[Call to Order by Chair] [00:00:21] WHAT IF ON THE MEETING AGENDA YOU CAN CLICK ON THE AGENDA ITEM TO ACCESS ALL THE SUPPORTING MATERIALS. PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT IS -- THE CLERK OF COURT FOR INCLUSION INTO THE RECORD. NOW WE WILL HAVE ROLL CALL. >> INDICATION WITH CHAPLAIN KELLY. >> GOOD MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO READ MATTHEW CHAPTER 28. AT THE END OF THE SABBATH AND IT BEGAN TO DRAW TOWARDS THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK CAME MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY TO SEE THE SEPULCHER. THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE. THE ANGEL LORD ASCENDED FROM HEAVEN AND CAME AND ROLLED BACK THE STONE FROM THE DOOR AND SAT UPON IT. HIS COUNTESS WAS LIKE LIGHTNING AND HIS RAIMENT WHITE AS SNOW AND FOR FEAR FROM THE KEEPERS DID SHAKE AND BECOME AS DEAD MEN AND THE ANGELS ANSWERED AND SAID TO THE WOMEN, FEAR NOT YE FRY KNOW THAT YOU SEEK JESUS WHICH WAS CRUCIFIED. HE IS NOT HERE FOR HE IS RISEN AS HE SAID, COME, AND SEE THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD LAY AND GO QUICKLY AND TELL HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND BEHOLD HE GOES BEFORE YOU INTO GALILEE THERE YOU SHALL SEE HIM, LO, I HAVE TOLD YOU. WHAT A GREAT WEEK THIS WEEK. PALM SUNDAY AND WE THINK ABOUT HOW CHRIST RODE THROUGH THE TOWN ON A COLT AND PALM SUNDAY , HOSANNA PRAISE TO THE LORD AND THE DAY HE KICKED THE TABLE OVER IN THE TEMPLE AND TOLD HIM THIS IS MY HOUSE OF PRAYER AND NOT A DEN OF THIEVES. WILL BE THING ABOUT THE LORD'S SUPPER , THE PASSOVER AS THEY REMEMBER HOW GOD DELIVERED THE ISRAELITES FROM EGYPT. AND HAVE A NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED AND HOW HE DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS , WAS BURIED AND CAME BACK TO LIFE AGAIN THREE DAYS LATER TO GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE. -- BY THAT WEEK AND WE ARE SO EXCITED AND WEIRD THING FOR THIS WEEK FOR TELE-COMMUNICATORS. EVERYONE GIVE OUR TELE-COMMUNICATORS A BIG HAND. >> >> WHERE THEY THE LORD, YOU GIVE US A MIND WHERE THEY OVER THOSE WHO STAND FOR THOSE WHO ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE WERE HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THOSE WHO NEED HELP AND PROVIDE THAT HELP. SO, LET US PRAY. FATHER GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOUR THRONE. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, LORD. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS HOLY WEEK. WE THANK YOU LORD THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO COME DOWN AND ACROSS TO PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS. BE BURIED AND BECOME BACK TO LIFE AGAIN. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS, HEAVENLY FATHER. WE THANK YOU LORD THAT YOU BLESSES COMMISSION, DAY, LORD. YOUR WORD SAYS IF WE ASK FOR WISDOM YOU WILL GIVE IT TO US. I PRAY TODAY TO GIVE THIS COMMISSION WISDOM, DEAR LORD. WE THANK YOU HEAVENLY GOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH. WE PRAY, LORD, YOU BLESS US. WE PRAY, GOD, YOU GIVE US THAT STRENGTH, YOUR POWER, YOUR LOVE. WE THANK YOU DEAR LORD FOR TELL COMMUNICATORS WHO SPEAK TO PEOPLE DEAR LORD ON THEIR PHONE DURING THE WORST HOURS OF THEIR LIFE WHEN THEY'VE CALLED 911, DEAR LORD AND THEY NEED TO BE THAT CALM, COOL VOICE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE, DEAR LORD. THE DISPATCH FIRE , RESCUE AND POLICE THERE, LORD, TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. WE PRAY GOD YOU BLESS WE LOVE YOU AND WE PRAISE YOU AND AGAIN WE GIVE YOU PRAISE IN JESUS'S NAME. AMEN. >> UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SERGEANT JOHN , CAN YOU PLEASE SAY HER NAME AGAIN FOR ME? >> JOHN -- >> OH. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING HERE TODAY. >> PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE SOME PROCLAMATIONS. [Proclamation Recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month] [00:05:01] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT IS MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO BE PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY WITH MISS LISA AND ALL OF OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TO WITNESS THE PROCLAMATION FOR PROCLAIMING MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. WOULD YOU PLEASE COME UP AND JOIN ME? >> THE PROCLAMATION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. ST. JOHN'S, COUNTY FLORIDA. WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH SUSTAINS AN INDIVIDUAL STOP RECEIVES, RELATIONSHIPS AND PRODUCTIVITY AND COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING AND AVAILABLE SUPPORT SERVICES CAN GREATLY IMPACT A PERSON STABILITY TO HANDLE STRESS, MOVE FORWARD AND LIVE FULFILLING LIVES AND WHERE IS EACH BUSINESS , SCHOOL, GOVERNMENT AGENCY, HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION, NONPROFIT AGENCY AND CITIZEN SHARES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE COMMUNITIES MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS AND SUPPORT PREVENTION EFFORTS AND WHEREAS ST. JOHNS COUNTY REMAINS ENGAGED IN THEIR PROMISE TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES FACING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. AND WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS LEADING TO HIGHER OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY , BETTER EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES , LOWER CRIME RATES, STRONGER ECONOMIES, LOWER HEALTHCARE COSTS, IMPROVED FAMILY LIFE, IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE, AND INCREASE LIFESPAN AND NOW, THEREFORE BE PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA THAT THE MONTH OF MAY, 2025 BE DESIGNATED AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA THIS 15TH DAY OF APRIL 2025. >> >> I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST OF ALL GIVE THANKS TO COMMISSIONERS SARAH ARNOLD WHO HOARD OUR CRY . MY SON IS SEVERELY MENTALLY DISABLED AND WAS ALSO JUST -- JUSTICE INVOLVED AS A RESULT. IT WAS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE JOURNEY FOR MY FAMILY. THIS IS WHAT MAKES ME DO WHAT I DO, FOR PATIENTS , NOT PRISONERS. WE ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE LIKE MY SON. WE SUPPORT PEOPLE LIKE MY SON AND WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN AN EFFORT FOR EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE LIKE MY SON. IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION I INVITE YOU TO GO TO PATIENTS NOT PRISONERS.ORG. AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE WOULD LOVE TO PUT YOU ON OUR MAILING LIST. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, RICHARD MARQUISE. HE ACTUALLY HAS A QUICK STORY TO TELL YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED JULY 21ST 2023 TITLED IT IS TIME TO BRING BACK ASYLUMS AUTHOR DAVID QUOTE -- WROTE, QUOTE, UNSURPRISINGLY THE NATIONS THREE LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES ARE THE JAIL , COOK COUNTY JAIL IN CHICAGO AND RIKERS ISLAND CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN NEW YORK CITY. APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER OF THE INMATES IN THIS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH SERIOUS MENTAL DISORDERS. I'M TALKING ABOUT SCHIZOPHRENIA, SCHIZOAFFECTIVE. WE CAN'T IMAGINE HOW ABANDONED THEY MUST FEEL. THANKFULLY, THERE ARE THOSE LOOKING FOR A MORE HUMANE ALTERNATIVE. I REFER TO SMA HEALTHCARE, PATIENTS NOT PRISONERS AND THE FACT THAT BOTH CITY AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE GONE PROACTIVE IN SUPPORT OF MAINTAINING FUNDING FOR THE SMA FLORIDA ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT TEAM. FOR THOSE IN THE TRENCHES FIGHTING FOR THESE POOR SOULS , GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. >> NOTE, AS SOMEONE WHOSE FAMILY WAS ABSOLUTELY RAVAGED BY MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, I WANT TO COMMEND ALL OF YOU AND THANK ALL OF YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING SURE THEIR EYES TOWARDS IMPROVING A SYSTEM THAT'S BEEN BROKEN FOR SO LONG. SO, THANK YOU. >> I'M JUST GOING TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO MS. SANDY JACKSON. SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SMA WHO DOES A LOT FOR PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. THANK YOU, SANDY. >> [00:11:40] >> >> ONE MORE PROCLAMATION. HERE COMES THE MISSION OF MURPHY. [Proclamation Recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week] >> IN MORNING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M SO PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO THE FIRE CHIEF. FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK AS A PUBLIC SERVANT I GOT MY START BACK IN THE STONE AGE WHEN WE RODE A HORSE AND BUNNY TO WORK IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE HERE. SHERIFF, CHIEF, I CAN GET YOU GUYS TO COME UP. WE WILL AWARD A PROCLAMATION. A WELL-DESERVED PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU. >> A PROCLAMATION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA. WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELL COMMUNICATORS OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELL COMMUNICATORS ARE THE FIRST CRITICAL CONTACT OUR CITIZENS HAVE WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES. THESE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN ARE FIRST RESPONDERS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELL COMMUNICATORS ARE THE SINGLE VITAL LINK FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, DEPUTY SHERIFFS, FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS BY MONITORING THEIR ACTIVITIES BY RADIO PROVIDING THEM INFORMATION AND ENSURING THEIR SAFETY. AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELL COMMUNICATORS OF THE ST. JOHN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY FIRE RESCUE HAD CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS, SUPPRESSION OF FIRES AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS AND NOW THEREFORE BE PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA THAT THE WEEK OF APRIL 13TH THROUGH APRIL 19TH, 2025 BE DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELL COMMUNICATORS WEEK RECOGNIZING THE COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING AND PROFESSIONALISM ST. JOHNS COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY TELL COMMUNICATORS EXHIBIT DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR JOBS. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA THIS 15TH DAY OF APRIL, 2025. >> >> FIRST OF ALL, MADAM CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY STAFF IT'S THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE US IS WHY WE ARE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR ACROSS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHEN IT COMES TO 911 DISPATCHING. IN ADDITION TO THAT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE SHARED WITH SAINT AUGUSTINE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FIRE RESCUE, BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH. WHEN U.S. CITIZENS HERE PICK UP THAT PHONE WHETHER IT'S A NONEMERGENCY WHICH WE HANDLED OVER 414,000 INCOMING AND OUTGOING CALLS LAST YEAR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DATE OR YOU'RE ON THE RECEIVING END OF THE 265,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE [00:15:02] THAT WERE DISPATCHED TO YOUR DEPUTY SHERIFFS OR POLICE OFFICERS HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY OR YOU ARE THE ONE THAT PICKED UP THAT PHONE AND CALLED 911 WHICH WAS OVER HUNDRED AND 15,000 TIMES THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK BEHIND THOSE KEYBOARDS, THOSE HEADSETS, THEY ARE THE HEROES. THEY ARE THE WARRIORS. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT TRIAGE THAT CALL WHEN YOU CALL WHETHER IT'S A NONEMERGENCY A BABY NOT BREATHING A CAR CRASH ON INTERSTATE 95, YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE OR SIMPLY YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE GETTING ALONG. THOSE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT TRIAGE THOSE CALLS. THEY ARE THE EYES AND EARS THAT WATCH OUT FOR MEN AND WOMEN THAT WEAR THESE UNIFORMS EVERY SINGLE DAY. ON BEHALF OF THE THOUSAND MEMBERS OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WE APPRECIATE YOU SUPPORTING US THE MOST IMPORTANT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO. SOME OF OUR REPRESENTATION ARE BEHIND US TODAY. THERE ARE OVER 70 MEN AND WOMEN TO PICK UP THE PHONE CALLS FROM YOU, WHERE THOSE HEADSETS AND OR DISPATCH CENTERS. IT'S TRULY A PRIVILEGE THAT I GET TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THEM REPRESENTING THEM. CHIEF? >> THE GUY IS A MUCH BETTER MYSELF. ON BEHALF OF CHIEF MCGEE WHO CAN BE HERE TODAY I'M HONORED TO HAVE THIS MOMENT. COMP CENTER USED TO FALL UNDER ME AND MY FORMER ROLE. DEVELOPED A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER MURPHY AND THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE ONES THAT NEVER GET SEEN. FIRST RESPONDERS BEHIND THE CURTAIN THAT MAKE EVERYTHING HAPPEN AND FOR THEM TO HAVE THEIR MOMENT IS USUALLY COMMUNAL, DURING THE SHADOWS. HONOR THEM. THEY ARE ALWAYS GREAT WITH ME WHEN I WAS IN THE FIELD. THAT CALM VOICE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RADIO MADE EVERYTHING SO MUCH SMOOTHER. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN AND FIRE RESCUE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. >> >> READY? ONE, TWO, THREE. >> [Acceptance of Proclamations] >> DRIVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATIONS? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? DELETIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMMISSIONER [Deletions to Consent Agenda] WHITEHURST? >> I'VE NONE. >> I HAVE NONE. >> I HAVE NONE. >> AND I HAVE NONE. SHOULD WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT? >> BY ALL MEANS. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WOULD HEAR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. PLEASE COME TO ONE OF THE THREE PODIUMS. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. EACH PERSON WILL BE PROVIDED WITH THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. WE ASKED THAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. SPEAKERS WILL COMPLY WITH THE BOARD'S RULES OF CIVILITY AND DECORUM ANY PERSON THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THESE RULES MAY BE REMOVED. FINALLY, ANY SPEAKER THAT WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MATERIALS, PLEASE UTILIZE THE CENTER PODIUM. PAPER MATERIALS CAN BE PLACED ON THE X FOR OVERHEAD CAMERA TO DISPLAY AND A LAPTOP WILL BE SET UP FOR ANY USB PRESENTATIONS. AFTER PRESENTING PROVIDE THE MATERIALS TO THE STAFF, THE CLERK OF THE COURTS TO BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. FIRST VICTIM. GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING, JOE, 1005 BLACKBERRY LANE. THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS ON ITEM 11, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE INSPIRE PLACE MAKINGS CHANGE ORDER BUT THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE , AND I HAVE READ THROUGH THAT CHANGE ORDER, BUT THE QUESTION I HAVE AND THE CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT THIS WILL NOT CAUSE US TO RUN PAST OUR DEADLINE OF AUGUST 29TH. WITH THIS CHANGE ORDER AND THIS ADDITIONAL WORK, CAN THEY STILL COMPLETE THEIR WORK ON TIME AND WE CAN MAKE OUR SUBMITTAL ON TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT? GOOD MORNING. >> IN MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. KELLY FRANKLIN . 2450. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY ONCE AGAIN TO RECOGNIZE APRIL AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH AND SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION -- I'M SORRY. CHILD ABUSE -- CHILD [00:20:07] ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE 500 AND 27 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO REGISTERED FOR RUN FOR PEACE. THAT WAS A FUN EVENT AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORTING OUR MISSION. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT ON APRIL 18TH AS THERE WILL BE A STATEWIDE WALK THAT WILL BE COMING THROUGH ST. AUGUSTINE IN SUPPORT OF SEXUAL ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT? MORNING, SIR. >> IN MORNING. CHARLIE HUNT. -- CREEK ESTATES. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE FOR THE FIELD OF DREAMS EXPANSION. YES, IT'S ONLY TAKEN 14 YEARS TO EXPAND THE FIELD OF DREAMS , EVEN IN THE LAST PUSH FOR TAX INCREASES THAT WAS DONE ON THE AGENDA. AFTER 14 YEARS THE FAMILIES CAME IN TO REQUEST THE EXPANSION FOR A.D.A., SPECIAL NEEDS PEOPLE . IT'S FINALLY GOTTEN ACROSS THAT TO 14 YEARS. SO, GOING WELL. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M JUDY. IS THIS GENERAL COMMENTS OR CONSENT AGENDA COMMENT? >> CONSENT AGENDA. >> I WILL SIT DOWN AND COME BACK. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE TO COMMENT ON THE [Approval of Consent Agenda] CONSENT AGENDA? THIS IS FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT WE WILL [Additions/Deletions to Regular Agenda] CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> TO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND? >> ELSE I CAN. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA? >> I'VE NONE, MADAM CHAIR. >> NONE. >> NONE. >> I'VE NONE, MADAM CHAIR. >> AND I'VE NONE. MOTION TO APPROVE? NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. THIS IS JUST A REGULAR AGENDA, CORRECT? OKAY. MOTION TO [Approval of Regular Agenda] APPROVE. >> MOTION. [Public Comment] >> DRIVE A SECOND? SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ALL RIGHT. NOW WE ARE IN PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THIS TIME WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. SAME RULES APPLY. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. 3084. NUMBER ONE, I UNDERSTAND THAT AVA WAS FIRED YESTERDAY. PLEASE ADD THAT TO THE AGENDA. ALSO, I HAD OCCASION YESTERDAY TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW BOARD AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE TURNOUTS. PEOPLE CAME OUT TO TALK ABOUT RESERVING OUR HISTORY HERE AT MAGIC BEACH HOTEL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STAFF HERE IN THE BUILDING DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE MEETING WOULD BE. SO PEOPLE CAME HERE AND WERE TOLD WHERE IT WAS. WORSE, THE MEETING WAS AT THE GROSS MISMANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IN A SNEAKY CONFERENCE ROOM. AND WE WEREN'T EVEN ALLOWED IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM UNTIL HE SAID 1:30. I CALLED THREE COMMISSIONERS UNFORTUNATELY I THINK ONE OF Y'ALL CALLED AND MAYBE CORRECTED THEM. WE ARE FINALLY ALLOWED IN AT 1:00. THERE WAS NO PODIUM . I ASKED THE STAFF FOR A PODIUM. AND THEY WERE ABOUT AS RUDE AS JESSE WAS A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD A BUDGET MEETING AT ANOTHER BUILDING AND HE TRIED TO OBSTRUCT MIKE USING A PODIUM. WE NEED TO HAVE MEETINGS IN THIS ROOM. WE NEED TO REINSTATE TREY ALEXANDER. WE REALLY NEED TO REINSTATE AVA. WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE HOSTILE WORKING ENVIRONMENT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WHICH IS PALPABLE. AVA WAS FIRED YESTERDAY. AND NOT EVEN THE DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY DID IT. APPARENTLY THIS MAN, ACTING COUNTY ATTORNEY WAS INVOLVED IN THAT FIRING AND WE HIRED A LAW FIRM TO BE OUR ADVISER ON LABOR RELATIONS AND TO DO A SO-CALLED INVESTIGATION OF THE FIRING OF AVA. THIS IS A RETALIATORY HOSTAGE -- HOSTILE WORKING ENVIRONMENT. YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID TO TREY ALEXANDER, YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID TO OTHER PEOPLE. THIS REQUIRES INVESTIGATION. WE NEED TO HAVE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY INVESTIGATING THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN HANDLED HERE AND IT'S STILL CROOKED. WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE ON NOVEMBER THE FIFTH 1999 WITHIN A FEW WEEKS DAVID BRIAN WALLACE [00:25:02] SAID TO ME, GOD REST HIS SOUL HE SAID IT'S CROOKED AROUND HERE. WELL, IT STILL IS AND WHY IN THE HECK ARE WE STEW CONSIDERING ITEM EIGHT WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ON THIS AGENDA BECAUSE THERE REQUEST THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FOR DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED. THIS MORNING, EARLY THIS MORNING I SENT A REQUEST IN FOR THE COUNTY'S INSURANCE. THE FLORIDA INSURANCE . WHAT COVERAGE DOES THE COUNTY HAVE FOR OMISSIONS AND ERRORS AND CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF. THIS PLACE IS RUN AS AN OLD PLANTATION. DR. KING SAID THAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY WAS THE MOST LAWLESS PLACE IN AMERICA AND IT'S STILL TRUE TODAY . Y'ALL NEED TO STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT. HAPPY EASTER. PLEASE TAKE ITEM EIGHT OF THE AGENDA. IT IS NOT READY. WE NEED THE DOCUMENTS NOW. REQUESTED SINCE EVERY 17TH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JUDY. I LIVE AT 101 GREEN WILLOW RAIN. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK KEVIN KELLY FOR THE BEAUTIFUL INDICATION. I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT EVERY DAY IS RESURRECTION DAY. EVERY SINGLE DAY IS EASTER DAY. EVERY SINGLE DAY IS THE DAY THAT WE REJOICE THAT OUR LORD AND SAVIOR CAME DOWN AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD TO SAVE US ALL. PETER SAYS THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN HIM WE REJOICE IN HIS LOVE WITH A JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY. LORD, I AM ASKING FOR EARS TO HEAR, OPEN EARS FOR GOD AS PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T GO TO CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS AND EASTER ATTEND SERVICES THIS WEEKEND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GREAT AND REMARKABLE SPLITTING OF TIME. THE GREAT AND REMARKABLE PROVISION BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. THE CROSS IS FOOLISHNESS TO SOME BUT TO THOSE WHO TRUST IT IS THE POWER OF GOD AND HIS KINGDOM IS NOT IN WORD BUT IN POWER. SOMETIMES WE GO TO A SERVICE AND WE HEAR THE WORDS BEING SPOKEN BUT WE DON'T RECEIVE THE POWER. THAT IS WHAT OPEN EARS DOES. I'M PRAYING FOR OPEN EARS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY HEAR WHAT GOD'S SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THEM. GOD IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH. HE IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH. JESUS CHRIST IS THE PRICE FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING ON THIS EARTH. WE READ IN JOHN 3:16 THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON BUT HE ALSO SAID THAT JESUS DID NOT COME TO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD BUT THAT THROUGH HIM THE WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED. GOD IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH. HE IS THE DOOR. HE IS NOT A DOGMA, HE IS NOT A RULE, HE IS NOT EXCLUSIONARY, HE IS ALSO NOT MERE WORDS. HE IS THE SPIRIT AND HE IS POWER. THE CROSS IS THE POWER OF GOD. THE RESURRECTION IS THE POWER OF GOD. LOVE INDEED, NOT MERELY IN WORDS. LOVING UNSELFISHLY. THAT IS GOD'S HEART AS EXPRESSED IN JESUS CHRIST, NOT MERE WORDS. NOT A CHECKBOX THAT DEFINES WHO I AM. I'M A CHRISTIAN. I'M THIS. I'M THAT. THE WORD CHRISTIAN DOESN'T APPEAR IN THE BIBLE ANYWHERE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS MADE UP. IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIP. IT'S ABOUT LIVING WITH THE LIVING GOD. HEARING HIS VOICE AND LIVING IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. SO, I THANK YOU, ALL, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND US OF THIS GREAT AND GLORIOUS THING THAT HAS HAPPENED. WE CELEBRATED PASSOVER LAST WEEKEND WHICH IS JESUS A SHADOW OF HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION TO SAVE US ALL FROM DEATH. WE ARE ETERNAL BEINGS ONCE WE ACCEPT THAT GIFT OF FREE LIFE. GOD'S LOVE AND PEACE OVER EVERY ONE OF US AND HELP US TO SEE THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, LORD, AND TO LOVE INDEED AND NOT IN WORD. IN JESUS'S NAME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. YES, SIR? GOOD MORNING. >> MY NAME IS RICHARD NORWOOD AND I'M A HOMESTEAD RESIDENT LIVING AT 3460. I'M ALSO A VICTIM OF AN UNACKNOWLEDGED INVASIVE CRIME CALLED INVERSE CONDEMNATION THAT WAS KNOWINGLY ORCHESTRATED BY THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY PUBLICS WORKS DEPARTMENT NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO. IN LIEU OF TAKING THIS CASE TO COURT I RECENTLY DEPLETED MY LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES BY $47,328.78 TO FINALIZE REPAIRS OF PROPERTY DAMAGES ON MY OWN. THAT INCLUDES $5000 IN ATTORNEYS FEES TO HAVE LEGALLY OFFSET PUBLIC DEFAMATION OF MY PROFESSIONAL PROUD -- PRODUCT AND SKILLS IS REPEATEDLY LEVELED AGAINST ME BY SEVERAL SJC EMPLOYED CRIMINALS AND ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT. ALTHOUGH DYNAMIC AND WORTHY OF INTENSE [00:30:01] CONSIDERATION TODAY MY CASES BEEN PUT TO THE SIDELINES BY ANOTHER MODERN-DAY PEYTON PLACE EPISODE OF INDUS CORRECTION ON THE PUBLIC STAGE OF A PATHETIC ST. JOHNS COUNTY GOVERNANCE. THE TITLE OF THIS EPISODE IS HOW TO BITE OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE USING ONLY TAXPAYER MONEY. THAT STARTS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. -- AGENDA ONE AND AGENDA EIGHT. IT WILL OR -- OPEN WITH ORDINANCE REQUEST TO REIMBURSE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH $139,000 $4.90 FROM SJC FUNDS FROM RECOVERING MONEY FROM OTHERWISE GENERALLY DISALLOWED AND CIVIL MATTERS BY FLORIDA LAW. THE AMOUNT REPRESENTS THE MONEY SHE IS PAID OUT-OF-POCKET. IT RAISES -- I LOST MY PLACE. AND IT'S , YEAH, SHE IS DEFENDING HERSELF AND IT RAISES A SPAT WITH FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. SO, IT RAISES THE QUESTION, WHAT THE ARE YOU EVEN DOING IN AN OFFICE REPRESENTING US RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE AS DIPLOMATIC AS OUR OWN PERSONAL GRIEVANCES TO A JADED COMMISSIONER. PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG WITH THE SPOKEN OATH OF JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK FULLY TWO OFFICERS WERE RECENTLY VOTED OUT ONE BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH WHILE ANOTHER WAS THAT YOU DO FOR A VOICE. CONSTANT PAST ATTEMPTS TO HEAVILY MINIMIZE MY OWN CLAIM BY THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HAS NEVER BEEN OPENLY JUSTIFIED BY ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE DENIAL, FRAUD WHICH IS A TEXTBOOK DEFINITION OF NEGATIVE COMPROMISE. NOTABLY, WHEN THE EXERTION OF CONTROL BY A DOMINANT POWER . WILL COMMISSIONER JOSEPH TODAY SUFFER THAT FATE WITH CROSS FINGERS I PREDICT NOW BUT WE'LL SOON SEE. REGARDLESS IT COST THE SJC FACE ITS OWN NOSE IN TAXPAYER FUNDS AND THAT LEAVES THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AGENDA TO RESOLVE WITHOUT RESULTING TO CRIMINAL ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT FOR QUALIFICATION. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> YEP. >> IN MORNING, SIR. >> THIS IS THE SAME DOCUMENT I BROUGHT HERE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO ABOUT PEOPLE WITH THE MAILBOX IN THE DRIVEWAY. >> NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. >> I'M SORRY. BILL HENNESSY 5461 FOURTH STREET , SAINT AUGUSTINE, WINDSWEPT ACRES. SIX BLOCKS DEEP, THREE BLOCKS WIDE. NICE COMMUNITY. BUT WE GOT THESE INDIVIDUALS DOWN THERE AT SUNSET LANDING THAT THINK THAT THEY CAN DICTATE TO US WHEN WE CAN AND CAN'T USE THE BOAT RAMP. AS A MATTER FACT, SOME ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOLKS HERE, WE DID SOME INSIDE TRAINING. THEY MET WITH THESE PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY, WILL SMITH, ERIC CLARK AND THE DURRANT FAMILY WHICH IS CCE, ISN'T IT? CONSPIRACY OF ENTERPRISE. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SHOWING OUT TO THE PUBLIC, NOT THESE INDIVIDUALS. THEY ARE GIVING THESE PEOPLE LANDS THAT DON'T BELONG TO THEM AND I JUST GOT MY BOAT ALL FIXED UP READY TO PUT IN THE WATER AND IF I GO PUT IT IN AND I GET ON THIS COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THEY SENT CHEFS TO MY HOUSE AGAIN AND THE SHERIFF ASKED ME TO COME OUT AND THEY WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT TRESPASSING, I WILL FILE THE BIGGEST LAWSUIT THAT THIS COUNTY HAS EVER SEEN. I WENT TO THE WEST BOAT RAMP ONE DAY IN JUNE IN 2020 WANT TO PUT MY BOAT IN AND GOT JUMPED AND BEAT SO BADLY THAT I HAD TO SPEND SIX HOURS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. I LOST MY MEMORY FOR A FEW WEEKS. I MEAN, IT WAS SO BAD IT WAS A WILD, WILD WEST BOAT RAMP WHERE I COULD'VE BEEN USING THE COMMUNITY BOAT RAMP BUT INSTEAD THESE PEOPLE ARE CALLING UP COPS THING THAT YOU ARE TRESPASSING. I'M TELLING YOU WHEN I PUT IT IN AND I PARKED MY TRAILER ON THIS RIGHT-OF-WAY AND SHERIFFS COME TO MY HOUSE YOU CAN GUARANTEE ME IN MY CHIEF OF STAFF HERE WILL SIGN OR FIND A LAWYER TO TAKE YOU TO COURT. THIS IS BS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. YOU'VE GIVEN UP A BOAT RAMP TO THESE PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY ARE HIRED. THEY WANT YOU TO KISS THEIR PINKY FINGER WHEN YOU GO DOWN THERE AND I DON'T DO THAT. THEY STICK THEIR HAND OUT TO ME, I'M GOING TO BITE IT. I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THESE PEOPLE. THEY GET LAWYERS TO MAKE UP THESE BUNCH OF BULL SHIP LIES. >> LANGUAGE. >> GD LIES. HOW ABOUT THAT? [00:35:07] >> BETTER. >> HE IS A COUNTER -- COWARD. THAT'S HIDING BEHIND THE LAWYERS AND THE CHECKBOOKS AND YELLINGDOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M SOME FOOL. MAN, I WILL TELL YOU . I HAVE PLAYED AUGUSTINE NATIONAL TOO. I'LL THROW THAT IN. PLATED A BUNCH OF TIMES UNTIL I GOT CAUGHT. >> THAT'S A GREAT OUTFIT. >> I COULD TELL YOU SOME STORIES. >> THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT? GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. SHERRY BADGER, 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. OKAY. THIS IS ANOTHER DANGER WILL ROGERS. Y'ALL PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING IT. YOUR COUNTY STAFF IS ABUSING THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN . EASEMENTS, RIGHT OF WAYS, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. THE ONE MAN, HE HAS A PAPER THAT WAS SIGNED AND NOTARIZED 15 DAYS AFTER HE SIGNED IT. WHAT WAS YOUR LAWYER DOING? WHAT WAS YOUR HIGH PAID LAWYER DOING? BECAUSE EVIDENTLY CODE ENFORCEMENT IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB. I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE MR. WALDRON WAS WORKING WITH ME BEFORE HE GOT SICK WITH COVID AND I WOULD CALL CODE ENFORCEMENT , LET CODE ENFORCEMENT NO WHAT WAS GOING ON AND IT FELL UPON DEAF EARS. COMMISSIONER WALDRON SAID I WILL CALL THEM. I WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. WHEN COMMISSIONER WALDRON DID THAT, THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, OH, WE DON'T WANT YOU DOING THAT. OKAY, BUT Y'ALL'S PEOPLE AIN'T DOING WHAT THEY SUPPOSED TO DO AND THIS IS SEVEN YEARS OF CORRUPTION AND REALLY SINCE 1986 , MAYBE THE THREE NEW COMMISSIONERS WE HIRED, WE PUT IN THE JOB THAT MAYBE Y'ALL CAN START DOING YOUR JOB. GOD BLESS. HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE OR PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. JOE, MAC AND ERNIE. JUST UP HERE TO SAY THE END OF THE MEETING THAT I HOPE THAT OUR ADMINISTRATOR WILL GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHEN THE COMMISSIONERS WILL RECEIVE REDLINES TO REVIEW , WHEN THE PUBLIC WILL RECEIVE REDLINES TO REVIEW WHAT STEPS ARE NEEDED BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST 29TH . FINALLY, WHAT STEPS MS. ANDREWS WILL TAKE TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT MISS THAT AUGUST 29TH DEADLINE. SO, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE OR PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. DORIS TAYLOR. SAINT AUGUSTINE. BRIEF COMMENT. ONCE AGAIN, I AM REQUESTING THAT IT BE MADE OBVIOUS TO US HOW WE CAN ACCESS THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE HANDED OVER WHEN PEOPLE PUT THINGS ON THE OVERHEAD. THERE'S SOME GREAT MATERIAL THERE. HOW DO WE ACCESS THAT? IT'S NOT ATTACHED TO THE MINUTES. THERE IS NO APPARENT WAY. WHERE IS IT? WHERE DOES IT GO? THE MEMORY HOLE? PLEASE LET US KNOW. THANK YOU. >> THAT WAS QUICK ENOUGH. WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET AN ANSWER TO THAT. CAN WE GET AN ANSWER? WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT, MADAM CHAIR. >> SURE. >> WHERE THE DOCUMENTS GO AND HOW DO PEOPLE GET A COPY OF THEM? >> IT'S A LOGISTICAL FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE. THEY HAVE ACCESS TO MINIMUM EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT PUBLISHED CAN MAKE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. THE CLERK CAN ANSWER THAT. >> THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MINUTES. ON THE WEBSITE. >> THEY ARE? THERE ARE ATTACHED LIMITS ON THE WEBSITE? >> YES, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. WAS CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. MR. TOM. THANK YOU. THE ST. JOHN'S SHARES WEBSITE IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO TAXPAYERS. IF THERE IS A PENDING LAWSUIT , WE WILL CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR AN ANSWER. HOWEVER, PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE . MY QUESTION IS, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE CREATIVE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPARENCY? IF YOU'RE TRANSPARENT, YOU REALLY DON'T NEED A DEPARTMENT BUT WHO IS RUNNING THAT NOW? THE CIVIL RIGHTS PLAQUE AT 32 MENENDEZ IS STILL HIDDEN. THANK YOU FOR MOVING PUBLIC COMMENTS. I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THAT TO THE COMMISSIONERS THAT VOTED FOR THAT. VOTERS, BE CAREFUL. BE VERY CAREFUL. WHEN VOTING, REMEMBER, SOME POLITICIANS DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK AT BEGINNING OF THESE MEETINGS . LISTEN TO 90.5 FM. ONE'S LIFE [00:40:07] CAN CHANGE. PRAISE THE LORD. WE CAN CELEBRATE EASTER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. ANYONE ELSE OR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING [1. Request for reimbursement of attorney's fees. On March 25, 2025, the County received a written request from W. Bradley Russell of Russell & Russell, Attorneys at Law, P.A., on behalf of Commissioner Krista Joseph for the reimbursement of $139,004.90 in attorney fees she incurred in her action for declaratory relief. Commissioner Joseph seeks reimbursement of her attorney’s fees under the common law right recognized by the Florida Supreme Court in Thornber v. City of Fort Walton Beach, 568 So. 2d 914 (Fla. 1990). In that case, the Florida Supreme Court held that city council members were entitled to reimbursement of their attorney’s fees for suing and obtaining an injunction against a recall petition, where the factual basis for the recall petition was that the council members allegedly violated the law in performing their duties at a public meeting. St. Johns County Ordinance 1991-12 establishes the procedures under which the County may reimburse or pay for attorney’s fees for present and former county public officers, employees, and agents in cases arising from their official duties.] NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM ONE. >> HI, MR. RUSSELL., NOT. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAME CHAIRWOMAN. HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS, I UNDERSTAND -- GOOD. MY SLIDESHOW IS UP. I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO REPRESENT MY CLIENT, COMMISSIONER KRISTA JOSEPH IN HER CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE ATTORNEYS FEES SHE EXPENDED IN LITIGATING HER FEDERAL CASE TO DEFEND AGAINST THE ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMINALITY FOR THE SPEECH SHE GAVE IN NOVEMBER 2023. DO I PRESS FOR THIS? THERE WE ARE. WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT IS COMMISSIONER JOSEPH ASKING FOR? COMMISSIONER JOSEPH IN NOVEMBER 2023 MADE A POLITICAL SPEECH AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD BELIEVED THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE. THEY VOTED TO CENSURE HER. THEY ALSO VOTED TO HIRE A TALLAHASSEE LAWYER TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER HER COMMENTS WERE A CRIME. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH HIRED ME AT THE SAME TIME. THAT WAS ON DECEMBER 7TH TO REPRESENT HER IN THAT INVESTIGATION. ULTIMATELY, THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER CONCLUDED THAT HER COMMENTS WERE LIKELY A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND THAT THE MATTER COULD BE REFERRED TO THE STATE ATTORNEY FOR PROSECUTION. THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER PRESENTED THAT AT A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING IN EARLY JANUARY . HOWEVER, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED THE REPORT , COMMISSIONER JOSEPH LEARNED ABOUT IT AND A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER ON JANUARY 10TH SHE FILED A LAWSUIT IN FEDERAL COURT CLAIMING THAT HER RIGHT TO MAKE THAT SPEECH WAS PROTECTED BY THE U.S. CONSTITUTION BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT EVEN IF IT WERE CRIME UNDER STATE LAW. OF COURSE WE BELIEVED IT WAS NOT A CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE UNDER STATE LAW. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH EXPENDED SIGNIFICANT FUNDS IN THIS FEDERAL LAWSUIT APPROXIMATELY HUNDRED AND $39,000 AND SHE'S HERE TODAY CLAIMING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE FUNDS UNDER THE FLORIDA COMMON-LAW RIGHT TO REIMBURSEMENT RECOGNIZED BY THE SUPREME COURT CASE OF FARNBOROUGH VERSUS CITY OF WALTON BEACH. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHAT HAPPENED IN FEDERAL COURT? THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HIRED ITS OWN LAWYER. A LAWYER FROM JACKSONVILLE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE LAWSUIT. THAT LAWYER CONCLUDED VERY QUICKLY THAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SPEECH HAD NOT BEEN A CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE UNDER STATE LAW AND THAT LAWYER FILED A MOTION TO DISMISS IN, I BELIEVE EARLY FEBRUARY. THE VERY NEXT DAY, AS SOON AS COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SAW THAT MOTION TO DISMISS CONCLUDING THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NO LONGER BELIEVED THAT HER COMMENTS WERE CRIME UNDER STATE LAW COMMISSIONER JOSEPH DISMISS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FROM THE LAWSUIT. HOWEVER, THE STATE ATTORNEY STILL PRESSED HIS RIGHT TO PROSECUTE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH FOR THAT SUPPOSE IT CRIME. THE STATURE STORIES TOUCH AND WAS 1.3411, BY THE WAY. WE LITIGATED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS . THERE WERE A COUPLE MORE MOTIONS TO DISMISS. THERE WAS A MOTION FOR DISCOVERY BUT EVENTUALLY ON MAY 29TH THE STATE ATTORNEY ANNOUNCED IN FEDERAL COURT, IN OPEN COURT THAT HE INTENDED TO PROCEED WITH THE PROSECUTION OF COMMISSIONER JOSEPH NOTWITHSTANDING THE FEDERAL COURT CASE. LATER THAT DAY COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SCRAMBLED AND WE FILED A MOTION FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION TO STOP THE STATE ATTORNEY FROM PROSECUTING HER. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ON JULY 10TH THE FEDERAL COURT RULED THAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SPEECH HAD IN FACT BEEN PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE COURT ENTERED AN INJUNCTION. I'M GOING TO QUOTE IT HERE PROHIBITING STATE ATTORNEY KRAMER FROM INSTITUTING, MAINTAINING OR PROSECUTING ANY CRIMINAL PROCEEDING AGAINST COMMISSIONER JOSEPH UNDER SECTION 104.311 FLORIDA STATUTES IF SUCH PROCEEDING IS FOUND IN NONPOLITICAL SPEECH BIKE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. WE ENDED UP LITIGATING FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS. THE STATE ATTORNEY WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE HE HAD LOST THE CASE BUT EVENTUALLY ON DECEMBER 23RD THE STATE ATTORNEY DECIDED THAT HE TOO BELIEVED THAT ONE OF 4.311 DID NOT CRIMINALIZE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SPEECH IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE STATE ATTORNEY ARGUED THAT THE MATTER HAD BECOME MOVED AND THE FEDERAL BOARD DISMISS THE CASE AS WELL. WHAT IS COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S LEGAL RIGHT TO REIMBURSEMENT HERE? THAT RIGHT COMES FROM THE ANCIENT -- BUT IT WAS RECOGNIZE [00:45:03] MOST CLEARLY BY THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF THORNBER VERSUS CITY OF FORT WALTON. THAT WAS IN 1990. THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZED THAT THE ENTITLEMENT TO FEES IS INDEPENDENT OF ANY STATUTE ORDINANCE OR CHARTER. THIS IS A RIGHT TO FEES THAT COMES FROM THE TRADITIONAL FLORIDA COMMON-LAW. IT DOESN'T COME FROM ANY STATUTE. IT DOESN'T COME FROM ANY ORDINANCE. THIS IS A RIGHT FROM THE COMMON LAW. WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE RIGHT? THE PURPOSE OF THE RIGHT IS TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS CAN ENGAGE VISIT VIGOROUSLY IN THEIR PUBLIC DUTIES. THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE COST OF LITIGATION THAT COULD ARISE FROM VIGOROUSLY PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES. IF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL FINDS HIMSELF OR HERSELF ENGAGED IN LITIGATION AS A RESULT OF VIGOROUSLY PERFORMING THAT OFFICIALS PUBLIC DUTIES THAN THAT OFFICIAL HAS THE RIGHT TO REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE FLORIDA COMMON-LAW. THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS TO THIS RIGHT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. ONE, THE LITIGATION HAS TO ARISE OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OFFICIALS OFFICIAL DUTIES AND TWO, IT HAS TO SERVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, DID COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S CASE ARISE OUT OF PUBLIC DUTIES? YES. IT DID. SHE WAS INVESTIGATED FOR SPEECH SHE MADE RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM ON NOVEMBER 21ST 2023. THE SPEECH ADDRESS MATTERS OF COUNTY PUBLIC POLICY. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WAS ENGAGING IN THE PUBLIC POLICY DEBATE. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WAS ALSO FULFILLING A DUTY RECOGNIZED BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN 1966 IN THE CASE OF BOND VERSUS FLORIDA. IN THAT CASE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID THAT A PUBLIC OFFICIAL HAS A DUTY, A PUBLIC DUTY TO TAKE POSITIONS ON CONTROVERSIAL POLITICAL ISSUES. WHY? WELL, ONE, BECAUSE THE VOTERS ELECTED THAT OFFICIAL TO REPRESENT THEM IN PUBLIC POLICY DEBATES. TWO, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL HAS A DUTY TO EXPLAIN TO THE VOTERS HER VIEWS ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH , THIS CASE CERTAINLY AROSE OUT OF PUBLIC DUTIES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. NOW, WHAT DID THE FEDERAL COURT SAY ABOUT THE PUBLIC PURPOSES INVOLVED IN THE CASE? THAT'S THE SECOND ELEMENT OF THORNBER. IT HAS TO SERVE A PURPOSE. THE COURT RECOGNIZES CASE WAS ABOUT TWO FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE RIGHTS. THE FIRST FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT WAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE. THAT IS COMMISSIONER JOSEPH HAD TO BE ABLE TO INFORM THE PEOPLE OF HER VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE UPCOMING ELECTION. THE PEOPLE COULD BE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S VIEWS ON THE MATTER WERE AND THE SECOND WAS A FUNDAMENTAL FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO EXPRESS YOURSELF. THE COURT SAID, I'VE GOT A FEW QUOTES BUT THE EARLY ONE IS THE COURT SAID THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE HAVE TWO FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS THAT ARE PLACED IN JEOPARDY. THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS ONESELF. THE COURT ALSO SAID THAT SIMPLY BECAUSE A PERSON IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL SUCH AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER THIS RIGHTFUL FREEDOM TO SPEAK OUT SO AS TO INFORM THE ELECTORATE CANNOT BE RESTRICTED IN THE COURT SAID THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS BARELY A MONTH AWAY. THIS COURT MONTHS -- CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR SOMEONE EXERCISING A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT ESPECIALLY ABOUT AN ELECTION ISSUE. THERE WERE TWO SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC PURPOSES INVOLVED IN COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S FEDERAL COURT CASE. THE RIGHT TO VOTE. THAT IS THE RIGHT TO INFORM THE ELECTORATE. THEY WILL BE INFORMED WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR VOTES AND THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WAS A PLAINTIFF IN THE CASE. NOT THE DEFENDANT. THAT'S WHAT THE THORNBER CASE WAS ABOUT. THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ALSO THE PLAINTIFF MEMBERS. THEY'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT AND THEY HAD TO GO TO COURT SEEKING A JUDGMENT AND LATER AND IN JUDGMENT TO STOP A RECALL PETITION. THE BASIS WAS THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD ALLEGEDLY ENGAGED IN OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT. THE SUPREME COURT SAID, I'M QUOTING THIS FLORIDA SUPREME COURT WHILE THIS CASE PRESENTS AN UNUSUAL TWIST AND THAT THE COUNCILMEMBERS INITIATED THE NEGOTIATION AND WERE NOT ACTUALLY THE DEFENDANTS IN AN ACTION AGAINST THEM, THEY WERE DEFENDING AGAINST A RECALL PETITION, ALBEIT IN AN OFFENSIVE POSTURE. THIS IS THE SAME CASE. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WAS NOT ACTUALLY THE DEFENDANT IN FEDERAL COURT BUT SHE WAS DEFENDING AGAINST A CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. A THREATENED CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. ALBEIT IN AN OFFENSIVE POSTURE. NEXT LINE, [00:50:01] PLEASE. OUR -- ARE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S FEES REASONABLE? IN HER CLAIM FOR FEES, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH SUBMITTED MY AFFIDAVIT EXPLAINING WHAT I DID IN THE CASE, HOW MUCH TIME I SPENT ON THAT AND EXPLAINING WHY I'VE SOUGHT A PARTICULAR AMOUNT IN FEES AND WE ALSO SUBMITTED AN AFFIDAVIT BY AN INDEPENDENT LAWYER WHO ALSO HAS EXPERIENCE IN FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION WHO HAS REVIEWED ALL OF MY BILLS , MY UNREDACTED BILLS AND FOUND THAT THEY ARE IN FACT REASONABLE. FINALLY, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S FEES COMPARE FAVORABLY TO THE FEES OF THE LAWYERS THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HIRED TO REPRESENT THEM IN THIS CASE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER. THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER WHO WAS HIRED IN DECEMBER WHO BEGAN WORK ON DECEMBER 7TH AND PRESENTED HIS FINDINGS IN JANUARY , HE CHARGED $12,191 TO STUDY THE MATTER, SEE WHAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH DID, THAT'S THE SAME THING I DID AND TO DO THE LEGAL RESEARCH AND CONCLUDE THAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S COMMENTS HAD PROBABLY BEEN A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. WHAT SHOULD I CHARGE FOR THAT SAME SERVICE? I CHARGE $2580. I ALSO REVIEWED THE VIDEO, I ALSO SPOKE WITH WITNESSES AND I ALSO CONDUCTED THE LEGAL RESEARCH. AND I ENGAGED WITH THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER EXPLAINING COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S ARGUMENTS FOR WHY HER COMMENTS HAD NOT BEEN -- IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY BILL COMPARES FAVORABLY TO THAT. NOW, ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN JANUARY PART OF MY JANUARY BILL WAS IN FAIRNESS ATTRIBUTABLE TO READING THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER'S REPORT AND COMMENTING ON IT. SO, MAYBE $2500 OF MY JANUARY BILL WAS FOR THAT. STILL, FOR THE SAME THING, I CHARGED LESS THAN THE LAWYER FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WHO DID THE INVESTIGATION THE FIRST PLACE AND STARTED THIS BALL ROLLING. THEN THE JACKSONVILLE LAWYER BECAUSE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HIRED A JACKSONVILLE LAWYER AS WELL TO REPRESENT THEM IN THE FEDERAL COURT CASE. NOW, IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, HE CHARGED JUST UNDER $26,000 TO FILE A SINGLE MOTION TO DISMISS TO REPRESENT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN THE LAWSUIT AND FILE THAT MOTION TO DISMISS SAYING THAT ACTUALLY HE AGREED WONDERFUL .311 DOES NOT CRIMINALIZE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S SPEECH IN THE FIRST PLACE. I CHARGED ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT. A LITTLE BIT LESS IN MY FIRST TWO MONTHS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. NOW, WHAT DID I DO IN THOSE MONTHS? WELL, I REVIEWED THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER'S REPORT. I PREPARED AND FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT, I RESPONDED TO THE STATE ATTORNEY'S FIRST MOTION TO DISMISS. I RESPONDED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MOTION TO DISMISS AND I ALSO DID A MOTION FOR SPECIAL EARLY DISCOVERY SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THIS CASE GOING IN AN EFFICIENT AND QUICK MANNER. I CHARGE LESS. MY FEES WERE LESS THAN THE LAWYERS HIRED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S FEES WERE REASONABLE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS MIGHT HAVE AND I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY MATERIALS THAT THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS MIGHT REQUEST. I DO, OF COURSE, HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND MY DUTIES OF CONFIDENTIALITY. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. WAS I EVER GOING TO BE PUT IN JAIL? >> THERE WAS DEFINITELY A THREAT TO PROSECUTE YOU AND PUT YOU IN JAIL AND AT ONE POINT THERE WERE LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AND THAT CAUSED YOU TO WORRY ABOUT A PREDAWN RAID. I CONTACTED THE STATE ATTORNEY'S LAWYERS AND ASKED TO DISCUSS MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUR ARREST SO THAT YOUR HUSBAND WHO WAS VERY ILL WOULD NOT BE LEFT WITHOUT CARE. YOUR HUSBAND REQUIRES 24-HOUR ROUND-THE-CLOCK CARE AND WE BELIEVED IT WAS NECESSARY TO SURRENDER YOU AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THERE TO BE A NURSE THERE INSTEAD RATHER THAN THERE BEING A PREDAWN RAID. THE STATE ATTORNEY'S LAWYERS ARE NOT WILLING TO DISCUSS THAT THOUGH. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. RUSSELL. >> YES, MA'AM. >> I AM READY TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS POINT AFTER HEARING ALL OF THIS. IT'S VERY CLEAR. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES AND THE AMOUNT OF $139,005 FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE REQUESTED ATTORNEY'S FEES. >> I WILL SECOND. >> PUBLIC COMMENT? >> WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC [00:55:02] COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. I GUESS I'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT. >> YES, SIR. >> ED. >> ON THE SIDE AND THEN HE CAN COME BACK AND ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS. ED, BOX 30084. I SUPPORT THE MOTION. I WAS HERE THE DAY THE MOTION WAS MADE. I THINK I WAS THE FIRST IN LINE TO DISCUSS IT AND I TOLD THEM TO USE THE WORDS OF A FORMER DIPLOMAT YOU'RE DARN FOOLS AND YOU NEED TO STOP. THE STATUTE IN QUESTION WAS A CRIMINAL STATUTE . THERE WAS NO CRIMINAL INTENT. IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO CRIMINALIZE FIRST AMENDMENT TERMINAL ACTIVITY. THE LEARNED COMMISSIONERS DID AT THAT TIME WAS A CRIME AND A CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION. JUDGE HARVEY'S LESSONS ARE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE, SENIOR JUDGE, VERY EXPERIENCED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN THE MIDDLE DISTRICT RULED FOR COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. HE WAS RIGHT. THE COUNTY DID NOT APPEAL. THE COUNTY WASTED THE RESOURCES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN PROSECUTING THIS CASE AND A THREATENING COMMISSIONER JOSEPH AND THE WORST THING IS MY FRIEND HENRY DEAN WHO WAS A LAWYER WITH 44 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IS THE ONE WHO MADE THE MOTION TO TRY TO CRIMINALIZE COMMISSIONER KRISTA JOSEPH'S PROTECTED ACTIVITY AND HE AND I WENT AROUND AND AROUND ON THE PHONE AND HE DID NOT HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON. HE DOESN'T KNOW CIVIL RIGHTS LAW. HE WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER. HE WAS A MANAGER WITH THE ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. I WAS DISGUSTED BY WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS DID AT THAT TIME AND SO ARE THE PEOPLE AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES THE TWO WHO WERE HERE THAT VOTED FOR THAT MOTION DESERVE THE CENSURE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THOSE TWO SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO THE PEOPLE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND TO CHAIR JOSEPH. IT WAS WRONG. IT WAS WRONG THEN, IT IS WRONG NOW. AND WHEN YOU READ JUDGE HARVEY'S OPINION , HIS DECISION WHICH WAS NOT APPEALED FROM THE LOGIC IS A REFRACTIVE BOWL. WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS TRIED TO DO TO TO COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WAS TO CRIMINALIZE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED ACTIVITY. IT WAS WRONG. AND THERE IS A LOVELY QUOTE I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO IT NOW BUT IT'S IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION . I WILL PUT IT ON THE BLOG IF ANYBODY WANTS TO READ IT BUT IN 1871 CONGRESSMAN DAVID OF KANSAS AND DISCUSSION OF THE 1871 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT UNDER WHICH COMMISSIONER JOSEPH HAS SUED TALKED ABOUT CONSPIRACIES DARKER THAN THE WORST. ANYWAY. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID. I KNOW WHAT THEY DID. EVERYBODY IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY KNOWS WHAT THEY DID AND THIS BILL SHOULD BE PAID. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON THE AGENDA AND I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S ON TODAY'S AGENDA ON THE SAME DAY WE ARE GOING TO HIRE A PRIVATE ATTORNEY TO BE OUR ST. JOHNS COUNTY ATTORNEY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING. >> IN MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. JACK LEE LEBLANC. I SUPPORT OUR COUNTY REIMBURSING COMMISSIONER JOSEPH OR HER LEGAL FEES. FOR THIS TO THAT WAS FILED AGAINST HER I PARTICIPATED IN NONPARTISAN VOTER REGISTRATION FOR YEARS AND ALMOST EVERY CORNER OF THIS COUNTY. WHEN I WAS IN THE AUDITORIUM THAT DAY I WAS SURPRISED . EVEN I KNOW THAT EDUCATING VOTERS ABOUT ELECTIONS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE. OUR SUPREME COURT RULED IN FAVOR OF CANVASSING OUR NEIGHBORS IN 2002. IT IS A PROTECTED FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. WHY WOULD YOU NOT KNOW THAT? OUR SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS VICKI OAKES, SHE DOES IT EVERY YEAR AS A PSA DURING ELECTION SEASON. YOU KNOW THAT. I APPRECIATE THIS COUNTRY. I APPRECIATE THIS COUNTRY AND MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SPEAK WITH YOU HERE TODAY. AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOUR BASIC RIGHTS ARE ALSO NOT LEFT AT THE DOOR. THE COMMISSIONERS IN FAVOR OF THE SUIT AGAINST COMMISSIONER JOSEPH USE COMMENTS THAT VERY DAY AS SHE LIKELY BROKE THE LAW. SHE POSSIBLY BROKE THE LAW. LET'S CENSOR HER. LET'S FILE A LAWSUIT. AND IT WAS STILL IN THE PRESS TOO. ALL OF THE COMMENTS BY THESE COMMISSIONERS THAT FILED THAT SUIT. SHE POSSIBLY. SHE MAY HAVE. TRANSITIONING ] >> WHAT WAS THAT MOTIVATION FOR THAT LAWSUIT? ANIMUS? LACK OF [01:00:05] KNOWLEDGE? LET'S LEARN FROM THIS AND MOVE ON. REIMBURSE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH FOR THOSE FEES. IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO DO. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT. GOOD MORNING. >> I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THINGS ARE BEING SAID WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE MOTION WAS ABOUT. WE HAD A COMMISSIONER WHO NOT ONLY VIOLATED BOARD RULES --. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE TECHNICAL IS GOING. I'LL FINISH THIS OFF. THANK YOU. >> BEING SAID WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE MOTION WAS ABOUT. WE HAD A COMMISSIONER WHO NOT ONLY VIOLATED BOARD RULES, BUT MAY HAVE VIOLATED STATE STATUTE . THERE IS NO SENSOR BASE ON -- I VOTED AGAINST A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT AND I'VE NEVER BEEN CENSORED. IT'S NOT ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OR SOMEBODY DISAGREEING ON THE AGENDA ITEM. I THINK THE MOTION WAS ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT A LAW BEING VIOLATED. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOT WITH THE MOTION YOU MADE. >> I WILL BUILD ON THAT. I THINK YOU JUST MADE IT VERY CLEAR, COMMISSIONER DEAN THAT THIS ISN'T ABOUT PERSONALITIES, DISAGREEMENTS OR EVEN POLITICS. THIS IS ABOUT THE LAW AND THAT'S THE CONCERN. THE MATTER WHICH SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU FALL ON AT A VERY BASIC LEVEL, WE ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE TO UPHOLD THE LAW AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION, MORAL OBLIGATION AND ETHICAL OBLIGATION THAT WE BELIEVE SOMEBODY , EVEN IF IT'S ONE OF US, NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW, THEN WE HAVE TO STAND UP. THAT IS WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ELECTED US TO DO. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. >> WITH THAT, A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. A SECOND. PLEASE VOTE THAT MOTION PASSES 4-1. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, I SEE YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK. >> YES, PLEASE. CAN I? I DO HAVE WHAT I WILL AND I ACTUALLY CALLED AND MADE SURE HE WAS IN THE BUILDING, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO READ EVERYONE IN THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS THAT WAS RUNNING , BECAUSE I DID SEE IN THE VIDEO THAT I WAS READING OFF OF THE WEBSITE, SO I'VE GOT IT ALL WRITTEN DOWN AND TONS OF PROOF AND I DID PASS THIS BY MY ATTORNEY , SO I DO HAVE ONE. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER? >> I'VE HEARD YOUR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER DEAN AND I THINK YOU'VE MADE SOME GOOD POINTS. WE HAVE ENCOURAGED WHAT WE TOLERATE. WE'VE ALL GOT TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND THE LAW. I THOUGHT YOU MADE SOME GREAT POINTS WITH THAT. >> OKAY. >> HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> AS ONE WHO IS BATTLING FOR A LITTLE RE-COMPENSATION, I CERTAINLY HOPE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH GETS EVERY PENNY THAT YOU SPEND, BECAUSE SAD AS IT IS, IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF A SQUABBLE WITH DEVELOPERS OF BUSINESS, BUT WITHIN HOUSE. THIS IS JUST A WASTE. YOU MAY AS WELL TAKE IT UNDER $39,000, BECAUSE IT IS A SQUABBLE BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONERS. IT RAISES THE POINT BEYOND THAT. I READ ABOUT THE OFFICIAL ACT THAT REIMBURSES ATTORNEYS , OFFICIALS AND EVEN AGENTS. IT RAISED THE QUESTION, WHO ARE WE? WE ARE REGARDED AS WERE BOSSES. DO WE HAVE ANY OFFICIAL STANDING IN THE COUNTY AS AN AGENT OR ANY OTHER MEASURE THAT WOULD ENTITLE US TO THE SAME PARK AND THE SAME RECOUP OF ATTORNEY FEES THAT WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH TO SUE ONE OF YOU OR EMPLOYEES. DO WE HAVE THAT SAME ABILITY? OBVIOUSLY, US OUT HERE IN THE STICKS IN THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE THOUSANDS UPON [01:05:03] THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DEFEND OURSELVES WHEN THIS CORRUPT COUNTY AND IT IS. WHEN IT DOES SOMETHING SO BLATANTLY OBVIOUS AND WON'T EVEN ADMIT TO IT. WON'T EVEN VOICE IT. WHAT'S OUR ALTERNATIVE? ARE WE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PERK THAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH IS USING TODAY? CAN WE APPLY FOR LEGAL AID? AGAINST OUR GRIEVANCES WITH THE COUNTY THROUGH THIS SAME ORDINANCE? THAT'S MY QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW THAT I'LL GET AN ANSWER, BUT I THINK IT RAISES A GOOD POINT. HOW ARE WE PROTECTED AS RESIDENTS WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOUR JOBS? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD MORNING. >> SUZANNE, LAURELWOOD WAY, 32086. I READ THROUGH THE ATTACHED INFORMATION THREE TIMES LAST NIGHT. I'M NOT A LAWYER. I'M STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT WHO DID WHAT AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. WHEN I READ THROUGH THIS , WE'VE HEARD ONE SIDE THIS MORNING AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THERE IS A LETTER IN THE PACKET AND IT'S THE FIRST PAGE IN THE PACKET, ACTUALLY. IT WAS FROM COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S LAWYER DATED MARCH 20, 2025 REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ATTORNEY FEES, SO ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT. THERE IS INTERESTING INFORMATION IN THERE THAT I HOPE WILL COME OUT IN THE DISCUSSION LATER. IT TALKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT -- IT TALKS A LOT ABOUT THE STATE ATTORNEY AND HE IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. I WAS GLAD THAT THE NUMBERS WERE PUT UP WHERE YOU ARE AT BEFORE IT GOT TO THAT POINT . COMMISSIONER JOSEPH IS APPARENTLY SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT IN A FEDERAL CASE, I GUESS STILL , FOR THAT AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WILL REMIT TO THE COUNTY ANY AMOUNT FOR WHICH THE COUNTY HAS REIMBURSED HER THAT SHE GETS THAT BACK IN THE FEDERAL CASE. I THINK THAT SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT. PERSONALLY, AGAIN, I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE FEDERAL CASE AGAINST THE STATE ATTORNEY IS WHERE MOST OF THE CONVERSATION SHOULD COME FROM. I'M NOT REAL SURE ABOUT WHAT OUR CULPABILITY IS IN THIS. THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND FOR HOW MUCH , BUT I HOPE WE'LL HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION, SO WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE AND WHAT WE FEEL WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND WHAT WE ARE NOT. I THINK WE NEED TO BE FAIR, BUT AS A TAXPAYER, I'M COUNTING EVERY DIME WE SPEND HERE . WE ALL READ THE NEWS AND TIMES ARE CHANGING AND NOT FOR THE BETTER IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WILL GET IN HERE IN THE COUNTY. I'M LOOKING FOR A GOOD DISCUSSION HERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JUDY AND I LIVE AT 101 GREEN WILLOW LANE. ALL THINGS SET ASIDE , WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO BURY THIS AND MOVE ON QUICKLY IS IT TO AGREE TOGETHER THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST? I THINK IT WAS FALSE ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND SIDES AND FOR THE SAKE OF THE COUNTY, UNITY IS SO IMPORTANT. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD TO PUT A DARK EPISODE BEHIND AND TO MOVE ON IN A WAY OF COMITY AND UNITY , SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. THERE WAS UNFAIRNESS. THERE WAS UNFAIRNESS AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT DEMANDING AND APOLOGY, BUT IT'S ABOUT EXTENDING FORGIVENESS TO EACH OTHER TO QUOTE A FAMOUS COMMISSIONER. I FORGIVE YOU. I FORGIVE YOU. I FORGIVE YOU. THAT IS THE ATTITUDE WE NEED HERE FROM THE PUBLIC SERVANTS TO [01:10:06] SERVE THIS COUNTY. THERE WAS A MISTAKE MADE AND AN ASSUMPTION THAT A LAW HAD BEEN BROKEN THAT WAS THE BASIS OF THIS WHOLE FIRE STORM STARTING APART FROM THE COMMENTS THAT THE ATTORNEY FOR TALLAHASSEE WHO CONTINUED THE FIRE BLOWING , IF IT HAD NOT STARTED HERE , THAT SPARK NOT STARTED HERE OR HAVE BEEN CORRECTED SOON ENOUGH, THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED . EVERYONE NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SEE, WHERE CAN WE STOP AND PUT THIS BEHIND US AND MOVE ON AS A BOARD SERVING THE PEOPLE IN UNITY AND CONSIDERATION FOR ONE ANOTHER. THAT IS MY OPINION. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? >> GOOD MORNING. SAINT AUGUSTINE. I THINK IT'S CLEAR WHO CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THE MOTION , SECONDED THE MOTION AND VOTED TO PASS ARE AT FAULT . WE JUST SAW THE VIDEO. IT'S CLEAR AS DAY. WE KNOW WHO CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THAT ACTION ON YOUR PART COST A COMMISSIONER A LOT OF MY AND A LOT OF STRESS . THERE WAS A THREAT TO ARREST HER. THIS IS L'AFFAIRE. THIS IS PEOPLE IN POWER ABUSING THEIR POWER TO HARASS SOMETHING SOMEONE THAT THEY DON'T LIKE OR DISAGREE WITH OR WANT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. SADLY, WE'VE HEARD HERE RECENTLY ABOUT THREE CASES, AT LEAST THREE CASES OF L'AFFAIRE. THIS ONE, MY FRIEND WHO WAS SUED AND I WAS ARRESTED ON FALSE CHARGES. THE ONE IN POWER WANTED TO GET ME IN THE WAY. THIS HAS TO STOP AND ANYONE WHO IS INVOLVED IN INITIATING ANY OF IT NEEDS TO PAY THE BILL AND SOME WILL AT THE POLLS I'M SURE AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HARMED NEED TO BE MADE WHOLE. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT . YOU MAKE A HOLE INTO THE RIGHT THING NOW AND MAYBE WE CAN MOVE ON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. IT'S STILL MORNING, FOLKS. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS AFTER WATCHING EVERYBODY LISTEN TO ALL OF THIS, ESPECIALLY THE COMMISSIONERS. WHAT WAS COMMISSIONER ARNOLD LOOKING DOWN AT WHILE THE ATTORNEY WAS SPEAKING? LOOKING AT A CELL PHONE FOR WHAT TO SAY FROM SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT BE HERE? JUST WONDERING WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE COUNTER UP THERE DURING OUR SPEECH. IT'S NOT A BIG JOKE. I HAVE BEEN TO THIS MEETING BEFORE SOME OF YOU WERE PUT UP THERE. YOU LEARN A LOT AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROBABLY BEEN HERE AND NOW THE FIRST TIME. THEY ARE LEARNING A LOT AND I HOPE THEY REMEMBER SOME OF THIS. I APPRECIATE THE VIDEO. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ONE. THAT HAPPENS? I DON'T HAVE ALL THAT STUFF, BUT I REALLY ENJOY , BECAUSE IT SHOWS PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEY ARE. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE WOULD BE UNITY . I HATE TO TELL YOU AND I'LL BET ON THIS, I DON'T BET . THERE WILL NOT BE UNITY. COMMISSIONERS HAVE SHOWN SINCE THE ELECTION THAT THERE WILL NOT BE UNITY. I LIKE TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THE VOTE WILL BE THAT IF YOU CAN'T GUESS , IT'S THE SAME VOTE THAT HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AND OVER. THREE TO PASS THIS AND TWO TO NOT BECOME A UNITY OF THIS BOARD. I FEEL THAT WAY AND I HOPE PEOPLE WATCHING WHO WILL BE WATCHING CAN LOOK AND SEE WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING HERE AND IT'S BEEN HAPPENING AND WE VOTED FOR NEW PEOPLE AND GOT RID OF ONE , BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME THAT ARE NOT HERE TO UNIFY THE DECISIONS OF THIS BOARD FOR THIS COMMUNITY. YOU WORK FOR US. YOU WORK FOR US. WE HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO FIGHT YOU FOR OUR [01:15:02] RIGHTS? THIS IS SO WRONG. WE WILL DEAL WITH IT, BUT LET'S GET ON WITH THE VOTE. 3-2. I WOULD LOVE TO BE WRON. >> ANYONE ELSE? GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. SHERRY, 2772 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. I REST MY CASE. THREE I THOUGHT AND NOW IT'S UP TO FIVE. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS COUNTY? HOW COME YOU ALL AREN'T DOING ANYTHING? MAYBE WE DO NEED THE FBI TO INVESTIGATE AND OPEN INVITATION AND ANYTHING YOU NEED INVESTIGATED , LET THEM KNOW. THIS IS CRAZY. THIS IS FIVE LAWSUITS JUST TODAY . THIS OTHER MAN IS THREATENING A LAWSUIT, BECAUSE HE CAN'T PARK ON A COUNTY EASEMENT. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS? YOU NEED TO SHAKE UP YOUR STAFF AND FIND OUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES INSTEAD OF SITTING UP HERE AND LOOKING PRETTY. GOD BLESS. HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. GOOD MORNING. >> I WANT TO HAVE A COUPLE OF WORDS. THIS IS A REAL CLUSTER. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. LET'S MAKE IT RIGHT. IT'S TIME FOR THE COUNTY TO STEP UP AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND TAKE CARE OF THE FUNDING. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? >> MR. RUSSELL, DO YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ANYTHING COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST HAS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >> SO DOES MR. MURPHY. >> WHITEHURST. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RECORD, YOUR FEES PER HOUR ARE WHAT? >> $430 IN 2023 AND $470 PER HOUR IN 2024. >> $490 IN 2025. >> IS IT NORMAL TO INCREASE THEM ? WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT WE WERE ASKING THE TAXPAYERS TO REIMBURSE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. SHE'S PAID THIS BILL? WE ARE REIMBURSING AND SHE'S PAID YOU? >> SHE OWES THIS BILL, BUT HASN'T PAID. >> WE ARE ASKING TAXPAYERS TO PAY YOU ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> THAT'S CORRECT. YOU ARE ASKING TAXPAYERS TO PAY ME TO DISCHARGE A DEBT THAT SHE OWES. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT SAYS 430 TO $450 PER HOUR IS REASONABLE AND I'M NOT SURE THAT IF THE TAXPAYERS OF ST. JOHN'S WOULD THINK IT'S A REASONABLE AMOUNT, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF OPINION? >> PERHAPS, COMMISSIONER. THE OPINION ATTACHED TO MATERIALS THAT I SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WAS A COURT OPINION FROM 2021 IN WHICH I WAS AWARDED $470 AN HOUR AND THEY FOUND THAT $470 AN HOUR WAS A REASONABLE RATE, THEN I INCLUDED AN OPINION AFFIDAVIT FROM A PRACTITIONER IN JACKSONVILLE , EXPERIENCED CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER WHO OPINED THAT MY RATES WERE UNREASONABLE IN THIS MATTER. >> THAT'S THE COURT OF LAW? THAT IS WHAT THE COURT OF SAID. IF WE WANT TO PUBLIC OPINION AND SAID, TAXPAYERS OF ST. JOHN'S, DO YOU WANT TO BE FOR COMMISSIONER JOSEPH $139,004.90? WHAT DO YOU THINK THEIR RESPONSE WOULD BE QUICK SEE >> I'M SURE THEY AVERAGE TAXPAYER WOULD PREFER TO PAY ZERO AND THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER WOULD PREFER TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT IN GOVERNMENT WHERE EACH PARTICIPANT AND EACH ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE CAN BE VIGOROUSLY IN THE DEBATE AND SPEAK FREELY. I'M SURE THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER --. >> I WAS JUST ASKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY. I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT TO SAY AND YOU MADE YOUR PRESENTATION. WHAT I INITIALLY SAW THE $109 AND $4.90 , I THOUGHT THIS NEEDS TO BE. THIS NEEDS A HEALTHY DOSE OF DOGE. I APPRECIATE THE CROWD PARTICIPATION AND YOU WEIGHING IN. THIS SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY AND I THINK YOU MADE AS PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION. $2580 FOR READING ANOTHER ATTORNEYS OPINION? >> THAT WAS $2580 FOR DOING ROUGHLY THE SAME THING THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER DID. $2580 FOR REVIEWING THE VIDEO OF COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S COMMENTS , MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER [01:20:04] JOSEPH AND ASKING HER TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED, THEN RESEARCHING THE LAW . ALSO, ENGAGING WITH THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER AND I CORRESPONDED AND HAD PHONE CALLS WITH THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER IN WHICH I MADE THE POINTS THAT ULTIMATELY EVERYBODY NOW AGREES WITH. NAMELY, SECTION 1 OF 4.311 DOES NOT CRIMINALIZE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S SPEECH IN THE FIRST PLACE, BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE. TWO, THE 1978 FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION. THREE, BECAUSE THE FIRST AMENDMENT. I ALSO MADE TO THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER , A FOURTH ARGUMENT, WHICH IS THE ARGUMENT BASED ON THE LONG TRADITION IN FREE COUNTRIES OF PERMITTING FREE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE. THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER, I SUSPECT THE REASON HE CHARGED SO MUCH MORE THAN I DID TO DO LEGAL RESEARCH AS HE WAS HOPING AND THOSE FOUR ARGUMENTS I MADE TO HIM. AS IT TURNS OUT, SEEMS HE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO AND HIS BOARD DID NOT REFERENCE FOUR ARGUMENTS THAT JOSEPH MADE. THE $2580 CHARGED IN DECEMBER WAS FOR RESEARCHING THE LAW AND MAKING FOUR ARGUMENTS, ULTIMATELY THOSE ARGUMENTS NOW EVERYBODY AGREES WITH. >> INTERESTING. YOU BELIEVE IN FREE SPEECH AS THE BASIS OF THIS? IS IT YOUR OPINION AS A RESULT OF THIS RULING, CAN I WERE A CAMPAIGN HAT OR T-SHIRT OR BRING A BANNER IN SUPPORT OF THE CANDIDATE I SUPPORT DURING A BUSINESS MEETING? >> DECORUM IS A DIFFERENT MATTER AND AS JOSEPH'S SAID IN HER LAWSUIT, SHE RECOGNIZES THAT SHE HAS TO OBEY THE RULES OF THIS FORM. THE RULES OF THIS FORM DID NOT PROHIBIT SPEECH THAT SHE MADE ON NOVEMBER 21ST AND THE STATUTE, STATE CRIMINAL STATUTE, 104.31 , DOES NOT PROHIBIT YOU FROM WEARING A CAMPAIGN HAT , PIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE RULES OF THIS FORM AS ADOPTED BY THE BODY, HOWEVER MAY DO SO AND COMMISSIONER JOSEPH ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTANDS AND CONSISTENTLY SAID IN HER FEDERAL COURT LAWSUIT THAT SHE RECOGNIZED SHE HAD TO OBEY THE RULES . >> YES, YOU BELIEVE I'M ALLOWED AND PROTECTED BY LAW TO WEAR A CAMPAIGN HAT? >> NO, COMMISSIONER. NO, COMMISSIONER. THAT'S INCORRECT. I BELIEVE THE CRIMINAL STATUTE 104.311 DOES NOT MAKE THAT A CRIME , HOWEVER THE RULES OF THIS FORM MAY SAY THAT IT'S A VIOLATION. >> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE STATUTE PRETTY BELIEVE IT ALLOWS ME TO WEAR CAMPAIGN MATERIAL? >> THEY DO NOT CRIMINALIZE WEARING CAMPAIGN MATERIAL. >> YOU MENTIONED THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DEPUTY WAITING OUTSIDE OF SHERIFF JOSEPH'S HOUSE? >> I DON'T KNOW THAT WAS A HARROWING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, ALTHOUGH AS I UNDERSTAND IT , LAW ENFORCEMENT CARS HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE OF COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S HOUSE IN THE PREDAWN HOURS FOR A FEW DAYS. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WAS CONCERNED THAT THEY WERE PLANNING , SO SHE ASKED ME TO ARRANGE WITH THE LAWYERS FOR THE STATE ATTORNEY SOME SORT OF AN ARRANGEMENT FOR A SELF SURRENDER IF THEY WERE PLANNING ON DOING IT. THE LAWYERS FOR STATE ATTORNEY SAID, WE WILL NOT TALK TO YOU ABOUT A SELF SURRENDER, BUT WE'LL DO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO AND WE ARE NOT TALKING TO YOU ABOUT IT. >> WHAT GAVE JOSEPH THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE WOULD BE A PREDAWN RATE? >> LAW ENFORCEMENT CARS WAITING OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE IN THE PREDAWN HOURS PER >> SHE THOUGHT THAT WAS FOR THIS? >> YES, I THINK SHE DID. THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS BEING A CRIMINAL MATTER GRID WHEN I FIRST ENGAGED WITH THE SECOND STATE ATTORNEY INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER, THE SECOND STATE ATTORNEY ASKED IF I WAS REPRESENTING HER IN HER CRIMINAL CASE DIE OF COURSE SAID I WAS AND HE SAID WE NEED TO HAVE A TALK. I HOPE I'M NOT GETTING MY TIMELINE MIXED UP HERE , BUT IT WAS RELATIVELY SHORTLY AFTER THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES STARTED APPEARING IN FRONT OF COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S HOUSE. >> THERE WAS NO PREDAWN RATE? >> THERE IS NO SUBSEQUENT NO ARREST? >> THANKFULLY, BECAUSE THE FEDERAL JUDGE SAID THEY WERE NOT PERMITTED TO DO THAT. >> WAS COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S IMPRESSION THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS OUTSIDE HER HOUSE AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR ANYBODY? >> I BELIEVE THEY WERE OUT IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE AT THE DIRECTION OF STATE ATTORNEY AND NOT AT THE DIRECTION OF ANY OF THESE COMMISSIONERS. >> DID WE LEARN WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS TRUE? THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE FOR ANY OTHER CAUSE. >> THAT IS CORRECT. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN OUT THERE FOR ANY REASON OR NO REASON, BUT THEY [01:25:02] WERE OUT IDLING IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE IN THE PREDAWN HOURS AROUND THE TIME THAT SHE WAS THREATENED WITH CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. I HAD BEEN ENGAGING PERSONALLY WITH THE CRIMINAL PROSECUTOR WHO SAID, WE NEED TO WORK THIS OUT. >> THAT'S, SO WE HAVE NO IDEA? THEY COULD HAVE BEEN OUT THERE FOR ANY REASON AND COULD HAVE BEEN TAKING A COFFEE BREAK. >> I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME IDEA. >> NOTHING WAS EVER VERIFIED. YOU DENICO AUTRY TALK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE STATE ATTORNEY? >> I DID REACH OUT AND AVERAGED OUT TO THE LAWYERS AND THE LAWYERS SAID, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS. >> THEY SAID THERE WAS A PREDAWN RATE SCHEDULED? >> THEY SAID WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS. >> ORDER, PLEASE. ORDER. >> IS IT YOUR IMPRESSION OR OPINION THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS PROSECUTORIAL AUTHORITY? WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE? >> YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE AN INVESTIGATOR AND CREATE A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION THAT YOU SERVE UP TO THE ATTORNEY ON A SILVER PLATTER, WHICH WAS WHAT WAS DONE HERE. YOU DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO INSTITUTE A PROSECUTION. >> I THINK WHAT WE HEARD AND I'M SO GLAD THAT HE PLAYED THE VIDEO. YOU HURT COMMISSIONERS WONDERING WHETHER A STATUTE WAS VIOLATED. THAT GOES TO A COMMENT WHERE YOU SAID, COMMISSIONERS WHO SPEAK UP AT MEETINGS ARE PROTECTED FOR ENGAGING VIGOROUSLY. ONCE THE COMMISSIONERS HERE EXPRESSING THEIR OPINIONS AND ENGAGING VIGOROUSLY? EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A LAW HAS BEEN BROKEN. THE IRONY IS, AREN'T YOU REALLY TRYING TO SUPPRESS OUR FREE SPEECH FROM PEOPLE WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING HAS BEEN DONE POORLY? THAT'S THE IRONY FOR ME. YOU ARE TRYING TO PROTECT ONE SPEECH, BECAUSE WE LIKE THAT SPEECH, BUT WE ARE NOT PROTECTING ANOTHER, BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE THAT SPEECH. IT IS REALLY SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT HERE. >> THAT IS INCORRECT, COMMISSIONER. JOSEPH DID NOT SUE FOR THE CENSURE. SHE SUED FOR THE THREAT OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. THE VERY SUPREME COURT CASE THAT SHE CITED IN HER COMPLAINT AND IT'S VERY UNUSUAL TO CITE CASE LAW IN A COMPLAINT, BUT WE CITED THE RECENT CASE , HOUSTON SOMETHING OR OTHER IN COMMISSIONER JOSEPH'S COMPLETE AND IN THAT VERY CASE, THE SUPREME COURT HELD THAT ONE DID NOT HAVE A FREE-SPEECH RIGHT TO AVOID A CENSURE. A CENSURE IS THE RIGHTS OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PANEL. IN THAT CASE, WHICH WE CITED, THE SUPREME COURT SAID, A COMMISSIONER DOES HAVE FREE-SPEECH RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION, BUT SO DO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS AND THE WAY THEY ENGAGE WITH IT MIGHT BE WITH A CENSURE. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A CONCEPT THAT WE RECOGNIZE. STANDING HERE TODAY, I RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD TO CENSURE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, WHICH WAS THE IMPROPER VIEW AND I ABSOLUTELY RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD TO CENSURE HER AND EXPRESS ITS OPINION BY CENSURING HER. THE THREAT OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, THAT IS WHAT THE CASE IS ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT THE THREAT OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND THE BODY HIRED A LAWYER TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER COMMISSIONER JOSEPH COMMITTED A CRIME AND THAT LAWYER CONCLUDED FOR $12,191 THAT SHE DID IN FACT COMMIT THE CRIME AND THE MATTER COULD BE REFERRED TO THE STATE ATTORNEY FOR PROSECUTION. >> THE PROSECUTION AND NOT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS? THE CENSURE IS PROTECTED FREE SPEECH, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE SO QUICKLY DISMISSED FROM THE LAWSUIT? >> THAT IS NOT CORRECT. >> WHY WAS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SO QUICKLY DISMISSED? >> THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGREED A MATTER OF STATE LAW. THE LANGUAGE AND THE 1978 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION. THE AUTHORITIES THAT I GAVE TO YOUR TALLAHASSEE LAWYER AT THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZED THAT BECAUSE OF THOSE TWO MATTERS SECTION 104.311 AS A MATTER OF STATE LAW DO NOT ARGUABLY CRIMINALIZE. BECAUSE THE BOARD IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS NO LONGER WILLING TO DEFEND THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION COMMISSIONED AND THAT THEY PAID $12,191 FOR, THAT IS WHY THE BOARD WAS DISMISSED. >> I THINK THAT IF YOU ARE DESERVING OF COMPENSATION, YOU ARE GOING AFTER A PARTY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ARREST, YOU ARE COMING AFTER A BOARD THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE. WE SIMPLY WONDERED OUT LOUD WHETHER THERE WAS ANY WRONGDOING AND WE ASKED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THAT, SO I THINK IF WE AWARD A BILL FOR AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN MY OPINION FOR WONDERING WHETHER ANYTHING WAS DONE THAT WAS IN ERROR OF THE LAW , THEN YOU WILL CHILL THAT CONVERSATION AND CHILL THAT [01:30:02] WONDERING AND INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE WRONGDOING HAPPENED. >> THAT IS INCORRECT. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE WONDERING, INVESTIGATION AND EXPRESSION OF OPINION , BUT IT'S ABOUT HIRING AN INVESTIGATOR TO DO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. >> THAT IS WHAT IT IS. WE CAN WONDER, BUT WE CAN'T INVESTIGATE? >> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT BUT YOU ARE WELCOME TO SPEND AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU LIKE ON THESE INVESTIGATION. I HAVE NO DISPUTE WHATSOEVER ABOUT YOUR RIGHT TO HIRE PEOPLE TO MAKE THESE INVESTIGATIONS, HOWEVER THE INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD BE DONE IN GOOD FAITH AND SHOULD PROBABLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE CONTRARY ARGUMENT. I RAISED WITH YOUR TALLAHASSEE LAWYER ARE ARGUMENTS AND TWO OF WHICH EVERYONE NOW AGREES TO. THE THIRD, THE FIRST AMENDMENT ARGUMENT AND THE FEDERAL COURT NOW AGREES. THESE ARE MATTERS I ALSO RAISED WITH THE INVESTIGATING LAWYER, THE TALLAHASSEE LAWYER. SHE DID ADDRESS THAT AT ALL. HIRING AN INVESTIGATOR TO COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN -- WAS NOT JUSTIFIED BY LAW AND WAS NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE FAX IS WHAT GOT THE BALL ROLLING. >> I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS LISTENING WILL TAKE AWAY THE CENSURE GOOD INVESTIGATION BAD AND THAT WILL HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT. LOOKING INTO POTENTIAL WRONGDOING IN THE FUTURE. NUMBER ONE, YOU ARE COMING OFF TO THE WRONG PARTY AND DISMISSED FOR THE LAWSUIT. IS THERE AN IMPULSE CONTROL ISSUE? DO IT JUST SHOUT OUT THINGS AT RANDOM? I'M TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE ATTORNEY. >> ORDER TO THE ROOM. >> WHEN YOU MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, I PROMISE NOT TO INTERRUPT YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU SENDING THE SAME COURTESY. IT WILL HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON POTENTIAL WRONGDOING AND YOU ARE COMING AFTER THE WRONG ENTITY. YOU ARE COMING AFTER ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND IT IS TAXPAYERS WHEN WE HAVE NO PROSECUTORIAL AUTHORITY. >> IF I MAY ISSUE -- ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE RIGHT OR WRONG PARTY, THE CASE DOESN'T ADDRESS WHAT WHO WAS AT FAULT. THIS WAS NOT A RIGHT THAT JOSEPH HAS TO GO AFTER SOMEONE WHO HAS WRONGED HER, BUT A RIGHT THAT JOSEPH HAS AS A RESULT OF HER PUBLIC OFFICE. IT IS THE VERY SAME RIGHTS THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS. IF SOMEONE BRINGS -- EXCUSE ME -- UNFOUNDED LITIGATION AGAINST YOU AND YOU ARE FORCED TO USE PERSONAL ASSETS TO DEFEND YOURSELF, YOU HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE COUNTY. THAT IS THE RIGHT JOSEPH HAS AND SHE IS NOT SUING THE COUNTY BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS AT FAULT , BUT SHE IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT OF THE EXPENSE OF HER OFFICE. THE EXPENSE OF HER OFFICE IS THE RIGHT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ATTORNEYS FEES THAT SHE WAS FORCED TO INCUR PERSONALLY AS A RESULT OF HER PUBLIC DUTIES. >> WILL HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE ON THIS ONE. >> MR. RUSSELL, DID MY CASE HELP THESE PEOPLE SITTING APPEAR? >> YOUR CASE AS THE FEDERAL COURT RECOGNIZED, YOUR CASE WAS ABOUT PRESERVING FREE-SPEECH RIGHTS OF ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS. YOUR CASE WAS ABOUT HELPING TO PRESERVE THE STRUCTURE OF OUR FREE GOVERNMENT. YOUR CASE WAS ABOUT FREE PUBLIC DEBATE. YOUR CASE WAS ABOUT VOTING AND FREE SPEECH. >> WILL THIS BE USED IN OTHER CASES GOING FORWARD? >> IT ABSOLUTELY WILL. >> MURPHY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. I'M NOT SURE IF THESE WILL REALLY BE QUESTIONS AS THEY ARE A STATEMENT . I WILL SUBMIT MY NOTES TO THE CLERK TO BE PUT ON THE RECORD, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WROTE IS THAT THE TAXPAYER GETS THE BILL BOTH WAYS. THAT IS FRUSTRATING FOR ME. ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED IN THE DOCUMENT IS THAT MATTHEW -- AND PRACTICED IT IN MY HEAD SEVERAL TIMES. WHAT HE SAYS IS THAT UNDER SECTION 19, UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER JOSEPH MAKES AWARD OF 110,242 . IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A REASONABLE FEE IN THIS CASE, DATED FEBRUARY. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT AND I WOULD SUPPORT A MOTION FOR $110,242. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY . THE REASON THE AFFIDAVIT WAS SUBMITTED IN FEBRUARY IS BECAUSE IT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE FEDERAL COURT IN SUPPORT OF A FEDERAL [01:35:08] AWARD UNDER A DIFFERENT STATUTORY SECTION 42 SECTION 1988 AND THAT IS A RIGHT THAT ONE HAS AGAINST THE WRONGDOER. THAT IS A RIGHT THAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH HAS AGAINST THE STATE ATTORNEY WHO WAS THE NONPREVAILING PARTY IN THE LITIGATION. UNFORTUNATELY AND WHEN THE STATE ATTORNEY SAID ON DECEMBER 23 THAT HE NOW AGREED WITH COMMISSIONER JOSEPH THAT SECTION 104.311 DOES NOT CRIMINALIZE OR CONDUCT IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THE MATTER SHOULD BE DISMISSED AS MOVED, JOSEPH HAD TO MAKE A DECISION. ON DECEMBER 23RD, DOES SHE CONTINUE TO LITIGATE? DOES SHE CONTINUE TO FIGHT IN FEDERAL COURT OVER NOTHING NOW THAT EVERYONE HAS ADMITTED THAT ONE OF 4.311 DOES NOT CRIMINALIZE OR CONDUCT IN THE FIRST PLACE? DOES JESUS SAY THAT THE CASE COULD BE DISMISSED? AT THE TIME JOSEPH SAID, THE CASE CAN BE DISMISSED . THE LAW SAYS THAT IF YOU WIN AND THE GOVERNMENT CHANGES ITS MIND AND BOOTS THE CASE, THEN YOU ARE STILL ENTITLED TO FEES. UNFORTUNATELY IN LATE FEBRUARY, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECIDED A CASE THAT SAYS , IF YOU WIN AND THE GOVERNMENT CHANGES ITS MIND AND THE CASE, THEN YOU ARE AND NOT ENTITLED TO FEES. WE DON'T THINK GOVERNMENT BODIES WILL ENGAGE IN GAMESMANSHIP BY TRYING TO DO THAT KIND OF THING. THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS WHY THEY WOULDN'T ENGAGE. UNFORTUNATELY. OUR CASE HAVING ALREADY DISMISSED AS MOVED, THIS NOW MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GO AFTER THE STATE ATTORNEY ANYMORE UNLESS WE INCUR SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL LITIGATION COSTS TAKING AN APPEAL AND PURSUING LITIGATION. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH IS UNWILLING TO DO THAT UNLESS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS INTERESTED IN PAYING HER FEES ON AN ONGOING BASIS OR TAKING OVER LITIGATION . THAT IS WHY WAS SUBMITTED AN AFFIDAVIT TO FEDERAL COURT WITH A LOWER FEE AMOUNT , BECAUSE IT COVERED FEES ONLY UP UNTIL DECEMBER. WHEN WE PREPARED THIS, I BELIEVE IT WAS LATE JANUARY AND WE FILED IT IN EARLY FEBRUARY, SO IT COVERED FEES ONLY UP THROUGH DECEMBER. WE INCURRED ADDITIONAL FEES IN PRESERVING OUR RIGHT TO PROCEED THE STATE ATTORNEY FOR FEES UNDER THE DECISION IF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE. >> I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I FIND IS THERE NOT AN ITEMIZED BILL. NORMALLY, I HAVE AN ITEMIZED BILL THAT TALKS ABOUT THAT. THE $130,000 WAS REASONABLE, THEN I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. I WAS HERE AND I SAW IT. I THINK IT WAS NOT NECESSARY. I THINK IT WAS A GIANT WASTE OF TIME AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS, , BUT LET'S DO THIS RIGHT, AND IT AND MOVE ON. I WOULD STILL BE INCLINED TO WANT TO EITHER SEE A BREAKDOWN BEFORE I CAN SUPPORT $130,000 OR A LETTER OF REASONABLE FROM THE ACCREDITED ATTORNEY. >> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT, BUT I EXPECT MY CLIENT WOULD BE WILLING TO LIVE WITH $110,000 AND PROBABLY NOT ENGAGE IN ANY FURTHER EFFORTS ON THIS , BUT IF MY CLIENT WOULD PREFER TO PROCEED THE ENTIRE OUT OF THE , WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS? >> I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED, BECAUSE THE 110 IS ONLY TWO DECEMBER AND CLEARLY THE REASON WHY THAT 139 IS BECAUSE IT'S PAST THE DECEMBER MARK . >> THAT IS CORRECT. AS I MAKE THIS ESTIMATION RIGHT NOW , AND WONDERING HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL IT WILL COST AND COMMISSIONER JOSEPH TO PREPARE FOR THE SUBMISSIONS AND ADDRESS THE MATTER. IN THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT THAT IT WILL COST JOSEPH , THE APPROACH IS $30,000, $29,000 AND THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD [01:40:02] COST TO HIRE A NEW LAWYER TO LOOK THROUGH ALL OF THE BILLS AND TO REACH AN OPINION ON THIS AND TO MAKE FURTHER SUBMISSIONS TO THIS BODY , SO WHILE I WOULD CERTAINLY PREFER FOR MY CLIENT TO GET 100% OF WHAT SHE'S ENTITLED TO , WE HAVE TO BE REASONABLE WITH NO REASONABLE JUDGMENTS HERE. PERHAPS IT IS BETTER TO END THE MATTER TODAY THAN TO INCUR FURTHER COSTS AND ADDRESS THE MATTER MONTHS FROM NOW. >> I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH. I GUESS IT'S A MATTER OF --. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST AND MURPHY BROUGHT UP GREAT POINTS. YOU ALSO SAID THE FEDERAL COURT DID DENY YOUR REQUEST. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> YOU SAID YOU CAN'T GO TO THE STATE ATTORNEY FOR FEE REIMBURSEMENT? >> WE HAVE PRESERVED THAT RIGHT. >> THIS IS A NO, THAT'S HER NEXT STOP? >> IF THIS IS A NO, THE NEXT STOP WOULD BE THE LAWSUIT UNDER THORNBURG. IT WOULD BE A LAWSUIT IN STATE COURT UNDER THORNBURG. IF THIS BODY WOULD LIKE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH TO ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN AS MUCH REIMBURSEMENT AS POSSIBLE FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY, THEN COMMISSIONER JOSEPH HAS PRESERVED HER RIGHT TO DO SO AND WE GOT ANOTHER 20 DAYS OR SO, 10 DAYS -- I FORGET EXACTLY, BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH WE CAN CONTINUE TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. THAT'LL COST WELL OVER $100,000 ADDITIONAL TO PURSUE THAT FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY. IF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WANTS HER TO DO THAT, I'M SURE SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO , BUT NOT WITH PERSONAL ASSETS. >> I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. THE MAJORITY OF THE FIGHT IS OVER WHETHER SHE CAN BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED AND WE CANNOT CONVINCE A CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. THAT'S NOT OUR ROLE. THE FACT WE WERE DISMISSED EARLY AND IT'S CONTINUED WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY, MORE OF THE ARGUMENT LIES THERE. BEYOND THAT, MURPHY, YOU NAILED IT WITH TRANSPARENCY. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT I MARRIED ONE AND I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS ITEMIZED LEGAL BILLS. IF WE ARE LOOKING AT SPENDING THIS MUCH ON TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THIS ISN'T TRANSPARENT ENOUGH AND I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION. BEYOND THAT, TO FIND OUT IN THE MOMENT THAT WHILE IT'S WRITTEN AS A REIMBURSEMENT, THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT FACTUAL. SHE HASN'T PAID, SO IT'S NOT A REIMBURSEMENT. I TAKE ISSUE WITH THE AGENDA ITEM ON THAT, AS WELL. IT FEELS A BIT LIKE A BAIT AND SWITCH. I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS COME BACK AND I WOULD NEED MORE INFORMATION, BECAUSE IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT. >> IF I AM END IT -- I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND TO 110. OKAY. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE TRANSFER IN THE AMOUNT OF $110,000 , FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE REQUESTED ATTORNEY FEES. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ITS GO AHEAD AND VOTE. THAT PASSES 3-2. THANK YOU, MR. RUSSELL. THANK YOU. [2. The Shell at St. Augustine Presentation. Dr. Eric A. Becher will present information to the Board of County Commissioners regarding a proposal to build The Shell at St. Augustine. This project will benefit local arts, culture, and heritage organizations; provide a pathway to sustainability for those nonprofits; increase tourism dollars for St. Johns County; and enrich the quality of life for local residents through arts, culture, and heritage offerings.] ON TO SHOW SHALL . >> GOOD MORNING. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY AND THOSE ACROSS THE COUNTY, WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT THE SHELL AT SAINT AUGUSTINE PROJECT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION IN THE COUNTY FOR ENHANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT , PROVIDING ADVANTAGES FOR UNDERSERVED AREAS , GREAT SUSTAINABILITY FOR THESE NONPROFIT AND CREATING JOBS ALL WITHOUT BURDEN TO COUNTY FINANCES. THIS PRESENTATION, WE'LL KEEP IT BRIEF, SO WE CAN [01:45:05] ASK QUESTIONS AS PART OF IT. AS YOU KNOW, WITH INCREASED POPULATION AND TOURISM , THERE ARE MORE AUDIENCES FROM CULTURAL AND OFFERINGS IN THE COUNTY AND THESE ACTIVITIES OF HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS. AT THE SAME TIME, FUNDING FOR THE ART ORGANIZATIONS HAS NOT KEPT UP AND THE AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATE FACILITIES CONTINUES TO DIMINISH. WE MET WITH 100 ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND PULLED OUT A LOT OF PRIORITIES THAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING QUALITY OF LIFE , HAVING AFFORDABLE REHEARSAL PERFORMANCE AND EXHIBITION SPACES. ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT CAME UP WAS TRAFFIC AND PARKING, SO THE PROPOSAL WE HAVE IS TO MOVE THIS PROPOSED FACILITY TO AN AREA THAT WOULD PROVIDE RELIEF ALONG ROUTE 1 AND PULL SOME OF THE PARKING ISSUES AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN. ALSO , WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE POSSIBLE COLLABORATION WITH THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING A MUSEUM GOING FORWARD. ALBERT CREATED THIS OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, THE EPICENTRE ALLIANCE. WE DEVELOPED NOT ONLY THE NEED THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE FACILITY, BUT ALSO SOME THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO AND WANTED TO SURVEY A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY AND WANT TO CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY. THEY WANT TO HAVE FLEXIBLE PERFORMANCE SPACES AND COUNT ON THOSE SPACES YEARS IN ADVANCE, SO THEY CAN APPLY SPONSORS AND WHATNOT. THEY WANT TO BECOME A CULTURAL DESTINATION FOR THE REGION ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THEY WANT TO BE FINANCIALLY SELF-SUSTAINING . THEY CREATED A VISION STATEMENT FOR WHAT THEY WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE PROGRAMMING. THEY WANT TO HAVE THREE AREAS OF SUSTAINABILITY. FIRST, SO THEY CAN STAY TRUE TO THEIR EFFORTS TOWARDS ART, CULTURE AND HERITAGE . OF COURSE FINANCIALLY MAKING SURE THAT THE REVENUES BALANCE EXPENSES AND OPERATIONALLY. MY BACKGROUND AS A MUSIC OFFICER VICE PRESIDENT ADVANCEMENT AND PRESENTING SERIOUS HELPS OUR TEAM ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS IN THE OPERATIONAL AREA. THIS VIDEO IS A SHORT VIDEO ABOUT THE SHOW ITSELF AND IT'S JUST A RENDERING AND IT'S NOT AN ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING BY ANY MEANS, BUT IT DOES REPRESENT FOR FUNCTION AND SIZE SPACE NEEDED FOR DIFFERENT ROOMS AND AREAS WITHIN THE SHELL , BUT ALSO WORKS AS SOUND ABATEMENT, BUT IT'S NOT AN ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING BY ANY MEANS. ARCHITECTS HAVE SAID THAT THIS WILL SAVE TIME AND PREPARATION , BECAUSE WE HAVE FIGURED OUT THOSE ISSUES BEFORE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD WAS A CONCERN THAT WILL BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE AMPHITHEATER OR CONCERT HALL. WE ARE OFFERING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GENRE OF MUSIC, ARTS AND CULTURE, SO IT WOULD NOT BE IN ANYWAYS. >> WELCOME TO THE SHELL AT ST. AUGUSTINE . A NEW TYPE OF ART CENTER LOCATED IN ONE OF THE TOP TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN FLORIDA ND IN ARTS ENCLAVE . IT IS INSPIRED BY 12 LOCAL PERFORMANCE ARTS GROUPS WHO BANDED TOGETHER TO FORM THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE. THE STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY FILLS THE NEED FOR QUALITY VENUES FOR THE COMMUNITY AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AFTER WORKSHOPS WITH PERFORMING ARTISTS AND GROUPS, STRATEGIC FUND AND DEVELOPED A NEW FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL AND THIS CONCEPTUAL RENDERING OF THE FACILITY. THEIR VISION INCLUDES NATURE TRAIL WITH SCULPTURES AND INDIGENOUS PLANT LIFE, COZY OUTDOOR PROJECTION AND PERFORMANCE AREAS , ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS TO AUGMENT POWER AND A SEASHELL INSPIRED ROOF THAT COLLECTS OVER 1 MILLION GALLONS OF RAINWATER PER YEAR . INSIDE, IT IS MULTI-USED BY DESIGN ALLOWING IT TO BE FINANCIALLY SELF-SUSTAINING AND PROFITABLE AFTER CONSTRUCTION. THE INCOME FROM THE ROOFTOP RESTAURANTS, RETAIL STORES IN THE ATRIUM, OFFICE SPACE, ACADEMY, BANQUET HALLS ALL GO TO SUBSIDIZE REDUCED VENUE RENTALS FOR THE LOCAL NONPROFIT ARTS COMMUNITY. INNOVATIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE LEARNING AT ALL STAGES OF LIFE AND INSPIRE OUR NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS . THE [01:50:01] LATEST TECHNOLOGIES WILL BE EMPLOYED FOR DISTANCE LEARNING , SIMULCASTS AND TO IMPROVE EXPERIENCE FOR THE HEARING AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. THESE ELEMENTS WILL MAKE THE SHELL AT A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE CREATION, EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE ART. >> THIS PROJECT AS WE ARE PUTTING IT TOGETHER, WE SPENT SIX MONTHS LOOKING AT ALL OF THE ISSUES AND WHAT'S COMMON IN THE INDUSTRY FOR PERFORMANCE SPACES WE ALSO LOOKED AT IT FROM A REVENUE STANDPOINT. THERE IS A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR DONOR DOLLARS. THIS WILL BE A FOR-PROFIT AND NONPROFIT ENTITY TOGETHER WITH OVER 40 DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS VERY QUICKLY GOING THROUGH THIS. THE FRONT LOBBY AREA WILL HAVE A CAFE AND FINE ARTS STORE AND A MUSEUM. LONG BEFORE WE KNEW WILL BE OPEN WITH THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM, WE ENVISIONED IT TO CELEBRATE OUR HERITAGE OF THE AREA . AS THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM UNFOLDS, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HOST IT THERE UNTIL THE TIME IT WOULD BE GOING FORWARD. THAT IS OF THE THREE ENTRANCES TO THREE DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE SPACES. THE CONCERT HALL OF ABOUT 750 SEATS , THEATER OF 1200 SEATS AND 2 TO 300. WAS TALKING TO ST. JOHN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SAID, WE NEED 750 AND I ASKED WHY. THEY SAID, WE ARE CAPPING OUR GRADUATION SIZE OF SENIORS AT THE EDGE OF THE PLUS FOUR GUESTS . THAT IS WHAT WE NEED COMMENCEMENT FOR EACH YEAR. THE BACKSTAGE WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE SHOWS GETTING READY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THREE SEPARATE LOBBIES FOR ART EXHIBITIONS AND RECOGNITION WALLS AND EVEN SOME SWEETS FOR DONORS TO ENSURE ENJOY THE EVENTS IN THE COMFORT OF A SUITE. THE LEFT SIDE IS AN ACADEMY WING. YOU WILL NOTICE SOLAR PANELS WITH A RESTAURANT, WINE BAR AND JAZZ CLUB . ALL REVENUE STREAMS. IN THE ACADEMY FOR REHEARSAL SPACES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT NONPROFITS STRESS THAT THEY NEEDED AND TWO OF WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE A FLOOR THAT WOULD HELP DRAMATIC ARTS PREPARATION AND DANCE PREPARATION. PRACTICE ROOMS, RECORDING STUDIOS, STORAGE, DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS ALL PART OF THIS AREA. THE OTHER END IS THE CONFERENCE AND SAME THING ON THE ROOF. WE HAVE THE SAME STRUCTURE ON THE ROOF THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOST RECEPTIONS, WEDDING RECEPTIONS AND WHATNOT. WE HAVE TWO LARGE BALLROOMS, 350 SEATS TO BUY. DURING THE WEEK, WE CAN OFFER CONFERENCES, FESTIVALS AND ON THE WEEKENDS WE CAN OFFER SOCIAL OFFENSE AND WEDDING RECEPTIONS THERE. ALL DESIGNS TO ATTRIBUTE TO THE REVENUE OF THE SHELL. THIS IS SUGGESTION FOR LOCATION MAY BE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, FLORIDA MEMORIAL APPROACHED US ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PUTTING IT ON THEIR PROPERTY AS PART OF THEIR LEGACY. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS DIAGRAM, YOU SEE THE STREET RUNNING UP TO THE RIGHT-HAND CORNER , BOULEVARD RECTANGULAR AREAS WHERE WE UNDERSTAND THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM WOULD BE AND WE ARE PROPOSING TO FLORIDA MEMORIAL AND YOU ALL THAT SHELL WOULD BE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT. AGAIN, IF WE CAN HELP THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM OR TO MAKE THEM AS SUSTAINABLE AS WE WILL BE, THAT WILL BE A BONUS FOR EVERYONE. THAT YELLOW IS WHERE WE UNDERSTAND WILL BE OR THE 313 AND INTERSECTING WITH IT. OUR SUGGESTION IS THAT THE ENTRANCE THERE WOULD BE OFF OF 312, WHICH WOULD CAUSE US NOT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO BOULEVARD AND AS THAT AREA IS BEING BUILT, WE CAN MAKE AN ENTRANCE TO THE FACILITY. THERE IS A GROUP CALLED UNITED ARTS THAT MET WITH THE VISIT ORLANDO FOLKS AND BROUGHT TO THEM THE NOTION THAT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 25% OF TOURISTS LOOKING FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AS PART OF THEIR STAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ORLANDO IS ONLY AT 60% AND A LOT IS COMING FROM MICKEY'S PRESENCE THERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY TO BRING IN PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. THESE FIGURES ARE FROM SUSAN PHILLIPS AND THEY WILL BE UPDATED I UNDERSTAND IN JANUARY WITH SOME FIGURES AND NUMBERS. ONE OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS WILL BE TO WORK WITH THE BCB TO HAVE THEM MARKET OUT OF COUNTY , ARTS CULTURAL AND HERITAGE EVENTS WHILE WE MARKET IN COUNTY, WHICH [01:55:02] WOULD BRING TOURISM DOLLARS, ATTRACT VISITORS , PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAY A LITTLE LONGER AND SPEND MONEY IN OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. ANOTHER GOAL OF THIS IS THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE AND OUR TEAM GOT TOGETHER. WE WANT TO HELP MAKE THE NONPROFITS BECOME SUSTAINABLE. WE WANT TO BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION , SO WE WANT TO BRING TAX DOLLARS TO THE COUNTY AND WE WANT TO BE LESS OF A BURDEN OF ASKING ST. JOHN'S COUNTY FOR SUPPORT TO OPERATE . BY REACHING GREATER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE, WE CAN HAVE LARGE AUDIENCES AND GRADUALLY CHARGE MORE, PERHAPS, FOR TICKET SALES. INCREASE DONATIONS. AS WE TALKED TO ADVERTISERS AND SPONSORS, WE CAN CONVINCE THEM THAT THE REACH WILL BE MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT. SOME PRESENT AND FUTURE PARTNERSHIPS , THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE AND OTHER NEW ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT WANT TO BE INVOLVED, WE WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE THEM. I MENTIONED THAT THE VISITORS IN THEIR TEAM ARE EXCITED. WE MET A COUPLE TIMES WITH THE ST. JOHN'S CULTURAL COUNCIL AND TALK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEM. THE FIRST POST WORLD REGION , THAT IS A MARKETING AGENCY TO HIGHLIGHT THE FLAVORS OF THE FIRST COAST FROM SAVANNAH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BEACH. THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE PART OF THIS. IF I GET THIS RIGHT, THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CULTURAL AND ARTS TOURISM IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS CULTURAL CULINARY ACTIVITIES TO THE AREA AND THEY VERY MUCH WANT TO BE PART OF THE SHOW IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. ST. JOHN'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE MENTIONED AND LOCAL COLLEGES WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH OFFERINGS AND WHATNOT AND ALSO THINGS LIKE MEETINGS AND COMMENCEMENT. FLORIDA MEMORIAL, WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THE LEGACY THAT THEY WOULD LEAVE BEHIND. I MET WITH THE WEST ST. AUGUSTINE CRA GROUP AND THEY WERE EXCITED TO BRING IT TO THE LOCATION THAT WE PROPOSED. MEETING WITH SHERIFF AND ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS HE HAD WAS THAT THEY PERHAPS PUT A SUBSTATION IN THE SHELL, WHICH WOULD BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO ALL AND CERTAINLY ADDITIONAL INVESTORS AND SPONSORS WOULD HELP THE BOTTOM LINE AND PROGRAMMATIC EFFORTS. WOULD LOVE TO BE PART OF THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM AND PROVIDING BACK OFFICE SUPPORT, LIKE DATABASE MANAGEMENT , MARKETING, ACCOUNTING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO HELP MAKE THEM SUSTAINABLE, AS WELL. THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND OTHER ARTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PREVIOUSLY NOT ENGAGED OR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE JUST IN THE MINDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ACROSS ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THIS IS OUR PROPOSAL. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED WITH THE COUNTY AND ALL THE STEPS MOVING FORWARD AND WE UNDERSTAND THERE IS WORK BEING DONE ON SECURING THE LAND FROM THE FLORIDA MEMORIAL. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND ASKING FOR LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I WILL PAUSE HERE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF YOU ARE GOING TO OPEN IT UP. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I LOVE THE PRESENTATION AND I AM A BIG FAN OF THE ARTS. YOU MENTIONED FLORIDA MEMORIAL. HAVE THE LEVERAGE TO SUPPORT? >> THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN ALBERT AND MYSELF AND WE HAD A MEETING A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION OVER IN WEST SAINT AUGUSTINE. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. >> YOU MENTIONED THAT THE COUNTY WAS ACQUIRING THE PARCEL FROM FLORIDA MEMORIAL NORTHWEST AND ARE WE IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE LAND? >> BEFORE I GET ANYONE IN TROUBLE, SARAH DID MENTION THAT IT MAY BE A LAND LEASE BETWEEN THE STATE AND FLORIDA MEMORIAL. THE WORKING OUT THE DETAILS. >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE MUSEUM? THAT IS NOT THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED MUSEUM. >> THIS IS JUST THE INFORMATION WE HAVE. >> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THAT'S NOT THE LOCATION. WE ARE NOT IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR THAT NORTHWEST PARCEL AT THIS TIME. THAT WAS JUST MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER MURPHY. >> THANK YOU. YOU TALKED ABOUT A FUNDING. ARE YOU SELF-FUNDED OR LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF HELP FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT? >> [02:00:07] >> BEFORE THEY COMMIT THE FUNDS, THEY WANT TO KNOW THERE IS A PIECE OF LAND. THEY DO NOT WANT IT TO JUST BE AN IDEA. THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME COMMITMENT . >> OKAY. YOU HAVE THE FUNDING TO BUILD IT. YOU JUST NEED A PLACE TO BUILD IT. >> YES. WE ARE LOOKING AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS ACROSS THE AREA. I THINK WITH DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ALL AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC, PARKING WITH THE ST. AUGUSTINE REDEVELOPMENT FOR ENHANCEMENTS THERE -- >> I COMPLETELY AGREE. I KNOW THAT, FULL DISCLOSURE, WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE GEM FOR THIS COMMUNITY. AND WHERE YOU ARE PROPOSING IT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT CAN HAPPEN THERE OR NOT, IT WOULD BE A BOOM TO WEST AUGUSTINE. I THINK FINDING WAYS TO REVITALIZE THAT AREA IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE LOOKING TO DO. GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HELP IN ANYWAY I CAN. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? EXCELLENT PRESENTATION. YES. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I LOVE ALL THE ENTITIES THAT CAME TOGETHER FOR THIS, JUST TO BRING IT AS FAR AS IT HAS GONE. I LOVE THE IDEA THAT IT, YOU CAN ACCESS IT AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THAT. I THINK THAT WAS REALLY SMART. BUT I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY ACQUIRING THE LAND AS YOU DISCUSSED AND MOVING FORWARD. BUT I KNOW A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THAT AREA , IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY VERY MUCH SUPPORT. THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY AND THOSE WATCHING ARE ALSO VERY EXCITED. WE WANT TO HELP THEM BECOME SUSTAINABLE IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. >> TO ME, THIS IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, WE ARE A BIG COUNTY WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF TALENTS. I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, IF THAT IS ALL RIGHT WITH YOU? COMMISSIONER MURPHY? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY QUESTION WOULD THEN TURN TO STAFF. IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO ON A COUNTY LEVEL TO HELP IN THE SEARCH FOR A LOCATION FOR THIS THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE? IS THAT VIABLE? WOULD WE HAVE TO GET CONSENSUS TO ASK FOR THAT? CONSENSUS WOULD BE UTTER. CAN I GET BORED CONSENSUS TO AT LEAST DIRECT STAFF TO HELP IN THIS SEARCH FOR A LOCATION? NOT NECESSARILY FINANCE, BUT HELP TRY TO FIND A LOCATION? I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME AREAS WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP IN. IF I COULD GET CONSENSUS FOR THAT. >> I SUPPORT WHATEVER WE CAN DO. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UNDER DIRECTION OF STAFF, THE DO NOT OVERBURDEN THEM WITH HOW BUSY THEY ARE. SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR DUTIES TO GO OUT HUNTING FOR A PIECE OF LAND. YOU UNDERSTAND? >> I DO. MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR SANDERS. >> YES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT MS. SANDERS THINKS THE STAFF CAN DO AND I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MURPHY AND WHITEHURST. SO I THINK THE SITE SEARCH, WE CAN PROBABLY DO MULTI FOLD. WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL COMMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT, THEIR JOB IS ACTUALLY TO DO SITE SELECTION FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE FOR-PROFIT OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT. AND THEY ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON PRIVATE PROPERTIES. SO, WE HAVE TOOLS THAT WE CAN USE TO HELP THE ORGANIZATION TO LOOK FOR A PROPER LOCATION WITH THE RIGHT SIZE FOR THIS PART OF THE COUNTY. THE OTHER ONE IS OF THE EARLY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT CAN POTENTIALLY PROVIDE A PUBLICLY OWNED LIST. BUT YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY LIMITED IN OUR LAND OWNING AND HOLDING. SO THAT MAY NOT BE THE MOST EXCITING SEARCH THAT WE CAN DO. BUT LET ME REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE ALSO DO HAVE A RFP THAT IS COMING OUT IN RELATION TO THE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE SITE. I AM LOOKING AT THIS BUILDING, IT LOOKS SORT OF SIMILAR TO THE TWO WING SET UP OF OUR FORMALLY KNOWN HALL OF FAME. SO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STAY INFORMED IN THE RFP PROCESS. AND THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO SOLICIT A PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME FOR ANY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROPOSALS. I THINK THIS MIGHT BE FITTING INTO THAT BOX AS WELL. >> MISSED SANDERS, WOULD THIS AT ALL DETER THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM PROGRESS? I DO NOT WANT IT TO -- [02:05:01] >> WELCOME AT THIS TIME, WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FMU TO JOINTLY PROPOSE TO THE STATE FOR THE SITE OF THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM. AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NO COMPONENT RELATED TO PERFORMANCE ART, EVEN THOUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IS PART OF THE INITIAL LEGISLATURE, IN A VERY VAGUE WAY, I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE WILL BE VERY NARROWLY FOCUSED ON GETTING THE -- FOR WHEN THEY PASS THIS YEAR SO THAT WE CAN START THE DESIGNS. I THINK AT THIS POINT, WITH LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT IN THE SESSION, TO ADD ON MORE COMPONENTS, IT MAY BE RISKY. BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN KEEP THAT AS A CONSIDERATION WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD FOR FUTURE ADVOCACY. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> MADAM CHAIR, JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU ARE NOT ASKING FOR FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA? WE ARE JUST HELPING WITH SITE ACQUISITION? >> YES. THAT IS WHY THE PROPOSAL IS NOT DISTINCT IN WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR. WE HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE FLORIDA MEMORIAL PROPERTY FOR A LOT OF REASONS THAT WOULD HELP IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO THE SUPPORT OF THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM. BUT THAT IS WHY IT IS A LITTLE MORE GENERAL IN NATURE FOR THE PROPOSAL. >> I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD GO HAND-IN-HAND. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WILL DEFER TO MS. SANDERS. SHOULD WE OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT? >> ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL HAVE COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER TWO. >> THANK YOU, HAPPY EASTER. >> GOOD MORNING. >> HELLO. I AM ALBERT SILAS, PRESIDENT OF MONZA AND PRESIDENT OF THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE. I AM DELIGHTED THAT YOU ARE HEARING ALL OF THIS. BECAUSE MY MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE ARTS AND CULTURE OF ST. JOHN'S COMMUNITY. AND NOW YOU ARE SEEING THAT THERE IS NOT JUST A DEMAND BY THE RESIDENTS AND THE VISITORS, BUT THERE IS A DEMAND BY COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT TO DO THINGS WITH THE ARTS. SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS BEEN CALLED THE CONFLUENCE OF CULTURE AND HISTORY THAT IS UNIQUE TO FLORIDA. AND IT MAY BE IN COMPETITION WITH OTHER PLACES IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLOIT THAT AND LEVERAGE IT. AND NOW YOU ARE SEEING THAT THERE IS INTEREST IN COMMERCIAL MONEY TO DO THAT WITH US. NOT JUST BEGGING FOR GOVERNMENT MONEY TO SUPPORT THE ARTS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEVERAGE THIS IN EVERY WAY THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY DO. NOT JUST THE SHELL, BUT ALL ARTS AND CULTURE RELATED TO SAINT AUGUSTINE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN REALLY MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF. I JUST REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE SAINT AUGUSTINE. ST. JOHNS COUNTY BENEFITS BY HAVING THE EPICENTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE FOR THE FIRST COAST IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. WE HAVE MENTIONED THE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE SITE . THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE WITH IT. BUT THAT IS STILL NOT QUITE SAINT AUGUSTINE. YOU HAVE SEEN THE LIST OF ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER TO DO THIS. IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, MOST OF THEM HAVE SAINT AUGUSTINE IN THEIR NAME. THIS NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED, THIS CONCEPT OF THE CONFLUENCE OF ARTS, CULTURE, AND HISTORY, DEVELOPED AND LEVERAGE TO THE BENEFIT OF BOTH BUSINESS, RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS . LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS ANYWAY THAT WE CAN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> TAKE YOUR TIME, JUST HURRY UP. >> GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> THANK YOU. MICHAEL MANN, SAINT AUGUSTINE. I AM A FOUNDING MEMBER OF BOTH THE SAINT AUGUSTINE CONCERT BAND AND THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE . I WILL BE VERY BRIEF. THE SHELL AT SAINT AUGUSTINE WOULD BE THE HEART, THE SOUL, AND THE INSPIRATION OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY COMMUNITY. DO NOT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY SLIP BY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. >> MY NAME IS SANDRA PARKES. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STETSON KENNEDY FOUNDATION. I LIVE AT 204 CECELIA COURT, HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. I COME FORWARD TO [02:10:05] OFFER A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. THIS PROJECT IS A LONG TIME COMING. AND FROM 1983 TO 1987, I SERVED AS THE SAINT AUGUSTINE CITY COMMISSIONER. I WAS THE COMMISSION'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD. AT THE TIME, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SERVED THE PURPOSES THAT THE LIPS US DOES TODAY. AT THAT TIME, WE DID NOT HAVE A CULTURAL COUNSEL. MANY, IF NOT MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS HERE THIS MORNING REPRESENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DID NOT EXIST AT THAT TIME. THE CHAMBER HAD PUT FORWARD THE BED TAX THREE TIMES AND THREE TIMES IT HAD BEEN REJECTED. AND SO THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD WAS ASKED BY THE CHAMBER WHETHER WE SHOULD TRY AGAIN TO PASS THE BED TAX. AND THEY HIRED A CONSULTING FIRM IN JACKSONVILLE THAT CAME DOWN AND DID A STUDY SAYING DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. AT THAT TIME, THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY WAS NOT ALL THAT SUPPORTIVE OF THE BED TAX. THEY SUSPECTED IT WOULD RESULT, MANY PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD RESULT IN BILLBOARDS ALONG THE HIGHWAY URGING FOLKS FROM SOUTH GEORGIA TO COME DOWN WHO WERE MORE INTERESTED IN TRINKETS THAN IN CULTURE. HOWEVER, WE CALLED A MEETING OF THE ARTS, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE GROUPS AT THE TIME, WHICH WERE VERY, VERY SMALL IN NUMBER COMPARED TO TODAY. AND WE DREW A DIAGRAM AND DISCUSSED THAT GOVERNMENT, THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, AND THE CULTURAL COMMUNITY OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY ARE SO INTERRELATED THAT IF YOU CUT ONE, ANOTHER BLEEDS. SO, THE ARTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZED ITSELF. AND ALONG WITH THE RECREATION FOLKS, WE WERE ABLE TO PASS THE BED TAX. IN THE EARLY DAYS, THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PUT ASIDE TO TRY TO BUILD A CENTER LIKE THIS. BUT AFTER 40 YEARS, THIS REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING COMES FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO NOT ONLY ACCOMPLISH THAT, BUT WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR HOW ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN BECOME SELF-RELIANT. THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR STORY. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> IS A GOOD AFTERNOON ALREADY? >> NO, MA'AM. IT IS STILL GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. WE LIVE ON PRESTWOOD PLACE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. YES . WE MOVED DOWN HERE IN 2006. AND WE WERE REALLY SHOCKED THAT THERE WAS NO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT ALL IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE MOVED DOWN TO SAINT AUGUSTINE, FOR BOTH ITS CULTURE, OF COURSE, THE CLIMATE AND THE HISTORIC RICHNESS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. WE NORMALLY GO OUTSIDE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE FOR OUR CULTURAL NEEDS. WE GO TO THE BODY AUDITORIUM IN DAYTONA, WE GO TO THE WARDMAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BY THE WAY, IT WAS JUST RECONSTRUCTED. THEY HAD A FIRE THERE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER RIGHT NOW. THE FITZGERALD AUDITORIUM, A HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM THAT THEY NOW CALL THE FITZGERALD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. AND WE GO TO JACKSONVILLE. BECAUSE THERE IS NO REAL VENUE. WE GO TO SOME OF THE AREAS HERE, LIKE WATERWORKS, THE ARMORY THAT THE FIRST COAST OPERA , THEY HAVE HAD TO RENT OUT SPACE WERE EVER AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR THE FIRST COAST OPERA. THE BASILICA, THEY HAVE BEEN USING THAT AS A VENUE. SAINT SEBASTIAN CHURCH, WE HAVE BEEN USING THAT AS A VENUE. EVERY OTHER PLACE THAT IS A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT WE CAN CALL OUR OWN. IT IS LONG OVERDUE AND WE REALLY WANT THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS. AND WE THINK THIS INITIATIVE IS REALLY WONDERFUL, IT IS A WONDERFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO. >> I JUST WANTED TO ADD, LOOKING AT THIS TEARFUL RENDERING OF THE SHELL, ONE THING TO NOT FORGET, IT ALSO WOULD NEED A SIZABLE PARKING LOT. SO THAT IS ONE OF FACILITIES, IF THE PLACE DOES [02:15:01] NOT HAVE ENOUGH PARKING, THEN THE SUCCESS IS LIMITED. SO PLEASE REMEMBER TO HAVE ENOUGH, NOT ONLY ACCESS THAT SEEMS TO BE EASY, BUT ALSO, FOR THE PARKING. AGAIN, JUST TO ADD TO MY WIFE'S COMMENTS, WE COME FROM A CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF THE NORTHEAST OF EUROPE. AND WE HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM SURROUNDING AREAS TO VISIT, JUST LOOK AT THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE ST. FRANCIS HERE, PEOPLE COME FROM AFAR. YOU KNOW, JUST FOR THOSE EVENTS. SO THIS COULD BE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR GOOD, GOOD CULTURE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WE JUST WANT TO KEEP THE PRICES LOW AS WELL. BECAUSE THE AMPED PRICES ARE GETTING ASTRONOMICAL. >> THANK YOU. >> YES, THANK YOU. NEXT? COME ON UP. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS PAULA SULLIVAN. 66 SPRING STREET IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. I AM INVOLVED WITH THE SAINT AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY CHORUS. I ALSO REPRESENT A MANAGER OF A LOCAL ARTIST HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. I AM FROM BOSTON. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE IN BOSTON IS A VERY FAMOUS HAT SHOW. THE BOSTON SYMPHONY PLAYS THERE, IT IS A HUGE VENUE . AND IT IS A MASSIVE BENEFIT. ONE OF THE THINGS IN SPEAKING WITH THE ARTISTS THAT I REPRESENT IS THAT I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MUSIC HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. IT IS INCREDIBLE. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE ALL GREAT ARTISTS COME TO RETIRE, THERE ARE LOTS OF FOLKS HERE. THE RIVER FESTIVAL WAS JUST OVER AT THE AMPHITHEATER, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERFECT EVENT TO HAVE AT THIS VENUE HERE. IT WENT ON ALL DAY, IT WAS PACKED. FROM 10:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 7:00 AT NIGHT. IT JUST WOULD BE A WONDERFUL AND IF IT TO ST. AUGUSTINE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ANYTHING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA EXCEPT FOR THE GAZEBO RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY, WHICH AS WE KNOW, THE PARKING SITUATION IS HORRENDOUS. IF WE COULD HAVE A PLACE LIKE THIS WITH PARKING, SO THAT PEOPLE COULD COME , LOCAL ARTISTS COULD PERFORM, AND THERE WOULD BE A GENERAL VENUE TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AS WELL AS THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP OF ARTISTS THAT WE HAVE. I AGREE TOO THAT THE NO MAN'S LAND OF THE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE KIND OF IS ALLURING BECAUSE OF ITS PARKING AVAILABILITY AND THERE IS NOTHING THERE. BUT I ALSO AGREE THAT THE SUPPORTING OF WHERE I LIVE IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND SUPPORTING IN THE BUILDUP AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF PEOPLE TO BE PART OF THE WEST AUGUSTINE AREA IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, ON BEHALF OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY CHORUS, WHICH I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO SAY, WE HAVE BEEN SINGING TOGETHER FOR 75 YEARS, I CLEARLY AM NOT A FOUNDING MEMBER . BUT WE WOULD ALL APPRECIATE HAVING THIS WONDERFUL VENUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. SHERRY BADGER, SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. ONCE AGAIN, OKAY, A LITTLE HISTORY. THAT IS WHAT CROSS AND SWORDS USED TO BE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, FOR THE COLLEGE KIDS TO GO THERE AND DO THEIR PLAYS, SKIT 'S, THIS AND THAT. I KNOW A LOT OF Y'ALL DO NOT REMEMBER THAT OR WERE NOT HERE FOR THAT. BUT NOW THE LOCALS HAVE BEEN BOOTED OUT OF THE AMPHITHEATER INSTEAD OF CROSS AND SWORDS, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. JUST LIKE THE PARKING GARAGE DOWNTOWN, THAT LAND WAS DONATED TO MAKE PUBLIC THE PLAYGROUND, THE TENNIS COURTS, THE BASKETBALL COURT. WHAT DO WE GOT NOW? WE'VE GOT A PARKING GARAGE. WHAT DO WE GOT AT THE AMPHITHEATER? UNAFFORDABLE, CANNOT PERFORM. THEY ALSO TOOK THE BAND STAND DOWNTOWN DOWN. OKAY. THIS IS HISTORY. OKAY? SINCE Y'ALL CANNOT SEEM TO WORK OUT A REASONABLE PRICE FOR THE AMPHITHEATER, WHICH IS NOT BUSY EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU. >> SO YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS? OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LISA [02:20:07] MCPHILLIPS. I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MONZA. I OWN A SMALL PRODUCTION COMPANY IN ST. AUGUSTINE THAT HAS PRODUCED OVER 350 SHOWS AND FESTIVALS IN TOWN OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS . ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I AM TERRIBLE APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. >> YOU ARE DOING GREAT. >> I AM THE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR FOR THE ST. AUGUSTINE -- FESTIVAL AS WELL AS FOR THE -- FESTIVAL PUT ON BY THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ORGANIZATION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THOSE TWO FESTIVALS ARE BOTH IN THE TOP 10 LIST OF USA TODAY'S CULTURAL FESTIVALS IN THE COUNTRY. TWO OF THEM ARE RIGHT HERE IN OUR COUNTY. I WORK WITH THE FUND DEVELOPMENT AND THE COMMUNITY SEAT IN THE ARMSTRONG AREA, FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT. AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MISS KATHRYN TAYLOR, WHO IS, WE CALL HER THE GODMOTHER OF THAT ORGANIZATION. WE ARE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF PARTNERING WITH THE SHELL AND THE EPICENTER COMMITTEE, WITH REGARDS TO THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM. SHE TEXTED ME JUST THE OTHER DAY ABOUT COMING HERE IN SUPPORT OF THAT AS WELL. AND THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION DEFINITELY ADVOCATES FOR A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO TO SAVE MONEY FOR BOTH ENTITIES. AND TO BRING PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE FROM THE PEOPLE DRAWN TO THE SHELL TO WHAT THEY ARE CALLING THE AFRICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM, THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS. I'VE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS IN THIS TOWN SINCE I CAME HERE IN 1990. I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH DR. BECKER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE ARTISTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, THIS IS NECESSARY. THE AMPHITHEATER, WHICH I HAVE WORKED AT THE CROSS AND SWORD, SO I CAN REFER BACK TO THAT. THE AMPHITHEATER IS NOW INACCESSIBLE TO LOCALS DUE TO THE COST. NEXT WEEKEND, IT IS OVER $6000 TO RENT THE FACILITY. MOST NONPROFITS CANNOT AFFORD THAT. WE NEED THIS TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO OUR LOCAL PERFORMERS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I ACTUALLY SAW CROSS AND SWORD IN 1973. SO, I HAVE BEEN AROUND. I AM OLD. THANK YOU. >> ME TOO, I AM OLD ALSO. I SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL AND I AM DELIGHTED TO SEE OUR FRIENDS HERE, MY FRIEND SANDRA PARKS, THE WIDOW OF MY LATE FRIEND, STETSON KENNEDY, IT IS THE SECOND TIME WE MET -- LET ME SUGGEST THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS PROPOSAL AND THE FLORIDA BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM, WE NEED TO RENAME FRANCIS FIELD IN DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE. I RAISED THIS IDEA WITH THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE BEFORE, I DID NOT GET ANY TRACTION, BUT HOPEFULLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS PROJECT IN WEST AUGUSTINE, WE CAN DO THIS. YOU KNOW JACKIE ROBINSON WAS NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY BASEBALL HERE? IT WAS ONE OF THE PLACES IN FLORIDA WHERE JACKIE ROBINSON COULD NOT PLAY BALL. AND I PROPOSE THAT WE RENAME FRANCIS FIELD DOWNTOWN THE FRANCIS-ROBINSON FIELD TO PROMOTE HEALING AND TO PROMOTE UNITY, AND TO PROMOTE APPRECIATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND ST. AUGUSTINE HISTORY. THE LAST TIME I RESEARCHED, AND I HAVE NOT DONE IT TODAY, JACKIE ROBINSON'S WIDOW SURVIVES. SHE IS 100 SOMETHING YEARS OLD. LET'S DO THIS WHILE SHE IS STILL ALIVE AND HONOR HER . SHE IS A RETIRED COUNSELOR WITH A PHD. IF SHE IS STILL AROUND, AND SHE CAN MAKE THE TRIP, LET'S HAVE HER COME FOR SOME OF THESE EVENTS. NOW, I TOTALLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF THE, THE PRICING NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AT THE AMPHITHEATER. I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE FOLKS IN THE AMPHITHEATER. YOU DO NOT WANT TO HEAR THAT, I AM SORRY, VICE CHAIRMAN YES, OKAY. ANYWAY, THAT IS A DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER DAY. BUT I LOVE THIS PROPOSAL. AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT THE ARTS WILL FLOURISH IN ST. AUGUSTINE . AND WE WILL PROMOTE HEALING WITH THIS PROPOSAL, AND MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR SCHOOL GROUPS, THE COMMUNITY CHORUS, AND FOLKS LIKE THAT. DEFINITELY INVESTIGATE THE ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS BY THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE AMPHITHEATER. SOME OF THE ACTS THERE AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE COUNTY NEED TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE FEDERAL ANTITRUST INVESTIGATIONS. WE CAN [02:25:03] WORK ON THAT AND TALK ABOUT THAT ANOTHER DAY. BUT I WAS DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT SANDRA PARKS, SHE HAD A BOOKSTORE HERE IN TOWN. A LOVELY LADY. SHE MARRIED STETSON, MY MENTOR. I REMEMBER, HE WAS QUOTED IN THE ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD WHEN I GOT MARRIED. HE SAID, WELL, I THINK I HAVE BEEN MARRIED SEVEN TIMES . AND WHAT A MAN HE WAS. STETSON KENNEDY NEEDS TO BE HONORED IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM HERE. HE STOOD UP FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN RIGHT, JOHN PAUL SARTRE PUBLISHED HIS BOOK IN FRENCH ORIGINALLY, BUT SEGREGATION AND JIM CROW SEGREGATION, WE ARE GOING TO -- THAT SEGREGATION. I ALSO ATTENDED A CONCERT OR A PLAY BY SOME COLLEGE STUDENTS AT THE CROSS AND KEPT THE SWORDS. THE VERY LAST DAY THAT THEY EVER EXISTED. THEY TRASHED THAT PLACE AND PUT THE CURRENT AMPHITHEATER. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH BUT I LOVE THE IDEA. BY THE WAY, PAUL SIMON WILL NOT PERFORM ANYWHERE ELSE IN FLORIDA EXCEPT FOR OUR AMPHITHEATER, IT IS THAT GOOD. >> THANK YOU. NEXT? GOOD MORNING. >> DIANE MARKOWITZ. ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. ACTUALLY, WEST AUGUSTINE . A RESIDENT MYSELF. I'M A DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR THE CULTURAL EVENTS INC. AND THE PONTEVEDRA CONCERT HALL. THE SATA LOVE FESTIVAL. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT STAND UP AND SAY THAT WE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THE LOCAL ARTISTS DUTY. EVERY SATURDAY, WE HAVE A FARMERS MARKET THAT WELCOMES OVER 20 LOCAL MUSICIANS IN A ROUND PLAYING ON HER FRONT PORCH. WE ALSO HAVE WELCOMED LULLABY OF THE RIVER. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAVE TEAM SUMMIT. AND WE HAVE GRADUATIONS. WE ARE FULLY IN SUPPORT OF ANY ORGANIZATION AND ANY STRUCTURE THAT FURTHERS OUR LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME. WE MET WITH ALBERTS I WAS A FEW TIMES PREVIOUSLY. I WOULD WELCOME FURTHER CONVERSATION AS WELL. AND WE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO ANY CONVERSATION ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REGARDING OUR TICKETING PROCEDURES AND PRICES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM FRANK RUSSO. I DO A LOCAL RADIO SHOW ON WFCS. A SHOW CALLED UNFILTERED JAZZ. I AM ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE JAZZ SOCIETY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR, BECAUSE WE GET CALLS FROM LOCAL ARTISTS AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM HERE IN ST. AUGUSTINE . THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO PERFORM AT A FACILITY LIKE THE AMP. THEY WOULD LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING THAT HAS A MODERATE SIZE VENUE. SOMETHING THAT WOULD SEAT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THREE DIFFERENT THEATERS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE HERE. AND I HAVE GOTTEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO COME DOWN AND PERFORM, A LOT OF THESE GUYS ARE NOW RETIRING BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME NEW UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE JAZZ FIELD. BUT FOR A BIG VENUE, WE WOULD HAVE A BIG BAND PLAYING THERE. I JUST SAW THAT GORDON GOODWIN, WHO HAS A BIG BAND OUTCOME HE JUST PLAYED IN ORLANDO YESTERDAY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO EVEN HAVE HIM HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ARTISTS COME TO ST. AUGUSTINE AND SHOW US WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO OFFER THEM. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO DR. BECKER'S RECITATION AND FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE TO WHAT YOU HEARD. I AM JOANNE EDWARD. I LIVE AT 70 NORTH ST. AUGUSTINE BOULEVARD. 32080. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONCERT ASSOCIATION. AND WE ARE CONCLUDING OUR 46TH SEASON. WE ARE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT POSITION THAN SOME OF THE OTHER PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS. BECAUSE WE PARTNER WITH FLAGLER COLLEGE. AND THAT SOUNDS GREAT. WOULD YOU BELIEVE THE FLAGLER COLLEGE HAD NOT YET SETTLED THEIR CALENDAR FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR? AND SO, THEREFORE, WE BRING IN QUALITY MUSIC AND DANCE PROGRAMS, AND WE HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME AND PERFORM, BUT WE CANNOT GIVE THEM A DATE. THE SHELL WOULD CERTAINLY SOLVE OUR PROBLEM. OUR OTHER PROBLEM IS, AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, PARKING IN [02:30:03] DOWNTOWN ST. AUGUSTINE IS A HUGE ISSUE. AND IN ORDER TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR CONCERTS, WE NOW ARE OFFERING A SHUTTLE SERVICE . YOU CAN PARK FOR FREE AT THE COUNCIL ON AGING AND TAKE THE FREE SHUTTLE, WHICH IS GREAT, EXCEPT IT IS ANOTHER HUGE EXPENSE FOR OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, MADE UP OF ALL VOLUNTEERS. SO, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM. THE CONCERT ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN A PARTNER OF THE EPICENTER ALLIANCE SINCE THE BEGINNING. AND WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE SHELL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT? GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ALLISON GREGOR. 205 MADRID STREET. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE ORCHESTRA. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR 63RD SEASON IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN ORDER SO THAT HOUSES WELL OVER 150 MEMBERS. WE REHEARSED EVERY TUESDAY, WE HAVE REHEARSAL TONIGHT AT MURRAY MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT IS A VOLUNTARY GROUP. IT IS ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE PULL FROM AS FAR AS PALM COAST UP TO JACKSONVILLE, CLAY COUNTY, AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. AND JUST A LITTLE PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN, I HAVE BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR 12 YEARS. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE AND IT REMAINS A CHALLENGE, FINDING PERFORMANCE SPACE. WE PERFORMED AT THE AMPHITHEATER AT THE 450TH CELEBRATION. I CAN TELL YOU THAT VIOLINISTS DO NOT LOVE BEING OUTDOORS WITH VIOLINS. SO, OUTDOORS IS NOT A GREAT GO FOR US. FOR MANY YEARS, WE PERFORMED IN THE ALCAZAR. FOR US, THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL VENUE. BUT WHAT THAT MEANT WAS COMING IN AT 3:00, TAKING DOWN A RESTAURANT, PUTTING UP A PERFORMANCE SPACE, INCLUDING AUDIENCE CHAIRS , PERFORMING, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE EVENING, REVERSING IT. TAKING DOWN THE PERFORMANCE SPACE AND REASSEMBLING A RESTAURANT. SO, IT IS EXTREMELY LABOR INTENSIVE. AND QUITE HONESTLY, TOO SMALL. WE COULD NOT EVEN FIT IN. AND OUR AUDIENCE WAS, THERE WERE VERY FEW SEATS THERE . WE NOW HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR NEWER HIGH SCHOOL HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THE AUDITORIUM SEATS 800 . IT IS BEAUTIFUL. BUT, AGAIN, BEHIND THE SCENES, I CANNOT SCHEDULE UNTIL THEY KNOW THEIR FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, BECAUSE OF PARKING. IF WE CANNOT BE THERE ON A NIGHT WHERE THERE IS A FOOTBALL GAME, WE CANNOT BE THERE ON A NIGHT WHEN THE BAND IS USING THEIR PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS FOR SOME OTHER ACTIVITY. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BORROW THOSE. SO, IT IS A VERY INTERESTING DOMINO EFFECT. FOR EXAMPLE , THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, WE RUN ON THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, WE ALREADY HAD STARTED REHEARSING BEFORE I EVEN KNEW WHERE OUR CONCERT WAS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SCHEDULE THAT UNTIL AFTER WE STARTED REHEARSING. THE SHELL FOR US IS THE ANSWER. WE NEED SPACE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE GROWING OUR MEMBERSHIP. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GROW OUR AUDIENCE. THAT IS Ú SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU. NEXT? GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. CHARLIE HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATES. I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE START OF THE PROPERTY THAT IT MIGHT WANT TO GO ON. BACK IN 2014, EXCUSE ME, 2024, ALMOST A YEAR TO THE DATE, WHEN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTED TO NEGOTIATE THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE PROPERTY FOR THE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM, THEY WAS WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THAT. BUT THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, BEFORE MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY CAME OUT AND SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT IN IT FOR THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY, THEY WANT A LEASE FOR THE PROPERTY. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY UPDATES OF THAT, IF THE LEASE IS GOING TO BE. BUT IF THIS PROPERTY, IF THIS PROJECT GOES TO GET PUT ON OUR PROPERTY, THEN WHO IS PAYING THE LEASE? IS IT THE COUNTY? THEN THAT IS TAXPAYERS MONEY. WE DON'T WANT [02:35:03] TO WASTE THAT. BUT THAT IS WHAT IT IS LIKE . WITH AN ISSUE LIKE THIS, YES, WORLD GOLF VILLAGE? HEY, THERE YOU GO, RIGHT THERE. BUT TO PUT IT IN THERE AND SAY WEST AUGUSTINE, AND REALLY RAMPING UP IN WEST AUGUSTINE, IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. THEY SAID WE ARE GOING TO PUT THIS PARKER PUT THIS ESTABLISHMENT HERE TO HELP THIS AREA OF WEST JACKSONVILLE OR EAST JACKSONVILLE. BUT A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY FROM IT, IT IS NORMAL, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. OKAY. THIS PLACE FOR ALL THESE PERFORMANCE ARTISTS AND EVERYTHING, I GUARANTEE IF YOU GO DOWN A COUPLE BLOCKS OVER, KEN'S WILL BE THERE STILL. NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT IT IS GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR US TO DO THIS , THIS, AND THIS. BUT IF YOU LIVE IN THAT AREA, THEY PROBABLY WON'T. BECAUSE IT IS BENEFITING THEIR MENTALITY OF, WE WILL BRING ALL OF THIS IN, BUT A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. SO, YEAH, ABOUT THE LEASE ISSUE OF THAT PROPERTY, I HAVE HAD HEARD NO NOISE ABOUT THAT. EVEN IF IT IS GOING TO GET LEAST, OR IF THERE WAS JUST A DELIBERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUY THAT PROPERTY, AND THEN IT GETTING LEASED BECAUSE THE OWNER SAID THEY WILL NOT SELL IT . THAT IS COSTING TAXPAYER MONEY RIGHT THERE TOO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MELINDA PEEPERS. I'M FROM 6 TO 31 ARMSTRONG ROAD IN FLORIDA. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE PUT ON THE -- HERITAGE FESTIVAL EACH YEAR. IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST FESTIVALS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AND I THINK SHE JUST MENTIONED THAT WE WERE VOTED NUMBER 10 FOR USA TODAY. AND SO THAT IS A GREAT HONOR. AND SO I WOULD STILL WANT THIS THING TO SAY -- A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, LET'S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF OUR BLACK HERITAGE MUSEUM, WHICH I THINK HAS ALREADY BEEN FUNDED OR IS BEING FUNDED BY THE STATE. SO, WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT A BIRD IN HAND IS WORTH FIVE IN THE BUSH. WE KNOW YOU'VE GOT THAT. SO I WANT TO STAND AND SAY, PLEASE DON'T PUT THAT ON THE BACK BURNER. PLEASE, LET'S KEEP THAT IN THE FOREFRONT, THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE SOMETHING GREAT FOR THE STATE, THE BLACK MUSEUM HAS BEEN FUNDED. AND WE NEED THAT HERITAGE CULTURE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. JUST A SIDE NOTE , BEFORE YOU GO, IT HAS NOT BEEN FULLY FUNDED, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE GAS WITH THAT. THANK YOU. >> KEEP PUSHING IT, KEEP PUSHING IT. BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING GREAT. AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT HONOR FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO HAVE SOMETHING GREAT LIKE THAT. IF EVERYBODY WANTS TO PULL TOGETHER AND COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER, I AM FULLY IN FAVOR OF IT. BUT, LIKE I SAID, DON'T PUSH ONE OUT AND BRING THE OTHER ONE IN. >> 100%, 100%. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DON MCGEE, 6070 KASTEN ARROW ROAD, ST. AUGUSTINE. AND I AM A PROUD BOARD MEMBER OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE COMMUNITY CHORUS . AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN PERFORMING FOR 76 YEARS IN THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. AND THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE AS AN ORGANIZATION, IT IS NOT ABOUT BRINGING THINGS IN TO ST. AUGUSTINE FOR US . IT IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, WHO ARE PERFORMING, TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO. WE HAVE OVER 100 PEOPLE IN OUR CHORUS. WE PERFORM CHRISTMAS AT THE BASILICA. USUALLY, THE SAME EVENING AS THE BOAT PARADE. SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH 100 MEMBERS OF A CHORUS COMING IN TO PERFORM [02:40:05] AND PARK ON THAT EVENING, THERE HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF OUR CHORUS AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A PARKING SPACE TO EVEN PERFORM. THEY HAVE MISSED THE PERFORMANCE. SO, IT REALLY, IT IS ABOUT THE ABILITY ALSO TO HAVE ALL OF THE ARTS IN ONE AREA. YOU KNOW, SO THAT OUR CHORUS CAN WORK WITH THE ORCHESTRA AND THE THEATER, AND TO HAVE A GENERAL PLACE WHERE THE FEELING OF, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATION IS THE KEY TO HARMONY IN OUR SITUATION. AND I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> NEXT. >> GOOD MORNING, NEARLY GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SHEILA, I LIVE AT 384 SOUTH MILKY WAY IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH. I HAVE BEEN HEAVILY INVESTED SINCE MY HUSBAND AND I FIRST MOVED HERE IN 2012 IN THE ARTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I AM A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE ORCHESTRA. MY HUSBAND WAS ALSO, MY LATE HUSBAND WAS ALSO IN THE ORCHESTRA AND WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE, OF THIS ORGANIZATION WORKING TO DEVELOP THE SHELL. I'M ALSO EIGHT VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE FILM FESTIVAL, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A DOZEN YEARS. I'VE SUPPORTED MEDICATIONS FOR MANY SMALL OR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN ST. AUGUSTINE. I WANTED TO REITERATE TODAY, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE VARYING SIZES. AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION. MOST OF THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE HUGE AND A SMALL GROUP CANNOT GET 1700 OR 4000 PEOPLE COMING TO SEE ONE OF THEIR SHOWS. THE WATERWORKS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL NEW EDITION. BUT SOMETIMES IT IS TOO SMALL. I THINK THE BEAUTY OF THE SOLUTION THAT IS BEING PROPOSED TODAY IS THAT IT IS MULTIFUNCTIONAL. THERE IS ROOM FOR MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES TO BE HAPPENING CONCURRENTLY IN MULTIPLE SPACES. THEY HAVE REALLY DONE A LOT TO THINK IT THROUGH. AND IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS THAT MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN DECEASED, AND SO THIS THINKING HAS BEEN VERY THOUGHTFUL FOR THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS. SO I JUST WANTED TO SUPPORT IT AND SAY IT IS SOMETHING GREATLY NEEDED. AS OTHER FOLKS HAVE SAID TODAY, WE ARE REALLY SO LUCKY TO HAVE ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE FIRST COAST THOUGHT OF AS AN AREA WHERE THE ARTS ARE SO IMPORTANT. AND GIVEN THE LIMITED FUNDING TODAY THAT EXISTS FOR THE ARTS, HAVING SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN THOUGHT THROUGH TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND LOOKED AT AS A MODEL FOR HAVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS COMMUNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEE NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> BACK TO THE BOARD. ANY COMMUNICATION, COMMISSIONER MURPHY? YOUR LIGHT IS ON. I DID NOT KNOW IF YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY. SO, GOING FORWARD, WE ARE CONSENSUS TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT AREAS. IS THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING? OKAY. WELL, GREAT. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TALENT. HOW COME YOU ARE NOT SINGING TODAY? I'M JUST CURIOUS. TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THREE, WE WILL GET FOUR DONE, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO LUNCH. WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD FOOD TRUCK CALLED LOVING OF AND FOOD TRUCK. AND I ASKED THE AUDITORIUM, THE SHALL PEOPLE ARE LEAVING ANY FOOD TRUCK WILL BE OUT THERE. IT WILL BE REALLY GOOD. AGENDA ITEM THREE. [3. Public Hearing * PUD 2024-06 Dog & Bog. Request to rezone approximately 5.56 acres of land from Workforce Housing (WH) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow for a maximum of 12 residential dwelling units and a maximum of 5,000 square feet of commercial uses to accommodate for a proposed restaurant/office and an associated dog park facility, with the option to add an additional 5,000 square feet of commercial uses. The subject property is located south of West King Street, east of South Holmes Blvd, and north of the Solomon Calhoun Community Center. The Planning and Zoning Agency heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on November 21, 2024 and recommended approval with a vote of 5 to 2. The motion included the elimination of entertainment, retail, and hospitality out of the allowable commercial uses, along with extending the affordability period of the Workforce Housing units from 2 years to 10 years. At the regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting held on February 18, 2025, there was a 5-0 vote to continue the item, and it has subsequently been re-advertised to the April 15th meeting.] >> THERE IS A QUASIJUDICIAL ON THIS. AND THAT IS COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. >> WELL, I KNOW I HAVE SOME ? PARTAKE TO DISCLOSE. I HAVE HAD A MEETING IN THE OFFICE WITH RYAN MEYER WITH OUR STAFF HERE IN THE OFFICE. AND ENOUGH HAVE HAD A FEW EMAILS, IT LOOKS LIKE 3+ EMAILS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD. >> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD? >> I ALSO HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF EMAILS. IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS IN THE OFFICE WITH KAREN TAYLOR, RYAN MEYER, AND BELL-MEYER. I ALSO HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ST. AUGUSTINE CRA. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> YES. I ALSO MET WITH THE APPLICANTS AS WELL AS RECEIVED SOME EMAILS FROM SOME OF THE RESIDENTS. >> COMMISSIONER MURPHY? >> SAME FOR ME. 3+ EMAILS MEETING WITH THE APPLICANT AND STAFF. >> ABSOLUTELY THE SAME FOR ME TOO. WHERE ARE WE WITH THIS? >> WELL, GOOD MORNING, STILL MORNING. THIS WILL BE PERHAPS THE EASIEST ONE FOR YOU OF THE MORNING. WE ARE SEEKING [02:45:03] APPLICATION FOR THE PUD REZONING OF THE 5+ ACRES ON THESE PARCELS. UNFORTUNATELY, LOOKING AT OUR TIMELINE AND WHAT IS INVOLVED UNTIL WE GET A COMMERCIAL REVENUE GENERATING SITE ON THIS PIECE, WE JUST ARE NOT ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. 2+ YEARS IS WHAT I AM ENVISIONING, SINCE WE WERE DOING OUR BEST TO TAKE NO PROFIT ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHDRAW THIS APPLICATION. HOWEVER, WE HAVE FOUND A PARTNER IN THE COMMUNITY. WE DO HAVE A VERBAL AGREEMENT TO SELL THE PARCEL TWO, WHICH IS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT. WE FEEL THAT WOULD BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, IF WE CAN FINALIZE THAT TRANSACTION. >> COMMISSIONER MURPHY? >> YES, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE APPLICATION. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. A MOTION ON THE TABLE. ANY MORE COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. LET'S VOTE. >> PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> OH, I AM SORRY. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> SUZANNE -- >> GOOD MORNING. >> I THINK THAT IF YOU WOULD ALLOW THEM TO WITHDRAWAL, IT WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THEM, FOR THE WEST AUGUSTINE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IF THEY CAN GET SOMETHING GOING WITH HABITAT, OR THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY GIVE THE BEST BENEFIT FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING. WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PUD PROJECT THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO BRING FORTH, IN MY OPINION, IT WAS JUST NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD . AND IT WAS GOING TO BE A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE LAND OWNER. I HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH BILL LAZAR ABOUT THIS PROJECT. AND HE HOPED THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO STEP IN AND DO SOMETHING TO ASSIST. BUT THE NUMBERS JUST WERE NOT COMING IN WITH THE COST OF BUILDING SUPPLIES RISING RAPIDLY RIGHT NOW , AND PROBABLY WILL KEEP GOING THAT WAY, I THINK FOR EVERYBODY, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD SOLUTION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT IN THE FUTURE, WHEN PROJECTS FOR LAND USE OR ZONING CHANGE COMES INTO THE COUNTY AND IT IS LOCATED IN A CRA DISTRICT, THAT THE B CC WOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF NEW REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE PROJECT. THAT THOSE WOULD GO THROUGH A PRE-APPLICATION PROCESS WITH THE CRA BEING REALLY INVOLVED IN THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I THINK SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP WITH THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THEY WERE INVOLVED VERY EARLY ON AND WOULD HAVE SAVED EVERYBODY A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY, AND FINANCES. SO THAT IS JUST WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL GRANT THEM THE RETRIEVAL OF THIS APPLICATION. AND I HOPE THAT THE PROPERTY CAN BE SOLD AND USED FOR A BETTER BENEFIT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> GOOD MORNING. >> YES, GOOD MORNING. CHARLIE HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATES. I DON'T KNOW. IT JUST CAME OVER ME, LIKE AN AURA IS AROUND ME RIGHT NOW. BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING, I KNOW THAT WE ARE DESCRIBING THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE UP FRONT. AND THEN EXTENDING AROUND AND RUNNING AROUND THE RAILROAD TRACK ON THE BACKSIDE , WOULD THAT BE A GOOD, FEASIBLE PLACE FOR THE SHELL? IT IS RIGHT [02:50:08] THERE. THEY HAVE PARKING THROUGHOUT THAT WHOLE BALL FIELD THAT WOULD BE OVER THERE. GRANTED, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT, SOME CHANGES. BUT THAT IS JUST PICKING IT UP AND MOVING IT OVER . AND MAYBE THEY DO NOT NEED TO HAVE 1700 SEATS. MAYBE 1000. I MEAN, THAT IS BIG ENOUGH. BUT LET'S LOOK AT IT IN A PRACTICAL SENSE. IT IS IN THE SAME LOCATION, THE SAME AREA. IF IT IS TO SELL OFF THAT PROPERTY , AND THEN THE SHELL, MAYBE IT WILL CHANGE THE NAME. MAYBE IT WILL NOT BE THE SHELL. I DON'T KNOW. I AM JUST TRYING TO BRING GOOD IDEAS TO SOME OF Y'ALL UP THERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. >> WHAT A GREAT IDEA. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. YES, GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. LINDA EVERSON, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. WE ARE, WE HAVE A FULLY EXECUTED SALES AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT. AND WE ARE IN THE DUE DILIGENCE PHASE RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A FEASIBLE PROJECT FOR US. AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS SUCH A SHORTAGE OF WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THIS COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS WOULD BE A POSITIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING WITH THE SHOW. I THINK THEY TALKED ABOUT ADDING 32,000 EMPLOYEES, MAYBE IT IS 3200. EITHER WAY, WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO REVISITING THE WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT WAS APPROVED FOR THE PREVIOUS PROJECT. AND WE WILL BE TALKING WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEE NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. I JUST HAVE ONE THING, IF I MAY. I BELIEVE THE SHELL WILL REQUIRE A LOT MORE LAND THAN IS AVAILABLE HERE. BUT GREAT IDEA. I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK. >> ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE. LET'S VOTE. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. 5-0. I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. >> THINK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME AND EDUCATION. I APPRECIATE IT. >> GREAT WORKING WITH YOU AND [4. REZ 2024-21 247 Canal Blvd. Request to rezone approximately 0.53 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Residential, Single Family (RS-2). The 0.53 acre is a portion of a larger 2.5 acres parcel. The Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on March 20, 2025, and recommended approval with a vote of 6-0, Labanowski, Hilsenbeck, Spiegel, Piere, Green and Matovina were present, Perkins was absent. There was no public comment made. ] EVERYONE AT THE COUNTY. YOU HAVE ALL BEEN SUPER PROFESSIONAL AND WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT. SO, THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GO TO THE LAST ONE, FOUR. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> I HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY MEETINGS OR ANY EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS. >> I HAVE THE SAME, NO RECORD OF ANY MEETINGS, PHONE CALLS, OR EMAILS. MIXING, NO RECORD OF ANYTHING. >> NOTE RECORDS OF EMAILS OR MEETINGS. SIR, ARE YOU READY? >> I AM. 247 CANAL BOULEVARD IN PONTEVEDRA. HERE FOR THE REZONING OF .53 ACRES. WHAT DO I USED TO FLIP THE SCREEN? >> THERE IS A CLICKER. >> OH, OKAY. >> I DON'T HAVE AN ENTOURAGE, I DON'T THINK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO HERE. ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY CURRENT PROPERTY RIGHT NOW. THE LOT IN QUESTION IS ON THE LEFT. THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF PROPERTY RIGHT THERE ON THE YELLOW LINE. BUT THIS IS THE ACTUAL LOT I AM TRYING TO REZONE. ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT ARE THREE PARCELS THAT HAVE BEEN REDONE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THIS IS A FUTURE LAND USE VIDEO OF THE PROPERTY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PLOT IS. IT SHOWS THE ZONING, THE TOTAL ZONING OF THE WHOLE AREA. THAT IS THE DIMENSIONS OF MY PROPERTY. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THERE IS ONLY ONE HOUSE THAT CAN GO ON THAT PROPERTY. I AM JUST ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE. >> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> LET'S OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THEN YOU CAN COME BACK TO US IN A SECOND. >> OKAY. >> WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. AND SEEING NONE , WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. A MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2025-8. APPROVING REE 2024-21. 247 CANAL BOULEVARD, BASED UPON FINDINGS IN FACT AS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.