROM YOU GUYS, THE BOARD AND TELL US WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO GO WITH IT.

BUT ONCE THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS BUILT, THEN OUR PROCESS WITH THE CONSULTANT IS COMPLETE.

HOW MUCH LONGER IS THAT? I'LL DEFER TO SARAH. I THINK IT'S JUST A FEW WEEKS.

MAYBE. IT IS. IT'S JUST A FEW WEEKS.

OKAY. SO THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY.

THAT WAY WE CAN BUILD WHAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

THAT'S THE LAST PART OF THIS.

AND AFTER THAT JANUARY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE USING THE CONSULTANT.

ARE YOU GUYS AGREEABLE TO THAT? I JUST HAD A QUESTION, THOUGH.

SURE. HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND ON THIS WITH THE CONSULTANT? DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW MUCH? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DO BELIEVE THE RFP WAS $200,000.

AND A BIG PORTION OF THAT WAS FOR THE COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT WE CONDUCTED.

IT WAS SCIENTIFIC.

IT'S BASED ON RESEARCH, AND THAT WAS DONE THROUGH A SUBCONTRACTOR.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'D BE HAPPY TO MOVE.

LET ME PULL UP THE MOTION, MADAM CHAIR.

I'M GOING TO MOVE TO ADOPT THE 2024 COUNTYWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE.

THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.

ALL RIGHT. WE MOVE TO NUMBER NINE.

[9. Confirmation of Desiree Woroner as Human Resources & Risk Management Director. After conducting an extensive national recruitment for a permanent Human Resources Director, the County selected Desiree Woroner for the position. Ms. Woroner has over 20 years of experience in human resources and risk management. She has held multiple leadership positions in the public and private sectors and will be a valuable addition to the County team. Staff is seeking Board confirmation of Ms. Woroner as the HR Director.]

MISS ANDREWS.

[04:35:04]

I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR SUPPORTING THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A LIGHTHOUSE, REALLY, TO GO TOWARDS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESENTING OUR REALLY PROPOSED DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, EXCUSE ME, HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR, MISS DESIREE WARNER.

I THINK SHE IS OVER RIGHT HERE.

I WANTED TO, FIRST OF ALL, BRAG A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER BACKGROUND.

SHE HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY, MOST OF THE BULK PART OF IT IS THE CITY OF KISSIMMEE.

AS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE HR AND RISK MANAGEMENT, AND SHE ALSO HAS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES IN FLORIDA THAT INCLUDES SAINT PETERSBURG COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND ALSO UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

SHE HOLDS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN HR MANAGEMENT AND MULTIPLE PROFESSIONAL HR CERTIFICATION.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A VERY LENGTHY AND EXTENSIVE NATIONAL SEARCH FOR OUR HR DIRECTOR, AND WHEN WE MET WITH MISS WARNER, I WE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HR DEPARTMENT.