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>>> QUICK OVERVIEW, WE ARE GOING TO START AGAIN THIS MORNING GO OVER -- AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING, WITHIN OUR AREA, IF THERE IS AN AREA IN WHICH A ROLLBACK SCENARIO WOULD REQUIRE REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET REQUESTED WILL KIND OF GO THROUGH THOSE. WITH
[Library Services]
THAT WE BEGIN TODAY WITH LIBRARY SERVICES.>> GOOD MORNING. LIBRARY DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY AND I
HAVE -- >> COME USE OUR SERVICES IN OUR BUILDINGS, RESIDENTS CAN GET A FREE LIBRARY CARD AND WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THAT. THE DEPARTMENT OF OUTREACH , FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DO AWARENESS OF THE VALUE AND THE PART OF THE SERVICES AND LOCATIONS. SO, HERE IS THE OVERVIEW OF LAST YEAR, OUR MOST RECENT STATS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR, THESE ARE , THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THESE THREE CATEGORIES ARE KIND OF OUTLINED FURTHER . -- PREVIOUS YEAR 2023 ATTENDANCE IS 8% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR WHILE WE LOOK LIKE WE'RE 3700, NOT A HUMONGOUS NUMBER IN TERMS OF THE STAFF WE HAVE AVAILABLE THAT IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE AND -- IN TERMS OF THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION THESE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT PLAYS INTO SOME OF THE REQUESTS. THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT BUDGET IN 25 AND AT THIS POINT I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE, WE MENTIONED THIS, BUT WE ARE A DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL FUND, NOT AN DEPARTMENT BY ANY MEANS SO YOU WILL WE HAVE ABOUT $1 MILLION THIS YEAR OF GENERAL FUND OF DOLLARS.
-- $180,000 FROM DONATIONS. DONATIONS FOR US ARE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WE GET MEMORIAL, BIRTHDAY -- DOLLARS
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COME FROM FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH LIBRARY INCLUDING THE BOOK MOBILE SERVICE HAS THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT -- REMINDING FOLKS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THE FRIENDS OF THE BOOK MOBILE SO, THOSE DOLLARS PROVIDE STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ACCESS THE RESOURCES.AS A KICKOFF THIS IS THE COMPARISON WITH CURRENT BUDGET OF 25 WHICH IS AND THE FULL REQUEST FOR FY 26, IT IS ABOUT AN 8.5% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR AND THAT REMINDER IS THERE THAT WE ANTICIPATE OPENING TWO NEW FACILITIES IN THE YEAR 2026. BEFORE WE GET TO THE ACTUAL REQUEST, WE WANTED TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE OUR OWN LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN AND AS PART OF OUR STATE AID APPLICATION EVERY YEAR WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO AN ANNUAL PLAN OF SERVICE, PULLED OUT OF OUR LONG-RANGE STRATEGIC PLAN, THIS YEAR THE COUNTY DID A SEPARATE COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN AND SOME OF THOSE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ARE ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE HAVE SAID WE WOULD DO FOR THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE OUTLINED A PLANNING BASIS FOR THE COUNTY APPOINTMENT.
THESE ARE THE FOUR POINTS THAT ARE IN THE COUNTY PLAN AND THE LAST ONE ESTABLISHED SEND TO STEFFI HAS REALLY COME INTO PLAY WITH OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HOW TO REALIGN THEIR POSITIONS VERSUS WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST IN THE LEVER SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY, IN ANTICIPATION OF THOSE. THIS IS JUST A HIGHLIGHT.
I KNOW FROM SOME OF THE OTHER SESSIONS THAT YOU ALREADY HEARD STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING HAS BEEN REDUCED OR ELIMINATED.
WE RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE FEDS , TRICKLES DOWN TO THE STATE LIBRARY OF FLORIDA, IF THOSE SERVICES ARE TO LEAVE OR REMOVE THE FUNDING FOR THOSE IT WOULD EQUATE TO $156,000 IMPACT ON THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET. WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF THAT THIS YEAR WITH THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM WHERE THE STATE DID NOT PICK UP THE COST OF THAT, YOU HAD HEALTH -- IN TERMS OF COST SAVINGS, WE LOOKED AT THE REQUEST ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEW BUILDINGS, WHAT THOSE POSITIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE AND IS THERE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. WHAT WE CAME UP WITH WAS A SYSTEM WHERE WE WOULD USE RECLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE AND PROVIDE FOR INTERNAL UPWARD MOBILITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
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AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS TO MOVE UP WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE FORMAL REQUEST FOR THE NEW FTE AND RETAIN THAT SKILL SET ON THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE. IN TERMS OF THE NEW POSITIONS, NEWS RECLASSIFICATIONS THE COST SAVINGS WERE $101,000 EACH.SO IT IS SIGNIFICANT WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO BY USING AN INTERNAL PROCESS. WE HAVE WORKED WITH MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE LIBRARY STRUCTURE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO WORK THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND MAKE SURE STAFF ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS IS THE PROCESS AND THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO REPLY. A REMINDER WE HAVE SEVEN FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND THEY ARE HUGELY IMPACTFUL IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY PROVIDE ON OUR BEHALF.
LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 250 FRIENDS MEMBERS ACROSS THE SYSTEM. THOSE SEVEN ENTITIES FUND RAISED $320,000 AND THEY EXPENDED 250,000 PLUS ON BEHALF OF OUR INDIVIDUAL LIBRARIES. SO WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR FRIENDS. AS GRANTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO SERVICES WE FULFILL LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND OUR OWN INTERNAL TEAM TO WRITE THOSE. LIKE THE LAST SLIDE A LOT OF FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES HAVE KIND OF DRIED UP FOR THE TIME BEING. A LOT OF SERVICES ARE ON HOLD.
THIS IS JUST A REMINDER, WE ASKED GIS TO UPDATE THE MAP SO SQUARE BOXES AND THE CURRENT LOCATIONS OF OUR SIX BUILDINGS, THE THREE STARS ARE THE ORIGINAL PARK LIBRARY AND YOU CAN SEE, WE SHOWED LAST YEAR, AS WELL.
THE HISTORY OF OUR STRUCTURES ARE NOT SPRING CHICKENS.
SO PART OF OUR BUDGET DOES REQUIRE ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR EXPENSES FOR THOSE LOCATIONS.
FOR THE MOST RECENT IN MAINE CLOSE FOR TWO MONTHS EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN THEY GOT A NEW ROOF.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO PERSONNEL, THE CURRENT STAFFING LEVEL OF THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT IS 98.1 FTES.
IN THE FULL BUDGET REQUEST WE HAVE ASKED FOR 12.4, 4.8 OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE FOR EXISTING BRANCHES.
7.6 FTES ARE FOR THE NEW LOCATIONS WHICH WOULD BE THE HASTINGS LIBRARY AND THE CENTRAL SHARE WATER LOCATION.
THE ROLLBACK REQUEST IS ABOUT HALF OF THAT, SO WE ROLLED THAT BACK TO 6.3. 3.8 FOR EXISTING LOCATIONS AND THE DIFFERENCE IS ONE FTE WE HAVE A LIBRARY COURIER POSITION WE USE STAFFING OF SAINT AUGUSTINE DOLLARS.
WE HAVE A RETENTION PROBLEM WITH TWO COURIERS WEEKDAY AND WEEKEND WE DO DELIVERY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
THE TURNING ON THAT POSITION HAS GOTTEN SOME KIND OF CRAZY SO IN THE 12.4 REQUEST ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS WAS FOR A FULL- TIME COURIER POSITION. WHEN I STARTED IN 2007 THAT WAS A BCC POSITION AND THEN WAS LET GO DURING THE RECESSION AND WE HAVE BEEN USING A TEMP SERVICE EVER SINCE THEN.
>> STOP THERE REAL QUICK. THE ROLLBACK REQUEST SCENARIO.
AS MENTIONED IF WE WENT TO ROLLBACK IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IN THE REQUEST OF POSITIONS FOR NEXT YEAR AND AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT SO FAR, YOU KIND OF SEE THE THEME OF TODAY AND TOMORROW FOR THE AREAS THAT ARE TRYING TO EXPAND WITH NEW FACILITIES AND THE ROLLBACK IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT SO, FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, A ROLLBACK SCENARIO WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO CUT 670,000 OUT OF THEIR FY 26 REQUEST CURRENT REQUEST SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE DEBORAH IS GETTING TO WITH THE
THAT IS A ROLLBACK HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THE LOCATIONS WHEN YOU
NEED 7.6? >> YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SLIDE. THAT IS LEGITIMATE.
THE LAST BUILDING WE OPENED WAS ANASTASIA ISLAND IN 2007 SO RIGHT ON THE CUSP OF THE RECESSION AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS MANY POSITIONS WERE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED AND USED INTERNAL RESTRUCTURING. THAT IS ALWAYS A OPTION AND WE
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HAVE FACTORED THAT IN, IN TERMS OF THE RECLASSIFICATION MODEL.THE INTERNAL, THIS WAS THE NOTE YOU ARE STRUCTURING WITH $300,000 SO HERE IS THE LIST, THIS IS THE FULL REQUEST.
SO WHAT YOU SEE AT THE TOP ARE THE EXISTING BRANCHES AND SERVICES. THE ELIMINATION OF THE COURIER FOR THE ROLLBACK. THE SECOND BLOCK IS THE NEW LOCATION WHETHER THAT IS HASTINGS LIBRARY REPLACEMENT FACILITY SO THEY HAVE STAFFING TO GO IN AND THEN CENTRAL SHARE WATER. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, $670,000 IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. THE DEPARTMENT IS BALANCED WITH BODIES FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FOR THE COMMUNITIES THOSE ARE REALLY THE ONLY POTS THAT YOU HAVE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FULL REQUEST ON THE LEFT, THAT WAS 12.4. THE ROLLBACK, WHAT WE HAVE DONE, HERE IS 6.3 AND THOSE WOULD BE DELAYED ON THE 11TH HOUR, FM AND PUBLIC WORKS MENTIONED THE SHEARWATER SITE MIGHT NOT OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER. SO I DON'T THINK THAT FULL STAFFING, THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION.
I DO NEED A MANAGER FOR THAT LOCATION SO THAT POSITION IS INCLUDED IN HERE AND HASTINGS, IF YOU GO BACK YOU WILL SEE HASTINGS AND PONTEVEDRA AT THE TOP, CURRENT PART-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT WISH TO GO FULL-TIME. IF THAT WAS APPROVED, HASTINGS WOULD GAIN AN ADDITIONAL 16 CUSTOMER SERVICE HOURS FROM THAT EMPLOYEE WHICH WOULD TIDE THEM OVER INTO THE NEW FACILITY UNTIL WE DETERMINE WHAT IS THE ACCURATE TIMELINE TO OPEN SHEARWATER. WHEN YOU GET TO THIS, THE 6.3 IS JUST A DOT AND THE POSITIONS FOR THE NEW BUILDINGS ARE PUSHED BACK UNTIL JUNE OR JULY UNTIL JUNE OR JULY 2026 SO YOU ARE PLAYING A WAITING GAME, HASTINGS DOES NOT GET THE FULL REQUEST UNTIL YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO OPEN SHEARWATER GOING IN LICKETY- SPLIT THERE IS A ANTICIPATION TO OPEN EARLY. I CANNOT JUST OPEN WITH A MANAGER AND MYSELF SO WE PLAY THE BALANCING GAME.
YOU REDUCE TOTAL REQUEST BY HALF, THEN YOU HAVE FLEXIBILITY WITHIN THE INTERNAL LIBRARY SYSTEM TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU NEED TO PUT THOSE POSITIONS AND THEN THE BULK OF SHEARWATER WOULD BE ROLLED INTO THE 27 BUDGET REQUEST.
>> SOME OF IT IS TIMING? SAYING MAYBE NOT THE SAME NUMBER, BUT PRETTY CLOSE OF FTES , BUT YOU WOULD DEFER AND THEN
THE POLLS UP 27. >> WHEN WE DID THE FULL REQUEST ON THE ROLLBACK WE KEPT PROGRAMS COORDINATOR FOR HASTINGS WITH ONE OF THOSE PART-TIME SYSTEMS AND THE ASSISTANT MANAGER AND THAT WAS IT. THAT IS THE SERVICE POSITION AT THE TOP MINUS THE COURIER. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND IT BRINGS ME TO THE 6.3 IF YOU HAVE GOT TO THAT POINT AND SHEARWATER WAS DELAYED NOW EVERY CURIOSITY WANTS TO SEE THE NEW HASTINGS LIBRARY, THERE IS OPPORTUNITY THERE TO USE OTHER POSITIONS. WHEN YOU GET TO THE THREE NEW LIBRARIES, HAVE A LOT OF STAFF AND THEY WANT THOSE LOCATIONS BECAUSE IT IS CLOSER TO HOME. SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE SOME OF THOSE WILL BE BACKFILLING POSITIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE STAFF THAT NOW WANT TO WORK AT SHEARWATER.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK THE POINT THAT YOU MADE, THAT IS DEFERRED STAFFING WHICH I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THE ROLLBACK IS SUSTAINABLE. THE REDUCTION IS SUSTAINED EVERY YEAR SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE DIFFERING MAY WORK.
WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE STAFFING MODEL UNDER THE ROLLBACK OPTION. IT MAY BE SUSTAINED LOWER LEVEL
STAFFING IN PERPETUITY. >> SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE ON THAT, IN NEW HASTINGS WE ANTICIPATED A SIX-MONTH COVERAGE IN THE 26 BUDGET, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO OPEN IN MARCH BUT LIKE I SAID THAT HIS REPLACEMENT ALL I HAVE TO DO IS MOVE THEM OVER, THEY HAVE STAFFING AND COLLECTIONS SO THEY ARE NOT AS BIG OF AN IMPACT AS THIS ONE. WE ANTICIPATE POSSIBLY A THREE-
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MONTH POSITION DEPENDING ON WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO OPEN THAT LOCATION. IF IT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN AND WE CAN PUT STUFF IN, IN OCTOBER THAT'S FINE.IF THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN OCTOBER I NEED TO WAIT ON THE OTHER POSITIONS SO WE PUT THEM IN THE BUDGET, OPERATING SUPPLIES, STAFFING, STARTING IN JULY 2026 WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? IF IT'S NOT UNTIL NOVEMBER I CAN PUSH IT BACK A LITTLE BIT LATER.
IF IT IS NOT OPENING UNTIL LATER DECEMBER DECEMBER 26 ALL OF THAT IS IN THE BUDGET, BUT IT IS NOT USED BECAUSE THE BUILDING IS NOT READY TO OPEN. WE ANTICIPATE A MANAGER AND AMY CAN BACKUP THE COLLECTION YOU NEED ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO PREPARE SO WE DO HAVE SOME MATERIALS FACTORED IN TO THE BUDGET SO IF IT WAS READY TO OPEN FALL 26 WE WOULD HAVE THOSE RESOURCES READY TO GO. SO IT IS FACTORED IN THERE, BUT AGAIN THAT IS JUST A POT OF STAFFING.
ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR ALL THE BRANCHES TOGETHER ON THEIR REQUESTS. SO IT MIGHT NOT GO THERE, IT MIGHT GO SOMEWHERE ELSE OR IT MIGHT NOT BE EXTENDED AT ALL.
>> IN THE WAY YOU ARE LISTING SOMETHING I WAS THINKING ON THE SUBJECT YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT STAFFING MODELS, NOT JUST THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, IT HAS TO BE A MULTIYEAR MODELING TO SHOW THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF IT AND HOW WE MANAGE THAT, THE REDUCTION IN THE NEW STAFFING THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE RECURRING. IF I HAVE TO GUESS. DO YOU WANT
TO ADDRESS THAT? >> YOU HAVE THREE NEW FACILITIES COMING ON BOARD IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.
THIS BUDGET ONLY ADDRESSES ONE OF THOSE NEW FACILITIES AND ONLY FOR A PORTION OF THE YEAR. SO IF WE HAVE RECURRING REVENUE REDUCTION, RIGHT NOW THE OFFSET IS BASED OFF A PARTIAL YEAR OF A POSITION FOR ONE FACILITY. WE HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK AT ALL
FACILITIES. >> WHEN YOU GET TO THE ROLLBACK SLIDE REALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR US IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SERVICE BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH IN OUR COUNTY IT IS NOT LIKE OUR FACILITIES ARE FULLY STAFFED. SO THAT REQUEST WAS TO SUSTAIN THEIR SERVICES AND WE ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK NOW SO THAT IS A DIFFERENT SCENARIO, PLUS THE TWO BUILDINGS AND IN THE BUILDINGS THE NEXT YEAR. SO YES IT IS A HUGE CHUNK OF CHANGE. THE RECURRING MATERIALS AND RECURRING FOR THE BODIES TO STAFF.
>> I THINK AFTER THIS WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THE OUT YEAR IMPACT IN TERMS OF STAFFING WITHIN NEW FACILITIES OPENING BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE 5 TO 6 YEARS OF HOW THAT LOOKS BECAUSE THE ROLLBACK IS RECURRING SO REDUCTION HAS TO BE RECURRING, NOT JUST TO MAKE THIS YEAR WORK AND FIGURE OUT NEXT YEAR WHICH MEANS STAFFING LEVELS HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED TO SUSTAIN THAT OPERATION WHICH WE WILL FIGURE OUT TO SEE HOW THAT
SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE NUMBERS.
AND SO, 25 AND 26 LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEMS, THESE WERE THE SAME NUMBERS ON THE FIRST SLIDE, THAT IS HOW WE GOT THE 8.5%. ONE OF THE THINGS WE CONSIDERED TO THE PROCESS EVEN WITHOUT THE ROLLBACK IS THAT THERE IS NOT AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF DOLLARS SO IN TERMS OF MATERIALS OR SERVICES WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF PRIORITY FOR RESIDENTS. SO WE HAD REACHED OUT TO SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND ASKED TO THEM WHAT THEIR PRIORITY IS IN OURS IS CURRENTLY $50 AND WE ARE AT THE LOW END OF THE SPECTRUM SO IN BOTH SCENARIOS WE HAVE INCLUDED THE REQUESTS AND ROLLBACKS, THE GRANT PART OF THE FEE SCHEDULE RISING TO $100 PER YEAR. OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES WERE ALL WITH US SO A FREE CARD IS A FREE CARD, CITIZENS CAN GO TO ANY THREE COUNTIES AND USE THEIR LOVERS AND THEIR CITIZENS
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CAN COME TO US. THE ONE WHO DOES NOT PLAY IS TO THE NORTH, DO ALL COUNTY WITH IMPACTS ON PONTEVEDRA SO BY RAISING THE FEE, THAT GIVES PRIORITY TO ST. JOHN'S COUNTY FOR OUR OWN USE. SO AS WE MENTIONED, OUR NUMBER WAS $670,000. IMPACT IS CERTAINLY ANY OR A COMBINATION OF THOSE ITEMS. TALKING ABOUT RECURRING COST, STAFFING IS A BIG CHUNK OF SERVICE SO IT WOULD MAKE PERFECT SENSE GOING FORWARD, EXISTING STAFF OR A NEW POSITION YOU HAVE TO TALK AT SOME POINT IN A REDUCTION OF PUBLIC SERVICE HOURS, FOR THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE HAD SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITH A DECADE TO GET TO THAT I WOULD HATE TO IMPACT THAT, BUT THAT IS A POSSIBILITY. CERTAINLY REDUCTION IN PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, THAT IS ONE OF THE BULLET POINTS IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, A PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKS TO PROVIDE OFF-SITE PROGRAMMING.BASED ON THE IMPACT FROM STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF RELOCATING AND ALTERING HOW WE PURCHASE MATERIALS, WHAT WE PURCHASE INCLUDING ELECTRONIC CONTENT AND THOSE DATABASES, THE DELAYED STAFF RECRUITING YOU PUT THAT OFF AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
WE ALSO CONSIDERED REDUCTION IN TECH CAREER STAFFING SERVICES.
WE UTILIZE TEMPORARY STAFFING IN THE SUMMER TO HAVE STAFF PARTICIPATE IN THE PARKS AND REC SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS AND THAT IS A WAY TO DO THAT OFF-SITE WITHOUT BEING SHORT STAFFED AND AS I MENTIONED REDUCING SEVEN- DAY COURIER SERVICE DOWN TO JUST FIVE DAYS A WEEK. WITH ALL OF THAT SAID THE LIBRARY COMMUNITY LOVES US AND WE CONTINUE TO ISSUE NEW CARDS, WE CONTINUE TO SEE NEW FACES, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE NEW RESIDENTS FIND US. 101 THAT EVENT AND THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS WE GOT FROM PEOPLE WERE FANTASTIC.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, WITH A NEW CATEGORY ON THE WEBSITE, SHARE YOUR STORIES, SOME OF THOSE ARE INCREDIBLE, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE WITH LIBRARY CARD AND THE SERVICES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
ÚHAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> I WILL START WITH THAT WEBSITE, MY STORY OF THE LIBRARY, THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE SHARED AT THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT BREAKFAST AND USING THIS OPPORTUNITY I WANTED TO THANK YOU, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR STAFF BEHIND IT AND FOR WHAT HAS COME UP.
104 OF THEM AND I MYSELF IS A VERY HEAVY USER OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. I KNOW THE FRONT PEOPLE OF ALMOST EVERY BRANCH. I BRING MY KIDS VERY SO OFTEN, ALWAYS GET REQUEST FOR HELP ON HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT BOOKS AND WHAT ARE THE FUNNY BOOKS, BUT, THE TRUTH IS THAT THE BIGGEST VALUE AND ASSET OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM IS NOT THE BOOKS, NOT THE FACILITY, IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO BRING THESE FACILITIES AND BOOKS TO LIFE WITH HEART AND SOUL AND PASSION AND THAT IS FOR EVERYONE IN THE LIBRARY. I DON'T THINK YOU ARE PRAISED ENOUGH, I KNOW PEOPLE READ THE WEBSITE BUT THE USERS KNOW THE VALUE THAT YOU BRING TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE VALUE IS HELPING OUR COMMUNITY TO WONDER, TO LEARN AND CONNECT AND I THINK THE CONNECTION PART OF IT IS SO ENORMOUS FOR A COMMUNITY OF OVER 300,000 PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THREE COVID WE LEARNED ABOUT THE MEANING OF CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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EITHER LITTLE KIDS OR ELDERLY ELDERLY AND CONNECTING WITH OTHER PARTNERS. SO, I SEE THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, I KNOW IN THE PAST WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS ESSENTIAL AND WHAT IS NOT, TO ME THE LIBRARY IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR THE HEALTH OF THIS COMMUNITY. WITH THAT I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU HAVE GIVEN A LOT OF THOUGHT ABOUT STAFFING AND GENUINELY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SUPPORT THE BOARD, THINKING ABOUT A GOOD FINANCIAL STRATEGY AND REDUCE TAX BURDEN, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK WE NEED TO DO ON HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK WITH LESS IMPACT, BUT YOU ARTICULATED SO WELL IT IS A MATTER, A LEVEL OF SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY WANTS AND NEEDS, THE MORE CLARITY WE BRING THE BETTER WE CAN HELP COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET DISCUSSION AT THEIR LEVEL, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO MENTION, THANK YOUFOR COMING. >> AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU HAVE A PORTION OF ONE FACILITY AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS A LONG-
TERM SUSTAINABLE OPERATION. >> WE HAVE PAGES OF NOTES.
>> IF YOU HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A LOT TO THINK ABOUT. WE WANT TO BRING OUR NEW LIBRARIES ALONG. NOW YOU YOU ARE EQUALLY
WONDERFUL >> GIVE THEM INITIALS.
[Parks & Recreation]
[00:35:20]
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. GOOD MORNING.
YOU WANTED TO KICK OFF? >> SURE.
FIRST ON THE RECORD ENTIRE TEAM HERE REALLY RECOGNIZING CARY AND JAMIE FOR THEIR EFFORTS. THIS WAS NOT MY SLIDESHOW.
ALSO WANT TO THANK ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PROCESS, THE ABILITY TO COME HAVE CONVERSATION AND TO SAY WHAT OUR STORY IS AN RECOGNIZING AND APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION PRESENT AND PAST GREAT SUPPORT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE LAST FEW YEARS AND A LOT OF VALUE TO QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. STARTING OFF WITH OUR MISSION PUT TOGETHER BY THE TEAM TO PROTECT AND FACILITATE ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES, TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTIES ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE. A BROAD PERSPECTIVE.
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW, ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS WE HAVE MYSELF AND JAMIE AND WE FALL UNDER THE DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. WITH A RESIDENT ADVISORY BOARD WHO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH AND THE CHAIR MEETS THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND THIS IS A BIG COMPONENT WITHOUT MUNICIPAL RUN PARKS AND RECREATION OUR ROLE AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS VERY BROAD AND RECOVER A LOT OF DIFFERENT BASES THAT A TYPICAL COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION OPERATES JUST TO KIND OF GO OVER A LITTLE BIT OF THOSE WE HAVE 100 FOR PARKS. FROM THE SIZE AND ACTIVITY TO DAVIS PARK TO THE OLD SPANISH MILL LOCATED ON ANASTASIA ISLAND BEHIND ANASTASIA BAPTIST, SO, COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE THE HUBS OF THE PROGRAMS FROM SUMMER CAMP AND AFTER SCHOOL TO YOUTH BASKETBALL PROGRAMS, 134 ATHLETIC FIELDS, THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND ÚPARTICIPAT ORGANIZATIONS FROM LITTLE LEAGUE TO ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ET CETERA COUNTY GOLF COURSE WHICH WE ARE PROUD OF AND THE OPERATION OF THAT TO THE FISHING PEERS, THESE ST. JOHNS COUNTY PIER AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO OVERSEE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE 42 MILES SO IN ADDITION TO THE BEACH DRIVING , IF THERE IS DEBRIS ON THE BEACH OUR STAFF RESPOND TO THAT AND ADDRESS THAT.
SO JUST KIND OF THAT BROAD PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT ST. JOHNS COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DOES.
>> STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THE BOARD CAME UP WITH STRATEGIC GOALS FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND AS A DIVISION WE WERE WORKING ON GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR MANAGERS BUT THIS ROAD IS TO SERVE AND INVEST IN COMMUNITY, INNOVATING LEADERSHIP, RESERVING COUNTY HISTORY AND NATURAL COMMUNITY WITH ECONOMIC VITALITY OUR DEPARTMENT IS TAKING EACH OF THOSE GOALS AND FINDING WAYS WE MEET THEM THE OVERALL STRATEGIC PLAN THERE ARE ONLY TWO OR THREE THAT APPLY DIRECTLY TO PARKS AND RECREATION, AND WORKING WITH TEAMS WE TRY TO ENSURE WE ARE MEETING ALL OF THEM IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER SO COMMUNITY TRUST WE ARE FOSTERING COMMUNITY TRUST ARE PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR PARK PROJECTS AS YOU KNOW WE HOLD THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND THE PR TEAM. WE PARTICIPATED IN THE ACADEMY, WE TOOK A DIFFERENT SPIN ON IT AND MADE IT INTERACTIVE INSTEAD OF SITTING AND SPEAKING SO WE BROUGHT EQUIPMENT AND MADE SURE WE INTRODUCE THEM TO WHAT PARKS AND RECREATION DOES IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE DO WITH PARTNERS, WE HAD HCP TEAMS AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT AS WELL. AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE.
ENHANCING ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH SOP AGE WHICH WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON AND AS THINGS COME UP WE ARE CONSTANTLY REEVALUATING AND UPDATING AND PREPARING FOR
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ACCREDITATION WHICH IS A INITIATIVE FOR ACCREDITATION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. WE ARE TRYING TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH OTHER NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS WE'RE NOT SURE HOW FAR WE WILL GET THE GOAL IS TO START WORKING ALONG THOSE GUIDELINES THEY PUT IN PLACE TO BECOME CERTIFIED. INFRASTRUCTURE STRENGTHENING INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT RENEWAL PROGRAM.WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE WITH PAST AND PRESENT COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE ABILITY TO GO USE FUNDS TO REINVIGORATE THE OLDER PARKS. GOING FROM PLAYGROUNDS TO THE NETTING TO FENCING, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY THE LAST FEW YEARS. ONGOING ASSESSMENTS TO ENSURE PROACTIVE SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES TO MAINTAINING.
HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAINTENANCE TEAM MAKING SURE NOT ONLY BALLFIELDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, BUT BUILDINGS, RESTROOMS, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND TOWERS ARE BEING MAINTAINED.
ENHANCED CONSERVATION. EXPANDING GREEN SPACE AND TRAIL MILES WE HAVE A CURRENT D.O.T. CONTRACT WHICH IS THE TRAIL COMING IN WE ARE WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO BUILD AND MANAGE ONCE THEY ARE COMPLETED. THE TRAILS PROGRAM EXPLORING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES.
WE WORK WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ON A REGULAR BASIS.
PROVIDING ACCESS TO PROPERTY MORE FOR CONSERVATION OR PRESERVATION BUT FINDING WAYS TO WORK WITH THEM TO ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS TO THOSE. ECONOMIC DISPARITY TO PROMOTE GROWTH BY CHECKING EVENTS THAT DRIVE VISITORS TO SPEND MONEY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND PARTNERING WITH LOCAL AGRICULTURAL GROUPS TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMMUNITY IMPACT SO WE PUSH OUT PARKS LAST YEAR ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GO IN PARKS AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN PARKS THROUGH WATCHING OR LISTENING BECAUSE WE CANNOT BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE AS PROGRAMMERS SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FOUR AGE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN ST. JOHNS COUNTY NOT ONLY BY WHAT THEY ARE DOING BUT HOW THEY ARE INVITING THE PUBLIC INTO THEIR FACILITIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT AGRICULTURE IS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. COMMUNITY WELL-BEING IS ADVANCING WELL-BEING BY EXPANDING PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS TO ENSURE SAFE, FUN AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> NATIONAL STANDARDS, THE PARK ASSOCIATION STANDARDS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY NUMBERS, WE UTILIZE THESE FOR RESIDENTS FOR PARKS AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS AND PER 1000 RESIDENTS WE ARE LITTLE BELOW THE NATIONAL STANDARD. NOT ALWAYS APPLES TO APPLES AND YOU'LL SEE THIS IN A GOOD BUDGET PRESENTATION COMPONENT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A COUNTY OF OUR SIZE TYPICALLY MUNICIPAL PARKS AND RECREATION IS INVOLVED SO YOU HAVE FIVE OR SIX CITIES WITH FIVE OR SIX DIRECTORS, ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, SUPERINTENDENTS. OUR FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT PER 10,000 RESIDENTS WILL NOT MATCH THE INDUSTRY STANDARD BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED FIVE DIRECTORS, FIVE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, FIVE SUPERINTENDENTS WITH THE CURRENT MODEL.
WE WOULD NOT BE STRIVING TO REACH THAT THAT IS NOT APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO SHOW WITH THE MEASURING MARK IS AND WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTY OPERATION.
ON THE ACRES OF PARKLAND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE MANAGING AS A DEPARTMENT NOT COUNTYWIDE CONSERVATION SO DO WE NOT INCLUDE STATE RUN WATER MANAGEMENT RUN FACILITIES, THOSE ARE ST. JOHNS COUNTY OPERATED MANAGE MY ST. JOHNS COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION. IN GENERAL WE ARE LITTLE BELOW THOSE STANDARDS, BUT THESE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. >> 2026 CHALLENGES.
OF COURSE COUNTY GROWTH AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW HOW DO WE KEEP UP WITH THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING US SO THAT IS A ONGOING CHALLENGE AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THE PARK DYNAMIC AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS AND ASKS FOR AN OPPORTUNITY, ADDRESSING ONGOING CHALLENGES WITH STAFF RETENTION, WE DO HAVE SOME OF THE LOWER PAY GRADES WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND MAINTENANCE TEAMS AND WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO CONTINUE TO MAXIMIZE STAFF AND THE ABILITY TO RETAIN STAFF WITH CHANGES IN THE FUTURE. DIVERSE FUNDING IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING AT. LEVERAGING IMPACT FEES, GRANTS, PARKS
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FOUNDATION THROUGH DONATIONS IS A HUGE COMPONENT WE WILL TRY TO OVERALL WE TRY TO MINIMIZE CHALLENGES THROUGH PLANNING AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND EFFICIENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.>> THE FUTURE OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
AS YOU CAN SEE WE WILL SEE THE COMPLETION OF A NUMBER OF FACILITIES FROM THE CENTRAL COMMUNITY PARK SPORTS COMPLEX TO POSSIBLE FAIRGROUNDS EXPANSION AND RESTROOMS. WE CONTINUE TO MAXIMIZE PARK IMPACT FEES TO EXPAND CAPITAL PROJECTS WHICH YOU WILL SEE IN ADDITION TO CREATING ÚPARTNERSH EXPANSION OF TRAILS TO GRANT OPPORTUNITIES WITH STATE AND
D.O.T. >> RECOGNIZING CONTINUING SUPPORT COUNTYWIDE AND A FOUR- YEAR WINDOW PARKS AND RECREATION HAS SEEN, THESE ARE PROXIMATE NUMBERS OVER $200 MILLION IN INVESTMENT GOING FROM THE PROPERTY PURCHASE OF 70 MILLION, TO 100 MILLION OF FOUR REGIONAL PARKS TO MULTIPLE PROJECTS GOING ON OVER TIME FROM THE COUNTY GOLF COURSE COMPLETION, BEACHFRONT PARK, BOAT RAMP, MILL CREEK PARK ET CETERA SO THERE HAS DEFINITELY BEEN INVESTMENT FROM THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE IN PARKS AND RECREATION TRYING TO CATCH UP.
WE PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF SOME EXISTING CIP PROJECTS BY THE COMMISSIONER DISTRICT, THE ONES OR THE LEFT ARE THOSE THAT ARE ONGOING, CURRENTLY AT THIS TIME, THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE THERE ARE NEW FUNDING REQUESTS FISCAL YEAR 26.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AND WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF THIS IS REALLY UTILIZING THE PARK IMPACT THREE DOLLARS TO GET CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS DONE.
THAT HAS BEEN A FOCUS TO NOT DEPEND ON THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE SOME GENERAL FUND DOLLARS BUT IN GENERAL WE'RE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE PARK IMPACT FEE DOLLARS TO EXPAND AND GROW RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. SO NEXT YEAR THE FUNDING REQUEST, WE ARE UTILIZING IMPACT FEES AND THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX DOLLARS. A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS, THE NEW PARCEL PURCHASED TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT FOR US TO PLAN THE SITE, IF WE HAVE ANYTHING TO TAKE DOWN WITH BUILDINGS OR DO ANY CLEANUP, TO THAT, INCORPORATED THAT TRY TO GET IT EPICALLY ACCESSIBLE SO WE CAN HAVE KAYAK OR CANOE LAUNCHES FROM THE SITE SO THE COUNTY HAS SEEN IN THE RESIDENTS HAVE SEEN WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY KNOW WE WILL UTILIZE IT AND GET IT BACK IN. COMPLETION OF FIELD OF DREAM RIVERTOWN TWO PROJECTS AND THAT IS AFTER THE COST ASSESSMENT TO COME UP TO GET THE PROJECT COMPLETED FROM THE INITIAL BUDGET STAGE.
LOOKING AT EXPANSION OF PROPERTY OUTSIDE THE FAIRGROUNDS FOR A POTENTIAL FUTURE USE FOR COUNTY FOR YOU KNOW A REGIONAL PARK SOMEDAY IN SOME PART OF THE COUNTY AND IN DISTRICT 3 RESTROOMS AT OSCEOLA FIELDS ACROSS FROM THE SAINT AUGUSTINE LITTLE LEAGUE COMPLEX WOULD MAKE THE FACILITY USABLE, COMPLETING CALHOUN AND DAVIS PARK, THAT IS PART OF THE FOUR PARKS REGIONAL AND IMPROVEMENTS TO DAVIS PARK TRYING TO KEY GET AS MUCH TO COMPLETION ON THE PROJECT FROM WHAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT. DAILY ONSHORE SEAM COMPONENT.
WE ARE IN A BID FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
DID WE GO TO BED? WE ABOUT TO GO, BUT THE COST ESTIMATE IS HIGHER THAN THAT AND COMPLETION OF THE PORTS GETTING READY AS WELL, JUST ADDED SOME BEACH VOLLEYBALL AND NEED LIGHTS IN THE PARKING LOT AND SOME ADDITIONAL PARKING. AS WE LOOK AT PERSONAL REQUEST, BROKE IT DOWN INTO TWO ELEMENTS FOR THE NEXT YEAR. THE TOP IS WITH THE ADDITION OF THE CENTRAL SPORTS PLEX IN THE SHEARWATER CENTRAL COMMUNITY PARK, AS WELL SO THOSE PARKS ARE DUE TO OPEN IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2026 WHICH WOULD NOT BE UNTIL NEXT FISCAL YEAR, BUT TO BE READY TO OPEN WE WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO POST AND FILL THE POSITIONS, BE READY TO GO FOR THE FACILITY TO BE OPEN
[00:50:06]
SO WE DID PUT IN SIX MONTHS FOR THE HIGHER UP POSITIONS AND THREE MONTHS FOR THE LOWER POSITIONS THEY WOULD BE OF THE POST, FILL IT WITH THE OCTOBER BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 26 AND REOPEN FACILITIES AND WE WOULD BE STAFFED AND READY TO GO.ON THE PARK MAINTENANCE SIDE THAT IS 080 AND MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR, CREW LEADER AND TWO MAINTENANCE WORKERS BASED OFF THE DATA PARK MODEL WE UTILIZE FOUR STAFF MEMBERS AT THE SITE, THIS SITE WILL OPERATE AND MANAGE DIFFERENTLY, THE GOALS TO STAFF SEVEN DAYS A WEEK SO WE WOULD HAVE STAFF FOUR DAYS FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY SO THOSE STAFF ARE OVERLAPPING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK SO WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS THE COUNTY Ú DAY'S AND KNOWS INSIDE AND OUT SO IF WE BRING IN OUTSIDE TOURNAMENTS WE HAVE THE TEAM THERE ON THE SITE.
AND ON THE RECREATION STAFFING THE COMMUNITY CENTER THE SAME WAY WE STAFF CALHOUN AND WE HARRIS CENTER WITH RECREATION SUPERVISOR AND COORDINATOR. WE HAS TO BRING RECREATION SUPERVISOR SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND THE COORDINATOR THREE MONTHS IN ADVANCE SO WE OPEN IN OCTOBER YOU COULD START RUNNING PROGRAMMING IMMEDIATELY. NEW POSITIONS WE ARE ASKING FOR TWO BODIES NOT ATTACHED TO THE REGIONAL PARKS.
ONE IS THE MAINTENANCE WORKER MORE CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE. AS WE OPEN UP MILLCREEK PARK WE SEE THE USE THE FACILITY IS GETTING AND WE WILL OPEN UP CITY BAY PARK AND WORLD GOLF VILLAGE COURTS ALONG WITH THE SCHOOL GROUNDS THIS PERSON WOULD ASSIST AND MANAGE THE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE FACILITIES AND THE NEW FACILITIES COMING ONLINE. AND A COORDINATOR IN ADDITION TO BEACH TOLL OPERATIONS THE BEACH TOLLS OPERATE MARCH 1 TO OCTOBER 1 THE OPERATION SEASON. WE HAVE GONE TO ONLINE SOFTWARE DATABASE SO WE ARE CHECKING IN EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND WE WILL GO OVER THAT IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK AND WE KNOW SPECIFICALLY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THE BEACH AT A CERTAIN TIME AND HOW MUCH WE ARE COLLECTING.
THIS WOULD BE BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE BEACH TOLLS IN THAT
OPERATION. >> AS DISCUSSED EARLIER WE ARE CONSTANTLY FIGURING OUT HOW TO RETAIN STAFF AND THESE ARE SOME CHALLENGES WE HAVE BEEN FACING IN LOOKING AT CLASS REQUESTS FOR THE BUDGET, 79 RECREATION ASSISTANT DOING THE JOB OF A COORDINATOR SO WE ARE REQUESTING TO JUSTIFY AND MAKE THAT TRANSITION TO THE TITLE SO THE STAFF MEMBER IS EQUIVALENT TO OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS. WE ARE ALSO ASKING TO TAKE ONE PART-TIME ASSISTANCE MOVING THEM TO FULL-TIME BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS WE HAVE IT IS A CHALLENGE TO MEET THE NEED OF THE PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS WITH PART-TIME STAFF SORRY LOOKING TO START TRANSITIONING SOME INTO A FULL-TIME TO ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH SCHEDULES OF THE TEAM MEMBERS AND HOURS THEY ARE PROVIDING. THE BIGGEST COMPONENT OR PIECE WE ARE PUTTING IN HIS PARK LEADERS FROM 12 TO 14 AND THE REASON WHY IS WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS GAME OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND COMPARATIVE FACILITY MAINTENANCE OR PUBLIC WORKS, THERE IS A DISCREPANCY IN WHAT WE PAY MANAGEMENT TEAM IN THE FIELD. THE GUYS OUT ON THE FIELDS RUNNING THE TEAMS MAINTAINING THOSE BALLFIELDS REALLY ARE KEY POSITIONS AND KEY LEADERSHIP COMPONENTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING THE NEED OF THE ASSOCIATIONS AND WITH ADMINISTRATION AND EXPECTATIONS.
SO THAT PARK LEADER AND ASSISTANT ARE BIG ASKS TO MAKE SURE WE RETAIN SOME EMPLOYEES AND NOT LOSE THEM BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY EQUITABLY FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
THE FINAL IS ASSISTING GOLF PROFESSIONAL AND A HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW THE HUB OF THE GOLF COURSE, WITH THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES WE ARE ASKING TO LEVEL THE TWO PROFESSIONALS SO SHE IS BEING ADEQUATELY PAID FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY SHE HAS TAKEN ON.
>> A LOT OF THIS CONVERSATION BEGAN LAST YEAR IN WHICH WE WERE GOING THROUGH TALKING ABOUT SALARY LEVELS AND HOW
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STAFF RETENTION WAS ONE ISSUE AND CHALLENGE AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT PARK LEADER, JAMIE HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH HR AFTER THE BUDGET MEETING AND EVALUATING AND COMPARING TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND TAKING A LOOK AT THAT WORKING WITH OMB TO SEE THE FEASIBILITY. THAT WAS A CONVERSATION GENERATED LAST YEAR. SOMETHING WE CAME FOR INITIALLY AND IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AND WE WERE GUIDED TO COME BACK WITH THIS PRESENTATION AND ROLL IT THROUGH HERE.ONE OF THOSE THINGS WERE LOOKING TO HELP WITH STAFF
RETENTION AT REMOVE LONG. >> THE NUMBER IS THE PAYGRADE?
>> YES, ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS. >> HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL IS 18?
>> ACTUALLY 16. >> THIS IS THE REQUEST TO MOVE
TO 18. >> OKAY WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. A VERY COMPETITIVE WORLD AND SHE RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION.
I'M SURPRISED SHE IS AT 16. WE HAVE WORK TO DO.
>> IN 23. >> WE PROBABLY WANT DESIREE TO LOOK AT THE GOLF PROFESSIONAL. SHE IS VERY SOUGHT AFTER.
>> AGREED. >> BRAD YOU HAVE TO TALK TO
DESIREE ABOUT IT. >> THIS IS THE DIVISION BUDGET BROKEN DOWN. SEVEN DIFFERENT BUDGETS, THREE OF WHICH ARE REVENUE FUNDS, THE BEACH TOLLS, THE FISHING PIER AND THE REST IS THE GENERAL FUND.
TO BREAK INTO THE BUDGETS, 79 RECREATION PROGRAMMING, THIS IS PRIMARILY PARKS AND RECREATION ADMINISTRATION SO THIS IS THE MANAGEMENT, THE OFFICE OPERATIONS ET CETERA AND ADDITIONALLY RECREATION PROGRAM, SUMMER CAMPS, BASKETBALL, SOFTBALL, COMMUNITY CENTER EVENTS OPERATE OUT OF THIS BUDGET. MAJOR CHANGES WOULD BE STAFF RECEIVING A PAY INCREASE TO MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AS WELL AND BRINGING ON TWO NEW FTES PARTIAL YEAR FOR THE SHEARWATER COMMUNITY CENTER, THIS OVERALL BUDGET WITH A 5.6% INCREASE AND THE GOAL GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS TO KEEP OUR OPERATING DOWN AS FLAT OR AS CLOSE TO THAT AS WE COULD KNOWING THE CLAIMANT WE ARE GOING INTO
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A LITTER SLIGHT RELATED TO THE ROLLBACK RATE, NOT TALKING ABOUT RECREATION ERRORS IN THEIR OWN FUNDS, BUT THE AREA OF THE GOLF COURSE, FOR A ROLLBACK SCENARIO FOR RECREATION PROGRAMMING IT WOULD
BE A $50,000 REDUCTION. >> CORRECTION, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE WE DID NOT GET HIT WITH A MAJOR ROLLBACK BECAUSE WE WERE CONSCIOUSLY LOOKING TO TRY TO KEEP OUR LEVELS DOWN AS FLAT AS WE COULD MOVING FORWARD.
SO THIS BUT IT WAS JUST UNDER 50,000, 47,000 WAS THE REQUEST.
SOME OF THAT WOULD BE TEMPORARY SALARIES, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, WITH SOME PROGRAMMING AND OPERATING SUPPLIES WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MANAGE.
SO 15,000 AND SALARIES, 15,000 CONTRACTUAL SUPPLIES AND 18,000 PROPERTIES. MAINTENANCE OF PARKS AND PARK MAINTENANCE ON RECREATION MAINTENANCE BUDGET THIS INCLUDES ATHLETIC FIELDS, PARKS, BEACHFRONT PARKS, LAKE CRESCENT BEACH PARK ET CETERA WITHIN THIS, SO MAJOR DIFFERENCES FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. REFUSE AND UTILITY EXPENSE GOING UP, ADDITIONALLY WE REQUESTED FOUR FTES PARTIAL YEAR FOR THOSE WITH THE INITIAL EQUIPMENT TWO OF THE FOUR REGIONAL PARKS, THE EQUIP WAS $236,000 AND THAT IS INCLUDED
[01:00:04]
IN THIS BUDGET SO WHEN WE OPEN THE PARK IN OCTOBER IF WE WERE TO WAIT UNTIL FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET WE GET APPROVED, BY THE TIME WE GET EQUIPMENT, IT TAKES 10 MONTHS TO GET EQUIPMENT TURNED AROUND SO DOING IT THIS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET ONLY OPEN FACILITIES IN OCTOBER 26 WE WOULD BE UP AND RUNNING AND MANAGING THOSE SITES. WINTER PARK MAXIMIZATION PROGRAM SO WE ARE LOOKING TO REPAVE ALPINE GROVE TRAILS GOING THROUGH THAT FACILITY. $250,000 FOR DREDGING WHICH WE UTILIZE TO MATCH WITH FIND GRANTS TO WORK ON THE COUNTYWIDE DREDGING PROGRAMS WE GO THROUGH AND EVALUATE EACH BOAT RAMP SITE AND LOOK TO WHICH WILL MEET ITS NEXT IN THE ROTATION AND UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS WITH MATCHING GRANTS.PARKING PERMIT $750,000. SMALL ADDITION TO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN I SAY SMALL, THEY HAVE LARGE IMPACT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT IS PUTTING SHADE OVER PLAYGROUNDS THAT DID NOT HAVE SHADE AND REALLY MAXIMIZE THE USE OF FACILITIES AND GET BETTER USE SO IT'S KIND OF TAKING AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINK OF WHAT PARKS AND RECREATION HAD BEEN ADDING ON IT HAS BEEN MILL FIELDS, DAVIS PARK, TREATY PARK, VETERANS PARK AND ABERDEEN, STARTING TO AGE IN INFRASTRUCTURE 20 PLUS YEARS SO WE ARE ABLE TO ADD THINGS TO THOSE FACILITIES TO GAIN BETTER USE OR MORE CURRENT USE OF THOSE FACILITIES AND WE HAVE 20 $30,000 ANNUALLY WHICH WE ABSOLUTELY NEED, EVERY YEAR GOING THROUGH ADA ISSUES COME UP AND WE ADDRESS THOSE IMMEDIATELY, WE HAD ONE RECENTLY AT THE BEACH WHERE, AFTER ALL THE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED AFTER THE NOURISHMENT THE CONCRETE PATH DID NOT LINE UP THE PATH GOING TO THE FACILITY SO WE ARE MAKING THAT CONNECTION SO WE CAN NOW DO THAT AND OPERATE AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
ADDITIONALLY THE DEPARTMENT HAS STARTED TO TAKE ON MORE FROM FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, REPLACE AND RENEW, IN THE PAST ALMOST ALL OF THAT FELL TO FACILITY MAINTENANCE, NOW WE WORK WITH FOR THE MOST PART THE VERTICAL COMPONENT OF PARKS, THEY WILL STILL DO SOME THINGS LIKE THE PEERS WHERE THEY HAVE EXPERTISE TO COME IN SO ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOR EXAMPLE IT IS MANAGING THAT BUT IN YEARS PAST IT WOULD MANAGE SIDEWALKS, PARKING LOTS, THE FENCES, ALL THOSE COMPONENTS WERE SUPPOSED TO COME OUT OF THEIR BUDGETS AND THEY HAVE BECOME TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION.
THIS YEAR ONE THAT WAS IDENTIFIED FOLLOWING INTO THE ABYSS WAS THE TREATY PARKS SKATE PARK SO THAT IS DUE FOR REFRESHMENT. SO, TO KEEP THAT ASSET VALUED AND IN GOOD SHAPE WE ARE RECOMMENDING HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF REPAIRS TO KEEP THAT CURRENT AND FRESH, THAT WAS SOMETHING FALLING OFF THE RADAR AND WAS NOT GOING TO ÚBE PICKED UP IN THE PRIORITY LEVEL OF FACILITY MAINTENANCE SO THAT SOMETHING OUR DEPARTMENT IS TAKING ON.
ONE THING WE'RE DOING MOVING FORWARD IS ARTIFICIAL TURF REPLACEMENT AND THAT WAS MANAGED BY FACILITY MAINTENANCE IN THE PAST. SO THE FIELD ARTIFICIAL TURF REPLACEMENT. THIS BUDGET IS A 3.2% INCREASE AS A WHOLE. SO TAKING A LOOK AT TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THOSE DOLLARS, WE DO NOT INCLUDE THE GRANTS IN THE TOTAL BUDGET BECAUSE IT GETS SKEWED EVERY YEAR FOR INCLUDE THE GRANTS SO WE HAVE A $3.5 MILLION GRANT LAST YEAR, WE INCLUDE THAT SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT FISCAL YEAR 25, 13.8 DOES
NOT INCLUDE 3.5 FROM THAT GRANT. >> SO THIS AREA, LOOKING AT RECURRING OPERATIONS AT A ROLLBACK RATE SCENARIO WOULD HAVE TO CUT, CAN YOU GO OVER THE IMPACT OF THAT?
>> OUR INITIAL THOUGHT WAS TO UTILIZE FIELD OF DREAMS ARTIFICIAL TURF AND CHALLENGE A PARK FOUNDATION TO USE THAT IS SOMETHING TO CHAMPION AND RAISE THE DOLLARS FOR AND SHOWCASE
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THE VALUE OF THAT FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE THAT, I THINK THAT PROJECT MATCHES THEIR MISSION AND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND THE EASY ONE WE THOUGHT WE COULD CUT AND FIND A WAY TO GET THE COMMUNITY THAT IMPROVEMENT BY UTILIZING THE PARK FOUNDATION TO GO RAISE THOSE DOLLARS FOR THAT.>> NEXT IS OUR AQUATICS DIVISION WHICH IS THE POOL, THE REQUESTED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 25 AND 26 IS WE LOOK TO RESOLVE THE POOL SO THAT IS THE BIG MAINTENANCE CHANGE THIS FISCAL
YEAR. >> I WOULD IDENTIFY THE YMCA CONTRACT IS DUE TO EXPIRE IN OCTOBER AND THAT IS A DRIVER TO THIS SO EVALUATING THAT AND DETERMINING WHERE THE CONTRACT GOES CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THIS IN FULL TRANSPARENCY THAT IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE OPERATING BUDGET.
THE BEACHES, THIS IS FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE BEACH AND THE BEACH DRIVING COMPONENT, THIS IS BEACH ADMINISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE AND TEMPORARY STAFF RECEIVE THEIR RAYS DUE TO MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE, SMALL INCREASE OF 2.2% ACROSS THIS BUDGET AS A WHOLE. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB AND CREDIT TO THE DECISION- MAKERS IN THE COUNTY.
I BELIEVE WHEN I GOT HERE FOUR PLUS YEARS AGO WE HAD TWO PEOPLE MAINTAINING 42 MILES OF BEACH BOOTS ON THE GROUND, NOW WE HAVE FIVE THAT ARE MANAGING THAT SO WE ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS AND GET TO THOSE ISSUES AND MANAGE THE BEACH THE BEST WAY WE CAN. STILL A VERY REACTIONARY COMPONENT SO WE WILL RELY ON THE PUBLIC TO CALL AND SAY THERE IS A CONCERN SPECIFICALLY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE THERE IS NOT BEACH DRIVING SO IF THE PUBLIC WILL LET US KNOW SOMETHING WASHED UP ON THE BEACH WHERE THERE IS TRASH ON THE BEACH, STAFF WILL COME RESPOND AND ADDRESS THAT APPROPRIATELY. BUT WE ARE ABLE TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB. A GOOD BUDGET COMPONENT THERE.
THIS IS WHERE WE ASKED FOR THE MOST GROWTH, THE BEACH TOLLS THE BEACH DRIVING OPERATION. SO THE BEACH DRIVING IS MARCH 1 THROUGH OCTOBER 1 PRETTY MUCH. SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 12 HOURS A DAY, 50 PLUS PART-TIME STAFF MEMBERS WHO HELP TO FILL OUT THAT COMPONENT. AND WE HAVE TRIED TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL MAKING THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZE THE BEST WAY WE CAN SO WE HAVE GONE TO A SOFTWARE-BASED TRANSACTION FOR THE BEACH AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK THOSE AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CASH WE ARE RECEIVING THE BEACHES AND ADDITIONALLY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THE BEACH AT A CERTAIN TIME AND BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS REAL-TIME AS TO HOW WE MANAGE THE BEACH AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE BOARD SO WE HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING.
THAT CHANGE TO THE SOFTWARE IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING IMPACTING US. MARCH AND APRIL 2025 WE COLLECTED $568,000 BEACH DRIVING AS OPPOSED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR $534,000 COLLECTED AT THE BEACH DRIVING. WE NOW KNOW WHERE THIS WAS DIFFICULT IN THE PAST, BUSY STAY THIS YEAR WAS MARCH 1 36,000 COLLECTED WITH 1179 CARS ENTERING THE BEACH TOLLGATE TO COME DRIVE THE BEACH. SO WE ARE REQUESTING FTE WHICH IS A MAJOR SPIKE IN THIS BUDGET AND THAT IS THE COORDINATOR AND AGAIN WITH THE OPERATION SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 12 HOURS A DAY OVER 50 PART-TIME STAFF WORKING THERE IS TRIES TO MAKE SURE THE
OPERATION GOES. >> CAN ASK A QUESTION? I DON'T KNOW THE FORMAT. 'S WE GENERALLY DON'T DO PUBLIC, AND QUESTIONS. WE CAN DISCUSS THAT.
SO WITH BEACH PARKING AND THE BEACH TOLD COORDINATOR AND IN
[01:10:06]
LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ROLLBACK JESSE, DO YOU THINK THE PARKING OR FEE IS A DISCUSSION WE SHOULD LET THE BOARD CONSIDER AND DISCUSS? I KNOW WE HAD GONE TO THE PROCESS YEARS AGO, BUT THAT WAS A DIFFERENT BOARD, LOOKING AT A FUNDING SOURCE IS THAT SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONSIDERTO PROVIDE AS A OPTIONAL TOOL? >> SURE, WE CAN BRING BACK THAT PAPER. THE THING I ALWAYS REMEMBERED WAS WE MANAGED WE DON'T, YOU GUYS DO MANAGE 42 MILES OF BEACH AND THE REVENUE SOURCE, THE PARKING IS WHAT AREA?
>> ONLY 12 MILES. >> THE PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCE FOR ALL BEACH OPERATIONS IS THIS ON BEACH DRIVING FEE.
YOUR PEOPLE GOING TO THIS PORTION BUT WE ARE USING THOSE SAME REVENUES WHICH AGAIN IS A CERTAIN GROUP DRIVING ON THE BEACH BUT WE HAVE THIS MUCH BEACH, TOO.
ONE OF THESE SOLUTIONS THAT HAS BEEN OUT IN LIGHT OF THE ROLLBACK IS OFF BEACH PARKING. DO WE WANT A FEE? SO WE CAN BRING THAT BACK AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS. >> THAT IS SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO DO TO PROVIDE FOR THE BOARD TO HAVE OPTIONS.
WE WENT THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS. I THINK IT WOULD BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER THESE FUNDING SOURCE TO LOOK AS PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING AND BEACH PARKING IS ONE OF THEM, GAS TAX IS SOMETHING ELSE, WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT PROVIDING INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER TO HELP TO ADDRESS THE DESIRED SO WE WENT THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF THE BEACH PARKING ANALYSIS IT WAS CLEARLY SUBSTANTIAL REVENUE SOURCE.
IF THAT WAS ADOPTED. SO THAT SOMETHING WE CAN PROVIDE AS INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD.
>> FOCUSING ON A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER WHO IS CLOSE TO ONE OF THE BUSIEST BEACH LOCATIONS WHO WILL BE PRIVATELY CHARGED OR FOR BEACH PARKING. UTILIZING AN APP.
>> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THE BEACH FUND IS A SEPARATE FUND FROM THE GENERAL FUND, HOWEVER THE BEACH PARKING FEES AND ACCESS FEES DO NOT FULLY SUPPORT OPERATIONS SO THE BEACH FUND IS, THE FUNDING IS OF LIMITED TRANSFERS FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND TOURIST DEVELOPMENT FUND SO THERE IS A GENERAL FUND COMPONENT OF THE BEACH FUND.
>> NEXT IS ST. JOHNS COUNTY FISHING PIER AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE LOVELY OLD PHOTOS. BRIAN WON A BET OF THE LOCATION OF THIS PHOTO. SO SOME KEY DIFFERENCES WITH THE BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE INTERIOR RENOVATIONS IN ADDITION TO ELECTRICAL WORK UPGRADING OUTLETS OUTSIDE OF UNIQUE SEA TURTLE APPROVED LIGHTING IN ADDITION TO SUPPORT THE, WHAT IS IT WE HAVE? THE FARMERS MARKET.
THE FARMERS MARKET ON WEDNESDAY. THAT IS VERY SUCCESSFUL SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE OPERATING AND THE DIFFERENCE OF THE CAPITAL OUTLAY ORIGINALLY THERE WERE $250,000 ALLOCATED FOR THE SOLUTION TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PIER THAT HAS BEEN REALLOCATED SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT AS WELL.
>> THIS IS A REVENUE FUND AS WELL.
>> NEXT TO COUNTY GOLF COURSE. I WILL START OFF WITH TELLING YOU THE GOLF COURSE IS BUSY. WHICH IS A VERY GOOD THING AND CHALLENGING THING SIMULTANEOUSLY.
GOLF COURSES TYPICALLY RUN THE SAME CHALLENGE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE WAS RUNNING AROUND HERE WITH THE HELP OF MOTHER NATURE THIS PAST WEEK IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH KEEP, BUT GOLF COURSE IS GOING WELL AND IS OPERATING. SO THE GOLF COURSE IS BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE BUDGETS. GOLF ADMIN, CARDS AND MAINTENANCE. THE ADMIN COMPONENT OF THE
[01:15:01]
BUDGET, FOR THIS CHART ON HERE WE COMBINED GOLF COURTS AND GOLF ADVOCATES, THE BUDGET IS KIND OF NOT THAT DRASTIC AND DOES NOT CHANGE TOO MUCH AND THE COMPONENT SO THE GOLF CARTS, WE HAVE DECREASED THE BUDGET DOWN $245,000 AND THEN OVERALL IN THE BUDGET THE MAJOR CHANGES ARE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES RECEIVING UP TO MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AND MAJOR UPGRADE FOR THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING GOES BACK AND THAT WILL BE A OLD METAL BUILDING THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED SO THEY WILL PATCH, SAND, COAT THE METAL BEAMS AND UPGRADE IT TO BE REPRESENTED BUILDING WITHOUT HOLES ALL OVER IT.AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE THIRD PART OF THE GOLF COURSE IS GOLF MAINTENANCE. TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES RECEIVING PAY RAISE THROUGH MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AND THEN SOME CAPITAL REQUESTS. A COUPLE OF THOSE COMPONENTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION DESIGN, THAT'S WHERE THE PATHS ARE IN THE DRAINAGE REPAIRS. THOSE WERE OFF OF THE PLANE COURSE AND HAVE SEEN COLLAPSED DRAINAGE COMPONENTS IN THERE SO WE NEED TO GO THROUGH AND REPAIR THOSE AND THOSE ARE NOT DONE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GOLF COURSE COMPONENT, THE BUNKER FACE GRASS REPLACEMENT IS SOMETHING THAT IS STAFF EVALUATING AND TAKING A LOOK AT THE GRASS ON THE BUNKERS AROUND TE GREENS IT IS A VERY AGGRESSIVE GROWING GRASS MAKING ITS WAY TOWARD THE GREEN AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THAT GRASS ON THE BUNKERS TO PUT IN A LESS AGGRESSIVE GRASS SO THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING OFF ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AGAIN, THE GOLF COURSE IS A REVENUE BASED BUDGET AND REVENUES NEED TO COME IN MORE THAN EXPENSES ARE COMING IN.
>> WHAT ARE WE DOING IN TERMS OF THE FIVE-YEAR MODEL, HOW WE
ARE BREAKING EVEN? >> WE ARE MAKING MONEY.
>> OKAY WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, THAT WAS THE PLAN WHEN WE DID THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT A FEW WEEKS AGO.
>> SO JUST IN GENERAL. REALLY LOOKING AT THE PASSION OF US AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS FOR HOURS, THE VALUE THAT PARKS AND RECREATION PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY IN THOSE COMPONENTS WE PROVIDE WE TRY TO PUT TOGETHER SOME BASIC NUMBERS AND SOME SMALL TESTIMONY, 65,000 ROUNDS OF GOLF 78,000 BEACH PASSES SOLD, 86,000 VISITS TO THE PIER AT SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH, 36,000 FIELD RENTALS.
HOSTED 300 PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, SUMMERCAMP IS FULLY AT CAPACITY. AND SOME OF THE SURVEY RESPONSES FROM OUR PUBLIC ST. JOHNS PARKS AND REC IS THE BEST, REAL ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER, IT IS A GREAT ASSET FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE AND IS IS A MAJOR BENEFIT FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AND THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE VIDEO HERE. I DO I GET VOLUME ON THIS?
>> BRINGS EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND IT REALLY FEELS LIKE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TODAY THAT'S THE HEART OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY
[01:20:03]
PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS TRYING SOMETHING NEW AND FAMILIES WILL FEEL SUPPORTED. ONE EXAMPLE, A FORMER PROGRAM PARTICIPANT NOW BACK, NOT TO COMPETE BUT TO GIVE BACK.>> WANT TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE THERE WILL BE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE ADJUSTED THE TALENT SHOW AND NOW I'M HERE ABOUT TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM TO OVER 100 PEOPLE SO THAT'S VERY EXCITING.
>> THAT IS THE BUDGET PRESENTATION THANK YOU.
>> THE ROLLBACK AREAS WERE DISCUSSED.
>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE REVENUE IS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU COME APPRECIATE IT AND WE TRY TO COME IN WITH A NOTICE.
AT A PACE THAT PUSHES THE POLITICAL CLIMATE.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO ASK.
[01:27:39]
>> OUR NEXT SESSION. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> OUR BUDGET IS BASICALLY THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR WHEN WE ASKED, THERE WERE
CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF MONEY. >> WOULD YOU MIND, WE ARE ON.
I'M AFRAID THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT RICH HAS TO SAY.
>> ENSURING THE AUDIO IS GOOD ENOUGH.
[County Attorney]
>> WE ASKED FOR SOME MONEY TO BE SET ASIDE BECAUSE WE DID HAVE SOME LITIGATION CASES THAT WILL REQUIRE AT LEAST SOME AMOUNT OF ATTORNEY'S FEES TO BE PAID OUT, THOSE CASES ARE ONGOING, SO WE HAVE ASKED TO CARRY FORWARD THAT MONEY.
AS YOU KNOW WITH MY APPOINTMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PAID FOR THAT BUDGETED FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY POSITION IT HAS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO REALIGN OUR STRUCTURE WITH THE DEPARTMENT ORG CHART COME UNDERSTANDING THERE MAY BE ADJUSTMENTS THIS YEAR BUT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE BETTER USE OF OUR TIME AND STAFF AS WELL AS HOW THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE DIVVIED UP.
SO WE WANT EACH ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BE ASSIGNED WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS SO WE DON'T HAVE OVERLAP OR MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON THE SAME SERVICES, DURING THIS PAST YEAR YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED I ASKED THEM TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM HANDHOLDING IN MEETINGS WHERE IF THERE ARE NOT LEGAL QUESTIONS WE ASKED THEM TO BE ON STANDBY IN CASE SOMETHING DOES COME UP, BUT THOSE THINGS HAVE LED TO WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE CURRENT, FROM A MONTH AGO 2.2 MILLION, WE ASKED LAST YEAR FOR 2.6.
[01:30:05]
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ASKING 68,000 MORE THIS YEAR, CONSIDERING THE COST OF HEALTHCARE AND PENSION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, I WOULD SAY IT IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN WHAT THE BUDGET SHOULD BE. I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT FROM OUR TRUE ASK WE LOOK TO SPEND 2.4 MILLION, SOME OF THAT WILL FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON WHAT THE BALANCE WILL BE AS FAR AS WHAT WE NEED TO PAY OUT FOR THOSE DIFFERENT LAWSUITS WE MENTIONED.AS YOU KNOW WE DO HAVE A NUMBER GOING ON THAT WE ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE SOME PAYOUT, NOT THE ONES COVERED BY INSURANCE CARRIERS, BUT, THAT'S REALLY ALL WE HAVE IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN ANSWER I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.
>> YOU MENTION POTENTIAL PAYOUT AS A RESULT OF LAWSUITS BUT YOU FEEL BETWEEN THE FUNDING IN PLACE AND THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THAT MAY NEED TO BE CARRIED FORWARD SO WE CAN COVER THOSE
WITH NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING. >> WE ARE STILL ARGUING FOR LOWER AMOUNTS, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE AS
FAR AS WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS. >> I NOTE ONE SHIFT IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 26 WITH MR. COMMANDO COMING ON BOARD THROUGH A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP AS COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE PREVIOUS BUDGET FOR THE POSITION WAS OPEN SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND THAT SHIFTED ON THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES SO THAT IS A SHIFT FROM ONE AREA.
ANYTHING ELSE? >> VERY GOOD, I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, THANK YOU, RICH, FOR COMING BY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION CASS
>> WE CAN ADDRESS AFTERWARDS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE NEXT SESSION. FEEL FREE TO GET WITH RICH.
>> HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> OUR NEXT MIS. >> THE LAST DEPARTMENT THIS MORNING.
[Management Information Systems]
>> GOOD MORNING. COUNTY INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT. SO, THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT IS OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM GOALS FOR THE COUNTY'S I.T.
NEEDS. WE SUPPORT OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING AND MAINTAINING CLIENT IN NETWORK DEVICES AND WE MANAGE THE COUNTIES TO MEDICATIONS WHICH IS OUR PHONE SYSTEM AND MOBILE DEVICES SUCH AS CELLULAR PHONES. WE ALSO MANAGE I.T.
INFRASTRUCTURE, ON PREMISE AND THE HOSTED APPLICATION WHICH RECENTLY WE HAVE DONE MORE AND MORE OF.
THIS YEAR I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WITH A BIG THING WE WENT TO RECENTLY HAVE TAKEN A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ENTERING CYBER SECURITY AND REDUCE SUPPORT ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITH I.T.
I BROUGHT IN THIS, OUR OPERATING EXPENDITURE THIS YEAR WE HAVE AN INCREASE OF 2.68% WITH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GOING DOWN. AND WE ARE NET OVERALL, JUST UNDER .42%. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ON A INDIVIDUAL LINE THAT MAKES THAT UP, WE SAW A DECREASE IN
[01:35:01]
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. A LITTLE BIT OF INCREASE ON MAINTENANCE, THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING SUPPORT COSTS GOING UP FOR SOME THINGS. OUR SUPPLIES DECREASED, MAINLY DUE TO A RENOVATION THAT WAS COMPLETED AND WE HAD SOME FURNITURE THAT WAS IN IT. WE DON'T HAVE OUR BIGGEST INCREASE INDIVIDUAL LINE IS SOFTWARE AND THOSE ARE A COUPLE THINGS, SOME IS MOVING SOME SOFTWARE OUT OF CONTRACTUAL INTO THE SOFTWARE LINE PER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CLERK'S FINANCIAL OFFICES. AND HAVE A COUPLE OTHER ADDITIONAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT WITH THAT.OUR COMPUTER SUPPLY LINE HAS DECREASED THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE THINGS WE DID LAST YEAR LIKE REPLACING LARGER UPS AND SERVER UPGRADES AND THE EQUIPMENT LINE, AS WE SAW ON THE OTHER SCREEN IS PRETTY MUCH A WASH.
SOME THINGS TO NOTE, WE ARE REPLACING, WE HAVE A DATA CENTER IN THIS BUILDING ADMINISTRATION AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE OF ITS AGE AND SUPPORTIVE IT GOING AWAY THAT'S THE BIG ONE AT JUST UNDER 300,000.
WE NEEDED TO UPGRADE MICROSOFT SERVER LICENSES BECAUSE OF SUPPORT THAT'S ALSO GOING ON THEM.
WE WILL BE PLACING OR REQUESTING TO REPLACE A WIRELESS LAM CONTROLLER SUPPORTING ACCESS POINTS WHICH IS JUST UNDER 300 ACCESS POINTS, WE PROVIDE WI-FI TO VARIOUS COUNTY BUILDINGS. WE REPLACED A COUPLE OF PHONE SERVICE BECAUSE THEY ARE OLD. SERVERS THAT RUN THE PHONE SYSTEM AND AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY WE DO HAVE OUR, ONE OF THE LARGER WAN ROUTERS BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND SUPPORT ON THAT ALSO. AND IN A NUTSHELL THAT IS IT.
I DID NOT ASK FOR ANY NEW POSITIONS THIS YEAR.
WE DID TAKE ON TWO NEW POSITIONS LESTER.
ONE WAS A CYBER SECURITY ARCHITECT AND SHAREPOINT ADMINISTRATOR AND WE FILL THOSE SO WE ARE FILLING OUR WAY THROUGH WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES AND SUPPORTS WILL BE WITH THOSE POSITIONS. I DO KNOW THAT CYBER SECURITY NUMBER NOT THAT WE HAVE NOT FOCUSED IN THE PAST, BUT NOW WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND ALLOCATED SPECIFIC RESOURCE FOR THAT AND THAT'S BEEN GOING REALLY WELL AND SHAREPOINT ADMINISTRATOR IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 365 WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO DO THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY AND ALSO AUTOMATE SOME THINGS SO THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN MEETING WITH DEPARTMENTS AND MOVING ON THAT.
SO UNTIL I SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT I THINK WE WILL BE FINE IN FY 26, NOT REQUESTING ANY ADDITIONAL STAFF.
>> ONE THING ABOUT WILEY WHO HAS BEEN HERE PROBABLY LONGER THAN ANY OF US IS WILEY IS INCREDIBLY BUDGET CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW HE OPERATES, WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH RECESSION I REMEMBER YOU CUT OUT JANITORIAL SERVICES, TAKING TURNS WITH ALL THE TECHNICIANS IN YOUR PROGRAM , THE DEVELOPERS AND APP WRITERS SO EVERYBODY DOES WHAT IT TAKES SO THANK YOU FOR THAT MINDSET AND BEING INCREDIBLY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
I DO WANT YOU TO LET ME KNOW IF YOUR WORKLOAD IS BECOMING TOO HIGH BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT AT STAKE ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT CYBER SECURITY. I APPRECIATE THE FORWARD THINKING LAST YEAR TO REQUEST DEPOSITION BECAUSE IF IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY A HIGHLY LIABLE AREA WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON SECURITY OF OUR SYSTEM. SO THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A PLANT FOR RELOCATING AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL BE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. >> THANK YOU.
>> PROBABLY GOING TO TIE HIMSELF UP WITH A FIBER.
>> CAN YOU REAL QUICK QUESTION CAN YOU TOUCH ON I GUESS THE IMPACT OF BOTH COST AND AVAILABILITY RELATED TO POTENTIAL TARIFFS AND IF ANY OF THAT COST IMPACT IS INCLUDED IN
THE BUDGET OR NOT? >> WE LOOKED AT THAT, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SUPPLIERS GIVING US ANY KIND OF INSIGHT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
GREAT EXAMPLE. THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE ALL KNOW A LOT OF ELECTRONICS COME FROM CHINA SO THEIR HUGE TARIFFS INPUT ON THAT AND THIS PAST WEEKEND THAT CHANGED SO THERE IS SUCH A INFLUX AND THE ONLY THING, WE DID ASK, IF HE COULD
[01:40:04]
GET SOME KIND OF PROJECTION FROM OUR SUPPLIERS THAT WE BUY LAPTOPS AND DESKTOPS, THINGS LIKE THAT.THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD GIVE PROJECTION WAS WITH LAPTOPS SO WHAT WE DO DO IS WE DID BUMP UP BASICALLY $200 PER LAPTOP FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND THERE IS THE 53 120 LINE THERE IS A DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR HOW MANY LAPTOPS ARE IMPROVED.
WE DO ABOUT 100 PER YEAR SO WE DID PUT 100 COME ALMOST 200 PER LAPTOP AROUND $10,000 FOR THAT. WE HAVE SEEN INCREASE IN MAINTENANCE GOING UP. SO WE BELIEVE WE WILL BE OKAY WITH THOSE, BUT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CONTRACTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RENEWED.
AT THE BEGINNING, WE HAVE A FEW AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE. WE ARE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
ALL MATERIAL STUFF, WE HAVE ASKED LIKE FACILITY MAINTENANCE, THERE IN THE SAME BOAT AND THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT IS THE SAME WAY, WE JUST DON'T KNOW. WE WILL MANAGE IT.
WE ALWAYS DO. IF YOU HAVE TO HOLD ONTO A DEVICE A LITTLE LONGER THAN WE WILL DO THAT.
ANYTHING WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WE BRING TO ADMINISTRATION.
>> SO THAT CONCLUDES THE MORNING SESSION.
COME BACK AT 2:00.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.